Colorado Books

As is true for all volumes in the RGS Story series, this book is exceptional. It's a study of the Rio Grande Southern railroad, specifically the portion of the railroad between the towns of Ophir and Rico.

The incredible Ophir loop area is covered in Vol 3, while vol 5 covers Rico itself and the mines above it. This volume covers the trackage and small stations between, including Trout Lake and the 10,250' Lizard Head pass.

A must for any RGS fan, or anyone interested in the history of this part of the country during the 1890s - 1950s. As with every book in the series, this one includes many hundreds of photos, historical accounts, track plans, building and bridge drawings, and much more.

One of the best tourist activities I can think of ... No, make that two of the best tourist activities I can think of are riding the Durango and Silverton narrow gage north of Durango, Colorado.

In the summertime the train goes all the way to Silverton. It stops there for a couple of hours and you walk around the quaint little town, probably buying an ice cream or a piece of home made pie. The ride is up the Animas canyon, and a beautiful ride it is.

In the summertime the train only goes about half way, where it turns around at a wye. You get out there and go to a shed where's there's a blazing fire and free hot drinks. On the way back, as the sun goes down one of the trainmen comes through lighting a kerosene lantern at each end of the coach. It's the crowning moment of a glorious day.

Before you go, read this book. It has about 200 pictures of the narrow gage railroads around Durango. It goes back into the history (all in all there were about 2,000 miles of narrow gage track.) but it also covers the Durango and Silverton and its transition from hauling freight to the miles in Silverton and elsewhere to tourist railway. Splendid book.

One last comment, while in Durango stay at the STRATER HOTEL. It's of the same vintage as the train and the food is supurb.

I have no financial interests in either the railway or the hotel, I just had a great time there.

Rainbow Arc of Fire is a series of heroic fantasy novels with a gay theme and cast. It follows the adventures of a group of gay and lesbian Pagans who live in Denver, Colorado who have been magically endowed with superhuman powers, as they encounter not only strange and unexpected dangers but also issues of morality, friendship, integrity, and loyalty, all from a non-judgemental perspective on the world.

As the series progresses, the stakes of the Rainbow Arc's adventures get much higher and the stories grow more ambitious. In the wonderfully entertaining Harmony of Spheres, the stakes are nothing less than the survival of the human race, as a comet speeds toward a collision with Earth, and Greg, Paul, and their friends must head into space to meet and divert it before it's too late. What happens on Earth while they're gone, and how they react to the way mankind has faced its greatest crisis, will stay with you long after you've finished this brisk, engrossing, and ultimately profound adventure.

Bridget O'Toole lovingly writes the birth of her son Mick in her husband's family Bible. Months earlier her husband left her to go to work and never returned. Bridget doesn't give up hope of his return and painstaking takes care of her son and vows to keep her husband's memory alive for their son. Fire breaks out in her tiny home and Bridget, the baby, and the family Bible barely escape with their lives.

Twelve years later, Bridget has done all she can do to keep her son alive and she is slowly dying. Knowing that her son has to grow and be healthy, Bridget feeds Mick their food while she slowly wastes away. It is during this time that Mick becomes involved with a group of cattle rustlers and is caught by James Ryan, an immigrant rancher.

James Ryan has no moral choice other than to help Mick O'Toole. Reminding himself that others helped him in his time of need, James sets out to get Mick to trust him. James plan works and Mick comes clean about his sick mother and pleads with James to help her. He agrees and they take a wagon to pick up Mick's mother. James is appalled by the condition of the beautiful woman lying in his arms during the ride back to his ranch and decides then and there that she will not die. James tenderly urges Bridget to eat and take things slowly in order to regain her strength. He doesn't count on her strength, her fortitude, and her absolute loveliness that he finds himself dreaming about. After finding Bridget up once more and cooking, James finally gives in and allows her to help him around the house as a cook and general housekeeper. Plus, James decides if she is happy then she will want to stay with him; which is a good thing because James doesn't think that he can ever let her go.

Bridget O'Toole prays and thanks the powers that be that James Ryan helped her that day weeks ago. She finds herself thinking of James and comes to the conclusion that her husband must be dead since she has heard nothing from him for over twelve years. When they can stand not touching each other any longer, Bridget and James gently spend a wonderful, loving night together. Bridget is torn the next morning, however, because although she no longer loves her husband, she is still legally married. What Bridget doesn't know is that James has his own secrets in his heart and is afraid to come clean. It takes a horrible situation to make James face his demons and be truthful with the woman he has come to love. He can only hope that Bridget will wait for him.

THE RANCHER'S HEART by C.H. Admirand is a sweeping saga of two people in love coming face to face with their pasts while wanting to be with each other in the present. Due to circumstances regarding her supposedly dead husband, Bridget is unable to commit to James. It takes a lot of soul searching and thinking for Bridget to finally take a chance on James and their love and I could finally breathe a sigh of relief that she came to her senses. As for James? He fit my idea of a western hero to a tee. Quiet, honest, and extremely handsome, at times I wanted to be Bridget!

THE RANCHER'S HEART was poignant and often times I found myself so immersed in the story that I couldn't put it down. Well written and just plain delightful, I find myself wanting to go back and read C.H. Admirand's book, THE MARSHAL'S DESTINY to once again experience the writing of this author. THE RANCHER'S HEART has definitely found its way to my keeper shelf.

***Reviewed by Natasha Smith for Romance Junkies***

Easy to use..updated street map. If you want to get to know your way around Denver,Boulder,Springs and between, then this is the map book of choice.

Excellent local map for Colorado Springs and Pueblo Colorado. Also includes nearby smaller towns. Very accurate. Easy to read with points of interest identified.

I highly recommend this volume.

Rand McNally doesn't promise too much. For the Easyfinder is easy to read, easy to fold(!!!) and easy to protect, if you don't want to write on. A superb map in every way.

Volker Doege

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We are planning to move to Colorado Springs, so as we have looked at homes on the Internet and have actually spent a weekend looking at homes there, this street guide was extremely helpful. Especially the list of neighborhoods. Once we move there I'm sure it will come in handy in the future.

I recently purchased this Colorado easyfinder map to go along with the matching style full US map that I already own (you can see the full US map here: Easyfinder United States: Highways and Interstates).

These maps are fully laminated and thus very sturdy, no flimsy paper to be arguing with in the car. They fold up, refold, crossfold so nicely that you can keep it on the page for where you are currently driving or open up and see the whole state or country.

At $7.95 these maps are about twice the cost of regular street maps that you keep in your glovebox but they are more than twice the quality & will last more than twice as long ... and no more groaning when it's time to pull out the map :)

Bon Appetit!