Please welcome back guest reviewer and author Caroline
Clemmons who reviews the new western short story collection CHEROKEE WINTER today. Make sure you check
out Caroline’s blog where she also has an interview with Troy D.
Smith author of CHEROKEE WINTER.
CHEROKEE WINTER: Tales of the
West I
By Troy D. Smith
Western Trail Blazer
Ebook $3.99
If you read this blog often,
you know I love, love, love westerns, and I've discovered a new one to love.
Troy Smith’s collection of fifteen short stories varies from pioneers to
contemporary, but each illustrates why he is an award-winning author. Those
stories are:
I. “The Stealing Moon” -
After Comanches kill his older brother, Will Rafer struggles to regain his
self-esteem and his father’s love until a battle reunites them. One of my favorite of this collection.
II. “The Purification of Jim
Barnes” - a former sniper has trouble fitting back in to his old life until his
grandfather takes charge. Another favorite that helps me understand veterans.
III. “God Bless Our Home” -
gives a new slant to the life and death of a famed outlaw. Sad, but made me
believe this might be insightful.
IV. “Confessions of Little
Big Man” - is an interesting look at the introspection of a famous man.
V. “They Day They Got Lance
Burns” - Does a reformed outlaw still have to answer for his crimes after
twenty years, even if he's lived a model life since?
VI. “Mister Maitlin” - A
Colorado adventure begins innocently, but evolves into a masquerade that
eventually backfires.
VII. “The Hunter’s Snare” -
Civil War soldier Charlie Raymond makes a difficult decision.
VIII. “Sergeant Mann” -
excellent excerpt from novel BOUND FOR THE PROMISED LAND. After initial
insults, a town shows gratitude to the Buffalo Soldiers who save them from
Apaches. One of my favorites.
IX. “Romulus Jones” - An
insult to his wife and daughter sets Jones on a course even his best friend
cannot curtail. Should he retreat or remain to rein in his friend?
X. “Becoming American” -
thought provoking story of Sitting Bull’s time in New York.
XI. “Cherokee Winter” - Tom
Spencer loved the mountains of Tennessee and hates to watch them change. His
opportunity comes when he guides two surveyors to the East Tennessee Mountains
where he meets the Cherokee.
XII. “Casualties” - A
Pinkerton agent rescues a kidnapped girl, but the rescue doesn’t go as he
planned. Has he become that which he hates?
XIII. “Where the Fire is
Never Quenched” - A Civil War soldier helps a friend escape a grass fire after
a battle. When does filial devotion end?
XIV. “The Final Nail” - When
a man dedicates his life to wreaking vengeance, what happens when that
vengeance is complete?
XV. “The Galvanized Yankees
of Company D” - Excerpt from the novel of the same name. A heroic band of
cavalry officers save a fort. Another of my favorites was very enlightening. I
didn’t realize that Confederate prisoners were ever transferred to serve in the
Union Army.
CHEROKEE WINTER captured my
interest immediately. I have my favorites, as I’ve noted above, but I enjoyed
each of the fifteen stories. Troy Smith is a gifted writer who weaves his spell
over the reader. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves history, or
who just loves a well-written story.
Caroline Clemmons writes
Romance and Adventure with numerous books to her credit. Her most recent book is BRAZOS BRIDE.
1 comment:
Well-written review, Caroline. These stories sound like ones I would enjoy.
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