Publisher: Five Star Publishing
Date of Publication: February 19, 2020
Rio Ruidoso offers a gripping blend of history and story as two-time Spur Award-winner Preston Lewis explores the violent years before the famed Lincoln County War in New Mexico Territory. Seamlessly weaving fact with fiction, the author details the county’s corruption, racism, and violence through the eyes of protagonist Wes Bracken, newly arrived in the region to start a horse ranch with his alcoholic brother. Bracken’s dreams for the Mirror B Ranch are threatened by his brother’s drunkenness, the corruption of economic kingpin Lawrence G. Murphy, and the murderous rampages of the racist Horrell Brothers. To bring tranquility to Lincoln County, Bracken must defeat those threats and stand his ground against the ever-changing alliances that complicate life and prosperity in multi-racial Lincoln County.
“If it weren’t for thieves, weeds, and cockleburs,…Lincoln County would be about as near heaven as you can get on earth.”
Rio Ruidoso is a mesmerizing glimpse into the Old West and one man’s quest for peace and happiness through homesteading, ranching, and farming in the New Mexico Territory. What Wes Bracken finds instead is violence and betrayal around every corner. Fortunately, Wes also finds love, solidarity, camaraderie, courage, and a future that while not without trouble looming on the horizon, is still full of promise and good fortune.
In this first book of the Three Rivers Trilogy, Preston Lewis begins with a compelling story that catches the imagination through dramatic description, deep characterization, and a plot that is full of grit, determination, hard decisions, mistrust, racism, friendship, and new love and new life. The overall story is a slow burn but in no way sluggish or lacking in action and conflict. Somehow, Preston Lewis manages to combine the prosaic day-to-day activities with the thrilling adventure of survival and the battle to outwit a constant stream of enemies. Wes Bracken is an interesting character and not without a few flaws. He is brave, honest, and industrious, but he also a bit covetous yet remains respectful, and he is somewhat insecure about a chipped front tooth. Preston Lewis knows how to paint characters vividly and realistically, giving them traits that make them believable and provocative. In fact, all the characters are memorable: the good, the bad, and everyone in between. Even the horses, especially Charlie, are given the star treatment.
Word of caution: Racism is a tricky road to navigate in a work of fiction, but it is an unfortunate reality that should not be ignored or glossed over. The author does a commendable job of balancing the racist language and behaviors spewed from and displayed by the multiple antagonists with Wes Bracken’s firm resolve to treat people fairly no matter their skin color or nationality, as long as they are honest, hardworking, and without unprovoked malice. Wes wins over the local community in Lincoln County through his sincerity, courage, and willingness to stand with them and fight corruption, the Horrell brothers, and even his own alcoholic brother, Luther.
Rio Ruidoso is a panoramic and incredibly fascinating view of the hard and harsh life of the Old West and the continuous battle of right against wrong, brother against brother, greed against virtue, humans against nature, and trust against deceit. Rio Ruidoso covers a lot of ground and ends on a sweet note, with quite a bit of unbridled anticipation for book two.
Enter the giveaway below on or before February 28, 2020, for a chance to win some fabulous prizes!
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
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2ND PRIZE: Signed Copy of Rio Ruidoso
VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
| 2/18/20 | Scrapbook | The Clueless Gent |
| 2/18/20 | BONUS Post | Chapter Break Book Blog |
| 2/19/20 | Review | Reading by Moonlight |
| 2/20/20 | Excerpt | Max Knight |
| 2/21/20 | Review | Hall Ways Blog |
| 2/22/20 | Author Interview | All the Ups and Downs |
| 2/23/20 | Excerpt | StoreyBook Reviews |
| 2/24/20 | Review | Texas Book-aholic |
| 2/25/20 | Author Interview | Book Fidelity |
| 2/26/20 | Review | Forgotten Winds |
| 2/27/20 | Review | Jennifer Silverwood |
You nailed it — and good idea to warn about the racism. It made me cringe every time I read the racist Texans’ remarks. And it made me feel embarrassed that it was so normal and ugly and rampant in that time period. I am glad Lewis didn’t shy away from it. Great review.
Thanks! Yes, historical aspects should never be altered or ignored, including racial slurs, but the overall story here is quite exciting, and the characters are well developed. Can’t wait for book two.
Great review! I also loved how Lewis wove seemingly simple every-day-life alongside the action. It reminded me of Once Upon a Time in the West that way, where you have stretches of nearly nothing, then sudden violence. And the way Lewis wrote made the transitions seamless. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts with us!