Gentle Stories of Hope -- Mountain Lake Minnesota Trilogy

I can't remember when I first ran across the name Kim Vogel Sawyer -- but I'm so glad I did!

I can't remember the first book written by Kim Vogel Sawyer that I read -- but I know I enjoyed it because . . . how could you not!

I can't remember when I discovered the Mountain Lake Minnesota trilogy -- but I added those three books to my collection, and at some point found out they were the first novels she published. I hate to say this, but they somehow got pushed behind other newer books on my shelves, and I never got around to reading them.

Just recently I corrected that big mistake, pulled the books out and read the ones that started it all. Just as I expected, even if Kim was new to the game, she knew all those years ago how to write gentle stories of hope -- something she is still doing today and just getting better and better at! 

These stories follow the lives of a set of characters and will be best enjoyed by being read in order. Along the way, there are difficulties and challenges to be faced, but love, faith, and hope pave the way to great blessings! So I would recommend that as you are looking for great reading material, picking up this series from one of the best -- Kim Vogel Sawyer -- is definitely a good move! 

A Seeking Heart

Part 1 in the Mountain Lake Series

It’s 1917, and Samantha O’Brien, seventeen years old, runs away from Wisconsin to Minnesota to escape a drunkard father and broken home. She is accepted with open arms into the Klaassen family, German-Mennonites who show both love and patience to this lonely and defensive girl. Samantha’s fractured childhood and its devastating losses make it difficult for her to accept the Klaassen’s genuine care and concern, because she’s sure nobody can love the likes of her. But with prayer, time and love, the family—including the young and handsome Adam Klaassen—begins to break through Samantha’s walls.

A Heart Surrenders

Part 2 in the Mountain Lake Series

All David has ever wanted was love and security. He believes he can attain his desire by winning the heart of Josie Klassen. But Josie’s love for someone else casts a shadow on David’s dream, making him question if love is possible for someone like him. Can David set aside his own ideas and fears and open his heart to the one God has planned for him?

When a Heart Cries

Part 3 in the Mountain Lake Series

Their beloved little home was full of love . . . but it still felt empty.              Samantha and Adam Klassen started married life in the cozy little home built into the hill at the back of the Klaassen family farm. When they began looking forward to their own family, they knew they would need a real house with more room.                                                                                                But now the silent bedrooms in the farmhouse built with such love and hopefulness by her husband haunt Samantha’s days and nights. Why does God not see her yearnings for a child and answer the nearly constant prayers? And watching her sisters-in-law joyfully welcoming new little ones into their homes while her own arms lay empty nearly does her in. Does God even listen when a heart cries so fervently and long?

A Heartfelt WWII Novel -- This Promise Remains

About the Book

An unfinished story, souls shaped by war, and a legacy that binds them all.

Hugh and Madelyn Lenning have been married just two days when Hugh is drafted into World War II. While her husband fights overseas, Madelyn dares to pursue her long-buried dream of attending art school and creating something meaningful with her life.

But when Hugh returns home, the war has followed him. Haunted by invisible scars and a bloodstained journal he refuses to open, he struggles to keep the past at bay. As Madelyn tries to understand the man her husband has become, the future they once imagined begins to slip through her fingers.

Decades later, a beloved children’s story finds its way into the hands of a woman consumed by grief, regret, and years of careful self-protection. Drawn by its quiet power, she begins to question the life she’s spent years hiding from—and the promise she failed to keep.

As past and present begin to intertwine, they must decide whether some stories are meant to stay hidden or be carried forward with courage.                                                                                        

My Thoughts

This Promise Remains is Darcy Schock's debut novel but is written with the touch of a well-experienced writer.          

Darcy's story is built around events that happened during WWII and the impact they made on several people during that time period -- and even moreso for decades following the war. She  seamlessly moves back and forth through those years as she tells of hurt, trauma, disillusionment, and misunderstandings but also of hope, faith, light, growth, and restoration. The skill she uses in telling their stories draws you into the characters' lives, not simply as an outside observer but to the point of finding yourself sharing their feelings as well. The problems are raw, tough, not easily dealt with, and the solutions echo real life rather than made-up fairy-tale endings.   

I highly recommend This Promise Remains to anyone looking for a well-written inspirational story sure to warm your heart.                                                                                                                                                              

About the Author

Darcy Schock writes heartfelt fiction shaped by faith, grace, and the honest complexities of life. A small-town girl at heart, she loves coffee, the smell of new books, and quiet moments where stories take root. She lives with her husband and daughters in rural Illinois, nestled among the trees.

A Story of Love and Family -- Where We Belong

About the Book

The life of Hester Haak, a widow with no children of her own, takes an unexpected turn when she opens her Kansas home to children from the bustling streets of New York City. The orphan asylum has entrusted her with two sisters and a young boy, and Hester is determined to provide a safe and loving environment for them. Despite the looming uncertainty of their stay, she rises to the challenge, embracing the opportunity to make a difference in their lives.

Meanwhile, Callum Holbrook is grappling with the loss of his wife and the despair that followed. Unable to provide for his family, he made the heart-wrenching decision to place his daughters in an orphanage, promising it was only temporary. Now, with a stable job and a renewed sense of purpose, Callum is horrified to learn that his daughters have been sent halfway across the country. Fueled by determination and love, he embarks on the difficult journey to bring them back.

Through their struggles and triumphs, Hester and Callum discover that family and love can be found in the most surprising places—and that the journey home is paved with hope.

My Thoughts

Where We Belong is another touching story of hope from Kim Vogel Sawyer. As is always true in her books, her characters come alive and draw you into their lives -- the joy, the love, the loss, the fear. Her storytelling abilities capture the readers immediately and make it hard to put the book down.

The orphan train setting and the difficult choices connected with it definitely helped drive my feelings and emotions as I read the story, causing me to care about the characters and want the best for all of them -- whatever that best might turn out to be. Hester is a woman of strong faith and has a large dose of love to share. Callum has suffered great loss and pretty much lost the faith he had enjoyed in the past. The children are victims of difficult circumstances and not sure what their futures hold. Somehow, though, there was always hope, and I couldn't wait to see how that hope could be realized for everyone concerned. Watching the individual characters develop and grow toward that end made for a very engaging story.

I highly recommend Where We Belong to fans of great Christian historical fiction. I was gifted an early copy of the book and am happy to share my thoughts.

About the Author

Kim Vogel Sawyer is an award-winning, bestselling author with more than 1.5 million books in print in seven languages. Her work has received numerous awards, including the ACFW Carol Award and the Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award. She lives in central Kansas with her husband, Don, and enjoys writing stories of hope, petting cats, and spending time with her family.