Texas Books

Wow!! This book is so different from other books. The humor, wit, and details feel very real. There are parts that also remind me of her music so it's nice to see that connection.

Just the mention of those chocolate chip pancakes made this worthy of five stars. =:o)

I chuckled over "Do you want me to go beat her up?" Oh my Lord that whole ruined-wedding-day scenario just killed me! Just one example of an evil, conniving MIL. I was taken by the fact that the setting is only 1.5 hours south of where I live (by the way, does the novel mention Amy's Ice Cream parlor?).

"She was my wormhole to the future." - I LOVED this!

I found the family dynamics endearing, the realistic bantering filled with warmth and humor. This is the kind of premise I'm always drawn to, a family unraveled by conflict and their journey back to "normal." That Belyn though...hoo-whee! Looks like this is one family that's going to have their hands full! So I'm anxious to see how this plays out.

Very well done, Marilyn!

The thing I liked most about the selection is that it promises interesting characters & situations with plenty of humor. The characters and situations are ordinary enough that they could be from next door, yet somehow quirky and unexpected, and this combination promises plenty of twists in the upcoming story. Who doesn't have a relative or friend who, like Jimmy, is always asking too much? But Jimmy's jailbreak and the presumptuousness of leaving his daughter with Jacob and Laurel certainly is not ordinary.

The character development is good, considering the brevity of the selection. Each turn of events lets us see another facet of the personalities of the main characters. The first person point of view gives us a particularly clear window into the mother, Laurel. I enjoyed the insight into Laurel's feelings about her under-appreciated role as wife and mother.

As an Austinite, I liked the references to local places. The fitness fetishes of the father, Jacob, and the daughter, Suzanne, are common in Austin - what do you expect from the home of Whole Foods?

I can't wait to read the rest!

Happy, sad, quirky, normal, uncomfortable, loving... all the opposites and paradoxes of family life. I was surprised that, in so short a time, I could actually CARE about what was going to happen to some of these characters. If the ins and outs of relationships are labarynthine, then this excerpt hits the corridors at a full run. Very enjoyable.

François Rabelais in his irreverent and influential sixteenth-century novel Gargantua and Pantagruel writes "[t]he satirist is correct when he says that Messer Gaster--Sir Belly--is the true master of all the arts. . . . To this chivalrous monarch we are all bound to show reverence, swear obedience, and give honour" (pp. 570-571). "Discontented Season" is clearly the modern successor to that notion of food as literature. And, what of the humble pancake? This metaphor for life, that we, as unformed batter, full of potential and unknown ingredients, are heated by the crucible we call "the human experience"and turned into something greater than our sum parts, something delicious. While a French writer might have attempted to elevate the reference by using crepes,this use of the good, old American pancake is the perfect vehicle for this portait of domestic suburban lifestyles. Bravo!

American or Canadian pancakes (also known as hotcakes, griddlecakes, or flapjacks in the U.S.) contain a raising agent, usually baking powder, and contains different proportions of eggs, flour, and milk or buttermilk, which create a thick batter. Cinnamon and sugar can be added. This batter is either ladled or poured onto a hot surface, and spreads to form a circle about ¼ or inch (1 cm) thick. The raising agent causes bubbles to rise to the uncooked side of the pancake, at which point the pancake is ready to be flipped. These pancakes, very light in texture, are often served at breakfast topped with maple syrup, butter, peanut butter, jelly, jam, or fruit. Many of the characters in this novel could be served with fruit.

While I am not familiar with this promising young author and merely coincidentaly share her last name, I feel as though I know her....from her prose, her words. This work is fierce, yet tender, much like pancakes. I think I may have gone to the Original Pancake House with the author one time and although we both ordered "pancakes", hers did, in fact have chocolate chips in them, and mine did not.

"Books have led some to learning and others to madness" Petrarch. This book accomplishes both. I learned a lot and was mad that I could not read more.We can smell what Marilyn is cookin' in the kitchen, and await seconds.

I read this book a few years ago, but I recently ordered a few copies when Amazon was having a sale. I realized I'd given mine to somebody at church and that I really needed a copy for my library because it's worth reading twice - or more. I love DeMuth's lyrical style and how beautifully she writes about human emotions that are difficult to talk about, let alone admit they exist. This is one you should add to your library.

The whole time I was reading this book I kept wondering if this was intended for adults or children? The subject matter certainly did not seem appropriate for children but I found the book "childish". The characters are portrayed as either evil or good without exception and Mara is not a believeable heroine.

A disappointing book.

This novel so accurately described a child's thought patterns when forced to deal with a situation beyond her wisdom and age. I suggest that every parent, educator and neighbor read it to learn to be aware and protect the innocence of those who are most vulnerable. It is both a tragic and beautiful story made more poignant that it reflects the authors own story and her desire to use her experiences to help others (shared in her non-fiction "Building the Christian Family You Never Had"). Thankfully, there is hope and assurance at the end, but left enough hanging to look forward to the sequel.

In her debut novel, Watching the Tree Limbs, Mary DeMuth introduces us to Maranatha, a creative girl who longs to color her world and to belong. As nine-year-old Mara struggles to cope with life-changing circumstances and rejection in her small Texas town, she falls prey to a neighbor boy who sexually abuses and terrorizes her. Although her story is heart-wrenching and painfully sad at times, it is not depressing or hopeless. Mara's story is also sweet and funny, especially her interactions with her best friend, Camilla, and her guardian's housekeeper, Zady. DeMuth gives the reader a beautifully written tale of grace and hope, transformation and deliverance. Mara plays real-life Nancy Drew with Camilla to solve the mystery of her past, which adds an unexpected element of suspense to the novel. As she grows, so does her faith, not only in God but in those He puts in her life to help and love her. The faith DeMuth portrays is not full of simplistic, pat answers and platitudes. Mara rages at God and wonders how He could allow such a thing to happen, even as she views her abuser as having almost supernatural powers to see inside her head and know her every thought and action. I look forward to continuing Maranatha's story in the book's sequel, Wishing on Dandelions.

Only read this book if you're ready for God to change your heart! You'll laugh with the protagonist, Mara, as she grows up, makes friends, and experiences the quirks of small-town life in Burl, Texas. You'll cry with her, too, as she experiences isolation, rejection and the deep pain of betrayal by those whom she should have been able to trust. By the end of the book, you'll rejoice with Mara as she works through her painful experiences to discover fresh hope and restoration.

Mary DeMuth's gift for storytelling is revealed in the creation and development of complex, yet lovable characters; the sustaining of a well-paced plot; and a balanced, redemptive approach to an extremely difficult subject: sexual abuse. With poignance and grace, Mary addresses abuse and its related issues in a way that is truthful, yet redemptive. If you're tired of "fluffy fiction" and are searching for authentic, well-written, Christ-centered prose, look no further than Watching the Tree Limbs. This book has certainly earned its Christy award nomination for the category of "First Novel"! It's "transformational truth" at its finest. A must-read for any woman who has dealt with sexual abuse.

this is my favorite book of the trilogy and it seems to be the only one from the trilogy that i have re-read many times. the story is so emotional and beautifully written. this is one of her trilogies that should still be in print. i think it is her best work.

A wonderful and touching romance set in post civil war Texas.

Dallas's leg is broken, so he sends his brother Houston to pick up his mail order bride and bring her back to his cattle ranch. Houston, a civil war veteran, is badly physically scarred. He's missing one eye and is disfigured on one side of his face. He meets Amelia at the train station and the two set out on their three week journey back to the ranch. Of course, she see's past his deformities and they fall in love, but she signed a marriage contract to Houston's brother. Houston believes that its best not to tell her he loves her and to have her marry his brother because she'll have a better life that way.

There are so many touching and wonderful scenes in this book that you'll cry. Your heart will ache for poor Houston. If you like the tortured-hero types, this one is for you. I personally don't care for the civil war era, but is was handled very well here without being overly historical.

Truly a beautiful love story. Makes you believe that love really does conquer all. :)

I think I may have found a new favorite author. Texas Destiny was wonderful & the next 2 books in this series look very promising. This series is about 3 brothers named Dallas, Houston & Austin.

In this book you will follow Houston who is sent to collect his brother Dallas's mail order bride, Amelia. Houston & Amelia immediately have a strong connection that quickly turns to feelings of love. This book had so much action & suspense that I didn't want to close it for a second. You will fall in love with Dallas & Austin just as easily as you do Houston.

This book was a wonderful start to what I believe will be my favorite series. Highly recommended.

Ok, the only other western I've ever enjoyed was "Nobody's Darling" by Teresa Medeiros - but even if you aren't a Western-romance fan or a Medeiros fan - you will LOVE Lorraine Heath's "Texas Destiny".

Amelia is a leaving the civil war-wrecked city of Atlanta when she responds to an Ad to marry a rich rancher in Texas. Houston is the brother of that man and he has to pick Amelia up at the train station and travel for about a month to bring her home. And the adventure and romance begins..... Houston was badly disfigured and is blind in his left eye from the civil war and Amelia is traumatized from losing her family. They both feel guilty falling in love since she is "promised" to Dallas (the older brother) but it's their destiny!! :)

I don't want to spoil anything here - but this is so sweet and so moving and it's so well written that it's not a "nasty" love story but certain plot elements are so emotional and tense enough to leave your heart racing! I loved it! and I savored every page and read it one day. (keep tissues handy!) it's ends so sweetly and now I can't wait to buy the next two stories in the series! fantastic!

from the library b/c I would have missed out on a great book. Houston puts up walls to keep people away b/c he is disfigured, but Amelia is able to get pass the walls and see the great man behind them. I like the fact that this book focuses on these two characters and the act of them getting to know each other and falling in love. The author makes sure they have time together to get to know each other and that doesn't change when they get to Houston's brother's house and have to act as if they never fell in love. I also like the fact that the love scene didn't come until the end. The whole novel builds up to this point and no one will be disappointed. If you're the kind of person who likes a whole lot of action in their novels, this book isn't for you. If you like romances where the romance takes center stage along with the characters, this is for you.

The story of the Alamo is one of my favorites. So when I found this book I was thrilled. This was a very well written story that brought out the longing of ever girls heart. I think that it is a must read!!

Sherry Garland's forefathers settled in Texas when it was a Republic (1836-1845). Garland wrote this novel to tell what it would be like for a young girl living at the time of the Alamo. Garland has written twenty-five books and received numerous awards and honors. The novel is written as a diary covering the days from September 9, 1835 to April 24, 1836. The `Epilogue' tells of the later lives of the characters. The `Historical Notes' tells of the settlement of Texas. The Spanish built missions in Texas between 1670 and 1793.

In 1821 Mexico declared its independence from Spain. The new Republic of Mexico welcomed Americans to settle in areas of Texas where Indians predominated. These colonists had to pass tests to legally settle in the lands. The Mexican Constitution of 1824 was similar to the US Constitution. But the aristocracy and the rich objected to democratic rule. They convinced Santa Anna to overthrow the democratic government and set up a dictatorship that would tax and oppress the people. [There were many reoccurrences of this in South American history. America avoided these problems with its "well-regulated militia", a small standing army, and a law of division to break up aristocratic wealth.] The state of Zacatecas first fought Santa Anna but lost, and their militia was exterminated. The state of Texas also fought; they were far off from the Mexican government, and their Second Amendment experience and history gave them better odds. They lost the first battles, but under the leadership of Sam Houston won the Battle of San Jacinto. Houston wisely extracted a peace treaty that recognized Texas independence as the price for releasing Santa Anna to return to Mexico with his armed guards. The "Napoleon of the West" met his Waterloo. The Republic of Texas encouraged immigrants from Europe to settle there, much as the Mexicans had earlier encouraged immigrants from America. They fled the aristocratic despotism of Europe.

This novel is based on the known facts, and can entertain and educate the readers. It is not a substitute for a real history book, but official history seldom tells you about daily life for ordinary people. A historian may note some information that isn't accurate. James Michener wrote a much longer book about "Texas" that you may read; it covers much more in Texas history.

What a fun read! I was not too enthusiastic about this book but I gave it a try anyway. I'm glad I did! Wall-to-wall action and relevant description abound in this story about a misunderstood historical period. I read this a few years ago and I still remember how good it was. Recently I read another book about the Alamo, and it makes me appriciate how well-written this one is. I don't agree that the action is sparse; if it was, I wouldn't have finished it.

one of the reviews complained that the book was mislabeled, because it didn't take place in the alamo. while that is true, the alamo is a central point throughout the plot.

i definitely learned a lot from this book, because while everyone knows "remember the alamo," no one knows what the alamo actually was (at least in my experience). as a novel, however, the book was less than a masterpiece. it emphasized the bravery of those who fought for texas, which was a good thing to point out, and i also liked that the main character was just an ordinary girl caught up in what was happening. but lucinda was a pretty boring character - in fact, pretty much all of the characters were very two-dimensional. the plot was also boring at times. while it informed me, it did not move me. i especially disliked that the runaway scrape - when lucinda and the rest of her town had to leave their homes behind in a desperate retreat - was barely described, when it should have depicted the miserableness of the refugees and their conditions. at one point, lucinda tells us she has had an eye condition and now is blind in one eye. she says it matter-of-factly in just one sentence, and i think if someone lost half their eyesight they would be a little morre distraught. i didn't really enjoy reading the book, though i don't regret reading it either. it was just OK.

A Line in the Sand is indeed a very special book. When my aunt presented it to me on my tenth birthday, I was very exited to add another Dear America to my collection. I had also never read anything about The Alamo, so my interest grew with every page I turned. During the war, the emotions expressed by Lucinda are great and powerful, as they are cleanly expressed through Ms. Garland's words. The Alamo was a terrible battle, but though this book it almost seemed a little less dreary than it was. I was glad that this book shed some light on the great was that was The Alamo, and will keep my newfound information with me forever.

Very well put together book of white captives abducted by the Indians.
Scott Zesch did a great job at researching information to put to this book together.
This book tells the life of the captured and also helps the reader to understand how the captives became Inianized with in a short time frame.
The transformation of being taken from the captives white family to become Indians, then being recovered back to their birth parents gives the reader a better understanding of what they had to go threw.
Thank you Scott Zesch.

This is a must have book.

A few years back, Scott Zesch was doing family history when he ran across a grave of a long-lost ancestor named Adolf Korn. Scott eventually learned that Adolf had been a captive of the Comanche Indians for several years as a boy. After being "rescued," he was always strange, and ended up living his life as a hermit in a cave.

Zesch expanded his research, and the result was "The Captured," a fascinating book about children captured by the Comanches, their experiences, and what became of them in later years. Zesch discovered that children younger than puberty tended to assimilate almost immediately; they forgot their native language (English or German) and even lost their attachment to their mothers. Zesch examines this heartbreaking psychology through his research into the lives of the individuals, which he relates in vivid detail.

"The Captured" is a thoughtful book that both sweeps you up in human drama and leaves you with a lot of things to think about.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Clare, co-author of the historical novel "To the Ends of the Earth: The Last Journey of Lewis and Clark"

My 7th grade Horizons English class enjoyed this novel immensely! We used it as an extension of Texas History, combined as an interdisciplinary unit.

I have a Great-Great Grandmother who was kidnapped by Indians and taken to Canada. Her story is lost but I wanted to get the gist of what kinds of things may have happened, and why she didn't want to be "rescued". This was just the ticket. Well-researched and written, I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't dry or overly scholarly.

picked up my first copy of this book in Fredericksburg, TX where I happened to be eating some BBQ and looked across the street to see an old settlers outpost fort. I wandered around to check it out and the volunteer guide there showed me the book and said it was an amazing story about a little known niche of our history - children kidnapped by the Indians to re-populate their own tribes thorugh a process of "the strongest will survive and be good warriors" they rode the kids hard and if they cried or shoed signs of weakness, they killed them on the spot, figuring they wouldnt be worth the effort to train and raise. if the kids were able to endure the introduction phase, then they began living life like kings, training to shoot arrows, ride horses, fight, and hunt all day. leaving the domestic chores to the women. nearly all of them eventually were returned or sold back to the white settlers but some refused to go and a number of them ran away and rejoined their indian families.

it reads like an adventure book and proves that real life is better than fiction. the Author does a great job o story telling and is very diligent to accurately reflect true historical data as pulled from historical interviews, military records and newspaper articles.

Goes into very much detail. You'll find yourself hating this woman. But don't be too harsh; possibly she was a product of her biology.

Kathryn Casey might be the Ann Rule of Texas true crime. This book is a complicated web of interesting characters including a bisexual, sociopathic gold-digging monster in the form of a beautiful woman named Celeste Beard who has no conscious for her actions. She would do anything to get what she wanted which was easily lying, cheating, having sex with men and women, manipulating her lesbian lover Tracey Tarlton who comes across as sympathetic but disturbed character, her ex-husband Jimmy Martinez who was having an affair with her during her last marriage to millionaire Steven Beard who tried as hard as others to get away from the monster in his bedroom. Celeste manipulated people as easily as she breathed. She was worse than any hurricane or tornado to hit Austin high society on it's knees. Her first husband was so terrified of another nasty divorce that he committed suicide even though he was married to a different woman and far unlike as Celeste was even in her youth. She made outlandish claims of abuse by her own adoptive father. Worse, she was a mother to beautiful identical twin girls who wanted nothing more than to be loved by their mother. They were also victims of Celeste's abuse to the worst degree. She manipulated Kristina to cover up for most of her own crimes. Jennifer and Kristina's relationship were always strained by Kristina's loyalty and devotion to Celeste, their mother. At one point, they stopped calling her mom and referred to her as Celeste. In my opinion, Celeste is more terrifying than any monster as this book makes her out to be. I felt sorry for Tracey who got caught up in Celeste's web of lies and terror and that she shot an innocent older man who she believed was terrorizing Celeste and abusing her. She is serving 20 years in the same prison as Celeste but separately away from her.

Being a true crime sleuth, I used to think Ann Rule was the best true crime writer ever. This book wiped my thought on that completely away. This author had such an amazing way of telling a great story, kept the book flowing from one page to the other, had amazing details about all of the characters. It felt like I was actually there witnessing it all myself. And the courtesy photos were superb too. I like to check back and forth while reading who the main characters are while I'm on that certain chapter. And while I did say "characters" I do know these are true stories. Still after I read this story, I went online to find out more about everyone involved. I have recommended this book to all of my fellow true crime pals.

A great book. Could there ever have been a more accurate portrait of a true-blue gold digger? Why some women (and men) feel a sense of entitlement to the money/property of others simply because they are (or were) married to a financially successful person is beyond me! You want money? WORK for it! Some lazy people would rather marry for it -- or kill for it! Great book. I felt so bad for Steve's family. They were helpless and had to sit by while Celeste planned, plotted and executed her plan to murder Steve -- all for the money. What a shame. Kathryn Casey is a great writer. I used to be hooked on Ann Rule, but got tired of her "Series" books. Now, I'm going to be looking for more stories written by Ms. Casey. She did a wonderful job of showing what a shallow and callous gold-digger Celeste really was.

I had seen Celeste's story on Power Privilege and Justice and Snapped and had been curious to read more about this woman who struck me as vindictive, unredeeming and just plain evil.

She has absolutely no good qualities at all. She uses everyone around her for her needs only. Her own daughters are treated like servants. I didn't blame Tracey Tarleton for shooting Steve Beard. She was another of the countless victims that Celeste used for her selfish reasons only. True crime fans will not be disapointed with this great read.

My first encounter with Tom Perini was shortly after moving to San Angelo, Texas. I was told I had to make the journey an hour and a half north to the small, out-of-the-way town of Buffalo Gap, Texas. Turns out there was a great steakhouse there by the name of Perini's. I went there, somewhat skeptically because of the hype... and fell in love.

My visit was even more special because I got to chat with Tom himself. He's quite an interesting character, and I was surprised to actually see him hanging around the ranch, involved with the customers and striking up conversations. I bought a copy of this book during that visit, and he was kind enough to sign it! It's been a constant source of delicious concoctions ever since, and Tom's style of writing is very down to earth and measured. He tells you why cowboys would've cooked or eaten that particular dish, how to cook it, and why it matters.

I recently ordered another copy because my seven month old decided to take an interest in my previous one, and I decided that one needed to go up on the mantle as decoration. And perhaps I'll let my inlaws finally borrow this copy- but then they'll finally catch on to what "calf fries" are.

If you like real cowboy cookin', don't let this one pass you by!

This truly is cowboy fare...not Texas fare so if you are looking for very basic recipes, this is the book for you.

Absolutely wonderful. The recipes are easy and tasty. The pictures are beautiful. I would recommend this to anyone. I have eaten at Perini Ranch and the recipies are just like those they serve.

This is the best cookbook I've ever used. Everything is so simple and delicious. Tom Perini really knows his stuff!

Wonderful in all respects- the recipes are excellent ways to fix good substantial food, written understandably. Outstanding pictures and commentary. I have been a Texas Panhandle cowboy and New Mexico rancher.
Have cooked for hunters and working crews and own an extensive array of gourmet cookbooks. This is the one used for our recent holiday, and I have given 3 of them to friends since. Don't think this is rough food - it's the kind that everybody loves.

Okay, yall, I suck at reviews b/c I cant seem to say what I want without telling all. LOL But I had to try with this book. My Grandmother sent me this book b/c I will read anything. I picked it up 2 days ago and couldnt put it down. I got so wrapped up in the story of Ellie, Blue, and Mabel. The chacters in the book are wonderfully written. Even the supporting characters draw you in. I love Blues and Jazz and this books makes them come alive on paper!!! You can almost hear the music swirling around you as you read!! The story behind the story is just another draw of this book. I have never been SO pleased with a book. Again all I can say is WOW!!! Go Ruth for writing such an AMAZING book. I honestly was upset when it was over....so AWESOME that I wanted more!!!

It was more of a mystery than a romance. I prefer to be more emotionally drawn in than this book provided. However, someone looking for more human relationships fiction and mystery might enjoy this more than I did.

Ellie traveled to Pine Bend, Texas, to do research for a book she was writing about Mabel Beauvais. Mabel was a blues singer who disappeared twenty to thirty years earlier. Ellie was also trying to discover who her father was. She knew he was in Pine Bend when Ellie was conceived. Ellie's mother died when Ellie was six months old. The story was a little frustrating when Ellie talked to people who knew answers to her questions but refused to tell her anything. The ending was satisfying and the answers to the mysteries were good and unexpected. Although there was some underlying sadness in the story due to so many good young men dying in the Vietnam war, leaving their loved ones to live on without them.

Regarding the SPOILERS below,I am not giving away answers to the main mysteries.

CAUTION SPOILERS:
Ellie and Blue fell in love. The problem for them was that everyone Blue had loved had died on him, so he was reluctant to love again. Why he changed his mind at the end of the book and decided to be with her and not fear losing her was not clear enough for me.

I was also confused with a few scenes throughout the book titled "The Lovers." When reading them I wasn't sure if they were a dreams of Ellie or Blue or were flashbacks to events in the lives of Mabel or Ellie's mother. At the end of the book I concluded they were of Ellie's parents, but I would have preferred knowing this earlier when reading them.

Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: five very passionate. Setting: current day Pine Bend, Texas. Copyright: 2000. Genre: romantic mystery.

This is a book that you will continue to experience long after you finish. The book is filled with love and secrets. The secrets which are uncovered lead not to unhappiness but to more fullfillment for the people involved.

Along the way, you experience the beauty and meaning of music, that special kind of music called the Blues. You find yourself wanting to hum an old song or turn on the radio and find a new tune to refuel you with a passion for life.

There just is so much in this one book. It is impossible not to love it and not to remember for always.

I really enjoyed this sensual romance as the hero and hrone fight their demons of the past to trust to love. Both have loved and lost and so are fearful of getting involved with each other, but anyone can see Blue and she are made for each other.

Interesting secondary characters create a very believable world. As always her heroes are divinely sexy, very manly, but perceptive and sensitive. The mystery element as she seeks her identity, which, if not entirely surprising. is handled well. A super read, one any lover of romance and women's fiction will really savour. She has a wonderful way with language and a true ability to capture setting and character with wonderful details.

Hadn't even heard of Ruth Wind before but halfway thru this book I'm looking for other books of hers. All the ones listed seem to be either much lighter in nature or out of print. She's a terrific writer with an ability to draw you into her characters' feelings and to the atmosphere. I hope she writes another "real" book.

Thanks for the quick delivery. Got book in 2 days of ordering. Could not believe it came so quick
Thanks
Linda

Did Forrest Carter have character flaws? Well so did Ricard Wagner.

These are the best two westerns I've ever read. For all his faults, Carter could write.

I loved the movie, but the book was far better.

Intrigued by reviewers who placed the novel "Gone To Texas" by Forrest Carter on their top-ten greatest books of all-time list, I purchased an old first-edition copy and proceeded to read it cover to cover.

Having seen the "Josey Wales" movie starring Clint Eastwood on a couple of occasions, the author's descriptive prowess caught me completely by surprise in creating a boldfaced narrative, which seemed fresh and unfamiliar, unrelated in many ways to the more popularized big-screen version.

It begins with Wales being pursued by United States horsemen:

"It was cold. The wind whipped the wet pines into mournful sighing and sped the rain like bullets. It caused the campfires to jump and flicker and the soldiers around them to curse commanding officers and the mothers who gave them birth.

The campfires were arranged in a curious half-moon, forming a flickering chain that closed about these foothills of the Ozark mountains. In the dark, cloud-scudding night the bright dots looked like a net determined to hold back the mountains from advancing into the Neosho River Basin, Indian Nations, just beyond.

Josey Wales knew the meaning of the net. He squatted, two hundred yards back in the hollow of heavy pine growth, and watched ... and chewed with slow contemplation at a wad of tobacco. In nearly eight years of riding, how many times had he seen the circle-net of Yankee Cavalry thrown about him?"

The author seems to have vast knowledge of flora and fauna and in relating indian culture and ways of life.

"Like many of the Cherokees, he was tall, standing well over six feet in his boot moccasins that held, half tucked, the legs of buckskin breeches. At first glance he appeared emaciated, so spare was his frame ... the doeskin shirt jacket flapping loosely about his body, the face bony and lacking in flesh, so that hollows of the cheeks added prominence to the bones and hawk nose that separated intense black eyes capable of a cruel light. He squatted easily on haunches before the fire, turning the mealed fish in the pan with fluid movement, occasionally tossing back one of the black plaits of hair that hung to his shoulders.

The clear call of the nighthawk brought instant movement by the indian. Nighthawks do not call in the light of day. He moved with silent litheness; taking his rifle, he glided to the rear door of the one-room cabin ... dropped to belly and slid quickly into the brush. Again the call came loud and clear."

His decsription of a prostitute in a desolate town in Texas, near the border of Mexico is funny:

"She wasn't ... young that is. Her hair was supposed to be red; the label on the bottle had proclaimed that desired result ... but it was orange where it was not straked with gray. Her face sagged from the years of sin, and her huge breasts were hung precariously in a mammoth halter. There was no competition in Santa Rio. The last stop for Rose.

Rose was like Santa Rio, dying in the sun; used only by desperate men or lost pilgrims stumbling quickly through; refugees from places they couldn't go back to ... watching the clock tick away the time. The end of the line; a good horse jump over Texas ground to the Rio Grande."

Anyone interested in this type of genre, I believe, will love the book. Hell, you'll probably love it anyway -even if you're not.

Forrest Carter did a great job depicting the violence of the post-civil war era. Especially in the South Central part of the country that was never written about in our history books. A very descriptive representation of how things really were. No wonder Clint Eastwood bought the rights to the book for his movie.

Steve Thompson

Great story. Great action. Much grittier than the movie, this book doesn't pull punches when it comes to blood-lettin' the in the finest traditions of the Missouri guerilla-outlaw turned Texan. The characters are well-developed and the "code" underlying Wales' and Lone Watie's partnership is richly detailed. Louis L'Amour and Zane Grey novels are for politically correct sissies. This book and its two novels tell it like it really was. If you like westerns, you'll find this to be one of the best you've ever read!

I just read that "Murder by the Book," a series on Court TV, filmed an episode in Wylie in March. The premise of the show is to take an author and ask them what real-life crime intrigued them. Author Sandra Brown found the 1980 Wylie axe murder of Betty Gore to be compelling. "Murder by the Book" does interviews with the principal law enforcement figures involved in the case and presents the case as a documentary with comment from the author. The Wylie episode should air in November 2007. I've also read this book numerous times and wishes for photos of the people involved. I'll be sure to tape this show when it airs in November!

I was only 12 years old and living in Dallas when Candy Montgomery took an axe to Betty Gore during the summer of 1980. Too young at the time to be concerned with local scandals and crimes of passion, I scarcely even remember hearing about the murder. "Evidence of Love" was first published in 1985 when I was in high school and that was when I read this book the first time. I'm 40 years old now and have just re-read it.

Having read it as a kid and now, having read it as an adult, I realize I see this story in a whole new light. It's well written and the character development is practically flawless. No effort has been made to gloss these people over - they are all too human and that makes what happened even scarier. The idea that average, ordinary, church-going people can be tangled up in such an unsavory mess is more than a little un-settling. The Gores and the Montgomery's could be your neighbors or mine. Additionally, the way the Collin County officials and judicial system handled the investigation and subsequent trial is alarming. Judge Ryan's obvious bias is enough to make anyone question the presumption of innocence in 1980's Collin County. I don't know if Candy Montgomery was guilty or not but I do know, that in this country, everyone is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by a jury of their peers. After reading this book, I question the methods used by the Collin County DA's office in building their case against Candy Montgomery. In reading this book for the 2nd time, I realized that secondary to the crime itself and the events that lead up to it, is the story of how skewed justice can be in small towns where everybody knows everybody else.

I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who is enjoys reading about true crime. Although these events took place almost 30 years ago, they are still stark reminders that things are not always as they seem and that justice isn't always what it should be. In that regard, it's still a very relavent story for today. I do wish though, that the authors had included photos of all the characters and of the places where these events unfolded. I think it helps the reader to see them as real human beings and not just characters in a story.

Strangely enough, I now live just minutes from where these events took place and I often drive through the Collin County towns referenced in this book. The landscape hasn't changed much - a Starbucks or two have gone up but other than that, these are still the same sleepy little towns they were in 1980...and after all these years, it's still shocking that they were at the epicenter of so much scandal and tragedy.

Fascinating true story with all of the elements, love, murder, adultery,passion, anger, jealousy...Read this one in a few days while on vacation. Read it.

I agree with everyone else, this is a GOOD book!
The only problem I had with it was that there are no pictures of the people involved. I like to see the people in the story, I really dont know why but I think it helps to see them in my mind's eye. But, otherwise I loved the book.
If it was fiction I'd have a hard time believing it.

This book is a real page turner and an excellent re-telling of the tragic death and murder in a Dallas, TX suburb in 1980. Offers insite into the minds of all the major characters.