Shadow of Legends

Fortunes of the Black Hills #2

by Stephen Bly

BRAZOS FORTUNE HAS LEFT A TOWERING LEGACY. HIS SON TODD NOW STRUGGLES TO PROVE HIMSELF AND FIND HIS OWN IDENTITY IN THE SHADOWS OF LEGENDS. Life in the shadows. It happens to all of us. We stand so close to a dominant personality that our reflection can hardly be noticed. Someone more famous. More skilled. More powerful. Sometimes they are people we hardly know. Sometimes they are members of our own family. Brazos Fortune has left a towering legacy. His son Todd now struggles to prove himself and find his own identity in the Shadow of Legends. Todd Fortune must follow his father as he takes over the family business with his wife, a fast-paced city girl whos not willing to settle into a small town lifestyle. A tale of daily hardships and hard-earned victories, Todd struggles to prove himself a committed husband and a courageous frontiersman in the wake of his fathers legacy. Cross-country chases, deadly showdowns, and budding romances weave the story of this second powerful novel in the Fortunes of the Black Hills series.

Genres: Westerns, Christian Fiction, Audiobook, Historical Fiction

212 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Stephen Bly (August 17, 1944 - June 9, 2011) authored 100 books and hundreds of articles. His book, THE LONG TRAIL HOME, (Broadman & Holman), won the prestigious 2002 CHRISTY AWARD for excellence in Christian fiction in the category western novel. Three other books, PICTURE ROCK (Crossway Books), THE OUTLAW'S TWIN SISTER (Crossway Books), and LAST OF THE TEXAS CAMP (Broadman & Holman), were Christy Award finalists. He spoke at colleges, churches, camps and conferences across the U.S. and Canada. He was the pastor of Winchester Community Church, and served as mayor of Winchester, Idaho (2000-2007). He spoke on numerous television and radio programs, including Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family. He was an Active Member of the Western Writers of America. Steve graduated summa cum laude in Philosophy from Fresno State University and received a M.Div from Fuller Theological Seminary. The Blys have three sons: Russell (married to Lois) and father of Zachary and Miranda (married to Chris Ross) and mother of Alayah, Michael (married to Michelle), and Aaron (married to Rina Joye) and father of Keaton and Deckard. A third generation westerner, Steve spent his early years working on ranches and farms.

Reviews

[Joleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow of Legends
Deadwood, Dakota Territory
1880

Main Characters

Todd Fortune: Brazo's son, runs the family's general store
Rebecca Fortune: Todd's wife, unhappy with Dakota Territory
Abigail Gordon: Actress, now Rebecca's friend
Brazos Fortune: Todd's famous father
Daisy June Fortune: Todd's 16 year old sister, a fun character

Brazos Fortune (from book one) has become a legend…almost like a super hero in The Badlands. If bad guys need to be found, he's on the hunt. If a dispute needs to be solved, who do you go to? Brazos Fortune.

Now his son Todd is trying to find his place under the shadow of this legend. He's taken over the family business with his wife, Rebecca, a born and bred city girl, but working in a store isn’t quite as fulfilling as he'd dreamed his life would be.

I liked Rebecca. She’s not what you might call a spoiled young woman, just used to a certain lifestyle, which Deadwood doesn’t offer. Not to mention all the bad guys that seem to be coming through, often after the Fortune men. She simply didn’t want to raise children there.

But oh my, how she loved her husband. And oh my, how Todd loved his wife. It was so refreshing to not read about a guy chasing a girl, or visa versa in a romance story. This is the romance of a married couple. They were so cute together and so accommodating even when they had different ideas from the other. It was so sweet.

Did I mention bad guys? Well, the same band of outlaws throughout the story were a menace to the community, with their sights on taking revenge and more.

Then there’s an actress in the local theater who wants to live a normal life with her child, seeking help from Rebecca and eventually Todd. That storyline was also well done.

Honestly, I really like Stephen Bly’s writing. It’s full of faith, witnessing to friends, praying and being the best Christian example they can. I’m saddened that there won’t be any further books, but there are plenty to choose from.

This is a western, a shoot em up, and a romance that even my husband wouldn’t mind listening to on a trip.

Good book!

[Pop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love these stories about the Fortunes of the Black Hills of The Dakotas. IMOP wonderful stories that should be read and enjoyed by anyone that likes good ole westerns that have stories that hold to Christen values and beliefs. Otherwise forger it it!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for a fast-paced book, this one won't fit the bill. It is more the everyday life of a married man living in the shadow of his famous father. But the son finds out his own mettle when trouble comes.

[Adrian Ramos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic story of the eldest son trying to find his place in this world while living in his father’s shadow.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast, clean read with exciting moments. The story is similar to watching an old western but with more strong, God-fearing females. :) Passing along to my DD to read.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Todd Fortune lives in the shadow of his father Brazos... what will he discover during his own test of faith?

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed

[Joey Peacher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent series.