A Dream for Tomorrow

Title: A DREAM FOR TOMORROW

Author: Melody Carlson

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

February 2013

ISBN: 978-0736948739

Genre: Historical/Western/women’s fiction

Bestselling author Melody Carlson (more than 5 million books sold) continues her Homeward on the Oregon Trail series with this second romantic adventure.

Elizabeth Martin and her two children have made it through the easy part of their journey, but now their wagon train faces high mountain passes, dangerous river crossings, and decreasing supplies. Desperate circumstances bring out the best and worst of the travelers, including Will Bramford, the wealthy widower who is pursuing Elizabeth, and Eli Kincade, the independent and solitary guide who has stolen Elizabeth's heart.

As the group reaches the Oregon Country, the emigrants part ways to find their new homes. Elizabeth and Will and their families have made arrangements to board a ship that will take them south along the coast. Will Eli change his plans and accompany Elizabeth to her new and permanent home? Or will his mysterious past continue to keep them from love?

A DREAM FOR TOMORROW is the second book in Ms. Carlson’s Homeward to Oregon Trail series. Readers will want to read the first book in the series Westward Hearts as these books do not stand alone.

If you like books about traveling on the Oregon Trail, this series is for you. However, I really have to say that I have read other books set on the Oregon Trail, and in comparison this book really has nothing bad happen. I mean, there are some bad things, just not a lot.

A DREAM FOR TOMORROW is slow, and there’s a lot of telling, just like the first book in the series. It’s a book that is easy to put down and even the parts that could be really exciting and edge of the seat are flat and uninteresting the way they are written. I usually love Ms. Carlson’s Christmas stories and some of her young adult books, but this one missed the mark completely with me.  

If you like western historicals, then you might be interested in reading A DREAM FOR TOMORROW. The third book in the series, A Home at Trail’s End is available now, and is next on my to-read list. 3 stars. $13.99. 304 pages.