Fields of Bounty - (Leah's Garden) by Lauraine Snelling

Fields of Bounty by Lauraine Snelling takes readers back to 1857 in Salton, Nebraska to visit the Nielson sisters. I thought Fields of Bounty was well-written with developed characters. I have enjoyed getting to know the Nielson family. They are a close, loving family. I like how they are there for each other. We have gotten to watch the main characters struggle as they establish themselves in the new town, work hard to keep expanding the town and achieve their dreams, and mature as individuals. Fields of Bounty features Lilac Nielson who catches the attention of Ethan Pritchard, their pastor. We also get to catch up with the rest of the Nielson clan as well as some of the townspeople. Lilac grows up in this book. It is nice to see her mature. I like how Lilac story ends. I love the path the author chose for Lilac. Lilac learns that God has a plan for her life and that dashing ahead is counterintuitive (bring her nothing but disappointment and pain). I liked the life lessons in the story and how the author tied them to God plus provided relevant Bible passages. Some of the ideas presented caused me to dig out my Bible. I like how they provided deeper contemplation. I can tell that the author did her research for this series. We get a glimpse at what life was like on a Nebraska farm in the 1850s. Fields of Bounty is a feel-good story. People do experience difficulties and heartache, but they work to overcome life’s challenges and become better human beings. I was left with a couple of lingering questions when I finished the story. I hope there will be more books featuring the Nielson family and the town of Salton. Fields of Bounty is the third book in Leah’s Garden. I believe it is best to read the series in order. It allows you to follow the Nielson family from the beginning. There are a number of characters and new ones are introduced. It is a challenge to keep all of them straight along with their storylines. A list of characters at the beginning of the book would have been helpful. I like that the author created strong, smart female characters. They are businesswoman who are working to expand their farms and the town. Fields of Bounty is a heartwarming tale with a hectic harvest, a patient pastor, a helpful family, a busy boarding house, and witty women.

Even though this was the first in the series that I’ve read, it was enjoyable. There were lots of characters to learn and I was a little confused at first, so I recommend reading the first two before this one if possible. The characters were likable and I feel they could be friends of mine if given time and space. The story took place in Salton, Nebraska in the year 1867. The Nielsen family was very close and had to rely on each other through struggling finances, illness and everyday occurrences. Lilac had always had a passion and talent for drawing. When she submitted some of her drawings to a newspaper in New York, they liked them and offered her money for each one on a continuing basis. Being female she had to use her father’s initials and have them sent by her brother for them to even be considered for publication. They also owned a boardinghouse which supplied employment for some of the locals. Lilac and her sisters had a farm to run that kept them busy. Two of the sisters were married and Lark and Lilac were not. Their traveling preacher got caught up in some untrue rumors which caused a split in their community. Things looked bleak. All the character’s reliance on God was refreshing, even when things didn’t seem to go their way. I was totally surprised and blown away with the ending of the book but still enjoyed the overall story I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.

I’m late to starting this Leah’s Garden series but I was able to read this as a stand-alone although I would love to go back and read the previous two books. First of all I absolutely loved the beautiful cover that made me want to read Lilac’s story. A story of sisters who love and care for each other and of faith that binds them together no matter what. A look into 1867 Nebraska farm life with strong women who are also creative with music and Lilac is an artist. I wanted to actually see her sketches after reading this. Ms Snelling has a gift of bringing a story to life that you want to immerse yourself in and not put down. I loved the lesser character of Climie and could identify with what she was struggling with, but I won’t say more as I don’t want to spoil it. All in all a great well written story that takes you back in time and makes you not want to leave. A gobsmacking must read in my opinion. I received a complimentary copy from CelebrateLit. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

“And will Lilac be prepared for what God has in store for her future?” the back jacket states in Lauraine Snelling’s advanced reader copy of Fields of Bounty. ~ What ~ The third book in the Leah’s Garden series, this three-hundred-and-twenty-page paperback targets those interested in a historical romance involving an up-and-coming artist who trusts in God as she courts a pastor. With the use of the slang word drat, topics of illness, physical abuse, and death may not be appropriate for immature readers. The book is written with Kiersti Giron. Set in Nebraska in the mid-1800s, this ongoing tale about four sisters continues with the youngest, Lilac, who loves to draw and is infatuated with the small town’s pastor. When Ethan asks to court her, she is thrilled but too busy to get to know him and wary that he may not approve of her artwork publications in a newspaper. ~ Why ~ Reading about life in America a hundred-and-fifty years ago has always interested me, and this one is well described. I liked the hometown feeling of the characters and how they continually supported and helped each other while seeking the Almighty for answers. Adding the many written-out Bible verses, hymns, and prayers was thoughtful. I appreciated the ending. ~ Why Not ~ Those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ may not like this story of how trusting God is pertinent to a happy life. Since I did not read the two prior books in the series, I had no clue who was who and was confused by the plethora of characters including their named pets. ~ Wish ~ I hope the final copy includes a list of characters as it would help readers. It would have been ideal to add the eternal plan of salvation, but it may have been in a prior book. I prefer all pronouns of God to be capitalized for reverence. ~ Want ~ If you read the prior books in the series, you may enjoy this one that is updated with old and introduces new characters as they learn to trust in God, but you may get confused with some of the distractions. Thanks to Bethany House and Interviews & Reviews for this complimentary book. I am under no obligation to give a positive review.