Shrake's story is interesting, but to compare this to Lonesome Dove is a serious mistake. While I think his portrayal of a a brutal time in a dangerous land is probably right on, his narration of the events sounds like something out of a Penthouse Forum. I don't mind the characters speaking in a vulgar way, but for the narrator to choose words that are clearly unneeded to develop the story is really too bad. I was disgusted for the last time within 100 pages of starting it and proceeded to do something I have never done - threw the book in the airport trashcan. Stick with Lonesome Dove - or Gates of the Alamo.