Beneath a Dakota Cross (Fortunes of the Black Hills, Book 1) [Paperback]

Stephen A. Bly (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1999

IN SEARCH OF A NEW LIFE OUT WEST, BRAZOS FORTUNE FINDS HIS FAMILY ENDANGERED BY THE VERY QUEST HE HOPED WOULD SAVE THEM. With these simple words, Brazos Fortune sets out on his journey in the first of Stephen Blys new Fortunes of the Black Hills series. When locals threaten the lives and property of his family. Brazos abandons his Texas homestead for a new ranch in the West he has seen in a dream. Its a war against corrupt lawmen, wild outlaws, and bitter winter weather as Brazos wrestles with his newfound hunger for gold and the burning desire to be reunited with his family. He must test himself against the untamed frontier, confront the greedy miners who try his Christian convictions, and find the new home God showed him Beneath a Dakota Cross.

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: Broadman & Holman Publishing Group (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805416595
• ISBN-13: 978-0805416596
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #285,898 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

STEPHEN BLY has authored over 100 books, hundreds of articles and has over one million books in print. Recent novels released include: Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon, Creede of Old Montana, and The Land Tamers (all hardback). Four of his novels were finalists and THE LONG TRAIL HOME won the 2002 Christy Award in westerns category for excellence in Christian fiction. His PAPERBACK WRITER has received strong national reviews (PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY, July 14, 2003, et. al.) He speaks at colleges, schools, churches, seminars and conferences across the U.S. and Canada. He has spoken on numerous television and radio programs, including Dr. James Dobson's Focus On The Family. He pastors Winchester Community Church in Winchester, Idaho. He also served as the town's mayor (1999-2007). He is an Active Member of the Western Writers of America.

He and his wife, Janet (who is also a writer) live at 4,000 ft. elevation in the mountains of north-central Idaho, in the pine trees next to Winchester Lake on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. The Blys have three sons: Russ, Mike & Aaron, three daughters-in-laws, Lois, Michelle & Rina Joye and three grandchildren, Zachary, Miranda, and Keaton.

Steve graduated summa cum laude with a degree in philosophy from Fresno State College. He has an M. Div. degree from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stephen Bly Captures the Spirit of Dakota, March 9, 2001

By 

Ron Burtz (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beneath a Dakota Cross (Fortunes of the Black Hills, Book 1) (Paperback)

This was the first book I've read by Stephen Bly, and I am more than anxious to read the next in the series. As a former resident of the Black Hills, I found Bly's descriptions of the Dakota landscape accurate enough to make me homesick. His characters are well developed and sympathetic, and I especially enjoy his sparkling dialogue passages that help develop the characters and bring comic relief and a sense of comraderie between the characters not unlike the good natured humorof a good John Wayne movie. I look forward to reading the second book in this series.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Christian version of a Louis L'Amour novel!, January 8, 2003

By 

Bonnie McKinzie (Garden Grove, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beneath a Dakota Cross (Fortunes of the Black Hills, Book 1) (Paperback)

Brazos Fortune is determined to find his dream under some type of cross. However, he is forced to leave behind his youngest child, beloved Dacee. An adventurer herself, she runs away.

Gold fever, hunger and hardship mark the adventures and close calls suffered by Brazos and his friends. Bly certainly does a good job of painting the surroundings clearly to the reader.

This is the first book of the series, Fortunes of the Black Hills.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Dangerous Quest, September 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Beneath a Dakota Cross (Fortunes of the Black Hills, Book 1) (Paperback)

Brazos Fortune sets out on a journey for a new home after locals threaten the lives and property of his family. He follows a vision he receives of a Dakota cross and faces corrupt lawmen, wild outlaws, and a bitter winter as he wrestles with the temptations of gold and a burning desire to be reunited with his family. Each family member seems so real and alive. Reader is pulled in to care about what happens to them.