Call of the Prairie

Title: CALL OF THE PRAIRIE

Author: Vickie McDonough

Publisher: Whitaker House

Noverber 2013

ISBN: 978-1603749626

Genre: Historical romance

A Young Woman Dreaming of Freedom... A Young Man Dreaming of a Family... A Reality That Seems to Stand in the Way...

Sophie Davenport feels like a prisoner in her own house. In her twenty–two years, her overprotective parents have taken every possible measure to keep her from anything that might exacerbate her asthma–in other words, just about everything but reading and needlework. Yet Sophie longs for adventure...and for love. She corresponds clandestinely with a would–be suitor, until they meet and her wheezing scares him off. It seems her fragile health just might sentence her to a lifetime of monotonous inactivity.

Josh Harper is far more bookish than his brawny brothers. The middle child, he enjoys helping at his family's stagecoach stop in Kansas, where he spends a great deal of time crafting furniture and other items out of wood. But, before long, his book smarts draw him to the nearby city of Windmill, where he begins work as manager of his uncle's bank. He also looks after his niece and nephew, who spend their weeks in town to attend school. The change of scenery is welcome, but Josh yearns for a family of his own. Too bad eligible females are not plenteous on the prairie.

When Sophie's aunt, a resident of Windmill, falls ill and requires help, Sophie volunteers. Despite his hesitation, her father finally relents and lets her go, as there is no other option. Her new role brings her into contact with the children boarding at her aunt's home–and with the handsome uncle of two of them. Is there a larger purpose in her coming to Windmill? Or will Josh Harper reject her, if not for her frail health, then for the rocky nature of their relationship?

As I said in yesterday's review of Whispers on the Prairie, Ms. McDonough is very much a formula writer. In, CALL OF THE PRAIRIE, the second book of the Prairie Promises series, the mandatory death is still there, but it is the death of a dream. Sophie dreams of a normal life, of being a wife and mother, and she resents her loving parents for being a little too-concerned about her ill health. Josh is the bookish middle brother in his family and, like Sophie, wants to marry. But his problem is not ill health. It's a lack of females.

Fairly predictable, CALL OF THE PRAIRIE, as well as the first book in the series, are great books for lovers of prairie fiction.  Fans of Janette Oke will love Ms. McDonough's stories. $10.62 Kindle. $12.99 paperback. 272 pages