Customer Reviews

Santa Fe Woman (Wagon Wheel Series #1)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jori Hayden's family has lived a comfortable lifestyle. She herself is pretty much a Daddy's girl, getting everything she's wanted. But then due to an economic depression, her father loses all his money forcing the family to have to move out west. To find their way on the Santa Fe Trail, the family must have a guide. Jori finds one in ChadRocklin, a prisoner she bails out of jail. The two clash over everything but the Haydens must listen to him if they want to survive in the harsh conditions of the road West.

As much as I enjoyed this book, why do I feel deja vu when reading it? Is it because I've read this plot in several of Gilbert Morris's other books? I guess after over 200 books things start to blend together. I am 100% certain there have been characters named either Praise God or Revelation that go around asking people if they are believers in Jesus in other Morris books. And I know that the story about the guy who can't read, the woman teaches him, they end up getting married was used in book 6 of the House of Winslow series. I guess to a new reader of Morris this is not a big deal. I did enjoy this book very much, as I have his others. Once again there is a lot of historical fact researched for the story. I do enjoy learning while reading and since I enjoy American history, Morris' books are usually spot on about facts. I like mixing real events and people with fictional characters to show what could have happened, and it also gives a new way to look at history. I just felt the characters in this book were rather one dimensional and predictable. If you want a historical western story, this is a good book. However I would recommend Morris' CheneyDuvall series or the Appomattox Saga if you haven't read any of his books before.

I have read a few of Gilbert Morris' books from the Lions of Judah series. I hadn't read any of his American history books. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and actually pulled out reference material to read more about the Sante Fe Trail. I was surprised to find that most of the things I read were also in the fictional account of Sante Fe Woman. It's so much more fun to learn about history when given a romantic story line to go along with the facts.

I found the book to be entertaining but not over the top. By three-quarter's of the way through the book, you pretty much knew how everything was going to end up. It was still fun to get to the end though. After reading this book, I plan to pick up more of Gilbert Morris' books.

SANTA FE WOMAN is the story of Jori Hayden and her affluent family from Little Rock. Raised in the lap of luxury, Jori is stunned to find out the depression of the 1800's has ruined her father's financial status. With really no alternatives, the Hayden family plans to head west on the Santa Fe Trail in search of a new life. Chad Rocklin is recommended to the Hayden family as the man that could lead them safety across the rough and sometimes dangerous west, of course, Jori has to bail him out of jail first. Jori doesn't allow her instant dislike for Rocklin to alter her family's plans. They need to go west and Rocklin is the man that can take them there.

SANTA FE WOMAN was predictable but a good read nevertheless, filled with an array of characters you enjoy getting to know. Some of the plots and situations seemed to mirror those in A MAN FOR TEMPERANCE which I found a bit unoriginal, but my love for westerns allowed me to overlook the similarities and enjoy the story that unfolded between key characters.

If you're looking for an exciting pioneer story that is full of strong women, cowboys, Indians, and hard times on the trail...this is not it. If you're looking for a story about people that are struggling with their relationships with God and the power of prayer...you found it!

It took only a few days for my book to arrive. As the original sales notice had stated, it was not in excellent condition, being bent on the corner and creased in the front having been a discarded library book. However, it was not in poor condition either and is still in an acceptable form to grace my personal library shelf. The content of the book was marvelous and well-written. This particular series of books can be read in any order, as the books are not necessarily connected. Santa Fe Woman contains enough drama to satisfy any who read it.

The Wagon Wheel series is just one book with three different titles. I read the first book thinking this is ok, not too bad. But I very quickly realized in book 2 I was reading the same exact story just different character names. Not even different characters, just the names changed. I could honestly say it was a waste of money to buy book 2 and 3. Not because the stories were bad neccesarily, but they were the exact same as book 1. It was a little dissapointing.