The Pacific House and Custom House Plaza

Drunkards, lawyers, and bear fights, oh my!

One of historic Monterey’s most beautiful landmarks, the Pacific House, was purchased by the first US Consul to Mexican California, Oliver Larkin in 1843. It was the first county courthouse, and has been used for office space and warehousing. It’s also been the home of a tavern and of a corral.

The garden, featured as the background image of this blog, was added in 1927. Sitting in the shade of the magnolias, you’d never guess that the arcade and courtyard once held violent bull and bear fights.

In Linked, a different sort of clash takes place in this courtyard, showering the quietly bubbling fountain with beams of deadly magic. Fourteen-year-old Andra Quincy’s magic charm bracelet has plunged her into the Seven, an alternate reality, in which people from Monterey County’s rich past are trapped. As she tries to rescue little Morgan Baxter before she’s lost to the Seven forever, Andra finds herself involved in an intense magical battle with the Sevenpeople, right here in the Pacific House courtyard and garden.

Shouts reverberated against the upstairs windows on the front side of the Pacific House, then the windows banged open and bolts of magic hit the bricks right in front of Andra’s feet. Andra leaped back in fear and pain, and made herself flat against the building again. The bricks smoldered and she could feel the heat blistering her feet right through her shoes . . .

. . . Luisa lowered her hands, smiled, bounded down the stairs, and marched straight for Andra. Something about the look on her face made Andra shrink back against the inside of the arch. She lifted her hands slightly and felt her body throbbing with magic.

The back side of the Pacific House garden wall

Learn more about the Pacific House here and here. Sample several chapters of Linked for free or buy the book now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.