Western

Not sure exactly why, years ago, I picked up this book at some Friends of the Library book sale. Hopefully I only paid a quarter or less for it. It is the fifth book in the 24-book Wagons West! series by Dana Fuller Ross, one of the pen names of Noel Bertram Gerson..

The first four books in that series describe the initial wagon train to Oregon beginning in 1837. This fifth book, which begins in 1844, has the rather unlikely premise of two groups of Oregon settlers from the first four books in the series going to Texas. I'm sorry, but I find that to be ridiculous.

Army colonel Lee (Leland) Blake, stationed in Oregon (which is not yet a state), is asked to escort a wagon train of American settlers to Texas from the East. He brings a trusted aide and they both bring their wives. And Captain Rick Miller of the Texas Rangers is sent by Republic of Texas president Sam Houston to Oregon, to bring back a shipbuilder and a small group of men to build a navy for Texas.

I found this set-up (and many of the subsequent events) to be pretty much unbelievable. It was clearly a way to keep using some of the characters from the first four books, which were apparently pretty popular when this book was published in 1980. The book even includes a ridiculous character from China, who uses ninja throwing stars and even teaches the Army and Rangers how to use them!

I also don't think Lee, Cathy, and Rick were typically used as nicknames in this era. It all made me question the historical accuracy of events in the book, which extends into Texas' admission into the United States and the subsequent war with Mexico, that ended in February 1848. At the end of the book, Lee, Cathy, and Rick (among others) are all heading to California! - the next book in the series.

I felt I was reading more of a romance or adventure novel (not my favorite genres) than historical fiction. Needless to say, I won't be reading any other books in the series. ( )

Many references and characters from previous books recalling their Oregon wagon trip. It did not ruin the reading. Nice how the Oregon and Missouri wagons both could have interesting travel adventures. Made the famous political people likable. The Scottish family was so nice while adding some humor. Easy to see that many characters will be on the California wagon trail next. Enjoyed Ranger Rick with his subtle ways of helping, Elisabeta with her ways to get out of a bad situation with helping in the murders, Melissa with her flirting ways. Surprised at the death of the bad guy spy/murderer. ( )

Another reread for me.

As I continue to reread this series, more and more I get frustrated with how badly written most of the characters are. Each character only seems to be one thing - either smart, or brave, or heroic (for the men) and the women are all either vain, stupid, or immature (notice a trend here?). In each book in the series, all the military men are perfect, with one token bad guy who always seems to be a spy, and almost always ends up painfully dying in the latter part of the book. And usually the "worst" woman ends up redeeming herself and gets married at the end - with marriage of course being the "only" endgame a woman would ever want.

Arrrg.

I know the books were written a lifetime ago, in a different age, and that the authors are writing about a whole other world, but as a modern woman, it frustrates me to know end that the women in these books are written so flat, so unflatteringly, etc. The lead woman, Cathy Blake, the general's wife, is repeatedly shown to be just so, so incredibly stupid. ( )

ne of a batch of this series I bought cheap but have not yet read