jjares reviewed A Frontier Christmas (Discover the Joys of an Old-Fashioned Christmas) on + 3413 more book reviews
Before picking up this book, Id never read anything by any of these authors; I had no idea what to expect.
Loving Sarah (by Madeline Baker) In retaliation for attacking a band of Indians, they attacked a small farm, killing the husband and stealing the 6 year-old son, Danny. Sarah was in the root cellar when the farm was attacked; as she ran to the ladder, her way was barricaded by an Apache in full face-paint. He stared at her for a long time and then left.
The horses, cattle and food supplies had been taken during the raid, but Sarah found fresh meat and other food outside her door each week. Eventually, Sarah saw her Good Samaritan, an Indian on a large, gray horse.
After giving gifts to each other, they meet; the Indian is a half-breed (Toklanni/ Devlin Dennehy) who was one of the attackers of their farm (the one who could not kill her). The Apaches brother, Noche, stole Danny and was teaching him Indian ways.
Over the course of the fall months, Toklanni and Sarah fall in love and marry. Toklanni returns to his village to get Danny; but Noche will not give up the child without a fight.
A Christmas Angel (by Robin Lee Hatcher) Jennifer Whitmore had a school-girl crush on the man her step sister Christina married, Mick Gerrard. Mikes dream was to move from Chicago and have a farm. After marrying, Mike and Christina moved out west to start life on a farm.
Phoebe was their only child when Christina died. A few years later, Phoebe had an accident, which put her in a wheelchair. The doctor had hopes that Phoebe would be able to walk again, but it seemed doubtful without expensive nursing care. Mick reluctantly wrote to his parents-in-law and was shocked to learn that Jennifer, now a nurse, had given up her Chicago job to care for a niece shed never met.
The Homecoming (by Norah Hess) This story takes place during the Revolutionary War. Jase Harrison, on the rebound from his relationship with Olive Worth, asks Kate to marry him. Starry-eyed over a man 11 years her senior, Kate agrees; they marry minutes before Jase leaves to join Washingtons army.
Olives jealousy drives her to start rumors about Kate; she also announces to all who will listen that Jase is coming back to her, not his wife. Kate lives in fear and worry for 6 months, until Jase gets a Christmas leave from the fighting.
The Greatest gift of All (Connie Mason) A poor widow has to deal with her two childrens high expectations for Christmas when those kids befriend a man who looks a lot like St. Nicholas.
Of the four stories, I liked the first one best (LOVING SARAH); A CHRISTMAS ANGEL was also entertaining. However, the last two stories were really ho-hum. Actually, I thought THE HOMECOMING was awful.
Loving Sarah (by Madeline Baker) In retaliation for attacking a band of Indians, they attacked a small farm, killing the husband and stealing the 6 year-old son, Danny. Sarah was in the root cellar when the farm was attacked; as she ran to the ladder, her way was barricaded by an Apache in full face-paint. He stared at her for a long time and then left.
The horses, cattle and food supplies had been taken during the raid, but Sarah found fresh meat and other food outside her door each week. Eventually, Sarah saw her Good Samaritan, an Indian on a large, gray horse.
After giving gifts to each other, they meet; the Indian is a half-breed (Toklanni/ Devlin Dennehy) who was one of the attackers of their farm (the one who could not kill her). The Apaches brother, Noche, stole Danny and was teaching him Indian ways.
Over the course of the fall months, Toklanni and Sarah fall in love and marry. Toklanni returns to his village to get Danny; but Noche will not give up the child without a fight.
A Christmas Angel (by Robin Lee Hatcher) Jennifer Whitmore had a school-girl crush on the man her step sister Christina married, Mick Gerrard. Mikes dream was to move from Chicago and have a farm. After marrying, Mike and Christina moved out west to start life on a farm.
Phoebe was their only child when Christina died. A few years later, Phoebe had an accident, which put her in a wheelchair. The doctor had hopes that Phoebe would be able to walk again, but it seemed doubtful without expensive nursing care. Mick reluctantly wrote to his parents-in-law and was shocked to learn that Jennifer, now a nurse, had given up her Chicago job to care for a niece shed never met.
The Homecoming (by Norah Hess) This story takes place during the Revolutionary War. Jase Harrison, on the rebound from his relationship with Olive Worth, asks Kate to marry him. Starry-eyed over a man 11 years her senior, Kate agrees; they marry minutes before Jase leaves to join Washingtons army.
Olives jealousy drives her to start rumors about Kate; she also announces to all who will listen that Jase is coming back to her, not his wife. Kate lives in fear and worry for 6 months, until Jase gets a Christmas leave from the fighting.
The Greatest gift of All (Connie Mason) A poor widow has to deal with her two childrens high expectations for Christmas when those kids befriend a man who looks a lot like St. Nicholas.
Of the four stories, I liked the first one best (LOVING SARAH); A CHRISTMAS ANGEL was also entertaining. However, the last two stories were really ho-hum. Actually, I thought THE HOMECOMING was awful.
