I have just completed a wonderful series, and I wanted to comment upon it. As is common for me, I started at the end with Soaring With Eagles, Portia Bennett's most recent novella in her California Saga. I was so impressed with the story that I had to look up the rest of it. What I found was a wonderfully well-written series about a large family in California. The series covered several generations, each with its own fully developed characters, a continuing theme of a supportive family properin through adversity, and story arcs that included mysterious characters, murder, intrigue, suspense, thrills and high adventure.

The saga begins Heart of the Beholder, with a love story between Mike O'Donnell and Joey Beebe. Yet, Joey isn't all s/he seems to be. Over time, they marry, have children and posper, in spite of the difficulties they encounter with Mike's evangelical father. Their love and marriage leads to a great detective story involving kidnapping, murder and revenge.

The successsful resolution leads into the next story, The Naragansett Fork, and two whole new characters, who will become major characters for the rest of the series. One is a child of incest, buried away in a children's home until rescued. Only then, is it discovered that she is an heiress.

Musetta's Waltz is the story of a TS woman who is barely subsisting. Others take advantage of her, until she finds herself in a men's prion. Yet, this is her apotheosis, from which she emerges to become a woman of influence for generations to come. Not only is she changed, but she brings about transformations in the hearts and minds of all who know her.

The next few books involve the personal lives and loves of the children and grandchildren of these several marriages. Each has a complicated story. Each is filled with love, passions and accomplishment. The stories of Who Is Sylvia?, Five Love Stories en Brochette, The Redhead and the PM, and St. George and the Dragon are love stories that can't be missed.

Finally, coming full circle, returning to the O'Donnells. In the first novel, Heart of the Beholder, we saw the love story of Mike O'Donnell and Joey Beebe. But Mike had a younger brother, Matt, who was virtually ignored throughout this series. Yet, he has a wonderful story of service to his country, bravery and success. He too will fall in love and marry. Yet, the girl of his dreams is the last person on earth he'd expect to marry.

I recommend the California Saga, written by Portia Bennett. Once you start it, you'll not put it down until the very end. And, then, like me, you'll ask for more.