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Orphan Train #4
Big Spring Ranch Brides: Serena
Serena grew up in an orphanage in New York. When she was 12 years old, she traveled to Texas on an orphan train with 18 other children, including her best friends, Anna and Katrina.
A family that runs the Bakery in Maple Grove, Texas offers to give her a home in exchange for help with their younger children and Serena accepts.
Nine years later, Anna has left, becoming a mail-order bride to a man who owns a ranch with his two brothers in Montana. After her marriage, Anna sends a letter to Serena giving her the opportunity to also become a mail-order bride to Alex’s brother, Paul.
Serena accepts and soon she is on her way to Montana with Katrina who has accepted a job to be a teacher on the Big Spring Ranch. She and Paul are married soon after she arrives.
What happens next helps Serena see that she really is of worth, not only to her new husband, Paul, but to the Texas family who had given her a home.
Also available:
An Unexpected Family: Amanda and Craig’s story
The Promise of A Family: Lydia and Clinton’s story
Big Spring Ranch: Anna Anna and Alex’s story
A family that runs the Bakery in Maple Grove, Texas offers to give her a home in exchange for help with their younger children and Serena accepts.
Nine years later, Anna has left, becoming a mail-order bride to a man who owns a ranch with his two brothers in Montana. After her marriage, Anna sends a letter to Serena giving her the opportunity to also become a mail-order bride to Alex’s brother, Paul.
Serena accepts and soon she is on her way to Montana with Katrina who has accepted a job to be a teacher on the Big Spring Ranch. She and Paul are married soon after she arrives.
What happens next helps Serena see that she really is of worth, not only to her new husband, Paul, but to the Texas family who had given her a home.
Also available:
An Unexpected Family: Amanda and Craig’s story
The Promise of A Family: Lydia and Clinton’s story
Big Spring Ranch: Anna Anna and Alex’s story
93 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 4, 2014
159 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 6, 2023
Good but very short
Loved the story. Way too short. First chapter was identical to Anna's story..tells exact events in orphanage leading up to train ride. A few paragraphs were about Katrina, though the author made it serm as if Katrina will have her own story.
The romance was clean. But the author didn't make me feel any emotion for the characters. The writing was kind of bland. The cattle drive was described before the cattle ever left the ranch. So the drive itself was a done deal, except for finding a child & the "thief" that bothered Sarena. The author stated that the cattle drive would last 10 days or so. By the end of drive, Paul & Sarena had only been together 2 weeks or less, but Sarena said she'd fallen in love with Paul within the last FEW weeks, meaning the time spent together on the cattle drive. Other than these things, the book was good for a quick read before bedtime.
Loved the story. Way too short. First chapter was identical to Anna's story..tells exact events in orphanage leading up to train ride. A few paragraphs were about Katrina, though the author made it serm as if Katrina will have her own story.
The romance was clean. But the author didn't make me feel any emotion for the characters. The writing was kind of bland. The cattle drive was described before the cattle ever left the ranch. So the drive itself was a done deal, except for finding a child & the "thief" that bothered Sarena. The author stated that the cattle drive would last 10 days or so. By the end of drive, Paul & Sarena had only been together 2 weeks or less, but Sarena said she'd fallen in love with Paul within the last FEW weeks, meaning the time spent together on the cattle drive. Other than these things, the book was good for a quick read before bedtime.
September 16, 2022
Book 4 Serena is confusing
At beginning it was word for word from Book 3 Anna. Even though Anna was already in Montana she was included in everything that happened at orphanage with Serena and then Katrina. I even went back to book 3 to make sure I was reading it right. Hopefully someone will tell me if I’m wrong. At one point they said they had to give Katrina a room in the big house for school because the building they wanted to use was a shack. Now, when Serena is riding with Paul on cattle drive he points out other ranches close enough to go to new school built on Big Spring Ranch. I’ve liked this author for a quick read but I think she needs someone to do the editing. I’ll have to see what happens when I finish book.
At beginning it was word for word from Book 3 Anna. Even though Anna was already in Montana she was included in everything that happened at orphanage with Serena and then Katrina. I even went back to book 3 to make sure I was reading it right. Hopefully someone will tell me if I’m wrong. At one point they said they had to give Katrina a room in the big house for school because the building they wanted to use was a shack. Now, when Serena is riding with Paul on cattle drive he points out other ranches close enough to go to new school built on Big Spring Ranch. I’ve liked this author for a quick read but I think she needs someone to do the editing. I’ll have to see what happens when I finish book.
September 27, 2021
Cattle Drive--Driving the Cattle to Market
Serena wanted so badly to go on a cattle drive when Paul was preparing to go. At first he said no, but then he just could not say no again. To the chagrin of many of his men and to the delight of Serena, he gave in. They had only been married a few days. Serena enjoyed being with Paul. The men came to not mind so much that she was there.
Serena heard a cry and found a little boy who had wandered away from his family. Would he be reunited with his family? Read this book to find out. I enjoyed this book and hope you do too.
Serena wanted so badly to go on a cattle drive when Paul was preparing to go. At first he said no, but then he just could not say no again. To the chagrin of many of his men and to the delight of Serena, he gave in. They had only been married a few days. Serena enjoyed being with Paul. The men came to not mind so much that she was there.
Serena heard a cry and found a little boy who had wandered away from his family. Would he be reunited with his family? Read this book to find out. I enjoyed this book and hope you do too.
July 23, 2018
Serena
I enjoyed this story very much. If you like Mail Order Bride stories then I am sure you will enjoy this one. A heartwarming story that will keep you reading until the end. The story is short but still a good read.
I enjoyed this story very much. If you like Mail Order Bride stories then I am sure you will enjoy this one. A heartwarming story that will keep you reading until the end. The story is short but still a good read.
January 20, 2019
Serena was abandoned by her actress mother and adopted by a family to care for their small children.she finds love in Montana and from her adopted family as she learns to deal with her mother's rejection.
January 10, 2022
Love the series ! Delightful!
Even though my husband and I are in our 80’s we have loved each of the books by this author reading them out loud. We plan to continue reading even more of them.
Even though my husband and I are in our 80’s we have loved each of the books by this author reading them out loud. We plan to continue reading even more of them.
May 16, 2017
Cute story, but VERY short. It felt rushed at times, but the ending was sweet and it was a nice read overall. I liked the gift he gave her at the end and the meaning behind it. ;)
May 18, 2019
Very good story!
Enjoyed this story. Especially liked the part of the cattle drive. Unexpected and done very well. Feel good romances for sure!
Enjoyed this story. Especially liked the part of the cattle drive. Unexpected and done very well. Feel good romances for sure!
February 29, 2020
Sweet story
An interesting read. How Serena struggled with wanting a family. Yet she has friends who are like sisters. It has a nice ending. Good read.
An interesting read. How Serena struggled with wanting a family. Yet she has friends who are like sisters. It has a nice ending. Good read.
July 12, 2020
Interesting
I have enjoyed this story by Zoe Matthews. Can't wait to start the continuing stores about the other girls and their adventures.
I have enjoyed this story by Zoe Matthews. Can't wait to start the continuing stores about the other girls and their adventures.
December 16, 2025
Great Book
I highly recommend that everyone reads this book. It is heartwarming and has a happy ending which i enjoy.
Great Book
I highly recommend that everyone reads this book. It is heartwarming and has a happy ending which i enjoy.
Great Book
January 5, 2015
Where my heart wants to be.
I chose this particular rating as I have hard struggles rating things. I loved the story line. It is so like I would love my life to end this way. I am 70 years young and still praying one day someone will love me so I will be part of a FAMILY. This would be an answer to my prayers. Thank you for filling my heart until my Family takes me home.
Judbert@paulbunyan.net"
I chose this particular rating as I have hard struggles rating things. I loved the story line. It is so like I would love my life to end this way. I am 70 years young and still praying one day someone will love me so I will be part of a FAMILY. This would be an answer to my prayers. Thank you for filling my heart until my Family takes me home.
Judbert@paulbunyan.net"
January 22, 2015
So very good
Have enjoyed all four in the orphan series and look forward to the next book. Interesting on the history of the orphan train and loved reading about the children. Ms. Matthews has done an awesome job weaving the main characters life in the orphanage to throughout her life. Wonderful story. Wish they were all longer. Lol
Have enjoyed all four in the orphan series and look forward to the next book. Interesting on the history of the orphan train and loved reading about the children. Ms. Matthews has done an awesome job weaving the main characters life in the orphanage to throughout her life. Wonderful story. Wish they were all longer. Lol
March 30, 2015
Short and sweet
I found the story to be good but predictable. However there were a few grammatical errors as well as a few times the writer mixed up the characters. Needed more editing.
I found the story to be good but predictable. However there were a few grammatical errors as well as a few times the writer mixed up the characters. Needed more editing.
October 22, 2015
Another sweet book in the series
This was another short, sweet, clean book in the series. It is so stand alone story but includes characters from the previous and next book in the series. I will be reading Katrina's book next.
This was another short, sweet, clean book in the series. It is so stand alone story but includes characters from the previous and next book in the series. I will be reading Katrina's book next.
January 31, 2015
Good
This book was really good, a good Christian romance. Paul was a really good man and Serena was a good Christian woman. I can't wait to read Luke and Katrina's story.
This book was really good, a good Christian romance. Paul was a really good man and Serena was a good Christian woman. I can't wait to read Luke and Katrina's story.
February 7, 2015
Short and sweet, good read.
If you don't have a lot of time this is a good story to read. I would recommend for a lazy afternoon.
If you don't have a lot of time this is a good story to read. I would recommend for a lazy afternoon.
March 15, 2015
Dhdys
Hahaha yeah but it's still available in our efforts and I love this phone has to have it is not an
Hahaha yeah but it's still available in our efforts and I love this phone has to have it is not an
April 22, 2015
4 stars, short & sweet book
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews