The author seemed to use this book to promote her own ideas about faith and her own fundamentals about what faith is really supposed to mean to everyone. The characters were not fully developed and they seemed very flat and very one dimensional. I got half way through this book and stopped reading it. I have my own ideas about what faith really is and having this authors personal ideas about faith crammed down my throat made this book very hard to finish. I'll think twice before reading another book by this author.

Journey Towards Home was an enjoyable novel that was both entertaining and sweet. I thought the plot moved at a good pace, and it included moments of humor, romance, and suspense. I also liked the main characters, and how they had to work together to move past their initial perceptions of one another. The follow up novel, concerning Lizzie was also enjoyable, and I liked seeing how the characters I had already become attached to had matured and changed over the years. Overall, a great summer read!

Journey Toward Home is two books in one you also get "measure of a man" the sequel of "Journey Toward Home". How are they you ask, well I am so glad you asked - thank you so much - these books are tender yet strong, poignant yet lackadaisical, fleeting yet at times a normal speed, adventurous yet calming and stable shocking yet knowing and faithful yet well faithless or seeking. It is a heartfelt story that the author wanted to tell a tale to us one that lasted a generation - the one thing that lasted a generation - and has lead the characters is ? yes you guessed HIM..........GOD..........with GOD they could do anything - these stories leave you wanting more - oh so much more.

Journey Toward Home: Also includes bonus story: A Measure of a Man
By Carol Cox

Fans of historical fiction will enjoy these stories set in the old west. They are enjoyable and offer sweet moments as well as spiritual insights that are still relevant today.
In the first story, Journey Toward Home, Judith Alder sets out on a wagon train to meet her uncle and live with him. Her father has recently passed and her aunt’s home, where they have long lived, does not seem like home. Her aunt agrees to pay for her passage on the condition that she travels with a family she knows so it doesn’t cost her as much. The family is strict and unhappy, forcing Judith to walk much of the way across the never-ending plains. When they abandon her along the trail, her only hope is a group of men on a cattle drive. Unsure how they will react to her being a female, she allows them to believe she is a young boy. When the truth comes out, she is worried and scared, but the leader, Jeff, is kind and takes her to his brother’s home. There, his sister in law is sick and needs help caring for her two young children. Judith is hired to assist them and soon becomes part of the family. She finds herself more and more attracted to Jeff, and soon wishes she really was part of their family. But when a vision of loveliness from Jeff’s past makes her way to their home, Judith finds herself unsure where she stands or what to do. Will the romance she thought she had found be true, or will she make her way alone, unsure where to go?
In the Measure of a Man, Lizzie, one of the young charges Judith cared for in the first book, is now nineteen and unsure what her future holds. She is on the cusp of womanhood, but feels she is not equal to the task. With encouragement and love, her family tries to help, but she feels alone and unsure. When a handsome young man comes to work at the ranch, she starts to wonder if she has finally found what she has been yearning for. Could this be the answer to her questions? However, Adam, a worker on the ranch for as long as she can remember, has a bad feeling about the new worker and worries that Lizzie will be hurt. Adam has loved her for as long as he can remember and only wants to protect her. Will she let him? Or will she chase a handsome face into the wilderness and change her life forever?
I really enjoyed these stories. I actually liked the second story best, although the first also made me smile and was well written. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley to read and review. Thank you NetGalley!

This duo takes place on the Double B ranch, following two generations. I very much connected with Judith from the first story, and Adam from the second one. Both characters were real and likable. Prayers offered up by Adam and Lizzie were heartfelt and inspirational, giving an insight into how each of us struggles to find our way and let God do his work in us and through our lives. This message was timely for me. Both stories were easy to read and engaging. Recommended for lovers of Christian historical romances.

Two Old Western romance stories by Carol Cox. On a wagon journey to visit go live with her uncle Judith Alder finds herself abandoned with nowhere to go and homeless. A ragtag bunch of cowboys find her and though frightened at first she senses she can trust them and they take her to the ranch they work on. Time moves forward and she finds herself married to the ranch owners brother.Life is going well for her and she meets her husband's brothers children who are very mischievous.
Fast forward eleven years and the bonus story,Measure of a Man focuses on one of these children. Lizzie,is now nineteen years old and has barely been off her parent's ranch and is pretty naive. Two men are vying for her attention,how will she choose and who has her best interests at heart?
This was an entertaining and inspiring book and I enjoyed reading it!
Pub Date 01 May 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing, Inc. for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Judith tries to make the best of a tough situation when she is abandoned in the middle of the desert on her way to join her uncle in New Mexico. She disguises herself as a boy, and get's picked up by some cowboys, who invite her to ride with their outfit. When it is revealed that she is a girl the Bradleys invite her to stay and help take care of Charles' wife Abby, and help with the children.

Jeff Bradley is the one who invites Judith to join them, and as he gets to know her he wonders if he will be able to live without her.

Jeff is a man of faith, and he even helps the new preacher out when it becomes clear that the preacher doesn't know much about what the Bible really says. Jeff is kind and hardworking, though he can be impulsive, he deeply cares about his family.

Judith is great with the children and always willing to lend a hand and help where needed. She quickly befriends the Bradleys and fits in pretty quickly.

A sweet western romance, with great characters. Also there is a bonus sequel that follows Lizzie as she is faced with a decision between two men vying for her attentions.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Carol Cox writes historical novels with a humorous twist and creates an entertaining read for her fans. In this offering from Barbour Books, she has two stories make a complete narrative, and both are highly entertaining.

Journey Toward Home details the life of Judith Alder as she's moving from Missouri to New Mexico to live with her uncle instead of with her aunt. In order for her aunt to allow her to make the move, her aunt set her up to travel with a family going west in a wagon train. The woman of the family was extremely severe and actually resented Judith being with the family, and at the first opportunity, the family abandoned Judith in the middle of the desert. Judith learns how resilient she really is.

Measure of a Man, which is a bonus story in the book picks up a few years after Journey Toward Home ends. Lizzie is looking for "that" one man who will love her and keep her life adventurous. There are two men vying for her attention, and they are vastly different in lifestyle, beliefs, and basic character. Lizzie has a tough choice ahead of her.

This is the first book with a bonus story that had a connection to the first novel in the book, and I thought that added to the charm of the collection.

Five stars, two thumbs up, and a move west.

I would like to thank Barbour Books for allowing me to read and review this book.