More Precious Than Gold (Sangre de Cristo) [Kindle Edition]

Lynn Dean (Author)

Book Description

NOW ALSO AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK!
The bullet that killed Eliza Gentry's fiance shattered her dreams as well. Clinging to her battered faith, she heads west to escape her grief and runs headlong into the man who caused it.

Tall and headstrong, Eliza expected to remain an "unclaimed treasure." Devastated in the wake of the war, she sets out for New Mexico's Sangre de Cristo mountains in search of peace and new purpose but finds that the western frontier is a wild place where former enemies--Yankees and Rebels, Freedmen and Indians--square off in the quest for land and gold.

Eliza must confront her prejudices and fears, and Jacob Craig embodies that conflict. The mountain man wins her trust with his gentle strength, but he harbors a secret. As a Union sharp-shooter, he met her fiance on the field of battle and cost him his life. Eliza must learn that she will not find purpose or peace anywhere until she finds in God a faith more precious than gold.

A real ghost town comes to life in this award-winning story of love, forgiveness, and the sovereignty of God.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lynn Dean is a native Texan who blends her love for God, history, and the American Southwest as naturally as the ingredients for a great chili to serve up a story that's hearty and satisfying. She took it as high praise when one reader described her writing style as being "like Louis L'Amour or Zane Grey, but for women." Lynn is a graduate of Texas A&M University's College of Architecture and Environmental Design. While serving as an interpretive guide at a historic home museum, she fell in love with 19th century history, which inspired her to write Discover Texas, an interactive history curriculum for private Christian schools. Some of the real-life stories she uncovered while researching now form the basis of her historical fiction. The manuscript for More Precious Than Gold, her first novel, won 3rd place in the Touched by Love Award in the historical romance category.

Product Details

• File Size: 536 KB
• Print Length: 223 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1475124007
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Wordsworth Publishing; 1 edition (July 26, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005EOTC10
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #361,729 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book! December 28, 2011

By gmgbgp

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

What a wonderful, encouraging, uplifting book! I was first drawn to this historical novel because I lived in Waco, Texas for several years and loved that the story was set in that city in the post-Civil War years. Then, when the story shifted to New Mexico, I was again delighted as I lived in that beautiful state for many years as well, and know the area the author writes about.

It's always fun for me to read a book about areas where I've lived because I look for things in the story that I'm familiar with. But once I began reading, the best part of this book, for me, was the fact that the author uses bibilical truths to tell her story, and yet without being preachy or pious. It's not a cloying, too-sweet romance novel, either. The author pulls no punches when talking about the harsh realities of life in the aftermath of the Civil War. That fact alone sets this novel above so many others written about this era.

America not only was torn apart along racial and political lines during the Civil War, it continued to be divided afterward as people came home from the war and struggled to put their lives and families back together. "More Precious Than Gold" shows that struggle first-hand for Eliza and her father as they reside in Waco, Texas where Union forces were garrisoned to enforce the restoration in a state that sided with the Confederacy. The Old West wasn't immune to those struggles, either, and when Eliza is sent to New Mexico to live with relatives there, she runs into similar acts of cruelty and oppression she experienced in central Texas. Ultimately, though, this wonderful story is about the state of the human heart, faith, God's forgiveness, His redemption, and the transformation that occurs when we follow God's precepts.

We all struggle with life's disappointments, maybe even more so for those of us who are Christ-followers, because we've been erronously led to think that as long as we trust in the Lord everything will work out well for us, that we'll be happy, healthy, and prosperous. But the Bible promises the exact opposite, that our lives will be full of struggles and difficulties as we strive to make Christ known to the world around us (John 15:18). It's encouraging to read a story that reminds us that the Lord always fulfills His promises to strengthen, guide, and give us His peace as we go through those refining fires which He allows to take place in our lives (John 14:27, 16:33) in order to make us more like Him.

We must never forget that God's ultimate goal is to use everything that happens to us for His glory and our good (Romans 8:28), and during the times when we suffer the most we can be assured that He is right there with us, comforting us through the presence of His Holy Spirit. This book makes that point in such an encouraging way, and I can't recommend it highly enough!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended Christian Fiction August 14, 2011

By PatsyDyer

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Accurately historical, soundly spiritual, sweetly romantic, and perfectly entertaining, this book was a joy to read. The settings and characters come to life in Lynn's detailed descriptions, yet leave just enough to the reader's imagination. Lynn has a gift for painting word pictures that place you center stage and involved in the story. More Precious Than Gold is a hard-to-put-down novel you won't want to miss!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Story August 1, 2011

By Lynn Squire

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This story breaks away from the normal plotline and themes found in recent Christian fiction that I have read, and for that I am truly grateful. I related to the heartache Eliza felt as she sought to find a purpose for her life and was inspired by her persevering faith even in trying times, even when hope was deferred.

I recommend this story to anyone who seeks a great story that has all the elements necessary to push you forward on your own spiritual journey.

More About the Author

Growing up in Texas, I dictated my first stories to my mom before I was old enough to write them down myself. She humored me, for which I am grateful, and I've been telling stories in one form or another ever since.

Fast forward more years than I'll admit to. Children grown. House quiet. Finally more time to get serious about writing for publication, and what an exciting time to write!

I write about the things I know. The things I love. God, family, history, and how those things fit together.