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Dry Creek Historical
Mail-Order Holiday Brides: Home for Christmas/Snowflakes for Dry Creek
Home for Christmas by Jillian Hart
Christina Eberlee is desperate for the safe haven promised to her by the Montana man whose bridal ad she answered. Yet she can't forget the handsome marshal who helps her on the journey. Maybe venturing from her planned path could lead Christina to the home she was truly meant to find.
Snowflakes for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
"Maybe you could marry her." Gabe Stone's niece and nephew long for a mother just like the mail-order bride Gabe's brother sent for and then abandoned. Yet in making the children's Christmas dreams come true, Gabe and Annabelle may discover the most precious gift of the holidays is love.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
87 people are currently reading
347 people want to read
About the author
Jillian Hart
192 books602 followersJillian Hart grew up on her family's homestead in Washington state, where she raised cattle, rode horses and scribbled stories in her spare time.
After earning her English degree from Whitman College, she worked in travel and advertising before selling her first novel.
When Jillian isn't working on her next story, she can be found puttering around her rose garden, curled up with a good book and spending quiet evenings at home with her family.
After earning her English degree from Whitman College, she worked in travel and advertising before selling her first novel.
When Jillian isn't working on her next story, she can be found puttering around her rose garden, curled up with a good book and spending quiet evenings at home with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
January 31, 2015
Home for Christmas by Jillian Hart
Good story. Christina is on her way to Angel Falls to meet the man she is supposed to marry. She is robbed on the way and meets Elijah, the local marshal. He is a kind man who is immediately taken with her, but knows she is promised to another man. They also rescue a young homeless boy. When Christina meets Tom she is worried because he doesn't seem to be the nicest of men and certainly doesn't compare to Elijah. I enjoyed seeing the way that Elijah looked out for Christina and the young boy Toby. It's always nice when the nice guy finishes first.
Snowflakes for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
I enjoyed my visit to historical Dry Creek and meeting some of the ancestors of the characters I am familiar with. Annabelle had come to Dry Creek to marry Adam and was disturbed to find out he wasn't there when she arrived. Instead she was met by Adam's brother Gabe, a big man who initially made her nervous. She soon saw his kindness to his niece and nephew and to herself. Gabe was drawn to Annabelle's inner beauty and kindness to his niece and nephew. He also discovered that he would like nothing better than to claim Annabelle for his own.
Good story. Christina is on her way to Angel Falls to meet the man she is supposed to marry. She is robbed on the way and meets Elijah, the local marshal. He is a kind man who is immediately taken with her, but knows she is promised to another man. They also rescue a young homeless boy. When Christina meets Tom she is worried because he doesn't seem to be the nicest of men and certainly doesn't compare to Elijah. I enjoyed seeing the way that Elijah looked out for Christina and the young boy Toby. It's always nice when the nice guy finishes first.
Snowflakes for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
I enjoyed my visit to historical Dry Creek and meeting some of the ancestors of the characters I am familiar with. Annabelle had come to Dry Creek to marry Adam and was disturbed to find out he wasn't there when she arrived. Instead she was met by Adam's brother Gabe, a big man who initially made her nervous. She soon saw his kindness to his niece and nephew and to herself. Gabe was drawn to Annabelle's inner beauty and kindness to his niece and nephew. He also discovered that he would like nothing better than to claim Annabelle for his own.
November 20, 2014
I liked both stories very, very much. They both affirm how God can change circumstances WITHOUT our manipulation!
So often we judge people on their looks, body language, accent...but only God knows what is on the inside and sometimes lets us see some of that when it is important for us to do so. In "Home For Christmas", Christina's intended husband has a stone heart more interested in a slave than a mate. He has little compassion and attempted to pass himself as a Christian with no heart knowledge of Christ.
In "Snowflakes for Dry Creek", Adam Stone is trying to fill his lonely life with drink and gambling, with no real purpose to be healed or help his children be healed from the loss of his wife. His brother, Gabe desires to know Christ better and learn about a new way of life. He appreciates the little things about people that are special, and shows it by display of giving and affection. Annabelle finds out that the kind of man she wants cares very little about scars on the outside, but what a woman is like on the inside!
Janet did a superb job on this latest book! She continues to grow with her intuitive descriptions of home, hearth, and family. Dry Creek could be a place I would like to visit! Jillian gives real feeling and breath to her main characters. She is a romantic at heart.
So often we judge people on their looks, body language, accent...but only God knows what is on the inside and sometimes lets us see some of that when it is important for us to do so. In "Home For Christmas", Christina's intended husband has a stone heart more interested in a slave than a mate. He has little compassion and attempted to pass himself as a Christian with no heart knowledge of Christ.
In "Snowflakes for Dry Creek", Adam Stone is trying to fill his lonely life with drink and gambling, with no real purpose to be healed or help his children be healed from the loss of his wife. His brother, Gabe desires to know Christ better and learn about a new way of life. He appreciates the little things about people that are special, and shows it by display of giving and affection. Annabelle finds out that the kind of man she wants cares very little about scars on the outside, but what a woman is like on the inside!
Janet did a superb job on this latest book! She continues to grow with her intuitive descriptions of home, hearth, and family. Dry Creek could be a place I would like to visit! Jillian gives real feeling and breath to her main characters. She is a romantic at heart.
October 15, 2012
I have a serious weakness for mail-order bride stories and this definitely met the craving:) I hope these 2 will continue these stories for a third time next year><
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January 2, 2022My favorite Christmas song is "One More Sleep 'til Christmas" from The Muppet Christmas Carol, and these two romances remind me of that song. They're about people treating each other with kindness and understanding during the holiday season. I am normally not one to read inspirational romances, but I keep coming back to these two for some reason. I've read them two Christmases now, and they just capture the things I love about the season.
September 2, 2021
Mail-Order Holiday Brides
Two stories, one book. Both women answered an add. Both we proposed to through letters. But will they work out? Good clean romance.
Two stories, one book. Both women answered an add. Both we proposed to through letters. But will they work out? Good clean romance.
February 12, 2022
Really enjoyed both of these stories. Favorites. I want to buy!
November 2, 2024
Two stories in the same book. Inspirational romances.
January 5, 2026
Lovely stories with wonderful endings
December 14, 2012
Two of my favorite authors in one book LIH "Mail-Oder Holiday Brides" by Jillian Hart&Janet Tronstad
Jillians story is "Home for Christmas"
Christina Eberlee needs a new start in life, she needs a home and is looking for Love because there has been little of that in her life, so she answers several ads from the paper and soon "Tom" sends monies and proposes expecting her to be his bride when she arrives. Tom tells Christina that he is a farmer and has a nice place that he needs help with.
While on the train Christina meets A sheriff by the name of Elijah, he is tall and strong and so nice and friendly, it seems he is there helping whenever she needs it on the trip and then when they arrive and Tom is not there to meet her as the station is closed for the night and the cold and darkness surrounds her -Elijah appears again and takes her to the hotel to wait.
On the way to hotel a boy runs pell-mell into street so fast that he is hit by wagon drawn by horses when he runs right in front of them. Elijah runs to help and soon they meet "Toby" a very young runnaway from an orphange who is skinny and bedraggled. The Hearts of these two people, Elijah and Christina are such that they must help him. They both know how hard life can be at times.
Three lives become entangled in just a few minutes and will never be the same....
When Tom finally shows up to meet Christina she realizes he is not the man she had hoped for but she did promise so she tries to make the best of it and talks him into a few days to get to know one another and plans to marry on Christmas eve. He takes her to boarding house where he has asked Mildred to keep and eye on her for him but he doesn't even ask about her finances and how she will eat while she waits for him.
The small town of Angel Falls is a community of caring folks and Christina falls in love with the little town and its people.
you will want to read this story and see what happens between Tom&Christina, Elijah&Christina and the little boy Toby. I knew that Christina had big decisions to make and her heart was in great danger being around Elijah so much and seeing his goodness.
Janet Tronstad writes "Snowflakes for Dry Creek"
Gabe's brother writes for a mail-order bride and then gets cold feet and leaves town and his children with Gabe telling him to take care of things for awhile...
So Gabe finds himself waiting on a cold windy station platform looking for a young woman who is looking for his brother to meet her. The children had been told Annabelle would be their new mother and they were anxious to meet her. Gabe loved the children and wanted to take care of them the best he could but was not sure how he would handle this situation now. He wanted to send her right back to where she came from but knew with Christmas so near the Christian thing to do would be bring her home for the children.
Annabell is shaken to learn her betrothed is not there but the children make up with their eagerness as she travels with the brother to his home.
Adam had stretched the truth some when he wrote to Annabell about his ranch and the life he lived. would he return -she stayed thinking he would and that everything would be ok.
Gabe didn't want a wife or softness in his life but was beginning to have feelings for Annabell as he watched her with his neice and nephew.
He left to hunt for his brother the next day and went to nearby fort where he was sure his brother would be with the men there gambling and having food to eat with them, but soon found that he was out hunting with the men and it would be anyones guess where they would be so he headed home again.
Annabell helped the children to have a nice Christmas, Gabe invited many neighbors for a party and several from town came out and the people gathered and made do with primitive things and foods to have fellowship at "Christmastime" folks did not get together much and it seemed everyone was so happy that Gabe had opened his home to them. Adam showed up but had been drinking and Annabelle did not get to see him at his best.
Annabelle knew she would not be able to marry this man and knew he didn't want a wife either so she talked with him about being nanny for the children and he was elated about that, he soon was gone again and that left Gabe and Annabell to talk about the feelings that had been growing between them.
I was happy to read that all were happy by the end of the book and felt that Gabe and Annabell would find happiness themselves from a situation that had looked so dire in the beginning...
Thanks Janet and Jillian for some good Christmas reading...
Jillians story is "Home for Christmas"
Christina Eberlee needs a new start in life, she needs a home and is looking for Love because there has been little of that in her life, so she answers several ads from the paper and soon "Tom" sends monies and proposes expecting her to be his bride when she arrives. Tom tells Christina that he is a farmer and has a nice place that he needs help with.
While on the train Christina meets A sheriff by the name of Elijah, he is tall and strong and so nice and friendly, it seems he is there helping whenever she needs it on the trip and then when they arrive and Tom is not there to meet her as the station is closed for the night and the cold and darkness surrounds her -Elijah appears again and takes her to the hotel to wait.
On the way to hotel a boy runs pell-mell into street so fast that he is hit by wagon drawn by horses when he runs right in front of them. Elijah runs to help and soon they meet "Toby" a very young runnaway from an orphange who is skinny and bedraggled. The Hearts of these two people, Elijah and Christina are such that they must help him. They both know how hard life can be at times.
Three lives become entangled in just a few minutes and will never be the same....
When Tom finally shows up to meet Christina she realizes he is not the man she had hoped for but she did promise so she tries to make the best of it and talks him into a few days to get to know one another and plans to marry on Christmas eve. He takes her to boarding house where he has asked Mildred to keep and eye on her for him but he doesn't even ask about her finances and how she will eat while she waits for him.
The small town of Angel Falls is a community of caring folks and Christina falls in love with the little town and its people.
you will want to read this story and see what happens between Tom&Christina, Elijah&Christina and the little boy Toby. I knew that Christina had big decisions to make and her heart was in great danger being around Elijah so much and seeing his goodness.
Janet Tronstad writes "Snowflakes for Dry Creek"
Gabe's brother writes for a mail-order bride and then gets cold feet and leaves town and his children with Gabe telling him to take care of things for awhile...
So Gabe finds himself waiting on a cold windy station platform looking for a young woman who is looking for his brother to meet her. The children had been told Annabelle would be their new mother and they were anxious to meet her. Gabe loved the children and wanted to take care of them the best he could but was not sure how he would handle this situation now. He wanted to send her right back to where she came from but knew with Christmas so near the Christian thing to do would be bring her home for the children.
Annabell is shaken to learn her betrothed is not there but the children make up with their eagerness as she travels with the brother to his home.
Adam had stretched the truth some when he wrote to Annabell about his ranch and the life he lived. would he return -she stayed thinking he would and that everything would be ok.
Gabe didn't want a wife or softness in his life but was beginning to have feelings for Annabell as he watched her with his neice and nephew.
He left to hunt for his brother the next day and went to nearby fort where he was sure his brother would be with the men there gambling and having food to eat with them, but soon found that he was out hunting with the men and it would be anyones guess where they would be so he headed home again.
Annabell helped the children to have a nice Christmas, Gabe invited many neighbors for a party and several from town came out and the people gathered and made do with primitive things and foods to have fellowship at "Christmastime" folks did not get together much and it seemed everyone was so happy that Gabe had opened his home to them. Adam showed up but had been drinking and Annabelle did not get to see him at his best.
Annabelle knew she would not be able to marry this man and knew he didn't want a wife either so she talked with him about being nanny for the children and he was elated about that, he soon was gone again and that left Gabe and Annabell to talk about the feelings that had been growing between them.
I was happy to read that all were happy by the end of the book and felt that Gabe and Annabell would find happiness themselves from a situation that had looked so dire in the beginning...
Thanks Janet and Jillian for some good Christmas reading...
January 16, 2016
Mail-Order Holiday Brides by Jillian Hart & Janet Tronstad
Home for Christmas by Jillian Hart
Christina Eberlee is alone in the world and barley getting by. Being accepted by Tom Rutger as a mail-order bride is an answer to her prayers. Or is it? Not when every man, including Tom, is measured by the kindness of the handsome marshal she met on her way to Angel Falls, Montana. Christina’s adventure includes meeting Annabelle, another mail-order bride who is headed for Dry Creek, Montana and Marshal Elijah Gable, a man who comes to her rescue more than once. Not to forget getting injured when a young ruffian steals her reticule.
Elijah had never thought he’d have a second chance at love, and maybe he don’t. How can he tell his heart that this gal is already spoken for?
This was a heartwarming story that reminded me how these young woman who ventured off to marry men they never met….never knew what type of man was waiting at the end of their travels.
Be sure and check out Jillian’s other historical books that take place in the quaint town of Angel Falls, Montana.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
Snowflakes for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
Annabelle Hester finally had some hope in her life. She lost her mom at a young age and her dad had a bit of a temper and he was a big man. After he passed away and she was left with very little she decided to become a mail-order bride. Adam Stone had proposed and accepted her even with her weaknesses. Or so she thought. Instead of Adam she was met by his brother, Gabe. A big man, even bigger than her father. In her mind that equaled cruelty and caused her fear.
Gabe quickly fell in love with his niece and nephew. His brother on the other hand was acting like a horses behind. The day his brother’s soon-to-be bride came to town….Adam left town. Gabe quickly finds himself having to explain to the woman that his brother didn’t want her and fight off a local busybody who believes the children would be better off in any home but his.
Another great addition to Janet’s Dry Creek Series. She brings in some old friends from some of her other Dry Creek historical books. A really enjoyable story that also gives a glimpse into how it must have felt to step off a train into a new place to marry someone you never met, and pray that they turn out to be kind and eventually someone who will love you.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
This is the second time that Janet and Jillian have come together to bring us a Christmas story from their historical towns. If you haven’t read it you may want to read their first book; Mail-Order Christmas Brides. I have read every book these two ladies have written and enjoyed them all.
Home for Christmas by Jillian Hart
Christina Eberlee is alone in the world and barley getting by. Being accepted by Tom Rutger as a mail-order bride is an answer to her prayers. Or is it? Not when every man, including Tom, is measured by the kindness of the handsome marshal she met on her way to Angel Falls, Montana. Christina’s adventure includes meeting Annabelle, another mail-order bride who is headed for Dry Creek, Montana and Marshal Elijah Gable, a man who comes to her rescue more than once. Not to forget getting injured when a young ruffian steals her reticule.
Elijah had never thought he’d have a second chance at love, and maybe he don’t. How can he tell his heart that this gal is already spoken for?
This was a heartwarming story that reminded me how these young woman who ventured off to marry men they never met….never knew what type of man was waiting at the end of their travels.
Be sure and check out Jillian’s other historical books that take place in the quaint town of Angel Falls, Montana.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
Snowflakes for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
Annabelle Hester finally had some hope in her life. She lost her mom at a young age and her dad had a bit of a temper and he was a big man. After he passed away and she was left with very little she decided to become a mail-order bride. Adam Stone had proposed and accepted her even with her weaknesses. Or so she thought. Instead of Adam she was met by his brother, Gabe. A big man, even bigger than her father. In her mind that equaled cruelty and caused her fear.
Gabe quickly fell in love with his niece and nephew. His brother on the other hand was acting like a horses behind. The day his brother’s soon-to-be bride came to town….Adam left town. Gabe quickly finds himself having to explain to the woman that his brother didn’t want her and fight off a local busybody who believes the children would be better off in any home but his.
Another great addition to Janet’s Dry Creek Series. She brings in some old friends from some of her other Dry Creek historical books. A really enjoyable story that also gives a glimpse into how it must have felt to step off a train into a new place to marry someone you never met, and pray that they turn out to be kind and eventually someone who will love you.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
This is the second time that Janet and Jillian have come together to bring us a Christmas story from their historical towns. If you haven’t read it you may want to read their first book; Mail-Order Christmas Brides. I have read every book these two ladies have written and enjoyed them all.
January 6, 2013
I must say that I love both Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstad, so I have an affinity for their books. A HUGE thank you to both the authors since they sent me the book! I love it when they come together to write stories because I know we will get characters you can relate to and how you see the hand of God guiding them along their path, Christina and Annabelle's story are introduced to you at the very beginning. Two women coming from different backgrounds are united when they find out they are both mail ordered brides for Christmas. What both ladies don't know is that the very men they are promised to marry have issues of their own. In Christina's story immediate sparks fly with the handsome marshall she runs into on the train. Little does she know she won't be able to get away from him even when she gets off the train. The story of how they both come to trust each other through helping a poor orphan boy helps you get a glimpse into both her and the marshal's past. Only when she sees the true side of her intended come out, is she able to see that the marshal is the one she was meant to be with all along.
Annabelle's story is one of strength and sadness. She is ready to be a mother to two motherless children, but comes to find out that the man she was supposed to marry has run off and left the children with their handsome Uncle Gabe. Since she has no other place to go, she decides to stay and watch the children till he comes back to town so that she can face him. In the process she reveals a secret that she has kept from everyone except he intended....or so she thinks. When she realizes he never received the letter about her secret she doesn't know wether to trust the Gabe with that and her heart, or just leave all together. In the end, even though things were rough, she saw how God brought her into Gabe's life and the children's life for a reason.
Annabelle's story is one of strength and sadness. She is ready to be a mother to two motherless children, but comes to find out that the man she was supposed to marry has run off and left the children with their handsome Uncle Gabe. Since she has no other place to go, she decides to stay and watch the children till he comes back to town so that she can face him. In the process she reveals a secret that she has kept from everyone except he intended....or so she thinks. When she realizes he never received the letter about her secret she doesn't know wether to trust the Gabe with that and her heart, or just leave all together. In the end, even though things were rough, she saw how God brought her into Gabe's life and the children's life for a reason.
December 20, 2012
Home for Christmas
This is a wonderful Christmas story by Jillian Hart! Christina Eberlee and Annabelle Hester are mail-order brides who meet on the train taking them to their prospective husbands. Home for Christmas is Christina’s story by Jillian Hart. She meets Elijah Gable, the marshal who tries to catch the boy that knocks Christina down as he’s steeling her reticule on the train. The marshal can’t catch the boy, but he knows Christina’s arm is broken, no matter how much she denies it! Christina is just praying that her future husband who paid her way to him will be a good match. But will he be as good a catch as the marshal? And what about the boy that stole her reticule? This is one story that will grab you from the beginning and you won’t be able to stop until you’re finished. Don’t miss this great Christmas story by Jillian Hart!
Snowflakes for Dry Creek
This is the second story in this wonderful Mail-Order Christmas Brides sequel. Annabelle Hester is on her way to Dry Creek to meet her future husband, Adam Stone. But, he sends his brother Gabe to pick her up at the station. Where has Adam run off to? How can Annabelle’s story end happily if her promised husband doesn’t want her? She has been told lies by Adam; can she trust his brother Gabe? This is a wonderful Christmas story by Janet Tronstad. Put your faith in God and everything will work out.
Both of these stories come with discussion questions at the end and are heartwarming Christmas stories.
This is a wonderful Christmas story by Jillian Hart! Christina Eberlee and Annabelle Hester are mail-order brides who meet on the train taking them to their prospective husbands. Home for Christmas is Christina’s story by Jillian Hart. She meets Elijah Gable, the marshal who tries to catch the boy that knocks Christina down as he’s steeling her reticule on the train. The marshal can’t catch the boy, but he knows Christina’s arm is broken, no matter how much she denies it! Christina is just praying that her future husband who paid her way to him will be a good match. But will he be as good a catch as the marshal? And what about the boy that stole her reticule? This is one story that will grab you from the beginning and you won’t be able to stop until you’re finished. Don’t miss this great Christmas story by Jillian Hart!
Snowflakes for Dry Creek
This is the second story in this wonderful Mail-Order Christmas Brides sequel. Annabelle Hester is on her way to Dry Creek to meet her future husband, Adam Stone. But, he sends his brother Gabe to pick her up at the station. Where has Adam run off to? How can Annabelle’s story end happily if her promised husband doesn’t want her? She has been told lies by Adam; can she trust his brother Gabe? This is a wonderful Christmas story by Janet Tronstad. Put your faith in God and everything will work out.
Both of these stories come with discussion questions at the end and are heartwarming Christmas stories.
December 22, 2012
Home for Christmas is the first story in the Mail-Order Holiday Brides. Told in a charming way, we learn to know Christina as she rides the train to Montana. Curl up by the fireplace with your choice of hot drink and meet Annabelle who is a fellow mail-Order bride also on her way to the Montana Territory from the Dakota Territories. A delightful, cozy short novel, to get you in the holiday spirit, complete with whirling snow and wood fires. Jillian Hart pens an endearing novel in an amazing way. I feel I know both Christina and the other residents in Angel Falls, but the handsome marshal is the one I am drawn to as he helps his neighbors, and even those who are not.
Snowflakes for Dry Creek is just as pleasing a town as Angel Falls, perhaps more so, because as readers of Janet Tronstad's Dry Creek series, we have learnt to love this town and her people. Here again, the story is told in a way that we fall more in love with Annabel and the brother of the man who asked her to come be his bride. These are easy novels to read, after a busy day of corraling sugar hyped children, cleaning up those scraps of gift wrap we missed earlier and putting away the last of the turkey dinner.
I enjoyed both, and will love gifting this book to a dear friend. Thanks to Janet Tronstad for sending me this book so I could read and review it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, though all she asked for was an honest review, not requiring a positive critique. The opinions stated are my own.
Snowflakes for Dry Creek is just as pleasing a town as Angel Falls, perhaps more so, because as readers of Janet Tronstad's Dry Creek series, we have learnt to love this town and her people. Here again, the story is told in a way that we fall more in love with Annabel and the brother of the man who asked her to come be his bride. These are easy novels to read, after a busy day of corraling sugar hyped children, cleaning up those scraps of gift wrap we missed earlier and putting away the last of the turkey dinner.
I enjoyed both, and will love gifting this book to a dear friend. Thanks to Janet Tronstad for sending me this book so I could read and review it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, though all she asked for was an honest review, not requiring a positive critique. The opinions stated are my own.
December 11, 2012
Both of these mail-order bride stories are delightful, and certainly worth reading. I loved the way the two authors intertwined certain elements of the plot to help these novellas blend together perfectly.
Home for Christmas by Jillian Hart:
Christina Eberlee and Elijah Gable are wonderful characters, and, as usual, Jillian Hart truly lets you into their hearts and minds. The child in the story will grab your heartstrings, and the plot does a great job of demonstrating how pride, impulsiveness, and certain prejudices from the past can sometimes temporarily lead us away from the best that God has for us.
Snowflakes for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad:
Gabe Stone and Anabelle Hester change and grow during the course of this story, and other characters who need to let the Lord work in their lives and change them don't choose to do so. That's one thing I liked about it; it seemed realistic because not everything in life will always turn out perfectly, especially for those who resist God's guidance. The two children also add a great deal to this holiday story. It shows that you can have a delightful Christmas without having the best of everything.
Home for Christmas by Jillian Hart:
Christina Eberlee and Elijah Gable are wonderful characters, and, as usual, Jillian Hart truly lets you into their hearts and minds. The child in the story will grab your heartstrings, and the plot does a great job of demonstrating how pride, impulsiveness, and certain prejudices from the past can sometimes temporarily lead us away from the best that God has for us.
Snowflakes for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad:
Gabe Stone and Anabelle Hester change and grow during the course of this story, and other characters who need to let the Lord work in their lives and change them don't choose to do so. That's one thing I liked about it; it seemed realistic because not everything in life will always turn out perfectly, especially for those who resist God's guidance. The two children also add a great deal to this holiday story. It shows that you can have a delightful Christmas without having the best of everything.
December 24, 2012
Two novellas in one!
Home For Christmas
I totally bought into Christina falling for Elijah. Let's face it, who wouldn't? He's kind, compassionate, always trying to help others, and is handsome to boot. The feelings that grow between them and for the runaway they try to help are beautifully written.
Snowflakes for Dry Creek
While I enjoyed the characters (except Adam) and loved the story, I felt like there were pieces of it missing. Annabelle and Gabe are great fits for each other, but when their feelings for each other changed into something more, it became slightly unclear. Annabelle remains faithful and steadfast in the idea that she'll marry Adam as she agreed to, but when her feelings change for Gabe and vice-versa was the part of the story I felt was missing.
Regardless, both were quick fun reads that definitely got me in the holiday spirit.
Home For Christmas
I totally bought into Christina falling for Elijah. Let's face it, who wouldn't? He's kind, compassionate, always trying to help others, and is handsome to boot. The feelings that grow between them and for the runaway they try to help are beautifully written.
Snowflakes for Dry Creek
While I enjoyed the characters (except Adam) and loved the story, I felt like there were pieces of it missing. Annabelle and Gabe are great fits for each other, but when their feelings for each other changed into something more, it became slightly unclear. Annabelle remains faithful and steadfast in the idea that she'll marry Adam as she agreed to, but when her feelings change for Gabe and vice-versa was the part of the story I felt was missing.
Regardless, both were quick fun reads that definitely got me in the holiday spirit.
January 16, 2015
These were both decently written faith-inspired romances of mail-order brides finding happiness, even if it wasn't exactly in the way they expected. The characters are thoughtful and there is a real sense of place.
However, I had one issue with "Home for Christmas"....
**** SPOILER **** **** SPOILER **** **** SPOILER **** **** SPOILER ****
The author has set up a situation where the original man who sent away for the mail-order bride has serious anger-management issues, which is one of the reasons that she rejects him, but they are all still living in the same town. He's shown to be jealous, violent, and antisocial, so I am wondering whether I am the only reader who is fairly sure that the sheriff's new home is going to be vandalized, the bride is going to be assaulted, and their adopted son is going to be beat up by this frustrated, enraged, and jilted guy.
However, I had one issue with "Home for Christmas"....
**** SPOILER **** **** SPOILER **** **** SPOILER **** **** SPOILER ****
The author has set up a situation where the original man who sent away for the mail-order bride has serious anger-management issues, which is one of the reasons that she rejects him, but they are all still living in the same town. He's shown to be jealous, violent, and antisocial, so I am wondering whether I am the only reader who is fairly sure that the sheriff's new home is going to be vandalized, the bride is going to be assaulted, and their adopted son is going to be beat up by this frustrated, enraged, and jilted guy.
December 11, 2012
I really enjoyed this novella by Janet and Jillian! I enjoy mail order bride stories but this one was a little different in that the two women met on the train going to Montana to meet their two future husbands and ended up not marrying the men they were intended to marry! Both men would not have been right for them, one being a cold-hearted, mean man and the other a widower who wasn't ready to marry again. The ladies instead met men who weren't looking for marriage but found the right person anyway! Christina and Annabelle were both lonely women who just wanted to belong to a family and God led them to where they would be the happiest and most loved. Thanks, Janet and Jillian for a great book!
December 12, 2012
I loved this book! Two awesome authors coming together once again to bring us back in to the past. I got totally lost in the stories of Christina and Annabelle. Both are mail order brides who think their lives will be very good once they get to their destinations. It's two separate stories but the two women meet on the train and are inter woven into each to the stories!
I felt sorry for both of them and their stories were truly heart breaking! Great job Janet and Jillian! I want to read more!
I felt sorry for both of them and their stories were truly heart breaking! Great job Janet and Jillian! I want to read more!
December 28, 2012
This is a good Novella with both stories being good. In the first book by Jillian Hart we see Christina who has answered an add to marry a farmer in Montana. On the way she encounters a Marshall and wonders about her choice but having promised to marry the farmer she feels she has to go through with this. We see a few other obstacles on the way. A good story.
In Janet Tronstad's we see Annabelle arrive to marry one Stone brother only to find him missing. The children want a mother and think their uncle could marry her. Its an interesting story also and a good read.
In Janet Tronstad's we see Annabelle arrive to marry one Stone brother only to find him missing. The children want a mother and think their uncle could marry her. Its an interesting story also and a good read.
October 13, 2014
How this landed in boxes of my haven't yet read books is beyond me! Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstad are always at the top of my list. I love the way they write, and I love their mail order bride series!I am sucker for that premise, those stories always get to me!Plus I know with these fabulous authors I will always get a sweet, cute, short romance centered around Christmas! Doesn't get much better than that! I love to read holiday books at any time other than the holiday season. Reminds me why I adore Christmas so much! ;)
January 3, 2013
This volume of two novellas was something I enjoyed. The two stories are connected in that the two brides become acquainted on the train ride west and continue the friendship as best they can upon their arrivals. Although the two stories were "novellas," they each were full, complete stories, with well-developed characters and plot. This volume is thicker than others for the same price, so it is a good deal for your money.
January 22, 2013
I enjoyed reading this book. The first story by Jillian Hart was a joy to read. I loved all the characters and it had great chemistry between Christina and Elijah. The second story by Janet Tronstad was good. The character of Adam was really a pointless character to me in the book and it makes you hate him. Gabe was good in it but I wanted more info on him. If you are a fan of either author, then you need to read this book. :)
December 3, 2012
Mail Order stories have always been a favorite for me, and this book was fantastic. To live through something like that would be unbelievable. Not knowing what you were really getting in to. It had to take a lot of faith, and an equal amount of courage to get out of the situation if it wasn't the right one.
You can't go wrong picking up this book. Couldn't put it down.
You can't go wrong picking up this book. Couldn't put it down.
December 6, 2012
This book contains two novellas--one by Jillian Hart and one by Janet Tronstad. Each one is about a mail order bride who travels west to start a new life. The ladies meet each other on the train and become friends. Their stories are similar and both take place around Christmas. Each story is an engaging read. I think you'll like them both!
December 3, 2013
Two mail-order bride stories that start out together, each story written by a different author. The two brides to be meet on the train traveling to Montana. In both stories, the groom doesn't turn out to be honest in their exchange of letters and each bride ends up marrying someone else, but someone better for them.
December 1, 2015
Rating 3.5
All are short stories less than 100 pages each, but each are heartwarming and if this series can’t get you in the holiday mood. With the simplicity of family and Christmas in the 1800’s nothing will.
All are short stories less than 100 pages each, but each are heartwarming and if this series can’t get you in the holiday mood. With the simplicity of family and Christmas in the 1800’s nothing will.
January 2, 2013
I've read a few of Janet's previous books, but none by Jillian Hart. I loved how both the main characters were introduced in the first book and as the second book started, it brought us back to what happened in the first book. Nice, heartwarming read for the Christmas season!
December 23, 2012
Both of these mail-order bride Christmas stories were so cute!! What I really liked I the fact that the two girls from the stories knew each other and there were tiny references to each of them in the other's story. They were both fairly short and sweet....and clean!!
February 13, 2013
Two lovely stories of how God can take what seems impossible and make it wonderful. In spite of what might have been, the ladies is both stories ended up with the better man! A great way to relax and learn a little more of what it must have been like to be a mail-order bride.
April 17, 2013
Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstad mix the characters and the stories to keep the readers interested. However, Ms. Hart's story is first for a reason. It is a much stronger piece than is "Snowflakes for Dry Creek" by Tronstad. I would give the first story a 5 and the second a 3.
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