Promiseland: The Journal of Callie McGregor series, Book 1

by Dawn Miller

Pioneer woman Callie McGregor and her family are determined to survive the Indian massacres, prairie wildfires, droughts, and blizzards of the Montana territory in the 1800s with their faith intact.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Christian Fiction, Christian

256 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2002

About the author

Dawn Miller is an award-winning filmmaker and author who has written and produced several books, a music video, and an urban teen drama. She lives in St. Louis with her teenage son and is currently at work on the graphic novel and feature film version of 'The Watcher Chronicles'.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sugary, sappy sweet. That is this book. And I laughed so hard when I read another review that said there were so many tears. They shed tears every other page, and it’s true! I found myself rolling my eyes every time they cried, so I rolled them most of the time.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

An overabundance of tears lowered my rating of this book. It seems every 2-3 pages, there's be a phrase like "tears welled up in her eyes", "his eyes shinned with unshed tears", "tears ran down her face"... The frequency of this became so hard to overlook that it interfered with my enjoyment of reading about the characters. Granted, quite often these were happy tears--but it really became too distracting. Two stars. I'm hoping the next book, The Other Side of Jordan, doesn't have this problem.

[Della Tingle · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Wouldn’t we be missin’ out on what’s to come if we were always to turn back” (17)?

“That’s what God put families together for…to believe in each other when we can’t believe in ourselves” (25).

“Hate makes ye a black heart, and it don’t change the other feller none either” (86).

A “man grew old and one day he died…The man was overcome with joy to realize he was in heaven because his life had been so miserable…Jesus took the man’s hand, his smile sad but kind as he led the man into a huge room filled with gifts.
‘These were all for you,’ Jesus said, and the man looked at him, startled. The he went over to the largest gift, wrapped fine with bows…and when he opened it, he saw it was the day of his birth.
The man started tearing into all the boxes then…He started crying as he saw himself being hugged by a loved one in one of the boxes, heard the laughter of a child in another one. He opened box after box, showing him all the gifts of life—gifts he had never took the time to open…never took the time to see” (121-122).

“Amazing what your heart can push you to do” (125).

“We all need saving from ourselves one time or another in our lives” (130).

“How soon we forget to trust, Lord, when some new trouble comes our way” (140).

“Is anyone ever really ours to keep? Even our children? Or are they merely on loan from You, just long enough to see how we’ll treat the gift?
May we never lose sight of what a gift each and every one of us is to each other” (153).

“Sometimes the comfort of being with folks that understand the deep-down things in you is enough. Any words after that would’ve just gotten in the way” (156).

“Love like you’ve never been hurt before” (191).

“Sometimes we are the only Bible some folks will ever have a chance to read” (196).

“Going through the worst of times can make you a better person for it, can make you see things you would’ve never seen in the good times” (210).

“God’s answers to our prayers aren’t ever what we expect them to be.
They’re always better” (211).

As can be seen, I found a lot I wanted to remember throughout this book. One thing that aggravated me was the confusion over the different characters. I seemed to have more issue with keeping everyone straight in this novel than I usually do. There’s Lillie, Callie, and Jessie, for example. I also felt like I was missing something, like a previous book. Sometimes, references were made as if to something I should already have known all about but didn’t. Overall, this is a very sweet Christian fiction novel. More than once, my eyes filled with tears.

[Taryn Spearey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lot 0f fun to read. One of my favorite formants written in books in when it's written with a journal style.

With this, I feel that we really got to see how Callie felt and though during certian situations. We got to have a look at the world through the main character's eyes.

Callie and her family are traveling to a new home in the Montana Territory. They have a hard time adjusting to life in their new home.

I'll read book 2 now, and hopefully, i'll have more for that review.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of pioneers make their way to start a ranch in Montana territory. They face a series of difficult times that test their faith in God. Some of them suffer from intense racism, harsh winters and even death. Throughout all this, they also experience happy times and the love of famiy and friends. I look forward to the next book in the series.

[Tina Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant Christian novel about family and friends settling in the west (Montana) during the late 1860's early 1870. A novel that shows us how God's hand moved in their lives. I'd recommend for a friend.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uplifting, beautiful story of a pioneer family who have come through many hardships to find their “Promiseland” in a picturesque Montana valley and within themselves with the Lord’s help. Callie documents their bad days, good days, joys and sorrows in her journal.

[Cynthia Martinez]

Absolutely loved this story. Want to read sequel now.

[Deborah De · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sappy.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a 4.5 stars I really liked it and it was nice and easy to read.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Myra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Promiseland is the second book of an exceptionally moving trilogy from America's pioneer past. LOVED IT.

[Sophie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this book up at the library just from the front page and the back cover letting me know it was the diary of a pioneer woman, books I used to be super interested in. However, I did not realize that a great premise of this book was it's Christianity and found that it was plugged in an unnecessary amount of times taking away from the story. The relationship between the characters was touching and I did like the main character but the story was a bit repetitive. A major issue I have with books written in diary form is when the entrees are too short, although making it more diary-like it takes away from the story. the author also tried to include past information in a way that wouldn't require retelling a back story that the character would obviously already know, but I would of preferred it. Would be better if I was into this style of writing I think.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had this book for a while and picked it up with hopes of learning more about the women pioneers. It gave me some insight but was not what I expected.
This is a story about a family and friends who settle in Montana. It is a pleasant story laced with how faith gets this family through there daily lives and the hardships they must face.
Although I consider myself a person of faith there was a lot of that aspect in this book and at times dominated the narrative. I hate to say I found myself skipping over that so I could get on with the story.
Once again I must admire the women who came before us and helped settle this country. In this book and I as am sure in true life it was faith and the friendships they made with other women that got them through it.

[Baglady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fictional account of a woman living in Montana territory after 1865. Mostly interesting story but with lots of backstory hints that suggest a prequel might provide enlightening insights into characters' development. Billed as Christian fiction, there are frequent first-person reflections on faith, ethical decisions, and interpersonal relationships guided by Christian beliefs - not too much of a detraction but sometimes potential plot enrichment is avoided by "letting go and letting God". Similar in tone to Laura Ingalls Wilder books, these characters are not as complex or as richly described as in Wilder's works.

[Mary-Anne Swift · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good. It was kind of slow, and a bit boring at times. It teaches good lessons dealing with family, faith, love, and friendship. I just read a few chapters every night before bed, and it was a good book for that. There was nothing captivating or intriguing about it.

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sugary, sweet Little House on the Prairie type book. Journal entry style made it a bit choppy. Callie referred to things that seemed to come before this but weren't explained, yes this was the first book in a series?

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, Little House on the Prairie-type book.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and all she went through was an interesting read.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good reading but was disappointed by modern conveniences creeping into a story set in primitive conditions

[Amanda Eggert · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good read.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, but not spectacular. Some repetitiveness.

[Arlene Richards · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the first book written in the mid 1800 based on the lives of Montana homesteaders. There is far too much religion in it for me to read anymore in this series.