Montana Books

This book is a 2007 compilation of a selection of 11 popular stories from two books from the same author that are now out-of-print, Big Sky Ghosts, volumes I (1993: it has the red cover) and II (1994, the green cover). I didn't buy this book, as I checked it out in the bookstore and already own the two originals.

The stories in Montana Ghost Stories are:

- Things that Go Bump in Bannack
- The Ghost who Didn't Like the Rolling Stones and other Spooks at the University of Montana, Missoula
- Ghosts of the Little Bighorn Battlefield
- This Property is Condemned! Spooky Condos at the Big Sky Resort
- The Gracious Lady of the Grand Street Theater, Helena
- Spooks Galore in Mining City Mansions, Butte
- The Man in the Photograph, Great Falls
- Virginia City, Ghost Capital of Montana
- Ghostly Garnet
- The Haunting of the MSU Theater, Bozeman
- The Lonely Lady and Other Ghosts of Chico Hot Springs

If you can find the two original books, go for them, as they have additional stories not included in this edition. If you have them already, you don't need to buy Montana Ghost Stories, because there is nothing in here that isn't in the original books. If you don't have the original two books, this book is the next best thing, as it has some of the best stories from the originals. In any case, this book is an enjoyable read for those into Montana and regional ghost story collections. My favorite story from both original books is in this book: "This Property is Condemned!"...the condos are gone now, but Munn relates a really eerie story that connects the weird energy of a mountain and the personal experiences of a man left alone to inspect the troubled structures.

This beautifully-produced book is a condensation of Debra Munn's long out-of-print Big Sky Ghosts, volumes 1 and 2. Munn did an impressive amount of research and presents a convincing case for paranormal activity at many of Montana's haunted sites. Settle down with a hot cup of tea and enjoy!

Rancher Wade Garrett's mail-order bride showed up with a boulder-sized bump on her head, an unrecognizable ID and a case of amnesia. Rachel O'Riley didn't know who she was- or that she'd agreed to a marriage in name only! But much to Wade's delight she didn't want a pretend marriage. Rachel wanted Wade to be a real husband to her, and he fell for his beautiful bride-to-be like a ton of bricks. And just when he knew waiting for their wedding night was going to be impossible, he uncovered a secret that changed everything... The woman in his arms wasn't Rachel O'Riley.

This is where two women's lives have become hopelessly entangled -- and only love will set them free!
Rancher Wade Garrett places an ad for a mail-order bride and Rachel O'Riley anwsers it!
Wade is called by the authorities that Rachel has been in a train wreck and they find that she has amnesia.
Rachel has agreed to a marriage in name only as Wade has no need for a wife, only a mother for his son.
As Wade watches Rachel interact with his son and also gets told what he is doing wrong in handling his son, he begans to reluctantly fall in love with his bride to be.
The amnesia complicates everything as Wade realizes Rachel may not be Rachel and she may also be married.
Really a neat story -- and is #1 to "Identity Swap", #2 being Harlequin Intrigue #611 - Stranger In His Arms by the same author.

I found Montana Women especially engaging for its portrayal of the ongoing acts of violence that take place in the lives of women--some so subtle that they are taken for granted--and for the characters' strength and courage to thrive nonetheless. Volk's skill at rendering characters makes them memorable, believable, and, oh, so likeable. My heart even went out to Buck and his struggle to outrun the demons constantly at his heels. He is so credible, he almost steals the show. But these female characters can hold their own.

Montana Women is a beautifully written novel. Ms. Volk's portrayal of the female psyche is stunning, making her characters remarkably real. I especially love Etta. Even Buck, the story's "bad guy," is so vulnerable in Ms. Volk's hands that one can't help but forgive his humanness.

McGuane's use of the language and astonishing situation construction made this book a source of constant wonder and intense interest. Loved it. He's almost a Montana-based Patrick O'Brien.

Karen Robards did a good job of telling her story about a family in the deep south in 1769. Most of us have little knowledge of the eveyday life during that time so Robards did a good job of researching her subject. Religion plays a big part in the family life of a southern preacher. His four daughters are who the story centers around. Susannah is the key person who shows southern hospitality and sweet innocence in the matter of the heart. The scene is ripe for her to be swept off her feet by a young dashing--reprobate. Robards spins her yarn telling how these two opposites' paths cross and love blossoms. This was a quick and interesting read. It has a wonderful twist on the prince charming subject. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning about southern comfort, history, sibling rivalry and the rags to riches theme.

John Kenneth Galbraith called this book "a source of first-rate information for the layman and a fine cautionary tale for bankers."

This fascinating book about the world of big-time banking is by the same author who published previously a study of major oil companies (The Seven Sisters) and the trade in international arms (The Arms Bazaar).

While this book was first published a while ago now, in the early eighties, I find that most of the material is not dated. The machinations of the world's "superbankers" is about the same today as this author expertly describes.

Recommended for all readers interested in finance and business, particularly on a world scale.

Although part of this book is out of date, it is still an interesting look into the dealings of the international banking community.
The author begins with a survey of the most important events in world monetary matters: the creation of the big banks in the Middle Ages, the crash of 1929, the foundation of the IMF, floating exchange rates, the power of OPEC.
The second part are comments and analyses of events in the nineteen seventies and eighties of the past century:
- The New York City debt crisis (as Walter Wriston put it: We have also our LDC's : our least developed cities)
- the recycling of the OPEC money surplus (Paul Erdman: What the Arabs cleverly have done is to put the New York banks in the front row of risk. In other words, if Zaire goes kaput, Chase Manhattan is in trouble.)
- the credit card business (one Korean business man built a whole apartment block on one card)
- OPEC: Milton Friedman predicted that the OPEC cartel would soon break up.
An interesting read, not only for historians.

It's a shame that Roger & Janice didn't verify the spelling of last names. My Grandfather is Hector Deschamps & my father is Ernie Deschamps. Not Deschamp as written throughout the book. Dad's Palomino horse was Rocky, Chappy was the bay. But I must say that Aunt Stella made the best mashed potatoes this side of the Mississippi!

This book stars one of the last of the real cowboys, who lived on the cusp between the old West and our world of today. How could he know, as he herded cattle, broke broncos, befriended nomadic Indians and led pack trains into the Montana high country that his way of life was passing away forever? The author portrays nature and draws the panorama of Big Sky country with such skill you think you are there, discovering hidden wild berries, fording rivers of broken ice, and feeling the spring wind against your face. The finely drawn characters could only exist in this mountain-man world where the object was survival, and they wouldn't have it any other way. The twist ending reaches around and tugs your heart strings with compassion for this hero of the real Old West. Anyone who enjoys authentic stories of real "cowboys and Indians" would love this book!

The PREVENTION Get Thin, Get Young Plan

Look Fit, Firm, Fabulous and Younger in no time!It's true...you can Fight Fat with Fun!

Forget about deprivation-lose 10, 20, 30 pounds or more all while having FUN!. The PREVENTION Get Thin Get Young Plan shows you how to turn weight-loss into an adventure - a journey of self-discovery that leads to a slimmer, sexier, more self-confident you!

In just 12 pleasure-filled weeks, you'll feel and look years younger! You'll discover:

* Dozens of fun, exciting, no-sweat ways to shed pounds that don't feel like working out. You'll laugh your way to thin in no time!
* How to actually lose--not gain--pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's. This simple method has been scientifically proven.
* The five-step make-more-time for yourself program and still lose weight. You deserve a strategy like this.
* PLUS dozens more tips that work-516 pages worth!

This book is a great step by step guide to weight loss and an increase of health. It goes through the weeks with you to help you to not only lose weight, but also feel more healthy. The common sense answers, that most of us do not pay attention to, are encouraged in this book. It will give you ideas on the best foods to eat, exercises to do, and lifestyle changes to make. The main focus is on living healthy and therefore becoming thin and younger feeling.

Danielle Summers and her son, Cody are having problems on their ranch - Montana.
Caleb Johnson wants her land. He has a dream of a summer resort. This man is in his seventies and has Money.

Caleb has hired Chase McEnroe to come clean up Grizzly Creek so that it can be stocked with fish for fishing parties. Caleb also wants the hot springs in the foothills. But they belong to Dani.

Caleb suggests to Chase that he might seduce Dani into selling.
But the attraction between them turns into more than desire. They still make to the floor even though Dani cannot trust Chase. [What a crock]
Mistrust - misunderstanding and confusion tends to be Dani's feelings. Then, after seven years, Blake Summers shows up, he claims to want to get to know his son. This is weird since he wanted Dani to have an abortion.

Who can Dani trust? Blake has been gone too long. Chase is Caleb's partner and always showing up on her land. She can only depend on herself [yeah! right]

Very good story - a bit of action - a bit of tension - excellent characters -
Definitely Recommended --m

A cowboy competes with a ranch owner, hoping to get her to sell
her property. But in the process, more than the heat of ire grows
between them. Fun and fast. No morbid conclusions--thank you, Ms. Jackson.

Ayako Ishigaki's wonderful fictionalized memoir is revealing for it's sometimes subtle, sometimes angry, and sometimes tender treatment of the both the culture she was born into and the culture she experienced in the U.S. It's also a remarkable historical document that presents views of Japanese women that may startle the reader. The writing is fluid and engaging. You can read it easily in a day or two.

I picked this book up on a recommendation from a friend interested in anything Japanese and I'm quite happy I did. If you're sick and tired of reading about geisha, or if you like geisha but are interested in expanding your horizons and reading about the lives and struggles of other Japanese women who haven't been given a story, you owe it to yourself to read this book.

Ayako Ishigaki gives voice in her memoir to post war Japanese women, fighting against the stereotypes and mixed messages sent to them via eastern vs western ideals. What's most intriguing about this is that I can still see this struggle played out today in the way female characters are portrayed in certain manga and anime; it gives a lot of context to modern day stories, and shows just how far Japanese women still have to go to be portrayed as humans and not mere objects of desire/ fetish.

Lest you think this story sounds too high brow, never fear: its easy to understand and read on the subway or after a hard day of work. The writing is simple, clean, and flows well. If nothing else, the tidbits of Japanese culture and traditions (post and pre war) and the personal ancedotes of the author interjected in the story will stay with you long after the last page.

Enjoy *(^_^)*

Reading the book, "The West that Was" was absolutely wonderful! Mr. Leakey tells his life story of being a real cowboy and all the experiences he had in trying to make a living. It tells of encounters with Indians and cattle drives. It is absolutely fabulous in my opinion, if the reader is interested in real Western history accounts. I'm very glad that I chose to purchase it and I will treasure it. We don't have people living who are like Mr. Leakey any more. I wish I would have had the pleasure of meeting him before he died. He had so much to tell! Reading this book makes one realize what a hard life the cowboy actually had, but how they loved it!

I had this book on the shelf for years before I finally picked it up to read. It didn't take long once I started. This is the type of first-person history that we should have more of. It is the story of the life of a man who witnessed much that was worth preserving and it was written with the assistance of someone who knew how to bring that story to life. The story is that of a man named John Leaky who becomes important to the reader but it is what he bears witness to that is important for everyone. It is the story of the life of a cowboy. It starts in Texas before the Civil War. Mr. Leaky shares with us the history his grandfather shared with him and we get an interesting glimpse of early settlements in the Lone Star State. Comanches, Texas Rangers, cattle rustling, border incidents, etc fill the first third of the book.

As the author becomes a young man, he takes a trip north herding cattle and eventually ends up in the western Dakota/eastern Montana area where he spends the rest of his life. Since this is the area I've lived in for the last 23 years, I found this part of particular interest. It can be of interest to anyone else who enjoys the history of the US cowboy. For those familiar with this part of the country, Mr. Leaky tosses out a lot of names of people he knew and worked with or for. That adds a great deal value to geneologists and local historians. As I was reading this at the local gym, I was able to go over and show someone the name of his father and grandfather.

This is a very engaging work of history and can help answer the question, what ever happened to the cowboys of the Old West?