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The Llano Kid
The frontier West in America in the 1870s was rough, largely ruled by the gun, and demanded courage and a rawhide spirit to survive. Cattle still grazed on empty range. Indians roamed free and often fought to preserve their way of life. The Llano Kid had been raised in Kentucky amongst his Cherokee kin before riding west to Texas, following the death of his Irish father and Cherokee mother. A half-breed, as folks often called Indians of mixed race, Llano is no pilgrim in this tough unfamiliar land. Though he is not without obstacles. Attempts to bully Llano only serve to prepare him with more of what he'd learned from his savvy immigrant father. Not only intelligence, a common trait among the Cherokee, but also bravery and good sense help Llano to survive where the odds stack up against him. Readers of all walks of life will enjoy following young Llano through the rugged Pecos hills to the parched desert sands of south Texas as he comes of age, carries his load, stands up to trouble, and earns the respect he comes to deserve. Look for more Llano Kid adventures from this author to come!
105 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 2, 2018
5 people are currently reading
1349 people want to read
About the author
Paul K. Brown
8 books68 followersPaul K Brown is a retired literacy teacher from the Seattle area who lives with his wife in the San Juan Islands. He enjoys projects of all kinds. His recent writing adventures take him back to the 1870s with the Llano Kid series. Young Llano rides for justice, an Irish/Cherokee, often against the odds of being a half-breed. As of the end of 2022 there are six books in the Kid's series to chose from, with more on the way.
Other titles by Brown include Aqualene, a futuristic thriller in which a young Seattle scientist faces off with Big Oil over a break-through clean fuel formula that could undermine gasoline. Also Brown has published a math supplement for primary learners, as well as a Cherokee Language supplement for reading and writing Cherokee.
Literacy provides one of life's most satisfying escapes, let alone good food for the brain. Brown encourages young people to turn off the screen and grab a book to look forward to reading an hour every day!
Other creative diversions for Brown include playing music on guitar and piano, gardening and mechanical projects, skiing and golf.
Other titles by Brown include Aqualene, a futuristic thriller in which a young Seattle scientist faces off with Big Oil over a break-through clean fuel formula that could undermine gasoline. Also Brown has published a math supplement for primary learners, as well as a Cherokee Language supplement for reading and writing Cherokee.
Literacy provides one of life's most satisfying escapes, let alone good food for the brain. Brown encourages young people to turn off the screen and grab a book to look forward to reading an hour every day!
Other creative diversions for Brown include playing music on guitar and piano, gardening and mechanical projects, skiing and golf.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 19, 2024
FICTION WESTERN NOVEL FULL OF MYSTERY & ACTION FOR ALL
Coming from Tennessee and Oklahoma, Llano Murray (The Llano Kid) earns his name/handle from a banker while depositing all the money he has to his name before tiring to land work as a cowhand in Texas during the 1870's. Llano, a half Cherokee Indian and Irishman learns the ropes of being a hired hand on a ranch at the age of nineteen after being orphaned and on his own at twelve. He's a hardworking, strong, intelligent, young man with a quick as lightning hand when it comes to handling a gun with the morals most of us wish we had and hold high in everything he does. He's loyal and trustworthy to a fault with deadly accuracy with a gun, better than most in a fight, a tracker with the nose of the likes of a hound dog and cleverness to solve mysteries that most are left in the dark to even get a clue to what's going on.
This is a great book that will be enjoyed by all ages who enjoy a well written storyline with characters that bring back the western heroes and villains of western books and movies from the times when they were the favorites of all. Those book and the others in the series by Paul K Brown are quick reads that will not only hold your interest throughout but will draw you into the story of The Llano Kid, Piano Joe, and all the other characters that as soon as you finish one you'll be looking to start the next.
I enjoyed this book and the other stories by Paul has written in his The Llano Kid so much that I moved from one to the next before I took the time to review any of them. That's a sign of a good book and series when you just find yourself so interested that you want more.
Quotes:
'A feller who fails to plan may as well plan to fail'
'Well he was as excited as a bullfrog in a horse horsefly roundup'
Coming from Tennessee and Oklahoma, Llano Murray (The Llano Kid) earns his name/handle from a banker while depositing all the money he has to his name before tiring to land work as a cowhand in Texas during the 1870's. Llano, a half Cherokee Indian and Irishman learns the ropes of being a hired hand on a ranch at the age of nineteen after being orphaned and on his own at twelve. He's a hardworking, strong, intelligent, young man with a quick as lightning hand when it comes to handling a gun with the morals most of us wish we had and hold high in everything he does. He's loyal and trustworthy to a fault with deadly accuracy with a gun, better than most in a fight, a tracker with the nose of the likes of a hound dog and cleverness to solve mysteries that most are left in the dark to even get a clue to what's going on.
This is a great book that will be enjoyed by all ages who enjoy a well written storyline with characters that bring back the western heroes and villains of western books and movies from the times when they were the favorites of all. Those book and the others in the series by Paul K Brown are quick reads that will not only hold your interest throughout but will draw you into the story of The Llano Kid, Piano Joe, and all the other characters that as soon as you finish one you'll be looking to start the next.
I enjoyed this book and the other stories by Paul has written in his The Llano Kid so much that I moved from one to the next before I took the time to review any of them. That's a sign of a good book and series when you just find yourself so interested that you want more.
Quotes:
'A feller who fails to plan may as well plan to fail'
'Well he was as excited as a bullfrog in a horse horsefly roundup'
March 24, 2020
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A young half Cherokee man rides the range, makes friends with Apaches, and finds himself in a cattle rustling scheme. A short story but entertaining. Exciting enough it never really drags, but definitely not a Picadilly Western.
A young half Cherokee man rides the range, makes friends with Apaches, and finds himself in a cattle rustling scheme. A short story but entertaining. Exciting enough it never really drags, but definitely not a Picadilly Western.
March 1, 2021
Short, fun, a little slow
Llano Kid is a fun little short story, a little slow at times, but worth the read. I won this in a giveaway and didn’t realize it was a short story, but I’m glad I won it, as I probably wouldn’t have given it a chance otherwise.
Llano Kid is a fun little short story, a little slow at times, but worth the read. I won this in a giveaway and didn’t realize it was a short story, but I’m glad I won it, as I probably wouldn’t have given it a chance otherwise.
April 15, 2020
Lacking
I won an ebook copy of “The Llano Kid” through Net Galley to read and review.
The Llano Kid of the title refers to a part Cherokee, part Irishman orphaned young man who at the opening of the book is crouched on a hill in Texas, watching a group of men coming after him. His predicament is due to that The Kid is an Just another Indian to them, and thereby responsible for any cattle rustling or ranch raid in the area. As in, “ the only good Indian is a dead one.”
From that decent beginning, the book slides into the zone of bad writing. The reader never learns much more about the Kid,except that he carries two six guns and can “clear leather” fast when necessary. It is often necessary. There is some background, but not much deeper insights than a snap shot.
He seems like a good natured sort, trying to earn enough money to start his own ranch,but who has to prove himself to various bigots. There is the usual scene of the greenhorn cowhand having to stay on a bucking bronco while other cowboys chortle, only to have their smirks wiped off their faces as the Llano Kid stays on the horse “nobody could ride.” That is original , as lonhpg as one ignores movies froM Hopalong Cassidy to “ The Big Country.” Llano gets captured by Apache, but withstandS a test of courage , thus becoming a blood brother. These Apaches are less bloodthirsty than usual, when compared to most historical accounts. He then goes on to solve the problem of the ranch boss’s hijacked bank deposits, proving he is a good guy to all.
This is all faintly routine stuff , written in a juvenile way and lacking much character depth , with a narrative that jumps form scene to scene to put the hero in and out of danger. Worse for a western, there is not very much scenic description - one never has a sense of West Texas at all.
A novella , and just so-so. I am beginning to doubt that anyone can write good westerns these days.
I won an ebook copy of “The Llano Kid” through Net Galley to read and review.
The Llano Kid of the title refers to a part Cherokee, part Irishman orphaned young man who at the opening of the book is crouched on a hill in Texas, watching a group of men coming after him. His predicament is due to that The Kid is an Just another Indian to them, and thereby responsible for any cattle rustling or ranch raid in the area. As in, “ the only good Indian is a dead one.”
From that decent beginning, the book slides into the zone of bad writing. The reader never learns much more about the Kid,except that he carries two six guns and can “clear leather” fast when necessary. It is often necessary. There is some background, but not much deeper insights than a snap shot.
He seems like a good natured sort, trying to earn enough money to start his own ranch,but who has to prove himself to various bigots. There is the usual scene of the greenhorn cowhand having to stay on a bucking bronco while other cowboys chortle, only to have their smirks wiped off their faces as the Llano Kid stays on the horse “nobody could ride.” That is original , as lonhpg as one ignores movies froM Hopalong Cassidy to “ The Big Country.” Llano gets captured by Apache, but withstandS a test of courage , thus becoming a blood brother. These Apaches are less bloodthirsty than usual, when compared to most historical accounts. He then goes on to solve the problem of the ranch boss’s hijacked bank deposits, proving he is a good guy to all.
This is all faintly routine stuff , written in a juvenile way and lacking much character depth , with a narrative that jumps form scene to scene to put the hero in and out of danger. Worse for a western, there is not very much scenic description - one never has a sense of West Texas at all.
A novella , and just so-so. I am beginning to doubt that anyone can write good westerns these days.
October 21, 2021
I want to thank Paul K. Brown, author and Goodreads First Reads Giveaway for the eBook Kindle copy of The Llano Kid that I won in the Giveaway.
The time period is the 1870's in West Texas. A young Cherokee nineteen-year-old man makes his way to find a new life away from the reservation and is met with distrust, hatred and a number of people causing him trouble.
This western tale of how the west was settled seems true to life, full of problems and I loved how The Llano Kid solved his problems at the end of the story. This is a short introduction to several other book about The Llano Kid. It shows a young man a character with a good mind and full of determination to make a better life for himself.
The time period is the 1870's in West Texas. A young Cherokee nineteen-year-old man makes his way to find a new life away from the reservation and is met with distrust, hatred and a number of people causing him trouble.
This western tale of how the west was settled seems true to life, full of problems and I loved how The Llano Kid solved his problems at the end of the story. This is a short introduction to several other book about The Llano Kid. It shows a young man a character with a good mind and full of determination to make a better life for himself.
January 13, 2024
Short Story
Short & sweet. Sweet little llano orphaned at a young age and having to find his way through Texas to find a place he could settle down. However, he keeps finding himself in sticky situations. One particular one leaving him for dead. Someone set him up, wanted him dead. He’s just got to figure out the who & the why.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Goodreads for gifting me with a copy of The Llano Kid through the Goodreads Giveaways. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Short & sweet. Sweet little llano orphaned at a young age and having to find his way through Texas to find a place he could settle down. However, he keeps finding himself in sticky situations. One particular one leaving him for dead. Someone set him up, wanted him dead. He’s just got to figure out the who & the why.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Goodreads for gifting me with a copy of The Llano Kid through the Goodreads Giveaways. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
June 10, 2020
This is the first book in the Llano Kid series. The author sets the stage for the half breed. He sets up a good story and then suddenly solves this complicated mystery and it leaves you wondering "how did that happen"? He could have incorporated the fact finding into the story and it would have felt complete. I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway and I that the author for letting me read and review his work.
March 10, 2021
Although this is the first book in this series, it is the second that I have read. Loved the first one and also this one. The Llano Kid is such a good character - smart, brave, honorable and compassionate. This is a fast moving story with a realistic feel to it. It seems to me to have a good sense of the old west. It's a short read but one I enjoyed.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
February 25, 2022
Good story!
I received this book through a goodreads giveaway that the author or publisher had. This is my honest opinion of the book.
I really enjoyed this first book in the Llano kid series. It was a well written story with lots of heart in it! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes western stories with some adventure. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
I received this book through a goodreads giveaway that the author or publisher had. This is my honest opinion of the book.
I really enjoyed this first book in the Llano kid series. It was a well written story with lots of heart in it! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes western stories with some adventure. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
November 8, 2020
Nice light read
I won this Kindle book from a Goodreads giveaway. I enjoy short stories and novellas, and this one was a fun, light, easy read. Nothing complicated about the writing or plot, very approachable, and perfect for election week. I like books that cover the era and landscape that Paul Brown covered, and I recommend it to others who do too.
I won this Kindle book from a Goodreads giveaway. I enjoy short stories and novellas, and this one was a fun, light, easy read. Nothing complicated about the writing or plot, very approachable, and perfect for election week. I like books that cover the era and landscape that Paul Brown covered, and I recommend it to others who do too.
September 26, 2020
I won this book in a drawing - thank you! This short story has a lot of potential. The story was a bit flat- but would be great if elaborated on into a novel. Also- the accents/speech mannerisms were just over the top, not my cup of tea
November 6, 2021
It was interesting. Llano would be in danger and keep his wits about him.
Hopefully there will be a follow up book where he will get the lady of his dreams and they will make a home.
I won a copy of this book from Goodreads.
Hopefully there will be a follow up book where he will get the lady of his dreams and they will make a home.
I won a copy of this book from Goodreads.
June 17, 2022
I don’t usually read westerns but this was a quick fun short story. This writer was new to me and I really enjoyed his work. It is well written. This was this first book in a series and I look forward to reading the next book!
October 4, 2025
Enjoyable short story
Won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. A young half Cherokee, half Irish fights the racial conflicts of the time in a wonderful short story told in his voice.
At times, the story slowed but overall I enjoyed the read.
Won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. A young half Cherokee, half Irish fights the racial conflicts of the time in a wonderful short story told in his voice.
At times, the story slowed but overall I enjoyed the read.
August 4, 2020
Great read
February 21, 2021
Good ebook Western novella. Enough action for an entertaining story. Ranching story in the old west with a little suspense.
May 27, 2021
Not my usual genre, but an excellent western. The characters were well developed. Loved llano kid. I will have to read more of the series to follow his journey.
January 30, 2022
A rather short, easy reading Western. Good story that leaves an opening for future books. For me, it's value is its voice. It really has that Western feel all the way through.
May 22, 2022
Great book
June 1, 2023
Well written western short story.
June 28, 2024
Good clean fun.
Paul k. Brown writes Westerns that you really can't put down. They are quick enjoyable reads without the need for killing. Can't wait to read more in the series.
Paul k. Brown writes Westerns that you really can't put down. They are quick enjoyable reads without the need for killing. Can't wait to read more in the series.
October 2, 2025
A sweet story I absolutely loved I got so caught up in this book I wish it was a longer story other than that I loved it
October 19, 2025
I love a good western that leaves you thirsty for more! Thanks Goodreads.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews