Westward the Dream

November 15, 1998
First in the "Ribbons West" series, this continues Pella and Peterson's original series, "Ribbons of Steel" (e.g., Distant Dreams, LJ 4/1/97) with the adventures of brother and sister Brenton and Jordana Baldwin as they leave the dangers of the Civil War behind and head for the gold fields of California. Fictional and historical characters interact nicely in this gently paced story with a saga-like feel that features a number of interesting secondary characters, well-handled religious elements, and a pair of appealing protagonists. Linked to the earlier series and providing plot threads for future novels, this relatively complex story nevertheless stands on its own and should be welcomed by fans of California history as well as those of the inspirational subgenre. Both authors are experienced writers; Pella lives in California and Peterson in KS.