Kentucky Books

The family of Ann Branson, a wealthy widow and businesswoman, is shocked when she is brutally murdered in January, 2003. They can't imagine how anyone could do this (she was stabbed over 90 times) to an elderly woman. When it begins to look like the murderer may be a family member the family is torn even further apart. Some members want justice, other members don't believe the police have the right killer and help the accused hide. Justice in this case will have a high price.

"Murder in Mayberry" is a fascinating true crime book. It is written by Marie Kinney Branson and Jack Branson, which is a unique viewpoint. Jack Branson was not only Ann Branson's nephew, but also a (now retired) U.S. Treasury Agent, who was able to look into the case differently than most people. In fact, the investigative parts of the book are the strongest and most fascinating elements. All of it is interesting reading - from the way the local police bungled the initial investigation to the hiring of private investigators to the efforts to get the case featured on "America's Most Wanted" to tracking the suspect who had fled to Costa Rica. At times the case was handled so badly it's a miracle the murder was ever solved.

Another strong part of the book is the family dynamics. Money was very important to the Branson family. Ann made her money through Dairy Queen franchises and was quite wealthy. She would lend money to family members, but being a shrewd businesswoman, she kept track of all the money she lent, a fact that led to her untimely death. Money lingers in the background throughout the book. The authors claim not to be rich but things like fast cars and frequent vacations are a regular part of their lives. This isn't a criticism - it helps describe the family dynamics even more. And, of course, the book is a story of how murder can tear a family apart, especially when the killer is a member of the family. Reading about the different reactions of family members when they realize who the killer is (or in some cases falling into denial) is heartbreaking, as is the motive for the murder. Since the authors are related to the killer, they give a rare insight into a killer's life not always found in true crime books.

"Murder in Mayberry" is a fascinating look at murder in a small town.

Murder in Mayberry is the newest title from New Horizion Press's Real People / Incredible Stories series. Concerned family discovered the body of Ann Branson on January 12, 2003. The wealthy widow had last been seen at church the night before. The crime scene was surprisingly clean, despite the extreme violence evidenced on the corpse. Nothing seemed to be missing from the house, despite jewelry, furs and rumors of hidden money. There had not been a homicide in a decade in the small town of Madisonville, Ky and family members had doubts about the small town's police department's ability to process and solve the crime. Ann's nephew Jack Branson was especially troubled. His background as a federal agent gave him knowledge of what should be happening to the investigation...and also made him more concerned that Madisonville police might not be preserving evidence or following leads. No one in the small town was prepared for what the evidence revealed. Ann's killer was a family member. Police methodically compiled evidence, Jack hired a private investigator, and the killer manipulates family and friends to stay free. In the four years it took to bring this person to trial, Jack and his wife Mary, struggle with family suspicion, betrayal by family aiding the killer, the emotional and financial strain of the investigation and the loss of a beloved woman. Before the killer finally faces justice they have fled the country, been profiled several times on America's Most wanted and been added to the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted list.

What makes Murder in Mayberry especially compelling is Jack and Mary tell the story. Ann never had children of her own and had treated Jack as if he was her own son. After her murder, he felt an obligation to use his skills and connections as an agent to help bring her killer to justice. The story is a testament to the doggedness of a small town police force, the determination of family and exposes the cost to the forgotten victims of a violent crime, the family left behind.

Jack and Mary Branson have done a masterful job. They wrote about a crime that was shaking them and their family to the core without sacrificing the edge of objectivity. I was impressed with their ability to maintain a caring attitude toward Earl, despite his part in jeopardizing justice for so long.

If a murder occurs in New York, Detroit, or Baltimore...it's a sad but true fact that most of the citizens are not going to be affected. But when Murder occurs in a small town...it is another story entirely. "Murder in Mayberry: Greed, Death, and Mayhem in a Small Town" is the tale of Madisonville, Kentucky and the brutal slaying of Ann Branson - and how the murderer was a quiet townie just like the rest of them - church going, helpful, just like them. The FBI has to dig through these charades and go through the deep, dark secrets of a small town to find who was responsible for Mrs. Branson's death. "Murder in Mayberry: Greed, Death, and Mayhem in a Small Town" sounds like fiction, but is in fact a true story, and is highly recommended for community library collections with a nod to True Crime.

This book is a strong argument for the premise that relatives of murder victims are too involved to write effective descriptions of the crime and the actions against the perpetrator. Ann Branson is a wealthy widow in the small town of Madisonville, Kentucky, a generally peaceful town and most of her relatives live nearby. Murders are a rare occasion in that area and the police are inexperienced in investigating them.
When Ann is brutally murdered by having her head caved in and then being repeatedly stabbed after her death, it shakes up the town. The authors are two of her relatives and they describe the crime, the aftermath, their feelings, and their desire to find and apprehend the culprit and how her violent death altered their lives.
The situation is further complicated when it becomes clear that the murderer is one of the family, a man with enormous charm and a serious gambling addiction. Once it becomes clear that he is probably guilty, it creates problems because the man's father still defends his son, even after the murderer flees the country.
While it was no doubt cathartic for the authors to write the book, their intimate involvement leads to the inclusion of detail that makes the book dull and boring. This can be summed up in the description of the testimony of the murderer's father. "The defense attorneys scurried to get Earl a bottle of water, and I saw him take only one tiny sip." A large number of pages of minute detail like this could have been removed without any alteration of the story. In my opinion, it would have improved it dramatically as I struggled at the end to maintain my interest.

As author Adams states in his preface, when he took a sabbatical from co-hosting "All Things Considered" on NPR in 1997 to spend time exploring the New River that cuts from its source in North Carolina to where it empties with the Gauley River into the Kanawha in West Virginia, he wasn't on a quest. He was satisfying curiosity, a more modest goal, which does not make this a major book. That's okay. Its quiet power grows quickly into a terrific read. I could not put it down and I have a much better understanding and appreciation of a part of America I haven't seen.

It is natural to think of a river's downstream orientation in the northern hemisphere as being southward. The New begins at the two top points of a Y at the tops of tall mountains and courses downward and north-northwestward along the more western slope of the Appalachian chain into Virginia and into West Virginia. In a progressive series of sketches, Adams weaves the contemporary experience of walking, driving, biking, canoeing and rafting the river with the history that hangs over the valleys and gorges and the contemporary culture of the region. It is a river where old-time religion baptisms still take place and high tech outfitters lead white-rafting expeditions. The railroads, mills and mines that once usurped the river and the land are mostly gone after filling the cemeteries on the edge.

To say more would spoil it. Go for it.

This book wonderfully caputres what the New River is today. Part rural, part tourist, and part developers dream. The book lacks some historical perspective on the river, but still offers a great journy in the tradition of "On the Road" and "Blue Highways".

I thought this book was a great adventure down the New River. I enjoyed the descriptions of appalachia people he encountered along the way, and had a great time as he meandered through the valleys of the New.

But I did. It is not at all the typical stuff I usually read. It was such an entertaining and gentle read. Adams is such a wonderful story teller. I felt as if I took that journey right beside him. As far as I am concerned, I have floated down "The New" myself now. I borrowed the book I read from my library but I am purchasing two for my Mom and my sister.

The review on the back of this book describes it as powerful and passionate. Hardly. It is a pleasant, easy book. If you've got a weekend coming up with not much to do, get yourself a copy of this book to read. The book is not very in-depth or thought-provoking but is an enjoyable way to pass the time. Adams has taken a series of snapshots of life along the New River, featuring historical characters, old-time musicians and young kayakers. What he has achieved is a portrayal of a region that has suffered much from the negative stigma of poverty and backwards hillbillies and made it seem like a very appealing place to live. For that I applaud Mr. Adams. But he does not get into the history, culture and society of a place that many other travel writers are so good at. For that I'm a little disappointed. It is a very nice read though.

Begins to fill an acute lack of such neglected history of that period.One more mention,in the mainstream there is a notable absence of mention of the organization "ZEGOTA", which despite potential lethal consequences made best efforts to save non-Christian Poles,of which at least this book addresses......DR R.

Interesting book. I learned a lot. Still, I thought the author was a bit apologist for the Poles' role in the Holocaust.

While most people are familiar with the Nazi Holocaust perpetrated against the Jews in Europe in the Second World War, fewer people are aware that Hitler's homicidal policies extended to the Polish people, as well. Author Richard C. Lukas does an excellent job depicting the nature of the German occupation of Poland in 1939-1944, which resulted in the death of over 3 million Polish citizens who were not Jews. For example, many readers will be surprised to find that the first mass executions committed by the Nazis during the war were against Polish intellectuals and clergy in late 1939 and that the first victims gassed at Auschwitz were Polish civilians. The author also puts a great deal of effort into examining the state of Polish-Jewish relations under the German occupation, as well as the development of the Polish resistance. Overall, this book should help to ameliorate some of the erroneous historiography that has evolved over the years about the Holocaust and lead to a more nuanced view of that catastrophic event.

Forgotten Holocaust consists of seven chapters, beginning with a discussion of the German occupation of Poland. This section details German atrocities against the Poles from A to Z, including street-executions, round-ups, kidnappings, etc. The author also makes the point about how troubling it was for this deeply Catholic country to have their pleas ignored by the pro-German pope in Rome (although the author goes easy on Pope Pius XII - easier than he deserves). In the end, 22 percent of Poland's population died during the German occupation - the greatest percentage loss of any nation in the Second World War. The second chapter covers the Polish Government in Exile and the origins of the underground resistance. Although this chapter is short, it tells a great deal about the internal politics that affected the evolution of the Polish resistance - insights which are usually lacking from other histories that prevent a more homogenized appearance. Chapter three deals with military operations conducted by the underground. One number that I hadn't seen elsewhere was the large number of resistance fighters eliminated in 1942-44 by the Gestapo - upwards of 60,000. Chapter four covers civilian resistance and collaboration (or lack of). The author notes that unlike the German occupation in Western countries, the Germans made no effort to create a collaborationist government in Poland.

Chapters five and six cover the relationship of Poles and Jews during the German occupation. The author strives to fight against the common mis-conception (aided by Steve Spielberg in Schindler's List) that the Polish Government was anti-Semitic and that Poles routinely collaborated with the Germans to annihilate the Jews. In this regard, the author is fairly successful in disputing these slanderous characterizations of Polish collaboration with the Holocaust, but he tends to go off the deep end in trying to refute every charge of anti-Semitism leveled against Poles in the Second World War. Clearly, there were cases where individuals Poles made statements or conducted acts that were inimical to Jewish interests (the author also notes the reverse as well, such as Polish Jews who joined the Anders Army to escape the Soviet Union and then deserted as soon as they reached Palestine). Furthermore, there is also little doubt that Polish Catholicism was reluctant to cooperate with Polish Jews who were openly sympathetic with Communism, viewing them as the vanguard of Soviet imperialism. The charges and counter-charges get a bit tedious in these sections and at best, the issue is left unresolved.

The final chapter covers the Warsaw Uprising. Although not a blow-by-blow account, there was some interesting material herein about weapons stockpiles held by the Home Army, as well as some insight into the German leadership. Overall, this book adds to our understanding of the Second World War in Eastern Europe and should contribute to correcting some of the broad generalizations which have obscured the truth about Nazi extermination policies.

Recent scholarship on Poland's suffering during the war has opened eyes on the Warsaw Uprising of 1944(not the earlier Ghetto uprising of 1943) and has illuminated the destruction of Poland brought on by the Nazis. The Nazi racial theory applied to Slavs led them to be used as slaves and treated as meat by the German conquerors. Poland was treated a cow for milking, as hundreds of thousands of Germans entered Poland to administer and colonize it, it being the first nation to be 'liberated' for German 'labenstraum'. Here we get a story of the 'holocaust' of the non-Jewish Poles and perhaps this is where the helpful aspect of this book collides with the its other bizarre appeal. Many Holocaust deniers cite this book in order to prove that The Holocaust is being used to only show Jewish suffering while the 'real' holocaust of other non-Jews is covered up in histiography. Hence the name 'Forgotten Holocaust". However logically if the suffering of the Poles needs to be brough out of the dustbin of history and brought out alongside the Holocaust then why compare it to the Holocaust. The suffering of the Poles is not a 'fogotten Holocaust' rather it is another massive war crime that should be addressed in history and presented alongside the holocaust to show that the Nazis target other groups for destruction, if not extermination.

The Polish experience was different then the Jewish one. Polich Jews were destroyed, Poles were slaughtered in large numbers. However we have in the case of Poland a double tragedy when one realizes that hundreds of thousands of Poles were deported by the Communist Soviets between 1939 and 1941. In the end POlish borders were moved westward while Soviet Ukraine and Beylorussia and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad took over swaths of eastern Poland. Polish minorities such as the Germans were removed from Poland in 1945. Much of the 1939-1945 Polish history remains to be uncovered, such as resistance units, and the uprising of the Home Army and the suppression by the Soviets. This book begins down that path, however as a use to Holocaust deniers or those who want to see Jewish suffering relegated to the side it also presents a helpful tool, and that is tragic.

Seth J. Frantzman

A very factual book about the Holocaust in Poland and the atrocities that both the Polish Jews and Gentiles suffered. This book is very well laid out and all comments are linked to sources of information.
This would be an ideal book for anyone studying the history of WW2 in Europe.
Some of the content is very distressing to read but in my opinion it's a topic that should never be forgotten.

My local library was flooded this summer, losing most of the collection--this book was one of those lost. I was really excited to read this book, so broke down and ordered it. As a pastor's daughter myself, I expected I'd find her take on being a "PK" relatable and amusing. Unfortunately, the fact that she's a pastor's daughter FROM THE SOUTH takes over everything else.
You're Southern. We get it. I found myself continually annoyed at the colloquial language she uses; by about the third page, it's getting old. It may be cute initially, which I think was her intent, but in no time it starts to feel contrived. I found her writing style to be really distracting from the content. I believe she has a good story to tell--all PK's do!--but I couldn't make it that far.

This story was a very comical and interesting memoir. It's gives the reader an idea about what it's like to be a preacher's daughter. We see a picture of the author's life from age 5 to about age 10. She believed her father had some kind of magical secret. She thought she was destined to receive the Chicken Pox in order to spread God's word. She admired her little sister's way of communicating without saying a word. Near the end of the story, a tragic event changes the way her family looks at life, and teaches a lesson that sometimes we must change and move on with our lives. I recommend this book for those who want to read about the innocent outlook of a child, those who want to laugh a lot, and those who want to question why life throws us curve balls sometimes.

Elizabeth Emerson Hancock's humor is evident from cover to cover in "Trespassers Will Be Baptized". She brings the reader to deeper insight into the Baptist faith with humor and respect. She tells poignant stories about her life as a preacher's daughter with frank readability. The sections are cleverly divided by topic - each one a different fruit of the Spirit. And the chapter headings are hysterical!

This beautifully written book is personalized with photographs and honesty. It is a memoir that is truly a treat to read.

.....but Miss Em, as her father calls her, was doing a signing at a local Barnes & Noble...I noticed her, we got into conversation......

Miss Hancock's memoir of growing up a Baptist preacher's kid is at once hilarious, sad, and thought provoking...I won't spoil it for you, but some of the stories are doozies. That they are well-written is natural...one expects a Harvard lawyer to write well, though she's sure the prettiest one I ever saw...

Church people sometimes have problems, and occasionally they can be vicious beyond belief, gladly doing unto other Christians as they would not dare do unto anyone else. No Church is exempt. Still, there's a lot more good than bad in the Kingdom...Miss Em makes that clear...

This is a fine book that will both entertain and inspire you...yes, the Hancocks had problems, but they solved them without destroying each other, or their faith, and moved on. That's what Christians are supposed to do. Compare this to the [superbly written] garbage in Jeanette Walls' "The Glass Castle"...Reverend Hancock and Mr. Walls served different Masters, and everything else flows from there. Miss Em will probably sell about 1% of the books Miss Walls sells...that's tragic, but that's life.....

I've read a few memoirs in my day and I'm drawn to the entertaining storytellers who both tell it like it is and also manage to paint reality a little more 3-D, a bit glossier, or even smellier. It is a rare person who can touch on the childhood struggle of figuring out our own little acre and put that immature angst into adult language and rich visuals. Elizabeth Emerson Hancock has that gift. Her story of growing out from underneath the crushing burden of the Preacher's Kid label caused me to smile and sometimes laugh. Hancock has a knack with stringing just the right words together to make her guided tour down memory lane amusing and recognizable to anyone who has spent hours at church potlucks and in Sunday best outfits with thigh backs glued to polished oak pews.

But as well written as this series of life-lessons named for the Fruit of the Spirit is, I couldn't help but struggle with sadness while I read it. Some characters are so human (i.e. awful) I wondered if the author needs to consider forgiving them for the pain they caused in her life. I'm all for laughing, but some of these lessons on the road to faith felt a touch bitter. I know people can be hideous and mean-spirited. Church people can be some of the worst. And it's unfair for adults to put expectations of perfection on kids. I appreciate the emotional cost the author paid out to bare her soul for the world. I can't imagine the toll she paid for the expectations she placed on adults who disappointed her and crushed her tender heart. But Jesus did die for every mean Baptist Sunday School teacher, too. And He is willing to equip us to forgive and move on. I also don't think He wants us to make other human beings all-powerful in our lives and let them steal, kill and destroy our joy, peace or faith long after they perpetrated against us. Elizabeth has every right to tell her story, but I wonder whether some of her thoughts may have been better left unsaid.

This may be one of the more difficult books I've read this year. I want to love and recommend it, but in spite of all the humor and great writing, I can't help but feel melancholy after visiting her childhood.

I bought this book based on the reviews here at Amazon. I find it hard to believe I am the only reader rating this as 3 stars. Although I agree with the premise of the book, Christians need to go beyond the church and love non believers just as much as believers. The story was flat for me, and kind of sappy. I enjoy Angela Hunt's novels especially "The Elevator".
I just thought this book needed more meat. This book needed a more in depth analysis of Emma's trouble past, and her relationship with her parents. Also more about her delivery of her son Chris and what she went through. I think less time should have been given to the church and its agenda. This is a great resource on how all Christians should live. I just didn't think the story was that compelling.

This book was written in such a way that you almost think you're reading a true story about the author herself. I didn't want to put this book down. There's a lesson to be learned by the characters in the book. It was a great read.

I couldn't put this book down until I was through. It is an eye opener as far as what the church shoud be doing for the Lord.

The first book I read by Angela Hunt, and still my favorite. She makes one really think about what Christianity means in the life we live. Well written and enjoyable.

I don't like sappy books, but since this was written by Angela Hunt, I thought I'd give it a whirl. I was not disappointed. Ms. Hunt can write about anything, and I'd read it. She's a wonderful story-teller, and her tales touch the heart without being overly sentimental. One of my favourite authors.

"One of the most intriguing stories I've read in a long time...there was never a dull moment. This flawless story is fast-paced and easy to read. The well-developed characters practically leap off the pages..." Mary Monroe, bestselling author of God Don't Like Ugly and God Still Don't Like Ugly, and God Don't Play

Having read and reviewed this book with my book club and giving it 4 Stars, J. Marie Darden's novel, "Enemy Fields" shows the true testimony of love, even when jealously and evil will try to intervene. "Truly, now abideth faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest of is love." (1Cor 13:13) -
Ronyha O'Neal-Champ, Sistahs of Color Reading Group, Little Rock AR

Enemy Fields, the cleverly titled and wonderfully written novel by J.Marie Darden, takes readers on a thought-provoking journey through the forbidden interracial romance of Sister and Evian. Everything about this novel appealed to me. The unsophisticated vernacular of Sister, a poor black teenage girl hired to work for Evian's family spoke to me in her own voice. Through Darden's cleverly penned words, I felt Sister's every emotion. Enemy Field's is a bittersweet and believable book that thankfully avoids the clichés surrounding interracial love and instead, focuses on the mechanics of a romance that had the power to tear a town apart. Finally...a book that actually reads like a true story. This is definitely a keeper!

[...]

From Mecca Book Club, Richmond, VA
J. Marie Darden's inaugural novel is a love story based on a forbidden relationship born in the south.

Sister, a home-grown Kentucky girl whose worldly experiences reach only as far as her immediate family and best friend Pammie, indulges in simple pleasures such as cooking and singing. Opposite her world and the woodsy field that compliments it, is a vacant home that is soon occupied by a white family; the Mandarenes- a mother, grandfather Norman and accidental love interest, Evian. Once Sister is employed as the Mandarenes' housekeeper, her world- at first reluctantly- expands to accommodate all things Evian. Through this relationship, Sister learns strength, individuality and perseverance during a time where outside forces sought to paralyze her being and efforts.

Darden's tale of innocent, bi-racial love is engaging, intriguing and cleverly written.
Reviewed by Latryce Noel, Mecca Book Club, Richmond, VA

Enemy Fields, the cleverly titled and wonderfully written novel by J.Marie Darden, takes readers on a thought-provoking journey through the forbidden interracial romance of Sister and Evian. Everything about this novel appealed to me. The unsophisticated vernacular of Sister, a poor black teenage girl hired to work for Evian's family spoke to me in her own voice. Through Darden's cleverly penned words, I felt Sister's every emotion. Enemy Field's is a bittersweet and believable book that thankfully avoids the clichés surrounding interracial love and instead, focuses on the mechanics of a romance that had the power to tear a town apart. Finally...a book that actually reads like a true story. This is definitely a keeper!

Read this book as a child in the mid 1950's. The original was called, " Old Bones the Wonder Horse"

This book has always stayed in my memory throughout the years, and I thought I would locate a copy for my grandchildren and hope they would enjoy it as much as I did.
Received the book within a few days of ordering it and spent a couple of hours reading and reliving it like it was yesterday. Great story of a wonderful horse and would be great reading, especially for children that love animals.

I was a "slow starter" in reading. My 6th grade teacher almost held me back a year because of it. In 1957, when I was 12, my father bought me this book during the summer, knowing I loved horses, hoping it would kindle my interest in reading. Much to his surprise, I read it in one sitting. Once started, I couldn't put it down. Without this book, it's doubtful I would have developed reading skills to catch up with my age group. Although it takes a few "liberties" with the truth and doesn't mention his being gelded (as you might expect in a childrens' book), I found it interesting and well written.

I devoured every book relating to horses when I was young (Walter Farley? Check. Misty of Chincoteague Island? Absolutely. Black Beauty? Only about a dozen times).

This is right up there with my favorites. Its not a challenging read, but absolutely heartwarming and charming. A great book for all kids, whether they love horses or not; there's enough action and drama to keep it interesting. I only wish they hadn't changed the title!

Mildred Mastin Pace, Old Bones, The Wonder Horse (Scholastic, 1955)

It's hard for me to not like a kids' book about race horses. Well, okay, except Spirit Horse of the Rockies.

Old Bones is the story of 1918 Kentucky Derby winner Exterminator. Profusely illustrated by Thoroughbred specialist Wesley Dennis, Old Bones is told in what I can only describe as Mike-Mulligan-and-His-Steam-Shovel diction; it reads more like an easy-reader than a ninety-two page book for school-agers (what the kids these days call "chapterbooks"). Still, Pace resurrected Exterminator, long out of the limelight and dead for ten years by the time this book was published, and while the book does have a tendency to gloss over a good deal of Exterminator's career (he ran one hundred races, so just going over the career alone would have taken three books of this size), Pace does hit both the highest highlights and the lowest lowlights (the fracture that ended his career being the lowest of them).

It's possible that some of the glossing comes from no one knowing about certain things. Looking up Exterminator on the Internet brings loads of conflicting information (for example, many sites say stablemate Sun Briar, the 1918 Derby favorite, was simply off his feed, as Pace contends here, while others say he was injured in a workout days before the race). And while it's certainly impossible to draw a cause-effect line, Pace's book came out in 1955, Exterminator was elected to the Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1957; coincidence?

An easy read, and perhaps a good way to get your toddlers interested in the ponies before they're ready for Walter Farley's books. ***

I first read the book, "Old Bones the Wonder Horse", in 1955 when I was 9 years old. I still have that book, and while the dust jacket is falling apart, and the pages are yellowed and dog earred, I consider it one of my most treasured possessions. If I hadn't been introduced to this book, I probably would not of developed a life long love of reading. With all the craziness in the world today, I often find myself taking a "30 minute retreat" to reread this story ... no electronic enhancements or hi-tech wizardry or special effects overload ... just a simple story, with simple illustrations, that is both inspiring and true. I strongly recommend this book as one of the best tools available to introduce children to the joy of reading.

The other reviews (those in the four and five star range) already mention the attention to detail and well-written style of Mr. Noe's book. I just wanted to state that this is the DEFINITIVE work on Perryville, surpassing Hafendorfer's previous effort. I only wish there were more maps!

Having tramped Perryville several times with, I can say without question that Mr. Noe has laid out this little known and confusing battle very well, and that anyone who has rated this book less than fours stars is completely off the mark.

Perryville has been pretty much ignored by Civil War historians except for Kenneth Hafendorfer's poineering book and this one, which is newer, better researched, and has better (but far fewer) maps. Professor Noe has pretty much written the definitive account of this fairly obscure battle. It covers, besides the battle itself, all of Bragg's campaign in Kentucky, from the viewpoints of generals, soldiers, and civilians alike and his views are reasonable, unbiased, and well thought out. Additionally, he writes well and the book was a real joy to read. Highly recommended.

The Battle of Perryville, which took place in central Kentucky in October 1862, was in my opinion one of the most important battles of the Civil War. In a day of intense combat, Confederate and Federal troops fought over the Chaplin Hills northwest and west of the little (even to today) town of Perryville. In the end, the Southerners had gained a tactical victory, but lost the campaign, perhaps ending the last chance the Confederacy had of bringing in Kentucky.

In "Perryville: This Grand Havoc of Battle," Kenneth W. Noe provides the reader with an excellent study of the battle. From the Confederate movement northward from Chattanooga to their subsequent retreat back to the Volunteer State, Mr. Noe covers all the important events. He is very critical of Union General Don Carlos Buell's handling of the Army of the Ohio during the maneuvering in Middle Tennessee, and also reveals the in-fighting, and discontent, present within that army throughout this campaign. Mr. Noe covers the entire campaign, from start to finish, very well.

The maps in this book are second to none, allowing the reader to easily follow the movements of both Northern and Southern soldiers, as well as understand the topograpy of the battlefield. Interspersed throughout the narrative are old photos of commanders involved in the battle and of the battlefield, along with modern photos of sites on the battlefield. Combine these with Mr. Noe's excellent writing and one has a great narrative of the 1862 Kentucky Campaign.

The Battle of Perryville has been all but ingored by Civil War historians. However, Mr. Noe has gone far in bringing this deserving battle to the forefront. No Civil War library is complete without this book. After reading this book, I find myself hoping that Mr. Noe will continue to write volumes on Civil War campaigns. Get this book!

Perryville may not be one of the best-known Civil War battles, but its story is well worth telling. Kenneth Noe does a good job in explaining the events of October 8th 1862, making a complex and confusing battle comprehensible. He puts the battle into context by explaining why Braxton Bragg's Confederate Army of the Mississippi headed into Kentucky. The prize at stake was the allegiance of the border state, whether it would follow the South or stay in the Union.

Noe is fairly critical of Bragg, even arguing that he suffered from mental illness. This is one of the least successful aspects of his analysis. Noe recognises the dangers of using modern psychiatry to investigate historical figures, but then proceeds to expose his analysis to just this danger by classifying Bragg as a manic-depressive. Bragg had his faults and in the Perryville campaign made mistakes, but the fact remains that his 16,000 men took on Buell's 55,000 man Army of the Ohio and beat them. Bragg's leadership does not look quite so insane when it is remembered that he won the battle. Noe is not nearly as critical of Buell, but it would be equally easy to apply a psychiatric analysis to a man who was miles away from the fighting while his army fought for its life. Noe's analysis generally does not give enough credit to the Confederate performance and rather whitewashes the Union army. Bragg's army faced odds at least as bad as Lee's army did at Chancellorsville, yet the Army of the Potomac is routinely condemned for its performance there, and Lee's leadership is generally praised while Hooker's is usually criticised. Bragg should certainly get some credit for the victory at Perryville and should not be put on the psychiatrist's couch.

Noe should however, be praised for the depth of his research and the clarity of his writing. He uses contemporary sources well to give the reader a sense of what it was like to be fighting the battle. His book is not an especially easy read, but this has more to do with the complexity of the battle, than any faults in Noe's style of writing. It would have helped to have a few more maps. The maps, which are provided, are adequate, but not as good as in some other Civil War books. These criticisms though, are outweighed by the merits of Noe's book. I very much enjoyed reading it and learned a great deal about an important and interesting battle.

An unfailingly interesting account by a fine historian. Kenneth W. Noe has made sense of one of the most neglected and confusing campaigns of the entire Civil War. He has sorted through the geographical complexities and factionalism in both armies to show his readers why people should still care about what happened near an obscure Kentucky village over 140 years ago. His work is truly a pioneering one. Unlike most campaign studies, this excellent book pays considerable attention to the treatment of the wounded, the effects of battle on the local landscape, the lives of veterans after the war, and even how the battlefield itself was interpreted and preserved. It will be the standard account for many years to come.

Having read a novel by Janet Sue Terry about Nora Steel and Blake
Baxter I realized that these two books will be among my favourites. It's not
just a love story, it reveals much more about people's relationships and human
feelings, about possibilities and resolutions.

Nora is the reason I loved this book. She is smart, innocent and chaste.
Not only does she make me see the things she sees, she makes me
feel the things she feels. Nora has a strong personality and deep feelings,
and it's clear why her life in orphanage and her life experience made her
so reserved, especially in her feelings to Blake Baxter, the man who
captured her heart. She is scared of him and tries to set herself free from
him. But as long as your heart is full of love, it can not obey your mind and
you can do nothing with it.

Nora and Blake are two different characters,but they attract each other
like magnets attracts each other. He is wealthy,she is not, he has a family,
she doesn't, he is confident and determined, she is lonely and afraid of
relationships. They seem so different, but they have one thing in common,
something that connects their lifes and souls together-they are in love
with each other.

After all, you get the idea that Janet Terry has written that novel because
she wants the world to know what a good and honorable man Blake Baxter
was and how hard he tried to win Nora's heart, especially after his mother's
and Samantha's evil plan to seperate them.

The mistery of Nora's dissapearance and your desire to know more about
her life is just one of the reasons you want to keep turning pages to find out
what happens next in the second book "Resolutions".

By the way, it's just impossible not to pay attention on how vivid the author
describes Kentucky countryside and the people's lives, like Roy Rollick and
his generous family from London KY. Or an old, kind, recluse named Eligah.
Janet Terry makes them all seem just as real as the people in your own
hometown. Her description of the countrylife in Kentucky is fascinating. She
can make you feel as if you had been there before, she can make you
fall in love with the beautiful and peaceful life in the country.

All I can say is that I enjoyed reading this novel. It gave me an idea that,
"there are lots of possibilities in the world," and if youl ever have problems
just know that "they have resolutions, the trick is in finding them!"

If you want to know more about this novel, and what really happens to
Nora and Blake's relationships read these two books by Janet Sue Terry.

P.S.Being a student of the University in Russia and studing English
as a foreign language, i was glad to have a chance to read "Possibilities,"
last year. Now, my life completely changed, may be because I had some
possibilities in my life, the most important of which took me to Covington,Ky
where I am now being absolutely happy with my biggest love. It was a hard
time for me to get here, but I tried to find resolutions to my problems...

Thank You

Inessa :)

I finally got fed up and skipped to the end only to find a self serving cliff hanger, meant to induce you to buy the next book. A good editing would have made it a little easier to read since the grammar would have been improved but the plot and characters are irritatingly thin.

I purchased both of Ms. Terry's books, (as requested by a friend) to take along with me on my travels abroad and boy was I glad I did! I got so involved with reading them that before I blinked twice my 15 hour flight had come to an end. Too bad I didn't buy more of her books to read on my flight home!

Worst-written (and evidently not edited, or edited by a neighbor) piece of anti-heroine crap I've read in a long time. Stiff and stilted dialog, stereotypical characters, 1950s era racism and sexism -- I read the first few pages, glanced through the rest of it, and threw it in the trash. Nora isn't a heroine, she's a spoiled-brat victim, orphan or not. If you liked the women in "Father Knows Best," and if you can imagine a woman who would leave her husband and consider filing for divorce WITHOUT confronting her husband with her suspicions and actually communicating her unhappiness -- then you'll love Janet Sue Terry's stuff. Straight out of 1950. If you'd rather read about real women who overcome real problems (instead of the kind you make for yourself), pick up Deborah Smith's Blue Willow, or order a couple of Nora Roberts' trilogies.

Janet Sue Terry really knows how to bring her characters alive, especially her main characters, Nora and Blake. I felt I wasn't simply reading a book, I was dwelling in it ... living side-by-side with these magnificent characters.

The heroine, Nora, is my kind of woman: lovely, strong and independent, while at the same time being vulnerable. There were times I wanted to reach out and hug her, to encourage her ... while at other times I wanted to "slap" her and tell her to keep her mouth shut, to quit being "mean" and so "unfeeling" with Blake. That was early in their relationship, and before I learned that Nora had some underlying issues to settle before she could enter into a relationship with any man.

The hero, Blake, is my kind of man: handsome, strong, passionate, yet caring and kind, especially in the beginning of the relationship. I could readily have embraced him as the man of MY dreams. But later on, I often wanted to "throttle" him for his insensitivity to Nora's pain, especially when an ex-girlfriend entered the picture.

And Blake's snobby, domineering mother certainly didn't help the situation.

The orphans from Nora's past have grown into intriguing young adults. They're simply delightful, and fun to be around.
Nora's co-workers are wonderful, down-to-earth people who come more alive with each stroke of Terry's keyboard. Each character is different from the others and they make up for the indifference and "mean-spiritedness" on the part of some of the people surrounding Blake.

Another interesting element for me is that this story takes place in my home state of Ohio, and in Kentucky where my ancestors were born. It was fun "stomping around" Cincinnati and hearing a bit about London, Kentucky where my mother was born. I avidly pursued the accounts of Blake's visits to his Navy buddy who lived in Kentucky.

This book kept me up well past the hour of midnight, nights on end. I couldn't wait to see what happened to this charming, endearing, yet frustrating couple.

Actually, the ending left me wanting more. It screamed for a sequel, so I'm pleased that Terry has written more about them in Resolutions. I can't wait to read it and learn what Nora and Blake do with the rest of their lives.

Reviewer: BETTY DRAVIS, author of THE TOONIES INVADE SILICON VALLEY and MILLENNIUM BABE: THE PROPHECY

This book is great! I have read many books and this is one of the best! I highly recommend it to any Rose Marie fan! I had only seen her in "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and had no idea so many things had happened to her before that!! Rose Marie tells an entertaining story that always has a joke to keep you very entertained! Great Job Rose Marie!!!!

Rose Marie did a great job writing her memoirs. I heard rumors that this book would be bitter, but it's actually a sweet thank you note to her fans. But, I wish there was a way to find a cd of her singing in the thirties.

From beginning to end this is one of those books that is difficult to put down. It was great to learn about Rose Marie's life and career before and after she played the part she is best known for (to me anyway), "Sally Rogers" on "The Dick Van Dyke Show". The love story between her and her beloved husband was magical and could she be any more proud of her daughter?! Reading and learning about the various celebrities (including the notorious ones) with whom she worked and was acquainted was quite interesting. Like some others have mentioned, I would have liked to read more about her time with the DVD show, but maybe she will favor us with a second book based on that experience!

Interesting book for the most part although more time should have been spent about "The Dick Van Dyke Show". I was very disappointed with the way she ended the book however. To keep everyone guessing about the black bow and then to say it is a secret is disgraceful.

I am an avid biography/autobiography reader. This book was a delight to read. Rose Marie tells about the many aspects of her life. Her childhood and her years as a nightclub singer were especially interesting. This book is a must for any Dick Van Dyke Show fan. I wish this book would be more heavily promoted and available to readers. It's the best autobiography I've read in a long time.