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☆

Oh my! It's been a few weeks since I finished this book and I'm still thinking about it and the characters, the setting and the feelings the book evoked in me. I wish I would've written a review sooner, but I just didn't have it in me. The state of our world prohibited me. But Amy Harmon can slay me with a well told story, even one I didn't think I really wanted to read. I like Historical Fiction, but I have to be in the right mood. It is not a genre I read on a regular basis unless it's one set during WWII. This book for all intents and purposes was not for me. And I will be first person to say that I was so very wrong.

This story is told in dual POVs. One from Naomi May who is a white woman who recently lost her husband. She is traveling to the West with her family across the rough terrain in a covered wagon with a slew of other families. It's the mid 1800's where women and men have their place in the world and so do people with different backgrounds. It's not always pretty and it's not the world we know today. While the scenery can be beautiful, the actions of people and the lives they all live to survive is eye opening. To see how far we've come and to see how people balance living in a world not completely their own is something that Amy Harmon obviously researched very well.

"We all need each other. We can all I've side by side peaceably, can't we? We don't all have to be exactly the same."
"Some cultures do not mix. It is like having fins but trying to live on land."

The second POV is from John Lowry. He is a mixed race man that doesn't feel he is a part of either world. He is part Native American and part white. They call him Two Feet. Living his life in both worlds. He is a man that is helping these white settlers cross to the West, but he also feels a connection to his Native side; his mother. He doesn't know where he belongs, but he knows that there is some sort of attraction to Naomi. Should he act on it? Should he keep with "his own people" or is his place with his family back home?

"I am not split down the middle, straddling two worlds. I am simply a stranger in both."

Amy Harmon is simply magic. She wrote a stunning and beautiful book that captivates you with the beauty of the scenery and the tension of the characters one moment and then takes you to a brutal truth the next moment. The characters are all so real and you feel like you know them. When tragedy strikes, you break right along with the characters and feel their emotions just as if you're there. The careful study and research that Ms Harmon took in creating these characters and the setting was obvious. I never for one moment was taken away from this book. I was right there in the wagon, crossing the rivers and losing myself and family members along with Naomi and John. And watching their romance blossom was truly captivating. It was intense and I understood when John wanted to pull away and his hesitation, but the words from a very wise woman were always there....

"It's worth it, you know."
"What is, Jennie?"
"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."

Where the Lost Wander is a story of love, family and finding one's own place in this world while seeing the best and worst in your surroundings. It's about finding happiness in the least expected places. It's about balance and different cultures. It's about acceptance. There are some harsh realities that may break you, but fear not....Amy Harmon will find a way to piece you back together in a very real way. You may have scars, but the scars will remind you that you lived.

Bravo Amy Harmon for another beautiful work of art. A masterpiece of Historical Fiction!

Where The Lost Wander by Amy Harmon is a wonderful historical fiction story. You can really lose yourself in the pages of this book, being swept away into another time and place. There is just something so magical about books like this one. Maybe its that there is no television or phones or social media, is pure survival and wits that keeps people going. It makes me think about how I couldn’t survive back then. No electricity or toilets? I couldn’t! But I like to read about it.

Check it out:

The Overland Trail, 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.

But life in a wagon train is fraught with hardship, fear, and death. Even as John and Naomi are drawn to each other, the trials of the journey and their disparate pasts work to keep them apart. John’s heritage gains them safe passage through hostile territory only to come between them as they seek to build a life together.

When a horrific tragedy strikes, decimating Naomi’s family and separating her from John, the promises they made are all they have left. Ripped apart, they can’t turn back, they can’t go on, and they can’t let go. Both will have to make terrible sacrifices to find each other, save each other, and eventually…make peace with who they are.

Coming out on April 28, pre-order now and have it magically delivered to your Kindle!

Oh my! I absolutely loved this story!! I was hooked from page 1.

1853, Young, widowed Naomi May is following the Overland Trail west with her family.
1/2 Pawnee Indian, John Lowery is heading west on the trail to follow in his father's footsteps.

There is so so much more to this story than just romance, but the romance is just so beautiful!
I can't remember the last time if ever I've been so emotionally invested in characters. I ugly cried multiple times throughout this story for multiple characters. It's now been a few weeks since I finished this book and I still think of it often with emotions.

I really don't want to say too much more about this one. Just know that it has some pretty darks parts that are not for the faint of heart.

I could not put this book down! Naomi and John's love story and their journey west was a perfect escape. The characters were complex and relatable, and the beautiful writing made it easy to imagine the scenery every step of the way.

Where the Lost Wander is my second Amy Harmon read, and now I can't wait to read some of her backlist titles. I especially love the way she takes pieces of her own family history and weaves it into captivating fiction. Thank you netgalley and Lake Union for the advance copy!

I'm a big fan of this author's work and I love history but for me, this book was a slow read. At times it read like a diary and other times like a history book, packed with information and not enough character interaction and dialogue. I had a difficult time connecting with the characters and caring about them. I commend the author on her talented writing and thorough research.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. The review is my honest opinion.

Amy Harmon stretches her literary wings with another compelling historical romance that left a deep and profound impression on me. This time around we follow a cast of characters as they make their way west along the Oregon trail, on their way to California.

I have to go on record as saying that I love to read historical fiction and historical romance and I love how Amy has written a fictional story that is based on actual ancestors from her husband's family tree. For whatever reason, that makes stories like these all the more fascinating to read for me. So in that respect, it is that much harder for me to bear reading about the hardships these characters faced on their journey. My word, my emotions went from one extreme to another and I was emotionally wrung out by the time I turned the last page! Amy is a master storyteller, and I know that I will still be thinking about John and Naomi a long time from now.

I truly loved the characters of John and Naomi. Actually, I loved quite a few of the characters, each one having something significant to contribute to this story. John and Naomi were people who were lost between two worlds. John being a half breed, with a Pawnee mother and a white father, never seemed to fit in in either world. Along the way, both worlds he belonged to had times where that worked in his favor, but also just as many that worked against him. And Naomi, a young woman widowed at the age of twenty, didn't really belong on her own, but also didn't really belong with her family anymore. They are attracted to each other very early in the story, but as was the way during that time, they remained reserved in their emotions and so it took time for that relationship to evolve into something more than just two people traveling in this wagon train. And as much as this story includes a romance between John and Naomi, it is so much more than that.

Life is incredibly hard on the trail, that has always been something known through history. I've watched enough movies about the settlers and the trials and tribulations they endured traveling west, but Amy's masterful writing just made everything seem so much more important. The tenuous relationship at that time between the various Indian tribes and the white man. The hardships faced along the way, wagons getting swept away in rivers, cholera and sickness wiping out families. Babies born along the trail. Babies dying along the trail. It is just SO daunting to read about. But while reading, Amy also weaves a beautiful tale of the resilience and tenacity of these settlers who are trying to find better lives for themselves and their families.

I won't lie, I shed many a tear while reading. Not all were sad tears though, there were moments of happiness and elation along the way that buoyed the spirits of the characters, and mine as well. Like I said, I went through a range of emotions by the time I closed this book. And even though it is a work of fiction, I think it is a very important book to read, especially if you are fascinated with the history between Indians and the white man, and how a few learned to live together as family.

I say this often, I don't know how Amy does it, but every book I read of hers cements a place in my heart and head and I am forever grateful that she brings us these amazing stories.

Many thanks to Netgalley for an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

This is my 5th Amy Harmon book. I have yet to read two books of hers that were similar to each other, I have yet to read a book I didn't love and I have yet to read a book that belonged in the same genre. I don't know how she does it, I have no idea how she managed to put out books that can be so different from one another and yet they all have her unique voice.

The Amy Harmon voice is something I have come to love and respect immensly; she can make me read books outside my genre just because I know I will at the very least find them intriguing and they will leave me feeling full of emotions but also drained in the best possible way from the journey. It's a gift.

<b>Where the Lost Wander</b> was yet another book I didn't know what to expect going in. I have never read a love story set on the Oregon Trail, I didn't even know what it was to be honest. Honestly, I don't have the words to review this, I don't think anything I say will do the story justice. The story is set in 1853, it is full of cultural beauty and just another world entirely, historical romance done right. But at its core it transcends the romantic aspect, there's so much more to it.

John and Naomi were amazing, slow burn and solid. Just beautiful.

I am a huge Amy Harmon fan and her latest book does not disappoint. Where the Lost Wander is a captivating historical fiction novel with top notch writing. This was the first novel I have read about life on the Oregon Trail and her descriptive writing really made you feel as if you were there with the characters on their journey. The characters in this novel were so strong and brave. Where the Lost Wander is a story of true adventure, love, hardship, heartbreak and strength. The romance between Naomi and John drew me in from the beginning. I am not usually a fan of insta-love but this forbidden romance was so beautifully written that I couldn’t put it down. Where the Lost Wander is much more than a romance and it’s a story I will definitely read again in the future. As a warning, there are a lot of dark moments in this book and you should have some tissues handy.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I did not finish because there was too much content I don't like to read, and too much trauma. I loved Amy Harmon's first several books, but I don't think I'll be reading anymore of hers.

Another Amy Harmon book that did not disappoint!! I felt like the book started a little slow, but once I got about 20% into it, I could not put it down. I love historical fiction, and it is nice to have a book that isn't about WWII. I loved following their journey along the Oregon Trail. This is one of my new favorite books and I will definitely be recommending it to others.

Amy Harmon's new book is a historical fiction romance novel. The story takes place in 1853 and is set on the Oregon Trail. The book follows Naomi, a 20-year-old widow, who is traveling from Missouri to California with her family. Her father hires John (Two-Feet), who is half white and half Pawnee, to help guide and protect them on the trail. John and Naomi are instantly drawn to each other, but have to overcome prejudices and hardships to find a way to be together.

I was surprised to learn in Ms. Harmon's author's note that she based her story on her husband's five-times great grandfather, John Lowry. I really enjoyed googling some of the character's in the book like Chief Washakie.

Overall, this was a great story read and I learned a lot about the hardships of Native Americans and the first Pioneers looking for a better way of life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was beautiful. Amy Harmon never disappoints. I am always amazed by the depths of her book.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I will be posting a full review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

Amy Harmon doesn't hold back any punches with this novel. It's gritty and packed with scenes that wil make you cringe. I love reading about pioneers on the overland trail. Harmon depreciated the reality of the trip with a dash of romance between Naomi amd John. The book opens with a horrific scene, but all is not lost. This is historical fiction at its finest.

Every time I read one of Amy Harmon’s books, I’m in awe. She is by far one of my favorite authors to date and one I most often recommend. This was the first historical fiction I’ve read of hers and I have to say, I’m just completely amazed at her ability to write, so beautifully, different genres.
So, Where the Lost Wander will be one of those books that resonated so strongly with me, I’ll often think back on it with fondness as a forever favorite that I know I will remember for a long time to come. You know those books you pick out from childhood, jr. high, high school, adulthood that just stuck with you? I have a handful, at least, and this is definitely one of those for me.
This book starts with a bang, a Big Bang and then with the first chapter we go back to how we got there beginning in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1853. I can’t say I’ve read many books set on the Oregon Trail, but I can say that I’m happier to read about it than have lived it. 😂 This tale is so descriptive and atmospheric that I could truly envision it as if I were watching it on screen or there my very self. And the characters, I just loved the May family, John Lowry, Naomi, The Caldwells, the Shoshoni, the Dakotah, the entire wagon train and those we meet along the way. It is a story of hardship, adventure, grief, love, understanding and compassion, divide between races, wisdom and strength. I could see so many similarities between the way things were then and they way things are now, both in the way we treat people and that women are the real MVPs, (sure, men are great too ;)) and it is a great reminder of what we should learn from the past. This is a story I could have easily read in a couple sittings, had time allowed, but I am grateful that I got to savor it instead. I was surely emotional at the end and that is exactly how I want to feel when finishing a book that made a mark on my heart. The Author’s Note at the end was a treat that gives a peek of insight as to the inspiration for several characters and little historic tidbits to further enlighten the reader on how this amazing story came to be. Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Where the Lost Wander
Amy Harmon
Publication date 4/28/20

Amy Harmon never disappoints, this is a powerful and emotional read! She brought the Oregon trial in the 19th century alive and the storytelling was fluid, deep and thought provoking. This story follows 40 families moving west to Oregon about 2000 miles and is expected to be a hard, tragic journey that will take five months. Although romance crosses in this story it is not the center, Naomi May Caldwell and John Lowry share an attraction from the start. It made me immediately root for them because at that time their love affair was forbidden because it was between a white woman and half Pawnee- half white man. Their love story is raw and beautifully written. The journey is chock filled with heartbreak detailed descriptions that depict many hardships that the traveling pioneer families faced in that time period. You also experience many joyous events that happened on the trail that touched my heart and made it difficult to put this book down.
I must admit this book has a dark side touching on some very real acts of violence many face today. This story will stay with me as most of her others books have!

I am so thankful to have received this Advanced Readers’ Copy from Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for my honest review.

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Wow! What a story. This is the kind of book that holds you captive from the first word. The story starts with a bang & had me hooked through to the end.

This book is historical romance at its best. Transporting you to a different time & making you feel what it was like to be a woman then & how very different the world was. Naomi is a fantastic character - I love the way Amy Harmon writes her heroines. I always fall hard for them. John is beautifully written and for me - not your average romance hero.

I loved how hard this story was. How much it hurt to read at points. It truly reflected the time period it was written in. I was anxious for a lot of chapters and fluctuated between being happy and so very sad.

Definitely recommend.