Oklahoma Books

In Betty Louise Bell's Faces in the Moon she takes a Native American story away from the stereotypes, creating a narrative of the struggle of Cherokee women. Her story beautifully weaves the themes of poverty, self-identity, and tradition through a spiral of time and character. The narrator, Lucie, revisits the memories of her life while facing the impending death of her mother. Because Faces in the Moon, is largely autobiographical, it is obvious through the emotion that Bell is able to draw out detail and layers through her storytelling.
Bell uses the development of character to explore the themes in her book. She uses the character Gracie, mother of the narrator, to demonstrate the theme of poverty. Gracie overcompensates where she can as an effect of her life in poverty. When Lucie reflects back on her wedding this is demonstrated, "She came to my wedding. She stepped our to f the cab dressed for the event, a tea-length multilayered turquoise chiffon, her hair freshly peroxided and tightly permed. Her shoes and purse had, obviously, not taken the first dye and were now in the `anyone's guess' color scheme" (Bell 49). She then goes on to explain how Gracie spoke loudly of her Cherokee mother while shoveling shrimp into her purse.
That scene also demonstrates the characterization of Lucie and the identity she is trying to escape. When her mom shows up at the wedding she represents all that Lucy is trying to run away from, poverty and being Cherokee. The only time Lucie seems to be comfortably in touch with her native self is when she is around her Great Aunt Lizzie. Lizzie represents a traditional foundation and encompasses native ways through story telling and her opinions. She doesn't hide her Indian self, and therefore makes her home a safe place for Lucie to come and embrace her own Indian self.
The characterizations of the main characters and secondary characters such as the abusive boyfriend of Gracie, J.D., and the pesky landlady Mabel, are layered into the story through the use of a circular/spiral form of story telling. By using a non-linear method of storytelling Bell effectively captures not only the reality of life, but also celebrates a traditional way of Native American storytelling. Bell takes the main character and shows the different places she has been in life through flashbacks, fantasy, and real time description.
Because of the autobiographical nature of the book her personal connection to the story is quite apparent in the details that reveal the author's passion. It is though the fine details of the book such as capturing language of the time and place, descriptive detail of the characters, and the raw association to plot, that her passion is revealed. She captured the difficulties of growing up poor in a time where there was no advocate for Native Americans much less a female Cherokee child who is abused. The passion is felt regarding these issues in such a way that takes reader often out of their comfort zone. This is discomfort is necessary to fully understand the emotion of the author's story.
Faces in the Moon, is a real Cherokee story. One cannot read it and expect to get a romanticized version of a Native American life complete with feathered dances and the baking of bread. Instead the reader is taken out of their comfort zone to understand the life of one Cherokee woman dealing with poverty, self-identity and traditions. When reading Faces in the Moon prepare to be moved to the point of tears, laughter, and an appreciation of Betty Louise Bell's masterful storytelling.
Works Cited
Bell, Betty Louise, Faces in the Moon. University of Oklahoma: Norman. 1994.

this book is great, if you want a good book that gives a realistic view of native americans in Kentucky, you should read "A Ridgerunners Legacy" by Pauline Collins, it is really good and historically accurate. There are very few novels on the subject that are unbiased and this is one of them, check it out! It is hard to find but you can get it on publishamerica.com.

Betty Louise Bell has exposed personal and cultural demons of her protagonist with this novel which explores the pain of childhood and the value of family and cultural heroes. She defys the stereotypes of twentieth century Native Americans, often represented in the novels of some popular Indian writers. You tell them, Betty!

Faces in the Moon
by Betty Louise Bell
University of Oklahoma Press, 1995
Reviewed by Carol Carlson

Betty Bell was born in 1949 and received her Ph.D from Ohio State University. She is a Native American literary scholar and novelist and is associated with the English Department of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Bell is working on a new novel, White Houses.

Betty Louise Bell describes this book as "autobiographical fiction ... except I have nine siblings and my mother was still alive when the book was written. Otherwise, it's pretty much from my life." (1) Faces in the Moon tells the story of three generations of Cherokee women through the eyes of Lucie Evers. Lucie is the daughter of Gracie Evers. Gracie or Momma is a half-blood Cherokee who along with her sister Rozella or Auney speak of their stories of the past while Lucie listens. Lizzie is Lucie's great aunt who also tells Lucie stories, but she gives Lucie a different history and sense of her heritage that allows Lucie to feel pride in her and her people. Lizzie truly speaks to Lucie where her mother and aunt reminisce and allow her to listen. "I was raised on the voices of women. Indian women...And I know their stories have grounded my sympathies, speaking through my spirit without time or place or will, Momma, Auney, Lizzie: they come alone or together." (Bell 5).

In Cherokee and Native tradition, Bell weaves in and out of the past and present developing the story with the women's tales. This method allows for wonderful character development and shows how each character past and present has been affected by one another and their surroundings. Lucie is the main character of the book and it is through her voice, past and present, the reader gets to know everyone else. I appreciate this method of storytelling; it allows the reader to truly understand the emotions felt by Lucie. As she remembers hearing her mother and aunt she says, "They spent their lives telling stories--the same stories, sitting in the same places, giving the same answers, warning children with a shake of the head and the tease of memory. Always finding, in the beginning or summing up, a detail undiscovered or a cruel motive revealed" (Bell 4). Lucie is able to appreciate and understand her own history through telling these stories herself.

Most of the story takes place in impoverished, Southwest Oklahoma as Lucie gets called back home to deal with the sickness of her mother, Gracie. But going back is a struggle for Lucie because she has left home and the life of her mother in order to leave her past behind and start new. Lucie's past has been filled with despair, neglect, poverty, and abuse, but also with the great stories of her ancestors that Lucie. Life with her mother has been hard because of the mistreatment by her mother and her mother's boyfriends. However, Lucie speaks about the mistreatment as if it is just the way things are. Then. through the stories of the past, the reader glimpses what her mother's life has been like--how poor they have been, living in an abandoned car during the Depression and then losing her own mother at age three. Consequently, the reader sees that Gracie does not know any better. Lucie has been abandoned by her mother, who had been also abandoned at a young age by her mother and left to fend for her sister and herself. Lucie wants to break this cycle. As a result, she initially denies her past to create a better future only to realize her past is what has allowed her to have better achievements. She goes to college and becomes a college professor, but it isn't enough.

The main idea of this book is about dealing with the past so that as life comes full circle each person carries that past with him/her when creating a future. Many people try to escape, but Lucie realizes that what has happened to her as a child does not compare to what has happened to her people, the Cherokees, and that these are what shape her as a person. "I ain't asking you to tell me who I think I am. I am the great-granddaughter of Robert Henry Evers, I am the granddaughter of Hellen Evers Jeeters, I am the daughter of Gracie Evers, the niece of Rozella Evers, and the grandniece of Lizzie Sixkiller Evers." Lucie makes this statement at the Oklahoma Historical Society. She is there to protest the death certificate of her grandmother where on the line for father it reads "none." Lucie knows who she is, an Indian woman.

Faces in the Moon is a wonderful, emotional story that touches the hearts of all its readers, young and old. Lucie shows that the cycle of life, no matter how much a person may want to forget it, does not have to consume a person: it can shape a person, making him/her who s/he is. I recommend reading this book, and for anyone who lives his/her life according to the affects of the past, this book may offer some healing advice.

An outstanding book; I loaned mine to someone, can't remember to whom. Will buy another one. Two books, including Comanches by TR Fehrenbach, are too similar in their portrayal of the Amerindian to suggest that the authors are prejudiced. I am convinced that Denig called it as he saw it. The writing might seem pompous but that's the way authors wrote in those days. However, the importance of these books (Five Indian Tribes and Comanches) is to help Americans understand what is going on in Iraq today. Talk about relevance. Go back and read the NY Times article about the five Iraqi tribes in the immediate area protecting Saddam before he was captured. It is absolutely uncanny to see the parallels between the Amerindians in the 1800's and the Iraqi tribes today. During the time when I lived in that part of the world (Turkey, Syria, Iraq) my first thought was, my God, these are just like the Indians I grew up with in Williston, North Dakota. Absolutely uncanny. So, I wouldn't waste my time arguing about the picture these authors paint about these people; I would rather use these books to help understand and explain what is going on in Iraq today.

I entirely agree with the other reviewer that Denig was very prejudiced about Native Americans. For me, the value in the book - and it is great - is to have rare information about these tribes before their near-disappearance. Denig seems to save his harshest criticisms for the tribes that were most independent, and his stories about these groups give us a glimpse into their lives. I would very much recommend this book to people who are interested in the early 19th century world of the Upper Missouri.

This is a SUPERB work. The information is accurate beyond all possible doubt. It, like The Kiowas (Civilization of the American Indian Series) , The Indians of Texas: From Prehistoric to Modern Times (Texas History Paperbacks) , Scalp Dance: Indian Warfare on the High Plains, 1865-1879 , Life Among the Apaches (Bison Book) , Nine Years Among the Indians, 1870-1879: The Story of the Captivity and Life of a Texan Among the Indians , and also Three Years Among the Comanches: The Narrative of Nelson Lee, the Texas Ranger form the perfect antidote to the deluge of Politically Correct hogwash "Fiction-as-Fact" non-history books out there ( like Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee ) and absurd, totally unrealistic motion pictures a la "Dances With Wolves".
It is amazing that when it comes to books written by eye witnesses who lived during the time of the "wild" tribes, everyone today seems to think they're highly biased to say the least. I mean, logically, what would an eye witness know?! Take as "fact" what some present-day leftist, bleeding heart hack has written instead! This is the illogic that plagues ALL well-programmed Politically Correct zombies out there.
Now, if you want your eyes opened up WIDE concerning actual, accurate Frontier history - including the activities, life styles, and aggressiveness of the various tribes of Plains Indians, simply pluck up the courage to read the titles I've mentioned above....including this book, of course!
And, for all the PCers out there, I DARE YOU to read this and ALL the other titles I've listed in this review, and THEN see if you can honestly say that this author was biased ( unreasonably ) against the Amer-Indians of the Wild Frontier. Also, after reading all these books, see if you can sit through another viewing of Dances ( or should I say, DUNCES ) with Wolves and not feel like its an ordeal!

i have heard alot about the man and the book from many people. so i decided to buy the book and read it myself. i must say that for a person that lived with the indians for such a long time it seems to me that denig could not overcome his prejudiced ideas of a civilized or "savage" people and although he describes the manners of the indians in much detail he speaks about them with great arrogance, prejudice and contemp much of the time. to call the indians savages, heathens, and some more contemptuous words like these after living with them for years and marrying one of them, does not show much for the man. one should take his information with much prudence and caution.

My hardback copy of this work was printed in 1977 and it shows the wear. It's tried repeatedly to sneak back out of view on my bookshelves, but I always hunt it down and bring it back to the front where it belongs. I've referred to it thousands of times in my researches, in addition to reading through it entirely on several occasions. The data concerning the openings and closings of the individual forts, the reasoning for the need for each and the mentions of events and units involved are all invaluable.

This work has gone out of print several times through the years, but it always comes back and pays its own way for new readers.

If you love the history of the west you need to own this book.

If you only care about the opening and closing dates, who it was named after, and a one sentence reason as to why it was established, then this bare bones book is for you. Do not expect any other information OF IMPORTANCE here. No history of important engagements near or involving each fort is given, which I find incredibly negligent.

Examples: NO mention is made of the Fetterman Massacre in the entry on Fort Phil Kearny, or the Wagon Box Fight for that matter.
NO mention is made of the Hayfield Fight in the entry on Fort C.F. Smith.
NO mention is made of the two huge attacks on Julesberg, CO by a thousand Cheyennes in which the town was burned to the ground just outside Fort Sedgwick. I could go on.

Don't expect ANY information on important engagements the various forts may have been a part of. However if you are really curious as to whether the fort was turned over to the Dept. of the Interior on its abandonment, then this book is for you. That fact is always listed. This book has exactly 4 photographs and 5 drawings.

Though out of print, I recommend Herbert M. Hart's western fort series: "Pioneer Forts of the West", "Forts of the Far West", and "Old Forts of the Northwest". These books have hundreds of B&W photos, detailed histories of engagements the forts partook in, as well as opening and closing dates, and a diagram of almost every fort discussed. You could just pick up the whole series (used) for less than the price of this book.

In the introduction to this book, Frazer refers to his compilation of military forts as "brief biographies." Based on that description, the book is an excellent reference tool in identifying by name, location, length of service, and summary purpose all the known forts located west of the Mississippi River up to 1898.

The book is arranged by state, with forts listed therein alphabetically. Although Frazer warns that locations are only approximate, they are still given with enough detail to place them fairly accurately on a topo map. When forts changed locations even by just a few miles (Ft. Hall, ID, for example), both forts are described. This is basically a listing, and most of the forts are detailed only briefly; when important events occurred, however, they are mentioned (Ft. Cobb, OK, for example, being attacked by Indians on October 23, 1862). Even forts that were unnamed or in existence for only a few months are included.

I have used this book often, either for quick identification or as a stepping stone to more detailed investigations. The bibliography is one of the most thorough I've seen on the subject (36 pages long). The index is also very comprehensive, containing all the names and places mentioned in the text. As a reference tool for identifying forts and gleaming a brief account of their "biographies," Frazer's book is superb.

This book names the forts, presidios, and posts west of the Mississippi River to 1898, and not only does the author give the location but he gives some historical facts. If I had the money, I would take this book, get me a good travel map and visit each of the places mentioned! Last month I went to several Texas forts, an old Presidio and an Arizona fort. The book was invaluable!

Although it has been a few years since I have read this book in its entirety, I have continued to reference it and as I am in a book reviewing mood, thought I would write this one up. First published in 1963, this book has become a bible of sorts for all those interested in the everyday details of frontier army life. Dr. Rickey, who once served as historian at the Little Bighorn battlefield, benefitted from actually talking to many old veterans of the late Indian Wars period (1880s/1890s) who were still alive when this was being compiled in the 1950s. Beyond that, he drew from diaries, contemporary newspapers and regimental records to give the reader a very complete view of typical frontier army life. Chapters detail officers, non-coms, enlisted men, army discipline, the recruit depots, life at army posts, field service, combat, etc. All of this adds up to an intimate portrait of the hum-drum and the exciting, the trivial and important, all the events and places that made up the frontier army experience. Also included is a nice map of the West, showing the location of key forts and battle sites. Photographs of soldiers and army posts are intermingled throughout the book. Many of these I do not recall encountering elsewhere.

A few years back, a now-retired NPS hsitorian who worked at the Little Bighorn as well as Fort Davis told me that he was on his second copy of this book. Over the years, he had literally worn out the first one as he constantly referenced it on an almost daily basis. No higher compliment as to its value can I make.

This book really enlightens the reader with interesting personal narratives. The book also dispells the myth of a "John Wayne, She wore a Yellow Ribbon" frontier Army. It picks up from the end of the Civil War and leads you straight into the Spanish American War. A wonderful book for those interested in in the daily lives of the soldiers form typical daily lives to military justice. This book also helped with my summer Interpretation job at Fort Mackinac. Michigan were we portray 1880's U.S. Army.

As I cast about for research material for an upcoming book, several American Indian War experts recommended Don Rickey's book as the "Bible" on the frontier soldier's life. I am not an Indian War buff, but I can tell you this book is chocked full of details and insights that are not likely to be found collected in any other single volume.

The book is broken down into logical chapters, from a description of the Western troubles to the typical routines of the soldiers' discharges. We are treated to what might be some of the last in-depth interviews with Indian War veterans and, as has been pointed out, we begin to get a feel of the frontier soldier's daily life as 99 percent boredom and physical labor and 1 percent terror.

Many books have been written around the edges of this subject, and several were awful in their historical value. But this is a solid history, well-researched and full of interesting anecdotes to boot!

This book is filled with interesting anecdotes and tidbits of information. However, the lack of footnotes and documentation for much of the content is horrendous.

while i enjoyed this book as a whole, i am unclear about lobo's feelings for lainie. his ex-lover is part of a gang that is holding lainie's sister for ransom. the first reference to angela and lobo's romance is when lobo thinks "we were not in love, we used each other". then after she dies, he thinks "i loved her, did she still love me?" then when lainie asks lobo if he still loved angela, he says they had a thing, but it didni"t amount to much. i also thought his grief over angela's death was excessive. it read more he had lost the love of his life. which is it?

This was the first House of Winslow book I ever read, purchased from a mail-order book club unaware that it was part of a series; up until then I had only read 2 books in the Cheney Duvall, MD series by Mr. Morris and his daughter.

Like with many adventure and mystery stories, some parts of the book get a little tedious and you want the story to move along, but I enjoyed the story otherwise.

Note: This is one of several instances where Mr. Morris reuses the same plot (or subplot) more than once. Betsy is tricked into believing she's married to Vic when the phony preacher promises to fill out the license paperwork and mail it to them later; in #7 The Reluctant Bridegroom, Rebekah finds out her husband already has a wife (and later marries Sky Winslow); and in #19 The Iron Lady, Rebekah and Sky's granddaughter Priscilla makes the exact same mistake! But if you don't mind repetitive plots, you won't mind those similarities.

Lanie sets out to with one mission: To find her sister and rescue her from a man that they had once trusted. But, Lanie never expected to find love in the process. And that's exactly what happens, even though it takes her and Lobo a bit of time to realize it. She still so worried about her sister that she doesn't think she has time to worry about herself and her well being. Go with her through a rough territory and dangerous journey. I found this book adventurous and exciting with a wonderful plot set in the late 19th century!

Gilbert Morris presents a fascinating plot line and well-developed characters in The Gallant Outlaw. When Zachary Winslow's daughter, Betsy, elopes with a charming rouge, Lanie, her older sister, determines to rescue her. Lanie's attempts fail until she meets Lobo Smith, a one-eyed gunman with a shady past. Lanie purchases Lobo's help, but troubles still plauge her. Is Lobo really an honorable man under his outlaw facade? Can she rescue her sister before it's too late?

From this book to Crazy Dave...we learn that a hard life breeds knowledge..and what you do with it depends on the individual. Mr Johnson was our teacher at Earl Haig and we were on the edge of our seats every day. He honored us with his presence at our reunions in 2002 and 2007...a really special man. Thank you Mr Johnson...

During the past few years, many books have been written by former boarders of Canadian Residential Schools for natives. Most, if not all, were a means for their author to live through the anger that churned inside because of ill treatment and sexual abuse by the staff. Much to my delight, though, the author of INDIAN SCHOOL DAYS does not write of such events. He describes his educational experience under the tutorship of Jesuit priests and brothers whose purpose was to teach their native boarders the white man's ways and thus make good Christians of them. Throughout the book, the author describes the daily schedule of the school, the teachers' attitudes, the children's reactions, etc. all eye-opening for readers, who were expecting a "tell all tale," a scandal. All considering, the author did benefit from the discipline of the school to the extent that he freely decided to return the Residential School in Spanish, Ontario as a highs chool student after having etched out a living as a trapper for a short while. By that time, the highs chool had been approved by the Canadian government, and many native boys matriculated on a voluntary basis, contrary to their forced entry into the Residential School as small children, who had been "kidnapped" from their parents by order of Canadian Law.
Times have changed since the 1940's and 50's and "conversion" of the natives is no longer part of 20th and 21st century standards. Natives are now rediscovering their culture and, as the author has done, are healing their wounds and that of their parents' generation.

As a daughter of one who attended this very school prior to the author, it brings to light how schooling still affects how my father deals with situations (he is now in his 80s).

As an educator, this chapter of Indian Schools is not taught as part of history class -- not for the children or at the university for upcoming teachers. It should be mandatory reading for anyone searching for historical educational processes/pedagogy.

J.Montour, educator

When most kids skip school they don't get shipped off to a Residential School where they are treated less than human and have to learn quickly to get a long. From the opening sentence you are hooked as the boys armed with slingshots decide not to waste the day in school but go hunting instead. Trouble brews and soon the Indian agent shows up to take little Basil away to Spanish - a small town on the North Shore north of Manitoulin Island. The only problem is the Indian agent - (heartless white men who loved to play God) wanted a "pay" load and up and took the five year old sister of Basil too. Nobody got to say yes or no it was a done deal.To say this book is all serious - well it isn't. Humour comes through again and again these are surviors here people - not victims. Basil was gratefull for the education he got and where it lead him but the out come always depends on the person. What would challenge one person who drive someone else to the edge and over it. The boys rise to the challenge of chicken farming at the school - collecting eggs they'll never get to eat. A page turner for sure, take a closer look at Canada's dirty little secert that is just now being dealt with in court. A follow up list is in the back of the book to tell you what happened to these boys. Excellent read not to be missed

INVENTING LOS ALAMOS: THE GROWTH OF AN ATOMIC COMMUNITY provides a powerful social history of Los Alamos, the birthplace of the Atomic Age. It began as an 'instant city' created in 1943 for this purpose but came to accommodate scientists and over 6,000 residents brought in to achieve a goal. Most books focus on science: this provides urban studies collections with more: an in-depth survey of the community which grew from a political and scientific objective.

This is a great book for anyone remotely interested in the development of America's nuclear program and especially the city known as the birthplace of the Atomic Age. What makes the book unique is both the reader friendly narrative style of the writing and the author's focusing on the establishment of the town and men and women that created a livable community out of wartime chaos while confronting the myriad of social and cultural issues of the Atomic Age prior to the rest of the country...or world. A fresh look at the development of the Atomic Age culture.

I was at Los Alamos in 1988, 31 years after the period covered by the book. Yet there were still clearly common attributes of the town's culture, than spanned those intervening years. The scientific elite of the town in both 1988 and in the book's period, had an insularity. Bred in part perhaps by the sheer intellectual fascination of the problems they were working on. And which they could not explain to outsiders.

But the book also explores the working class sections of the town. A group often overlooked in other "official" histories. It explains informal demarcations of the time, in the social mixing.

A further nuance was not just class but ethnicity. New Mexico was and is a relatively poor, rural American state. Many of the locals were Hispanics, trying to scratch out a living on poor soils. So the lab was always able to find a plentiful labour force. Which had some resentments against the elite, often Anglo scientists. In 1988, this was perhaps not as pronounced. But still present.

From a remote, very remote ranch in the mountains of New Mexico, Los Alamos became an instant city in 1943 as it grew to six thousand people, among them the best physical scientists from around the world. With them came thousands of other workers, and their families. Los Alamos became the birthplace of the Atomic Age as it revolutionized modern weaponry and science.

Rather than being exclusively scientific - as are a number of other books -- Inventing Los Alamos concentrates on the people. It uses the oral history point of view to create a social history of the people and the culture that developed.

The book covers not only the early World War II days of developing the Atomic bomb, but also the Cold War Era, and even a short section on the work being conducted at the site now.

This is a most interesting account of the side effects of the scientific work done there.

KICK THE CAN is the first of a series of novels by Lehrer, and the book is the beginning of a wonderful tour through middle American politics. It is a great treat for people who take their politics with a grain of humor. It is hard to believe that this series is known about only by word of mouth. It should be seen in great books reviews and mentioned in the media.

I don't know what I expected when I picked up this book, but I definitely did not expect to read one of the funniest and most memorable books I have ever read. I found myself laughing out loud several times during this book (loudest perhaps at the scene where Mack walks, reluctantly, down the Holy Road).

Much like in "White Widow", the author does a wonderful job of taking you to another time and place.

Soon after I finished this book (years after it was written) I was thrilled to learn that there is a continuation of the life of The One Eyed Mack, in "Crown Oklahoma". I can't wait to start it.

Who would ever suspect that veteran newsman, Jim Lehrer, would be one of the most delightful comic writers ever. Kick the Can is one of those rare laugh aloud books that keep the reader chuckling from beginning to end. In addition to the "One Eyed Mack" the hero of the story, he introduces us to other such unforgettable characters as "Pepper" Bowen and Brother Walt. This book is just as funny the second or third time you read it - a real treat. Read it! You'll like it!

My brother gave me a beat up copy of this book when I was about 12 years old. I haven't seen a copy in years! I read this book countless times and found it to be a very interesting and humerous read. I'd recommend this book to anyone that comes across it anywhere. I don't know what compelled me to like this book so much. Maybe it was the reasoning the the lead character "The One Eyed Mack" exhibited throughout the book. I can tell you that I am definately going to get another copy to add to my collection

This is a good overview of the Oklahoma City bombing that points out the multitudes of holes in the governments official version of what happened. The only fault this book has is that so much more has come out that even further debunks the "official" story since OKBOMB! was published. Even in the past few months new facts have surfaced that point in the direction of OKC being an "inside job" and its already been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the "offical" story is bunk.

thank you keith for shedding light on what really goes on out in the world..I know people in the military who tell me secretly about all of this and understand what you are saying and they dont like the government, secret societies or deceit either..thank you!

Jim Keith poses many important questions that are not asked in any other publications: Were more than McVeigh and Nichols involved? What role did any right-wing patriot groups play in the Oklahoma City bombing? Where did the federal government come up with their version of events? What really took place on April 19, 1995? Keith illustrates that there are simply more questions than true answers for this issue and there is always more than one set of facts and interpretations. It is understood by law enforcement personnel that eyewitnesses most often don't make particularly good witnesses. However, Keith puts together a pretty convincing argument that there is more to the federal story than meets the eye. Regardless of that premise, and even if every witness and person that was quoted or interviewed in this book was completely wrong, these are still very crucial and important questions that need to be asked. Readers may want to supplement this work with other relevant pieces such as Stephen Jones' "Others Unknown" or "American Terrorist" by Lou Michel and Dan Herbeck.

Mr.Keith made only one error. He failed to contrast the amount of explosives used & the number of fatalities to similar atrocities. The 1996 city centre Manchester, England IRA bomb. 3.300 lbs of explosives. No fatalities COMPARISON BETWEEN McVEIGH & THE IRA

What was the length of time it took the Provos to kill 168 folk via bombings.

From June 1970 to October 1993, the Provos killed 615 folk in their terrorist bombings.

The average time it took them to kill 168 people:

SIX YEARS FOUR MONTHS

So it was fortunate for the good folk of Northern Ireland that Mr. McVeigh failed to offer his "services".

This action-packed read is very pleasing. I found it unique that the author wrote a historical with modern dialog/semantics. Very enjoyable.

Yup! a fiesty red-head - a promised commandant at Fort Reno - a very ingaging sidekick - and a really neat horse.

I may be wrong but Sergeant, Major Rafe Hunter's gelding starts out as a roan and I think changes to a black? Sergeant plays a roll in the Land Run.

Micah Whitfield, Rafe's second in command, turns out to be just as intrigueing as Rafe, himself. And a very good friend.

Major Rafe Hunter is a great follower of the rules and Karissa Baxter believes in breaking them to survive.
She has had the raising of her brother and now is determined to claim a free 160 acre parcel of land for Clint and Amanda [who is pregnant].

Karissa leads Rafe a merry chase in her determined effort to claim ranch land.
Ah, but Harlan Billings is set on throwing a monkey wrench into the mix. Expecially after the absent fiance, Vanessa shows up. Except he has plans of his own.

Intrigue, adventure, a bit of history [fact or not], a couple of villians, and enough humor lace this story of the opening up of the Indian territory to the hords of settlers. Touching on the greed and corruption of man, and the heroics of others who settled this country with a great romance thrown in, what a story.

Desire, lust and passion kept under strict control until Karissa [the hussy] decides to give into hormones. There goes my respect, out the window. Ah well!

Definitely recommended --M - a book you will really enjoy if you like Historicals.

I liked this book but there wasn't enough personality. Karissa was a "spitfire" which really stood out but other then that there wasn't much to them. I only laughed once (if that) in this book. Everything was very predictable. If you are looking for a "steamy" romance this is not the right book. Overall it's a good read but I think it just needed a little more personality, romance & mystery.

In 1889 Indian Territory, military Commander Rafe Hunter and his troops try to keep law and order just before the first Land Run is to begin. He knows that he must warily watch the nearby Cheyenne-Arapaho reservation to insure troublemakers do not disrupt the land distribution race that will start very shortly. He also keeps an eye out for "Sooners", cheaters trying to grab land too soon by sneaking out before the contest starts.

Rafe arrests Karissa Baxter for jumping the gun on the Land Run. He fears for her safety so he keeps her in his room, but wonders who will keep her protected from him as he desires her like no one before. Unable to resist Rafe decides to help Karissa obtain the land she wants, but as they fall in love, a rogue covets that claim (and others) and his fiancée arrives from the east to claim him.

OKLAHOMA BRIDE is an action packed western romance that never slows down from the moment the protagonists meet. The story line is fast-paced, filled with adventure, but also provides a deep look at an intriguing moment in American history. Though the antagonists are too obvious to compete against the heroes, fans will enjoy joining the Sooners, soldiers, and others, but especially the lead couple during the first Land Run.

Harriet Klausner