Fantastic book alot better than i expected i couldn't put this book down and read in a couple of hours my first by this Author.

It’s been a while since I became engrossed in a book like this.

It feels good, even though the book is hard that I felt sadness and shock, it felt good to read such a good book.

I enjoyed the details of the daily life and the hardships of the wagon trains on the Oregon Trail

The vastness of the land, the distance, the dirt and hunger and sickness, and all the work, yet Naomi was happy, she felt free and inspired and she found John Lowry, a half-Pawnee man, who is strong and caring.

Yes, the setting might not be new, but the writing was so beautiful, this is the Oregon Trail book that I was waiting for.

Written in the POVs of Naomi and John(two feet), the distinct voices are very clear, and John has a very beautiful one, I liked being in his mind as he tries to come to terms with his feelings, his differences and his responsibilities.
He is a good man.

Naomi is interesting, she is an artist who sees beauty, and she knows what she wants.

The characters are real life and interesting and the book is real and doesn’t shy away from the hard raw truth.
Also, we experience the Native Indian life a little, something I have always had an interest in.

This book is full of hardships and heartache
And I enjoyed it completely.

This is a book I want to enjoy again as an audiobook.

My third book by Amy Harmon, all different, all interesting.

This review is for an ARC courtesy of Netgalley.
Book will be released on April 28, and I will definitely get a copy.

Yes, she did it again! Dear Amy Harmon turned me into an emotional trainwreck! I always tell myself before starting any of her books: “Nope! I’m not gonna cry! I’m gonna concentrate on funny things like my besties’ effort to squeeze her big butt into two size smaller jeans or my husband’s face expression when I serve him dinner.”

But, I failed again! I dropped ugly, nasty, tormenting, vicious, dirty tears! I cannot stop myself! This book has epic, heart wrenching, memorable, beautiful, genuine, poignant story with its memorable, so easily likeable characters. You want to give them hug and meet with them in real life to befriend them.
The pacing, the stunning, thought-provoking, violent, dark, realistic historical facts which crush our souls show the ugly face and shameful parts of humanity that we need to learn lessons and pass them to our next generations. She didn’t sugarcoat anything and tell directly, objectively those parts which break our hearts and ache more for beautiful souls of those amazing characters.

Naomi is tough, determined, warrior soul to do whatever it takes to protect her family and build a life for them as John straddles between two worlds and cannot cope any of them. They fought, they hurt, they burned, they suffered, they cried, they struggled but they never gave up on each other.
Bring out your napkins and set your ugly tears free, take your ticket for this fast pacing, mesmerizing, spell-binding, gripping, emotional, memorable journey.

Normally I’m not a big fan of historical fictions but Kristin Hannah and Amy Harmon changed my idea made me lose myself into their books. This one is a BIG WINNER and get ready to go blind and feel the fantastic spirit of the story.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for sharing this incredible books’ ARC COPY in exchange my honest review. And so much thanks to Amy Harmon who creates a heartbreaking symphonies with words for writing this wonderful book.

2.5 stars

***ARC received in exchange of an honest opinion***

I absolutely LOVE Amy Harmon´s books and her writing, in general, and that´s why it is so hard for me to write this review.

Where the Lost Wander is a refreshing story. The plotline is different than everything I´ve read before (actually I have read a book in a similar setting once), but unfortuanately I couldn´t feel this story, not as much as I hoped I would.

I felt it was really hard to connect with the story and the characters. In fact, I haven´t connected with any of them, which is very unusual for me. The writing is good and detailed and you can definitely see Amy put effort in her research, as she usually does. But for me this one didn´t work.

I felt it was hard to relate to the characters and I didn´t feel the emotions I usually feel with her books. It is a good read, but it wasn´t as I expected.

It has been a while since I have read a historical fiction book about the American West. I didn't expect to love this book, Where The Lost Wander by Amy Harmon, as much as I did but I fell in love with these characters. Reading about the struggles of traveling over the country side and how these family overcame such obstacles was gut-wrenching at times. Many times, I cried for these poor people. But these people, they could love something fierce!
Harmon introduces us to the May family and to John Lowry. Their story quickly intertwines when Naomi falls for John and a love story is born. We follow The May family and others across the United States as they begin their journey towards California. You read of the daily struggles and encounters with people as they travel. You feel for Naomi and pray so hard for Wolfe when they are captured by the Indian tribe. Harmon sets up a great tear-jerking page turner!
This is my first book by Amy Harmon, but I will be on the outlook for more of her works. I loved her writing style and storytelling. I did enjoy reading her Author's note and how this story was based on her husband's family. Special thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Amy Harmon for the advance digital copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

#WheretheLostWander #NetGalley

This moved me, I felt so many emotions and shed tears while reading this. I had to force myself to put it down because it was so late and I didn't want to finish it yet, I absolutely loved it. I was drawn in from the first few pages and I completely submerged into the story and the characters immediately thereafter. I have read other books from Amy Harmon, so I was excited to read this and knew I would enjoy it but truly was enamored by the lyrical writing and the way each character made me feel. The characters have grit and are damaged but beautiful in who they are, I felt connected to more than a few of them. The pain and struggle felt like it was in my lap and I felt a range of emotions for these characters, their strength and determination. It has been a very long time since a book has made me feel privileged to have read it and I'm so glad and grateful that I was able to do so by the publisher offering it here. I will probably read this again, and I would not hesitate to read more from Amy Harmon and I recommend this book as highly as I have ever recommended a book before.

Amy Harmon....one of my favorite authors! Was this a favorite book? No, but it was still excellent writing, as I always expect from her. A unique tale, I’ve never read a novel about the Oregon Trail before. It was quite fascinating. As far as the characters go, true to form, Amy brought them all to life for me. By far, John Lowry was my favorite. Life was extremely tough in the 1850’s, especially for those trekking out west. The author vividly brought this to life. You can tell she did extensive research for this book. So why a 4 star instead of 5? This was more because of personal feelings. I am a huge animal lover, I don’t like reading anything about any form of animal abuse, death, mistreatment, etc. Just reading about how tough these poor creatures....the horses, mules, donkeys....had it, broke my heart. It was not animal abuse, they just worked them hard in those days.
Don’t miss the note from the author at the end. I love that a lot of the characters were based on real people.
Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.

Where the Lost Wander is about a wagon train heading 2,000 miles west, along with all the travails of their travels. The characters primarily include Naomi, a young widow, and John, the half Pawnee/half white man who is guiding the journey. Early in the book, Naomi has her sights set on John, and she soon is successful.

At the beginning, the love story and its sexual tension was a bit corny and predictable; fortunately, it got a little more believable as the book moved along.

At times throughout the book, I had to suspend my eye-rolling impulses, especially regarding that love story and its likelihood. But at other times, I was unable to, such as with Naomi’s mother and her coat of many colors. The inference to Joseph and his dream interpretation and the comparison to Naomi’s mother and her dreams got the best of me. Too contrived.

All in all, it was an okay book, although there were some stretches that dragged on more than others.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Where the Lost Wander.

With <i>Where the Lost Wander</i>, Amy Harmon brought the Oregon Trail to life in all its gritty, grueling glory.

It's hard for me to explain without feeling like I'm making light of the story - but if you, like me, grew up playing the game at school, this story feels somehow both familiar and eye-opening at the same time. It literally brought the challenges and perils of the Oregon Trail to life for me -- and I absolutely loved it.

The story starts with a bang - I was sucked in immediately and knew that there was no way I'd be able to put it down. The pacing is a little uneven after that. The content of the story is so dense that I don't think that there's anything I would have cut out of it - but I had to pull myself back from skipping over parts in order to figure out what happened and how everything resolved. The day-to-day descriptions are fascinating, but it was the over-arching story of love, and family that really held me captive.

The love story is beautiful. And heartbreaking. And inspirational. It's also much larger than the romance between John and Naomi. There are little love stories all over this book and they all left an indelible mark on my heart. This is a fantastic historical. Ms. Harmon didn't pull any punches and there were some difficult emotions along the way. But...it was so worth it. I so genuinely enjoyed it and am so glad to have had the opportunity to read this lovely prose and this deeply touching story. ~ Shelly, 4 Stars

This book is INCREDIBLE!! I have tried to write an adequate review many times and I simply cannot find a way to fully give enough praise for Where the Lost Wander. Amy Harmon has such a magical way of submerging you in her words and leaving you wonderfully changed. Hardship, sacrifice, endurance, and love are found in this masterpiece along with the rare opportunity to see how sometimes there is simply not a wrong or right side. Seeing history from such personal and different vantage points makes this a truly singular and epic experience. My wonder of Amy Harmon’s talent has expanded once again.

I was so excited to read another book by Amy Harmon and this one did not disappoint.
The storytelling in this novel is beautiful. There are parts that are a little slow, but as the novel takes place as families are crossing America in wagons to California, it mirrored the pacing of their trip. The characters kept me reading, even though the book gives a preview of some of their fates right from the beginning. It was a quick read and I am sad to be leaving the world of Naomi May.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this advanced reader's copy in return for my honest review. Absolutely loved this. It was evident that Amy had thoroughly researched this part of American history. Epic storytelling at its finest.

Amazing from the first page. This story will stay with me for a long time. This is one I will definitely recommend to everyone

Thank you NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I can’t give this book less than 5 stars. It was PHENOMENAL and it’s now my favorite Amy Harmon book.
This woman is a fantastic author, but has truly outdone herself with this work of art.

Where The Lost Wander is a story about a man named John Lowry, who is the son of John Lowry Sr. and who breeds mules like his father. John is half white and half Pawnee (from his mothers side). From a young age John realizes that he doesn’t fit in anywhere because he is mixed. He says he is not enough Pawnee to fit in where his mother lives, and he isn’t white enough because he still looks Indian to other people. He goes through life as an outcast until he meets Naomi.
Naomi May is a girl who’s parents decide to take the journey from Illinois to California in search of more opportunity. So they all set off on this train and head to California. John decides to join them to open his own mule selling business in California. Along the way, he and Naomi fall in love. Everything is going great, they get married along the way, until the day John is away and Naomi’s family get attacked by Indians.


This book was sooooooo good. I can’t even get over it. I loved the characters, they were super relatable. The story flowed so perfectly and everything was smooth. This book pulls you in and doesn’t let you go until the last page. I can’t remember the last time I loved a book this much. It was really really great and I can’t recommend it enough.

Where the lost wander is the latest by Amy Harmon. I’ve read many of her books and was anxious to read this one as well.
Where the lost wander was hard to put down. An emotional historical fiction with twists and turns, ups and downs.
A mid 1800s novel that covers loss, love and family.
Amy Harmon does not disappoint. I am thankful for the opportunity to read this early.
Thank you netgalley and the author.
5 star read you can pick up at a local bookstore near you at the end of April 2020

This book started out strong. It opens with a sort of flash forward. Without spoiling anything - something horrific happens and I was shook. Amy Harmon had me feeling some strong emotions. That is a sign of a good writer.

I have been fascinated by the Oregon Trail and the expansion west since I was a young girl. This book depicts what life would have been like- the daily struggles and hardships but also the joy. Relationships that would have formed on the wagon trail. The sense of community. I really liked getting a glimpse of that.


Characters are really important to me personally when reading a book. I enjoyed the characters. Naomi was a fun character to read. She’s artistic and not afraid to speak her mind. I loved Naomis family. Especially her brothers. John ( the love interest ) was just ok for me though.

After reading What the Wind Knows and absolutely loving it- I went into this book with high expectations. I feel bad for giving it 3 stars. It’s not a bad book. I had a few issues with it. The pacing was a little off for me. There were parts that seemed to drag and the end felt a bit rushed. There were times when the book had my full attention and I was completely invested and other times I was a tad bored.


Overall I enjoyed this book. Thank you so much to Amazon Publishing and Amy Harmon for my advanced copy. I look forward to picking up more by this author.

This is the story of a wagon train of pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail in the early 1850's. It gives you a sense of the troubles they faced and just how strong these people were. You take the entire journey with them, which was at the same time interesting but slow paced.

The author did a great job researching for this book and creating a vivid account of what this trip might have been like. However, the slow pace of the trip and therefore the book made it drag on a little at times for me. Also I never felt a true connection to our main character, Naomi. I enjoyed reading John's part much more.

I loved how in the author's notes we are told, "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 today's 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." This is so true and something I completely agree with. There were hard things to learn about in the book, but we cannot judge what these characters, many of whom were actual people or based on real people, in our era. This is why I love history and historical fiction.

This was my first book by this author and I will definitely read more of her work.

Wow.
I am blown away by this book.
It is evident that Amy painstakingly researched and did as much homework as possible when writing this story. You will feel a lot of things when reading it.
It’s one that ventures through loss, survival, hope, love, starting over, family, and finding your place in the world.

Naomi May is the type of shero we should all strive to be. She has this strength within her that radiates outwardly and brightly. She’s tough, she’s loving, she’s logical, she knows what she wants, and she does what it takes to survive what life puts her through.

John Lowry is a man who doesn’t quite know his place in the world, but doesn’t let that stop him from working hard and taking pride in it. He’s a man who doesn’t speak for the sake of speaking, so when the words leave his mouth, you know they have weight.

To watch the love between these two unfold along the Oregon trail was something that felt tender, but at times truly terrifying.

Through Amy’s epic storytelling, we witness the difficulties and hardships of a time where people were heading west to try and find something to better their lives and futures. Attempting to travel thousands of miles in a time where all there was to do so were wagons filled with your belongings being pulled by animals was not for the faint of heart or mind. Seeing this played out within the pages was a necessary peek and reminder of our country’s not-so-pretty-history.

Also, please don’t finish this book without reading the author’s note at the end. It brought tears to my eyes and serves to enrich the story that precedes it.

This is a fabulous read! Amy Harmon brings to life the story of a half Pawnee, half white young man living between two worlds and not really belonging in either and the spirited May family, all traveling in a wagon train along the Oregon Trail. Their daughter Naomi is a remarkable artist. She draws scenes and faces she witnesses along the journey. Faces of anguish, sorrow, defeat, bravery, joy, love and loss. All of these faces tell a story. Naomi is immediately drawn to the half breed and he to her but he keeps his distance not wanting any complications to his destination.
The wagon train suffers many trials and suffering, but there is also great hope of a life in a new land with limitless possibilities. The lives of many families intertwine as they travel through unforgiving territory. For me, the book started a little show but it wasn't long before I was thoroughly invested in the daily lives of each of the characters. I was transfixed with the story, the history and the courage it took for these people to leave all they knew behind seeking a better life.
This is truly a remarkable book so well written it kept me spellbound until the end.
I highly suggest everyone read this phenomenal book.
*Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I needed to wait several days after finishing this book to really soak it all in. This book is gut wrenching and heart breaking and yet so wonderful.
If you loved from sand and ash then you’ll love this one.
John and Naomi’s story is so sad yet beautiful.

“It means you’re the woman I want. I won’t change my mind on it. I won’t ever want something different.”

“I know you. And I’m sure. But I want you to be sure.”

“But I want you to see all your choices . . . and still want me.”

Ah I did not want this book to end.
Well done Amy Harmon. Keep writing stories like this!!