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El Dorado
Man, myth, devil, or angel: who—what was Joaquin Murieta?
Thought dead these many years, Joaquin’s ghostly voice echoes through the night, “I am Joaquin. You will remember my name!”
She is Heller Petyon, a Boston blueblood, rescued by her aunt from the slums of New York. She has come to San Francisco on a special excursion train to promote commerce and culture and to prove that in spite of her sordid past, she is every inch a proper lady.
He is Joaquin Murieta, El Bandido Notorio, disguised as a Spanish aristocrat. He has come to San Francisco to search the saloons of the Barbary Coast and the opium dens of Chinatown for the man who murdered his beloved wife.
There seems no common ground between them; Heller with her puritanical principles and Joaquin with none.
Out of the pages of history rides a ghost from California’s past, the legendary bandit, Joaquin Murieta, who shows Heller the way of the Midnight Trail, and of a love greater than that of the heart—the love of a dream, of a cause, and of a people!
Thought dead these many years, Joaquin’s ghostly voice echoes through the night, “I am Joaquin. You will remember my name!”
She is Heller Petyon, a Boston blueblood, rescued by her aunt from the slums of New York. She has come to San Francisco on a special excursion train to promote commerce and culture and to prove that in spite of her sordid past, she is every inch a proper lady.
He is Joaquin Murieta, El Bandido Notorio, disguised as a Spanish aristocrat. He has come to San Francisco to search the saloons of the Barbary Coast and the opium dens of Chinatown for the man who murdered his beloved wife.
There seems no common ground between them; Heller with her puritanical principles and Joaquin with none.
Out of the pages of history rides a ghost from California’s past, the legendary bandit, Joaquin Murieta, who shows Heller the way of the Midnight Trail, and of a love greater than that of the heart—the love of a dream, of a cause, and of a people!
- GenresHistorical Romance
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 1993
20 people want to read
About the author
Chelley Kitzmiller
12 books10 followersA California native, Chelley Kitzmiller lives and breathes the Wild West. She travels the West doing research, decorates her home with everything from a cowhide ottoman to a window valance of antique spurs and frames her own Western photography. She’s known and loved a host of Western movie stars such as Jack Palance, Harry Carey, Ronda Fleming and others. She says, “I’ve had quite a ride and the saddle ain’t even broke in yet.”
As a teen, she hated history. The teacher was only interested in students memorizing names and dates; nothing about what motivated the people to do the things they did.
Her favorite historical romance is Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers. When she read it, she didn’t know that the historical detail was factual and only later discovered the truth and realized that she’d gotten a painless dose of history. SSL was her life-changing experience; it made her want to pen her own historical romance and give to others what Rosemary had given her: history wrapped in an emotional action-packed story.
In her pre-published years, Chelley founded the Orange County RWA Chapter, finaled in RWA’s Golden Heart Contest, organized the Amtrak Love Train (Google the film documentary Where The Heart Roams), organized writers’ conferences, wrote book reviews for Publishers Weekly and had her own book review columns in two major newspapers.
After publishing four books with NAL and Harlequin, Chelley took a long break to help in her husband’s business, open two bookstores, work as an editorial assistant on nine books for Fern Michaels and one for Lauraine Snellng, learn photography and start a pet rescue. Through it all she wrote and still writes magazine and newspaper articles and grants for the pet rescue.
These days she splits her time between writing, RVing and rescuing pets with her daughter, Gina (www.Haveahearthumanesociety.org ). Interact with Chelley on Facebook, Twitter @chelleykitzmlr and sign up for her newsletter at www.chelleykitzmiller.com.
As a teen, she hated history. The teacher was only interested in students memorizing names and dates; nothing about what motivated the people to do the things they did.
Her favorite historical romance is Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers. When she read it, she didn’t know that the historical detail was factual and only later discovered the truth and realized that she’d gotten a painless dose of history. SSL was her life-changing experience; it made her want to pen her own historical romance and give to others what Rosemary had given her: history wrapped in an emotional action-packed story.
In her pre-published years, Chelley founded the Orange County RWA Chapter, finaled in RWA’s Golden Heart Contest, organized the Amtrak Love Train (Google the film documentary Where The Heart Roams), organized writers’ conferences, wrote book reviews for Publishers Weekly and had her own book review columns in two major newspapers.
After publishing four books with NAL and Harlequin, Chelley took a long break to help in her husband’s business, open two bookstores, work as an editorial assistant on nine books for Fern Michaels and one for Lauraine Snellng, learn photography and start a pet rescue. Through it all she wrote and still writes magazine and newspaper articles and grants for the pet rescue.
These days she splits her time between writing, RVing and rescuing pets with her daughter, Gina (www.Haveahearthumanesociety.org ). Interact with Chelley on Facebook, Twitter @chelleykitzmlr and sign up for her newsletter at www.chelleykitzmiller.com.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 18, 2014
El Dorado is a book based around a man who became a legend. Chelley Kitzmiller has taken her view of that man – and made me fall hopelessly in love with him!
Heller Peyton is a young woman trying desperately to put her past behind her. As a child raised in the slums of Manhattan, Heller’s future was saved when her Aunt Abigail rescued her. Now, years later, Heller has accepted a new position as the Boston Board of Trade’s cultural secretary. Not only does this position bring Heller and her aunt to San Francisco on business, it gives Heller the opportunity she has been waiting for – a chance to prove herself a lady.
Joaquin Murieta is a man trying desperately to catch up to his past. Once a happily married man, Joaquin became a legend when he sought to avenge the brutal killing of the woman he loved. Now, masquerading as Don Ricardo, Joaquin finally reunites with the madman that murdered his wife.
Joaquin is so close to finally having his revenge, but Heller Peyton brings unexpected complications to his careful plan. Heller stirs him in a way no woman has since his young wife’s passing years ago, and Joaquin begins to see a future for himself and Heller. Amidst their growing passion, Joaquin still pursues vengeance, and he finds himself risking his future to bring justice to his past.
Man, myth, devil, or angel: who—what was Joaquin Murieta? I can’t answer that... but one thing I do know is that Joaquin Murieta stole my heart in this book!
Heller Peyton is a young woman trying desperately to put her past behind her. As a child raised in the slums of Manhattan, Heller’s future was saved when her Aunt Abigail rescued her. Now, years later, Heller has accepted a new position as the Boston Board of Trade’s cultural secretary. Not only does this position bring Heller and her aunt to San Francisco on business, it gives Heller the opportunity she has been waiting for – a chance to prove herself a lady.
Joaquin Murieta is a man trying desperately to catch up to his past. Once a happily married man, Joaquin became a legend when he sought to avenge the brutal killing of the woman he loved. Now, masquerading as Don Ricardo, Joaquin finally reunites with the madman that murdered his wife.
Joaquin is so close to finally having his revenge, but Heller Peyton brings unexpected complications to his careful plan. Heller stirs him in a way no woman has since his young wife’s passing years ago, and Joaquin begins to see a future for himself and Heller. Amidst their growing passion, Joaquin still pursues vengeance, and he finds himself risking his future to bring justice to his past.
Man, myth, devil, or angel: who—what was Joaquin Murieta? I can’t answer that... but one thing I do know is that Joaquin Murieta stole my heart in this book!
May 12, 2015
An exciting story based on a legend.
Joaquin Murieta has come to San Francisco is search of his wife’s killer. He has tracked him down and will soon have his revenge.
Heller Petyon and her aunt have arrived in San Francisco on a business trip. Along with business, she would also like to prove she has become a proper lady.
When Heller and Joaquin meet, Joaquin feels the urge to have Heller. He hasn’t felt this way since he lost his wife.
Will Heller get in the way of Joaquin’s plans? Is it even possible for these two opposites to be together?
This book had a thoroughly thought out plot and well defined characters.
Joaquin Murieta has come to San Francisco is search of his wife’s killer. He has tracked him down and will soon have his revenge.
Heller Petyon and her aunt have arrived in San Francisco on a business trip. Along with business, she would also like to prove she has become a proper lady.
When Heller and Joaquin meet, Joaquin feels the urge to have Heller. He hasn’t felt this way since he lost his wife.
Will Heller get in the way of Joaquin’s plans? Is it even possible for these two opposites to be together?
This book had a thoroughly thought out plot and well defined characters.
October 17, 2014
it was ok but would not read it again
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews