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Shortgrass Song Kindle Edition

4.5 out of 5 stars 44 ratings

Shortgrass Song is the saga of young Caleb Holcomb as he makes his way through life in an epic as big as Texas itself. Caleb's adventures take him through Civil War battles, buffalo hunts, Indian wars and barroom shoot-outs. On his way he meets:

Snake Woman--the Comanche slave woman who kidnaps him as a child in an attempt to regain her rightful place in the tribe.

Kicking Dog--the renegade Arapaho who rampages through the West scalping victims from Texas to Montana.

Marisol--the Mexican beauty who bears Caleb's children and wins his love.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Country music singer Blakely (Vendetta Gold) tells a sweeping saga of a family's struggles on the Western frontier. Ab Holcomb, a hero in the Mexican War, settles in the Pike's Peak region of Colorado, where he and his family must be on guard against the elements and potentially hostile Indians. Soon they're joined by Buster, a runaway slave, and Snake Woman, a Comanche captive who was given to the slave in exchange for his harmonica. Buster, a versatile musician, quickly becomes a favorite of the Holcombs' asthmatic son Caleb, whose dreams of becoming a musician are opposed by Ab. Trouble ensues when Snake Woman kidnaps Caleb in an attempt to win back the respect of her people. With a good ear for dialogue and a keen eye for period detail, Blakeley tells of Caleb's rise as a country musician, of Ab's changing fortunes and his struggles to prevent changes in his beloved West. Song lyrics from the times, 1860 to the 1880s, enliven the narrative as actual historical events, such as the Sand Creek Massacre, hover in the background.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Shortly before the Civil War, would-be cattle rancher Ab Holcomb; his wife, Ella; and sons Matthew, Pete, and Caleb cross the Great Plains to Colorado's sprawling Front Range country. In their first years there, Ella dies; Buster, a freed black man, becomes the glue that holds the family together; and Ab, Unionist and Texan-hater, loses a leg fighting the Confederates in New Mexico. In the 1870s and 1880s, the Holcombs become powerful ranchers until land-hungry homesteaders subdivide the open range. Blakely (The Snowy Range Gang, Evans, 1992) delivers an oft-told tale of the Old West, but this particular family saga proves more than ordinary due to strong, vivid writing. At tale's end, Ab and Buster are rich men, Matthew and Pete are dead, and Caleb has become a trou-badour and drifter. A good buy for most public libraries.
James B. Hemesath, Adams State Coll. Lib., Alamosa, Col.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00B225UE6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Forge Books (June 15, 1995)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 15, 1995
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.5 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 602 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 44 ratings

About the author

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Mike Blakely
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Author Mike Blakely has published 18 books released by major New York City publishers. His most recent release "A Song to Die For," is receiving great reviews. Two of his latest books were co-writes, one with Willie Nelson, the other with Kenny Rogers.

As a singer/songwriter, Mike has released 11 CDs, performed all over the U.S., and has made 16 tours to Europe. His songs have been recorded by Gary P. Nunn, Red Steagall, Flaco Jimenez and Raul Malo, john Arthur martinez, Randy Brown, Geronimo Trevino III and Johnny Rodriguez, Johnny Bush, Pauline Reese, and others. He is currently at work on his next CD with planned release for Fall 2015.

View Mike's schedule of appearances and learn more about him by visiting www.mikeblakely.com or 'like' Mike Blakely's Official Fan Page on Facebook.

A native Texan, Mike served in the U.S. Air Force and later earned a bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. He released his first novel 1988 and his first CD in 1995. One of his co-written tunes landed on a Grammy Award-winning album by Flaco Jimenez in 1995. Another was played on the orbiting International Space Station in 2007.

Mike is a two-time winner of Western Writers of America's Spur Award - once for best western novel of the year, and once for best western song of the year.

Mike spent many years touring with his dancehall band, but now plays more shows as a solo artist, or in a duo or trio configuration at listening rooms, house concerts, festivals, and private parties. His career as a novelist leads to many non-traditional concerts at book stores, libraries, writers conferences, and book clubs.

"Having celebrated our house concert anniversary with the seventh show by Mike, we can only attest that it just keeps getting better and better! I'll personally guarantee it to be one of the musical highlights of your life!" ~ Paula Reynolds, Hilltop House Concerts, Kerrville, TX.

"Blakely is a consummate artist whose superb ability to capture an audience only serves to highlight his songwriting skills... which approach brilliance." - Buddy Case, "The Loft," Enola, AK

"Mike helped us establish our restaurant as a major music venue in the Hill Country of Texas. He has produced a weekly concert series for us for over eight years, consistently packing the house show after show. We have been named "Best Live Music Venue" four years in a row thanks to his efforts. He is an established talent, a huge asset to our business and a real pro." Paul Brady, owner/mgr. River City Grille, Marble Falls, TX.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
44 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2013
    There's nothing I don't like about Mike Blakely's books, especially his westerns. Not only does he write a really great book but he's also one heck of a good singer (go listen to him if you get the chance......he has a web page you can refer to for venues).
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2023
    I didn't like it as much as Comanche Moon,but was still a good read. Toward the end it became Very good...The story of a wanderer...and they're still with us...
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2011
    Mike Blakely is an author for whom the best of western writers would give the highest accolades. You pick the book up, begin reading, and before you know it, it's time for bed. But if you're like me, you will read on until you eyes become too heavy to go on. Yeah, he's that good!
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2019
    Written with singing words. Adventurous, violent, heartbreaking, life. The adventures of Caleb Holcomb reads like poetry. I recommend this book.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2015
    Great raid well done good book tells great story about the American West read it be grad always books are good
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2017
    Character-driven western tale exploring the life of Caleb Holcomb, and those close to him. Interesting take on the western hero in Caleb, who does the normal western hero stuff but spends most of his time as a traveling musician. Lots of tension between his impulse to wander and 'live life' versus his feelings that he should settle and achieve something with his life. Good action spaced through out, but it is episodic. That's probably the biggest complaint here, the book is a study of the man's first thirty years, so it does sprawl and wander a little plot-wise. All-in-all a good read for fans of the genre.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2013
    The other reviews are great and right on point . Buy this and the sequel and you will be very happy !!
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2014
    I really enjoyed the two book set

Top reviews from other countries

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  • thomas chappel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hervorragendes Buch - spannend und authentisch
    Reviewed in Germany on May 23, 2017
    Die Story hat mir außerordentlich gut gefallen.
    Sehr spannend und packend vom Beginn bis zum Schluß.
    Habe mir inzwischen den 2. Teil bestellt.
    Nur zu empfehlen. Mike Blakely hat sehr viel Talent.
    Report
  • der cunctator
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ein toller Western
    Reviewed in Germany on August 16, 2019
    Ein ganz hervorragender Western, gut durchdacht, spamnnend erzählt. Warum wird so was eigentlich nicht ins Deutsche über setzt ?

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