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Canadian West #1-4
Canadian West Gift Set
This saga of life and love follows Elizabeth, a lovely young teacher from the east, who braves the Canadian frontier to teach in a one- room schoolhouse where she meets Wynn, A Royal Candian Mountie, who becomes her husband and partner.
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First published June 15, 1985
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About the author
Janette Oke
347 books3,430 followersJanette Oke is a Canadian author known for her inspirational fiction, often set in a pioneer era and focused on female protagonists. Her debut novel, Love Comes Softly (1979), became the foundation for a successful series, followed by over 75 other novels. The first book in her Canadian West series, When Calls the Heart (1983), inspired the popular television series of the same name.
Born in Champion, Alberta, to farmers Fred and Amy (née Ruggles) Steeves during the Great Depression, Oke went on to graduate from Mountain View Bible College in Didsbury, Alberta, where she met her future husband, Edward Oke, who later became the president of the college. The couple has four children, including a daughter who has collaborated with Janette on several books.
A committed Evangelical Christian, Oke has authored numerous works exploring themes of faith. She has received various accolades for her contributions to Christian fiction, including the 1992 President's Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and the 1999 CBA Life Impact Award.
Born in Champion, Alberta, to farmers Fred and Amy (née Ruggles) Steeves during the Great Depression, Oke went on to graduate from Mountain View Bible College in Didsbury, Alberta, where she met her future husband, Edward Oke, who later became the president of the college. The couple has four children, including a daughter who has collaborated with Janette on several books.
A committed Evangelical Christian, Oke has authored numerous works exploring themes of faith. She has received various accolades for her contributions to Christian fiction, including the 1992 President's Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and the 1999 CBA Life Impact Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
May 9, 2014
Janette Oke has done extensive research to make sure that her stories are historically accurate in the traditions of the times as well as locations and living conditions. She's a great author whose easy to read stories teach lessons, give hope and show the struggles and joys of the early pioneer men and women. While these stories are definitely Christian based, I never find them to be blatantly "preachy." I love that Oke's characters don't just talk the walk, they walk the walk and share their faith through their actions as well as their words.
If you're looking for Christian stories that leave you feeling uplifted, fulfilled and wanting to read more, then I hope you'll give this author a try.
If you're looking for Christian stories that leave you feeling uplifted, fulfilled and wanting to read more, then I hope you'll give this author a try.
May 1, 2013
I am reading this series for the 3rd time in a year. I can't get enough of Elizabeth and Wynn. I love the writing style of the author and the Christian romance and life that the characters live out. Very inspiring to me. I have read the reviews and the first few pages of Book #5 in the series, and am greatly disappointed to learn that the story does not pick up where Book #4 left of and that there is an approximate 20year gap in the stories, and that Elizabeth and Wynn are not the primary characters of the last two books in this series. I think I am going to stop at Book #4 rather than be disappointed in the huge gap to Book #5. I highly recommend this series, and look forward to reading other books by Janette Oke.
January 21, 2022
One could make an argument for this series to be a 2 star affair. The plots are slow to develop, the characters bland, and sometimes annoying. However, each book is enlivened by an exploration of compelling spiritual themes, making the background relevant. The characters want to do the right thing as they wrestle with significant coming of age challenges such as jobs, marriage, where to live, faith questions and extended family.
As with individual books that improve as you go, the writing of the series itself improves. Book 4, When Hope Springs New is clearly the strongest installation and reflects well on the previous endeavors. It’s not literary quality. But in contrast to the dark twisted nature of other books in the young adult genre, for a young woman, who would identify with Elizabeth Delaney’s narration, I would recommend these short novels.
Schooling for indigenous people is discussed throughout these books. I appreciated this recent article discussing recent revelations about Canadian government mandated schools.
https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclu...
Janette Oke’s groundbreaking work made her a big deal in Canada and the world of Christian fiction. For a brief biography, see…
https://www.canadianchristianleaders....
There’s More!
20 years after the Canadian West Saga was finish, Janette Oke returned to these characters for two more books, with books #1-6 being referred to as the Canadian West Collection. I will provide a review of that series after I finish these additional books. From Book 4, the next title in series is…
Beyond the Gathering Storm (Canadian West #5), Oke, 1990
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Canadian West Collection (Books 1-6), Janette Oke
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
-- Updated 2022 --
First Review:
I read these books first as a young woman and have re-read them repeatedly. A heartwarming story set in western canada, the characters encounter joy and trial. Wholesome. Good. Encouraging.
Want to get started? See...
When Calls the Heart (Canadian West, Book 1), Oke, 1983
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
As with individual books that improve as you go, the writing of the series itself improves. Book 4, When Hope Springs New is clearly the strongest installation and reflects well on the previous endeavors. It’s not literary quality. But in contrast to the dark twisted nature of other books in the young adult genre, for a young woman, who would identify with Elizabeth Delaney’s narration, I would recommend these short novels.
Schooling for indigenous people is discussed throughout these books. I appreciated this recent article discussing recent revelations about Canadian government mandated schools.
https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclu...
Janette Oke’s groundbreaking work made her a big deal in Canada and the world of Christian fiction. For a brief biography, see…
https://www.canadianchristianleaders....
There’s More!
20 years after the Canadian West Saga was finish, Janette Oke returned to these characters for two more books, with books #1-6 being referred to as the Canadian West Collection. I will provide a review of that series after I finish these additional books. From Book 4, the next title in series is…
Beyond the Gathering Storm (Canadian West #5), Oke, 1990
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Canadian West Collection (Books 1-6), Janette Oke
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
-- Updated 2022 --
First Review:
I read these books first as a young woman and have re-read them repeatedly. A heartwarming story set in western canada, the characters encounter joy and trial. Wholesome. Good. Encouraging.
Want to get started? See...
When Calls the Heart (Canadian West, Book 1), Oke, 1983
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
February 5, 2014
This unassuming and becoming book about an adventure west for a young Canadian women in 1910 & the journey she experiences, the shared trials through faith and prayer were inspirational & heart warmer.
Some may think this a corny couple of books, perhaps I even thought it might be corny, but it has truly been a joy. I smiled at her mishaps and trivial trials in the first book.
The first & second books has me rejoicing in her fetes & independence. The third & fourth books had me crying, reveling in her strength & weaknesses, her desires & answered prayers. These books were well worth my precious time, I feel renewed & inspired after reading them.
Some may think this a corny couple of books, perhaps I even thought it might be corny, but it has truly been a joy. I smiled at her mishaps and trivial trials in the first book.
The first & second books has me rejoicing in her fetes & independence. The third & fourth books had me crying, reveling in her strength & weaknesses, her desires & answered prayers. These books were well worth my precious time, I feel renewed & inspired after reading them.
June 4, 2014
Sometimes, I need to read a nice sweet simple book. These books were that....
January 28, 2018
After reading Where Courage Calls, I couldn't resist to go back and re-read the first four books in the original Canadian West series, always my favorite of Janette Oke's books.
I loved them even more the second time around. Of course, it's twenty years later, and in the meantime I've gotten married and had kids, so no surprise that I view them from a different perspective now. Twenty years ago, single, I loved the first one best for its romance; now I loved the 3rd and the 4th ones best.
In When Comes the Spring, I loved how Beth asked only two things of God when she moved north into the wildlands of Canada: that her's and Wynn's cabin would large enough that they'd have a room to themselves, and that there would be one other white woman for her to have tea and fellowship with. God doesn't let her discover that white woman until she's first discovered the companionship she craved with an Indian woman, the lovely Nimmie. God in fact overturns lots of her misconceptions about the Indians.
Beth has high hopes with schooling the Indian children - which is met with cultural barriers and much disappointment. But she perseveres with the few that keep attending her school, and is blessed to see these few children slowly begin to teach the others of the values of school. Beth's heartache in not having her own children, and then two more heartbreaks, is what made When Breaks the Dawn such a strong and memorable book.
Janette Oke is not shy about piling challenges and heartache on her characters. Beth and Wynn have been through some heartbreaking trials, but in When Hope Springs Anew, things get even harder for them as they adjust to an isolated and suspicious village of Indians near Smoke Lake, Alberta. The Indians' utter rejection of Beth would be enough to make any person run screaming back to familiar territory, but Beth has grown a lot in the Lord in the past three years, and she perseveres, trusting in God. How God finally changes the Indians' perception of her is unexpected and scary and so very God-like. She faces one of the greatest temptations of her life in the gift the village chief offers her. I also loved how her perception of the surly trader LaMeche gradually gives way to God's direction and she is able to move past her judgement of him, and see him turn into a brave and noble man.
Off to dig up the last two books in the series, about Beth and Wynn's adopted children and their process of growing up in the Lord.
I loved them even more the second time around. Of course, it's twenty years later, and in the meantime I've gotten married and had kids, so no surprise that I view them from a different perspective now. Twenty years ago, single, I loved the first one best for its romance; now I loved the 3rd and the 4th ones best.
In When Comes the Spring, I loved how Beth asked only two things of God when she moved north into the wildlands of Canada: that her's and Wynn's cabin would large enough that they'd have a room to themselves, and that there would be one other white woman for her to have tea and fellowship with. God doesn't let her discover that white woman until she's first discovered the companionship she craved with an Indian woman, the lovely Nimmie. God in fact overturns lots of her misconceptions about the Indians.
Beth has high hopes with schooling the Indian children - which is met with cultural barriers and much disappointment. But she perseveres with the few that keep attending her school, and is blessed to see these few children slowly begin to teach the others of the values of school. Beth's heartache in not having her own children, and then two more heartbreaks, is what made When Breaks the Dawn such a strong and memorable book.
Janette Oke is not shy about piling challenges and heartache on her characters. Beth and Wynn have been through some heartbreaking trials, but in When Hope Springs Anew, things get even harder for them as they adjust to an isolated and suspicious village of Indians near Smoke Lake, Alberta. The Indians' utter rejection of Beth would be enough to make any person run screaming back to familiar territory, but Beth has grown a lot in the Lord in the past three years, and she perseveres, trusting in God. How God finally changes the Indians' perception of her is unexpected and scary and so very God-like. She faces one of the greatest temptations of her life in the gift the village chief offers her. I also loved how her perception of the surly trader LaMeche gradually gives way to God's direction and she is able to move past her judgement of him, and see him turn into a brave and noble man.
Off to dig up the last two books in the series, about Beth and Wynn's adopted children and their process of growing up in the Lord.
January 26, 2018
This is a series I have read over and over since childhood. I sincerely love it. It is a wonderful love story and an easy, engaging read. Elizabeth is easily one of my favorite characters I've ever read.
March 27, 2019
Very well written series. Looking forward to reading the follow up series.
May 19, 2019
One of my very favorite book series by Janette Oke!
January 28, 2020
loved the story of Elizabeth and Wynn ln their travels to the Norh
February 19, 2022
The Canadian West Saga by Janette Oke – The original four books that I read in middle school and loved! I have them in print! Happy Reading!
July 15, 2022
My very favorite series of hers and that says a lot. I love the story of the teacher Beth and Mounty Wynn and their family. There is humor, love and faith through each book of the series.
January 5, 2025
My favorite book! I would have loved to lived back then
April 25, 2016
A wonderful series of the pioneer days when life was simple and people were grateful, loving and caring for one another. Though they endured hardships they kept their faith.
"When Calls the Heart" Elizabeth, a single refined school teacher from the east coast travels to the west to teach. She is faced with many trials and hardships but finds joy in working with the children. She also finds love with a Royal Canadian Mountie something that she never expected or wanted to happen.
"When Comes the Spring" After Wynn receives the assignment to move up north as a police for the people they have a hurried wedding so Elizabeth can go with him. She is lonely and sad at first because she is the only white woman in the village. After she begins to meet the other ladies she develops friendships like never before in spite of the language barrier. They face the hardest winter the village has ever faced and loose many lives but make it through it all because of their willing to work together, their new faith in the Lord and their love for one another.
"When Breaks the Dawn" After enduring many hardships can Elizabeth deal with the fact that maybe she wasn't meant to have a baby of her own? Can she keep the faith as her friends are having babies and her dreams are never made reality? Will she find peace as she teaches school to the Indian children in the village?
"when Hope Springs New" When receiving a new assignment Wynn and Elizabeth move further north. How can they survive when the people won't give them a chance? After Elizabeth prays for God to make a way, is she ready for what God will do?
"When Calls the Heart" Elizabeth, a single refined school teacher from the east coast travels to the west to teach. She is faced with many trials and hardships but finds joy in working with the children. She also finds love with a Royal Canadian Mountie something that she never expected or wanted to happen.
"When Comes the Spring" After Wynn receives the assignment to move up north as a police for the people they have a hurried wedding so Elizabeth can go with him. She is lonely and sad at first because she is the only white woman in the village. After she begins to meet the other ladies she develops friendships like never before in spite of the language barrier. They face the hardest winter the village has ever faced and loose many lives but make it through it all because of their willing to work together, their new faith in the Lord and their love for one another.
"When Breaks the Dawn" After enduring many hardships can Elizabeth deal with the fact that maybe she wasn't meant to have a baby of her own? Can she keep the faith as her friends are having babies and her dreams are never made reality? Will she find peace as she teaches school to the Indian children in the village?
"when Hope Springs New" When receiving a new assignment Wynn and Elizabeth move further north. How can they survive when the people won't give them a chance? After Elizabeth prays for God to make a way, is she ready for what God will do?
September 30, 2016
OK, these books are really sappy – but I mostly enjoyed them…! There are four books bound into one volume – I stole it from my dad – sounded like it might be good, then I read that it was “inspirational fiction” (barf) – but I decided to read it anyway. I was startled when the action in the first book moved to a town in Alberta called “Lacombe” – because that is where my father was born – and where his family lived for several years, only a tiny bit of time after the “circa” of this book! And, apparently, I have a thing for single-naïve-school-teacher-goes-off-into-the-wild books because I kept thinking of other books I’ve read that are very like this (Christy, A Thread That Runs So True, A School Teacher in Old Alaska, Tisha, etc.) In the 2nd - 4th volumes, the action moved north, and I was reminded more of Margaret Murie “Two in the Far North”, although that’s kind of an insult to the Muries. I really want to slap the heroine fairly often – she’s pretty whiney and selfish – and her stalwart, long suffering husband deserves some kind of Croix de Guerre or something for putting up with her – he’s pretty unbelievable. Saint Wynn Delaney… The books devolve into preachy salvation-for-the-Indians rhetoric which makes me pretty unhappy, but I could have just ditched it when I found out it was “inspirational fiction” I guess… If you’re willing to slog through pages of angst, there is enough of a view into the early exploration of the Canadian west and the role of the Mounties to keep it interesting.
June 10, 2008
This is a warm hearted story of Elizabeth, a young woman who is sent into a rural area of Canada to teach in a one-room school house. Her courage and faith are admirable as she faces the challenges of adapting from city life to country living. In this setting she meets Wynn, a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The remaining books in the series tell the story of their lives in the wilderness area of North West Canada where Wynn is assigned. Elizabeth comes to love the native people of their village as she overcomes the barriors of language and culture. To me she is an example of a life based on faith in God and a belief in the basic goodness of all people.
July 16, 2019
I absolutely love Jeanette Oke. I began reading her work when I was about 11 and couldn't get enough. I always say that Wynn Delaney was my first literary crush. I love this series, but the first one is definitely the best. The last three are good reads, but there is very little romance in them. As much as I enjoyed following Elizabeth's character change and grow over the series, I would have loved to have seen their romance grow and change over the series instead of just comfortably falling into marriage. I missed the chemistry the first book offered. Still one of my favorite series ever, though.
May 23, 2008
I read these quite a few years ago, but really loved the characters. I was particularly touched by the main character Elizabeth and her inability to have children. My cousin was struggling with the same thing and later I did too, and I found reading the character's struggle made me more empathetic to others and better equipped to face my own.
Not too religious, Oke paints a compelling picture of the rough Canadian west.
Not too religious, Oke paints a compelling picture of the rough Canadian west.
September 9, 2010
I first read this saga when I was probably about 12 or 13. It was definitely worth the re-read. It is amazing how different life is today. I'm so grateful for bug repellent, heat, indoor plumbing, and air conditioning!!! Again another great story by Jannette Oke with great lessons and marriage relationships.
January 18, 2016
Plot: D
Writing: D
Vocabulary: C
Level: Easy
Rating: PG
Worldview:
The writing in this series focuses solely on tableaux and underdeveloped internal monologue from the heroine, who is obsessed with etiquette and reputation. I do not recommend this book, even to girls, especially because of the unhealthy relational dynamics depicted.
Writing: D
Vocabulary: C
Level: Easy
Rating: PG
Worldview:
The writing in this series focuses solely on tableaux and underdeveloped internal monologue from the heroine, who is obsessed with etiquette and reputation. I do not recommend this book, even to girls, especially because of the unhealthy relational dynamics depicted.
March 9, 2008
How rough life was on the frontiers. Of all the Janette Oke books I've read, these were most inspiring I think because of the starkness of the Canadian wilderness, the faith of the characters, the multicultural themes...
June 6, 2008
1st book was great...2nd was good, 3rd was dragging and same for the 4th. I typically like to read these "fluff" type books in between what ever I am reading, but I only finished the series to say I did.
June 18, 2008
This was a really good book if you like romance. The beginning of the first book seems boring (When calls the heart) but when you get near the end it gets good. This is a story about a schoolteacher coming from the East and moving into the west to teach. Then she falls in love......
May 12, 2009
These books are wonderful - I've read them several times. A woman goes to the Canadian wilderness in the early 1900's, if I remember right. She marries a Mountie, and these books detail their lives in the wilderness. Love them!
August 3, 2011
This is my top favorite Christian Historical Fiction Series. I really enjoy reading about young women going to be teachers in the frontier. Then years after I read this series, I lived in the Edmonton area in Alberta, where part of the series took place.
October 20, 2011
I have read all three of these books and reading the fourth book. I gave this book 4 stars because these books are perfect if you liked the Laura Ingalls books. I defiantly would recommended these books to anyone old and young.
October 18, 2014
This book was a good book. once I started the series I had to check some of them out from my local library.Some I found at a local bookstore. once I started reading the books I could not put them down. This writer soon became one of my favorites.
November 12, 2007
This is my absolute favorite series by this author.
December 18, 2007
I know its cheesy, but I love these books. I picture myself as Elizabeth on the frontier curing meat and canning jam, then I put the book down and go to Starbucks. Warm and fuzzy read!
February 26, 2008
I loved this whole saga about the Canadian West in the frontier days. Janette Oke is a christian writer. Her characters are good women who want to share their love of Christ with others.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews