This was my first Amy Harmon’s book and wow this is honestly an amazing first impression! I love her writing style so much and there are a lot of feelings in every word. This book made me laugh and cry a lot and not a lot of books can do that to me.
I love the pace of this book, it isn’t too slow and not rushed either so i could never get bored. The setting is so perfect, i can imagine all the beautiful landscapes! What i loved the most about this book is the characters, they are very dynamic and everyone has a clear personality which is really great.
I loved this book and i’ll definitely be chceking more of Amy Harmon’s books!

This is my favorite book of the year so far. The prologue gives a preview of what's to come, and to be honest I was tempted to peek ahead to see how things ended up. I'm glad I didn't. Once the story really got going, it was easy to slip into it and let it go at its own pace. The love story got better and better as the book went on. The historical details added to the story instead of bogging it down. I liked how the author depicted individuals of different races. There was good and bad everywhere, just like in real life.

I think some of these characters are going to stay with me for awhile. John Lowry is the kind of character that grows on you over the course of a story. Naomi was upfront about what she wanted and completely aware of her own worth. Naomi's little brothers, her mother Winifred, and Chief Washakie all stood out as well. It was a beautiful story. I'm glad I read it.

I found this book an interesting love story. The characters were all likable. There were a few slow spots in the story that made it difficult to read at times.

A truly unforgettable story, one that takes you into the heart of the Oregon Trail. The dirt, the struggle, the endless walking and riding combined with the camaraderie of the families moving together. The kinship of those together on this journey and their faith through each and every struggle. All of this in the background of Naomi and John Lowry, their story of love found along this empty landscape. Their characters came off the page as if they were truly people from history, ones who's stories have been passed along over generations. I cannot say enough how much this story stuck with me, long after I had set down my book. Amy Harmon writes with a fluidity that made the journey along the Oregon Trail feel just as real as the love between Naomi and John. I cannot wait to read the rest of her books!

Love this book. The descriptive language of the landscape was beautifully written and painted a picture of the surroundings well. I love this time period and have read many on pioneering out west. I found this one historically accurate and although some scenes were violently grim, it didn’t go overboard which I appreciated. Some of the characters are based on real people and I enjoyed researching them more after. The story being that of love and family was beautiful and enjoyable. Highly recommend this book.

What a beautiful book! I loved everything about this tale of strength and endurance! What people went through to journey to the west!

The book follows the May family and their journey to California. They are in a caravan with several other families and John Lowry, Pawnee name: Two Feet because he is half white and half Pawnee. I thought that this book accurately portrayed the complex relationship between whites and Native Americans during this time period. The culture clashes and misunderstandings. It is all very sad.

This book was emotionally charged. I cried every other page!! The story of Naomi May and John Lowry was lovely and their journey so fraught.

"The pain. It's worth it. The more you love, the more it hurts. But it's worth it. It's the only thing that is."

And then you get to the end and find that it is based on her husband's ancestors' actual accounts? It read a lot like Dances With Wolves in John Lowry's parts and felt like someone's actual journal of the journey west. It turns out Amy Harmon actually used journals from one of her husband's ancestors in the creation of this novel! But they have more emotion in them than some that I've read.

So much heartbreak and hardship and yet... hope and romance.

"I've begun to hope, and I'm not sure I like the way it feels. It's a little like being thrown from a horse or a green mule and hitting the ground so hard the breath is chased from your chest. For a moment you think you're a goner. Then the air floods back in, and the relief is so strong you just lie there and suck it in. And you can't suck it in fast enough. That's what hope feels like: the best air you've ever breathed after the worst fall you've ever taken. It hurts."

A tale as beautiful as the cover!

MY RATING
Characters: 5
Story: 5
Overall: 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!!
Follow me and see more reviews @ www.mamaneedsabook.blogspot.com

Where have I been? If other Amy Harmon books are like this one, I'm a fan! We travel across the states heading out west in a covered wagon. The struggle is real, the characters are well developed and believable, and the storyline is one that keeps you reading to see what will happen next. Sickness, rugged terrain, physical limitations, Indians (both friend and foe) keep the trip interesting and make this an enjoyable read.

Amy Harmon has the ability to weave a story and create worlds that suck you in. In this story we are taken back to the 1850s during the Oregon Trail.
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“The pain. It’s worth it. The more you love, the more it hurts. But it’s worth it. It’s the only thing that is.” - Amy Harmon, Where the Lost Wander
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After reading the prologue I was already heartbroken and realized the story would be one that would stay with me for a long time. Amy writes about some ugly truths but does so in a way that is respectful to both sides. John, half Pawnee and half white, is one of the main characters along with Naomi. Naomi and her family decide to start a new life taking the Oregon Trail and John is one of the people to guide the group. Along the way there is sickness, lies, fights, death, but there is also so much good and most of all, HOPE and LOVE. Naomi and Johns love story is one that I will remember for a long time. She loved him loudly and he loved her just as fiercely but did so quietly. Through out the story John struggles with who he is. Is he Indian? Is he white?.
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I adored all the secondary characters in the book. Some parts of the story are a bit slower as we read about the hardships they go through but rest assured that you will become invested in this story. Any book that Amy writes I will read! Because of the nature of the book it does touch on things like child loss, death and rape so just keep that in mind.
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Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect with this novel, the style was not really to my taste and I could not warm up to the main characters, so eventually I put it down without reading till the end. However, I know that the author did much research to give her story a detailed historical background and I applaud her for it! That is something I admire.

One thing that bothered me and I want to mention is how 8 different characters are named on the very first page without being properly introduced. For the first person narrator, it's of course evident who is who but I think it can be overwhelming for a reader who meets these imaginary people for the very first time.

What a wonderful story. I picked this book up to start reading and struggled to put it down; I just had to keep going back to it. It is so well written and the descriptions of the locations, the people and their struggles on the Oregon trail are just enthralling. I loved it all.

The characters in this book are brilliantly crafted and so realistic. I felt their happiness, their fears and their distress, they came alive on the page for me and I was there with them, every step of the way. Naomi and John are the lead characters, young and determined and I just liked them both so much. The native Americans were beautifully described from their language, their culture and their personalities, they were very well written; as were all the characters.

The whole book is totalling engaging. A superb story that will stay with me for quite a while. One I highly recommend this one.

This is probably one of the saddest, happy, stories I have read in a very long time. I will put it up there with ONE FOR THE BLACKBIRD ONE FOR THE CROW and THIS TENDER LAND. Both are favorites of mine.

Two quotes from this book that really seem to touch me: That’s what hope feels like: the best air you’ve ever breathed after the worst fall you’ve ever taken. It hurts.
Transcendence is a world, a place, beyond this one. It’s what could be.

This book is about families who cross the US from Missouri to California. All they endure along the way. The many perils they had to face. The lives lost. The births of new life and the love of a man and woman.

The man, John Lowry, who is half white and half Pawnee Indian. He lived with his dad and step mother after he lost his mother. He never felt truly loved or that he belonged. I have to believe that Jennie, his step mother, did love him. She was kind to him and taught him to read, write and his numbers. I believe she was a very kind woman. His dad, John, was kind of a cold man but I believe he also loved his son. He had a way of keeping his feelings to himself, but when it came down to John Lowry leaving he was sad to see him go. He figured he would not be coming back there but moving on to make his own life.

The woman, Naomi May, was in the wagon train heading to California. The first time she met John Lowry she was sitting atop a barrel in town wearing a yellow dress. It was an instant attraction. She was a widow who had only been married three month when her husband took sick and passed away. She had known him her whole life and married him at the young age of 18. But she was not married long enough to get use to the idea and was back with her parents where she helped her mother with her many brothers. It had been her husband’s idea for them to all go to California. Thus her in-laws were on this journey also.

This book takes you through all the things you would expect from such a hard journey and some you may not expect. I felt like I was in the wagon, walking beside it, on the road, going through all the many ups and downs this family, the Mays, went through. They saw so much and went through so much. It was such a hard way to travel you will appreciate the fact that you didn’t live back then. In 1853, Naomi’s life changed forever. She loses so much and goes through so much that you will wonder how she endured it. The losses she faced were horrible. Deep pain and so much loneliness in the middle of nowhere. But she had found love with John Lowry. They did get married and he was a good man.

This story is told by John Lowry and Naomi in alternating chapters. Each tells a story that will both make you believe and break your heart. It will leave you breathless and hopeful. Happy and sad. It’s done with so much reality that you will feel the heat from the sun and the cold from the snow. The heat from the hot springs and the freezing cold from the lakes. The things these people go through to get across the plains to start a new life are hard. Some turn back. Some die. Some lost their minds. It was a very hard life for sure.

Reading the author’s note at the end sheds a lot of light on this book. Some of the characters are real people. Real people who existed. Who you will love and who you will feel a closeness to in many ways. There are some characters you will hate. Some who are just cruel. Both white and redskin. Some are just mean. But most are kind and caring and help each other. Most have hearts. It proves to me that all people are human no matter where they come from. Empathy is priceless and helps more than being cruel.

This is one of those stories that will stay with you for a good long time. A historical book that is timeless.

Thank you #NetGalley, #LakeUnion, #AmyHarmon for this ARC. This is my own review told from my heart.

A huge 5 stars and the highest recommendation to all..

I read some and listened to the audiobook as well, which was fantastic!! (Thank you @lakeunionauthors @amazonpublushing @netgalley ) I was really pulled Into this one! I gave it 5⭐!! I don't read too many historical fiction books, but have been loving them more and more. This one was so unique, taking us back in time to the pioneer days. This was a slow burn, that was beautifully written! The story, the characters, the times was so engrossing!! In 1853 John Lowry, a half white, half Pawnee man leads a group of families across the Oregon Trail. They all depend on him for his expertise! Their trip is quite brutal at times. Makes me so thankful that I didn't live in those times. I learned so much from reading this book! And I loved learning from the authors note at the end, that this novel was based on her family's history! I truly enjoyed this book, it was such an important read!

What a beautiful and emotional book. This author is a true storyteller. It was simply perfect as always.
I definitely recommend this book, and this author.

I enjoyed this book but not as much as I had hoped. I chose this book based off the cover. It was my first by this author. The history behind everything kind of bored me. The love story was nicely done but overall I couldn’t get past all the history. The overlap in characters was nicely done.

I love Amy Harmon's books and her style of writing. This was another amazing book which I thoroughly enjoyed. It wasn't a quick read easy read for me though due to the storyline but I still loved it and loved the heartfelt journey that we were taken on.

I've read and loved Amy Harmon's other books, but this one just didn't work for me the same way. The writing was amazing as always, and I enjoyed the ways people were brought together in such a layered way. The relationship between Naomi and John was lovely, but I felt like there was perhaps too much attention paid to the historical context without moving along the plot so that everything felt a bit slow in sections. For some people, that will probably be a bonus and make them love this book.

That time you try to write a 5-star review and struggle because your words can’t possibly give the book any of the esteem it deserves. That is Where the Lost Wander. I’m speechless. And in awe. I kept looking at the percent I had left and thought she can’t possibly end this book this way or find any way to fix my heart. But she did. And she did it perfectly.

I loved John and Naomi. I loved the May family. And I loved rich and vivid history that filled each page. It was authentic. And raw. And it was beautiful.

I’ll close by saying what I always praise Amy for. Her characters. You’ll become a part of the train traveling in your own wagon across the Oregon Trail in hopes of finding a better life. Ever character was essential and meticulously placed in this story. I hope you enjoy the grueling journey as much as I did. It’s worth it.

This novel has solidified the fact that Amy Harmon is unequivocally one of the most gifted writers of our time. She has swiftly risen to the top of my favorite authors list in her latest breathtaking novel, Where the Lost Wander. Ms. Harmon's talent is unmatched as demonstrated in her wide array of genres and topics, and her ability to elicit emotion in her readers every time.

In this latest, most exquisite gem, this deft author introduces us to Naomi May, a young widow with an indomitable spirit who has decided to head out west with her birth family. Along the way, Naomi encounters John Lowry, a compassionate young man caught between two worlds, and an instant connection is made. This relationship serves as the basis for an astonishing journey from that moment on, one filled with triumph and surrender, heartache and joy. I was truly swept away into the time period, and I experienced each of these emotions in depth as I was taken on this journey of a lifetime. The life of a pioneer was not an easy one, and that is where Ms. Harmon once again, succeeds. She astutely weaves together a seamless tale with all the tragedy and glory that comes with the life of an early settler. There were moments where the ache in my throat was real, the pain incredibly palpable. Tears flowed down my face, and yet I couldn't stop reading... I didn't want to stop reading. If not for having to care for my family, I would've never put this book down. I found myself feeding my baby with one hand, and holding my Kindle in the other. It was that good.

What was most intriguing is that this novel is based, in part, on Amy Harmon and her husband's ancestors. The amount of work that she must've put into this novel to discover the truth about those family members, as well as important figures in this time period, is astonishing. I was so easily transported into their world because of her dedication.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for gifting me with a copy of this masterpiece.

This book was brilliantly atmospheric and heartbreaking at times. It was a beautiful story and reminded me that there is hope in everything. I loved it.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I've enjoyed every book I've read by Amy Harmon. Where The Lost Wander met my high expectations.

Although this is a romance novel, it's much more.

The relationship between Naomi and John connects the story, but there's so much else that this book touches upon. Racism, sexism, and xenophobia are obviously there, considering the time period and the clashes between settlers and Native Americans. The author handles it all with sensitivity. John's struggles with his bicultural identity naturally lead to exploring Native American cultures, which are shown with nuance; they're not all the same.

Parent-child relationships are integral to this book. Naomi's relationship with her mother, and her need for her after her death, run through this book. So are John's struggles with his feelings for his white parents (who he doubts loves him, until he leaves), as well as his deceased Pawnee mother. Fortunately for Naomi and John, even as they (learn to) appreciate their birth families, they find additional figures in life to give them perspective during difficult times.

This story is told from two points of view - Naomi's, and John's. Their voices were distinct from each other, although I appreciated that each POV change was labeled.

Each chapter title described a portion of their journey west. I haven't read fiction that takes me along the Oregon Trail before. I could feel how desolate the journey was, how grueling. It's heartbreaking to see how many people died along the way, particularly from dysentery. So many people lost so much along the way; in the US today, it's hard to imagine giving up so much and risking so much, even death, to start a completely new life.

I thought I knew where the book was going, but honestly, the last 20% of the book surprised me. It was not what I expected, and I'm glad for that. I'm glad that we got to see more of the Shoshoni culture. I liked the ending. It's definitely a book worth reading.

I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.