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.

Amy Harmon is a very talented writer and world builder. I gravitate to her thoughtful storytelling and know I will always unfold a layered tale that has been carefully crafted and thoughtfully created. 'Where the Lost Wander,' displays the authors usual talent so I was at a loss as to why I felt disengaged and did not enjoy this story as much as I had hoped. I appreciated the historical content, the plight of the characters and the exchanges between Naomi and John. In the end, I think parts of the story maybe were a little too long and too detailed without moving the narrative forward. That said, I am firmly in the minority so I would wholeheartedly recommend reading other reviews.

I quickly fell in love with the main characters in this well researched historical romance. I love strong women protagonists and Naomi was perfect for the times, frontier 1853. Life on the trail was immensely challenging and particularly so for women emigrating to California and Oregon territories. Contact with Native American bands and tribes was often rife with danger and misunderstanding due to cultural and language differences. This is portrayed in an accurate fashion through the experiences of the central characters on the trail without resorting to cliche and ensures that the reader understands what is afoot behind the scenes for the characters as they interact both with hardship and cultural clashes. We don't find ourselves thrust into the bodice-ripping of so many hackneyed novels. We get the slow burn that most of us romanticize about with just the right amount of detail. This is women's fiction and historical romance at its finest. Harmon doesn't disappoint with this wonderful novel peppered with historical details.

What a beautifully written story, I loved it from the very first page. The tale of the families who bravely endured the Oregon trail, in their covered wagons. The life style was unimaginably hard and bleak , coupled with the constant fear that their relationship with any of the indian tribes could disintegrate in a second. with dire consequences. The stress, for everyone, on those wagons must have been huge. The journeys were unending, the sickness relentless.

Woven into this is the story of John and Naomi and their love affair. It was just so well written and so tender, and sad and thought provoking. I read the book in about three days and enjoyed every single page of it. Thoroughly recommended!

Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon is hauntingly beautiful. It is a tale of devastating tragedy and enduring love. Amy Harmon is truly a phenomenal author with her ability to weave history and masterful word-wielding. I honestly was not sure how that I would enjoy a book set on the Oregon Trail, but I trust anything that Amy writes will be magic and she did not let me down. This book was so heartbreaking and heartwarming. I was a mess of emotions throughout the entirety of this story's pages.

We follow this epic journey along the Oregon Trail, where our characters find love and loss. Naomi May and John Lowry are our main characters and they were so well crafted and skillfully developed. Naomi was feisty and intelligent, with a deep sense of loyalty and duty. John Lowry never felt he belonged, neither with the white men who raised him or the Pawnee tribe from which his mother belonged. Until he met Naomi.

I was so invested in this robust tale. I feel that I am still reeling after the conclusion. My heart aches for both the American settlers and the Native Americans that endured these trials in the time in which this book was set in. Amy Harmon masterfully navigates through the challenges of writing about such complex times and relationships. Where the Lost Wander is beautiful and breathtaking and should not be missed.

"The hardest thing about life is knowing what matters and what doesn't"

I am a mess! I just finished reading this wonderful book and it is hard to look through the tears streaming down my face.

I'm not crying because the book is sad but because it is beautiful! Amy Harmon brings us beautiful story about love and family.

John and Naomi find love while traveling through some pretty rough terrain, Naomi is traveling with her family seeking a better life in California and John is going with the purpose of selling some mares.

On the road many things happen and the way Ms. Harmon writes that journey is just breathtaking, she transports us to that place and with those people, she makes us feel their joy and their sadness.

The books is certainly a rollercoaster of emotions and I urge you to read it, all the way to the acknowledgements.

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I didn’t get my reading mojo back until I dove into a book that wasn’t romance heavy. I went for something different and I loved it. Even though these quarantine vibes have me searching for happy things, it was this story about traveling out west that got me hooked. Where the Lost Wander is a tragic yet wonderful book about traversing new lands and fighting against societal norms. This is a historical fiction set on the Oregon Trail that depicts the hardships and tragedy that was experienced by the travelers, particularly the May family with an amazingly spunky heroine, Naomi. This book is so well-written you are swept away and while yes, it was hard, they persevered and a blossoming love story teaches us about finding love in the most unlikeliest of places. I read this a couple of weeks ago and it still haunts me.

Amy brought me to tears, made me laugh, made me feel so much faith and hope!!!! that's why I love her writing so much!!!

Once again Amy Harmon brings an amazing story that will take us on a journey that we will feel within every fiber of our body and will make us appreciate the find words of this book.

Where the lost wander, it's a story of traditions, family, and love, it is the story of Naomi and her family, the hardship they live and went through while moving to another town. it is the story of John a boy that is quiet but has so much to give and say.

Where the lost wander took me to another place and time, showing the hardships of men and woman while moving around in wagons and horses, the hardship of the road, the weather and other tribes that weren't so kind and wanted to steal and kill whatever and whoever wasn't in their own tribe.

Naomi was a very strong heroine, always speaking the truth and whatever was on her mind, I love how strong she was, always giving love to everybody but also very assertive and always speaking without any fear. she was very creative and talented, she was always drawing and painting the many faces in her life, the faces that accompanied her during this long journey called life.

John the hero was quiet but always very assertive, he was a strong hero but what made him so different was that he didn't need to speak or be aggressive to show his feelings. he was very thoughtful and very quiet but at the same time making him so strong.

The story of John and Naomi didn't start with honey and kisses, he was very stubborn and she was, even more, she was determined to get what she wanted and what she wanted, was him, I feel like her character was perfect for John because she challenges him at all times.

One of the things that I love about this story is the way we feel at all times like we're in that wagon moving around, making a life of our own. the intensity, the depth of the story, and characters really made you feel every single emotion the characters are experiencing.

I cry so much with the last couple of chapters, I love the secondary characters especially baby wolf, Naomi's mother was a very fine lady, so many great characters that brought so much to this story and the characters.

I really have a hard time writing reviews for books that I love, I never find the right words to express how much this makes my heart sing, but Where the lost wander is one of those books that no matter how much I write it will never bring the amazing emotions and feelings of the story.

Overall it was an amazing book, I definitely recommend it and I will re-read it again soon.

A sweet, sometimes heartbreaking journey of love and loss on the American Frontier. This is a story of two very different lovers overcoming nearly insurmountable odds while facing the hardships of a ruthless trek across the country. Another five star read from Amy Harmon.

The Pain. It’s Worth it.
I don’t remember what grade we learned about the Oregon Trail in school but Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon was a nostalgia drop-kick to the face that made me desperate to find an old MAC computer. Historical Fiction/Romance is not normally my chosen genre but I knew that if Amy Harmon was writing it there was no doubt it was going to rock my world, and I was not wrong.

Naomi is a young widow at 20 years old and sets out on the trail west with her family, and the family of her late husband. She has great pride in helping her parents care for her siblings, but also feels an obligation to maintain a relationship with her in-laws despite her yearning to move on.

John Lowry is a half Pawnee man who has particular set of skills that makes him the perfect choice to guide the wagon train to their new home. John hopes that helping the wagon train to California will be the opportunity he needs to make a name for himself out from under the shadow of the circumstances of his birth. With such a division between the two worlds of his heritage he finds himself lost and looking for his place. “One white foot, one Pawnee foot, but I am not split down the middle, straddling two worlds. I am simply a stranger in both.”

“So you be real careful about who you hate.”
There is a connection between Naomi and John that both are hesitant to act upon. Naomi is scared to upset her late husbands family, and despite his high standing within the wagon train he doubts he will he accepted as an proper match for Naomi with his Pawnee heritage and lack of means to provide for her. The story between Naomi and John was a sweet slow burn that needed to build. Naomi needed to know it was OK, and John needed to understand his worth, not just as her provider but as her partner.

Love story aside this was an amazingly well researched tale about the trials and tribulations that people endured for the sake of a better life. When you think of harrowing journeys you may picture intense storms and bloody battles, when in reality a river crossing or a seemingly harmless injury may be what brings someone’s journey to swift end. As the group meets obstacle after obstacle Amy Harmon has a way of making you feel like you are there with them. Her imagery paints a realistic picture of what they would come across without needing to add over-the-top exaggerations to take you there.

Amy Harmon is well known for books that give you the feels and this one was no different. This was a story about a group of people heading West with the hopes of making a better life for their families, and with best of intentions meet loss and heartache. I always wonder if they knew what lay ahead of them would still take that first step away from home to the great unknown. Despite everything, there is a truly remarkable love story that defies all the odds. If you are looking for an escape from our modern day woes I highly recommend Where the Lost Wonder. It may make you cry, but you will love every second of it! Congratulations on an amazing new release!

I am a sucker for a good historical fiction set in the US and an Oregon Trails story on top of that? YES PLEASE. I have been looking forward to reading this book for a while but for some reason I kept putting it off. Well, this past weekend I finally started it and devoured it in two days. I stayed up late for the first time in a long time to finish this one.

Do you want a sweet love story that is more about the emotional connection than the physical one? (note: they still do get physical) Do you want an Oregon Trail story that doesn’t ignore the hardships of that treacherous journey? Do you want characters to be emotionally complex? Do you want the prejudices of the time not to be ignored? THEN READ THIS BOOK. Yes I am raising my voice at you. But I’m not yelling, I’m just talking exuberantly. Such a good book.

Amy Harmon is more than a great writer, she’s an educator too. I always leave her books with more knowledge about a historical event or some really interesting fact that I never knew. This book reminded me a little of the Grapes of Wrath, but with a much happier ending.

I loved both Naomi and Lucas as characters didn’t fit the societal mold for that time period. It made them sort of misfits in their community. When their families set out from Missouri to go out West, their inner mettle was sorely tested. Despite all the trials and tragedy, Naomi and Lucas never lost their inner goodness and selflessness. They remained loyal and steadfast to each other and their loved ones. Naomi was such a strong woman and I feel like her art gave her empathy and insight into others. Lucas was a hardworking and patient man, after all, being of two races made him learn how to endure. They were perfect for each other as they navigated the Oregon Trail while they helped heal each other.

I learned about mules as well as the perils of crossing rivers and dealing with tribes during that period. The author definitely touched on those issues with grace and dignity. It was cool to see how much research and family history she wove into this tale.

The only draw back for me was that this story moved at a slow pace. It was steady, but it didn’t really snag my full attention until the middle. It felt more like a story about survival than a romance, but I guess the love story was even better in that it survived and stayed strong in spite of all the obstacles. It was a really good HF story.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this title. While I absolutely adore Amy Harmon, I just couldn’t get in to this story. My sincere apologies 🙏🏼

I don’t usually gravitate for old western books but I had a friend recommend this story and I thought I would give it a chance. After reading the first chapter I needed to know where the story went from there. I was not disappointed in this book! I’m definitely buying the physical copy!!

*Many thanks to Amy Harmon, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
A novel which I found interesting mainly due to detailed descriptions of the Oregon Trail of which I am eager to learn more. The plot revolves around the brave people who decided to travel two thousand miles to seek better opportunities in new lands in the mid 19th century. While reading I was constantly googling pictures of the landmarks which the emigrants passed and I admit that this added to the intensity of the narration, which I appreciated a lot. The descriptions of daily challenges in the form of physical exhaustion, diseases and encounters with The Native Americans provide the readers with the idea what it was like to be one of those who left for a better life.

It really pains me to abandon this book because when I read the premise it sounded so appealing. I have always been fascinated by the history of the Oregon Trail, the fates of the people who embarked on that arduous journey and the harsh and often hostile environment they had to traverse to get to their destination. Over the years, I have read a few books with similar settings, and always enjoyed them. And I must say that I did appreciate the atmospheric setting Harmon paints well, as well as some of the historical details of the hardship endured by the travellers. But for some reason I never connected with the main characters in this story, which prevented me from fully immersing myself in the story.

The love affair between Naomi and John seemed somewhat stereotypical to me, written to appeal to a modern audience rather than reflecting the opinions and attitudes of the era. Maybe this is what bugged me most about the characters - they seemed like time travellers to me, modern day characters superimposed onto a historical canvas. Much like a Western movie with spotlessly clean and coiffed characters acting out a story, sacrificing authenticity for popularity with their viewers. It just didn't gel with me and I ended up skimming large portions of the story, not invested in any of their fates. There were also some glaring errors, for example the price of a mule being several hundred dollars, which is a modern day price - but seeing that I had an early ARC, I am hoping that these details will be ironed out in time for the book to be published.

Seeing the glowing reviews of other readers I think that this book probably just wasn't the right one for me at this time. I have struggled lately to keep my focus on stories that would normally appeal to me, and perhaps at another time I would be able to enjoy the journey despite all the points I mentioned earlier. I concede that at this time I am just the wrong audience for this book, but can see that it will be hugely popular among other readers.

A strong story, wonderfully well written, and full of tense moments.

Amy Harmon has power over words and creates unique stories that are always engaging and surprising.

John and Naomi stole my heart along with the secondary characters, highlighting to Lost Woman and Washakie.

Where The Lost Wander, by Amy Harmon, is an epic and haunting love story set on the Oregon Trail.
This is the story of Naomi May and John Lowry as they make the trek by wagon train to the west coast in the early 1850's. Fraught with hardship, fear and death the trials of their journey work to keep them apart.
A wonderfully descriptive setting and cast of characters held me in awe with their resilience.
Not normally a fan of western historical fiction I am so glad and thankful to have read this novel.
Heartbreaking and thrilling "Where The Lost Wander" is not to be missed!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

5+ stars!

I was blown away by this book. I have said it before and I will say it again, Amy Harmon has a way with words. Her ability to transport you to another time and make it all feel real is phenomenal. With Where the Lost Wonder, she has once again given us a historical romance unlike any other. Her writing is superb, the characters are remarkable, the romance is epic, and the journey is everything. I loved this story and it easily makes its way onto my favorites list!

The prologue sucked me in. It pulled at my heartstrings and I was hooked. It is gut-wrenching. I dreaded the moments I would relive those pages but couldn’t stop myself from reading because the writing and story is just that good. I couldn’t put it down even if I wanted to.

Where the Lost Wander takes us on an adventure on the Oregon Trail, and it’s difficult and heartbreaking but it’s an adventure, nonetheless. Everyone is searching for a better life and we see the possibility that comes with dreaming of a new life.

"Regardless of their possessions or their position, it seems everyone has the same dream. They all want something different than what they have now. Land. Luck. Life. Even love. Everyone chatters about what we’re going to find when we get there. I’m no different, I suppose, though I’m more worried about what we’re going to find along the way."

The journey is full hope and survival. There is new life and growth, and devastation and death. You find family, friends, strangers, and enemies along the way. I felt like I was there with the characters experiencing the good, the bad, and everything in between. It’s an experience of love and loss, and more love and more loss.

There is an epic romance that I’ll keep close to my heart. The love is real, but it is not without its trials. With the beautiful comes the ugly, and no love is perfect. However, the love in this novel is a forever love and it was meant to be from the very start. There was no stopping it from blooming and I believed it in.

"One long gaze, one meeting of our eyes, and I was caught. I haven’t been able to look away since."

I was filled with so much emotion with every page I turned. These words are full of depth and creativity while they bring history to life and I felt what the characters went through as though they were real. I felt like I was living it. Historical romances have become a favorite genre because of Amy Harmon. The people, the landscape, the traditions - everyone and everything is so well researched  that I find myself lost in the worlds she brings back to life. They are all just so well done and I cannot wait to see what other pieces of history she choses to give us in the future.

Overall, I lived and loved every part of Where the Lost Wander, even when it gutted me. This story is phenomenal and I find myself thinking of it and the characters often. I want to relive it over and over again, and it easily deserves a place on my top favorite list!

I enjoyed the way the lives of the traveling pioneers unfolded, through good times and deep tragedy. In this book we meet Pawnee, and also spend time living with Shoshani tribe, and learn about their culture and of the life style of the neighboring tribes. There is conflict between the Native Americans and the new settlers and there is blood shed. This was an interesting read
Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review