Montana Books

Originally published in 1925 as Volume I of Granville Stuart's classic Forty Years of the Frontier, this book is based on his reminiscences and journals. The opening chapter reviews his early years in Virginia, Illinois, and Iowa; the narrative proper begins in 1852 when the eighteen-year-old Stuart headed for California with his father and his brother James. ("There was not a habitation from the Missouri river until the small settlement of Salt Lake was reached; nor one from Salt Lake until the Sierra Nevada mountains were crossed.") The volume covers his experiences in California, including an account of the Rogue River War, and describes how - almost fortuitously - he was able to confirm rumors of gold in present-day Montana. Because they lacked equipment and supplies, the Stuart brothers were unable to cash in on their find until 1860; during the interim they were traders along the emigrant road near Fort Bridger. After 1860 Stuart became a permanent resident of Deer Lodge; in 1864, thanks in great part to his efforts, Montana became a United States territory.

"Here are the incidents and characters for the making of endless novels - pioneers, trappers, squaw men, braves, prospectors, vigilantes, gold seekers, cowboys and cattle barons, sketched against the tremendous scenic background of the high Rockies." - New York TImes

"The odyssey of a nineteenth-century Ulysses." - New York Evening Post

Also available in a Bison Book edition: Pioneering in Montana: The Making of a State, 1864-18887 (BB 648) Volume II of Forty Years on the Frontier.

Cover design by Jack Brodie

If you grew up gobbling down books about inspiring, independent women with pioneer spirit, you will enjoy reading this loving and learned biography of the author's grandmother born in 1865. Ms. Litz' research fleshes out the economic and social circumstances only slightly apparent in the books of our youth. Lillian Weston Hazen was a successful syndicated columnist in New York City in the late 1900s when she married a promising, rich Dartmouth graduate. The Depression of 1893 bankrupted them and dried up job prospects in the East. The only position her husband could find was bookkeeper for a mining company in a rough frontier town called Gilt Edge near Lewistown, Montana. Despite tremendous physical hardships and economic setbacks, they made a life for themselves and a surviving son where many were ground down and dropped out. Despite heavy ranch labor, Lillian carved out time to write and published in Scribners and some farming journals. Her lasting legacy will turn out to be the trunk of diaries and clippings that Joyce Litz found in 1949 following her death.

Unknown to each other two hardcases are heading into Judgement Creek. One on the run and in need of money, the other after vengeance. Here their trails will cross in a twisting drama of love, hate, double-cross, cowardice and murder. At the centre of it all is the long-standing, respected sheriff - a lawman who is as yet untested.

A story that begins almost gently as we are introduced to the main players of this tale. The author takes care with his characterizations, their backgrounds, giving the reader enough to believe they are the people they're painted to be, yet gives a few little hints that some, or all, may not be quite who they seem.

The story builds well through a couple of killings and the ensuing manhunt which leads to the so far separate incidents becoming entwined in a tangle that doesn't have a clear and easy outcome that's obvious to the reader.

The story has a tough and brutal conclusion that's not without surprises that left me feeling well satisfied of having read a good book.

Charles Langley Hayes knows how to tell a great story, is author I shall be looking for more from.

Recommended.

Story is excellent - characters good - my cover is better than the one shown -- with my favorite guy model.

Lucius, Montana -- home of the Golightly's and Runyans.

Sheriff Shane Golightly has a twin brother, Stu and a divorced sister, Evie and her three children and father, Beau, who is the preacher.

Laurel Runyan is home to bury her father. She has not been home in twelve years, since the night that Shane had left her and her mother died.
She was barely eighteen and he was twenty three and they had been sneaking around and ended up in the neighbor's barn. Where their hormones took over.

Laurel had a mental break-down and was sent to a sanitorium in Colorado and never returned. She couldn't remember what happened after Shane left.

Now she has trouble trusting Shane when she realized that he has been home for about five years. She had never thought to return but couldn't go through with her marriage when she received the word that her father had died.
He gets away with tickling his itch - she has kept herself clean for the past twelve years. Good for her.

These two people have problems with a strong attraction - indecision - non-commitment - and the past to deal with.

An excellent story - characters that are emotionally messed up - great secondary characters - and my cover is better than your cover.[g]

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED --m [think I will keep the cover].

This is a fine collection of 86 black-and-white photographs taken by photographer Joanne Berghold at small town rodeos around Montana in the 1990s and early 2000s. Unlike the commercialized rodeo to be seen in today's PRCA circuit, these local rodeos capture the spirit of the sport as it emerged in the early 20th century -- a family-oriented affair that brought the whole rural community together for a once-a-year celebration. Look at these pictures, and what you often see instead of covered bleachers and flashy corporate sponsor billboards is a wire arena fence with trucks and cars pulled up to it and open prairie or hills beyond. The parking lot is grass-covered, and horse trailers are parked under the trees.

The opening images set the tone of the book -- gravel roads with grass and weeds right to the edges, leading to a low horizon, where clouds drift in a big sky, a veil of rain falling into a distant mountain ridge. Then in the photographs that follow there's the contrasting activity of small town life, strung out along a treeless main street, and the gathering of people at the rodeo grounds.

A cowboy in black hat, wranglers and spurs checks out the draw for the events posted on the side of a trailer, a young girl practices roping a hay bale, hats are placed over hearts in the grandstands and in the crow's nest for the Pledge of Allegiance, horses in the dusty light move into a holding pen, a cowboy bows his head in prayer on the top rail of a chute over a saddled bronc, riders one after another take spills off bucking rough stock. The arena itself may be dusty dirt or waterlogged mud. A roper waits, eyes set in concentration, a piggin string clamped in his mouth under a full mustache; a young bulldogger skids boots first in the dirt, his arms locked around the horns of a calf. There are team ropers, barrel racers, young bull riders taping up, and bullfighters in clown makeup. In the end, buckles are awarded to the winners, cowboys head out with war bags over their shoulders, and horses move up loading chutes into a trailer.

The book is a tribute to a western tradition and way of life, still close to its roots in the workaday world of ranchers and cowboys. It includes an essay by Kim Zupan, a gifted writer and former rough-stock rider. All photos were taken in Montana in rural small towns like Boulder, Belt, Wilsall, and Roundup.

This is a great romance novel. The characters are very memorable. The story is filled with intrigue and passion. The powerful Harrington clan are surrounded by intrigue and danger. A very touching love story involving a troubled young woman from an abusive home. I strongly recommend this novel. It's one I know I will reread.

Collaboratively compiled and edited by Montana historians Harry W. Friz, Mary Murphy, and Robert R. Swartout Jr. Montana Legacy: Essays On History, People, And Place is an impressive and informative anthology of sixteen essays discussing the various facets of Montana history ranging from birth control and prenatal care in rural Montana, to Montana's Clark-Daly Feud, to the Montana State Prison Riot of 1959. Black-and-white photographs and maps enhance this scholarly assessment of different aspects of the Montana's cultural and political evolution from the 1800's down to the twenty-first century. Montana Legacy is very highly recommended for American History reference collections, and especially Montana State History supplemental reading lists.

Our Montana Legend was not fully explained - just roughly hinted at. But then that is what a Legend is.

Young [how young] widow Sarah Redding would do anything to help heal her young daughter, Ella.

She was poor relation to her scoundrel, Uncle Milt, and fit only for what work he could get out of her.
He was bound and determined to have the boundary creek and the neighboring animal for his own.

Sarah was hoping and dreaming of finding another man to love, but he would have to love her in return.

She was dusty, dirty, and disheveled [and barefoot]"Well, heavens to betsy", working up the ground to plant a garden and into her life rode a rugged jewel of a man who could offer her everything -- except his heart!

Gage Gatlin and his daughter, Lucy was looking for a homestead or ranch in which to finally settle down. Gage knew that love was a fairy tale but there was something about Sarah that drew him. His meeting with Sarah was momentous, about to change his life and disrupt it.

Suddenly the two girls were best of friends and wanting to sisters. Sarah was falling in love with Gage but he could only offer devotion and desire -- his wounded heart and problems was just hinted at.

But he was a legend and too darn good looking for Sarah's taste. Gage had to find a way to keep Sarah around, he was finding it hard to keep his hands off her.

Discrepencies: Arabian horse in that day and age? And how can he jump on a horse bareback and without a bridle and get caught in a stampede of cattle and horses and be using a bridle to steady his horse??

Definitely a good story content but again back with the PMS [numerous times] and she doesn't get pregnant? Ah well, some fantasy.

Good Read - recommended --M Humorous exchanges between the two just reels you in.

If you're a historical western romance lover, this is the book to read! The three stories are great and the characters steal your heart!

Be sure not to miss the continuing story of Kincaid brother Brock in Gunslinger's Bride. You'll also enjoy Big Sky Brides! Two contemporary stories of sisters Suzanna and Diana Brennan and the historical western story of great-great grandparents, Isabelle and Kyle Running Horse Brennan.

This book shows how gentile love can be. It is a great book that will live with you long after the last page. The characters are wonderful and it shows how they trust their love to take over. He is a perfect man and he turns her from a rough lady into her sensitive side. It has a wonderful ending!! :o)