“As Molly proves to herself and everyone around her, a young woman’s search for freedom cannot be yoked to the world’s expectations of who she is meant to be. Cherry Creek is a motivational story swaddled in the simple fondness of a historical drama, attempting to keep the harshness of the prairie landscape at bay.“

It is clear who mother’s favourite is, and it certainly isn’t Molly. With her wild, untamable hair, and a smattering of freckles across her face an affront to the very notion of ladyhood. An eventual marriage to a suitable match is more than her mother dares to pray for. Molly would prefer a man to swoon over, like the muscle bound rogues abundant in her romance novels. Instead, an unexpected suitor asks for her hand in marriage, heedlessly setting in motion a life so far removed from the idyllic housewife dreams Molly has always wanted for herself.

Spoiler-Free Plot

Freedom is hard to come by, especially for a woman of their times. Molly doesn’t understand it when Eileen whispers of her freedom after learning about the death of what was meant to be her destiny, when the picture of the life that has perished is all Molly has ever wanted. She awaits her turn with barely contained eagerness, fantasising over the yet unidentified figment of the man who held the keys to the rest of her story.

As California’s golden bounty runs dry out on the West Coast, a new river of opportunity unveils itself, deep in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, over a thousand miles away from the quiet, verdant countryside of rural Ohio. A great migration draws in swathes of people from all corners of the country, looking to better their prospects from riches found in the soil. Just as many more did before, leaving their homelands behind to carve up their share of the New World. Adventure is a part of Molly’s history. Only she can make room to revive this quality in her future.

My Take on Cherry Creek

Cherry Creek feels like a daydream in every way. The viral phrase of something being referred to as someone’s “Roman Empire” is very much embodied by this novel. It feels like a short indulgence, one that breaks down the monotony of life by momentarily transporting you to a place in time so far removed from your own immediate surroundings.

You get to live the life of an Irish immigrant, settling into the expectations of what a woman’s place in rural Ohio would entail. There’s time enough to experience a fleeting yet impactful childhood memory before being whisked into a teenage-hood abbreviated by the prospects of marriage.

I personally enjoyed the choice to feature Molly’s prevailing immaturity. Even though the portion of her story the readers get to witness comes to a pleasant conclusion, the hardships she endures as a result of her rashness—which morph into an exhausting yet adventurous experience further along— stems from her naivete, her lack of knowledge about the broader world outside of her community, defined by a certain set of guidelines all individuals must adhere to.

History often forgets this detail when castigating the actions of individuals, especially young women. Although Molly’s story isn’t a biographical account of any specific woman’s life in 19th century America, it conjures up the same emotions as Ann Bonny, Joan of Arc, and Malalai of Maiwand’s stories; the indomitability of dreams, that drive to escape, to be free—at least once.

The rosewater romance readers get to savour complete with near palpable yearning was an added treat that tied up this novel so beautifully at the end. I look forward to reading or listening to any other books authored by Linda Griffin. There are countless unique stories to be told of the lives of the women who came before us. She does them justice through the accurate depiction of their circumstances, thoughts, and actions. A word favoured by Molly, used several times throughout the chapters is “cherish”; it describes exactly my fondness for this story.

Voice Artist Review

Catherine Hein Carter IS the voice of Molly. The cadence of her voice reflects the measured expression of the time. Her soft manner of speaking conceals the relatively fast pace of her narration; she moves on to the next event of the story without dwelling too much on what has just transpired. This kept me alert and engaged throughout.

Not once did my mind slip into a lulled state that audiobooks tend to trap you in—surprising, due to the soothing quality of the sound. Rewinding was not necessary. Everything stayed fresh in my mind, eager to progress further into what feels like a biographical tale recounted to me by the cozy warmth of a fireplace.

Age Rating

14 years and above

Content Warning

Death, Disease, Sexual Themes.

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