Book Review: A Wagon Train Weekend by Stephenia H. McGee

A WAGON TRAIN WEEKEND
SERIES: Back Inn Time #1
GENRE: Inspirational Time Travel Romance
PUBLISHER: By the Vine Press
RELEASE DATE: March 9, 2021
PAGES: 226

It was just one night at a Victorian B&B. Until they woke up in 1857.

Collette Donaldson never should have taken her boyfriend to her cousin’s wedding. Or introduced him to her parents. After a disastrous weekend, all she wants is to get back home and sort out the mess that had once been their relationship. A heartbreaking fight, a flat tire, and an inconvenient storm force her and Seth to stay the night at a quaint bed and breakfast. But when Collette finds an antique photograph of herself, circumstances quickly shift from weird to unimaginable.

Seth Stone was ready to propose. Now he isn’t sure if he and Collette even have a relationship. People he’d never want to be his in-laws, an irritable girlfriend, and now he has to spend the night in a creepy old Victorian inn. He should have never wondered how things could possibly get worse. When they wake up stranded on a wagon train in 1857, Seth is determined to get home. But the only way to get out of the past is to face the problems stealing their future.

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I love stories that utilize ‘magical realism’ – in other words, realistic fiction with ‘magical’ moments woven into the framework. It’s done in such a way that you can easily see it happening in your current world without having to suspend much disbelief. Time travel fits nicely into this category, so I was super excited to read A Wagon Train Weekend by one of my favorite authors, Stephenia H. McGee!

Collette & Seth are having a rough time of it. Seth had planned to propose to Collette at a quaint seaside restaurant, but he runs into one frustrating obstacle after another, culminating in a flat tire and a surprise storm. They seek shelter in a quaint Victorian B&B with an intriguing innkeeper (whom I loved at first sight) and a mysterious photo of Collette from the 1800s… and, as they say, the rest is history. In more ways than one 😉

McGee did a great job of laying the groundwork for these two characters & their relationship, flaws and all. So when they suddenly find themselves in a wagon train headed toward Independence Rock, you immediately feel their tension, their confusion, their helplessness, and their “how do we make it back to the present day” emotions. In the span of a lightning flash they’ve gone from not knowing whether their relationship will survive to not knowing whether they will survive, and the author shows these layers with empathy and a dash of humor too. I really liked both characters and enjoyed watching them truly become the partners they were trying (and failing) to be for each other before their adventure began.

Bottom Line: A Wagon Train Weekend by Stephenia H. McGee is an entertaining ‘imagine if’ adventure, with engaging characters and a sweet romance. The challenges that Collette and Seth faced reminded me of how our greatest growth is often in difficult seasons when the familiar is turned upside down and we don’t have our usual ‘go-to’s to rely on. The author sets up the time travel element plausibly (and in a way that makes me super excited for the other books in the series, too) and brings the book to a very satisfying conclusion. A fun read with a great message!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4 stars / loved it!

KissingBook Level: 3 / may forget to breathe on occasion

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Best-selling author of Christian novels, Stephenia H. McGee writes stories of faith, hope, and healing set in the Deep South. When she’s not twirling around in hoop skirts, reading, or sipping sweet tea on the front porch, she’s a homeschool mom of two boys, writer, dreamer, and husband spoiler. Visit her at www.StepheniaMcGee.com for books and updates.

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What about you? What makes you want to read A Wagon Train Weekend by Stephenia H. McGee?