For all you of true southern belles and those of you who would just like to be like one, this book provides an entertaining look into why belles are the way we are. The author also interviews many ladies of the south about their beliefs, lifestyles, and eccentricities. This book will make any rebel queen proud to be who she is! This is an easy and enjoyable book to read.

"Remembering Dixie" might well be the next best thing to living in New Orleans. In this novel, a newspaper editor tells the story of his life and his friends. The yarn is like the city---laid back, at times serious, sometimes humorous, always interesting. Dialogue is superior! Author Buddy D'Aquila,associate professor of art hstory, Loyola University, does not let his academic background into his writing; rather, his style is highly readable.

From the first to the last word you feel the raw emotions. Which fit well with the raw style. Your mind will go on an adventure to tell the story behind these poems. Some you'll read over and over.

I loved this book! The characters had flaws, though the elves were a bit sterotypical. And a hero that is immune to magic is a new idea, and how the author carries it out is wonderful. I also liked how McKeone wove in Norse mythology into the story. The reason this book has four stars instead of five is because the ending is a cliff-hanger that just screams sequel, but there never was one published, which is a shame becauase there is a lot more that could be done with Dav.

After a high point that wasn't all that high, Emily McCloud's life had begun a slow, gentle decline, and there was no reason to believe it would ever climb again. A spinster schoolteacher, Emily was a bit old-fashioned and hopelessly tradition bound. But that was before the advent of Beyard Jones. Totally unpredictable, completley unconventional. Bey didn't fit into any aterotype and broke every mold. When he roared into Emily's life on his BMW motorcylce she did her level best to eject him, But his warmth unnerved her, his tenderness swept her away. Emily soon realized that there was a bit of the barbarian in everyone... and now she had one of her very own.

Romantic- fun- woman coming into her own and blossoming- typical Dixie Browning with wonderful characters!

This book is one of the best romances I've ever read. I came across it by mere whim, as it was mixed in with a big bag of romance novels that a friend was throwing out. I think it was the first I read of that batch, and I've re-read it many times since then. It is a beautiful story of crossing the obstacles of past moments of pain and getting on with a life full of love and excitement. Definitely one of the best reads I've ever found in the romance novel genre.

This book seems to be a change for Dixie Browning. I think she did a wonderful job creating two people who really needed each other. It was great reading about two people who didn't quite have it all together, but who took their time to discover each other's good qualities. The dialogue was terrific, especially when the heroine is trying to seduce the hero. I enjoyed this book completely. But bear in mind it's not your typical romance novel. Still, that's what made it so great. I would recommend it to anyone.

I have always been fascinated with General Benjamin Butler both because of the story of his ill fated term as military governor of New Orleans during the Civil War and because of his physical image. The photographs always show someone who seems to be a grotesque characature of a human being rather than a real person, somehow appropriate for a man known as 'the Beast of New Orleans'. This book is significant not only for its detailed account of the conflicts and controversy that surrounded Butler during his time in New Orleans, but also for providing enough complementary material to see him as more than an evil abberation. The author does detail the evidence for Butler's depredations - his thefts, corruptions and overzelous application of lethal force - but also provides ample evidence that he was a complex and sometimes thoughtful person as well. In one case, he condemns a man to be hung because he had pulled down the union flag. The man's wife and children go to Butler to plead for his life. He refuses to stop the hanging but promises to be of whatever assistance he can be in the future. Years later the widow approaches him to say that she has been cheated by her lawyer out of her life savings and that she and her children are in jeapordy. Butler finds her a government job and, at his own expense, sees to the children's education. A very complex 'devil' indeed.

For those who enjoy new light cast upon old oversimplified history, this book is excellent. Well written and with a lot that is new to say, this book represents a chance to actually learn something new rahter than simply revisiting the old story.

You'd be hard up to find another story where heroes like swamp gators face villains like the churn-turners. In this tale--laden with imagination and humor--Dixie has found some not-too-popular critters to bring home. Her mother and Grandpappy don't exactly welcome them! However, a little Southern mythology comes to life in this tale when the un-welcome visitors save the day. Even Grandpappy couldn't complain when he saw how the squirmy snake saved his chompers from the bogeyman!

The tenth Duke of Lowestroft, Earl of Coldfield, Viscount Alston all of four years old and known as Jackie to his guardian decides he would like a mother. And he has found the best candidate in Lady Halstead's niece Miss Amethy. The Halstead's are neighbors. Amethy is as pretty as a princess with violet eyes which she was named for. Now, if only he can make his guardian, the Earl of Northford (Desmond Marling) fall in love and marry her, he will have a mama!

Thereby starts the tale with Jackie and servants conspiring to play cupid and throw the soft-hearted rake and the low-dowried Amethy together. They meet first at her Aunt's home. Lady Halstead has two young boys that play well with Jackie. She also has another on the way. It is an inauspicious first meeting. Northford thinks Amethy is marriage minded and that he is the prey and lets her know that is unacceptable. Amethy has no such ideas and believes him to be rather snobbish to think that. But there is no dispute that he is devoted to his ward and she loves children also. Later, Jackie and the servants who dote on him arrange for a "Winter Picnic" to again pair Amethy and Northford. Calamity follows the boys and the "inside" picnic turns into chaos with fake lizards, pets escaping, guests screaming and falls resulting in Jackie's nurse breaking her leg. Then Lady Halstead's baby decides to arrive. Thus, Amethy must remain with Northford and her aunt and uncle rather than be left alone with the boys at their own home.

Adventures follow with three mischievous boys who are adept at escaping adult supervision no matter how strict! Amethy and Northford are always trying to find and assist them out of their predicaments. Each time there are humorous results and many muddied and destroyed footwear to the chagrin of all! Not to mention always being caught by the other adults in rather funny circumstances (not compromising since they are always with three children).

There is a villain in the story - Lord Battenton trying to compromise Amethy even to the point of trying to kidnap her and another love story which develops along the way. It all ends in a tangled mess of elopement and kidnapping and carriage chasing with funny results. The children are even in on this escapade! Lord Battenton will not be amused when he finds out who he accidentally kidnapped!

I found this story flowing and amusing with wonderful secondary characters. The children are amazing and the author develops real-life personas! There is not a HUGE amount of romance in it for our main characters -- mainly a uniting of minds and a realization that life will always be fun if they marry! My copy is a reissue and I am glad to have found it. It was enjoyable and fun reading and I will be looking for this author's other books.