The first step in a challenging journey is often the one that means the most.
Though it means saying goodbye to the beloved friends and spiritual mentors of her St. Charles, Missouri quilting circle, Anna Goben is certain that she needs to enlist her family in the Boones Lick Company wagon train. The loss of her beloved brother in the Civil War has paralyzed her mother and grandfather in a malaise of grief and depression and Anna is convinced that only a fresh start in the Promised Land of California can bring her family back to her. Although the unknown perils of the trail west loom, Anna’s commitment to caring for her loved ones leaves no room for fear—or even loving someone new.
During the five-month journey, trail hand Caleb Reger plans to keep a low profile as he watches over the band of travelers. Guarding secrets about his past and avoiding God’s calling on his life, Caleb wants to steer as far from Anna as she does him, but she proves to be just as he assessed her from the beginning— independent, beautiful trouble.
Led by a pillar of hope, the group faces rough terrain that begins to take a toll on their spirits. Will the wilderness of suffering lead them astray, or will the gentle song of love that echoes across the prairie turn their hearts toward God’s grace and the promise of a new home?
My Thoughts
After the extremely unfinished feel of the third prequel novella, Ripples Along the Shore, I was quite anxious to get to this book and see how the stories would play out. Though I was kinda sad that Boney and Anna didn't end up together I had kinda figured it out already since Boney is also a character in Mona's previous series The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek which is set many years down the road from this series. That being said I really enjoyed watching Caleb and Anna's relationship grow from mutual dislike based on misconceptions to a beautiful romance. I was also happy that we got to read the rest of Caroline and Garrett's story! The setting of a wagon train was really fun and it was well executed. It was especially entertaining for me because as a child all of my attempts at writing a story ended up being about people heading west. Overall I really enjoyed this story and it just might be my favorite of this author's! Looking forward to book two!
About the Author
Mona Hodgson is the author of Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series and The Quilted Heart Novellas.
Mona's writing credits also include nearly thirty children's books, including Real Girls of the Bible: A Devotional, Bedtime in the Southwest, and The Princess Twins and the Tea Party. One of Mona's favorite things to do, besides writing or eating dark chocolate, is to speak at women's retreats and conferences. Mona lives in Arizona with her husband, Bob.
I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
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