Ride for Vengeance

Blood Bond #12

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

Young Matt Bodine and Sam Two Wolves became blood brothers on the day the rancher's son saved the halfbreed's life, forging a bond no one could ever break. As years passed, a legend grew of the breed and the white man who rode together--and pulled iron faster than anyone in the West...

Having saved Sweet Apple, Texas, from disaster, Matt and Sam decide to stay and help the new marshal break in his spurs--not to mention squeeze in a well-deserved vacation with the help of the lovely, spirited daughters of two feuding cattlemen.

Quicker than you can say dosy do, Matt and Sam find themselves on the verge of a full-scale range war. But even worse trouble heads into town when an old foe shows up with hired killers masquerading as dry goods salesmen. Throw a Mexican bandido and his army into the fray and Bodine and Two Wolves might have more than they can handle. The town of Sweet Apple is about to turn real sour.

Genres: Westerns

312 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

William W. Johnstone is the #1 bestselling Western writer in America and the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of hundreds of books, with over 50 million copies sold. Born in southern Missouri, he was raised with strong moral and family values by his minister father, and tutored by his schoolteacher mother. He left school at fifteen to work in a carnival and then as a deputy sheriff before serving in the army. He went on to become known as "the Greatest Western writer of the 21st Century." Visit him online at WilliamJohnstone.net.

Reviews

[Bea · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a fast and exciting read. I began and finished it the same day. I liked the characters; I liked the plot; I liked the resolution. There were some unexpected twists as an unlikely, Western sheriff met, and conquered many foes and fell in love as well. There was enough of the Western flavor to make this seem authentic. Johnstone is a prolific writer and this is a successful adventure.

[Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like most of Mr. Johnstone's books and this is no exception. Matt and Sam are still in Sweet Apple, TX helping out the new marshal, Seymour Standish. There is an ongoing feud between two cousins who started out together, had a tiff and split into separate ranches. By the end of the book they are amicable again, but a lot happens in the meantime ... such as Mexican bandits kidnapping their daughters and carrying them off to Mexico along with the school teacher and a lady friend of Seymour's uncle. Much shooting and general mayhem when the ladies are rescued and Matt/Sam are already thinking of moving on. Very entertaining.

[Derrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This again was a great book. The story again had a twist to it, which I enjoyed. The only part that took me a bit was the fact that the voice actor for Matt Bodine also did the Marshals Semor voice. They were different for sure, but at times I did get lost.

[Susan Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

First one of blood brothers I've read. I like their interaction and will read more. Story was very good.

[Brian Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with a nice flow to the story line. I like mixing in a good western every once in a while and this book didn't disappoint. I would definitely recommend it.

[Chris Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johnstone does it again

Johnstone does it again, drawing the reader into the thick of it again. Once you've read the first two chapters you won't put it down.

[Kevin Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tell the truth.

Another great story with Matt and Sam. They came through once again, and brought two big families back together again. Also gave courage to others.

[Kenneth Pell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book by William W. Johnston. Another great series!

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good western read. Didn’t care much about the character of Seymour. Now Sam could speak and understand Spanish again. In saying all of this, a good western read. Typical western.

[Tyler Cole]

Entertaining read. Range war, kidnapping, vengeance and betrayal.

[Bo Everett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a Good Book and a Good Read.

[HornFan2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This probably was the correction for the error of 100 pages missing from Book 11 in the series. At least Matt Bodine and Sam Two Wolves, aren't lost in this one, playing second fiddle like in the last book. If you never read a book written by the late William W. Johnstone you'll like and if you've read his work, you'll be disappointed.
Just feel that it would have been a better story, to have Hector double cross Alcazarrio, due to Marshall Standish's standing up for him, along with Matt and Sam ready to jump in if needed. After the gunfighter Cole Halliday shot up Hector's Sombrero. Letting them know Alcazarrio's plan, so when the Mexican bandito does show up in Sweet Apple, with his army. Matt, Sam, Seymore, along with people from the town, then the Colton and Paxton ranches wipe them out and end the book 75 to 100 pages sooner and avoid the "Ghost Writer" rushing to the last page, to end the store. Making it an unrealistic and unbelievable gunfight in Mexico.

Just how many times can Matt and Sam be creased by bullets? Feel bullets going by their heads or the heat from them? Or have bullet holes in shirt sleeves or fringes shot of jackets (Without hitting them?

Typical of the Johnstone estate to just over repeat the same shit over and over and torment the reader with the repetitiveness of it. At least it's the not Mama said line they use in the Cotton Picken's series, but what do you expect from an estate that thinks two people being killed, along with a horse and to them that's a massacre.

[Randy]

William Johnstone died a few years ago. Different authors have been writing new novels with his charcters ever since. I don't know them all, but I know who's writing the Blood Bond series. I've been asked not to reveal the name though.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good western series by Johnstone. This one follows the adventures of two brothers as they travel the old west. Recommended