The Long Trail

by Penny Hayes

School teacher Blanche Bartholomew and dance hall girl Teresa Stark discover an unthinkable love - a love so forbidden that it is outside every reality of their lives. The year is 1869. The place is the hot, windswept town of Starcross, Texas. Blanche and Teresa flee together, and attempt the impossible - to cross the Texas prairie in a covered wagon, a venture that proves to be perilous beyond all their imagining. Both women grow in strength and courage, and when the willing but naïve Blanche must fight to protect the woman she loves, she discovers how much strength she truly possesses... This passionate, earthy love story unfolds with spellbinding adventure, and details life in the old west with breathtaking authenticity. Its setting is no less than the magnificent sweep of our land. First published by Naiad Press 1986

Genres: Historical, Lesbian, Westerns, Fiction, LGBT, Historical Fiction, Lesbian Romance

248 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1986

About the author

Penny Hayes grew up on a farm near Binghamton, NY. She later went to school in Utica and Buffalo, graduating with degrees in art and special education. She has made her living teaching most of her adult life in both West Virginia and New York State. She currently lives with her partner in Ithaca, NY.

From the publisher's website: Penny Hayes is credited for single-handedly creating the genre of the lesbian western, starting with her 1986 novel The Long Trail. She is the author of The Long Trail, Grassy Flats, Yellowthroat, Omaha's Bell, Kathleen O'Donald: A Novel, City Light, Country Candles, The Tomstown Incident and Now and Then. She is currently at work on Gloves. Bella Books is proud to re-release the early work of this pioneering author!

Reviews

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 super fast sweet surprising could have used another 100 pages to flesh out some characters plot points for believability sake but i had a blast

[Blu · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+ stars - fun read :-)

[Dide · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 star ratings
Overly described backdrops and slow approach to the plot were the downsides of this story but placing them aside it really did become enjoyable and lived up to the romance

[Rachel Angelucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

the book was an easy read. but it kinda felt like it had a lesbian plot just to check off that box. the story would have remained relevant and unchanged without the romance plot. But towards the end the book is like hey everyone knows someone who is a lesbian.....this was not the era of pro queer and yet there was no friction no road block to being queer in this book. Just hey im lesbian oh ok cool so is your aunt and the sheriff's daughter.

[Juliana Benitez · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars rounded up to 3

I really wanted to like this book (lesbians in the old West??? Hell yeah!) but there were multiple rape scenes that soured the rest of the book for me. I liked the dynamics and romantic chemistry between the two leads.

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

High three. Despite all the fat shaming, it turned into a good read. I'd like to know how they got on.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about two women who decide to take charge of their lives and to move from one US State to another US State that was more accepting of them as independent women and not dependant on men. In their new state, women can own land, a home, or a business without a male 'owning' it for them. It's a lovely book, documenting the women's journey to true freedom and becoming who they really are. It also helps to have truly supportive men in their lives.