Thawed Out and Fed Up

by Ryan Brown

Sam Bonham—bad husband, deadbeat dad, and possible criminal on the run from the law—wanders out of modern-day East Texas into an ersatz Wild West boomtown created for a movie that never happened.  And when Sam strikes a blow against the gangsters who’ve been terrorizing the town, the locals look to him to save them. He’s no hero, but he’s stumbled upon someone who is: John Wayne. But the John Wayne of this story is not the stalwart lawman of Hollywood films—he’s a seventy-two-year-old man who had himself cryogenically frozen.  He’s weak, bald, frail…and unrecognizable to everyone but Sam.

In The Duke’s “defrosted” state, he’s not entirely himself.  In fact, he believes he’s actually Ethan Edwards, the character he played in The Searchers, one of Wayne’s most beloved films. Ethan or Duke or Marion Morrison, at his side Sam learns how to be a man, and a hero—and a pretty good shot! As he takes on the Old West gang of thugs, he finds that he might have become a family man at last. But back in the real world, someone has his eye on Sam’s wife, and if Sam doesn’t get back soon, the results could be devastating.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Mystery

304 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 2011

About the author

Following his graduation from the University of Oklahoma, with a degree in film studies, he moved to New York, where he went on to study theatre at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Within months of arriving in New York, he was cast in the role of Bill Lewis on the CBS Daytime Drama, Guiding Light - a role he would play for the next three years.

Ryan relocated to Los Angeles and landed the role of Billy Abbott on CBS’s The Young and the Restless.

Following his tenure on The Young and the Restless, he returned to New York and continued working as an actor, appearing on Law and Order: SVU, and starring in two feature films for Lifetime Television.

It was also during this time that he decided to try his hand at fiction writing. It wasn’t long before he was writing full-time. Within two years, he completed the manuscript for PLAY DEAD, his first published title.

Reviews

[Deb W · Rating 1 out of 5]

Loser character, and I suspect: loser author.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sam Bonham is a drunk. He awakes to find himself outside of Rack ‘Em Up. The problem is that Sam has awakened from many hangovers but this time it is different. He has not recollection of how he got here. Also, Sam has blood on his shirt but he does not know if it is his. While finishing up his meal at the diner, two police officers come in and start talking about a murder case. The man was found on Shady Glen Road. The same road that Sam’s wife and son live on.

Sam knows he needs to get out of dodge until he can regain his memories back. So he heads West. Sam comes upon a plan crash. There he finds a survivor. Before the guy dies, he tells Sam that he must bring him back. There in the crash site is a large cooler. Sam opens it and that is when the fun really brings. Inside the cooler is none other than…John “The Duke” Wayne.

I can still remember reading Mr. Brown’s debut novel, Play Dead. That is why when I saw that his next book had come out; I could not wait to read it. A western that involves a reanimated John Wayne. Yeah, I am all in. Unfortunately, this book did not do it for me. I really tried to like this book but could not get myself to find anything that interesting in the main character, Sam. So, here is a man who left his wife and son and than later decides that he wants another chance with them and will do anything to be a hero in his son’s eyes. Sam did not do it for me as a hero. Also, I knew this book was not supposed to be taken seriously but in a way I wanted it to feel more believable. The Duke will always remain a legend. Mr. Brown did score well in this area. He captured and portrayed The Duke’s attitude and persona spot on. This book is not a favorite of mine but I do know what Mr. Brown is capable of and I will keep my eye out for his third book.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ryan Brown knows how to entertain his audience. He writes with a style that is both fun as well as humorous, and that, to me, is what makes his books a great read.

In "Thawed Out & Fed Up", the main character, Sam Bonham is pathetic - a drunk and a total loser. He's a character you just like to dislike, but at the same time, you can't help but feel just a bit sorry for him. As time goes on, your dislike changes... discovering Sam isn't so bad after all - he's just flawed, and you know flawed heroes make the best ones.

Sam's sidekick and mentor, appears on the scene, just like he fell out of the sky. Oh wait... He did! That mentor adds a little fantasy that gives the story a fun twist. With "The Duke" teaching Sam a thing or two, this tale of redemption has a lesson to learn: putting the needs of others before your own. A lesson we could all use at one time or another.

This book will appeal to both the male and female reader. I does contain some adult language and situations that might not be suitable for the younger audience, however, it would be a great read for the older teen through adult.

[William Bentrim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thawed Out & Fed Up by Ryan Brown

Sam Bonham is a no account grifter who discovers internal depths he didn’t realize he had in himself in a pseudo western style.

There were some bizarrely interesting aspects to this book. Interesting really doesn’t cover it. Sam Bonham finds himself immersed in a culture he thought died out years before. Sam is a disagreeable character that you see grown into a likeable human being.

The set for this play is a western town held hostage by a gang of throw back thugs. The premise is mildly preposterous and yet still entertaining. John Wayne and the rest of the characters merely provide scene dressing for the personal redemption of Sam Bonham.

I recommend it.

Body of work of Ryan Brown

Web Site: http://www.jennablack.com/

John Wayne, cryogenics, old west, violence, slavery

[Melissa Summers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam is not your typical hero. He smokes, drinks, is a possible murder suspect, car thief and purse snatcher. What kind of protagonist is this? Apparently one that has found and "defrosted" a cryogenically frozen John Wayne! Now Sam and the Duke are trapped in a small wild west Texas town that is being held hostage by renegade coyboys.

I don't care for "unlikeable" characters, or westerns, or even The Duke. But I was drawn in by the events and eventually Sam became not so unlikeable anymore. I loved the unexpected twists.

This was a free book offering for Kindle which is now priced at 9.99.

[Lynne Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this novel not really liking the main character, and I ended it still not liking him very much, even though I think you were supposed to come around to liking him.

As far as westerns go, it's just the classic tale.

[Teena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this and quick read or just couldn't put down. Great characters playing out current day western

[Starla B · Rating 4 out of 5]

For most of the book, I couldn't stand the main character. Then, in the end, reasons became clear and I didn't mind as much. All in all, I actually enjoyed the book.

[Craig Dismore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read many westerns, but this was a pretty cool spin on the genre. The Duke is back and he's not going down this time without a fight! :-) A fun read.

[Harold Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun with the John Wayne's zombie ... kinda.