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.
Publisher: Lake Union/Amazon
Publication date: April 28, 2020
Genre: historical fiction, romance
SYNOPSIS
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.
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.
Praise for Where the Lost Wander:
“The genuine bond between John and Naomi will keep readers turning the pages.” —Publishers Weekly
“Harmon brings the tribulations of the vast westward migration to life in this sweeping, majestic narrative…filled with tension and honest reflection, as well as missteps and disappointments, all of which add a rich realism to this sumptuous historical novel.” —Booklist (starred review)
“Harmon brings the tribulations of the vast westward migration to life in this sweeping, majestic narrative…filled with tension and honest reflection, as well as missteps and disappointments, all of which add a rich realism to this sumptuous historical novel.” —Booklist (starred review)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amy Harmon is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and New York Times Bestselling author. Amy knew at an early age that writing was something she wanted to do, and she divided her time between writing songs and stories as she grew. Having grown up in the middle of wheat fields without a television, with only her books and her siblings to entertain her, she developed a strong sense of what made a good story. Her books are now being published in eighteen languages, truly a dream come true for a little country girl from Levan, Utah.
Amy Harmon has written fourteen novels including the USA Today Bestsellers, Making Faces and Running Barefoot, as well as The Law of Moses, Infinity + One and the New York Times Bestseller, A Different Blue. Her fantasy novel, The Bird and the Sword, was a Goodreads Book of the Year finalist.
Amy Harmon has written fourteen novels including the USA Today Bestsellers, Making Faces and Running Barefoot, as well as The Law of Moses, Infinity + One and the New York Times Bestseller, A Different Blue. Her fantasy novel, The Bird and the Sword, was a Goodreads Book of the Year finalist.
REVIEW
Where the Lost Wander by Amy HarmonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Where the Lost Wander is a sweeping saga of the hardships American pioneers experienced along the Oregon Trail. It's a gritty look at the devastation to befall many families who made the journey in the hopes of a better life with their loved ones. The expeditions were riddled with disease, exhaustion, hunger, and desperation. No one was prepared for the sacrifices they would have to make or the strength they would need in order to get to the other side.
Regardless of their possessions or their position, it seems everyone has the same dream. They all want something different than what they have now. Land. Luck. Life. Even love.
I'm going to start out with what I enjoyed about the book: the author's inspiration from her own family and how she blended fiction with facts. I especially liked learning about the Shoshone chief, Washakie who played a major role in the novel. He was a real life ally to settlers who accurately predicted future technology and cultural shifts through a prophetic vision. I also liked the exploration of hate, hope, and transcendence. It's easy to point fingers, placing blame unfairly at entire groups of people after tragedy strikes. Hate and anger can consume you when you're feeling lost in despair. True strength of character is shown when you can overcome obstacles with grace. Naomi struggles to make sense of what happened to her in the last half and must find a way to find peace and direction once again with the man she loves.
We meet Naomi as a young twenty-year-old widow, about to set off on the trail with her family. John is along on the trip to help his uncle guide the group, and meet with Captain Dempsey when they reach Fort Kearney. The two of them feel an immediate draw and attraction to each other, however, he is very reserved and avoids her company at first because he believes they could never be together. As a man who is half Pawnee, half white, he has experienced prejudice and contempt his whole life. Shunned by both sides of his parentage, he feels unwanted and unloved by everyone. Never feeling as if he has a home with one way of life or people. He's understandably closed off from others because of it, and Naomi's exuberant acceptance mixed with her blunt honesty leaves him very unsettled.
When it came to the two main characters, there was a noticeable emotional attachment on my part for much of the book. That was a real problem for me as I was trying to engage with what was happening to them. Because of the rushed nature of her romantic feelings for him I couldn't help but feel that their relationship was underdeveloped. It seemed to take a backseat to the extensive descriptions of land masses, bodies of water, the directions and paths they were taking, and setting up and breaking down camp. I couldn't really comprehend why John was attracted to the sweet young artist who often leaped before she looked. Or why Naomi yearned so deeply for the quiet man who was equal parts prickly and sweet. He wanted to grow old with her at less than 30% in the book and there wasn't much interaction with them at that point.
More than pain, I am riddled with deep regret. I have not told Naomi May how I feel about her. I have not told her that I want to watch her grow old. I have not told her so many things. And I desperately want to.
This book was quite heavy. There was a feeling of doom hanging over you like a black cloud after reading the prologue that doesn't really go away. We're told that blood is shed on the trail, and that wasn't a surprise, but the grim reality continued to deepen even further with Naomi. That being said, there were several beautiful quotes and moments that I enjoyed. For example, when Hanabi helped nurse Naomi's brother when Winifred couldn't produce enough milk. Or when John stood by Naomi and became her shelter in the storm. He waited patiently for her to heal, without judgement or censure.
Help me find my way home, wherever home is.
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