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WORK TITLE: Where Hope Prevails
WORK NOTES: with mother, Janette Oke
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE:
CITY: Indianapolis
STATE: IN
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
http://www.familyfiction.com/authors/janette-oke-laurel-oke-logan/ * http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/authors/laurel-oke-logan/666 * http://freshfiction.com/author.php?id=34470
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Daughter of Edward (a doctor) and Janette (a novelist) Oke; married Marvin Logan; children: six.
EDUCATION:Attended Bethel College, Mishawaka, IN, and Purdue University.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer. Teacher of writing seminars.
RELIGION: ChristianWRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Laurel Oke Logan grew up in an evangelical Christian home in the prairie landscape of Alberta, Canada. Her father was a teacher and pastor. Her mother, Janette Oke, would emerge at the forefront of what was, in 1979, the new genre of Christian romantic fiction. Laurel spent a simple childhood on the prairie before moving to the United States, where she attended college. After graduation she and her husband settled in Indiana to raise a family of their own, but Laurel and her mother remained close.
In 1993, Laurel followed her mother’s footsteps into the world of Christian publishing. She began with a biography of her mom, Janette Oke: A Heart for the Prairie. Janette published her first romantic novel, Love Comes Softly, when she was in her mid-forties. By her eightieth birthday, she had released more than seventy additional novels, sold more than ten million books, and earned the admiration of readers around the world. Janette’s books often evoked the spirit of the Canadian frontier. Her novel When Calls the Heart introduced a six-volume series titled “Canadian West.” It was also adapted by the Hallmark Channel as a television movie in 2013. The movie was expanded into a series that ran for three years.
On Her Own
Logan followed the biography with a novel of her own. Gillian is the story of a young Christian woman who faces the world on her own during her first summer after graduation. Her first job is in Canada, where she works as a kitchen manager at an upscale wilderness camp. Before long two young men are vying for her attention, and she must resolve the ensuing challenges on her own. Ultimately Gillian realizes that she is never really alone, as long as she can put her trust in God.
In Logan’s second novel, Impasse, news broadcaster Esther Branson faces a greater dilemma than her choice of romantic partners. She uncovers the story of schoolteacher Jon Shepard, who is under pressure to resign from his job and abandon his career or to curtail his Christian views on creationism when he is in the classroom. Esther’s employer (and fiancé) urges her to stick to the facts of the news story, but she is increasingly motivated to defend Jon when it looks as if his fate may end up in the hands of a judge in a court of law.
Dana’s Valley marked the beginning of Logan’s writing partnership with her famous mom. It is the story of a family facing life-changing and life-threatening trauma. The Walsh family experiences one crisis after another, beginning when Grandma moves in after the death of her husband. Brothers and sisters are displaced to make room. Teenager Dana is diagnosed with leukemia, and the family refocuses its priorities to support her. Brother Brett strays from the beaten path. Younger sister Erin feels completely neglected and directs her anger at God. It is “a promising plot,” commented a reviewer in Publishers Weekly, but “there is little character development” or passion. Library Journal contributor Melanie C. Duncan, however, described Dana’s Valley as an “emotionally wrenching journey through the devastation that cancer wreaks on a family.”
Return to the Canadian West
With the success of the Hallmark Channel program When Calls the Heart, Logan and Oke revived the original book series for a new generation of Christian readers. Where Courage Calls: A When Calls the Heart Novel is the story of Beth Thatcher as she follows the example of her aunt Elizabeth, who first graced the Canadian West in Oke’s 1983 novel. Beth trades the comfort of her wealthy Toronto family for the coal-mining town of Coal Valley, Alberta, to work as a frontier schoolteacher. Living conditions leave a lot to be desired, and the community is immersed in grief after a devastating mining accident. Beth’s faith will be tested, but two Royal Canadian Mounties are eager to help. In fact, they are not the only ones who have taken an interest in her.
Readers who expected a seamless continuation of the television series were surprised, but not all were disappointed. From a moral standpoint, wrote a reader at I Think I’m Obsessed, “Nothing happens. At all. Which I like,” but she did not find satisfaction in the story line. A Publishers Weekly commentator reported that “Beth is too good to hold much interest, and pathos moves the plot.” Alison Stanley observed at her home page: “Some may think it’s a little slow-moving, or a little preachy … I didn’t mind.” The author of IE Mommy summarized the series revival as “another heartwarming story that keeps God at the forefront.”
Where Trust Lies
The saga continues in Where Trust Lies. Beth is back home in Toronto for a summer vacation when she is sidetracked into a family river cruise through the eastern maritime provinces and a bit of the United States. After a season on the frontier, she has grown more independent and less accustomed to the luxury of city life. She also misses the Mountie Jarrick Thornton, who won her heart. Beth senses that a momentous choice may lie in the future. The tension mounts when her impulsive sister makes some poor social choices that have Beth questioning her own relationships with family and friends.
“I loved the tidbits about Canadian history and life in this era,” reported a reviewer at Under God’s Mighty Hand. “However, I struggled to attach to the characters in this book.” A reviewer at the Pajama Chef was especially disappointed by Beth, but, regarding the crisis involving Beth and her high-spirited sister, the reviewer commented that “the journey to the resolution was tense, masterfully crafted, and thrilling.” Regarding the long-distance romance with Jarrick, Melissa Lee noted at her blog site that this novel “at its heart is about the relationships between mothers and daughters and sisters.”
Where Hope Prevails
In Where Hope Prevails, Beth returns to Coal Valley, but life there will never be the same. The coal town is booming, the population is exploding, and there is a new schoolhouse that will require a second teacher. Robert Harris Hughes is the very opposite of a God-loving Christian, and he believes that religion should have no role in public education. Beth has moved from her original boarding house to a tiny, somewhat scary apartment, and Jarrick is spending so much time on work assignments that he doesn’t seem to have much time to share with her.
The author of Amanda’s Pile of Books commented: “I enjoyed the addition of a new characters that brought some tension into the story” and enabled Beth to ponder her relationships with “people who don’t think quite like she does.” With God’s help, according to a reviewer at Urban Book Reviews, “impossibilities are turned into possibilities and dreams can come true.” The blogger at The Sweetest Place Is Home hints: “Beth gets her happy ending, even if it’s not quite like she thought it might be.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Library Journal, April 1, 2001, Melanie C. Duncan, review of Dana’s Valley, p. 86.
MBR Bookwatch, June, 2014, Richard R. Blake, review of Where Courage Calls: A When Calls the Heart Novel.
Publishers Weekly, March 26, 2001, review of Dana’s Valley, p. 63; December 13, 2013, review of Where Courage Calls, p. 30; June 27, 2016, review of Where Hope Prevails, p. 69.
ONLINE
Alison Stanley Home Page, https://alisonstanleychristianfiction.wordpress.com/ (January 3, 2014), review of Where Courage Calls.
Amanda’s Pile of Books, http://amandaspileofbooks.blogspot.com/ (October 12, 2016), review of Where Hope Prevails.
IE Mommy, http://www.theiemommy.com/ (February 19, 2014), review of Where Courage Calls.
I Think I’m Obsessed, https://itiobookreviews.com/ (April 18, 2014), review of Where Courage Calls.
Melissa Lee’s Many Reads, http://mlsmanyreads.blogspot.com/ (February 5, 2015), review of Where Trust Lies.
Pajama Chef, https://thepajamachef.com/ (May 7, 2015), review of Where Trust Lies.
The Sweetest Place Is Home, http://sweetestplaceishome.blogspot.com/ (July 12, 2016), review of Where Hope Prevails.
Too Read or Not Too Read, http://wordsfromabookaholic.blogspot.com/ (March 30, 2015), review of Where Trust Lies.
Under God’s Mighty Hand, http://www.undergodsmightyhand.com/ (May 11, 2015), review of Where Trust Lies.
Urban Book Reviews, https://urbanbookreviewsrus.wordpress.com/ (August 16, 2016), review of Where Hope Prevails.
LC control no.: n 93055284
Descriptive conventions:
rda
LC classification: PR9199.3.L636
Personal name heading:
Logan, Laurel Oke
Variant(s): Oke, Laurel
Found in: Her Janette Oke, c1993: CIP t.p. (Laurel Oke Logan) pub.
info. (daughter of Janette Oke; res. in Indiana)
================================================================================
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AUTHORITIES
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20540
Questions? Contact: ils@loc.gov
Series
Return to the Canadian West (with Janette Oke)
1. Where Courage Calls (2014)
2. Where Trust Lies (2015)
3. Where Hope Prevails (2016)
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Novels
Impasse (1997)
Dana's Valley (2001) (with Janette Oke)
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Series contributed to
SpringSong
Gillian (1986)
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Non fiction
A Heart for the Prairie (1993)
In the Quiet of This Moment (1995)
Laurel Oke Logan, daughter of Edward and Janette Oke, is the author of Janette Oke: A Heart for the Prairie, as well as the novels Dana's Valley, Where Courage Calls, and Where Trust Lies, which she co-wrote with her mom. Laurel's growing family includes six children, their spouses, and three grandsons.
About the Author
Laurel Oke Logan is the daughter of Janette Oke, awarding-winning author of Christian fiction, whose bestselling books have sold over eleven million copies, and Dr. Edward Oke. Laurel grew up in a small town on the Canadian prairie with three brothers who kept life exciting and eventful.
She married during her college days and soon after began writing her first novel, Gillian. She and her husband, Marvin, are the parents of four children and Laurel has been able to resume writing on a part-time basis while she homeschools her children.
Laurel Oke Logan has joined with her mother, in the writing of Janette's life story. This biography has its origins in the humble beginnings of the little farmhouse that belonged to Laurel's grandparents. In this country home she learned as a child to treasure the heritage, simple values, and family ties that shaped the life of Janette Oke. Laurel and Janette spent many hours laughing and crying as they put together the research for this biography.
Laurel continued her education at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana, and Purdue University. She has taught writing seminars to high school students, as well as assisting Janette Oke with her writing projects. She and her husband and children make their home in Indiana.
Where Hope Prevails
263.26 (June 27, 2016): p69.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Where Hope Prevails
Jeannette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan. Bethany House, $14.99 trade paper
(336p) ISBN 978-07642-1784-5
The mother/daughter team of Oke and Oke Logan continue their Return to the Canadian West series with Beth Thatcher back in Coal Valley. The budding town's growth has led to the need for two teachers. Atheist Robert Harris Hughes agitates Christian Beth with every action and word, and his secular views lead Beth to fear the impact he will have on the children at her school. The residents of Coal Valley, however, embrace him without reservation, first voting him onto the newly formed city council and then electing him mayor. When Jarrick Martin proposes to Beth, he seems set oh resigning his commission with the Canadian Mounties and moving the couple east to Ontario. Jarrick's decision puts Beth's commitment to Coal Valley and her desire to be a faithful wife at odds. For readers unfamiliar with Jeannette Oke's previous books about the Thatcher family (When Calls the Heart), limited background is given for certain references. This tender story will please fans of historical fiction as well as readers looking for ruminations on difficult matters of faith, forgiveness, and commitment. (Aug.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Where Hope Prevails." Publishers Weekly, 27 June 2016, p. 69. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA456900927&it=r&asid=dc08975933451422ca95582e033d47ce. Accessed 27 Feb. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A456900927
Where Courage Calls--A When Call the Heart Novel
Richard R. Blake
(June 2014):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2014 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Where Courage Calls--A When Call the Heart Novel
Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan
Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue So., Bloomington, MN 55438
9780764212314, $14.99, 332 pages, www.amazon.com
Christian Historical Fiction at Its Best
Feeling a deep sense of social justice and a keen spiritual commitment to ministry, Beth Thatcher answers the call of her heart to take a teaching position in an out-of-the-way mining community in Western Canada.
The conditions she met when she arrived in the small coal mining community of Coal Valley were far worse then she could ever have expected. "Where Courage Calls" is her story of facing the challenge, persevering in the face of trial, and the choosing between the responses of her heart as she is being romanced by two young men who have contrasting backgrounds and offer a diverse promise of her future.
Jeanette Oke has established herself as the pioneer of Christian romance fiction and is still a pacesetter in the genre. She has not lost sight of her original vision to provide Biblical truth and principles through the medium of inspirational fiction.
Oke's writing is compelling; she weaves action, drama, conflict and resolution throughout her plot and subplots. Just as her protagonists a sense of relief they find themselves facing a new crisis testing their endurance and strengthening their character. This is not the genre I usually read. I sometimes felt bogged down in detail and felt the protagonist was unrealistic in her expectations and idealistic expectations.
Janette Oke collaborates with Laurel Oke Logan in "Where Courage Call" a 'When Calls the Heart" novel. Readers will welcome this series a companion to the Hallmark Channel's TV series.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review purposes. The opinions expressed are my own.
Richard R. Blake, Senior Reviewer
http://richardrblake.wordpress.com
Blake, Richard R.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Blake, Richard R. "Where Courage Calls--A When Call the Heart Novel." MBR Bookwatch, June 2014. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA372693412&it=r&asid=0d701e04e0ba660d146f997bb038965c. Accessed 27 Feb. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A372693412
Where Courage Calls
260.52 (Dec. 23, 2013): p30.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2013 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Where Courage Calls
Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan. Bethany House (336p) $19.99 ISBN 978-0-7642-1232-1; $14.99 trade paper ISBN 978-0-7642-1231-4
The mother of the Christian fiction genre returns in this tepid prairie romance cowritten with her daughter. Beth Thatcher comes from a wealthy family, but has chosen to take a yearlong teaching position in a small mining town in western Canada. She is slowly accepted by the people of Coal Valley, and makes two key friends: her landlady, Molly McFarland, and disabled miner Frank Russo.
Romantic tension is one undercurrent; two young Mounties are interested in Beth. A note of menace is present too, in the form of an illegal moonshiner. None of this is organic; <
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Where Courage Calls." Publishers Weekly, 23 Dec. 2013, p. 30. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA354858138&it=r&asid=4eebd7a722fed4b340cb8674d7957fd7. Accessed 27 Feb. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A354858138
Dana's Valley
MELANIE C. DUNCAN
126.6 (Apr. 1, 2001): p86.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2001 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Oke, Janette & Laurel Oke Logan. Dana's Valley. Bethany. 2001. c.310p. ISBN 0-7642-2514-6. $15.99; pap. ISBN 0-7642-2451-4. $11.99. F
Erin Walsh doesn't understand what's happening to her family. First, older sister Dana loses her bubbly personality and wants to stay home all the time. Then, Granddad dies and Grandma comes to live with them, forcing older brother Brett to move into the basement and her youngest brother, Corey, to move in with her and Dana. Her parents, David and Angela, ask the kids to bear with them as they all adjust to the changes and to pray about their problems. Faith has always been a strong part of the family's life, but after a move to a larger house in the country and a change of school districts, the family starts falling apart. And then Dana is diagnosed with leukemia. While her siblings deal with feelings of rejection and anger as their parents focus on helping Dana, Erin must also deal with her anger toward God for allowing these events to happen. This<< emotionally wrenching journey through the devastation that cancer wreaks on a family>> is particularly suitable for teens.
Melanie C. Duncan, Reference Librarian at the Washington Memorial Library, Macon, GA, currently orders Christian fiction for her system. She also publishes a monthly e-zine on genre fiction, The Bookdragon Review, www.bookdragonreview.com
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
DUNCAN, MELANIE C. "Dana's Valley." Library Journal, 1 Apr. 2001, p. 86. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA73308854&it=r&asid=384128df209dac9a8b4b63a11d4d252c. Accessed 27 Feb. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A73308854
DANA'S VALLEY
248.13 (Mar. 26, 2001): p63.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2001 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
JANETTE OKE AND LAUREL OKE LOGAN.
Bethany House, $11.99 paper (310p) ISBN 0-7642-2451-4
Bestselling novelist Oke is a mainstay in the Christian fiction market but, unfortunately, this newest offering, coauthored with her daughter, falls flat, despite <>. Dana, a young teenager, is diagnosed with a terminal illness and her solidly Christian family deals with the resulting turmoil. Oke and Logan make a noble attempt to show that Christian families don't always enjoy rosy lives in the midst of suffering and affliction. A teen son strays, a younger child feels neglected and a sister struggles with bitterness toward God. Yet despite chapters of narration describing the family's daily life before the cancer wreaks its havoc, <
Forecast: Oke's books have sold more than 20 million copies to date, so this will surely enjoy strong sales among her many fans. New readers, however, will likely be disappointed, and lackluster reviews won't drive many to the book in any case, hobbling the crossover ambitions for this one.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"DANA'S VALLEY." Publishers Weekly, 26 Mar. 2001, p. 63. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA72519661&it=r&asid=170af294c9ecd724962fbc67ed56ce13. Accessed 27 Feb. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A72519661
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Book Review: Where Hope Prevails by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan
I’m sure you’ve heard the old adage, “Always leave them wanting more.” That’s exactly how this last book in Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan’s Return to the Canadian West series made me feel! The story has a satisfying conclusion—if that means that all the characters ended up like you wanted them to. But I wish there could be more! I’d love to know where Beth and Jarrick’s life leads them. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a continuation series like the one that followed When Calls the Heart, or the original Canadian West series. Maybe finding out what happens to their future children would satisfy me enough!
Beth’s summer vacation abroad with her family has come to an end. While it was frought with disaster, it did give her a chance to spend some time with her handsome Mountie and introduce him to her family. He has received her parents’ full approval, and she is expecting a proposal upon her return to Coal Valley. With Jarrick’s ring on her finger she rides into town, sure that she knows what to expect during her second year of teaching. But things are not the same in Coal Valley as they were when she left at the beginning of summer. Not only is she no longer living with Molly at the boarding house, she finds that the town has hired a new teacher. They’ve built a new school that Beth will be forced to share with this man, and his views on teaching and life in general could not be more different than hers. Beth is now forced to live in a tiny apartment that was once owned by some scary people, and she hears strange noises in the night. Add that to the fact that her father has offered Jarrick a position in his business, and Beth isn’t sure where she belongs any more.
This final book does bring the series to a nice close. <
If you haven’t read this series yet, get the first two books as soon as possible so you’ll be ready for this one when it’s released! It’s Janette Oke at her finest. I truly hated to see this story end!
Happy Reading!
Review: Where Hope Prevails
August 16, 2016 by danielleurban24 in Featured Blogs and tagged 5 stars, action, adventure, Amazon, BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS, book review, Christian Romance, dangers, drama, exciting, fate, favorite TV series, Fiction, Goodreads, Highly Recommend It, historical, hopes, intriguing, Janette Oke, Laurel Oke Logan, life, love, Loved Reading This!, marriage, must read, new, novel, romance, struggles, teaching, wedding, well-developed, well-told, well-written, west, Where Hope Prevails, work
Synopsis:
When Beth Thatcher returns to Coal Valley, she has much to be excited about. She anticipates Jarrick’s proposal of marriage and perhaps a spring wedding. The mine is expanding, and there are more schoolchildren than ever.
But the town’s rapid growth brings many challenges. A second teacher is assigned, and Beth finds herself going head-to-head with a very different philosophy of education–one that dismisses religion and rejects God. Fearful for the children who sit under the influence of Robert Harris Hughes, Beth struggles to know how to respond.
At the same time, Beth wonders if Jarrick is considering a position at her father’s company simply for her sake. Should she admit her feelings on the matter? Or keep silent and allow Jarrick to make up his own mind?
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
Where Hope Prevails by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan is a heart melting read for all. Inside the tale brings readers out to the West where danger and surprises always happen. Love comes and goes. The characters within the story have both internal and external struggles to handle. The word of God is one way that they cope with their new situations. A way of guidance for them when all seems lost.
Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan have both woven a Christian novel that entices readers from beginning to end. Here, readers get to meet a woman who comes from a wealthy family roughing it out in the west to teach children. She has been visiting her family is now, coming back to Coal Valley. However, things have changed since she was gone. More school children to teach, a booming coal town, and a new teacher to help out with the school. Then there’s the man who has captured the attention and love of Elizabeth Thatcher. He’s a Mountie. Travels where ever his job leads him. Both Jarrick Thornton and Elizabeth are mutually attracted towards one another. Ony time will tell if they end up married or not. Where Hope Prevails is an interesting adventure that will have readers hoping, laughing, and falling in love. I absolutely loved the characters and the coal town people. <
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Where Hope Prevails by Janette Oke and Laurel Laurel Oke Logan, to once again venture to the Canadian West. ThOke Logan
Janette Oke has teamed up with her daughter, ey have released their third book in the Return to the Canadian West series, Where Hope Prevails. This series is a companion story to the popular Hallmark Channel's When Calls the Heart TV series.
Miss Elizabeth Thatcher has just returned back to Coal Valley from visiting her family out east. She is quickly surprised by how much things have changed in the landscape as well as with the addition of some new folks in town that may prove to be hard to live with.
Beth is also hoping that Jarrick Thornton will soon propose, but she wonders how the future will play out since he is gone on duty most of the time. Will Beth continue to let God lead her and grow her faith?
I thought that the third book was a well written story that brought things together well. <> and helped the main character, Elizabeth Thatcher, think through some of her thoughts concerning <
***I have received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Authors Jannette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan have done it again with this wonderful novel. This mother and daughter teams write stories together that give hope to their readers.
Where Courage Calls: A when Calls the Heart is <
I admire the main character Beth and her spirit of independence. She leaves her home of comfort and privilege for a teaching job far from her home. Throughout the book Beth is put through tests in this new town. Time and time again she is forced to rely on her faith and rely on God to help her through this challenging year.
My first year of teacher was the biggest challenge of my life. My faith in God and my belief that I was where he wanted me to be kept me from quitting, I could relate in so many ways with this young teacher it gave my heart comfort. Where Courage Calls was a great read!
Book Review: ‘When Courage Calls’ by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan
Posted on January 3, 2014 by AlisonStanley
4
I use Grammarly’s english grammar check because having bad grammar is as embarrassing as having bad breath – everyone notices, but no-one will mention it.
From the back cover:
Her courage and her heart will be tested in ways she never expected…
Beth Thatcher has spent her entire life in the safe, comfortable world of her family, her friends, and the social outings her father’s wealth provides. But Beth is about to leave it all behind to accept a teaching position in the rugged foothills of western Canada. Inspired by her aunt Elizabeth, who went west to teach school several years ago, and gently encouraged by her father, Beth resolves to put her trust in God and bravely face any challenge that comes her way.
But the conditions in Coal Valley are even worse than she’d feared. A recent mining accident has left the town grieving and at the mercy of the mining company. The children have had very little prior education, and many of the locals don’t even speak English. There isn’t even a proper schoolhouse. In addition, Beth’s heart is torn between two young men–both Mounties, one a lifelong friend and the other a kind, quiet man who comes to her aid more than once.
Despite the many challenges, Beth is determined to make a difference in the rustic frontier town. But when her sister visits from the East, reminding her of all the luxuries she’s had to give up, will Beth decide to return to her privileged life as soon as the school year is over?
My review:
I’ve been a Janette Oke fan for a long time. In fact, it was her books that introduced me to Christian romance and planted the seed of someday writing my own love stories. Her new book, written with her daughter Laurel Oke Logan, follows on from the Where Calls the Heart series left off, and it certainly didn’t disappoint me. When Courage Calls tells the story of Beth Thatcher (niece of Elizabeth Thatcher) who leaves her high society family in the city and moves to the remote village of Coal Valley to take up a teaching post. When she arrives, there are a few surprises she wasn’t counting on, and she learns to trust God for the strength she needs to care for this hurting community, both practically and spiritually.
There was a lot to like about this book. Firstly, the pretty cover drew me in straight away. Secondly, who doesn’t like a good story about Canadian Mounties? The character of Beth is very likeable. Her passion and unwillingness to give up, despite the impact on her health, were admirable qualities.
The romance element was a slow build and secondary to the main storyline. Beth has three potential suitors and it isn’t until the final chapters of the book that you find out who has won Beth’s heart. Even then, there are still unanswered questions. I’m really hoping there are more books in this series so I can find out what happens next!
It would be interesting to find out how Janette and Laurel share their writing, as there is only one viewpoint character throughout the book (Beth), yet I didn’t get the sense there were two separate writers. It is hard to find a flaw with this book.<< Some may think it a little slow-moving, or a little preachy>> and ‘wholesome’.<< I didn’t mind these things.>>
This book is the inspiration for a Hallmark channel movie and tv series starring Lori Loughlin (from Full House) – definitely something to keep an eye out for.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishing for providing me a free advance copy of this book (to be released in Feb 2014) in exchange for my honest opinion.
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
18Apr2014
Review: When Courage Calls by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan
Posted in Christian by Erin @ ITIO Book Reviews
cover38806-medium
When new schoolteacher Beth Thatcher is assigned a post in a remote mining community, her courage–and her heart–will be tested in unexpected ways.
~*~*~*~*~
Bethany House Publishers gave me a copy of this book to read and review (from NetGalley). This has, in no way, altered my opinion of the book and what is written below is a 100% honest review.
When I found out that this novel contained many of the same characters that were in Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart series I knew that I HAD to read this novel. I’m a total HC nerd and I’ve been obsessed with that TV show from the very beginning. That being said, I believe that my expectation that this novel would be like the TV show and the actual reality that this novel was not at all like the show may have affected my feelings about this book. Nothing was the same except for character and town names. But, this is only a When Calls the Heart novel and not the actual novel… if I’m reading this right.
This novel tells the story of prim and proper Elizabeth (Beth) Thatcher who travels out to a remote mining community, leaving behind all of her usual luxuries and amenities, to teach a group of children. Her faith is tested and tried as she encounters friends and foes and discovers more about herself and about the impoverished town of Coal Valley.
MORAL RATING:
G: Really though. <
THE GOOD:
Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan are good writers and I never sensed any awkward phrasing.
THE BAD:
This book just really didn’t grab my attention. Towards the end, I just started skipping parts. First of all, the cover indicates that it is a Christian romance, but there was no romance until 80% into the book. And, even then, the romance was so abrupt and weird that it wasn’t enjoyable. Suddenly, she has some guy interested in her, but there is absolutely no build-up to their relationship; it comes out of nowhere. It wasn’t well planned at all. Also, I tend to like Christian novels that are not overly preachy and do not contain the message that once you accept Christ, everything is suddenly peachy. Sure, there were conflicts in this novel, but they were all solved through prayer and neighborly goodness. It wasn’t believable. I’m a Jesus person and this novel was just too cheesy. I do take into consideration that this is a Christian fiction novel (there are going to be cheesy elements obviously) and I’ve read many novels in this genre, but this one was not remarkable to me. I don’t mean to harass this book to death, but it just annoyed me. I know that Janette Oke is a respected Christian fiction author, so I assume that her other novels are better than this one! Plus, the character of Beth is so selfless and Godly and she was almost too unrealistic. She was not relatable at all!
I’d give this 2/5!
Book Review – Where Trust Lies by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan
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In Where Trust Lies by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan (Bethany House, 2015), Beth Thatcher just spent a year teaching in the Canadian West and turns to the east to her wealthy family. Soon after she arrives, her mother announces the family will be taking a cruise along the eastern coast and down into the United States. Beth struggles with adjusting to this luxurious lifestyle back with her family when she has experienced a totally different way of life in the west.
When the family experiences troubles during the cruise, Beth and her family have to decide whom to trust and Beth wavers between her family and dreams teaching back west.
Where Trust Lies
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, so<< I loved the tidbits about Canadian history and life in this era.>> I also appreciated how this story didn’t focus on the romantic plot, but looked at relationships between mothers and daughters, sisters, and navigating new friendships.
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That said, the plot in the last third of the book does ramp up with more action (and an important event) and provides new information about characters, and includes themes of trust and learning to understand one another’s stories. I also found Margret and Monsieur Laurent to be interesting and enjoyable characters.
The book is described is “gentle fiction” in some places, and I do agree; it’s very gentle and not taxing to the reader, so if that’s your preference, you may enjoy reading this book.
What era is your favorite to read within historical fiction?
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. I was not compensated in any other way.
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Book Review: Where Trust Lies
Posted on May 7, 2015 by Sarah
Happy Book Review Day! Or, Happy Thursday! Either way, it’s a good day because we’re halfway through the work week. Today I want to share my review of Where Trust Lies by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan. I received a copy of this book through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program and am glad I had the chance to read it! It’s the sequel to another book I reviewed last spring, Where Courage Calls.
Where Trust Lies | a #bookreview on thepajamachef.com #reading
Here is a description of the book from the publisher:
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. She barely has time to settle in before her mother announces plans for a family holiday–a luxurious steamship tour along the eastern coast of Canada and the United States. Hoping to reconnect with her mother and her sisters, Beth agrees to join them, but she quickly realizes that things have changed since she went away, and renewing their close bond is going to be more challenging than she expected.
There’s one special thing to look forward to–letters and telephone calls from Jarrick, the Mountie who has stolen her heart. The distance between them is almost too much to bear. But can she give her heart to Jarrick when it will mean saying good-bye to her family once again–and possibly forever? And will she still want to live in the western wilds after the steamship tour opens up a world of people and places she never imagined?
Then comes a great test of Beth’s faith. Someone in her family has trusted the wrong person, and suddenly everything Beth knows and loves is toppled. Torn between her family and her dreams, will Beth finally discover where her heart truly belongs?
A companion story to Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart TV series!
And as usual, my five point review:
This novel, set in the 1800s, continues the story of Beth Thatcher. In the last book, she survived a year teaching in the wilds of western Canada. Now she’s back with her family in Toronto and ready to go on an adventure with her mom and sisters, and some family friends for good measure. Though this is a sequel, it works well as a stand alone novel so don’t be put off if you haven’t read the first installment. To me, that’s the mark of a good series… include some content that bridges the gap between two books, but not enough that you have to spend the whole novel rehashing the past.
I don’t always love the romance elements in Christian novels, but this one truly felt genuine and warm. I could so relate to Beth and Jarrick’s quest to talk and write and get to know each other from afar. They were so sweet to each other, even when they didn’t interact. Absolutely precious!
The main element of conflict in this novel was alluded to throughout the novel. You just knew something was coming. Beth’s sister Julie is impetuous and daring. On their journey, she befriends several girls and a young man from the United States and truly ends up in danger [oh those Americans]! While you know [because this is a book] that all will end well, <
I loved Beth so much in the last novel that I was a bit let down by her in this one. Though I was still captivated by her story and charmed by her sweetness, she didn’t seem to be as strong… but maybe her softness came out more when she was safe with her family. Isn’t that true for us all?
In general, while this was a great light read, with an interesting storyline, I liked the first book in the series better. The setting was more intriguing and the characters drew me in more. I would certainly recommend this book if you like Janette Oke, Beth Thatcher, or late 1800s travel though. It’s well worth the read as long as you know what to expect!
What are you reading lately?
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. However, I was not required to write a positive review. The thoughts expressed above are entirely my own. Thanks to Bethany House for the chance to read this great book!
Where Trust Lies by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan
Image from Goodreads
Title: Where Trust Lies
Author: Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan
First Published: Jan 2015
Published By: Bethany House
Format Read: ARC Ebook, Kobo
Genre: Christian/Inspirational Fiction, Historical Fiction, Canadian Fiction
Read: Feb 5 2015
Rating: 4/5
I received an eBook ARC of Where Trust Lies by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan, from the publisher Bethany House, in return for an honest review.
Where Trust Lies is the second book in the Return to the Canadian West series. The first book (which I have yet to read) follows a young Ontario woman named Elizabeth who travels to a small mining town in Alberta, to teach. This second book in the series begins at the end of her teaching year, as she returns home to her family in Toronto for the summer. Her departure from Coal Valley was very bitter sweet as she had to leave behind a Mountie named Jarrick who she has begun a relationship with. Upon returning home Elizabeth learns that she is about to embark on a cruise on the St. Lawrence with her Mother, two sisters, nephew and family friends, thus putting even more miles in between her and Jarrick. While on the cruise Elizabeth juggles trying to understand her overprotective mother, while trying to reign in her spirited younger sister Julie, who has befriended some questionable shipmates.
I knew that I would like this story once I learned that it not only is it historical fiction, but it is set in Canada. It is my goal this year to read more books set in Canada and by Canadian authors. Where Trust Lies takes its readers on a cross country journey beginning in Alberta to Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. The cruise also brings the Thatcher and Montclair families to a few states in the US as well. I enjoyed this part of the book very much. The descriptions of each port they stopped in was beautiful. I learned of several places I hadn’t heard of before and it made me long to take a cruise or vacation of my own. As a result this lead me to do some research into the places the characters in this book visited. This also helped me to paint a picture of the setting in my head, so to speak. My one problem, however was the lack of description of the brief time spend in Toronto. While on their stop in Halifax, Elizabeth is surprised as to how short the tress were in that city. This was due to the Halifax explosion that happened several years before the novel took place. I was surprised that the characters didn’t know much about this disaster. Especially considering that Elizabeth was an educated teacher. I wondered if this was due to their select sheltering of their wealthy standing. Another point this brought up was the way technology has advanced the way we receive information now as compared to that of the time this book was set it. This would make for a great book club discussion.
Where Trust Lies, <
As I mentioned I have yet to read the first book in the series, however after really enjoying this second book, I can’t wait to purchase a copy for myself. I also plan to purchase a physical copy of this book as well. In the GoodReads description of the first book in the series I learned that When Calls the Heart was turned into a Hallmark Channel series by the same name. Hopefully I will be able to find the first season on DVD, as I’d like to purchase it as well.
In conclusion I would recommend this book to those who enjoy Christian/Inspirational fiction and historical fiction. This would also make a great mother-daughter book club read. I’m looking forward to reading more by Janette Oke in the near future.
Additional thoughts:
Upon discovering that the the first book was turned into a television show I needed to know more. I went to the Hallmark Channel's website, hoping that I would be able to watch episodes there but unfortunately I can't. So I will just have to find it on DVD.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Review: Where Trust Lies by Janette Oke & Laurel Oke Logan
Title: Where Trust Lies
Author: Janette Oke & Laurel Oke Logan
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 336
ISBN: 978-0-7642-1318-2
Publication Date: February 3rd, 2015
Synopsis:
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. She barely has time to settle in before her mother announces plans for a family holiday--a luxurious steamship tour along the eastern coast of Canada and the United States. Hoping to reconnect with her mother and her sisters, Beth agrees to join them, but she quickly realizes that things have changed since she went away, and renewing their close bond is going to be more challenging than she expected.
There's one special thing to look forward to--letters and telephone calls from Jarrick, the Mountie who has stolen her heart. The distance between them is almost too much to bear. But can she give her heart to Jarrick when it will mean saying good-bye to her family once again--and possibly forever? And will she still want to live in the western wilds after the steamship tour opens up a world of people and places she never imagined?
Then comes a great test of Beth's faith. Someone in her family has trusted the wrong person, and suddenly everything Beth knows and loves is toppled. Torn between her family and her dreams, will Beth finally discover where her heart truly belongs?
A companion story to Hallmark Channel's When Calls the Heart TV series!
Review:
I've always have been a fan of the Canadian West series. I was thrilled when last year, there was a spinoff. Then to make the enjoyment all the best, Hallmark Channel came out with the TV show, When Calls the Heart, based off of this new series. (The first season was fantastic by the way, and I can't wait for season 2!)
Where Trust Lies picks up right where, Where Courage Calls ends.We follow Beth as she travels back home for the summer to await word on if she is wanted back in Coal Valley for the next school year. She also has to deal with the separation from Jack as he has to stay at his post. It's during this separation, Beth is given a lot to think over.
Beth also realizes, her time in Coal Valley has changed her. She is stronger, and a bit more independent now, then what she was. Her transition for the summer back to her old life is a little harder, especially when she doesn't even get to spend much time home. Her family has planned a long cruise trip without telling her and she is thrust off into another new area.
I liked the beginning of Where Trust Lies and the end. The story flowed well, as was interesting in these areas. Sadly though, with the cast of characters out to see for most of it, the story dragged. From Beth's perspective, she wasn't having a wonderful time, just trying to make it through the journey, and that is how I felt right along with her. The story didn't have much of a romantic background as what I was hoping, but with Beth and Jack separated as they were and the form of communication used, that is understandable. What was really focused on was Beth's sister, Julie. She has always been the free spirit of the family, and this book focused on that and her desire to rebel against the life she has known and the rules.
Out of the two books out in this series so far, I didn't like it as much as the first book, but I am looking forward to what is to come for Beth and to see where her story goes.
3 out of 5
About the Author:
Bestselling author Janette Oke (pronounced "oak") is celebrated across the world for her significant contribution to the Christian book industry. She is credited with launching the modern era of inspirational fiction with the publication of her first novel, Love Comes Softly, in 1979. Today, her novels have sold more than 30 million copies, and she is the recipient of the ECPA President's Award, the CBA Life Impact Award, the Gold Medallion, and the Christy Award. Janette and her husband, Edward, live in Alberta, Canada.
Laurel Oke Logan, daughter of Edward and Janette Oke, is the author of Janette Oke: A Heart for the Prairie, as well as the novel Dana's Valley, which she co-wrote with her mom. Laurel and her husband have six children and two sons-in-law and live near Indianapolis, Indiana.