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From acclaimed Western author Cotton Smith comes a trailblazing new series about three Texas brothers risking their lives to stake their claim in the great American dream…
 
RIDE AWAY
 
Deed Corrigan earned his reputation as a gunfighter—the hard way. But now, after forging cattle trails and fighting off the Comanche, he’s setting his sights on a brighter future. With the help of his older brother Blue, a Civil War veteran who lost his arm in battle, Deed turns the Rafter C homestead into a successful, working cattle ranch. But when a land-grubbing banker tries to wipe out the competition—slaughtering ranchers, robbing farmers, and building an army of hired killers—Deed and Blue have no choice but to fight back with everything they’ve got. That means bringing in the big guns. Settling old scores. And taking a chance on a dangerous outlaw named Holt Corrigan—their long-lost brother…

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 29, 2015

114 people are currently reading
203 people want to read

About the author

Cotton Smith

31 books11 followers
Cotton Smith was born in Kansas City, Missouri; some would say a century later than he should have. He grew up enjoying both adjoining states, Kansas and Missouri, living mostly in Kansas. His ancestors fought in the Civil War, mostly for the South, as regulars and guerillas. As a young man, he learned to ride horses from a grizzled wrangler he remembers fondly. He also learned how to roll a cigarette then, too! "Looking back on it, he taught me the right ways around a horse -- and he taught me some other things too. Like swinging into the saddle with the horse loping. And springing up from the rear, like the movie stars did. Never occurred to me then that I could get hurt. Guess no young person ever does."

Early in life, he was also exposed to the ways of the Plains Indian, to their sacred ceremonies, customs and traditions. His appreciation for their spiritual connection to the land and all that occupied it was heightened by involvement with Indian friends and backed by extensive research. Both touched him deeply and can be readily seen in his caring -- and accurate--portrayal of Indians in his novels. Throughout his stories, one finds intriguing glimpses of this insight, giving readers a sense of what really was and why.

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5 stars
90 (53%)
4 stars
53 (31%)
3 stars
17 (10%)
2 stars
6 (3%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for HornFan2 .
766 reviews46 followers
April 9, 2019
Cotton Smith's one of my favorite author, have just about every book he written but it's been a while since I read something by him and will have to read him more often.

It was the late author Bill Crider, with his 'Outrage at Blanco' novel that made me love revenge stories so much and in away revenge stories for me will always be a tribute to him.

'Ride Away (Corrigan Brothers, #1)' is my favorite read of the year so far, it's the ultimate revenge vengeance story, has the classic good verse evil theme, full of twist and turns, suspenseful, overloaded with action and has a cunning ending that I never saw coming.

Set in Texas near El Paso, set around the town of Wilkon, it's after the Civil War, the area still has trouble with the Comanche's Indians and a brewing ranch land battle.

Smith wrote a brilliant yarn, about a obese evil man, who eats tons of food, built an empire using outlaws, moved in from New Mexico where they are wanted but just gets way too greedy, under estimates a couple of ranchers and to know how it ends. You'll have to read 'Ride Away'.

Of course you'll be a Cotton Smith fan afterwards, he's right up their with the legendary Elmore Leonard's Westerns and definitely a must read for the avid Western fan.
Profile Image for Mark.
25 reviews3 followers
February 17, 2016
An entertaining opening of a new series. While the villains seemed to be by-the-numbers stereotypes, the unusual ending was satisfying. The author set up an interesting cast of characters including the Corrigan family, the Sanchez family, James Hannah, etc., and I look forward to reading more about them in the next installment, slated for release in October '16.
1,249 reviews23 followers
December 10, 2018
THE CORRIGAN BROTHERS AND SILKA

The Corrigan Brothers, Blue, Deed and Holt have joined together to fight and protect their ranch. This another aspect of trying to make a living for themselves and their families. Greed, ambushers are the back bone or plot to this western adventure. The fair minded brothers are a force to deal with. They help a young widower Atlee Forsyth whose husband was killed in a Indian raid on their relay station. You know in those days women couldn't own nor manage a business. Deed Corrigan put in a good word and / support for Atlee to continue to run the waystation, besides it's one of the best on trail. Persuasion goes a long ways especially if your the brother of Holt Corrigan, a known owlhoot who fought for Confederacy, and never surrendered...a very angry man as so many others who refused amnesty and continued fighting the Union/Yankees.
A multifaceted adventure of land grabbers, taking over banks, running people off their ranches. Rancher would be paid, but then as they are leaving the families were ambushed and the money given to them for the sale of their ranch
are murdered and the money stolen from them
It's good writing and you'll enjoy riding with The Corrigan Brothers as they leave their prints on the Western Frontier..Yahoo...keep alert because you never know what's around the bend waiting to rob you of everything including your life.
Profile Image for Jeff Benham.
1,712 reviews11 followers
October 14, 2018
Very simply, if you like westerns, you should love this story. Three brothers, Holt, Deed and Blue, try to hold off evil shortly after the Civil War. Holt has staged his own personal war against the Yankees and is blamed for just about every bank robbery around. Deed is a bad man, meaning someone you don't want to mess with. Blue lost an arm in the war and is running the family ranch along with his Indian wife and 3 children. There is also a mysterious Samurai warrior that wandered in one day and mentored the boys after their parents died. Lots of action as they try to save their ranch from the bad guys. I have already bought the next book in the series.
5 reviews
October 4, 2018
Author with a flair

I enjoy reading a western, as they portray an honest time in American history. Many times authors tells stories of our last based on today's ideals. This author tells the story like it was. I will be buying and reading any of his books. He is a story teller in the true sense.. Thank you for your talent.
178 reviews3 followers
November 28, 2018
Very enjoyable western novel. First book in Cotton Smith's series .

I read Cotton Smith's second book in the series and went back to see how it all began. Very enjoyable western novel reads true to the western ways . The book is difficult to put down, you just want to keep reading.
755 reviews
December 10, 2021
I really enjoyed the brothers banter. The GA actor playing Deed also has a great voice and I enjoy his character. This novel didn't have much if any profanity or sexual things, which is a nice change. It had the standard western tropes, but a few mixes. I'll read the next one next, though I thought this says trilogy, but there are only two.
567 reviews5 followers
October 12, 2018
Ride Away (A Corrigan Brothers Western)

This was a tale about three brothers who fight to not only save their ranch but to save their neighbors from a man who thought that he could get away with murder, anyone's, women children, it didn't matter, especially if you get in his way. This is truly a old fashioned western in the best way possible. BRAVO 👏👏👏BRAVO 👏👏
Profile Image for Richard F. Underwood.
12 reviews
October 20, 2018
Three brothers beat the fat man

A well told and fast tale of rank corruption and Murder by a Nero Wolfe sized crook who is done in by fast thinking as well as fast shooting brothers in a Texas cow town - assisted by a tobacco spitting, pistol packing judge
719 reviews4 followers
September 28, 2018
Ride Away

This story a good read, it just about has all the features of a group of concerned citizens in the old west.
40 reviews
October 13, 2018
A believable read

Great story. Starts with action and it continues all the way to the action packed ending. Great characters to like.
Profile Image for Fred.
90 reviews
August 10, 2020
Darn good book!

I couldn't put this book down! The plot crew me me in from the start. The characters were great and superbly fleshed out!
95 reviews
October 11, 2020
Solid western

This is common western them but as usual Cotton Smith does a great job blending characterization and action.
Good read.
Profile Image for David Ketelsen.
Author 1 book13 followers
December 31, 2015
I won this book on GoodReads.

I really enjoyed the writing of Ride Away. Cotton Smith captures the advantages and disadvantages of the Old West quite well. The tribulations that the Civil War's aftermath are present here as well as the gutsy bravery required to change the environment and make a living while beset by weather, wildlife and people of good and bad intentions. Smith even throws in a brief encounter with some spiritualists who were so rampant during the years after the Civil War.

There's a lot of action in Ride Away as 3 brothers struggle to stay alive as well as keep their ranch out of the hands of unscrupulous non-Texans. Their fortitude is challenged at every turn by distractions both sweet and deadly. Cotton Smith handles the love interest with a chaste but knowing hand and juggles the violent confrontations that fill Ride Away adroitly. A very interesting novel.
3,198 reviews26 followers
August 8, 2019
A Western Novel After the Civil War and How 3 Brothers Handle Crooks

CS has written a novel of 3 brothers with the 2 youngest trying to run the family ranch. The 3rd brother, a Confederate holdover, who could not surrender and accept amnesty. An unknown man, crook, from New Mexico's move into town with a hidden agenda that would result in numerous deaths, bank and stagecoach robberies. Then the three brothers act accordingly and save the town.....This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
Profile Image for Susan Csoke.
533 reviews14 followers
February 14, 2016
For many years Deed Corrigan forged cattle and fought the commanche as an infamous Gunfighter. With the help of his older brother,Blue,> Deed was able to turn the Rafter C Homestead into a successful working Cattle Ranch. When trouble brews in the form of a greedy banker, the brothers take a chance on their long lost brother, Holt Corrigan, a dangerous outlaw!!!! THANK YOU GOODREADS FIRSTREADS FOR THIS FREE BOOK!!!!
Profile Image for Karen.
209 reviews11 followers
March 7, 2016
I won this book through the Reading Room Giveaway. I do enjoy westerns every now and then. This one was action packed with lots of gun fights, protecting land, and going after the bad guys! I also liked the bit of mystery involved as to who was taking over the cattle ranches in Texas. Good read for those who enjoy Westerns genre.
Profile Image for Joseph Carano.
194 reviews3 followers
December 22, 2015
I love the western genre and this novel gave me my fix. Good storyline about family ,loyalty, and friendship are some of the themes in this story. Add a few good villians and you have the equation for a very good story which the author manages to pull off.
Profile Image for Lorna McCluskey.
71 reviews16 followers
January 29, 2016
Enjoyed this story. Has everything a good western is about. G guys, women, horses, kids, scenery....
Received a free copy through Goodreads Giveaways.
1,479 reviews38 followers
December 16, 2015
I love a good Western and this book is a good Western. The story of two brothers trying to keep their ranch from an evil Banker. Fun read.
Profile Image for Suzanne.
453 reviews14 followers
Read
December 31, 2015
I won this on Goodreads giveaway!

Excellent western!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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