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Heart of the Prairie #10
Where Willows Grow
Her heart aches for his return. . . but is the distance between them measured by more than miles? Anna Mae isn't sure her husband is being completely honest about his job with the Works Progress Administration. They're building a castle? In Kansas? Harley promised he'd be at the worksite only long enough to earn enough cash to keep their farm. But the money hasn't arrived, and Anna Mae fears Harley may be gone for good. Harley Phipps has never been a man in need of luxuries, but he wants to do right by his wife and two little girls. He was about to lose all he'd worked for if he didn't do somethingthere was no way he could pass up the government job, even if it meant leaving his family for a while. Anna Mae was awful mad when he sold the mules, packed his bag, and headed out. If only she'd send him a short note to let him know she and the girls are all right. . .
348 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
82 people are currently reading
612 people want to read
About the author
Kim Vogel Sawyer
79 books1,208 followersAward-winning, bestselling author Kim Vogel Sawyer told her kindergarten teacher that someday people would check out her book in the library. The little-girl dream came true in 2006 with the release of Waiting for Summer's Return. Kim's titles now exceed 1.5 million copies and are available in six different languages. A former elementary school teacher, she now enjoys a full-time writing and speaking ministry. Kim's passion lies in writing stories that point the reader to a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. When Kim isn't writing, you'll find her traveling with her retired military hubby, spoiling her granddarlings, petting the cats, quilting, or--as time allows--participating in community theater. You can learn more about Kim's writing and speaking ministries at her website, KimVogelSawyer.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
March 23, 2018
I haven't read a book by this author in quite sometime and it's so wonderful to revisit this author's writing. On the Kansas plains in the early 1900's it's a very hardscrabble life. People have very little and appreciate all they have. Luxuries, like shoes are very hard to come by and pinched toes from too small shoes are more than likely what your children will have. Rain, what is that but a distant memory. The crop is withering and dying in the fields and dust chokes and coats the throats of all.
When Anna Mae discovers she is pregnant with her third child she is afraid to tell her husband. It's not that he doesn't want another child but how will they afford it. When she tells him and they argue about it she feels terrible. Her husband says he has found work building a castle a few hours from home on the Kansas prairie. A castle on the prairie? Anna Mae isn't sure Harley is telling her the truth. Does he really have a job doing this or is this his way of escaping the stress of not being able to financially provide for his family? A neighbor man, Jack comes to the rescue and offers to do the heavy chores on the farm while Harley is gone. Are his intentions pure or does he really want more from Anna Mae since they had a past relationship when she was a teen? When she receives word her husband has been killed in an accident how will she go on and what about the mortgage on the farm that's due?
Reading this just reminded me of how much I enjoy reading this author's books and how realistic her books are.
Published April 1st 2007 by Bethany House Publishers
Owned book
When Anna Mae discovers she is pregnant with her third child she is afraid to tell her husband. It's not that he doesn't want another child but how will they afford it. When she tells him and they argue about it she feels terrible. Her husband says he has found work building a castle a few hours from home on the Kansas prairie. A castle on the prairie? Anna Mae isn't sure Harley is telling her the truth. Does he really have a job doing this or is this his way of escaping the stress of not being able to financially provide for his family? A neighbor man, Jack comes to the rescue and offers to do the heavy chores on the farm while Harley is gone. Are his intentions pure or does he really want more from Anna Mae since they had a past relationship when she was a teen? When she receives word her husband has been killed in an accident how will she go on and what about the mortgage on the farm that's due?
Reading this just reminded me of how much I enjoy reading this author's books and how realistic her books are.
Published April 1st 2007 by Bethany House Publishers
Owned book
January 9, 2020
This one took me awhile to read because the pace is more laid-back and an annoying character keeps coming around. But the more Harley and Anna Mae started dealing with their own issues, and as the creepy character transitioned into stalker/antagonist, the story heated up and I read more quickly. Wow, what a payoff! These characters grow so much over the course of the story and learn to connect with God in beautiful new ways. So much deep-diving into who the characters are, too...no flat ones in this book. Excellent story!
April 17, 2023
2.5🌟 This book was so frustrating to read. I literally wanted to yeet it across the room so many times. I didn't even like the main characters that much but I did love some side characters. So yah I probably wouldn't recommend this book😕
May 21, 2016
Read me
Well another charming story set on the Kansas plains in the early 1900's. A story full of love and sadness and in the end a happy ending. This is the 10th in the Prairie series and I enjoyed every book. Kim you rock. Thank you for enriching me with your accounts of your homeland.
Well another charming story set on the Kansas plains in the early 1900's. A story full of love and sadness and in the end a happy ending. This is the 10th in the Prairie series and I enjoyed every book. Kim you rock. Thank you for enriching me with your accounts of your homeland.
December 19, 2019
Such an amazing journey! It was quite heartbreaking at times, yet there was a string of hope woven throughout the plot. It was fun to cheer for the Phipps family even through the frustrating moments that tugged at my heartstrings. The characters dealt with real-life scenarios, and I particularly enjoyed how a certain few relied on Jesus Christ for strength to make it through their hard times. What a lovely example!
May 8, 2009
The book was interesting but too cheesy for my tastes. I'm Christian and enjoy Christian oriented books but this one was over the top cheesy. The story isn't too slow but doesn't have any heart stopping moments either. It was easy to guess where the general story line would lead.
April 1, 2019
Great book. I can usually get an idea of where a story is heading, but this one had me guessing!
This book had just enough of everything... relationship & life problems, romance, God's grace, friendships, & family. I really enjoyed reading this. ♡
This book had just enough of everything... relationship & life problems, romance, God's grace, friendships, & family. I really enjoyed reading this. ♡
February 7, 2017
Slow in the first three chapters or so, I almost gave up, but then it picked up and I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed this book. 4⭐️s
February 6, 2020
This is the story of Anna Mae, her husband Harley and their daughters. they live on Anna Mae’s family farm and during the drought of the 1930’s it isn’t providing enough to live. Harley takes a job with the WPA and promises to send money home. Due to a neighbor man who has a crush on Anna Mae she never receives the money and Harley doesn’t get the letters she writes. Anna Mae’s faith and Harley’s new faith get them through it.
October 13, 2019
I have to be honest . . . this book frustrated me for quite a while. It got to the point where I had to set it aside for a week and then come back to it. I didn't like Harley at the beginning, and I didn't really much like Anna Mae, either. It's hard to want to read a book where you're not invested in the well-being of the main characters.
But, after coming back to it after my break, I found that the characters were starting to grow on me (except for one notable exception, but they were the 'villain' of the novel, so what can you expect?), and as Harley and Anna Mae's story unfolded, I really enjoyed seeing how they changed and how they came to understand what they each needed to do to improve their marriage relationship and faith.
While I was certain for a good 50% of the book that this would be a 2.5 star read at best, I ended up enjoying the book enough to give it a solid 4 stars. To those of you who may be reading this book and not quite enjoying it . . . it does get way better near the end!🙂
But, after coming back to it after my break, I found that the characters were starting to grow on me (except for one notable exception, but they were the 'villain' of the novel, so what can you expect?), and as Harley and Anna Mae's story unfolded, I really enjoyed seeing how they changed and how they came to understand what they each needed to do to improve their marriage relationship and faith.
While I was certain for a good 50% of the book that this would be a 2.5 star read at best, I ended up enjoying the book enough to give it a solid 4 stars. To those of you who may be reading this book and not quite enjoying it . . . it does get way better near the end!🙂
December 7, 2016
I thought this book was great. A man leaving his prairie home to find a way to make money for his family during the great depression and in Kansas during the Dust bowl. Tryin to make money he leaves and finds work building a Castle. But as he is away his neighbor seeks to turn his wife away from him. He had wanted to marry her when they were young and he hopes that he can make her see that he is a much better husband.
April 30, 2011
This was my first Kim Vogel Sawyers book, and I fell in love with her lyrical yet concise prose. In few words, she's able to let me feel what her character is feeling right down to the texture of the woman's kitchen. Wonderful writer.
November 3, 2016
Another great story. I enjoyed it very much!
November 26, 2024
This is a sweet story set in Kansas during 1936, Kansas farming during the depressing years. The book is very Christian based. The main characters are Anna Mae Pipps, her husband Harley, two little girls, Dorothy five, Marjorie, one year old and Jack, Anna Mae's best friend from childhood. Anna Mae looked at Jack as a brother, her brother, who she adored had been killed during the War to End all Wars.
For a long time there had been no rain. Harley and Anna Mae loved the farm that had started in the 1830s by her grandfather. Harley had come from a family that was sharecroppers and was glad to have his own land though it was owned by Anna Mae.
Then Harley sold the two mares that was bought by her father, now deceased. She was very angry. Harley felt the family had been without for so long. He wants them to have some nice things. From the time Anna Mae first met Harley, her father had hired him on the farm, she knew he was the one for her. But now the two were fighting. Then Harley found that there was a job building a castle. He applied and was hired. He had to move away from the farm, go to work on the job which was hard and heavy. And so far away from home.
I got tired of how Jack was trying to get to Anna Mae to make her feel that she had made a mistake by marrying Harley. Jack had a nice car, had horses and took Anna Mae and the girls to a movie to see a Shirley Temple movie Anna Mae and the girls had never been to a movie. He was good to the kids, always felt she should be his, the girls should be his. Anna Mae was pregnant again.
This book is set back in time and well told about these days. Harley had never been around church, Jesus and God. Anna Mae tried to get him to read the Bible, to trust in God and Jesus. But now he was away on a job to pay bills and taxes.
Jack has tried too hard to break up this marriage. Will he win? Anna Mae had never loved him, felt when Jack was being good to her and the girls, doing things for them, well she was feeling guilty.
The story goes back and fourth between Anna Mae on the farm and Harley on his work site, how the two were dealing with the separation.
This is an old time book set back in time. I enjoyed the Christian read. Prayer is always needed.
For a long time there had been no rain. Harley and Anna Mae loved the farm that had started in the 1830s by her grandfather. Harley had come from a family that was sharecroppers and was glad to have his own land though it was owned by Anna Mae.
Then Harley sold the two mares that was bought by her father, now deceased. She was very angry. Harley felt the family had been without for so long. He wants them to have some nice things. From the time Anna Mae first met Harley, her father had hired him on the farm, she knew he was the one for her. But now the two were fighting. Then Harley found that there was a job building a castle. He applied and was hired. He had to move away from the farm, go to work on the job which was hard and heavy. And so far away from home.
I got tired of how Jack was trying to get to Anna Mae to make her feel that she had made a mistake by marrying Harley. Jack had a nice car, had horses and took Anna Mae and the girls to a movie to see a Shirley Temple movie Anna Mae and the girls had never been to a movie. He was good to the kids, always felt she should be his, the girls should be his. Anna Mae was pregnant again.
This book is set back in time and well told about these days. Harley had never been around church, Jesus and God. Anna Mae tried to get him to read the Bible, to trust in God and Jesus. But now he was away on a job to pay bills and taxes.
Jack has tried too hard to break up this marriage. Will he win? Anna Mae had never loved him, felt when Jack was being good to her and the girls, doing things for them, well she was feeling guilty.
The story goes back and fourth between Anna Mae on the farm and Harley on his work site, how the two were dealing with the separation.
This is an old time book set back in time. I enjoyed the Christian read. Prayer is always needed.
September 13, 2019
This was a really fast read. There was always something going on or changing to keep up interest in the story. It is a tough story at first because both Anna Mae and Harley are both being stubborn and prideful, making the gap between the two of them bigger. Neither is practicing good relationship habits. So when Harley goes to build the castle, it seems like the book is going to take a dark turn. However, I was very pleased to see how both Anna Mae and Harley clung to the commitment of their marriage and knew that even though they had argued with the other one, they knew they had married a good person. They way they held fast to their marriage even in hard times was an uplifting example. Then the story became more about Jack and everything he was doing to keep them apart. Additionally, it became about how Jack kept doing bad things and God kept using them for good. It was almost comical to see how, again and again, Jack's nefarious intentions were thwarted by someone who was chasing after God's plan. Harley's story with Dirk was an emotional and beautiful way to bring Harley to faith. I loved the way his giving example played into the story. The ending was sweet and hopeful. It seemed like there needed to be a little more fall out with Harley finding out all of the things that Jack had done, but I understand the idea of putting that behind them and being focused on moving forward with their family. There were just so many layers to all of the things that he had done, and when every layer wasn't addressed, it left the story feeling a little incomplete. Overall, this was a story of struggle and truth, and I liked it a lot more than I thought I would after reading the description.
January 28, 2017
Where Willows Grow
This book held my attention so much that I read through the night! I kept thinking,"well, just one more chapter". That's all it took and I was done reading the book quickly. The story line was true. Many families struggled through this drought. Many moved, separated or stayed out and truly struggled.
The characters feel like you knew them, making reading the book almost like a letter from family. Kim captured all the emotions from each character and was able to bring those feelings to life as you read. I've been impressed with Ms. Vogel Sawyer's work for a while now. I know that I'll always have a good story to read if her name is on the book! She actually, in my opinion, really stepped up for this book. (Of course I do feel this way about almost every book of hers).
If you enjoy an accurate and Christian books, Kim Vogel Sawyer is one of a handful of author's that you will come to respect and see all that she puts in each book she writes.
READ this book, you'll be taken on a journey that you won't forget. Her Christian values and story line will sooth your soul.
Excellent book.
This book held my attention so much that I read through the night! I kept thinking,"well, just one more chapter". That's all it took and I was done reading the book quickly. The story line was true. Many families struggled through this drought. Many moved, separated or stayed out and truly struggled.
The characters feel like you knew them, making reading the book almost like a letter from family. Kim captured all the emotions from each character and was able to bring those feelings to life as you read. I've been impressed with Ms. Vogel Sawyer's work for a while now. I know that I'll always have a good story to read if her name is on the book! She actually, in my opinion, really stepped up for this book. (Of course I do feel this way about almost every book of hers).
If you enjoy an accurate and Christian books, Kim Vogel Sawyer is one of a handful of author's that you will come to respect and see all that she puts in each book she writes.
READ this book, you'll be taken on a journey that you won't forget. Her Christian values and story line will sooth your soul.
Excellent book.
September 18, 2019
Realistic western type story taking place in the 1930’s. Anna Mae is a Christian woman married to an unbeliever. They are raising their two girls and one on the way in a farm during a two year drought. Harley finds a job miles away building a castle. He is accompanied by the Christian son of a family who hosted him in their home in his journey. Derk lives his faith and through tragedy and Christ example, facilitates Harley’s conversion in the midst of injury. Meanwhile Anna Mae experiences an accident that nearly causes the loss of her unborn child. The situation becomes serious because the young man that has had an obsession with her since childhood has been tasked with watching after Anna Mae and children. Interesting and realistic events that reminded me of God’s promises to care for His children and answer prayer.
February 25, 2018
Him Vogel Sawyer is one of the best authors around anywhere, she brings each of her books to life. As you read you are totally transported until it feels as if you are living it. You laugh,cry and worship along with the characters. She has a simple yet dramatic way of presenting the Lord that makes you hunger for more. I give all of her books a five star rating. Where Willows Grow was one of the most exceptional one of her books yet. Loved it!
I read them. She has a way of transporting you in the middle of it. I love the way she teaches faith and the love of Christ! She always leaves you hungry for more. Loved it!
I read them. She has a way of transporting you in the middle of it. I love the way she teaches faith and the love of Christ! She always leaves you hungry for more. Loved it!
November 25, 2020
Beautifully written! I wasn’t happy with our Anna Mae at the beginning of the book, and how she reacted to her husband leaving to attempt a last ditch effort to support them. But I was probably thinking personally, back to my husbands navy days, and how I then handled everything without him for months at a time. I would have never allowed him to leave on such a sour note.
But as always Kim is right on - with her writing. Eventually you discover there is just so much more to the story, and their issues as individuals. Love love love it!!!!!!!
But as always Kim is right on - with her writing. Eventually you discover there is just so much more to the story, and their issues as individuals. Love love love it!!!!!!!
June 14, 2018
Listened to this book through the RB Digital app from the library. Jack was such a weasel. Thankfully, his father spilled the beans on Jack hiding the letters and getting the money from the oil pump. Anna Mae takes off to go see where Harley is buried, only to find out that he is alive - just hurt in an accident on the job. Alls well that ends well - very tender moment when Harley and Anna Mae have their new baby at home and it's another girl!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2019
Characters so real
I read 2 other books of yours and decided to keep reading loved the person's in the settings of this story it was so hard to put down to do other work so I got up early in the morning so I could get my work done. Loved how Jack was my favorite until the letters he held back I was really liking him best . What a great. Story for any age group . God Bless you
I read 2 other books of yours and decided to keep reading loved the person's in the settings of this story it was so hard to put down to do other work so I got up early in the morning so I could get my work done. Loved how Jack was my favorite until the letters he held back I was really liking him best . What a great. Story for any age group . God Bless you
February 1, 2025
I know this is an older book, but I’ve just discovered this author, Kim Vogel Sawyer and I love her writing. ( so much so that I ordered all 10 books in this series for our church library from Thrift Books) This book has great characters and I really connected with the wife and mother. At one point in the book I actually gasped out loud! I never do that. Lol
She loved her girls and they were so smart! I highly recommend this author to you.
She loved her girls and they were so smart! I highly recommend this author to you.
November 25, 2017
It was neat to read about Reno county in the 1930's. Especially with a main character with the name Anna Mae, like my great aunt who was living in Reno co on our family farm.....she was a little girl t the time though.
December 12, 2019
Really enjoyed this book!!
I loved this book and couldn't put it down!! The life of these characters was difficult and you wanted to cry with them. so easy to feel the lo e the author put into this story!
I loved this book and couldn't put it down!! The life of these characters was difficult and you wanted to cry with them. so easy to feel the lo e the author put into this story!
March 23, 2020
Was a slow read for me. Not a fan of one particular character so it made getting through some of the chapters more of a chore than I’d have liked. Loved the authors way of writing though. May look for another book in hopes of enjoying it a bit more.
January 19, 2023
A very good, enjoyable book. One that captures your attention from the beginning. The themes of family and faith were woven throughout the story. The characters were well developed, and the main characters flawed, but likeable.
November 16, 2023
This is another beautiful book from an amazing storyteller! Kim Vogel Sawyer always offers an intriguing storyline that keeps me turning pages to the end and leaves me feeling encouraged in my faith. I highly recommend!
April 5, 2024
I LOVED this book. It takes place in the 1930's dustbowl time frame. A young couple struggles to keep their farm, so the husband goes off to get a job sponsored by the government. It is a story of struggles, perseverance and God's love. A wonderful book.
July 2, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. It had a good ending, but I really didn't know which way it was going to go.
July 22, 2017
Wonderful amd enriching!
I loved to see how Harley was changed by Gods beautiful grace! Kim Vogul sawyer is blessed by God in her sharing of such a wonderful story.
I loved to see how Harley was changed by Gods beautiful grace! Kim Vogul sawyer is blessed by God in her sharing of such a wonderful story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews