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Dakotah Treasures #4
Amethyst
Dakotah Treasures Book 4- Major Jeremiah McHenry is retiring from the army and returns to Medora to make a new life and find a wife. Will he be able to convince feisty newcomer Amethyst O'Shaunasy that he is the kind of man she's been looking for? Jacob Chandler, meanwhile, is still waiting until he can court Opal Torvald. Can he prove to Opal that she will make a fine preacher's wife?
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
98 people are currently reading
912 people want to read
About the author
Lauraine Snelling
159 books2,031 followersAward-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).
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).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
August 28, 2017
Amethyst Colleen O'Shaunasy goes West in search of her father's heir. There, finding Jacob she discovers shocking news.
Major Jeremiah McHenry, retired Army, returns to the Dakotah Territory. Will Amethyst and he find love?
What a great ending to this series. I've enjoyed each book, this one tying everything together.
The adventure of riding a train will always captivate me. Reminds me of the 1880's train in Deadwood South Dakota. We've taken it several times, and each time it just gets better.
Life in the Dakotah's, one had to find their own entertainment. People coming together made for great friendships, something missing in today's world.
A house raising, teaching a calf to drink, tending to the cattle, just a few things one gets to experience while reading this book.
Major Jeremiah McHenry, retired Army, returns to the Dakotah Territory. Will Amethyst and he find love?
What a great ending to this series. I've enjoyed each book, this one tying everything together.
The adventure of riding a train will always captivate me. Reminds me of the 1880's train in Deadwood South Dakota. We've taken it several times, and each time it just gets better.
Life in the Dakotah's, one had to find their own entertainment. People coming together made for great friendships, something missing in today's world.
A house raising, teaching a calf to drink, tending to the cattle, just a few things one gets to experience while reading this book.
March 18, 2013
This was my least favorite of the Dakotah Treasures series. It wasn't edited quite as well as the others. Several sentences were difficult to follow due to grammar errors or poor wording. Also, the author sometimes forgot to use "eye" singular instead of "eyes" plural when referring to Jeremiah McHenry towards the end of the book.
I would have liked Opal's romance to have been a bit more romantic and interesting. It was rather dull and I found her character to be rather annoying at times. I usually like realistic stories and she was a teenager and not very feminine, so it made sense. But it didn't make for a terribly exciting book.
Overall, this series was very good. I especially liked the first two books and Ruby's story and Dove House. The description of the badlands made me want to go visit the area and see the landscape myself. I also appreciated that the books didn't get too preachy and completely avoid sexuality like other Christian romance novels did.
I would have liked Opal's romance to have been a bit more romantic and interesting. It was rather dull and I found her character to be rather annoying at times. I usually like realistic stories and she was a teenager and not very feminine, so it made sense. But it didn't make for a terribly exciting book.
Overall, this series was very good. I especially liked the first two books and Ruby's story and Dove House. The description of the badlands made me want to go visit the area and see the landscape myself. I also appreciated that the books didn't get too preachy and completely avoid sexuality like other Christian romance novels did.
November 4, 2015
Dakotah Treasures Book 4- Major Jeremiah McHenry is retiring from the army and returns to Medora to make a new life and find a wife. Will he be able to convince feisty newcomer Amethyst O'Shaunasy that he is the kind of man she's been looking for? Jacob Chandler, meanwhile, is still waiting until he can court Opal Torvald. Can he prove to Opal that she will make a fine preacher's wife?
Too short at the end for Jacob and Opal to be married and so as Jeremiah and Amethyst.
Too short at the end for Jacob and Opal to be married and so as Jeremiah and Amethyst.
September 5, 2013
I enjoyed this set, however I felt that this last book fell somewhat short from an editorial standpoint - the story itself was as good as anticipated, but the frequent use of the wrong word, like receipt instead of recipe became grating. It became more of an issue the further you got in the book and made it feel as if the book had been run through spellcheck quite hastily. I often wonder if publishing houses just don't bother with proofreaders anymore.
October 4, 2018
3.5 again she detailed everything that took to live in Dakotah but the plot was dull. If she would focus on the couples time together, instead she skip that part and go to boring parts.
July 29, 2019
Awesome book! I loved it!
April 3, 2020
Not as good as first two in series....
February 2, 2025
MAJOY SPOILERS!!
I have to say, after Opal, this book was a little bit of a disappointment.
For the first part of the book I really couldn't make myself like Amethyst. Yes, I get that her dad was a jerk but her attitude of always being better was getting on my nerves. As a horse lover, I think what really hit hard was when a horse tried to kick her and she threatened to shoot it. Obviously, that never happened, but it just really annoyed me that this horse seemed to be neglected by her father and then she yells at it, and the end, that's all we hear about it. We never hear a word of repentance from Amethyst.
Amethyst improves, which kind of forced me to get over it.
She became a side character in the book later to make room for Opal again. I really have nothing against Opal at all, she's probably my favorite character. But this book should be called like Amethyst and Opal or something more clear.
Another problem. Atticus told Opal in the end of her book that he was going to come back. He never said to marry her, but it was hinted at. from vague spoilers and the fact that Opal had very abrupt feelings for Jacob, I assumed that their relationship was going downhill, and when his wife wrote and told Opal he was married, that was weird but not unexpected. But I thought Atticus was her best friend! I mean, Opal was just like, "now we can't get married" and forgot about him.
So much that they grew up together, he never even showed up to her wedding, and I don't know if she had even invited him.
Which is a hint that Opal is nothing like herself in this book. Her wild west spirit, strength, and EVERYTHING I loved most about her, were so toned down in this book. Her reaction to the stock dying in the blizzards seemed over the top and took up way too much of the book. And her sudden serious love for Jacob seemed way to fast and unrealistic for her.
Ruby was confusing and also over-reacted about everything. Little Squirrel and her baby die and then Linc leaves without so much as a proper good-bye.
Pearl suddenly was mentioned more than in most of the other books, and getting to know her better made me wish I'd known her better in her book.
Some of the baby conversations definitely got on my nerves too. Towards the end of the book it was more realistic but still overly choppy and not well written.
Overall, this book was fine, but I won't be reading it again, or for that matter, probably not any Lauraine Snelling books. The only very positive things I have to say are, I'm glad Opal and Amethyst both got married, I really like Pearl, and this story held my attention reasonably well.
But I won't be recommending this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2022
I liked Amethyst and really wish more of the book had been about her, and her journey and growth. But as it was, it started off about her then split into several others POV which was annoying. Especially considering the book is named after her and because I didn't like one of the POVs.
Here is what I really didn't like and had a hard time getting past and also a spoiler possibly.
Maybe this is just my twenty first century brain sending off red flags but I get massive creeped out vibes from all of that. And maybe I painted it all in an extra bad light.
So did I hate this book? I really didn't have much interest in the pastor or his story, but Amethyst and her story I enjoyed along with Jeremiah. I thought they were much more suited for each other and much more interesting since they didn't make me mad every time I read about them. I have another book by this author so I am definitely willing to give her another try. However, I did occasionally get a little hint of what felt like feminism, though not really sure.
She is a Christian author and the book in one sense was very clean, unless you feel how I did about it and in that case it doesn't matter how "clean" it is, it is still rather repulsive. So I would give the book maybe four stars if it had focused only on Amethyst and Jeremiah. However, it would have been like one star if it was only about Pastor Chandler and Opal. So I give it three stars as a medium.
Here is what I really didn't like and had a hard time getting past and also a spoiler possibly.
Maybe this is just my twenty first century brain sending off red flags but I get massive creeped out vibes from all of that. And maybe I painted it all in an extra bad light.
So did I hate this book? I really didn't have much interest in the pastor or his story, but Amethyst and her story I enjoyed along with Jeremiah. I thought they were much more suited for each other and much more interesting since they didn't make me mad every time I read about them. I have another book by this author so I am definitely willing to give her another try. However, I did occasionally get a little hint of what felt like feminism, though not really sure.
She is a Christian author and the book in one sense was very clean, unless you feel how I did about it and in that case it doesn't matter how "clean" it is, it is still rather repulsive. So I would give the book maybe four stars if it had focused only on Amethyst and Jeremiah. However, it would have been like one star if it was only about Pastor Chandler and Opal. So I give it three stars as a medium.
July 19, 2025
The winter of 1887-8 in the high plains was one for the record books. It was terribly hard on man and beast and marked a change in open range cattle ranches in the upper Midwest. Many were driven out of business due to the loss of their herds. It was just before Christmas when Amethyst arrived in Medora, weak from sickness, and having no friends or place to go. Her goal is to find Joel O’Shaunasy, a nephew, and take him back east to Smithville and the farm. She ends up at Carl and Pearl’s boarding house and becomes fast friends with Pearl.
Jeremiah McHenry retires from the army and comes back to Medora about the same time. He has lost an eye and has a limp from a wound in his hip. Kentucky, his horse, has an arrow wound and is recovering. Two old warriors returning home so to speak. The attraction is there between McHenry and Amethyst, but it takes time to develop.
It’s not the only love story. Jacob has eyes for Opal, but he has agreed with Rand, her uncle and protector, to wait to court Opal until she is sixteen. The winter takes its toll on Opal. She suffers from depression and questions God why He would allow such a thing. Jacob feels for her and worries as do Rand and Ruby. It does work out in the end.
What’s not to like? Two love stories in the same book and the drama of terrible blizzards and their aftermath make for good reading. Personal relationships are explored, and new friendships are developed. Amethyst meeting Mrs. Grant on the train is fortuitous for both of them. The ending is nicely done and wraps up the series in fine fashion. I liked this one a lot.
Jeremiah McHenry retires from the army and comes back to Medora about the same time. He has lost an eye and has a limp from a wound in his hip. Kentucky, his horse, has an arrow wound and is recovering. Two old warriors returning home so to speak. The attraction is there between McHenry and Amethyst, but it takes time to develop.
It’s not the only love story. Jacob has eyes for Opal, but he has agreed with Rand, her uncle and protector, to wait to court Opal until she is sixteen. The winter takes its toll on Opal. She suffers from depression and questions God why He would allow such a thing. Jacob feels for her and worries as do Rand and Ruby. It does work out in the end.
What’s not to like? Two love stories in the same book and the drama of terrible blizzards and their aftermath make for good reading. Personal relationships are explored, and new friendships are developed. Amethyst meeting Mrs. Grant on the train is fortuitous for both of them. The ending is nicely done and wraps up the series in fine fashion. I liked this one a lot.
May 10, 2023
I felt like there were significant gaps in the overall stories that were lazily filled in or neglected. One of the biggest in this book in particular is what happens with Belle. McHenry goes to find her and we never really know what truly occurred. It seems that Ruby didn’t really follow through on her father’s dying wish, and fulfilling it set this whole series in motion.
I didn’t really buy the romance between Amethyst and McHenry. I could when they were in the boarding house but when she left it was less believable. Likewise, Opal suddenly accepting life as a pastor’s wife and quickly following in love with Chandler was not believable either. Ruby becomes nearly insufferable once she becomes a wife and mother. Her story was so compelling at Dove House but she becomes dull and unlikeable as a ranch wife. This was quite a let down as a conclusion to the series
I didn’t really buy the romance between Amethyst and McHenry. I could when they were in the boarding house but when she left it was less believable. Likewise, Opal suddenly accepting life as a pastor’s wife and quickly following in love with Chandler was not believable either. Ruby becomes nearly insufferable once she becomes a wife and mother. Her story was so compelling at Dove House but she becomes dull and unlikeable as a ranch wife. This was quite a let down as a conclusion to the series
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2017
I wish we could do half stars, because I had a hard time choosing between 3 and 4 for this one. The story is well-written and interesting, and I loved all the historical detail. I did enjoy it.
On the other hand, I feel like it's not really Amethyst's story: the description is misleading. Most of the romance between Amethyst and her hero happens off page while other characters' stories are being told. It almost felt like Amethyst was an afterthought. Since I hadn't read the other books in the series, those other stories were not as interesting to me and just felt like an interruption to the story I had chosen to read.
And as I stated, most of the romantic and character development between Amethyst and Mr. McHenry happens off page, so it wasn't really that satisfying.
On the other hand, I feel like it's not really Amethyst's story: the description is misleading. Most of the romance between Amethyst and her hero happens off page while other characters' stories are being told. It almost felt like Amethyst was an afterthought. Since I hadn't read the other books in the series, those other stories were not as interesting to me and just felt like an interruption to the story I had chosen to read.
And as I stated, most of the romantic and character development between Amethyst and Mr. McHenry happens off page, so it wasn't really that satisfying.
June 11, 2017
I am thankful this series has come to a close . I enjoyed the history of the early days of our nation as settlers were working very hard to build homes and livelihoods . I would not want to live during that time period ,personally , . ...especially when young people married in their middle teen years , forfeiting the needed growth and development as growing children within the safety and comfort of the home .
I did appreciate the author's choice for the male characters to need to learn that before pursuing a woman they wanted for their wives, they needed to change areas of their own lives .
I did appreciate the author's choice for the male characters to need to learn that before pursuing a woman they wanted for their wives, they needed to change areas of their own lives .
April 15, 2020
Another great series in a Dakota Territory. Snelling introduces three ladies and how they fit in to this community. Amethyst is the third lady and the final book in the series. She joins the area from a long train ride from her home in Pa. where here drunken father holds her down and works her to death. Her health is her downfall on her trip west, and she arrives so sick and weak that she has to be rescued from a mound of snow during a blizzard. You will enjoy reading about her as she grows and blooms in this last book of this series.
April 26, 2021
Amethyst
In this series, the four books were done in pairs, so one had to read the first two together to come to a conclusion and then the last two in like manner. I enjoyed all four books and thought about the characters when I wasn't reading. My husband 's people are from this area, so that made it especially interesting. Well done!
In this series, the four books were done in pairs, so one had to read the first two together to come to a conclusion and then the last two in like manner. I enjoyed all four books and thought about the characters when I wasn't reading. My husband 's people are from this area, so that made it especially interesting. Well done!
June 28, 2018
I liked everything about this book except one thing - the May-December romance. I know it was typical of the time period but it kept me from feeling comfortable about it and made it difficult for me to like Jacob.
August 27, 2025
It would have been rated higher if it was only Amethyst story. It was a good book, very interesting, Until halfway through the book, a whole other set of characters were introduced for the first time, then they took over the storyline, which was confusing, not so interesting or enjoyable.
January 20, 2018
Good conclusion to the series. I like that Snelling has strong female characters.
November 24, 2018
good read
November 3, 2020
Enjoyed entire series
The entire series was a very a good read, but this last was extra interesting and enjoyable! Hope you enjoy.
The entire series was a very a good read, but this last was extra interesting and enjoyable! Hope you enjoy.
December 4, 2020
Great story with lots of history, perseverance, and the meaning of true love interspersed with God’s love. I truly enjoyed the series. I would’ve loved to have heard more about Opal in the ending.
January 21, 2021
4.5 stars
March 21, 2021
Two Brides
Again loved the book. Love stories of the pioneers and survival. This was as much about Opal as was about amethyst, but kept me reading. Enjoyed it...
Again loved the book. Love stories of the pioneers and survival. This was as much about Opal as was about amethyst, but kept me reading. Enjoyed it...
October 20, 2021
Liked this book!!!! Will be reading more of this series!
March 12, 2022
Excellent
I may have read this series years ago but I did not remember a bit of it I love all of this authofs books
I may have read this series years ago but I did not remember a bit of it I love all of this authofs books
March 24, 2022
Liked it in my teens years
May 7, 2023
Well worth a read. Great finish to a good series.
May 25, 2023
Always good
January 22, 2024
Amazing!
Anything by Ms. Snelling is spectacular. She did not disappoint! Can’t wait to start another one of her books! Already read most!
Anything by Ms. Snelling is spectacular. She did not disappoint! Can’t wait to start another one of her books! Already read most!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews