A harrowing, heartbreaking and incredible tale of love, family and hearbreak set on the American Frontier. Amy Harmon is one of those authors that breathe beauty and life in her tales. Once you read that first page, you're swept into the characters lives, what they are going through and are flipping the pages wanting what is coming next. Naomi and John's (Two Feet) story is absolutely riveting. Falling in love during the hardship of traveling by wagon train is hard but what a ride it is. The misery is apparent yet they are happy. I'm not going to give anything away. Readers are going to read this in one sitting...at most two. It's just that good. Thank goodness we have authors like this who pour their hearts into their writing. What an amazing read this was.

Where the Lost Wander is a historical romance - a love story between John and Naomi during their trek toward the west. It depicts the hardship, sacrifice, fear, and death the people face along the way. Naomi is a widower and John is half white and half Pawnee. They are an unlikely pair, but they bonded and fell in love through all the adversity. There is a lot going in this book than a love story to really summarize. The dynamic of Naomi’s family. John’s life struggles as a half-Pawnee man half white yet a stranger in both world. Life and death on the Overland Trail, the tragedy, and the sacrifice they faced. The details of the landscapes described was quite remarkable, beautiful, vivid, and well researched. There is a bit of violence and a few other triggers that were a little difficult for me What can I say, I like roses and sunshine but that wouldn’t be real, would it? There isn’t a lot of hot and heavy scenes either given the timeline, but very romantic in a beautiful, old fashion kind of way. If you love historical romance, you must read this. It’s a heartbreaking, inspiring story about love, loss, sacrifice, and new beginnings. Must I say the author’s writing is exquisite? I suspect you already knew that!

One of my favorite historical romance. Simply STUNNING!

Can you imagine traveling by wagon train from Illinois to Missouri all the way to California? The immense hardship and loss. Strength and perseverance. Love and family. John Lowry is one of my all time favorite characters. His Indian name, Two feet, given because he straddles both the white world and the world of his mother. And Naomi, the only daughter in a family full of boys with aging parents who need and rely on her. I can relate! I loved her story and admired her determination.
A great story for those who love history and the human desire to dream of a better life.

Where the Lost Wander was an enjoyable story about an emigrant train on the Oregon Trail. The story alternates between the two love interests. Naomi - a young widow traveling with her parents and brothers - and John Lowry - a half Pawnee half white young man looking for a new start. The story is not light with many details about the hardships the emigrants encountered along the trail. I enjoyed both main characters and the development of their relationship. The ending felt rushed and little incomplete to me.

Where the Lost Wander is historical fiction written during the westward movement in American history. I have always been most fascinated by this time period and have personally traveled along the Platte River and into Wyoming following the trail described in this book. Having seen the terrain and the landmarks described in this book myself I was easily able to imagine the trials of the pioneers and their wagon train. The details of the book were well researched and written beautifully. The characters of John, Naomi, and the May family were believable and I was drawn into their struggles, sorrows, and joys. I commend the author for not shying away from the difficult topics and hardships that pioneers on the trails west faced, however these incidents will be difficult for some readers.
I look forward to enthusiastically recommending this book and I give thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book and I am providing this, my unbiased review and opinion.

I will post this review to Goodreads closer to the time of its release.

I love Amy Harmon's books and have made it a personal mission to get her books in as many people's hands as possible. She is so underappreciated. This was a book that I kept thinking about until I could finish it and I am sure that I will continue to think about.

I do not like historical novels. They are not my go to for a good read - UNLESS Amy Harmon writes them. She is flawless in her research, her writing and her attention to every detail. She tells you the truth, she shows the reader the ruthlessness and the how hard it was to be a pioneering family. Everyone needs to read this

Where the Lost Wander is a beautifully written book by Amy Harmon. It is an epic western, historical fiction, and romance book all in one. The story follows a journey from Missouri to California in a wagon train. Going across the country in the 1850's was not easy. There were bugs, lack of water or difficult crossing of water, fire wood could be scarce, diseases, death, hunger, & Indians were some of the threats to these determined people.

Naomi and her family join a wagon train. They face many hardships in their travels. Naomi is a talented artist which helps her along the way and is woven throughout the book. Naomi is also newly widowed. She chose to travel with her family even though her in-laws were part of the wagon train. This does causes some tension in the group.

John is a mule man and was supposed to deliver some mules to a fort along the way and return home. John basically finds love at first site of Naomi. John has inner demons about his being loved and accepted and personal conflicts about being half white and half Indian. John and Naomi have a nice courtship and romance on the trail west with some near misses on being together.

While this story is not entirely new, it is well written. The historical facts are somewhat based on the authors family. The book kept me interested all the way through and the ending ended up being a real page turner for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book for an honest opinion! The book will be published April 28, 2020 #NetGalley #AmyHarmon #WheretheLostWander

I can’t get enough of Amy Harmon’s books! She is such a talented writer. This is the third I have read, and all have been completely different. In Where the Lost Wander, we become immersed in the journey of emigrants crossing the plains in the mid-1800s. Love, loss, self-awareness, culture... there is so much depth to the story This one was a bit slower paced but that just meant more to enjoy. Harmon blends fact and imagination to make the perfect historical fiction novel.

Amy Harmon has such a way with words, I go through so many emotions every one of her books. Where the Lost Wander is no exception. If you're looking for a book to pull you in from start to finish, look no further.

This is an epic wagon train adventure set a few years after the California Gold Rush. The male lead, John, is a half-caste man (Pawnee mother, white father) trying to find his place in the world. The female lead, Naomi, is a young widow travelling with her family in the wagon train with which John is helping. Naomi is not prepared to follow the norm of marrying again quickly as some think there is little future for her without a husband. Adventures on the 2000 mile trek west highlight the hardships of the time, with death coming in many disguises. The viewpoint of the native American is well represented and the characters are strong and sympathetic. highly recommended.

Where are all of my Oregon Trail/historical fiction peeps at? You will devour this book. I used to play Oregon Trail for hours on the computer and lost more wheels, axels, oxen and food than you could count. And, I always died of dysentery 😱

The fact that an author was able to portray the real, non-fictional aspects of that time period with such beauty and accuracy is astonishing. In fact, her husbands great-grandfather 5x removed is who she based her main character on. He kept indepth journals of his travels on the trail which make this another reason to read. I was engrossed by the love story and really felt invested in everyone's struggles.

This book doesnt drop til April/May 2020, but add to your TBR list ASAP so you don't forget!

What a beautiful story. For me it was very slow to start. Was kinda boring in some areas. But it gives you perspective of life long ago with Indians and immigrants and the troubles they had to endure on their journey from Missori to California.

When it comes to historical fiction Amy is a magician with her keyboard. She has a way of taking you out of the present and transporting you back in time, whenever and wherever that may be. Her descriptions and world building are some of my favorite things to read.

This book was nothing short of exquisite. The characters, the time, the world. Just everything about it was captivating from the very beginning. Amy takes you are a hard journey but in the end you can be nothing but in awe of how she makes you feel. In one second she could be breaking your heart and in the next your heart is mended and filled with nothing but joy. This is the magic of Amy Harmon.

I'm going to leave this one short and sweet because in the end there are no words I could type out to even begin to describe how I truly feel about this story. If you love historical fiction please pick this one up or any of Amy Harmon's books in this genre. She will leave a mark. I promise.

I was so excited to read this book. I wanted so badly to love it. I've seen nothing but great reviews. I'm so happy for Amy Harmon in that regard. She's such a beautiful human.

I hate having to say it wasn't for me. I've recently gotten into historical fiction and love it. This book, however, was so slow for almost the entire book. I kept thinking, HOPING, it would pick up. It just barely did towards the end. I'm left teetering here in the middle. The writing was good as always with Amy Harmon novels. There were good moments throughout as well. As a whole I just felt underwhelmed. Maybe this part of history just isn't for me.

I think if this time period is of great interest to you, you'll probably like this book. If you're just slightly interested- like me, I could honestly take it or leave it- you might have a hard time getting through it.

I’ve read MANY historical western romance over the years, and the plot for Where the Lost Wander isn’t unique, it’s actually a fairly typical plot about a hero that is both, white and Native Indian, and a wagon train going west. But what makes this book so fantastic is that the author took the basics of a classic historical western romance and turned it into a beautiful work of art.

The book was just STUNNING!!! Beautiful, raw, thoughtful, and touching.

THE COMBINATION OF ALL OF THE ABOVE MADE FOR A COMPELLING, AND UNFORGETTABLE TALE.

And I think what makes it stand out even more is the eye for historical detail, the feeling that these people were drawn from something more. It’s a love story, more than a romance and it comes deep from the heart. Naomi and John’s love for each other was palpable, and transcendent.

Where the Lost Wander isn’t a steamy book. There is actually barely any sex at all in this book. Instead the romance goes much more deeper, and the story follows this epic but also at times tragic journey across America, on a wagon train where many will never reach their destination. 1850’s wasn’t a kind period for settlers. Battles between the natives and the settlers, sickness and disease ravaged the country. This book is real, raw and feels entirely authentic.

I fell in love with both, Naomi and John. Both were steadfast, and grounded people. Knowing what they wanted, but also aware of repercussions, and expectations. Naomi had in someway an easier time because she was widowed and had the freedom to chose John without having to worry about what people thought. John, was more circumspect. He knew what it meant to live as neither, fully white, nor fully native. He walked as both but also lived in neither. And he didn’t want Naomi to feel the same. So he had thoughts. I liked that he was a thinker, quiet, peaceful, and hardworking. Naomi was the dreamer, artist, carer. They matched so well, and completed the other in a most touching way.

This book was everything a historical western romance should be. Incredibly well researched, characters that were likable and genuine, and a plot that had heart and soul.

RATING: 5/5 STARS

What a stunning book! In WHERE THE LOST WANDER, Amy Harmon delivers a story of unwavering love, heartbreaking loss, dangerous excitement, and realistic struggle in the background of the Oregon Trail in the 1850s. Naomi May, recently widowed, is traveling west with her family. On the trail, she forms a unique connection with John Lowry, who is half-Pawnee and half-white.

I loved both Naomi and John. Harmon excels at alternating POV chapters, and I felt that I got to know both main characters well throughout their journey. Naomi is headstrong and knows what she wants, while in counter to her John is patient and unaccustomed to letting people in, always feeling straddled between the two worlds of his battling heritage. The dynamic between the two of them was delightful, and really makes the reader root for their relationship to develop.

The supporting characters are also excellent. The May family (especially Naomi's brothers) comes to life on the page, as well as the other families who are traveling west. Naomi and John encounter Native Americans from different tribes, and these characters are well-personified and bring up interesting moral dilemmas as their culture and values clash with those of the white emigrants. Harmon does an excellent job of displaying the morally ambiguity of humanity--that there is good and bad in all of us. The danger of hatred toward any one group is highlighted, and furthermore symbolized by John himself who is a blend of both.

No work of fiction is complete without excellent writing, and this book definitely delivers. The descriptions of the setting were so immersive, and were weaved beautifully into the pioneer narrative. I also enjoyed reading about Naomi's artwork and John's love for animals. It was details like those that solidified this book onto my favorites list.

I cannot emphasize how touched I was by this novel. The care and attention to detail that went into it blew me away. It portrays conflict between Native Americans and white settlers honestly but with compassion for both sides. The author's note explained her connection to actual figures who lived in that time, many of whom are showcased in the story.

I will give a warning that this book is darker than I expected going into it. It is a truthful depiction of the harsh circumstances of the Oregon Trail and contains descriptions of violence, sickness, and death. But at its core is a thread of optimism and gentle spirituality. Please do yourself a favor and read this book if you like historical fiction or romance!

A sincere thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Social: @_shelf.awareness on Instagram

Like all Amy Harmon books this is fantastic! I love wagon train romance and this is possible my new favorite. The writing is great, the characters are real and easy to relate to. I definitely would recommend!

I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review

Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon is an excellent, gripping, and emotional historical fiction that tells of the hardships and events that took place in the 1850s with the trips made out west to find opportunities for men and families alike.
Ms Harmon does an excellent job in depicting the landscapes, the locations, and the emotions of the characters involved. She definitely has a talent to paint a picture that is completely immersive and draws the reader so deep it is as if one is actually there.
This is not an easy read. Yes, there is a romance between Naomi May Caldwell and Joseph Lowry. The hard subject matter that is told of the deaths, suffering, losses, hardships, and much more do not sugar coat the actual history. While it was hard to read, it is important for readers to know what things were truly like at that time.

I also enjoyed learning and reading about different Native American tribes throughout the novel as well. I love when I can learn something new.

I also enjoyed the Author’s note to learn that the story is based off of real family members, as well as some of the fact vs fiction.

4/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

I am speechless. Every time i pick up an Amy Harmon book, I feel like I am ready for the emotional roller coaster I will be on, but I never am. I can't describe how wonderful this book is. The writing is superb and the characters are so real, I feel like I am riding right along with them the entire book. I'm not going to lie, there are some hard parts to this book, but the story is engaging and wonderful. I could not put it down. Seriously, if you have not read any books by Amy Harmon, what are you waiting for? This one is definitely a must read. 5+ stars.

I received a copy of the book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.