"Newlywed Maya Bredesen and her husband plan their trek as immigrants from Norway to a new life at her cousin's boardinghouse in America, but on one last fateful fishing trip, a fierce winter storm steals away her husband. With her dreams for the future crushed, Maya is left grieving on the voyage to Iowa, accompanied instead by her brother, who plans to move in with the local magistrate and finish his seminary degree.
Arriving at a boardinghouse spilling over with orphans and a newly-married couple, Maya seeks to find her place amid the chaos. A new friendship develops between her and Eben Miller, the reserved, kind neighboring farmer. Just as Maya begins to recover from her wounded heart, more tragedy engulfs her. As she and Eben weather trials together, can they overcome the difficulties this new land holds when it seems so far from becoming home?
Lauraine Snelling creates a heartwarming picture of overcoming grief and embracing love on the Midwestern frontier."
"From Norway to America, they must strive for resilience amid unpromising new beginnings.
On the ship to America, Norwegian immigrant Amalia Gunderson makes a solemn promise to a dying mother, vowing to watch over her five-year-old daughter, Ruth. Together, Amalia and Ruth trek to Iowa to claim the farm and former boardinghouse that Ruth has inherited, despite opposition from a difficult cousin. Struggling with an empty house and scarce resources, Amalia resolves to return the boardinghouse to its former purpose, aided by the kindness of strangers and the resilient spirit of her young charge.
As Amalia and Ruth fight for their new home, a trail of orphans shows up on their doorstep, and Amalia makes a promising friend in Absalom Karlsson, the magistrate's son. With each challenge they face, Amalia and Ruth find hope in believing that faith and determination can overcome even the most daunting of trials.
'Readers will find it easy to root for Amalia as her faith drives her forward, while a host of lovable side characters, including local orphan Hank, add energy and color to the proceedings. Fans of Janette Oke and Tracie Peterson should take note.'—Publishers Weekly "
"Can her dreams for the future—and a budding romance—survive the trouble that comes calling?
Larkspur Nielsen is determined to keep her family homestead running and to fulfill their dream of starting a seed catalog, with or without her siblings’ help. With Isaac McTavish back in town, Lark finds herself at odds with her own heart and her determination to shoulder the burden of carrying her responsibilities alone.
But Isaac is set on convincing her that he’s here to stay and she doesn’t have to carry everything by herself.
As a new romance blossoms between Lilac and an old schoolmate and the other Nielsen sisters are busy caring for their families, Lark bears more and more responsibility on the farm. When a long-feared threat returns and Lark approaches the breaking point, the life she has always dreamed of is in danger of disappearing forever."
"They must set aside their own plans and rely on their faith to bring their true destiny to light.
Lilac Nielsen’s dream has come true: handsome young Reverend Ethan Pritchard has finally noticed her. Yet she must balance this new courtship with the pursuit of another dream—the publication of her artwork in a New York paper. She has secretly been submitting a series of drawings under a pen
name, and if anyone traces the drawings back to her and finds out where Lilac and her sisters settled, the entire Nielsen family could be in danger.
As their family farm expands and Lilac’s relationship with the reverend grows, it’s a time of new beginnings. But when a family crisis back in Ohio shakes the Nielsen sisters, can they continue to build the new life they’ve begun in Nebraska? And will Lilac be prepared for what God has in store for her future?"
"In this novel filled with friendship, grief, and travel gone awry, three friends take their dream trip to Florence, Italy in memory of a beloved woman who has passed away.
As the last will of a close friend is read, three women discover that they have inherited a legacy from her: the funds to take a dream trip to Florence, Italy, in her memory. With plenty of hilarious travel mishaps along the way, this book is a story of deep friendship, of making room in our lives to celebrate and remember, of grief, of the realization that friendship keeps the memory alive, and the sweet discovery of unexpected romance."
"Will their dreams fall apart when confronted with all that is stacked against them?
Delphinium Nielsen and her sisters have accomplished much in the past year, traveling west and settling in Nebraska. They are on their way to building a garden in dedication to their mother and working against the forces of nature to make their farm thrive. However, none of that can mask their concern that they are quickly running out of money. Del's work teaching in their booming town offers hope, not only to support her sisters financially, but also to better her students' lives. Not all of the town sees it that way, though, with the rebuilding of the schoolhouse continually neglected and her brightest student's father demanding he work the farm instead of attend class.
When their brother Anders arrives with his war-wounded and heartbroken friend RJ, Anders sees the strength of the sisters' idea to start a boardinghouse and decides to invest in it. Del finds RJ barely polite and wants nothing to do with him. But despite Del and her sisters' best-laid plans, the future—and RJ—might surprise them all. "
"They’ve been raised to stand strong, but they’ll need more than courage to see them through this journey.
Larkspur Nielsen is ready for change, frustrated by the small-mindedness of her Ohio hometown and its lack of opportunity for her or her younger sisters. But the push to leave comes faster than she ever expected when several of her bold actions for justice earn her vindictive enemies. Overnight, they must pack up and ready to make a new life out West, hoping to escape notice and any opportunities for revenge.
Knowing that four women traveling together will draw unwanted attention, Larkspur dons a disguise, passing herself off as “Clark” Nielsen accompanying his three sisters. But maintaining the ruse is more difficult than Larkspur imagined, as is protecting her headstrong, starry-eyed sisters from difficult circumstances and available young men. Will reaching a safe place to call home ever be possible?"
"'But Mother is always dying,' is Gillian Ormsby's sarcastic response when her younger, favored sister tells her that she has to go take care of their hypochondriac mother. Much against her will, since she and her mother never have gotten along, Gillian arrives in California to find the garden and yard dead, the blinds all drawn, and her mother indeed in bed -- waiting to die. But when Gillian talks with the doctor, he assures her there's no medical reason behind her mother's state.
Now on a mission to restore her mother to health, Gillian insists Mother get out of bed, eat, exercise and hopefully, choose to live. She also sets about reviving the garden to its former glory, enlisting the help of Adam, a handsome man who owns a family gardening business with his father. Gillian is delighted when a pair of hummingbirds appear, and her friendship with Adam grows.
Soon, Mother's health improves, and one day she announces she and her friend Enzio are going on a cruise. Before Gillian has time to turn around, her mother is gone and she is left high and dry again, and wondering, what is she going to do with the rest of her own life?"
"Thorliff and Elizabeth have given long-held ambitions to God, and everything seems to be falling into place … until tragedy strikes.
Thorliff Bjorklund’s dream of becoming a writer is within reach. Working for a newspaper in Northfield, Minnesota, he is busy writing articles and stories to pay
his way through college. But his idyllic world comes to a sudden halt when a catastrophe hits his beloved hometown of Blessing, North Dakota.
While waiting to hear if any of her applications to medical schools are accepted, Elizabeth Rogers takes a nursing position in Chicago. Then a devastating
experience in the hospital ward puts her faith in God and her very life on the line.
They followed their hearts and God’s leading—why was it all turning into ashes in the wind?"
"Pursuing his lifelong ambition brings heartrending decisions. …
A passion for writing has burned brightly in Thorliff Bjorklund’s heart for as long as he can remember. But college life is not as he had imagined, and he finds himself longing for things familiar and loved ones back home. The distance has
even created a rift between Thorliff and his childhood sweetheart, and the only bright spot in his life is his job at the town newspaper. Will he be forced to leave one dream behind to pursue another?
For Elizabeth Rogers, marriage seems out of the question. Since learning that her mother died giving birth to her, Elizabeth has determined to become a doctor in order to save the lives of other women in childbirth. But her stepmother is
pressuring her to give up her education to marry and have children.
Will the second generation hold on to their dreams—or give in to their fears?"
"His dream is to become a journalist. Will his father give his blessing?
Thorliff Bjorklund has been writing since he was a young boy and now longs to attend college to study journalism.
But his father has other plans for him and refuses to agree. To make matters worse, the threat of crop failure may mean
there’ll be no money for further schooling. Thorliff is torn between love for his father and the pull of his dream. Must
he choose between the two?
Elizabeth Rogers has been raised in a life of privilege, yet she has an unwavering determination to become a doctor.
Though she has the support of her family, society is not as kind, for it is nearly impossible for a woman to enter
medical school.
Will the Red River Valley nuture the dreams of its young—or will it fence them in?"
"A Sweet Final Chapter to the Bjorklund Family Saga
After several years of widowhood and hard work, Ingeborg Bjorklund has reached a place of contentment with her life. She enjoys watching Blessing, North Dakota, thrive and grow, filled not only with her extended family, but also newcomers like David Gould. Though a high-society businessman from New York City, David has become a dear friend. But how should she handle the ways their relationship seems to be changing?
Meanwhile, her son Thorliff is raising two children alone, still grieving the loss of his beloved Elizabeth. He is surprised, therefore, by the effect the new schoolteacher, Louisa Gutenberg, has on him. But would his feelings stay the same if he knew the real reason she visits her sister most weekends?
With Blessing advancing forward, Thorliff decides to gather the stories of Ingeborg's life, and subsequently the history of the town, into a book. But with every glimpse into the past, Ingeborg will have to decide if her settled, predictable life is worth more to her than a future she hardly dares to imagine."
