The Heart's Frontier (The Amish of Apple Grove #1)

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The Heart's Frontier (The Amish of Apple Grove #1)

by Lori Copeland, Virginia Smith (Goodreads Author)

3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 · rating details · 131 ratings · 40 reviews

An exciting new Amish-meets-Wild West adventure from bestselling authors Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith weaves an entertaining and romantic tale for devoted fans and new readers.

Kansas,1881--On a trip to visit relatives, Emma Switzer's Amish family is robbed of all their possessions, leaving them destitute and stranded on the prairie. Walking into the nearest trading set

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Paperback, 320 pages

Published March 1st 2012 by Harvest House Publishers

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Jun 04, 2012 Patty LeBlanc rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just realized looking back that I read a previous book with these two authors paired together. This particular novel is an Amish novel in The Amish of Apple Grove series. This is book one. I definitely liked it enough to be on the lookout for the nex book.

Emma is traveling with her family on their wagon when they are robbed and lose everything they have, including their wagon. They continue on not knowing what to do but pray. As they pray for someone to come alone to help them, God answers th...more

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May 05, 2012 Molly rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Molly by: Harvest House Publishers

Shelves: book-review

Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith are both fantastic authors. I've read both of their works in the past and knew when they co-wrote this book, that their fans were in for a real treat! I was right! This book is awesome. I loved every minute of this read, from first chapter to last. Generally, you either see books about Amish, or books about cowboys, but rarely do you see the two combined. Ms. Copeland and Ms. Smith took fun loving Amish and mixed them up with sweet, hunky cowboys and turned out a...more Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith are both fantastic authors. I've read both of their works in the past and knew when they co-wrote this book, that their fans were in for a real treat! I was right! This book is awesome. I loved every minute of this read, from first chapter to last. Generally, you either see books about Amish, or books about cowboys, but rarely do you see the two combined. Ms. Copeland and Ms. Smith took fun loving Amish and mixed them up with sweet, hunky cowboys and turned out a wonderful book. The characters were spunky, the plot line unique and well, it's definitely an interesting book.

Emma Switzer is a young Amish woman who is setting out with her dad, Maumi and sister to her relatives in another town. Traveling by a very full wagon, Emma begins to wonder what her life holds in store for her. Back home, there is a young Amish widowed father, who needs a woman to marry him and help raise the children. But, Emma is sure she can't marry him for she doesn't love him. She knows the rules of the Amish but she still can't give in, for she refuses to marry for anything less than love.

Along the way to her relatives home, they encounter a band of ruffian cowboys who steal their oxen and their wagon, filled with Maumi's dear, dear hutch made by her Grandfather. Her English grandfather. Despite the sadness that her spunky grandmother spreads when she goes on and on about the hutch, they push forward and reach a town. Once there, Emma prays and asks God to send them help.

Luke Carson, an adorably hunky cowboy lands at the feet of....nuns. Or so he thought. Once he rights himself he comes face to face with a beautiful young woman dressed in Amish garb. Handing over money to her father, he walks away. But, something nags at him, and he returns to further help them. On the trail, trying to prove himself worthy of being a trail boss, he and his helpers encounter trouble after trouble, especially when the Amish family arrive to help them. But, as Luke spends his time trying to prove himself, he finds himself drawn more and more to the beautiful young woman.

Can Amish mix with the trail? Can a cowboy settle down and take on the Amish ways? Or will God have other plans for these two very unique, very different characters?

I truly loved the way this story played out. It was an magnificent twist on both the Amish novels and Westerns. It was filled with lovable characters who make their way into your heart to stay. And the best part about this 5 Book worthy novel? It's just the start to a sure to be hit of a series! These ladies are superbly talented and together, they created a fun filled adventure of life on the trail, and trusting in God to show you the way! I can't wait for the next novel, A Plain And Simple Heart, to release in September 2012! (less)

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Apr 18, 2012 Delia rated it 5 of 5 stars

When the Amish Switzer family is attacked by robbers on the prairie, Emma Switzer loses everything she owns. But in her family’s search for help, love lands right at her feet.

All tied up in a pretty little bow, right? Hardly.

Luke Carson is a cowboy. Emma is Plain. How can they possibly find a common path?

They have one week to find out.

The Heart’s Frontier is one of the most compelling western romances I’ve ever read. The authors wove fun and laughter into the storyline, along with all the rugged...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Maureen Timerman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I enjoy reading Amish stories. This one is as different as East meets West, or Amish meets the Old Wild West!
We are on the trail in Kansas, from one Amish Community to another, when the very unexpected happens. The family is robbed of their belonging, and left with nothing, but their lives. Emma Switzer's Father Jonas, Sister Rebecca, and Grandmother are traveling to Troyer, KS. Hoping that Emma will be able to find a husband, as there are a lot more Amish men available.
After they are left on th...more

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Mar 28, 2012 Cayenne rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was impressed with how well this book was written and researched. I liked how the religious sentiments, prayers, and discussion of faith were so integral to the story and the lives of the characters. None of it felt forced or affected. The characters were believable and endearing. I especially liked the Amish grandmother. I understood and accepted her explanation to Rebecca and Emma of why she had married an Englischer, why she was happy with him, and yet why she didn't want her granddaughters...more

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Feb 09, 2012 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-netgalley

Life in the unsettled old west has it challenges, especially when the travelers are Amish.

Luke Carson, trail boss, has to concentrate on his job, others are counting on him to deliver the cattle to the awaiting train, diversions are not in the plan.
Jesse Montgomery, long time friend to Luke sees the fun in situations even the ones he has no control over.
Emma Switzer, father Jonas, sister Rebecca, and grandmother are on a pilgrimage to Troyer.
When Luke meets the Switzers he realizes that their j...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Edna Tollison rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love both of these authors and was really thrilled when I saw this book written by both. The front cover of the book really tells the story. An amish young woman Emma Switzer is bringing her family out to the west to help some relatives. However there were never to reach where they were going as some robbers store their wagon and animals. This leaves them asking for help as they pray that God will let them know what they are supposed to do.

Luke Carson is so happy to be leading his first cattle...more

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Apr 24, 2012 Lindsay rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reading-challenge, borrowed-library, series

This is unique kind of story in itself. It about a family in Apple Grove along with Luke Carson and his men on a trail. There are some things that happen along the way. Emma and Luke relationship starts to form.

In the prologue you learn about Luke Carson, and his pa. Luke was picked to be a trail boss to take Mr. Hancock cattle to market. He is to take the cattle drive from Texas to Hays. We find out what some of what Luke Carson wants in life and it bit different then this fathers life.

Emma Swi...more

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Feb 16, 2012 Camille rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: amish-fiction, net-galley-reviews, christian-fiction, historical-fiction, period-fiction, western, 4-stars, harvest-house-publishers

From my blog: http://books-camilleelise4.blogspot.com

The Heart's Frontier by Lori Copeland & Virginia Smith

That's right, in just a few short weeks you can get your hands on this Amish fiction meets Western novel!

I was graciously given the opportunity to read this book and write a review through NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers. I am under no obligation to write a positive review, just an honest one.

How do you feel about Amish fiction? Christian fiction? And what about a Wild Western wi...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Ausjenny rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: amish, historical, favorites

Thanks to Netgalley for my review copy.

This is a good read. Its Amish meets Cowboy. This is what I love about this book its different. I have found amish books seem to follow the same story lines. To me some are becoming predictable and I even get different series confused. Not this book. Its one of the few historical Amish books I have read. The story has the Switzer’s family moving from one Amish community to another and on the way they encounter problems.
After a mishap leaves the family in t...more

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Mar 23, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Title: THE HEART’S FRONTIER
Author: Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith
Publisher: Harvest House Publisher
March 2012
ISBN: 978-0736947527
Genre: Inspirational/historical Amish

Emma Switzer is traveling from Apple Grove, Kansas, to Troyer, Kansas, to help an elderly aunt. But enroute, her family’s wagon is robbed of everything, leaving them stranded and alone in the middle of no where. They manage to walk to a town that has not much more than a saloon, but who can they find to help them?

Luke Carson is he...more Title: THE HEART’S FRONTIER
Author: Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith
Publisher: Harvest House Publisher
March 2012
ISBN: 978-0736947527
Genre: Inspirational/historical Amish

Emma Switzer is traveling from Apple Grove, Kansas, to Troyer, Kansas, to help an elderly aunt. But enroute, her family’s wagon is robbed of everything, leaving them stranded and alone in the middle of no where. They manage to walk to a town that has not much more than a saloon, but who can they find to help them?

Luke Carson is heading up his first cattle drive, pushing to get his cattle to Hays in time to catch the train. But when his best friend deserts him in favor of whiskey and women, Luke heads in to the saloon to rescue him. Instead, he finds himself landing in the dirt in front of four Amish people, with the man saying, “Thank you, Lord, for sending us help.”

Luke had no intentions of helping anyone, least of all four destitute Amish. He had cattle to get to market. Besides, what happens when Amish meets the Wild West? Will they be able to mix?

THE HEART’S FRONTIER is the first historical Amish fiction I’ve read and the first book in the Amish of Apple Grove series. Luke is a total sweetheart, the stuff cowboy dreams are made of. He is a true hero. Emma is a mixture of characteristics, quiet and demur one moment, the next running and screaming, and the next manipulating people to do what they want. The father’s faith is enviable and I—and most readers—could learn from him. Mammi, Emma’s little sister, and Luke’s best friend added comic relief to the story. I laughed out loud in several places.

If you are looking for a different sort of Amish—a historical, instead of contemporary—then THE HEART’S FRONTIER is a book you might want to consider. It is interesting, and it held my attention all the way to the end. I never would have thought of mixing Amish and the Wild West—but it worked for these two talented authors. Discussion questions and an exerpt from the next book in this series, A Plain and Simple Heart is included at the end of the book. $13.99. 296 pages.
(less)

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Mar 14, 2012 My Book Addiction and More MBA rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: inspirational-fiction, amish, american-frontier

THE HEART'S FRONTIER by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith is an inspirational historical fiction set in 1881 Texas and Kansas. It is book 1 in the "The Amish of Apple Grove" series. A Wild West and Amish adventure. I liked the Maummi character,she stuck to what she believed in no matter what. I also like the ways the of Amish people.Their plain,simple life. I also,like the way they put God first in their lives, and how God Blessed them for doing that. I enjoyed how Emma, found her happiness outsi...more

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May 02, 2012 Abbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, western-romance, christian-historical-fiction, netgalley-read, blog-reviewed

Emma is Amish and she is moving with her grandma to help some relatives. She is not overly happy about the move but wants to follow her fathers wishes and Gods plans for her life. On the trail her family is robbed and they meet Luke in a small town. At first Luke does not want to help the Amish but finds himself doing just that. As the cattle drive progresses feelings develop between Emma and Luke but can they find love with the differences between them?

When I saw what this book was about I g...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Jane rated it 5 of 5 stars

A blending of two author's work that will stir your heart. The Amish on a cattle drive is a delight to read. The blending of two faiths different yet made stronger.

The faith of a father who loves his daughter so much he puts her happiness ahead of Amish ways.

Humor abounds in this story of Luke and Emma. Rustlers, diversions and such that make you see a cattle drive in a whole new light.

I applaud Emma for not settling for a marriage without love. Her Gramma (maummi) is a delight to behold.

One wil...more

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Mar 04, 2012 Vera Godley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Bestselling authors Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith weave an entertaining and romantic tale for devoted fans and new readers.

The story begins with a typical Amish family group loading their wagon for a move and having an assist from family and friends in the community. The Amish are a tight knit community of believers.

Kansas is the stage for this story and it is 1881. The Amish family undertaking this move (involving a history making handmade hutch) consists of grand mama, son (father), and tw...more Bestselling authors Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith weave an entertaining and romantic tale for devoted fans and new readers.

The story begins with a typical Amish family group loading their wagon for a move and having an assist from family and friends in the community. The Amish are a tight knit community of believers.

Kansas is the stage for this story and it is 1881. The Amish family undertaking this move (involving a history making handmade hutch) consists of grand mama, son (father), and two daughters as they begin their trek to a new community. They set out alone. No wagon train, no guide, no protection.

Down the road away, they are accosted by a band of renegades who taunt them, steal their wagon and oxen, and all their food and possessions leaving them to manage on foot. They arrive in a small town penniless and in much need of help. Then a young cowboy (Luke) literally lands at their feet outside a saloon. Emma looks down and sees God's provision at her feet but thinks it would have been nice if "the Lord could have cleaned him up first."

Hence begins a tale that will tickle your funny bone in places, give you assurance of the guidance of the Lord in the lives of these characters, and reveal the inner workings of the beliefs and traditions of a not-so-typical Amish family.

Luke and his men and the four Amish help one another as rustlers try to steal the cowboy's herd that he is driving to market with his team of workers and as the Amish need to procure a means to get where they were going. And through their encounters with each other during this week-long cattle drive, an unlikely romance begins to bud. But that would be telling the story to you. When the wild and wooly west meets the calm, predictable, and traditional Amish, surely something interesting and unpredictable will happen.

New on your book sellers shelves March 2012. This book is sure to be an engaging and lighthearted read that will entertain.

I was provided a complimentary copy of The Heart's Frontier by Harvest House Publishers for the purpose of review. I was not required to render a favorable review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Published March 1st 2012, ISBN 0736947523 (ISBN 13: 9780736947527) (less)

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Mar 20, 2012 Theresa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Theresa by: FIRST

Shelves: amish, christian, fiction, historical-fiction, review-copy, romance, series

3.5 stars

Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith have teamed up to create an entertaining and sometimes humorous novel. Taking place in Kansas in 1881, they transport the reader back to cowboy rustling times when it's really not safe to travel, let alone travel without a gun.

Although I enjoyed the story line, I did have some problems with the reality of the characters and timeline. A week does not seem a long enough time to take an Amish girl that is solid in her faith and make her want to challenge i...more

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Mar 31, 2012 Suzanne Williams rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was asked to read this book by one of the authors, Virginia Smith, whose work I greatly admire. Not being familiar with the Amish or having read any Amish fiction, I was unsure how I'd react. However, I have to say with my entire heart that I loved this story. It's so sweet with such likeable characters. The aspect of two different faiths is handled carefully and respectfully. The setting places you in the old west, sweeping you out onto wide open horizons. It has a nicely handled plot and a w...more

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Mar 17, 2012 Kassandra rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-first-reads, amish-books, reviewed-books

Blurb: An exciting new Amish-meets-Wild West adventure from bestselling authors Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith weaves an entertaining and romantic tale for devoted fans and new readers.
Kansas,1881--On a trip to visit relatives, Emma Switzer's Amish family is robbed of all their possessions, leaving them destitute and stranded on the prairie. Walking into the nearest trading settlement, they pray to the Lord for someone to help. When a man lands in the dust at her feet, Emma looks down at him a...more

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Mar 15, 2013 Ashley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Kansas, 1881. On a trip to visit relatives, Emma Switzer's Amish family is robbed of all their possessions. Walking into the nearest trading settlement, they pray to the Lord for someone to help. When a man lands in the dust at her feet, Emma looks down and thinks, The Lord might have cleaned him up first. Luke Carson, heading up his first cattle drive, is not planning on being the answer to anyone's prayers. But it looks as though God has something else in mind for this kind and gentle man. Pla...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Tonya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

How can you NOT love this book? Or any book by these 2 wonderful authors.

We start out with 2 COMPLETELY different people. Luke, a cowboy trying to prove something to himself but mostly his father, that he can do anything, including being a trail boss for cattle drives. Then we have Emma, who is from an Amish community and is traveling with her grandmother, father and younger sister to go live with an aunt for awhile.

While on the journey, Emma and her family are robbed and left with nothing. The...more

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Mar 26, 2012 IrenesChristianReviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

This story takes place in Kansas in the late 1800’s. Emma Switzer’s family is robbed of everything they are traveling with. They are on their way to visit family and find themselves stranded! They walk to the nearest settlement praying that they can find someone to help them.

Luke Carson is heading out on his first cattle drive. He can not believe he is the answer to the prayers of this intriguing Amish family. What is he to do about this strong connection he feels with Emma? Can they be together...more

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Feb 26, 2012 Rachel Brand rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, amish, historical, romance, harvest-house, net-galley, 2012

GENRE: AMISH/HISTORICAL/ROMANCE
PUBLISHER: HARVEST HOUSE
PUBLICATION DATE: MARCH 01, 2012
RATING: 4 OUT OF 5 – VERY GOOD

PROS: Unusual blend of Amish culture in a wild-west historical setting; unconventional ending; amusing secondary characters

CONS: Romance is fairly predictable; heroine constantly gets into trouble and needs rescuing

Emma Switzer never wanted to leave Apple Grove to live with her aunt, but she wouldn’t have wished having their wagon stolen by thieves partway into their journey in o...more GENRE: AMISH/HISTORICAL/ROMANCE
PUBLISHER: HARVEST HOUSE
PUBLICATION DATE: MARCH 01, 2012
RATING: 4 OUT OF 5 – VERY GOOD

PROS: Unusual blend of Amish culture in a wild-west historical setting; unconventional ending; amusing secondary characters

CONS: Romance is fairly predictable; heroine constantly gets into trouble and needs rescuing

Emma Switzer never wanted to leave Apple Grove to live with her aunt, but she wouldn’t have wished having their wagon stolen by thieves partway into their journey in order to prevent her from leaving. Stranded in the prairie with her father, grandmother and younger sister, Emma struggles to have the faith to believe that they will find a way out of this situation. When her family stumbles across a trading settlement and finds a rugged cowboy thrown at their feet, her father is convinced that God has sent this man to help them. Emma can’t help but think, “The Lord might have cleaned him up first.” But first impressions can be deceiving, and as Emma and her family travel along side Luke Carson’s cattle drive to the nearest town she finds herself increasingly drawn to the young cowboy. Her father disapproves of their growing relationship and is keen to get her back to their Amish settlement, where there are no such temptations. Could an Amish woman and a trail boss ever set aside their differences for the sake of love? Or are there too many aspects of their disparate lifestyles keeping them apart?

Sometimes, you just need a book that puts a smile on your face and makes you feel relaxed and content. The Heart’s Frontier was such a book. The novel also had the added bonus of being a mixture of Amish and historical fiction, two of my favourite genres, and a blend that is slowly becoming more popular. Anna Schmidt has written about an Amish boy who runs away with the circus in the 1920s, while Murray Pura has tackled the treatment of the Amish as conscientious objectors during WWI. Joining this sub-genre of Amish fiction, The Heart’s Frontier features an Amish family who are robbed of all their belongings while travelling across Kansas to stay with relatives, and end up relying on the help of a cowboy leading a cattle drive across the country. I wasn’t so much sceptical of a wild-west Amish novel, but rather intrigued. I do enjoy western historicals, but the difficulty with writing about the Amish in the late nineteenth century is that they don’t have the barriers of electricity and technology to set them apart from those around them. It was interesting to see how the authors tackled the less overt differences that made them stand out; namely, the modesty of the women’s clothing, their temperance and non-violence, and obviously, their commitment to God in all things.

Unlike some romance novels, I didn’t feel that The Heart’s Frontier had a plot with a distinct start, middle and end. As Emma’s family travelled across Kansas with the cattle drive the characters and their relationships with each other also went on a journey, and the novel depicted how their attitudes towards each other changed over the course of the novel. While there were a few distinct incidents throughout the novel that moved the plot in one way or another, it felt more character-driven than plot-driven. The secondary characters provided a lot of amusement, particularly with the clash of Amish culture against the attitudes of the men on the cattle drive. There were plenty of moments that almost made me laugh out loud, from Emma’s grandmother’s constant stream of proverbs to Emma learning to lasso a cow. All in all, it was a gentle, relaxing read, and although Emma and Luke didn’t have a lot of personal hurdles to overcome, I enjoyed witnessing how their friendship developed. Because of the conditions under which their romance blossomed – chaperoned by Emma’s father, grandmother and the entire cattle drive, as well as Emma being Amish and used to strict courtship traditions – the focus was more on the two of them getting to know each other and included far more wistful glances and gentle touches than passion and chemistry.

I did feel that their romance bordered on being of the “love at first sight” sort, which is not a favourite of mine. However, considering the circumstances in which the story is set and the genre nature of the romance, it did suit the novel. There are many variations of Christian romance novels, and there are some that are definitely aimed at more mature, married women. This is not one of those, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend The Heart’s Frontier to a young teenage girl. It’s a very sweet romance and ridiculously squeaky clean; the hero and heroine don’t even kiss until the last chapter. And while I do prefer the edgier romances that dare to show the passion a couple can feel for each other, there are times when a sweet romance is entirely satisfying. Yes, The Heart’s Frontier was rather predictable, but the mesh of historical and Amish elements definitely made the well-used “forbidden love” storyline into something original. I didn’t mind the predictability of the romance so much as I did the fact that Emma was continually getting into trouble – being kidnapped or dragged away by a rampaging cow or trampled by a herd of cows – and needing to be rescued by Luke. Each time something happened to her, Luke would rescue her and they’d realise how much they cared about each other. I wouldn’t mind this so much, but it was used at least three times throughout the novel and I kind of wished the authors had used different ways of bringing Emma and Luke together. But the unexpected ending more than made up for the predictable elements in the story. Amish romances involving outsiders have a tendency to end the same way, so I was pleasantly surprised at the way Lori and Virginia chose to conclude The Heart’s Frontier.

The Heart’s Frontier takes a well-used romance of forbidden love and turns it into something new by having its Amish heroine fall for a rugged cowboy. The predictability of the plot is made up for in the unique period and setting of the story, as well as the amusing antics of various secondary characters. While I wouldn’t place the first book in the Amish of Apple Grove series among my favourite Amish or historical novels, it was a very enjoyable reading experience and I would definitely consider reading the next book in the series. I imagine that those who are fans of Amish fiction and western historicals would enjoy this mesh of the two genres.

Review title provided by Harvest House Publishers.(less)

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Mar 20, 2012 Renee rated it 3 of 5 stars

We've all heard of Cowboys and Indians, cowboys and aliens and now it's time for cowboys and the Amish! With this latest book from the fantastic duo of Copeland and Smith two very different world's collide -- that of a peace-loving Amish family and the ruff and tumble life of a cowpoke. I have to admit I wasn't sure how this story was going to turn out but knowing these two authors I knew it was going to be fun and interesting to say the least! I wasn't disappointed and I bet you won't be either...more

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Nov 22, 2012 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christianfiction, forreview, historicalfiction, favorite-2012

I'm not much of an Amish fiction fan, though I have enjoyed a few over the years. But I love love love historical fiction. So when the opportunity to read a combination of both came, I thought, why not give it a try? Well, I ended up loving it. The story was so heartfelt, and rather than making it sound like religion was the answer (the Plain life) it focused on Love being the answer. All in all, it was a warm, heart-felt novel. I had a warm glow in my chest at the end. We give up a lot of thing...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Tricia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Amish girl meets cowboy. I enjoyed seeing how their faith was explored, and put to the test. The authors did a good job expressing Emma's love for her Plain life, and showed her father's dedication and resolve to follow the teachings of the Amish ordnung and life. I liked how Luke searched within himself to see if he would be able to adopt the Amish way, and was honest with himself and Emma about what he found. Sweet story, well told.

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Mar 22, 2012 Faye rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lucie's Review: An utterly delightful western adventure with an Amish twist.

What happens when you mix an sweet Amish tale, and an action-packed Western adventure? The Heart's Frontier! And let's not forget a healthy dollop of humor!

The Heart's Frontier is a page turning adventure, filled with fast-thinking, sharp wit, humor, and unique characters. Speaking of characters Maummi Marta was buckets of fun, in all her unpredictable glory. Definitely a favorite character. I laugh just thinking about...more

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May 06, 2012 Sandy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, romance

This was a sweet story, but I had trouble believing in this couple, even though I was rooting for them. They never spent more than five minutes together and had no idea how the other one lived or acted outside the very unusual circumstances they found themselves in. Attraction, yes. Love, unlikely. Still, a sweet story and I look forward to reading Rebekah's (the younger sister).

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Mar 30, 2012 Lisa Nelson rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Heart's Frontier
by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith

A very interesting Western with plenty of humor, full of adventures of a cattle drive with rustlers and Amish.

An unusual plot, but the authors make it work.

I would be interested in reading of further adventures with these characters.

I like the cover art. You can tell you are in for quite a story!

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Apr 25, 2012 Kathy Schwartz rated it 1 of 5 stars

I enjoy a fun romance novel as a way to get lost in a world removed from reality. However, the story line of The Heart's Frontier is so far-fetched I actually found myself rolling my eyes and giggling (my apologies to the authors). The characters were nice, but so one-dimensional that they were actually boring despite the trail ride setting.

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Apr 03, 2012 Holly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read-books

This book was soooooo good! I loved the characters and there was a nice touch of humor as well. Look for the full review and give away coming soon to Favorite Christian Books

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About Lori Copeland

Lori lives in the beautiful Ozarks with her husband Lance. Lance and Lori have three sons, three daughter-in-laws, and six wonderful grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters.

Lance and Lori are very involved in their church, and active in supporting mission work in Mali, West Africa.

Lori began her writing career in 1982, writing for the secular book market. In 1995, after many years of writing,...more

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BBCode	[url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11753932-the-heart-s-frontier?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348699733l/11753932.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11753932-the-heart-s-frontier?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Heart's Frontier by Lori Copeland[/url]

The Heart's Frontier (The Amish of Apple Grove #1)

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