Customer Reviews

A Shelter of Hope (Westward Chronicles, Book 1)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Simone can't imagine that God could love her when all she has known is cruelty. She runs away when her father sells her but, on the lam, she finds people that really care about her. She also learns that God cares about her, and so does Jeffery and falls in love with him.

Ms. Peterson has penned another truly inspirational read with her story "Shelter of Hope." This is really a story about never giving up no matter how severe the situation and always keeping faith, no matter how small it might be.

Simone Dumas knows nothing but heartache in her early years. Her mother and baby brother are killed by her father when they attempt to reach help from the abusive Louis Dumas. Simone, feeling as is her mother has turned her back on her and doesn't love her anymore turns her back first knowing in her heart that she will never see her alive again. She is right. Fast ward two years Simone is just entering womanhood, having learned how to deal with her father's rages. She is shocked when her father comes back to their cabin informing her that she has been sold along with the property to a man she doesn't know. Simone knows that she can't take anymore and wants a better life for herself. With daring she escapes and begins to forge a new path but not without the fear that her father will learn of her deceit.

Jeffery O'Donnell has no idea that the beautiful young girl that has made her way into his office is going to be his future. He is drawn to the sweet Simone, but can tell that she has secrets. She needs a job and has applied to become "A Harvey Girl." Jeffery takes a chance and hires Simone, as he needs respectable girls for many positions. Slowly Simone opens up and with the help of her friends Una and Rachel she begins to heal, add to that the growing attraction that she has for Jeffery, and his gentle patience Simone starts to believe in a happy ending. But, will her past creep up and ruin what she's managed to accomplish?

I knew the instant I read the "bet" (you just need to read the book) between Jeffery and Simone that their relationship was going to be special and romantic. The historical information regarding the "Harvey Girls" was interesting and a fun vehicle for this story. Ms. Peterson always manages to gift the reader with a truly emotional read. As a result I suggest that you find a quite corner to cozy up, have Kleenex ready, and be swept back to a place and time that no longer exists.

Official Reviewer for Romance Designs

This book was interesting. I have been fascinated with the Harvey Girls for a while, but haven't had the opportunity to read much about them (other than watching the Judy Garland movie). I liked the way that Ms. Peterson wove historical elements into her fictional landscape. The country was a different place in the late 1800s and I believe that this story illustrates that. Simone's father held dominion over her in everyway until he sold her--and even then, still controlled her life through fear of discovery. Only with the redeeming power of her confession to God, love of Jeffery can she take back her life--but first she has to learn not only to trust again, but to allow people to become close to her.

A good book and I am going to pick up book 2.

Simone Dumas grew up being tortured by her father after her mother left. Deciding to get rich quick, her evil father SELLS her in a package deal with his cabin and business. She revolts of course, and decides never to care or feel again. Even God is too far away and she will not allow herself to believe in Him. However, while running, she finds that people DO care, and they care about HER! Still unable to care back, she makes many mistakes, and the outcome holds a LOT of surprises and now I am starting book 2.

I found this story very well written. I commend Tracie Peterson on her wonderful work! I can hardly wait to start reading the second book to this series. It was historical, romantic, mysterios, and heart-wrenching. The begining may bring you to tears but, the rest will put you on the edge of your seat. Simone escapes from her father whom is less than civil with her, and runs from the law. It's a murder mystery, and a well written Christian novel that taught me many things about my own Christianity. Go with Simone as she goes from Whyoming to Chicago to Topeka. Then becomes a Harvey Girl, while finding her true love and God. Happy Reading!

This is the first book I've read by this author and I'm really glad because it looks like she has written many books, and I will read them all. I'll be getting book 2, 'Hidden in A Whisper' for my kindle today.

Simone Dumas, beaten/whipped by her father runs away after he sells her off to another fool. She arrives in an employment office to seek a job as a Harvey Girl, a waitress who cater to passengers on the rail line. This is where she meets Jeffrey O'Donnell, the man in charge of hiring.

I'm not giving anything away here when I say that the story revolves around Simone and her secrets and Jeffrey who wants her to trust him enough to share them with him. Simone's dad Louis begins a search for her for reasons the book will tell you.

Anyhow, this was a great read, not frustrating like some of the recent books I've read where there are so many misunderstandings with the lead characters that nasty words are exchanged until finally, three (or less) pages from the end, they confess their feelings for each other. I so needed a book like this at this time.

I knew almost nothing about the Harvey Girls and even less about the Fred Harvey chain of railway hotels and restaurants,before I read this series by Tracie Peterson. I found this to be fascinating history and I thoroughly enjoyed this entire series of three historical romance stories with Harvey Girls as the heroines. I also recommend her "Desert Roses" Harvey Girl series of another three books.

Excellent character and story development. I was very impressed by the skill of this author to educate me while entertaining me.

I read this wonderful book a couple of years ago, and it is a very good story, I highly recommend it!

It is a story about a very pretty woman named Simone, who has had a very painful, lonely, heartbreaking childhood, because of her very cruel, awful father! Simone has had a very hard life, for one so young! She has now become a young woman, and her abusive, evil, father intends to sell her, of all things, for money, to a man as stupid, and even more evil, than her father is! Simone knows she has to escape for her dear life, and Simone is finally able to break free and , run away from her painful past!

Simone starts on a long journey all alone, to start her life anew, and eventually, meets a handsome man named Jeffrey O'Donnell, who gives her a job! Jeffrey was captivated by beautiful Simone, and gave her a position as a Harvery Girl at the popular, and respectable way-stop along the frontier railroad line. Simone's life changes completely for the better, but she is afraid part of her painful past will destroy her happiness!

I enjoyed this book very much, it is a awesome story, and I enjoyed learning about what it was like, to be a Harvey Girl at a way-stop restaurant, back in the railroad days of the Old West of long ago!

I have always loved Tracie Peterson and her books give me an outlet at the end of long day with kids to just lay in bed and read. Her books bring you into the story and captivate you from the first word. I am now on the second book in the series and loving it too.
Who needs a spa day when you can go to another world through one of her books.

THE WESTWARD CHRONICLES is a delightful three-book series set around The Harvey House, an establishment offering fine dining along the stops of frontier rail travel. Each book highlights a Harvey Girl and the circumstances and situations that brought them to serve at the Harvey House. Originally published in 1999-2000, THE WESTWARD CHRONICLES were re-packaged in 2005. A sucker for the Old West, I enjoyed the simple charm of these books and the loveable characters created by Tracie Peterson.