From the back of the book, a reader might expect just a simple love story between a man and a woman. So for those of us who didn't read the first two installments of this series, discovering this finely woven tapestry consisting of the multiple threads that bring together the townspeople of Buffalo Valley, North Dakota, creates a pleasant surprise.

The main characters, Margaret Clemens and Matt Eilers aren't exactly a love match. Margaret fell for him five years ago when Matt first came to town, but her lack of feminine grace prevents even a second glance. Raised by her widowed father and his six brothers, Margaret knows cattle as well as any ranch hand, but doesn't know her way around a kitchen or pantyhose.

The townsfolk of Buffalo Valley haven't take much to Matt, viewing him as shallow and conceited, despite his good looks. Margaret doesn't blind herself to his faults even when she proposes marriage, and knows that he accepts for the ranch they will share. Margaret knows there've been other women, but she underestimates the depths of deceit previous girlfriends might represent.

Matt's former girlfriend Sheryl proposes he marry Margaret just long enough to secure their financial future before he divorces her and they marry. Although Matt declines the plan, neither he nor Margaret realize the manipulations they are about to meet.

In addition to these terrific characters, other secondary characters create a wonderful depth. Axel, the little boy rescued from an abusive situation who will be torn from his rescuers and thrust into the foster system. Axel's parents who have their own secrets and flaws. Calla, the senior in high school, who plays one parent against another, not understanding what love really is. Calla's mother, who is pregnant and torn between the man she loves and the daughter who won't share. As characters emerge with their own story, the tapestry becomes rich, imaginative, and a marvelous reflection of life, in its most joyous aspects, as well as most painful.

ALWAYS DAKOTA is a deftly woven tapestry that is at once delicate with subtle nuances and bold with harsh realities. Like life, the resolutions aren't always what we want, but the realities and consequences of our choices are resolved with compassion, at times bringing tears to the eyes. Author Debbie Macomber threads are brilliant, beautiful, tawdry, and ugly, representing the beauty of life, as well as its baser counterpoint. Poignant, moving, compelling, ALWAYS DAKOTA comes very highly recommended.

As always Ms. Macomber has written a story that is not only believable but entertaining at the same time. This book is definitely five stars plus.

Always Dakota really doesn't focus on just Margaret and Matt. While they are suppose to be the main characters in this book equal time is given to Rachel and Heath, Sarah and Dennis, and Bob and Merrily. There are also the other towns people we have grown to love such as Maddy and Jeb, Hassie, and Joshua McKenna, just to name a few.

I found the storyline between Margaret and Matt to be extremely touching. There were tears in my eyes through much of their story. [...]

I was somewhat sad while reading this book, knowing it was the last in the trilogy. The folks in Buffalo Valley have become friends and I hated to see them go. It amazes me each time I read a Debbie Macomber book how I get to feeling as if these people and their problems really do exist in real life. Ms. Macomber writes with such life-like attitudes in her characters. This trilogy would definitely be a great movie. Please read!!!!!

Buffalo Valley rancher Bernard Clemons, knowing he is dying, meets with cowboy Matt Eilers. Bernard discusses his beloved daughter Margaret with Matt informing the latter that she loves him and plans to marry him. Matt says he will never marry Margaret and though Bernard does not believe the man is good enough for his only child, he knows differently.

After Bernard dies, a grieving Margaret offers Matt an opportunity to own a ranch, a dream he has had since he ranched with his deceased father in Montana. They marry, but his past haunts them as his ex-girlfriend claims he left her pregnant, something he does not deny.

The third and final installment in Debbie Macomber's warm Buffalo Valley series is a fine addition to the trilogy. ALWAYS DAKOTA is an entertaining tale that showcases realistic people living and dreaming in a small ranching community in North Dakota. The M&M couple consists of two independent individuals whose relationship seems a bit tepid when compared with that of the townsfolk. Still, Ms. Macomber has written another winning wholesome novel that will send fans of contemporary romance seeking the two previous books (see DAKOTA BORN and DAKOTA HOME).

Harriet Klausner

I believe I first read Larry Woiwode's short stories about the Neumiller family in The New Yorker and Harper's before they were woven together into this richly emotional novel about a family of young children whose mother becomes ill and dies. Although there is a whole range of deeply felt emotions in the book, it is often the heartbreak of everyday life that permeates the work. Meawhile, there is a near-Proustian depth of detail in the account of lives lived in small midwestern towns, first in North Dakota and then Illinois.

Woiwode also captures the dynamics of family life, particularly in the close relationship between the narrator and his slightly older brother (a relationship celebrated, explored, and lamented in a sequel novel, "Born Brothers"). It's been years since I read "Beyond the Bedroom Wall," but there are moments in it almost seared into memory like film images. That is partly due to Woiwode's poetic gift for language that makes you want to read and savor every word on every page.

In later years, Woiwode returned to North Dakota and has lived there in a rural community in a kind of self-imposed spiritual exile. The early writings, in my opinion, are far superior to his later work. When he wrote "Beyond the Bedroom Wall," he was at the peak of his powers as a storyteller. Yes, it's a "great" American novel.

I remember when this book first came out. I had gone to school with Larry and read it immediatey. I knew many of the family (in Illinois) and was once hired (I think I was 17) to drive one of the older gentlemen from Illinois to North Dakota for a visit, therefore I know some of the places there also. Larry's father was our school Principaland was one of the major influences on my life, maybe he gave me the interest to visit all the foreign countries that I have. I have spent nearly 30 years overseas since leaving school in, 1960. I just re-read the book and many old memories came back. Thank you for this book. Our little town and school (my 1960 class might have been 40 or 45 people, I just can't remember) produced some top notch talented people within a year or two of each other, Larry and his brother Danny being typical of them.

It's been years since I read this fine novel from cover to cover--but not so very long ago since my latest brief delve. It was not unlike visiting old friends or neighbors, and I was most happy to spend some time with them. Larry Woiwode brings the simple pleasures and heartbreaks of everyday life vibrantly to life in this book, a "family saga" in the very best sense. There's a real joy to watching the lives of these characters unfold, and a recognized danger in the closeness of family life--I still recall the dread with which I read when it became clear that one of the characters was facing death. Creating that depth of feeling in a reader is no mean feat, but Larry Woiwode pulls it off time after time, as adroitly as a bird landing on a twig. He is certainly one of America's most under-appreciated writers, and this is a wonderful place to begin discovering his talents. These characters and events will linger a long long time.

This book is about the relationship between the United States and the Sioux Nation from the signing of the 1851 Ft. Laramie treaty up to the present. The book centers around the efforts of the Wounded Knee Survivors Assoc. and their attorney Mario Gonzalez to obtain a formal apology from the U.S. government for the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre and the establishment of a National Tribal park at the massacre site. This book includes:

*Gonzalez' diary entries from 1989-1992--an excellent window to see firsthand how contemporary tribal governments work and how Native Americans on reservations interact with each other on a daily basis.

*Commentary (called chronicles)by Elizabeth Cooke-Lynn explaining events described in the diary entries including Gonzalez' efforts in stopping the payment of $100 million claims commission for the Black Hills in 1980, and his efforst in Europe from 1981 to 1984 to get the World Court to issue an advisory opinion on the illegal confiscation of the Black Hills.

*Appendices that include a complete chronology of Sioux land claims from the signing of the 1851 treaty up to the present--a must for anyone interested in Indian land claims.

*Excellent footnotes with valuable information found no where else including information about Chief Crazy Horse's family members contained in the probate records of Chief Crazy Horse's father.

This book is FASCINATING and should appeal to everyone! IT SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING IN EVERY NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES CLASS!

what elizabeth and mario have done is to create a work that will stand for the test of time! my favorite part of the whole book was when Elizabeth proudly states THAT NATIVE AMERICAN, ABORGIONAL, AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ARE NOT CITIZENS OF THE WHITE MAN'S NATION ! FOR EXAMPLE A PERSON WHO LIVES IN THE DINE NATION IS NOT A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE THEY NEVER ASKED FOR NOR DID WANT TO BE CITZENS OF THIS PATHETIC NATION! THEY ARE CITIZENS IN THEIR TRIBE AND NATION NOT OF THE PATHETIC UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR THE WORLD FOR THAT MATTER! READ THIS BOOK TO LEARN THE REAL HISTORY OF WOUNDED KNEE AND ABOUT A PEOPLE WHO ARE CHANGING HISTORY EVERY SINGLE DAY!

Wonderful workings of writing the whole truth. A must have, must read, must distribute widely!

'These Happy Golden Years' is an excellent book. One of the best in the Little House series. Laura is growing up and life for her is getting very interesting.

The book starts off rough for Laura. In order to make money for Mary's schooling, Laura is going away from home for the first time to teach school. She is staying with a family that has a very bitter wife who is not exactly friendly!

When Laura finally returns home she is happy to go back to school, but she is eager to earn more money. So, she helps the town dressmaker on Saturdays.

Mary is coming home for summer and Laura is so excited! The only problem is that she is staying with the dressmaker and her daughter out on their claim. Will Laura be able to go home and see Mary!?

As the book progresses Almonzo Wilder becomes even more a part of Laura's life. It is so sweet to read these two getting closer and more interested. Laura even helps Almonzo break some horses!

This book is interesting and sweet and the ending is wonderful! Pick it up today!

This book tells of 3 years of Laura's life between ages of 15, when she first goes out to teach school - to 18, when she gets married.

We witness Laura's growing up and realization that life is changing all around her. Mary is in college, and is independent enough to want to stay with a friend for the summer instead of coming home. It's obvious that Laura's relationship with her sisters and friends in school are changing - in 'Little Town on the Prairie' her school life for example, and her after school or weekend social activities with her friends are a large part of the book, but now we only hear of a few remote incidents, and we hardly hear anything about the going ons there, for instance we don't really get to know Florence, the new 'big girl'. This is partly due to the increasing role of Almanzo Wilder's part in Laura's life, but I think that is also partly due to the fact Laura isn't attending school full time anymore, but rather teaches school herself for a term or two a year.Except for Ida's small part in Laura's wedding, we don't hear of them any more for the rest of the series.

We also see Laura herself change: part of it is what I just mentioned about the change in what she describes in her social life. Another one would be her very detailed description of her clothes and fashions - even though we do hear about her dresses in previous books, she seems much more occupied with them this time, like any teenage girl... In betwen the lines, we do see that the Ingles family is doing better financially - they are improving their house, and can often afford luxuries such as a sewing machine and an organ for Mary.

I did find a few points I didn't like in this book, compared to the previous books in the series:

1) Instead of giving an account of a relatively short period (a year or 2, like in the previous books), we are now covering 3 years, and we usually get an 'in depth coverage' of a relatively short period, or a few remote incidents, then run through a long period which is skipped. Laura only described her first school with as much details as I was used to in her previous books, but the next 2 schools are hardly mentioned... It isn't as bad as her descriptions in 'The First Four Years', but it's still noticeable.

2) We get a lot more of Almanzo, while we get less of the pioneer life of that era... This is an autobiography of Laura's life, not a history book, I admit, but I think that the historical and cultural element of these books has been a major attraction for readers, especially the older ones.

This book tells about Laura Ingalls Wilder's teenage life. She goes from care free child to grown school teaching adult. The book shows what it was like to be a teenager in the late 1800's. What kind of parties they had, for instance sleigh rides and birthday. Plus, what it was like falling in love and courting!This book is a lot of fun and a wonderful conclusion to the "Little House" books. If you have any time at all I would really recommend reading this delightful book!

Sue is probably the most famous dinosaur ever to be dug up. She is famous for two reasons -- the quality of her bones and the story of what happened to her after she was exhumed.

This book tries to discuss dinosaur and T-rex science at the same time as it tells the story of Peter Larson -- who dug up Sue, spent months cleaning her off, lost her in court, then went to jail for two years on charges that never would have been pressed if not for the Sue dispute.

Unfortunately, this approach didn't work quite as well as the authors hoped it would.

The story about Larson's legal problems is horrific. In a nutshell, the government invalidated his purchase of Sue (for $5000 when she was still in the earth) on the grounds that the rancher whose land she was on did not have the right to sell her. Then they used the National Guard to take Sue (and all the business records of Larson's company). Then they searched the business records until they found something to charge him with -- incorrectly filling out his customs forms when he visited Peru. Then they threw him in jail for two years. It seems clear that they wanted to find him guilty of something to justify what they had done by stealing his dinosaur. Oh, and after all that they eventually let the rancher sell her again, this time for $8,000,000. Larson didn't even get his $5000 back.

But the obviously partisan story about the legal hassles distracts from the discussions of dinosaur science. And vice versa. Just when you start getting into the T-rex science, he stops talking about it and switches back to the legal problems. Then he interrupts that to talk about T-rexes again.

The format just didn't work for me. I ended up skimming past stuff I ordinarily would have read because I was trying to piece together the separate sections of the book. It was too irritating to read linearly.

Nevertheless, both the legal story and the dinosaur science are engrossing. I stayed up late at night reading it. It's not the content of the book I didn't like, it's the format.

This is not just another dinosaur book. It is not just another dinosaur book with some fascinating facts about T-rex. This is THE book about T-rex by one of the foremost authorities on this bad boy of the Cretaceous.

Peter Larson's intimate knowledge of this beast comes from excruciatingly hard-earned experience. While it is a recounting of the nightmare saga surrounding the Sue specimen, it is also a manifest of the current thinking regarding T-rex, its lifestyle, and place in prehistory. Despite his own grievous experiences with the legal system, there is no self-pity in Mr. Larson's book. He simply states the facts as he knows them to be, as any researcher worth his salt should.

An A+ all the way.

I concur completely with eloquent words of Niles Eldredge, distinguished invertebrate paleontologist at the American Museum of Natural History - and with his late friend Stephen Jay Gould, created the theory of punctuated equilibria - who notes that not only is this book a riveting saga, but also, "...a gripping account of a horrific episode in American paleontology that should never be allowed to happen again." This is simply one of the finest books on field paleontology that I've come across, told through the graceful - and at times - eloquent prose of Kristin Donnan, Pete Larson's ex-wife. Indeed, her splendid writing is occasionally as mesmerizing as Frank McCourt's lyrical prose in "Angela's Ashes", describing the legal affairs of Peter Larson and his firm, Black Hills Institue of Geological Research; legal affairs that seem as dismal as the tragic childhood which Frank endured.

Pete does an elegant job surveying what is known about Tyrannosaurus rex and its nearest relatives, drawing in part on his own ground-breaking research, which includes determining dinosaur sex. He also successfully conveys what is - and isn't romantic - about life as a field paleontologist. Yet the reader may find more compelling his descriptions of academic political fighting in vertebrate paleontology and the unjust seizure of "Sue" by the FBI which ultimately led to a U. S. government-orchestrated show trial against Pete and his colleagues at Black Hills Institute.

I was fortunate to meet Pete, his brother Neal and their Black Hills Institute colleagues years ago during the annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show when I was a brash graduate student of paleontology, highly skeptical of his motives. I was soon won over by Pete's sincerity and devotion to paleontology. Both his sincerity and love of paleontology are demonstrated repeatedly throughout this terse, yet still riveting, tome.

It's a pity that no major publisher is promoting "Rex Appeal". It's truly a splendid book worthy of such promotion. In light of the trials and tribulations which Pete, his family, friends and colleagues endured over "Sue's" legal battles, it seems appropriate to refer to this book as a paleontological "Angela's Ashes".

This (and Happy Golden Years) is my favorite book of the Little House series. The Ingalls family is doing well; the town has recovered from the Hard Winter; and Laura is changing from a girl into a woman. The descriptions of the characters and the surroundings are vivid and real. I don't care if Rose Wilder Lane wrote most of the books or not - the Little House series is a gift to all readers, not just young readers! I'm in my 30's and I still love to read them periodically, but this is one of my very favorites.

Little Town on the Prairie is my favourite book out of all the "Little House" series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I enjoyed this book more than the other books because it was happier, for there were not so many depressing times the Ingalls family had to endure.
The title is self-explanatory, a little town on the prairie, which is in Dakota, USA. The story is set during the 1880's. The Ingalls family, consisting of six people, was always moving from place to place. When they came to Dakota, they were very happy with it. Their little "shanty" that they stayed in during the summer was built into a new, improved house. Mary, the oldest sister, is accepted into the college of the blind, and Laura continues school and has a summer job. Things are going very well at the Ingalls household. There is enough food for everyone, and there wasn't another hard winter, like everyone expected. Most problems have solutions like when there were gophers eating their corn, they got a cat to kill them. The only problem is school, because of the new teacher, Eliza Jane Wilder. She is Almanzo Wilder's sister. She turns out to be horribly mean to Laura and her younger sister, Carrie, because Nellie Oleson (Laura's enemy mentioned before in "The Banks of Plum Creek") told the teacher negative remarks about Laura. Soon, a new teacher replaces her. All of the problems work themselves out somehow, which is what I like about this book.
In my opinion, Laura Ingalls Wilder does an exquisite job captivating all her readers with her refined choice of words, meticulous detail, and up-beat plot. This is absolutely the best piece she's written. She does an admirable job of describing the setting so it makes you feel like you're right there, witnessing the whole scene. The book also has a good balance of good times and bad times, because if it was all bad times the book would seem depressing, and if it was all good times, the book would seem hard to believe. I would recommend this book for those who enjoy realistic fiction or historical fiction. I think a possible theme for this story would be hold on, things will get better. This theme is displayed throughout all the "Little House" series. This is my all time favourite book, and I hope you enjoy it, too.

Since I've first read this book when I was a little younger than Laura, so I was really excited to read what life was like 'back then' for kids my age.

The hard winter is finally over, and the Ingalls family finally moves out to their claim, where Laura enjoys the outside work and the sunshine. But then she is offered a job as a seamstress in town, and takes it even though she misses the outdoors. The work is hard, and the environment is unpleasant, but Laura sticks it out.

Ma=ry finally has a chance to go to the blind college in Iowa, and while Ma and Pa take her there, Laura, Carrie and Grace clean the house.

School finally begins again, and an unpleasant surprise comes along on the first day - Nellie Oleson from Plum Creek, who schemes and causes trouble. The high point of this situation is the troble between Laura and Ms. Wilder, the teacher, who only hears unpleasant things about Laura from Nellie, and Laura's short temper, especially where Carrie is concerned, does not help the situation... But Ida, the new girl, is nice enough to make up for Nellie's unpleasantness.

Laura is grown up enough to want fashionable cloths and all other fashionable things other girls her age in school have, such as name cards. She is invited to parties and attends her first evening sociable.

We start seeing the relationship between Laura and Almanzo Wilder start developing (even though I think her relationship with his sister, her unpleasant ex - school teacher, might give things an interesting twist).

Dakota Lane keeps her readers entralled in johnny Voodoo, a novel that explores young romance and intense characters. Johnny and Deirdre find themselves in a world all their own learning together how hard love can be. I love this book and I've reread it so many times. I recommend this book to all young readers out there. I hope Dakota Lane creates a sequel to this book. I long to read more of Johnny and Deirdre

I read Johnny Voodoo for my 2nd period English class. I thought that it was one, if not the best book that I have ever read. It is about two outcasts who are brought together through love. It is more of a romantice book and some people are not in to them but if you are I think that you would enjoy this book. The two outcasts are Deirdre and Johnny and the story takes place in Charmette, Louisiana. Deirdre moves to Charmette from New York and she is very lonely there until she meets Johnny who is a homeless teenager. Deirdre classmates see them together one day and they make fun of her because some of the girls think that Johnny is good looking and they are jealous of Deirdre. So, she does not have many friends in Charmette. Deirdre has one other thing that upsets her and it is her father. He is not the nicest person to her and her mother died when she was little. But, like I said it is more of a romance so if your in to that I recommend that you read this.

I always seem to come back to this book and read it over and over again. The compelling atmosphere of love and utter revoltion combined with delicious details sucks me right into the story and I REALLY wish I was there. It's like I can smell the damp woods, it's wonderful! Too bad she had to have a father to spoil it all...

Wayne Sarf's Little Bighorn Campaign is a clearly written and accurate account of the famous battle of 1876. Its other great virtue is balance. Sarf presents all aspects of this complex event in a fair and readable manner, a "must read" for anyone interested in the Littler Bighorn Campaign.

Here's where to start if you want to read just one book on the Summer Campaign of 1876 against the "off-reservation" plains indians. This paperback from 2000 is a reprint, with a few minor corrections of misprints, of the 1993 hardback edition. The only actual new text is the "preface to the revised edition," dated May 1999.

Sarf's approach is even-handed, and he has a real eye for telling details and for vivid quotes from participants and eyewitnesses. Boxes set apart from the main text give needed detail and background, particularly on individuals participating. A great deal of exotic color is provided by the various indians who rode with both sides in the conflict. For example, riding with General Crooke were The Other Magpie, a beautiful female warrior, and Finds Them And Kills Them, a transvestite who dressed and lived as a woman except during battles! You don't encounter soldiers of that calibre in most military histories!

The Summer Campaign of 1876 is distinguished by the almost staggering military incompetence displayed by the U.S. Army leaders. Apart from Custer, who generally seemed to know what he was up to, and the canny Nelson Miles, virtually every commander in the field seemed to be clueless, cowardly, vacillating, and in a couple of cases (Gibbon comes to mind at once) apparently paralyzed by mental illness.

Well-written and extremely readable. If you have ever wondered how Custer really got into that very bad fix, this is the best place to start your quest for understanding, and Sarf also offers a good annotated list for further reading.

Wayne Sarf has researched all the master historians in the past and present to provide a fascinating well written history and objective book on the LBH and Sioux Campaign. The book tells the complete history of the campaign from its inception to its finale, Custer's and the Sioux's as a free people. Sarf quotes both the participants concerning their actions in the campaign as well as perspectives of major historians. He also offers his own views based on the historical record and logic. An important example is his evidence and commentary concerning General Terry's June 26th rendezvouz which is pure fiction and self serving. As Sarf well proves, Custer acted judiciously and appropriately based on the information, circumstances and the expectations provided to him in synch with all the military commanders . Unfortunately for him, the circumstances changed once he was committed to the attack. Wonderful perspectives including side bars on the military participants, weapons and Native Americans. Also includes a readers guide for additional reading including critiques and some cheeky comments.

I read this book almost two years ago, but I still remember how much it captured my attention. I think what made the book so interesting is the fact that it didn't create a phony atmosphere. Everything was so real and their problems were so crushing that I think I better understood what a hard life many immigrants went through. I appretiate the spiritual side of the book too. I think it's a great witness when writers use Jesus Christ as a key player in their character's lives. I have also read the next two books in the series and am looking forward to the third. I have a lot more to say of the book, but I'll leave it at this; it's a great book for people interested in history and in love with great reading!

This book was almost too real. The Christian characters were far from perfect and very believeable. It offered true insight into the hardships of settling a new land in the 1800's, much more than Little House on the Prairie, in that you could see and feel the struggle and sacrifices in their life. It was riveting and I can't wait to read the next one.

This book is really a tear jerker!!!! I won't give it away but you can feel all the hardships that Kaaran and Ingeborg go through as the make their way towards their promised land. I would just like to know, When is there going to be a movie?

The Red River of the North series of books by Lauraine Snelling are fabulous books. If you have any Scandinavian heritage...or even if you don't...you will like these books. I have gained insight into how many of my relatives came to America through Ellis Island and settled in the Mid West states. I highly recommend!

Lauraine Snelling is such a wonderful writer. You can relate to the character's behaviors and beliefs. She does a wonderful job getting you to feel like you are there in the book.

This is just a wonderful, clean, refreshing book/series. She gets so many emotions zinging through you as you are reading.

Ingeborg and Kaaren get help from another Bjorklund, Haakan, who helps make the farm life easier for Ingeborg although she has to come to grips with many issues. All the characters are easy to like and make the hard work of our ancestors clear. Through Ingeborg's problems with winters in the soddy, the books brings the hardships of those settlers to fruit. Andrew and Thorliff are such fun to read about! Lauraine Snelling has a truly wonderful and memorable work in this family's story.