Title: Where the Lost Wander
Author: Amy Harmon
First published April 28, 2020
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Rating: 4.4
Overview
Journey through the treacherous Oregon Trail with Naomi May and her family as they try to leave their past behind and start anew. Set in 1853, Where the Lost Wander is a heart-wrenching tale of love and loss.
Amidst the perils and uncertainties of the Overland Trail, Naomi meets John Lowry, a half-Pawnee man who becomes an unlikely protector for her family. Together, they navigate through the hardships of the journey while trying to build a life together.
But their pasts and John’s heritage threaten to tear them apart. Will their love withstand the trials of the wagon train and the dangers that lie ahead?
Find out in this epic and haunting love story that will leave you breathless.
Editoral Review
In her latest novel, Where the Lost Wander, Amy Harmon takes readers on an immersive journey through the uncharted territories of the American West in the mid-19th century. Harmon, a New York Times bestselling author known for her heartfelt and lyrical writing style, spins a captivating tale of love and survival against the backdrop of a turbulent historical period.
The story centers around Naomi May, a young woman from Missouri who joins her father’s wagon train bound for California in search of a better life. Along the way, Naomi encounters John Lowry, a half-Pawnee cowboy who becomes her protector and confidante.
As they navigate the dangers and uncertainties of the trail, their friendship blossoms into a forbidden romance that challenges their beliefs and loyalties. Harmon’s prose is evocative and evocatively descriptive of the harsh terrain and the perils of the journey, making the reader feel as if they are experiencing it themselves.
She balances the emotional tension with moments of wit and humor, and the secondary characters are also fully fleshed out and add to the overall richness of the story. One of the strengths of the book is how it explores the complex interactions between different cultures during a time of great upheaval and conflict.
Harmon does not shy away from the atrocities committed against Native Americans nor the difficult choices made by pioneers on the Oregon Trail, and she provides a nuanced and sensitive portrayal of John’s experience as a half-breed straddling two worlds. However, the pacing of the story can feel slow at times, and some of the plot twists and turns feel contrived or predictable.
Additionally, the historical accuracy of some of the details has been called into question by critics, though Harmon has defended her research methods and sources. Overall, Where the Lost Wander is an engrossing and heart-wrenching novel that will appeal to fans of historical romance, adventure, and drama.
With its themes of resilience, sacrifice, and empathy, it resonates with current issues of social injustice and reconciliation. Amy Harmon’s talent for storytelling shines through in this epic tale of love and survival on the untamed frontier, and readers will come away with a deeper appreciation for the enduring spirit of human connection.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
