Customer Reviews

Blessing in Disguise (Red River of the North #6)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I thought this book was fairly good and definitely better than Tender Mercies. But in both this book and Tender Mercies, Ingeborg and Kaaren were virutally dropped. Blessing in Disguise does deal a bit with Kaaren's school for the deaf, but otherwise there is nothing. I loved the first four books because you really got to KNOW Ingeborg and Kaaren. Who they were, their marriages, their relationship to God and each other. Now they are reduced to the most minor of characters. In fact virtually nothing happens with Ingeborg in either book. I like the how the cast of family and characters is expanding but I'd really like to get back to Ingeborg and Kaaren. Maybe I'm the only only who feels that way. I hope in future books, their story lines will be picked up again.

I am so glad I waited for book six in this series because after book five I was ready to throw in the towel. However, this one more than compensated my determination to finish the series!

Augusta- the oldest Bjorkland daughter is finally immigrating to the United States. Her mother, Bridget is excited to have her join the staff of her new Boarding House in the town of Blessing. Henry has come into Bridget's life, but she is way too old for romance - or is she?

Kane is introduced in the book for the first time and is a bachelor-rancher who has sent for a mail order bride from Norway. He lives a whole state away in South Dakota. A lost letter of explanation lends incredible suspense and disaster to his life.

A cluster of unavoidable situations and horrible consequences because of language barriers lead to some exciting, troubling legal, spiritual and familial fiascoes which take emotional toll and tax the patience of the families of the participants.

The storyline does move from Blessing to the Ranch and the journeys of Hjelmer but Snelling does a great job keeping it systematized and integrated. I found it somewhat frustrating to have to leave a character when the author chose to jump to a different location, but I understood her reasoning.

A good portion of the book is consumed with the search for Augusta, carried out by Hjelmer and Henry at the insistence of Bridget. A generation gap complete with different expectations and considerably exclusive social mores causes part of this book to become a mystery as well.

Many of the original characters are now in the background, and this book primarily features Hjelmer, Bridget, Kane and Augusta. The manner in which their lives become interwoven is masterfully orchestrated and carried out with intrigue, suspense and emotion.

I highly recommend the complete series of six books, and I recently learned that Lauraine Snelling has instituted a down-the-line-sequel series titled "Return to Red River." The first book is called "A Dream to Follow" and I intend to read this new series as well.

I do think the author needs a finer tuned editing system to keep straight the names of her characters, but for the most part, the excitement of this final book in the series more than made up for the slight variations.

The only problem I could see with the Red River Series was that it had ended.I would very much enjoy finding out if Hjelmer and Penny ever became parents and whatever would become of Kaaren"s school.It would have been nice to see all of the Bjorkland children grown and the town grow as well.Ms.Snelling could make them into a saga instead of just a series.I thoroughly enjoyed all of the books.

I for one would like for you to write more about the people you introduced to us in Blessing, N.D. Like, does Penny and Mary Martha have children, does Karen start a school for the deaf, does Zeb McCallister come back and etc.? What those people went through reminded me of my parents and grandparents went through when they came here from Norway many years ago. Thank you for some great reading. Ardith Haraldson

I read this book in the series first. I found it with the new arrivals in the library. I couldn't put it down. When I discovered it was the LAST in a series, I went to find the first book. Ms. Snelling writes in a way that compells you to continue to the next chapter to see what will transpire. It's nice to find a book written this well that is historical fiction!!!. I enjoy reading about the pioneer era in this county. These historical details are a nice addition to the plot of the "lost" heroine Augusta. However,I would suggust reading the books in order.

The 6th book of series won't disappoint you. Almost hesitated to order after the weak review, glad I didn't. Most enjoyable!

I love this series, but Augusta isn't my favorite character and I really wanted to spend more time with the folks in Blessing. I also thought that the plot was a little too far-fetched. Most of what Ms. Snelling writes is very true to homesteading (with the usual concessions to fiction), but this was one was harder to see happening that Augusta would get that lost and not end up dead or used. God does work in mysterious ways, so I can imagine it could have happened, just unlikely. But I was glad to see more of the characters in Blessing!

I was somewhat disappointed in this book. I have read all of the books in the series, and this probably is the weakest one. I did not like the way that the story shifts from Blessing to the Ranch and back again. I would have liked more material about the romance between Augusta and Kane. Maybe this will happen in the next book in the series!

I have read a total of 16 books by Lauraine Snelling on the imigration of the Bjorklund Family who migrated from Norway to the Dakota Territory. Obviously, I greatly enjoy them. You can lose yourself in these pages as the families grow and new investions and methods are discovered during this time in history. This is the beginning series and I highly recommend them!

Blessing in Disguise (Red River of the North #6)

Lauraine Snelling has given us another great book to end her, "Red River Of The North" series. ALTHOUGH, there are more books! The next book, "A Dream To Follow" in the "Return To Red River" series finds the Bjorklunds and families that you have missed hearing about. Going back to this particular book, "Blessing In Disguise," has no deaths. I've read all of this series (plus the next ones) twice now, and find this book a good one; very true to life from an immigrant's perspective. It is a great book, intertwined with a surprising love story. You'll also find a new building in town, another family member arrives from the old country, more new faces, a lost immigrant, an addition to Kaaren's life, 2 marriages, and a great ending for all involved in the mystery of this story. North Dakota has become a state, with a family member involved in this historical journey. Snelling has brought us through a family's journey from Norway all the way through the state of North Dakota being founded. As a genealogist and history buff, I've loved the series and am VERY happy to keep reading. I'd call the next book, "A Dream To Follow" (in the new Return To Red River series), book #7 in Lauraine Snelling's ORIGINAL series! You must read this book, and the next book, and you'll find just what you're looking for! The beginning families that you knew and loved, and the next generation growing a few years older and finding new lives. This book, "Blessing In Disguise" brings in the characters to move us along to the next series. You won't want to move from your chair as you read this. A MUST read (as is the next one!).