Western Books

I love scholars. Especially those who, with all the available research at hand, still retranslate and edit the great works of humanity. They go down the back roads and sometimes even dark alleys of ideas that have been forgotten in the fads of modern academia. Edwin Curley's, The Collected Works of Spinoza, Vol I (1985, Princeton U Press) is this kind of scholarship. I had read and reread, 'Spinoza Selections' edited by John Wild but my understanding never got beyond the rational level. I had been an academic, turned prison guard, diagnosed with PTSD. Then I happened upon, 'A Spinoza Reader: The Ethics & other Works' by Edwin Curley which were excerpts from the larger Princeton publication. I started reading 'The Ethics' and in part II, Proposition 11, I read: 'The first thing which constitutes the actual being of a human mind is nothing but the idea of a singular thing which actually exists." (p. 122) I had read this passage in the White/Stirling translation which Wild used, but this time, the reading became alive. I understood what Spinoza was doing. Now, in my own way, I am becoming a scholar of Spinoza, going down other paths he has led me, like Euclid. But more important, Spinoza has taught me, through this new light, to understand and control the emotions that were running through my body on adrenaline mainlines since being stabbed in prison. I have just got my copy of Curley's 'The Collected Works of Spinoza.' I am absorbing it as an antidote. I have four different translations to consult. (White/Stirling, Boyle,Shirley and now Curley). Each has its part of play but Curley's translation illuminated my understanding. This is what a good translation can do. Did I mention that Curley is also an excellent scholar? As anyone who has read Spinoza, knows, reason is just a stepping stone to understanding the real world. Scholarship is a meditative process, unlike much of academia where only facts are learned. To translate properly, a scholar has to live in the original world of the author. Curley lives in the Latin and Dutch language in which Spinoza wrote. The result is his translation sings more than it ponders. Unlike some academics who dismiss Spinoza's 'Emendation of the Intellect' and his 'God, Man and His Well-Being,' as immature, Curley gives them the credit they deserve in developing Spinoza's ideas. I needed to have Vol I of Curley's translation of Spinoza's Collected Works for this reason alone. (I already had his 'Ethics' in his 'Spinoza Reader,' as I said). I know an academic who has written 2 books on Spinoza and dismisses these two works as 'unimportant.' Curley's translation is an emendation to ideas of this kind. (Read his 'General Preface). Curley cleared up one of my objections to Spinoza, about Spinoza's use of the pronouns, 'his/he' for God. I had substituted 'It', not being happy with this chauvinistic anthropomorphism. As Curley says, in his General Preface: "A related matter concerns the use of personal pronouns. It is sometimes observed that the use of personal pronouns is less common in Latin than in English since the subject of the verb is often implicit in the verb ending. And often when personal pronouns are used, the masculine and neuter forms are the same. So unless a translater is prepared to violate the conventions of English, his translation much more likely than the Latin original to convey the impression that God is being thought of as a person (and a male person, at that). This would certainly be a mistaken impression, but I know no good way to remove it" (pp xv, xvi). As for that often misunderstood word, 'God,' Curley gives us a guide to its meaning in Spinoza when he says, "Spinoza's God is an ultimate principle of explanation." (A Spinoza Reader, p. xxiv). I suggest that is not far off from what physicists such as Seth Lloyd mean when they describe this phenomena as, "It from Quibit." Although I do not know if Curley would agree with me or not. But like his translation his notes are a fount of material for meditation.

I believe that the previous commentator was confused. First, "ideatum" cannot be a dative noun because there is no "--um" dative ending. An "-um" ending indicates a nominative, accusative, or third declension plural genitive. Second, I do not know what word the commentator is thinking about. "Ideatum" is a technical Latin term, which refers to the object of an idea. So, if for example I have an idea of a cow then the cow is the "ideatum." Curley translates this word as "object" most of the time and explains why in his extensive notes. The term is difficult to translate into English, but Curley does a fantastic job. I would ask the previous commentator what translation he would prefer because both Shirley and Ewles use the same translation of "ideatum." Third, I am unclear what the previous commentator was talking about when arguing that Spinoza "presents a devastating criticism to the rationalist project at every juncture." Spinoza is often considered a rationalist philosopher because he accepts many of the assumptions of the other rationalists. For example, Spinoza clearly accepts what Bennett calls "explanatory rationalism," which is the thesis that every event (and thing) has an explanation (and cause). I would direct the commentator to the first few chapters of Bennett's book. I agree with the previous commentator that Spinoza should not be read simply as a Cartesian (it seems likely to me that he has significant medieval influences), but Spinoza was clearly deeply influenced by Descartes. Descartes is the only philosopher mentioned by name (twice) in the Ethics (although Spinoza does vaguely point to "the Hebrew" philosophers in his mysterious Scholium at 2p7). Nevertheless, I have serious worries about the previous commentator's statements and would not take them too seriously when considering whether or not to buy this fantastic book.

The last two reviewers have said most of what needs to be said. It should be noted that one of the most amazing things about Curley's translation is the Dutch-English-Latin terminological glossary at the end. Its extraordinarily useful for anyone wanting to really get into Spinoza's text. And the translation, notes, etc., are all top-notch. I can't wait for Volume II!

I have read a number of translations of the "Ethics", and this is the best by far. It is lucid, clear, and sensitive to the meaning of its Latin-Dutch terms. Curley is an outstanding Spinoza scholar, and he brings his expertise to the fore, not only in his readable English, but also in the helpful footnotes with which he punctuates Spinoza's text.The price is steep, but well worth it for what is the standard for Spinoza scholarship. The text includes not only the "Ethics," but also his earlier works and letters. If you hesitate at the price, and all you want is the "Ethics," then get the considerably less expensive Curley translation of that work. I wait for the release (will it ever?) of the second volume of Curley's work on Spinoza's texts, especially his translation of and commentary on the Theological-Political Treatise.

This book is the best translation for the research of Spinoza. It provides nearly all what you want. The translation is faithfully based on the Latin version and the terms are delt with very carfully. But the pity is that I have expected the volume II from 1985, but it had not publish untill now. I hope Curley works on his translation, and see the volume II as soon as possible

Clive Cussler made me adore Dirk Pitt, but Ray Mize made me love Reid Matthews. And how can you write about a strong man without a female to counterbalance him? This book had all the good stuff that kept me turning the pages. Even the dogs, Lips and Feet, were incredibly well developed characters! If you like to snuggle down with a good book, this is the one!

A fast-paced read. This book has all the elements; strong moral characters, action, humor and the ever-present sense that the guys in the white hats will always ride in to save the day! Can't ask for more than that! Put this book on your Christmas list!

We received the book as a gift. Thought it wouldn't be our type of book, but read it anyway. Couldn't put the book down and we both finished it in one day. Bought eight copies for gifts. Terrific non-stop action. Can't wait for his next book.

A Kill Line grabs you on the first page and keeps you in suspense through out the entire book. The author makes it easy to identify with the characters immediately. Do not start the book before bed time because you won't be able to put it down before it is finished!!!!!

Author B. Ray Mize debut novel, The Comancheria: A Kill Line is a rapidly paced adventure novel that plays out on a modern Texas ranch and on the streets of New Orleans. The reader is quickly engaged with a series of memorable characters that range from Native Americans, Cajuns, and cowboys, to thugs and career women. The story is superbly crafted and thoroughly entertaining. The Comancheria is one of that class of novels that are so easy to pick up and so hard to put down!

This is an excellent addition to the library of Buddhist works meant especially for practitioners. It focuses on contemplation, as opposed to either textual study, meditation, or the practice of precepts. Its premise is that contemplation has historically been a key component of practice, a link between study and meditation that is often neglected today. To "flesh out" the practice, the author proceeds through a survey of the Buddhist philosophical landscape, using statements that are key tenets of various systems--e.g. Vaibhashika, Sautrantika, Chittamatra, Madhyamaka--and applying the practice of contemplation to those statements. The statements are explained using examples from everyday life that are often exceptionally clear and thought provoking. This procedure helps you to see how contemplation, like the practice of morality, can be an important component of one's practice, a part of the "mind re-training" so central to serious practice, which cannot be limited to the time of meditation alone. Definitely worthwhile.

After spending a few frustrating years trying to understand the various schools of Buddhist logic and their arguments about the nature of reality, it was a pleasure to read Andy Karr's book, "Contemplating Reality." Karr takes the reader step by step through the Buddhist logics in everyday language that makes the journey a simple pleasure.

Although the book is written in a way that encourages reading short sections and stopping frequently to think about what has been presented, it is so readable that one can just slow down, smile, and continue on. The progression of the book follows the progression of the Buddhist schools, but somehow Karr has managed to eliminate the tedium that so often accompanies the classic presentations of these arguments.

In fact, I think Karr did a lot of the work for us by clearing up the confusions for himself before presenting the points to us. His understanding make the exercises accessible and enjoyable. And his choice of quotes and poetry from historic Buddhist masters brings a profundity to the material that often transcends logic altogether.

So if you are open to investigating the nature of things as they are, "Contemplating Reality" is a way to understand emptiness and its inherent friendliness that will add freedom and humor to your path in life.

I was looking for a book that could explain in a more comprehensible manner some of the arcane concepts of Buddhism. Andy Karr makes a valiant effort to do so in this book. He has a good sense of humor and relatively down-to-earth approach to subjects that are extremely difficult to grasp. He also explains the different schools of tenets and describes their somewhat differing approaches to the subject. I recommend it!

Contemplating Reality is a wonderful contribution to the body of teachings on analytical meditation. Analytical meditation is a very important practice of the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist traditions, which emphasize bringing intellectual study and experiential praxis together. It is a key to ensuring that the knowledge we gain from our studies will not be left on our book shelves, but will permeate our day to day experience.

In this delightful book, Andy uses fresh and modern examples, even delving into discussions of modern science, to help readers find a ground-level approach to unlocking the life lessons of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism's four main philosophical systems: the Vaibhashika, the Sautrantika, the Chittamatra, and the Madhyamaka. Praised by Publisher's Weekly and many Kagyu and Nyingma lineage teachers, this short book will whet the reader's appetite for contemplation and its prerequisite, study. What's more, it will offer a senior Western Buddhist student's seasoned perspective on a heretofore relatively unexplored topic in the West.

"As of this writing, George W. Bush is perceived to be a good leader by many people. Many others perceive him to be a dangerous idiot and a tool of corporate interests. On the other hand, his daughters perceive him as a father. His parents perceive him as a son. Osama bin Laden sees George W. Bush as an enemy and a demon. To a mosquito George W. Bush is a meal. The microorganisms that inhabit his intestines perceive him as home. Whose version is right?" (CR, p. 88)

With a wry, sometimes wink-of-the-eye sense of humor, and a spontaneous honesty hard to achieve in print (for all his study, the author cops to once not having had a daily meditation practice), Contemplating Reality untangles the complexity of the schools and subschools of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist thought in the clearest terms I have ever seen--supported by a series of analytical and contemplative meditation exercises derived from 2,500 years of Buddhist practice. Andy Karr's book is personal, practical, plain and profound.

This is an excellent business math book. It's easy to work with and has lots of examples for practicing. It breaks the subject matter down in a manner where it's easy to understand. Chapters 10 through 14 are really great for individuals to learn about their finances. Chapters 15 through 17 are excellent for businesses. There are other chapters that are really great in establishing the basic foundation in business math. Overall this is an excellent book to use for brushing up on math or just learning about business math for business or individual use. Another excellent book to read is "Trilogy Moments for the Mind, Body and Soul."

Im a college student and when I first started using this book I said to myself this is like H.S math. Little did I know it does get more complicated but its on a college level as you go on. It takes you back to the basic mathematics and then to a college level mathematics. I liked the book very much so. There is also a answer key in the book (but only for the the odd #'s)which is very useful as well.

I think this book is great, becareful not to get the instructors edition, I got that edition by mistake then ordered a student editon used, it did not come with the cd like it said it would.

This book was incredibly helpful for a college class in Business Math. Many of the adults in my class had not studied any sort of math in years. This book made the subject easy with great examples succinct and thorough summaries. Recommend it for other teachers in the same area.

There are several typos in this book, but don't let that get you down. This is an excellant review of business math. It begins with the basics of operations, and then progresses to more complex formulas. It will help everyone from business majors to consumers to better manage their money.

If you love exploring the neighborhoods of Chicago & trying new dishes, this book will tell you where to go to find that special ingredient. It is a treasure trove of info & will make you want to spend time exploring this magnificent city and then try to recreate your meals & snacks when you get back home.

As a frequent visitor to Chicago, I love to take advantage of a big city's resources. I found "A Cook's Guide to Chicago" to be an invaluable culinary guidebook. Written in a humorous and easy to read style, the book demystifies those strange foods I can't identify, and lists stores that carry the exotic foods I love but can't find in my own neighborhood. Better yet, the author offers tips and recipes that feature them. With this book, I'm armed with a resource that enables me to search out foods I didn't even know existed!

Each chapter is filled with interesting facts that make identifying and locating groceries and cooking utensils fun.
(The description of South Water Market made me want to shop there just to see the area.) The book's layout makes it simple to use, and it is thoroughly indexed. The graphic design is a visual treat.

But the best part about this book, for me, is not the facts, but the feeling it gave me while reading it. I fell in love with food and spices and cooking all over again. Suddenly, just going down the same aisle at my usual supermaket to make the same predictable meal just didn't cut it. With these newly defined foods and locations of ethnic grocery stores, I was ready for a culinary adventure. The author's skill in writing, her sense of humor and love of food all combine to portray cooking as a sensual and exotic world. "The Cook's Guide" is the perfect companion to explore that world - I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Kornelia Longoria for Reader Views (9/06)

Chicago is very well known for being a home of many great restaurants and delicious cuisine. Marylin Poncius, who grew up on the Southwest Side, was introduced to all types of ethnic food in her earliest years and grew up expanding her taste buds with a wonderful variety of tastes. In her book "A Cook's Guide to Chicago", she put collected what's best in the city and its surrounding areas and put it all together into a great source of information for both tourists as well as Chicagoans. It's a book for everyone for anyone who enjoys cooking and fine foods.

The book is organized into themed chapters, where each type of food has its own chapter. Reading the guide the reader has a chance to travel through many different types of cuisine, such as Italian, Easter European, German, Middle Eastern, Japanese and many more and learn about the main characteristics and specific ingredients for each of them. Each chapter starts with a little introduction followed by the addresses of carefully chosen restaurants, grocery stores or other unique places revolving around food. Furthermore, each chapter has a delicious recipe as well as a grocery list, so we can experience tastes we have never experienced before.

Being an import from Poland myself, I really enjoyed the Easter European part, where I could find an array of Polish stores and restaurants. This is a great help, especially when you just move to Chicago from across the ocean and become homesick. The recipe for home made kolackys will instantly pick you up.

To sum it all up, A Cook's Guide to Chicago is an unique reference book which is very enjoyable to read and even more enjoyable to use in practice to discover the parts of Chicago one had no idea about.

I was delighted to have come across this book. While I'm not much of a cook, I like to think that I could be. This book makes it sound easy and, more importantly, FUN. I recommend it to anyone interested in eating, shopping, or cooking or for an "off the beaten track" cultural/culinary tour of our great city of Chicago. Hats off to the author; she probably weighs a ton by now but it must have been an interesting journey. (Great cover, too!)

As a resident of Chicago, I am grateful to the author for writing this book. Now, I know where to have my knives sharpened, buy fresh ginger, and find the best teas.

Ms. Booth gathered an extraordinarily versatile collection of very capable professionals willing to share their memorable recipes. Those of us fortunate enough to have received this book as a gift can leisurely savor diverse meals we were unable to enjoy while scurrying through the mountains during our hurried ski vacations. Anxiously awaiting a sequel...please.

We have tried about ten recipes so far from the book and have been pleasently surprised in the outcome. In addition, the photography puts you there. Highly recommended!

This cookbook combines the ease and speed of preparation with beautiful pictures of Colorado. Most ingredients are readily obtainable at my local supermarket. The dishes taste great and never fail to get me compliments from my guests. Ms. Booth has done a remarkable job of getting some of Colorado's best chefs to let us in on some of their best recipes.

This cookbook is both a feast for the appetite and a feast for the eyes. It presents a great variety of delicious meals in an easy to follow "no fail" format. I'm a cookbook collector, and this is one of my favorites.

This is a great cookbook. The recipes are easy to use and create elegant meals. The photographs by John Fielder are gorgeous. It's also a terrific present for anyone.

Not at the level for me of Tales of Old-time Texas but still an excellent collection of stories from J. Frank Dobie. This collection is focused, as the title should tell you, on buried treasure, treasure maps and things of that nature. The book is still a joy to read and I don't understand why more of the country doesn't know about Mr. Dobie.

The author, a premier folklorist from Texas, writes about the Southwest and the type of treasure with which nature consoles the seeker -- "shadows for want of substantials." Unlike Coronado, the author seeks the treasure that emanates from the heart and mind. This is a fine book written seven decades ago and improves with each reading.

Dobie talks about this land of shadows where we meet Alice Henderson, who faced down fifty cow thieves; Don Milton Favor, who built his own fort while making treaties with hostile Indians; and Cheetwah, a mystic Indian chief who vanished into the mountains to keep vigil over hidden treasures. These and other characters spring from the pages of Dobie's book with a vigor and purpose that makes the heart sing.

The Texas of the Big Bend country is where Dobie's prose satisfies, "Outlandish pictures painted down the sides of caves by aborigines which no white man can now decipher...a jagged and gashed land where legend has placed a lost canyon, its broad floor carpeted with grass that is always green and watered by gushing springs, its palisaded walls imprisoning a herd of buffalo...somewhere in this land credulity has fixed a petrified forest with tree trunks seven hundred feet long."

The author claims, "After I hear a tale I do all I can to improve it," and this is an understatement. Readers who possess a sense of wonder will enjoy this book. History often cloaks personages with dusty trappings, stuffy sayings, and mixed motives so time has faded the awe that Drake, Cortez, Raleigh, and Coronado experienced. Dobie illuminates the wonder of the children of Coronado as they chase their dreams and draws us into their world of enchantment.

Francisco Coronado never found his golden riches or the fabled Seven Cities of Cibola during his time in the Southwest. When he returned in 1542, and told the truth about his barren search, he wasn't believed. One person who did believe said, "Granted he did not find the riches of which he had been told -- he found instead a place in which to search for them."

And the search continues. For centuries Coronado's vision of wealth has lured countless thousnads to the Southwest where tradition and myth have marked mountains, rivers, and ancient ruins with boundless treasures. This book follows long forgotten Spanihs trails, buffalo trails, cow trails, and areas where there are no trails as searchers dig for riches which eludes their grasp. Others, rather than searching, have sat and told stories of lost mines, buried treasure and of ghostly patrones who guard the treasures -- adding layers to the myths that abound in the land of Coronado.

This book lovingly describes Spanish influence and tradition on the Sountwest and combines a terrific cast of characters, interesting situations, and Dobie's unmatched skill at weaving a tale. The author's footnotes are at the end of the text and are filled with tales and legends of lost mines and treasures. There's an interesting section on the elaborate Code of Treasure Symbols used by the Spaniards. An excellent glossary of idioms used in the Southwest follows that section.

There is more to the American West than gunfighters, farmers, bankers, cowboys, and miners. The author has given us the realm of the dreamers.

J. Frank Dobie was a folklorist of Texas and "Coronado's Children" may be his best and most famous book. He was born in 1888 and bridged the old west and modern times. CC was written in 1930 when many of the old timers, who knew how to spin a yarn, were still around. Dobie sought them out and recorded their stories of lost gold and buried treasure. He was also a serious scholar who rummaged through Spanish and American archives to give authenticity to his stories -- and he was not adverse to saddling up a horse and doing a little on-the-ground research.

"Coronado's Children" has inspired thousands of otherwise normal people to pick up a shovel and head off to some god-forsaken wasteland to dig in the ground looking for the "Lost San Saba Mine," the booty of pirate Jean Lafitte, or the $2 million the James boys supposedly buried in the Wichita mountains of Oklahoma. These are the kind of stories that dreams are made of -- and who knows? Some of them might be true.

Dobie has collected nineteen tales in CC and he tells them beautifully in prose that is conversational and colorful. He has enormous respect for the land and the Indians, the Mexicans, and the Anglos who live in the harsh, dry country of the southwest. An oft-used adjective to describe his stories is "magical" and so they are. "Coronado's Children" is an American classic.

Smallchief

Perhaps the best folklore book ever written about lost mines and buried treasure, caves full of gold bars, and Spanish silver. As in most of Dobie's writings, this is not straight history but Dobie's version of other people stories with a large dose of Dobie in all of them. A Texas classic.

I read this book 30 years ago. I am now 75, and I rank it as one of the most fascinating books of my lifetime. It opened up a whole world of places and things that are long gone, but which deserve to be remembered. I believe that I have since read almost everything that Frank Dobie has written, but believe this is still the best.

A great story by Dotti Enderle and a great tribute to Texas, where everything is bigger! The illustrations are eye-pleasing and my children laughed several times at the sheer silliness of this tale!

As a long-time Texas State Fair goer, I'm thrilled to own such a fun book that is full of the flavor, adventure, and excitement of the Fair. Dotti Enderle does a wonderful job of creating a monstrous cotton-candy day for one boy and for everyone who reads this delightful book. The pictures are bright and sure to catch a child's attention. You can almost taste the cotton candy as you read!

In this tallest of tale tales, Enderle spins a story about some cotton candy that's spun out of control, gumming up the works at the Texas state fair. A great choice to read before a trip to the Midway, or to bring back memories after-the-fact. Be sure to have something sweet on hand while you read -- this book'll make your tummy rumble for a box of caramel corn or a plate of sugar-dusted fried dough. Put on your best twang for maximum read-aloud pleasure.

Whenever I get a picture book to review, it's always a team effort between myself and my 4-year-old daughter. About THE COTTON CANDY CATASTROPHE, she said, "It was fun and funny. And it had a haunted house that I want to go in. And I like how it got sillier and sillier because the cotton candy made more and more mess." I agree. This is a great tall-tale story of what can happen if you aren't careful with that fluffy pink stuff. The illustrations are a hoot, too -- full of fun -- I especially loved the chickens. And you'll even get a peek at Big Tex, the 52-foot-tall cowboy who really does greet visitors to the Texas State Fair. It's a great regional book and a fun read-aloud.

I loved following Jake and his cotton candy through the Texas State Fair. Wish I'd been there to witness the commotion that followed. This is a delightful tale that children are sure to enjoy.

Excellent collection of diaries from women who traveled the Oregon Trail especially if you are looking for a specific person

The latest release in the "Living Voices of the Past" series, Covered Wagon Women 1851 is drawn from the diaries and letters of women who experienced the travails of the wagon trails west in 1851. Edited and compiled by Kenneth L. Holms and used with the permission of the University of Nebraska Press, we are treated to excerpts from the diary of Lucia Williams and the epilogue of Esther Lockhart (superbly narrated by Jane Merrifield-Beecher) describing their trip from Ohio to Oregon. Also featured are excerpts (dramatically narrated by Georgia Goodwin) from the diary of Jean Rio Baker, a Mormon who traveled from Liverpool by Windjammer and to Salt Lake City by Prairie Schooner. Surviving exposure to attacks from Native Americans, the scourge of cholera and smallpox, and the many hardships and deprivations of a pioneer excursion in a covered wagon, Covered Wagon Women 1851 is an outstanding "living history" audio recording and strongly recommended for personal, school, and community library collections.

In COVERED WAGON WOMEN, the diaries & letters of three mature women on the journeys of their lifetime, record their trek west into the sun; across oceans, towns, rivers, farms, forests, prairies & deserts; friendly & hostile Indian territories until, at last they reach their journeys' ends.

As you listen to actors Georgia Goodwin & Jane Merrifield-Beecher read the thoughts, observations & feelings of these three mother ancestors, you catch glimpses of how we used to live. They take us through springs of ground-level thunderstorms & sudden floods, summers of dust, mosquitos & enervating heat, & autumns of mild beauty & the biggest harvests they've ever seen. We learn of broken wagons, dying companions, days of endless trudging & nights of immense beauty. Over mountains, through rivers & down defiles, these intrepid women take us there with their simple, evocative words.

COVERED WAGON WOMEN is truly a record of an adventure that shaped our nation & our psyche. The only thing missing are sound effects!

This is a treat to listen to in the car on the way to work. An extraordinary story - women, migration, inner strength. I shared this with four other librarians who all enjoyed the tapes and proclaimed this one of the best audio books they had ever listened to.

More heartfelt, lively accounts from the Oregon Trail during the year 1851.
Harriet Talcott Buckingham's diary is both poetic and colorful, describing prairies, mountain passes, river crossings, flora, Indians and other travelers met along the way.
Amelia Hadley's writing style is very sincere. She not only visually describes streams, buffalo, landforms and Indians, but along with counting the number of graves they encounter, she also puts names to these graves (very historical).
Susan Amelia Cranston talks much about the availability, or lack of, water, fuel and grass.
Lucia Loraine Williams's party had quite an exciting but also quite dispirited journey. She lost her ten year old son due to a runaway wagon; had an Indian offer to swap her child for Lucia's three year old; thievery surrounding Fort Hall; etc. Her letter is just, truthful and illustrative of life on the trail.
Esther Lockhart was also in Lucia's wagon train and her reminisces are both vivid and picturesque of the trek.
The diaries of Elizabeth Wood and Eugenia Zieber are a delight to read.
The jewel of the book lies in Jean Rio Baker's diary. A Mormon widow with seven children, she leaves England to make the pilgrimage to Salt Lake City. A fascinating read of courage, tenacity and nerve.
Excellent book.

The story held my attention from the beginning to the satisfying end. I loved all of the characters (even the secondary ones were great!) Linda Broday has become and auto-buy for me and I wish she'd write more!

I was impressed with Linda Broday's first novel, but she's made a committed reader out of me with her second/latest release. THE COWBOY WHO CAME CALLING is giant steps toward the masterful storytelling one gets from Larry McMurtry--great plotting, vivid characters, and lots of heart. The pace is page-turning, the characters are memorable, and the parallels to LITTLE WOMEN made the plot earn a bullseye in storytelling. Ms Broday raises the genre.

This beautiful sensual love story is the sequel to Knight on the Texas Plains and tells the story of Luke mcCain and Glory Day.

Luke is looking for a killer by the name of Mad Dog Perkins who has ruined his life and and Glory is also looking for Mad Dog perkins to collect the bounty on him as her father has been imprisoned and she hopes to get him released.

Glory is struggling to look after her mother and sisters and keep their farm from being repossessed. She is also going blind.

Glory accidentally shoots Luke and cares for him on her farm where they eventually fall in love.

Luke helps Glory to clear her fathers name and he is reunited with his family.

Linda Broday writes a very sensitive and compelling story and
gives a strong message that people with disabilities and and do lead a full and normal life.

In 1881 Texas, former Ranger Luke McClain (homage to Lucas McCain?) lives for vengeance on the man who destroyed him. Luke cannot turn to his family because he feels guilt for several reasons towards his sister-in-law, who obviously cherishes his brother.

Glory Day knows her family is in trouble as the bank pressures them for payment on the ranch. She plans to capture escaped prisoner Mad Dog Perkins in order to collect the bounty. She traps Mad Dog, but Luke gets in the way and she ends up shooting the wrong guy. Luke heals on the Day spread where he charms and helps her family. Glory wants him to leave until they kiss. She realizes she shot the right man because that made him stay in time to fall in love.

THE COWBOY WHO CAME CALLING is a warm western romantic sequel to the graphically vivid KNIGHT ON THE TEXAS PLAIN though charcaters from the first novel make limited appearances in this book. Thus, readers have a choice to either go back or to peruse this delightful stand-alone tale. The story line is fun as Luke exacerbates Glory by his not only taking over her role with her family, but their appreciation of his doing so. Linda Broday is a skilled author who shows her ability to provide a solid novel in which the romance takes center stage with western and suspense elements providing profundity and focus to the love story.

Harriet Klausner

"The power of love in the wilds of frontier Texas"
Glory Marie Day is one tough little cookie. She has been the sole provider for her small family ever since her father was falsely imprisoned. Glory works hard to put food on the table and keep a roof over the heads of her younger sisters and her depressed, overmedicated mother.

When Glory learns of the opportunity to pursue and possibly capture a wanted outlaw, she saddles up and sets out to bring the man in and claim the reward money. Unfortunately, someone else has the same idea.

Luke McClain is a former Texas Ranger who is out to clear his name. As he is going in for the capture of one of the men who can help clear his name, he is literally knocked off his feet by a fiesty little lady with a glorious name.

Yep, Glory shot him. Accidently, of course, but shot him all the same.

As Luke recovers on the Day family farm, he soon learns how much this independent little lady does, and as his admiration for Glory grows, he discovers that he is falling in love with the Texas spitfire, and vows to help her in any way he can.

As the two become acquainted and their feelings for each other deepen, it is evident that Luke must help Glory clear her father's name as he clears his own. If she will only let him.

THE COWBOY WHO CAME CALLING is the charming, entertaining second novel from Texas author Linda Broday, and it is a spectacular continuation of her story begun in KNIGHT ON THE TEXAS PLAINS. Broday's style of storytelling is captivating; readers become emotionally involved in her stories, and are not disappointed in their outcomes.