A Pioneer Christmas Collection: 9 Stories of Finding Shelter and Love in a Wintry Frontier

by Margaret Brownley

Journey along with American settlers who learn that despite where the trail takes them or how primitive their lodgings may be Christmas is all about the heart. Determined to honor Christ’s birth, these pioneers find a way to make Christmas happen in places like a cave, a tipi, and a dugout. Modern readers will enjoy a peek into life before commercialism took over the sacred day, distracting us from the true blessings of faith, hope, and love. Enjoy nine original novellas of Christmas romance as penned from many of today’s leading Christian authors, including Lauraine Snelling, Kathleen Fuller, and Vickie McDonough.

Genres: Christmas, Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Christian, Fiction, Holiday

450 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2013

About the author

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR MARGARET BROWNLEY has penned nearly forty novels and novellas. Her books have won numerous awards, including Readers' Choice and Award of Excellence. She's was a two-time Romance Writers of American RITA® finalist and has written for a TV soap. She is currently working on a new series. Not bad for someone who flunked eighth grade English. Just don't ask her to diagram a sentence.

Reviews

[Laura • lauralovestoread · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a cute book to read in the winter season! Short stories that will warm your heart

[Melmo2610 · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay collection of Christmas novellas. Some I really liked, some were good, and a couple weren’t my cup of tea.

[Sarah Grace Grzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st story: Defending Truth.
3.5 Stars: I liked this one, mostly because it was set during the Revolutionary War. I liked the characters of Truth and Micah, they were well-developed and pretty realistic. I liked the romance, it wasn't overly "lovey-dovey" gross. ;) The "betrayal" theme, which I usually find cliché and overdone, was actually done quite good.

2nd story: The Calling.
2 Stars: Overall, this one just didn't really grab my interest. The characters were pretty good, especially Aunt Louise and Mr. O'Reardon, but the story was quite "meh". At first, I thought I knew where the author was taking the story, but it went in the opposite way I expected and wanted, and I wasn't totally pleased with the moral, and the way it was portrayed.

3rd story: A Silent Night.
5 Stars: Wow! At first, this was a little boring to me, but a little bit in, I got really into the story and characters, and loved it! The ending . . . wow! SO unexpected! I didn't see that coming AT ALL! It was amazing, and I cried. A good bit. ;) The romance was perfectly done. And even though you didn't really hear much about him, I loved the character of Iain. <3 This is definitely my favorite of all nine stories. I WILL be checking out more by this author!

4th story: A Pony Express Christmas.
2 Stars: I liked the main character of Ellie-Mae Newman, but this one just didn't cut it for me. The romance and amount of physical attraction made me uncomfortable, and as did the few suggestive comments. The ending was kind of sad and I think Ellie should have found her brother in the end. :\ .

5th story: A Christmas Castle.
4 Stars: Coming off the last rather disappointing story, I didn't have a ton of hopes for this one, but ended up liking it better than I thought! The romance was very sweet, and the characters were well-developed. I liked Annie's feisty stubbornness, and Drake's calm, protective presence. The antagonist was very well done and I found myself frequently wanting to whack him a good one! ;) I loved the ending, it was very sweet and wrapped it up really well!

6th story: The Cowboy's Angel.
5 Stars: This one was rather sad, but still very good! I loved the character of Abel. He is so cute! <3 And Angel, she's adorable too! I liked Mr. Jennings, especially is compassion and respect towards Belle. I liked how he cared for her, but wasn't in her face. The romance was very sweet, in typical Lauraine Snelling style.

7th story: A Badlands Christmas.
3.5 Stars: This one was pretty good. I liked the characters, although they seemed to lack depth. The romance in this one may have been my favorite. I liked how clean it was, and how Hiram truly cared, not just for her, but for her family. He was so sweet with Noela's sister Bea! I had a hard time getting into this one, but once I did, it was pretty good.

8th story: Buckskin Bride.
4 Stars: This one I also really liked! Mattie, Milly and Jess were so sweet and relatable. Brian and Conall were very kind, and I liked how they weren't "pushy". I loved the unexpected ending.

9th story: The Gold Rush Christmas.
3.5 Stars: I liked the characters in this book, but some of them, mostly Peter and Samantha, were rather underdeveloped. Miles was great, I loved his "geeky-ness", I could totally relate! XD I liked his development throughout the story. This story particularly piqued my interest, as it is set in Alaska, and I have always found the state fascinating. One content note: the storyline does deal with prostitution in Alaska. It is a pretty major part of the story, but never delves into detail. The story was very well done, and based on a true story, but I just wouldn't recommend it for young or sensitive readers.

On average, I give this book as a whole, about 3.722 stars. (Yes, I totally just took the star rating of each story and averaged it out) Content warning: these are romance stories, so there is kissing, hugging, romance, and the occasional minor suggestive comment. Most of them didn't go into much detail of any of the above mentioned things, but they were there nonetheless. I would recommend this book for ages 14-15+, depending on maturity level. :) I enjoyed reading most of these stories, and would read some of them next Christmas. I really enjoyed the overarching themes of Christianity and faith, which were inspiring and encouraging.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book of 9 different stories centered around the Christmas season. Nine different ladies, in different areas of the US, in different situations of pioneer life, and in different time frames ranging from 1781 to 1897. It gives the reader a taste of each author's style. Each lady struggled with different trials on the pioneering lifestyle and each lady unexpectedly found a pioneer man to love them. I'm interested in history of the settlers and have been to some of these areas myself. I've seen the Badlands but never the Teddy Roosevelt area, so that was interesting. I've been to Alaska and seen how rough it is there. I've not been to Skagway, where this story takes place, but did cruise the Inland Passage mentioned in the story. I lived in Arizona in Tucson and enjoyed the story there in that area. This book will appeal to all ages of ladies and be especially enjoyed by lovers of American history.
I won this book in a contest and am very grateful for it. I will keep this one in my library.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book, full of wonderful stories. I did like some better than others, but I really enjoyed each one. They were quite predictable, and sort of like reading little Hallmark Christmas movies, but I needed the Christmas stories.

[Jeanette Durkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful collection of Christmas novellas! I enjoyed all of them. My favorite was The Gold Rush Christmas. My favorite character is Miles. His so tenderhearted, and his love for God is amazing!

[Noela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Christmas and I love Christmas reads! Throw in a whole bunch of exceptional authors and you’ve got a real treat! This compilation of original and inspiring historical romance novella’s will entertain you with their appealing and intriguing tales of pioneer life and love in untamed lands. Each story concludes with the new pioneers celebrating Christmas in unconventional dwellings.

‘DEFENDING TRUTH’ by Shannon McNear, sees Truth, a young woman in western North Carolina, alone and responsible for her younger siblings after her father had left them to fight the British. What will she do when she comes across a half-starved militia man loyal to the Crown? This is an intriguing and heart-warming story reflecting the battle on King’s Mountain and of God’s grace.

‘THE CALLING’ by Kathleen Fuller centers around a tavern in Unionville, Ohio, that also doubles as a stagecoach stop. Elijah Montgomery is pushed by his parents to travel and preach. Is he just being obedient to his folks or hearing the calling himself? What part might Milly, the lovely tavern girl who works for her father, have in helping Elijah to find his destiny?

‘A SILENT NIGHT’ by Anna Urquhart illustrates the struggles of a mother and young child surviving on their own in the woodlands of Michigan Territory in 1830. Refusing a marriage of convenience that most women would have taken up leaves Lorna vulnerable and unprepared for winter. How can she possibly survive and will they get their Christmas miracle that 6 year old Afton is praying for?

'A PONY EXPRESS CHRISTMAS' by Margaret Brownley has the bloomer-clad Ellie-May Newman searching across the unforgiving Nebraska Territory for her missing brother who rode for the Pony Express. After saving a man, she informs him he’ll be helping her on her quest. There’s an interesting love triangle in this story and an unexpected outcome for Ellie at the end of the trail. Margaret Brownley is a brilliant storyteller and this tale is a hearty feast for a novella!

‘A CHRISTMAS CASTLE’ by Cynthia Hickey ambushes Annie Morgan with quite a few eye-popping revelations when she arrives at her ranch in Prescott, Arizona, to chase down her new husband who was supposed to meet her in town. This story by Cynthia was fast-moving, delightfully romantic, and especially captivating!

‘THE COWBOY'S ANGEL’ by Lauraine Snelling has a very pregnant woman and her son living on the Dakota Territory plains in 1875 waiting for her husband to return home after leaving weeks earlier to purchase supplies. With a baby coming, a 4 yr. old son, animals to care for, and snowstorms, Belle is in much need of a Christmas miracle from God’s angels. What could have befallen her husband?

‘A BADLANDS CHRISTMAS’ by Marcia Gruver soon has Australian Jonathon Nancarrow journeying from sophisticated New York City along with his two daughters to the small town of Medora in the heart of the wilderness, still seeking peace and healing after the death of his wife. His eldest daughter Noela takes quite a while adjusting to the overwhelming differences, especially having to live in a house made of dirt and grass called a soddie! Will this little family survive a harsh Dakota winter here and can Noela find love in the wilderness? Marcia Gruver writes an immensely memorable and highly entertaining read, delivering an enchanting story with a very sweet romance.

‘BUCKSKIN BRIDE’ by Vickie McDonough takes us to Oklahoma Territory in 1889 to where Mattie and her two sisters Milly and Jess are living in a tipi, which unknowingly happens to be on handsome Irishman Conall Donegan’s land. Their father hasn’t returned and Mattie having been left in charge feels a huge responsibility to keep her sisters safe, fed, and sheltered. When Jess is hurt and they are all discovered, Mattie feels like everything is falling apart. Can things come together for Christmas?

‘THE GOLD RUSH CHRISTMAS’ by Michelle Ule delivers an interesting and unique story with twins Samantha and Peter Harris travelling to Skagway, Alaska with good friend Miles. What sets out as a search for the twins’ father ends up becoming so much more for all three of these ‘musketeers’. This takes place during the 1897 Gold Rush bringing many unsavoury characters to the region; however this story which is based on a true account ends with an extraordinary Christmas inspired conclusion.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find these books so enjoyable during the holiday season. In this book there were 9 short stories focusing on finding love around Christmas in a pioneer setting. It brings you to all different territories anywhere from the end of the late 1700s to the end of the late 1800s. In this book you travel to the pioneer days in North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Nebraska, Arizona, Dakota, Oklahoma and Alaska. If you are looking for cozy Christmas stories based in faith, these are great reads.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

A Pioneer Christmas Collection was such a good read! Each story is short enough that it can be read in an hour or so, but they are short but Awesome!! I especially enjoyed these because the setting of each is during the pioneer days and I love that era in history. Listed below are the nine stories, the author who wrote each one, and the historical time and place of the setting. If you only purchase one fiction to read during the Christmas Season, this is the one you need to choose! These stories are so neat because during the busy season, its comforting to sit down take a break and read all or half of one story at a time. And if you read the beginning of my blog, you saw that Barbour Books had this amazing book for only $1.97. But hurry, it may end soon!

And today I am mainly focusing on A Pony Express Christmas by Margaret Brownley, since Margaret so graciously provided a copy for me to read and review.

Ellie-Mae Newman was in search of her brother. He left home because of not getting along with their dad, but now that their dad was gone, Ellie-Mae wanted to find her twin. But at this time, she is sitting with a broken wagon with two stubborn mules to pull it with, that is if it was workable! Then she runs into a hanging about to happen, and offers money for the poor mans life. Thanking Ellie and walking away, Mr. Corbett thought he was free, but little did he know he had a price to pay.

Margaret Brownley makes every story she writes funny and fun to read. In the mist of the difficult situations Ellie-Mae and Mr. Corbett were in, she had be laughing most of the way through A Pony Express Christmas Collection. How these two kept going on their trail was anybody's guess, but they kept one. Ellie-Mae was one determined woman, and Mr. Corbett was a fugitive. But as they stopped at each Pony Express office on the trail, them seemed to run into a dead end, but Ellie-Mae just wouldn't give up. Wanna find out if they find this twin brother? The answer is in Ms. Brownley's story, A Pony Express Christmas. And you will find this story in A Pioneer Christmas Collection from Barbour Books HERE.

And here is a list of the stories in A Pioneer Christmas Collection!

1. DEFENDING TRUTH by Shannon McNear, 1791 NC

2. THE CALLING by Kathleen Fuller, 1820 OH

3. A SILENT NIGHT by Ana Urquhart, 1824 Scotland & 1830 MI

4. A PONY EXPRESS CHRISTMAS by Margaret Brownley, 1862 NE

5. A CHRISTMAS CASTLE by Cynthia Hickey, 1867 AZ

6. THE COWBOY'S ANGEL by Lauraine Snelling, 1875 ND

7. A BADLANDS CHRISTMAS by Marcia Gruver, 1885 ND

8. BUCKSKIN BRIDE by Vickie McDonough, 1889 OK

9. THE GOLD RUSH CHRISTMAS by Michelle Ule, 1897 AK
I received this book from Author Margaret Brownley and the publisher Barbour Books to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nine tales of women and winter in pioneering times, bearing such beautiful titles as 'Buckskin Bride' and 'A Pony Express Christmas'. I loved every story.

'Defending Truth' by Shannon McNear shows young Truth Bledsoe out hunting to support her family while her father is away. In the North Carolina woods, she surprises a soldier who says the battle is over. But he's a Crown soldier, a Tory. He has fled the field, and Truth grudgingly shares food as a Christian should, but she can't bring herself either to tell on him or shelter him. Will has doubts as to where his loyalties lie, and has no wish to return to war. But how can he survive a Carolina winter?

'The Calling' by Kathleen Fuller focuses on an inn located in Unionville, Ohio, where a young man sincerely admires the Irish innkeeper's daughter, but to obey his parents he is going to have to take up his calling and become a circuit preacher in the western territories. Snow is falling heavily but the stage still runs to Cleveland, and the young preacher must be on it.

'A Silent Night' by Anna Urquhart shows that Lorna, a young mother widowed in 1830 in Michigan Territory is at the mercy of the weather - and of men who decide that she'll do as a wife. Christmas will be rather different this year.

As for the 'Pony Express Christmas', by Margaret Brownley, not only do we get a plucky girl adventuring to find her brother, but quotations from the 1860s, such as 'Left my infant on the trale, along with a peace of my hart," and 'Can't stay here. Can't go back. Gotta keep going.' At least our heroine finds it's too cold for snakes.

This collection brought me the scent of Christmas cooking and the tingle of snow. There's excitement, occasional violence and good fellowship. A PIONEER CHRISTMAS COLLECTION is writing of impressive quality by female authors and any reader would be glad to find this under the Christmas tree.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a great find and perfect book for the winter time. The stories were short, sweet and very engaging. The way the authors wrote the stories, I felt like I was there. Not all of the stories I loved but I did have a favorite one.

The story called “The Calling” by Kathleen Fuller is a bittersweet story of a tavern girl named Milly Kent and her family. Her father Cornelius Kent is the owner of a tavern and does not want his daughter to be just a tavern girl. He wants more for her and so does her annoying at times Aunt Louise. Aunt Louise and Cornelius do not see eye to eye on many things and as the story though unfolds, the read see how the two are really a lot alike in many ways.

Aunt Louise is trying to be a matcher for Miley but Miley has her eyes set on Elijah Montgomery, though she thinks he does not take notice of her. The funny thing though is that both secretly like each other but think the other one does not. Plus, the fact that Elijah Montgomery’s parents want him to go into religious life. While he believes in the cause, it does not feel right for him.

The story will have you laughing, crying and feeling warm inside. I only wish the story was alittle longer. You grow to love the main characters and as well as the supporting ones like dear sweet Mr. O’Reardon, Mr. Menough and the Tomlinsons.

The other stories in the book were good but again some were better than others.

[Philippa Lodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not religious, but got this from the library in my quest to read the novella in it that was nominated for the Rita. I do love novellas. The nominated one, Defending Truth, by Shannon McNear, is set in revolutionary America. The hero is a Tory loyalist who was captured in battle, then escaped from the rebels. The heroine is a teen girl who is keeping the farm going and her younger siblings fed while her dad's off fighting against the Tories.

It's a nice story, realistic about how hard life was and about how neither side necessarily had the moral high ground at all times. And about how the Revolution, at least as much as the Civil war, really was brother against brother.

I read several more of the stories in the collection, but not all. Did I mention I'm not religious? Or maybe it's because it's May and not xmas.

From what I did see, the writing is very good. I can't complain about Bible verses and praying, since I knew that going in.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Pioneer Christmas Collection features nine stories of finding shelter and love in a wintry frontier. This collection of short stories is the perfect book to read near Christmas and really any other time of the year. Ranging from North Carolina to Alaska, and set from 1780 to 1897, elements of faith, endurance, and love are explored in simple and inspiring ways. It’s a book guaranteed to give you that warm, cozy feeling.

My favorite stories in A Pioneer Christmas Collection were Kathleen Fuller’s The Calling, Cynthia Hickey’s A Christmas Castle, and Michelle Ule’s The Gold Rush Christmas.

This collection would be perfect for short story lovers and those who enjoy sweet, romantic reads.

*I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

While looking for some cozy Christmas stories I did not find it here. The stories were mostly all very similar and predictable. They mostly all start with the father or husband late coming home because of sickness or not coming home at all due to death. The stories for the most part do not have a Christmasy feel and only have a mention of Christmas dinner. The stories are too short to really develop a good plot and a romance does not move to marriage this quickly in real life ! There are a few other Christmas Collections I want to read and I hope they are better than this one.

[Gail Churchill · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great read. I love stories from the eighteen hundred.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a lovely collection of feel - good western historical Christian / Christmas stories.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although all 9 stories are new to this book, I realized that I'd read two of them in a later publication, Old West Christmas Brides, offered in 2018. The two stories repeated in this book were from Brownley and Gruver. Note, I enjoyed the Gruver story much more this time. Overall score = 4.5 stars.

The 9 stories occur during different time periods and in different areas of America. They all have the same focus on faith (early Americans were deeply religious), personal character, and common decency. The stories I've read thus far are big on personal growth and personal prayer. The stories focus on the attitudes and practices of Christmas before modern commercialization took over.

DEFENDING TRUTH (Shannon McNear) -- G+
It is 1780 in North Carolina and 17-year-old Truth Bledsoe has the job of taking care of her sisters and brother until their father returns from a battle against Tories. She's an excellent shot; while looking for wild game she finds a half-starved Tory hiding in a nearby cave. After feeding him repeatedly, he returns the favor by helping her family. But Micah was the enemy at the battle with Truth's father; can she trust him?

Although the author was spot-on with the rural dialogue, the "youngin's" got a bit old after a while.

THE CALLING (Kathleen Fuller) -- VG
Ohio is the scene of this story and it is 1820. Forty years makes a great difference in the dialogue used. Milly Kent loves being second-in-command and working at a tavern and stop-over station with her father. She's smitten with Elijah Montgomery, a man destined for the ministry out West (according to his parents). Elijah is smitten too but he needs to face some personal demons before he can act on his desires with Milly.

Secondary characters added so much to the depth of this story.

A SILENT NIGHT (Anna Urquhart) -- 2 Stars
It is now ten years later in Michigan Territory (1830). If this story moved any slower, it would have gone backward. I thought this to be a waste of time.

A PONY EXPRESS CHRISTMAS (Margaret Brownley) -- 5 stars
This story is in the Nebraska Territory in 1862. Ellie-Mae Newman is stranded with 2 difficult mules and a broken wagon. She was looking for her twin brother, Andy, a gifted artist. before her guide ran away. Ellie-Mae interrupts a hanging and buys the "thief" for $25. She then announces that she has saved his sorry hide to help her find her brother, along the Pony Express Trail. Michael Corbett has no faith in man or God; Ellie-Mae has enough for two. Delightful.

A CHRISTMAS CASTLE (Cynthia Hickey) -- VG
This story occurs in Arizona Territory, two years after the Civil War (1867). Annie marries by proxy (in Missouri) and travels to meet her husband in Arizona. However, when she arrives, her husband is dead, she has inherited a daughter and men who want her ranch. The only one who is interested in stopping the avalanche of trouble coming toward Annie is her new neighbor, Drake Carter. It seems that there were a few things Annie's deceased husband neglected to mention in his letters to Annie.

A COWBOY'S ANGEL (Lauraine Snelling) -- VG
The Dakota Territory of 1883 is the scene of this story. Jeremiah Jenson finds a man dying instead of returning to his family. Stedman asks Jeremiah to check on his wife and then dies. Jeremiah goes to find Belle Stedman instead of going to his job. He finds that she has just had a baby girl and is almost without food. He decides to stay to help for a while.

A BADLAND'S CHRISTMAS (Marcia Gruver) -- VG+
The very next Christmas in the Dakota Territory (1884). Australian Jonathan Nancarrow and his two daughters have lost everything and are now homesteading on the Dakota plains in a soddie home. These three could not be more ill-equipped for winter in this terrible weather.

BUCKSKIN BRIDE (Vickie McDonough) -- VG
The Oklahoma Territory of 1889 is the scene. Three sisters are alone in the woods, waiting for their father to return. The nine-year-old breaks her ankle and two men try to help. Mattie, who is the one responsible for the group (and the older twin) tries to avoid their help but the weather is bad and Jess adds fever to her other problems. Living in a house is a severe adjustment for Mattie, although the other two sisters enjoy the luxury.

GOLDRUSH CHRISTMAS (Michele Ule) -- VG
It is now 1897 in Alaska. Twins Peter and Samantha Harris are on their way to find their father, Donald Harris, in the wilds of Alaska, where he's been for 2 years. Their mother has died and they want to reunite with their father. They take along the third musketeer of their group, Miles Parker, who left seminary school just before ordination to join the other two. Each person changes in the trials of Alaska; probably none more than Peter. This is a different kind of story.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great Christmas collection of 5-star stories. Some are from favorite authors and some new-to-me authors in this engrossing collection. The faith themes in each story are especially inspiring.

Defending Truth by Shannon McNear
5*****
I especially enjoyed reading this story, which takes places shortly after the Battle of King’s Mountain during the American Revolution. Being from East Tennessee, I am very familiar with this history, and Defending Truth illustrates the fierce convictions of the Patriots and the torn allegiances between friends and families. This powerful story is an excellent beginning to the collection. The spiritual themes of loving our enemies and forgiving one another are integral to the story. Very touching narrative.

The Calling by Kathleen Fuller
5*****
I love this sweet romance set in Ohio, 1820. I was pulled into that time of celebrating Christmas, when it seemed more about the true meaning and not mainly about gifts. I’ve always believed that the Bible teaches God has a plan for each of us. The Calling illustrates this truth well.

A Silent Night by Anna Urquhart
5*****
This is a very moving story and shows the extreme hardship of the pioneers in Michigan in 1830. I’m sure the tenacity of the characters is a testament to those people who settled in that harsh territory. Great story!

A Pony Express Christmas by Margaret Brownley
5*****
Another memorable story by Margaret Brownley. I so enjoyed it. I love both of the very unique main characters. Mr. Corbett is quite the hero and Ellie-May is definitely God’s daughter.

A Christmas Castle by Cynthia Hickey
5****
I’ve always loved Cynthia Hickey’s feisty female characters, and Annie is certainly that! Even little May is a darling child, with a mind of her own. I know you will enjoy this story.

The Cowboy’s Angel by Lauraine Snelling
5*****
This is an amazing story of harsh circumstances of settlers living on the prairie. It is hard to imagine how these pioneers were able to accept life as it came and make the best of life-changing situations. The Cowboy’s Angel is a very special story.

A Badlands Christmas by Marcia Gruver
5*****
Oh my! This story was built on the deception and ignorance of one clueless man. What a shock for some of the characters! It’s an interesting and different story which shows how God can work unlikely miracles in the lives of people, who place their faith in Him.

Buckskin Bride by Vickie McDonough
5*****
This intriguing story is set in Oklahoma Territory in 1889. It is a very interesting and different story about a nomad family that lives in a tipi. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Gold Rush by Michelle Ule
5*****
I enjoyed this story set during the Alaska Gold Rush. I’ve always been intrigued about this time and place, since reading Jack London’s books. However, there is a definite faith slant to this story, which adds a special element.

[Danielle]

Sweet, quick, “bathtub reads!” Nice for this time of year.

[Alicia Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wrote little reviews of each story, as I finished them. This book is HUGE! Mostly really good stories in it. Read below:

Defending Truth:
Loved it! Such a sweet story with easily loveable characters. Truth is a favorite. Her spirit and kindness shone through. Micah was just perfect! Great short story.
The Calling:
Oh, my! Loved this story. So cozy and sweet. Elijah and Milly are such lovely characters, flawed but darling. Really good short Christmas story.
A Silent Night:
Decent story, though I had a bit of a tough time getting into it. The surprise ending was bittersweet for me, as I was beginning to appreciate Grayson. Oh, well.

Pony Express Christmas
Really loved this story. It moved along at a quick pace and yet gave the two mains ample time to grow. Adore them both and a perfect ending.

A Christmas Castle
It was a good, fluffy story but there were times when it seemed like pieces were missing. I think I would've enjoyed it more, if the characters had been a bit more fleshed out.

Cowboy's Angel
Disappointing. Such a nice start and foundation for a fluffy, angsty story. Then it rushed on and became a little silly, even to the point of making a big deal that the new calf was a bull and "he" this and "he" that, only to abruptly change the calf to a "she." Might be easy to forgive, if the story were longer than 111 pages. Anyway, it was just ok.

A Badland's Christmas

Very sweet story, even if the father got on my nerves. Noela and Hiram are great mains and there was ample plot to drive the story along.

Buckskin Bride
Not my favorite but a decent story. It ended abruptly but happily.

The Gold Rush Christmas
Good story. Much more than a Christmas romance. It gives a glimpse of life in Alaska during the gold rush days. Enjoyed it.

Overall, I'd recommend this one. Not all the stories are really Christmas but they are still good.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 stars:
Defending Truth: North Carolina- 1781
A Silent Night: Michigan- 1830
Buckskin Christmas: Oklahoma - 1889

3 stars:
The Calling: Ohio - 1820
A Christmas Castle: Arizona - 1867
A Cowboy's Angel: North Dakota - 1865

2 stars:
A Pony Express Christmas: Nebraska - 1862
A Badlands Christmas: South Dakota - 1885
The Gold Rush Christmas: Washington to Alaska - 1897

All of the stories have a happy ending and involve Christmas and faith. The stories also involve love, loss, family, missing people, miracles, and travel. Some had likeable characters and sweet romances. I wanted some stories to end differently. Some I wanted to be completely different.

[Sharon Thomason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet collection of stories, reminiscent of the local color movement in American literature. The characters in their frontier settings and the struggles they face keep you reading, but you can be sure that the outcome will be predictable: if you trust in God, you will find the love of your life in the midst of the most horrible circumstances, just in time for Christmas, and you will live happily ever after. Come to think of it, maybe this could be more accurately described as a collection of Christian fairy tales than as local color! Despite that, the stories are heartwarming, and as an added bonus, each of the nine stories is short enough to finish in one sitting.

[Jennifer Purcell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked some of these stories better than others, as usual with novella collections, but overall, this was a really good read. I think my favorite was Defending Truth by Shannon McNear. It's about a young woman who is trying to take care of her siblings while her father is fighting in the Revolution. My second favorite was Margaret Brownley's A Pony Express Christmas about a young woman in search of her twin brother. It was emotional and poignant but also had some lighthearted moments as well. I highly recommend this as a nice read while you curl up with a warm blanket and a cup of hot chocolate.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved all the stories. Each story shined in its own way. I especially liked how Noela Nancarrow grew spiritually in A Badlands Christmas (Marcia Gruver). In Buckskin Bride (Vickie McDonough), Mattie matures and learns to trust the Lord. The setting is Guthrie area where now live, so that was special to me. I was also interested in the setting of The Gold Rush Christmas (Michelle Ule) because the story is set in Skagway. Not long ago I visited Alaska and I can better imagine the specific challenges for Samantha as faced an uncertain future.

[michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different authors but reason I enjoy was Margaret brownley

They were all good and each about 10 chapters if looking for different authors and different short stories I enjoy them each some had sad parts and had cute romance and few of them had few humors in them but good book too cozy read but entertaining or for me it was!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Pioneer Christmas Collection is part of the Barbour Christmas Collection Series which I absolutely love. These stories can really get you into the Christmas Spirit! My favorites from A Pioneer Christmas Collection is Defending Truth and The Calling, but they're all so good. I hope to read more from the Barbour series.

[Deanna Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this collection of stories of Christmas romances by some of my favorite authors, were a wonderful walk into the past. Settlers from North Carolina to my home state of Nebraska and on to Alaska.. From cover to cover, it's a beautiful book all around.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short stories. Sweet love novellas. All the stories are so short that the character development is impossible. I felt like all of the stories ended right when they were starting to get good. It was a good way to end my day for about a week, with a short story each night before bed.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reread this in December 2023 and really enjoyed it--wholesome reading with happy endings. First reading was January 2015.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like 3.5 stars...just because the stories were all very short (as they had to be) so most were not very well developed at all. But I enjoyed it just the same :)