BACK OF THE BOOK BLURB (Copied from Amazon.com) Will the bonds of love be stronger than the bonds of tradition? Eager to make her own way in the world, Lacy Williams leaves behind her family on the Umatilla Reservation and accepts a job in Pendleton at the telephone office as an operator. The work she takes in stride, but dealing with the unfamiliar, unsettling feelings stirred by the handsome banker across the street is an entirely different matter. Grant Hill wants a wife. However, not just any wife will do. If that were the case, he'd make an announcement at the mercantile and cause a stampede to the church. Grant wants a woman who will look beyond his material wealth and see into his heart. When he's all but given up on the possibility that such a woman exists, he runs into the lovely Lacy Williams. The two of them must strive to discover if the bonds of love are stronger than the bonds of tradition in this sweet historical western romance. MY REVIEW Yet another enjoyable story by Shanna Hatfield. This has been a great series with about down and out people turning their life in a positive direction, faith, and a lot of willingness to see the good in everyone and helping anyone who needs it. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Oh, and you really do need to read the series in order.
BACK OF THE BOOK BLURB (taken from Amazon.com) On the run from the Italian mafia in New York City, feisty Caterina Campanelli travels across the country to the small town of Pendleton, Oregon, trying to hid her past while she decides what to do about her uncertain future. Seeking comfort in her cooking, she battles her attraction to one of the town's most handsome men. MY REVIEW Oh yes, another book that kept baiting me to not put it down. Shanna had me waiting for the shoe to drop, when it finally does you find out it's from the wrong pair, so to speak. Will the correct shoe ever drop? I can't say enough how much I enjoy Shanna's writing, and oh yes there are giggles in this book too.
Ilsa by Shanna Hatfield is the story of a girl whose life changes right before our eyes as we watch her become a woman. Ilsa is the sister of Aundy, whom we have met in the previous Pendleton Petticoats books. Aundy and Garrett travel to Chicago from their ranch in Pendleton, Oregon to bring her back home to live. Ilsa does not like anything about the West except maybe for Tony. She is frightened of almost everything – the horses, gathering the eggs, and cooking, although everyone is more than willing to watch over her and take special care of all of her wants and needs. Tony has come from New York to live in Pendleton, to be near his favorite sister, Caterina, and her husband, Kade (whom we have met in earlier books too). Ilsa and Tony immediately become close friends and slowly have to admit to themselves that they feel way more than friendship towards each other. With everyone’s help, Ilsa opens her own dress shop and moves into town and out of Aundy’s home. As Ilsa finds herself in scary situations, Tony and the others are always there to pick her up and protect her until she slowly realizes that she is capable of taking care of herself. Ilsa continues the Pendleton Petticoat adventures and re-connected me with my friends from Books 1 and 2, but it can be read and enjoyed on its own as well. Shanna Hatfield is an amazing author who pulls you into the story and makes the old West come alive on every page. I stayed up late and ignored my chores to travel to Pendleton and see what Ilsa was up to. I cannot wait to read book 4. Ilsa is a must-read for all romantic and historical genre fans. The romance is set up perfectly and the history is accurate and interesting. I give Ilsa and Shanna Hatfield a top star rating and I am sure you will too.
Caterina: Pendleton Petticoats Book 2 is an excellent historical romance taking place in the early 1900s in Pendleton, Oregon. Caterina, a young spirited woman, is forced to leave her family and the only life she has ever known when she is pursued by an undesirable older man who is the head of the Mafia; he is willing to do anything to make her his own. Caterina and her family devise a scheme to have her leave town packed in a crate. Caterina arrives in Pendleton, alone and scared, but is lucky enough to run into Aundy and Garrett (the friends we met in Book 1) and they take her in and quickly become fast friends. Kade is the deputy of Pendleton, best friends with Garrett, and he's young, handsome, and wanting to stay unmarried forever. Caterina and Kade are immediately attracted to each other and, though both deny and fight it, everyone knows they are perfect together. The book takes us on their journey and we are drawn right into the story. I do not want to give you much more because it will spoil it for you, but all I can say is that this is a MUST-READ book. Shanna Hatfield once again has not disappointed, but has given us a very special romantic story that includes accurate historical facts too. I found it impossible to put the book down, and even though I was pretty sure that Caterina and Kade would end up together, I didn’t want to miss one single piece of their journey. If you enjoy romance and like old time western locales, this is among the best you will read. This book will easily stand alone, but it will be even more enjoyable if you read Aundy, the first book of the series. I can’t say enough to describe how much I enjoyed Caterina and I can’t wait to read Book Three. Please do not pass this one up.
BACK OF THE BOOK BLURB (copied from Amazon) Do you love sweet historical romances? Ilsa will instantly draw you into a happy ever after! One of the most talented seamstresses of her time, Ilsa Thorsen could sell her creations anywhere in the world, but she ends up on her sister's ranch in the western town of Pendleton, Oregon. Disgusted with the dust, smells and nearly every aspect of rural life, Ilsa wonders how she'll survive, particularly with the arrogant Tony Campanelli constantly underfoot. Enterprising and hardworking, Tony Campanelli embraces life in the small community of Pendleton with his sister and their friends, especially since Ilsa Thorsen moves to town. The uptight seamstress just needs to learn to have some fun and Tony's convinced he's the man for the job. MY REVIEW I haven't read one of Shanna Hatfield's books in quite some time and oh how I have missed them. I'm so glad I pulled this one of of my TBR pile/list. Shanna does a wonderful job of pulling you right into the story from the very beginning and never lets you out. I can highly recommend this book, and the series, if you enjoy a good Christian Historical Fiction story. I will suggest you start at the beginning of the series though.
From the beloved Pendleton Petticoats series, Steve the Mule now has his own story!Steve the Mule has an important job at his family's ranch in 1910 Pendleton, Oregon. Explore a day in his life as he keeps an eye on little Willa. When he discovers trouble brewing, Steve races off to save her. Will he make it in time? USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield and talented illustrator Rob Foote offer this lighthearted tale full of laughter and fun.
Embracing the call for women’s participation in wartime efforts, women telephone operators nicknamed the Hello Girls served in World War I to ramp up communications networks overseas.
In December 1918, the Armistice ending World War I was about a month old, and U.S. President Woodrow Wilson headed to Europe for the Paris Peace Confere...
Eat, pray, love (but emphasis on the eating part).
“Inspection this morning with packs, and drill this after noon with full pack helmits and gass masks… I just drew two more siuts of under wear an O.D. uniform, two pairs of #11 trench shoes a…
Cracker Jack is an American brand of snack food that consists of molasses-flavored, caramel-coated popcorn, and peanuts, well known for being packaged with a prize of trivial value inside. The Cracker Jack name and slogan, "The More You Eat The More You Want", were registered in 1896.[1] Some food historians consider it the first junk food.[2]
1918 was the last year of the first World War. With it began a change from wartime austerity to freedom in dress and fit and color. Both women's and men's 1918 fashion were at a pivoting point, lasting until 1922 when the Roaring Twenties changed things again. For women, fashion was looser, with shorter hemlines
