Christian

This book was so frustrating! The beginning wasn't that bad. I was excited to return to Marty and Clark while reading more about Missie's budding family. So far, the books have been sweet with a dash of drama. I didn't mind the slower, calmer pace. What I do mind is unrealistic optimism.

To lose a limb is devastating, regardless of who you are. While there are people who've recovered (somewhat) and made their stories inspirational, they only succeeded after months or even years of struggling. That is completely fair. Their entire life has changed. For a farmer like Clark, losing his leg could mean the difference between life and death. He wouldn't be able to plow his fields or feed his family.

When this horrible thing happened, I settled in to read about how this inspirational family overcame this tragedy. Instead, that was solved in one page. I kid you not. Clark spends a page - one afternoon - crying and praying, and then he's fine. That's it. One afternoon of wallowing, and then he's accepted it. Not only is it unrealistic, it's just uneventful. There's no point in the rest of the book. Not only did Clark accept his new life, so did everyone else. No more conflict. No more struggle. No more story.

I guess Clark is supposed to be a Christian's fantasy: a simple yet manly man whom other men look up to who is also very spiritual. Taking this into consideration, it makes sense why Clark would get over his loss so quickly. That said, it doesn't excuse the poor storytelling. What strengthens faith is doubt. It's ironic, but it's like having day without night. You need one to really value the other. Since Clark never doubts, never struggles, neither his character nor his faith grows. This book is preachy and bland and did a disservice to the more complex character in the first Love Comes Softly book. ( )

In the fourth book in the Love Comes Softly series Marty and Clark are reunited with their daughter’s family, but their hope and faith are tested by a tragedy.

very good book ( )

Somehow, Janette Oke's characters get under my skin. This is the fourth bookin the 'Love Comes Softly' series about pioneer families in America. In this book, Marty and Clark make the long journey out West by train, to see their married daughter Missie and to meet their two grandsons. Their visit is unexpectedly extended far longer than they expect.

Not the greatest of literature, but the characters are three-dimensional, and several times I found tears in my eyes as I read. Since this is American Christian fiction, here's the obligatory explanation of how to become a Christian included in a couple of places, but it comes fairly naturally during relevant conversations and is not pushed.

Gives a good idea of what it might have been like for people like this in the early days of train travel, despite being a very light read that would be suitable for teens or children.

It's not necessary to have read earlier books in the series, but it would probably help. There are quite a number of different characters, which could be confusing for someone picking this book up as a stand-alone read. ( )