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Keeper Tyree
An old-fashioned Keeper Tyree is an aging bounty hunter who lives by his own set of rules. He’s a hard man, but just, and his word is his bond. He’s a loner and likes it that way. Then Cathleen O’Donnell catapults into his life looking to hire his gun. Josiah Pardee has killed her boy, and she’s out for vengeance. Somehow all his hard and fast rules, including working alone and minding his own business, crumbles in the face of the immovable widow he now works for. He finds himself rescuing soiled doves, a myopic bookworm more suited to city life than the Wild West, and an hombre being dragged to death by angry cardplayers, as he tracks down the murdering sidewinder Josiah Pardee.
- GenresWesterns
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 25, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 10, 2021
Sandra Cox is fast becoming my go-to Western author. I've loved all of her Westerns (click for my reviews of xx) but this one--Keeper Tyree--may well be my favorite.
What starts out as a fairly traditional western — a middle aged bounty hunter named Keeper Tyree is hired by Cathleen O'Donnell, a young widow, to avenge the death of her only male child — quickly turns into much more when Cathleen insists on joining Keeper on the hunt with the intent that when they find the murderer, she be the one to kill him. As they pursue the killer to a distant hideaway, they are delayed to rescue a stranded lawyer and his child and then a madame with her group of soiled doves. Both groups are headed for the same Western location to set up their businesses and none of them have much knowledge of how to survive in the West's lawlessness. Tyree and Cathleen agree to guide them to their destination, make sure they're safe before returning to their original quest. The more time Tyree and Cathleen spend together, the more the aging bounty hunter finds himself falling for this beautiful obstinate woman with a core of steel and a kind streak that though well-hidden pops up when others are in trouble.
As with all of Sandra Cox's Westerns, this one is fast-paced, filled with excitement, solid morals, and memorable characters you would want to ride the trail with. It didn't take more than a handful of pages for me to respect and like Keeper Tyree. You can see why in these descriptions:
"No tinny piano. No rotgut whiskey. No barroom brawls. Just peace, quiet and the early morning sun, shining through white ruffled curtains, warming the back of Keeper Tyree’s neck and soothing his arthritis."
"She’d be striking if slashes of grief didn’t line her mouth and despair turn her eyes to a wintery slate blue."
“Keeper you’re ugly as an old buffalo, but you can charm the leaves off the trees when you set your mind to it."
“Jason was a wonderful man. But he couldn’t boil water without burning it.”
And, to my joy, Cox has connected this story to at least one of her other westerns (Gwen Slade) for the start of a vibrant ecosystem of Western characters and events that I hope she will build on for future stories. Highly recommended not just for those who like Westerns but for those who love a well-told and exciting story.
What starts out as a fairly traditional western — a middle aged bounty hunter named Keeper Tyree is hired by Cathleen O'Donnell, a young widow, to avenge the death of her only male child — quickly turns into much more when Cathleen insists on joining Keeper on the hunt with the intent that when they find the murderer, she be the one to kill him. As they pursue the killer to a distant hideaway, they are delayed to rescue a stranded lawyer and his child and then a madame with her group of soiled doves. Both groups are headed for the same Western location to set up their businesses and none of them have much knowledge of how to survive in the West's lawlessness. Tyree and Cathleen agree to guide them to their destination, make sure they're safe before returning to their original quest. The more time Tyree and Cathleen spend together, the more the aging bounty hunter finds himself falling for this beautiful obstinate woman with a core of steel and a kind streak that though well-hidden pops up when others are in trouble.
As with all of Sandra Cox's Westerns, this one is fast-paced, filled with excitement, solid morals, and memorable characters you would want to ride the trail with. It didn't take more than a handful of pages for me to respect and like Keeper Tyree. You can see why in these descriptions:
"No tinny piano. No rotgut whiskey. No barroom brawls. Just peace, quiet and the early morning sun, shining through white ruffled curtains, warming the back of Keeper Tyree’s neck and soothing his arthritis."
"She’d be striking if slashes of grief didn’t line her mouth and despair turn her eyes to a wintery slate blue."
“Keeper you’re ugly as an old buffalo, but you can charm the leaves off the trees when you set your mind to it."
“Jason was a wonderful man. But he couldn’t boil water without burning it.”
And, to my joy, Cox has connected this story to at least one of her other westerns (Gwen Slade) for the start of a vibrant ecosystem of Western characters and events that I hope she will build on for future stories. Highly recommended not just for those who like Westerns but for those who love a well-told and exciting story.
August 17, 2021
Hold onto your hat! This is an action-packed western with a strong romance storyline- loved it!
Bounty hunter Keeper Tyree is taking some well deserved downtime when a grim-faced woman interrupts his dinner hoping he’ll lead her to the man who killed her son. Keeper reluctantly agrees on the condition she stays home and waits for his return with the body.
The woman looked brittle as dry timber. He fancied if he rested a hand on her arm it would break like kindling.
KEEPER TYREE- S. COX
Of course, the dang woman doesn’t listen to reason and the two are doomed to be trail-mates.
Goldang, what a stubborn female. He’d never bumped up against one who had so little give in her cinch.
KEEPER TYREE- S. COX
The adventure begins almost right away. Between gunslingers looking to add Tyree’s name as a notch in their belt, rescuing a plethora of characters from soiled doves to a nerdy lawyer and his son, and a teacher dragged behind a horse in the badlands, the race to find the evil Pardee is offset by an unexpected romance between the aging Keeper and Cathleen.
He held out his hand to shake on it. She hesitated then put her small one into his big paw. He clasped it and was stunned at how right it felt. Such a small thing really. He didn’t know why it rocked him down to his toes.
KEEPER TYREE- S. COX
This is a fun read with so many memorable characters I know it will stay with me for a while. The author blends humor and suspense with a deft hand and brings the reader along for the ride with immersive descriptions of both the settings and the gunfights, which were exciting!
Thoroughly enjoyed Keeper Tyree and will be looking for more of this author’s work in the future.
Bounty hunter Keeper Tyree is taking some well deserved downtime when a grim-faced woman interrupts his dinner hoping he’ll lead her to the man who killed her son. Keeper reluctantly agrees on the condition she stays home and waits for his return with the body.
The woman looked brittle as dry timber. He fancied if he rested a hand on her arm it would break like kindling.
KEEPER TYREE- S. COX
Of course, the dang woman doesn’t listen to reason and the two are doomed to be trail-mates.
Goldang, what a stubborn female. He’d never bumped up against one who had so little give in her cinch.
KEEPER TYREE- S. COX
The adventure begins almost right away. Between gunslingers looking to add Tyree’s name as a notch in their belt, rescuing a plethora of characters from soiled doves to a nerdy lawyer and his son, and a teacher dragged behind a horse in the badlands, the race to find the evil Pardee is offset by an unexpected romance between the aging Keeper and Cathleen.
He held out his hand to shake on it. She hesitated then put her small one into his big paw. He clasped it and was stunned at how right it felt. Such a small thing really. He didn’t know why it rocked him down to his toes.
KEEPER TYREE- S. COX
This is a fun read with so many memorable characters I know it will stay with me for a while. The author blends humor and suspense with a deft hand and brings the reader along for the ride with immersive descriptions of both the settings and the gunfights, which were exciting!
Thoroughly enjoyed Keeper Tyree and will be looking for more of this author’s work in the future.
June 28, 2021
Keeper is a weathered, tough-as-leather gunslinger whose heart is softening with age. Cathleen is genteel and mannered, but her heart is growing colder as avenging her son's death becomes her obsession. She is so bent on revenge that she hires Keeper to help her track down her son's killer so she can kill him herself. On their journey, they meet a colorful mix of traveling companions from a brothel madam to a little boy and his nerdy dad. What starts out as quest for revenge ends up being the tonic that heals broken hearts with friendship and perhaps some love?
July 14, 2021
I love an ornery old cowboy!
Keeper is a keeper, as is Cathleen. What a wonderful story from heartache to mended hearts. Sometimes the price of vengeance is high but the cost of love is freeing.
This was a fantastic story of two people searching for one thing but finding so much more. I can’t say enough about this book. A wonderful adventure.
Keeper is a keeper, as is Cathleen. What a wonderful story from heartache to mended hearts. Sometimes the price of vengeance is high but the cost of love is freeing.
This was a fantastic story of two people searching for one thing but finding so much more. I can’t say enough about this book. A wonderful adventure.
December 11, 2021
I have read several books by Sandra Cox and have enjoyed them all. After reading her newest western, Keeper Tyree, I can say that the old west with all its glory is alive and well, inside the mind of this prolific author. Cox seems to have mastered the western-romance, making this genre not just about the rugged cowboy that meets and falls for the girl, but instead puts together a story that is true to the time period, with rough characters that have lived a hard life. And that includes the women. I love that the female characters have substance, that they are not just pretty girls waiting for a cowboy to swoop in and save them. They have been through it themselves and stand toe-to-toe with the men when it comes to getting things done.
Keeper Tyree is an older, somewhat feared by reputation, bounty hunter. He is considered the best of the best. He is tough. He has a code to live by, and because he’s older, is slow to change. When he is approached by a woman who wants to hire him to capture her son’s murderer, the last thing he needs or wants is her getting in the way as he does so. But Cathleen has an agenda of her own, and the bounty hunter is her key to finding the killer so she can avenge her son’s death. She has no intention of staying behind and forces her way into the manhunt alongside Keeper. And so, the struggle begins between the two.
What’s really great about this story is the cast of characters that Keeper and Cathleen meet as they ride along the way, tracking the killer. Cox does a superb job fleshing out these secondary characters, giving them depth to their personality and adding a bit of grit and humor to the story. Through these off-beat, quirky encounters, Keeper and Cathleen start to see and learn things about each other that draw out feelings they didn’t expect. But they are vastly different people from vastly different worlds. So naturally, they deny this to their inner self and tamp down any feelings that could be considered more than a respectful friendship. Of course, it could be possible that what makes them different is exactly what each other needs.
Cox paints a wonderfully scenic picture of the old west, complete with plenty of excitement, bad guys, and gunfire. Oh… and a romance that dares to bloom.
If you are a fan of the western-romance, romance adventure, or if you are looking to try something new, this is solid storytelling at its best. Definitely a five-star reading experience!
Keeper Tyree is an older, somewhat feared by reputation, bounty hunter. He is considered the best of the best. He is tough. He has a code to live by, and because he’s older, is slow to change. When he is approached by a woman who wants to hire him to capture her son’s murderer, the last thing he needs or wants is her getting in the way as he does so. But Cathleen has an agenda of her own, and the bounty hunter is her key to finding the killer so she can avenge her son’s death. She has no intention of staying behind and forces her way into the manhunt alongside Keeper. And so, the struggle begins between the two.
What’s really great about this story is the cast of characters that Keeper and Cathleen meet as they ride along the way, tracking the killer. Cox does a superb job fleshing out these secondary characters, giving them depth to their personality and adding a bit of grit and humor to the story. Through these off-beat, quirky encounters, Keeper and Cathleen start to see and learn things about each other that draw out feelings they didn’t expect. But they are vastly different people from vastly different worlds. So naturally, they deny this to their inner self and tamp down any feelings that could be considered more than a respectful friendship. Of course, it could be possible that what makes them different is exactly what each other needs.
Cox paints a wonderfully scenic picture of the old west, complete with plenty of excitement, bad guys, and gunfire. Oh… and a romance that dares to bloom.
If you are a fan of the western-romance, romance adventure, or if you are looking to try something new, this is solid storytelling at its best. Definitely a five-star reading experience!
December 24, 2021
A perfect western. Reading as the drama grew was so much fun. Would they find the bad dude or would one of the searchers not make it out alive was my burning question. For the western drama lover, this book is a must-read. The setting made me feel as if I were right in the center of the story peeking over the character's shoulders. To my way of thinking, this is one fine book. I am eager to read more of Sandra Cox's books!
August 21, 2021
This is not the first book I have read by the author and won’t be the last. Having been brought up watching the great westerns of the 40s and 50s, I like the authenticity of Ms. Cox’s writing and the fact her characters, male and female are gritty, colourful and have gumption.
The plot of this book has all the elements of an action packed, gun slinging, baddies vs. good guys western set in the rugged and dangerous landscape of the Badlands. There is some added story lines running parallel with the main action provided by the assorted fellow travelers the central characters meet along the way. It was a tough world with few options for women, and yet even soiled doves as they are referred to, are offered respect by those who appreciate their choices were made to survive.
Keeper Tyree is getting on a bit, and whilst I am not averse to the vision of a strapping young cowboy, it is refreshing to enjoy the depiction of a slightly more seasoned veteran of this harsh environment. I would certainly be very happy for Tyree to have my back in a gunfight as he is still quick on the draw.
Add in the simmering romance that comes to the boil over the story and the book is a very satisfying read all round. I can highly recommend to both Western and Romance fans.
The plot of this book has all the elements of an action packed, gun slinging, baddies vs. good guys western set in the rugged and dangerous landscape of the Badlands. There is some added story lines running parallel with the main action provided by the assorted fellow travelers the central characters meet along the way. It was a tough world with few options for women, and yet even soiled doves as they are referred to, are offered respect by those who appreciate their choices were made to survive.
Keeper Tyree is getting on a bit, and whilst I am not averse to the vision of a strapping young cowboy, it is refreshing to enjoy the depiction of a slightly more seasoned veteran of this harsh environment. I would certainly be very happy for Tyree to have my back in a gunfight as he is still quick on the draw.
Add in the simmering romance that comes to the boil over the story and the book is a very satisfying read all round. I can highly recommend to both Western and Romance fans.
June 28, 2021
“Keeper Tyree” is a fast-paced western that focuses on revenge. Keeper is a bounty hunter who has a reputation with women and fast draws. A widow, Cathleen, approaches him to find the man who killed her son. He reluctantly agrees to help her. After meeting Cathleen’s father and daughter, he sets off to find this criminal and collect his bounty. He doesn’t expect to be followed, though. I love the story is told from only Keeper’s POV and found it fascinating to see things from his perspective. There was good chemistry between Keeper and Cathleen with fun dialog. The settings were vivid, bringing me right into the story. I love the people they came across on this journey. A favorite became Maybell and her group. The action began immediately and never let up. This was a page-turner that I read in two sittings and would have in one if I hadn’t needed to sleep. It was nice to see a nod to another bounty hunter from a past book. If you love westerns with some romance and good characters, this book is for you. I highly recommend it.
July 2, 2021
If you’ve read and enjoyed ‘Gwen Slade,’ ‘Keeper Tyree’ is even better and steamier than that, with some delightful characters thrown in to keep the interest alive. In her captivating style, S. Cox grips you right in the beginning and moves at a breathtaking speed. When Cathleen O’ Donnell hires Keeper to take revenge from the killer of her son, he appears to be a detached, hardened killer but the way his character evolves with the story, is incredible! The power of a strong, obdurate woman floors him and he has to remind himself that he is just with her for business. He knows his soul is blackened yet he yearns for the tender touch of a woman.
I have read many books of Cox and each one is extremely readable, with strong women characters who define their goals out of free will and refuse to be influenced by circumstances. This one mentions women as “wondrous creatures” and Cathleen as well as Maybell shine through out the story. A page-turner, without a dull moment, replete with continuous action, this book is one of her best. Highly recommended.
I have read many books of Cox and each one is extremely readable, with strong women characters who define their goals out of free will and refuse to be influenced by circumstances. This one mentions women as “wondrous creatures” and Cathleen as well as Maybell shine through out the story. A page-turner, without a dull moment, replete with continuous action, this book is one of her best. Highly recommended.
July 13, 2021
Keeper is a bounty hunter and hired gun, past his prime and suffering from arthritis. The widow Cathleen O’Donnell hires him to kill the bandit that shot her son. He agrees, never expecting that Cathleen will show up at his campfire in trousers, determined to go along.
They don’t get far before they run into (and aid) a stuck wagon full of ladies of the night, and a crushed wagon carrying a fledgling attorney and his young son. Tyree and Cathleen see them all to their destination, and despite Tyree’s determination not to get involved with women, Cathleen’s smile is having an impact. Clearly there’s a romance in the making.
The hunt for the killer Pardee takes them into the Badlands. More characters enter the story (including a few “characters”) and the action continues to build with no shortage of face-offs and gunfire. I liked Cathleen’s determination to take down her son’s killer and Keeper’s attempts to ignore his feelings. A fun and adventurous story I highly recommend to fans who enjoy fast-paced westerns and an engaging romance.
They don’t get far before they run into (and aid) a stuck wagon full of ladies of the night, and a crushed wagon carrying a fledgling attorney and his young son. Tyree and Cathleen see them all to their destination, and despite Tyree’s determination not to get involved with women, Cathleen’s smile is having an impact. Clearly there’s a romance in the making.
The hunt for the killer Pardee takes them into the Badlands. More characters enter the story (including a few “characters”) and the action continues to build with no shortage of face-offs and gunfire. I liked Cathleen’s determination to take down her son’s killer and Keeper’s attempts to ignore his feelings. A fun and adventurous story I highly recommend to fans who enjoy fast-paced westerns and an engaging romance.
July 10, 2021
S.Cox is an outstanding storyteller. In this Western, the bad guys are really really bad and the good guys are good, but with a shade of badness. She paints the main characters brighter and brighter as we follow them through the story. And, oh those unique, quirky characters they meet as they trail the bad guy. It reminds me of a road trip story. The action is fast and furious, the love scenes tender. The book read easily and the tale kept me turning the pages. If you love Westerns, you'll love Keeper Tyree. (and yes, the author reveals how he got his name, Keeper.)
September 5, 2021
I just finished Keeper Tyree and enjoyed it very much. I will look forward to more of her books. I enjoy reading books of the old west and this one hit the spot. I have read several of her books and I will read more as I am enjoying them. Keep them coming Sandra. Thanks ofr this one...John K.
January 8, 2022
I just wanted to read a good western, instead I read a bland book with several historical inaccuracies and constantly repeated phrases. This book needed a good editor. Any rider who constantly pulls his mount to a stiff-legged stop is a poor horseman. It is over 650 miles from El Dorado, Kansas to the Badlands - pushing any horse to make 50 miles day after day in that terrain would be brutal. In the book the riders make the trip in less than 4 days!
Next, Keeper Tyree killed more men in one short period than any outlaw in the west, and he was considered a good man???? Even the love story was driven home to the reader with constant repeats about her eyes, her body, her dead heart.
Sorry. Bad book.
Next, Keeper Tyree killed more men in one short period than any outlaw in the west, and he was considered a good man???? Even the love story was driven home to the reader with constant repeats about her eyes, her body, her dead heart.
Sorry. Bad book.
January 26, 2023
An enjoyable western with believable characters. Keeper is an aging bounty hunter and gun-slinger. Cathleen has lost her son in a senseless bar killing and wants vengeance. She hires Keeper to find her son's killer, but she wants to kill him. An unlikely premise for a romance, but somehow the author pulls you into a breathtaking ride across the Wild West.
The plot sucks you in, introducing additional riveting characters. This is a yarn you won't be able to put down.
I highly recommend you add 'Keeper Tyree' to your to-be-read list.
The plot sucks you in, introducing additional riveting characters. This is a yarn you won't be able to put down.
I highly recommend you add 'Keeper Tyree' to your to-be-read list.
August 6, 2025
Keeper Tyree is a rip-roaring Western filled with grit, heart, and, I'd say, just the right touch of humor.
An aging bounty hunter who plays by his own rules finds his world upended by a widow on a mission for justice. As he chases down the villain Josiah Pardee, Tyree crosses paths with a cast of unforgettable characters, from rescued saloon girls to unlikely city folk caught in frontier chaos.
The story gallops from one tense moment to the next, packed with action, wit, and vivid landscapes.
A captivating story from start to finish and an enjoyable audiobook. Highly recommended.
An aging bounty hunter who plays by his own rules finds his world upended by a widow on a mission for justice. As he chases down the villain Josiah Pardee, Tyree crosses paths with a cast of unforgettable characters, from rescued saloon girls to unlikely city folk caught in frontier chaos.
The story gallops from one tense moment to the next, packed with action, wit, and vivid landscapes.
A captivating story from start to finish and an enjoyable audiobook. Highly recommended.
March 27, 2026
Great and gritty western
This novel is a wonderful book perfect for those who like grit with the old west appeal. There may be a few soiled doves, and a few old west guns going, but there is love blooming between a cantanerous man who reminded me of John Wayne, and set in old west Kansas worked well. '
This novel is a wonderful book perfect for those who like grit with the old west appeal. There may be a few soiled doves, and a few old west guns going, but there is love blooming between a cantanerous man who reminded me of John Wayne, and set in old west Kansas worked well. '
July 24, 2022
Keeper Tyree
Keeper Tyree is a man who will draw first when the situation warrants it. He's a regular western gunman, complete with prostitutes, whiskey and tobacco. He sees the value in a good woman when he finds her.
Keeper Tyree is a man who will draw first when the situation warrants it. He's a regular western gunman, complete with prostitutes, whiskey and tobacco. He sees the value in a good woman when he finds her.
April 27, 2023
it was okay
I like the story, but felt it was too fast pace. The romance was flat. Since it was just in Keeper’s point of view, all we got was he was attracted to her even though she was skinny and cranky, then, all of a sudden, they’re getting married.
I like the story, but felt it was too fast pace. The romance was flat. Since it was just in Keeper’s point of view, all we got was he was attracted to her even though she was skinny and cranky, then, all of a sudden, they’re getting married.
March 15, 2023
What a good story!
My favorite type of book, and this one was one of my favorites! Great storyline and loved the determination she had to bring her own justice! Wonderful ending!
My favorite type of book, and this one was one of my favorites! Great storyline and loved the determination she had to bring her own justice! Wonderful ending!
January 13, 2024
Another Great Read
This was a wonderful story, and I am now on to the second book. I have read her books before and have always really liked them.
This was a wonderful story, and I am now on to the second book. I have read her books before and have always really liked them.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews