The Gold Miner's Daughter...
584144
Newly widowed with a newborn daughter, Jenny MacDonald is alone in the frontier mining town of Colby after her husband, Sheriff Myles MacDonald, is shot while attempting to bring in a desperado.

Jason Colby is a man tortured by his mysterious past...who also happens to own a gold mine and much of the town. Rumors circulated by Jason's enemies implicate him in Myles' death. Jason adores Jenny's baby, Lily, and wants to provide for her and Jenny, but knows he must keep Jenny at arm's length because they could never really be a family.

Colby takes Jenny to be his wife in name only to provide a safe residence for Jenny and baby Lily and to protect their interests in the mine inherited from Jenny's late husband. Not consummating the marriage will enable it to be annulled once he convinces them to move back East, where he has decided they belong.

Colby's character is so flat, it was difficult for me to engage with the story, and the premise of the romantic tension just did not work. There has to be a credible reason for the I'm-not-good-enough-for-you argument, and this was lacking in Colby's background. His argument that it was unforgivably shameful to have been a bounty hunter ("Money should never be accepted for doing what is right, but that's exactly what I did, hauled men in for money.") would also make it unforgiveable to be a sheriff, a ranger, a law enforcement officer, or a court official.

After being told by Jenny that she would stand by him even if he was wanted for murder, no matter what was in his past, continuing to cling to the I'm-not-good-enough-for-you rationale comes across more as hubris, rather than noble self-sacrifice (I know what is best for you, and your feelings don't matter or are not worth fighting for). All of this self-sacrifice for baby Lily ignores the notion that an intact loving family might be a plus.

It was a struggle to finish Colby's Child, so I cannot recommend it.
2184852
Another riveting mystery with my favorite lady sleuth. While being worldly she is very lovable as a step-mom and very caring as a friend to all. She uses her wealth to help others and remains authentic and charming.  The history of the Gold Rush in Australia and the role immigrants such as the Chinese played in mining, exploration and discovery is fascinating.
1351701
Not a bad read.  At least the female detective had some sense.  I really wish, though, that the mining terms were better researched.
1741549
In 1895, Bessie is fourteen, a delight to her papa, and a trial to her mama.  She was the oldest of five children in her family.  Her papa was the sheriff, collected taxes, and did other jobs.

This gal is spirited, strong willed, yet caring and considerate.  The reader sees her growing up.

It says so in the title, but I did not remember that is Book 1.  I most definitely will read Book 2.  You might want to buy or rent both books at the same time so you don't have to wait.  I certainly am curious about the next part of her life.  But I don't have access to Book 2.  sigh

Two years later, 1897, a young man catches her eye and she can't imagine moving away from her father.  How can other women even move away from their families.  If she had to choose between her precious father and the love of her life, didn't know that she could do it.
Her papa tells her she's more sensible to be rushed into anything and perhaps not ready yet to marry and move away. That she has a big heart and her future husband would not replace her papa, but share the space in her heart.  I liked that.

Chapter 8's so sad I needed a box of Kleenex and took a break from reading.

It was very interesting listening to the stories Bessie's Cherokee Great-Grandma Elisi told her while they were picking herbs, bark, and leaves for healing teas.

Chapters 15 and 16 are also quite sad.  It's now 1900.

She got the red corn and named Fletcher Elliott as the one to kiss her.  Her papa was not happy.  He didn't see Fletcher as good husband material for his daughter.

But several things had happened over that last few years and he wasn't Bessie's precious papa any more.  She was still very head strong and knew what she wanted.

This is a very interesting book with a very interesting character.  I look forward to the rest of the story.
1743788
If you're interested in the complexities of Colombia and gold mining this is a fascinating story that's very beautifully told.
3160058
An amazing tale of the troubles and achievements of a watchmaker's daughter after the death of her father. I loved it!
2388130
This book depicts the grinding poverty of early mining days in ways that tears at your heart. Adequate food is a daily problem leading to young boys being forced into the mines to add to a family's income. The heroine is determined to escape a life where there is no hope in spite of being pushed to marry a miner like all the other young women. Her only encouragement comes from a teacher, and her only help comes from her older brother. This book is a tale of coming of age in very hard times.
3325842
Easy reading, entertaining, thought provoking, joys and struggles of life in a mining town. Character development is excellent..  Enjoyed the historical references also.  A bit predictable.
3692178
A young mans experience with his dream of becoming a gold miner, his experience also with the heavy hand of government agency's trying to take our rights away.
Well written with great descriptions of the difficulty's that come with being a miner, the many trails traveled into forests hunting down the elusive pay streak of gold.

I hope this book starts a fire in others, theres nothing like finding treasure and its out there, GOLD.
729427
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Gilded Age.  It is a fascinating story about the richest people in the world and their greed.
2657029
I am really into Gold Rush stories right now.  I like the "true" aspect mixed in with a fiction story of individuals the best......but an actual diary of someone that was there is great.  Good book, read the whole thing in one sitting.
411888
A good story about a young woman that is married because her father used her to make a business deal
4222550
The concept of the story is new and unique to me. I liked the fact that it took place in the gold rush days of Colorado, and the current time. I read mystery stories all the time and I like the suspense build up of the protagonist being presented with challenges, but this hero of the story is constantly being challenged and losing, or failing, the challenge and still living. The story's timeline runs concurrently with the historical and the present, and for me, that is what made the book interesting to me
1933158
Its 1895 and Cait Adock travels with her two kittens from San Francisco to the hustle and bustle of the booming mine town of Virginia City, NV. Shes anxious to find the father she hasn't seen in two years who reportedly died in a mine cave-in, but was then miraculously found alive.
She finds him all rightdead drunk and snoring with his head on a gambling table at the Sharp Arrow Saloonand hes lost much of the family savings in a stock certificates swindle.
How will Cait, a proper young lady raised in San Franciscos fashionable Nob Hill, fare in this God-forsaken part of the world? Admittedly, shes always longed for adventure, and now she has it. Can she recoup the money and save the family fortune? And what about young and handsome Thomas Duffy, her fathers partner in their mining investment corporation, who irritates her but makes her heart beat a little faster when he comes near? Read this fun, historical Christmas story to find out.
2450457
This book was good I couldn't see how much more of a gold digger NeNe could have got. But she proved she could if she didn't get want she wanted when she wanted(Money).She showed her true colors at the end. After reading it I realized that it was just a short story other than that I have no complaints.
4090278
I found this books interesting and liked the Mother & Daughter connection.

My Father worked in the mines in Wales, so that part of the story was very informative to me
2622555
I got involved, as an investment,  with two gold mine prospects in the area near Las Vegas.  This book caught my eye as a way to do some background information on the mines in which I was involved, as well as other mines that had been closed or abandoned.  The history behind these gold mines was extremely helpful and very interesting background on how this area became populated.