The Dauntless Series
A marriage forged on the frontier. A partnership tested by fire. Historical romantic fiction inspired by true events.
When outspoken abolitionist Daniel Read Anthony meets young heiress Annie Osborn, their shared antislavery ideals bring them together—but his reputation as a firebrand and her sheltered seaside upbringing ignite a clash between respectability and risk. From Martha’s Vineyard to the Kansas frontier, their worlds collide amid an ongoing tempest of conflicting ideologies and border-town tensions. As secrets from Daniel’s volatile past threaten everything they’ve built, will love be enough to save their future—and each other?
The Dauntless Series is a romantic historical women’s fiction trilogy about true events from the family of suffragist Susan B. Anthony, meticulously researched from archives and period newspapers. From Bleeding Kansas through the Civil War and into the long struggle for equal rights, follow Annie and Daniel as they fight for the soul of their country and the love that brought them together.
Perfect for readers who crave character-driven history on the American frontier—gritty, intimate, and redemptive.
Book Three coming in early 2027!
“A very interesting story with many historical events, and I highly recommend it! I give it more than 5 stars!!!”
– B. Erickson about Secrets to the Wind, Goodreads
“Intimate and epic, historical and timeless. This novel burns quietly but leaves a lasting mark.”
– Katie Meyers about Born of this Fire, Goodreads
Companion Stories
Songbird in the Marsh (Dauntless Series Prequel)
Chafing under the confines of Victorian womanhood on her small island, Annie Osborn wants to distinguish herself through her music. But a desperate man in the marsh offers a life more purposeful than fame—if she’s willing to pay the price.
Standalone story. Takes place five years before Secrets to the Wind.
Trust in these Vows (Dauntless Series Companion Story)
When women’s rights reformer Susan B. Anthony hears her strong-willed brother D.R. has married an heiress half his age, she takes it upon herself to save young Annie from her own naivete with some sage financial counsel. After all, a woman should always have a little something to call her own…
Standalone story. Takes place between Secrets to the Wind and Born of this Fire.
Christmas in My Heart (Dauntless Series Companion Story)
When a desperate traveler’s Christmas journey ignites Annie’s unexpected courage, she discovers depths of strength hidden beneath her longing for holiday connection.
Standalone story set during Annie’s first year in Kansas, and is best read after Born of this Fire.
Reading Order for The Dauntless Series
Reading Order
“Songbird in the Marsh” (Dauntless Series Prequel novella)
Secrets to the Wind (Book One)
“Trust in these Vows” (A Dauntless Series Companion Story)
“Christmas in My Heart” (A Dauntless Series Companion Story)
Songs in the Night (Book Three) – Coming 2027!
About the Author
Jeanne Gehret writes women’s historical fiction that explores the emotional and spiritual journeys behind public lives, especially those of Annie and Daniel Read Anthony. Informed by her masters in theology and certification in spiritual care, Gehret uses her passion for untold stories to bring the Anthony family to life through writing, blogging, and historical presentations. Her Dauntless Series draws from years of archival research and a deep interest in how women endure—and transform—through hardship.
Early in her career, she authored the first children’s book about dyslexia, an international bestseller with over 60,000 copies sold.
Reach out to her at Jeanne@JeanneGehretAuthor.com.
