Montana Books

GIRAFFE OF MONTANA is a collection of four short stories featuring a group of mostly displaced animals. The book is primarily set in the state of Montana and introduces readers to Giraffe, the only one of his kind in the state, and his friends which include a family of opossum, a gorilla, a hippo, and a crocodile. Each story teaches important lessons about life and friendship, all in the course of brief but adventurous tales. In "Friends" Giraffe travels all the way to the Florida Zoo in hopes of helping both his lonely crocodile friend and an albino alligator who lacks self-confidence. The story not only relates the adventure, but it also emphasizes the importance of accepting one's uniqueness and accepting one another. The other stories are written in a similar fashion, each modeling positive morals and character traits.

GIRAFFE OF MONTANA introduces children to a wide range of animals while examining issues that are inherently human. William Bowman-Piper manages to do all this through stories that are humorous, entertaining and engaging. While this is a collection of short stories, younger readers may have a difficult time completing an entire story in one sitting because of their length. In my opinion however, this is the kind of book that begs to be read aloud and I believe it would be most enjoyed when shared between parent and child. It is sure to be so much fun, children will hardly realize they are learning.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Reviewed by Kim Peterson for Reader Views 6/06

Giraffe of Montana lives in a cave near his friends--beavers, kangaroos, raccoons, zebras, lions, opossums, an elephant, a crocodile and more. This out-of-the-ordinary assortment of animals dwell in a kingdom ruled by a king and queen and two princesses named Isabel. Volume one relates four short stories about these diverse animals that get along together despite their dramatic differences.

In the first story, "Friends," the animals help Giraffe prepare for a trip to Florida to invite Allison the albino alligator to move to Montana. Using his special talents, Billy the beaver builds a special railroad car to transport Allison back to their kingdom. Casper crocodile, who prides himself on his elegant tapered nose, learns to share his pond with the beautiful snub-nosed gator and both reptiles learn to accept the bodies they have.

In "Olympics" the animals tell Allison about Casper's success in the Montana Olympics. The newly-settled gator likes her new home and enjoys the thrilling tale of the race that rain nearly ruined.

In "Finding a Tree" the animals, led by Giraffe, hunt for a more spacious meeting place and the perfect tree for Christmas. Feeling a little crowded at their recent gatherings, the animals search until they find a place where they can celebrate the holiday together.

In "Christmas" the animals make the most of their time together because the winter weather usually limits their fellowship. They create a festive atmosphere as they decorate with lights and their own unique treasures. Again, the animals work together and use their differences to enhance their holiday and their friendships.

Despite the author "borrowing" characters like Kanga, Roo and Rudolph from other authors, "Giraffe of Montana" provides children with a likeable chapter book. Although the animals talk, Piper keeps them true to their real-life natures exposing children to the lifestyles of these unique animals, including their dwellings and eating habits. The book repeatedly emphasizes how differences can be accepted and treasured as well as the value of friendship. These great lessons for kids are delivered in story form without overt lectures or moralizing. Children will want to visit Montana again as well as access the related Web site at www.GiraffeofMontana.com.

A Witty and Interesting Piece of Children's Fiction



The colorful cover displaying the diverse human and animal characters that make up the four stories in "Giraffe of Montana" was the first indication that this was going to be an enjoyable book. Reading these stories reminded me of the stories read to my class in elementary school by visiting authors. It brought back warm memories that I eagerly shared with my 7 year old.



It is a difficult task to filter out the negative images and stories that inundate our children on a daily basis. I felt safe as I read Piper's stories and I felt that not only was I reading a fun selection of stories, but an educational selection as well. The first story was entitled "Friends." It was about Giraffe traveling to a zoo in Florida to "pick-up" Allison the alligator to keep his friend, a lonely crocodile, company. This story sets the pace for the book as we see that Giraffe is a loyal friend determined to keep his friends happy.



The remaining stories are equally warm and inviting with a lesson to be learned on each page. We are touched by many "lessons to live by" but there are three that stand out to most. The first being that it is possible for people, or animals - as the case may be - to live together in harmony regardless of their differences. The second lesson is that it is honorable and a reward within itself to do a good deed for others. The final lesson that I've learned from this book is that you can resolve any conflict in a peaceful manner when you take everyone's emotions and opinions into account before making a decision. You may take other lessons away after reading this book but the point is - it is a piece of fiction suitable for every audience and a colorful addition to your library.



"Giraffe of Montana" is a well written book penned by William Bowman Piper. He is a retired teacher of English Literature (he taught writing and 18th century literature in Houston, Texas at Rice University.) He is also a published poet and author of several books about English poetry and novels. (This information was taken from his exciting website named after his book.) This book is the first volume and I am certain that the continuation of the "Giraffe of Montana" series will be equally entertaining and educational.

Tyrone V. Banks

This is a charming tale with a strong narrative voice that reminds me of Rudyard Kipling's use of "O Best Beloved" in his Just So Stories. I remember that comfortable feeling as a child, the warmth and security I felt as the listener of such storytelling. I look forward to sharing this book with my own daughter as a read-aloud. Aspects of it seem particularly appealing to a child's perspective of the world. It provides contrast with some of the more heartbreaking children's fiction of recent acclaim as well. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

English literature professor, William Bowman Piper, has penned a sweet-natured book, Giraffe of Montana, Vol.1. The book revolves around a Utopian fairy tale of an unlikely friendship between different animal species- a giraffe and a crocodile, a possum and a zebra, a hippo and a bear, etc. To make things even more interesting, they all gather together in the cold wilderness of Montana!

The clever narrative is divided into four chapters, wherein the feeling conveyed is that of the splendor of comradeship among all species, as well as the significance of getting along with everyone, notwithstanding our differences.

The first chapter introduces us to Giraffe living in a cave in a friendly kingdom and is friends with different kinds of animals. Giraffe is the important chief peacemaker for all of his buddies. One of his friends, the croc, is lonely, thus provoking Giraffe to travel to Florida in order to seek out a companion for him. Then there is Allison the alligator, who is self-conscious about her snub nose. When all the friends in Montana embrace her with "open arms", she forgets about her snub-nose and regains her self-confidence. The second chapter takes us back to the friends' "Olympics," where conflicts are resolved in a friendly way. In the third chapter, the friends argue as to where to hold Christmas and what kind of tree they will have. Of course, all of their differences are resolved. The fourth chapter brings us to the celebration of a very special Christmas in Montana.

One of the shortcomings of the book and one that prevents the book from becoming entirely engrossing and kid-friendly is the non-stop chatter between the friends. This tends to become a bit exhausting, and in addition, retaining the names of all the friends is a taxing exercise for anyone's memory, let alone children from 6 to 10.

The black and white illustrations and colored book cover by Bill Megenhardt enhance Giraffe in Montana. The cartoonish characters that are adorable and in synchronization with the text, as well as the vibrant colors result in a triumph of achievement and production. It is a harmonious concerto of peace among all species. Perhaps, we should all move to this peace loving place in the world, Montana. Are they still going to be friends in the forthcoming Vol. 2, or are they going to succumb to the real world's frenzy?

Lily Azerad-Goldman, Artist and book reviewer for bookpleasures

T.D. Jakes is a wonderfully blessed man. In reading this book you know that he is touched by God and highly favored. This book was AMAZING. I looking forward to reading more by him. This book is well worth the five stars I gave it and I highly recommened it. I was touched, moved and motivated to get myself in order (Faith, Family, and Finances!!!!).

Another masterpiece by Bishop Jakes! I was particularly impressed by his practical teachings related to financial matters. He takes a look at the two extremes - poverty and abundance. Rather than teaching 'pie in the sky', he shares the importance of financial responsibility by maintaining a budget and using credit wisely. He goes on further to discuss saving, investing and sowing into good ground. It's very inspirational to hear messages from the clergy that go beyond `naming it and claiming it', but rather teaches that there is a part that we must play in setting our financial affairs in order. Kudos to Bishop Jakes!!

T. D. Jakes describes life as a journey in which some people pack more than is necessary for the most productive trip. He wisely advises carry three bags, faith, family, and finances. I think it is no accident that he arranges them in that order either. Faith is needed for this life and preparation for the next. Family is something you can take with you, provided they share the faith and finances encompasses effective stewardship principles that reveal what you have to show for your existence.

Although each of these subjects is familiar, Bishop Jakes sheds new insight in each of the three arenas. He builds to a climax in his teaching on Romans 8:28-30. It is worth the price of the book just to read what he says in the few pages devoted to that topic alone! He will build your faith because he speaks from the perspective of a credible source, i.e., it's lived it.

This book is comprehensive in that he covers both Old and New Testament teachings on the topics. He includes personal experiences. Bishop Jakes is even confident enough to be vulnerable in places, not one who claims in a phoney way to have all the answers. His advice is practical, doable, workable. I highly recommend this book.

TD Jakes is deceived by wealth... see Jesus' parable of the sower. He is right to say that we should avoid both extreme's (poverty and wealth), but then he goes into how we can get a 100-fold financial blessing.

I'm very happy to see him expose the false teaching of the prosperity teachers. But how can TD Jakes live in mansions and have luxury cars when he knows his brothers/sisters in Africa (for one example) are dying of starvation? Truly, his conscience has been seared as with a hot iron:

1 Timothy 4:2
Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

Example, pg. 69:
"Money is to serve you, and you should serve God by using it according to His plan."

How is living in luxury, when our brothers and sisters are dying, spending money according to God's plan? That's what TD Jakes does; live in luxury.

Please, learn the truth from our Lord Jesus. He taught what stewardship is, in the "Parable of the Talents." Ten percent doesn't belong to God, as TD Jakes says,,, 100% does! We are to manage all of God's money for the kingdom, and only live on what we need (not want). That's the lifestyle of Jesus and His disciples.

TD Jakes is teaching people to be deceived by wealth. Those who are deceived don't know it, or else they'd refuse to be decieved. TD Jakes is deceived... just look at his lifestyle and seared conscience. What will he say when he meets his brothers and sisters in heaven, the ones who have died from starvation because TD bought a new luxury vehicle or another vacation home?

What a wonderful book. I bought this book when I neeed it the most. As a woman, I am my worst critic, and at times I feel I am not worthy of the wonderful things in life because of my past. T.D.Jakes words describe how God loves us regardless of our color, our pasts, the shape of our body, or our hair color. Its the size of our heart and the beauty within that is the most important to God. I learned through his words to accept myself as I am. I am truly grateful I have found T.D.Jakes! I realize now that I am a masterpiece to God. What a wonderful thought that brings !!

Thank you, Karen Michelle

Rating: I've been having a hard time deciding if i should give this book four stars, or five. but i think in truth this book deserves 4 1/2
Length: this book is 176 pages total (plus a little glossary of horse terms in the back).
Overall Review: when 13 year old Hilary Thompson hears that her parents are planning on moving from the city to the countryside of Tennessee, she isnt exactly pleased. Hilary knows NOTHING about horses, but when she arrives at her new home, she finds that her house borders a horse farm.
Then Hilary meets Satan, a beautiful black mustang with a fiery temperment. No one can train or ride him. Hilary's parents set her up for a job at the horse stable, and there she meets Susan (owner of stable) and her son Jeremy--who turns out to be the owner of the black horse. She also meets Elise, a snobbish girl with a wonderful horse and the best rider there (and Jeremy's girlfriend).
Hilary's relationship with Satan begins to grow, and pretty soon he learns to trust her. and before long, she's on his back secretly riding him. But to do this, Hilary has to sneak out. She doesnt want anyone finding out about her little visits with Satan.
And then one day Jeremy catches her out with Satan. He bargains with her, and she promises to help him win the trust of Satan. Can she do it?
My (Personal) Review: I loved this book. I really did. It was an easy ready for any horse lover--and i liked the fact that the author put in a glossary of horse terms so that even if you're not an expert with horses, you can still understand. The book has no long, boring parts in it. it's nonstop twist and turn after another. i only had two problems with it, though: 1, i think it was too short for the plot or storyline. i love a book that lasts, and this one was just too short for me personally. 2, its a little unrealistic when it comes to Hilary training Satan. The horse is supposed to be vicous and wild, but really it takes Hilary no time at all practically to win his trust. I thought that was a little strange.
But overall, this was a GREAT book with a little romance sprinkled in. you should read it. i hope the author comes out with a sequel. As for the ending, it was bittersweet and yet perfect i think.

To be gifted with the chance to work with and ride horses is the dream of many. To be gifted with the chance to "join-up" with a horse like Satan is a once in a lifetime experience.

Juliana Hutchings has been around horses all her life and at the age of 14 crafted this amazing story of a young girl and the mustang that she befriends. When Hilary makes a move to a new town leaving her old friends behind, she's feeling lonely very much like the little mustang that has been dropped off at the stable nearby because no one can handle him. A summer job is the beginning of a friendship between the two.

Hutchings is aware that for some readers the terms used to describe what happens at the stables will be new to them. So as Hilary learns these terms so can we via the glossary added at the back of the book. And also like Hilary, we become initiated into the world of horses and riders and how they can work to become a team.

Twists and turns, ups and downs, and a far bit of growing up are all experienced in this nicely paced book of courage and hope. Strong female characters and good family values help to round out this story of what can be done when one sets their mind to a goal and follows thru even if it involves a few tears along the way.

This book will capture any young person who loves horses, and who doesn't! It has all of the elements of a teenager going through those tough years, but also finding something that helps them reach for the stars. I would highly recommend this book to all young people who want to curl up in a chair and get away to their dreams of owning a horse.

This is a heart-warming story of love, acceptance and angst. The teenage heroine has been uprooted and moves to an environment that is foreign to her. At the same time a new horse arrives at the Stables next door...you guessed it...they become friends. The ease and flow of the words on these pages make it an enjoyable read. While this story has been told before I feel that the author's story plays heavily in to the very real - not patronizing - teenage feelings, because she is a teenager herself! Juliana Hutchings is "An Author To Remember"!

This is a great read for anyone. It flows easily giving depth to a realistic and moral story that is an honest delight. It will warm your heart and last long after the book has been read. Bravo!

Booklist says "McMahon might be ready to take his place alongside such writers as James Crumley and C. J. Box." I.ve never read Crumley but McMahon is whole lot better than C.J. Box any day!

Nice read. There were only a couple over-the-top instances that marred it.

Hugh Davoren is what in most people eyes would seem to be your average guy. He's a day laborer and carpenter for a local Helena, Montana construction firm, currently working on renovatiing an old ranch homestead south of the city.

One afternoon, while driving a load of scrap material to the ranche's dump, he has a chance encounter with the new ranch owner's wife. It's cordial, but out of character. He's never actually met her and feels she has gone out of her way to avoid him. Her resemblance to a girl he once knew brings back haunting memories of a summer he spent working the same ranch-and the two shadowy deaths that took place there long ago.

At the dumpsite, while dumping the material from his truck, he notices a horse hoof protruding from a pile of garbage. Upon investigating further, he finds not one but two horses that have been murdered, grossly mutilated and surreptitiously hidden. Davoren, a native Montanan and former investigative columnist for a California newspaper with a love for horses, decides to poke around the ranch to see if he can figure out what caused the questionable deaths of the two equines.

Before he asks his first questions, he is confronted by the ranch foreman and held at gunpoint by drug addict youngest son of the ranch's former owner Kirk Pettyjohn. Then the ranch's new owner, a sly Easterner, Wesley Balcomb comes to interrogate him.

From the moment Balcomb arrives, Davoren's life is thrown into a tailspin from which he may not recover. He is arrested on trumped-up charges, jailed, freed, and terrorized by Balcomb's henchman to the breaking point. With the help of Madbird, a Native American Blackfoot, Davoren evades Balcomb's ever-tightening net and unravels the mystery around the dead horses.

The Big Sky country of Montana is so perfect for Lone Creek that you find yourself visualizing every descriptive scene the McMahon writes. This is a terrific story, full of likable characters, vivid personalities, and just enough intrigue to keep those pages turning.

Armchair Interviews says: Going out West for a summer excursion? Take this one with, you will not be sorry.

Neil McMahon, author of the Dr. Carroll Monks series, has established a reputation as a competent if under-appreciated journeyman writer. His latest novel meets and exceeds any and all expectations raised by his previous work.

LONE CREEK is a world removed from the Monks books, trading the hospital environs of San Francisco for McMahon's home turf of Montana, and Monks's surgical scrubs for the carpentry tools of one Hugh Davoren. I suspect that McMahon has much more in common with Davoren than he does with Monks --- McMahon lives in Montana and, like Davoren, is a carpenter --- and the apparent similarities between the two men infuses LONE CREEK with a reality and an immediacy that is a rarity in works of fiction.

The book begins with Davoren doing carpentry work for Wesley Balcomb, the new owner of the Pettyjohn Ranch near Helena, Montana. The ranch holds a mixed bag of memories for Davoren that is all but swept away when he makes a grisly if accidental discovery on the ranch property while working. He is then fired and arrested on the same day, in what appears to be a setup.

Davoren's job termination is the least of his worries, though, as it quickly becomes clear that Balcomb isn't satisfied with simply ruining him --- Balcomb wants him dead. Davoren's allies are few, but one --- Madbird, an Indian carpenter who easily walks away with the book --- helps Davoren to even the odds, despite being outnumbered by lawyers, guns and money. Ultimately, however, as Davoren slowly uncovers the secrets of Balcomb and the Pettyjohn ranch, he inadvertently unleashes a maelstrom of explosive violence that can only end one way.

As compelling as Davoren and Madbird are, the real protagonist of LONE CREEK is Montana itself, brought to vivid, thundering life by McMahon's prose. Writers, both veteran and fledgling, will often hold up --- and rightfully so --- the opening paragraph of THE LAST GOOD KISS by James Crumley as an example of all that good writing should be. I suspect that the first page of LONE CREEK will be held in similar high esteem. Read it, and then try to put the book down, even for a few minutes. The momentum of its words sweeps you along, as Davoren's first-person account slices in and out of his life, past and present, and we learn not only of his rough edges but also how they got there.

LONE CREEK is most assuredly a keeper --- as intriguing a work of fiction as you'll read all year.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

Hugh Davoren's life went from bad to worse throughout most of this book. I was exhausted trying to keep the faith with him all the way. Hugh finds two mutilated horses badly buried out in nowhere, and the the bad luck begins. If he didnt have any bad luck, he would have no luck at all.

Fascinating study of man's will to keep his sanity and ethical standards. You want to slap him upside the head when he falls for the boss's wife. I saw that coming waaaay before he did.

This was a book of Hugh's baptism by fire. Without his friend Madbird, he would have been a total disaster. People like Balcomb and Kirk needed killin' and you sense Hugh's frustration at trying to live up to his own morals. Character descriptions were very interesting.

The author's descriptions of everything were so poignant and wistful. My first read of this author. Not my last.

A great book in a setting and with plot unlike anything McMahon has written before with an attention to detail that makes the book come alive. (Few people know that when on a motorcycle your knuckles get cold very fast or that Timothy is a type of grass used to make hay.) I hope for many more books from McMahon set in the "Big Sky Country".

this book was required for a class. it does a good job of explaining management history and techniques without being redundant and boring.

Most of the contents of this book reflect the concepts and ideas presented in college level management/organizational behavior text books. The information is well organized and touches on some of the key issues that any modern executive handles each day.

For anyone that manages employees, I would suggest this book - whether you are a first time manager or a seasoned executive.

I received my order on time and in excellent condition. I didn't have any problems or delays with my order. Thank You very much for your great service.

I studied this book and passed the CLEP with a 71. It has all you need to know, and then some. Highly recommended.

I use and have used several textbooks on the basic theories and processes involved in management fundamentals. Most of which are absolutely awful in there use at learning the fundamentals. They, as many textbooks do, make the assumption that the student of management is somehow already well versed in many of the must know theories and processes and therefore start off midway in the development of the student instead of at the beginning. This little book on the other hand makes no such grandiose and incorrect assumptions and instead leads the reader on a well-paced and well thought out journey through the art and science that we call management. A very good book, that I would myself use as a textbook if it only cost a hundred dollars more.... Frankly, as a student of management you could not do much better if your attempt is to somehow gain, at a very low cost, a fairly well encompassing overview of management. The only shortcomings that I see in this text, and honestly, it does a better job than most "professional" textbooks in this area, is the too short discussions on the leaders and great thinkers of management. Beyond those shortcomings, this is an excellent book that I refer to when trying to interpret the "professional" textbooks for my students learning the fundamentals of management.

Masterfully narrated by Michael Collins, the historical novel, The Marrow Of Tradition, by Charles Waddell Chesnutt is set in the 1898 North Carolina city of Wellington, presenting a kind of microcosm of the ante-bellum south where a town has gone mad with racial hatreds, and roiling confrontations between southern "redeemers" and the now free black community. The first African-American novelist to achieve national recognition for his work, Charles Waddell Chesnutt is able to take us back into a time of family tragedy, death, lynch law, and endemic racial violence that would scar the worlds of both whites and blacks for generations to come. The Marrow Of Tradition is a compelling, engaging story of characters and events that grips the listener's total attention from beginning to end. (Running Time: 3:30 hours)

This novel, originally published in 1901, is based on a historic event from 1898, a racially based incident in which about a dozen African Americans in Wilmington, North Carolina, were brutally murdered by Caucasians who'd lost political power, after Reconstruction, and successfully gained that power back by massacring some and completely intimidating all of the other African Americans in that community. Chesnutt, however, does not simply retell the story of the "race riot" but uses that event as the basis for a story about the tensions between peoples of different "races" and the disenfranchisement of African Americans at the initiation of Jim Crow Laws. This is an interesting read, and excellent for the classroom, particularly when thinking about using fiction as the basis to teach students to do research. There are three editions: two are good and the third should be ignored completely. Buy the 20th Cent. Classics edition (edited by Sundquist) or the Univ. of Michigan/Ann Arbor Paperback edition (edited by Farnsworth). Do NOT buy the Black Classics/X-Press version; it is a sham. The publishers have changed the title to Tradition and have left out portions of the novel, sometimes just phrases and other times whole paragraphs. The Black Classics/X-Press edition is a different read completely and should NOT be ordered.

Charles Chesnutt's 1901 novel, "The Marrow of Tradition," is finally, after nearly a century, getting a broader audience, and deservedly so. Set in late 1890's North Carolina, Chesnutt's novel examines the psychology of turn of the century American race relations. Based on the incidents leading up to the 1898 Wilmington 'race riot,' "The Marrow of Tradition" is an astounding fictional study of American race relations, and their political, social, economic, and personal ramifications, which we still feel to-day. This is a novel which should join Twain's "Huckleberry Finn" as a key text in American literature courses, and in the broader social imaginary.

"The Marrow of Tradition" begins with multiple anxities - Major Carteret, a former Southern Civil War officer, whose family was nearly ruined as a result of the war, is in the process of rebuilding his family and his fortunes. Having founded a newspaper, 'The Morning Chronicle,' his fortunes seem to be on the rise. However, he envisions threats on every side - personally, the precarious life of his new born son constantly threatens to end his family line; politically, since the passage of the 15th Amendment, the black population of his hometown, Wellington, is increasingly subjecting his pride to the 'insult' of an 'inferior' race in positions of authority and influence. For the black population of Wellington, threats to their growing power are just as palpable - Carteret and his cronies (particularly General Belmont and 'Captain' McBane) are building up a 'white supremacy' movement; social relations between blacks and whites have the veneer of restraint, with explosive rage always bristling beneath the surface on both sides of the 'color line.' For black people like Sandy Campbell and Jane Letlow, in service to white families since before the war, investment in 'status quo antebellum' is a way of life. Others like Jerry Letlow and Josh Green represent absolute differences in opinion in their relations with the whites. For mixed-race individuals like Dr. William Miller and his wife Janet, social acceptance, respectability, and mobility seem possible. Miller's decision to build a hospital in Wellington is predicated on the hope that he might be a cornerstone for the up-and-coming black community.

With a complex set of relations like this in place, the novel quickly draws us in. Carteret's determination in setting up a 'white supremacy' movement meets with various successes and failures, as he uses his newspaper to sow seeds of discontent among the white population, which is actually outnumbered in Wellington, two to one. An editorial from a black newspaper, against the extra-judicial practices of lynch mobs enrages Carteret and his group. A key relationship in the novel, between an old Southern aristocrat, John Delamere, his profligate grandson, Tom, and their longtime family servant, Sandy Campbell, sets the stage for heightened racial tensions, when Sandy is accused of murdering an elderly white woman, Polly Ochiltree, who is related to the Carterets.

Chesnutt does a phenomenal job of juxtaposing the systems by which each individual and each group and sub-group in the novel deals with the realities of life in a post-Reconstruction southern town. From simple subsisting to aggressive attempts at change, from local traditions of hexcraft to public manipulation through the press, from defensive postures to mob mentality, from legislation to extra-legal action, from duties to the community to the duties owed to one's own family, Chesnutt presents his readers with a wide variety of strategies open to his characters. With a narrative voice which believes decisively in "Fate," the novel tries to illustrate the legacy of slavery, and the almost inevitable mess that comes about when stationary, progressive, and regressive mindsets clash on a public level.

One of Chesnutt's major achievements is in never wholly giving way to group mentalities or broad generalizations with regard to the actors in this drama. Stereotypes are as soon dismissed as acknowledged. He clearly allows for and presents differences in opinion on the level of the individual - Josh Green's self-proclaimed mission of vengeance against white people is as deeply felt as Jerry Letlow's wishes to become white. Even within the 'white supremacy' Big Three, Careteret, Belmont, and McBane express radically different approaches to gaining what they imagine to be a common goal. White characters like Philadelphia surgeon, Dr. Burns, and Wellington newspaper man, Lee Ellis, are as inclusionary and accepting of black citizens and their aspirations as their respective social positions will allow them to be. There is a lot more going on in "The Marrow of Tradition" than I have pointed to here. Professor Eric Sundquist's introduction does an excellent job of setting up the historical, political, and biographical contexts involved in the novel. Overall, this is an extremely rich novel and very much worth reading.

This near-forgotten novel really doesn't get the attention it deserves. Although written over a hundred years ago(Chesnutt has the distinction of being the first African-American professional writer of fiction), the novel anticipates many of the approaches leaders would later employ in their attempts to better the plight of African-Americans. Josh Green, for example, is a dead-ringer for the "by any means necessary" rhetoric of Malcolm X, while Dr. Miller seems more emblematic of the accomodationist position adopted by Booker T. Washington and later modified by Martin Luther King. Although Chesnutt seems to imply preference for the latter, the text never falls into a redundant good/bad binary. Chesnutt skillfully demonstrates the strengths and weaknesses of strategies designed to address the systemic disenfranchisement of African-Americans. Like many black writers interested in such issues (most notably Patricia Williams in "The Alchemy of Race and Rights"), the text reinforces the importance of rights discourse and a well-functioning legal forum as the keys to ensuring black freedom and autonomy from coercive hegemonical practices.

Although the text, as some commentators have noted, sometimes wildly veers into melodrama, the power and vision of the narrative trumps whatever small stylistic quibbles I may have with it. A great read.

This Chesnutt novel is one of the most powerful fictional works about the nature of race relations published in the era of the Jim Crow South. It carefully relates issues of the "separate but equal" doctrine, Southern tradition and class distinctions, mob justice and lynching, generational shifts in race relations, and a number of other problems in an interesting narrative account of the Wilmington race riot. Chesnutt's style, powerful nuances, and memorable characters make this novel an essential read for anyone interested in the history of race relations in America.

One day I was rummaging through a used book store (more a warehouse, actually), when I came across a neat-looking little paperback staring out at me from between the creased and dust-caked spines of other unknown novels. It was called "Montana Gothic," and the cover depicted a skeleton wearing a cowboy's hat. I was sold then and there.

This is a strange novel for sure, and unlike anything I've ever read. Essentially, this tells of four separate generations of Montana folk and the bizarre situations they encounter on the plains. The first tells the story of a young mortician who comes to an early 20th-Century frontier town to set up shop, and the hostility he encounters from the locals. The second tells of a young wrangler and the old cowboy he works for and their experience together one cold night in the dead of winter. The third story details a crime committed by the daughter of a wealthy patriarch, and the final story is about a gunslinger in modern-day Butte.

It's a compelling read overall. Van Sickle's writing is atmospheric--if not necessarily stunning--and the characters, especially, are well-drawn. I admit I was expecting more horror than what I got, but that's the point--"Montana Gothic" subverts expectations. It's completely unique. Other complaints? Well, the final story was a bit weak, but other than that...nada.

Highly recommended for adventurous readers willing to go the extra mile to find a rare and overlooked gem.

What a cool book. I've never read anything like it.
"Montana Gothic" consists of four sections, all set in Montana, from the early-1900s to the late-1970s.
In the first, a man moves to Nowheresville, Montana, to become an undertaker and discovers that no one wants anything to do with him because the previous undertaker molested a large number of female corpses and the townsfolk assume he's the same way.
In the second, an old cowboy (who was once a young minor character in the first part) spends a long winter alone in a cabin with a young complainer. The old cowboy's words are some of the best writing I've ever read on the subject of A Sense of Place. He talks about Montana, but he could be talking about New Mexico, or about anywhere where the land becomes the people and the people become the land.
In the third, a minor character (the young complainer from the second part) takes advantage of a slightly retarded young girl, the girl murders him, and the family tries to cover up the crime.
And in the fourth, an Old West style gunslinger (carrying the same gun the young girl killed the misguided rapist with) tries to exist in late-1970s big city Montana.
All of the stories end in very dark, Shakespearian ways, but all of the book's characters are easy to empathize with and to root for. As a result of their likeability, the grim fates of many of the characters feels especially sad. The stories are intricate and fascinating in the way they connect with one another, and the overall structure of the book is unique and enticing.
And the writing is very good--like Cormac McCarthy Lite, I'd say--and some of the author's natural descriptions are among the best I've ever read.
"Winter sky in northeastern Montana is just another kind of mud; thinner and grayer, but so deep that if you ever fell into it, you'd never get out."
Then there's the ending. The book's ending packs an emotional and symbolic wallop that I'm still reeling from, days after reading it. "Montana Gothic" is a forgotten treasure, and deserves all the word of mouth it can get. I can see it being an awesome movie someday, and I always plan on keeping a copy around. It's spooky, thoughtful, deep, and beautiful. It's often funny too, and it's ALWAYS original. I can't see why this author isn't more popular--I'd way rather read him than Norm McLean.

This twisted tale starts in the early 20th Century and its style is so appropriate that the ending comes as a real blow although expected and inevitable. The tale goes on from there, through the decades and inevitable is the keynote. This book should be taught in colleges as it is the perfect use of prose to wring our minds with truly profound horror. Not ghosts or goblins, but the real horror of mortality and fate. And yet we want to read it again, or talk about it -- like Poe, like Faulkner, it brings us into areas we hadn't considered, but which are surely there for all of us. I'll never forget this book, but it may not be for everyone. I read that the author died last year; what a tombstone to leave behind! Truly an overlooked masterpiece in our literature.

The 4 parts of this story are like 4 bullets hitting you in each corner, but something about them makes for a 5th bullet that gets you in the middle. How does it work? Friends I've turned on to it can't say, but they agree it is psycologically perfect in terms of doing it to you! If you love Horror/Weird, see how this one does it subtley in "subtext" as well as overtly. Why didn't it win some kind of prize? Maybe there's a bias against such truly dark writing -- but not here! I looked for other works by this author and found only a prescient and out of print ECOLOGICAL CIIZEN (non-fiction) but nothing since M.Gothic. One can see why! It's all in this one strange novel.

We think horror is the supernatural, as with so many cheap stories. But in all of us, our true horror starts in our mind, and Van Sickle knows this in this very horrifying book. In a way, it is healing, insofar as the mental terror here is a way out of our own. I assume the cowboy and western elements are such that men would enjoy, but the inner terror that permeates this substantial work is what I feed upon. A first class job of fusing the West with the Nightmare. Unlike the other reviewer, I don't want to meet the author--especially on one of my dark nights. But I have reread this book three times and it makes me stronger each time. The best, and strangest, book I own. Olivia Lemon RN, NYC

Grace and Seth's story will have readers turning the pages quickly. You'll remember this story long after you've finished. With all the odds against Grace and Seth, they still manage to find their way back to each other after several years. Even though Seth is bitter and broken, he still loves Grace, while Grace has never given up on her love for Seth.

Montana Secrets is for anyone who enjoys a good love story where the characters will grip at your heart. It's easy to get swept away in this wonderful reunion.

Montana Secrets is the debut book by Kay Stockham. She's definitely an author to watch for in the future!

MONTANA SECRETS by Kay Stockham
October 27, 2005

Amazon rating 4/5


"In Kay Stockham's debut novel, MONTANA SECRETS, physical therapist Grace Korbit is battling demons from her past. She has just been hired by her childhood friend Jake to help his brother (her ex-boyfriend) Seth Rowland recover from an accident that left him a paraplegic. Seth's been told that it is very possible for him to make a recovery, but he refuses to believe it, and spends his days feeling sorry for himself. The once active cowboy now sits in his wheelchair doing nothing.

Grace in the meantime is carrying a secret that she has kept close to her heart. It has made her fear and distrust men. Seth was one of only two men she tried to have a relationship with, but both failed due to her fears. Now, Grace is back in Seth's life." - Complete review at BookLoons dot com -- M Lofton.

Enjoyable romance, with well-written characters and believable plot. Recommended.

Kay Stockham debut in Montana Secrets is a heart felt, profoundly emotional story.

Physical Therapist Grace Korbit is pulled back to her hometown to care for former high school sweetheart after his terrible accident. She is willing to overlook the ghost from her troubled past to pull Seth out of his shell.

Seth Rowland an active rancher has let his riding accident send him into a tailspin.
He locks himself in his room, drowning in his pain and sorrow. Seth has gone through several therapists before Grace walks back into his life. At first Seth resist Grace's effort but is slowly pulled back to the land of the living.

But Seth realizes Grace has pains that go deeper then any accident. Can these two emotional scared souls find their way to happiness?

Montana Secrets really tugs at your heartstrings. The inner family struggles to care for an injured relative are expressed so true to life. Seth and Grace find a deep and abiding love. It was a treasure to watch their journey.

Montana Secrets by Kay Stockham
Harlequin SuperRomance # 1307 - October 2005
Book # 1 - North Star, Montana

Grace Korbit couldn't refuse returning to North Star to help her high school sweetheart with his rehab from a riding accident. Only Seth Rowland hadn't known his brother Jake had called Grace, and Grace is the very last person he wants to see. Ten years ago she left without even a goodbye and the rejection still hurts. Seeing Seth wheelchair bound and shutting out life is a tremendous shock, but even more shocking to Grace is that she still loves him, and she still feels that terrifying attraction. Seth's frustration only grows because Grace isn't going to leave but as he slowly gives in to her coaxing, he realizes that she is still the haunted young girl that ran away.

This is Ms. Stockham's debut, and she takes on the difficult topic of child abuse and rape with a great deal of care. I like that this is a well-paced story and that the trust and healing follow a normal course. While Grace brings Seth back to the world of the living, he shows Grace that she's worthy of his love. These are wonderful characters. Grace is a strong woman dealing with her childhood trauma, fighting to live a normal life. Seth, once he gets over his very normal anger and self-pity, is a man every woman wants on her side. His own situation enables him to see inside Grace and to reach out to her. This is a poignant lovestory that touches the heart. I'm looking forward to reading more from Ms. Stockham! :D

Time, shame and pride have injured this couple.
Grace Korbit took off to get an education and to support her younger brother. Also to hide her past.
Jake Rowland and his wife were at their wits end to help Seth who had been there for them when they needed help.
Now big brother was in a hell of his own and not willing to accept help.

Despite Grace's emotional fear of returning to Montana and seeing Seth again she came and ultimately challenged him to accept her help. I liked her bit of no-nonsense bullying.

Jake and Maura's daughter, Lexi added just the right amount of mischief and misunderstanding to add to the challenge of Grace's presence. Why had Grace left him ten years ago? He didn't want her to see the shell of a man he had become. Had he pushed her too far with his physical demands then? Now he couldn't even do that.

What a great story - wonderful characters - great moving plot -
DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED --m

The only thing I would have changed was what happened to Moose and Spirit. Other than that I found myself rooting for Joline and CLint. I also like the fact that Joline loved and respected her animals.

I have not read Embers of The Heart yet. This book has taught me about history as well as provided an exciting story. I like the fact that there is little sex in her books thus far and very few curse words.
I highly recommend this as a book to pick up to read for enjoyment.

This book starts with a wonderful description of the Lawrence, Kansas Massacre - one of the bloodiest incidents in the history of our nation. Roseanne Bittner skillfully portrays the survivor of such a terrible horror - the desolation, the desire to run, the ambivalence about love. I love this book and would recommend it to all.

From the back cover:

In a nation divided, one woman would conquer the land with unbridled spirit.

The curle ties of the Civil War leave young Joline Masters widowed, with a vast Kansas farm to manage on her own. She learns to accept her loneliness, and she's not afraid of hard work--but then a bloody massacre strips her of everything but the hunger for a better life. She vows to leave her past behind and claim a new home in the majestic land that lies wild and untouched: Montana.

Only a strong woman can survive in Montana's mountains--and only one man believes in Jo's bold dreams. Clint Reeves, a mountain man with a wounded heart, longs to bury terrifying memories of tragic loss and make a fresh start with the woman whose courage mirrors his own. But though they share a pioneerying spirit that helped build a nation, they must struggle to forge a bond of passion and desire that can withstand the test of time...and the challenge of taming a savage land.

And my review:

I used to love books by Rosanne Bittner, but lately I haven't been able to find any that really wow me. This one was just another average read. It had all the elements of a good story, but somehow didn't manage to really engage my emotions.

There was lots of history (as is always the case with a Bittner novel) that was well drawn and didn't read like a passage out of a history textbook. Bittner can create pictures in the reader's mind until she feels as if she has actually experienced frontier America. There is the requisite tortured hero and the strong, independant woman (who is never shrewish). Of course, don't forget to throw in a few amazingly ugly villians. And there is the overkill of violence.

Yes, I can hear you all protesting from here. I know that the frontier was not a peaceful place. I know that it was harsh, bloody and violent. But I started to feel like this story was going around in circles. When Jo, the heroine, gets almost raped for the sixth time (I lost count), it started to feel monotonous. It was like Bittner was writing from a formula: the characters fend off an Indian attack, more descriptions of what it was like to travel on the wagon train, Jo almost gets raped, repeat. How many times is it dramatic or engaging to read about a woman narrowly escaping sexual assault?

I admit that Bittner is a very talented author, and I have enjoyed some of her books and not enjoyed others. I never quite know what to expect when I pick up a Bittner novel. This book will appeal to some, and not to others. If you've liked every single book of Bittner's that you've read, then chances are you'll enjoy this too. If you've liked only some of them, then you might not enjoy it. Sorry I can't give a more clear-cut recommendation than that.

I read "Embers of the Heart" first being drawn to it because no one writes books in the civil war genre like Rosanne Bittner! As I expected, it was outstanding. (see my review at that site.) I wasn't interested in this "sequel" "Montana Woman" for the obvious illusion the title gives of this "macho" woman, or "mountain woman" For whatever reason I decided to read it anyway and although it was totally different from EOfTheH story in both characters and plot, it was excellent. I wish I had read this one first because the Embers book fits better after it although they do stand independently. Our heroine, Jo Masters, is a fiesty female, emotionally and physically very strong yet attractive and appealing. The vision of this petite gal "pushing oxen" along is a riot but it works. The respect and friendships she develops with the people esp the men in the book is wonderful. No object of hanky panky or stay in the kitchen stuff here. The hero is tormented and he actually needs her healing friendship more than anything. A minimum of [physical] scenes but a maximum of friendships, affection, bonding, human behavior and relationships.. We've always known the pioneers in our country must have been strong and this reflects that. This book even puts things into perspective about the indian/ white man relationships. I usually skip descriptive stuff..A sky can only be so blue, a tree only so green, etc...but Bittner's writing is so incredible that in this book you "see" and feel the beauty of the west as the trek cross country reflects the changing landscape and the inherent problems. You rejoice in Jo's love of animals and her pain of parting with them to survive. If you want a fast, enjoyable love story with warm fuzzies for a rainy afternoon this isn't it. But if you want a really good book that shows people at their worst and their best,and gives you new insights in the process, this is awesome..I can't recommend it highly enough. And then go for "Embers", it has angst too but the love story has more warm fuzzies. Enjoy.

Natalie Severin has a style all her own. She writes the stories no one else wants to write, the offbeat ones. She likes her job. It helps her deal with the scandal attached to her husband's death and her brother's absence. Running into Ram Montgomery while on the job reminds her that he is all man. Sexually attractive, dangerous, full of secrets and is magically able to heal both himself and others. He makes her want him yet wary at the same time.

Ram Montgomery has power, both physical and magical. He feels the magic between Natalie and himself. He can't give Natalie the assurances she so desperately needs. But he has to try. For them, for himself, he has to try.

Together Natalie and Ram are trying to stop a ring of animal smugglers. They need to work together to accomplish their mission. Natalie needs to decide if she can handle Ram's magic. Can they succeed or will they lose themselves, to both to the smugglers and to their mutual attraction?

From the first page of Phoenix Unrisen, the reader is drawn into a wonderful tale suspense and magic. Ms. Nance's attention to detail while maintaining a high level of action keeps the reader from putting down the book. She adds twists at the right intervals to keep the reader off balance and intrigued. I was left hoping that Kathleen Nance adds more books to her library using the well-drawn supporting characters in Phoenix Unrisen. I Joyfully Recommend this book highly.

Barb
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

This is an interesting story with an original storyline, following Natalie Severin, recent widow and newspaper reporter, as she is on the trail of a group who are stealing rare wild birds. She bumps into local vet Ramses Montgomery who she discovers is a Mage - like her dead husband. Now Natalie's relationship with Charles, her dead husband, had gone badly wrong and left her afraid of Magic and of the motives and goodness of those who practised Magic.

However, Natalie finds herself having to team up with Ram to search for those responsible for stealing the wild birds. Things get more dangerous as people are hurt or killed, Natalie is threatened and she begins to find evidence that the sinister Mage behind it all could be her twin brother who disappeared the night her husband was killed. She also finds that Ram is hiding some things from her, especially relating to his Mage talents, and she also keeps information from him so that she can prepare her newspaper story. But will they individually be able to deal with the powerful Mage out there whilst not trusting each other?

The writing of this book was fairly good although sometimes it dragged and there were occasional lazy moments in the plot (for example Natalie is given a special magical necklace that conveniently is just what she needs at a particular moment). The romance side is subordinate to the mystery plot about the Mage but the characters are interesting - they both struggle with the attraction because of their past histories.

The denouement of the story happened rather more quickly that I might have expected and it was perhaps slightly underwhelming but overall this was an enjoyable enough read.

[...].

Many witch books have basically turned me off because they veer into the dark side of the occult/paranormal line we tread with this genre. This crackerjack new novel just couldn't be better and misses all the pitfalls typical with a witchcraft book. First, the male lead is a Mage with fascinating connections to earth and the elements--almost Druidic. His concerns are with animals as is his employment as a Vet. His female lead is a whip-smart reporter who makes excellent, intelligent choices every step of the way but resists the allure of this Mage because of bad experiences in the past. This is a fresh, excellently written addition to the genre and I suggest an IMMEDIATE order for yourself as a treat! You know how hard you've been working--enjoy a superb new story and of course, something chocolate, too.

Natalie Severin hates magic. She knows the dangers of magic better than most, for it has cost her everything and everyone she holds dear. As a reporter for New Orleans News Eye (NONE), she senses a story behind veterinarian Ram Montgomery. After all, she's sure she saw him magically heal a dog viciously attacked by AX and his henchmen. Has Natalie uncovered an exotic animal smuggling ring? Or is there some deeper, nefarious plot behind everything? What part does Ram have in the scheme of things? Natalie will have to put her fear of magic aside and work with Ram if she hopes to find the truth.

PHOENIX UNRISEN is being marketed as a romantic suspense, but paranormal fans will enjoy the magical elements of this tale as well. Kathleen Nance offers readers the perfect fusion of these two popular genres with this fascinating and intriguing tale.

The mysteries of PHOENIX UNRISEN gradually unfold as Natalie follows up on a tip from an informant. The clues are all there to figure out where the story is going. However, Kathleen Nance keeps you so entranced with the hauntingly eerie atmosphere and the suspenseful tension, that little time is spent figuring out the surprise ending. Some of her very vividly described images sent shivers down my spine! And what clever twists and turns Ms. Nance takes with the conclusion of PHOENIX UNRISEN.

Readers are taken on a headlong plunge into a dangerously compelling world in which all of Natalie's beliefs will be challenged. Natalie has had some hard knocks recently and her determination and willingness to keep fighting are admirable. She is the ideal character for a story set in New Orleans, post-Katrina, as her struggles mirror those of the city itself.

PHOENIX UNRISEN is a darkly gripping tale that begs to be read in one sitting. My only hesitations while reading it were surrounding the role of AX and his oddly named cohorts, Kracker and Dawglip. As the storyline unveils, all becomes clear. PHOENIX UNRISEN is simply riveting! Once again, Kathleen Nance has a winner on her hands with this one.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Like Ms. Nance's other books, a tale of magic, danger and love is tightly woven. Though related to her djinn series (Isis Montgomery, Ram's sister, is the heroine in More Than Magic and Jack Montgomery meets and falls for Leila in Enchantment), this book reads just fine as a stand-alone.

The story is tightly woven, and I found myself staying up much later than I should have in order to finish the book. Natalie has a fear of magic, understandably so, that she must overcome in order to be with Ram. This theme of overcoming fear because of or in order to have true love is common in Nance's book, but it's one of my favorite things about her work.

I'd definitely recommend this. Whether as an introduction to Kathleen Nance or as a continuation of her djinn series, it's another home run.