McCleod Daughters Series by Aola Vandergriff, Aola

Like fairytale sisters, the three McCleod girls were beautiful, virtuous and bound to a dream--the dream of finding a new life in the West. But their story was no fairytale; for their father died on the trail and they were stranded, without money or means to go on. So, Tamsen McCleod became "Poppy Franklin," one of the girls at the cantina, to get the money to take her and her sisters to San Francisco... moreLike fairytale sisters, the three McCleod girls were beautiful, virtuous and bound to a dream--the dream of finding a new life in the West. But their story was no fairytale; for their father died on the trail and they were stranded, without money or means to go on. So, Tamsen McCleod became "Poppy Franklin," one of the girls at the cantina, to get the money to take her and her sisters to San Francisco. Soon, Em found a place in society--and in the heart of a prominent man; Arab danced her way into a life that promised love and a castle in Spain. But Tamsen's "other life" that had made it all possible now threatened to tumble all their dreams. less

The Daughters of the Southwind have become Daughters of the Wild Country The three beautiful McCleod sisters made it West to San Francisco and into the arms of men who love them--but not into "happily ever after" lives. Tamsen, off to Russian-Alaska with her husband, Dan Tallant, is soon caught up in a web of international and sexual intrigue, between the powerful and the power seekers... moreThe Daughters of the Southwind have become Daughters of the Wild Country The three beautiful McCleod sisters made it West to San Francisco and into the arms of men who love them--but not into "happily ever after" lives. Tamsen, off to Russian-Alaska with her husband, Dan Tallant, is soon caught up in a web of international and sexual intrigue, between the powerful and the power seekers. Dan disappears on a mysterious mission and she must make her own way into the wilderness, become "Madam Franklin" again with girls and games to tempt lonely miners. Arab and Em follow her North to begin new lives in a world where nature is raw, men are rough: and love, when it comes, shines like a gold nugget, unexpected and bright in the cruel, cold Alaskan waters. less

Hawaii seems like Paradise to Tamsen and Arab, newly arrived in 1868 with their husbands Dan and Juan--but it is not. Beneath the beauty, like the hot lava bubbling in the volcano's crater, trouble seethes in Paradise. The daughters are destined to be caught in the turmoil between Americans who want annexation of the islands and native Hawaiians who want to keep their country. And in their own family, danger looms . . moreHawaii seems like Paradise to Tamsen and Arab, newly arrived in 1868 with their husbands Dan and Juan--but it is not. Beneath the beauty, like the hot lava bubbling in the volcano's crater, trouble seethes in Paradise. The daughters are destined to be caught in the turmoil between Americans who want annexation of the islands and native Hawaiians who want to keep their country. And in their own family, danger looms . . . for in Em's daughter Martha there is anger and a desire for vengeance that threatens to erupt and engulf them all. less

Now settled at Nells' Wotherspoon Manor, the feisty McCLeod sisters must face the past and carve new futures for their children and their men. Red-haired, strong-willed Arab will have her marriage -- and her courage -- put to the test... Level-headed Tam must live without her beloved Dan... and even their guardian angel Nell, now in her autumn years and as earthy as ever, will have to relinquish a dream when a sly interloper seeks to steal her fortune... moreNow settled at Nells' Wotherspoon Manor, the feisty McCLeod sisters must face the past and carve new futures for their children and their men. Red-haired, strong-willed Arab will have her marriage -- and her courage -- put to the test... Level-headed Tam must live without her beloved Dan... and even their guardian angel Nell, now in her autumn years and as earthy as ever, will have to relinquish a dream when a sly interloper seeks to steal her fortune. But their greatest challenge by far will be to secure the happiness of Arab's youngest child -- the pale, silver-eyed Luka, as fragile as a dream, blessed with strange gifts, and dancing on the brink of love... less

The fiery McLeod sisters have left a legacy of love and adventure to the Daughters of the Shining City Petra Channing -- ebony-haired, porcelain-fragile daughter of Em's child Martha and the Chinese war lord who abducted her, has wandered into peril in the opium-filled streets of San Francisco's Chinatown. Missie Navaez -- daughter of Arab, has left Australia and come to San Francisco to become a writer. Her book places the daughters in a different kind of danger... moreThe fiery McLeod sisters have left a legacy of love and adventure to the Daughters of the Shining City Petra Channing -- ebony-haired, porcelain-fragile daughter of Em's child Martha and the Chinese war lord who abducted her, has wandered into peril in the opium-filled streets of San Francisco's Chinatown. Missie Navaez -- daughter of Arab, has left Australia and come to San Francisco to become a writer. Her book places the daughters in a different kind of danger. Based on the McLeods' lives, it is a labor of love, but the press sees it as a scandal to be exploited. The telling of the tale could destroy the reputation the daughters have struggled to build through the years. less

Beautiful, impetuous Denise Dugal, shy almond-eyed Liane Wang, gentle Irish Nora Murphy, and dark fiery Jo Blaine all shared one thing: the courage and passion of the legendary McLeod sisters, who had forged a future on the world's greatest frontiers. Now, as Europe plunged into World War I, this new generation of women seized their priceless legacy and carried it to the battlefields of France... moreBeautiful, impetuous Denise Dugal, shy almond-eyed Liane Wang, gentle Irish Nora Murphy, and dark fiery Jo Blaine all shared one thing: the courage and passion of the legendary McLeod sisters, who had forged a future on the world's greatest frontiers. Now, as Europe plunged into World War I, this new generation of women seized their priceless legacy and carried it to the battlefields of France. Here in a rough field hospital behind enemy lines, they found: Peter Carey: the British doctor who hid his passion for Denise behind his gift of healing... Steve Long: the wounded soldier who gave Liane his heart before he could even see. . . Mule: the gentle American who taught Nora to trust again... Kurt Kellerman: the German soldier Jo vowed to posses even if it meant betraying her own country Like the McLeod sisters before them, they knew that winning at love was the greatest victory. less

The war in Europe is over and America is dancing to the Charleston and swigging bootleg champagne. Brought together again by their aged but still lovely grandmother Arab, the descendants of the famous McLeod daughters now gather in California, and are drawn to the movie capital of the world...JO, returning from Germany with her husband and her marriage in trouble. NORA, the servant's daughter trying to keep the whole family together... moreThe war in Europe is over and America is dancing to the Charleston and swigging bootleg champagne. Brought together again by their aged but still lovely grandmother Arab, the descendants of the famous McLeod daughters now gather in California, and are drawn to the movie capital of the world...JO, returning from Germany with her husband and her marriage in trouble. NORA, the servant's daughter trying to keep the whole family together. LIANE, part Asian and altogether beautiful, having to choose between her estranged rancher husband and a new love. DENISE, the flame-haired firebrand from Scotland, determined to become a flapper and a siren-starlet of the silents. But after the publicity shots with Valentino and the sophisticated parties, there's another darker side to the raucous Hollywood of the twenties, one that threatens all the Daughters of the Silver Screen less