Josie is only sixteen when extreme poverty and a chance at a better life in America drive her into the open arms of the Mormon Church and away from her native England. This well-researched, beautifully written historical novel tells a harrowing tale, based on true events, of a naive young woman lured into the often-violent polygamous society in Utah in the mid-1800s and the resilience she needs to take back her life. Don’t miss this fine book.
— San Francisco Book Review
The author’s stunning imagery and command of Mormon history lend power to a gripping story. I was mesmerized.
— Jane Parnell, author, Off Trail: Finding My Way Home in the Colorado Rockies
LeCheminant crafts a story of naïve hope and heartbreak; of utter despair and resilience. Her novel deftly weaves a tale of saints and sinners, sometimes in the same person … driven to inflict unthinkable tragedy, paralleled by stories of extraordinary heroism, perseverance and compassion.
— Mary-Ann Muffoletto
I lost myself in the pages. The non-existent word “unputdownable” is the only way to describe this book.
— Janet Lambert, BeadyJansBooks.Blogspot.com
The Gates of Eden is a sweeping tale rich in historical detail … LeCheminant is a gifted storyteller, her prose elegant and finely crafted.
— IndieReader
The Gates of Eden is an unusual and beautiful novel. The author has pulled off a literary feat, giving us a coming-of-age story, a harrowing account of immigration in 19th-century America, an exploration of religious faith and motivation, and a chilling and suspenseful depiction of conditions that can lead to the unspeakable in human behavior.
— Jodi Kilcup
… I think anyone wanting to understand the historical Mormon pioneer experience better, whether a member of the Church or not, will appreciate the book.
— Mary Ann Clements, Wheat & Tares
The Gates of Eden is historical fiction worth reading.
— Portland Book Review