With no prospects for marriage and her parents recently deceased, Susannah Underhill agrees to go west to the Dakota territory to marry her minister's homesteading brother, Jesse. But Susannah is painfully shy, doesn't see herself as worthy of love from either a husband or from God, and lives in constant fear that Jesse is going to ship her back to Detroit.
In spite of her petite size and the fact that Susannah doesn't look like she could survive on the prairie, Jesse quickly discovers that his new wife is a greater blessing than he even hoped for. The years she spent as her father's veterinary assistant allow her to save Jesse's ox and twin calves and to help neighboring farmers with their animals.
But Susannah's feelings of unworthiness are deeply rooted, and she can't believe that Jesse's praise—or the tenderness and love he shows—could possibly last. The thawing of her heart seems almost as distant as Spring in the midst of the winter blanketing the Dakota prairie."
This book is all about a woman's journey to the Dakota territory, Susannah Underhill is a quiet reserved woman and appears to be very afraid of Jesse Mason when she arrives in her new home.
Jesse on the other hand, is quite the opposite of her. He's outgoing, but very loving and tender to Susannah. My opinion on the overall relationship of the newly married couple; I think it's cute.
The overall positive stuff I liked about this book was that Jesse is the most tender and loving husband that any woman would want to have. Right from the start Jesse adores Susannah, and thinks she's the greatest thing that ever happened to him. Which in my opinion is what any man should think when he gets married, and what he should think always throughout his marriage to that one woman.
I like how Susannah transforms from being quiet and reserved, to a little more outgoing and comfortable with her surroundings, which eventually leads to some big decisions around the ending chapters. And I really do like how the Mason couple's relationship grows and flourishes into a real married couple relationship slowly but surely throughout the book. It's a big difference when Susannah feels so comfortable with Jesse as to be playful with him, as husband and wife usually are.
However, there are some negative things that I have to say about this particular book.
I think that somewhere around the middle of the book it was really dry, and so I didn't read it for a little while. And the key with books for me is it really has to grab my attention, and if I really like a book I can read it within a few days. This book took me about a month or so.
I also have some warnings, it does have some little bits of married couple type stuff that they only do in the bedroom. But its hardly even descriptive, it was borderline icky stuff I guess you could say. And they don't describe what happens when they are doing it, all it is- is them getting in bed and then waking up the next morning.
It's a little inappropriate in the sense that Jesse does try to undo the front of her bodice several times throughout the book, but as I said before it's not descriptive beyond that. And then there is a reference to an old time condom, when issues arise with Susannah's health; concerning her bodies' skills to get pregnant.
Along with that stuff, I found it a little disturbing that Susannah had a terrible experience before the beginning of the book. I haven't exactly figured it out for sure yet, but I believe it has a reference to a terrible experience she had with a banker who broke into her house... and from what I could tell she was definitely beat up pretty bad, and then possible rape but I haven't figured that out for sure. I'd say she was just assaulted pretty bad, and thus her fear of Jesse.
Other than that I really don't have any complaints, but I didn't like how much... bedroom... stuff... was referenced, I mean yes they are married, and yes married people do it. But you don't need to tell us every time they do it.
And, yeah... other than that it was a good read. :) I don't think I'll ever read it again, but it was entertaining.
~Jazz
*Thank you to Booksneeze.com for providing me with a free copy of this book for reviewing purposes*
*I am not obligated to write a positive review, only an honest one*
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