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Diamond of the Rockies #1
The Rose Legacy
Driven by hope and vengeance, Carina Maria DiGratia leaves her idyllic home in Sonoma, California, for a new life in the mining town of Crystal, Colorado. Though the town has a rough element, Carina is determined that it is the place her dreams will come true. Early on, two men vie for her trust, but neither is what he seems. Will Carina discern the truth in time to prevent tragedy?
395 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
284 people are currently reading
2089 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Heitzmann
65books905followersKristen Heitzmann is the award winning author of contemporary romantic suspense, psychological suspense, and historical series. An artist and musician, she'll also be found hiking the Rocky Mountain trails.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
May 8, 2021
5⭐️
Love this Historical fiction story so much!
Italian-born Carina DeGratia has been betrayed by her fiancé and sister and has run off to a tiny mining town amidst the American gold rush.
There she finds out the deed to a house she purchased was a forgery and is now stuck in this town with nothing and no one. As she gets to know the townsfolk, her naivety is amplified when she trusts people she shouldn’t and believes horrible rumours about others.
One rumour in particular? The local merchant rider is the abandoned, cursed son of a harlot and a murderous beast-man. How much of this rumour is fact?
There is so many great faith elements in this book too!!!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
This trilogy has absolutely everything in it: runaway, deception, questionable consent (rape?), abuse, divorce, murder, miscarriage, corruption, found family, redemption, forgiveness, adultery, betrayal, explosions, cave exploration, vigilantism, robbery, gun point, threats, entrepreneurship, mental health, loss, abandonment, self hatred, suicide�.it just goes on and on!
Love this Historical fiction story so much!
Italian-born Carina DeGratia has been betrayed by her fiancé and sister and has run off to a tiny mining town amidst the American gold rush.
There she finds out the deed to a house she purchased was a forgery and is now stuck in this town with nothing and no one. As she gets to know the townsfolk, her naivety is amplified when she trusts people she shouldn’t and believes horrible rumours about others.
One rumour in particular? The local merchant rider is the abandoned, cursed son of a harlot and a murderous beast-man. How much of this rumour is fact?
There is so many great faith elements in this book too!!!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
This trilogy has absolutely everything in it: runaway, deception, questionable consent (rape?), abuse, divorce, murder, miscarriage, corruption, found family, redemption, forgiveness, adultery, betrayal, explosions, cave exploration, vigilantism, robbery, gun point, threats, entrepreneurship, mental health, loss, abandonment, self hatred, suicide�.it just goes on and on!
July 28, 2012
So, this is book #1 in a trilogy that I absolutely loved. I couldn't put it down and fell in love with the characters. I found myself thinking about them all the time! Carina is a hot blooded Italian and it is fun to watch her get into trouble. She is so full of fire and yet so fragile and broken at the same time. Quillans journey is a sad one in which I could never tell if I loved him or hated him...I couldn't believe the ending to this first book and rushed right out to get the second. I'd actually like to buy all three books as I definitely am going to have to read them again. It was soooo nice to read a book without all the raunchy talk and sex scenes which I'm so over. Just great story telling and compelling plot. It was a bit slow in the very beginning but then I was up all night with every book, not able to put them down! All three books are a must read!
December 31, 2015
This was my first read from Kristen Heitzmann. Historical fiction is not my favourite genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was full of action, suspense, intrigue and also compassion for the characters.
The first 30% of the book was a slow start for me, but then the pace picked up and I wanted to see what will happen to everyone and the action and mystery just increased. Even the end of the book kept left you with "what will happen know?"
Forgiveness and surrender to God was the main theme of the story, and I loved to see how Carina grew in her relationship with God, and I think my best scene for her was at the end, when she knew she have to give over the person she loves to God and just believe and trust that God will sort everything out for her good.
I am glad I didn't have to live in that rough place!
I really enjoyed it and will definitely recommend it to everyone who likes historical fiction with suspense, or suspense with some historical fiction :-)
The first 30% of the book was a slow start for me, but then the pace picked up and I wanted to see what will happen to everyone and the action and mystery just increased. Even the end of the book kept left you with "what will happen know?"
Forgiveness and surrender to God was the main theme of the story, and I loved to see how Carina grew in her relationship with God, and I think my best scene for her was at the end, when she knew she have to give over the person she loves to God and just believe and trust that God will sort everything out for her good.
I am glad I didn't have to live in that rough place!
I really enjoyed it and will definitely recommend it to everyone who likes historical fiction with suspense, or suspense with some historical fiction :-)
April 30, 2016
The Rose Legacy provides a good look at life in the wild west in the late 1800s. The characters in the book were realistic and showed growth. The main female character Carina has a lot of spunk and her reactions made me smile.
The pace of the book was a bit slow for me. What I enjoyed most about this novel is the feeling of having visited the mining town Crystal. The author did a great job of using period details to enhance the story and give the reader a solid picture of what life was like in that time.
While I didn't enjoy this novel as much as her contemporary work, I do recommend the series for fans of historical fiction.
The pace of the book was a bit slow for me. What I enjoyed most about this novel is the feeling of having visited the mining town Crystal. The author did a great job of using period details to enhance the story and give the reader a solid picture of what life was like in that time.
While I didn't enjoy this novel as much as her contemporary work, I do recommend the series for fans of historical fiction.
February 20, 2011
This is the first book in the Diamond of the Rockies series. I was unaware that this book was actually published in the year 2000. It now has a new bright and beautiful cover that presents itself as more appealing to the current readers. I have read many Kristen Heitzmann books and loved every one of them. This one did not disappoint either. I found this book to be very enjoyable. It had so much action in it that I had a hard time putting it down. I love books that keep you guessing what’s going to happen next, so much so that you have to continue reading no matter how long it takes just to satisfy your longing to know. I enjoy historical fiction, so this book suited me perfectly. Set in the 1880s this is sure to please any lover of the “good old days� when things were quite simple yet many worlds apart from what we know today. I was disappointed in the ending, but it was an ending that kept me wanting to read the next installment in the series. Since this is re-published, I don’t have to wait for it to come out so that definitely is a positive. I look forward to reading Sweet Boundless and the continuing story of Carina and Quillan.
June 25, 2011
Low three-star rating for me. A decent story, although I wanted to smack the heroine from start to finish. The hero needed a bit more polishing in my opinion as well. A wee bit indulgent, with more than a little feel of "preachiness", but still, as far as inspirational books go, it was okay. I'm moving on with the next one, so this one couldn't have been that terrible.
December 8, 2010
Took me a chapter or so to get into it, but once you're in, you can't put it down!!! And it's great cuz it's long (plus it has 2 following books in the series). I really like bonding with my characters, so I was glad for the length. Spunky heroine too!
August 4, 2023
3.5�
Slow beginning for me and took me awhile to get invested into the story. But I did enjoy the last half of the book and I'm looking forward to reading book 2.
Slow beginning for me and took me awhile to get invested into the story. But I did enjoy the last half of the book and I'm looking forward to reading book 2.
July 16, 2020
I loved, loved, loved this sweet story. It is a Christian romance that doesn't get overly preachy and the Christian part doesn't overshadow the romance part, but enhances it. Holy crud, now I need to read the rest of the series!
October 17, 2022
Excellent! Strong plot, well-developed characters. Love is never linear but worth the struggle, as is grappling with the ways of God.
December 22, 2010
It’s been a while since I read a historical fiction novel, so I was eager to read The Rose Legacy. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book or not, but I was not far into it when I realized I was loving it. I was a little surprised by Carina’s reasons for leaving her home for the unfamiliar town of Crystal City, Colorado. More surprising was the wild and dangerous lifestyle Carina was confronted with upon arriving in her new town. That very quickly grabbed my attention because I just had to see how she was going to make this new start of hers work. It is amazing sometimes what a broken heart can lead a person to do.
The story is an excellent aspect of this book, but the vivid details in this book are what really made it better than expected. The author did not leave out any details, which really made me feel like I was experiencing life through Carina’s eyes.
The Rose Legacy is the first book in the Diamond of the Rockies series. This series was originally published in 2001 and has been re-released by Bethany House with beautiful new cover art. I am glad Bethany House re-released these books because otherwise I would have missed out on this incredible book. I will hopefully be able to read the other two books in this series soon. The Rose Legacy is a must read for historical fiction fans. It is a long book, but also a very fast read. I was amazed that this book had the depth it had and was still a fast and interesting read. I really enjoyed it.
The story is an excellent aspect of this book, but the vivid details in this book are what really made it better than expected. The author did not leave out any details, which really made me feel like I was experiencing life through Carina’s eyes.
The Rose Legacy is the first book in the Diamond of the Rockies series. This series was originally published in 2001 and has been re-released by Bethany House with beautiful new cover art. I am glad Bethany House re-released these books because otherwise I would have missed out on this incredible book. I will hopefully be able to read the other two books in this series soon. The Rose Legacy is a must read for historical fiction fans. It is a long book, but also a very fast read. I was amazed that this book had the depth it had and was still a fast and interesting read. I really enjoyed it.
June 29, 2020
Wanted to love this book, and there were definitely things about it that I loved, but I struggled with the story and I just didn't love the main character. Set in Colorado, this is the story of Carina DiGratia, a young woman who has been betrayed by her own sister who was seduced by Carina's betrothed. Carina, in a fit of anger, buys a home far from Sonora California, to get away from her sister and ex-fiance. Unfortunately, Carina loses most of her possessions coming into Crystal, Colorado, as her wagon blocks the road and a brash man (Quillen) pushes it over the side. Also, as Carina arrives in town, she learns that she has been swindled, and does not own the house she thought she purchased. Carina sets out to make a life for herself. But, she is slow to forgive people when they wrong her, and she isn't sure who to trust. This was a complex story with lots of characters and a Christian spin. I liked all of that, but it is too long, fairly predicable, I didn't love the characters, and it has a cliffhanger at the end. I think many would love this, it just wasn't for me.
Read
May 6, 2016Poor Rose Legacy. I began reading with a startle of delight, remembering the writer's meeting ten years ago or so when Kristen read the first page in a workshop on character. Anyone whose writing I remember 10 years later gets my attention.
But then I fell into my personal 50K challenge for the month of April. I read a lot of books, but my go to, quick read, mysteries. Now I look forward to savoring the story I began so long ago. . .
Oh, wow, I'm done. What a book. Only the story's not over! Historical series don't usually leave me hanging, but this one leaves me aching for Quillan and wondering what's going to happen.
Also a lot more violent than any Christian western I can remember. Realistic, sickening--be warned.
But then I fell into my personal 50K challenge for the month of April. I read a lot of books, but my go to, quick read, mysteries. Now I look forward to savoring the story I began so long ago. . .
Oh, wow, I'm done. What a book. Only the story's not over! Historical series don't usually leave me hanging, but this one leaves me aching for Quillan and wondering what's going to happen.
Also a lot more violent than any Christian western I can remember. Realistic, sickening--be warned.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2014
ADORED this book...probably one of the best books I've ever read! I was recommended it by my aunt, and I was determined to give it a try. Why not, right? But I hadn't gotten 20 pages in when I gave up. It was SO slow paced, and so descriptive, I couldn't focus! A few months later, I decided to try it again. GOOD THING...this time, I forced myself to keep going, and by chapter three I was hooked! Just force yourself to keep going, and you'll get the hang of the writing style soon enough. I adored these books, and got my hands on the next books ASAP! READ IT READ IT READ IT...you won't regret it! :)
May 30, 2021
i remember reading this book as a wee dude way back in the day, and i wanted to see how it stood up to an english degree and adultiness. the answer: a solid "meh". it's a book. it serves book purposes. quillan is still a pleasure despite the... bizarre character choices towards the end of the story. y'know what? hack out the romance, lose dc, make quillan the sole main character, and i'd probably dig this a whole lot more. not bad, wee kee, you've certainly read worse.
January 25, 2017
I recall this glimpse of the west in all its ruggedness and wild beauty left an impression of me. Particularly, Carina and her feisty spirit, determined to succeed and find happiness. As with several of Kristen’s novels, a slight mysterious element is present, adding to the interest and appeal of the story (and its hero).
July 19, 2021
This book was not for me, partly the era it was written to take place in - I don't typically like books about the early West - but since I like the author's writing, I tried to read it. The writing is good but the plots too predictable. I found myself skimming to the end only to find the end disappointing.
abandoned
January 29, 2012Pretty slooooooooooooooooow start with not much happening until things got a bit too bible thumping for my tastes. I could have perservered further with some real storyline, but from looking at some of the reviews on Amazon that doesn't happen until half way through.
January 22, 2014
So I really enjoyed the story but it is so hard and it doesn't end any better. I suggest of you want to try this Christian fiction, you pick up all three books at once. Otherwise it is just so hard a story.
Read
November 18, 2016I absolutely loved this series! I loved the integration of the Italian language and culture. The heroine was strong-willed and like able. There was hardship and a rogue of a hero. Couldn't put it down!
January 4, 2015
Although this started out slowly, after several chapters I was in hook, line and sinker! I couldn't help falling in love with Quillan and eventually Carina. Although I wanted to slap them both a few times. Can't wait to get into the rest of the series...
August 13, 2012
Love this author
August 20, 2012
I enjoyed the plot of this book. Great author!
September 10, 2012
Favorite series from Kristen!
March 3, 2020
Beautiful descriptions of the Colorado Rockies coupled with vivid emotions, The Rose Legacy is a stunning piece of historical fiction. From the outset of the story, Carina DeGratia is force to be reckoned with. She is a fiery Italian young woman determined to strike out on her own thousands of miles away from her beloved family estate in California. Through a serious of heartbreaking circumstances, Carina is left in the floundering mining town of Crystal, Colorado, after being enticed to a new an exciting future only to be left with almost nothing. It is her time in Crystal and her burgeoning friendship with the hard working yet sympathetic Mae (operator of the local boarding house) that make this book a heartwarming read. More interesting still is the hostility between Carina and the handsome freighter Quillan that draws the reader into the story. His complicated past and the growing discontent within Crystal, Colorado creates a excellent suspense. This story’s complex nature and interwoven family history is truly mesmerizing.
I read this book for the first time as a freshman in college and loved it. I am a huge fan of historical fiction and I enjoy Christian romances as well. Kristen Heitzmann does an excellent job creating a world that feels like an experience rather than pages of information and description.
From the beginning of the the novel, the reader is immediately engaged with Carina’s emotions as she leaves the life and home she loves to create a new life and a brighter future for herself. The mixture of Catholic faith and traditional Christian values is welcome cultural bridge to understanding Carina’s character and upbringing, while also presenting a stark contrast to the character of Quillan Shephard, a humble, hardworking, and unaccountably brilliant freighter who attempts to live a quite and unobtrusive life. The plot of the story moves apace with the action and the development of each character in an enjoyable way and does appear disjointed. Another enjoyable aspect of the story is the interwoven bits of Italian dialogue that lend to Carina’s personality and character development as well as the standard dialect expected of Western miners and towns� folk at the turn of the century. What I enjoy most about this story is the presentation of a strong heroine who is not willing to give her dreams or lower her standards. This is a encouraging read for young women who enjoy books with a strong female protagonist.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this beginning to a promising trilogy. The language is clear and the well written, there is no use of profanity or suggestive language within the book which provides a comfort and enjoyment to the reading experience. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to curl up with a great novel reminiscent of Dr. Quinn Medicine woman or Christy.
I read this book for the first time as a freshman in college and loved it. I am a huge fan of historical fiction and I enjoy Christian romances as well. Kristen Heitzmann does an excellent job creating a world that feels like an experience rather than pages of information and description.
From the beginning of the the novel, the reader is immediately engaged with Carina’s emotions as she leaves the life and home she loves to create a new life and a brighter future for herself. The mixture of Catholic faith and traditional Christian values is welcome cultural bridge to understanding Carina’s character and upbringing, while also presenting a stark contrast to the character of Quillan Shephard, a humble, hardworking, and unaccountably brilliant freighter who attempts to live a quite and unobtrusive life. The plot of the story moves apace with the action and the development of each character in an enjoyable way and does appear disjointed. Another enjoyable aspect of the story is the interwoven bits of Italian dialogue that lend to Carina’s personality and character development as well as the standard dialect expected of Western miners and towns� folk at the turn of the century. What I enjoy most about this story is the presentation of a strong heroine who is not willing to give her dreams or lower her standards. This is a encouraging read for young women who enjoy books with a strong female protagonist.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this beginning to a promising trilogy. The language is clear and the well written, there is no use of profanity or suggestive language within the book which provides a comfort and enjoyment to the reading experience. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to curl up with a great novel reminiscent of Dr. Quinn Medicine woman or Christy.
May 2, 2020
It's been a long time that I've stayed up reading long into the night until it was almost morning. This book I couldn't put down. I am really surprised at how much I got into this book. It is firmly in the category of a comfort food book. Maybe that's what I needed right now. It's fun, silly at times, and predictable in most cases. The book tells the tale of Carina, who after suffering a humiliating heartbreak, moves to a Colorado mining town in 1880. It's a really bizarre decision that her wealthy, learned father lets her do. She is, of course, the wide-eyed newcomer who knows nothing of this setting and doesn't know who to trust. She makes many mistakes along the way. She is feisty and not willing to back down. She finds herself trying to overcome her setbacks and find her identity. She ends up being a pawn of 2 mysterious men and in the middle of a very violent power grab for the town. When I picked up the book, I thought it was a breezy period romance, but there's more bulk to the story. It is a Christian genre book. So, it does get preachy in passages. However, I thought the 2 main characters's (Carina and Quillan) crisis of faith was realistic and not flashy. It wasn't negative about any of the feelings or doubts those characters were having, which I enjoyed. Books can be a little too condemning in their attempt to have God save their characters. The ending was infuriating because the story isn't done. I'll HAVE to read the next one.
September 14, 2017
I originally hesitated on this book even though it was on sale because it's longer than I usually like, but I've read and enjoyed the author before so I took the chance. In many ways, I wasn't disappointed. Ms. Heitzmann wrote a compelling tale with wonderful, eclectic characters, and I wanted to know how their story turned out.
Unfortunately, this is truly part one of a three part series. The other books in the Diamond of the Rockies series continue the story of the main characters, which naturally leaves the reader with many unanswered questions at the end of this first book. One part of their tale resolved, but the parts most important to it did not.
Additionally, the book is very heavy. The lawlessness of the mining town, the sinister intimidation of the evil one, the ruthlessness of those under his thumb, and the vigilante-ism were sad. While the author did a great job of increasing the tension, and I rooted for the hero and heroine, the tidbits of hope were almost too small.
This book is for those who love a lot of detail, which isn't me, the series for those who love really thick books, which also isn't me. While part of me wants to know how the story ends for these characters, I don't know that I'll purchase the remaining two books and slog through another 700 pages to find their happy ending.
Unfortunately, this is truly part one of a three part series. The other books in the Diamond of the Rockies series continue the story of the main characters, which naturally leaves the reader with many unanswered questions at the end of this first book. One part of their tale resolved, but the parts most important to it did not.
Additionally, the book is very heavy. The lawlessness of the mining town, the sinister intimidation of the evil one, the ruthlessness of those under his thumb, and the vigilante-ism were sad. While the author did a great job of increasing the tension, and I rooted for the hero and heroine, the tidbits of hope were almost too small.
This book is for those who love a lot of detail, which isn't me, the series for those who love really thick books, which also isn't me. While part of me wants to know how the story ends for these characters, I don't know that I'll purchase the remaining two books and slog through another 700 pages to find their happy ending.
June 2, 2023
Carina is a young, single Italian girl who leaves home after her sister betrays her with her fiancé. She leaves Sonoma, California and heads East, landing in Crystal, Colorado, where almost everyone is a scoundrel. She loses her wagon and almost all her possessions. The house she paid a claim on gets “jumped� and taken over by some ruffians. But she toughs it out and tries to make a place for herself in the town, because she is a scrappy little Italian girl. Unfortunately, she is a magnet for drama so she soon finds herself caught between two men who she is not sure she can trust. Before long, the lawlessness of the place gets out of hand, and she has to choose a side in order to save lives.
Initially I gave this three stars, but I decided to go up one because it turns out I DO care what happens next. I find myself continuing to think about these characters and wondering what happens to them.
Carina bugged me BIG TIME. She was just so spoiled and naïve. And the typical, Christian fiction, “come to Jesus�, lightbulb moment happens, but then astonishingly everything isn’t suddenly peachy because people around her haven’t done the same. People are dying, even. So now we have to question God again. Sorry, I sound really cynical. It’s just very formulaic. But the author did a good enough job of making me care about the people and place that I’ll at least read the next book.
Initially I gave this three stars, but I decided to go up one because it turns out I DO care what happens next. I find myself continuing to think about these characters and wondering what happens to them.
Carina bugged me BIG TIME. She was just so spoiled and naïve. And the typical, Christian fiction, “come to Jesus�, lightbulb moment happens, but then astonishingly everything isn’t suddenly peachy because people around her haven’t done the same. People are dying, even. So now we have to question God again. Sorry, I sound really cynical. It’s just very formulaic. But the author did a good enough job of making me care about the people and place that I’ll at least read the next book.
March 12, 2019
This story was well written, with good character development. Be fore warned it is a bit on the violent side with a lot of evil. The reason for the low rating: I enjoy reading books in a series because I become connected to the characters and generally enjoy continuing. Occasionally I read a book out of order or decide to leave the series and read something different. I started with book 1 in this series and intended to continue. But I changed my mind. In my opinion this is not a 3 book series but a 3 volume book. Volume 1 (book 1) is 700 pages, with no clear ending. There was no resolution. There was simply an abrupt ending. I feel as if the author attempted to manipulate me into purchasing more books by not supplying an ending. Of course there should be some draw to pull you towards the next book but you should want to go on your own, not because there was no end. If it is called a book then it should have a beginning, middle and end. Truly, I have no desire to read another 700 pages with no end in sight.
February 20, 2018
This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. It had so much mystery and so much unknown. I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened to so many of the people.
I found my heart went out to Carina and all that she went through. I understood so much of how she felt many times.
I love Quillan and how he helps so many people.
There are so many of the Characters I just loved.
My heart broke a few times and I wondered why just like some in the book. But I found myself smile and even laugh a couple of times.
It had a good message about God and his love for each of us.
I was totally drawn into Wolf and Rose and felt like there is so much more to their story.
I really enjoyed the book and can't wait to read the next one.
I found my heart went out to Carina and all that she went through. I understood so much of how she felt many times.
I love Quillan and how he helps so many people.
There are so many of the Characters I just loved.
My heart broke a few times and I wondered why just like some in the book. But I found myself smile and even laugh a couple of times.
It had a good message about God and his love for each of us.
I was totally drawn into Wolf and Rose and felt like there is so much more to their story.
I really enjoyed the book and can't wait to read the next one.
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