Stephanie Grace Whitson

This was a story that took me to a place I didn't know much about; the life of a lady, who is a "trick rider" in Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. It was interesting and enjoyable, but not a book I was spellbound by and couldn't put down till I was done.

Irma Friedrich is a young lady who has always been fascinated by riding horses and doing stunts. Her Mother wants her to be a proper young woman and tries to get her enrolled in a proper young ladies school. But her Father wants her to show more pursue her dreams and helps her into Buffalo Bill Cody's show (which will cause a greater rift in her parents already fragile marriage).

Shep Sterling is the "King of the Cowboys" in Cody's Wild West Show and finds himself wanting Irma to be the best she can be. But Irma has a hard time waiting and being patient with her abilities as a "show person". She will have to do alot of learning and Shep will have to be a patient man.

A story of forgiveness, of determination and of love. I especially appreciated the "other story" going on with Irma's parents and the way the author handled their struggles and conflicts. show less

This was just a very well written story that had me thinking about the story, throughout my day, when I wasn't sitting down and reading. The author captured the times and the people and wrote a beautiful love story between a white woman and the Lakota Indian that rescued her. I am really hoping the next two books in this series will be as good, 'Soaring Eagle' and 'Red Bird'.

Jesse King is traveling West and you will read all that happens, but she is eventually captured by the Lakota Sioux on show more the Nebraska prairie and finds she must adjust to life among the Indians. As the back of the book says, "As she prays for a sustaining faith, she discovers God's tender mercies in her friendship with an Indian woman and in her love for the Sioux brave, Rides the Wind. Finding an unexpected peace and sense of belonging with the ribe, Jesse learns that the Lakota Sioux have a beautiful culture. And in learning to love that culture, she becomes forever divided between two worlds." This was truly the life story of a strong pioneer woman who will love deeply and hurt deeply, but will triumph as she walks with her Lord. This story will span over a lifetime and times will change and so will the people, but Jesse's faith in her Lord will never waver. Truly a story I will remember and be glad I read.

I liked how the author began each chapter with a scripture passage that truly went with each chapter. I also appreciated how she began the book with a Prologue and then told the story leading up to it. I loved how God worked it out to send someone to tell Rides the Wind about God, through the capturing of Jesse King (who would have thought that would work out for good; but it did!). Now I am on to the next book in this series, because I want to see what happens next in this adventure. show less

"Unbridled Dreams" stands a cut above most Christian, historical romances set in the late 1800s. Stephanie Grace Whitson puts enough twists in this West-meets-East, Mother-daughter-discord story to satisfy any romance reader. With the backdrop of Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West show, the book fulfills its potential to captivate even non-romance readers. I'll pick up this book to relax and enjoy many more times.

This is the second book I've read by Stephanie Grace Whitson and enjoyed it immensely. The author has a way of pulling us into the story right away and keeping us turning the pages. I always like reading stories taking place in a time and place I've never read about before. For example, I did not know about the gold rush in Montana, though it's on the tail end when this story takes place.