What do you think?
Rate this book
Return to Red River #1
A Dream to Follow
Thorliff Bjorklund has been writing since he was a young boy and now longs to study journalism. But his father has other plans for him and refuses to agree. Loving and respecting his parents, Thorliff dreads going against his father's wishes and cannot imagine any honorable way to leave home. To make matters worse, the threat of a crop failure may mean there'll be no money for college anyway. Thorliff is torn between love for his father and the pull of his dream. Must he choose between the two? Elizabeth Rogers has been raised in a life of privilege, yet she has an unwavering determination to become a doctor. Though she has the blessing of her family, society is not as kind, for it is nearly impossible for a woman to enter medical school. Has she misread her heart?
316 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2001
504 people are currently reading
737 people want to read
About the author
Lauraine Snelling
164 books2,069 followersAward-winning and bestselling author Lauraine Snelling has over 80 books published with sales of over 4.5 million. Her original dream was to write horse books for children. Today, she writes adult novels about real issues centered on forgiveness, loss, domestic violence and cancer in her inspirational contemporary women’s fiction titles and historical series, including the favorite, Blessing books about Ingeborg Bjorklund and family.
Lauraine enjoys helping others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the county. She and her husband Wayne have two grown sons, and a daughter in Heaven. They live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a Basset named Sir Winston ob de Mountains, Lapcat, and “The Girls” (three golden hens).
Lauraine enjoys helping others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the county. She and her husband Wayne have two grown sons, and a daughter in Heaven. They live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a Basset named Sir Winston ob de Mountains, Lapcat, and “The Girls” (three golden hens).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
July 9, 2018
This book is a great clean Christian romance novel, but it is also so, so much more. It is an inspiring story (or rather the beginning of the story) of friendship, family, dreams, trust in God's Holy Will, humor, and tragedy. I didn't read it when I first got it because I don't typically like committing myself to sappy protestant novels, but I was more than pleasantly surprised. Of course, the time period (late 1800's) is one of my favorites. Lauraine Snelling, thank you so much for the beautiful style this book is written in. Besides the wonderful story plot; your language, character layouts, and chapters drew me in so very quickly and kept me hooked!
The authoress works both the open country, pioneer lifestyle and the busy, sophisticated city lifestyle together very well. I enjoyed going back and forth between characters, places, and events. Of course, Thorliff *sighs* is the main character. I could live without Elizabeth. As others have said, she's kind of judgmental. I do enjoy most of her chapters though.
There are a few romantic scenes where characters share a kiss and/or romantic feelings, but it was so clean and pure in intention, that it probably won't bother most readers.
I definitely recommend this book (and most likely it's series) to anyone who wants to read uplifting, relatable, and clean fiction. Especially to young adults (and by young adults, I always mean 18+). This book has also personally reminded me to seek and follow God's Will always, even when we don't understand or it is difficult. Get ready to hug this book because it's a keeper.
The authoress works both the open country, pioneer lifestyle and the busy, sophisticated city lifestyle together very well. I enjoyed going back and forth between characters, places, and events. Of course, Thorliff *sighs* is the main character. I could live without Elizabeth. As others have said, she's kind of judgmental. I do enjoy most of her chapters though.
There are a few romantic scenes where characters share a kiss and/or romantic feelings, but it was so clean and pure in intention, that it probably won't bother most readers.
I definitely recommend this book (and most likely it's series) to anyone who wants to read uplifting, relatable, and clean fiction. Especially to young adults (and by young adults, I always mean 18+). This book has also personally reminded me to seek and follow God's Will always, even when we don't understand or it is difficult. Get ready to hug this book because it's a keeper.
June 17, 2015
I absolutely loved this book like all of these books. I am loving seeing the Bjorklund children growing up, and starting there own lives after we watched there parents do so as new immigrants to the United States, to what was at that time Dakota territory from Norway in the last series "red river of the north." I totally recommend this book! I am so looking forward to the next one in this series, and plan to start it right away!
May 12, 2022
I'm hooked on this series. This book introduces a new character, Elizabeth, and a college town.
August 20, 2025
Listened on Audible (Included).
August 17, 2012
Here is the thing about Laurine Snelling; she writes series. So-o-o, each book ends with the need to buy the next book in order to finish the story which you are now hooked on because Laurine Snelling is also a very good author besides being a VERY good businesswoman !!! Alert Kindle Readers ... this can become a very expensive proposition. :o)
A Dream to Follow is the first in the 2nd series concerning the Folks in the Red River Valley. It is not only a continuation, but a "next generation" continuation. This is the story of Thorliff and his desire to become a journalist ... his schooling becoming the main storyline. Will his Mor, Ingebort and his stepfather, Haaken, be able to support him in this endeavor, or will the "land" (and Anji) keep him anchored to Blessing, ND ?
A sub-storyline belongs to a new character, Elizabeth Rogers, and her desires to become a woman Dr. in the in-between-sized town of Northfield, MN. where the college both Elizabeth and Thorliff will attend. As obvious as this appears, the "book" ends with a cliffhanger (?) and natchurly you gotta buy the next book to find out if they get together ... really ?
However, let it be known ... I bought it. :o)
Can't help it.
A Dream to Follow is the first in the 2nd series concerning the Folks in the Red River Valley. It is not only a continuation, but a "next generation" continuation. This is the story of Thorliff and his desire to become a journalist ... his schooling becoming the main storyline. Will his Mor, Ingebort and his stepfather, Haaken, be able to support him in this endeavor, or will the "land" (and Anji) keep him anchored to Blessing, ND ?
A sub-storyline belongs to a new character, Elizabeth Rogers, and her desires to become a woman Dr. in the in-between-sized town of Northfield, MN. where the college both Elizabeth and Thorliff will attend. As obvious as this appears, the "book" ends with a cliffhanger (?) and natchurly you gotta buy the next book to find out if they get together ... really ?
However, let it be known ... I bought it. :o)
Can't help it.
December 6, 2015
I obtained a copy of Lauraine Snelling's "A Dream to Follow" from the "Local" sections at a nearby book store. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, though I felt too many characters were introduced too quickly and it became rather difficult to keep track of them all. I also enjoyed the regional references (though there aren't THAT many thistles down here, LOL).
I especially enjoyed Thorliff's chapters and the chapter for Manda. Elizabeth feels like an inconsistent character. She wants to help people, but she can be rather judgmental and kind of mean most of the time. She doesn't have too much nice to say about many people. Overall, she doesn't seem like the type who would want to be a doctor (though I have read book 2 and she does grow as a character, initially she felt rather inconsistent.
Overall, it was enough to get me hooked and keep me reading the entire series. Ms. Snelling is an excellent writer.
I especially enjoyed Thorliff's chapters and the chapter for Manda. Elizabeth feels like an inconsistent character. She wants to help people, but she can be rather judgmental and kind of mean most of the time. She doesn't have too much nice to say about many people. Overall, she doesn't seem like the type who would want to be a doctor (though I have read book 2 and she does grow as a character, initially she felt rather inconsistent.
Overall, it was enough to get me hooked and keep me reading the entire series. Ms. Snelling is an excellent writer.
March 25, 2011
This book got me hooked on the next in the series, anxious to find
out of the outcome of Thorliff's dream of college and his father's
views. I love the history references and the bond between the families.
This era of fiction is dreamy for me and the families are so easy to
get attached to with their respect and love for each other. Some of
Lauraine's books start out slow but once you read the first one in the
Series you can't wait to read the next and on and on.
out of the outcome of Thorliff's dream of college and his father's
views. I love the history references and the bond between the families.
This era of fiction is dreamy for me and the families are so easy to
get attached to with their respect and love for each other. Some of
Lauraine's books start out slow but once you read the first one in the
Series you can't wait to read the next and on and on.
November 17, 2023
The narrator for this book nearly ruined it for me. He read with such heavy accents and nearly comical voices for the female characters especially. If I hadn't LOVED the Blessing series leading up to this one I would have given up. The story was worth the bad narrating, and thankfully the narrator changes for the rest of the series.
March 9, 2025
Not my favorite of the series but still an easy enjoyable read. I wasn't sure how these two separate stories were going to come together and it wasn't clear until the last chapter. I'm intrigued how these two stories will converge in the future book.
So I didn't realize I had already read this book until I started it and it seemed familiar.
So I didn't realize I had already read this book until I started it and it seemed familiar.
November 30, 2022
I prefer the narrator Callie Beaulieu to Daniel Henning who narrated this one.
April 20, 2019
I like Lauraine Snelling’s books. Full disclosure: my mom was Norwegian; her folks and grandparents settled in the Dakotas in the 1880’s, and mom grew up on the farm. So, Lauraine Snelling is writing about my people. I grew up with far and mor along with tak and mange tak and other Scandinavian words sprinkled into our daily conversations. Today my daughter’s children call me morfar, mother’s father. I am bestefar to my son’s daughter.
A Dream to Follow has multiple dreams and aspirations in it. Thorliff wants to go to college and become a writer. Elizabeth wants to be a doctor. Haaken wants his boys to get more land and farm and live close by. Mandy wants to go to Montana and raise horses. Andrew is happy to stay on the land and farm. Each person has his or her dreams; they are everyday folk just like you and me. They are people we can all relate to. While Thorliff is able to go to St. Olaf, my Uncle Oscar had to stay on the farm. He never got to be the history teacher he dreamed of becoming.
The book has humor, tragedy, and just the stuff of everyday life in it. Farm chores have to be done; food has to be prepared; the garden needs planting, weeding, and watering. People have accidents, get sick, even die, but the rest keep living and going about the business of life. Most people are nice, but the difficult folks are there also. Elizabeth’s stepmom is a bit detached from the real world and is wrought up in being genteel and socially correct. Pastor Solberg speaks well and offers good prayers and words of encouragement. Metis is a bit of anomaly but fits in with Ingeborg and many of the others; some, however, don’t accept her. It is society working out its kinks then just as now. As mom used to say, “It takes all kinds of people to make the world go around.” Pretty homespun philosophy, but on the money I would say.
The book reads well and quickly. I thought it ended abruptly, so the sequel will obviously carry on the stories of Thorliff and Elizabeth and the town of Blessing, North Dakota. Enjoy, I did.
A Dream to Follow has multiple dreams and aspirations in it. Thorliff wants to go to college and become a writer. Elizabeth wants to be a doctor. Haaken wants his boys to get more land and farm and live close by. Mandy wants to go to Montana and raise horses. Andrew is happy to stay on the land and farm. Each person has his or her dreams; they are everyday folk just like you and me. They are people we can all relate to. While Thorliff is able to go to St. Olaf, my Uncle Oscar had to stay on the farm. He never got to be the history teacher he dreamed of becoming.
The book has humor, tragedy, and just the stuff of everyday life in it. Farm chores have to be done; food has to be prepared; the garden needs planting, weeding, and watering. People have accidents, get sick, even die, but the rest keep living and going about the business of life. Most people are nice, but the difficult folks are there also. Elizabeth’s stepmom is a bit detached from the real world and is wrought up in being genteel and socially correct. Pastor Solberg speaks well and offers good prayers and words of encouragement. Metis is a bit of anomaly but fits in with Ingeborg and many of the others; some, however, don’t accept her. It is society working out its kinks then just as now. As mom used to say, “It takes all kinds of people to make the world go around.” Pretty homespun philosophy, but on the money I would say.
The book reads well and quickly. I thought it ended abruptly, so the sequel will obviously carry on the stories of Thorliff and Elizabeth and the town of Blessing, North Dakota. Enjoy, I did.
May 16, 2021
This is a continuation of the Red River series in which we are introduced mainly to the adults in this little community of Blessing, in North Dakota. This book follows Thorliff, the eldest son of Ingleborg and Haanakan Bjorklund. He excels at his schoolwork and wants to pursue a life in journalism but his stepfather, Haanakan believes he should follow in his footsteps as a farmer. His mother encourages him to follow his dream and when he is accepted to college, she is determined he accept.
When he does go, he finds the workload more demanding than he expected. To make ends meet, he accepts a position in a newspaper business which comes with room and board. He meets Elizabeth, the daughter of his employer who's dream is to be a doctor. She is very talented and could be a concert pianist if she wanted to. Her mother believes she should follow her musical career and marry well but Elizabeth is determined.
Thorliff is to accompany her to classes as they are attending the same college. He finds her very headstrong and it seems, if he says 'black', she says 'white'!
When he suggests the paper hold a contest inviting subscribers to send in a Christmas story, he is surprised Elizabeth is all for the idea. The contest is a success and an increase in subscriptions follows. He loves to write and has an idea of a story which he suggests might be printed in the paper, one chapter each week. Again, Elizabeth and her father agree. The story is a success! Thorliff leaves at the end of the school year to return to Blessings to help on the farm but returns again in the fall.
Each of her books have an ending that want you to just find the next story that follows and keep reading! Thoroughly enjoying these books!
When he does go, he finds the workload more demanding than he expected. To make ends meet, he accepts a position in a newspaper business which comes with room and board. He meets Elizabeth, the daughter of his employer who's dream is to be a doctor. She is very talented and could be a concert pianist if she wanted to. Her mother believes she should follow her musical career and marry well but Elizabeth is determined.
Thorliff is to accompany her to classes as they are attending the same college. He finds her very headstrong and it seems, if he says 'black', she says 'white'!
When he suggests the paper hold a contest inviting subscribers to send in a Christmas story, he is surprised Elizabeth is all for the idea. The contest is a success and an increase in subscriptions follows. He loves to write and has an idea of a story which he suggests might be printed in the paper, one chapter each week. Again, Elizabeth and her father agree. The story is a success! Thorliff leaves at the end of the school year to return to Blessings to help on the farm but returns again in the fall.
Each of her books have an ending that want you to just find the next story that follows and keep reading! Thoroughly enjoying these books!
April 13, 2019
Another great one by Lauraine Snelling
The town of Blessing, ND, the school finally has its first graduates. Since others dropped out to help on the farm, 4 young adults earned their diploma and are ready to begin living their lives.
Torliff wants to go to college to be a writer, and has already written a tale that was published in a widely read news magazine(or paper). However, his Pa has made plans for passing on the lucrative family farm to his oldest son.
Forklift doesn't want to leave for St. Loaf college without his father's blessing. In addition he loves fellow graduate, Anji, and doesn't was to lose her when and if he makes the long trip to the school.As the story unfolds, we can understand that the 1890s youth have fear, ambitions, loneliness and self doubts that youth in 2019 wrestle with.
Does Torliff take that train to advanced learning? He certainly has support from friends, neighbors, and his mother...but will his father ever come around? Read this book to discover how this young man deals with roadblocks while trying to live his best life.
The town of Blessing, ND, the school finally has its first graduates. Since others dropped out to help on the farm, 4 young adults earned their diploma and are ready to begin living their lives.
Torliff wants to go to college to be a writer, and has already written a tale that was published in a widely read news magazine(or paper). However, his Pa has made plans for passing on the lucrative family farm to his oldest son.
Forklift doesn't want to leave for St. Loaf college without his father's blessing. In addition he loves fellow graduate, Anji, and doesn't was to lose her when and if he makes the long trip to the school.As the story unfolds, we can understand that the 1890s youth have fear, ambitions, loneliness and self doubts that youth in 2019 wrestle with.
Does Torliff take that train to advanced learning? He certainly has support from friends, neighbors, and his mother...but will his father ever come around? Read this book to discover how this young man deals with roadblocks while trying to live his best life.
March 13, 2020
I very much enjoyed this book. This Christian family is Norwegian and have lived in the states for several years. The young man wants desperately to be a writer but his step-father wants him working on their farm. He feels called by God to be a journalist and this is the story of his journey. The questioning, the doubts, the roller coaster ride of what to do. Is God really telling me this?
I love the rapport the people have in this neighborhood. They are true friends and help each other, have fun together and are there for whatever comes. They walk together through it all. You won't be disappointed in this book, but it does leave you wanting the next book to finish out the story. It is not a stand alone book. So I guess that means I need book #2! A Dream to Follow Return to Red River
by Lauraine Snelling.
I love the rapport the people have in this neighborhood. They are true friends and help each other, have fun together and are there for whatever comes. They walk together through it all. You won't be disappointed in this book, but it does leave you wanting the next book to finish out the story. It is not a stand alone book. So I guess that means I need book #2! A Dream to Follow Return to Red River
by Lauraine Snelling.
May 4, 2020
I love this author, but having read a later book in the series, I knew what was going to happen. That being said, I still enjoyed the story because the author does a great job with the development of the characters. In this case we watch as Torlieff (sp), who wants to be a writer, finally prepares to leave home for college. He worries that his father will never approve, but just as he starts to board the train, his dad appears on horseback and hugs him and tells him that he gives his blessing on him going off to school and not wanting the farm. This was very hard for the dad, but he does it. After arriving, Torlieff finds that he doesn't like living in the dorm and the first grade is a "C" and that about makes him decide to leave school and return home. However, he finds a job with the local printer and will be able to live there as well. Enter, the daughter of the printer who wants to be a doctor and sparks fly between them, so we know how the next book in the series will go. Keep writing, Ms. Snellling.
September 10, 2017
A Dream To Follow , the first book in the Return To Red River series, focuses on Thorliff the eldest son of Haakan and Ingeborg Bjorklund. In this first book we find him grown since the last book of the Red River Of The North series and getting ready to graduate school. Many of the characters from the the Red Rivers Of The North series do return in this one. We are also introduced to some new characters including, Elizabeth Rogers who is determined to go to medical school and become a doctor.
It took me a little bit to get into this book and then when I did it turned around towards the ending and got sad. In all it was a good book. I do highly recommend though that you read the Red River Of The North series before you read this.
It took me a little bit to get into this book and then when I did it turned around towards the ending and got sad. In all it was a good book. I do highly recommend though that you read the Red River Of The North series before you read this.
December 4, 2023
Best part of the book is the audiobook narration by Daniel Henning. I liked the characters but the back and forth of two completely different stories was distracting and would have been better as two separate books. The abrupt ending right as their two stories barely begin to connect was also very unsatisfactory. Clearly just a cliffhanger for the next book and no feeling of a complete story in either case. I won’t bother listening to the next book unless I run out of Henning books to listen to.
June 23, 2022
This is not my first time reading this series. I love it! I love all of the Red River books and everything I have ever read by Ms. Snelling.
I really enjoy the continuity that flows from the first book to the last (and more as Ms. Snelling continues to write.) I love watching the characters grow and being able to look back on what is happening in Blessing as her children venture out into the world.
I really enjoy the continuity that flows from the first book to the last (and more as Ms. Snelling continues to write.) I love watching the characters grow and being able to look back on what is happening in Blessing as her children venture out into the world.
April 10, 2021
Another winner
This was a book I had missed in the series. I read it out of sequence knowing what happened to the characters. I still enjoyed how personally you come to know and love her characters. I love how you feel when you read her books, a little wiser and closer to the Lord.
This was a book I had missed in the series. I read it out of sequence knowing what happened to the characters. I still enjoyed how personally you come to know and love her characters. I love how you feel when you read her books, a little wiser and closer to the Lord.
March 19, 2022
This book is a continuation of the Blessings series by Lauraine Snelling. I love historical fiction. This book is about a family's travels from immigrating to the United States in the 1800s and homesteading in the Dakota Territory. Give this series a read if you are a lover of historical fiction too!
May 28, 2017
I enjoy re-reading authors I enjoyed in the past. I have read Lauraine Snelling's books in the past and liked them. This continues the story of the Bjorklund family as they enter a new chapter of life and adjust to different ideas about the path of their children.
April 26, 2018
More to Come
I chose "More to Come" because that was my thought when I closed A DREAM TO FOLLOW. I will be reading the next book in the series very soon because I want to know what's happening next.
I chose "More to Come" because that was my thought when I closed A DREAM TO FOLLOW. I will be reading the next book in the series very soon because I want to know what's happening next.
May 1, 2018
Love this book! It was wonderful to see the oldest son getting ready for college, while struggling to have his Father's blessing for leaving home. This family is full of love, thankfulness, and always sharing their faith. I highly recommend this book of you love clean, Faith based books.
May 5, 2019
Great tale of the Pioneers
This is a fantastic series. They can be read in order or Stand alone. This book is a little more difficult to followed there seems to be too many stories in one. Otherwise it is a 5 star tale.
This is a fantastic series. They can be read in order or Stand alone. This book is a little more difficult to followed there seems to be too many stories in one. Otherwise it is a 5 star tale.
February 8, 2021
Great characters
Reading this book is like finding new friends. The characters are so real that you feel like you know them, and cheer them on as they face real life joys and sorrows. A must read!
Reading this book is like finding new friends. The characters are so real that you feel like you know them, and cheer them on as they face real life joys and sorrows. A must read!
April 22, 2021
I enjoyed this book. It had a bit of an abrupt ending. Only this is I listened to it on Audible and the narrator was one of the worst ones I’ve listened too. His accents were atrocious! Almost couldn’t make it through listening to him.
June 23, 2017
What a powerful Lesson in this book. No matter what life throws at us it how hard it can be, we stick it out and don't give up. We ask the Lord to help us and He does.
December 31, 2017
this is like visiting an old friend - I read the Red River Series a few years back now on with the adventure
April 19, 2018
I loved most of the books in the Red River series, but this one was a little disappointing for me. It picked up and became a little more interesting towards the end.
July 24, 2018
Fantastic
Fantastic author Lauraine Snelling is indeed a wonderful writer, her books are so captivating you just have to keep reading and keep reading it's hard to put them down..
Fantastic author Lauraine Snelling is indeed a wonderful writer, her books are so captivating you just have to keep reading and keep reading it's hard to put them down..
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews