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Mustang To Paducah : A Zany Romp Into the Sixties
It's 1969. A spur-of-the-moment trip. A borrowed car. A dubious destination. Two flaky hippies. What could possibly go wrong? Everything.
Cruiser and Peanut, two aimless Miami stoners, are returning a car for a tourist from Kentucky who’s gone romping on a new lover’s yacht. Arriving at their destination, the flaky pair stumble onto the scene of a multiple murder. Before long, they’re on the lam as the prime suspects with an unhinged FBI agent and a mob contract killer hot on their trail
“Hip, smartly written. An epic journey of the soul.”
Jess Montgomery, award-winning author and journalist
“Fast-paced. Witty. Laugh-out-loud funny. Raul Ramos y Sanchez is a master storyteller.”
John Kachuba, author of A History
“Fresh. Gonzo. Ripe for adaptation.”
James Chatterton, story analyst at HBO
“What a pleasure, this endlessly inventive book.”
John Thorndike, author of The World Against Her Skin
“Engaging. Evocative. Great period details.”
Ralph Keyes - author of The Post-Truth Era
“Madcap. Entertaining. Could easily become a TV series.”
Marco Frazier, global media executive
Cruiser and Peanut, two aimless Miami stoners, are returning a car for a tourist from Kentucky who’s gone romping on a new lover’s yacht. Arriving at their destination, the flaky pair stumble onto the scene of a multiple murder. Before long, they’re on the lam as the prime suspects with an unhinged FBI agent and a mob contract killer hot on their trail
“Hip, smartly written. An epic journey of the soul.”
Jess Montgomery, award-winning author and journalist
“Fast-paced. Witty. Laugh-out-loud funny. Raul Ramos y Sanchez is a master storyteller.”
John Kachuba, author of A History
“Fresh. Gonzo. Ripe for adaptation.”
James Chatterton, story analyst at HBO
“What a pleasure, this endlessly inventive book.”
John Thorndike, author of The World Against Her Skin
“Engaging. Evocative. Great period details.”
Ralph Keyes - author of The Post-Truth Era
“Madcap. Entertaining. Could easily become a TV series.”
Marco Frazier, global media executive
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 11, 2023
About the author
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
6 books35 followers“January” is the first English word I ever learned. I read it on the calendar thumbtacked to the wall of our apartment in the Bronx. Han-noo-a-ree, I pronounced it. That was in the winter of 1957. My mother had just divorced my father and moved us from Havana to New York City. My father was busy trying to overthrow Batista and my mother thought her prospects for raising a seven-year-old son looked much better sewing sequins on evening gowns in the midtown garment district than in a Cuban prison. Thanks, mamá. You made the right call.
Since mastering that first English word, the power and joy of words have become my life. I not only love words, I’ve made a living from them. First, composing them into pages as a graphic designer, and later arranging them into sentences as an advertising writer. After twenty-four years of creating the fiction commonly known as advertising, I decided to start telling my own stories.
THE SKINNY YEARS is my fourth novel. Called “gritty and witty” by Foreword Reviews, it’s a coming-of-age story set in Miami during the stormy 1960s. The novel follows the quirky travails of young Victor “Skinny” Delgado and his Cuban-exile family over their first ten years in the United States. Some readers have asked if the novel is autobiographical. The short answer is “no.” But my childhood memories of growing up in Miami are the inspiration for the story. In reality, my first experiences in the U.S. began in New York City.
Since mastering that first English word, the power and joy of words have become my life. I not only love words, I’ve made a living from them. First, composing them into pages as a graphic designer, and later arranging them into sentences as an advertising writer. After twenty-four years of creating the fiction commonly known as advertising, I decided to start telling my own stories.
THE SKINNY YEARS is my fourth novel. Called “gritty and witty” by Foreword Reviews, it’s a coming-of-age story set in Miami during the stormy 1960s. The novel follows the quirky travails of young Victor “Skinny” Delgado and his Cuban-exile family over their first ten years in the United States. Some readers have asked if the novel is autobiographical. The short answer is “no.” But my childhood memories of growing up in Miami are the inspiration for the story. In reality, my first experiences in the U.S. began in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 15, 2023
This is a crazy ride set in 1969 with two likable dumbells getting themselves deeper and deeper in trouble with a hit-woman, the FBI, and the Border Patrol when all they're trying to do is deliver a car from Miami to a guy in Kentucky. Sounds simple, no? No! This is fast-paced, witty, and comic. I loved it!
March 22, 2023
This book bills itself as a "zany romp into the Sixties," and it delightfully delivers on that promise. We follow Cuban immigrant hippy Cruiser and his scrappy sidekick Peanut from their home in Miami to Kentucky, where they’ve been paid to deliver a Mustang back to its owner. Unfortunately, what they find when they arrive at their destination in Paducah is a murder scene. Realizing their timing has made them prime suspects in a multiple murder, they extend their journey in an attempt to evade capture, leading readers ever deeper into a Sixties flashback, complete with draft dodgers, drug deals, hippy communes, free love, and Cruiser’s eventual return to his roots. This book was a seriously fun read with lots of quirky characters and more than a little heart. I recommend it highly.
January 9, 2023
I'm perhaps the ideal audience for this book, since I grew up a hippy kid in a Mexican-American family. But this tale of fast cars, murder, drugs, and a crime family assassin on the trail of two innocent guys is easy to enjoy. Pick it up--you won't be able to put it down!
April 30, 2023
Raul Ramos Y Sanchez – Mustang to Paducah – 4/29/23 – 4/17/23
Sometimes money is not enough, nor does it replace freedom!
I recently finished reading a fantastic novel that completely captivated me. The characters were fascinating, the plot was intricate, and the writing was simply beautiful. I was utterly immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading until I reached the end.
What I appreciated the most was how the author created such realistic and vibrant characters. Each character had a unique personality and background, making them feel like real people rather than fictitious characters. The plot was well-executed, with numerous twists and surprises that kept me guessing until the end. I was delighted that the story depended not solely on shocking or flashy elements but on exceptional writing and strong characters to maintain my interest.
Overall, I would, without a doubt, recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read. It is a true masterpiece of modern literature, and I eagerly anticipate what this talented author will come up with next!
• ASIN: B0BY7BTQL1
• Publisher: Beck and Branch Publishers
• Publication Date: 3/11/2023
• File Size: 2251 KB
• Print Length: 232 pages
• Genre: Satire, Satire Fiction, Fiction Satire
Sometimes money is not enough, nor does it replace freedom!
I recently finished reading a fantastic novel that completely captivated me. The characters were fascinating, the plot was intricate, and the writing was simply beautiful. I was utterly immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading until I reached the end.
What I appreciated the most was how the author created such realistic and vibrant characters. Each character had a unique personality and background, making them feel like real people rather than fictitious characters. The plot was well-executed, with numerous twists and surprises that kept me guessing until the end. I was delighted that the story depended not solely on shocking or flashy elements but on exceptional writing and strong characters to maintain my interest.
Overall, I would, without a doubt, recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read. It is a true masterpiece of modern literature, and I eagerly anticipate what this talented author will come up with next!
• ASIN: B0BY7BTQL1
• Publisher: Beck and Branch Publishers
• Publication Date: 3/11/2023
• File Size: 2251 KB
• Print Length: 232 pages
• Genre: Satire, Satire Fiction, Fiction Satire
March 20, 2026
Take a ride through the hippie years with young Cruiser and Peanut, full of life but soon over their heads. They stumble, they argue, sometimes they’re ecstatic. Throughout the book, Raul Ramos’ take on the late Sixties leans toward rapture. I lived through those years, but Ramos has a better grip on them than I ever did. The quirks of character and style make Cruiser and Peanut’s aberrant choices seem wonderfully inevitable. I especially loved the language, the similes and analogies that pop up throughout the book:
“The line was moving slower than a koala bear on quaaludes.”
“Sunshine and I were like two pieces of hot toast begging to be buttered.”
“She was as nerdy as I was—and hotter than a lunch in Jalisco.”
There’s some serious drama here, but it’s presented with such flair that every page is fun. Dangers lurk and youth prevails, as Cruiser and Peanut ride a seesaw of delight and desperation. What an entrancing novel.
“The line was moving slower than a koala bear on quaaludes.”
“Sunshine and I were like two pieces of hot toast begging to be buttered.”
“She was as nerdy as I was—and hotter than a lunch in Jalisco.”
There’s some serious drama here, but it’s presented with such flair that every page is fun. Dangers lurk and youth prevails, as Cruiser and Peanut ride a seesaw of delight and desperation. What an entrancing novel.
June 8, 2023
This is a rocking adventure. Not only entertaining but learned something along the way. The author sweeps you up into the lives of these two boys who become men by the end of book. Laughed out loud and kept me on the edge of my seat. I hope this gets made into a movie cause I can hear the soundtrack. I’m going to reread when I head out on our family road trip this summer. This is the perfect summer read or anytime you want to ride a back in time. Highly recommend.
May 1, 2024
Another weird one-off that I just happened to run across on Kindle Unlimited - a super quick read you can finish in an afternoon. I enjoyed the likeable idiots as the main characters and the bizarre cast of characters they interacted with.
Book 80 of #goodreadschallenge2024
Book 80 of #goodreadschallenge2024
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October 12, 2025Great read. Thank you, Raul.
April 30, 2023
Raul Ramos Y Sanchez – Mustang to Paducah – 4/29/23 – 4/17/23
Sometimes money is not enough, nor does it replace freedom!
I recently finished reading a fantastic novel that completely captivated me. The characters were fascinating, the plot was intricate, and the writing was simply beautiful. I was utterly immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading until I reached the end.
What I appreciated the most was how the author created such realistic and vibrant characters. Each character had a unique personality and background, making them feel like real people rather than fictitious characters. The plot was well-executed, with numerous twists and surprises that kept me guessing until the end. I was delighted that the story depended not solely on shocking or flashy elements but on exceptional writing and strong characters to maintain my interest.
Overall, I would, without a doubt, recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read. It is a true masterpiece of modern literature, and I eagerly anticipate what this talented author will come up with next!
• ASIN: B0BY7BTQL1
• Publisher: Beck and Branch Publishers
• Publication Date: 3/11/2023
• File Size: 2251 KB
• Print Length: 232 pages
• Genre: Satire, Satire Fiction, Fiction Satire
Sometimes money is not enough, nor does it replace freedom!
I recently finished reading a fantastic novel that completely captivated me. The characters were fascinating, the plot was intricate, and the writing was simply beautiful. I was utterly immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading until I reached the end.
What I appreciated the most was how the author created such realistic and vibrant characters. Each character had a unique personality and background, making them feel like real people rather than fictitious characters. The plot was well-executed, with numerous twists and surprises that kept me guessing until the end. I was delighted that the story depended not solely on shocking or flashy elements but on exceptional writing and strong characters to maintain my interest.
Overall, I would, without a doubt, recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read. It is a true masterpiece of modern literature, and I eagerly anticipate what this talented author will come up with next!
• ASIN: B0BY7BTQL1
• Publisher: Beck and Branch Publishers
• Publication Date: 3/11/2023
• File Size: 2251 KB
• Print Length: 232 pages
• Genre: Satire, Satire Fiction, Fiction Satire
April 30, 2023
Raul Ramos Y Sanchez – Mustang to Paducah – 4/29/23 – 4/17/23
Sometimes money is not enough, nor does it replace freedom!
I recently finished reading a fantastic novel that completely captivated me. The characters were fascinating, the plot was intricate, and the writing was simply beautiful. I was utterly immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading until I reached the end.
What I appreciated the most was how the author created such realistic and vibrant characters. Each character had a unique personality and background, making them feel like real people rather than fictitious characters. The plot was well-executed, with numerous twists and surprises that kept me guessing until the end. I was delighted that the story depended not solely on shocking or flashy elements but on exceptional writing and strong characters to maintain my interest.
Overall, I would, without a doubt, recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read. It is a true masterpiece of modern literature, and I eagerly anticipate what this talented author will come up with next!
• ASIN: B0BY7BTQL1
• Publisher: Beck and Branch Publishers
• Publication Date: 3/11/2023
• File Size: 2251 KB
• Print Length: 232 pages
• Genre: Satire, Satire Fiction, Fiction Satire
Sometimes money is not enough, nor does it replace freedom!
I recently finished reading a fantastic novel that completely captivated me. The characters were fascinating, the plot was intricate, and the writing was simply beautiful. I was utterly immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading until I reached the end.
What I appreciated the most was how the author created such realistic and vibrant characters. Each character had a unique personality and background, making them feel like real people rather than fictitious characters. The plot was well-executed, with numerous twists and surprises that kept me guessing until the end. I was delighted that the story depended not solely on shocking or flashy elements but on exceptional writing and strong characters to maintain my interest.
Overall, I would, without a doubt, recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read. It is a true masterpiece of modern literature, and I eagerly anticipate what this talented author will come up with next!
• ASIN: B0BY7BTQL1
• Publisher: Beck and Branch Publishers
• Publication Date: 3/11/2023
• File Size: 2251 KB
• Print Length: 232 pages
• Genre: Satire, Satire Fiction, Fiction Satire
January 17, 2024
This was a really fun read. I loved the format of short, snappy chapters because it made the story dynamic and fast moving. Cruiser and Peanut were good characters, each grew a bit as the journey progressed, and the last part of the book went in a very surprising direction but I really liked it.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews