Daughters of the South Wind

McCleod Daughters #1

by Aola Vandergriff

Like fairytale sisters, the three McCleod girls were beautiful, virtuous and bound to a dream--the dream of finding a new life in the West. But their story was no fairytale; for their father died on the trail and they were stranded, without money or means to go on. So, Tamsen McCleod became "Poppy Franklin," one of the girls at the cantina, to get the money to take her and her sisters to San Francisco. Soon, Em found a place in society--and in the heart of a prominent man; Arab danced her way into a life that promised love and a castle in Spain. But Tamsen's "other life" that had made it all possible now threatened to tumble all their dreams.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical

Paperback

First published March 19, 1983

About the author

aka Kitt Brown

Married to New Mexico State Senator William Vandergriff. She wrote over 2,000 short stories, novels and poetry.

Reviews

[Tamsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My namesake.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me point out that I read this in high school and liked it so much that I bought its sequels. I still own the book, but I haven't opened it in years. Perhaps I should do a reread and see if I still like it as much.

[Rebecca Huston]

A bit campy, pot boiler of those 70's series. Three sisters struggling to survive on the road, from Texas to New Mexico to California. Tamsen, Emmy and Arab, all beautiful and talented, fall in and out of love, and live in what is very much a man's world. These were released back in the 70's, are set in the 1840's and doesn't takeitself too seriously. 4 of 5 stars.

[Serah Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been one of my favourite books. It tells the story of 3 sisters, each one is unique and endearing to the reader.

But Tamsen is my favourite! She is tenacious, brave and cunning. When it comes to the survival of her family she stops at nothing to give them the best.Even though she is in the business she's in, she retains her goodness and kind heart.

I have read this book many a times and it never disappoints. I didn't know it was part of series and yet it can be enjoyed as a standalone novel.

[star · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohh this Book is From like 1977. When books Were SOOOO Good. It's about 3 Sisters. And them being out trying to get to California. Each sister had her own personality. The Adventures they go threw is Wonderful. This Is a Book like NO book that is Written today. It's a Real Writer very talented. Books today Can't compare to the books written in the 70s and 80s . I orded this book off Amazon threw a Private Seller. Definitely Going to order the other books in the series .

[Kim de la Montanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a historical fiction / romance novel published in 1977 and no longer in print. I first read this (and the rest of the series) as a teenager during a Gwen Bristow / John Jakes historical fiction phase. I remember loving them so much, I hunted though eBay until I found the series and collected them again. I started disappointed, The first 1/4 of this book felt like a typical mass market romance (which I do not enjoy) but I kept pressing forward out of nostalgia and I am so glad I did. The book chronicles the story of three very different sisters in 1848 while they travel from Pennsylvania to Texas to San Francisco.
Once they arrive in Texas (chapter 6) the story begins to shape. Middle sister Tamsen gets a (secret) cantina job to support her “frail” older and “wild” younger sister.

The sisters face hardships (which were shocking to me in 1990 but now in 2020 feel a little glossed over) and forge new lives that do not fit into normal 1850 society rules.

I highly recommend this novel, which can be read as a standard alone. If you like historical fiction, don’t mind romance, and no one ever called you a book snob you will enjoy it. It’s full of typical tropes but the characters are three dimensional and it has something special that I don’t see much of anymore.

[Marla Rosenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this memorable series probably in the 1980's finding it (the series and all of its books) so wonderful that all these year later I recalled the authors name and the titles! The characters were well developed through the series as they matured and aged from young girls left on their own, to young women faced with some horrors of being without male protection, to young marrieds, young mothers, grandmothers, and matriarchs with extended families of their own. This is a great series that I would heartily recommend!

[Lyn Johanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got my hands on an old, battered book; started reading just to shorten my hours on a train, and the hours just vanished. I loved this book so much, I know I'm going to re-read it sometime in the near future.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this series in a box of books from my mom and once I started them I couldn't put them down. You're taken right into the lives of these strong sisters and you will encounter both romance and adventure. Definitely a great read!

[Kellie Hogue]

i read these stories years age and fell in love with the charachters,the theme and of course,the ending .this is one of my favorite book series of all time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bobbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved it, full of stories within stories. Made me not want to put it down. Cannt wait to start the next book by Aola in this series.

[Elentarri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I inherited the first 5 books of this "series" from my aunt. This is one of the few romance stories/series that I liked. Well written and not too soppy. The characters actually have character!

[Yvonne Hogg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed reading this book. I find the characters intriguing. I recommend this book as well as the rest of the books in this series.

[Melanie Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read these in high school. I still have 7 of the books. I want to track down the last one. I almost named my daughter Tamsen!