Prairie Song: A Novel, Hearts Seeking Home Book 1

About the Book:

The first step in a challenging journey is often the one that means the most. 

Though it means saying goodbye to the beloved friends and spiritual mentors of her St. Charles, Missouri quilting circle, Anna Goben is certain that she needs to enlist her family in the Boones Lick Company wagon train. The loss of her beloved brother in the Civil War has paralyzed her mother and grandfather in a malaise of grief and depression and Anna is convinced that only a fresh start in the Promised Land of California can bring her family back to her. Although the unknown perils of the trail west loom, Anna’s commitment to caring for her loved ones leaves no room for fear—or even loving someone new. 

During the five-month journey, trail hand Caleb Reger plans to keep a low profile as he watches over the band of travelers. Guarding secrets about his past and avoiding God’s calling on his life, Caleb wants to steer as far from Anna as she does him, but she proves to be just as he assessed her from the beginning— independent, beautiful trouble.

Led by a pillar of hope, the group faces rough terrain that begins to take a toll on their spirits. Will the wilderness of suffering lead them astray, or will the gentle song of love that echoes across the prairie turn their hearts toward God’s grace and the promise of a new home? - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9780307731166#sthash.wA2qe1zT.dpuf
The first step in a challenging journey is often the one that means the most. 
 
Though it means saying goodbye to the beloved friends and spiritual mentors of her St. Charles, Missouri quilting circle, Anna Goben is certain that she needs to enlist her family in the Boones Lick Company wagon train. The loss of her beloved brother in the Civil War has paralyzed her mother and grandfather in a malaise of grief and depression and Anna is convinced that only a fresh start in the Promised Land of California can bring her family back to her. Although the unknown perils of the trail west loom, Anna’s commitment to caring for her loved ones leaves no room for fear—or even loving someone new. 

During the five-month journey, trail hand Caleb Reger plans to keep a low profile as he watches over the band of travelers. Guarding secrets about his past and avoiding God’s calling on his life, Caleb wants to steer as far from Anna as she does him, but she proves to be just as he assessed her from the beginning— independent, beautiful trouble.

Led by a pillar of hope, the group faces rough terrain that begins to take a toll on their spirits. Will the wilderness of suffering lead them astray, or will the gentle song of love that echoes across the prairie turn their hearts toward God’s grace and the promise of a new home?


The first step in a challenging journey is often the one that means the most. 

Though it means saying goodbye to the beloved friends and spiritual mentors of her St. Charles, Missouri quilting circle, Anna Goben is certain that she needs to enlist her family in the Boones Lick Company wagon train. The loss of her beloved brother in the Civil War has paralyzed her mother and grandfather in a malaise of grief and depression and Anna is convinced that only a fresh start in the Promised Land of California can bring her family back to her. Although the unknown perils of the trail west loom, Anna’s commitment to caring for her loved ones leaves no room for fear—or even loving someone new. 

During the five-month journey, trail hand Caleb Reger plans to keep a low profile as he watches over the band of travelers. Guarding secrets about his past and avoiding God’s calling on his life, Caleb wants to steer as far from Anna as she does him, but she proves to be just as he assessed her from the beginning— independent, beautiful trouble.

Led by a pillar of hope, the group faces rough terrain that begins to take a toll on their spirits. Will the wilderness of suffering lead them astray, or will the gentle song of love that echoes across the prairie turn their hearts toward God’s grace and the promise of a new home? - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9780307731166#sthash.wA2qe1zT.dpuf
My Review: The first book I read of Miss Hodgson was Twice A Bride,and I was very disappointed, but the author redeemed herself in my eyes with The Quilted Heart Stories (Dandelions on the Wind, Bending Toward the Sun, and Ripples Along the Shore) and I have been a fan since. I adored reading the first book in this great historical romance Hearts Seeking Homes Series by Mona. The characters in this book are characters that were first featured in Mona Hodgson's The Quilted Heart Stories, but the book does great as a stand alone giving enough background to get you up to speed without dragging it out.The characters each have fabulous stories that hook you in and have you either loving them or despising them. Prairie Song is a very moving story the many elements going on within it from overcoming addiction, loss of a loved one,  grief, and the pain it brings to a family, and forgiveness. I really enjoyed the way these elements were weaved together in the story while pointing towards Gods redemptive powers. I would recommend this book to lovers of the old west, Mona and historical romance lovers alike.

Goodreads review
Christian Books review

About the Author

Married forty years to her leading man, Mona from Arizona lives in the Southwest where trees have arms instead of branches, rock yards replace lawns, and salsa takes the place of ketchup. When Mona isn’t writing or speaking at a women’s event, she’s playing Wii games with her Arizona grandson, spending time with her mom, picnicking, chatting on Skype with her grandchildren in Africa.
Mona is a speaker for women’s groups, Christian women’s retreats, book clubs and reading groups, schools, and conferences for writers and librarians. She holds professional memberships in American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Women Writing the West, Christian Author Network (CAN), and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).


Disclaimer: "I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review."

Over the last twenty-five years, Mona Hodgson’s publishing credits have grown to include nearly thirty children's books, contributions to more than ten books for adults, and four historical novels, including her debut, Two Brides Too Many in The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series. Mona is a popular speaker for women's groups, schools, and educators’ and writers’ conferences. She lives in Arizona with her husband and has two daughters and several grandchildren. - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=108368#sthash.2hZ9g7Wp.dpuf

Over the last twenty-five years, Mona Hodgson’s publishing credits have grown to include nearly thirty children's books, contributions to more than ten books for adults, and four historical novels, including her debut, Two Brides Too Many in The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series. Mona is a popular speaker for women's groups, schools, and educators’ and writers’ conferences. She lives in Arizona with her husband and has two daughters and several grandchildren. - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=108368#sthash.2hZ9g7Wp.dpuf
Over the last twenty-five years, Mona Hodgson’s publishing credits have grown to include nearly thirty children's books, contributions to more than ten books for adults, and four historical novels, including her debut, Two Brides Too Many in The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series. Mona is a popular speaker for women's groups, schools, and educators’ and writers’ conferences. She lives in Arizona with her husband and has two daughters and several grandchildren. - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=108368#sthash.2hZ9g7Wp.dpuf

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