Amy Harmon is quickly becoming a favourite author of mine. Her stories are so well researched and beautifully written!

This is an emotional and heart wrenching story about a family in Missouri who travel on the Oregon Trail in 1853 in search of a better life in the West. They travel with many other families and some guides. Along the way there is happiness, love, tragedy and resilience.

I enjoyed reading the author's notes at the end of the book and learning that some of these characters were real-life people from history and even part of the author's family. A very interesting account of what must have been a difficult time in history.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing (which never seems to disappoint me with their books) for granting me access to this Advanced Reader Copy.

When I was ten, I discovered a book that ultimately shaped my life, Jubilee Trail by Gwen Bristow; and I was lucky having family that allowed me to read any book I desired. I loved this book that told the story of a newlywed young woman traveling overland from New York to California in the 1840s. I immersed myself in the story and only as an adult realized the historic details it included. NOW, I read "Where the Lost Wander" and my eyes were opened to a whole new aspect of travel and the horrors experienced by wagon trains and, yes, the Indians as individuals and a nation.

Was this the real story of their lives? In fact, were they real people? Well, yes when it comes to John as he was the authors husband's 5x great-grandfather. Amy Harmon weaves family stories, her husband's life long interest in the west and Chief Washakie and, Lost Woman, who captures the spirit of this book. It's a detailed historical tale of the settlement of the western United States that grabbed me from the beginning; and I was entranced to the last page with the story of John and Naomi Lowry.

I can't thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley enough for allowing me the joy of Amy Harmon's family story, a story that took me back to my childhood and the joy of my first adult book.

Phenomenal! I’ve absolutely adored every Amy Harmon novel I’ve read and Where the Lost Wander is officially at the top of that list! I enjoy historical fiction and read them quite often, but I’ve never read a historical fiction set on the Oregon Trail so I was excited to dive in!

Where the Lost Wander is brilliantly written novel packed with so much depth and emotion!! I am blown away by the fact that Amy Harmon can consistently create such well developed characters that I become so emotionally attached to- I still cannot stop thinking about them! This book brought out all of the feels for me and now reflecting on this 5 star read there isn’t anything I would change— Amy Harmon knocked this one out of the park! I honestly didn’t know much about this time period (the computer game The Oregon Trail in elementary school doesn’t count) so I truly felt like I got an education all whilst getting lost in an amazing novel—then reading the authors note at the end was so powerful! This novel should be required reading! I’ve texted everyone I know and told them to put this gem at the top of their reading list!

Lush and breathtaking.

Amy Harmon weaved a story about strong, courageous people who thrived in their survival amidst heartbreak and challenges. It was a celebration of one’s roots and life.

Some parts hit me right in the soul, my emotions were heavy throughout. John and Naomi were unforgettable; divine together, indefeasible apart.

“Transcendence is a world, a place, beyond this one. It’s what could be.”

Wow! Amy Harmon has a special way of telling a story and reaching deep into your heart.

This isn’t just a story, it’s a journey. A journey of loss, of survival, of hope, and one of tremendous love. It’s heart wrenching and raw and full of emotion. The characters and story will burrow into your heart and will leave you breathless. The writing transports you into another time period and you see and feel every difficult moment, every speckle of hope, the grief and despair, and all the love shone throughout. It’s hard at times and beautiful in others. Absolutely breathtaking.

“That’s what hope feels like: the best air you’ve ever breathed after the worst fall you’ve taken. It hurts.”

Reasons You Should Read WHERE THE LOST WANDER:
1) It's set on the freaking Oregon Trail. Do I need to say more? NO. But if you need more convincing, Harmon manages to create a truly believable account of what life might be like when walking across the country alongside oxen and covered wagons. It's admirable, beautiful, harrowing, and terrifying all at once.

2) It's obvious that Harmon spent time researching Native American tribes. Her depiction of Native Americans feels authentic. Can I know that is it authentic? Absolutely not. But she handles both perspectives of Americans and Native Americans carefully and in a way that allows you to sympathize for both sides in what was a very tumultuous time in America's history.

3) The love story is so, so exquisite. It's subtle and quiet but intensely emotional and so beautiful. I LIVE FOR the way she writes love scenes. UGH, they are just so perfect and sweet and delicate. I could read them over and over and over.

4) The families are everything. Whether it's the American, Native American, or mixed families, they make up the fibers of this book, and make it so much more than a love story. It's about finding grit in times of struggle and how the people with surround ourselves with get us through it.

Put WHERE THE LOST WANDER on your to-read list (or, heck, pre-order it!) if you want to see the resilience and beauty of humanity during a fascinating time in American history. If you want to bite your nails and sit at the edge of your seat, and if you want to swoon and weep, then you are going to love this story as much as I did.

Harmon does it again with another amazing historical novel. All of my feelings were tugged when reading this; happy, angry, and sadness. You felt like you were on this journey with these characters, while they were making a brave journey across America in the 1850's. When reading this you'll get to read the different perspectives of different characters: Naomi (white and widowed young woman) and John (half Pawnee and half white) and the difficulties the face on the Oregon Trail.
Yes, this is a traveling-based novel but it is such a fascinating one to read. I've mostly only read child and young adult historical fiction set in the pioneering times of the U.S. so it was nice to read a more mature interpretation of this time period.
I'll end this by saying I can't wait for everybody else to read this and enjoy it as much as I did!

In this latest release from the author, she takes us on a journey.
A journey through time.
A journey filled with hardship.
A journey of heartbreak and hope.
A journey with second chances.
And a journey for a better life.

This story is set in 1853, as several families bond together to travel West, with dreams of a fruitful life. Told primarily from the heroine's POV, Naomi May, the author transports us to a time when sheer will guided the travelers. Where exhaustion and sickness plagued many, and yet, each person pushed themselves to the limits, unwilling to be the person that slowed down their group. This story highlights the strength of the human spirit.

Stripped of meaningless drama, the author focuses on each character and their interactions with Naomi. The connections they form and the conflict that develops over time. The biggest connection built around John Lowry, a man who joins Naomi's family to aid in their journey West.

"But I think you're probably like the mules, Mr. Lowry, and I'm going to have to work for your attention."

Within the romance genre, this story would qualify as a slow burn, as the two are given the time to witness the strength of their character - their selflessness, their determination, their spirit. And during that exploration, they find a love that is real. One they will both need when tragedy strikes.

The pace of the story is slow and steady, as you can imagine, but there are pockets of danger. While these moments increased the intensity of the story, I found myself yearning to go back to the more peaceful moments, as lives I have begun to connect to, are put at risk.

As always, the author delivers a beautifully written story with a good dose of history. With two strong main characters, who find a way to overcome the heartbreak that surrounds them, I found myself trying to will them to safety, will them West, to an end of their journey. And when we get to that end, the author leaves the reader a gift.

If you are a fan of this author and/or the historical fiction genre, this is worth checking out.

I ugly cried and am still bawling as I write this review. Amy Harmon, I will always drop everything to read your newest novel. Where The Lost Wander, love, love, love the title, is a beautiful, haunting, love story that comes alive on the Oregon Trail in 1853. Many of the characters in the book are based on real people. If you enjoyed Where the Crawdads Sing and This Tender Land you will find this book just as epic and will put it down as one of your top favorite reads of all time.

Below are only three of the many sentences from the book I could have included. Almost every sentences tugs at your heart.

“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.”

“Anger feels a whole lot better than fear.” “But anger is useless.” “It isn’t useless if it keeps the fear away..”

“I realize now that life is just a continual parting of the ways, some more painful than others.”

John Lowry, his white man name, Two Feet, his Pawnee name, given to him by his Pawnee mother because she was Indian and his father was white, will capture your heart and your soul. He is a stranger in both worlds. He feels unloved and unwanted and is determined to find out where he truly belongs. Naomi Caldwell May, a widow at the age of twenty, is sassy, strong and determined. She is traveling west with her family and a caravan of others on the Oregon Trail, with John and his uncle Abbott as their chaperone.

It is a heart wrenching, story of the complicated relationships between the Indians and white man, between parents and children, husbands and wife’s and between siblings. It is a glimpse into the ways of the Indians and their fight to protect their land as the white man invades it to head west for a better life.

DO NOT miss this read. It will be out April 28th. Thank you NetGalley, Amy Harmon and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. And..... Amy Harmon DO NOT ever stop writing. You help readers escape and find hope in difficult times.

I absolutely love Amy Harmon and have read all of her books. Her storytelling is beautiful, poetic, and captivating but I just couldn’t get into this story. Maybe this time period just isn’t in my wheel house to be intrigued by? But it felt like reading a game of Oregon Trail as it unfolded and I just couldn’t connect the way I had hoped.

Amy Harmon is by far one of my favorite authors and this historical romance is a perfect example of why.

Now I’ll be honest, when I first started the book, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it. There was a lot of background information about Naomi May, John Lowry, and their families, and while they began their journey along the Oregon Trail, it did seem to drag on a bit. But the story quickly picked up, especially as you got to know more about Naomi and John and they got to know each other.

Once tragedy struck Naomi’s family, I couldn’t put the book down and devoured every word. It truly was a fantastic book. Amy Harmon’s stories always have a way of sticking with you, and her character development was spot on too. I’m a fan of her writing for life!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3009305558

Historical fiction is usually not the genre I seek out. But this is Amy Harmon, whose book Making Faces is one of my all-time favorites, so I had to give it a try.

The Overland Trail, 1853: Naomi May, widowed at twenty is eager to leave her grief behind, so she sets off with her family for a life out West. On the trail, she forms an instant connection with John Lowry, a half-Pawnee man straddling two worlds and a stranger in both.

Unfortunately, despite enjoying numerous other books by the author, her writing couldn’t save this one for me. Where the Lost Wander began with an exciting moment that grabbed this reader’s attention. What follows is a steady, interesting story, but not one that brought out much emotion for this reader. What little emotion is generated wasn’t enough to put this book over the top. Ultimately, this story felt flat. It flowed very slowly with minimal moments of spark.

Here sits a reader hoping the next book guts me like Making Faces.

"Where the Lost Wander" follows the May family, specifically Naomi, as their wagon train travels to the West Coast. Naomi experiences love, loss, and a rebirth along the way. I enjoyed reading about the relationship between Naomi and John, and the happiness and stability it brought them. Overall, I felt there were too many characters to keep track of, but the book plot was a good representation of the wagon trains of the past.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Where the lost wander is an uniques story told in the most amazing way possible. Its full of emotions, love and is penned down in a epic way. The story is told in two POVs of Naomi May, a widow who is travelling towards west with her family and John Lowry, who is struggling to place himself in the society. The tension and romance between Naomi and John are captured beautifully along with the reality of the surrounding. Amy Harmon beautifully pens down the harsh realities of running towards the path of happiness in this historical romance novel!
Thank you NetGalley, Amy Harmon and Lake Union Publishing

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union publishing for the advanced copy.

This was an entertaining read, but definitely not Amy Harmon's best work. The premise was interesting, but I felt that it was all very superficial. Maybe because it was lacking steam, or chemistry between Naomi and John...I didn't feel connected to any character. I felt like something was missing.

I thought that the idea was good though - basically Oregon Trail, written out as a book and a romance. I just think it was lacking that something special that the rest of her books have.

As anyone who follows me closely knows, i LOVE Amy Harmon novels. Every time i see a new one coming out, i almost jump for joy! Where the Lost Wander was no exception, even if a little outside my usual taste of books.

This novel was described as an epic sweeping romance and whilst i do believe the romance that was there was wonderful, i wouldn't go as far as to say it was epic. I really loved the connection between Naomi and her family, in particular her Mother and baby Wolfe. John was a beautiful character and had a great connection with Naomi. There were little to no steamy bits in this book, more the alluding to the fact or lead up i guess you could say.

The only real problem i had with this was that i felt cheated with the ending, it was quite abrupt.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

WOW! My pure heart 😭
What an amazing, extraordinary emotional and unique love story 😭
When it comes to historical fiction, Amy Harmon is the unrivaled queen without competition for me 🤷🏻‍♀️
Her books are very carefully researched and detailed, yet incredibly perfectly mixed with fiction, that makes you so enchanted and drawn in, that her character's life and world becomes part of you, it's simply incredible 😍
My admiration and love for her books is like an addiction.
I was usually not so interested in historical fiction, but she taught me to love this genre. With books like this one and her amazing writing style, it's really simple to fall in love with her books.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This story begins in Missouri in 1853 and describes the long and brutal journey through Americas plains with wagons that has barely enough to keep the people alive and hope that's bigger that their skills to survive.
This is a story about people who were looking for the promised land and wanted a new, better life for their families. An incredibly heartbreaking story about broken dreams and new beginnings in a land that was all other than welcoming to the migrants.
It is a story about different nations and peoples who come together and try to understand each other, or in some cases, try to enforce their rights.
It's America's story.
It's an amazing and gripping story about hope, loss, grief and finally love with new beginning in the promised land. This book is emotional rollercoaster that lets you cry big ugly tears and love the characters in the darkest time of their life and awakens the need to help them, to hug them. ❤❤❤
Gosh, I love this book so much. I'm really happy that
despite all the horrible things and ugliness that happens in this brutal world, the main characters gets their HEA. Maybe not, as they expected. Definitely with a lot of "scars".
But they really deserve it after this incredible story.
What makes the story even more beautiful is that a lot of the characters in this book really existed. Maybe they were not like in this book, but they were there and their descendants live in America from their dreams to this day.

A well written interesting read but not my type of book. Sorry

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I absolutely loved this book. It reminded me of a grown up version of Little House on the Prairie. Very exciting and well written.

I received this from Netgalley.com for a review.

"1853: Naomi May never expected to be widowed at twenty. Eager to leave her grief behind, she sets off with her family for a life out West. On the trail, she forms an instant connection with John Lowry, a half-Pawnee man straddling two worlds and a stranger in both."

An okay read, vivid descriptions of the life and hardships endured while traveling.

3☆