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Sam Keaton: Legends of Laramie #1
Evening Star
When Sam Keaton rode into Laramie, he wasn't looking for trouble, but trouble somehow always had a way of finding him.
317 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2000
91 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Sigmund Brouwer
260 books407 followersSigmund loves going to schools to get kids excited about reading, reaching roughly 80,000 students a year through his Rock&Roll Literacy Show.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 10, 2022
This was really a gripping story that reminded me a little of the movie Maverick with all the twists and turns to a quite surprising end. This was my first western novel to read and I enjoyed both the plot and faith aspect that Brouwer wove into the story.
May 21, 2022
Loved the story but....
This book has so many missing words.. ( like losing a person...Rebecca and rode toward Laramie) and wrong words like murder when the word should have been murderer. It interrupted the beautiful vernacular and personality of the character telling the story.
Without those errors, I would have rated this a 5 star and be jumping into the next in the series.
Since Westerns have not been my preferred genre in a while, I found this one refreshing and it was a wonderful break from my usual selections. Eventually, I will give the next in the series a try but will feel free to stop reading if these kind of errors appear in the next book.
I recommend this book to people who enjoy mystery, romance set in the time of whites settling in the west and to those that don't mind the bumps of editorial errors that interrupt the rhythm of the character's telling of the tale.
This book has so many missing words.. ( like losing a person...Rebecca and rode toward Laramie) and wrong words like murder when the word should have been murderer. It interrupted the beautiful vernacular and personality of the character telling the story.
Without those errors, I would have rated this a 5 star and be jumping into the next in the series.
Since Westerns have not been my preferred genre in a while, I found this one refreshing and it was a wonderful break from my usual selections. Eventually, I will give the next in the series a try but will feel free to stop reading if these kind of errors appear in the next book.
I recommend this book to people who enjoy mystery, romance set in the time of whites settling in the west and to those that don't mind the bumps of editorial errors that interrupt the rhythm of the character's telling of the tale.
December 12, 2018
I don't do synopsis. Read the cover for that.
I don't read Westerns, so i don't really have much to compare the Laramie tales to.
That said, these books made me like the Wild West....
Brouwers main character Sam goes through an actual character arc that carries through the series in different ways. The handling of the native Americans is deft, I feel, with a combination of respect without moral condemnation as well as a foil against "christian" concepts of morality.
Quick paced without being rushed, with cliches used appropriately as a bait and switch fitting of a theme parks Wild West Show.
And, as always, Brouwer mixes in slight of hand; the hero makes amazing, near impossible shots...only for the reader to be shown how the trick is done in the next chapter.
A simple read that is fun but also stimulating.
And heartbreaking.
I don't read Westerns, so i don't really have much to compare the Laramie tales to.
That said, these books made me like the Wild West....
Brouwers main character Sam goes through an actual character arc that carries through the series in different ways. The handling of the native Americans is deft, I feel, with a combination of respect without moral condemnation as well as a foil against "christian" concepts of morality.
Quick paced without being rushed, with cliches used appropriately as a bait and switch fitting of a theme parks Wild West Show.
And, as always, Brouwer mixes in slight of hand; the hero makes amazing, near impossible shots...only for the reader to be shown how the trick is done in the next chapter.
A simple read that is fun but also stimulating.
And heartbreaking.
May 1, 2022
An interesting and enjoyable book.
This isn’t your typical western book. This book goes into a deeper part of the mind and human nature for the two main characters than most western, not so much for the other characters. Sam does a lot of soul searching to get to this point in his life. There is more thought put into man’s Relationship to God and man’s thoughts about life in that relationship. The story line is different, as there are more moving parts to make this story work. It starts out like a regular western, but then the different parts come in at different times and makes you think the story is going one way, then moves another. The book is well worth reading.
This isn’t your typical western book. This book goes into a deeper part of the mind and human nature for the two main characters than most western, not so much for the other characters. Sam does a lot of soul searching to get to this point in his life. There is more thought put into man’s Relationship to God and man’s thoughts about life in that relationship. The story line is different, as there are more moving parts to make this story work. It starts out like a regular western, but then the different parts come in at different times and makes you think the story is going one way, then moves another. The book is well worth reading.
October 2, 2022
This was my first read by Sigmund Brouwer. He's a fine storyteller! I have since read the other three in the series. (It's necessary to read all four to get to the finale of the story!)
Proofreading really should have been done (and wasn't). Normally when it hasn't, I don't have much patience for a book, but the story line was so overpoweringly good that I just overlooked the errors.
Sam Keaton's story follows a Christian theme. Many of the scenes within it are poignant but beautiful in their own way. He goes through some great tragedies, but all turns out well in the end.
Other books in the series:
Silver Moon
Sun Dance
Thunder Voice
Proofreading really should have been done (and wasn't). Normally when it hasn't, I don't have much patience for a book, but the story line was so overpoweringly good that I just overlooked the errors.
Sam Keaton's story follows a Christian theme. Many of the scenes within it are poignant but beautiful in their own way. He goes through some great tragedies, but all turns out well in the end.
Other books in the series:
Silver Moon
Sun Dance
Thunder Voice
April 4, 2019
I have to admit, I read book four first. Not on purpose, exactly, but because the author gave me a free copy and there I went. So then I had to go back and read book one to see how it all started.
Sam is a seasoned cowboy on the run who ends up with an unwanted but needed guide to a treasure. Many close calls later, he learns a truth about his guide that changes everything.
Sigmund Brouwer is a talented writer who makes you care about the characters and keeps you guessing until the end.
Sam is a seasoned cowboy on the run who ends up with an unwanted but needed guide to a treasure. Many close calls later, he learns a truth about his guide that changes everything.
Sigmund Brouwer is a talented writer who makes you care about the characters and keeps you guessing until the end.
May 1, 2022
Good Old Western!!!
Sigmund Brouwer has joined Louis La'More in writing like our Favorite Old Western Authors. His Heros and Heroines have joined the old stars we loved to read of ! The Old adventures they pursued are gratefully followed in kind by this Author!!
A very Good Read!!
Santa Mike
Sigmund Brouwer has joined Louis La'More in writing like our Favorite Old Western Authors. His Heros and Heroines have joined the old stars we loved to read of ! The Old adventures they pursued are gratefully followed in kind by this Author!!
A very Good Read!!
Santa Mike
May 5, 2022
Well done Western Plot
I enjoyed this story. The characters made the story what it is. I especially liked the main character and would consider reading more in the series. I believe the scene settings could have been a little more robust. I liked the way the story twist and turned and kept going until the very end.
I enjoyed this story. The characters made the story what it is. I especially liked the main character and would consider reading more in the series. I believe the scene settings could have been a little more robust. I liked the way the story twist and turned and kept going until the very end.
November 9, 2023
Interesting
This is an interesting take on the gold found in the Black Hills. I was born and raised there, so I know the story. Also I know the story of Red Clouds life. It wasn't really like this. Also the Lakota didn't call themselves Sioux. That was the name the Crow called them, it means enemy. Still was interesting even though it didn't really follow historical facts.
,
This is an interesting take on the gold found in the Black Hills. I was born and raised there, so I know the story. Also I know the story of Red Clouds life. It wasn't really like this. Also the Lakota didn't call themselves Sioux. That was the name the Crow called them, it means enemy. Still was interesting even though it didn't really follow historical facts.
,
May 3, 2025
This was a fun read. I enjoyed a foray into the western genre and will probably pick up a sequel sometime. Likeable good guy characters, some crafty bad guy characters, some characters who change sides and keep you guessing, and enough history and detail to keep it grounded. It was a bit unrealistic and a little predictable, but not entirely.
March 15, 2023
I rated this as a 5 star, though there were some typo's. The story moved, twisted, and was told with a certain cowboy humor that just isn't common enough in Westerns. I look forward to reading more of his books.
December 30, 2025
Good book!
Especially good Western novel. More twists and turns than a
bucket of snakes! Good plot, good character building, lots of emotion, but many mistakes in grammar and spelling.
Especially good Western novel. More twists and turns than a
bucket of snakes! Good plot, good character building, lots of emotion, but many mistakes in grammar and spelling.
January 13, 2019
3.5, really. Brouwer fills this one up with twists and turns. Maybe a little heavy on the introspection, and a bit quick on the resolution, but I still enjoyed it.
June 12, 2020
Engaging writer from Red Deer, Alberta. In Louis L'Amour style with Christian values.
July 5, 2022
I've always enjoyed Sigmund Brouwer's books and would have really liked this story if not for the multitude of typos.
December 15, 2023
i think it was alright because im not to into cowboy stuff like this book is I thought I would try and get into that stuff but its really not my thing the book remained me of red dead redemption
January 22, 2024
I read mostly westerns for many years so this was like going home. Now I read mostly Christian mysteries which made this the perfect blend. I will be reading the whole series!
December 22, 2024
I liked this reread less when I realized that the main character was in his mid-thirties and the love interest was probably not even twenty
May 7, 2008
Good book never thought I could ever finish a western but it did have some good twists and turns in it. The ending could have been a little more dramatic. It sounded like it was suppose to be a more God centered book but I didn't see that unless there were underlying tones that I completely missed. The author I think got too much credit for what I read dealing with the spiritual aspect. It was good reading though.
January 18, 2010
Probably my favorite series ever, Sigmund Brouwer's "Samuel Keaton" books are so well written, so wonderfully constructed, and so full of complicated, wonderful characters to make them an instant favorite.
I've never read westerns, but anyone who loves westerns, mysteries, romance, character delving, genius plots, and good writing will love these!
(For more reviews and ideas by Miss Pickwickian see www.theerraticmuse.blogspot.com )
I've never read westerns, but anyone who loves westerns, mysteries, romance, character delving, genius plots, and good writing will love these!
(For more reviews and ideas by Miss Pickwickian see www.theerraticmuse.blogspot.com )
January 28, 2008
If you enjoy mysteries and/or westerns, you will enjoy this book. Brouwer writes with twists and turns throughout this series. I would not say I typically enjoy "westerns", but I love Brouwer's work so I gave the series a try - totally worth it.
October 4, 2007
I enjoyed Brouwers mix of western, mystery and religion.
February 16, 2014
Another real page-turner from Sigmund Brouwer. Great characters, great action, a little bit of western history along the way, and more twists than a cattle trail through a poplar grove.
November 4, 2019
One if the best Western series I've ever read!!
November 30, 2022
Wow
I enjoy western novels, but this was like historical and fiction. I will be reading the rest of the serie
I enjoy western novels, but this was like historical and fiction. I will be reading the rest of the serie
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews