The Hired Man by Sandra Dallas

Colorado was devastated by the dust storms in the late 1930s and caused hardships for the families and their relationships.

Martha Helen and her family were better off than most, and her mother was very generous.

When a vagrant showed up with a neighbor's son lost in the storm, Martha's mother decided they should hire him for room and board since they couldn't pay him.  Did she know something about vagrants?

He decided to stay and was a blessing to the family.  The town was not happy - they worried he was bad news.  Was he?

And what was Martha’s mother hiding about her past?  

Find out why the families stay and the answers about the hired man and Martha’s mother in this well written account of this time in history.

Sandra Dallas knows how to bring history to life and make you feel as though you are there with the suffering families as the events happen in the town as well as being happy you didn’t live at that time.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.

Books With The Word JOURNEY In The Title

 

Books with the word JOURNEY in the title.

Both were very good - have you read either?

Cilka’s Journey:   https://tinyurl.com/2zcj9frd

Jubilee’s Journey:   https://tinyurl.com/yeny5233

This idea is from a member of Litsy.

It's Monday!! What Are YOU Reading? - 3/30/2026

                                         

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I hope you had a great reading week.

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This is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at BOOK DATE!

Post the books completed, the books you are currently reading, and the books you hope to finish at some point.

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Books Completed:

THE ISLAND CLUB by Nicola Harrison - review will be on April 30, 2026.

Set in the 1950's.  Rich wives depending on their husbands.   I enjoyed the women and how they grew.

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MS. MEBEL GOES BACK TO THE CHOPPING BLOCK by Jesse Q. Sutanto - review will be on April 29, 2026.

Oh my...such a fun read.  You will LOVE Mebel.

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THE HOTEL GUEST by Rosemary Hennigan - spotlight will be on April 28, 2026.

Not my cup of tea - couldn't get interested.

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THE MOUNTAINS WE CALL HOME by Kim Michele Richardson - review will be on April 23, 2026.

This is good - it is the author of THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK series.

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LIAR'S CREEK by Matt Goldman - spotlight will be on April 22, 2025.

This was not catching my interest.  I enjoyed other books by this author, though.

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MAD MABEL by Sally Hepworth - review will be on April 21, 2026.

Ohhhhh....this is SO GOOD!!

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EXTRA SAUCE by Zahra Tangorra - spotlight will be on April 15, 2026.

It is a memoir, and I don't read memoirs.  Good recipes inside, though.

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TOO CLOSE TO HOME by Seraphina Nova Glass - review will be on April 14, 2026.

Disappointed - confusing and a bit too long.  I normally enjoy her books.

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MEET ME IN ITALY by Brenda Novak - review will be on April 13, 2026.

Oh yes...we are on the Almafi Coast!!  :)  LOVED this book.

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WHATEVER HAPPENED TO EDDY CRANE by Kate Crane - review will be on April 8, 2026. 

This is a memoir and nonfiction - I normally do not read these genres, but this held my interest.

I had never heard of Eddy Crane.

 

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LOVE BY THE BOOK by Jessica George - spotlight will be on April 7, 2026.

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THE BARN IDENTITY by Diane Kelly - review will be on April 6, 2026.

First-time reader - an enjoyable read!!

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KILLING ME SOFTLY by Sandie Jones - spotlight will be on April 1, 2026.

Wasn't interesting me.

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THE HIRED MAN by Sandra Dallas - review will be on March 31, 2026.

Another GEM by Sandra Dallas!!

 

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HARRIET HATES LEMONADE by Kim McCollum - review is in the book's title.

LOVED IT and LOVED Harriet.  :)

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THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN LETTERS by Izzy Boom - review is in the book's title.

Loved it - great setting and great characters.  You will be booking your next flight to Greece.

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SPRING MELT by Lori Duffy Foster - review is in the book's title.

Not bad...not a favorite.

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YOU DID NOTHING WRONG by CG Drews - spotlight is in the book's title.

I didn't realize it was horror.

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THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS by Lisa M. Matlin - spotlight is in the book's title.

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WITHOUT A CLUE by Melissa Ferguson - review is in the book's title.

A little slow, but a fun read.

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IT GIRL by Allison Pataki - spotlight is in the book's title.

Disappointed - wasn't keeping my interest.

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MISSING SISTER by Joshilyn Jackson - spotlight is in the book's title.

Wasn't keeping my interest.

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WHERE THE GIRLS WERE by Kate Schatz - review is in the book's title.

A good read.

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Book Currently Reading:

SUMMER STATE OF MIND by Kristy Woodson Harvey - review will be on May 5, 2026.

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Books Up Next:

A LITTLE BIT BAD by Cassandra Neyenesch - review will be on May 7, 2026.

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THE PARISIAN CHAPTER by Janet Skeslien Charles - review will be on May 9, 2026.

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THE MAY HOUSE by Jillian Cantor - review will be on May 12, 2026.

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THE ANNIVERSARY by Alex Finlay - review will be on May 14, 2026.

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THE HOPE KEEPER by Heather Webb - review will be on May 19, 2026.

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GOOD JOY, BAD JOY by Mikki Brammer - review will be on May 20, 2026.

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A SPRINKLE OF SWEET SEREDIPITY - review will be on May 21, 2026.

LOVE her books.  Adorable cover.

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THE WINDSOR AFFAIR by Melanie Benjamin - review will be on June 2, 2025.

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MARION by Leah Rowan - review will be on June 3, 2025.

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THE LAST TIME WE DROWNED by Saratoga Schaefer - review will be on June 8, 2026.

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BEACH THRILLER by Jamie Day - review will be on June 9, 2026.

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THE RAINY DAY BOOKSHOP by RaeAnne Thayne - review will be on June 6, 2026.

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LOST IN THE SUMMER OF '69 by Eliza Knight - review will be on June 11, 2026.

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THE BURNING SIDE by Sarah Damoff - review will be on June 16, 2026.

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SUMMER'S NEVER OVER by Darby Bozeman - review will be on June 18, 2026.

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DEATH WAS NOT ON THE GUEST LIST by Jenni L. Walsh - review will be on June 20, 2026.

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IT COULD HAVE BEEN HER by Lisa Jewell - review will be on June 23, 2026.

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WHISPER CREEK by Allison Brennan - review will be on June 24, 2026.

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MOST ARDENTLY YOURS by Freya Sampson - review will be on July 7, 2026.

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PRETTY DEAD THINGS by Kelsey Cox - review will be on July 8, 2026.

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THE HALF LIFE by Rachel Beanland - review will be on July 14, 2026.

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THE SINS OF SUMMER DAUGHTERS by Lo Patrick - review will be on July 15, 2026.

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THE STORY KEEPER by Kelly Rimmer - review will be on July 21, 2026.

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MEET IN PARIS by Kristin Harmel - review will be on July 28, 2028.

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THE NEIGHBORS ARE WATCHING by Aggie Blum Thompson - review will be on June 30, 2026.

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BUYER BEWARE by Catherine Ryan Howard - review will be on July 29, 2026.

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THE WOMEN IN WHITE by Sarah Pekkanen - review will be on August 4, 2026.

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WHEN LEMONS GIVE YOU LIFE by Anna Johnston - review will be on August 5, 2026.

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HOW TO FIND ROMANCE IN A BOOKSHOP by Poppy Alexander - review will be on August 18, 2026.

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A FINE LAYER OF DUST by Barbara Conrey - review will be on September 1, 2026.

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PEREGRINE HILL by Nina De Gramont - review will be on November 11, 2026.

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THE BUREAU OF UNKNOWN FATES by Gaëlle Nohant - review will be on December 8, 2026.

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MURDER UNABRIDGED by P. J. Nelson - review will be on December 1, 2026.

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