Since I must rate the entire book at once, I have to average the "stars." There are four stories of romance in strange circumstances. First is Bride's Song in which Dora Grant, a nurse and city girl has to decide whether to keep her good job in the little town or follow her heart and become what she has vowed she never will - a homesteader's wife. This one would get 3 stars.
Second, The Barefoot Bride is a touching, moving short story about a widow, Emma, whose odd mannerisms and talking out loud to animals and nature have caused the townsfolk to believe she is insane. She is shunned and feared and terribly alone, unable to keep her large farm going. She advertises locally and unsuccessfully for a husband of any kind just to keep her farm. Finally, Matt Tolivar, a widowed doctor, comes through town and is looking for a place to hide and start his life over. A very interesting relationship occurs and this is my favorite of the four novellas. I give it 4 stars.
Third, A Homesteader, a Bride, and a Baby concerns a city gal, Lorette coming to take over the raising of a baby orphaned by diphtheria and realizing she knows nothing about operating a farm turns to a male helper with resulting ugly gossip from the townspeople. IF I could vote on Chase Lankford alone this one would get 5 stars because of his strength, wisdom, patience and his faith in God. Since I have to consider the whole story, this one gets 1-2 stars from me.
The last, A Vow Unbroken, is a story of deceit and mystery, unusual deaths and a mail-order-bride story gone wrong. Very wrong. Pregnant, widowed Abby finds herself being exchanged from her expected housekeeper job to that of mail order bride, with horrible consequences and suspense. I give this one 2 stars.
These four short stories have a decided Christian theme with all decisions coming about only after those involved spend considerable time in prayer and Bible reading. All the stories take place in the 1800's and obviously from the title, on the prairie - just as it was being settled.
I think this book would make excellent required reading for female homeschoolers or church groups perhaps for ages 13 - 18.