This is a wonderful book with beautiful illustrations. This is a must have for any bookshelf. It is a heart warming family story. I found this book while I was doing research for a Childrens Literature class. I read it once and fell in love with it and knew I had to have it.

Janette Oke has written and Cheri Bladholm has illustrated a wonderful book about the gift of memories. A great springboard to launch a discussion of memories within your family and circle of friends. I'm giving this book along with homemade jam (memories of summer) and disposable camera (to capture future memories) to family members whom I don't get to see often.

I've read Too Long a Stranger, the Bluebird and the Sparrow, and a Gown of Spanish Lace. All involved great characters that focused on the character and the story plot. The good clean characters sell Janette Oke's books rather than love affairs or the like. There is usually a moral to her stories that is open at the end - which left me wanting more. Pick one up soon and don't let the reading level throw you off; I am 45 and enjoyed each and every story. Good reading.

This series is what got me hooked to reading all of Janette Oke's books! They are very romantic and yet has so much history incorporated into the novels! I find myself identifying with most of the struggles that these women go through! I am definitely inspired spiritually after reading them! I recommend reading all her books! May God give you eyes to see His love and ears to hear His words of encourage and a heart that is open to His Truth!

Prairie Legacy is an inspiring series. Mrs. Oke has once again captured the hearts of her readers in this series about Virginia. Personally, we can relate to Mrs. Oke's characters. She has a gift of making you feel as though you were Virginia, makes you feel her feelings, anger, happiness, sadness, ect. We can't wait for the next book!

This was the greatest book I've ever read. The last three pages really showed that Janette Oke is a good writer. The kids are always coming to the creek and swimming, and Pogo has to sit and watch them the whole time they're there, wishing he could be like them. I felt sorry for the turtle because he was always trying to do things that the boys were doing, and he could never do it because he wasn't created to do that kind of stuff. At the end, he realizes that his shell comes in really handy. --Andy

This story is a quick read and helps children to love reading(as I do). It helps children to depend on themselves and on others.

"Filled with the kind of vibrant storytelling that fans of Janette Oke have come to expect.Her dialogue is lively and delightful to read aloud...so rich in detail that the sights,sounds,and smells pull the reader in."

This book is about a woman who is called by God to set up a church. She has many problems along the way, including poor attendance, a low food supply, and a difficulty convincing people that God is indeed real and needed in every single life. She does NOT step out of the boundaries of the Bible. Emily simply sets up a church and teaches because there is no preacher in the area. She doesn't preach, only tries to help people see the importance of a faith in God and tries to help them understand the Bible and how important it is. This is a wonderful book that helped me understand things more clearly and get things sorted out in my own faith. I thank Janette Oke for writing such a great book.

"The Calling of Emily Evans" is a wonderful book about Emily Evans as she gose to a Bible college then trys to open a church in a church baren country. As you read this book you realize the pain that Emily gose thouugh, and the joy as well, as she leaves her confort zone and shows God's love to the people that God has put in her life.

I thouroly enjoyed reading this book! When I first read the description I thought that maybe she was stepping out of the lines of the Bible. I thought I would read it and see what hapend. It turned out that she was right on. In this book Emily Evans feels that God is calling her to start a church for Him. So she finds herself in a strange city, trying to set a church up in an old billard hall! She faces many hardships thourgh the two years written about. Thourgh the book though Emily made it clear that she was just wanting to start the church, and that when she married she would turn the preaching over to her husband! This was a great piece of Christian fiction, and I am glad that she showed what it is like serving the Lord!

This is my first book by a christian writer and I was very impressed. The story moved well, the characters were refreshing and honest. Janette Oke effectively portrayed real life experiences in a fictional work - all the while giving God the glory in making these broken lives come together. I recommend this book to anyone is looking for a good, wholesome story minus unnecessary sex and filthy language. I'll definitely read more Janette Oke books!

I LOVED it! It was so emotional and touching and riveting! I read the last half of it all in one night, staying up till 2:00 to finish it! I cried deeply at one time when there was something very sad. The characters are so deep and living in my mind; I felt like I was there in their own world feeling their own pain and joy. I didn't want the story to end, and I'm looking forward with great anticipation to reading the sequel! The spiritual depth and wisdom in the book is great, too! The plot is very intriguing and honest and delightful. This has become one of my favorite books, overnight! =o)

Imagine a girl in a home with riches, a loving father, a stern mother, adoring servants, but living with unease and sadness most of the time. Imagine a mother giving up her own child, and living a life without the love of her husband. Imagine a boy with a compassionate, longing heart and finally finding peace in the love of Christ. You hardly need any imagination when you read the book, because it's all there before you...I couldn't help being drawn into their lives, and didn't want to leave!

I Recieved this book as a present from my mother. I probably wouldn't have bought it other wise, but I'm very happy to have read it. Although the story-line can be a bit over-used, and even tiring at times, I thought that Jannette Oke and T. Davis Bunn did a truly mavelous job of making it exciting, enjoyable, and a story-line all their own. I loved how the book followed Kyle, and Joel through their entire child-hood, and the way these two authors presented the story, I would highly reccomend it to any other reader!

....and the reason I thought it was pretty sad is that I can see why the poor girl is so self-conscious and feels so inferior. Her life is one continuous struggle in which she receives practically no assistance from anyone. Her husband is actually the worst of everybody for neglecting her! I say that because he never seems to be around for her, never seems to notice her feelings, and the only way she overcomes her inferiority (at the very end of the book) is by reading- reading, mind you, because he scarcely talks to her- one of his sermons. Without much support from Austin, Anna has to do everything for herself. They are extremely poor and out in the middle of nowhere, so you will see how, out of necessity, Anna invents the down jacket and padded diapers, and patches Austin's shirts with flour sacks. The missionary society who is supposed to help the couple is also pretty dumb, because they send Anna a barrelful of fancy summer clothes in winter. These just a couple examples of the incompetency of everybody around Anna. I think the problem is that Janette Oke overworks the fact that the missionaries are poor, until Anna's life seems absurd. I felt sorry for Anna and annoyed at Austin the whole time for not doing anything to help her out, so I don't consider this a very uplifting book. I think the only value in it is that people who are sad can read it and then feel better about their own woes because Anna has everything so much harder.

Janette Oke in this book is wonderful. She places infront of me the examples I need to know. All of us need to know. most people in this world today would not be such wonderful examples. I do not know of many myself. Showing me the way to see the positive in the negative, I find that this is a very special book, indeed.

I liked this book very much because it really hit home with how life really is. It tells of a couples stuggles in life. It may sound depressing but it is really a good book, and i would recommend it to all.

I have read many Janette Oke books, but this was, by far, the best. It means nothing to me about historical accuracy, but another reviewer was absolutely right when she said that it's a story about how racism and hatred can hurt innocent people. But God's love was shown beautifully through 2 women of different cultures. This book had more quality storyline than any previous books by the same author. The only down side was the book ended and I was left crying my eyes out! I would certainly hope that Janette Oke & T Davis Bunn will write a sequel!

This book is outstanding on many levels. I was engaged from the first chapter and couldn't put it down. Entertaining and thought provoking at the same time. I love to read and I honestly don't remember the last time I was so fully engaged in a story-one with characters and a plot that was as worthwhile as in "The Meeting Place." As for those few who think Louise should have been Catholic for historical accuracy, I fully disagree. Far better than tolerating differences, the two women in this story have a friendship and a relationship with God that transcends the boundaries of Catholicism and Protestantism...The "treasure" to be found within this remarkable story is an understanding of the value of trusting in a loving God who is sovereign and loves us all.

This was the first book I read by Janette Oke and T. Davis Bunn, and I think it's my favorite of their joint novels. It tells of two women who, despite the prejudice between their people, become best friends. This friendship leads to a decision with heart-wrenching consequences.

This story leaves you hanging, so I'd suggest reading its sequel also, _The Sacred Shore._