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Rush
Mary Louisa Roberts won the race of a lifetime—or so she thought. In competition with desperate homesteaders, ruthless land seekers, and a sheriff determined to see her fail, Mary rides out on a horse to strike her claim in the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1893. When she finally thrusts her flag into the dirt, 160 acres becomes her own. But with that claim, she risks more than she could ever imagine. A naïve school teacher and young mother abandoned by her hard-drinking, gold-seeking husband—whom she now believes to be dead—Mary is faced with letting go of a past riddled with loss, hardship, and reminders that a woman isn't capable of surviving on her own.
Daniel McKenzie, an illustrative journalist sent on assignment to document the race, has his own past to forget. Bound by a lost love and guilt from a haunting event in the streets of Boston, he wonders whether he will ever know happiness again.
Will Mary's and Daniel's stubborn and independent spirits keep them mired in the past? Or will two broken hearts find forgiveness and love in the wild plains of the Midwest?
Daniel McKenzie, an illustrative journalist sent on assignment to document the race, has his own past to forget. Bound by a lost love and guilt from a haunting event in the streets of Boston, he wonders whether he will ever know happiness again.
Will Mary's and Daniel's stubborn and independent spirits keep them mired in the past? Or will two broken hearts find forgiveness and love in the wild plains of the Midwest?
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2017
148 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
About the author
Jayme H. Mansfield
5 books82 followersLoosening the reins and leaning into a creative life—that’s Jayme’s sweet spot as an author, artist, and educator. Speaking at book clubs and interest groups, teaching the writing craft, and guiding others in their artistic pursuits at her long-time art studio, Piggy Toes, is the icing on the cake. The transformative power of art and faith are common threads in her award-winning historical and contemporary novels, Chasing the Butterfly, RUSH, Seasoned. Her most recent release, Portrait of Deceit, is a literary suspense and delivers the same. Her bold floral abstractions and imaginative landscapes blend luscious color and playful texture—a testimony to what she refers to as “playing in the paint!”. Visit her website for books, original art, and creative expression!
Jayme lives on ranch in southern Wyoming where two very needy Golden Retrievers run the roost.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Chasing-The-But...
Jayme lives on ranch in southern Wyoming where two very needy Golden Retrievers run the roost.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Chasing-The-But...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 2, 2018
Such amazing prose - vivid images of homesteading in the west. Great story and character development. Fun read!
March 13, 2018
A charming book about family and community! It includes one of the most tender, loving and beautiful moments between a mother and daughter I have ever read. As the story neared conclusion, I found myself wistfully wishing it was longer. A sweet present for Easter, Mother's or Birth Day, or even a You're Something Special sort of everyday celebration.
November 6, 2017
Rush is the latest historical novel from Jayme Mansfield. She weaves romance, determination, betrayal and suspense into a story that captures the reader’s heart while giving chills.
Mary Louisa Roberts is a young woman left alone by a will-of-the-wisp husband, Aaron who leaves to find fortune for himself and his family in Colorado. He is soon reported killed under mysterious circumstances. Mary finds herself a widow with a seven-year-old son, Charles, and few prospects, save for an over-zealous sheriff named Murphy who shows disconcerting interest.
Mary, seeking her independence, decides to seek her own fortune in the Oklahoma and joins the 1893 land rush.
She files her claim to 160 acres and starts to build a home for herself and her son. And immediately runs into opposition from neighbors, the Cooleys, who want her land and the creek running through it for their cattle. They are relentless in trying to drive her off.
She almost meets a young man from Boston, Daniel McKenzie. Daniel is a newspaper illustrator sent by his paper to cover the land rush. He admires her spunk and determination. When she leaves to get her son, Daniel builds a sod house for her and clears land for a garden. And encounters the wrath of Mary when she returns. She doesn’t want his help and resents his unwanted intrusion in her life.
Soon, Mary is running an informal school for neighboring children. Her relations with The Cooleys improves when their youngest child, seven-year-old Anna, is drawn into the school through her friendship with Charles. Anna has not spoken in the two years since her mother died and is withdrawn except when she is around Charles.
Daniel returns after a year to do a follow-up story and discovers he has fallen in love in with Mary. She is not ready to reciprocate.
Troubles arise as someone is threatening her and causing damage in an attempt to drive her from her land. She suspects the Cooleys are behind it and dismisses Anna from her school.
When Charles is nearly caught in a fire in the barn, Anna saves him by calling his name, her first words since her mother’s death.
Someone is trying to drive her away, but it isn’t the Cooleys. Then, her supposedly dead husband re-appears, ready to resume his role as husband and take over Mary’s land.
The climax is gripping as Mary faces threats and emotions she never expected.
I highly recommend this book. The story is compelling and pulls the reader into the Wild West of 1893. Mary is a fascinating character with strengths and flaws. Her journey is at times harrowing and also triumphant.
Mansfield’s artistic talents shine through as she paints word pictures of her characters and the setting. Her characters are complex and she presents a story world that paints both the beauty and the hardships of the land and of the society that formed from the Land Rush.
By weaving in elements of her own family history, Mansfield gives the novel a deep and personal realism.
Mary Louisa Roberts is a young woman left alone by a will-of-the-wisp husband, Aaron who leaves to find fortune for himself and his family in Colorado. He is soon reported killed under mysterious circumstances. Mary finds herself a widow with a seven-year-old son, Charles, and few prospects, save for an over-zealous sheriff named Murphy who shows disconcerting interest.
Mary, seeking her independence, decides to seek her own fortune in the Oklahoma and joins the 1893 land rush.
She files her claim to 160 acres and starts to build a home for herself and her son. And immediately runs into opposition from neighbors, the Cooleys, who want her land and the creek running through it for their cattle. They are relentless in trying to drive her off.
She almost meets a young man from Boston, Daniel McKenzie. Daniel is a newspaper illustrator sent by his paper to cover the land rush. He admires her spunk and determination. When she leaves to get her son, Daniel builds a sod house for her and clears land for a garden. And encounters the wrath of Mary when she returns. She doesn’t want his help and resents his unwanted intrusion in her life.
Soon, Mary is running an informal school for neighboring children. Her relations with The Cooleys improves when their youngest child, seven-year-old Anna, is drawn into the school through her friendship with Charles. Anna has not spoken in the two years since her mother died and is withdrawn except when she is around Charles.
Daniel returns after a year to do a follow-up story and discovers he has fallen in love in with Mary. She is not ready to reciprocate.
Troubles arise as someone is threatening her and causing damage in an attempt to drive her from her land. She suspects the Cooleys are behind it and dismisses Anna from her school.
When Charles is nearly caught in a fire in the barn, Anna saves him by calling his name, her first words since her mother’s death.
Someone is trying to drive her away, but it isn’t the Cooleys. Then, her supposedly dead husband re-appears, ready to resume his role as husband and take over Mary’s land.
The climax is gripping as Mary faces threats and emotions she never expected.
I highly recommend this book. The story is compelling and pulls the reader into the Wild West of 1893. Mary is a fascinating character with strengths and flaws. Her journey is at times harrowing and also triumphant.
Mansfield’s artistic talents shine through as she paints word pictures of her characters and the setting. Her characters are complex and she presents a story world that paints both the beauty and the hardships of the land and of the society that formed from the Land Rush.
By weaving in elements of her own family history, Mansfield gives the novel a deep and personal realism.
February 6, 2025
Well, this story starts pretty slowly, and gets you irritated with the main character's unreliable, drunk husband. Then it gets you feeling sad that she's lost two of her babies... I have to be truthful, I was not sad when the drunk husband died. The first pages of this story just seemed like a "same ol' novel" about a young, forlorn widow. Yadda, yadda...I continued reading it to pay respect to the efforts of the writer, not expecting much...
The main character's drunken husband and she had made plans to join the Land Rush, and after he died, she decided to go for it herself. SUDDENLY I WAS HOOKED. A WOMAN IN THE 1800s MAKING HER WAY ALONE ACROSS THE PRAIRIE!. Her determination, despite her fear, was inspiring. She joined the throngs, borrowed a horse, and rushed into the open prairie to stake a claim! A claim others, including a surprising individual, tried to take from her... pity the fools ...
This is a good story about how a woman made it all happen...most specifically the great grandmother of the author...and how claimed not just her land, but her life, and the life of her descendents. Excellent story...
READ THIS...IT WILL HAVE YOU WONDERING WHAT YOU WOULD DO GIVEN THE CHANCE...
The main character's drunken husband and she had made plans to join the Land Rush, and after he died, she decided to go for it herself. SUDDENLY I WAS HOOKED. A WOMAN IN THE 1800s MAKING HER WAY ALONE ACROSS THE PRAIRIE!. Her determination, despite her fear, was inspiring. She joined the throngs, borrowed a horse, and rushed into the open prairie to stake a claim! A claim others, including a surprising individual, tried to take from her... pity the fools ...
This is a good story about how a woman made it all happen...most specifically the great grandmother of the author...and how claimed not just her land, but her life, and the life of her descendents. Excellent story...
READ THIS...IT WILL HAVE YOU WONDERING WHAT YOU WOULD DO GIVEN THE CHANCE...
August 28, 2019
Rush is a quick-moving story about the Oklahoma Land Rush, based on the experiences of the author’s great-great-grandmother. The protagonist, Mary, is likable, and although much of her story seems predictable, one can’t help but root for her to succeed. Greater depth in character development would have been appreciated. I found the Christian message a bit heavy-handed, but probably because I expected a more secular approach to the story.
This is the 3rd year of Greenwood Village Read, and I’ve read each of the books, all by Colorado authors. The first was deplorable, the second was excellent, and this one falls in between. I’d love to see this program show more consistency in the selection of (hopefully exemplary) books.
This is the 3rd year of Greenwood Village Read, and I’ve read each of the books, all by Colorado authors. The first was deplorable, the second was excellent, and this one falls in between. I’d love to see this program show more consistency in the selection of (hopefully exemplary) books.
January 29, 2018
Such a page turner! I haven't read a book about the Oklahoma Land Rush before. Jayme Mansfield based this novel on the life of her great - great grandmother. Historical facts are interwoven with family history. Her description of the Land Rush is very vivid. What a spunky woman her great-great grandmother was! She not only faced claim jumpers and fire but other threats and danger too.
This is the first book I have read by Jayme Mansfield. It is her second novel and can be read as a stand-alone. Her previous novel is entitled Chasing the Butterfly.
This is the first book I have read by Jayme Mansfield. It is her second novel and can be read as a stand-alone. Her previous novel is entitled Chasing the Butterfly.
March 11, 2019
Jayme “paints” a vivid narrative of a time gone by...Oklahoma in the days of the last RUSH for unclaimed land at the turn of the 19th to the 20th century. Just as the seemingly lifeless land now gives birth to food crops to feed the world and the hidden wealth of energy resources, Jayme’s “pen” on the blank page brings to life the subtle but beautiful landscape, the hardy people, and the rich cultural heritage of Oklahoma. I highly recommend RUSH to those who love American historical fiction with the bonus of a faith-filled love story that exchanges ashes for beauty.
November 3, 2021
historic fiction set in late 1800’s as the government made land available for settlement to adventurers willing to make the commitment. A young woman from Missouri recently abandoned by her husband and told he has died in a gun fight in Cripple Creek, decides to participate in the land rush on her own and create a new life for herself and son. Her character was well developed and I loved the relationship she had with her mother and other characters in the book. The surprise twist in the ending was nice bit of drama to add to the love story that ensues.
February 27, 2021
This is about Mary, a young widow and her son who leave Missouri as she plans to be in the last land rush for a homestead in Oklahoma. She heads out with an older marries couple. Her friend Lizzie gets seriously ill so the decide to head back east. Maggie does get her homestead but is hassled by claim jumpers and others. Thankfully Daniel Webster, a reporter from Boston, helps her a lot and this leads to a potential romance. I really liked this book and it has a bit of a surprised ending.
February 7, 2024
If you love great characters, strong women and faith, this book is for you. Mary, a single mother chooses to take advantage of the Oklahoma land rush. As she braves it alone to secure the hope of a new life for her and her son, she faces obstacles and challenges and perseveres with her faith and stubborn mindset. Yet is she too stubborn to allow anyone new in her life? Guess you need to read it.
March 12, 2025
3.5 stars
I quite enjoyed this story about a strong, independent and faith-filled woman taking on the men and claiming her piece of the American West. I knew it was based on the author's grandmother, but assumed there was some poetic licence. Turned out even some of the plot twists were true too! Each chapter is from the perspective of either Mary or Daniel and it was a really wholesome and satisfying story.
I quite enjoyed this story about a strong, independent and faith-filled woman taking on the men and claiming her piece of the American West. I knew it was based on the author's grandmother, but assumed there was some poetic licence. Turned out even some of the plot twists were true too! Each chapter is from the perspective of either Mary or Daniel and it was a really wholesome and satisfying story.
February 14, 2018
The story of the Oklahoma land rush has always intrigued me, and I like stories of women who overcome great odds, so it was easy to jump into this story. Mary Roberts, whose husband left a lot to be desired, faces poverty, abandonment, and finally widowhood. Her goal to provide for her young son drives her into the land rush...and into a future she could never have imagined.
January 28, 2019
A surprising true story!
This was a good book with a few twists here and there. Some was predictable and parts of it were slow but the twist at the end was nothing I could imagine, then..... then to read it was a true story based upon the authors family!!! That's just incredible.
This was a good book with a few twists here and there. Some was predictable and parts of it were slow but the twist at the end was nothing I could imagine, then..... then to read it was a true story based upon the authors family!!! That's just incredible.
November 14, 2017
This book was a real page turner! I couldn't put it down - I wanted to find out what happened next. There seems to be very few historical fiction books about the Oklahoma land Rush. And to know that the book was inspired by actual events and people made the book truly captivating!
January 11, 2018
Amazing!!
A wonderful book! I couldn't put it down! Jayme grabs the reader and brings them into the story as if they are there with the characters! After reading her first book, Chasing the Butterflies, and this book, Rush, I can't wait for another book release!!
A wonderful book! I couldn't put it down! Jayme grabs the reader and brings them into the story as if they are there with the characters! After reading her first book, Chasing the Butterflies, and this book, Rush, I can't wait for another book release!!
February 4, 2018
I was so impressed by this wonderful historical novel! It was easy and a delight to read! There were great themes of forgiveness, trust, & courage. It is well-written and captivating! I will definitely read more of her books, and I highly recommend this book to anyone.
February 16, 2018
RUSH was such great read that I was truly sad when it was over. I LOVE that it is based on a true story!! It was neat to imagine what life during the land rush would have been like. The story was heartwarming, captivating, and inspiring. As an avid reader, I definitely recommend this book!
April 4, 2019
I love this book, it covers many genres (for example romance, adventure, history). It kept me enthralled, I did not want to put it down! The writing is so colorful and descriptive, I felt like I was there. Makes me want to learn more about the Rush period in time. Looking forward to the next book.
December 29, 2017
Excellent historical fiction - highly recommend!
February 22, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The author took me to an unfamiliar historical setting and brought it to life.
October 26, 2018
Enjoyable in a "Little House on the Prairie" way, with a love story.
January 24, 2019
Very good. Kept my attention.
June 22, 2019
Great read. Connecting personal truth with our state history was ingenious!! Thank you for sharing.
June 27, 2019
Super predictable but great little Westward Expansion historical fiction romance read
July 30, 2019
Great book
I liked this book very much check. It was wholesome and described well the hard working people and their challenges
I liked this book very much check. It was wholesome and described well the hard working people and their challenges
August 7, 2019
Interesting story about part of US history I'd not paid much attention to, but a little "churchie" for my liking.
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October 28, 2024Great book about a mostly true ancestor. I love reading these kinds of books.
May 15, 2025
I love being swept into the west!
January 30, 2021
First book read in 2021. Bought at author's presentation in Greenwood Village where it had been a Greenwood Village Read. Story is based upon the author's great grandmother who took part as a single woman in the Oklahoma land rush of 1893. This is the story of a very independent, determined woman who had been widowed and wanted to get some land to homestead for herself and her 7 year old son. She escapes from a sheriff who wants to marry her; falls in love with a journalist and deals with the challenges of establishing a home on prairie land. Among the challenges are those of establishing relationships with neighboring land rush claimants and minor cattle barons. This book is written fairly simply and bears the marks of a first novel but is still a page-turner during moments of crisis.
April 14, 2019
This is a true story about the author's grandparents running in the Sooner Race in Oklahoma to get 160 acres to homestead. After winning they won the Land, she rode home to get her boy, the two lived together in a dugout. This was an outstanding and interesting story. I enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews