Dakota Home

Dakota #2

by Debbie Macomber

Buffalo Valley, North Dakota, has found new life. People have started moving here—people like Lindsay Snyder, who came for one year to work as a teacher and stayed, marrying local farmer Gage Sinclair. And now Lindsay's closest friend, Maddy Washburn, has decided to pull up stakes and join her in Buffalo Valley, hoping for the same kind of contentment. And the same kind of love...

Jeb McKenna is a rancher, a man who's learned to endure, as the Dakota earth endures. He's raising bison and, buy choice, lives a solitary life. Maddy—unafraid and openhearted—is drawn to Jeb, but he rejects her overtures. Until one of North Dakota's deadly storms throws them together.

These few days and nights bring unexpected consequesnce for Maddy and Jeb. Consequences that, in one way or another, affect everyone in Buffalo Valley.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Chick Lit, Womens Fiction

400 pages, Library Binding

First published August 1, 2000

About the author

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.

Reviews

[Eleanore June · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 62%
I just don't like this town filled with angst and assholes who are too stubborn to talk to each other. I don't really care about any of them and frankly there are just too many of them.
Jeb is just an ass, a stubborn, set in his ways ass. And I just don't care/like him enough to care if he redeems himself and gets a HEA.

Also Calla is the worst and I pray that my own daughter never treats me like that. Going to call my mom and apologize now.

[Loraine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have been a great fan of Debbie Macomber and her releases for the past many years. This book was published in 2000, and I was totally shocked at the huge change in her writing. This book read like something I would expect from Harlequin romance. Filled with numerous very descriptive sexual scenes, I have to admit I was shocked that this had been written by her. The story had great possibilities with its premise, but I do not recommend it as a clean read.

[Erica Chaillot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am enjoying how this series is evolving. The town, people, and events draw up you in. I started reading Debbie Macomber’s Christmas stories, and I am so glad that I branched out to her other series.

[Marleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel deflated (and I apologize in advance to the fans. I have to admit, I keep forgetting that Debbie Macomber books are not my cup of tea. Still, I have a few of them in my library, and now and then I flock to them and give them another try, with the same result; I don’t feel connected to the story, nor to the characters – and believe me – there are many characters.
I am sure that there’s an audience and/or fan base for these series, but for me there’s really not enough substance, or enough background to the characters to give them depth and credibility.
Without going into details of the various subplots, suffice it to say that I found there’s not enough positiveness in these books while they should because there are so light, fluffy and unsubstantial. There’s a lot of stubborn stupidity, pettiness and meanness. The flip side of romances working out in the end doesn’t counterbalance that animosity and churlishness displayed by these characters.

[January · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dakota Home by Debbie Macomber 394 pages Paperback story ends on 387
Dakota #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Western Romance, Chick Lit

Featuring: North Dakota; Amputee, Newcomer, Family Drama, Small Town Development, Loose Ends, Next Book Preview- Always Dakota Prologue

Rating as a movie: R for adult content, easily PG-13 with tweaking

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My thoughts: 📖 Page 33 of 387 Ch. 2 - This was an interesting opening. I don't know if I was lied to or if the background was rewritten, so I'm just going to go with misled. I totally could spend the evening reading the next 5 chapters, but Libby just sent me a new book so I'm taking a quick break.
📖 116 Ch. 6 - More light drama, but something about it just eases the mind after real drama or too much suspense. I think I like this book more than the first even though the LI is not interested, not a trope I come across often.
📖 177 Ch. 9 - This is so frustrating. I don't know why they don't take opportunities and share their feelings, it's like they intentionally want to be misunderstood. I can totally see what's next and I'm not happy about it.
📖 234 Ch. 12 - Has every couple's grandparents dated? All of these secrets are getting on my nerves and Sarah's situation makes no sense, such an easy fix.
📖 294 Ch. 15 - This seems to be veering my way, but there is a a cliffhanger scene, I haven't heard from Rachel in several chapters.

The thing with Rachel was annoying, I don't like huge gaps in storylines or when one is clearly forgotten too long. Otherwise this book was great, predictable of course but with some unexpected loops. Like the book before it you have to read the next book to get the rest of the story but I'm really looking forward to it.

Recommend to others?: Yes. This series started out rocky but this edition more than makes up for it.

[Lyndsey Bookish Nature · Rating 3 out of 5]

Older Macomber title. Perhaps too many characters/couples. Kind of read more like a soap opera the way it jumped around between people. But overall nice story of the town folks of Buffalo Valley.

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read. I borrowed the audiobook from my public library app on my phone. I thought that the story was sweet and quick. I thought the characters were great. This story was mostly about the romance between Maddy and Jeb. I really liked Maddy, and I thought she was a strong heroine. Jeb, on the other hand, I had to take some time to get used to because he was really stubborn and seemed set in his own ways. However, as I continued to listen to the story, I started to understand him more. The secondary characters were also interesting. I really liked the friendship between Lindsay and Maddy. I can't wait to read more Debbie Macomber books. Overall, a great read.

[Dawn ♥ romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story had lots of action, almost too much. I enjoy a secondary romance but five of them was too many. It felt like reading multiple books switching after each chapter, frustrating. The main hero's history was tragic but his behavior four years later was overblown. Each relationship had an irritating character. Maggie starts up a grocery delivery service and one of her first customers is rancher Jeb.

[Kathrynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

One story with three pairs of "main characters" each drama had a great deal of potential--in the beginning. Each couple had good conflict, character emotion, and neat characters or at least the potential to be neat characters. The silly "game playing" with each couple was immature and got annoying. Just when I thought they would resolve their differences, they didn't, then at the end of the book, everything just wrapped up. Suddenly. Huh!

[Amanda Cox · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one on my faves. A romantic book full of patronizing ideas about women, low expectations of women, everyone trying to save someone else, and nobody communicating.

[Carol Fellenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. All the different families really make it extra special.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book mainly follows Maggie and Jed. Maggie is Lindsay's (the school teacher) best friend from Savannah. She was a social worker but fell in love with Buffalo Valley when she came with Lindsay and so when she hits burn out at her job, she decides to buy the grocery store and move to Buffalo Falls. She's instantly attracted to Sarah's brother (Joshua's son) Jeb. He's insecure because he lost his leg in a farming accident, therefore has a prosthetic. However, the storyline was boring and overdramatic and it had one of my all time least favorite tropes. I didn't buy the couple's love story as the main hero went from grouchy to in love based on ONE event. I also thought all of the people acted really immature in this one and intermixed and dated random people just to make others jealous. Also, Maggie and Margaret? Can we not come up with some different names? Overall, this was not nearly as good as the first. I'm going to finish the series, but I think that this was a weak installation.

SPOILERS AHEAD:
Maggie and Jed- Maggie moves to town and owns the town grocery store. She starts doing grocery delivery and Jed signs up because his sister intentionally forgets stuff for him. He's grouchy and defensive because he's insecure about his leg but then she gets trapped in a blizzard, he saves her, they sleep together, and then they're in love. They were so swept up in passion that they didn't use a condom so SURPRISE she ends up pregnant. They go through some rough patches because he's still a hardass, so she starts dating Dennis for a minute but in the end all is well and they have a baby girl and get married.
Lindsay and Gage-They are married and they get pregnant super easy and early and have a baby girl. They all go to birthing class together and its adorable (not).
Brandon and Joanie- They're still working on things and he's still a jerk. They go to marriage counseling and eventually reconcile and they move back in together.
Rachel and Heath-There's a lot of hesitation and hiccups but they end up happy together.
Sarah and Dennis- This is another big story line in this one. Sarah's Jeb's sister so it makes sense that she's heavily involved. Her daughter Calla sucks big time and is going through major teen angst. She hates that her mom is dating Dennis so she runs away the night they get engaged and goes back to live with her dad, Willie. Her dad just makes her bring him beer, etc. but she still likes it better and she's living in Minneapolis so she's glad to be out of the small town.
Buffalo Bob-His girlfriend keeps running away but then one time she comes back and has a kid named Axel with her. That's where she' been running off to every time. This kid has abusive parents and they were literally going to sell him so she stole him and ran away. They get married at the end of the book and they are Axel's parents- even though they're trying to keep their huge, illegal secret.
Margaret Clemens- Maggie befriends Margaret. She's a farmer/rancher because her dad is old and ill. She's been raised by her dad alone and she's a major tom boy but she's in love with the neighbor rancher, Matt. She wants to know how to be more attractive so Maggie helps her a little bit.

[Lucy McLaurin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always feel that reading Debbie Macomber’s books is like a warm hug of a close friend. Someone you can chat yo about everything and in turn be told everything that is taking place in their life. A comfortable and cosy quilt settled around your shoulders …

So, as always, a gentle romance or two in the small community of Buffalo Valley. Lovely characters and good back stories.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. A bit too much 'heaving chest, panting, and so forth' romance for me, but I generally like the author.

[Chantal Stead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

[Cat Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I wanted to grab a few people and knock their heads together in this book... which is, I think, the point... I absolutely loved it. As good as the first one and hard to put down.

Looking forward to the third.

*5 Stars

[Anne Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second book in the series focused mainly on Jeb McKenna and Maddy Washburn. Maddy, Lindsay Snyder’s best friend, has moved to Buffalo Valley and bought the grocery store. She is making improvements including a grocery delivery service.
She meets Jeb with the help of Jeb’s sister, Sarah. Jeb rarely goes into town, and relies on his sister to get his groceries. She “forgot” to get coffee, forcing him to go to the grocery store. When Maddy introduces herself, she explains she is starting the delivery service, which Jeb will do to help his sister so she wouldn’t have to get his groceries anymore. Maddy is extremely nice and always puts a note in with Jeb’s groceries when she delivers them. Soon a friendship forms, but Jeb is hesitant to start anything more. Since Maddy is from Savannah like Lindsay, she certainly is not used to her first winter in Buffalo Valley. A snow storm makes it difficult to deliver the groceries, and Maddy is lucky she is able to call Jeb and leave a message that she’s on her way...only she never makes it, getting stuck in a ditch. When Jeb finds out she was on her way to his ranch but never arrived, he goes out in the storm and finds her, almost frozen in her car. He takes her back to his ranch and makes sure she gets warm and cared for. The storm lasts for three days, and Maddy and Jeb find they are certainly attracted to one another. Everything seems to be going great. The storm passes, Jeb leads her back into town, with the unspoken thoughts that this could be the start of something great. So when Maddy goes to his ranch with a grocery delivery the next week, she waits for him to come back from the fields with dinner in the oven. Instead, she’s greeted by an angry Jeb, telling her there’s no relationship, never was. Maddy tears out of the yard, upset beyond belief. As the weeks pass, Maddy finds out she’s pregnant, her and Jeb seem to argue every time they try to speak to each other, but one good thing is when Jeb does find out about the baby, he is willing and able to do whatever he can to help Maddy. Finally, but before the baby is born, Jeb admits to Maddy he loves her and would marry her whether or not she was pregnant. Julianne is born at the ranch, surrounded by those who love her.
Maddy is not the only one who is pregnant. Lindsay also is having a baby, and a few weeks after Maddy has Julianne, Joy is born.
Sarah and Dennis’ relationship is very rocky. The main reason being, Sarah won’t marry Dennis. But instead of telling him why, she makes him wonder. She is still technically married to her daughter Calla’s father, Willie. People assumed when she moved back to Buffalo Valley she was divorced. Sarah also is not telling her daughter the whole truth about what happened long ago when she got pregnant with her. Calla wants her parents to get back together so they can be a family. But Calla doesn’t realize her father cheated on her mother, never paid child support, and is basically a bum. I’m really upset at Sarah for not communicating with those she loves. She wouldn’t have a runaway daughter who now wants to live with her deadbeat dad and she could have gotten a divorce ages ago. At least she finally told Dennis she’s not divorced yet. They quickly got engaged, of course.
Buffalo Bob and Merrily finally tie the knot...but they’ve got problems. Merrily showed up to Buffalo Valley after disappearing once again. She’s staying permanently this time, but the catch is she brought with her a toddler named Axel. Bits and pieces of the story come about. Axel’s parents abused him, and Merrily got so upset, she took Axel. Buffalo Bob warms up to Axel so much he gets him a forged birth certificate and Bob and Merrily get married. But things start to go wrong when Bob is made aware of a missing child flyer of Axel. Maddy, who was a former social worker, gives him the name of a lawyer who may help him and promises to keep his secret.
Carl and Jean Hooper move to Buffalo Valley. Carl manages a JC Penney catalog store and Jean opens a beauty shop.
Margaret Clemens, always a tomboy, becomes friends with Maddy. Maddy tries to help her become more feminine because Margaret has a crush on a farmer, Matt Eilers. Will Margaret ever find true love?
Rachel and Heath are still trying to make a go of a relationship, even with the help of Heath’s grandmother, Lily Quantril.
Brandon and Joanie seem to be back together after finding a new relationship counselor and spending more time together.

[Nigel · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book seemed like the women had good heads on there shoulders this second book I couldn't make it seem men had good heads, couldn't even grasp the men the commiserate heed to stardom the women wouldn't allocate any need for men to have good heads on there shoulders. Seems like the 3 of a kind hotel is a metaphor for the need to say some times life is a gamble and there's no news like no poker face on the git of not being informed about politics or how other jobs or life styles or ethics are consider in counselling ideas or family. This book was pure cliche and gossip and life. An I'd feel better if I could of relaxed reading but it got so intense in the last 2 to 1 hours of the book I had to put on George strait and just continue with my job. But I finished it in two days. I feel series are bad to get involved in and stick to non fiction but this book drove me into current times that never turn out good in the newspaper. I feel saying reading any news or this book understanding my concussions and the thoughts of the confusing tonality of my blending thoughts, this book would help news articles seem less mental. Happy I see Debbie can or robin the narrator could have a continuing trend to wonder what the hell I was thinking for my entire night shift and say why am I working at this hour with these thoughts. Although I finish happy to finish the book I've had the honour of the services like maddy or had my own thoughts going through this book like fears or worries or guilt or worst paranoia or down right being unrealistic. I'd have to say it held me closely nearing the end and my shift ended quicker than most in the first book but the second I had to pause and that slowed down the shift. But that's a male review. I hardly doubt any men will read this review and I am sure the heronist was more thilling than the male being refused sense in all perspective until the end. I also reason more people need to smoke tobacco in the book rather than drink and have such consolidation in family matters. I think they'd remember a whole lot more to. Plus it's a behaviour modifier and shows more sense in a cigar lounge for future books. It would be of interest more publicity for a benefits of cultural's wrongs than drinking being excused and I hardly would think weed would be in its state as in we're legalized if tobacco was more discussed but only saying I liked the book and had at the end said AF that was a fast shift. I need more audiobooks from her.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story about Jed and Maddie and the small town life . He lost his leg in an accident and was depressed and hated to be out with people until he met Maddie who moved into town bought a grocery store and decided to deliver groceries to her customers. That’s how they met when Maddie was delivering groceries to his house . At the end they got married 🔥

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Mary Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book Lindsey and Gage are married and having a baby. Her friend Maddy has moved to Buffalo Valley and owns the store and is changing the way things are running in the town. She befriends Sarah's sister and her brother Jeb who lost a leg in a farming accident. During a snowstorm they spend a great deal of time together and discover they love each other. Calla runs away while her mother finally divorces her husband (that everyone believed she had already divorced) and marries Dennis. Calla decides to stay with her horrible father to spite her mother for marrying Dennis.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved thee second book of the Dakota series. I am so glad that almost everyone worked out their issues. I am also glad that Dennis and Sarah are married and that her quilting store is really taking off.
I wish I could get my hands on Calla and smack some sense into the girl. She is so full of hate and resentment. Living with her father isn't helping her any. I just hope she doesn't make the same mistake as her mom though. I am also to learn more about Merrily's "son" Axel.

[Jan Mcleod · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the first novel of the Dakota series, numerous townspeople were introduced and explored, but the story mainly focused on Gage and Lindsay. In this, the second novel of the series, the sagas of Buffalo Bob, Merrily, Jeb, Maddy, Sarah, and Dennis are continued and become more complicated. And let's not forget Calla, nasty and belligerent as ever, but life isn't so rosy with her "wonderful" dad.

[Diana Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like reading about a small town with struggles, joys and that basic farm life, you will love this series! I certainly do. The sequel to Dakota Born, we meet old friends and some new ones in this book. You really feel you are part of a community in this book and the characters are so real. There is so much depth and feeling to everyone and it is an emotional experience learning and growing with them through the book.

[Katherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up after two chapters in. It started getting really complicated following multiple characters and I only liked/connected with one of them. Several just want to sleep with each other while not really wanting a relationship. Hopefully, they all learn by the end, but I'm not sticking it out to find out.

[Julianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #2 of the Dakota Trilogy. Loved it! We met Lindsay in Book #1. Now her best friend has come to the little town of Buffalo Valley, and adventures find her.....

It's Debbie Macomber! Gotta love it!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that Lindsay is settled, her best friend Maddy comes to town to rescue the local grocery store. During a winter storm, Maddy meets a man who will forever change the way she feels about Buffalo Valley.

This may have been my favorite of the series.

[Jayne · Rating 1 out of 5]

part 2 of a series about a bunch of losers. There are probably 2 likeable characters, and oh sadly we don't follow those characters. The author concentrated too much on these people weaknesses, and mostly she made them all cowards.
Epic fail!

[Barbi Huhn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another heartwarming book! I think I enjoyed this book more simply because I am so familiar with some of the places mentioned in the book. I really enjoyed all of the characters and how well they are described and how easily you get involved in their lives.

[Kellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good QUICK read... romance.