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The Legend of Jack Donovan
After Jack Donovan's parents are killed in a raid on the Oregon Trail, he's brought up by the wagon train half white, half Sioux.
At the age of thirteen, Jack is a drifter, until he rides into the Double M ranch in Cedar Creek. The legend of Jack Donovan begins here, when he takes down rustlers and a glory-hunting gunslinger.
Now, returning from the civil war, Jack finds that a carpetbagger is trying to take over the Double M. Faced with Jack and the Bailey brothers, the carpetbagger has hired some of the fastest guns in the West to win the Cedar Creek war.
But what he doesn't know is that Jack is the fastest gun of them all.
THE LEGEND OF JACK DONOVAN is the first book in the Bailey Clan Westerns series, set in the harsh mid-19th century American Frontier.
At the age of thirteen, Jack is a drifter, until he rides into the Double M ranch in Cedar Creek. The legend of Jack Donovan begins here, when he takes down rustlers and a glory-hunting gunslinger.
Now, returning from the civil war, Jack finds that a carpetbagger is trying to take over the Double M. Faced with Jack and the Bailey brothers, the carpetbagger has hired some of the fastest guns in the West to win the Cedar Creek war.
But what he doesn't know is that Jack is the fastest gun of them all.
THE LEGEND OF JACK DONOVAN is the first book in the Bailey Clan Westerns series, set in the harsh mid-19th century American Frontier.
146 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 29, 2024
155 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 28, 2025
Good story
A lot of action and adventure in this old fashioned western. Always good guys and bad guys, but sometimes bad guys get given a chance. Makes for a good read!
A lot of action and adventure in this old fashioned western. Always good guys and bad guys, but sometimes bad guys get given a chance. Makes for a good read!
January 1, 2025
A Different Kind of Western
This western could have been made into a four or five hundred page book. The author did a good job with the characters and plot of the book for a short book. The retelling of the lightening hands was used just a little too much, plus the good guys never got shot and the bad guys all got, shot, killed or hurt. This is an interesting read and worth it for a quick read.
This western could have been made into a four or five hundred page book. The author did a good job with the characters and plot of the book for a short book. The retelling of the lightening hands was used just a little too much, plus the good guys never got shot and the bad guys all got, shot, killed or hurt. This is an interesting read and worth it for a quick read.
April 28, 2025
I was pleased with my 1st experience with this author.
A solid Western read. The characters make this story/book. The author gets high marks for that. The plot was solid. It seemed to be only positive for the main character. It might have helped if there was some negativity. The scene settings were lacking in establishing a western setting. The civil war was mentioned; but I would have liked to have read scenes that established everyday life.
A solid Western read. The characters make this story/book. The author gets high marks for that. The plot was solid. It seemed to be only positive for the main character. It might have helped if there was some negativity. The scene settings were lacking in establishing a western setting. The civil war was mentioned; but I would have liked to have read scenes that established everyday life.
December 6, 2024
Entertaining and unrealistic.
Legend is right. If you're into invincible heroes, Jack Donovan is your man. Rifleman, pistolero, knife fighter, mmf fighter, he's all of these. There are a couple of other bigger than life, but not as big as Jack, good guys here too. Four stars is a bit much, but it did keep me entertained and was written well enough. Stock plot.
Legend is right. If you're into invincible heroes, Jack Donovan is your man. Rifleman, pistolero, knife fighter, mmf fighter, he's all of these. There are a couple of other bigger than life, but not as big as Jack, good guys here too. Four stars is a bit much, but it did keep me entertained and was written well enough. Stock plot.
May 2, 2025
cliched but good
I am afraid this was so cliched it cost a star! Storytelling worth 4.5, but accurate shooting from a galloping horse? Well done- at least he wasn’t blind.
I’ll try another - and tiny hope!
I am afraid this was so cliched it cost a star! Storytelling worth 4.5, but accurate shooting from a galloping horse? Well done- at least he wasn’t blind.
I’ll try another - and tiny hope!
November 27, 2024
DNF Didn't really care for it.
December 5, 2024
not a bad action western.
January 1, 2025
Awesome
I loved reading about Jack Donovan, both families, and friends. Can't wait to start Book 2. Can't wait to see what the Bailey Clan is up to.
I loved reading about Jack Donovan, both families, and friends. Can't wait to start Book 2. Can't wait to see what the Bailey Clan is up to.
January 25, 2025
Classic western action
You know it's implausible, but it's well enough written to keep you turning the pages to see what comes nu
You know it's implausible, but it's well enough written to keep you turning the pages to see what comes nu
January 25, 2025
Good guys…bad guys and a legend
Jack had many names. His reputation was more of a tale. Many “western” battles. And a final victory. A good read.
Jack had many names. His reputation was more of a tale. Many “western” battles. And a final victory. A good read.
March 7, 2025
A very quick read, book is almost like a synopsis for a larger novel. A western about a protagonist that is basically superman with a stetson. Unrealistic action, dialogue and plot. Pure escapism.
July 25, 2025
Great
Liked the whole story. How some don't have to toot their own horns. Real good take on good defeats evil again
Liked the whole story. How some don't have to toot their own horns. Real good take on good defeats evil again
August 13, 2025
Entertaining. Easy reading.
September 5, 2025
Good story
It was a good story but a long read. Seems like the story was slow in the telling. I am.glad to have read it.
It was a good story but a long read. Seems like the story was slow in the telling. I am.glad to have read it.
November 29, 2025
Can’t put it down
December 12, 2025
This was a great book fast paced and lot's of action with likable characters, It reminds me a lot like a Louis L'Amour book.
December 18, 2025
A rootin tootin old fashioned western. Very high body count. Great dialogue and a hero you gotta love.
Read
January 10, 2026Excellent
This is a book you just can't put down! It is all written with great characters and the perfect setting,
This is a book you just can't put down! It is all written with great characters and the perfect setting,
December 6, 2024
You want action, this book has it!!!
I liked that the good guys had morals and were honest and loyal. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a western with lots of action. I was proud that the author did not use any cuss words. To me, the use of cuss were words shows a limited vocabulary.
I liked that the good guys had morals and were honest and loyal. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a western with lots of action. I was proud that the author did not use any cuss words. To me, the use of cuss were words shows a limited vocabulary.
January 10, 2025
My first western story I've read.
Some of the stories gave me pictures in my mind of movies like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, 3:10 to Yuma, Appaloosa and A Fistful of Dollars.
If you played games like Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Revolver; this book captures the description of the Gunslinger shootouts and Saloons and drifter trail journeys.
I was a bit disappointed of the ending.. I did expect a Gunslinger draw showdown challenge between the protagonist & the antagonist, however the ending took a different approach which to my surprise was okay-ish I guess.
Overall, it was a nice story and does capture the essence of a Gunslinger & drifter that rides into a small town, only for trouble to find him.
Some of the stories gave me pictures in my mind of movies like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, 3:10 to Yuma, Appaloosa and A Fistful of Dollars.
If you played games like Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Revolver; this book captures the description of the Gunslinger shootouts and Saloons and drifter trail journeys.
I was a bit disappointed of the ending.. I did expect a Gunslinger draw showdown challenge between the protagonist & the antagonist, however the ending took a different approach which to my surprise was okay-ish I guess.
Overall, it was a nice story and does capture the essence of a Gunslinger & drifter that rides into a small town, only for trouble to find him.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews