The Christmas Prayer

Three wagons traveling from Missouri to California in December. Hoping to make it there by Christmas but the weather has other ideas. A brother/sister in one wagon, a single father with his two children in one and then there is Cynthia, her mother and Walter. It is always an adventure traveling back in 1850, takes a long time by wagon.

I really enjoyed the time they spent in an cabin in the woods they found abandoned. Everyone got a chance to really becomes friends. They end up there during Christmas. Loved the surprise they had, it was so special. Read and see what happens.

Even though some may think a little early for Christmas books, you will still enjoy this short historical book.

I received an complementary copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. I was not required required to write an positive review.

Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the best authors I have ever read. Her stories are so intriguing that even my Mother, who has never been a fan of Fiction story books, has started to read her stories. She is a true storyteller who creates story-lines that truly speak to your heart.

A Christmas Prayer is just one of many of these stories that we have come to love so much. This story is set in 1850 in the Winter, of course, across the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Cynthia Cooper, her mother and the man who she’s pledged her hand in marriage to, head through the mountains to find hope in a new place. Only Cynthia isn’t so sure this is what she’s meant to have in her life and a widowed stranger leaves her questioning her choices on this path as she trudges ahead. A surprise twist leaves Cynthia confused but able to follow her heart in the end, bringing forth a simple Christmas miracle and a love that will last all time.

This is a smaller sized book with a shorter story filling the pages. It’s just a simple, warm read for the chilly Winter days. Grab yourself a hot cup of cocoa and enjoy!

The Christmas Prayer by Wanda E. Brunstetter takes us back to April 15, 1850. Cynthia Cooper along with her mother, Mabel are embarking on a journey to California via wagon train. They are going with Cynthia’s fiancé, Walter Prentice. They are late arriving in Independence, Missouri and the wagon train they were joining has already departed. Instead, they link up with two other families and begin their long journey to California. The other parties in the train are Cole Edwards along with his sister, Virginia as well as Jack Simpson, a widower traveling with his two young children, Alan and Amelia. Rain, mud and wagon repairs delay their journey. The group find themselves at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains when snow begins to fall. Thankfully, Cole finds an empty cabin where they stay while they wait for better weather. Eight weeks later they are still in the cabin and Christmas is approaching. The ladies try to figure out how to provide Christmas for the children with their meager supplies. The more time Cynthia spends in Walter’s company, the less she wishes to marry him. How else, though, can she provide for her mother since their father died leaving them penniless. Cynthia decides to pray on the matter and leave it with God. What choice will Cynthia make? Will this group of intrepid travelers make it to California?

The Christmas Prayer is a well-written novel with steady pacing and smooth transitions. The POV switches between a couple of the characters allowing readers different perspectives. The Christmas Prayer is a short story of 176 pages. I did feel it was a little predictable and the ending was rushed, but I appreciated the epilogue. The paperback version is just lovely with a beautiful cover that has metallic red border and pretty edging around each page. Wanda Brunstetter captured the spirit of a wagon train and the feelings the people were experiencing. It was a long, grueling journey where anything could happen. Illness, wagon repairs, sick animals, lack of food, Indians, wild animals, mud bogging down the wagons are just a few things that they would encounter. The people could not ride continually because it would wear out the oxen. The walking had to be exhausting. I like how the author included Cynthia’s journey entries. It allows readers a peek at her thoughts and what she was feeling. I liked the variety of characters with one of my favorites being Abe Jones. The Christian element is light, but the point is made. God is there for us. Prayer and steadfast faith will help you get through the tough times. We need to rely fully on Him, for with God, all things are possible. The ending is happy and heartwarming. The Christmas Prayer is a sweet, historical romance. My rating for The Christmas Prayer is 4 out of 5 stars.

A journey along the California Trail

Six adults join forces to travel to California by wagon. Each has a different goal in mind in this short historical novel.

Cynthia’s journaling is used to share many details of the trek, though many of the characters lend their voice in describing the journey. Other than the diary entries, the story is told in third-person.

Cynthia is very dedicated to her mother and helping to meet her needs, even at the cost of her own happiness. I liked the way she went from timid to becoming more confident.

The story is a short one. Due to the details given and the necessary background information, it felt as if there weren’t many pages left to really draw me in, allow me to fall in love with the characters, or be invested in their journey.


Read the full review of The Christmas Prayer by Wanda Brunstetter with a Preview and Guest Post at AmongTheReads.net

I was given a free copy of this item. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.

A Christmas Prayer by Wanda Brunstetter is a sweet and captivating historical novella. Set in the mid-1800s, readers travel with a small group of strangers on their way West to start new lives. Interest in their journey is kept high as the trip is fraught with troubles--broken wagon parts, unfamiliar Indians, frightening wolves, crossing deep rivers and steep mountains and ultimately, weather. Strangers become friends and relationships change as they work together and help each other through difficult circumstances. The author gives a realistic depiction of this era through the use of journal entries by Cynthia, the story's heroine, as well as the narrative of the story. Engaged to be married, and yet not sure of God's will in the union, Cynthia questions her decision to marry Walter, an older and somewhat stern businessman. What about love--will she give that up to find financial security for herself and her mother? As the journey continues and the story unfolds romantic tension abounds and there's a sigh of satisfaction as things are all too quickly wrapped up. (I'd like to have seen a bit more to the story of these travelers--perhaps there will be a sequel?) A Christmas Prayer, a quick, easy read, filled with engaging characters, and reminders of a time gone by, is a charming story from a beloved author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required and the opinions are my own. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour.

This is one amazing book. I enjoyed the historical feature and found myself getting frustrated and worried along with some of the characters. Fantastic Christmas Story.

The Christmas Prayer is set in Missouri in the 1850's. Cynthia and her mother travel cross-country to a new life in Calfornia,, traveling by wagon train with Cynthia's finance. They miss the wagon train leader and a company of three wagons led by an inexperienced trail guide set off on their journey. The story is laced with hardships of extreme cold, lack of food, and an adequate place to stay out of the weather.

The descriptions of the countryside made me feel like I was traveling along with them. It was a wonderfully well-written Christian Christmas story laced with inspirational instances of God's love and providing for them in their time of need. The characters were well-developed and seemed to fit the time period well.

The Christmas Prayer is filled with hope, new-found love, and inspiration. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Christmas Prayer is the new acclaimed novel by Wanda E. Brunstetter, published at the beginning of September by Barbour.
The most beloved writer of Amish fiction this time will present to her readers the perfect novel for Christmas; perfect for thinking that the festivity will realize all their dreams, including the most impossible ones.
Independence, Missouri, 1850. Cynthia Cooper and her mother are leaving for California in company of other people. Cynthia, orphan of her dad who left both of them penniless, is constricted to marry, once arrived in California, Walter, a man she doesn't love at all for character. The girl keeps a diary for all the time she will spend in this, as she says: "2000-mile journey west."
The girl, understands during the trip that no, Walter is not the proper man for her, for too many reasons, and she prays that her destiny could change, also thinking that that one isn't the best solution for her. Of course she doesn't want to upset her mother and she is ready to marrying Walter for making her happy.
Of course she doesn't want to upset her mother. Walter would mean the solution of their financial problems.
The day of Christmas all her problems will be sorted out and Cynthia will realize her project of happiness with someone else close to her with which she discovers in the while, more affinities.

Highly recommended.

I thank NetGalley and Barbour Press for this ebook.

Anna Maria Polidori

3 Families set off from New York City to California to start new lives. Cynthia is going with Walter her fiancé and her mom. She keeps a journal about the travels as they go. Jack is going with his 2 small children Alan and Amelia. Cole is going with his sister Virginia (Ginny). Cole has been placed in the role of leading this group. There are challenges along the way that make all see each other in different views. Cynthia is going because her dad passed away and she agreed to marry Walter as a means to take care of her and her mother. Jacks wife Mary was killed by run away horses and he wants to make a new start with his kids. Cole wants to hunt gold and his sister was jilted and wants a fresh start. They all get stuck in a small area when snow strands them in a small cabin Cole finds . This is a long trip that will take a lot of patience and prayer on all who are going. The power of prayer and understanding got these families through to their designated lives. I enjoyed reading Wanda Brunstetter's very much. I received this book as an ARC in return my honest reivew

My thoughts: THE CHRISTMAS PRAYER is a historical set on the wagon trail by Wanda Brunstetter. This was an awesome novella! I totally loved it. There are there "families" traveling west together since they missed the wagon train that was leaving, and they were a brother, a sister, a widower and his two children, and a mother and daughter with the daughter's finance. I figured out how the story would pan out before I got to the end, but that was okay I enjoyed getting there.

I read this story quickly, at church in the hour and a half between services and gave my copy away to a woman at church who is a huge Wanda Brunstetter fan as she was practically begging for it as soon as she saw the book.

There are several different Point of Views in the book, but they are seamlessly done. This was a great wagon trail Christmas story with a satisfying ending.

This is not Amish.

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.

Traveling to California, engaged to a man 15 years her senior, with her widowed Mother and two other families was not something Cynthia had ever imagined doing. But the death of her father, finding out he had left her and her mother destitute, made it the only logical choice. Once she married Walter, her mother would be taken care of for the rest of her life. That was what was important. It didn't matter that she didn't love him, she would work hard to be a good wife. As the trip goes on, things just get more complicated. A surprise ending will bring a smile to your face and Heart!

This book made me ready for Christmas and winter time! I thought that it was a darling story to pull out as the holidays draw closer.

This is one of those books that you pick up and don't put down until the last page. Wanda Brunstetter has written a book about the Oregon trail and has done it in a way that is different. Instead of describing the hardships of the journey she focuses on the people. The Christmas Prayer follows three familes as they try to catch up to the wagons that left before them out of Independence, Missouri. Everyone has their future all planned and simply need to get to California to begin their new lives. But are those plans God's or does He have something better in mind?
If I have a negative about the story it would be how everything is wrapped up with a bow at the end. It seemed the story ended so abruptly. I would love a sequel to see what happens to the characters as they settle in their new lives.
I voluntarily received this book from netgalley.

The cover by itself is enough to grab anyone's attention. It makes me feel chilly as I see the snow high on the mountaintops. I couldn't wait to dig into the story and I must say it was such a beautifully written story I wanted it to last forever. The flow was just right and gives readers time to know the characters better.

Traveling in April 1850 will be an adventure for a group that has a long way to go to reach their destination. Their goal of getting to California by December will be tested by the weather, wagon repairs and supplies diminishing.

Each character has a reason to want to get to California. Will they see their dream come true? As they continue on their journey, the weather takes a turn for the worse. Will they find shelter in time before the snow traps them in their wagons? I loved the different personalities and how they seemed to get along for the most part. There is one person who is so unpleasant I was hoping he would give up and return to his old home. I always wonder why God places someone in our path that is hard to like? I'm sure it is because we need to continue to remember to give grace to others.

The story is filled with adventure and hardship. Through it all will the travelers appreciate how God supplies them with what they need? This Christmas will be different for each one, but it promises to bring hope, joy and the true spirit of Christmas.

I received a copy of this book from the author . The review is my own opinion.

Cynthia Cooper is traveling with her mother and fiancee', Walter, in a wagon train with two other wagons, all headed to California. They missed the big wagon train by one week and are in hopes of catching up with them. Walter has a head for business and not much else. He is moody and angry and doesn't pull his weight with the other men in the group. Cynthia, naturally, begins to have doubts about marrying Walter, but feels she has to as he will also support Cynthia's widowed mother. Walter plan to open businesses in California.
Cole is tired of being a blacksmith and hopes to strike it rich with gold once in California. His sister, Virginia, is traveling with him.
Jack plans on helping his brother at his cattle ranch. Jack is a widower and traveling with him are his two children, Alan and Amelia. Amelia has not spoken one word since witnessing her mother's accidental death. Jack hopes the change in environment will be good for his daughter and will prompt her to speak once again.
Snow detains the small group in the Sierra Mountains. Fortunately, Cole discovers an abandoned cabin for the group to hunker down in. The men hunt for fresh meat and collect wood for heat.
The children worry that Santa won't bring them anything as they are still in the cabin at Christmas. Cynthia has no intention of letting the sweet children go without anything, while Walter is so uncaring about anyone but himself.
Such a sweet, sweet story of God's mercy and getting His people through some very hard times and difficult circumstances.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Christmas Prayer is a short story that can be read in one sitting. I found it sweet and easy to read. This is a historical western romance. 3.5 stars.

In the wake of the Donner party, three wagons of strangers meet in Independence, MO to head to the land of gold, California. Eight months later December arrives and they have just reached the Sierra Nevada Mountains and have encountered a blizzard that could mean the end of the trip and themselves.

Cynthia is traveling with her fiancé and mother. As the trip has progressed she finds herself questioning if he is the man she thought he was, especially as she finds herself spending more time with the children on the trip. Christmas is approaching and the travelers are finding themselves getting bleaker and bleaker but will Santa come save them and show Cynthia the way to love?

I know whenever I pick up a Wanda Brunstetter book or novella whether Amish or not I am in for the perfect feel good read. Although I know the ending will be a happy one and love will always win the story to get to the ending is always beautiful. This is the perfect story to get you ready for the colder months and Christmas. Pick this book up for the romance reader in your life or yourself. You won't be disappointed.

I received a copy of this story from Barbour Publishing Inc. through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

A Christmas Prayer

I absolutely loved this Christmas book from
Wanda Brunstetter. Set in 1850, this historical novel takes us on a long journey with three families from Missouri to California along the California Trail, where they are each hoping to find a better life. They have no idea that in getting to a better way of life, they would be caught in a snow storm and almost die, face wolves, find friendships and love. This historical Christmas romance had me turning page after page following their journey, struggles, love, and faith as they make their way by horse and buggy across the west.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, Barbour Publishing, the author, and Netgalley. I was not required to give a positive review. This is my honest opinion of this book.

The Christmas Prayers is a novella that was first published in 2014 in Barbour's Christmas Collection titled,The Westward Christmas Brides Collection: 9 Historical Romances Answer the Call of the American West. I love Barbour collections and this was one of my favorite novellas in it.
Cynthia Cooper promises to marry a man many years older than her named Walter. Now this will not be a love match on Cynthia's part but rather a match to ensure her and her mother have security financially and otherwise. Her mother,Mable encourages this match because she will be taken care of as well. Late in the season 3 wagons set out on the way to California and the wagon Walter is leading with Cynthia,her mother and others falls behind and becomes separated from the other wagons. They do their best on the journey but tempers become short as food runs low and after falling behind so much they run into snow. Finding what they think is an abandoned cabin in the woods the members take shelter for weeks before the cabin's owner comes back. After their explanation he understands why they were there and when it's warm enough they move on. Walter reveals a secret to Cynthia during their time in the cabin and all are happy. It is a Christmas Prayer that leaves Cynthia's heart filled with joy.
Pub Date 01 Sep 2018
Thank you to Barbour Books for a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

In this story we join Cynthia, her mother Mable, Virginia, Walter, Jack and Cole along with Jack’s 2 children. They are off to a late start on their journey westward to California, with hopes of catching up to the wagon train that left a week before. We join them on their journey and their struggles. Likeable characters overall and a story that keeps a good pace. Very enjoyable story for the Holidays.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. No review was required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.