What the fans say
Michelle Tanner - Going West - The Deserters
I purchased this story after reading the first in the series “Ambush at Kansas City” which was free. I enjoyed the first one so much I had no problem buying this one. I was not disappointed the adventure continues – complete with dastardly deeds and a desperate chase. While these are staples of the Western genre, it is handled in a unique manner.
There is a heart-wrenching account of one of America’s darkest deeds of the nineteenth century. The character of the “Old Indian” in the first story comes to the center of attention as he recalls “Trail of Tears.” His ordeal revealed in a campfire chat at night. The deserters themselves are three desperate men, Confederate Army renegades on a murderous spree in central Kansas.
I’m new to this writer but not westerns, I put these two stories up there with any other short stories in this category. I find these stories to be well worth the read.
Review at Barnes & Noble
Michelle Tanner - Going West - Hangman's Knot
Ron Lewis has done something to me I didn’t expect. He took a character from the second story in this series that I absolutely hated and made me care about him. It’s a dirty trick isn’t it? A despicable person in one story is somehow redeemed in the next. I don’t want to give too much away, but I wasn’t prepared for this when I started the story.
These are very well written accounts. The word pictures in the story help me visualize what is going on. Or perhaps it is written in a way frees my imagination to see the story. This is the third story in the series and I just finished it. Much to my surprise, this has just gotten better with each story. I also absolute adore the “Assassin Rabbit” tale at the beginning of the story.
The title of the story is pretty much what the story is about. At least, in part, this chronicle is about hanging and hangings. It is also about redemption, forgiveness, and retribution or is it revenge? You will have to be the judge of what you think the story is about. Right now I have already begun looking forward to next week when I’m getting part four of the story.
Review at Barnes & Noble
Michelle Tanner - Going West - Thunder in Colby
I read a lot of westerns and it isn’t often that a western short story gets an emotional reaction out of me, this one did. I shed a tear near the end of the story much like a character in the story. Silly thing was I didn’t even see it coming, and this more than I should be saying.
This story is the best of the series I have read so far and felt the need to put a review in on it. Don’t know who wrote the previous ones but they hit it on the head for me so I didn’t feel the need to add anything to what they said. These story seems to be a serialized novel and what a novel. I find I can’t wait to see what this, shall we say, odd group are up to. An elderly Christian Cherokee Indian, a former mountain man who is a living legend, an orphaned girl and the then there is Michelle. What can I say about these stories? I’m hooked. What can I say about the characters? I want to know what happens to them next.
All I can say is hurry up I want more.
Review at Barnes & Noble
Michelle Tanner - Going West - Ambush at Kansas City
Not a genre I read usually, but I've been watching a lot of Westerns recently and was looking for something to kill time with when I'm stuck without a paperback. This story drew me in. It felt very much like I was watching a Western rather than reading one. Something about the way the author has written this with the feel of the way I imagine writers of the day would have. That gave the whole story some authenticity which really helped draw me in.
The two main characters, Meeker and Michelle Tanner are engaging and original. Meeker felt more familiar than Tanner--she is very original. I don't believe in going into detail about plots etc. in reviews but I will say that the story felt both like a classic Western and yet fresh and new.
My only gripe is that it's short at 28 pages, but I knew that before purchasing it and the complaint is just that I wanted to keep reading at the end. Sadly I didn't have internet connection at the time I finished it so I've had to wait to get the second installment.
Review at Amazon, UK
Michelle Tanner - Going West - The Deserters
A refreshing change from the standard western and yet it still has the ring of authenticity. This second story in a series hooked me, a sad account of one the main character’s previous adventures. There’s a convincing portrayal of the hardships of life on the rugged, wilderness of the Kansas prairie of the 1860’s. A deadly encounter with a group of travelers with the Deserters of the title. Along with a rousing chase on horseback and gun battle between the good guys (well guy and gal) and the bad men.
It feels like I see the events as they are told. The wording, the sprinkling of authentic old west slang, all make it feel so real. These people are full and believable, and the story isn’t overblown. The writer doesn’t try to make the story a modern adventure set in the old west. The story retains the feel of how it would have been, or maybe how it should have.
I was hooked when I read the first story, now more so and ready for the rest of the series. Honestly, where has this author been hiding? Now, on to the next chapter for me!
Review at Barnes & Noble