From This Day Forward by Lauraine Snelling

Just like coming home. A place to belong, a place to wrap around you. There’s something to be said about a series and writer that makes you want to keep coming back to see what’s going on with the town and characters in the books. And it’s written so that you can clearly picture yourself there right away. You feel as though you live there and know each and every person. Ingeborg is like your own relative. This, as the others in the series, is written in a part of time and way of life that is similar to how I grew up. We’re all so different, and yet the same.

It’s great that Ingeborg is still a pillar of the Red River Valley community and going strong hunting, fishing and driving farm machinery.

This is a romance centered around Deborah, an Assistant at the hospital, and Toby Valders. They have a history in the series, and are now grown and ready for their own romance.  She has an opportunity to leave and study to further her position at the hospital. Will it do Toby good to have her go away for awhile? She’s loved him for a long time, but he takes her for granted. Maybe it will shake him up a little bit. Or perhaps she should just move on. Always prayerfully centered, another story of life’s normalcies and life’s struggles.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Bethany House Publishers - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”.

Revisit Old Friends in Blessing in This Heartwarming Series Conclusion

Deborah MacCallister, head nurse at the Blessing hospital, has loved Toby Valders since her school days, but she's had enough of their on-again, off-again relationship. Toby truly cares for Deborah, but he's never felt like he could commit to marriage or a family.

When Anton Genddarm, the new schoolteacher, comes to town, the young women of Blessing see a chance to force Toby's hand with a little strategic matchmaking. But real sparks fly between Deborah and Anton, and she finds herself in an even more complicated situation. The attention she gets from Anton makes Toby do some serious soul-searching, but is it too late?

Then Deborah receives an invitation to study the latest advances in nursing at a hospital in Chicago, and she faces a hard choice. To leave or stay? Should she give up on the dream of Toby and accept the interest of Anton?

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Streams of Mercy (Song of Blessing #3) by Lauraine Snelling

Another hit about the town of Blessing and its special residents. You can never go wrong selecting a Lauraine Snelling book.  Each minute of your time will be thoroughly enriched. Although it is not necessary to read the other books in the series first to enjoy this, you will be very glad if you did, so that you too can fall in love with each member of this extended family. But be warned - these books will make you hungry. For homemade baked bread and cookies - and to hear more about what's happening to each of the characters. They are not really about just one or two characters - but about a town made up of special people. 

In this book we hear more about Thomas Devlin, a lovable Irish priest who is ever ready to help any and all in any way that he can.  He wasn't easily accepted into this community of Norwegians, but as most Irishmen he grows on you. As you might think, his relationships with the residents can be awkward, but he does grow to care for Anji - who fairly recently lost her husband. Anji's husband's family in Norway tries to control her future remarriage, so that adds one more obstacle to the mix.

The needs of the hospital always seem to be growing, and it is severely challenged in this book - especially after a circus train comes to town.  Lots of heart wrenching issues for the patients and for the doctors and nurses there. 

Once again a pleasure to spend time in Blessing and take part in its growth and progression! 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher from the Baker Publishing Group, Bethany - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “GuidesConcerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

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From the book jacket:

The Heartwarming Drama Continues in the Song of Blessing Series
Anji Baard Moen, a recent widow, returns from Norway with her children. She quickly settles back into life in Blessing, teaching Norwegian history in the high school and writing articles for the Blessing Gazette. When tragedy strikes, Anji steps in to run the newspaper and soon finds a kindred spirit in the widower who owns the printing press. As they spend time together, Anji wonders if there's something more than friendship growing between them.

But Anji has also caught the eye of a recent arrival to Blessing. He has put his carpentry skills to good use on the town's building projects, including Anji's house. But Anji is torn between her feelings of loyalty to someone who needs her and the chance to build a new life with this intriguing newcomer.

Where will her choice take her? 

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A Harvest Of Hope (Song of Blessing) (Volume 2) by Lauraine Snelling

A place and family that I hate to leave!

Return to Blessing, North Dakota 1905 and the Bjorklund family - a Christian Historical Romance.  Hopefully you've read the other books about Blessing and have the rich background to this book. Honestly, for me it's a place and family that I hate to leave. I'm always sorry to see these books end. You can easily picture Ingeborg's farm kitchen and feel comfortable sitting at the table, enjoy the laughter, rage with the trials and cry with the sorrows.

This book continues the story of Trygve and Miriam. Miriam is a nurse undergoing training from Chicago. She's been doing part of her schooling in Blessing and has to return home because of her mother's health, but she's still obligated to come back to finish training. The hospital in Blessing needs nurses and staff, and Miriam is an excellent addition, however temporary. Trygve fell in love with Miriam at first sight, is hoping for a future with her and hopes to change her plans about retuning to Chicago.

Even though this is the story about these two, it also continues the story of the immigrant Bjorklund family as they cope with the death in their family. Hard working, strong people firmly grounded in faith - it is full of realistic, valuable examples and lessons involving the whole community. 

I wish they'd make movies from this series. I so love Lauraine Snelling as an author and as a person. If you're on Facebook you can see her daily posts that bring you in for a hug. Takk Lauraine!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher from the Baker Publishing Group, Bethany - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

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