The Daughters of Riverton
About the books in this set… self-reflection or discussion are included at the end of each story.
Take a trip back to the early 1900s and spend time in the small farming community of Riverton, Wisconsin, where people find the courage to forgive, pursue their dreams—and love.
SARAH’S SMILE, BOOK 1
A would-be missionary longs to leave heartbreak behind.
A widowed pastor yearns for the way things were.
They shared a past, but can they share a future?
Sarah McCall is waiting to leave for the mission field when the man she once loved steps back into her life. Abandoned as a child by her mother and gambler father, she strives to overcome a tarnished history she didn’t create and a heartbreak she can’t forget. Peter Caswell returns to his Wisconsin hometown a pastor, dedicated to his four-year-old daughter and new congregation. But no matter how hard he tries to move on with his life, he can’t forgive himself for his wife’s death. Although ten years have passed since he left Riverton, Peter hopes Sarah still cares enough to give him a second chance.
They shared a past, but can they share a future?
HOPE’S DESIGN, BOOK 2
An independent city girl aspiring to be a fashion
designer falls for a stubborn artist from the country.
One desires to be known, the other to work in secret.
Hope Andrews, an aspiring fashion designer, struggles with leaving New York City. But with no job, her parents leaving the country, and an abusive ex-fiancé refusing to accept their broken engagement, Hope doesn’t have much choice but to give in to her parents’ wishes that she live with her cousin in a small rural Wisconsin town indefinitely. Talented Benjamin Greene can’t deny his passion for painting, but guilt over a painful incident in his past keeps him from sharing his gift. Tension thickens between the two over how God-given gifts should be used.
Their mutual passion for art brings Hope and Ben together, but will it also drive them apart?
REBECCA’S SONG, BOOK 3
A small-town school teacher who lost hope of having her own family.
A big-city railroad detective driven to capture his sister’s killer.
And three young orphans who need them both.
Rebecca Hoyt’s one constant was her dedication to her beloved students. Now, a rebellious child could cost her the job she loves. Without her teaching position, what would she do? Detective Jesse Rand prides himself in protecting passengers who ride the railroads. But, when his own sister and brother-in-law are killed by train robbers, the detective blames himself. Yet, another duty calls—he must venture to Riverton where his niece and nephews were left in the care of their beautiful and stubborn teacher, Rebecca Hoyt. They need to mourn and heal, but Jesse is determined to find his sister’s killers. Rebecca is willing to help care for the children, but she also fears getting too close to them—or their handsome uncle—knowing the day will come when he’ll take them back to Chicago.
Will Jesse and Rebecca find a way to open their hearts and work together? Or will they, along with the children, lose out on love?
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The Daughters of Riverton Complete Series: 3-Book Boxed Set – Inspirational Historical Romance, Clean and Wholesome Historical Romance by Dawn Kinzer
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Collection of 3 books by the author
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Sarah’s Smile (The Daughters of Riverton, #1) by Dawn Kinzer
Riverton, WI 1902
Book starts out with Sarah and she’s working in the store when she meets Peter’s child. They had grown up and knew one another since the age of 8 and he left for college and met Lilly and married her. She had died and he decided to move back to town and stay with his sister with his child. He’s now a pastor and Sarah’s path crosses his often as she also leads groups in the religious learnings.
We learn about Sarah’s past and she feels she’s living her parents past and looked down on over the years as her mother had left her for her grandmother to raise her.
Lvve hearing the passages from the Bible and how they help to justify the decisions and outcome. She needs to overcome the hurt she’s feeling and move on.
Like how she wants to match the music at the service with his sermon.
She has plans to follow other missionaries to Africa very soon… Like the connection Peter’s sister Ellie have with Sarah and how he choose Rebecca the school teacher to tend to daily needs of his daughter.
Like that Will is also interested in her besides the pastor and he doesn’t want her to leave the area.
What I do like are unpredictable scenes.
Asking for forgiveness-what a great way to make friends.
Easy to keep character straight as there are a handful of them. Like hearing of the everyday life and work they each do and their past-helps to understand why they have strong feelings towards different subjects.
Love how he’s able to talk to the blacksmith and hear how he works his problems out. Love also how Sarah helps others with money by sharing her plants at home.
When her whole world falls apart she continues to listen to God for guidance. She has her faith still. What I like about his section is that it’s similar to things that continue to happen today, being bullied and how they overcome it. Never saw this ending coming as it did.
Discussion q&a at the end. Author bio included. Other works by the author are highlighted.
I received this review copy by the author via Book Fun (The Book Club Network) and this is my honest opinion
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Hope’s Design (The Daughters of Riverton, #2) by Dawn Kinzer
Riverton, WI 1904
What I like from the very start is that Hope is a talented fashion designer and Ben, a secret has some hidden talents as well.
They are thrown together as his brother Jake likes Annie-Hope’s cousin who she will be staying with for an extended time.
Like hearing of the Panama construction and the descriptions of what goes on there.
What I also like is connecting with others from the previous book, but you are brought up to date, not left in the dark about them.
I also am a fashion designer so this book is fascinating for me.
Hope has a huge secret that she doesn’t want others to learn about-Annie knows and will keep her confidence.
Love how color strikes Hope and Ben also and it’s a large part of the things they see in daily life.
Daisies-I also grow them myself and with my blue ktichen they fit perfect.
They find many of the same interests but she has to keep her distance because of her past secrets-she doesn’t want to go through them again.
Hope becomes upset when Ben didn’t stick up for others fighting…Jake informs her it is up to Ben to tell her….
Love all the discussions of the library and the fashion industry (Butterick and tatting, even memories of playing pinochle) and how Ben knows combinations of colors that go well together…through her tears (happy ones) she finds what he was hiding.
Like how they bring Rebecca into their circle.
Hope takes it upon herself to promote Ben’s work……then her ex fiancée shows up….
Love hearing how the youngest are kept busy along with everyone up to the elders in the community.
Thanksgiving holds special memories for those gathered around the table…
Discussions q&a at the end. Author bio included. Other works by the author are highlighted.
Free offer: Maggie’s Miracle.
I received this review copy by the author via Book Fun (The Book Club Network) and this is my honest opinion.
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Rebecca’s Song by Dawn Kinzer
1905 This story in the Riverton saga follows Rebecca and she’s the school teacher.
She has some problem children but for the most part she can get through the day with prayer and patience.
The Graysons son is the culprit, the bully and he’s gone in front of the school board and wants her replaced with a man who can control the children.
Ten years she has taught and also taken care of her best friends children so the adults could spend time alone away from them.
Shocking news from the sheriff and the three children no longer have parents.
Uncle Jesse comes to the rescue after the death and she hopes he can ease the children’s pains.
He is angry with God for allowing his sister and her husband to die and leave 3 children as orphans.
Over time things change and a decision from Jesse. Rebecca has helped the family with them moving on…
So depressed, desperate as to what to do they find the answers in praying to God. Love how the book got it’s title and what it means.
Love hearing of the breakthroughs they are able to make with the children after the castrophe accident.
Hard book at times as we lost our older brother and he had three children that my parents were able to raise. We would help out when we could but it was a difficult time.
Jesse is not comfortable with his decision until he finishes his work first. Love all the action and adventure and mystery and learning new things to help others.
Q and a discussions questions at the end. Acknowledgements, meet the author, free offer of a ebook
Summary of the books in this series are included.
I received this review copy by the author via Book Fun (The Book Club Network) and this is my honest opinion