Westward Hearts by Melody Carlson - Review of the first book in Homeward on the Oregon Trail series

Elizabeth Martin lost her husband three years ago and is raising her two children on her own. She still wears black and manages to continue running their farm. When Elizabeth and the children to to her parents for Christmas her brother comes home in a foul mood and refuses to join them for Christmas Eve dinner, not only that his fiancee isn't with him. Elizabeth goes to talk to him and finds out that the wedding is called off because his fiancee is now the wife of his best friend and they have left town. Matthew is devastated and after a week or so he decides to head to Oregon.

Going to Oregon, this brings back the memories that Elizabeth and her husband had always planned on going to Oregon to join his family who had already gone out there. The more she thinks about it the more she wants to go, when the kids hear about it they want to go too. The only thing holding her back is leaving her parents here all alone. When the parents find out everyone is moving to Oregon, they finally decide to go too.

Westward Hearts takes you through the planning, the preparing and getting on the Oregon Trail. But Melody Carlson, just how could you leave me hanging out there in the middle of the trip at such a crucial time! Elizabeth is a person of faith but as they move on she is soon learning more about faith from her young daughter. I really enjoyed reading this and was so disappointed where Melody ended it but I'm also glad that I have the next book in the series "A Dream for Tomorrow" on my Kindle!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the NetGalley  <http://www.netgalley.com/> book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”