Westering Women by Sandra Dallas is an entertaining study in what it was like to be a woman in 1852, the time of the gold rush in California. Not much time is dedicated to the story once they reach the gold fields and the gold miners.  Rather it is a story of their travelling the Overland Trail and the trials and hardships they experienced going over mountains and through the desert in an almost all female wagon train.  The characters are interesting and believable.  You will find no weak women here. All are strong in their own ways. This could be listed as a young adult historical novel. Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this novel.  Sandra Dallas has been a favorite since I read The Diary of Mattie Spenser.

I have enjoyed Sandra Dallas' books for many years, but I think this one, Westering Women, is one of her best. She tells the story of a wagon train made up almost exclusively of women who are headed to California to find husbands. The women are from different social classes and join the group for varied reasons, but the hardships they endure as they cross the Overland Trail create bonds that cannot be broken. My mind was engaged from the first page, thinking about their drive and determination and the challenges they faced every day. I worried about them, rejoiced with them, and came to care about their lives and futures. This is a book that should not be missed!

I loved this book! As usual, Sandra Dallas writes a great story. A few things were a bit predictable, but it didn’t ruin the book.

Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 5
Pace: 5
Plot development: 5
Characters: 5
Enjoyability: 5
Ease of Reading: 5

Overall rating: 5 out of 5

I loved this book from the first paragraph. The richness of each character was skillfully written to the point where you wanted to know each and every one of them; wanted them to be your friends. The harshness of the cross country trek to the gold fields of California forged a strong bond between these women that would not be broken over time. It also gave each of them a self-confidence and will of iron that was unheard of in women in the 1800”s. These characters were so well developed that I celebrated their accomplishments as if I had experienced them myself and tears streamed down my face when they met with tragedy. This was a book I didn’t want to end.

This is the first book that I have read by Sandra Dallas, but the cover and book description appealed to me so I was happy to have the opportunity to read it. I am so glad I did because the author penned a compelling novel that held my interest throughout.

The women who signed up to take the 2000-mile journey to California were brave souls to say the least, sure some were fleeing from abusive relationship but the danger and hardships they face on their travels are definitely not for the faint of heart. I have to say I admired them for leaving a life of certain cruelty and misery by taking the chance for trying to find a better and brighter future. The hardships the group faced were heartrending but I kept rooting for the ladies because I started to care about them and wanted them to live long, happy, safe lives.

The women shared an unbreakable bond as they grew closer, experiencing unimaginable loss along the way but they were there for each other through the painful loss of lives, what few personal possessions they had managed to take with them but they kept looking forward in search of happiness.

Ms. Dallas has written a gripping story with compelling characters and gained a new fan with this novel. I look forward to reading more of her work.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely are my own.

Sandra Dallas has done her research. The story develops very effectively in a well constructed scenario. The characters are well developed and Dallas does a fine job of storytelling.

A beautifully written book. This is the story of a group of women traveling west to become brid3s for miners. Many of the women are escaping a variety of issues...abusive relationships, prostitution, gender prejudices. During the journey they all bond together and their strengths are tested multiple times. I loved this.

I really didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I thought it might be a historical romance, but there was very little romance at all. In fact, there were NO "good guys" in it until the very end, all of the men before that were all vile and wicked. Except for the ministers that led the wagon train, none of the men in this story were good. The story itself was all about the hardship of traveling across the country on a wagon train, as a group of women.There was also a good amount of swear words in it that I wasn't expecting. The story was okay, but if you are looking for a romance, this is not your story.

I have read and enjoyed every Sandra Dallas' book,
and was excited when I saw this was coming and thrilled to read an ARC.

Ad for Young Women, manageable age, high moral character, fine health
willing to travel to CA to search of good husband
want to instill God and righteousness in westernmost part of country

Which leads us to a Meeting- Chicago, Illinois on February 22, 1852
deciding to travel 2,000 miles 2 women meet, see something in the other;
become fast friends, even living together before they leave for California.

A diverse group of women come together and form a strong sisterhood.

I felt like I was on trail beside them, descriptive writing had me immersed in the story.
I was even reading as my device was dying, trying to plug in while kept reading as didn't want to stop!

Westering Women by Sandra Dallas is an amazing historical fiction novel set 1852 and tells of the months-long quest of 39 women traveling with two ministers from Chicago to Goosetown, California with the understanding of potential marriage to goldminers living there.

This is much more then just a historical read. This is a story of second chances, redemption, acceptance, love, creating your own family, selflessness, perseverance, and heart. These women (and William and Joseph) did not realize how strong, capable, independent, and valuable they truly were until they were forced to make this harrowing journey and find a strength in themselves and each other that they did not know existed.
I love that none of these characters were perfect. Everyone had flaws, had a past, and most seemed to be running from something, or themselves.
I loved Maggie, Mary, Bessie, Evaline, Sadie, Winnie, Dora, Penn, Caroline, William, and Joseph. Except for a few sad instances, I feel everyone found their happiness and purpose. The ending was awesome and fitting. I didn’t want it to end.

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

This review has been submitted to my GR account immediately and will be posted to my Amazon, Bookbub, and B&N accounts upon publication.

Loved the way this book carried me along on the trail! It was real and beautiful experience. Thank you for the great story!

Writing: 4/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot: 3.5/5

Another great novel of the Historical West by Sandra Dallas.

This story brings to life a “wagon train of spinsters” as they make their way from Chicago to California ostensibly seeking good, Christian men to marry. Under the leadership of two preachers, the motley crew of women tackle a five-month trip across prairies, mountain ranges, and deserts in a race to cross the Sierras before winter sets in.

Dallas excels at writing women — their lives, thoughts, and relationships with each other. Starting the journey as a disparate set of individuals — each with something they are anxious to escape — they become more of a family than most have ever had: a real “band of sisters.” The story is set in beautifully described natural scenes and is suffused with well-researched details of life in that time and place: what they ate, how they cooked, what they wore, how they washed clothes, and what they valued. Topics are introduced from multiple perspectives: Mormon polygamy, engagement with Indians, racial injustice, and even different “models” of Christianity. A lot of fairly horrifying men populate the stories, but quite a few wonderful men as well. While I find her action scenes a little terse, I was instantly absorbed by her characters and their journeys — both physically across the country and internally to become a tight community of strong, self-reliant, confident women.

In today’s post I will be discussing my most recent read titled Westering Women by Sandra Dallas. St. Martin’s Press publishing provided me with a free copy for an honest review and there is a lot to say about this novel. The book was quite a roller coaster of emotional hardship and triumphs that I couldn’t put it down. It was really that good. ♥


Westering Women will be available for release on January 7th, 2020 written by New York Times Best Selling author Sandra Dallas and I couldn’t recommend it more! After reading about sixty percent of the novel, an event occurred that made me so angry in the book I almost decided to stop reading it altogether; however, that didn’t happen. It was at that point I decided to give the book 3 out of 5 star review. I took a break for a few minutes and found myself needing to finish the rest of the story. I am glad I stuck it out because I absolutely loved the ending. By the time the book was finished I realized that 3 out of 5 stars wouldn’t do for many reasons. The book deserved more than that.

Despite my anger at some of the events in the novel, the book concluded itself rather well and I had to keep reading. Any book that makes a reader feel like they must finish and find out how it all ends despite being pissed off at the book deserves a 5 out of 5 star review. That is the simple truth of how I see it. Please enjoy my in depth review below and leave your comments about whether this is a novel that may interest you as a reader. Note: Copies aren’t available until the first week of January but you can make a Pre-order if it sparks your attention or pick it up later! I would recommend to those who love a good historical fiction and would like to see some very powerful women.

If you ever wondered what it would be like to literally walk two-thousand miles from Chicago to California through desert, prairies, and mountains. Then this is a must read!

Sandra Dallas is an excellent writer. Let me be very clear on that because in my opinion I read true talent and well thought out writing during this novel. Westering Women pulled all my heartstrings. Readers follow the fascinating and encouraging story of some very brave women. The sisterhood they form on a perilous journey from Chicago to the gold rush miners in California is priceless. I always love a good historical fiction and this one really captured my mind. In truth I had some doubts about the quality of the story but the book’s description left me feeling hopeful that this would be a really good reading experience. The thought of an adventure, drama, hardship, strength, and history thrown all into one package is irresistible to me, and there wasn’t even a love story involved!

Maggie “Hale” or Kaiser is the main character and she learns about a church offering free passage to California for young single women to find husbands. The mission is to civilize the camps of gold miners and prosper on dreams that carry people west. This is perfect for Maggie and her four year old daughter Clara is on the run fleeing from a past best left in the dust of the prairies where nothing can hurt their future. Maggie’s character is in Chicago and technically she is on the run and without revealing some spoilers that will be best read for yourself, she is the kind of character you just love to love. Maggie doesn’t realize the strength she has inside of herself, always being a meek and a kind women. It is throughout an adventure of her lifetime full if tragedy and finding friendship that she finally learns her potential. Life will never be the same again.

The most surprising part of the novel was the women in wagon train. They all sign up to go on this journey to seek husbands yet none of them really has an interest in actually getting married. Each women has her own unique reason for wanting to go all the way to California and the fact it is a five month journey involving a two-thousand mile walk doesn’t seem to deter anyone. Many are motivated by escaping the unsavory abuse from those in their life, to find a loved one, to protect those they do love, and all have a purpose. Despite their individual goals for the journey these women must rely on each other in order to survive and reach California. They become quite a force defending their party against attacking Indians, people after them, devastating dangers, hunger, and thirst all while continuing on the trail west. What these women go through really is inspiring and the author does an amazing job bringing each of their unique personalities and stories alive for the reader. The book really has it all!

I wish I could provide more details on what made me so angry about the book but I’m afraid that is nearly impossible without dropping some serious spoilers that readers should learn themselves; however, I can say that this book is filled with tragedy at every turn during the grueling and highly dangerous journey from Chicago to California.

Historical novels are not my first book of choice, but I love the stories of the wagon trains and the shear guts it took to travel and settle in the west. That and the author made me take a second look. I have read Sandra Dallas before and like her style very much. Her ability to pull you into the story so much that the beauty of the details are inbedded in your minds eye and you feel like you are seeing the landscape and that you know the people who are traveling with you. I loved the women portrayed in the story, Mary being my favorite. The determination and strength it took to go West is an inspiration even today. I really liked this book and the story it tells. Thank you netgalley for gifting me the arc. The review is my personal opinion.

"If you are an adventurous young woman of high moral character and fine health, are you willing to travel to California in search of a good husband?" The Ministers of the Gospel will escort these eligible women to the gold mines of Goosetown in the California Diggings. It's 1852 and Maggie realizes that this opportunity may be her ticket out of Chicago. How will she convince them to take her with them and that she is a good Christian woman of highest principles when she has a young daughter and no husband?

Maggie soon joins forty-three other women on the perilous 2,000-mile journey west. Limited supplies, possessions, and comforts, the women face challenges that none of them expect. Who among them will survive and what will the future bring when they arrive at their destination?

I read this book on a long airplane ride and laughed and cried. Dallas brings her characters to life and I was drawn into the story from the very beginning. Her book, Prayers for Sale is a favorite of mine, so I couldn't wait to read this one. I was not disappointed and will recommend it to all of my historical fiction lovers. Would I have survived had I chosen to accept the challenge to join this group of women? Probably not, but I would like to think that I have it in me to contribute in some way and to sacrifice everything to start a new life. The friendships forged in this unlikely group of women highlights the ability in all of us to overcome our differences and support each other.

Available January 7, 2020

***** 4 stars, Loved it: The bonds of the women and the power of sisterhood in Westering Women makes this a powerful read.



Recommended readers:

If you like novels of women overcoming adversity
If you like a historical read that ties into real events
If you like strong female characters
Here's my Rankings:

5/5 for characters
4/5 for plot
4/5 overall
REVIEW FROM BOOKS FOR HER:
During the famous Gold Rush, two reverends decide to take 40 women from Chicago to California to find husbands. A woman escaping a past, Maggie has a  young daughter and a desperate need to get away from Chicago. Others find the 2,000 mile journey more  appealing than their life at home too. 

Westering Women is a powerful story of women, many abused and some hunted, who become stronger together - even as they face the devastating Overland Trail. The bonds of the women and the power of sisterhood in Westering Women is touching to the point of tears, overcoming the heartbreak of loss and pride of making the journey West.

Available January 7, 2020: Westering Women

Lately I've seen quite a few books I'm calling "me too" novels. This is better than most of them.
Many of the "Westering Women" who join a wagon train heading for California are more interested in escaping an abusive man than they are in finding a husband. Even the strongest among them, Mary Madrid, was stripped of her property rights and forced to act as a servant and farmhand by her brother and his wife. Others were beaten and abused in other ways by men they had trusted. Over the hard trail to California the women bond, become sisters, and protect one another.
Sandra Dallas isn't content with just one hot button social issue, she also throws in a dash of racial injustice, detailing the kind of behavior we all know was prevalent in 1852, and still much too common today.
As I general rule, I like my novels served up without obvious lessons included. But "Westering Women" is well written and researched. A good read.

Westering Women is a perfect portrayal of the pioneering spirit. It is a narrative of strength, resilience and grit and the women who dared to step outside the conventions that society had chosen for them in search of something more. They may have set out to find husbands but with each step they found themselves.

Our story begins in 1850s Chicago, a time when emphasis was placed on women being things, not doing them. In making the decision to leave behind their lives in Chicago for California many of the women are running towards something, a future and family, but just as many are running away.

Through both story and writing style the author has demonstrated that it's the journey and not the destination that is important. There is a lot of attention given to the day-to-day monotony and hardship that these people faced on their trek out West, creating a more realistic and less romantic picture of the settlers journey. Facing everything from illness to weather to hostile natives and entitled men, the women encounter trial after trial on the trail. But as they overcome each obstacle they also discover freedom, friendship and their own capability.

I really enjoyed the diversity of characters in the group as well as the growth they each exhibited over the long months. I feel like it really help to round out the story and create a more accurate portrait of nineteenth-century America. I also really enjoyed the way that the author included specific landmarks and natural wonders that would have made such a trip more bearable and exciting. My favorite part though was probably how the Women and their wagon train went from being a spectacle to being respected, and how upon finally arriving in California they were treated like people and given the choice of what they did next, instead of being treated as a commodity for the miners to acquire.

I’ve read a few of Sandra Dallas’ other novels (including The Diary of Mattie Spenser, which I adored) and was so excited to see she had another one coming out. I am fascinated by stories like these and love how she makes the stories of women living 150 years ago so relatable to us today.

Maggie is fleeing an abusive husband when she signs up to travel west, across the Overland Trail, with a duo of preachers who intend to carry women to marry and civilize the miners in California during the Gold Rush. For many in the party, such a dangerous crossing and uncertain future beat what they were leaving behind in Chicago. I found Maggie to be an endearing character and I couldn’t stop crying during several parts of the book. Dallas writes so convincingly of the plight of poor women in the 19th century and really conveys how few choices were open to them.

I loved how this group of women grew stronger and more confident, and were brave enough to carve out their own destinies using the few tools at their disposal. Dallas writes emotional and empowering novels about women for women, and this was no exception. I enjoyed it immensely.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of the book!