Harlan Hague’s novel, Home to Wyoming, continues Caleb and Mei Lin’s story as told in A Place for Mei Lin. The couple has moved from Idaho’s Stanley Basin gold mining country to wide open Wyoming ranch country, near Jackson Hole and the magnificent Teton mountain range. But not all is left behind. Old grudges have a way of cropping up at unexpected times.
The turn of the twentieth century brought hardships to those brave enough to endure the harsh conditions of the New West, especially Wyoming’s notorious severe winters. Caleb and Mei Lin forge ahead, carving out a future in cattle ranching.
The author offers vivid descriptions of the rugged country and the struggles early settlers faced. For ranchers to endure the death of their cattle due to relentless freezing conditions is heartbreaking, let alone financially devastating. It takes a tough constitution and determination to make a living under these harsh conditions.
Caleb and Mei Lin’s strong love carries them through the rough times, through sickness, even death. Caleb is quick to defend Mei Lin, a Chinese immigrant, against those who rail against her.
The two novels, A Place for Mei Lin and Home to Wyoming stand alone, but I’m glad that I happened to read them in the order they were written. Nevertheless, in the second book the author does a good job of bringing the reader up-to-date as a natural part of the story.
Home to Wyoming is a fun, absorbing read.
To learn more about the author, visit harlanhague.us
Reading a well-told tale during short winter days and long winter nights makes for contentment. I will have to read these.
Looks like a great book. Any setting near the Tetons is wonderful. We used to have huge family reunions near Jackson Hole. Great memories.
It IS good, Carmen. We were in that area a couple of years ago. A bookstore in Jackson Hole bought some of my books.
Both of his books are quite good. If you haven’t read either, start with “A Home for Mei Lin.” He does a good job of “catching up” a reader on the second, but if you haven’t read either, you might as well start with the first one.