The Lost Years Of Billy Battles by Ronald E. Yates.
Finding Billy Battles Trilogy Book 3.
Where in the world is Billy Battles?
As Book Three of the Finding Billy Battles trilogy begins, we know where Billy is. He is in Chicago with his wife, the former Baroness Katharina von Schreiber living a sedate and comfortable life after years of adventure and tragedy. That changes with a single telephone call that yanks Billy and Katharina back into a life of havoc and peril.
Persuaded by a powerful old friend to go undercover for the U.S. government the two find themselves in Mexico during the height of the violent 1910-1920 revolution. There they encounter assorted German spies, Mexican revolutionaries, devious political operatives, and other malefactors. Caught in the middle of the 1914 American invasion of Veracruz, they must find a way out while keeping their real identities secret.
Later on, disaster strikes. It is a tragedy Billy is all too familiar with and one that will send him plummeting into a chasm of despair and agony. Then, Billy vanishes leaving family and friends to wonder what happened to him. Where is he? Is he dead or alive? What provoked his disappearance?
In Book 3 of the Finding Billy Battles Trilogy, those questions are answered, and the mystery behind Billy’s disappearance is ultimately revealed.
5 Stars: Remarkable Job Producing This Trilogy!
Saying goodbye to an old friend is always hard and that is how I feel as the “Finding Billy Battles Trilogy” comes to a close with book three titled “The Lost Years of Billy Battles”. The fictional Ted Sayles has done a remarkable job reading and producing this trilogy from more than a dozen journals written by his great grandfather Billy Battles. It is the historical significance woven skillfully within the element of fiction that makes this trilogy a must read for history buffs and fans of action and adventure novels.
After years of travel, relationships with foreign governments, wars of American making and wars forced upon us, not to mention the Chinese and Malay pirates; Billy and Katharina finally enjoy a few peaceful years where Billy is an editor for the Chicago Record-Herald and Katharina a successful author. It is inevitable that this serene period wouldn’t last forever. One phone call to go undercover will find them “caught in the middle of the 1914 American invasion of Veracruz”.
Just when danger subsides, I found myself holding my breath when the unthinkable happens. “Katharina wasn’t the one the five men were after. It was me. But when they couldn’t find me, they decided to take Katharina to use as bait. That was the first revelation. Next was who the men were. The man who had dragged Katharina out of the house was Mason Bledsoe, son of Nate Bledsoe, the man I had killed in 1889 on my family’s homestead in Western Kansas. When I heard the name, my knees buckled and my heart raced for a moment.” It was the ransom note that made Billy’s heart sink.
Of all the dangers Billy and Katharina had been exposed to in their life together, how will this one match up? When Billy is nowhere to be found, what reason will be uncovered? How will Billy Battle close the final chapter in his journal? Will Ted Sayles effort to canonize the legacy of his Great Grandfather Billy Battle live on for future generations?
There is no doubt in my mind that Author Ronald E. Yates’ extensive historical research, skilled character development and impeccable story telling has brought the reader to a successful conclusion in this thought-provoking trilogy. I invite you to read the entire “Finding Billy Battles Trilogy” as it portrays, as much a glimpse into history, as it does into one man’s life.
I loved The Lost Years Of Billy Battles (Finding Billy Battles Trilogy Book 3) by Ronald Yates as a final testimony to the life and times of Billy Battle.
Editorial Review and Endorsement by Book Marketing Global Network.
Review by A. William Benitez: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Like Walking Through History With A Good Friend. Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2020. Verified Purchase. My only regret with this trilogy is that it ended. The concise and down to earth first-person narrative captured me from the beginning of the first book, which I loved for its real characterization of Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp. Every book in the trilogy was like traveling through history with a good friend. I will definitely be checking out Yates other books.
Review by Heidi Mastrogiovanni: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. I loved all three of Ronald Yates’ books. Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2018. Verified Purchase. Why does a trilogy only have three books! I was absolutely heartbroken to see Billy Battles’ story end. I loved all three of Ronald Yates’ books. His prose is exquisite. He transports the reader to so many different times and places; it’s a cliché, but you really do feel as though you are there in all these distant places with the characters. The characters will stay with me always, especially Billy. The books in this trilogy are epic and absorbing. They are all page-turners. I never wanted any of them to end.
Review by CHERYL A. ADAMS: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Awesome!!! Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2018. Verified Purchase. These are great books that should be made into a movie! I see Tom Selleck in the title role! Wonderful history books!
Review by Helga Richards: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Five Stars! Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2018. Verified Purchase. A wonderful finish to this trilogy. Enjoyed all 3 Books.
Review by 5X Space Cadet: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Another Outstanding Glimpse of History and Our Checkered Past. Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2018. This well-written conclusion to the Billy Battles trilogy is its crown jewel. This series’ characters are so vivid and compelling it’s hard to believe that this is a work of fiction. Their involvement in the events of the late 19th and early 20th century brings history alive as well. The author has outdone himself in researching that era and many of the events of which only true history buffs would be aware. In doing so, he has performed a great service bringing them to readers’ attention because these various international skirmishes laid the foundation for much of the contention seen in today’s world.
As they say, victors are the ones who write history. It’s also true that what you hear in history class is based on what higher powers want people to believe and incorporate into their view of the world. There is nothing more enlightening than to see familiar situations from the other side of the fence. Through these novels, Ron Yates has done a stellar job of placing the reader in the middle of various international situations and, in the true spirit of journalism, objectively presenting both sides. Sadly, today there is so much bias in the news media that true journalism has virtually disappeared. But even before they stooped to fake news and blatant lies, the stories presented by the media were designed to maintain a certain mindset that fueled nationalism at its worst.
When the U.S.A. entered World War II, they were definitely invited. Western European countries still appreciate us for the victory made possible by our intervention. For example, to this day Luxembourg places a wreath every Veterans Day on George S. Patton’s grave, which is in a U.S. Military Cemetery within that country. However, there have been times when our actions were nothing less than intrusive, albeit based on self-protection. That is justifiable to a point, but once that goal is achieved, hanging around terrorizing other country’s native populations is flat-out wrong. If you’ve ever wondered why Mexico hates us, this book will provide some answers.
European colonialism, which we supported, is another thorn in the side of many countries, especially in Far East countries like Korea and Vietnam. Bringing our version of civilization to these foreign shores, which we were convinced to consider a favor, in many cases wasn’t. How we’ve treated indigenous populations in other lands is shameful and even persists to this day with regard to Native Americans.
Of course, America did not start this practice, which originated millennia ago. Not that long ago, we were a colony ourselves, who were being oppressed, which ultimately resulted in the American Revolutionary War. So, what did we do, but turn around and support colonization by those who had once been our enemy. When our borders or way of life are threatened, that’s one thing. If someone attacks us, we have the right to defend ourselves, but our intrusion into these other battles has often made us the invader. It’s no wonder that other countries fear us, and it spirals down from there. However, the world is now entangled in the unfortunate consequences of thousands of years’ worth of conquests. Cliché though it may be, it’s true that those who fail to learn from history are indeed doomed to repeat it.
I didn’t intend for this review to turn into a political essay. However, it demonstrates how effective this novel and its predecessor, “The Improbable Journeys of Billy Battles”, have been in enlightening me to some of the less than savory facts embedded in U.S. history, thanks to the exploits of Yates’s amazing characters. Their interaction with actual historical figures makes it all the more interesting and convincing. Astounding imagery puts you right in the thick of things, whether geographically or via the use of the conversational vernacular of the time. In more ways than I can count, this book is a masterpiece. Do yourself a favor and get started on this series today. You’ll not only be entertained but see the world in an entirely different way. Isn’t that what great fiction is all about?
Review by Raymond and Mary Berry: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Action! Adventure! National Secrets! Reviewed in Canada on September 5, 2018. Verified Purchase. I have now read the entire trilogy of Billy Battles adventures, I was riveted! I couldn’t put any of the books down, I read them one after another like a guilty pleasure! Billy Battles adventures included civil war in Viet Nam, then known as Con Chine/Indochina war with France, Spanish/America War, Philippines/American war, Mexican American skirmish-1917-1921 and a few other interesting points in history that I haven’t had the pleasure of reading about in this way…Ronald Yates, the author of this trilogy did quite a bit of research and used newspaper accounts of these moments in history to write about Billy Battles adventures based on true events. In recent times many readers I know have spent time reading about World War I, and the events surrounding the Great War, so it’s a nice to read about other world events that occurred a little closer to home, at the same time.
I would say to Ronald Yates. It would be great if you wrote about Battles great grandson, also a journalist, to find out what he did with the secrets Billy Battles left behind.
Review by Bill: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Brilliant! Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 14, 2018. Verified Purchase. Another fabulous episode in the story of Billy Battles! As with the previous book I read, I was quickly gripped and hated finishing the book because I wanted to read more. The action is sometimes bloody and violent but always exciting. this time he gets caught up in Mexico with revolutionaries as well as German spies. The author does a wonderful job of blending history with fiction. Back home, Battles’ family life is far from smooth, which gives balance to the book so he is not a one-dimensional action hero. A great end to a brilliant series.
Product Details:
Paperback: 412 Pages
Publisher: Mill City Press, Inc. (May 29, 2018)
Language: English
Historical Fiction
Action and Adventure
Customer Ratings:
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Author’s Page At Book Marketing Global Network:
https://bookmarketingglobalnetwork.com/book-marketing-global-network/author-ronald-e-yates/
