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Wagon Train Wedding
The wagon train is her chance for a new life…but only if her secrets will keep.Widowed Mrs. Cora Edwards sees Oregon as a fresh start for her and her son…but there are a few problems. She’s not a widow…and baby Noah isn’t her son. He’s the nephew she’s vowed to protect—even if she must accept a marriage of convenience before she’ll be permitted on the wagon train. Her groom, lawman Flynn Adams, carries his own secret heartache…which Cora starts to ease. On the path to a new future, will they find a way forward together?
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 24, 2021
9 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Rhonda Gibson
86 books80 followersRhonda Gibson lives in New Mexico with her husband James. She has two children and three beautiful grandchildren. Reading is something she has enjoyed her whole life and writing stemmed from that love. When she isn’t writing or reading, she enjoys gardening, beading and playing with her dog, Sheba. She speaks at conferences and local writing groups. You can visit her at www.rhondagibson.net where she enjoys chatting with readers and friends online. Rhonda hopes her writing will entertain, encourage and bring others closer to God.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 18, 2025
2.5 stars. The June 2025 #TBRChallenge is "road trip." This was a tough one for me, as this isn't a trope I'm particularly drawn to. I had to dig deep into Mount TBR, but thanks to a healthy pile of LS historicals, I managed to find a book that fit! :)
Miss Cora Edwards shows up at the start of a huge wagon train in Independence, MO that is heading to Oregon. She has her baby nephew in tow, and the two are looking to get away from the boy's father. Said father, Hank, is a nasty drunk who beat Cora's twin sister to death. Cora's twin only had time to tell her that she'd made an escape plan via the wagon train before she died, so Cora has to up and leave everything she's ever known in order to keep her nephew safe.
Cora's sister had bought passage with a couple, but when the man is told he has to have a second man as a backup driver, he kicks Cora out of his wagon. Cora is at a complete loss for what to do, when Flynn Adams steps in to assist. Flynn offers to marry Cora so that she can travel with him. Theirs will be a marriage of convenience. Flynn confides in Cora that he's actually a lawman on the trail of a serial killer, one who has been traveling and killing women for the last few years. One of the women he killed was Flynn's fiancee, and he's been chasing him ever since. Flynn has been given information that the killer is hiding on this wagon train, hence his last-minute decision to join them.
Cora feels like she doesn't have many options, so she agrees to marry Flynn. The two marry at the first stopping point on the trail, and spend the next few months traveling the long, dusty roads to the Pacific northwest. They both make friends (and Cora's friends help her learn how to cook over an open flame, among other things) along the way, and are soon falling for each other, though they are each convinced that the other does not reciprocate their feelings and that when they make it to Oregon, they will go their separate ways.
Flynn finds the killer during the journey; Hank is waiting for the train to arrive in Oregon and thirsting for Cora's blood, trying to blame the murder of his wife and kidnapping of his son on her. Flynn and Cora have reached a major crisis point - what will happen now?
This was pretty much the very definition of "okay." I pretty much spotting the killer the second he was introduced on the page, and this whole storyline culminates into a big nothingburger. There's no mention of the reaction of the train to the killer's identity, the aftermath, or anything. It's just completely dropped as a storyline.
As for the apex of Cora's storyline, . And then - surprise! - there's an open job for a local sheriff in the next town over, so these two confess their love and live happily ever after.
The "God stuff" wasn't painted on with a trowel, but Cora was pretty judgmental of some of the other characters, especially the women on the wagon train. So much for 'love thy neighbor,' I suppose. She's also super into women-as-helpmeets, and her one goal in life is to be a wife and mother. Which is all well and good, but rings a bit too tradwife to me.
So yes - this was a fine novel. I have others by this author on Mount TBR, so maybe I will find one that hits all my personal squee buttons. But if you like historical Westerns, it's worth it to give this book/author a try.
Miss Cora Edwards shows up at the start of a huge wagon train in Independence, MO that is heading to Oregon. She has her baby nephew in tow, and the two are looking to get away from the boy's father. Said father, Hank, is a nasty drunk who beat Cora's twin sister to death. Cora's twin only had time to tell her that she'd made an escape plan via the wagon train before she died, so Cora has to up and leave everything she's ever known in order to keep her nephew safe.
Cora's sister had bought passage with a couple, but when the man is told he has to have a second man as a backup driver, he kicks Cora out of his wagon. Cora is at a complete loss for what to do, when Flynn Adams steps in to assist. Flynn offers to marry Cora so that she can travel with him. Theirs will be a marriage of convenience. Flynn confides in Cora that he's actually a lawman on the trail of a serial killer, one who has been traveling and killing women for the last few years. One of the women he killed was Flynn's fiancee, and he's been chasing him ever since. Flynn has been given information that the killer is hiding on this wagon train, hence his last-minute decision to join them.
Cora feels like she doesn't have many options, so she agrees to marry Flynn. The two marry at the first stopping point on the trail, and spend the next few months traveling the long, dusty roads to the Pacific northwest. They both make friends (and Cora's friends help her learn how to cook over an open flame, among other things) along the way, and are soon falling for each other, though they are each convinced that the other does not reciprocate their feelings and that when they make it to Oregon, they will go their separate ways.
Flynn finds the killer during the journey; Hank is waiting for the train to arrive in Oregon and thirsting for Cora's blood, trying to blame the murder of his wife and kidnapping of his son on her. Flynn and Cora have reached a major crisis point - what will happen now?
This was pretty much the very definition of "okay." I pretty much spotting the killer the second he was introduced on the page, and this whole storyline culminates into a big nothingburger. There's no mention of the reaction of the train to the killer's identity, the aftermath, or anything. It's just completely dropped as a storyline.
As for the apex of Cora's storyline, . And then - surprise! - there's an open job for a local sheriff in the next town over, so these two confess their love and live happily ever after.
The "God stuff" wasn't painted on with a trowel, but Cora was pretty judgmental of some of the other characters, especially the women on the wagon train. So much for 'love thy neighbor,' I suppose. She's also super into women-as-helpmeets, and her one goal in life is to be a wife and mother. Which is all well and good, but rings a bit too tradwife to me.
So yes - this was a fine novel. I have others by this author on Mount TBR, so maybe I will find one that hits all my personal squee buttons. But if you like historical Westerns, it's worth it to give this book/author a try.
September 16, 2021
I thought it was a good book! I like historical romances
September 22, 2021
Thank you Harlequin for bringing back the Love Inspired Harlequin Historical line! I am looking forward to stories that feature diverse characters - in addition to the typical cowboy / life on the prairie stories. You do not know how happy I was to see a new Love Inspired Harlequin Historical novel, after going without for years - now you just have to start publishing stories in your Harlequin Historical line that feature cowboys and others as well, as opposed from the non-stop Victorian era themes (which I don't read at all).
Wagon Train Wedding was a quick, light enjoyable read. I knew who the villain was from the get-go, LOL and although the ending was kinda cheesy, I will be forgiving with my rating as I am just ecstatic that this book line has been revived.
Yaaayyy!
Wagon Train Wedding was a quick, light enjoyable read. I knew who the villain was from the get-go, LOL and although the ending was kinda cheesy, I will be forgiving with my rating as I am just ecstatic that this book line has been revived.
Yaaayyy!
September 27, 2021
So excited that this series is back at Harlequin Love Inspired Historical. This was a great story. Murder, secrets, wagon train life. This story concentrated more on the characters than a lot of wagon train stories that have incidents happen at every river crossing or every mountain climb or decent. If I remember correctly, it mentioned one fort and one river crossing instead of most of the story being about them like other stories I’ve read. This was refreshing!! Wonderfully written!
September 27, 2021
My Rating: 4.5 rounded up to 5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Review:
I just love Rhonda Gibson’s writing, her sweet inspirational romances keeps me gripped me from beginning to end. I will just say that this was a little more on the heavier side. There were some difficult topics brought up and some tragic events throughout the story so be mindful if you need trigger warnings.
A woman finding refuge for her and her nephew, a kind man who offers her a marriages convince in order for her to join the wagon train… what more could I want? I am always drawn to historical books that focus on wagon trains, I find the reasons a character might choose to journey across many states to reach an unknown future so fascinating. The amount of courage and strength that the people had must have been immeasurable. I can’t even imagine trying to pack my most treasured belongings up, saying goodbye to everything I know and travelling for several months on end with people I’ve never met before. Rhonda Gibson does a fantastic job with her descriptions and depictions of the journey and the setting. I could practically feel the mud beneath my feet as the wagons struggled through the rain and wagon wheels getting stuck in the mud.
I couldn’t put this book down, the mystery that’s weaved throughout the book kept me hooked and constantly guessing who it was that murdered Flynn’s fiancée. (I was able to guess who the murder was before it was actually revealed. But it didn’t ruin the element of surprise since I didn’t guess the why.) The relationship between Flynn and Cora two was absolutely beautiful, the way that they grew to care for each other after being married as complete strangers felt so genuine. I also loved the side characters, all the friends that Cora and Flynn met on their journey were such a delight to the plot. The ending was so cute and I was happy to see everything wrapped up so beautifully. I really can’t praise this book or author enough.
My Review:
I just love Rhonda Gibson’s writing, her sweet inspirational romances keeps me gripped me from beginning to end. I will just say that this was a little more on the heavier side. There were some difficult topics brought up and some tragic events throughout the story so be mindful if you need trigger warnings.
A woman finding refuge for her and her nephew, a kind man who offers her a marriages convince in order for her to join the wagon train… what more could I want? I am always drawn to historical books that focus on wagon trains, I find the reasons a character might choose to journey across many states to reach an unknown future so fascinating. The amount of courage and strength that the people had must have been immeasurable. I can’t even imagine trying to pack my most treasured belongings up, saying goodbye to everything I know and travelling for several months on end with people I’ve never met before. Rhonda Gibson does a fantastic job with her descriptions and depictions of the journey and the setting. I could practically feel the mud beneath my feet as the wagons struggled through the rain and wagon wheels getting stuck in the mud.
I couldn’t put this book down, the mystery that’s weaved throughout the book kept me hooked and constantly guessing who it was that murdered Flynn’s fiancée. (I was able to guess who the murder was before it was actually revealed. But it didn’t ruin the element of surprise since I didn’t guess the why.) The relationship between Flynn and Cora two was absolutely beautiful, the way that they grew to care for each other after being married as complete strangers felt so genuine. I also loved the side characters, all the friends that Cora and Flynn met on their journey were such a delight to the plot. The ending was so cute and I was happy to see everything wrapped up so beautifully. I really can’t praise this book or author enough.
January 25, 2022
Such a Good Story
Wagon Train Wedding was such an entertaining romantic story from beginning to end, and there were enough suspense twists to keep things interesting. I recognized the warm exchanges the characters had with God about beauty, fears, and praise as some of the same I’ve shared myself … adding a sweet dimension to the story for me. Thank you, Ms.Gibson, for a very enjoyable afternoon.
Wagon Train Wedding was such an entertaining romantic story from beginning to end, and there were enough suspense twists to keep things interesting. I recognized the warm exchanges the characters had with God about beauty, fears, and praise as some of the same I’ve shared myself … adding a sweet dimension to the story for me. Thank you, Ms.Gibson, for a very enjoyable afternoon.
February 16, 2023
The escape via wagon train that her identical twin sister had arranged does not work out as planned when Cora flees her murderous brother-in-law with her dead sister’s child. Posing as the infant’s mother, she is forced to accept a marriage to remain with the wagon train.
Marrying a lawman may be the best or worst choice a woman on the run can make, but Flynn Adams has his own reasons for joining the wagon train - a murderous fugitive who may have joined as well and Flynn has only a vague description to go on.
This is an exciting entry in Harlequin’s inspirational Love Inspired Historicals line that minimizes the incidents of danger inherent to the Oregon Trail in favor of conflict that stems from the situations of the characters.
Marrying a lawman may be the best or worst choice a woman on the run can make, but Flynn Adams has his own reasons for joining the wagon train - a murderous fugitive who may have joined as well and Flynn has only a vague description to go on.
This is an exciting entry in Harlequin’s inspirational Love Inspired Historicals line that minimizes the incidents of danger inherent to the Oregon Trail in favor of conflict that stems from the situations of the characters.
August 23, 2022
Really cute 😍!
January 14, 2024
I like historical fiction books and this one didn’t disappoint me .
January 5, 2024
Flynn Adams, a Texas lawman, has been hunting his fiancée's killer for two years. Tracking him to Independence, Missouri, Flynn is told by the local sheriff that the man is on the wagon train leaving for the Oregon Trail. Quickly acquiring the needed supplies and hiding his badge, Flynn joins the caravan.
Cora Edwards' twin sister Grace, pretending to be a widow, made arrangements with a couple heading west to escape her abusive husband. Before she could flee, however, Grace was dealt a fatal beating. Able to get her baby to Cora and tell her of her plans, Grace begged Cora to take Noah and go in her place to save the baby's life.
When Cora arrives at the wagon, the driver tells her there is no room for her anymore. She must find someone else to ride with or stay behind. Seeing the panicked look on Cora's face and realizing a wife will help hide his identity, Flynn offers to marry Cora in name only until they reach Oregon.
Wagon Train Wedding by Rhonda Gibson is an enjoyable historical romance. I like how Cora and Flynn's love story naturally evolved day by day as they traveled. With baby Noah, they made a sweet family. Flynn's devotion and Cora's efforts to make a good wife were admirable. The epilogue made a terrific ending.
I purchased a paperback copy of this book.
Cora Edwards' twin sister Grace, pretending to be a widow, made arrangements with a couple heading west to escape her abusive husband. Before she could flee, however, Grace was dealt a fatal beating. Able to get her baby to Cora and tell her of her plans, Grace begged Cora to take Noah and go in her place to save the baby's life.
When Cora arrives at the wagon, the driver tells her there is no room for her anymore. She must find someone else to ride with or stay behind. Seeing the panicked look on Cora's face and realizing a wife will help hide his identity, Flynn offers to marry Cora in name only until they reach Oregon.
Wagon Train Wedding by Rhonda Gibson is an enjoyable historical romance. I like how Cora and Flynn's love story naturally evolved day by day as they traveled. With baby Noah, they made a sweet family. Flynn's devotion and Cora's efforts to make a good wife were admirable. The epilogue made a terrific ending.
I purchased a paperback copy of this book.
September 2, 2021
Cora Edwards isn't the widow with her baby that she is telling everyone when she goes to join the Oregon Trail and has to marry Flynn Adams to be able to travel it. Cora is actually Noah's aunt and she is protecting her nephew. Flynn is a lawman with a sad past and he has his own heartache that needs healed. Cora and Flynn travel together and start to fall on love while they are traveling, but will their secret pasts hurt them instead of heal them, or will the long trail bring them the healing the need and the love they both crave? They meet so many people along the trail and forge new friendships and have old friends that they find the true colors of.
I always loved playing the Oregon Trail computer game. This is the game is story form. So much more in depth. I loved it being set along the trail. I started this book in the evening, stayed up late to read it, then woke up early to finish it.
I always loved playing the Oregon Trail computer game. This is the game is story form. So much more in depth. I loved it being set along the trail. I started this book in the evening, stayed up late to read it, then woke up early to finish it.
November 19, 2021
This just became a quick favourite. I LOVED this book and the story we were given of Cora and Flynn.
First we get a wonderful historical fiction, telling us of their two separate lives and how they become one, the marriage, the only way Cora is allowed on the train with her nephew turned son.
Every minute if filled with adventure, from hunting serial killers, to running from a brother in law, and missing children. The adventures are endless as I felt like I was by their side the whole way. (Thank God I wasn't I suck at walking... though I'd lose a lot of weight.... Google's next wagon train in Canada.)
Regardless, if you want something cosy and warm. I can't tell you enough that this is the book for you!
First we get a wonderful historical fiction, telling us of their two separate lives and how they become one, the marriage, the only way Cora is allowed on the train with her nephew turned son.
Every minute if filled with adventure, from hunting serial killers, to running from a brother in law, and missing children. The adventures are endless as I felt like I was by their side the whole way. (Thank God I wasn't I suck at walking... though I'd lose a lot of weight.... Google's next wagon train in Canada.)
Regardless, if you want something cosy and warm. I can't tell you enough that this is the book for you!
October 10, 2021
I was really into the story that I read it in one day! It had a very good beginning that was part a dire happening and a great urgency for the main character to take her sister’s child on a wagon train in order to get away from her sister’s husband who had so badly beaten his wife. She only lived long enough to take the baby on the wagon train moving west. So, the adventure continues and the romance happens when a lawmen who is in disguise is on the trail of a murderer. They run into Indians who they help and in return the Indians brought them meat. On the whole, I enjoyed this story!
September 23, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was like I on the Oregon Trail with all the characters. I like these types of stories. About pioneers and native americans. I really hated to see this book come to end. Now I am going to give it to my mom to read. Have a great day!
November 15, 2021
Cute story but lots of historical inaccuracies
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews