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The Drive
Out of the smoke and fire of the Civil War, an unlikely friendship is forged. Two men emerge from the war’s ashes, cross paths, and decide to ride together, even though Carson Budrow wore Union blue and Garrett Roads Confederate gray. They form a cautious partnership and hook up with a cattle drive heading from Texas to Colorado. Fierce twisters, deep rivers, heartless desperadoes, bold Comanche with faces painted for war, and gun-toting, strong women will be on this drive. Worst of all is the gang tracking them and gunning for Budrow’s life, something not even his partner Roads or the two women in Budrow's life think they can do anything to stop.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 13, 2022
23 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Murray Pura
148 books771 followersreader, writer, author, free thinker
books published in 2023
KINGFISHER CROSS
NEVENA IN LOVE
CLARA RAVEN
UNDER THE STONES
available on Amazon, B&N, Indigo, etc.
listed for Best Series of the Year Award 2023
Hemingway Award 2022 Seattle
Word Guild Award 2022, 2012 Toronto
books published in 2023
KINGFISHER CROSS
NEVENA IN LOVE
CLARA RAVEN
UNDER THE STONES
available on Amazon, B&N, Indigo, etc.
listed for Best Series of the Year Award 2023
Hemingway Award 2022 Seattle
Word Guild Award 2022, 2012 Toronto
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 12, 2022
First and foremost, a confession: This is the first actual Western I have ever read. I’m not even a fan of Western novels or movies, though I do have some favs like The Magnificent Seven series. That said, I feel that I am hardly qualified to compare The Drive with other books in this particular genre, however, as a reader and author myself, I can comment in the story I read. In fact, perhaps, I might be a better judge of the content in this story because of it.
Now, The Drive… The thing I liked most about this first book in the Storm Riders series is the sharp contrast between the two main characters, veteran Carson “Kit” Budrow, a disgraced Union officer, and Garrett “Granite” Roads, an officer lately of the defeated Confederate Army. Both men have reason to be suspicious of each other and hate each other. Both men are fleeing a past they would rather forget, but still haunts them. Despite their differences, they are destined it seems to become friends, and life on the range in a cattle drive is enough to force any two people together in trust and friendship. There is simply no time for petty differences. The constant references to the war and its battles as well as events from the war that have brought them both to Texas seeking new lives, slips seamlessly into their constant thoughts and actions. And well they should with the story taking place in 1866, one year after the end of a terrible war that would leave its indelible stamp upon the men who survived it, especially young men just at the beginning of their adult lives. It was the Civil War veteran angle that drew me in as I’m a big fan of Civil War history.
Another interesting, and much-appreciated, aspect of this novel was the role of women in the story. These are not your average wallflower types, sitting at home pining away the time until their men come home and give them purpose once more. These are women hardened by the need to defend their homes, their land, and their lives during the four long years their men were away fighting in the War between the States. But these are not hardened women who would just as soon shoot you in the eye if you crossed them—though they might—but women who also have a softer, kinder side, women who deep down, just might not mind having a fella to hold them close at the end of the day.
And of course, we have our dastardly villains, in particular, one Skin Ricketts . Every story needs them and the ones in this story are as bloodthirsty and cruel as any other. You’ll learn to hate them as much as our heroes would prefer not to deal with them, but then, that is what good story writing is all about, creating a crisis for the heroes to shine.
As I said, I know little about this genre, but I know enough to realize that the authors—Murray Pura and Patrick Craig—are hoping to reintroduce the old-fashioned style of Western with its traditional tropes. It is demonstrated on every page. Villainous men, beautiful heroines, six-shooters, faithful horses, and gritty cowboys forced into the roles of heroes, even against their wills. And it works. The story is straight-forward and enjoyable, without the constant handwringing and self-loathing (and political correctness) of overwrought characters in modern versions of any novel, regardless of genre, and delivers a novel worthy of the name. You find the vocabulary you’d expect of writers of any dime-store Western, words like darn, pard, reckon and Injuns, and phrases unique to the American cowboy—or cowgirl. If I were to read a Zane Grey novel, I imagine it would be something like The Drive. Perhaps, I’m wrong, but I doubt it. Pura and Craig are too good of authors to create anything less. The authors themselves are committed to bringing back, or reestablishing, the Literary Fiction genre of old, and by golly, Pard, them boys have done it! And since this is my first Western, I’m giving it five stars! The authors have earned it!
Now, The Drive… The thing I liked most about this first book in the Storm Riders series is the sharp contrast between the two main characters, veteran Carson “Kit” Budrow, a disgraced Union officer, and Garrett “Granite” Roads, an officer lately of the defeated Confederate Army. Both men have reason to be suspicious of each other and hate each other. Both men are fleeing a past they would rather forget, but still haunts them. Despite their differences, they are destined it seems to become friends, and life on the range in a cattle drive is enough to force any two people together in trust and friendship. There is simply no time for petty differences. The constant references to the war and its battles as well as events from the war that have brought them both to Texas seeking new lives, slips seamlessly into their constant thoughts and actions. And well they should with the story taking place in 1866, one year after the end of a terrible war that would leave its indelible stamp upon the men who survived it, especially young men just at the beginning of their adult lives. It was the Civil War veteran angle that drew me in as I’m a big fan of Civil War history.
Another interesting, and much-appreciated, aspect of this novel was the role of women in the story. These are not your average wallflower types, sitting at home pining away the time until their men come home and give them purpose once more. These are women hardened by the need to defend their homes, their land, and their lives during the four long years their men were away fighting in the War between the States. But these are not hardened women who would just as soon shoot you in the eye if you crossed them—though they might—but women who also have a softer, kinder side, women who deep down, just might not mind having a fella to hold them close at the end of the day.
And of course, we have our dastardly villains, in particular, one Skin Ricketts . Every story needs them and the ones in this story are as bloodthirsty and cruel as any other. You’ll learn to hate them as much as our heroes would prefer not to deal with them, but then, that is what good story writing is all about, creating a crisis for the heroes to shine.
As I said, I know little about this genre, but I know enough to realize that the authors—Murray Pura and Patrick Craig—are hoping to reintroduce the old-fashioned style of Western with its traditional tropes. It is demonstrated on every page. Villainous men, beautiful heroines, six-shooters, faithful horses, and gritty cowboys forced into the roles of heroes, even against their wills. And it works. The story is straight-forward and enjoyable, without the constant handwringing and self-loathing (and political correctness) of overwrought characters in modern versions of any novel, regardless of genre, and delivers a novel worthy of the name. You find the vocabulary you’d expect of writers of any dime-store Western, words like darn, pard, reckon and Injuns, and phrases unique to the American cowboy—or cowgirl. If I were to read a Zane Grey novel, I imagine it would be something like The Drive. Perhaps, I’m wrong, but I doubt it. Pura and Craig are too good of authors to create anything less. The authors themselves are committed to bringing back, or reestablishing, the Literary Fiction genre of old, and by golly, Pard, them boys have done it! And since this is my first Western, I’m giving it five stars! The authors have earned it!
July 18, 2022
The story came together with a good measure of character, depth, action, and the sort of unusual twists that even surprise the authors.
June 13, 2022
Western fiction is not a genre that I normally read, but I am happy that I read this book. Set in Texas after the Civil War, two veterans from the opposing sides make for an odd partnership. The story is filled with adventure, harrowing scenes of gun fights, deception, rescues, tough-as-nails females, and chivalry as the full cast of characters emerge and develop.
Pura and Craig paint a picture of what life was like in the Texas desert as the characters' lives intertwine as they travel on the long cattle drive from Texas to Colorado. Admittedly, I did not know much about that time in history, so I researched a little before I started reading. The story is based on a few historical figures, and it was a pleasure learning about the successes and the difficulties of these men's lives as they not only earned their living, but also etched their names into Texas history.
Another surprise involved the two main female characters. Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that I was pleasantly surprised that they did not fall into predictable roles. At first I was not sure if I liked them, but I enjoyed getting to know these women as Pura and Craig fleshed out their talents and personalities.
In college I read historical accounts of the settlers of the Oklahoma territory. Some settlers from the Eastern Seaboard staked claims on land in Oklahoma and literally lived their first winter in holes they dug into the ground. They left their comfortable lives in cities and traded them for lives filled with unending wind, snow, spring storms, maddening loneliness, and near starvation. Wonderfully, Pura and Craig painted many details that allow readers to experience the rural culture and unforgiving locations through which their characters travel.
The book is the first in the Storm Rider series. At the end of the tale the authors leave unanswered questions which makes this reader look forward to the next book in the series.
Pura and Craig paint a picture of what life was like in the Texas desert as the characters' lives intertwine as they travel on the long cattle drive from Texas to Colorado. Admittedly, I did not know much about that time in history, so I researched a little before I started reading. The story is based on a few historical figures, and it was a pleasure learning about the successes and the difficulties of these men's lives as they not only earned their living, but also etched their names into Texas history.
Another surprise involved the two main female characters. Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that I was pleasantly surprised that they did not fall into predictable roles. At first I was not sure if I liked them, but I enjoyed getting to know these women as Pura and Craig fleshed out their talents and personalities.
In college I read historical accounts of the settlers of the Oklahoma territory. Some settlers from the Eastern Seaboard staked claims on land in Oklahoma and literally lived their first winter in holes they dug into the ground. They left their comfortable lives in cities and traded them for lives filled with unending wind, snow, spring storms, maddening loneliness, and near starvation. Wonderfully, Pura and Craig painted many details that allow readers to experience the rural culture and unforgiving locations through which their characters travel.
The book is the first in the Storm Rider series. At the end of the tale the authors leave unanswered questions which makes this reader look forward to the next book in the series.
July 4, 2022
Fan of civil war fiction? The Drive combines action, tension, twists and turns as it relentlessly 'drives' you to read more of the character's adventures and relationships. A must read as are all of Murray Pura's books.
July 18, 2022
We worked hard on the book and I believe the result was strong and good.
June 13, 2022
the drive
The author is very good writer I could not put the book down unless I was going to bed.There was a lot of action and romance and talking about God which I liked very much thanks tommy a.
The author is very good writer I could not put the book down unless I was going to bed.There was a lot of action and romance and talking about God which I liked very much thanks tommy a.
August 15, 2022
Murray Pura and Patrick E Craig
has written a 5 star book
The Drive is different than the Amish books I read i loved it.Two men fought on the different sides of The Civil War.Carson Burrow wore Union Blue.Garrett Roads wore Confederate Gray.They formed a partnership.They hooked up with a cattle drive from Texas to Colorado.There was twisters deep rivets heartless desperadoes bold comanche and gun -toting recommend women.Find out what happenes to Carson and Garrett and the 3 woman will they make it Colorado.What happens to the cattle Get this book to find out .i recommend it to everyone
has written a 5 star book
The Drive is different than the Amish books I read i loved it.Two men fought on the different sides of The Civil War.Carson Burrow wore Union Blue.Garrett Roads wore Confederate Gray.They formed a partnership.They hooked up with a cattle drive from Texas to Colorado.There was twisters deep rivets heartless desperadoes bold comanche and gun -toting recommend women.Find out what happenes to Carson and Garrett and the 3 woman will they make it Colorado.What happens to the cattle Get this book to find out .i recommend it to everyone
July 10, 2022
This story is Western fiction at it's best. It is the story of Carson Budrow and Garrett Roads, two Civil War veterans, who although they fought for opposite sides, teamed up and joined a cattle drive traveling from Texas to Colorado. Along the way they encountered twisters, desperados, Indians, gun carrying women and a gang trailing them for the purpose of murdering one of them. Be sure and grab this great story; it is a real page turner and know you will enjoy it as much as I did.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews