Raymond Cook

I Miss My Pa The Most by Raymond Cook is a western tale from the late 1890’s. The author writes with sincere passion and authority about the West.

Christopher O’Shea, his wife Shannon and eight year old daughter Emma manage to survive all the perils on a covered wagon trip from Nauvoo, Illinois west and set up ranching in the outskirts of Marble, Colorado. This tight knit little family has faced “cholera, smallpox, Indian attacks, drownings, injuries, dust storms, wildfires, tornadoes, show more rattlesnake bites and mountain avalanches”.

There are many beautiful descriptive written scenes that are set off by breathtaking photography. Here are three of my favorites, but you will have to read the book to see the photos.

"As they walked through knee high wet grass the sound of rushing water got louder and louder. When they walked as far as they could go, they stopped and stared at the large creek that made a slight bend to their left. The sky was still mostly blue with patches of white clouds drifting south. It was a wide, deep and winding creek, sure to be filled with Rainbow, Brown or German trout Christopher thought."

"Brush and young saplings lined the edge of the slow moving creek. Leonard followed a deer trail along the creek making his way down to the lake. When the lake came into sight, everyone was startled as a large bald eagle swooped right passed them and grabbed a fat trout just below the surface."

"As it flew off with its meal Emma excitedly pointed and said, “I wanna catch a trout that size pa!” Suddenly everyone laughed. Now and then the family saw trout jumping out of the water though none were big fish. Finally Leonard called out and said, “Well let’s make our way back up to the cabin folks."

The O’Shea family homestead on small piece of land containing old cabin and barn where they set out to make this country their home. Like all new settlers they have to live off the land and defend their property from both wild and human dangers. They are settling into their new life, enjoying the new friends, local community, a church and Emma even goes to school.

Little did they know that their worst nightmare would be a fire. Christopher gives his life to let his wife and daughter escape the fire engulfing their cabin. Grief stricken Shannon sets out with her daughter for Montana where Christopher’s brother will take them in. The journey is rugged and dangerous and it is up to this strong woman to protect her daughter.

Amidst the struggles comes so many heartwarming and beautiful moments between a father and his daughter, husband and wife and mother and daughter. There are new friends and a new beginnings. The characters, dialog and story are realistic to the time. There are nineteen breath taking photos throughout the story which show the beauty of the land and the abundance that is harvested from hard work.

This is book 19 out of 24 Western Family Saga’s that you can enjoy through Kindle. Revisit the Wild West in its beauty and tragedy as Americans forge their way to a new life.

Let me address a side issue. As a published author myself, I always read the reviews before I purchase a book. It is not unusual for readers who have never written a book to be over judgmental. I found the grammar and voice in this book to be consistent with the region of the country and time period. There are a couple of line spacing issues that in no way affect the story. If you like family stories of the Wild West, you will enjoy this book.

Raymond Cook’s bio clearly states that he is a “62 year old disabled veteran”. We thank him for his service to our country and encourage him to keep on writing heartwarming stories like this.

Cold Coffee Press/Cafe endorses ‘I Miss My Pa The Most’ by Raymond Cook. We reviewed this book from Kindle/PDF format. The review was completed on May 8, 2016. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press http://www.coldcoffeepress.com and Cold Coffee Cafe http://coldcoffeecafe.com/

Kindle Purchase Link
http://www.amazon.com/Miss-My-Pa-Most-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZGQGMA0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s... show less

Can you remember the emotions you had as a child when your parents made the decision to move out of town, out of-state or out of country? Now put yourself in fourteen year old Missy’s shoes and 4 year old Autumn’s as their parents load all their belongings into covered wagons leaving Independence, Missouri for Colorado Territory?

Parents always know what the children can’t comprehend. Arnold and Bonnie Brown were had apprehensions about out rooting their two daughters from the only home show more they had ever known. Stories about Indians, cholera, smallpox, broken down wagons, lost children and countless other dangers kept them up at night discussing the risks. After fifteen of struggling on this dry, unforgiving land with hot humid summers, Arnold and Bonnie longed for the promised land of 160 acres with fresh water, herds of deer and lush green meadows for their girls to play in.

Almost to the end of the perilous journey, it’s a thief and a murderer named Eddie who becomes the Brown’s worst nightmare. Fourteen year old Missy is forced to shoot Eddie after he kills both her parents, beats her and is intent in harming her little sister Autumn. After Missy is shot in the shoulder she grabs her sister and runs into the dense, unknown forest for protection and is forced scavenge for wild berries to keep them both from starving. Terrified of running into black bears, cougars, wolves, coyotes and maybe even grizzly, Missy holds on tight to Autumn’s hand.

Walking for days they finally come upon a road where a couple stopped their buckboard and took them into town. The mayor and town council must decide who will adopt both girls. It was decided that Carl Jackson and his wife Cheyenne would take the girls into their home, offered love, comfort and a hope of healing from what they witnessed. Missy will always be over protective of Autumn who has a better chance of accepting the loss of her parents.

Loss of a loved one at any age is difficult, but loss of both parents at a young age cause the child to lose their compass. Life marches on for Missy and Autumn, but it is also hard and challenging as you will discover when you read this book. Kids grew up faster and tougher in many ways in those days. I invite you to read ‘Sometimes Fate Can Be Very Cruel’ and see what happens to these two young girls. If you have a sibling that you are close to, you will understand the sister bond between Missy and Autumn. As you read you will see what life has in store for both girls. Can their sister bond they share ever be threatened or broken by time or even distance?

I have several of Raymond Cook’s twenty-five western family sagas. Each book stand alone and can be read out of order. . If you like western family drama that is much like ‘Little House On The Prairie’ then you will enjoy the western series of books from Author Raymond Cook.

I personally endorse Sometimes Fate Can Be Very Cruel! Book # 9 by Raymond Cook. His next book, a western romance titled ‘The Gunnison Serial Killer’ is promised to be released soon. I purchased and reviewed this book from Kindle. This review was completed on October 4, 2016.

Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Sometimes-Fate-Very-Cruel-Book-ebook/dp/B00XQMAAHC/ref=as... show less

Escape From A Territorial Penitentiary by Raymond Cook is a western tale dated in the early 1900’s. Author Raymond Cook writes with authority in this time period and has a heart for his story and characters. Although each book in his series stands alone and can be enjoyed in any sequence, this book is slightly different from the rest. (Light erotica requires a more mature audience.)

Realistic characters in a rugged western environment with seventeen gorgeous photos depicting that time show more period that fit right into the chapter where the authors placed it.

A well written, time period researched drama brings the characters, dialog and story to life on the page.

This book begins with a wonderful Education Of The Homestead Act Of 1862! Included in the pages of this book is a real letter of desperation and even seven passages of scripture.

Twenty Three Chapters with color photos follow the life of Mrs. Martha Hoosier as she follows her husband Frank from Nauvoo, Illinois and acquire a homestead in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Life is rugged for Frank and Martha with dangers from wildlife, weather, bandits, illness and accidents where life and death hang in the balance.

One morning as the couple crosses the street, a drunk shoots at a deputy and hits Frank by mistake taking his life, Martha becomes desolate as the land agent takes the homestead back. With no one to lean on, no money, no way to grow food and no supplies, Martha resorts to stealing or begging for food for survival.

After she holds up a man in an alley and kills him, a Federal Judge sentences her to two years in Wyoming Territorial Penitentiary. With crude accommodations Martha finds herself in a cell surrounded by nine other women in cells. She will have to make do with no running water or toilet, as she clings to the comfort of her thin mattress, two blankets and pillow.

The convicts were allowed to eat together but weren’t allowed visitors or correspondence. They endured unimaginable abuse from the warden and his guards. Like any caged animal, human beings revolt at some point. Martha summoned up the courage to lead a riot and becomes the leader of these women. They must escape, change their names, start over in a distant town, staying hidden and not break the law. The US Marshal will seek revenge for the death of the warden and all his guards.

I invite to read this book and learn about the wild, Wild West from Martha Hoosier’s tragic life situation. Find out what it’s like to homestead in the Wild West and what happens if a woman become homeless in the 1900’s. What will become of Martha and her friends after they break out of the penitentiary? Will Martha or any of the escapees get caught, and would they hang a women?

Cold Coffee Press/Cafe endorses Escape From A Territorial Penitentiary by Raymond Cook. I reviewed this book from Kindle/PDF format. The review was completed on September 6, 2016. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press http://www.coldcoffeepress.com and Cold Coffee Cafe http://coldcoffeecafe.com/

Kindle Purchase Link
https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Territorial-Penitentiary-Book-25-ebook/dp/B01L4CIC... show less