Friends in Deed: Book Two of Pardner's Trust

Pardner's Trust #2

by Randall Dale

Ricky Richardson, hard-working, honest to the core and cowboy all the way, is faced with the most severe test of his young life. His whole world comes crashing down as his beautiful wife Jessie is rushed to the hospital with a life threatening condition. As she lingers between life and death it is more than the young cowboy can bear. He needs to be there for his son and newborn daughter but the possibility of Jessie’s death weighs so heavily on his mind that he cannot function rationally. He shuts out his family and his friends, giving then every reason to abandon him in his deepest time of need. An emotional and heartwarming story of mistakes and redemption, of life and love and the pivotal role family and true friends play in all of our lives.

Genres: Westerns

395 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 23, 2015

About the author

Randall Dale grew up in a ranching family. No stranger to long days in the saddle, Randall draws heavily on his experiences to bring a new breed of western novels. He is a graduate of The University of Arizona and while there was a member of the rodeo and livestock judging teams. He is a past Arizona Champion of the United States Team Roping Championships and continues to compete when time permits. Randall is a devoted family man and a successful businessman with a flair for writing, and an interest in all things western. He currently lives in rural Southeastern Arizona with his wife. They enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren.

Reviews

[Bryan Boswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely excellent book!!!!

This book is even better than the first book. The introduction of Fleming really made book sing. I could read this book over and over again!!!! You must start with the first book and then read this one. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[James Durbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read

I have this book five stars because from someone who has read thousands of books this book held my attention more than most. I don't say this lightly but I would compare Randall Dales writing to Louis La mores books.

[Suzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends in deed

Thoroughly enjoyed! Would highly recommend as a great read. A great feel good kind of book. You must read in whole series

[Sheryl Schelkun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love his caring characters. At times you want to cry, other times you smile to yourself.

[Bevyanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really got a lot of this authors writing.
Great story line and worth reading,
It’s a feel good book.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story

[C.J. Anaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I decided to read this book, I honestly thought I would be diving into a book about the life of a rancher, and although there was plenty of information and activity regarding that particular subject, this book pleasantly surprised me with its focus on friendship, family and the things that matter most in this life.

This story line encompasses several characters and each of their points of view. With so many characters to follow you might think it impossible for the author to provide us ample opportunity to grow to love them all, but Randall Dale really did a nice job with that.

At first I worried with so many story lines involved if the author really had a firm grasp of which story he wanted to tell, but it all weaves together so beautifully in the middle and then carries on to a wonderful finish.

One thing I want to call special attention to is the author's obvious passion about art. Authors use their words to paint a picture of scenery, atmosphere, physical aspects of others and to grasp the interplay between their characters. I've never read a book where an author used his words to paint a picture of a picture...more specifically paintings. When the reader is first introduced to the painting of Ramon standing in the rain the author could have simply told the reader what the painting looked like, but his words managed to portray so much more. I could see the painting in my mind's eye, the emotion the cowboy exuded at the first sign of rain, and I honestly had the most overwhelming desire to leave my house and go visit an art gallery.

I wanted to experience that emotional shift Flemming Dubois had when he saw that painting for the first time. I wanted that emotional, life-altering epiphany to unfold like a story rather than a picture I might casually glance at and then walk away from. These paintings held such symbolism and meaning for the individuals Jake gave them to and for the messages and themes explored throughout the book. Loyalty, friendship, the cowboy way, the attention to life's most important lessons-it was all there with each new painting Jake created and the author brought that home to me. I couldn't help but shed a few tears because of it.

All of these characters have flaws and they are each given opportunities to overcome them. Ricky must learn to accept help and offer love even in the face of his wife's possible death. Dubois must change his outlook on life, money, and the value of human decency. He learns to treat people as valuable beings rather than people he owns because of money, and by doing so he finds freedom with friends who care about him regardless of his wealth. Jake must learn that having fun and hurting others are not two activities that should ever coincide with one another. He must discover his own worth both as an artist and as a human being before he can pursue happiness with someone special. All the while Jake's beautiful paintings act as landmarks for the lessons learned along the way.

I would suggest to the author that he pay special attention to his tendency to head jump within a scene. We go from one point of view to the other within the same scene and each point of view needs to be broken up into separate scenes. There are also a few moments in the beginning where there was more telling instead of showing, but these are all things that can be improved upon with a few revisions. The author has a natural flair for painting a picture with eloquent phrasing, and I only see him getting better and better as he continues on with his writing journey.

Though there are a few formatting issues and a few technical aspects to the author's writing that need some improvement it doesn't take away from the beauty of this narrative, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read it.

I highly recommend Friends In Deed for those of you who wish to take a few moments out of your busy schedules to enjoy the simple beauties that life has to offer. I think most readers will hold their loved ones a little closer and speak with a little more kindness after reading this wonderful book.

I gave Friends in Deed 4.3 stars.
~Author C.J. Anaya(The Kindle Book Review)

*The Kindle Book Review received a free copy of this book for an independent, fair, and honest review. We are not associated with the author or Amazon.*

[LUAYNE · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Excellent story. Wellwritten. Needed to have more Pardner. Good lessons about hard work, love of family, and support for and from friends.

[Marsinah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not yet had the pleasure of reading the first book in this series (because I won this edition in a drawing), so for me the characters found in Friends in Deed were all new. The book introduced me to a core cast of people who work hard, dream big, and believe in working to earn their goals. More than that, though, it's about a group of people who will not only sacrifice personally to support and help each other in times of need but are also able to pull together and cheer for each other when something good does happen. With a medical emergency complicated by pregnancy and a burgeoning drug addiction, some of the inhabitants of Friends in Deed are truly in need their friends.

The book is a nice, solidly written tale where the writing flows together nicely and nothing seems out of place.

[Alan Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Randall Dale proved to his readers in book one that he knew horses. His second western in the Pardner series proves that he knows people. This story is a shining example of modern life in the southwest and the cowboy way. No surprise since the author is a cowboy and has spent more time in the saddle than a fat man spends in the buffet dessert line.

As I read, I met Ricky and his young wife Jessica again. My heart ached as Ricky's perfect little family was torn apart, twisted, and on the verge of complete collapse. I laughed and cried when Jake, a budding cowboy artist lost his way in the big city, lured in and trapped by a system without morals. And I routed for Flemming DuBois, a big city man who had everything but the life he wanted.

These characters lived for me as their lives intertwined, changed and grew. I recommend this book to anyone who knows how to read.

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An RD. Western Adventure (FID - PTB -2)

RD. has. penned a modern day western adventure about out two young cowboys. The teacher and the artist. The story begins with our intrepid cowboy taking his wife to the emergency room at the hospital
For losing the baby. After the wife and baby are released from the hospital they meet. FD. A rich man undercover who begins to impact their lives. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS

[Bevyanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love what a wonderful series

I never knew cowboy books could actual bring so much emotional joy, its an amazing story.
I just could not put this one down.
Makes me realise what I ’ve missed out on by not owning a horse and ranch life sounds a whole other world.
Looking forward to reading more of Randall Dale’s work.

[JANE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not wait to read next book. Finished two book,same day. Was.t to read number 3 now. You are a brilliant writer. I am 78 . Enjoyed this 2 very much. When can I expect number 3? And the name of book please.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story! I enjoyed everything about this story: the characters, the story line, the setting, the strong writing, the editing....everything. The story was powerful.