Customer Reviews

Becoming Lucy: Winds Across the Prairie Book 1

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Young Lucinda Bishop has just lost the two most important people in her life - her parents. Transplanted from high society life in Boston to a ranch in Oklahoma, she must now try to pick up the pieces of her life as she tried to replant her roots to live with her Aunt and Uncle is a place that is unfamiliar to her, with strange people, alien customs and a love that she never expected.

I am looking forward to reading subsequent novels in this "Winds Across the Prairie" series by Martha Rogers. "Becoming Lucy" is the charming story of a refined young woman who must rediscover herself in a new and overwhelming environment. Godly principles find themselves in the forefront of this novel as Lucinda's Uncle Ben takes one of his ranch hands under his wing to mentor him in relationship to the Lord.

Although some of the dialog seems a bit awkward at times, and parts of the narrative feel forced in certain places, this is a book I will recommend to anyone who enjoys a bit of adventure woven together with romance and faith in God. This was a worthwhile way to sped several hours of my time.

Boston 1896, Lucinda Bishop was a seventeen year old young woman and had just lost her parents in a buggy accident. She was down to inherited a large estate when she turned eighteen, but her uncle Rudolph Bishop was very angry that he did not receive more of his brother's estate.


Her uncle Ben and aunt Amelia from the Oklahoma territory invited Lucinda to go home with them as she had no one else to live with. She would get to meet her cousins and have someone to love her. So this is what she did and had to learn a completely new way of life. She had grown up with servants and cooks, so all she knew how to do was play the piano and embroidery. She soon learned some of the skills of keeping a home. She met Jake Starnes that worked for her uncle Ben and she was very attracted to him, but he had a secret of his own.



Some things started to happen to Lucinda that could not be understood as she was being shot at and no one knew who it was and why. Then Jake received God into his heart and had to go back to Texas to confess to some things in his past. What will happen to Luncinda latter called Lucy and Jake?


I though this was a very interesting book as I have read the others in the series but not this first one, so now I know how it all begin and I will go back and read them all together. Martha Rogers is a very good author and comes up with some great ideas.


This book was sent to me by Strang Communications Co. for my honest review.

I was looking for new Christian fiction authors and came across Martha Rogers on the Family Fiction website. I loved this book. Rogers had a great and easy writing style and I am definitely going to get the rest of the books in the series.

I read BECOMING LUCY in an odd roundabout way. I actually read MORNING FOR DOVE first, as part of a review group I belong to. I enjoyed it enough that I wanted to start at the beginning and get the background on some of the characters. Though BECOMING LUCY was entertaining, I think I enjoyed MORNING FOR DOVE more.

BECOMING LUCY is about Lucinda Bishop, a soon to be heiress that travels west to live with her aunt and uncle. Once there, this city bred girl learns the subtle differences between Boston and Oklahoma. At first, Lucinda is uncomfortable with the casualness of life, but soon discovers she likes the relaxed attitude and one hired hand in particular. She knows she shouldn't have such feelings for Jake Starnes, someone she just met, but somehow her heart trumps her head.

Jake Starnes is a hired hand for Ben and Amelia Haynes. A quiet guy with a sad disposition, he finds himself captivated by the beautiful Lucinda. With a jaded past and an uncertain future, he knows he has nothing to offer Lucinda. But soon, he realizes he is willing to do anything to be with her, even if it means losing his life.

There were definite high notes in BECOMING LUCY, but there were also opportunities lost. The dangerous relationship between she and her treacherous uncle in Boston could have been played out so much better, and the time Lucinda and Jake spent apart seemed tiresome to the reader. Not quite as captivating as MORNING FOR DOVE, but still an enjoyable read.

Lucinda Bishop is a girl who has lost everything that is dear to her, and is trying to find her place in life following the death of her parents. Jake Starnes has endured too much tragedy in his young life, and doesn't believe that God loves him and can forgive his past sins. Lucy's aunt, uncle, and cousins all love and support these two and encourage them to be their very best.

The mystery shootings also added an element of suspense to this book, without making it a suspenseful book, if you know what I mean. I've always loved the cowboy code of honor, and how they take care of damsels in distress, so I automatically fell in love with the cowboys who helped Lucy. I really liked this book and its characters and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

1896 Oklahoma

When 17-year-old Lucinda Bishop loses both parents in a carriage accident, the young heiress must leave her home in Boston and travel to live with relatives in the untamed Oklahoma territory. It's a far cry from the refined surroundings to which she's accustomed, but Lucinda determines to make the best of her circumstances. She's blessed to have a loving family who are willing to welcome her into their home--and to protect her from the danger she doesn't even know stalks her every step.

Lucinda's sheltered past leaves her ill-prepared for many things about her new life...perhaps most of all her heart's reaction to handsome ranch hand Jake Starnes.

Jake is running from a past that could very well destroy any future he might have with the beautiful girl from Boston. As she and her family introduce him to a God Who loves him regardless of his mistakes, Jake comes to realize that he must return to the very place he ran away from, though doing so will almost certainly mean his death.

Will God make a way where there seems no way for Jake and Lucinda?

A sweet, heart-tugging romance with a strong thread of faith woven throughout. The Haynes family and Lucinda are wonderful examples of what it means to utterly depend on God, and to possess simple, unswerving belief that He is and that He cares. Martha Rogers' has peopled her first novel with well-rounded, believable characters; authentic historical detail; a touch of humor; a healthy dollop of emotion; and page after page of riveting reading. Becoming Lucy is a wonderful introduction to the Winds Across the Prairie series. I eagerly anticipate a return trip to Barton's Creek, Oklahoma and the wonderful folks who call it home.

In 1896 Boston, following the tragedy that took her parents, Lucinda Bishop buries her beloved mama and papa on the same day. Her maternal Aunt "Mellie" Amelia and Uncle Ben Haynes offer her a home on their Oklahoma Territory ranch though the seventeen years old heiress would prefer to remain in Boston. Her paternal Uncle Randolph is outraged when the kindhearted attorney Mr. Sutton explains he inherited only 10K as the bulk of the estate went to his niece in trust until she turns eighteen. Lucinda remains behind to close the estate before heading west.

Ranch hand Jake Starnes expects a little orphaned girl based on his employer Mellie's description. Instead when he meets her in Barton Creek to take her to the ranch, he sees a Boston beauty. He vows not to want her as he believes he is unworthy of her love as an incident in his past hangs over him though he feels a kinship to her having lost his parents when he was fifteen. As they fall in love, while someone stalks Lucinda, he realizes he must confront his demon now knowing that God and Lucinda are in his heart.

The first Winds Across the Prairie tale is an interesting western inspirational romance starring a wonderful lead female who comes west as Lucinda but quickly becomes Lucy the rancher and a hero who finds love when he finds Jesus. The support cast consists of warm friendly welcoming Sooners and a couple of nasty Easterners. Although the tale is not for everyone as the Christian messages are heavily stated, fans will enjoy Lucinda's story of moving on from grief to happiness and love with the Lord to guide her.

Harriet Klausner

When orphaned Lucinda is forced from the city to the country, she enters more than just wilderness: she enters a strange new life. But when she turns 18 in a year, she inherits a fortune and can dust her boots off and return to the city. Except she's met a handsome cowboy! Lucy discovers leaning on the Lord and letting Him direct her paths proves to be the best choice.

Martha Rogers' debut novel sparkles. I loved Lucy and look forward to the next book in the Winds Across The Prairie series.

Becoming Lucy is a sweet love story between a young heiress and a lonesome misfit. Martha does a wonderful job taking us through the struggles of a coming-of-age young woman and her handsome admirer who just so happens to be hiding from the law. Martha paints a world where family is a matter of the heart and not necessarily of blood. For that reason we give it 3 stars for strong family values.

Some books you just connect with, and others you don't. This one sounded very promising and the cover just invites you to pick it up. Becoming Lucy was a historical novel that just fell flat for me. Oh, I liked Lucinda well enough, although she and her family were just a bit too perfect. Jake was a nice guy, but his story was predictable. Some of the characters are a bit colorful, which helped. The conflict between Lucinda and her uncle was washed over and wrapped up too neatly. I think the premise held a lot of potential, but delivered little. My copy is an ARC and I found many inconsistencies and annoying editing details that I hope are cleaned up in the final version.

Clean, Christian romance that will appeal to many, just not to me this time.