Dakota: Four Inspirational Love Stories in America's Final Frontier

Dakota Plains #1-4

by Lauraine Snelling

The wide-open plains of the Dakota Territory form the setting for the lives and loves of four inspiring woman making their way in the New World. This captivating volume combines three of bestselling author Lauraine Snelling's novels under one cover, along with a bonus novella. Norwegian Nora Johanson welcomes the Dakota Dawn expecting to marry Hans, a prosperous farmer. But when the New World's promises turn into painful uncertainties, Nora discovers God's plan is bigger than her grandest dreams. Armed with a water-stained letter, a faded photograph, and a ticket from Norway to America, Clara Johnson journeys to Soldall ready to fall into the arms of her Dakota Dreams. But who she meets instead is a rough and rugged blacksmith named Dag Weinlander. Rebekka Stenesrude has poured her life into her students, only to see her beloved school burned to the ground. Jude Weinlander arrives with the job of rebuilding the fire-ravaged school, but before the Dakota Dusk they realize their main interest could be in building a future together. Since childhood, Mary Moen and Will Dunfrey have been best friends, but now the war to end all wars - World War I - brings news that Will is missing in action. Two years pass and another man's marriage proposal awaits Mary's decision. Who is her Dakota Destiny? Journey with these courageous women as they make their homes in the Dakota plains - and allow God to fulfill the desires of their hearts in unexpected ways.

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

400 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1998

About the author

Award-winning and bestselling author Lauraine Snelling has over 80 books published with sales of over 4.5 million. Her original dream was to write horse books for children. Today, she writes adult novels about real issues centered on forgiveness, loss, domestic violence and cancer in her inspirational contemporary women’s fiction titles and historical series, including the favorite, Blessing books about Ingeborg Bjorklund and family.

Lauraine enjoys helping others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the county. She and her husband Wayne have two grown sons, and a daughter in Heaven. They live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a Basset named Sir Winston ob de Mountains, Lapcat, and “The Girls” (three golden hens).

Reviews

[Cerra Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the stories, though as each story progressed they seemed to get more and more rushed. Still, it was a good book to read.

[Christine Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an omnibus of the Dakota Plain's series that includes the three novels Dakota Dawn, Dakota Dream, and Dakota Dusk, with the novella Dakota Destiny. A period Christian Romance series that threads together interesting characters and a hint of adventure. These are fun romantic stories, feel good reads set on a very harsh existence in the Dakota region. I enjoyed these fun stories and particularly liked the thread of Norwegian throughout. A good, relaxing read.

[Rymington Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a good set of stories. Book one was a bit too heavy on the scripture and I did not feel like it was well balanced. The second book was my favorite of the 3 by far and I really enjoyed the good balance between the story line and scripture. Book 3 was okay but I felt like it was left unfinished and it did not get an epilogue at the end like the first two. Then book 4 was good but it also felt a bit unfinished in terms of the character development and also did not get an epilogue.

[Fanny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little love story’s from back then !

[Zoe · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 I didn’t hate it but it was just ok to me. I pretty much just skimmed through most of it.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

The wide-open plains of the Dakota Territory form the setting for the lives and loves of four inspiring woman making their way in the New World. This captivating volume combines three of bestselling author Lauraine Snelling's novels under one cover, along with a bonus novella. Norwegian Nora Johanson welcomes the Dakota Dawn expecting to marry Hans, a prosperous farmer. But when the New World's promises turn into painful uncertainties, Nora discovers God's plan is bigger than her grandest dreams. Armed with a water-stained letter, a faded photograph, and a ticket from Norway to America, Clara Johnson journeys to Soldall ready to fall into the arms of her Dakota Dreams. But who she meets instead is a rough and rugged blacksmith named Dag Weinlander. Rebekka Stenesrude has poured her life into her students, only to see her beloved school burned to the ground. Jude Weinlander arrives with the job of rebuilding the fire-ravaged school, but before the Dakota Dusk they realize their main interest could be in building a future together. Since childhood, Mary Moen and Will Dunfrey have been best friends, but now the war to end all wars - World War I - brings news that Will is missing in action. Two years pass and another man's marriage proposal awaits Mary's decision. Who is her Dakota Destiny? Journey with these courageous women as they make their homes in the Dakota plains - and allow God to fulfill the desires of their hearts in unexpected ways.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains all but one of the "Dakota Plains" Series! Sometimes it seems disjointed, but overall it's a good read.

The last book, "Dakota Destiny" starts out with Mary Moen coming home from school, which has her brother Daniel excited when she arrives. Ingeborg, her mother, welcomed her as if she'd been gone for a long time, although it had only been a few months. In another year Mary would be able to teach school anywhere in North Dakota! Daniel had helped peal the apples for her welcome home apple pie, & he hadn't eaten all the crust cookies! While she was gone, her Far had put in electricity, but it had been the decision of the church board. When her father, John, arrived home he welcomed her enthusiastically! She noticed that he had aged in the few months she had been gone. Will Dunfey arrived & was welcomed to stay to eat. Mary could hardly turn her gaze away from his deep blue eyes. The dinner conversation included Mrs. Norgaard's purchase of an automobile, since she felt she was too busy to get old. At one time Mrs. Norgaard had held classes so they could speak better English & grow up to be proper young ladies. Will seemed lost in his thoughts, was something wrong? Her father also had a similar look. That night Mary & Will declared their love for each other. Then Will told her that he had enlisted to fight the Germans, and part of Mary seemed to die.

[Janis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love series stories and these are four connected stories that are short (100 to 140 pages) so I can grab the book and read one story on a busy day. These stories are set in the early 1900s on the Dakota plains. The first story starts with Nora, a Norwegian girl, coming to North Dakota to marry the man she had promised to marry before he immigrated to the U.S. to seek his fortune. The second story introduces us to Nora's younger sister, Clara, who arrives in North Dakota to marry a man who sent her a letter, a photograph and a ticket to come to North Dakota. The third story follows the life of Rebekka, the schoolmarm and the events that happen to the school and town. The final story is about Mary, eldest daughter of the Lutheran pastor we met in the first story, who is going to school to become a teacher. She comes home for the summer, just in time to say goodbye to the man she loves as he leaves to fight in the first World War.

[Tawny · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sweet and refreshing. Favorite lines:
1. "This is the day that the Lord hath made. I will rejoice and be glad in it" (31).
2. "Sometimes I think God gave us heavy work so we can live through life's sorrow. . . . But crying and laughing again makes the sorrow easier to bear" (96).
3. "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine" (181).
4. "[Mother] says He forgives even before we ask, that's what sending His Son to die for us meant. Forgiveness and love that never dies"(196).
5. "I learned a long time ago that the best revenge is letting God handle the situation" (313).
6. "God is love and His grace is made perfect in our human weakness" (450).

[Abbi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Each of the stories seemed to start out good (except for the head jumping)but then it seemed like the author ran out of time and had to hurry and finish it. Especially the last one it was over 2 years in 61 pages.

[Partridge Public]

Snelling, Louraine PB

[Cws]

JF-YASne

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty good. It's just a nice easy read. I like how it has 4 different stories.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy books about romance in the early days on the plains. People were different then and life was hard in some ways but somehow seemed more real.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really really good. All three novels in this collection are really really great love stories. The only one I wasn't fond of was the short novella at the end, the one about Mary.

[Carlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first two stories were good. The third and fourth seemed rushed and a little lacking but overall- good.

[Rena]

Very interesting book. really liked it.

[Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4-Book Collection
**LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Lauraine Snelling.
*I LOVE NORWEGIANS! :J