Review: Leaving Independence

 

Synopsis:

Abigail Baldwyn might not be a widow after all…

Ever since she received word that her husband, Robert, was killed in the Civil War, Abigail has struggled to keep her Tennessee home and family together. Then a letter arrives claiming that Robert isn’t dead, yet he has no plans to return. Desperate for answers, Abigail travels to Independence, Missouri, where she joins a westbound wagon train to find him.

Leading a company along the Oregon Trail isn’t part of Hoke Mathews’s plans. But then the former cavalry scout gets a glimpse of Abigail—so elegant compared to the rest of their hardscrabble wagon community, yet spirited and resilient. Through every peril, they encounter—snakebites, Indian raids, fevers, dangerous grudges—his bond with Abigail grows.

Abigail knew this journey would test her courage. Now it’s testing her marriage vows and her heart, daring her to claim a future on her own terms in a land rich with promise.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Leaving Independence by Leanne W. Smith is well-written. Immediately, I was swept up into the story. The intrigue of a man thought to be dead but then told was alive…takes readers on a journey following a brave mother going to find her husband. She and her children look for answers. Answers are exactly what they get. But whether they are the ones they wanted is left to discover. Then, there’s more to the mystery…as well as a sweet surprise. A  brave hardworking man for the wagon train finds himself constantly coming to the woman’s aid. Something between them brews up…and only time will tell if they can find happiness again.

Leanne W. Smith brought a realistic western travel tale that readers everywhere will love. Family, faith, and courage are tested inside this novel. The character’s hardships were believable. The dangers ahead were three dimensional. I enjoyed following a family as they moved forward…the Oregon Trail. Things like the Civil War were masterfully woven for readers’ entertainment. Overall, I highly recommend this sweet historical piece to all. Leaving Independence is definitely a must read.