Kansas Blood

by Jay Mitchell (Pseudonym)

Orphaned by prairie scavengers on the High Plains of Kansas in 1881, Lonnie Ryan is determined to make a living off the land. It's a hardscrabble life, but she hangs on. And then one day more trouble arrives at the farm: Toby Markham, fleeing the notorious Barstow gang. They put a bullet through his shoulder, but he escaped. Now it's up to 17-year-old Lonnie to nurse Toby back to health even as she faces new threats: a bounty hunter, a banker set on taking her farm, the knowledge that a vicious outlaw gang may track Toby to her place. And also face the assault on her emotions as the wall she built to live behind is slowly eroded by a young man who seems to understand her better than she does herself.

270 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1986

Reviews

[Anne Osterlund · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lonnie is on her own. Her parents and siblings were murdered by scavengers, leaving Lonnie to make her own way with a good dog, a rifle, and the farm. Pa’s land is her inheritance.

Lonnie is determined to make a go of it. Even if that means offending her neighbors, fighting the bank, and scarce having four coins to her name. She manages.

Then the injured man shows up on her property, his shoulder shot clean through. This she may not be able to manage. Though it sure as heck don’t mean she can’t bluff.


Lonnie is a western with a spunky female heroine, a young hero who doesn’t steal the show, and a violent set of outlaw villains. A quick easy read by an author whose work I really enjoy.

[John Peel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lonnie Ryan is a 17 year old who lives alone on her Kansas farm after the rest of her family is murdered. She gets along just fine - she thinks - by herself. Then she finds a wounded man, and caring for him turns her life upside down. Partly it's because he starts to crack her shell of self-sufficiency, but mainly it's because there's a gang of killers on his trail.

Entertaining and well-written, this is a delightful novel by Jennifer Roberson (under a pen-name). Oh, and the cover has literally nothing to do with the story - especially the blurb!

[Thuan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I enjoy this one much more than I had thought. This is an old work by Jennifer Roberson, which was known as Kansas Blood and now republished as Lonnie.

The blurb is spot on so there’s not much more to say about it. It’s a simple coming of age and romantic western: Lonnie finds a wounded young man, Toby, and must nurse and hide him from his pursuers, The Barstow Gang. While she accidentally grows feelings for him, Lonnie also matures emotionally. As Lonnie was written in the 80s, it’s a clean romance with some western violence except for a traumatic event, because almost all of Roberson’s works include rape of the heroine and this book isn’t an exception with a quick description of the event.

As you’ll expect from Ms. Roberson, her books are a joy to read for those who like witty dialogues and banter. Her characters are likeable and feels real enough for the western, historical setting of which Lonnie takes place in.

Lonnie is one of Ms. Roberson's earlier works and as such, there are some things that did not work so well. The plot is way too simple, predictable and short but I feel that is offset by the likeable characters. But the most obvious is the overused plot device of tragedy to force the characters to mature, especially at the end which I thought it either unnecessary or resolved and forgotten to easily. Lonnie gets raped at the end but she recovers in a matter of days and starts her new life as a happy cheery girl, which I have a hard time suspending belief.

A solid 3.5 with great likeable characters but does fall short with overused tragedy plot device which I think was not a satisfying resolution. But, it's still an enjoyable and quick read.

[Jennifer]

Great read! April 30, 2012
By Nancy Gilson
Great read--especially if you loved Rowdy Yates before we knew who Clint Eastwood was. And if you loved "True Grit" before Hollywood got hold of it. And if you just like to see a powerful woman as the main character in a western novel.

Pretty Darn Good April 30, 2012
By William Gilson
Although it is one of Jennifer Roberson's earlier works, it is still quality. If you have read her fantasy series, and want to see another side to this writer, check this book out. Enjoy!

A rare western with a strong female lead May 15, 2012
By Tonya
It was a fresh take on a western. And the writting had me so invested in the characters I cried and laughed right along with Lonnie.