Silver Creek (Avalon Western) [Hardcover]

A. H. Holt (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0803496001 | ISBN-13: 978-0803496002 | Publication Date: June 2003

Six years ago John Garrett left home, swearing he would never return. But his father is in trouble. Their neighbor, Tim Hostetter has been murdered. His riders are gone and Garrett cattle are grazing his range. One of Russ Blaine's riders is killed, and another is wounded. Mason Garrett and Rafe Willis are pushing Blaine hard to sell Silver Creek. They need the water. Would Garrett kill to get it?

Heading home, John shoots a bully in a desperately poor town and is wounded escaping the sheriff's posse.

Watching the hills for bushwhackers, Andrea Blaine finds John and helps him hide on the mountain. John joins Del Ketchum, cattleman turned deputy sheriff, to search for the real killers and try to clear his father's name.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A western that will fascinate everyone with its fast moving plot. The readers won't resist turning pages till the end. -- Liana Metallinou, Writers Crossing, Corfu, Greece, May 29, 2003.

Excellent descriptive detail, painting a mental picture of the setting and drawing the reader into the heart of the story. -- Charles DeNosky, Writers Unlimited, June 2, 2003.

I was on the edge of my seat wondering who the mastermind was and was surprised when it was revealed. -- Tracey West, Road to Romance, May 28, 2003

Silver Creek makes for great reading in a book that's hard to put down! -- Mike McMillan, BC Cowboy Heritage Society, Canada, May 1, 2003

This is hopefully the start of a promising career for a talented writer. Her settings are realistic. The action non-stop. -- Amanda Killgore, Huntress' Reviews February, 2003

From the Author

John Garrett is my image of a real cowboy, and my heroes are still cowboys. He's good with his gun and his fists, but doesn't fight except when forced. Smart, loyal and tough, John captures your heart, and the heart of "Andy" Blaine the heroine. Andrea is a bit of a tom-boy, but a beautiful, strong and true western woman. John gets involved in the war for water rights on Silver Creek and neighboring ranches because his father seems to be involved on the wrong side of the law. He and his father haven't spoken for six years, but John feels it his duty to try to clear his father's name.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 198 pages
• Publisher: Avalon (June 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803496001
• ISBN-13: 978-0803496002
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,608,699 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Silver Creek, June 2, 2003

By 

nancy Beasley (Gordonsville, Va United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Silver Creek (Avalon Western) (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed this book. I have never been much of a western
book reader, but I was given this book to read and really enjoyed
it. It has a little bit of everything, mystery, family troubles,
action, and love. Buy it, you will enjoy the read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Louis L'Amour Move Over, January 26, 2004

By 

"jamiesherfy" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Silver Creek (Avalon Western) (Hardcover)

I have read Louis L'Amour, Zane Grey and many other western writers. Silver Creek has heart. A. H. Holt has written a fast paced and gripping read. She sets you right beside the characters. You hear the horses and smell the wood smoke. I would recommend Silver Creek to anyone, and I am anxiously awaiting her next book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for people who read westerns, January 7, 2006

By 

Paul Lappen (Manchester, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Silver Creek (Avalon Western) (Hardcover)

Several years ago, John Garrett left his father's Arizona cattle ranch, vowing never to return. Now, a neighboring ranch owner, Tim Hostetter, has been murdered, and Garrett cattle have taken over the ranch. An employee of another neighboring ranch, owned by Russ Blaine, is found murdered, and some Blaine cattle are missing. Garrett's father, Mason, has made no secret of his desire for Blaine's land, but murder and cattle rustling bring things to a whole new level.

On his way back home, a bully in an extremely poor town picks a fight with John. He kills the bully, and is shot and injured in the getaway. He is found on Blaine land, unconscious, by Andy Blaine, who brings him to an isolated cabin, and nurses him back to health. John doesn't think to ask, and Andy takes a while to tell him that "Andy" is short for "Andrea."

John and Russ have a long talk about recent events; John offers to ask around town to see if he can find out what's going on. The general consensus is that Mason Garrett will certainly push hard to get what he wants, but he is not capable of murder and cattle rustling. However, Garrett's new foreman, Rafe Willis, is certainly capable of such things. John sneaks on to his father's ranch, and finds the bunkhouse full of the Old West equivalent of street punks. Soon after, the long-expected attack is made against the Blaine ranch. Willis aims to take over Blaine's land any way he can, including forcing Andrea into marriage.

The author, a grandmother and graduate student in Florida, does a fine job from start to finish. It fells like she has spent time on a ranch and knows her way around the world of cowboys. This easy to read novel is not just for lovers of westerns.