Westering Women

by Sandra Dallas

[kimbacaffeinate]

Narrated by Angela Dawe, our tale begins in Chicago, 1852. It’s a dark time for Maggie and her young daughter. It’s also when she spies a flyer soliciting “eligible women” to travel to the gold mining town of Goosetown, California; where hundreds of men are need of wives.

From the start, we know Maggie is hiding a terrible secret, but she meets another woman named Mary who vouches for her and they join forty-two other women and two pious reverends on the dangerous 2,000-mile journey west.

The story that unfolds is wonderfully told. Maggie and Mary were the main characters but before the journey ends we learn about others from their strengths to weaknesses. They will travel prairies, cross rivers, face attacks, bake in the desert and bury their dead. While religion flows throughout the story, it wasn’t preachy and felt natural with the story. Not all the women were devout.

It isn’t an easy story, and indeed at times, I wept like a baby even as I cheered and whooped at their successes. I will warn you there are triggers. View Spoiler » These women made this journey for reasons beyond that of just seeking a husband. While it was not overly graphic, the author didn’t shy away from the dangers and truths these women faced.

Dallas sheds light on the gold rush, and the perils young women faced during this time period. We got to know key characters and learn their stories as they learned to drive oxen, sacrifice, arm themselves, and work together to survive.

The story was wonderful on audiobook, thanks to Angel Dawe who gave the character’s voice. If you enjoy audiobooks, I recommend this format. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer