Fair Are the Meadows

Home to Green Creek #3

by Lauraine Snelling, Kiersti Giron

When her carefully ordered life is shaken, the path forward requires finding the courage to trust again.

Helen Stenerson has planted her roots in the community of Green Creek, Iowa, and poured her heart into teaching. She's determined to avoid romantic entanglement--her teaching contract forbids it, and a broken engagement has taught her the dangers of opening her heart. But thoughtful seminary student Ødger Gunderson begins to weaken her resolve with his genuine interest.

When an urgent letter from Ohio is delivered to Helen, her carefully ordered world is shattered. The letter brings news of her aunt's failing health, and when Helen rushes back to be with her, her aunt reveals secrets about Helen's past that upset everything Helen thought she knew. Returning to Green Creek with more questions than answers, can Helen embrace love and the path God has for her?

This heartwarming Christian historical romance from Lauraine Snelling and Kiersti Giron transports readers to small-town Iowa, exploring themes of healing, second chances, faith, family, love, community, and new beginnings. A perfect read for fans of frontier romance, Janette Oke, and Tracie Peterson.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2026

About the author

Award-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).

Reviews

[Dee Renee Chesnut]

I borrowed this book from my local library. I requested it as soon as I found out it would be released soon because I read the first two books in the trilogy. I enjoy the stories of these pioneers.
There were sections of the book when verses of hymns were added in the story. Perhaps this would have been more effective in an audiobook. To this reader, it felt more like page-filler.
I still recommend this book to readers of this genre and fan
s of books by these authors.

[Carol (Reading Ladies)]

Helen is the main character in Fair are the Meadows, installment #3 in the loosely connected Home to Green Creek series. Each installment focuses on a different main character of the immigrant community who has been in the background of previous installments.

Helen is an immigrant from Norway who has settled in the community of Green Creek, Iowa and works as a teacher in a one-room school. She is respected in the immigrant community and has friends that are like family. In addition, to playing the piano, she teaches English to second-language learners. She has a big heart for students of all ages.

Helen is settled and content with her life, but she is bothered by two things: her growing attraction to Odger Gunderson and news of her aunt’s failing health. Her interest in Odger is troubling because she has experienced a failed engagement in the past and has decided to protect her heart, and her teaching contract forbids a romantic relationship. Yet, the attraction is undeniable. Helen takes a leave from her teaching position to visit her ailing aunt and learns a troubling secret that changes everything she’s always believed about her family. Helen is a woman of faith and turns to God for guidance and comfort.

Helen is a relatable and captivating character, and we want the best for her. She is a responsible, earnest, caring, and kind-hearted young woman who is an encouraging teacher and loving niece. Can her friends who are like family, supportive and understanding Odger, and prayer help her through this difficult time?

Readers who enjoy inspirational reads, a lovely community of people, immigrant stories (Norwegian heritage), frontier stories (those women worked hard!), and sweet romance will want to add Fair are the Meadows to their fall TBRs.

Thanks @NetGalley @BethanyHouseFiction @GreatReadsBookPromo for an eARC of #FairAreTheMeadows upon my request. All opinions are my own.

For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.

[Anne Rogers]

Helen Stenerson loves her teaching role and friends in Green Creek, Iowa. A broken engagement leaves her wary of opening her heart again. Not to mention that her job as a teacher forbids her to enter into any romantic relationship. But Odger Gunderson's kindly and genuine interest begins to thaw the edges of her heart. She has sufficient complications to deal with at home, when a letter from her aunt in Ohio upturns her world in a moment. A visit to Ohio leaves Helen with more questions than answers though, and she is going to have to lean on her faith and her friends as she seeks the truth of her past - and makes decisions about her future.

I really enjoy Lauraine Snelling and Kiersti Giron's novels. The settings into which each story is placed are utterly immersive and believable. The characters, both lead and supporting, are well-rounded, interesting and engage the reader immediately. I've read the earlier books in the series, but it's not essential to have read these first. There's enough explanation in this book to ensure the reader doesn't feel lost because of something which happened in an earlier story.

I often enjoy stories where family isn't necessarily as 'simple' (if you can say ANY family tree is simple) as 'grandparents-parents-children', and in this book the issues and complications of Helen's family are wonderfully told. In fact, I think I almost enjoyed her family story more than the romance, which is gentle and sweet. I like a good mystery, and this one sneaks in and is a corker.

A lovely story of family, belonging, hope, faith. A perfect relaxing, easy read with enough quality and depth to leave you thinking about the story long after you've turned the final page.


NOTE: I read a pre-publication version supplied by the publisher. No review was required. All comments and opinions above are entirely my own.

[Jeanette Durkin]

Wow! This is an extraordinary book! I enjoyed visiting Green Creek in Iowa again. It was also fun to catch up with everyone who lives at the Forsberg House.

The characters are relatable and easy to like! I genuinely care about all of them: their hardships and their times of rejoicing. Helen is so sweet and kind! I wish that I'd had a teacher like her in school. She loves her students and believes in them. Odger has a pastor's heart! He listens and observes without judgement. It's very sweet how Absalom and Eben treat Amalia and Maya like queens! Ruthie remains a favorite! She approaches everything with curiosity and vigor!

Helen finds out something painful about her past and she has a hard time adapting to the new information. "Lord, she whispered into the night. "I knew I never quite fit in anywhere..but at least I thought I knew where I came from. Who my family was. But now...truly, who am I?" "You are mine." ....the words released as an unseen embrace wrapped her, like a soft blanket draped around her shoulders by a loving hand." This really spoke to my heart. I admire authors that talk about faith in God so much!!

I was provided a complimentary ARC copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley through Interviews and Reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Randi Sampson]

I have to admit, when it comes to historical fiction, frontier stories aren't my typical go-tos, but something about this one grabbed my attention and I decided to give it a try... and I have to say, I was very pleasantly surprised. I was very quickly drawn into Helen and Ødger's story. These were both great characters and I very much enjoyed their love story... but it was the mystery of Helen's past that really kept me captivated. I won't give anything away because it really is best experienced for yourself, but this one definitely took me by surprise in the best way possible. It was filled with family secrets, a sweet romance and a beautiful story of belonging. If you enjoy Christian historical romance, this is certainly one worth checking out.

Fair Are the Meadows is the third book in the Home to Green Creek series. I had not read the previous books in the series and found that I was able to enjoy this one just fine as a standalone.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Kira]

I received a free copy of Fair Are the Meadows. Helen’s position as a teacher who’s wary of another romance gives this small-town historical story an interesting starting point. The themes of belonging and second chances appeal to me. I liked Helen’s determination to make a life for herself and the way the family secrets gave the romance something more substantial to work with. The small-town Iowa setting had a comforting feel. For my taste, though, the story was gentler and more faith-focused than I usually reach for, and I wanted a little more momentum and tension. I can see this working beautifully for someone in the mood for a quiet Christian historical romance.

[Jaime]

I was able to read Fair are the Meadows by Lauraine Snelling and Kiersti Giron thanks to NetGalley. Helen has been the teacher in Green Creek for a few years. She is content in her work and playing piano for the church. A letter from her Aunt sends her back to Cincinnati. In Green Creek Helen has a potential suitor in Odgar, he is a seminary student with a chance to serve in Independence. Helen and Odger must rely on their faith to get through their challenges ahead. I enjoyed this continuation of the series. I cannot wait to read book 4.