Blooming Prairie

Abercrombie Trail #4

by Candace Simar

Blooming Prairie is the fourth and final novel of the Abercrombie Trail series. Widow Serena Gustafson returns to Pomme de Terre where her husband was killed during the Sioux Uprising. Her dreams of financial independence dissolve when land values plummet after a scourge of Rocky Mountain locusts. Serena must release the past before she can embrace her future. Evan Jacobson, homesteading in nearby Otter Tail County, takes a job driving mules over the Wadsworth Trail. While Evan is on the road, newlyweds Anders and Ragna Vollen stay with Evan’s family. Increasing Indian tensions in Dakota Territory threaten to spill over into Minnesota, renewing old fears and bitter memories from the 1862 Uprising.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adult Fiction

281 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2012

Reviews

[Jane Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fourth and final book of the Abercrombie Trail series is Blooming Prairie. To offset the loss of crops due to the Rocky Mountain locusts, Evan takes a job driving a mule train over the Wadsworth Trail. The author takes you along for the ride, describing in detail every jolt of the exhausting, demanding journey. While Evan is away Anders and Ragna Vollen stay with his family and fight back the growing tension of another Sioux uprising after Custer’s defeat at Little Big Horn. Old fears resurface while they struggle to maintain the farm. Meanwhile Serena Gustafson’s story continues as she returns to Pomme de Terre, facing an uncertain future as a widow with a property of diminished value. Candace does an amazing job weaving these story lines seamlessly in a must-read conclusion.
You know an author has met the challenge when the reader doesn’t want the story to end. I’m sorry to say good-bye to the Jacobsons and their pioneering neighbors. Their everyday life became real; their wants and needs were made plain. I’ve gained insight into the psyche of these extraordinary settlers. “Determined” doesn’t adequately describe them. They are unbowed in the face of risk, harm, fear and illness that most of us can only imagine. They share universal traits with immigrants such as Marcello and Luisa Corsi whom I have written about and millions of others, who were striving for a better life in the new world. They are to be admired and remembered. I’m grateful Candace brought them to life.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is the adult version to the Little House on the Prairie books. Much research has gone into these stories and gives a true feeling to the character of the proples that helped settle our state. Candice has created real people and a great story.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final book in this four part series brings everything & everyone together for a satisfying conclusion. While possible to read this by itself, a lot of context and background will be lost to the reader without the first three books. I'd suggest going back to Abercrombie Trail: A Novel of the 1862 Uprising and discovering this great historical fiction series.
Considering some of the mild cursing, I'd shelve this among teen reads.

[Janell Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this continuation of the Abercrombie Trail series. You can tell that the author has carefully written her books by the details she provides. The story is engaging, and I found myself cheering for the characters as they fought through many difficulties. Highly recommended reading! (I recommend the whole series.)

[Richard Carlson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blaring book that might appeal to little old ladies with find memories of the past.

Enjoyed other books that where not so loaded with characters. Would not recommend this book to anyone but old ladies.

[larry l. jerke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this whole series as it was a little bit of history of my family location. The romance and adventure added to the time period. Thanks for sharing it with me.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. I’ve loved this series so much! This was a wonderful conclusion and my favorite of the four. I’ve loved the characters and how many years of their story we got to follow.

[Amy Patten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This final book of the series totally just earned all 5 stars. It had me hooked from the beginning, and kept me engaged throughout the entire book, page by page and chapter by chapter. Solidly done.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it. I felt like I was in 1870s and standing there with the characters.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great conclusion to the Abercrombie series. As I neared the end of the book I wondered how the author would tie up all of the loose ends. I should have known that Candace Simar was perfectly capable of accomplishing exactly that. This a rare foray into fiction for me but I was captivated enough to actually want to reread the entire series! It helps that I have a personal connection to the area that is central to this series but the characters and their stories draw you in to the history on their own.

[Katie Foth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story picks up where both novels Pomme de Terre and Birdie left off. The reader sees life on the Minnesota frontier from several viewpoints--those of Evan Jacobson, his foster daughter Ragnar Larson (Vollen), Serena Gustafson, and Dagmar Estvold (all characters we have come to love). Candace Simar's characters stick in one's mind as real and life-like. Life on the frontier still is still fraught with hardship, but the stories intertwine and wind down to a satisfying and happy end. Great writing! (Thankfully, this ebook was not as riddled with formatting and typographical errors as Birdie was).

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sad there aren't more to read. From what I can decipher, Evan lived just across the lake from where I grew up in Tordenskjold township. We fished in Long Lake and our Camp Fire Girls troop took trips to Fort Juelson often. Mr. Dollner's store was at the present day site of Tordenskjold Lutheran Church just up the road. It was quite enjoyable to read something set in my neck of the woods instead of the big cities I've never been to.

[Krista Rolfzen Soukup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book in the series!! LOVED IT!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series!

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is simply an excellent book that completes an excellent series.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by Ms. Simar. Possibly my favorite of the series!

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad this is book four and I am done. It is getting kind of like formula writing.