Taos Lightning, Johnny D. Boggs
Taos Lightning, Johnny D. Boggs
List: $16.95 | Sale: $11.87
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Taos Lightning

Author: Johnny D. Boggs

Narrator: Michael Crouch

Unabridged: 7 hr 35 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/05/2018

Categories: Fiction, Western


Synopsis

Fifteen-year-old Evan Kendrick has traveled from New Mexico Territory to Galveston with his father, Edward, who will be competing in a horse race that’s offering a $3,000 prize to the winner. But a terrible accident seriously injures Evan’s drunken father, forcing Evan to saddle up instead.This is no ordinary race. Running from Texas to New England, its course is eighteen hundred miles—maybe even longer—and Evan will be riding a barely half-broke mustang stallion that he and his father caught. He’ll be competing against all breeds of horses, ridden by professionals and amateurs from across the world.Although Evan has learned a lot about horses from his father, Edward has also taught his son that horses are good for nothing—“You ride one to death, you get another and do the same.”Luckily, but somewhat reluctantly, the race’s chief veterinarian, Patrick Jack, takes Evan under his wing. But a horse doctor can teach a hot-headed teenager only so much.For six weeks, Evan Kendrick will learn a lot about horses, riding, friendship, life—and himself. He’ll form alliances with two of his competitors, a Negro Seminole Indian scout named Dindie Remo and a hard-drinking young woman, Arena Lancaster, whose life has been harder than even young Evan’s. Evan will make enemies, too. He’ll see new country, and he’ll discover what America can offer, both good and bad. But to win this race—to even survive it—Evan will have to put his trust in a tough stallion the color of trader’s whiskey: a mustang named Taos Lightning.

About Johnny D. Boggs

Johnny D. Boggs has worked cattle, been bucked off horses, shot rapids in a canoe, hiked across mountains and deserts, traipsed around ghost towns, and spent hours poring over microfilm in library archives—all in the name of finding a good story. He has won nine Spur Awards, making him the all-time leader in Western Writers of America’s history.

About Michael Crouch

Michael Crouch is an actor based in New York City. His audiobook narration has won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration, numerous Earphones Awards from AudioFile magazine, and Best of the Year accolades from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. He can also be heard on national commercials, cartoons, video games, and the animé series Pokémon XY and Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Frank on July 18, 2020

A great coming-of-age take by a great author Another nomination for awards as Boggs congers a great story from an oft rumored horse race, where being fast wasn't as important as endurance. Boggs also shows the importance of picking good friends and shunning those who mean you harm.......more

Goodreads review by Gerald on November 27, 2022

This is another good book from author J D Boggs. It is about a fictional horse endurance race from Texas to New England as sponsored by a publisher to attract new readers. At first I did not think this could be interesting, however, the author proved me wrong. The manuscript moved quickly, had execl......more

Goodreads review by Hazel L. Strickland on July 22, 2020

What a race! This is a story about a boy becoming a man and the lessons he learns along the way. Compassion, friendship, gratitude, honesty, faithfulness, and grit all play a part in this heart wrenching race.......more


Quotes

“Another instant page-turner…Don’t put down the book until you finish it.” Tony Hillerman, New York Times bestselling author, on Killstraight

“Johnny D. Boggs is indeed one of the top writers of this genre.” True West, praise for the author