Montana Books

This is a very inspiring Christmas tale, set in the Mexican mountains, somewhere around the late 19th century. Amidst the civil wars that tear the country, a political refugee finds peace and quiet in his small home town, and comes to listen to the message of the birth of the Saviour.

Very similar in spirit to Dickens's A Christmas Carroll it makes a very nice reading. My mother gave it to me as a present many years ago. It still is one of the warmest memories I keep about Christmas past.

This is an amazing book, the true story of Fannie Sperry Steele, a legendary rodeo rider who was raised on a homestead in north-central Montana during the late 1880s. The book chronicles her career in numerous Wild West shows, her remarkable personal life, and what it was like to live in the West at that time.

Fannie's family had very little money and earned extra cash by selling wild horses, which they captured and trained. By the time she was fourteen, Fannie was riding bucking horses to entertain spectators at local gatherings. Soon she was hired to perform in various traveling Wild West shows, where she participated in bronc riding, relay races, and sharpshooting exhibitions. In 1912 she earned the title "Lady Bucking Horse Champion of the World."

She was such a good rider that men were afraid to compete against her. Apparently male chauvinism was one of the main obstacles faced by dozens of women who competed in these shows, which were the precursors of today's modern rodeos.

For many years Fannie continued to ride broncs, despite pressure to get married and start raising a family. Eventually she did marry a cowboy who operated a Wild West show (unfortunately, the marriage was somewhat tempestuous), and finally they started a dude ranch in western Montana. She lived there until shortly before her death in 1983.

The book is written in such a smooth, interesting way, it's almost like reading a novel. The writer interviewed Fannie repeatedly and had access to her collection of letters, newspaper clippings, etc., which enabled the author to add a multitude of personal details that bring the story alive. The book includes about a dozen photographs: the primitive homestead where Fannie spent her childhood; Fannie on a bronc at the Calgary Stampede, her long dress flapping and her long braids flying out behind; and Fannie in her seventies, confidently riding one of her prized Paint horses.

Surely almost anyone (especially teenage girls) would be fascinated by this tale of a young woman who knew what she wanted to do with her life, and made it happen, in spite of all the people who kept telling her that it was not possible and not wise. This is one of the most inspiring stories I've read in a long time.

This is one of the best collections of short stories I have ever read. The settings for the stories is Montana and the inevitable impact of the harsh environment on the people living there. In seven short stories and less than one hundred pages Blew has managed to combine the effects of an unforgiving climate with the turbulent lives of so-real characters that experience conflict, brutality and heart breaking violence. The environmental effect on the characters in the title story "Lambing Out" is stark and readily apparent. However, the impact in "Paths Unto The Dead" and "Monsters" is more subtle and will give the reader pause and, upon reflection, insight into the incredible talent of the author. This blend of human and natural landscape into the written word is powerful and unforgetable. If you ever wondered why anyone would live "out there", try these stories. For anyone interested in first-rate writing about the interrelationship between a regional environment and the people that inhabit it, this is as good as it gets. Don't be surprised if you end up with the impression the characters are real, that somehow Blew is not making these stories up. She is that good. These are powerful, thoughtful, moving stories that come very close to transcending region.

Tracie Peterson never disappoints. This is another heart-warming story and is the first in her Heirs of Montana series. All three of the books in this series are wonderful. The characters in this series face and overcome very tragic obstacles. If you enjoy historic Christian fiction, don't miss this series. I was sorry to see it end!

A very nice summary of the different water law regimes in the Western U.S., extremely well-organized and presented. Highly accessible to those who aren't lawyers and never intend to be.

Anne Eames, please don't let this be the end of the "Montana Malones". This last book in the trilogy was absolutely wonderful. I laughed, and cried, and actually stood up and cheered in parts. You made Josh and Taylor so real, I was absolutely mesmerized by their saga. Truly a work of art.

Ethan Walker is a loner, a rugged individual who lives on his ranch outside of Whitehorn, Montana. He has one ranch hand, a man called John Mountain, no electricity and he's miles from his nearest neighbor and he likes it that way.

Then on a snow filled, stormy night a prospector named Homer shows up at his door with his younger sister Marilee. Marilee had run her car off the road on her way to Ethan's. She is in labor. Marilee gives birth at Ethan's, then makes Ethan swear that if anything happens to her, that he'll raise the child. Ethan, worried about his sister as she's lost so much blood, promises her he'll do it as an emergency helicopter lands out front. Then, sadly, Marilee dies in the chopper on the way to the hospital.

When he was younger, Ethan had been accused and arrested for murder, but he'd been acquitted. However in the minds of many in Whitehore he was guilty. So things look bad for Ethan when the baby's paternal grandparents decide to sue for custody. Then beautiful Judge Kate Randall has a solution. She'll marry Ethan, in name only of course, and that'll give him the respectability he needs, plus, with a wife, he's sure to win custody. However will he win custody of Kate's heart as well? And can Kate settle this loner down.

"The Law is No Lady" was a nice romance that kept me up for the better part of a Friday evening. Helen Myers put a generous dose of humor (two rugged men dealing with a baby) and suspense (will the grandparents get custody, will the judge and the loner fall in love) in her book and topped it off with a keen writing style. Highly recommended.

I loved this book! It grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go. It's written in a way that you actually feel like you're living the book. The characters become friends . . . you laugh and cry with them. I really didn't want to see it come to an end!

"I hate it when them places go," said Madeline. "All the stories are gone, too." Peter Bowen does a masterful keeping the stories from going. Du Pre, his beautiful lover Madeline, family and friends Metis, descendents of French voyageurs and their Indian wives, in the mean damn Montana Du Pre loves. This one is of retribution, of old families, of honor, of Du Pre's fiddle and the old songs, of a youngster wanting Du Pre to extend to her the torch of musical raconteur, of FBI agents stuffy and zany.

Find a youngster and start him/her on this for a little-known era of history, of local color, of excellent writing about a beloved subject. The child will bless you for it.

And aren't books for sharing as well as loving? You were born to make the world a better place. Here's one way to do it.

I grew up in the area of Montana whereof this book is written. In fact, I was there at the campsite where Mrs. Jaeger's daughter was taken during the time period covered. I was one of the children that Mrs. Jaeger came to realize were saved by the loss of Her Child at the hands of a man who had murdered several children through the years.

I read this book cover to cover in a couple of hours. What a tremendous struggle and glorious victory over evil in this world because of this one woman's willingness to not only bear the cross, but to search the scriptures, pray steadfastly for guidance, and be willing to move forward in that process. A wonderful, wonderful book of love, spiritual growth, true Christlike compassion and forgiveness. I'll never forget it!