Love's Long Journey

I thought this book was very sweet! I love Missie! She showed some real depth on this journey, and I got a much better sense of who she was compared to the previous two books in the series. In this book Missie and her new husband ride West to start their new life, but for someone with such a happy home and doting parents, it's a sacrifice for her. That's what I loved about her. Throughout her journey, she had to reconcile herself to her new situation and the reality that she might never see the rest of her family again. That's heavy, and I applaud her for persevering. Some people might call her wishy-washy because she misses home one minute but is gun-ho the next, but I think that simplifies her character. Normal humans have doubts, and show more those pesky doubts resurface in times of stress. And she had plenty to be stressed about.

Not only does Missie have to make it through the wagon journey, she also has to get used to life on the ranch where living there isn't quite as romantic as she pictured it would be. She makes and loses friends. Her first couple years are difficult ones, and at every turn, there comes the old doubt that maybe this was a mistake and she should just go home. In spite of that, she finds ways to keep busy, learns from the past, and make a place for herself in this new world. That takes real courage.

So why am I only giving this three stars? While it was sweet, it didn't really grip me or pull at my heartstrings. There was no new romance to cheer for and no big bad to overcome. This kind of literature is more like popcorn for me. It's chill and enjoyable, but it doesn't really stick with you or really pull you into the story. If you're looking for something peaceful to read in a short span of time, I'd recommend this. show less

Love's Long Journey was another wonderful story in the Love Comes Softly series that is so reminiscent of the Little House on the Prairie books. The author really brought to life the stark reality of the hardships on a wagon train and how sometimes people died along the way. There was also the sheer boredom and monotony of doing the same things and eating the same things day after day. Even once Missie and Willie get settled in a temporary home on the frontier, dangers and boredom still factor in, especially during the winter months. In between the wagon trip and getting settled, Missie and Willie experienced a long, difficult separation as she stayed in the closest town, which was several days ride from their ranch, awaiting the birth show more of their baby, while Willie went on to get things set up for them. And of course, there was the homesickness of being separated from their families who were so far away with very little means of communication. It all makes me really thankful to live in modern times, and also thankful for those courageous souls throughout history who braved the hardships of the frontier to expand our nation.

Much the same as with her mother, Marty's book, this one is told entirely from Missie's POV. She was a brave young woman who obviously loved Willie a lot to want to help him pursue his dream of cattle ranching. Although the journey itself and living in such an isolated area was often difficult and brought disappointments, Missie rarely complained. She just set her mind to doing what needed to be done and eventually she adjusted quite well. Her attitude was admirable, but that's not to say that I always agreed with her decisions to keep certain things from her husband. I understood that she was trying to avoid adding stress on Willie by not telling him at first about being pregnant or about her severe homesickness, but as someone who shares nearly everything with my husband, I felt like she should have trusted that he could handle it. Once she finally fesses up, Missie comes to that same conclusion herself, but later in the story she still keeps a couple of things from him, including an incident where one of the ranch hands menaces her. I really felt like she should have told Willie about that and allowed him to share her burdens a little more. Even though I sometimes didn't agree with Missie, overall, she was still a very relatable heroine with all of her emotional ups and downs. Missie is a keen observer of people and seems to have an intuitive sense about how they might be feeling or what they might need, and was always ready to lend a hand, which is something that I can really identify with.

I do kind of miss having the male perspective in these books, but the reader can get a pretty good feel for Willie through Missie's eyes. He is a kindhearted man toward others, a good husband to Missie, and a loving father to Nathan. He is a hard worker, a great provider for Missie and his child, and very protective of them both, always doing what was in their best interests even if it was difficult. Willie is a bit of a dreamer with his aspirations of starting a cattle ranch, but still pretty practical, and doesn't really take chances. I think what I liked most about him is the way he comforts Missie in times of sorrow and truly wants to share her burdens, and also his quiet faith and optimism.

There are many things to love about this book. The young love that Willie and Missie share and the way they can hardly stand to be apart from one another is so sweet and tender. The faith message is not at all preachy, but instead is a gentle one of relying on God to sustain you through difficult times. There is a full compliment of secondary characters, other pioneers, ranch hands, townspeople in Tettsford Junction, and more, who all give the story the flavor of the Old West and the sense of oneness as a community. Everything just came together to make Love's Long Journey a very enjoyable read, or perhaps I should say re-read, since I'm pretty sure I first read it years ago as a teenager. In any case, it was every bit as good today as it was back then, and I'm really looking forward to continuing the series. I can tell that there is more story for Missie and Willie, and I'm eager to find out what happens next for them. show less

The third book in the Love Comes Softly series: the continuing story of the children of Marty & Clark Davis, a young widow and widower who joined in a marriage of convenience, but found true love in God and each other. Set somewhere in the Canadian prairies and sometime in the pioneer/homesteading days, but no specific place or time are mentioned. Very satisfying stories, full of characters struggling in realistic ways with their faith amid the trials of life and finding hope in the true gospel of Jesus Christ. The male characters are admirable (not perfect), God-fearing, and honorable.

Love's Long Journey, the third in Janette Oke's Love Comes Softly series, Missie and Willie LaHaye journey west and find many hardships on the trail. Missie must learn to live her faith on the trail and when they finally arrive, she is pushed to the limits.

“Missie is all grown-up and married to Willie Lehaye. She is getting ready to move out West to support Willie in his dream to have a cattle farm. She must face some pretty hard challenges that test her faith and character. Along the way, she meets new friends to help encourage her on her journey. I love reading how Willie and Missie grow as a couple and eventually as a family.”

Missie and Willie travel further west in a wagon train and she has a son, Nathan Isaiah LaHaye. They build a home and struggle to come to terms with their new place.

very good