Book of the Week: Kilrone by Louis L'Amour

I like westerns, and I've read a few of them by Louis L'Amour and I've enjoyed them. The latest book I enjoyed was "Kilrone." This was a good story and had some interesting characters, especially the main character, Barnes Kilrone, former Army officer who left the army. He wound up defending a fort from Indian attacks that were orchestrated by an insider, who turned out to be the villain of the story. It kept me reading and I finished the book within a week! Really enjoyable characters and story!

ABOUT THE BOOK: Kilrone by Louis L'Amour

When Major Frank Paddock and Barnes Kilrone were dashing young officers in Paris, they both fell in love with the same woman. But now they are men in exile in one of the harshest territories of the American West. It is against this inhospitable backdrop, where survival itself is a day-to-day struggle, that Paddock makes a fateful decision that will plunge both men into a headlong battle for their lives and the lives they’re sworn to protect. As Paddock leads his company of soldiers in pursuit of a Bannock war party, Kilrone is left behind to guard the post’s women and children. And before the day is over, one of them, outnumbered and outgunned, will be trapped in a fight to the finish.…

Excellent Western Novel! Never Bet Against the Bullet /A Ralph Compton novel by Jackson Lowry

I love western novels, and have always been fascinated with the Old West. In fact, I realized I had a past life experience in Tombstone, Arizona, when I visited and it's part of my book "Ghosts of the Bird Cage Theatre on a Medium's Vacation." (Had to plug it). I also love reading westerns in comic books, like DC Comics' Jonah Hex, and Scalphunter; and Marvel Comics' Rawhide Kid and Two-Gun Kid. I've read Louis Lamour novels, too. But this paperback I stumbled upon, intrigued me. 

   So, I bought: "Never Bet Against the Bullet" - /A Ralph Compton novel by Jackson Lowry. I was absolutely taken in. The characters, the plot twists and turns, even up to the last couple of chapters made for a book I didn't want to stop reading. It was OUTSTANDING. 5 of 5 stars. So, I just ordered 3 more books by Jackson Lowry (he's now writing for Ralph Compton who passed away in 1998). Jackson Lowry is a great author!  Get this book! Rob (Below is the book description)

ABOUT THE BOOK: Ralph Compton Never Bet Against the Bullet (The Sundown Riders Series) by Jackson Lowry (Author), Ralph Compton (Author) Part of: The Sundown Riders Series (27 books) 

 In this thrilling new Ralph Compton Western, the fate of a small town rests in the hands of a gambler who’s ready to risk more than money. The people of Meridian, Colorado, live and die by coal mining, and when the railroad bypasses them, their livelihood is in peril. However, they discover that for a hefty sum of money they can create a spur line and save the town. 

A hefty sum that the town does not have. Their only hope is former gambler Asa Newcombe. 

 The townspeople pool their money so Newcombe can enter the big poker game in Golden Junction, and as much as he wants to leave his past life behind, the whole town is counting on him. Winning the big pot will burnish his reputation, but his goal is simple: Get the money and get out alive. His opponents include wealthy ranchers, tinhorn gamblers, and men who are outright criminals—and many of them will stop at nothing to make their fortune, even if they have to cheat, drug, or kill to do so....

A Good Western Novel: "Wolf Moon" by Ed Gorman

Last month I blogged about reading a collection of short stories in a mystery collection with dog and cat themes. One of the authors was Ed Gorman (who passed), of whom I had not read of his works before. When I looked him up on the internet, he's written a lot of books in various genres, including western, political, mystery, thrillers and even comic books!  I decided to order a couple of his books, and one was a western called "Wolf Moon." Today's blog has my review and provides a summary of the book.

I really enjoyed the book and the character, is a very likeable 18-year-old, grown to a 30-year-old (over the length of this short book). As a teen he was involved in a bank robbery with his brothers, that was organized by the bank owner. He was sent to prison for a decade and the story picks up from there. I quickly grew to like the character... and I wish there would have been a sequel. I'll leave it there other than saying it was a great book.  

ABOUT THE BOOK: REVENGE WAS HIS ONLY REASON FOR LIVING-- EVEN IF IT MEANT DYING. It wasn't just the memories of his murdered brothers or the ten years in prison that reminded Chase how much he hated Reeves for double-crossing him after the bank robbery. Chase's face was carved with hideous scars from the bloody night when Reeves's killer wolf had attacked & left him for dead. Now he was out of jail & in the same town where Reeves was setting up his next bank heist. The lust for revenge was eating away at Chase's gut, & not even the love of a woman could stop him from the hell-bound path he must follow. For him, no price was too high--and the sacrifice would be savage...