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West Texas Sunrise #3
The Stranger from Medina
Harboring suspicions about a charismatic new preacher, town marshal Ben Flood finds his concerns compromising his relationship with an attractive horse rancher and uncovers a deception that could change everything in the town. Original.
- GenresFictionChristian Fiction
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2003
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33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 19, 2007
A western with a little (just a little) romance and some murder. My mind kept insisting that the author was going to shove some smut in, ala "romance" novel, but, thankfully, none came. The only thing that bothered me about this book was how the main female, who was supposed to be a strong entrepreneur, ended up being rather clueless and seemed a lot more like a damsel in distress than anything else. The main male character is likable, and, in the end, the story is actually rather good. I wasn't sure I was going to like it in the beginning, but now I think I would probably read it again or, failing that, books similar.
July 15, 2008
Abominable. Anachronisms heaped on inaccuracies. Written without any regard to historical setting and in complete ignorance of the entire subject. The errors run from the egregious to the esoteric. I would have given it zero stars if this system would have let me.
For example; the stated time frame is "a dozen years since the War Between The States". That sets our year at 1865 + 12 = 1877 (give or take a couple years we're looking at 1875 to 1879):
1. Marshall Flood carries a (sic)30.30 (the correct term is .30-30) a cartridge that didn't come along for 20 years (1895 to be exact).
2. There's an accidental discharge of a (sic) 30.06. That didn't come along for another 30 years (1906).
3. Marshall Flood gathers spent casings at the scene of a murder and declares them to be "Confederate Army Issue 30.30. They were running out of materials near the end so they made their casings with more brass" (or pure brass or some other inanity). Well let's pick this one apart; As I pointed out earlier, the .30-30 didn't come along until 1895, thirty years after the end of the war. In fact there were precious few cartridge loading guns used in the war at all and almost none by the Rebels. Finally, when something is made out of brass, how do you make it out of "more brass"?
And I could go on.
Paul Bagdon appears to know nothing of, or have no regard for, the historical setting, accuracy nor subject matter of his stories, even within the context of fiction. He might as well have Marshall Flood ring up Lee Morgan on her cell phone and then race over in his pickup while he's at it.
Even Mr. Bagdon's portrayal of the Christian vs. Un-Saved is stereotypical and inaccurate. All of the good people are depicted as Christians and all of the Un-Saved as mean, evil bloodthirsty outlaws. In fact the tragedy of life is that many good, decent people are going to Hell because they do not know Jesus and many Christians are saved but don't show it in their daily lives.
For example; the stated time frame is "a dozen years since the War Between The States". That sets our year at 1865 + 12 = 1877 (give or take a couple years we're looking at 1875 to 1879):
1. Marshall Flood carries a (sic)30.30 (the correct term is .30-30) a cartridge that didn't come along for 20 years (1895 to be exact).
2. There's an accidental discharge of a (sic) 30.06. That didn't come along for another 30 years (1906).
3. Marshall Flood gathers spent casings at the scene of a murder and declares them to be "Confederate Army Issue 30.30. They were running out of materials near the end so they made their casings with more brass" (or pure brass or some other inanity). Well let's pick this one apart; As I pointed out earlier, the .30-30 didn't come along until 1895, thirty years after the end of the war. In fact there were precious few cartridge loading guns used in the war at all and almost none by the Rebels. Finally, when something is made out of brass, how do you make it out of "more brass"?
And I could go on.
Paul Bagdon appears to know nothing of, or have no regard for, the historical setting, accuracy nor subject matter of his stories, even within the context of fiction. He might as well have Marshall Flood ring up Lee Morgan on her cell phone and then race over in his pickup while he's at it.
Even Mr. Bagdon's portrayal of the Christian vs. Un-Saved is stereotypical and inaccurate. All of the good people are depicted as Christians and all of the Un-Saved as mean, evil bloodthirsty outlaws. In fact the tragedy of life is that many good, decent people are going to Hell because they do not know Jesus and many Christians are saved but don't show it in their daily lives.
August 20, 2013
Was an entertaining read and enjoyable. Was slow in the beginning but picked up pace towards the middle
March 14, 2014
Ok
Ok
I've read better. Story was good but could be boring in spots. Mild excitement. Hard to bond with characters. Ok.
Ok
I've read better. Story was good but could be boring in spots. Mild excitement. Hard to bond with characters. Ok.
May 18, 2009
This was the slowest paced book I've ever read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews