California Bound

Jeb & Zach #1

by Frank Kelso, John O'Melveny Woods

Lawmen won’t … The Cavalry can’t … 2 Civil War veterans wade the Rio Bravo to find a stolen girl!
In a Union POW camp, Jeb & Zach dreamed of California Gold, but the road West leads Jeb to his sis's home in Texas.
Jeb & Zach are God-fearing, hard-working, honest southern boys--if you don’t count stealing Gen. Sherman’s horse.
A border war raged on the Rio Bravo near Eagle Pass TX! Cattle rustled! Ranches burnt! Innocents killed or kidnapped!
Confronting 2 Cortina men in a saloon turns ugly … Jeb is wounded … one Cortina man escapes to alert Cortina.
A young widow tends Jeb in healing after the Doc sews him. Jeb and Zach take a shine to the bold and sassy lady.
“Aww, man. After all the time we been together, are we gonna fight over a woman” … “No fight needed,” Jeb said. “She’s gonna decide, then get us think it was our idea.” … “She always does,” Zach replied.
Jeb & Zach trick Cortina to rescue Rebecca but Cortina cross the Rio Bravo to take Eagle Pass hostage!
Either Jeb & Zach surrender to him or he burns the town!
Will they ever get to California?

Genres: Westerns, Historical

353 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 16, 2017

About the author

Frank Kelso grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, the origin of the Santa Fe Trail. Historic sites, monuments, and statues abound highlighting the journey west, including the Wagons West, Pioneer Women and the Indian Scout located on the bluffs overlooking the wide Missouri. Writing western themed books fit in with his upbringing. Frank has won numerous prizes for his writing. Most recently, Frank’s short story, “Tibby’s Hideout” in The Posse anthology that Frank edited and published. He won the Silver Medal for the Will Rogers Medallion Award for 2017 and was a finalist for the Western Fictioneer’s Peacemaker Award. Frank’s full length novels have received acclaim and have 50+ reviews. Zach's Gold, the 2nd book in the Jeb & Zach series begun in California Bound was released in Nov 2018. Juan’s Revenge, the 3rd book in the Jeb & Zach series is due in January 2019.

Reviews

[Paul Falk · Rating 4 out of 5]

My gratitude sent to NetGalley for providing this recently published novel. Many thanks to Intellect Publishing, LLC for making this release available.

From the very start, I was entertained with the Southern drawl and spicy language spoken from the leading characters of this well-written narrative. After all, I was in the American South y'all. A year after the Civil War. Wounds still healing. I got to see some of the untarnished country sitting atop a saddle. Grub along the trail mostly consisted of beans, side meat and hardtack. Beans, I'm familiar with. The authors presented a well-paced story line that kept me pleading for more. Admittedly, I was hooked. The scenes were well played out and delivered me to a knock-your-socks-off ending!

After spending three miserable years in a Yankee prisoner of war camp, two Confederate soldiers made their escape. The two rebs, Jeb and Zach had their sights set on California. They were in search of their fortune nestled in the mountains and streams that glistened with gold. First stop though, would be a short visit with Jeb's sister in Texas. More or less on the way.

They arrived too late. The house had been burned to the ground. Still smoldering in the ashes. No accident. Jeb's sister, brother-in-law and twelve-year-old nephew were found dead. Murdered. A missing family member, his fourteen-year-old niece, Becky, was nowhere in sight. She had to have been kidnapped. There could be no other explanation. Jeb had a good idea where she was.

The grapevine in Texas carried news with the speed of a 44. This time - bad. He knew the most likely person responsible for this tragedy, Mexican raider and plunderer, Miguel Cortiña and his army of bandoleros. They'd been crossing the Rio Grande undaunted into Texas rustling cattle. Lawlessness ruled the border. After getting the herd back across the Rio Grande into Mexico, it was quickly sold off at bargain, black market prices. Anyone foolish enough to stick their nose in this desperado's business was met with certain death. Even those who posed no threat.

This reign of terror needed to be stopped once and for all. Permanently. His sister rescued. It meant chasing after a notorious criminal and murderer into another country. Heavily out-gunned. The odds were stacked against them. However, they lived by their principles. The one thing they could call their own. There was no turning around. Not now. Not ever. Time for a showdown.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Former Confederates travel to California via Texas, in order to visit relatives. Along the way, they encounter various carpetbaggers and scallywags, and foil a necktie party.

The relative's ranch was sacked and burned by local banditos, all of them but a little girl killed. The girl is kidnapped. Of course,the legal authorities are useless. (Isn't it funny how that border always seems to work only one way?) The boys pursue. One of them is shot, and they hire a nurse. We get a love triangle.

Despite the authorities, the boys get their relative back. The chief bandito is coming to burn the whole town. Once again, the legal authorities are completely useless. (The more things change the more they stay the same. This book seems more relevant now than it was when it was published.)

A good western, one that the Hallmark Channel might make into a movie.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley to read and review.
CALIFORNIA BOUND by Frank Kelso and John O’Melveny Woods begins with Jeb and Zach returning from the Civil War after fighting for the south and spending years in a Yankee prison camp, only to find that Jeb’s sister’s place that they stopped by to visit on their way to California has been attacked and everyone there has been killed, with the exception of Jeb’s 14 year old niece, Becky who has apparently been abducted, and she had previously written Jeb with concerns asking him to come and protect her and the family.

Jeb and Zach set out to find her expecting that she’s been moved across the border from Texas, and a Mexican bandit gang leader named Miguel is the suspected culprit. Surprisingly, no one aside from the pair seems too concerned or willing to take up arms to retrieve the young lady, and in fact they are warned off from crossing the Rio Grande in search of Becky by a military officer who threatens to have them arrested and hanged if they do, as he fears international peace could be threatened by doing so.

Past history of the pair shows that they’ve flown in the face of authority figures in the past; in fact legend has it they stole General Sherman’s horse for a prank during the war, and they won’t sit still in the face of threats by those who appear to be unwilling to do anything to safely return the girl.

Well-written and full of adventure, with a shared romantic interest by both in an older widow, Jeb and Zach are relatively fearless and often make light of dire circumstances, providing several humorous exchanges throughout this story that combine with the solid action to make for an excellent story that holds the reader’s interest throughout, and I have no doubt that it will appeal to those interested in western fiction from the post Civil War time period in the Texas border area.

4 stars.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank Kelso's California Bound (Intellect Publishing 2017) is an authentic old western tale from the characters to the setting to all the twists of the devious and clever plot. Zach and Jeb, two rebel soldiers who escape a Yankees prison after the Civil War, head to Texas to see Jeb's family--an Aunt and Uncle who raised him and their two young children--with a long term plan of going to California to get rich from the Gold Rush. That all changes when they reach the family homestead only to find it burned to the ground, his relatives dead, all except the fourteen-year-old daughter who's been kidnapped by a Mexican drug lord and taken across the border to the man's fortress-like hacienda where he intends to take the blond-haired beauty as his bride. The US law won't help get her back--they have their hands full with Mexican skirmishes across the border, Indian attacks, and not enough troops thanks to the Civil War. That doesn't stop Zach and Jeb. They'll just do it the way they always did during the Civil War:  

Make it up as they go.

As if things weren't complicated enough, they both fall in love with the same woman.  

This is a fast-moving story that relies on clever thinking and age old Yankee ingenuity (though Zach and Jeb are Rebs). It's a lot of fun with humor that's built-into everything they do:

"The pair eased along using nothing but “good ol’ boy” guile due to Jeb’s way of distracting folks with his chatter."

“Pshaw. Took it right out of your book—go over that-a-way, make a rumpus, and see what happens.” Zach winked, sending Jeb a crooked grin."

“Napoleon said it best—ride to the sound of gunfire,” Zach said. 
It makes for a very satisfying read. If I was looking for a moral to the story, it would be "two men can make a difference and everyone should try".

[Frank Kelso · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced western adventure along the Rio Grande border. Two Civil veterans, Jeb & Zach, arrive home from a POW Camp find a border war raging on the Rio. The border raiders killed Jeb's sister and her family. His teen-aged niece is missing.
It's a buddy story in the mold of Lonesome Dove or Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid. Lots of humor, a little romance, and lots of action. Oh, and there's a case of dynamite (or two). What could go wrong?
Jeb and Zach will bring his niece home - or die trying.

[Réal Laplaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

California Bound, by Frank Kelso and John O’Melveny Woods, is simply great western story-telling. California Bound is gritty, tough and ruthless – the sort of Clint Eastwood style of action in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, and yet, with the panache, flippant and flirtatious flamboyance of saddle-riding, gun-shooting cowboys who smile at danger and wink at death at every turn. The detail, the authenticity of the vernacular, the humorous dialogue and the touch of classic, “save the damsel in distress” – makes it an all-round good story to hang onto into the late hours of the night. Like Louis L’Amour, who drew the line in the sand, between the white hats and the bad hats, California Bound doesn’t pull any punches when the life and death confrontations occur. The two main characters, Jeb and Zach, are like Robert Redford and Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, only they are more remorseless when it comes to taking out the bad guys and when the blood and guts pour out, the authors have not spared the reader the vivid descriptions. Overall, a fun and entertaining read – true classic western-style stuff.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I read a lot of Westerns, I usually steer more towards the sweet romances set in the period of the Wild West!
California Bound was a whole new adventure for me! In some scenes, I got a bit lost in the battle talk of the seasoned Civil War veterans or the Spanish language that wasn't translated, but this was a wonderfully fast paced adventure book! And it even has a underlying romance! Some of the sexual abuse descriptions were a bit hard to read, because I was a victim myself, but they do explain the evil tendencies of several men in this book! Overall, this is a well written historical novel that takes place in Texas at the end of the Civil War. Mexico and the Natives are both fighting smaller wars on Texas as Americans are most vulnerable during the epic rebuilding and healing of shattered Country! My favorite parts were how the soldiers of both the North and the South come together to fight for decency and for Becky's safe return to Uncle Jeb's arms!

[Bobby Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Story

Action packed. Good humor. Good length. It felt familiar as these two war buddies go about righting a wrong. Not so much a Roy and Dale thing... More like Tango and Cash in 1868. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Martha Peebles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! i have really enjoyed this book. totally look forward to the next book from this author.
Thank you for a awesome read.

[Russ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun buddy Western. Ex-skirmishers Jeb (leader) & Zach (more of a sidekick) fight cattle rustlers on the Texas-Mexico border to save Jeb's niece Becky (abducted during ranch raid), while also having to contend with with a political-type Army captain who worries the boys will spark an international incident.

At first the teasing banter between the buddies seemed just a little too cute and modern, but it really grew on me--it was a major highlight of the book. Their dialog taught us about the characters and their backgrounds (without making a data dump), made me care about them, and also provided comic relief. The guys develop likeable allies along the way including a surly doctor, a stern but affectionate Roseanne who nurses Jeb after an injury, and an affable Irish-American sergeant major who risks his stripes to help.

The bad guy Miguel is a classic rich-guy villain (I kept picturing Ricardo Montalban), counterfeiting bills of sale for stolen cattle, treating everybody like dirt, and constantly leering over Becky. But she holds her own among the men, independent and sharp beyond her years, refusing to play a mere damsel in distress.

The plot was pretty good too as the boys cross the border to confront Miguel and his bandits. We get little skirmishes and shoot-outs but also a big set-piece battle with dynamite and everything. Explosive entertainment!

[Dorothy Roller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Frank Kelso and John O’Melveny Woods.
To by completely honest it was a good plot, good story but not my cup of tea.
It did not grab me from the beginning even after a couple of chapters.
I read it through and it had a good ending over all.
The writing was good and even though I remember one cuss word which included God’s name which I did not like. The language seemed a bit rough but I guess considering the story line and the end of the Civil war, I imagine many of the men on either side would talk like that. It just wasn’t my kind of story.
Anyway as you read the blurb by the authors the story itself is something I can imagine.
Living on the border along the Rio Grande in Texas back in those days the Mexicans from a bad group come over and rustle cattle from Texas and in one raid by a man feared in the American border towns burns down ranches and abducts young women to put into his cantinas or sell them to the highest bidder. In one family he burns the ranch and the parents and brother of the young girl he takes back and keeps to himself. Her uncle is one of the two friends coming home after the war to stop in to see his sister and family and they come across this grizzly scene. They know what these evil men did to his sister before burning her body.
Now the plan is changed from heading to California to strike gold but to go into Mexico and get his niece back.
Like I said the plot is good and the story was good but just hard for me to read with the roughness and language that bordered on cussing and the description of what is done to people and how this Mexican gang frightens the people of the border towns.

I received this ARC by the author and I asked to be a reader for this story without any promise of a review or compensation in any way. This is my own willing and honest unbiased review.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, it was like watching a good adventurous western movie.

[T.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the wild, action-filled first book of the series, civil veterans Jeb and Zach make a heroic journey across Rio Grande border to free Becky, Jeb’s niece, from border raiders. Kelso and Woods write with great panache and style, bringing the western landscape of the era alive in California Bound. They are funny and poignant at once but spare little detail while describing violent action.

Zach and Jeb are classic American heroes: witty, brave, and highly resourceful: they slug their way through dangerous situations with style and flamboyance and hold readers’ imagination well—taking the reader on a gritty journey along fading country roads, scattered towns, and across the border.

The villains are typical western villains: cattle rustling, horse stealing, cold-blooded rowdy men with a mean streak of male chauvinism.

The second book, Zach’s Gold is Zach’s exploratory journey into the pristine Colorado mountains in search of gold, and it pits him against a gang of rowdy claim jumpers. Cowboys, miners, claim jumpers are heroes here, and the story is packed with a solid punch of action and a healthy dose of violence. Zach is a darling: the gunslinging cowboy is fast with his fist, guns, and wits as usual, but he possesses a good business head on his shoulders as well. The book lacks the flamboyance of the earlier book in the series but still a solid read.

In Juan’s Revenge, the duo’s valour is tested once again as they fight the vengeful attack of Miguel Cortiña, the elder brother of the border raider who got killed after kidnapping Jeb’s niece in the first book in the series. Kalso and Woods bring the same flamboyance and flair to this compelling adventure that has made the first book in the series highly entertaining. Most of the characters from California Bound make a pleasant comeback in this third installment. There’s a dash of romance and unforeseen tragedy, and in the character of Becky readers witness a fiery heroine.

Kalso and Woods have an expert eye for witty dialogues, humorous asides, and write tense scenes of action. A greatly enjoyable series that fans of the western will devour in no time.

[Craig Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great Western. It is fast-paced. Full of adventure. It takes place shortly after the Civil War with two characters. They're cowboys from the Rebels, and they're off to California for the gold rush. They come across some people and danger along the way, including one of the character's nieces being in trouble. Their family was attacked by Mexicans south of the border. They decide to fight back and save the niece. This is full of suspense, action, and a lot of fun. I see another great Western author here in the making. I'm looking forward to reading more of his work.
The narration started a little slow with some static, but they he really got into it, and the narration was excellent.

[Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a western tale about two ex-Confederate Calvary soldiers, Jeb and Zach, returning from a Union POW camp now that the Civil War is over. They intend to go to California for the gold fields but first they need to stop and see Jeb’s sister and her family who live in Texas near the Mexican border. Before Jeb and Zach arrive, Mexican bandidos attacked the family’s ranch killing everyone except Jeb’s 14-year-old niece. That niece is captured by the leader of the bandidos, Miquel, who intends to marry the niece. Thus, the essence of the story is the rescue mission Jeb and Zach mount to free Jeb’s niece from Miquel. It is a well-conceived plan that requires assistance from others, and the inevitable battle has a lot of action and some surprises.

[Jerry Walch · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like great westerns, California Bound (Kindle Edition) is a must read for you. It's the story of two Confederate Civil War veterans who escaped from a Yankee prisoner of war camp who, on their way to California, discovers that one of their homes was burned to the ground, his sister, brother in-law, and nephew were murdered and his niece kidnapped. It's a story of how they defy the Yankee laws by crossing the Rio Grande into mexico to rescue her. It's a page turner and the ending will definitely surprise you.

[Iain Farquhar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this book and in my opinion it is one of the better, Western themed, stories. The language is reminiscent of modern day cowboy movies where humour and a carefree attitude on the surface disguise the tough, don’t mess with me, super competent characters on the inside. The storyline is believable and well told, no major surprises but engrossing none the less. What sets this book against other Kindle works is the lack of typos, missing words etc which plague the majority of Kindle prepared books. I hope to read more from this author soon.

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An FK./JW. Western Action Adventure (CB)

FK./JW. have penned a western action adventure which begins with two men, ex Confederates, are headed for California, but circumstances beyond their control caused a delay in Texas, because one of the men's nieces has been kidnapped and taken South of the border under the cover of a Bandito who raids back and forth across the border. They make their plans for her rescue when they had her location. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS

[Janice Goll · Rating 5 out of 5]

California Bound is a great story of issues from Civil War and what a lot of Southerners experienced when trying to return home. The issues Texas and Mexico faced with border and Indians wanting things to stay the same. Loved the story it was funny at times, sad at other times but the determination never faded in trying to get his niece back from across the border and avenging the death of his sister her husband and nephew. Great reading! Enjoyed it very much. I could see a movie made from this story.

[Karen J Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revenge for Jed's family.

Men and Zach survived the civil war, including being held in a union prison for three years. On their way to California they travel through Texas to see Jeb's sister and her family. They arrive shortly after to find buildings burned and most of the family murdered in a brutal attack. His niece has been taken and they intend to get her back and make the attackers pay.

[Al Verlaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unusual western which I found hard to put down. Loved the book though I felt some things in it were unnecessary. The captured young lady seemed to become a knowledgable woman of the world too quickly and that detracted for me. It certainly is no run of the mill western and I have to say it gripped me in a different way to most westerns that I have read in the past. I look forward to reading other stories by Frank Kelso.

[Royce Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

While this book isn't about the Civil War it's kind of tied to it through some of the characters in it. One of the things that impressed me was the authors knowledge of the Civil War, he even knows the actual reason the south left the Union. This book is a good read to, lots of action with just a tiny but if romance. Read it, if you like westerns you should like it.

[Robyn Echols · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Action

Great western of the tough days following the Civil War. Don't let the title fool you. This was set in Texas, mostly along the Rio Grande, and dealt with issues of reconstruction, loyalty oaths, and cattle rustling with a Mexico connection. Lots of great quips between two men who have depended on each other to stay alive and lots of action. A great read.

[Florin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it!

Easy to read,adventure combine with funny dialogs.the characters are diverse, Texans,Georgian, Irishman and Mexicans.
Thank frank for such a delightful story.can't wait to read the next adventure of jeb and his friends.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read!

I truly enjoyed the comrades jesting, their slightly slap-dash approach and yet deadly serious handling of a very nasty situation.
A bit of research before putting in the Spanish words would help.

[George Sterling · Rating 5 out of 5]

California Bound

I usually don't read western stories but this one sounded interesting and I was right. I found that this one was outstanding with lots of action and a very fun read.

[Beverly Kee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story almost as much as a good Zane Grey!

Well written and exciting storyline that reminded me of the beautiful stories I grew up reading under the covers with a flashlight up stairs on my grandparents ranch. Can't wait to read the next one!

[Lisa C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whenever there are excessive exclamation marks in a book's description, I don't hold out much hope that it will be too good. It was entertaining and fast paced but way too much happens to them. It was kind of unremarkable but kept me occupied for a couple of hours.

[E. C. Swartout · Rating 3 out of 5]

California Bound

This could have been a very good story if it hadn't been for the ungodly amount of totally unnecessary words.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting story, vibrant characters. A western.