Coal by J. Jason Grant, when the book starts we find Coal’s mama and sister Rebecca along with his six-year-old self tied up in a barn right before Mr. Pennington sold the only family he had. before they were taken away he gave them the only thing he could and that was a promise to kill the man who separated them. As Coal grew up Mr. Pennington although not a nice master taught him to read right do sums and on his 13th birthday gave him a gun. It didn’t take long for Mr. Pennington to see the boy was not only fast but faster than him. whenever they visited Mr. Pennington‘s hometown Coal stayed with the Swedish family the Mumford’s who he come to love like parents but soon the day came where he would have to fulfill the promise he gave to his mother and sister and he did it with no remorse. Even when he found out his master gave him his freedom and all his belongings he was just happy to be free. as a traveler Coal bowed down to no one and anyone who tried to stop his independence died from lead poisoning at the end of his gun. A lot of things happen in the book but soon he finds happiness with Lita and even has two children Koledo and autumn. He loved his in-laws his wife his children but then someone came from his past and almost ruined it all leaving Coal to seek revenge. let me just say this gunslinger has a way of making men die more than once an OMG some of it I just couldn’t take as far as westerns go this was a really good one it’s totally entertaining fast paced heart palpitating Western action. I thought Santana was such a great character and Coal is definitely someone you want to root for. This is a book I definitely recommend if you love great westerns you’ll love this book.#NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #JJasonGrant, #Coal,

A pow of a novel about Coal, who becomes a gunslinger on a mission, This was originally published in 1978 and the time has not lessened its impact. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read especially for fans of westerns.

I wanted to like this but I had a hard trying to get into this story. I think I decided that it wasn’t for me and that’s alright.

Oh my, this book right here gave me the holy wow factor! I thought I was going to just read a cookie cutter gunslinging black cowboy book...absolutely not! Not only is Coal one bad MF, he gives zero cares about anyone who messes with him and his family. This book takes Coal from being a slave captive boy in Texas to a gunslinging set out for straight revenge adult. The pain, grief and misery that he endures and inflicts is something that no one should ever have to deal with. These feelings drive Coal and this entire novel. I loved that the author stayed committed and true to Coal's strong character!
Ugh, unfortunately the super fast romance between Coal and Alita was disappointing, I would've enjoyed it if their relationship was a tad bit more drawn out more, that would make it more believable. Next the amount of gore kind of put me in shock factor because I wasn't expecting it, but it fits the story and the timeline well. Overall this was a wonderful, gripping and gut busting work of historical western fiction.