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Hell On Wheels: Rancho Diablo, Book 4
Everyone in Shooter's Cross knows that Mike Tucker isn't a ranch hand. He's a shootist, lightning quick, and totally lethal with his Tranter pistols.
Jenny Blaylock has always been nervous around Tucker because she knows he's a stone cold killer. Something's broken inside Tucker, and she's afraid that he's going to get her family hurt.
But when her husband Sam is out of town and her daughter is kidnapped by a ruthless gang, Jenny has no choice but to saddle up and ride with Tucker. The trail is long and hard, and she knows it's going to end in sudden death, hellfire, and gunsmoke.
Jenny Blaylock has always been nervous around Tucker because she knows he's a stone cold killer. Something's broken inside Tucker, and she's afraid that he's going to get her family hurt.
But when her husband Sam is out of town and her daughter is kidnapped by a ruthless gang, Jenny has no choice but to saddle up and ride with Tucker. The trail is long and hard, and she knows it's going to end in sudden death, hellfire, and gunsmoke.
- GenresWesterns
Audible Audio
First published August 19, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 15, 2020
Hell On Wheels (Rancho Diablo Book 4)
Sam Blaylok was building a ranch out of the raw Texas land that was a hostile unforgiving land, that was also beautiful in it's wild freedom the land offered. However, shortly after the Civil War Texas was not the safest place to start a ranch, much less to bring his family. But that was his dream, and they would deal with the trouble that found them whenever it came, doing whatever it took to keep his family safe. This was a great read. I always enjoy reading R O Lane's work. 👏BRAVO 👏👏BRAVO
Sam Blaylok was building a ranch out of the raw Texas land that was a hostile unforgiving land, that was also beautiful in it's wild freedom the land offered. However, shortly after the Civil War Texas was not the safest place to start a ranch, much less to bring his family. But that was his dream, and they would deal with the trouble that found them whenever it came, doing whatever it took to keep his family safe. This was a great read. I always enjoy reading R O Lane's work. 👏BRAVO 👏👏BRAVO
December 14, 2018
A CJ. Rancho Diablo (4) Western/Outlaws/Kidnapped Girls/The Chase
CJ. has. penned the fourth novel in the Rancho Diablo series. The Lady of the Blaylock family wants the young gunman to leave. He rides to the nearest hill and maintains a watch. He he Blaylock daughter is kidnapped and is headed to the Mexican border for slavery. The young gunman and Mom take up the chase intending to rescue the girls. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
CJ. has. penned the fourth novel in the Rancho Diablo series. The Lady of the Blaylock family wants the young gunman to leave. He rides to the nearest hill and maintains a watch. He he Blaylock daughter is kidnapped and is headed to the Mexican border for slavery. The young gunman and Mom take up the chase intending to rescue the girls. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
August 27, 2011
As my other reviews indicate, the first three Rancho Diablo novels made me a die-hard fan of the series. However, this fourth novel, the second written by Mel Odom, is almost in a whole different league. For the first time, the spotlight moves away from rancher Sam Blaylock, and onto his wife, Jenny, and ranch hand/gunfighter with a mysterious past Mike Tucker. Jenny doesn't approve of Tucker's almost supernatural skill with weapons. She believes that that skill, coupled with an uncaring attitude towards killing, makes Tucker a trouble magnet, and that's something she doesn't want anywhere around her children. Then, suddenly, Miriam Blaylock is kidnapped while Sam is away on business, and Jenny is forced to call on Tucker to help bring her back.
Obviously, the series title is Rancho Diablo, not The Adventures of Sam Blaylock. The three men writing under the name Colby Jackson have built up an interesting cast of characters, and it's great to see two previously supporting characters taking center stage. In earlier stories, Tucker had been a fairly typical Enigmatic Gunman with a Mysterious Past, and Jenny had been the Doting Wife and Mother who Brings Her Wild Family Down to Earth. This story truly fleshes out their characters, allowing both the reader and each other to learn that each has some surprising depths.
Like most Rancho Diablo novels to date, the story is fairly straightforward. The storytelling is tight and economical, without unnecessary twists and complications layered on just to expand the story. Having said that, this is the longest Rancho Diablo story to date. The extra length allows Jackson/Odom to give Jenny and Tucker time to learn about each other. It's a fairly straightforward chase story, but the characters and action (which, as usual, comes fast and furious) is what makes this story stand out.
We also learn more about town founder Shooter York, with some interesting hints being dropped. Knowing that the Rancho Diablo team plan on launching a spin-off series about York this fall, this could smack of a cynical marketing ploy. Instead, it serves to whet the appetite, giving hints of colorful adventures to come. It's pretty unobtrusive, and helps deepen the world the authors are creating here.
Once again, while Hell on Wheels builds on the books that came before, it can be read completely independently. Also like the others, while the story is self-contained, the character relationships build on what's come before, and change things for the future. It's a very traditional western, but the quality of the writing is what keeps me coming back. The "Colby Jackson" team aren't just churning out installments to fill slots on a publisher's schedule. They are definitely writing from the heart, and that love shows through.
Obviously, the series title is Rancho Diablo, not The Adventures of Sam Blaylock. The three men writing under the name Colby Jackson have built up an interesting cast of characters, and it's great to see two previously supporting characters taking center stage. In earlier stories, Tucker had been a fairly typical Enigmatic Gunman with a Mysterious Past, and Jenny had been the Doting Wife and Mother who Brings Her Wild Family Down to Earth. This story truly fleshes out their characters, allowing both the reader and each other to learn that each has some surprising depths.
Like most Rancho Diablo novels to date, the story is fairly straightforward. The storytelling is tight and economical, without unnecessary twists and complications layered on just to expand the story. Having said that, this is the longest Rancho Diablo story to date. The extra length allows Jackson/Odom to give Jenny and Tucker time to learn about each other. It's a fairly straightforward chase story, but the characters and action (which, as usual, comes fast and furious) is what makes this story stand out.
We also learn more about town founder Shooter York, with some interesting hints being dropped. Knowing that the Rancho Diablo team plan on launching a spin-off series about York this fall, this could smack of a cynical marketing ploy. Instead, it serves to whet the appetite, giving hints of colorful adventures to come. It's pretty unobtrusive, and helps deepen the world the authors are creating here.
Once again, while Hell on Wheels builds on the books that came before, it can be read completely independently. Also like the others, while the story is self-contained, the character relationships build on what's come before, and change things for the future. It's a very traditional western, but the quality of the writing is what keeps me coming back. The "Colby Jackson" team aren't just churning out installments to fill slots on a publisher's schedule. They are definitely writing from the heart, and that love shows through.
August 24, 2011
Three men write these short, punchy westerns: Mel Odom, James Reasoner, and Bill Crider. Mel Odom contributes this one to the set.
Sam Blaylock and his family, as well as the men working for him(more family than employees), had built Rancho Diablo from a foul smelling land overlooked by most people. The sulfur odor that gave it it's name had been fixed, the saw mill built and making money, and the beginnings of a cattle ranch in place.
They'd made a few enemies along the way, one of them the rich newspaper owner who'd been thwarted of his own aims for Rancho Diablo. He went out of his way in his newspaper to paint the Blaylocks as undesirables.
Mike Tucker was one of the hands, a young man just learning the cow business. What he was good at was using the guns on his hips, Sam's wife, Jenny, was always nervous around him. The cold eyes, the stark demeanor, the fear that he'd rub off on her children.
The showdown in town, three men from Tucker's past, that threatened her oldest son, only reinforced that. To be sure, her boy had thrust himself into it, but with Tucker, she just knew there would always be trouble.
She just didn't want him around. Something Sam and she disagreed on.
Then, with Sam and the boys away to buy a bull, circumstances thrust Tucker and Jenny together on a rescue mission. There, Jenny learns some things about the dangerous young man, things even Sam didn't know, and Tucker didn't want him to know.
A fine little tale. I read the thing this morning while eating breakfast and drinking coffee.
Sam Blaylock and his family, as well as the men working for him(more family than employees), had built Rancho Diablo from a foul smelling land overlooked by most people. The sulfur odor that gave it it's name had been fixed, the saw mill built and making money, and the beginnings of a cattle ranch in place.
They'd made a few enemies along the way, one of them the rich newspaper owner who'd been thwarted of his own aims for Rancho Diablo. He went out of his way in his newspaper to paint the Blaylocks as undesirables.
Mike Tucker was one of the hands, a young man just learning the cow business. What he was good at was using the guns on his hips, Sam's wife, Jenny, was always nervous around him. The cold eyes, the stark demeanor, the fear that he'd rub off on her children.
The showdown in town, three men from Tucker's past, that threatened her oldest son, only reinforced that. To be sure, her boy had thrust himself into it, but with Tucker, she just knew there would always be trouble.
She just didn't want him around. Something Sam and she disagreed on.
Then, with Sam and the boys away to buy a bull, circumstances thrust Tucker and Jenny together on a rescue mission. There, Jenny learns some things about the dangerous young man, things even Sam didn't know, and Tucker didn't want him to know.
A fine little tale. I read the thing this morning while eating breakfast and drinking coffee.
May 18, 2016
Hell On Wheels
These are some awesome books. I just have to say I found myself another great author. These books are right up there with William Johnstone, John Fie Jr, W.R. Benton, Louise Lamour, and many other great writers.
These are some awesome books. I just have to say I found myself another great author. These books are right up there with William Johnstone, John Fie Jr, W.R. Benton, Louise Lamour, and many other great writers.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews