Arizona War
Colton Brothers Saga, No. 3
By Melody Groves

Rebel Raiders and Warriors wanting Blood –
The Coltons have No Choice but to Fight!

First Apaches, then Confederate Texans. The Colton brothers--James, Trace, and now Andy--must face not only their enemies, but their own personal demons. Driven to near madness by Apache brutality, nearly killing the sheriff, James chooses joining the Union Army over prison. Andy, the youngest brother, also joins, but only to keep James out of trouble. Trace, the oldest Colton, finds himself imprisoned by a sadistic Confederate officer and left alone to die.

t's Arizona Territory at the start of the Civil War, and the Colton brothers are caught in the middle of it. In the end, it's all up to James to save Union troops from an Apache attack--if he can summon the courage to face his old torturers and their leader, Cochise.

Set in 1861 ‘Arizona War’ by Melody Groves is a riveting read that’s brings alive frontier history when the civil war reached deep inside the American Southwest. Melody is the 2008 Winner of the Southwest Writers Parris Award

About the Author - Melody Groves, a native New Mexican, tried her hand at bull riding but soon discovered that writing about rodeo isn't nearly as hard as hitting the dirt. Still, she says, “If I were twenty years younger, I’d be a professional bull-rider!” Groves’ sense of adventure is not limited to the rodeo arena. As a member of the New Mexico Gunfighting Association, Groves and fellow sharp-shooters re-enact old west scenes every Sunday afternoon in Old Town Albuquerque. Her favorite roles are that of the latent villain. She enjoys shoot-outs with the sheriff, much to the audience’s delight! Her fascination with the Old West is undeniable. “I lived there,” she says. “Growing up in Las Cruces, I breathed the desert dust, listened to the coyotes, and explored ghost towns.”

At fifteen, Groves’ military family moved to the Philippines. At the height of the Vietnam War, she learned about living amidst another culture. Upon moving back to New Mexico after high school, Groves obtained a B.A. from New Mexico State University and a M.A. from the University of New Mexico, both in education. She taught middle and high school for twenty years before taking on writing full-time. Groves has written western novels under the pseudonym Mesa Dean and also writes screenplays and magazine articles. When not riding, shooting, and writing, Groves plays rhythm guitar in a band.

Melody was interviewed on our online history radio show, Way Back When on October 3, 2008. To listen to the entire, unedited show, please click here. To listen to Melody's interview, please double click on the Play Button below.