An Untamed Heart

By: Lauraine Snelling

Narrated by: Rachel Botchan

Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's Summary

Eighteen-year-old Ingeborg Strand is certain she is destined to be an old maid. She's had several suitors but none she deemed worthy of spending her life with. That is, until she meets a university student from Oslo, and feelings stronger than friendship begin to develop between them. But tragedy strikes, and the future begins to look bleaker than ever.

Grief settles heavily over Ingeborg, and her mother suggests that she leave Norway and start afresh in America, as so many others have done before her. But how will she accomplish that with little money and no one to accompany her?

It isn't long before she meets Roald Bjorklund, a widower who has been planning to go to America for some time, lured by the promise of free land. He's a good man, a hard-working man - and he has a young son who desperately needs a mother. He's clearly interested in Ingeborg, but is he the answer to her prayers? And what about love? This isn't how she's always imagined it. Ingeborg Strand has a heartrending decision to make…

©2013 Lauraine Snelling (P)2013 Recorded Books

excellent read

this is a very uplifting heartwarming book about courage, love, and perseverance. a great family read

Slow and a surprising, disheartening twist

Not wanting to divulge anything that might ruin the book for anyone that hasn't read it but...I couldn't believe how it all ended up, kind of like what was the point of that whole story and development of certain characters? I'm hopeful that the rest of the series will begin to make more sense and that this one was just supposed to set up the rest of the series. It was pretty detailed and slow in much of the story and then the "good stuff" was all for naught by the end. I've been trying to find a true series with returning characters so we'll see if this one ends up being it.

great beginning

only wish I had read this one before some of the others I have read

Great Story

This was a great story. I could just imagine the places. I love when writers do that. I can't wait to get to the next book.

A wonderful story

Written so well, I could picture the smallest details and wanted to become part of the family. Worth every bit of the money!

Awesome as usual

I immensely enjoyed this prequel! Lorraine Snelling has a true gift for putting words together in such a way that I can picture what is happening in the book.

Slow start

It took me a bit to get into the story but by the second half, it was very enjoyable. I am looking forward to the next in the series.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Another great book

It is so well written I almost wish there had been several books in the prequel. Hopefully she will expand upon some of the other family members we were introduced to.

Untamed Heart

What did you like best about An Untamed Heart? What did you like least?

The second half of the book got interesting but the first part was very boring.unless you want to listen to how to plant a garden or the process of shearing sheep . It seems like the author has to fill in the story.

Have you listened to any of Rachel Botchan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't listened to Rachell Botchan's performance and she was pretty good.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

Any additional comments?

Get to ther meat of the book and stay away from all the details that become boring.

Now we know what made Ingeborg who she is, an why.

Would you consider the audio edition of An Untamed Heart to be better than the print version?

Rachel Botchan is a good narrator, but I really missed hearing the story with the accent. If that was a deal breaker for you, you might want to read it in print.

What other book might you compare An Untamed Heart to and why?

My husband & I love the characters Lauraine Snelling creates. The families love and care for and about each other. They work hard and trust God for the rest. The characters are real people. They don't "sound" like made-up people. You might run into them tomorrow at work or on your errands. They might be your friends or neighbors. If not, you want them to be so.

He even enjoys the romance, because it's not fake or mushy. It's part of the life of the characters. We were so disappointed the next book isn't on audio yet. I hope it won't be long. We NEED to know what happens! Are you listening Audible?

Have you listened to any of Rachel Botchan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. She's good.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

We chuckled in numerous places. I didn't cry with Ingeborg, but felt so badly for her. Our reaction was that we didn't want to stop listening and go to sleep so we could go to work the next morning!

Any additional comments?

This is nothing against Rachel Botchan's ability as a narrator, but being so used to listening to the stories with Ingeborg, and then not having that wonderful accent, it's just not the same, and I hope the next one includes the Norwegian accent.