Wyoming Books

Alex and Nolan, close friends and single parents.
Another great read from Temte.

As with all the books in this series I was drawn in from the start.
I very much enjoyed the whole "Hearts of Wyoming" series. It makes
you want to be a part of this family.

This is a charming book about two best friends turned lovers who are struggling to raise their children!! When a movie crew comes to Sunshine Gap to film a movie, Alexandra McBride realizes her dreams of being an actress have not died. As she struggles to come to terms with her realization, she falls for her best friend!! I have read every book in the series and every book is as good as the last!! This book will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will stay on the keeper shelf for years!!

URBAN COWBOY is a delightful mix of western humor and poignant emotion as Nolan--a widowed LA attorney who dropped out of the rat race to raise his son in Wyoming--and Alex--a divorced Wyoming school teacher with Hollywood dreams--move from being best of friends to best of lovers. For every woman who's been caught between career and family, this book offers hope, laughter and a few tears, not to mention a demonstration of why horses should =not= be kept in the back yard! Enjoy!

I love this book. Centered on a cattle drive, Dan Parkinson weaves great characters, including a ghost, cowboy drama, and humor into a tale no one should miss.

This is yet another of Dan's marvelous Westerns. His characters are superb. His plots fascinating. And his humor is the best to keep you laughing and wishing to share with others! I laugh, cry and kiss the bucks goodbye with great joy on this one! I, too, would love to see this book (and many of his others) made into movies! You'll love these people... and appreciate what they went through. BUY DAN'S BOOKS....read them! He's an American treasure!

Perhaps my favorite Parkinson Book! A stirring, action packed adventure about a cattle drive with an unwanted guest. After finding a dead horse and Cowboy in a draw that looks to have died by lightening strike, a crew of Cowboys find a mysterious stranger wanting to join their outfit since he wants to get back to Wyoming. Once he joins the drive the comedy and adventure builds. I don't want to say too much to give the story away, but if you like westerns at all you will love this book. As usual, Parkinson adds his personal touch to the tale with comedy, adventure, and a touch of the super-natural. You'll never read a western like this one unless Parkinson rode it. Parkinson is a undiscovered gem with novels that would make terrific movies! Please don't miss this one, you will read it more than once.

I enjoyed the story of Hazard, the oldest Wilde brother of the Wyoming Wildes. This is the second book in the series and as good, if not better, than the previous book. Hazard is the least likely to gamble of the 3 brothers. The one most tied to the land. Cattle is his livelihood and his passion. And his cattle are dying for no apparent cause. When he seeks help, vet Dr. Ryan arrives. She is not what he expected but she is what he wants. This story flows smoothly, with an interesting cast and mystery to the end. I can hardly wait for the next brothers story.

This is a most enjoyable and romantic book. As a nurse, some of the medical stuff was not quite right, and was almost laughable. However, with all the romance, this was overshadowed. Any woman would love to have a prom night like that, with that date! Who would need the real thing? You have to read the book to know what that means, cause I'm not gonna spoil that little surprise! All in all, this was a well thought out, romantic book that I have read twice since buying it!

When Hazard Wilde's experimental herd begins yielding fatal results for unknown reasons, he calls in research specialist, Dr. Erin Ryan, under the advisement of a mutual mentor. He hopes that her objectivity and expertise will help him discover what is behind the unexplainable deaths that are occurring. Surprisingly enough, it is her heart that engages itself with this project and with it, her tenacity when it comes to finding out the cause.

I found Hazard, the middle brother, to be admirable, determined, and dedicated. He has a close affinity with the land and I really enjoyed looking at the Double W through his eyes because of his appreciation for what his father originally wanted for him and his brothers. It's what he struggles to hang on to and improve upon.

Erin Ryan was endearing as a heroine because of her naivete which was at such odds with her advanced mind. I've read of heroines who have been incredibly smart but have also been, as a result, incredibly insecure or hypersensitive about it as well. I think that Erin's naivete was refreshing. Her lack of consuming bitterness towards the childhood that shaped her was engaging as well.

Langan has drawn two wonderfully isolated characters towards each other with skill, compassion, and heart. It's a wonderful story that conveys the sense that, even for people who are socially withdrawn, there is someone who can understand you and whom you can come to understand in turn.

This is the book for the best and most concise and interesting "guide" history of Jackson's Hole. I have been an interpretive guide in Jackson's Hole for 6 years and I use the stories in this book to help folks understand the story of the area.

This is a well-written history of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, from its geography to the concerns its residents have today about unlimited growth. Robert Betts writes about the earliest explorers, the coming of the fur trappers, early settlers, homesteaders, the development of the dude ranch, and the bitter debates that eventually led to the formation of Teton National Park. More detailed chapters include fascinating accounts of John Colter, perhaps the first white man to view the Tetons; thumbnail sketches of some of the more famous mountainmen criss-crossing Jackson Hole before the Civil War; some local legends involving the likes of Nick Wilson and Beaver Dick; the disastrous and foolish Doane expedition along the Snake River in the winter of 1876; the summer (1883) President Chester A. Arthur visited the area with members of his cabinet to hunt and fish; the problems the sheepmen faced when they came to the valley; and the recent settlers who display the rugged individualism of their ancestors. Though relating the history of the Jackson Hole area, Betts is just as concerned with presenting a captivating and entertaining narrative, which he succeeds in doing marvelously. Many illustrations grace the text. Anyone with any interest in the Jackson Hole area will find this book worth reading.

In this, the second book of the "A Place Called Home" mini-series, Patricia McLinn works out the second part of a curse that has haunted the Susland family for five generations. Indeed, this generation is the last hope for ending the curse.

Colonel John Griffin Junior, Grif, always accepts tough, smart assignments intended to advance his career. Advancing quickly through the ranks, Grif forms no personal ties or commitments that could waylay his career. So when Grif declines an opportunity to join the White House liaison team and request leave instead, he seemingly acts totally out of character. Truthfully, his heart formed ties that he abandoned fifteen months ago. Failing miserably to regain control of his heart, Grif doesn't return to Far Hills Ranch until his aunt's letters inform of the rough situation the object of his desire has endured.

Married life hadn't been all she wanted it to be, but Ellyn tried hard to make her husband Dale happy. When he served notice that he was giving her one last chance before he divorces her, Dale moved his family back to Far Hills Ranch. Ellyn was unsuccessful in contacting her childhood friend, and her husband's best friend, Grif before the move. As a result, following Dale's unexpected death, she and her children felt terribly abandoned by the man who had once been indispensable in all of their lives.

When Grif returns to far Hills Ranch, both he and Ellyn must face the extraordinary attraction between them. They also must overcome the past-other's words, and their own guilt and pain if they wish to forge a relationship. While both are determined to keep their hearts under control, they very well may learn that we are all at the heart's command.

With a flair and style unique to this storyteller's pen, McLinn creates a believable world of love and family with the "A Place Called Home" miniseries. In a family plagued by unexpected death, ending the curse promises a new future for all the Suslands. The first part of the curse was lifted in LOST AND FOUND GROOM, and a satisfying conclusion is reached in HIDDEN IN A HEARTBEAT. Reading the books either separate or together is guaranteed to satisfy lovers of the western romance. Highly recommended!

I loved the first book in this series (Lost and Found Groom) and now I'm looking forward to the third (Hidden in a Heartbeat) even more. The premise tying them together is a legend, and a curse, and a continuing cast of warm, wonderful characters. The best thing about At the Heart's Command? It gave me a whole new appreciation of hanging up laundry!!!

This book, a first-hand account of the Johnson County War in Wyoming that pitted big-ranch cattlemen against settlers and homesteaders, has a storied history. A. S. Mercer does not assume the role of an objective historian here, but rather is bitterly opposed to the cattlemen and their tactics used against inflooding settlers; he lays his cards on the table when he writes, "The invasion of the state of Wyoming by a band of cut-throats and hired assassins in April 1892 was the crowning infamy of the ages. Nothing so cold-blooded, so brutal, so bold and yet so cowardly was ever before recorded in the annals of the world's history." Because of this impassioned attack and his willingness to name names (some in very high places), the book was attacked upon publication, banned, burned, declared to be obscene, and stolen off the shelves of libraries (even the Library of Congress "lost" its copyright copies). Fortunately some copies escaped destruction.

Simply put, the problems in eastern Wyoming involved the large cattle interests - cattlemen who had used for decades the vast expanses of wide-open lands to free-range their cattle - and "invading" homesteaders who were settling along the best of these lands (usually river bottoms), fencing in their claims, and frequently rustling the cattle they found wandering the countryside (Mercer downplays this cattle stealing, which was the major concern of the cattlemen). Feeling ignored by the legal system, the cattlemen took matters into their own hands, hired a number of "hitmen" in Texas, and plotted the murder of settlers who they felt represented the biggest threat to their interests. A few ranches were attacked, Nate Champion and Nick Ray of the KC Ranch south of Buffalo were murdered, but then the tide turned and the citizens of Johnson County rose up against the vigilantes. Ironically, the US Army was called in to protect these "invaders," and by escorting them out of the county allowed most of them the opportunity to escape prosecution. The "war" and its aftermath created much controversy, legally and financially, perhaps the most interesting being the "disappearance" before trial was to take place of the chief witness to the murder of Champion and Ray.

An important feature of this edition is the 40-page Forward by William H. Kittrell that tempers some of Mercer's emotionally charged claims and helps to set the record more on an even keel. Although often written about, the Johnson County War was more a tempest in a teapot than a defining historical event, mainly because little changed as the result of it; Mercer's declaration of the event as "the crowning infamy of the ages" is a gross exaggeration. His exaggeration, however, is not in the depictions he describes, but in his interpretations. The book is a classic in literature about the West, and Mercer is as feisty and opinionated as any westerner ever was.

The Banditti of the Plains, by A. S. Mercer

The 'Foreword' by William H, Kittrell gives a history of this censored book. Although Mercer escaped alive, the shop that printed it went out of business after its owner was jailed (p.xvi). Asa Mercer once sat on the lap of Congressman Abe Lincoln, graduated from Franklin University, and migrated to the Northwest Territory. He became the first president of the University of Washington. In 1864 he aided the migration of marriageable young women from Lowell Massachusetts (p.xxi). Mercer encouraged immigration to Washington Territory. Mercer later lived in Oregon and Texas, then moved to Wyoming in 1883. "Banditti" is a now obscure term for highwaymen who robbed travelers; the cattle barons of Wyoming and their imported Texas mercenaries would be better called terrorists today. The corporate owners and their hired killers sought to exterminate the homesteaders and small ranchers of Wyoming to steal their property. The cattle barons owned the governor and senators, who passed laws to give the cattlemen incredible power: they could seize and sell the cattle of anyone they called a "rustler". "Rustler" defines a person who is "energetic, smart, and successful"; a "go-getter". The cattle barons only wanted the lands that were next to their lands.

The 'Introductory' by Mercer explains how the pasturage of this area was discovered by accident (pp.5-6). Corporations were formed to raise cattle. The boom was followed by a bust after the long winter of 1886-1887. Pages 7 to 9 explain the economics behind this industry. Mismanagement caused declining dividends; they sought a scapegoat. Mercer wonders if the losses were caused by local management diverting stock and pocketing the money. Mercer points out there is less stealing and lawlessness in the West than back East base on the rate of the prison population (p.10). [Does this relate to the rate of owner-operators against wage-earners?] Mercer acknowledges that fencing the range adversely affected the free movement of cattle (p.13). [Should settlements of people be discouraged to benefit the cattle barons?]

The first victims of the cattle barons were Jim Averill and Ella Watson in July 1889. Next came the killing of Waggoner in June 1891 (leaving a wife and two small children). An attack on Nate Champion failed in November 1891 (pp.22-23). Next they ambushed and killed Orley Jones and J. A. Tisdale (pp.24-25). The cattle barons then decided to send in a small army of hired gunmen and organized an invasion (Chapter III). A propaganda campaign published stories in Eastern newspapers. The laws of Wyoming made it illegal to hire a body of gunmen without legal authorization (p.42). The cattle barons planned to kill the Sheriff and deputies, some of the County Commissioners, then run amok to get rid of the homesteaders and small ranchers (pp.47-48).

The invasion of Wyoming began in April 1892. They took a detour to attack the KC ranch and kill Ray and Nate Champion. They succeeded this time, but travelers now carried a warning to Buffalo. Sheriff Angus formed a posse of 200 armed citizens to come after the invaders (Chapter VI). The invaders then retreated to the TA ranch for their defense. Sheriff Angus discovered the murders of Champion and Ray. After two days of siege the cavalry from Fort McKinney showed up and captured the cattlemen's gang. Colonel Van Horn refused to surrender these criminals for trial! The Acting Governor prevented Sheriff Angus from arresting these killers (Chapter IX). Chapter X tells how two witnesses to the murder were taken out of state. Would the cattle barons kill one of their employees to advance their agenda (Chapter XI)? One Presidential lie is on pages 117-118. The cattle barons tried to muzzle the press (Chapter XII). When the trial began in Jan 1893, the judge ordered the charges dismissed (Chapter XIV)! The farce was over, but it created opposition to corporation rule in the future. Chapter XVI explains why no cattle were missing from the Western Union Beef Company - they had a surplus! Mercer ends by telling of the advantages of Wyoming: coal, iron, oil (Chapter XVII). [This can explain why corporations sought to prevent people from the "right to keep and bear arms". Today's Supreme Court could have taken away their lands by "eminent domain"!]

First off, let me praise the physical beauty of this book from the University of Colorado press. It is handsome, artful, a pleasure to navigate--a perfect container for the writing itself. Invest in this book and the people who made it. Holdsworth evokes southwestern Wyoming's wild beauty, rich history, hardscrabble present, and how living there has shaped him. As author Page Lambert put it on the book's back jacket blurb, "The only way to survive Wyoming is to simply give in to loving her." Holdsworth makes you love the place, even if you never, ever want to go there.

Big Wonderful is guaranteed to make you laugh and cry as Mr. Holdsworth shares his experiences and knowledge of both life and death in the mountains and plains of Wyoming and Utah. The writer's mastery of the English language makes for an easy read as he takes you right along with him on his journeys. Holdsworth's descriptions of flora, fauna, and landscape are very articulate. The sections on Wyoming development are current and informative of what is happening to the landscape there today, while his sections on life experiences are easy to relate to. With his roots traced to pioneers of the old west, Kevin has researched his ancestor's trials and tribulations thoroughly and shares his unbiased knowledge with you. I would highly recommend this book to all outdoor enthusiasts and armchair mountaineers, and hope to see more books in the future from this talented, relatively new, author. Thanks so much Mr. Holdsworth for sharing your life with us.

An excellent, balance guide of the entire state. The author finds equal pleasure in exploring the flat, high prairies of the northeastern section of the state, as well as the "signature" tourist attractions of Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons in the northwestern portion. The book contains sufficient pictures to truly inspire, and more than sufficient dollops of history. He wisely brings a fair degree of skepticism to various "historical events," mindful that the victors are the ones who write it.

He also has a passion for the natural beauty of the landscape, and even urges the reader to drive roads in a certain direction for maximum impact. The towns are equally described, from those worth a visit for retaining their "this is the way America was" character to those whose homogenized American sprawl of fast food joints should be passed through as quickly as possible.

The guide also contains much practical information, and I hope that the upcoming Fifth edition references websites more, in terms of those which provide the best, updated information.

I'll be in Wyoming for nine days this summer, and have planned the entire trip based on this guide. Thanks for the good work, Mr. Burt.

Logically arranged geographically with ample outstanding photographs of this spectacular state, adequate historical summary and clear highway guides.

Small and light (great for backpackers) cheap (great for everyone) and best of all, it gives what the title says. A great day-hiking guide for the park, offering some of the lore and background history of the Tetons, information concerning the park's geology, biotic communities, native wildlife and weather conditions. You'll never find a book on the subject that gives you more (or even close to as much) for such a low price. Can't be beat--a must for anyone planning a trip to the Grand Tetons.

Very useful simple guide. I use this along with Best Easy Day Hikes to plan my hikes Oct 2002 - see curiouscat.com/travels for photos from the hikes shown in the book.

Imagine piling into the car with 4 kids, luggage and 3 dogs for your next vacation and not having any idea as to what you can do with the dogs once you get there. That was us last summer, heading off to Jackson Hole, and had it not been for this book which was refered to us by another friend, we would have never taken our dogs with us. It explains where good areas our to take your dogs, what to expect if you run into wildlife...bears etc. We never did, but we were prepared thanks to this book. The author did a wonderful job of reasearching all the valuable information in this book. Becuase of the information in this book, the whole family, from the kids tro the pets had a great time. If you are planning a trip to the Jackson Hole area with your pet, this is a MUST read before, and during your trip!!!

Does your dog dislike being left alone? More importantly, do you have a hard time leaving your dog, even for world-class travel destinations? Whether you are a would-be traveler to Jackson Hole Wyoming, or a local with a dog, this book will help and inspire you. "Doggy Doings" is, as the title says, a complete reference of information you will find nowhere else. There are chapters that will give you specific and immediately useful information such as where you can go hiking with your dog. For some reason, I particularly enjoyed the chapters with more "surprising" information: chapters that offered the kind of tidbits you like to think you never will need -- such as what to do if you and your dog encounter large wild animals -- bears or moose. The chapter on dealing with any type of emergency made for suspenseful reading. In all likelihood, most of us never will encounter those situations: the majority of the book deals with all the pleasures that you and your dog hope to find and can expect to find in one of the most beautiful spots on earth. This book, like the area it describes and helps you to access, is truly one of a kind. I highly recommend it and wish there were one like it for every area of the country. I liked how the book took into acount and reached for a true community of people, environment and animals. You will both enjoy and use this book.