Title: Jubilee Trail
Author: Gwen Bristow
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 546
Rating: 9/10
Jubilee Trail is the story of Garnet, a well brought up young woman living in New York city in the middle of the 19th century. She dreams of getting away from her mundane life and escaping the proposals of marriage from boring men. Enter Oliver, a fun, laid back man who is in town doing business for his trading company. Garnet meets him and he tells her that he travels back and forth on the trail to the west, ending in California. Her adventurous spirit is swept away and they get married. This story tells of her journey across the country to California and her experiences there.
This book delivers, just as I expected it would, after reading Celia Garth and also loving that book. Garnet is another smart, strong, and easily likable heroine. The setting is fascinating; Bristow elaborates on details of the move west by settlers and also the annexation of California by the United States. There's also intrigue, some social drama, subtle romance and action.
This is the type of book you sit with and relax and savor and it leaves you feeling good and satisfied.
This book (and Celia Garth) is also good for young adult readers. I wish I had read this when I was a teen.