A Tropical Frontier: The Cow Hunters

by Tim Robinson

Best Fiction, Florida Historical Society, Patrick D. Smith Award, 2015. [Rating: R] The Fourth novel in the "Tropical Frontier" series, The Cow Hunters is the sequel to The Good Dog. The Florida Prairie, 1860, cattle country. War looms, but to the settlers living along a jungled, tropical creek, it all seems very far away. For Becky Hackensaw, there are much more pressing matters, such as providing an education for her six children, but where to find someone willing to brave an uninhabited wilderness overrun with wild animals, alligators, poisonous snakes, and bloodthirsty mosquitoes?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Ebooks, Fiction

486 pages, Paperback

First published May 24, 2014

About the author

Tim Robinson is a third generation Floridian, his grandfather having taken up a 100 acre homestead on Cape Canaveral in 1924. It was his grandfather and father who instilled in him a love for everything Florida. Tim grew up in West Palm Beach, halfway between saltwater Lake Worth and freshwater Lake Mangonia, where he spent his childhood and youth traipsing through the woods or biking over to the beach or taking in the wonders of Florida in some fashion or another. He lives with his wife, Connie, on a small farm in Indiantown, Florida.

Reviews

[Tracy P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow. Wanna reflect and get thoughts together before reviewing this impactful, beautiful story.

[Carlton Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love found in the frontier

The characters in Mr Robinson's books always pull me in so deep that I feel that I have known them and their stories forever.
I grew up in Central Florida when I could run through the woods and imagine what it was like before we came here.
Mr Robinson's stories lets you get a real feel for old Florida.
The characters living in this book will amaze you with their love for Florida and each other.
The pictures that are drawn by words are so real that I came to know the families so well I felt their love and hardships as if they were my relatives. Since my family settled Polk Country in the1800s, maybe they were my relatives in more ways than one.
If you would like to learn about Florida before the big mouse took over, this book will be a great help.
Thanks Mr Robinson and Goodreads for making this book available to me.

[Janet R. Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

I live in Florida, and this story kept me on the edge of my seat! I felt like I was living through it myself. The characters are all so believable. I can hardly wait to read more from this author.

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am hooked on these books!

The Tropical Frontier books are mesmerizing and do not disappoint! Living in Florida in an area that is still somewhat like old Florida, I devour each and everyone that I read. Tim Robinson is a great storyteller and keeps me spellbound with each book! I can't wait to read the next one! 😊

[Rebecca Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Tim Robinson! This book was more to my liking than Book 3. Full of suspense, humor, romance, and Florida landscapes, it is definitely worth your time to read.

[Tammie Pagano · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up to 5! First, I want to thanks GOODREADS for the Kindle copy that I was fortunate to win in a giveaway! It was the first time I received a book and I am glad it was this one! WHAT A WONDERFUL STORY! I might never have know the author or this series sand the win, but I was so very pleasantly surprised by this book. I loved learning about the frontier life of those on the prairies of Florida in the 1860’s. The Hackensaw family and all their friends found their way into my heart and I thrilled at all their adventures. I had a picturesque movie running in my head the whole time thanks to TIM ROBINSON’S talented use of description. I loved the infusion of frontier language and all the elements of life prior to the Civil War. This book was filled with: humor, suspense, cattle-herding, the best loyal dogs around (can’t help but love Mudge), good guys and bad guys, a tight-knit family, whiskey drinkin’, corset wearin’, porch sitting’, fiddle playin’ fun!!! Robinson knows how to tell a story and I will definitely look to read more of this series in the future. Aside from a bit of cuss in’ this book would also be a fine fit for a high schooler who loves the frontier life or tales in the historical western genre. Personally, this story was a welcomed break from the usual books that I am drawn to and I cannot wait to read more!
Thanks again to GOODREADS! This was an excellent reading experience!!

[Carla Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very moving!

I loved this story! Loyal dogs, courageous horses, several love stories....it is wonderful. The characters are varied and very believable. The only complaint I have is some bad language. I think it could be the same wonderful story without “F” bombs.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, another great read…at least as far as I’m concerned. I was intrigued through out the entire book. The characters…Bo, Madeline, Mudge, Granny and so many more, all come to life I many different ways. I recommend this book if you like coming of age stories. I won this book in a give away.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

this book tells what it was like to live in Florida before the civil war and talks about the settlers and they

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up

[Sandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Florida frontier

I love books written about Florida's frontier and past. I admire these hearty souls who settled in this wild place I now call home. I love reading about the places I know from living here 45 years. Tim Robinson's book made that time past come to life.

[Kathy Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this Kindle edition book in a GoodReads
Giveaway. Thank you to everyone involved.
This is a great book. The characters are very
Real. Keeps you interested throughout the
Whole book.

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Circle K Ranch. Josiah Walsh (widower) was quite the lucrative cattleman/rancher.
He introduced Billy & Bo to Granny Walsh (cook), old Elijah (free Black, ranch hand), Becky Jorgensen (granddaughter), Little Joe (son), Big Joe (father, cow wrestler), Buck, Dusty, Elijah (hoss whisperer), & Patch.
It had been a long day & no on went away hungry from the dinner table.
Patch would teach Billy & Bo how to rope/ride.
Billy soon fell for Becky & vice versa.

7/13, St. Augustine. The Seminole Indians attacked yesterday. John Barker is dead, Colonel Russell was wounded, & they burned Gattis’s house.
Reverend Hockstead married Becky & Billy Hackensaw.
8/1860, Josiah had died & everyone went their own separate ways.
Their children are: Henry Hackensaw (10, son/brother), George Hackensaw (9, son/brother), Katie Hackensaw (8, daughter/sister), Charlotte Hackensaw (4, daughter/sister), Anna Hackensaw (2, twin daughter/sister) & Aaron Hackensaw (2, son/brother).
Granny stayed with them & Abigail Dawson (wife/mother, sister-in-law), Jimmy Dawson (husband/father), & Stephen Dawson (son) were close by.

Commander Geoffrey Winfield (USN) & Lieutenant Hamilton Sparks (USN) are in charge of the sailors: Bertie, Goliath, Butchie Boy, Paint, Atkisson, Bos’n, David Boyd “Davy Boy”, Little Joe, Bo (Uncle), Big Tommy Fletcher, Seaman Parsons, Milburn, & Murphy (Scottish).
Will Beauregard “Bo” J. Hackensaw & Madeline O’Dell tie the knot?
Escobar Cattle & Shipping Co. office. Señor Escobar (Spaniard) was letting Billy, Patch, & Elkins (cattle trail boss/rider) know what the herd was worth.

The others cattle trail rider’s: Barley, Cochran, Mulie, Goliath, Pyle, Joe (horseman), Charlie Ray, & Freddy Prine (trail cook) waited for the outcome.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written 19th Century western book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great 19th Century western movie, or better yet a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free author; Goodreads; MakingConnections; Making Connections discussion group talk; Port Sun Publishing; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Tammie Pagano · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars Rounded up!! First I want to thank GOODREADS for the Kindle copy thatI was fortunate enough to win in a giveaway! It was the first time I received a book and I am so glad it was this one! WHAT A WONDERFUL STORY! I might never have known of the author of of this book sans the win but I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. I loved learning about the frontier life of those on the prairies of Florida in the 1860's. The Hackensaw family and all their friends found their way into my heart and I thrilled at all their adventures. I had a picturesque movie running in my head the whole time thanks to TIM ROBINSON'S talented use of description. I loved the infusion of frontier language and all the elements of life prior to the Civil War. This book was filled with: humor, suspense, cattle herding, the best loyal dogs around (can't help but love Mudge!), a tight-knit family, good guys and bad guys, whiskey drinkin', corset wearing, porch sitting, fiddle playin' fun! Robinson knows how to tell a story and I will definitely look to read more of this series in the future! I teach a YA reader's workshop, and with a dose of parental consent there is not much here that would offend and could be a great fit for a high school reader who loves the frontier life or tales in the historical western genre. Personally, this story was a welcomed break from the other books I am often drawn to and I cannot wait to read more!.

Thanks again Goodreads! This was an excellent reading experience!

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great book by Tim Robinson.It takes place in 1846 on the Florida Prairie.The story begins with two brothers Billy and Bo who are only 11 and 13 years old.They are being raised by their sister and her husband in this untamed wilderness.They like to go searching for stray cows to bring home to feed their family.They hear a strange noise in the bushes and go check to see what it is.They find an injured dog and rescue him.They name him Mudge and he becomes a big part of this story.He is always there for them to protect and help them.They meet a man who comes thru there area driving cattle to his ranch.He offers to help them and will teach them how to ride and take care of horses if the boys agree to bring him 25 cows.The man's name is Joshia Walsh and the boys agree to his terms.It takes them quite awhile to get these cattle and drive them to Mr.Walsh's Ranch.He teaches them a lot and gives them each a horse to keep.As they set off on this big adventure they meet all types of people.One is a half breed Indian named Tom who is pure evil,another woman is a person who takes them in and they call her"Ma" who is very good to them.They also meet a woman named Madeline(a madam)who will play a big part in there lives.They meet a lot of good & bad characters.This book was so good!

[Karen Prive · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cattle Herders in the Seminole State

Over the course of decades, this book follows the story of the cow-hunter Hackensaw brothers in 19th century Florida. The book begins with the brothers as boys, but we soon jump to their lives as young men developing lives for themselves.

When I think of cattle herding I had never pictured cows in Florida, but Tim Robinson introduced me to a piece of US history I'd never known. The account of pioneer life in this southern state, with the threats of gators and snakes and bugs and Seminole Indians, was entertaining to read. Some characters were richly drawn out and people I'd like to know - Little Joe, Granny, Madeline, Jesse, even Tommy. The problem is that the brothers were rather one-dimensional - almost as though they simply served as a vehicle to introduce the far more interesting characters to the tale.

I do appreciate winning the Kindle version in a Goodreads Giveaway, and enjoyed the story. However, I probably won't be reading other books from this series.

[Jacqui H. Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this Tropical Frontier series. They give an ongoing historical picture of what life was probably like in the late 1800's in central and south Florida, particularly the Key Biscayne area. Somehow, I believe I would have liked it better then than the way it is now.
This is the 5th one I've read, and it breaks off into the Good Dog sub-series... characters previously introduced in the first four books, that now become central characters, along with a 'passel' of dogs and horses.

It's easy to get caught up in the life of this small, slowly developing community. I'm still entertained enough to keep reading the series.

If you love historical fiction, you'll like this series.

[Rosa Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. The opinions, comments and thoughts expressed in this review are my own.

This was quite the interesting read. It is geared towards men is the vibe I got. I enjoyed the main characters and most of the plots were pretty decent. I was not a fan of one of them though. I found some scenes quite disturbing and almost unnecessary (trigger warning for SA). It was an okay read but I probably won't be picking up the rest of the series which you can read these as stand alones.

[Steve Bender · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ebook in a Goodreads Giveaway. It is part of a series on Florida in the 19th Century. This book tells the story of the early "ranchers" in central Florida. It has a good mis of characters and their interactions with the environment and their animals, mainly the dogs that they used to gather wild cattle leftover from the Spanish. Tim Robinson is a great story teller. Highly recommended.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Goodreads for the Kindle copy of this book. I might not have picked this book but I'm glad I won it. It was an interesting historical fiction book showing the lifestyle of several pioneer families and their hardships in the early days in Florida. The characters are interesting and who knew there were wild cows there.It shows a totally different lifestyle than we have today. This is only one of the books in this series and I will be reading more.

[DAB-E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good historical fiction read. This is the second book I have read on the Tropical Frontier series. It gives a lot of interesting information of a different time and place. Little Joe may be my favorite character. Next to him, Mudge would be my second favorite. I am not sure how I would have ended this book, but it did seem to work. It is not exactly a happily ever after but it does seem to work.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Tropical Frontier: The Cow Hunters

A book set around the time of the Civil War. Set in Florida well before it became a destination. A family brings a teacher down to educate their children. But she has a background that she is trying to hide as she tries to reinvent herself. This is the story of the family and how they handle problems that arise at home, in the local area, and in the United States.

#GoodreadsGiveaways

[Ashley Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very well written view into Florida history. Set in the years leading up to the Civil War a loveable family will enter your imagination and heart. Living in the Southeast United States enabled me to know and envision so much in the story, but the details are written in a way so that anyone can be transported to old Florida. it was a very good read and I can not wait to read more in the series.
Thank you to the author and publisher for my Kindle copy won in a goodreads giveaway.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this e-book for a honest review. I'm a first time reading anything from Tim Robinson and hopefully won't be the last. I really enjoyed reading about Florida frontier in 1860 and the settlers who lived there. Great book and I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read about the frontier.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I began reading this book I couldn't put it down. It is such a good book. In fact I read it twice. Tim Robinson has done a great job in writing it. It is about a family and their way of life. I won't go into detail because you have to read it. I gave it 5 stars but wish I could give it more. I can't wait to read the others in the series.

[micha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully vivid characters

Unexpected journey to early Florida. I'm a native and have a Florida history degree, I enjoyed this story and found much of the settings accurate. With the exception of the cussing, I don't believe those were the choice cuss words of that period. But that is the beauty of embellishment!

[Jim Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before Florida beaches

I chose this novel because I know Mr. Robinson and I have read others of his works .He knows Florida and the people who settled it. His characters are real because they were living here before we were. Anyone who knows the real Florida and likes real people to populate their reading will enjoy his work

[Marilyn Samuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose to read this because it happened "in my back yard". It is not my favorite genre (mysteries). It seemed slow at times probably because so much was covered. For me it was not a "can't put it down". At times I "got lost" - flow was not cohesive. I did learn a lot about life in Florida during those times.

[Janet Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh! Does Not Stand Alone
This book really appealed to me. I love westerns and am very interested in early Florida, but this book drags along so badly. It is constantly referring to this that are not in this book. It is not an enjoyable book to read. I only made it through the first 8 chapters and gave up.

[R J Mckay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Goodreads in exchange for a review.

You know the feeling you get when you slip into a favorite pair of blue jeans? All relaxed and comfy? That’s the writing style of Tim Robinson. His stories feel like I’m listening to a really good storyteller. He brings warmth and family resiliency to his stories which are heartwarming.