Western Books

As a former product design engineer, I learned a good manufacturers' representative is worth his weight in gold. The rep is the person you turn to if you have component selection or vendor problems. Likewise, a good rep is a conduit for the voice of the customer; the person who makes clear the needs, the wants, and the opinions of the customer. Both roles are essential to a successful product design effort and both are difficult to fill. Like other positions that demand specific knowledge and experience, the job of a sales representative is a job for an specialist.

In "Out-Sourcing the Sales Function", Anderson and Trinkle,- both experts on the topic- explain the intricacies of field sales show how, in many situations, an external sales force can outperform a traditional direct sales team. They give direct specific examples and show how the cost of the sales function can be accounted for accurately. Anyone who's livelihood depends directly or indirectly upon sales, will find this book revealing and useful. Highly recommended.

Bruce Long PhD, PE

Bob and Erin do an excellent job of frameworking the decision criteria of when to use outsourced sales professionals. Reviews the tough topic of the true costs associated with using OSP's vs. direct sales. This is the best book I have seen on this subject. If you are looking at your cost of goods sold and not currently using manufacturer's representatives, this book might give you insight into a great way to go to market !

These comments by Chicago PR consultant Laurence Kaufman, excerpted from a longer review, are right on the money.

Clearly directed at corporate executives with the responsibility for determining how their companies' goods are brought to market - CEOs and CFOs as well as their top sales executives - this book equally deserves careful scrutiny by manufacturers' representatives and their organizations, and by those who interface regularly with field sales people, i.e., distributors and other resellers, commercial and industrial end users.

A number of factors make this book noteworthy, but perhaps the most important is its authorship - a unique collaboration between an academic (Erin Anderson) who has been studying manufacturers' representatives and the decision to employ them for a quarter-century and a field sales professional (Bob Trinkle) who spent close to half a century practicing what he now preaches. And what Trinkle preaches, along with his professorial collaborator, is not that you should choose the rep route to market, but that you should make the choice intelligently - based not only on economic factors but also in full realization of the impact of corporate culture and product idiosyncrasies - and if you choose to outsource, the factors you need to consider in making the strategy work. Trinkle and Anderson do not say that outsourcing is the right thing to do - it may or may not be. But if you decide it is the right thing to do, they also tell you how to do it right.

Another noteworthy feature is the inclusion with the hard-cover book of a CD-ROM Cost Calculator©, that allows those responsible for making dollar comparisons between in-house and outsourced field sales to plug in their own numbers, reminding them along the way of the "soft costs" that go away in tandem with the decision to outsource.

Anderson and Trinkle have created a tool not only for making strategic decisions about how to take products into the field, but for creating a better understanding of the role of the rep as an advocate for buyers and for sellers. If you are a rep who wants to be thought of as an OSP (Outsourced Sales Professional), first read this book; and then make sure each of your principals reads it as well. If you are a customer or reseller, it will remind you of the benefits the OSP brings you in efficiency, advocacy, and continuity. If you are a manufacturer, it will help you analyze when to outsource, when to go or stay direct, and when to field a hybrid sales force, and prevent a decision from being made capriciously.

Outsourcing has become an accepted business practice because it can deliver demonstrable savings and improved services. However, while sales outsourcing is common, it has not been widely adopted by companies accustomed to having dedicated in-house sales staffs. Authors Erin Anderson and Bob Trinkle make a powerful case for the benefits of using outside sales reps, asserting that they cost less and sell more, particularly when they use the tactic of "portfolio selling." The authors explain how the two types of sales forces can co-exist and augment each other. Die-hard sales managers will find interesting material here, though the book belabors a few obvious points and lacks enough real-world examples to juice up the dry text. The authors include a CD with software for analyzing sales costs. Since this is a very specific book for anyone investigating whether to use reps, we recommend it to sales directors and executives who are facing that question. However, front line salespeople and reps should just keep to their appointment books - this text is not designed for you.

This ranks as one of the best written books and a must have. I recommend this to anyone in marketing and sales, from entry level sales people to marketing and sales managers and even CEOs/CFOs. I have over 20 years in establishing new markets, recruiting and managing the sales force and this book is a treasure that I could have utilized throughout my career. Why learn by trial and error when you have so much knowledge in a book? It is apparent to me, that this book is written from "boots on the ground" real-life experience. Concepts are clearly presented and backed up by real world examples. The included CD is a remarkable utility allowing one to caculate true cost of sales and compare business models. Compare current busines practices to a benchmark. An independent sales representative could use this to negotiate commission rates on new contracts with principals.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RCQT5XIMIE3J8 Prodigal Of The Pecos

I found the book easy to read, and had a good plot that kept your interest right up to the end. If you enjoy a good Western, I heartily recommend this "hard to put down" book. You'll enjoy it!!

The art of the Western novel is not dead, as writer C.E. Edmonson brings to life the valor and villainy of the Old West. "Peacemaker of the Pecos" is a refreshingly simple and well-written story with a good old-fashioned hero. My hat's off to you, Mr. Edmonson.

I love westerns and I was pleasantly surprised with this new book, Peacemaker of the Pecos. I cared about the characters, I love the descriptions of the landscapes, I learned from the historical reality of the setting, and I was kept on the edge of my seat my the book's many twists and turns. I highly recommend this book to anyone, not just to those who love westerns, but to anyone who loves a great story!

Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (9/07)

From beginning to end, this western adventure kept me reading. I imagined it to be just another novel about Cowboys, Indians and cattle drives. I couldn't have been more wrong. "Peacemaker of the Pecos" was a story of a town's struggle against tyranny and the evil elements that existed there. The story deals with one man's crusade to rid his town of an evil rancher that wanted to eliminate everyone that got in his way. But what the Hombre didn't count on was William Hart, a simple farmer (they all thought). But William had a secret buried deep inside of him that he wasn't so proud of; a secret that he even kept hidden from his wife and son. That secret would be brought out and William would save the town and all the people in it. Proving that turning the other cheek isn't always the answer.

I will be the first to admit that "I am not a great fan of Western novels," but "Peacemaker of the Pecos" was a very interesting read, from first page to the last. It was more than just a Western story; it had all the makings of a very good adventure. The way it was presented, the characters, plot and climax were a joy to read. I gave it an A and must admit, "I would read another Western that Mr. Edmonson writes, without any hesitation."

My uncle has done painstaking research into our families background to flesh out our notorious relative's past while filling in all the blanks which were left by earlier tales from O.C. Fisher, our cousin.
Not a fan of westerns, this story has mystery, romance and a large dose of history interwoven together. This book should be on the Texas Education Boards required reading for Texas History courses.
I highly recommend this story to any and all who enjoy westerns.
Kay Fisher Vaul, niece of E Lee Fisher, cousin of King Fisher.

       King Fisher was an endearing character. The author developed his personality from childhood in a believable way and it is obvious he liked him. This book was very well written, kept my interest. and I liked the matter of fact, non-judgmental style. I found it quite interesting that my grandfather was stationed in the Rio Grande area during World War I, not that many years after King Fisher rode those trails. It was believed that the Germans had given funds to Mexican vigilantes to cross the Rio Grande and cause problems to keep the U.S. out of the war in Europe. Ah, if only King Fisher had been alive they wouldn't have needed thousands of U.S. Troops to settle the unrest! I hope this author writes another book as he is a gifted writer.

Pendencia Creek is like watching a favorite old western. Its main protagonist has all the requisite bravery and coolness beftting "the handsome hero". Based on a true story, this historical novel moves along effortlessly, as it chronicles the life and times of King Fisher and the growth of mid-19th century Texas. The hardships and complexities of life on the Texas frontier come vividly alive in this studiously detailed account.

This is the life story of a late 19th century gunfighter and cattleman named King Fisher. The author has thoroughly researched the history of Southwest Texas, and the growth of the towns, railroads, and local governments.
Many of the names which show up in this novel will be familiar to readers. Bat Masterson, John Wesley Hardin, and and Wild Bill Hickok to name a few. The unsung heros of the early Texas Rangers feature heavily in the story.
This book can be read for the rich detail about the lives of the cattle ranchers, saloon keepers, lawman and outlaws. The account of a cattle drive from Goliad to Abilene seems so real you can feel the dust in your face.
History buffs who enjoy a good story and would like to enrich their knowledge of 19th century Texas will find this to be a good read.

E. Lee Fisher has created an absolutely fabulous piece of work in his novel, Pendencia Creek: The Life and Times of a Texas Gunfighter. You'll get so wrapped up in the story of John King Fisher that you'll easily forget this is the author's first attempt at writing. And let me say, you'll question that thought over and over as you anxiously continue to turn the pages of this exceedingly well written book. You will go from feeling sorry for the titled character as a young boy, to cheering him on as he establishes himself as a force to be reckoned with in the wild and untamed Texas frontier. No matter what John King Fisher may, or may not, have done in his life...you will soon put aside the fact that history considers him to have been a gunfighter and, I dare say, an outlaw. In the process you will see a very likable young man whose future was quite possibly determined by circumstances and luck of the draw, rather than an inherent need to do the wrong thing. And nestled comfortably amidst all this action and adventure, the author melds a little romance into the story...and he does it quite nicely, too. John King Fisher's unwavering love for Sarah is but one factor that will endear him to the reader. In this reviewer's opinion, E. Lee Fisher has created a wonderful story filled with action, adventure and even romance, as he paints a very realistic picture of what life was like in the early days of Texas, and even our country. There is no doubt in my mind that many years from now, Mr. Fisher's book will be immortalized and at the top of every students reading list for both American History and American Literature.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable book, which incorporated fascinating facts about history and geography with some of the most memorable characters to come along in modern literature. I cared about these people and came to know them and want to know more about them. As one other reviewer commented, the book ended all too soon!

Smith not only creates a credible world, but tells the tale within an imaginative framework.

I'm off to find other books by this wonderful author!

This book brings to mind Shakespeare's The Tempest , and not only because Prospero, in the character of Augustus Starwood, is constantly reciting from it.This is another telling of the classic incidental gathering of travellers on a journey. This time the quest is for bones, old and buried in Northern Montana in 1876. The author has given each character a full life and when they disperse, as all such gatherings do, it's a hard and sorrowful thing.I really liked this book a lot. And I don't say that about every book I read.

I read this book at a gallop. But when I was finished I was sorry I had reached the end so quickly.

Diane Smith has an utterly original mind. Her books are unlike any others I have read. She is intelligent, witty and imaginative and so are the characters she invents. Ms. Smith is never predictable. If you think you know what is coming next you will find yourself proven wrong.

I have been reading and thinking for half a century and I found things on the pages of this book that left we breathless with wonder.

I won't go into detail. Read this one for yourself and see if you, too, aren't pleasantly surprised.

After reading Ms. Smith's first book, "Letters from Yellowstone", I eagerly awaited the release of this new effort. Set again in Montana, the scope of her new story is grander and even more riveting. Once more, the main character is a woman whose fate is cast amongst a group of men in pursuit of their own peculiar ambitions. Smith has created characters here that are rich and complex; and the story, which revolves around the search for dinosaur bones in the 19th Century, is a marvelous journey into our American past and into the minds & hearts of the principles involved. The star of the show is most definitely Augustus Starwood, the eccentric artist who accompanies our heroine....Eleanor Peterson....on her commission to illustrate the potential findings of the Montana expedition. And though the narrative revolves around his work and his oft bizarre personality, the narrative itself is told through the experience of Miss Peterson who evolves into an enduring and fascinating figure. Beyond the enticing prospects of fossil discovery and the importance (or frivolity) of these efforts, we are treated to a group of people literally torn loose from their moorings after the Civil War; thrown into the most extraordinary circumstances.....and the revelation of their innermost desires and fears are amplified throughout this finely crafted book. A true pleasure to read.....and certainly a treat for anyone who enjoyed Smith's previous effort.

I also read Diane Smiths first book and while that was a good read this book is head and shoulders above it. Augustus has to be one of my favorite fictional characters of all time. Its the way Ms. Smith weaves the tale that makes this book so memorable.She brings together all the different races, politics and nature colliding that were the west.I never knew that Dino digging started that far back and the skulduggery that went with it. I also did not really think of the newspapers playing to public opinion by using pro Indian or Wild Savage photos to promote a cause. This is a heartbreakingly beautiful novel.My only complaint is the Library Journal review above in which a key plot line is given away.Can't you get better reviewers than this.

Of course, this is perhaps the foremost book on political theory of the last fifty years - basically required reading for anyone with claims to being a political philosopher or interpreter. It is an examination of the nature of political thinking and its connectedness and importance with regard to economics, religion, and the broader society from the time of Plato to the Bush II administration.

This expanded version of the book consists of seventeen somewhat independent chapters devoted to leading political thinkers, such as Plato, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Marx, Nietzsche, and to such concepts as liberalism, community, democracy, and totalitarianism. Given the nature of the subjects the reading is slow going, though quite informative. There does seem to be a certain amount of needless repetition, even within chapters, and the overall affect is more one of fragmentation than of a unifying thread. For most, undoubtedly multiple readings would be required for full assimilation.

There will be no attempt here to offer any sort of critique of the substance of the book - a large project to be sure. There is an interesting chapter that dissects the political writings of John Rawls, the leading political theorist of the late twentieth century. The impact of Superpower and corporate dominance on the possibilities for democratic action in the current era is explored. It is clear that the notion of what is political is ever-changing and is not without its complexities.

This eminently readable work can be picked up and put down as time permits--no small virtue in a busy time, and essential for a proper education in political ideas that still very much shape our world. Without making many explicit comparisons or contrasts, Wolin somehow manages to suggest numerous points of intersection between our political dilemmas today and those that beset people thousands of years ago. This is an erudite, witty, accessible book. It should be required reading for all Americans--especially for those of us who like to shoot our mouths off about liberals, conservatives, and other such oddities in the common bestiary. I wouldn't let my copy go for five times what I paid for it.

This book is so rich and it is about so many things that it is difficult to praise in a brief blurb, but suffice it to say that it presents the development of political thinking since Plato to Roman political thought in the age of the Empire to the rise of the Catholic Church to the Reformation, to the reawakening of Classical theory in Machiavelli and onward to the development of modern ideas of the state, of order and security, representation of the polity, democracy, and authoritarianism. Each chapter is written like an individual essay, but with a depth unmatched my most other books on the subject. Perhaps Q. Skinner's development of western political thought is an approximation.

This book is not just a brief summary of the major figures and ideas; it is a discursis of THE tradition, THE language, THE development of theories AND praxis of human beings applying reason to organize themselves into groups for better protection against scarcity and death. Sexy, hmm?!

It would be interesting to read an equivalent book on the Eastern political tradition, as China is not covered here.

But otherwise, I cannot praise this book more highly. It is one to reread every year or so. When you have some free time that is. And after you reread Hamlet. Or maybe you're better off rereading Robinson Crusoe. Same question, different answer, anyhow.

This is an exemplary work that engages the entire history of political thought in the Western tradition. Wolin has added four significant chapters to the original 1960 book and one addresses postmodernism looking at the Nietzschean background to our epoch. For any one doing serious scholarly work in political thoery, philosophy, critical theory, history this book is a necessary possession. For the rest, probably the best general work of Western political thought available.

That there are people waiting to buy our used copies of this book is a testiment in itself: this is simply a classic of political thought, one which has enriched political theorizing and instructed many a pupil in our traditions over the years. However, Wolin is working on a new edition which will (according to him), "repair" an "error" in this text, whatever it is.

Unable to sleep at night because of nightmares, Jack Malloy is barely functioning. When his sister Nicky invites him to her ranch for a visit and to help make furniture, Jack jumps at the chance to escape his memories; memories that haunt him nightly, memories that make him remember. Jack doesn't want to remember that he is the reason a loved one died.

Rebecca Conner is desperately trying to cope with memories of her own, memories of a time best forgotten. When Becky's best friend needs her, she doesn't hesitate to travel to Nicky's ranch to help Nicky get ready for a new baby. There is just one problem. Jack is there and he doesn't seem to want Becky near him. What Jack doesn't know is that for as much as Jack doesn't want to be near Becky, she is aching to be with him. Fate helps her out when Jack is attacked by a wild animal and Becky is the only person available to take care of him.

In a matter of weeks, the two become closer than ever. They yearn for each other, but with one misunderstood statement, things come to a crashing halt. It will take all that Becky has to make Jack understand. Especially since Jack thinks she betrayed his confidence and told his secret.

The Prize by Beth Williamson is the second book of the Malloy Family series and packs an emotional punch. The fact that the hero has suffered makes The Prize unique. I wanted to take Jack in my arms and just hold him, but then with the next breath, I wanted to smack him for being so ornery. Rebecca, for all of her suffering, was endearing to me for her tact and ability to take a chance on love, despite her fears.

The Prize by Beth Williamson was an emotionally charged highly sensual read that I took great pleasure in reading. I found myself immersed in the plot from beginning to end. Totally satisfied, I can't wait to read the next installment of Ms. Williamson's wonderful family, the Malloy's.

Talia
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Having thoroughly enjoyed the first novel in Beth Williamson's `Malloy Family' series (The Bounty (Malloy Family, Book 1), I'm delighted to report that the second instalment is even better. However, before embarking on this review, I think it's worth pointing out that a number of characters and events that occurred in the `The Bounty' are referred to in `The Prize'. It is, of course, perfectly easy to read `The Prize' as a stand-alone story. But, if erotically-charged romantic westerns are your bag, I reckon you'll love these stories so much that it would be a pity to spoil the first one by reading the second one beforehand. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Jack Malloy is a man haunted by shadows from his past. Nightmares blight his sleep to such an extent that he is left shaking and nauseous when he awakens. His sister, Nicky, is concerned about her favorite brother's bedraggled appearance, but she cannot coax him to tell her of his troubles. Instead, she invites him to help her husband with some building work at their ranch house. Jack readily agrees. He is a skilled craftsman and he hopes that the change of scene may help him.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Nicky's best friend, Rebecca Connor, is also helping with the decorating. This is a little disconcerting to the somewhat reticent Jack because he rather likes Rebecca. Events take an even more disturbing turn for him when Nicky and her husband are suddenly called away back to the Malloy homestead. Shortly after they leave, the weather closes in and deposits so much snow that Jack and Rebecca are effectively cut off from the rest of the area. This leaves them plenty of time to get to know each other better . . .

I should point out, and I'm sorry to harp on about this, that Nicky and her husband are the central characters in the first novel in this series. Furthermore, Rebecca's harrowing back story is also played out in that novel.

What I like most about Beth Williamson's writing in these novels is the punchy, staccato style that she employs. Short passages about events from one character's point of view are followed by the other's take on them. These passages are obviously split along gender lines and add some nice comedic touches to the story. The "explicit sex" that we are warned about on the covers of the novels in this series was somewhat missing in the first one. It is a little more graphic in this second instalment. I've read quite a lot of erotic novels and I watch a lot of erotic films (yes, that's right: I have no life), but I have to admit to spluttering a mouthful of coffee at what I shall only refer to as the `naming of parts' segment. I think it was Rebecca's continual berating of Jack for using even the most mild `curse words' and then saying some pretty choice ones herself in the throes of passion that did for me.

I mean no disrespect when I say that this is a simple story simply told. Beth Williamson is a very skilled writer and storyteller. There's no superfluity in this novel. It's a very entertaining read and very easy to lose yourself in its pages; I finished it in two sittings. The only slightly disconcerting aspect was the high level of emotional outpourings that the characters go through. I know this is par for the course in romantic novels, but it irritated me a little. Yes, my eyes were a little watery on occasion, but I think someone was peeling onions nearby.

I read the entire series and loved each and every book. Not the most erotic - true - BUT some very HOT spots and lots of wonderful dialogue and family interaction. I would recommend this series to anyone looking for true 'calgon take me away' reads.

The Malloy family is wonderful. Jack Malloy story The Prize is a book you can not put down. I laughed, I cryed and I thought it was a 5 star book. Jack and Rebecca have haunted past by the same monster. They find comfort and love in each other and learn to love and over come the past. Jack and Rebeccas story is wonderful. They learn to trust one another. Family helps bring them together and keep them together. Their is strong family love in the Malloy family. They do any thing to help other family members.

Beth has done it again. Jack Malloy and Rebecca Connor are both haunted, and they do with such intensity. Stranded in a snowstorm, love, hate, mistrust, a hunky cowboy... what else do you need?

A must read.

From the first sentence, I was hooked. Without warning, Veltfort deftly drops the reader into a tiny village in 19th Century Poland. This strange landscape, as alien as Dune, is made comfortable by its warm, vibrant characters with their universally human fears, aspirations, and ideals. It was empathy for these odd people, a reluctant Rabbi, his wife, and a few followers, that made it a pleasure to learn their language and religion, and a delight to behold the world through their eyes. There's lots of excitement as this often not-so-merry but always entertaining band struggles to survive the hazardous journey from war-torn Eastern Europe to the still untamed American West. With so much action and adventure to stimulate the imagination, and so much drama to tug the heart, it's easy to forget that how well the book re-awakens your spiritual core with every page. Although this is a story about Orthodox Judaism, with overtones of Jewish mysticism, its messages are transcendent, non-denominational, and full of understanding and love for God. Extremely well written, I literally couldn't put it down while I was reading it, and can't get it out of my head now that I'm done. My only disappointment is that this is a first novel-I can't rush out and get more by the same author.

Ruhama Veltfort's The Promised Land should be added to the list of Great American Literauture of the 20th Century. As an African-American woman I was expecting (a friend recommended the book to me) to read a "good" novel about a group of people I know little about. I started the novel with an open mind and trust in my friends' choice in literature and finished the novel with a deeper understanding of myself. The depection of the Polish experience and the Jewish culture was sincere, exciting and riveting. I was able to recommend the book to several Jewish acqaintences who validated its authenticity. The development of the characters was powerful and Veltfort's insight into the human mind taught me more about how people can react to situations in fiction as well as in "real" life. I was glued to the book and read it in one sitting. I cannot say enough about Veltfort's mastery of her art.

I loved this novel! The telling of the story from alternating points of view is engaging and well-done. I especially enjoyed the characters arriving in the US at New Orleans & going to St. Louis (during 1840s)-- a change from immigrant stories beginning in New York.

From the first sentence, I was hooked. Without warning, Veltfort deftly drops the reader into a tiny village in 19th Century Poland. This strange landscape, as alien as Dune, is made comfortable by its warm, vibrant characters with their universally human fears, aspirations, and ideals. It was empathy for these odd people, a reluctant Rabbi, his wife, and a few followers, that made it a pleasure to learn their language and religion, and a delight to behold the world through their eyes. There's lots of excitement as this often not-so-merry but always entertaining band struggles to survive the hazardous journey from war-torn Eastern Europe to the still untamed American West. With so much action and adventure to stimulate the imagination, and so much drama to tug the heart, it's easy to forget that how well the book re-awakens your spiritual core with every page. Although this is a story about Orthodox Judaism, with overtones of Jewish mysticism, its messages are transcendent, non-denominational, and full of understanding and love for God. Extremely well written, I literally couldn't put it down while I was reading it, and can't get it out of my head now that I'm done. My only disappointment is that this is a first novel-I can't rush out and get more by the same author.

This is a most beautiful and original book. I have never read one quite like it, but would greatly like to. The narrative line is strong, the characters very real, the places come alive in all their smells and sights, and it is a fine piece of storytelling. One has to say this up front, because this is a book about mysticism, about the experiences and ecstatic knowledge that lie beneath the forms and rules of a religion, and about how a creative spirituality can arise in individuals that leads them to break out of the boundaries of their inherited culture. In other words it is an intellectually serious book. It steers clear of sentimental spiritual claptrap. In the story, terrible things happen to people we have grown to love. But it is neither an `intellectual' book (i.e. inaccessible, hard work to read) nor a grim one. The narrative is strong because we care about these people and they are on a great quest, but also because the earthy details of their lives are as important to the author as their mystical experiences. One of the joys of the book is to look at a familiar scene - the American South and the frontier West - through unfamiliar eyes. E.g. Chana, the leading female character, only slowly understands that the black women with whom she does the chores in a rich Jew's house in St. Louis are slaves. The most terrible thing for these believers is not perhaps the pogroms or the starvation or the Indians, but the dangers inherent in the freedom and prosperity of the new land. "How am I to raise my sons here...?" asks one father. "Here there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, and all are gone to the devil in their crazy pursuit of riches." And the elder son himself says, "I ain't a Jew! ... I don't have to be nothin' I don't want to be. What else are we going West for?" If I have any criticism of the book it is that the ending, which brought tears to my eyes, nonetheless seemed to half-sidestep some of the issues raised about prosperity and keeping the faith. The beautiful spareness of the language of the book, without a wasted word, was too spare for me at the end. But perhaps, then what I really want is the sequel, about the survivors and their granmdchildren, and how they preserve the unity of body and spirit in the dangerously prosperous times in which we live.

Like all over reviews of this book, it was the funniest western humor book i have ever read. Just find myself wishing Sederwall would put out another one just good as this one, but that would be a hard thing to do since this is as good as it gets.

Michael Humphries

This is one of the funniest books I have ever read. Coming from the Southwest, I almost feel like I know these characters. I read a story anytime I need my spirits lifted. My thanks to the author.

What a terrific book! This is a great book full of BULLoney. The book is written just like you were sitting there with the boys around the campfire. I swore I about busted a gut laughing...

Sederwall's great sense of humor, and ability to tie short stories into one big hoorah, is incredible. If you like Jeff Foxworthy's style of jokes, you'll love "Puncher Pie & Cowboy Lies." You don't even have to be a cowboy to enjoy the chuckling humor of this book. You almost feel like your in a comedic Louie Lamour! A definite must read!

As one of the characters in this book, I can assure you that the campfire quibble was all true (at least in our minds, such as they are). And since you weren't there it really doesn't matter much. A bunch of us cowboys just sat around the campfire for several days and told bold stories as only we could remember them. Being a personal acquaintance of all those folks ( I would never admit to anyone that they were friends) I can only say, never let them hold your money for you! The book was definitely a major dose of "Puncher Pie" served up with a hearty plate of sarcasm and obnoxious behavior; stories which probably meant something to someone but certainly not to any of us. Read the book during those times you don't want any intellectual stimulation. It will definitely help you pass the time and put many a grins on ya'.

Evelyn King and Dega set out to the high country but what was supposed to be a fun trip quickly turns into a desperate struggle to survive. From rattlesnakes to a flash flood, Mother Nature has unleashed a bitter arsenal. But the worse threat of all comes from mankind as four vicious murderers stalk the wilderness, ready to finish off anyone left alive.

David Thompson has come up with a winner here. Why? As well as presenting the reader with a gripping story, involving a vicious cat-and-mouse hunt that leads to a brutal and exciting final showdown, Thompson's inclusion of first love cannot help but touch the emotions of everyone who reads this book.

Pure of Heart has to be one of the best entries in the Wilderness series, not just because it's a terrific story but it is made all the more powerful by the skilfully crafted passages that allow the reader to emotionally connect with the characters the story is written around.

Very highly recommended.

My grandfather use to read alot of western and a few weeks ago I decided to start reading western. I seen this book it the local store and decided to read it. It was excellent I though.

An adventure series that continues with the same fervor that brought America to see the West from a mountain man's eyes. The battle for freedom from advancing civilization and the laws that protect those that have from those that have not.
Mix in a teen's innocent romance, a father's desire to keep his daughter from wedding before she is eighteen and ruthless behavior on the part of four desparadoes from the East. And you have the making of another well written classic from David Thompson.

This series is for the mountain man in all of us. With the lure of the wilderness, the challenge to survive natural disasters, Indians and an occasional marauding grizzly Mr. Thompson creates a true picture of the West and Nate's struggle to live his Dream and find the gold his uncle promised was there for the taking. Thompson's descritive words add to the feeling that you are there with his family.

You can rest assured that the ending will be a surprise. And like me, will have to read the book all the way through to find out what comes next. This series is for all readers who enjoy stories of the West without graphic sexual encounters but a rough and tough family and their friend Shakespeare McNair living in the West following the end of the fur trade era.

Continuing in the standard of excellence, David Thompson, gives us a novel that shows exactly why readers love this series. Adventure. Live by the seat of your pants. Resourcefullness. Real love.

Wilderness has always been an anomaly on bookshelves. I like them becuase it makes me want to become a mountain man, to live in the wild. I long to look out my door and see, smell, and feel the wild. Hungy...kill. Tired...sleep.

The latest book is no exception. If this is your first or 54th Wilderness book you will read, you will like it.

Tim Lasiuta

This is an excellent entry into the continuing King family saga in the almost two decade old WILDERNESS series. Think mountain man, Little House on the Prairie and western action adventure all wrapped into one. Nate King and his family have faced all kinds of crises in their struggle to survive in a pristine wilderness setting with regular clashes with Indians, fierce critters, and an encroaching civilization.

This story begins with a tale of four vermin who are meaner than snakes and are cold blooded killers. They are on a trail of death and destruction. Nate King's daughter, Evelyn and her male companion Dega are on a day trip to see some of the local wildlife in the mountains. They get more than bargained for.

It is a story of a budding romance laced with humor that turns into a head on collision with evil in its purest form.
Not unlike her father, Evelyn King has grit and this story gives her a chance to prove it.

As always, the author provides the reader with cliffhanging adventure and superb storytelling. I stayed up to 2:00 a.m. reading this book from cover to cover! Excellent read and highly recommended!

This is not a simplistic book, but rather a beautifully written, closely researched historical novel. Charbonneau makes you feel the inner conflicts of her characters. The author has captured the clash and melding of different cultures that have suffered oppression (Irish and Choctaw)through the lyrical romance between the Choctaw woman who has delivered her tribe's gift of corn to the starving Irish and the Irish outlaw she brings back as her husband. If you like Sara Donati's books you will love this one.

Every page of this book was a delight; it was so different because it took the reader to the famine in Ireland and then back to America, where the couple, wed for convenience, now make their way to the West. The attraction between them crackles with sexual tension and when they finally do consummate their marriage-- well, I'll say no more. I do heartily recommend this wonderful book. --Eileen Hehl

I loved Eileen Charbonneau's richly developed characters and colorful history of The Randolph Legacy, her last historical novel. Rachel LeMoyne is an equally impressive story, filled with fascinating little-known facts of American history and characters we hate to let go of when we finish reading the book. Even the secondary characters are captivating. Eileen Charbonneau is a refreshing face in American historical fiction. I'm thrilled to have discovered her and I can't wait for more.

Raised as a Presbyterian, mixed blood Rachel leMoyne knows that God is sending her across the ocean to provide corn to the starving people of Ireland. The mission seems simple enough until Rachel lands on British soil and learns that the English do not want the food aid to reach the Irish. Desperate, Rachel obtains the help of a broken Irish farmer, Darragh, whose family succumbed to the famine. However, by assisting the American with grinding and distributing the surplus corn, Dare has been declared an outlaw.

Rachel and Dare are very attracted to one another and soon marry. The couple heads back to America where they learn freedom is not meant for their kind. With special laws of intolerance all over the east, the couple heads west hoping to find a new start.

Fans of historical novels with a potent touch of action, romance, and authenticity need to read the classy works of Eileen Charbonneau. The intelligent writing brings alive issues that were critical in the mid eighteenth century and in many ways still exist today. RACHEL LEMOYNE is one of the top five Americana novels of the year and should be required reading for anyone who enjoys a great tale from our past.

Harriet Klausner

I enjoy all of Eileen Charbonneau's work. She has a rare, fresh voice that brings untold stories to life. This book is the best yet!