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Dakota Plains #3
Dakota Dusk
Jude Weinlander had the face of an angel . . . but the heart of a bully and a cheat.
“It ain’t fair,” Jude grumbled. “My brother, the dolt himself, has a thriving business, a beautiful wife, and that grand house of his. It just ain’t fair, I tell ya.” When fire raged through his childhood home one night, Jude, full of anger and guilt, turned his back on family who could help him heal. He left Soldahl, North Dakota, and took up wandering from town to town. When he arrived in the small, fire-ravaged town of Willowford, North Dakota, he agreed to help schoolmarm Rebekka Stenesrude by rebuilding the schoolhouse before he moved on, once again. But God kept Jude in Willowford to work on his heart, teaching him that for every dusk there is a sunrise.
Dakota Dusk is the third book of the Dakota Series that features the intertwining lives of five inspiring women, all who live in the early 1900s in the immigrant community of Soldahl, North Dakota.
“It ain’t fair,” Jude grumbled. “My brother, the dolt himself, has a thriving business, a beautiful wife, and that grand house of his. It just ain’t fair, I tell ya.” When fire raged through his childhood home one night, Jude, full of anger and guilt, turned his back on family who could help him heal. He left Soldahl, North Dakota, and took up wandering from town to town. When he arrived in the small, fire-ravaged town of Willowford, North Dakota, he agreed to help schoolmarm Rebekka Stenesrude by rebuilding the schoolhouse before he moved on, once again. But God kept Jude in Willowford to work on his heart, teaching him that for every dusk there is a sunrise.
Dakota Dusk is the third book of the Dakota Series that features the intertwining lives of five inspiring women, all who live in the early 1900s in the immigrant community of Soldahl, North Dakota.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 20, 2012
446 people are currently reading
371 people want to read
About the author
Lauraine Snelling
161 books2,066 followersAward-winning and bestselling author Lauraine Snelling has over 80 books published with sales of over 4.5 million. Her original dream was to write horse books for children. Today, she writes adult novels about real issues centered on forgiveness, loss, domestic violence and cancer in her inspirational contemporary women’s fiction titles and historical series, including the favorite, Blessing books about Ingeborg Bjorklund and family.
Lauraine enjoys helping others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the county. She and her husband Wayne have two grown sons, and a daughter in Heaven. They live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a Basset named Sir Winston ob de Mountains, Lapcat, and “The Girls” (three golden hens).
Lauraine enjoys helping others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the county. She and her husband Wayne have two grown sons, and a daughter in Heaven. They live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a Basset named Sir Winston ob de Mountains, Lapcat, and “The Girls” (three golden hens).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 23, 2019
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Dakota Dusk is the third book of the Dakota Series, Christian historical, that features the intertwining lives of five inspiring women who live in the early 1900s in the farming community of Soldahl, North Dakota. Many young women traveled to the uncharted lands in the western United States to become brides. This story focuses on Jude Weinlander, with the face of an angel, but the heart of a bully and a cheat. Jude is Dag's brother, from Book 2 of this series.
“It ain’t fair,” Jude grumbled. “My brother, the dolt himself, has a thriving business, a beautiful wife, and that grand house of his. It just ain’t fair, I tell ya.”
When the fire rages through his childhood home one night, Jude, full of anger and guilt, turns his back on his family who can help him heal. He leaves Soldahl, North Dakota, and takes up wandering from town to town.
Rebekka Stenesrude has poured her life into her students, only to see her beloved school burned to the ground. When Jude arrives in the small, fire-ravaged town of Willowford, North Dakota, he agrees to help schoolmarm Rebekka Stenesrude by rebuilding the schoolhouse before he moves on, once again.
But God keeps Jude in Willowford to work on his heart, teaching him that for every dusk there is a sunrise. Rebekka Stenesrude discovers the possibility of fulfillment in life outside of her teaching career.
Unfortunately, there were a few discrepancies that niggle at your brain. But I overlooked those in favor of reveling in the inspiration and blessings that these folks received.
Dear reader, can you imagine traveling across the ocean by ship and then across the United States by train to finally arrive in the western state of North Dakota to marry someone you only hold a picture of? Only when you arrive, you discover that he is not at the depot to meet you and no one recognizes his picture? In this case, all is not lost. It appears that God has a plan for this young lady, You have the opportunity to read this short story in order to experience the adventure laid before you.
Kindle Reader review: "Rebekka teaches all ages in a one-room school in the Dakotas. Jude is a carpenter with a past that haunts him. Life is difficult for early settlers but they had determination despite prairie fires, flash floods, and crop failures. The evils of overconsumption of alcohol and the grief and guilt it brings to families is evident all through this book. Not in a bad way but a true portrayal. A lovely book with a good plot and message that doesn't preach."
This prairie type novel by Lauraine Snelling provides excellent entertainment. It is based on the expectation the failed to materialize. The resolution was not that unexpected, but it took quite some time to run the gamut of changed circumstances before it blended together before they finally reached a happy conclusion
This is a short, clean, and wholesome read that I would recommend to any reader that enjoys the mail-order bride genre. Can you believe that there are still some readers out there that have never experienced even one of these nuggets of inspiration?
Another plus, you can access this series through the Amazon Prime Kindle Unlimited program.
Dakota Dusk is the third book of the Dakota Series, Christian historical, that features the intertwining lives of five inspiring women who live in the early 1900s in the farming community of Soldahl, North Dakota. Many young women traveled to the uncharted lands in the western United States to become brides. This story focuses on Jude Weinlander, with the face of an angel, but the heart of a bully and a cheat. Jude is Dag's brother, from Book 2 of this series.
“It ain’t fair,” Jude grumbled. “My brother, the dolt himself, has a thriving business, a beautiful wife, and that grand house of his. It just ain’t fair, I tell ya.”
When the fire rages through his childhood home one night, Jude, full of anger and guilt, turns his back on his family who can help him heal. He leaves Soldahl, North Dakota, and takes up wandering from town to town.
Rebekka Stenesrude has poured her life into her students, only to see her beloved school burned to the ground. When Jude arrives in the small, fire-ravaged town of Willowford, North Dakota, he agrees to help schoolmarm Rebekka Stenesrude by rebuilding the schoolhouse before he moves on, once again.
But God keeps Jude in Willowford to work on his heart, teaching him that for every dusk there is a sunrise. Rebekka Stenesrude discovers the possibility of fulfillment in life outside of her teaching career.
Unfortunately, there were a few discrepancies that niggle at your brain. But I overlooked those in favor of reveling in the inspiration and blessings that these folks received.
Dear reader, can you imagine traveling across the ocean by ship and then across the United States by train to finally arrive in the western state of North Dakota to marry someone you only hold a picture of? Only when you arrive, you discover that he is not at the depot to meet you and no one recognizes his picture? In this case, all is not lost. It appears that God has a plan for this young lady, You have the opportunity to read this short story in order to experience the adventure laid before you.
Kindle Reader review: "Rebekka teaches all ages in a one-room school in the Dakotas. Jude is a carpenter with a past that haunts him. Life is difficult for early settlers but they had determination despite prairie fires, flash floods, and crop failures. The evils of overconsumption of alcohol and the grief and guilt it brings to families is evident all through this book. Not in a bad way but a true portrayal. A lovely book with a good plot and message that doesn't preach."
This prairie type novel by Lauraine Snelling provides excellent entertainment. It is based on the expectation the failed to materialize. The resolution was not that unexpected, but it took quite some time to run the gamut of changed circumstances before it blended together before they finally reached a happy conclusion
This is a short, clean, and wholesome read that I would recommend to any reader that enjoys the mail-order bride genre. Can you believe that there are still some readers out there that have never experienced even one of these nuggets of inspiration?
Another plus, you can access this series through the Amazon Prime Kindle Unlimited program.
August 9, 2022
Dakota Dusk was an okay read. I'm glad that it was a quick read as I didn't love it. I haven't read the previous books in this series and I wonder if that impacted my enjoyment. The characters were okay, but not favorites. I felt like the story was rushed at times, which frustrated me.
All in all, an okay one-time read.
All in all, an okay one-time read.
August 11, 2022
In this book we get Jude's story. In the previous book he was the antagonist and not remorseful for his actions, so I wasn't very excited to read this story. I was glad that he changed, finally, but was sad what prompted him to do so.
I did like Rebekka and felt badly for what she went through at the beginning of the tale. I was happy Mrs. Sampson took her in and the friendship that developed between them.
The ending was abrupt, but wrapped everything up.
I did like Rebekka and felt badly for what she went through at the beginning of the tale. I was happy Mrs. Sampson took her in and the friendship that developed between them.
The ending was abrupt, but wrapped everything up.
January 27, 2019
Dakota Dusk was good. I liked that it was redemption for Jude. Really wish there was more of the other characters from the previous books besides Dag and Nora though. This one was a little longer then the first two. I’m hoping they start bringing back the other characters in the next book.
In all I would recommend this if you’ve already read the first two and wish to continue the series.
In all I would recommend this if you’ve already read the first two and wish to continue the series.
Read
August 19, 2014Deals with a minor character from Dakota Dream, Jude Weinlander. It is better written than Dakota Dream, but you can still tell it is one of her earlier works. A good, quick read.
March 4, 2023
Jude Weinlander is disgusted. His trick on his brother Dag backfired. He’s run out of money due to drinking and gambling and has to move with his wife back to his mother’s house.
When a fire destroys his home, after he heals, he becomes a drifter, traveling from place to place looking for work. He doesn’t drink or gamble any more, but he can’t go home. He comes upon a town rebuilding their school after a prairie fire. He stays to help, and then is asked to stay on to help rebuild other homes.
He can’t help but notice the pretty school teacher, Rebekka Stenesrude. But he can never pursue a relationship. He’s not worthy. No one could love him if they learned what he had done.
These stories were set some years after Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series, so there are many similar incidents—grasshopper infestations, prairies fires, etc .But these stories are told primarily from the viewpoint of immigrants adjusting to a new land. I felt the same way I did after reading Laura’s books—glad I was born in my time and not hers!
There were so many hardships in those times. The services for help that we take for granted didn’t exist then, so people had to help each other, and accept help, or die.
But great faith and character emerged as well. I enjoyed these stories as well as the characters and the obstacles they overcame.
When a fire destroys his home, after he heals, he becomes a drifter, traveling from place to place looking for work. He doesn’t drink or gamble any more, but he can’t go home. He comes upon a town rebuilding their school after a prairie fire. He stays to help, and then is asked to stay on to help rebuild other homes.
He can’t help but notice the pretty school teacher, Rebekka Stenesrude. But he can never pursue a relationship. He’s not worthy. No one could love him if they learned what he had done.
These stories were set some years after Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series, so there are many similar incidents—grasshopper infestations, prairies fires, etc .But these stories are told primarily from the viewpoint of immigrants adjusting to a new land. I felt the same way I did after reading Laura’s books—glad I was born in my time and not hers!
There were so many hardships in those times. The services for help that we take for granted didn’t exist then, so people had to help each other, and accept help, or die.
But great faith and character emerged as well. I enjoyed these stories as well as the characters and the obstacles they overcame.
February 16, 2019
I received this book as a Kindle matchbook because I purchased the Dakota series for my Dad's gift for his 92nd birthday. I am as entertained by Snelling's books as much as he is, and this author is the only one we both enjoy. While the books are set in a different state and in an earlier time than when he lived, the lives of these Dakota settlers remind him of living on a farm in rural Ohio where he was part of an extended family, a family who lived with the strong-willed grandmother who raised my father and his siblings after Dad's mother died shortly after childbirth of her fifth living child. Dad went to one-room township schoolhouses, and this book opened up some memories about the school teachers he had.
In the afterword, Snelling tells a story of how she was informed about a mistake she made in this book. The mistake does not keep it from being entertaining.
In the afterword, Snelling tells a story of how she was informed about a mistake she made in this book. The mistake does not keep it from being entertaining.
June 14, 2022
Another good one!
Rebels is a small town one room schoolhouse teacher out near the Missouri River, in North Dakota. She wears her spinster title with dignity and grace, and was just a few short years since left on the shelf. When she and several of her neighbors fall victim to both natural disasters and violence tied to alcohol. Can a mysterious stranger help bring about change in all their lives? Can the good citizens of the village stand together for what is just? You'll have to read to find out.
Rebels is a small town one room schoolhouse teacher out near the Missouri River, in North Dakota. She wears her spinster title with dignity and grace, and was just a few short years since left on the shelf. When she and several of her neighbors fall victim to both natural disasters and violence tied to alcohol. Can a mysterious stranger help bring about change in all their lives? Can the good citizens of the village stand together for what is just? You'll have to read to find out.
February 25, 2020
Jude and Rebels
This is a sweet,adventurous, exciting sweet love story written byLauraine Snelling. She has done an excellent job with the plot and the characters, both new and recurring characters. I am sure you will enjoy reading how Jude and Rebeka discover their happily ever after.
This is a sweet,adventurous, exciting sweet love story written byLauraine Snelling. She has done an excellent job with the plot and the characters, both new and recurring characters. I am sure you will enjoy reading how Jude and Rebeka discover their happily ever after.
April 4, 2021
Anyone can repent no matter how bad the sin
Such a heart warming book to remind us God loves us, sinners and all. No one is beyond forgiveness with God truly in your heart. Our beloved America is falling apart because people have forgotten God,s love and compassion. Very good read
Such a heart warming book to remind us God loves us, sinners and all. No one is beyond forgiveness with God truly in your heart. Our beloved America is falling apart because people have forgotten God,s love and compassion. Very good read
September 21, 2024
Short book but such fun to read how all the characters are meshing together from one story to the next in the series. Jude sure made a life change. I t was a fun storyline how the boarding house owner took Jude and played matchmaker between him and Rebekka. Mentioning the other people that lived in Soldahl made the book even more enjoyable to read.
July 16, 2017
Keep writing about this whole family and keep the connections so we can follow...about this family...a family tree in time perhaps
I enjoyed the book but I would have enjoyed a bit more contact and dialogue between Jude and Dag after getting the books fir the school.
I enjoyed the book but I would have enjoyed a bit more contact and dialogue between Jude and Dag after getting the books fir the school.
September 20, 2020
New life available when you ask God for giveness
So glad to continue the life of Jude. Lots of mystery in the beginning because book two left him hurt badly by the fire and the loss of his mother and wife. Enter a new town, lots of great characters and situations. Good story.
So glad to continue the life of Jude. Lots of mystery in the beginning because book two left him hurt badly by the fire and the loss of his mother and wife. Enter a new town, lots of great characters and situations. Good story.
November 26, 2022
This is the third book in Lauraine Snelling's Dakota series. I found it enjoyable and a fast read. I must say I enjoyed the other two more. That might have been because Jude Weinlander was my least favorite character so far in this series.
September 13, 2017
Great writing!!
I could not put this book down, it had me wanting to read it straight thru! A little bit of humor,tragedy,but a lot of love. A must read!
I could not put this book down, it had me wanting to read it straight thru! A little bit of humor,tragedy,but a lot of love. A must read!
January 17, 2018
Did not give this 5 stars as it is a small book and paid way too much for it. Good series and enjoyed the books, but very small in size.
February 14, 2019
A sweet quick easy read. Would recommend reading books 1 and 2 first before 3 of this series.
August 16, 2019
This was another winner.
Such a good read. Totally enjoyed the third book of the series. Will be starting the next book. I have them all.
Such a good read. Totally enjoyed the third book of the series. Will be starting the next book. I have them all.
July 22, 2020
I enjoyed this book but it took a while for me to get into the story. I wish though the book had included more of the characters from the previous books.
August 5, 2020
Such a good story
Always a pleasure to read this Authors books. Every journey takes you on a trip you never want to end.
Always a pleasure to read this Authors books. Every journey takes you on a trip you never want to end.
March 12, 2022
The third book in the series. The middle part of this book was slow, but the rest was great! This story follows Jude Weinlander and all his deeds and misdeeds
July 16, 2022
I like it. I wonder if the library would have the rest of the series
January 1, 2024
Another great historical Hallmark type book. Well written, easy reading, and just a great book overall.
June 17, 2025
I just couldn’t get into this one.
February 13, 2016
Although I'd read this before, it was good to read again. I had forgotten some of the details.
As the story begins, Jude Weinlander was asking his mother, Augusta, if he could move back home. The hoppers had eaten the garden & the hay that hadn't been taken in. The hired man quit not long after Jude had left. he would do the milking before he went to pick up his wife, Melissa, from her mothers.
After chores were finished, he hitched the horses to the wagon. He had to get some money. When he picked up Melissa, he only helped with her baggage after his mother-in-law insisted. They returned home without a word. Melissa took some camphor to quiet her cough, but Jude wanted a drink.
The next morning Jude dropped his mother & wife at church. He was glad to be back in Soldall, but he wanted to play cards & drink whiskey. Smitty, the bartender, invited him in the saloon & asked if he knew about Dag's good fortune. After picking up a bottle, he went to the mercantile where the store owner reminded him of Dag. Jude couldn't stand it! He ordered tobacco & some other food supplies, & added them to the bill. He couldn't wait for when he'd be able to buy what he wanted without worrying. After he picked up the others from church, he told his mother he had gotten her cinnamon twists, her favorite treat. Melissa refused any of the candy. At the farm, the women went into the house and Jude took to wagon to the barn, where he hid his bottle in the grain bin.
When Dag & Clara, his wife, came to visit, Jude left, saying he had chores to take care of. He dug his bottle out, but decided not to indulge with Dag there. Dag came out as he was milking to tell him that supper was ready and thank him for bringing his wife to him. After supper, Jude left and didn't return til everyone was in bed.
The next few days, everything seemed to go wrong for Jude. One day he wanted to go into town, but Augusta objected because the only place open would be the saloon. Later that night he was smoking in the sitting room where he set his cigar on the edge of a small table. He was only going to the barn for a short time. He finished off the bottle, then fell asleep in the barn. When he woke up the house was on fire. He tried to get to his Ma & Melissa.
As the story begins, Jude Weinlander was asking his mother, Augusta, if he could move back home. The hoppers had eaten the garden & the hay that hadn't been taken in. The hired man quit not long after Jude had left. he would do the milking before he went to pick up his wife, Melissa, from her mothers.
After chores were finished, he hitched the horses to the wagon. He had to get some money. When he picked up Melissa, he only helped with her baggage after his mother-in-law insisted. They returned home without a word. Melissa took some camphor to quiet her cough, but Jude wanted a drink.
The next morning Jude dropped his mother & wife at church. He was glad to be back in Soldall, but he wanted to play cards & drink whiskey. Smitty, the bartender, invited him in the saloon & asked if he knew about Dag's good fortune. After picking up a bottle, he went to the mercantile where the store owner reminded him of Dag. Jude couldn't stand it! He ordered tobacco & some other food supplies, & added them to the bill. He couldn't wait for when he'd be able to buy what he wanted without worrying. After he picked up the others from church, he told his mother he had gotten her cinnamon twists, her favorite treat. Melissa refused any of the candy. At the farm, the women went into the house and Jude took to wagon to the barn, where he hid his bottle in the grain bin.
When Dag & Clara, his wife, came to visit, Jude left, saying he had chores to take care of. He dug his bottle out, but decided not to indulge with Dag there. Dag came out as he was milking to tell him that supper was ready and thank him for bringing his wife to him. After supper, Jude left and didn't return til everyone was in bed.
The next few days, everything seemed to go wrong for Jude. One day he wanted to go into town, but Augusta objected because the only place open would be the saloon. Later that night he was smoking in the sitting room where he set his cigar on the edge of a small table. He was only going to the barn for a short time. He finished off the bottle, then fell asleep in the barn. When he woke up the house was on fire. He tried to get to his Ma & Melissa.
March 19, 2014
"Dakota Dusk" by Lauraine Snelling, is another good book by a wonderful author.
I enjoyed this novel very much. I suppose the theme is much like other “prairie novels”, as I call them, but Ms. Snelling always spins yarns about very interesting people. She has brought her characters to life in this novel as well.
The main characters, Jude Weinlander and Rebekka Stenesrude are very believable persons from that era of history. Jude was a rounder and drunkard until a tragedy forced him to see himself as the person he was and changed him to a good man, although his past memories keep him from any personal relationships.
Rebekka is a school teacher in Willowford, Dakota territory. In this time of history, school teachers boarded with their students’ families, taking turns with each family. In this case the older son of the family Rebekka is staying with at the time tries to assault her. She flees to Mrs. Sampson’s boarding house seeking help. Mrs. Sampson takes her in and the story continues.
The novel by Ms. Snelling takes a few twists but her writing is interesting without being mushy and provocative. I enjoy all of Ms. Snelling’s books.
I was downloaded a free kindle copy of this book from Amazon.com.
You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-a2.
I enjoyed this novel very much. I suppose the theme is much like other “prairie novels”, as I call them, but Ms. Snelling always spins yarns about very interesting people. She has brought her characters to life in this novel as well.
The main characters, Jude Weinlander and Rebekka Stenesrude are very believable persons from that era of history. Jude was a rounder and drunkard until a tragedy forced him to see himself as the person he was and changed him to a good man, although his past memories keep him from any personal relationships.
Rebekka is a school teacher in Willowford, Dakota territory. In this time of history, school teachers boarded with their students’ families, taking turns with each family. In this case the older son of the family Rebekka is staying with at the time tries to assault her. She flees to Mrs. Sampson’s boarding house seeking help. Mrs. Sampson takes her in and the story continues.
The novel by Ms. Snelling takes a few twists but her writing is interesting without being mushy and provocative. I enjoy all of Ms. Snelling’s books.
I was downloaded a free kindle copy of this book from Amazon.com.
You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-a2.
November 14, 2014
So, I'm in the process of reading Ms. Snelling's Dakota series. The 2nd book (Dakota Dream) was good, and this one was equal. There were two morals that were of particular interest to me.
Jude was in the last book as someone who tormented his brother all his life, causing Dag to have the lowest of low self esteems. Then, because Jude's smoking and drinking one evening, their mother's house caught fire and his wife and mother were killed.
In this book, he has left town and become a drifter, learning ways to earn his keep from town to town.
His outlook on life and his self worth have plummeted because of the deaths he was responsible for. He feels unworthy of forgiveness and unworthy of love, assuming no one would accept his presence if he ever let that secret out.
What he learned and how he learned it is not something I'm going to divulge.
The next moral was about what mind altering chemicals can do to a person's behavior, in this case it was alcohol.
Killings deemed "accidents" happened in this little town and lives were changed because of it.
What was done about this is also something I won't divulge.
:)
Okay, now on to Dakota December. See you tomorrow.
Jude was in the last book as someone who tormented his brother all his life, causing Dag to have the lowest of low self esteems. Then, because Jude's smoking and drinking one evening, their mother's house caught fire and his wife and mother were killed.
In this book, he has left town and become a drifter, learning ways to earn his keep from town to town.
His outlook on life and his self worth have plummeted because of the deaths he was responsible for. He feels unworthy of forgiveness and unworthy of love, assuming no one would accept his presence if he ever let that secret out.
What he learned and how he learned it is not something I'm going to divulge.
The next moral was about what mind altering chemicals can do to a person's behavior, in this case it was alcohol.
Killings deemed "accidents" happened in this little town and lives were changed because of it.
What was done about this is also something I won't divulge.
:)
Okay, now on to Dakota December. See you tomorrow.
August 30, 2014
There was a good message about forgiveness but there were too many things left hanging or not explained. The part about Adolph and Rebekkah felt contrived so there would be some suspense. There was really no resolution; it just ended. The relationship between Jude and his first wife was not explained well.
I couldn't connect with the characters at all. They were flat with too little background. I won't be reading the rest of the series.
I couldn't connect with the characters at all. They were flat with too little background. I won't be reading the rest of the series.
August 7, 2015
After reading the first two books in the Dakota series I just had to read on!
Great books about faith, love and the courage it took to leave a country and family
and travel to a strange land and a strange man whom you fall in love. Don't know as
I could have done this then and definitely not now!!
Great books about faith, love and the courage it took to leave a country and family
and travel to a strange land and a strange man whom you fall in love. Don't know as
I could have done this then and definitely not now!!
February 5, 2013
Another classic historical fiction romance. I like these books because they are light reading that lets me get lost in another place and time for an hour or so.
No literary masterpiece, just an enjoyable story with a happy ending.
No literary masterpiece, just an enjoyable story with a happy ending.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews