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Oregon Chronicles #1
Lead Me Home: Hardship and hope on the Oregon Trail
In 1847, Caleb "Mac" McDougall, a young Bostonian, seeks adventure on the Oregon Trail. As he passes through Missouri, he rescues Jenny Calhoun, a lonely girl in trouble.
To join a wagon train bound for Oregon, Mac and Jenny pose as a married couple. On the arduous six-month trek, they confront raging rivers, rugged mountains, and untrustworthy companions. Together, Mac and Jenny face the best and worst in themselves and in each other, while discovering the beauty and danger of the western frontier.
Fans of Lonesome Dove and True Grit will enjoy Lead Me Home—a gripping saga of courage, sacrifice, and enduring friendship.
To join a wagon train bound for Oregon, Mac and Jenny pose as a married couple. On the arduous six-month trek, they confront raging rivers, rugged mountains, and untrustworthy companions. Together, Mac and Jenny face the best and worst in themselves and in each other, while discovering the beauty and danger of the western frontier.
Fans of Lonesome Dove and True Grit will enjoy Lead Me Home—a gripping saga of courage, sacrifice, and enduring friendship.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
435 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 27, 2015
295 people are currently reading
400 people want to read
About the author
Theresa Hupp
13 books17 followersTheresa is the award-winning author of novels, short stories, essays, and poetry, and has worked as an attorney, mediator, and human resources executive. She has now published seven historical novels about the development of the American West—LEAD ME HOME, NOW I'M FOUND, FOREVER MINE, MY HOPE SECURED, SAFE THUS FAR, WHEN HEART SHALL FAIL, and A LIFE OF JOY.
LEAD ME HOME was the Missouri winner in the Indie Author Project's adult fiction contest. Both LEAD ME HOME and NOW I'M FOUND won awards from the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc., and LEAD ME HOME was runner-up for the 2016 “Show-Me” Best Book Award sponsored by the Missouri Writers Guild. In addition, NOW I'M FOUND, FOREVER MINE, and MY HOPE SECURED were nominees for the Thorpe Menn Literary Excellence Award. SAFE THUS FAR was a finalist for the Thorpe Menn Award. WHEN HEART SHALL FAIL won the Missouri Writers Guild Best Fiction award.
She has a B.A. from Middlebury College and a J.D. from Stanford Law School, and she has worked as an attorney, human resources executive, and mediator.
LEAD ME HOME was the Missouri winner in the Indie Author Project's adult fiction contest. Both LEAD ME HOME and NOW I'M FOUND won awards from the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc., and LEAD ME HOME was runner-up for the 2016 “Show-Me” Best Book Award sponsored by the Missouri Writers Guild. In addition, NOW I'M FOUND, FOREVER MINE, and MY HOPE SECURED were nominees for the Thorpe Menn Literary Excellence Award. SAFE THUS FAR was a finalist for the Thorpe Menn Award. WHEN HEART SHALL FAIL won the Missouri Writers Guild Best Fiction award.
She has a B.A. from Middlebury College and a J.D. from Stanford Law School, and she has worked as an attorney, human resources executive, and mediator.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 4, 2016
Awesome book!
I really enjoyed reading this book. It captures your interest from the very first page. It would have been better if the foul language, especially the taking of God's name in vain, had been left out. I'm anxious for the sequel.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It captures your interest from the very first page. It would have been better if the foul language, especially the taking of God's name in vain, had been left out. I'm anxious for the sequel.
November 11, 2021
Lead Me Home will make you feel like you are there too
Lead Me Home promises hardship and hope on the Oregon Trail, and it sure delivers. This book is spectacularly detailed and very well written. It’s a long book, which means great value. I feel like I saw every turn of the trail, feared every river crossing, felt every bump along the way, and tasted the dust.
It’s 1847. Mac is a 24-year-old man from Boston who trained to be a lawyer. He leaves behind a past that he’d just as soon forget. He’s looking for adventure. He says, “I like new places. Nothing newer than a country that’s never been settled.”
Jenny is a 14-year-old girl who joins Mac because there isn’t a better option. Mac rescues her after a sheriff, his deputy, and her stepfather rape her. The wagon train provides her with an opportunity to disappear and not be followed. Mac can’t join the train as a single man, so he asks Jenny to pose as his wife. Jenny’s very young age and the age difference between Jenny and Mac are very disturbing, pretend wife or not.
I love the little symbol or logo that serves as the section break between the chapters. This little illustration of a prairie schooner led by oxen is a constant reminder of the setting for the book.
The book has a strong open, 5-star middle, and a fair ending. It would have been nice after 435 pages to have some degree of closure with the characters, even if it overlaps with the next installment in the series.
I highly recommend Lead Me Home. I enjoyed reading it so much that I plan to read it again and there aren’t many books that I read twice.
Lead Me Home promises hardship and hope on the Oregon Trail, and it sure delivers. This book is spectacularly detailed and very well written. It’s a long book, which means great value. I feel like I saw every turn of the trail, feared every river crossing, felt every bump along the way, and tasted the dust.
It’s 1847. Mac is a 24-year-old man from Boston who trained to be a lawyer. He leaves behind a past that he’d just as soon forget. He’s looking for adventure. He says, “I like new places. Nothing newer than a country that’s never been settled.”
Jenny is a 14-year-old girl who joins Mac because there isn’t a better option. Mac rescues her after a sheriff, his deputy, and her stepfather rape her. The wagon train provides her with an opportunity to disappear and not be followed. Mac can’t join the train as a single man, so he asks Jenny to pose as his wife. Jenny’s very young age and the age difference between Jenny and Mac are very disturbing, pretend wife or not.
I love the little symbol or logo that serves as the section break between the chapters. This little illustration of a prairie schooner led by oxen is a constant reminder of the setting for the book.
The book has a strong open, 5-star middle, and a fair ending. It would have been nice after 435 pages to have some degree of closure with the characters, even if it overlaps with the next installment in the series.
I highly recommend Lead Me Home. I enjoyed reading it so much that I plan to read it again and there aren’t many books that I read twice.
May 6, 2016
Have you ever wanted to go back in time and ride in a Conestoga wagon on the Oregon Trail? Here's your chance. Ms. Hupp has created a setting and characters so realistic that the reader might believe the diary entries she includes in each chapter came from a real traveler. Her research did, in fact, include reading diaries, maps, and first-hand accounts of such journeys.
Not only did I vicariously sweat during the trip across the western deserts, grow nervous about river crossings, feel the dust in my face behind the animals, and mourn the loss of wagon train members, but also I empathized with the emotional ups and downs of the main characters. From the saga's unsettling beginning when Mac meets Jenny under emotional and tragic circumstances, the tone is set for their ups and downs during the long trek across country. Then, as we get to know them, we learn the inner strengths and sometimes immature decisions that guide the young people through trying situations.
I rooted for the characters when conflicts arose, and I kept turning pages to find out what would happen. Would the bully/discontent cause a fight with the Native Americans and get everyone killed? Would the baby or the mother die during childbirth? Would Mac and Jenny find what they wanted? Now, I'm anxious for the sequel, since I've come to care about all of the characters.
Not only did I vicariously sweat during the trip across the western deserts, grow nervous about river crossings, feel the dust in my face behind the animals, and mourn the loss of wagon train members, but also I empathized with the emotional ups and downs of the main characters. From the saga's unsettling beginning when Mac meets Jenny under emotional and tragic circumstances, the tone is set for their ups and downs during the long trek across country. Then, as we get to know them, we learn the inner strengths and sometimes immature decisions that guide the young people through trying situations.
I rooted for the characters when conflicts arose, and I kept turning pages to find out what would happen. Would the bully/discontent cause a fight with the Native Americans and get everyone killed? Would the baby or the mother die during childbirth? Would Mac and Jenny find what they wanted? Now, I'm anxious for the sequel, since I've come to care about all of the characters.
October 27, 2020
I enjoy stories about people facing challenges and I enjoy “traveling” the Oregon Trail through stories. This one was a good story as far as it went.
I thought the author did a good job of describing the hardships of the trail. But I thought she could have fleshed out details and character development better. This book read like a list of events.
I thought the author did a good job of describing the hardships of the trail. But I thought she could have fleshed out details and character development better. This book read like a list of events.
April 9, 2016
Jenny and Mac are both running. Running from guilt, shame and anger. That their paths cross is a benefit and burden to both. Mac needs Jenny so he can join a wagon train to Oregon City and Jenny needs Mac to keep her secret in the dark. The journey along the trail is told with much reality (though it was probably much tougher). Theresa Hupp stayed as true as possible to the forts, people and rivers along the trail. The characters are believable and enjoyable to read about. Excited to read the next book about these characters and their journey.
July 3, 2020
Enjoyed the trip on the trail. I recommend this book. Great characters and writing style and the subject matter is very interesting. It's like you're struggling along with the characters on the trail.
April 13, 2019
Good story of the Oregon Trail
This was a really good book about the Oregon trail. It features a young 14 year old girl that had gotten raped, and was expecting a baby, that was rescued by a young lawyer that was going to Oregon just for the adventure. It tells about the hardships and encounters along trails of several families. The wagon train experienced deaths, births, heartache friendships, Indians and also hope. I am excited to continue this series with the next book to see how the adventures continue with these travelers.
This was a really good book about the Oregon trail. It features a young 14 year old girl that had gotten raped, and was expecting a baby, that was rescued by a young lawyer that was going to Oregon just for the adventure. It tells about the hardships and encounters along trails of several families. The wagon train experienced deaths, births, heartache friendships, Indians and also hope. I am excited to continue this series with the next book to see how the adventures continue with these travelers.
February 28, 2023
A very detailed account of the trail taken to Oregon--the number of river crossings astonished me, the lack of violence with the Indians they met on the way, mostly because they indulged in trade with them, also surprised me; the hardships and the close friendships created were astonishing; the characterization limited and dull for the most part. The ending was unsatisfying but there is a sequel now... I think this book was a valid history of the kind of experiences the people would undergo and a valid description of that trail almost mile by mile.
Read
October 25, 2019This was a very interesting book for anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I believe the author researched it very well. She also had a knack for describing how women were treated during
that time period without making them all seem like helpless victims. Her characters, both men and women were everyday people I think most people could relate to. I would recommend it to
anyone who enjoys reading about the panoramic beauty of our country before modern times.
that time period without making them all seem like helpless victims. Her characters, both men and women were everyday people I think most people could relate to. I would recommend it to
anyone who enjoys reading about the panoramic beauty of our country before modern times.
June 6, 2017
Well written fictional stories.
Good book but i jumped ahead to the last two chapters because there are just so many fictional and similar books written. I don't plan to read anymore since they all seem to have the same scenario of the difficulties the pioneers endured.
Good book but i jumped ahead to the last two chapters because there are just so many fictional and similar books written. I don't plan to read anymore since they all seem to have the same scenario of the difficulties the pioneers endured.
September 18, 2019
Oregon Trail
Lead Me Home by Theresa Hupp. I loved the characters and the storyline. I loved each chapter of this book. Page after page I ate it up! The ending leaves you hanging though and that's the only sour thing about this book.
Lead Me Home by Theresa Hupp. I loved the characters and the storyline. I loved each chapter of this book. Page after page I ate it up! The ending leaves you hanging though and that's the only sour thing about this book.
August 3, 2021
I started this book because it was written by a woman I knew slightly from working at Hallmark. I finished it because the story is well-researched and informative about a history I knew little about.
November 27, 2018
Interesting story, the author made you feel the trials and tribulations of the west ward travelers!
January 18, 2020
Good story, but Lousy ending. The trip on the Oregon Trail went on and on and on and at the end of the book… It just stopped
August 29, 2020
Long journey to Oregon
Many miles were covered by Mac and Jenny in their adventure to the Wlliamette Valley in Oregon . All the mishaps and lost friends along the way.
Many miles were covered by Mac and Jenny in their adventure to the Wlliamette Valley in Oregon . All the mishaps and lost friends along the way.
November 25, 2020
Ending leaves you hanging.... Liked the story sorry it was a little to clean for the time.
December 30, 2020
Very enjoyable
This is a very enjoyable and seemingly realistic story of emigrants on the Oregon Trail. There were a bad guys, of course, but not cartoonishly bad guys. I hope the sequel is as well written because I’m ordering it now.
This is a very enjoyable and seemingly realistic story of emigrants on the Oregon Trail. There were a bad guys, of course, but not cartoonishly bad guys. I hope the sequel is as well written because I’m ordering it now.
March 19, 2021
Great story
I love reading about strong women in the early centuries. This is a great depiction of what our ancestors endured settling America.
I love reading about strong women in the early centuries. This is a great depiction of what our ancestors endured settling America.
December 8, 2021
It was ok, but not my favorite book. It was a harder life than I thought it would be.
May 1, 2022
Great story of the daily challenges of the migration West.
September 19, 2022
Good Book
This book gave me a very descriptive look into the Oregon Trail. The writer describes it well and you can tell she has done her research into it.
This book gave me a very descriptive look into the Oregon Trail. The writer describes it well and you can tell she has done her research into it.
September 10, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this! I live along the Oregon Trail, and looked forward to recognizing landmarks, it totally helped to put me on the trail with Jenny and Mac!
April 10, 2016
Historical fiction in the best way possible. From a killer first line to the very last line Hupp drew me in and let me forget everything about my current reality. Mack & Jenny were tangible and true to their time period. The detail and clarity regarding the historical facts and what the wagon-train settlers went through was amazing. It was a great read and I can't wait for the sequel.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews