Dakota Plains Series by Lauraine Snelling

Nora Johnson is looking forward to starting a new life in North Dakota, far from her native Norway. She is going to marry Hans and be a prosperous farmer's wife. Carl Detschman is happy with life on his tidy farm. Now he and his wife, Anna, eagerly await the birth of their second child. But Nora's and Carl's dreams are not to be. With God's help, a prodigious plan is realized, one that will alter their lives forever.

Leaving Norway for good Clara carries with her little more than dreams. Armed with a water-stained letter, a faded photograph, and a ticket to America, Clara Johnson travels to Soldall, North Dakota, and her handsome, curly haired husband-to-be. Imagine Clara's surprise when she is greeted instead by Dag Weinlander, a burly, unkempt giant of a blacksmith! But God's plans for Clara far surpass her thwarted dreams and naive expectations... moreLeaving Norway for good Clara carries with her little more than dreams. Armed with a water-stained letter, a faded photograph, and a ticket to America, Clara Johnson travels to Soldall, North Dakota, and her handsome, curly haired husband-to-be. Imagine Clara's surprise when she is greeted instead by Dag Weinlander, a burly, unkempt giant of a blacksmith! But God's plans for Clara far surpass her thwarted dreams and naive expectations. Unbeknownst to even a fiercely determined Norwegian immigrant, an angel of new life is about to grace the fertile heartland of America. less

Book 3 in The Dakota Plains Series The wide-open plains of the Dakota Territory formed the setting for the lives and loves of many inspiring women making their way in the New World. Rebekka Stenesrude has poured her life into her students, only to see her beloved school burned to the ground. Jude Weinlander arrives with the job of rebuilding the fire-ravaged school, but before the Dakota Dusk they realize their main interest could be in building a future together.

“Help.” A weak voice moaned from the horse’s back. Sheriff Caleb Stenesrude climbs over the gate in a blizzard and reaches up in time to catch the woman as she falls. To his astonishment, a small child, hanging on for dear life, falls with her.Under his breath he thanks the good Lord for bringing them this far and for a dog with a nose and ears to beat all.As the North Dakota storm continues to scream outside the house on the edge of town, Caleb tries to tend to the near-frozen mother and boy... more“Help.” A weak voice moaned from the horse’s back. Sheriff Caleb Stenesrude climbs over the gate in a blizzard and reaches up in time to catch the woman as she falls. To his astonishment, a small child, hanging on for dear life, falls with her.Under his breath he thanks the good Lord for bringing them this far and for a dog with a nose and ears to beat all.As the North Dakota storm continues to scream outside the house on the edge of town, Caleb tries to tend to the near-frozen mother and boy. When the woman lets out a piercing cry of labor, Caleb realizes this would be a Christmas eve like no other.In the days after, Caleb and the town of Soldahl take Johanna Carlson and her two children into their hearts, but Johanna keeps her distance, afraid to tell anyone the truth about her life. Dakota December is the fourth book of the Dakota Series that features the intertwining lives of five inspiring women who live in the early 1900s in the farming community of Soldahl, North Dakota. less