After four years on the bloody battlefields of Europe during World War II, Army Staff Sergeant Mark Shaw returns home to Arizona with nothing but the hope of living a quiet existence and chasing the sunset on horseback forevermore. Scarred by the war in the way only a soldier who has been on the front lines can be, his every step is haunted by the rattle of machine guns, the roar of artillery, and the screams of dying friends and comrades.
The homecoming he receives upon his return, though, is nothing like what he'd hoped for--a wife who couldn't wait for him in an America that has become almost unrecognizable in his absence. Shattered by her betrayal, Mark gives up on love, life, and the possibility of ever finding the peace he longs for.
Life is not quite done with Mark, however. While he throws himself into the backbreaking work of building a ranch, fate takes a hand, first in the form of Alma Cornbird, a Pima woman, then in the guise of a beautiful rodeo queen named Julie Wright. Both women are determined not to let him slip further into isolation and despair, and both leave their mark upon him. With their help, the violent afterimages of the war begin to fade, and life blooms again from the hollow shell it left behind. The only thing he lacks is the right horse on which to chase that sunset once more.
Blue Roan Colt is the heartwarming story of a man broken by war and betrayal who finds salvation through the gift of love, brought to life by legendary author Dusty Richards and his longtime writing partner, Velda Brotherton.
Author Biography:
DUSTY RICHARDS grew up riding horses and watching his western heroes on the big screen. He even wrote book reports for his classmates, making up westerns since English teachers didn't read that kind of book. His mother, though, didn't want him to be a cowboy, so he went to college, then worked for Tyson Foods and auctioned cattle when he wasn't an anchor on television. His lifelong dream, though, was to write the novels he loved. He sat on the stoop of Zane Grey's cabin and promised he'd one day get published, as well. In 1992, that promise became a reality when his first book, Noble's Way, hit the shelves. In the years since, he's published over 160 more, winning nearly every major award for western literature along the way. His 150th novel, The Mustanger and the Lady, was adapted for the silver screen and released as the motion picture Painted Woman in 2017. Sadly, Dusty passed away in early 2018, leaving behind a legion of fans and a legacy of great western writing that will live on for generations. VELDA BROTHERTON writes from her home perched on the side of a mountain against the Ozark National Forest. Branded as Sexy, Dark and Gritty, her work embraces the lives of gutsy women and heroes who are strong enough to deserve them. After a stint writing for a New York publisher, she has settled comfortably in with small publishers to produce novels in several genres. While known for her successful series work-the Twist of Poe romantic mysteries, as well as her signature Western Historical Romances-her publishing resume includes numerous standalone novels, including Once There Were Sad Songs, A Savage Grace, Wolf Song, Stoneheart's Woman, Remembrance, and this, her magnum opus, Beyond the Moon.
