Snag Where The Lost Wander Expressed By Amy Harmon Accessible In Publication

An unforgettable journey following a group of emigrants on the Oregon Trail,

: John Lowry, a halfwhite halfPawnee man, leads a group of families across the rough terrain of the Oregon Trail.
The families each have their own horses and wagon packed with all that they own heading to start a better life out West.
The families depend on Lowrys experience and expertise to get them through the unimaginably difficult landscape and hostile areas.
Their trek is gruelling and strenuous, unbearable at times, Their lives rest in the hands of Lowry to keep them safe and guided in the right direction.


Such a wonderful novel! I loved learning about this time in our history, The exquisite writing engrossed me, pulling me deep into this part of history, making me feel an immediate connection to and investment in the characters and storyline.
I knew nothing about this piece of history which is why I love reading historical fiction, The novel was extremely insightful, informative and enlightening, all while immersing the reader within an unforgettable tale.
Endearing characters, atmospheric landscapes, thought provoking scenarios, heart breaking losses this book has it all, My one tiny critique is that the lastfelt a bit too drawn out for me,

I enjoyed the animal aspect of this story and learned a lot about how mules and horses were so highly depended upon during these times.
Crossing rivers often the same river multiple times throughout the trek, surviving a variety of brutal weather, always having to remain “on guard”, pushing through the constant fear of the unknown that lies ahead I felt all of these stresses right alongside the characters and animals.
Please be warned, there are some awful scenes involving animals,

The Authors Note at the end is powerful, To learn that much of this story is based on the authors family history makes it more impactful to me as a reader.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this remarkable novel! It isnt gripping or addictive, but a slow burn, beautifully written tale that needs to be savoured and not rushed.


Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy!

Expected date of publication: April,.
Wow I'm speechless! This was an amazing journey, . .



This was myth book of Ms, Harmon and she always takes me to another places, Her stories always warms my heart and I always feel that amazing connection between the main characters.
lt


So long story short, Amy Harmon is one of my favorite authors and I highly recommend this book to you.


Expected publication: Aprilth
ARC provided by NetGalley,


“I dont know what youre trying to tell me,” Naomi whispers after a time, and I brush my lips across hers once more before I make myself stop.

“I missed you. ” Her eyes search mine.
“I didnt

go anywhere, ”
“You havent even looked at me for the last ninety miles, ”
“Hating never fixed anything, It seems simple, but most things are, We just complicate them. We spend our lives complicating what we would do better to accept, Because in acceptance, we put our energies into transcendence, ”

This novel has been sitting on my TBR list for a while, Sometimes I feel like a book finds you when you need its message most, That is how this novel has found me, Naomi, John and their story I will carry with me for some time to come, This novel has moved me in a way that few have, This deserves every one of the amazing reviews, . . Highly, highly recommend.

“Transcendence is when we rise above the things we cant change”, . .

Author notes: I hope the reader will experience the story in the spirit it was written, recognizing that who we are is not who they were, and judging historical people by todays standards prevents us from learning from them, from their mistakes and their triumphs.
These people helped build the framework that we now stand on, We should be careful about burning it down, Amy Harmon Oh, Amy Harmon, I don't know how you do it, but once again you take history based on ancestors from your family tree, and make it so relatable that I feel every emotion as strongly as if I were experiencing it firsthand.
You are truly the master of historical fiction!

I loved everything about this book, The prologue immediately takes your breath away, with a horrific murder and capture of the protagonist, Naomi, by a band of Indian warriors.
The book then goes back in time several months, with a large wagon train preparing to leave behind all that they know in Missouri, headed for a new life in California.
This is where we meet Naomi and John and most of the other characters, I adored Naomi and John's story their characters are unforgettable, but I actually also loved quite a few of the secondary characters as well, as they each significantly contributed to the plot and were memorable in their own way.


I've long been fascinated with stories of wagon trains, and this book is a brilliant portrayal of just how incredibly hard it was for those on the trail, including the fragile relationship at that time between Indian tribes and settlers.
The hardships faced on the trail are almost inconceivable today, with wagons being swept away in rushing rivers, sickness wiping out entire families although the cholera epidemic described was reminiscent of what we are currently experiencing, except it was truly survival of the fittest, babies born and dying along the way, families being left behind to fend for themselves when wagons broke down, etc.
It was all very sobering, but somehow throughout all of the despair, Harmon also weaves a beautiful tale of love and resilience among this band of settlers.


Such a heartbreakingly beautiful tale of love, loss, and survival, Harmon has a gift of painting a picture with her words and crafting a story in a way that so few others can do.
If you are feeling bad for yourself and your situation right now, pick up this book, get lost in it, and learn from it.
It really did wonders for my own perspective, All the for this one! You know what else wandered My mind,

Sorry, that line is just too easy and my opinion might be an unpopular one, but its true.
Where the Lost Wander had my thoughts trailing off as I followed two lovers on their bumpy journey along the Oregon Trail.
Oops, I did it again,

Maybe the bar was set a little too high from the getgo, A Goodreads average rating of,is almost always the sign of a sure thing, I also chose to pluck this title from my To Read backlist on the heels of reading The Four Winds.
Kristin Hannahs stellar novel about the Dust Bowl era made me want to seek out more books about other great migrations across America.


This particular story opens with a violent prologue, providing a glimpse of the tragedies and hardships a westbound wagon train will encounter along its way.
We then flashback to the origins of the trip, focusing onyearold white Naomi and her insta love relationship with halfPawnee man John Lowry.
I tried really hard to connect with them as quickly as they connected with each other, but I just never did.


Theres also more slaughter human and animal than my threshold, And rape. So trigger warnings there, my friends,

I did enjoy Amy Harmons Authors Note at the end, where she details some of the real life characters and events that inspired her to tackle this subject.
I would like to read more from her, as I do think perhaps I was just not the right reader for this particular book.


Where the Lost Wander is currently available on Kindle Unlimited with WhisperSync for those who might prefer the audio format though I wouldnt recommend it in this case.


Better wrap this up now before I lose my train of thought again,

I honestly can't help myself, It's genetic. Im onlyinto the book and already can tell its going to be a high starred read for me, maybe even my firststar book of the year.


Old school western romance, but absolutely beautifully written, Stunning prose, and a plot that leaves me amazed!

More to come, . .

Update and full review:




Ive read MANY historical western romance over the years, and the plot for Where the Lost Wander isnt unique, its actually a fairly typical plot about a hero that is both, white and Native Indian, and a wagon train going west.
But what makes this book so fantastic is that the author took the basics of a classic historical western romance and turned it into a beautiful work of art.


The book was just STUNNING!!! Beautiful, raw, thoughtful, and touching,

THE COMBINATION OF ALL OF THE ABOVE MADE FOR A COMPELLING, AND UNFORGETTABLE TALE,

And I think what makes it stand out even more is the eye for historical detail, the feeling that these people were drawn from something more.
Its a love story, more than a romance and it comes deep from the heart, Naomi and Johns love for each other was palpable, and transcendent,

Where the Lost Wander isnt a steamy book, There is actually barely any sex at all in this book, Instead the romance goes much deeper, and the story follows this epic but also at times tragic journey across America, on a wagon train where many will never reach their destination.
s wasnt a kind period for settlers, Battles between the natives and the settlers, sickness and disease ravaged the country, This book is real, raw and feels entirely authentic,

I fell in love with both, Naomi and John, Both were steadfast, and grounded people, Knowing what they wanted, but also aware of repercussions, and expectations, Naomi had in someway an easier time because she was widowed and had the freedom to chose John without having to worry about what people thought.
John, was more circumspect. He knew what it meant to live as neither, fully white, nor fully native, He walked as both but also lived in neither, And he didnt want Naomi to feel the same, So he had thoughts. I liked that he was a thinker, quiet, peaceful, and hardworking, Naomi was the dreamer, artist, carer, They matched so well, and completed the other in a most touching way,

This book was everything a historical western romance should be, Incredibly well researched, characters that were likable and genuine, and a plot that had heart and soul.





Warning: If you have never read a historical western romance before, please be aware that the relationship between whites and Native Indians was volatile and rape of woman was unfortunately something that occurred.





I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review.
My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author,

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