Book Review: "A Hopeful Heart" by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Book Description:

Dowryless and desperate, Tressa Neill applies to the inaugural class of Wyatt Herdsman School in Barnett, Kansas, in 1888. The school's one-of-a-kind program teaches young women from the East the skills needed to become a rancher--or the wife of one. Shy and small for her twenty-two years, Tressa is convinced she'll never have what it takes to survive Hattie Wyatt's hands-on instruction in skills such as milking a cow, branding a calf, riding a horse, and cooking up a mess of grub for hungry ranch hands. But what other options does she have?

Abel Samms wants nothing to do with the group of potential brides his neighbor brought to town. He was smitten with an eastern girl once--and he got his heart broken. But there's something about quiet Tressa and her bumbling ways that makes him take notice. When Tressa's life is endangered, will Abel risk his own life -- and his heart -- to help this eastern girl?

My Thoughts:

I thought the concept of a Herdsman School for women was so unique. Aunt Hattie was such a character and someone I wish I knew in real life.

Tressa was so timid when she first arrived at the school and I enjoyed seeing her evolve into a competant woman. Abel always appeared so sad and I longed for him to find joy and come out of his self-imposed lonliness.

I wish this book were part of a series. To my knowledge it isn't. I would like to visit Aunt Hattie some more and see some more women learn how to be a Herdsman's wife.