Book Review: Love Takes Wing by Janette Oke

 

Belinda Davis struggles to find her way in the world in the seventh book in the Love Comes Softly series, Love Takes Wing. 

As Belinda's nursing career evolves, she finds many she's grown up with are getting married and settling into their new lives. But for her, it's just one monotonous day after the other in her small prairie town. Until the unexpected happens: a passenger on the train has fallen ill and needs immediate medical assistance. 

Belinda and her brother, Doctor Luke, care for the woman in the office at his house. When it is deemed Mrs. Stafford-Smythe will require long-term care, Belinda becomes her full-time nurse. Meanwhile, two former classmates return to town and renew their acquaintance with her.

While her day-to-day life keeps her busy, Belinda remains restless, so when Mrs. Stafford-Smythe asks her to join her on her return trip to Boston while she continues her recovery, Belinda jumps at the chance. She struggles to settle into this new life and is surprised when she finds herself equally as restless and lonely despite the exciting life she now lives. Can she discover what is missing to heal her troubled heart?

Loves Takes Wing is Belinda's coming of age story. The youngest of Marty and Clark's children, she watches while her peers and cousins of the same age marry and have children. But she remains unsettled, despite loving her nursing career. Then her life takes an unexpected turn with the introduction of Mrs. Stafford-Smythe. 

Oke did a fine job with this novel. She sprinkled in romance, but that wasn't the focus. The author created a character ahead of her time; a young woman who decides to be true to herself and discover what she wants out of life versus settling for what others might want for her. Belinda goes on a journey of self-discovery, which takes her from her small town to Boston and then traveling through Europe. Meanwhile, the Davis clan experiences a rift, which affects everyone. Oke wraps up most of the story by book's end, but Belinda's adventures will continue into the next and final book in the Love Comes Softly series, Love Finds A Home.

New adventures, faith, family, forgiveness, and a hint of romance await you in Love Takes Wing. 

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bethany House Publishers; Repack edition (February 1, 2004)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0764228544
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0764228544
• 
  

I own a copy of this book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way. 

Thanksgiving on the Prairie

 

Thanksgiving is upon us, and that makes us think of family, friends, and all of our blessings. Little House on the Prairie didn't feature traditional Thanksgiving Day episodes. A recent article by Michael John Petty, appearing on Collider, discusses why. You can check out his article here.

During Season 6 (1979), a two-part clips movie titled, "The Little House Years" featured the Ingalls and Kendall families sitting around the table on Thanksgiving. Laura goes through her remembrance book and shares stories covering the joys, sorrows, trials, and triumphs of their life on the prairie, like coming to Walnut Grove, the birth and loss of Baby Freddie, when Grandpa Ingalls came to live with them in Walnut Grove after the death of Grandma Laura Colby Ingalls, and some of Nellie Oleson's shenanigans. 

Though this two-parter starts out with a blooper--Laura says she wrote, "We go today," in her remembrance book when they left the Big Woods, while in the pilot Laura's narration says if she had a remembrance book she would have written down about leaving the Big Woods--this is a great episode that featured some of the best and most dramatic episodes from the first five seasons.

Due to a rights issue, "The Little House Years" does not appear on the DVD sets. Not sure if that will change in the future. 

Have you seen these episodes? Which stories were your favorites? 

Melissa Gilbert Shares Why Cast Has Stopped Supporting 50th Anniversary Fan Events

Tell them like it is, Half-pint. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE magazine, Melissa Gilbert (Laura Ingalls Wilder) explained why she and the cast of Little House on the Prairie have stopped supporting the 50th Anniversary fan events coordinated by Gravel Road Markets, LLC. 

Having attended the one in Farmington, Connecticut, I can't say this came as a surprise. Here is the article so that fans are forewarned that the future events throughout 2024 have been canceled: https://people.com/little-house-on-the-prairie-melissa-gilbert-speaks-out-50th-anniversary-events-exclusive-8722293

Proving the LHOP cast remains dedicated to their fans, they are making plans for events in 2025. 

My Most Popular LHOP Fan Fiction Stories

 

A decades-long love of Little House on the Prairie has led to me writing more than 70 fan fiction stories based upon Laura's life and the show--mostly the latter. You can check out all of them on my Fanfiction.net page here. Please be sure to check story ratings first. 

Of the stories I have posted at Laura's Little Houses, these are some of the most popular:

"The Robe" - Laura returns  Manly's robe after she gets into a fight with Nellie - 1259 views

"The Aftermath of Annabelle" - Almanzo confronts Laura about her behavior at the circus - 899 views

"He's Not the Right Man" - Laura is angry when Miss Wilder suggests Perley Day is a more appropriate suitor for her than Almanzo - 806 views

"The Trials of Fatherhood" - Charles struggles with Laura and Almanzo's relationship - 581 views

"Feelings" - Almanzo is angry that Bart Slater's uncontrolled behavior leads to Eliza Jane and him leaving Walnut Grove - 458 views

Have you read any of these? Which of my fan fiction stories is your favorite? What or who would you like to see more of in my fan fiction stories? 

Where Have I Been Lately?

 

This was going to be the year. The 50th Anniversary of Little House on the Prairie was a year I planned to follow along with all the events, listen to the podcasts, keep this blog active and share how much this show meant to me growing up. 

So... how has that turned out? Dismal? Paltry? Lame? 

Thank you to all the loyal readers who keep checking in no matter how often I post. Today, is the first day I've taken off since August 31, when I attended the Little House on the Prairie Cast Reunion in Farmington, CT. Here are some photos.

Dean Butler (Almanzo) signed my copy of Prairie Man

Met Sherri Stoner (Rachel Brown Oleson)

Met Pamela Roylance and David Freidman (Sarah and Jason Carter)

Reconnected with Charlotte Stewart (Miss Beadle/Mrs. Sims)

This wasn't the most well-run event, but the cast members were amazing. 

Other than that, real estate has been moving swiftly along, taking up a lot of time. I submitted my NaNoWriMo project from 2023 to a publisher. They sent out a thoughtful rejection a week ago. I have a backup plan, but I'm waiting a bit so I can look at the manuscript with fresh eyes. 

I've also begun plotting the second novel in the series. Likely will tackle NaNoWriMo again this year. So, my middle grade historical languishes while I attend to the small town romances I'm writing. My fifth children's book is also languishing, waiting for the publisher to have an artist ready. Life happens. 

Hope you are enjoying fall or spring, depending upon where you are in the world. Here in New England, the fall colors are peeking out from the greens of summer. Enjoy your weekend.