A Life of Faith: Elsie Dinsmore Series by Martha Finley

Available together for the first time, Mission City Press is pleased to offer this wonderful literary collection that contains the first novel in each of the four books in the A Life of Faith historical fiction series for girls ages ten to fourteen... moreAvailable together for the first time, Mission City Press is pleased to offer this wonderful literary collection that contains the first novel in each of the four books in the A Life of Faith historical fiction series for girls ages ten to fourteen. Based on and adapted from bestselling nineteenth-century stories and characters created by Martha Finley, these timeless stories of faith, love, and family---with updated language and enhanced features such as fascinating historical forewords---will delight, captivate, and inspire a new generation of readers. Elsie's Endless Wait: A lonely, motherless, eight-year-old Southern heiress growing up in the 1840s longs for the love of her absent father and clings to her deep faith in God to sustain her. Millie's Unsettled Season: A lively and confident twelveyear- old city girl living in Ohio in the 1830s must learn to trust the Lord as her comfortable life is turned upside down by her family's sudden move to the wild Indiana frontier. Violet's Hidden Doubts: A creative and sensitive fourteenyear- old Christian girl living in the late 1870s learns that growing up brings new feelings, new questions, and new challenges to her faith. Laylie's Daring Quest: Against impossible odds, a brave and intelligent seven-year-old slave girl and her fifteen-yearold brother secretly escape their Southern plantation to flee north, discovering not just physical freedom but also spiritual freedom in Christ. less

Now that nine-year-old Elsie Dinsmore's dream of being united with her papa has come true, happiness still seems elusive when she faces danger at the hands of a jealous family member. Will Elsie have the courage to choose between her beloved papa and a life that promises only loneliness and grief? Hear the continuing story with this dramatized audio CD collection based on the second book in the Elsie Dinsmore series.

Aunt Chloe said, 'Oh, Miss Rose, it's true he nearly killed that child with his hardness, all the time thinking he was doing right. But Jesus saved them both. He lives in Mr. Horace's heart now.' 'I'm glad, for Elsie's sake,' Rose said. 'I hope their trials are over now.' 'Yes, ma'am,' replied Chloe. 'But you know how troubles are. They tend to come uninvited and unexpected... moreAunt Chloe said, 'Oh, Miss Rose, it's true he nearly killed that child with his hardness, all the time thinking he was doing right. But Jesus saved them both. He lives in Mr. Horace's heart now.' 'I'm glad, for Elsie's sake,' Rose said. 'I hope their trials are over now.' 'Yes, ma'am,' replied Chloe. 'But you know how troubles are. They tend to come uninvited and unexpected.' In the third of the Elsie Dinsmore: A Life of Faith books, Elsie and her father are together at last and many exciting changes lie ahead. Elsie is growing up, and there are new worlds to explore beyond her Southern home. Old friends will be reunited, and new friends will enter her life. But not everyone has Elsie's best interests at heart. When unexpected proposals are offered, can Elsie make the right decisions? Is she ready to share her love? Elsie's New Life continues the captivating stories of the beautiful heiress and the power of her unshakable Christian faith. Based on and adapted from the original novels written by Martha Finley between 1868 and 1905, Elsie's New Life follows its charming heroine from age eleven to sixteen. Readers will again be enthralled and inspired as each new adventure brings difficult choices for Elsie Dinsmore, the little girl of big faith. less

Two decades before the Civil War, an eight year- old Southern heiress longs for the love of the father she has never known---but when they meet at last, nothing is as Elsie expects. Can the proud and willful Horace Dinsmore learn to love his only child---a little girl whose first allegiance is to God? Introducing soft cover editions in the Elsie Dinsmore Series with newly designed covers.

'It was not true love,' Elsie managed to say. 'It was all deception. A man in whom I believed had nothing but greed in his heart, yet I couldn't see the truth. He is in prison now, for theft and defrauding another unsuspecting person.' Unbidden tears welled in Elsie's eyes, and she cried out. 'Oh, Mrs... more'It was not true love,' Elsie managed to say. 'It was all deception. A man in whom I believed had nothing but greed in his heart, yet I couldn't see the truth. He is in prison now, for theft and defrauding another unsuspecting person.' Unbidden tears welled in Elsie's eyes, and she cried out. 'Oh, Mrs. Murray, how can I ever trust my feelings again? How can I ever know the difference between love that is true and what is false?' Elsie's experiences with a cunning charlatan have led her to doubt herself, and not even two years in the royal courts and stately homes of Europe have completely healed her wounded heart. But Elsie is now twenty-one and about to return to her homeland. Will she abandon all her dreams of finding true love? Can anyone overcome her memories of the treacherous Bromly Edgerton? Will she recognize the face of true love? In this fifth book of the Elsie Dinsmore: A Life of Faith series, readers will follow the charming heroine on a crucial, life-changing journey. Along the way, she will return to the place of her birth, meet old friends and new, and encounter difficulties and dangers that challenge her strong sense of right and wrong. Adapted from the 19th century novels by Martha Finley, Elsie's True Love is a story sure to thrill everyone who believes in the power of love. less

'But the newspapers say it cannot last long, Papa, three months at most,' Elsie interjected. 'The newspapers are wrong,' Horace replied forcefully. 'This is American against American, and neither side will be easily defeated,' Edward said. Sadly, Horace added, 'We must prepare ourselves to wait out a long and bitter conflict. When we next see our homeland, all will be changed forever.' Elsie's life seems nearly perfect when she returns home from her honeymoon... more'But the newspapers say it cannot last long, Papa, three months at most,' Elsie interjected. 'The newspapers are wrong,' Horace replied forcefully. 'This is American against American, and neither side will be easily defeated,' Edward said. Sadly, Horace added, 'We must prepare ourselves to wait out a long and bitter conflict. When we next see our homeland, all will be changed forever.' Elsie's life seems nearly perfect when she returns home from her honeymoon. But not even the true love of husband and family can shelter her from the great upheaval that lies ahead. They are soon caught up in the bitter struggles between North and South. When the nation is torn apart, how will Elsie and her loved ones deal with its tragedies? Who will survive? Elsie's Troubled Times, the sixth book of the Elsie Dinsmore: A Life of Faith series, takes its heroine into one of the darkest periods of American history, the Civil War. As the war pits brother against brother on the battlefields, Elsie's ideals, loyalties, and even her Christian faith are threatened. Elsie's Troubled Times, adapted from the 19th century novels written by Martha Finley, is a life-and-death story sure to grip the heart of every reader. less

Vi was deeply frightened. Sinking down at the base of the old tree, she began to cry. 'Where am I? Oh, please help me, Jesus!' She continued to sob and pray, and somewhere in her mind, she remembered what her dear Mamma once told her: 'If you are ever lost, stay where you are, and Mamma and Papa will find you. Call out to guide out steps... moreVi was deeply frightened. Sinking down at the base of the old tree, she began to cry. 'Where am I? Oh, please help me, Jesus!' She continued to sob and pray, and somewhere in her mind, she remembered what her dear Mamma once told her: 'If you are ever lost, stay where you are, and Mamma and Papa will find you. Call out to guide out steps.' Huddled on the ground, she cried out, 'Help me, Papa! Help me, Mamma! Please find me!' Returning to the South after the end of the Civil War, Elsie and her family look forward to the new peace. But Elsie, her husband, and their five young children discover that their beloved homeland bears terrible wounds. The war has left anger and bitterness in its wake. Old resentments are revived. Secret forces gather, and violence is a constant threat. No one is safe from men who attack their innocent victims under the cover of darkness. When Elsie and her loved ones became the targets of hate-filled words and actions, will their faith be strong enough to protect them from harm? In Elsie's Tender Mercies---the seventh book in the Elsie Dinsmore: A Life of Faith series---the Travillas and Dinsmores find their Christian faith and love challenged as never before. Their trust will be betrayed, and they will be asked to open forgiving hearts to friend and foe alike. Adapted from the 19th century novels of Martha Finley, Elsie's Tender Mercies is certain to thrill readers with its story of one brave family facing the battle of their lives. less

Amid crashing thunder, roaring winds, pounding rain, and the creaking of the steamer as it struggled forward in the rolling sea, the passengers could hear the occasional shouted order from the officers. The steamer was tossed from side to side. 'Are we in danger of striking the rocks, Papa?' Elsie asked her father. 'I think not,' he replied. At that instant, a terrible cracking sound assaulted their ears... moreAmid crashing thunder, roaring winds, pounding rain, and the creaking of the steamer as it struggled forward in the rolling sea, the passengers could hear the occasional shouted order from the officers. The steamer was tossed from side to side. 'Are we in danger of striking the rocks, Papa?' Elsie asked her father. 'I think not,' he replied. At that instant, a terrible cracking sound assaulted their ears. The whole boat shuddered, and a man's panicked voice rose high above the screams and cries---'We've struck ground! We'll all be drowned!' As the storms of life continue to break around Elsie Dinsmore Travilla and her family, there are terrible tragedies to endure and times of joy as well. The Travilla children are growing up and facing life-altering decisions. Others in the Dinsmore family must confront dramatic upheavals in their lives. As the United States approaches the celebration of its first century as a nation, will Elsie and her family have their own causes to celebrate? How will adversity affect Elsie's world and the hopes of those she loves so dearly? Elsie's Great Hope again takes readers into the exciting story of a family grounded in Christian love and faith. Adapted from the influential nineteenth century novels by Miss Martha Finley, this eighth book in the series offers modern readers a wealth of hope and wisdom that is as meaningful today as it was over a hundred years ago. Elsie's Great Hope is packed with new adventures and fascinating characters that promise to intrigue and inspire readers of every age. less