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The Time-Traveling Texan
The training to become a Ranger in the U.S. Army is challenging. But navigating the wild west of Texas in the 1830s is even harder.
Jake Duncan is a Ranger in the U.S. Army and a grad student struggling with his history class. He’s a regular guy—a former football player who loves beer, takeout, and is on the brink of proposing to his girlfriend, Jenny. One day, he stumbles on a gravestone with his name and correct birth date on it, and his life is changed forever.
Before long, he leaves a suburban neighborhood of Austin in his pickup and finds himself stuck—alone—in the year 1836, when Texas was a deserted war zone and the future was uncertain. Jake bonds with an escaped slave, Nate, and together they make their way across the wild terrain, encountering Mexican pilgrims, American pioneers, and Native Americans along the way—some of them hostile. His modern weapons help a bit, as does his 21st-century medical training. He helps deliver a baby, saves malaria patients, and treats battle wounds. He meets a tough-as-nails widow named Kate, and they begin to fall for each other. After weeks in the past, Jake isn’t sure he wants to return to 2020. Kate has captured his heart.
Will he make it back to 2020 without Kate? Or will Jake decide to stay in the 1800s?
A thrilling story that mixes compelling characters with historical fiction, The Time Traveling Texan is an exciting yet intimate portrait of early Texas history. If you like a good cowboy story, passionate romance, and a strange sci-fi twist, you will love The Time Traveling Texan.
Explore Texas history with fresh eyes in Richard C. Pillsbury’s debut novel, available in Kindle and paperback.
Jake Duncan is a Ranger in the U.S. Army and a grad student struggling with his history class. He’s a regular guy—a former football player who loves beer, takeout, and is on the brink of proposing to his girlfriend, Jenny. One day, he stumbles on a gravestone with his name and correct birth date on it, and his life is changed forever.
Before long, he leaves a suburban neighborhood of Austin in his pickup and finds himself stuck—alone—in the year 1836, when Texas was a deserted war zone and the future was uncertain. Jake bonds with an escaped slave, Nate, and together they make their way across the wild terrain, encountering Mexican pilgrims, American pioneers, and Native Americans along the way—some of them hostile. His modern weapons help a bit, as does his 21st-century medical training. He helps deliver a baby, saves malaria patients, and treats battle wounds. He meets a tough-as-nails widow named Kate, and they begin to fall for each other. After weeks in the past, Jake isn’t sure he wants to return to 2020. Kate has captured his heart.
Will he make it back to 2020 without Kate? Or will Jake decide to stay in the 1800s?
A thrilling story that mixes compelling characters with historical fiction, The Time Traveling Texan is an exciting yet intimate portrait of early Texas history. If you like a good cowboy story, passionate romance, and a strange sci-fi twist, you will love The Time Traveling Texan.
Explore Texas history with fresh eyes in Richard C. Pillsbury’s debut novel, available in Kindle and paperback.
- GenresTime Travel
454 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 2, 2020
248 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 3, 2021
Not ready for prime time.
This book is written for a fourth grade level reader. The dialogue is stilted and forced. Characters are shallow and unbelievable. Cannot recommend.
This book is written for a fourth grade level reader. The dialogue is stilted and forced. Characters are shallow and unbelievable. Cannot recommend.
April 8, 2021
Entertaining Read
Jake, an army ranger, is in grad school studying to advance to higher ranks. He stumbles back in time to the early era of the Texas Republic. He misses his girlfriend as he ends up saving people and befriending others. I like the action, time twists, and his struggles to make the right choices. More adventures would be welcome.
Jake, an army ranger, is in grad school studying to advance to higher ranks. He stumbles back in time to the early era of the Texas Republic. He misses his girlfriend as he ends up saving people and befriending others. I like the action, time twists, and his struggles to make the right choices. More adventures would be welcome.
March 26, 2021
4 1\2 Stars
Good time travel book. Jake goes back in time to 1830's Texas just after the independence from Mexico and before statehood. Gets into a few skirmishes with Mexican Calvary and Comanches. He falls for two women one in the present and one in the past.
Good time travel book. Jake goes back in time to 1830's Texas just after the independence from Mexico and before statehood. Gets into a few skirmishes with Mexican Calvary and Comanches. He falls for two women one in the present and one in the past.
January 27, 2021
Not impressed
Storyline was choppy. Poor character development. The author would hyper focus on something completely everyday like making coffee then jump forward and miss key information on the story. And I'm not say this as judgement, just observation, but this was clearly written by a man. If you're looking for anything romantic this isn't it. The h behaves and her dialogue is much more in line with what a man would think about the way women act or converse.
Storyline was choppy. Poor character development. The author would hyper focus on something completely everyday like making coffee then jump forward and miss key information on the story. And I'm not say this as judgement, just observation, but this was clearly written by a man. If you're looking for anything romantic this isn't it. The h behaves and her dialogue is much more in line with what a man would think about the way women act or converse.
January 21, 2021
Great story line must a must read
This a great story line,which is so different from most story lines of time travel.
I hope the author makes a many more series using the main characters he started and end with in this book.
I would have given it 5 stars however the book rally needs to edited as there are parts where it the story line gets confusing, in other words the flow is awkward at times
However don’t let the above criticism keep you from reading the book, I read it in two days staying up in the wee hours to finish it.
This a great story line,which is so different from most story lines of time travel.
I hope the author makes a many more series using the main characters he started and end with in this book.
I would have given it 5 stars however the book rally needs to edited as there are parts where it the story line gets confusing, in other words the flow is awkward at times
However don’t let the above criticism keep you from reading the book, I read it in two days staying up in the wee hours to finish it.
November 27, 2020
A good read!!
The book was a fun and interesting read. The pace of the story was a bit slow, but actions and feeling of the characters were realistic. The dangers brought up by the author were both exciting and realistic. The constant perils faced by the main characters were interesting. I like that Jake ended up with Kate and not Jenny. I thought her neediness and insecurity were not a good fit for him. I wished they remained in 1836, because it would have been like destiny.
The book was a fun and interesting read. The pace of the story was a bit slow, but actions and feeling of the characters were realistic. The dangers brought up by the author were both exciting and realistic. The constant perils faced by the main characters were interesting. I like that Jake ended up with Kate and not Jenny. I thought her neediness and insecurity were not a good fit for him. I wished they remained in 1836, because it would have been like destiny.
December 26, 2020
Unreadable
After I read the reviews for this book ,I couldn't wait to download it and read it. After I read the first 50 pages ,I remembered ,never to trust the 🌟 rating system. Kudos to the author for at least writing the book but the dialogue is literally cringe worthy. There is zero depth to the characters and no narrative. Obviously,a bunch of folks liked it well enough to rank it so high but frankly,it's terrible.
After I read the reviews for this book ,I couldn't wait to download it and read it. After I read the first 50 pages ,I remembered ,never to trust the 🌟 rating system. Kudos to the author for at least writing the book but the dialogue is literally cringe worthy. There is zero depth to the characters and no narrative. Obviously,a bunch of folks liked it well enough to rank it so high but frankly,it's terrible.
January 9, 2021
Captives in Time
I learned quite a bit about the life and times of early Texas. It was extremely interesting to look through the lens of former slaves, Mexicans, Indians, and several races of European descent. None of them are portrayed as the good guy or the bad guy, just caught in the times. In that sense, I suppose we all travel through time and are captives of events.
I learned quite a bit about the life and times of early Texas. It was extremely interesting to look through the lens of former slaves, Mexicans, Indians, and several races of European descent. None of them are portrayed as the good guy or the bad guy, just caught in the times. In that sense, I suppose we all travel through time and are captives of events.
January 25, 2021
Exciting for history buffs!
Pillsbury did his homework! Historical references and hindsight make for an intriguing read. The romance is pure and simple and, therefore, refreshing. I would love to read more Pillsbury!
Pillsbury did his homework! Historical references and hindsight make for an intriguing read. The romance is pure and simple and, therefore, refreshing. I would love to read more Pillsbury!
February 2, 2021
Good yarn!
Characters were real, action was exciting. Although, the rifle he used was only a 22 caliber, designed to wound instead of killing. One of the things that has bought America down, a main battle rifle that wounds instead of killing, like the old calibers did.
Characters were real, action was exciting. Although, the rifle he used was only a 22 caliber, designed to wound instead of killing. One of the things that has bought America down, a main battle rifle that wounds instead of killing, like the old calibers did.
March 3, 2021
Loved it
I loved the idea, the adventure , and history of this book , I'm looking forward to reading more adventures with Jake , recommend this to all who enjoy time travel adventures
I loved the idea, the adventure , and history of this book , I'm looking forward to reading more adventures with Jake , recommend this to all who enjoy time travel adventures
January 20, 2021
Fun mash up of time travel and American history!
The author does a good job bringing the brutal reality of early Texas to light through the protagonist’s story and perspective.
The author does a good job bringing the brutal reality of early Texas to light through the protagonist’s story and perspective.
February 8, 2021
Nicely done
This was a good story that has a MC that functions how I would expect someone would in his situation. Nothing over the top or op. Very good book.
This was a good story that has a MC that functions how I would expect someone would in his situation. Nothing over the top or op. Very good book.
February 22, 2021
So much to say. I actually liked this story but the writing has issues and normally I'd not review a book I wasn't asked to review. I chose this book. I wasn't asked to review it (just to make that very clear). But I think it's worth it to give some feedback.
I like the story. A lot actually. But it completely lacks emotion. And it needs a rewrite and several edits. I tried to submit edit suggestions via kindle (that is an option when you hold a word or sentence down) but I think this was self published so who knows if the author will see them. Hopefully he looks or knows he can look.
In parts it got confusing because there weren't smooth transitions between scenes. I normally fall in love with characters easily but I didn't with any of these. If they all died I'd not have been heart broken. But yet I still really liked the story and even think if better written it could be a nice series.
Here's what I think was well done, the history and the details. It was all just cold. You could tell this author had been a soldier (I am married to a retired Major) and I thought he likely was a doctor (and was right after reading the bio). He also did a great job with the history (minus the use of Gringo at that time but who cares). I love history and being a Native Texan, have a particular love for Texas History and as a former homeschool mother, have taught it. Plus I'm a genealogist and having family who fought for the independence of TX, I am super critical of those writing about TX. I'm from Houston, live near San Antonio, married a Mexico (actually from Mexico) who loves history and knows it well too. This wasn't truly about history much but what little there was, was accurate. That's actually rare. I also ran the military details past my husband....spot on. My only bother was the huge amount of typos and the cold 'facts only 'details. Another piece of evidence that this was written by a soldier/doctor. Just the facts ma'am. It felt more like a briefing than a novel. It seemed like a recounting of details of something that happened instead of a colorful, emotional, action packed, thrilling story. And it certainly could have been with a bit more editing. It had those elements but they weren't written to bring those out. And the cover must go. I almost didn't read it for that alone. It screams dime store western from about the 1950s. Or teen graphic novel. I could see a tween boy picking this up. Maybe that was the intention but a cover is important when selling a book. Ask any successful author. Plus I'm hoping a doctor wouldn't right a novel for a tween boy that had unmarried characters having sex. It was however super clean. So don't get me wrong. It didn't describe the acts we just know it happened. And I think I only remember MAYBE one cuss word. It's clean!
I wasn't going to review this and didn't want to be as brutally honest as I am here. But I see so much potential in this book and hope it can be redone and succeed. I think this is the author's first book (by what is written in his bio) so hopefully he can get a good editor or publisher to help him rework it to what I think it can be. It's close. Just needs some help with wording and edits. And I'm certainly no editor. I only submitted what I saw that was so very obvious.
I like the story. A lot actually. But it completely lacks emotion. And it needs a rewrite and several edits. I tried to submit edit suggestions via kindle (that is an option when you hold a word or sentence down) but I think this was self published so who knows if the author will see them. Hopefully he looks or knows he can look.
In parts it got confusing because there weren't smooth transitions between scenes. I normally fall in love with characters easily but I didn't with any of these. If they all died I'd not have been heart broken. But yet I still really liked the story and even think if better written it could be a nice series.
Here's what I think was well done, the history and the details. It was all just cold. You could tell this author had been a soldier (I am married to a retired Major) and I thought he likely was a doctor (and was right after reading the bio). He also did a great job with the history (minus the use of Gringo at that time but who cares). I love history and being a Native Texan, have a particular love for Texas History and as a former homeschool mother, have taught it. Plus I'm a genealogist and having family who fought for the independence of TX, I am super critical of those writing about TX. I'm from Houston, live near San Antonio, married a Mexico (actually from Mexico) who loves history and knows it well too. This wasn't truly about history much but what little there was, was accurate. That's actually rare. I also ran the military details past my husband....spot on. My only bother was the huge amount of typos and the cold 'facts only 'details. Another piece of evidence that this was written by a soldier/doctor. Just the facts ma'am. It felt more like a briefing than a novel. It seemed like a recounting of details of something that happened instead of a colorful, emotional, action packed, thrilling story. And it certainly could have been with a bit more editing. It had those elements but they weren't written to bring those out. And the cover must go. I almost didn't read it for that alone. It screams dime store western from about the 1950s. Or teen graphic novel. I could see a tween boy picking this up. Maybe that was the intention but a cover is important when selling a book. Ask any successful author. Plus I'm hoping a doctor wouldn't right a novel for a tween boy that had unmarried characters having sex. It was however super clean. So don't get me wrong. It didn't describe the acts we just know it happened. And I think I only remember MAYBE one cuss word. It's clean!
I wasn't going to review this and didn't want to be as brutally honest as I am here. But I see so much potential in this book and hope it can be redone and succeed. I think this is the author's first book (by what is written in his bio) so hopefully he can get a good editor or publisher to help him rework it to what I think it can be. It's close. Just needs some help with wording and edits. And I'm certainly no editor. I only submitted what I saw that was so very obvious.
April 6, 2021
Some good some bad
Not a terrible book but not great. I liked the characters and most of the storyline. The writing needed to be a lot tighter, as did the editing. Way too many discrepancies. I could see Mr. Pilsbury honing the craft and putting out top notch books in the future. Would I read it again knowing what I know now? Yes, I believe I would. Just with the writing flowed a better.
Not a terrible book but not great. I liked the characters and most of the storyline. The writing needed to be a lot tighter, as did the editing. Way too many discrepancies. I could see Mr. Pilsbury honing the craft and putting out top notch books in the future. Would I read it again knowing what I know now? Yes, I believe I would. Just with the writing flowed a better.
May 18, 2021
Back and forth
I almost did not read this , as the start was like, it was a different book. Once past that and your in the crux of what the story line is about it becomes good reading. Enjoyable and moralistic, but in a good way. Than like all things in life we hit another rut. I guess they had to explain the reason behind dabbling in time travel. Question did they cure just one or did they bring the cure back for others.
I almost did not read this , as the start was like, it was a different book. Once past that and your in the crux of what the story line is about it becomes good reading. Enjoyable and moralistic, but in a good way. Than like all things in life we hit another rut. I guess they had to explain the reason behind dabbling in time travel. Question did they cure just one or did they bring the cure back for others.
June 27, 2021
Mediocre
The book feels rushed and one dimensional. The character development needs work. The premise is fine but leaves many gaps and holes that lessened my ability to enjoy the story. In all, I felt like the book was more of a draft that needed fine tuning than a finished product.
The book feels rushed and one dimensional. The character development needs work. The premise is fine but leaves many gaps and holes that lessened my ability to enjoy the story. In all, I felt like the book was more of a draft that needed fine tuning than a finished product.
January 14, 2021
Good premise, poor execution
Its a decent storyline, but it seems a little bit like it was written out of order. Like sometimes characters mention a character they haven't met or talked about yet. Seems like it needed more editing.
Its a decent storyline, but it seems a little bit like it was written out of order. Like sometimes characters mention a character they haven't met or talked about yet. Seems like it needed more editing.
January 24, 2021
Interesting use of time travel
Good solid story. I enjoyed the novel but now I’m curious about follow ups. You don’t have to get a PhD in how time travel is accomplished while reading the book. Just accept that it’s happened, along with the main character.
Good solid story. I enjoyed the novel but now I’m curious about follow ups. You don’t have to get a PhD in how time travel is accomplished while reading the book. Just accept that it’s happened, along with the main character.
April 25, 2021
Very good book. Loved the caracters . I enjoyed reading all the informative parts of the story including the parts that had to do with Indians, Mexicans . Want to see what happens in the 2020's to the new couple so please keep writing more books on this subject.
July 10, 2021
Great book
Please, Sir,
May I have more????? I would really REALLY like to read more by Dr. Pillsbury and I will be following him to see what he gets me into next time
Please, Sir,
May I have more????? I would really REALLY like to read more by Dr. Pillsbury and I will be following him to see what he gets me into next time
September 6, 2021
A sweet story about complications of time travek
A story about when you time travel you meet people you care about. Forget about changing history more important what do you do about the relationships you forge. It's more complicated than you would tgibk.
A story about when you time travel you meet people you care about. Forget about changing history more important what do you do about the relationships you forge. It's more complicated than you would tgibk.
March 8, 2021
I cannot believe anyone actually finished this book. I read enough at this level editing my middle school students' papers.
May 8, 2021
Highly Enjoyable
I really enjoyed this book and felt it was well worth my time. I look forward to reading any sequels when they are published.
I really enjoyed this book and felt it was well worth my time. I look forward to reading any sequels when they are published.
December 7, 2021
Ok read
Story was ok, not great. I felt the writing was a little choppy and simplistic. I almost put it down and then decided to finish it.
Story was ok, not great. I felt the writing was a little choppy and simplistic. I almost put it down and then decided to finish it.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews