The stories themselves are quite good but I found the writing rather stilted. I'm sure the authors write totally differently now!

Thank you Netgalley and Barbour for the review copy. This is my honest opinion.

Kristin Billerbeck has been a favored author of mine for a long time and I always look forward to reading one of her novels. While this is based during the Civil War it is based on the biblical story of the Prodigal Son. Ms. Billerbeck's retelling is both good, and intriguing. Fans of the Civil War era would enjoy this story.

The Prodigal's Welcome

Includes Bonus Story of My Beloved Waits by Peggy Darty



by Kristin Billerbeck, Peggy Darty

Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Barbour Books



Christian , General Fiction (Adult)

Pub Date 01 Aug 2017

I am reviewing a copy of The Prodigals Welcome through Barbour Books and Netgalley:

Nathan Pemberton, the Prodigal Son returns home to post Civil War Mississippi. Nathan Pemberton comes home to find everything about his home changed, and his childhood sweetheart married. Nathan can’t help but question where his place is. Will he be able to find the forgiveness he longs for? Find out in The Prodigal’s Welcome.

In the bonus story My Beloved Waits by Peggy Darty, Grace Cunningham is trying to save her Alabama farm, after the war when a Northern Stranger brings a cryptic message from her Father who is dying.

I give The Prodigal’s Welcome five out of five stars.

Happy Reading!

The Prodigals Welcome is such as a heart wrenching story, I mean you have a sweet adorable man that is brave and admirable by leaving his fiancé and family to go to the Civil War - that ungrateful, ingrate was angry, self-pitying, selfish that her man - her engaged man to her - went off to war - the Civil War - So guess what she did while he was gone - you will not believe what he brat did - she went and got engage. If that wasn't bad enough - who did she get engaged to? why yes she gets engaged to Nathaniel's brother Andrew - what kind of back stabbing brother would steal his fiancé from his brother's fiancé - what a slimeball - they deserve each other - That is what happens in the first few pages - she also when Nathaniel comes home to his long lost love to get his kiss - she yells at him and tells him she's re-engaged and to whom it is - but she falls into his arms - then yells at him and that is when she tells him all about Andrew. She makes me sick. Then you wont believe what happens - ----I can't tell you what happens because that will ruin it for you and I just cannot do that -
The second book is a breath of fresh air - and it brings such great joy and love to the reader that you just don't want to stop reading because you fHeel so happy when you do read it. You find it a little funny that Grace has mood swings just like the one in the other story - you think what - do these women have mood seings because of being in the South or something because of the heat and no air conditioning - I know I would be - man when the hurricane hit and we had to live with no air - I sure went through mood swings - oiy vey! but you wanted her to get together with Johnathon, unlike with the characters in the first story - you didn't want Nathaniel to end up with her.

The Prodigal’s Welcome by Kristin Billerbeck is paired with the bonus story My Beloved Waits by Peggy Darty. Both stories are uplifting and based on biblical principles and set just after the Civil War.
The Prodigal’s Welcome is similar to the bible story in that the oldest son requested his inheritance and left Misssissippi for California where he squandered his money leaving behind the woman he was expected to marry. He returns six years later to find she is engaged to his brother. Everything is not just as it seems and there are many twists and turns that keep the story exciting and makes the reader want to read more.
My Beloved Waits is set in southern Alabama. Elizabeth Cunningham has lost her son to the war but is certain her husband, Fred, will return and watches for him every day. Her daughter, Grace, feels her mother is losing her mind as it has been months since they have heard anything from or about him. A Yankee named Jonathan Parker arrives to return Fred’s bible, at his urgent request, and to let the ladies know that he left him dying in a hospital. Though on opposite sides of the war they had saved each other’s lives at different points in the war. What will the community think of a Yankee in their midst? Is there a secret message in the Bible; is that why Fred was so insistent his wife must get it? There are again many twists and surprises to the story.
I enjoyed this book very much. I rate it 5 of 5 stars and recommend it highly. The writing flows very nicely and the characters are portrayed as realistic people who might have lived at that time.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Two stories set in the South after the Civil War. I enjoyed both author's writing style and look forward to more books in this series.
Pub Date 01 Aug 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Two stories that take place shortly after the Civil War ends. The first story is about Nathaniel and Eleanor. Nathaniel returns home to find his girl engaged to his brother, but it is not as it seems. Nathaniel fights with himself between following what his feelings want and what is best for the girl. I did find the story hard to follow with characters opinions changing throughout. By the end I felt for Eleanor and how she was treated, I wanted things to turn out in her favour. Nathaniel was easy to like, especially when compared to his brother.

The second story is about a daughter struggling to keep up the family farm and look after her mother after her father and brother do not return from the war. A stranger arrives with a message from her father and a treasure hunt begins bringing a southerner and a yankee together. They begin to develop feelings for one another but they face quite a bit of prejudices along their journey which lead them to realize that any relationship between them would be difficult. Can they overcome the prejudices of those around them? Can find the treasure and save the farm? Both characters were strong and willing to fight for what they believed was right that it was easy to like them and want them to figure out a solution to their problems. I did feel that the feelings expressed toward one another happened too quickly but I was pleased with the ending.

Anyone who likes short stories set in south during this time period would probably enjoy these stories. I would have preferred more depth to both stories by creating the love connection to be more realistic.

This combo of two short books are re-releases from 2001 and 2002, respectively, and they are good reminders of how far Christian fiction has come in the last fifteen years. In truth, I had a difficult time getting into (and finishing) both of these books.

In The Prodigal’s Welcome, Eleanor is too wishy washy for my liking. One moment she’s intent on marrying the man she’s engaged to, the next she’s wanting his brother to take her away. And she’s extremely selfish, to the point of acting like a spoiled child at times. Nathaniel isn’t much better. He’s in love with Eleanor but determined to do the right thing and let her go. At first. Then he keeps showing up at her side, making the whole situation harder on her.

My Beloved Waits was a little better. Again, Grace seems to have large mood swings. She is definitely more likable than Eleanor in the other book, though, and I wanted her and Jonathan to figure out how they could be together.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

A retelling of the BIblical story of the prodigal son, set in Civil War times, this story is sure to appeal to fans of this time period. A story of God's redemption, grace and forgiveness, along with a little intrigue and history of the time.

Kristen Billerbeck and Peggy Darty have each contributed a novel to this book. And both novels have similar actions in their respective plots. Both of the novels were fun enough to read, but I nearly got whiplash from the speed at which the heroines changed their attitudes about their beloveds.

In the Prodigal's Welcome, Nathaniel comes home after the war to find that his brother is going to marry his sweetheart. At first she would have nothing to do with him, then she proclaims her love for him within a day.

Grace is working herself ragged on her family's farm when a stranger comes bearing a message from her father. She and her mother ask him to stay for the night and share their meal. By the end of the evening, Grace is falling in love with him.

Both of the ladies in these novels fall into and out of love with their heroes with amazing speed. If the men haven't made a bone-headed mistake, they've said something that have made the ladies mad. Overall, the novels are quick reads, I just wish they spent more time developing the love story. Four stars.

My thanks to Barbour Books for allowing me to read and review this book

Loved this story...have missed the writings of Ms Bilerbeck...glad that she's writing (again!) Have shared this one w/ all of my reading friends.

Two well written books set in the South immediately after the Civil War. I really enjoyed this book.

I found it difficult to get into The Prodigal’s Welcome. The wording felt stilted to me, at times trying too hard to recreate a noble South. Had it incorporated more of the actual parable, it might have been a stronger story. The end ties up too nicely, and is a tad unbelievable. The companion novel, My Beloved Waits, was sturdier, and told the tale of what MOST Southerners likely experienced, rather than that of plantation aristocrats. It, too, had miraculous episodes, but somehow they were more convincing.

Two stories set in the South at the beginning of the Reconstruction period, dealing with rebuilding lives, moving on after the war, finding faith, hope, and love.

"I don't think anyone really wins a war. Not when you weigh the cost."
The first story was about a son returning after the war was over, and finding his brother betrothed to his former fiance. Emotions run high, and there is a bit of melodrama at times. Reminded me a little of Gone With the Wind, with the plantation backdrop and the 'South shall rise again' theme. I enjoyed the second story more, with a daughter struggling to keep up her family's farm and care for a mother who did not always seem in touch with reality. It flowed better, plus the characters seemed more realistic and down to earth. It made me think about the lingering prejudices on both sides that must have been hard to overcome, especially when families were divided over the war. A bit of a twist with a treasure hunt made this interesting too.

The South in 1866 was an interesting setting for both stories, unconnected except for the link of rekindling faith and finding hope and love after the horror of war. The aftermath of the Civil War left a lot of wreckage, with families torn apart, severed relationships, the need to forgive, as well as people struggling to survive on the little that was left of their homes and towns; also the social struggles of race, class, and financial loss. Both stories conveyed this well.

Civil War buffs who enjoy clean romances and like a story with a Southern viewpoint will probably like this one. 3.5 stars

I usually like Krisitin Billerbeck's books, but this one was not a good one for me. I felt that the story was hard to follow. The heroine was all over the place. First, she didn't want to marry Nathaniel because he left her, then she was begging him to marry her. She was supposed to marry his brother and he was a good man, but all of the sudden she really disliked him. The story just seemed totally unbelievable to me.
The bonus story of My Beloved Waits is better and somewhat redeemed this book for me. It was a bit predictable but an easy and satisfying read. I did find myself scanning through the end just to get to the end of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.