Leah's Garden Fields of Bounty, Book 03, (Paperback)

Even though this was the first in the series that I've read, it was enjoyable. There were lots of characters to learn and I was a little confused at first, so I recommend reading the first two before this one if possible. The characters were likable and I feel they could be friends of mine if given time and space. The story took place in Salton, Nebraska in the year 1867. The Nielsen family was very close and had to rely on each other through struggling finances, illness and everyday occurrences. Lilac had always had a passion and talent for drawing. When she submitted some of her drawings to a newspaper in New York, they liked them and offered her money for each one on a continuing basis. Being female she had to use her father's initials and have them sent by her brother for them to even be considered for publication. They also owned a boardinghouse which supplied employment for some of the locals. Lilac and her sisters had a farm to run that kept them busy. Two of the sisters were married and Lark and Lilac were not. Their traveling preacher got caught up in some untrue rumors which caused a split in their community. Things looked bleak. All the character's reliance on God was refreshing, even when things didn't seem to go their way. I was totally surprised and blown away with the ending of the book but still enjoyed the overall story I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.

“And will Lilac be prepared for what God has in store for her future?” the back jacket states in Lauraine Snelling's advanced reader copy of Fields of Bounty. ~ What ~ The third book in the Leah's Garden series, this three-hundred-and-twenty-page paperback targets those interested in a historical romance involving an up-and-coming artist who trusts in God as she courts a pastor. With the use of the slang word drat, topics of illness, physical abuse, and death may not be appropriate for immature readers. The book is written with Kiersti Giron. Set in Nebraska in the mid-1800s, this ongoing tale about four sisters continues with the youngest, Lilac, who loves to draw and is infatuated with the small town's pastor. When Ethan asks to court her, she is thrilled but too busy to get to know him and wary that he may not approve of her artwork publications in a newspaper. ~ Why ~ Reading about life in America a hundred-and-fifty years ago has always interested me, and this one is well described. I liked the hometown feeling of the characters and how they continually supported and helped each other while seeking the Almighty for answers. Adding the many written-out Bible verses, hymns, and prayers was thoughtful. I appreciated the ending. ~ Why Not ~ Those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ may not like this story of how trusting God is pertinent to a happy life. Since I did not read the two prior books in the series, I had no clue who was who and was confused by the plethora of characters including their named pets. ~ Wish ~ I hope the final copy includes a list of characters as it would help readers. It would have been ideal to add the eternal plan of salvation, but it may have been in a prior book. I prefer all pronouns of God to be capitalized for reverence. ~ Want ~ If you read the prior books in the series, you may enjoy this one that is updated with old and introduces new characters as they learn to trust in God, but you may get confused with some of the distractions. Thanks to Bethany House and Interviews