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Trails of the Heart #3
Oregon Destiny
Only a mountain range stands between Scott Jones and his fellow travelers. Their final destination is within their grasp after months of suffering deaths, illnesses and betrayal. But it is the most treacherous part of their journey and not just because of the terrain.
Becky Thompson loves him but he can’t return that love. He has a past to deal with. Mitchell, the man who stole his happy ever after, is coming for him and all those he holds dear. By loving Becky, he is putting her and her family in danger. He must keep her safe even if that means breaking her heart.
No one is going to stop Becky Thompson from living her destiny. She belongs with Scott. Will she convince him before they reach the Oregon Valley or will fate intervene and kill them all?
Becky Thompson loves him but he can’t return that love. He has a past to deal with. Mitchell, the man who stole his happy ever after, is coming for him and all those he holds dear. By loving Becky, he is putting her and her family in danger. He must keep her safe even if that means breaking her heart.
No one is going to stop Becky Thompson from living her destiny. She belongs with Scott. Will she convince him before they reach the Oregon Valley or will fate intervene and kill them all?
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 21, 2017
515 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Wesson
120 books361 followersRachel Wesson was born in Kilkenny, Ireland but considers herself to be from the capital, Dublin as that's where she spent most of her life. Her dad brought Rachel and her two sisters out every Saturday to give their mother a break. He took them to the library and for ice-cream after. It took a long time for her sisters to forgive her for the hours she spent choosing her books!
She grew up driving everyone nuts asking them questions about what they did during the War or what side they were on in the 1916 rising etc. Finally her Granny told her to write her stories down so people would get the pleasure of reading them. In fact what Granny meant was everyone would get some peace while Rachel was busy writing!
When not writing, or annoying relatives, Rachel was reading. Her report cards from school commented on her love of reading especially when she should have been learning. Seems you can't read Great Expectations in Maths. After a doomed love affair and an unpleasant bank raid during which she defended herself with a tea tray, she headed to London for a couple of years. (There is a reason she doesn't write romance!). She never intended staying but a chance meeting with the man of her dreams put paid to any return to Ireland. Having spent most of her career in the City, she decided something was missing. Working in the City is great but it's a young person's dream. Having three children you never see isn't good for anyone. So she packed in the job and started writing. Thanks to her amazing readers, that writing turned into a career far more exciting and rewarding than any other.
Rachel lives in Surrey with her husband and three children, two boys and a girl. When not reading, writing or watching films for "research" purposes, Rachel likes to hang out with her family. She also travels regularly back home - in fact she should have shares in BA and Aerlingus.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 27, 2017
Loved it
Loved it lots of excitement and adventure. I love this kind of story with pioneer's struggling to forge a new life in the wild and untamed West. With romance hardship and adventure people persevering and overcoming obstacles. Showing humanity to their fellow man. While dealing with dangerous harder men who want to rob kill and kidnap innocent people
Loved it lots of excitement and adventure. I love this kind of story with pioneer's struggling to forge a new life in the wild and untamed West. With romance hardship and adventure people persevering and overcoming obstacles. Showing humanity to their fellow man. While dealing with dangerous harder men who want to rob kill and kidnap innocent people
May 24, 2017
Great read!
I throughly enjoyed this book, from the beginning to the very end. Scott and Becky are too hardheaded people, and absolutely perfect for each other!
I throughly enjoyed this book, from the beginning to the very end. Scott and Becky are too hardheaded people, and absolutely perfect for each other!
May 12, 2022
This is a review of the 3 books so far, together, because they showcase the complete trip from leaving Virgil, their friends, and their Granny, to arriving and making their claims for land on their arrival.
The preparations occur on the setting of Eva's pa insisting Eva marry Harold, the son of a well-off shopkeeper, who is a bully and selfish. Pa Thompson has known poverty and he doesn't want his children ever to know want such as he has known. But Eva loves honest, hard-working David, son of the town drunk, his father's drinking something most of the people in Virgil believe is his fault somehow. He hires on with a family since he can't afford the trip on the money he has saved so far. Once on the trail, his work ethic gives him credibility in the sight of people who take him at face value. Eventually, the blinders come off about Pa Thompson's preferred son-in-law and he realizes his mistake - with a bit of help from his wife. Eva and David finally get married with the family's blessing.
Twins Becky and Johanna are about as opposite as 2 people can be. Becky is vivacious, outgoing, tomboyish, a flirt, and has fallen hard for Capt. Scott Jones, the trailmaster, who is 10 years older than she, and their relationship is stormy throughout their time together. A quiet love develops slowly between Rick and Johanna, her good feelings about their relationship souring briefly when the 23 year old bachelor Rick sees no way to care for his 2 nieces and pursue his dreams at the same time, and is panicky about doing right by the 2 girls, who have lost a mother and 2 brothers to sickness on the trail. When the girls, esp. the 10 yr old, get sick, and the 10 yr old seems to be giving up fighting for life, he realizes just how much he loves them, and as he bathes the little girl in the cold water of the creek, trying to get her fever down, he tells her. She recovers, and Johanna realizes she loves him and that things stand a chance to work out. The 2 of them gain an additional family member when one of Johanna's little protectors, Almanzo, who has been taught hate by his father, is found beaten and running a high fever. Johanna, who has just gotten done running a miniature hospital of very sick people, isolating the sick and limiting caregiviers to slow the spread, finds herself once again nursing someone back to health. She reads to him from Rick's older niece's book of fairy tales, making the main characters princes instead of princesses at the girl's suggestion. When she finds out what happened to the child, she tells him he will always have a home with her, and her parents reassure him - as does Rick. A terrible accident takes a young man's life, and his fiancee is devastated. She loses the will to live when she gets sick. Johanna does all she can to help the girl see her fiancee would have wanted her to move on, but though it takes a while, she does finally return to herself and fight for her life against the illness. Two died in the small epidemic that hit the wagon train group, but the rest are ok. Johanna's work with sick people ends up giving her some fame among the Indians, where she goes, with Becky and Scott, to help a sick Native American woman, Scott's sister in the tribe. There, Becky discovers more about Scott, including that his wife and kids were killed by the nasty man they recently met at a fort on their journey. Scott had taken him in for trial as a land pirate who killed both Indians as well as a white wagon train full of settlers, and done so dressed as if he were an Indian. They had assured Scott he'd hang for his crimes, yet there he was, free again. Scott wants revenge and knows he himself might hang for murder, thus he has done what he can to distance himself from Becky. It is a topic of discussion with Scott's tribe. While the girls are there, trying to make sure the sick woman recovers, Almonzo shows up as Johanna's protector. Paco, Scott's brother, has his son Tall Trees, look to educating Almonzo somewhat in Indian ways, and more so than the adults realize. When Paco, Beaver aka Akmid, and Becky are kidnapped by the land pirate and his accomplices - one of whom worked with Harold the storekeeper, the other being Almonzo's father. Paco is badly beaten for trying to defend Becky. Scott and David, who has become the wagonmaster's 2nd in command, set up a way to rescue the kidnapped and get the bad guys. The tribe to which Scott belongs is split on the issue of war with the whites, but most Whites don't know that. Akmid gets free and frees Paco, but is unable to free Becky. He takes Paco to the wagon train so Johanna can care for him. Paco warns them of the 2 factions in the tribe. We see the bravery of Almonzo once again, as he rides, bareback as Tall Tress taught him, and with Paco's necklace on as proof to both horse and tribe that Paco sent him. He brings back help.
The bad guys are finally defeated, one with the sabotaged gun that was Johanna's suggestion. All 3 land pirates are dead, and in a pitched battle, so no one can lay a homicide charge at anyone. Will Scott keep pushing Becky away, or will he finally settle down and ask for her hand in marriage? And what about Rick? Johanna has already accepted his proposal of marriage, and he can no longer think of surviving without his nieces and Almonzo. Can he really stand to be away from them for months at a time, trying to set up schools all over the West, or will he stay put and start one school where he is and enjoy his mix and match family and his new wife, and perhaps add more children to the mix one day? Perhaps pass his dream on to others?
Love is in the air for all ages as well. But no one wants to settle near the first town to which they came - all that seemed to be there were saloons, brothels, and gambling houses, with even the general store being an afterthought. They decide to move nearer to Portland which is more family friendly. They stake their claims and get ready to build houses for everyone.
But to find out what decisions Rick and Scott make about the twins they love, and who else fell in love on the trail, you'll have to read all the books.
The next one in the series.is about Almonzo, 10 or so years later. Towards the end of the trip, Almonzo was crushing hard on Rick's older niece. Even if they're raised together, they're not related. Many crushes, esp. at age 10, don't last, but we will have to read the next book to find out if this one did.
The preparations occur on the setting of Eva's pa insisting Eva marry Harold, the son of a well-off shopkeeper, who is a bully and selfish. Pa Thompson has known poverty and he doesn't want his children ever to know want such as he has known. But Eva loves honest, hard-working David, son of the town drunk, his father's drinking something most of the people in Virgil believe is his fault somehow. He hires on with a family since he can't afford the trip on the money he has saved so far. Once on the trail, his work ethic gives him credibility in the sight of people who take him at face value. Eventually, the blinders come off about Pa Thompson's preferred son-in-law and he realizes his mistake - with a bit of help from his wife. Eva and David finally get married with the family's blessing.
Twins Becky and Johanna are about as opposite as 2 people can be. Becky is vivacious, outgoing, tomboyish, a flirt, and has fallen hard for Capt. Scott Jones, the trailmaster, who is 10 years older than she, and their relationship is stormy throughout their time together. A quiet love develops slowly between Rick and Johanna, her good feelings about their relationship souring briefly when the 23 year old bachelor Rick sees no way to care for his 2 nieces and pursue his dreams at the same time, and is panicky about doing right by the 2 girls, who have lost a mother and 2 brothers to sickness on the trail. When the girls, esp. the 10 yr old, get sick, and the 10 yr old seems to be giving up fighting for life, he realizes just how much he loves them, and as he bathes the little girl in the cold water of the creek, trying to get her fever down, he tells her. She recovers, and Johanna realizes she loves him and that things stand a chance to work out. The 2 of them gain an additional family member when one of Johanna's little protectors, Almanzo, who has been taught hate by his father, is found beaten and running a high fever. Johanna, who has just gotten done running a miniature hospital of very sick people, isolating the sick and limiting caregiviers to slow the spread, finds herself once again nursing someone back to health. She reads to him from Rick's older niece's book of fairy tales, making the main characters princes instead of princesses at the girl's suggestion. When she finds out what happened to the child, she tells him he will always have a home with her, and her parents reassure him - as does Rick. A terrible accident takes a young man's life, and his fiancee is devastated. She loses the will to live when she gets sick. Johanna does all she can to help the girl see her fiancee would have wanted her to move on, but though it takes a while, she does finally return to herself and fight for her life against the illness. Two died in the small epidemic that hit the wagon train group, but the rest are ok. Johanna's work with sick people ends up giving her some fame among the Indians, where she goes, with Becky and Scott, to help a sick Native American woman, Scott's sister in the tribe. There, Becky discovers more about Scott, including that his wife and kids were killed by the nasty man they recently met at a fort on their journey. Scott had taken him in for trial as a land pirate who killed both Indians as well as a white wagon train full of settlers, and done so dressed as if he were an Indian. They had assured Scott he'd hang for his crimes, yet there he was, free again. Scott wants revenge and knows he himself might hang for murder, thus he has done what he can to distance himself from Becky. It is a topic of discussion with Scott's tribe. While the girls are there, trying to make sure the sick woman recovers, Almonzo shows up as Johanna's protector. Paco, Scott's brother, has his son Tall Trees, look to educating Almonzo somewhat in Indian ways, and more so than the adults realize. When Paco, Beaver aka Akmid, and Becky are kidnapped by the land pirate and his accomplices - one of whom worked with Harold the storekeeper, the other being Almonzo's father. Paco is badly beaten for trying to defend Becky. Scott and David, who has become the wagonmaster's 2nd in command, set up a way to rescue the kidnapped and get the bad guys. The tribe to which Scott belongs is split on the issue of war with the whites, but most Whites don't know that. Akmid gets free and frees Paco, but is unable to free Becky. He takes Paco to the wagon train so Johanna can care for him. Paco warns them of the 2 factions in the tribe. We see the bravery of Almonzo once again, as he rides, bareback as Tall Tress taught him, and with Paco's necklace on as proof to both horse and tribe that Paco sent him. He brings back help.
The bad guys are finally defeated, one with the sabotaged gun that was Johanna's suggestion. All 3 land pirates are dead, and in a pitched battle, so no one can lay a homicide charge at anyone. Will Scott keep pushing Becky away, or will he finally settle down and ask for her hand in marriage? And what about Rick? Johanna has already accepted his proposal of marriage, and he can no longer think of surviving without his nieces and Almonzo. Can he really stand to be away from them for months at a time, trying to set up schools all over the West, or will he stay put and start one school where he is and enjoy his mix and match family and his new wife, and perhaps add more children to the mix one day? Perhaps pass his dream on to others?
Love is in the air for all ages as well. But no one wants to settle near the first town to which they came - all that seemed to be there were saloons, brothels, and gambling houses, with even the general store being an afterthought. They decide to move nearer to Portland which is more family friendly. They stake their claims and get ready to build houses for everyone.
But to find out what decisions Rick and Scott make about the twins they love, and who else fell in love on the trail, you'll have to read all the books.
The next one in the series.is about Almonzo, 10 or so years later. Towards the end of the trip, Almonzo was crushing hard on Rick's older niece. Even if they're raised together, they're not related. Many crushes, esp. at age 10, don't last, but we will have to read the next book to find out if this one did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2017
Poorly written and edited but likeable Oregon trail story
Suitable for preteens, this gathering of information in the form of a story is not logically written with many missing sentences. I read several sections multiple times before realizing one character suffered a life threatening beating, another was in labor but managed to climb down a steep mountain when traveling and other things like that. Dialogue was understandable but distant. Not a keeper as currently presented.
Suitable for preteens, this gathering of information in the form of a story is not logically written with many missing sentences. I read several sections multiple times before realizing one character suffered a life threatening beating, another was in labor but managed to climb down a steep mountain when traveling and other things like that. Dialogue was understandable but distant. Not a keeper as currently presented.
August 14, 2020
Our travelers are almost within sight of Oregon. They just have treacherous mountains to go up and then down the other side and rivers to cross. But they also have to deal with outlaws they faced earlier on the trail. Battling the outlaws will involve many of the men and some of the women and Indians we met earlier. Make sure you read this part to learn how they got the wagons up and down the steep mountains and how the Indians helped the settlers defeat outlaws.
The settlers are in Oregon. They just need to file for their homesteads and begin building their homes and preparing their land for farming. It sounds like we have more books to read about these settlers. I look forward to reading about the fulfilment of their dreams.
The settlers are in Oregon. They just need to file for their homesteads and begin building their homes and preparing their land for farming. It sounds like we have more books to read about these settlers. I look forward to reading about the fulfilment of their dreams.
May 29, 2017
Another solid one
Rachel Wesson has the skill of taking a character I didn't particularly care about in a previous book and making him/her interesting and making me like him/her without changing who she/he had been in the previous book. And she doesn't lose previously highlighted characters by turning them into shells of their previous selves. That's a problem I see in some other series in the genre: the female characters, once their turn to "star" is done, become simpering Stepford Wives. Rachel avoids this in this series and in her Clover Springs series, offering characters with depth and room to grow. Keep writing them and I'll keep reading them!
Rachel Wesson has the skill of taking a character I didn't particularly care about in a previous book and making him/her interesting and making me like him/her without changing who she/he had been in the previous book. And she doesn't lose previously highlighted characters by turning them into shells of their previous selves. That's a problem I see in some other series in the genre: the female characters, once their turn to "star" is done, become simpering Stepford Wives. Rachel avoids this in this series and in her Clover Springs series, offering characters with depth and room to grow. Keep writing them and I'll keep reading them!
December 25, 2017
Awesome!
I absolutely adore historical westerns! I am 71 yrs old, born in1946, in Ann Arbor, Michigan! My family moved over 37 times, all over the US, before the existence of freeways. We often lived in small towns, with horses hitching bars, old dime stores or family markets with old wooden floors. I landed in California by age 16 and watched this little town grow up. The series brought back so many wonderful memories. Thanks to Rachel Wesson for such a gift!
I absolutely adore historical westerns! I am 71 yrs old, born in1946, in Ann Arbor, Michigan! My family moved over 37 times, all over the US, before the existence of freeways. We often lived in small towns, with horses hitching bars, old dime stores or family markets with old wooden floors. I landed in California by age 16 and watched this little town grow up. The series brought back so many wonderful memories. Thanks to Rachel Wesson for such a gift!
June 30, 2017
Best part of a trip is in the last leg of the journey.
This book brings it all together and it is fantastic. I thought the first two were great this one is the icing! You have to read the first 2. But you will love this one even more with all the excitement. The Thompson's are a great family the women strong and smart as well as beautiful.
This book brings it all together and it is fantastic. I thought the first two were great this one is the icing! You have to read the first 2. But you will love this one even more with all the excitement. The Thompson's are a great family the women strong and smart as well as beautiful.
July 31, 2017
Great series
I loved this whole series. Anyone who like Pioneer Romance will enjoy this series. It is filled with mystery, humor and romance but it also gives a realistic pitcure of just how hard it was for the pioneer's that made their way west on wagon trains. A truly good read that is why I rated it 5 stars.
I loved this whole series. Anyone who like Pioneer Romance will enjoy this series. It is filled with mystery, humor and romance but it also gives a realistic pitcure of just how hard it was for the pioneer's that made their way west on wagon trains. A truly good read that is why I rated it 5 stars.
August 31, 2019
This Oregan Trail novel wasn't bad, but since it was a historical romance, it just didn't seem to have the gritty truth as others I have read. It ends with the happily ever after. I am considering reading the other 2 novels to see what this author does with the story and characters now that their wagon train has reached Oregon and settled on homesteads.
December 8, 2021
A great story of adventures and intriguing.
The author has written a riveting story about the adventures of the people who move West to start their new life. A very enjoyable story with a great deal of action, suspense and compassion that will keep you intriguing and entertaining.
The author has written a riveting story about the adventures of the people who move West to start their new life. A very enjoyable story with a great deal of action, suspense and compassion that will keep you intriguing and entertaining.
September 21, 2018
There is a nice balance between adventure and relationship building in this one. Again, another fast, entertaining and interesting read about families on a wagon train going to Oregon. I am enjoying this light series very much. (Karen's review)
August 18, 2020
Becky falls in love with the wagon train leader. However Scott has a past that haunts him and Becky is so young. The trip to Oregon is a very hard one and the descriptions of the perils is vivid. This is the third book in the series and the best.
May 24, 2021
Oregon Destiny
Well, this was the wrap of the families traveling to Oregon. They had many troubles getting to Oregon, but after finally getting there, they had four weddings in the church. This was a great story in all of the parts of this series. Enjoy.
Well, this was the wrap of the families traveling to Oregon. They had many troubles getting to Oregon, but after finally getting there, they had four weddings in the church. This was a great story in all of the parts of this series. Enjoy.
December 26, 2021
Amazing story
This is another amazing story by Rachel Wesson , this series of a family that moved from back east to Oregon, by way of the Oregon Trail. With trials and tribulations of the travels
This is another amazing story by Rachel Wesson , this series of a family that moved from back east to Oregon, by way of the Oregon Trail. With trials and tribulations of the travels
January 9, 2023
I love this book and series. I’m ready to start book 4. I feel like I’ve made the long trip myself. Rachel is so good at bringing the reader right along for the ride.
Love these characters and their love for each other.
Love these characters and their love for each other.
September 29, 2023
Trail Tales
I have enjoyed reading the books in this series so far! All three books were absolutely great! Loved the characters and the individual members of each family! Keep up the good work!!
I have enjoyed reading the books in this series so far! All three books were absolutely great! Loved the characters and the individual members of each family! Keep up the good work!!
May 23, 2017
Love!
Totally just devoured this book! I hope there will be another one in this series but it ended wonderfully if not. Thank you for writing and sharing it with me.
Totally just devoured this book! I hope there will be another one in this series but it ended wonderfully if not. Thank you for writing and sharing it with me.
May 23, 2017
Loved it
Another amazing story by a great author thank you for continuing to write these awesome tales! Looking forward to more
Another amazing story by a great author thank you for continuing to write these awesome tales! Looking forward to more
June 17, 2017
Oregon Destiny
Final book in the series and the ending is wonderful. I enjoyed this series very much. Characters are great and there's enough drama to keep you on edge.
Final book in the series and the ending is wonderful. I enjoyed this series very much. Characters are great and there's enough drama to keep you on edge.
June 22, 2017
Wonderful
I loved the entire series. These stories would make a great movie on wagon trains. Love romance mystery murder cowboys all in this series. Good. Lean reading
I loved the entire series. These stories would make a great movie on wagon trains. Love romance mystery murder cowboys all in this series. Good. Lean reading
July 18, 2017
Ok. Read
Just didn't grab and hold my attention
Plot moved very slow and sped up at the end
Slow start took forever
Just didn't grab and hold my attention
Plot moved very slow and sped up at the end
Slow start took forever
July 27, 2017
Great adventure
Talk about a "page turner!"? Lots of excitement in this one. Whew! They finally made it. Be sure you read all the series in order.
Talk about a "page turner!"? Lots of excitement in this one. Whew! They finally made it. Be sure you read all the series in order.
February 6, 2018
Great story. I was pulling for this couple. It was touch and go the whole time. I’m glad it ended how it did. Can’t wait to see what’s to come.
September 3, 2018
Loved this series. I think it just got better and better as it went on. This one focused on the 2nd twin . Showed her transformation along the trail and channeled her ambitions to be an asset.
June 12, 2019
Becky and Scott
Great conclusion adventure of this third book in series. Becky and Scott wrestle with their love because he distances himself from her. - Babs
Great conclusion adventure of this third book in series. Becky and Scott wrestle with their love because he distances himself from her. - Babs
July 4, 2020
Too many pieces didn’t fit together. I really liked the first two stories and most of this one so this was a disappointing end to the series.
October 16, 2020
Really good... Warm wonderful characters, and exciting story, and a good look at the hardships faced along the arduous Oregon trail.
May 17, 2021
Oregon destiny
A fitting conclusion to the Trails Of The Heart series. All the family arrived in Oregon to start their new lives after the trials of the trail.
A fitting conclusion to the Trails Of The Heart series. All the family arrived in Oregon to start their new lives after the trials of the trail.
April 6, 2022
Oregon Destiny (Trails of the Heart Book 3)
This has been a wonderful series. I have just finished the third book. All have been very good I am going to the fourth book now.
This has been a wonderful series. I have just finished the third book. All have been very good I am going to the fourth book now.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews