Prairie Fire

A Town Called Hope #2

by Catherine Palmer

Jack Cornwall lost everything during the Civil War, so when his beloved nephew Chipper is reclaimed by his father, Cornwall vows revenge on the man who took away his last link with the past. Arriving in the town of Hope, Jack finds Chipper happy in his new family. Caitrin Murphy, a cheerful Irish immigrant, helps him realizes that taking Chipper away would be cruel. Unfortunately, few townspeople trust Jack, and even Caitrin is reluctant to encourage their romance because of Jack's lack of faith. Jack soon realizes that serious changes are needed before he can be truly happy.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian, Historical Fiction, Historical, Westerns, Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1998

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Catherine Palmer lives in Atlanta with her husband, Tim, where they serve as missionaries in a refugee community. They have two grown sons. Cathy is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University and holds a master's degree in English from Baylor University. Her first book was published in 1988. Since then she has published over 50 novels, many of them national best sellers. Catherine has won numerous awards for her writing, including the Christy Award, the highest honor in Christian fiction. In 2004, she was given the Career Achievement Award for Inspirational Romance by "Romantic Times" magazine. More than 2 million copies of Catherine's novels are currently in print. The Author's Work With her compelling characters and strong message of Christian faith, Catherine is known for writing fiction that "touches the hearts and souls of readers." Her many collections include A Town Called Hope, Treasures of the Heart, Finders Keepers, English Ivy, and the Miss Pickworth series. Catherine also recently coauthored the Four Seasons fiction series with Gary Chapman, the "New York Times" best-selling author of "The Five Love Languages."

Reviews

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book that is pt 2 is a series of 3 on the KS prairie that is several day wagon ride from Topeka KS. A family in the newly established town of Hope has a sister come to live with them in their already full soddy dug out of the prairie. She is a red headed Irishman fresh in the new country of America a few years after the Civil War. She soon meets a man that wants to take his nephew back to his folks. He goes about it all the wrong way in bk 1. He sets eyes on this red headed lassie and is intrigued from the start with her spunk and what he calls mouthy ways. She is not so sure at first but soon sees potential in him. He is ran out of town for his attempts at kidnapping his nephew and frightening the father and his new "mamma" to death.
It is a good story that is hard to put down as the story of Jack Cornwall unfolds. He is given a chance to prove himself in Hope and brings his mother and insane sister back to live after he is converted to Christ. He wants them to live in a town like Hope, but to get the people of Hope to accept him, and his family is going to be an uphill climb. Jimmy O'Toole is his hardest town member to win over and Jimmy is the head of the O'Toole family where the red headed lassie Caitrin lives and is the sister to his beloved wife who is also a firey red head. It is a good story of the time setting in how people thought and how love can over come all obstacles.

[Truitti · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some readers, this series may be a little too much sharing the Christian faith. For me, this story made me feel as if I were in the middle of the action, living in a sod house, carving out a home in what was then the wild west. Even if this story takes place while people were settling the plains state of Kansas, it still has applications for my life and three little words do make all the difference in the world, when you take them to heart. This book also makes me so happy that I live in this time and this place. I wouldn't make a very good prairie woman. Too much work.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew! Jack Cornwall is a firebrand! And redheaded Caitlyn Murphy is a fiery Irish redhead with a passion to match. When Jack first comes to Hope, Kansas, he is a on a mission to retake his nephew, now living with his real father and the irrepressible orphan Rosie, his new mom. Jack is mean and angry and out to hurt whomever gets in his way - until Caitlyn Murphy gets in his way and lets him know that God's love can change his life. But it's not an easy change - nothing worthwhile ever is, and the folks of the town of Hope don't like Jack or his family - his mom is opinionated, bossy, and prejudiced, while his sister Lucy is considered insane and has to be kept under lock and key for her own safety. But Jack gets the message that Caitlyn is trying to get across to him, and he gives his life to the master, and tries to make a new start. Unfortunately, nobody but Caitlyn is willing to give him a second chance until the night a prairie fire requires the combined efforts of the whole town.

This second in a series could probably be read as a standalone, but it's nice to know the backstory of the characters. Now onward to Prairie Storm!

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt the second book in the series flowed quite well with the first story. This particular one felt more of an emotional rollercoaster, I began to actually wonder how this one would turn out with the people of this town.

Not realizing it was second in a series, I bought this one first, (I probably could've read it to begin with though) but was glad to read them in order to see how the story kind of picked up right along with the previous.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first third of this, then it got pretty dark with some major issues when the MMC's mother and sister came into the picture. I don't like my historical romances that dark, and many of the issues weren't resolved by the end because they couldn't be. Issues mentioned: Self-harm, attempted suicide, rape, racism.

[Renee Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the storyline but the amount of racism littering almost every page made it hard to read.
I know it's realistic for those times and sadly probably today, but it made me feel sick and left a bad taste in my mouth.

[Patricia Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with the first book in the Prairie series, I give the same review, and am waiting for the third to become available for me to read.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read from 2/9_2030-14_2015/20
Actual Reading Time is 15 Hours

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Riviting, hard to put down, and sad to see it end! :)

[Hamman Banjiram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prairie Fire is soft, gentle, and romantic. It is quite slow at some point though, especially the beginning. But believe me, I almost shed tears as I read this book.

[Penny Knutson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homeschooled Christian girl in Africa discovers romance novels but make it: prairie. I still stand by it, it’s good stuff. And a word on mental health & family shame cultures???? Never before seen.

[M · Rating 1 out of 5]

The best parts were the Scriptures.

[Barb Friedrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good wholesome read, enjoyed.

[Sheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prairie Fire (Book 2 of A Town Called Hope) picks right up where it left off but instead of the central characters being Rosie and Seth, they are now Caitrin and Jack. It took me about eleven chapters before I warmed up to the idea of the antagonist in Book 1, now being one of the main characters.

As the story progressed and the theme became more clear, it was a "good read" and I enjoyed it. It is a story of a town coming to grips about people who they have been taught to fear and hate and accepting them for who they are and not what they had been led to believe as their "enemy".

Prairie Fire is a perfect example of expressing "the other side". There are always two sides to a story.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bad guy in the previous story (Book 1) in A Town Called Hope, finds what he has been looking for all of his life...love first from a God who loves him, and then love for a red-headed high spirited Irish woman. It is a complicated life in this little town though, with war veterans from both sides and different countries represented and with prejudices on both sides. Then to complicate it even more, Jack (the bad guy)has a sister who was compromised during the war and it made her emotionally sick, and she acted out as a crazy person. No one could understand what was wrong with her until she finally was able to bear her soul and let her secret out. It was a good story, but not quite as interesting as the first book...still I enjoyed it.

[Dee Schwinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't a 5 star novel but it was a good read. I liked that it took place in Hope Kansas. It was interesting to see the prejudice between the different nationalities and how they over came that. There was a love story and it was religious. Prairie Fire was a good book to lose yourself in the character and try to find out the secrets the Cornwalls had. I had it partly figured out but not completely.

[Sheeroh · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book, I liked how the characters were developed. I found the story of how Jack Cornwall accepted Christ a little unbelievable though; this was a man who was a scoundrel and a criminal and just 3 words from a strange woman were enough to change his heart?
I would like to read the next one, Prairie Storm, though. The preview got me interested.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good! I love her books because they are light, easy reads. Mostly uplifting. I kind of describe it as "a grown-up version of little house on the prairie" to everyone who asks about it. Pretty good though. Heidi Liked it too.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack Cornwall was the villain in the last book, but he gets the chance to be the hero in this one and get the girl. About time the whole Irish-Cornish rivalry was put to rest. That was a little silly and unbelievable, but the story about Lucy was a heartbreaker.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read "Prairie Rose" & immediately "Prairie Fire". I loved both books.

I downloaded this from the library and found duplicated text in Chapter 3. But it COULD have been caused by the conversion.

I highlighted passages in this book too & have Book 3 on my library "wishlist".

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second in the 'town called Hope' series. A well-written light read with a dramatic climax. Christian thread running through, and interesting social history in the American prairies.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiery Caitrin and Blazing Jack find love on the prairie with no little problems, Find and show Gods love.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this as much as the first book in the series. Some aspects of the plot were just too unlikely for me and the ending is a little too pat.

[Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of 3

[Nessy96 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it loved it loved it:)

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't cheesy, or unrealistic, and I love this time period. I would definitely recommend it to romance novel lovers!

[Larik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohhh but they were both spitting fire!!! But that one expression "i love you" can tame not just fire but prejudice and harted as well. Great series, awesome irish-twist...

[Mae_chann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed readingthis story of a man who found hope... literally. it shows that eventhe worst of us have the hope of a new life.

[Sharon Buxton · Rating 3 out of 5]

B. romantic fiction, inspirational, mom's stash, keep, series, #2