John C. Horst's Blog, page 41
May 15, 2012
Latest Goodreads 5 Star Review
Wowsers. I thought the first book in this series was great, but it had nothing on this intense sequel. "The Mule Tamer II: Chica's Ride" is action packed from the get go. It's all up in your face and makes the the first novel in the series look like a bedtime tale.
The story starts off with the abduction of Arvel and Chica's eight year old daughter by a bunch of merciless Mexican bandits. Chica hatches a plan to get her daughter back and enlists Arvel's mother, Alice Walsh, to help her. Arvel surprisingly isn't the hero of the story. Having just suffered a stroke, he is bedridden and heartbroken . He wants to rescue his daughter but he can't get out of bed.
Rebecca suffers along with other captives as they're toted deep into Mexico. The gang is known for the ruthlessness towards women and to life and Rebecca's good looks and youth save her from initial raping, but "the gold hat" wants her to be part of her harem. Will Chica rescue her in time? Read this story and find out. I promise you won't be able to put it down. I can't wait to read the third installment!
The story starts off with the abduction of Arvel and Chica's eight year old daughter by a bunch of merciless Mexican bandits. Chica hatches a plan to get her daughter back and enlists Arvel's mother, Alice Walsh, to help her. Arvel surprisingly isn't the hero of the story. Having just suffered a stroke, he is bedridden and heartbroken . He wants to rescue his daughter but he can't get out of bed.
Rebecca suffers along with other captives as they're toted deep into Mexico. The gang is known for the ruthlessness towards women and to life and Rebecca's good looks and youth save her from initial raping, but "the gold hat" wants her to be part of her harem. Will Chica rescue her in time? Read this story and find out. I promise you won't be able to put it down. I can't wait to read the third installment!
And Yet Another Kind Email
I received The Mule Tamer II Saturday and it didnt stand a chance! I was done by Sunday morning. Yet another amazing western! I absolutely loved this one as the plot thickens!!! You are amazing and I could definately see these books becoming a movie series. That would be amazing. Until then I will have to re-read them to relive it all.
I will be writing a review this week.
Thank you again for your compassion in sending me the sequel and in your amazing writing abilities! You have opened the world of the west before my eyes.
I will be writing a review this week.
Thank you again for your compassion in sending me the sequel and in your amazing writing abilities! You have opened the world of the west before my eyes.
A wonderful email from a reader of The Mule Tamer books
Just wanted to share a great email from a happy reader: "Will there be a third Mule Tamer? I loved the first two and just don't want them to stop."
Latest Reviews for The Mule Tamer II, Chica's Ride
5 Stars:
Chica has given up her wild ways and settled down with Arvel to raise their daughter.But when a group of bandits led by the infamous Sombrero Del Oro attacks the train Chica and her family is on, the trouble begins.The bandits take most of the women and children prisoner including Chica's daughter.Chica throws off her refined ways and goes after the bandits to get her daughter back.
Dick Welles and many of Arvel's friends also set off to get Rebecca back.Unfortunately Arvel can not go with them because he suffers a stroke when he hears of the attack.Luckily the aborigine healer,Billy Livingston, arrives to take Arvel under his wing.
The action starts on the first page and continues to build to the climatic battle between Sombrero Del Oro's gang and the friend of the Walsh family.All of the great characters from the first book are back along with some wonderful new characters.
Chica makes a great hero.She follows the simple rule that bad men should be killed.It is one of the strongest connections between her and Arvel.They don't seek revenge or justice.They just want to stop the bad men from doing bad things in the most direct and effective way possible.
One of my favorite parts is when Arvel tells the old story of the bear and the rabbit.It is one of my favorite old jokes to tell.
I am a little torn about the cover.Using the same picture for the cover could be confusing. But now that Mr. Horst has done it, I hope all the books in the series follow the pattern.
The only problem I had with this story is that something bad will have to happen to the characters for there to be another story.Since I like all of the characters, I wish they could all live happily ever after.So that just goes to show how much you will grow to like these characters.
5 Stars:
If you havent read this book yet, you are missing out! A series everyone could use in their collection!
5Stars:
Thank you, John, for sending me a copy of this book. I love the down-to-earth story of Arvel and his Mexican wife Maria, known as Chica. Once I started reading the book, I couldn't put it down.
In this book, their daughter is kidnapped by a cruel bandit known as the Sombrero del Oro and Chica disguises herself to get into the bandit’s compound to rescue her daughter. There she sees the cruelty carried out by the bandits on their captives and takes her revenge.
I look forward to the next book about Arvel and Chica. Thanks for such great stories.
5 Stars:
Mr Horst has done it again! This second in the series is just as good, if not better, than the first. The first introduced us to all the characters and their good and bad qualities. Book two shows us how they can use those qualities. It is suspenseful as well as emotional. And the era is one we do not know much about personally, which makes it more interesting. I will be looking forward to this series continuing as Chica does not seem to be done yet. And she has two little ones who very well could carry on her traits. A very good read!
Chica has given up her wild ways and settled down with Arvel to raise their daughter.But when a group of bandits led by the infamous Sombrero Del Oro attacks the train Chica and her family is on, the trouble begins.The bandits take most of the women and children prisoner including Chica's daughter.Chica throws off her refined ways and goes after the bandits to get her daughter back.
Dick Welles and many of Arvel's friends also set off to get Rebecca back.Unfortunately Arvel can not go with them because he suffers a stroke when he hears of the attack.Luckily the aborigine healer,Billy Livingston, arrives to take Arvel under his wing.
The action starts on the first page and continues to build to the climatic battle between Sombrero Del Oro's gang and the friend of the Walsh family.All of the great characters from the first book are back along with some wonderful new characters.
Chica makes a great hero.She follows the simple rule that bad men should be killed.It is one of the strongest connections between her and Arvel.They don't seek revenge or justice.They just want to stop the bad men from doing bad things in the most direct and effective way possible.
One of my favorite parts is when Arvel tells the old story of the bear and the rabbit.It is one of my favorite old jokes to tell.
I am a little torn about the cover.Using the same picture for the cover could be confusing. But now that Mr. Horst has done it, I hope all the books in the series follow the pattern.
The only problem I had with this story is that something bad will have to happen to the characters for there to be another story.Since I like all of the characters, I wish they could all live happily ever after.So that just goes to show how much you will grow to like these characters.
5 Stars:
If you havent read this book yet, you are missing out! A series everyone could use in their collection!
5Stars:
Thank you, John, for sending me a copy of this book. I love the down-to-earth story of Arvel and his Mexican wife Maria, known as Chica. Once I started reading the book, I couldn't put it down.
In this book, their daughter is kidnapped by a cruel bandit known as the Sombrero del Oro and Chica disguises herself to get into the bandit’s compound to rescue her daughter. There she sees the cruelty carried out by the bandits on their captives and takes her revenge.
I look forward to the next book about Arvel and Chica. Thanks for such great stories.
5 Stars:
Mr Horst has done it again! This second in the series is just as good, if not better, than the first. The first introduced us to all the characters and their good and bad qualities. Book two shows us how they can use those qualities. It is suspenseful as well as emotional. And the era is one we do not know much about personally, which makes it more interesting. I will be looking forward to this series continuing as Chica does not seem to be done yet. And she has two little ones who very well could carry on her traits. A very good read!
Goodreads book giveaway for The Mule Tamer II, Chica's Ride
The Mule Tamer II, Chica's Ride is up for a giveaway on Goodreads. Please check it out.
May 10, 2012
Latest Review from a Goodreads member
Received this book through First Reads and really enjoyed it. The lead character, Arvel, is well written, the kind of person who prefers using his intelligence to solve problems, but willing to resort to stronger methods if the situation calls for it. Reminded me of the two leads in Lonesome Dove, Augustus McCrae and Woodrow Call. The other characters, especiallly Chica, are well conceived and creative. A great read that I really enjoyed. I look forward to the author's next book.
Mule Tamer II, Chica's Ride Giveaway
Folks, please take advantage of my giveaway to commence on Friday, May 11th on Amazon for my latest installment of The Mule Tamer Series. This is the second of three. The gang from The Mule Tamer is back. Chica is actually a bit meaner than in the first one, but I believe you'll agree for good reason. Hope you like it.
You can get the book at this link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007...
John
You can get the book at this link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007...
John
May 5, 2012
Latest Five Star Review
A Really Good Western, May 3, 2012 By
Daniel C. Chamberlain
-
See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(
What's this?
) This review is from: The Mule Tamer (Volume 1) (Paperback) The Mule Tamer is a great western. John Horst has managed to create a cast of main characters you want to get behind, and a cast of villains you don't mind seeing vanquished. Along the way, he's created an unlikely love story between an aging Civil War veteran Arvel Walsh, and a wild cat part Mexican, part "Indio" called simply "Chica", who carries a brace of nickel plated Smith and Wesson pistols and uses them to great effect.
This story can be read as a novel, or treated as a collection of vignettes, interrelated but standing alone. I don't read for speed and I'm not one of those readers who "can't put a book down," so I won't say I couldn't put this one down. I actually put it down deliberately. I treated it as a collection of vignettes and read each chapter as a separate story to make it last. This made "The Mule Tamer" a welcome friend at the end of the day, when I had twenty or thirty minutes of quiet time to enjoy with a book.
So let's talk about John as a writer. He's a good one. He has a talent for telling the story and letting the reader develop the mental image of the character in question. I like that. He doesn't waste time with things that don't matter. He tells the tale with the easy pace of a consummate story-teller, leading the reader from scene to scene, with just the right blend of action, drama and humor, coupled with a very imaginative way of bringing Arvel and Chica together in an unusual relationship that really wouldn't be believable told any other way. I'm glad I found this book.
This story can be read as a novel, or treated as a collection of vignettes, interrelated but standing alone. I don't read for speed and I'm not one of those readers who "can't put a book down," so I won't say I couldn't put this one down. I actually put it down deliberately. I treated it as a collection of vignettes and read each chapter as a separate story to make it last. This made "The Mule Tamer" a welcome friend at the end of the day, when I had twenty or thirty minutes of quiet time to enjoy with a book.
So let's talk about John as a writer. He's a good one. He has a talent for telling the story and letting the reader develop the mental image of the character in question. I like that. He doesn't waste time with things that don't matter. He tells the tale with the easy pace of a consummate story-teller, leading the reader from scene to scene, with just the right blend of action, drama and humor, coupled with a very imaginative way of bringing Arvel and Chica together in an unusual relationship that really wouldn't be believable told any other way. I'm glad I found this book.
May 3, 2012
The Mule Tamer II, Chica's Ride is now available on Amazon.
Folks, here is the sequel to The Mule Tamer. Hope you enjoy it.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1475225377/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B006X7PIJM&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0E1H0026RQS7G6ZEQYN2
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1475225377/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B006X7PIJM&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0E1H0026RQS7G6ZEQYN2
