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| The Homestead Brides Collection |
Five Stars ***** for this collection!
The Homestead Brides "Nine Pioneering Couples Risk All for Love and Land" from Barbour Publishing (February, 2015)
Destined to be a BEST SELLER!!! Don't wait--go and BUY yourself a copy ASAP!!!
All of the novellas in this collection are wonderful. There wasn't a weak one in the bunch which is pretty unusual. The authors are: Carla Olson Gade, Darlene Franklin, Erica Vetsch, Pam Hillman, Mary Connealy, Ruth Logan Herne, Kathleen Y'Barbo, DiAnn Mills, and Becca Witham.
Our OWG blog guest this week, Carla Olson Gade, wrote "Proving Up", set in Swedeburg, Nebraska in 1885. Nils Svensson has worked hard for years to establish hardy trees. He's waited for his wife to return to Nebraska after she returned to a less-demanding life back home with her parents. Enter widowed Elsa Lindstrom, Swedish like Nils, and she has somehow procured land he'd expected to purchase. Instead, Elsa and her two younger brothers now occupy what he'd hoped to expand his orchards to. Elsa, too, plans to develop a tree nursery. Can these two like-minded Swedes work together? Lovely story and characterization and some sigh-worthy love scenes. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
Watch for Noela Nancarrow's review on Thursday of ALL nine stories!!! She'll have a separate giveaway.
Giveaway: A copy to one of our commenters. I recommend the paperback version as it has the lovely deckle edges on the pages plus it has built in bookmark cover ends that bend into the cover's interior.
Thank you for your enticing review, CARRIE! Carla's sounds like a lovely story and here is an interesting fact about Diana that a lot of people don't know! Even though I'm a South Carolinian and have been for many years, I was born in Nebraska! So stories that take place there intrigue me. I was only about 2-3 when my parents moved from there, but I do remember a lot of snow and me sitting outside on my tricycle (I was too little to ride it yet) and some bigger kids pushing me over. I got bloody knees so that left a lasting impression on me. LOL When I got a bit older and questioned my mom about it, sure enough it was in Nebraska. Hard to believe I was that young and can remember that incident.
ReplyDeleteThat is neato, Diana!!! I did NOT know that you'd lived in Nebraska. You are gonna love this book!!!
DeleteNebraska! That's so interesting, I just wish you had a better memory than that, Diana.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your great comments about my story, Carrie!! I love this book and am blessed to be part of the collection.
I do remember the lovely, deep snow, Carla! It isn't something we see much of in SC, although one might think we do. When it does snow it lasts a day for the most part, which is fine by me! Congrats on being a part of this wonderful collection!
DeleteDelightful read, Carla, and I liked that they both had emotional baggage they were dealing with.
DeleteWonderful review Carrie and I completely agree - Each and every novella in this collection is a treat to read!! Carla, your story was fascinating and enjoyable to read in regards to proving up the land in Nebraska with trees and orchards, and then topped with that sweet romance! :-) A beautiful book!!
ReplyDeleteTY Noela, I can't wait to read YOUR amazing review of ALL the novellas!!!
DeleteLove to win a copy to read !! Blessings ,DanaGirl
ReplyDeleteYou'll be in for the drawing, Dana!
DeleteCARRIE I know you are very busy and can't always do reviews but I always love them!! This sounds like a wonderful book! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI was even in my editing CAVE when I wrote this, my SNOW CAVE lol!!! That's how much I wanted to get this review up, Teresa! TY!!!
DeleteThat's right, Theresa. Carrie even made me want to read it! Lol
DeleteThanks for the review, Carrie! You guys just have to see this book to realize how gorgeous it is. I'm thrilled beyond measure to be part of this collection. And the flaps can be used for bookmarks? Who knew??? I never thought of that.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's why I suggest the paperback. Barbour has really done a fab job with the covers on these collections. Yes, when you got your author copies, that's what readers do with the double book mark cover ends--you can read from BOTH ends of the book because it has so many stories! LOVED your story, Pam!!!
DeleteGreat idea, Carrie, to read it front to back and back to front using those flaps.
DeleteThank you for a wonderful review! I would love this book, for sure! Thank you for the opportunity!
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
Melanie, you must read this book, you'll love all the stories in it!!!
DeleteThere's been a lot said about this beautiful book, and I know the authors are fabulous! Great review!
ReplyDeleteSusan in NC
susanlulu@yahoo.com
Yes, hard to miss with that lineup of authors, Susan, I agree! TY!
DeleteI do enjoy reading a novella collection occasionally, especially one with a story by Mary Connealy. I'm not familiar with all nine of the authors, but I've found that a novella collection can be a good introduction to new (new to me, anyway) authors. Thanks for the review and the chance to win The Homestead Brides Collection.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy novellas, Pam! You're welcome, we hope our readers will want to buy the book if they don't win. We have three chances this week!
DeleteI would love to read this book
ReplyDeleteoh.hello.hiya@gmail.com
great book!
DeleteI would love to read this book
ReplyDeleteI love reading the novella collections. I am always introduced to at least one new author. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteldwrncpn(at)comcast(dot)net
Me, too, Lori! Novellas are the best type of reading for me because of my schedule. And I do enjoy reading new authors in these collections, too. You are welcome!
DeleteI'm looking forward to sitting down with this collection.
ReplyDeleteAWESOME! Now I want the paperback all the more! ;) It helps that I am a die hard paperback reader! :D
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Amada (pronounced: a.m.a.th.a)
amada_chavezATyahooDOTcom
Yes, you want the paperback of Homestead Brides because the books is so pretty, Amada! Blessings!
DeleteYes it is! There are two things I have an issue with in some ebooks. 1 sometimes it's a pain to look at the cover when I want to get a better look after reading a part in the middle of the book! And 2 there's normally no back cover with book description! LOL!
DeleteI LOVE LOVE LOVE the sun flowers! They brighten everything up! :)
Hugs, Amada
I just love the way this big, beautiful book feels in my hands. The decked edges even feel so comfy beneath my fingers. I hope you'll all get a chance to read this collection. I'm so pleased to be included as one of the authors.
ReplyDeleteThank you for my copy, Carla, it is so lovely!
DeleteA gifted group of authors for what has to be one awesome inspiring book , with a beautiful cover and pages, to boot - I'm looking forward to reading the wonderful stories within!! Thanks for the review, Carrie!!
ReplyDeleteShared post!!
Bonnie, I hope you got your copy by now and you'll get to read soon! Blessings!
DeleteHello Carrie. I always take paperbacks when I can and I love the way they fix these book covers and edges of the pages. Of course if I had lots of money, I would have them all in Hardbacks. :) Each one sounds really good. Sure hope I can get lucky and win one. (((Hugs))) to each of you OWG ladies. All such loyal friends. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
ReplyDeleteI have no more room in my house for books unless on my Kindle, but this pretty book is so lovely I may have to make an exception, Maxie! Hugs and love to you dear lady!
DeleteI love the paperback version of these books! Something about the outside edges that makes them so unique, then you get the bonus of great writing! I really enjoy pioneer stories, so this is a win win!
ReplyDeleteI think this was a great idea by the editor to come up with this collection, Nancy. And whoever decided on the design details did an awesome job!
DeleteI don't read a lot of novella collections, but this one had some good authors in it!
ReplyDeletepattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
Love novellas, Patty! Especially with me homeschooling right now. LOTS of great authors in this collection and the stories are wonderful!
DeleteThis book cover is gorgeous and the pages are wonderful as well. I love novellas,especially one packed with such excellent authors as this book is ! Carrie, you did an excellent review on this one. All your reviews are excellent though !
ReplyDeleteI love historical and have been wanting to read this since I've first seen it months ago !
TY, Dee! You have got to read this collection! Did you get a copy?
DeleteSo glad to have so many commenters with such encouraging remarks! Thanks again, Carrie, for featuring "Proving Up" with the excellent review!
ReplyDeleteCarla, I just loved how you went a little out on a limb and included two characters who weren't "typical" for this love story.
DeleteSome of my favorite authors; all in one book! Sounds like a wonderful collection of stories! rmaney(at)firstarpchurch(dot) org.
ReplyDeleteLots of great authors here--sounds like a wonderful collection!
ReplyDelete