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17 August 2012

Teresa Mathews' Review of A Bride's Flight From Virginia City, Montana by Murray Pura

A Bride’s Flight From Virginia City, Montana
By Murray Pura
(Barbour Publishing, January 2012)

5 Stars*****
Reviewed by Teresa Mathews

In this exciting tale Murray Pura takes us on an adventurous although perilous journey that starts in February 1875 in Virginia City, Montana and goes all the way to Bird-In-Hand, Pennsylvania. During this time we are introduced to Charlotte Spence, and Zephaniah Parker, both ranchers in Montana.

The day Zephaniah is out riding the range and stumbles upon two very frightened young children, will be the day that will forever change his life. The boy and girl are both too frightened to tell their names so Zeph calls them Cheyenne and Cody Wyoming. Little does he know they have just witnessed the horrendous slaughter of their parents and friends. They are the lone survivors of “The Angel of Death’s” visit.

Charlotte Spence is the sole owner of the Sweet Blue Meadows Ranch now that her brother Ricky has passed away, another delayed casualty of the war. Charlotte is a strong, brave woman running a ranch with ten men that obey her every command, which is a tad out of the ordinary in 1875. To anyone looking at the outside all they see is the beauty of Charlotte but if they could look on the inside they would see the secrets she harbors and she is so afraid no one would like what they find out.

When Zephaniah talks with his brother Matt, the local lawman, and finds out why the children are frightened, both men realize they need to get the children to safety because the Angel of Death will never let them live as soon as he hears they are alive. Matt suggests to Zeph that the children might do well staying at Charlotte’s ranch. Charlotte is delighted to take the children in; she wants to ease the pain they are going through.

When Matt receives a telegram from the Angel saying he is coming to kill the children and the woman hiding them, Zeph and Matt insist that Charlotte take the kids by train to their relatives in Pennsylvania. But the only way Charlotte agrees to the plan is for Zephaniah to accompany them as her husband! Charlotte explains that they will blend in better if they travel under the guise of a man and his wife with their children. Zephaniah could see the wisdom of the plan and he really didn’t like the idea of her and the children traveling alone, so he agrees. Will they make it safely? Or will they have an untimely appointment with "death"?


I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this, from the first page right up until the last. It took me through a whole gamut of emotions, joy at the beautiful scenery that Murray described so well, excitement and fear knowing they are running from a man that seems subhuman with one goal in mind; killing them. And complete overwhelming satisfaction when it was all said and done. I will tell you that I’m sure you will find yourself reading late into the night like I did. Don’t be surprised if you are shocked into a wide awake state just when you think you might be getting a little sleepy, I know I was!! Had anyone else been awake in my house they would have seen my mouth hanging open because that is how shocked I was at one point!! Job Well Done, Mr. Pura!

Murray's books can be purchased through Amazon, at CBD,  also available through Barnes and Noble, and other bookstores.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week's contest. Drawing will be late Saturday. Your choice of Murray's books, choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners only receive the book in ebook format, not as a paperback.

75 comments:

  1. I HAVE TO READ this one!!! :) Job wel done, TERESA!!

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  2. MARIAN...I enjoyed this book more than I could write in that review! Now I am going to HAVE to read the one you and Diana reviewed this week.

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  3. What a fine review, TERESA! Your love of this book truly shines out in it!

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  4. This sounds like quite a tale. I imagine a train ride across the country was quite an undertaking in those times. I look forward to reading some of Murray's books, haven't yet had the opportunity yet.

    Patty
    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  5. Thank you Miss DIANA! It reminded me of the saturdays when I was little and I watched the cowboy movies with my dad. :) It had a good plot lots of excitement and a feel good ending. :) MR.PURA knows what he is doing!

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  6. PATTY...you are right and in this book the train ride is very exciting!

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  7. This genre is just my thing and I hope I win. Please enter my name in the drawing. Blessings and thanks for giving me the opportunity to enter.

    Darlene [spangldlady@gmail.com]

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  8. DARLENE..Good Luck!! I know you will enjoy it! It's a great book, I promise you will not want to put it down. :)

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  9. Wow, fantastic review Teresa! I NEED to read this!! :)

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  10. Sounds brilliant as do all Murray Pura's books. Just the thing to curl up with on a wet and windy Scottish afternoon

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  11. WENDY...yes it would be great for that. :) GOOD LUCK!

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  12. NOELAN...Thanks! I know you will enjoy it! :) GOOD LUCK!

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  13. This sounds like a very interesting book. Would love to read it. Please enter me in the giveaway. Thank you.

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  14. TERESA, this is such a surprise! A BRIDE'S FLIGHT came out in January so I'm not used to seeing reviews about it anymore! Thank you so much. This was the book that broke me into the US fiction market was the precursor to all the contracts that later came from Harvest House in particular. And you're right - I was thinking of westerns from the '50s & '60s when they used to dominate the TV screen as well as the box office- a good clean old-fashioned adventure - but with the added twist of the Amish! Bless you! :o)

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  15. PATTY, MARY, WENDY, NOELAN, DARLENE - thank you all for dropping by on the new review & expressing your interest & support - all the best on the draw! :o)

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  16. Wow wonderful news on Murray Pura.....I would love to win either book...in paperback.....Murray Pura is a wonderful writer...babyruthmac16@yahoo.com

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  17. EYEBALLLUCY - thanks for swinging by today & for your kind words - blessings on you!

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  18. Hey Murray, I would love to win this book in paperback. It sounds so interesting. You have a great day and keep writing those wonderful books.

    Patricia

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  19. I'd really like to win one of Murray's books. I'm reading one of them now and am looking forward to reading more of them.

    kaczmom@gmail.com

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  20. This sounds soooo goood! Thanks for the review. Hope to get to read it!

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  21. MARY ELLEN you are entered! Good Luck!

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  22. EYEBALLLUCY...Good Luck!

    PATRICIA...Good Luck!

    SANDY...They are adictive! LOL

    MELODY...GOOD LUCK!

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  23. PATRICIA - thanks for your support - all the best with the draw! SANDY - hey! which book are you reading? if you won which book would you pick? thanks for your kind words! MELODY - I'm glad you swung by today - are you interested in A Bride's Flight? all the best with the contest!

    BLESSINGS ON YOU ALL! THANKS FOR COMING BY!

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  24. I would love to win one of Murray's books, thank you for hosting this giveaway.

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

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  25. HI, WENDY! Thanks for visiting & thanks for your support!

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  26. WENDY...you are quite welcome...glad you came by. GOOD LUCK! :)

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  27. Teresa, I love the review! I really need to look for Murray's books. He sounds like a fantastic author. Thanks!

    campbellamyd at gmail dot com

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  28. this sounds like a wonderful story....thanks for the chance to read it...beautiful cover-art, too ;)


    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  29. ANONYMOUS..thank you. Maybe you will wim one of Murray's books! He is a marvelous writer. GOOD LUCK!

    KARENK...this is a beautiful story inside and out! GOOD LUCK in the drawing!

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  30. Great review Teresa! Now I really have to put this book on my ever growing to-be-read list. Love those twists that are real shockers! Thanks for sharing with us.
    Sharon
    smoore at tcq dot net

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  31. Teresa, what a fabulous review! I just ordered this book earlier in the week, and now I can't wait for it to arrive! Woohoo! I think that Murray is my new all-time favorite author!
    Nancee
    quiltcat26[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

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  32. NANCEE, you are so cool, thank you for kind words! :o)

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  33. CAMPBELLAMYD, SHARON, KARENK, thank you all for coming by & entering the draw & showing your support for my writing - God bless you! :o)

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  34. Oh < I would love to enter my name for this book. Murray writes good books. If I should be lucky enough to win, I would love to "The face of Heaven" in print. Thanks for this chance. Maxie ( mac262@me.com )

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  35. NANCEE..thanks! :) I KNOW you will love it! You might not want to put it down until the last page! LOL

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  36. MAXIE...GOOD LUCK in the drawing! :)

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  37. Thank you for the drawing and review of this great looking book. I would like to be entered please.

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  38. I would love to win. Angela from KY
    angelac(at)mchsi(dot)com

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  39. TERRI...We have you in the drawing! Thanks for coming by!

    ANGELA...Would love for you to win! GOOD LUCK! :)

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  40. TERESA, do you have this book on Kindle, or was it a paperback you read?

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  41. I'm just sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the adventure & train ride. I'd like to toot my horn and I better wait! :-} Thank you for the chance to win this exciting book.
    Bobbe oceanpearl@q.com

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  42. This morning I was in the book store and had this book in my hand, but then saw The wings of Morning wich was reviewed last week. So I boughed that book.

    This review is very good and I wonder if I ,when reading the book , will have my jaw open with shock haha

    Please enter my name mirjam(at)fotoflits(dot)com

    Murray its nice to see you're books in store here!

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  43. MIRJAM, we want MURRAY's books in the Dutch bookstores, too!!

    TERESA, I was hoping you had it on Kindle so you could loan it to me. I will have to buy my own copy then.

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  44. Can't wait to read it -- all the elements I really enjoy: a little romance, a mystery/suspense, and historical fiction rolled into one.

    Please enter me!

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  45. please enter me in your book contest. if i win i would like to have a brides flight/ from the review it sounds like a great book. thanks for the contest ladydipap@yahoo.com

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  46. I would like to be a "winner" and entered in the contest. Thank you for the chance.
    rosiej1942@yahoo.com

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  47. TERRI - so nice to see you here! all the best! MAXIE & ANGELAC - thank you for visiting & entering the contest - cheers!

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  48. ROSE, LADYDIPAP, CAROL, BOBBE - I really appreciate your interest in my books & I wish you every blessing in Christ - thank you for your support & enthusiasm! :o)

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  49. MIRJAM - were you at a bookstore in Edmonton or St. Albert? Anyways it's nice to know my books are getting around - I think what sparked the first wave of interest in February was the Publishers Weekly review in the USA - I know libraries & stores in Alberta took notice of that - I even had a publicist in NYC contact me - I hope you have a great read - I really care about the story in Wings - just like in Heaven, my heart went into it - I was not just tossing off a story - not that I ever do that, I don't - but I was very intense with Wings & Heaven - and now Whispers of a New Dawn - ENJOY THE SUN & HEAT, MIRJAM! :o)

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  50. I would love to win one your books. Please sign me up.....Herma Shelton jshelton@foothills.net

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  51. Wow, your review is great. Sounds like a book I would buy.
    Please enter me in the contest, thanks.

    Blessings, Tina
    tfrice@comcast.net

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  52. Mirjam...I think you too will be SHOCKED!! LOL!MURRAY really does have a "shocker" in there. But I don't want to be a spoiler and say anymore! :)

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  53. MARIAN I'm sorry about not having a kindle copy.

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  54. CAROL...we will be delighted to enter you! It was just perfect! :)

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  55. LADYDIPAP...GOOD LUCK in the drawing! :)

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  56. ROSE...GOOD LUCK and maybe you will be a winner! :)

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  57. HERMA...You are signed up! GOOD LUCK!

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  58. TINA...thank you! Good Luck in the drawing! :)

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  59. Would love to win this book. Sounds like a great book to read.
    Juanita Cook
    seraphinangrl7@aol.com

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  60. That's supposed to read seraphinangel7@aol.com
    Juanita Cook

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  61. enter me please for drawing
    Kathleen
    lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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  62. JUANITA...it is a great book and we have you entered! GOOD LUCK!

    KATHLEEN...We have you entered! GOOD LUCK!

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  63. thanks for the interview and I have been dying to read one of Murray Pura's books and just can't afford to purchase any at the moment. Would love to win. Rhonda
    at rhonda_nash_hall@comcast.net

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  64. Awesome Cover and sounds like a wonderful book would love to add it to my self to read and review.... Thanks for a chance to do so.

    Kim J.
    breathoflifebookreviews@yahoo.com

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  65. When I finished the review I was wishing that I had the book in my hand so I can find out what happens! Thank you for the chance to win it!!
    samanthaakuiper(at)gmail(dot)com

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  66. RHONDA...thanks for stopping by. GOOD LUCK in the drawing!

    Rev. KIM... thanks for coming by. Good Luck in the drawing.

    SAMANTHA...GOOD LUCK in the drawing, hope you get to read it soon. :)

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  67. THANKS EVERYONE FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT & INTEREST! BLESS YOU ALL!

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  68. Hi, Herma Shelton, every time I enter I end up being an anonymous, cause I am probably doing something wrong. Anyway, I would love to win a copy of this book. I want to find out what happened to the children, did they make the journey ok, and did...oh, I want to know to much. Hope I win. Herma Shelton jshelton@foothills.net

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  69. HI, HERMA - thanks for your interest in my books - bless you! - I will tell them you want to be sure you are entered! :o)

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  70. Great review, would love to read the book! The thought of you with your mouth open with surprise was quite amusing!

    thumbelinda03@yahoo.com

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  71. HERMA and LINDA, thanks for coming by. Good luck in the drawing!

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  72. Cheers, LINDA - maybe your mouth will open too?? LOL!

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  73. please enter me in drawing .... i have a shelf that is ready for all of your books !!!!!! Thanks Murray


    DixieB517@aol.com

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  74. I would love to win one of Murray's books. I keep trying. godleyv at yahoo[dot]com

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