In 1864, Armando Rameriz brought his new bride, Esperanza, to a homestead in the Arizona Territory. The La Cresta property was stunning, sitting on a ridge outlined with magnificent rock towers. It was also near Apache territory and quite a long distance from Tucson. Armando and Esperanza left their families to pursue his dream of owning a large ranch, building a substantial home eventually, and raising children. Many challenging difficulties face this young couple in the fictional work by Sharon K. Miller, The Clay Endures: Book 2 in the Clay Series. One day, Esperanza found a very old clay pot with a red geometric pattern buried in the soil. She intuitively knew it was made in the Pueblo Viejo centuries earlier, and she communicated in spirit with the woman who crafted the pot.

The captivating plot in The Clay Endures by Sharon K. Miller engages the reader from the first page to the last. Ms. Miller skillfully weaves several time periods, cultures, and historical events together – the Pueblo communities, the western settlers, and the Apache tribe. The reader learns a great deal of history through the trying experiences of one courageous couple. Adding the element of connectedness to the spirit world, as well as traditional religious practices, enhances the plot even more. The book is truly a page-turner. This is an exciting series!

The Clay Endures: Book 2 in The Clay Series by Sharon K. Miller is a powerful story of a woman, Esperanza, who is trying to make a place her home, only to be thwarted by nature and an enemy who does not quit. Esperanza Ramirez is no one to anyone, except perhaps to her husband. He is a dreamer and she is just his wife, but he is an ambitious man. She and her husband become one of the very few people who were able to entrench themselves in Apache territory. Now that they are here, they have to complete what her husband dreamt of.

They made their home and kept their cattle, but someone kept stealing from them. When Esperanza uncovers an ancient pot in the garden, she finally finds some inner peace. There used to be a woman who lived in the same place years ago, and her presence is a source of companionship to Esperanza. But life is not easy. Can she finally have a home? Or will she perish?

I have to be honest, I did not have high hopes when I started reading this novel, but I was very, very pleasantly surprised. The novel is gritty and raw; the emotions of Esperanza did me in. When she gave birth to a stillborn, my heart died for her. Miller has done a great job in creating an atmosphere that suits the timeline and the characters. The dialogues were good and the storyline was just amazing. I loved it.