GRR Reviews Oregon Bound (Trails of the Heart Book by Rachel Wesson

Oregon Bound is a historical western "trail bride" story that managed to combine good plotting and reasonable threat to make it an exciting adventure. However, the ending was a bit too much of deus ex machina to make it a must-read.

To recap, the Thompson family (papa, mama, and three daughters Eva, Johanna, and Rebecca) was moving to Oregon on the trail in the wagon train, and nothing Eva said was going to change her papa's mind. Eva wanted to marry the poor and kind David Clarke, but papa wanted her to marry the richer but two-faced Harold Chapman. It was to Eva's relief when David found a spot as a tender to on another wagon to make the trip. But the trip won't be easy. When one of the wagon owners was killed, and David got the blame at Harold's instigation, Eva will be forced to make a horrible choice...

As I said, the ending was too much of a deus ex machina for me, and I can't say more without spoiling the ending. It really came out of nowhere and was not adequately foreshadowed.

Category: Historical Western / Trail Bride

Primary Plot: Will a girl on the way to Oregon be able to marry her love, or be forced to marry someone else to save her love's life?

Tropes: trail bride, triangle, protector, woman in peril, conspiracy

Overall Rating:  4/5