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Description:

Hannah and Caleb are young newlyweds on the plains of Texas in the late nineteenth century. They’ve staked their claim and have built a new home and a new life as cattle ranchers. But a cloud of dust in the distance rides towards their cabin and changes Hannah’s life forever. Caleb is shot and Hannah is abused and raped by a gang of rustlers.

Left for dead, Hannah recovers and sets off to exact revenge. Join Hannah on her determined quest through the bordellos, churches, and shanty courts of the old west as she makes her own justice — and finds a new love along the way.

Excerpt:

Hannah's body flopped about like a rag doll when she was thrown onto the bed. Her mind slipped into a circular loop that continued to play and replay her preparations for the stew she'd been making. Onions; carrots and potatoes were cut and recut. The heat of the cast iron stove and the searing; cubed deer meat created beads of sweat on her brow.

Her kitchen scene delusion masked the feel of many hands exploring her body. She never felt the multiple invasions into her most private parts that left her damp and bloody. The bites on her breasts and throat would have evoked screams of terror in a sane person; but Hannah just kept preparing the stew. Finally; she slept.

*****

Intense pain niggled at her consciousness. Struggling through sleep cobwebs; she sought light. It seemed locked away. Attempts to open her eyes generated terrible pains in her head; brow and eyes. She was about to moan; when from what seemed far away she heard a deep voice. Hannah vaguely remembered the voice and instinctively held herself immobile.

"Well; boys; I think we're done here. Time to move on." A chair scraped the wood floor and Hannah heard footsteps. The deep voice seemed almost upon her. "We got to get movin'. Can't hang around waiting for a neighbor or the law to stumble by."

"Hell; Drake; there ain't no neighbors for miles." Benny laughed.

"You heard me. Pump a bullet into her and let's get going."

Hannah heard multiple footsteps tromp heavily across the floor; then nothing. But; she sensed she was not alone.

"You really gonna kill her?" a new voice asked.

"You heard Drake. Gotta' or he'll kill me;" Benny answered.

"I think she's crazy. When my turn came last night; she was like dead or somethin?. Real limp. You know what they say about killin? a crazy person. They'll haunt you; forever."

Spurs jingled as someone scuffed his way toward the door. She struggled to remain calm; but jumped as a hand covered her mouth.

"Listen; woman;" Benny whispered into her ear. "If you can hear me; you best keep quiet 'til you're sure we've ridden off. I'm gonna shoot the mattress here next to your head. You?re probly gonna die anyhow; but don't you go hauntin' me. You hear?"

Customer Reviews:

In the saga of Hannah, Poppen's writing flows seamlessly from one scene to the next. Hannah's story of her rape and torture is written with just enough details to let the reader to add their own. The characters are portrayed with such skill, they are easy to imagine. It is a story that holds your interest until the end, but keeps you wanting to read more of Hannah's adventures of her life with Liam. This is a five star book, that you will want to return to many times. rnrnLois Palmer

Review of Hannah by Sharon Poppenrnrn The hands of the clock point to 2 a.m. and I have been gripped by Hannah by Sharon Poppen for the past several hours. The continuing conflicts and the creative scrapes that the author devises for her heroine make this a real page turner. Thank goodness for the calm strength of the hero Liam. Neither Hannah nor the reader would survive without it. Although Hannah is too headstrong sometimes, the reader is always 100 percent on her side.rn The character of Drake, with all the grisly attributes of an 18th century Hannibal Lector, is absolutely chilling. The nasty twist of cannibalism shows great creativity on the part of the author. I have never encountered it in a western before. rn The scenes involving the baby and the little boy are touchingly written and provide a nice contrast to the pain and gore that Hannah and Liam have experienced in the pursuit of Drake. The resolution of the problem of one too few children or one too many parent-couples is completely satisfying. rn Kudos to the author for a supporting cast of characters that the reader would love to meet in person. Liam?s aunt, the murdered woman?s parents, Liam?s brothers and the two girls in the restaurant are very real. rn All the twists and turns of a good read are aligned in Hannah.rn

This is the first time I have read a book on my lap-top computer and must say that it was much easier than reading a conventional book. It helped, of course, that the pace is fast moving, taking the reader from one breath taking (and hair raising) adventure to another. Hannah is a wild west super hero, Liam is the strong, yet tender man who is perfect to complement her. Poppen?s discriptions and acute ear for dialect, which she uses so well in dialogue, put the reader right there in the middle of the action. But the main strength of this book is how well developed all the characters are, even the minor ones. These people come alive on the page, or monitor. rnrnMargaret Ruschmanrn

Hannah is a well crafted Western that doesn't read like your normal hay-burner. The heroine, and title character is a ordinary person tempered by extraordinary circumstances. Tragedy transforms her from a sweet, innocent young girl into an avenging angel with tunnel vision. But this avenger has a heart.rnrnMs Poppen takes the reader on a virtual journey through a beautiful landscape populated by real, flesh and blood people. She has a style that reminds me of the final graveyard scene in Stephen King?s Carrie where all is sweet and wonderful and Cinderella-like until a hand reaches up from a grave and we are thrust into another horror. While this is far from a horror story, it has that sense of alternating between light and darkness, between joy and despair. Hannah is placed on a pinball machine of trials and tribulations, punctuated by moments of peace and calm and ? yes ? even joy.rnrnThis is a good read, even if you aren?t a big Western fan. rnrnJim Vearyrn

I found ?Hanna? to be a different type of western than I am used to reading. It is about a wonderful woman who found herself in a horrible situation. As a result she becomes obsessed with finding her attackers.

She chases them throughout Texas with the help of a new love. A love she cannot give back to until she tracks down all involved with her attack. It is well written and shows the strong spirit of the western women and the men who love them.

It is a love story, a murder mystery and western all packed into one compelling book.

I recommend a read of this book. You will not be disappointed.

Jake George
Senior Editor, Board Member
Virtual Tales Publications.