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Singing River #4
The Courtship
Lanie Freeman and her siblings have survived the Great Depression without their father. They are convinced that he has been unjustly imprisoned. Lanie’s strong-willed sister, Maeva, runs away to Los Angeles to find the one woman in a city of thousands who can prove their father’s innocence. Nothing Lanie says can deter Maeva from her mission. Even as her family seems to be unraveling, Lanie’s dream of writing becomes a reality. Lanie is on the verge of becoming a published author. Amid the excitement, she still feels a deep longing for something more, a yearning for love, a home, and a family of her own. When two suitors propose, it does nothing to quiet her heart. Lanie resigns herself to leave Maeva’s safety and her father’s future in God’s hands. But can she trust God to show her the right man and the right plan for her life?
304 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2007
62 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
Gilbert Morris
537 books562 followersalso published under the name Gilbert L. Morris
Gilbert Morris was one of today's best-known Christian novelists. He lived in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with his wife, Johnnie. He is the father to Lynn Morris and Alan Morris
Series:
* Adventures of Kerrigan Kids
* American Century
* Appomattox Saga
* Barney Buck
* Bonnets and Bugles
* Cheney Duvall, M.D. (with Lynn Morris)
* Cheney and Shiloh: The Inheritance (with Lynn Morris)
* Chronicles of the Golden Frontier
* The Creole (with Lynn Morris)
* Danielle Ross Mystery
* Daystar Voyages
* Dixie Morris Animal Adventures
* Far Fields (with Robert Funderburk)
* House of Winslow
* Jacques and Cleo: Cat Detectives
* Katy Steele Adventures (with Alan Morris)
* Lady Trent Mystery
* Liberty Bell
* Lions of Judah
* Lone Star Legacy
* Omega (with Lynn Morris and Alan Morris)
* The Price of Liberty (with Robert Funderburk)
* Reno Western Saga
* Seven Sleepers
* Seven Sleepers: The Lost Chronicles
* Singing River
* Spirit of Appalachia (with Aaron McCarver)
* Too Smart Jones
*
Gilbert Morris was one of today's best-known Christian novelists. He lived in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with his wife, Johnnie. He is the father to Lynn Morris and Alan Morris
Series:
* Adventures of Kerrigan Kids
* American Century
* Appomattox Saga
* Barney Buck
* Bonnets and Bugles
* Cheney Duvall, M.D. (with Lynn Morris)
* Cheney and Shiloh: The Inheritance (with Lynn Morris)
* Chronicles of the Golden Frontier
* The Creole (with Lynn Morris)
* Danielle Ross Mystery
* Daystar Voyages
* Dixie Morris Animal Adventures
* Far Fields (with Robert Funderburk)
* House of Winslow
* Jacques and Cleo: Cat Detectives
* Katy Steele Adventures (with Alan Morris)
* Lady Trent Mystery
* Liberty Bell
* Lions of Judah
* Lone Star Legacy
* Omega (with Lynn Morris and Alan Morris)
* The Price of Liberty (with Robert Funderburk)
* Reno Western Saga
* Seven Sleepers
* Seven Sleepers: The Lost Chronicles
* Singing River
* Spirit of Appalachia (with Aaron McCarver)
* Too Smart Jones
*
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
September 18, 2009
Book #4, the last in Gilbert Morris's Singing River Series. This was the most beautiful saga of a family I've ever read. Morris's writing is simply beautiful and pulls you in from the beginning.
Lanie Freeman may be only eighteen-years-old but she's an immensely faithful, courageous and strong young woman. Losing her mother at age 14 and her father to prison, Lanie has had to grow up quickly for she is all that is left to raise her young brothers and sisters.
Struggling for money, cooking, laundry, keeping house, attending church and trying to raise the children with a faithful heart, Lanie is alone with no one but her writing which means so much to her. She finally has her chance to be a published author with Brent Hayden's help.
Maeva, her seventeen-year-old sister decides to up and leave their family farm in Fairhope and head to Los Angeles California with a neighbour boy named Logan Satterfield. Together they are determined to find the one person who could help get their father out of prison.
What happens in this end to the saga of the Freeman family is touching, heartrending and will leave you with a sense of peace and awe at this amazingly brave and close-knit family. I only wish there more four more novels in this saga!
From back cover:
"Lanie Freeman and her siblings have survived the height of the Great Depression on their own, with their father gone. They are convinced that he has been unjustly imprisoned but are powerless to exonerate him.
Taking matters into her own hands, Lanie's strong-willed sister, Maeva, runs away to Los Angeles to find the one woman in a city of thousands who can prove their father's innocence. Not even Lanie's desperate pleas can deter Maeva from her headstrong and potentially dangerous mission.
Yet as her family seems to be unraveling, Lanie's dream of writing becomes a reality. She is on the verge of becoming a published author with novelist Brent Hayden's help. Amid the excitement, she still feels a deep longing for something more, a yearning for love, a home, and a family of her own. When two local suitors propose, it does nothing to quiet her heart; it only stirs up confusion. There is only one man she has ever loved, and he doesn't love her...
Lanie resigns herself to leave Maeva's safety and her father's future in God's hand. But can she trust God to show her the right man and the right plan for her life?"
Lanie Freeman may be only eighteen-years-old but she's an immensely faithful, courageous and strong young woman. Losing her mother at age 14 and her father to prison, Lanie has had to grow up quickly for she is all that is left to raise her young brothers and sisters.
Struggling for money, cooking, laundry, keeping house, attending church and trying to raise the children with a faithful heart, Lanie is alone with no one but her writing which means so much to her. She finally has her chance to be a published author with Brent Hayden's help.
Maeva, her seventeen-year-old sister decides to up and leave their family farm in Fairhope and head to Los Angeles California with a neighbour boy named Logan Satterfield. Together they are determined to find the one person who could help get their father out of prison.
What happens in this end to the saga of the Freeman family is touching, heartrending and will leave you with a sense of peace and awe at this amazingly brave and close-knit family. I only wish there more four more novels in this saga!
From back cover:
"Lanie Freeman and her siblings have survived the height of the Great Depression on their own, with their father gone. They are convinced that he has been unjustly imprisoned but are powerless to exonerate him.
Taking matters into her own hands, Lanie's strong-willed sister, Maeva, runs away to Los Angeles to find the one woman in a city of thousands who can prove their father's innocence. Not even Lanie's desperate pleas can deter Maeva from her headstrong and potentially dangerous mission.
Yet as her family seems to be unraveling, Lanie's dream of writing becomes a reality. She is on the verge of becoming a published author with novelist Brent Hayden's help. Amid the excitement, she still feels a deep longing for something more, a yearning for love, a home, and a family of her own. When two local suitors propose, it does nothing to quiet her heart; it only stirs up confusion. There is only one man she has ever loved, and he doesn't love her...
Lanie resigns herself to leave Maeva's safety and her father's future in God's hand. But can she trust God to show her the right man and the right plan for her life?"
July 2, 2017
I didn't realize this book was part of a series before I started reading but I am not sure if would have made much of a difference. This book had an incredibly predictable storyline. I was not even 50 pages into the book and I predicted exactly how it was going to end.
I would not classify myself as a religious person, but I do enjoy reading books from all perspectives so I thought I would give this a chance. This may be because I am not religious, but I found it insulting that the story line assumed that as long as you accepted God and prayed, your life would be perfect and full of miracles. To me, it implies that anyone who doesn't regular experience miracles in hard situations just isn't praying hard enough and that is unfortunate.
I would not classify myself as a religious person, but I do enjoy reading books from all perspectives so I thought I would give this a chance. This may be because I am not religious, but I found it insulting that the story line assumed that as long as you accepted God and prayed, your life would be perfect and full of miracles. To me, it implies that anyone who doesn't regular experience miracles in hard situations just isn't praying hard enough and that is unfortunate.
April 9, 2021
The entire series was excellent. I was "slow" to get interested the the first book in the series, but was "hooked" by mid-second and thereafter. Will probably go back and listen to the entire series again when I'm having trouble finding something interesting.
December 18, 2009
Lanie finally finds her man, Owen. I loved the plot and the writing was very good. Definitally one of my fav. books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2022
Lovely end to this family saga. Sorry to see the end of these characters.
May 19, 2019
End of the series
Well, the fourth book in the Singing River series brings all the loose ends together. Forrest finds a bride, all the kids seem to be finding their niche. Lanie loses two suitors but winds up with the one she's loved since she was 14. Only one thing was left hanging and that was the secrets Annie told Kanie before she died. This series was wonderful and I highly recommend it. Must be read in proper sequence, though. I wish Mr. Morris was still alive to tell me Annie's secret!
Well, the fourth book in the Singing River series brings all the loose ends together. Forrest finds a bride, all the kids seem to be finding their niche. Lanie loses two suitors but winds up with the one she's loved since she was 14. Only one thing was left hanging and that was the secrets Annie told Kanie before she died. This series was wonderful and I highly recommend it. Must be read in proper sequence, though. I wish Mr. Morris was still alive to tell me Annie's secret!
October 26, 2017
The last book in the Singing River series was as wonderful as the first book! It was a sweet ending to the series. I am so glad I stumbled across these books of a sweet southern family in Arkansas! It was a wonderful summer read or in my case listen. I highly recommend the audiobook. The narrator is wonderful and brings the books to life! My life is forever changed as I have fallen in love with the Freeman family!
October 1, 2019
Awful. Clearly I did not do enough research before listening to this audio book. I feel a bit ripped off by the high rating. This felt like it was written for young adults. Bad dialogue and bad accents. Sorry I only made it to chapter 3.
July 9, 2022
A lovely and fitting ending to the series. I‘m not spoiling, I hope, when I say that all the loose ends are very nicely tied up.
All in all this was an entertaining and wholesome read with good characters and values.
All in all this was an entertaining and wholesome read with good characters and values.
September 25, 2019
The whole series is simple reading. Good clean story lines. With a touch of Christian faith and historical fiction.
May 27, 2020
I am sad to see this series end. I loved the characters, the time period and the setting.
April 19, 2022
Enjoyed this series
November 24, 2022
I loved this book and the ending was very satisfying. I love how Lanie struggled but trusted God through it all. It was a lovely story and the love this family has for each other is inspiring.
January 16, 2025
I absolutely love this book!!
October 3, 2025
This series was so good I literally could not put them down definitely recommend reading!!!!
February 16, 2017
My first Gilbert Morris book was the first in this series and I enjoyed the series so much, I couldn't put them down. This final book was my favorite with some hilarious dialogue especially enjoyable in audible form with accents and all. I appreciated all of the details of family life in times of the Depression which made me reflect often on stories told me by my grandmother and great aunts, sewing their own dresses, taking care of siblings, baking, farm chores, trying to stretch resources, and all of the humor and fun to be had despite the struggles. Very enjoyable series with Biblical principles.
July 28, 2011
This was the 4th book in a series;I did not read the first 3 - but you can pick this up with no problem and know the story and read the book understanding what has happened in the last 3 books. It was a predictable story - though it is set in the 1930/1940's - there is very little historical element to it other than mentioning the depression here and there - not what I thought it would be from reading the back cover.
January 7, 2016
Loved the series - ended anticlimactic though. Living through the Depression would definitely have been a different way of life - not the nice luxuries we have in our time. But there was a simple way that they had that made them all draw together to really depend on one another. Good story of how family stuck together and really cared for one another. Have faith and good things always happen - even if you have to go through a rough patch first.
May 29, 2008
A great book. Gilbert Morris is a great Christian author of the whole homeplace series. I loved all four books. I'm not sure that there will be another book after this, it's sad that all good things must come to an end.
January 6, 2009
I liked it but there were too many inconsistencies for my liking. The author also used a storyline in this book that he used in one of his other books (I believe in the House of Winslow series). I didn't like that so much because it felt like the other book all over again.
Want to read
June 24, 2008Singing River series / book four
May 22, 2012
An excellent end to the Singing River series! Loved all the author's books and this is one was even better~ A must read!
August 28, 2012
Wonderful!
May 7, 2013
It was okay...
August 19, 2013
Not as good as some of Morris' other books. I do not like the poetry mixed in and also prefer more history and less protracted and contrived delayed romance.
January 28, 2014
crisis for father & 3 suitors from which to choose
December 22, 2014
I have to admit, I did not like who Lanie ultimately ended up with. :)
March 3, 2019
Felt the book was cliché. Many of Lanie's actions in this book did not seem, to me, to be consistent with her actions in the other books.
August 16, 2015
Loved the book and the series. Wish Gilbert Morris would have added one more telling us what happened to everyone else. Greedy reader that I am wants more.
September 8, 2015
I great ending to the series. I think I enjoyed this one the best.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews