Arizona War: A Colton Brothers Saga (Paperback)

~ Melody Groves (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Melody Groves writes about the Southwestern frontier with real authority; a scholar's grasp of history, a keen sense of the land, and a well-honed edge for action that'll get your blood boiling. Historical fiction at its best." - Johnny Boggs, author of thirty books including his latest, Northfield"

Product Description

First Apaches, then Confederate Texans. The Colton brothers--James, Trace, and now Andy--must face not only their enemies, but their own personal demons. Driven to near madness by Apache brutality, nearly killing the sheriff, James chooses joining the Union Army over prison. Andy, the youngest brother, also joins, but only to keep James out of trouble. Trace, the oldest Colton, finds himself imprisoned by a sadistic Confederate officer and left alone to die.

It's Arizona Territory at the start of the Civil War, and the Coltons are caught in the middle of it. In the end, it's all up to James to save Union troops from an Apache attack--if he can summon the courage to face his old torturers and their leader, Cochise.

"Melody Groves writes about the Southwestern frontier with real authority; a scholar's grasp of history, a keen sense of the land, and a well-honed edge for action that'll get your blood boiling. Historical fiction at its best."--Johnny Boggs, author of thirty books including his latest, Northfield

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Product Details

• Paperback: 287 pages
• Publisher: La Frontera Publishing (March 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0978563433
• ISBN-13: 978-0978563431
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,579,783 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ARIZONA WARS --- MUST READ, September 20, 2008

By	Ron Schultz "Ron S" (usa) - See all my reviews

[[ASIN:0978563433 Arizona War: A Colton Brothers Saga

This author convincingly brings together turmoil of the Civil War as it reaches the Southwest, the Apache's struggle to hold on to native lands, and the settlers' battle to survive these events while enduring the hash climate and terrain of New Mexico and Arizona.

I couldn't put the book down.

Melody Groves deftly brings to life the Colton Brothers' love for each other and their dedication to family. Her artful insight into each brother's thoughts and their individual responses to severe physical and emotional trials brought, from me, deep sympathy for them.

In particular, Cochise's torture of one of the brothers, James, is recounted in a so point-by-point, excruciatingly real way that this reader's cold heart was wrenched harder than I'm comfortable admitting.

I strongly recommend Arizona Wars.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Realistic and engaging--- a must read for any western fan!, January 26, 2009

By	Arielle Windham (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was the first one I read in the Colton Brothers Saga. It was very well written and kept me turning the pages long after I should have turned out the light and gone to bed. The Arizona War leaves you with a haunting sense of the determination and humanity of the people in the American West at a time when all eyes were focused on the eastern part of the country. Melody Groves brings the story to life with her beautiful blending of imagination and the sometimes grim facts of life in the American West. The characters are more than memorable and leave you with a desire to read more. Luckily, the second book of the series (this is the third) is now readily available. I highly recommend reading Sonoran Rage, the second book, before this one. As with all chronological series, it makes more sense that way. A very enjoyable read.

4.0 out of 5 stars Duking it Out in the Old West, August 19, 2009

By	Jim Duggins, Ph.D. "Author, The Power: A Nove... (Rancho Mirage, CA USA) - See all my reviews

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"Arizona War" is a good example of what were once called "westerns," novels featuring cowboys, farmers, and ranch hands, usually with blushing cowgirls standing in the wings waiting for something metallic to grace their left hand forth finger. "Arizona War" goes a bit further to include cowboys and Indians duking it out over territory and this time adds the confederacy (boo--hiss) and the union boys squaring off at the beginning of the "war between the states."

It is the plotting that distinguishes "Arizona War" with its many conflicts, man against man, north vs. south, Indigenous Peoples against European Settlers, and the true blue nature of romance and love including loyalty among blood related kin. In every instance, these values are the source of conflict which supply the tension throughout the book.


Arizona War" begins with two heroic brothers attempting to create a life after months of torture at the hands, whips, and knives of Apache Indians. Each of the men now suffer emotional symptoms similar to those we associate with PTSD. As with PTSD, too, the brothers have violent mood swings and often lash out with their own fists, guns, and knives against friends and family. As these are the beginning days of the Civil War, the plot is thickened when confederate soldiers begin to take over local towns and terrorize the native inhabitants. So, too, is the tension heightened when Apaches continue raids upon small towns and mining settlements. Three brothers among the civilians of the area become involved with Union forces who had organized to fight off the Confederates and Apaches. Add to the likable townspeople including available gentlewomen not uninterested in romance and the stew is set boiling with good vs. evil.

"Arizona War" is fast paced and tense, but characterization is a mite too wooden and predictable. While the book might fulfill expectations for westerns, as a period piece it falls short in description of settings and period. The spoken language of these unschooled folk is not very credible (one doctor is the only professional other than military officers on both sides of the civil squabble) stablehands and ferriers or local sheriffs without any particular preparation for their work. Yet, all are apparently literate (evidenced only by the receipt of mail -- there are no books, magazines or newspapers) with faultless grammar spoken in complete subject-verb-agreement sentences. Even so, the book moves along, plot driven, at a fast pace. We care about the characters and stay with the story from beginning to end. I recomemend the book as a good beach or airline traveling companion.