Customer Reviews

Promiseland: The Journal of Callie McGregor series, Book 1 (Journals of Callie McGregor)

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

 

 

I was drawn to this book by its setting... I love to read books that are based in the pioneer days, detailing the way they lived, loved, and struggled. I read this entire book (without reading her previous books) and I really liked the setting and the subject matter, but I was less than impressed with the quality of the writing. My only guess is that it was the "journal" method in which it was written that killed it for me. I understand it must be a real challenge to tell a story like this from only one person's point of view when each of the characters has their own struggles and feelings. All Callie could do was speculate the way they felt. Again, I really liked the setting, but phrases like "I could tell by the look in his/her eyes that s/he felt the same..." was WAY overused to the point that I began to roll my eyes every time I read it. In addition, I felt it very unrealistic to imagine that Callie could recount entire verbatum conversations in her journal (like 4 pages of the Preacher's Easter sermon). This type of "journaling" was not realistic to me -- do YOUR journals contain whole conversations like that? I think the book would've been much better for me if it wasn't told in a journaling style as if Callie wrote it all. I enjoyed the first 1/2 of the book, but after that, all of these things became a blatant distraction to me. I wish I could've been more impressed, but I just wasn't. :o(

It has been a few months since I read this one, but I am extremely interested in Ms. Miller's description of the 1800s and life there; it's just a plus that she writes about a Christian woman who maintains her beliefs throughout the hard life that the "old west" hands out. Thank you, Ms. Miller. I am patiently waiting for "Finding Grace".

Perhaps our "reviewer" in Dallas should do her homework before making such comments on authentic journal writing--comments that appear more personal than educated. I would suggest her reading the writings of Elenor Pruit Stewart "Letters of a Woman Homesteader", a lively and very authentic tale of a young woman who lived during this time period.

I myself was very impressed with Ms. Miller's writing--as well as the predominant message of family, hope and God threaded throughout the story.

Realistic, touching and inspiring. I cannot wait to read more of her work!

Once again Dawn Miller has succeeded in drawing the reader into Callie's world, allowing us to live her joy, her pain, her love of her family and her faith. I've read all three of Ms Miller's novels and each one has surpassed the one before. Her characters are incredibly real, their experiences harrowing, their disappointments and fears frightening, their joy and laughter exhilarating, their love neverending, and their faith boundless. The reader truly feels Callie's emotions. Ms Miller is an exceptional writer and doesn't get the credit she deserves.

I really enjoyed this book, "Promiseland". The journal style did not detract from the book at all. I really enjoyed the story and especially the characters. I bawled like a baby when one of the characters was killed and impressed with how they went about recovering from it. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy historical Christian fiction, like I do.

Peronally, I have never read the entire book of Ms.Dawn Miller's, but my mother has and she told great concepts about Dawn's novels, and it has encouraged me to try and read the whole story again. My mother is not a big "story reader", but this particular novel stuck to her like glue! And she is starting to read it again.(As well as I.)I would STRONGLY encouraged you to purchase this novel or another of her's, because this particular author really touches deep into your heart.Thank you Ms.Dawn Miller!