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Drink Deep from the Well of Good Intentions
John Sampson, the mysterious stranger who survived the Civil War and is searching for his soul after four years of fighting had taken it away.Hannah Marco, the older woman who draws Sampson into a deadly plot with a bold promise of complete surrender. Arley Ruttlinger, the young spitfire who wants Hannah out of her life because of a past love affair with her father she believes caused her mother’s death.Hate has festered deep. Arley will stop at nothing to destroy Hannah, even fling herself at Rand Calder, who would do anything to keep Arley coming into his bed. A pact is sealed; Sampson is lead into the mountains lashed to a packhorse, where Calder orders his men to kill him and bury his body.When Arley hears Calder admit he ordered Sampson killed, the myth of Calder professing his love for her is shown for what it is; a lie! She must warn Sampson a new plan is about to be set in motion, to end her father’s leadership over the territory and have the fastest gunfighters on Calder’s payroll draw down on Sampson.Now Arley and Sampson must join forces, as Calder confronts them in a church filled with women and children praying for the safe return of their men folk. They both have endured too much for her to lose him now. She will take up a gun against the man she has come to hate in order to save the man she now loves.
Kindle Edition
Published November 23, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 20, 2022
With roughly four days of commitment and long hours of reading the 120,000 words finely penned down by Donald Montano, I can state that I've read one of my top books of the year.
Drink Deep from the Well of Good Intentions is a thought-provoking novel from the untamed West and the first of the three-book series, written by Donald Montano. The protagonist, John Sampson, was a Confederate soldier who fought on the losing side of the Civil War. Afterward, he managed to remain alive while struggling with the memories of the war — he often had flashes of the civilians and soldiers that were killed. Those who pulled through the hurdles alive were either physically or mentally damaged, or both. Thus, Sampson retained his body but was left with a damaged soul.
On his journey to the west, Sampson came across some cowboys, including a man named Jeffrey. The cowboys thought he was a threat and took him in for questioning. A few minutes into their interrogation, the actual threats, a band of men on horseback and all fully armed, arrived. In a moment, the environment turned into a "battle of horsemen against men on foot." Naturally, Sampson, who did not know the genesis of this altercation, took cover. However, upon seeing how the blood-thirsty criminals kept attacking the cowboys with Hannah, who was crying helplessly while witnessing this awful action, the adrenaline rush kicked in and Sampson decided to intervene. To a large extent, this act of humanity would go on to change his life. What experiences would Sampson face subsequently?
The realistic plot, top-notch romance, action-packed gunfights, deep humor, imagery, and many more are all interwoven in this book with great finesse. The characterization was detailed, such that the characters were not easily forgotten, even those a reader would normally refer to as transient. I loved what most of the characters represented. However, I always looked forward to reading about Arley Ruttlinger. Her guts and everything she represented thrilled me. And of course, I enjoyed reading about Sampson. In my eyes, he did no wrong. Furthermore, I was enthralled by the nail-biting suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat. I literally prayed that the events would turn out how I wanted them to — some did, while others did not.
As a detailed reader, I could not find any loopholes in this book. At first, I found it difficult to follow through, but just into the second chapter, I began to flow perfectly. On the other hand, seeing that all the questions I had were answered in this book, I can't wait to find out what book two will bring.
Given my level of appreciation for this book, I will give it the highest rating there is, which is five out of five stars.
Drink Deep from the Well of Good Intentions will appeal to readers who love books about mystery, romance, and gunfights. As such, I recommend it to them.
Drink Deep from the Well of Good Intentions is a thought-provoking novel from the untamed West and the first of the three-book series, written by Donald Montano. The protagonist, John Sampson, was a Confederate soldier who fought on the losing side of the Civil War. Afterward, he managed to remain alive while struggling with the memories of the war — he often had flashes of the civilians and soldiers that were killed. Those who pulled through the hurdles alive were either physically or mentally damaged, or both. Thus, Sampson retained his body but was left with a damaged soul.
On his journey to the west, Sampson came across some cowboys, including a man named Jeffrey. The cowboys thought he was a threat and took him in for questioning. A few minutes into their interrogation, the actual threats, a band of men on horseback and all fully armed, arrived. In a moment, the environment turned into a "battle of horsemen against men on foot." Naturally, Sampson, who did not know the genesis of this altercation, took cover. However, upon seeing how the blood-thirsty criminals kept attacking the cowboys with Hannah, who was crying helplessly while witnessing this awful action, the adrenaline rush kicked in and Sampson decided to intervene. To a large extent, this act of humanity would go on to change his life. What experiences would Sampson face subsequently?
The realistic plot, top-notch romance, action-packed gunfights, deep humor, imagery, and many more are all interwoven in this book with great finesse. The characterization was detailed, such that the characters were not easily forgotten, even those a reader would normally refer to as transient. I loved what most of the characters represented. However, I always looked forward to reading about Arley Ruttlinger. Her guts and everything she represented thrilled me. And of course, I enjoyed reading about Sampson. In my eyes, he did no wrong. Furthermore, I was enthralled by the nail-biting suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat. I literally prayed that the events would turn out how I wanted them to — some did, while others did not.
As a detailed reader, I could not find any loopholes in this book. At first, I found it difficult to follow through, but just into the second chapter, I began to flow perfectly. On the other hand, seeing that all the questions I had were answered in this book, I can't wait to find out what book two will bring.
Given my level of appreciation for this book, I will give it the highest rating there is, which is five out of five stars.
Drink Deep from the Well of Good Intentions will appeal to readers who love books about mystery, romance, and gunfights. As such, I recommend it to them.
August 7, 2022
The 2nd book in the trilogy continues the saga of John Sampson and his beautiful wife to be Arley, and what a saga it is. The book is well written with fully developed characters and a well written intelligent story that will hold your interest.
This book has everything you want in a great book, an Alpha gunslinger, a beautiful heroine, and a villain you love to hate. The story concerns Joshua, a giant black runaway slave longing for Serena, the woman he loves and was separated from and she is now forced to be the mistress of an evil man who once owned her. With assistance from his friends John Sampson and Arley, the trio is returning to Charleston to free the beautiful ex-slave.
Joe Corso
Author of Lafitte's Treasure
This book has everything you want in a great book, an Alpha gunslinger, a beautiful heroine, and a villain you love to hate. The story concerns Joshua, a giant black runaway slave longing for Serena, the woman he loves and was separated from and she is now forced to be the mistress of an evil man who once owned her. With assistance from his friends John Sampson and Arley, the trio is returning to Charleston to free the beautiful ex-slave.
Joe Corso
Author of Lafitte's Treasure
February 6, 2025
A damn good western adventure.of the wanderlust that took hold in strong men and courageous women after the Civil War to explore new lands.
John Sampson was through with war. It had taken his mother and father and an older brother from him as the Civil War raged on. And so, what else but to head west, into new and unexplored lands just waiting to be tamed.
It was there, in the Colorado Territory where he came face to face with Arley Ruttlinger, a spitfire of a woman who was damn good at everything she did, excluding being able to tie him in knots he couldn't seem to throw off.
It was only after a fight for his life that they found themselves together in a church pitted against Rand Calder, her lover from a past life who was threatening to kill everyone who had come to pray. Now she must take up a gun to protect the man she has come to love from the man she has grown to hate.
John Sampson was through with war. It had taken his mother and father and an older brother from him as the Civil War raged on. And so, what else but to head west, into new and unexplored lands just waiting to be tamed.
It was there, in the Colorado Territory where he came face to face with Arley Ruttlinger, a spitfire of a woman who was damn good at everything she did, excluding being able to tie him in knots he couldn't seem to throw off.
It was only after a fight for his life that they found themselves together in a church pitted against Rand Calder, her lover from a past life who was threatening to kill everyone who had come to pray. Now she must take up a gun to protect the man she has come to love from the man she has grown to hate.
December 21, 2023
John Sampson fought in the Civil War. Now that it is over, he is searching for something to make him feel again. As he wanders across the country, he finds himself in the Colorado territory. When he wanders onto the Marco Ranch, Jeffrey, the owner, believes John is there to cause trouble. He believes John was sent by Rand Calder to take their ranch. Hannah Marco doesn't feel the same.
John meets Max R., owner of the next ranch, and his daughter, Arley. Arley hates Hannah and is trying to get back at her own father for loving Hannah. She takes up with Calder.
A lot of gunfighting and wrangling over land in this story. I enjoyed it, but it could have been 100 pages shorter!
John meets Max R., owner of the next ranch, and his daughter, Arley. Arley hates Hannah and is trying to get back at her own father for loving Hannah. She takes up with Calder.
A lot of gunfighting and wrangling over land in this story. I enjoyed it, but it could have been 100 pages shorter!
June 16, 2024
The book combo of mystery, romance, and gunfights after the Civil War which makes it really exciting. It is the story of Sampson where something important happens that changes everything. The author tells the story in a way that feels real. There's lots of love and intense fights that keep you interested. There are also funny parts that make the story even better.
Even though it took me a bit to get into the story, by the second chapter, I was hooked. The author did a great job answering all the questions by the end, and now I can't wait for the next book.
You might like to check out more similar books here.
Even though it took me a bit to get into the story, by the second chapter, I was hooked. The author did a great job answering all the questions by the end, and now I can't wait for the next book.
You might like to check out more similar books here.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews