Panhandle by Brett Cogburn

Set in the Texas panhandle in late 1880's, Mr. Cogburn takes you for a walk through the old west just as it's beginning to transition from open land and cattle herding to ranches, fences, sheep and more intrusion on the cowboy's life.

Pinnacle Books, a division of Kensington Publishing, send me an ARC of this book for review (thank you).  It was published November 6th, so you can find a copy at your local bookstore now.

Mr. Cogburn is the great grandson of Rooster Cogburn, so it's natural that he would know what the west was like in earlier days.  He does a nice job of taking two young cowboys who are more different than alike and making them brothers on the trail.  When you're out in the prairies, it's good to have back up and someone who watches out for you.  Between Indians and rustlers and nature, it's a rough world out there.

This friendship gets threatened when both men have their eye on the same girl.  The conflict between the two men and the roads of life they choose are different.  Billy is still bound to be happy go lucky and take what he can get when he can.  Nate is ready to settle down, but he's got some growing to do.  He needs to learn to trust.

This story has the ring of realism and not everyone lives happily ever after, but life is like that.  It's a good western.  Why not hop on a horse and go for a ride with Nate and Billy?

Happy reading.