Reviewed for THC ReviewsLove's Long Journey was another wonderful story in the Love Comes Softly series that is so reminiscent of the Little House on the Prairie books. The author really brought to life the stark reality of the hardships on a wagon train and how sometimes people died along the way. There was also the sheer boredom and monotony of doing the same things and eating the same things day after day. Even once Missie and Willie get settled in a temporary home on the frontier, dangers and boredom still factor in, especially during the winter months. In between the wagon trip and getting settled, Missie and Willie experienced a long, difficult separation as she stayed in the closest town, which was several days ride from their ranch, awaiting the birth of their baby, while Willie went on to get things set up for them. And of course, there was the homesickness of being separated from their families who were so far away with very little means of communication. It all makes me really thankful to live in modern times, and also thankful for those courageous souls throughout history who braved the hardships of the frontier to expand our nation.Much the same as with her mother, Marty's book, this one is told entirely from Missie's POV. She was a brave young woman who obviously loved Willie a lot to want to help him pursue his dream of cattle ranching. Although the journey itself and living in such an isolated area was often difficult and brought disappointments, Missie rarely complained. She just set her mind to doing what needed to be done and eventually she adjusted quite well. Her attitude was admirable, but that's not to say that I always agreed with her decisions to keep certain things from her husband. I understood that she was trying to avoid adding stress on Willie by not telling him at first about being pregnant or about her severe homesickness, but as someone who shares nearly everything with my husband, I felt like she should have trusted that he could handle it. Once she finally fesses up, Missie comes to that same conclusion herself, but later in the story she still keeps a couple of things from him, including an incident where one of the ranch hands menaces her. I really felt like she should have told Willie about that and allowed him to share her burdens a little more. Even though I sometimes didn't agree with Missie, overall, she was still a very relatable heroine with all of her emotional ups and downs. Missie is a keen observer of people and seems to have an intuitive sense about how they might be feeling or what they might need, and was always ready to lend a hand, which is something that I can really identify with.I do kind of miss having the male perspective in these books, but the reader can get a pretty good feel for Willie through Missie's eyes. He is a kindhearted man toward others, a good husband to Missie, and a loving father to Nathan. He is a hard worker, a great provider for Missie and his child, and very protective of them both, always doing what was in their best interests even if it was difficult. Willie is a bit of a dreamer with his aspirations of starting a cattle ranch, but still pretty practical, and doesn't really take chances. I think what I liked most about him is the way he comforts Missie in times of sorrow and truly wants to share her burdens, and also his quiet faith and optimism.There are many things to love about this book. The young love that Willie and Missie share and the way they can hardly stand to be apart from one another is so sweet and tender. The faith message is not at all preachy, but instead is a gentle one of relying on God to sustain you through difficult times. There is a full compliment of secondary characters, other pioneers, ranch hands, townspeople in Tettsford Junction, and more, who all give the story the flavor of the Old West and the sense of oneness as a community. Everything just came together to make Love's Long Journey a very enjoyable read, or perhaps I should say re-read, since I'm pretty sure I first read it years ago as a teenager. In any case, it was every bit as good today as it was back then, and I'm really looking forward to continuing the series. I can tell that there is more story for Missie and Willie, and I'm eager to find out what happens next for them.
4.5 starsIt was good; the plot, the characters, the setting. All good.It was totally different from the movie though. Totally. I guess the producers were just doing their own thing. I would say the movies are “very loosely based on the books”.I think I both laughed and cried just a tad. (I chuckled and teared-up.)Didn't hardly even notice the western talk this time.I love seeing the characters grow and it's so special to be able to join their lives. I really love it.I would recommend these books (the whole series) to lovers of Christian fiction and to those who enjoyed the “Love Comes Softly” films. And even if you didn't enjoy the movies, there's a chance you'll like these anyway. They are quite different.(*SPOILER ALERT!!!*)I really enjoyed the character of Missie. She was sweet and she was so human and so easy to understand and relate to. Just about every single thing that she did in this book I am nearly positive I would've done in the same situation. Except for eating the onions. I'm not a fan of raw onions. No, I would've gone for the tomatoes.Willie was really a sweetheart. He was so kind, and so considerate of Missie. He is so the picture-perfect husband. He really was awesome. It was so adorable how he babied Missie when she was expecting. I think I agreed with just about every decision he made except for one single thing. I was just as upset and heartsick as Missie was when he said he was going to leave her at Tettsford Junction to have the baby.Nathan was such a cutie. He was so energetic and bright and adorably sweet. I'm glad they gave him a good name. The cute little thing deserves it. Oh, I just love babies!Henry was so kind and strong and sweet. Melinda was just the same and I think they'll be absolutely wonderful together. Kathy was really a sweet girl – I'm glad she's happy. Maria was surely a pleasant surprise, and completely different from the Native American Miriam that was supposed to substitute her.Ranch hands:Cookie was truly a Godsend. Totally sweet.Scottie was really kind and considerate. So glad he got rid of Brady.Lane – Goodness, he is so stinkin' shy! So glad he got saved.Smith. I hope God softens that bitter man's heart. Wonder what turned him away.Rusty – Now he sounds like a sweetheart. Bright, cheery, and freckled. Cute.Brady was just plain freaky. Glad the jerk is gone.I don't believe I can recall any other characters to mention. No, wait, I can come up with a few more...Becky was really great, and sweet, and friendly. She and Missie got along so well. That was so tragic when she died. And poor John too! I wonder whatever happened to him.Mrs. Taylorson. Now she was one nice lady! She was so kind and understanding. I love her little rules that Missie had to follow. Also love the one that Willie added.I'm dry again. Really can't think of any more. Hmm.I wish it had swung to Marty's view some. I would've loved to have known what was going on back there. But I can understand Missie batter 'cuz I know just as much as she does. Guess that works.
What do You think about Love's Long Journey (2003)?
Love's Long Journey was the third in the Love Come's Softly series. This book starts with Willie and Missie getting married and heading west on a wagon train to follow Willie's dream of owning a ranch. Missie finds she is pregnant along the trip, and Willie leaves her at Tedford's Junction for her and the baby's safety as he goes to start building the ranch. He returns after the baby is born, and brings the two of them home to a sod hut house. It is a book of faith, and one of my favorites of the series. This is a book you can share with the whole family.
—Morris Graham
This is the third book in a series. It details the life of a young wife as she leaves her family to follow her husband's dream of settling out in the West. She overcomes homesickness and trials by turning to her Christian faith and support from her husband.If you've liked other Janette Oke books, this one will not disappoint. I think I liked the first book more, but that is just my personal taste. It is not an amazing book, but it is a solid book, and a good read to help you realize that perhaps your life is not actually that hard, comparatively. It is a quick read, with only two themes really delved into. The other possible themes are only barely touched upon.I think part of what bugged me was the spoken dialect. Does that make me a literary snob?This first quote is from the prologue."Wife followed husband, convinced that her rightful place was by his side regardless of the strong tug that pulled her to the home that she had known and loved. Danger, loneliness, and possible disaster awaited them in the new worth that they were entering, but she went regardless.I have often thought about those pioneer women. What it must have cost many of them to follow their men! To venture forth, leaving behind the things that represented security and safety; to birth their babies unattended; to nurse sick children with no medicines or doctors; to be mother, teacher, minister, physician, tailer and supermarket to a growing family; to support, without complaint, their men through floods, blizzards, sandstorms and droughts; to walk tall when there was little to wear, little to work with and even less to eat."The rest are from the novel."The amount of walking Missie did depended on the terrain and the intensity of the heat. Becky Clay did not attempt to walk far each day. John kindly refrained from prodding her to do more than she felt comfortable doing, coming to the realization that all women were not as hardy as his mother." (I thought that was funny in context.)"'Why didn't ya tell me, Missie?' he said at last. 'I woulda' understood. I been missing those left behind, too. Maybe I couldn't have eased yer sorrow none, Missie, but I'd a shared it with ya.' He tipped her face and gently kissed her. 'I love ya, Missie.'Why had she been so foolish? Why had she hugged her hurt to herself, thinking that Willie would not understand or care? She should have told him long ago and accepted the comfort of his arms. Missie clung to him now and cried until her tears were all spent. Surely there was some healing in shared heartache, in cleansing tears.""'You did a first-rate job, Henry. A real good job. Did you ever think of bein' a preacher?'Henry's blush deepened. 'I thought on it—sorta. But I ain't got what it takes to be a preacher. Very little book learnin' and not much civilizin' either.''That's not true, Henry! You're a born leader. Didn't you notice how the people followed you, accepted you, expected you to take the lead?'Henry sat silently. 'They did, some,' he agreed. 'But thet was a wagon train, not a settlement church. There's a heap of difference there. I did decide one thing, though . . . ' He hesitated.'Bein'?' Missie prompted.'Well, I jest told the Lord thet iffen He had a place for me—wherever it was—I'd be happy to do whatever I could. I don't expect it to be in a church, Missie—but there's lots of folks who need God who never come a-lookin' fer Him in a church.''I'm glad, Henry,' Missie said softly. 'I'm glad you feel that way. And you're right; God needs lots of us—everywhere—to touch other people's hearts.'""'I can understand how Williw feels,' Kathy said. 'An' as hard as it is, I think he might be right.'''Course he is,' Melinda said. 'Men usually are. It's just very difficult for us women, that's all. We're too sentimental to be practical.'""'I love ya. I've loved ya ever since ya were a little schoolgirl.''An' you showed it,' she whispered, 'by dunkin' my hair ribbons in an inkwell.''An' carvin' our initials—''An' puttin' a grasshopper in my lunchpail.''An' tellin' young Todd Culver thet I'd knock out his teeth iffen he didn't leave my girl alone; an' closin' yer classroom window when it got stuck; an' prayin' fer ya every single day—thet iffen God willed, ya'd learn to love me.''You did that?''I did.'"
—Mimi
Love's Long Journey has always been one of my favorites in this series. I love the romance between Missie and Willie, and I found their wagon train journey west interesting. Both Missie and Willie are missing the families they are leaving behind. Both know that they may never see their families again, and that even keeping touch through letters may be difficult. But Missie loves her husband so much that she believes in her husband's dreams fully. Missie also has a secret. She's pregnant. She doesn't want her parents to know--they'd worry. She doesn't want her husband to know too soon either, he'd worry too. But it's a secret that can't be kept for long, and it will change their plans! Willie is determined to leave Missie behind in a town with a doctor despite her protests. It would be too risky to have it in their new home, there wouldn't even be neighbors nearby to help, not even a midwife. But Missie, well, she's not thrilled that her husband is going to leave her behind for a few months and go ahead west to prepare a place for her and the baby...I really love this book.
—Becky
