About the Book:
In this epic and haunting love story set on the Oregon Trail, a family and their unlikely protector find their way through peril, uncertainty, and loss.
The Overland Trail, 1853: Naomi May never expected to be widowed at twenty. Eager to leave her grief behind, she sets off with her family for a life out West. On the trail, she forms an instant connection with John Lowry, a half-Pawnee man straddling two worlds and a stranger in both.
But life in a wagon train is fraught with hardship, fear, and death. Even as John and Naomi are drawn to each other, the trials of the journey and their disparate pasts work to keep them apart. John’s heritage gains them safe passage through hostile territory only to come between them as they seek to build a life together.
When a horrific tragedy strikes, decimating Naomi’s family and separating her from John, the promises they made are all they have left. Ripped apart, they can’t turn back, they can’t go on, and they can’t let go. Both will have to make terrible sacrifices to find each other, save each other, and eventually…make peace with who they are.
My Review:
I am a huge fan of Amy Harmon, she is an insanely talented and thoughtful writer. I have been eager to read ‘Where the Lost Wander’ all year and am so glad I finally got to this one! It is incredibly well-researched and should be a must-read for any historical romance fan.
I loved the setting of the American West and was absolutely amazed by the amount of detail in this book. The hardships endured by the Americans who went west to find a new life were heartbreaking. The author describes her own family history in the Acknowledgments which made this story feel even more touching.
I was intrigued with the almost insurmountable daily struggles of these American pioneers, as well as with how the author handled the conflicts with native Americans. John Lowry was a wonderful character and his love for Naomi was beautiful. This book is grim and violent in some parts, just like our own history, and these difficulties are not sugar-coated.
I applaud Amy Harmon for tackling such an intriguing part of American history and shedding light on the joy and heartbreak early settlers of the West endured. The story of Naomi and John is not always easy but it is ultimately uplifting. Although this book starts off in epic fashion, the plot slowed somewhat, almost mirroring the arduous journey of Naomi, John and her family.
If you love character-based historical romance, then you will love this story. The detail is incredible and the characters are fascinating. It satisfied my craving for historical fiction and I can’t wait for the author’s next book, ‘The Songbook of Benny Lament’.
(Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.)
