Susan F Craft

In Trail of Love, Susan L. Craft takes us on a rugged, heartwarming journey along the Great Wagon Road, where faith and resilience intertwine amid the trials of 1700s America. The story follows Anne Forbes, a woman whose dreams have been dashed after the loss of her fiancé. With a heart heavy from grief, she embarks on a new adventure as a nanny to her two young nephews. Accompanying them on the wagon train to South Carolina, she carries the weight of what could have been, yet her spirit show more remains gentle and hopeful.

Then there’s Michael Harrigan, a widowed father navigating his own sorrow after the death of his wife. When he encounters Anne, her kind heart and unwavering faith begin to chip away at the walls he has built around his heart. Michael offers a prayer for strength, wisdom, and God’s presence, capturing a moment that resonates deeply with anyone who has faced life’s hardships. His character shines with a charm that makes you root for him—he's the kind of man who values family and devotion above all else.

Craft paints the backdrop of the journey with vivid descriptions that make you feel every bump in the road. As Michael leans against the rope barrier, taking in the pink-and-orange-tinted clouds, the awe of God’s creation reflects the wonder that envelops their journey. This beautiful imagery is juxtaposed with the harsh realities of life on the trail, where sickness, storms, and the unpredictable wilderness loom large.

The relationship that develops between Michael and Anne is tender yet fraught with challenges. The wagon train community they are part of reminds us of the strength found in togetherness, especially during times of crisis. Anne’s self-sacrificing nature shines as she cares for her nephews and eventually for Michael's daughter, Cate. In moments of trial, such as when disaster strikes, their faith becomes the bedrock on which they stand. Together, they work side by side to save lives, and it's in these harrowing moments that they truly see each other—beyond their grief and into the potential for new beginnings.

One of my favorite moments is when the wagoner sang: “Jesus, God of our salvation, give us eyes thyself to see, Waiting for thy consolation, Longing to believe on thee … Meet us at this solemn hour, Shine in every drooping heart.” This captures the essence of their struggle—longing for connection, understanding, and love in the midst of sorrow. It’s a plea many of us can relate to, especially when we face our own personal trials.

Craft deftly balances the exploration of grief with themes of hope and redemption. The faith woven into the narrative is authentic, encouraging readers to reflect on their own journeys. As Michael and Anne navigate their separate trails of heartache, their eventual convergence on the trail to love feels both inevitable and divinely orchestrated.

Trail of Love offers a satisfying resolution that honors the trials the characters faced while celebrating the power of love to heal. It’s a tale that reminds us that even on the most arduous journeys, God’s grace can guide us through. The strength of Michael’s character and the sweetness of Anne’s heart make them a duo worth rooting for as they discover that new paths can emerge from the remnants of broken dreams.

Craft’s storytelling is rich, engaging, and reflective of the time period, drawing readers into the world of the wagon train and the people who traversed it. With its blend of history, faith, and romance, this book will linger in your heart long after the last word is read. If you’re looking for a moving tale that reminds you of the beauty found in life’s unexpected turns, then pack your bags and set out on this unforgettable journey. Trail of Love is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the boundless love that awaits those willing to embark on the trail less traveled.

I received a digital copy of Trail to Love from Celebrate Lit Publicity Group. I am not required to write a positive review in any way or for any reason. My honest and unbiased opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing style, the pacing, and the story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability. show less

“it’s not your reflection in a mirror that’s important. The only mirror you will ever need is the light in the eyes of the woman you love and who loves you.”

Location, Time period, Cross-cultural. Love’s Winding Road by Susan F. Craft has it all. Plus exciting action, faith, and a marriage of convenience story with a closed-door romance. I am thrilled to discover this new-to-me author as she embarks on a new series, Great Wagon Road!

The year is 1753, the location is The Great Wagon show more Trail, starting in Pennsylvania and traveling South through Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia. We follow the wagon train’s adventures and tragedies as we learn what a great price these settlers paid to get away from England and the church and prejudices there.

Unfortunately, as Rose and her Irish-Scots family discover, America is full of prejudice, too, especially against the Native Americans. No distinction is made between peaceful and warring tribes, but a person is judged on the basis of their skin, speech, and customs. Since wagon train scout Daniel Fordham is 1/2 Cherokee, he often is ill-treated. Daniel learned an important skill from his Cherokee mother…”she taught me a great deal about people, too—how to judge them by their actions, not their words.” How I wish I could say we have made great strides in our country to see each person like that, but sometimes it seems our relationships are worse than ever, as we see skin first, not the heart.

Just as Rose and the other train members were often tense, warily watching for the next danger, you may find yourself biting your nails and enduring a rapid heartbeat with the constant perils. Be warned.

But you will also fall in love with Daniel and Rose, and cheer them on as a relationship develops. But can such a cross-cultural love survive in this tenuous world? What of Rebekah, the native American woman who believes that Daniel is in love with her?

Rose’s grieving sister has traveled with the family. Will the hardships to come deepen her depression, or can she begin to make a way in the wilderness alongside her sister?

While I love Aunt Sarah, the unsung hero of the novel has got to be Tsiyi. I can’t pronounce his name ( because looking at the spelling wipes the given pronunciation from my mind every time)! He is Daniel’s amazing companion. You’ll have to read the novel to discover just how valuable Tsiyi is.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit, plus I bought my own ebook. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Would she allow her memories to rob her of hope?”

“My heart is heavy with yours.”

“beauty and evil often made up the two sides of the same coin.” show less

Love's Winding Road, by Susan R. Craft, is the first book in the Great Wagon Road series. This is the first book I have read by this author and found it to be very enjoyable. While many stores have been written of the Oregon Trail, this is the first I have read of the wagon trains that have moved south, this one to South Carolina. I appreciate the dangers the author points out of the travel the early settler experienced. I enjoyed the characters and their determination to make a new life for show more themselves. It was easy to see that Daniel and Rose developed a friendship quickly and how their feelings for each other grew.

I enjoyed how Daniel's family is so quick to help out when they get to his home. I enjoyed the ways he has made his home so that if an immediate need to flee arose, there was a secret way to safety. I also enjoyed the added suspense this story has with events that happen after Daniel and Rose settle into his home. This is a very enjoyable Christian historical fiction romance story, I look forward to reading the rest in the series.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review. show less

What I think you should know:
Trail to Love by Susan F Craft is the third book in the Great Wagon Road series. It is a historical fiction set in 1753. It follows settlers as they travel from Pennsylvania to South Carolina along what was known as the Great Wagon Road. This book features seamstress Anne Harrigan and Lumber Mill owner Micheal Harrigan

What you might need to know:
This is not a fluffy read, it gives a graphic and realistic view of what life would have been like for settlers. I show more would not recommend this book for immature readers as it does involve death.

What I think about this book:
This series just keeps getting better, which is high praise as I LOVED the first two books in the series. In this adventure we follow the wagon road with a train that is hit by smallpox instead of human forces. Anne is a confirmed spinster traveling with her brother and his family for new opportunities in South Carolina. Micheal is escorting his sister in law home to North Carolina. When tragedy strikes the train Anne and Micheal, survivors of smallpox are thrust into caring for the patients as they try to keep it from spreading. I really enjoyed watching them work together and how the author allowed this story to develop slowly and naturally. This was such a wonderful book, I look forward to what Craft has in store for Readers in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own. show less