Lauraine snelling author biography john

**MINOR SPOILERS**
This is part of the Red River of the North series about immigrants. The series follows the struggles and successes of the Bjorklund family and their neighbors who settled in North Dakota around 1880. It is now 1887. The author continues this series with a few other series, the next one of which is about Thorliff, Ingeborg’s stepson. I recommend reading this book after the earlier books.
The first book in the series had more of a focus on Roald and Ingeborg, Carl and Kaaren, and their children. As the series continues and including this book, the author builds more of a sense of community. I enjoyed reading about the people’s lives and their relationships.
The immigrants have established the town of Blessing, North Dakota and they now have a church and school. One of the storylines focuses on the pastor, John Solberg, who is the subject of interest to matchmaking mothers in town. John had been interested in Katy, who chose Zeb instead, and he is not happy with being introduced to alternatives by matchmakers.
Zeb is a rancher who raises horses and married Katy, the youngest Bjorklund. Zeb’s sister, Mary Margaret, is visiting with him and Katy but plans to return to Missouri later. When a matchmaker asks her to help at the school