Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Home To Kentucky: The McCoys Before The Feud Series Vol. 2 by Thomas A. McCoy is an intelligently plotted and beautifully written story with strong historical undertones; a rollicking tale of adventure. Set in Kansas in 1865, Wiley McCoy and his siblings are headed home with plundered gold stacked in wagons. Although destined for home, they have a huge problem: making the journey back safely without attracting the attention of law enforcers. But how can they lay low with so many war deserters and bandits running across their trail? And what happens when they cross paths with the people they least expected: the Pinkerton detectives.

We meet the characters six weeks after the last raid on the North's stockpiles of southern valuables. The general's attempt to find the raiders had not been fruitful, and his investigation had all but died out. The author provides interesting background information on the characters, mostly men who had served in various units of the army. The narrative voice is strong, the action intense, the scenes focused and the entire story filled with action. You will hear lots of gunshots, follow the characters through very tight situations, and hear pounding heartbeats. Home To Kentucky: The McCoys Before The Feud Series Vol.2 is filled with adventure and daring. It is bold, it is balanced, it is deft. The plot development is complemented by the depth of character and vividness in the setting. This is a story that will entice fans of westerns, sleuth, action, and adventure tales.

Reviewed by Deborah Lloyd for Readers' Favorite

The first tragedy in Morning Dove’s life was the death of her parents from smallpox, a devastating disease for Native Americans brought by the white man. Morning Dove, a twenty-year-old South Cheyenne maiden, and her eighteen-year-old brother, Black Beaver, were raised by the tribal chief and his wife. Chief Black Kettle and Medicine Woman later instilled their love for peace in Morning Dove’s heart. The chief hired a white man to teach them the English language. At the same time, Clinton McKay, a veteran of the Civil War that had just ended, found himself untrained to do any available job in his hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Joining the cavalry seemed like the best option, although he hated to leave his sister, a war widow, and her two young daughters. While Clinton thought the cavalry’s main focus was the protection of wagon trains and stagecoaches, he soon learned that killing the Indians was another goal. The paths of Morning Dove and Clinton soon crossed, and the story continues in Michelle Roberts’ historical novel, Whispers Among the Prairie.

This book engages the reader from the first page to the last. Beginning with an everyday scene in a Cheyenne village and then moving to life in a Midwestern town after the Civil War is certainly intriguing. The author writes in a smooth, flowing style, capturing the reader’s imagination. There are a number of characters in both settings, and each one is aptly described. Likewise, the settings are also easy to imagine. In Whispers Among the Prairie by Michelle Roberts a cataclysmic decade in the United States’ history is unforgettably portrayed.

Reviewed by Joshua Soule for Readers' Favorite

“You’re a hero, Jim, plain and simple. But that ain’t necessarily a good thing either.” The Legend of Deputy Jim is the thrilling story of Jim Edwards, working for the Sheridan County, Wyoming Sheriff’s Department in the 1970s. His tale is anything but normal; day one of his career is already filled with the dangerous involvement of the Wild Wolves, a notorious motorcycle gang. A dispute between law enforcement and outlaws is not all that Deputy Jim finds himself involved in - the ties of the Wolves run deep into their cartel drug suppliers and corrupted politicians on the payroll. Jim struggles to do the right thing, fulfill his duty, be a protector, and come out of a death trap alive as the story climaxes toward a dangerous showdown from the outlaw bikers, particularly Grinder, who want him dead. This action-packed novel will have you on the edge of your seat.

Reading The Legend of Deputy Jim was a pleasure, to say the least. Dan E. Hendrickson has done an incredible job of creating a thrilling story with vivid and relatable characters. Hendrickson has clearly poured passion into his work that comes alive in the characters. I laughed, I sat at the edge of my seat, I worried about the wellbeing of the characters. I found it extremely difficult to stop reading once I started. I became emotionally attached, and the story stuck with me long after I put the book down. The Legend of Deputy Jim truly is a once in a lifetime type of novel, and it is highly recommended!

Reviewed by Alyssa Elmore for Readers' Favorite

A young woman must confront her disastrous past to save her future in the compelling historical romance, Fire Blossom (The Bridge Between Enemies) by Gail Meath. It's 1843 in the Republic of Texas. Enchanting Comanche Princess Fire Blossom has lost all memories of her past; she can't recall her life before a severe illness stole her memories four years ago. With the deep affection of her family and neighboring tribe, Fire Blossom is content with her life. Always the impetuous one, she anxiously awaits the blessing of her marriage to the brave warrior, and soon-to-be-chief, Lone Wolf. After some urging, Fire Blossom and Lone Wolf are thrilled to learn that the ceremony will be held in three days. Following a secret rendezvous with her betrothed, Fire Blossom happens on a horrific scene; the carnage of her village by frenzied settlers. Frantic and overwhelmed with grief, she only has time to try saving her wounded older sister before she is captured and tortured. Unsure of how long her captors will keep her alive, and what they intend on doing with her, Fire Blossom can only hope for a quick death. When a tall, quiet Texan Ranger intervenes and enlists the help of his sister-in-law to nurse her back to health, Fire Blossom's sole focus is returning to Lone Wolf. Only, the longer she stays at the Ranger's farm, the closer to her unremembered past she becomes. Suddenly her heart is caught between yesterday and tomorrow. With her loyalties divided, Fire Blossom must choose between love, integrity, and honor. Will Fire Blossom be able to reclaim the past she doesn't remember? Can she reconnect with her lost love?

Fire Blossom (The Bridge Between Enemies) by Gail Meath is an engaging romantic western set during a time of turmoil in Texas. Seamlessly moving from the past to the present, this story takes the reader into a provocative account of murder, lies, betrayal, and ultimate healing. Immediately impressing me with how superbly Ms. Meath developed her characters and story world, the complex plot is masterfully executed with impeccable pacing, culminating in a thrilling ending. The main characters instantly captured my attention, drawing me deep into the story to the last page. The other characters stole my heart as well, as Ms. Meath expertly interwove their backgrounds throughout the novel. I appreciated how Ms. Meath added complex, yet defining nuances to the story, enhancing the enjoyment of the final outcome. I was surprisingly pleased with the conclusion and look forward to reading more from this author.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Home To Kentucky: The McCoys Before The Feud Series Vol. 2 by Thomas A. McCoy is an intelligently plotted and beautifully written story with strong historical undertones; a rollicking tale of adventure. Set in Kansas in 1865, Wiley McCoy and his siblings are headed home with plundered gold stacked in wagons. Although destined for home, they have a huge problem: making the journey back safely without attracting the attention of law enforcers. But how can they lay low with so many war deserters and bandits running across their trail? And what happens when they cross paths with the people they least expected: the Pinkerton detectives.

We meet the characters six weeks after the last raid on the North's stockpiles of southern valuables. The general's attempt to find the raiders had not been fruitful, and his investigation had all but died out. The author provides interesting background information on the characters, mostly men who had served in various units of the army. The narrative voice is strong, the action intense, the scenes focused and the entire story filled with action. You will hear lots of gunshots, follow the characters through very tight situations, and hear pounding heartbeats. Home To Kentucky: The McCoys Before The Feud Series Vol.2 is filled with adventure and daring. It is bold, it is balanced, it is deft. The plot development is complemented by the depth of character and vividness in the setting. This is a story that will entice fans of westerns, sleuth, action, and adventure tales.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Abigail MacKay is a rarity, a detective for the famous Pinkerton Detective Agency at the end of the nineteenth century. In Innocent Bystander (The Innocent Mystery Series Book 3), by C.A. Asbrey, Abigail is drawn west from her home in New York in search of her missing sister, Madeleine, who it appears has run off with a man suspected of leaving a trail of dead, rich wives behind him. The problem is nobody appears to know how he is killing his wives and, although suspected of murder, no charges have ever been brought against him. When Nat Quinn, notorious bandit and leader of the Innocent gang, and his erstwhile Uncle Jake rob a train in Wyoming, they discover among the passengers the beautiful and seductive Madeleine, who instantly reminds him of Abigail, with whom he has had previous romantic and unresolved issues. When Abigail realizes Nat and Jake are her best chance to find Madeleine and save her from her killer husband, she heads into outlaw territory and persuades the pair to accompany her to San Francisco where they will try to discover the mysterious method by which the killer disposes of his wives without medical professionals being any the wiser.

Innocent Bystanders is a powerful and exciting adventure that captivated me as a reader from the first page. I had not read the previous two stories in this adventure, but author C.A. Asbrey did a superb job of filling in the gaps of what occurred in books 1 and 2. The characters of Abigail, Nat and Jake could almost have been taken from a “western adventure annual.” They are overdrawn, but purposely, I’m sure, by the author to emphasize their characters. Nat and Jake were far from your average outlaws, with both having a strong moral compass buried beneath their outward bluster and toughness. Similarly, Abigail was your archetypal heroine; strong, independent, free thinking and willful, everything you’d expect from a Pinkerton female detective. The author marvelously managed to imbue her with a softer, feminine and uncertain side to her character that just rounded her out perfectly. The plot is cleverly constructed and keeps the reader fascinated. Although this story could probably be classified as a “western," it is far more than that and will appeal to aficionados of western, romance, murder/mystery and adventure tales. All in all, this is an excellent read and highly recommended.

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

Love Child: A Midnight Marauder Adventure is a true western novel that was an excellent read. When Slim Hanson discovers he has a teenage son, Richie, from a woman he loved very much many years ago, he is thrilled. Slim, his daughter, Charlotte, and her husband, John Crudder, and his horse, Midnight, welcome Richie into the family with open arms and lots of love. Richie has come because his mother, Marie, has been murdered and she had told him that if anything ever happened to her he should go to Bandera because he has family there. When John hears the story of how Marie was murdered, he takes it upon himself to track down the killer and bring him to justice. John faces many life-threatening and scary situations as he tracks down the bad guys.

There were many twists, turns and alarming events that made it impossible to put down Love Child. I particularly liked that Roy Clinton made the story come alive and it was so very accurate to the time period. This is the first book I have read by Roy Clinton but I look forward to reading all of the John Crudder Midnight Marauder Adventures as soon as possible. If you like the ‘Old West’ genre, this book is a must-read. I believe this would make a great TV series or perhaps even a movie. I highly recommend this book for men and women, young and old. Thank you, Roy Clinton, for a winning book in Love Child.

Reviewed by Paul F. Murray for Readers' Favorite

Amanda Kelly witnesses the murder of her father in Iron City, Dakota Territory, and then the burning down of her father’s store immediately afterward. As if that weren’t bad enough, the person who probably committed the deeds—an evil, vengeful banker and jilted suitor named Baldwin Irving—decides to frame Amanda for the fire, claiming that she wants to collect on the insurance. In cahoots with Sheriff Cobb, the local lawman, Irving has Amanda arrested and put in jail. Amanda escapes with the help of a sympathetic deputy sheriff and runs away to Montana and the Gallagher Ranch. The Gallaghers shelter and protect Amanda from both a former wagon train companion who tried to rape her, and from Irving, as Irving and his gang search for her to get her to sign away her rights to her father’s (gold-veined) land in Iron City, and then to kill her. In particular, the Gallagher ranch foreman, Ben, takes a special interest in protecting Amanda and helping her in her efforts to clear her name and bring the real culprits to justice. The question is: will they succeed? Or will Amanda have to leave the Gallaghers, and Ben, to flee and hide once more?

Journey to Hawk's Peak by MK McClintock is one of the most gripping and thrilling western novels that anyone will ever read. Journey to Hawk's Peak will give readers such a thrilling adventure ride that they will have trouble putting it down. The novel is extremely well written, with smooth, excellent grammar that won’t get in readers’ way, and with a plot development that is logical and highly engaging. This is probably the best novel that I have yet read as a reviewer. It clicks on all cylinders--grammar, punctuation, plot, characterization, everything. This novel is a serious page-turner, and for fans of western fiction, it is a must-read.

Reviewed by Sefina Hawke for Readers' Favorite

One Hell Of A Ride by Ju Ephraime is a western historical romance novel that would appeal most to a mixed audience of mature young adults and adults who enjoy western romance and who do not mind explicit language and sexual situations. Cassie Sorrento’s life is turned upside down by a ruggedly handsome drifter by the name of Joe Cariello, who claims that he used to know her grandfather. Cassie Sorrento is skeptical of the drifter’s claim because of the age difference between her grandfather and Joe. When Joe Cariello saw Cassie standing at his old friend’s house and introduced himself, he had no idea that he would become the most likely suspect for a murder, nor that he would meet the one person who just might be able to cause him to put down roots.

One Hell Of A Ride by Ju Ephraime has a beautifully shadowed cover that hinted at a western mystery with some hot romance mixed in. I loved the realistic feel of the western setting in this book and Ju Ephraime clearly put a lot of effort into giving it an authentic western feel. The characters were all well developed with their own personalities, wants, and dislikes that made them feel like real people that could almost walk off the pages of the book. Joe Cariello became my favorite character because of how much he came to care for Cassie; I loved the way he wanted to work with Cassie to find out the truth. The interaction between the two of them clearly showed the building attraction and the hope Joe began to have of staying with Cassie. I have to say that I would love to see more of Joe and Cassie in the future!

Reviewed by Nina T. Newland for Readers' Favorite

Hour Glass takes us back to an era when a man’s word was his bond. A time when great deals were made and honored with a handshake, when life expectancy was short and every man had a pistol on his hip. Although the dangers of living in this period in history and the conflicts with the Native American suppression and the treatment of women are incorporated, the book touches on numerous factual historical issues in a fantasy setting, not intended to be historically accurate. The story introduces 12-year-old Jimmy Glass, who is faced with some real life challenges and having to choose between one bad decision over a far worse one. He is enabled by the most unseemly characters, catapulting him and his sister to their next steps in life.

Hour Glass by Michelle Rene is a well-written tale, depicting alternate aspects of Calamity Jane’s life and the events surrounding it. In classic Western style, the story takes place in a popular, but tiny mining town in South Dakota. In a story littered with realistic and relatable characters, as well as aspects of America’s history, you’ll have a plethora of characters to love or hate. Hour Glass is sprinkled with metaphors and old time sayings that reminded me of my many elderly relatives. I found it quite comical and refreshing. I particularly liked the thought: "The birds had the audacity to sing." (Which I believe sets the stage for this novel). They do tend to do just that, totally oblivious to our grief. I really enjoyed reading this book with my 14-year-old daughter. It is a very interesting story. I would highly recommend this book for all to read. I could read it again and again.