On the Rails: A Second Chance at Love

Linda Shenton Matchett

Linda Shenton Matchett

About this ebook

 Warren, Ohio, 1910: Katherine Newman loves being a teacher, but she loves Henry Jorgensen more, which is why she’s willing to give up her job to marry him. But instead of proposing, Henry breaks up with her. Devastated, Katherine seeks to escape the probing eyes and wagging tongues of her small town. A former Harvey Girl, Katherine’s mother arranges for Katherine to be hired at the Williams, Arizona Harvey House. Can she carve out a new life in the stark desert land unlike anything she’s ever known?
Henry Jorgensen loves Katherine with all his heart, but as the eldest son of a poor farmer can he provide for her as she deserves? The family’s lien holder calls in the mortgage, and Henry must set aside his own desires in order to help his parents meet their financial obligation. But when Katherine leaves town after their break up, he realizes he’s made the biggest mistake of his life. Can he find her and convince her to give their love a second chance?

Ratings and reviews

On the Rails is a well-written, fascinating Christian Historical story from the early 1900’s, when traveling through the country was primarily done by passenger train. The Harvey Girls and the restaurants they worked in at train stops around the country were established by a man whose son now runs the business. Today’s waitstaff have it much easier than these young ladies did, but it was a solid place to work requiring intelligence, coordination, and speedy service. Katherine Newman was as schoolteacher, awaiting the end of the current schoolyear. The young man she was dating, Henry Jorgenson, was taking her out to a special new restaurant and she was convinced that he was going to propose to her. Oopsie. Instead, he … broke up with her? Said she deserved someone better? At the close of the schoolyear, Katherine had nothing to look forward to for the long months of summer. Her mother, however, made a plan for her. She wrote to someone she knew from her long-ago days of working as a Harvey girl and, if Katherine wants to, she can go to the restaurant at the train station in Williams, Arizona – a long, long way from the high country of Ohio. She met Eunice, a girl on the train trip west, a young woman who became her roommate when they arrived. The day she learns that Alice Jorgenson, Henry’s sister, arrives to be a Harvey girl, she knows life won’t be the same again. I like Katherine and Eunice! They are well defined, with Katherine ready to step off the pages into Williams, and Flagstaff, Arizona. Not just anyone can be a Harvey Girl; my own days of waitressing sound like a breeze in comparison. These ladies uphold the tradition and expectation of the Harvey Girls everywhere. This time away from home is a real blessing for Katherine, and a whole new side of life than she is accustomed to. The history is interesting, as are the brief descriptions of the area. There are plot twists throughout, including a bully among the staff, getting in past curfew, and when Katherine is finally talked into going to a revival service after work. The farthest thing from her mind is faith or religion, but she finally agrees to go. Will make a difference for her or any of her friends in attendance? This is a thoughtful, delightful story that quickly drew me in and held my attention throughout. I highly recommend On the Rails for those who appreciate Christian historical fiction that can be enjoyed on a quiet afternoon or evening. From a grateful heart: I received an e-Arc of this novella from CelebrateLit, and this is my honest review.

About the author

 Linda Shenton Matchett is an author, speaker, and history geek. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historic places all her life. Linda is a member of ACFW, RWA, and Sisters in Crime. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a trustee for her local public library. To learn more about Linda and her books visit www.LindaShentonMatchettcom.