by Debby Lee
Part of Enduring Hope
First published 2026
Lily Mae Dodge escapes Wyoming under cover of darkness, determined to find the mother who put her on an orphan train a decade earlier. Her journey leads to arrest in Chicago, where an unexpected ally emerges. Francis Basnett suffers from a rare vision condition but works as a roustabout for the renowned Hagenbeck-Wallace circus. He helps Lily secure a position with the traveling show. As their bond deepens from friendship into romance, Lily feels closer to reuniting with her mother. Then disaster strikes when a runaway troop train crashes into their stationary circus train. The collision kills dozens and shatters Lily's newfound optimism. She must navigate grief and loss while clinging to the connections that sustain her through unimaginable tragedy.
Genres: drama, romance, american-fiction, historical-fiction, coming-of-age, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, bittersweet, emotional, intimate, poignant
Tropes: found-family, friends-to-lovers, overcoming-adversity, second-chance
Setting: Wyoming, Chicago, Wounded Knee
Period: 19th-century, Orphan Train Era
256 pages · Paperback · Barbour Fiction
Content warnings: death