The Quilted Heart by Mona Hodgson

The Quilted Heart 

by Mona Hodgson

This is a combination of three Novella’s by Mona HodgsonIn Dandelions on the Wind, Maren Jensen moved in with Elsa Brantenberg to work for room and board after a mail-order-bride deal gone wrong. Maren’s life changed when Wooly shows up at the farm to work.

Bending Toward the Sun, working at the general store and going to college doesn’t leave time for love in Emilie Heinrich’s life. But then a childhood friend comes back in town, would that change things for Emilie?

Ripples Along the Shore, it is almost time for the Boone’s Lick Wagon Train, led by the mysterious and handsome Garrett Cowlishaw to leave for California, but will the widow Caroline go along? It is time for a change in Caroline’s life after losing her husband in the Civil Was, but is a cross country trip on a Wagon Train the answer for Caroline?

This is a collection of stories that takes place just after the Civil War, and the people of small town of St. Charles, Missouri is trying to get their lives back together in their own way. Some will decide to stay in the town, where others choose to leave their home and join the Wagon Train to California. I enjoyed these heartwarming stories created by Mona Hudgson, with believable and solid characters, playing out the scenes as they faced the difficult decisions before them. And I appreciate the way Ms. Hudgson weaves the principles of the Bible into the lives of her characters. Through the heartache of losing family members and friends to the war, and the romance found within the characters of this town, Ms. Hudgson tells a compelling story that will stay with you for long after you finish reading. Those who enjoy historical fiction, and especially fiction written around the Civil War era are sure to enjoy this one.

Prairie Song…by Mona Hodgson

About This Book

The first step in a challenging journey is often the one that means the most. 
 
Though it means saying goodbye to the beloved friends and spiritual mentors of her St. Charles, Missouri quilting circle, Anna Goben is certain that she needs to enlist her family in the Boones Lick Company wagon train. The loss of her beloved brother in the Civil War has paralyzed her mother and grandfather in a malaise of grief and depression and Anna is convinced that only a fresh start in the Promised Land of California can bring her family back to her. Although the unknown perils of the trail west loom, Anna’s commitment to caring for her loved ones leaves no room for fear—or even loving someone new.

During the five-month journey, trail hand Caleb Reger plans to keep a low profile as he watches over the band of travelers. Guarding secrets about his past and avoiding God’s calling on his life, Caleb wants to steer as far from Anna as she does him, but she proves to be just as he assessed her from the beginning— independent, beautiful trouble.

Led by a pillar of hope, the group faces rough terrain that begins to take a toll on their spirits. Will the wilderness of suffering lead them astray, or will the gentle song of love that echoes across the prairie turn their hearts toward God’s grace and the promise of a new home?

– See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?work=220626#sthash.Ttd7i5co.dpuf

 

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

 

Anna has lost so many people in her family that she decides to join Boone’s Lick Company Wagon Train and travel west to start a new life. Before the train is to leave, Anna is to marry Boney, a childhood friend. The trouble is, she doesn’t love Bony but she feels she has to because she promised. But the way things worked out, they didn’t get married, causing an interesting and difficult situation at times.

 

I enjoyed the journey of Anna and her friends as they traveled cross county. I’ve always enjoy reading about Wagon Train journeys, so this one was another special one for me to read. If you have read The Quilted Heart Series from Mona Hodgson, you will recognize a lot of the same characters in this book, so that makes it more interesting for me, because I enjoyed reading more about these believable and realistic characters. The journey was heartwarming, even through the difficulties. If you enjoy historical fiction, this book will be a great for you!

 

I received this book from the publisher Waterbrook through their Blogging For Books review program to read and review.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.

 

 

 

Meet Mona Hodgson

Married forty years to her leading man, Mona from Arizona lives in the Southwest where trees have arms instead of branches, rock yards replace lawns, and salsa takes the place of ketchup. When Mona isn’t writing or speaking at a women’s event, she’s playing Wii games with her Arizona grandson, spending time with her mom, picnicking, chatting on Skype with her grandchildren in Africa.

Mona is a speaker for women’s groups, Christian women’s retreats, book clubs and reading groups, schools, and conferences for writers and librarians. She holds professional memberships in American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Women Writing the West, Christian Author Network (CAN), and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

Dandelions in the Wind by Mona Hodgson

Dandelions in the Wind by Mona Hodgson

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Tattered relationships and broken hearts, like a quilt, can be pieced together by God’s love.

When Maren Jensen took a job on Elsa Brantenberg’s St. Charles, Missouri farm, she never expected to call the place her home. As she grows to love Mrs. Brantenberg and her granddaughter, Gabi, Maren is transformed from a lonely mail-order bride-without-a-groom to a beloved member of the Brantenberg household.

But when Gabi’s father, Rutherford “Wooly” Wainwright, returns to the farm unexpectedly, everything changes for Maren. Despite the failing eyesight that caused her suitor to reject her, she can see that Wooly desperately needs to reconnect with the family he abandoned when his grief sent him running toward the army—and into the Civil War. She also senses there could be something more between the widower and herself, if either can move beyond their past hurts.

Comforted and counseled by the wisdom of the women in her beloved quilting circle, Maren begins to discover the cost such decisions demand of her heart. Are her choices in obedience to God, or is she running from His plan? Is it too late for love to be stitched into the fabric of her life?

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

I love, love mail order bride stories, so I was really excited to read Dandelions on the Wind by Mona Hodgson. When Maren finds her husband to be turns his back on her, she moves in with an old widow and her young granddaughter. Though Maren misses her family, she is content working on the farm and taking care of this young child. She has given up all hope of having a better life until Wooley shows up on the farm, turning her life upside down. And giving this short story twists and turns that kept me reading until the last page! Though sometimes the story was a bit sad because it just seemed that nothing was working out right for Maren, a really sweet lady and couldn’t help the difficulties life was throwing at her with her disability.

 

This is a very fast read, I read it all without stopping! The characters were well developed and enjoyable and I was found myself really wanting things to turn around for Maren. I loved the setting of the old farm, grandma and granddaughter, giving the story a homey, warm and enjoyable feel.

 

If you are one that doesn’t have a lot of time to read an entire book, this is just for you! It is just over 100 pages and doesn’t take long at all. So if you are in the market for a good, clean, enjoyable read, pick up Mona Hodgson’s Dandelions on the Wind today!

 

This book was provided by Blogging for Books through their reviewer Blogging program. I was not expected or required to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are mine only.

 

ABOUT THIS AUTHOR

Over the last twenty-five years, Mona Hodgson’s publishing credits have grown to include nearly thirty children’s books, contributions to more than ten books for adults, and four historical novels, including her debut, Two Brides Too Many in The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series. Mona is a popular speaker for women’s groups, schools, and educators’ and writers’ conferences. She lives in Arizona with her husband and has two daughters and several grandchildren.