Stories that take place in yesteryear are my favorites. I enjoy the slower pace and people taking the time to show they care about each other.
There are four novella length stories written by different authors and have a focus on the lumberjack trade in different areas of the USA. One is loosely based on a true event involving some shenanigans with a Non trustworthy preacher man and others involved in a fraud.
One involves a marriage of convenience that turns into the real thing.
Another involves the camp cook just trying to have a better life than what she experienced in the past and ends up finding love. And the last involves a logging camp losing money at an extremely fast rate can she figure out what's going on before she loses her business and has to sell the business?
Coast to coast we visit breathtaking logging sites and meet all kinds of different personalities in this enjoyable book.

Pub Date 01 Feb 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

All That Glitters ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Winter Roses ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Not For Love ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Undercover Logger ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

It was very cute!

Thank you Netgalley and Barbour Publishing for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.

Great collection of four similar but unique stories. I liked how each author told their story in their own way about lumberjacks and ladies. I liked the concept and thought it was executed well.

Four stories well executed with cute h and nice H
I am a sucker for HR in frontier setting so I enjoyed these four novellas a lot
Who doesn’t swoon for a sexy lumberjack?
Just read it
I just reviewed Lumberjacks and Ladies by Jennifer Lamont Leo; Naomi Musch; Candice Sue Patterson; Pegg Thomas. #LumberjacksandLadies #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

This book is worth reading if only for the historical truth of just how hard life was in the 1800s for the American settlers as they spread out, especially in the North West. Take Michigan, where people went to settle and farm. It averages at -3 but -41 has been recorded. Imagine going out and about to undertake your farming chores as a women – with skirts on – in this weather. Sensible ones wore men’s trousers underneath! Especially when riding horses. No fleece, little wool as it was expensive to purchase, so making shawls, patching clothing holes and making hats were often created from previous items of clothing – and no-one minded because that was how they all dressed.
Imagine being a Lumberjack in that cold. Trees were only lopped in winter and piled on riverbanks to await the spring flood (tides) when the snow melt from the mountains came down river and the logs could be floated to the sawmills.
In late Spring the lumberjacks went home to their farms and families. Having earnt cash to purchase seeds and other necessary items they then helped their wives get ready for the next winter! Logs were chopped for firewood and fences mended, crops sown and hopefully reaped and sold or preserved – the kitchen garden – and young animals used for cash sales or to improve/increase the flocks and herds.
Wives tended to stay away from the logging camp in winter – only the camp cook might be the female influence – and she lived in a rough wooden shelter and cooked in a tent. Logging camps were lacking in all amenities. There was no running water and even the river would be frozen; there were no proper toilets; there was little in the way of heating apart from stoves; and little furniture as camps moved on regularly and thus they needed to minimise the amount they had to carry from one site to the next.
There were no shops and if you ran out of anything you either travelled a significant distance to the nearest township, or if you were in luck, waited for a pedlar to come around. Like a preacher they travelled from camp to camp with a variety of useful items, including catalogues, seeds and even tree saplings – if you ordered them that is! Do remember Johnny Appleseed and the early ‘law’ that permitted settlers to keep the land if they managed to grow an orchard – apples being used for scrumpy/cider as well as apple pie!
This collection made me shiver with the cold of the winters described and the hardships that were experienced. There was not much humour but plenty of accurate historical research and reasonable writing styles by the varied authors. Even the gold scam story was based – loosely – on a true story.
5 for history. 4 for general readability and enjoyment.

Lumberjacks and Ladies is a novella collection with four short historical romances revolving around lumberjacks. There are four contributing authors. It is a Christian compilation of tales.These novellas are beautifully written with the gusto they deserve. Each story is unique and captivating. I was invested in each one. While the situations were different, they each contain life and spiritual lessons.

I highly recommend this page-turning book. It is a great way to read a new to you author. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley but these are my own words.

No fluff here. All stories are set in the 1800s. Each story is rich and as full as a full-length novel. Each is very unique with a lot of depth for each couple, who are making their way through life with unexpected turns. Very entertaining, never boring. Excellent read! Each and every one holds your interest to the delightful end.
I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
#LumberjacksandLadies #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

This collection was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed each of the stories. I'd be hard pressed to choose my favorite!

"He… pretended she was his sister, but since he didn't have any sisters and the woman… was attractive in ten different ways, it didn't work."
Lumberjacks and Ladies (2022, Barbour) includes four historical romance novellas, each by a different author.

Rating: 4.625 stars

Is the collection clean/chaste? Yes. But see the spoiler for novella #3 for a heads-up for younger readers.
Other content issues: I didn't track this closely, but anything would have been mild. There were no issues in the fourth story, for what it's worth.
Christian elements: This is a work of Christian fiction, with occasional references to God. "We can plot and plan and map out our futures all we want, but sooner or later, we have to acknowledge that only God is truly in control."
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"Jess wanted to help her. He also wanted to court her. He definitely wanted to kiss her again."

Novella #1: All That Glitters by Candice Sue Patterson

"Winifred finds herself running the family lobstering business when her father and brothers join the California gold rush."

5 stars

Setting: North Lubec, Maine - 1851

Things I liked:
*Jess Lee and Wini Hayes like each other right away. The story conflict is external.
*The author draws from an event in Maine's history. A new company is established in North Lubec, seeking investors and workers, which creates conflict in a variety of ways.
*The author's notes indicate which bits are fictional, which I always appreciate.

Things I disliked:
*Will, a stranger, kisses Wini as a way to bring her to her senses when she's in hysterics in a dangerous situation. I was initially shocked, but the author convinced me it was possibly plausible.
*"Wini didn't believe a word she said, but if it gave Carrie enough hope to make it through one more day, the lies served a purpose." Thankfully, it wasn't a major part of the plot, but this line implies that it is okay to lie under some circumstances.
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"It would snow in July before she'd ever look at a man who mistook her for a sir."

Novella #2: Winter Roses by Pegg Thomas

Wesley Fisk is formerly a soldier, currently a logger, and is saving up to raise and sell horses someday. Eliza Beth Edmonds is returning home after being displaced from her teaching position by a male teacher returning from war. She's just in time to help her mother, the logging camp cook, who has been ordered by a doctor to rest up.

4.5 stars

Setting: 1865—Michigan, at a lumber camp

What I liked: This one was in a logging camp with some nice details. The horses were each unique, which I thought was cool.

What I didn’t like: I thought that Eliza Beth had an overly large chip on her shoulder against Wesley initially, but thankfully, that didn't last very long.
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"I just want a fellow who'll agree to a sort of arrangement. In return for a home here on the farm, he'll be half owners with me… if you think you might be the fellow I'm searching for… I'll offer room and board in my barn for the season's help, and we can decide whether we suit one another's company after that."

Novella #3: Not for Love by Naomi Musch

"Widowed, Maggie seeks a husband—in name only—from the logging camps, but the man who answers her letter is a surprise."

"He'd never planned to spend five years logging. It had just happened. Somewhere along the line his dreams to have a place of his own were simply forgotten. But now Dunc's farm kept leaping up between him and sleep, and his dream would not be quieted again."

4.5 stars

Setting: 1881—Wisconsin, on the heroine's farm

What I liked:
*I thought the premise was a great set-up for a marriage of convenience tale!
*I loved these characters. They had integrity and were people I easily related to.

What I didn’t like:
*I found it odd that the heroine's dialect came through when the narration was from the heroine's head
*It's implied that the married couple spends some time in the bedroom. It also feels a bit sudden for their arrangement, though not completely unbelievable. And I would've preferred it to be even less obvious, but that's just a personal preference.
*The phrases "wrap his brain around" and "mind was wrapped around" are anachronistic. I see this every once in a while in historicals, and it's strange.

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"So our next step is to put a fly on the wall, a man on the inside, to see how the operation is really being run… So I'm sending you. Tomorrow you'll hire yourself on as a laborer."

Novella #4: Undercover Logger by Jennifer Lamont Leo

Carrie Coker, 23, is a widow who wants to hold onto her husband's family lands and business. Michael is the son of the bank owner who is poised to foreclose on Carrie's loan in 60 days.
4.5 stars

Setting: 1890—From Illinois to Idaho

What I liked:
*This story is set at a logging camp . Yay!
*I loved this quote: [If you don't shape up, ]"You will need to earn your living by whatever means your sketchy education has prepared you for." Yes! This is why it's so important to do your best in school. (Sorry, it's the teacher in me.)
*A character undergoes a transformation by trusting in God. "This was a radical new idea… that God would take any interest in people's day-to-day affairs.

What I didn’t like:
*The story skims over "the next several weeks" when Michael and Carrie were working closely together. As a general rule, I don't think this writing device works well. It's important to see the relationship between a hero and heroine grow.
*On the first page of the story, Michael Tate is introduced as the hero of the story, which I found distracting because the lead singer of the Newsboys, a Christian band, is Michael Tait, albeit spelled differently. I'm assuming the author didn't know this.
*I thought Carrie could have been more assertive with her unwanted suitor.
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The bottom line: Even though only two of the stories were set in logging camps, I really enjoyed this collection. I definitely recommend this book to historical fiction lovers.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.

A very well written collection of historical romance stories. I enjoyed each selection. Recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

Lumberjacks and Ladies is a novella collection with four short historical romances revolving around lumberjacks.

One of the things I enjoy about series like this is that, though there is a lumberjack in each story, the exact situation of each lumberjack is so different. In this collection, there are traditional lumberjacks and undercover lumberjacks. Office workers and log-haulers. And the ladies are all involved with the lumberjacks for different reasons.

Each story was engaging and I liked all of the characters. Some of the authors were new-to-me, others were not. This was a wonderful collection and I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

Rarely do I find an anthology in which all the stories are engaging and totally enjoyable; however, this one is the exception! These four super talented storytellers, each with her own unique style, have combined to create a charming, attention keeping read. The plots are not rushed and the stories are complete and satisfying. The diverse settings in Maine, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Idaho along with detailed descriptions capture the flavor of the lumberjack occupation and community. Well developed, relatable characters capture your heart and imagination. A bit of sweet romance and inspiring faith messages round out the stories. I highly recommend this appealing, creative collection especially for fans of historical fiction and anthologies.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Having read and enjoyed three of these authors' offerings in another collection of stories (The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides), I was eager to read Lumberjacks and Ladies. It is a wonderful set of four stories of independent women who ultimately find love in a lumber camp. Each story is unique with the heroines and heroes who have different challenges to overcome, Winifred struggling to keep the family business afloat, Elizabeth, a camp cook not interested in marrying a lumberjack, Maggie, a widow in need of a husband, and Carrie, a timberland owner being foreclosed on. The authors each have a delightful way of storytelling, some with a little humor, some with suspense and heartbreaking drama, but all weave faith in God and his grace and mercy throughout their stories of love and romance in a variety of situations. Through a time period during the 1850s through 1890, the stories take readers to Maine, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Idaho. Interesting tidbits of history and vivid scenes along with strong, evocative characters make these stories come alive and readers recognize that even in the despair and struggles of the lumber industry there is hope and goodness. Readers who enjoy historical romances will not want to miss this captivating collection of stories.
I listened to a library copy of the audiobook and was not required to write a review. Sybil Johnson does a great job narrating the stories, which made for an enjoyable listening experience. The opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this mix of history, mystery, romance  and the faith that brought them through it. Each story is unique and a trip into the hard life of lumberjacks and the ladies who had such important parts. I always enjoy the interesting history that is brought out in these stories. These authors made this time in history an interesting lesson for me as well as a delightful read! I received an advanced copy from the publisher through NetGalley. No review was required, my review and opinion is voluntary.

Lumberjacks and Ladies is a compilation book of four novellas all dealing with the logging/lumber industry. Each story is written by different authors and is set in different parts of the country prior to 1900. I truly enjoyed this book because it reminded me of seeing the Amish today and how they still cut logs in the woods and pull the logs with horses.
Candice Sue Patterson has penned All That Glitters. This is set in Maine in 1851 in a coastal town of North Lubec. Winifred Hayes is mad at her brothers and father for going to California looking for gold leaving her to carry out the contract to provide lobster to the prison. She does not like the water primarily because she never learned to swim, and the ocean scares her. When she falls from her skiff and she is left adrift, Jess Lee comes to her rescue. Together, they work to solve a mystery surrounding the local Electrolytic Marine Salts Company who owed Jess for two months of delivered lumber.
Winter Roses by Pegg Thomas is set in Michigan just after the Civil War in 1865. Wesley Fisk had just crossed Lake Huron to Alpena, Michigan. This was a place that he hoped his training of horses would aid him in securing a job with the local logging camp. Trying to disembark the boat, he met Eliza Beth by hitting her with his duffel. He was surprised when he arrived at the camp that he saw her again. She was the daughter of the camp cook. Wesley was a carver, and he could carve a rose from wood which played a part in the story.
Naomi Dawn Musch wrote Not for Love which is set in Wisconsin in 1881. Maggie Duncan was a widow who had lost her husband to a logging accident over the winter. She had concocted an idea to write a letter for the traveling preacher to read to the logging camps that he visited asking for a man to partner in name only with her in taking care of her farmland that she and her beloved Bobby had started. Her brother Charlie and his wife Nancy did not like the idea. After several candidates showed up, Jack McAllister seemed like a good fit, and he did have some valid ideas for the farm. She just knew that she could not sell to Sheldon Earl.
Undercover Logger by Jennifer Lamont Leo takes place in 1890 in Idaho. Michael Tate was in trouble with his banking father for having been tossed out of a Chicago saloon and making the front page of the newspaper. He was being sent to Idaho to stay with his Uncle Sebastian and he did not get to ride first class on the train. Carrie Coker was on that same train, but she was purposely heading to Idaho to once again find out why a loan that Coker Lumber Company had taken out was not paid off with the bank. She had 60 days to pay it off. She had wanted a new loan so that she could build Camp Harmony, a music camp that her late husband had dreamed of on their land. Uncle Sebastian was the bank officer who adored Carrie but could not understand why the Lumber Company was not producing from their vast holdings. Michael goes undercover as Michael Taylor and is assigned to the office of Coker Lumber and ultimately, he gets to work with Carrie.
I highly recommend this historical book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. #LumberjacksAndLadies #CandiceSuePatterson #PeggThomas #NaomiMusch #JenniferLamontLeo

This was a fun collection of stories. I enjoyed the mix of different stories. All sweet romances that captured my attention immediately. I love these collections and was glad to read these stories.

I had to smile when I started reading this book and noticed that the first story is based in Maine. My paternal grandfather was a lumberjack in the 1920's. The story is based on an actual hoax that victimized the coastal town of Lubec. Fictional characters Jess and Wini meet and work to discover the gold from sea water sham during the 1880s.

Winter Roses by Peg Thomas - Eliza Beth, an unemployed schoolteacher, returns to a Michigan lumber camp to help her mother in the cook's shanty. She is unhappy to be there and wants to keep separate from lumberjacks. She never wants to fall in love with one and lose him like she and her mother lost her father. Wes is a new hire who mainly works with a team of horses hauling logs. He has a dream, and the job will help him reach the goal.

Not for Love by Naomi Musch- Widow Maggie Duncan has decided to write a letter in search of a husband to help her keep her farm. Jack McAllister didn't plan on being a logger his whole life and the chance to have a farm is a dream.

Undercover Lottery Jennifer Lamont Leo - Michael Tate, a spoiled banker's son is sent to Idaho to help his uncle at a branch bank there. To his mortification he is expected to work undercover at widow Carrie Coker's logging operation to learn why the business isn't thriving.

I enjoyed these stories. I like the historical aspect and the connection of the lumber industry in my own family with both grandfathers having been loggers. I learned a few interesting things too.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

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

Lumberjacks and Ladies is a compilation of four clean romance stories set in the 1800’s. They can be read separately or together. They are set in different years and do not interconnect.

Out of the four stories, Not For Love by Naomi Much was my favorite. Maggie, a widow, must seek a marriage of convenience in order to save her farm.

Any of the four stories would have made great stand-alone books if they were expanded. The characters and plots are all well developed even in a short amount of pages.

I was not familiar with any of the four authors previously but look forward to reading more of their works in the future.

Lumberjacks and Ladies
4 Historical Stories of Romance Among the Pines
by Jennifer Lamont Leo; Naomi Musch; Candice Sue Patterson; Pegg Thomas
Pub Date 01 Feb 2022
Barbour Publishing, Barbour Fiction
Christian | Historical Fiction | Romance


I am reviewing a copy of Lumberjacks and Ladies through Barbour Fiction and Netgalley:


In All That Glitters by Candice Sue Patterson we are transported back to 1851 Maine where we meet Winifred who finds herself having to run the family lobstering business when her father and brothers join the California gold rush. Will she stubbornly reject help from a local lumberjack?


In Winter Roses by Pegg Thomas we are transported back to 1865, Michigan where we meet Elizabeth who cooks for a logging crew, but she is determined to escape that life for something better, until reoccurring gifts capture her attention. Will she follow her dreams—or her heart?




In Not For Love by Naomi Musch we are traveled back to 1881 Wisconsin, where we meet Maggie a Widower who is seeking a husband in name only from the logging camps, but the man who answers her letter is a surprise. Can she open her heart to love again?




And the final novella in this collection is Undercover Logger by Jennifer Lamont Leo, which takes us back t0 1890, Idaho we will meet Carrie who refuses to sell her timberland and allows the banker’s nephew to sign onto her logging crew to ferret out the reason she is losing money at an alarming rate. Will truth be revealed to her forlorn heart?


I give Lumberjacks and Ladies five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Jennifer Lamont Leo's and Candice Sue Patterson's stories stood out to me in this collection; both were intriguing and entertaining, on top of being historically accurate and informative. The collection really opened my eyes to the struggles women dealt with in that place and time.

This was a bit of a different genre for me to read, but I did enjoy it and would happily visit other works by those two authors, in particular, in future.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.