What do you think?
Rate this book
Oregon Trail Dreamin' #1
We've Only Just Begun
When Vows Are Said Out Of Necessity Can Love Really Grow? Susan Farr loses her parents and her home in one swoop. She takes her horse and rides to Independence Missouri to join a wagon train and start a new life. Mike Todd, the Wagon Master doesn’t allow single women to have their own wagons. It causes fights and distractions. Susan solves her problem by marrying Clancy Willis in name only. Unfortunately Clancy’s true nature doesn’t take long to show and Susan finds herself married to a drunkard.
Along the trail, once again, Susan is forced to marry another man in name only and this time it is Mike Todd. As soon as they make it to Oregon they plan to have the marriage annulled but their hearts become hopelessly entangled.
Mike Todd has two brothers to raise. They are guides on the wagon train and he decided long ago he’d raise them and forget about having a wife and child of his own. Little does he know that he’d find a forever type of love.
Both vow to sacrifice their hearts’ desire to give the other happiness. Will they come to realize their lives and love have only just begun?
Along the trail, once again, Susan is forced to marry another man in name only and this time it is Mike Todd. As soon as they make it to Oregon they plan to have the marriage annulled but their hearts become hopelessly entangled.
Mike Todd has two brothers to raise. They are guides on the wagon train and he decided long ago he’d raise them and forget about having a wife and child of his own. Little does he know that he’d find a forever type of love.
Both vow to sacrifice their hearts’ desire to give the other happiness. Will they come to realize their lives and love have only just begun?
207 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 11, 2017
1503 people are currently reading
651 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Ball
123 books683 followersUSA Today Best Selling Author of
Contemporary Western Romance and Sweet Historical Western Romance.
Writing is my bliss and I try to write every day. I started with two publishers who I learned a lot from. Now I self publish. I like the control it gives me over release dates and book covers.
Sign up for my newsletter
https://www.kathleenballromance.com
Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/kathleenball...
Feel free to friend me!!
Contemporary Western Romance and Sweet Historical Western Romance.
Writing is my bliss and I try to write every day. I started with two publishers who I learned a lot from. Now I self publish. I like the control it gives me over release dates and book covers.
Sign up for my newsletter
https://www.kathleenballromance.com
Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/kathleenball...
Feel free to friend me!!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
February 3, 2019
This is the second time I have read a book by this author and came out of it unimpressed. I don't think me and this author mesh well.
September 15, 2017
My Musings
I enjoyed this book for the most part. I look forward to reading Ali's story next. My mOm complaint is that too many nice people died. Happy ☺reading 📚!
I enjoyed this book for the most part. I look forward to reading Ali's story next. My mOm complaint is that too many nice people died. Happy ☺reading 📚!
January 28, 2018
Great read
It was an adventure right from the start and never stopped. I do wish it would have included more of the married life because I did not want it to end.
It was an adventure right from the start and never stopped. I do wish it would have included more of the married life because I did not want it to end.
March 8, 2018
Cute story and a fast read. I would probably read the rest of the series because it was not too fluffy, not to deep. Clean story with nothing thrusting or heaving....lol
July 9, 2019
New to Me Author I give this book a 5 star because it is a great book if you haven't read this it is a must read Cant wait to read another book by this Author! When I started reading this I didn't want to put it don't What a great book!
November 20, 2018
Getting to Oregon, Somehow...?
When Susan decides to leave Independence, MO for Oregon traveling with a wagon train, her trip seems to be one problem after another. Mike the trail master, tells Susan no unmarried women on his wagon train. Susan thinks she fixes that problem by proposing to Clancy Willis. Her problems have just begun.
I enjoyed this story. I tried not to let the grammar errors, spelling & punctuation errors get me distracted from the story. I found the parts of story referring to a 17 & a 15 year old boy a little confusing. I still can't picture a 17 yr old boy drawing enough respect by older travelers to lead or give instructions on surviving the wagon train. Some repetitive doubts from hero & heroine, chapter after chapter, about themselves was enough to cause me a very bad hesdache.
When Susan decides to leave Independence, MO for Oregon traveling with a wagon train, her trip seems to be one problem after another. Mike the trail master, tells Susan no unmarried women on his wagon train. Susan thinks she fixes that problem by proposing to Clancy Willis. Her problems have just begun.
I enjoyed this story. I tried not to let the grammar errors, spelling & punctuation errors get me distracted from the story. I found the parts of story referring to a 17 & a 15 year old boy a little confusing. I still can't picture a 17 yr old boy drawing enough respect by older travelers to lead or give instructions on surviving the wagon train. Some repetitive doubts from hero & heroine, chapter after chapter, about themselves was enough to cause me a very bad hesdache.
July 19, 2017
Great Book
I loved this book and could not put it down.I was up half the night reading.The characters were wonderful and so likeable.
I loved this book and could not put it down.I was up half the night reading.The characters were wonderful and so likeable.
September 17, 2019
What a read this book was. Susan Farr's parents had just died, owing a lot of money on their farm. Having no money to buy the farm, she decided to sell the farm and join a wagon train headed for Oregon. as soon as she could. She got enough money to buy and supply a wagon and went to see the wagon master about joining the wagon train. He had a rule that no single ladies could come unless they were part of a family group or married. Susan went looking for someone willing to marry her and stay with her until they reached Oregon. Unfortunately, the only man willing to marry her was a drunk. She ended having to load everything in the wagon by herself while he slept off his alcohol. Not a good way to start a trip.
You will need to read this book to learn just what happened. It just might not be what you expected.
Kathleen Ball is an interesting author and I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.
You will need to read this book to learn just what happened. It just might not be what you expected.
Kathleen Ball is an interesting author and I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.
May 2, 2018
This was an intriguing book that was really hard to put down. I loved how the story progressed. I enjoyed Susan's character; she had a lot of grit and gumption. I liked Mike and how he had integrity in how he dealt with situations on the trail. His integrity shined through with all the trials that he and Susan faced. The trail ride from Independence was full of adventures, mystery and loss. This book showed several of the problems that the settlers had to face on the long journey. I liked that this can be read as a stand-alone or as part of a series. All of the situations introduced in this book were set up as a good-for-now. I just saw that there are more in the series that will bring conclusions to other characters that were introduced. Overall, this was a sweet romance full of adventure.
March 12, 2018
Goodreads Kindle Win
This is a love story that takes on a journey to the Wild West. Where single women are not allowed and the Wagon Master who guides the people to their settlements.
Susan finds herself marring a drunkard married in order to flee from unscrupulous family so she can go on this journey. But he soon dies on the trip and ends up marrying Mike the Wagon Master in order to protect from another man who says that her deceased husband had sold her and the wagon and that he owns everything.
Susan and Mike are drawn to each other but their arrangement is strictly gentlemanly. Will they be able to come to terms with their feelings and take a chance on each other? Nice story.
This is a love story that takes on a journey to the Wild West. Where single women are not allowed and the Wagon Master who guides the people to their settlements.
Susan finds herself marring a drunkard married in order to flee from unscrupulous family so she can go on this journey. But he soon dies on the trip and ends up marrying Mike the Wagon Master in order to protect from another man who says that her deceased husband had sold her and the wagon and that he owns everything.
Susan and Mike are drawn to each other but their arrangement is strictly gentlemanly. Will they be able to come to terms with their feelings and take a chance on each other? Nice story.
March 17, 2018
Susan Farr is a very determined young lady who wants to leave the town she grew up, now that her parents are gone and she is all alone. She has packed her wagon to join a wagon train, but once she meets the leader, Mike Todd, he refused to take unmarried women, because there are so many single men on these trips. She marries one of the single men, in name only, but he is lazy and loves the bottle. Mike feels sorry for how Susan is treated by her husband, but he tries to be friendly as he is with all the members of the wagon train, until fate forces them together, even though Mike is fighting all the way.
If you want to know what happens to Susan and Mike, read the book, you will enjoy it.
Thank you for letting me read such a great book.
Hilda
If you want to know what happens to Susan and Mike, read the book, you will enjoy it.
Thank you for letting me read such a great book.
Hilda
Read
July 8, 2021Love Finds A Way
I received a free copy of this audiobook from Audiobooks Unleashed in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this story. It was filled with determination, desperation, and danger. Susan couldn’t make a getaway on the wagon train going west unless she had a husband. Her desperate choice was not a good one. When her husband reveals his true nature, the wagon master takes her under his wing and the horrors of the trip bring them closer. I liked their relationship and even though they had feelings for each other the treachery of the journey kept them at arms length. She took care of her dying husband, and he kept his two younger brothers and the families traveling with them as safe as he could under the conditions. The narration was good.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from Audiobooks Unleashed in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this story. It was filled with determination, desperation, and danger. Susan couldn’t make a getaway on the wagon train going west unless she had a husband. Her desperate choice was not a good one. When her husband reveals his true nature, the wagon master takes her under his wing and the horrors of the trip bring them closer. I liked their relationship and even though they had feelings for each other the treachery of the journey kept them at arms length. She took care of her dying husband, and he kept his two younger brothers and the families traveling with them as safe as he could under the conditions. The narration was good.
May 26, 2020
The stories of people making their way west on the Oregon Trail contain a little of all the emotions. Hope, sadness, grief, joy and often a romance comes about in the most unexpected ways. Kathleen Ball has crafted a wonderful tale filled with all of these and made it believable. Combined with the talented voice of Tom Jordan, this is one of my favorites and I am anxious to start the second in the series.
Since I have discover audible, I have to admit I am a little addicted. The story comes alive, almost like watching a movie and with the right narrator and story, it is perfect.
Follow Susan and Mike as they make this treacherous journey and find much more in the bargain. A keeper
Since I have discover audible, I have to admit I am a little addicted. The story comes alive, almost like watching a movie and with the right narrator and story, it is perfect.
Follow Susan and Mike as they make this treacherous journey and find much more in the bargain. A keeper
March 4, 2018
Thank you for the Goodreads Giveaway E-Book! I enjoyed this story very much. I am fascinated with the pioneers that went west! The main character in this book went through some struggles, but she was a very strong young woman! Wow, I don't think I could have handled a team of oxen and a wagon. Each day brought new challenges. There was adventure, danger, romance and betrayal in this book. I liked the fact that the author kept this book clean - no explicit sex or bad language. Thank you, Kathleen Ball. I will read more by this author.
March 21, 2018
We've Only Just Begun by Kathleen Ball is book 1 of Oregon Trail Dreamin'. Kathleen Ball does a wonderful job of showing the difficulties in going west on a wagon train. There is a trail boss and a single lady who wants to join the train but finds out she needs to be married . The backstories for the main characters is detailed and sad . It adds to the development of the characters. There is adventure, mystery and a sweet romance. I look forward to the next book in the series to see what happens next.
I received a copy thru a Goodreads Giveaway.
I received a copy thru a Goodreads Giveaway.
April 21, 2018
A long way to go
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. This is my honest review. What a simple but powerful story. I like Susan and Mike. Susan seems to be having a run of bad luck, so she marries Clancy so she has a way to head to Oregon. Trouble is just beginning. It is a hard journey in the wagon train, but she is strong and will make it. Mike is the leader and tries to help. Follow the story and Oregon trail to find out what happens next. I think you will enjoy reading it.
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. This is my honest review. What a simple but powerful story. I like Susan and Mike. Susan seems to be having a run of bad luck, so she marries Clancy so she has a way to head to Oregon. Trouble is just beginning. It is a hard journey in the wagon train, but she is strong and will make it. Mike is the leader and tries to help. Follow the story and Oregon trail to find out what happens next. I think you will enjoy reading it.
September 12, 2019
Typically I am not much of a historical romance reader but I decided to give this a try. I really did enjoy the story. The characters seemed well developed and the storyline believable. Those were tough times for Westward travellers and sadly some didn't finish the journey. While I liked the chaste romance, it did seem somewhat unbelievable that Susan and Mike couldn't read the others feeling enough to know it was love before the end of the book. I also liked the family & friends looking out for one another whether helping in time of need or offering to protect them.
February 14, 2021
A wonderful love story
I've always loved the stories of the men and women of the pioneering age. The journey was always difficult and fraught with peril. However, always in the midst of hardship there you can also find strength and love. For what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. I love the way that Mike kept coming to Susan's rescue and both finding so much to admire about the other. Now on to the next book to find out how his two younger brothers also find love on the trail.
I've always loved the stories of the men and women of the pioneering age. The journey was always difficult and fraught with peril. However, always in the midst of hardship there you can also find strength and love. For what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. I love the way that Mike kept coming to Susan's rescue and both finding so much to admire about the other. Now on to the next book to find out how his two younger brothers also find love on the trail.
October 20, 2022
3.5/5
"Now here’s the bargain we struck. You and Susan marry up, and we can be on our way in the morning.”
“You look so tired. You need to rest.” She closed her eyes for a moment. His touch sent shivers down her spine. “I’m fine, really I am. You don’t need to worry about me. Besides you don’t get much sleep yourself.”
She heard a gasp and quickly turned. Connie Ranger stared at her with wide eyes. “Some things shouldn’t be talked about.”
“It was chilly last night,” she remarked.
He studied his coffee for a bit before answering. “You’ll want to use an extra blanket.”
"Now here’s the bargain we struck. You and Susan marry up, and we can be on our way in the morning.”
“You look so tired. You need to rest.” She closed her eyes for a moment. His touch sent shivers down her spine. “I’m fine, really I am. You don’t need to worry about me. Besides you don’t get much sleep yourself.”
She heard a gasp and quickly turned. Connie Ranger stared at her with wide eyes. “Some things shouldn’t be talked about.”
“It was chilly last night,” she remarked.
He studied his coffee for a bit before answering. “You’ll want to use an extra blanket.”
June 21, 2018
Clean historical romance that highlights the enormous task and heartaches of the original Oregon Trail travelers. Susan Farr loses her father and then loses her ranch so her only option is to marry up and get on the wagon train. Mike Todd and his brothers are the wagon masters and are bringing everyone West. Wonderful characters and true to historical moments of that time period. Romance blossoms on the travel West!
June 6, 2020
A clen bittersweet tale of travel and finding love along the Oregon Trail from Missouri. Wagon Master Mike Todd seems to be saving Susan from one scrape after another starting with a chance encounter in Missouri. Love sneaks in along the way even though they fight it and fight it hard even once they've been forced into a pretend marriage, but as Smitty says"Love isn't always convenient when it finds you." Will they give in? It keeps you guessing until the end.
September 2, 2020
This is a cute story of a young woman who marries a dud to be able to go on a wagon train to the west coast area. Wagon boss Mike Todd tries to watch out for her and fianlly after he nocount husband dies form cholera, the couple marry for her protection. At first Mike doesn't want to be tied down but by the time they arrive at Mikes ranch they decide to make it a real marriage. A sweet clean story with a feel good ending.
August 25, 2021
LOVED this book. It is a clean historical romance set on the Oregon Trail. The characters were well developed and the plot was fantastic. Kathleen Ball is an excellent writer who knows how to craft her work to pull you from start to finish and engage your senses. I could not put this down. I highly recommend this book to all who enjoy a pioneer romance.
"I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntarily left this review."
"I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntarily left this review."
June 14, 2017
Susan & Mike
Great story about a wagon train headed to Oregon and the trouble they run into including despicable characters, loss of life, kidnapping by Indians, and a love story that takes the entire book to come to fruition. Only three stars because the editing was terrible. Missing words, double phrases, and missing and/or misplaced punctuation.
Great story about a wagon train headed to Oregon and the trouble they run into including despicable characters, loss of life, kidnapping by Indians, and a love story that takes the entire book to come to fruition. Only three stars because the editing was terrible. Missing words, double phrases, and missing and/or misplaced punctuation.
Read
October 27, 2017i quite enjoyed the story and admire the research Ms ball did on the era, the problems and problem solving of a wagon train, but I thought the romance wasn't quite believable because the characters had so little self esteem and lacked communication skills. the woman seemed pretty dense at reading body language, even when other characters were telling her flat out what was going on.
May 28, 2018
The link to this was sent to me in an email for free/inexpensive e-books. The story sounded cute so I grabbed it. I liked it. It wasn't overly romantic, and it wasn't "dirty". There was focus on the other characters and realistic things happened during the Oregon Trail ride. The ending was kind of cheesy but other than that, it was a nice, quick story.
April 2, 2019
Awesome
I try to be as honest in my reviews and I truly loved this story about the Oregon trail. I love reading this genre type of stories. This book was absolutely outstanding. Such trials people endured making their to what they hope will be a better life. This story captured my full attention and I would recommend it to all who enjoy clean western books.
I try to be as honest in my reviews and I truly loved this story about the Oregon trail. I love reading this genre type of stories. This book was absolutely outstanding. Such trials people endured making their to what they hope will be a better life. This story captured my full attention and I would recommend it to all who enjoy clean western books.
September 20, 2021
Just Begun
The story was good. Some things were unexpected, which was nice. However, this book needs to go through a thorough check for errors. For example, changes of tense, spelling, names changed (Wicker to Wick, Single Tons -- really???). These things make the reading unpleasant.
The story was good. Some things were unexpected, which was nice. However, this book needs to go through a thorough check for errors. For example, changes of tense, spelling, names changed (Wicker to Wick, Single Tons -- really???). These things make the reading unpleasant.
November 22, 2021
I’ve read this book twice
I enjoyed this book of characters ! They show many sides of community. Moving as a wagon train or stationary as a town. It takes all kinds. Karma gets her due and faith brings a fruitful end. Enjoy reading this one for the intrigue and tenderness. So much more could have been written. Loved the storylines.
I enjoyed this book of characters ! They show many sides of community. Moving as a wagon train or stationary as a town. It takes all kinds. Karma gets her due and faith brings a fruitful end. Enjoy reading this one for the intrigue and tenderness. So much more could have been written. Loved the storylines.
August 23, 2023
Another great book by Kathleen Ball
Well, I have certainly really enjoyed all the books that I have read by this author. I believe I have read most, if not all of the books in this series. Each one was very interesting and entertaining. They were all so good I had a hard time putting them down. I think you will like them too.
Well, I have certainly really enjoyed all the books that I have read by this author. I believe I have read most, if not all of the books in this series. Each one was very interesting and entertaining. They were all so good I had a hard time putting them down. I think you will like them too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews