Customer Reviews

Dakota Child (The Dakota Series #1) (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical #40)

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

 

 

In Dakota Child, Linda Ford, who has written over twenty published novels, weaves a story rich in tenderness that depicts the struggles of two "misfits" in 1890s America. Though they see themselves as flawed, Vivian Halliday and Billy Black are willing to lay aside their own desires and dreams to protect those entrusted in their care.

Young, unwed Vivian is lost in a blizzard with her two-month-old son, Joshua. A huge but kind man rescues them and shelters them in his home until the weather improves. Wary but grateful Vivian is surprised when she realizes he's Big Billy, a childhood acquaintance, but she panics when his screeching, emotionally unstable mother, dubbed Mad Mrs. Black by taunting town folk, reacts hostilely toward her.

Determined to confront and wed the man who seduced her and fathered her infant, Vivian confesses her sin and guilt to Billy. He agrees to help her by taking her to town to find the man, an act he'd normally shun to avoid reoccurrences of the ridicule he and his mother suffered due to her erratic behavior and his large size. In town Billy and Vivian are dismayed to discover her potential husband-to-be has gone away for an undisclosed period of time. With no place else to go, she and Joshua return home with a reluctant Billy, who knows their presence will upset his mother. His concerns prove true, for Mrs. Black wants Vivian and the baby gone and makes sure everyone knows it. Billy takes on the role of peacemaker but secretly wishes that Vivian and Joshua would stay. And Vivian learns to appreciate Billy and doesn't want to leave, but she must for Joshua's sake.

Dakota Child deals with several issues: the guilt, shame, and fear that results from bearing a child out of wedlock, the lack of rights and other difficulties foundling children face, bigotry and cruelty toward people who are "different," unprincipled men who steal from the innocent, and unforgiveness. Through their trials, our hero and heroine continually turn to the Lord in prayer, and even when Billy offers up a desperate, selfish prayer, his frailty only makes him more precious.

I definitely recommend Dakota Child. It's a testimony of God's provision and forgiveness, and the power of unconditional love that works to change people's hearts and lives.

The Guy: Big Billy Black, a giant of a guy with a gentle disposition - think Hoss from Bonanza, only with conventional rugged good looks - who lives on the outskirts of a Dakota town with his mother, who is suffering from PTSD from her years as an Indian captive. He loves animals and avoids the town because he's been treated like a monster freak by the townsfolk - not only because of his size, but because of his mother.

The Girl: Vivian Halliday, a local girl who lost her parents and was sent to an orphanage, then got knocked up by the banker's son. After popping out the sprog, it was taken from her, but she steals it back and hies off to Quinten to present the Baby Daddy with an undoubtedly welcome little surprise.

The Setup: There's a raging snowstorm - as tends to happen up thar in Dakota Territory - and Vivian prays that someone will find her before she gets lost in the blizzard with her baby. Of course Billy shows up at the right time, and takes her back home with him where they fall in love, but Vivian is determined to attempt marriage with her baby's father first and give the kid a name.

The Good Stuff: I was surprised by this one for most of it. It wasn't too bad of a story, and the hero was very believable in his desire to shun human interaction because of past hurts. Also, the guilt he felt that he didn't prevent his mother's abduction by Indians tied into his determination to never leave her again, especially when she obviously needs someone to take care of her. The fact that his devotion has become stifling to his mother's recovery is also addressed.

My Gripes: Not to sound mean or anything, but why do these Christian Harlequins have such basic and simplistic language? I haven't read any other Christian lit, so I can't compare, but is most of this genre like that? As I read this and a couple other titles in the past, I felt like the story was being presented to me in big type with lots of pictures, and the whole thing surrounded by a sturdy Little Golden Book cover. The last 1/4 to 1/3 of this book really reached into Sunday School territory, even though the preachiness was present throughout the entire book.

This is also the second Love Inspired I've read where the heroine had a self-flagellating fetish. Barely a scene went by without Vivian dwelling on her sin and how it made her unworthy and oh my god I'm such a miserable wretch undeserving of any goodness and kindness in the world. OK, I know that the opinion of unwed mothers wasn't exactly warm and accepting in ye olden days, but the sheer repetition of it was obnoxious. But I guess these stories are all about the sin and the redemption and the lesson contained therein, so it's to be expected. I only wonder why the formula has such appeal. It's not exactly brilliant or subtle or even entertaining.

I did get a laugh, though, at Vivian being crushed by the term "illegitimate child," thinking it was the worst curse that would be on the lips of the townsfolk when talking about her baby. I guess the more likely phrase "b__tard" is too racy to put in a Christian Harley. That would have really knocked poor Vivian for a loop. Also, she had never heard of the "Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone" story? Really? Really??

Dare I read another one of these? The last one made me want to engage in a booze-fueled weekend orgy with Christopher Hitchens. This one was slightly less annoying. So we're going in the right direction...I guess, although that orgy idea sounds like heaven to me.

It is a very sweet love story.
It has an excellent plot and great characters - It is a page-turner !!!
If you like tender historical romance this book is for you!

I loved this book! Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. I've read several books by Linda Ford and have not been disappointed in any of them. I plan to read a lot more, too.

Overall Impression: This was a pretty good read. I found myself cheering for the two main characters throughout the book hoping that they would be able to figure everything out.

Cover: I loved this cover compared to most other romance novel covers. The cover was very sweet and made me feel warm and cozy.

Characters: I really like the character of Billy. I love his protectiveness of his mother and how he was determined to be nice to everyone and always do the right thing. I was also very intrigued by the character of Billy's mom. Her story really interested me and if I could have it my way another book would be written about what happened to her when she was captured and how she handled living through everything.

This is a heartwarming story about people who feel like social misfits that find each other and bring the best out in each other. The lead characters have warm, tender hearts and its reflected in the plot. And the 3-legged dog just stole my heart!

In Dakota Child Linda Ford creates a beautiful story of love and redemption that transcends the romance genre.

Set in the 1890s in North Dakota, Dakota's child tells the story of Vivian Halliday and Billy Black. Vivian is a single mother who dares to claim her child and seek the child's father so that her child might have an honorable future. Billy Black is the town misfit who lives alone on his farm with his unstable mother.

This story delves deeply into each character's painful past as they learn to face the future. Their conflict is not with each other, but with the outside world that seems to judge and shame them. As their relationship forces them to grow as individuals they learn to face their fears. They also discover that they may have judged others as much as they have been judged.

Linda Ford's books are automatic buys for me, but I hadn't pulled this book off my shelf when a friend recommended Dakota's Child. The friend isn't a Christian and in her words, never reads inspirationals. But she picked up this book and is encouraging everyone she knows to read it. As she said, "It is a wonderful story. A beautifully done romance."

The entire book was wonderful, but I was especially moved by the final scenes. I won't spoil it by describing it here, but I cried at the beautiful portrayal of grace and redemption that far exceeds the typical romance Happily-Ever-After.

Thank you, Linda, for another wonderful story.

Excellent story line with main and secondary character development throughout. A +++. Too many of these types of books today stop short on plot and character development, and pound us over the head too many times with the main theme. Not here. You get a fast paced action-packed adventure without the classical lily-white virginal main female character. Refreshing. All thumbs and fingers up! More please!