Sandhill Dreams

Title: SANDHILL DREAMS
Author: Cara C. Putman
Publisher: Heartsong Presents
June 2008
ISBN: 978-1-60260-010-2
Genre: Inspirational/historical romance

Lainie Garner wanted to be a nurse forever. She completed her training, hoping that she’d be able to go overseas to serve the U.S. soldiers and do her part in the war effort, but a terrible disease kept her stateside. So, she looks for a job in Fort Robinson, Nebraska, hoping to free a man to fight.

Tom Hamilton wanted to work with the horses at Fort Robinson, but instead finds his military assignment is working with war dogs. Tom has been afraid of dogs since he was attacked as a child, so he dreads every day.

Lainie has trouble finding a job in Fort Robinson, but finally she lands one in the clerical office for the war dogs. She is able to see Tom, and as their friendship grows, she discovers they both wonder why God seems to have denied them both their dreams. Could it be that God has a plan for their lives all along?

SANDHILLS DREAM is a really cute historical romance set in the Nebraska prairies. World War II is my favorite historical time period to read about, so I enjoyed reading this different take on things that happened during the war. The faith message is expertly woven in and isn’t preachy, and the setting plays an important part in the story.

Lainie is a realistic character and the reader instantly feels for her. I don’t feel I got to know Tom as well as I did Lainie, but it is still obvious that he is a gentleman, and while he wanted to jump to her aid several times his hands were tied as an enlisted man. Don’t miss SANDHILL DREAMS by this talented new author. $4.95. 170 pages.