This is unique kind of story in itself. It about a family in Apple Grove along with Luke Carson and his men on a trail. There are some things that happen along the way. Emma and Luke relationship starts to form.

In the prologue you learn about Luke Carson, and his pa. Luke was picked to be a trail boss to take Mr. Hancock cattle to market. He is to take the cattle drive from Texas to Hays. We find out what some of what Luke Carson wants in life and it bit different then this fathers life.

Emma Switzer and her family were on their way to Troyer. Emma does not want to leave Apple Grove to go to Troyer to live her aunt. Her Grandmother Switzer insisted on her to go with Emma to Troyer.

We start out on the trail in Kansas going from one Amish community to another Amish community. When unexpected things start to happen to the Switzer's family. They are robbed of their belongings, and were left with nothing, but their lives. Emma Switzer's father Jonas, sister Rebecca and grandmother Switzer's were all traveling to Troyer, KS. They were hoping that Emma would find husband, as their were more Amish men available there.

After they are left on the trail, they pray for God's help and is provided with assistance from Luke Carson. He is on a cattle drive, and is in a anxious to get to Hays, KS with his animals.

Wait until you hear what Grandma Switzer.... says and does on the wagon ride. It to funny.

So if you are in a need to laugh or you just want to read it read about to see what up with this wonder of a book. The best way to put on smile is to laugh at something. As they say laughter is best medicine.
I would recommend it but to read this it up to you to decide. These are my honest feeling and for this review. It is a fun and funny book, but if you do not like western or cowboys or rustlers this may not be a book for you but that is up to you to decide. I do not like to many histical or western stories but this one got my attention and did like it. ( )

This is unique kind of story in itself. It about a family in Apple Grove along with Luke Carson and his men on a trail. There are some things that happen along the way. Emma and Luke relationship starts to form.

In the prologue you learn about Luke Carson, and his pa. Luke was picked to be a trail boss to take Mr. Hancock cattle to market. He is to take the cattle drive from Texas to Hays. We find out what some of what Luke Carson wants in life and it bit different then this fathers life.

Emma Switzer and her family were on their way to Troyer. Emma does not want to leave Apple Grove to go to Troyer to live with her aunt. Her Grandmother Switzer insisted on going with Emma to Troyer.

We start out on the trail in Kansas going from one Amish community to another Amish community. When unexpected things start to happen to the Switzer's family. They are robbed of their belongings, and were left with nothing, but their lives. Emma Switzer's father Jonas, sister Rebecca and grandmother Switzer's were all traveling to Troyer, KS. They were hoping that Emma would find husband, as their were more Amish men available there.

After they are left on the trail, they pray for God's help and is provided with assistance from Luke Carson. He is on a cattle drive, and is in a anxious to get to Hays, KS with his animals.

Wait until you hear what Grandma Switzer.... says and does on the wagon ride. It to funny.

So if you are in a need to laugh or you just want to read it read about to see what up with this wonder of a book. The best way to put on smile is to laugh at something. As they say laughter is best medicine.
I would recommend it but to read this it up to you to decide. These are my honest feeling and for this review. It is a fun and funny book, but if you do not like western or cowboys or rustlers this may not be a book for you but that is up to you to decide. I do not like to many historical or western stories but this one got my attention and did like it. ( )

Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith are both fantastic authors. I've read both of their works in the past and knew when they co-wrote this book, that their fans were in for a real treat! I was right! This book is awesome. I loved every minute of this read, from first chapter to last. Generally, you either see books about Amish, or books about cowboys, but rarely do you see the two combined. Ms. Copeland and Ms. Smith took fun loving Amish and mixed them up with sweet, hunky cowboys and turned out a wonderful book. The characters were spunky, the plot line unique and well, it's definitely an interesting book.

Emma Switzer is a young Amish woman who is setting out with her dad, Maumi and sister to her relatives in another town. Traveling by a very full wagon, Emma begins to wonder what her life holds in store for her. Back home, there is a young Amish widowed father, who needs a woman to marry him and help raise the children. But, Emma is sure she can't marry him for she doesn't love him. She knows the rules of the Amish but she still can't give in, for she refuses to marry for anything less than love.

Along the way to her relatives home, they encounter a band of ruffian cowboys who steal their oxen and their wagon, filled with Maumi's dear, dear hutch made by her Grandfather. Her English grandfather. Despite the sadness that her spunky grandmother spreads when she goes on and on about the hutch, they push forward and reach a town. Once there, Emma prays and asks God to send them help.

Luke Carson, an adorably hunky cowboy lands at the feet of....nuns. Or so he thought. Once he rights himself he comes face to face with a beautiful young woman dressed in Amish garb. Handing over money to her father, he walks away. But, something nags at him, and he returns to further help them. On the trail, trying to prove himself worthy of being a trail boss, he and his helpers encounter trouble after trouble, especially when the Amish family arrive to help them. But, as Luke spends his time trying to prove himself, he finds himself drawn more and more to the beautiful young woman.

Can Amish mix with the trail? Can a cowboy settle down and take on the Amish ways? Or will God have other plans for these two very unique, very different characters?

I truly loved the way this story played out. It was an magnificent twist on both the Amish novels and Westerns. It was filled with lovable characters who make their way into your heart to stay. And the best part about this 5 Book worthy novel? It's just the start to a sure to be hit of a series! These ladies are superbly talented and together, they created a fun filled adventure of life on the trail, and trusting in God to show you the way! I can't wait for the next novel, A Plain And Simple Heart, to release in September 2012! ( )

Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith have teamed up to create an entertaining and sometimes humorous novel. Taking place in Kansas in 1881, they transport the reader back to cowboy rustling times when it's really not safe to travel, let alone travel without a gun.

Although I enjoyed the story line, I did have some problems with the reality of the characters and timeline. A week does not seem a long enough time to take an Amish girl that is solid in her faith and make her want to challenge it. Sorry, but that time frame didn't totally work for me. The decisions and the actions of the Amish family didn't ring true as well - especially the ending.

If you are looking for a heartwarming tale with a nice underlying Christian message, this book will certainly entertain. However, if you need realistic Amish characters, you will find this one falls short. ( )

THE HEART'S FRONTIER by Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith is an inspirational historical fiction set in 1881 Texas and Kansas. It is book 1 in the "The Amish of Apple Grove" series. A Wild West and Amish adventure. I liked the Maummi character,she stuck to what she believed in no matter what. I also like the ways the of Amish people.Their plain,simple life. I also,like the way they put God first in their lives, and how God Blessed them for doing that. I enjoyed how Emma, found her happiness outside of the Plain life. A good story! Received from Wynn-Wynn Media and the publisher for an honest review. Details can be found at Harvest House Publishers,the author's website,and My Book Addiction and More.

RATING: 4

HEAT RATING: SWEET

REVEWED BY: DorothyA,My Book Addiction and More ( )