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emkatsteen's review
4.0
I love a “going West” story and this was no exception. The beginning was brutal, but the story structure kept me reading. I LOVED John as the male protagonist.
ejanephillips's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bree_of_the_woods's review
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, War, Violence, Child death, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault and Animal cruelty
kimbermarie83's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
popgoesbitty's review against another edition
2.0
CWs: rape, graphic violence
Normally when a book's ratings are this high (4.4 average), I disagree wholeheartedly with the sparse reviews that give it an overtly bad rating and review. However, this was one of the times where I surprisingly agreed with the minority.
I'm genuinely shocked at how high this book's ratings are. Because man, this did NOT resonate with me, nor did I think the story was well written. Portions of the plot were vastly underdeveloped, particularly the romantic leads' relationship. They had chemistry, for sure, but I almost doubted they really liked or knew each other. It felt more like they were in lust, despite the books PG-rated, closed-door vibe. They barely had any conversations. The male lead almost seemed like he had to convince himself he was into Naomi.
The pacing was like a sprint followed by a nap. You had maybe 15-20 pages of extremely graphic, high action writing followed by 75-100 pages of endless descriptions of the prairie and mundane daily tasks fulfilled by the emigrants. The plot arch was wobbly, and I'm not sure if the author knew what type of book she wanted to write when she sat down to write it.
The book got 2 stars because the atmospheric Oregon Trail vibe was strong. It really spat you right on the trail, right into that dreamy book cover, and I enjoyed that aspect of it.
Don't pick this up if you want, despite the promise, a romance. Pick it up if you want a historical, adventurous type journey with a weak hint of those romantic warm fuzzies.
Normally when a book's ratings are this high (4.4 average), I disagree wholeheartedly with the sparse reviews that give it an overtly bad rating and review. However, this was one of the times where I surprisingly agreed with the minority.
I'm genuinely shocked at how high this book's ratings are. Because man, this did NOT resonate with me, nor did I think the story was well written. Portions of the plot were vastly underdeveloped, particularly the romantic leads' relationship. They had chemistry, for sure, but I almost doubted they really liked or knew each other. It felt more like they were in lust, despite the books PG-rated, closed-door vibe. They barely had any conversations. The male lead almost seemed like he had to convince himself he was into Naomi.
The pacing was like a sprint followed by a nap. You had maybe 15-20 pages of extremely graphic, high action writing followed by 75-100 pages of endless descriptions of the prairie and mundane daily tasks fulfilled by the emigrants. The plot arch was wobbly, and I'm not sure if the author knew what type of book she wanted to write when she sat down to write it.
The book got 2 stars because the atmospheric Oregon Trail vibe was strong. It really spat you right on the trail, right into that dreamy book cover, and I enjoyed that aspect of it.
Don't pick this up if you want, despite the promise, a romance. Pick it up if you want a historical, adventurous type journey with a weak hint of those romantic warm fuzzies.
chars_cats's review against another edition
5.0
I thought nothing could live up to the first Amy Harmon book I read; What the Wind Knows, so I didn't dare read this for a few months. Big mistake. I could not put this book down, Amy Harmon makes me love the characters she is writing about, the emotion behind them all is amazing. She is now one of my favorite authors.
This is a completely different setting, early America. We get to see the travels of a young widow heading west and the adventures regarding her life and her heart are more than enough to keep you engrossed from beginning to end.
This is a completely different setting, early America. We get to see the travels of a young widow heading west and the adventures regarding her life and her heart are more than enough to keep you engrossed from beginning to end.
thelittleyaga's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
If Elsa Dutton is your favorite Yellowstone character then this book is for you. This book shows the horrors and the hope in the American West. It also features some very important figures in history during the time that you may not have heard of otherwise. A blend of fiction and reality.
oopsdidireadthat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
michellechien930's review
3.0
My second Amy Harmon book! She's such a terrific writer, and I've never read that many books that covered the pilgrims and the early colonies of America. It was interesting to understand a bit about that cultural backdrop and the clashes between the settlers and the natives. The romance bit was kind of dry for me, but otherwise it was a smooth-sailing read.