Thawed Out & Fed Up by Ryan Brown - Review

Thawed Out & Fed Up
Author: Ryan Brown
Publisher: Gallery Books; Original edition (October 4, 2011)
Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN: 9781439171561
Also available in eBook format

About the Book:

Sam Bonham—bad husband, deadbeat dad, and possible criminal on the run from the law—wanders out of modern-day East Texas into an ersatz Wild West boomtown created for a movie that never happened.  And when Sam strikes a blow against the gangsters who’ve been terrorizing the town, the locals look to him to save them. He’s no hero, but he’s stumbled upon someone who is: John Wayne. But the John Wayne of this story is not the stalwart lawman of Hollywood films—he’s a seventy-two-year-old man who had himself cryogenically frozen.  He’s weak, bald, frail…and unrecognizable to everyone but Sam.

In The Duke’s “defrosted” state, he’s not entirely himself.  In fact, he believes he’s actually Ethan Edwards, the character he played in The Searchers, one of Wayne’s most beloved films. Ethan or Duke or Marion Morrison, at his side Sam learns how to be a man, and a hero—and a pretty good shot! As he takes on the Old West gang of thugs, he finds that he might have become a family man at last. But back in the real world, someone has his eye on Sam’s wife, and if Sam doesn’t get back soon, the results could be devastating. 

My Thoughts:

Ryan Brown knows how to entertain his audience. He writes with a style that is both fun as well as humorous, and that, to me, is what makes his books a great read.

In "Thawed Out & Fed Up", the main character, Sam Bonham is pathetic - a drunk and a total loser. He's a character you just like to dislike, but at the same time, you can't help but feel just a bit sorry for him. As time goes on, your dislike changes... discovering Sam isn't so bad after all - he's just flawed, and you know flawed heroes make the best ones.

Sam's sidekick and mentor, appears on the scene, just like he fell out of the sky. Oh wait... He did! That mentor adds a little fantasy that gives the story a fun twist. With "The Duke" teaching Sam a thing or two, this tale of redemption has a lesson to learn: putting the needs of others before your own. A lesson we could all use at one time or another.

This book will appeal to both the male and female reader. I does contain some adult language and situations that might not be suitable for the younger audience, however, it would be a great read for the older teen through adult.

About Ryan Brown:


Following his graduation from the University of Oklahoma, with a degree in film studies, he moved to New York, where he went on to study theatre at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Within months of arriving in New York, he was cast in the role of Bill Lewis on the CBS Daytime Drama, Guiding Light - a role he would play for the next three years.

Ryan relocated to Los Angeles and landed the role of Billy Abbott on CBS's The Young and the Restless.

Following his tenure on The Young and the Restless, he returned to New York and continued working as an actor, appearing on Law and Order: SVU, and starring in two feature films for Lifetime Television.

It was also during this time that he decided to try his hand at fiction writing. It wasn't long before he was writing full-time. Within two years, he completed the manuscript for PLAY DEAD, his first published title.

If you would like to learn more about Ryan or his work, you can visit him at: http://ryanbrownauthor.com On his website you will find a more in-depth biography, videos, photos, etc.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher to read and honestly review.