Wyoming Books

This is the first of two books in a long series about the Randall family and, principally, the desire of Jake Randall to marry off his younger brothers. Wyoming Winter deals with Chad and Pete and both books are very enjoyable. One of the best parts of these books is that characters from the first novel feature in the second and I am sure that this will be the case in "Summer Skies". I have just ordered Summer Skies as I cannot wait to see how the other two brothers get married off.

Big tip: if you are pregnant and feeling fat, bloated or unloved, you are just going to love the second book, Cowboy Daddy

I read "Summer Skies" first but this one should be read first. The Randall brothers are a good bunch of guys without too many hangups to brood over. They just need the perfect women for them to show up and whip them into shape.

I also bought "Randall's Riches" about the next generation and look forward to more coming out in this series this summer and fall. (2002)

Is it possible to fall in love with a character I think it is. This is the case with Wyoming Winter I loved this book I purchased it from my local bookstore and didn't get the chance to read it right away but when I did I found myself staying up til 2 in the morning just to finish it. I was excited that Judy Christenberry decided to reissuse the Randall Brothers series because I have been looking for the books for some time now. I have read "Cowboy Come Home" the story of Randall cousin Griffin first not realizing until it was to late that there were other books in the series. This a light hearted read and will without a doubt have you laughing out loud at some the characters descriptions and interactions. I recommand it and "Summer Skies" to any romance reader.

Lilly Bennett continues to solve the mystery while cutting a swath thru food and drink, clothes and parties, that most of us only dream of. Her catty insights and tongue in cheek comments are delightful. But, there's something different about this Lilly. I'm not going to say what, see for yourself. It's still a great series and I'm really looking forward to the next one.

Tramp is a great addition to the Lilly Bennett series. This is the kind of book you can easily read on a rainy day. It holds your attention until the very end.

Lilly Bennett was born to wealth and privilege. However, the vibrant Lilly is too intelligent of an individual to settle for a jet set lifestyle. Instead she has spent two decades working for the Santa Biancan police force. To avert a potentially nasty scandal, she resigns from her job as Chief of Detectives when she is caught in a compromising position with a married State Supreme Court Justice. Lilly returns to her home town of Round-Up, Texas to accept the position of U.S. Marshal. She also opens up a private investigation firm.

Her current case evolves around the death of Cyrus Vaile, a wealthy business-person, who bought and financed the local repertory theatre. Before the wealthy individual overdosed from excess digitalis added to his specially blended tea, he hired Lilly to learn what happened to the $20 million endowment he bestowed on the theatre that mysteriously disappeared. Not soon after Cyrus' death, an attempt is made on Lilly. That incident is followed by the death of an individual who ate poisoned mushrooms at a theatre party. A sabotaged catwalk falls onto the stage, injuring many of the performers and killing one person. It would be obvious to even the most obtuse person living inside the Beltway that someone is after individuals associated with the theatre group. Unless Lilly can find the culprit from a host of potential murderers, more death will follow.

The protagonist speaks with a brutal honesty that, though a bit brash and colloquial, perfectly fits the character. This makes the novel ring true. The cleverly constructed storyline is populated with an eccentric and colorful cast of scoundrels. Each one of them could easily be the villain. Tramp is a witty who-done-it that makes for fun reading.

Harriet Klausner

Well developed characters & a great storyline. I totally enjoyed this authors style. You really care about all characters & what happens to them.

WOW! Where does P.P. get these great characters?

Twins, Nicholas Braden and Morgan Davis refuse to acknowledge their unusual connection. Fleur Braden is the only one who knows the whole story of their separation.

Lorilee Braden loves one twin as a brother and the other twin as a man. She is also the silly woman who does not realized the grave danger that surrounds them and contributes to the problem.

The tempers of these two men are explosive and just barely held in check. Suprisingly so. Jealously was touched upon but surely did confused the men.

I suggest that you don't miss any of Potter's books, especially the Western Historicals -- they are great

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -- morality questionable, judgeing the times, the areas, and the situations. A really great read and a keeper.

This is a wonderful story about twins, separated at birth, who meet very accidentally. One is the ranger out to catch the outlaw! While that is formula, the rest of the story isn't. The
emotions run high between nick and morgan, but the secondary characters,from spunky lori (to caroline, the pig,) are also full of life and add new dimensions. This book really has every emotion you can think of. And of course the characters grow and evolve. Potter is one of my favorite authors. This book is unique.

When a book comes along that speaks with a voice that gives the reader an emotional understanding of the west, it quickly moves to the top of our "must read" list. "Windmill. Essays from Four Mile Ranch" by David Romtvedt is such a book. It is a book that makes the reader feel that you are there...experiencing a real understanding of what it means to live and work in the west.

Calling Romtvedt's experiences "essays" is appropriate. They are separate stories...but more than merely stories. They appear to be unrealated chapters, but the thread that weaves throughout is an understanding and appreciation of living in the west. Those who live, or have lived in Wyoming and the west (and we mean LIVED in the west, not just had a residence there), will share the kindred spirit of which Romtvedt writes.

Often, when reading these essays, we had to put the book down momentarily to absorb the words, and the experiences behind the words. The words paint pictures of the landscape, the heritage, and contemporary life near Buffalo, Wyoming. Romtvedt allows us to peer into his very personal thoughts and experiences. He lets us know that there is beauty in the "mundane", for what we may first perceive as mundane can been experienced on so many levels. The only limitations to our experiences are those we impose upon ourselves. In Windmill, Romtvedt shows us that it is possible to experience the beauty of the west through something as common as a windmill, as distant as the thunder rolling across the plains and as close as ourselves.

Through this book, we are able to experience the beauty of simple words and the complexity of the west. Romtvedt draws us into his world and shows us how easy it is to open ourselves to an awareness of life around us. Whether intended or not, he almost seems to defy us NOT to increase our awareness as we share his awareness of his world.

Occasionally, the pictures painted by the words are enhanced with charcoal drawing (or pencil drawings) by Gregory Truett Smith. Those pages don't detract from the word pictures, but rather make us wish there were more of them.

The following passage from the book shows the beauty and meaning of simple things:

"One June night as I was coming down out of the Bighorns with my friend John Lane, we saw a light we didn't recognize off to the northeast. UFOs maybe, or a giant city that had been built in our two-week absence from civilization. We stopped our truck and got out. In the stillness, we saw the Northern Lights - long shimmering bands of yellow and white pouring down from the top of the world, then racing back up.

We stared. After a few minutes, we heard the rumbling of thunder from the southeast, and, turning, we saw lightning - jagged fierce bolts, some running up and down, some back and forth across the sky. We turned from one light to the other.

Next came singing. It wasn't the long howling singing of wolves - the last Bighorn wolf was shot in 1939. Rather, it was the singing of coyotes - short bright yips very close to laughter. There were so many singers that the song took on a quality that seemed familiar, human.

Sheep need to be protected from coyotes but I can't help but feel sympathy for the clever dog. Coyote will find a way around every impediment - traps, poisons, guns, trucks, snowmobiles, airplanes. When night falls, no matter how hard the day, Coyote begins to sing. Coyote's song is 'We are here; it is now'."

Romtvedt's words are simple. They invite us to share personal experiences. They invite us to be open to personal experiences of our own. The book quotes poet Lew Welch when he made an observation to a friend:

"...to the mountains the trees are just passing through".

This not only shows us OUR place; but shows how important it is for we mere mortals to appreciate our place in the world around us. Romtvedt expresses that appreciation. He shows us how simple that complex appreciation can be...and, in many ways...how vital it is for us to cultivate that appreciation.

If the contemporary west has a voice, it may be the voice of David Romtvedt. If it is not HIS voice, "Windmill. Essays from Four Mile Ranch" shows us that, without a doubt, he HEARS that voice.

The Wyoming Companion

I read a library copy of this book several months ago and now I am thinking about buying a copy for my own library. I thought it was a bit uneven but parts of it have stuck with me. I want to go back and reread it. I found similarities between this book and the nature writings of Amish author David Kline.

In his essays on his small town, the local economy, the local culture, being a nonhunter, death, sheep, and weather, Romtvedt indeed conveys a sense of place and simple wisdom. Recommended for regional, large public, and academic libraries. LIBRARY JOURNA

Wyoming Whorehouses is a small paperback, but intriguing and interesting, concerning the many whorehouses in the State of Wyoming in the mid-1800's to the mid-1900's. Pictures of some of the prostitutes are shown and pictures of several of the brothels. Stories relating to each brothel is given and some jokes, as well as "whorehouse trivia." It is a delightful book to read for someone who enjoys knowing reality and what went on back in those years.

This is an interesting short book for several reasons. It appears to be a perfect example of how many senior citizens and retired folks are digging up or gathering together lots of local history and preserving it for posterity. In this case, the author relates how he first started hearing some of these stories 50 years ago. Now, half a century later he has taken those stories and interviewed many 60-90 year-old friends and acquaintances and boiled down their oral history into this 121 page historical tome. Combined with interviews and library research the author presents a fascinating, enlightening, humorous and entertaining book of historical facts and local myths about the underbelly of Wyoming's wild nightlife. As the author jokes, this is not a politically correct book and most of it is probably true. Lots of pictures of the most famous "sporting houses" in Wyoming are included in the book. There are also very rare photographs of the "sporting girls" that were taken to be used for advertising their services. The reader may be surprised to learn that this kind of prostitution still openly existed into the late 1970's. The Wild West was still alive and well in Wyoming.
The most famous "Soiled Dove" or "Fallen Angel" in the book is Martha Jane Canary, "Calamity Jane" of Wild Bill Hickok and Buffalo Bill Cody fame. She was only one of the many "ladies of the night" discussed within the book. One particularly interesting chapter is entitled "A Day in the Life of a `Working Girl.'" It provides the answer to many people's questions about what it was like to visit one of these places. It also provides interesting insights into what the girls really thought about their customers.
In several instances described, "housewives also went to these places. Not for sex, but to find out why their husbands went there. This took a lot of courage. Some of the questions the girls would answer were; 'Why would he prefer this place rather than our home?' `What do you do for him that I don't?' The working girls were always happy to answer questions like these. Prostitutes never thought themselves to be in competition with housewives. Their only job was to make a man relax and be happy enough to spend his money...Prostitutes seemed to know more about this than some housewives."
A few housewives also worked part-time at brothels, usually in places where no one knew them, like on the other side of town in larger cities. There are also a couple of examples of the "dens of sin" in various communities and settlements being burned to the ground in suspicious fires. Housewives were the suspected arsonists, but none of them were ever charged.
The book is full of trivia facts such as "The FBI was first activated into Federal Service as prostitute busters." Another fact was "that almost every town in Wyoming had Whorehouses." This book is also full of jokes and satire that often ring all too true.
"Badland Charlies" most famous patrons were Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and their gang "The Wild Bunch." The book is peppered with such characters with equally colorful names. One of the book's indexes is for 124 euphemisms for prostitutes, their customers, the sexual act and the brothels that the author had not printed in this volume. The author mentioned that he'd used 250 other euphemisms ( who would have thought there were so many) in the book so as not to offend too many readers many of who objected to the term "Whorehouses" or "Whores." Included in the book are many definitions and sources for terms like `Two-bit Ho." This is a very folksy, sometimes corny reportage of local history, but it is certain to provide the readers many chuckles and help them separate fact from myth. The authors humor is typified by a a sign covering the breasts of a nude prostitute's full-length portrait on the back cover of the book. The sign says, "Not Politically Correct."

This book is not a dirty book. It is simply full of facts gathered by a lot of research. It's not a dirty book or anything like that. Basically if you like obscene trivia, this is the book for you! (Especially if you like cheesy jokes... Lol.)

I had a bit of difficulty with this one. Cassandra, a widow on the run from a possible murder charge, decides to travel to a Wyoming ranch and claim to be the bride of a missing brother in order to secure a good home for her baby. But older brother Morgan Tolliver is more than a little suspicious.

What I had difficulty wrapping my head around was the fact that Morgan not only lets Cassandra stay, but falls in love with her and forgives all her deceits without question. I mean, I understand her reasoning, but a strong relationship requires trust, and I really don't see how there could be any after something like this.

Despite the obstacle, however, it was a darn good read, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Cassandra Logan is a pregnant widow who is desperate. She can't find work and facing being on the streets, she schemes the Tolliver family to provide a roof over her head and a place for her child. She tells the family that their missing son and brother is the father of her child, after she notices that he bears a striking resemblence to her dead husband. Soon, she finds herself in love with Morgan Tolliver, still lying the entire time.

I enjoyed the book but had a hard time liking this woman who would continue to lie, even after she feels she is in love with Morgan. I also found it strange that Morgan, who is half indian, didn't face any racial prejudice in the book.

Story is well written -- characters as screwy as people in real life.
Widow Cassandra Logan will lie, cheat and steal to give her unborn child a chance in life. Just about what women had to do in those days.

With her deceased husband, Jack Logan looking so much like Ryan Tolliver she thought she could at least give her baby a good start in life.
When she meets Morgan Tolliver and his father - ah, security if only they believe her tale - and then, wouldn't you know, the hormones kick in.
Morgan and Cassie strike sparks off one another. He doesn't trust her tale but can't argue with his father, because his father doesn't have long to live.

Then he contacts an ex-Pinkerton agent. Is her tale about Seamus Hawkins true? Did she kill this man?

Could Jacob Tolliver survive the shock if her story is false? He is still grieving the lose of his second son, Ryan.
Jacob asks Cassie to host an family barbique as she has brought some joy into his waning life. They end up having to face a prairie fire that threatens the ranch.

Excellent story - Definitely Recommended.

Once again, Elizabeth Lane proves why she is one of the best historical romance writers in the business. In her latest book, Wyoming Wildfire, Lane grabs her readers' attention and hearts as she treat them to a story of love, loss and bravery that will keep them on the edge of their seats to the very end. Well done!

All I ask of an author is: entertain me. In WYOMING WILDFIRE, Elizabeth Lane successfully completed this task - she clearly entertained me. The author put me in her story and she made me believe.

They accused Jessie Hammond's brother of murder. He, of course, was innocent, and as his sister, Jessie felt compelled to prove it. However, first she had to rescue him from the clenches of a duty-bound U.S. deputy.

Frank Hammond's appearance amazed U. S. Deputy Marshal Matthew T. Langtry. The kid didn't have the look of a killer, but Langtry knew looks meant nothing. Hammond was an accused murderer and as an officer of the law, it was Matt's job to take the prisoner in.

Sadly, Jessie's rescue plans go awry and her brother ends up dead. Maybe sometime, in the future, Jessie would put the ugly scene behind her and go on with her life. But right now she had to prove her brother was not a killer, and if the self-righteous U.S. deputy Matt Langtry would not help her, then she would do it alone!

WYOMING WILDFIRE is a gentle, colorful story. It is lightning quick and yet it is entertaining. As an author, Elizabeth Lane does a very good job creating a story. Jessie Hammond and Matt Langtry are very likable lead characters and their relationship is both attractive and adventuresome.

Currently, the Harlequin Historical line is moving in the right direction with some very gifted authors. Elizabeth Lane, Victoria Bylin, and newcomer Diane Gaston (Perkins) are presently writing some good stories for this publishing house - good historical tales that are both entertaining and credible.
Grade: B+

MaryGrace Meloche.
Reviewed for Romance Designs.
This review is based on an Advanced Reading Copy.

Jessie Hammond is hell bent on saving her 19 year old brother from the hangman's noose.
U.S. Deputy Marshall Matthew T. Langtry is transporting Frank Hammond to Sheridan, Wyoming.
Frank's hands are handcuffed behind his back and therein the trouble starts when a group of vigilantes come charging down the road.
Jessie proves that she can handle a rifle.
Frank is accused of killing Allister Gates, his brother Virgil Gates is leading the group of whiskyed up men.
Frank takes off with Matt's horse and disappears up over the ridge, Matt hides out to see which way the vigilantes will go, and Jessie stays to identify the men.

We are now led into a great paced, action packed [all most] story of who-dunit. Matt really didn't want to get involved - with either the murder or Jessie.

Silly girl - again she makes some wrong decisions - determined to go it alone - she can't trust Matt to clear her brother.

Yeah! we also find out the Matt may be related to Morgan Tolliver [Wyoming Widow] and his brother, Ryan [Wyoming Wildcat]. Morgan approaches Matt to offer to take in Jessie Hammond. Danger decends on the Tolliver Ranch.
Lillian Gates, Allister's widow has taken up with Virgil and was making many expensive changes in the ranch house.

Great Story - excellent characters - excellent series.
Definitely Recommended -m

I had the opportunity to visit Yellowstone National Park this summer and decided to pick up a few guidebooks from my local library. This book is marvelous. It discusses in detail the ecology and history of Yellowstone and its natural resources. The photographs are of the caliber you'd expect from a National Geographic publication.

A beautiful book. Get insight into the delicate ecosystem, the people and the wildlife in this amazing natural wonder.

Another wonderful book from National geographic. Get insight into the world's nest natural geysers. A must have for people planning to visit the beautiful park.

Frank Canton was sheriff of Buffalo, Wyoming in the 1880s and during the Johnson County War. Later he was a Deputy US Marshal in Oklahoma Territory, rising to high rank in Oklahoma law enforcement. He wrote an autobiography titled "Frontier Trails" that is a classic of western adventure about his life as a western lawman. Only, Frank Canton completely left out a significant part of his life history--his real name was Joe Horner and he was a convicted bank robber and murderer from Texas who had escaped from prison.

Alias Frank Canton fills in the blanks Canton left in his story, and does it very well. The reading was interesting and appeared to have been very well researched.

Frank Canton, whose real name was Joe Horner, was a fascinating Old West character. In fact, he's one of those characters that seem to fit perfectly those stereotypical views of what Old West characters are supposed to be: daring, full of bravura, mysterious, dangerous, dismissive of the law. Canton was all these things.

He started life in Virginia in 1849 as Joseph Horner. He went to Texas after the Civil War and became a cowboy. When not punching cattle he began stealing Indian ponies and then shot a soldier in a barroom brawl in Jacksboro, Texas. He was eventually arrested and sent to prison in Huntsville. In August 1879, while on a work detail outside the prison walls, Hunter escaped and headed north. He changed his name to Frank Canton.

More cowboy work brought him to Johnson County, Wyoming, where he became sheriff. When the Johnson County War broke out between large cattle ranchers and small farmers, Canton accepted a position with the Wyoming Stock Growers Association and sided with the big ranchers. He was there when the violence took place in 1892, a hired gun.

None of the violence in Johnson County ever resulted in a trial, so Canton left the state for Oklahoma. Here he had a change in conscience and began working on the side of the law bringing in criminals. In 1897, he went to Alaska where he became a deputy U.S. marshal; he also met the author Rex Beach there and had many prospecting adventures with him.

When he was relieved of his duties after an investigation of his past dredged up some of the unsavory details of his life, he returned to Oklahoma, where he became the state's first adjutant general in 1907. He retired in 1916, a success, and died in 1927.

Canton's reported life was filled with mystery and half-truths. He wrote an autobiography that was published posthumously in 1930 that distorts or eliminates facts regarding events in his life. DeArment does an excellent job of correcting these mistakes and filling in the gaps. His research is extensive (I loved the marginal notes he cites that he found in a copy of Canton's aoutobiography in the Buffalo, Wyoming, public library, where the anonymous reader points out one lie after another, ending with "Too bad he didn't hang."). And the writing is excellent. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the Old West or in unusual and controversial characters.

Matty Brennan would do anything to save the family spread...even marry the man who broke her heart six years ago. Of course, it's a marriage in name only, and of course it has nothing to do with any lingering feelings for her childhood flame. Dave Currick has no idea why it's so important that he marry Matty in name only, but he says yes because he'd do just about anything for Matty.

A marriage of convenience that's not overly convenient as it forces Matty and Dave to confront feelings from the past even as they look toward the future. The question is, what will that future hold for their marriage?

Patricia McLinn is a talented storyteller whose easy writing style and compelling plot will sweep you away.

Dire financial and legal problems lead Matty Breenan to a desperate solution. Determined to save the Flying W ranch following the death of her great-uncle, Matty proposes marriage to Dave Currick. Never mind he broke her heart six years ago when he unexpectedly ended their affair. If he agrees, marriage to Dave, in a round about fashion, qualifies Matty for a grant that has the potential of saving the ranch.

In the three weeks since she returned to Wyoming, Matty has pointedly avoided him; now, she's suddenly proposing. Dave has no idea why Matty wants to marry him except that in some inexplicable way her reason ties to her effort to save the Flying W. Dave's convinced she won't follow through, but, if playing along lets him back in Matty's life, then he's game. So game that he finds himself married. When he learns she didn't need him, but his address, Dave's anything but thrilled. Nevertheless, he's also determined to see Matty's efforts to save her ranch succeed, whatever he must do.

Patricia McLinn finds an innovative motive for a marriage of convenience in ALMOST A BRIDE. With her characteristic flair, these powerful characters and their emotional intensity keep the pages turning. Indeed, the mix of miscommunication, deep emotion and loopholes creates a delightful read. Recommended.