She loves her friends and students in the West, but family obligations have called her home. Where does she truly belong? After a year of teaching in the Canadian West, Beth Thatcher returns home to her family.

I think I was drawn to this by the fact that Beth goes on a cruise around places I'd love to go to some day. Never mind that I hadn't read the seven previous books, though I had seen some of the TV series. I enjoyed the story though the waiting for the kidnapping to be over seem to be drawn out a bit long. I may go back and start the two series from the beginning. ( )

Elizabeth (Beth) Thatcher returns home after a year's teaching in Coal Valley, what has changed since she has been gone?
She is met at the station by her father, her mother and Julie. When they arrive home she sees her married sister Margret and her husband and her nephew JW, who doesn't remember her. What else has be forgotten? This is my first book by Janette Oke and I love it. Beth comes home and expects to enjoy being home with her family, instead she is informed that the family, except her father, are going on a cruise. She decides to go along. Also on this cruise is her ex-fiance's mother, father and sister. Beth has a man who has caught her interest, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police, not quite what her mother was expecting. This cruise will be a cruise the Thatchers and Montclairs won't soon forget. The people they meet, places they visit, the things that happen along the way. A good book, eye-catching cover, a good read.
I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House for this review. ( )

This is the second book in the Return to the Canadian West series. I really enjoyed this story. I love the closeness between Beth and Jarrick even though most of their interaction in this book is by letters. Beth needs to come home for the summer and her mom wants the family to go on a long cruise. This way they can get closer to each other before everyone starts to leave the nest.there is romance and some fun and intrigue. Very well written. I received this book from bookfun.org for a fair and honest opinion. ( )

Beth Thatcher returns home for a summer vacation from her teaching job in the improvised mining town of Coal Valley. She loves her job, the people, and the children, but looks forward to rest and quite time with her family. She also has growing affections for a Mountie serving in the area name Jarrick Thorton. Was he the “one”? They agree to keep in touch during the summer, getting to know each other better.
She hasn’t even unpacked when it becomes apparent there will be no rest or quite time! Her family wants to whisk her off on a 6 week cruise stopping at all the big cities from Canada to the U.S., ending in New York City! She wants to decline but her family won’t hear of it. Her father promises to relay mail or telegrams from Jarrick and the school about her teaching position the coming year.
She does look forward to reconnecting with her family, especially her younger sister Julie. This requires Beth to tag along on the many activities youthful Julie enjoys. As if that isn’t exhausting enough, her sister becomes involved with some “modern” friends on the trip. Beth has reservations but doesn’t want to be judgmental. Julie is too stubborn to listens to her sister’s concerns, so Beth makes sure she keeps an eye on her. The trip is anything but dull! The family is confronted with numerous surprises and even tragedy.
The book was fun and enjoyable to read. I learned a great deal about travel during that era, especially by ship. To me there was much hardship in spite of the fact that the Thatchers were wealthy and had first class accommodations. I had stark realization of the hardship dealing with emergencies when away from home without our modern day technology! I was on pins and needles!
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book of the Return to the Canadian West Series, Where Courage Calls. You will want to read the first book, but this can be read as a standalone. A very enjoyable book, but of course you can never go wrong with Janet Oke! I am looking forward to the next one!
I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated are my own. ( )