"This is a place of healing."
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Kingman 1971 Part III: Kingman Ranch by Gary Reeves Trafford Publishing
book review by Dylan Ward
On his first night home, a severe thunderstorm jolts awake, Brent Kingman, who in his mind believes he is back in the hellish combat of the Vietnam War. His wife, Jamaica, is there by his side and together they begin to traverse the nuances of marriage and overcoming dark pasts. And so begins Gary Reeve's third novel in the Kingman series, about a special place where the Kingman men hold a shared bond of combat and together can protect their families. Haunted by the memories of war, the Kingman men have sworn to provide a place of shelter for their wives, children, and one another, each scarred by personal trauma. But Kingman Ranch is a place for spiritual healing, and Sam Kingman and his wife, Anna, helps the other families to ensure that no one is alone and everyone is a part of this safe haven. And when a mysterious group of men threatens the sanctity of the ranch, the Kingman men are called to protect what they hold most sacred.
This is a novel that can be read without prejudices of war or the ramifications of it. It is a story about people who are damaged, but able to find a way to heal from their dark pasts. War is not glorified nor is it presented in graphic or disturbing detail, but rather used only to highlight and deepen the history and characters of each of the men of Kingman Ranch. Reeves, a combat veteran and counselor, uses his own expertise in the field of spiritual healing to craft a novel that demonstrates the positive power of love and support of friends and family. It is recommended reading the first two novels in the series to gain a better appreciation of the story and characters.