"Entertaining historical romance"
In 1849 East Texas, Indians attack the home of seventeen
years old Rose Donahue and her parents, leaving the
daughter as the sole survivor. Trapper Travis Caldwell
sees the smoke from the burning cabin and goes to help.
Stunned and distraught Rose informs Travis that her Uncle
Douglas and Aunt Joanna live in Galveston. He agrees to
take her to her relatives. During the raid, Broken Bear saw the red haired Rose; he
decides this white woman belongs to him. He trails Travis
and Rose to Galveston, but waits for their return with
plans to kill the noted trapper and steal the woman. In Galveston, Rose learns that her relatives moved on to
California. Travis agrees to escort her there by
pretending to be her husband. They join a wagon train
heading west as an angry frustrated Broken Bear follows.
When Indians destroy the wagon train, Travis saves Rose,
but now they must journey alone. As they fall in love,
the obsessed Broken Bear follows, frustrated by his
failures to snatch the woman that he believes belongs to
him. This entertaining historical romance brings to life some
of the dangers confronting intrepid travelers journeying
to California during the Gold Rush fever. Travis is a
heroic individual, but perhaps too perfect while Rose is a
courageous person whose adaptability while mourning
displays her inner strength. However, broken bear is the
fascinating antagonist whose fatal attraction and self-
flagellation make him dangerous to anyone nearby including
himself. Nancy Stahl furbishes a fine look at a bygone
time in which life could accidentally end in a flash for
even the most experienced person. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted June 5, 2004
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