Kansas Courtship

After the Storm: The Founding Years #3

by Victoria Bylin

Town founder Zeb Garrison is finally getting his wish—a qualified physician is coming to High Plains. Yet when Dr. N. Mitchell turns out to be the very pretty Nora Mitchell, Zeb is furious. The storm-torn town needs a doctor, but Zeb needs someone he can trust—not another woman who's deceived him. If Nora's going to change his mind, she'll have to work fast. All she has is a one-month trial to prove her worth…to High Plains, and to Zeb.

Genres: Love Inspired, Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Christian, Love Inspired Historical, Historical Romance

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 2010

About the author

If someone had told me twenty years ago that I'd be the author of 20 books, I'd have fallen off my chair. I’m still amazed to see my novels on Goodreads, Amazon, and occasionally the shelves at Walmart.

More than anything, I delight in telling stories that tackle tough issues with faith and compassion. One my most challenging books, Together With You, won the RWA FHL Readers Choice Award for Best Contemporary Romance. I was equally thrilled when The Two of Us made it to the shelves in Target as part of the "Target Recommends" program.

Before writing contemporaries, I wrote westerns for Harlequin Historical and Love Inspired Historical. The LIHs are clean reads. The Harlequin Historicals (no brown banner like the LIHs) were written for the mainstream market. They have Christian themes but gritty content. Some readers won’t care for the language and love scenes. (If you want to know why I wrote them, the story is on my website.)

My two most recent books are independently published. When He Found Me and A Gift to Cherish are a mix of romance and women’s fiction and part of The Road to Refuge series. These stories are particularly close to my heart.

My husband and I now make our home in Lexington, Kentucky, but I’m a California girl at heart. I hope you enjoy my books! For more information, visit https://www.victoriabylin.com

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read. Good end to a good series.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one! Fiesty Doctor verses stubborn male! Classic one. Plus, i love how they continued to incorporate the running story of the missing twins and everything. I'm glad that peace was found and that people came to an understanding that prejudice isn't right...no matter race, religion or color. Sometimes we have to overcome biases that society forms of people or certain jobs, to show that no matter what you do, as long as it's all for His Glory, then you know you are doing it for the right reasons. I just love the interplay between the main characters. The love/hate relationship they have going at the beginning and then both of them letting go and letting God. His way is always the best,but may not be the easiest road at times. Perfect ending to the series.

[Phylisha Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon Troy Centanne's review of:
Kansas Courtship (After the Storm: The Founding Years #3) by Victoria Bylin

Town founder Zeb Garrison is overworked and he knows it. The town of High Plains he helped found only two years before has been devastated by a tornado and he owns the only sawmill in town. To add to his stress, the town doctor has died of old age and he is in charge of finding a new one who can meet the needs of his storm damaged town. He is not happy when his ad for a new doctor results in the arrival of a beautiful red-headed woman. Moral code of the day does not look kindly on a woman practicing medicine, especially on men patients.

Dr. Nora Mitchell has fought hard to get her medical degree back East, and is frustrated when she is constantly turned down for positions specifically because of her gender. So she jumps at a chance to work in the small Kansas town of High Plains, and responds to Zeb's ad as Dr. N. Mitchell.

The lady doctor is not as warmly received in town as she should be, mostly due to Zeb's prejudice. But she makes friends with some the women in town, and is determined to stay and help them recover from the tornado.

In this tale that reminds one of those by author Jane Austen, can the new doctor and the man who reluctantly hires her overcome his prejudice and her pride to address their growing attraction to one another as man and woman? Or will the town and it's gossips stand in the way of their potential happiness?

And what will become of the children in this devastated town? Will Bess ever speak again after the tornado? Will they ever find out what happened to the orphan twins Missy and Mikey who disappeared in the storm? Will disease and the presence of the local Kansa tribe of Native-Americans bring more problems for Zeb and his friends? Read this intriguing and well-written third installment of the Love Inspired series After The Storm: The Founding Years - Kansas Courship and find out!

I highly recommend the entire trilogy in the After The Storm the Founding Years series:
1. High Plains Bride by Valerie Hansen
2. Heartland Wedding by Renee' Ryan
3. Kansas Courtship by Victoria Bylin.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third and final book in this "After the Storm" series was good. But I had a lot of mixed feelings.

The story in itself was interesting. A man discovers the doctor he was hiring was a woman and, in his opinion, incapable of performing the duties they had. Yet, in spite of that, the chemistry is there and Zeb cannot help but to fall in love with the lady doctor. He watches her treat sick children, but doubts any man would ever go to her to be treated.

Then tragedy strikes and things really heat up! In the midst of the tragedy, you have the daughter of the storekeeper again causing trouble, and her trouble is directed right at Zeb!

I thought Zeb was very cruel at times. I know that back then things were different and this was righteous thinking, but I think Zeb just went way too far to the point that he was cruel. I liked him by the end of the book, but it was sure painful getting there!

I also agree with another reviewer who said some of the language used in this book was for modern times - not historical. It was pretty obvious...

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zeb Garrison has been looking for a new Dr for High Plains, Kansas since a year ago when Pete Benjamin's wife died in childbirth along with his son. Dr Dempsey was 82 years old and being run ragged.

He awaited Dr N. Mitchell's arrival hoping this 5th Dr to be interviewed would not be another quack like the previous four, the worst being one they nick named Dr Gruesome.

Dr Nora Mitchell had 14 disappointing refusals already and she was concerned it this would be the 15th. Men just seemed to refuse to believe a woman could be a physician. She would be bold and do her best to fight for the position though.

This is such a great ending to the After The Storm: The Foundling Years series.

We see what happened to the missing twins from the first book.

Will Cassandra choose Clint the cowboy or Percy the attorney as her beau?

Bess is still not speaking after the tornado where she seen what happened to the twins.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ENJOYED this book! I LOVED Dr.Nora Mitchell (and Zeb!) Probably VERY accurate for the time period (1860)....After not being able to get a job in BIG CITY New York, Dr.Nora Mitchell, arrives in a small Kansas town, after a tornado, to start work as the new Dr. (after the OLD Dr. dies.) MOST of the people in the small town don't want ANYTHING to do with a 'WOMAN' Dr., including the man, mill worker, Zeb Garrison, who would like to 'court' her. He just doesn't think a woman has any place as a Dr. at first. Until she proves herself. First, treating a child with measles. Then, literally SAVING his (Zeb's) life after an accident. Good book. Like I said, very accurate for the time, since, woman, weren't allowed to do much more than marry and have babies. Let alone, be a Doctor!

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zeb advertises for a doctor and that's exactly what he gets. Nora knew she was being a little deceptive when she answered the ad and didn't use her name. (Can you blame her!) Zeb gives her a chance and she shows everyone she can do the job.

I read the whole after the storm series(historical & present day) backwards. Reading the historical first worked for me. I loved almost all of the characters(Mrs Johnson and her daughter excluded) and the setting was wonderful because it's close to were I
live (Nebraska). Not a huge fan of multi-author series but all the ladies did a GREAT job on this series.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was a mixed bag for me. I really liked Dr. Nora from the get go: she knew who she was, and that she was a good doctor who deserved respect. She also knew WHOSE she was, and was determined to follow God's leading in her life.
I did NOT like Zeb for a good 80? percent of the book. He was so rude to Nora simply because he didn't think a woman was fit to be a doctor. Even when his two best friends (Will and Pete) expressed their support for Dr. Nora, and their frustration with Zeb's disrespect, he still didn't listen.
I think the way that the two big 'mysteries' of this mini-series were resolved played out quite well.
3.5 stars

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book just as much as the first two in the series. Gratefully, there were enough twists, turns, and surprises in the plot to keep me reading quickly. The main character, Dr. Nora Mitchell, has, in my opinion just the right combination of self-assurance, vulnerability, independence, and kindness to make her likeable. It would have been very easy for her to come across as too bossy or bold, and then the story wouldn't have worked as well. All readers who love historical fiction will find this book delightful, as well as the entire "After the Storm" series.

[Angela Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I read the first half of this book in one day and if I had had another free day I would have finished it in two days. I loved both Nora and Zeb. I liked how Nora did not use her first name in answering the ad for the doctor. I think it was such a shame that women had to fight to do anything in that time but am glad that some people accepted women as equals. I could not put this book down and enjoyed it until the last page. This was the first book I read from The After the Storm series, now I am going to have to find the rest of the series.

[Harlequin Books]

"I couldn't put this book down. I enjoyed the characters and the plot was realistic. I thought Nora was a strong woman, she'd have to be, being a female doctor, and I liked how she relied on God to see her through her ordeals." From an eHarlequin.com member review, read more HERE.

[Heather Tabata · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable story. The town and characters came alive with believable personalities. I couldn't help but root for the spunky Dr. Nora. I didn't realize until I finished the book that it is the third in a series, but I never felt lost. A pleasant stand alone read, but I enjoyed the town so much I plan to read the first two books.

[Christine Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story hooked me from the moment the heroine declared she wanted to be addressed as Dr. Mitchell. I love strong heroines who know what they want and go for it. This novel was a delight from start to finish, keeping me up far too late.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Town founder needs a doctor. When a woman shows up when he's expecting a man, things don't go well. The lady doctor makes the best of things, sparking against the man again and again. . . but still caring about him and the town.

[IrenesBookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one so much I called my friends and told them to read it too. Great story, great setting, good suspense.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Read it in an afternoon. Sweet story.

[Fay Risner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written historical romance.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this! The main character Dr. Nora Mitchell help so many and shows her cares to Zeb Garrison.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series.

[Darina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet romance with a strong female as a leading character.