Rawhide Jake: Lone Star Fame

 
JD Arnold

Lawman. Maverick. Legend. On the unforgiving plains of Texas Cattle Country, a man is either tough or he’s left in the dust… and a man like Jonas V. Brighton doesn’t ride drag. After learning the ropes under his friend Wes Wilson, Jake embarks on his first solo assignment as a stock detective—going undercover to root out a gang of rustlers operating out of the Flying XC Ranch. Amidst the thundering hooves and swirling dust of the spring cattle roundup, he not only takes down the rustlers, he saves the life of the ranch’s cow boss, as well.

Fueled by his exploits at the Flying XC, the legend of Rawhide Jake spreads through every two-bit cathouse and cattle camp on the range. Fame is a double-edged branding iron, though, painting a target on his back for every gunslinger and yahoo looking for glory. With danger dogging his every step, Jake finds solace in the arms of forbidden love and a marriage born from an unexpected twist of fate.

Reuniting with his old partner Wes to run down a vicious new crew of rustlers, they find themselves battling both the outlaws and the raw elements themselves as they try to prevent the largest cattle theft in Texas history. Triumph turns to tragedy, though, when accusations of murder stain Jake's honor, branding him unjustly. Haunted by the specter of injustice, he turns in his badge and leaves the Lone Star State, seeking solace amidst uncharted territories of Arizona.

A thrilling blend of historical fact and wild Western lore, Rawhide Jake: Lone Star Fame is a vivid portrait of a man navigating love, loyalty, and the ever-shifting scales of justice in an unforgiving land where change is the only certainty.

About the Author

JD Arnold

Back in the day, when Jeff was a kid, he watched plenty of westerns on TV, read a few books and always wanted to be a rancher. As it turned out, he never got there. Instead, he is a combat veteran army aviator, former deputy sheriff and death investigator, and longtime CPA. Now he sort of lives a rancher’s life vicariously through the books he writes. After the Rawhide Jake trilogy, there is more to come with the novels Paradise Creek, Sticker Joe Spurlock and a family saga set north of the Mogollon Rim in Arizona.

Jeff lives by the polo fields in Indio, California, with Diane, his wife of half a century, and Sofie, their canine love. His children and grandchildren reside in the next county over to the west. He wishes peace to everyone, everywhere.

Other Books By JD Arnold

Saving the Tell

 

A Shawnee Adventure

Bob Giel
Saving the Tell by Bob Giel
Part of the Shawnee series:
Editions:ebook, Paperback

As the dust settles on the sun-drenched plains, Shawnee, a lone drifter with a past shrouded in mystery, rides into the heart of a battle that echoes with the thunder of hooves and the crack of gunfire. The Tell Ranch, a sprawling expanse of land that whispers tales of grit and glory, is at the center of a showdown between the indomitable Chrissie Tell and cunning attorney Jarrett Bremmer.

In the wake of her father’s death, Chrissie discovers that the very essence of the ranch is slipping through her fingers as Bremmer tries to steal it out from under her before she reaches majority. In this swirling tempest of ambition and resilience, Shawnee emerges as a reluctant hero, drawn into a world where bullets speak louder than words. As the clash intensifies, loyalty hangs by a thread, and the boundary between justice and revenge blurs like the heat waves on the horizon.

The Tell Ranch isn't just soil and stone. It's a battleground where corruption faces off against heritage, and greed stares down integrity. Shawnee's every move becomes a pivot point in this high-stakes duel, where survival isn't just a choice but a necessity in a lawless land.

Amidst the tumbleweeds and echoing gunfire, Shawnee must walk a perilous line, where the fate of the ranch teeters on the edge. In a land where shadows dance with the setting sun, can Shawnee ride against the storm and save the Tell? The answer hangs in the dry, dust-laden wind sweeping across the frontier.

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Publisher: Hat Creek
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About the Author

Bob Giel

Bob Giel was born in New York City and now lives in New Jersey. Throughout his life, he has spent time in the East and Midwest, but has never resided in any area that could be termed the West, a bit strange for someone who writes Westerns. However, having loved the Western Genre since he was a kid, he has absorbed so much of the period through books, movies and TV that he feels as if he has been there. The colors, sounds and images stay vividly enough in his mind that he can believe he has experienced them.

The grit and the determination of the people who carved a way of life out of the frontier have helped shape the way Bob lives his life. Because of that era, he keeps his word, he finishes what he starts and he is a true friend. While he was always interested in writing, life got in the way, that is, until he retired. With the decks cleared, he began writing and never looked back.

Other Books By Bob Giel

Lunger

 

The Doc Holliday Story

Paul Colt
Lunger by Paul Colt
Editions:ebook, Hardcover, Paperback

The product of an aristocratic Old South upbringing, John Henry “Doc” Holliday’s dreams of a career in dentistry are dashed at a young age by respiratory disease. Encouraged to seek the therapeutic benefits of drier climes, John Henry undertakes an odyssey crossing the western frontier, often in the company of soiled dove Kate Elder. It’s a journey that transforms him from gentleman dentist to professional gambler. What emerges is a complex character we come to know through contrasting lenses—a family portrait protective of its legacy, a turbulent romantic relationship, and a friendship steeped in loyalty no matter the cost, all the while stalked by the specter of death riding a pale horse.

Gambling, drinking, and living on the edge, ever beset by disease, Doc nevertheless maintains an inbred code of honor to violent necessity. He meets and befriends Wyatt Earp, following him from Dodge City in its wide-open, cow town heyday to a date with destiny in Tombstone. Ever trailing in Doc’s wake, Kate is never far behind, her love drawn to the self-destruction of a condemned man, like a moth to the flame of inevitable demise.

Doc walks away from the legendary O.K. Corral gunfight. He survives the Earp vendetta ride. He escapes legal consequences of the killings in Tombstone. But he can never outrun the rider mounted on a pale horse. Dancing on the edge of oblivion, driven by fate and an unyielding will to live on his own terms, Lunger is Doc Holliday’s story as he himself might have told it.

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About the Author

Paul Colt

Paul Colt’s critically acclaimed historical fiction crackles with authenticity. His analytical insight, investigative research and genuine horse sense bring history to life. His characters walk off the pages of history in a style that blends Jeff Shaara’s historical dramatizations with Robert B. Parker’s gritty dialogue. Paul Colt History entertains and informs. Paul’s Grasshoppers in Summer, and Friends Call Me Bat are Western Writers of America Spur Award honorees. Boots and Saddles: A Call to Glory received the Marilyn Brown Novel Award, presented by Utah Valley University.

“Pick-up a Paul Colt book, you can’t put it down.”

Other Books By Paul Colt

Arma del Diablo

 

The Colt of Destiny

Manuela Schneider
Arma del Diablo by Manuela Schneider
Editions:ebook, Paperback

In the arid deserts of Arizona, notorious gunslinger Johnny Ringo meets a solitary end, his trusted Colt Peacemaker in hand. Yet when his body is discovered, the gun is nowhere to be found, creating a historical mystery that still remains unsolved. While many have sought the fabled relic, none have come close to finding it. Until now.

In the modern day, antique firearms expert Michael Kent is hired by a wealthy and mysterious collector who claims to have the key to unearthing Ringo’s famed revolver. As Michael delves into the gun's dark history, though, he uncovers a chilling pattern of evil stretching back to it’s very creation. Amidst ancient monasteries and forgotten graves, he is finally forced to accept the truth he never thought possible—a curse has been laid upon the Colt, binding it to a cycle of vengeance and death transcending mankind itself. Worse yet, he may be the only one who can stop it.

From the dusty trails of the Wild West to the digital highway of the World Wide Web, Arma del Diablo: The Colt of Destiny weaves together a rip-roaring tale of revenge, redemption, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. Can Michael Kent unravel the mystery of the Colt and put an end to it’s malevolent legacy? Or will the curse continue claiming victims, as inevitable and relentless as time itself?

About the Author

Manuela Schneider

As someone born and raised in Germany, author Manuela Schneider’s love of Native American and Western history might be surprising to some. But her fascination with pioneer life, cowboy heroes, and treacherous outlaws have been her constant companion for as long as she can remember.

Schneider recalls that American TV shows like Gunsmoke, Little House on the Prairie, and Bonanza mesmerized her as a child.

In her adult years, Schneider fueled her deep interest in the American West by traveling to the US and visiting historic sites like Tombstone, Monument Valley, and the towering sandstone cliffs of Kanab, Utah.

Experiencing the wild beauty of the Southwest firsthand made her desire to write stories of love, struggle, and survival in the wild, wild West even stronger.

After leaving a successful career in designing motorcycle fashion for the European market, Schneider penned her first Western novel in 2017. To date, Schneider has written six books that often feature strong female characters who are immersed in a battle against hardship, enigmas, and deception while searching for true love and a better life. Drawing energy from powerful pioneer women of our past, this vibrant author creates captivating sagas that ultimately leave readers wondering, Will the story continue?

Three new books are in the publishing process at present. Another four manuscripts are expected to be completed by Fall 2024. Each published book has won awards at different festivals.

Her debut as a songwriter with “Miner’s Candle” and its accompanying short film has achieved great recognition and multiple awards in Arizona, Texas, California, New Mexico, and Europe. The song is played in seven countries worldwide.

When not researching or penning riveting stories about Western boomtowns and Native American life, Schneider can be found traveling all over the world or studying at writing workshops. Her website is http://www.manuelaschneider.com

Other Books By Manuela Schneider

Desperate Warrior

 

Days of War, Days of Peace

W. Michael Farmer
Desperate Warrior by W. Michael Farmer
Part of the Chato's Chiricahua Apache Legacy series:
Editions:ebook, Hardcover, Paperback

In the untamed pages of history, the saga of Pedes-klinje—known to the Mexicans as the relentless Chato—blazes a trail through the blood-soaked annals of the Apache wars. From 1877, his name was etched in the fiery heart of battle—a figure brimming with ferocity, hunger for power, and a disdain for peace with the white invaders.

As the trusted lieutenant of the infamous Chircauhua chief Geronimo, Chato's days are painted in the hues of raid and revolt until personal tragedy strikes in 1883 when his wife and children are taken into slavery in Mexico. Betting on General George Crook’s influence to retrieve his kin, Chato strikes a deal to aid the U.S. Army in maintaining peace on the Fort Apache Reservation. But when Geronimo denounces him as a traitor and departs, all hope for Chato’s family flees with him. Forsaken by his former brothers-in-arms, Chato vows to hunt down the renegades himself, becoming a beacon of the Chiricahua peace faction clinging to reservation life in the process.

Desperate Warrior is an epic journey of resilience, honor, and the relentless pursuit of justice. Steeped in the rich tapestry of Apache history, Will Rogers Medallion-winning author W. Michael Farmer weaves a riveting portrait of one of the most enigmatic figures in American history, capturing the essence of a warrior's heart and the indomitable spirit of his people.

About the Author

W. Michael Farmer

W. Michael Farmer combines ten-plus years of research into nineteenth-century Apache history and culture with Southwest-living experience to fill his stories with a genuine sense of time and place. A retired Ph.D. physicist, his scientific research has included measurement of atmospheric aerosols with laser-based instruments, and he has published a two-volume reference book on atmospheric effects on remote sensing. He has also written short stories for anthologies and award-winning essays. His first novel, Hombrecito's War, won a Western Writers of America Spur Finalist Award for Best First Novel in 2006. His novels telling the story of the Mescalero Apaches  Killer of Witches, The Life and Times of Yellow Boy, Mescalero Apache, Book 1 and Blood of the Devil, Book 2 won Will Rogers Medallion Awards and were New Mexico–Arizona Book Awards Finalists in 2016 and 2018. Mariana’s Knight, The Revenge of Henry Fountain won the 2017 New Mexico–Arizona Book Award for Historical Fiction and Blood of the Devil, Book 2 was a finalist. Apacheria, True Stories of Apache Culture, 1860-1920 won the 2018 New Mexico–Arizona Book Award for History-Other and was recognized as the 2018 New Mexico Book of the Year and as a top twenty book about the southwest by the Pima County Library system. In 2019 Knight’s Odyssey, Knight of the Tiger, and Apacheria won Will Rogers Gold Medallion Awards.

Other Books By W. Michael Farmer

Stand-Alone Books

Series: Chato's Chiricahua Apache Legacy

Series: The Life and Times of Yellow Boy, Mescalero Apache

Semper Fly

 
Kent McInnis
Semper Fly by Kent McInnis
Part of the Sierra Hotel series:
Editions:ebook, Hardcover, Paperback

Bestselling author Kent McInnis masterfully concludes his Sierra Hotel trilogy with Semper Fly, a gripping yarn exploring the aftermath of war and the enduring spirit of those who served.

In the wake of the Vietnam War, Rob Amity's life is a portrait of the American dream turned turbulent. After retiring from the U.S. Air Force, he finds prosperity in Oklahoma's oil boom and joy in his marriage to Suzy and her son Sean.

While Rob's passion for flying is reignited after a decade, his return to the skies is marred by a pattern of escalating harassment over his military service. When an ordinary father-son camping trip spirals into confrontation, he dismisses it as nothing more than macho bluster—but he couldn’t be more wrong. Unbeknownst to Rob, he and his family have become pawns in a deadly game targeting veterans. Hunted down and kidnapped during a visit to the Grand Canyon, they’re forced to confront just how deeply the scars of Vietnam still run. How could this have happened in the America they know and love? Will these wounds ever heal? And can they ever hope to fly home in peace, free from the ghosts of the past?

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About the Author

Kent McInnis

Kent McInnis enlisted in the Air Force in 1969, while awaiting acceptance to pilot training. He earned his wings in 1971 at Laredo AFB, Texas, with a class proudly named the Rio River Rats, an homage to the “real” River Rats who risked their lives flying missions over North Vietnam. His first assignment was to return to Laredo AFB as an instructor pilot in T-37 jet trainers. His job was to introduce student pilots to their first jet aircraft and to solo them. After learning the difficult task of instrument flying, students could experience the more enjoyable parts of flying—aerobatics and formation. Because over half of the instructor pilots were returning Vietnam combat veterans, Kent collected their stories as well as his own in film, photos, and journals. This is the source for accurate and entertaining works of historical fiction Kent McInnis brings to his readers.

Other Books By Kent McInnis

Stand-Alone Books

Series: Sierra Hotel

The Fire that Calms the Storm

 

A Story of the Civil War

Anthony Wood

Life as a husband and father back on the family farm in Choctaw County is everything Lummy Tullos hoped for, bringing him some measure of peace after the horrors of war. Unfortunately, his respite looks to be short-lived. Tensions are on the rise throughout the South. On one side are those who wish to put the war behind them. On the other are those who want to keep the Confederacy—and everything it stands for—alive. It’s only a matter of time before the storm breaks, and when it does, Lummy finds himself directly in its path.

Caught in this whirlwind of tragedy, Lummy grapples with the thin line between vengeance and justice. The emergence of Captain Tom Ford, an infamous ex-Confederate bent on killing Lummy and all those he loves, makes his struggle even more personal and immediate. In a defiant stand, Lummy rallies a motley crew of steadfast friends dedicated to ushering in the new world he has always dreamed possible—one where freedom is for all regardless of color. The once-clear lines between friend and foe blur amidst a series of deadly skirmishes, laying bare the unpredictable nature of family and friendship in a divided land. Amidst the chaos of battle, though, a haunting question emerges—will Lummy ever find lasting peace, or is he destined to walk the path of death and bloodshed forever?

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Publisher: Hat Creek
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About the Author

Anthony Wood

Anthony Wood grew up in historic Natchez, Mississippi, fueling a life-long love of history. Not long after high school, he lived and worked in Alaska for several years. He returned to the South and ministered for nearly three decades among the poor, homeless, and incarcerated. Leading an effort that planted five urban churches inspired him to co-author Up Close and Personal: Embracing the Poor about his work in Memphis, Tennessee. He also authored a number of articles and stories about inner city ministry.

Anthony is a member of Turner’s Battery, a Civil War re-enactment group, the Civil War Roundtable of Arkansas, the Oghma Creative Media board, and serves as secretary for White County Creative Writers’ group. His short stories and poetry have won awards and have been published in Saddlebag Dispatches, The Vault of Terror, and The Avocet: A Journal of Nature Poetry.

When not writing, Anthony enjoys roaming and researching historical sites, camping and kayaking on the Mississippi River, and being with family. Anthony and his wife, Lisa, live in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Contact Anthony at awoodxulon@yahoo.com or find him on Facebook.

Other Books By Anthony Wood

The Girls of Haviland

 
Deborah Oswald
Book Cover: The Girls of Haviland
Part of the Haviland series:
Editions:ebook, Hardcover, Paperback

As the final months of the Great War approach, Jay McKenna’s world is irrevocably changed when she witnesses a tragic accident, the death of another girl who would have been her classmate at the esteemed Haviland Seminary For Girls. As Jay prepares to leave and step into Haviland’s hallowed halls, she’s burdened with the tragedy that unfolded above her family’s farm.

Already seen as an outsider for her immigrant roots, Jay finds herself in a school still reeling from the loss and whispers of the tragedy echoing from every corner. She’s no stranger to struggles—with three brothers on the front lines of the war and a tyrannical father at home—but her trials at Haviland will test her resolve.

Hope glimmers in the form of Florence —a fiercely spirited girl shunned for her skin color. Florence becomes Jay’s beacon, teaching her strength and resilience. Together, they navigate the labyrinths of school politics and prejudice. As they dig deeper into the tragic death, secrets emerge that could rip apart the fabric of their newfound sisterhood. Where the lines between friend and foe blur, Jay must find her voice amidst the chaos and the courage to stand up to injustice, bigotry, and her own family’s bitter turmoil.

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Publisher: Hat Creek
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About the Author

Deborah Oswald

Deborah Rafferty Oswald has a love of writing historical fiction. Her love of history began when she and her husband moved from Mahopac, New York to Brewster, New York in 1991. The former owners of their home in Brewster introduced her to Brewster Bicentennial book. She was drawn to the profiles of prominent past citizens of Brewster, two of which inspired characters in The Girls of Haviland. This led to a love of historical research about World War I, early Twentieth Century politics, reform movements, immigration, workers’ rights, and the Women’s Suffrage Movement.

Deborah is happy being a history nerd, living in Brewster with her husband, youngest daughter, and two dogs. She enjoys daily walks, reading on the beach, and hanging sheets on the clothesline to dry. Her favorite place to write is outdoors during summer vacations, where she can infuse her writing with the sights and sounds of the cardinals, hummingbirds, squirrels, rabbits, and deer who share their backyard.

Other Books By Deborah Oswald

Imperfect Promise

 
Susanna Lane
Book Cover: Imperfect Promise
Part of the The Promises series:
Editions:ebook, Paperback

In the rugged and unforgiving land of the American frontier, where honor and loyalty can be as dangerous as a loaded gun, Cortland Enders finds himself entangled in a web of obligation and deceit. When he crosses the path of a powerful man, he becomes a fugitive from the law. Desperate to avoid prison, Cort is forced to accept an agreement with Sienna, the influential widow of his late friend and employer and current owner of the Circle H Ranch. In exchange for his freedom, he must play the role of her new husband.

The catch? She’s dying, and Cort will inherit the ranch. For anyone else, it would seem like the deal of a lifetime, but for a free spirit like Cort, it’s almost worse than prison.

Now free, Cort is instructed to find a young lady to help tend to Sienna in her waning days. That’s when he meets Lark Garrin, the woman who will turn his world upside down. A scarred beauty of uncommon strength and courage, she immediately captures Cort's heart. Sparks fly, and he is torn between his loyalty to Sienna and his growing feelings for Lark. But danger lurks in the shadows. The demons from Lark's past are hunting her, and Cort must resurrect his gunfighting skills to protect both the woman he loves and the legacy of the ranch he's sworn to safeguard.

In this gripping tale of love, honor, and sacrifice, Cort and Lark must trust one another and face their deepest fears head-on to defeat the forces threatening everything they hold dear.

About the Author

Susanna Lane

After a rewarding career as a teacher of science, a visit to the Rocky Mountains led a spellbound Susanna Lane to resurrect stories from history and write about the settlement of the West. As part of absorbing details for the locales of her stories, she learned to ride horses, fit into cattle drives, and hike to remote regions of the Rockies.

Married for forty-three years to an avid gardener and traveler who shares her interest in historical locations, Susanna loves to visit new places, read, and spend time with family and friends. In addition to her spouse, she has two grown sons and their charming wives. Best of all, she has four darling grandchildren who fill her life with delight.

Susanna's debut novel, Imperfect Promise, took home both a Western Writers of America Spur Award and a Will Rogers Medallion Award.

Other Books By Susanna Lane

Rawhide Jake: Learning the Ropes

 
JD Arnold
Book Cover: Rawhide Jake: Learning the Ropes
Editions:ebook, Paperback

Rawhide Jake: Learning the Ropes is the first book in a trilogy on the Life and Times of Detective Jonas V. Brighton. Based on a true-life character, it rolls through the adventure of his time in the penitentiary, his first years as understudy to a young and lusty female detective named Jennie Hudson and learning cowboying and stock detective work with his new partner, Wes Wilson, in northwest Texas.

He and Hudson work two cases. One ends up in controversy and the other makes national news as they solve the Doctor Perry Talbott case. After that Jonas relocates to Texas.

Brighton is pretty accurate with a gun, a skill he gained from his Civil War experience. He kills a fellow in self-defense, gains a reputation as a killer, and his partner, Wes, gives him the nickname “Rawhide Jake.” The two of them roam the countryside, eliminating rustlers, saving each other’s lives more than once, and recovering stolen cattle until they receive orders to go their separate ways.

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Publisher: Hat Creek
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About the Author

JD Arnold

Back in the day, when Jeff was a kid, he watched plenty of westerns on TV, read a few books and always wanted to be a rancher. As it turned out, he never got there. Instead, he is a combat veteran army aviator, former deputy sheriff and death investigator, and longtime CPA. Now he sort of lives a rancher’s life vicariously through the books he writes. After the Rawhide Jake trilogy, there is more to come with the novels Paradise Creek, Sticker Joe Spurlock and a family saga set north of the Mogollon Rim in Arizona.

Jeff lives by the polo fields in Indio, California, with Diane, his wife of half a century, and Sofie, their canine love. His children and grandchildren reside in the next county over to the west. He wishes peace to everyone, everywhere.

Other Books By JD Arnold

Starborn Vendetta

 
Thomas Wrightson
Book Cover: Starborn Vendetta
Part of the The Cluster Cycle series:
Editions:ebook, Hardcover, Paperback

In the distant future, on the far side of the galaxy, sits the Cluster. A collection of stars and worlds where life flourishes. Humans, refugees from their lost Ancient Earth, coexist with other peoples; the tribal Feles, the elite Kavki, the distant Ekri.

A human woman arrives on a remote asteroid prison. Unlike the other prisoners, fascinating and unbowed, she earns both respect and hatred. Her name, hidden from all, is Mercedes Solari, deposed Duchess of the planet New Dubai.

Ten years later, a chance encounter frees Mercedes from her prison and sets her on a path of revenge. Changed by a decade of wear and backed by the money and influence of her new patron, she bends all her wits to a single task—the destruction of her enemies and the reclamation of her home and title. Whatever the cost.

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Payback is a concept that all may feel that we want when we have been wronged. The betrayal of love; a work issue or your favourite TV show being cancelled can all instigate in us a desire for revenge. It can fester, corrupt and make you care only about your own feelings above all others. Ion space and with great technology that revenge can be more spectacular and the stakes higher. In Thomas Wrightson’s entertaining SF revenger novel Starborn Vendetta we follow one woman’s climb from an abyss to the quest for the throne of her lost empire.

Prisoner 74 has been sent to the remote prison world of the d’If she is to be lost, never realised and forgotten about. No one cares for her fate. But Prisoner 74 is not your ordinary criminal she is Mercedes a dethroned heir to new Dubai and all its riches. She refuses to give up a quest for escape that comes in the form of a passing diplomat. Mercedes and a loyal prison guard who finds himself unable to refuse aiding her are soon back on New Dubai, in disguise and preparing a game of revenge against the three powerful men who took her power. Mercedes will stop at nothing to win it all back.

This is an enjoyable SF take on The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas and Wrightson has found a balance in telling a period piece of fiction within an SF universe. From the initial beginning we see a vast space empires full of powers, politics and good old human greed. The circumstances that led to Mercedes fall are the same that will allow her to escape and pull revenge. Wrightson has ably designed several set pieces from a vast and cruel prison world to New Dubai where power and style go hand in hand with ruthlessness and everyone for themselves.

Into this is the enigmatic Mercedes. Initially Wrightson teases us as she doesn’t have a name and rarely says much. This is a compelling character who rarely gives much away. I’d had liked to have seen a little bit more why she compels loyalty so quickly but she indeed charismatic and as the story progresses, we can see someone who will do whatever it takes to get revenge and she also enjoys what she can do. She puts innocents in danger; she will lie and deceive anyone, and she is deadly when she needs to be. There is a House of Cards feeling to her rarely do we feel like we have been in her head for long, but her unpredictability makes you want to see what happened next.

Wrightson has adopted a style similar top the period adventure romances it is imagining and that often works with space opera which with its powerful empires and powerful figures aligned with the dregs of society who kill for the right price. Nothing feels safe, nobody feels like they can be trusted, and we get a fine assembly of escapes, fights and dangerous traps. This is ahigh speed adventure tale which delivers exactly what it sets out to do with oomph.

Starborn vendetta leaves room for further stories in this universe and Wrightson does make the worlds vast enough for more tales. For fans of classic-style SF adventures and good old fashioned revenge dramas I think this can be definitely recommended!


About the Author

Thomas Wrightson

Born in 1994, Thomas Wrightson has spent much of his life creating narratives and characters. Home schooled, he currently lives on the island Ynys Mon in Wales, surrounded by beautiful scenery and unpredictable weather.

Other Books By Thomas Wrightson

Series: The Cluster Cycle

Casting Cupid

 
Mary Shotwell
Book Cover: Casting Cupid
Part of the Maiden's Bay series:
Editions:ebook, Hardcover, Paperback

When Cynthia Pruitt dreamed of reeling in the catch of a lifetime, she meant seafood. Not her soul mate.

Part-time jobs in the quaint fishing village of Maiden’s Bay pay the bills, but they do little to calm Cynthia’s adventurous spirit. She dreams of commanding the open sea aboard her own crab fishing vessel. When a popular local captain hosts a week-long contest to find a new greenhorn for his fishing vessel, she can’t pass up the opportunity. Her goal is to prove she can do anything the men can do, and that includes sharing a room with one for the duration of the tryouts. She’s expecting to bunk with Captain Ahab—not Captain America.

Liam Reynolds has put his past as a greenhorn behind him. After an accident at sea left him scarred, he’s content to stay ashore. But when his friend asks him to help assess greenhorn candidates, he’s hard pressed to refuse. But his time onboard reawakens his enthusiasm for working on the water. Unfortunately, it also ignites a passion for one of his competitors, who also happens to be his roommate. He can fight for the job or fight for Cynthia, but he can’t have both.

With every wave that crashes against the hull, their connection deepens and so do the stakes. As secrets surface and desires unfurl, they must navigate turbulent waters toward a potential life together and chart the best course forward. Failure to do so could set them permanently off course. Will Cynthia's dreams sail beyond the horizon, or will the net of their intertwined hearts be caught in the throes of deception?

Casting Cupid is a captivating love story of self-discovery, trust, and the transformative power of love set against the backdrop of a enchanting little coastal town hiding big dreams and bigger secrets.

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Publisher: Radiance
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About the Author

Mary Shotwell

Mary Shotwell is the author of small-town love stories with happily-ever-afters for all seasons. Her debut romance novel Christmas Catch (Carina Press, 2018) was a Golden Leaf Finalist and earned a starred review from Library Journal. She loves incorporating her science and nature background into her fiction. When adulting, she’s a wife to husband Matt and mother to three children. She currently resides in Tennessee.

Other Books By Mary Shotwell

The Phoenix Effect Part 1

 

The Reuniting

Margaret M. MacDonald
Book Cover: The Phoenix Effect Part 1
Part of the The Phoenix Effect series:
Editions:ebook, Hardcover, Paperback

The world has long been divided. The Unity, and all their bounty, are protected by an army strengthened by nanites, which heal instantly but block the experience of emotion. Those who “resist” the technology live in isolated pockets on the infertile fringes. The wars between each faction died off long before young love blossomed between Arin and Lia... or so it seemed.

Arin, now a Unity commander, captures an enemy assassin only to discover she is Lia. Faced with the prospect of turning the only woman he ever loved over for execution or facing his own, Arin decides to flee with Lia into the unknown territories. Lia introduces Arin to life in the Resistance world, a harsh existence exacerbated by Unity oppression. Upon arrival at Lia’s secret destination, a hidden paradise in resistance territory, Arin discovers that Lia is no lone assassin but an integral part of a clandestine Resistance army and wife of the army’s formidable leader, Roland.

Faced with life as a prisoner or life without his healing nanites, Arin chooses to live as a mortal once again, reawakening his impulsive spirit, along with his feelings for Lia. Arin soon joins the Resistance forces and proves his newfound loyalties by confronting the cold army he once commanded.

But growing suspicion of Roland’s true motivations leads Arin to uncover a great secret hidden by Roland and his fellow army leaders, one that may change the world forever.

About the Author

Margaret M. MacDonald

Writer and Filmmaker Margaret M. MacDonald is passionate about telling stories which transport people into other worlds and make this one a little more extraordinary. Her visual writing style, shaped by her background as a designer, conveys a tangible sense of place, inviting readers into the story world. Born and raised in the United States and currently living in Australia, Margaret likes to bring a mix of both cultures into her work. She has written a library of screenplays and novels in a mix of genres, has directed several short films, and has been lucky enough to win a few awards along the way. She enjoys embracing a creative challenge and wants, more than anything else, to tell a story audiences will love.

Other Books By Margaret M. MacDonald

Rawhide Jake: Westward Ho!

 
JD Arnold
Book Cover: Rawhide Jake: Westward Ho!
Editions:ebook, Hardcover, Paperback

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the uncharted terrain of the Wild West with Westward Ho, the enthralling conclusion to the Rawhide Jake Trilogy. Meet Jake, a former Texas stock detective turned blacksmith, whose longing for a tranquil existence is shattered by the relentless pull of destiny. Whispers of his feared reputation spread like wildfire, attracting a wave of lawless desperados led by the notorious Ike Clanton.

Forced to confront his past, Jake sets out on a mission to cleanse the land of these outlaws. But just as he seeks solace in California's Central Valley, a tragic riding accident hurls him into the chaos of San Francisco. With a shattered leg, he must adapt and find refuge, yet trouble persists. Unexpectedly appointed as a detective in the burgeoning city of Los Angeles, Jake becomes entangled in a battle against crime and civic corruption, desperately yearning for an escape. Acclaimed author JD Arnold weaves a tapestry of heart-stopping gunfights, pulse-pounding chases, and an unwavering pursuit of justice.

This gripping tale immerses you in the relentless spirit of the American West, where Jake's resilience and determination leave an indelible mark on history. Experience the triumphs and tribulations of a life lived on the edge as Jake confronts his demons, fights for his future, and crafts his legacy. Westward Ho! captures the essence of a bygone era, where courage, adventure, and the pursuit of righteousness reign supreme.

About the Author

JD Arnold

Back in the day, when Jeff was a kid, he watched plenty of westerns on TV, read a few books and always wanted to be a rancher. As it turned out, he never got there. Instead, he is a combat veteran army aviator, former deputy sheriff and death investigator, and longtime CPA. Now he sort of lives a rancher’s life vicariously through the books he writes. After the Rawhide Jake trilogy, there is more to come with the novels Paradise Creek, Sticker Joe Spurlock and a family saga set north of the Mogollon Rim in Arizona.

Jeff lives by the polo fields in Indio, California, with Diane, his wife of half a century, and Sofie, their canine love. His children and grandchildren reside in the next county over to the west. He wishes peace to everyone, everywhere.

Other Books By JD Arnold

The Outlaw Queen

 
Dennis Doty, Dusty Richards

Mary Ann Cates owns a successful farm with her husband. While not wealthy by any means, life has been good, even with Charlie away most of the time buying and selling cattle. That all changes, though, when he ends up dead in a shootout with the law. Everything he’d ever told her had been a lie. “Cattle buyer” really meant “bank robber” and member of the notorious James Gang. Shattered and alone, the lovely widow is shunned by the citizens of her Kansas hometown and branded the “Outlaw Queen.”

Rath Macon is a rancher working the Chisholm Trail. In six short years, he has transformed himself from a penniless ex-rebel into a respected cattleman. It’s a good life… just not good enough for his wife. After returning from the drive, he finds she's spent all their money and run away with another man. As the bank auctions off everything he’s worked so hard for, Rath saddles up and rides out of Texas to look for a fresh start with nothing but three horses and the clothes on his back.

That’s how fate steps in and lassos Rath and Mary Ann. When their eyes lock, embers ignite. But they’ve both danced to life's fickle fiddle before. Can they rebuild trust on life's treacherous trail? Time holds the reins to their destiny. In a landscape where pasts are as rugged as the frontier, their story is one of redemption, resilience, and love as vast as the prairie sky.

About the Authors

Dennis Doty

Dennis is the Publisher/Managing Editor of Saddlebag Dispatches magazine and Chief Content Executive for Oghma Creative Media. He writes whatever his overly active imagination leads him to but specializes in Westerns and Historical Fiction.

During a wildly misspent youth, he spent ten years in the Marine Corps and two on the Rodeo Cowboys Association Southwest Circuit mostly falling off bareback broncs.

His first published novel, The Cherokee Strip, co-written with the legendary Dusty Richards was released in April 2021. His short fiction has appeared in Saddlebag Dispatches, Cheapjack Pulp, Storyland Literary Review, Inner Circle Writers Magazine, and in anthologies such as At Death’s Door and The Untamed West. He’s a member of Western Fictioneers where he’s has judged for the Peacemaker Awards the last two years.

He spends his days writing, editing and yelling at kids to get off his lawn. He can be found at www.dennisdotywebsite.com  on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dwdoty or at the home in Southeastern Kentucky he shares with his wife and two dogs.

Other Books By Dennis Doty

Series: The Brandiron Series

Dusty Richards

IF THERE WAS A SATURDAY MATINEE, Dusty was there with Hoppy, Roy and Gene. He went to roundup at seven-years-old, sat on a real horse and watched them brand calves on the Peterson Ranch in Othello, Washington. When his family moved to Arizona from the Midwest, at age 13, he knew he’d gone to heaven. A horse of his own, ranches to work on, rodeos to ride in, Dusty’s mother worried all his growing up years he’d turn out to be some “old cowboy bum.”

He read every western book on the library shelves. He sat on the stoop of Zane Grey’s cabin on Mrs. Winter’s ranch and looked out over the “muggie-own” rim and promised the writer’s ghost his book would join Grey’s some day on the book rack.

Since English teachers never read westerns, he made up book reports like “Guns on the Brazos” by J.P. Jones. The story of a Texas Ranger who saves the town and the girl. Then he sold them for a dollar to other boys too lazy to read when teenagers were lucky to earn fifty cents an hour. In fact, book reports kept him and his buddy in gas money to go back and forth to high school.

After graduating from Arizona State University in 1960, he came to northwest Arkansas, ranched, auctioneered, announced rodeo, worked 32 years for Tyson Food in management, anchored TV news and struggled to get a book of his own sold. The three earlier books on the list were published without his knowledge and only discovered in 2011 as even existing.

In 1992, his first novel, Noble’s Way was published. In 2003, his novel The Natural won the Oklahoma Writer’s Federation Fiction Book of the Year Award. In 2004, The Abilene Trail won the same award. Dusty invests a lot of his time helping others who want to learn how to write by speaking at seminars and conferences all over the United States. There is no difference in writing any kind of fiction. In Dusty’s words, “You simply change the sets, costumes and dialect.”

Dusty’s website: dustyrichards.com
Interview on Youtube: http://youtu.be/n1p4-B6fvjE?hd=1

Other Books By Dusty Richards

A Question of Bounty: The Shadow of Doubt

 
Paul Colt
Book Cover: A Question of Bounty: The Shadow of Doubt
Part of the The Bounty Trilogy series:
Editions:ebook, Paperback

In the exciting conclusion to his epic Bounty Trilogy, bestselling author Paul Colt pulls back the curtain on one of the West’s most enduring mysteries—the death of Billy the Kid at the hands of Sheriff Pat Garrett on July 14, 1881.

Emerging as a violent and headstrong young gunslinger during the famed Lincoln County War, William F. Bonney’s audacious outlaw escapades are legendary—but are they accurate? Witness the intricate web of contradictions surrounding not only his reputation, but his supposed death, as well. Was it truly Billy who met his demise that night, or did the pressure on Garrett from above lead to a case of mistaken identity and an elaborate cover-up?

Skillfully conceived and masterfully written, A Question of Bounty: The Shadow of Doubt will make you question everything you thought you knew about the man known as Billy the Kid.

About the Author

Paul Colt

Paul Colt’s critically acclaimed historical fiction crackles with authenticity. His analytical insight, investigative research and genuine horse sense bring history to life. His characters walk off the pages of history in a style that blends Jeff Shaara’s historical dramatizations with Robert B. Parker’s gritty dialogue. Paul Colt History entertains and informs. Paul’s Grasshoppers in Summer, and Friends Call Me Bat are Western Writers of America Spur Award honorees. Boots and Saddles: A Call to Glory received the Marilyn Brown Novel Award, presented by Utah Valley University.

“Pick-up a Paul Colt book, you can’t put it down.”

Other Books By Paul Colt

Singlets & Secrets

 
Joe Chianakas
Book Cover: Singlets & Secrets
Part of the Unveiling Aiden series:
Editions:ebook, Paperback

When Aiden Rothe falls in love with wrestling captain Mateo Hernandez, Aiden doesn’t expect that one day the two will fight in the school’s biggest match in history. But that’s exactly what happens when Aiden’s romantic dreams backfire.

Aiden’s life is full of secrets, and his sexuality is only the tip of the iceberg. Unfortunately, his high school wrestling team views gay and strong as mutually exclusive, but Aiden is determined to prove them wrong. It’s time for a gay athlete to take top prize, if only Aiden wasn’t in love with Mateo, the best wrestler in the school.

Outside of the wrestling room, Aiden finds a mentor in his English teacher, Mr. Samuels. Samuels has a martial arts background, and he teaches Aiden and Mateo private lessons to give them an edge over the other athletes. When Aiden’s honesty backfires with some homophobic teammates, Mr. Samuels steps in to protect him and creates a club for other outsiders. Once word gets around, there’s an exciting new challenge on campus: the state-winning wrestling team against the new martial arts club. And for the main event—Aiden versus Mateo. How can Aiden ever fight his first true love?

Published:
Publisher: Mad Cat
Genres:

About the Author

Joe Chianakas

Joe Chianakas has been an educator for 21 years, the first half as a high school English teacher, the last half as a professor of communication at Illinois Central College. He's published several novels, including his horror series Rabbit in Red, and is working on a new adult horror series, Darkness Calls, with Oghma Creative Media. Under his pen name, NC Nest, he's published a series of LGBTQ YA contemporary books, including Looking for Derek. His next YA LGBTQ series is titled Singlets and Secrets, which will be published by Young Dragons Press.

When he's not teaching or writing, he enjoys spending time with his mini Australian Shepherd, Bailey. Joe loves the outdoors, fitness, reading (of course!), martial arts, travel, and binge-watching TV. He lives in Peoria, IL, with his husband, Brian.

Other Books By Joe Chianakas

Stand-Alone Books

Series: Unveiling Aiden

Forgotten Fayetteville

 
J.B. Hogan
Book Cover: Forgotten Fayetteville
Editions:Paperback

Fayetteville and Washington County came into being almost 200 years ago. A lot of things happen in two centuries. All kinds of things. Good things, bad things. We were once on the edge of the Western frontier, the last stop before heading into basically unknown territory. A lot of that history has been preserved and is easily accessed. But sometimes, our local history gets lost or simply drops out of the public’s consciousness.

Forgotten Fayetteville is a book devoted to retrieving ignored, lost, or forgotten history—mostly in Fayetteville but out in the county, too. There are 17 histories of this type here, including family histories, crime stories, and important people and places that may have drifted out of our communal awareness. In these pages are the histories of our old movie theatres, like the Ozark, Palace, Royal and Victory––the latter almost wiped clean from our past. Here you will find the true account of the murder of an African American Patrolman in Fayetteville––wait for it, in 1928. You’ll learn how a car wreck near West Fork in 1939 changed the course of American political history.

Go back in time and read about our original old schools, the history of our beautiful Wilson (City) Park, and about a Mr. Chips style journalism professor who taught in virtual obscurity at the University of Arkansas for decades. Maybe you didn’t know who our city’s first Poet Laureate was or that we had an African American poet here back in the 1920s through the 1940s. All this and lots more await you in the pages of Forgotten Fayetteville. Take a trip into forgotten history. It can be a journey well worth the effort.

Published:
Publisher: Otterford
Genres:

About the Author

J.B. Hogan

J. B. Hogan is a prolific and award-winning author. He has published over 270 stories and poems.

His books, including Living Behind Time, Losing Cotton, The Rubicon, Fallen, Tin Hollow, and many more, are available from Oghma Creative Media and Amazon.com.

Other Books By J.B. Hogan

Angels in the Ozarks

 
J.B. Hogan
Book Cover: Angels in the Ozarks
Editions:Paperback

Step back in time to the summer of 1940, when professional baseball in Fayetteville met its untimely demise, leaving a void that has never been filled. In the captivating pages of "Angels in the Ozarks," the remarkable story of a nearly forgotten Class D minor league unfolds before your eyes—an extraordinary league that holds the title of the "smallest league that ever functioned in organized baseball." As you delve into the narrative, a bittersweet nostalgia permeates the air, drawing you into the world of the Arkansas-Missouri League and the faded glory of the Fayetteville Angels. The raucous symphony of wood meeting horsehide, the exhilaration of triumphant cheers, and the heart-wrenching cries of defeat—all of these once vibrant sounds now exist as mere whispers, floating in the ethereal realm of forgotten history. Journey into this enchanting tale, and rediscover a bygone era where dreams soared and the spirit of baseball thrived, forever leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those who remember.

Published:
Publisher: Otterford
Genres:
Tags:
Reviews:John Hall, baseball historian and researcher, author of Majoring in the Minors, The KOM League Remembered and Mickey Mantle: Before the Glory, and former batboy for the Carthage (Mo.) Cubs wrote:

“Few people are still vertical who remember the Arkansas State and Arkansas/Missouri leagues. That is now changing due to the diligent efforts of Jerry Hogan who would not let that era pass into oblivion. For nearly a decade, he scoured the pages of time-worn documents, talked with scores people and searched grainy microfilm reels to bring a golden era in baseball to life for generations to come. Great job, Mr. Hogan. ”


About the Author

J.B. Hogan

J. B. Hogan is a prolific and award-winning author. He has published over 270 stories and poems.

His books, including Living Behind Time, Losing Cotton, The Rubicon, Fallen, Tin Hollow, and many more, are available from Oghma Creative Media and Amazon.com.

Other Books By J.B. Hogan

The Goodnight Agency

 
Tyler Tork
Book Cover: The Goodnight Agency
Part of the The Goodnight Agency series:
Editions:ebook, Paperback
Sometimes, you just have to do things yourself....IF you don't get eaten by an invisible monster first

Sixteen-year-old Ruby Park is a handful. With her parents in prison, she’s tossed between her relatives like a hot potato, finally ending up with her weird uncle, Simon Goodnight. Determined to get along with her last relative who can stand her and isn’t locked up, Ruby nonetheless can’t resist snooping into her uncle’s mysterious business and its anonymous clients. Is it a detective agency, or…?

Ruby soon learns those clients are bizarre creatures who can’t go out in public to do their own business. She thought she was a misfit, but these people make her look downright normal by comparison. And hey, for the first time ever, she can actually be helpful!

She should’ve known this couldn’t last, though. When Simon is arrested for murder, it’s up to her and her crew of oddball friends and minions to clear her uncle’s name, and do it faster than a caffeinated cheetah, or her newfound happy home will go up in smoke.

But the deeper she digs, the more complications she uncovers. Can she rescue Simon while keeping his clients’ secrets, and not start a war or become a monster’s snack? With the help of her friends, a bit of snark, a lot of wit, and a crusader’s sense of justice, Ruby’s madcap navigation of these rocky waters will leave you grinning from ear to ear.

Published:
Publisher: Mad Cat
Genres:
Tags:

About the Author

Tyler Tork

Techie guy by day, crime fighter by night. But when crime is slow, as it often is in his quiet hometown of Plymouth, Minnesota, Tyler puts away the mask, cape, and ocelot, and finds a corner to scribble in. The victim of a dark destiny, he whirls through life with a set of shaky assumptions and a mug of rapidly-cooling java. Bewildered, scattered, querulous (some say curmudgeonly), he nonetheless attempts to entertain and inform. Someday, his alien masters will return for him. Until then, buy his books.

On his blog at tylertork.com, he answers your questions about anything. Answers are not guaranteed to be correct or useful, but hopefully are entertaining.

Other Books By Tyler Tork

Stand-Alone Books

Series: The Goodnight Agency

Recommended Posts

Darkness Calls

The line between light and dark is thinner than you think.

In the woods surrounding a quiet Midwestern town, an ancient malevolence awakens. Unseen by most, the Darkness hungers for the radiant energy of children—a feast it craves with an insatiable thirst. A decade after a nightmarish onslaught shattered the community, this evil thought to be vanquished returns, more ferocious than ever.

Christina finds herself once again at the heart of the storm. The Darkness destroyed her family and twisted her childhood friend Fiara into something neither fully human nor wholly monster. But this time, Christina refuses to be a victim. Determined to fight back, she rallies an extraordinary group of gifted individuals, each with unique talents and untapped energy. Together, they form an unlikely alliance, bound by a shared goal: to rescue their abducted friends and unravel the sinister enigma that threatens their world.

As they venture deep into nightmarish realms, monstrous creatures and inner demons rise to confront them. Secrets become their weapons, trust their shield. The line between light and dark blurs, and the fate of their world hangs by a thread. In this battle against ancient malevolence, only the bravest hearts will endure.

Darkness Calls beckons you into a world where the line between light and dark blurs, where friendships forged in adversity become the armor against ancient malevolence. Will their combined strengths be enough to stem the tide of darkness? The battle for survival is about to ignite once more, and only the bravest hearts will endure.

 

Victorian Recipes with a Side of Scandal

Victorian Recipes with a Side of Scandal by award-winning author Sherry Monahan invites you to savor a taste of history while uncovering the extraordinary life of Ethel Barry, a Victorian socialite whose journey was anything but conventional.

Born into the rigid expectations of a proper Victorian household, Ethel was groomed to marry well, manage a household, and uphold the era’s stringent social norms. But life had other plans. When a transatlantic move brought her to America-and into a marriage that fell far short of her gilded expectations-Ethel sought solace and empowerment in the unlikeliest of places: the kitchen.

Despite a privileged upbringing that left her untrained in the culinary arts, Ethel embraced cooking with passion and determination. Through over seventy-five authentic Victorian-era recipes, Monahan recreates the flavors of Ethel’s time, weaving them into a compelling narrative of creativity, adaptation, and quiet defiance.

Yet, this isn’t just a cookbook-it’s a tale steeped in scandal and rebellion. From clandestine skinny-dipping escapades to a sensational divorce that made national headlines with its shocking accusations, Ethel’s life defied the conventions of her day at every turn.

Victorian Recipes with a Side of Scandal masterfully blends mouthwatering recipes with the captivating story of a woman who challenged societal norms and forged a path all her own. Step into Ethel’s world, where every dish tells a story, and every chapter serves up a taste of tenacity, rebellion, and rich history.

 

All That Glitters

When a daring heist in San Francisco nets sixty thousand dollars in diamonds and precious stones, the stakes soar higher than ever for Colonel David J. Crook’s Great Western Detective League. With Comprehensive Insurance Company footing the bill, veteran investigators Briscoe Cane and Beau Longstreet take the lead, determined to hunt down the elusive Cajun safecracker known as Duval.

But Duval isn’t the only threat. Partnered with the ultra-secret criminal syndicate El Anillo, the heist is merely the first move in a sinister scheme to defraud investors with promises of riches from a mythical diamond mine. At the center of the con is the enigmatic Don Victor Carnicero, a ruthless mastermind spinning a web of deception with the dazzling prize of a Jeweled Garden.

As the Pinkerton Agency dispatches Reginald Kingsley and the beguiling Samantha Maples to track the jewels, rival investigations collide in a whirlwind of bribery, jailbreaks, abductions, and murder.

Prepare for a relentless ride with the Great Western Detective League as they navigate treacherous territory, outsmart cunning criminals, and face down ruthless outlaws. The chase barrels toward a thrilling conclusion, where honor, grit, and gunslinging skills are all that stand between justice and chaos in the unforgiving West.