Changing Seasons

Mona Hodgson continues the saga of families in Saint Charles with book three in the “Quilted Heart Series,” Ripples Along the Shore. Book two introduced us to Caroline Milburn, newly widowed, as we discover the ravages of the Civil War on other Missouri families; her sister Jewel and her quilting friends Harriet and Anna. 

Caroline has softened her attitude toward the wagon master, Garrett Cowlishaw, with the Boone’s Lick Wagon Train Company. She can almost forgive him for being on the other side of the fighting in the war which killed her husband. Half of the families in the Quilting Circle are planning to travel west to California. Caroline can no longer tolerate her sister’s husband and takes his advice to join the wagon train.

Conflict ensues once more when Mr. Cowlishaw explains that single women may not travel alone on the treacherous journey. God’s providence steps in to work all things to the good of those that love the LORD. 

  

Mrs. Brantenberg, the widow who holds the quilting circle on her farm, says, “The LORD has quilted our hearts together in those seasons of love and loss, sorrow and joy.  Life’s changing seasons are as persistent as the ripples along the shore.”

Two quilts will serve to keep the friends connected as one quilt will remain in Saint Charles and the other will go out west. A circular letter written by the ladies will keep in touch with the changes in their lives.

The third book is a bridge into the new series, “Hearts Seeking Home.” Each book celebrated the romantic relationships of the ladies in the quilting circle. Book two has several weddings. While the novellas of first series are short in length, Prairie Song is a full length novel.

I received this ebook from Waterbrook Multnomah for review.

Wagons on the Prairie

Mona Hodgson continues the story of Maren Brandenburg, her new husband and her step-daughter, Gabi from Dandelions on the Wind. As they join the other friends from the “Quilted Heart Series” in Prairie Song.  This novel depicts friends and strangers together battling the elements and human fragility as wagons heading westward to the Promised Land of California. 

Anna Goben is the main character throughout the novel, but Caroline Milburn, newly widowed, and nanny to the many Kamden children fills much of the story. I believe it is Caroline on the cover, but there is no mention of her character or her love interest on the back cover.

Anna Goben is eighteen years old and much too young to shoulder the burden of leading her aging German Grossvater and depressed mother to California. Hoping the new frontier will snap her Mutter out of her miserable condition and weakness for alcohol. A condition plaguing her Mutter since news that Anna’s beloved brother Derrick, her mother’s only son, died in the war.

Sometimes strong emotions such as anger, passion, fear, or grief, lends themselves to love. The Garrett Cowlishaw, the wagon master with the Boone’s Lick Wagon Train Company, and his group of trail hand offer many opportunities for romance.  God’s providence and grace is once again forefront in Hodgson’s novel. Caleb Reger learns from Isaac the depths of God’s love and forgiveness.

 The author seems to offer an unusual nickname in both novels that I have reviewed; Woolly, the curly headed character of Maren’s husband to be  from Dandelions on the Wind and Boney, close friend of the Goben family in this novel returning from the war with news of Derrick’s death.

The company of wagons includes a group of folks from many nationalities. The Frenchman Dr. Le Beau and his family, Isaac a freedman from Georgia, along with the Zanzucchi boys will give Hodgson much to expound on in the next books of the “Heart Seeking Home” series.

I received this paperback from Waterbrook Multnomah for review.

Grace cannot be earned.

The cover of Mona Hodgson's book was the first thing that drew my attention. The title, Dandelions on the Wind was so enchanting. Dandelions are coming up everywhere I look in book titles, jewelry, etc. This was my first time I have read this author, but I enjoyed the easy read.

This is a sweet sensitive story of a young immigrant girl from Denmark coming to America for a prearranged marriage. Maren was slowing going blind and the marriage fell through. She gratefully acquires room and board working for a poor widow and her young grandchild. Mrs. Brantenburg’s granddaughter was Gabi, whose mother had died in childbirth and her father left immediately to go to war. The three females live a companionable existence enjoying their friendship. When along comes Woolly, causing a change in the arrangement.

The ending is predictable but as an avid reader of Amish novels, I enjoyed the German sprinkled throughout the conversation. If you always pull for the underdog you will really enjoy this short book portraying forgiven. One of the quotes from the book still stays with me. “Grace cannot be earned, only given.”  I received this eBook from Waterbrook Multnomah for review.