Westward Dreams: Chasing A Dream

by Sarah Lamb

Mary Clinton arrives out west with dreams of marrying her sweetheart—only to discover he didn’t wait for her. Stranded and heartbroken, she stumbles upon a terrified child wandering alone and escorts her home, where she's mistaken for the girl's new governess. With nowhere else to go, Mary accepts the role, and the chance to rebuild her crumbled future.

When Simon Alexander returns from his business trip, he's immediately suspicious. He never hired a governess—and after losing his wife, he's vowed to protect his daughter from any threat. But his little girl has already fallen in love with the mysterious Mary, and Simon realizes he desperately needs help raising her. Against his better judgment, he lets her stay, despite his doubts.

As Mary finds purpose in her new role and Simon's guarded heart begins to thaw, an unexpected attraction blooms between them. But when the man Mary came west for returns to threaten her, everything she’s tentatively built threatens to crumble. Can Mary prove to herself she's worthy of a chance at love? And can Simon learn to trust again—before he loses the only woman who's made him want to?

190 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 9, 2026

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Anna Marie Leffew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Westward Dreams by Sarah Lamb is an absolute must-read that will captivate your heart from start to finish. Featuring five unforgettable characters—Cal, Meghan, Mary, Julia, and Simon—each with their own unique dreams and struggles, the story explores themes of love, second chances, and the desire for connection. It's a profoundly moving tale filled with action, adventure, and jaw-dropping moments that keep you turning pages late into the night. The characters feel like family, and the sweet innocence of the little girl adds an irresistible charm. Don't miss out on this compelling, emotionally rich novel—reserve your copy today and experience the magic everyone is talking about. I highly recommend reading it.

Pre-order yours now. Releases January 9th.

https://a.co/d/iyuXiaM

[Lana Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story of a sweet child who misses her mother so bad, that one day, as she was chasing after her father, she got lost. Mary Clinton, a mail order bride, who found her “affianced” in his cabin with another woman, who was carrying his child, found the little girl sobbing and asked her if she was lost. The girl said yes, and a neighborly man told them how to find her house. When they got there, the housekeeper was absolutely thrilled that her boss had finally relented and hired a governess as a surprise to them. Mary tried to explain that she was NOT hired by anyone and was not a governess. The housekeeper asked her to stay on until the father came back from his business trip-sort of a trial basis. Mary was thrilled to have food to eat, a bedroom of her own in an amazing house and a darling little girl to teach. She fell in love with her as the child did with Mary. When Simon, the father, returned home early, he was not pleased at all, but he could not send Mary away! He was totally drawn to her. Each day that passed, felt like a fairy tale to Mary and a real possibility of finding a new love for he and his daughter. When he found Mary and his daughter in the attic one day, looking through his deceased wife’s things, he almost had a breakdown. She had just wanted to show Mary her mother’s things. He yelled “Get out!” His daughter ran off, but Mary told him how wrong he was to not tell his daughter about her mother! She expected to get fired immediately! Get this amazingly sweet book and find out what all happens and how it ends. You will be so glad you did! I was on the arc team and am not required to write a positive review. This is my own honest opinion. 📕♥️

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Westward Dreams is one of those stories that quietly pulls you in and then refuses to let go.

Mary’s journey west begins with hope and anticipation, only to be shattered when she discovers the truth about the man she intended to marry. Her abandonment feels raw and real, and her vulnerability in a strange city made my heart ache for her. Watching her rebuild her life piece by piece was deeply satisfying.

Simon, a widower and devoted father, is torn between his responsibilities and his love for his daughter, Julia. Their home becomes a refuge for Mary, even as past choices and outside threats loom. I especially loved the relationship between Mary and Julia and how naturally Mary finds her place caring for her.

Sarah Lamb weaves the story beautifully, balancing tension and tenderness while keeping you hoping for justice and redemption. The emotional stakes feel genuine, and the goodness of certain characters shines even brighter against the cruelty of others.

I’ve enjoyed many of Sarah Lamb’s books, but this one truly stands out for me. Westward Dreams is a story of resilience, protection, and love growing in unexpected places—and it will stay with me for a long time.

[Carolyn Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Westward Dreams is a quick, engaging historical romance read filled with emotion and a touch of suspense, showcasing Ms. Lamb's impressive storytelling talent. Set in the 1880s, the story centers around Mary Clinton, a heartbroken heroine determined to piece her life back together in Oregon and hero Simon Alexander, a protective single father and banker whose grief over the loss of his wife keeps him from opening his heart to love again. Their story sparked my interest from the beginning. A well-paced, expertly plotted storyline and engaging characters kept me reading with anticipation of a positive outcome. I love it when a book makes me smile, and this one did more than once. I thoroughly enjoyed this winning read with themes of hope and healing and highly recommend it.
I read an early copy of this book from the author/publisher with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Shonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story! From the very beginning, the book captivated me completely. The characters are fantastic and truly win your heart, making you feel like part of their family. Julia was my favorite; her sweet personality and mature dialogue stood out to me. The pacing of the romance was perfect—it didn't feel rushed at all. I appreciate a story that steers clear of hard-edged characters and unnecessary danger. This is a wonderful tale about the painful past of lost love and healing. It’s refreshing to read a story without excessive danger and outlaws. Even though a fiancé of questionable character is part of the hurt, it wasn't over-dramatized but handled gracefully. The ending is beautiful, and I enjoyed every page of this story!

[Diane Jewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Westward Dream by Sarah Lamb ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another great clean, sweet romance.
Mary heads west to marry Cal, but when she gets to her destination, plans fall apart.

She must decide what to do as she has nowhere to go , no family or friends and little money. She inquires about employment, but what she gets is a lot more than that.
Look hard enough and you'll find your answers when and where you least expect it.

Pre-order your copy today for a January 9th release date.

[Elissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unmet Arrival

Our sweet, gentle heroine stayed East for at least an additional year, working and saving to bring extra funds to her homesteading husband to be. Limited in what she could afford to bring with her, she left behind her books and other important memories, only to find no one waiting for her at the station when she arrived! No spoilers, but Sarah Lamb has, in her inimitable way, created another edge-of-your-seat drama and love story, with a child in the mix!

[Kristin Carmack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely could not put this book down! The story was excellent. I can only imagine how devastated I would be to wait a year, save every penny, travel across the country and find that my intended found someone else.
Then with limited funds and wondering where I would sleep have enough strength to go looking for a job.
This is a definite must read book!

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you think you are going to follow your dreams but your dreams come crashing down…now what? Find out in this fantastic story with all the feels, a little girl, a grieving widower and so much more! This book was a fast read that was hard to put down. Highly recommend!

[Bridgette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC, and all opinions are mine, this is a very good book, it turns out quite different than I expected it to, but it is a very good book, it is a clean, sweet,closed door, historical romance, another good book from Sarah Lamb!

[Viola · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a lovely book to read

This was such a lovely book to read. Written by Sarah Lamb in a a very nice way. This is a short book that can be read in one evening. A very enjoyable book to read with sad moments and happy moments, I just loved reading this book as you will also.

[Linda Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story. Great characters in Simon and Mary. And easy to read. Great story for those who enjoy Christian historical romance. I received a copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

[Tami Willard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can be read as a standalone.
Widower with a young daughter
Second chance
Major change in circumstances
Determined little girl
Past interfering with the future

[ReadingWench · Rating 5 out of 5]

First impressions...I love the cover.

I was completely in captured by the characters in this book. I love the complexity of them. The plot that inter-twines with these people makes you feel like you are right there. I love forward to more in this series and especially from this author.

I was given this book as an ARC with no expectations on a positive review.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Westward Dreams will show you the strength and determination needed to survive, after a devastating blow. Mary has travel West to meet her intended, Cal, and start their new life together. What she finds, will break her heart, but not her spirit. Not knowing what else to do at this point, she heads back to town, to consider her options. Finding a small girl crying, will change the direction of her life again. Tough situation, but handled beautifully by the author.
I was given an ARC of this book by the author for an honest review.