April '24

Howdy pard,

You couldn’t have picked a better time to drop by. It’s been a long month, and I’m ready for a break. Grab yourself a plate, pick a place by the fire, and be warned – I’ve opened a bottle of grandpa’s moonshine.

My saddle bags are full to bursting this month. I’ve got books, novels, stories, and tales for you to choose from – and all free. Don’t miss the two free westerns I mention further down – they are fantastic. I’ve got an update about hardcore ‘Hanging Judge’ Isaac Parker hanging eight men in one day, as well as a story about a feud that left bodies strewn for decades and put the Hatfield and McCoys to shame. I’ve got a report about the notorious Wyoming Territorial Prison (which held Butch Cassidy), as well as a recipe for cowboy roasted breakfast fatty – there’s no better way to start the day.

Darn it, I forgot the moonshine. Here, have a glass, there’s more if you survive the first mouthful. As my ol’ grandpa used to say, ‘it’ll leave you grinnin’ like a jackass eatin’ cactus’.

Mystery, thriller and suspense

Looking for something to spice up your life? Here’s a collection of stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It includes mysteries, romance, hostage dramas, detective mysteries, suspense, action and adventure, westerns, and thrillers. And don’t forget, help yourself – they are all free!

Here’s a couple of titles to whet your interest:

• Small Town Shadows, by Stella Mace
• A Vote For Death, by Edwin Brightwater
• The Missing Daughter, by Devika Nandkumar
• Betrayal at the Barn, by Fern Cooper

Click here to get your free books!

https://books.bookfunnel.com/thrillingfreebies-apr/2ziggepjv3

The ‘Hanging Judge’

He brought the law to a lawless land, sentenced eight men to death by hanging, and commissioned Bass Reeves as a US Deputy Marshal. And that was just ‘Hanging’ Judge Isaac Parker’s first day on the job.

Judge Parker was the real deal – a judge who had compassion for his fellow man but was not afraid to punish the wicked with the full weight of the law. He is remembered today as the legitimate “Hanging Judge” of the American Old West, due to the number of convicts he sentenced to death. Find out more here:

https://nickbrumbywesterns.com/hanging-judge-isaac-parker/

More great reading

Historical fiction – it just doesn’t get any better. Here’s a great selection of indie historical fiction straight from the brains of some of the best up and coming writers in their field. And – they are all absolutely free. Dive in!

Here’s a couple of titles to whet your interest:

• The Wharf Rat Guild, by Elizabeth Forest
• White Robes, by David Kudler
• The Timekeepers Heir, by Hayley Patton
• Crown of Fire, by Lisa King

Click here to get your free books!

https://books.bookfunnel.com/ya-historical-giveaway/1h1q2oi366

Did you know?

The Old West had a feud that put the Hatfield and McCoys to shame. After the Civil War, Texas had two families—the Suttons and the Taylors—who couldn’t abide each other. The feud started when Buck Taylor shot and killed a Sutton ally in 1866, then escalated with the deaths of Taylor and a man named Dick Chisholm two years later in a horse sale gone wrong. Over the next five years, all of DeWitt County, Texas, was plunged into a horrifically violent feud. By 1874, so many people had died in DeWitt County that the Texas Rangers finally rode in. By the end of the 1870s, at least 22 Taylor family members had died compared to 13 Suttons. Scores of friends and allies on each side perished amid the senseless violence as well.

Frontier Outlaws

I’m proud to recommend a great western adventure that came across my desk – Frontier Outlaws: A Coogan Mystery, by Michael Cardwell.

Here’s the story (spoiler-free!):

Eight months after the showdown that nearly cost him his life, Game Warden Danny Coogan faces a new threat. It starts with a dead steer, which happens to be near the body of a dead rancher. With the flavor of a down-home yarn and the intensity of a high adventure, Frontier Outlaws offers Craig Johnson and CJ Box fans a thrilling ride that delivers a bronco-busting punch. If you like mysteries and crime stories with resilient heroes, slam-bang action, and nail-biting suspense spiked with a splash of wilderness humor, you’ll love this second book in the Coogan Mystery series.

Get your copy here:

https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/c0cc9c6e-f27f-11ee-8f8a-430de4b79d19

Documentary: Life in a territorial prison

Built in 1872, the Wyoming Territorial Prison held some of the Old West’s most notorious outlaws, including Butch Cassidy.

This documentary includes fascinating interviews with Wyoming historian Mike Massie, the Territorial Prison’s Grace Willing, and chairman of the board for the Territorial Park Fred Henman. We also get a tour of the prison with guide Jim Vander Hooven. Find out more about the Wyoming Territorial Prison in this great documentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlUTieDeAK0

Whispers in the Canyon

I’m proud to recommend a great western romance that came across my desk – Whispers in the Canyon, by Gifford MacShane.

Here’s the story (spoiler-free!):

Damaged almost beyond hope, a young woman is offered safety—by the man who killed her brother. Shunned by the village for her outlaw brother's deeds, Jesse is not sorry to hear he's been killed while robbing a bank. Strangely enough it’s Adam Donovan, the man who shot him, who brings her the news. Even more strange is this newcomer’s offer to help put her ranch back on solid footing. Traumatized by years of abuse, Jesse doubts she can trust any man—especially this Irish immigrant with his volatile temper and gunfighter’s reputation. As they work together to improve her ranch, Jesse begins to believe that Adam’s true nature is far removed from his notoriety. But her nascent dreams of romance turn to nightmares when she discovers that not all of her brother's evil deeds died with him.

Get your copy here:

https://storyoriginapp.com/swaps/18a8f876-f2ba-11ee-85b1-9f936ce244c2

Action-packed adventure

If you’re looking for some edge-of-your-seat reading, you can’t go past this collection of pulse-raising stories. They all have something in common – they will all get your pulse racing – and they won’t cost you a cent. Pick one, pick them all – it’s up to you, as they are all free!

Here’s a couple of titles to whet your interest:

• The Prologue of Eli Stone, by Daniel Griffin
• Body Count, by Logan Black
• Pariah, by Ian D Feldman
• Moon Hunters, by Catty Diva

Click here to get your free books!

https://storyoriginapp.com/to/Ab5RUEz

Cowboy Breakfast Fatty

There’s no better start to the day than a hearty breakfast! Today, cowboy chef Kent Rollins shows us how to cook one of the heartiest breakfasts of all - a genuine cowboy smoked breakfast fatty. Kent gets the ingredients right – how does bacon, sausage, eggs, cheese, and peppers sound? Sign me up! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZKzXiI_fI0

Sixgun Drifter Sol Redding

Get your exclusive subscriber-only copy of my first western Redding’s Maverick here: https://BookHip.com/NGKAHW

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https://www.facebook.com/NickBrumbyWesterns

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https://www.instagram.com/nickbrumbywesterns/

Happy trails,

Nick