A Christmas Promise

by Zina Abbott

A sergeant plans to muster out of the Army after twenty years in order to go into ranching--and start a family. A new widow, grateful to have work as a housekeeper, struggles to provide Christmas gifts for her two children. An eleven year-old boy, still fiercely loyal to the dead father who neglected him while alive, struggles to learn how to grow to be a man. A younger sister is starved for the attention and affection only a father can give. This heartwarming tale of a bleak Christmas set in 1873 Wyoming tells of the gift of second chances and a promise for a brighter future.

Genres: Christmas

45 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 6, 2014

About the author

Zina Abbott is the pen name used by Robyn Echols for her historical novels. Her novel, Family Secrets, was published by Fire Star Press in October 2014 and her novelette, A Christmas Promise, was published by Prairie Rose Publications in November 2014. The first two novellas in the Eastern Sierra Brides 1884 series, Big Meadows Valentine and A Resurrected Heart, are now available.

The author currently lives with her husband in California near the “Gateway to Yosemite.” She enjoys family history and any kind of history. When she is not piecing together novel plots, she pieces together quilt blocks.

Reviews

[Judy Esposito · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Nice Christmas Story But Too Short

I enjoyed this novella except for two things. Just couldn't accept the vocabulary of the heroine. Putting an a before every word got a little tiring after the first chapter. The ending left me with too many questions I wanted answered. I felt as though I put the book down and never got back to reading the ending. But I will say the story pulled me in front the start. I loved the two children but there again, I felt the story wasn't fully told. I dislike giving any author less than 4 stars but this is a 3 star book. I will try another book by this Author sometime. JudyE

[Renee Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story of love, and hope. Set in the 1800s, Annie was honorable to her abusive husband but when he passed away , and she lost her job at the camp he had been stationed, she found job as a housekeeper and cook for a wonderful newlywed couple in exchange for board. It didn’t make much money but it gave her and her two children a roof over their heads. Her late husband’s sergeant did everything he could to help her , but would visit when he could to check on her and her children. When he stops by on Christmas Eve, everything changes when the sergeants real intentions are brought to life. I definitely recommend this book

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas Promise is the perfect story to close out the year. My last book of the year.
Annie has endured a lot, being married to Daniel. Living at the Fort was hard, plus raising two children. Sgt. Isaiah Jenkins helped Annie as much as he could, but had to hold back for propriety sake. After Daniel's death, Annie and the children are forced out of the Fort. She becomes a helper for a family, but still has to give up a lot to survive. What Christmas wishes will come true this year for Annie and Isaiah. Lovely story.

[barbara beaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book

This book keep my interests all the way through to the end. Its interesting to learn hoe people lived back in the old days Back when cowboys and Indian lived in the west

[Margie Vickers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas Surprise

A woman whose husband was a scoundrel gets a great gift for Christmas after his death. She and her children are barely getting by working for a rancher after her husband who is a soldier dies. A man who had been trying to help her at the fort stops by for Christmas eve to drop off some gifts. It turns out to be the best Christmas they have ever had. A sweet feel good story that made me smile.

[Anne Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched story not just for the holidays.

Thoroughly researched, this story. will satisfy the history buff as well as readers of frontier Romance. The novella length packed a full story in a small package.

[Henrietta Cullinane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A christmas promise

I enjoyed this story as it told the true story of christmas. ..it made me feel good and showed the hardships the Pioneer women had to handle.