Westward Hearts by Melody Carlson

I enjoyed this book. It was a little slow getting going but once it did it moved at a nice pace. The characters are well defined and we learn a lot about not only the main characters, but the members of the wagon train as well.

Ms. Carlson does a wonderful job explaining to the reader what pushes Elizabeth Martin to want to make the trek from Kentucky to Kansas City in the 1800's along the Oregon Trail with all of the hardships and perils a wagon train went through during that time. The reader is drawn right into Elizabeth's family and soon has their own favorite member of the family. In my case it is the adorable and headstrong 8 year old Ruth, Elizabeth's daughter. I adore this little girl and her big heart. Of course there always has to be one person you would leave right there on the side of the road and for me that has to be Gertrude. Is there an element of romance in such a primitive setting? Oh yes, in the form of one scout master Eli Kincaid, who has issues of his own.

I cannot wait to read Book 2 in the series to see what happens next. The promise of excitement kept me turning pages late into the night!