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The Holts #1
Oregon Legacy
As Toby Holt battles to save his ranch from the harsh winter weather of 1887, his headstrong son, Tim, sets out to seek his fortune in the silver mines
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
8 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
Dana Fuller Ross
104 books144 followersDana Fuller Ross is a pseudonym used by Noel B. Gerson and James M. Reasoner.
Noel Gearson specializes in historical military novels, westerns, and mysteries. He also writes under the pseudonyms, "Dana Fuller Ross.", Anne Marie Burgess; Michael Burgess; Nicholas Gorham; Paul Lewis; Leon Phillips; Donald Clayton Porter; Philip Vail; and Carter A. Vaughan. He has written more than 325 novels.
James Reasoner (pictured) is an American writer. He is the author of more than 150 books and many short stories in a career spanning more than thirty years. Reasoner has used at least nineteen pseudonyms, in addition to his own name: Jim Austin; Peter Danielson; Terrance Duncan; Tom Early; Wesley Ellis; Tabor Evans; Jake Foster; William Grant; Matthew Hart; Livia James; Mike Jameson; Justin Ladd; Jake Logan; Hank Mitchum; Lee Morgan; J.L. Reasoner (with his wife); Dana Fuller Ross; Adam Rutledge; and Jon Sharpe. Since most of Reasoner's books were written as part of various existing Western fiction series, many of his pseudonyms were publishing "house" names that may have been used by other authors who contributed to those series
Noel Gearson specializes in historical military novels, westerns, and mysteries. He also writes under the pseudonyms, "Dana Fuller Ross.", Anne Marie Burgess; Michael Burgess; Nicholas Gorham; Paul Lewis; Leon Phillips; Donald Clayton Porter; Philip Vail; and Carter A. Vaughan. He has written more than 325 novels.
James Reasoner (pictured) is an American writer. He is the author of more than 150 books and many short stories in a career spanning more than thirty years. Reasoner has used at least nineteen pseudonyms, in addition to his own name: Jim Austin; Peter Danielson; Terrance Duncan; Tom Early; Wesley Ellis; Tabor Evans; Jake Foster; William Grant; Matthew Hart; Livia James; Mike Jameson; Justin Ladd; Jake Logan; Hank Mitchum; Lee Morgan; J.L. Reasoner (with his wife); Dana Fuller Ross; Adam Rutledge; and Jon Sharpe. Since most of Reasoner's books were written as part of various existing Western fiction series, many of his pseudonyms were publishing "house" names that may have been used by other authors who contributed to those series
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 15, 2019
The first novel in the “sequel series” to the 24 volume “Wagon’s West” series continues the story of the extended Holt Family nicely. It picks up about ten years after “Celebration”, the final book of the first series and avoids any tendencies to rehash previous events in any detail. There is some catching up to do though and newcomers to this mega-series shouldn’t feel lost at all. It can be read independently of all the rest but it would be a shame to miss so much of the rich family history. This novel takes place from 1887 – 1889.
Most of the story focuses on three members of the family. Toby, the current patriarch loses much of his fortune to the violent storms in the Dakota territories and finds himself back home In Portland being courted by political factions that want him to run for Congress. Meanwhile, his son Tim drops out of engineering school at Harvard in favor of silver mining in Nevada. Half-breed Daughter Janessa chooses to head for Los Angeles and go against male tradition by entering medical school. All have dramatic adventures and often, they don’t go as expected. Other members of past books have interlocking stories as well, including Sam Brentwood, White Elk, and his father, Stalking Horse. New recurring characters also emerge. A funeral brings many of the old characters (those still alive) from way back in book number one.
This is clearly “Wagons West – The Next Generation” and I’m fine with that. It’s been many years since I completed that first series but in these historical dramas, it’s usually the young people who experience the drama, especially when they embark on new careers and romances. Themes mirror society of the time (and still today) such as battling racial and sexual prejudice and standing up to bullies.
I tried to deduce who was behind the Dana Fuller Ross pseudonym this time but was unsuccessful. I know Noel Gerson wrote the first series and James Reasoner wrote the two prequel trilogies but I have no clue about this ten-book series. If anybody reading this knows, I would be appreciative of any information you can share. It doesn’t really matter; I enjoy them all.
Most of the story focuses on three members of the family. Toby, the current patriarch loses much of his fortune to the violent storms in the Dakota territories and finds himself back home In Portland being courted by political factions that want him to run for Congress. Meanwhile, his son Tim drops out of engineering school at Harvard in favor of silver mining in Nevada. Half-breed Daughter Janessa chooses to head for Los Angeles and go against male tradition by entering medical school. All have dramatic adventures and often, they don’t go as expected. Other members of past books have interlocking stories as well, including Sam Brentwood, White Elk, and his father, Stalking Horse. New recurring characters also emerge. A funeral brings many of the old characters (those still alive) from way back in book number one.
This is clearly “Wagons West – The Next Generation” and I’m fine with that. It’s been many years since I completed that first series but in these historical dramas, it’s usually the young people who experience the drama, especially when they embark on new careers and romances. Themes mirror society of the time (and still today) such as battling racial and sexual prejudice and standing up to bullies.
I tried to deduce who was behind the Dana Fuller Ross pseudonym this time but was unsuccessful. I know Noel Gerson wrote the first series and James Reasoner wrote the two prequel trilogies but I have no clue about this ten-book series. If anybody reading this knows, I would be appreciative of any information you can share. It doesn’t really matter; I enjoy them all.
May 29, 2023
This was better on the re-read. Whoever is writing as Fuller Ross in this one is slightly different than the last Wagons West. We are told in detail about the Holts attending church or saying grace. We know one character is a wrong'un because she rather ride in a sleigh than attend church.
That said, a good portion of the book is given over to Janessa (who is part Cherokee and is on the cover) and her trials in medical school. There are even conversations between women, though Janessa doesn't seem to talk at all to the only other woman student in medical school. Alexandra is completely different from what she was in Wagons West (she doesn't seem to ride any more). Racism gets a little more attention, though it does seem to be so Toby Holt can show you that he isn't racist. (For instance, he goes to beat up the people who beat up White Elk, his ranch foreman, but we don't see the attack on White Elk, just Toby's getting justice).
That said, a good portion of the book is given over to Janessa (who is part Cherokee and is on the cover) and her trials in medical school. There are even conversations between women, though Janessa doesn't seem to talk at all to the only other woman student in medical school. Alexandra is completely different from what she was in Wagons West (she doesn't seem to ride any more). Racism gets a little more attention, though it does seem to be so Toby Holt can show you that he isn't racist. (For instance, he goes to beat up the people who beat up White Elk, his ranch foreman, but we don't see the attack on White Elk, just Toby's getting justice).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2022
It is always satisfying when a book delivers exactly what you expect. This is my first foray into Dan Fuller Ross's historical fiction novels, and I really had a good time with it. Oregon Legacy is the first of a sequel series (the original series was called Wagons West and began with the book Independence!) but you can certainly start right in with this one and not miss a beat as to what was happening with the family or in the time period. The year is 1887, and the book takes place in three places: Los Angeles California, Virginia City Nevada, and Portland Oregon. We bounce back and forth between Toby Holt (the patriarch of the family) who is running for Senator of Oregon, Tim Holt (his son) who is trying to strike it rich in the silver mines of Nevada, and Janessa (Tim's daughter) who is attending medical school to become a Doctor. There are also other stories woven in with the main three, including a Native American who falls in love with a Chinese girl, and Tim's cousin who becomes wrapped up with a rich widow. The story moves along at a good clip, and at every possible turn you're reminded it's the 1880's. Fuller touches on plenty of historical things, but in a natural way so you're not counting the references like Ready Player One did with the 1980's. If you're looking for a western about the early days of settling the west coast, or what life was like in the 1880's without focusing too much on the every day nitty gritty (think Jane Auel's Clan of the Cave Bear series where every single moment of the day was explained and accounted for) this would definitely be for you. This was a good time, and I feel like I got a little bit of history along with my fiction. I will definitely be continuing with this series.
April 7, 2020
trying to finish up the series for a 3rd time, love the family's and their stories
November 29, 2020
I love this new series. Seeing the Holt "kids" all grown up is great and brings a fresh new take on western frontier.
June 12, 2024
New generation of Holts and new challenges make for a good read.
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March 20, 2015Toby Holt had bought some property in the Dakota Territory and in Feb. 1887 a snowstorm killed all his stock and he was forced to sell the land. He went back to his family home that he also owned. This whas where he was born and his third wife, Alexandra, still lived, Portland, OR. Toby had four children. Michael and Sally being the youngest.
Soon after returning to Oregon, Toby was approached to run as Senator for Oregon. Toby was ahead in after the primary election and while at a party to celebrate a mob of anti-Chinese had formed outside. Toby and White Eagle went out ahead of the mob and stopped it.
Janessa Holt was Toby's oldest child, a daughter by Mary White Owl, a Cherokee nurse during the Civil War. Toby did not know about her until Janessa's mother brought her to Toby as she was dying. Janessa was living at home. She wanted to become a doctor but it was almost impossible for women to get into a medical school in 1887. She kept in touch with her friend from college, Nan, and Nan's brother, Charley Lawrence. She had few friends because of her being half Indian. Charlie helped arrange for Janessa to be admitted to a medical school with him in Los Angeles. Soon before they finished medical school, they became engaged.
Tim Holt was Toby's son with his second wife who had died the same as his first one. Tim was attending Harvard, studying engineering. When he heard of the loss of the Dakota land, he took it upon himself to return home to Oregon so his father would not have to continue paying tuition for an education that Tim did not want. Tim was told to go back to college. Instead he was persuaded by Sam to go to Virginia City to stake a claim and mine for silver. The work was hard with little to show for their work. Just ahead of winter, Tim was offered a job as engineer in the Ormond mine and met the owner's daughter, Isabella. He became involved with starting a mining union after being trapped for three days in a mine shaft. Tim got fired from the mine. He tried to talk Isabella into marrying him but she was too afraid of her father to go against his wishes and had nothing further to do with Tim.
Tim was shunned by the miners during the strike because Sam was discovered to be a spy for the owners and had told of the plan to strike the mine. Sam and Tim got into a fist fight and Sam ran to Annie's home. Tim actually saved Sam's life because the miners were going to kill Sam for being a spy. Tim went back to their claim alone. He soon realized that he couldn't do the mining work alone and the miners wouldn't help him because of his tie to Sam. He went into town one night and got drunk and won the dead to the local newspaper in a poker game.
Sam Brentwood was the son of Andrew and Lydia Brentwood and Toby's nephew. Sam had been thrown out of 3 colleges and his parents didn't care or know what to do so they sent him to stay with Toby. Sam's parents were obsessed over the death of Lydia's son by her first husband. Lydia had married an older man to produce an heir for his family. She had a son named Franz. Her first husband died and his family kept the child when she re-married. Alexander and Lydia tried for 6 years to get Franz only to receive notfication that he died of scarlet fever at the age of 7. They lost themselves in the mourning of Franz and showed no interest in the welfare of Sam and their daughter, Eden and sent them both away to school.
Sam went to Virginia City with Tim and there he met a wealthy widow, Annie Malone, who was 11 years older than him. After the strike and the fight with Tim, Sam moved in with Annie and the were married two months later.
White Elk was the raised by the Holt family and became foreman of the Holt ranch in the Dakota territory. When that failed, he was brought back to Oregon and became foreman of their ranch in Portland when his adopted father died. White Elk met and fell in love with a Chinese immigrant girl, Mai. They met while Toby was running for the senate and he went to the Chinese part of town to get to know the Chinese people he would be responsible for. Max's family went back to China after the mob threat in Portland. Mai left her family as they were boarding the ship and she stayed in Portland. White Elk and Mai found each other at the dock where he had gone to search for her. Mai told White Elk she had decided to stay with him and not go back to China with her family.
Soon after returning to Oregon, Toby was approached to run as Senator for Oregon. Toby was ahead in after the primary election and while at a party to celebrate a mob of anti-Chinese had formed outside. Toby and White Eagle went out ahead of the mob and stopped it.
Janessa Holt was Toby's oldest child, a daughter by Mary White Owl, a Cherokee nurse during the Civil War. Toby did not know about her until Janessa's mother brought her to Toby as she was dying. Janessa was living at home. She wanted to become a doctor but it was almost impossible for women to get into a medical school in 1887. She kept in touch with her friend from college, Nan, and Nan's brother, Charley Lawrence. She had few friends because of her being half Indian. Charlie helped arrange for Janessa to be admitted to a medical school with him in Los Angeles. Soon before they finished medical school, they became engaged.
Tim Holt was Toby's son with his second wife who had died the same as his first one. Tim was attending Harvard, studying engineering. When he heard of the loss of the Dakota land, he took it upon himself to return home to Oregon so his father would not have to continue paying tuition for an education that Tim did not want. Tim was told to go back to college. Instead he was persuaded by Sam to go to Virginia City to stake a claim and mine for silver. The work was hard with little to show for their work. Just ahead of winter, Tim was offered a job as engineer in the Ormond mine and met the owner's daughter, Isabella. He became involved with starting a mining union after being trapped for three days in a mine shaft. Tim got fired from the mine. He tried to talk Isabella into marrying him but she was too afraid of her father to go against his wishes and had nothing further to do with Tim.
Tim was shunned by the miners during the strike because Sam was discovered to be a spy for the owners and had told of the plan to strike the mine. Sam and Tim got into a fist fight and Sam ran to Annie's home. Tim actually saved Sam's life because the miners were going to kill Sam for being a spy. Tim went back to their claim alone. He soon realized that he couldn't do the mining work alone and the miners wouldn't help him because of his tie to Sam. He went into town one night and got drunk and won the dead to the local newspaper in a poker game.
Sam Brentwood was the son of Andrew and Lydia Brentwood and Toby's nephew. Sam had been thrown out of 3 colleges and his parents didn't care or know what to do so they sent him to stay with Toby. Sam's parents were obsessed over the death of Lydia's son by her first husband. Lydia had married an older man to produce an heir for his family. She had a son named Franz. Her first husband died and his family kept the child when she re-married. Alexander and Lydia tried for 6 years to get Franz only to receive notfication that he died of scarlet fever at the age of 7. They lost themselves in the mourning of Franz and showed no interest in the welfare of Sam and their daughter, Eden and sent them both away to school.
Sam went to Virginia City with Tim and there he met a wealthy widow, Annie Malone, who was 11 years older than him. After the strike and the fight with Tim, Sam moved in with Annie and the were married two months later.
White Elk was the raised by the Holt family and became foreman of the Holt ranch in the Dakota territory. When that failed, he was brought back to Oregon and became foreman of their ranch in Portland when his adopted father died. White Elk met and fell in love with a Chinese immigrant girl, Mai. They met while Toby was running for the senate and he went to the Chinese part of town to get to know the Chinese people he would be responsible for. Max's family went back to China after the mob threat in Portland. Mai left her family as they were boarding the ship and she stayed in Portland. White Elk and Mai found each other at the dock where he had gone to search for her. Mai told White Elk she had decided to stay with him and not go back to China with her family.
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December 15, 2015I think the Holts outlived their usefulness with the ending of Wagons West series. The 2 trilogies featuring Whip Holt's dad & uncle were good, excitement in almost every chapter. However, this 1st book in the Holt Dynasty series was boring with a capital B!! One event toward the end showed a but of excitement. So much technical information was given on mining that I skimmed over it. Maybe that would appeal to a man. I know my husband will find everything else in this book as boring as I did. I hope the 2nd book produces a little bit more something besides talk and blah descriptions.
July 3, 2021
this book was of no interest to me, not one character seemed real to me , i had to force myself to finish it, it was a long simple soap opera, written for slow simple readers. only my opinion but what do i know?
January 20, 2014
Thanks to a voracious reader cousin with a collection of numerous books, I got to borrow this book as well as the prequel and sequels. This is where I first read something explicitly erotic in detail. Kinda shocked but grew to understand what it was and what it was for. O_o
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November 19, 2008W Ros
April 2, 2016
the holts
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews