The Prairie Romance Collection by Cathy Marie Hake, Judith Miller, Lynn A Coleman, Mary Davis, Linda Ford, Lena Nelson Dooley, Linda Goodnight, Kathleen Paul & Janet Spaeth - Review of the 9 Historical Romances from America's Great Plains

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Expanding western borders, taming the land, and finding a place in which to live and love defines the pioneer heart. Within this unique collection are nine stories of romance on the American Great Plains penned by nine different multi-published authors.

After the Harvest by Lynn A Coleman

Love Notes by Mary Davis

Mother's Old Quilt by Lena Nelson Dooley

The Bride's Song by Linda Ford

The Barefoot Bride by Linda Goodnight

The Provider by Cathy Marie Hake

Freedom's Ring by Judith Miller

Returning Amanda by Kathleen Paul

Only Believe by Janet Spaeth

Follow pioneers, immigrants, and orphans through their adventures, heartaches, challenges, victories, and romances. Your are sure to have more than one favorite to warm your heart and encourage your faith.

MY  REVIEW

I really enjoy the omnibus books with the short stories. They may take a while to read but each story tells how the pioneers had to depend on faith and even if they are afraid to step out in faith when they do it usually turns out for the good of each party involved. I just have to admire the hard work our ancestors went through to build this country and their determination to succeed.

A Light In the Window by Julie Lessman - Review of the prequel to the Daughters of Boston series

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(from Amazon.com)

One Woman. Two Men.
One stirs her pulse and the other her faith.
But who will win her heart?

Marceline Murphy is a gentle beauty with a well-founded aversion to rogues. But when two of Boston's most notorious pursue her, she encounters a tug-of-war of the heart she isn't expecting. Sam O'Rourke is the childhood hero she's pined for, the brother of her best friend and a member of the large, boisterous family to which she longs to be a part. So when his best friend Patrick O'Connor joins in pursuit of her affections, the choice seems all too clear. Sam is from a family of faith and Patrick is not, two rogues whose wild ways clash head-on with Marcy's--both in her faith and in her heart.

While overseeing the Christmas play fundraiser for the St. Mary's parish soup kitchen--A Light in the Window--Marcy not only wrestles with her attraction to both men, but with her concern for their spiritual welfare. The play is based on the Irish custom of placing a candle in the window on Christmas Eve to welcome the Holy Family, and for Marcy, its message becomes deeply personal. Her grandmother Mima cautions her to guard her heart for the type of man who will respond to the "light in the window," meaning the message of Christ in her heart. But when disaster strikes during the play, Marcy is destined to discover the truth of the play's message first-hand when it becomes clear that although two men have professed their undying love, only one has truly responded to "the light in the window."

MY  REVIEW

Although I have had this book and some others by Julie for quite sometime with good intentions of reading them, I must say that it took me entirely too long to get around to it. That's what happens when your TBR pile is too high and continues to grow.

I found this story very enjoyable even though I was screaming (in my mind) at Marcy a lot. The sad part is that what Marcy was doing happens all to often in real life. We know we shouldn't judge people because of their past, their family, etc. but we do just that and don't even realize we are doing it. Oh if we could only see the full picture as we do when reading a story life would be so much better. There is a lesson to be learned here, practice what the Bible tells us to do, don't just expect others to practice it and remember that not one of us is perfect so be willing to forgive others and accept that we all can change no matter what our past is.

Stolen by Vikki Kestell - Review of the fifth book in A Prairie Heritage series

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(from Amazon.com)

Denver, 1910: Stolen returns to Denver and Palmer House--a most extraordinary refuge for young women rescued from prostitution--and to the lives of Rose Thoresen, Joy Thoresen Michaels, and their unorthodox "family."

Taking up where The Captive Within leaves off, Stolen finds Mei-Xing safe, but after six harrowing monts of captivity, Mei-Xing stuns those who love her when she returns to Palmer House with child.

If Su-Chong's mother, Fang-Hua Chn,  discovers that her son, now dead, has left behind a child, will she allow Mei-Xing to keep him--or will she set in motion plans to steal him away? Will O'Dell, Martha Palmer, Minister Liang, and others concerned for the safety of Mei-Xing and her child be forced to face off with those who would see Mei-Xing and the work of Palmer House destroyed?

MY  REVIEW

All I can say is that I must have been so ANXIOUS to read the next book I completely forgot to do this review! I guess that must tell you how good this one was. Vikki put a lot of activity in this one and you are on the edge of your seat reading it. There are tears and fear both in this story, you will find it hard to put down. Oh yes, another winner as far as I'm concerned! You too will want to hurry on to book six, "Lost are Found".

Lost Are Found by Vikki Kestell - Review of the sixth book in A Prairie Heritage series

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(from Amazon.com)

Joy Thoresen Michaels has lost the two most precious people in her life: her husband and her only child. She cannot receive her husband back from the dead, but she has hope for her son--hope that he will be recovered:

"I spoke a moment ago about my prairie heritage--the enduring faith my papa and mama lived as an example for me. It is because of their faith that I have such hope for Edmund even though he is, today, lost to us."

"You see, what is lost to us is not--is not--lost to God! I remember Papa saying this very thing: In God, the lost are found. Our Lord sees the entire world--and nothing in all of his creation is hidden to him! I am comforted to know that wherever Edmund is, God is there with him."

Four families bind themselves in a solemn pledge: They vow to never stop searching for Edmund and to never stop trusting that God will restore him to them, whether in this life or the next.

Lost Are Found, the conclusion of this spiritually rich series,chronicles how God answers those who utterly trust in him, no matter the circumstances--and no matter how long the wait.

MY  REVIEW

What an outstanding finish to a series! I cannot find the words to express how moved I was by this book/series. To think that one woman that has been gone for many, many years can manage to still bring someone to surrender herself to Christ is just amazing. Rose's journaling has impressed me throughout this series, you really need to read this series starting with book one to get the full impact. I was so drawn into this book that I think I read a little more than half of it, to get it finished, today, I just couldn't put it down! If you don't shed some tears while reading this I just don't know what to tell you.

I HIGHLY recommend this SERIES to you, I don't think you will be disappointed. Vikki did a fantastic job, so good that when I'd start one of the books I did more reading on my Kindle than I did of 'hands-on' books, and that is very unusual!

The Captive Within by Vikki Kestell - Review of the fifth book in A Prairie Heritage series

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(from Amazon.com)

The Captive Within picks up the day after Joy on This Mountain ends. The two infamous houses of Corinth, Colorado, are closed and the young women who had been imprisoned there have been released. Rose and Joy leave Corinth to establish a home and a haven for "their" girls in Denver.

Before long, Rose and Joy face a heartbreaking challenge: What does it take to unlock and free the soul of a defiled woman? and as they wrestle for a foothold in Denver, Rose discovers that the long abandoned house given to them hides a dark secret of its own.

MY  REVIEW

Although this book kind of strayed off of the Thoresen family, don't get me wrong Joy and Rose are still very much in the story, I still found the book compelling. It is amazing what Joy and Rose are able to do for the 'abused' women in that day and time, and such faith they have even when things don't look good. I like that Vikki has Rose writing in a journal and we get to know her feelings and just reading those entries can encourage a person in their own faith.

I was so anxious to read the next book that I'm half done with it and I'm just now writing the review for this one. I so encourage you to read this series, it is turning into something I totally did not expect. Not only am I half done with Stolen, which I can hardly put down, I have to purchase the sixth one in the series, Lost Are Found!

The Fruitcake Challenge by Carrie Fancett Pagels - Review of the third book in the Christmas Traditions Series

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(from Amazon.com)

When new lumberjack, Tom Jeffries, tells the camp cook, Jo Christy, that he'll marry her if she can make a fruitcake, "as good as the one my mother makes," she rises to the occasion. After all, he's the handsomest, smartest, and strongest axman her camp-boss father has ever had in his camp--and the cockiest. And she intends to bring this lumberjack down a notch or three by refusing his proposal. The fruitcake wars are on! All the shanty boys and Jo's cooking helpers chip in with their recipes but Jo finds she'll have to enlist more help--and begins corresponding with Tom's mother.

Step back in time to 1890, in beautiful Northern Michigan, near the sapphire straits of Mackinac, when the white pines were "white gold" and lumber camps were a way of life. Jo is ready to find another life outside of the camps and plans that don't include any shanty boys. But will a lumberjack keep her in the very place she's sworn to leave?

MY  REVIEW

Carrie did a great job on this short story. I don't like fruitcake, my mom loved it and used to make it, but it made for a good storyline and I liked how everyone in the camp seemed to get in on the contest in one way or another. If you want something quick and fun to read I would recommend this to you.

I was given this e-book as a gift from the author, she did not request a review be done. This review is my honest opinion of this book.

The Farmer's Bride Collection by DiAnn Mills, Kimberley Comeaux, Susan K Downs, JoAnn A Grote, Ellen Edwards Kennedy, and Debby Mayne - Review

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A Season to Sow, A Season

to Reap, a Season to Love

Homesteads fueled the expansion of America, and these farms depended on families to run them. In this collection of six down-on-the-farm stories, marriages are formed often with the future of the land in mind before romance.

One Little Prayer by Kimberley Comeaux

The Tie That Binds by Susan K Downs

A Homesteader, a Bride, and a Baby by JoAnn A Grote

The Applesauce War by Ellen  Edwards Kennedy

Sunshine Harvest by Debby Mayne

New Beginnings by DiAnn Mills

From Minnesota to Florida, New York to Kansas, and Ohio to Louisiana, heroic men and women make sacrifices in order to create a home, bring in the harvest, and secure a future for the next generation. But will love, friendship, and faith also flourish out of the land God entrusts to them?

MY  REVIEW

I enjoy these collections of short stories, such a variety and usually very good stories. It's amazing that in the 'old' days people would meet, get married within days or weeks and they were good marriages that lasted. Today if someone gets married after a year people will tell you to wait until you know your 'intended' better. Also if more people would work at their marriages, be willing to forgive each other, discuss things instead of giving up there wouldn't be so many divorces. I liked each of these stories and would recommend this book to others. Wonderful stories of couples working together.