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Ride #1
The Hardest Ride
Book 1 in the bestselling “Ride” series, which won the Western Fictioneers Peacemaker Award for Best Western Novel 2014 Western Fictioneers Peacemaker Award Finalist for Best First Western Novel 2014 Western Writers of America Spur Award Finalist for Best Traditional Western Novel for 2013.
The Texas-Mexico border, the winter of 1886—The Great Die Up. A raw rift separates Mexicans and Anglos. A loner cowpoke and a mute Mexican girl fight man and nature to reunite.
Out of work cowpoke Bud Eugen comes across Marta, a mute sixteen-year old Mexican girl whose family has been killed by Indians. Bud reluctantly takes her along, even though he’s never had to accommodate another person in his simple life. He’s unable to find anyone willing to take her. In spite of his prejudices, Bud grows to like the spunky girl (and her excellent cooking).
Eventually, they both find work on a border ranch. Here, the relationship between the girl and the young cowboy hesitantly grows. But banditos raid the ranch, kidnapping the rancher’s daughters and Marta. Bud, with twelve other men, pursue the banditos into the most desolate reaches of Mexico. Ambushes and battles with banditos, Rurales, and traitors are constant, and the brutal weather is as much a threat as the man-made perils. Life and death choices are made at every turn as one side gains the advantage, then the other.
The rancher’s daughters are rescued, and the exhausted party turns back. But Bud presses on alone, against insurmountable odds, determined to fulfill his unspoken promise to Marta.
The Texas-Mexico border, the winter of 1886—The Great Die Up. A raw rift separates Mexicans and Anglos. A loner cowpoke and a mute Mexican girl fight man and nature to reunite.
Out of work cowpoke Bud Eugen comes across Marta, a mute sixteen-year old Mexican girl whose family has been killed by Indians. Bud reluctantly takes her along, even though he’s never had to accommodate another person in his simple life. He’s unable to find anyone willing to take her. In spite of his prejudices, Bud grows to like the spunky girl (and her excellent cooking).
Eventually, they both find work on a border ranch. Here, the relationship between the girl and the young cowboy hesitantly grows. But banditos raid the ranch, kidnapping the rancher’s daughters and Marta. Bud, with twelve other men, pursue the banditos into the most desolate reaches of Mexico. Ambushes and battles with banditos, Rurales, and traitors are constant, and the brutal weather is as much a threat as the man-made perils. Life and death choices are made at every turn as one side gains the advantage, then the other.
The rancher’s daughters are rescued, and the exhausted party turns back. But Bud presses on alone, against insurmountable odds, determined to fulfill his unspoken promise to Marta.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2013
2566 people are currently reading
1056 people want to read
About the author
Gordon L. Rottman
208 books46 followersGordon L Rottman served for 26 years in the US Army in Special Forces, airborne infantry, long-range reconnaissance patrol, and military intelligence assignments in the Regular Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve. He has worked as a Special Operations Forces scenario writer for 14 years at the Army' s Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk , Louisiana where he developed training exercises for Special Forces.
Gordon began writing military history books in 1984 and is currently a full-time author. He has written 50 books for Osprey.He is married with four children and lives in Cypress, Texas.
Gordon began writing military history books in 1984 and is currently a full-time author. He has written 50 books for Osprey.He is married with four children and lives in Cypress, Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 307 reviews
May 5, 2014
In many ways this is an almost perfect Western. The qualifier is actually based on a philosophical position that nothing is exactly perfect, therefore there must be a flaw somewhere, though I cannot tell you what it is. The author calls it a Western Romance with a body count of about eighty, which is an accurate description. It's a fascinating mix. Bud Eugen is a good guy, ostensibly a typical "punch" as he abbreviates "cowpuncher". Actually he's a lot more than that, as he demonstrates in the course of this novel.
He starts out looking for work, and on the way picks up a dumb (Can't talk, but far from stupid) Mexican girl whose entire family has been murdered. His plan is to take her to the nearest helpful Mexican, but, well, read it and find out. I'm not going to spoil one of the finest pleasures of this very pleasurable read.
However as circumstances develop our hero and the young woman who is "not my woman" find themselves exchanging an amazing amount of lead with some most unsavory, but not incompetent characters.
Okay, here's the deal, you're going to like Bud a lot. You're going to love Marta. And you're going to wonder how they make it, and ... Not going to spoil it. This is fun. Highest recommendation.
He starts out looking for work, and on the way picks up a dumb (Can't talk, but far from stupid) Mexican girl whose entire family has been murdered. His plan is to take her to the nearest helpful Mexican, but, well, read it and find out. I'm not going to spoil one of the finest pleasures of this very pleasurable read.
However as circumstances develop our hero and the young woman who is "not my woman" find themselves exchanging an amazing amount of lead with some most unsavory, but not incompetent characters.
Okay, here's the deal, you're going to like Bud a lot. You're going to love Marta. And you're going to wonder how they make it, and ... Not going to spoil it. This is fun. Highest recommendation.
May 7, 2016
I do not usually read westerns, but I thought I would give this one a try. I really like the book with a couple of caveats. The dialects made it a little tough for me to follow what was going on in the beginning. I am not sure it it helped define the characters better, but it sure felt like it got in the way of the flow.
Also, the graphic nature of how some of the people in the book were abused before they were killed was a bit much. I am not expecting a sanitized book, but does it have to be so descriptive? I don't think it does. I get it, people were savages. This also goes along with the sprinkling of specific female anatomy that was used in a few spots. Unnecessary.
The last thing was the overly descriptive detail of the travel and the length of time it took to get through these parts in the book. I would have rather spent additional time on characters and less on the weather and terrain conditions.
So why a 4 star? Because the story was good. The heroism of the main character, plowing through all the obstacles in front of him made it really inspiring. The setting of self aside to sacrifice for someone else is the universal story that resonates with all of us. No agendas, nothing to gain, he did it anyway. Worth the read!
Also, the graphic nature of how some of the people in the book were abused before they were killed was a bit much. I am not expecting a sanitized book, but does it have to be so descriptive? I don't think it does. I get it, people were savages. This also goes along with the sprinkling of specific female anatomy that was used in a few spots. Unnecessary.
The last thing was the overly descriptive detail of the travel and the length of time it took to get through these parts in the book. I would have rather spent additional time on characters and less on the weather and terrain conditions.
So why a 4 star? Because the story was good. The heroism of the main character, plowing through all the obstacles in front of him made it really inspiring. The setting of self aside to sacrifice for someone else is the universal story that resonates with all of us. No agendas, nothing to gain, he did it anyway. Worth the read!
January 26, 2019
The Hardest Ride
For people who love an action filled, fast paced old fashioned western, then this book is the one to dive into with all four feet!! Bud is a laid back cowboy who can do pretty much whatever it takes to get the job done and Marta may not be able to talk, but you really do not want to get on her bad side, but these two belong together and found out that they really would to go hell and back to if he had to just be with her. This was a great read and I look forward to see more from this author. BRAVO 👏👏BRAVO 👏
For people who love an action filled, fast paced old fashioned western, then this book is the one to dive into with all four feet!! Bud is a laid back cowboy who can do pretty much whatever it takes to get the job done and Marta may not be able to talk, but you really do not want to get on her bad side, but these two belong together and found out that they really would to go hell and back to if he had to just be with her. This was a great read and I look forward to see more from this author. BRAVO 👏👏BRAVO 👏
August 19, 2021
3.5 stars. Could not put this down! Quite an exciting story, just shoot all the bad guys and they are really bad. Glad I didn't live in these times.
February 17, 2019
Gordon L. Rottman’s The Hardest Ride is an old-style western with language and descriptions that match the difficult journeys so many made in the Texas wilderness in the 19th century. One thing is sure, there is no quit in young Bud Eugen as he pursues a mute Mexican gal who stole his heart before being kidnapped by Mexican banditos. Wounded and beaten down by raw Mexico weather, Eugen’s crusade against the violent and vicious outlaws is inspiring. No wonder this novel won so much acclaim in 2013. It’s excellent reading in 2019, too.
March 9, 2019
Interesting read
I'd give this a 3.5 on the book scale. Interesting from a historical perspective. A story about growth and love.
I'd give this a 3.5 on the book scale. Interesting from a historical perspective. A story about growth and love.
May 24, 2017
This book was good but didn't live up to my expectations. The plot was fine but predictable, the characters were interesting but not very well developed, and although it was good at the beginning the author seemed to almost lose interest in making it a good book by the end and just try to tell an exciting story. This book would be better if it was twice as long but told us a little more about the characters, what they were thinking, and who they are.
February 15, 2018
This Is An Authentic Western
What makes it so much fun is the young cow poke falling for the young vulnerable Mex gal on her own. He is so naive he doesn’t know how to think about their friendship. Anyway, the adventure they go on south of the border against banditos is not only convincing but has the ring of a true story. Nicely told!!
What makes it so much fun is the young cow poke falling for the young vulnerable Mex gal on her own. He is so naive he doesn’t know how to think about their friendship. Anyway, the adventure they go on south of the border against banditos is not only convincing but has the ring of a true story. Nicely told!!
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February 9, 2019Kindle Unlimited
Gorgeous cover
Graphic, gritty action
Wonderful characters
Sparse dialogue
I loved it.
Gorgeous cover
Graphic, gritty action
Wonderful characters
Sparse dialogue
I loved it.
August 13, 2021
A real page turner!
November 7, 2025
Pretty good book. Quick read.
February 23, 2020
A pleasant surprise of a book! A young cowboy rescues a young mute Mexican girl whose family had been murdered. It takes the young cowboy a while to figure out that’s she’s just right for him. There’s lots of shooting, violence and adventure as well as a writing style that seemed pretty authentic to the time and place (western Texas in the 1880’s). Not my usual genre, but I stayed up late to finish this because I had to find out how it ended. A solid four stars for me!
February 23, 2017
Bud Eugen works on the ranches near the Texas-Mexico border in the 1880s. He is a good young fella, mentored by a wise old Mexican hand. When he is forced to look for work elsewhere, his journey brings him across a tragic event in which only one member of a family survives. While Bud expects otherwise, what he finds is a mute sixteen year old girl, whom he eventually calls Marta. The first half of the book is about the developing bond between these two, a bond created in spite of Bud's initial intention of finding her another home. Marta clearly wishes to stay with him and proves to be resourceful and to communicate pretty effectively non-verbally.
The first half creates solid, likable, characters and interactions. Things change abruptly halfway through, when it turns into a sort of shoot-'em-up lawless cowboy chase. Violence was only referred to mildly in the first half, but there is a substantial amount in the second half. If that and cussin' in both English and Spanish bother you, this might be best to skip. I normally shy away from books with violence, but by the time it came, I cared way too deeply for Bud and Marta to stop reading.
The book as a whole is wonderful, relationships clear even when unspoken between fellow cowboys and/or bad guys, and with vivid descriptions. The bad guys are bad, indeed. This is worth its good ratings and your reading.
The first half creates solid, likable, characters and interactions. Things change abruptly halfway through, when it turns into a sort of shoot-'em-up lawless cowboy chase. Violence was only referred to mildly in the first half, but there is a substantial amount in the second half. If that and cussin' in both English and Spanish bother you, this might be best to skip. I normally shy away from books with violence, but by the time it came, I cared way too deeply for Bud and Marta to stop reading.
The book as a whole is wonderful, relationships clear even when unspoken between fellow cowboys and/or bad guys, and with vivid descriptions. The bad guys are bad, indeed. This is worth its good ratings and your reading.
December 19, 2017
Haven't read a book quite like it for some time. The story is set along the Texas Mexican border around 1866 and based on events around the Great Bend of Rio Grande. There is no law except that enforced by the cattle ranchers. Mexican bandits constantly raid across to steal cattle and gun fights are frequent. Bud, an out of work cowboy, rides towards Eagle Pass looking for work when he encounters a Mexican Girl, Marta, orphaned after a savage encounter with Indians. Reluctantly he takes her in, bent on handing her over to any philanthropic establishment. As they ride on a bond develops between the two as he's unable to find her a benefactor. he gets a job as a ranch hand and she is employed in the kitchen. As their attraction grows she is kidnapped in a bandit raid along with some other girls and taken across the border. Now begins a saga of pursuit by the owner and his employees as they ride deep into Mexico, encountering Rurales and bandits. As their strength gets whittled down in the face of severe terrain, climate and hostiles, it's only a grim resolve that carries them. Ultimately it's left to Ben to try and rescue Marta single handed. It's a relentless book depicting stoic resolve and heroism against odds. The Author knows the land and describes it in detail including its pitiless nature and those of its people. The authenticity gives added character to the book. Difficult to put down.
September 1, 2017
I finished this book a couple of days ago and it's really stuck with me despite taking a bit to get into it at first.
Bud is a young man needing a job after being let go at the ranch he's been at for a few years. As he travels toward a prospect, he finds a slain Mexican family, then a surviving daughter walking down the road. The girl is mute, and a lot more resourceful than Bud would have guessed. She starts traveling with him, he tries to give her away, can't, ends up finding a job and taking her with him, and finally realizing he loves her just before she and his new boss's daughters (and another Mexican girl) are kidnapped and taken south. Bud and several others go after them.
If you like Westerns, you're almost sure to like The Hardest Ride. It has everything a great Western is supposed to have. The history and attention to detail are great and the action scenes are well thought out. The body count is pretty impressive, too.
I will say that despite the violence the language was mostly mild, but then suddenly you'd get lines like, "She had big jugs and a hairy pussy..." and they just seemed very out of place. Minor, minor thing, though. Something an editor should have suggested was changed so it wasn't so jarring.
It's a really good story and well worth the read.
Bud is a young man needing a job after being let go at the ranch he's been at for a few years. As he travels toward a prospect, he finds a slain Mexican family, then a surviving daughter walking down the road. The girl is mute, and a lot more resourceful than Bud would have guessed. She starts traveling with him, he tries to give her away, can't, ends up finding a job and taking her with him, and finally realizing he loves her just before she and his new boss's daughters (and another Mexican girl) are kidnapped and taken south. Bud and several others go after them.
If you like Westerns, you're almost sure to like The Hardest Ride. It has everything a great Western is supposed to have. The history and attention to detail are great and the action scenes are well thought out. The body count is pretty impressive, too.
I will say that despite the violence the language was mostly mild, but then suddenly you'd get lines like, "She had big jugs and a hairy pussy..." and they just seemed very out of place. Minor, minor thing, though. Something an editor should have suggested was changed so it wasn't so jarring.
It's a really good story and well worth the read.
August 9, 2016
A Taste of Lonesome Dove
The energetic pacing and panoramic descriptions of this excitingly human western adventure are only parts of the exquisite whole. Written in the first person, the author makes you feel the entire range of emotions of Bud, the main character. What I enjoyed the most was the authentic sounding1880's cowboy lingo, mixed in with the mores of the period. E.g., the deep respect for the white flag of truce during the action-packed battle scenes. This book reminded me of the authenticity I loved so much in Larry McMurtrey's Lonesome Dove saga, although the characters were not fleshed out quite as much...but darn close. Highly recommended!
The energetic pacing and panoramic descriptions of this excitingly human western adventure are only parts of the exquisite whole. Written in the first person, the author makes you feel the entire range of emotions of Bud, the main character. What I enjoyed the most was the authentic sounding1880's cowboy lingo, mixed in with the mores of the period. E.g., the deep respect for the white flag of truce during the action-packed battle scenes. This book reminded me of the authenticity I loved so much in Larry McMurtrey's Lonesome Dove saga, although the characters were not fleshed out quite as much...but darn close. Highly recommended!
January 20, 2022
In the author's words at the end of Chapter 29: "How did I feel? I don't want to say. I don't like to speak of such vileness." Rated R for graphic depiction of violence, including torture, lynching, and animal abuse. Crude and vulgar language. Graphic sexual exploitation. Drinking and drunkeness. Also OC for outdated cultural depictions. The cowboy code is missing so that there even the good guys are bad. The preceding is what was left out of the book description. If you like that stuff, this is the book for you.
August 1, 2016
I really, really liked this book. I am unapologetic for enjoying books that could never be considered great literature and for not writing long expository critiques of my selections. Gimme a good story, excitement and adventure, pure entertainment is why I read. This book delivers.
February 13, 2018
I liked this book for the action and sense of place - not so much for the writing or character development. It is definitely fast paced and easy to digest. I would liken it to a good television western: fun and entertaining but little to remember or think back on.
April 20, 2016
Excellent
I could not put the book down. A good story with lots of action. I felt like I was part of it.
I could not put the book down. A good story with lots of action. I felt like I was part of it.
August 7, 2018
Note: This is a joint review that also applies to Marta's Ride by Gordon L. Rottman
Let me start by saying that these books are not in the genres I usually pick up, but since I’m a compulsive hoarder of free e-books advertised on Twitter I had the occasion to ”buy” The Hardest Ride for free (thank you, Mr. Rottman). I devoured it! This was another one of those books where my husband would walk in the room and comment that I must be reading another good book, because I was lost in my Kindle every spare moment (there aren’t many) and staying up way too late to read. As soon as I was done I used an Amazon gift card to purchase Marta’s Ride for myself, which speaks volumes about how much I enjoyed the first book.
The story is not an easy one to read — Bud and Marta do not lead easy lives, nor did most people around them, it seems. There’s plenty of violence, and we’re not spared many details. In many ways, Marta’s Ride is the worse of the two as far as violence/difficult reading goes because we hear exactly what Marta and the other girls experience rather than surmising based on the men’s assumptions. Not being familiar with the genre or the history of the US-Mexican border I can’t speak to how realistic a story these books paint in terms of historical accuracy, but they certainly speak authentically to human emotion. It’s that aspect which pulled me in.
In the Hardest Ride we see Bud, abused and unloved as a child, alone and broke as an adult, begin to recognize within himself the capacity to love another person and to be loved in return. It’s unconventional, for sure–a white cowboy and a mute Mexican girl–but the emotions portrayed are raw and real. In Marta’s Ride, we learn Marta’s inner thoughts and feelings, which we can only see in The Hardest Ride through Bud’s interpretation of her facial expressions, gestures, and body language.
It won’t surprise my regular readers to hear that I also found Rottman’s portrayal of Marta’s Catholic faith in both books very intriguing. I couldn’t help but wonder at Marta’s seemingly vast knowledge of the faith, given her nomadic upbringing and lack of education, and at times I wondered how realistic that would have been for someone in her situation. That said, the way that knowledge and faith guide her life are impressive, and I appreciate Rottman’s positive portrayal of the Catholic Church.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of these books from the perspective of critiquing the writing is just how well the books fit together. I read them back-to-back and never actually read the second book of the series, so the details of the first were very fresh in my mind. I am stunned by how well Rottman portrays the exact same events from two vastly different perspectives. I even dare to say he created in Marta’s Ride a flawless retelling of The Hardest Ride — I didn’t notice any inconsistencies in the two, which is quite the feat.
At the end of Marta’s Ride there’s a sneak peak at another book in the series that follows Marta and Bud’s daughter, and I hate to say that it makes me hesitant to read other books in the series. This is not to say they won’t be quality books, because having read these two I am sure they will be; it’s more that I anticipate them changing the image I have of Marta and Bud a bit, and I don’t want that to happen. They are by no means innocent after all they suffer, but I find I don’t want to (or maybe I’m just not ready to) read about them experiencing further hardships and how that impacts them as people. I like Marta and Bud how they are at the end of The Hardest Ride/Marta’s Ride and I sort of just want to enjoy knowing them like that.
I give both books 4 stars, and highly recommend them!
Let me start by saying that these books are not in the genres I usually pick up, but since I’m a compulsive hoarder of free e-books advertised on Twitter I had the occasion to ”buy” The Hardest Ride for free (thank you, Mr. Rottman). I devoured it! This was another one of those books where my husband would walk in the room and comment that I must be reading another good book, because I was lost in my Kindle every spare moment (there aren’t many) and staying up way too late to read. As soon as I was done I used an Amazon gift card to purchase Marta’s Ride for myself, which speaks volumes about how much I enjoyed the first book.
The story is not an easy one to read — Bud and Marta do not lead easy lives, nor did most people around them, it seems. There’s plenty of violence, and we’re not spared many details. In many ways, Marta’s Ride is the worse of the two as far as violence/difficult reading goes because we hear exactly what Marta and the other girls experience rather than surmising based on the men’s assumptions. Not being familiar with the genre or the history of the US-Mexican border I can’t speak to how realistic a story these books paint in terms of historical accuracy, but they certainly speak authentically to human emotion. It’s that aspect which pulled me in.
In the Hardest Ride we see Bud, abused and unloved as a child, alone and broke as an adult, begin to recognize within himself the capacity to love another person and to be loved in return. It’s unconventional, for sure–a white cowboy and a mute Mexican girl–but the emotions portrayed are raw and real. In Marta’s Ride, we learn Marta’s inner thoughts and feelings, which we can only see in The Hardest Ride through Bud’s interpretation of her facial expressions, gestures, and body language.
It won’t surprise my regular readers to hear that I also found Rottman’s portrayal of Marta’s Catholic faith in both books very intriguing. I couldn’t help but wonder at Marta’s seemingly vast knowledge of the faith, given her nomadic upbringing and lack of education, and at times I wondered how realistic that would have been for someone in her situation. That said, the way that knowledge and faith guide her life are impressive, and I appreciate Rottman’s positive portrayal of the Catholic Church.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of these books from the perspective of critiquing the writing is just how well the books fit together. I read them back-to-back and never actually read the second book of the series, so the details of the first were very fresh in my mind. I am stunned by how well Rottman portrays the exact same events from two vastly different perspectives. I even dare to say he created in Marta’s Ride a flawless retelling of The Hardest Ride — I didn’t notice any inconsistencies in the two, which is quite the feat.
At the end of Marta’s Ride there’s a sneak peak at another book in the series that follows Marta and Bud’s daughter, and I hate to say that it makes me hesitant to read other books in the series. This is not to say they won’t be quality books, because having read these two I am sure they will be; it’s more that I anticipate them changing the image I have of Marta and Bud a bit, and I don’t want that to happen. They are by no means innocent after all they suffer, but I find I don’t want to (or maybe I’m just not ready to) read about them experiencing further hardships and how that impacts them as people. I like Marta and Bud how they are at the end of The Hardest Ride/Marta’s Ride and I sort of just want to enjoy knowing them like that.
I give both books 4 stars, and highly recommend them!
January 3, 2018
This was interesting. I’m not going to say it was a page turner, but it had a good enough plot and action to keep me interested. I just figured out why it wasn’t a page turner as I write this review. The story plods along like a cowpoke would: slow, straight, and methodical.
Bud Eugne is the main character in this yarn. And a yarn it is. It is written in the first person and it’s gonna take ya’ll cple of chapters ur too to ctch on to the dealect. Hard time reading the last sentence? It was intentional. Bud is a cowboy with very limited education. It reminded of “The Help.” Once you get it down, it’s easier to read, but trust me, you’re gonna throw a wheel now and then trying to figure out what he’s saying.
I will throw out a caution to those who have a weak stomach, there are chapters and descriptions that are extremely visual and rough: murder, gun-play, rape and torture are he themes you’ll come across.
You have to put yourself in the mindset of the 18070’s and a way of life that has long since passed. West Texas was run by ranchers and banditos. Cities were hiccups in the barren, broken landscape. It took a lot of grit and determination to try and carve out a living in this area. Murder was nothing new and if you were a Mex or Injun, no one blinked an eye. It was normal.
Okay, here’s the story line. Eugene is headed to Eagle Pass to hook-up with a new rancher. On the way he picks a Mex, who he names Marta. She can’t speak and her family has been ambushed by Indians. He reluctantly takes her in tow. They get to town only to find out, the job no longer exists. Banditos have taken their toll on the future employer and been rifling his herd. He finds work with another rancher, Clay DeWitt. Turns out, Mr. Clay has one of the biggest spreads in these parts and is a great boss.
Life is pretty good until a nasty bunch of Banditos, led by Xiuhcostl or shee-oo-ko-ah-tl. I know I’m still not pronouncing it right. He and his band raid DeWitt’s ranch, rustled his cattle, kill some his hands, children and women and kidnaps his daughters and Marta.
The next ten to twelve days of hunting the band and regulating “Western Justice,” becomes common place: hangings, ambushes, gun fights become the norm. Throw in some of the nastiest, coldest, miserable, wet weather you can fathom and you will be on the trail as our band of heroes risk everything to bring their women back and make those SOB’s pay for their infidelities.
Once last thought, Marta might not be able to speak, but when push come to shove, she’s one helluva shot!
Rottman, Gordon L. The Hardest Ride (p. 6). Hartwood Publishing. Kindle Edition.
The smattering on Spanish thrown in is well done. Mr. Rottman keeps adding and adding as the story progresses to the point you might actually be able to speak a complete sentence or two. Well done!
Once you’ve finished, make sure you read the last chapter after the Fnis! It’s the frijole bean recipe you’ve heard about all through the tale. This is one I’m going to try!
Found some grammatical issues and repeated phrases.
An Excellent Western Tale!
Bud Eugne is the main character in this yarn. And a yarn it is. It is written in the first person and it’s gonna take ya’ll cple of chapters ur too to ctch on to the dealect. Hard time reading the last sentence? It was intentional. Bud is a cowboy with very limited education. It reminded of “The Help.” Once you get it down, it’s easier to read, but trust me, you’re gonna throw a wheel now and then trying to figure out what he’s saying.
I will throw out a caution to those who have a weak stomach, there are chapters and descriptions that are extremely visual and rough: murder, gun-play, rape and torture are he themes you’ll come across.
You have to put yourself in the mindset of the 18070’s and a way of life that has long since passed. West Texas was run by ranchers and banditos. Cities were hiccups in the barren, broken landscape. It took a lot of grit and determination to try and carve out a living in this area. Murder was nothing new and if you were a Mex or Injun, no one blinked an eye. It was normal.
Okay, here’s the story line. Eugene is headed to Eagle Pass to hook-up with a new rancher. On the way he picks a Mex, who he names Marta. She can’t speak and her family has been ambushed by Indians. He reluctantly takes her in tow. They get to town only to find out, the job no longer exists. Banditos have taken their toll on the future employer and been rifling his herd. He finds work with another rancher, Clay DeWitt. Turns out, Mr. Clay has one of the biggest spreads in these parts and is a great boss.
Life is pretty good until a nasty bunch of Banditos, led by Xiuhcostl or shee-oo-ko-ah-tl. I know I’m still not pronouncing it right. He and his band raid DeWitt’s ranch, rustled his cattle, kill some his hands, children and women and kidnaps his daughters and Marta.
The next ten to twelve days of hunting the band and regulating “Western Justice,” becomes common place: hangings, ambushes, gun fights become the norm. Throw in some of the nastiest, coldest, miserable, wet weather you can fathom and you will be on the trail as our band of heroes risk everything to bring their women back and make those SOB’s pay for their infidelities.
Once last thought, Marta might not be able to speak, but when push come to shove, she’s one helluva shot!
Rottman, Gordon L. The Hardest Ride (p. 6). Hartwood Publishing. Kindle Edition.
The smattering on Spanish thrown in is well done. Mr. Rottman keeps adding and adding as the story progresses to the point you might actually be able to speak a complete sentence or two. Well done!
Once you’ve finished, make sure you read the last chapter after the Fnis! It’s the frijole bean recipe you’ve heard about all through the tale. This is one I’m going to try!
Found some grammatical issues and repeated phrases.
An Excellent Western Tale!
October 27, 2017
The Hardest Ride is a Western, which is not my expertise in reviewing, however, given that disclaimer, it was a ride I could not put down. True, it took me a few pages to adapt myself to the western twang, but once I sank into the rhythm, I was off at a gallop. No American is oblivious to Westerns, most of us have grown up with them, whether it be movies or TV shows like the Lone Ranger, True Grit, The Magnificent Seven, etcetera. Gordon Rottman has written a thrilling tale that cleaves close to what life must have been like in the West in the 1800's.
I could see the landscape. I felt the cold winds and icy nights. Laughed at the tough talk, and melted for the anti-hero, a young cow punch. I even learned something I never knew, that a cowboy referred to himself as a “punch,” and oh, let’s not forget the frijoles, which by the end of the book, I could taste.
I fell for Bud Eugen, the hero of The Hardest Ride. Bud’s suffered an abusive mother, no father, and managed to retain a sense of humor, a giving heart, and innocence in a world where rough and tough is the name of the game. He’s smart enough to have absorbed his lessons from older cowboys and vaqueros who are more experienced than him and learned to be a damn good tracker and an ace shooter. He’s a survivor who shows true grit when the chips are down. When he rescues a young Mexican girl, a mute, whose family have been killed by Indians the story takes off.
Marta is a fiery pistol of a girl. For the life of him, Bud can’t figure her out. He tries every which way of ridding himself of her, but the girl has a will and determination that cannot be broken and she won’t get gone. She’s a strong woman heroine, and it’s impossible not to fall in love with her.
So begins a journey of discovery, of hardship, of memorable characters, of kidnapping, of killing, of escaping, and of falling in love. You better have the stomach for some graphic killing, but this is the wild west, the borderlands of Texas and Mexico where Bandidos reign, and you’re more likely to die today than live until tomorrow.
The Hardest Ride was a great introduction to the Western genre and a must-read. I intend to read more Westerns and perhaps acquire a taste for frijoles.
I could see the landscape. I felt the cold winds and icy nights. Laughed at the tough talk, and melted for the anti-hero, a young cow punch. I even learned something I never knew, that a cowboy referred to himself as a “punch,” and oh, let’s not forget the frijoles, which by the end of the book, I could taste.
I fell for Bud Eugen, the hero of The Hardest Ride. Bud’s suffered an abusive mother, no father, and managed to retain a sense of humor, a giving heart, and innocence in a world where rough and tough is the name of the game. He’s smart enough to have absorbed his lessons from older cowboys and vaqueros who are more experienced than him and learned to be a damn good tracker and an ace shooter. He’s a survivor who shows true grit when the chips are down. When he rescues a young Mexican girl, a mute, whose family have been killed by Indians the story takes off.
Marta is a fiery pistol of a girl. For the life of him, Bud can’t figure her out. He tries every which way of ridding himself of her, but the girl has a will and determination that cannot be broken and she won’t get gone. She’s a strong woman heroine, and it’s impossible not to fall in love with her.
So begins a journey of discovery, of hardship, of memorable characters, of kidnapping, of killing, of escaping, and of falling in love. You better have the stomach for some graphic killing, but this is the wild west, the borderlands of Texas and Mexico where Bandidos reign, and you’re more likely to die today than live until tomorrow.
The Hardest Ride was a great introduction to the Western genre and a must-read. I intend to read more Westerns and perhaps acquire a taste for frijoles.
February 9, 2019
It had been a long time since I have read a good western. If well written I enjoy the western genre occasionally. I was not really sure if I would care for The Hardest Ride by Gordon L. Rottman.
I received The Hardest Ride for free and figured I’d give it a shot as it had been more than at least a year since I had read a western. The Hardest Ride is set in an area that I am passingly familiar with – the Texas Mexico border. Set in 1886 Rottman does a good job creating vivid scenes of a young cow puncher down on his luck.
Unlike some western authors Rottman does not glorify the violence. Rottman also does a superb job keeping the violence because of the person not because of the color of their skin. However the author does a good job portraying the all too common racism that exists between Texans and Mexicans.
I am glad that I skipped the synopsis of this book. I might have skipped this book. An out of work cow poke and a mute Mexican girl traipsing across the southern Texas border with Mexico did not sound particularly exciting.
The Hardest Ride is a character study of how opposites attract. I like how Marta can take care of herself as well as Bud. While Bud is no slouch there are certain things that Marta does better. I like the slow build up of the relationship between Bud and Marta. Not many authors could pull off a relationship between his two MCs when one of them is mute.
Sex is frequent but not overly graphic. There is rape of underage girls, kidnapping and all sorts of unsavory things common to life in 1886 along the border. Prostitution, gambling, robbery and violence are common throughout the book.
I do like the ending of The Hardest Ride. There is not quite a HEA, but Bud and Marta have figured out that they like each other enough to make a go of a life together. I am looking forward to reading the other three books in the Ride series.
I received The Hardest Ride for free and figured I’d give it a shot as it had been more than at least a year since I had read a western. The Hardest Ride is set in an area that I am passingly familiar with – the Texas Mexico border. Set in 1886 Rottman does a good job creating vivid scenes of a young cow puncher down on his luck.
Unlike some western authors Rottman does not glorify the violence. Rottman also does a superb job keeping the violence because of the person not because of the color of their skin. However the author does a good job portraying the all too common racism that exists between Texans and Mexicans.
I am glad that I skipped the synopsis of this book. I might have skipped this book. An out of work cow poke and a mute Mexican girl traipsing across the southern Texas border with Mexico did not sound particularly exciting.
The Hardest Ride is a character study of how opposites attract. I like how Marta can take care of herself as well as Bud. While Bud is no slouch there are certain things that Marta does better. I like the slow build up of the relationship between Bud and Marta. Not many authors could pull off a relationship between his two MCs when one of them is mute.
Sex is frequent but not overly graphic. There is rape of underage girls, kidnapping and all sorts of unsavory things common to life in 1886 along the border. Prostitution, gambling, robbery and violence are common throughout the book.
I do like the ending of The Hardest Ride. There is not quite a HEA, but Bud and Marta have figured out that they like each other enough to make a go of a life together. I am looking forward to reading the other three books in the Ride series.
August 1, 2017
The Texas-Mexico border, the winter of 1886—The Great Die Up. A raw rift separates Mexicans and Anglos. A loner cowpoke and a mute Mexican girl fight man and nature to reunite.
Out of work cowpoke Bud Eugen comes across Marta, a mute sixteen-year old Mexican girl whose family has been killed by Indians. Bud reluctantly takes her along, even though he’s never had to accommodate another person in his simple life. He’s unable to find anyone willing to take her. In spite of his prejudices, Bud grows to like the spunky girl (and her excellent cooking).
Eventually, they both find work on a border ranch. Here, the relationship between the girl and the young cowboy hesitantly grows. But banditos raid the ranch, kidnapping the rancher’s daughters and Marta. Bud, with twelve other men, pursue the banditos into the most desolate reaches of Mexico. Ambushes and battles with banditos, Rurales, and traitors are constant, and the brutal weather is as much a threat as the man-made perils. Life and death choices are made at every turn as one side gains the advantage, then the other.
The rancher’s daughters are rescued, and the exhausted party turns back. But Bud presses on alone, against insurmountable odds – determined to fulfill an unspoken promise to Marta.
Out of work cowpoke Bud Eugen comes across Marta, a mute sixteen-year old Mexican girl whose family has been killed by Indians. Bud reluctantly takes her along, even though he’s never had to accommodate another person in his simple life. He’s unable to find anyone willing to take her. In spite of his prejudices, Bud grows to like the spunky girl (and her excellent cooking).
Eventually, they both find work on a border ranch. Here, the relationship between the girl and the young cowboy hesitantly grows. But banditos raid the ranch, kidnapping the rancher’s daughters and Marta. Bud, with twelve other men, pursue the banditos into the most desolate reaches of Mexico. Ambushes and battles with banditos, Rurales, and traitors are constant, and the brutal weather is as much a threat as the man-made perils. Life and death choices are made at every turn as one side gains the advantage, then the other.
The rancher’s daughters are rescued, and the exhausted party turns back. But Bud presses on alone, against insurmountable odds – determined to fulfill an unspoken promise to Marta.
January 31, 2018
WARNING... not for the weak-hearted. If you ever want to read a cliff hanger book, grab this one. I have never read a western style book in my life. But this one was really good.
Once you start reading and the action starts, you feel the protagonist is very lucky but what the hell. By the time you realize this, you are in too deep and dont want to let go.
The book starts slowly with a cowboy moving around town to find work, where he meets a mute but beautiful mexican girl. The relationship and the feelings between these two are really sweet. Even when the girl in question cannot speak.
Once you feel our hero has settled down, things turn sour and then you realize why is the book titled "The Hardest Ride". Once this ride starts you dont want to stop, till you know what happens in the end.
I for one never want to know the end of a book before I come to it. But this might be the only book where I thought, God I want to know the end I cannot take it anymore.
By the time book ends you are dazed, suddenly knowing you have a different life :)
Be sure to not start reading this book when you will be going to work or might be busy, because once you are in YOU ARE IN.....
Once you start reading and the action starts, you feel the protagonist is very lucky but what the hell. By the time you realize this, you are in too deep and dont want to let go.
The book starts slowly with a cowboy moving around town to find work, where he meets a mute but beautiful mexican girl. The relationship and the feelings between these two are really sweet. Even when the girl in question cannot speak.
Once you feel our hero has settled down, things turn sour and then you realize why is the book titled "The Hardest Ride". Once this ride starts you dont want to stop, till you know what happens in the end.
I for one never want to know the end of a book before I come to it. But this might be the only book where I thought, God I want to know the end I cannot take it anymore.
By the time book ends you are dazed, suddenly knowing you have a different life :)
Be sure to not start reading this book when you will be going to work or might be busy, because once you are in YOU ARE IN.....
February 27, 2019
After being let go from a job (due to finances) where he learned tracking, cow "punching" and how to be a man, Bud Eugen is a cowboy looking for work. He gets an offer from a friend of his previous employer. On the way to meet the new employer, he finds a Mexican family who've been massacred by Indians. A bit further up the road, he finds the sole survivor of the family, a mute teen-aged Mexican girl. He reluctantly takes the girl with him, thinking that he'll find someone to take her in the town.
Unable to shake the girl, he ends up taking her to another ranch, where she cooks and cleans and he acts as a scout. Mexican bandits enter the ranch's compound and kidnap the rancher's daughter, as well as the Mexican girl, now called Marta, and another Mexican worker, Ines. The remainder of the story is the search for the girls.
I like Westerns and enjoyed this one. The language is a bit rough to adjust to in the beginning, as it's told from Bud's perspective and, while smart, he is not an educated man, so you have words like "scart" thrown into the narrative. Definitely worth the read.
Unable to shake the girl, he ends up taking her to another ranch, where she cooks and cleans and he acts as a scout. Mexican bandits enter the ranch's compound and kidnap the rancher's daughter, as well as the Mexican girl, now called Marta, and another Mexican worker, Ines. The remainder of the story is the search for the girls.
I like Westerns and enjoyed this one. The language is a bit rough to adjust to in the beginning, as it's told from Bud's perspective and, while smart, he is not an educated man, so you have words like "scart" thrown into the narrative. Definitely worth the read.
September 2, 2020
A great Texicano saga
Not my tailbone but sure glad I chose to go out of my zone. A tale of the days along the Texas/Mexico border where the wild South was a tough way to live. A young dislike looking for work finds a Mexican family British murdered in the side of the dirt road. Bandits were everywhere robbing and murdering. He being a tracker notices small Tokyo's and looks to see if it was a child from the family that got away. He finds the young Mexican girl but she is mute and a fireball. He has a good heart and decided to take her with him on his journey to a new job and find a Mexican family that could take the girl in. The two of them go through many issues on this journey He ends up taking her with him to his new job as leaving her in the town's was not an option. The girl gets kidnapped and taken deep into Mexico. The. story is exciting with many twists and turns. I enjoyed reading this novel and picturing what life was like for Texans living in the Rio Grande.
Not my tailbone but sure glad I chose to go out of my zone. A tale of the days along the Texas/Mexico border where the wild South was a tough way to live. A young dislike looking for work finds a Mexican family British murdered in the side of the dirt road. Bandits were everywhere robbing and murdering. He being a tracker notices small Tokyo's and looks to see if it was a child from the family that got away. He finds the young Mexican girl but she is mute and a fireball. He has a good heart and decided to take her with him on his journey to a new job and find a Mexican family that could take the girl in. The two of them go through many issues on this journey He ends up taking her with him to his new job as leaving her in the town's was not an option. The girl gets kidnapped and taken deep into Mexico. The. story is exciting with many twists and turns. I enjoyed reading this novel and picturing what life was like for Texans living in the Rio Grande.
June 13, 2020
Good characters, excessive violence
I rarely read westerns any more but the price, description, and excellent reviews enticed me. Other reviewers have recapped the story well enough. But I cannot agree with the many assertions that it is realistic. The description of cowboy and town life may be, but better than half the book consists of gunfights, fights with Indians (who are always despicable), and pitched battles between good guys and bad. And a violent rape. This does not seem like a very realistic portrayal of cowboy life. That said, the writing was good and so was the suspense. And setting realism aside, the action was gripping. But I wanted the action to finish up about four gun battles sooner. They went on and on. So I took off a star for the unending (and graphic) violence. If that doesn’t deter you and you like Western novels, you will probably enjoy this one.
I rarely read westerns any more but the price, description, and excellent reviews enticed me. Other reviewers have recapped the story well enough. But I cannot agree with the many assertions that it is realistic. The description of cowboy and town life may be, but better than half the book consists of gunfights, fights with Indians (who are always despicable), and pitched battles between good guys and bad. And a violent rape. This does not seem like a very realistic portrayal of cowboy life. That said, the writing was good and so was the suspense. And setting realism aside, the action was gripping. But I wanted the action to finish up about four gun battles sooner. They went on and on. So I took off a star for the unending (and graphic) violence. If that doesn’t deter you and you like Western novels, you will probably enjoy this one.
January 22, 2018
Never read this author before, but he's got an ear and eye for a good Western yarn. It's a simple formula, a story about Bud Eugen, an honest cowboy and tracker, and a young mute Mexican girl, Marta, left orphaned after her family was killed by Indians. Ultimately, it's the story of Bud fighting to recover the kidnapped Marta from bandits-- you know, bad men, rustlers, killers, rapists... you get the picture. It all comes down to him and Marta, who is his equal in just about every way. He comes to love her and risks his life to rescue her, and well... I won't spoil the ending but I reckon you know how a story like this ends.
No real surprises, no major literary stretch, will you find within these pages. Just a pleasurable little diversion, a fast paced tale, and a good ol' fashioned Western with good guys and bad guys! What better way to spend a weekend in the Old West?
No real surprises, no major literary stretch, will you find within these pages. Just a pleasurable little diversion, a fast paced tale, and a good ol' fashioned Western with good guys and bad guys! What better way to spend a weekend in the Old West?
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