A SEVEN YEAR ACHE

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE BOOK

In A Seven Year Ache, Fisher Lavell presents a master class on how to create captivating historical fiction. Her feisty, iconoclastic characters (Rosie Kelvey and company) lift off the pages and linger in the minds and hearts of readers long after the book is finished. She chooses historical details that resonate and still matter because they are precursors to current troubling patterns. And she weaves all of this together in a style of writing that dances across the page with energy and freshness. The sum total is a book with powerful appeal that leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next one in the Roaring River Woman series.
- MARJORIE ANDERSON, PHD
Editor of The Dropped Threads Anthologies
Fisher Lavell weaves a compelling tale rich with crisp prose and authentic dialogue. Her main characters, Rosie and Josephine, are flawed and complex, but their struggles and heartaches are met with strength and resilience. . . A truly enjoyable read.
- GAYLENE DUTCHYSHEN
Author of A Strange Kind of Comfort
Fisher Lavell's brilliance in storytelling shines a light in the darkness through this raw and revealing historical masterpiece. How on earth is this just her first novel? I felt like I was transported back in time and witnessed the unfolding events first-hand. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
- A. MCCOY
Verified Amazon Purchaser
“A Seven Year Ache” is an incredible novel. Lavell did an amazing job of creating a believable story in which readers, especially women, will find their attention immediately captured. When I finished, my first thought was, “Wow!” I wanted more! So many thoughts went through my head about what women went through during the early years- whether they were in Canada or the United States. To survive, they had to work hard and suffer through some difficult losses. The narrative is realistic. The characters are gritty and flawed. . . I look forward to reading more by this talented author! Well done. 5 stars!
- READER VIEWS
​Austin, TX 05/2022

The work paints a picture of a strong-willed young woman who's set on finding her own way... Lavell details the characters' hard lives on a homestead with a feeling of gritty authenticity... The story also effectively shares the hardships and tragedies faced by other local residents and even addresses disturbing eugenics practices of the era through the story of Beatrice, one of Rosie's sisters. Overall, Lavell crafts Rosie as a dynamic character who expresses desires and dreams that are contrary to the norms of the time... An often gripping historical novel of homestead life.
- KIRKUS REVIEWS
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“My Momma ain’t no girlie-woman.” The first sentence captures the essence of Lavell’s novel – down-to-earth, authentic, brazen, fearless, and plain-spoken. . . Lavell’s prose provides poignant insights into a very specific rural culture. Her novel resembles numerous works by Margaret Laurence, given its stark portrayals of rigid rural hierarchies, unmet sexual desires, long-held prejudices, use of gossip and slander to control or destroy people, and relentless oppression of poor, marginalized women. “A Seven Year Ache” could also be compared to Gil Adamson’s fast-paced and true-to-life frontier novels: “The Outlander” and “Ridgerunner.” The dramatic propulsion never lags and makes it hard to put the book down. Through Rosie’s eyes and in her fierce voice, Lavell explores themes of poverty, loss, and determination to survive.
- Donna Besel
Author of Lessons from a Nude Man and The Unravelling

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