OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Hyde's Corner" by J B Bergstad.]

Revenge is something that cannot be taken lightly.

When Silas Burks packs up his family and heads out to No Man’s Land in the late 1800s, he expects to find himself a parcel of land and rustle up a herd of wild cattle for a new beginning. Although not everything goes to plan, he is able to settle near other ranchers in Oklahoma territory. With their help and expertise, he and his family begin to prosper. They fight off bandits and cattle-snatchers, but the biggest threat comes with the arrival of the Hyde family. The Hydes are ruthless and unwelcome, despite being a necessity for the small town’s growth.

As the town flourishes, relations between the Hydes and the Burks stagnate. It seems that all of the Burks’ good fortune is slowly being siphoned and transferred to the Hydes. Selmer Burks grows up watching his father’s hatred and is determined to find proof. Proof of malconduct. Proof that simple bad luck is not enough to ruin an entire family. Proof that will allow him to take his revenge.

Hyde’s Corner spans several decades, from the early 1870s to the 1930s. It not only focuses on the changes in each family, but also the changes that Hyde’s Corner experiences as it grows from a small collection of cattle farmers into a veritable city, worthy of a stop on the new Western railroads. The changes in technology and the historical events that affected the lives of the farmers, every little detail added so much to the story.

I have to admit, I was hooked from the first chapter. Hyde’s Corner is by no means a light read, with the gritty intensity of a Western lifestyle detailed honestly on each page. The blows came as often as the blessings for each of the characters, of whom there are a plethora. The novel does not just focus on the Hydes and the Burks, but on the Hyde’s Corner community as a whole.

I was completely delighted with this novel, and give it 4 out of 4 stars. The pacing, characters, and historical details were absolutely perfect. My only complaint would be that there were a few typos and grammatical errors scattered throughout the book, but they did not distract from the story too much. The book is part of a trilogy, and I honestly dare you to read the first book without wondering what happens next.

I would recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction, especially those interested in the Wild West. I also recommend it for fans of gritty, intense novels. However, readers should be warned that there is a lot of violence and mention of rape and substance abuse.

******
Hyde's Corner
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Like katiesquilts's review? Post a comment saying so!

Hello,

I would like to thank Katie who quilts for her review of Hyde's Corner - Book I - No Man's Land. Katie did a fine, workwoman like job with this review which was frank, open and pointed out the books good points as well as the questionable, i.e.: typo mistakes and grammatical error. The latter unfortunately is not surprising to me as I barely got through English classes in High School, which I only attended through about half of the tenth grade. I'm primarily self-taught and I'm sure it shows in a lot of my work. I just wanted to thank Katie who quilts and tell her how much I appreciate her four out of four star review ... it is sincerely appreciated. I have hard copies of the first and second books of the trilogy. If Katie, or anyone else, would like a copy I would be happy to send Books I & II along free of charge for as long as they last for your kindness and your offer of reviews for Indie authors.
Best Regards to all,
Jim Bergstad

captflash80 wrote:Hello,

I would like to thank Katie who quilts for her review of Hyde's Corner - Book I - No Man's Land. Katie did a fine, workwoman like job with this review which was frank, open and pointed out the books good points as well as the questionable, i.e.: typo mistakes and grammatical error. The latter unfortunately is not surprising to me as I barely got through English classes in High School, which I only attended through about half of the tenth grade. I'm primarily self-taught and I'm sure it shows in a lot of my work. I just wanted to thank Katie who quilts and tell her how much I appreciate her four out of four star review ... it is sincerely appreciated. I have hard copies of the first and second books of the trilogy. If Katie, or anyone else, would like a copy I would be happy to send Books I & II along free of charge for as long as they last for your kindness and your offer of reviews for Indie authors.
Best Regards to all,
Jim Bergstad

Thank you! I'd say that you were able to create a wonderful masterpiece, despite your weaknesses. I genuinely enjoyed your novel, and would be more than willing to review the second book in the trilogy as well!

What a great review for what looks like an interesting book! You gave such a clear picture of what the book is about, and highlighted the things that made the story special. Well done.

bookowlie wrote:What a great review for what looks like an interesting book! You gave such a clear picture of what the book is about, and highlighted the things that made the story special. Well done.

Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

I love stories that show the way families change and the impact of their surroundings on them as well. "Hyde's Corner" sounds like an interesting read.

I'll be happy to post a copy of the manuscript or better yet set up a link where you can read Book II if you like or I can send a copy to your catlnthehat address here. What's your pleasure?

Thanks,
Jim

This sounds like a book I would enjoy--thanks for the great review!