Kentucky Books

You can't help but get swept up in this engaging story of a strong-willed woman and a stubborn, sexy man taming the Kentucky frontier. Wonderful characters and a powerful sense of setting.

Characters you will cheer for, a setting that is rich and textured as Mascle's excellent writing. You will be caught up in the romance and story from the very beginning.

I admit I'm not a fan of country western type stories or country music even though I'm a native Texan. Not all of us folks wear cowboy boots and ten gallon hats. I've read NASHVILLE GOLD and was excited to get KENTUCKY ROSES. It took no time to read both because they were a pleasure and quick reading. I really came to care about the characters without realizing it was Malone's talented writing that did it. Think you're good at predicting endings? Try this one on for size... it's tough to accurately predict it. I didn't get it right and loved that.

I read and loved Dekker's first novel, Nashville Gold, but I must say, Mr. Malone really outdid himself with the sequel, Kentucky Roses! I could not put this book down, I read it cover to cover in a day, I tried to put it down, but kept "just one more chapter"-ing myself until the book was over. Then a few days later I read it again! The characters are so real, the author has such a gift and talent for developing his characters and getting you attached to these people, worrying about what's going to happen next, sharing in their happiness and feeling their pain. This is one of the best books I've ever read and can't wait for Mr. Malone's next book! I'm sad to see these characters go, but I am absolutely certain the next book will be as fantastic as both Nashville Gold and Kentucky Roses were!! Keep up the great work, Dekk, we need more great books like yours!!!

I have to say that A Kentucky Sunrise is one of the best books ive ever had the pleasure to read. The romance between the two characters is absolutely heart warming.

Barbara Blake is bound to have more books coming out soon. She will be one of the most successful writers of our time. I urge you all to buy and read this book you wont regret that you did. Way to go Barbara congratulations on writing a wonderful book!! Keep up the great work!

I want to speak to 2 people. To the reading public. If you don't get this...you are a fool. All I will say is that this author is one to look out for. Barbara Blake will give JK Rowling (Harry Potter) a run for her money.

To Barbara herself. We are not close anymore but I will always be your biggest fan. Good job sweetheart!

I was recently gifted with Kentucky's Covered Bridges by a friend who knew my late mother, and the Switzer Bridge enthusiast that she was. I was absolutely delighted with the details of Kentucky's history, architecture, and biographies that one would never expect in such a handy little collection. Including antebellum events and beyond, and even for non-Kentuckians, this is an enjoyable and extensive research into the nearly lost era of covered bridges and their nostalgia. The photography and landscapes are effectual portals into by-gone days and the romance and allure of a simpler time. I have visited "my mother's" bridge, seen the carvings in timber and listened to the stories that described a generation. This book preserves such memories and sheds light on a great deal of wonderful information about these gorgeous old structures.

I was also pleasantly surprised that the primary author, RWM Laughlin, had revealed what is renown, in Kentucky where I grew up, as the most extensive photographic chronicle of these bridges and related events, people, and history. This is a remarkable collection to impress any enthusiast and the casual reader alike. Laughlin, historian and authority, has lent us all a wonderful gift by sharing his private collections and those of others which span centuries in this pictorial and expository work. Together, Laughlin and Jurgenson have created and preserved the past in a remarkable volume of Kentucky's Covered Bridges.

Robert Laughlin and his co-author have done a wonderful job at bringing these old timbered tunnels back to life. Even those who have never given covered bridges the first thought will find the excellent writing and magnificent photographs interesting. For those of us who are nostalgic for those bygone days this book is a must have. I look forward to Laughlin's next book.

I've purchsed this beautiful calendar for 10 years as an homage to my true home, Kentucky. Every month I am reminded of the beauty the state holds.

The skill of the photographer does not come across very well in the mini-photos on the back cover.

For a start. Quite a few of the photos contain an earily beautiful mist. And the two winter scenes, January and December, are a perfect composition of snow, sky and trees. I almost felt like it was me out there in a sublime appreciation of nature.

Unfortunately a black and orange abomination of a sunset spoils the overall perfection of this calendar. (June) But that's just my particular taste.

To all the W&S afficionados out there, this is a great 2008 calendar. To everyone else, I thoroughly recommend this calendar. Worth every cent.

For anyone trying to understand the violence we do to one another, this is a powerful, well researched analysis of about a hundred "killings" that took place mostly after the Civil War. He explores the culture of violence created by the War in which "Home Guard" groups from both sides brutally dealt with those living in this Tennessee-Kentucky border region. An initial pattern of revenge for raids and vigilante killings seems to be a platform for decades of killings which went unreported. Montell gives us a visceral account of how justice was carried out without an active legal system in place. Only by chance did I recently stumble upon this book, despite the fact that much of it is about my family. Names have been changed to protect identities of people still living in the region, but the stories had been passed down and I recognized and learned far more detail about the pain experienced. I expect similar stories were played out all over the country, especially in the border states, in a context where no one was allowed to be neutral. The remoteness of this region, the business of moonshining, and the desenstizing effect of the Civil War seems to have added a tragic uniqueness.

Lynwood Montell's book is an excellent study that uses oral history and folklore research techniques. Montell demonstrates that oral history and the study of folklore can be used to ascertain answers to important questions that pertain to historical analysis and the study of culture. He examines stories about murders and killings in southcentral Kentucky, analyzing them for common themes and implicit assumptions about violence and retribution. He concludes that the high incident of violence in the area can be understood, in part, by looking at the stories to reveal attitudes about a "subculture of violence" within the region. Although Montell cautions the reader against overgeneralizing from his work, his research suggests that the high incident of violence in this region of the South can be understood by identifying areas in which violence is considered an acceptable means for resolving certain types of disputes. It is to Montell's credit that he demonstrates how to interpret the texts he collected in order to develop these types of conclusions. Furthermore, his analysis of the stories suggests resources for interpreting violence in other communities. The book is well-written and provides an excellent model for similar types of research projects.

Ms. Hubbard has taken her passion for sports and made a wonderful connection to youth. This second book of a famous black athlete is no exception. Wink's accomplishments occurred in the past century but his method to success is still the same: Dream it, be a part of it and never give up! This wonderful story about the first black horse racing jockey to win two Kentucky Derby's as well as International Horse Racing is accompanied by the beautiful artistry of Robert McGuire.

The rich art work is accompanied by a very detailed story of a young boy - the youngest of 17 children in 1882 in Kentucky. Jimmy 'Wink' Winkfield took his passion and love of horses and followed his dreams of becoming a jockey and to race. Young Jimmy had to earn what he wanted and this story does not glamorize at all. The struggle is present along with the downfalls and inspiring comebacks. Jimmy 'Wink" Winkfield did not let racism hold him back from his dreams and successes.

This book is inspiring to both adults and children alike to pursue a dream/goal no matter what obstacle is in one's path. I am inspired by Ms. Hubbard's dream and goal of writing children's books. It is my hope that this wonderful and talented author is recognized by the NAACP, The National Urban League and the National Association of Black Journalists!
I simply cannot wait to see which athlete Ms. Hubbard will choose next! This book is a wonderful gift to any child or adult and belongs in every library and personal book shelf! Black History is not just one month out of a year but 365 days a year! Cheers to Ms. Hubbard!

Jimmy "Wink" Winkfield already showed signs of his special bond with horses as a young child growing up on a Kentucky farm in a large sharecropping family. He may have been the smallest child, but he knew how to dream big, and he enjoyed nothing more than hopping up on the workhorses and letting his imagination carry him away as a great jockey. At the age of 16 while working as a stable hand and exercise rider, Wink attracted notice from a horse trainer who asked him to race one of his horses in Illinois. Unfortunately Wink's first race resulted in a collision involving multiple horses and jockeys, and he was suspended from racing for a year.

Wink returned to the race circuit to earn a long string of victories and four consecutive opportunities to race in the prestigious Kentucky Derby. He earned third place in the Kentucky Derby his first year, then won first place two times (in 1901 and 1902), and the fourth year he placed a heart-wrenching second. Wink went on to race in Europe for the remainder of his career, largely because racial discrimination and the closure of numerous racetracks in the United States led to the virtual disappearance of jobs for black jockeys. With all his racing victories, Wink left a legacy as one of history's greatest jockeys and the last African American jockey to win the Kentucky Derby.

The thrilling text and dramatic oil paintings make it exceedingly difficult to put this book down before reaching the very last page. Carefully intertwined in the tales of Wink's triumphs and defeats are important lessons about discrimination and job opportunities that had a profound impact on his career progression. The Last Black King of the Kentucky Derby makes a valuable contribution to children's literature by bringing to life the story of an African American hero whose rightful place in sports history has only recently gained recognition and appreciation.

This work should be of more than passing interest to those who more and more find themselves beset on every side by urban sprawl. The author sets out in many ways to preserve an old family homestead; but, more important, seeks ways to make the place profitable. His attempts are often hilarious, the more so when they fail, and they never lack meaning for others who share his feelings about the need for ways to protect ourselves from the menace of an urbanization that has rapidly got out of contol.

This work should be of more than passing interest to those who more and more find themselves beset on every side by urban sprawl. The author sets out in many ways to preserve an old family homestead; but, more important, seeks ways to make the place profitable. His attempts are often hilarious, the more so when they fail, and they never lack meaning for others who share his feelings about the need for ways to protect ourselves from the menace of an urbanization that has rapidly got out of contol.

I wouldn't be a true historian if I didn't say I have lots of questions after reading Ms. Hollingsworth's book. But, that's a sign of a good writer...leaving your reader wanting more. The writing style is engaging and is based on some unique and comprehensive sources. This book is all you need to read to know the real story of Lexington.

Since the Wright book about Lexington appeared in the 1980's I have been hoping for a more extensive, up-to-date history of the town in which I grew up. This is it. Ms. Hollingsworth is a gifted writer. Her lively, articulate and entertaining account of Lexington from its earliest days to the present left me aching for more. She has obviously thoroughly researched an enormous quantity of primary sources in writing it and I have visions of bulging files somewhere that she will see fit to use to expand and broaden her story. This was one book I wanted to go on forever. I made the mistake of starting it at bedtime and finding myself unable to put it down. It is so rich in history and local color that I found myself reading very slowly when I am normally a fast reader. I didn't want go miss a thing. Of course, I'm sure I will re-read it within a month or so and use it as a reference forever.

I discovered "Listen Here" while browsing with girlfriends in a bookstore in Spruce Pine, N.C. this past weekend. I was completely charmed by the book's contents. So much so, that while I and my four friends ran errands around town,I read selections from the book from the backseat of the car. We laughed and cried over the things I read, identifying so well with the stories, feelings and images of women's everyday lives which are so eloquently depicted in "Listen Here." This is a wonderful addition to any library of fine, deeply-felt writing. Men will enjoy it; women will celebrate it.
I am in the process of publishing my own book and hope that it will touch readers the way this book has touched me. Congratulations to Sandra Ballard and Patricia Hudson - you've produced a masterpiece. That's all I have to say before the season starts - a line which will make sense to you if you read "Listen Here."

If you have an interest in Appalachian cultre, history, literature, or women this is a must. I discovered this book while doing research on female Appalachian writers (a genre largely ignore by the literary communiy). These writers will touch your heart, bring a tear to your eye, bring a smile and make you laugh out loud. The best collection of Appalachian writing I have had the good fortune to come across. A wonderful way to experience Appalahia if you are a stranger to the culture, an even better way to remember it if you've left the area, and finally a wonderful stroll down memory lane if you are living it.