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Vikki Kestell
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The Heart of Joy: A Short Story (A Prairie Heritage Book 8) Kindle Edition

by Vikki Kestell (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 504 ratings
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Denver, Colorado, 1914
Joy Michaels, grieving mother and widow, resides in an aging but remarkable Denver home: a beautiful, three-story Victorian/Queen Anne mansion resplendent with towers, turrets, peaks, and gables and known locally as Palmer House. Palmer House—a most extraordinary refuge for young women rescued from prostitution.

Joy and her mother, Rose Thoresen, share the responsibilities of ministering to and mentoring the young women who live under Palmer House’s roof. But now Joy faces an agonizing decision: Should she remain true to the memory of her first love or open her heart to the possibility of new love?

“I will always love you, Grant,” Joy whispered, “but God has called you away, and now I must follow the path he has laid before me—even if it is not what either of us would have chosen, had we been given such a choice.”

A Prairie Heritage:
Book 1: A Rose Blooms Twice
Book 2: Wild Heart on the Prairie
Book 3: Joy on This Mountain
Book 4: The Captive Within
Book 5: Stolen
Book 6: Lost Are Found
Book 7: All God’s Promises
Book 8: The Heart of Joy—A Short Story
Book 9: Rose of RiverBend

“Vikki writes the kind of faith-filled fiction that hooks you within the first few pages, will not let you go until you have finished, and leaves you wishing for more.”
—Janis Braun, Seattle, Washington

“Her books are not just for 'chicks'! I was amazed how engrossed I became in the lives of Vikki's characters, and how much I could relate to their situations.”
—Ed Dunne, Los Angeles

“Be prepared to put life on hold. That's all I have to say!”
—Rebecca H., New Jersey

“You will laugh, you will cry but, most of all, you will be uplifted.”
—LaTisha Holland, St. Augustine, FL
Previous page
  1. Book 8 of 9
    A Prairie Heritage
  2. Print length
    97 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    February 8, 2017
  6. File size
    4663 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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From the Publisher

A Prairie Heritage. The compelling saga of family, faith, and great courage.
A Prairie Heritage. The compelling saga of family, faith, and great courage.
A Prairie Heritage. The compelling saga of family, faith, and great courage.
A Prairie Heritage. The compelling saga of family, faith, and great courage.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B06W52L475
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Faith-Filled Fiction(TM) (February 8, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 8, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4663 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 97 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 504 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Vikki Kestell

Vikki Kestell

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Vikki Kestell’s passion for people and their stories is evident in her readers’ affection for her characters and unusual plotlines. Two often-repeated sentiments are, “I feel like I know these people,” and, “I’m right there, in the book, experiencing what the characters experience.”

Vikki holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Learning and Instructional Technologies. She left a career of twenty-plus years in government, academia, and corporate life to pursue writing full time. “Writing is the best job ever,” she admits, “and the most demanding.”

Also an accomplished speaker and teacher, Vikki and her husband, Conrad Smith, make their home in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

To be notified when Vikki has new book releases, sign up for her newsletter on her website, http://www.vikkikestell.com, find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TheWritingOfVikkiKestell, or follow her on BookBub, https://www.bookbub.com/authors/vikki-kestell.

"Vikki writes the kind of fiction that hooks you within the first few pages, will not let you go until you have finished, and leaves you wishing for more."

--Janis Braun, Seattle, Washington

"Her books are not just for 'chicks'! I was amazed how engrossed I became in the lives of Vikki's characters, and how much I could relate to their situations."

--Ed Dunne, Los Angeles

"Be prepared to put life on hold. That's all I have to say!"

--Rebecca H., New Jersey

"You will laugh, you will cry but, most of all, you will be uplifted."

--LaTisha Holland, St. Augustine, FL

Dear Readers,

I would love to hear from you! If you have questions, would like to comment on my writing, or are interested in having me speak at your church or organization, please contact me on my website, http://vikkikestell.com.

Vikki

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
504 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Cynthia Lafreniere
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read series
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2018
Verified Purchase
This series of books are my all time favorite and I wish I could give copies of the series to all my loved ones. They show what it looks like to be a Christian. This is the second time reading through them and I couldn't put them down this time either. Vikki Kestell makes her characters so real, you feel as though you know them and expect them to come through the door at any time. What I love most though is how she makes the Lord the center and the life of these books. The various characters are in different stages of their walk with the Lord; some are unsaved, others are new believers, some are mature in their faith. Through the daily lives of the people we see how the Lord intends for His children to live - both during good times, hard times and tragedy. We're shown how the Lord woos them, saves them, and guides their daily lives; encouraging, comforting, strengthening, and disciplining them. We see to the amazing way He is in control of all things, working all things out according to His will. These books will make you angry, make you cry, make you laugh, and make amazed anew at our Lord. They'll strengthen your faith. and make you eager to do more for your Lord. To me, these books are a shining example of Christian fiction at it's very best. Once you start reading this first book in the series, you won't want to stop until you've read them all - and you'll still want more!
4 people found this helpful
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Clara
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2023
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Kept me on the edge of my seat!
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David
5.0 out of 5 stars Book #8
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2022
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As good as the previous 7. Now on to 9 & others. Each book I read an almost non-stop reading. If I had not my responsibilities as a Human & husband, I think I would not stop until I finished the book and maybe the series.
One person found this helpful
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Babs
4.0 out of 5 stars Heart of Joy
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2023
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Joy' S journey of moving forward after the death of her husband and the kidnapping of their infant son. Can Joy learn to love again without feeling disloyal to her deceased husband?
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Edwards
5.0 out of 5 stars Bittersweet finish
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2020
Verified Purchase
I've totally fallen in love with the Thoreson clan between this series and the Laynie Palmer series. As I finished this book I was saddened that the saga is over. Viki8 Kestell writes with such depth and emotion in her characters. I found myself crying at times, laughing at others. Additionally, you are drawn completely into the hearts of the characters. They become friends you cry with and celebrate with.

I am relieved to see the Girls From the Mountain books. Off to buy them now.
One person found this helpful
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Runner
5.0 out of 5 stars Really Good
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2022
Verified Purchase
Wonderful! So glad for the outcome for these two. What a marvel to feel yourself being part of life with these characters. May you be blessed to read these for yourselves!
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E. Sabins
5.0 out of 5 stars An absolutely fabulous read from one of America's top writers of fiction.
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2020
Verified Purchase
The entire (Prairie Heritage ) book series is worthy of binge reading. I know because I did it!
Under Kestell's skilled hand, these characters come alive and when I finish one book,
I can't wait to start the next one. Now that I have finished the entire series, I miss those characters like old friends.
Right plot lines and compelling subjects mixed with joyful Christian faith and community. I love these books and now that they are all on my Kindle, I can revisit them any time! Thank you Vikki Kestell!!
3 people found this helpful
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GSDprincess
5.0 out of 5 stars Full of emotions
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2021
Verified Purchase
Even though the book was short it was still had the feel for the characters that I love in the other books. I feel as if I was there witnessing the actions of certain characters or feeling the emotions of others.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Jim Budd
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in Canada on July 28, 2021
Verified Purchase
It was fantastic that the author showed us the missing years of the character of Joy. It was great to jump back into the house and see the women work through challenges with God in their lives.
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S. WALKER-ROWE
5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling Christian fiction.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 18, 2019
Verified Purchase
It was wonderful to know what happened to Joy and her friends.
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wendy
5.0 out of 5 stars I loved the series
Reviewed in Canada on September 1, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is one of my favorite authors, I haven't come across anything she wrote that I didn't like.
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Amazon Customer JB
5.0 out of 5 stars all good. keeps me wanting the next book
Reviewed in Canada on April 16, 2018
Verified Purchase
all good. keeps me wanting the next book.
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Jenny Sprong
3.0 out of 5 stars A Sweet Story
Reviewed in Canada on February 2, 2022
Verified Purchase
Although by now I knew all the characters well, I enjoyed this wrap-up short story about Joy. It wasn’t as thrilling as some of the other books in this family saga. I still enjoyed the way this skilled author placed her characters in the story. Their presence and participation in the narrative flow fairly naturally. It leaves me with the question as to whether I would in fact like to read the final book (# 9) because it might be as this as this one. I have seldom spent as much time (and money) buying and reading a whole series. There is no doubt that this is a very interesting historical faith-filled fiction series. Some books were outstanding but in some others the “evangelism” was a bit over the top. I might one day come back to read another series by Vikki Kestell.
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