Reviews of The Blue Hour

Please follow the links after each excerpt to read the full reviews…


“Highly recommended. Read this book if you want to immerse yourself in the wilds of western America in the 1860s or get lost in the even denser wilderness of love and loss. It’s exhilarating to root for a character who is trying to navigate uncharted territory and make the greatest discovery of all. This book can hold its own against any traditionally published novel in its genre, and surpasses many.”- Underground Book Reviews


“All of Righettini’s characters are well-rounded, in particular Emily herself, whose personal growth throughout the novel is richly detailed and memorable.” – Historical Novel Society


“The Blue Hour is one of the finest historical novels I’ve ever read. You will love the author’s writing and the detailed historical references. The characters are vividly portrayed, and I felt as if I knew them well. Long after I’d finished reading, I still thought about the story. It’s part adventure, part love story, and part survival. Highly recommended.” – Ann Howard Creel, historical novelist and author of The Magic of Ordinary Days, While You Were Mine, and The Whiskey Sea


“To say this is a story about the journey west on the Oregon Trail would be too simple. To call it the ‘thought process’ of one traveler would also be too simple. The Blue Hour is a wonderful account of one young woman’s life, what lead to her departure from a comfortable existence in Springfield, Illinois, and her absolute determination to survive… A must read for those interested in historical novels, especially ones that focus on this relatively unexplored time period in fiction!” – Goodreads


“Reading the story of Emily, who embarks on an extremely difficult westward journey from Illinois to Oregon with her scoundrel of a husband, was difficult to put down.” – Goodreads


“Righettini’s insight into human nature and her extensive research add to the pleasure of following Emily’s adventurous life.” – Amazon.com


“I’ve seldom experienced such realism and attention to detail. This story is thoroughly enjoyable and has enhanced my understanding of the trials and tribulations of those hardy pioneers that expanded our nation by traveling by wagon train to Oregon and other western destinations.” – Amazon.com


“Rich in interesting detail, clearly well researched with unforgettable heartfelt characters. The Blue Hour was a true page turner I did not want to end.” – Amazon.com