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Joy V. Smith has been writing stories since she was a kid and made her own little books. She loved to read--still does--and she wanted to create books too. While her favorite genre is science fiction, she writes fantasy, romance, and children’s stories, among other genres--and non-fiction (articles and interviews). She's written mostly short stories, which have been published in print magazines, webzines, anthologies, and two audiobooks, including Sugar Time (SF), now available in print and as an ebook. Her novels include Detour Trail and Strike Three; her three blogs also help keep her busy. She lives in Florida with Blizzard the Snow Princess and Bryn the Flying Corgi.
Reviewed by Michelle Robertson for Readers' Favorite
Lorie Emerson, like many others of this era, is traveling with her uncle on a wagon train headed west on the Oregon Trail. But after the unexpected death of her uncle, Lorie is asked by the wagon master to leave the group at the next town. Not willing to give up so easily and determined to make a home in the west, Lorie finds others needing help and willing to travel with her. She organizes their little group, preparing supplies and leading the group to their destination, but not without a struggle. Lorie must fight the elements, enemies, and face problems within the group before they all can settle in the frontier. Detour Trail by Joy. V. Smith is a unique western novel introducing readers to the era of the Oregon Trail, western frontiers, harsh elements, thieves, death, hardship, love, hard work, and determination.
Author Joy. V. Smith takes a bold approach when writing a western with a heroine instead of the typical male hero taking the lead role. Although not totally unheard of, a female heroine in the Oregon Trail era was uncommon. The elements were rough and life was hard, not fit for most women. Creating a main female character is refreshing, exciting, and honors those few women who did succeed on the Oregon Trail in the same way as the book character Lorie Emerson. Detour Trial is a book for readers who enjoy reading about courageous men and women and their adventures, love, suspense, grief, and enlightening experiences as they crossed the frontier on the rough Oregon Trail to create new homes and lives for themselves.
