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Sangre de Cristo #1
More Precious Than Gold
The bullet that killed Eliza Gentry's fiance shattered her dreams as well. Clinging to her battered faith, she heads west to escape her grief and runs headlong into the man who caused it. Tall and headstrong, Eliza expected to remain an "unclaimed treasure." Devastated in the wake of the Civil War, she leaves her home in Texas and sets out for New Mexico's Sangre de Cristo mountains in search of peace and new purpose but discovers a wild western frontier where former enemies--Yankees and Rebels, Freedmen and Indians--square off in the quest for land and gold. Eliza must confront her prejudices and fears, and Jacob Craig embodies that conflict. The mountain man wins her trust with his gentle strength, but he harbors a secret. As a Union sharp-shooter, he met her fiance on the field of battle and cost him his life. Can she forgive him? To find peace and the future she yearns for, Eliza must first find in God a faith more precious than gold. A real ghost town comes to life in this award-winning story of love, forgiveness, and the sovereignty of God. Christian historical fiction readers will love the way this story combines the adventure of classic historical western fiction with a dash of romance.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2011
28 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 19, 2020
Though not normally a romance reader, this book pulled me in with its attention to historic details. So, if you normally read romance, get set for a powerful story of love, forgiveness, and trust.
At six-feet tall, Eliza is a big girl. To make matters worse, her father’s stand against several powerful men in their hometown of Waco has left her as more of an outcast than a valued community member. Though she is hesitant to go, her father sends the twenty-eight year old spinster to live in New Mexico with her aunt and uncle.
Eliza’s faith is flagging and in dire need of strengthening; she may have the head knowledge of a preacher’s child, but those truths need to work their way into her heart. Here in the wild and often violent land of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, she learns valuable lessons about forgiveness and trust. Eliza also discovers that, despite her stature, she can find love.
I appreciated the Christianity in this book, so appropriate to the story and the characters. Liza’s lessons are ones we all must come to grips with in our Christian walk.
At six-feet tall, Eliza is a big girl. To make matters worse, her father’s stand against several powerful men in their hometown of Waco has left her as more of an outcast than a valued community member. Though she is hesitant to go, her father sends the twenty-eight year old spinster to live in New Mexico with her aunt and uncle.
Eliza’s faith is flagging and in dire need of strengthening; she may have the head knowledge of a preacher’s child, but those truths need to work their way into her heart. Here in the wild and often violent land of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, she learns valuable lessons about forgiveness and trust. Eliza also discovers that, despite her stature, she can find love.
I appreciated the Christianity in this book, so appropriate to the story and the characters. Liza’s lessons are ones we all must come to grips with in our Christian walk.
September 8, 2011
Lynn Dean paints an excellent picture of post Civil War heartache. Eliza and Jake strive to recover from their individual losses and find each other through clever twists of irony. Dean's true-to-life characters embody the spiritual lessons faith and forgiveness through adversity. “More Precious Than Gold” portrays the hardships of the west and the fortitude of pioneers who forged into wilderness lands seeking new beginnings. Lynn Dean gives us a tender love story along with the reality of people living in a sin filled world. When Eliza faces the challenge of a physical and emotional journey into new territory, she becomes a woman with the strength and courage to ultimately forgive God and those who brought tragedy to her family. Don't miss Dean's colorful characters who leap from the pages of this beautifully written and historically accurate novel.
March 4, 2012
After loosing her Mother then her fiance in the war Eliza leaves her father, the only family she has, and heads out west to start a new life. She plans to live with her Uncle and Aunt and spend time with her favorite cousin who she feels will help her work through her grief. Then Eliza suffers loss once more as she finds out her cousin died while giving birth to a baby girl. Eliza stays in Colorado to help out her Uncle and Aunt while he recovers from an accident. Then she meets Jake her cousin's widower and becomes good friends with him but is she betraying her family while they are still grieving themselves. As she and Jake become more than just friends he reveals a secrete that may destroy their relationship forever. Will Eliza be able to forgive as she has been taught and love Jake or will her fear and bitterness cause her to loose yet another soul?
Post civil war days when times were hard and sin was prevalent. During the days when others journey to the west in hopes of starting a new beginning. As Eliza goes on this physical and emotional journey across the wilderness will she have the courage to stand strong and forgive man and God who she feels have let her down through the years? Will she find that maybe her new destiny includes helping others and not just starting over herself.
You don't want to miss this novel of pioneer days and the love and faith that kept them strong.
Post civil war days when times were hard and sin was prevalent. During the days when others journey to the west in hopes of starting a new beginning. As Eliza goes on this physical and emotional journey across the wilderness will she have the courage to stand strong and forgive man and God who she feels have let her down through the years? Will she find that maybe her new destiny includes helping others and not just starting over herself.
You don't want to miss this novel of pioneer days and the love and faith that kept them strong.
June 25, 2013
Eliza Gentry seeks to find her purpose, or God's purpose for her. First her mother died than her betrothed was killed in the Civil War and her faith was shaken.
I felt the story got off to a bit of a slow start but that may have been unavoidable as the author has to set up a certain scenario which will play out later. Eliza's preacher father stands against racial prejudice in the Waco, TX and is seen by many as a northern sympathizer. Texas had sided with the south in the Civil War. With Union soldiers patrolling Waco and tensions running high, he sends Eliza to live with her aunt for safety sake.
The pace picks up when Eliza arrives in New Mexico where it seems life can be just as harsh as she'd experienced before. The author paints an excellent picture of the lawlessness of the early west. As a historical suspense writer, I appreciate what had to be voluminous research on the author's part.
I felt the story got off to a bit of a slow start but that may have been unavoidable as the author has to set up a certain scenario which will play out later. Eliza's preacher father stands against racial prejudice in the Waco, TX and is seen by many as a northern sympathizer. Texas had sided with the south in the Civil War. With Union soldiers patrolling Waco and tensions running high, he sends Eliza to live with her aunt for safety sake.
The pace picks up when Eliza arrives in New Mexico where it seems life can be just as harsh as she'd experienced before. The author paints an excellent picture of the lawlessness of the early west. As a historical suspense writer, I appreciate what had to be voluminous research on the author's part.
October 13, 2023
This is my own book, so of course I loved it (though Book 2 in the series, Stronger Than Mountains, will be even better)!
Though this story has a strong romantic thread, it is a true historical, weaving together actual events and characters through the eyes of a fictitious heroine to show how people can forgive and heal even when they have been the victims of great wrongs.
Though this story has a strong romantic thread, it is a true historical, weaving together actual events and characters through the eyes of a fictitious heroine to show how people can forgive and heal even when they have been the victims of great wrongs.
January 21, 2012
I got this book on my new Kindle because of the reference to the Sangre de Cristo mountains. I fell in love with those mountains in Colorado. The part of them in this story are actually in New Mexico. This was a wonderful book. The characters are great. This is a book about loss and starting over. God sees our whole lives from start to finish but we can't see how certain things are going to work for good like He can. It is also a book about how we can be a light to others in the world. We can make a difference even if it is just planting a small seed. God can use that small seed and bring it into full bloom.
June 27, 2020
Post Civil War struggle for peace and purpose for a heartbroken preachers daughter
Historical fictin in the post civil war era of gold exploration in the West. Emotions are still raw from the bloody war that affected the whole country. Trying to find peace and purpose, Eliza travels from Waco to the Moreno Valley in northeast New Mexico. after the death of her fiance during the war. Her preacher father has raised her as a devout Christian but her faith has been rocked to the core. God answers Eliza's prayers but not always in expected ways. I enjoyed the blend of fictional and real life characters which gave the book an authentic voice.
Historical fictin in the post civil war era of gold exploration in the West. Emotions are still raw from the bloody war that affected the whole country. Trying to find peace and purpose, Eliza travels from Waco to the Moreno Valley in northeast New Mexico. after the death of her fiance during the war. Her preacher father has raised her as a devout Christian but her faith has been rocked to the core. God answers Eliza's prayers but not always in expected ways. I enjoyed the blend of fictional and real life characters which gave the book an authentic voice.
June 7, 2014
This is a good read. Lynn's characters are believable and real. Her story moves along and develops those characters. We become acquainted with - friends with her characters. The historical setting is accurate, thanks to Lynn's careful study of Texas history.
January 26, 2012
One of the best books I have read.
May 14, 2012
Wonderful action/adventure historical romance! Full review coming soon.
August 30, 2012
I enjoyed this book very much. When I read Christian fiction, I prefer stories that are more realistic. For me, this is one of those books.
April 16, 2021
Can Love Bloom After Death of Fiance?
Eliza was heartbroken when her fiance did not return after the Civil War. With few prospects for marriage in Texas, Eliza went to live with her aunt in New Mexico. She met a man named Jacob and they were drawn each other. Jacob fought in the Civil War also. Read this book to learn the link between Jacob and Eliza's fiance. I really enjoyed this book.
Eliza was heartbroken when her fiance did not return after the Civil War. With few prospects for marriage in Texas, Eliza went to live with her aunt in New Mexico. She met a man named Jacob and they were drawn each other. Jacob fought in the Civil War also. Read this book to learn the link between Jacob and Eliza's fiance. I really enjoyed this book.
Want to read
September 12, 2021I have this book somewhere on my ereader or Kindle and set it to read, but now I cannot find it. When I find it again, I will put it up to read once again. On to others for now. Not sure what happened here.
Read
October 15, 2012I definitely enjoyed this book, though its strengths were balanced by its weaknesses.
More Precious Than Gold tells the story of a young Texan woman, Eliza, who struggles with the aftermath of the Civil War. Her fiance had been killed in the war and she feels lost and without purpose. Her father who is a pastor convinces her to move to New Mexico to live with her aunt and uncle so she can rebuild her life. In New Mexico, she's confronted the reality of gold mining town, a little boy who suffers physical and emotional abuse from his father, and challenges which test her courage, faith, and strength. There is a sweet love story.
Strengths: I like how the author portrayed the struggle of Eliza to rebuild her life and seek for purpose and meaning in her life without a husband or children, both of which she desperately wishes for. Eliza struggles with her faith and wants to be faithful and trusting in God.
The characters were well-developed. Genuine grief and joy are portrayed convincingly. Perhaps one of the greatest strengths of the book is how Eliza, at great risk to herself, seeks to help others. The sub-plot of helping a young Indian/white boy is compelling and interesting.
Weaknesses:
The love story itself is tender and sweet. However, the author creates a series of coincidences that are too over-the-top to believe and aren't convincing, and only serve to weaken the love story.
I found Eliza's constant attempts to rationalize how God has a hand in every aspect of her life unconvincing. Perhaps that runs counter to my own beliefs about how choice operates. I don't think God always intervenes in matters of life and death and allows things to happen because we are mortal and make choices and then have to live with the consequences. That said, I do believe that God can and does turn sorrows and tragedy into blessings if we allow Him to do so and are humble. However, my own contrary opinions aside, I imagine the average LDS reader wouldn't be bothered by this.
The love story felt rushed in that Eliza's new love had barely been a widower for 8 months. But I'm willing to cut a little slack for the author in this one because while it did seem rushed, it wasn't entirely unbelievable.
And finally, the title of the book is just a cliche. When finishing this review Goodreads pulled up other books with the same title and the list was just a little too long. But this may or may not be the fault of the author.
This book is solid but not remarkable.
More Precious Than Gold tells the story of a young Texan woman, Eliza, who struggles with the aftermath of the Civil War. Her fiance had been killed in the war and she feels lost and without purpose. Her father who is a pastor convinces her to move to New Mexico to live with her aunt and uncle so she can rebuild her life. In New Mexico, she's confronted the reality of gold mining town, a little boy who suffers physical and emotional abuse from his father, and challenges which test her courage, faith, and strength. There is a sweet love story.
Strengths: I like how the author portrayed the struggle of Eliza to rebuild her life and seek for purpose and meaning in her life without a husband or children, both of which she desperately wishes for. Eliza struggles with her faith and wants to be faithful and trusting in God.
The characters were well-developed. Genuine grief and joy are portrayed convincingly. Perhaps one of the greatest strengths of the book is how Eliza, at great risk to herself, seeks to help others. The sub-plot of helping a young Indian/white boy is compelling and interesting.
Weaknesses:
The love story itself is tender and sweet. However, the author creates a series of coincidences that are too over-the-top to believe and aren't convincing, and only serve to weaken the love story.
I found Eliza's constant attempts to rationalize how God has a hand in every aspect of her life unconvincing. Perhaps that runs counter to my own beliefs about how choice operates. I don't think God always intervenes in matters of life and death and allows things to happen because we are mortal and make choices and then have to live with the consequences. That said, I do believe that God can and does turn sorrows and tragedy into blessings if we allow Him to do so and are humble. However, my own contrary opinions aside, I imagine the average LDS reader wouldn't be bothered by this.
The love story felt rushed in that Eliza's new love had barely been a widower for 8 months. But I'm willing to cut a little slack for the author in this one because while it did seem rushed, it wasn't entirely unbelievable.
And finally, the title of the book is just a cliche. When finishing this review Goodreads pulled up other books with the same title and the list was just a little too long. But this may or may not be the fault of the author.
This book is solid but not remarkable.
July 21, 2012
Three and a half stars
January 26, 2013
Wonderful story about starting over after great heartache and God's grace and love.
June 1, 2013
I read half of this. Got far to slow and could see it was going to end up been a romance.
December 12, 2016
This is a good read. It is well-written and held my attention throughout
April 10, 2017
Loved the book
I loved this book. Love blooms from tragedies. To travel hundreds of miles to find love at last. Well written and nice clean store line.
I loved this book. Love blooms from tragedies. To travel hundreds of miles to find love at last. Well written and nice clean store line.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews