The Diary of Mattie Spenser Audiobook By Sandra Dallas cover art

The Diary of Mattie Spenser

Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

The Diary of Mattie Spenser

By: Sandra Dallas
Narrated by: Celeste Ciulla
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.19

Buy for $17.19

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

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 a 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.

©1997 Sandra Dallas (P)2012 Recorded Books
Historical Fiction Historical Diaries
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro805_stickypopup

Critic reviews

“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)
Engaging Historical Fiction • Beautiful Descriptive Language • Pleasant Voice • Compelling First-person Narrative
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
Great story made even better by great narration! I was pulled into her story and wished I could have been friends with her. Looked the unexpected events and Mattie's grit.

I want to be Mattie's friend!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

What did you love best about The Diary of Mattie Spenser?

The first person account

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mattie. Strong lady

Which scene was your favorite?

The end

If you could take any character from The Diary of Mattie Spenser out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Mr Baunderant (spelling) sorry

Any additional comments?

Sandra Dallas is such a great writer if your are an occasional reader looking for ease of reading with full wonderful story

Mattie

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I absolutely loved this story and the characters. the narrative was so easy to listen to.

excellent read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Loved it! I hated to be away from it. Mattie is an inspiration. She lived by the word of God.








one of the best

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I read this book years ago! It was fun to listen to it! Great story!!!

Loved listening to this book!’

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Would you listen to The Diary of Mattie Spenser again? Why?

No, I would not because I have too much reading to do for book club.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mattie

What does Celeste Ciulla bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

For me when I hear something it's easier for me to visualize the people, places, etc.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The book was moving throughout because Mattie constantly evaluated herself as a woman. Although she came from a somewhat coddled or protected upbringing, she was a strong women who didn't give up or in easily. She was even a good sport to live out on the prairie and suffer as she did w/ few words of complaint. Luke chose a sturdy women who didn't back down or "fade" easily.

Any additional comments?

It's a good read/listen. It moves slowly so it's probably not the book for everyone but everything moved slower back then w/o the communication like we have today or even 100 years ago.

Journey Back in Time

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I’m Not a fan of the reader…too much of a robotic sound. Excellent story!

Great story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I very much enjoyed the story. I laughed and cried and thought it to be written and narrated very well.

Great story!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

loved this book. loved the history aspect and hearing what it may have been really like living and homesteading in late 1800's.

loved this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Very unique story told through entries in a young bride's journal who is taken to the Colorado territory to homestead with her new unbeknownst to her, faithless husband. Love how she endures hardship but comes out on top in the end.

GREAT STORY!!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews