Fields of Grace

Heart of the Prairie #4

by Kim Vogel Sawyer

With their eldest son nearly to the age when he will be drafted into military service, Reinhardt and Lillian Vogt decide to immigrate to America, the land of liberty, with their three sons and Reinhardt's adopted brother, Eli. But when tragedy strikes during the voyage, Lillian and Eli are forced into an agreement neither desires. Determined to fulfill his obligation to Reinhardt, Eli plans to see Lillian and her sons safely settled on their Kansas homestead--and he's equally determined that the boys will be reared in the Mennonie faith. What he doesn't expect is his growing affection for Lillian--and the deep desire to be part of a family.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Amish, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Christian, Romance

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2009

About the author

Award-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.

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story. Right from the beginning, their journey was filled with both tragedy and joy, and it was wonderful to see all of the characters grow together as a family.
The tender romance between Eli and Lillian was gentle and sweet, and I was rooting for them the whole time. The character development of Lillian was filled with both emotional and spiritual growth, and her journey of dealing with the losses of life was lovely to read. I fell in love with the character of Eli, and his kindness, gentleness and care was just what Lillian needed. I did wish that Lillian would communicate a bit better to Eli, but by the end of the novel I was left satisfied.
I found novel to be similar in style to Janette Oke's 'Prairie Legacy' series.
Overall, a great novel. Readers who enjoy sweet prairie romance will enjoy 'Fields of Grace'.
*This novel can be read as a standalone.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is book 4 of the Heart of the Prairie series, I did not have any trouble reading it as a stand alone. It reminded me very much of Janette Oke's prairie series. The main difference is this is a group of Mennonites who first moved to Russia from Germany in order to practice their faith and be assured of their sons not being drafted due to the stance again war like that of the Quakers. But Russia changes its stance and begins drafting the Mennonite young men. The Mennonites now decide to emigrate to America where there is farm land available and more freedom.

The conditions and tragedies that occurred on the ship transporting them to America were heartbreaking. The losses of spouses and children were beyond imagining leaving women with children and no husband when they arrived in America. Their struggles to be allowed through Castle Garden after health checks and worries that they wouldn't pass then led on to hardships in getting to Kansas and then problems in starting their life there. Sawyer paints a wonderfully realistic picture of early immigrants to America and what life was truly like getting here and then beginning a new life. There are 10 books in this series. I have read #1 and #4 and will definitely read the rest of the series.

[Kelly Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book lost me in Chapter 32. It is the story of a marriage of convenience and for a while, it was a tender story. But then the author made the wife turn bitter and I just was shocked at how unlikeable she became. The author also did this with the oldest son as well.

I am all for having real characters, with flaws but this was a real disappointment.

[June Guymon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down so I read it in a day and a half.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book. I resonated with this book. I come from Mennonite roots on my Mom's side of the family. My Great Grandparents came from Prussia on the F. Missler Bremen in 1903. They went to Hillsboro, Kansas for 9 weeks and then went to Corn, Oklahoma and farmed for 10 years and then eventually to 25 miles North of Chinook Montana to homestead in 1914. I loved this book and the similarities of the family and my family!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful story. The cover makes you wonder what will happen. Instead of being drafted into the military, a husband and wife decides to immigrate to America with their three sons and the husband's adopted brother. This books takes you on the ship, to the new land and what they must do to persevere. The voyage brings tragedy and how the family must go on to begin a whole new life in America. This was the best book and I would recommend this Amish centered tale to anyone.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Fields of Grace” spans seas and countries, tragedies and joys set against a historical prairie backdrop.

The catalyst to the story instantly puts the characters at odds as the Vogts must leave their home country to keep their son from fighting in the army. There isn’t much room for any other choices as their faith propels to go to America, the land of new opportunities.

The first few chapters of the book are heart wrenching. This story reminded me of a combination between Janette Oke’s Love Comes Softly and the story of the prodigal son, but it has deeper themes then those on the surface.

Sawyer does a fabulous job with her faith element, ping ponging her characters beliefs against each other. She goes beyond mere “salvation” and delves into deeper spiritual matters. I can’t go into them all within a short review, but suffice it is to say that my faith is strengthened and uplifted after reading her fiction- she takes it beyond the normal messages in other fiction.

I loved how in the middle of the story the characters are brought together only to be ripped apart before the conclusion (you have to read the book to find out the ending). As I closed the book I had to sigh with pleasure. A lovely weekend read, I encourage you to pick it up.

[Georgianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good...would love to see a sequel!

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fields of Grace is an engaging novel that deeply explores the emotional struggles that can come to a family facing harsh situations. The emotional range in this book is vast and leads you to the highest highs and lowest lows. It shows you the good side and ugly side of a person that can come forth in desperate situations. The characters and story portrayed were deeply moving. I loved all of the cultural elements interwoven into the text. The Mennonite faith along with the language, foods, and customs of those people added richness to the tale. Additionally, the exploration of a trip to America and settling on the prairie drew extra interest into the story. The plot itself was mostly focused on the emotional drama and struggles. There were a lot of hard things going on, so the tale of faith and healing made sense. However, having read many other books of traveling or settling America, there usually seems to be more external adversities in addition to the emotional turmoil. It seemed like a long time between when they arrived in Kansas and when the hailstones came. During that time, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. Encounter with a wild animal, snakebite, robbers, fox stealing the chickens, flood, etc. I kept waiting for something with physical action to add to the emotional driven story to break things up a bit or add to the intensity. Additionally, Henrik's ending in the story seems super unfinished. I would have liked a little more information there especially since we spend so much of the book caught up in his storyline. The growth at the end was beautiful and hopeful. The story as a whole was fairly sad and depressing. You are really following these characters through the darkest times in their lives. But the story of faith through it all revives some of the darkness and turns it into a peaceful message. Overall it was an entertaining story despite a few minor drawbacks.

[Kathryn Sneed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fields of Grace is a sweet story about Lillian, a Mennonite woman and her journey of heartache and joy. This story was the first I have read by Kim Vogel Sawyer, and also my first book about the Mennonites. I think Kim Vogel Sawyer did a fabulous job of writing this story. From the great detail and descriptions to the wonderful storyline and characters I felt I was right there and a part of Lillian's family. I think this book is also a wonderful example of how Christians deal with the pain they face in their lives, and the struggles they go through, and it was an inspiration and encouragement to see God's grace working in Lillian's life.

Storyline:
Lillian, her husband Reinhardt, and their three sons travel to America with their "Onkel Eli", Reinhardt's adopted brother. They must leave their native country so their oldest son, Hendrik does not have to enlist in the military. On the ship to America, Lillian's husband and youngest son die, and Lillian is faced with many decisions. Before they reach America, Eli and Lillian are married, because it would be improper for them to continue to travel together. Lillian is still grieving for her husband, and Eli is grieving for his friend, but he is happy that he finally has a family, something he has always wanted, and prayed for many times. In America, Eli helps Lillian get settled and is a father to her two sons. Her oldest son Hendrik is rebellious and as they start their new life in America, Lillian and Eli worry over what will become of him. After some time Lillian and Eli start to fall for each other, but will they be able to tell each other? Will it last, or will their son Hendrik, get in the way of it all?

[Diana C. Kobylak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story that details the life and trials of a Mennonite family and the kids’ Onkel Eli emigrating to America in the 19th century. The family experiences loss and sorrow both on the ship enroute to NY and also on their new frontier land in Kansas. The oldest son, Henrik, also deals with guilt for the losses on the ship and reacts by making perhaps an unwise choice. It would be nice to know what becomes of him in the end as it relates to his family.
Great read but I wish Lillian would have been a little more communicative with Eli toward the end of the book. However, it created a more urgent need for me to get to the resolution.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! Lillian and Elijah face many challenges in the world, and with each other. The biggest challenge is to keep their relationship alive in the face of other challenges. One favourite quote partially paraphrased is, “ I will get angry with you, and you will get angry with me. You must admit that. But this I will commit to— I will not let angry dominate me. We will sit down, and talk it out.” Marriage has its struggles, but it also has its good times. It’s a matter of choice. Commitment is the key to a long and lasting marriage.

[Ruth Hays · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the history of this book. My grandmother immigrated from Ukraine to the prairies in Canada and so I could relate to the German language as well. I knew the different foods too. My mom cooked most of those dishes as well.
The story line dragged on but I really admired Eli and the patience and wisdom he showed. I have been through deep depression and it is hard on the spouse as well. I’d be depressed in a sod house too!! I love windows and light!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read. Most of the time though I kinda forgot they were Mennonite. Still enjoyed it and will be reading more of Mrs. Sawyer in the future. Also it’s because of this book that I now know that Jenny Lind was an actual person and not just a character made for The Greatest Showman.

Recommend for those who enjoy Christian fiction.

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lillian, her husband, her three sons, and Eli her husband's adopted brother have decided to leave their home in Russia to travel to the United States. The trip is without double tragedy as they sail to America. Lillian and Eli must marry before landing to be allowed into the United States. It is a book with many trials that lay ahead for all of them.

[Gay Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sawyer takes us on a journey from Russia to the new West in America, as immigrants and pioneer settlers planting their Russian wheat. Many folks died on the way over the Ocean to find them living a very different life than they expected. The characters are vibrant and the story compelling.

[Carla Ann Chadd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cried and I smiled; I hoped and I feared.

[Patsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written.

[Darci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it in a week it was so good.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little slow, but good.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super good book!

[Bobbie Monroe Boyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars rounded up.

[Joleen Devens · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little bit disappointed in this book. I read the 1st 2 books in this series and Loved them. Maybe my expectations were to high. The book takes place in the late 1800's. It is about a family that left Russia to come the the Kansas, USA to buy land and start a new life. Lots of hardship on the boat trip to the United States. In fact I put the book down for a week to re-adjust my attitude from depression to happiness again. (I had to put my dog down and this is not what I should have been reading at the time.) Anyway when they got to Kansas things started to change. I thought it was a little bit slow in parts, but it picked up in the end. I spent last night reading till 1:30 just to finish the book. I kept telling myself that this was the 1800's and they were Mennonite and they were from Russia, so their lifestyle was quite different than now. I did admire how they fought against the odds of language, culture, and being alone. Give it a try, you may love the book.

[Jennifer AlLee · Rating 3 out of 5]

When their eldest son nears the age when he can be drafted into the Russian military, Reinhart and Lillian Vogt look to a new world which offers them freedom and opportunity. Along with their three sons and Reinhart's adopted brother, Eli, they immigrate to America. But on the long sea journey from Russia, tragedy strikes, ripping apart the family as it was and joining them together in ways they never expected.

Fields of Grace is another moving historical novel from beloved author Kim Vogel Sawyer. It's obvious that Sawyer spends a great amount of time researching her stories to get the details just right. From the way a sod house is built to mouth-watering descriptions of traditional Russian foods, the historical details add depth to the story. But Sawyer does more than get the facts right. She gets the characters right.

On the wild Kansas prairie, Eli must fight to keep the promises he made to Reinhart and to Lillian. For her part, Lillian has more to deal with than any woman should in one lifetime. And her sons struggle to find their own place in the new world and their new life. Through it all, the family clings to their faith in God, sometimes wavering, but always returning to it. In the end, they discover that God uses bad situations to make beautiful things, and that He always gives us more than we need, even when we don't know to ask for it.

Full disclosure: I received a copy of Fields of Grace from the publisher for the purpose of reviewing. I am not a paid reviewer. The opinions expressed in this review are mine alone.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reinhardt and Lillian Vogt are living a peaceful life in their Mennonite village in Russia, but their oldest son is soon to be of age to be drafted into the military. War goes against the Mennonite faith, so Reinhardt and Lillian do the only thing they can do to protect their family. They leave everything they know and love and head to America to start over to keep their family safe. Reinhardt’s adopted brother Eli accompanies the family with hopes of working his own land.
When the unthinkable happens on the voyage across the ocean, Lillian and Eli join together in a marriage of convenience so Eli can accompany Lillian and her family to Kansas and help them get settled. This new family faces many trials and amid the trials, love blooms between Eli and Lillian.
One of the most interesting aspects of this story is the Mennonite history that is involved. The concept of this story is based on the history of the author’s ancestors, which makes the story much more interesting. Overall, this is an enjoyable love story, although, there was a bit too much of a roller coaster between Eli and Lillian. I really enjoyed the bond that formed between Lillian’s sons and Eli. Those moments were very heartwarming.
There are many nice moments in this story that make it easy to keep reading. The writing is very good and flows well from start to finish. The journey to grace was a long one, but it was well worth it and this book is well worth reading. I found Fields of Grace to be a relaxing book and enjoyed it very much.

[Christy Trever · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fields of Grace by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a gentle love story with Mennonites in 1872 Kansas. Lillian and Reinhardt Vogt must leave their home in the steppes of Russia to protect their son, Henrik, from forced military service. Traveling with them is Reinhardt's foster brother Eli Bornholdt, who will use his farming know-how to help them prosper in their new home in Kansas. But two tragedies aboard their ship forces Lillian to radically change her view of the future and will challenge the faith of the entire family. Sawyer creates a realistic and moving story of facing your worst nightmare and living through it. Her portrayal of pioneer Kansas makes the grassy plains come to life. She keeps the conflict for the most part within the family instead of external. They have to overcome their own struggles and fights while the outside world rarely intrudes, which was probably very true for families who would have been so incredibly isolated during this time in history. A small complaint: the woman on the front cover doesn't look anything like Lillian who is 38, and this young woman is barely twenty. Sometimes the characters seem to change their feelings 180 degrees too quickly, but for the most part Sawyer does an admirable job showing how God works good through all circumstances for those who believe in Him.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Lillian's story arc. I thought the way she learned to trust God to give her grace and the peace that she would be okay no matter what storms raged around her was beautifully written. She had, by far, the most character growth in the book and I loved that.
I liked Eli as well, but it seemed that he was almost 'too' good . . . as if he didn't need to improve and grow, which I don't agree with. Even the best of the best can get better as they draw closer to God!☺ And, there was at least one thing that Eli struggled with that he never really seemed to overcome, or even think he *needed* to overcome, and that kinda made me sad.
And then there was Henrik. Ack! That story arc frustrated me the most, I think. Not because it wasn't well-written (hello, this is KVS we're talking about . . . the woman writes very well!), but because we're left totally hanging as to finding out what happens with him! I dearly hope that his story is told in a future book in this series!
Overall, I did like the book, and thought it portrayed the heartaches and joys of early American prairie life quite well.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1872 Russia, Mennonites Reinhardt and Lillian Vogt fear their oldest son will be forced into military service, which is against their religious beliefs. Because of this, they decide to immigrate to America, where they will be free to practice their faith. Joining the couple and their three sons on the journey is Eli, Reinhardt’s adopted brother.

The journey that should have been the start of their new life ends in tragedy, however, when Lillian’s husband and youngest son die on the sea voyage. In order to protect Lillian and her surviving children, and to keep the family together in America, Eli offers to marry Lillian in a marriage of convenience, to which she agrees. But as the family settles on a homestead in Kansas, Eli’s feelings towards Lillian change from obligation to love.

Fields of Grace is a sweet, inspirational historical romance that is sure to appeal to fans of the genre. The story of Mennonites immigrating to America for freedom of religion is an interesting one, and the message of faith, hope, and love in the face of tragedy is a positive and uplifting one.

[Arnetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It felt like I should know the author. It chronicles the story of a fictional family who leave Russia to protect their son from forced military service. They travel to Kansas and settle near the non-fictional town of Newton-where I was born and raised. Since my great grandfather was a scout for the Mennonites searching out good farming land for them to settle on near Newton-the story really was like reading my family history. That made me a bit prejudiced I'm sure-but it is still an awesome history lesson. Those Mennonites from Russia brought with them Turkey red wheat-known also as winter wheat...wheat that thrived in the Russian soil and climate and therefore thrived also in the Kansas soil and climate. The Mennonites and their wheat transformed Kansas from a land of tall prairie grass into a land of wheat fields, into the 'breadbasket of the country'. I feel a lot of pride and respect for my ancestors and the legacy they left us. This book put me back in touch with their reality.

[Kristy Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another mennonite story. But it was set back in 1873, and they immigrated to America and lived on their own for most of the book. So there was no community aspect that I love about the Amish books. This was a sweet story, although in some parts it was frustrating. A lot of the problems between Eli and Lillian could have been solved if they would have communicated. Especially at the end. Lillian drove me nuts at the end of the book. I didn't understand how she could apologize to Joseph, and then send all these cryptic messages to Eli. Why didn't she think that she should apologize to Eli too? He needed her apology just as much if not more than Joseph after all the stuff she spewed at him. Because of all these things that were not said for so long, it made the book feel sort of slow in parts. It was a good story, but probably not one I will read again.