She bolted toward the center of the room only to freeze again. There was a second man she hadn’t seen standing in the shadows who slowly pulled a large knife from his belt as she backed toward the wall. “Fiesty little bitch, ain’t you?” He took a cautious step toward her as she slid along the wall feeling for something to fight with. “This is gonna hurt real bad.” Leonida let out an ear-splitting scream as he raised the knife. She came to California as a young bride in an arranged marriage. Now she owns seventy-five square miles of property bordering the Mokelumne River where gold has been discovered. They want her land and will stop at nothing, even if it means her murder. Mitchell’s research of the customs and traditions of the mining towns and the ranchos gives The Doña authenticity.” The Modesto Bee “A terrific novel, one I could not put down.” KAZV – TV, Channel 14 “A good book written by a good writer.” Rex Fraser – Barnes Noble

“It’s empty,” she said, staring into the open grave. “It certainly is. We’ve been waiting for you, because it’s your funeral.” “No!” she screamed, as he pointed the gun and pulled the trigger. Leonida Garcia has been beaten, robbed, widowed, and seen enough trouble in her young life to last ten lifetimes. Now she wants nothing more than to live peaceably on her rancho. But when someone murders Ambrose Brice, she encourages retired ranger and friend Josiah Russell to find the killer. The trail he finds leads him to her best friend’s door. While she worries about her friend Alice, and seeks to find a way of clearing her name, something even darker and more evil lurks in the shadows. If left alone, it will not only steal her land but take her very life. “GOOD STORY!” All told, (Major Mitchell has) spun a good yarn. This is a story that needs to be told to show the skullduggery concerning the old land grants in California, and (Major) did it well.” \-John Duncklee “A story of love and murder. A complex plot involving the proud Doña Leonida and (a) scoundrel attorney who will stop at nothing to steal the vein of gold running through her property.” \-Katrina Prado “A very good and entertaining tale of the old west from beginning to the end.” \-The Dallas Review