Monday, November 4, 2013

An Untamed Heart-Lauraine Snelling

An Untamed Heart

Lauraine Snelling

Bethany House, Oct 1 2013, $14.99

ISBN: 9780764202032



In 1878 Norway, Ingeborg Strand knows what blunt matchmaking family members led by her mother demand of her. However, she has not found anyone who she wants to marry as her preference is to become a midwife. Ingeborg, her siblings and her cousins are on the farm when she meets Oslo university student Nils Aarvidson. They have in common family pressure to do something neither wants to do; as he is the heir to a lucrative business empire and fortune. They forge a loving friendship until the accident leaves Ingeborg grieving her loss.



Ingeborg meets widower Roald Bjorklund and his young son Thorliff. He pleads with her to come to America with him where he will obtain free land and she could care for Thorliff. As Ingeborg considers his proposition, she knows that means leaving behind her loved ones and her Norwegian home.



The prequel to the six-novel Red River of the North historical series (see The Reaper’s Song, A New Day Rising and A Land to Call Home) is a delightful inspirational late nineteenth century drama that uses a deep look at life in late 1870s Norway as time and place anchors. Ingeborg holds the wonderful storyline together; while the cast is solid though readers will need a scorecard to keep track of who’s who amongst the myriad of family support players. Fans who kept the faith while waiting for years for the origin story of Ingeborg-Roald to be told will relish this strong entry.



Harriet Klausner

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