Author: Gwen Bristow
Length: 580 pages
Calico Palace
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Description
“Kendra comes to San Francisco, a sleepy town of nine hundred people, because her stepfather, an army colonel, is charged with overseeing its defenses during the Mexican War. Marny arrives from Honolulu to set up a gambling hall. Neither expects to be swept up in one of history’s greatest adventures, which begins when tiny flakes of gold are discovered in the California hills.
As both young women follow their dreams into the mining camps and back to a rapidly growing San Francisco, they encounter ambitious settlers, sailors, miners, ranchers, and mysterious drifters, men who will offer them love or friendship or will break their hearts. Yet Kendra and Marny’s lives stay centered on the Calico Palace, the little gambling operation in a tent in Shiny Gulch that becomes the most opulent gambling house in California.
Thrilling and rich in authentic historical detail, Calico Palace is first-rate historical fiction that informs and entertains.”
Janet Dore –
⭐️⭐️⭐️-3/4
“Little girl, the way to live is, get ready for the maybe. Then forget it.”
Calico Palace is a lively historical journey to San Francisco during the California Gold Rush from the perspective of two strong independent women.
Crazy times! And, they called them “the good ‘ol days 😆. Leave it to humans to glorify a past that they actually know very little about. After you read this book, you’ll be grateful for a lot…like law and order and solid construction standards!
This is a quick and engaging read. Character development is excellent…in fact, after I finished, I missed all of the characters that were a part of my every day for a week.
Growing up in Northern California, I appreciated learning about San Francisco and surrounding area, albeit it was pretty significantly white-washed. Also, living in Panamá now, I was pleasantly surprised by the bit of Panamanian history included in the story.
The story was equal parts historical fiction and women’s fiction, with much focus on friendships, romantic relationships, and the usual struggles of women during this time made extra crazy by the ratio of men to women in San Francisco.
Rather than total realism, twists, and turns, the author opted for a more white-washed, feel-good story. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book, especially because I learned a thing or two!