Texas Books

The mystery spins on! Who Is Emerald Monday? The suspicions are there.

Roz Denny Fox surely accomplished her objective in presenting a good character, as I couldn't stand Emmy-M. Her lack of moral conscience killed the romance and to wait nineteen years to do something about her lack of parentage? Nope, doesn't work.

I thoroughly understood the emotional conflicts of Emmy and Riley but not how they tended to work them out. Little Alanna was one big saving factor. She did tie the couple together with an innocence accorded only to the very young.

Must say Joleen Berber knows more than she is letting on and probably has a guilty conscience or a fear of being found out.

The mystery is still on the light side but a very easy reading of a bit of old intrigue. And poor Josey and Cleon hanging on for ten years with no marriage in sight? Another misspent youth!

Why did it take nineteen years and a murder mystery to finally get them to start straightening out their hang-ups?

Ah well - my ratings -- Roz Denny Fox - her writing - a 4
Emerald Monday -- a 2
Riley Gray Wolf -- a 3
Dexter Thorndyke -- a 5
Sheriff Logan Fielder -- a 4 [he's still a stinker]

Recommend for a follow-up read -- not one that will stay on my shelf

I have to agree with the previous reviewer who highly recommends this title. WHO IS EMERALD MONDAY? kept my rapt attention the entire way through. There were no points where lagging occurred and I found myself really liking the addition of Riley's daughter into the mix. She was quite a little charmer. Kudos to Roz Denny Fox for another great book. I couldn't put it down and read it in one night.

Keep up the great work!

When she read about the finding of the remains of her beloved Franny Mom, Emmy Monday had just lost her job in Shreveport. She decides to go home to Uncertain, Texas to show her support to her foster brother Jed, who is the prime suspect in Franny's unsolved two-decade-old murder. However, Emmy also returns home because she needs to know the identity of her biological parents.

Emmy learns that her once beloved Riley Gray has a precocious little girl and is a successful attorney. She turns to him for help with the local law and her parental search though she also tries to avoid him on an emotional level because her love for him still remains. As they work closely together, Emmy and Riley know they love each other even though they have not gotten any closer to her identity or solving the murder mystery.

WHO IS EMERALD MONDAY, the second novel in the Return to East Texas trilogy, is an exciting romantic suspense work. While spinning its own entertaining plot, the novel remains true to the characterization and story line of the first tale (see K.N. Casper's THE MILLIONAIRE HORSEMAN). Readers watch the relationships between Emmy, Riley, and his little girl Alanna unfold even with the overly prejudiced Sheriff looking at them as if they are lepers. Fans will anxiously await the final entry, A MAN OF HIS WORD as Eve Gaddy continues the story by starring the archeologist who dug up Franny's bones and the other foster sibling Will.

Harriet Klausner

Emerald Monday's custodian Mom Fran had often told the story of her discovery. Fran's best friend Joleen Berber had chanced upon Emmy at the back of an antique booth at Monday Trade Days, "Left like some garage sale item to be sold or traded." The infant was released from social services into Fran's care. Emmy adored her two foster brothers, Jed and Will. Their best friend Riley Gray Wolf had also stolen her heart, and when she was old enough, her kisses. Those years in Mom Fran's home had been the best years she'd ever known. They ended tragically, when Emmy was thirteen and Mom Fran left for work one day and never came home. Social Services abruptly jerked Emmy from school and the only home she'd ever known to dump her with strangers in Houston. After running away many times, the heartbroken Emily gave up on her foster brothers ever finding her.

Emmy holds an unrelenting fear of marrying and having children because of the gaps in her ancestry. She fears what lurks in her genes that could emerge in the next generation. Even simple things like moving to a new town and visiting a new doctor for the first time proves agonizing, as she must leave all those empty space in the family history section. As Emmy happens to read an old newspaper, thinking about the next place to move, she finds an article about her beloved Mom Fran. Apparently an archeologist searching for Indian relics found bones identified as Mom Fran's. Emmy heads back to Uncertain, the name the town aptly describing her past, present, and future.

Emmy almost immediately runs into Riley when she returns to Uncertain. Neither of them had been able to "forget the one that got away." Indeed, Riley fills every fantasy of what Emmy envisioned for him as an adult. His family descends from the Caddo Indians, but Riley has rejected both his family and his heritage following the death of his wife. His beautiful three-year-old daughter Alanna has never known any family but her father. As Emmy struggles to find her birth family, Riley longs to forget his. As dart playing and young Alanna draw Emma and Riley together again, the search for and the rejection of family becomes the driving tone behind their relationship.

Roz Denny Fox has clearly established her talent for well-written contemporary romances and fans will find her newest release, WHO IS EMERALD MONDAY?, yet another success. In the midst of discord and tension, a tender love story unfolds, as the clever plot heightens the already tense situation and keeps the suspense building. In addition to writing a terrific story, It's evident the author has intimate knowledge when it comes to exploring one's identity. The story line is interesting as it delves into issues of identity as well as providing readers with a strong romance. I admit to having a high regard for the beautiful Emily Monday with her rainbow tatoo, and to building great sympathy with her issues of identity as the book progresses. Highly recommended.

We started touring Texas wineries before we knew of his book, and we wish we had had it in the beginning. There is a short article on each winery, arranged by region, that includes basic information as address, phone, web site, etc as well as a small location map. We have found that the book makes the trip much more enjoybalbe knowing more of the background of the winery and the vintner. Some of these vintners are real characters as well as being hardy pioneers. The book begins with a general history of the wine industry in Texas and an introduction to the varietals grown in Texas. Although only briefly mentioned, T. V Munson from Dennison is very important to the wine industry history in Texas as well as France. The musemum in Dennison is worth a visit especially since its future is in doubt. If you want to tour the wineries, don't go without this book. It is not the complete history, but he certainly makes the trips more interesting.

This is by far the most thorough account of touring the Texas wine country you will find. I was completely impressed at the detail provided for each and every winery including a description each of the wines they produce. Also includes lodging and restaurant recommendations along the way.

There are many interesting things to do in Texas, but who knew visiting wineries might be one of them? I heard about this book from a friend and ordered two copies, one for me and one as a gift. Wes Marshall gives us an entertaining read, not just facts and figures. There are interesting little stories about the various wineries that make you not only want to try the wines, but visit the wine makers on your next vacation.

I highly recommend this book. You won't be disappointed.

This book is highly informative, entertaining, and (must be) the definitive guide book for visiting any or all Texas wineries.

The informative aspect is not limited to a textbook about Texas grapes, wines and wineries, though it certainly could be used that way. It is much more. The Introduction is an excellent summary for novice or seasoned wine lovers--telling us about varieties of Texas grapes, terminology people use to describe wines and wine-making, and, of course, much information about how to taste wine so you can compare one wine with another and converse with others about wines if that is something you want to do.

Marshall dishes out detail so neatly that you hardly realize how much you are learning while you are engrossed in the stories of the wine-makers, their passions, and their products. Some of the difficulties they describe make you want to cry, but most are more humorous than defeating.

It is not surprising that Robert Mondavi would be so complementary about Marshall and his book. I think it is a book that readers will want to tell their friends about before they buy Texas wine or visit the wineries. I will keep it handy when in Texas as a useful reference book.

One of the most important studies of Mex-Tex folklore, this book is excellent. Paredes describes the legends of Gregorio Cortes and then tracks down what can be historically verified about this border hero. He then provides numerous variants of the ballads sung about Cortes and completes his writing by looking at reasons why the ballad remains an important part of borderland culture. Paredes writes beautifully, and the book is a model for fine ethnographic writing. Tish Hinojosa's song "Con Su Pluma en Su Mano" is a tribute to Paredes, one of her professors.

This book is a fine study of Mexican-American folklore. Paredes takes a "literary ethnographic" approach to studying the ballad singer Gregorio Cortez. Paredes develops interesting and rich ways of applying literary analysis to the ballads. He also uses the study of history along with ethnographic inquiry to challenge the image of the Texas ranger as a knight in shining armor. For anyone interested in social history, ethnographic study, and literary approaches to studying culture, I would highly recommend seeing how this fine folklorist integrates all three approaches in a fascinating story. What is especially interesting is that he was taking this approach three decades ago.

This outstanding book gives a wonderful look at the rich culture that developed in the geographic region between Mexico and the United States. The people that lived on either side of the border were a mix of religious ideals, values and cultures joined by need,location and lack of powerful policitical presence from either nation.

This book outlines the similiarities and the differences among the people of this region and explains the rich forklore and presence of this unique culture ...not quite Texan and not quite Mexican.

One remarkable feature of the book is an explanation of the development of the Border Ballad called the "Corrido" as a means of transmitting news, building interest, spotlighting injustices and creating legends. It presents a detailed study of the various version of the focal "Corrido de Gregorio Cortez" as an example. The legend, the facts and the politics are given equal emphasis allowing the reader an overview of a different age.

The facts are well documented but much like the "corrido" itself is very entertaining and well researched by this talented author. It presents much needed background for Mexican-Americans whose cultures were seeded in that land that straddled the politics and sentiments of two nations. This book should be required reading in every high school in states along the US Mexico border!

A fascinating book that examines a border ballad about Gregorio Cortez in terms of the history and culture of the Texas-Mexico border region. The story is not well-know outside of Texas, although it was made into a film in 1988 starring Edward James Olmos. The book was very influential in promoting a greater depth in folklore studies and recognizing that ballads are a performance art and that aspects of the performance add meaning beyond the words.

Possum was General Haywood Hansell; Eagle, General Curtis LeMay.

Ralph Nutter was a student at Harvard Law when Pearl Harbour occurred. A few weeks later he was in the Army Air Corp headed to navigator school. (A few years later he was the only survivor of his 22 fellow graduates.) A few months later and he was in England as a navigator on a B-17. In an incident where he knew where they were and none of the others did, Eagle made him the lead navigator of the group.

As the European was was winding down, he was transferred to the Pacific and B-29's. Again he was made lead navigator. Eventually LeMay was sent to the Pacific and Nutter returned to work with him.

This book is both a story of the war, and a story of leadership in war time. His insights on LeMay are enlightening and impressed me. LeMay's general reputation is a lot lower than that held by Mr. Nutter.

Although we had to wait until after General LeMay's death, we finally find within "With the Possum and the Eagle" the real story of the leadership of General Curtis LeMay. If you're interested in the history of World War II and the significant role aviation had in both the European and Pacific campaigns, Ralph Nutter's account is difficult to put down. Nutter's close proximity to senior aviation leadership during the war gives the reader a rare glimpse into what those wartime leaders faced and the decisions they had to make vis-a-vis both logistical and environmental constraints to operations. A superb account.

Ralph Nutter writes with extraordinary candor and clarity about a period in our history when he and others of his generation faced terrible odds in the struggle to save the world from Fascism. His account is as compelling as it is straightforward and unvarnished. A must-read for anyone fascinated by the true meaning of courage under fire.

Reads like a good, fast paced novel. Exciting, building chronicle of the air war over Europe and the Pacific.

Explains with starteling clarity the cockpit horrors that left no alternatives to the area bombing of Dresden and Tokyo. Makes it very clear that the A-Bombs were redundant and unnecessary.

A terribly real sense of our "losing years" and the desperate process of a war of attrition. The author, being one of only two survivors of his navigator's class of 22, lets us glimpse the terror and the heroism of an air war where victory would finally go to the combatant who had more young men to "expend"...

Dan Jenkins is at his best when he's making fun of himself. You Gotta Play Hurt appears to be based on Jenkins' time at Sports Illustrated. I've heard the characters are based on very real folks. It's funny...and most of it apears to be true!!

Simply the funniest book I've ever read, while still ringing true to life. The picture of big time college football is more accuarate today than when the book was published, and the new corporate face of publishing is a vicious satire of what sportswriting has become.

Only read this is you want to laugh you a@@ off!

I never wanted this book to end and couldn't stop myself from finishing it. I received many strange looks from people as I grabbed my side and laughed out loud at Dan Jenkin's comic masterpiece. I couldn't help myself. Adding to the hilarity is the fact that the events and characters are all too real in the world of sports. The puritanical may be offended. Swearing and sex are a part of big time sports. I'm jealous of everyone, sports fan and non sports fan, who will be reading this book for the first time. You will not be disappointed.

This book is an amazement to me; purely because I don't know how Dan Jenkins keeps coming up with this hilarious stuff. But perhaps I do. As one of the world's best sports writers, he's been everywhere and done everything. He's seen the sports world for what it is -- a lot of fun and excitement to be around when the game is involved; and fall down laughing funny when those around it begin to think that it all actually matters. If you are one of those who confuses sports with reality - don't read this book. It will probably just tick you off. If you are one of us who enjoys sports and actually have lifes -- READ THIS BOOK. You will never watch a sportscast the same way again. If you are one of us who enjoys learning about the ins and outs of big time sports and entertainment, and don't mind the generous portions of sexy humor and humorous sex that Mr. Jenkins does so well -- you've probably already read this book several times, just like me. WARNING!!! DO NOT LEND THIS BOOK TO LIKE MINDED FOLKS (MALE OR FEMALE). YOU'LL NEVER GET IT BACK.

This work by Mary Deborah Petite provides very clear answers to one of the most myth filled stories of Western America. It does not cause disappointment for the reader, but by providing a clear look at the facts actually enhances the story and the sacrifice of the willing and determined participants. It is concise, full of information, and a real pleasure to read. This reader is looking forward to future works by Ms Petite.

I had the good fortune to hear Ms. Petite give a lecture on The Alamo recently and purchased a copy of her newly released book immediately afterward. I was impressed by the manner in which the book dispels many of the myths surrounding that battle and the Texas Revolution, replacing them with the facts which are as interesting, if not more so. Most of the facts and some of the myths were entirely new to me.

Many of the subjects dealt with are very moving and lose none of their passion in the telling: Travis letters of determination to stand and die and calls for aid; the story of Juan Seguin, a Mexican, but no less a true fighter for Texas independence fighting along side men like Travis, Bowie and Crockett; the horrible massacres of men on both sides. I also found a lighter side to the book, including references to the famous "Yellow Rose of Texas," and some well known participants' fondness for opium and for women.

The format of the book is well suited for its apparent purposes: to enlighten and entertain. The facts and the legends selected appear to have been choosen with the utmost care, including some of the latest research. The author has managed to pair down what must have been a vast amount of material and include those facts most valuable to telling the story, and those most enjoyable to read.

When studying in school and trying to remember dates,names and events to receive a decent grade on History Tests, this would have been the ideal book for me. It's all here compiled in a readiable story form that brings the characters and dates and ordeals that all went through in a fashion that makes it very interesting and all too true. Your heart can't help but go out to all that were connected in this important part of American History, the good with the bad. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is just interested in wanting to read about the Alamo to those who want to know the actual facts. Kudos to the Author.

My cousin is the author of this eloquent book. He even wrote me into the story. Aside from all of that, Arturo has seen the destruction of the Texas and especially South Texas brushland as bit by bit of it has been rootplowed to make farmland and now Colonias and subdivisions. As young adults we watched the brush piles lit and the sky look like the fires of hell as wildlife habitat was destoyed. If anyone could write this book with the soul of one who mourns destruction, it is Arturo--he lived it.

This book tells you how the brushlands of south Texas used to be, but there is still hope of saving it for future generations. The author tells his story in such a beautiful way that the reader can actually see the brushlands.

Sr. Longoria's words transport the reader into the brushlands and into the cultural and political climate of S. Texas. He eloquently expresses what I can only feel about the many values of our wild places. A career in investigative reporting serves the author well: his explanations of why the brushlands have disappeared provide essential understanding for anyone hoping to reverse that trend. It's an exciting book, hard to put down. It is my hope that decision-makers will adopt the author's tenets on how to proceed in imparting an essential love of and respect for wild places in the hearts of our children.

I was pretty familiar with the history of this subject, but was more interested in the archeological finds. For instance, in the world of shooting today the 50-70 is all but forgotten yet there were more 50-70 cases and cartridges found than any other caliber. The thing about some of the long shots the hunters made during the siege is that the authors point out that the hunters had no doubt tested their prowess at different targets at different distances, so had probably already "marked" many of the shots and distances. Good reference for anyone studying the battle, I am going to the site this summer, and read this as a preface...Ivery

Best book on the Adobe Walls battle available. Covers every aspect from the structures, to the archaeology, people (both anglos and native american), the battle, the occupations, etc. Great info on the archaeology, including ammunition, guns, dinnerware (plates etc), blacksmithing,etc. I learned much about the battle, the times, the people, the construction of the trading post, who, why, when, how.
Highest recommendation!

This is one of the best books on Adobe Walls, ( the other being the life of Billy Dixon). It takes you all the way through, from start to finish. The last half of the book is about the archeology that was done in the 70's. It gives a real insite into the hide hunters and store keepers lives during the six month's at the Walls.

This is a fascinating book about a subject too few people know anything about. The book is extremely well written by a very thoughtful author. It's history but it reads like a novel. Excellent!

I re-read this book not long ago, and on a recent trip to Belgium, I made a point of taking a day to visit the places where the author was active during the war. This book made it all come alive.

I am only 3/4 through in 5 hours last evening. Will continue this evening! A page turner, and interesting learning: as Dr. Bodson learns, we too, learn. Recommend for ALL readers! Dr. Bodson was a professor of mine in college and his writing is as he speaks - concise and not to be forgotten after a first read (or listen.)

I borrowed the book from a family friend and could not put it down! I hung on every suspenseful turn. Mr. Bodson's account was brutally honest and extremely informative. I learned a great deal about the true face of the war and many detailed events I never would have imagined. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in underground tactics or a love of war stories. An incredible journey!

Molly Baker and Carson Rhodes are perfect for each other. Carson knows that--has know it since he first saw Molly.

But Molly is engaged to the wrong man, an engagement she breaks just before she and Carson head north to take pictures and write copy for a project together. As they travel, Molly finds more to like about the talented Carson.

This is a darling love story that warms the heart and makes the reader feel good.

Molly and Carson's friendship and eventually love begins to grow with each mile they travel in "All the Way from Texas." Carolyn Brown makes the reader want to hop in the car and continue the travels with her in her many romances and historical romances with Avalon Books.

If you ever wanted to read a story about traveling, then you should reach for this book. From the first page all the way to the last you will be surrounded by a road trip that Carolyn Brown has given her readers moments to pause as they travel from Texas to Canada and back. Even a trip to Alaska as Carolyn paints us the whale with the snow and gray skies in the back ground. It was breathtaking when we read about Niagara Falls but when the couple get to Alaska, the moments of pause and beauty are picturesque. Ms Brown delivers another wonderful story from the beginning about the 'cow patty' to Carson losing a bet at pool to cooking breakfast. This book is terrific. The conversation between Molly and Carson draws you right in their midst.
I loved the part where every time they traveled and stopped, they were asked where they were from by the difference in the way they spoke. Who doesnt't get that when they travel?
From the long awaited kiss after the mind bantering while they were eating the Taco's was wonderful. Not to mention how their muscles ached from all their traveling. You are there with the two every step of the way.
Beth and Darrin deserved to be together. A lot of people like that in this world. Molly never needed anyone like that man in her life.
Carson and Molly will be characters in my mind always whenever I travel the open roads.
Ms Brown shared the open road in picturesque beauty with the characters and moments that she wrote in this another wonderful book that deserves a ten plus. It's a keeper!!!