Editor's note: Portions of this article have previously been published on arizonabeehive.com.
"AS EVER YOURS," by Jeanie R. Davis, DaVision Press, $15.95, 294 pages
Author Jeanie R. Davis knew a little about how her grandfather William Rappleye, a Mormon missionary from Wyoming, met Carrie Drew, whose family owned a boarding house in Burlington, Vermont, in 1891. Wanting to know more, Davis began asking questions of other relatives.
The result of her search is "As Ever Yours: The Love Story of Carrie Huldah Drew and William Edwin Rappleye."
Using her grandfather’s mission journal, a history written by her grandmother, copies of both of their patriarchal blessings and dozens of letters and postcards between the two — each ending with “As Ever Yours” — as source material, Davis created a skillful telling of the story of her grandparents.
“It was like my grandparents were directing things into my hands. I felt like they really wanted their story told,” Davis said in an interview.
While fictionalized, the story is historically accurate and is filled with universal messages that make it interesting and applicable to a range of readers. It aptly depicts life in the early 1900s and is a profound story of conversion and ongoing dedication to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the gospel as well as an interesting study of human character and fortitude.
“William was such a good example of missionary work and of unselfish service," Davis said. "He had such integrity. He lived what he believed and knew what he wanted."
Carrie demonstrates kindness, sacrifice and faithful endurance, and readers may also enjoy the romance and the enduring, all-encompassing love that developed between William and Carrie.
“As Ever Yours” deals with themes of death and physical suffering along with references to marital relations and childbirth. It doesn’t include any swearing or other foul language, or descriptions of violence or sexual situations.
Davis studied Communications at Brigham Young University and lives in Gilbert, Arizona.
Cecily Markland is a freelance writer, book editor, publicist and author of "Hope: One Mile Ahead" and the children’s book "If I Made a Bug." She owns Inglestone Publishing and produces cecilymarkland.com, a calendar of LDS events in Arizona.