Texas Books

Leadership: Texas Hold EM' Style is has excellent quotes, humor and what it means to be a leader. The best book on leadership I have read. The theories mentioned in the book is based on real world views and easy to understand how to apply the theories and ideas in your job. This book can be used in any organization.

I actually wrote a paper for a class and used this book as a reference and my professor enjoyed the ideass and bought the book to read for ideas to use for the management class next time.

I love the analagy to poker that is used. I love the chapters on teamwork, Morale, organization, change, and importance of being an excellent leader to follow. This book changes the way you look at leadership but also fun to read. There is an interactive website that is a great companion to the book. This book will be hard to top in leadership. I hope it this book receives an award for it's great information and writing.

I hope to see a sequel to this book out from Andrew Harvey
and Raymond E. Foster.

Wow...what a great book. As a consultant for career development and promotion, I read all the leadership materials I can get my hands on. The problem is, much of it is disappointing. It's too long; too theoretical; too convoluted; or just plain boring. Harvey & Foster created a leadership encyclopedia of sorts that is packed with the essentials of leadership. This book has all the basics: Delegation, Decision Making, Teamwork, and many more, but it also has valuable details on important elements of leadership that other books often overlook: Consistency (important), Accountability (one of the biggest problems with new generation employees), and How to fail. This book is well written and detailed, but concise in that it won't overwhelm the reader. It weaves the information through stories, definitions that are right on the money, great quotes, simple diagrams, and nice-to-know parallel information. This book serves as a great resource and will always be at an arm's reach for years to come.

Raymond Foster has demonstrated his knowledge of leadership very thoroughly in this book. Coming from the LAPD, he draws upon his experience as a mid-level manager by using humor and anecdotes so aspiring supervisors and managers can develop their individual skills. I am a retired police captin from Newark, NJ and wish I had the book during the promotional testing process. Now, I am using the book in my consulting practice--very relevant, very practical and an easy read!.

I write police promotional textbook exams and assessments for a living [...]. I'm always seeking out new and cutting edge books in the fields of police supervision, management and leadership.

So, I was very pleasantly surprised after I finished reading this unique leadership book. It presents an impressive amount of information on leadership in a fun and interesting format - with liberal use of relevant and humorous quotes, experiences and analogies. Your retention of the material will be extremely high because of the author's unique writing style and the attention-grabbing format. Both authors are highly qualified and experienced to present this material - but that's not the primary reason you should consider this book. If you are in law enforcement, entering law enforcement or looking to advance your law enforcement career, this book not only covers the basic leadrship experience in a way that is lively and interesting, it makes you relate to and almost experience the hardcore, daily struggle all law enforcement supervisors and managers have with how to select, train and "grow" quality law enforcement personnel.

It took a lot of guts to write a leadership book in such a unique format. And guts is what you'll need in Poker .. and in Leadership ... and this book, if nothing else, will make you see how you can embody these leadership skills.

Our book club selected this book, and it contained a wealth of interesting topics to discuss. We had one of our best discussions yet! Rebecca Meacham is a fresh new writer with wonderful talent. I highly recommend Let's Do!

This author brings each character in each story to life. It was like I knew them myself. The book was great and I highly reccommend it to anyone. I can't wait to read more from this new author.

I am not normally a fan of the short story genre -- usually short stories are all about plot or Some Grand Idea, and you have to let them go just when you're starting to get interested. Rebecca Meacham's stories are full of beautiful, knowable characters who draw you in from the first sentence and allow you to sit down, stay awhile, and learn something about someone who is, at least a little bit, just like you. Each story is complete, complex and satisfying, if sometimes heartbreaking and even devastating. It's the details about the characters that make the difference...the wry humor of a pregnant art teacher trying to hide her growing tummy while fending off possessive parents, the woman who is so nervous about socializing with her neighbor who has just lost a child that she rationalizes fixing a "quick Beam and Coke" before the party starts, the awful detail of an anorexic teenager planning every minute of a day. Meachem's insight into such vastly different human beings is amazing. I can't wait for more.

Let's Do is hands-down one of the best collections of short stories I've come across. The characters were described as people "we don't want to be" and yet, each of them evoked a measure of empathy as I read. The way they spoke and the things they thought were incredibly honest--a testimony to Meacham's talent. There is a frankness to her prose that is endearing. She isn't afraid to probe the raw spots of people's characters, however uncomfortable it may be. At the same time, the collection has its share of hilarious moments: thoughts and actions and mis-guided intentions that made me laugh out loud. This was a great holiday read. Enjoy!

Letters Home- A Soldier's Legacy provides the reader with an inside look at the life of a soldier through the letters of one man. The battles themselves are not the focus here, rather, it is an account of how one man found the strength and courage to go on through numerous letters home to family and friends. From training, through the early campaigns in Africa through the invasion of Italy, the war unfolds in a the personal story of a single officer. To have read his letters is to have known him.

"[This] poignant story is that of so many young men whose lives ended far too soon on a battlefield. Bill Rogers' letters capture the essence of World War II and the families who were caught up in it." Marilyn Grant--Montana the Magazine of Western History

What a privilege to read this intelligent,courageous young soldier's letters home. It is a rare opportunity to take a first hand look at the heart, soul and mind of the young American soldier during World War II. Historically, the letters validate American spirit, intelligence and valor. Bill Roger's letters are a national treasure. They are direct evidence of our national courage, honor, heart and hope. I wish every American had a copy of this very special book

"Rogers' letters and story are reflections of a time and experience...[he] was far more inquisitive, sensitive, and willing to share his thoughts and emotions than the average GI of World War II.... [The book] exhibits a freshness and honesty that are appealing...the work flows so nicely." Timothy K. Nenninger--Reviewer, University of Oklahoma Press

Deborah Lighfoot Sizemore's The LH7 Ranch: In Houston's Shadow is the fascinating and informative true story of a cattle range that has operated since 1907 and the venerable family who owned it. Men and women worked hard to keep up with ranch life, stand fast through the Great Depression and finally stand up to a conflict with the growing metropolis of Houston. Energetic and aptly researched, The LH7 Ranch is a most compelling and highly recommended slice of Texan-American regional history.

Having reviewed books for THE CATTLEMAN magazine for 30 years, I read with pleasure this well-crafted work about a ranch in a part of Texas not commonly associated with ranching and ranch life. The Marks LH7 Ranch was established at the end of the 19th century in an area only about 20 miles west of the center of Houston. The author was fortunate in her work because she was able to interview all four of rancher E.H. Marks' children. This gives her work an immediacy not allowed to some biographers.--Copyright 1992 K.E. Snyder, Friends of the Fort Worth (Texas) Public Library

I got the book for Christmas and read it in two days. I loved it! Boy, what a family! I do a combination of genealogy and local history writing in the vicinity of the old LH7 Ranch and was thrilled to see what the author had done in this book.

I especially enjoyed the women's part of it and the warmth and reality the author brought to the story. I hope it sells as well as it deserves to.

Few books capture the spirit of the American West so well. Billy Dixon participated in both the battle of Adobe Walls and the Buffalo Wallow fight. His accounts of these battles and experiences of life on the frontier have been plagiarized by screen writers for decades.

Mr. Dixon was a humble man with determination, ability, and grit the likes of which are seldom seen. This combination of humility and awesome ability make him a real-life hero and legend, deserving a place in the American consciousness on the level of Daniel Boone.

If you have read "On the Border With Crook", you will also love this book.

Having grown up on the remote ranch lands in the Texas Panhandle, just a stone's throw from the site of the Battle of Adobe Walls, I grew up hearing from the old timers who knew him, stories of the great plainsman, Billy Dixon. Since my early childhood, Dixon has been one of my heroes. In 1913, Dixon was approached by an Oklahoma newspaperman with an idea that he should write his autobiography. With the encouragement of his wife, Olive, Dixon decided some folks just might enjoy hearing his stories. Sadly, his passing precluded the finish of the book, necessitating the change from autobiography to biography, with the finishing touches by his wife, Olive. The book was originally published in 1914, only months after Billy's death. It was reprinted in 1927.

Those original copies are near impossible to find. I spent many years trying to locate a copy. Then in 1987, a limited edition leather-bound reprinting was done. I have number 34 of 50. I always thought it was such a shame that so many people would never have the opportunity to know of Dixon's story. So of course, I was thrilled to learn that in recent months, THE LIFE OF BILLY DIXON, by Olive K. Dixon, was once again reprinted, this time with enough copies of this wonderful book for everyone.

When we think of Plainsmen, buffalo hunters, Indian fighters and the like, many people come to mind such as Buffalo Bill Cody or Wild Bill Hickock but these folks have nothing over Billy Dixon. The only difference being, Dixon never sought fame. Had he succumbed to the dime novelists of the time, his name would be a household word today, for his adventures and accomplishments hold full measure to anyone of that era.

As this book was originally intended an autobiography, the story is told in the first person account, which makes the reader feel as though you are sitting at a campfire, listening to Dixon tell of his adventures and hardships. This book truly and avidly brings to life, a true life adventure story that anyone who appreciates that era or that lifestyle, will not want to miss.

Anyone who has ever earned the Congressional Medal of Honor, as Dixon did at the Buffalo Wallow fight, deserves to have their story told in vivid detail, but Dixon's life is presented here in such fascinating detail as is rarely achieved. Surely Miss Olive's, as she was affectionately known throughout the area, background as a school teacher contributed greatly to the telling of this story by adding literary prose equal to the most accomplished of writers.

If you appreciate true life adventures, the kind told without the need for embellishment for the sake of sensationalism, this is a must read. From the loss of his family very early in life, his early days as a young bullwhacker, the transition to a buffalo hunter, Indian scout, postmaster and rancher, it's all covered in explicit page turning detail. My only regret to this magnificent story is that it should have been another thousand pages. I absolutely hated seeing this book come to an end. This is a real life story that deserves to be heard and one that you will not soon forget.

Monty Rainey
www.juntosociety.com

This book reminded me of the axiom of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography that a good life comes to a person who is thrifty, kind, honest and modest. This is the perfect description of Billy Dixon.
I will not give away any of the life of Mr. Dixon as it is a wonderful treasure to explore, but I will state you will regret like I did in his modesty at times does not allow him to explore in detail his life. "The Shot" at Adobe Walls is barely a mention, but he makes up for it in detailed memories of the battle which Hollywood and authors would never dream of. This is the key to the Life of Billy Dixon in that his attention is in the little things which he gives to history. Everyone knows of the herds of buffalo as far as they eye can see, but Mr. Dixon will tell you about the buffalo as only one man who knew them.
I will offer one warning though and that is do not read the forward by the historian as all he does is steal parts of the book in 20 pages of droaning on and it will be better for the reader to let Mr. Dixon introduce himself in this book and then read the forward last if you feel the need.
As a witness to Mr. Dixon, I read Buffalo Bill's autobiography and to show the difference in these 2 boys without detracting from Mr. Cody, when Bill Cody was a boy among the hard bitten men of the plains the worst would hit him. Billy Dixon though in the same period with the same men was befriended by them and they took him under their wing. That is the kind of good soul Billy Dixon was.
The adept reader will soon enough recognize how much of the book is Mr. Dixon's own words, the few times his wonderful wife explains things for him as he had passed on and the fortunate few times an editor weighs in with a few lines. Billy Dixon in his modesty is the most powerful force in the book and that is the way it should be.
In finishing the book, I could only think what an honor it must be for the living relatives of Mr. Dixon to know they are related to a man of such character. America has been blessed in having his story and having so many thousands of people who built our nation.
Bill Dixon was awarded the Medal of Honor and we are honored to have him. He was the kind of friend everyone hoped they would have as he always was a friend. He learned the lesson of life in having all his family to die when he was a child, so Billy Dixon was a friend forever when he was yours.
5 stars for Mr. Dixon.

For the last year or so I've been reading books about the Buffalo Hunters on the Plains and had heard of this one several times. When I saw that Amazon finally had an affordable version I put in my order for a copy.
The book was dictated by Mr. Dixon to his wife in 1913, published afer his death in 1914 (he never got the chance to do much more than dictate notes)then revised in 1927 and reprinted in 1987 and 2005. It is written as if he wrote the book although his wife and her publisher actually did the work. I'm guessing that Mr. Dixon was not quite so literate as the writing gives you the impression (very little formal schooling) and some of the descriptive terms must've been inserted by the orginal publisher.
You get a biography of Mr. Dixon starting from about age 14 (some sketchy details before that) when he left his Uncle's home to head west to fight Indians and hunt the Buffalo in 1864. There's a lot of detail about his adventures and travels, first meetings with Indians, his first buffalo kill, the countryside and animal life. The detail on the buffalo hunting parts is actually pretty vague, all of the books by the old timers I've read are, but still very interesting. Mr. Dixon is famous for his shooting during a battle with Indians at the Adobe Walls trading post in 1874, including one lucky shot at about 7/8 of a mile- there are several detailed pages about that battle and the subsequent Buffalo Wallow fight, also in 1874. For the first Dixon was still a Buffalo Hunter, he'd quit the business to become an Indian scout at the time of the second battle. I found it interesting in that while I wouldn't term Mr. Dixon an "Indian Lover" he did have a lot of repsect for the variuos tribes.
The last couple of chapters kind of round up some interesting scraps from that point until the current (1913) day- they're rushed but still of interest for historical and hunting details.
I've also read "The Border and The Buffalo" by John R. Cook and "Buffalo Days": stories from J. Wright Mooar as told to James Winford Hunt, this book is the best of the three and well worth owning.

Like all the Elmer Kelton books I've read, this is excellent. Kelton is better than Larry McMurtry when it comes to Western fiction; too bad he doesn't receive the same popular and critical acclaim. This is a wonderful work of historical fiction with great characters and smooth writing.

Mr. Kelton does an excellent job developing characters and weaving them into the story. I found the story to be suprisingly intriguing and unpredictable. I plan to read more of his work.

I have read all three of these books separately. Although a trilogy, each can be read on its own. Kelton does an incredible job of creating a sense of place in his novels, and his character development exceeds L'amour's. Highly recommended.

I was doing a booksigning with western writing icon Elmer Kelton a while back and picked up his book "Lone Star Rising." It's a trilogy of Texas Ranger stories featuring a ranger by the name of Rusty Shannon, and an ongoing feud with several generations of Comanche warriors, set against a cast of other fascinating characters that I guarantee will intrigue you. It's a terrific look at the history of the rangers before, during and after the civil war.

The settings are drawn exceedingly well, the characters are real and compelling, and the story moves at a pace that makes it hard to put down. I was pleased to see that it included a faith element to it, though not enough that it would be aimed for the Christian bookstore shelves. There is a mild spattering of language and light violence, but not enough that would put off a more sensitive reader. It preserves the realism, but is done with Elmer's taste and light touch.

People have always been drawn to the myth and legend of the rangers, but the true story is no less compelling. This force always stood against great odds protecting Texas in the early days as well as in the years to come. This book is a great read, and with three separate books in one volume is a good reading value as well. Easy to recommend.

Terry Burns
Author of the Mysterious Ways Series from River Oak

I'm a big fan of Junior League cookbooks to begin with, so I was sure I would like this one. Little did I know that I would LOVE it. Most of the recipies are easy and inexpensive. This has become one of the most frequently used cookbooks in my collection and we have yet to be disappointed. Great gift, too. I've given it to several friends and they have all raved about how wonderful it is.

This has become my "staple" cookbook because everything I've made is not only easy & elegant in its presentation, but Yummy! I recommend it to everyone who likes to have a book with the things they love, but with a twist, and also try something new. We tried the East Texas Breakfast Cake for Christmas morning and it's now going to be our annual tradition- it was perfect to make the night before and cook in the morning. You'll love it for yourself and everyone else you give it to.

I love this cookbook!!! The party ideas are fantastic, the pictures are beautiful and the recipes are delicious. This cookbook is a must have for any cookbook library.

Very nice book which makes a great gift. This is the official cookbook for the City of Plano and Tabasco Award Winner!! Lone Star to Five Star features a collection of recipes designed to enhance every occasion from holiday dinners to elegant cocktail parties. In addition to over 250 recipes extensively tested in home kitchens, Lone Star to Five Star features signature recipes from more than a dozen of North Texas' most lauded chefs.

Lone Star to Five Star celebrates legendary Texas hospitality, with entertaining ideas, historical sidebars and food presentation tips. Wine pairings, featuring custom selections by the Texas Wine & Grape Growers, highlight Texas' agricultural background. Start your day with "Rising Stars", then sample "Greens & Tureens" or "Star Attractions", and end up with "Lasting Impressions". All proceeds from their sales go to projects of the Junior League of Plano in Collin County, Texas.

This book was so good. I love every book that I've read by Beverly Barton, but this book had to be the best. They loved each other, but her family got in their way and would not let go. This book is full of passion and sex. The plot was so good that I could not put the book down until I finished it. I read it in a day. What can I say? Just read her books, you will thoroughly enjoy them.

I have read this last book of Beverly Barton's. I love this book. The passion, sex, plot and the ending was great. I recommend this book to anyone who would like to read it. It is worth you time to read this book. I have read every book I believe Beverly has written. She is a great writer with so much feeling in her books.

Luke McClendon, 35 and at his peak, is a quarter-breed cowboy and illigitimate son of Baxter McClendon and he runs the Montrose ranch for his step-mother, Kizzie and step-brothers, Tyler and Grant.
Tyler, about 30, we meet as the sheriff of Luma County. Neither brothers have any interest in running the Montrose.

Deanna Atchley is the girl next door. As a spoiled, indulged teenager she wanted Luke and did whatever it took to meet up with him. It was her testimony that put Luke in prison for the murder of her father. He didn't believe she couldn't remember.

All Luke wanted now was revenge on her for betraying him. It has been fifteen years since her father's murder and ten years since Luke got out of prison. All Luke could envision was Deanna living the good life somewhere. He was certain she had gotten rid of his baby.

Deanna has started having nightmares and flashbacks and now must face the past in order to get on with her life. She is also determined to clear Luke's name. Yet was the price he asked for his help too high. Could she tolerate his treatment of her?

Deanna wondered what her mother, Phyllis and her brother, Junior and his wife, Benita would say to her regaining her memory.
She was sure that one of them knew who killed her father. The man who horsewhipped Luke and threatened to kill him. He would not tolerate her having a child by Luke.

Plenty of charged emotions as hatred threatened to destroy Luke - and Deanna needing forgiveness - betrayal and mistrust - murder and vengence - wonderful characters - brutal disregard of emotions.
It has it all.

Definitely Recommended --M Maybe a keeper? you decide.

I thought this book was the best of Beverly Barton. I could not put this book down, I had to finish reading that day. Deanna was so in love with Luke, but her family stopped at nothing to keep them apart. His trial and release from prison for the murder of Deanna's father was unreal. Deanna came back into Luke's life to clear his name, but the only thing on his mind for her was revenge. I loved this book, the passion and sex, was great. But the plot and the ending of this book was unreal. I could not believe it. Keep writing those books BEVERLY!!!

Because I lost my father in WWII, Lost in the Victory, had a very personal meaning for me. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. The personal stories of what happened to several of the orphans once the war ended brought back memories that were buried for years. A truly touching book. Thanks Ann

A well documented reminder of how families that lose a parent in a war are permanently affected.

As one who lost my father in WWII, this was a difficult book to read because it triggered a flood of emotions that had been suppressed for many years. It should be required reading for all military officers and world leaders. Those of us labeled war babies or war orphans will be forever grateful to Ann Mix for bringing us together and our stories to light.

So few members of my generation, born in the 1960's, have been introduced to the full depth of a war's reach. Often our understanding is derived generally from the broadest high school or college survey class; or worse, Hollywood. So it is quite sobering that a member of the "me" generation receives the sharpest of slaps across the face.
As a collection of essays and interviews of American World War Two orphans, LOST IN THE VICTORY paints a broad and intense picture of a narrow and lonely subject. With each chapter, the sense of loss grows; not just the loss of a fine American to battle, but the loss of a child's identity.


However, the range of emotions is broad. While sad and desperate at times, the book also brims with pride and faith.


For a Memorial Day tribute, there could be no better slap of reality than LOST IN THE VICTORY.

This novel made me remember some very dear moments of my childhood.

I wake up inside William Bell to find myself reliving the dreams and adventures of my own childhood. All the fears and joys of life come alive in the hot Texas summer that feels your toes and soul with sand. SWC

Lovesong for the Giant Contessa is a beautifully scripted novel, set in a strange and wonderous place: Texas. This thought provoking work is sure to become a classic. I have read, even studied, many author's work. Few have compared in their ability to capture their reader's imagination like Steven Tye Culbert.

Lovesong for the Giant Contessa is a lovely novel, full of melodic, tightly packed prose that reminds me of good poetry, striking characters, and a story as delightfully complex as the patterns of a seashell. In that strange Texas country, the novel rings deadly true