Heirloom Brides - A Review

Published - November 2015, Barbour Books
Authors - Tracey Bateman, Joanne Bischof, Kim Vogel Sawyer, Mona Hodgson
Title - The Heirloom Brides Collection
Format - ebook, paper
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In this collection of four novellas, four different women find love while each has a "heirloom" item.

Something Old by Tracey Bateman
Summary: Betsy and her grandfather are at the general store when an ice storm delays them. When her grandfather slips on the ice and has to recover, Betsy is forced to admit that her grandfather kept secrets from her that include the fact that she's now homeless! Wanting to reclaim her grandfather's watch, she begins seeking work to repay his debts. Along the way, she's forced to admit her feelings for the son of the mercantile's owner.

My thoughts: This was ok. I've read better. I've read worse. I really enjoyed the secondary characters. Still it was a quick read. Rating - 3 stars.

Something New by Joann Bischof
Summary: Wren's family has had to take in boarders to make ends meet since her doctor father passed away. When the young man who stole her heart years ago returns, Wren is determined to let him go. Only she doesn't realize that he's building her a new home and hoping to marry her!

My thoughts: I think I liked this one the best of all of them. I loved getting to know Wren. I loved that her heirloom item appeared to be the seeds from her British grandmother, when in fact it was a home of her own. Rating - 4 stars

Something Borrowed by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Summary: When Clara's father is injured felling a tree, she must seek help from their neighbors. Painfully shy, and already assuming that she's a spinster, Clara must learn to set aside her fears and reach out to her community, even accepting the "borrowed" help from her nearest neighbor. And of course love happens when she lets down her walls.

My thoughts: This one was different. I loved the fact that the something borrowed was a person and not an object. But watching Clara struggle to  join into her community tore at my heart. Rating - 4 stars.

Something Blue by Mona Hodgson
Summary: Darla arrives back in Cripple Creek hoping to start fresh. She's a nurse now, and while she expects there to be bad feelings between one of the doctors at the hospital, she's hoping that she can just go about doing her job. She doesn't expect to be sent on home visits. Or to be utterly captivated by three little girls and their widowed father, who happens to be a patient of hers. Yet she is. But when her past rears its ugly head, will Darla let go of it once and for all?

My thoughts: It was nice to return to Cripple Creek. I can't say that I really cared much for Darla, though the children stole the show. It was a quick read. Rating - 3 stars

Overall thoughts:
Novellas are a hit and miss with me most of the time. Some are better written than others. Some I'll enjoy more than others. But for people who enjoy quick stories, then novella collections are for them. I do enjoy them, don't get me wrong. But sometimes I like a little more meat.

I received the Kindle version of this book from NetGalley for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Overall book rating - 3.5 stars, rounded to 3

Prairie Song - A Review

Anna Goben and her family have joined the wagon train leaving St. Charles, Missouri. Anna's thrilled at the chance to start over away from the pain of her brother's death. The fact that several of her quilting circle friends are on the trip as well is a bonus for her. Caleb Reger has signed on as a trail hand for the wagon train. He doesn't have time to be distracted by the young beauty that is Anna or the secrets she holds. He has his own secrets. As the trip commences, the two form a tentative friendship. Anna's determined to help her mother overcome her addiction and to protect her at any cost. Yet when Caleb discovers her mother's addiction and knows he can relate, he knows that unless he can talk with Anna, then the fragile relationship they've built will be torn apart. Will their love blossom or break as they travel West?

This is the first in a new series, The Hearts Seeking Home Series. It picks up where the novella series ends. The good thing about this is that Caroline and Garrett's story is continued and has a sense of closure to it. I know I wasn't happy in not getting a sense of closure in the Ripples Toward the Shore novella. This book offers the closure. Some of the characters were endearing. Some had their characters deepen as we'd already met them in the novella series. I'll admit that this book took me a LONG time to really engage into the story. Once I finally did (around page 100 or so), I was enchanted with the story telling. Growing up, I'd always loved to play the computer game Oregon Trail. To actually read about the hardships the travelers faced just in getting out of Missouri and really on the road was very interesting.

Will this book make my to read again list? I doubt it. I thought it turned into a sweet story, but it's not a must own for me. But I will also look forward to the next two books in the series.

I received an advance readers copy of this book from Waterbrook/Multnomah's Blogging for Books program for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of historical fiction, Mona Hodgson, Little House on the Prairie, Janette Oke, Mary Connealy, and gentle reads.

Rating - 3.5 stars, which will be rounded up to 4 stars on Amazon. This is mainly because I had closure for the story of Caroline and while it did take me a while to get into it, parts of the story redeemed it for me.

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Ripples Along the Shore - A Review

War widow Caroline Milburn arrives back in St Charles, Missouri not really wanting to return to her sister's home. Yet for a widow, there's not much else for her. She enjoys her friends in the quilting circle, but her heart longs to start over. Former Confederate officer, Garrett Cowlishaw, has captured her attention. Especially since he's leading a wagon train west. Caroline longs to be a part of the train heading west, but it seems impossible for a woman alone. Will she get her fresh start?

This is the third novella in the Quilted Hearts Series and I was happy to be able to read it since I enjoyed the others. I have really mixed feelings about this one. It was good to get a conclusion to Maren and Emilie's stories from the first two novellas. What was off on this one was that it ended very abruptly. The obvious romance between Caroline and Garrett was almost an afterthought and the reader doesn't get to find out if Caroline and Garrett can overcome their differences to find love. Maybe that question will be answered in the book due out in August where Anna is the main character. I did enjoy connecting with Boney again from the Cripple Creek books. It's rather fun to see him as a young man.

For me, though, the biggest drawback on this book is the way that it ended so abruptly. I, mean, it felt like it was in the middle of the thought and the author decided she was done and had no more to say. Perhaps there could have been a few more paragraphs or pages that would resolve the ending and smooth things out a bit. I don't know. Of the three novellas, this is my least favorite, though it was the one I was most excited to read.

I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program for the purpose of reviewing. I was not required to write a positive review, only to express my thoughts and opinions, which I have done. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Mona Hodgson, historical fiction, novellas

Rating - 3.5 stars, which will be 3 stars on Amazon.

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Bending Toward the Sun - A Review

Emilie Heinrich works with her father at the general store and she's attending classes at the girls college, Lindwood. She still finds time to join the Thursday quilting group out at the Brandenburg farm. She's happy for her friend Maren with her upcoming wedding, but Emilie has to wonder if there is love in her future. Quaid McFarland has returned to St. Charles after the Civil War and is helping in his family's freighting business. When the two meet again after so many years, the attraction is mutual. Yet there is one problem that neither forsaw - that of Emilie's father. Will they be obedient to her father's wishes or go behind his back to be together?

This is the second novella in the Quilted Hearts series. It picks up soon after the end of the first. It's easy to read and understand without having read the first. It was nice to reunite with the characters from the first novella. What I loved about this book was the fact that both Emilie and Quaid respected Emilie's father enough to honor his wishes even though it may have cost them a chance to be together. When one of the friends in thequilting circle finally receives word of her husband's fate, my heart broke for the poor girl. This is a very quick read. I think that I read it in about 2 hours. While there is not the depth of character development in this novella as there is in some of the author's full length novels, the characters are well developed for the length of the story.

Since I understand that a novella is a short story for all practical purposes, and this novella, along with the first and the third, are written to bridge a gap between the author's new book due out in August, I'm ok with the fact that these are short, quick reads. Would I have liked each one to be a full length novel? Yes. But as I'm getting an entire story told in three pieces, it's a pleasure to read it.

I received the Kindle version of the book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of novellas, historical fiction, Tracie Peterson, Colleen Coble

Rating - 4 stars.

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Share your thoughts with me in the comment section. Did you like it, love it, hate it, or just want to tell me Hi? I love to hear from my readers and will respond to comments as I am able.

Dandelions on the Wind - A Review

Maren Jensen never expected to find a place to call home when she took the job on Elsa Brantenberg's farm. The young Danish immigrant has fallen completely in love with the elderly widow and her young granddaughter. When Mrs. Brantenberg's son-in-law comes home after the Civil War, Maren's heart is in jeopardy. Rutherford Wainwright has survived two wars and comes home to the daughter he never took time to know. He didn't expect to find a young woman living on the farm caring for his family. Can the two find a way past the hurts of their pasts into a bright future together?

The first of three novellas set in the years immediately after the Civil War, Dandelions on the Wind introduces the reader to a community where the women of the quilting circle have big hearts and strong faith. I enjoyed this quick read. I think I started it at lunch on one day and finished it at lunch the next. My only complaint is that I wanted more story! But I know novellas are just short novels. Still it was a delightfully quick read.

I received this book for free from Waterbrook/Multnomah's Blogging for Books program for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Mona Hodgson's Sinclair Sisters series, Colleen Coble, Melody Carlson, and fans of short fiction.

Rating - 4 stars

Twice A Bride - A Review

Talented artist and widow, Willow Peterson is seeking a new life in Cripple Creek, Colorado. She's thrilled to be able to be around her brother, pastor Tucker Raines, his wife, Ida Sinclair Raines, and the other Sinclair sisters. Jobless and still trying to make sense of her life, Willow accepts Ida's offer of a job at the family store, yet she longs to be able to use her talents. Photographer Trenton Van Deer is in need of a skilled artist who can paint portraits from his photographs. When he sees a sample of Willow's work, he knows he's found his artist. A few misunderstandings later, the two begin to work together. They also begin to fall in love. What will happen when Trenton's past collides with his hope for the future?

This  is the fourth and final book in the Brides of Cripple Creek Series, but it easily stands alone. I've not read any of the other books in this series but I fully enjoyed this one. I found the characters to be delightful and fun. I loved the boardinghouse owner, Miss Hattie. She also finally finds love. I will soon be reading the other books in this series just so I can get to know the Sinclair Sisters!

I received the kindle e-book for free from the publisher, Waterbrook/Multnomah's Blogging for Books program for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Lori Wick, Karen Witemeyer, Susan Page Davis, Denise Hunter, and Tracie Peterson.

Rating - 4 stars