Beauty for Ashes: A Novel of the Mountain Men

Rendezvous #2

by Win Blevins

Young Sam Morgan, serving his apprenticeship as a mountain man in the Rocky Mountains in the early 1820s, searches for Meadowlark, the Crow Indian girl he loves. At the Wind River village of Meadowlark's people, Sam finds her being courted by a Crow warrior named Red Roan. Sam realizes he must become more Indian than white man to win Meadowlark. Taken prisoner by the dreaded Sioux, the Crows' mortal enemy, Sam escapes but loses everything except his faithful companion, a coyote pup. Sam must rebuild his life and his esteem among his Crow friends Beauty for Ashes is an unforgettable love story and an action-filled adventure. There are fights against Pawnees, Sioux, and Blackfeet; a knife duel and horse race at the trappers' rendezvous; and a harrowing escape from captivity, torture and certain death by the Indian captors. This is the memorable story of a boy becoming a man in the cruel, beautiful, unexplored wilderness of the Old West.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Westerns, Historical, Fiction, Native American

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Winfred Blevins

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as part of a three book set. It is a pretty good historical novel about the opening of the American west by the fur traders. The protagonist is Sam Morgan, a young fellow who is learning a lot asa he goes along. Although the book is formulaic, it is interesting and I will continue to read all three volumes of the set.

[Mikel Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A excellent book on the Mountain Men history.

This book is one of the best and most enjoyable historical fiction books written about the life and times of the Mountain Men and the American Indians they encounter, lived with and fought with and against.

[Karen Trimmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting characters, setting, and events. I learned a lot about the Old West, back in the days of the beaver trappers, before the Gold Rush. Not particularly well written but not so poorly written that I could not tolerate it. I'll read the other novels in this series.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many dreams. 1820s. True history Rendezvous where fur trappers meet, trade stories. Sam wants Crow Meadowlark, but to steal her 8-horse price, he leads others to death, loses everything, down to naked nothing.

[Teryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Win Blevins is so good at telling a story. His descriptions of everyday things are so poetic. His style of writing reminds me of one of my favorite authors, Edward Abbey. Simple, yet descriptive and beautiful.

[Cory Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story about life in pre-settled West based partly around Jim Bridger's life and travels

[Clint Flatt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Part of a mediocre series about the American Mountain men. Definatly have to read previous books to keep up with plots. Historical accurate.