The Girl from Tomorrow's Town

Enduring Hope #5

by Naomi Dawn Musch

Past and Present Collide on the Railway
 
When life seems weighed down by challenges, there are always pillars of enduring hope and love to be discovered.

Lily Mae Dodge flees Wyoming by night to find her mother, who sent her west on an orphan train ten years ago. After she's arrested in Chicago, help comes from a man with a rare vision impairment whom she only just met on a train. Francis Basnett is a roustabout for the famous Hagenbeck-Wallace circus, where he helps Lily gain employment. Their friendship grows into more, and it seems Lily is closer than ever to finding her mother. . .until the night a rogue troop train slams into the stalled circus train, killing dozens and splintering hope.
 
More from the Enduring Hope
The Angel of Second Street by Barbara Tifft Blakey
The Undercover Heiress of Brockton by Kelly J. Goshorn
The Caregiver at Wounded Knee by Debby Lee
 

Genres: Historical Fiction

301 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 1, 2026

About the author

Naomi loves stories rich in American history, but occasionally writes in other genres as well. She pens stories from the pristine north woods, where she and her husband live as epically as God allows near their five adult children and passel of grandchildren. She has worked as an editor for a small press, a staff writer for an EPA award-winning newspaper, a ghost writer, and has published dozens of magazine and internet articles for the encouragement of homeschooling families and young writers. Naomi is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Lake Superior Writers, and the Wisconsin Writers' Association. She loves engaging with others and always discovering kernels of a new story. She is available for speaking and book groups. Her newest novel is Mist O'er the Voyageur, and she anticipates re-releasing several of her back-list novels in 2019.
Connect with her through her website: http://www.naomimusch.com
FB: Naomi Musch - Author
Twitter: NMusch

Reviews

[Karen R · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-tugging inspirational romance based on a real event in 1918. A well-written story with characters who faced their difficulties with courage, kindness, and hope.

Francis was so charming and kind, with a genuine care for Lily, despite his own handicap. Going out of his way to help her, extending his friendship to a perfect stranger, as he would his own sister. Lily's story was especially heart-rending and probably echoed many from orphan trains sadly. It kept me reading on faster hoping she would find answers and get a happy ending. Faith, hope and love grew as they faced many challenges.

A satisfying read that lingered long after turning the last page. Recommend for readers who enjoy historical romances with faith. 4.5 stars

(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)

[Maureen Timerman]

This was such a great read, and the author kept me page turning from beginning to end.
Lilly has had a hard time during her young life, nineteen now, but for the last ten years she has been living with a family in Wyoming, not her own.
This is a read about the Orphan Train, WWI, a great train disaster, and a bit of sweet romance, and thrown in looking for your lost family.
We travel with a circus and meet some of the people that keep it running, and how they care for one another.
This is a story of loss and survival, and the love that comes from being part of a family, whether related by blood or circumstance.
Be sure to read the afterword, some great facts, and the authors use of them in this read.
I’ll be looking for more by this author!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Barbour, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily Mae was taken to an orphanage when her widowed mother could no longer care for her. Not long after, she was put on an orphan train & taken in by a farm couple who needed help with their family & farm. As Lily nears 18 yr of age, she runs away from the Fletchers. Life there has been difficult at times, and she fears for her future. She boards a train, not really knowing where she's going. On the train, Lily meets kindly Francis who suffers from total color blindness. He's almost blind in bright light and wears dark glasses. Francis helps Lily find a job as a seamstress at the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus (a real circus in history). He is a roustabout, setting up & tearing down tents, etc. They manage to meet most days, where they build a friendship & get to know other circus family. On June 22, 1918 one of the circus trains is hit by a speeding troop train. (another true event) Many people are killed & injured. Francis has a serious injury to recover from, but Lily & little Suzie (orphaned) are there to help him. They journey together to Lily's former home to try to discover what happened to her mother & baby brother. I enjoyed reading about some of the inside workings of circus life. Often books portray it as being full of "sketchy" people, but this story portrays them as a caring community, which I'm sure was common. This is a well written story of learning about trust & the meaning of family.

[Michelle Rhoden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new to me author and I found it to be well written and held my interest from page one. Based upon a real circus, it was intriguing. I will look for more books by this author.

I was given a complimentary copy today this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All words are my own.