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A Town Called Hope
Prairie Christmas
Another great historical Christmas anthology from HeartQuest featuring Catherine Palmer, Elizabeth White, and Peggy Stoks. Each new story by these favorite authors celebrates faith, love, and the joy of Christmas. Each story is followed by a letter from the author and a favorite Christmas recipe. Readers of the Town Called Hope series will love Palmer's novella "A Rose for Lucy."
The Christmas Bridem by Catherine Palmer
Reforming Seneca Jones by Elizabeth White
Wishful Thinking by Peggy Stoks
The Christmas Bridem by Catherine Palmer
Reforming Seneca Jones by Elizabeth White
Wishful Thinking by Peggy Stoks
285 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2000
4 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Palmer
83 books287 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Catherine Palmer lives in Atlanta with her husband, Tim, where they serve as missionaries in a refugee community. They have two grown sons. Cathy is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University and holds a master's degree in English from Baylor University. Her first book was published in 1988. Since then she has published over 50 novels, many of them national best sellers. Catherine has won numerous awards for her writing, including the Christy Award, the highest honor in Christian fiction. In 2004, she was given the Career Achievement Award for Inspirational Romance by "Romantic Times" magazine. More than 2 million copies of Catherine's novels are currently in print. The Author's Work With her compelling characters and strong message of Christian faith, Catherine is known for writing fiction that "touches the hearts and souls of readers." Her many collections include A Town Called Hope, Treasures of the Heart, Finders Keepers, English Ivy, and the Miss Pickworth series. Catherine also recently coauthored the Four Seasons fiction series with Gary Chapman, the "New York Times" best-selling author of "The Five Love Languages."
Catherine Palmer lives in Atlanta with her husband, Tim, where they serve as missionaries in a refugee community. They have two grown sons. Cathy is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University and holds a master's degree in English from Baylor University. Her first book was published in 1988. Since then she has published over 50 novels, many of them national best sellers. Catherine has won numerous awards for her writing, including the Christy Award, the highest honor in Christian fiction. In 2004, she was given the Career Achievement Award for Inspirational Romance by "Romantic Times" magazine. More than 2 million copies of Catherine's novels are currently in print. The Author's Work With her compelling characters and strong message of Christian faith, Catherine is known for writing fiction that "touches the hearts and souls of readers." Her many collections include A Town Called Hope, Treasures of the Heart, Finders Keepers, English Ivy, and the Miss Pickworth series. Catherine also recently coauthored the Four Seasons fiction series with Gary Chapman, the "New York Times" best-selling author of "The Five Love Languages."
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 15, 2019
Three enjoyable Christmas novellas. I especially liked the last one as it was an older couple: a spinster and a widower. Quick, easy Christmas read.
November 26, 2023
Trying to get into the holiday spirit around here :) So... this was a collection of three stories / novellas in one. First story was ehhhh, alright. Second story... was about the same. But the third story. Wow. It was really, really good!
December 3, 2012
Christmas sequel of A Town Called Hope Series.
January 3, 2019
The first story was not very strong, in my opinion. I hadn't read any of the previous books in the series, so it was hard to connect with all the many characters who were rapidly introduced in scenes that seemed contrived. The lead characters were well-portrayed and the premise was good, but the resolution was too pat. Lucy, and especially her mother, had extremely rapid (and not very believable) turnarounds.
The second story was cute and enjoyable. Not my favorite, but the setting at Fort Kearny was interesting, as were the details about the Pony Express.
I really enjoyed the third story and would give it 5 stars. The characters were so believable and well-drawn, and even the minor supporting characters really came to life. The two lead characters were not the typical hero and heroine, which made the story more fun. Also, I appreciated the writing style and dialog, which seemed true to the era in a way that many historical romances do not.
The second story was cute and enjoyable. Not my favorite, but the setting at Fort Kearny was interesting, as were the details about the Pony Express.
I really enjoyed the third story and would give it 5 stars. The characters were so believable and well-drawn, and even the minor supporting characters really came to life. The two lead characters were not the typical hero and heroine, which made the story more fun. Also, I appreciated the writing style and dialog, which seemed true to the era in a way that many historical romances do not.
September 26, 2019
"Christmas Bride" by Palmer. Hope, Kansas - Rolf Rustemeyer is a prosperous German immigrant who comes into town each day to get rolls and bread from Lucy Cornwall's shop. Lucy was raped by soldiers and had a baby girl her mother took away and put in an orphanage. Lucy had a breakdown over the whole and has finally started putting her life together when Lucy & her mom move to Hope. Rolf helps further to restore her self-confidence and even tries to help her get her baby back. They eventually marry and it works out - good story.
"Reforming Seneca Jones" by Elizabeth White. Annie Fitzgerald and her younger brother Cane have left their southern Alabama home to join their older brother Micah at Fort Kearny. She meets instead, Pony Express rider Seneca. The two clash but attract and through his new knowledge of Christ come together. Okay story.
"Wishful Thinking" by Peggy Stoks - couldn't finish - yuck.
"Reforming Seneca Jones" by Elizabeth White. Annie Fitzgerald and her younger brother Cane have left their southern Alabama home to join their older brother Micah at Fort Kearny. She meets instead, Pony Express rider Seneca. The two clash but attract and through his new knowledge of Christ come together. Okay story.
"Wishful Thinking" by Peggy Stoks - couldn't finish - yuck.
December 8, 2024
Historical Romance isn't normally my thing, but I was inspired by the Christmas theme. This book is made up of three novellas. The first one was okay, and so was the third one, but if the second was a book on its own, it would be 5⭐ for sure!
October 10, 2021
The first one was my favorite!
December 9, 2014
1st novella, A Christmas Bride by Catherine Palmer ~ 5*
I loved this novella featuring Lucy Cornwall & Rolf Rustemeyer from Catherine Palmer's A Town Called Hope series. It was lovely to see both of them finally get a happily ever after, and it was really nice that it was set during the Christmas season. I also loved Rolf's handmade ornaments and the meanings behind them...it was a nice touch to include them in.
2nd novella, Reforming Seneca Jones by Elizabeth White ~ 4*
I enjoyed this Christmas novella, and seeing Seneca reform.
3rd novella, Wishful Thinking by Peggy Stoks ~ 3*
This was my least favourite story, and part of that I think was that it wasn't set during the Christmas season. Most of it happened during the autumnal months. We then jumped to Christmas Eve for the last chapter, but that wasn't very Christmassy. I prefer stories set during the Christmas season if it's in a Christmas book.
While I wasn't overly captured by the story itself, I did like that the hero & heroine were 70 and 68. I thought it was sweet to have an older couple have the romance.
I loved this novella featuring Lucy Cornwall & Rolf Rustemeyer from Catherine Palmer's A Town Called Hope series. It was lovely to see both of them finally get a happily ever after, and it was really nice that it was set during the Christmas season. I also loved Rolf's handmade ornaments and the meanings behind them...it was a nice touch to include them in.
2nd novella, Reforming Seneca Jones by Elizabeth White ~ 4*
I enjoyed this Christmas novella, and seeing Seneca reform.
3rd novella, Wishful Thinking by Peggy Stoks ~ 3*
This was my least favourite story, and part of that I think was that it wasn't set during the Christmas season. Most of it happened during the autumnal months. We then jumped to Christmas Eve for the last chapter, but that wasn't very Christmassy. I prefer stories set during the Christmas season if it's in a Christmas book.
While I wasn't overly captured by the story itself, I did like that the hero & heroine were 70 and 68. I thought it was sweet to have an older couple have the romance.
June 26, 2014
Three Christmas Novellas set on the prairie.
The Christmas Bride - Rolf Rustemeyer is excited about his bride coming from Germany. He just wishes that there was a way to make his friend Lucy Cornwall just as happy.
My thoughts - It was a pleasure to return to the town of Hope. I'd read this years ago, and while this one wasn't my favorite of the collection, it was still sweet. 3 stars
Reforming Senecca Jones - Annie Fitzgerald and her younger brother arrive in Ft Kearney to join their older brother. Yet when they get there, they find that Micah is off on a mission. The Pony Express Riders share a sense of family. When rider Senecca Jones starts to butt heads with Annie, will either of their hearts be safe?
My thoughts - I loved this story. I loved Senecca and how he fell for Annie. 4 stars.
Wishful Thinking - A love story with a twist. The main characters are in their autumn/winter years.
My thoughts - This one was ok. I didn't really connect with the characters. Rating 2.5 stars
Overall rating - 3 stars
Read for the category Main Male Character R for Scattegories.
The Christmas Bride - Rolf Rustemeyer is excited about his bride coming from Germany. He just wishes that there was a way to make his friend Lucy Cornwall just as happy.
My thoughts - It was a pleasure to return to the town of Hope. I'd read this years ago, and while this one wasn't my favorite of the collection, it was still sweet. 3 stars
Reforming Senecca Jones - Annie Fitzgerald and her younger brother arrive in Ft Kearney to join their older brother. Yet when they get there, they find that Micah is off on a mission. The Pony Express Riders share a sense of family. When rider Senecca Jones starts to butt heads with Annie, will either of their hearts be safe?
My thoughts - I loved this story. I loved Senecca and how he fell for Annie. 4 stars.
Wishful Thinking - A love story with a twist. The main characters are in their autumn/winter years.
My thoughts - This one was ok. I didn't really connect with the characters. Rating 2.5 stars
Overall rating - 3 stars
Read for the category Main Male Character R for Scattegories.
November 26, 2011
This is three short stories/novellas by three separate authors in one book and includes some tasty recipes. They are completely separate stories that do not relate to one another but share a prairie theme. I enjoy prairie reads as well as Christmas stories so I enjoyed these short stories. I think I prefer the second story to the other 2.
Amazon Book Description:
Another great historical Christmas anthology from HeartQuest featuring Catherine Palmer, Elizabeth White, and Peggy Stoks. Each new story by these favorite authors celebrates faith, love, and the joy of Christmas. Each story is followed by a letter from the author and a favorite Christmas recipe. Readers of the Town Called Hope series will love Palmer's novella "A Rose for Lucy."
Amazon Book Description:
Another great historical Christmas anthology from HeartQuest featuring Catherine Palmer, Elizabeth White, and Peggy Stoks. Each new story by these favorite authors celebrates faith, love, and the joy of Christmas. Each story is followed by a letter from the author and a favorite Christmas recipe. Readers of the Town Called Hope series will love Palmer's novella "A Rose for Lucy."
June 9, 2008
This was a fun little book I just read for relaxation purposes - a few sweet little stories of God bringing couples together... The type of book that takes no thought to read, and leaves a smile on your face... :)
March 15, 2010
unique heroines--abuse survivors, elderly couples, 3 short stories here that were quick to read and easy to relate to...
January 10, 2011
It was okay. First story was the best I think. Just a book that caught my eye on the shelf because it was in the Christmas season at the time.
January 9, 2014
The first story was excellent, the second story was good, and the third story was okay. I read the first two and skimmed the last one.
September 1, 2016
Read this many years ago. Nicely done. By a friend of mine.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews