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Harvey Girls Romance #1
Desert Dreams
What if your parents told you that you needed to either marry a man of their choice or leave home and make your own way?
Lizzy grew up on a farm in Kansas as the oldest child of eight children. She spent her days caring for her siblings and working on the farm. One hot summer day, her parents gave her an ultimatum; marry a man her father chose for her or move out.
Not wanting to marry a man who is almost as old as her father and knowing she was just another mouth to feed, she decides to apply for the position to be a waitress with the Fred Harvey Company, who owned many fine eating establishments along railroad lines, including the Santa Fe Railroads. Three years later, Lizzy is still working as a Harvey Girl and enjoying her new life and her job at the El Tovar Hotel near the Grand Canyon.
Then her life is about to drastically change once again when she meets widower Nicholas Montgomery and his two young sons.
Will they both be able to put their pasts aside and admit their love for each other?
If you like Sweet Historical Western Romances, you’ll love this series!
This book absolutely transported me away. J. Forrest
This was an excellent story that was well written. Gewe
Zoe Matthews tells fun, clean stories about people in difficult circumstances who find happily ever afters. Kindle Customer
Lizzy grew up on a farm in Kansas as the oldest child of eight children. She spent her days caring for her siblings and working on the farm. One hot summer day, her parents gave her an ultimatum; marry a man her father chose for her or move out.
Not wanting to marry a man who is almost as old as her father and knowing she was just another mouth to feed, she decides to apply for the position to be a waitress with the Fred Harvey Company, who owned many fine eating establishments along railroad lines, including the Santa Fe Railroads. Three years later, Lizzy is still working as a Harvey Girl and enjoying her new life and her job at the El Tovar Hotel near the Grand Canyon.
Then her life is about to drastically change once again when she meets widower Nicholas Montgomery and his two young sons.
Will they both be able to put their pasts aside and admit their love for each other?
If you like Sweet Historical Western Romances, you’ll love this series!
This book absolutely transported me away. J. Forrest
This was an excellent story that was well written. Gewe
Zoe Matthews tells fun, clean stories about people in difficult circumstances who find happily ever afters. Kindle Customer
215 pages, ebook
Published August 22, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
avoid-like-the-plague
April 10, 2023When stock photography bites you in the ass. This is not Alice Coldbreath bride for the prizefighter.
August 29, 2016
Another fun story
Zoe Matthews tells fun, clean stories about people in difficult circumstances who find happily ever afters. Her stories are set in historical settings and have a good dollop of interesting little known historical facts. Very glad to have them in my library.
Zoe Matthews tells fun, clean stories about people in difficult circumstances who find happily ever afters. Her stories are set in historical settings and have a good dollop of interesting little known historical facts. Very glad to have them in my library.
October 23, 2016
Desert Dreams is the story of a girl who runs away from home to interview for a Harvey Girl position rather than marry a man old enough to be her father as her parents want! I always enjoy reading about the Harvey Girls but I especially like Lizzy in this book. Zoe Matthews has written Lizzy to be a very responsible young lady who sends most of her income home to her family even though she ran away. Lizzy even takes on an extra job as a nanny to two motherless boys on her only day off. The ending is very sweet! I received an advance ebook of Desert Dreams from the author. This is my honest opinion of the book.
December 31, 2017
Interesting read.
The the love story was a bit quick, and one part of the plot wasn’t really resolved (but there are more books in the series, so... I’ll assume it’s addressed at some point), but there was a lot of good to the book. The Harvey Girl job sounded like a great job for a woman for the time period, and I loved hearing about the different places she worked.
4 stars.
The the love story was a bit quick, and one part of the plot wasn’t really resolved (but there are more books in the series, so... I’ll assume it’s addressed at some point), but there was a lot of good to the book. The Harvey Girl job sounded like a great job for a woman for the time period, and I loved hearing about the different places she worked.
4 stars.
December 2, 2017
Kindle-Free-Freebooksy. Story about the Harvey Girls,a fun romance
March 18, 2023
A fairly formulaic romance story. The eldest of 8 children on a poverty stricken farm runs away to become a Harvey Girl when her father gives her an ultimatum: marry a man only slightly younger than her father, or make her own way in the world.
The book details her journey, the kindness of a woman in Kansas City who helps her be presentable for her interview, and her travels with the Harvey company, as well as an offer to take on a job on her day off that will give her the money to send home to help pay for medication to treat her father's illness and give her sister a nice wedding. It details her job and speaks of her growing fondness for a regular customer in the Harvey restaurants.
The book is written at a fairly basic level of English amd would be suitable for more advanced students learning English as a 2nd language, who were interested in a romance with a historical context. It is a very easy read, and a pleasant story.
The book details her journey, the kindness of a woman in Kansas City who helps her be presentable for her interview, and her travels with the Harvey company, as well as an offer to take on a job on her day off that will give her the money to send home to help pay for medication to treat her father's illness and give her sister a nice wedding. It details her job and speaks of her growing fondness for a regular customer in the Harvey restaurants.
The book is written at a fairly basic level of English amd would be suitable for more advanced students learning English as a 2nd language, who were interested in a romance with a historical context. It is a very easy read, and a pleasant story.
April 17, 2023
One of the Harvey girls finds love
To keep from marrying a much older man with children nearly her age Lizzie leaves home to pursue a career as a Harvey Girl. After being sent to the Harvey House near the Grand Canyon she meets Nicholas a widower with two young sons.
Being a Harvey Girl has always seemed to be romantic. It was a very demanding job but they got to travel and meet new people.
Lizzie is adventurous and out going and I appreciated the way she was so generous to her family. She is outgoing and loving and the boys soon fell in love with her. Nicholas has a large family. Being the oldest he bears most of the responsibility for the ranch. He is honest hardworking and fair.
I loved Lizzie and Nicholas's story. They had different backgrounds and each bore their family loyalty in their own way. I encourage you to read this and learn about the Harvey Girls and what life was like at the turn of the century.
To keep from marrying a much older man with children nearly her age Lizzie leaves home to pursue a career as a Harvey Girl. After being sent to the Harvey House near the Grand Canyon she meets Nicholas a widower with two young sons.
Being a Harvey Girl has always seemed to be romantic. It was a very demanding job but they got to travel and meet new people.
Lizzie is adventurous and out going and I appreciated the way she was so generous to her family. She is outgoing and loving and the boys soon fell in love with her. Nicholas has a large family. Being the oldest he bears most of the responsibility for the ranch. He is honest hardworking and fair.
I loved Lizzie and Nicholas's story. They had different backgrounds and each bore their family loyalty in their own way. I encourage you to read this and learn about the Harvey Girls and what life was like at the turn of the century.
September 18, 2024
Finally. I found a Harvey girls book. Very interesting. Most girls were needing jobs. There were few in towns that trains went West. But a young lady ran from home after her father promised her to a widower, almost her dad’s age who had children from a previous marriage. She was the eldest girl and now 18. She walked 10 miles to catch a train. Kindness can be from anyone with caring eyes. She met a lady who took her to her (mansion) which was a very nice large home with electricity and indoor plumbing. There she cleaned up, ate a hot meal and when the nice lady had a chance, she slipped money into her pockets. From there she became a Harvey girl. But the story gets better and better as she is the best, fastest, and caring worked. Romance, pay raises and other opportunities lay ahead. Of this story. I loved every part
July 28, 2024
Lizzy grew up poor in a large family who runs a farm. When she's 18 her parents come to her and tell her they have decided that the local baker was to be her husband she decides to take matters in her own hands and become a Harvey girl working for the restaurantsa long the railways. Lizzy loves her job and is good at it which earns her a spot at the most prized restaurant El Tovar in Arizona where she meets a widowed father Nicholas Montgomery. When Nicolas asks her to be a nanny to the two boys she decides to use her only day off to do that so she can continue to send more money home for her family. This was a sweet, clean historical read and was interesting to learn about the Harvey restaurants along the railways of the West.
May 25, 2023
Great romance
This seemed so short, but I think it is just so good that I didn't stop reading it. I loved reading the info on The Harvey Girls. I'd never heard of them before, so their history was very intriguing. I love the little boys. Children like Glen & George give romance stories more depth into the character of the parents & nannies etc. I especially loved reading a clean romance. As a Christian I want to read only clean romances. These 2 authors show that good romances don't have to contain porn in order to sell. Thank ya'll Zoe & Evelyn with providing such a wonderful & clean story. I look forward to reading more of your books.
This seemed so short, but I think it is just so good that I didn't stop reading it. I loved reading the info on The Harvey Girls. I'd never heard of them before, so their history was very intriguing. I love the little boys. Children like Glen & George give romance stories more depth into the character of the parents & nannies etc. I especially loved reading a clean romance. As a Christian I want to read only clean romances. These 2 authors show that good romances don't have to contain porn in order to sell. Thank ya'll Zoe & Evelyn with providing such a wonderful & clean story. I look forward to reading more of your books.
March 17, 2023
Not quite as good
I absolutely love the Harvey girls books. They are always clean and interesting and have challenges that need to be overcome. This one does too, but somehow is less engaging than others I've read. Loved how the lady helped her get to the interview. Loved how good she is at her work, but didn't quite 'connect' with her and the other main characters. Could just be me? Still happy to read more Harvey girls stories. Always good, perhaps some are just deeper or better than others?
I absolutely love the Harvey girls books. They are always clean and interesting and have challenges that need to be overcome. This one does too, but somehow is less engaging than others I've read. Loved how the lady helped her get to the interview. Loved how good she is at her work, but didn't quite 'connect' with her and the other main characters. Could just be me? Still happy to read more Harvey girls stories. Always good, perhaps some are just deeper or better than others?
March 21, 2023
Wonderful!
I loved the romance novel. I have read many books by
Zoe Matthews and this is the first with Evelyn Michaels. It was one of those books you could not put down. A very descriptive story of how the past must have been with a love story and happy ending. I would highly recommend.
I loved the romance novel. I have read many books by
Zoe Matthews and this is the first with Evelyn Michaels. It was one of those books you could not put down. A very descriptive story of how the past must have been with a love story and happy ending. I would highly recommend.
May 20, 2017
Great
I really love the western romances. This is the first one I've read about the Harvey girls. I never knew how they were started until this book. Very interesting and entertaining
I really love the western romances. This is the first one I've read about the Harvey girls. I never knew how they were started until this book. Very interesting and entertaining
June 18, 2018
Very nice story about thr Harvey girls
Well written, I liked the characters and the plot about the Harvey Girls. Lizzie is a very likeable person. The family are in Arizona were in interesting.
Well written, I liked the characters and the plot about the Harvey Girls. Lizzie is a very likeable person. The family are in Arizona were in interesting.
July 16, 2018
Good Read
A “sweet” romance. The mention of the El Tovar Resort at the Grand Canyon is what got my interest. I know of this place, in fact enjoyed having lunch at the very restaurant there. Other than the familiar setting, I’m not a fan of “sweet.” A good read though.
A “sweet” romance. The mention of the El Tovar Resort at the Grand Canyon is what got my interest. I know of this place, in fact enjoyed having lunch at the very restaurant there. Other than the familiar setting, I’m not a fan of “sweet.” A good read though.
March 13, 2023
Enjoyable peek into the life of the Gibson Girls. Even though they worked very hard it was a respectable job and they were paid a decent wage. A well written story with endearing characters. I felt that part of the story was left hanging though.
March 13, 2023
Really enjoyed this book
Really a real restaurant and history tells it all.
She has to support herself a and continued to help her family afters she left!
Two precious sons and one handsome father and she's blown away
Really a real restaurant and history tells it all.
She has to support herself a and continued to help her family afters she left!
Two precious sons and one handsome father and she's blown away
March 13, 2023
Running into an adventure
This was a very good historical western romance that started out as a young woman running away from home. What an adventure she ending up having. A nice clean read you'll enjoy.
This was a very good historical western romance that started out as a young woman running away from home. What an adventure she ending up having. A nice clean read you'll enjoy.
April 2, 2023
She ran from arranged marriage to a old man
I liked the way her life prepared her in the story for her happly ever after . I also liked the way it showed that he really loved her in the end.
I liked the way her life prepared her in the story for her happly ever after . I also liked the way it showed that he really loved her in the end.
August 29, 2023
Gotta love those Harvey Girl stories.
Thank you so much Zoe Matthews for Lizzy's story! I truly enjoy reading about these brave and marvelous women who were so important to the fabric of western culture.
Thank you so much Zoe Matthews for Lizzy's story! I truly enjoy reading about these brave and marvelous women who were so important to the fabric of western culture.
September 11, 2023
Quite the Harvey Girl
Taking a chance, leaving home when it seemed necessary! Lizzy works hard to be her best in her employment and new home. You will find yourself loving Lizzy and cheering for her happiness.
Taking a chance, leaving home when it seemed necessary! Lizzy works hard to be her best in her employment and new home. You will find yourself loving Lizzy and cheering for her happiness.
January 12, 2018
This was a nice clean story. Well written and interesting.
October 6, 2020
Zoe never disappoints. Another of her sweet, engaging novels. Enough drama to keep you turning the pages and a happy ending.
October 2, 2021
I don’t give many books 5 stars, but, this was a sweet, clean, believable love story!
March 14, 2023
Good book
I really enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I found a new author to read .
I really enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I found a new author to read .
March 14, 2023
Sweet romantic story.
This is an eventful story! Full of adventure and believable characters that are easy to love. Clean romance story. Appropriate for anyone!
This is an eventful story! Full of adventure and believable characters that are easy to love. Clean romance story. Appropriate for anyone!
March 18, 2023
Good read. Clean read.
Good read. Clean read. Enjoyed story. Always love a good ending. What to follow what they will do about the ranch neighbor's
Good read. Clean read. Enjoyed story. Always love a good ending. What to follow what they will do about the ranch neighbor's
June 17, 2023
sweet story!
I liked hearing about the Harvey girls love historical fiction. Author has an easy way of pulling you into her characters
I liked hearing about the Harvey girls love historical fiction. Author has an easy way of pulling you into her characters
October 4, 2025
Good Story
I always enjoy stories about the Harvey Houses. Fred Harvey was definitely a person ahead of his time with the restaurants that he built.
I always enjoy stories about the Harvey Houses. Fred Harvey was definitely a person ahead of his time with the restaurants that he built.
March 18, 2017
Set in the early 1900's, this story took place in Arizona, when the first resort was built at the Grand Canyon. It was also one of the hotels where girls were employed as "Harvey Girls", who worked as very professional hosts and waitresses. Founded by Fred Harvey, he built hotels along the railroads between Kansas and Arizona. I really enjoyed reading this historical fiction, interesting information of that era.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews