This is an excellent book.Cynthia was my favorite character since she was caught in an unenviable situation, being expected to marry a man she did not respect or love to support her mother and herself....when the wagon train caught in the high sierras on the way to California found a cabin for respite, the travelers got to know one another better....and the Merry Christmas delight develops. Cynthia, Mabel and Virginia all find a man they love and can marry.


I read it in one sitting because it is such a thoughtful page turner.

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The Christmas Prayer written by New York Best selling author Wanda Brunstettler. This book is about wagon train heading to California from Independence Missouri back in 1850. They had a late start. There are Cynthia Cooper and her mom,Walter Prentice,There a widowed with two children and a young man and his sistter. The trail is long and hard and tiring. They all want to be in California before christmas. The two children Amelia and her brother Alan they are worried that Santa wont find them. The weather is getting bad and they need to find somewhere out cold and snow. The window Jack set out to find food and place out the cold. When he come upon a cabin in the wood he checks it out to mark sure it safe. He nock on the door no answers so he goes in check it out. He goes back to the wagon train to let them know he find this small cabin so they can get out the cold weather. This book is really good and i would recommend to my family and friends. I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher but was not require to write a positive review. I hope you will read this book and enjoy has much as i have.

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The Christmas Prayer by Wanda E. Brunstetter takes us back to April 15, 1850. Cynthia Cooper along with her mother, Mabel are embarking on a journey to California via wagon train. They are going with Cynthia's fiancé, Walter Prentice. They are late arriving in Independence, Missouri and the wagon train they were joining has already departed. Instead, they link up with two other families and begin their long journey to California. The other parties in the train are Cole Edwards along with his sister, Virginia as well as Jack Simpson, a widower traveling with his two young children, Alan and Amelia. Rain, mud and wagon repairs delay their journey. The group find themselves at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains when snow begins to fall. Thankfully, Cole finds an empty cabin where they stay while they wait for better weather. Eight weeks later they are still in the cabin and Christmas is approaching. The ladies try to figure out how to provide Christmas for the children with their meager supplies. The more time Cynthia spends in Walter's company, the less she wishes to marry him. How else, though, can she provide for her mother since their father died leaving them penniless. Cynthia decides to pray on the matter and leave it with God. What choice will Cynthia make? Will this group of intrepid travelers make it to California?

The Christmas Prayer is a well-written novel with steady pacing and smooth transitions. The POV switches between a couple of the characters allowing readers different perspectives. The Christmas Prayer is a short story of 176 pages. I did feel it was a little predictable and the ending was rushed, but I appreciated the epilogue. The paperback version is just lovely with a beautiful cover that has metallic red border and pretty edging around each page. Wanda Brunstetter captured the spirit of a wagon train and the feelings the people were experiencing. It was a long, grueling journey where anything could happen. Illness, wagon repairs, sick animals, lack of food, Indians, wild animals, mud bogging down the wagons are just a few things that they would encounter. The people could not ride continually because it would wear out the oxen. The walking had to be exhausting. I like how the author included Cynthia's journey entries. It allows readers a peek at her thoughts and what she was feeling. I liked the variety of characters with one of my favorites being Abe Jones. The Christian element is light, but the point is made. God is there for us. Prayer and steadfast faith will help you get through the tough times. We need to rely fully on Him, for with God, all things are possible. The ending is happy and heartwarming. The Christmas Prayer is a sweet, historical romance. My rating for The Christmas Prayer is 4 out of 5 stars.

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An easy read non Amish book by Wanda Brunstetter. Each character has their own journey across the country during the gold rush days. You want to keep reading to find out what happens to each character on their journey.

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