One of the best "first settler" accounts I've ever read! Hubalek's story of Swedish immigrant, Kajsa, who settled in Central Kansas was riveting. I couldn't put it down until I had read the whole book. Stories of rattlesnakes coming through the dugout ceiling, prairie fires, the joys of newborn babies and the heartaches of losing loved ones.... Reading Hubalek's book shows that starting life as a homesteader was very tough, and the story was so real that I was working the sod right with her. Be sure to read the whole 4-book series, and her other two series as well.

This popular title extolling the virtues of Kansas tourist sites and above all Kansas wheat is now in a second printing. The book is designed as a tourist souvenir promoting the state, the people and the foods. IThe book features many delicious recipes using flour. Since wheat is the major crop of Kansas, many of these excellent recipes have been developed by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Manhattan, Kansas.

Illustrations used are from 1885 and 1878 publications and they give a quaint charming accent to the book. Many of the ethnic groups of Kansas are featured. Linda Hubalek grew up in Kansas and is a noted author.

This "stocking stuffer" book makes a wonderful gift!

What an inspiring book. The facts and history of our country are extraordinary. I could have never lived as Margaret lived, what a strong woman. She was also a quilter, which I find important, since I am also! It was inspiring to read in a diary format. It seemed so real.

The book was very interesting and showed the challenge and hardship of westward travel in a covered wagon. I wish the author had told more about the quilts or maybe even provided patterns. I would read the whole series for the historical value.

This is a wonderful book about a family traveling from Kentucky to Kansas. The story is told by Deborah Pieratt in letter form to her mother, Betsy Goodpaster. Deborah wrote to her mother about everything that happened along the way to her new home. She faces many diffuculties on her long journey including a cyclone. She explains how hard it is to raise a family while traveling to a place she has never seen. I would recommend that anyone who loves to read should pick up this book. If you do, I hope you enjoy it.

As the first in a new series (Vol 2 has just come out) on Swedish immigrants to the US in the 19th century, this book is an easy read. Most readers who are seriously interested in the subject will find it somewhat shallow and overly simplistic. This reviewer will not purchase the subsequent volume(s) for that reason. It is mildly entertaining but the serious reader would be better served by Wilhelm Moberg's four part Emigrant series.

I really enjoyed Linda Hubalek's book about her great-great grandmother's journey from Sweden to America. She worked in emotions, thoughts, worries and joys that any woman would go through when a person made such a life-changing decision. Can you imagine leaving your family, country, and lifestyle behind to live in an unknown country where you didn't even know the language? Quite an undertaking in the 1860s. Hubalek did a good job of setting the scene for the rest of the book series, too. Cultivating Hope, the next book in the series is great...ranks right up there with her bestseller, Butter in the Well. I can't wait for her next book, Harvesting Faith, but I hear it won't be out until this September! I'll just keep re-reading her other books until the new one is out! Hubalek's

This book is a MUST read for anyone interested in the early history of the American West settlement. The book series are very well written, touching and an interesting collection real life adventures.