Gold Rush Prodigal

Saga of the Sierras #3

by Brock Thoene, Bodie Thoene

The gold fields made him a promise. But what if the gold ran out?

David Bollin, born of missionary parents in Hawaii, leaves his island home to take up a new life as a gentleman in Boston. Having rejected his father's faith, David had set out to make his own fortune and prove himself a man. But before he can realize his dream, he is plunged into an unexpected adventure--first as a hand on a whaling ship, and then as a prospector in the California gold fields.

The lure of gold and the dream of a life of ease entice him onward, drawing him into a downward spiral of deceit and trapping him in a web of murder, power and greed.

The glamorous future turns into despair as he becomes the target of unscrupulous enemies. Without a defense, what are his chances?

Could a father's broken heart span the ocean that separated them?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Westerns, Historical, Christian, Fiction

223 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1991

About the author

BODIE 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.

Reviews

[Kaden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gold Rush Prodigal is an exciting story set during the California Gold Rush, a young guy named Caleb who dreams of striking it rich. He leaves his quiet hometown behind to chase gold in the wild goldfields of the 1800s. Along the way he faces all sorts of challenges and meets a bunch of interesting characters.
The book is written in third-person, which means we get to see what everyone is thinking, not just Caleb. This really helps us understand the different people who are trying to find gold and what drives them. The writing style is super direct, making it easy to picture the dusty camps and the excitement of the gold rush. The tone shifts between hopeful and serious, which keeps the story engaging.
One thing I really loved about Gold Rush Prodigal was how detailed it was. McKinley does a great job of bringing the Gold Rush era to life. The scenes in the camps are especially cool, showing both the thrill of searching for gold and the tough reality of living in such rough conditions. I liked how the prospectors join together, sharing stories and helping each other out.
However, there were some parts of the book that dragged a bit. Sometimes, Caleb would get really deep in thought, and those sections felt a little slow. While it’s important to understand his feelings, I wished those moments could have been shorter to keep the story moving faster. Also, some of the side characters were interesting but could have used a bit more background to make them feel more alive.
I felt a connection with Caleb as he dealt with his dreams and the tough choices he had to make. There were times when I found myself cheering for him and feeling bad when things didn’t go his way. The friendships he forms and the struggles he faces make you think about what really matters in life.
Overall, Gold Rush Prodigal is a thrilling and adventurous read that captures the excitement of a big moment in history. Even though some parts were a bit slow, McKinley’s storytelling really pulls you in. I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction and wants to experience the highs and lows of chasing dreams.

[Dianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who knew there was such a thing as a Christian Western? Here it is. I liked it about meh level. I liked the prodigal son retelling aspect, but I couldn't relate to the main characters, and I just don't think Western is the genre for me. But I'm glad that our library reading challenge got me out of my comfort zone.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I'm getting more and more frustrated with the series, because the books are obviously not listed in chronological order (perhaps they're listed in the order they were written? That still seems kind of odd). This was supposed to be book #3, but it had some characters from book #2 in it, and it obviously was set before book #2. Then as I was reading the back of Cannons of the Comstock (#5), it is very clearly set between books #1 and #2, with the same main characters as #1.

As best as I can figure, the chronological order should be:
Gold Rush Prodigal
The Man From Shadow Ridge
Cannons of the Comstock
Riders of the Silver Rim
Sequoia Scout
Year of the Grizzly

Now, to the book itself. It was a little different than the others I have read, as the conflict was mostly internal versus external. However, it still had a main bad guy with his sidekick, senseless killing, and the protagonist surviving unbelievable odds. To be fair, the narrow escapes were attributed to God's protection due to the prayers of loved ones, but one can only take that so far while letting less important (or bad) characters suffer the fate the protagonist was just spared. I.e. the protagonist twice was saved from hurtling over a cliff edge by rather extreme means, and at the second occurrence another character went sliding by to that very fate. The writers have a knack of very conveniently killing off undesirable characters without causing the protagonist to commit murder. Having said all that, the internal struggle was decent, with definite resolution.

[Stephanie Pieck · Rating 2 out of 5]

This installment follows the son of a Hawaii preacher as he attempts to flee his father's expectations and religion. Shipwrecks, robbery, success and failure in the gold digging of California, it's all here. Perhaps a bit too much bad luck coupled with a somewhat unpleasant main character made this book a bit harder to get through than its predecessors. Still, the authors' combination of thorough research and smooth writing style are commendable.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book!

[Lane · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a religious western that does not work. It is below the previous books in this series. The plot has potential but the flow of the story and the characters are lacking.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retelling of "the Prodigal Son" during the California gold rush. Well written adventure.

[Mark M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ah, Christian historical fiction from the early 90s; all the subtlety of a punch in the face combined with problematic cultural references and ridiculously male-focused storylines.

[Cws]

JAR6-Tho