Debra Holland

This is the heart-wrenching story of two families from totally different backgrounds and social standings thrown into desperate circumstances by the death of their spouses and how through perseverance, patience, and love those families will form a new family unit made of love from forces beyond their control. Emotions roll through this book from beginning to end. I felt sorrow, amazement at the resilience of the human spirit, and admiration. Ms. Holland’s talent as an author shines show more through. I could feel the sorrow running off the pages as I read of the death of the beloved spouses and felt each one’s desperation as they tried to find a solution to survival.

Antonia Valleau is an illiterate young woman, her speech is backwoods, her clothing is animal skin, poor in goods, but rich in spirit. She has buried her beloved trapper husband in the mountains and must now get her two young children to town to survive. Somehow she had to find a way for them to survive without her husband.

Erk Muth has just delivered twin calves when he finds his beloved wife, Daisy in hard labor, no time to fetch help, and must deliver the babe himself. Sadly, Daisy dies immediately after the birth. Erk rushes to town to find help for his barely living daughter. A wet-nurse is needed immediately but none is found until they discover Antonia has come from the mountains with a young son still nursing.

It's decided due to gossip and others ungodly opinions that they must marry for Antonia to stay and wet-nurse his child. The farm and home Antonia is introduced to is a wonder, as she has never seen such things; glass windows in the house, huge fancy barns, fancy cook stoves, and glass windows in the chicken house of all things. Antonia is a simple woman, but she has a good heart and is wise in the ways of living and raising children with love and confidence. Antonia’s oldest son, Henri’ will have many adjustments to make in his new life in the civilized world.

This is beginning of the greatest journey of their lives. From this beginning will come love, security and a new family, but they will have to overcome many obstacles before that can occur. Grief is so very heavy in this family, and grief does not go away overnight. Erk must also learn to forgive himself for not finding his wife in time to save her.

Ms. Holland did a wonderful job of reconciling their feelings for each other while still honoring their deceased beloved spouses. God is in his heaven and gave the human spirit the ability to overcome grief in His time and hour. The pacing of this story was excellent; I could not put the book down. This is a marvelous story of strength, redemption, and love.

I received this book from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an honest opinion. show less

Singing Montana Sky by Debra Holland

Seventh in the Montana Sky series. Can be read as a standalone.
Lovely, touching, sweet and heartening. The small and growing town of Sweetwater Springs, Montana is the heart of these historical romance stories. Each is filled with love, friendship, grief (it is the old west where modern medicine is not available) and dependable neighborly support.

The scene where Sophie is questioning the 12 year old maid Fanny about school is so touching. Sophie is show more generous in helping Fanny and her family and then the little girl cries because she's happy. Fanny doesn't understand why she's crying, but Sophie assures her "it's what women do." Adorable. I was crying myself at that point.

Friendship lightens grief. A powerful message.

I alternated between a paperback version and audible. Loved both. The audio version is soothing with a slight accent. Very pleasing to the ear. show less

Breve racconto che fa da antefatto a una serie a quanto pare fortunata: un po' come il telefilm "La signora del West", una donna di Boston sceglie di sposare un cowboy del Montana e va a vivere con lui in una piccola cittadina al limiti del mondo civile. Questo sarebbe il racconto dell'antefatto rispetto alla serie vera e propria. È carino e scorrevole, ma piuttosto buonista. Non irreale, anzi, la protagonista viene definita scialba, non la solita bellona-buona-capace-senza difetti. Ma show more perlomeno in questo breve testo le difficoltà si appianano troppo facilmente. Magari il resto della saga è diverso. Certo si legge in un baleno e forse se lo avessi letto da giovane lo avrei trovato bellissimo. Insomma, roba per sognatrici inguaribili. show less

Not as good as Wild Montana Sky, but still pretty wonderful. I really enjoyed the tension between the main character and her neighbor love interest. I liked that they weren't both--wow this was destiny! But that it took a little more time for them to see how they could understand one another and each be something for each other that they were previously missing. Good, believable adventure and issues that cropped up with the kids of each family. It made it less of a true romance novel to me, show more which can sometimes be a refreshing change of pace and was here.

I'll definitely read more in this series if there ever is anything, and more from Debra Holland. show less