Sandy M’s review of Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon
Historical Fiction/Romance published by Lake Union Publishing 28 Apr 20
I discovered Amy Harmon last year when I listened to the audio version of What the Wind Knows and instantly fell in love with her characters and writing. Thus, this is just my second book by her, and it has cemented her talent for me as an all-time favorite author. Her stories are poetry in motion, ripping emotion from you at nearly every turn. And what made this book even more interesting for the genealogist in me is Ms. Harmon has used her own family history as the cornerstone for this long and arduous journey over the Oregon Trail.
Be warned, the prologue will wrench your heart until you can’t breathe. Neither the times nor the journey are easy, and this gives you a heart-breaking look at just how difficult both were. Once the story begins and we meet Naomi and John, we know immediately we will be cheering for them every step of those 2,000+plus miles to California. Naomi is a young widow and needs a new start, so what better way than to trek across the wilds of America with her family and others to a different life. John is a man who straddles both the white man’s world and the Indian world. His unique perspective comes in handy so many times throughout their crossing. He also tries his best to stay distant from Naomi, but that proves to be nearly as difficult as their journey.
Ms. Harmon does a spectacular job of research, giving the reader every nuance necessary to make you feel as though you are right there with that wagon train, as well as with those Indians who cross paths with these folks. As they make their way into more and more brutal territory, it is the slow and intense relationship brewing between John and Naomi that gives you a breather, some warmth and even happiness, even while waiting for what you know will eventually come. Late in the book, chapter by chapter I held my breath with every word, thinking this is it, this is when the tears will flow and may never stop. And for the longest time, chapter by chapter, I was given a reprieve when that most horrendous scene didn’t play out. As each chapter ended, I had to lay that book down and take a deep breath, both for the reprieve and for the knowledge the next chapter could be the one.
For most of us, this era of our country’s history is probably not that well fleshed out, and there’s plenty we don’t know. My lack of knowledge is from the very dry and uninteresting history teachers during my school years. That’s where an author of Ms. Harmon’s caliber does absolute justice in such a dual look at what happened so long ago. I now have enough interest in this time to seek out other authors and their books to get an even more well-rounded look at such a crucial time in our history.
I highly recommend you pick up this book, whether you’re a historical fiction reader, into historical romance, or have just a passion for history. I can guarantee you will not be disappointed one whit. A huge thanks to Amy Harmon for her talent and diligence in placing such a story in the hands of readers.
Grade: A+
Summary:
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.
No excerpt available.
