Love Comes Softly Complete Pack

Love Comes Softly #1-8

by Janette Oke

The first series from the pen of Janette Oke, follows the lives of one family through three generations. Lets the reader see the impact that Christian love has on relationships despite adversity and hardship.

Genres: Christian, Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Historical, Young Adult

960 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Janette Oke is a Canadian author known for her inspirational fiction, often set in a pioneer era and focused on female protagonists. Her debut novel, Love Comes Softly (1979), became the foundation for a successful series, followed by over 75 other novels. The first book in her Canadian West series, When Calls the Heart (1983), inspired the popular television series of the same name.
Born in Champion, Alberta, to farmers Fred and Amy (née Ruggles) Steeves during the Great Depression, Oke went on to graduate from Mountain View Bible College in Didsbury, Alberta, where she met her future husband, Edward Oke, who later became the president of the college. The couple has four children, including a daughter who has collaborated with Janette on several books.
A committed Evangelical Christian, Oke has authored numerous works exploring themes of faith. She has received various accolades for her contributions to Christian fiction, including the 1992 President's Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and the 1999 CBA Life Impact Award.

Reviews

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read these books (all 8 of them) as a young woman. They are so wholesome that reading them was like washing my brain in a clean stream. The books have the feel of being "in a simpler time" yet the plots are neither ridiculously rosey nor dramatically eccentric. The trials the characters face are real, and their responses are based in an authentic faith. Faith is presented as a way of life, not a preachy, self-righteous bludgeon to those who don't believe, but a sincere attempt to worship God with one's life and be a blessing to others.

The impact of these books on my life was not dramatic, as in I read them and had all sorts of breakthroughs. In fact, I would say, at the time, I thought the impact was negligible. But the stories have stuck with me and I can see they were more like active yeast that worked it's way a little further into me with each kneading (or reading!).

As I reflect back, I remember being especially impressed with the father of the family (Clarke). In hindsight, I realize I married a wonderful, wonderful man who is much like him... I'm so very thankful for that.

This would be a great read for a young woman (there is no objectionable content) or for a woman struggling to gain a good picture of a father figure. Though I suppose a young man would benefit from the male figure as well.

[Nicki M · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first time I read the series I absolutely loved them. They had so much mushy romance in them that could last me a lifetime! Of course the first time I read them I was like 11...... The second time reading through them wasn't as enjoyable. The characters were WAY too emotional and unrealistic and almost every book was the same as the last book. I thought I liked drama books, but these were just way too dramatic for me. I will say that I do occasionally reread the first book, because it's a little more bearable and depending on my mood is enjoyable to read.

I didn't really know how to rate the series because I don't really like them and I didn't want to be bias. Therefore the two stars. Because she does try to get you to feel with her character ,and a lot of the story lines do have a lot of potential. It just doesn't get the emotions out of me that this type of book was written to do. The second part of the review was in consideration of every book I've ever read of Janette Oke. ;)

[Reemda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find that Christian writers usually aren't very subtle, and this one is no exception. I did enjoy the first couple books or so, and found the story engaging enough to finish the whole set, but - reading all the books one after the other - it did get old at some point. There's a limit to how often characters should cry, and this is way beyond it. They cry when something good happens, when something bad happens, when they have a positive memory, when they have a negative memory, when they greet each other, when they say farewell, when they pray, when they're relieved, when someone accepts Jesus (which happens fairly often in this series too), etc. etc.
The other thing I found a bit annoying, especially in the last two books, is just how dense the characters were. There were multiple interactions going "I have this dream, but I can't do it" - "yes you can, here's how: *gives extremely basic advice*" - "oh wow, incredible! I never thought of it that way!!" Please, make your characters be more intelligent than this!

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books.

[Nova Noble · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read these books as a teenager and was hooked on Clean Historical fiction. Would read them at my grandparents over the summer when visiting. Read them every summer for 7 years. Always excited when the next in the series or another of her other series came out. I've recommended them to people for decades.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this sweet, clean, Christian love story. The characters are real, and have real emotions, whether good or otherwise, which was very refreshing to read. Constant references to the Bible, God, and other aspects of religion were also refreshing, and often touched my own heart.

[Laura Cupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series from start to finish. If your looking for a feel good light read, check this series out.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book will always remain my favourite one of the series... the others are good but the first one is awesome.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read these books as a young girl in jr. high and high school. I loved them and recommend them to anyone looking to read a wholesome Christian romance.

[Jillian Howder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entire series is amazing. I loved getting lost in the pages.

[Olivia Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this series in high school and remember absolutely MOURNING the end of the last book because I felt like I was losing a dear friend. I don’t know if these books would affect me the same way today, but I have never felt the same about a series since.

[Kim Drappeaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this series. If any of you are like me, I wanted to read this series because I absolutely loved the movie series (the one with Logan Bartholomew, Dale Midkiff, & Katherine Heigl!) And I have to say that the books are so much better than the movies. The movies don't even come close to explaining how amazing this storyline is!

So the first book starts off with Marty who loses her first husband in a tragic accident. She meets Clark shortly after and he asks her if she will marry him and become a mama to his daughter Missie, then he will pay for her train ticket back home come spring. She accepts and their story goes from there. They of course eventually fall in love and each book afterwards is about their growing family and some of the books barely have Marty and Clark in them.

I am not overly religious and I never thought that I would be so invested in a religious book like these (trust me, there is a lot of religious occurrences throughout the entire series.) But, the way that Janette Oke wrote these books goes to show how godly and wonderful her mind was. You seriously have to get used to the way that the characters talk though, because it is very southern. But, once I got into the books I didn't even notice the accent anymore.

This series was amazing because it showed just how simple life used to be, and how scary as well!! The Davis's endure happiness, pain, loss, suffering, blessings, good fortune, etc. I love how each book is years past the previous book. Janette Oke new how to keep her readers interested. I loved following this whole family and seeing Clark and Marty fall in love and become parents, and then grandparents! It basically follows the two main characters throughout their whole life.

To anyone who is thinking about reading this, I say do it. If it's not your cup of tea then that's ok! But I didn't think it would be my cup of tea either and I am seriously so glad that I read it.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, romantic book set on the american frontier in the 1800's. A young new bride travels west with her adventurous husband to make a life, and just as they're arriving, tragedy strikes and she has a difficult decision to make. The entire series is wonderful, as you follow her family down the generations.

[Brittanyyy · Rating 5 out of 5]

a wonderful, inspiring novel which follows the life of Marty, a recent widow, grieving the loss of her husband, and Clark, a sincere man who is a widower, seeking out a woman to mother his little girl. Through the bumpy roads of the oregon trail they cross paths and find love, and a peace and hope in the Lord, Jesus Christ.

[Priscilla Schelling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is dear to my heart because it depicts the hardships and wonderful aspects of the West along with a soft, innocent romance of beloved characters. I also enjoyed the spiritual awakening the main characters find throughout the woven experiences that God has placed on them for a reason. A+ - Janette Oke!

[Bethany Dirksen]

Okay, seriously, Janette Oke was my hero growing up. These were the first books I read that made me realize I could actually enjoy reading. Great for little girls. Romance and Jesus....what a great pair!

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable. Even though she doesn't have the most polishd writing abilities, the story is very interesting and facinating in the respect of learning about live on the farm and prairie before the turn-of-the-century.

[Malory Teegarden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read these all as a teen (including every single book by author). I'll even pick one up if I want a quick few hour read. Certainly not anything epic but a great way to get lost in another world for an afternoon.

[Katie Biermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave read all 8 books in this series and I must say I loved it. These books are written from a christen perspective and they helped me to see all diffrent sorts of love, especially God's love for his children.

[Rachelle Sperling · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read these books long ago but I enjoyed the tale of finding God in the midst of the pain and the hardship of life. Set in the American prairie they are an interesting tale of life in that historical setting.

[Jenifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, quick read. A real page turner.

[Lanore · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved reading these books....

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read to just sit back and relax with, yet one that you go through all of the emotions with!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good wholesome reading! Great story- makes you feel like you know the characters.

[Elaine]

I have heard, over and over, how very good these books (and the movies) are. I think I am just going to have to read them.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was awesome!

[Callie · Rating 3 out of 5]

These were books that I loved when I was in Junior High, but (as is sometimes the case) I grew out of them. Janette Oke is good at telling simple, yet compelling, love stories. I enjoyed them.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Books

[Angela Sellers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series was just amazing! I love how it goes into the children's lives too.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't decide whether to give it three of four stars because the books were somewhat predictable. But they were easy to read and they were clean love stories.