Prairie Hearts

 In Cedar Bends, Kansas in the 1890's, this book tells the stories of three Christian women, of different ages, that are searching for romance in a Christian world. 
 Circle of Vengence
 Carrie Butler  has been waiting on the "Mysterious Stranger" since she was a small child. She has his picture engraved in her head and her heart. One day as she is traveling by buggy home from town after a day at the dress makers shop, getting a dress fitted to her for one of her best friends weddings, she comes face to face with the "Mysterious Stranger" who literally saves her life from a runaway buggy,and she know immediately that he is the one she has been waiting for.
 John Thorton is bound and determined to avenge his parents death and while he waits for the right time, he happens to meet the beautiful Carrie Butler and his whole life starts to change. When the time comes to avenge his parents, and make the man who is responsible, to pay, he learns that things are not always what they appear.
 Will he and Miss Butler be able to accept the past and will he be able to accept God as his Lord of all?
 Mariah's Hope
 The second woman in this book is Mariah Casey, who has been raised by a loveless mother in Willow Creek, Ohio. She is closing in on age 40 and she has never been loved. She has worked all her life for a disable mother and a schoolteacher. After her mother passes away she receives a letter from her cousin in Cedar Bends, KS and then a 2nd from the President of the school board in Cedar Bends, asking her if she would be interested in taking on their teacher position. Mariah puts her faith in God and takes the position. This seems to be a perfect match, as the school has a reputation of loosing teachers every year due to marriage and seeing that Mariah is an old maid, there should be no chance of her marrying and leaving the teacher position. Until she arrives and meets Sherman Butler face to face.
 Mr. Butler lost his wife many years ago when Carrie was born. He and his two partners raised Carrie, doing the best they could but it left Sherman lonely for female companionship. With Carrie no longer in the house he longs for a companion and someone to love. Could Mariah be the one he wants to spend the rest of his life with? Will Carrie ever understand his loneliness and will she accept any female in his home?
 Joanna's Adventure
 Joanna Brady, who is one of Carrie's best friends,  has been praying for adventure and love. When Clay Shepperd rides back into town she feels he has been sent by God to fullfil her emptiness for love. The problem with that is that Clay is not a Christian and she knows she is not to be unequally yoked with a life partner. Did God answer her prayer by sending her Clay, who is not a Christian man or  Mark who is a Christian and has been in her life for many years?

Written by M.J. Conner ( Mildred Colvin) who began this series with her sister Jean. Jean passed away before they completed Mariah's Hope and she never knew it was completed and published.

 This is an easy book to read. Three short books in one for a total of 344 pages. The price range was what first caught my eye, $5.87. There are also two more in this series, Painted Desert and Mountaineer Dreams. This book is published by Barbour Publishing.