The Bear: The Rising

by John Kerr

From the Spanish missions to the war against Mexico. From the discovery of gold to the rise of cattle ranches, California has always been a land where dreams were made and nothing is what it appears. The Bear shares the stories of the settling of this state.

Captain Juan Diego de La Vega, a conquistador, arrives in San Diego to command the Presidio. Running afoul of the mission padres, De La Vega is banished from the army. Hunted like a common criminal, he takes refuge with a LuiseNo tribe.

Fifteen-year-old Sean McGuire flees famine-ravaged Ireland and arrives in the territory as war commences. Jedediah McCabe, a mountain man and scout, befriends McGuire and together they fight to liberate California from Mexico. After the war, McGuire establishes the Oso Negro, a preeminent ranch in the area.

Lee Sing leaves China for "Gum Saan," only to find death and discrimination until he partners with McGuire as the Oso Negro's cook. As one of Chinatown's leading citizens, Lee Sing navigates a perilous course in a Tong war that could cost him his family.

Kathleen O'Neil, a strong-willed Irish woman saves McGuire's life and becomes his wife. She's the brains behind the McGuire wealth and the family's rise in society.

The tales of these characters are woven as a tapestry against the backdrop of a region that became paradise for some and a dead end for others. California is the land of dreams. This is the story of those who dared to dream.

Genres: Historical Fiction

356 pages, Paperback

Published February 13, 2017

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a Goodreads Giveaway book. When I first won a copy of the book - I was under the impression (for some unknown reason) that it was going to be a work of historical fiction. When I started reading it, I quickly realized that it was definitely not. I was going to put the book down but then I started reading more and found it quite entertaining...
After finishing it - I have the following comments:
1. I'm not sure how the introduction of the initial main character (Captain de La Vega) was necessary to the overall flow of the book. He disappears and then is eluded to briefly later on two occasions. I thought the character was interesting and would have liked to see him developed more in the book.
2. I found the large amount of years between sections in the character's lives a little odd during the first 1/3 of the book...I think it could have been woven together a little tighter as some of the information in the earlier chapters was not that necessary.
3. The latter 2/3 of the book was more cohesive than the first 1/3 but still enjoyable.
4. Minor typos in this edition with whole words missing or in the wrong place.
5. Even though the story was entertaining and there was some cohesiveness in the smaller story lines - it seemed like it was developing these characters but didn't have a concrete overall story line. It was more about the character's lives and how they came together. The ending therefore was somewhat predictable. Also - for the way the three assassins were portrayed - I was expecting them to be a little more difficult to kill!
6. Can an ostrich produce more ostriches without a mate....hmmm. Love the ostriches though.
Overall - I enjoyed reading it...a little gruesome in spots. I would recommend if you like books about the old west...