Eighteen year old Linnea Brandonberg steps off the train, expecting to find a quaint, small-town atmosphere in Dickinson, North Dakota. But what she finds is wheat. Wheat, wheat everywhere. She imagines a dapper superintendent cordially welcoming her to her new teaching position. But what she finds is a humble farmer in the waiting. Theodore Westgaard. Handsome, rugged, and simple. Linnea's boarding arrangements included living at Theodore's farmhouse, but when Theodore realizes the new teacher is a female (gasp!) he throws a fit. "I won't be havin' no woman in my house!"
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Of course, he fails to mention he lives with his mother. Thirty-four year old Theodore (Teddy), a grass widower with an almost-grown son, is less than willing to take in this pretty little "hothouse pansy". But the final say comes from Nissa, his aging yet agile mother, who welcomes Linnea with open arms and treats her to good ol' Norwegian cooking (Linnea gags when she finds out she's eating heart stew). The Westgaards (which, including brothers, aunts, uncles, and cousins) and the school children quickly fall in love with the charming and intelligent new schoolmarm. Teddy, despite himself and his longheld bitterness against his ex-wife, finds himself deeply in love with a woman sixteen years younger. And Linnea is head-over-heels in love with him, and could give two hoots how old he is.
Set during WWI, "Years" offers a heartwarming tale of love, survival, family fun, loss, and life. Through tragedies, conflict and confusion, Linnea and Teddy eventually find themselves turning to each other.
The review of this Book prepared by Joanna