"As for herself, yesterday she had felt the glory of the spirit alive in the carefree butterfly. Today she sensed the rock hardness of reality. Of what was she, Rachel Williams, really made -- sheer gossamer or hardened flint?"

Rachel Williams, pioneer woman, intrepidly makes the journey to California in the days following the Gold Rush that fueled the growth of this hardy, enchantingly beautiful state. Mary McGuire, however, enfleshes this woman, Rachel, with a mental, emotional and spirited personality quickly captivating all. One of the first female professional physicians, her drawing power is her formidable medical skill that neither sacrifices her very "real" femininity nor her sense of the awesome difficulties facing all on this historical journey.

Meet Marie and her son Jimmy, a child conceived in mysterious and painful circumstances; Iris, a fearful and crippled cousin who grows stronger by the day; Jeb Morgan, a wounded but hardy leader of this westward caravan who passionately loves with possessive conditions; Glory, a gritty female traveler who possesses the wisdom of the ages; Hiram Wilson, a suave womanizer who pursues Rachel with disarming speed; Gray Collins, a truly "fair," intelligent and accomplished settler who woos the heroine despite formidable obstacles; and numerous other minor characters who weave this lovely fictional tapestry into a most engaging story. Enjoy the wonderful balance of peaceful appreciation of a beautiful country and its hardy pioneers artfully meeting and refusing to succumb to the daunting physical and emotional obstacles behind every rock and cranny.

Should a woman forsake a career for the sake of husband and family? Exactly what are the details that influence a decision of such immense magnitude? Pointing to this timeless issue that continues to force individual and social focus, Mary McGuire's seamless story addresses every facet of the "working" family woman that will remain in the reader's attention long after the last page is turned. That she has done so in such a realistic, engaging manner is a tribute to her writing skill and evidence of how historical periods have shaped the evolution of family and work against insurmountable odds and toward a notable American spirit.

Well done, Mary S. McGuire! This reader eagerly awaits your next literary tale!