The Texas-Mexico border, the winter of 1886—The Great Die Up. A raw rift separates Mexicans and Anglos. A loner cowpoke and a mute Mexican girl fight man and nature to reunite.
Out of work cowpoke Bud Eugen comes across Marta, a mute sixteen-year old Mexican girl whose family has been killed by Indians. Bud reluctantly takes her along, even though he’s never had to accommodate another person in … another person in his simple life. He’s unable to find anyone willing to take her. In spite of his prejudices, Bud grows to like the spunky girl (and her excellent cooking).
Eventually, they both find work on a border ranch. Here, the relationship between the girl and the young cowboy hesitantly grows. But banditos raid the ranch, kidnapping the rancher’s daughters and Marta. Bud, with twelve other men, pursue the banditos into the most desolate reaches of Mexico. Ambushes and battles with banditos, Rurales, and traitors are constant, and the brutal weather is as much a threat as the man-made perils. Life and death choices are made at every turn as one side gains the advantage, then the other.
The rancher’s daughters are rescued, and the exhausted party turns back. But Bud presses on alone, against insurmountable odds – determined to fulfill an unspoken promise to Marta.
Western Fictioneers Peacemaker Award for Best Western Novel 2014 Western Fictioneers Peacemaker Award Finalist for Best First Western Novel 2014 Western Writers of America Spur Award Finalist for Best Traditional Western Novel for 2013
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This is not the typical book which I read but I really enjoyed it. The author develops his characters well. I am a lover of horses and was sad to read about their harsh lives but know there is truth in what was endured. Women were certainly abused but the main character was strong and smart through out the story. I recommend this book.
I was surprised by this book. I’d finished a Louie Lamore book, and this looked interesting. It is written in a very similar style to Lamore. The story has more long horseback rides, gunfights, and harsh weather than anyone would expect. The author spins these along with the requisite chase in an expert manner. It is not a story for the faint of heart but realistic in the extreme. Still an excellent read.
The book kept me interested from beginning to end. The prejudice during that time with Indians and Mexicans was bad. The famous men added to it.
Good read. Could not put it down. Would like more from the author.
I think I’ve never read a western before, but something attracted me to it and I gave it a go. Glad I did, read it in about 4 days as it was enough of a distraction from the tensions of this holiday season.
Great western. Really captures the grit people had to have to survive. Great author, right up there with the best.
This story is a refreshing take on the classic shoot-’em-up Westerns. Plenty of action, but the story really rides (!) on the evolving relationship of the protagonist, Bud, and a mute Mexican girl orphaned in a brutal Indian attack. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and highly recommend it.
I just couldn’t get past the first few pages.
To much graphic sex related content and violence. Also language. It started out really well, and I loved the way the author wrote. His characters were strong and well thought out. The action, dialog, description was well balanced, but there were scenes related to kidnapping, rape, and murder which were just too graphic. I really wish I could recommended this book, or even finished the book with out skimming, but I can’t in good conscience. I will not be reading books from this author again.
This book was unexpected. I enjoyed the characters and the story. The main characters were interesting and the book did have a lot of action. I would recommend it as a really good read.
A little slow at times, but characters are great and I can not ever read the whole series!
I was having a hard time not reading this book when i should’ve been doing my honey`dos.
Bud and Marta faced many struggles and their friendship developed through will to survive and their strengths complimenting the other person.
REally enjoyed this book – liked the characters, but was a little drawn out. Sad also.
I would recommend this book, but for me several parts were so hard to read because of the content I had to skip ahead.
Bud, the narrator of The Hardest Ride, is eloquent and honorable – but also illiterate and uneducated. Set during the late 1800s in The Texas panhandle, the ranchers and hands are authentically portrayed. Bud rescues a young Mexican women whose family had been murdered on the road, and Bud’s feelings change from “how do I get rid of this girl” to “she’s not so bad” to I want her to stay with me forever.” The plot is gritty and the dialogue is often crude, but the characters make this a book worth reading.
I really enjoyed this book. I usually don’t read westerns, but I am glad I read this one!
There was bit too much graphic violence for me but the plot was interesting and the characters intriguing.
Interesting take on the old west.
Not what I expected. It was hard to read of the horrors and evil of mankind, though I know that was probably how things were. Too much tragedy for my mind. Too much slaughter.