Book Blurb:
Deprived of the woman he nearly married, and compounded by his past, Jesús falls into a psychological self-flagellation that threatens to drown him. When he comes across a woman in need, his compassion and empathy for her sends him on a mission that could reveal his path in life or see him succumb to his demons. As he accepts the woman’s deathbed wish to find children she had to leave behind, Jesús doesn’t fully realize the scope of the search. The winding trail takes him into the northern wilds of New Mexico Territory, where he confronts the powerful, the unknown, and his lingering inner demons. Will Jesus succumb to his weaknesses, or will he find the strength to overcome his struggles and fulfill his destiny? Haunted by memories and driven by a sense of obligation, he navigates through perilous landscapes that lead him to wondrously mystical places, and self-discovery.
This gripping tale of introspection and discovery brings Jesús closer to fulfilling his promise and purpose in life.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/Vi8uU08
Author Bio:
Mary and her husband Norman ‘Skip’ Bailey moved from the Boston metro area in 2010 to the heart of the Mesilla Valley in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Their Cavachon child-dog, Java, joined them in 2014.
As Mary became more familiar with the Las Cruces area, she noticed a just below the surface grating dislike between the Mesilla Valley and the Tularosa Basin — thus, the two valleys. This enticed her to discover the root of this discord and eventually to publish The Two Valleys Saga. Mary’s fascination with the life and unsolved murder of Colonel Albert J. Fountain and his young son on February 1, 1896, resulted in her quest to make this story known to the public. Beyond her rigorous research, her access to nearly every local historic newspaper during the ten year period helped her create a realistic account of the time and place. Join the fictional Jesús as he struggles through a coming-of-age story backdropped by the ten years leading to the area’s most infamous unsolved murders.
Mary has diverse interests, but has focused on historical fiction over the last ten years. Her writing is fast-moving, thought-provoking, and with just enough wordsmithing to satisfy your artistic hankerings. Since retiring from a diverse career in various planning and design fields, she has devoted herself to writing.
When asked where her writing ideas come from, she replied, “I haven’t done it all and I may have done too much. Life is full of stories. All you have to do is live them.”
Editorial Review:
Editorial Review: “The Bisti Badlands: The Two Valleys Saga Book Four”
Author: Mary Armstrong
Jesús Messi, named for the Son of God, is fulfilling a quest, and searching for purpose. But so are many in this wild west that is New Mexico in the 1890s, brought to vivid life in Mary Armstrong’s historical saga “The Bisti Badlands”. At first things seem promising, and Jesús is immediately relatable with his nerves and angst over The Conversation with his sweetheart’s father. But his hopes are dashed, or at least delayed, as his potential father-in-law hints at other decisions that Jesús must make first. Rosa, his sweetheart, remains an integral part of the book, and the twists and turns of their relationship are symbolic of the gritty and detailed plot. This novel is Book Four of The Two Valleys Saga, but can easily be read as a standalone, as this reviewer did.
““Ah, Jesús.” he wrinkled his nose and scratched at the corner of his left eye. Without turning his head, he glanced at me through the corners of his eyes as he spoke. “I sense that my daughter has put you in a hard spot. What is it mijo? Do you mind if I call you that?”
“Oh, no sir. Please call me whatever you like.”
“Well then, perhaps I should use the name …”
“No, no sir, uh, Jesús, or mijo are just fine … sir.” My hands became clammy.
He leaned toward me while clasping his hands. He half whispered, “Jesús, I know my daughter well. Sometimes she can be … what is the word … manipuladora. Not with any malicia, you understand. It is just that when she wants something very badly ….” He waved his arms wide.
“Uh, yes sir … I mean no sir. She and I … um, we have grown closer since I have returned from the Tularosa, and I think we are ready for courting.”
The storyline is thought-provoking and a real page-turner. We all know someone like Jesús – seemingly turning away from a conventional life while professing to want it, and determined to provide significant assistance to others at considerable cost to himself. Armstrong has created highly authentic characters; none are perfect, and their respective flaws and relationships will be recognized by almost every reader. Jesús is particular is a strong main character, with plenty to keep the story moving at a swift pace, although some readers may find his choices frustrating. Throughout the book Jesús faces both internal and external challenges, and these varied aspects form a compelling character arc, not least when his relationship with his mother is explored.
“Every Saturday evening, the cowboys would flood into town. Their rough language, smelly, sweat-soaked clothes, and the tobacco smoke-filled room changed the character of the Commercial Saloon. I didn’t want to stay long as trouble always accompanied late hours and drunken cowboys. As I finished my first rye, I remembered I had promised Eli and his wife that I wouldn’t drink anymore. I promised myself that I would order a beer next time. When I stared toward the bar to signal the barkeep, I spotted the owner, Aled Williams, talking to him. As they finished their discussion, the bartender poured two glasses of something … it appeared to be rye, but I couldn’t see the label, if it had one. Anyway, Williams walked my way, and he put the drink in front of me as he sat across the table in Jade’s place.”
The author’s extensive research is another drawcard, together with the way in which fictional characters are integrated with real life historical places, events, and people from the past. This commitment to authenticity does mean that some content is graphic and may be confronting for some modern readers, however other readers may see this approach as accurate for the times. Reading “The Bisti Badlands” has inspired this reviewer to seek out more information to learn about the history of this area, which is surely the mark of a convincing historical novel. At times, though, the book itself is weighed down by the sheer amount of historical detail, and it is by no means a short read.
“As the post-election days grew into a week, the Silver City Enterprise reported election officials were suspected of ballot box tampering in the Three Rivers precinct. The article said the precinct captain reported someone had stolen the ballot box from a rider who was carrying it to Las Cruces. The Republican also reported that the malefactor removed the ballots and poll book from the box. As of November twenty-five, no one had delivered the box or its contents to Las Cruces. The Three Rivers precinct garnered sworn returns, but the two presiding Democratic commissioners blocked their tally. Another issue involved electors voting for unregistered candidates. However, that was just the thin end of the wedge. The two Democratic County Commissioners awarded any mention of a candidate’s name anywhere on the ballot, to the candidate in his registered seat. The newspaper noted that those commissioners benefitted tremendously from their own ruling.”
“The Bisti Badlands” (The Two Valleys Saga: Book Four) by Mary Armstrong is a completely immersive read which thrusts the reader into New Mexico’s Wild West, with all of its promise, inequality and harshness. The first person narrative only adds to the immediacy of the story. Jesús is a highly relatable and complex main character whose personal travails and life decisions create a memorable storyline, underpinned by well-drawn secondary characters and an impressive level of historical research.
*****
“The Bisti Badlands: The Two Valleys Saga Book Four” by Mary Armstrong receives 4 stars from The Historical Fiction Company
To have your historical novel editorially reviewed and/or enter the HFC Book of the Year contest, please visit www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission
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