Wild Horizons

by Jeanne Stephens

A Wild Love Struggles To Be Born

For Megan Riley, the wagon train bound for Oregon seemed the only chance to leave the past behind, but the innocent beauty was unaware of the cruel rumor that branded her a wanton woman.

Jed Dossman was as cold as steel and twice as hard. He vowed no unmarried woman with Megan's "reputation" would join his train. So Megan became the wife of kindly Abner Claunch.

Through two thousand miles of treacherous wilderness, a searing need grew in Megan. She had no right to want Jed. She had made a promise to herself and to Abner. But how could she keep promises made in the cold light of reason when in the darkness passion beckoned?

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical, Western Romance, Westerns

304 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1989

About the author

A pseudonym used by Jean Hager. AKA Leah Crane and Marlaine Kyle.

Reviews

[Natalija · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad I could find a used copy of this book. There is something captivating about wagon train stories that always make me look for more. Recommended!

Setting: Missouri - Oregon
Year: 1850

[Tapa in lovezone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m really loving these wagon train trail books. The hero is the wagon train driver, and the heroine is one of the passengers. The forbidden love aspect and their chemistry were well done.
That said, it felt like it took a very long time for them to actually get together, even though they were traveling together for most of the story. There were a lot of misunderstandings between them—especially with the hero believing the heroine was a prostitute—which dragged things out. Still, I was invested in their story and genuinely wanted them to end up together.
I did wish the hero had more presence and more scenes. At times, he felt more like a supporting character than the male lead. However, he was kind, devoted, and truly loved the heroine, which made him likable despite that.
One thing that felt a bit odd was the rushed marriage the heroine enters into just to be allowed on the wagon train. The man she marries ends up being her real father. While he was very good to her and his death was sad, the situation itself felt a little uncomfortable and unnecessary.

[Jena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although she's grown up in the brothel where her mother works, Megan Riley is still an innocent to the ways of the world. Determined to leave the past behind, she decides to join a wagon train bound for Oregon. But flinty, handsome wagonmaster, Jed Dossman, is aware of the rumors about Megan", and he vows no woman with a reputation will join his wagon train. So Megan marries kindly Abner Claunch, a friend of her mother's. But as the 2000-mile journey into the wilderness commences, Jed and Megan find themselves swept up in a storm of searing passion that each is struggling to deny.

I read this book when I was sixteen, and loved the intense passion, fast-paced action, and lovable characters. It's well worth reading if you can find it!