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Journey West #1

Wagon Train Reunion

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Second-Chance Courtship  

Abigail Black had no choice but to break Ben Hewitt's heart years ago. Her parents had picked another, wealthier groom. Now widowed and destitute, she's desperate to leave her old life behind. The wagon-train journey to Oregon is full of dangers, but she'll face anything--even Ben--for a fresh start. 

Ben knows better than to trust Abby again. Between her family's snobbery and his family's protectiveness, avoiding her should be easy. Yet he's still moved by Abby's sweetness and beauty…along with a sadness and strength he never noticed in her before. Forgiving past wrongs would be a struggle--but the hardest struggle would be letting Abby go once more. 

Journey West: Romance and adventure await three siblings on the Oregon Trail

283 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2015

153 people are currently reading
234 people want to read

About the author

Linda Ford

209 books359 followers
Linda Ford grew up devouring books and making up stories in her head—often late at night when she couldn't sleep. But she hadn't planned to write. Instead, she dreamed of running an orphanage. In a way, that dream came true. She married, had four homemade children, adopted ten and lived (at times, endured) the dream.

Writing first took her to non-fiction human-interest articles for newspapers and eventually a non-fiction book about tuberculosis set in the 1930s and 1940s (Touched By The White Plague). But romance had always been her first love and she turned to writing love stories. She is multi-published in the CBA market.

She lives on a small ranch in Alberta, Canada, where she can see the mountains every day. She and her husband continue to enjoy their children and grandchildren.

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5 stars
170 (45%)
4 stars
120 (32%)
3 stars
54 (14%)
2 stars
22 (5%)
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5 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for Deanne Patterson.
2,415 reviews118 followers
August 24, 2015
I have enjoyed this book so much that I have the rest of the series on request from the inter library loan system.
Profile Image for Angela.
476 reviews26 followers
December 15, 2016
What a lovely story! I love Oregon trail stories! I love all the little extra day to day details with the wagons, oxen, tents, cooking, Indians, river crossings, and walking for miles on end. I love the friendships and relationships that develop among people living almost in each other's laps they're so close and together learning to survive! This book is filled with all of that plus romance and robbery!! Abby and Ben were close years ago but various circumstances separated them. Abby married another man to please her over bearing mother. Her husband died, her parents lost their fortune, and they all decided to start over in Oregon. They met up with Ben and his sisters also traveling to Oregon to join their brother for a fresh start. This is the first story in a trilogy and a great way to start the series! I've enjoyed it very much!!
Profile Image for Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...).
1,676 reviews580 followers
August 9, 2022
I typically enjoy wagon train stories- I love the pioneering spirit of those who crossed the plains in search of new opportunities. The characters in this book are strong, but conflicted. Ben is one of the leaders of the wagon train, but finds himself distracted by his former love and her family. He rehashes over and over again in his mind why she rejected him and how he is over her and needs to avoid her. His sister Rachel worries about him being hurt by Abby again- and is extremely repetitive on this point. Abby seems to know her own mind but feels guilt over her twin brother's death, and punishes herself by bowing to her tyrant mother's demands. She constantly thinks about her regret for rejecting Ben and obeying her mother to marry for money, only to discover the cruelty of her husband. I liked the characters, but the repetition of their thoughts and narrative bogged down the pace and made me lose interest.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
2,323 reviews38 followers
April 7, 2015
4 stars

This set up a new series that I want to read all of it. Full of drama, relationships, scriptures and all amid a wagon train to Portland. Lots of trials, action, characters that I want to see more of. I wonder who is going to be the focal point for the next book? Is there a thief among them and who is it?

Abigail Black is one of the main characters. She is a widow traveling with her parents. Her mom is not a likeable character. Abigail does what she can do help anyone. she plans to never marry again. Her mother wants her to marry someone else with money when they get to Oregon.

Ben Hewitt got his heart broke years ago when Abigail married someone with a better future than what he could give her. He is traveling to Oregon with his two sisters to join his brother their. He is set over a certain amount of wagons on the train. One of them is Abigail;s family in fact they are ones to which have to share a cooking fire with every night.

Years ago Ben and Abigail memorized a bunch of scriptures together and they quote them to help through tough times along the way. It is used in a natural way that fits the story.

It gives you a taste of what some of the pioneers faced traveling out west. Crossing rivers, illness, getting along, walking and how to cope with a different lifestyle of traveling every day they can.

The setting for the book starts in Independence, Missouri May 1843 and traveling out west to Oregon.
I enjoyed Wagon Train Reunion. I will read more books by Linda Ford in the future.

I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Harlequin. In return I agreed to give honest review of Wagon Train Reunion.
Profile Image for Clare O'Beara.
Author 25 books372 followers
April 13, 2015
I enjoyed this tale of striking out and starting fresh. The main characters were previously interested in each other, but the man's family had lost their money and the girl's parents married her off to someone wealthier. Following an economic crash they are all on the same footing and the girl is widowed. She's joining her parents on a wagon train west, and the young man is one of the elected committee. Can they arrive alive? Can they manage without bitterness or spite? Will the hazards of the trail prove too much for the travellers?

I've read a couple of wagon train books recently and I admire the attention to detail in all of them. This book shows plenty of domestic work and internal hazards, like a child bringing measles and a possible bank robber among the group. The tale could be read by young adults and is an enlightening read as well as a touching story of growing love.
Profile Image for June.
1,542 reviews17 followers
July 15, 2015
Abby and Ben were sweethearts year ago. But Abby's high society mother has better plans for Abby. When they meet up again on a wagon train headed for Oregon, Ben tries to stay away from Abby. When their wagons end up close to each other they are assigned to the same campfire grouping. No chance of ignoring her now. But Abby has secrets. And good reason for them. Her mother drives them all crazy but soon the other members of their campfire group realize that Abby is different and friendships are struck up.

There's plenty of adventure and mystery going around the camp. As happens in wagon trains, there is illness and loss of life. And hearts bond together.

This is book 1 in the Journey West Continuity series and all three authors are favorites of mine, so I'm sure the stories will all be great.
Profile Image for Paula-O.
558 reviews
August 4, 2015
Wagon Train Reunion book #1,series "Journey West" by Linda Ford


I have read this series willy-nilly, reading this first as last. I kept thinking have I read this before, gee these characters are so familiar.

Well Before Abby and Ben had been close to getting married but then she left him for someone else and broke his heart, now in this book they meet again and he finds he has not forgotten as much as he thought he had.
True Love when it comes is hard to put out or away. Linda does a great job of bringing this couple closer and helping them see why things had happened as they did.
Can they trust one another..again???? can they forgive? wagon train trips take a long time so time is on their side. come read about the journey and two folks that need one another.
130 reviews6 followers
November 5, 2015
This is book one in a 3 book series each one by a different author.

I am somewhat disappointed with this book, it has a great story but to me it just lacked the spark to make this exciting. Too much time is spent on rehashing the same situation in the past and the mother of the women dealing with this same issue of the past is very unlikeable because of her snobbish attitude and spoiled behavior. The trip itself didn't have its details presented in a realistic manner. Took me longer to read this book because I just couldn't get myself to pick up after I layed it down .

This is however just my opinion, others may not be bothered with the way the story is presented.
I have read other books by this author which I loved , so I will definitely read more of her books.
Profile Image for Cathy.
1,241 reviews80 followers
May 4, 2017
I enjoyed this book but after a while I grew very weary of her mother's hatefulness and Abigail just allowing herself to get rolled over. Her reasoning was ridiculous and the plot twist for the mother at the end was too easy :/ this would have been a solid 5 star if she displayed some gumption and spine
Profile Image for Bree.
664 reviews7 followers
September 13, 2015
Cute short story. Her mother needs to be hit over the head. I keep thinking her father could stop his wife for being so nasty to his daughter.
26 reviews
January 23, 2022
Freedom Through Faith

Guilt is a powerful master. Guilt will rob a person of their joy and actually keep them from experiencing all the goodness that God intents for them. In this story you will read how Abby finally applied Christ’s forgiveness to her false sense of guilt and was released to enjoy the blessings God had prepared for her. When we receive God’s forgiveness through placing our trust in Christ’s love for us, He will take our guilt and shame and give us true freedom to live the life He purchased for us with His own life. Like Abby, trust Jesus and be free!
Profile Image for Sharon.
895 reviews
February 16, 2019
This was a sweet, clean historical romance on the Oregon trail. I found Abby, the main character, pretty irritating and self-absorbed even though she wanted so badly to be free of her mother (mother=think Harriet Olson from Little House on the Prairie). Ben was a good man and definitely a keeper. I would've liked more details into the landscape and hardships of the trail--the story made it seem like basically one big picnic.
1,146 reviews5 followers
January 25, 2020
Women back in the 1800's had it rough. Abby Black was literally sold into marriage with and verbally and physically abusive man because her fathers business was failing during a depression. Fortunately he died, but that didn't help much as she had to go back to her parents household. Her mother was a bitter mean controlling woman and her father didn't speak up for her much. I'm glad at the end she of course got her HEA. She deservd it.
Profile Image for Judine Brey.
787 reviews2 followers
August 17, 2017
I loved Abby's reunion with Ben, and how her warm personality won over his sisters. Abby's guilt over her brother's death, and the work Ben did to help her through it were heart-warming, and actually made me cry. My only qualm was the fact that Ben didn't seem to make a clear decision to trust Abby again after she broke his heart.
Profile Image for Tricia Cox garrett.
927 reviews4 followers
October 27, 2020
Wagon Train Reunion

She turned her back on him and married another, now they are on the same wagon train heading west. Will they find their way back to each other? Good clean romance.
242 reviews4 followers
August 10, 2022
Happiness is a choice

Good story with good life lessons. Misplaced sorrow, guilt, and a controlling mother can be a recipe for a lifetime of misery. Fortunately love and faith can win out.
518 reviews
December 10, 2023
This was a chore to get through. It was boring & repetitive with Abby constantly blaming herself for her brother's death, her mother's actions & any other bad things they came across. If u are looking for a sweet, uplifting book, this isn't it.
687 reviews4 followers
February 24, 2020
Interesting story line about an interesting time in history - clean with Biblical verses.
4 reviews
January 7, 2022
wonderful story of love and forgiveness

God’s word is evident in this story. We cannot live in the past because God puts that behind us, a beautiful story of redemption.
492 reviews
June 8, 2023
Thought it would be more emotional and memorable
For a lot of it the story line seems to be going in circles

Quite preachy too
1,623 reviews28 followers
April 9, 2015
Wagon Train Reunion by linda ford
Love Inspired Historical
Second-Chance Courtship

Abigail Black had no choice but to break Ben Hewitt's heart years ago. Her parents had picked another, wealthier groom. Now widowed and destitute, she's desperate to leave her old life behind. The wagon-train journey to Oregon is full of dangers, but she'll face anything even Ben for a fresh start.

Ben knows better than to trust Abby again. Between her family's snobbery and his family's protectiveness, avoiding her should be easy. Yet he's still moved by Abby's sweetness and beauty;along with a sadness and strength he never noticed in her before. Forgiving past wrongs would be a struggle but the hardest struggle would be letting Abby go once more.

Journey West: Romance and adventure await three siblings on the Oregon Trail.

how did Abigail Bingham Black and Benjamin Hewitt meet?
why is Benjamin Hewitt taking his sisters Rachel & Emma to Oregon?
who is Abigail traveling with ?
what happen to Abigail's husband?
the number of books in this series?
The setting for the book starts in Independence, Missouri and the Wagon Train is traveling out west to what state?
will Abigail Bingham Black and Benjamin Hewitt be more than friends?
who is your favorite character in this story?
And why?
what happen to Mrs. Littleton and Mr.Littleton's son Johnny?
Wagon Train Reunion by linda ford is a 4 stars book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by linda ford.
Cowboys of Eden Valley
1. The Cowboy's Surprise Bride
2. The Cowboy's Unexpected Family
3. The Cowboy's Convenient Proposal
4. Claiming the Cowboy's Heart
5. Winning Over the Wrangler
6. Falling for the Rancher Father
Her Honor-Bound Cowboy

Christmas in Eden Valley
1. A Daddy for Christmas
Montana Marriage
1. Big Sky Cowboy
2. Big Sky Daddy
3. Big Sky Homecoming


Wagon Train Reunion by linda ford
"Wagon Train Sweetheart" by Lacy Williams
"Wagon Train Proposal" by Renee Ryan.








934 reviews4 followers
May 1, 2015
Wagon Train Reunion, the first book in The Journey West Series. This first book is by Linda Ford. Six years ago Abagail told Ben Hewitt she didn't love him and was going to marry someone else. Abagail's mother had a hold on her. Her mother wanted Abagail to marry a man that had money, so she did. Turns out he was mean to her. A year ago he died. The family decide to move west for a better life. On this wagon train is Ben. A very good read. Looking forward to the last two books. In this book they are only a third of the way out west.
Profile Image for Harlequin Books.
18.4k reviews2,804 followers
Read
January 12, 2016
"With one calamity besetting the characters after another, there’s plenty of action amidst a wonderful reunion love story. The included scripture was perfect and intricately timed" (RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 stars).

Miniseries: Journey West
Profile Image for patty garrett.
1 review
June 28, 2015
Linda Ford favorite writer

Good storyline. I have always loved the settling of the west. I Really liked the characters in the story and how they trusted the Lord to help them through it all.
Profile Image for Shelly Dabbs.
267 reviews1 follower
March 7, 2015
This was a touching story of how things can change in a persons life. This story changed two peoples lives & how they overcame the challenges that they faced alone & together.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 30 reviews

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