Customer Reviews

A Promise for Ellie (Daughters of Blessing #1)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Not having read any of the RED RIVER NORTH series by author Lauraine Snellings, A PROMISE FOR ELLIE was my introduction into the world she created of the two Bjorklund brothers families as they immigrated to America.

In Book one of Snelling's new series `The Daughters of Blessing', we are returned to Blessing, North Dakota and the approaching wedding of Ellie Wold and Andrew Bjorklund. They were two young people who went through childhood idolatry for one another and grew up expecting to marry -- all with their family's blessings. They'd been inseparable growing up until five years previously Ellie's father had moved from Blessing to advance his furniture making business. Keeping in touch through letters, Ellie and Andrew would both be graduating that year and planned to be married after the harvest. Andrew was the quintessential farmer, loved the land and with help from their families they would be starting out blessed with acreage, a new home and barn. But before the wedding occurs their new barn burns down, and a life hangs in the balance that changes their lives and prove a bigger tragedy for the dreams of these two young people.

*** Well written with extensive detail, the reader will have no trouble at all envisioning life in the early 1900's. From what I gather this is a continuing family saga that began a couple of series ago bringing the children to adulthood as they face their own trials and tribulations as well as discovering the real meaning of faith and prayer when their orderly planned out world hits the bumps in life. Ellie was a loving delightful young woman, warm and sure of her love for Andrew although having misgivings about the physical results of childbearing. Andrew was also a likeable though head-strong young man, hard working and industrious, a natural farmer at heart whose biggest lesson in life would come after turning to God when control slipped out of his hands. A plethora of secondary characters made this a fully robust entry and while it might have been nice to have read previous volumes for the background of so many endearing characters it was not necessary as this book stands completely alone. While I did find the first half of the book to be paced a bit on the slow side it portrays an excellent example of Americana history brought to life that will satisfy most readers.

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

I've been waiting for this book - finally Andrew and Ellie's story! This book definitely is a nice addition to the Red River series and really fleshes out the characters of Andrew and Ellie. By the way, that little vignette on the page from Amazon really isn't right.

Andrew and Ellie are asked to wait on their wedding by Haakan, who believes that their house not coming on time is a sign from God to wait. So they plan to wait until after harvest to get married. During that time, Andrew and Ellie both grow in their spiritual lives and commitment to each other.

We also get to revisit all our old friends from Red River in this series and this book sets up a lot of other side stories which I'm sure will continue through this series (Daughters of Blessing). Definitely check this book out if you loved Snelling's Red River of the North series!

Lauraine Snelling has taken us yet again to the community of Blessing, North Dakota. This time the story focuses on Andrew, Ingeborg's younger son, and his fiance Ellie. The two have known they would get married ever since they were little. When the pair have to postpone their marriage due to circumstances beyond their control, Andrew is angry at the delay, while Ellie accepts the wait. She wants to learn what it'll be like to have a home with Andrew. However Andrew keeps growing more sullen and distant with her. Then tragedy strikes making the couple having to rethink their relationship and especially their upcoming marriage.

I love the Bjorkland family and I'm glad that we are able to again join with another generation of the family. The original series, Red River of the North, was excellent as was the second series with Thorliff. I love how there is so much detail about prairie life, this time new and old worlds collide as Thorliff's wife is now the doctor of the area. All the familiar faces are still around, making cameos at least. I really liked Ellie. She was practical, reasonable, patient, and understanding. She was able to stand up to Andrew even when he was being completely stubborn. Andrew's temper has been brought up in past books as a forewarning that it would get him into trouble someday. I kind of got annoyed with him sometimes. I know that he loved Ellie and wanted to be with her, but his actions and attitude were very childish. When his father tried to give him reasons about why he should wait a bit for the wedding, which IMO were very reasonable, Andrew throws a tantrum. He gets mad that Ellie wants to go to her own bridal shower. He keeps thinking she's cheating on him. When the climax happens, I know this sounds sadistic, but I'm glad Andrew finally realizes he's gone over the edge and now has to pay the consequences. I never got bored reading this book, I love the historical detail, I love all the background stories from the characters. I can't wait for the next book in the series. At this rate Lauraine will never leave the town of Blessing which is perfectly fine with me!

Lauraine Snelling's A Promise for Ellie tugs at the heartstrings with a story of young love and the raw emotions that erupt during tragedy. Life is never easy, but it's worth the glorious journey.

The sweet story of a family's love, a young woman's desire to please the Lord, and her fiancé's journey toward Christ, A Promise for Ellie is inspiring and refreshing. Snelling's ability to create compelling dialogue holds the reader's attention, as do the bits of unique Scandinavian culture harmoniously spliced into this poignant tale.
Ideal for an evening in front of a roaring fire, A Promise for Ellie will take you back one hundred years to the rugged life of the northern plains, and leave you clamoring for more.

In Book One of Lauraine Snelling's new series The Daughters of Blessing, we are returned to Blessing, North Dakota and the approaching wedding of Ellie Wold and Andrew Bjorklund. Andrew and Ellie are asked to wait getting married by Andrew's father, Haakan, who believes that because their house has not come on time, it is a sign from God. This throws the couple into temporary chaos, but through this waiting period they both discover the wisdom of following divine guidance and listening to their elders.

Snelling once again writes with extensive detail, so the reader will have no trouble at all envisioning life in the early 1900's among Norwegian immigrants and life on a farm. When Andrew and Ellie's new barn burns, the young couple learns some hard lessons. During this time, Andrew and Ellie both grow in their spiritual lives and commitment to each other. Andrew learns to trust and have faith in God to help him handle the trials in life, while Ellie discovers that the best way to help Andrew with his problems is to pray for him. Snelling also brings the readers up to date on what the other characters from the Red River of the North series are doing. Even if you haven't read this previous series, you will feel like you know them when you finish this book. This first book in the series of The Daughters of Blessing is a stand-alone book; the characters are well developed.

If you have a love for historical fiction, get this book! When I finished reading it I was inspired and encouraged to appreciate the little things in life, taking nothing for granted. Life is never easy, but it's worth the glorious journey and we come out of our hard times stronger and wiser, realizing how God was and is with us every step of the way. - Judy Vipperman, Christian Book Previews.com

From the opening pages with the neighbor's fire until the final page,I was hooked as a reader. Lauraine Snelling weaves a tapestry of life in the early 1900s in Blessing, North Dakota with well-drawn characters and fascinating complications.

Ultimately, the reader sees the validation for Haakan Bjorklund or Andrew's father. A committed Christian man, Haakan senses Andrew and Ellie should delay their wedding plans. It throws the young couple into temporary chaos but they discover the wisdom of following divine guidance and listening to their elders. Truth speaks loudly in this historical fiction novel. I recommend it.

If you have read the Red River of the North, you must add this to your collection. If you have not read the the Red River Of the North you are missing out on a truely amazing, wounderful, true to life series! Lauraine Snelling is a wounderful writer, with easy to read stories. All her books have made me laugh out loud and cry untill my heart ached. Once again, the tears came pouring out while reading this one. I am not going to give anything away, you MUST read it to the suprising end!
And as with all her stories I finnish feeling uplifted, closer to my family and appreciate the little things in life.

Lauraine's fiction enables you to pull up a chair with your bowl full of garden peas to shell, or thread your needle at a quilting bee, and listen in as turn-of-the-century Norwegian immigrants dispense wisdom. An engaging story line pulls you along in this tale of a young couple urged to delay their long-awaited wedding. But along the way you'll catch snippets of practice advice--like young Ellie deciding the best way to help her husband-to-be Andrew with his dark problems is to pray. The Norwegian side of my ancestry helped make Lauraine's book especially fun to read. I'm never disappointed when I pick up one of her titles for leisure reading.

Set in the South Dakota of 1900, "A Promise for Ellie" tells the story of two young people, Andrew Bjorklund and Ellie Wold, who have been a couple for years. Finally, their big day is within sight until Andrew's father, Haakan, asks him to postpone the wedding. The reason is because he feels that it is God's will, although he doesn't know why.

Upset at the request, Andrew speaks with Ellie and is further angered when she agrees with his father. He can't understand why she is so passive about the delay and throws himself into work in an attempt to forget his anger and disappointment.

Suddenly, however, tragedy strikes and all their plans are in jeopardy as Andrew sets out to avenge the wrong. Will he let God take control or will he ruin everything including his and Ellie's love? This book will keep your attention all the way through as you feel the love that flows through Ellie and the anger that surges through Andrew. A must read. Four stars.