Set in a panorama of the American West as its portrait is first being painted, The Platte River Waltz is the initial stroke in the unfolding of Josh Bonner's tale. In 1848, only seventeen years old, on the Oregon Trail and suddenly orphaned, Josh begins a journey through the unsettled frontier of a wild continent. Just making first acquaintance with manhood, he quickly finds his future linked to Elizabeth Hampton, a coquette from his old hometown. Together they resolve to venture into an uncertain and dangerous future. Accompanied by Jubilee, an escaped slave, Josh and Elizabeth join a wagon train of Missouri emigrants led by a voyageur scout and a town constable turned captain. The couple commences a lusty exploration of the lands they pass and of each other. The scout is the first to recognize the mettle of Josh Bonner, taking the novitiate under his wing. Others in the party, a missionary couple, an adventurous sawbones, and a clan of farmers, quickly recognize the newcomers as a formidable alliance that drives the expedition across the wild prairie. The land, the weather, and human frailty threaten, but cannot daunt their resolve. Populated with compelling characters, colorful dialog, intriguing subplots, and thrilling encounters; Bonner's Road West explores a period of American history largely passed over by contemporary historical fiction. The Growler Brigade picks up the Bonner tale as the train departs Fort Laramie. Soon they hear of the discovery of gold at Sutter's Creek in California. Josh and Elizabeth abandon going to Oregon and opt for California, along with several other wagons. Delacroix, the scout, lets Josh lead the smaller party over one of the numerous cutoffs on the road to test him. The cutoff behind them, the train splits, with the smaller party bound to seek their fortune in the gold fields. Josh leads the small party through The Great Basin and into the Sierra Madre Mountains just as winter begins to close the passes. Barely making it through the Bonners meet Duncan Shipwash, a mining engineer in search of backers. Together, they find a promising claim in an arroyo and plan for an arduous ordeal as the snows shuts them into the canyons. SAMPLEs ATTACHED: At the end of this volume there is a short sample of Troy D. Smiths 'Bound for the Promise-Land. Troy is a Spur Award winning author. Matthew Pizzolato has contributed a teaser from his collection of short stories. J. Fields Jr has included the opening chapter from his novel Casino Shuffle. You'll love the main character, Antonio Cruz.

Set in a panorama of the American West as its portrait is first being painted, The Platte River Waltz is the initial stroke in the unfolding of Josh Bonner's tale. In 1848, only seventeen years old, on the Oregon Trail and suddenly orphaned, Josh begins a journey through the unsettled frontier of a wild continent. Just making first acquaintance with manhood, he quickly finds his future linked to Elizabeth Hampton, a coquette from his old hometown. Together they resolve to venture into an uncertain and dangerous future. Accompanied by Jubilee, an escaped slave, Josh and Elizabeth join a wagon train of Missouri emigrants led by a voyageur scout and a town constable turned captain. The couple commences a lusty exploration of the lands they pass and of each other. The scout is the first to recognize the mettle of Josh Bonner, taking the novitiate under his wing. Others in the party, a missionary couple, an adventurous sawbones, and a clan of farmers, quickly recognize the newcomers as a formidable alliance that drives the expedition across the wild prairie. The land, the weather, and human frailty threaten, but cannot daunt their resolve. Populated with compelling characters, colorful dialog, intriguing subplots, and thrilling encounters The Platte River Waltz explores a period of American history largely bypassed by contemporary historical fiction. Orphans in the Storm introduces the reader to Josh and Elizabeth, their companions and the settings. Tragedy marries their fortunes together as they are adopted by a train of emigrants from Missouri. Josh and Elizabeth remain by the crossing to repair Elizabeth's wagon. Nature takes its course between the two. A second train joins the Metzger group and several more characters are introduced, chief among them are the scout, Will Lacy, and Jakob DeKop, owner of a boot factory moving his business and employees westward. The first elusive herd of 'buffle' appear and the hunt commences. Josh and Elizabeth, their trysting discovered, bend to the will of the combined trains but not before Elizabeth tests her will against the emigrants. The Bonners and their companions venture on from Chimney Rock towards Fort Laramie. Water runs short and forces a change in the proposed route, an arduous trek into the hills. Arriving at the fort, the party rests and recharges. Some unsavory characters are encountered. Shortly after arriving, some of their horses are stolen and the scout leads a party, including Josh, in pursuit. Orphans in the Storm concludes with the departure from Fort Laramie as the emigrants enter the Black Hills