Texas Books

Texas Charm is a must-read book--four complete novels in one volume. Romance, intrigue, suspense and plenty of Southern charm. Heartwarming plots, believable characters, human interest situations that anyone can relate to. Another winner from popular author DiAnn Mills.

DiAnn Mills has done a fabulous job weaving a common thread throughout the four novels, yet each is equally interesting as a stand alone novel. These stories will reel you in and take you from tears to laughter and back again. Beautifully crafted stories and each has an important spiritual truth. At the end of each novel you know the characters and consider them friends. I couldn't put it down. I would recommend this book to everyone I know...and even a few people I don't know. My words cannot do it justice.

The cover draws the reader into a quiet afternoon setting, sitting on the porch of a plantation, with the breezes gently blowing. Each story has at least one character that you get so involved with that you feel every emotion the character experiences. Country Charm set the stage for the rest of the book, with Paula, a widow woman who had no intentions of loving again. The author expresses the fear, doubt, and uncertainty of each character along with prayer, godly wisdom from friends, and patience from God. The second story, Equestrian Charm, is an excellent story for all ages regarding the importance of premarital purity and the purity covenant of people in love. It is also a fun way to learn about Arabian horses and it made me want to go horseback riding. Cassidy's Charm is the third story of this great novella. Unforgiveness of ourselves and and the effect our past has on others keeps the reader turning every page of this story. Forgiveness is the central theme. Cassidy's Charm helps the reader see the importance of forgiving ourselves and the old ways of traditional thinking regarding muti-cultural relationships. The author adds another life lesson to her final story, Compassion's Charm. With all odds thrown against Rachel, she should be bitter, but she isn't. This last story has some nail biting adventure running through it. In each story, the author brings in spiritual life lessons that you can learn to apply to your life, and the prayers are simple yet powerful. When I finished reading this book, I thought about it for several days and the lessons that impacted the character's lives. You won't want to lay this book down.

Texas Charm tells the stories of four strong, determined women who each face a terrible tragedy. Some overcome by holding tight to their faith in God, while the others overcome by discovering a new-found faith through the midst of the tragedy. DiAnn Mills does a skillfull job of combining four excellent books into a single, excellent package. I had previously read Country Charm and Equestrian Charm but it was a delight to go back and read them all over again. I was impressed with the tight way she weaves all four stories together, as well as the research that must have gone into each book. Each book builds upon the last and each book is just as good as, if not better than, the last. I truly enjoyed reading Texas Charm and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone.

It is beautifully written and very entertaining. It's the type of novel you don't want to put down until you finish it. She writes with an excellent sense of humor throughout the book. I really enjoyed being able to laugh along with the characters in their situations. She uses biblical principles and scriptures in solving the everyday life challenges her characters go through. It was good to see prayer used by the characters for their situations. She also showed the model love of Jesus in the characters of each story. The cover makes one think of a quaint country home in the springtime with a large rounded porch to sit outside and enjoy the nice breeze and scent of bluebonnets. It makes you want to have a porch like it and sit there to read a good book and/or dream. My favorite was the 1st one, Country Charm. It as a very charming story with the character Paula planning and decorating for her business. It's easy to picture a very beautiful place with all the details she included, especially the antiques, decorations, furniture and the colors. The 2nd story keeps it interesting with unusual information Kristi is learning about Arabian horses and photography. The 3rd story is also very interesting with details of Cassidy running her boutique and adding homemade leather items to sell. The 4th story shows how Rachel learns she has more talents than she thought. There is an interesting facts page about Texas and Houston. Each novel fits the romance category very well. All 4 novels show the patience and unconditional love the characters show to the ones having their challenges of life."

I purchased a copy of the fifth edition sometime last year and keep it on the dash of my vehicle - to have handy while traveling. I found it contains details of local "hidden treasures" that are usually only discovered by the locals of the given community. I loaned it to a friend and now he is ordering his copy.

regards,
mikey kk5sc

June Naylor Rodriguez's 2nd Edition of Texas: Off the beaten Path is not only a book of travel excursions, but also includes Texas trivia and tidbits of Texas history. My favorite part of the book is a chapter called Wildest West Texas. Using the recommendations in the book, my husband and I enjoyed a part of Texas we had always wanted to see and probably would not have known of all the local places to visit had it not been for Rodriguez's suggestions. Without the book we would not have known where to go or what to see. If we had done the Big Bend without this book, I doubt that we would have seen all that we did. Hats off to June Naylor Rodriguez.

If you're planning to travel at all throughout the Lone Star State, this book will be an indispensable guide for your travels.

Sure, we can all find Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, but what about the 11 foot roadrunner in Fort Stockton? Or the statue of Popeye in Crystal City? During the winter you can see migrating bald eagles on Lake Buchanan (where?), and the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge is the only place in the United States where you can see a Chachalaca.

If you have a destination in mind, this book will tell you about the attractions and oddities nearby (and Texas has oddities!). If you're undecided about where to go, the book can provide a fun and informative itinerary.

Being Texans by choice, my wife and I frequently take trips around the state. Texas is full of natural beauty and interesting sights. This book helps you fully use and enjoy your time with Texas.

June Naylor Rodriguez's 2nd Edition of Texas: Off the Beaten Path is not only a book of travel excursions, but also includes Texas trivia and tidbits of Texas history. My favorite part of the book is a chapter called Wildest West Texas. Using the recommendations in the book, my husband and I enjoyed a part of Texas we had always wanted to see and probably would not have known of all the local places to visit had it not been for Rodriguez's suggestions. We boarded a plane at Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport and flew to Midland-Odessa. From there we went to Ft. Stockton. We took the books advice and visited the Annie Riggs Memorial Museum on South Main Street. Paisano Pete was there on Main Street to welcome us. We almost didn't eat at Sarah's, the oldest restaurant in town because it didn't lookvery inviting. But since it was in the book we decided to give it a try. It was great! Mexican food at its finest. The owners were so nice and let us take a picture with them. Then we went on down to Marathon and stayed at the recommended Gage Hotel. After the shock of no T.V. wore off we were able to enjoy the atmosphere. Marathon has a population of 800. In the morning we were on our way to Big Bend National Park. Without the book we would not have known to go to Hot Springs, Boquillas, Dagger Flat, Dugout Wells, and the Chisos Basin where we stayed the night at the Chisos Mountain Lodge. Our winding, up and down road, took us to Study Butte and the Roadrunner Deli. My favorite was our stop in Terlingua. I didn't know this was a ghost town. I always thought it was jumping because of the chili cook-off held there every year. An old movie house called the Starlight Theatre Restaurant offered dinner and entertainment. We drove on and looked for the lights of Marfa. In Marfa we visited the El Paisano Hotel which boasted guests such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and John F. Kennedy. It was also the home of Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, and Dennis Hopper while they were making the film Giant. Texas trivia from the book stated that in 1996 Martha Stewart was in Marfa for five days working out a barbecue layout for her magazine. Next we traveled on to Ft. Worth and the McDonald Observatory. Everything was more fun because we stayed at the 100-year old Limpia Hotel. We drove from Ft. Davis to the airport and home. If we had done the Big Bend without the guidance of Texas: Off the Beaten Path, we would not have seen all that we did. Hats off to June Naylor Rodriguez.

This book is very handy when searching the back roads for interesting information, buildings, history, etc. of Texas.
I ordered the book as "used" at a substantial savings over the "new" price. The book is actually a new copy of the 3rd Edition. There is now a 4th edition out, and that is probably the reason for the price. The book is full of places I intend to visit that I had no idea existed before.

Shipping from the vendor (Ed Marks) was extremely timely, and I was happy with the condition of the book when it arrived.

The recipes in this book are widely sought after. I love especially the Chicken Fried Steak. The humor and history are very enjoyable.

I was so inspired by this book, that I used it to plan a one week gastronomic vacation in Texas. Using this book as a guide, we got several of my fellow Texans living in Nooooo Yawk City together a scavenger hunt around the Hill Country in search of food, golf and honky tonks using this book as a guide. The record weight gain by a member of our expedition was 8 pounds, which is a pretty strong recommendation for this book. I strongly suggest renting youself a bigass Cadillac or SUV and doing a tour yourself w/ Texas on the Halfshell at your side. Of note, although the authors do mention their propensity to get speeding tickets on their one year drive around Texas, they did not give any details of where the Dept of Public Safety guys were hiding. Watch out for the uncompromising DPS cowboy in Dripping Springs. He will refuse to believe that you haven't been drinking if you've been to Lukenbach, which I hadn't. God Bless Texas!!!!

As previous writer, it is the best TexMex cookbook ever published. I have had my copy since it was published in 1982. Pages have worn out, I have to find another copy. These recipies are not for the squimish, but for people who have a taste for the hotter side.

Wonderful recipes, hilarious comments and anecdotes, nice background information and photos organized by style of cooking: Tex-Mex, chili,barbeque, etc.

Do not use this book if you are looking for nuevo Tex Mex or heart healthy, dietetic fare. I've been using this cook book for over 10 years as my basic, definitive reference for classic recipies. While it is the best book that I have ever seen for its shear number of award wining chili recipies, it is also excellent for salsas, barbeque (dry rubs and sauces), beans (Red Caldwell's Beans-R-Best) and chicken fried steak. Believe everything they say about technique and difficulty of making good Texas barbeque. I have just about worn out my second copy and will soon start looking for my third.

This is another wonderful book by Bittner which puts the reader in the family of early settlers and the heartaches, hardships and life lessons that come their way. She writes with passion and keeps the reader's interest heightened. You will enjoy this book and I recommend that you read Texas Embrace, too.

From the back cover:

Rosanne Bittner's extraordinary talent pulls us into the lives of her characters--the men and women whose spirit settled the Old West. Once again, we live, love, and triumph with them in her towering new saga of a time filled with wildness and adventure...of a man and a woman whose search for their kidnapped children is a journey no reader will ever forget...

Texas Passions

When old enemies of ex-Texas Ranger John Hawkins seek revenge against him and his beloved wife, they steal a treasure beyond price: their young son, Texas, and his little sister, Honor. John and Tess have become pawns in a cruel game meant to lure them into a deadly confrontation. But John, a half-breed known as "Hawk" to many, is not a man to be wronged. And Tess, a daring woman with amazing courage, will stope at nothing to save her children.

Now, with danger at every turn, they bravely follow their son and daughter wherever their cries lead; sacrificing everything to save their family with an indomitable love--one powerful enough to overcome the most overwhelming odds...

And my reivew:

While this was a sequel book (following "Texas Embrace"), it was also one that could stand perfectly well on its own. I hadn't read the preceding book, yet I was never lost or confused.

I am used to reading huge, thick sagas by this author, so this 300 page book went a lot faster than many of her other books. That's not to say it wasn't enjoyable. It was. Bittner did an excellent job of portraying the pain a parent would feel when living the horrible nightmare of having one's children stolen. The talented author managed to do this without letting the book feel too dark or depressing, which is not an easy task.

Both John and Tess were wonderfully strong characters, and they were well-drawn. You really felt as if you knew them by the end of the book.

However, the action part of this book was pretty formulamatic, so don't buy this looking for any shocking plot twists, because there aren't any. However, as a good old gun-fighting western, this book is a hit.

It wasn't the most memorable of books. Other books I can quote chapter and verse after just one read (the curse and blessing of ADD), but this one wasn't one of those.

Still, if you're looking for an enjoyable read, or if you want to catch up on the characters from "Texas Embrace", then this book is for you.

I loved the book, haven't read the first one yet, but will look for it when I go to a used-book store, since it is out of stock on amazon.com. Has another book been written after this, maybe about Ken and Jenny's story? The way Texas Passions ended, there is always hope for another one to follow. I feel I would have done for the bad guys exactly like John & Tess did, she certainly did her part to rescue her babies.

Once again Rosanne Bittner has created a excellant read that you can't put down. For those who haven't read the first book- Texas Embrace you'll want to read it when you finish this one (if not before). This is a great love story about John Hawkins & his wife Tess. But also it is about a parents great love for their children and what each is willing to endure for the other. It is a real tear-jerker (happy tears) along with heart stopping suspense and a good old fashion hero & heroine thrown in to melt your heartstrings. It will keep you up all night reading and then some. If you've never been a reader before, this book (or any of Ms. Bittner's writings) will make you a dedicated fan (of both the author & subject matter) for Life!!

When I purchased TEXAS PASSION, I did not know it was a sequel. It is the continuing story of ex-Texas Ranger John Hawkins and Tessa Reeves. In TEXAS PASSION, John and Tessa have been happily married for nine years and have two wonderful children, Texas and Honor. Their happiness is shattered when an old enemy escapes from prison and teams up with unknown enemy determined to take revenge on the Hawkins. Their children are kidnapped and their old friend, Ken is gravely wounded while trying to protect them. The chase is on and we see John turn from a peaceful rancher to the feared and deadly warrior he once was. John, Tessa and their children struggle through many hardships before they are reunited. The revenge that John takes on those who threatened and hurt his children is brutal and relentless. I couldn't help cheering him on. The family's reunion was heartwarming. I loved the Hawkins so much that I ordered TEXAS EMBRACE, the story telling how it all began. I can't wait. This was a glorious book and I recommend it. You'll love it. Trust me!

I must say, just from flipping through your 2 cookbooks, you seem like a sister to me. Is dad rich?

This is wonderful, and one of the really rare, authentic south texas cookbooks. how I miss eating in zapata and drinking in the little tiger bar! well, now i can make it all at home- many many thanks.....

I have tried many of these recipes and I must say that they are very good and easy to follow. Being from an Hispanic home, I know that these recipes are real and true to the South Texas culture. I also like the format, the main entre with dessert. This cookbook is good for novices also, as she explains everything very well. I highly recommend this cookbook. PS - the Tres Leches cake is wonderful!!

As a mexican, I congratulate Melissa Guerra for the perfect book she wrote. The recipes are easy to follow, delicious and perfectly combined. I would recomend this book to everybody who enjoys cooking and tasting new dishes!!! When is the next one coming out?

This best is the best cook book i own. Not only are the recipes wonderful but the easy step-by-step directions makes me the master of my kitchen. Way to go Melissa Guerra, when's the next book coming out.

If you want a true taste of Mexico and Texas, this is no Taco-Bell substitute. This is the real thing. The writing is great and informative and the receipes are writen for the real cook. Loved the snapper recipe and the drink combinations.

This is a well written book that contains a wealth of factual and historical information about the 1st century of the Texas Rangers. It contains thorough references that allows additional study on a topic, should one choose. This book is historical in nature and does not contain fantasy stories of Ranger Lore and Legend. It does, in a number of places, show how the legend was born from actual events.

I would not recommend this book for a "First Time" Ranger reader. It is aimed for the student of the Rangers who is trying to expand his knowledge. A final note is the title talks of wearing the Cinco Peso which was not worn until the mid twentieth century, a time not covered by this book.

I came away from independent historian Mike Cox's new classic Ranger history with a new view of the fabled outfit, the samurai of early Texas. There's less of their invincibility here than vulnerability. Despite committing occasional injustices, they seem often to have been short of manpower, money and even modern weapons yet would charge into a fight they couldn't reasonably win and only after taking as well as inflicting casualties, withdraw. They usually were effective, but they usually paid a price.

One review I saw complained that Cox's tale is too bloody. It is graphic in describing the appalling things the Commanche and other maurauding Indians liked to do to settler families, but no more so I don't think, than some recent historical fiction. More so, however, than professional historian Walter Prescott Webb's 1935 classic that Cox has updated with skill and thorough documentation. Webb, for instance, says on page 313 only that Ranger D.W.H. Bailey was slain in July, 1874, trying to get water for a thirsting company under Indian siege. Cox tells us that Bailey's name was Dave and quotes a comrade that the Indians killed him in sight of the others by cutting off his nose, ears, hands, arms, etc. and eating his flesh until their leader dispatched him with a tomahawk. It helps you understand why the early Rangers tended to shoot Indians on sight. When the savages finally were subdued, there were still Anglo and Mexican murderers and border bandits to fight and the Rangers kept charging, and sometimes losing, but were always ready to charge again.

Cox is finishing a second volume to bring the Rangers up to the 21st century, something Webb didn't live to do, and it should make a dandy story, or rather series of stories, which is the way this first volume is put together. Rangers are mainly detectives, nowadays, but their mystique lives on in their holstered but cocked .45s. I'll look forward to No. 2 while recommending this one to anyone interested in Texas. As my Corsicana grandfather used to say, "It's a peach."

The Texas Rangers:Wearing the Cico Peso,is a wonderful history of an amazing institution. At least until 1900 the Rangers were entrusted with the protection of the citizens of Texas, a monumental task, in light of the prevelance of vigouous Indian tribes, many lawless whites who came to Texas to escape the law in more settled States, and the absence of laws to deal with the ownership of such vital assets as land and cattle. The Rangers performed their dangerous work excellently despite being grossly unmaned, underfunded and poorly paid. Mike Cox has managed to put together this factually monumental work and make it a gripping read as well.
Bob Fussell

In this wonderfully written, well documented history of the early Texas Rangers, Mike Cox tells it the way it was, without attempting to romanticize, justify or condemn. Set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Texas frontier history, where lawlessness was the rule and racial hatred prevailed on all sides, the author puts into perspective the violence of the era and the attrocities committed by all the competing cultures during such turbulent times. With a second volume on the way, this is destined to be the definitive work on Texas Ranger history.

Book review: Straight-talking look at first Rangers

Web Posted: 03/07/2008 12:18 PM CST

Sterlin Holmesly
Special to the San Antonio Express-News

The Texas Rangers: Wearing the Cinco Peso, 1821-1900
By Mike Cox

Forge, $25.95


Texas Ranger lore continues to fascinate, and Mike Cox makes a substantial contribution to it with this work on the force's first 80 years.

Stephen F. Austin's settlers were threatened by the cannibalistic Karankawa Indian tribe. A small group of armed riders was formed for protection. That was the beginning of the Rangers.

Over the next eight decades, the Rangers battled Comanches, Apaches, Mexican soldiers, bandits, rustlers, fence-cutters, bank robbers and outlaw mobs. They furnished their own horses and weapons and were poorly and erratically paid. Their numbers expanded and contracted according to the size of the threats to the frontier and the shaky state budget. Many served hoping to be paid by the next session of the Legislature.

The Rangers quickly developed a reputation for ferocity. They were often accused of being racist vigilantes, accurately in some cases. Still, they deserve credit for protecting the state's expanding frontier and eventually making Texas a safe place to live and work.

For Mike Cox, this book is obviously a work of love and fascination. For 15 years, the former journalist served as the spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, which includes the modern Rangers.

It is a meticulously researched book, drawing on newspapers of the day (including the San Antonio Express), letters, orders and official reports cited in copious source notes. The writing is straight-ahead.

We meet such leaders as Capts. "Rip" Ford and Leander McNelly as well as privates who put their lives on the line and rode the country from San Saba to El Paso.

Cox details the capture of outlaw John Wesley Hardin and the shooting of Sam Bass and his gang, two highlights in Ranger history.

As the book ends, some Texans began to believe that the Rangers were a relic of the past and were no longer needed. As we know, that wasn't true.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sterlin Holmesly is a San Antonio author.

This book was recommended to me by a friend who knew I was interested in the natural history of Texas. Smoothly and cleverly written,Gayne Young's book is both informative and entertaining. I have given several copies as gifts, even to friends who don't hunt. I hope there will be more from this author.

Although I am not a hunter, there were always hunters in my family. I found the book very interesting and Mr. Young's stories are so funny, I found myself laughing out loud. I gave several copies of the book to the young men in my family for Christmas.

If you've ever thought about hunting in texas, this is a must have. Its a great read, and a perfect reference for anyone in or interested in the lone star state. It has a little bit of everything,from humor to history, and its brilliantly put together. Texas is the most diverse state in the country to hunt or to explore, this book helps from everything to terrain, to poisonous critters and much more. pick it up and get huntin'

I just completed Mr. Young's book, Texas Safari: The Game Hunter's Guide to Texas. Having taught history for several years and still having an abiding interest, I was glad to see the combination of hunting and historical information. I don't know where he found this information but really enoyed it and he has some humor in it to balance it out. Great read!

This was one of the better hunting books I've read in the past few years. I especially liked the historic anecdotes about hunting jaguar and grizzly in Texas.

The novel follows the trails of Jake Chalk, a young settler conscripted into the Texas Militia in 1838, and his bitter enemy, Black Wolf, a Caddo war chief. Both are driven by revenge and their inevitable confrontation becomes a mutual obsession.

Jake meets and fights beside many men for whom several of today's North Texas counties, cities and universities are named. While coming of age, Jake grows to be a fierce Militia fighter, courts a beautiful young woman, helps build a frontier fort and is instrumental in settling a new city named Dallas.

More than a western novel and written in the entertaining, historical docudrama style of John Jakes and James Michener, Three Forks: a Novel of Texas tells the exciting story of the events preceding the settlement of North Texas, and the founding of Dallas in 1842. The novel takes the reader back in time to walk among and meet the famous historical figures who helped build Texas in the 1830s and 1840s.

Researched in many cases to the original document level, the novel not only details the history of an area once called "Three Forks," but also provides perspective on the fascinating historic events that occurred throughout the Republic of Texas, and led to its subsequent acceptance as a US state.

Three Forks, named for the confluence of the three main forks of the Trinity River, was a huge block of land in North Texas that today is larger than thirty-six individual US states in population, and nine states in geographical area. It is the home of the world's largest airport, and includes major US cities such as Dallas, Fort Worth and their rapidly growing surrounding cities.

Despite the significance of this area, its fascinating history, spanning 1836 to 1846, is frequently overlooked. This period follows the fall of the Alamo and the Texans' victory at San Jacinto, which leads to freedom from Mexico. As a result, The Republic of Texas is formed - an entire country separate from the United States. The period ends as Texas achieves US statehood, and the US goes to war with Mexico.

Even more overlooked in this period are the conflicts between the Texas Militia in Northeast Texas and many Native American tribes. Brutal attacks by both sides result in many deaths. Terror reigns throughout North Texas settlements and Native American villages. The dispute is over Three Forks, with its beautiful forests, rolling green hills and grassy plains.

Tom Marlin's experience and renown as an artist presents itself in his writing. Through well-crafted prose and dialogues from many cultures, he paints word landscapes and panoramas similar to those found in the works of Zane Gray. Despite the serious drama of military battles and human conflict, romance and humor permeate a revealing story that will both entertain and inform the reader. The novel also contains nine fully illustrated maps

Initially, I thought this was a story about times preceding the settlement of Dallas but I found it to also be a saga of westward expansion in the US (the culmination of which was the destruction of Native American cultures during the 19th century).

I was delighted to read not only a good solid story, but see the characters evolve with real emotion and motivations. A fairly difficult task for accomplished writers, the author ups the ante with a historically based setting. What I liked is that these aren't the cardboard characters you find in so many well conceived but poorly executed pieces of historical fiction, where characters only exist to fulfill their 'historical significance' and are discarded to the annals of history.

Stories that take the time to weave a good tale are one thing but when the author follows it up with what appears to be very detailed research to base the story upon past events in real locations (in addition to showing the effects of the real issues of day to day life in the time period) you know you've got something special. This book is going to be one tough act to follow, but I trust the author welcomes and rises to the challenge.

I suspect I'll be let down by the fact that the author is incapable of crafting his tales as quickly as I can read them. If you're reading this Mr. Marlin: START ON ANOTHER BOOK NOW.

Ok, so I grew up on the Lone Ranger and more of the stereotypical "good guys wear white hats" kind of western. I had written off the genre for the most part until I read some L'amour and thought I'd give this a shot as well. (Apparently there's a lot of really bad stuff out there and have been told I lucked out when I found L'amour.)

Keep in mind that my usual reading is stuff by Phillip K Dick, Bruce Sterling, and William Gibson, so you could definitely say I'm a fish out of water in regards to this genre.

Imagine my surprise when I saw not only a good solid story, but character development and...what's that? historically based. Stories that take the time to weave a good tale are one thing but when the author does the research to base the story upon past events in real locations AND deftly shows the affects of the real issues of day to day life in the time period....WOW.

I had never thought of "cowboys" like that before. It's my belief that if you like L'amour, you'll like Marlin.

Thanks for a great read, Mr. Marlin.

The novel follows the trails of Jake Chalk, a young settler conscripted into the Texas Militia in 1838, and his bitter enemy, Black Wolf, a Caddo war chief. Both are driven by revenge and their inevitable confrontation becomes a mutual obsession.

Jake meets and fights beside many men for whom several of today's North Texas counties, cities and universities are named. While coming of age, Jake grows to be a fierce Militia fighter, courts a beautiful young woman, helps build a frontier fort and is instrumental in settling a new city named Dallas.

More than a western novel and written in the entertaining, historical docudrama style of John Jakes and James Michener, Three Forks: a Novel of Texas tells the exciting story of the events preceding the settlement of North Texas, and the founding of Dallas in 1842. The novel takes the reader back in time to walk among and meet the famous historical figures who helped build Texas in the 1830s and 1840s.

Researched in many cases to the original document level, the novel not only details the history of an area once called "Three Forks," but also provides perspective on the fascinating historic events that occurred throughout the Republic of Texas, and led to its subsequent acceptance as a US state.

Three Forks, named for the confluence of the three main forks of the Trinity River, was a huge block of land in North Texas that today is larger than thirty-six individual US states in population, and nine states in geographical area. It is the home of the world's largest airport, and includes major US cities such as Dallas, Fort Worth and their rapidly growing surrounding cities.

Despite the significance of this area, its fascinating history, spanning 1836 to 1846, is frequently overlooked. This period follows the fall of the Alamo and the Texans' victory at San Jacinto, which leads to freedom from Mexico. As a result, The Republic of Texas is formed - an entire country separate from the United States. The period ends as Texas achieves US statehood, and the US goes to war with Mexico.

Even more overlooked in this period are the conflicts between the Texas Militia in Northeast Texas and many Native American tribes. Brutal attacks by both sides result in many deaths. Terror reigns throughout North Texas settlements and Native American villages. The dispute is over Three Forks, with its beautiful forests, rolling green hills and grassy plains. Tom Marlin's experience and renown as an artist presents itself in his writing. Through well-crafted prose and dialogues from many cultures, he paints word landscapes and panoramas similar to those found in the works of Zane Gray. Despite the serious drama of military battles and human conflict, romance and humor permeate a revealing story that will both entertain and inform the reader. The novel also contains nine fully illustrated maps.

For his first novel, Tom Marlin has captured my interest. The story line is skillfully interwoven with glimpses into the history and culture of the DFW Texas area in the middle 19th century. Many real names and places are used in the story which make it seem almost like a documentary of the struggle for territory between the native Americans and the settlers. Two main characters emerge; Jake Chalk, a young rancher who finds himself involved in efforts to protect the settlers from Indian attacks and to capture the other main character, Black Wolf, a young Caddo chief who seems to be bent on continuing the hostilities. The more the story unfolded, the more I was drawn into it trying to anticipate what would be coming next. Would Melody and Jake eventually marry? Would Black Wolf recover his sacred obsidian knife? The ending was exciting and surprising enough to rate a five star for me. There are still some unanswered questions which may be sufficient material for a sequel which I hope is coming soon.

I sitting down to write this review, I am moved by many forces. First of all is the shear outstanding qualities of this book. But in stating that, I keep in mind the fact that the author is a Marine Corps officer (well, WAS - but once a Marine, Always a Marine) and that anything less could not be expected of his work. That fact aside, I am confident in making the statement that this is perhaps the finest analysis of a Marine Corps unit I have ever read, and certainly one of the finest on a mid-level military unit in general. Lt.Col. Owen has written objectively and honestly about the 2nd Battalion/6th Marines, with true candor and skill. He is unapologetic concerning the problems faced by the Corps and the 2/6 in particular (something rarely encountered when Marines write about other Marines), and presents the FACTS clearly and concisely. This is clearly an asset, especially in this case when one must consider the fact that Owen was Executive Officer of the 2/6 during Operation Desert Storm. His sketches of the characters involved present the reader with a clear picture of the individual - only that which is necessary to gain a clear understanding of the men and their motives is included, while superfluous clutter is cast aside. This can sometimes appear very workman-like in print, but is definitely not here due to Owens' clear and direct writing style. Simply put, the book reads well.

Taking a step by step approach to the story, while not getting bogged down in far too much detail, also holds the reader's interest. This book could easily have been twice as long, as the sources Owen had to hand at the time were considerable. In delving into unpublished memoirs, the truth behind many of the myths and legends behind some of the Corps most famous moments is brought into clearer focus, without the flag waving and chesty pride usually associated with such endeavors. What the 2/6 went through at Belleau Wood was simply appalling, and Owen makes no bones about it. Nor the advance at Soissons, where a serious leadership blunder led to carnage. By the end, however, we see the learning curve that the AEF had to go through during its 19 months of serious existence beginning to take hold. There has been a spate of critical analysis of what the AEF high command did wrong in France written lately. Here, Owen does not hesitate to point out the flaws in AEF (and, by extension, the Corps') tactical doctrine as well, but is also quick to lay praise where it belongs and give due credit. This is a commendable initiative in a climate where the AEF is being hammered by many who seemingly refuse to accept that the AEF command structure did a remarkable job when one considers the time span and climate in which they had to work. Owen thus risks irritating 'serious' historians, but his effort is justified in the clear picture he paints of the 2/6's actions in France. The transition from tight knit, closely trained unit to tightly trained but more effusive 'organization' is particularly telling. It is also illustrative of exactly why so very few original members of a true combat unit actually see the end of any war...

I have read this book three times now, in order to keep a clear picture of all that i have read in my mind as I write this. Further, i read it three times because it is just a damn good book and has called to me!. Poignant moments prevail throughout the book, that stand out in relief against the swirling backdrop of war; scenes of men, thrown into a maelstrom, who learn the true meaning of death under fire. Among these that I will carry with me for many years to come are the first and the last; the first, in the shelling of the unit at Belleau Wood in their first action, where the men of the 2/6 are slapped in the face by the full reality of their situation; and the last, as the all but exhausted, spent and dirty officers of the battalion command staff stand in the cold, rainy darkness on a hillock overlooking the River Meuse on what will be the last night of the war, with orders to advance across the dirty river - all the while knowing that the end of the war is but a few hours away, and that German Maxim guns await across the cold, black water...

I have talked at length with Lt.Col. Owen about his work and the war in general. Those talks, however, have in no way influenced this review - it stands on its own and is based in the merits of his work. The idea for the book was given to him while standing in the darkness at the rail of a cruiser in the Persian Gulf coming out of Desert Storm. He himself had 'seen the tiger smile' only days before. And as XO of the modern 2/6, he therefore found himself doubly qualified to become the custodian of this portion of his unit's history. As a writer myself, I am aware of the sometime NEED of writers to write about specific events, and the apparent inevitability that leads them to certain projects. Peter Owen answered the 'call' that came to him and has done justice in no small way to the 2/6. Because of his excellent work, the sacrifice of those men from so long ago will never be forgotten, and we are provided with a glimpse of the lineage that made Peter Owen, and all his brothers in arms, the Marines that they were to become...

Well done Marine.

Robert J. Laplander
Author of:
Finding the Lost Battalion: Beyond the Rumors, Myths and Legends of America's Famous WW1 Epic.

To the Limit of Endurance: A Battalion of Marines in the Great War by Peter F. Owen was a fascinating look at the tactical level of World War I. The only other book on World War I that I have previously read that focused on the challenges of tactical leadership was Erwin Rommel's Infantry Attacks. (Most books seem to either talk about generals or the actual foot soldiers.) But Field Marshal Rommel's memoir of his exploits in World War I was not a critical analysis of the German Army's doctrines or its ability to execute those doctrines.

LtCol Owen recounts the tale of the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, a unit he would later serve in, from its formation in 1917 through the end of the war. He insists upon using the original unique numerical designations for the rifle companies of the battalion rather than the alphabetical letter designations imposed by the U.S. Army and later permanently adopted by the Marine Corps.

Owen gives the reader thumbnail biographies of many of the key personalities that made 2/6 Marines the unit that it was. He discusses the equipment and organization of the battalion. He also discusses the training and doctrine imposed upon the battalion--and how that training and doctrine measured up to the stress of actual combat. It should be no surprise that the doctrine had to be modified in light of the lessons learned on the field of battle. Owen contends that the battalion probably represented about the best that the U.S. Army or Marines could field at the time that they were committed. And they were found wanting.

It almost goes without saying that the casualties suffered by the battalion were simply appalling. The tidbit about units holding back 20% of their troops before an attack so that it would be easier to rebuild the units was very informative (if grim). In addition to the "normal" hazards of the Western Front battlefield (fortified machine gun nests, gas attacks, etc.), the men of 2/6 Marines were also to suffer from the inexperience of their leaders and their staffs--from the platoon commanders all the way up to the corps command level. What struck me was, as in World War II, the American war machine quickly absorbed lessons and applied them. When you look at the time period of March to November of 1918, the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) learned its craft in a relatively short amount of time. I speak in particular here of the arts of logistics and coordinating tank and artillery support.

What was also striking was how Army and Marine officers were interchanged. This dismayed the Marines of course, but the exigencies of the situation resulted in an intermixing of officer assignments that probably is rare even in our present ground forces--and certainly almost unheard of in the Second World War and Korea.

And the most compelling thing about this book to me was the author's candor. All too often (in my view), the Marines tend to whitewash unsavory parts of their history. And as Harry Truman observed, their propaganda arm is as good at Joe Stalin's. But Owen is not hesitant to expose examples of poor judgment and sometimes outright incompetence on the part of 2/6's leaders. This is after all, a critical assessment of the performance of the battalion in the Great War. And he does not trumpet the battle at Belleau Wood as an unvarnished success.

This book is an imminently readable and informative book about one battalion's part in the Great War. And it hopefully also gives the reader a look into the problems faced by probably every American rifle battalion that fought in that conflict. Any serious student of American involvement in World War One should look to add this work to his or her library.

An exceptional job by Lieutenant Colonel Pete Owen on his research and writing by masterfully piecing together first hand accounts of the Marines of all ranks that fought at Belleau Wood and Soissons. A well organized, simple read - but one that provides any military leader many lessons learned that can be applied to today's global war on terror and the battlefields of Iraq. Any reader who enjoys historical or military writing will enjoy and learn something from this book. LtCol Pete Owen provides interesting facts and military traditions of that era that are probably not known by many current military personnel. This book makes the perfect gift for any newly promoted NCO or recent academy school graduate and has become a definite addition to my PME library. Highly recommended and congratulations to LtCol Pete Owen on a job well done. Semper Fi Mac.

LtCol Peter Owen's book is a must for your PME collection as well as for anyone who likes to read about units of the Great War. Owen's book focuses on the 2/6 Marines which was part of the AEF's 2nd Division during WWI. Owen brilliantly tells the story about how the unit was a mixture of career Marines and men who joined up after the US declared war in 1917. Along with describing the personalities of the 2/6, Owen focuses on the operational effectiveness of the unit from its inception and how loses in combat negatively effected the performance of the unit. Owen also shows how the lack of training and poor doctrine was coupled with poor leadership decisions that led to very costly battles for the battalion. The book is easy to read and the chapters are well structured so the reader clearly understands the story Owen is relating to them. I plan to give this book to my friend who is going to USMC Command and Staff college!

COL Owen(USMC)'s latest effort is a must read for all those interested in the United States in World War I particularly the US Marine Corps readers.

Expanding on his excellent work annotating a previous Marine Corps WW1 effort published by Texas A&M University Press, COL Owen's smooth writing style combined with exhaustive primary and secondary documentation research, makes for an "easy" read detailing the 2nd Battalion's grim and bloody campaigns during WW1 as part of one of the Marine Brigades attached to the U.S. Army's 2nd U.S. Infantry Division 'Indianheads" .."2nd to None!" The officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted men of the 2nd Battalion fought in most of the major battles of the last year of the war and its casualty rosters reflect the butcher's toll. Many of the veterans of these battles played major roles in future Marine Corps efforts in Nicauragua(sp?), Haiti, World War 2 storming the beaches of the South Pacific and the Korean War.

The book contains the all-important maps for military history, an extensive bibliography/associated footnotes, and index as well as photographs.

A highly recommended effort worth adding to one's WW1 library and USMC histories.

I was drawn in instantly, it was like I was there too, watching and hearing every thing that was happening right in front of me. Really shows how life was back then. Being a native Texan it was particulary interesting that this was a Texas story. Makes me feel like I knew Tom P. personally. A must read!!!

I have some personal knowledge of Tom P. Varnell. According to family research, he is a very distant cousin of mine. This book really brings the story to life. The book is so well written, you feel like you are there, sharing in all of the problems that Tom P faced. I bought two books, one for myself, and one as a gift. I have had so many requests to loan this book that I am going to order another from Amazon. I wouldn't part with my personal copy.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in life as it was around the turn of the 19th century.

I can't wait for Sherri Knight's next book to come out, as I am sure that it will be as interesting as this one is. Tom P's Fiddle - A True Texas Tale

Many of us would like to know what our ancestors lives were like. If we are lucky, we have relatives alive to tell the tales. But like the game of gossip, the tales differ from relative to relative, and a kernel of truth is in each story, but not the whole truth.

Sherri Knight has meticulously pulled together family stories and researched dilligently to find that kernel of truth and in doing so, has written the story of one man's life in the late 19th century. It reads as though we are the crowd watching the events as they unfold before our very eyes. We are the neighbors, the jurists, the lawmen, the womenfolk, who are seeing the events that are set in motion, when in a youthful moment of indiscretion, shots were fired.

Sherri Knight made me feel like I was living during the time of Tom P. The book read absolutely fantastic!! The entire family seemed so real that I just hated finishing the book. It seemed like I was leaving friends behind. The land and the times are particularly well portrayed. Just reading about Tom P made me want to have been able to travel back in time to that era! Thank you Sherri Knight for making 19th century Texas come so alive!!

I discovered this book when it became a finalist for the North Texas Book Festival Book Award for Non-Fiction. As a 6th generation Texan, I'll admit the cover drew me to this True Texas Tale. However, I'm a noted critic that authors fail to do justice to our frontier way of life and our rich, unique vernacular. Hollywood always seems to have a cursory presentation. But Sherri Knight's prose effortlessly drew me into the world of our ancestors, where life was as tough and gritty as our language.

I found the compelling story of Tom P Varnell populated with strong, engaging characters that often had to rely on their own sense of justice on the frontier. I was so drawn into Tom P's world that by the end I desperately wanted to reach across time and space and spend the afternoon at the Varnell ranch sipping a cup of Arbuckle with Docia. With the complete immersion that I found in Ms. Knight's illustrative prose, I really did find the next best thing.

When I went to Google to learn more of Tom Ps story on my own, imagine my surprise to find Sherri Knight had a complete blog that detailed her journey into Tom P's world. I was astounded by the vast amounts of research executed by this author. I highly recommend a visit, as you will be richly rewarded with vast amounts of supplementary materials and photos. I need not be a skeptic when it comes to Sherri Knight, she knows her history and she knows her Texas!