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The Widow's Walk
From her widow's walk, Bessie King watches and waits for her husband, Adam. For many months, day after day, she climbs that ladder and looks out over the Texas plains. Her sons watch and see her pain and heartache. Andrew, thirteen, slips away early one morning to search for his stepfather. After a year of waiting, Bessie is certain she has lost them both. She is now left to survive on the Texas panhandle with her son, Matthew, and an orphan Kiowa baby, she has named Ki. Mathew's anger grows as he sees his mother climbing to the widow's walk day after day, and coming down with tears in her eyes. For his mother's sake, he decides it is time to chop down the widow's peak that Adam built for her. So, for one last time, Bessie climbs those steps to see if her husband, Adam King, will be returning to her.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 9, 2016
653 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Mierke
22 books27 followers"I'm not sure when someone decides to become a writer. I was once asked why I started and I said, 'I was tired of reading so decided to start writing!' Some dream about it but never do it and others are foolish enough to try. I have always loved Daphne DuMaurier's quote: 'Writers should be read and not seen or heard.' I loved the thought of writing but having anonymity at the same time. I doubt that can be achieved in today's world. I write for the pleasure of writing and I share it because I hope others will find joy in reading it."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
April 27, 2018
This is the first book I have read by Sharon Mierke, won't be the last! The Widow's Walk is a story of struggle, faithfulness, and love. The first couple chapters start at a leisurely pace then Adam King is introduced and the story takes off! I was drawn in by the by Sharon Mierke's style of writing and her characters. This is a story of determination, even through life's hardships. I can't wait to read another Sharon Mierke's books, a wonderful author I will be following!
August 1, 2017
I don’t read a lot of westerns but once in awhile I find one I can really love. “The Widow’s Walk” was one of these.
After giving up the long trek to the California gold mines and settling down on a homestead in the Texas Panhandle, Bessie’s first husband, George dies and she is left with two boys. Two years later, Adam King, a strong and handsome, ex Texas Ranger and wagon train leader appears on the scene and she marries him. For some reason, he decides to build her a sea captain’s “widow’s walk,” a tower where a lonely wife could search the ocean’s horizon to see when her seafaring husband was coming home.
As a homesteader’s wife surrounded by acres of land, she didn’t think she would ever need it, but when Adam leaves for a job guiding a wagon train and her thirteen year old son, Andrew disappear from home in search of him, it becomes her life line as she scans the horizon every morning for a sign of their return.
At this point the story follows three different plots. We agonize with Bessie as the wait for her menfolk becomes longer and more hopeless with each passing month. As well we travel along with Adam as unbeknown to the family, he is forced to lead three gunslingers in a search for stolen gold, and fret as young Andrew manages to get mixed up with the war situation down in Galveston on the Caribbean coast.
The author brings the era to life in a fascinating way and I am left with the feeling that I would have loved to explore that part of the American south.
After giving up the long trek to the California gold mines and settling down on a homestead in the Texas Panhandle, Bessie’s first husband, George dies and she is left with two boys. Two years later, Adam King, a strong and handsome, ex Texas Ranger and wagon train leader appears on the scene and she marries him. For some reason, he decides to build her a sea captain’s “widow’s walk,” a tower where a lonely wife could search the ocean’s horizon to see when her seafaring husband was coming home.
As a homesteader’s wife surrounded by acres of land, she didn’t think she would ever need it, but when Adam leaves for a job guiding a wagon train and her thirteen year old son, Andrew disappear from home in search of him, it becomes her life line as she scans the horizon every morning for a sign of their return.
At this point the story follows three different plots. We agonize with Bessie as the wait for her menfolk becomes longer and more hopeless with each passing month. As well we travel along with Adam as unbeknown to the family, he is forced to lead three gunslingers in a search for stolen gold, and fret as young Andrew manages to get mixed up with the war situation down in Galveston on the Caribbean coast.
The author brings the era to life in a fascinating way and I am left with the feeling that I would have loved to explore that part of the American south.
October 31, 2023
Loved it!
The Widow’s Walk is a wonderful western full of love, devotion, and pure grit. Mierke artfully describes the difficulties, dangers, and joys of Texas living during the 1800s in a tasteful manner without pulling any punches. Told in a matter of fact voice, it still plucked all my heartstrings and the HEA was everything I hoped for! A splendid read!
The Widow’s Walk is a wonderful western full of love, devotion, and pure grit. Mierke artfully describes the difficulties, dangers, and joys of Texas living during the 1800s in a tasteful manner without pulling any punches. Told in a matter of fact voice, it still plucked all my heartstrings and the HEA was everything I hoped for! A splendid read!
June 27, 2017
The Widow's Walk
To me it screams 5 Stars! I've always had a Curiosity about old deserted houses. The life it once lived with it's former occupants. Sharon Mierke does just that and more, the cleanliness of this tale is so refreshing. The old standards of respect and morals is a throwback to how we were raised. Tear jerker towards the end. Props Sharon!!
To me it screams 5 Stars! I've always had a Curiosity about old deserted houses. The life it once lived with it's former occupants. Sharon Mierke does just that and more, the cleanliness of this tale is so refreshing. The old standards of respect and morals is a throwback to how we were raised. Tear jerker towards the end. Props Sharon!!
August 10, 2017
More showing please
My only complaint with this book is that I wish the author had taken more time in showing and less time in telling. This was a short book, and could use more live scenes which would give the reader a much better read. I would have rated it five star, but I felt the author was in a hurry to finish it. Please fix this Ms. Merkel.
My only complaint with this book is that I wish the author had taken more time in showing and less time in telling. This was a short book, and could use more live scenes which would give the reader a much better read. I would have rated it five star, but I felt the author was in a hurry to finish it. Please fix this Ms. Merkel.
July 7, 2017
Good story
This story kept me involved to the end. I will certainly look for more by this author, Thanks so much.
This story kept me involved to the end. I will certainly look for more by this author, Thanks so much.
September 4, 2017
Great Read
I would recommend this book for any who likes to have a peaceful weekend just reading. Please Go for it!
I would recommend this book for any who likes to have a peaceful weekend just reading. Please Go for it!
October 15, 2018
Just a fabulous piece of writing! Ms. Mierke had me in love with a book that's not my usual genre, so I say great! Wonderful story elements: strong character development; intense settings; deeply moving events described without being overly sentimental. Nonetheless, I wept. Terrific 'you-are-there' experiences that feel so personal.
This author is new to me. I discovered her as a writer on Instagram. Lucky for me. She has such talent I give this novel five enthusiastic stars and highly recommend it. Just let the story lead you into another time and place of history. One of her quotations follows:
" The west was unforgiving in many ways but there would be a yearning to go west until the west was conquered. The white man would eventually settle in it and the Indians' ways would never return to what they had been. He saw it coming. The Indian fought their own; the white fought the Indians, and now the white man was fighting his own people."
And there' an unforgettable dog in this story. Can you see my teardrop stains? For me, a great read!!
This author is new to me. I discovered her as a writer on Instagram. Lucky for me. She has such talent I give this novel five enthusiastic stars and highly recommend it. Just let the story lead you into another time and place of history. One of her quotations follows:
" The west was unforgiving in many ways but there would be a yearning to go west until the west was conquered. The white man would eventually settle in it and the Indians' ways would never return to what they had been. He saw it coming. The Indian fought their own; the white fought the Indians, and now the white man was fighting his own people."
And there' an unforgettable dog in this story. Can you see my teardrop stains? For me, a great read!!
July 10, 2025
An Authentic Portrait of Hardship and Endurance
Author Sharon Mierke captures and encapsulates the days of Westward expansion, landing the reader in the Texas panhandle amidst turbulent times. She minces no words conveying the history of the period:
Texas Rangers driving Native Americans off their land. The decimation of the buffalo population. Disgruntled and desperate prospectors leaving California and roaming the countryside. Pre-Civil War emotions running rampant with backlashes against those of color. Lawlessness, predisposing unscrupulous and unsavory rustlers to prey upon others. Catastrophic wagon train accidents.
The author incorporates all of this as it pertains to the main characters: Bessie, her sons Andrew and Matthew, and her second husband, Adam.
The stark realities of carving out a life on the prairie and coping with personal calamities render ‘The Widow’s Watch’ a wholesome, heart-wrenching story of hardship and endurance.
Author Sharon Mierke captures and encapsulates the days of Westward expansion, landing the reader in the Texas panhandle amidst turbulent times. She minces no words conveying the history of the period:
Texas Rangers driving Native Americans off their land. The decimation of the buffalo population. Disgruntled and desperate prospectors leaving California and roaming the countryside. Pre-Civil War emotions running rampant with backlashes against those of color. Lawlessness, predisposing unscrupulous and unsavory rustlers to prey upon others. Catastrophic wagon train accidents.
The author incorporates all of this as it pertains to the main characters: Bessie, her sons Andrew and Matthew, and her second husband, Adam.
The stark realities of carving out a life on the prairie and coping with personal calamities render ‘The Widow’s Watch’ a wholesome, heart-wrenching story of hardship and endurance.
November 11, 2021
Wonderful
I loved every part of this great story. I've seen several vacated homesteads in my eighty years of life in the west. I'll never look on them again without remembering this courageous family. This book has every emotion a person can have. There is joy, grief, anxiety, fear, loyalty, married love and trust; even the miracle of birth and caring without prejudice. I hope others enjoy it as much as I did. I'll probably read it again sometime in the future. I often do that with books I have especially enjoyed.
I loved every part of this great story. I've seen several vacated homesteads in my eighty years of life in the west. I'll never look on them again without remembering this courageous family. This book has every emotion a person can have. There is joy, grief, anxiety, fear, loyalty, married love and trust; even the miracle of birth and caring without prejudice. I hope others enjoy it as much as I did. I'll probably read it again sometime in the future. I often do that with books I have especially enjoyed.
June 11, 2023
The widow's walk
I started this book a few weeks ago and, for some reason I couldn't quite get into it. So I closed it and read several others. Last night I opened it again and boy did it ever click with me! Couldn't leave it.
This story is so full of adventure and suspense! The old ranch people suffered so many hardships and the outlaws seemed to be an ever present problem. But the human compassion of the good people for others is just beautiful.
I came to love this family and the epilogue left me in tears.
I started this book a few weeks ago and, for some reason I couldn't quite get into it. So I closed it and read several others. Last night I opened it again and boy did it ever click with me! Couldn't leave it.
This story is so full of adventure and suspense! The old ranch people suffered so many hardships and the outlaws seemed to be an ever present problem. But the human compassion of the good people for others is just beautiful.
I came to love this family and the epilogue left me in tears.
April 8, 2018
Wonderful Frontier Texas story
Great description of the scenery and various settings of the story. Brought me back to that time period. Descriptions of the characters were vivid and you either loved them or hated them. The depiction of Bessie as a strong frontier woman is exactly what I picture in my head when I think of that time. She was a lady but was able to endure the hardships of that time with grace. Loved this story.
Great description of the scenery and various settings of the story. Brought me back to that time period. Descriptions of the characters were vivid and you either loved them or hated them. The depiction of Bessie as a strong frontier woman is exactly what I picture in my head when I think of that time. She was a lady but was able to endure the hardships of that time with grace. Loved this story.
June 3, 2022
Best Author
I happened on a book titled Sarah’s Valley. This is not the sort of book I liked to read but I thought “What the heck” and started to read. Sharon Mierke made me feel like I was right there with only her words. I have now read “Return to Sarah’s Valley” and “The Widows Walk”.. wonderful books. It was hard for me to put them down and get anything done. I am looking forward to reading more book written by her.
I happened on a book titled Sarah’s Valley. This is not the sort of book I liked to read but I thought “What the heck” and started to read. Sharon Mierke made me feel like I was right there with only her words. I have now read “Return to Sarah’s Valley” and “The Widows Walk”.. wonderful books. It was hard for me to put them down and get anything done. I am looking forward to reading more book written by her.
July 1, 2023
The Widow’s Walk
I enjoyed The Widow’s Walk immensely due to its lack of complexity. The characters are simply defined and straightforward with no attempt to prove other than what they were, simple honest folks making their way through life with hard work and honesty. The story line again, simple and crisp, no contrived intrigue, no blood and gore, and no sex. Just a easygoing story with a happy ending.
I enjoyed The Widow’s Walk immensely due to its lack of complexity. The characters are simply defined and straightforward with no attempt to prove other than what they were, simple honest folks making their way through life with hard work and honesty. The story line again, simple and crisp, no contrived intrigue, no blood and gore, and no sex. Just a easygoing story with a happy ending.
January 4, 2020
This is the 3rd book I've read by Sharon Mierke and the best so far. I read it in one sitting without realizing the passage of time. I couldn't put it down and was surprised and sad when it ended. The story is fast paced and gripping. Characters are clear due to excellent dialogue. I look forward to the next novel by this prolific writer.
January 24, 2020
An odd book- Kindle Unlimited read. I did not finish, so take my feedback with a grain of salt, but this novel passes through all the detail in a rush- like establishing their homestead in a few pages, but then it just seems to drag. Once it kept switching back and forth between characters and was starting to turn from a pioneer book to a romance type, it wasn't my cup of tea.
December 23, 2020
Nice read
This is the story of a family’s life in the mid 1800s living on the Texas panhandle. The parts in Galveston were interesting for me as I lived there several years and the places mentioned were accurate. The book is not written dramatically at all but was pleasant and relaxing to read.
This is the story of a family’s life in the mid 1800s living on the Texas panhandle. The parts in Galveston were interesting for me as I lived there several years and the places mentioned were accurate. The book is not written dramatically at all but was pleasant and relaxing to read.
March 13, 2021
This is a great tale that takes readers back in time. The time when America was moving west but also dealing with a civil war. Bessie is a mother and after being widowed, she remarries. Life is harsh and this book is her journey to make it through. An intriguing story that is well written and a tale readers can get lost in.
February 3, 2022
Good historical reading.
I would recommend this western to anyone and any age because it is a good clean family story about people with high principles and good respect for family. Just the way people should be today. And the story telling was a page turner. I couldn't put it down!
I would recommend this western to anyone and any age because it is a good clean family story about people with high principles and good respect for family. Just the way people should be today. And the story telling was a page turner. I couldn't put it down!
May 30, 2017
Old houses have takes to tell
This book started off slow but then took off with a bang. It's a great story of a blended family during the Cival war,tho the war takes a very backseat to this story. Very nice to read.
This book started off slow but then took off with a bang. It's a great story of a blended family during the Cival war,tho the war takes a very backseat to this story. Very nice to read.
January 14, 2018
My thoughts exactly.
I have always driven by old barns and houses and wondered where their people were. How happy and proud the owners/builders were when their new home was built and how sad it is to see them now as skeletons of their pasts. Excellent story.
I have always driven by old barns and houses and wondered where their people were. How happy and proud the owners/builders were when their new home was built and how sad it is to see them now as skeletons of their pasts. Excellent story.
January 25, 2018
Really enjoyable
The concept is wonderful and the story is simple but I really, really enjoyed. The characters were well developed and so very likable. Considering the inspiration for the novel, I think the author did an amazing job. You just can’t do better!!
The concept is wonderful and the story is simple but I really, really enjoyed. The characters were well developed and so very likable. Considering the inspiration for the novel, I think the author did an amazing job. You just can’t do better!!
February 15, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were very engaging and it offered an informative view of life in Texas during the Civil War. I would recommend this book for those who enjoy historical fiction and family-focused stories.
October 23, 2019
I Loved this story!
Sharon Mierke has a great wisdom of the historical lives of early Texas pioneers. Lucky for us, she's able to share that here with all of us in a very interesting story!
Sharon Mierke has a great wisdom of the historical lives of early Texas pioneers. Lucky for us, she's able to share that here with all of us in a very interesting story!
July 9, 2020
I enjoyed this story. Characters were loving, brave, determined! I am retired, so I have time. But I found this difficult to put down - the story line kept me wanting to join the characters on their journey.
August 16, 2020
I loved this story. I won't be able to look at old abandoned houses the same way again.
I loved this story. I won't be able to look at old abandoned houses the same way again. Great read.
I loved this story. I won't be able to look at old abandoned houses the same way again. Great read.
October 1, 2022
The Texas Panhandlers holds memories of lives lived hard and long.
Who would think to write a story about a window's walk that would put "Little House On The Prairie" to shame. Bessie never stops looking for the ones that never came back? I dearly loved this book!
Who would think to write a story about a window's walk that would put "Little House On The Prairie" to shame. Bessie never stops looking for the ones that never came back? I dearly loved this book!
March 31, 2023
The Widows Walk
Very good story of a mother who loves her children and of a good man who loves his family, Times were hard yet proven with love anything is possible, do not give up on dreams or promises
Very good story of a mother who loves her children and of a good man who loves his family, Times were hard yet proven with love anything is possible, do not give up on dreams or promises
July 12, 2023
Happy Ending😊
I really enjoyed this book. Wonderful story with a happy ending. And even though there were hard and heartbreaking times the family stuck together and never gave up on each other. I highly recommend this book
I really enjoyed this book. Wonderful story with a happy ending. And even though there were hard and heartbreaking times the family stuck together and never gave up on each other. I highly recommend this book
November 20, 2017
A story of faith.
A story of history and courage. Life was hard when our country was expanding and filled with brave men and women.
A story of history and courage. Life was hard when our country was expanding and filled with brave men and women.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews