A Time To Keep

Under the Big Sky #2

by Kelly Eileen Hake

Rosalind MacLean is excited by the changes coming to Saddleback in the Montana Territory. The railroad will bring opportunities for travel, adventure, and maybe even romance! Rosalind and her best friend, Marlene, decide to open an outdoor diner to feed the hungry workmen and to hopefully find true love. Ewan Galbraith, a blacksmith, arrives in Saddleback to scout the area for the railroad and to warn the townspeople to keep their daughters home, away from the workmen. But his own resolve to guard the women and his heart is put to the test when he meets Rosalind. Ewan begins to court Rosalind, but when tragedy strikes, will their faith and trust in God provide them a time to keep their love strong?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction

159 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 22, 2007

About the author

Kelly Eileen Hake is a reader favorite of Barbour's Heartsong Presents series, where she has released several books. A credentialed Secondary English teacher in California, she is pursing her MA in Writing Popular Fiction. Known for her own style of witty, heartwarming historical romance, Kelly is currently writing the Prairie Promises trilogy, her first full-length novels. She has been writing since she could hold a pen and was first published at the tender age of eighteen.

Reviews

[Arnetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, more than the first in the series. It has the same wonderful romance, the same faith in God that helps them find their way at times. I think why I love it more is because it has Scottish main characters... I find myself talking in a wee bit of Scottish ways now - and I'm loving it. Great book with great characters. Highly recommended to all ye lassies....

[BlueJeansAndTeacups · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Time to Keep by  Kelly Eileen Hake
Montana 1880s
An Irish tale sharing the expanding railroad, simple times,  sweet romance, loss, grief, strong faith, and renewed joy.
⭐⭐⭐ I liked it 
Read 8/27&28/2025

Novella was featured in: The Farmer's Daughter Romance Collection, Barbour Publishing. I purchased the book from Thriftbooks.com
All opinions are mine alone without expectation or compensation.

[Makayla Coffey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet romance story that has any girl desiring the life of a farmer’s daughter. Ewan had me swooning throughout the whole book, and Rosalind is an example of the type of woman I want to be. Their story is very well-developed without adding in all the unnecessary drama romance books often include. This is my third time reading it, and I will continue to for years to come.

[Maddison H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a blessing to me! I’ve never read this author but the book was in a set of five different books with five different authors. The spiritual writing she used really encouraged me while I was going through a hard time. I found myself praying some of the same prayers as the main characters. I’m glad I read this book when I did!

[Anna Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While a sweet read with excellent verses, I don't keep books in which my favorite characters die. There's enough of that in the world, I don't need any more heartstrings yanked, thanks. So while it was a good story, no thank you. I'm done with it.

[Terry Yaceyko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. I liked the story line and how faith in God was brought in throughout the story.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick sweet read.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sweet but predictable.

[Gmc · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Time to Keep (Montana Territory Series #2) (Heartsong Presents #763)


1874 Ireland to 1886 Montana

Rosalind MacLean is excited by the changes coming to Saddleback in the Montana Territory. The railroad will bring opportunities for travel, adventure, and maybe even romance! Rosalind and her best friend, Marlene, decide to open an outdoor diner to feed the hungry workmen and to hopefully find true love.

Ewan Galbraith, a blacksmith, arrives in Saddleback to scout the area for the railroad and to warn the townspeople to keep their daughters home, away from the workmen. But his own resolve to guard the women and his heart is put to the test when he meets Rosalind. Ewan begins to court Rosalind, but when tragedy strikes, will their faith and trust in God provide them a time to keep their love strong?

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite there being a small lack of continuity (Check the end of the prior book, and the children that are introduced as the main couple's children, and compair it with the children they have in the next book) between this book and it's prequel, A Time to Plant, I really enjoyed it. I am currently reading the third book in the series, A Time to Laugh, and while I am enjoying it, so far this one is the best!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Time to Keep by Kelly Eileen Hake
May 7, 2020
5 stars
A touching story of love and loss just like Ecclesiastes 3 portrays.  The new railroad line comes to the small town of Saddleback, Montana and with it, a couple of blacksmiths!  Will they help build up the small town, or will their presence bring unexpected dangers?