Oh my heart... I LOVED this book. Amy Harmon has such a way with words and this may be her best yet. Couldn't put this one down from the first page. The characters are beautifully developed and make you feel as if you know each one personally. Highly recommend!!

Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

5 beautifully written stars

I’ll be the first to admit that I am not a huge historical romance fan, but Where the Lost Wander has left me speechless. Amy is just brilliant with her writing. She has a magical way that just sucks the reader in and doesn’t let you go. I’m a fan of hers through and through.

Naomi and John’s love story is so pure and refreshing. I really got swept up in it. It’s nice to step away from the twenty first century when love was more simple. And living was a bit more difficult. I really felt connected to these two as they journeyed across the country on foot and wagons. Amy brought their struggles to life through the vividness of her writing. It felt like you were there with them though the good and bad. I just wanted to wrap them up in a bubble so nothing else could happen to them. They were so young and experienced such hardship while crossing the Oregon Trail. My poor heart couldn’t take much more by the end of this book. And I think the thing that really got to me is that these types of things actually happened to people back then. It’s hard to imagine that way of life when everything is so easily accessible in our daily lives.

I would recommend this book to literally anyone who loves to read. I loved the love story, the historical aspect and the exceptionally great writing. Amy always pours her heart and soul into a story, I promise you won’t be let down!

I received a free electronic copy of this compelling historical novel from Netgalley, Amy Harmon, and Lake Union Publishing. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Amy Harmon writes an excellent historical novel, with an accurate and interesting background that fits the timeline, and characters who keep you interested and reading on into the night.

Where the Lost Wander is set in 1853, following a couple of families who meet up at St. Joseph, MO, to join a wagon train setting off across the great plains. About half of the train is intending to eventually turn north to head for the Mormon settlement on Salt Lake or from there on to Oregon, and the other half are headed west to join the California gold rush. Grant Abbott, leader of the wagon train and brother of Jennie Logan, is an experienced traveler on these western trails and is joined by his nephew John Logan, intent on traveling on the wagon train 200 miles, just as far as Fort Kearney, where he will deliver Logan mules to the Army. Young John Logan is the son of John Logan and a Pawnee woman named Mary, called Dancing Feet in her native tongue. Near-death, Mary delivers their son to senior John Logan and his wife Jennie. John, Jennie, and their two young daughters take in eight-year-old John and make him a part of the family. John was called Two Feet in the Pawnee village and was too white to be wanted there, and he feels just as isolated in the white world. But Jennie makes him feel comfortable if not necessarily welcome in the family, and John is truly at home working with his father, working with and training the mules. And there is by the time he's in his mid-twenties a reputation of excellence with Logan Mules across the west.

Naomi May Caldwell, the oldest child and only daughter of William and Winifred May, is a twenty-year-old widow, traveling with her parents and three younger brothers, and on the same train with her in-laws, Lawrence and Elmeda Caldwell. Winifred May is heavily pregnant, and daughter Naomi hopes for another daughter, someone to help her and her mother with raising the three rambunctious May brothers. And she truly hopes the baby will come while they are still in St. Joe, waiting on the grass to green along the wagon trail. The California contingent must leave as soon as there is fodder for the animals if they hope to make it over the Sierra Nevada before the snow falls in the autumn. The baby doesn't cooperate, but everyone is pleased to at last be on the way to those western horizons with the first haze of green on the prairie.

And this is a road trip to savor. Where the Lost Wander is an excellent western heritage novel, one that is difficult to put down. It is a book I will cherish. My children were youngsters in the 1980s and we spent many a rainy coastal Texas day playing board games and Atari. Oregan Trail and Duck Hunt could keep us laughing till tears tracked our cheeks. And every time I read "cholera" in this tale it took me back to those days when everything seemed so simple...

This is the kind of book that stays with you, in your mind and in your heart, for days after reading it. I finished this book almost a week ago and I'm still thinking about it. It took me two days before I could pick up another book and for me that's crazy talk. haha. I think that Amy Harmon creates such an intense emotional connection to her characters and her story that it all just feels so real and raw. It's hard to let go of.

First, I will say that I wouldn't classify this book as clean. Please make sure to read my content disclosure if you are a clean reader or if you are worried about the content.

I don't think you can write a story set on the Oregon Trail and not expect some gritty and heart wrenching things to be happening. The May family will steal your heart- the whole lot of them. Naomi and John are so interesting. I loved learning about them and I loved feeling so connected to them and their stories. I was pulled in from chapter one and I honestly could not put this book down.

This is the story of sacrifice, love, determination, loss and endurance. It's not an easy story but it is full and it expands your heart and your mind.

One of my favorite quotes from the book:
"He suffers when you go", she says softly.
"That's not true."
"It is. It is the suffering of love. Every parent feels it. It is the suffering of being unable to shield or save. It is not love if it doesn't hurt."

Content: mild swearing, death, violence (some more graphic in nature), peril, kissing, sexual situations (intimacy with some detail between a married couple, rape with some detail), some innuendo, mention of child molestation.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ok, I am mad at this book! I am mad that it made my heart hurt so much!! I am still giving it 5 stars because it is amazing, but I resent how it made me feel. I should have known what I was getting into as I played <i>The Oregon Trail</i> obsessively as a kid and it was a miracle if the majority of my train did not die from dysentery. It is pretty much the same here. Try not to get too attached and protect your heart because we have a <i>Game of Thrones</i> level of beloved characters dying.

For all my anger though, this may go down as one of my favorite books I have ever read. I have a love/hate relationship with this book, but in the end it is mostly love. The storyline is epically told, the characters are complex, and the history comes alive in a beautiful way. Honestly, it is a beautiful book and I love how the author pays homage to her family tree. Many characters in this book are based upon real people and many events in this story feel heartbreaking, but also feel like they honor those who lived what this story represents.

This is my first Amy Harmon book and I have such a book hangover from this read that I feel like I have no other choice but to pick up another Amy Harmon book. So, excuse me, I guess I am a masochist, but I have to go read my next Harmon book.

Amy Harmon has done it again… and somehow done it even better than before. She has created a saga of family, faith, and endurance and managed to weave into it a love story so pure and so epic that it took my breath away.

Where the Lost Wander started with a prologue that was so jarring that I continued to read with a mix of hope and dread. Knowing what was coming – but hopeful for a different outcome. Naomi May was completely endearing with a forthrightness that was probably considered bold, if not borderline rude, in 1850’s America. And I loved her for it. She spoke her mind and was so genuine and full of life. Widowed by the age of 20, she was traveling with her family, as well as her former in-law’s, from Missouri to California. Joining the wagon train was John Lowry, a half-white half-Pawnee man who had spent his life feeling out of place in both worlds. John was quiet and cautious but he managed to say so much when speaking so little. The story of John and Naomi that played out amidst the day to day life of the cross-country trek was so beautiful and so filled with genuine respect and acceptance. It was breathtaking.

I was completely absorbed in this tale and found myself thinking about it day and night. I had to know what would happen next, even as I often feared what was to come. The story was bleak at times, and there were scenes when I had to put the book down and step away because my fragile heart just couldn’t take the heartache. Harmon did an incredible job of showcasing the hardships faced by those brave souls who chose to make such an arduous journey. Along the way there was danger, death, exhaustion and more to contend with. But there was also the strong connection of family, a feeling of community among those in the wagon train, and bright moments of simple joys.

Harmon’s prose is simply beautiful and her words painted a landscape – not just a scenic one, but also a landscape of her character’s lives and their inner struggles. The dichotomy between the white man’s world and that of the Indian’s (note: the term Indian was used throughout the novel since it was indicative of the time period) played out again and again in ways that were at times superficial and other times extreme and dangerous. Where the Lost Wander is a majestic historical novel that took me on an unforgettable journey.

My introduction to the Oregon Trail was in 4th grade when I learned about the gold rush. Living in California we love our states history. Our education was then furthered with the introduction of an Apple 2e which featured The Oregon Trail game a game where we laughed as classmates died of dysentery and infections. Often times forgetting that these were all things that happened to thousands of people. After that, the Oregon Trail was not something I though of until last year when I was lucky enough to get an early copy of Amy Harmon’s book Where the Lost Wander. I stayed up by the fire place and read late into the night. Naomi and John Lowrys adventure was so captivating and heartbreaking that I cancelled playing in the snow, and going tubing to read. This story is one of love, loss and healing. So make yourself comfortable and one click this one immediately. I promise you, it’s worth every tear and every smile and every swoons sigh.

This book was available on NetGalley for review and it and I am so glad. It is the story of John Lowery and half Pawnee and half white man who meets and falls in love with a woman whose family is making their way in a wagon train across the United States. It is a romance/love story disguised as a western. I loved John and Naomi but I also loved some many of the minor characters like Naomi's mother and Lost Woman, a squaw who is following her son's tribe. I was touched by the human interactions and the insight. It was a hard time and the book represented that well too. I would definitely recommend this book!

Long ago there were travelers who braved the perils and triumphs of the Oregon Trail. Naomi May was one of those brave individuals. As a twenty year old, Naomi had already endured the trials in life. As a widow, Naomi knew that traveling with her family in search of a better life was far better option than staying in the Midwest. Adventures of unknown certainty called to the May family.

Nothing in the 1800s was easy. Living life between the world of the Pawnee and white man brought its own set of challenges. John Lowry devoted his life to herding the animals that provided his family the means to a better life. During his journey, John crossed paths with Naomi and the attraction was instantaneous. John was determined to help the May family navigate through the perilous hardships that would challenge even the best traveler.

Sickness and other hardships plagued the travelers as they pushed along their western path. Determination was pushing the duo to seek the life that was calling from the coast. Nothing could have prepared the May family for the tragedy that would shatter their lives. An event that would pull Naomi and John to the farthest reaches of the wilderness. Both are weighed down by the choices that will alter the course of their future. The only thing that either can focus on will be the strength that it takes to survive the hardships that still lie ahead on the trail.

Where the Lost Wander is the latest release from Amy Harmon and its focus is set on the Oregon trail. Based on a bit of fact blended with the tendrils of fiction, Harmon has managed to transport her readers into a place in history that is oftentimes forgotten. It was a time when settlers crossed paths with Indians, and illness could result in a death sentence. This journey centered around a man that was straddling the reality of two separate paths of heritage.

Never would I have imagined finding a book about the Oregon Trail fascinating. The way Harmon weaves fact and fiction into a historical novel amazes me. Each nuance of John and Naomi’s journey can be imagined as if the events were occurring in modern times. The loss and longing of this story pulled at your heart with each turn of the page. How will it all end for these two souls that were clearly destined to create a path through the perils of the trails? Only time will tell where the journey will lead, but one thing I can tell you is this book is an experience all its own. Let the words envelop you. Imagine the dusty and dangerous trail. Let your heart soar as the lost wander through the western trails.

I received this book from Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Based upon the author's husband's heritage and the real John Lowry, this historical fiction tale of the Overland Trail will resonate with the reader long after the reading. John Lowry is a man with his feet planted in two worlds. He is half white and half Pawnee. When he signs on to guide the May family across the plains to a new life, he never imagined what's in store for him and that love and hope would enrich his life. Naomi May is a young widow. She is traveling with her own family and that of her in-laws. When she meets John she is keenly aware of this strong and brave man. Hardships, loss, violence and pain will be a constant on the journey. But will love overcome the difficulties?
I enjoyed this romance immensely despite it not being a genre I usually read. It is not a "clean" romance per se; but one of marital intimacy, of which I approve.
Triggers: violence, sexual assault, kidnapping
Bravery, hope, endurance, love, empathy and compassion overcome the triggers.

Amy Harmon continues to amaze me, her books are so incredibly detailed and well researched with inspiring characters, I don’t know how she managed to keep writing one great book after another! Where the Lost Wander covers a period in American history that is not often written about: The Oregon Trail, through the eyes of a young couple struggling to find their way in a world they don’t necessarily fit into. John Lowry, a half Indian that has always had a foot in two worlds, and Naomi May, a headstrong widow who wants to make her own way in the world. A story of love and tragedy and resilience, this book should be on everyone’s reading list!

What a beautiful, epic story. This book, which focuses on pinoeers traveling the Oregon Trail, was a moving, character driven story set in the 1800's. I learned a lot about pioneers, Native Americans, and the way of life in the 1800's. I felt deeply attached to several of the characters, which was a unique experience. With so many books that I read, I'm drawn to one or maybe two characters. With this book, I I cared deeply about several of the characters.
I love that the author interjected real-life people into the story. I also like that she explained which aspects of their lives she took liberties with and which were true.
I did find the pacing of the story to be on the slow side for a portion of the first half of the book. For me personally, I think that part could've been a little less detailed and the book could've been somewhat shorter. That said, I feel that the slower pace of the story is reflective of the slow method of travel that pinoeering was. So while I like a slightly faster pace, I did feel that it actually fit the story.
As someone who grey up playing The Oregon Trail on the computer, I loved reading about what it was actually like and seeing some things that reminded me of the game. That was an unexpected bit of nostaglia.
All in all, I thought this was a well-written story about people whose stories I genuinely cared about. I felt joy, fear, sadness and grief for these characters. It is something special when an author can make me feel that way about several of this characters, and I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in life in the 1800's, The Oregon Trail, or the relationships between the pioneers and Native Americans.

This is the most wonderful read. Such an emotional journey. So beautifully written.
This epic tale of love and loss has all the feels. John and Naomi's story will stay with you long after you finish Where the Lost Wander. It’s everything you expect from Amy Harmon and that includes the tears <3
#TwoFeet #FaceWoman

Rating: 5 stars

I was so happy to receive this book from NetGalley on Friday. It was a tight turnaround to finish the book, and post a review by publication day on Monday. (Eeek!) I had tad bit of deadline anxiety before I received the book, but I couldn’t resist reading a new book written by Amy Harmon. I am so glad that I requested the book. The reading deadline didn’t turn out to be a stretch. The book pulled me in at the start. I read it two sittings. It was that compelling.

Ms. Harmon’s, “What the Wind Knows”, is one of my top five favorites books read in 2019. While this versatile author’s name attracted me to this book, her writing sucked me in and did not let me go. This work of historical fiction also has a strong romance element. It’s the story of a wagon train heading out from St. Joseph, Missouri in the 1853. The Oregon Territory is its destination. The May family is the primary focus of book, especially Naomi May. She is a 20-year old widow. Her husband Daniel was the moving force to encourage his family, and hers to head west from Illinois. However, he did not live to see them start their journey.

Going along for part of the trip is John Lowry. He is the son of a Pawnee mother, and white father. His white father and stepmother raised after his mother’s death when he was about eight. His father has built a successful mule breeding business in St. Joe. The Lowry Mules are renowned throughout the region. They are prized for their strength, stamina and calmness. John Lowry is travelling with the wagon train as far as one of the forts out West. He will drop of the string of mules that have already been sold to the fort, and travel back to St. Joe.

What follows is a tale of the hardships of life in a wagon train. The daily struggle to log miles over unforgiving territory with the threat of snow in the mountains always spurring on the pace is real. John tries to remain aloof from the wagon train folks. He is a calming influence with the livestock and he helps where he can, but tries not to get personally involved. Naomi however is having none of it. She pulls John into the life of her family, including her four brothers. Gradually they fall in love.

John and Naomi narrate their own stories alternating throughout the book. Their experience and struggles rang true to what I have studied about the Oregon Trail journey. There is drought, and cholera, and floods, and encounters with Native Americans. John is often put in the role of the mediator with the various tribes encountered with the whites either in the wagon train, or at the forts. His Pawnee name is ‘Two Feet’. We was named that because he has a foot in both worlds.

Then a tragedy rips Naomi away from her family. What follows is John’s devotion to her, and her devotion to her family. The mountains he climbs, and the battles he fights to find Naomi is awe-inspiring. While the obstacles are many, the story feels so real. How John and Naomi work together to overcome grief and loss is told with heartfelt expertise. I do not normally gravitate to romance novels. This historical romance felt real and true. It wasn’t a bodice ripper filled will rakes and coquettes. It was simply the story of two people falling in love and moving on towards a common goal. They helped each other every step of the way.

This book was a wonderful mixture of happiness, sadness, hard work, and learning how to live with other cultures. I even shed a tear or two at some touching, (okay and sad) moments. I do not know how Amy Harmon does it, but she continues to write stories that are richly drawn and compelling in a wide range of genres.

I would recommend this to readers who enjoy Historical Fiction, and Women’s Fiction. I would also recommend it to those readers who want to learn more about life on the Oregon Trail, and the pressures that the westward expansion put on the Native American tribes. This aspect of the story especially well written. This was a winner for me.

‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, Lake Union Publishing; and the author, Amy Harmon, for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Amy Harmon for this beautiful story! Historical romance is a new genre for me and this was certainly an unexpected treat. First, let me say that I was scared to read this. Simply for the fact that it was uncharted territory for me. However, once I started I could not put this down. I felt like I was living right in those pages with Naomi and John. These two characters endured so much hardship and joy on their journey. Their story is not for the faint of heart, but beautiful nonetheless. I couldn't get enough and didn't want to say goodbye. I appreciate the effort the author took to research not only historical facts but also the familial connection.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of Where the Lost Wander in exchange for an honest review.

This book was beautiful. After reading the author's notes this book is based on real characters from that time in a fictional context. I find that the overall setting and character dynamics were spot on. You could feel that history with some relationship and the growth of others. Parts dealt with racism towards the Native American populations but most were either from a "bad" character or did not go unchallenged. I felt like there was an event that was a little bit convenient for the destination they needed to go. Overall, I enjoyed the whole book. There is action, romance, and strong familial relationships. Trigger warning for some violence and sexual assault.

Thank You to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

**4.5 Stars**

Where the Lost Wander is a harrowing story showcasing the clashing of wants, cultures, and the basic human need for finding the dream in 1850s America. Harmon’s lyrical writing ensnares its reader into the lives of its main and supporting characters—all of which are lively and multidimensional—and doesn’t refrain from putting them into the thick of the danger surrounding them. Through the lens of its contrasting main characters, a beautiful story was born between and around them as we experienced the wars, diseases, and changing of America along with them.

Written in a time of history that had a drastic effect on Indian culture and life, Harmon explored the pain and beauty of it through the perspectives of Naomi and John, allowing readers to feel and mourn and celebrate both sides of the divide. The intensely character-driven story was fueled by family, passion, survival, and the different kinds of love. They were each symbolic of a side: being the difference, the similarity, and the mixture of a melting pot. Together John and Naomi were quietly persuasive; enmeshing our hearts with them as their journey pushed and pulled them apart.

Harmon’s storytelling was purposeful and constant, luring you into the breadth of the landscape and into loving each person on the page even while knowing the chances of survival were slim. I wasn’t expecting to love a story set on the Oregon Trail, but the quiet beauty sucked me in. I wanted everything for this couple, this family, and I felt their pain and struggle alongside them with each brutal step, but being there alongside them was worth every moment.

LOVE.
LOVE.
LOVE.

Already one of my best books of the year. You can hear my full gush on the Women With Books podcast but here’s an abbreviated version:

WAGON TRAIL.
HISTORICAL FICTION.
ADVENTURE!

ROMANCE!

CHOLERA!

Okay, that part might not be alluring, but y’all. If you’re part of the Oregon Trail generation especially (See here if you don’t know what that is), you need to pick up this book ASAP.

5 "Transcendent" Stars!

Where the Lost Wander spoke to my heart in so many ways. As a woman, I could easily identify with Naomi May. To follow her path along the wagon train and witness her celebrations along with the many hardships and losses was a gift. I also empathized with John Lowry, a man between two worlds. He was a man of such strong character and caring. You knew these two deserved to be together, but the hurdles they had to overcome were often so overwhelming. They were difficult times and nothing came easy.

"Help me find my way home, wherever home is."

Ms. Harmon has proven time and again that she is a talented author in several genres. That said, I have to say that I have really loved her recent historical fictions, including this one. They are simply breathtaking to me. She paints a picture of the time period in such a way that I can easily envision it. Then, descriptions of the characters follow and I am pulled into their stories and feel as if I've known them forever. I simply sit in awe of her ability to write such different stories and do it so very flawlessly and with such beauty.

Where the Lost Wander really does make you feel the struggle that was present on both sides during the time period. You saw how easy it was for misunderstandings to occur and lead to extreme bloodshed. My heart broke many times at how cautious the Indians were forced to be in order to not upset the cavalry. Likewise, it was such a fine line between the factions in different tribes to keep the peace so that anger at the actions of a few didn't reign down on all of them.

"Hating never fixed anything."

I can't recommend this book enough. It will definitely be one of my favorites for the year.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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.

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.

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.

The ending gives you hope after the May family is so shattered, and I welcomed it with open arms after such bleakness. Without giving any spoilers, there was a certain event in the epilogue that I wish had more detail. I wanted to really savor that moment of happiness after plowing through the endlessly tragic journey with the couple. This wasn't one of my favorites by Amy Harmon, but I appreciated the themes that were deftly examined with such eloquence. It's worth a read, especially if this historical topic is one that interests you. I'm forever a fan of this author's writing, and even though this wasn't a huge hit, I always look forward to seeing what she has to offer in the future.