Between Hell and Texas

Byrnes Family Ranch #2

by Dusty Richards

With blood and tears, Chet Byrnes built a life in Texas, only to have it shattered by an ill-fated cattle drive and two deadly family feuds. Spurned by the woman he loves, Chet sets off for new territory. The journey won't come cheap. Original.

Genres: Westerns

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Author of over 85 novels, Dusty Richards is the only author to win two Spur awards in one year (2007), one for his novel The Horse Creek Incident and another for his short story “Comanche Moon.” He is a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the International Professional Rodeo Association, and serves on the local PRCA rodeo board. Dusty is also an inductee in the Arkansas Writers Hall of Fame. He currently resides in northwest Arkansas. He was the winner of the 2010 Will Rogers Medallion Award for Western Fiction for his novel Texas Blood Feud and honored by the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2009.

Reviews

[Frank Kelso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dusty wrote great wesrens - A man's gotta do what man's gotta do!

A Texas Hill Country family is embroiled in a feud with a large family bent on an eye for an eye revenge. Death after senseless death convinces the Texas family to sell and move to AZ , where death still follows.

[Natalie Bright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great tale with the return of Chet Byrnes as he tries to relocate the clan to Arizona. Dusty Richards' details always amaze me, from riding horses, rounding up cattle to shootouts. Very entertaining.

[Patricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I lost interest in this book. I was listening to this on audio. Now I'm not . . . .
The remorseless killing in the beginning of the book, the birth-control-less and casual sex, the swearing . . . All not for me.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rambling and fairly disjointed.

[kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wooden characters. Disjointed story. Stilted dialogue.

[Russ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This Western is a typical ranch story or family feud scenario, in which the good guys are hassled by a family of rival jerks. Chet Byrnes is the dad in the good family, serving as a kindhearted alpha male/Father-Knows-Best figure. Nobody else is quite as level-headed as him. Level-headed to the point of stoicism. In a secondary storyline, Chet’s bitchy old aunt is kidnapped and raped, he glosses over it, and even she just shakes it off, thanks him for saving her, and appears to recover from the trauma immediately. (I guess this was intended to illustrate that even though she had been grouchy in the beginning, Chet’s bravery turned her personality around.) I didn’t buy that real life would be that simple. Overall, I didn’t get much out of this story, the characters, or their conflicts.

[Jeff Benham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stuck in a family feud in TX Chet Byrnes decides the best way out is to move his family to Arizona. He had to go on ahead to find a place so he was gone for a long time. I thought it strange that he didn't write home to his family or Kathryn who he was supposedly totally in love with. Didn't take long for him to meet Marge. He found a ranch, but first he had to fire the foreman, who was stealing the absentee owner blind. Some of the feuding family caught up with him and now he also has the foreman and his buddy's to watch out for. There is some good action in this one.

[Patricia Heffron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad I picked this western to read. My reading is varied. I was in the mood for a western and this fit the bill. very good read. I did think he sure saw his share of trouble and sometimes you wished it would end.( the main character I mean). I just checked out the next in the series and can't wait to get started. I like books that keep the series going.

[Don A. Whitehead, Sr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

As good as the First Book of the Series!

This book (and the first one) certainly have grabbed my attention. Very descriptive, authentic appearing and interesting reading. Good, believable characters. Only negative is the poor editing, proofreading and grammar.

[Susan Santangelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good one...

The saga continues, not without a few surprises and some sadness. The characters become more believable with every novel - and I’ve already bought the next one in the series. Reading these is like taking a vacation into the past.

[Derrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This dude Chet is a player and I think that's what I don't enjoy about this series. He plays all women and kills people. I feel like he's the bad guy, but it's being presented as the Good guy. Strange series for sure.

[Buckley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chet Byrnes...Part II

No matter where he is, Chet is driven to do the right thing no matter the consequences. He is trying to do what is right and must leave his home to do it!

[Shane Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty good book, I enjoyed the writing and the plot. The ending was abrupt

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 4.5 rating is sufficient. This is the 2nd book of this series and it was well paced with lots of action and a few good twists and turns along the way. A very well written western.

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good western ree. I am enjoying this series.

[Joseph A. Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

One died and was. Sad but again well written and now moving on the next chapter. Only gets better. Thanks

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Western novel with clear, detailed prose and an authentic voice. Really captures the Old West. Chet Byrnes is a hell of a cowboy and the novel really draws you into his confrontations with Burls' clan, his romance and complications with Kathren, his relationship with Margaret, his father/son like relationship with his nephew Heck and the hardships, danger and violence involved in living as a cowboy caught up in a feud.

This was quite the page turner and the end of the book definitely left me wanting more, as I obviously want to know what happens once Chet and his family move out to Camp Verde, what happens with him and Kathren (doesn't seem too good from the last line!), etc. I would recommend this to any fans of the genre. Dusty Richards really knows how to write 'em.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dusty Richards is at the top of favored western writers. His storytelling is exceptional. I have yet to read a book bearing his name that I didn't like.
His characters are memorable, plots entertaining and realistic. His portrayal of the old west is superior. This series is one of my all time favorites.

[Nathan Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Between his details of food and coffee, it was a good story. I cried. Bawled like a baby for half an hour. Worth the read. Don't even have to read the first cause he's got so many catch ups in there.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew! Can things get any worse.

This book took my breath away. I just wanted to go help these wonderful characters. Well onto Book 3. This is turning out to be a terrific series.