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The Wild Horizon #1
To the Wild Horizon
Missouri, 1846: In the frontier town of Independence the sound of a gunshot shatters the night. As the pistol drops from her hand and clatters to the ground, Grace knows she has no choice but to leave. Now.
In this inspiring and deeply moving story of love, courage and endurance, a young woman on the run from the law sets off on a desperate journey of survival on the treacherous Oregon Trail.
Terrified she’s wanted for the murder of her landlord, Grace is certain that, even though she acted in self-defence, no one will believe her. Quickly packing the few belongings she and her little brother Tom possess, they race to join the line of dusty wagons preparing to leave for Oregon.
As they set off, over the perilous Great Plains, knowing the wild rivers and the Rocky Mountains they must cross, Grace vows to do whatever it takes to protect Tom and get them both to safety. She will prove herself capable of surviving the hardest journey of her life.
This unputdownable and heart-wrenching historical novel shows the true strength and resilience of a woman’s heart, even when she has everything to lose and the odds are stacked against her. Fans of Kristin Hannah, Amy Harmon and Olivia Hawker will lose themselves in To the Wild Horizon.
In this inspiring and deeply moving story of love, courage and endurance, a young woman on the run from the law sets off on a desperate journey of survival on the treacherous Oregon Trail.
Terrified she’s wanted for the murder of her landlord, Grace is certain that, even though she acted in self-defence, no one will believe her. Quickly packing the few belongings she and her little brother Tom possess, they race to join the line of dusty wagons preparing to leave for Oregon.
As they set off, over the perilous Great Plains, knowing the wild rivers and the Rocky Mountains they must cross, Grace vows to do whatever it takes to protect Tom and get them both to safety. She will prove herself capable of surviving the hardest journey of her life.
This unputdownable and heart-wrenching historical novel shows the true strength and resilience of a woman’s heart, even when she has everything to lose and the odds are stacked against her. Fans of Kristin Hannah, Amy Harmon and Olivia Hawker will lose themselves in To the Wild Horizon.
378 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2024
1835 people are currently reading
1475 people want to read
About the author
Imogen Martin
3 books63 followersImogen writes sweeping, historical fiction set in nineteenth century America.
As a teenager, she took the Greyhound bus from San Francisco to New York. Over those three days of staring out of the window at the majestic mountains and endless flat plains, stories wound themselves into her head: tales of brooding, charismatic men captivated by independent women.
Since then, she has worked in a coffee-shop in Piccadilly London, a famous bookstore, and a children’s home. She has run festivals, and turned a derelict housing block on one of the poorest estates in the UK into an award-winning arts centre.
During 2020 Imogen was selected by Kate Nash Literary Agency as one of their BookCamp mentees, a mentorship programme designed to accelerate the careers of promising new writers.
Married with two children, Imogen divides her time between Wales and Sardinia.
As a teenager, she took the Greyhound bus from San Francisco to New York. Over those three days of staring out of the window at the majestic mountains and endless flat plains, stories wound themselves into her head: tales of brooding, charismatic men captivated by independent women.
Since then, she has worked in a coffee-shop in Piccadilly London, a famous bookstore, and a children’s home. She has run festivals, and turned a derelict housing block on one of the poorest estates in the UK into an award-winning arts centre.
During 2020 Imogen was selected by Kate Nash Literary Agency as one of their BookCamp mentees, a mentorship programme designed to accelerate the careers of promising new writers.
Married with two children, Imogen divides her time between Wales and Sardinia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
February 2, 2024
Missouri, 1846 and Grace Sinclair and her ten year old brother Tom, had quickly packed their meagre belongings and joined the wagon train, to head along the wild and desolate Oregon trail to their destination, to join their brother Zachary, and safety. Their parents had died not long before of cholera and Grace vowed to protect Tom with everything she had. She knew the journey ahead would be hard; would test them all - but she was determined.
Captain James Randolph was in charge of the long trip - he'd made it before - and was a strong leader over his soldiers and the travellers. But he scared most of the women and children with his aloof and stern demeanor. When trouble struck soon after leaving Fort Laramie, both Grace and Randolph became involved. Randolph was furious, but a plan needed to be made and executed. Could it work? With the new friends Grace had made - Mrs Eliot, Lillian Hollingswood and Eunice Turner (wife of Randolph's best friend, and second in charge) - she had the support she needed. But the way ahead was treacherous and the threat of attacks by the local Indians high...
I was looking forward to To the Wild Horizon very much, and I wasn't disappointed. Imogen Martin hit the nail on the head with this one; wild west at its best, and I loved it. The many months long journey over wild and rough terrain; the crossing of rivers, some small, some wide and flowing fast; damage to the wagons; illness which swept the group and more. I was captivated from the beginning and was sad to finish. I read the author's previous book - Under a Gilded Sky - and loved that one as well. I'm looking forward to finding out what the author has in mind for us next. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Captain James Randolph was in charge of the long trip - he'd made it before - and was a strong leader over his soldiers and the travellers. But he scared most of the women and children with his aloof and stern demeanor. When trouble struck soon after leaving Fort Laramie, both Grace and Randolph became involved. Randolph was furious, but a plan needed to be made and executed. Could it work? With the new friends Grace had made - Mrs Eliot, Lillian Hollingswood and Eunice Turner (wife of Randolph's best friend, and second in charge) - she had the support she needed. But the way ahead was treacherous and the threat of attacks by the local Indians high...
I was looking forward to To the Wild Horizon very much, and I wasn't disappointed. Imogen Martin hit the nail on the head with this one; wild west at its best, and I loved it. The many months long journey over wild and rough terrain; the crossing of rivers, some small, some wide and flowing fast; damage to the wagons; illness which swept the group and more. I was captivated from the beginning and was sad to finish. I read the author's previous book - Under a Gilded Sky - and loved that one as well. I'm looking forward to finding out what the author has in mind for us next. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2024
1843. Grace Sinclair needs to leave Independence, Missouri in a hurry, as a single woman on her own and with her ten year old brother Tom to look after and it’s not safe for her to stay any longer. They sign up for a wagon train leaving the next day, she has to tell a small white lie to Captain James Randolph about her marital status and because they don’t let single women travel to Oregon. Grace is extremely capable, she's looked after Tom since her parents passed away and they want to join their older brother Zachary in the West and give him on a message and a legacy left to him by their father.
James Randolph is a Captain in the army and he and his platoon will be escorting the travelers as far as Fort Laramie, where they can stock up on supplies and anyone who wants to can turn back, some of his company will stay and he will get new replacements. Even with the army escort traveling the whole way across the Great Plains the journey will be dangerous, long days of getting up at sunrise, spent either driving or walking alongside the wagon, collecting firewood and preparing food, feeding and watering animals, dealing with changes in the weather and illness, fixing broken wheels and axles and the threat of being attacked by Indians.
The trek is hard, especially when you’re keeping a secret like Grace is, she forms a bond with the women she’s traveling with, especially Eunice Turner, Lillian Hollingswood, and Mrs. Eliot and her daughter Jane. Captain Randolph has competed this expedition before, he knows how difficult it will be and he’s a great leader. But this can give people the impression that he’s stern, aloof and uncaring and that’s not the case at all.
As they get further into the trip, the chances of Indian attack increase, the men assume the women’s roles will be stay out of the way and protect the children, Grace can shoot a gun better than most men and she thinks all the ladies should know how to protect themselves, be able to load and reload a gun quickly and take part in defending the wagon train. The friction and tension between the two main characters Grace and Randolph certainly adds drama to the narrative, she discovers the Captain is a fair and good man, the sparks fly between them and what will he do when he uncovers she been keeping two secrets from him!
I received a copy of To the Wild Horizon by Imogen Martin from Storm Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Another well written and interesting historical fiction tale by Ms. Martin and I really liked how it emphasises it wasn’t just men who travelled the Oregon Trail but women right alongside them. They needed to have the same amount of courage, determination, stamina and adaptability as their male counterparts and at time when they weren’t valued or seen as equals. Five stars from me, I highly recommend Ms. Martins latest book and her previous one Under a Gilded Sky. I love a good Western story and this ticked all the right boxes for me.
James Randolph is a Captain in the army and he and his platoon will be escorting the travelers as far as Fort Laramie, where they can stock up on supplies and anyone who wants to can turn back, some of his company will stay and he will get new replacements. Even with the army escort traveling the whole way across the Great Plains the journey will be dangerous, long days of getting up at sunrise, spent either driving or walking alongside the wagon, collecting firewood and preparing food, feeding and watering animals, dealing with changes in the weather and illness, fixing broken wheels and axles and the threat of being attacked by Indians.
The trek is hard, especially when you’re keeping a secret like Grace is, she forms a bond with the women she’s traveling with, especially Eunice Turner, Lillian Hollingswood, and Mrs. Eliot and her daughter Jane. Captain Randolph has competed this expedition before, he knows how difficult it will be and he’s a great leader. But this can give people the impression that he’s stern, aloof and uncaring and that’s not the case at all.
As they get further into the trip, the chances of Indian attack increase, the men assume the women’s roles will be stay out of the way and protect the children, Grace can shoot a gun better than most men and she thinks all the ladies should know how to protect themselves, be able to load and reload a gun quickly and take part in defending the wagon train. The friction and tension between the two main characters Grace and Randolph certainly adds drama to the narrative, she discovers the Captain is a fair and good man, the sparks fly between them and what will he do when he uncovers she been keeping two secrets from him!
I received a copy of To the Wild Horizon by Imogen Martin from Storm Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Another well written and interesting historical fiction tale by Ms. Martin and I really liked how it emphasises it wasn’t just men who travelled the Oregon Trail but women right alongside them. They needed to have the same amount of courage, determination, stamina and adaptability as their male counterparts and at time when they weren’t valued or seen as equals. Five stars from me, I highly recommend Ms. Martins latest book and her previous one Under a Gilded Sky. I love a good Western story and this ticked all the right boxes for me.
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July 19, 2025Hi, I'm the author of this book and I hope you enjoyed To The Wild Horizon.
As with my debut, Under A Gilded Sky, this story has been with me for a while and it feels wonderful to share it with readers at last. Thank you to my editor Vicky and everyone at Storm Publishing.
If you have any questions, why not ask them through Goodreads? I hope you will click the Follow button as well.
If you would like to receive my monthly newsletter with updates on new releases, background snippets, sneak peaks, a FREE bluffers-guide to the Gilded Age, and a FREE map of the trail taken by Grace and Randolph, please sign up here. subscribepage.io/EU9Ckx
Or visit my website https://imogenmartinauthor.com/
I look forward to meeting you!
As with my debut, Under A Gilded Sky, this story has been with me for a while and it feels wonderful to share it with readers at last. Thank you to my editor Vicky and everyone at Storm Publishing.
If you have any questions, why not ask them through Goodreads? I hope you will click the Follow button as well.
If you would like to receive my monthly newsletter with updates on new releases, background snippets, sneak peaks, a FREE bluffers-guide to the Gilded Age, and a FREE map of the trail taken by Grace and Randolph, please sign up here. subscribepage.io/EU9Ckx
Or visit my website https://imogenmartinauthor.com/
I look forward to meeting you!
March 11, 2024
Other than a couple of love scenes, the book came off as a bit juvenile. Some of that may have been a result of the reader of the audiobook having a very youthful voice.
January 29, 2024
Having recently finished “To the Wild Horizon” by Imogen Martin, I am happy to have had the chance to read the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy; thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing.
This entertaining historical novel was filled from beginning to end with pioneer perseverance and passion. Grace's journey west was vivid with mud, dust and drama as the wagon train overlanders, and the soldiers accompanying them, took me along with them back in time to 1864. The letter exchange using pages from the family bible will stay with me when I remember favorite moments from this story of courage, determination and camaraderie.
This entertaining historical novel was filled from beginning to end with pioneer perseverance and passion. Grace's journey west was vivid with mud, dust and drama as the wagon train overlanders, and the soldiers accompanying them, took me along with them back in time to 1864. The letter exchange using pages from the family bible will stay with me when I remember favorite moments from this story of courage, determination and camaraderie.
April 13, 2024
"Missouri, 1846: In the frontier town of Independence the sound of a gunshot shatters the night. As the pistol drops from her hand and clatters to the ground, Grace knows she has no choice but to leave. Now."
~~ from the description.
What would you have done? It’s 1846 in Independence, Missouri. You are a single woman with a little brother to raise and you just shot someone. Never mind if he deserved it. He did deserve it. He’s dead. And if she is arrested what will happen to her little brother? Independence Missouri was the jumping-off place for wagon trains west. Would you do what Grace did? You just might.
Thus starts To the Wild Horizon. You might think “Yet another Oregon wagon train book” and yes it is. This is a good ‘un. The characters are outstanding and some grow on ya. Grace lives in fear that someone will discover what happened in Independence.
You have to admire Grace when she steps up to the table to apply to travel with the wagon train to Oregon. She is single. She has a little brother (and he is little). But she buffs her way onto the train. She answers the questions honestly.
Grace has courage, more than even she realizes. And the men in charge of the train notice. She is a contributor, not a whiner. And she has an ability that surpasses most of the men on the train. All the men are surprised but most accept it. A couple are envious because she’s a woman. She shouldn’t oughta be able to do that!
The story has a challenge in it that most “Oregon Trail” books don’t. What happens when someone steals on the train? Or a man pursues a woman — doesn’t matter whether she is married or single — and has only one thing on his mind. To the Wild Horizon addresses issues like these.
I liked this book until the very end. The next sentence does not give away the plot.
But why on earth was there a descriptive sexual scene at the ending? It wasn’t needed. It wasn’t expected.
To the Wild Horizon is on Kindle Unlimited at the date of this review.
I received a complimentary DRC (digital review copy) of To the Wild Horizon via NetGalley from the publisher, Storm Publishing. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Rating: 4 stars
Cover: Good
Pages: 393
Publish Date: 7 Feb 2024
#TotheWildHorizon #NetGalley #ImogenMartin
What would you have done? It’s 1846 in Independence, Missouri. You are a single woman with a little brother to raise and you just shot someone. Never mind if he deserved it. He did deserve it. He’s dead. And if she is arrested what will happen to her little brother? Independence Missouri was the jumping-off place for wagon trains west. Would you do what Grace did? You just might.
Thus starts To the Wild Horizon. You might think “Yet another Oregon wagon train book” and yes it is. This is a good ‘un. The characters are outstanding and some grow on ya. Grace lives in fear that someone will discover what happened in Independence.
You have to admire Grace when she steps up to the table to apply to travel with the wagon train to Oregon. She is single. She has a little brother (and he is little). But she buffs her way onto the train. She answers the questions honestly.
Grace has courage, more than even she realizes. And the men in charge of the train notice. She is a contributor, not a whiner. And she has an ability that surpasses most of the men on the train. All the men are surprised but most accept it. A couple are envious because she’s a woman. She shouldn’t oughta be able to do that!
The story has a challenge in it that most “Oregon Trail” books don’t. What happens when someone steals on the train? Or a man pursues a woman — doesn’t matter whether she is married or single — and has only one thing on his mind. To the Wild Horizon addresses issues like these.
I liked this book until the very end. The next sentence does not give away the plot.
But why on earth was there a descriptive sexual scene at the ending? It wasn’t needed. It wasn’t expected.
To the Wild Horizon is on Kindle Unlimited at the date of this review.
I received a complimentary DRC (digital review copy) of To the Wild Horizon via NetGalley from the publisher, Storm Publishing. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Rating: 4 stars
Cover: Good
Pages: 393
Publish Date: 7 Feb 2024
#TotheWildHorizon #NetGalley #ImogenMartin
August 3, 2025
Part dime store novel, so little historical fiction. I dive into hf to learn something new, not here. I don’t understand its popularity on goodreads. WHFBC choice, definitely the least educational, simple reading this year.
August 21, 2025
I’m a total sucker for an Oregon trail romance with a strong, independent, selfless and kind heroine with a dark, broody, contentious, hardworking male counterpart.
December 5, 2023
I have enjoyed this novel very much.
A well written story about going West and I loved every minute of it.
The way Grace did it through I kind of didn't approve of but yet I can also see why she did it. I wish she'd have stood her ground but on 2nd thought I felt like they wouldn't have believed her.
Captain Randolph though he be a good man I felt that he was unfair to Grace. I felt that at the beginning he was very hard in her which wasn't right. But keep reading folks because later on we find out why and for some reason I really wasn't surprised. I kind of speculated on it but wasn't sure.
I actually thought she was the best one out of the train and held her own quite well.
Secrets eventually do come out though. I think for me, it would be hard and eat me up until I told someone or had to.
As I was reading this I pretended that I was a part of this first wagon train of the season and got to see all of these places. Beautiful places indeed because in 2005 I actually got to see a few of these places. The Great Divide is gorgeous and there was still snow on top. Magnificent!
I didn't want this novel to end at all! I spent most of the night reading it and just now finished it.
What an awesome adventure/journey! I highly recommend it. 5 stars because this story is still staying with me. I like and admired Grace very much. Such a stalwart, kind, compassionate and caring woman. We need more like her in this world.
I'm sure there were many men like Captain Randolph in real life too. He ended up growing on me for sure and certain.
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
A well written story about going West and I loved every minute of it.
The way Grace did it through I kind of didn't approve of but yet I can also see why she did it. I wish she'd have stood her ground but on 2nd thought I felt like they wouldn't have believed her.
Captain Randolph though he be a good man I felt that he was unfair to Grace. I felt that at the beginning he was very hard in her which wasn't right. But keep reading folks because later on we find out why and for some reason I really wasn't surprised. I kind of speculated on it but wasn't sure.
I actually thought she was the best one out of the train and held her own quite well.
Secrets eventually do come out though. I think for me, it would be hard and eat me up until I told someone or had to.
As I was reading this I pretended that I was a part of this first wagon train of the season and got to see all of these places. Beautiful places indeed because in 2005 I actually got to see a few of these places. The Great Divide is gorgeous and there was still snow on top. Magnificent!
I didn't want this novel to end at all! I spent most of the night reading it and just now finished it.
What an awesome adventure/journey! I highly recommend it. 5 stars because this story is still staying with me. I like and admired Grace very much. Such a stalwart, kind, compassionate and caring woman. We need more like her in this world.
I'm sure there were many men like Captain Randolph in real life too. He ended up growing on me for sure and certain.
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 16, 2023
5 stars, Redemption
TO THE WILD HORIZON
by Imogen Martin
Grace Sinclair and her little brother Tom are on the run. They join up with a wagon train at Independence, Missouri in 1846. They were already planning on heading to Oregon, although they had to leave quicker than they had originally planned on.
Captain Randolph is the leader of the wagon train. He doesn't allow single women to travel in his trains, he'd rather not have any women on the train, simply because they are a liability. They're weak and can't do much or take care of themselves.
Grace and Randolph butt heads in many ways along the trail. Grace finds herself discriminated against, by the Captain. They both have to learn to work together and not against each other.
This is a great historical fiction novel. Highly recommend. I will read it again and again in the future. I will look for it to give as a gift to my book-loving friends.
I received a complimentary copy of #ToTheWildHorizon from #StormPublishing #NetGalley I wasn't obligated to post a review.
#WagonTrainRomance #USArmy #StrongFemaleProtagonist #Adventure #Oregon #Missouri #OregonTrail #ImogenMartin
TO THE WILD HORIZON
by Imogen Martin
Grace Sinclair and her little brother Tom are on the run. They join up with a wagon train at Independence, Missouri in 1846. They were already planning on heading to Oregon, although they had to leave quicker than they had originally planned on.
Captain Randolph is the leader of the wagon train. He doesn't allow single women to travel in his trains, he'd rather not have any women on the train, simply because they are a liability. They're weak and can't do much or take care of themselves.
Grace and Randolph butt heads in many ways along the trail. Grace finds herself discriminated against, by the Captain. They both have to learn to work together and not against each other.
This is a great historical fiction novel. Highly recommend. I will read it again and again in the future. I will look for it to give as a gift to my book-loving friends.
I received a complimentary copy of #ToTheWildHorizon from #StormPublishing #NetGalley I wasn't obligated to post a review.
#WagonTrainRomance #USArmy #StrongFemaleProtagonist #Adventure #Oregon #Missouri #OregonTrail #ImogenMartin
December 14, 2023
This book is fantastic! It’s a powerful story about a young woman, Grace, and her 10-year-old brother, Tom, who joined a wagon train headed to Oregon from Missouri in 1846.
The long journey was hazardous and dangerous, especially for a young woman who was determined to get her brother to safety. They encountered dangerous terrain as well as dangerous men, but they also encountered the love of strangers, later to be friends, and even romance, along the dusty Oregon Trail.
This is a story of hardship and struggle, but ultimately it’s a story of love and survival. I’m excited to recommend this 5-star book, which hits the shelves on February 7, 2024. Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.
The long journey was hazardous and dangerous, especially for a young woman who was determined to get her brother to safety. They encountered dangerous terrain as well as dangerous men, but they also encountered the love of strangers, later to be friends, and even romance, along the dusty Oregon Trail.
This is a story of hardship and struggle, but ultimately it’s a story of love and survival. I’m excited to recommend this 5-star book, which hits the shelves on February 7, 2024. Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.
April 3, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
April 16, 2024
I just could not with the audiobook. I bet it would be a 4 if I read it instead of listened to it.
February 25, 2024
It was a sweet story about hardships , friendships and love on the Oregon trail. It gave me westward women vibes. It was a good read. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
June 7, 2025
enjoyed , great historical fiction, easy read. love an independent woman.
August 16, 2024
I absolutely adored this book. Oregon trail love story, gun fights, badass women. I was hooked from the first page!
April 26, 2025
This book easily became one of my favorites for 2025! It was such a good story! I love all stories about life on the frontier. This book makes you feel like you are actually there with all of the life, love, family, friendship, and dangers that go along with life during that time. And of course! the romance was 🤌 please do yourself a favor and read this story!
January 13, 2024
I loved this book! This book takes you to the Oregon Trail as the group makes it way from Missourri to Oregon. The book gives a realistic view of the struggles involved while building on relationships. Captain Randolf leads the wagon train and ends up being quite the dreamy character. There is disease outbreak, weather, crime, attacks and some romance along the way. The book made me want to see some of the landmarks along the Oregon trail! Thank you Netgalley for the chance to review the book.
April 7, 2024
Very heart warming story I admire the courage of these women who made the trek to Oregon
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May 2, 2024dnf @ 20% writing is very basic and MMC is OTT misogynistic asshole. If you’re going to compare author to Amy Harmon you’ve got to come with a little bit more something something.
November 4, 2024
A nice historical novel. I enjoyed the story.
December 22, 2023
Amazing story of strength and perseverance in the 1800’s on the Oregon trail.
Grace Sinclair is on the run with her brother Tom. She believes she killed her landlord after unwanted advances. In Missouri, she joins a wagon train to Oregon. Believed to be married and Tom to be her son, Captain James Randolph allows her to join. Grace shows the overlanders and the military personnel her strength and will to survive as a woman on the trail. And she falls in love.
This was a great story of the dangerous conditions and will to survive as families set out for a better life in the west. I loved the characters and the storyline. The story depicts the life of those who journeyed through tough terrain and the fight they endured. We also experienced Grace and James fall in love.
I would recommend this book. Put it on your TBR and pre-order today. The book will be released February 7, 2024.
Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing the author for the e-ARC.
Grace Sinclair is on the run with her brother Tom. She believes she killed her landlord after unwanted advances. In Missouri, she joins a wagon train to Oregon. Believed to be married and Tom to be her son, Captain James Randolph allows her to join. Grace shows the overlanders and the military personnel her strength and will to survive as a woman on the trail. And she falls in love.
This was a great story of the dangerous conditions and will to survive as families set out for a better life in the west. I loved the characters and the storyline. The story depicts the life of those who journeyed through tough terrain and the fight they endured. We also experienced Grace and James fall in love.
I would recommend this book. Put it on your TBR and pre-order today. The book will be released February 7, 2024.
Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing the author for the e-ARC.
December 9, 2023
I enjoy stories about pioneers, and this one started off with a bang (get it?). Ms. Martin does a wonderful job of creating the characters of Grace and her little brother Tom. I liked the descriptions of the wilderness and what it was like to travel with a wagon train. However, the romance went from 0 to 100 extremely quickly, and I found it unbelievable. Also, I was hoping that this would be a clean read, but there are a couple of sex scenes. It should also be noted that there’s a rape and attempted rape, although they thankfully are not explicit. Ultimately, I give this book 3.5, rounded up to 4 because I did genuinely care about the main character and her journey, both literally and figuratively.
Oh, and prepare for humongous amounts of sexism and misogyny due to the time period. Sooooo many insults directed at women.
Oh, and prepare for humongous amounts of sexism and misogyny due to the time period. Sooooo many insults directed at women.
February 8, 2024
After being bowled over by the author's debut novel, 'Under a Gilded Sky', I couldn't wait to read 'To the Wild Horizon'. The atmospheric cover and the intriguing title are both so apt for this wonderful novel. Full of historical detail with evidence of extensive research, the story immediately transported me to 1840s America from the very beginning. The pace of the story was such that I couldn't put it down. The characters came alive on the page; I was there with Grace and her younger brother, Tom, as they faced the perilous and gruelling journey following The Oregon Trail to join their brother. I particularly liked the strength of character and resilience shown by Grace who had to prove herself again and again that, as a woman, she could undertake the journey. The character of Captain Randolf is also multi-layered and it was good to observe his emotional personal journey; I was willing the two to fall in love. This fabulous novel has it all - action, drama, a building of community, adventure and romance. Novel three can't come fast enough for me!
Thank you to Net Galley and Storm Publishing for an ARC copy of the book.
Thank you to Net Galley and Storm Publishing for an ARC copy of the book.
May 29, 2025
It was ok for about 80% and it just lost the plot near the end. The characters were just ok, a little flat, but endearing enough. There was an obvious concerted effort to represent women and native Americans with a 21st century lens that would have been totally foreign to any white settlers at the time. It read like a woman wrote it who knew much of current attitudes towards women and native Americans but very little of mid-19th century attitudes. It was just super unbelievable and off-putting. The enemies to lovers trope was rushed, seriously rush. I wanted to like it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2024
This book y’all!!
If I was a pioneer woman I would want to be like the FMC Grace Sinclair! She was selfless, courageous, smart, with a fiery personality & strength in her convictions. She was practical, but giving. Strong but tender hearted. She was so much more than what was expected of women at that time & had no qualms standing up for herself and the “weaker sex”.
James Randolph, the guarded, regimented Captain, was responsible for those making the journey west, this included the travellers themselves as well as the military who accompanied them. He was known for being a strong leader but aloof & firm. He had no idea how meeting “Mrs.” Sinclair would enrage & exasperate him, nor how much she would change him.
This story was about so much more than the hardships people faced when they decided to homestead in the west. It was about sacrifice for the greater good, finding your voice, compassion, perseverance, community, as well as opening oneself up to humanity & love, and being changed by it all.
This book was an easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing for allowing me to read an advanced copy. And to Imogene Martin, well done & thank you for sharing your gift of writing with us.
If I was a pioneer woman I would want to be like the FMC Grace Sinclair! She was selfless, courageous, smart, with a fiery personality & strength in her convictions. She was practical, but giving. Strong but tender hearted. She was so much more than what was expected of women at that time & had no qualms standing up for herself and the “weaker sex”.
James Randolph, the guarded, regimented Captain, was responsible for those making the journey west, this included the travellers themselves as well as the military who accompanied them. He was known for being a strong leader but aloof & firm. He had no idea how meeting “Mrs.” Sinclair would enrage & exasperate him, nor how much she would change him.
This story was about so much more than the hardships people faced when they decided to homestead in the west. It was about sacrifice for the greater good, finding your voice, compassion, perseverance, community, as well as opening oneself up to humanity & love, and being changed by it all.
This book was an easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing for allowing me to read an advanced copy. And to Imogene Martin, well done & thank you for sharing your gift of writing with us.
June 9, 2025
Another good historical fiction. Was a bit bored at times but overall happy I read it. If you’re looking for a plot driven book, this isn’t for you. This was definitely a story of love, determination and character growth. Love me a book with a bad ass independent woman.
December 26, 2024
TW: the dog doesn’t die. A great story but lacking in some pacing elements. Seems to spend a long time with mundane events just to skim past action.
February 8, 2024
Captivating, sweeping, exciting, absorbing, exceptional and authentic historical fiction are just a few words I would use to express Imogen Martin’s newest novel To The Wild Horizon! I did not know what to expect when I started because I had not read her highly acclaimed first book (mostly due to my oversized reading pile) but once I dove into this storyline (which was at the first paragraph!), I knew I was going to love this novel. And I was right.
First, the characters came alive on the page perfectly drawn. I felt I knew them completely by the end of the story. They had layers in their personalities and carried an artist’s touch of skilled shading. I could visualise their physical attributes, their quirks and mannerisms. They were more than mere sketches on a developing canvas. Even the minor characters were properly formed and fit in every appropriate space. And the major ones were never just black and white but paraded across the settings in living colour, often against the sepia tones of a wilderness landscape. Throughout all their hardships, I felt compassion—understood their disappointments and cheered on their aspirations. A real community spirit developed on the journey—especially between the women. Grace, of course, was their true leader in every way. A forerunner of things to come. She constantly helped those who needed assistance.
As for the setting itself, I could feel the brown dust mixed with crushed golden leaves against my skin, the dry particles of earth swirling in the wind from clouds of hoofprints stinging my eyes. I was on the wagon with Grace, beside her on the seat, watching her movements, hearing her secrets and admiring her fierce unbeatable determination. She was an incredible example to the women (and men) of courage, skill, ability and unfathomable strength. Yes, she was on the run from an incident that haunted her. An impending violation she did not provoke. But in her defence, who would not have done what she did—if able? To protect her young brother and herself, she aimed a gun and fired. Did she kill the man? She never waited to find out but shot (pardon the pun) through, leaving the frontier town of Independence, Missouri in a hurry after packing her belongings. Then with her little brother in tow, she made her way to the next group of travellers on their way to Oregon across the Great Plains. She was not just running away but heading toward a new life in the west where their other brother already lived. She needed to see him, deliver a message and parcel from their late father—in hopes of mending a father-son relationship.
The army was part of this convoy and the captain was a ‘different sort of leader—rigid, authoritarian—even dictatorial…’ In order to join the group, she had to make him believe she was married, had a child and her husband was already in Oregon. Her brother was a small ten, and he played his part well. But those fabrications would catch up to her when least expected. Yet, even then, she handled the situation well. The captain would show his true nature and their connection would spark and their relationship change. I really enjoyed his personal journey, too, and the effects Grace had on him.
I felt the effects of the time period, the well described locations, and the restraints and expectations on women. The challenges were realistic and they affected everyone. Who wouldn’t change after such horrendous circumstances—especially the pioneers? They put new meaning in the word ‘resilience’ and ‘fortitude’. Stretched and pushed beyond ordinary limits, they had to survive the odds. The Wild West would have been a challenge for anyone crossing the plains, mountains and rivers but the women who found themselves venturing in such untamed territory, would have been battling not only the terrain, the elements, wild animals and sickness but also less-than-friendly natives who did not want anyone trespassing on their land. I won’t get into the particulars of this kind of warfare but Imogen certainly provides a vivid caption of the encounter and destruction that happened when the travelling pioneers encountered these people. Plenty of fear ravaged even the bravest for many were struck down or injured on both sides.
This is a story about courage, resilience, love, hope, fresh starts, unlikely unions, awakenings, sacrifice and so much more. A beautifully delivered novel that kept me on the edge of my seat and my hand over my heart. I truly felt transported to the 1840s and was caught up in the dramas, felt my pulse race during the dangerous moments, grieved over the horrid violations but at the end when justice is served, lovers are united and everything is rebalanced, I was so glad to have made the journey with these characters across the Great Plains, for like them I felt changed by the experience and filled with new contemplations. This is an exceptional read that I highly recommend. Now I must go back and read Imogen’s first novel and wait anxiously for her next! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for my review copy.
First, the characters came alive on the page perfectly drawn. I felt I knew them completely by the end of the story. They had layers in their personalities and carried an artist’s touch of skilled shading. I could visualise their physical attributes, their quirks and mannerisms. They were more than mere sketches on a developing canvas. Even the minor characters were properly formed and fit in every appropriate space. And the major ones were never just black and white but paraded across the settings in living colour, often against the sepia tones of a wilderness landscape. Throughout all their hardships, I felt compassion—understood their disappointments and cheered on their aspirations. A real community spirit developed on the journey—especially between the women. Grace, of course, was their true leader in every way. A forerunner of things to come. She constantly helped those who needed assistance.
As for the setting itself, I could feel the brown dust mixed with crushed golden leaves against my skin, the dry particles of earth swirling in the wind from clouds of hoofprints stinging my eyes. I was on the wagon with Grace, beside her on the seat, watching her movements, hearing her secrets and admiring her fierce unbeatable determination. She was an incredible example to the women (and men) of courage, skill, ability and unfathomable strength. Yes, she was on the run from an incident that haunted her. An impending violation she did not provoke. But in her defence, who would not have done what she did—if able? To protect her young brother and herself, she aimed a gun and fired. Did she kill the man? She never waited to find out but shot (pardon the pun) through, leaving the frontier town of Independence, Missouri in a hurry after packing her belongings. Then with her little brother in tow, she made her way to the next group of travellers on their way to Oregon across the Great Plains. She was not just running away but heading toward a new life in the west where their other brother already lived. She needed to see him, deliver a message and parcel from their late father—in hopes of mending a father-son relationship.
The army was part of this convoy and the captain was a ‘different sort of leader—rigid, authoritarian—even dictatorial…’ In order to join the group, she had to make him believe she was married, had a child and her husband was already in Oregon. Her brother was a small ten, and he played his part well. But those fabrications would catch up to her when least expected. Yet, even then, she handled the situation well. The captain would show his true nature and their connection would spark and their relationship change. I really enjoyed his personal journey, too, and the effects Grace had on him.
I felt the effects of the time period, the well described locations, and the restraints and expectations on women. The challenges were realistic and they affected everyone. Who wouldn’t change after such horrendous circumstances—especially the pioneers? They put new meaning in the word ‘resilience’ and ‘fortitude’. Stretched and pushed beyond ordinary limits, they had to survive the odds. The Wild West would have been a challenge for anyone crossing the plains, mountains and rivers but the women who found themselves venturing in such untamed territory, would have been battling not only the terrain, the elements, wild animals and sickness but also less-than-friendly natives who did not want anyone trespassing on their land. I won’t get into the particulars of this kind of warfare but Imogen certainly provides a vivid caption of the encounter and destruction that happened when the travelling pioneers encountered these people. Plenty of fear ravaged even the bravest for many were struck down or injured on both sides.
This is a story about courage, resilience, love, hope, fresh starts, unlikely unions, awakenings, sacrifice and so much more. A beautifully delivered novel that kept me on the edge of my seat and my hand over my heart. I truly felt transported to the 1840s and was caught up in the dramas, felt my pulse race during the dangerous moments, grieved over the horrid violations but at the end when justice is served, lovers are united and everything is rebalanced, I was so glad to have made the journey with these characters across the Great Plains, for like them I felt changed by the experience and filled with new contemplations. This is an exceptional read that I highly recommend. Now I must go back and read Imogen’s first novel and wait anxiously for her next! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for my review copy.
January 22, 2024
I loved Imogen Martin’s debut Under a Gilded Sky, so when I heard about this one I just had to read it. The author doesn’t disappoint- once again I was swept away to nineteenth century America, this time on the pioneer trail. A skilfully woven romance, I loved Grace for her quiet strength and determination. She’s a loyal and devoted sister, a sharp-shooter, and resourceful in the face of problems. She’s prepared to risk her own reputation for the sake of someone more vulnerable than herself.
I also loved Captain Randolph. He’s everything you need in a romantic hero. Tall, dark, handsome and brooding, but with strong principles and kindness under the gruff exterior. The romantic scenes were well written and I enjoyed the will they/won’t they storyline as the couple encountered a series of obstacles.
The author doesn’t shrink from showing how patriarchal attitudes at the time affected women’s lives.
I’ll eagerly anticipate this author’s next novel, having so greatly enjoyed her first two. This is a 4.5 star read for me.
I also loved Captain Randolph. He’s everything you need in a romantic hero. Tall, dark, handsome and brooding, but with strong principles and kindness under the gruff exterior. The romantic scenes were well written and I enjoyed the will they/won’t they storyline as the couple encountered a series of obstacles.
The author doesn’t shrink from showing how patriarchal attitudes at the time affected women’s lives.
I’ll eagerly anticipate this author’s next novel, having so greatly enjoyed her first two. This is a 4.5 star read for me.
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