LORRIE FARRELLY is the
award-winning author of not only westerns but romance, Time Travel, suspense
and paranormal books.
Here’s my four star review of her western romantic fiction novel TERMS OF
SURRENDER:
‘Romantic fiction’ isn’t my thing so I was pleasantly
surprised how much I enjoyed TERMS OF SURRENDER.
Captain Michael Cantrell is
commander of a dwindling band of confederate soldiers, surrounded by his wounded
and dying men in the Virginia woods in April 1865.
In a moving opening scene he receives word from Robert E. Lee himself that the war is lost. In defeat, Michael heads west to find himself.
Confederate soldiers
In a moving opening scene he receives word from Robert E. Lee himself that the war is lost. In defeat, Michael heads west to find himself.
General ROBERT E. LEE
In Wyoming Territory he finds instead a young settler woman, Annie Devlin, and her 10-year old brother Robbie. Annie is being forced off her land by greedy rancher Colonel Randolph and his gang of hired guns – including two particularly villainous ones.
Michael sides with
Annie against Randolph, in what looks to be another doomed cause. Violence
ensues – fist fights, rape and gunplay - in the course of which Michael and
Annie fall in love.
As you might gather TERMS OF SURRENDER is a lot grittier
than the description ‘romantic fiction’ would indicate.
Of course it does cover
familiar territory – shades of ‘Hondo’ and ‘Shane’ – but often the best western
fiction re-works the familiar, while still finding new wrinkles, as Farrelly
does here.
Lee Aaker, Geraldine Page, John Wayne and Ward Bond in 'Hondo' (1953)
The child characters in ‘Hondo’ and ‘Shane’ are rather passive and
saintly, but Robbie is a lot spunkier. I particularly liked his humorous
interplay with Michael.
Perhaps the best aspect of this excellent novel is how the trio of brother, sister and damaged stranger bond against their enemies, while Farrelly’s writing skills provide the necessary edge. Recommended.'
Alan Ladd and Brandon De Wilde in the classic western 'Shane' (1953)
Jill Ireland and David Carradine in the TV series version of 'Shane'
Perhaps the best aspect of this excellent novel is how the trio of brother, sister and damaged stranger bond against their enemies, while Farrelly’s writing skills provide the necessary edge. Recommended.'
Other
reviews of TERMS OF SURRENDER:
‘Descriptions
are evocative and compelling... Readers can expect to find humor, violence,
gritty action, and exquisitely-wrought tension throughout… (This) is for readers
who seek more depth and layers in their stories.’
‘Another
beautifully crafted tale by Lorrie Farrelly… a mixture of passion and
nail-biting suspense.’
‘From the
first chapter, I was captivated by Ms. Farrelly’s wordsmith skills, as well as
the verisimilitude and historical accuracy she brought to the narratives and
dialogue about the War, the soldiers and their language.’
‘I
remained captivated by superb characterization and narrative.’
Find my review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9310432-terms-of-surrender
And on Amazon.co.uk: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Terms-Surrender-Western-historical-romance-ebook/dp/B003ZDO4SI/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=terms+of+surrender+lorrie+farrelly&qid=1584691830&sr=8-1
You can also find TERMS OF SURRENDER here: https://www.amazon.com/Terms-Surrender-Western-historical-romance-ebook/dp/B003ZDO4SI/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=terms+of+surrender+lorrie+farrelly&qid=1584691683&s=books&sr=1-1
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