Fields of Bounty by Lauraine Snelling: Book Review

   *Book received for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

They must set aside their own plans and rely on their faith to bring their true destiny to light.

Lilac Nielsen's dream has come true: handsome young Reverend Ethan Pritchard has finally noticed her. Yet she must balance this new courtship with the pursuit of another dream--the publication of her artwork in a New York paper. She has secretly been submitting a series of drawings under a pen name, and if anyone traces the drawings back to her and finds out where Lilac and her sisters settled, the entire Nielsen family could be in danger.

As their family farm expands and Lilac's relationship with the reverend grows, it's a time of new beginnings. But when a family crisis back in Ohio shakes the Nielsen sisters, can they continue to build the new life they've begun in Nebraska? And will Lilac be prepared for what God has in store for her future?   

Lauraine Snelling (www.laurainesnelling.com) is the award-winning author of more than 100 books, fiction and nonfiction, for adults and young adults. Her books have sold more than five million copies. She and her husband make their home in Tehachapi, California.

Fields of Bounty is the third book in the Leah's Garden series. I had not read the previous books in the series myself. While it seemed like it read okay as a standalone, I did find myself struggling to get into this story a bit and I do wonder if that was in part because I hadn't read the previous books. There were a lot of characters to keep up with, and I certainly struggled with that which pulled me out of the story more than I'd have liked. As such, you might get more out of it by reading in order and having more time to get to know the full cast of characters better first. 

While it was a slow start for me, it was certainly not because of poor writing or story... the author did a great job of bringing readers to this place and time and creating characters that were interesting and full. The pace felt a bit slower for me, but not in a negative way--- just compared to what I'm used to reading lately. Readers who enjoy historical romance set in the 1800s are sure to want to check this one out for themselves.