As the other reviewer mentioned I don't know how Ralph does it but he consistently puts out a number of great westerns every year. If you enjoy westerns and have never read any of his books you really should pick up a few of them. You will get hooked on the characters. I can't hardly wait for each book about Ranger Sam Burrack its like meeting up with and old friend everytime you sit down to read one. Ralphs book are always action packed, funny, with interesting characters, and never a rehash of the same thing. Riders from Long Pines brings back Maria a character that hasn't appeared in a long while (a good number of years) in the Ranger series but it's as if she had never been gone. Ralph does an excellent job with the drovers trying to do the right thing and return money that dosen't belong to them but faced with corrupt towns people that want the money for themselves, temptation of keeping the money, and outlaw out to get the money back, and Ranger Burrack on their trail all adds up to a wonderful western adventure. Do yourself a favor and pick up a bunch of Ralphs books turn off the TV, find a place that's nice and quite and enjoy the simple pleasure of reading exciting stories that put you back in the old west. You wont regret it! PS. I would also like to see Sergeant Tom Haines in future books as well.
THE SAGA OF BUCKSHOT PARKS AND OTHER "JACKPOT" LOW LIFES
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
This is the latest release from Ralph Cotton and is well worth the read. As a reader with 32 of his books on my western shelves I gotta wonder how he keeps coming up with them, but every few months coming up with them he does. I love westerns, especially about stagecoaches, but in this one the stage is held up with everyone killed except hairy, ole Sergeant Tom Haines. This stage was carrying almost more money than one could count, with Buckshot Parks now trailing the innocent foursome of cowboys or 'drovers' trying to return the money to its rightful owner. A vicious killer now on their trail, and they are unaware. Buckshot went out of his way, siding a couple of sad sacks, to rob the stage and though it was a botched job figures that all that money rightfully now belongs to him, and he is more than willing to do whatever it may take to obtain it. Arizona Ranger Sam Burrack and Maria, comely gal of the ready, loaded shotgun, figure it a sight differently. It adds up to 294 pages of good reading from the talented pen of Ralph Cotton. Oh yeah, Sergeant Tom Haines previously mentioned, is a great big dog that can either be man's best friend or man's worst enemy. Great stuff. PS: Having two dogs of my own, hope the dog is in the next book too, Ralph. You got a winner in Sergeant Tom Haines. Semper Fi.
Flavorful Western Action
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
This installment of Ralph Cotton's Sam Burrack series is the usual blend of action, attention to detail, well drawn characters and some decidely black comedy. The Arizona lawman has stirred up trouble by dragging a bank robber into a small town and asking the sheriff to hold him in jail. The problem is that the robber is one of the younger brothers of some "legitimate" ranchers who run a rag tag band of bandits. They spend a lot of their ill-gotten money in town and the sheriff and some of the townsfolk figure they're OK since they do their banditry elsewhere. As the bandit leader arrives in town with a trick up his sleeve and tension builds, a ragged army of of desert dwelling outlaws are preparing to attack the town. A real pickle of a situation. Know this about a Ralph Cotton western, expect the unexpected.
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