The Bluebird and the Sparrow is another great piece of Janette Oke's collection of historical fiction. The author centers the plot around realistic sibling rivalry between sisters. One sister, Berta, has always considered herself outshone by her more glamorous and attractive sister, Glenna. Increasingly, Berta finds herself feeling more and more resentful of her sister and everything she does. She determines to be and act the exact opposite of her sister. She nurtures her resentment, looking for the opportunity to outshine her sister for once. As she grows up, she realizes their is a great gulf that separates them and prevents them from being as close as two sisters could be. Will she discover it is her own attitudes and feelings that have separated the two sisters and not because of Glenna's vivacity and attractiveness? Will she realize that God has created every person unique and special in time to bridge this expanse between them?

A heartwarming story that made me confront my own feelings of jealousy and resentment towards my own sister. A feeling that I'm sure every sibling has felt towards another at sometime in their life. A joyful and optimistic read.

When young Emily Evans went off the Bible School, she had all she could do just to keep up with her studies, let alone discover God's will for her life. That discovery seemed to be limited to those who had everything together, not for those who struggled even to make it to class on time. Then comes the chapel hour when the vast needs of the prairie settlements are presented. To her surprise, Emily feels God's call into full-time Christian service. Emily expects that along with His calling, God will also provide her with a companion to share her life and ministry. But Emily does not feel comfortable with agreeing to marry any of the young men who present themselves. The decision is made: On her own, Emily will take on the task of opening a new church in a pioneer community. But were those struggling years of Emily's training sufficient preparation for all the responsibilities and challenges of running a parish? Is her faith planted firmly enough to not be shaken by local doubters? It is one thing for her church to have faith enough to send her, and quite another for her faith to sustain her away from family and friends. A Timeless Story of Enduring Strength and Commitment Through Hardships and Joy. (c) Amazon.com

Another Janette Oke I haven't read!!! Will wonders never cease? :)

George McMannus traveled night and day from his wilderness cabin when the tragic news arrived that his daughter and son-in-law had died in a river accident. His only granddaughter, Kendra Marty, not yet four years old, had been left behind. McMannus was her only family, but what could a trapper, living alone in the backwoods, do to care for Kendra? She was such a tiny thing so small to have lost so much. He should have known from the first time he looked into those large green eyes that the two of them belonged together. The one small child, firmly clutching a worn rag doll, was his, and he was hers. Papa Mac, as Kendra came to call him, knew her place was with him. But what kind of home, what kind of training, could he provide in a wilderness of mountains and trees and rivers that no one had even named? Although he did not have answers, he felt he must at least try. Will Kendra ever be ready to face the scary and confusing world far from the wilderness she loves? (c) Amazon.com

I read this one so long ago I can not accurately comment on it. It will go on my "reread" list!

Anna Trent felt fortunate to finish the eighth grade with first-class honors. Already past her sixteenth birthday, most of the girls her age had been forced long ago to drop out to help at home. She loved school loved to learn, loved the excitement of new discoveries, loved the quickening of her pulse as she shared some great adventure in the pages of a book. And now that is over. The oldest child in a farming family with six young brothers, Anna is shy, sensitive and a bit self-conscious. But when Austin Barker comes to their church to fill the pastorate for the summer months, the young seminarian is captured by Anna's admirable qualities, especially her intense desire to learn. Through his books and correspondence, Anna's education continues to expand, and the sweet country girl grows into a lovely woman. When they meet again, will she be able to believe that Austin's words are sincere? Despite the compassion and grace she so effectively lives, and despite her selfless commitment to God and His Word, what can she do when time does not erase the inadequacy she feels or her struggles with the standard that measures her heart? Will she ever be able to see herself as others do? If only the feelings of guilt and inadequacy would go away-. (c) Amazon.com

I have yet to read this one myself yet. I plan to soon!

This is a wonderfully gentle love story; a love story of a sister for her siblings and a love story between a young woman and her lifelong friend. When their parents die, the children are left to depend upon their older sister and brother, Angela and Thomas. Angela gives up her future and any chance of romance in order to care for the children. She and her brother find themselves slipping into natural roles as parents for their younger siblings. Along the way they discover that their own dreams and desires have been long buried and feelings of longing begin to surface. Would it be irresponsible to seek out lives for themselves apart from their siblings? Who would want to burden themselves with a ready-made family anyways? What does the Lord expect them to do? Sacrifice their lives and futures for the benefit of the family?

This is a courageous love story of a young family trying to survive in the west and follow their own dreams at the same time. Just when Angela convinces herself to give up on her own dreams, circumstances change and she is suddenly aware of the possibilities for her own life. Will she chose to follow her heart or her feelings of responsibility or is there room for a compromise? This is one of my all-time favourite love stories!!! I definitely recommend this as a delightful read! A great book from Janette Oke!

She was almost fifteen on the night she dared for the first time to think of what life might be like away from home. Pa again had come home drunk and mean; the trauma of the subsequent scene had been repeated as long as Damaris could remember. The idea that she no longer needs to tolerate this, that maybe she's old enough to manage on her own, is planted in her mind and begins to grow. She must plan her escape carefully, but she must get away from him. When the opportunity comes, Damaris carries with her the strength of her mother's love. Two treasures hidden for years from her father her grandmother's lacy golden brooch and her grandfather's lovely watch are Damaris' only legacy from her past. That and her name. Her mother said it came from the Bible and had a special meaning that she can't remember anymore. What difference might it make? But Damaris can't escape the "aloneness" that haunts her life or the bitterness she feels when she sees others suffering, particularly children. Ultimately, she must come to terms with her past, learn to live in her present circumstances, and trust her future to another Father. She Discovered Much More Than the Meaning of Her Name in That Book. (c) Amazon.com

A wonderful tale of how God will search us out until we discover His love for us that has been with us all along. Another good Janette Oke book.

Only the thinnest strand of the past holds the mother and daughter together - The sudden death of her husband had left Sarah Perry and her baby Rebecca alone in their small frontier town. The question from a kind neighbor woman, "What do you plan to do?," seemed impossible to answer. All that remained was their home and the freight-hauling business if sold, it would be at a loss. Sarah was not trained for any job, and she had nowhere to turn. But Sarah resolved for Rebecca's sake to put her life back together and go on. And to everyone's surprise, Sarah finds a way. But the choices forced upon her by life on the frontier are very hard, especially the question of how to care for Rebecca. The most difficult decision comes when Sarah determines that the best thing for her little daughter's future is to send her away to boarding school. But the distance that separates them over the years cannot be measured in miles. When the day finally arrives that Rebecca comes home, both mother and daughter find themselves viewing each other from two different worlds. What hope is there of restoring the bond that once was between them? (c) Amazon.com

I haven't read this book yet myself but look forward to doing that in the near future.

No one in the small lumber town of Calder Springs, tucked away in the remote setting of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, was prepared for the news. When the men of the village left for another day of work at the lumber mill, they did not know their lives would be dramatically changed. But without warning the mill closing was announced. The local timber supply was gone, and the harsh reality was that no mill would open to replace what was lost. Without the lumber industry, the town would die they had seen it happen before-. No jobs, no future, and worthless homes on their hands. The best anyone can hope for is to relocate and start over. John and Julia Harrigan had lived a tranquil, prosperous life in Calder Springs. The death of the town involves John's work, their lovely home and a bright future for their daughters. Raised in the East and educated in a fine school, Julia Harrigan seemed an unlikely candidate to change the grim reality. But by the grace of God and for the sake of John and her children, Julia decides they must find a way to save the town and home they love. Join Julia in discovering new depths of faith and hope in God. (c) Amazon.com

Although it has been awhile since I've read this one, I do remember that I enjoyed it. Check it out for yourself!

The Drums of Change describes the inevitable and crushing changes that were forced among the Indian peoples by the Protestant Church during the time of great upheaval with the establishment of reserves and mission schools. It details the story of Running Fawn who is sent from the reserve to the mission school in the city to learn and bring back knowledge to her people. This departure from her normal life terrifies Running Fawn who loves her people and their camps and desperately does not want to leave them. Will she gather enough resolve and bravery in her heart to do as the chief desires and attend the school? What of the chief's son, Silver Fox, who seems so willing to leave the camp and attend the school? How can he so willingly abandon his own people? While Running Fawn wants to reach out to him for friendship and companionship. she resents him for his willingness to leave his people and to learn of the white man's God. She despises his choice and refuses to let him tell of his knowledge of this new God. When she finds herself in trouble, it is Silver Fox who comes to her aid. Will she allow him to teach her and show her of his love for his God? Will God be able to melt her frozen heart before she returns to her people?

This was a sad story of the changes forced upon the Indians during that time of great upheaval. Some Indian Chiefs chose to make use of the mission schools by sending people to learn the white man's ways, rightly seeing that that was the only direction left to them now that they were limited to small reserves. Janette Oke gently tells the story of hurt and frustration, weaving in God's redeeming qualities throughout it all. Nonetheless a terrible experience, it is told with empathy and great compassion for the Indian people. I enjoyed it and would recommend reading it for the great story it is as well as for the history it depicts.

A Gown of Spanish Lace is a wonderful novel depicting the life of a western school teacher and the life she leads living with her parents in a rough mountain town. Ordinary at first, Ariana's life changes suddenly when she is abducted and held hostage in a camp of bandits. She soon discovers a possible ally among these rough and frightening men in the camp. She teeters on the verge of horror one minute and boredom the next as she spends weeks in this rough camp. Will she ever see her adoptive parents again? Who is this man who appears to be her ally but is also the boss' son? What secrets does the chest hold and will she ever have the chance to wear her mothers wedding dress - the one so carefully saved that links her to her birth parents, long dead? What devastating discovery will be made before the story ends?

This book contains a curious mystery that I did not figure out until it was disclosed at the end of the story! I very much enjoyed speculating as I read and was pleasantly surprised as well. This is also a gentle love story woven in among the mystery. A definite recommend to read!!!

Responding to an Advertisement, She Crossed an Ocean to Meet a Total Stranger and Became a Mail-Order Bride- Kathleen O'Malley stood on the deck of the Barreth Lily and watched the land she'd called home for more than a dozen years slip from her view. She had thought she would be glad to see the last of it, but she was not. Emotions in turmoil, her whole being yearned to slip from the ship and return to what she knew. Even though Kathleen had not been happy with her situation, it was all she had ever known. As the shoreline faded into the morning mist, her only certainty was that she was bound for America to marry a man whose name she did not even know and whose face she had never seen. On the other side of the Atlantic, Donnigan Harrison anxiously awaits Kathleen's arrival on a prairie farm far from her port of arrival in Boston. He has known the wonder of a dream fulfilled a snug frame cabin, the sturdy log barn and outbuildings, a fine herd of livestock, and crops in the field that made his eyes sparkle. Yet Donnigan felt a loneliness on the western frontier that pierced his very soul. With so limited opportunities for finding a wife, the notion of ordering a wife that once seemed unthinkable had come to make some sense. Now that the time has come, Donnigan feels like a small boy waiting for Christmas. But Donnigan's anticipation is overshadowed with terrifying uncertainties What have I done? And that question is echoed in Kathleen's heart.... (c) Amazon.com

This story reminds me of a poster I saw displayed at Fort Edmonton that said "URGENT! Thousands of nice girls are wanted in the Canadian West. Over twenty thousand men are sighing for what they cannot get - wives. Shame! Do not hesitate: COME AT ONCE! If you cannot come, send your sisters. No reasonable offer refused. They are all shy - but willing. All prizes! No blanks! Hurry up now, girls, and do not miss this chance. Some of you will never get another." I roared with laughter when I read this poster and I imagine I would enjoy this as-of-yet unread book.

They Called Her Mrs. Doc is a bittersweet love story. Bitter because all lives must eventually come to an end here on earth and loved ones left behind, but sweet because of all the years enjoyed together, loving, trusting, helping.

A young woman discovers she is dissatisfied with her established and promising social life in the home of her noted physician father. She has her choice of promising young doctors to choose from who regularly dine with her family as her father's protege. Yet none of these exciting, young men seem to appeal to her until she meets a more unlikely young man who is neither wealthy nor schooled in social graces. However, his honest and sincere desire to return to his home town to serve the people there in his medical practice wins her heart. Now if only she could convince him to return to the "city" where the real life is after a year or two. She can never imagine herself feeling satisfied with this sleepy little town. However, the magic of these people in this small town works wonders on her heart and soon she begins to wonder how she could ever live any place else.

A wonderful story that could have been set in many of the quaint small towns across the Canadian west. It displays many of the idealized qualities of small town life and gently develops the readers love of this town and its people as well. I loved well and also cried hard during this book! It was a great read!!!