The story is about Abigail McKinnie who goes across the country to marry her cousin, in hopes of bringing her sisters there with her. Their home is destroyed, compliments of the Civil War, and unless her siblings wish to become mail order brides, this is the only thing Abigail see's as the solution. Unfortunately, their cousin, is dead and Abigail finds herself claiming the land while trying to convince Owen Baker, the neighbor, that she belongs there.

Aye. Not sure what to say about this story. I want to be positive, but I found myself just flipping through the pages looking for a morsel that would drag me in and keep me there. But I found it a little boring. I didn't like either of the main characters and the flow of the book just didn't keep me captivated. A few interesting parts would develop and then would throw me off-balance enough that I had enough. I admit, I didn't finish the book. Made it about 3/4 of the way through, and then flipped through the rest of it.

Would I recommend this book? Perhaps, if you are already a Ciara Knight fan.

I loved how this book developed. I’m hoping it’s a part of a great series soon to come. Abigail’s strength, agility, and ability to shock everyone with her surprising gifts that many women don’t posess was such a great gift to be able to read about! This book was very touching and very inspiring!

This is the first book in the McKinnie Mail Order Brides series and this is sister Abigail's story. A sweet and clean well developed story line. After their Southern Georgia home is destroyed along with their way of life and the comforts that entails oldest sister,Abigail feels it's her responsibility to take care of her sisters.Abigail has six sisters and I am assuming each sister will have her own story in the series. Traveling to the prairie of Kansas is a little more than uncomfortable for her but she must do whatever it takes to care for her younger sister's she's left behind until she gets settled. She intends to settle on her cousin's land there but Owen Baker claims to own it. Owen and Abigail have both had bad experiences in the past and are wary of each other and in no need to pursue a romantic relationship,at least that's what they think. It takes a tough woman to not let the threat of Indian attacks and life on the prairie get to her not to mention the loneliness. Abbey is one smart and sassy lady and holds her own easily so don't make her mad! I enjoyed getting to know Abbey and Owen through their story and seeing their character development. Can't wait to read the next story about another sister in this series.
Pub Date 02 Mar 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Season Publishing for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Abigail and her family lost their home during the Civil War and traveled out west to marry a cousin. Owen has her cousins land due to his death and must deal with this Southern miss and her family. Excellent storyline and characters as I enjoyed getting to know this family.

Ebook from netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.

For those looking for a delightful book set on the untamed west, where the heroine takes a leap from city life to country life, and where love and faith triumph, this is a perfect book for you.

This was a quick read for me, but it didn't lack the substance that some books like this do. It was filled with a delightful protagonist and the love of her life plus a menagerie of colorful characters. A perfect ready for a snowy night or rainy one.

After the Civil War, Abigail McKinnie is doing her best to hold her family together after Sherman's Union Army destroyed her home, killed her brothers, and took the innocence of one of her sisters. In order to do that, she makes an arrangement with a distant cousin to be his mail-order-bride and help on his farm in the prairies of Kansas. Unfortunately when she gets there, she discovers that her cousin is dead and that his partner, the handsome Owen Baker, has taken over the land she believes is rightfully hers. For his part, Owen wants nothing to do with this former southern belle. She's trouble with a capital T. However fate has a way of throwing together people who need each other the most.

I wasn't sure what I was getting into with this book. But the description intrigued me. I really did like Owen, his sort of hardened pragmatic look at life on the Prairie was refreshing. I was less fond of Abigail. She was stubborn to the point of stupidity multiple times over and I was disappointed that she never followed through on bringing her sisters out to Kansas. From a meta standpoint I get it, they have their own books to be in, but from a narrative and characterization standpoint it didn't make sense.

While I liked the protagonists interactions with the Native American tribes, I kept feeling horrible for what I knew history would do to them. I also appreciated that Abbey has PTSD after her experiences with the Civil War. And that the author acknowledged that the heroine and her family were slave owners. (a lot of authors try to get around that by doing a 'not all southerners" thing which is even more problematic)

In the end, the book was okay. I'd recommend it for people who like clean romance and for those who like western themed romances. However for me, I can only give this:

Three Stars

*** I received an ARC through NetGalley.

This story was unique and interesting from the beginning. Abigail is suffering from PTSD after General Sherman's "March to the sea" at the end of the Civil War destroys her home and land. She goes out west to be a mail order bride only to find out that her groom has died. She refuses to leave the land he left behind, and ends up falling in love with Owen, her deceased grooms business partner. Throw in some Indian trouble, Owen and Abigail trying to change peoples views on the Indians and you have a good read.

Love on the Prairie” by Ciara Knight, is a tale of the ravages of war in post Civil War, Altanta. Seven sisters must survive with nothing left of their beautiful plantation but burned, scarred land, a house that the Yankees burned, their parents deaths, the destruction and terror of their lives, in ways than one. So, Abigail, the eldest of the sisters sets out to become a mail order bride to their cousin, William, in order to save her devastated sisters. Once she reaches him, he has died. His friend and partner, Owen, tries to send her away without success. Abigail is stubborn and determined to stay. Owen has lost much too. Together, can these two find their HEA? Will Abigail be able to send for her beloved sisters before its too late for them?
Well written, sweet Western Romance with engaging characters. The plot is interesting, the storyline unique in its concept of violence in a sweet romance. There is violence, fighting with Indians, a tornado, grief, fighting with neighbors but there is also healing, survival, faith, finding love and acceptance. Many emotions to carry the reader along in the turmoil of civil war, the difference between different cultures and the ability to find love. The danger and suspense was palpable. The romance was sweet, with ups and downs between Owen and Abigail. Overall, an interesting Sweet Historical Western Romance. I hope to read more of Abigail and Owen's adventures, learn if Abigail's sisters finally found a home, trust, as with so many women of this time in our history, understanding of their horrible ordeal, find peace and a love of their own. Ano interesting read!
I received a complimentary copy, however, all opinions at my opinions.

Rating: 4
Heathe rating: Sweet
Reviewed by: AprilR

With her family's home destroyed from the war, Abigail sets out to save her sisters from being scattered as mail order brides by traveling to her cousin's claim in the territory. When she arrives and learns of her cousin's death, she must work hard to prove herself. Will she dare to let love into her heart along the way?

Abigail's reason for her journey was very practical, and I liked that about her. She was no shrinking daisy, but at the same time, she was almost too tough. It was difficult to believe how impervious she behaved. The only trace of vulnerability she was allowed was her nightmares from the war. I kept expecting her to send for her sisters immediately, since she left them in such bad place. This never happened and so we are left with the ending where her sisters have scattered.

Owen was an alright hero for Abigail, but he was forgettable in my opinion. He was kind but stubborn. the expected obstacle to their happiness was boring and had me rolling my eyes.

Overall, there was nothing terribly bad about the book. It's a clean read and enjoyable enough. It's just not making it onto any of my favorite shelves.

For fans of mail order bride stories, this gives exactly that.

A beautiful story with an excellent storyline and great characters, this was a true heartfelt tale of a strong man and an even stronger and determined woman. In search of a way out for her sisters and herself, Abigail had to take the only alternative that was left to them after the war. So she delivered herself as a bride to her cousin, only to find on arrival he had died, this created a more difficult part for her, one where she literally had to fight for what she wanted. Her determination to secure stability for her love ones had her using all her ingenuity and fighting abilities to survive in the wild west, where she was up against Indians, unscrupulous men with deep hatred in their heart who would stoop at nothing to get their way, and the petty and small mindedness of a people. Owen found what he wasn’t looking for in the beautiful and feisty Abigail and knew without a doubt she was worth fighting for. I have been wonderfully entertained by this story, it’s like a gentle breeze on a hot summer’s night, just beautiful, a lovely must read.