Prairie Song

I sincerely love picking up a bit of realistic history along with a delightful story.Kate's situation may be more probable that is to be expected given the times and the attitude of men. Although there were many honorable and god-fearing men, there were probably 2/3's of men who had the same morality of Edgar Talmidge. [and their acts did make them slightly insane.] Now Cole Youngblood was about the gentlest and most honorable gunslinger that I have heard of. It is always probable that these men have many unresolved issues that drive them to lead the life that they do. Some are driven to such a life and others seem to naturally fall into a hardend way of life. Not all make it out of it into a more gentler way.I followed Kate into falling in love with little Joey, Willy and that little rascal Lydia, but a yellow hound named Kitty?? [grin]Lydia had a most effective way of handling Edgar Talmidge. Shame on the man!I would like to see some pictures of the invasion [that is all I can call it] of Oklahoma but I have a sneaking suspicion that the men of that era were not very good looking [according to our images nowadays].No matter if you find drawbacks in the mental dynamics of our characters, you will love the story and its conclusion.Highly Recommended and definitely a keeper - good for another reading down the road.

I enjoyed the central story development of Kate and Cole's life. The kids were adorable as well. The author could have cut out a 1/4 of the book, though, but pulling out all the extra jargon of each character looking 'inside themself'. It seemed 50% of the dialogue was a character thinking and talking to themself. The story about Cole and his father seemed out of place and realizations hit him at weird times, like when he was in the tent and Kate was kidnapped. Is that a time to really take out your anger on your dad leaving you 20-some yrs ago? If you skim these dialogues, which I started doing, you will find the story interesting and leave you wanting to know more about this new family unit.

Racing to Oklahoma to stake her claim, Kate Chandler and her unborn child are running for their lives. She knows her former employer has both the means and the connections to have her killed, so Kate must fall in with a crowd and lose herself. And what better place to do this than in the Great Land Run of 1899? Millions of acres for the taking by the first and fastest settlers. But she is a woman alone. How can she hope to get a parcel of this land when she has no money and no horse?With no money or food, Kate knows she and her unborn child don't stand much of a chance in this wild land, but determination fuels her drive. And the she meets Cole Youngblood, a notorious hired gun. Cautious initially, Kate is also desperate, so she strikes a deal with Cole, knowing that he could be the man her former employer has paid to end her life.Now, bound by a marriage of convenience, Kate will care for Cole's two orphaned nephews and his orphaned niece. In return, he will ride and stake her claim for her. But soon their arrangement turns, leaving Kate thinking how Cole's hands would feel upon her body and Cole thinking of hanging up his hired gun and settling down with a good woman. Kate.But Kate's past catches up with her, putting all Cole holds dear in grave danger. Can he put a stop to the evil before he loses his newfound family?Despite lengthy passages of introspective prose, "Prairie Song" is a touching and captivating novel.

A well-written novel that had me hooked from the first page. Ms. Porter creates characters that are intriguing and believable with emotional depth and integrity. Several elements of this novel were compelling, particularly the setting of the Oklahoma Land Run of 1889 and the way the heroine Kate comes to terms with a situation most women would find crushing. It is easy to sympathize with Kate and Cole as they struggle to escape their respective pasts and find a future together. All-in-all, a carefully written, well plotted romance novel with characters that make the reader care about them. What more could you want?

In 1889, a desperate Kate Chandler fled her powerful New York employer Edgar Talmidge to hide in Oklahoma. Edgar imprisoned Kate and made her pregnant apparently because she resembled his barren wife.In Oklahoma, Kate learns that for a woman to participate in the Land Run, she must be either twenty-one or married. A dejected Kate is neither. Gunslinger Cole Youngblood needs a mother to nurture his recently orphaned three-year old niece and her two older brothers. Cole cuts a deal with Kate. If she "adopts" his three wards, he will stake a land claim for her. She accepts and the two individuals with their deep secrets fall in love with one another and with their three children. However, unbeknownst to either of them, she is the person he has been hired to find.Cheryl Anne Porter is quickly attaining a reputation for excellent Americana romances. Her latest book, PRAIRIE SONG, is another triumph for the wonderful writer. The poignant story line is fast-paced and filled with action that makes the late nineteenth century Oklahoma vista seem vividly alive. The lead characters are a warm, brave duo while the children pull the heartstrings of the audience. Sub-genre fans will burst into Oklahoma even as they sing the deserved praises of Ms. Porter for a fabulous historical romance.Harriet Klausner