Apparently a first time author - surprisingly good. Fast paced with killer opening. An underlying mystery to what might be called a classy romance. Vivid characters. Mystery of why Ross Benson leaves a multi-million dollar Montana ranch to a highly successful San Francisco ad agency woman holds to the very end. Book currently making the rounds of our little summer enclave overlooking the Puget Sound. All agree you can't put it down until you've finished it.

This is book number 9 in the Montana Maverick series. This one featured the town doctor, Kane and a his long lost love, Moriah with whom he had a brief affair in their late teens. They have both been feeling the pangs of betrayal ever since.

The plot is quite similar to Ms. Paige's previous contribution to the series, but much better executed. Kane is a man who is ready to settle down, ready to move into a settled stage of life. Moraih is in denial, she has built a life for herself and wants it to be full - but instead it's lacking satisfaction. When her father disappears, she is thrown back into contact with the father of her child and now has to decide whether to accept the consequences of her past or keep on running.

There was a bit more hand-wringing, self-pity and evasion of truth than I like in a book, but the story moved well enough to make it bearable, and the motivations behind their actions was understandable. More than that, I liked Kane. He was a good man torn between his beliefs and his desires. Moriah wasn't as likeable - but she was still a sympathetic character. Melanie, their daughter, came from the casting couch of Children Too Adorable To Be Real. Somehow though, her effect was balanced by her mother's generally irascible attitude. I'm not sure how well Father Found would stand up on its own, but as a part of this series, it's among the better of the selections.

This is an interesting, well written book. The towns profiled are described in both their past "glory" and their current state. There are many good pictures and engaging accounts from old timers who where in on the boom. I just wish there was a better map to help place these towns. This is a welcome addition to my collection.

Dr. Chelsea Kearns returns to Rumor, MT as a forensics expert. She returns to face Pierce Dalton, the brother of her best friend, the town's mayor -- and her former lover. Unable to resist each other, Chelsea and Pierce pick up where they left off. Chelsea finds herself with child. Can she keep her news secret? What will the good mayor do when he finds out? I liked this book because the lead characters were a bit older than the norm and they were really well-drawn and likeable. This book also does a nice job of adding an undercurrent of mystery because Chelsea is investigating the murder of a town resident who evidently had a secret life.

Tad Brooks and Sherry Jones hiked the portion of the Continental Divide Trail from Waterton Lake to the southern boundary of Yellowstone in 1989. As the official CDT route is still under construction (or is as yet poorly maintained) in places, this book is now a bit dated; however it is still a useful adjunct to planning anything from a day hike to a through trek.

The authors have painstakingly set down detailed trail-finding information and mileage data. The book would have benefited from better editing in the elevation profiles--several of the figures are wrong, although use of a topo map should make these obvious. This book has been my introduction to the Montana CDT, and I'm still using it extensively for my own hikes.

The guide is the best I've found, but it's not a stand alone resource. It's more comprehensive and with better comparison tables than the older "Hiking the Bitteroots." However, it lacks good mapping. If you're gonna use this guidebook, also get the two plastic topo maps of the Selway Bitteroot Wilderness from the Forest Service.

If you're planning a trip to northwest Montana, this is the book to buy! This became my bible planning my family's vacation, and included all the information I needed including accommodations, activities for kids, area events and recreation. The book includes a history of each area,which I found of special interest. It made planning my trip so easy to do...I highly recommend it!

In economically depressed Jester, Montana, twelve of the local merchants each chip in a dollar every week for the Big Bucks Multi State Lottery. When one of their numbers hit, they win over $1 million each after taxes.
In this first installment in the Millionaire, Montana series, Shelly Dupree is struggling to keep the cafe/coffee shop she inherited from her parents open. She is two months behind in the rent and is about to be evicted when the lucky lottery numbers are drawn. With this new found financial freedom, Shelly plans to finally spend some quality Shelly time and indulge in some of her dreams of travel. When the press flock to Jester to cover everything they can about the new millionaires, one desperate young unwed mother abandons her baby in Shelly's cafe so Shelly can give the baby what the mother cannot. Shelly has no experience with babies since she spent all her time as a youth working in her parents cafe rather than baby sitting. When family services cannot come to pick up the baby for a few days because of staff shortages due to illness then weather, the local sheriff asks Shelly to look after the baby with the aid of the hunky new pediatrician, Connor O'Rourke. With Connor's help, Shelly soon builds confidence in her mothering abilities and falls in love with the baby while Connor is falling in love with Shelly.
Shelly is a strong heroine whose personal growth makes this book worth reading.

After reading "Killing Is My Specialty" I had to get Carlson's sequel on my recent trip through Wyoming. I found it in a bookstore in West Yellowstone, MT, leaving plenty of Wyoming time to read it.

Between the Horn book and the Lefors book, a mock trial had been held in Cheyenne wherein Horn was acquitted.

Although both books appear to be very well documented, I couldn't help but feel that Carlson may have a bit of bias in favor of Horn and against Lefors. Not being part of the Wyoming culture, it may be unfair to make that characterization, but it's what I felt.

An eminently readable book; not to be read without having read about Tom Horn first; preferably Carlson's account.

Kent Montana is an out of work actor that has a close encounter with an alien bent on destruction. Apparently, the alien has been watching a lot of 50's television, because quotes from several old western series pop up. Kent's companions include a sarcastic downstairs neighbor, a local prostitute and a scientist named Hooker. Sarcastic lines and pretty bad puns abound in this book. A must read for anyone with a warped sense of humor.