Charity begins at home

Cassy Laurens was not your average heiress. She drove a jalopy and ate at the local greasy spoon. Even her colorful collection of friends was at odds with her social standing. But Cassy really overstepped the bounds when she paid an unheard-of sum for Jonathan Manning at a charity slave auction--and then refused to meet him.

That was something the hunky Texas businessman simply couldn't accept. Jon was determined to take her 'purchase' home with her. Why not? There was definitely chemistry between them. Besides, he came with his own personal guarantee...satisfaction or money refunded!

This book gives you the inside look on how The Walk Across America changed Barbara and Peter. They talk about the people they met and how their lives were influenced by the people and how they influenced the lives of the people they met. They take you at different points of the walk and share some personal details that will bewilder you or just respect their drive to finish the walk. If you want to know Barbara and Peter; you will feel you know them after you read this book.

The author writes with a personal, indepth knowledge of the pottery. He uses up-to-date price lists and pictures when available. Also, especially fascinating are the hand drawn illustrations representative of different types of flowers on the pottery. Notice the date, 1998 1/2, this book will keep you informed or introduce you to a new collecting hobby.

Make exceptional meals from a few saucy embellishments with the use of this guide, packed with recipes for dressings, pestos, slaws, rubs, and salsas. No photos, but the very simple dishes seldom need such and what is there to view in a sauce dish - the proof of its success lies not in visuals, but in taste. A recommended pick.

If you are a TCU fan then what could be better than Sammy Baugh, Dan Jenkins and the FWST's own Whit Canning?

I always knew what a remarkable QB Sammy Baugh was but what I never realized is what a remarkable man he was. If you ever wondered where the heroes went, then look no further than this book.

When you combine the story of a true athletic legend with the wit and style of Dan Jenkins and the thoroughness of Whit Canning, then how can you go wrong?

If you are a Frog then read this book and you will be in Frog Heaven and there is no better place to be. Rif Ram.

Curt Colbert displays a very unique writing style. Even though his principle character, Jake Rossiter often speaks with short cliches - he thinks vividly with a much higher language. It is apparent that Jake is a highly self-educated man but is more comfortable while dealing with people in the language of his youth.
Sayonaraville is an outstanding tale that transcends the story line. It displays a softness in Rossiter's character that was not evident in "Rat City". Jake Rossiter has grown. He even manages to put aside the prejudice developed while fighting in the Pacific at the end.
One has to wonder about the influence on him from Miss Jenkins. Curt Colbert teases us with a developing relationship between Miss Jenkins and Jake. She has gone from his girl "Friday" to his partner. And was that just a hint of jealosy that I detected when other men paid attention to her? It will be very interesting to see where this relationship is going to go. In her own way, Miss Jenkins is every bit as tough as Jake.
Sayonaraville is an excellent novel in its own right and it is more than just adequate in backing up Curt's Shamus award nominee "Rat City". I am already waiting to see where Curt takes me next. Curt - don't make me wait so long for your next installment. I need more - now!

Donald D. Thompson

This is a great way for kids to get the feel for what it was like for Grandma back when she went to school during World War II. The actual photos and mementos from the past of the featured grandma, Gloria Jenkins, are precious (as is the photo of her with her present-day grandchildren). It is an interesting read for adults as well as children and can provide a link between the generations, making one marvel at how different things are now as compared to then. I hope all grade school libraries get this book as well as the others in the "In Grandma's Day" series.

'Seizing the New Day' is a wonderful book about enslaved southerners of Charleston, South Carolina freeing themselves. They are 'seizing the new day,' no gifts are discussed here. They are a somewhat surly group, quick to anger, but careful to keep long term goals in mind. They are still a surly group at the book's end, but they have made a lot of progress.

The focus is very narrow, but richly detailed. We only follow the events in Charleston. Who lived next to whom? What church did they go to? What school did they attend? Who did they marry?

This is a story of the 'Civil War.' Told from the street level of Charleston between 1850 and 1870, it twists the 'accepted story' presented by Hollywood. I'm used to the Civil War starting with the shelling of Fort Sumter and ending with Lee's surrender at Appomattox. This version of the 'Civil War' starts with the Nat Turner rebellion and ends with the 15th amendment. Instead of the great establishment leaders like Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln, this war is fought by people that won't abide with bondage. It is a war between slave owners and those they seek to dominate.

There is no talk of a Northern Army 'freeing' people, the most prominent army unit mentioned is the 21st United States Colored Troops. The mayor of Charleston surrendered the city to them on February 18, 1865.

The book is organized into 7 chapters. The first two and last are narrative, the war story. Chapters 3 through 6 develop sub themes regarding how the winners of the war (remember, the Mayor surrendered to colored troops) went about establishing economic, educational and community institutions for 'the New Day.'

The book is careful to bolster its case by retelling hundreds of stories pulled from contemporary sources; autobiographies, newspapers, government documents, etc. Anyone writing a civil war film script would find this book a welcome source of authentic street scenes.

Despite the bold title, the notion of 'seizing liberty' is rather hidden in the multitude of individual stories recounted here. It's easy to read the book as a colorful recap of many small and disconnected efforts. I suspect this reflects the author's desire to maintain academic respectability. The story about Lee and Grant is, after all, the accepted version.

This is a classic on introduction to ARIMA modelling. Suitable for everyone, students and professionals.

Silver in America 1840-1940: A Century of Splendor is a highly readable, well-documented overview of the of the development of the American silverware industry. The author, Dr. Charles Venable, has skillfully woven into this study the historic, economic, and social factors that impacted this industry as well as the influence that the silverware industry had in shaping the social rituals and customs of the era. Venable also provides a great deal of detail on the production, technology, and marketing of silver. This book, although replete with marvelous photographs and illustrations, is not a pattern identication guide and readers interested in such reference material would no doubt be disappointed. For those readers who are serious lovers of American silver this book is must reading and a necessary addition to one's library.