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Haven
Hard times have descended upon Shenandoah County, Virginia. The paper mill has cut back to one shift and is barely hanging on. Businesses are closing, no longer able to attract customers. For Sale signs abound, reflecting the fear and desperation of homeowners. There are no buyers other than the bank which continues to fatten its portfolio of foreclosed properties. When Richmond Lomax arrives in Shenandoah County the local citizens think they have found the answer to their prayers. Purportedly the scion of an old Virginia family, Mr. Lomax has big plans for this small county in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As CEO of Southeastern Land and Development Company, Lomax intends to build an exclusive five star resort and spa. The project will bring badly needed jobs to the county. A problem soon emerges. The parcel of land the developer wants for his project is Wild Pony Ranch, and John "Cowboy" Howard, owner of the ranch, is not about to sell. John and his family quickly find themselves estranged from people in the community who blame the ranch owner for their plight. When the estrangement escalates to open hostility and violence John knows he needs to find the answers to some troubling questions: Who is behind the violence directed at him and his family? Who is Richmond Lomax and why does he want to build a luxurious resort in a small, rural county mired in a deep recession? Where is Lomax getting the money for such an unlikely project? John finds himself in a race against time as tensions mount and Shenandoah County stares into the abyss of moral and financial bankruptcy.
246 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2014
3 people want to read
About the author
Ronald Paxton
13 books32 followersRonald Paxton was born in Richmond, VA and grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. He published his first short story in 2008 and has since published approximately forty short stories on various Internet sites. His work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net award.His first novel, Winter Songs, was released in November 2012. His second novel, Haven, has been accepted for publication and should be released in 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 28, 2014
Haven, Ronald Paxton's 3 rd novel was just as excellently written and suspenseful as his other great works including Winter Songs, his first and Deep Water. Whether it is your first book from Paxton or another one to add to your collection, Wild Pony Ranch will be the focal point in this book where birth, death and uncertainty all intersect and ultimately where justice prevails.
With the economy at a critical juncture and businesses and organizations downsizing, Shenandoah County residents are desperate for revival and will seek it at almost any cost. Be careful however for what you wish for as all that glitters is not gold. The appetizing offer Mr. Lomax brings as CEO of Southeastern Land and Development Company will coax and manipulate many while playing on a panicked Realtor's wallet strings in the hopes of restoring finances.
Discover how John Howard, owner of Wild Pony Ranch, had to follow his skepticism while succumbing to retaliation from a later discovered least expected individual. Once quick on the rodeo scene and now quick on wit, John Howard will lead Buck and ranch manager Jupiter in uncovering a major criminal operation that will spare the town and individuals from disaster.
This novel has a snowball effect in building in intensity while surprise after surprise is discovered. Laced within the plot is the realization that man is often fickle and can lose sensibilities when desperate times are present. You will walk away with a sense of unity and closure and discover the rainbow after the storm. High atop the mountain the albino stallion will speak volumes of revelation with one glance.
Learn more background knowledge of the family, Wild Pony Ranch and Shenandoah County in his first novel Winter Songs. You will be delightfully surprised at how this new novelist has produced such page-turning novels. This 5 star book will be a welcome addition to anyone's collection. The suspense and climactic drama is superb in each of his 3 books.
With the economy at a critical juncture and businesses and organizations downsizing, Shenandoah County residents are desperate for revival and will seek it at almost any cost. Be careful however for what you wish for as all that glitters is not gold. The appetizing offer Mr. Lomax brings as CEO of Southeastern Land and Development Company will coax and manipulate many while playing on a panicked Realtor's wallet strings in the hopes of restoring finances.
Discover how John Howard, owner of Wild Pony Ranch, had to follow his skepticism while succumbing to retaliation from a later discovered least expected individual. Once quick on the rodeo scene and now quick on wit, John Howard will lead Buck and ranch manager Jupiter in uncovering a major criminal operation that will spare the town and individuals from disaster.
This novel has a snowball effect in building in intensity while surprise after surprise is discovered. Laced within the plot is the realization that man is often fickle and can lose sensibilities when desperate times are present. You will walk away with a sense of unity and closure and discover the rainbow after the storm. High atop the mountain the albino stallion will speak volumes of revelation with one glance.
Learn more background knowledge of the family, Wild Pony Ranch and Shenandoah County in his first novel Winter Songs. You will be delightfully surprised at how this new novelist has produced such page-turning novels. This 5 star book will be a welcome addition to anyone's collection. The suspense and climactic drama is superb in each of his 3 books.
October 7, 2014
Book Info
Paperback, first, 246 pages
Expected publication: July 1st 2014 by World Castle Publishing (first published June 20, 2014)
ISBN-13 978-1629891187
edition language English
other editions None found
Source:Digital copy from author in exchange for honest review
Book Buy Links
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Hard times have come to Shenandoah County. The mill is on the verge of collapse, unemployment is soaring, and people are leaving, unable to find work, sell their homes, or pay their mortgages. A mysterious developer arrives on the scene, eager to bring a major project with high-paying jobs to this quiet, rural Virginia community. It seems like a dream come true, but dreams can quickly turn into nightmares.
When one reads the description for the story set up it seems very straight forward and pretty simple reading, however once one gets engrossed in the book it proves to have an intensity that belies the simplistic plot.
Not having read anything written by author Ronald Paxton was not exposed to any of the people or places he had featured in previous works. Now having finished Haven have learned that the characters in the Howard family were actually introduced in the 2012 book Winter Songs .
John ”Cowboy” Howard is the patriarch and owner with his wife Sarah Jane of the Wild Pony Ranch, their daughter Emma Reynolds is the manager and ranch vet, her husband Chase and son John Howard live with Emma on the ranch as well in their own home not far from the main house.
The troubles in Shenandoah County Virginia have not spilled over to include those who live and work on Wild Pony, with careful management and a strong marketing campaign they have managed to become financially stable and in fact are the biggest contributors to the local business economy.
When promises are made by the developer wishing to create a high dollar resort in the county the only one who seems willing to ask the town council to dig deeper into his past business dealings is John Howard, this causes immediate reprisals that result in multiple scenes that will stretch the readers emotions to the limit as disbelief wars with outrage at the cruelties that are inflicted because one man dares to act responsibly.
The tension ratchets higher as the rest of the tale unfolds, when it is all said and done this was a mix of uncovering the real purpose of the development project and learning more about the townspeople as well as the inhabitants of Wild Pony Ranch.
My favorite scenes were the times spent with John Howard watching the sunrise off Lookback Mountain, it was peaceful, serenely beautiful and with the addition of the wild stallion’s appearances awe inspiring as well!
There are some hard truths about human nature faced in this book, there are also some wonderful tender moments that offset the sometimes brutal ones that occur.
Paperback, first, 246 pages
Expected publication: July 1st 2014 by World Castle Publishing (first published June 20, 2014)
ISBN-13 978-1629891187
edition language English
other editions None found
Source:Digital copy from author in exchange for honest review
Book Buy Links
Amazon
B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS
Hard times have come to Shenandoah County. The mill is on the verge of collapse, unemployment is soaring, and people are leaving, unable to find work, sell their homes, or pay their mortgages. A mysterious developer arrives on the scene, eager to bring a major project with high-paying jobs to this quiet, rural Virginia community. It seems like a dream come true, but dreams can quickly turn into nightmares.
My Thoughts
When one reads the description for the story set up it seems very straight forward and pretty simple reading, however once one gets engrossed in the book it proves to have an intensity that belies the simplistic plot.
Not having read anything written by author Ronald Paxton was not exposed to any of the people or places he had featured in previous works. Now having finished Haven have learned that the characters in the Howard family were actually introduced in the 2012 book Winter Songs .
John ”Cowboy” Howard is the patriarch and owner with his wife Sarah Jane of the Wild Pony Ranch, their daughter Emma Reynolds is the manager and ranch vet, her husband Chase and son John Howard live with Emma on the ranch as well in their own home not far from the main house.
The troubles in Shenandoah County Virginia have not spilled over to include those who live and work on Wild Pony, with careful management and a strong marketing campaign they have managed to become financially stable and in fact are the biggest contributors to the local business economy.
When promises are made by the developer wishing to create a high dollar resort in the county the only one who seems willing to ask the town council to dig deeper into his past business dealings is John Howard, this causes immediate reprisals that result in multiple scenes that will stretch the readers emotions to the limit as disbelief wars with outrage at the cruelties that are inflicted because one man dares to act responsibly.
The tension ratchets higher as the rest of the tale unfolds, when it is all said and done this was a mix of uncovering the real purpose of the development project and learning more about the townspeople as well as the inhabitants of Wild Pony Ranch.
My favorite scenes were the times spent with John Howard watching the sunrise off Lookback Mountain, it was peaceful, serenely beautiful and with the addition of the wild stallion’s appearances awe inspiring as well!
There are some hard truths about human nature faced in this book, there are also some wonderful tender moments that offset the sometimes brutal ones that occur.
[Digital copy from author in exchange for honest review]
August 12, 2016
Wonderful Sequel to Winter Songs
In Winter Songs, by Ronald Paxton, Look Back Mountain "was a mystical place. The serenity of the mountain was pure and absolute, and in the winter it was a refuge of perfect stillness… The wind would rise and fall, whistling a musical medley. Winter songs."
Now, Shenandoah County, Virginia, is in the throes of an economic crisis. Small family businesses are failing. The paper mill, key to the county's viability, teeters on the edge of bankruptcy.
Richard Lomax is a developer. He decides to build a luxurious resort and spa. The inhabitants think Lomax is the answer to their prayers.
At a Board of Supervisors meeting, John "Cowboy" Howard is the only one who openly asks Lomax difficult questions:
“Mr. Lomax, you state that you are based in Virginia Beach, yet there is no listing for you or your company in any directory. Furthermore, Mr. Lomax, there is no record of Southeastern Land and Development Company with the Office of the State Corporation Commission, Secretary of State, or Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
"Can you present evidence of incorporation, prior year tax returns, approval to conduct business in the Commonwealth of Virginia, audited financial records, bank statements, and a verifiable tax identification number? Can you, Mr. Lomax, present proof that Southeastern Land and Development Company, in fact, exists anywhere other than on your business card?”
The townspeople are enraged. Lomax represents rescue of the county's economy.
When Lomax targets the Wild Pony Ranch, John and his wife Sarah Jane refuse to sell their home. The townspeople decide John and his family the single greatest threat to their prosperity and happiness. As hostility escalates to violence, John must find the answers before it's too late…for everyone.
Haven, by Ronald Paxton, is the excellent sequel to Winter Songs. Mr. Paxton skillfully captures the angst of a rural county in crisis, and its tendency to seek salvation without digging deeper. The book explores deeper issues, such as love, friendship, and loyalty; gender roles; sacrifices to town budgets and the consequences; and the ends versus the means.
In Winter Songs, by Ronald Paxton, Look Back Mountain "was a mystical place. The serenity of the mountain was pure and absolute, and in the winter it was a refuge of perfect stillness… The wind would rise and fall, whistling a musical medley. Winter songs."
Now, Shenandoah County, Virginia, is in the throes of an economic crisis. Small family businesses are failing. The paper mill, key to the county's viability, teeters on the edge of bankruptcy.
Richard Lomax is a developer. He decides to build a luxurious resort and spa. The inhabitants think Lomax is the answer to their prayers.
At a Board of Supervisors meeting, John "Cowboy" Howard is the only one who openly asks Lomax difficult questions:
“Mr. Lomax, you state that you are based in Virginia Beach, yet there is no listing for you or your company in any directory. Furthermore, Mr. Lomax, there is no record of Southeastern Land and Development Company with the Office of the State Corporation Commission, Secretary of State, or Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
"Can you present evidence of incorporation, prior year tax returns, approval to conduct business in the Commonwealth of Virginia, audited financial records, bank statements, and a verifiable tax identification number? Can you, Mr. Lomax, present proof that Southeastern Land and Development Company, in fact, exists anywhere other than on your business card?”
The townspeople are enraged. Lomax represents rescue of the county's economy.
When Lomax targets the Wild Pony Ranch, John and his wife Sarah Jane refuse to sell their home. The townspeople decide John and his family the single greatest threat to their prosperity and happiness. As hostility escalates to violence, John must find the answers before it's too late…for everyone.
Haven, by Ronald Paxton, is the excellent sequel to Winter Songs. Mr. Paxton skillfully captures the angst of a rural county in crisis, and its tendency to seek salvation without digging deeper. The book explores deeper issues, such as love, friendship, and loyalty; gender roles; sacrifices to town budgets and the consequences; and the ends versus the means.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews