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Saga of the Sierras #2
Riders of the Silver Rim
A tragic accident sends Joshua Roberts west to find peace. But in a lawless mining town, peace is hard to find.
Burned nearly to death under the desert sun, he was brought back to life by the hands of a stranger. The powerful blacksmith now faces challenges he never dreamed of and responsibilities he never wanted. Hired to work at the Silver Rim mine, Roberts is unaware that the mine's future is threatened by the designs of greedy and unscrupulous enemies. And his own future becomes clouded as he unexpectedly meets a lovely, intriguing woman.
Roberts truly wants to do his best as constable, even though he is more at home with a blacksmith's hammer in his hand. But can he, an Easterner plagued with painful memories from the past, bring order to a frontier town and those he has come to love?
Burned nearly to death under the desert sun, he was brought back to life by the hands of a stranger. The powerful blacksmith now faces challenges he never dreamed of and responsibilities he never wanted. Hired to work at the Silver Rim mine, Roberts is unaware that the mine's future is threatened by the designs of greedy and unscrupulous enemies. And his own future becomes clouded as he unexpectedly meets a lovely, intriguing woman.
Roberts truly wants to do his best as constable, even though he is more at home with a blacksmith's hammer in his hand. But can he, an Easterner plagued with painful memories from the past, bring order to a frontier town and those he has come to love?
204 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1990
2 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
Brock Thoene
163 books213 followersBODIE AND BROCK THOENE (pronounced Tay-nee) have written over 45 works of historical fiction. These best sellers have sold more than 10 million copies and won eight ECPA Gold Medallion Awards.
Bodie began her writing career as a teen journalist for her local newspaper. Eventually her byline appeared in prestigious periodicals such as U.S. News and World Report, The American West, and The Saturday Evening Post. She also worked for John Wayne’s Batjac Productions (she’s best known as author of The Fall Guy) and ABC Circle Films as a writer and researcher. John Wayne described her as “a writer with talent that captures the people and the times!” She has degrees in journalism and communications.
Bodie and Brock have four grown children—Rachel, Jake, Luke, and Ellie—and five grandchildren. Their sons, Jake and Luke, are carrying on the Thoene family talent as the next generation of writers, and Luke produces the Thoene audiobooks.
Bodie and Brock divide their time between London and Nevada.
Bodie began her writing career as a teen journalist for her local newspaper. Eventually her byline appeared in prestigious periodicals such as U.S. News and World Report, The American West, and The Saturday Evening Post. She also worked for John Wayne’s Batjac Productions (she’s best known as author of The Fall Guy) and ABC Circle Films as a writer and researcher. John Wayne described her as “a writer with talent that captures the people and the times!” She has degrees in journalism and communications.
Bodie and Brock have four grown children—Rachel, Jake, Luke, and Ellie—and five grandchildren. Their sons, Jake and Luke, are carrying on the Thoene family talent as the next generation of writers, and Luke produces the Thoene audiobooks.
Bodie and Brock divide their time between London and Nevada.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 13, 2021
I thought that, since this was a series, we'd get a continuation of the Dawson family's story. Well, not quite.
Josh Roberts almost dies walking across the Mojave Desert. He's fine with that, wanting to get as far from his past in Springfield, Illinois, as possible. But he's rescued. First, he gets a job as a blacksmith for the Silver Rim Mining Company. But after he saves the daughter of the mine owner, he unwillingly accepts a position as town sheriff. And none too soon, either, as he must deal with striking miners, restless Indians, and several folks with personal vendettas against him.
Another fast-paced and pleasant read, with the bonus of having a female blind character who isn't portrayed as utterly helpless or impossibly angelic. The mine owner's daughter, Callie, is allowed to think for herself, speak her mind, ride horses, and help others in her community. My only quibble with the portrayal was the author's constant reminders to readers about Callie's blindness. Whether she's given lines like, "Everything has become black for me," or repeated references to her smoked glass spectacles, I wished that we were allowed to hear about the blindness a few times, and then trusted that we'd remember it without having to be retold every time Callie entered a scene. Even so, a blind woman given her own mind and actions and influence in a setting and genre where this isn't the norm is very refreshing indeed.
Josh Roberts almost dies walking across the Mojave Desert. He's fine with that, wanting to get as far from his past in Springfield, Illinois, as possible. But he's rescued. First, he gets a job as a blacksmith for the Silver Rim Mining Company. But after he saves the daughter of the mine owner, he unwillingly accepts a position as town sheriff. And none too soon, either, as he must deal with striking miners, restless Indians, and several folks with personal vendettas against him.
Another fast-paced and pleasant read, with the bonus of having a female blind character who isn't portrayed as utterly helpless or impossibly angelic. The mine owner's daughter, Callie, is allowed to think for herself, speak her mind, ride horses, and help others in her community. My only quibble with the portrayal was the author's constant reminders to readers about Callie's blindness. Whether she's given lines like, "Everything has become black for me," or repeated references to her smoked glass spectacles, I wished that we were allowed to hear about the blindness a few times, and then trusted that we'd remember it without having to be retold every time Callie entered a scene. Even so, a blind woman given her own mind and actions and influence in a setting and genre where this isn't the norm is very refreshing indeed.
February 21, 2023
I didn't enjoy this book as much as book #1, but I enjoyed it more than the other book in the series I've read (book #6). It had less historical value than book 6, but more plot and less violence (although there was still plenty). However, in many ways, the plot felt like a microwaved version of book 1. There wasn't much character development and there was one aspect that disappeared rather than was resolved. Along with that, there was never clarification about the protagonist's relationship with God. It was neat to have a few characters from the first book appear in this book.
April 25, 2023
My grandpa was the one who introduced me to these books and I’m remembering him in some small ways through reading them. I’ll be shocked if any of them go above three stars for me but they’re hitting the “I want to read a book in 90 minutes before bed” spot for me this week.
November 25, 2020
OK western focus on mining town in the desert. Not much character development other than the central character. Nice plot with mining, desert survival, indian conflicts, and bad guys.
March 17, 2021
Another exciting adventure set in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
July 4, 2021
great perspective on the greed of many on the frontier being fought by the few with integrity in the midst of survival and discrimination
September 29, 2021
Historical fiction is the best!
October 9, 2011
If this were nothing more than an outline I would say it was a bad one. As a book, well...
"Character development" there was none. All the characters might as well have been paper cutouts. The woman to become the heroine (she is blind, a horse runs off with her, and she kisses the mysterious blacksmith, so she must be the heroine) showed some promise of becoming a genuine personality, but she had to be beautiful and she had to kiss the blacksmith, and from that point on that was about all she did.
The villain was villainous, only villains usually make sense and this one didn't.
This book doesn't deserve as many words as I've given it, but I'll add two more: Avaricious pulp.
"Character development" there was none. All the characters might as well have been paper cutouts. The woman to become the heroine (she is blind, a horse runs off with her, and she kisses the mysterious blacksmith, so she must be the heroine) showed some promise of becoming a genuine personality, but she had to be beautiful and she had to kiss the blacksmith, and from that point on that was about all she did.
The villain was villainous, only villains usually make sense and this one didn't.
This book doesn't deserve as many words as I've given it, but I'll add two more: Avaricious pulp.
November 30, 2015
2.7ish Stars
August 16, 2025
Great Western.
Read
March 5, 2009JAR6-Tho
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews