I'm not sure if I noticed this one after looking up the narrator (Sarah Zimmerman) ... but when I started this (Kindle Unlimited text, Hoopla audio) and discovered the narrator was Sarah Zimmerman again, I almost pushed it off. She's a good narrator, but it was just two books ago that I'd heard her, and thought the familiar voice would be too confusing. However ... the "voice" of that characters here, Kathryn and Melissa, in the dust-bowl days in Oklahoma, had enough distinction and twang, that I was able to continue after all.

That being said, there were two storylines, Kathryn and Melissa (sisters) and both were first person, and although the narrator distinguished their voices some, and their written voices had their differences, I think I might have preferred MORE distinction between the stories, with a different narrator for one of the girls (especially as the stories didn't have much cross-over). 

I appreciated the author's note (in Kindle, not included in the audio) that stated "I believe the hallmark of any good piece of historical fiction is its ability to ignite in readers a desire to learn more about the time period and events upon which it’s based." I did appreciate this bringing the dust bowl more to life, including little tidbits I hadn't really heard of before. I've read a few ... this reminded me a little of the sequel to Sarah Plain and Tall, where Sarah and the children go back East to her family (like Helen's family here).

There were Discussion Questions included in the Kindle copy ... and kudos to authors/editors/publishers who do this. It can really increase the appreciation for a book, bringing up things I might have skimmed over or not really thought about.  Some discussion questions are better than others ... these ones were great and made me think. 

This was labeled as "Christian Fiction"  ... and had I noticed that, I might not have read it. I struggle a bit when there's a lot of discussion of God and God's plan by the characters. This was on the border of being too much for me, but I was glad I powered through. I do tend to think those who look for God's hand in things, will find it, because they are looking SO hard and that's how they'll interpret and explain.  

I really enjoyed the Wizard of Oz running throughout the book ...

The Table of Contents snob inside of me wishes that the POV (included in headers at the beginning of the chapters) was also included in the TOC (so I could see at a glance which chapters were which). I believe they switched off between the girls, with Kathryn's story on the odd chapters, and Melissa's on the even chapters.  26 chapters in total. 

Words: lots of scowling, some smirking, one roil

Content: no proFanity, I saw one reviewer appalled at the "marriage night" description, saying such explicit sex shouldn't be in a "Christian" book that teens might read. I thought it was handled fine and wasn't overly descriptive.