The Wilderness Saga
Step into the captivating world of the Wachsman family in this collection of historical romances set in Superior, Wisconsin beginning in the year 1834. Framed against the breathtaking backdrop of Lake Superior and the wild woodlands of northwest Wisconsin, follow the Wachsmann’s journey through love, courage, heartache, and adventure. Each story weaves together the strength of family bonds and the spirit of an untamed wilderness, inviting the reader to experience the timeless romance and powerful resilience of an era gone by. Family oriented, no graphic sex scenes, mild profanity.
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BOOK ONE
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Unable to find a teaching position in the flooded job market that is New York City, twenty-one-year-old Sarah Bentley accepts the position of nanny to Caleb Wachsmann’s three children after the farmer’s wife, parents, and infant son die in the Cholera epidemic of 1834. The twist? The job is in Superior, Wisconsin in the Michigan Territory, an unsettled wilderness located on the northwestern tip of Lake Superior.Caleb is not looking for love; his heart will always belong to his beloved Annie. What he does need is a woman to watch after the children while he toils in the fields making a living for his family. Sarah turns out to be that woman. She raises his children with a gentle and loving hand and also helps Caleb to overcome an unbearable loss. As Wisconsin vies for statehood, the young couple will face challenge after challenge as they struggle to tame a wilderness that really doesn’t want to be tamed at all.
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BOOK TWO
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As Wisconsin edges closer to statehood, Caleb and Sarah Wachsmann’s family expands in the heart of the Wisconsin wilderness, yet they are relentlessly pursued by a troubled past. An unyielding foe is intent upon ending Caleb and Sarah’s lives, convinced that they and they alone are responsible for Lucas Roberts’ death. Despite the fact that Caleb nearly lost his life after the encounter with Lucas, the truth holds little weight with this newest adversary. Meanwhile, Sarah is haunted also, driven to the brink of madness by persistent whispers that call her name. With the latest family member on the way, a new threat emerges when the Wachsmann’s tormentor kidnaps one of the Caleb’s daughters. The race to find her ends in an unforeseen twist that could just put an end to the terror and once again allow the family to face the challenges of day to day life on the shores of Lake Superior—a life that is poised for significant change in the years to come.
BOOK THREE
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In the rugged landscape of 1840s Wisconsin, a new state emerges, but the promise of a fresh start is overshadowed by personal tragedy. When the Wachsmann family faces an unimaginable loss, young Seth and his wife, Hannah, are thrust into a battle to sustain the family unity.
Amidst the turmoil, Hannah gives birth to a son who is afflicted with a mysterious condition, forcing the couple to confront heart-wrenching choices about their child’s future. Can they defy societal expectations and raise him themselves, or will fear and stigma dictate their decision?
In A State In The Wilderness, author Jean Hackensmith weaves a gripping tale of love, sacrifice, and the indomitable spirit of family against the stunning backdrop of Lake Superior. Join the Wachsmann’s as they navigate the wilderness, where every choice could mean the difference between survival and despair.
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BOOK FOUR
Amid the turmoil of the Civil War, the women of Wachsmann’s Farms face an unprecedented challenge. With the men drafted under The Enrollment Act of 1863, the spirited Sarah Wachsmann defies her son Seth’s wishes to abandon the fields until their return. Instead, she envisions a bold plan: to build a cheese factory that will produce Cheddar cheese and condensed milk for the soldiers fighting on the front lines.
When the crew she hires proves to be dangerous and threatening, Sarah’s dream hangs in the balance. Desperate to protect her home and the other women in her family, she turns to Jeb Ryker, a rugged local with a heart of gold. Together, they devise a daring plan to reclaim the farm from the unscrupulous men who threaten their safety.
As Sarah and Jeb work side by side, a passionate bond forms between them, igniting a love that flourishes even as the war rages on. But with tragedy looming and the stakes escalating, will their newfound love withstand the challenges of a country at war?
Join Sarah and Jeb in this poignant historical romance, where courage, resilience, and love intertwine in a fight for survival against the backdrop of a nation divided.
