Blessing in Disguise, a fun, suspenseful novel by Lauraine Snelling, is the sixth and last book of the “Red River of the North” series. I’ve loved them all, but Blessing in Disguise is my favorite. The story toggles between Blessing, North Dakota and Ipswich, South Dakota, 1889.

In Valdres, Norway, Augusta Bjorklund is heart-broken when she learns her intended bridegroom has married someone else. Their plan was that he would make his way to America, then send for her. Now she learns that her elderly widowed mother who has immigrated to Blessing, North Dakota, needs her. Her heart isn’t convinced it’s what she wants to do, but she feels obligated. Unfortunately, she didn’t take advice from others to first learn English. She’ll have plenty of time to learn English once she’s in America.

Rancher Kane Moyer is ready to marry. He has established a successful ranch and built a house fit for a new bride. He plans to go to the nearest town, Ispwich, some distance from his ranch, to pick up his Norwegian mail-order bride. Unfortunately, a letter written to him by his intended saying she will be detained for one month hasn’t reached him yet.

Once in America, Augusta makes her way to St. Paul, Minnesota, but not understanding the ticket agent’s directions, boards the wrong train and ends up in Ispwich, South Dakota.

By the time Kane makes his way to Ispwich with his horse-drawn wagon, the train has already arrived and there she is, waiting. She’s actually prettier than he imagined, but she doesn’t speak a word of English, and he speaks no Norweigian. She apparently had someone else write her letters to him. They resort to miming. She says something about Blessing, and he agrees that it’s a blessing they have finally met.

In the meantime, Augusta’s family is alarmed that she hasn’t arrived in Blessing. Her brother goes in search of her.

Blessing in Disguise is full of details of life in the early days of North and South Dakota. Having read the previous five books of the series, many of the characters were like old friends. I enjoyed learning about the way industrious Norwegians managed to build their homes and businesses from raw materials, such as sod and later timber that they cut down themselves. The people of Blessing centered their lives around their faith, were loyal to their community, and persevered when going got tough. Blessing in Disguise is a reminder of how our nation was founded and the many sacrifices our early pioneers made.