Texas Books

Ben Rehder spins some great stories, and this newest book is another winner. Very entertaining and just plain funnyI

Pastor Peter Boothe of The Pastor Pete Hour, author of bestselling books, star of bestselling inspirational DVDs, and head of a multimillion-dollar religious organization, has decided to build his second giant religious complex in Blanco County, Texas. The major problems, aside from the protesters, begin when Hollis Farley, backhoe operator, is found dead on the job site. It doesn't seem to have been an accident.

It turns out Hollis dug up a dinosaur skull on the future site of the church. This was a publicity nightmare for a church that preaches against evolution, and a bigger mess for the police. The more digging game warden John Marlin and Sheriff Bobby Garza do, the deeper the mystery goes, and the longer the suspect list becomes. Not to mention the fact that the skull has disappeared and the police aren't the only ones looking for it.

Hilarious capers, crazy car chases, mistaken identity, witty storytelling, colorful characters, and just the right amount of satirical social commentary make this a book worth having. I haven't read any of the other Blanco County novels, so I can assure you that this one stands alone. I can also assure you that, having read this one, I intend to go check out the rest!

Armchair Interviews says: This is a good read any time of the year.

Another excellent book to the series. While Rehder appears to becoming more "serious" in his writing, there is enough humor to keep you laughing. The main characters (Marlin, Brooks, and the rest of the cops) continue to evolve, but while Billy Don plays a big role, Red is relegated to virtually nothing. Too bad, as a pair these guys were really good.

In Blanco County, Texas, Peter "Pastor Pete" Boothe hires backhoe operator Hollis Farley to clear the land for the construction of a mega church complex, a controversial project not warmly received by everyone. Hollis uncovers an Alamosaurus skull that if reported would halt construction until it can be determined whether the area is an archeological gold mine. However, someone shoots an arrow into Farley's back and the fossil vanishes.

Red O'Brien learned from Hollis what he found and wants the valuable fossil. So does paleontologist Dr. Underwood, who based on pictures told Game Warden John Marlin the skull could be worth millions. Meanwhile Red persuades his roommate three-hundred pound Billy Don Craddock to seduce Farley's sister, Betty Jean, as he assumes she is the most likely person to have the dinosaur skull. He also considers those in Pastor Pete's inner sanction like the preacher's cheating wife and his top lieutenant. On the other hand there are those working for dinosaur-lover Darwin Parker. While Red works his amateur sleuthing from all angles, he intrudes on Marlin's official professional inquiry into what happened to Hollis though O'Brien sees the cops getting in his way.

This is a wild well written salute to avarice as just about everyone has a reason to claim the skull and will do what it takes to gain possession. The story line is fast-paced and filled with greedy twists as rivalries battle for ownership. Interestingly Marlin is the hero as he was in GUN SHY, but he shares top billing with Red, Paster Pete, and an assortment of people who spent too much time sniffing oil fumes or baking in the Texas heat.

Harriet Klausner

The death of backhoe operator Hollis Farley appears at first glance to be a tragic accident. Found underneath his overturned rig on land he was clearing to make way for a mega church near the Pedernales River, Hollis Farley died on the job. But, this is Blanco County where weird things happen and this one is another. Instead of being killed when the backhoe hit a boulder and flipped as first theorized, it turns out that he was shot in the back with an arrow capped with a broadhead hunting point.

As the case unfolds and Game Warden John Marlin's involvement increases, the facts and the people involved get stranger and stranger. Finding a dinosaur bone on the property of the planned mega church didn't get Hollis Farley killed. What he did afterwards just might have done the trick. With so many having a motive for doing the deed, it is up to John Marlin and Sheriff Bobby Garza to flush the real killer out before he or she strikes again.

Much like he did with "Gun Shy" Austin, Texas area writer Ben Rehder has penned another often funny novel that lets everyone in sight have it. This time his main target is the religious hypocrisy often found in the mega churches. It is tempting to speculate a bit as to which church served as inspiration but unnecessary. Considering past events across the country, this satiric novel could easily become too real in coming months as no doubt another religious leader of a mega church will be caught doing something very wrong. It is inevitable--much like news reports of Jesus sightings in recently washed windows and fried food products.

In the meantime what we have here is yet another often funny novel sent in Blanco County, Texas featuring a strange murder, a ton of offbeat characters, and the resulting twisted and often funny search for justice. The book is another tale of the weird, funny and often absurd that packs a punch to the mind and the gut. Beyond the continuing romance involving John Marlin there is no real character development to speak of regarding the returning characters. That romance is a minor factor in the book with most of the focus on the murder case and the cast of offbeat characters who are involved at various levels. The result is a good piece of work with plenty of comedy and mystery guaranteed to keep readers entertained to the very last page.


Kevin R. Tipple (copyright) 2008

This was one of my favorite stories fromt he Texas Brand books. It left you with some questions to keep you reading the rest of the series and at the same time provided you with and excellent read!
The entire series is action packed and filled with romance and suspence. Maggie Shayne delivers excitement and is fabulous at building the characters and stories.

Another great story about the Brands. 4th in the series. This one is Ben & Penny's story.

Ben is grieving for his lost wife Penny. Penny has amnesia, but still finds her way back home to Ben.

We find out what happened to Penny 2 years earlier. A very touching story & a welcome addition to the Brand family saga.

Next book, book 5 is about one of the Brand missing cousins, Marcus in "That mysterious man".

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH I WONT THE WHOLE FAMILY OF BOOKS THAT ARE IN THE SERIES .I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK VERY HIGHLY.

I'd heard a great deal of praise for this book before I picked it up and I wasn't disappointed. It's a great story. The plot is original and well told. All the characters, even the secondary ones, are well developed. You feel like you're part of the story from chapter 1. But what a touching love story. I loved it, simply loved it and I couldn't put it down. It's a story I'll never forget.

I loved this book! Penny although has amnesia still finds her way home regardless. Ben Brand who for the past two years has been beside himself with grief feels he is losing his mind as well when he sees a life like copy of his wife.. Could it be? What happened that fateful day two years ago? More than anyone every imagined. Rich in feeling and love I couldn't put this book down I loved it and look forward to reading more books by Maggie Shayne.

I don't read much for fun, but this book is totally entertaining. I found it difficult to stop reading and thoroughly enjoyed the final plot twist.

I really enjoyed this book. I am not an avid reader for entertainment, but I couldn't put this book down. As the story progressed, I tried to figure out where it was going, but I would have never guessed the bizarre twist at the end. It was very entertaining, and I will definitely read the other books to come in the series.

A Jealous God is a fast read with a good plot and well-developed characters. The ending has an unexpected twist . . . but in looking back, all the facts were present to figure out the ending. I enjoyed reading this book, but especially participating in its writing.
More importantly this books asks and perhaps answers the question: are we free moral agents or are we somewhat prisoners of our own DNA?

The book was a quick read and I could not put it down. What a great story and mystery. Of course, being a native Houstonian and going to Tulane, I loved all the locations. I can't wait for the next one!

This is a well written novel that has an ingenious twist. The author has a good grasp of medical issues. It's fun reading.

I've been both a fan and a friend to this wonderful lady for about 5 years now and I'd like to urge any young person who is in search of the perfect story to read to read all four books that make up this "Must Read" series. The characters are real and the plot will keep you eagerly turning the pages as fast as you can. I love Jeannie and all of her fun adventures! You will love Jeannie too! Order your set today. You'll be glad you did!

(Highly Recommended!)

ISBN: 1-4137-0403-4
Title: Jeannie, A Texas Frontier Girl - Book Three
Author: Evelyn Horan
Publisher: AmErica House
Once again gifted writer Evelyn Horan has surpassed expectations with book three of her "Jeannie, Texas Frontier Girl" series. Often times series books lose their momentum as they move toward conclusion, not so with the "Jeannie" series, as book three leaves readers with a near cliffhanger that makes us eager for book four. Horan's knowledge of that period of time (1880) in Texas adds interest to her plot and gives readers an inside peek at the growth of our nation and Texas as a state. Jeannie touches on; the tension between the Native American Indians and the settlers, the speed with which young people had to mature, and the joyous way that neighbor helped neighbor.
Jeannie and Helga spend the summer preparing the Indian children for school and training Diamond's off spring, Morning Star, to accept saddle and rider. It is the last year of school for both girls and though they are best friends their dreams for the future are very different. Pick up a copy of "Jeannie" book three to find out what the future holds for Helga and Billy Joe and for Jeannie and her dream of owning her own Horse Ranch.
"Jeannie, Texas Frontier Girl," masterful series by talented writer Evelyn Horan, is geared for the young reader but I promise it will interest and entertain readers of all ages. Congratulations, Evelyn. I can't wait to read JEANNIE book four.
Beverly J Scott author of "Righteous Revenge" and "Ruth Fever." Reviewer for Intriguing Authors and Their Books at http://www.funeralassociates.com/authors.htm

Book Three in the "Jeannie, a Texas Frontier Girl" series by author Evelyn Horan finds Jeannie and her best friend Helga growing up and facing changes in their lives, which happen almost too quick to breathe. Jeannie's brother, Henry, marries Linda Mae, and before long, Jeannie finds she is to become an aunt. Billy Joe begins to work for the new bank in their small town, and he and Helga agree to become engaged. Jeannie works out an arrangement with Helga's father to buy land from him for the horse ranch she has long dreamed about. She begins to make plans to build her ranch and asks Slim to be her ranch foreman, unaware of the interest Billy Joe's brother, Jack, has begun to show toward her. Along the way, Jeannie learns a poignant lesson when she is forced to deal with prejudice against the Comanche family in their community, from whom she learns how to weave baskets and to utilize plants for medicinal purposes.

America's present-day Laura Ingalls Wilder, Ms. Horan is an author who possesses the unique ability to weave an entertaining, inspirational story with factual history. As with the first two books in the series, the reader is left eagerly anticipating what will happen next to Jeannie, her family, and friends. This is one series I would like to see continue on - reading each book feels like spending time with an old friend - and would love to see in classrooms across America. A delightful read for the child in all of us.

JEANNIE, A TEXAS FRONTIER GIRL (Book 3) is a delightful, must read for young girls. Although, I must admit that even as an adult, I thoroughly enjoyed it too.

This is the third book in a four part series. It follows young Jeannie and her friends and family as they face hardships during the late 1800's in west Texas. Young readers are in for a treat as they experience Jeannie's many adventures. Her courage and strong will help her face the loss of a favorite pet, deal with the prejudice of townspeople toward Indian children in her school, and train her beloved horses. Family ties and values were such an integral part of life on the plains. This story captures the heart and soul of pioneer living, as seen through a young girl's eyes.

I highly recommend this book. More books like this are needed to keep young girls reading. It is exciting, yet educational, for young readers to learn the customs and daily life of a different era. I eagerly anticipate Book 4! Excellent job Ms Horan.
(Reviewed for Denise's Pieces Book Reviews)

Historical facts and exciting adventure make Ms. Horan's "Jeannie:A Texas Frontier Girl (Book Three) "A Must Read KIDZ Series." The characters read true to life, the action is nonstop, and the plot had me eagerly reading along. A very appealing combination!

(...)

Jim Peters must have one of the most pleasant personalities I have ever read about. Many of his "stops" brought laughter from his partners as well as himself. Wish I could have been Casper, the friendly ghost, on some of these capers! I would have laughed out loud too!! This is a great story of a modern day Ranger, maintaining the true tradition of the Texas Rangers. Wish there were more like him and that their stories could be told also. They will always be heroes in my books and I will continue delving into everything I can read about them. Way to to Ranger Jim! You were/are "a hell of a Ranger."

I've known Jim Peters for many years, and have been at his side and witnessed both his investigative talent (who can forget Las Vegas 1995?) and skill at obtaining info from people not always willing to provide it. This is an entertaining story and a too brief glimpse into the life of a true Texas Ranger, before the computers and DNA changed the profession forever. Read it and wish you were there.

As one who is friends with Jim Peters, I can recommend this book to anyone who is a Texas history buff, especially those with an interest in Ranger lore. Jim truly was a Ranger when "Rangers were Rangers".

Jim Peters, Texas Ranger is extremely readable as it consists of great stories of the activities of this reknowned and capable Texas Ranger. The Rangers, of course, are the best of the best, and Jim Peters was highly respected by his fellows. He was involved in the resolution of a lot of high-profile cases and the book is an interesting piece of both true crime and history.

Jim Peters has had a remarkable life, and it's fascinating to read about his adventures as a Texas Ranger. The author makes you feel as though you're right there with Peters and the Rangers as they piece together evidence and track down the bad guys. The fact that these are true crime stories makes them all the more interesting. The ones involving coldblooded killers make you grateful for the courage and dedication of men like Jim Peters. Other stories involving lesser crimes and dumb or unlucky criminals are very funny. A neat book.

This novel should be read as a part of our Texas history classes. It gives a wonderful perspective from the Indian point of view. It is the most moving novel I have read in a long time. Highly recommended!

This was a great book, and I think it is enjoyable to read. I think if you want good books with more of a down-to-earth base, then you should read this.

From LIBRARY JOURNAL, 1 Sep 1999: This novel might more accurately be titled Killing Náudah because when its central character is recaptured by Texas Rangers in 1860, having been abducted by Comanches 24 years earlier, she has long since ceased thinking of herself as Cynthia Ann Parker. Basing his fictional speculation on a careful reading of the historical record, Brashear chronicles the heartbreaking descent into despair of a proud woman who could not forget her warrior husband and two sons. With no one heeding her requests to be returned to her husband and sons or even to receive news of them, Parker finds images of their torture and death blending with her recollections of Comanche life. Uncomfortable with the tight clothing, unfamiliar language, and restrictive social customs of white society and rejected by much of her family, she finally begins a scheme to go back to the Plains. Public library patrons will appreciate this engrossing novel, which can also supply a personal perspective to supplement history texts.

From PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, 30 Aug 1999: Previous novels based on the sketchy history of Cynthia Ann Parker, the white mother of Quanah Parker, the legendary Comanche leader, have focused mainly upon her life among the Comanches, which began in May 1836, when the nine-year-old daughter of a Texas Ranger was taken captive by a Comanche raiding party. Brashear adheres to the facts, but goes further in imagining her inner life after she becomes a Comanche in spirit. Unlike other captives, who over the next five years are returned to their families, Cynthia Ann steadfastly refuses to be bartered back to white civilization. She marries Comanche Chief Peta Nocona and bears two sons and a daughter. In 1860, Cynthia Ann is seized-with her baby daughter, Toh-Tsee-Ah (anglicized: Topsannah)-by a band of Texas Rangers who massacre and mutilate a camp of Comanche women and children. Taken against her will to an elderly uncle near Fort Worth, she protests bitterly and begs to be returned to her Comanche family. Thwarted and grieving, she gradually withdraws deeply into herself, changing her name to She-Mourns, and making several unsuccessful attempts to escape from the mostly well-meaning but inadvetently cruel relatives where she is sent in succession. After Topsannah dies three years from her mother's recapture, Brashear depicts Cynthia Ann as becoming virtually catatonic; she dies in 1870. Brashear's research is impressive, and the members of the extended Parker family are fairly and carefully drawn. If his habit of rendering his heroine's speech in Comanche is distracting, he succeeds in conveying her anguish as an eternal exile. But the narrative drags on with needless detail, and Brashear's elaborate recreation of She-Mourns's inner life eventually leaves the reader numb.

[Note: this reviewer apparently couldn't tell Comanche from Spanish, in which some of Cynthia Ann's dialog is rendered-with translations.]

Cynthia Ann's story and that of her famous son Quanah are well known, but her tragic end is not. A wrenching testimony to what ignorance, prejudice, and well-meaning but thoughtlessly cruel intentions can do, Brashear's novel is highly recommended for history readers and serious students of Native American culture.

Excerpts from some reviews:

from Midland (TX) newspaper, Nov 7, 1999: The story of Cynthia Ann Parker has become legend. Kidnapped from Parker's Fort near Mexia by raiding Comanches in 1836, she was completely assimilated into the Noconi band. She married tribal leader, Peta Nocona, and bore him two sons, Quanah and Pecos, and a daughter, Toh-Tsee-Ah. Late in 1860, she and toddler Topsannah, as the whites called her, were recaptured by Texas Rangers and returned to "civilization" and the extended Parker clan. Cynthia Ann never adapted to white culture. She was shunted from one Parker family member to another. Convinced she was a captive of the Texans, Cynthia Ann was determined to escape to the high plains and the Comanche way. The Parkers neither cared for nor understood Cynthia Ann's obsession with returning to her homeland and her people.

from Judy Alter, The Bookish Frog, Fall 1999: ... an innovative novel about Cynthia Ann Parker. Just when we thought there are no new twists to that old story, Charles Brashear proved us wrong-in a novel with footnotes. (Don't ever say were are afraid to try something new!)

from Amarillo News-Globe, Sunday, Dec 12, 1999, p. 19D: Two novels particularly suited for fireside reading are _____ and "Killing Cynthia Ann" by Charles Brashear.... this new book focuses on her life after her return to Anglo culture. Though presented as a novel, the story is well-researched. The book is even annotated, unusual for fiction.

from Fort Worth Star Telegram, Sunday, Dec 5, 1999: Charles Brashear is a conscientious author who is careful of his sources. What he's done is search out the most authentic records available, then build a novel by filling in imaginary details of emotions, relationships, conversation and background. The fiction device gives the reader a historical overview of the period, plus a vivid picture of a woman who lived with constant, unhealable heartache.... I like the placement of historical notation along the side margins very much. They are less disruptive, easier to go to and return from, than footnotes at the bottom of the page.

from Waco Tribune-Herald, Saturday, Nov 6, 1999 (Brazos Living, p. 8B) Brashear believes our interest in Cynthia Ann Parker more than a century after her death stems from a variety of reasons: our disbelief that someone could prefer another way of life to the American way; our collective guilt in the ultimate fate of American Indian cultures; and an unconscious desire for a simpler life, such as American Indians practiced. "Cynthia Ann's story of wildness keeps haunting us because we see in it a gross injustice that has never been righted. They killed the wildness in her, which we half suspect may have been the better part. And, while we may not be personally responsible, we feel a sort of communal guilt for the wrong done her," he explained.

This is one of Cotton's more entertaining novels. It keeps your attention from beginning to end, and you hate for it to end, as you really like the supporting characters, and don't want anything happening to them. Sam Burrack is one of my favorite fictional characters, and I often wonder what would have happened had Sam Peckinpah brought him to the screen. I can only dream . . . .

This is the forth western I've read by this author. My favorite so far has been Bloods Land because I really enjoyed the way the female gunfighter handled herself. After reading about Texas Bob, Mary Alice and the ranger, I think I might have a tie on my hands. ( Could it be I'll find all of his books are this good??? ) So far so good. This one was given to me for Chiristmas by my (X) fiance. I started reading it the other night in front of the fire and only stopped for an hour or so before finsihing it from front to back. Now that I am a full fledged Western-Fan, I love curling up near a warm fire and reading a Ralph Cotton book. I recommend this book to anybody who likes action adventure and good thoughtful storytelling. I want more, Please!!!

A. Rainey (ARainey47@yahoo.com) , A retired trucker and rancher in MT, 12/23/2007

Cotton's stories all always Top Notch, and Killing Texas Bob is one of his best. I won't reveal the story and spoil it for other readers, and I don't whine about minor slips and type-os I find in most books today. But as one of the millions of readers who CAN and DO appreciate westerns that are more than one dimentional, to Mr. Cotton I say the two words Texas Bob uses to thank the ranger,'Much Obliged.' Not many writers create characters like Ranger Sam Burrack and Texas Bob. The ranger is as mild-mannered and tough as always, but the new character,Texas Bob, is the kind of man I remember hearing about growing up in West Texas in the old days when a man lived and died by his word. Like the ranger, Texas Bob never wavers from what's right even when it's about to cost him his life. He stands his ground on a reputation that is so trusted his enemies and their lies could not tarnish his name. He is known for his sense of fairness and his rock solid values as a man you can trust, but a man you don't want to push too far. Texas Bob is a fair tribute to all the old Texans whose words I hear coming from his mouth. These are the kind of strong characters the western genre was built on. Thanks to Cotton we still get to hear, see and understand them. Keep them coming, Mr. Cotton. 'Much Obliged.'

Killing Texas Bob is one more in an ever growing list of the classic American West stories we have come to expect from this gifted and original author. Cotton's work never dissapoints. We all have our favorite authors, and when it comes to accurate action and adventure westerns, for my money Mr. Cotton sets the standard. His stories are limited only by the reader's ability to identify and understand the various levels of human interactions and complexities. Comparing one writer's work to another is too rude and condesending for my taste, so I will leave that particular task to those who consider themselves better qualified to do so. I have enjoyed all of Ralph Cotton's books, as well as the books he wrote for Ralph Compton's estate after Compton's death. As a carreer teacher of English and History, and as a lifelong western fan, I highly recommend Cotton's work to anyone searching for beautifully written, solidly crafted Historical Westerns with depth and meaning far above the typical genre fare. Thank you, Mr. Cotton. American literature needs more characters like Texas Bob Krey. I hope we haven't heard the last of him.

I've complained in the past about Ralph Cotton's historial slips in his books sold as "historical novels." He has done pretty good in this one, and I can overlooked the trivial things that detract from the "historical" nature of book.
This story has a very good plot and lots of action; and of course the good guys win.
But I could not help finding the watch-evidence error. The killer removed the watch from the stagecoach guard's body (Teddy Wade) on Page 98. On Page 271 it suddenly was the Sheriff's watch; but he was killed after the stage holdup and the killer was never near his body.
Sloppy plotting, but I consider this one of Ralph Cotton's better stories... perhaps my comment will get the author's attention.
Although the author ain't a Louis L'Amour, Max Brand, or even a Ralph Compton, I do enjoy his books and I think he's getting better with practice!

This book is the winner of the 1998 Spur Award for Best Western Novel (selected by the Western Writers of America).

Cynthia, has captured the events of a very special time in our history and built beautiful characters around the very people who played such an important role in that point in time of the american west.

Cynthia Haseloff has written a great western that very much deserves the 1998 Spur award recieved from the Western Writers of America.
The Kiowa Verdict is based on the trial of two Kiowa Indians, Satanta and Adoltay also called Big Tree, for taking part in the "The Warren Wagon Train Massacre." Satanta led about 100 Kiowas and Comanches and attacked a wagon train with only a dozen white men. This took place west of Fort Richardson, Texas, in the spring of 1871. There was little doubt who was responsible, for Satanta himself bragged to Quaker Indian agent Lawrie Tatum at Fort Sill:

"Remember this. If any other Indian comes in here saying he led the raid he will be lying, because I, Satanta, led it."

Satanta and Big Tree were the first Indians to be tried in a white man's court in Texas for crimes committed against Texans.
Historically both Satanta and Big Tree were convicted of murder and sentenced to hang. Governor Edmund J. Davis commuted their sentences to life imprisonment. Later Satanta committed suicide by leaping headfirst from a second story window at the Texas State Prison in Huntsville and smashing his head on stone paving.

Adoltay, or Big Tree, a young warrior, converted to Methodism while in prison, was eventually released, was ordained as a Methodist minister, returned to the Kiowa-Comanche lands around Fort Sill and was instrumental in converting many Kiowas and Comanches to Methodism.

One of the characters in this novel, Joseph A. Woolfolk, a Confederate and Frontier Regiment veteran, was appointed by the Thirteenth District Court of the State of Texas to defend the Kiowas. The prosecutor was S. W. T. Lanham, who later became governor of Texas.

Transcripts of the trial don't exist, so what courtroom action there is - and of course the thoughts and fears of Joe Woolfolk - are entirely fictional. What is real is the fact that poor Joe Woolfolk instead of putting up a token defense, actually defended his clients in court.

To paraphrase the sometimes Western writer Mark Twain, "the reports of the death of the Western have been greatly exaggerated." The modern Western has been part of the American literary scene ever since - and arguably long before - Owen Wister introduced readers to "The Virginian" in 1902, and it shows no signs of riding into the sunset.

Cynthia Haseloff has captured the spirit of the American frontier in a way that kept me spellbound from beginning to end. Not only did I come away with a true sense of the era, but I also became a new fan of the Western genre, as well (at least the Haseloff Western genre). I can't wait to read her prequel to this book, "Satanta's Woman." I would highly recommend "The Kiowa Verdict" to anyone looking for a great beside-your-bed read.

Cynthia Haseloff has made a grand effort in this fictionalized history account of a raid by Kiowans on a freighter train, a trial and a verdict. Because records of the events have mostly been destroyed, or were deliberately never made, Haseloff has been forced to assume a lot about what happened and why it happened. It's generally a good job.

The legalities of trying Comanches and Kiowans raiding into North Texas while residing 'out of reach' in Oklahoma weren't vague at the time. The raiders understood enough of the law to know they were immune from prosecution by Texans for depredations in Texas if they escaped to Oklahoma. In this instance, the laws were ignored. Two men responsible for a raid that resulted in the deaths of several freighters and torture of one were arrested, taken back to Texas, tried and hanged.

From a strictly practical perspective, it was probably the right method of dealing with the event, though illegal. Even though Comanche raids continued for several years after this trial, the security of refuge provided by the Oklahoma Territory was never again to be trusted. Comanches who remained at war with whites in Texas were forced to remain on the high plains and face white retribution for their acts. This eventually allowed Colonel Ranald McKenzie to destroy the entire horse-herd of the raiding bands, putting them afoot and ending their ability to conduct raids without exterminating the entire tribe.

The fate of Penateka Comanche, the Karankawa, the Lipan Apache, the Fara'on Apache, and many other tribes caught in the vicegrip of Spanish and Anglo migration into the American West and Southwest is a bloody illustration of the other alternative.

The author has done a good job of reconstructing the events, the setting, the characters and the context. I recommend it for anyone interested in that phase of Texas history.

Judging from these often humorous, sometimes poignant, but always brash and candid letters, it is probably safe to assume that few writers have had such widely varied experiences as has Larry L. King. Spanning over 40 years, King's fascinating and provocative letters--along with his no-holds-barred reminiscences interspersed among them--provide a virtual autobiography of this novelist, playwright, essayist, and commentator. What makes this epistolary volume especially interesting is that King suffers no fools lightly, appears to be intimidated by no one, and is always ready to prick the balloons of the famous--and oftentimes pompous. (His accounts of working with actor Burt Reynolds and dancer Tommy Tune are particularly hilarious.

Larry L. King is an American hero. His work should be required reading for anyone who even thinks about the writing life. He ought to win the Nobel Prize, but then, he's a Texan so probably doesn't qualify.

Parents of small children desperately need sleep, so I cannot recommend that they read this book--it has kept me awake for two nights in a row. It's as hard to put down as any thriller, and a whole lot funnier than most.

This book takes the reader inside the head and heart of a working writer and reveals the triumphs and the despair that are staples of a writer's life. There are a lot of famous people in it, too.

King's book of letters take you inside the heart and head of one of America's most perceptive and humorous writers. Roy Blount once said that King writes like an angel would if it grew up in West Texas and drank. It's hard to improve on Blount's assessment. King's rollicking missives, directed to friends, family, politicians, critics, and fellow writers offer a fascinating portrait of the writing life. There's also the vicarious thrill of reading someone else's mail. Stories range from fellow author William Styron's run-in with "Mexican boo-smoke" to King's feud with the "alleged actor Burt Reynolds." The fact that a book this interesting has been published by a university press instead of a major trade house is as indicative as anything of the sorry state of affairs in the publishing industry these days. King's book, like himself, defies the mold.

Jan Freed once again provides all her readers with a light hearted look at relationships between men and women. This title proves to be just as hysterical as the last one in The Malloy Men series. We were treated to the second brother, Cameron, in this latest book.

I always enjoy the interactions between her characters, and the dialogue is always excellent. This story's focus is on two partners in an Ad Agency. They've known one another since college, and have worked together since. With a little plan and a nudge from Elizabeth, Cameron begins to see that partners at work isn't all they could be.

I always head right out to check the shelves when one of Ms. Freed's books is due out. Once found, I read them in one sitting. And they're well worth the wait! I recommend this title, as well as any of her others! Enjoy!

Once again Jan Freed has given us a book that is truly a pleasure to read. I always head out early looking for her titles to hit the shelves. This latest book is the second in The Malloy Men series. The last one was hysterical and this one proves to be the same. The dialogue between Cameron and Elizabeth is funny, without feeling forced or stilted. I love her characters, and the interaction between them. She has a set of more minor characters that you get to know in this book as well. Her hero and heroine have known each other for years....and it just takes a little plan and a nudge for her to have him reconsidering their relationship. I loved this one, as I love all of Ms. Freed's titles. Enjoy!

Cameron Malloy's life has been one of constant ease. His great looks have allotted him a revolving door policy where women are concerned and he has made a success of his advertising company, on the surface. In truth, his concern with the image of his company has marred the perfection of his life and now he must pay the price, in more ways than one.

Elizabeth, Cameron's partner and longtime friend, has loved him for years. So when Cameron verbally explodes in her face and reveals painfully pent up truths about her inability to handle reality, Elizabeth hands him the reality of her resignation. Now Cameron must hurry to regain what was overlooked and underappreciated in order to save a friendship he has come to count on implicitly.

This is the first novel I've ever read by Jan Freed and I enjoyed it tremendously. Cameron Malloy commits plenty of blunders throughout this novel but it is clear that Elizabeth is ready to give as good as she gets where he is concerned. I enjoyed the fact that her resignation from his company liberated her in many ways even though a deal is in place that ties her temporarily to it. Her subsequent actions reflect that she can no longer stand back and watch life unfold in front of her and Cameron is at his wit's end trying to reconcile the Elizabeth he's known with the Elizabeth he is discovering. This is a fantastic story about a man who learns what the consequences are for taking things for granted the hard way.

...THE LAST MAN IN TEXAS is an entertaining Malloy Men talethat lives up to the quality level set by its predecessors. The storyline will remind readers of the thirties romantic romps such as His Girl Friday. Cameron is extremely brilliant in business and equally stupid in love. Elizabeth is loyal to the man she loves until he breaks the camel's back. References to and visits from stars of previous novels add to the overall homecoming feel of the novel that helps turn Jan Freed's tale into an amusing boardroom romp.

Harriet Klausner END

I really enjoyed this story about Cameron and Elizabeth. It was filled with humor as these two characters found their way into each other's heart. I found myself caught up in the tangled web they called a relationship. It was a fast read full of romance and fun.