El Dorado Series by Marcella DiPaolo

Reese Parker and his family want to start over. They pack up everything they own andhead west in a wagon train. He loses his entire family to one catastrophe after anotheruntil he’s left all alone. He ends up in a town in California. It’s just on the border.Reese knows that he needs a job and finds one helping a blacksmith and livery owner.They are very kind to Reese. When the War Between the States breaks out, Reesefeels like he needs to help fight for the Union... moreReese Parker and his family want to start over. They pack up everything they own andhead west in a wagon train. He loses his entire family to one catastrophe after anotheruntil he’s left all alone. He ends up in a town in California. It’s just on the border.Reese knows that he needs a job and finds one helping a blacksmith and livery owner.They are very kind to Reese. When the War Between the States breaks out, Reesefeels like he needs to help fight for the Union. He leaves but promises to return.Being only seventeen, he figures he’ll be the youngest man in the unit he’s assigned to.He’s correct, but he’s also the best shot. His Captain makes him a Sergeant and askshim to show the others how to shoot. Who’s going to listen to a seventeen-year-oldboy? But Reese gets through to them and they become a unit. They have workedtogether for over four years. Reese becomes a hero, rescuing children, babies, andwomen. Then, he and one of his friends get shot. He’s sent home to recover. Hebrings his friend with him.He's older and wiser. War does that to a man. He’s asked to become the next sheriff inEl Dorado. Then, the medic in his unit is injured. He ends up in a wheelchair…can theyhelp find a home for him in El Dorado, too? Could they use another doctor in ElDorado? The town rushes to make a home for the medic ready for him. They make ithandicapped accessible and makes it ready for him to be independent. It seems thateveryone on Reese’s unit is looking to him to help them recover from the war.The war ends. Reese finds love in the arms of the medic’s sister who has given her lifein helping her brother recover. And then, he gets a telegram telling him that his Captainhas suffered a blow rendering him with amnesia. The only person he remembers isReese. Will he help him? Will the war ever end for Reese? less

Grace Lewis thought her life was through. Her husband and two little girls had just died from smallpox in St. Louis. Her family friend suggested that she go live with her sister in El Dorado to get away from all the painful memories her in St. Louis. She sold everything and took his advice. Her sister, Opal Farley, owned the general store in El Dorado with her husband, Griffin. They fixed up the rooms behind the store for Grace to live in... moreGrace Lewis thought her life was through. Her husband and two little girls had just died from smallpox in St. Louis. Her family friend suggested that she go live with her sister in El Dorado to get away from all the painful memories her in St. Louis. She sold everything and took his advice. Her sister, Opal Farley, owned the general store in El Dorado with her husband, Griffin. They fixed up the rooms behind the store for Grace to live in. She had been a nurse before she married and asked the two doctors in El Dorado if they needed any help in their clinic. They jumped at the chance to get another nurse to help them out. Grace was grateful for the chance to start working again.One of her first patients was a woman with cancer. She had five children and a husband who was a rancher. Elizabeth didn’t want to die, but there was no hope for her. How could she take care of her children and still cook, wash, and prepare them for her death? Her husband was at a loss as to what to do. Grace suggested that she go and take care of Elizabeth while she died. She would also help in cooking, cleaning, and all the other chores that fell on her shoulders. Ben, Elizabeth’s husband, was grateful for her help and the help in preparing his children for their mother’s death.Grace fell in love with Elizabeth’s children. She taught them how to laugh again and be children. Elizabeth loved it when she heard them laughing and singing with Grace. She loved that even after she was gone, they would be able to have a happy life. Grace helped her prepare for her death and helped her tell each of her children goodbye. It was not easy. For Grace had become good friends with Elizabeth, too.Read how Grace, Ben, and Elizabeth solve the problem of living, dying, and loving while still holding onto your memories of those you still love. less