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| A Pioneer Christmas Collection |
by Lauraine Snelling, Margaret Brownley, Kathleen Fuller, Marcia Gruver, Cynthia Hickey, Vickie McDonough, Shannon McNear, Michelle Ule, and Anna Urquhart.
Barbour Publishing, Inc. (September 1, 2013)
Reviewed by Noela Nancarrow
5 STARS *****
A PIONEER CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
I love Christmas and I love Christmas reads! Throw in a
whole bunch of exceptional authors and you’ve got a real treat! This
compilation of original and inspiring historical romance novella’s will entertain
you with their appealing and intriguing tales of pioneer life and love in
untamed lands. Each story concludes with the new pioneers celebrating Christmas
in unconventional dwellings.
‘The Calling’ by
Kathleen Fuller centers around a tavern in Unionville, Ohio, that also
doubles as a stagecoach stop. Elijah Montgomery is pushed by his parents to
travel and preach. Is he just being obedient to his folks or hearing the
calling himself? What part might Milly, the lovely tavern girl who works for
her father, have in helping Elijah to find his destiny?
‘A Silent Night’
by Anna Urquhart illustrates the struggles of a mother and young child surviving
on their own in the woodlands of Michigan Territory in 1830. Refusing a
marriage of convenience that most women would have taken up leaves Lorna
vulnerable and unprepared for winter. How can she possibly survive and will
they get their Christmas miracle that 6 year old Afton is praying for?
'A Pony Express
Christmas' by Margaret Brownley has the bloomer-clad Ellie-May Newman searching
across the unforgiving Nebraska Territory for her missing brother who rode for
the Pony Express. After saving a man, she informs him he’ll be helping her on
her quest. There’s an interesting love triangle in this story and an unexpected
outcome for Ellie at the end of the trail. Margaret Brownley is a brilliant
storyteller and this tale is a hearty feast for a novella!
‘A Christmas
Castle’ by Cynthia Hickey ambushes Annie Morgan with quite a few
eye-popping revelations when she arrives at her ranch in Prescott, Arizona, to
chase down her new husband who was supposed to meet her in town. This story by
Cynthia was fast-moving, delightfully romantic, and especially captivating!
‘The Cowboy’s
Angel’ by Lauraine Snelling has a very pregnant woman and her son living on
the Dakota Territory plains in 1875 waiting for her husband to return home
after leaving weeks earlier to purchase supplies. With a baby coming, a 4 yr.
old son, animals to care for, and snowstorms, Belle is in much need of a
Christmas miracle from God’s angels. What could have befallen her husband?
‘A Badlands
Christmas’ by Marcia Gruver soon has Australian Jonathon Nancarrow journeying
from sophisticated New York City along with his two daughters to the small town
of Medora in the heart of the wilderness, still seeking peace and healing after
the death of his wife. His eldest daughter Noela takes quite a while adjusting
to the overwhelming differences, especially having to live in a house made of
dirt and grass called a soddie! Will this little family survive a harsh Dakota
winter here and can Noela find love in the wilderness? Marcia Gruver writes an
immensely memorable and highly entertaining read, delivering an enchanting
story with a very sweet romance.
‘Buckskin Bride’
by Vickie McDonough takes us to Oklahoma Territory in 1889 to where Mattie
and her two sisters Milly and Jess are living in a tipi, which unknowingly
happens to be on handsome Irishman Conall Donegan’s land. Their father hasn’t
returned and Mattie having been left in charge feels a huge responsibility to
keep her sisters safe, fed, and sheltered. When Jess is hurt and they are all
discovered, Mattie feels like everything is falling apart. Can things come
together for Christmas?
‘The Gold Rush
Christmas’ by Michelle Ule delivers an interesting and unique story with
twins Samantha and Peter Harris travelling to Skagway, Alaska with good friend
Miles. What sets out as a search for the twins’ father ends up becoming so much
more for all three of these ‘musketeers’. This takes place during the 1897 Gold
Rush bringing many unsavoury characters to the region; however this story which
is based on a true account ends with an extraordinary Christmas inspired
conclusion.
*Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley*
*Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley*
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This book may be purchased through Amazon; CBD; Deeper Shopping; Barnes or Noble; or your local bookstore.
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GIVEAWAY: We have 2 books of 'A Pioneer Christmas Collection' for giveaway this week. Marcia Gruver has kindly donated a book with signatures from all nine authors, and Carrie Fancett Pagels will be giving away another copy of this book!
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QUESTION: There are wonderful Christmas miracles illustrated in the stories throughout this book. We'd love you to share a Christmas miracle of your own if you have one! Otherwise, tell us what is special about Christmas for you?
