The Pony Express Romance Collection

Historic Express Mail Route Delivers Nine Inspiring Romances

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Pub Date 01 Apr 2017 | Archive Date 28 Jun 2017

Description

Join the race from Missouri, across the plains and mountains to California and back again as brave Pony Express riders and their supporters along the route work to get mail across country in just ten days. It is an outstanding task in the years 1860 to 1861, and only a few are up to the job. Faced with challenges of terrain, weather, hostile natives, sickness, and more, can these adventurous pioneers hold fast, and can they also find lasting love in the midst of daily trials? Find out in this exciting collection of nine historical romances.
 

Join the race from Missouri, across the plains and mountains to California and back again as brave Pony Express riders and their supporters along the route work to get mail across country in just ten...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781683221173
PRICE $14.99 (USD)
PAGES 448

Average rating from 35 members


Featured Reviews

A lovely collection of short inspirational stories about the Pony Express. Each book was uplifting and kept me wanting to read more.

A Place to Belong by Barbara Tifft Blakely told a story of Abigail, a girl who's uncle ran a Pony Express way station, who needed to discover that she wasn't a burdened and was loved by her family and God. An Unlikely Hero by Mary Davis told of beautiful Beth Ann who was running from a debt and was rescued by her unlikely hero. She also learned of God's never ending love for her and her sister while trying to stay hidden among Pony Express riders. In The Gambler's Daughter by Darlene Franklin, Caroline went searching for her father who ran a way station, but found the love of a good man and the love of God. Her Lonely Heart by Cynthia Hickey tells a story of a lonely widow and her two young children who run their own way station. Mrs. Mathewson's care for the pony express riders that come through her station lead her to a love that is just what she needed for both her children and herself. My Dear Adora by Maureen Lang is a fun read about the brother of a Pony Express rider who tries to deliver the mail from his brother's last ride. The letter to Adora is delivered by Chip Nolan and results in adventure and true love. Ride into My Heart by Debby Lee is a sweet story about Kimimela and her friends at the Weber Station. Kimimela learns that she can be loved for who she is by everyone around her any by God. She struggles with accepting God's love after losing her dearest friend and sister, but learns that through all of our trials God is always with us. In Echoes of the Heart by Donna Schlachter, Catherine arrives at the Hollenberg Express Station posing as her recently deceased best friend. Benjamin Troudt has advertised for a wife to help in at the station, but when Catherine arrives she realizes that she is not the only one with secrets. Learning to trust each other and God is the focal point of this book. Mercy Winfield has been twice before by men who have claimed to love her in Abundance of the Heart by Connie Stevens. She is determined to never fall in love again. When she and her brothers deliver horses to a nearby way station, she ends up staying on to be the hostler to take care of four abused horses. This story is a remarkable tale of learning to trust again for both the animals and for Mercy. As Alannah and Conn Fagan run from their abusive step-father in Embattled Hearts, they take cover with the help of Stewart, a Pony Express Stationmaster. The three overcome many challenges and learn that they can trust each other and God.

Every story was enjoyable to read. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a clean romantic read. I love the history that is incorporated into the book. It was fun to learn about the Pony Express and how many challenges today can be faced with a little trust in God. Enjoy!

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There are nine stories in this collection of novellas, but the one by Darlene Franklin was my favorite. Actually Darlene Franklin is my hero in many ways. Her Amazon bio states that:
Bestselling author Darlene Franklin’s greatest claim to fame is that she writes full-time from a nursing home. She lives in Oklahoma, near her son and his family, and continues her interests in playing the piano and singing, books, good fellowship, and reality TV in addition to writing. She is an active member of Oklahoma City Christian Fiction Writers, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Christian Authors Network. She has written over fifty books and more than 250 devotionals. Her historical fiction ranges from the Revolutionary War to World War II, from Texas to Vermont. You can find Darlene online at www.darlenefranklinwrites.com

Since I read the one by Darlene, I have read six more novellas and so I cannot remember the names of the characters involved, but what I liked most about Darlene's is that her protagonist had to fight his demons and wrestle with the Lord to come to the place where he was strong enough for the young lady who had stolen his heart. She described in detail the struggle he encountered in overcoming his temptation, much as Jacob wrestled with the angel of God. I appreciate her ability to put into words, the daily struggles of living the Christian life and yet give hope to one who struggles so.

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a pony express outpost.

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

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Saddle up your horse and get ready to ride with the fast flyers of the old West: the Pony Express!
A wide variety of stories created a nice set of snapshots of the many types of people who came through or worked at the Pony Express stations that stretched from Missouri to California. It was very interesting to learn about this brief moment in American history, between 1860 to 1862, that left such a lasting impression on our country.

The brave young men who risked their lives to deliver the mail in record time reminded me of fighter pilots, with some competitive and prideful, and others humble and sacrificial, just trying to do their job well. The stories encompass a variety of people who travel through or work at the different stations, or take refuge there temporarily. Everyone from orphans, widows, doctors, station masters, horse trainers, Native Americans, blacksmiths and cooks, to gamblers, outlaws and renegade soldiers. Plenty of action and adventure kept the reading fun, and the romances tender. One special delivery took place after the telegraph lines brought the mail runs to an end.

Though the stories are short, they touched on many issues that are still relevant today, like having faith in God despite difficult circumstances, dealing with loneliness, abandonment, addiction and prejudice. The unrest of the start of the Civil War added some discussion of issues that divided families and states too.
I enjoyed something in each story, and especially liked all of the horses! They were key to the success of the mail runs, and were like another set of characters. My favorite stories were the last two, with the young woman who fills in as a hostler--she's like a horse whisperer--and the last one with the two siblings on the run.
Recommend to readers who enjoy historical Christian fiction, with a little romance, in a western setting!
4.5 stars

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This is an awesome historical fiction with loads of adventure about the Pony Express time in America. Each story brings a great adventure and stands along really well. They are perfect in length and all of them together make for a great book. I’m walking away with quite an appreciation of days long ago and brave riders. I highly recommend this one!!
I received a copy of this book for my honest review.

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The Pony Express Romance Collection is a kaleidoscope of stories, dreams, loves, heartache, finding each other, versions of the pony express but only ONE GOD....Amen. This book is a litany of differing views of the pony express, loneliness, addiction, abandonment and prejudice - that they should not have had to deal with but did - this book is so wonderful especially when you are in the mood to read for a short period of time - you have it right here for you. The one thing they have in common as well as the Pony Express is Romance - and who could not do with a little Romance? But THE most important thing is how they ALL relied on GOD - now who could not need a bunch of HIM? Get this book - I cannot tell you how happy you will be.

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The Pony Express Romance Collection is a collected romance anthology showcasing the bravery and American Dream portrayed by those on the western mail route lines. It has nine stories by different authors making it a great way to sample an author that maybe new to the reader. The stories, none long in length are by Barbara Tifft Blakey, Mary Davis, Darlene Franklin, Cynthia Hickey, Maureen Lang, Debby Lee, Donna Schlachter, Connie Stevens, and Pegg Thomas.

The stories are uplifting and clean bringing many different types of people to the forefront. In each God and His plans play a prominent role. Though I like some of the stories more than others, I found all interesting. Two of my favorites were Ride into My Heart by Debby Lee and The Gambler’s Daughter by Darlene Franklin.

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I've come to enjoy these collections of historical novellas. The Pony Express Romance Collection was a fun, fast-moving collection of nine novellas, mostly from authors that I've never read before.

A Place to Belong by Barbara Blakey, An Unlikely Hero by Mary Davis, My Dear Adorable by Maureen Lang, and Embattled Hearts by Pegg Thomas were all good reads. They had tightly woven plot lines, well-formed characters, and good writing.
My two favorites were Her Lonely Heart by Cynthia Hickey and Abundance of the Heart by Connie Stevens. These two novellas had secondary characters who were quite fascinating; I would love to see these novellas become full-length novels to incorporate more of the secondary characters.

I didn't know much about the details of the Pony Express prior to reading this book but it was also educational.

I received a digital advance copy of the book from Barbour via NetGalley. I was not required to give a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

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The Pony Express Romance Collection
Lovers of historical fiction will enjoy getting lost in nine stories about the Pony Express, which ran from 1860-1861, delivering mail across the country in just ten days. I love that these stories told so much history, while still allowing readers to experience the emotions of the characters.
The first story is A Place to Belong by Barbara Tifft Blakey. Abigail lives with her uncle and cousin at the Pony Express station. Also there is Jacob, a young man waiting for God’s leading in his life. When a Pony Express rider offers to take Abigail back East where she grew up before her parents passed away, she is excited and hopeful. Jacob doesn’t trust the young rider though. Will Abigail find her home? Or will she discover that she is already there?
Second, we have An Unlikely Hero by Mary Davis. BethAnn and her little sister Molly are on the run from debt. When their family got sick, they had to have help to pay for everything and got in over their heads. The collector is a cruel man, intent on taking advantage of the two young girls. Fox is a rider at the Express station and as he and BethAnn develop feelings for each other, BethAnn worries about what will happen when their past catches up to them. Will they be able to make it together? Or will her past forever haunt her future?
Next, The Gambler’s Daughter, by Darlene Franklin, is the story of Caroline Adams and her search for her father, who left when she was very small. She arrives at the last address she has for him, a Pony Express station, to find that he is gone. The current station master finds an old diary of his and helps her discover where he might be. Along the way, romance blossoms, but Martin has secrets of his own. Can they overcome the sorrow in their lives to make way for a happy future?
In the fourth story, Her Lonely Heart, by Cynthia Hickey, widow Sadie Mathewson runs the station after the death of her husband. A young rider is injured while on the Express and his brother comes to take care of him. Luke is a doctor from the city and he learns how much he loves the country. Will he also find love for Sadie?
Story number five is My Dear Adora, by Maureen Lang. Chip has been tasked with delivering some letters that were robbed during a raid on a Pony Express run. One is to Adora, a young lady who is trying to make her way in San Francisco without her family. Due to circumstances beyond his control, he must read the letter in order to deliver it. In the process, he begins to imagine her and what might be when they meet. However, when they meet, she also has another man who is interested in her affections. Can Chip convince her that he alone can carry her heart, just as he did her letter?
The next story is Ride Into My Heart, by Debby Lee. Kimimela works at a Pony Express station and Gabe is a rider. Both are half Indian and have experienced the struggle of trying to fit into two different worlds. As they learn to survive, they also learn to rely on each other. When Kimimela is kidnapped, can Gabe save her? And can they form a future together, despite the pain of the past?
Echoes of the Heart, by Donna Schlachter, is the story of Catherine and Benjamin. She is a mail order bride there on false pretenses. He is a crippled station master who is bitter and hurting. When they start to let one another close, they find that love can happen in the most unlikely of ways.
In Abundance of the Heart, by Connie Stevens, Fletcher finds his horse trainer abusing horses and sends him off. As he tries to care for the horses, with no knowledge of how, Mercy and her brothers arrive. She immediately takes over the care of the horses, showing patience and love while helping them to heal. Can she do the same for Fletcher?
In the final story, Embattled Hearts, by Pegg Thomas, Alannah and her brother must escape their abusive stepfather and his sons. They seek shelter in a cove of trees, only to be discovered by the station master Stewart. He tries to help them, and in protecting them, also brings healing to Alannah’s heart.
I truly enjoyed all of these stories and I would recommend them to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a dash of romance and happy endings. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest reviews.

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I'm a big fan of American historical romance and this collection features larger than life adventures during the relatively short time period when mail and documents were delivered by young male orphans who rode for the Pony Express. It was a dangerous proposition for both the rider and the horse when so many things could and did go wrong due to bad weather, illness and unscrupulous criminals or Indian attacks. I truly enjoyed the creative storytelling of all these fine authors and I was equally pleased and impressed with the wealth of historical details they shared that made this period of our nation's history come alive for me on every single page. I read a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.

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Buckle up and get ready for the unexpected on this wild western Pony Express ride. I had heard of the Pony Express before but I love how in detail it was explained in this collection of stories. I loved the historical aspect of the story, for example it was fascinating to learn most Pony Express riders were between 12 and 18, were small in stature and were orphans. Many things could and did happen along the way so they preferred riders that didn't have family waiting for them. From bad weather to Indian attacks to utter exhaustion these riders went through a lot. The Pony Express didn't last very long for mail and document delivery. (During its 19 months of operation, it reduced the time for messages to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to about 10 days.[2] From April 3, 1860 to October 1861, it became the West's most direct means of east–west communication before the telegraph was established and was vital for tying the new state of California with the rest of the United States.) Words in () taken from Wikipedia.
This was an outstanding romance collection that you will need to read and enjoy. I really enjoyed it.
Publish date 01 Apr 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing, Inc. for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

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A common thread of fast horses and skilled riders brings these couples together in this fast paced western collection.

A Place to Belong--Jacob is a man of faith who feels God calling him to be a missionary, but in the meantime he is working at a Pony Express station waiting for God's direction. He's also waiting for the stationmaster's niece, Abby to notice him. I liked how he took the time to get to know her and find ways to make her life better.

Unlikely Hero -- Fox is an express rider who saves Beth Ann's sister from being run over by a horse. Beth Ann overlooks him at first, but realizes that perhaps love can be found in second glances.

The Gambler's Daughter-- Mrs. Gibbs brings Christmas to the Pony Express Station when she learns that Caroline was left there by the stagecoach. Caroline is looking for her father, but finds Martin running the station, and Mrs. Gibbs saves her from an embarrassing situation.

Her Lonely Heart-- Sadie is a strong woman who runs a station by herself, she is surprised when a city doctor named, Luke comes looking for his little brother. He stays on and help her run the station, but she knows that it's a matter of time before he moves on. I really liked Eagle, who comes and helps when there trouble at the station.

My Dear Adora-- Chip Nolan is looking for Adora because of a letter that was stolen when his little brother, who is an express rider, was attacked. After reading the letter, Chips knows that he must find her. He is brave and when he figures out what is going on, he helps her find a safe way home.

Ride into My Heart-- Cynthia is a reporter doing a story on the Pony Express, and befriends Kimi and Gabe. She helps Kimi deal with her sister's death, and talks to her about her faith.

Echos of the Heart-- Catherine stays on despite Benjamin insisting that he never placed an add for a mail-order-bride. She does her best to live her new faith, cooking and cleaning, teaching the riders to read, but's not easy when Benjamin makes it clear that he wants her to leave.

Abundance of the Heart-- Mercy and her brothers train horses for the Pony Express, when she discovers many injured horses at the Cold Springs Station she decides to stay on there and help them. The stationmaster, Fletcher, isn't pleased about the idea. They get off on the wrong foot, but will Fletcher be able to prove that he's not such a bad guy.

Embattled Hearts-- Alannah and her brother find a safe haven at Stewart's Pony Express Station. Stewart agrees to help them out, and Alannah dons male attire to pose as Stewart's assistant. As they get to know one another their friendship grows into something more.

I liked some of the stories better than others. I think that Abundance of the Heart was my favorite! Though I will admit that the specific theme did make some of the stories feel similar after a while.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

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From the moment I saw the book cover, I knew I wanted to read this book. I was excited to receive The Pony Express Romance Collection from NetGalley. If you love horses, history, and the Pony Express then this is the book for you. There are nine stories in all. And they are short novellas, so each is perfect for a quick read after the kids are in bed. (That's what I do anyway.)

I think my favorite story in this collection was An Unlikely Hero by Mary Davis.

So, grab a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and take a trip back to the wild west!

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It’s amazing to think that something as ingrained in American history such as the Pony Express was only in operation for 19 months! “The Pony Express Romance Collection: Historic Express Mail Route Delivers Nine Inspiring Romances” is full of interesting facts. For example, they looked for riders who were quite young: between 12 and 18. The smaller and lighter, the better. They also preferred orphans and women were not even considered. You will find these and other interesting facts in the book.

As mentioned in the title, the book contains nine short stories. They all take place within a short time frame and each romance centers around a Pony Express station/stop and tackles issues like bigotry, racism, slavery, prostitution, abuse. The primary characters are also concerned with new telegraph line being constructed as it signals the end of the Pony Express and their jobs.

The common theme throughout these stories, other than the Pony Express and romance, is a character believes that God either does not love them/care about them or does not listen to their prayers. Throughout the story, the character finds him or herself praying/seeking God and realizing His love for him or her. Great reminders that “When god doesn’t answer the way we want Him to, it’s because He knows what’s best for us better than we do.”

I enjoyed “The Gambler’s Daughter” and it’s reminder that “God never leads us to sin”. Set on Christmas Eve in 1860, it is the story of a young lady who sets out to find her father and instead finds romance.

I found that some of the stories seemed to have a similar storyline and appreciated the last couple as they were a bit different. Women were not prized for their ability to cook and clean, but as a horse whisperer and stable hand. However, this is still a good book and would be great for any age as it is clean and has good lessons.

Release/Publication Date: March 15, 2017

Genre: Christian Fiction, Western, Romance

Cover: Perfect.

Source: I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you!

Rating: 4 stars

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This was a fun and entertaining set of novellas focused around different aspects of the Pony Express. I always loved reading about the Pony Express as a child, so it was alot of fun to read some engaging romance novellas about this era in history. I enjoyed the different authors' flavor and the extra mystery and suspense that many mixed in as well. I received this novella collection from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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