What is it we like about reading pioneer tales? Is it the sense of freedom and adventure, heading for a new life? Or is it the hardships, losses and struggle? So we can say, life may look tough at times from where I'm sitting, but wow, those ladies had it really tough! WAGON TRAIN REUNION may remind us to count our blessings and know our resilience.

Ben's family lost their money in the Panic of 1837. Abigail's family did not, and that was sufficient reason for her to reject his suit. They meet again in 1843, in Missouri, heading to Oregon. Abigail has been wed and widowed since, so she's travelling with her poker-faced parents. Her marriage wasn't happy and her husband speculated unwisely. With the economy in tatters, Oregon is her best hope of a fresh start. The wagon train has elected a committee, and that includes Ben. They'll be seeing more of each other than they hoped, but there will hardly be time to talk.

Ben's protective younger sister Rachel is another member of the train, and between her and Abby we get a good idea of women's work. They have to tend babies, cook on a campfire and dress wounds. Ben has enough to do with broken wheels, inexperienced drivers and disputes, and a possible bank robber is added to the mix. Older people have a constant refrain of not being used to wearing the same dress for two days, or having been raised better. A childhood ailment, measles, has serious repercussions out on the trail. All this before they encounter any actual danger. Songs, prayers and trust in the Lord are the group's only reassurances.

Have the people changed by the time they join the wagon train? Would it be possible to undertake such a journey and be unchanged by the end? Abby's wistful hope to be loved at some time in her life, is countered by her mother's telling her that it's as easy to love a rich man as a poor one. Ben's experience of broken promises makes him loath to trust a woman or put his faith in finding a happy marriage.

WAGON TRAIN REUNION is part of a miniseries called Journey West written by different authors. If they are all as well described and entertaining as Linda Ford's WAGON TRAIN REUNION we are in for a great series. This is a sweet historical romance, suitable for any reader and wonderfully evocative of the times.