Fantastic book alot better than i expected i couldn't put this book down and read in a couple of hours my first by this Author.

It’s been a while since I became engrossed in a book like this.

It feels good, even though the book is hard that I felt sadness and shock, it felt good to read such a good book.

I enjoyed the details of the daily life and the hardships of the wagon trains on the Oregon Trail 

The vastness of the land, the distance, the dirt and hunger and sickness, and all the work, yet Naomi was happy, she felt free and inspired and she found John Lowry, a half-Pawnee man, who is strong and caring.

Yes, the setting might not be new, but the writing was so beautiful, this is the Oregon Trail book that I was waiting for.

Written in the POVs of Naomi and John(two feet), the distinct voices are very clear, and John has a very beautiful one, I liked being in his mind as he tries to come to terms with his feelings, his differences and his responsibilities.
He is a good man.

Naomi is interesting, she is an artist who sees beauty, and she knows what she wants.

The characters are real life and interesting and the book is real and doesn’t shy away from the hard raw truth.
Also, we experience the Native Indian life a little, something I have always had an interest in.

This book is full of hardships and heartache 
And I enjoyed it completely.

This is a book I want to enjoy again as an audiobook.

My third book by Amy Harmon, all different, all interesting.

This review is for an ARC courtesy of Netgalley.
Book will be released on April 28, and I will definitely get a copy.

Yes, she did it again! Dear Amy Harmon turned me into an emotional trainwreck! I always tell myself before starting any of her books: “Nope! I’m not gonna cry! I’m gonna concentrate on funny things like my besties’ effort to squeeze her big butt into two size smaller jeans or my husband’s face expression when I serve him dinner.” 

But, I failed again! I dropped ugly, nasty, tormenting, vicious, dirty tears! I cannot stop myself! This book has epic, heart wrenching, memorable, beautiful, genuine, poignant story with its memorable, so easily likeable characters. You want to give them hug and meet with them in real life to befriend them.
  The pacing, the stunning, thought-provoking, violent, dark, realistic historical facts which crush our souls show the ugly face and shameful parts of humanity that we need to learn lessons and pass them to our next generations. She didn’t sugarcoat anything and tell directly, objectively those parts which break our hearts and ache more for beautiful souls of those amazing characters.
  
  Naomi is tough, determined, warrior soul to do whatever it takes to protect her family and build a life for them as John straddles between two worlds and cannot cope any of them. They fought, they hurt, they burned, they suffered, they cried, they struggled but they never gave up on each other.
Bring out your napkins and set your ugly tears free, take your ticket for this fast pacing, mesmerizing, spell-binding, gripping, emotional, memorable journey.
 
  Normally I’m not a big fan of historical fictions but Kristin Hannah and Amy Harmon changed my idea made me lose myself into their books. This one is a BIG WINNER and get ready to go blind and feel the fantastic spirit of the story.

  Special thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for sharing this incredible books’ ARC COPY in exchange my honest review. And so much thanks to Amy Harmon who creates a heartbreaking symphonies with words for writing this wonderful book.

2.5 stars

***ARC received in exchange of an honest opinion***

I absolutely LOVE Amy Harmon´s books and her writing, in general, and that´s why it is so hard for me to write this review.

Where the Lost Wander is a refreshing story. The plotline is different than everything I´ve read before (actually I have read a book in a similar setting once), but unfortuanately I couldn´t feel this story, not as much as I hoped I would.

I felt it was really hard to connect with the story and the characters. In fact, I haven´t connected with any of them, which is very unusual for me. The writing is good and detailed and you can definitely see Amy put effort in her research, as she usually does. But for me this one didn´t work.

I felt it was hard to relate to the characters and I didn´t feel the emotions I usually feel with her books. It is a good read, but it wasn´t as I expected.

It has been a while since I have read a historical fiction book about the American West. I didn't expect to love this book, Where The Lost Wander by Amy Harmon,  as much as I did but I fell in love with these characters. Reading about the struggles of traveling over the country side and how these family overcame such obstacles was gut-wrenching at times. Many times, I cried for these poor people. But these people, they could love something fierce! 
Harmon introduces us to the May family and to John Lowry. Their story quickly intertwines when Naomi falls for John and a love story is born. We follow The May family and others across the United States as they begin their journey towards California. You read of the daily struggles and encounters with people as they travel. You feel for Naomi and pray so hard for Wolfe when they are captured by the Indian tribe. Harmon sets up a great tear-jerking page turner! 
This is my first book by Amy Harmon, but I will be on the outlook for more of her works. I loved her writing style and storytelling. I did enjoy reading her Author's note and how this story was based on her husband's family. Special thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Amy Harmon for the advance digital copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion. 

#WheretheLostWander #NetGalley

One of those wonderfully rare novels that you want to read very slowly so that it will go on forever. Problem is, you can’t stop yourself from rushing on through.

Amy Harmon’s WHERE THE LOST WANDER is a love story set on the immigrant trail across the U.S. in the 1850s, told from the points of view of the two lovers: independent daughter Naomi May and cautious, mixed-race muleteer John Lowry, who joins the May family wagon train as it heads out for the West Coast. They both carry a lot of personal baggage that gets in the way right from the start: Naomi is a very young widow traveling within sight of her bereaved former in-laws, and John has felt unwanted in both his Pawnee mother’s tribe and his white father’s in-town society. All he has are his mules, which makes him something of a heroic figure to Naomi’s young brother, but there is no time wasted in Naomi setting her sights on John. It felt a bit contrived at first, but after I learned enough about the Naomi’s personality, I could see where she’s coming from. She knows what she wants and goes right after it. John, on the other hand, is the one who tries to rein things in, knowing all too well the difficulties a couple such as themselves would face among society.

I’ll admit, while I was reading the prologue, I was thinking already that it was time to give up on this book because it seemed somewhat stilted and out of the blue. I had just finished a number of books I didn’t care for, so I was impatient and not much for wasting more time. But I kept on reading (because I am seriously *that* lazy sometimes that I won’t even bother to put down a Kindle) and, boy, I’m glad I did. Things settle after those first few pages and the stilted nature of the language goes a long way to help in creating the illusion of the U.S. in the 1850s, when people didn’t speak as informally as today. From that point on, I couldn’t stop reading. On top of that, once I came to care about the two lovers, that prologue just hung in the back of my mind like an ax waiting to fall, adding to the tension of a journey already filled with the many small but wonderful details about the immigrant life.

There were a few issues, like how I thought Naomi’s mother seemed to accept John a little too readily, and how it sometimes became confusing as to which of the pair were speaking in some passages because of the shifting POVs. There was also the threat of the dreaded THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS scene. Common in all manner of movies, T.V. shows, and books, these scenes always stand out as contrived to me. Look, LotM was great, but never, *ever* try to imitate it. Nothing can possibly live up to everything that’s wonderful and perfect between Daniel Day-Lewis & Madeleine Stowe. But this happens *a lot.* It even started to happen here, in this novel, but just as I felt the early onset of a migraine headache induced by the intense rolling of my eyes, Harmon pulled back! *Nice save, lady!* I was won over after that and so when she then did it again later, I was all for some of that LotM lovin’ mixed in with a little of DANCES WITH WOLVES societal commentary where none of the many native tribes are bad in themselves, but only seen as such from the point of view of other tribes. Go for it, Ms Harmon. You freakin’ *earned* it!

Look, I find that most great books are just the right length. But then there are the rare novels like WHERE THE LOST WANDER which makes you wish it was much, much longer.

(MBJLD: I received a free copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

This moved me, I felt so many emotions and shed tears while reading this.  I had to force myself to put it down because it was so late and I didn't want to finish it yet, I absolutely loved it.  I was drawn in from the first few pages and I completely submerged into the story and the characters immediately thereafter.  I have read other books from Amy Harmon, so I was excited to read this and knew I would enjoy it but truly was enamored by the lyrical writing and the way each character made me feel.  The characters have grit and are damaged but beautiful in who they are, I felt connected to more than a few of them.  The pain and struggle felt like it was in my lap and I felt a range of emotions for these characters, their strength and determination.  It has been a very long time since a book has made me feel privileged to have read it and I'm so glad and grateful that I was able to do so by the publisher offering it here.  I will probably read this again, and I would not hesitate to read more from Amy Harmon and I recommend this book as highly as I have ever recommended a book before.

Amy Harmon....one of my favorite authors! Was this a favorite book? No, but it was still excellent writing, as I always expect from her. A unique tale, I’ve never read a novel about the Oregon Trail before. It was quite fascinating. As far as the characters go, true to form, Amy brought them all to life for me. By far, John Lowry was my favorite. Life was extremely tough in the 1850’s, especially for those trekking out west. The author vividly brought this to life. You can tell she did extensive research for this book. So why a 4 star instead of 5? This was more because of personal feelings. I am a huge animal lover, I don’t like reading anything about any form of animal abuse, death, mistreatment, etc. Just reading about how tough these poor creatures....the horses, mules, donkeys....had it, broke my heart. It was not animal abuse, they just worked them hard in those days.
Don’t miss the note from the author at the end. I love that a lot of the characters were based on real people.
Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.

Set on the Oregon Trail, the journey (and the tale) is long and arduous, packed with hardships and interrupted by various encounters with emigrants along the way. Centring on the blossoming, and then enduring, relationship between a young widow, Naomi, and a half Pawnee half white young man by the name of John Lowry.
        Unfortunately, from the outset, I anticipated that I was going to experience difficulty when trying to engage with the main duo. The narration alternates between their two voices and I found this use of first person grating and longwinded-much like the journey. Call me contrary though, cause the end seemed insubstantial and somewhat rushed!
        I appreciate that Amy Harmon has done a sound job of evoking the Oregon Trail and the many harrowing experiences encountered by travellers along it in the past. Nevertheless, I am surprised that more people did not struggle with the central voices and assume that I just came to the book at the wrong time for me.
        Nevertheless, my thanks to netgalley and the author for sharing an advanced copy with me in return for my honest opinion.

Where the Lost Wander is about a wagon train heading 2,000 miles west, along with all the travails of their travels.  The characters primarily include Naomi, a young widow, and  John, the half Pawnee/half white man who is guiding the journey.  Early in the book, Naomi has her sights set on John, and she soon is successful.

At the beginning, the love story and its sexual tension was a bit corny and predictable; fortunately, it got a little more believable as the book moved along.

At times throughout the book, I had to suspend my eye-rolling impulses, especially regarding that love story and its likelihood.  But at other times, I was unable to, such as with Naomi’s mother and her coat of many colors.  The inference to Joseph and his dream interpretation and the comparison to Naomi’s mother and her dreams got the best of me.  Too contrived.

All in all, it was an okay book, although there were some stretches that dragged on more than others.  

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Where the Lost Wander.

With <i>Where the Lost Wander</i>, Amy Harmon brought the Oregon Trail to life in all its gritty, grueling glory.

It's hard for me to explain without feeling like I'm making light of the story - but if you, like me, grew up playing the game at school, this story feels somehow both familiar and eye-opening at the same time.  It literally brought the challenges and perils of the Oregon Trail to life for me -- and I absolutely loved it.

The story starts with a bang - I was sucked in immediately and knew that there was no way I'd be able to put it down.  The pacing is a little uneven after that.  The content of the story is so dense that I don't think that there's anything I would have cut out of it - but I had to pull myself back from skipping over parts in order to figure out what happened and how everything resolved.  The day-to-day descriptions are fascinating, but it was the over-arching story of love, and family that really held me captive.

The love story is beautiful.  And heartbreaking.  And inspirational.  It's also much larger than the romance between John and Naomi.  There are little love stories all over this book and they all left an indelible mark on my heart.  This is a fantastic historical.  Ms. Harmon didn't pull any punches and there were some difficult emotions along the way.  But...it was so worth it.  I so genuinely enjoyed it and am so glad to have had the opportunity to read this lovely prose and this deeply touching story.  ~ Shelly, 4 Stars

This book is INCREDIBLE!! I have tried to write an adequate review many times and I simply cannot find a way to fully give enough praise for Where the Lost Wander. Amy Harmon has such a magical way of submerging you in her words and leaving you wonderfully changed. Hardship, sacrifice, endurance, and love are found in this masterpiece along with the rare opportunity to see how sometimes there is simply not a wrong or right side. Seeing history from such personal and different vantage points makes this a truly singular and epic experience. My wonder of Amy Harmon’s talent has expanded once again.

I was really excited about this book. Wagon trains and the Oregon trail have always been a big interest of mine. Amy Harmon really captured what life was like in those times. However, I would have liked more description of some of the items they brought with them in the wagon, the size of the wagon, etc. I had no idea the size of the wagons until later in the book when she mentions that an entire dining room table and chairs was taken out of away again and left on the side of the trail. 

 Over all, I loved the dynamic between Naomi and John. It was easy to feel the love they had for each other. And the tough decisions they have to make along the way.

I would have loved a longer epilogue that wrapped the story up a little more. I felt like there was so much more story to tell. However, what was written was so well done.

I was so excited to read another book by Amy Harmon and this one did not disappoint. 
The storytelling in this novel is beautiful. There are parts that are a little slow, but as the novel takes place as families are crossing America in wagons to California, it mirrored the pacing of their trip. The characters kept me reading, even though the book gives a preview of some of their fates right from the beginning. It was a quick read and I am sad to be leaving the world of Naomi May.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this advanced reader's copy in return for my honest review. Absolutely loved this. It was evident that Amy had thoroughly researched this part of American history. Epic storytelling at its finest.

Amazing from the first page. This story will stay with me for a long time. This is one I will definitely recommend to everyone

Thank you NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 
I can’t give this book less than 5 stars. It was PHENOMENAL and it’s now my favorite Amy Harmon book. 
This woman is a fantastic author, but has truly outdone herself with this work of art. 

Where The Lost Wander is a story about a man named John Lowry, who is the son of John Lowry Sr. and who breeds mules like his father. John is half white and half Pawnee (from his mothers side). From a young age John realizes that he doesn’t fit in anywhere because he is mixed. He says he is not enough Pawnee to fit in where his mother lives, and he isn’t white enough because he still looks Indian to other people. He goes through life as an outcast until he meets Naomi. 
Naomi May is a girl who’s parents decide to take the journey from Illinois to California in search of more opportunity. So they all set off on this train and head to California. John decides to join them to open his own mule selling business in California. Along the way, he and Naomi fall in love. Everything is going great, they get married along the way, until the day John is away and Naomi’s family get attacked by Indians. 


This book was sooooooo good. I can’t even get over it. I loved the characters, they were super relatable. The story flowed so perfectly and everything was smooth. This book pulls you in and doesn’t let you go until the last page. I can’t remember the last time I loved a book this much. It was really really great and I can’t recommend it enough.

Where the lost wander is the latest by Amy Harmon. I’ve read many of her books and was anxious to read this one as well. 
Where the lost wander was hard to put down. An emotional historical fiction with twists and turns, ups and downs. 
A mid 1800s novel that covers loss, love and family. 
Amy Harmon does not disappoint. I am thankful for the opportunity  to read this early. 
Thank you netgalley and the author. 
5 star read you can  pick up at a local bookstore near you at the end of April 2020

This book started out strong. It opens with a sort of flash forward. Without spoiling anything - something horrific happens and I was shook. Amy Harmon had me feeling some strong emotions. That is a sign of a good writer. 

I have been fascinated by the Oregon Trail and the expansion west since I was a young girl. This book depicts what life would have been like- the daily struggles and hardships but also the joy. Relationships that would have formed on the wagon trail. The sense of community. I really liked getting a glimpse of that. 


Characters are really important to me personally when reading a book. I enjoyed the characters. Naomi was a fun character to read. She’s artistic and not afraid to speak her mind. I loved Naomis family. Especially her brothers. John ( the love interest ) was just ok for me though. 

After reading What the Wind Knows and absolutely loving it- I went into this book with high expectations. I feel bad for giving it 3 stars. It’s not a bad book. I had a few issues with it. The pacing was a little off for me. There were parts that seemed to drag and the end felt a bit rushed. There were times when the book had my full attention and I was completely invested and other times I was a tad bored. 


Overall I enjoyed this book. Thank you so much to Amazon Publishing and Amy Harmon for my advanced copy. I look forward to picking up more by this author.

This is the story of a wagon train of pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail in the early 1850's. It gives you a sense of the troubles they faced and just how strong these people were. You take the entire journey with them, which was at the same time interesting but slow paced.

The author did a great job researching for this book and creating a vivid account of what this trip might have been like. However, the slow pace of the trip and therefore the book made it drag on a little at times for me. Also I never felt a true connection to our main character, Naomi. I enjoyed reading John's part much more.

I loved how in the author's notes we are told, "I hope the reader will experience the story in the spirit it was written, recognizing that who we are is not who they were, and judging historical people by today's standards prevents us from learning from them, from their mistakes and their triumphs. These people helped build the framework that we now stand on . We should be careful about burning it down." This is so true and something I completely agree with. There were hard things to learn about in the book, but we cannot judge what these characters, many of whom were actual people or based on real people, in our era. This is why I love history and historical fiction.

This was my first book by this author and I will definitely read more of her work.