Where The Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson ~ Litfuse blog tour with giveaway

A young woman traveling the Oregon Trail in 1842 must rely on a stranger to bring her to safety. But whom can she trust with her heart?

For two thousand miles along the trail to Oregon Country, Samantha Waldron and her family must overcome tremendous challenges to reach the Willamette Valley before winter. Together they weather autumn storms, hunger and thirst, and the dangers of a wild and unfamiliar country. But when their canoe capsizes on the Columbia River, they must rely on handsome British exporter Alexander Clarke to rescue them from the icy water.

Alex escorts Samantha and her young brother, Micah, to Fort Vancouver. There Samantha is overwhelmed with men vying for her affections, but the only one who intrigues her-Alex-is the one she cannot have. When his betrothed arrives unexpectedly from England to escort him home, Samantha becomes determined to create a home for herself and Micah in the fertile valley far away from the fort. But how will an unmarried woman support herself and her brother in the wilderness alone? Then Micah disappears into the wilderness one rainy night, and Samantha must rely on the man she loves-the man she’s trying desperately to forget-to rescue her brother before it’s too late.

My take on this book:

It's September 1842 and eighteen year old Samantha Waldron had made a promise to her mama that she would look out for her younger brother Micah. The Waldron's were traveling from Ohio on the Oregon Trail to Willamette Valley and hoped their company would make it before winter. The journey hadn't been easy and Samantha often wondered what her mother might think if she was still alive. She tries to  look at the trip as an adventure and thinks that she just might marry the handsome Jack Doyle at the end of the journey. Things don't go as planned though when they try and cross the Columbia River and they are thrown into the icy water. Luckily they are rescued by Alexander Clark a British Exporter ,and he takes them to Fort Vancouver. While many single men at the fort would love to capture Samantha's attention she is drawn to Alex. As the two become close someone shows up that causes Samantha to believe that she needs to build a life with her brother alone. 

Traveling the Oregon Trail was no easy journey, and the author allows the reader to see this. I was immediately drawn to the Waldron family, who had been traveling west for five months when we meet them. Samantha Waldron was such a strong character, while she missed her mother as well as her family back in Ohio she made the best of the situation. My heart broke for Samantha and Micah as they lost everything but each other, and that's when we get a true glimpse of the strength eighteen year old Samantha truely had.

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres to read, and Ms. Dobson certainly created a story that pulled me back in time. She allowed us to see the struggles of traveling west. Fans of historical fiction that also enjoy a bit of romance and a spiritual message along with strong characters will certainly want to read this book.

Order a copy here.

About the author:

Melanie Dobson has written ten contemporary and historical novels including five releases in Summerside’s Love Finds You series. In 2011, two of her releases won Carol Awards: Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa (for historical romance) and The Silent Order (for romantic suspense).

Prior to her writing career, Melanie was the corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family and a publicist for The Family Channel. She later launched her own public relations company and worked in the fields of publicity and journalism for more than fifteen years.
Melanie and her family enjoy their home in the Pacific Northwest. The entire Dobson family loves to travel and hike in both the mountains and along the cliffs above the Pacific.

When Melanie isn’t writing or playing with her family, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, line dancing, and reading inspirational fiction. Learn more about Melanie Dobson here.

Celebrate with Melanie by entering to win a Kindle Fire!

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire


• Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson


• Queen of the Waves by Janice Thompson

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 17th. Winner will be announced at the American Tapestries Author Chat Facebook Party on 10/18. Connect with authors Melanie Dobson and Janice Thompson for an evening of book chat, trivia and fun! There will also be gift certificates, books, and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group)!





So grab your copy of Where the Trail Ends and  Queen of the Waves and join Melanie Dobson and Janice Thompson on the evening of the October 18th for a chance to connect with the authors and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the books - don't let that stop you from coming!)







Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!