A Pioneer Christmas Collection: 9 Stories of Finding Shelter and Love in a Wintry Frontier
Author:
Genres: Religion & Spirituality, Romance, Christian Books & Bibles
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genres: Religion & Spirituality, Romance, Christian Books & Bibles
Book Type: Paperback
Although all 9 stories are new to this book, I realized that I'd read two of them in a later publication, Old West Christmas Brides, offered in 2018. The two stories repeated in this book were from Brownley and Gruver. Note, I enjoyed the Gruver story much more this time. Overall score = 4.5 stars.
The 9 stories occur during different time periods and in different areas of America. They all have the same focus on faith (early Americans were deeply religious), personal character, and common decency. The stories I've read thus far are big on personal growth and personal prayer. The stories focus on the attitudes and practices of Christmas before modern commercialization took over.
DEFENDING TRUTH (Shannon McNear) -- G+
It is 1780 in North Carolina and 17-year-old Truth Bledsoe has the job of taking care of her sisters and brother until their father returns from a battle against Tories. She's an excellent shot; while looking for wild game she finds a half-starved Tory hiding in a nearby cave. After feeding him repeatedly, he returns the favor by helping her family. But Micah was the enemy at the battle with Truth's father; can she trust him?
Although the author was spot-on with the rural dialogue, the "youngin's" got a bit old after a while.
THE CALLING (Kathleen Fuller) -- VG
Ohio is the scene of this story and it is 1820. Forty years makes a great difference in the dialogue used. Milly Kent loves being second-in-command and working at a tavern and stop-over station with her father. She's smitten with Elijah Montgomery, a man destined for the ministry out West (according to his parents). Elijah is smitten too but he needs to face some personal demons before he can act on his desires with Milly.
Secondary characters added so much to the depth of this story.
A SILENT NIGHT (Anna Urquhart) -- 2 Stars
It is now ten years later in Michigan Territory (1830). If this story moved any slower, it would have gone backward. I thought this to be a waste of time.
A PONY EXPRESS CHRISTMAS (Margaret Brownley) -- 5 stars
This story is in the Nebraska Territory in 1862. Ellie-Mae Newman is stranded with 2 difficult mules and a broken wagon. She was looking for her twin brother, Andy, a gifted artist. before her guide ran away. Ellie-Mae interrupts a hanging and buys the "thief" for $25. She then announces that she has saved his sorry hide to help her find her brother, along the Pony Express Trail. Michael Corbett has no faith in man or God; Ellie-Mae has enough for two. Delightful.
A CHRISTMAS CASTLE (Cynthia Hickey) -- VG
This story occurs in Arizona Territory, two years after the Civil War (1867). Annie marries by proxy (in Missouri) and travels to meet her husband in Arizona. However, when she arrives, her husband is dead, she has inherited a daughter and men who want her ranch. The only one who is interested in stopping the avalanche of trouble coming toward Annie is her new neighbor, Drake Carter. It seems that there were a few things Annie's deceased husband neglected to mention in his letters to Annie.
A COWBOY'S ANGEL (Lauraine Snelling) -- VG
The Dakota Territory of 1883 is the scene of this story. Jeremiah Jenson finds a man dying instead of returning to his family. Stedman asks Jeremiah to check on his wife and then dies. Jeremiah goes to find Belle Stedman instead of going to his job. He finds that she has just had a baby girl and is almost without food. He decides to stay to help for a while.
A BADLAND'S CHRISTMAS (Marcia Gruver) -- VG+
The very next Christmas in the Dakota Territory (1884). Australian Jonathan Nancarrow and his two daughters have lost everything and are now homesteading on the Dakota plains in a soddie home. These three could not be more ill-equipped for winter in this terrible weather.
BUCKSKIN BRIDE (Vickie McDonough) -- VG
The Oklahoma Territory of 1889 is the scene. Three sisters are alone in the woods, waiting for their father to return. The nine-year-old breaks her ankle and two men try to help. Mattie, who is the one responsible for the group (and the older twin) tries to avoid their help but the weather is bad and Jess adds fever to her other problems. Living in a house is a severe adjustment for Mattie, although the other two sisters enjoy the luxury.
GOLDRUSH CHRISTMAS (Michele Ule) -- VG
It is now 1897 in Alaska. Twins Peter and Samantha Harris are on their way to find their father, Donald Harris, in the wilds of Alaska, where he's been for 2 years. Their mother has died and they want to reunite with their father. They take along the third musketeer of their group, Miles Parker, who left seminary school just before ordination to join the other two. Each person changes in the trials of Alaska; probably none more than Peter. This is a different kind of story.
The 9 stories occur during different time periods and in different areas of America. They all have the same focus on faith (early Americans were deeply religious), personal character, and common decency. The stories I've read thus far are big on personal growth and personal prayer. The stories focus on the attitudes and practices of Christmas before modern commercialization took over.
DEFENDING TRUTH (Shannon McNear) -- G+
It is 1780 in North Carolina and 17-year-old Truth Bledsoe has the job of taking care of her sisters and brother until their father returns from a battle against Tories. She's an excellent shot; while looking for wild game she finds a half-starved Tory hiding in a nearby cave. After feeding him repeatedly, he returns the favor by helping her family. But Micah was the enemy at the battle with Truth's father; can she trust him?
Although the author was spot-on with the rural dialogue, the "youngin's" got a bit old after a while.
THE CALLING (Kathleen Fuller) -- VG
Ohio is the scene of this story and it is 1820. Forty years makes a great difference in the dialogue used. Milly Kent loves being second-in-command and working at a tavern and stop-over station with her father. She's smitten with Elijah Montgomery, a man destined for the ministry out West (according to his parents). Elijah is smitten too but he needs to face some personal demons before he can act on his desires with Milly.
Secondary characters added so much to the depth of this story.
A SILENT NIGHT (Anna Urquhart) -- 2 Stars
It is now ten years later in Michigan Territory (1830). If this story moved any slower, it would have gone backward. I thought this to be a waste of time.
A PONY EXPRESS CHRISTMAS (Margaret Brownley) -- 5 stars
This story is in the Nebraska Territory in 1862. Ellie-Mae Newman is stranded with 2 difficult mules and a broken wagon. She was looking for her twin brother, Andy, a gifted artist. before her guide ran away. Ellie-Mae interrupts a hanging and buys the "thief" for $25. She then announces that she has saved his sorry hide to help her find her brother, along the Pony Express Trail. Michael Corbett has no faith in man or God; Ellie-Mae has enough for two. Delightful.
A CHRISTMAS CASTLE (Cynthia Hickey) -- VG
This story occurs in Arizona Territory, two years after the Civil War (1867). Annie marries by proxy (in Missouri) and travels to meet her husband in Arizona. However, when she arrives, her husband is dead, she has inherited a daughter and men who want her ranch. The only one who is interested in stopping the avalanche of trouble coming toward Annie is her new neighbor, Drake Carter. It seems that there were a few things Annie's deceased husband neglected to mention in his letters to Annie.
A COWBOY'S ANGEL (Lauraine Snelling) -- VG
The Dakota Territory of 1883 is the scene of this story. Jeremiah Jenson finds a man dying instead of returning to his family. Stedman asks Jeremiah to check on his wife and then dies. Jeremiah goes to find Belle Stedman instead of going to his job. He finds that she has just had a baby girl and is almost without food. He decides to stay to help for a while.
A BADLAND'S CHRISTMAS (Marcia Gruver) -- VG+
The very next Christmas in the Dakota Territory (1884). Australian Jonathan Nancarrow and his two daughters have lost everything and are now homesteading on the Dakota plains in a soddie home. These three could not be more ill-equipped for winter in this terrible weather.
BUCKSKIN BRIDE (Vickie McDonough) -- VG
The Oklahoma Territory of 1889 is the scene. Three sisters are alone in the woods, waiting for their father to return. The nine-year-old breaks her ankle and two men try to help. Mattie, who is the one responsible for the group (and the older twin) tries to avoid their help but the weather is bad and Jess adds fever to her other problems. Living in a house is a severe adjustment for Mattie, although the other two sisters enjoy the luxury.
GOLDRUSH CHRISTMAS (Michele Ule) -- VG
It is now 1897 in Alaska. Twins Peter and Samantha Harris are on their way to find their father, Donald Harris, in the wilds of Alaska, where he's been for 2 years. Their mother has died and they want to reunite with their father. They take along the third musketeer of their group, Miles Parker, who left seminary school just before ordination to join the other two. Each person changes in the trials of Alaska; probably none more than Peter. This is a different kind of story.
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