| Title | : | Wagon Train Baby (Love on the Santa Fe Trail #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1989183018 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781989183014 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 251 |
| Publication | : | First published August 1, 2018 |
A life-altering betrayal leaves Donna Grace alone, unmarried, and pregnant. She’s desperate to leave St. Louis, Missouri, and return to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she grew up, and the only way back is by wagon train. The wagon master refuses to let a single woman drive a wagon without a male escort. Donna knows she can’t trust men, but it seems she’s going to have to partner with one if she wants to get back home.
Luke Russell failed to protect his fiancée. Because of his neglect, she was murdered. He vows to never leave another person to face dangers on their own and to never again open his heart to love. When he overhears Donna Grace’s predicament he offers her a marriage of convenience that they will dissolve as soon they reach Santa Fe.
But the trail forces them to work together. The birth of Donna’s baby unites them in a way they can’t deny. Will the dangers and joys of the Santa Fe Trail break down the barriers these two have built around their hearts?
Wagon Train Baby (Love on the Santa Fe Trail #1) Reviews
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I read this book in a couple hours, but I wasn't a huge fan. It was just ... eh. The writing style didn't work for me, and the novel's plot was pretty predictable.
I skim-read toward the end because I thought it was boring. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood, though.
If you enjoy Christian historical romance and don't mind reading a book that's just for fun, this may be the one for you! Just not for me. -
A marriage of convenience and a baby. There was a lot going on yet felt like just a story. This was not an emotional deep dive.
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A Worthy Love
A tender story of trust and love amid shadows of the past. I appreciate the author's use of comforting scripture and inspirational hymns. A very satisfying read. -
Good book. I wish it was a little more in depth about the characters back rounds.
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Y’all these types of books are my guilty pleasure that I am willing to publicly share. And while this book was not great, I’ll take skim reading a story like this any day.
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Donna Grace Clark and Luke Russell both are headed from St. Louis, Missouri to Santa Fe on the Santa Fe Trail when Donna Grace finds she needs a man to accompany her and her sister or be left behind. She was tricked into a false marriage and left expecting a baby and wants a new start for her child.
Luke hears of her problem and offers her a fake marriage to help her and also to atone for the guilt he feels when he failed to protect the woman he loved and she was murdered.
This sets up the Wagon Train Baby and how they found ways to help each other not only with the trip but also to confront and move past their personal problems. I liked it was a Christian romance and how they became to depend on one another, learning to laugh together and love each other and to plan a new life together. Sweet little Elena Rose was a great addition to the story and especially how Luke became part of her life even before her birth. -
A quick book to pass time but not especially good in any way.
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Wonderful story of a rescue of a lady and her sister. Luke is truly a hero in her eyes and in the readers. He rescues this lady so she can go to Santa Fe to start her life over for her and her unborn baby. Previously she married a man, and was having his child, the problem with that marriage is he husband was already married. So now here is Donna Grace alone, unmarried and with child. She finds she can't join the wagon train without a man, husband, father, brother. So Luke steps up and offers her an alternative so she can go to NM. She is shocked and of course can't do this as now she does not trust men. All of them in her life had let her down. She takes Luke's offer of a marriage of convenience or a "pretend" marriage, just until she gets to Santa Fe. So the wagon train (including his bro and sister) believes it is a real marriage and it goes on from there. It is a good story and I recommend it to those who love stories of this nature. As for me I am a sucker for a "good wagon train story" and this one qualifies.
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i guess i’m in my oregon train era….sos
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My review today is on the Christian Historical Novel, Wagon Train Baby. This is the first book in the Love on the Santa Fe Trail Series. I have always enjoyed Linda's stories. This one is excellent. I really like marriage of convenience stories so I was excited to get it. This story is well written, heartwarming, and full of faith. I know you are going to love it.
Donna Grace Clark finds herself in a terrible situation. She had married what she thought was a good man only to find out he had lied to her and he was already married. He and his real wife are prancing around town and everyone is talking about Donna Grace as her pregnancy becomes more noticeable. She arranges for her sister, her father, and herself to go on a wagon train to Santa Fe where she had grown up. At the last minute her father refuses to go. The wagon master comes and tells her she can't go on the train. Women must be married or accompanied by their father or brother. The girls discuss what their options are but Donna Grace refuses to stay in this town. A man comes to her and offers to marry her and give the baby a name. The marriage will be in name only.
Luke Russell couldn't help hearing the wagon master and the girls discussing the situation. Luke felt like he had failed his beloved and this could be a way to atone for that. His brother has lost his wife and child maybe this is a way to him too. The woman had been badly treated he could help her. He makes the offer and marries the girl before evening is over. He'll be all that she and the baby needs. Then he will let her go.
A horrendous journey to cross the wilderness. Faith in God and trust in each other will have to be enough for this group. God has a plan for them a plan for a hope and a future. God has a plan for you to, thoughts of peace, and not for evil, to give you an expected end. You must give Him your heart to see Him work in your life. -
This is an amazing story, a father sending his two young adult daughters to Santa Fe, New Mexico on a Wagon Train alone. The older daughter is very independent, can take care of herself, her younger sister, the animals and drive the wagon, even though she is pregnant with no husband. But the wagon master will not let her join the wagon train with no man to help her. A kind gentleman on the wagon train volunteers to help her, will he marry her, a total stranger? This story gets better as you read.
Every story and every author is unique in their storytelling this is one of them. It is an excellent, well written historical, Christian romance novel, I love this type of book. In the 1800's during the gold rush days when so many people in the East packed up to head West for free land, not knowing the trials, decisions or hardships they would face. This author, Linda Ford shares these adventures, the journey and good history with us in this book. I enjoyed reading of these brave families and their lives. This was interesting, historical and entertaining. It is a series, although these books are stand alone. I recommend this book to everyone of all ages. -
Sweet story
Two wounded hearts must learn to forgive and trust in order to heal.
Donna Grace has been betrayed by her Grandfather and his negative words towards her and then betrayed by married man who married her but left when his wife found out. Luke once engaged to Ellen until he lost her in a horrible accident.
At the last minute Donna Grace father backs out of traveling with her and her sister on the wagon train to Santa Fe and the wagon master refuses to allow them to travel with the group. Luke has over heard her plight and propose a pretend marriage until they reach Santa Fe. Since Donna Grace is pregnant with no life with her father she agrees to marry until she and her sister get to Santa Fe.
She has an extremely independent struck an he has a crazy need to protect and provide for her can they find themselves a middle ground and open up to each other? Will unexpected events bring them together? Read and find out! -
Set in 1848, this book launched the Santa Fe Trail series. I am a big western history fan and especially enjoy a good wagon train story. This is one of my favorites. Both main characters are struggling with painful pasts. Strong, independent, and pregnant heroine Donna Grace Clark needs help, but she is determined to manage on her own and travel to Santa Fe with her sister on the wagon train to start a new life. Caring, protective hero Luke Russell is just as determined to do what needs to be done to help her. Convinced that a marriage of convenience with no emotional involvement is the best solution, they set off on the wagon train to Santa Fe. What ensues is a heartwarming, engaging, adventurous journey. A well-paced plot, well-crafted characters, a creditably sketched western setting, a sweetly developing marriage of convenience romance, and an encouraging faith thread combine to make an uplifting, enjoyable read.
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A good, clean western romance.
A young woman finds herself married and pregnant...until her husband's wife arrives in town. She now is the disgraced "other woman", and finds herself paid a small damages fee and trying to find her way back to her childhood home. This means she must join the last wagon train of the season, except the rules require her to have a father, husband, brother, or other close male relation travel with her. Unfortunately, her father won't escort her. And, no one of character wishes to marry a woman in her condition--except for one man who overhears her predicament and offers the protection of a marriage of convenience. It can be dissolved once they reach Santa Fe, and they can continue on with their lives. She agrees, and finds herself on both a physical journey and a journey of healing. This book is predictable with a few surprises along the way. It is a great option to settle down with when you need a gentle story. -
I found this to be a new twist on wagon train romances. The author's different approach to this and 'marriage-of-convenience' captured and held my attention. I couldn't wait to see how the whole story would unfold.
Donna Grace is an admirable heroine, striving to make the best of a terrible situation. The way her experiences shape her at the beginning of the novel and her growth throughout the tale encouraged me.
Just to let you know, there are some repetitive bits. If that kind of thing bothers you, you might want to give this one a pass. If not, give it a try. I found it to be a peaceful, enjoyable book, just right for unwinding after a busy day.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys clean reads, romance, inspirational romance, historical fiction, or old west romance. -
This series could be outstanding, if this Book 1 of the Love on the Santa Fe Trail series is any example. It's a historical Christian romance, and I think I need to give it five stars.
It's hard to come up with an untried variation on the romance genres. They mostly start out with girl hates guy (and vice versa) and wind up with them falling in love with each other. This one adds a baby to the picture that the guy didn't father. That can be a little ticklish. Add to the fact that both the guy and the gal begin with intentions to split when they reach Santa Fe. All she needs is to have a man holding the reins on her covered wagon. All he needs is to know is that he saved one woman from hardship and/or death.
I think you'll like this one. -
Tender love blossoms under tenuous circumstances
A strong, independent woman caught in a crushing dilemma not of her own making fights to regain her honor and self esteem. The impossible task can only be accomplished with the help of a willing candidate to enter a into a pretend covenant of marriage. The saving grace in such an awkward collusion can only succeed with both individuals drawing on their individual faith and inner commitment to God. Evil comes against them from various directions as the wagon train they travel with winds it’s way from Independence Kansas toward Santa Fe New Mexico. The characters are engaging and well developed with inner fears and personal reactions that reveal individual shortcomings. -
A good Christian story about Donna Grace, single and pregnant, and Luke, still feeling guilty of not being able to save his fiancee. When the Trail boss refuses to take Donna Grace and her sister with them, Luke offers to marry her for the duration of the treck, only until they arrive at Santa Fe....
I did sometimes wonder about what was realistic during this narration, and where perhaps the author took some liberties for the sake of a good story...
However, a good fluent narration style, sympathetic characters and a good plot makes this quite an enjoyable book. Seeing as the next in this series happens during this journey as well, this promises to be one very long treck. :) -
It is difficult to present a creative plot for books of this and the mail-order-bride genres, but at least this was different, although somewhat fanciful in nature. The ongoing character development, although repetitive, explained some behavior which would be questionable regarding common sense (like taking an optional wagon train journey when very pregnant to Santa Fe leaving behind her father to seek out her surly grandfather). However, the one-in-the-million cowboy came to the rescue time and time again to prove his commitment and ultimate love. Many Bible verses interjected which may limit some readership, but to those who enjoy this genre, it is an entertaining read.
