Texas Books

As a former Ambassador College, Pasadena student (1974 - 76) and ex-WCG member, Showdown at Big Sandy opened my eyes to many of the events that occurred during my tenure. I was privileged to meet the author and have many informal chats with him in the Pasadena Student Center.

I was delighted to be reacquainted with him more than 30 years later through the WCG Journal website. We had a lot in common having attended Ambassador College at the same time, and upon reading his book, I was re-introduced to many of the mutual friends we had and each individual's subsequent struggle with the dogma and rules that were enforced upon us as members.

I was especially impressed with Mr. Doudna's Biblical investigation into many of the doctrines that were blindly followed by most of the cult members, including myself. This was an intoxicating belief-system run by charismatic leaders and I was seduced by their dogmatic answers to all of society' ills, as well as the future of our world as explained by the Armstrongs and their church elders who combined prophecies from Daniel and Revelation to literally scare us into joining the cult.

Mr. Doudna and his small group of friends challenged many of these beliefs and there is a step-by-step account of this in his book which I find fascinating as well as instructional.

I recommend this book to anyone who is familiar with the Armstrong Empire, and especially to people who are interested in the inner workings of a cult and the hold it places over its unsuspecting membership.

Gillian Lynn Katz
Author, Scarsdale, New York.

This is the most thoroughly researched work of apologetics and the history of one of the worst cults to form in America. Greg has done a marvelous job of comparing the way doctrinal concepts were formed and how the followers of Armstrongism were so easily brainwashed into accepting them.
It behooves all who are exiters of the Worldwide Church of God(past and present)to read this excellent history of that church.
Myra McQueen

"Big Sandy" in the title of this book got my attention and gave me a strong desire to read it. Big Sandy was a big part of my life as I spent two years there working in the press, met my future wife there and got married to her there. We stay in touch with friends who live there now. Recently Big Sandy was even in the sports news at the time of the Super Bowl. The coach of the Chicago Bears, Lovie Smith was from Big Sandy, TX. During the NFC championship game between the Bears and the Saints I saw someone holding a sign that said "Big Sandy, TX loves Lovie Smith". One of my Big Sandy friends wrote me to tell me the sign holder was one of his neighbors. So Big Sandy has a special place in my heart and a book about Big Sandy sounded interesting.

The title of the book is rather long but it's probably the clearest statement of the author's reason for writing the book that you'll find. The book is more than anything a record of Doudna's efforts to confront the leadership with his constant barrage of written new found truths from his young and inquisitive mind. An effort shown to have been largely wasted.

The book is written in three segments: (1) Innocent in Paradise, (2) Creativity, and (3) Denouement.

In the first part of the book the author tells us how he came to be in Big Sandy at this strange college and then he gives a quick glimpse into the history of the church and the leader behind the college. That gives us a look at Herbert Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God. Although he paints a fairly accurate picture of some of the teachings and beliefs of the Worldwide Church of God he focuses on those few teachings which he immediately challenged with his youthful exuberance and creativity. That paints a rather narrow picture of the church. It seems that he can't really spend much time on his innocence or on his paradise as he jumps right into several of his creatively new articles in this first segment of the book rather than putting them all into the second segment.

The author is quick to point out that his youthfully creative articles were not really all he thought them to be at the time as he now relegates most of his articles and newly discovered truths to the trash pile of history and hallucination. He does convey quite strongly that he was full of enthusiasm to learn and to promote his own discoveries. After reading through several of his newfound truths it was hard not to take his advice which he gave several times that the reader could skip over his next thesis without missing any of the story of the book. But there is the problem the author faced in telling his story. The story of the book is Doudna's various articles. On the one hand he tries to tell how he struggled to get the leadership to read and evaluate his articles and on the other hand he gives us these articles in their complete and lengthy original form. Reading completely through them got a bit tedious.

As I read further in the book I kept wondering why such a one dimensional character was being presented. Doudna's writing gives the impression that his life consisted of very little more than writing one thesis after another. A life of one challenge to church doctrine after another. He does mention a job he held on campus and a few classes but only in the context of how they related to his articles and challenges. Having experienced life at Ambassador College myself and having experienced it much differently than the intellectual wonder child that Doudna seems to be I had to wonder if there were any student activities in his college life. Were there any dates with the co-eds? Was there no time for romance in this paradise of his? What about sports or other interests? Was his only interest proving and promoting new truth?

The book made interesting mention of various students and faculty I knew personally in Big Sandy. I did not know Doudna as he came after my time at AC. So overall I enjoyed reading the book and found much that stirred old memories in my mind. It did leave me wishing that Doudna had spent more time writing about his more normal college relationships but maybe he didn't have those. I also longed for more about his reasons for going back to his Quaker roots. But then to put all that into this book he would have had to eliminate some of his many articles and that would have defeated what seems to have been the point of this book, namely to impress the reader with his youthful intellectual brilliance.

The book is definitely interesting to read if you have any interest in the history of the church or college.

This fascinating book is a Forrest Gumpian romp through the Worldwide Church of God and Ambassador College in the mid-Seventies. But instead of naive Forrest we have intelligent and clear-minded Craig Doudna to recount and analyze events. Like Forrest, destiny brought Douda into contact with many of the most influential people and events in the Worldwide Church of God at that time. But this is not a just a light cultural tour. Doudna's penchant for writing revisionist and cogent doctrinal papers led him to the ideological heartland of Armstrongism, a heartland populated with colorful characters with interesting behaviors. Since his doctrinal papers challenged tradition, Doudna engaged these institutions and ideologues in an evocative way that exposes for the reader the essential core of Armstrongism. But this was all done with sincerity on Doudna's part. As a student at Ambassador College, he was not a firebrand radical but a serious student who sought to add to the integrity of the Armstrongite ideology. Likewise, the theme that runs through this book is not one of unremitting polemics but rather the development and awakening of a young person in the crucible of fundamentalism. This reviewer was present at Ambassador College when Doudna was there and can vouch for the fact that Doudna has effectively captured the spirit of that time. For those people who are familiar with the Worldwide Church of God and its history, this will be a "page turner". For those interested in an academic analysis of fundamentalist sects, this will be an excellent case study. Both entertaining and thought provoking, this account should be required reading for young people who are drawn to Armstrongism but do not have a broad and balanced view of its history.

Greg Doudna was a student at Ambassador College, Big Sandy during the turbulent Seventies, and this is his story. Showdown at Big Sandy seems to be mercifully free of the hobbyhorse apologetics that spoil many books of this sort. This is, in addition, more than just an AC alumnus on a nostalgia trip. The author, who later returned to his Quaker roots, is in fact something of an authority on the subject of the Dead Sea Scrolls, with articles in The Journal of Hebrew Scriptures and The Bible and Interpretation, and an 800 page text published by Sheffield Academic Press entitled "4Q Pesher Nahum: A Critical Edition." Be assured, however, that Showdown seems anything but a dense academic dissertation, and will be compulsory (and perhaps compulsive) reading both for those who attended Ambassador College in its heyday, and those of us who are simply fascinated by the history and evolution of Armstrongism.

Showdown at Big Sandy was first published in 1989, but has been out of print for some time. Greg has now updated and reissued the book. I'm very glad he has.

The best poetry I've read by a living poet. I've read these poems over and over. I particularly like, for example, the sestina, A Variation on Themes by the Doors. It's work on paper, but unlike so much new poetry, it is not paper thin. It is lyrical, inventive (without being eccentric), evocative and dense with meaning and mystery. It is emotional and yet the author never spews or sprawls. He is pointed, and controlled without ever being rigid. He uses traditional forms effectively, without ever being pedantic, employing them to make the greatest use of what they might have to offer. In a world where so many don't even know what the forms are, this is especially welcome. Such inventive and rigorous poetry, poetry that works the mind AND the soul of the reader, is rare indeed.

Mark Svenvold's new collection of poetry, entitled appropriately, Soul Data, is a rich tapestry of material and etherial images (lumberman boots "hobnailed and treble-stitched", "air like silk drawn into the lungs," "mist of angels on the head of a pin"), of bold and subtle twists on traditional poetic forms (sonnet, villanelle), of personal and universal histories and geographies. Svenvold's debut soliloquy is really more of a symphony, a harmonious blending of different voices and sounds (from the wind in the trees to "chantey and anchor clank") that do not so much transcribe as transcend the data hovering somewhere in the fields and folds - and along the many shores - of the soul's memory. As both a professor of literature and poetry, and an amateur poet, I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in discovering what is both new and timeless in the poetic tradition spanning the United States.

Since you posted the terrible Kirkus review (always wretched)you need to hear a few words from Seattle's "Stranger" written by Jan Wallace, since these words express my sentiments precisely : 'Heather McHugh had her wits about her when she awarded the Vassar Miller Prize to Svenvold's "Soul Data," a book of poems that transforms form from the inside out. I've followed Svenvold's poetic progress for over ten years -- his work has only gotten more and more intense and precise. Sonnets, a villanelle, a sequence of couplets -- formal structures here are made to hold and expose what, without that girding, might explode. Svenvold, a homegrown Seattleite, takes as one theme the Cabaret Hegel, a reading and performance series which local poet Stephen Thomas ran in the old Buffalo Shoe Factory for four years in the '80s. His series of 11 sonnets, "Death of the Cabaret Hegel" (previously published as a chap book), has lots of local interest, including a Jimi Hendrix graveyard trip, plus lines like "As the sun sets the body becomes liquidier,/until in darkness all is sloshing and carrin' on,/the body's jellies a prelude to the sobbing that's to come--/but what of it? That's the way we like it here,/a steady rain stipulating the water,/constancy copied and dopplered into open/space, like promise or premise to build upon." Svenvold takes delight in linguistic play, and manages to intensify and make tangible his emotions rather than eclipse them with his smarts. This is a rare bird of a book. The atmosphere, the language, the mood (there are three different poems entitled "Desperate Message..."), the use of form, and the motional intelligence behind these poems have everything to recommend them.' From this reader's point of view Svenvold's is an orginal voice and Kirkus (as usual)hasn't a clue what they're reading.

In the mid '80s, the Cabaret Hegel, a reading and performance series was held in an old boot factory in Seattle, Washington, until the structure was torn down to make way for a major freeway interchange. Fortunately, the Cabaret Hegel has been remembered more poetically by one of its participants, Mark Svenvold, in the opening sequence of his first book, Soul Data. But to say that this homage consists of a series of sonnets is just as inadequate as my flat statement of the cabaret's history. Poetic forms do not restrict Svenvold; rather, they provide a framework for displaying his insight and playfulness. There's nothing stodgy about "Sex Fiend Sonnet," for instance, and "Variations on Themes by The Doors" is an intricately written sestina. Poet and critic Heather McHugh selected this book for the Vassar Miller Award, in 1997, and the two share a deft juggling of language that never overwhelms the content. "I'm not here to double your entendre or your fun/ though, trouble is, trouble (both ex- and in-/ tends, virus-wise, to spread out everywhere," the fiend explains, and the new crowd at the Comet Tavern, the setting for "Variations on Themes by The Doors," is "black-booted, blue-eyed, baby-faced & beer-fisted." Svenvold turns his descriptions, puns, rhythm, metaphors, and occasional surreal twists to such varied topics as Thelonius Monk, pornography, baseball, bad dates, and the death of parents. One of the three poems called "Desperate Message" begins, "There hands have found in each other/the impossibility of bodies," and these hands end up, "like tourists without visas, cameras without film, busily, purposfully/taking picture after picture after picture." Fortunately for us, Svenvold has caught these poetic visions to share.

SOUL DATA by Mark Svenvold is a poetic elegy to place, time, and family.  In EVIDENCE, "...liberty--/ how most of us have used ours up and carry/ what's left as we carry our bodies,/ pouting and untenable, from place to place--".  And in SEX FIEND SONNET: "the wreck I've caused I am."  Serenades, augury, and elegies are all part of the mix here.  Svenvold's western voice is as clear and as erotic as that of Hugo or Wright. The subject throughout this wonderful first collection seems to be the endurance of language and identity between the needed mountain and the histories of clouds, waves, and stone.  SOUL DATA is a book well worth the read.

Scott Hightower (72050.2350@compuserve.com)

Becky falls for the sexy cowboy named Luke on their first date. She thought he felt the same for her, until she hears that their date is nothing but a dare. She ends their relationship and her daddy gives Luke his first taste of hell. Luke enlists in the army, leaving River Bluff.

Years pass and Luke returns home from injuries sustained during combat. He is no longer the reckless teenager but is still devilishly handsome. He finds things have changed except for Becky who is still as beautiful and sassy as ever. She never left River Bluff. She works as a nurse at the high school and helps out at the clinic. She is always there when someone needs her.

Luke and Becky's unresolved issues with their past keep them from going forward. Living in the same town puts them together too often for Becky's comfort. Becky's first marriage ended in divorce. Now she lives with her father. Bravely she tries to take care of her wayward son who is at the age where he needs money to buy a car.

Luke has his own problems with his family. His older brother resents him, his father is recovering from a stroke, and his mother relies heavily on Becky to get through the hard times. Wherever Luke travels, Becky is either there or on her way to help someone in trouble. He just can't avoid her no matter how hard he tries.

Becky has her own troubles. The fact that her son doesn't want to be around the man who is his father should be a good sign, but it isn't. She also has a secret. She knows that she needs to keep it quiet, but doing so makes her feel guilty. When it leaks out it will change their lives forever. She isn't the only one with a secret. Luke's family has one of their own. Will the news blow Luke's life apart in ways that were untouched when he was fighting the war or can he survive?

TEXAS BLUFF is a riveting novel by Linda Warren. The story is skillfully written with characters that are true to life. In this story, Linda relates to issues found in many homes today, where family members come home to take care for their aging parents. In this tale, she gives insight on how Luke handles and helps his father's recovery along with Becky's help. Becky is a gutsy woman who takes life by the horns and meets it. Luke's training in the army helps him to handle most circumstances without flinching. Both traits will see these two to the end. Will they get together, or will their deceit destroy them? Run to your nearest store and pick up a copy of Linda's book. No bluffing, this is an excellent read!

Reviewed by Amelia at Romance Junkies

Luke Chisum has spent a good chunk of his life running from the past. Luke was adopted as a infant and though his parents have always loved him it seems as though his older brother hates the fact he is part of the family. When he was a senior in high school, he dated Becky (Bec), the sheriff's daughter on a dare. The first date was a dare but all the subsequent dates were because he fell in love with her. The only problem was that he never told her about the dare. When she found out, she refused to talk to him anymore and started to date someone else. Luke was devastated and joined the Army and left town.

Now sixteen years later, he is back. He's home to help out his mother after his father has a stroke, and to work on the family farm. He has never gotten Bec out of his system and would love to pick up with her. But she is a divorced woman now and has a son in high school.

Bec is scared that Luke will learn her secret. But a couple of shocking family revelations will stun not only Luc but all in town. What will happen when Bec reveals her secret on top of all of this? Will they all have enough love to survive the issues?

In this final chapter with the friends of River Bluff, we meet Bec and Luke who have quite the past together. I enjoyed Texas Bluff, though I had not read any of the other books in this series. I must say Ms. Warren did a great job in throwing in a number of unforeseen connections. I think that Ms. Warren has definitely found the genre that she thrives in and adds a new twist to a popular genre. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and wish there was another in the series to visit the area again. If you enjoy Texas romances, you will like Texas Bluff.

Tanya
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Luke Chisum spent most of his life running from his past. Now
a family crisis had brought the former River Bluff daredevil
home. Home to the small-town girl he still loves-and the secret
that could tear them apart again.
Sixteen years ago, Like dated Becky on a dare and broke her
heart. Now he's back, rekindling desire and tempting Becky to
give him a second chance. But she can't risk Luke discovering
the truth about the child she's kept from him all these years.
Becky isn't the only one keeping secrets. A shocking revelation
about his own family is about to test Luke he never imagined -
as a father and a son...
Even though Texas Bluff is apart of a multi-author series (Texas
Hold'em by SuperRomance), Linda has made this book standalone
in the series - I didn't need to read the earlier books.
Linda does a wonderful job of making the characters and conflict
real to the reader. She shows how different generations of
a family can be, and yet how similar they are.
For those that have read Linda's other books will not be disappointed
in this very excellent read.

Becky has been keeping a secret for years. Behind her sweet, nice demeanor she has been dying inside since Luke Chisum has come back to their hometown of River Bluff, Texas. She is afraid Luke will find out that years ago he fathered a child and she has raised him as another man's son. Becky is the nicest nurse around, will help anyone with anything even the family of the man who broke her heart before he left town for good.

Luke Chisum was just as heartbroken when Becky found out about a bet and ended their relationship. She thought she was a joke to him, but he loved her more than life. He left town to heal, and became career military to block the pain. Sixteen years later he has to return home and his heart still wants the girl he once knew.

TEXAS BLUFF is an extremely well written tale that will keep readers sighing for more. As parents know they will do anything to protect their young - and the parents in this story have done their best, yet heartache is about to come to the surface. The emotional ups and downs of this story will make every reader come back for more.

Linda Warren has a writing style that just gets better with time. Ms. Warren is a talented author who just keeps getting better! The tight knit story line, combined with the creative pictures Ms. Warren has written, give this book a dimension that will make readers feel right at home in River Bluff, as though they can look out their window and see the clinic where Becky works! After more than twenty published novels, this author's writing is still fresh, her creative plots flow from one scene to another drawing the reader in.

This is an author to be watched! Her next novel, due out this spring ALWAYS A MOTHER is sure to be a keeper!

Review Courtesy of Love Romances and More.

After being away from his hometown for years, Luke Chisum returns to River Bluff, Texas due to a family crisis. However, the former military helicopter rescue officer knows he is still attracted to the girl he took to the prom years ago Becky Parker but she gives him the evil eye and cold shoulder for he abandoned her.

He wants a second chance with his Sweet Bec, but she refuses to have anything to do with him. Becky knows she still loves the man who broke her heart sixteen years ago and would love to give him a second chance to mend it. However, she has kept one secret from him; he sired her beloved fifteen years old Shane.

This is fascinating second chance at love romance that started years ago with a poker bet and now the game is renewed once Luke returns home (medical discharge from war injuries) with he and Bec bluffing to hide their deepest secrets and feelings from the opponent they love. Luke and Bec are wonderful antagonists while the townsfolk amusingly watch the two combatants in action in the final Texas Hold Em romance.

Harriet Klausner

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."

if you are a true Texan...then this is the cookbook for you...the bbq sauce recipe from Rosebud is what I grew up eating as well as the Texas yum yum and the oatmeal cake...This is the BEST EVER cookbook and I will be ordering more to give as gifts!!!

This is one of the best cookbooks I own, and I own a lot of them. I can read cookbooks like some people read novels. The recipes I have tried in this book have all been extremely good. I am buying several to send to friends who live in the North - (they don't know a lot about good Southern cooking!)

If you like southern cooking, this is the cookbook for you. We've tried many of the recipes and have yet to be disappointed. If I could use one phrase to entice you it would be: "Just like my mother used to make". The recipes are simple, easy to prepare and delicious. 'Nuff said.

This is one of the best cookbooks I own, and I own a lot of them. I can read cookbooks like some people read novels. The recipes I have tried in this book have all been extremely good. I am buying several to send to friends who live in the North - (they don't know a lot about good Southern cooking!)

This is a great source for excellent recipes! It is primarily "comfort food" and family tradition type dishes - items which are not usually found in routine cookbooks. I've never made anything from it that was not outstanding. That says alot, since I'm from Texas myself, and a good chicken fried steak or chicken and dumplings recipe is hard to find! I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to make all those "traditional" down home meals but doesn't know how to do it from scratch.

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 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.