Leslee Breene of Englewood has published a third historical
romance, this time based on her own family story of a great
grandfather Olaus Jahr, who farmed in Minnesota and laid tracks for
the Great Northern Railroad.
Her books are notable for the depth of detail afforded by
extensive research. Her “Leadville Lady” (2006) was set in the
society of the turn of the century booming mining town, while
“Hearts on the Wind”(2008) carries the reader to rural Minnesota,
the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, where the railroad boom
began to open possibilities for trade, and to Chicago and the
disastrous strikes there as workers unionized and fought railroad
management.
She will meet readers and sign books at 3 p.m. Nov. 22 at
Tattered Cover Highlands Ranch (Highlands Ranch Parkway and Lucent
Boulevard).
Breene, who begins her story in Eden Hill, Minnesota, June 1876,
writes in an introduction that the new book is “a five-year labor
of love,” aided by family history and materials from the Minnesota
Historical Society.
Swedish farm girl Ingrid Johansson, who wants to become a
teacher, and her love for the “Norski,” educated city guy Andreas
Eriksen, weave together images of family life on the farm and in
city high society. (Swedes and Norwegians/Danes/Finns held a mutual
distrust, so her father is greatly opposed to this friendship).
Andreas’ evil stepsister complicates life for everyone she touches,
although she is somewhat less believable somehow— perhaps too
nasty!
Parallel is the story of legendary railroad baron, James (Jay)
Hill and his push to extend the Northern Pacific to the Canadian
border (and eventually to the Pacific coast), destined to have a
huge economic impact.
Political unrest was evident across the nation as workers began
to organize and demand and Breene’s descriptions on Chicago’s
street fighting and rioting are vivid enough to make the reader
hear and smell the scenes.
She attended the University of Denver and graduated from the
Fashion Institute of Technology in New York (which explains the
detailed description of her characters’ attire). She is an active
member of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Colorado Romance
Writers and Women Writing the West.
“Hearts on the Wind,” published Oct. 17, is available in a
$25.95 hardcover edition.
