We've Only Just Begun

Oregon Trail Dreamin', Book 1

By: Kathleen Ball

Narrated by: Tom Jordan

Length: 5 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

When vows are said out of necessity, can love really grow?

Susan Farr loses her parents and her home in one swoop. She takes her horse and rides to Independence, Missouri, to join a wagon train and start a new life. Mike Todd, the wagon master, doesn’t allow single women to have their own wagons. It causes fights and distractions. Susan solves her problem by marrying Clancy Willis in name only. Unfortunately, Clancy’s true nature doesn’t take long to show, and Susan finds herself married to a drunkard.

Along the trail, once again, Susan is forced to marry another man in name only, and this time it is Mike Todd. As soon as they make it to Oregon, they plan to have the marriage annulled, but their hearts become hopelessly entangled.

Mike Todd has two brothers to raise. They are guides on the wagon train, and he decided long ago he’d raise them and forget about having a wife and child of his own. Little does he know that he’d find a forever type of love.

Both vow to sacrifice their hearts’ desire to give the other happiness. Will they come to realize their lives and love have only just begun?

©2017 Kathleen Ball (P)2018 Kathleen Ball

Perfect ending

Do you ever read a whole book and hate the ending? This story has a great ending. We read about the rushed for convenience marriages with most romance novels and movies making them sounds so wonderful. This book gives a pause to the situation and shows the dangers of marrying a stranger. I felt like it was a realistic story of hardships along the Oregon trail.

Beautiful, clean, entertaining historical romance series

This is a lovely, clean historical romance series that I absolutely love! I actually started with the second book and loved it so much, I came back for the first book. Obviously, they are written as stand alone, but you might as well start from the beginning because once you listen to one, you’ll want to listen to all. And, not only are the stories great, but the narration is fabulous as well. Tom Jordan’s performance is outstanding. His narration brings this series to life. He does a great job giving each character a unique voice, and the female voices are done very well, not exaggerated or forced. Overall, beautiful, clean stories that are well written and brilliantly told. I look forward to book number 3!

Love Finds A Way

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Audiobooks Unleashed in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this story. It was filled with determination, desperation, and danger. Susan couldn’t make a getaway on the wagon train going west unless she had a husband. Her desperate choice was not a good one. When her husband reveals his true nature, the wagon master takes her under his wing and the horrors of the trip bring them closer. I liked their relationship and even though they had feelings for each other the treachery of the journey kept them at arms length. She took care of her dying husband, and he kept his two younger brothers and the families traveling with them as safe as he could under the conditions. The narration was good.

What an enjoyable listen!

“We’ve Only Just Begun” was an entertaining tale that tackles an age-old question of arranged marriage – are they doomed for misery or can true love spark under preordained circumstances? I really enjoyed the plot twists and empathized with the protagonist in her many struggles. Tom Jordan, the narrator, did a superlative job making all the characters extremely relatable. I found the audiobook to be a heart-warming tale that I would gladly listen to a second time. Thoroughly recommended.

Excellent story of love, betrayal and endurance .

Really liked this story, it shows how strong many of the women who went west on the Oregon Trail were.

Always love wagon train stories

I have always enjoyed wagon train stories. The trip along is full of adventures and heartaches. Then you add a troubled young lady who lost everything. She wants a new start but the wagon train master tells her she can't join because she is a single woman. Hard times can make one do stupid things like marrying the first man she meets. He was nice then but 24 hours later, she finds she is in trouble. And trouble continues to find her. I love the way the story is laid out and I had several surprises reading the story. Loved the wagon train master. He was a tough man who had a gentle heart. Then on top, the narrator was great. I recommend this audible.

very good book

loved it. definitely going to listen to the rest of the series. we'll worth the read

A great Oregon Trail story!

This was a great Oregon trail story! The hardship of the trail, grit, love, healing, and triumph through it all with perseverance are all wrapped up in this book!

Fantastic

I absolutely loved this story. Love truly does win out in the end if you just open your heart and give it a chance.

A Journey Taken

The stories of people making their way west on the Oregon Trail contain a little of all the emotions. Hope, sadness, grief, joy and often a romance comes about in the most unexpected ways. Kathleen Ball has crafted a wonderful tale filled with all of these and made it believable. Combined with the talented voice of Tom Jordan, this is one of my favorites and I am anxious to start the second in the series.
Since I have discover audible, I have to admit I am a little addicted. The story comes alive, almost like watching a movie and with the right narrator and story, it is perfect.
Follow Susan and Mike as they make this treacherous journey and find much more in the bargain. A keeper