Amy Harmon is a brilliant painter of words. Her words take the reader on a journey that fills your eyes with the most vivid of pictures without ever setting sight to nothing more than words on a page.

You can feel the struggle, the loss and pain but also the love between two people who found each other when they least expect it as they endure the hardships of a perilous journey. During everything they go through they also find the strength to go forward, to keep fighting for those they hold dear and to never, ever give up.

With so many historical romance books the story can become very daunting to read because the author goes into detail overload when it really isn't necessary. Ms. Harmon certainly proves that the devil is in the details as she provided us with the perfect amount to lure us in and hold us captive to the very last word.

The following review was published on my blog (www.blogginboutbooks.com) on 04.09.20:

After a short, disappointing marriage, 20-year-old widow Naomi May is ready to move on with life. Her restless spirit longs for adventure, which is exactly what she gets when she and her family embark on a journey along the Oregon Trail. What she doesn't expect is to fall in love. Even though Naomi knows a match between her and John "Two Feet" Lowry, a half-Pawnee muleskinner, would be considered scandalous even in the wild, wild West, she can't help but be drawn to his quiet strength. As the two trek along the trail with their company, they experience problems of every kind—illness, inclement weather, theft, broken wagon parts, animal stampedes, contention among the travelers, etc.—but when the worst happens, Naomi's heart is ripped in two. Abducted by hostile Indians, her baby brother ripped from her arms, she fears she'll never see those she loves again. Will she ever be reunited with her family? What about John? And what about all the happiness and prosperity they were hoping to find in Oregon? When everything else has been stripped away, where does one find the hope to carry on?

Perhaps it's my own pioneer ancestry or the fact that I grew up along The Oregon Trail, but I love me a good wagon trail story. Where the Lost Wander (available April 28, 2020) by Amy Harmon certainly fits the bill. It's an epic, expansive road trip novel that offers adventure, excitement, romance, heartbreak, and joy. Harmon's vivid prose helped me put myself in my ancestors' place and really feel these characters' emotions—everything from boredom with the monotony of walking the trail to frustration with slow wagons and nasty weather to fear of attack by man and beast to the excitement and wonder of first love and childbirth to the sorrow of loss and grief. Harmon doesn't romanticize the pioneer experience, but she does capture it in all its glorious triumph and agony. I loved Naomi and John, with their respective family and friends. While none of them gets an entirely happy ending, our leading lad and lady do receive a satisfying and hopeful one. If you can't tell, I loved this book, which swept me away, making me laugh, cry, and celebrate the indomitable strength and spirit of my own ancestors, who—like the May Family—risked their lives to find a place of safety and refuge far away, in the West.

(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder; Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee; Heart's Journey by Kristen McKendry; The Gold Seer trilogy [Walk On Earth a Stranger; Like a River Glorious; and Into the Bright Unknown] by Rae Carson; and The Oregon Trail by Rinker Buck)

Grade: A


If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and mild sexual content

To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Where the Lost Wander from the generous folks at Lake Union Publishing via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Wonderful, wondrous and amazing.

I struggled a little getting into the story, the characters, because after the prologue I didn’t know what the point of it all was. But, I’m so glad I stuck with it. It all came together wonderfully, all amidst vivid images of life on the Oregon trail, life in an native American village, and adventures mixed and mixed in with hope, love, loss and strength.
Reading this left me a blubbering mess of the absolute best kind. And I started blubbering all over again while reading the author’s notes.

This wasn’t the first book I’ve read by Ms.Harmon so when I found this book as a ‘read-now’ on Netgalley, I clicked without thinking twice. Leaving an honest review is no hardship at all.

*trigger warning: contains violence and a rape scene. My crying wasn’t related to these scenes.

This will be a minority review I'm sure and it pains me to rate this book at 2 stars. Amy Harmon is one of favorite writers and the caliber of her writing is most definitely not in question with this harrowing journey of a story. She writes with such eloquence and great knowledge of words and how they flow to make excellent story structures. Unfortunately, I was just downright bored with this. I felt compelled to finish because, as stated, I adore this author's other books and her writing always impresses me, even in a case such as this where the story felt dull and didn't work for me.

The historical aspect of it was obviously well researched and crafted but the plot really drug through most the book. It was redundant and monotonous. I wasn't engaged with the story, in fact I picked it up and put it down so many times I lost count, I'm unsure if it's because of the time period of this journey or if the characters just didn't stimulate me enough. While there is an appreciation within me in understanding this story and having compassion for the strife, hardship, and tragedy of what Naomi and John and the others went through it just wasn't a book that left me in awe in any way.

Set in the 1850s, Where the Lost Wander is the story of Naomi, a young widow, and John Lowry, a half pawnee mule man. The story in its entirety is set on the Overland Trail as Naomi and her family journeys towards California along with John Lowry. It took me some time to get into the rhythm of the book but once I got attached, I couldn't...I wouldn't put it down.

Overall, I loved it and I would 100% recommend it to Amy Harmons fans and historical romance fans. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I saw this book recommended on a FB group that I am a member of and was interested in the good feed back from the reader; so was delighted to be approved on Netgalley for an ARC. Thank you.

This is an epic novel in all sense. It’s a long novel about a long trip and is a fascinating read. Brilliantly researched and beautifully written.

Naomi is a widow about to embark on the Oregon Wagon train in the 18th century. She is a woman ahead of her time. Widowed at a young age she goes by her maiden name and travels with her family. As she is a widow she has a certain amount of freedom not afforded to young woman at the time and this makes her a feisty character.

Her love interest is John Lowry, born of a Pawnee woman and a white man, and is a true outsider.

What follows is an epic journey across the American Frontier which is well researched, and well told. This is a long novel, but you really do get transported to the trail and for that I would definitely recommend.

Set in 1850’s America, this story follows Naomi May and John Lowry as they venture out west traveling on the Overland Trail. Though Naomi is accompanied by her family, John is traveling on his own to procure business. As John is half-Pawnee and half-white, he knows he must balance between two worlds, but Naomi isn’t one to believe in such boundaries. Together, they face multiple adversities on this trek to California.

“But every day is a lifetime out here. These days we’re living, they’re hard. And they’re heavy.”

From the start, a heartfelt tone is set with the hope and risks these characters are taking in order to make a better life. Told in dual POV, the spirit that propels Naomi is endearing, as she always has a unique way of looking at things. While Naomi outwardly wears her thoughts, John is much more insular and measured in his process. During their journey, it is clear each day is new one with different challenges, but also closer to a new world.

“If nothing matters, then there’s no point. If everything matters, there’s no purpose. The trick is to find firm ground.”

In this novel, the storyline is driven by the tenacity and diversity of these characters. Immediately, John captured my attention because of his inward struggle, while Naomi made me smile with her willingness to voice the truth. The secondary characters also add to the landscape, showing how others view the world in different ways.

Overall, I enjoyed the experiences that made this story compelling, but a good portion lagged for me when it came to the time on the trail. I also have mixed feelings about a certain part that lessened some impact of an important scene. That said, I learned about a poignant time in American history and took comfort in the characters who shared common insight into the future.

Where the Lost Wander is a historical romance centered on the struggle of the time and how lives and cultures irrevocably changed.

I have read and loved all Amy Harmon books and was very excited when I saw this book was released. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book and the end of the book but struggled to get through certain parts. All of Amy Harmons book are beautifully written and emotional but I feel like this book had some very heavy content. There were topics that were difficult to read about and some chapters seemed to drag on a little. Overall it was a good read but I did not enjoy Where the Lost Wander in the same way I have enjoyed many of her other books.

Where the Lost Wander was my first Amy Harmon book, but it certainly isn't going to be my last! She is an incredible storyteller and I was swept out of my modern day life and onto the Oregon Trail from the first chapter. Historical fiction has always been my favorite genre- I think there is something so incredible about reading about different places in time and the struggles women especially had to overcome the further back in history you go. This novel tells the story of Naomi May and her family, who are setting out west to find a better life for themselves in California. If you know anything about the Oregon trail or ever played that computer game as a kid, you probably have some idea of the challenges they faced. Between sickness, starvation, weather, Native American encounters, their journey is a difficult one. John Lowry is a half-Pawnee half-white man who sets out with them as a guide, but quickly falls in love with Naomi and becomes a part of the May family. This book was emotional, moving, and really made you feel every emotion in the best way.

Review can also be found on *Milky Way of Books*

There is always something to adore in Amy Harmon's writing. Be it the deep spirituality of her stories and her characters or the romance that is both sweet and heartbreaking, there is nothing that would ever make me find something lacking in Amy's books. "Where the Lost Wander" takes place in one pivotal period for America, be it this great migration towards the West...and all the tragedy that followed for all sides. Be it for the Native Americans or the settlers this was a period that few want to admit it was not as rosy as Hollywood shows or as much unsettling to both sides.

The story focuses on a trail of wagons as they make their way to West and California with Naomi and her family being one of them. They are all led by John Lowry a half Pawnee, half-white man who feels that he belongs nowhere. As the trail becomes harder with all its tragedies and hardships, both Naomi and John will discover love in each other and a way to navigate both the harsh environment and the dangers that lie ahead.

Trigger warning: there is a raping scene in the book, but it's not graphic. If this is unsettling to you please be cautioned.

The story is a testament to America's attempt to move across the continent and while there were amazing descriptions about nature and the rest of the West, I also glimpsed a part into the Native American way which personally I admire and want to learn more in a scientific way. You get to feel what it was for these tribes with long and ancient traditions to lose their homes and be treated as...well savages by the "white tribe". Moreover, John's place in the book was also a part of true stories for many people of his time who actually didn't belong anywhere.

I loved Amy Harmon's new book and poignant with a touch of autobiography I enjoyed every part of it.

This was an amazing novel. The plot was interesting and keeps you engaged. It was beautiful, heartbreaking and redemptive. The characters were believable and drew you in easily! Love it!

The wagon train novel used to a staple of fiction that has fallen somewhat out of favor in the past few decades. It is nice that Amy Harmon has revived it with a nice modern twist that is nonetheless historically accurate. Naomi May is a widow of 20 when she, her large family, and her inlaws head west to California. The move was the brainchid of her husband, who died before they left, but after they had sold everything and had no choice but to go. They're still in mourning and set off on a trip that will be long, dangerous, bone-rattling and exhausting. Naomi has her sketchbook and is drawing everything she sees around her. This will turn out to be very important to all of them.

John Lowry is the son of a Pawnee woman and a white man. Raised by his white family and part of this father's mule business, he joins the wagon train to deliver mules to the next fort. The attraction between Naomi and John is immediate and startling to them and others in the train. Harmon uses these two narrators to give the story depth and nuance.

Other writers could refer to this book as a primer on how to create a female character who is independent and realistic within the bounds of her time. As a woman of the 1850s, Naomi has met few people and is little exposed to wider ways of thinking. Nonetheless she emerges as someone who is her own woman, independent and bold.

"Where the Lost Wander" is a little long, but the story will hold you captive long its twists and turns.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for access to this novel.

~Candace SIegle, Greedy REader

I will be the first to admit that reading a western historical book is never at the top of my to be read pile. They just don't strike a fire in my desire to read. However, like all books by this author, they push your limits and make you thankful that you went out on a limb and gave it a good effort to read.

This book didn't fail! Although a bit of a slow pace, wasn't that the life style back in the 1800's, I found myself eagerly turning the page as this story unfolded.

Life back in this time was hard, that's for sure. Naomi and John gave us a story that will truly stay with me. Emotional, heartfelt and at times gut wrenching. The research and beautiful writing made this a story that all should read!

I was excited to hear that Amy would be writing another book that would be coming out this year. I knew that I had to read it because I haven't disliked anything that she has written yet and knew that I would most likely enjoy this one as well. She is one of the few authors that can write a historical romance that I enjoy. Her writing is so beautiful and romantic that it brings the story alive.

I thought that Where the Lost Wander was another great addition to the books that she has written. It has not usurped my favorite but I thought that it was an interesting take on pioneer life. I appreciated the way that she wrote about the struggles that the pioneers faced back then and the lives that they led. I loved that she relayed both sides of the issues like the tensions between Indian tribes and pioneers without the book becoming too political/preachy.

This book reminded me heavily of Running Barefoot, an earlier book that Amy wrote that has an American Indian main character that struggles with fitting into a society that doesn't completely accept him. It also has a main character much like Naomi that is different from those around her. I found Running Barefoot to be more relatable and emotional for me but still thought that Where the Lost Wander was very emotional as well. I just found that I didn't connect quite as much as I would have liked with some of the hardships and characters as I would have liked.

If you enjoy historical romance or just love anything that Amy Harmon writes then I highly recommend that you pick this book up!

It just doesn’t get any better than this - poignant storytelling with beautiful pacing, stunning backdrop, and an amazing cast of characters. Where the Lost Wander is a love story of epic proportions seamlessly written within a historical western that kept me captivated until the very end.

Set on the Oregon Trail, their journey is not an easy one. It was often brutal. And Ms. Harmon never minces words or minimizes the hardship. It was so stark at times that I wanted to look away and take a breath. Yet there was a richness there too. It was sweeping and as vast as the land they traveled.

Naomi May is a determined, strong and compelling woman. She never stopped fighting. Her strength amazed me. John Lowry is a principled, caring, observant man caught between two worlds not of his making. His commitment to Naomi and her family never wavered. He, like Naomi, amazed me. Their resilience, in harsh times, remarkable. Naomi’s and John’s love for one other came off the page. It was breathtaking.

There isn’t one single part of this story that wasn’t exquisitely done. The writing is flawless. It is, absolutely, an incredible story. There aren’t enough stars for this one!

4.5 stars

"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."

Wandering what to read next (See what I did there?) Look no further. Where the Lost Wander is a wonderful work of historical fiction that was inspired by real life people - John Lowry was the Author's husband five times great grandfather. I really enjoy when Authors can draw on their own personal real-life histories/stories to create fiction. This was done very nicely. I highly recommend reading the Author's note at the end.

Naomi May, a widow at twenty, is on the Oregon Trail with her family, her deceased husband's family and others while trying to make it to California where they hope to have a better life. John Lowry. half-Pawnee is their guide. Naomi and John are drawn to each other as they all try to survive the harshness of the trail.

John draws on his Pawnee heritage to help them along the trail, but will it be enough when tragedy strikes?

This book had several things going for it - there is romance, there is a tale of survival, there is the element of people being strong and showing courage, there are those who face their fears to rise above and confront what they thought they never could, there are those baring their soles and sharing what it feels like to walk with one foot in two very different cultures, there is camaraderie and a sense of belonging, there is hope, there are tears, there is fear and there is happiness. The Author also paints a very vivid description of the trail and what those who were on the trail endured during that time.

This was well written and researched. I felt as if I were on the trail with them as they desperately tried to reach California. Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this one as will fans of the wild west.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Where the Lost Wander is an emotionally stirring book about the courage and the hardships that face a young woman and her family as the head west on the Oregon Trail. This also a love story, between the young woman and a man who helps lead their train...a man caught between two worlds—that if his Native American mother and his white father. I felt as if I were on the trail with these people, feeling every rut, fording rivers, battling illness and loss. I loved the characters in this book, John and Naomi, Naomi’s brothers, the Native Americans who befriended and helped them.

What I Loved:
This was a beautiful story that I loved reading. The overarching idea behind this story was to show the hardships of traveling west for people in the 1800s. I was completely drawn into Where the Lost Wander from beginning to end by the descriptions of the travel and the people. I loved every single page of this story.

How I Felt:
Amy Harmon has quickly become one of my favorite authors! Her ability to write so many different types of stories leaves me speechless each time I finish a book. This is my favorite book she has written, however, I have enjoyed every book I have read, and I can’t wait to read more!

I’m going to start my review a little backward today because there is something at the end of the book I wish I would have known when I started the story! Amy Harmon provided an author’s note at the end of the book that was fascinating to read. She discusses that John Lowry, the male main character, is actually an ancestor of her husband’s. The family that the story follows out West are the May’s, and they were Harmon’s own pioneer ancestors. In addition, many of the other characters like Lost Woman, Chief Washakie, and Chief Pocatello were real people. I started this book thinking it was historical fiction where the “historical” came from the overall event of westward migration. I would have loved to have known how much of this was founded in actual history when I started, so I wanted to share that with you!

The writing created this entire world for me. I felt completely submerged in the 1800s. There are a lot of things about living in that time that get glossed over in books, but I felt that Amy Harmon took time to detail the hardships of living that made the story real for the reader.

The story brought the game Oregon Trail to life for me. Do you remember playing that game? It would notify you that an ox died or your raft flipped and everyone drowned…Game Over. Where the Lost Wander was the story of one wagon train making this treacherous journey out West in search of a better life. Things that happened in the game Oregon Trail became so real to me through this book! An ox died and life didn’t just move on. Crossing a river could be an easy task, or take an entire day with the fear of losing everything. I enjoyed how carefully Amy Harmon pieced together the travel for these characters, making sure the reader was provided all the details to understand how difficult it really was.

The characters were easy to love in their own special ways. John, Two Foot, is half American Indian and half Caucasian. He struggles to fit into each world in different ways. He has an enormous heart and I couldn’t help loving him. Naomi was this beautiful person with such caring and special personality. An artist, her talents are used throughout the story and added an interesting dimension.

The Native American characters were written about in a balanced, beautiful way. I felt like I was given the realities of the struggle between the Native Americans and the settlers for trade, food, language barriers, and misunderstandings. Lost Woman was one of my favorite characters and she barely speaks. She, however, has such a strong presence, and I loved her.

Overall: This story opened my eyes to the hardships of western travel for people. I loved the entire story from the characters to the descriptions of people and places, to the relationships, and the events. A beautiful book that makes me want to continue to read Amy Harmon’s work.

To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend Where the Lost Wander to any historical fiction fans that enjoy a story of people in history as this book focuses on a family traveling West and the situations they come across on their journey.

I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

This book was a balm for my COVID-19-weary soul. It broke my heart while also giving me hope. Amy’s writing took me on a journey across the Oregon Trail that I never wanted to end, and I immediately fell in love with John, Naomi and the entire May family. Where the Lost Wander is the kind of story that leaves you with a book hangover--completely unwilling to return to present-day reality.

This is the first novel I’ve read by Amy Harmon, and it made me excited to read her others!

Set in 1853, we follow a family and their guide across the Oregon Trail. Naomi May, recently widowed, is ready for a fresh start in distant lands. John Lowry, the son of a white man and a Pawnee mother, helps to guide their caravan of wagons. Set amid extreme trials and beautiful landscapes, the pair are quickly drawn to one another.

Where the Lost Wander is both a heartbreaking and gorgeous novel retelling life on the Oregon Trail. I loved reading about daily life on the journey. It was hard but also beautiful in many ways. Somehow I initially missed that this book largely focused on Naomi and John’s love story - it took me a little bit to get into their relationship, but once I did, I loved the pair and their fierce dedication to one another!

I particularly loved when the May family and the Native American tribes interacted with one another. I believe that Amy Harmon did a good job of painting the tribes in a respectful, understanding light. The familial bonds formed between the Mays and the Shosoni people made my heart ache, in the best of ways. The author did a great job of creating multi-faceted characters who felt joy, pain, love, and sorrow, rather than simply type-casting people.

Amy Harmon wrote a wonderful piece of historical fiction in Where the Lost Wander, and I encourage you to pick it up!

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a free e-galley in exchange for my honest opinion.