Daylight Comes

by Judith McCoy Miller

Book Overview

Truth Wyman has watched Nicodemus, Kansas, grow into a busy little prairie town. And she has grown up, too. Her family was among the first settlers to homestead this area, and there is nowhere she'd... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764200003
• ISBN13: 9780764200007
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
• Length: 377 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.6" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Love this book and series

I'll miss this series as this is the last book. I read this one in 2 days and couldn't put it down. The characters are well developed and this book is from Truth's point of view. I miss Jenna's narrative, and the book skips at least a few years which I feel like I would have liked to have "been part of" if the author didn't jump forward. Still a great read and I'm off to another series by the author.

Readers are caught in a drama of well-crafted storytelling

Moses Wyman's horseback ride to Nicodemus, Kansas, is filled with emotion. He's been away from home at the young state capital of Topeka far longer than he planned. His young wife, Truth, has waited for Moses to be the first person to learn that she is pregnant with their first child. Within a few sentences, the reader is plunged into several threads of drama from 1882 in the first African American settlement on the plains of the Old West. Moses breaks the news to his wife that he's been nominated to the office of State Auditor and, if elected, will be the first African American state official. The new job will require Moses and Truth to relocate to Topeka. Everyone around Truth is thrilled with the potential gain; despite praying that they will stay in town throughout her pregnancy, Moses wins the position and they move. Truth's twin sister, Grace Harban, comes from Nicodemus to help care for Truth in the final days of her pregnancy. Through complications Grace extends her stay in Topeka, which tangles some relationship matters back in Nicodemus. In DAYLIGHT COMES, the third book in the Freedom's Path series, Judith Miller uses multiple plot threads to maintain a high reader interest and keep the pages turning. Hill City, Kansas is the sister city to Nicodemus, which is inhabited primarily by white people. Macia Boyle, the only daughter of Dr. Samuel Boyle, has returned to Hill City from an extended two-year trip to Europe. While she was away, her boyfriend and blacksmith, Jeb Malone, started a new relationship with Fern Kingston. Unfortunately, Macia can't escape reminders of her old flame because Fern is the Boyle family housekeeper. Reluctantly, Dr. Boyle agrees to make a change if Macia can find another housekeeper. Through Macia's scheming, Fern moves to Nicodemus and cares for Truth's home when the Wymans move to Topeka. Macia is torn about her relationship with Jeb Malone, and the question grows more complicated when the handsome Garrett Johnson, nephew of the storekeeper, attempts to capture her affection. Another key storyline is the arrival of the Faraday family. Mr. Faraday, a pharmacist, has an unusual number of men hanging around his business. Later, readers learn that he has a gambling problem and eventually he runs away. The high drama between Mrs. Faraday and her husband, and daughter Camille, serves to remind readers that addictions were also a part of prairie town life. With vivid characters and detailed descriptions and research, readers are caught in a drama of well-crafted storytelling. Through the vehicle of historical fiction, we are reminded of our ever-present need to keep close to God and depend on Him for the ultimate justice of issues, which often can't be resolved easily. DAYLIGHT COMES is historical fiction at its best. --- Reviewed by W. Terry Whalin

Plunge Into the World of 1882 in Nicodemus, Kansas

Judith Miller weaves vivid detail based on careful research with fascinating characters and realistic difficulties. The result is a page-turning drama and great addition to the Freedom's Path series. I've read the other two books in this series and was eager for this saga to continue. It is excellent and an example of historical fiction at its best. I highly recommend it.

another great book in the Freedom' Path series

Daylight Comes is the third book in the Freedom's Path series. Truth is married to Moses Wyman who has been nominated for state office. Women can't vote in Kansas in 1882, but if Truth could vote, she'd cast her ballot against Moses. If he wins they will have to move to Topeka and she doesn't want to leave Nicodemus. Truth is pregnant with their first baby and she insists her twin sister Grace move to Topeka with them, at least until the baby is born. Grace doesn't want to go. She is engaged to Silas and they both resent Truth being so determined to separate them. But Truth is proving to be as adept as Aunt Lily when it comes to manipulating people. Macia Boyle has returned home from Europe, but Jeb Malone got tired of waiting for her. He's engagaged to another woman who deeply resents his first love. Garrett Johnson is obviously interested in Macia, but she's not sure how she feels about him or about Jeb, who's no longer available. This is the continuing saga about the Harban and Boyle families. The same cast of characters we met in First Dawn and Morning Sky are all here. Lily is back and Truth doesn't trust her one bit. Miss Hattie is still handing out advice whether anyone wants it or not. The characters are just as compelling and the plot is just as gripping as in the first two books. Judith Miller stories are so well written and so intriguing that reading one is like taking a trip back home.

refreshing insight into the African-American late nineteenth century heritage

In 1882 Truth Wyman has remained in her hometown Nicodemus, Kansas while her husband Moses has served as the Graham County representative at the statewide Republican Convention for several months. He is the first black man to hold that honor and now is about to embark on another mark of distinction having been nominated by the party as the first black man to run for state auditor. A pregnant Truth is stunned as she does not wish to leave her family or her home to relocate, albeit temporarily, in Topeka. She struggles with her choices. After a European tour, Macia Boyle has returned home to Nicodemus' thriving twin prairie town Hill City thinking of the young men she left behind before she crossed the ocean. The blacksmith Jeb Malone wants to court her and she finds him quite handsome. The store owner's son Garrett Johnson is also a keeper. She struggles with her choices. The third book Freedom's Path historical novel (see FIRST DAWN and MORNING SKY) is a strong entry in a series that provides refreshing insight into the lives of African-American heritage on the Great Plains in the early 1880s. The story line focuses on the two females (and to a lesser degree a newcomer); each has tough decisions to make. Truth fails to live up to her name as she turns manipulative to get her husband to drop his run for state office while Macia must choose one and leave the other behind. Readers will enjoy this fine Americana tale in which choices are not often easy, but honesty rather than cruelty goes a long way to living with one's decisions afterward. Harriet Klausner