Desert Sunshine is no longer in print and not available from Publish America. Watch for the rewrite and sequel next summer.
Excerpt
"Hill needed killing. Ed accomodated him. It was as simple as that."
Professional Reviews
Midwest Book Review
Desert Sunshine by Reece Daniel
188 pages at 19.95 paperback
PublishAmerica
Desert Sunshine was an unanticipated gift where reading experiences are concerned. Reece Daniel tells this story almost tenderly, with a palpable respect for life and earth. Ed Adair is a retired police chief who returns to his boyhood home in Arizona. Raised on the reservation by his half Apache grandmother, Ed has nursed ill feelings all his life towards his mixed race heritage. His ice blue eyes earned him the nickname Blue Eyes, a name he considered taunting in childhood and finds derogatory as a man. It is clear from the outset that Ed may have the looks of a white man, but his spirit is Apache, through and through. When Ed is dry gulched and left near death by a long distance shooter, modern technology can do little to save him. Ed Adair the modern law officer lays comatose and dying in the present, while the Arizona Territory Ranger known as Blue Eyes wakes up in 1882. Arizona of the 1880s is far different from the one Ed knew in the 21st century. Primeval White Mountain forests still stand. Gone are the logged out rutted remnants Ed remembers from the future. Sweet nature scents blow in on desert winds to stir Ed's native spirit. Life is simple, full of wonder. Enemies are not disguised as friends in Arizona's past, and evil presents itself quite clearly. Men live and die by the gun without reprisal in the Arizona Territory. Ed fits right in, packing his .45 Colt Peacemaker and a high powered Sharps rifle. His vision quest as Blue Eyes introduces Ed to his Apache progenitors and ties past to future in unexpected and surrealistic ways. What makes Desert Sunshine work is the tender and poignant way this author crafts his tale. Yes, the story features a very masculine protagonist and macho action. Men are men and women are women and both are well aware of the difference in the best John Wayne and Gary Cooper style. But it is the heart and thoughts of the 1880s Blue Eyes, the half breed Apache finding truth and love that made this book stand out for me.
Review by Laurel Johnson for Midwest Book Review
Burton Gilliam Review
Burton "Bubba" Gilliam star of Blazing Saddles, Paper Moon, Dream West, Hearts of the West and many, many more movies kindly read and reviewed Desert Sunshine. This is what he had to say.
Hi Reece,
It has taken me three different starts but I finally finished your great story of the old West with its' lawmakers, lawbreakers and lawmen intertwined with modern day crimefighting. And then on into the future. I went out of town a couple of times for three days each and when I came home I had to start over from page one . Your description of each of the characters was such that I could actually see them in my minds eye. It's as much a love story as it is a tale of right and wrong. But the thing that really stands out (and I don't nearly understand it) is the tie, comparison, differences between Indian spiritualism and Christianity. We have a lot to talk about! Give me a holler when you have time and we'll get together for a long lunch and we can discuss your first piece of work... and where you go from here.
Bubba
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Reviews for "Desert Sunshine"
Reviewed by Chief Jim Mantle
8/6/2003
Hey Reece,
Sorry it took so long to get back with you but this police business has been busy as you well know. Now about your book. It was GREAT. No kidding, it was one of the most intresting writings I have read. I loved the way you described the COWBOY days. I am a gun nut and love to attend antique gun shows. Your description of the Sharps rifle and the ammunition was awsom. After I read Desert Sunshine, my best friend borrowed it and completly enjoyed it. We walk a couple of nights a week and have had some enjoyable conversations about the story. Maybe someday we will hav ethe opportunity to meet. I know I will look forward to it. Also, thank you for sending the autographed copy.
Peace,
Chief Jim mantle
Country Club Hills Police Department
St.Louis, Missouri
Reviewed by Cathrene Howe
3/5/2003
Reece,
Well the only thing I didn’t like about Desert Sunshine was I did not write it. Having said that, I wanted to let you know I enjoyed your story immensely. I traveled, via the pages, exploring a piece of the old west myself and Midnight was my mount. I think it is safe to say The Lone Ranger has been unmasked and his name is Ed Adair, or “Blue Eyes”.
It was a pleasure meeting and speaking with you recently and I wish you continued success with your writing.
This is the first book written by Reece Daniel, and he is to be commended for his effort. The story of a modern day Arizona Ranger going back in time to 1882, where he is again an Arizona Ranger, is a nice twist. I like time travel stories as well as westerns, so this fits the bill.
The story is generously laced with good descriptions and attention to detail; the comedy of the main character adjusting to life of over 100 years ago is great. The relationship of Native American spiritualism and Christianity is nicely portrayed, and there is plenty of action, too. I especially liked Waddie… the drunken side-kick.
Predictably, the main character almost gets caught in on of those “space-time continuum” paradoxes, but it all works out, and the end leaves you thinking there may be a sequel in the works.
Reviewed by Lisa Young
3/1/2003
Not really one to enjoy Westerns, I was surprised by my love of this book. The characters of Ed, Angelina, and even Waddie bring this story of a lawman taken back in time to life. Mr. Daniel writes beautifully as he intermingles a romance, a murder mystery, and his knowledge of Apache tradition into Desert Sunshine.
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