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Texas Dreams #3

Tomorrow's Garden

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Harriet Kirk is certain that becoming Ladreville's schoolteacher is just what she needs--a chance to put the past behind her and give her younger siblings a brighter tomorrow. What she didn't count on was the presence of handsome former Texas Ranger Lawrence Wood--or the way he slowly but surely claims her fragile heart. But can Harriet and Lawrence ever truly put the past behind them in order to find happiness?Readers will love this story of overcoming powerful odds and grabbing hold of happiness. Book 3 in the Texas Dreams series.

401 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2011

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About the author

Amanda Cabot

39 books989 followers
With both parents avid readers, it's no surprise that Amanda Cabot learned to read at an early age. From there it was only a small step to deciding to become a writer. Of course, deciding and becoming are two different things, as she soon discovered. Fortunately for the world, her first attempts at fiction were not published, but she did meet her goal of selling a novel by her thirtieth birthday. Since then she’s sold more than forty novels. When she’s not writing, Amanda enjoys sewing, cooking and – of course – reading.

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5 stars
483 (39%)
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241 (19%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
Profile Image for Loraine.
3,447 reviews
June 5, 2019
"Books can transport you to another time and place."

"Why hadn't she realized that love didn't die? It had merely become dormant. Under the surface it was still alive, waiting for the spring rain to bring it back to life."

Of the three books in this series, this one was definitely my favorite. Both Harriett and Lawrence are wonderful main characters. Harriet's transformation from a Plain Jane to a beautiful swan was lovely to watch. Her self-confidence grew along with her faith. Her care and concern for her students was so sweet. She also learned to let go and let God as she realized that she couldn't control every aspect of her siblings life and that they had to learn from experience about making good choices. Her biggest achievement was conquering her fear of fire due to the death of her parents. Lawrence had his own prior demons that plagued him as he tried to be a good mayor and sheriff for the town of Ladreville. He grew into the jobs and helped the French and German immigrants who settled there turn into the Americans he wanted them to become. There were plenty of wonderful characters that were in books one and two of this series that added to the depth and quality of this book.

Cabot's writing brings old west towns to life and make me enjoy every second of this series. Have to admit I was sad to see it end as I would have liked to find out more about all of the citizens of Ladreville as well as Harriet's siblings, especially Ruth's romance, along with Harriet and Lawrence's continued story.

This series is best read in order as the characters continue from one to the other although new ones are added.
Profile Image for Christy.
299 reviews90 followers
April 21, 2011
Amanda Cabot has quickly become one of my go-to authors. I can't even count the number of times I've recommended her books to my book friends....they're just that good! Her latest offering is the last book in the Texas Dreams Series, and I'm so sad that my time with the citizens of Ladreville has come to an end.

I enjoyed seeing the town through the eyes of Lawrence and Harriet. I have to confess that Lawrence wasn't one of my favorite characters in the last book. He was too stiff and rugged for my taste, and his infatuation with Priscilla got annoying after awhile. However, he was a completely different person in this book. He said goodbye to the life of a Texas Ranger, and stepped into the dual roles of town sheriff and mayor, two jobs that suited him quite well.

Meanwhile, Harriet stepped in to fill the vacancy for school teacher in Ladreville. Not only was she excited to be teaching in a new town, she was anxious to forge a new life for herself and her siblings. I couldn't help but smile at the friendship that developed between Harriet and Isabelle. Isabelle has been one of the most genuine characters throughout the series, and her sweet spirit in this book is not one that I'll soon forget. If it hadn't been for Isabelle, poor Harriet would have never softened her uptight exterior. She also would've been destined to be a victim of the Fashion Police for a LONG time if Isabelle hadn't come to her rescue!

Even more that the two previous books, I felt like I was a part of the town in Tomorrow's Garden. I wanted to scream at Harriet that she needed to keep her distance from Karl. I wanted to convince the townsfolk how important the bridge building was. And I wanted to cheer with joy at Ruth's gradual growth into a more confident young woman. Who wouldn't want to be part of such a community? :o)

If you enjoy such authors as Lori Copeland and Kim Vogel Sawyer, I would strongly suggest you give Amanda Cabot a try. Each book in this series has been filled with so much emotion, and all of them have been nearly impossible to put down! I don't know how in the world I will be able to wait until next year to read her next offering which will be set in Wyoming. :o)

4.5 Stars

**Many thanks to Revell for providing a copy for review.
65 reviews1 follower
Currently reading
November 25, 2020
Lawrence Wood and Harrriet Kirk story

Ms.Amanda I enjoyed the story of Harriet, Ruth, Mary, Daniel, Sam and Jake Kirk's history. I was afraid at one point you had gotten Jake in over his head. Jake was a determined brother on a mission ( his thought as older man of the family) to save his loving sister Harriet from hurt and pain first in the hometown of Fortune where Harriet took on the task of caring for her five younger siblings. Parents unable to care for them a father that drink , their mother had grown tired trying to stop him and begin to stay in bed. The grandparents that once were wealthy that lead their to be weak and drink and gamble away they wealth. After both grandparents passed away, Harriet even started taking Baby Mary to school each day because her mother had not the energy to care for her. Which lead to Harriet's fear of fire. While the children were all at school their home caught fire take both their parents. Harriet met the Parson Bruckner's nephew Thomas and was about the marry him when she learned he didn't really love her and wanted to place her siblings in home or alone with Ruth, for he thought they still possess wealth and he wanted that fortune. Harriet accepted Major Ladre search for a teach after Sarah and Clay was married. This bought The Kirks to Ladreville and Lawarence haven't taken the job of Major and sheriff was the one to greet the family. Again Isabelle seems to be the one to befriend the new comers, but as she gain a friend, she forgot Sarah, Priscilla and Thea who had once been her best friends! I loved the story, I just missed the Sarsh, Priscilla and Thea been included in this story,. Yes, you make them all come alive, it's the reason, I missed the other characters, however, Jake survived his teen growth, Ruth finds her voice and falls in love with Sterling the new Parson. Harriet gives up trying to control even her heart, she turned down Karl Frederich who thought as Old Country taught him to almost buy a wife and her sibling would be farm help.. Lawrence was that ever gentlemen, Ex-Texas Ranger who won her heart! My review doesnt tell half the story, read all three " Texas Dreams " and enjoy!
Profile Image for Katie.
Author 2 books128 followers
April 20, 2011
With some knowledge of the people in the Texas Dreams series behind me (I have read Scattered Petals) and the pretty, cheerful, springtime cover, I was very confident that I would enjoy this new release. Amanda Cabot did not disappoint me. Tomorrow’s Garden was a very pleasant read; the perfect book to curl up with under a tree outside on a beautiful, sunny afternoon.

Harriet was a rather complex character that, while I enjoyed getting to know her in this book, I didn’t connect with her as much as I would have liked. Though we did share one thing in common—the enjoyment we get when discussing books. But even though I didn’t connect with this character as completely as I would have liked, I still enjoyed reading about her. She reminds me a lot of my older sister—she’s a mother hen as well. Ruth was probably the one I grew to understand and connect with the most, and maybe that is because I am a second-oldest daughter myself! :-) I was glad to see that Lawrence—now a former Texas Ranger—was back, as I really grew to like him in Scattered Petals. He is a complex character as well, which makes him the perfect match for Harriet.

While a bit predictable almost from the very first pages, Tomorrow’s Garden still delivered a few surprises along the way. The courtship of Karl was rather humorous, though if I had been the one he was courting I would not have born it! I was rather disappointed in Harriet’s reaction over Lawrence’s occasional drink. I felt it was a bit overmuch on Harriet’s part. But maybe that is just me. The addition of her troubled teenage brother, Jake, also threw in some surprises along the way and added to the story. In the end, I was right in how the book would end, but it didn’t make me enjoy the book less. There were enough surprises and special moments to keep me turning the pages.

Amanda weaves together a lovely story, her words bringing the characters to life. While it didn’t play on my emotions as much as I usually like books to do, it still was written with an undercurrent of feelings. Both Harriet and Lawrence deal with many things during the course of this book and though I never connect enough to ache with the characters, these emotional struggles were still believable.

Tomorrow’s Garden is the third and last installment to Amanda’s Texas Dreams series. It’s a lovely ending, though I am sure fans of this series will be sad to leave Ladreville. But with more from Amanda promised in the near future, I think they will be able to leave Harriet and Lawrence in Ladreville with Sarah, Clay, Priscilla, and Zach. It’s a sweet conclusion to this series.
Profile Image for Victor Gentile.
2,035 reviews65 followers
April 20, 2011
Amanda Cabot in her new book, "Tomorrow's Garden" Book Three in the Texas Dreams series published by Revell takes us back to the town of Ladreville.

No doubt about it I like Westerns. I like, "saddle up your horses" and "we're burning daylight". Am I saying that this book is "The Magnificent Seven" for the 21st Century? No. What I am saying is this book is a lot like the old Gene Autry/Roy Rogers movies that Republic used to put out. It has romance, an ex-Texas Ranger and troubles for each one of them.

Harriet Kirk has come to Ladreville the school teacher there and so that she can take care of her younger siblings. Lawrence Wood is a former Texas ranger who is put in a position of acting mayor of Ladreville. They are attracted to each other but cannot figure out how to get along with each other. Both Harriet and Lawrence have had past traumas and it is up to God to help heal them of their deep emotional pain so that they can move on and enjoy the relationship with each other.

Ms. Cabot is an excellent writer and makes all her characters believable and you care deeply for them as she deftly unfolds the plot before us. While this is the third book in the series if you just pick this one up you will not be disappointed nor feel that you have missed so much by not knowing what happened in the previous two. Ms. Cabot has given us a neat ending to a wonderful series.

If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.

To listen to 24 Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Available April 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Profile Image for Ann.
Author 13 books133 followers
April 25, 2011
In Tomorrow’s Garden, Harriet Kirk is the new schoolteacher in Ladreville, Texas. She takes the job as a means to escape past secrets, but doesn’t realize that Ladreville possesses a few secrets of its own.
As she struggles for acceptance in the community, she also has the daunting task of mothering her younger siblings, some of whom resent the move to a new community. When did teenagers ever feel happy about being uprooted? In her efforts to parent her siblings, and gain respect among the children in her classroom, Harriet comes across as strict and unbending.
Ladreville’s mayor/sheriff is former Texas Ranger Lawrence Wood, who was a minor character in the previous novel in this series, Scattered Petals. He’s made it clear to the community that his tenure there is only to last six months. His early encounters with Harriet leave him thinking that six months is too long.
Tomorrow’s Garden is a heartwarming story of a woman who needs to learn to love. Although this is the last book in the series, it isn’t necessary to have read the first two in order to enjoy every moment of this powerful novel. Amanda Cabot has skillfully woven in bits of backstory without stopping the forward motion of Tomorrow’s Garden. That’s not to say you shouldn’t read the first two books! I recommend the entire series.

My thanks to Revell for providing my review copy. My opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Carly.
281 reviews69 followers
April 22, 2011
It had been a while since I had read a historical western and I was ready to read one. I was really in the mood for a good, relaxing, and romantic historical and I was not disappointed by Tomorrow’s Garden. This book did take a little time to get into and stay engaged at times, but overall I did enjoy it quite a bit. It also took some time for me to like Harriet, which I’m sure was the author’s intention because growth and change are running themes in this story. I like books that revolve around a theme of growth and change, just like a garden in springtime.

I had not read the other books in the Texas Dreams series - although I did buy them - and I’m quite glad I have the other books because I enjoyed Tomorrow’s Garden enough to want to read the first two books in the series. I have become such a fan of historical westerns and Amanda Cabot’s books have definitely found a permanent home on my bookshelf, and I hope there are more to come. I highly recommend Tomorrow’s Garden. It will be enjoyed by all who like romance books, but I think it will be especially enjoyed by historical western fans.
Profile Image for Margaret Chind.
3,210 reviews268 followers
May 27, 2011
Overall I am delighted to meet the imaginative mind of Amanda Cabot within her new Christian Historical Fiction books this one was not my favorite in the series. Yet that all relies on the fact that the main character of Harriett was so difficult to like, which shows that she was complex. There were just so many things about her that made me want to scream. With that said, otherwise I love the series and story behind it all and cannot wait to read the new series starting next year (2012) based in Wyoming. I think that will be fabulous and a different setting than I am used to.

Through out the story I could not guess what would come next, but my interest was peeked and the pages kept turning. I highly recommend this read as I am sure will recommend the entire series.

*Thanks to Revell Books for providing a copy for review.*

“Available April 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Originally posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2...
Profile Image for Tammy Barley.
Author 14 books18 followers
April 27, 2011
An enduring story of sacrifice, patience, and love—the perfect finale to the Texas Dreams trilogy. And for those who currently expect little from life, “Tomorrow’s Garden” may very well inspire you to hope for more. Recommended.
Profile Image for Aerykah.
465 reviews40 followers
August 12, 2015
Pretty good! Seemed kind of slow, though, and didn't hold my attention very well. But that's partly because I've had a lot on my mind which has affected my concentration.
Profile Image for Sandra.
1,497 reviews23 followers
September 21, 2017
I just finished this book, the last in this Texas Dreams series. When I read it, I missed that it was the third of three. Normally I would have went back and started from the beginning. But it also would be a great stand alone book. Right from the start I was taken into the setting of the book along with the characters. Some times when reading a novel if there are too many characters, you get lost. That is not true with Amanda's books. I truly enjoyed everything about it and can't wait to read more. If you love romance, westerns or a good clean novel, I would recommend Tomorrow's Garden.
Profile Image for Amy.
1,909 reviews10 followers
June 4, 2018
I really enjoyed this last installment of the series. I thought the novel as well as the entire trilogy ended on a very positive note. I love a happy ending and these of course were able to deliver that as well as a very impressive plot line. Again, this had a very strong Christian basis and although it was very faith based, I didn’t feel like I was “smothered in it“. Reading a nice clean-cut story was refreshing change from some of the novels out there. I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
234 reviews
July 29, 2017
Part three in the Texas Dreams trilogy. A clean, enjoyable read. Some romance, tragedy, and study of life in a small Texas town. The book can stand alone but reading the other two books first, will help you recognize people as they pop up. Once I got started, I couldn't put it down. I HAD to know how it ended!

ALWAYS check out your local library after reading the first free book to see if the other two can be borrowed instead of bought. Sometime, you can!

Loved the whole series.
Profile Image for Karen & Gerard.
Author 1 book26 followers
August 16, 2017
Of the three books in the series, this was my least favorite but I still enjoyed it. I just didn't like Harriet, the main character, much. I did not like how she treated Jake, her younger brother or how she treated Lawrence. I was glad to see she changed for the better by the end of the book. I really liked Lawrence and how he tried to help Jake. There were parts in this book that made me laugh out loud. It's an entertaining read. (Karen's review)
7,757 reviews50 followers
July 8, 2019
Harriet hoping for new beginnings and more opportunities for her syblings. The town of Laderville has French and German settler’s, and she will be the town’s new teacher. Failed courtship and a brother who seems to always be in trouble, necessitates a move, The sheriff doesn’t want to stay in this town, and he doesn’t want a ready made family. Good story of how he changes his mind. And though she has suitors, will it be him who wins her heart,
563 reviews
September 5, 2020
I really enjoyed this story, but I did have a hard time enjoying Harriet. Overall her character wasn’t horrible, but her determination that things were a certain way no matter what she saw or what people said, drove me a bit nuts. I liked that Lawrence had a chance to redeem himself after the bit of spectacle he made of himself in the second book of this series. It was a fun read, although I must admit, I liked the first two best and better.
400 reviews2 followers
June 24, 2025
A sheriff falls in love with the school teacher.

Enjoyed being back with this author. Lawrence and Harriet story was sweet. It was love at first sight for Lawrence. But Harrirt wasn't ready for love yet she had a lot to lay down. Lawrence did too. Two other men tried to get her to marry them. But they weren't right for her and her siblings. Lawrence was the one she needed. So happy for Ruth and Sterling too and all the new babies. Will read more by this author.
Profile Image for Vicki.
1,704 reviews
October 26, 2020
Awesome end to the Texas Dreams Trilogy. The Texas Ranger, Lawrence Wood has settled down in Ladreville at least for 6 months. Harriet Kirk came to teach school and has her siblings with her. Her parent had died in a house fire. There's so many thing going on in the town good and bad. Great read!
Profile Image for Becca Sue.
16 reviews
December 8, 2021
A beautiful story of life, love, and trials. This is the 3rd book in the Texas Dreams Series and it does not disappoint. I love how throughout the series you get to keep up with the characters you met earlier in the series. I love how Amanda (the author) puts scripture sporadically throughout the book. It's lovely.
2,947 reviews
January 20, 2022
The final book in the sweet burning Christian historical romance Texas Dreams series. This novel features a schoolmarm hidden beauty and a handsome former Texas Ranger as the main couple. I enjoyed the evolution of Lawrence and Harriet's romantic relationship as well as their cooperative efforts to better their community.
Profile Image for Sharon.
891 reviews
March 14, 2018
I loved most of the storyline and I wanted to give the book 4 stars, but Harriet had so many hang-ups that she was definitely carrying around a lot of baggage and almost lost Lawrence.
(I also wish the cover artist would've portrayed Harriet with glasses as she was in the book.)
54 reviews4 followers
July 7, 2020
Best story of struggles by young women taking care paintings as a child herself.

Best historical romance I have ever read. I highly recommend it to everyone
I loved the story. Makes me feel good
Profile Image for Audry.
637 reviews
May 17, 2022
Good story. I understood each protagonist's issue with water and fire, but it was mentioned so much. And Harriet was so pigheaded. Drove me crazy. Felt like the story was being drawn out unnecessarily.
Profile Image for Mark.
2,488 reviews51 followers
May 17, 2023
Great read. This is an author I only started reading a few months ago, and I have enjoyed every book I have read by her.

I love books with families, and really liked this one with Harriet raising 3 younger brothers and 2 sisters
Profile Image for Joy Lokey.
175 reviews
May 17, 2025
A cute tail about a challenged school marm.In the old west trying to raise her siblings after disaster took the lives of their parents, forcing them to move to a new town in Texas. The bachelor ranger turned sheriff Had no idea.
Of the impact of this new family in town
Profile Image for Douglas Thorstad.
18 reviews
December 26, 2017
Personal Reflection

Excellent read as they all are. Love the relationship resolves with God in control
Makes you reflect on your on stubbornness and forgetting God is in control
580 reviews
March 30, 2018
Harriet and Lawrence
This one wasn’t as romantic as the other books in the series. It had some good quotes, though.
Profile Image for Kelli.
515 reviews12 followers
June 11, 2019
My least fav of the trilogy
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews

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