Love’s Winding Road (Great Wagon Road)

Written by Susan F. Craft
Review by Thomas j. Howley

Starting from colonial Philadelphia in 1753, Rose Jackson and her Scots-Irish immigrant family join a small wagon train heading south to hopefully settle in South Carolina. In these pre-Revolutionary days, even the Atlantic states are still filled with wilderness and danger for homesteaders. Rose enjoys the company of her family and fellow travelers and is especially intrigued by their guide/scout Daniel Fordham, who the wagon master strongly depends upon. Their trip is as precarious as advertised as Rose gets taken by a group of hostile Indians only to be rescued later by Daniel. The two become even closer as Rose’s family feels it is only honorable for her and Daniel to be married, based on the nature of her rescue. As they proceed further and come to Daniel’s home territory, even more danger ensues, and Rose remains perplexed at Daniel’s strange reticence to fully manifest his love for her.

First in a three-book romance series, this novel also features stirring action/adventure passages as well as providing insight into the infant colonies. It happily exceeded my expectations. Recommended.