Song of the Prairie

Title: SONG OF THE PRAIRIE

Authors: Vickie McDonough

Publisher: Whitaker House

July 2014

ISBN:   978-1629111704

Genre: Historical

A runaway new mother... A widower missing his children… A past that seems irreparable…

Janie Dunn’s dreams of being an opera singer suddenly dim when, at her dying cousin’s request, she flees Boston with her cousin’s newborn son to protect him from his abusive father. She moves to Kansas to live with her brother, who poses as her husband to protect her identity, lest the baby’s father seek her out. But it’s hard living a lie; even more so the closer she grows to her neighbors on the prairie.

Aaron Harper lost his wife four years ago in a tragic accident. Without a mother to help raise and educate his two chidren, Aaron sent them to live with his brother and sister-in-law in Windmill, a few hours’ train ride from his family’s homestead, to attend the local school. Yet Aaron regrets seeing his son and daughter so rarely. He yearns to have them under his roof again, but without someone to educate them, it’s an impossible scenario.

Life takes a dire turn for Janie when her brother dies. The Harper family turns out to be the greatest blessing—particularly the handsome Aaron Harper, who keeps the farm running in her brother’s  absence. But Janie knows his help is only temporary. Is a marriage of convenience to Aaron Harper the answer to both of their problems? And is Kansas far enough away from Boston that she is safe from the baby’s vengeful father? Or will he come after her and expose the secret she’s worked so hard to conceal? .

SONG OF THE PRAIRIE is the third and final book in Ms. McDonough’s series, Prairie Promises. Fans will want to read Whispers on the Prairie and Call of the Prairie first. The stories are stand alone, but the brothers’ stories tie into the other, so you’ll want to read them in order.

As I've said in the reviews of the previous two books, Ms. McDonough is a formula writer. But she did shake SONG OF THE PRAIRIE up, with not one, but two deaths in the beginning. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Janie as her world is torn to shreds time and again. Also for Aaron as he's still healing from the loss of his wife (in Whispers on the Prairie"s prologue). 

Fans of historicals, of Ms. McDonough’s books, or prairie romance stories will love SONG OF THE PRAIRIE. $9.39 Kindle. $12.99 paperback. 256 pages.