Illinois!

Wagons West #18

by Dana Fuller Ross

As roughrider Toby Holt struggles to build a new life in nineteenthcentury Chicago, an old enemy and a former love bring upheaval, tragedy, and death in a tale set against the 1871 fire that devastated Chicago

Genres: Historical Fiction, Westerns, Historical, Fiction

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 1986

About the author

Dana Fuller Ross is a pseudonym used by Noel B. Gerson and James M. Reasoner.

Noel Gearson specializes in historical military novels, westerns, and mysteries. He also writes under the pseudonyms, "Dana Fuller Ross.", Anne Marie Burgess; Michael Burgess; Nicholas Gorham; Paul Lewis; Leon Phillips; Donald Clayton Porter; Philip Vail; and Carter A. Vaughan. He has written more than 325 novels.

James Reasoner (pictured) is an American writer. He is the author of more than 150 books and many short stories in a career spanning more than thirty years. Reasoner has used at least nineteen pseudonyms, in addition to his own name: Jim Austin; Peter Danielson; Terrance Duncan; Tom Early; Wesley Ellis; Tabor Evans; Jake Foster; William Grant; Matthew Hart; Livia James; Mike Jameson; Justin Ladd; Jake Logan; Hank Mitchum; Lee Morgan; J.L. Reasoner (with his wife); Dana Fuller Ross; Adam Rutledge; and Jon Sharpe. Since most of Reasoner's books were written as part of various existing Western fiction series, many of his pseudonyms were publishing "house" names that may have been used by other authors who contributed to those series

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

So the woman that Toby got engaged to at the end of the first novel, pretty much right after his wife died, has the good sense to break it off with him. Good for Martha. But don't worry about Toby because in another 75 pages he is in love again. His dead wife hasn't been in the ground for a year yet. It's also nice that he doesn't have to parent because his sister and mother do it for him.

Oh, and he has a bastard daughter. Who I actually like because she wants to be a doctor. But it is important to note that (a) she was fathered when he was married to his first wife (b) her mother was not married to Toby and loved Toby but he didn't feel the same (c) her mother is part Native American (the term Indian is used) but not wholly, so Toby didn't really mess up his whole white lady chick thing and (d) the mother nicely dies before Toby comes back to the ranch.

Good on Cindy, however, for making sure that the mother was taken care over.

And he's never been to Chicago before but he knows how to save everyone from the fire. (I swear this man is the Western James Bond).

[Corissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't like this book as much as the others I have read in the series.

[Amanda-Has-A-Bookcase · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is full of action and less of the romance 'cheese' that can be found in some of the other books. a great inside view of the Chicago Fire!

[Amanda Eiden · Rating 4 out of 5]

when i say my jaw was on the floor at toby’s estranged daughter being revealed, i’m exaggerating—i wasn’t surprised. man gets around! and don’t forget he was married (maybe engaged? can’t remember) to his first wife during that time so 🙃

second, henry is cheating on cindy for the second time and they aren’t even married yet! poor girl supporting and waiting from him and he’s the biggest liar and slut ever, next to toby apparently

then we have ted—a breath of fresh air?? i really hope he sticks around.

i loved something different happening in this book with the chicago fire and finally one of toby’s stupid investment opp’s falling through. ngl, the group in wisconsin dying tragically for the plot would’ve been lit

on the cover is marjorie and ted (could be toby when they were on the water tower, but it looks unlike the other covers’ tobys)

[Brent M · Rating 2 out of 5]

This seems to be a part of an anthology. This is #18 in the series so I am sure I have missed something. The story is ok, Toby Holt, protagonist is larger than life , impressing everyone he meets and his business and intelligence precedes him wherever he goes. The constant 'adoration' and contrived dialogue wasn't my cup of tea. This one revolves around the Oregon ranch living Holt ends up in Chicago on his way to Wisconsin to close on a logging operation. This happens on the eve of the Great Chicago Fire. Holt ultimately has the plan the stalls the fire. There are a number of loose ends in the story that lead me to believe this is an ongoing series.

[Barbara Wellnitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series and this one told me lots I didn't know about the Great Chicago Fire.

[Lisa Marks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping story about the Great Chicago Fire.

[Debbie West · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book kept me immensely intrigued a the way through. I hated the role Henry played, or as his mistress called him, Heinrich.
The Chicago Fire incident was well worth reading. My experience was made better by finding it on the Internet afterward & reading the actual facts. The author did a great job in using Toby & Ted, as well as Marjorie in the story. I didn't realize the enormity of the Wisconsin fire either until I found it on Internet. This great fictional book was based on facts, and the author did a wonderful job of weaving the stories together.

[Awagner]

I have been reading this series since I was 14. My sister found the whole series at a used book store in Stevens Point so I've been working my way through them taking years off at a time where I haven't read anything! I loved the beginning triology Wagons West Frontier and had already read and owned some of the Holts series that follows the 24 Wagons West series before I even started Independence.

[Mgsmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

May sound somewhat repetitive here but I got hooked on the first book and it was like an addiction.
The author shows how the westward movement affected families and individuals while placing them within history itself.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one a lot. They’ve wrapped up stale plot threads and added some new ones. They’re managing to keep it fresh. Written in 1986 it has themes that aren’t politically correct now, but, all-in-all an entertaining addition to the series.

[Cws]

W Ros

[Billye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Chicago Fire of 1871- great book

[Michael Garreffa` · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second Time I am reading this series..... This book's setting is during the great Chicago fire. Didn't realize it caused some fires in lower Wisconsin..

[Partridge Public]

Ross, Dana Fuller PB