Kentucky!

Wagons West #20

by Dana Fuller Ross

In the dark aftermath of the Civil War, the legendary Toby Holt is charged with finding a deadly assassin plotting to kill President Grant

Genres: Historical Fiction, Westerns, Fiction, Historical, Adult

291 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 1987

About the author

Dana Fuller Ross is a pseudonym used by Noel B. Gerson and James M. Reasoner.

Noel Gearson specializes in historical military novels, westerns, and mysteries. He also writes under the pseudonyms, "Dana Fuller Ross.", Anne Marie Burgess; Michael Burgess; Nicholas Gorham; Paul Lewis; Leon Phillips; Donald Clayton Porter; Philip Vail; and Carter A. Vaughan. He has written more than 325 novels.

James Reasoner (pictured) is an American writer. He is the author of more than 150 books and many short stories in a career spanning more than thirty years. Reasoner has used at least nineteen pseudonyms, in addition to his own name: Jim Austin; Peter Danielson; Terrance Duncan; Tom Early; Wesley Ellis; Tabor Evans; Jake Foster; William Grant; Matthew Hart; Livia James; Mike Jameson; Justin Ladd; Jake Logan; Hank Mitchum; Lee Morgan; J.L. Reasoner (with his wife); Dana Fuller Ross; Adam Rutledge; and Jon Sharpe. Since most of Reasoner's books were written as part of various existing Western fiction series, many of his pseudonyms were publishing "house" names that may have been used by other authors who contributed to those series

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I was a teen, I loved this book because Alexandra rode horses and shot guns. As an adult, I am suddenly aware of the fact that she is at most 17, more likely 15 and Toby who is in lust/love with her is 30.

I don't care if it is historical fiction, it's ick.

And how come, Cindy can't be happy in her marriage and is not allowed to get over Henry?

[Paul F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cannot rate this installment of the Wagons West series as worth reading. It has very little to do with Kentucky, and even if it did, Kentucky was not a part of the American West (by the second half of the 19th century) and there are no wagon trains in this novel. It is an engaging novel only in that the plot deals with a conspiracy to assassinate President Grant (you can probably guess how that turned out), and European intrigue. That's right--I said Europe, an ocean and half a continent away from the American West. In other words, the "Wagons West" series has gone off the rails from its original premise. For readers new to the series, who have not read the earlier novels, particularly the first four, my review may seem harsh. But a premise is a premise. It would have been better if Dana Fuller Ross had stayed west of the Mississippi and focused upon some of the finer points of Western American history and the series' original premise of westward expansion, e.g. pioneers settling their lands, Indian troubles, miners, lawmen and outlaws, in other words, what the obstacles were for the settlers once arrived, rather than being glued to titles dependent upon different states. I wonder if "Maine!" will someday be a "Wagons West" series book.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had started this book on 8/26/2024 and somehow set it down and got distracted. I restarted it again over thanksgiving 2024.

This is a solid 5 star addition to the series. This multigenerational series follows several intertwined families over the course of decades…which means characters and plot threads start, continue, and end. Repeat.

After 19 other books in the series, I’ve binned the books into three categories: those that are predominantly starters; those that are predominantly enders; and those that are predominantly continuations between starters and enders.

This book felt like it broke that mold in that it was a complete jumble of all three. New plots are introduced, existing plots are continued, and plots are ended…in about equal measure.

Definitely a good read !

[Amanda Eiden · Rating 3 out of 5]

toby needs to be stopped! 😃 now he’s falling in love with his cousin’s daughter, and his only concern is “she’s quite young” (like 18 and he must be 32 or so)… also YOU’RE RELATED?

and now that he got more tea from Andy about Henry cheating on Cindy, he’s just cool with it? no.

Cindy… i’ll take Reed if you don’t want him. time to get over Henry. he’s literally speaking in tongues and doing some other woman on the other side of the globe!

the characters on the cover? i think Cindy + Reed on the Holt ranch, but MAYBE Henry + Gisela in germany? that house is fucking gigantic, which makes me think the latter, but why are there horses? i’m so confused

[Amanda-Has-A-Bookcase · Rating 4 out of 5]

very little to do with the state of Kentucky, but that's okay.

[Lisa Marks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Economic downturn has everyone in the country trying to find new ways to make money.

[Caren · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only read this because of a reading challenge that I’m doing.
It is a horrible book. Almost nothing about Kentucky.

[Debbie West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toby was great, the American hero once again, stopping the plot to kill President Grant. And so was Henry! less of Gisela, of which I was glad to see. too much of her in preceding books. loved to see Ursula, Fred & Maida. would have liked to see more of Paddy & Colleen in the story. and would have liked to read more details about Kentucky's landscape. Am. can't wait to see what young Timmy Holt tries next!

[Mgsmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

May sound somewhat repetitive here but I got hooked on the first book and it was like an addiction.
The author shows how the westward movement affected families and individuals while placing them within history itself.

[Partridge Public]

Ross, Dana Fuller PB

[Kellyanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved loved loved it!! Almost as much as Washington! Which is hands down my favorite out of the series ... This installment was great!!!

[Sherie Martin]

Very good, new characters introduced, not as repetitious as Wisconsin.

[Michael Garreffa` · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Time I am reading this Series....