A vivid account of the origins of the transcontinental railroad — available for the first time in trade paperback — by the author of the bestselling The Admirals: "Borneman is masterly at writing seamless narrative." — Douglas Brinkley, author of The Wilderness WarriorAfter the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869, the rest of the United States was up for grabs, and the race was on. The prize: a better, shorter, less snowy route through the American Southwest, linking Los Angeles to Chicago. In IRON HORSES, Borneman recounts the rivalries, contested routes, political posturing, and business dealings that unfolded as an increasing number of lines pushed their way across the country.Borneman brings to life the legendary robber barons behind it all and also captures the herculean efforts required to construct these roads — the laborers who did the back-breaking work, the brakemen who ran atop moving...

Product DescriptionTheir love rides on a spring and a prayer...During the recent Civil War, a soldier risked his life to save Jonathan Handleston—and lost. With the help of an advanced metal brace on his crippled hand, Jon now travels from one poker tournament to the next, determined to earn enough money to repay the man’s debt.Prosperity Ridge is supposed to be the last stop on his quest, but his brace is broken and he needs an engineer to repair the delicate mechanisms. The only one available is Samantha Weatherly, a beautiful anomaly in a world ruled by men.Sam is no fool. Jon is no different from any other gambler—except for his amazing prosthetic. Despite a demanding project to win a critical contract to develop an iron horse, she succumbs to the lure of working on the delicate mechanisms. And working with the handsome Englishman.Like a spring being coiled, Samantha and Jon are inexorably drawn together. Sam begins to realize honor wears many faces, and she becomes the light at the end of Jon’s journey to redemption. The only monkey wrench is Victor, a rival gambler who will stop at nothing to make sure Jon misses the tournament. Even destroy Jon’s and Sam’s lives.Warning: Contains crazed card games, gears and springs galore and a wild ride that’ll have you panting at the end of the book.Book DescriptionTheir love rides on a spring and a prayer...A soldier once risked his life to save Jonathan Handleston—and died. With the help of an advanced metal brace on his crippled hand, Jon now travels to poker tournaments, seeking to repay the man’s debt. Prosperity Ridge is the next stop, but his brace is broken and he needs an engineer to repair the delicate mechanisms. He meets Samantha Weatherly, a beautiful engineer.Like a spring being coiled, Samantha and Jon are drawn together. Their biggest danger is Victor, a rival gambler who is out to destroy Jon.