Books in Prairie River series

Nessa can't remember a home other than the orphanage, and now she has no choice but to leave. Her plan is to escape on the next stagecoach west -- one headed toward Prairie River, Kansas, a town in the middle of nowhere. When Nessa arrives at the small settlement, she has no money and nowhere to go. Worst of all, she is alone. The townspeople are suspicious of her. They see her as a newcomer with no family and no past. Nessa is about to learn that life on the prairie is hard --it's a trial of her strength and her faith as a Christian.

Nessa's winter was fraught with bitter trials. But now the promise of spring has come to Prairie River -- and so has Albert. Albert is Nessa's oldest friend from the orphanage. She had prayed that he would join her in Kansas ever since she journeyed to the small, remote town a year ago. But a year is a long time, and Nessa is discouraged when Albert's arrival is not what she had imagined. Things are different between them, and Nessa must reconcile the changes if she has any hope that their old friendship will bloom into something new.

Nessa is feeling at home in Prairie River until one blustery night. Reverend McDuff arrives unexpectedly at the Lockett's door. At once Nessa's hopes of leaving her past behind are shattered. She had told only Ivy and Mrs. Lockett her secret -- her reason for fleeing Missouri.Now the whole town will find out.Nessa keeps remembering that Albert had promised to warn her if the reverend headed west, but she hasn't heard a word from her dear friend. Now she will have to face Reverend McDuff on her own. In what promises to be a long and fierce winter, Nessa must be stronger than ever.

It hasn't been easy for Nessa to find her place in Prairie River. She is having difficulty making friends, and her position as the local teacher is on shaky ground. Many townspeople still question whether she, a runaway orphan, can be trusted. Nessa struggles to keep a positive outlook despite the scrutiny. But when an unexpected threat endangers her and her students, she must find a way to keep the children safe. With so much at risk she must dispel all the doubts that have been plaguing her -- most of all her own.

*** NEW free study guide written by the author: www.kristianagregory.com *** Nessa's winter was fraught will bitter trials. But now the promise of spring has come to Prairie River -- and so has Albert. Albert is Nessa's oldest friend from the orphanage. She had prayed that he would join her in Kansas ever since she journeyed to the small, remote town a year ago. But a year is a long time, and Nessa is discouraged when Albert's arrival is not what she had imagined. Things are different between them, and Nessa must reconcile the changes if she has any hope that their old friendship will bloom into something new.

*** NEW free study guide written by the author: www.kristianagregory.com ***It hasn't been easy for Nessa to find her place in Prairie River. She is having difficulty making friends, and her position as the local teacher is on shaky ground. Many townspeople still question whether she, a runaway orphan, can be trusted.Nessa struggles to keep a positive outlook despite the scrutiny. But when an unexpected threat endangers her and her students, she must find a way to keep the children safe. With so much at risk she must dispel all the doubts that have been plaguing her -- most of all her own.

*** NEW free study guide written by the author: www.kristianagregory.com *** Nessa is feeling at home in Prairie River until one blustery night. Reverend McDuff arrives unexpectedly at the Lockett's door. At once Nessa's hopes of leaving her past behind are shattered. She had told only Ivy and Mrs. Lockett her secret -- her reason for fleeing Missouri. Now the whole town will find out. Nessa keeps remembering that Albert had promised to warn her if the reverend headed west, but she hasn't heard a word from her dear friend. Now she will have to face Reverend McDuff on her own. In what promises to be a long and fierce winter, Nessa must be stronger than ever.

*** NEW free study guide written by the author: www.kristianagregory.com *** Nessa can't remember a home other than the orphanage, and now she has no choice but to leave. Her plan is to escape on the next stagecoach west -- one headed toward Prairie River, Kansas, a town in the middle of nowhere. When Nessa arrives at the small settlement, she has no money and nowhere to go. Worst of all, she is alone. The townspeople are suspicious of her. They see her as a newcomer with no family and no past. Nessa is about to learn that life on the prairie is hard -- it's a trial of her strength and her faith as a Christian.

Nessa is still struggling to find her place in Prairie River, and things aren't getting easier. On a personal note, Nessa wants to be Ivy's friend, so she decides to tell her a secret - someone else's secret - and it swells into a devastating rumor. Professionally, Nessa is reinstated as the town's teacher only to learn that countless townspeople still blame her for the death of one of the children. Mr. Applewood warns her that people have doubts about her and she will be under harsh scrutiny. Nessa strives to earn the trust of those around her, knowing it will take time. When a prairie fire sweeps toward the schoolhouse, Nessa must find a way to protect her young students.This is #2 in the series.

It is the spring of 1865, and the end of the Civil War is near. As the nation is struggling to come to peace with itself, all Vanessa Clemens can think about is her birthday. She has been dreading it for weeks, for the day she turns fourteen she must leave the orphanage that has been her home for a decade. The headmaster has made arrangements for Nessa. Either she can become a servant or marry the pastor, an older dreary man. Those are her only options. Then, on her birthday morning, Nessa hears cries flooding the sleepy Missouri town: President Lincoln has been assassinated. This national tragedy spurs her to flee on the first stagecoach heading West, determined not to be a servant or unloved wife.This is #1 in the series.

It is December 1865, and Nessa feels safe and at home in Prairie River. But when on a blustery night Reverend McDuff arrives unexpectedly at the Lockett's door, Nessa's hopes of leaving her past behind are shattered. Only Ivy and Mrs. Lockett know her secret - her reason for fleeing Independence. Now she fears the town will judge her and revoke her position as schoolteacher. Furthermore, her dear friend Albert had promised to warn her if the McDuff headed west, yet no word. Nessa's sense of self is shaken. In what promises to be a long and fierce winter, Nessa must be stronger than ever.This is #3 in the series.

Nessa's winter was fraught with trials, but now spring has come to Prairie River - and so has her dear friend Albert. Albert is Nessa's oldest friend from the orphanage, and she had prayed that he would join her in Kansas ever since she journeyed to the small, remote town a year ago. But a year is a long time, and Albert's arrival is not what Nessa had imagined. Things are different between them, and Nessa must reconcile the changes if she has any hope of starting their friendship anew.This is #4 in the series.