The Lost Years of Billy Battles by Ronald E. Yates
Series: Finding Billy Battles Trilogy
Published by Mill City Press Genres: Action, Adventure, Award Winning Fiction, Historical Fiction, Inspirational
Format: Kindle, Paperback
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The Lost Years of Billy Battles: Book 3 in the Finding Billy Battles Trilogy by Ronald E. Yates

Synopsis:

As Book Three of the Finding Billy Battles trilogy begins it is 1914 and Billy 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 grapple with an assortment of German spies, Mexican revolutionaries, devious political operatives, and other malefactors.
Subsequently, tragedy strikes and Billy vanishes leaving family and friends to wonder what happened to him. Where is he? Is he dead or alive? What provoked his decades-long disappearance? In The Lost Years of Billy Battles, those questions are answered, and the mystery behind Billy’s inexplicable disappearance is ultimately revealed.

Review:

The Lost Years of Billy Battles by Ronald E. Yates is a remarkable, must-read story which has won some excellent notable awards (listed below).

Finding Billy Battles trilogy, The Lost Years of Billy Battles by Ronald E. Yates is a moving account of one man’s remarkable later years that include his fascinating experiences and profound life lessons.

The year is 1914 and after a chaotic past, Billy has finally settled down into a quiet and peaceful life with his second wife, The Baroness Katharina von Schreiber. Their laid-back lives are suddenly disrupted by a call from a brigadier general in the US Army whom Billy has served with before. In spite of their apprehension, Billy and Katharina leave for Mexico to serve as secret agents. Life in Veracruz is marked with danger at every turn as Billy and Katharina navigate through the swarm of dangerous German agents, political insurgents, and pirates. Billy’s hair-raising adventures move from Mexico to the US-Mexico border where he encounters leaders of the Mexican Revolution. His escapades continue and for a long time, he disappears in the hope of keeping his family safe.

Proficiently written, The Lost Years of Billy Battles is a gripping novel that is told through detailed observations made from the perspective of the main character, Billy Battles. His petrifying adventures reveal parts of American history, especially those that occurred at the beginning of the 20^th century. The work remains absorbing to the very end not settling too long on any of the events in the book. The characters are vividly described and their unique personalities are brought out. Some have a sense of humor, others are cunning, while others stand out because of their loyalty. Billy’s keen scrutiny of the people around him offers an in-depth description of the characters. The story is also enhanced by the language that is used in the conversations which transports back to the era in which the story is written. Amidst the palpable action in the work, an overall look into the story reveals well-established themes of friendship, family, loss, and love.

A heartfelt novel whose scenes continue to linger in the mind long after completing reading the book, The Lost Years of Billy Battles by Ronald E. Yates carefully incorporates the events of the time it is set in while telling a powerful story. A remarkable must-read story and highly recommended by Artisan Book Reviews. 5 Big Stars!