The Beginning

Longhorn Series, Book 1

By: Dusty Rhodes

Narrated by: Gene Engene

Length: 13 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Buck Cordell is a giant of a man in a giant, untamed land called Texas. He builds a cattle ranch where ordinary men all say it can't be done a cattle empire that defies all odds, a family that changes the course of Texas history, and a legacy that outlives the Old West.

Round 'em up: listen to another novel in the Longhorn Series.

©2007 Dusty Rhodes (P)2007 Books In Motion

Western read by a western voice.

Would you listen to The Beginning again? Why?

Yes I have listened to it twice. I just bought book two. The reader is a great voice to tell this type of story. If you listen to the preview you will probably get the book if you like westerns.

What other book might you compare The Beginning to and why?

It's a western but very different beginning so it is not like any other book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Suddenly they were Americans and not Southern soldiers anymore. The war was over and they went home to start their life in Texas.

The Beginning

I enjoyed this book. The story was a common one in lots of Westerns. I was particularly happy that there was no foul language or explicit sex in the book. I have stopped reading lots of books because of these two items were over done in the stories. If Dusty Rhodes keeps his books clean, he has a new fan in me. Buck obtain the money at the beginning of the story so it seems he was able to do in one year what many ranchers obtain in a lifetime of work. Other wise the story moved along with a good balance of action and character development. Looking forward to book two.

The Smell of Stale Whiskey, and Unwashed Bodies?

I thoroughly enjoyed all four books in this series, and found them well written, and entertaining. However, I did not like the constant "indirect references" to how bad drinking, and smoking was, and how everyone should drink coffee. I felt that this was not the time or place for "PC" references like that. After all, these stories were time situated in the 1800's, and people smoked, drank, and chewed tobacco back then, and still do, and there weren't many places to take a bath in those days, unless you wanted to jump into a cold river or creek to wash up. Indoor plumbing had not been invented yet. I also thought the author went a "bit" overboard on the "love scenes" between Buck & Rebecca, and Cody & Julianna.
Also, the author brings a whole new meaning to the word "fiction" in these books, the main characters could do no wrong, they were constantly falling into situations that caused them to make zillions of dollars, ..........I wish I could fall into just one of those situations these days! These are good books, and if you like westerns you will enjoy them, just a bit to much on the romantic side for me. I do hope the author intends to continue the series!

Begin the four book journey

Counting the four-book Longhorn series as one.... be prepared for a 45+ hour episode of Bonanza with a sprinkling of Rawhide and Gunsmoke. I enjoy all of Dusty's takes, especially the Longhorn Series.

As every reviewer will mention, Dusty's characters are PG-rated allowing for a LOT of bad guys being gunned down by the "heroes". NOT as gruesome as McMurtry's Lonesome Dove series... better, IMO, compared to L'amour's Sacketts'.

If you "like" one of Dusty's tales... you will like'em all. I do and I do....

Great Western Story

I enjoyed this book, and had a hard time sitting it down. The narrator is great, makes it feel like your apart of the story.

Enjoyable

This was a fun book to listen to, lots of old style language like "aH wreckon", and "much obliged". The happenings are a little to fortuitous for real life but I like how they handle what comes up. The characters are solid, reliable and likeable.

AWESOME CLEAN STORY.

I have found this as exciting a book series as Clive Cussler' Issac Bell series. The series has no fowel language , exciting, and wanting for the series to continue. Still have to read book four and know I won't be disappointed.

Great , Clean classic western

Would you listen to The Beginning again? Why?

Yes

Who was your favorite character and why?

Buck

What about Gene Engene’s performance did you like?

Engene is one of the best narrators.
The number of voices Engene can come up with is amazing.

Loved It!

enjoyed it. we'll thought out. off to buy book 2. look forward to see what's next

intend on listening to the rest of the series.

When I say that I think this is a pretty good series, bear in mind that I'm comparing it against other series like Longmire.

Of course, a so-so narrator is just about the equivalent of a death sentence to an audio book, so Gene Eugene has to be above average just to earn an OK, which he does. He does well managing a number of characters and distinguishing their voices without mangling them. As with most narrators, he warms to the book and writing as it progresses.

You won't struggle with the storyline or spend much time sorting out the details, which is just fine for a rainy day book, or something to go to sleep on. it's just what I was looking for this time.