Customer Reviews

The Romantics

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Peter Brandvold develops the characters in this story of gold seekers, each looking for more than gold. From the opening stage holdup to the climactic scene in a cave, this adventure held my attention throughout the well-developed theme of what motivates people and how that motivation plays out in each personality. Brandvold uses the term "romantic" to describe how a person lives his life in hope. Cameron didn't believe in any lost treasures when he first ran into the other gold seekers. His friend Going told him "You've lost your sense of romance" (chapter 20). Later Going told Marina "Well, I guess we're just romantics" (chapter 30) since they both held out hope of a treasure. And at the end of the book the same idea surfaces. All in all, this is a great story. I wish it would be made into a movie.

I could not put this book down...Peter Brandvold brought me to the abandoned Jesuit chapel and I never left my chair. The scenes, the people, the descriptions, all told the gritty tale of treasure hunting in the Sierra Madres. The details of the guns, clothing, and landscape all put you right into the book with Jack Cameron. Thanks, Mr. Brandvold, for taking me to Mexico with you.

The is the first Brandvold book I have read. I sure plan on reading many more. It is one of the best westerns I have read in a long time. It is a story of Jack Cameron and his sidekicks who have been hired by Adrain Clark and his wife, Marina Clark to find a hidden treasure. They are chased by Apachies, Mexican soldiers and Gaston Bachelard and his gang. There is a lot of action and the book will hold your attention. I think you will like Cameron's friends, Jimmy, the kid, Bud Hotchkiss, Tokente and She Bear. Cameron is very tough, good with a gun or knife. He also has his tender side. I found myself skimming pages to see what happened next. If you like fast paced westerns you will like this book.

Of all the western novels I've ever read, this one ranks right up there with the best. Action, adventure, suspense, violence, romance, a little sex, and hidden treasure. The author describes the beautiful, rugged scenery so well that I felt as though I were there. The story has it all, and I don't know what else I could ask for in a western tale.

From Peter Brandvold, author of ONCE A MARSHALL, ONCE MORE WITH A .44 and ONCE A LAWMAN comes a story of adventure, courage and romance as big as the country it takes place in. Jack Cameron agrees to guide Adrian Clark and his lovely wife Marina in search of hidden treasure in Mexico. Along the way this trio must battle Mexican Rurales, Apachies and Gaston Bachelard, a former Confederate officer turned outlaw and his Mexican revouutionary partner. If you have been searching for the next Louis L'Amour, you have found him in Peter Brandvold.

I came across this book recently;but I almost passed it up.It was buried among a bunch of general fiction and I must admit the title didn't jump out at me as a Western.Then ,I next noticed the the cover of three western riders on horses ,looking out over a wide expanse of country.I was admiring the artwork ,when all of a sudden, the name Peter Brandvold caught my attention.Well,that was it;I've read a few of his other novels and found them excellent;so I picked it up.
I noticed that this novel was published in January 2001 ,it was a First Edition, hard cover.What an unexpected find!
Not too much point in repeating the jist of the story as others have already covered that pretty well.
The book is an excellent saga,full of great Old West characters,and jam packed with exciting action.It does such a good job of describing the country around Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico,including the flora and fauna,and the sounds; that you get the feel of being right beside these Romantics as they go through all their experiences.Personally,it brought back some fond memories to me;who lives up north in Canada where deserts,cacti ,canyons,arroyos,and other desert things are limited to books and movies.However;a few years ago I spent 10 days birding the areas around Tuscon,,Tombstone, Nogales,Green River,Sierra Vista,Wilcox,Coronado National Park,Huachuca,Portal and all the back roads and canyons.So,since this is exactly where this story takes place,and since I experienced the many things Peter describes,I can assure you he has done an excellent job of recreating the atmosphere of the desert.The only thing that has changed is the people and the buildings;but even that,only in the built-up areas.
I was really taken by the title;what has Romantics and a Western got to do with one another? Well,you'll find out and agree that Peter has chosen a wonderful title.
Peter has a great ability for creating and developing characters and they appear in other novels.I don't know if Jack Cameron and Marina have already or will again show up in other stories;but it would be nice to hear from them again.
Don't let the fact that this book was published back in 2001,discourage you from reading it.This type of story is timeless and enjoyable as if it were just released.I also don't know if it was ever made into a movie or not,but it would make a really good one.
I really liked the artwork on the cover.Although the artist of a dust jacket is not usually shown;in this case it is.I checked and found he has a 'site' and he seems to do a lot of book covers.Although I like the drawing;I can only assume the girl is Marina,one man might be Cameron ,and who is the other? Also the terrain is more suggestive of plains rther than desert.Anyway; it definitely suggests "Romantics"
It is a little longer than most westerns at 350 pages and more akin to McMurtry's, Lonesome Dove or his more recent Berrybender Narratives.So,if you like a Western Saga as opposed to a short Shoot-Out novel;this will really entertain you.