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Belles and Whistles #3
Sleigh Belles
From Savannah to Montana... In 1916, Southern belle Alanna Lessing travels to Montana on a mission--to rescue her older sister from the influence of suffragettes and bring her back home to Savannah where she belongs. Alanna fears that her sister, Margaret, has allowed herself to be swept away by these newfangled beliefs. The Christmas season is drawing near, and sleigh bells are ringing among the snow-covered peaks. The charming town of Missoula begins to grow on Alanna, and so do a few of its inhabitants--particularly neighboring rancher Tanner Jacobs. Alanna takes it upon herself to turn Tanner into a true Southern gentleman. He plays along, in part because he likes being near her, and in part because he's intrigued by her very different way of life. Will their differences bind their hearts, or forever keep them apart?
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2012
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126 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 25, 2017
{Merry CHRISTmas everyone! Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday in honor of our Savior’s birth there’ll be a new Christmas book review! With a couple giveaways sprinkled in, it’s going to be so much fun! Let’s start!}
About this book:
“From Savannah to Montana...
In 1916, Southern belle Alanna Lessing travels to Montana on a mission--to rescue her older sister from the influence of suffragettes and bring her back home to Savannah where she belongs. Alanna fears that her sister, Margaret, has allowed herself to be swept away by these newfangled beliefs. The Christmas season is drawing near, and sleigh bells are ringing among the snow-covered peaks. The charming town of Missoula begins to grow on Alanna, and so do a few of its inhabitants--particularly neighboring rancher Tanner Jacobs. Alanna takes it upon herself to turn Tanner into a true Southern gentleman. He plays along, in part because he likes being near her, and in part because he's intrigued by her very different way of life. Will their differences bind their hearts, or forever keep them apart?”
Series: There’s another book called “Wedding Belles”, which Goodreads has marked as a series with this one. But, I haven’t read that one to know for sure or to see how they are connected.
Spiritual Content- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 at the beginning; Mentions of & quoting Scriptures; Many, many Talks & Mentions about God, God’s creation & doing His work; All ‘H’s when talking about God are capital; Prayers; Strong Faiths.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: an ‘idiot’, a ‘shoot’, two ‘hush’s and two ‘sissy’s; plus a “string of near curses”.
Sexual Content- three Not-detailed kiss, & two Semi-detailed kisses; Wanting to kiss; Noticing & Staring; Touches & a few shivers (not-detailed); Flirting; Tessa is a hopeless romantic at age 17; a baby is born (not-detailed); a mention of Juliette Low’s (the G*rl Scout founder) story (her husband wanted a divorce, she would not acquiesce & she later “arrived home to find him with his mistress.”); Love, falling in love, and the emotions.
-Alana Lessing
-Tanner Jacobs
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1916
309 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
Eeeek! This was such a cute story! “Sleigh Belles” had some great discussions about the Women’s suffrage. It was neat to read about a woman who was against it, but it had the classic humor that you would find in any Janice Hanna book, that made the story-line light and not heavy.
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
About this book:
“From Savannah to Montana...
In 1916, Southern belle Alanna Lessing travels to Montana on a mission--to rescue her older sister from the influence of suffragettes and bring her back home to Savannah where she belongs. Alanna fears that her sister, Margaret, has allowed herself to be swept away by these newfangled beliefs. The Christmas season is drawing near, and sleigh bells are ringing among the snow-covered peaks. The charming town of Missoula begins to grow on Alanna, and so do a few of its inhabitants--particularly neighboring rancher Tanner Jacobs. Alanna takes it upon herself to turn Tanner into a true Southern gentleman. He plays along, in part because he likes being near her, and in part because he's intrigued by her very different way of life. Will their differences bind their hearts, or forever keep them apart?”
Series: There’s another book called “Wedding Belles”, which Goodreads has marked as a series with this one. But, I haven’t read that one to know for sure or to see how they are connected.
Spiritual Content- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 at the beginning; Mentions of & quoting Scriptures; Many, many Talks & Mentions about God, God’s creation & doing His work; All ‘H’s when talking about God are capital; Prayers; Strong Faiths.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: an ‘idiot’, a ‘shoot’, two ‘hush’s and two ‘sissy’s; plus a “string of near curses”.
Sexual Content- three Not-detailed kiss, & two Semi-detailed kisses; Wanting to kiss; Noticing & Staring; Touches & a few shivers (not-detailed); Flirting; Tessa is a hopeless romantic at age 17; a baby is born (not-detailed); a mention of Juliette Low’s (the G*rl Scout founder) story (her husband wanted a divorce, she would not acquiesce & she later “arrived home to find him with his mistress.”); Love, falling in love, and the emotions.
-Alana Lessing
-Tanner Jacobs
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1916
309 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
Eeeek! This was such a cute story! “Sleigh Belles” had some great discussions about the Women’s suffrage. It was neat to read about a woman who was against it, but it had the classic humor that you would find in any Janice Hanna book, that made the story-line light and not heavy.
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
December 23, 2022
⭐⭐⭐
I was slightly disappointed with this book. Not because it was horrible, but because I have such high expectations going into it. I mean... Janice Hanna!!! It wasn't bad, but I just wasn't a fan of the main couple, and I was annoyed with a few different aspects of their relationship. Also, I do not like plots about suffragettes. I really don't. I'm not trying to get into an argument about the merits of the suffragettes, but I typically do not like those stories, and I feel like this one combined issues in a way that I did not like very much.
However, this was a sweet story, and I love it when there's a baby in the book!!! Although, then again, we didn't see much of the baby, which was a flaw in my eyes. Yes, I didn't love the book in its entirety, but I really enjoyed several aspects, and it had the trademark Janice Hanna style that I like so much.
I was slightly disappointed with this book. Not because it was horrible, but because I have such high expectations going into it. I mean... Janice Hanna!!! It wasn't bad, but I just wasn't a fan of the main couple, and I was annoyed with a few different aspects of their relationship. Also, I do not like plots about suffragettes. I really don't. I'm not trying to get into an argument about the merits of the suffragettes, but I typically do not like those stories, and I feel like this one combined issues in a way that I did not like very much.
However, this was a sweet story, and I love it when there's a baby in the book!!! Although, then again, we didn't see much of the baby, which was a flaw in my eyes. Yes, I didn't love the book in its entirety, but I really enjoyed several aspects, and it had the trademark Janice Hanna style that I like so much.
December 24, 2018
It didn’t end up being as Christmassy as I thought it would be, but it was still cute.
The title fits the book perfectly too!
I enjoyed the epigraphs, and I liked the way both Alanna (love that name!) and Tanner changed as the book progressed.
The title fits the book perfectly too!
I enjoyed the epigraphs, and I liked the way both Alanna (love that name!) and Tanner changed as the book progressed.
October 1, 2012
Janice has done it again! This is a great story with likable and relatable characters in a beautiful setting. Janice's descriptions made me feel like I could really picture Montana is all its glory. The story is full of fun and laughter with a great dose of differing opinions that make the story a blast to read. Don't miss it!
January 11, 2019
Great conflict concerning both suffragettes vs. traditionalists and Southern Pride vs Montana Skies.
If you like sweet romance, you'll enjoy this one.
If you like sweet romance, you'll enjoy this one.
January 5, 2022
I'll be honest: I had a really difficult time getting into this book. For the first almost 50%, I didn't really like Alanna at all. She was sanctimonious and inserted her opinions over pretty much everyone, including her mother. That didn't sound very 'Southern belle'-like to me at all.
But, as she spent more time in Missoula, and with the Jacobs family, she started softening . . . figuring out that her way of things wasn't the only way (or even the best way!), and learning to value the thoughts of others. By the end of the book, I liked her just fine, though she will never be a favourite heroine of mine.
Tanner was interesting . . . even though we ostensibly see the storyline from his viewpoint about half of the time, I didn't really feel like I got a good 'foothold' on who he was, until almost the end when he and Alanna had a heart-to-heart.
I did enjoy the way Tanner and Alanna interacted with each other, and how their relationship was allowed to blossom from an initial interest, to a friendship, and then into love over the months that Alanna was in Montana.
But, as she spent more time in Missoula, and with the Jacobs family, she started softening . . . figuring out that her way of things wasn't the only way (or even the best way!), and learning to value the thoughts of others. By the end of the book, I liked her just fine, though she will never be a favourite heroine of mine.
Tanner was interesting . . . even though we ostensibly see the storyline from his viewpoint about half of the time, I didn't really feel like I got a good 'foothold' on who he was, until almost the end when he and Alanna had a heart-to-heart.
I did enjoy the way Tanner and Alanna interacted with each other, and how their relationship was allowed to blossom from an initial interest, to a friendship, and then into love over the months that Alanna was in Montana.
November 16, 2024
This was a nice family comfort story. The love & care each member gave to each other was amazing. It took time for everyone to understand the feelings of all of the others but it shows how well you can work on relationships. I loved the references to Savannah & the descriptions of Montana. The Christmas part of the story is minor really but lots of other things going on for you to see how involved everyone is.
December 18, 2021
very good story, not necessarily so much about christmas as much as its about woman's rights but not in a feminist way more in a biblical way, I think about the daughters of Zelophehad when distribution of the land of Israel is being done...I would reread this book and I'm sure I'd get even more out of it
December 9, 2023
A very sweet read. Not too preachy which I appreciated.
December 31, 2025
I don't know why I didnt read this book before now! I throughly enjoyed the plot n characters! I would recommend this book to my fellow book friends!
March 13, 2017
Awesome read
Wonderful Christian fiction-story set in the early 1900's during the time when women were fighting for the right to vote, own property, etc. They did it with ladylike grace and Biblical principles. The women in the story would have been appalled at the women who marched so shamefully for whatever they were fighting for recently. Last time I checked I could still vote and own property and work for a good living. :). This was the 3rd and (regretfully) last book in this series. Hopefully the author will continue the story in another book!
Wonderful Christian fiction-story set in the early 1900's during the time when women were fighting for the right to vote, own property, etc. They did it with ladylike grace and Biblical principles. The women in the story would have been appalled at the women who marched so shamefully for whatever they were fighting for recently. Last time I checked I could still vote and own property and work for a good living. :). This was the 3rd and (regretfully) last book in this series. Hopefully the author will continue the story in another book!
March 14, 2017
Another superb book by Janice Thompson. Savannah meets Montana in one truly cute love story. Highly recommend this well written story with strong, Christian characters.
November 4, 2012
Janice Thompson in her new book, “Sleigh Belles” Book Two in the Belles and Whistles series published by Summerside Press takes us into the life of Alanna Lessing.
From the back cover: From Savannah to Montana…
The year is 1916, and Southern belle Alanna Lessing is headed to Montana on a mission-to rescue her older sister from the influence of suffragettes and bring her back home to Savannah where she belongs. Alanna is opposed to the women’s suffrage movement, which is at its heyday in Montana. She fears that her sister, Margaret, has allowed herself to be swept away by these newfangled beliefs.
The Christmas season is drawing near, and sleigh bells are ringing among the snow-covered peaks. The charming town of Missoula begins to grow on Alanna, and so do a few of its inhabitants-particularly neighboring rancher Tanner Jacobs. Alanna takes it upon herself to turn Tanner into a true Southern gentleman. He plays along, in part because he likes being near her, and in part because he’s intrigued by her very different way of life. Will their differences bind their hearts, or forever tear them apart?
The Suffragette Movement, a Southern lady trying to influence a Montana rancher in the ways of the South and Christmas time. All of these elements are present in ”Sleigh Belles” and, on top of everything, there is romance. Ms. Hanna is a fine writer and she puts clever little things in the book to keep us smiling like every chapter begins with an excerpt from Ellie Cannady editor of The Modern Suffragette and how it plays out in the chapter. “Sleigh Belles” is a fun read, all the characters are likable and Ms. Hanna has a way of bringing you into the story and making the lives of the characters very real. I liked this book and am looking forward to more in this 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 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Summerside Press. 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.”
From the back cover: From Savannah to Montana…
The year is 1916, and Southern belle Alanna Lessing is headed to Montana on a mission-to rescue her older sister from the influence of suffragettes and bring her back home to Savannah where she belongs. Alanna is opposed to the women’s suffrage movement, which is at its heyday in Montana. She fears that her sister, Margaret, has allowed herself to be swept away by these newfangled beliefs.
The Christmas season is drawing near, and sleigh bells are ringing among the snow-covered peaks. The charming town of Missoula begins to grow on Alanna, and so do a few of its inhabitants-particularly neighboring rancher Tanner Jacobs. Alanna takes it upon herself to turn Tanner into a true Southern gentleman. He plays along, in part because he likes being near her, and in part because he’s intrigued by her very different way of life. Will their differences bind their hearts, or forever tear them apart?
The Suffragette Movement, a Southern lady trying to influence a Montana rancher in the ways of the South and Christmas time. All of these elements are present in ”Sleigh Belles” and, on top of everything, there is romance. Ms. Hanna is a fine writer and she puts clever little things in the book to keep us smiling like every chapter begins with an excerpt from Ellie Cannady editor of The Modern Suffragette and how it plays out in the chapter. “Sleigh Belles” is a fun read, all the characters are likable and Ms. Hanna has a way of bringing you into the story and making the lives of the characters very real. I liked this book and am looking forward to more in this 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 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Summerside Press. 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.”
November 19, 2012
There's just something about Janice's storytelling that always makes me smile. She has a way of creating endearing characters and yummy-as-hot cocoa-on-a-cold-night types of romances that end up being quite addicting. At first I thought a story about woman's suffrage in 1916 sounded... meh, at best. But I decided to give it a try since I always attempt to read books that I am doing a promo on my blog for the week the giveaway is posted. So I started reading and before I knew it I had finished the book in less than two days.
The heroine grew on me quickly. Her southern charm and manipulative ways were cute and endearing. The hero was absolutely adorable and the scenes where they communicated about southern etiquette was downright hilarious at times. I read a few phrases out loud to my husband, and he smiled, too. Anyway, I enjoy a story that has sound humor mixed it with real-life issues. Post-partum depression was a brilliant way to get the family together. It was also realistically shown. The way the story came together toward the end was heartwarming as well. Janice has crafted another winner with this book. I loved it!
The heroine grew on me quickly. Her southern charm and manipulative ways were cute and endearing. The hero was absolutely adorable and the scenes where they communicated about southern etiquette was downright hilarious at times. I read a few phrases out loud to my husband, and he smiled, too. Anyway, I enjoy a story that has sound humor mixed it with real-life issues. Post-partum depression was a brilliant way to get the family together. It was also realistically shown. The way the story came together toward the end was heartwarming as well. Janice has crafted another winner with this book. I loved it!
April 23, 2020
This delightful Christian novel is heartwarming and inspiring. A young woman travels with her family to visit their sister, Margaret, in Montana. Their intention is to convince Margaret to move back home to Savannah, but things don't quite work out that way. Margaret is a suffragist and celebrates Montana's first woman Senator. Margaret's sister falls in love with Margaret's Husband's Brother. The Setting is fun as they weather the harsh winter together as a family. A new baby is born during the family's stay with Margaret. The birth is shocking to young Margaret and she struggles with postpartum depression. They all pull through in the end and decide to stay in Montana for the long term.
July 17, 2015
Cute, clean read. Not much to it and kind of slow but worth the read one time. Our Southern Belle (heroine) pretty much drove me crazy at first. I learned to like her as she softened up through her experiences with others so completely different then herself. She seemed so stubborn and self righteous at first but gratefully she has a good heart and her intentions are good. Our Hero was a true gentleman/cowboy that made me smile. I think young Tessa was my favorite character. I'd love to read her story.
January 14, 2013
Good fun book! Quick easy read!
December 2, 2015
Not as Chrismassy as I'd like, but still a likeable read. Focus was more on the suffragette movement with snippets beginning each chapter.
December 5, 2016
Great, fun Christmas read!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews