Orphan Train Sweetheart

by Mollie Campbell

Finding a Frontier Family

Spring Hill is the orphan train's last stop--a final chance for Simon McKay to find homes for his young charges. When his fellow placing agent quits, Simon enlists help from the frontier town's pretty schoolteacher. Cecilia Holbrook is as intriguing as she is independent, yet Simon's devotion to his mission will soon call him back to New York.

Long overshadowed by her flirtatious sister, Cecilia is done with waiting for a man to choose her. She's already fighting the school board to keep her position. Now she's struggling not to lose her heart to Simon. Could their shared concern for the children show them how to follow a new dream, together?

Genres: Romance, Love Inspired, Love Inspired Historical

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published June 5, 2018

Reviews

[Valri Western · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book delightful! The idea of the orphan train has always intrigued me and learning more about it was very interesting, even though this was a work of fiction. I enjoyed the characters and especially the angst of both of them! Simon (who is the orphan agent from New York), an orphan himself, feels he's been called to help as many orphans as possible to find new homes with good families. He is conflicted because he comes to Spring Hill, Nebraska and for once in his life, finds a community he loves and a woman he has feelings for but he doesn't feel he can stay because he is driven to help more orphans. Cecilia, the town schoolteacher, doesn't really enjoy teaching, but really, what else can she do? She's always lived in the shadow of her younger sister who seems to gather men like bees to honey! Cecilia is very independent yet loves helping Simon with the children. I loved seeing the two of them together, and especially all the misunderstandings between the two. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book! I would recommend it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but it was not required that I write a review. These opinions are my own!

[Monae Doyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a historical book. I wasn’t all that into the story. It was nice.

This story begins in a place called Spring Hill. Spring Hill is the orphan train’s last stop…..a final chance for Simon McKay to find homes for his young charged. His fellow placing agent quits. Simon enlists help from the frontier town’s pretty schoolteacher Cecilia Holbrook. Cecilia Holbrook is independent and intriguing.

Simon’s devotion to his mission will soon call him back to New York. Cecilia is done waiting for a man to choose her. She’s already fighting the school board to keep her position. She is struggling not to lose her heart to Simon. Their shared concern for the children has them sharing a new dream together. There is a lot of religion in this story that made me lose interest in enjoying the book.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Orphan Train Sweetheart by Mollie Campbell. Simon McKay brings orphan children to Spring Hill. When Simon arrived to town Cecilia Holbrook the school teacher was there to help with the children. The children stayed at the hotel until they could get them all together for couples to see the children and which ones they want to adopt. All the children were placed. A single man took one of the older boys and has the boy stealing things for him. The boy is afraid to day anything to Simon McKay. The man kidnaps Cecilia, the boys sees this and then tells Simon. The man is arrested and the boy is put into a good home. Cecilia and Simon have feeling for each other. A good historical read. Takes place in the year 1860.

[Kimber Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believable characters, no clones, great world-building, no children as cute luggage (I hate that!) A great read for when you're feeling the winter blues. Wish I'd had time for a full review.

[Tara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got a little under half way and couldn’t finish. I couldn’t get into the book. If the characters just talked to each other and stopped whinny about their feelings and emotions, the book would be way shorter.

[Kait Wall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read, despite the ongoing back and forth love story of the main characters, bound to induce eye rolls from the reader. If you love predictable sappy hallmark romance, this is the book for you. For myself, it became slightly exhausting (how many times can a character lose tension in their shoulders in one book??), but the orphan train storyline kept the book palatable.