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Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite
Lenna Adler's hope drew her to Verona, Kansas, in Home on the Range by Taryn Oakley. It’s 1891, and she is trying to escape a dangerous situation in Chicago when she boards a westbound train. With only a newspaper advertisement and a promise to her late parents, she arrives in an unfamiliar place with little more than hope. Upon stepping off the train, she has a brief encounter with Lee Ellis, a mysterious local rancher who lingers in her thoughts even after they part ways. The life she’s always known changes once she begins working at the Elton Hotel. She must learn to navigate the strict, demanding expectations of the establishment's house mother while forming friendships with other girls like Marty. Meanwhile, she continues to cross paths with Lee. Their growing bond brings both comfort and complication—especially as hints of a deeper tie between her past and something he possesses have begun to surface. As Lenna and Lee grow closer, will faith be enough to hold them together when that connection comes to light?
I always enjoy a good novel about a girl moving west to find a new life, and Home on the Range by Taryn Oakley definitely did not disappoint. I appreciate how the main character, Lenna, is both naïve and stubborn. She felt real and very relatable. I found myself really rooting for her as she tried to make a place for herself. It was an easy, comfortable read. There’s enough description to paint a picture, but not too much to slow the pace. There were suspenseful events and moments I didn’t see coming, which kept me engaged from beginning to end. I also loved the slow build of Lenna and Lee’s relationship. It was honest and pure. Readers who enjoy gentle yet emotionally honest historical fiction will love this layered yet ultimately uplifting journey.
