The Colonel’s Daughter by Gabrielle Meyer
An incredibly swoony romance! I love how Meyer easily makes a novella feel like a whole story. I’d love a full length novel, but I’m always satisfied with her novellas, and this one is no exception. 5/5 stars!

Frontier of Her Heart by Susanne Dietze
A sweet story! I enjoyed the friendly competition between Emily and Boyd, and the inclusion of real historical figures was a nice touch. 4/5 stars

Save the Last Word For Me by Lorna Seilstad
It was a sweet story, but I felt like it missed a lot of its potential. There were interesting facts included about military life and other tidbits, but those most often ended up slowing down the story. There were also some loose ends, and the ending was very abrupt. Adelina, who was a bit annoying, had a more defined relationship with a male side character than the romantic hero. Overall, it was an interesting story, it just didn’t satisfy as much as I’d hoped. 2.5/5 stars

Forever Fort Garland by Janette Foreman
The premise was intriguing and I was excited to read the story, but it was a bit anticlimactic. Annie was annoying, and the story was somewhat repetitive. 2.5/5 stars

Overall rating: 3.5/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This series of four Inspirational Short Stories was a fun and thrilling read. Each author presents a different perspective and writing style, but each individual story is a well written, full piece.

Reading the first story, I expected each of the short stories to be about the different daughters of the Colonel who arrive at the beginning of the story. It didn't meet that expectation, since it tells stories of people in the fort rather than the family.

However, each of the stories was entertaining and fun.

My favorite was the first with Ally and Nathaniel. I always love a good story of a man protecting a woman who doesn't necessarily want that protection. Ally was a feisty, strong woman who loves the frontier and is glad to be moved to the fort.

A fun read for people who enjoy short Historical, Inspirational stories.

I give this four out of five stars.

The Soldier's Lady by Susanne Dietze, Janette Foreman, Gabrielle Meyer, and Lorna Seilstad. ISBN-13: 978-1643526058. 448 pages. Barbour Books (August 1, 2020).

This is a wonderful collection of historical novellas. Each story is well written and holds your attention. This book has it all; drama, romance, history and faith. This is the perfect book to take a step back in time and relax with. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes christian historical fiction. Thank you Barbour Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Soldier's Lady
4 Stories of Frontier Adventures
by Susanne Dietze, Janette Foreman, Gabrielle Meyer, Lorna Seilstad
Back of the Book: “Adventure and Romance Await at Frontier Forts. Join four adventurous women making their home at Old West forts. Faced with daily challenges—and stubborn men—they bring civility to the frontier.
The Colonel’s Daughter by Gabrielle Meyer
Minnesota, 1828—Fort Snelling
Major Nathaniel Ward is tasked with guarding his commanding officer’s daughter, Ally Benson, from the amorous soldiers at Fort Snelling, but he finds the hardest person to keep in line is himself.
Frontier of Her Heart by Susanne Dietze
California, 1854—Fort Humboldt
All is fair in love and war, but the contest of wills between fort cook Emily Sweet and Assistant Surgeon Boyd Braxton is all about pride, not romance. . .until they must work together to stop an epidemic.
Save the Last Word for Me by Lorna Seilstad
Kansas, 1864—Fort Riley
Determined schoolteacher Adelina Dante believes every man, woman, and child deserves the chance to read and write, but when she approaches Colonel Isaac Scott about why he should allow his illiterate soldiers to attend special classes, she’s the one who gets educated in matters of the heart.
Forever Fort Garland by Janette Foreman
Colorado, 1879—Fort Garland
Annie Moreau arrives at Fort Garland to marry her soldier pen pal, Martin, but encounters two surprises—Martin has died in battle and she’s been corresponding with dashing Captain Jefferson Gray all along.
Impressions: This is a fun collection of independent women looking for love in the military world of the frontier.
Liked: I think these are a well written, cohesive collection. I really enjoyed all the stories.
Disliked: Nothing really stood out that I disliked.
Learned: I learned that we have to put ourselves outside our comfort zone to learn and grow.
Quotes: “I believe book learning is for everyone. It’s my job to find the right way to teach you, and it’s your job to learn.”
“Kind hearts are gardens. Kind thoughts are roots. Kind words are flowers. Kind deeds are fruits. Take care of your garden and keep out the weeds, fill it with sunshine, kind words, and kind deeds.”
“Considering yourself to be one and actually carrying it out are two different things.” – referring to being a Christian
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

This is a sweet collection of tales about life on the American frontier. Life could be hard, but it was made easier if it was lived with someone dear to your heart. Take an afternoon to relax and enjoy this collection.

*My thanks to Barbour Publishing for a copy of this book. I was not required to leave a review and all opinions expressed here are my own.

The Soldiers Lady by Susanne Dietze, Janette Foreman, Gabrielle Meyer and Lorna Seilstad is a collection of four sort stories set on military bases in the 1800’s. Each story is unique and they can be read in any order.
I enjoyed this book and will be purchasing a copy for a gift. Each story is well-written with characters that make mistakes, own up to them and do their best to move on. I really like how realistic they all seem to be. The main characters are all Christians and behave in a manner befitting the time period. The book also includes some historical information regarding the forts where they are set. I give this book a 5 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Soldier’s Lady is an anthology of four entertaining, inspiring, easy-to-read novellas penned by four gifted authors. Set in real-life forts in various western frontier locations in the 1800s, this diverse collection has it all—romance, drama, history, humor, faith, and mystery. The characters are engaging, and the plots flow at a fitting pace. I thoroughly enjoyed these uplifting stories, and I highly recommend this light and fun but emotionally rich read.

I received a copy of this book in e-book form from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

A collection of four well written historical romance novellas. Set during my favorite historical time the days of pioneers and forts. I highly recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook.

4 stories of life and love on pioneer forts. They are well written with likable characters and enough backstory to understand the character motives. Truly a delight to read!

Recommended for easy reading, decent writing, light romance, & faith. Wish there had been more adventure. 4.25 stars overall.

The Colonel's Daughter by Gabrielle Meyer: Minnesota, 1828—Fort Snelling
"All he'd ever known was the hard discipline of military life and the coarse behavior of men. In his arms, Ally was soft and pure and gentle."
"I've never seen anything so grand." The mist from the crashing water settled upon her face, and she closed her eyes, savoring the feel of it. "It makes me even more conscious of the power and majesty of God, to know He carved this creation from nothing and gave us the ability to recognize its splendor."
EXCELLENT STORY FOR A NOVELLA. WELL ROUNDED. A SPRINKLING OF FAITH. SWEET ENDING. 4.5 STARS
Frontier of Her Heart by Susanne Dietze: California, 1854—Fort Humboldt
"She thanked God every day since she'd been hired by the fort commander, Colonel Robert Buchanan, to cook for the forty-odd members of Company B, Fourth Infantry. She and her twelve-year-old brother Harry, were given a tiny redwood house to live in, across the parade grounds from the kitchen."
"She and Molly often shared a cup of tea and conversation during afternoon lulls - a welcome respite, since they were currently the only two females at the fort."
"Even in the toughest of times, God's children needed to look to Him in hope and trust. Not always easy, but it was the only way to live."
2 FOR 2! ANOTHER WELL-WRITTEN STORY FULL UP WITH CHARM, DRAMA AND ROMANCE. 4 STARS.
Save the Last Word for Me by Lorna Seilstad: Kansas, 1864—Fort Riley
"This here is where Mrs. Major Adams lives. You can't miss her. She's shaped like a teakettle and spouts off just as much."
"Lord, I pray that Thee will help me find a way to teach the illiterate soldiers how to read and write without upsetting the colonel. If this is Thy will, please show me the path Thou has planned."
"He found he appreciated her sweet sense of humor and her devotion to God and to others."
I ENJOYED THIS STORY BUT I NEVER CARE FOR A COUPLE FALLING IN LOVE TOO QUICKLY. WELL WRITTEN & FULL OF FAITH, BUT AS WITH MOST NOVELLAS, IT'S HARD TO FLESH OUT THE STORIES & CHARACTERS ENOUGH TO TRULY SATISFY.
Forever Fort Garland by Janette Foreman - Colorado, 1879—Fort Garland
"Inviting Miss Annie Moreau to Fort Garland had been a terrible idea. Captain Jefferson Gray had known it with every word he'd scrawled for Martin O'Neal in the letter that man had sent home."
THIS STORY WAS UNUSUAL IN THE APPROACH WHICH, I LIKED. JEFFERSON WAS QUITE NOBLE & LIKEABLE. 4 STARS.

I received a complimentary eBook from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own without compensation or further expectation.

I have submitted a review to Christian Book Discounts & GoodReads already. I will post to my blog closer to the Aug. 1 release date, as well as my Pinterest, AMZN, B&N, BAM, Kobo, Google Play Books.

I loved the first two stories but found the last two to be less engaging. However, those first two were strong enough stories that I'd buy the book just for them!

The Colonel's Daughter, Meyer: 4 stars
This one had some real depth to it that I don't often find in short stories. I didn't expect to like Ally's mother and she thoroughly won me over.

Frontier of Her Heart, Dietze: 4 stars
Again this one had quite a bit of depth and I was able to enjoy the character motivations as well as the fun contest that brings the two closer together.

Save the Last One For Me, Seilstad: 2 stars
Super abrasive hero and heroine who both think they're 100% right to the point of being willfully blind and unwilling to see what's right in front of them. I really dislike rule-haters who flaunt safety guidelines and then put others in danger by their actions.

Forever Fort Garland, Foreman: 2 stars
Writing style was good, but the heroine was so senseless about her views that I couldn't stand her. She'd consider a philanderer over a decent guy just because he didn't tell her his friend couldn't write? Not a heroine in my book and not a story I enjoyed.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

A fine collection of new novellas centering on life and love in the 1800's forts of America. Military life is featured in each tale, with stalwart soldiers meeting determined, spunky women who throw their ordered lives a bit off course. Some historical figures are mixed in and the setting at real forts gives an authentic feel to each one; they range from Michigan, Colorado, Kansas to Northern California, before and after the Civil War.
I enjoyed them all, with men and women living in outposts, sacrificing their comforts to help others, working hard under difficult circumstances. There was a sense of danger inside and outside the fort, keeping the tension up at times, but otherwise these were more tender tales of romance.
I especially liked the couple in the second one that has a friendly competition going. The doctor is a cheerful character determined to crack the tough surface of the young woman who is camp cook. They both look to the Lord for guidance in future plans, learning to trust Him in difficult circumstances.

Recommend for readers who enjoy historical romances with faith.

The Soldier’s Lady is a collection of four novellas set between 1828-1879. Each story is set at an army fort and features a soldier and a woman who either works at the fort or has come to visit someone.

I’ve included my thoughts of each story below. As with most novella collections, there were some stories I liked more than others. But overall, these were nice stories for when you need a lighthearted read and are a great way to sample authors you haven’t read before.

The Colonel’s Daughter by Gabrielle Meyer
This was a sweet story. The romance was a bit rushed to me, but I loved the way the author kept the story moving. She did a great job of create engaging characters and immersing the reader in the setting. I also loved her note about where she got her story idea from.

Frontier of Her Heart by Susanne Dietze
This story was fairly good. I didn’t quite buy the romance because it seemed a bit rushed. I could see their relationship begin to change, but couldn’t see them declaring love so quickly. However, I really liked the characters and could accept the ending for what it was.

Save the Last Word for Me by Lorna Seilstad
This story started out great, but the ending left me a bit confused. The story jumped forward all the sudden, and I had to flip back a couple of pages to make sure I hadn’t missed anything. I think she was trying to create a bit of anticipation, but it fell flat for me. However, I really liked the characters and Adelina’s dedication to her students and desire to teach the soldiers. And I thought Isaac was well-developed, especially his dedication to protecting the fort. This is one of those stories that I think would make a fantastic novel.

Forever Fort Garland by Janette Foreman
This was by far the best story in the whole collection. Jefferson stole my heart fairly quickly between his dedication to his friend’s memory and his desire to do right by Annie. The author did a great job of developing Annie’s backstory, and I was able to understand why Annie felt like her only choice was to get married. The plot was well-developed considering the word count limit, and I found the romance believable considering the fact that Annie and Jefferson had been corresponding before the story began.

Overall, The Soldier’s Lady is a nice collection that provides light reading perfect for a nice evening in.

(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.)

Enjoy four well written, short stories of young women who end up out west as soldiers brides. Each author tells a unique tale with some factual places and events at various fort locations.
Life for soldiers wives at a fort could be challenging and somewhat limited. Dangers lurked and each time the men left on a mission, there was no guarantee they would return. It took a special kind of woman to survive life on the frontier.

This book took me a little bit of time to finish reading as there are four different stories in it. Each story kept getting better and better. All the stories were clean reads. The last story in the book, Forever Fort Garland by Janette Foreman, was the best. Forever Fort Garland by Janette Foreman had some mystery in it.

I’m not a big fan of short stories/novellas. But these 4 are pretty good. They are sweet love stories. For the most part, they were written about the time of the Wild West. The heroine of each story had to be strong to survive in those days. They were all good stories and I would read books from any of the authors. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

This book was beautifully written, the way that history was taken into account to inspire the love story found in this book. The Soldier’s Lady, is a book composed of short love stories each story intricate, unique, and heartwarming. The love that the characters have for each other draws the readers in making them so relatable.

* spoiler alert ** This anthology of four frontier romances is a comfortable beach read. It is a clean romance but not a really riveting one. None of the four stories really have characters that stay with you after you finish reading them. And no great loss if you don't.

Susanne Dietze's Frontier of Her Heart is perhaps the best of the four stories. I enjoyed the unconventional romance between the fort surgeon, the rather Pollyannish Boyd Braxton and the cook Emily Sweet. The competition set between these individuals by their boss in order to entertain the fort, despite being an unconvincing set up, was entertaining. Forever Fort Garland by Janette Foreman, which is the last story in this anthology, has a heroine make a rather rare decision in romance-land. She has been corresponding with the wrong man, but she doesn't immediately snap up his offer to make it up to her by offering her a proposal of marriage. I appreciated her attempt to find a man who is worthy, despite her straitened circumstances, despite the rather clumsy relationship which she ultimately forms with Jefferson Grey. I rather wished that we had been shown Jefferson Grey, actually being a surveyor, rather than one of the two captains in charge.

Gabrielle Meyer's The Colonel's Daughter begins in a promising fashion. The growing attraction between Major Nathaniel Ward and his commanding officer's youngest daughter is portrayed in a sweet fashion. However their relationship flourishes against a backdrop of totally unconvincing secondary characters. Ally's mother and sisters often seem like they have wandered in from some other story, possibly Cinderella. The mother is dead set against any of her daughters' marrying a military man, especially after her eldest eloped with one. The loyalty that her husband and Ally owe to her, tiptoeing around this gorgon, is quite inexplicable. Ally's father's revelations about what made her mother this way come far too late in the story and her sudden volte face at the end of the novel is unconvincing. True to Lorna Seilsad's appeal in the title of her story, Save the Last Word for Me, this was the one which worked the least for me. There's nothing attractive about a foolish woman who refuses to listen to legitimate concerns by the commanding officer of a fort because she feels her do-gooder tendencies are more important. I can understand why she drove Colonel Scott crazy and their sudden reconciliation towards one another remains inexplicable to me.

P.S. I received this anthology as an ARC from NetGalley.

These stories were ok. I didn't love them. I'm not a fan of this time period. Each story was sweet, but not enough adventure for me.

In the mood for some historical fiction? If you are a fan of reading about life in the 1800s, especially military life, this book is for you. These four tales of romance on the frontier are ideal for those who are short on time and need a quick read. Take off on an adventure, travel back in time, and lose yourself in these stories of courageous soldiers and the brave women who fell in love with them.