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Wagons West #6
California!
Gold fever. It swept the country from coast to coast, luring more than a hundred thousand seekers to the untamed territory of California. For them, the Gold Rush of 1848 represented the American Dream come true. But for the settlers who lived there, it was an all-out assault on the homes they'd struggled so hard to build. Now boomtowns arise overnight, teeming with outlaws, killers, and desperate men. In Sacramento Valley, former Texas Ranger Rick Miller struggles to keep the peace with nothing more than a six shooter and guts. Melissa Austen, who survived the Oregon Trail, is forced into a life of prostitution. And wagon master Whip Holt must battle the odds to save her - and stem the tide of bloodshed and greed. For these brave homesteaders, freedom is the real golden opportunity - and America the only dream worth fighting for...
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
9 people are currently reading
445 people want to read
About the author
Dana Fuller Ross
108 books143 followersDana 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
September 27, 2020
“A fellow establishes a claim, that piece of land becomes his property. He sets to work a-diggin’ with a shovel or a pickax and he shifts the dirt he digs up. If there’s water runnin’ through the property, he takes a pan that looks like a sieve and holds it in the stream. If his luck is good, he comes up with shiny nuggets that are bein’ washed down the river. Maybe all he gets is some gold dust, but enough of it is worth a heap o’ money too….”
The California Gold Rush, in a nutshell, as described by frontiersman Randy Gregg.
In the book’s opening pages, we meet the husband and wife team of Rick and Elisabeta Miller.
Rick had always been a go-getter, leaving home at the tender age of fifteen, then becoming a hunter and trapper in the Rocky Mountains before migrating to Texas, where he had risen high in the ranks of the famed Rangers.
Elisabeta grew up in Spain, sheltered by her parents until a treacherous, deceptively charming seducer convinced her to follow him to Texas. This venture proved to be a great ordeal for her, both in mind and perseverance.
And it was in Texas that Rick and Elisabeta met and fell in love.
She had elderly relatives that owned a ranch in California’s Sacramento Valley, and when they’d passed, willed the property to her.
The couple then moved to the ranch, located seventy-five miles from San Francisco, not far from the village of Sacramento.
The year was 1846.
For the next couple of years, the couple lived in newlywed bliss at the ranch. Elisabeta’s pride and joy were her plant and vegetable gardens. She also enjoyed the carriage rides out to visit their neighbor friends.
Rick also took great pleasure in living at the ranch. On the career front, he was encouraged to become the sheriff of Sacramento Valley, due in part to his steadfast way of carrying himself, one that instilled confidence in those he interacted with, and also because of his stellar work record with the Texas Rangers.
In those days, there was peace, prosperity and good living in the area. The low rate of crime allowed the lawman the luxury of extra time to word the ranch, a pastime Rick enjoyed immensely.
But all of that tranquility, good honest living and same community began to take a sinister turn toward chaos and danger when gold was discovered in the nearby American River. The few initial strikes quickly spawned a series of wild, breathlessly old tales that there was much more gold to be discovered in the nearby hills and rivers.
Fortune seekers from all over America, and still more from overseas descended on the area.
At this time, the State of California had just joined the United States of America. Having been granted its own statehood in 1848, the new government lacked the organizational departments, operational infrastructure and manpower to enforce the newly passed laws. The influx of gold seekers was far outpacing the development of this infant state.
In the pages of the story itself, we learn of the reality:
“The flood of immigrants to California that began in late 1848 became a tidal wave as the Great Gold Rush gathered force the following year. Before 1849 ended, more than a hundred thousand newcomers would arrive, most of them men and more than seventy-five percent born Americans. Among the foreigners who came were the first Chinese ever to move to the western world.
By the end of the year, more than five hundred sailing ships would ride at anchor in San Francisco Bay, many of them deserted by crews eager to join in the search for gold. San Francisco expanded at a dizzy, unprecedented pace, and by the end of 1849, would boast a permanent population of more than twenty thousand, with more transients passing through the community than the overwhelmed city fathers could count.
The California Gold Rush frenzy did not go unnoticed by the federal government. California was a new state with very few services and even less policing. Those in the halls of power in Washington, D.C. considered this to be a perilous combination of factors.
To this end, one of Zachary Taylor’s first acts as president, in March of 1849 was to increase the size of the Presidio Garrison. General Lee Blake received even more help than he had requested and was relieved when transports brought him one thousand additional infantrymen and one thousand cavalrymen. His units, which included a far smaller garrison at Fort Vancouver on the Columbia River in the Oregon Territory, composed the only force west of the Rocky Mountains capable of imposing order on an unruly population.
Rick Miller was less fortunate when it came to these arrangements. The Sacramento Valley was in the heart of Gold Rush country and was inundated. Overnight, the previously sleepy village of Sacramento was transformed into a bustling city where murder, robbery, mayhem and burglary were common, and the forty deputies Rick was authorized to hire could not handle the ever-mounting crime wave. He swore in scores of volunteer and part-time deputies, but as he had predicted, these amateur law enforcement officers found it almost impossible to keep the peace.”
It was a wild country inflamed by a lust for gold.
I’d only ventured 10% the way through the book when I came to understand and appreciate the full scope of this story’s plot. I was eager to read on, the story was built on an intriguing, historically significant period in history. I would learn more about the era, while being entertained at the same time. I was looking forward to the reading adventure that was to follow.
And what an adventure it was!
As I passed through page after page, and chapter after chapter I met an amazingly colorful and diverse cast of characters, including: A woman who had a head for numbers and was handy with a rifle, a New York society attorney turned buckskin wearing county prosecutor, a lavishly dressed beauty who had a penchant for household chores, a wise scholar from Nan King turned philosophical gold prospector, a teenager possessing sound judgement beyond his years becoming a deputy and a prostitute turned benefactress to a starving boy.
I was in awe as I read of a shattering of a single shop window turning into a city-wide riot.
It was a story of evil and treachery, offset by individual courage and a strong sense of community.
By the end, I found myself so much more than entertained. I was better informed and was most inspired by characters that I really cared for. Especially Melissa Austin.
This was my first foray into the “Wagons West” series, and based on my love of this first book, it will not be my last!
The California Gold Rush, in a nutshell, as described by frontiersman Randy Gregg.
In the book’s opening pages, we meet the husband and wife team of Rick and Elisabeta Miller.
Rick had always been a go-getter, leaving home at the tender age of fifteen, then becoming a hunter and trapper in the Rocky Mountains before migrating to Texas, where he had risen high in the ranks of the famed Rangers.
Elisabeta grew up in Spain, sheltered by her parents until a treacherous, deceptively charming seducer convinced her to follow him to Texas. This venture proved to be a great ordeal for her, both in mind and perseverance.
And it was in Texas that Rick and Elisabeta met and fell in love.
She had elderly relatives that owned a ranch in California’s Sacramento Valley, and when they’d passed, willed the property to her.
The couple then moved to the ranch, located seventy-five miles from San Francisco, not far from the village of Sacramento.
The year was 1846.
For the next couple of years, the couple lived in newlywed bliss at the ranch. Elisabeta’s pride and joy were her plant and vegetable gardens. She also enjoyed the carriage rides out to visit their neighbor friends.
Rick also took great pleasure in living at the ranch. On the career front, he was encouraged to become the sheriff of Sacramento Valley, due in part to his steadfast way of carrying himself, one that instilled confidence in those he interacted with, and also because of his stellar work record with the Texas Rangers.
In those days, there was peace, prosperity and good living in the area. The low rate of crime allowed the lawman the luxury of extra time to word the ranch, a pastime Rick enjoyed immensely.
But all of that tranquility, good honest living and same community began to take a sinister turn toward chaos and danger when gold was discovered in the nearby American River. The few initial strikes quickly spawned a series of wild, breathlessly old tales that there was much more gold to be discovered in the nearby hills and rivers.
Fortune seekers from all over America, and still more from overseas descended on the area.
At this time, the State of California had just joined the United States of America. Having been granted its own statehood in 1848, the new government lacked the organizational departments, operational infrastructure and manpower to enforce the newly passed laws. The influx of gold seekers was far outpacing the development of this infant state.
In the pages of the story itself, we learn of the reality:
“The flood of immigrants to California that began in late 1848 became a tidal wave as the Great Gold Rush gathered force the following year. Before 1849 ended, more than a hundred thousand newcomers would arrive, most of them men and more than seventy-five percent born Americans. Among the foreigners who came were the first Chinese ever to move to the western world.
By the end of the year, more than five hundred sailing ships would ride at anchor in San Francisco Bay, many of them deserted by crews eager to join in the search for gold. San Francisco expanded at a dizzy, unprecedented pace, and by the end of 1849, would boast a permanent population of more than twenty thousand, with more transients passing through the community than the overwhelmed city fathers could count.
The California Gold Rush frenzy did not go unnoticed by the federal government. California was a new state with very few services and even less policing. Those in the halls of power in Washington, D.C. considered this to be a perilous combination of factors.
To this end, one of Zachary Taylor’s first acts as president, in March of 1849 was to increase the size of the Presidio Garrison. General Lee Blake received even more help than he had requested and was relieved when transports brought him one thousand additional infantrymen and one thousand cavalrymen. His units, which included a far smaller garrison at Fort Vancouver on the Columbia River in the Oregon Territory, composed the only force west of the Rocky Mountains capable of imposing order on an unruly population.
Rick Miller was less fortunate when it came to these arrangements. The Sacramento Valley was in the heart of Gold Rush country and was inundated. Overnight, the previously sleepy village of Sacramento was transformed into a bustling city where murder, robbery, mayhem and burglary were common, and the forty deputies Rick was authorized to hire could not handle the ever-mounting crime wave. He swore in scores of volunteer and part-time deputies, but as he had predicted, these amateur law enforcement officers found it almost impossible to keep the peace.”
It was a wild country inflamed by a lust for gold.
I’d only ventured 10% the way through the book when I came to understand and appreciate the full scope of this story’s plot. I was eager to read on, the story was built on an intriguing, historically significant period in history. I would learn more about the era, while being entertained at the same time. I was looking forward to the reading adventure that was to follow.
And what an adventure it was!
As I passed through page after page, and chapter after chapter I met an amazingly colorful and diverse cast of characters, including: A woman who had a head for numbers and was handy with a rifle, a New York society attorney turned buckskin wearing county prosecutor, a lavishly dressed beauty who had a penchant for household chores, a wise scholar from Nan King turned philosophical gold prospector, a teenager possessing sound judgement beyond his years becoming a deputy and a prostitute turned benefactress to a starving boy.
I was in awe as I read of a shattering of a single shop window turning into a city-wide riot.
It was a story of evil and treachery, offset by individual courage and a strong sense of community.
By the end, I found myself so much more than entertained. I was better informed and was most inspired by characters that I really cared for. Especially Melissa Austin.
This was my first foray into the “Wagons West” series, and based on my love of this first book, it will not be my last!
May 14, 2023
This stands out from the rest of the series so far. In large part, this is because of Melissa and the reactions of the women to her. Melissa is abducted into prostitution against her will and eventually frees herself. It is important that while the men are, largely, shrugging shoulders and whatever (and never even suggest that she had been abused. She needs to be saved from the life), the reaction of the women is different. While the women do not use the word rape, it is quite clearly implied by more than one woman when talking to Melissa who is able to heal in part because of this support and non-judgement. (It says much about the two male characters who were in love with her in the last novel, and do nothing in this one to help her. Danny comes out worst because he could have tried to do something before she was sold into it, and he chose not to. Even though his wife suggested they do help).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2008
I'm enjoying this whole series but this book struck me a little more than the previous five I've read so far. Perhaps because some of this story was so unexpected (as most of the story lines and happenings could be guessed beforehand) and...jarring. I'm not sure. This whole series has story lines that are kind of predictable but I've grown attached to the characters, old and the new ones that come forward and have decided to follow through 'til the end.
Also, I happen to be actually learning a little about history from the core pieces that the fictionalized story stems from.
Also, I happen to be actually learning a little about history from the core pieces that the fictionalized story stems from.
September 1, 2023
Califonia! by Dana Fuller Ross, is one of my favorites, It has multiple small storylines with different people then connect them all when they move to California. The main story line is old friends from the Oregon Trail and the mexican war reunite in california for multiple reasons. Some are there looking for gold, some are there to talk sense into the ones who left everything for gold, and others are there for business or got sold into prostitution. There are multiple main characters, but the most interesting to me is Rick Miller. He is the main sheriff of the sacramento valley and works with a lawyer who became a deputy because he wants to keep the valley safe. Rick Miller is on a hunt through the valley looking for 2 criminals who raped and killed his wife. These 2 are called Slim and Shorty, they have also killed 3 good friends to Rick and looted multiple houses. Rick is also called out to San Francisco by the general to help stop a riot of looters. Which reunites Rick and the general and the president for further plans for riots.
March 5, 2010
I felt like this was the best of the series. Enjoyed all of the story lines. It is so funny how quickly the couples get married.
February 9, 2021
California! was the most exciting books in the series so far. I found it less enjoyable than the first book though, as a large chunk of the book revolves around basically tormenting a few of the woman characters. Seriously, if you're reading these books for well developed women characters or a story about women in the old west, run as far as way as possible. If you're five books into this series and want to find out what happens to more of the characters from the prior books, this is well worth continuing the read.
There's a goldrush in California and plenty of men are developing gold fever. There's an obsession for striking it rich quickly. The influx of people means the local law enforcement are overwhelmed and saloons with criminal enterprises are on the rise. Lee and Cathy Blake are now stationed in California and tasked with keeping order but also hamstrung by new president Millard Fillmore. Rick Miller is living with his wife Elisabeta and serving as the local sheriff. Chet Harris and Danny Taylor are searching for gold (separately) and Melissa Austin's found herself a rich man that will marry her, unless he's really a no good cardshark.
There are some new characters introduced, like Ralph the attorney, a young boy he meets name Isaiah, and the Diller family who also travel out west with the Taylors. Less developed, but just as important to the story are a pair of crooks who become rapists thieves and murderers. Seriously, this book goes to some dark places, and the women folk are not safe. Even some of the women who avoid physical violence are miserable due to their husbands succumbing to the gold craze.
Most of these books tease how the next state will play in. The next installment is Colorado! and I'm not sure where this series is going aside from Whip and Eulalia Holt's son Toby likely going to play a big part in it. I'm still enjoying the world building here. It's fun to see characters like Ernst and Ted show back up, even if in name only. I'm getting a little bored by the quick marriages between characters whenever a guy says he likes a girl, but I know that's par for the course for the genre.
There's a goldrush in California and plenty of men are developing gold fever. There's an obsession for striking it rich quickly. The influx of people means the local law enforcement are overwhelmed and saloons with criminal enterprises are on the rise. Lee and Cathy Blake are now stationed in California and tasked with keeping order but also hamstrung by new president Millard Fillmore. Rick Miller is living with his wife Elisabeta and serving as the local sheriff. Chet Harris and Danny Taylor are searching for gold (separately) and Melissa Austin's found herself a rich man that will marry her, unless he's really a no good cardshark.
There are some new characters introduced, like Ralph the attorney, a young boy he meets name Isaiah, and the Diller family who also travel out west with the Taylors. Less developed, but just as important to the story are a pair of crooks who become rapists thieves and murderers. Seriously, this book goes to some dark places, and the women folk are not safe. Even some of the women who avoid physical violence are miserable due to their husbands succumbing to the gold craze.
Most of these books tease how the next state will play in. The next installment is Colorado! and I'm not sure where this series is going aside from Whip and Eulalia Holt's son Toby likely going to play a big part in it. I'm still enjoying the world building here. It's fun to see characters like Ernst and Ted show back up, even if in name only. I'm getting a little bored by the quick marriages between characters whenever a guy says he likes a girl, but I know that's par for the course for the genre.
August 9, 2020
This is the sixth book in the Wagons West series published in 1981. It provides a vivid description of the violence that took place during the California gold rush. A few new characters are introduced to older, more well known characters and the reader. Other than a detailed description of the gold rush, the only true historical characters mentioned are Presidents Taylor, Fillmore, and Major General Winfield Scott. Fillmore became president following the sudden death of Zachary Taylor. The author writes briefly about General Scott's disapproval of the new president.
In the last (fifth) book, I enjoyed how the author brought Chet Harris and Danny Taylor out of adolescence to young adulthood. In this book, the author tests these same characters with the temptation of gold. How Chet and Danny handle themselves is good reading.
Of all of the people in the book though, the one who changes the most is Melissa Austin. Her naivety and inexperience in judging a person's character and motivations put into motion a series of events that force her to grow up fast. She evolves into a very different person than she was in book five.
Overall, it's a quick read with sufficient excitement. However, if murder, death, and corruption are not your thing then I do not recommend this book for you.
In the last (fifth) book, I enjoyed how the author brought Chet Harris and Danny Taylor out of adolescence to young adulthood. In this book, the author tests these same characters with the temptation of gold. How Chet and Danny handle themselves is good reading.
Of all of the people in the book though, the one who changes the most is Melissa Austin. Her naivety and inexperience in judging a person's character and motivations put into motion a series of events that force her to grow up fast. She evolves into a very different person than she was in book five.
Overall, it's a quick read with sufficient excitement. However, if murder, death, and corruption are not your thing then I do not recommend this book for you.
January 28, 2020
Ok, So going on my re read adventure of the Wagons West Series, California! centers around Melissa (the young redhead we met in the previous book) who becomes a harlot in a saloon with no choice of her own. Whip Holt thinking he's still young decides to bring her back home! Except he's old now with a bad hip. Whip stop butting into other peoples affairs! Besides Rick Miller is around and he will handle this (and marry her-spoiler alert!). With gold being found some other original wagon kids try their luck. Danny and Chet I'm looking at you! We also meet a few other characters blah, blah, blah. Catch a killer get married and call it a day! Love it, lol. Action packed and full of all the cheese I need from these books. 5 stars!
April 27, 2018
A very easy read, and a pleasant surprise. What's it about? Our characters from the continuing wagons west saga are contrived to converge on San Francisco during the gold rush. Mayhem ensues.
The author of these stories isn't really a single person but a pseudonym for multiple people. They do a good job continuing a long term saga....knowing just when to whack a main character or to bring in a new one. This story, in particular, feels like it's tying up a few loose ends from its predecessor "Texas", and preparing us anew for a new drama in the next book "Colorado"...
The author of these stories isn't really a single person but a pseudonym for multiple people. They do a good job continuing a long term saga....knowing just when to whack a main character or to bring in a new one. This story, in particular, feels like it's tying up a few loose ends from its predecessor "Texas", and preparing us anew for a new drama in the next book "Colorado"...
July 4, 2017
Like falling back into an old comfortable chair, the 6th book in the Wagons West series added new life to the series. Several characters from the other books take center stage in telling mostly about the gold rush years (with California becoming a state). This, so far, has been the darkest of the series - which is why I think I liked it better. Just wish, as I always say, that these books didn't have such "romance novel" covers on them because they are so much more...
February 5, 2021
Now I wished I started at the beginning. Found this book on the sale rack, and wanted to try a different genre.
I really enjoyed the story. Different people coming to California for a variety of reasons.
Super easy to read, and follow the many characters.
Most of the book was interesting. A little too corny at times, but that could be the appeal for others. This book has all the characters, from shape shooting heroes, salt of the earth settlers, damsels in distress. And tonnes of villains to boot.
I hope to stumble across more books in this series.
I really enjoyed the story. Different people coming to California for a variety of reasons.
Super easy to read, and follow the many characters.
Most of the book was interesting. A little too corny at times, but that could be the appeal for others. This book has all the characters, from shape shooting heroes, salt of the earth settlers, damsels in distress. And tonnes of villains to boot.
I hope to stumble across more books in this series.
February 14, 2021
This was a super quick read (when I would actually sit down and read it), but it read like watching a Lifetime or Hallmark Christmas movie, where the "struggle" of certain characters felt very silly and a bit of a reach, which, of course, was easily overcome. It was basically a soap opera in a book.
January 19, 2020
Even though this is a western and predictable, it tells the struggles the pioneers had on the Oregon Trail and settling in the states around Oregon. Easy read.
October 24, 2020
The best in my opinion so far in the series!
October 16, 2021
stupid tear jerker, loved every page of it
January 4, 2022
The saga continues. Hard to stop reading, I'm ordering the next one before I finish the current one!
March 13, 2022
This is my third favorite book of this 24 book series. I didn't care for the book just before this one (Oregon). Next in the series, book #6 of 24!
July 2, 2022
I could hardly put it down!! I loved how all the little story lines came together into one big one by the end. I was very happy to see what became of Melissa by the end!
July 13, 2024
California gold rush! Good and evil fight in the hostile gold mines, another great book in the Wagons West series. Plenty of action to keep you on the edge of your seat.
March 24, 2025
the most action-packed of the series so far. i was shocked at the first major character death, and it turned into my fave characters getting together like i thought they would in texas
September 11, 2013
Several familiar characters are back in this sixth book in the Wagons West series, where the action takes place mostly in San Francisco and the Sacramento Valley during the heydays of the gold rush:
Rick Miller is now the Sheriff in San Francisco, struggling to maintain law and order while on a private vendetta to capture two renegade rapists/murderers after his wife Elisabeta falls victim to them in the opening of the book. While we watched Rick and Elisabeta fall in love in the previous book, this time around he has become a detached hardened (more than he was already) emotionless man. He grieves for Elisabeta, but the grief never really comes off the pages to touch the reader.
Danny and Heather Taylor decide to travel to California with Randy Gregg, to prospect for gold. Their plan is to be smart and while trying their luck panning for gold, to also buy some land and harvest it, so that whatever happens they have the land to fall back on. After being told by Melissa Austin that she will never marry him, Chet Harris also takes off for California and gets swept up with gold fever, and after striking it rich he lives a life of excess.
Two new characters are also introduced. Ralph Hamilton is an attorney who picks up and travels to California after being jilted by his fiancée. He has no intention of trying to find gold, but he figures there will be a need for more and more attorneys as California's population grows and it is admitted to statehood. Along the way he "adopts" an orphan, Isaiah.
Melissa and her newest beau join up with the Taylors and the Greggs to make the journey, but as soon as they arrive Melissa discovers that everything her lover has told her is a lie when he sells her to a pimp. Okay, I know they weren't called pimps in those days, but Big George runs a saloon with a stable of whores, and Melissa becomes his star attraction.
The characters all have their own separate storylines that criss cross with each other's. The writing is often clichéd and somewhat mediocre, and none of the characters have any emotional depth whatsoever. There are several deaths throughout the book, some quite violent, but since we don't really connect with any of the characters, we don't mourn those who die.
From what I learned when Googling information on the author, the books are pretty historically accurate. At times, it's more like reading a slightly dry history book than a novel. And if you're interested in the time period, then that's ok.
Rick Miller is now the Sheriff in San Francisco, struggling to maintain law and order while on a private vendetta to capture two renegade rapists/murderers after his wife Elisabeta falls victim to them in the opening of the book. While we watched Rick and Elisabeta fall in love in the previous book, this time around he has become a detached hardened (more than he was already) emotionless man. He grieves for Elisabeta, but the grief never really comes off the pages to touch the reader.
Danny and Heather Taylor decide to travel to California with Randy Gregg, to prospect for gold. Their plan is to be smart and while trying their luck panning for gold, to also buy some land and harvest it, so that whatever happens they have the land to fall back on. After being told by Melissa Austin that she will never marry him, Chet Harris also takes off for California and gets swept up with gold fever, and after striking it rich he lives a life of excess.
Two new characters are also introduced. Ralph Hamilton is an attorney who picks up and travels to California after being jilted by his fiancée. He has no intention of trying to find gold, but he figures there will be a need for more and more attorneys as California's population grows and it is admitted to statehood. Along the way he "adopts" an orphan, Isaiah.
Melissa and her newest beau join up with the Taylors and the Greggs to make the journey, but as soon as they arrive Melissa discovers that everything her lover has told her is a lie when he sells her to a pimp. Okay, I know they weren't called pimps in those days, but Big George runs a saloon with a stable of whores, and Melissa becomes his star attraction.
The characters all have their own separate storylines that criss cross with each other's. The writing is often clichéd and somewhat mediocre, and none of the characters have any emotional depth whatsoever. There are several deaths throughout the book, some quite violent, but since we don't really connect with any of the characters, we don't mourn those who die.
From what I learned when Googling information on the author, the books are pretty historically accurate. At times, it's more like reading a slightly dry history book than a novel. And if you're interested in the time period, then that's ok.
May 4, 2014
Sixth in the series. This one was much better than the last few. I had decided to stop reading them, glad I didn't.
This book finds Lee and Cathy Blake at the Presidio in San Francisco. They have their hands full with all the restless, lawless and hungry miners. Melissa Austin becomes a prostitute in a busy saloon. Heather and Danny Taylor have issues to work out in their marriage. Chet Harris and his mining partner hit it big and become wealthy. Whip Hold visits California from Oregon to try to convince Melissa to leave her lifestyle. Rick Martin becomes Sheriff of Sacramento County.
This book finds Lee and Cathy Blake at the Presidio in San Francisco. They have their hands full with all the restless, lawless and hungry miners. Melissa Austin becomes a prostitute in a busy saloon. Heather and Danny Taylor have issues to work out in their marriage. Chet Harris and his mining partner hit it big and become wealthy. Whip Hold visits California from Oregon to try to convince Melissa to leave her lifestyle. Rick Martin becomes Sheriff of Sacramento County.
February 7, 2017
Noticed a few typos. The plot was mostly pretty good and it was easy to keep track of the characters. Can be read as a stand-alone or as part of the series. Some liberties were taken with the historical timeline.
September 15, 2015
Better than Texas.
The characters seem a little better written in this one, but the inconsistencies still drive me crazy, like calling Whip an "old" man when he's only about ten years older then the first book, when he's in his early 20's. He's young enough to have a second child, but yet he's constantly described as feeble and old - yet he can still do miraculous things!
The characters seem a little better written in this one, but the inconsistencies still drive me crazy, like calling Whip an "old" man when he's only about ten years older then the first book, when he's in his early 20's. He's young enough to have a second child, but yet he's constantly described as feeble and old - yet he can still do miraculous things!
July 4, 2010
This one was better than the last one, we got to know the characters better. It upset me when one died! I still read these mostly for the history. Next is Colorado and I want to read it before my trip.
September 8, 2016
Life got busy and it took a while longer to finish this one. I absolutely love how some of the original characters still tie in. In the copy I bought this time there wasn't the chapter for the next book in the back :(
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November 19, 2008W Ros
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August 19, 2011This series is very interesting - really holds my attention!
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September 5, 2014A good look at life in the gold rush years
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