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Orphan Train #1
Lily and the Major
Back by popular demand: The first novel in the romantic Orphan Train trilogy, Lily and the Major—the beloved historical classic about a woman who must choose between her family and her one true love, by #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller.
In his arms, she discovered how tender—and how bold—true passion could be…
Lily Chalmers wanted only two things from life—a farm of her own, and to find the sisters she hadn’t seen since they were all little girls heading West on the orphan train. She certainly had no desire for a husband. Yet proud, innocent Lily had no idea what desire meant until she met Major Caleb Halliday, a man who could ignite her very being with a single touch…a glance…a whisper. Sheltered in his arms, Lily rode the crest of a wild, helpless passion. And though she struggled against her own willful heart, she knew she could never choose between the dazzling man who had claimed her love so completely, and her bold, long-cherished dream…
In his arms, she discovered how tender—and how bold—true passion could be…
Lily Chalmers wanted only two things from life—a farm of her own, and to find the sisters she hadn’t seen since they were all little girls heading West on the orphan train. She certainly had no desire for a husband. Yet proud, innocent Lily had no idea what desire meant until she met Major Caleb Halliday, a man who could ignite her very being with a single touch…a glance…a whisper. Sheltered in his arms, Lily rode the crest of a wild, helpless passion. And though she struggled against her own willful heart, she knew she could never choose between the dazzling man who had claimed her love so completely, and her bold, long-cherished dream…
380 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1990
169 people are currently reading
1197 people want to read
About the author
Linda Lael Miller
553 books3,224 followersThe daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is a #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 historical and contemporary novels, most of which reflect her love of the West. Raised in Northport, Washington, Linda pursued her wanderlust, living in London and Arizona and traveling the world before returning to the state of her birth to settle down on a spacious property outside Spokane.
Linda traces the birth of her writing career to the day when a Northport teacher told her that the stories she was writing were good, that she just might have a future in writing. Later, when she decided to write novels, she endured her share of rejection before she sold Fletcher’s Woman in 1983 to Pocket Books. Since then, Linda has successfully published historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, mysteries and thrillers before coming home, in a literal sense, and concentrating on novels with a Western flavor. For her devotion to her craft, the Romance Writers of America awarded her their prestigious Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Long a passionate Civil War buff, Linda has studied the era avidly for almost thirty years. She has read literally hundreds of books on the subject, explored numerous battlegrounds and made many visits to her favorite, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where she has witnessed re-enactments of the legendary clash between North and South. Linda explores that turbulent time in The Yankee Widow, a May 7, 2019 MIRA Books hardcover, also available in digital and audiobook formats.
Dedicated to helping others, “The First Lady of the West” personally financed fifteen years of her Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women, which she awarded to women 25 years and older who were seeking to improve their lot in life through education. She anticipates that her next charitable endeavors will benefit four-legged critters.
More information about Linda and her novels is available at www.lindalaelmiller.com, on Facebook and from Nancy Berland Public Relations, nancy@nancyberland.com, 405-206-4748.
Linda traces the birth of her writing career to the day when a Northport teacher told her that the stories she was writing were good, that she just might have a future in writing. Later, when she decided to write novels, she endured her share of rejection before she sold Fletcher’s Woman in 1983 to Pocket Books. Since then, Linda has successfully published historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, mysteries and thrillers before coming home, in a literal sense, and concentrating on novels with a Western flavor. For her devotion to her craft, the Romance Writers of America awarded her their prestigious Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Long a passionate Civil War buff, Linda has studied the era avidly for almost thirty years. She has read literally hundreds of books on the subject, explored numerous battlegrounds and made many visits to her favorite, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where she has witnessed re-enactments of the legendary clash between North and South. Linda explores that turbulent time in The Yankee Widow, a May 7, 2019 MIRA Books hardcover, also available in digital and audiobook formats.
Dedicated to helping others, “The First Lady of the West” personally financed fifteen years of her Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women, which she awarded to women 25 years and older who were seeking to improve their lot in life through education. She anticipates that her next charitable endeavors will benefit four-legged critters.
More information about Linda and her novels is available at www.lindalaelmiller.com, on Facebook and from Nancy Berland Public Relations, nancy@nancyberland.com, 405-206-4748.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
July 21, 2018
Lily and the Major was a really good read. It's my first time reading Linda Lael Miller. I have been collecting her books for a while now because I didn't want to start one and not have the whole series. And she has a lot of books out there lol. I have to say I really really enjoyed her writing style. She wrote things that normally annoy me and take away from my enjoyment in books. Her H&H had personality traits that I drive me crazy but some how the way she wrote it worked for me. I was able to still enjoy the read. Here is the funny thing Lily was naive, stronghead, and at times a little tstl, but Linda Lael Miller wrote her so well that I still ended up liking her. Don't get me wrong Lily had good qualities as well. She was smart, brave, hard working, and she believed that women could and should have the same rights as men. I feel the same way about Caleb. Normally if a hero offers a heroine to be his mistress only it pisses me off. It normally colors the whole read for me and I dislike the jerk hero that wanted to get the milk for free in a time when giving away the milk ruined women for life. But some how I really ended up loving Caleb too. I felt his action spoke louder then his sometimes stupid words. The passion in this book was well written and sexy. The plot kept me invested. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to see what happened to Lily's sisters!
P.S. I listened to this book on audio and Pilar Witherspoon did an amazing job in her reading of this book. Her voice was so nice and I loved the life she brought to the characters.
P.S. I listened to this book on audio and Pilar Witherspoon did an amazing job in her reading of this book. Her voice was so nice and I loved the life she brought to the characters.
May 6, 2016
2.5 stars
I'm not really one for writing reviews, but this book warrants it. Not because I particularly liked it, but because I really thought I would. Needless to say, it fell short of my expectations.
Lily and her sisters ended up on the orphan train when their mom gave them up. They were all adopted separately and she vowed to find them some day.
Years later, she leaves her adopted brother, the only member of her adopted family who cares for her, to make it on her own. She buys a homestead and plans to live there on her own as a farmer. Then she meets the major and they fall in lust.
I can't say I hated the book because there were parts I liked, but I have never been so indifferent towards MCs. The major was an alpha male, but not in the ways that I usually love. He was completely full of himself and only wanted one thing from her. As the story progresses and it becomes obvious they have feelings for each other, it was Lily's turn. She was so stubborn and didn't know what she wanted. One moment she wanted him and the next she was refusing to give up her independence. One moment she was sleeping with him, the next she was refusing to marry him. I do understand what was motivating her considering the kind of life she's lived but it was a cycle that repeated itself over and over again. Her indecision was basically half the contents of the book. So many times I wanted to just stop reading but I hate not knowing how a book ends so I sucked it up and finished it. The hero did become somewhat more likable but Lily stayed immature and stubborn. They got their happy ending but, for me, it was not worth it.
I'm not really one for writing reviews, but this book warrants it. Not because I particularly liked it, but because I really thought I would. Needless to say, it fell short of my expectations.
Lily and her sisters ended up on the orphan train when their mom gave them up. They were all adopted separately and she vowed to find them some day.
Years later, she leaves her adopted brother, the only member of her adopted family who cares for her, to make it on her own. She buys a homestead and plans to live there on her own as a farmer. Then she meets the major and they fall in lust.
I can't say I hated the book because there were parts I liked, but I have never been so indifferent towards MCs. The major was an alpha male, but not in the ways that I usually love. He was completely full of himself and only wanted one thing from her. As the story progresses and it becomes obvious they have feelings for each other, it was Lily's turn. She was so stubborn and didn't know what she wanted. One moment she wanted him and the next she was refusing to give up her independence. One moment she was sleeping with him, the next she was refusing to marry him. I do understand what was motivating her considering the kind of life she's lived but it was a cycle that repeated itself over and over again. Her indecision was basically half the contents of the book. So many times I wanted to just stop reading but I hate not knowing how a book ends so I sucked it up and finished it. The hero did become somewhat more likable but Lily stayed immature and stubborn. They got their happy ending but, for me, it was not worth it.
July 5, 2016
This book seemed like an early attempt. Heroine most annoying. I tried to give this book a chance and ended up feeling extremely frustrated because the story just wouldn't go anywhere! We were always back to Lily's "you don't marry me I can't go with you". But she always went with him. Then she blamed Caleb for his arrogance. I am interested in knowing what happened to Lily's sisters though.
October 25, 2010
I have to say that I really thought that this book would be better. I had seen it many times in the book stores and thought about grabbing it, but now that I have read it I can't figure out why it is everywhere when many of her other books are so much better. I could see that this was an early work of hers right off the bat. And I took that into consideration. But over all I couldn't ignore the repetitive nature of this book.
Lily is a woman that was abandoned by her mother and separated by her sisters early in life. She vowed to find each one of them again someday, and longed for a home of her own. After abandoning the one person that cared about her in this world, she starts a life of her own in a small town in Washington state.
She files for a homestead in the area and plans on working and saving to build a house and start a farm there. But when she meets a handsome Major in the Cavalry she finds that she has feelings for him.
Lily is a stubborn character and she gets on your nerves sometimes throughout the story. After becoming Intimate with the major she immediately feels guilty and trys to forget her feelings for him and vows to not give up on her dreams of Independence. This creates a cycle of temptation, giving in, and re avowing her dreams over and over again in the book. I found this very frustrating and at times I had to put the book down and do other things to get my mind off of it. There were so many twists and turns in the story and it could have been much better if LLM has taken it in a different direction. If I had been the Major I would have dropped her like a hot potato. To fickle for me.
Lily is a woman that was abandoned by her mother and separated by her sisters early in life. She vowed to find each one of them again someday, and longed for a home of her own. After abandoning the one person that cared about her in this world, she starts a life of her own in a small town in Washington state.
She files for a homestead in the area and plans on working and saving to build a house and start a farm there. But when she meets a handsome Major in the Cavalry she finds that she has feelings for him.
Lily is a stubborn character and she gets on your nerves sometimes throughout the story. After becoming Intimate with the major she immediately feels guilty and trys to forget her feelings for him and vows to not give up on her dreams of Independence. This creates a cycle of temptation, giving in, and re avowing her dreams over and over again in the book. I found this very frustrating and at times I had to put the book down and do other things to get my mind off of it. There were so many twists and turns in the story and it could have been much better if LLM has taken it in a different direction. If I had been the Major I would have dropped her like a hot potato. To fickle for me.
April 21, 2025
if you are looking for a western romance, keep looking. im aware it is technically more 1800’s-accurate, but the main character, Lily Chalmers, is a stubborn and what seemed like a strong, dominating character.
while reading, i assumed this was going to a feminist piece, a woman who owned land and dreamed of having a farm. as she proceeds to try and ready herself for her land, she ends up falling in love with Major Caleb Halliday.
midway through the book, she mentions her mother and her fears of becoming her. she also dreams of finding her siblings. her family was a major plot in this entire story.
as she’s falling more and more for the Major, shes constantly fighting off relentless 1800’s misogyny through her efforts. she continually fights for her independence by expressing her distain for marriage and how she views it as ownership, which was what marriage was for that time. she builds Lily as a strong independent woman trying to make her way in the world…
so why does Lily give herself up to the Major? why is it when she hears of her mother’s passing, that she then feels hopeless for herself and decides to throw herself at the closest secure thing. the Major can even tell its out of impulse to finally agree.
not to mention, the Major is one big teetering red flag. the kind of man where you like him, then says something gross, but then followed up with something almost redeemable, but not really.
then the discussion with her brother and opening up a school for women? they both belittle her and she just takes it; “Lily still felt as though her entire gender had been insulted, but she kept silent,” (pg. 337). Which then he proceeds to say whatever makes her happy, anything to practically shut her up, “When we have daughters… they can go to school. Now are you happy?” (pg. 337).
At the end, they get married and she ends up forever-living on the ranch with caleb, but only after he sees his brother, which finally convinces him that he needs to make his own home.
LONG STORY SHORT, her dreams only became true because of a man getting emotional confirmation from another man. WHAT A GREAT FEMINIST LITERATURE.
I’ll soon shut up, I promise. I understand this takes place in late 1800’s and that is how it realistically would happen. I also understand nowhere did it say it was going to be a feminist literature. My issue is the back presenting this as if it is a love story, not a woman completely throwing her dreams away for a man and only then completing her dream through caleb’s reunification with his brother.
The story follows a woman, who wishes to be seen as equal to men. A woman who has dreams of having a farm for herself and hopefully finding her family. Everyone knew she knew nothing because she was a woman, but she was willing to learn for herself through trial and error. Yet, as soon as a man comes into the story, she throws it all away for him.
This is me only complaining about plot, dont get me started on the writing itself 🙄
while reading, i assumed this was going to a feminist piece, a woman who owned land and dreamed of having a farm. as she proceeds to try and ready herself for her land, she ends up falling in love with Major Caleb Halliday.
midway through the book, she mentions her mother and her fears of becoming her. she also dreams of finding her siblings. her family was a major plot in this entire story.
as she’s falling more and more for the Major, shes constantly fighting off relentless 1800’s misogyny through her efforts. she continually fights for her independence by expressing her distain for marriage and how she views it as ownership, which was what marriage was for that time. she builds Lily as a strong independent woman trying to make her way in the world…
so why does Lily give herself up to the Major? why is it when she hears of her mother’s passing, that she then feels hopeless for herself and decides to throw herself at the closest secure thing. the Major can even tell its out of impulse to finally agree.
not to mention, the Major is one big teetering red flag. the kind of man where you like him, then says something gross, but then followed up with something almost redeemable, but not really.
then the discussion with her brother and opening up a school for women? they both belittle her and she just takes it; “Lily still felt as though her entire gender had been insulted, but she kept silent,” (pg. 337). Which then he proceeds to say whatever makes her happy, anything to practically shut her up, “When we have daughters… they can go to school. Now are you happy?” (pg. 337).
At the end, they get married and she ends up forever-living on the ranch with caleb, but only after he sees his brother, which finally convinces him that he needs to make his own home.
LONG STORY SHORT, her dreams only became true because of a man getting emotional confirmation from another man. WHAT A GREAT FEMINIST LITERATURE.
I’ll soon shut up, I promise. I understand this takes place in late 1800’s and that is how it realistically would happen. I also understand nowhere did it say it was going to be a feminist literature. My issue is the back presenting this as if it is a love story, not a woman completely throwing her dreams away for a man and only then completing her dream through caleb’s reunification with his brother.
The story follows a woman, who wishes to be seen as equal to men. A woman who has dreams of having a farm for herself and hopefully finding her family. Everyone knew she knew nothing because she was a woman, but she was willing to learn for herself through trial and error. Yet, as soon as a man comes into the story, she throws it all away for him.
This is me only complaining about plot, dont get me started on the writing itself 🙄
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2017
The first chapter of the Orphan Train series introduces us to Lily Chalmers, a six year old girl who's been sent west on the orphan train with her two sisters. Abandoned by their mother, the girls are soon separated, adopted in to homes one by one, leaving Lily alone as the train continues it's westward journey. Fast forward about fifteen years and Lily is now a grown woman, a strong girl who refuses to give up hope that she will find her lost siblings...if she just keeps writing letters and stays where she can be found.
The book started out nicely and I was a big fan of Lily's strength. She spoke her mind without hesitation and was clear about what she wanted. When she meets Major Caleb Halliday, her world is turned upside down. He's instantly drawn to Lily and refuses to back out of her life. I didn't like Caleb at first. He was pushy, arrogant and insulted Lily right from the start. He doesn't want "love" or "marriage"...it's too risky for the heart...but his world is also about to change. Lily goes toe to toe with him, refusing to give up her dreams or her independence to become his mistress.
I thought the dialogue was well done and the quarreling between Caleb and Lily was entertaining, until about Chapter 15. Then it became annoying as they rehashed the same issues over and over again. I still enjoyed the characters and the story, but I think the book could've been streamlined a little better. Every other chapter turned out to be a sex scene that cost the couple any ground they'd made toward reaching a mutual understanding about their relationship. Other than that, I really did enjoy the story.
Miller writes colorful characters and vivid scenes that are easy to sit back and absorb. I'll be moving on to the next book in the series!
The book started out nicely and I was a big fan of Lily's strength. She spoke her mind without hesitation and was clear about what she wanted. When she meets Major Caleb Halliday, her world is turned upside down. He's instantly drawn to Lily and refuses to back out of her life. I didn't like Caleb at first. He was pushy, arrogant and insulted Lily right from the start. He doesn't want "love" or "marriage"...it's too risky for the heart...but his world is also about to change. Lily goes toe to toe with him, refusing to give up her dreams or her independence to become his mistress.
I thought the dialogue was well done and the quarreling between Caleb and Lily was entertaining, until about Chapter 15. Then it became annoying as they rehashed the same issues over and over again. I still enjoyed the characters and the story, but I think the book could've been streamlined a little better. Every other chapter turned out to be a sex scene that cost the couple any ground they'd made toward reaching a mutual understanding about their relationship. Other than that, I really did enjoy the story.
Miller writes colorful characters and vivid scenes that are easy to sit back and absorb. I'll be moving on to the next book in the series!
July 30, 2016
Okay, I am sorry, but Lilly was one of the most annoying heroines I have even encountered in a romance novel. She is stubborn to excess and quite honestly, an idiot. She gives it all of the time, even when treated like crap. She has absolutely no self respect. Oh sure, I will give it up to you all of the time, but treat you like a complete jerk any other time. Caleb is a stud who actually comes off better than Lilly, only because he isn't an absolute idiot like she is. I started the trilogy with Emma and I liked that book, but there was too much repetition between Caroline and Lilly. Anyway, long story short, DO NOT BUY THE BOOK, get it from the library and ONLY if you feel like you have to read all of the books in the trilogy. And the end where all of them come together in the last book, sucks. Like a climax that never happens. It needs a Deus ex machina to come in and save it.
March 28, 2009
I really liked this book. It is in the Orphan Train Series. The characters were will developed and the plot of the story was also good. Just to see the developement of the storyline and the ending were just good enough to keep you interested.
February 7, 2024
By the end of it I honestly couldn't tell you if they really loved each other.
Lily and Caleb's relationship was by far the most frustrating one I have read to date. If this had been my first LLM book, I probably wouldn't have picked up anymore in this series.
Caleb never looked out for Lily. He never protected her. He wanted her to be with him but he was too proud and self centered to listen to what she actually wanted. He RUINED her in three separate towns. At this point, if she didn't want to marry him, she would have to move states.
They were either arguing or banging....and that's about it. I kept waiting for him to have this moment of just doing what she wanted and giving her that... but it never really happened. Maybe at the last 10% of the book, but even then it didn't feel that genuine.
Lily and Caleb's relationship was by far the most frustrating one I have read to date. If this had been my first LLM book, I probably wouldn't have picked up anymore in this series.
Caleb never looked out for Lily. He never protected her. He wanted her to be with him but he was too proud and self centered to listen to what she actually wanted. He RUINED her in three separate towns. At this point, if she didn't want to marry him, she would have to move states.
They were either arguing or banging....and that's about it. I kept waiting for him to have this moment of just doing what she wanted and giving her that... but it never really happened. Maybe at the last 10% of the book, but even then it didn't feel that genuine.
April 1, 2024
Should be 2-1/2 stars
November 17, 2018
Another visit to Romancelandia, and though I enjoyed myself more than last time, I can still safely say that Historical Romance isn't mine.
However, on the plus side stands that the main protag at least recognizes the stupidity of being blindly driven by lust - not that it helps her any, but still it's nice to have a character that admits to their actions being nonsensical.
She's not just educated but also, at times, willing to make use of it and to take a stand for herself and womankind.
On the minus side stands the (usual?) often detestable male lead - I mean really, ever heard of equality, Neanderthal?
To be fair here, the fact that the female lead accepts that behaviour easily long as he "makes love" to her isn't in her favour either, and effectively cancels out what I listed on the plus side above.
I do have to give the author this that she, unlike the linked other, doesn't simply forget her story once the humping starts and decides to make this into the whole discernible plot, no, there's actually a story to be traced in this book. Not a terrific one, but nonetheless - a story.
And we do have characters that, in their humping pauses, actually take the time to talk (how novel!) with each other.
As Historical Romances go, in my reading experience, it's not as porny as others. But the purple prose in this one is at times out to kill you. :)
Edited rating:
For some reason I did intially rate this with a three star.
While I do remeber the purple prose to have been on the hilarious side and having me made laugh out loud at times, I feel that it was a far to generous rating given the things that still negatively stand out to me.
*Minor spoilers ahead*
Namely the fact that there are at least two occasions in the story in which the male lead threatens the female lead with sexualized violence. That's not sexy banter, and most certainly not romantic by any count.
On top of that, this is followed through in the story with a scene that can be at most gracious called "non-con" but actually is rape by any other name.
In that scene the female lead tries, for reasons that escape me right now, to get into the the male lead's home through a window but gets stuck there. The male lead then discovers her and proceeds, against her initial protest, to "take advantage" of her.
It does not speak in favour of a story if that is what you're left remebering about the leading couple.
However, on the plus side stands that the main protag at least recognizes the stupidity of being blindly driven by lust - not that it helps her any, but still it's nice to have a character that admits to their actions being nonsensical.
She's not just educated but also, at times, willing to make use of it and to take a stand for herself and womankind.
On the minus side stands the (usual?) often detestable male lead - I mean really, ever heard of equality, Neanderthal?
To be fair here, the fact that the female lead accepts that behaviour easily long as he "makes love" to her isn't in her favour either, and effectively cancels out what I listed on the plus side above.
I do have to give the author this that she, unlike the linked other, doesn't simply forget her story once the humping starts and decides to make this into the whole discernible plot, no, there's actually a story to be traced in this book. Not a terrific one, but nonetheless - a story.
And we do have characters that, in their humping pauses, actually take the time to talk (how novel!) with each other.
As Historical Romances go, in my reading experience, it's not as porny as others. But the purple prose in this one is at times out to kill you. :)
Edited rating:
For some reason I did intially rate this with a three star.
While I do remeber the purple prose to have been on the hilarious side and having me made laugh out loud at times, I feel that it was a far to generous rating given the things that still negatively stand out to me.
*Minor spoilers ahead*
Namely the fact that there are at least two occasions in the story in which the male lead threatens the female lead with sexualized violence. That's not sexy banter, and most certainly not romantic by any count.
On top of that, this is followed through in the story with a scene that can be at most gracious called "non-con" but actually is rape by any other name.
In that scene the female lead tries, for reasons that escape me right now, to get into the the male lead's home through a window but gets stuck there. The male lead then discovers her and proceeds, against her initial protest, to "take advantage" of her.
It does not speak in favour of a story if that is what you're left remebering about the leading couple.
September 27, 2020
Audible review
This is the first audible I have listen to by this author. Overall the story was excellent. The start of a story of three young girls who were put on the Orphan train due to their mother wanting to get rid of them due to her latest "man".
Heartbreaking as this one follows the youngest Lily who is taken in by a family who only wanted her to be a playmate to their young daughter who "picked her out".
Years later Lily is on her own and wants only a piece of land and to find her two sisters since they were all separated. But then she meets and is overwhelmed by Major Caleb Halliday and she finds passion but stays focused on her goal.
I did get really aggravated with Lily pushing Caleb away at every chance, but she was really damaged due to her mother.
A long journey ensures but a lot happens along the way...
Not to be missed. I enjoyed the narrator although I had to speed up the vocals a little which sounded perfect... Excited to hear Emma's story next!
This is the first audible I have listen to by this author. Overall the story was excellent. The start of a story of three young girls who were put on the Orphan train due to their mother wanting to get rid of them due to her latest "man".
Heartbreaking as this one follows the youngest Lily who is taken in by a family who only wanted her to be a playmate to their young daughter who "picked her out".
Years later Lily is on her own and wants only a piece of land and to find her two sisters since they were all separated. But then she meets and is overwhelmed by Major Caleb Halliday and she finds passion but stays focused on her goal.
I did get really aggravated with Lily pushing Caleb away at every chance, but she was really damaged due to her mother.
A long journey ensures but a lot happens along the way...
Not to be missed. I enjoyed the narrator although I had to speed up the vocals a little which sounded perfect... Excited to hear Emma's story next!
October 11, 2010
The first book in a trilogy about three orphans.
This is the story of Lily, the youngest of the three. Lily's dream is to have her own farm and find her sisters. One glance at Lily and Major Caleb wants her for his mistress.
A tale of two stubborn individuals, each bent on getting their own ways, but are helpless against their attraction with each other. Together, they learned the importance of compromise as they slowly learned to trust each other, and finally found love.
It's a pretty decent story, even though after a while, I sort of got tired of the arguments between the hero and the heroine. Also there is a cliffhanger in the ending, although it wasn't enough for me to start reading the next book. Oh, well....
This is the story of Lily, the youngest of the three. Lily's dream is to have her own farm and find her sisters. One glance at Lily and Major Caleb wants her for his mistress.
A tale of two stubborn individuals, each bent on getting their own ways, but are helpless against their attraction with each other. Together, they learned the importance of compromise as they slowly learned to trust each other, and finally found love.
It's a pretty decent story, even though after a while, I sort of got tired of the arguments between the hero and the heroine. Also there is a cliffhanger in the ending, although it wasn't enough for me to start reading the next book. Oh, well....
April 1, 2015
Lily and her sisters were put on the orphan train heading west. Separated when lily was six she has spent her life trying to find them. Caleb is in the military and when he first spies lily all he wants is for her to be his mistress, lily on the other hand has plans for her life.
The characters and storyline were okay but I was never really riveted. I am interested to see what happens with Lilly's sisters.
The characters and storyline were okay but I was never really riveted. I am interested to see what happens with Lilly's sisters.
Read
June 21, 2015I read this book when I was much younger and I liked it. After reading it again a few days ago i realized it was truly awful. i did not enjoy it at all. The major was alright but lily was silly and ridiculous.
October 20, 2008
Loved the characters and the setting (Washington territory 1800's). 1st in the Orphan Train series.
May 22, 2024
excellent historical romance
Linda Lael Miller has been a favorite of mine for years.
This first book of the Orphan train trilogy is filled with vivid details of life in the 1800 in Washington state.
Three little girls are put on an Orphan train by their mother and they are separated.
This first book about Lily is quite captivating.
Lily is determined to be her own person and to fend for herself in life. She’s also determined to find her long lost sisters.
In walks Major Caleb Halliday with the US Army and Lily’s life is never the same again.
This book was humorous, passionate, loving and descriptive. The non stop arguments between two passionate main characters and the spicy love scenes set quite an active pace in this story.
Very well written.
Highly recommend if you are a fan of historical fiction and fiery romance.
Linda Lael Miller has been a favorite of mine for years.
This first book of the Orphan train trilogy is filled with vivid details of life in the 1800 in Washington state.
Three little girls are put on an Orphan train by their mother and they are separated.
This first book about Lily is quite captivating.
Lily is determined to be her own person and to fend for herself in life. She’s also determined to find her long lost sisters.
In walks Major Caleb Halliday with the US Army and Lily’s life is never the same again.
This book was humorous, passionate, loving and descriptive. The non stop arguments between two passionate main characters and the spicy love scenes set quite an active pace in this story.
Very well written.
Highly recommend if you are a fan of historical fiction and fiery romance.
June 24, 2019
This book was kind of hard to get through but not because there was anything wrong with the writing or the plot… It just was at a pace I wasn’t used to and had a lot of extraneous text that I wasn’t sure where it was going. But I really liked the writing style and plot development. It’s more of a 3 1/2 star review to be perfectly honest but I liked the writing and such enough that it was worth bumping it up to a four star. Those two really came along way from the beginning of the book to the end… And both their attitudes in the way they view things. I would’ve liked to of seen more time in Pennsylvania I think I will read the other two books in the series and check out how the other two sisters faired.
May 9, 2024
Separated from her two sisters when they are on an orphan train (where they get adopted by folks), Lily is taken in by a family. She’s six years old. Years later, she’s on her own, living in Washington Territory, wanting to be a homesteader.… while she continues to search for her sisters. A headstrong heroine, Lily meets an equally headstrong hero, Caleb who’s a major in the U.S. Army. He wants her for his mistress, she refuses but quickly succumbs to his advances.
Overall, Lily comes across as one of those TSTL heroines, and Caleb is an obnoxious jerk always bossing her around. Lots of sex thru out the story .., lots. It was an okay read… that’s all. I’ve read other books by this author, and so far I’m not enamored by them enough to rate any above 2 stars. Guess they’re not my cup of tea.
Overall, Lily comes across as one of those TSTL heroines, and Caleb is an obnoxious jerk always bossing her around. Lots of sex thru out the story .., lots. It was an okay read… that’s all. I’ve read other books by this author, and so far I’m not enamored by them enough to rate any above 2 stars. Guess they’re not my cup of tea.
January 29, 2019
Want to read — January 27, 2015
Didn’t like this one as well as the second one. Couldn’t really agree/understand her reluctance to marry after she was pregnant. It took W-A-Y too long for her to decide. Then, she only decided to marry immediately after she found out her mother was dead. What did that have to do with the price of hemp in China? 😏
Lily was ridiculously fractious. The least little thing set her off. I get it that she didn’t want to be dominated by a man. I get it. I don’t need yet another lame example. But it doesn’t work any better for her to dominate him. Had she never heard the word “co-operate?”
I suppose this is a generous 4*. It is actually a generous 3.5 rounded up to a 4*.
Didn’t like this one as well as the second one. Couldn’t really agree/understand her reluctance to marry after she was pregnant. It took W-A-Y too long for her to decide. Then, she only decided to marry immediately after she found out her mother was dead. What did that have to do with the price of hemp in China? 😏
Lily was ridiculously fractious. The least little thing set her off. I get it that she didn’t want to be dominated by a man. I get it. I don’t need yet another lame example. But it doesn’t work any better for her to dominate him. Had she never heard the word “co-operate?”
I suppose this is a generous 4*. It is actually a generous 3.5 rounded up to a 4*.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2017
DNF, and it makes me sad. LLM is one of my favorite western historical romance writers, and I really enjoyed the 2nd book in this series (apparently I read it out of order, whoops) but LILY & THE MAJOR bugged me from the beginning. Lily is a sort of annoying heroine, and Caleb is the worst. Not the worst in that adorable rakish devil sort of way romance relies on all the time, but the worst in a misogynistic, liar, aggressive bordering on stalker-y way. So yeah, DNF. That said, LLM is the best and I won't stop reading her books. This one is just a misstep. :(
May 26, 2018
This book tells the readers about the life Lily has led after she and her older sisters are separated. She is an adult now and determined to live her life the way she's always planned to, but then Major Caleb Halliday crosses her path, and her plans quickly change to fit him into them…almost against Lily's will. Another story full of interesting characters. And spicy romantic scenes between Lily and Caleb.
March 17, 2024
The book was not much more than a vehicle for titillating sex scenes. A little is okay but there are pages and pages of graphic descriptions and it spoils the story and detracts from the two main characters, which I wanted to like. Lily, as the main character, is confusing as one minute she wants one thing and another minute, something different, without any explanation. The same is true of the major. I won't read any of the other books in this trilogy series.
April 23, 2024
Read it/Dont read it/ugggghh
The book was generally good. I hated Lilly. She’s young and immature. Caleb was at least 13 years older, and in that era, he was almost old enough to be her dad, despite his own youth.
The sex was good. Caleb’s love was true. Lily’s love was questionable. I hope the other two sisters are better characters because Lilly was basically an immature Awhole.
The book was generally good. I hated Lilly. She’s young and immature. Caleb was at least 13 years older, and in that era, he was almost old enough to be her dad, despite his own youth.
The sex was good. Caleb’s love was true. Lily’s love was questionable. I hope the other two sisters are better characters because Lilly was basically an immature Awhole.
August 1, 2019
I did enjoy the book at times, did like some of the characters but overall the book went on and on. I love good strong women in the books I read but this one just kept going on and on Evan for me kept pushing too much. I was in the middle and about 3/4 of the book and kept saying how much longer it would be. One of the better things, great sex,I did notknow they did that in 1878. LOL
April 30, 2022
Heroine is a firebrand
My family settled a new territory and I think to survive as a single woman was a huge challenge! This heroine needs a lot more common sense for her to survive in any believable way! Loved all the other characters! That she was pretty would have made if even harder!! Life was harder back then with even more society rules than we can comprehend!
My family settled a new territory and I think to survive as a single woman was a huge challenge! This heroine needs a lot more common sense for her to survive in any believable way! Loved all the other characters! That she was pretty would have made if even harder!! Life was harder back then with even more society rules than we can comprehend!
March 22, 2025
I assumed historical fiction would be clean… but not so. Did not finish at 70%. I wanted to know if the main character found her sisters, but I just could not continue with this terrible story. The main character does nothing but make bad decisions, whine and act like a fool and have a lot of bedroom scenes
December 8, 2020
Overall, I really liked this book, but these characters got on my nerves at times. Lily was just overly stubborn throughout this book for some senseless reason, which ended getting her in dangerous situations. The premise of the book is what drew me to want to read this book.
March 12, 2024
Bodice-ripper
I was disappointed. Having read The Orphan Train, I was expecting more stories and writing of the same caliber. The story itself was good, but all the explicit sex was too much. Definitely not a book I could recommend.
I was disappointed. Having read The Orphan Train, I was expecting more stories and writing of the same caliber. The story itself was good, but all the explicit sex was too much. Definitely not a book I could recommend.
May 10, 2024
This book was very tiring. I really wanted to like it but just couldn't get past how stupid Lily was. She had so much and kept acting so stupid. I have read a few other books by this author but will wait awhile before I try another one.
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