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A Father's Dream
A young Swedish immigrant determined to survive. A mountain guide haunted by his past. Their lives collide in the Pacific Northwest in this faith-filled historical romance of courage, forgiveness, and second chances.
Columbia River Saga, Book One
1883
Johanna Amalia Nilsdotter Oman has left everything she knows behind. By crossing an ocean and a continent, she now faces the two-hundred-mile journey up the Columbia River into Washington Territory. Her father purchased land near Lyle with dreams of building a sawmill, and Johanna is determined that nothing—not distance, danger, or loneliness—will stop her from reaching their new home.
John is a man running from everything. Haunted by shame and regret, he has chosen the wilderness as his grave, determined to vanish into the Washington mountains and die alone.
But before he can disappear, he accepts one final job: guiding a Swedish settler named Nils Oman into the rugged foothills above the Columbia River. The promised twenty dollars will buy him freedom—or so he believes.
But God has other plans. When Johanna’s path collides with John’s, both must face the truth they’ve been running from. In the shadow of towering evergreens and the roar of the Columbia, they will discover that even in the darkest wilderness, God’s love brings redemption, healing, and the courage to begin again.
Fans of Christian historical romance, frontier love stories, and faith-filled western fiction will be swept away by this tender story of hope, forgiveness, and second chances in the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
Columbia River Saga, Book One
1883
Johanna Amalia Nilsdotter Oman has left everything she knows behind. By crossing an ocean and a continent, she now faces the two-hundred-mile journey up the Columbia River into Washington Territory. Her father purchased land near Lyle with dreams of building a sawmill, and Johanna is determined that nothing—not distance, danger, or loneliness—will stop her from reaching their new home.
John is a man running from everything. Haunted by shame and regret, he has chosen the wilderness as his grave, determined to vanish into the Washington mountains and die alone.
But before he can disappear, he accepts one final job: guiding a Swedish settler named Nils Oman into the rugged foothills above the Columbia River. The promised twenty dollars will buy him freedom—or so he believes.
But God has other plans. When Johanna’s path collides with John’s, both must face the truth they’ve been running from. In the shadow of towering evergreens and the roar of the Columbia, they will discover that even in the darkest wilderness, God’s love brings redemption, healing, and the courage to begin again.
Fans of Christian historical romance, frontier love stories, and faith-filled western fiction will be swept away by this tender story of hope, forgiveness, and second chances in the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 11, 2023
19 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Heidi Ennis
4 books16 followersHeidi writes faith filled historical romance set along the Columbia River, where faith, hope, and love meet the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Her stories celebrate courage, redemption, and the resilience of the human spirit—woven into real history and the landscapes she cherishes.
When she's not writing, you’ll find her sipping coffee with a dog or two at her side, exploring the outdoors, or sharing random PNW history facts with her family. Heidi loves studying languages and Pacific Northwest history, and telling stories that leave readers encouraged and inspired.
Follow her for new releases, sneak peeks, and stories that lift the heart.
www.atthefootofmountains.com
When she's not writing, you’ll find her sipping coffee with a dog or two at her side, exploring the outdoors, or sharing random PNW history facts with her family. Heidi loves studying languages and Pacific Northwest history, and telling stories that leave readers encouraged and inspired.
Follow her for new releases, sneak peeks, and stories that lift the heart.
www.atthefootofmountains.com
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 8, 2026
2.5 stars, but I’m rounding up to 3.
I really wanted to like this book. I love the concept behind it, the heart of the character arcs, and the overall message of the story. But the execution really wasn’t my cup of tea. Also, it’s VERY long—partially because the prose can be repetitive at times.
Johanna was such a beautiful, strong character, and I love the way she was constantly reminding herself of Scripture and God’s faithfulness—even as she faced horrors. Her goodness felt almost unrealistic at times, but definitely something to aspire toward.
I really liked John and the uniqueness of his character. Very little Christian fiction examines pioneer life through the lens of the Native Americans that were cast out of their lands and lifestyles. I liked that it broached the idea of our God and the Great Spirit they believe in being one and the same—that just because we have different traditions and understanding doesn’t necessarily mean we aren’t worshipping the same God.
But, in all honesty, I feel that both of their character arcs weren’t harnessed to their full potential. They battled lies through all the book, and then they hit the end, and suddenly everything clicked. I just wish there was more of a journey.
BUT… none of that is why I docked stars. I docked stars because there was a lot of content that was beyond my comfort level, and honestly felt unnecessary.
I get it with violence and blood and whatnot—that was a reality of the time, even if it makes me cringe and skip lines. It got very brutal toward the end and really disturbed me.
But most out of left field was some of the romantic stuff—I wasn’t expecting the level of sexual tension that came into play. There are weird spots, like Johanna seeing John relieving himself, him watching her bathe, many remarks about her figure… them snuggling and kissing and then wanting much more. The story also deals with rape, which wasn’t my main issue, but with Johanna having been so objectified by men, it kind of bothered me that John was doing the same in some ways.
When I started it, I felt like it was giving Little House on the Prairie vibes, but due to those content issues, I wouldn’t feel comfortable recommending it to anyone under the age of sixteen, and maybe even older.
Also, I had a really hard time with Pauel’s storyline—it didn’t feel like it fit well.
All that said, if you can handle a solid bit of violence and bloodshed as well as some out-of-place sexual tension, you’ll probably enjoy this more than I did. There was some beautiful faith content worked in, and I loved the resources included at the end. It just, again, wasn’t my cup of tea.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
I really wanted to like this book. I love the concept behind it, the heart of the character arcs, and the overall message of the story. But the execution really wasn’t my cup of tea. Also, it’s VERY long—partially because the prose can be repetitive at times.
Johanna was such a beautiful, strong character, and I love the way she was constantly reminding herself of Scripture and God’s faithfulness—even as she faced horrors. Her goodness felt almost unrealistic at times, but definitely something to aspire toward.
I really liked John and the uniqueness of his character. Very little Christian fiction examines pioneer life through the lens of the Native Americans that were cast out of their lands and lifestyles. I liked that it broached the idea of our God and the Great Spirit they believe in being one and the same—that just because we have different traditions and understanding doesn’t necessarily mean we aren’t worshipping the same God.
But, in all honesty, I feel that both of their character arcs weren’t harnessed to their full potential. They battled lies through all the book, and then they hit the end, and suddenly everything clicked. I just wish there was more of a journey.
BUT… none of that is why I docked stars. I docked stars because there was a lot of content that was beyond my comfort level, and honestly felt unnecessary.
I get it with violence and blood and whatnot—that was a reality of the time, even if it makes me cringe and skip lines. It got very brutal toward the end and really disturbed me.
But most out of left field was some of the romantic stuff—I wasn’t expecting the level of sexual tension that came into play. There are weird spots, like Johanna seeing John relieving himself, him watching her bathe, many remarks about her figure… them snuggling and kissing and then wanting much more. The story also deals with rape, which wasn’t my main issue, but with Johanna having been so objectified by men, it kind of bothered me that John was doing the same in some ways.
When I started it, I felt like it was giving Little House on the Prairie vibes, but due to those content issues, I wouldn’t feel comfortable recommending it to anyone under the age of sixteen, and maybe even older.
Also, I had a really hard time with Pauel’s storyline—it didn’t feel like it fit well.
All that said, if you can handle a solid bit of violence and bloodshed as well as some out-of-place sexual tension, you’ll probably enjoy this more than I did. There was some beautiful faith content worked in, and I loved the resources included at the end. It just, again, wasn’t my cup of tea.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
January 19, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
A Father’s Dream is the first book I have read written by Heidi Ennis. This is a great Christian historical fiction with a Native American MMC and Swedish Immigrant FMC as they take on the wild west.
This book did take a little bit of work to get into. At times, I had to pause and come back to it. There were many layers to this book. Johanna goes through a lot to get to where she is, and her journey is not over yet. Fighting through the frontier to get to where her father dreamed of going. After the loss of her home, her entire family dead or gone, everything she knew, in a new country. With nothing left to lose, Johanna fights forward with her faith as the only thing she has left.
John has gone through his own struggles. He is half Native American and half white, w. Seeing all the things John went through and what it might have been like to live at that time in history. John struggles with being rejected by men and also by those in faith. How could the white man’s God have allowed such treatment of him and his people? There are a lot of hard topics in this story, and it was an interesting read.
The romance is kisses only, though there were a few scenes that were a little much for me on the side of desire/lust.
The faith aspect was intertwined throughout the story.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from the author. A positive review was not required. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
A Father’s Dream is the first book I have read written by Heidi Ennis. This is a great Christian historical fiction with a Native American MMC and Swedish Immigrant FMC as they take on the wild west.
This book did take a little bit of work to get into. At times, I had to pause and come back to it. There were many layers to this book. Johanna goes through a lot to get to where she is, and her journey is not over yet. Fighting through the frontier to get to where her father dreamed of going. After the loss of her home, her entire family dead or gone, everything she knew, in a new country. With nothing left to lose, Johanna fights forward with her faith as the only thing she has left.
John has gone through his own struggles. He is half Native American and half white, w. Seeing all the things John went through and what it might have been like to live at that time in history. John struggles with being rejected by men and also by those in faith. How could the white man’s God have allowed such treatment of him and his people? There are a lot of hard topics in this story, and it was an interesting read.
The romance is kisses only, though there were a few scenes that were a little much for me on the side of desire/lust.
The faith aspect was intertwined throughout the story.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from the author. A positive review was not required. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
January 22, 2026
As I read this book, it reminded me of a section of US History that I taught in the fifth grade. The unit discussed different tribal groups that use the Chinook language. The historical research behind this book is well-executed and covers topics we should all be aware of. A Father's Dream captured my interest because I love good character development. Details in the setting are also my jam, as I like to imagine myself wherever the book is set. I have always loved homesteading-type books; historical fiction is my favorite! When I taught fifth grade, the game "The Oregon Trail" was hot, and this book made me remember all the squeals of despair and giggles of happiness when they played it. The cultural aspect of the book was what kept me going, and like others who have read it, my favorite quote is something like this: The strength of women is strong when we are connected.
Want to read
January 21, 2026Heidi Ennis is a new-to-me author, with A Father's Dream being my introduction to her work. I found it to be engaging.
My initial attraction to the story was that it is set in the Pacific Northwest. Since I have been to that part of the country, it was easy for me to picture the location in my mind. My heart hurt for the pain that both Johanna and John had experienced in their pasts and was inspired by their spiritual growth.
There are some tough topics covered, such as abuse, so may not be for everyone.
If you enjoy historical Christian fiction set in the old west, you may want to check out A Father's Dream.
My initial attraction to the story was that it is set in the Pacific Northwest. Since I have been to that part of the country, it was easy for me to picture the location in my mind. My heart hurt for the pain that both Johanna and John had experienced in their pasts and was inspired by their spiritual growth.
There are some tough topics covered, such as abuse, so may not be for everyone.
If you enjoy historical Christian fiction set in the old west, you may want to check out A Father's Dream.
December 24, 2025
A young woman from Sweden decides to go to America to claim her father's property he left her when he died. The trip isn't anything like she thought and endured a traumatic event. The story is about the raw, partly established West in 1885. Being a woman traveling part of the way alone, she finds herself in lots of difficult situations. The guide John, her father hired to lead him to the property, is finally guiding her.
There are many parts of the story that touched my heart, some parts caught me holding my breath. I wondered how everything would work out in the end. There were times when I had tears in my eyes. But God had a hand in the situations and provided healing in the end. The ending wrapped up everything nicely with a happy ending.
I received a complimentary copy from the author; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.
There are many parts of the story that touched my heart, some parts caught me holding my breath. I wondered how everything would work out in the end. There were times when I had tears in my eyes. But God had a hand in the situations and provided healing in the end. The ending wrapped up everything nicely with a happy ending.
I received a complimentary copy from the author; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.
November 18, 2025
An exciting love story of courage and fortitude in the rugged Pacific Northwest! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Father’s Dream takes the reader on an unforgettable journey during the 1880’s from Europe to New York City, then to the Pacific coast on a hopeful quest to fulfill the dream of owning a Washington Territory homestead.
The characters are wonderfully complex. I admired the courage and fortitude of Swedish immigrant Johanna Oman as she faced tragic situations to claim the land her father hoped would provide a new beginning for his family. Even with doubts along the way, her faith sustains her. Native American Mahkah “John” Haylaku, a member of a Columbia River tribe, is a worthy hero, handsome and strong, who overcame childhood abuse to become a compassionate protector.
Their relationship begins when he reluctantly agrees to be Johanna’s guide to locate her property. Their travel through the rugged wilderness is fascinating…immersed in the vivid landscape, dealing with the treacherous trail conditions, and facing the dangers of criminal elements. As they encounter many heart-stopping challenges, their commitment and love for each other grows.
I enjoyed the cultural details of the native customs of John’s people and the Swedish heritage of Johanna’s world. The ending is absolutely amazing….leaving me with tears and smiles…the best kind of romance! If you enjoy epic historical tales, I highly recommend this faith-filled story!
Favorite quote: “The strength of women. We are strong when we are connected. We give all to those we love, but we do it with the strength of those who have gone before us, those who have loved us and sacrificed for us.”
A Father’s Dream takes the reader on an unforgettable journey during the 1880’s from Europe to New York City, then to the Pacific coast on a hopeful quest to fulfill the dream of owning a Washington Territory homestead.
The characters are wonderfully complex. I admired the courage and fortitude of Swedish immigrant Johanna Oman as she faced tragic situations to claim the land her father hoped would provide a new beginning for his family. Even with doubts along the way, her faith sustains her. Native American Mahkah “John” Haylaku, a member of a Columbia River tribe, is a worthy hero, handsome and strong, who overcame childhood abuse to become a compassionate protector.
Their relationship begins when he reluctantly agrees to be Johanna’s guide to locate her property. Their travel through the rugged wilderness is fascinating…immersed in the vivid landscape, dealing with the treacherous trail conditions, and facing the dangers of criminal elements. As they encounter many heart-stopping challenges, their commitment and love for each other grows.
I enjoyed the cultural details of the native customs of John’s people and the Swedish heritage of Johanna’s world. The ending is absolutely amazing….leaving me with tears and smiles…the best kind of romance! If you enjoy epic historical tales, I highly recommend this faith-filled story!
Favorite quote: “The strength of women. We are strong when we are connected. We give all to those we love, but we do it with the strength of those who have gone before us, those who have loved us and sacrificed for us.”
March 11, 2024
A Swedish immigrant and a halfbreed team up in the wilderness? Sounds like a thrilling story and it was. I fell in love with the characters on the first pages. Both were well defined and relateable, carrying their individual emotional loads with them. The perspective switches back and forth between Johanna and John, giving the reader insights into their thoughts and motivations. Johanna is a bit clumsy and naive on the one hand, but very strong in her faith on the other, which makes for some interesting developments in the story. I'm glad the author didn't spare her characters - they have to bear the brunt of human cruelty.
John's childhood was full of abuse, trapping him in an endless circle of self-reproach. It takes a helpless, yet reckless girl from half around the globe to pull him out of his trap.
Normally, repetitions in books quickly get on my nerves. Here though, the repetitions in the characters' thoughts helped to pinpoint the gradual shift in their perspective, showing how new thoughts slowly entered their heads. It was quite cleverly done and served the story's depth.
Friendship, overcoming traumatic experiences and never giving up hope are central themes woven into a love story made rich with plenty of adventure.
An overall enjoyable read!
John's childhood was full of abuse, trapping him in an endless circle of self-reproach. It takes a helpless, yet reckless girl from half around the globe to pull him out of his trap.
Normally, repetitions in books quickly get on my nerves. Here though, the repetitions in the characters' thoughts helped to pinpoint the gradual shift in their perspective, showing how new thoughts slowly entered their heads. It was quite cleverly done and served the story's depth.
Friendship, overcoming traumatic experiences and never giving up hope are central themes woven into a love story made rich with plenty of adventure.
An overall enjoyable read!
November 4, 2024
If you enjoy quality historical fiction and action/adventure or outdoor writing or have ever felt lonely, afraid, discouraged, or fallen in love, this book is for you!
Set in the late 1800s, this is the story of a Swedish immigrant who sails across the Atlantic, arrives in New York City, loses her two sisters to disease, her brother Puel to conflict, and an abusive, alcoholic father to … abuse and alcoholism? Sounds interesting. Alone in a strange land, Johanna “Hanna” Amalia Nilsdotter Oman has come too far to turn back now. She's determined to head west to the Washington Territory and secure her father’s homestead.
Johanna has no clue what wait dangers await. And there are like, a ton. Everything from lecherous ne’er do wells and other voracious predators of the two-legged variety to frontier violence to an unscrupulous timber company that’ll stop at nothing to force homesteaders off their legal claims and take over the land. Including murder.
Complicating matters is the fact that 18 year-old Johanna doesn’t know a soul. Or a sole. In a strange new land fraught with uncertainty and peril, Johanna is about as cheechako (tenderfoot, newcomer) as they get.
She’s on her own. Or is she?
Instead, she called out to the One that she did believe in, the One who made the river, the eagles, and the salmon. Help me, Father. My shield and my strength.
What follows is one of the most remarkable and gripping historical fiction novels I’ve ever read.
John Mahkah Haylaku is half Mahkah and half White. He’s caught between two worlds. He’s a little Hawkeye. A little Uncas. Or maybe Chingachgook.
John’s a tracker. A hunter. A “man of the West.” He knows the river. He know the mountains. He knows the Washington Territory. Convinced he’s a worthless nobody and a coward due to his inability to protect his sister from an evil priest at the church school they attended as children, John has a darkness in his heart. And head. It started when his starving tribe sent him to the church school in exchange for food. His people thought the children would be well-treated, cared for and safe. They weren’t. To put it mildly.
When Johanna hires John to guide her to the site of her father’s homestead claim so she can do the work necessary to “prove up” the claim, etc., neither is too sure about the other. John just wants to walk into the wilderness and never return. Johanna realizes all too well that she doesn’t have Clue 1 how to survive in the harsh and unforgiving environment of the Frontier. Can they stay alive long enough to make it to the family homestead above Lyle in Washington Territory?
Lightning-quick and action-packed, A Father’s Dream is also packed with some Really Bad Dudes. Vile, villainous and verminous, these guys make toe lint look good.
Thoroughly researched and fascinating in its historical references and attention to detail, A Father’s Dream is a compelling and captivating story that hits all the high notes: Solid historical fiction. Outdoor adventure. Exploration. The Wild, Wild, West. Love, loyalty, and loss. It’s gently faith-flavored without beating you over the head with it.
It takes a little while to gather steam. So be patient, okay. Cuz the author is laying down some important historical and geographic reference points early on and developing key characters with care. So kindly keep your shirt on, Toots. Refreshingly, there are no wasted words here. No extra helpings in the verbose and loquacious departments just to artificially inflate the word count. Nope. This is a skillful weft of style and setting to create credible backstories and flesh out the historical setting. Key Native American history, lore, language, culture and customs are also included.
It's a little How the West Was Won. A little The Wild Country. A bit Dances With Wolves or The Last of the Mohicans. Maybe a little Taylor Sheridan’s 1883. Only clean. Besides. How can you not love characterizations like: “While a little, squat man, he radiated joy as if he were ten feel tall” (p. 247)?
And yep, there’s nothing better than a fresh-caught river salmon roasted over an open fire. Oh yeah. And yeppers again. The mighty Columbia River is indeed “equal parts terrifying and magnificent.” And an unusual and uplifting love story between two people from vastly different backgrounds.
Marinated in mercy and steeped in grace, A Father’s Dream is an exceptional faith-flavored story. The author’s love and respect for the region, its people, and its history shines through on every page. This includes the river tribes and the Pyush and the Patisapatishama. The mountains. The flora and fauna. I especially appreciated how the narrative treats different cultures and people groups with dignity and respect. No stereotyping.
Themes include loyalty, love, and loss. Doubt and fear. Courage and compassion. Revenge and redemption. Family. The relationship between John and his brother Sam is especially strong.
Scene stealers: Mr. Hargreaves, lawyer with a heart of gold, and his wife, Jeannie. (Kimber: My kinda hoomans!) Also Onacona. And that’s all I'm saying about that guy. You’ll have to read the book yourself to find out more.
One thing I questioned is some of the dialogue. Every now and then it doesn’t seem consistent with the historical context: “Hey, at least that’ll be a cool scar” (p. 332). “She thought she heard the sound he was freaking out about…” (p. 335). Or, “… demanding John man up…” (pp. 3501).
This kind of dialogue fits the 21st century. Buts the Wild West of the late 1800s? Not so much. But this is a minor issue and doesn’t detract from the overall read. Just sayin.’ Also, John’s oft-repeated “Nobody loves me. Everybody hates me. Think I’ll eat some worms” gets old. Fast. (We got it the first 256 times, okay?) But this is also minor and doesn’t detract from the overall read.
Incidentally, alert readers will detect a double meaning in the title.
Beautifully written and brimming with creativity and wit, A Father's Dream is a stunning accomplishment. At its heart, A Father's Dream is about love, both human and divine. So I can’t quite put into words how much I loved this book. You will, too.
My rating: 4.5
Set in the late 1800s, this is the story of a Swedish immigrant who sails across the Atlantic, arrives in New York City, loses her two sisters to disease, her brother Puel to conflict, and an abusive, alcoholic father to … abuse and alcoholism? Sounds interesting. Alone in a strange land, Johanna “Hanna” Amalia Nilsdotter Oman has come too far to turn back now. She's determined to head west to the Washington Territory and secure her father’s homestead.
Johanna has no clue what wait dangers await. And there are like, a ton. Everything from lecherous ne’er do wells and other voracious predators of the two-legged variety to frontier violence to an unscrupulous timber company that’ll stop at nothing to force homesteaders off their legal claims and take over the land. Including murder.
Complicating matters is the fact that 18 year-old Johanna doesn’t know a soul. Or a sole. In a strange new land fraught with uncertainty and peril, Johanna is about as cheechako (tenderfoot, newcomer) as they get.
She’s on her own. Or is she?
Instead, she called out to the One that she did believe in, the One who made the river, the eagles, and the salmon. Help me, Father. My shield and my strength.
What follows is one of the most remarkable and gripping historical fiction novels I’ve ever read.
John Mahkah Haylaku is half Mahkah and half White. He’s caught between two worlds. He’s a little Hawkeye. A little Uncas. Or maybe Chingachgook.
John’s a tracker. A hunter. A “man of the West.” He knows the river. He know the mountains. He knows the Washington Territory. Convinced he’s a worthless nobody and a coward due to his inability to protect his sister from an evil priest at the church school they attended as children, John has a darkness in his heart. And head. It started when his starving tribe sent him to the church school in exchange for food. His people thought the children would be well-treated, cared for and safe. They weren’t. To put it mildly.
When Johanna hires John to guide her to the site of her father’s homestead claim so she can do the work necessary to “prove up” the claim, etc., neither is too sure about the other. John just wants to walk into the wilderness and never return. Johanna realizes all too well that she doesn’t have Clue 1 how to survive in the harsh and unforgiving environment of the Frontier. Can they stay alive long enough to make it to the family homestead above Lyle in Washington Territory?
Lightning-quick and action-packed, A Father’s Dream is also packed with some Really Bad Dudes. Vile, villainous and verminous, these guys make toe lint look good.
Thoroughly researched and fascinating in its historical references and attention to detail, A Father’s Dream is a compelling and captivating story that hits all the high notes: Solid historical fiction. Outdoor adventure. Exploration. The Wild, Wild, West. Love, loyalty, and loss. It’s gently faith-flavored without beating you over the head with it.
It takes a little while to gather steam. So be patient, okay. Cuz the author is laying down some important historical and geographic reference points early on and developing key characters with care. So kindly keep your shirt on, Toots. Refreshingly, there are no wasted words here. No extra helpings in the verbose and loquacious departments just to artificially inflate the word count. Nope. This is a skillful weft of style and setting to create credible backstories and flesh out the historical setting. Key Native American history, lore, language, culture and customs are also included.
It's a little How the West Was Won. A little The Wild Country. A bit Dances With Wolves or The Last of the Mohicans. Maybe a little Taylor Sheridan’s 1883. Only clean. Besides. How can you not love characterizations like: “While a little, squat man, he radiated joy as if he were ten feel tall” (p. 247)?
And yep, there’s nothing better than a fresh-caught river salmon roasted over an open fire. Oh yeah. And yeppers again. The mighty Columbia River is indeed “equal parts terrifying and magnificent.” And an unusual and uplifting love story between two people from vastly different backgrounds.
Marinated in mercy and steeped in grace, A Father’s Dream is an exceptional faith-flavored story. The author’s love and respect for the region, its people, and its history shines through on every page. This includes the river tribes and the Pyush and the Patisapatishama. The mountains. The flora and fauna. I especially appreciated how the narrative treats different cultures and people groups with dignity and respect. No stereotyping.
Themes include loyalty, love, and loss. Doubt and fear. Courage and compassion. Revenge and redemption. Family. The relationship between John and his brother Sam is especially strong.
Scene stealers: Mr. Hargreaves, lawyer with a heart of gold, and his wife, Jeannie. (Kimber: My kinda hoomans!) Also Onacona. And that’s all I'm saying about that guy. You’ll have to read the book yourself to find out more.
One thing I questioned is some of the dialogue. Every now and then it doesn’t seem consistent with the historical context: “Hey, at least that’ll be a cool scar” (p. 332). “She thought she heard the sound he was freaking out about…” (p. 335). Or, “… demanding John man up…” (pp. 3501).
This kind of dialogue fits the 21st century. Buts the Wild West of the late 1800s? Not so much. But this is a minor issue and doesn’t detract from the overall read. Just sayin.’ Also, John’s oft-repeated “Nobody loves me. Everybody hates me. Think I’ll eat some worms” gets old. Fast. (We got it the first 256 times, okay?) But this is also minor and doesn’t detract from the overall read.
Incidentally, alert readers will detect a double meaning in the title.
Beautifully written and brimming with creativity and wit, A Father's Dream is a stunning accomplishment. At its heart, A Father's Dream is about love, both human and divine. So I can’t quite put into words how much I loved this book. You will, too.
My rating: 4.5
February 15, 2025
A Fathers Dream fulfilled
This is a story of a journey into0 the Nortwest intge 1800's. An adventure, an unexpected love story, then being taken into the reality of pioneering land that is far from untamed.
More than once, you will hold your breath, wondering, what if we don't get that happy ending we love. But I guess you will have to read the book to find out. This is a journey worth taking.
This is a story of a journey into0 the Nortwest intge 1800's. An adventure, an unexpected love story, then being taken into the reality of pioneering land that is far from untamed.
More than once, you will hold your breath, wondering, what if we don't get that happy ending we love. But I guess you will have to read the book to find out. This is a journey worth taking.
January 25, 2024
I loved this book so much! I enjoy books set in the late 1800s, add in some romance and historical facts and I’m all in! After her abusive, drunk father dies in New York, Johanna Oman is all alone. She followed her father from Sweden to homestead in America, but now she has nothing but his money, the papers proving she owns her land, and the name of a local guide who will help her get to her homestead.
John, or Mahkah, a Native American torn between his family and tribe, only planned to take the Swedish man Nils Oman out west up the mountains and across the Columbia River to the land he had purchased. What John didn’t expect to encounter was the man’s daughter.
The terrain is rough and there’s something sinister going on involving these unoccupied homesteads. John just wanted to disappear after making his money guiding Nils but when he meets Johanna, he realizes he can’t abandon her.
John and Hanna both have scars and have dealt with a lifetime of pain, and they come from different worlds, but can they find happiness and redemption by the grace of God?
I really loved the character of Hanna- after all she went through, she would still praise and cling to God. She knew he had a plan and a purpose. One of my favorite quotes from this book, is ““Sometimes God allows bad things to happen for a greater good.” She sighed. “We just don’t always know the greater-good part.”” This was a really powerful and emotional novel-the characters were well written and realistic and the setting and scenery was so descriptive I felt like I was there.
Thank you to the author for my copy!
John, or Mahkah, a Native American torn between his family and tribe, only planned to take the Swedish man Nils Oman out west up the mountains and across the Columbia River to the land he had purchased. What John didn’t expect to encounter was the man’s daughter.
The terrain is rough and there’s something sinister going on involving these unoccupied homesteads. John just wanted to disappear after making his money guiding Nils but when he meets Johanna, he realizes he can’t abandon her.
John and Hanna both have scars and have dealt with a lifetime of pain, and they come from different worlds, but can they find happiness and redemption by the grace of God?
I really loved the character of Hanna- after all she went through, she would still praise and cling to God. She knew he had a plan and a purpose. One of my favorite quotes from this book, is ““Sometimes God allows bad things to happen for a greater good.” She sighed. “We just don’t always know the greater-good part.”” This was a really powerful and emotional novel-the characters were well written and realistic and the setting and scenery was so descriptive I felt like I was there.
Thank you to the author for my copy!
January 21, 2024
Oh how I enjoyed this book! It's a unique slowburn romance set in the early west while it was being being settled, yet It reads so realistic, I couldn't put it down! The descriptive scenes of the Columbia River gorge are beautiful described, and I should know because I once lived there! But the best part of this novel was the underlying spiritual theme that made my heart swell with emotion and my mind renewed with powerful faith. I'm going to recommend this one to all my friends.
April 1, 2024
Heidi Ennis captured the realism of the characters from the first page. Her detail made the setting come to life, and I could picture John and Johanna clearly as they journeyed across the Pacific Northwest! Notably, I was pleased by how Johanna’s faith stayed true throughout her trials, and I appreciated the genuineness of Scripture and it’s role throughout the book. As proven through the lives of Johanna and John, God and the Truth of His Word can strengthen us land save us when we place our trust in Him.
January 21, 2026
A Father’s Dream is the first of Heidi Ennis’s books that I’ve read. I’d like to read more!
Life has been unkind to Johanna. After her mother’s death, her father purchased a homestead in the American West, thinking to start a new life. But along the way, her brother abandoned the family, and her father fell further and further into drink, leaving Johanna to fend for herself. Johanna now travels west alone, intent on claiming her father’s homestead and making a life for herself.
John has grown up with hardship and has had struggles of his own. Feeling like he is no good to anyone, he plans to take one final trip guiding Nils Oman to his homestead. Then he intends on disappearing into the forested mountains, never to be seen again. He reckons he’ll cause less harm to those he loves this way. He doesn’t reckon on Johanna.
Once I really got into it, this was a very good story! The first half felt a little slow, but it was necessary to give us backstory on both Johanna and John and to see their feelings for each other begin to unfold. And then once they got close to the homestead, it was off to the races, and I couldn’t read fast enough!
Faith is clearly on display in the story. Johanna calls out to God for help often. She knows He is the source of whatever strength she has, and she does her best to follow where He leads, even when it’s hard. John is a half-breed. He grew up in the care of Catholic priests, but not all those charged with his well-being accurately reflected the love of Christ. John believes in the Great Spirit of his Native American people, but isn’t so sure about Johanna’s God. I liked how Ennis drew the connection between John’s Great Spirit and Johanna’s God – that different names don’t change the character and nature of Almighty God.
The story has its difficult aspects. Johanna is abused by someone in the course of her travels, and she is captured by another man intent on treating her the same way. Given those experiences, the level of sexual tension occasionally seen between her and John was a bit surprising and not what I would have expected. There are battle scenes that go into fairly strong detail, and while it is integral to the story and an accurate portrayal of the time period in which it is set, those descriptions can be unsettling.
But ultimately, the story shows us that God can and does work all things together for the good of those who love him, and that He is never far from us if we seek Him. A very satisfactory read indeed! I look forward to the rest of the series.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from JustRead Publicity Tours. I was not required to leave a review. All opinions here are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.
Life has been unkind to Johanna. After her mother’s death, her father purchased a homestead in the American West, thinking to start a new life. But along the way, her brother abandoned the family, and her father fell further and further into drink, leaving Johanna to fend for herself. Johanna now travels west alone, intent on claiming her father’s homestead and making a life for herself.
John has grown up with hardship and has had struggles of his own. Feeling like he is no good to anyone, he plans to take one final trip guiding Nils Oman to his homestead. Then he intends on disappearing into the forested mountains, never to be seen again. He reckons he’ll cause less harm to those he loves this way. He doesn’t reckon on Johanna.
Once I really got into it, this was a very good story! The first half felt a little slow, but it was necessary to give us backstory on both Johanna and John and to see their feelings for each other begin to unfold. And then once they got close to the homestead, it was off to the races, and I couldn’t read fast enough!
Faith is clearly on display in the story. Johanna calls out to God for help often. She knows He is the source of whatever strength she has, and she does her best to follow where He leads, even when it’s hard. John is a half-breed. He grew up in the care of Catholic priests, but not all those charged with his well-being accurately reflected the love of Christ. John believes in the Great Spirit of his Native American people, but isn’t so sure about Johanna’s God. I liked how Ennis drew the connection between John’s Great Spirit and Johanna’s God – that different names don’t change the character and nature of Almighty God.
The story has its difficult aspects. Johanna is abused by someone in the course of her travels, and she is captured by another man intent on treating her the same way. Given those experiences, the level of sexual tension occasionally seen between her and John was a bit surprising and not what I would have expected. There are battle scenes that go into fairly strong detail, and while it is integral to the story and an accurate portrayal of the time period in which it is set, those descriptions can be unsettling.
But ultimately, the story shows us that God can and does work all things together for the good of those who love him, and that He is never far from us if we seek Him. A very satisfactory read indeed! I look forward to the rest of the series.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from JustRead Publicity Tours. I was not required to leave a review. All opinions here are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.
January 25, 2026
A Father’s Dream is a fun historical fiction romance novel that you’re not going to want to miss out on reading! I love a good immigrant story. History has always fascinated me, and I love reading books about it. Whether they’re fiction or not, it’s fun to see what history can be contained within.
Johanna is a strong central character. And I fully loved how strong she was in her faith. She’s always reminding herself and others of God’s love and strength. She herself is strong and resilient as well.
I think this was a great novel. It read well. The characters were good. I did enjoy them. The whole book could have been fleshed out a little more. For instance, there were some repeats in the wording that made it longer than normal, but also some things that I would have liked to see them further get into.
John is the male character, and he’s Native, so you get the perspectives of the native people, the immigrant, and those who have been in the land for a while.
I hope you enjoy your journey to the lands of old!
My only major beef with the story. There is a lot of language consistent with our current time frame that would not have been used in the time period of the novel. This is a pet peeve of mine. Maybe because I’m always conscious of my vocabulary when I’m reenacting, and so it’s something that I look for in the novels I read.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
Johanna is a strong central character. And I fully loved how strong she was in her faith. She’s always reminding herself and others of God’s love and strength. She herself is strong and resilient as well.
I think this was a great novel. It read well. The characters were good. I did enjoy them. The whole book could have been fleshed out a little more. For instance, there were some repeats in the wording that made it longer than normal, but also some things that I would have liked to see them further get into.
John is the male character, and he’s Native, so you get the perspectives of the native people, the immigrant, and those who have been in the land for a while.
I hope you enjoy your journey to the lands of old!
My only major beef with the story. There is a lot of language consistent with our current time frame that would not have been used in the time period of the novel. This is a pet peeve of mine. Maybe because I’m always conscious of my vocabulary when I’m reenacting, and so it’s something that I look for in the novels I read.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
January 20, 2026
Christian Historical Fiction is a favorite genre of mine. A Father's Dream by Heidi Ennis is the most recent book in this genre that I have read. It is Book 1 in the Columbia River Saga. Heidi Ennis is a new to me author and I was excited to read this book!
I was immediately reeled into the storyline from the very first chapter. The setting is the 1880's in the Pacific Northwest. The main characters in this story are Johanna Amalia Nilsdotter Oman and John. Johanna is a Swedish immigrant and she has come to the Pacific Northwest after losing everything she had, including family members who passed away. She is determined to live out her father's dream on the land that he had purchased. John is a Native American and he has had some rough times in life. I really LOVE how John and Johanna come to meet each other just at the right moment. Johanna needed help to cross the Columbia River and John knew how to navigate the over 200 mile trek. John was also contemplating a tragic event for himself. John decides to help Johanna and the growth in the both of them is heartwarming. I loved watching God work in both of them to overcome their burdens and connect on a level that neither would have dreamed could happen in the manner it does. I truly enjoyed every moment of this story and could not put the book down until I finished. It is a book of Second Chances. Romance, God's LOVE. The faith aspect is very prominent throughout the book. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Historical Romance. AMAZING BOOK!
I was immediately reeled into the storyline from the very first chapter. The setting is the 1880's in the Pacific Northwest. The main characters in this story are Johanna Amalia Nilsdotter Oman and John. Johanna is a Swedish immigrant and she has come to the Pacific Northwest after losing everything she had, including family members who passed away. She is determined to live out her father's dream on the land that he had purchased. John is a Native American and he has had some rough times in life. I really LOVE how John and Johanna come to meet each other just at the right moment. Johanna needed help to cross the Columbia River and John knew how to navigate the over 200 mile trek. John was also contemplating a tragic event for himself. John decides to help Johanna and the growth in the both of them is heartwarming. I loved watching God work in both of them to overcome their burdens and connect on a level that neither would have dreamed could happen in the manner it does. I truly enjoyed every moment of this story and could not put the book down until I finished. It is a book of Second Chances. Romance, God's LOVE. The faith aspect is very prominent throughout the book. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Historical Romance. AMAZING BOOK!
January 24, 2026
This story completely swept me away. This was a beautiful story of a couple who both have had to deal with immense abuse and trauma in their lives. This story is filled with their tenacity for survival and the faith that they both relied on, when everything seemed to be falling apart and humanity showed its ugliness.
Johanna is a Swedish immigrant who has experienced way too much grief in her life. Now that her father is dead and her innocence stolen, she can only think to get to the land promised them all the way across the West into Washington state. But she is a lone young woman, who has already lost too much, how much more can be taken from her? So armed with her papers, her faith, and her resilience she makes the trek on her own hoping her lost brother will find his way to her.
When she reaches her destination, she must put all her trust in a man by the name of John, who himself is looked down upon as he is half Native American. These two start off on this perilous journey to fight against greed and evil all to find a home and a promise. Their journey is wrought with trials and tribulations, yet so, so rewarding in the end. I am so happy to have come across this new to me author that swept me up into Joanna and John's world.
I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
https://pausefortales.blogspot.com/20...
Johanna is a Swedish immigrant who has experienced way too much grief in her life. Now that her father is dead and her innocence stolen, she can only think to get to the land promised them all the way across the West into Washington state. But she is a lone young woman, who has already lost too much, how much more can be taken from her? So armed with her papers, her faith, and her resilience she makes the trek on her own hoping her lost brother will find his way to her.
When she reaches her destination, she must put all her trust in a man by the name of John, who himself is looked down upon as he is half Native American. These two start off on this perilous journey to fight against greed and evil all to find a home and a promise. Their journey is wrought with trials and tribulations, yet so, so rewarding in the end. I am so happy to have come across this new to me author that swept me up into Joanna and John's world.
I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
https://pausefortales.blogspot.com/20...
January 23, 2026
I fell in love with this book.
The story (a Swedish woman, all alone, goes to claim her father's homestead in Oregon). And the characters: fascinated-with-life, faithful Johanna; and noble, strong (yes, and handsome) John, who bears not only the genetic mix of two peoples (his mother's Patisapatisháma characteristics, as well as his trapper father's) but the physical scars of abuse. Not only those protagonists but all the surrounding characters who comprise the book and the Oregon countryside were engaging and compelling.
Together, John and Johanna strive to make it to her family homestead on the Klickitat River before cruel men, who're working for a logging company, can swipe it out from under her fingertips. On their journey, Johanna and John find common ground and maybe even more with each other. But can two such different people connect in the 1880s? Only the God whom Johanna clings to knows. But terrible danger is definitely ahead.
I highly, highly recommend this book to you. It's a fascinating and well-researched piece of history, turned into a captivating historical novel with characters I could not get enough of. Don't miss this!
I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions shared here are my own honest ones.
The story (a Swedish woman, all alone, goes to claim her father's homestead in Oregon). And the characters: fascinated-with-life, faithful Johanna; and noble, strong (yes, and handsome) John, who bears not only the genetic mix of two peoples (his mother's Patisapatisháma characteristics, as well as his trapper father's) but the physical scars of abuse. Not only those protagonists but all the surrounding characters who comprise the book and the Oregon countryside were engaging and compelling.
Together, John and Johanna strive to make it to her family homestead on the Klickitat River before cruel men, who're working for a logging company, can swipe it out from under her fingertips. On their journey, Johanna and John find common ground and maybe even more with each other. But can two such different people connect in the 1880s? Only the God whom Johanna clings to knows. But terrible danger is definitely ahead.
I highly, highly recommend this book to you. It's a fascinating and well-researched piece of history, turned into a captivating historical novel with characters I could not get enough of. Don't miss this!
I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions shared here are my own honest ones.
December 29, 2025
If you are looking for your next cookie cutter historical Christian romance novel, this is NOT it. You want the formula, the big-name publisher-approved, the perfectly polished, the predictable — well, there’s plenty out there for you to choose from. But this … this is the raw, authentic depiction of faith in a harsh world during a harsh time. It shows the full picture of faith — the struggle to find it and the strength gained from it. It’s a beautiful story of love, bravery, and facing the unknown.
The characters start out broken, they heal a little, they break further, they endure. So my three words for this novel …
Authentic - You can feel the author’s love for this story, this place and time and the world and, most of all, her faith in each and every page.
Endearing - I feel like these characters we are meant to see the broken parts of ourselves reflected in these characters. This made them all the more dear to me.
Scenic - Set in Pacific Northwest in the late 1800s, the setting of this book is a character in and of itself —both vivd and exciting. You can tell a lot of time and effort went into researching the time and place, as well as the cultures of the characters.
The cookie cutter stories have lost me for a while now. They are like eating the same processed food again and again. I’d rather have something someone made in their own kitchen with love — and that they’ve welcomed me into their home to share.
The characters start out broken, they heal a little, they break further, they endure. So my three words for this novel …
Authentic - You can feel the author’s love for this story, this place and time and the world and, most of all, her faith in each and every page.
Endearing - I feel like these characters we are meant to see the broken parts of ourselves reflected in these characters. This made them all the more dear to me.
Scenic - Set in Pacific Northwest in the late 1800s, the setting of this book is a character in and of itself —both vivd and exciting. You can tell a lot of time and effort went into researching the time and place, as well as the cultures of the characters.
The cookie cutter stories have lost me for a while now. They are like eating the same processed food again and again. I’d rather have something someone made in their own kitchen with love — and that they’ve welcomed me into their home to share.
February 4, 2026
This is a very informative read. I loved the characters, they were wounded but kept pushing themselves forward, Johanna to make her fathers dream of a homestead come true, and John, to find peace from childhood trauma. With God's help and care, they overcome a number of challenges and find love. There are also a number of likeable, realistic characters. I loved the plot threads that delved into Native American culture, and the descriptions of the landscape were so well written, I could see them in my mind's eye.
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