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Trails of the Heart #1-3

Trails Of the Heart Boxset: Oregon Trail Romance books 1-3

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Three books in one, based on true diaries from Oregon Trail pioneers
Oregon Bound
1852 Illinois, Eva Thompson has her future mapped out. Marriage to David Clarke and a family is all she wants.
Her Pa has other ideas. He insists on taking the Oregon Trail to a better life and favors Harold Chapman as Eva’s suitor.
Marriage to Harold will provide Eva with everything she needs except .... love.
Can David overcome the prejudices of the past, the challenges of the present to give Eva the future she desires?

Oregon Dreams

Johanna Thompson understands her father’s wish to go to Oregon.
Can she use the time together to convince him to let her follow her dream?
Rick Hughes inherits two small children, a wagon and a dream to go to Oregon.
But it’s not his dream.
Johanna and Rick need to work together to save their families from disaster but doing so could comprise both their dreams. Can they find a way to overcome the difficulties on the trail and find a new life together?

Oregon Destiny

Becky Thomspon doesn’t take no for an answer. She knows what she wants and his name is Scott Jones. Scott Jones’s future was stolen along with his heart. He cannot love Becky, but can he keep her safe?
After months of illness, deprivation and betrayal, with the end in sight have their problems only started?

643 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 5, 2018

655 people are currently reading
205 people want to read

About the author

Rachel Wesson

119 books359 followers



Rachel 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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5 stars
308 (63%)
4 stars
121 (25%)
3 stars
39 (8%)
2 stars
11 (2%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Nana Kitteh.
147 reviews1 follower
September 8, 2018
Good story

This is the story of an Irish family with three daughters traveling on the Oregon Trail. They meet different people in their wagon train and have different experiences. It is well written but could use better editing. There are many places where the word in the story is not quite right and you're left to guess what should be there? But as I said, the storytelling is good and I will probably re read it again in the future.
15 reviews
September 16, 2018
Good story, but needs better editing

This trilogy is about the Thompson sisters as they travel to Oregon Territory. It is an exciting read but several times I had to put it down in frustration as I couldn't figure out who said what. It was like someone over edited and did not read the final version. Even the pronouns were mixed up! Loved the adventure and the fact that it was a clean romance, just please fix the grammar.
341 reviews
September 3, 2018
Wonderful Oregon Trail Stories!

I think this is the first books I have read that are set on the Oregon Trail, but they won't be my last! This set follows the three Thompson sisters as they, along with their family take part in a wagon train to Oregon. Their hardships and joys seemed so real through the pages. I didn't want to stop reading!
994 reviews10 followers
September 5, 2018
DESTINY MAKES IS AWAKEN OUR HEARTS & MINDS!

4 STARS for this Box set of 3 stories that are all Historical Western Romances, that relate to each other based on a wonderful exciting storyline of a Wagon train traveling across the entire U.S. to Oregon. This beautiful story begins with a main family of this wagon train, The Thompsons who Mr Thompson, has decided to uproot his family of a wife, 3 daughters,- Eva, Jo & Becky (twins) & a younger son Stephen to go on the Oregon Trail. (All of the 4 women are upset about going) In each of the books we have 1 of the girls highlighted with her love for a man that their Pa hasn't approved of yet because he doesn't know them, so tricky. All 3 girls are different from each other and they each have skills the others don't and don't care about. Then the men that Destiny has chosen for the Thompson girls are all fine men but 3 different men in age, raising, prior lifestyle that molded them, and personality wise. It is great fun watching as Becky tempts her man, sorrowful & a bit of frustration (and for me anger) while Eva both loves up but begs him to wait before talking to Pa, and then smiles thinking yay for the nieces of Jo's man or those two shy beings might not ever speak! Every bit of romance is a wondrous thing but just a side issue to the wagons having to travel; we learn how the girls arms hurt driving the oxen, fears of crossing rivers and right up to why the wagon master has all the wagons in the train drive over the grave of a loved one they had just buried.
The wagon train comes in contact with the different Indians, each with their own feelings about the whites plus prejudice on the train. There is mystery, secrets from the past, heartbreak and enemies from the past and new ones to keep a reader enticed to keep turning the pages. Traveling close together with occasional hardships/troubles usually breaks down barriers that highlight the true innerself of any individual, also shows some that bonding together as a group is what is needed to get through to Oregon. It is awkward to read and feel the hostility from the selfish and prejudice but you have no doubt that this is only a story of fiction somewhere in the past the awfulness & selfish behavior has indeed occurred. Great read that will keep your attention and leave you wanting more. My only problem was with Eva, she kept putting poor loving hard working and suffering David from talking to her Pa. I really never felt any good reasons for this, that other guy was unlocked and a bully but they didn't speak up because they thought Eva was going to marry him.
WARNING: 17 & Up. SEXUAL CONTENT: KISSING
Profile Image for Jo-Ann Fitzgerald.
753 reviews2 followers
December 18, 2018
This is a set of 3 books put into one and it starts the series.

If you want to read what the books are about, read the blurb above the reviews.

This book is about how the heroine's father in all 3 books, gets the idea for going to Oregon and the promises made. Each of the stories follows one of his daughter's at a time.

The first book, Oregon Bound, center's on his oldest daughter. This was an interesting concept as I could imagine many girls were like this prior to setting out. I bet some did what this heroine did and talked her hero into coming along but I can also imagine there were others who left them behind. Remember back then by the time girls hit late teens they were usually already married and having kids. The characters were thought out and you could relate to them.

Its a great start to the story.

The Second book, Oregon Dreams, center's on the second oldest daughter. She's the more capable one with all the life skills. She's had a crush on one of the men since starting out. However, when one of the men, our hero, need her help with his children as he can't do everything on while on their way, he asks for her help from our heroine. He's been attracted to her since the start, but is trying to do things very proper. However, when she wants to be a teacher, like him, will this be the start of the end for them?

The plot was very good and it was very of this time period. I liked how feisty the heroine was but was a bit annoyed at how shy and timid the hero was. I actually felt more for the hero in this one rather than the heroine.

The Third book, Oregon Destiny, is on the father's last, and youngest, daughter. This daughter, our heroine, has had a crush on the man, our hero, who's responsible for the whole wagon train. We learn more about why the hero is like he is and roll our eyes at the heroine. While this plot was thought out, the amount of back and forth from these two got on our nerves. This one also deals with Indian's which would have been common for back then. While the story was ok, the characters got on your nerves. I mainly finished the book because I wanted to see how the other sisters were going to be when they actually got to Oregon.

Overall, the story line was great and so were the characters. I was let down by the last book mainly as it seemed like it was more thrown together and the characters were more annoying than the others.

Overall, not bad.
Profile Image for Mary.
951 reviews8 followers
September 5, 2018
Trail of Hearts Wins Hearts.

This series won me over from the start. I loved the three sister and their individual stories that tyned together through out all the books. Having been raised as one of three sisters, I appreciated the way they worked together and conflicted at the same time.
35 reviews2 followers
September 8, 2018
Wonderfully Written

I liked this story very much. I laughed and cried. The innocence of men and women of that age was a refreshing delight. The character really came to life for me. They were facinating as any character should be bit they were naturally engaging. Gteat job. I would recommend the book to anyone. Best wishes from one writer to another.
130 reviews2 followers
January 1, 2020
Exciting Read!

Rachel Wesson has become a favorite author. She writes with warmth and humor, drawing you into the story line. A number of characters in this box set but she weaves a great storyline community coming together. Action packed, romance, loss of life, New birth, orphans. And it all fit together like perfect pieces of a puzzle fitting together!
461 reviews2 followers
September 4, 2018
Wonderful

What a wonderful set of stories. The Oregon Trail books are so good. I felt like I was part of the family. I like the way the books just ran together. It was like one big story.




2 reviews
October 12, 2018
Oregon Trail Romance

These books were heart warming and educational. I enjoyed the bits of history woven in the stories .I would recommend these books to anyone interested in the early West.
Profile Image for Debra.
432 reviews4 followers
August 31, 2019
These three novels were not bad as Oregon Trail Romance stories are what they are, and I prefer a bit more realistic circumstances in novels about the trail. Yes there were tragedies, but it just didn't seem all to realistic sometimes.
Profile Image for Kathy.
1,711 reviews5 followers
August 18, 2020
This is three stories about the Thompson daughters on the trip to Oregon. Each daughter finds a man to love on this arduous trip. Each book in the series is better than the last book and gives a good description of the trip. An enjoyable series.
56 reviews
August 20, 2021
Books 1_3

Moving from the east to Oregon has many objects to be tested and for people to get along. Love will find happiness if you give it a chance.Women are the back bone to the strengths of a group together
Profile Image for kathi Driskell.
370 reviews10 followers
December 15, 2022
Home in Oregon

This series is a heart warming story of families traveling to settle our western section of America. The story of live, family and people settling together in new homes and marriages. Very heartwarming
150 reviews
September 4, 2018
Excellent

I thoroughly enjoyed this series on a wagon train traveling west. It is a clean romance which made it perfect in my preference.
25 reviews
September 7, 2018
A great book!!!!! It was long and, ordinarily, I prefer shorter books. But, this was worth every moment of reading. I had a difficult time putting it down!!! Would love a sequel!!!
7 reviews
September 18, 2018
It kept me entertained.

I like western adventures. Also tales of covered wagons on the trails west and encounters with Indians. Also life on the trail.
Profile Image for Deb Shank.
493 reviews2 followers
October 9, 2018
Good read

Good read love reading historical books, these people had hard lives, the dreams they had, the resilience to make this hard trips.
Profile Image for Cissie Breland.
333 reviews2 followers
October 14, 2018
Such fun

It is fun to have the characters continue on in different books so you can know more about what happens to them.
70 reviews
August 26, 2021
Wonderful series, but

There were way too many grammatical, vocabulary, and punctuation errors.She doesn't know how to use commas.Please be sure she has a competent proofreader.
112 reviews
September 11, 2018
Enjoyed this series was very realistic and made you laugh and cry. I would imagine the traveling back then was very much like these books descripted.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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