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American Tapestries
The Journey of Josephine Cain
An East-coast socialite embarks on a journey to the Wild West, and her life will never be the same.
A setting populated by hundreds of common laborers, outlaws, and Indians is hardly the place for a wealthy general’s daughter from the nation’s capital. But Josephine Cain is determined to accompany her father as he oversees the day-to-day work involved in the greatest undertaking of post-Civil War America: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Life with the railroad is far from the proper life Josephine is used to, and she faces deadly gunfights, harsh weather, and vigilante uprisings. She is torn between West and the East; between her privileged upbringing and the dangers of a new frontier; between the pull of the suitable beau her parents chose for her and an attraction to a rough but charming Irish railroad worker. But if Josephine is willing, she just might find a new life, a unique purpose…and the love of her life.
A setting populated by hundreds of common laborers, outlaws, and Indians is hardly the place for a wealthy general’s daughter from the nation’s capital. But Josephine Cain is determined to accompany her father as he oversees the day-to-day work involved in the greatest undertaking of post-Civil War America: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Life with the railroad is far from the proper life Josephine is used to, and she faces deadly gunfights, harsh weather, and vigilante uprisings. She is torn between West and the East; between her privileged upbringing and the dangers of a new frontier; between the pull of the suitable beau her parents chose for her and an attraction to a rough but charming Irish railroad worker. But if Josephine is willing, she just might find a new life, a unique purpose…and the love of her life.
336 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2013
About the author
Nancy Moser
70 books780 followersNancy Moser is the author of 47 books. Her award-winning stories will inspire you to discover your unique God-given purpose. Her genres include fantasy, contemporary, and historical books, inspirational humor, and children's picture books.
A recent release, "A Slice of Sky" is the first book in the Last Call series, and is a finalist for a Christy Award. It begins to showcase five societies that know nothing about each other. They are different in all ways yet share a common destiny. The second book in the series, "A Count of Courage" is a finalist for the Imadjinn Awards.
A popular historical series is the Pattern Artist series about a group of women designing fashion in 1911-19 New York City. The first book ,"The Pattern Artist", was a finalist for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award.
Other historical titles include the time-travel stories "Where Time Will Take Me" and "Where Life Will Lead Me", and the Downton Abbey-inspired Manor House Series beginning with "Love of the Summerfields."
Her historical bio-novels allow real women-of-history to share their life stories: "Just Jane" (Jane Austen), "Mozart's Sister" (Nannerl Mozart),"Washington's Lady" (Martha Washington) and "How Do I Love Thee?" (Elizabeth Barrett Browning.)
Nancy’s contemporary books are known for their big-casts and intricate plotting. Some titles are "If Not for This, "An Undiscovered Life", "Senior Sisters", The Invitation", "The Sister Circle", "The Seat Beside Me", and "The Good Nearby".
Awards . . . "An Unlikely Suitor" was named to Booklist's Top 100 Romance Novels of the last decade. "The Pattern Artist" was a finalist in the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, "Time Lottery" won a Christy Award and "Washington's Lady" and "A Slice of Sky" were finalists. "Eyes of Our Heart" was a finalist in the Faith, Hope, and Love Reader's Choice Award.
Nancy and her husband live in the Midwest. She's earned a degree in architecture, traveled extensively in Europe, and has performed in numerous theaters, symphonies, and choirs. She is a fan of anything antique--humans included.
Website: www.nancymoser.com
A recent release, "A Slice of Sky" is the first book in the Last Call series, and is a finalist for a Christy Award. It begins to showcase five societies that know nothing about each other. They are different in all ways yet share a common destiny. The second book in the series, "A Count of Courage" is a finalist for the Imadjinn Awards.
A popular historical series is the Pattern Artist series about a group of women designing fashion in 1911-19 New York City. The first book ,"The Pattern Artist", was a finalist for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award.
Other historical titles include the time-travel stories "Where Time Will Take Me" and "Where Life Will Lead Me", and the Downton Abbey-inspired Manor House Series beginning with "Love of the Summerfields."
Her historical bio-novels allow real women-of-history to share their life stories: "Just Jane" (Jane Austen), "Mozart's Sister" (Nannerl Mozart),"Washington's Lady" (Martha Washington) and "How Do I Love Thee?" (Elizabeth Barrett Browning.)
Nancy’s contemporary books are known for their big-casts and intricate plotting. Some titles are "If Not for This, "An Undiscovered Life", "Senior Sisters", The Invitation", "The Sister Circle", "The Seat Beside Me", and "The Good Nearby".
Awards . . . "An Unlikely Suitor" was named to Booklist's Top 100 Romance Novels of the last decade. "The Pattern Artist" was a finalist in the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, "Time Lottery" won a Christy Award and "Washington's Lady" and "A Slice of Sky" were finalists. "Eyes of Our Heart" was a finalist in the Faith, Hope, and Love Reader's Choice Award.
Nancy and her husband live in the Midwest. She's earned a degree in architecture, traveled extensively in Europe, and has performed in numerous theaters, symphonies, and choirs. She is a fan of anything antique--humans included.
Website: www.nancymoser.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
October 18, 2013
I enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end. It had a lot of twists and turns, and a lot of true facts.
Josephine Cain's life, and a lot of others, was interrupted by the Civil War. Her Father was a General, and is now heading a major portion of building the new Transcontinental Railroad. She has grown up a product of a wealthy class family. All is about to change. She is now being pursued by Lewis Simmons, and all that she sees, is what she wants to see.
Follow her and her Lewis as they head for a visit West...she also meets Hudson. Wow two, one she is now engaged to, and the other has a woman he is promised to. We visit with the General, and rescue a child, before heading back once more to Washington.
This book does not disappoint, we are there when Lincoln is shot, and again when history is made with the last rail put into place. We are also part of the taming of the West. You never know what is around the next corner, there are a lot of surprises, and some famous names that are dropped.
I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
Josephine Cain's life, and a lot of others, was interrupted by the Civil War. Her Father was a General, and is now heading a major portion of building the new Transcontinental Railroad. She has grown up a product of a wealthy class family. All is about to change. She is now being pursued by Lewis Simmons, and all that she sees, is what she wants to see.
Follow her and her Lewis as they head for a visit West...she also meets Hudson. Wow two, one she is now engaged to, and the other has a woman he is promised to. We visit with the General, and rescue a child, before heading back once more to Washington.
This book does not disappoint, we are there when Lincoln is shot, and again when history is made with the last rail put into place. We are also part of the taming of the West. You never know what is around the next corner, there are a lot of surprises, and some famous names that are dropped.
I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
September 18, 2013
The Journey of Josephine Cain was an interesting one. It didn't go the way I though that it would go, which isn't a bad thing. Nancy Moser was able to capture in her writing a true insight into a girl, Josephine, who since the Civil War broke out, has felt trapped. When Josephine was supposed to have her coming out celebration, the war broke out and changed everything. Instead of being courted by the young men of DC, she watched them all head to war, with her father in command of most of them.
As the war winds down, Josephine is desperate to socialize and "live" again. However, when Josephine, her mother, and her father, fresh from the war front is back home, they head to a night out at the theater to watch a comedy playing at Ford's Theater. However, the celebration is short lived when Lincoln is shot and killed. That attack starts a year of morning for the Cain household, when they get word that Josephine's brother and cousin had been killed in action. The Cain house is sent into a year of morning, and to Josephine's despair, another year away from her being able to consider getting married.
As the year of morning winds down, Josephine is anxious to put aside her mourning clothes and start looking toward life again, despite the displeasure her mother hurls at her for being disrespectful to the loss of her son. Josephine, desperate to be away from the barrier her mother has put around the house, she seeks out her father, who has been commissioned by the government to lead the works on the Intercontinental Railroad. With her father away so much, he is the logical means for escape. Josephine tries her best to figure out a way for her father to agree. Sadly he doesn't. However, on one of his visits, Josephine's father brings home a guest, Lewis Simmons.
Lewis Simmons, to Josephine's delight, starts to pay her attention and she is quickly sidetracked from her plans to travel west with her father. With Lewis, Josephine has found an escape and is able to rejoin society on his arm, going out to eat, to the theater, and to her surprise, a trip out west to see her father, at a milestone celebration. However, Lewis isn't all that he seems and with Josephine so easily entertained, she can easily over looks his faults, that is until her trip out west and she meets Hudson Maguire, a former Sgt. under her father's command and now working for the railroad. His ideas start Josephine thinking and comparing Lewis to Hudson and to her father.
The Journey of Josephine Cain really captured my attention in that, I could relate to Josephine in a way. She was young and wanted to open herself to new possibilities and expand her ideas and knowledge on what is out there, but with the difficulties around her, she tried to find it and over look the flaws of her own sought out solution. Through out the story, you can watch as Josephine starts to find herself and she is able to see past the shimmers and sparkles of what she hopes to see, to see the tarnish that it is really covering. It was a good story on growing up and relying on your faith in God, then on your own ideas.
Thank you to Summerside Press and Litfuse Publicity Group, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
As the war winds down, Josephine is desperate to socialize and "live" again. However, when Josephine, her mother, and her father, fresh from the war front is back home, they head to a night out at the theater to watch a comedy playing at Ford's Theater. However, the celebration is short lived when Lincoln is shot and killed. That attack starts a year of morning for the Cain household, when they get word that Josephine's brother and cousin had been killed in action. The Cain house is sent into a year of morning, and to Josephine's despair, another year away from her being able to consider getting married.
As the year of morning winds down, Josephine is anxious to put aside her mourning clothes and start looking toward life again, despite the displeasure her mother hurls at her for being disrespectful to the loss of her son. Josephine, desperate to be away from the barrier her mother has put around the house, she seeks out her father, who has been commissioned by the government to lead the works on the Intercontinental Railroad. With her father away so much, he is the logical means for escape. Josephine tries her best to figure out a way for her father to agree. Sadly he doesn't. However, on one of his visits, Josephine's father brings home a guest, Lewis Simmons.
Lewis Simmons, to Josephine's delight, starts to pay her attention and she is quickly sidetracked from her plans to travel west with her father. With Lewis, Josephine has found an escape and is able to rejoin society on his arm, going out to eat, to the theater, and to her surprise, a trip out west to see her father, at a milestone celebration. However, Lewis isn't all that he seems and with Josephine so easily entertained, she can easily over looks his faults, that is until her trip out west and she meets Hudson Maguire, a former Sgt. under her father's command and now working for the railroad. His ideas start Josephine thinking and comparing Lewis to Hudson and to her father.
The Journey of Josephine Cain really captured my attention in that, I could relate to Josephine in a way. She was young and wanted to open herself to new possibilities and expand her ideas and knowledge on what is out there, but with the difficulties around her, she tried to find it and over look the flaws of her own sought out solution. Through out the story, you can watch as Josephine starts to find herself and she is able to see past the shimmers and sparkles of what she hopes to see, to see the tarnish that it is really covering. It was a good story on growing up and relying on your faith in God, then on your own ideas.
Thank you to Summerside Press and Litfuse Publicity Group, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2013
I don't recall reading one of Nancy Moser's book previously, but The Journey of Josephine Cain was a fine story to introduce me to her writing. She has taken a little know piece of American history and woven a tale that is interesting and entertaining. Characters:
The story begins just at the end of the Civil War when Josephine is attending a theater production in Ford Theater. She sits in a box and has a clear view of President Lincoln and his party. She also witnesses first hand the assignation of Lincoln.
The story moves on and being a real "daddy's girl," Josephine wants to leave her home in D.C. and go west where she can be near her father - really so she can escape the restrictions and confines of her mother's grief. So she journeys with Lewis west to find her father. Once she arrives she meets Hudson who is the epitome of a strong gentleman, gracious in his actions, and respected by his leaders and the men with whom he works.
Historically, the book brings to light the still raw relationship between white men adventuring westward and the native Indians. But it also shows how they are trying to get along. The story also brings to light the fact that America is a melting pot when it refers to the men working the rail line - Irish, Italian, Chinese, black, white, Southern, Northern. How they survived the Civil War and how they must now try to pull the country together and their own personal lives as well.
I found the story interesting and a nice read. The plot was somewhat predictable and I wondered why the vilan was so slow to be recognized. "The Journey" was not just a westward trek for Josephine, it was a journey of discovery as to just who she is and what her place in life is to be. It is in discovering that she can achieve and she can make wise choices.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Litfuse on behalf of the author and publisher for the purpose of this review. No compensation was received and all opinions expressed are solely my own.
Josephine Cain, daughter of a Union General
General Cain impeccable leader of Union forces during the Civil War and now leader of the railroad's task to lay track across America.
Lewis - Suitor of Josephine - His character comes across as flawed early in the story, but unbeknownst to Josephine.
Hudson - Union soldier under General Cain and now trusted worker under General Cain in the railroad's push to lay track
Mrs. Cain - bitter, grieving mother of Josephine who can not reconcile her grief and live a normal life.
The story begins just at the end of the Civil War when Josephine is attending a theater production in Ford Theater. She sits in a box and has a clear view of President Lincoln and his party. She also witnesses first hand the assignation of Lincoln.
The story moves on and being a real "daddy's girl," Josephine wants to leave her home in D.C. and go west where she can be near her father - really so she can escape the restrictions and confines of her mother's grief. So she journeys with Lewis west to find her father. Once she arrives she meets Hudson who is the epitome of a strong gentleman, gracious in his actions, and respected by his leaders and the men with whom he works.
Historically, the book brings to light the still raw relationship between white men adventuring westward and the native Indians. But it also shows how they are trying to get along. The story also brings to light the fact that America is a melting pot when it refers to the men working the rail line - Irish, Italian, Chinese, black, white, Southern, Northern. How they survived the Civil War and how they must now try to pull the country together and their own personal lives as well.
I found the story interesting and a nice read. The plot was somewhat predictable and I wondered why the vilan was so slow to be recognized. "The Journey" was not just a westward trek for Josephine, it was a journey of discovery as to just who she is and what her place in life is to be. It is in discovering that she can achieve and she can make wise choices.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Litfuse on behalf of the author and publisher for the purpose of this review. No compensation was received and all opinions expressed are solely my own.
October 17, 2013
Title: THE JOURNEY OF JOSEPHINE CAIN
Author: Nancy Moser
Publisher: Summerside Press
September 2013
ISBN: 978-0824934279
Genre: Historical
A pampered socialite embarks on a journey to the Wild West where her life is changed forever.
A setting populated by hundreds of laborers, outlaws, and Indians is hardly the place for a wealthy general's daughter from the nation's capital. But Josephine Cain is determined to visit her father, who supervises the day-to-day work involved in the grandest ambition of post-Civil War America: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Life with the railroad is far from the proper life Josephine is used to, and she faces deadly gunfights, harsh weather, and vigilante uprisings. She is torn between the West and the East; between her privileged upbringing and the challenges of a new frontier; between the pull of the suitable beau her parents approve of and an attraction to a rough but charming Irish railroad worker. But if Josephine is willing, and courageous, she just might find a new life, a unique purpose . . . and true love.
THE JOURNEY OF JOSEPHINE CAIN is part of The Tapestries of America series published by Summerside. They are all written by different authors and are about different time periods in America’s history, so they all stand alone.
Ms. Moser is a hit or miss author for me. I’ve loved some of her books – others, not so much. I did enjoy learning about the progress of the railway after the Civil War, but otherwise, I found this book rather hard to get into. I couldn’t seem to care about the characters, and Josephine’s personality was a bit brash, rubbing me the wrong way.
Since “strong” female characters are wanted in historicals, some fans of historical fiction might like Josephine better than I did. Also fans of Ms. Moser might. I did find it an invaluable tool about the history of the railroads as they were built across America from West to East…and vice versa. $14.99. 336 pages. 3.5 stars.
Author: Nancy Moser
Publisher: Summerside Press
September 2013
ISBN: 978-0824934279
Genre: Historical
A pampered socialite embarks on a journey to the Wild West where her life is changed forever.
A setting populated by hundreds of laborers, outlaws, and Indians is hardly the place for a wealthy general's daughter from the nation's capital. But Josephine Cain is determined to visit her father, who supervises the day-to-day work involved in the grandest ambition of post-Civil War America: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Life with the railroad is far from the proper life Josephine is used to, and she faces deadly gunfights, harsh weather, and vigilante uprisings. She is torn between the West and the East; between her privileged upbringing and the challenges of a new frontier; between the pull of the suitable beau her parents approve of and an attraction to a rough but charming Irish railroad worker. But if Josephine is willing, and courageous, she just might find a new life, a unique purpose . . . and true love.
THE JOURNEY OF JOSEPHINE CAIN is part of The Tapestries of America series published by Summerside. They are all written by different authors and are about different time periods in America’s history, so they all stand alone.
Ms. Moser is a hit or miss author for me. I’ve loved some of her books – others, not so much. I did enjoy learning about the progress of the railway after the Civil War, but otherwise, I found this book rather hard to get into. I couldn’t seem to care about the characters, and Josephine’s personality was a bit brash, rubbing me the wrong way.
Since “strong” female characters are wanted in historicals, some fans of historical fiction might like Josephine better than I did. Also fans of Ms. Moser might. I did find it an invaluable tool about the history of the railroads as they were built across America from West to East…and vice versa. $14.99. 336 pages. 3.5 stars.
October 17, 2013
A nice read. For me the Journey of Josephine Cain started with a bang, and then fell into a bit of a lull. The pace was slower than I usually like, and it didn't progress quit fast enough for me. But once it did progress boy it had me hooked! I love the actual journey that the characters (especially the main character) goes on not just physically, but the way she grows up and matures through out the book! Josephine changes from a some what selfish, anxious, discontent character; into a stronger, mature, and beautiful young woman! Plus she is only one of the many favorite characters that grow and change in great ways! With twists and surprises I really enjoyed reading about how they laid the track, as well as all the other historical elements in the story. And I really like the lessons; that we need to remember that vengeance is not ours, and that even though we grow and change there are times we can make mistakes and fall back into old habits though it's no reason to not get back up and try again. Overall an enjoyable read! From mourning to celebration, from death to life, from adventure to danger, all mixed with Faith, humor, and love; The Journey of Josephine Cain is a wonderful adventure that holds true to it's title and takes you on a great journey.
Songs: "He Leadeth Me" by The Cluster Pluckers, "Le nozze di Figaro, K.492 / Act 3 - ("Sull'aria...") - 'Che soave zeffiretto' " by Dawn Upshaw, "Polka: Jenny Lind" by Scan Tester, and "What A Friend We Have In Jesus (Instrumental)" by Mark Howard, John Mock, Stuart Duncan
Exodus 14:14
~ASC
*I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it. This in no way affected my opinion of The Journey of Josephine Cain and the above is my honest opinion. ~ASC
Songs: "He Leadeth Me" by The Cluster Pluckers, "Le nozze di Figaro, K.492 / Act 3 - ("Sull'aria...") - 'Che soave zeffiretto' " by Dawn Upshaw, "Polka: Jenny Lind" by Scan Tester, and "What A Friend We Have In Jesus (Instrumental)" by Mark Howard, John Mock, Stuart Duncan
Exodus 14:14
~ASC
*I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it. This in no way affected my opinion of The Journey of Josephine Cain and the above is my honest opinion. ~ASC
June 29, 2013
The An American Tapestry Series is an absolute hit in my opinion! I have missed only two books so far but they are on my wish and watch-lists for when I’m in the bookstore. The Queen of the Waves is a beautiful story for historical fans and all those currently in a Downton-Abbey-esque phase. A wonderfully vivid escape into the past from Janice Hanna Thompson. The author, Melanie Dobson, for The Courier of Caswell Hall has writing that grips me and forces me to abandon all sleep and immerse myself into her story and her characters. Which makes it entirely no surprise that The Journey of Josephine Cain by Nancy Moser is an elegant read full of page-turners and romantic entertainment. I knew years ago that I love Nancy’s historical voice and that holds true today. I’ve been well overdue for reading another one of her stories based out of Washington D.C. and that is some history that she has an endearing voice for writing. I realize that all books in the An American Tapestry series are meant to be stand alone, but she makes me wish for a sequel.
I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.
posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2...
I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.
posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2...
October 27, 2013
Saturday, October 26, 2013
The Journey of Josephine Cain, ©2013
Because Historical Fiction is my favorite genre, I enjoyed learning more about the building of the railroad from ocean to ocean. So many brave people going where they had never been, building our country from sea to shining sea. America the Beautiful.
Washington, DC, 1866.
Josephine Cain is waiting for her Papa to return from two months in Nebraska territory. Today is the day he is expected! She is prepared with her list of reasons to ask if she can go with him when he leaves again. With the death of her brother and cousin in the final days of the war, her mother and aunt Bernice continue beyond their year of full mourning. What a drab existence. However, he says no! He will be overseeing the building of the railroad connecting the West, beginning in Omaha, with the Central Pacific line coming East from Sacramento. So much promise and excitement as they meet! And... work for the men returning from the war.
~*~
With the news that Union General Reginald Cain will be taking over the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, Hudson Macguire and his youngest brother, Raleigh, join the work crews in Omaha. They are finishing up the glass skylights on the roof for the Union Pacific bunk cars. So exciting that the railroad is providing sleeping quarters now so they can advance the rails without having to stop and pitch tents using their energy to set up camp along the way. It was General Cain's invention idea.
~*~
To appease his daughter and return her to some semblance of society, General Cain invites a young illustrator home from the newspaper office with him for dinner. The editor offered the general two tickets to the opera. Finally, Mrs. Cain says yes to Josephine going when she is reminded how much their son had enjoyed the music. All is not as it seems with Mr. Lewis Simmons. His good fortune, actually, as he has admired General Cain's daughter from afar. Splendid to make her acquaintance over dinner in their home. Quite opportune to see the general entering the building while he was going there himself to try to sell his illustrations to the editor! Now he is taking their daughter to the opera. He will have to get money for the frills around it. Just the beginning of other outings, the general suggests to him. The Marriage of Figaro ~ a tale of deceptions and counter-deceptions.
"What about going out west with your father?"
She had considered this. As the evening progressed, and the old feelings of romance and hope and possibilities wove a warm cocoon around her, she'd thought, What about going with Papa? She hadn't allowed herself an answer then, and only reluctantly allowed herself an answer now. "I think―I think I would be all right staying here."
--The Journey of Josephine Cain, 43
~*~
Josephine receives an invitation to join the Union Pacific excursion trains to celebrate reaching the one-hundredth meridian ~ two hundred forty-seven miles west of Omaha. With her mother and aunt declining travel, two others are chosen to accompany her. Lewis and her companion, Mrs. Frieda Schultz, her Papa's cousin and lady's maid to her mother until Josephine's birth. Frieda was completely with her from that day on. It takes a week to arrive in Omaha to board, after train and steamboat adventures taking them further from home ... on toward General Cain as their destination.
Further adventures await.
When a socialite from the nation's capital embarks on a journey to the Wild West, her life is changed forever.
A setting populated by hundreds of laborers, outlaws, and Indians is hardly the place for a wealthy general's daughter. But Josephine Cain is determined to visit her father, who supervises the day-to-day work involved in the grandest ambition of post-Civil War America: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Life with the railroad is far from the proper life Josephine is used to, and she faces deadly gunfights, harsh weather, and vigilante uprisings. She is torn between the West and the East; between her privileged upbringing and the challenges of a new frontier; between the pull of the suitable beau her parents approve of and an attraction to a rough but charming Irish railroad worker. But if Josephine is willing, she just might find a new life, a unique purpose . . . and true love.
NANCY MOSER is the best-selling author of more than twenty novels. She is a winner and two-time nominee of the Christy Award, and her latest novel was named to Booklist's "Top 10 Romance Novels of 2011." Nancy and her husband have three grown children and three grandchildren, and they live in the Midwest.
***Thank you to Litfuse Publicity Group for inviting me to be part of the tour for The Journey of Josephine Cain and for sending me a review copy. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***
The Journey of Josephine Cain, ©2013
Because Historical Fiction is my favorite genre, I enjoyed learning more about the building of the railroad from ocean to ocean. So many brave people going where they had never been, building our country from sea to shining sea. America the Beautiful.
Washington, DC, 1866.
Josephine Cain is waiting for her Papa to return from two months in Nebraska territory. Today is the day he is expected! She is prepared with her list of reasons to ask if she can go with him when he leaves again. With the death of her brother and cousin in the final days of the war, her mother and aunt Bernice continue beyond their year of full mourning. What a drab existence. However, he says no! He will be overseeing the building of the railroad connecting the West, beginning in Omaha, with the Central Pacific line coming East from Sacramento. So much promise and excitement as they meet! And... work for the men returning from the war.
~*~
With the news that Union General Reginald Cain will be taking over the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, Hudson Macguire and his youngest brother, Raleigh, join the work crews in Omaha. They are finishing up the glass skylights on the roof for the Union Pacific bunk cars. So exciting that the railroad is providing sleeping quarters now so they can advance the rails without having to stop and pitch tents using their energy to set up camp along the way. It was General Cain's invention idea.
~*~
To appease his daughter and return her to some semblance of society, General Cain invites a young illustrator home from the newspaper office with him for dinner. The editor offered the general two tickets to the opera. Finally, Mrs. Cain says yes to Josephine going when she is reminded how much their son had enjoyed the music. All is not as it seems with Mr. Lewis Simmons. His good fortune, actually, as he has admired General Cain's daughter from afar. Splendid to make her acquaintance over dinner in their home. Quite opportune to see the general entering the building while he was going there himself to try to sell his illustrations to the editor! Now he is taking their daughter to the opera. He will have to get money for the frills around it. Just the beginning of other outings, the general suggests to him. The Marriage of Figaro ~ a tale of deceptions and counter-deceptions.
"What about going out west with your father?"
She had considered this. As the evening progressed, and the old feelings of romance and hope and possibilities wove a warm cocoon around her, she'd thought, What about going with Papa? She hadn't allowed herself an answer then, and only reluctantly allowed herself an answer now. "I think―I think I would be all right staying here."
--The Journey of Josephine Cain, 43
~*~
Josephine receives an invitation to join the Union Pacific excursion trains to celebrate reaching the one-hundredth meridian ~ two hundred forty-seven miles west of Omaha. With her mother and aunt declining travel, two others are chosen to accompany her. Lewis and her companion, Mrs. Frieda Schultz, her Papa's cousin and lady's maid to her mother until Josephine's birth. Frieda was completely with her from that day on. It takes a week to arrive in Omaha to board, after train and steamboat adventures taking them further from home ... on toward General Cain as their destination.
Further adventures await.
When a socialite from the nation's capital embarks on a journey to the Wild West, her life is changed forever.
A setting populated by hundreds of laborers, outlaws, and Indians is hardly the place for a wealthy general's daughter. But Josephine Cain is determined to visit her father, who supervises the day-to-day work involved in the grandest ambition of post-Civil War America: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Life with the railroad is far from the proper life Josephine is used to, and she faces deadly gunfights, harsh weather, and vigilante uprisings. She is torn between the West and the East; between her privileged upbringing and the challenges of a new frontier; between the pull of the suitable beau her parents approve of and an attraction to a rough but charming Irish railroad worker. But if Josephine is willing, she just might find a new life, a unique purpose . . . and true love.
NANCY MOSER is the best-selling author of more than twenty novels. She is a winner and two-time nominee of the Christy Award, and her latest novel was named to Booklist's "Top 10 Romance Novels of 2011." Nancy and her husband have three grown children and three grandchildren, and they live in the Midwest.
***Thank you to Litfuse Publicity Group for inviting me to be part of the tour for The Journey of Josephine Cain and for sending me a review copy. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***
October 6, 2013
The latest novel from Nancy Moser in the American Tapestry Series, The Journey of Josephine Cain begins when Josephine Cain accompanies her father, General Cain and her mother to the Ford Theater as he has returned from the war. Only for Josephine, this day will become memorable in a way she never expected when she sees President Lincoln shot in the balcony. This will be a lasting reminder that the war will never truly be over in the hearts of some men.
As General Cain now transitions from being a General in the war to heading up the efforts to join the building of the Transcontinental Railroad in a competition to see if the East can build their connection faster than the west can. Josephine is tired of spending the last year with her mother and Aunt Beatrice mourning the loss of her brother, Thomas and her cousin in the war. She only wishes she can convince her father to allow her to accompany him while he works on the construction of the railroad, but with the development of unsavory types springing up wherever the railroad stops, her father isn't about to put her welfare at risk.
When Lewis Simmons joins her father before he leaves to begin his work, she suddenly sees her prospects in staying at home becoming a bit more appealing since most the single men have died in the war. However Lewis has other motives in his plans to marry Josephine and gain the approval of her parents in doing so. What he doesn't expect is to head west in his efforts to sway Josephine to fall in love with him, nor does he expect another man to turn her eye, one that does not have the influence of a suitable background and instead is merely an Irish worker on the railroad. Will Josephine learn the true intentions of the man she is slowly falling in love with or is she merely falling in love with the idea of being married?
I received The Journey of Josephine Cain by Nancy Moser compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Summerside Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. This is the sixth book in the American Tapestry Series and a truly MUST READ for those of you that love a bit of real life history as the backdrop for your romance novels. In this one the Transcontinental Railroad makes its debut and the author includes a reference for readers of what really happened along the way at the end of the novel along with a great discussion guide that book clubs will LOVE! Once again the strong determined female character is what really keep me glued to this one. Josephine is willing to take the needed risks to do the right thing even if it means stepping on a few toes to get there. I love where Nancy Moser took this story amid the turmoil surrounding the disgruntled Lewis and the chivalrous actions of Hudson Maguire. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and once again another Nancy Moser novel has found its way into my permanent personal library.
As General Cain now transitions from being a General in the war to heading up the efforts to join the building of the Transcontinental Railroad in a competition to see if the East can build their connection faster than the west can. Josephine is tired of spending the last year with her mother and Aunt Beatrice mourning the loss of her brother, Thomas and her cousin in the war. She only wishes she can convince her father to allow her to accompany him while he works on the construction of the railroad, but with the development of unsavory types springing up wherever the railroad stops, her father isn't about to put her welfare at risk.
When Lewis Simmons joins her father before he leaves to begin his work, she suddenly sees her prospects in staying at home becoming a bit more appealing since most the single men have died in the war. However Lewis has other motives in his plans to marry Josephine and gain the approval of her parents in doing so. What he doesn't expect is to head west in his efforts to sway Josephine to fall in love with him, nor does he expect another man to turn her eye, one that does not have the influence of a suitable background and instead is merely an Irish worker on the railroad. Will Josephine learn the true intentions of the man she is slowly falling in love with or is she merely falling in love with the idea of being married?
I received The Journey of Josephine Cain by Nancy Moser compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Summerside Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. This is the sixth book in the American Tapestry Series and a truly MUST READ for those of you that love a bit of real life history as the backdrop for your romance novels. In this one the Transcontinental Railroad makes its debut and the author includes a reference for readers of what really happened along the way at the end of the novel along with a great discussion guide that book clubs will LOVE! Once again the strong determined female character is what really keep me glued to this one. Josephine is willing to take the needed risks to do the right thing even if it means stepping on a few toes to get there. I love where Nancy Moser took this story amid the turmoil surrounding the disgruntled Lewis and the chivalrous actions of Hudson Maguire. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and once again another Nancy Moser novel has found its way into my permanent personal library.
October 13, 2013
Having the Wild West as a backdrop to this novel enhanced its life leaving me captivated. Moser's talent for writing shined in this book and proves to be a great escape for readers alike.
Set in the late 1860's in the aftermath of the Civil War, reader's are given a glimpse into the life of Josephine Cain and her journey at a crucial time in her life. Being a young socialite and unmarried from Washington D.C. Josephine feels it is time for a change in her life. She is ready to be married, but she most of all is ready to finally have a little excitement in her life and to be reunited with her father whom she misses dearly.
Josephine has a great relationship with her father who has been given the important task of overseeing the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Her relationship with her mother is more one-sided she feels. After the death of her brother and cousin in the Civil War her mother and aunt have taken to morning every single day. For Josephine, she is ready to move on with her life. But some would argue that the Wild West-- a place populated by hundreds of laborers, outlaws, and Indians-- is hardly the place for a wealthy general's daughter. Josephine is spirited and determined enough to make the trip.
Hudson Maguire works on the railroad with his brother Raleigh to save up money and send some back home to their family. I liked Hudson. He was an honest hardworking man who anyone would admire and put their trust in. Hudson becomes Mr. Cain's most trusted and valued worker, and this puts him in the position of always being around Josephine. These two have a interest in each other even though they don't want to admit or address their feelings. Mainly because both are engaged to other people, but that doesn't mean they're in love with their significant others.
Life working alongside the construction of the railroad is a far cry from the "civil" and proper life Josephine is use to back in the nation's capital. She faces gunfights, harsh weather, vigilant uprisings and witnesses a different side of life some live that might not be considered moral. As time progresses, Josephine is challenged in what she thinks she knows or understands. This leads her to finding a new and unique purpose for her life and maybe even true love.
This book was delightful and as beautiful as the sunsets that Hudson and Josephine share a love for. I was also quite intrigued by the usage of the Native Indians in the book. It has ignited a curiosity for me to research more on the topic in general. If you want to know what I'm talking about you're just going to have to read the book to find out. Sorry!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 bookshelves
Disclaimer: I received a free copy for an honest review from Litfuse Publicity Group.
Set in the late 1860's in the aftermath of the Civil War, reader's are given a glimpse into the life of Josephine Cain and her journey at a crucial time in her life. Being a young socialite and unmarried from Washington D.C. Josephine feels it is time for a change in her life. She is ready to be married, but she most of all is ready to finally have a little excitement in her life and to be reunited with her father whom she misses dearly.
Josephine has a great relationship with her father who has been given the important task of overseeing the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Her relationship with her mother is more one-sided she feels. After the death of her brother and cousin in the Civil War her mother and aunt have taken to morning every single day. For Josephine, she is ready to move on with her life. But some would argue that the Wild West-- a place populated by hundreds of laborers, outlaws, and Indians-- is hardly the place for a wealthy general's daughter. Josephine is spirited and determined enough to make the trip.
Hudson Maguire works on the railroad with his brother Raleigh to save up money and send some back home to their family. I liked Hudson. He was an honest hardworking man who anyone would admire and put their trust in. Hudson becomes Mr. Cain's most trusted and valued worker, and this puts him in the position of always being around Josephine. These two have a interest in each other even though they don't want to admit or address their feelings. Mainly because both are engaged to other people, but that doesn't mean they're in love with their significant others.
Life working alongside the construction of the railroad is a far cry from the "civil" and proper life Josephine is use to back in the nation's capital. She faces gunfights, harsh weather, vigilant uprisings and witnesses a different side of life some live that might not be considered moral. As time progresses, Josephine is challenged in what she thinks she knows or understands. This leads her to finding a new and unique purpose for her life and maybe even true love.
This book was delightful and as beautiful as the sunsets that Hudson and Josephine share a love for. I was also quite intrigued by the usage of the Native Indians in the book. It has ignited a curiosity for me to research more on the topic in general. If you want to know what I'm talking about you're just going to have to read the book to find out. Sorry!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 bookshelves
Disclaimer: I received a free copy for an honest review from Litfuse Publicity Group.
October 12, 2013
had read two of Nancy Moser's books before (Mozart's Sister and Just Jane) and thoroughly enjoyed both of them, so much so that I have been on the lookout for more of her work since then. So, I was excited to discover this book, The Journey of Josephine Cain. I read it over this past weekend, and I ended up really liking it. Ever since I was a little girl and absolutely obsessed with Little House on the Prairie, I've loved reading about the time of the Wild West (as evidenced by the stacks of books still sitting on one of my many bookshelves), and I think the vivid descriptions of the West from both Josephine and Hudson's point of view, really helped to bring the period to life in my mind's eye. It was harshly juxtaposed with Josephine's upper-class home in Washington DC, and that made Josephine's journey, as a privileged socialite, all the more impressive. It was a journey in more ways than one--over the course of the book, you could see Josephine grow up from the spoiled, naive, and immature (though likeable!) girl to a mature young woman. That made me like her even more by the end of the book. And as someone who loves the history of the time period, I was excited by all the historical tidbits--there's so much history in the book, and it just makes me want to dig deeper into the period. I've been fascinated by the history of the early railroad for some time, and then there were all the real-life historical characters that Josephine met throughout the book, which is something that I always love.
Anyway, I really, really liked this book. The more I think about it, the more I realize I liked it. It was well-written, though still a fairly quick and easy read, with a great cast of characters, and lots of history, along with a sweet romance and a touch of mystery surrounding Lewis. It did drag a bit at times, but I would say that's probably the only issue I had with it. And, though I won't spoil it for you, it had a very satisfactory ending, at least in my opinion. I would definitely recommend it, and I'm fairly positive I will reread it in the future.
4.5/5 stars.
{this book was sent to me by LitFuse in exchange for my honest review}
Anyway, I really, really liked this book. The more I think about it, the more I realize I liked it. It was well-written, though still a fairly quick and easy read, with a great cast of characters, and lots of history, along with a sweet romance and a touch of mystery surrounding Lewis. It did drag a bit at times, but I would say that's probably the only issue I had with it. And, though I won't spoil it for you, it had a very satisfactory ending, at least in my opinion. I would definitely recommend it, and I'm fairly positive I will reread it in the future.
4.5/5 stars.
{this book was sent to me by LitFuse in exchange for my honest review}
July 21, 2013
A pampered socialite embarks on a journey to the Wild West where her life is changed forever.
A setting populated by hundreds of laborers, outlaws, and Indians is hardly the place for a wealthy general's daughter from the nation's capital. But Josephine Cain is determined to visit her father, who supervises the day-to-day work involved in the grandest ambition of post-Civil War America: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Life with the railroad is far from the proper life Josephine is used to, and she faces deadly gunfights, harsh weather, and vigilante uprisings. She is torn between the West and the East; between her privileged upbringing and the challenges of a new frontier; between the pull of the suitable beau her parents approve of and an attraction to a rough but charming Irish railroad worker. But if Josephine is willing, and courageous, she just might find a new life, a unique purpose . . . and true love.
My Review:
While the post Civil War backdrop is not the most original backdrop and setting, the cast of characters and the depth of historical detail makes this a memorable novel. It was chock full of history; from how the railroad men lived and ate, to what women's fashions were like in Washington after the war and exactly what it was like to travel west by train. This book didn't really center around romance; it was more about Josephine's journey of faith as she learns more about herself and finds her way in the world. The element that drew me to this novel was how Josephine must decide between two futures, even as she struggled against the realities of her present. She had some tough decisions to make, and the course we travel with her to get there is worth the read.
This book was provided by the publisher through Litfuse Nest for free in exchange for an honest review.
A setting populated by hundreds of laborers, outlaws, and Indians is hardly the place for a wealthy general's daughter from the nation's capital. But Josephine Cain is determined to visit her father, who supervises the day-to-day work involved in the grandest ambition of post-Civil War America: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Life with the railroad is far from the proper life Josephine is used to, and she faces deadly gunfights, harsh weather, and vigilante uprisings. She is torn between the West and the East; between her privileged upbringing and the challenges of a new frontier; between the pull of the suitable beau her parents approve of and an attraction to a rough but charming Irish railroad worker. But if Josephine is willing, and courageous, she just might find a new life, a unique purpose . . . and true love.
My Review:
While the post Civil War backdrop is not the most original backdrop and setting, the cast of characters and the depth of historical detail makes this a memorable novel. It was chock full of history; from how the railroad men lived and ate, to what women's fashions were like in Washington after the war and exactly what it was like to travel west by train. This book didn't really center around romance; it was more about Josephine's journey of faith as she learns more about herself and finds her way in the world. The element that drew me to this novel was how Josephine must decide between two futures, even as she struggled against the realities of her present. She had some tough decisions to make, and the course we travel with her to get there is worth the read.
This book was provided by the publisher through Litfuse Nest for free in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2013
I love reading about the building of the railroad. Maybe it stems from my love of the Little House on the Prairie books and their mention of the railroad and its construction, but a book about the railroad that was set in that time period immediately called to me. I just adored this book. I loved all of the little details, like what the ladies in Washington wore, how the men building the railroad lived and ate, and even what the train rides out west were like. I think Moser did a wonderful job researching the time period and facts and including them in this novel. I also fell in love with the descriptions of the products being purchased to sell to the frontier women. It’s this kind of detail and description that make a book for me and the author has succeeded.
While this is a Christian novel, I feel that the impact upon the story is perhaps just about what would have been present at that time in history. While Hudson is always mindful of God, Josephine must learn to let go and let God guide her. However, these mentions were not overwhelming or needless – they fit into the story and characters well.
I would have liked to learn more about Josephine’s mother and why she acted the way she did. It seems like we were missing a part of the story here, especially after we learn how long she has behaved in this melancholic and isolated behavior.
If nothing else, this book serves as a reminder that we probably have far more than we need. Josephine realizes that she has many more material possessions that she doesn’t really need. At the same time, Hudson realizes the meager amount that his family had growing up was enough to see them through.
I received a copy of this book in order to provide a review.
While this is a Christian novel, I feel that the impact upon the story is perhaps just about what would have been present at that time in history. While Hudson is always mindful of God, Josephine must learn to let go and let God guide her. However, these mentions were not overwhelming or needless – they fit into the story and characters well.
I would have liked to learn more about Josephine’s mother and why she acted the way she did. It seems like we were missing a part of the story here, especially after we learn how long she has behaved in this melancholic and isolated behavior.
If nothing else, this book serves as a reminder that we probably have far more than we need. Josephine realizes that she has many more material possessions that she doesn’t really need. At the same time, Hudson realizes the meager amount that his family had growing up was enough to see them through.
I received a copy of this book in order to provide a review.
April 22, 2013
The Journey of Josephine Cain is a must-read for fans of romance and historical fiction. Moser's works always have an authentic to the time period feel. As part of the American Tapestry series, Ms. Moser has once again brought the history of 19th century Midwest to life.
Following the Civil War, America was expanding westward making a railroad connecting both the East and West Coasts a necessity. Josephine, desperate to escape the bleak sitting rooms of Washington D.C., follows her father to Omaha with the seemingly honest and charming Lewis Simmons. While there, the beauty and untamed land captures Josephine's imagination and her heart. After such an adventure, life in Washington is less appealing than ever. Josephine must decide between the familiar at home or take a risk and follow her heart and move west.
A few of the characters, including our heroine Josephine, are far from perfect and have deep flaws. Josie's a spoiled brat used to getting her own way and she ends up paying for it. She did have good intentions though, so she wasn't completely unlikable and by the conclusion of the story, I was rooting for her. The Journey of Josephine Cain is well worth the read with interesting characters and a great "Wild West" setting with a little action and adventure to boot!
*I receive complimentary books for review from the publisher. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*
Following the Civil War, America was expanding westward making a railroad connecting both the East and West Coasts a necessity. Josephine, desperate to escape the bleak sitting rooms of Washington D.C., follows her father to Omaha with the seemingly honest and charming Lewis Simmons. While there, the beauty and untamed land captures Josephine's imagination and her heart. After such an adventure, life in Washington is less appealing than ever. Josephine must decide between the familiar at home or take a risk and follow her heart and move west.
A few of the characters, including our heroine Josephine, are far from perfect and have deep flaws. Josie's a spoiled brat used to getting her own way and she ends up paying for it. She did have good intentions though, so she wasn't completely unlikable and by the conclusion of the story, I was rooting for her. The Journey of Josephine Cain is well worth the read with interesting characters and a great "Wild West" setting with a little action and adventure to boot!
*I receive complimentary books for review from the publisher. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*
April 3, 2013
The Journey of Josephine Cain was an interesting story of post-Civil War times and the consequences the battle between the States had brought on.
Josephine has lost a brother and a cousin; her mother and aunt are seemingly incapable of rising out of their grief; and her beloved father is often away working on a railroad. A charming man named Lewis comes into her life, and seems to be the answer for everything... but is he who he seems?
This novel had some deep faith moments, sweet scenes, and also sad and sickening parts. The end of Lewis seemed a little overboard... did it have to happen that way? I guess I just hated to see such a tormented soul lost... :(
Anyway, an interesting and informational book over all.
Josephine has lost a brother and a cousin; her mother and aunt are seemingly incapable of rising out of their grief; and her beloved father is often away working on a railroad. A charming man named Lewis comes into her life, and seems to be the answer for everything... but is he who he seems?
This novel had some deep faith moments, sweet scenes, and also sad and sickening parts. The end of Lewis seemed a little overboard... did it have to happen that way? I guess I just hated to see such a tormented soul lost... :(
Anyway, an interesting and informational book over all.
October 18, 2013
Josephine Cain longs to move on and break free of the binds that have tied her to the grief of post-Civil War. She has missed out on a social life and desires to join her father in the Wild West as he supervises the building of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Hudson Maquire, an Irish railroad worker, is far beneath her social standing but yet he has a charm and zeal for life that intrigues Josephine. Even though he has a girl back in Pennsylvania that is waiting for him, the General's daughter spurs something deep inside him that he can't deny.
I found this novel fascinating as it dealt with an interesting part of our Nation's history. Nancy Moser created an exquisite tale about this event, one you will enjoy reading.
This book was provided free for review by Summerside Press.
Hudson Maquire, an Irish railroad worker, is far beneath her social standing but yet he has a charm and zeal for life that intrigues Josephine. Even though he has a girl back in Pennsylvania that is waiting for him, the General's daughter spurs something deep inside him that he can't deny.
I found this novel fascinating as it dealt with an interesting part of our Nation's history. Nancy Moser created an exquisite tale about this event, one you will enjoy reading.
This book was provided free for review by Summerside Press.
May 2, 2015
This book captured my interest because it told about building the transcontinential railroad. At the end of the book, the author told about all the events that were actual true events. The story was very well written, but a little predictable which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. I read the book quickly since I was caught up in the story. I enjoyed it very much!
October 16, 2013
I won a First-reads copy of this, and have no affiliation with Guideposts. This is a well done story about a spoiled young lady, who found the courage and adventurous spirit to pursue her ambitions. A great historic description about the railroads expansion from East to West.
March 22, 2014
This was different from the other books I have read by Nancy Moser. Her other novels I have read dealt with a character from history and she wrote about them. This was good, but I liked her others better.
June 19, 2014
This is a good easy read with great characters. Love, revenge, hate all wrapped up in the old west, during the time of the first cross-country rail was built. A great romance based on true facts. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because I predicted the ending. Still a great read.
November 10, 2013
This was a great read - couldn't put it down! I'd love to find other books by this author. Thanks to Goodreads ans Ms Moser for allowing me to enjoy the book!
November 24, 2013
Another excellent book by Nancy Moser. It was interesting from beginning to end! I loved the way it also followed the railroad construction across the nation during the late 1800's!
December 30, 2013
Great book. I like the characters and the story about building railroads in the west.
December 30, 2013
A sweet story. First book I've read by Nancy Moser. I look forward to reading additional books!
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
April 13, 2017
What a great book!!
February 27, 2026
I finished this novel with a sense of having watched someone shed a skin she didn’t know was suffocating her.
Nancy Moser writes Josephine’s transformation with a steady hand. The early chapters carry the polish and predictability of Washington society, then the tone roughens as the railroad camps come into view. The prose doesn’t romanticize the West. It feels dusty, unstable, and occasionally dangerous, which makes Josephine’s adjustment believable rather than convenient.
At its center, the story is about identity stripped of comfort. Josephine’s struggle is not merely between two men or two coasts, but between expectation and awakening. The railroad becomes more than a historical backdrop. It represents forward motion, risk, and reinvention. As she confronts violence, hardship, and cultural tension, the life she once clung to begins to look less secure and more confining. The novel suggests that independence is rarely graceful. It is forged through discomfort and hard choices.
I appreciated how the romantic thread develops alongside her personal growth rather than replacing it. The Irish worker challenges her worldview, but he does not rescue her from it. She has to do that work herself.
If I have one criticism, it’s that certain conflicts resolve with a neatness that slightly softens the harsher realities hinted at earlier.
Still, I closed the book feeling that Josephine’s journey earns its emotional payoff. Her evolution feels less like a makeover and more like a reckoning.
Nancy Moser writes Josephine’s transformation with a steady hand. The early chapters carry the polish and predictability of Washington society, then the tone roughens as the railroad camps come into view. The prose doesn’t romanticize the West. It feels dusty, unstable, and occasionally dangerous, which makes Josephine’s adjustment believable rather than convenient.
At its center, the story is about identity stripped of comfort. Josephine’s struggle is not merely between two men or two coasts, but between expectation and awakening. The railroad becomes more than a historical backdrop. It represents forward motion, risk, and reinvention. As she confronts violence, hardship, and cultural tension, the life she once clung to begins to look less secure and more confining. The novel suggests that independence is rarely graceful. It is forged through discomfort and hard choices.
I appreciated how the romantic thread develops alongside her personal growth rather than replacing it. The Irish worker challenges her worldview, but he does not rescue her from it. She has to do that work herself.
If I have one criticism, it’s that certain conflicts resolve with a neatness that slightly softens the harsher realities hinted at earlier.
Still, I closed the book feeling that Josephine’s journey earns its emotional payoff. Her evolution feels less like a makeover and more like a reckoning.
August 24, 2018
Love this story with a bit if history woven in
This was very interesting to read. Kept me on the edge of my seat. Stayed up late nights to read what would happen next. Encourages me to look for and read more facts about this time in the building of the railroad across our country.
This was very interesting to read. Kept me on the edge of my seat. Stayed up late nights to read what would happen next. Encourages me to look for and read more facts about this time in the building of the railroad across our country.
March 17, 2019
I loved this book and couldn't set it down. Read it cover to cover in a few days.
June 21, 2021
Silly but an interesting setting. M themes not handled that well at all.
February 26, 2022
I wasn’t real impressed. I love this time frame in historical fiction but this book lacked depth. I wouldn’t recommend it
April 6, 2017
Nancy Moser in her new book, “The Journey of Josephine Cain” Book Six in the An American Tapestry series published by Summerside Press takes us into the life of Josephine Cain.
From the back cover: When a socialite from the nation’s capital embarks on a journey to the Wild West her life is changed forever.
A setting populated by hundreds of laborers, outlaws, and Indians is hardly the place for a wealthy general’s daughter from the nation’s capital. But Josephine Cain is determined to visit her father, who supervises the day-to-day work involved in the grandest ambition of post-Civil War America: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Life with the railroad is far from the proper life Josephine is used to, and she faces deadly gunfights, harsh weather, and vigilante uprisings. She is torn between the West and the East; between her privileged upbringing and the challenges of a new frontier; between the pull of the suitable beau her parents approve of and an attraction to a rough but charming Irish railroad worker. But if Josephine is willing, and courageous, she just might find a new life, a unique purpose . . . and true love.
The Transcontinental Railroad, gunfights, vigilantes and The Wild West! This is the recipe that Nancy Moser has created for us in “The Journey of Josephine Cain”. Sometimes journeys take a physical dimension as Josephine has to travel from the East out West. Other times journeys take a personal dimension as Josephine has to change from a socialite to a frontier woman with purpose and responsibility. Josephine Cain is an incredible woman who overcomes some really difficult situations mostly without help from anybody but at the same time helping others. Danger, action and adventure are all rolled up in a very exciting read. On top of all of this there is the romance. Ms. Moser has given us a story that belongs up there with the terrific movies that have come before. These are wonderful characters that live and breathe on the pages and you care deeply for them. This book does not disappoint at all. I enjoyed it and I am sure you will also.
You can find “The Journey of Josephine Cain” at a discount at http://www.deepershopping.com/item/mo...
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: When a socialite from the nation’s capital embarks on a journey to the Wild West her life is changed forever.
A setting populated by hundreds of laborers, outlaws, and Indians is hardly the place for a wealthy general’s daughter from the nation’s capital. But Josephine Cain is determined to visit her father, who supervises the day-to-day work involved in the grandest ambition of post-Civil War America: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Life with the railroad is far from the proper life Josephine is used to, and she faces deadly gunfights, harsh weather, and vigilante uprisings. She is torn between the West and the East; between her privileged upbringing and the challenges of a new frontier; between the pull of the suitable beau her parents approve of and an attraction to a rough but charming Irish railroad worker. But if Josephine is willing, and courageous, she just might find a new life, a unique purpose . . . and true love.
The Transcontinental Railroad, gunfights, vigilantes and The Wild West! This is the recipe that Nancy Moser has created for us in “The Journey of Josephine Cain”. Sometimes journeys take a physical dimension as Josephine has to travel from the East out West. Other times journeys take a personal dimension as Josephine has to change from a socialite to a frontier woman with purpose and responsibility. Josephine Cain is an incredible woman who overcomes some really difficult situations mostly without help from anybody but at the same time helping others. Danger, action and adventure are all rolled up in a very exciting read. On top of all of this there is the romance. Ms. Moser has given us a story that belongs up there with the terrific movies that have come before. These are wonderful characters that live and breathe on the pages and you care deeply for them. This book does not disappoint at all. I enjoyed it and I am sure you will also.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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