Caroline Adams returns to Indian Territory after tiring of confining society life. She wants adventure, and when she and her friend Amber come across swaggering outlaw Frisco Smith, they find his dreams for the new territory are very persuasive. With the much-anticipated land run pending, they may just join the rush. Growing up parentless, all Frisco Smith wanted was a place to call his own. It’s … his own. It’s no wonder that he fought to open the Unassigned Lands. After years of sneaking across the border, he’s even managed to put in a dugout house on a hidden piece of property he’s poised to claim.
When the gun sounds, everyone’s best plans are thrown out the window in the chaos of the run. Caroline and Frisco soon find themselves battling over a claim–and both dig in their heels. Settling the rightful ownership will bring these two closer than they ever expected and change their ideas of what a true home looks like.
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The Major’s Daughter ( Fort Reno #3 )
By: Regina Jennings
The Major’s Daughter is book three in Fort Reno Series. I have read all three and I think by far that The Major’s Daughter is my favorite. I love this series. The story and the characters both are well written. This is Caroline and Frisco’s story. I laughed and laughed at these two. frisco wants a piece of property on the Unassigned Lands. It seems that all most everyone wants some of this land. Will Frisco get the land he wants? What does Caroline have on her mind?
I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers. All opinions are my own.
This book concludes the Fort Reno series of books and does so wrapped around a very unique era of American history – the Oklahoma Land Rush. It includes a few characters from previous books and follows through with Amber and Bradley’s story that was introduced in the novella, Bound and Determined. The central characters are Caroline Adams and Frisco Smith and it is Frisco that really steals the show for me. Frisco embodies the primary theme of honesty and integrity that weaves through the book. And, it’s very satisfying to read how the dishonest are caught and punished and those who played by the rules honestly are rewarded.
Another theme is that of family and community – a sense of belonging. And Frisco comes the full spectrum from one end to the other. Also, Caroline learns the value of family and to not take it for granted.
Romance – PG / kissing
Language – PG / clean
My rating – 4.5 stars
What an interesting read, rich in history and adventure…….Frisco Smith is a tough lone character, thrown in jail many times. However he seems tough on the outside, inside he is searching for somewhere to belong. Raised in an orphanage and not knowing who he is, leaves him constantly searching. Now he has a chance to homestead 160 acres. He wants to build his own town so that he is surrounded by his orphanage friends and has even taken money from them for their plots. He even has named the town, Redhawk. He knows right where to go because he has scouted the land and knows where to go. No one can beat him for he knows a shortcut that no one else knows……Except for the Major’s daughter, Caroline, who has tagged along with him since childhood. Now she decides she wants to claim 160 acres for herself to build a boarding house. As fate would have it, Frisco is detained at the start of the race by the Major requesting him to make sure all is done fairly. When he reaches “his land” Caroline is already there and her stake in the ground. He accuses her of stealing his land, in fact he has built a lean to and has stocked it with food……but she is not budging, she was here first according to the rules…….This make for a very interesting book that you will not be able to put down. Who wins and who will loose.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinion is my own.
I’ve been so looking forward to this story, and it definitely didn’t disappoint! Ms. Jennings weaves a wonderful story about a time in history of which I had very little knowledge, the land rush into the Unassigned Lands. I loved the ups and downs of the story and learning about the hardships and tenacity of the people who chose to fight the elements and the crooks to build new lives for themselves. Ms. Jennings word building and setting descriptions are vivid enough for one to gain a clear picture of everything that is happening in the story. I was impressed to learn many of the instances in this story actually happened!
I highly recommend this book for people who love Christian fiction, historical fiction, and a good HEA.
I have enjoyed EVERY book in this series, but The Major’s Daughter is my favorite. I am a total historical fangirl, and I loved being part of the Oklahoma land rush. The anticipation of thousands of people is palpable from page to page. So many hopes and dreams depended on being successful in staking a claim, and Ms. Jennings did an amazing job of describing how chaotic, awesome and breathtaking the events of the race and the following days and weeks were for those involved. I loved how the untamed and raw quality of the land influenced its inhabitants–including Caroline and Frisco.
For a book to really catch and hold my attention, I must like the heroine. I can confess I more than like Caroline. I adore her, her courage and her confidence. She has her own goals, yes, but she’s far from selfish. The way she can see Frisco’s weaknesses and pain and only love and respect him more is endearing.
Frisco is a man of many layers. A boomer, who was often in jail. A foundling with a painful past. A visionary with aspirations for a better future. From previous books, I thought him a bit of a rogue, but it wasn’t hard to fall in love with a man with such a heart of integrity. His vulnerability only added to his charm. I loved every minute of the scenes with him and Caroline–whether they were sparing, sharing stories or surviving the wreckless prairie. Their love story is one of my favorites.
If you loved being immersed within historical fiction–to feel the sights, sounds, and emotions of another time–then you will enjoy this book. In fact, it will likely grab your attention and not let loose until the dust settles. Don’t miss the sheer excitement of this adventure!
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own.
This was probably my favorite book in this series. I loved learning more about the 1889 Land Run. I enjoyed Caroline and Frisco. They both had many things that they needed to learn to stop being so stubborn. This story made me laugh and cry. These people went through a lot of troubles to get this “free” land. It took a lot of hard work. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
Another wonderful book by Regina Jennings. Her books are so fun to read but yet I love the historical aspects. I can always count on the characters being great and them always getting into a mess that they are trying to get out of. I have read books about the land rush before and enjoyed them. This one was interesting when Caroline and Frisco fought over the same land and neither one wanting to give over to the other. I love a strong heroine but not too strong she can’t fall in love. I sure love a strong hero because I can’t deal with wimpy men. So both of these characters are strong but yet they fall in love.
I certainly have enjoyed this “Fort Reno Series”. I recommend this book to all my friends that love a good clean Historical Romance.
I received this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
If you are looking for great fiction with fun characters, fascinating history, and animated romance, then look no further than The Major’s Daughter! I love Regina Jennings’s writing because she can write depth of the characters and plot while also making the story amusing and interesting. I liked the characters in this story a lot and their banter and interactions were entertaining to read. I have enjoyed this whole series, but I think this is my favorite! You do not have to read the stories in order, but they are all fantastic and it gives you a bit more background on the characters. The story has some unpredictable parts that keep the story moving. I liked the spiritual aspects woven among the plot as well. I loved this book and I really cannot recommend it enough!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
The Major’s Daughter was an enjoyable read and filled with history about Fort Reno and the land run of 1889. The romance was sweet. And it was fun because of the banter between the heroine and the hero. We also got caught up on the characters from the previous two books in the series.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
I enjoyed this story, and could just picture these people at the line waiting to cross to a new life, and the race and for some disappointment. Then there were the cheaters, and thus we have a story!
I loved how the author used a primitive [in today’s standards] to prove that some were not honest, but you will have to read this to find out how.
There is a bit of romance, storms, and compassion here, and all for a better life. When the character of Frisco is introduced, I found myself disliking him, but wow did my opinion changed! Then there is Caroline, and I loved her, what a strong considerate woman, full of gumption and dreams.
This read came alive for me, and when I finished I really wanted more!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House and was not required to give a positive review.
3.5 stars
“To the outsider it might look like he was always hunting for adventure, but really he was searching for home.”
And Frisco Smith was certain that he had found it. After years of scouting out property in the Unassigned Lands of Oklahoma, the mere sound of a gun was going to make it legal to claim some of his very own; his grand dream of forming the town of Redhawk was at his fingertips . . . until a red headed major’s daughter beat him to it. The little minx had somehow managed to out-claim him.
“There were two things she really enjoyed. She liked getting her way and she liked to claim that she was independent and didn’t need her family.”
Caroline Adams had always been a bit enamored with Frisco Smith. He seemed wonderfully reckless and free-flowing with his compliments, but now? She had a chance to make a fresh start, to make her own decisions regarding her future, and she was only just a little sorry that she had managed to stake Frisco’s prized property as her own.
As Frisco and Caroline butt heads over property rights and “doing the right thing”, they slowly come to the realization that being on opposite sides of the dispute is not nearly as fun as being on the same side, . . . . . . . except that it always, always, always came back to the land.
Enjoy this witty glimpse into life just outside the walls of Fort Reno during the 1889 Land Run when it was every man (and woman) for himself, and where tender moments amidst the ever-present prairie dust sparked a budding romance which arrived “sooner” rather than later, in spite of going nowhere until it went exactly where it was supposed to arrive; home.
I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above were entirely my own.
Frisco Smith is intelligent and seems tough on the outside. On the inside, however, he is still the scared little abandoned boy. Not only is he still grieving, but he believes that people don’t ever stick around. He wants to build his own town so that he is surrounded by people that won’t leave.
Caroline Adams wants to make a mark of her own as more than just the major’s daughter. She thinks a boarding house on her own 160 acres will do that.
When Caroline claims Frisco’s land, he is torn between wanting her to go and hoping she never leaves.
“Of course you’ve changed. That girl I admired, I don’t know her anymore. Instead of a beautiful wild vine, all I see now is another potted plant, trimmed and pruned to look like every other one out there. One that will only survive when handled delicately.”
There is so much meaning in the traveling case that Frisco carries around. He has never unpacked it because he only wants to unpack it when he has found his home. A place to belong. This really stuck with me throughout the story.
“He came back and found his traveling case. He paused after he opened the latches. The bag hadn’t be completely emptied since he was a child, and then someone else had packed it for him. He’d learned to keep his things ready for the unexpected, ready for heartache, and ready to be uprooted, but no longer.”
Frisco’s relationship with the other foundlings was special. It was heartbreaking how they tried to make their own little family but were torn apart from each other. Yet each one was trying to make their own way.
This book can easily be read as a standalone. However characters from previous books are in it. I love that this is also the continuation of Bradley and Amber’s story. I adored Bound and Determined but wanted to hear more of their adventures.
“He fell in love with you in August. In Oklahoma Territory, any two people who can tolerate each other in August are in love. Otherwise the heat would make them too cranky to bear.”
Jennings’ characters, story lines, and knowledge of history are all exceptional in this series. These books are both funny and tender. Even in the first chapter alone I had laughed multiple times, and Bucky the goat was a cute little sidekick.
This part of history has always interested me. I’ve read a lot about the homesteading on the 160 acres but the setting up of a town was fairly new to me. Reading the author’s note, it was amazing to find out how many things in this book actually happened.
The Major’s Daughter is exactly why I like the historical fiction genre. Not only does it have the interesting history, it also has romance, laughter, and extremely touching moments.
“He wanted a home, a family to belong to. She understood and was willing to join him, but he had to believe it would last. She couldn’t stake her future on someone who wasn’t sure he had one.”
Once again, Regina Jennings has crafted a novel that will make you laugh so hard your sides hurt. Caroline and Frisco’s banter kept me turning pages. I couldn’t get enough of them. From their first interaction on the page, they had amazing chemistry that had me rooting for them to get together.
While it was nice to see Bradley and Amber’s story continue, I did find myself getting frustrated that we went between both of their perspectives instead of just focusing on one. And it interrupted Frisco and Caroline’s story every time it started to get good. But then again, that helped build the suspense.
But the storyline of the land rush is fascinating. Jennings provides so much historic detail not only about the history of the Unassigned Lands, but also about the land rush itself. The challenges. The conditions. I liked the mystery of whether the town of Plainview was founded legitimately or if there was cheating involved. And Jennings did a great job dropping breadcrumbs here and there.
Overall, Jennings has crafted an entertaining novel that you just can’t miss.
The historical background for this book was really interesting. Seeing people who wanted a chance at claiming the land and their struggles was captivating, from those like Caroline who were successful in claiming the land but then needed to actually get to work settling there, to those like Frisco who didn’t get the opportunity they so desperately wanted but were still trying to find a way to be successful. I also enjoyed the plot line with Frisco, a lawyer, trying to figure out if the very men who settled the town where he managed to buy his small plot did so legally or if they started out early in order to stake a claim. The romance angle wasn’t quite as appealing to me as the other romances in this series, but all in all, it made for a good read.
3.5 stars.
I read a copy of the book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.