A Gown of Spanish Lace (Women of the West)

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Story
Review: A Gown of Spanish Lace is the story of Ariana, a sixteen year old schoolteacher. She is abducted from her school right before a storm. She is taken by her captors far from her home. There she loses track of time but never loses her faith in God to take care of her. She is befriended by Sam, one of the outlaws who abducts her. Sam is in charge of guarding the prisoner but then things change. Laramie, son of The Boss, is put in charge of Ariana. This is all part of The Boss's plot and reason for taking her. After Laramie is put in charge of Ariana things take on very interesting turns. People begin to realize they aren't who they thought. I can't say anymore without giving the story away.

This book was a wonderful read. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I had to find out what would happen between Ariana and Laramie. I found myself feeling sympathy for not only Ariana for being in the situation she was in but also for Laramie. He was also in a situation he wasn't comfortable or sure about.

Janette Oke writes such wonderful books. Her characters are so real one almost believes they really did live in the past. Though her books are set in the prairie times the messages in them will be current for all of time. This book is so well written. Events happen at such a pace the reader doesn't have time to catch their breath or stop for a break. You simply must read ahead to find out what happens. I loved this book and was so sorry it ended. I must say I was beginning to get a little worried toward the end when things weren't looking good for Ariana and Laramie. This is a must read book.

Rating:
Summary: Probably the single best book by Janette Oke
Review: Although Oke wrote a suburb series in Love Comes Softly, her breakout into smaller series and one book stories no doubt was the springboard for this awesome book.

It is part of the Women of the West single book stories, and I believe, the best. The storyline was conceived forty years earlier by the author, but for some reason she didn't explain, it never made it to print until 1995.

Ariana was an orphan, adopted by loving parents and the one and only link she had to her biological parents was her wedding dress. However, all her hopes of being married in this dress, and teaching plans were changed during her horrible, violent kidnapping by two rowdy men.

While she was held hostage in a camp controlled by bandits, her faith and trust were severely tested. She had to hold fast to God and her trust that He would control her destiny even when it seemed the rowdy outlaws were in charge of her life and future.

The exciting (and surprising) conclusion to this book makes it among the top of the bunch. I plan to read it again and again. Thank you, Janette Oke, for finally putting this story in print!

Rating:
Summary: Best Oke book ever!
Review: It's hard to believe this was Janette Oke's *first* story plot, but it remained unwritten (alive only in her head) for so many years! At first, this one is different from many other "Women of the West" books. Usually the first scene from a book in this series depicts a little girl, and we chronicle her life from childhood to womanhood. Not so with this one--after two chapters of character and setting introduction, this story starts right in on plot, and both main characters are adults from the beginning. I loved the little twists and turns as Ariana and Laramie got to know each other (under extremely unusual circumstances!), and I loved the surprise ending. Laramie is an especially vivid character who is easily understood and sympathized with. And of course, Ariana is next to perfect! Oke's light, easy writing style does the storyline perfect justice. This has got to be the finest installment of the series!

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Summary: Another Great Book from Janette Oke
Review: On one snowy, stormy day, a young school teacher, Ariana Benson, is kidnapped from her school, her home, and her very way of life. She is taken to a rough, crass camp, where "the Boss" assigns his son Laramie the task of guarding her. From that day on, Ariana's life is never the same. The two fall in love, but are their plans are halted when Laramie discovers the lace cuff of Ariana's mother's wedding gown in his mother's chest. What can this mysterious coincidence mean? And what are they to do about it? This is the story of a young woman and her kidnapping, disappoinments, and true love, and her steady faith in God which gets her through it all.

Rating:
Summary: Kept me completely on the edge of my seat!!!!
Review: This book is the best book I have read of Janette Okes so far!!!! I was very into it!!! The ending was so fabulous.I was kind of upset to find that Laramie and Ariana were brother and sister,but as I continued reading,as always Janette Oke suprised us!!!! What a GREAT ending!!!!! Thanx Janette Oke for writing such wonderful Christian books!! My friends and I read them all the time.

Rating:
Summary: one of my favorite jannete oke's!!
Review: This was a great book. I LITERALLY COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!! Anyway, Ariana Benson is a sweet and beautiful little school teacher. She was adopted by a minister, for her parent's were killed in an indian raid on the wagon train. Meanwhile, Laramie Russel is a handsome young man who doesn't fit in with the gang of desperadoes he lives with. He was also adopted; his parents were killed in an indian raid to. Well, Laramie's father, "the boss," is upset with his son because he has never killed anyone, which is a shame to the life of a desparadoe. See, Laramie is the best gunman, but he doesn't shoot to kill. The Boss decides that a woman is the only way to get Laramie to kill, so he kidnaps Ariana, and orders Laramie to be her prison guard. Well, over time, Laramie discovers a Bible and begins to read it. He realizes how wrong his life in the gang is, and decides to escape, and take Ariana home. Throught the ordeal, the two fall in love, but later on, discover a secret that threatens to tear them apart. Can the ending hold a happiness for them?? READ AND ENJOY!!