Ben Evers is a drifter that never stays in one place too long, always hankering to see what’s over the next horizon. His traveling companion—an eagle. He lives by two rules. Mind his own business and always treat women with respect. The first rule stands him in good stead until he meets former Texas Ranger John T. McAllen and his niece Kate Landon. The two are drawing him into their lives and Ben … Ben knows from personal experience no good ever comes from getting involved in other folks’ trouble. John T. and his neighbor are caught up in a feud over land and Clary’s daughter. When danger strikes, swift and hard, Ben has a decision to make. Turn his back and ride away from people he’s grown to care about or break his rule of minding his own business, and stay and fight.
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This was my first book by Sandra Cox and it won’t be my last. I enjoyed every minute of the action, romance and classic Western plot.
I felt that I was watching one of the iconic western movies with clearly defined flawed stranger with a good heart, tough ex ranger who is now a rancher, beautiful niece, rough and ready ranch hands, a greedy neighbour after land and cattle and plenty of action.
The characters were all well developed and engaging and the extras who came and went were memorable too. I even became attached to the horses who had their important part to play in the action and the eagle who has adopted Ben Evers, the lead character.
It was a page turner with a fast paced plot, great shoot outs and some good old fashioned romance.
I recommend to both Western and Romance readers and have already added two more books by Sandra Cox to my library and I am looking forward to them.
ThunderTree by S. Cox allured me due to its name. I didn’t expect so many gunshots! This is an action-packed story of revenge and a quiet admiration that slowly blooms into love. Fast-paced but quite predictable at places, the plot conceals some surprises, which elevate it to an admirable level. The settings change with each adventure, holding your interest with gun-wielding guys, eager to kill!
Cox possesses a knack of crafting believable characters and Ben fits into that mold to perfection. A person of values who doesn’t want any emotional attachments falls into the middle of a conflict unwillingly and has to sort it out before leaving John T.’s ranch. The female characters are equally strong and Ben’s eagle would win your heart. Kate’s valor, her friend Sarah’s determination and uncle John’s patience shimmer through this violent story of self-protection and honor.
This is the second western romance I’ve read by Ms. Cox. I loved “SilverHills” and had high expectations for this story. I was not disappointed and found it hard to put down. Ben avoided all attachments except for his eagle. But on his way to Mexico, he rescues Kate and ends up at her family’s ranch as a hand. He only agrees to stay a month but starts to find himself caring about this family and the ranch. The characters had my heart immediately. Kate’s strength and Ben’s honesty was a good blend, and I started rooting for them right away. Kate’s Uncle John T was a man of principles that ran his ranch and house fairly, while Kate’s friendship with Sarah was endearing. I appreciated Ben and his eagle’s connection. There was plenty of action with cattle rustlers and Kate’s friend was in a bad situation. The descriptions were stunning and put me right on this Texas ranch. I highly recommend this if you love a good western romance!
Another satisfying western romance/action novel from Cox. Ben is a loner with a capital L. He doesn’t want any attachments to place or person, but he also can’t let a bunch of outlaws take advantage of a young woman. After he rescues Katy, he takes her home to her uncle John T’s ranch where an offer of dinner turns into a very short stay (and then a longer and longer one) as a range war heats up with a neighboring ranch. The conflict starts immediately, and there’s plenty of gunslinging.
The romance is a slow build, and there’s more than one couple working up their courage. I liked Ben’s determined resistance and the lack of waffling in his convictions. The story is primarily told from Ben’s and John T’s points of view. Both men are stoic, though kind-hearted, and I liked the lack of wishy-washy, angsty vulnerability that often comes with romance novels. Male friendships are well written, and I enjoyed the distinct personalities.
I also liked the feisty and independent women in the story. No wilting petunias among the fairer sex either! These women know how to ride and shoot. As a whole, the characters are tough and honorable. They know themselves and what they want. Great characters, great action, and a nicely done wrap up. Recommended to readers of westerns who like a little romance in between lots of tension.
A fun Western with loads of action and adventure, great character growth and worldbuilding. I love the eagle that is Ben’s travel companion. Subtle humour is woven throughout. Kate is my favourite character – so fierce! And all the animals…!
I haven’t read a Western for quite some time, so it took a while to get used to the rhythm, but once I did it was a fun read.
Recommended if you want to escape for an afternoon (or longer if you aren’t a fast reader).
As much as Ben Evers, star of S. Cox’s latest Western Romance ThunderTree (2019), has a reputation as a skilled cowboy and talented shootist, he is also a drifter. He loves his freedom, his lack of emotional entanglements, and his horse in equal measure. The only two rules he abides by are Don’t get involved and respect women, the second being the more important. Which is where the trouble begins. The feisty and beautiful Kate Landon is being harassed by strangers with one obvious goal in mind. Ben happens to be riding by but can’t let them do what they’re about to do. Without a second thought, he stops them and incurs the sincere thanks of her ranch owner father who is also a former Texas Ranger. That leads to Ben staying the night and then helping out with a few problems around the ranch. When a range war begins to bubble over, his drifter attitudes are set squarely against the family he has started to care for. His ability to recognize danger and fearlessly step in makes him invaluable to Kate’s family whose warmth and love is a polar opposite to what he grew up in. Put that together with Kate’s beauty, fire, and obvious affection for him–and his for her–he starts to wonder if he can in fact walk away this time.
S. Cox, as in her earlier Westerns, excels at not just intricate plots but her essential ability to build characters readers fall in love with. Read this, see if you agree:
“Even though he was comfortable in his own skin and knew his own worth, he didn’t believe a man should be praised for doing the right thing and never knew how to respond.”
“Do you see something you like or do I have crumbs on my mouth?”
“…a raspy quality that spoke of cigars and whiskey. A big man, he rode tall in the saddle. His weathered face held lines of hard living. He wore brown canvas pants, a blue shirt with a faded red vest and looked tough as nails.”
A good western needs strong moral characters well grounded in their beliefs, and a fire to test them. ThunderTree has that. It’s a fast moving story with horses, bad guys, good guys, ranches, guns, a dog (in this case, an eagle), and life threatening consequences, all nurtured in the romantic atmosphere of the old West. I’m very picky about my westerns. Cox writes them well.