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Riders of the Lone Star: Heck Carson Series Volume 1 Kindle Edition

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 412 ratings

Writing in the style of Louis L'Amour, Larry McMurtry and William W. Johnstone, Best-selling western author, John Spiars has created a timeless hero of the old west. The first novel in the Heck Carson Series, Riders of the Lone Star brings the wild and lawless Texas frontier to life.

When the Law ain’t enough…
He brings Justice.

The year is 1852. Settlers on the Texas frontier are at the mercy of hostile Comanche and vicious outlaws, and the only ones holding the line between life and death are a few brave men, known as Texas Rangers. Outnumbered and outgunned, they bring law and order to the untamed land. They face impossible odds with nothing more than grit, determination, and a fast gun. It is this adventure and excitement that lures sixteen-year-old Jesse “Heck” Carson to leave his families ranch to join the fight. Heck quickly learns that this life comes at a price, the cost of which is hardship, danger, and possibly his own life. The bonds of friendship, loyalty, and duty lead him into epic battles that test his courage and resolve, and along the way he learns what it means to wear the star of the Texas Rangers.

Excerpts:
As fast as he could, he pulled the hammer back and fired, the first Comanche jerked once and hit the ground. The other warrior was no more than two feet away now. Heck wondered if he had another bullet left. Had he fired five or six shots? He couldn’t remember. Saying a silent prayer, Heck pulled the hammer back and looked at his approaching enemy. The point of the warrior’s lance was inches away from his chest when heck pulled the trigger. The barrel of the Walker was almost touching the chest of the charging Indian. Heck heard no sound, but saw the smoke pour out of the barrel and the big warrior dropped to his knees, and fell on top of the young Ranger.

Lieutenant Sutter and Corporal Anderson approached the men on horseback, ready to do what had to be done. Looking at the group of riders, however, Sutter immediately recognized he had made a terrible mistake. These men were not military, not even by Southern standards. They were unkempt, filthy, and armed to the teeth. His heart sank as he noticed that most of the detachment were Mexican and their guns were not in their holsters. “What is going on here?” he said, unable to believe what he was seeing.
The lead rider smiled and said, “This was even easier than Senor Cortina said it would be. Thank you.” Without saying another word, the man raised his pistol and fired two quick shots, hitting both Lieutenant Sutter and Corporal Anderson between the eyes.

The man wheeled around with his rifle as Heck landed on his back, but it was a fruitless gesture. There was a look of pained surprise on the man’s face as Heck covered his mouth and pulled him to the floor. Heck plunged his knife into the man’s chest several times, as he kept his hand over the man’s mouth. After several seconds his muffled cries were silent.


John Spiars is the author of the Heck Carson Series. He is a writer and amateur historian with a passion for the history and myths of the "Old West". His hope is to keep alive the western genre for this generation and all of those to come, while both entertaining and educating readers of all ages. He is a native Texan and lives in North Texas with his wife and four children. When not writing western novels, he maintains a blog and Facebook page about Texas history and travel entitled Under the Lone Star.

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JOHN SPIARS is a western writer and amateur historian with a passion for telling the stories of the American West. In his novels, he combines his love of "Old West" history, Texas history, and telling an entertaining story, while also staying true to the people who forged this country out of a lawless frontier. He is a native Texan, and continues to live in North Texas with his wife, four children, and two dogs.  John is also a member of the Western Writers of America.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B06XHYVW1Z
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Under the Lone Star Books (March 10, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 10, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1366 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 221 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 412 ratings

About the author

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John Spiars
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JOHN SPIARS is the author of Riders of the Lone Star, Hell and Half of Texas, Bound for Vengeance, and Blood Trail, the first four novels in the Heck Carson Series as well as Bury me at Palmetto Creek, a western supernatural novella. Writing in the style of Louis L'Amour, Zane Grey, William Johnstone and Larry McMurtry, John Spiars is a western writer and amateur historian with a passion for telling the stories of the American West. In his novels, he combines his love of "Old West" history, Texas history, and telling an entertaining story, while also staying true to the people who forged this country out of a lawless frontier. He is a native Texan, and continues to live in North Texas with his wife and four children.

John is also a member of the Western Writers of America. When not writing novels, he maintains a blog dedicated to Texas history, food and travel at www.underthelonestar.com and Facebook page of the same name.

John is currently working on Volume 5 of the Heck Carson Series.

For upcoming book releases and promotions as well as book excerpts, subscribe at www.underthelonestar.com

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
412 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story engaging with an unpredictable plot and strong characters. They describe the book as a good read worth their time. However, opinions differ on the writing quality - some find it well-written and easy to follow, while others report spelling and grammatical errors.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

20 customers mention "Story quality"20 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the story. They found the book had an engaging plot, strong characters, and suspense. The book brought western history to life for them. Overall, it was a great read for the genre.

"...It is a great book. Full of suspense and the Rangers caring, and always having each others back. How brave they had to be. Margaret H Story" Read more

"...Heck Carson makes a good protagonist. This book is loaded with a lot of action and it held my interest all the way thru...." Read more

"...and towards the end calling a corporal a captain, this was a fine tale of 1850s Texas. What makes a Texas Ranger who is worthy of the name?..." Read more

"...If you like a good story then this is one just beware I found two typos in the whole book, but they didn't detract from the story." Read more

18 customers mention "Readability"18 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it a solid western that is worth their time. They say it's a quick, fun read with plenty of action and history of the Rangers. The book holds their interest from beginning to end, with most of the characters being honorable and some being rotten. They also love when the good guys win and the bad guys get their compulsions.

"...This is my first time reading about the Texas Rangers. It is a great book...." Read more

"...This book is loaded with a lot of action and it held my interest all the way thru. I will read more of this series." Read more

"...What makes a Texas Ranger who is worthy of the name? Honor, justice, a quick, accurate draw, a sense of humor, a dedication of purpose, we learn all..." Read more

"I enjoyed my first John Spiar/Heck Carlson book. I like the way he brings western history to life and good story telling...." Read more

9 customers mention "Character development"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the book's characters. They found them interesting, with strong beliefs and moral character. The Rangers were described as brave and tough. Overall, readers found the story a solid western adventure.

"I guess this was more like two books in one. Heck Carson makes a good protagonist...." Read more

"...The characters in this book were interesting, but this was just for the Rangers. The bad guys were not fleshed as much as the Rangers...." Read more

"...Having a good unpredictable plot, strong characters and a connection to historical events will make this popular read...." Read more

"...A strong four." Read more

12 customers mention "Writer quality"8 positive4 negative

Customers have different views on the writing quality. Some find it well-written and easy to read, while others mention spelling and grammatical errors that prevent them from enjoying it more.

"...I have read a lot of westerns and this author does a great job . I will read the next in this series . Enjoy" Read more

"Final rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars. Spelling counts, especially when you call "secession" succession every time you use it..." Read more

"Was a good book an well written this I really enjoyed it and will recommend to others. Lots of action." Read more

"Texas rangers always make for a good story and the author doesn't disappoint. No supermen here just men with strong beliefs and good moral character." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2022
    I love reading about the early West. This is my first time reading about the Texas Rangers. It is a great book. Full of suspense and the Rangers caring, and always having each others back. How brave they had to be.
    Margaret H Story
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2019
    I guess this was more like two books in one. Heck Carson makes a good protagonist. This book is loaded with a lot of action and it held my interest all the way thru. I will read more of this series.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2018
    Final rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars. Spelling counts, especially when you call "secession" succession every time you use it (just the most egregious example). Aside from that, and towards the end calling a corporal a captain, this was a fine tale of 1850s Texas.
    What makes a Texas Ranger who is worthy of the name? Honor, justice, a quick, accurate draw, a sense of humor, a dedication of purpose, we learn all this and more as 16 years old Heck grows to adulthood, his goal to become a Texas Ranger. Fist fights, gun fights, bandits, bandidos, Indians on the warpath, and more shape both Heck's growth and the same for this book. Definitely worth your time.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2018
    This was a good story about the Texas Rangers. The Texas Rangers were and are the stuff of legend, but the men that word the badge were just that men. In this book the Rangers are not supermen just men with a tough job to handle. The characters in this book were interesting, but this was just for the Rangers. The bad guys were not fleshed as much as the Rangers. When I read a book I like to think about who would play what roles if this was a movie and that worked for this book too. If you like a good story then this is one just beware I found two typos in the whole book, but they didn't detract from the story.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2020
    Don't depend on Spellcheck. I really enjoyed the story but, so many word errors kept me from enjoying it more.
    I'm also hoping to learn more about the characters as the books go along.

    I'm going to recommend this series to my husband who won't be bothered by the errors.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2019
    I enjoyed my first John Spiar/Heck Carlson book. I like the way he brings western history to life and good story telling. I wish that he fleshed the characters out more. I couldn’t really visualize the characters and be able to “ see “ them. I will certainly read more of his books.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2019
    JS. has. penned the first western novel in the Heck Carson series, which begins with a young boy leaving home to join the Rangers. His first assignment is to learn how to take care of the horses. They job last four years before he goes into the field as a full Texas Ranger where he fights Comanches and Mexican Banditos. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2017
    I truly enjoyed this book. As an avid western genre fan, reading at least one book per week, I would rate this book in the top 5%. Having a good unpredictable plot, strong characters and a connection to historical events will make this popular read. I strongly recommend it to all western fans.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Theresa Stroh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2017
    Good read
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 11, 2017
    Quite a good story well worth reading and well written by a good author and has plenty of action in it

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