Haven
In this light romantic western, Laila Mitchell travels to the wild country of Oregon in the 1890s in search of her grandparents. Among her few possessions are a medicine kit and a small amount of cash. Surviving the trip means combining resources with Kate, a fellow traveler. Both women are looking for a new life, and Kate is off to answer an advertisement by the owner of the Ruby Gold, a gold mine. Arriving at Snake River Canyon on her way to La Grande, Oregon, Laila is thrust into a community composed almost exclusively of men. Laila had acquired nursing skills while attending an old man back home. In Oregon she creates a nursing service of her own and finds a chance at love.
This easy read has a slow-moving plot, and little relevance to actual historical events is shown. Its strengths are in the portrayals of Laila and Tansy, a wild child, and their efforts to survive on the frontier. The book is recommended for readers intrigued by women’s roles in the development of the west.
