The Diary of Mattie Spenser

Written by Sandra Dallas

Narrated by Celeste Ciulla

No one is more surprised than Mattie Spenser herself when Luke Spenser, considered the great catch of their small Iowa town, asks her to marry him. Less than a month later, they are off in a covered wagon to build a home on the Colorado frontier. Mattie's only company is a slightly mysterious husband and her private journal, where she records the joys and frustrations not just of frontier life, but also of a new marriage to a handsome but distant stranger. As she and Luke make life together on the harsh and beautiful plains, Mattie learns some bitter truths about her husband and the girl he left behind and finds love where she least expects it. Dramatic and suspenseful, this is an unforgettable story of hardship, friendship and survival.

“One of the bright new voices in historical fiction … Dallas's authentic period details, her colorful minor characters, and most of all Mattie herself lend charm and emotional truth to this appealing marital and pioneering adventure.”—Publishers Weekly

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9781449839932

Sandra Dallas

Sandra Dallas is a New York Times bestselling author of nearly twenty adult novels, several children's novels, and numerous works of non-fiction about Western subjects. Her work has won numerous awards and prizes including the Colorado Book Award and, in 2021, she was inducted into the Colorado Authors' Hall of Fame. A former bureau chief for Business Week magazine, Sandra lives in Denver and Georgetown, Colorado with her husband.

Reviews for The Diary of Mattie Spenser

[marlene9nl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really enjoyed this book. it was my first Sandra Dallas book and liked it so much I decided I wanted to read more books by her.
4.5

[tjsjohanna_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This novel is organized as a story told as a series of journal entries, all framed by a modern setting. As the journal of an early pioneer to the Colorado Territory, this story is charming and heartbreaking and hard. Men and women suffered greatly as they attempted to wrest a living from the prairie. On top of the difficulties of setting, Mattie has to suffer the more universal difficulties of betrayal and humiliation. Still, there is redemption in this novel, bought at a high price. Wonderful book.

[Laura Klowan · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This was a very slow going book for me. The only chapters that were interesting were the last two chapters. The characters were very shallow and not very likable.

[shaunnas_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the kind of book I particularly enjoy. It has a strong female character and is set in the American West. Mattie grows from a young bride to a wise woman. There are so many tragedies in this story but perhaps that was the reality for the time and place. The supporting cast is well developed and memorable. Highly recommended.

[dhanajo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have recommended this one to numerous people in the past 3 years. This is based on a real diary written by a young bride who left her home in Iowa to help her new husband settle in Colorado territory. Real life adventures, challenges, blessings and heartaches. A woman's story with a woman's perspective.

[nancyk18 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A young woman who is newly married describes through her diary the wagon train trip she makes to settle in the west during the mid 1800's.

[pssm95 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A young woman from Iowa makes a hasty marriage and travels to Colorado in a covered wagon in 1865. She records her difficult life with a gentle but authoritarian husband. Several years and many heartaches later, she makes the decision to stick it out with him because she sees no alternative for a woman of her time. But she is a strong woman, and she will not be lorded over forever. Very good -- and engrossing one night read.

[clif_hiker · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing and Infuriating...This is terrific story told from the perspective of a young pioneer bride settling in Colorado territory. I call this amazing since it IS amazing that people could survive and thrive under such hardships, harsh weather, Indian attacks, and above all the isolation. It is infuriating because not only does Mattie have to overcome the elements... her worst enemies are her 'friends'. It is no secret that humans are and have been throughout history, bigoted, racist, & misogynistic. Mattie deals with these issues, and rises above...5 stars; highly recommended

[lasperschlager · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book right from the beginning and the ending was really satisfying to read.

[kmmt48 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Interesting historical read but not very uplifting. 

[etxgardener · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Told in the form of diary entries, this is the story of Mattie Spenser, who finds herself marrying the most eligible bachelor in Ft. Madison, Iowa and then heading west into the Colorado territory with him. Mattie's diary accurately describes the hardships as well as the joys of homesteading on the western prairies and the camaraderie of a disparate group of neighbors. As Their first year of homesteading comes to an end, Mattie & Luke decide to celebrate with a week in Denver and it is there that Mattie discovers the sad truth of her husband's real object of affection. In learning to deal with this sad fact of life, she then finds love in a most unexpected corner.Told with honesty, warmth and humor, this book was a heartwarming read.

[beamis12 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Liked the character of Mattie very much, she was spunky and tough, yet really just wanted someone to love her. Life for these early settler was unbelievably hard, the Indians, the lack of resources, but I think mostly it was all the babies dying and the illnesses that had no cure that would have gotten to me the most. They had so little control over anything. Liked that at the end the reader does find out what happened with Mattie and Luke and that Mattie finally seemed to find happiness of a sort.

[deltaqueen50 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I totally enjoyed my trip back to 1866 and learning about the life of the pioneer woman that I met through The Diary of Mattie Spenser by Sandra Dallas. This book was like reading a series of letters from a close friend. Through her personal journal I learned about travelling across the prairies in a covered wagon, homesteading in a bleak and barren land, living in a sod house and the trials of being cut off from family and friends.The people who ventured away from their secure lives and tackled this adventure were truly a breed apart. From hostile Indians, severe weather conditions, back breaking labour, and assorted dangers they forged a new life and prepared a land for future generations.Written in a straightforward, sincere manner, we are taken into the inner life of this woman and faced with her all the heartbreak she had to endure from learning she had always been second choice in her husband’s heart, to losing her babies, and growing old before her time. Yet even with all this she was able to shine through and forge a good life for herself and her family. I highly recommend The Diary of Mattie Spenser to anyone who has an interest in the westward expansion of America.

[deep220_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I found this book at a Garage Sale for a buck. One of the best dollars I have spent in along time. I was so pleasantly surprised. I think I had been wanting to read a story like this. The Diary of Mattie Spenser follow Mattie as she marries and moves out west. During that time she endures many hardships but always stays strong. I would highly recommend this book.

[Kristin Warner · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I just loved this book! I’m a big fan of stories of the westward movement and this did not disappoint!