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Ben Blue #3

Ace High

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As Ben Blue pushes his herd north to the railhead, Max Bell is being pushed out of Las Vegas, New Mexico by a hard as nails town marshal with a strong dislike for gamblers and drifters. Bell could have fit into either category. When Blue and Bell come together, they each find a good friend and a worthy companion to face the trail ahead. What lay before them would demand strong men with nerve.

173 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 15, 2014

294 people are currently reading
28 people want to read

About the author

Lou Bradshaw

41 books41 followers

Lou Bradshaw is a lifelong story teller, who spent most of his life as a commercial illustrator and graphic artist. Deadlines, clients, and vendors were all sources of sleep depriving stress. To combat insomnia, he would often create stories in his mind to take the place of what was bothering him. Soon, some of those stories had grown to the point that they needed to be put on paper. Taking up a felt tip pen and a loose leaf binder, he found something new, challenging, and exciting. He soon filled multiple binders and his distraction had become a passion. Upon retirement, he began assembling notes and scribbles into novels… the rest is history.
One of the unique features of his work is that as a dyslexic child, he was considered either slow or lazy by most of his teachers. To date he has written 7 books, which is 6 more than he was able to read while in school. His only legitimate book report, although 3 months late, was Huckleberry Finn.
Lou and his wife Avon live in the Missouri Ozarks, where they enjoy their family, golf, and the great outdoors.

Visit me on Facebook at Lou Bradshaw Artist – Author
www.facebook.com/loubradshawarts.

Also check out my blog “Your Daily Dose of Nonsense”
www.loubradshaw.blogspot.com

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Community Reviews

5 stars
679 (61%)
4 stars
294 (26%)
3 stars
98 (8%)
2 stars
16 (1%)
1 star
11 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
1,399 reviews13 followers
February 24, 2018
Mr. Bradshaw is a very cunning and creative author, who certainly has the expertise of collecting the perfect phrases together to create the exact words together at the right time. This is another excellent story of an exceptionally well grouped bunch of characters.

Definitely worthy of the five stars, and even more, if they were permitted. I am certainly impressed with each and every exceptionally well expressed statements if the main characters throughout the entire story.

For this author to rise from his handicap and achieve the apparent stardom he is currently riding, I can only glory in his accomplishments. God, apparently, gave him the opportunity to be something and he grabbed the bull by the horns, never looking g back.

This is a very exciting, and definitely a well though out series of old western lore. I am impressed with the character selections, as well as the storylines created by a master author. I am honored to call Mr. Bradshaw a "master author," based on these exciting escapades of one, Ben Blue, and his associates.

Yes, I most certainly recommend this series to all of you dedicated readers of old western excitement at its best. These stories are very descriptive of old western excursions, and the pitfalls of the many new arrivals in the real old west. Do not miss the opportunity to read all these stories, or the loss is yours!
240 reviews2 followers
March 26, 2018
Ace High (Ben Blue

Gotta put Lou Bradshaw among my favorite authors. Ben Blue book 3 is an attention getter from page 1. Not your run of the mill "Gun Slick Shootem' Ups" but, a Western thriller. The cattle drive and the constant threats of rustlers, Indians and near-do-wells will keep you thoroughly engrossed. This is one of those "can't putter downers" and will have your wife yelling to come to supper. So, Giddy Up."
3,198 reviews26 followers
November 13, 2018
An LB Western/Ben Blue (3)/A Trail Herd/A Crooked Sheriff/Outlaws

LB has penned the third Ben Blue western where Ben is moving three thousand head of cattle to the Railroad in western Kansas. The problems encountered reroute are hustlers and gunmen who are trying to Rob Ben Blue from his herd. He gains a friend and the two end up fighting the hustlers and gunmen. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
147 reviews1 follower
October 17, 2018
Ace High Ben Blue 3

I have five stars because this was one rip roaring western. Ben hooks up with Gambler Max Bell an all round good shot and level headed cowboy. They have their hands full fighting rustlers, outlaws, crooked lawmen, renegades, and assassins. Ben and Max kill quite a few criminals before they get Ben's huge herd to the railhead.
13 reviews
September 14, 2018
Very good reading enjoyed it kept me interested through the book .

Couldn't put it down Excited about next book in series thanks for writing these wonderful westerns can't wait for the next book
181 reviews1 follower
February 13, 2020
Ben is driving 3000 cattle to the rail head for shipping to the East. He meets a gambler, Max Bell, who joins the cattle drive. Ben and Max develop a strong relationship as they meet rustlers, criminals and assassins along the way. The characters are well developed including the perspective of the villains. There are well developed events of the struggles encountered by western men driving herds of cattle over hundreds of miles. There is danger, humor and comradeship among the drovers and their leaders. When Ben successfully completes the cattle drive, Max meets up with a woman who shares his interest in gambling and they depart for California.

This is a very interesting story and is a well develop book in this series. One cannot help but like Ben for his gentleness, wisdom, courage and commitment to face danger in any form.
Lou Bradshaw is an exceptional writer and engages the reader from the first page as Ben narrates his own life's story.
23 reviews
February 13, 2018
BRAVO!T

IT is nice to read a book that you just relax and
Enjoy. The author is a very good storyteller.
212 reviews
July 24, 2018
Fun

I found this a fun read. I liked the thoughts and t h e conversations of the main characters..It was s my kind of hunger.
379 reviews2 followers
February 23, 2019
Life of a Gambler

Great story of a gambler turned cattleman and back to gambler. After meeting Ben Blue, learned a life as a cattleman and law abiding citizen.
66 reviews
March 18, 2019
Like this book!

I continue to appreciate the way Louis builds his very believable characters, locations of his storyline to where you feel like you're right there.
26 reviews
April 16, 2019
GREAT!!!

Once again Ben Blue and crew gave me a reason to look forward to my reading time each day and of course this was another surprise ending.
719 reviews4 followers
May 30, 2019
Ace High (3)

This was a good read,the story was just a little off at first ,then once the action started it never slowed down
Profile Image for Peggy Pancherz.
1,173 reviews6 followers
March 14, 2020
Good book

Read all of the books in order to really enjoy. Storyline continues to grow and develop . Characters are realistic and get better and better.
718 reviews6 followers
June 26, 2020
Misdirection!

Good story! Told from a different perspective, but a good read! Looking forward to the next book, I like series!
Profile Image for Anthony R Woods.
696 reviews3 followers
April 17, 2021
New Characters

New characters added to the Ben Blue series. A cattle drive, multiple bad men and greed make an excellent adventure.
68 reviews
May 9, 2021
A must read book

You must read the whole book to see all of action of love and death. The card games the action, money, planning for the future.
731 reviews3 followers
August 26, 2021
The Art Of Misdirection

Wow! This was truly one of Bradshaw's absolute best western novels! It was extremely hard to put down once started. I would heartily recommend it!
116 reviews1 follower
January 15, 2015
Better the second time!

I read this Bradshaw book a long time ago. Recently, I read Ben Blue books 1 & 2, so I read this one again. This book is written as though told by a gambler named Max Bell and Ben Blue is a secondary character. It was fun reading it after knowing more about the character Ben Blue. It is a rollicking western with gunfight, good guys and bad guys (more than one are both) and a couple of love interests. If you like westerners, I'd recommend all three.
8 reviews
June 4, 2016
Another action packed lou bradshaw great read!

Really good characters that you just want to love. Can't wait to get started with book 4. I like the way the author brings in different characters like Cain...then will disappear yet to surly will emerge again..Can't wait to be there to see Ben propose to Patty..
Profile Image for Steven C Hawkins.
66 reviews1 follower
November 17, 2014
Great story teller.

Lou Bradshaw's Ben Blue stories are just fun to read. He really knows how to tell a story and make you feel like you are a character in the book. If you grew up watching Gunsmoke and you still love westerns the "Ben Blue" series will not disappoint you.
396 reviews1 follower
August 5, 2015
Calling the Bluff

Max Bell is a gambler by trade, but don't cross him or you'll either have to call his bluff or fold. When he partners with Ben Blue, the outlaws don't stand a chance.
9 reviews
March 25, 2016
Lou Bradshaw has a good way of keeping the reader on the edge of his chair. He Haddon a good job of that again. I c.d.s. w


Was up for the entire time. Each one gets better. The way re keeps me interest up is very excellent.
2 reviews
August 16, 2016
A very good read. Continued from the Ben Blue series

I enjoyed reading the 3rd in the Ben Blue series. Just purchased Book 4. This story brought a new character in the life of Ben Blue.
Profile Image for Larry VanZalen.
21 reviews
December 10, 2014
Mr Bradshaw always provides an enjoyable and entertaining read. This book was no exception.
18 reviews
July 15, 2018
Marshal Blue

The MB Ranch Herd Drive was the best way to get ahead and build the best way for old friends to keep the way you can have for a strong team and book.
Profile Image for LUAYNE.
1,953 reviews5 followers
January 13, 2023
5 stars

Great storytelling. This book is not told from Ben Blue's pov. Max is a gambler/cow puncher. Good story with plenty of action. Really glad Tate did not collect the reward.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

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