Wagon Trail Bride

Nebraska Historicals #1

by Ruth Ann Nordin

Richard Larson has secretly loved Amanda for years, but it wasn't until she had nowhere else to turn that he had the courage to propose a marriage of convenience. Now as they make their way to Omaha, Nebraska for a new life, he wonders if she might ever come to return his feelings. When Amanda married Richard Larson, it wasn’t for love. It was because he was rescuing her from a painful situation. When they married, they agreed to a marriage of convenience. She didn’t realize he secretly loved her until after the vows were exchanged. Now she doesn’t know how to act around him. And worse, a young man from her past is the one leading the wagon train to Omaha, and he has plans for them to run off to start a new life elsewhere.

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical, Westerns, Marriage Of Convenience, Historical Fiction, Western Romance, Romance

174 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 3, 2016

About the author

What's to say? I write a lot. I read often. I sleep little. Once in awhile, I've been known to clean the house. A number of kids live in my house and there's this guy they call dad and I call husband. All in all, it's a pretty good life. :-)

Reviews

[Seon Ji (Dawn) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. Not as good as some of her other books, but enjoyable enough for me.

This seemed to be either a prequel or an offshoot of the Nebraska series. I don't think it is necessary to read it before Nebraska #1. You probably don't really need to read it at all if the theme of rape bothers you (not detailed, not done by the hero). It is my point of view that this author is very good at writing about sensitive matters without leaving a traumatizing effect.

Again we have a perfect hero who sacrifices everything for the one he loves. Unfortunately, the one he loves has suffered a terrible trauma of being raped and tossed out to the street with nowhere to go.

Summary:
Hero Richard has loved Amanda since they were children, and his love for her never waivered. One day, he comes across Amanda in an alley starving and dirty, he takes her back to his apartment and tends to her emotional and physical wounds. He then convinces her to marry him not only to protect her, but also because he loves her. After they marry, he decides to follow his family to Omaha to start a new life with his new wife.

Amanda is oh so traumatized, and only Richard can provide her the healing she needs as she slowly comes to trust and fall in love with him.

The story was sweet, but a little slow paced for my liking. She doesn't realize her love for Richard until almost 80%.

I found it too repetitive hearing how horrible Mr. Price is, even though I understand the reasoning behind it. It made me feel and think as the heroine did. At the same time it also made me feel uncomfortable. I suppose this was the intent.

The conflicts were nothing major and easily solved. I personally prefer a little more" kick" but the story kept me interested enough . and I did not skim.The confrontation with Joe near the end was a bit silly to me, and unrealistic. Definitely too easily resolved. I was kind of rolling my eyes at how fast the two went from beating each other up to becoming friends. I also thought it a bit of a stretch that Amanda would so easily announce her big secret to Joe in such a manner.

I still plan to read the rest of this series, as I completely adore this author.

Content concerns:

Hero-Virgin (but it is not as obvious as in her other books. There is a small sentence that confirms it where he thinks about the first time with Amanda..... how that now he has experienced lovemaking, he is eager for more.. or something to that effect.
Heroine-Raped in past, not detailed
Cheating-No
OM/OW- Joe is a former man who courted Amanda for 6 months. He proposed to her, she declined. She never truly loved him or anyone else except the hero.
Violence-Mild
Cursing-No
Adultery-No
Sex- A few times, mild, detailed enough. Sweet and tender.
HEA/ILY-Yes to both
Marriage- Yes
Baby- Yes (twins with the hero, but she miscarried the child of her rapist)

[Inna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, I feel like this series is a break from angst, and I love it. Sometimes, I just appreciate a lighter read, and RAN delivers that pretty well. This book deals with some heavier topics but they aren’t overly dramatized so they don’t feel very angsty. The heroine was raped prior to the start of this book (some description given), and she marries the hero when he offers her his protection. The majority of the book is spent with them traveling on the wagon trail to Omaha to begin a new life. I absolutely loved Richard as the hero, he’s wonderful in every way imaginable. He’s comparable to Dave in “Eye of the Beholder”… just super loyal and kind and gentle. I love that this author has heroes who are masculine and protective but not super alpha. It’s a nice change of pace.


Safe; no others for either of them. Heroine was courted in the past by OM who happens to be on the wagon train with them… she declined his marriage offer in the past… but he approached her several times during the journey and tries to get her to run away with him. She isn’t tempted and stays true to the hero. I think the hero was a virgin, but I couldn’t be 100% sure.

TW: heroine was raped in past by OM who is not in this story except for memories, some details of the event given. She miscarries the rapist’s baby.

[Gretchen Fatouros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally the beginning of the Larsons! And Amanda & Richard's story!

Read in order!

1 - Wagon Trail Bride (pioneer series book 1) - Richard Larson & Amanda's story - 1864
2 - The Marriage Agreement (Amanda's friend, Laura's story) - 1865
3 - Groom for Hire (Joe Otto) 1866
4 - Forced into Marriage (4 in Pioneer Series) - Brandon Herman - 1866
Then the previous books from Nebraska Historical series

1 - Her Heart’s Desire (Nebraska Book 1) – Sally Larson’s romance 1867
2 - A Bride for Tom (Nebraska Book 2) – Tom Larson’s romance 1868
3 - A Husband for Margaret (Nebraska Book 3) – Joseph Conneally’s romance
4- Eye of the Beholder (Nebraska Book 4) – Dave Larson and Mary’s first book
5 - The Wrong Husband (Nebraska Book 5) – Jenny Larson’s romance
6 - Shotgun Groom (Nebraska Book 6) – Joel Larson’s romance
7 - To Have and To Hold (Nebraska Book 7) – Dave and Mary’s Second Book
8 - His Redeeming Bride (Nebraska Book 8) – Neil Craftsman’s romance
9 - Isaac’s Decision (Nebraska Book 9) – Isaac Larson and Emily Craftsman’s romance

Pretty sure there are a number more now (October 2018)


Okay, let’s help everyone out a bit as the Larsons are in so many stories

*********
This is the best order to read these in

——- 1 ——
1 - Wagon Trail Bride (pioneer series book 1) - Richard Larson & Amanda's story - 1864
July 1864 - October, then November 1865 & June 1866
Richard Larson - 20 - school together, carpenter/house building, moved with family from NYC to Omaha, Nebraska; predicable & secure
Amanda - 20 around January - orphaned at 18, not girly-girl
(June 1866 - twins: Anthony & Mark)
Sally - 17 - always the smart one, quick to catch on
Tom - 15 - Joel gets under his skin
Dave - 12 - quiet, works a lot with his pa
Jenny - 10 - in a hurry to do everything; scream could wake the dead
Joel - 7 - needs someone to prod him along; feel sorry for Joel. Being so little, he doesn’t have a chance unless he learns how to outwit his older brothers and sisters. Joel likes to pick on Tom most

Also, Joe Otto - needs some who enjoys being outside
Laura Rufus - 20 - big heart
Jesse Palmer & MIL Mrs. Shaw & Elsie
Elliot - baby born in July (early October, 4.5 months old) - stronger than he looks, born early
Mr. Carmichael

—— 2 ——
2 - Marriage Agreement - Amanda’s friend, Laura’s story with Jesse
May 1865 +

Laura Rufus - 21 - from Pennsylvania, only child
Jesse Palmer - 23 from NYC
Mrs. Fanny Shaw - spoiled, outspoken, was youngest of 15 kids & no one wants her (even brother, Burt)
Elliot Palmer - 10 months in May 1865 (born July 1864)
Mr. & Mrs. Rufus - came from Ireland, arranged marriage, 25 years married

Larson Family (no bdays August or September & most likely not July or October, either):
Richard (22)
Amanda (22)
Sally - 18
Tom - 16
Dave - 13
Jenny - 11
Joel - 8

Also, Joe Otto - knows lots of people between driving wagon trains & doing odd jobs
Ralph Lindon - merchant, likes to haggle

—— 3 ——
3 - Groom for Hire - Joe Otto’s story
March 1866 - Omaha, Nebraska to San Francisco, California (late October), March 1867 back to Omaha
Joe Otto - dark brown hair and eyes, thin built, loves the process & adventure of the trip, running wagon trains for 5 years, horse: Buck, only child
Michelle Heller - 21 - Mother died when she was 10, rich, taught to always look pretty, pays piano, always inside before wagon train, wants to try new things
“The sense of adventure beckoned to her. And that was what the tune made her think of as she played it. Her mother hadn’t been one to shy away from the opportunity to do something new, and she wouldn’t, either.” Sense of freedom being outside, long dark brown hair, slender build, and bright blue eyes, only child

Bernard Heller - Michelle’s Dad
Jesse & Laura Palmer Elliot (20 months March 1866/ born July 1864) & Benjamin (born April 1866) & Laura’s mom married Hans (German)
Danny Taylor - 22 - traveling with sister & mother, afraid of shadow
Henrietta Taylor - 19
Alice Woods - 30 - gossip, traveling with cousin & family (Ferns)
Stuart Fern - better hunter than Danny
Sherry Fern - late 30s - nice to everyone, married to Alice’s cousin
10 year old daughter
Brandon Hermon - other hired person - early 30s, recently divorced & drunk (left in Wyoming Territory)
Ted Gilbert - middle-aged man
Phillipa Grady - husband & 3 young kids: son (12), Liz (10) & 1 more not mentioned
Matthew - leader of hunting party
Diana & Ruby - “older” women, learned to hunt
Nancy - keep to herself & family mostly

—— 4 ——
4 - Forced into Marriage (4 in Pioneer Series) - Brandon Herman - 1866
Early July 1866 Wyoming Territory (about 4 months since started out in Omaha on Wagon Train) with epilogue 5 years later
Brandon Clint Herman - 29, wife (Hester) cheated with best friend, when he started drinking and ended up losing mercantile because of it & gambling debt (in Omaha), to Ralph Lindon, married 6 years,
Lokni - 19, from Crow tribe, US military killed friends & family & sold her to 4 terrible men who abused & raped her for a year: Orson Pitt, Hank Pitt, Zane Wilson, Barney Pitt (sheriff his brother), 4th man: Nolan Anders, 1st husband married her & her 2 sisters and she was not even first wife, had stillborn girl,
Clint Herman (born July 1866)
Wilma (3 years younger)
Donna
Matt
(Brandon and Lokni Herman found their happily ever after in a quaint home in San Francisco. Brandon did work at the mercantile, and he eventually bought it from the owner who decided to go further north to set up another business. Brandon and Lokni had more children together. After Clint, Lokni gave birth to Wilma, Donna, and Matt. Donna and Matt were named after a couple they had befriended in California.)

Also:
Craig - boss when cut trees
Mrs. Wilma Samson - laundry, widow
Mr. Burke - works or owns mercantile
Donald Jones - leading another wagon train to Washington Territory

Michelle & Joe Otto - see book 3: Groom for Hire
By 1871 - 3rd year going to California, 1870 - lead one to Nevada, also have done the Oregon Territory. Try to get out to Omaha at least every 2 years to see her father
(No children. They did, however, often visit Jesse and Laura Palmer, and those children were like nephews and nieces to them. They also got to travel the entire country, including Canada and Alaska, and lived out a lot of adventures along the way.)

Richard and Amanda Larson - book 1: Wagon Trail Bride
(had twin boys, Anthony and Mark, and a girl, Annabelle. I am going to write Anthony’s and Mark’s romances in the Misled Mail Order Brides Series, which are due out in 2018. The first book in the series is due out November 2017, and that features Sep Wilson, who was Joel Larson’s younger brother-in-law in Shotgun Groom (Book 6 in the Nebraska Series). So you will be seeing some more of Richard and Amanda as they continue to live their happy ending in this series.)

Jesse and Laura Palmer - book 2: The Marriage Agreement
(had Elliot, Benjamin, Mark, and Teresa. Amanda and Laura remained very close friends, and Jesse went on to acquire more farmland, which he farmed with two of his sons. They ended up selling a lot of their crops and made a good living this way.)

—— 5 ——
5 - Her Heart’s Desire (Nebraska Book 1) – Sally Larson’s romance
April 1867

Larson Family (no bdays August or September & most likely not July or October, either):
Richard (22)
Amanda (22)
Sally - 19
Tom - 17
Dave - 14
Jenny - 12
Joel - 9


6 - A Bride for Tom (Nebraska Book 2) – Tom Larson’s romance
September 1868

7 - A Husband for Margaret (Nebraska Book 3) – Joseph Conneally’s romance

8 - Eye of the Beholder (Nebraska Book 4) – Dave Larson and Mary’s first book

9 - The Wrong Husband (Nebraska Book 5) – Jenny Larson’s romance

10 - Shotgun Groom (Nebraska Book 6) – Joel Larson’s romance

11 - To Have and To Hold (Nebraska Book 7) – Dave and Mary’s Second Book

12 - His Redeeming Bride (Nebraska Book 8) – Neil Craftsman’s romance

13 - Isaac’s Decision (Nebraska Book 9) – Isaac Larson and Emily Craftsman’s romance


Misled Mail order brides series
More, too...

[Lilian80 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf at 30%. Writing style was very tedious and characters very flat in my opinion. But based on the reviews, I can see many have enjoyed this book.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I liked this. I thought the author handled the the more serious themes with a lot of sensitivity. It is pretty on par with the other books I have read in this series. They are overall very cute easy reads with nice happily ever afters. This one is not my favorite in the series but an enjoyable read nonetheless.

[Catheryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was sweet, emotional and just lovely.

This story is a quick read and the pacing is fast. I enjoyed the friends to lover dynamic of these two. He was so supportive of her and just enamored by her. He was very patient with her when it came to her healing from trauma. I really loved seeing their relationship develop on page. I would be interested in reading more from this author.

Overall, a sweet and emotional open door historic western romance.

[Ronnie Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

Amanda has more problems than one can imagine. Her best school friend Richard finds her homeless and starving. They have a marriage of convenience to help Amanda escape her fears. The wagon train West is very difficult with all the baggage Amanda carries. This is a wonderful story of how two lives find healing through patience and Richard's love.

[~Nichole~ Sizzling Pages Romance Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've told quite a few people that I have always wanted a book like Little House on the prairie but maybe with some romance and passion. This fit the bill totally. Sweet, heartwarming and feel good.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps I read too many novels to be impressed with this one. Amanda has married Richard Larson because she has nowhere else to go. Richard found her in an alley, covered in newspapers and dirt. Amanda had been thrown out of her sister and brother-in-law's home because she claimed a boarder had raped her. The Larsons (parents) were leaving for Ohio in a wagon train; Richard planned to stay in New York City. However, when he rescued Amanda, he realized she needed to leave town. Thus, Richard and Amanda decided to go to Ohio too.

This story was too much about not much. The author filled in the bare spots of the plot with descriptions of the couple's lovemaking. The story was also repetitious. Very average.

[Carol Mcgrath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Married to protect her

Richard found Amanda in an alley and took her home. They knew each other since childhood. When she told him what had happened to her he convinced her to marry him. They left his n the wagon train with his family for Omaha. She never told Richard that she was going to marry Joe, who lead the wagon train, and was surprised when she saw him.. Joe couldn't understand why she married Richard and Richard couldn't figure out why Joe wss giving him such a hard time. Amanda and Richard were keeping a secret from everyone. Does the secret ever come out? This us a good book. I think you'll enjoy it.

[Annette Summerfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warning: Rape, miscarriage, sex. Amanda is raped and tossed aside. Richard takes her in. He is very caring and helps to heal her body and spirit. They leave New York and join a wagon train heading to Omaha.
Joe, a man who had asked her to marry his is the trail guide who is leading the group. Joe does not know about Amanda being raped or that she is with child.
I had to skim parts of the repetitive talk. I can't read the same thoughts and emotions over and over again.
I did enjoy the story. Richard is just too good to be true. Him and Amanda do make a great couple though.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be beautifully written. There are detailed adult situations. Somehow it doesn’t seem gratuitous. Since the h had a traumatic event. This story is very much how a tender patient man can help heal and redeem broken intimacy. I found it touching even though others find the details unnecessary and not for the Christian reader…I get it, but lands sakes don’t read Song of Solomon if you don’t want to read about intimate moments. Ruth Ann’s books seem like a compromise between closed door and too spicy.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read three books by the author, so when Wagon Trail Bride came up as a freebie at Kobo, I happily added it to my cart. Naturally, Ms. Nordin did not disappoint.

Amanda has been through hell, and she agrees to marry Richard when he helps her from a life-changing horror, and then takes her west on a wagon train. Lo and behold on said wagon train is Amanda’s former beau, Joe, who is leading the expedition. There is trouble brewing for sure.

Read more here: https://wp.me/p12iNR-6td

[Bea Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet indeed, easy going, cosey, comforting... lovely all round! For my own reasons I didn't enjoy this one as much as the other one I read because I just don't enjoy the main trope - that being a heroine who is recovering from a sexual assault and the H has to be really really hands off and careful around her incase she's scared. I've never liked it, find it rather tedious because it's romance on eggshells. Also, bickering kids *shudder* - way too many kid centric scenes for my tastes.

[Ziroana]

DNF on 2025-09-17, 30%, page 55, chapter 9. Not a fan of the writing style, it is strangely simplistic and repetative. Feels like a draft or like a new author's first attempt.

I also prefer when MOC stories start before they are married. Now the circumstances were told with flashbacks.

I don't see myself giving this book more than 3 starts so I will skip it. I may check out something else from this author that is more popular, like "Eye of the Beholder", at a later date.

[Geraldine Rubin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable

This is a really nice story about love, hope, and human nature. I enjoyed the characters the one though I found issue with is the way the some of the conversation were not historically sound. I doubt very much in that time period men would talk so freely about a women "flow" .



a women "flow"

[Viola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good easy read

This is a very nice easy read. Richard has loved Amanda since they were children together but never told her. Amanda never knew love until reasons deemed them to marry. They both look for a new life in the West and join the wagon train with Richards parents. On the train is also a friend of Amanda’s that Richard never knew. Good read

[Dana Redding · Rating 1 out of 5]

to much detail

Ok I love a good wagon train story. I love mail order bride books. But what I don’t like is graphic details in the bedroom. Or under a blanket in the middle of nowhere. This book was good until all that started.

I didn’t see anything stating it was adult content.

Readers beware. If you’re Christian this isn’t the story for you.

[Angela Harriman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little story

I like this sweet little story. The characters are likeable and the setting well described. The flow is good if a bit flat here and there. I prefer to see the villain get his just desserts but the ending is very nice and rounds everything up pretty well.

[Ruth A Calvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice book for teenagers except for all the graphic sex. Very little western adventure. So much repetition that I skipped a lot of pages. I don't even know why I finished the book. I guess I wanted to see what Joe finally made out.

[LYNDA · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not great but okay

This story could have been very good, but it's repetitive. It's almost as if a young girl wrote it. I was excited about reading the series, but think I'm going to pass.

[Philip A Litteer · Rating 5 out of 5]

True to Life story.

This tale reflects a well known theme of people in our lives who we know and love. Almost no violence in the story, and interesting in the way the two principals meet, marry, and eventually fall in love.

[GJ S · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a christian story

I did not like the story I couldn't read much of it.

I was sure it was a christian book no not so
Full.of sexual content. No attention to the Lord. I
would not recommend the book...

[Brandy George · Rating 5 out of 5]

it had it all

This was such a good story it had love, lost, Point of views, steamy, an amazing epilogue, I definitely give this a five star rating. definitely recommend it. It was a really good read.

[Tracy Flint 1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good read

Once a friend, now a husband, in the end her lover. She struggled to trust him but in the end she became to love him for being there for her. Love reading about the long trail. The struggles and after months of traveling the happiness of a new beginning.

[Shari Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book.

Had a good story base. I wanted to tell them what to do... lol. They wouldn't listen to me. I couldn't believe I got so upset over a book. I'm looking forward to the sequels.

[chelseaerinreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m on a western, marriage of convenience kick! This was an enjoyable read but nothing amazing. It was a wholesome friends to lovers story.

- friends to lovers
- marriage of convenience
- western romance

🌶️ 2/5

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Salvation

The characters spent a good part of the book on the trail to Omaha. The main story deals with a couple that knew each other most of their lives as friends. Their marriage and the developments as they travel are great. A salvation marriage but what occurs?

[Natalie F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruth never disappoints

Great book for anyone that enjoys historical romance and marriage of convenience turned love match. Ruth always strikes the right balance.

[Barbara A. Faw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruth Ann Nordin always writes wonderful novels. Enjoyed this western romance. HEA.