This is a well researched historical romance novel. A saga about a California family, beginning about a decade before the 1849 gold rush, until near the end of that century. This golden story begins with a strong minded, Californio young woman, and a disillusioned, itinerant Yankee soldier, lately released from duty; how they fall in love, break with tradition, and forge their own empire, based on landholding, Palomino horses, entrepreneurial spirit, and during the rapid expansion of California during the Gold Rush and the years beyond. It is like moving through history with these characters who are interacting with people who so closely resemble well known historical figures you want to refer to them with their real names. It's an exhilarating, believable, heartfelt tale.