Fiction/Historical
Chicago & Western by Julie Wachowski
True Bradshaw, a rough and tumble Wyoming horse rancher, travels east to save her home. Little does she know that stampeding horses and land grabbers will pale in comparison to the back-stabbing intrigue of 1904 Chicago’s high society. Think "Downton Abbey" on the Plains. For once True enters the palatial home of the Webb family, her life will change forever. From the wide-open vistas and buckskins of the West to the smoke-filled skies and silk slippers of Chicago, True must conform to the rules of Edwardian society and sacrifice her most precious commodity—independence—in order to protect her ranch.
Enter Macallan Webb, a Rough Rider with Teddy Roosevelt and ne’er-do-well scion of the family, long thought dead. But the prodigal son has returned, with plans to take over the family’s down-at-heels saloon against the wishes of his sister and houseful of aunts. The saloon will be Mac’s entre to Chicago’s infamous underworld and a perfect hunter’s blind for his true motive: revenge.
True and Macallan don’t see eye to eye on much, except their distrust of Howard Yenkles, Chicago’s transportation czar, suitor of Macallan’s sister Katherine (whose husband has conveniently gone missing), and major player in Chicago’s exclusive and secretive Centaur Club. When True and Mac join forces in a marriage of convenience that tests everything they believe about family loyalty and personal liberty, they discover that they are more alike than not. And when Macallan sets out to bring Yenkles to justice—for high level graft and corruption, not to mention arson, kidnapping and murder—True is forced to reclaim her frontier ways to track down her husband and protect her new family. Because only together can they rescue Katherine and defeat Yenkles, a man grown more desperate and dangerous by the day.
Filled to the brim with wonderful characters—ranging from delightfully charming to completely mad, terrific depictions of turn-of-the-last-century Chicago and exciting action that drives the plot from Wyoming to Chicago and back, Chicago & Western is a fresh take on a John Jakes-style historical novel. With a sequel in the works, Julie Wachowski has set out to make the Webb family saga one beloved by readers from coast to coast—and all points in between.
Enter Macallan Webb, a Rough Rider with Teddy Roosevelt and ne’er-do-well scion of the family, long thought dead. But the prodigal son has returned, with plans to take over the family’s down-at-heels saloon against the wishes of his sister and houseful of aunts. The saloon will be Mac’s entre to Chicago’s infamous underworld and a perfect hunter’s blind for his true motive: revenge.
True and Macallan don’t see eye to eye on much, except their distrust of Howard Yenkles, Chicago’s transportation czar, suitor of Macallan’s sister Katherine (whose husband has conveniently gone missing), and major player in Chicago’s exclusive and secretive Centaur Club. When True and Mac join forces in a marriage of convenience that tests everything they believe about family loyalty and personal liberty, they discover that they are more alike than not. And when Macallan sets out to bring Yenkles to justice—for high level graft and corruption, not to mention arson, kidnapping and murder—True is forced to reclaim her frontier ways to track down her husband and protect her new family. Because only together can they rescue Katherine and defeat Yenkles, a man grown more desperate and dangerous by the day.
Filled to the brim with wonderful characters—ranging from delightfully charming to completely mad, terrific depictions of turn-of-the-last-century Chicago and exciting action that drives the plot from Wyoming to Chicago and back, Chicago & Western is a fresh take on a John Jakes-style historical novel. With a sequel in the works, Julie Wachowski has set out to make the Webb family saga one beloved by readers from coast to coast—and all points in between.
About the Author
Julie Wachowski, a Chicagoan herself and graduate of Northwestern University, was chosen as one of the launch authors for the Harlequin digital-first imprint Carina Press. Her mystery novel In Plain View was an e-list bestseller and her book was one of four Carina titles selected for a subsequent print edition. Julie is the sister of the famous Wachowskis of Hollywood--Andy and Lana, writers, directors and producers of such films as "The Matrix," "Speed Racer" and "Cloud Atlas."