Most Popular Books by Lauraine Snelling

The Finest Gift by Lauraine Snelling A plain Jane without any suitors, Arley Hoople doesn’t dare dream of romance this Christmas. So she brings holiday joy to others: repairing her grandmother’s nutcracker and commissioning a dollhouse for the girls at the orphanage. Yet one knock at the woodcarver’s door unexpectedly brings Arley a gift of her own: love. A Blessed Season by Jillian Hart An abandoned girl asks bounty hunter Rafe Jones to track down her long-lost mother for Christmas. The holiday wish breaks through his hardened heart, and he easily finds Cora Sims in Montana Territory. She’s definitely the woman Rafe has been looking for. But is she actually the girl’s mother?

Daughter of Twin Oaks, Sisters of the Confederacy, The Long Way Home.

Seeking to fulfill the promise she made to her dying father, eighteen-year-old Jesselynn Highwood determines to take her little brother and the family''s remaining Thoroughbreds from Twin Oaks plantation in Kentucky to her uncle''s farm in Missouri, where they will be safe for the remainder of the Civil War. Dodging Confederate and Union troops, they ride at night and hide during the day. Finally, after encountering hunger, sickness, and the devastation of war, they arrive in Missouri only to discover the situation there puts them in even greater danger. But Jesselynn will stop at nothing to save her family, the horses, and whatever remains of Twin Oaks.

Nineteen-year-old Rebecca Baard has experienced more than her share of sorrow, and now she is afraid to open her heart to love. Besides, no man has ever shown enough interest in her to come courting. So Rebecca''s friends set out to remedy the situation, concocting social events to attract all the eligible bachelors in Blessing and advising her in the use of feminine wiles. When non of these efforts seem to work, Rebecca tries yet another tack, only to discover that even the best of intentions can''t keep events from taking a surprising turn. Will Rebecca overcome her fears, or will she settle for something less than love?

Book 1 in the "Dakotah Treasures Series" A CBA Bestseller On receiving a letter from their long-lost father, Ruby Torvald and her younger sister, Opal, set out on a daunting journey west to see their dying father once more and claim their inheritance. But instead of the promised treasure, the sisters discover something most shocking. Bold determination in the face of scandal is the only way to redeem her father''s legacy. Does Ruby have it in her?

As the Civil War rages across the land, two courageous young women embark on separate perilous missions ...Heading west on the Oregon Trail with he family''s with her Thoroughbreds and a ragtag band of freed slaves, Jesselynn Highwood and her companions are forced to separate from their wagon train and begin a new journey fraught with hardship and peril. Back East, while smuggling medical supplies, her sister Louisa and brother Zachary are captured by enemy soldiers. Will the war''s end bring the Highwood family together again?

Preoccupied with her mother''s approaching marriage, fourteen-year-old DJ is visiting her biological father''s ranch when a fierce storm prompts her to call upon God for help and strength.

Beloved Author Lauraine Snelling Launches New Immigrant Series When Signe, her husband, Rune, and their three boys arrive in Minnesota from Norway to help a relative clear his land of lumber, they dream of owning their own farm and building a life in the New World. But Uncle Einar and Aunt Gird are hard, demanding people, and Signe and her family soon find themselves worked nearly to the bone in order to repay the cost of their voyage. At this rate, they will never have land or a life of their own. Signe tries to trust God but struggles with anger and bitterness. She has left behind the only life she knew, and while it wasn''t an easy life, it wasn''t as hard as what she now faces. When a new addition to the family arrives, Signe begins to see how God has been watching over them throughout their ordeal. But after all that has happened, can she still believe in the promise of a bright future?

Eighteen-year-old Astrid Bjorklund has always dreamed of becoming a doctor. She had intended to study medicine in Chicago or Grand Forks, but when a disaster wiped out a major portion of her family''s income, Astrid stayed home instead, receiving hands-on training from Dr. Elizabeth. Joshua Landsverk left Blessing two years ago, but he''s never forgotten Astrid. Returning to town, he seeks to court her. Astrid is attracted to him, and when the opportunity unexpectedly opens for her to go to Chicago for medical training, she finds it difficult to leave. Love blossoms through their letters, but upon arriving back home, she makes a heartbreaking discovery. Will she have to give up love to pursue her dream?

The Heartwarming Drama Continues in the Song of Blessing Series Anji Baard Moen, a recent widow, returns from Norway with her children. She quickly settles back into life in Blessing, teaching Norwegian history in the high school and writing articles for the Blessing Gazette. When tragedy strikes, Anji steps in to run the newspaper and soon finds a kindred spirit in the widower who owns the printing press. As they spend time together, Anji wonders if there''s something more than friendship growing between them. But Anji has also caught the eye of a recent arrival to Blessing. He has put his carpentry skills to good use on the town''s building projects, including Anji''s house. But Anji is torn between her feelings of loyalty to someone who needs her and the chance to build a new life with this intriguing newcomer. Where will her choice take her?

Book 2 of Dakotah Treasures. Author Lauraine Snelling takes readers further forward in Ruby Torvald''s story as Dove House becomes a well-known establishment. Ruby plays matchmaker between the lovely but hidden Pearl and the carpenter Soren, who longs to uncover the beauty in Pearl that seems to be damaged by a tragic childhood. Ruby''s own heart is torn by loyalty to the major and a surprising new suitor. But when a disaster threatens their future, will these jewels of the prairie be forced to abandon their dreams for the security of the east?

Miriam Hastings has her future plans in place... But Trygve Knutson is intent on changing them. Just a few short weeks into her year-long training at the Blessing Hospital, Miriam Hastings is called home to Chicago, where her mother is gravely ill. With siblings to care for, Miriam pleads to be allowed to finish her training in Chicago. Her nursing supervisor grants her a brief reprieve but extracts a promise that Miriam will return to Blessing and fulfill her one-year commitment. While in Chicago, Miriam has tried to get Trygve Knutson and Blessing out of her mind, but his letters make that impossible. Trygve is busy building a house, hoping he can convince Miriam to return to North Dakota and marry him. Torn between Trygve''s love and her family''s needs, she doesn''t know what to do. When Miriam finally returns to Blessing, she buries herself in her work. But no matter how hard she tries to put it off, she has some life-changing decisions to make about her future, her family... and the man who is never far from her thoughts. What will it take to convince her to stay?

"Jeremiah McHenry returns to Medora to make a new life. Will he be able to convince Amethyst that he is the kind of man she''s been looking for?"--Provided by publisher.

Larkspur Nielsen is ready for a change. Her parents have passed on, and her older brother is successfully running the family business. She bristles at the small-mindedness that permeates life in her small Ohio community, and she sees little chance of a satisfying future there. She has a little money saved, and after turning the tables on a crooked gambler who had fleeced several locals, including her younger brother, she can stake a new start for herself and her three sisters. As the gambler''s threats of revenge echo in her ears, she and her sisters head to Independence, Missouri, to join a wagon train bound for Oregon. Knowing that four women traveling together will draw unwanted attention, Larkspur dons a disguise, passing herself off as "Clark" Nielsen, accompanying his three sisters. But maintaining the ruse is more difficult than Larkspur imagined, as is protecting her headstrong, starry-eyed sisters from difficult circumstances and eligible young men. Will reaching their goal prove too much for them?

Best-selling novelist offers powerful and practical ways to give comfort and healing to a grieving friend.

When tragedy strikes, pregnant, heartbroken Sophie hopes that her family will welcome her home after she had hurt them with her defiant behavior by eloping with a fisherman.

Thorliff Bjorklund dreams of leaving his father''s farm to go to college and pursue his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist.