Journey of Hope

A Novel of Triumph and Heartbreak on the Oregon Trail in 1852

By: Victoria Murata

Narrated by: Valerie Gilbert

When the invitation comes for a new life and urgency calls for better opportunities, how does one answer? History is peopled with those who have left the comfort of the known world to embark on journeys where their footprints have left permanent markers on the future. Against impossible odds they have followed their dreams, trusting in the unseen providence that births a new land from the womb of the old world behind them, and in their journeying they come to realize that everything that is has needed their participation. Their lives already lived are held in reverence by those who come after and who hold them up like beacons illuminating the wide and timeless expanse of eternity.

In Journey of Hope, three young women leave Independence, Missouri, in the spring of 1852 on a wagon train bound for the Oregon territory. Brenna and her family are Irish immigrants. Rebecca travels with her large family from Iowa. Emily is a young bride traveling with her husband Ernest. Six months and two thousand miles later they reach their destination much changed from who they were when they started. Daily life on the wagon train is challenging. Cholera is rampant, crime not unheard of, and death is an ever present visitor. Their hopes and fears are realized in unforgettable experiences of love and loss. Through it all they form a bond with each other that will last a lifetime and encompass the vast and untamed regions of the heart.

©2012 Victoria Murata (P)2013 Victoria Murata

Enjoy the Oregon Trail journey

Just the right amount of joy, excitement & sadness. wonderful narration, very satisfying, couldn't stop listening.

Good story

It received a 4 star because it lagged too much in the middle but picked up in the end. The author completely engrossed me in the rapids section. The characters were very believable and good humored. This book was long but worth the read. I listened to this book in audible. The narrator was articulate.

wonderful listen

I truly enjoyed this book. it was more true to life than most! The narrator did a fabulous job also!

AWSOME

Would you consider the audio edition of Journey of Hope to be better than the print version?

Have not read the print

What did you like best about this story?

all the emotions

Which character – as performed by Valerie Gilbert – was your favorite?

I really loved them all

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

not sure

Any additional comments?

Just that I think anyone would love this book

Loved!

This was a really good story.

This is another audiobook I’ve listened to by Valerie Gilbert where I could hear cars or traffic going on in the background. There was a time when Valerie forgot to do her accent for Brenna’s character. There were also times when Valerie’s voice would suddenly get louder or quieter. Lastly, I don’t know where Valerie’s originally form but I’ve noticed with the last few audiobooks I’ve listened to by her, she pronounces ‘ruined’ as ‘runed’ and I’m not really sure why.

My only questions/Comments:

Given Able basically forced Emily to marry him, I was really surprised there wasn’t mention of them ‘together’ for their first night. Able is a mean guy so I doubt he would have been gentle with her.

I loved Brenna’s parents, they were really sweet together.

Wonderful story

Excellent story. Narration done well.
Did not want story to end. Will read more from this author!!!

A journey you are bound not to forget

I listened to this book on audio and fell in love with it.
The narrator, Valerie Gilbert really made the plight of these travellers come to life and the story itself, so off the beaten track of my normal reading intrigued me. I kept listening soon discovering that I was getting invested in the story more and more until I was giving advice to the characters to tread lightly or go boldly forth.

Woman literature usually does not go this deep but this one did and with a soft edge I simply adored. Yes, you may need some tissues. Be prepared. You are warned.

I loved the pace of the narrator in this book. It is a bit slow, very reserved but fits the plot to a hilt.

Good story, dreadful narrator

I enjoyed the stories about the families - the reasons they undertook the journey, depictions of dangers and how they overcame them. The narrator has a very pleasant voice, but her melodramatic style is excruciating!! It horribly distracts from the story.