Anthelia Yosemite Bride

by Zina Abbott

Due to the impact of commercial interests on the scenic land that became known as Yosemite, concerned citizens and Senator John Conness sought federal protection. The 38th United States Congress passed legislation creating the Yosemite Grant, which President Abraham Lincoln signed into law on June 30, 1864. It was the first time land was set aside by the U.S. government specifically for preservation and public use. Although initially Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove were ceded to California as a state park, this action set a precedent for the 1872 creation of Yellowstone National Park, the nation’s first national park. Over the years, as more lands were set aside as national parks, these special preserves captured the imaginations of those who found their way to enjoy their beauty. Join several of your favorite authors as we share romances and adventure set in several of North America’s early national parks.

With the death of her parents and the loss of the only home she had ever known, Anthelia Spencer thought sure her life was over. With no marriage prospects, only her aunt and uncle in California offered her a place to live and work. They ran a combination bakery and merchandise shop that catered to visitors of the newly-created Yosemite Grant in the wilderness of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Only after she arrived did she realize the wild and remote nature of her new home. The one bright spot was the regular arrival of the stagecoach that brought tourists to Yosemite—with Dallin Walton employed as the shotgun messenger.

178 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 29, 2025

About the author

Zina Abbott is the pen name used by Robyn Echols for her historical novels. Her novel, Family Secrets, was published by Fire Star Press in October 2014 and her novelette, A Christmas Promise, was published by Prairie Rose Publications in November 2014. The first two novellas in the Eastern Sierra Brides 1884 series, Big Meadows Valentine and A Resurrected Heart, are now available.

The author currently lives with her husband in California near the “Gateway to Yosemite.” She enjoys family history and any kind of history. When she is not piecing together novel plots, she pieces together quilt blocks.

Reviews

[Sarafina]

I don't know if it's the writing style which feels very disjointed to me or if it's just the mood I'm in but this isn't hitting the way I had hoped. I'm going to maybe try this again down the road.

[Kathy Heare Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHERE THE GIANT SEQUOIAS GROW

The National Park Brides Book Series will be a multi-author series, each a stand-alone story that will cover various National Parks. Because these books are stand-alone, they can be read in any order. Some of the authors may have had previous books that will nicely coordinate with their story in this series. This will be a clean, sweet, historical-based series that also includes romances that will come about as the story unfolds. Along the way, the reader will learn more about various National Parks, historical facts, and sights within the parks.

Anthelia ‘Annie’ Spencer, 20, and her older brother, Rolley, live with their parents in New York City. Annie works at a local bakery, helping make the items and waiting upon customers, earning tips. Rolley works at a nearby livery, which he eventually purchases after the death of the owner. Their lives are about to be turned upside down when a freak winter storm hits the northeast, including New York and Connecticut. Their parents are returning from visiting family in Connecticut to see an aging grandmother. They will be among those caught in the storm and perish, leaving Annie and Rolley to make new life decisions. Rolley is engaged to a widow with two girls, but Annie is considered underage for another year. It will be decided that she move to California and live with her Aunt Eva and maternal Uncle Robert Todd. If after she reaches majority, they will decide about her returning to New York.

The story was fascinating and I learned so much history—first about the ‘Great Blizzard of 1888’ also called the ‘Great White Hurricane’ that shut down infrastructure, immobilized a huge portion of the Northeast and dumped so much snow, and took the lives of over 400 people, over 200 in New York alone. Then the journey Annie makes with her Aunt and Uncle to their homes—because during the summer, they are in Wawona outside of Yosemite, and in the winter in Mariposa. Learning more about Yosemite, the sequoias, waterfalls, and the beauty of the land and mountains, along with how Yellowstone and Yosemite began—eventually being named National Parks.

The story includes a couple who meet. Dallin Walton, formerly of Kansas, works for the Washburn stable and eventually moves to a shotgun messenger for the Yosemite Stage and Turnpike Company. From the moment Dallin learns that the Todds have returned to Yosemite with a young woman, he makes it his mission to meet her, and it doesn’t take him long to let the other single men know his intentions. Now, he must make it his mission to convince Annie that she wants to stay in California and give them a chance.

The story is truly an enjoyable tale with a rich history; the overall storyline was great. My one complaint, while the story has an editor, the actual editing leaves much to be desired. Missing words, double words, and letters, but not a complete word plague this story. It is not my duty to flag these as I am reading and send a private message to the author, as she requested. I suggest that she needs a couple of BETA and/or advanced readers to do that, before uploading the book for sale. The book is listed as 173 pages, but actually ends at page 150 or 82% of the book—the rest is other books by the same author.

[Renate Deutsche Oma · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the National Park Brides series, authors share romances and adventure set in several of North America’s early national parks. In 1864 President Abraham Lincoln signed into law creating the Yosemite grant. It was the first time land was set aside by the U.S. government specifically for preservation and public use and this action set the precedent for the 1872 creation of Yellowstone National Park, the nation’s first national park.

Anthelia Yosemite Bride by Zina Abbott is the first story in the National Park Brides series. After the death of her parents and the loss of the only home she had ever known, Anthelia Spencer with no marriage prospects accepts her aunt and uncle in California offered her a place to live and work. They ran a combination bakery and merchandise shop that catered to visitors of the newly-created Yosemite Grant in the wilderness of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Realizing the wild and remote nature of her new home, the bright spot was the regular arrival of the stagecoach that brought tourists to Yosemite with Dallin Walton, as the shotgun messenger.

In 1984 having visited the Sequoia National Forest, Zina Abbott's description of the giant redwoods are spot on. Anthelia Yosemite Bride is a page turning read, with relatable characters, plot and turn twists and believable resolution. Inspiring start to a new series.

[Nethanja · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the death of her parents Anthelia needs to build a new life but that's very difficult from what she was used to, from the New York to the wilderness of California. When she meets Dallin she likes him but still she wants to go back. Until he shows her the nature around. But will that be enough to stay and make it her home?
I enjoyed reading this, specifically the description of the nature ( I even went to Google to find photos from the places mentioned) I always wanted to visit National Parks but not living in the US makes that impossible
Again a fun story by this author.

I received an ARC but this review is my honest opinion.

[Lori D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction that incorporates true history are the best. This author is a master at grabbing your interest and making you go down "rabbit holes" to find even more about the times and places mentioned.

The National Parks have such a vast history and this one takes us into Yosemite that had just been put into law as the first National Park- land put aside for conservation and preservation so people could visit and see nature at its best.

This story was about a young woman who moved from New York to live with her aunt and uncle in California. Thus the adventure begins and what a lovely one you do not want to miss!!

[Abigail Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read, full of history and natural beauty.
The east and west ends of the United States were very different in many ways.
Annie is forced to move to California following her parents death.
A young, single woman not yet of age, didn’t have much choice but to seek a home with relatives.
This book has romance but it comes at a slower pace.
The characters are well formed
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own