A Bride for Donnigan by Janette Oke

A Bride for Donnigan by Janette Oke -- 223 pages

Kathleen O'Malley is a young women who lives with "Madam", otherwise known as her stepmother, and who works for the baker, selling food on the street. She sells more than others, because she does not have to fake her infirmity, which is a slight limp.
When she sees the advertisement for mail-order brides, she gapes and then scoffs. But she is soon to find out that Madam is remarrying, and soon she will have no home to speak of.

Donnigan is happy with his fine farm and lively stock, but he can't help wishing for someone to share it with. Several men in town are ordering brides for themselves, and Donnigan, though at first is skeptical, is beginning to wonder.

This story was pretty sweet as Kathleen and Donnigan are learning to live with and love each other. It gets sweeter as Donnigan wants to give his children a religious education, and so they begin to look for God together.

A Woman Named Damaris by Janette Oke

A Woman Named Damaris by Janette Oke -- 287 pages

Damaris is a fifteen year old girl who has grown up under the abusive hand of a drunk father. Finally she flees her home and catches a trip west, where her father will never find her.

Eventually Damaris will have to provide for herself, but more difficult, she will have to learn to forgive her father for everything he did to her. And to do that, she must first find forgiveness for herself.