Courting the Country Preacher is four short stories written by four different authors about stories that will warm your heart and soul. I wasn't familiar with the authors, but their writing style has a way of bringing you in like an old friend. All the stories are uplifting, faith filled and were very enjoyable to read. Follow the stories of four women who face adversity and trials and never lose faith. I am definitely interested in more from these authors. I received a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishing & was under no obligation to post a review.

<i>The Mountie's Rival</i> - Rowley, Alberta, Canada (1907)
<i>Convincing the Circuit Preacher</i> - Picton, New South Wales, Australia (1863)
<i>The Angel and the Sky Pilot</i> - Northern Minnesota (1905)
<i>Mail-Order Minister</i> Baker's Nook, South Dakota (1889)

These stories are sweet romances. There is religion and faith throughout each story. Some of the stories put more of an emphasis on this than others. I liked that each story was a different time and location. I don't read many stories that take place in either Canada or Australia, especially Australia. Each story has some drama and a happy ending. Some were more drama filled than others.

Convincing the Country Preacher by Carolyn Miller was an absolute joy to read! From the intriguing characters to the varied scenarios, I was enthralled from the first to the last page! Another best seller from a wonderful author!

The Angel and the Sky Pilot by Naomi Musch took me on a journey of inspiration and faith as I followed the life of Everett, as he navigated his personal and spiritual life, seeing God’s plan unfold in a surprising turn of events. Entertaining and uplifting, a true testament to the author’s heart and walk with her Saviour. Excellent and highly recommended!

This book includes 4 historical stories of preachers finding their wife. They all were enjoyable, but I preferred the ones that were set in North America better than the one that was in Australia. They each had different storylines and settings that made it a great collection to have together. You didn't feel like you were reading the same story with minor changes. I think my favorite one was the lumberjack preacher...The Angel and the Sky Pilot by Naomi Musch. It was something I hadn't really thought of before that a preacher would take on! Overall, I recommend picking up this collection of clean inspirational stories! I received and advance copy from NetGalley. That in no way influenced my review.

These are clean, Christian historical stories. There are four stories in the book.

I really enjoyed the characters and how they interacted and faced adversity. I liked that there were different areas: Canada, Australia, and USA (Minnesota and South Dakota). Each of the preachers are new to the profession and are trying to make sure they do things the right way. They consult God in their decisions. I appreciated the fact that they are clean stories, but also show that not everything is positive. They can make with prayer.

Be ready to sit down and read. You won’t want to put it down.

I received a copy from NetGalley and am leaving an honest review.

I loved the variety of stories within this collection. While they each followed a preacher and the stirring of love, they were based in different places (and a couple in different countries) and offered a different perspective of love, God's calling, and forgiveness.

I will admit I wasn't expecting a story set in Canada, much less one set in Australia, but it was nice to have stories set in places beyond the U.S. I would be more than willing to read more stories based in any of the authors' places as I feel there would be plenty to tell. Highly recommended and the stories were just long enough without dragging on or feeling rushed.

I enjoyed this sweet compilation of four short stories set in small towns or wilderness areas.The Mountie's Rival is set in Rowley, Alberta Canada in the year 1907. Jonathan Burton arrives to be the
new Preacher but on his first Sunday who shows up but his twin brother, David, the local Mountie?
Jonathan feels he has always lived in his brother’s shadow but it that the whole story? More is revealedas the story unfolds. Convincing the Circuit Preacher takes us to Picton, New South Wakes, Australia in the year 1863. Thea is enthralled by the traveling preacher, Jonas Hamill. Jonas is not looking for a wife and he certainly doesn’t
fit Thea’s parents view of the perfect husband. Feelings can change however and when tragedy strikeshearts may be softened.
The Angel and the Sky Pilot set in Northern Minnesota in 1905. Angel and her father, Captain Adair run a trading post in the wilderness. Her mother passed away leaving her as the only female in the area. Everett Shepherd has been called to minister to the loggers further up the mountain. He stops for the night as a snowstorm approaches and Angel begins asking questions about the Bible which he answers as best he can. The next day he travels on to his post but will that be the last time he sees Angel and Captain? Mail-order Minister is set in Bakers Nook, South Dakota in 1889. The church in the small town has split and each has their own building now. Neither has a pastor. One desires a single pastor as the elders searching hope for a match for their single daughter the other church insists their Preacher must be married. When Finch Presly arrives he is welcomed and Olivia, the intended daughter, helps around church as they become friends. Will a misunderstanding of circumstances tear them apart or will love grow between them? Lots healing and forgiveness must take place before a happy ending for anyone.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Courting the Country Preacher by Angela K. Couch, Carolyn Miller, Naomi Musch, and Kari Trumbo is a light, easy read on faith, hope, forgiveness, and love. Each story is unique yet carries a common thread. Travel from the upper West Coast to Australia in this delightful read.

Releases Nov. 1st. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Courting the Country Preacher is a sweet collection of historical novellas by Angela K Couch, Carolyn Miller, Naomi Musch, and Kari Trumbo set in the 1900s. Each story follows a young woman and an unseasoned preacher facing the challenge of teaching God's word while dealing with well-meaning and not-so-well-meaning townspeople. These four authors are new to me, and it was a nice introduction to their writing styles. I enjoyed that each story had a strong thread of faith woven into it, and I cheered on the couples as they worked through obstacles to come together.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Mountie’s Rival by Angela K Couch
It was a good short story. It was sometimes difficult to read Jonathan’s insecurities especially regarding April. We as humans hold pastors in high regard especially for the position they have, but in the end they are also people with the same insecurities as all of us and this was a good reminder of that. It would be nice if more attention was paid to how he grew in this through his faith etc.

Convincing the Circuit Preacher by Carolyn Miller
what a nice story. I really like Thea and her personality. Eliza (sister) was really really an addition to the story a very nice character that I really like. jonas and Eliza are nice together. writing style of the story was good and I definitely recommend this book.


The Angel and the Sky Pilot by Naomi Musch
This story is the best of the collection. I really enjoyed it. The way it is written but also the storyline. Angel and everett their story is beautiful. The way faith is incorporated made me think a lot and is certainly inspiring. The bond between angel and captain is beautiful, especially in that time.
I will definitely keep an eye on Naomi Musch and see what else she has written.


Mail Order Minister by Kari Trumbo
It was nice how the story had started with such a topic. You often see this nowadays where there is a split in the church. It was a good story. I was bothered by certain characters in the story. It certainly makes me think about my own willingness to forgive others.

all in all this is a collection I would recommend. One story appealed to me more than the other but that is to be expected and that differs per person.

Four stories of sweet romance involving a Preacher. These stories take place back in horse and buggy times, but all became page turners as you wondered how things could possibly work out.

We have four different authors and four completely different locations. As I was reading and wanting to know the ending, I really didn't want to leave, wanting to stay involved in the lives of the people I now cared about!

These are novelas, each taking a quarter of the book, but when you finish one, I was ready to read another, they are very good!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Barbour, and was not required to give a positive review.

I just didn't gel with this novella. I think the problem is that these stories are just SOOOo short and over a course of 2 weeks -6 months the couples are always madly in love with each other and ready to get married.

I think I liked Angel and the Sky Pilot the least, but all in all they were all just ho-hum okay. No great inspirational thinking or revelations.

Good for quick reads without a lot of brain power.

*I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own. :)

This is a delightful collection of stories. Each author made me care about the characters. I loved how their relationships developed and they overcame obstacles. Each story drew me in and kept me turning the pages to see how things worked out. I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

- The Mountie's Rival by Angela Couch
This story was so sweet, and it kept me hooked all the way through! I think the subplot between the two brothers really complimented Jonathan and April’s romance 💕

- Convincing the Circuit Preacher by Carolyn Miller
I found the story a bit cliché and predictable, but I loved that it was set in Australia and dug into a bit of the history of the area! Thea felt like a very inconsistent character to me at first, but her arc smoothed out at the end 😄

- The Angel & The Sky Pilot by Naomi Musch
My favourite out of the four! I love the setting of the logging camp, and the way the author handled the large cast of characters without confusing the reader 🤪 Everett’s character was so well rounded and fully fleshed out—I loved him ❤️

- Mail-Order Minister by Kari Trumbo
My least favourite of them all… Around the halfway point I just burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of a certain plot point. Not a bad story, I just didn’t connect with it 😝

I had an ARC for this book, but this is my voluntary and honest opinion of each of the four stories in this book.
The Mountie’s Rival - Angela K Couch
Jonathan is the new pastor of the local church. April is the daughter of the town drunk but she knows everyone in town and who is in need, and tries to see each is helped in some way. Jonathan falls for her, but thinks his brother David is interested in her. An interesting and touching story about love, kindness, and keeping God’s ways.
Convincing the Circuit Preacher – Carolyn Miller
Jonas Hamill is a circuit preacher, but fills in for several weeks in one place where he meets the Mcclean family. Oldest daughter Dorothea finds him attractive and he seems to be interested in her. She is the first one he has been interested in since his wife and child died in a fire, but there are several things against their union. A unique and interesting story about love, others opinions, and prejudices.
The Angel and the Sky Pilot – Naomi Musch
Everett Shepherd is called to take God to the lumber camps in the northwest. He is a former lumberjack himself, but has to prove himself before the men will listen to him. On the way he meets Angeline Adiar who lives with her father who has a store near the camps. She is interested in learning more about God and the Bible because her mother was a believer. The two find they love each other and plan to marry. This is an uplifting story about overcoming odds, earning trust, and sharing God’s love.
Mail Order Minister – Kari Trumbo
Finch Parsley is the new pastor at a church that split in two. The daughter of the remaining elder, Olive Torey is charged with introducing him to the townspeople. She ends up helping to prepare the church for use by cleaning and painting it, and they become friends in the process. When the other church loses the pastor who was coming, they approach Finch with an offer to also be their pastor, but he must marry a certain woman from that church. He isn’t interested in her, and she is in love with another man. The problem must be solved. This is an interesting and touching book about relationships, courting, and solving problems in life.

What a delightful set of stories! These four authors put together a collection of stories about country preachers and it is a joy to read. Each of the four short stories is set in a different place and slightly different time (between 1863 and 1907). From the small town to the lumber camps, the stories are wildly different from each other and such fun to read. From a "mail order preacher" to one trying to live in a way that his rough and ready past won't follow him, each story shows the human side of preachers and their simple desire to live for God, teaching others His Word. Each of these preachers starts out single, but as the title sort of gives away, we get to read the story of their courting. Each is quite different but so enjoyable. There is no bad language, no situations you might feel you have to skip over. Just simple romance stories befitting such a title. I don't know if I had read any of these authors except Carolyn Miller prior but I was not disappointed. All four authors write beautiful stories that are more than worth your time.

As a devoted fan of Christian romance and stories set in the 1900s, "Courting the Country Preacher" is a delightful anthology that beautifully combines both passions. Each novella brings to life the challenges and joys faced by women navigating love and faith in a time of societal change.

The collaboration among these talented authors shines through, with each story offering a unique perspective on romance, community, and devotion. The richly drawn characters and their heartfelt journeys tugged at my heartstrings, making me root for their happiness.

I particularly loved how the authors intertwined faith with everyday life, showcasing the importance of trust in God amidst romantic pursuits. The historical settings were vividly depicted, transporting me to a simpler time filled with charm and hope.

Overall, "Courting the Country Preacher" is a wonderful addition to the Christian romance genre, perfect for anyone who shares my love for faith-filled stories set in the past!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in return for my honest review.

This anthology was an enjoyable read. It was interesting to read such a unique collection of historical romances with preachers as the main characters.

The Mountie's Rival by Angela K Couch

Jonathan Burton has arrived in a small town to start his position as the new preacher, when he realizes his brother has also been stationed there as the local Mountie. He is frustrated to once again have to share his life and the attention of pretty, quiet April with his more popular brother.

I loved the descriptions of this little community and the people in it, especially from April's view at the top of the water tower. While I did feel that Jonathan's character was a bit worldly for a preacher, it was a good reminder that preachers are just as flawed as the rest of us, and I can't expect decades of hard-earned wisdom from a young, new preacher. The development of his relationship with April was very sweet, and I wish this had been a full-sized novel. It could easily have been fleshed out into a longer story, and there were a few areas that were rushed or never received a resolution. I would like to read more of this author's work.

Convincing the Circuit Preacher by Carolyn Miller

Jonas Hamill is temporarily filling in for the local reverend. As a widower who lost his wife and child to a fire, he has spent the past 3 years as a circuit rider, avoiding deeper relationships and the commitment that comes with being the pastor of a church. When he meets Dorothea "Thea" Maclean, he tries not to fall for her and risk his heart again.

I enjoyed the fact that this story was set in Australia. I don't think I've ever read a novel set in that country before, except for On the Beach by Nevil Shute. My favorite character was Eliza (and Henry!). I liked the basic fact plot of the story, but too much of it felt glossed-over and rushed, and there didn't seem to be enough plot or character development. The dinner scene with Aunt Agatha was a good example. She is known as a strict, disapproving, judgmental woman, and she treats Thea as would be expected. But then all of a sudden, in the middle of a conversation with Thea, Aunt Agatha has a miraculous personality transplant and becomes kind, faithful, and loving. It didn't fit at all. Despite these negatives, I enjoyed reading the story and would like to read some of her full-length works.

The Angel and the Sky Pilot by Naomi Musch

This was a fantastic story!! I loved it so much, and it is my favorite so far. Everett Shepherd is a curcuit preacher whom God has called to the lumberjack camps of northern Minnesota. As a former lumberjack himself, he is well acquainted with the rough, immoral life that most jacks live. Angeline "Angel" Adair is the daughter of a local merchant and has a strong desire to know more about heaven and God. Everett and Angel spend time together while he answers her questions and helps her to study Scripture. As Everett finds himself falling for Angel, he also struggles to forgive himself for his sinful past, even though he knows God has already forgiven him.

The faith aspect of this story was top-notch. I loved how deeply the author dove into so many areas of spiritual life and the struggles we face. Everett struggled with temptation, forgiveness, and not giving in to the reactions of the flesh as he faced hurdles to reaching the men around him. It is worth buying this book for this story alone. I can't wait to read more of her work! I appreciated the historical note that explains how this story was inspired by real-life "sky pilots" who shared the Gospel with the lumberjacks of Minnesota's Northwoods.

Mail-Order Minister by Kari Trumbo

After a church split, the town of Baker's Nook is left with two churches and no preachers. Each church has a man on his way to town to become their new preacher, and one of these men is Finch Presly. He was hired sight unseen by Mr & Mrs Torey, the only elders left in the church. The Toreys prayed fervently not just for the right man to fill the pulpit but one to hopefully also be a potential husband for their daughter, Olive. Unbeknownst to them, Olive is aware of their hopes for a match between herself and Rev Presly and is adamant that she will keep her distance and not fall prey to what she considers an arranged marriage. Finch is determined to remain a bachelor after being jilted by his former bethrothed. Despite their efforts to remain aloof from each other, they end up spending an abundant amount of time together as Olive is manipulated into showing Finch around town to introduce him to the residents of Baker's Nook, and then ends up spending her days helping him to prepare the neglected church for its first service with the new preacher. They start to fall for each other, and tensions rise as the new church's preacher changes his mind about taking the job and elders from the church approach Finch to convince him to be their new preacher, but with one requirement - he must marry one of their daughters!

This story did a good job of showing the ways small-town dynamics can play out after a church split and how misunderstandings, rumors, and gossip can cause a lot of damage. I appreciated the themes of repentance and forgiveness in this story. Some of the aspects of the plot were rather ridiculous, but it was still a sweet story, and I like how the author pulled it together in the end.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

“Courting the Country Preacher” is a lovely collection. Although they are all about country preachers, the stories are all completely different, which is what I loved about this collection. All different time periods and even some different continents made this book more fun than I originally thought it would be. Readers can glimpse what life would have been like for a country preacher in different cultures and different times, while also realizing that the Christian life is a lot the same still today - we still struggle with the same human issues of gossip, doubt, fear, prejudice, etc. But, as in each of these stories, God has a way of making it all come out right in the end when people trust Him. I thoroughly enjoyed each of these stories, and I highly recommend this book for a nice literary escape.

I requested a copy of this book for review. The thoughts expressed here are wholly my own.

This collection of four historical stories involving preachers in small towns is a very sweet, entertaining book. I enjoyed each story an actually wished for more. Themes included in these stories include self-doubt/self-worth, redemption, forgiveness, effects of gossip, and learning to listen for God's will. In each story, misconceptions are brought to light. Through faith and prayer, the characters find their way through struggles and bad times to the love God had planned for them. I definitely recommend reading these stories if you like uplifting, inspirational stories set in the past.