Fionna's Will

by Lana McGraw Boldt

The approaching clouds of civil war darkens Fionna Barry's hopes for a peaceful life in Virginia. Determined to shape her own destiny, she embarks upon an odyssey of hardship and triumph, joining a wagon train heading west on the Oregon Trail. Her journey exposes her to shocking danger, astonishing natural beauty, and the love of two very different men—loves that would last all her life and forever divide her heart. "McGraw Boldt utilizes bold strokes to execute Fionna's Will ." — The Oregonian , Portland

Genres: Historical Fiction

496 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1987

Reviews

[Anshu · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a story of a woman - Fionna (Fee) who braves all odds to pick up bits of her shattered life when her brother and father are killed, to move to Oregon. Accompanying her on this long and treacherous journey is a man who she despises (not lessened by the fact that he saved her life), but ends up falling in love and starting a family with once they reach their destination. But while circumstances wed her to him and she loves him dearly, her soul longs for another man. And so it is, that she lives her life torn between the two men, but has a fulfilling and successful life. The book starts with the reading of her will to her survivors and ends with twists and turns in its provisions that intend to give her children and grandchildren opportunities to become better at who they are, and results in shaping their fate for all years to come.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Historical novel taking place during the civil war. Fionna Barry makes the trek over the Oregon trail suffering great hardships, but eventually makes a stunning discovery and begins to build an extraordinary dream that would earn her the nickname "Empress of Oregon". Loved this book!

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did lower my rating by 1 star this time around, after 3 or 4 reads. it's been a long time, but i spent too much of the book not liking the main character. A bummer...even though I still enjoyed the book!

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING! 4th time through it, love it even more everytime I read it!

[Terri Hjelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great historical detail. Compeling characters. Fun plot twists but too much death