¡Viva California!

He fled Ireland. She crossed a continent. He seeks land and God. She dreams of a convent's safety. When their Faith is challenged by the erupting chaos of Alta California, their love will be their salvation.

Dec. 1844. Texas no longer belongs to Mexico. In Alta California, illegal immigrants straggle up from the southern deserts, over the eastern mountains, and down from Oregon. Californios struggle to hold their world together as newly arrived Americans ignore Mexican laws, Norteños clash with Sureños, hostile Indians raid ranchos, and settlers retaliate by burning Indian rancherias.

Into this turmoil comes Michael Ryan, shipwrecked on the rocks near Monterey. He blames his younger brother, Billy, for forcing him to flee Ireland-and for the events that still haunt him with guilt. But he is now free to seek what he considers will bring him peace, pride and respect-land. Hired as a courier, he moves among the elite of Alta California, and is disturbed as he sees a parallel between the "Christian" treatment of Mexican Indians and the English dominance in Ireland. His Faith falters and his guilt deepens.

Róisín Farrell has crossed the continent with her father and brothers in the first wagon party to traverse the Sierra Nevada-the Stevens-Townsend-Murphy party. Once certain she would become a nun, her mother's death has left her questioning God, fearful of what lies ahead. At Sutter's Fort, surrounded by beards and buckskin-rough hunters and trappers-Róisín struggles with unfamiliar sensations and a growing sense of guilt.

As the chaos of Alta California draws Michael and Róisín together-threatened by Billy's unprincipled behavior-they must confront the past, the turbulence of their feelings, rebuild their Faith, and forge a future together.