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Dakota Plains #4-5
Dakota December / Dakota Destiny
Dakota December
“Help.”
A weak voice moaned from the horse’s back. Sheriff Caleb Stenesrude climbed over the gate in a blizzard and reached up in time to catch the woman as she fell. To his astonishment, a small child, hanging on for dear life, fell with her. Under his breath he thanked the good Lord for bringing them this far and for a dog with a nose and ears to beat all. As the North Dakota storm continued to scream outside the house on the edge of town, Caleb tried to tend to the near-frozen mother and boy. When the woman let out a piercing cry of labor, Caleb realized this would be a Christmas Eve like no other. In the days after, Caleb and the town of Soldahl took Johanna Carlson and her two children into their hearts, but Johanna kept her distance, afraid to tell anyone the truth about her life.
Dakota Destiny
As folks in Soldahl reel from the war, Pastor Moen’s daughter, Mary, struggles to live with shocking news about the man she loves that arrived by telegram: We regret to inform you that Private First Class Willard Dunfey is missing in action and presumed dead. Thru months of agonized waiting, news came to Soldahl on Tuesday, November 11, 1918 that Victory Day had come. Does she have reason to hope?
This volume includes the fourth and fifth books of the Dakota Series featuring the intertwining lives of five inspiring women, all who lived in the early 1900s in the immigrant community of Soldahl, North Dakota.
“Help.”
A weak voice moaned from the horse’s back. Sheriff Caleb Stenesrude climbed over the gate in a blizzard and reached up in time to catch the woman as she fell. To his astonishment, a small child, hanging on for dear life, fell with her. Under his breath he thanked the good Lord for bringing them this far and for a dog with a nose and ears to beat all. As the North Dakota storm continued to scream outside the house on the edge of town, Caleb tried to tend to the near-frozen mother and boy. When the woman let out a piercing cry of labor, Caleb realized this would be a Christmas Eve like no other. In the days after, Caleb and the town of Soldahl took Johanna Carlson and her two children into their hearts, but Johanna kept her distance, afraid to tell anyone the truth about her life.
Dakota Destiny
As folks in Soldahl reel from the war, Pastor Moen’s daughter, Mary, struggles to live with shocking news about the man she loves that arrived by telegram: We regret to inform you that Private First Class Willard Dunfey is missing in action and presumed dead. Thru months of agonized waiting, news came to Soldahl on Tuesday, November 11, 1918 that Victory Day had come. Does she have reason to hope?
This volume includes the fourth and fifth books of the Dakota Series featuring the intertwining lives of five inspiring women, all who lived in the early 1900s in the immigrant community of Soldahl, North Dakota.
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About the author
Lauraine Snelling
159 books2,038 followersAward-winning and bestselling author Lauraine Snelling has over 80 books published with sales of over 4.5 million. Her original dream was to write horse books for children. Today, she writes adult novels about real issues centered on forgiveness, loss, domestic violence and cancer in her inspirational contemporary women’s fiction titles and historical series, including the favorite, Blessing books about Ingeborg Bjorklund and family.
Lauraine enjoys helping others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the county. She and her husband Wayne have two grown sons, and a daughter in Heaven. They live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a Basset named Sir Winston ob de Mountains, Lapcat, and “The Girls” (three golden hens).
Lauraine enjoys helping others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the county. She and her husband Wayne have two grown sons, and a daughter in Heaven. They live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a Basset named Sir Winston ob de Mountains, Lapcat, and “The Girls” (three golden hens).
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 21, 2024
Short stories both of them but a good ending to the series. Caleb and Johanna's story was heart wrenching to read. It was a tender mercy when he finds her in the blizzard and brings her home to find out that she is in labor. He helps deliver the perfect baby - Angel. Johanna's life before Soldahl was awful as to how women were treated back in those days. Property of their husbands. Johanna was running from an abusive relationship. How it all works out was a happy ever after ending.
Mary and Will's story - Mary never gave up hope.
Both stories focus a lot on what God would want them to do. A fun wrap-up of all the residents that had become familiar in the stories made a nice ending to the series.
Mary and Will's story - Mary never gave up hope.
Both stories focus a lot on what God would want them to do. A fun wrap-up of all the residents that had become familiar in the stories made a nice ending to the series.
April 18, 2023
Love Snelling's writing style and the Dakota setting. This was a fun series to read from start to finish as it spanned several decades. I enjoy how she has previous characters pop up in supporting roles throughout the series but each installment is a good stand alone read.
April 22, 2019
This is getting 3 stars because I liked story number 4 quite a bit. Story number 5 is a novella and isn't very well told
April 27, 2014
I have really enjoyed the Dakota Plains novels which take place in the early 1900's. They are historical/romance/Christian novels. I enjoy characters who have faith in God and try to do His will. Dakota December is about a mother who escapes from an abusive husband, but lives in fear of him finding her. Dakota Destiny is about a young girl whose fiancee goes to war. She receives word that he is missing and then that he is dead. However, she doesn't believe he is really dead. Should she marry the nice man who is courting her or keep waiting for her fiancee to return?
June 7, 2015
End of a wonderful series
A great series from North Dakota telling of several families and tying the 4 books together while keeping the main characters as the root. Each book and the story tells of great faith in Jesus Christ and the trust they have to follow His word and promises.
A great series from North Dakota telling of several families and tying the 4 books together while keeping the main characters as the root. Each book and the story tells of great faith in Jesus Christ and the trust they have to follow His word and promises.
July 8, 2014
Mary
Ms. Smelling is one of my favorite authors. She grabs you in the beginning and doesn't let go until the end. The faith of everyone in these two stories is absolute. A wonderful read.
Ms. Smelling is one of my favorite authors. She grabs you in the beginning and doesn't let go until the end. The faith of everyone in these two stories is absolute. A wonderful read.
July 2, 2015
Not a favorite of mine. Listened to it to drown out the massive fans in my office due to no AC. Thought it moved a bit too fast and too slow in some areas and the stories didn't really hold me.
July 1, 2015
Awesome
Excellent reading.
I enjoy books with ND background. Easy to visualize and feel the cold winter nights.
Christmas in ND is memorable .
Excellent reading.
I enjoy books with ND background. Easy to visualize and feel the cold winter nights.
Christmas in ND is memorable .
Want to read
December 14, 2015Beautiful story. Dakota December is Sheriff Caleb and Johanna story. There story was truly meant to be !
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews