From the back...
Hutch was totally inappropriate for Betsy--But the two of them were so made for each other, it hardly mattered. They seemed to share not only passion, but genuine affection. They never ran out of things to say, and Hutch understood Betsy on an instinctual level, despite all the strikes against them--her cousin Ruth McKinney's disapproval, her mother's purported nervous breakdown, her father's stony silence, the terrible burden of her money and the reluctance of both of them to entertain any thought of marriage. They might not have a future, but their present seemed practically incandescent.

In my Opinion...
Just like the back of the book said-Hutch and Betsy were made for each other. They were as different as night and day, but they loved each other and that is all that should matter. Unfortunately, life is not always that easy. Betsy comes from a rich family and a troubled past. Hutch helps Betsy to deal with her past, but even he has a hard time dealing with her money. Her family, of course, think that Hutch is totally unsuitable. They manipulate and threaten Betsy, and although they cause her to have doubts, she never loses sight of the fact that she loves Hutch. Hutch loves Betsy, but feels that letting her go is the best thing he could do for her. It may take losing her for him to realize just how much she means to him. In this book, we also get good news about Cal and Serena. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes Ruth and Tyler and promises to bring rough times in their future. Hutch and Betsy may be new characters to the Crystal Creek series, but they are a good addition.

I liked this book a lot, but the author confused Mary of Bethany with Mary Magdalene. The author had Jesus speaking to Mary of Bethany after He was resurrected, but the Bible makes it clear that it was Mary Magdalene who Jesus spoke to. The author placed Mary, Martha, and Lazarus on location as Jesus was being baptized. There is a little romance also between Levi (AKA Matthew) and Mary of Bethany. Overall, the book was very good and I would recommend it. The author bring the characters to life.

This is a book by an author that knows her stuff! Not knowing the oil business I found the insights technical, but interesting and you quickily warm to Bailey and friends. Left me wanting to go find a horse and a big wide plain to ride...

Authors Vicki Lewis Thompson, Cathy Gillen Thacker and Bethany Campbell have made this reviewer a new fan of the delightful small town of Crystal Creek and its charming citizens. As it faces the radical changes of moving into the new decade, Crystal Creek's determination to maintain small town closeness provides a delightful refuge to readers longing to escape the hurried pace and impersonal feeling of big cities.

"I'll Take Texas" by Bethany Campbell: In the midst of May Madness, a stranger moves through evaluating the landscape and its inhabitants. Nick Belyle brings the promise of radical change in the guise of progress with his representation of Castle Enterprises. But his mysterious errand and its consequences promise to affect all of Crystal Creek. Worse, the last thing Nick expected was to confront the girl he never forgot, or the explosive passion they could share if their interests were not so divided by his job.

Author Bethany Campbell pens a powerful tale of lovers caught in star-crossed purposes, confronting the desires of the heart and the demands of loyalty in a story both tender and passionate. Shelby Sprague mistrusts slick men with big city values. Nick is loyal to Castle Enterprises and the miracles the owner made possible. While progress must continue, Campbell pens a solution that shakes the small town of Crystal Creek without destroying it.

"Made for Lovin' You" by Cathy Gillen Thacker: Claire Page left her groom standing at the altar after a stunning disclosure left her unable to marry her blue-blooded fiancé. Now she seeks refuge from the gossip in Crystal Creek, planning to stay away from another relationship until she has time to heal. However, her fierce independence only serves as a challenge to veterinarian Dusty Turner, who cannot resist this sexy city-girl. The more she pushes him away, the more Dusty becomes determined to prove that time has no meaning in matters of the heart.

Cowboys, pick-up trucks and spicy Tex-mix make for a flavorful combination with Cathy Gillen Thacker's pen. Claire wisely refuses to salve one broken romance by springing immediately into a new one. Her feistiness and sassiness make for a lively read, especially when Dusty is equally determined to enjoy the magic of love, despite the unfortunate romantic circumstances that drove them both to Crystal Creek. Thacker presents a lovely tale of small town values, healing and enchantment.

"She Used to be Mine" by Vicki Lewis Thompson: Teague Sloan Jr. returns to Crystal Creek on a traitor's mission. Once an employee of the Hole in the Wall Dude Ranch, now he has been contracted to move their exotic animals elsewhere to prepare for Castle Enterprise's extreme changes. Kendra Lynn Burton fell in love with Teague during their time there, but refused to follow him to the big city when he left. Instead, she makes plans to dig her roots even deeper, no matter how Teague uses his return visit to lure her away.

Vicki Lewis Thompson uses her skills to blend hot passion with tender emotion to great effect in "She Used to be Mine." Teague's carefully planned seduction that goes awry will touch reader's hearts, even as his determination to win the woman he loves puts him directly at cross-purposes with her dreams. With a shared history but different goals, Kendra and Teague seem to find themselves at an impasse that only the charm of Crystal Creek can overcome.

Small town Crystal Creek confronts traumatic change when Castle Enterprises lures sellers with millions. From the first moment Nick appears in town, Crystal Creek will never be the same. Nevertheless, authors Thompson, Thacker and Campbell confront those changes with unique voices even as they all move through the transitions gracefully. Readers who have not yet enjoyed a quiet afternoon in Crystal Creek will treasure its memorable citizens and new friends. Readers who've treasured this town through the previous twenty-seven books will take great pleasure in this RETURN TO CRYSTAL CREEK.

Evil inhabited the town

Some kind of madness had overtaken everyone but Valery Essex. Lifetime neighbors were lying under oath. Planting evidence in her backyard. Making midnight phone calls designed to terrorize her. Unless Valery got to the heart of the madness, she would be separated forever from her little boy. Convicted of a crime she hadn't committed. Imprisoned without ever knowing who had kileld her husband- or why.

Valery counted on Nikolas Grady , a newcomer who swore to uncover the conspiracy. But in a town in thrall of evil, even Nikolas was not what he seemed.

These stories are quick and easy to read chapter books about two homeschooled girls who travel with their dad when he goes to help missionaries all over the world. At each location Annie & Hope have a mysterious adventure but they always solve the problem in a Christian way. Great. Love these stories. I'm in third grade...homeschooled, of course!

This is a gripping, page turner that is hard to put down, once the reader has picked it up. Fast paced and highly suspenseful, the story revolves around a female character named Jaye Garrett. Independent, intelligent, and resourceful, the epitome of a modern woman, thirty three year old Jaye is stunned to learn that not only is her beloved brother, Patrick, practically on his death bed with leukemia, but that only a bone marrow transplant can save him. When she quickly offers hers up, she is stunned to find out that both she and her brother are not related by blood , as they were both adopted in private "black market" adoptions.

Determined to find Patrick's blood relatives in the hope of finding one who is a match for a bone marrow transplant that could save his life, Jaye embarks on a journey that takes her to Cawdor, Oklahoma, where she teams up with an attorney from Philadelphia who is there on his own similar quest on behalf of a client. In Cawdor, their investigation brings them into conflict with a group of people who will do anything to stop the past from being revived. When Jaye relentlessly rakes up the past in order to find those who have the potential to save her beloved brother's life, she sets in motion a series of events that could cost her her own life. These people will stop at nothing, not even murder, to quell inquiry into a part of the town's history that will not withstand scrutiny.

This book will appeal to those readers who enjoy thrillers, mysteries, novels of suspense, or just a good, quick, page turning read. This one delivers!

This book is fast-paced, gripping, scary, romantic, and sometimes funny, as well. The heroine, Jaye, knows she has a difficult task before her--finding a marrow donor for her beloved adopted brother. But Jaye doesn't realize her quest to save her brother's life puts her own deeply in danger--the past is full of secrets, some of them deadly.

Trying to trace her brother's roots, Jaye goes to a small town in Oklahoma, where she joins forces with a deceptively nice young lawyer--who's not quite what he seems to be. The quiet little town isn't nearly as peaceful as it appears on the surface, either; it contains both villains and victims who are terrified that the truth will come out.

This book deals with some difficult and emotional issues, and it kept me interested from cover to cover. I would love to see it made into a film, because it has strong protagonists, dramatic situations, and the creepiest set of villains I can remember in a long time.

As for one reviewer's problem with the character LaBonny taking a certain whiz, it seemed to me highly indicative of LaBonny's contemptuous attitude--he was not only expressing disrespect for his employer, but, animal-like, was marking the territory he intended to make his own. Of all the villains, he is the least human and the one most often represented as acting on an animal level.

The actor Chris Cooper would make a great LaBonny; Cameron Diaz would be the perfect Jaye; and for the hero, Turner, Ben Affleck could convey just the right combination of charm and sometimes reluctant ruthlessness.

I loved this book, from the scarey, mysterious first moments deep in the past to when, thirty years later, the feisty heroinie enters the scene! Jaye Garrett is determined to save her adopted brother's life. She has a difficult double job--unraveling what happened three decades ago--and trying to dodge the forces that don't want her to know anything at all. Like all good suspense books, there's more than thrills and chills at stake. The writer gets into emotional and family issues that are gripping and highly intense. Anyone whoever struggled to untangle an adoption issue in the family should read this book. It tells it like is is, and sometimes it makes you cry, but mostly it's a story of a woman's strength.

This is a silly, shallow story with LOUSY artwork. It did not hold my child's attention at all--or mine. I love good children's books, and this one was a waste of my time and money. Save yours!

This book is is full of adventure and imagination. I would recommend this book to any parent or grandparent because of it's content, charm, sense of action, and the wonderfully articulated paintings that give the manuscript direction and life. The book promotes family time, quiet time, and the wonderful comraderie between grandparent and grandchild. The writing was fluid and easy to recite, and the illustrations were filled with vibrant figures, landscapes, and color--lots of warm color!This book was well worth my money. My grandchild and I read it each time he comes to visit.

In this bedtime book, Gramps and Jesse rock in front of the fire. Not sleepy, they imagine pictures in the flames- an apple tree, a garden path, a castle. But suddenly they see a fire dragon! With the dragon chasing them, they scramble up a tree, ride a hot air balloon, race horseback down a mountain, bike through a jungle, and run down a tunnel. When the dragon gets too close to Gramps, quick-thinking Jesse saves the day. This fast-paced adventure keeps kids on the edge of their seats, but the roly-poly dragon is never too scary for little ones. The ending is sleepy and cozy, as Gramps and Jesse fall asleep together in the rocking chair. The brightly colored illustrations depict appealing characters and a delightful imaginary world. A lovely book about a warm grandparent-grandchild relationship, it is also about the wonderful world of the imagination and the joys of storytelling.

A few weeks ago I came across the Jerome Doolittle book "Body Scissors"-his first Tom Bethany mystery novel. It is an excellent book and I was impressed by the quality of writing, the attention to detail and the characterization. I then found and bought Doolittle's 4th novel, "Head Lock," expecting more of the same high quality work. What a disappointment! Doolittle, who was a speech writer for former president Jimmy Carter, is still stewing over the fact that Carter was a one-term president. Doolittle's venomous hate for former president Reagan et al was apparently too much to contain, and in "Head Lock" he has a political hissy fit. Throughout the novel he heaps abuse and saracasm on Reagan, George Bush, Christians, pro-lifers, L. A. police, Republicans, Conservatives-any and all that he envisions as an enemy of Carter and the True Left. This book is a political temper tantrum masquerading as a novel. And if the abuse Doolittle shovels out isn't enough to turn you off, the "heroes" of this book are (a)a prostitute who has murdered two people and repeatedly bedded a teenaged boy; (b)a married mother of two who carries on a steamy affair with the detective hero, while her husband smiles his approval; (c)a detective (Tom Bethany) who breaks a dozen laws to entrap and blackmail a cartoon-character anti-abortion leader. Then, at book's end, Bethany preaches a long, boring sermon to the reader about the efficacy of religious faith vs. good works. What drivel! I give this book one star --- a star because Doolittle has provided us with compelling written evidence showing why Carter (and his aides like Doolittle) were thrown out of the White House after four years.

Once again, Jerome Doolittle is unafraid to take on issues that are controversial. Via Tom Bethany, the non working workaholic, he inserts some thought provoking insights into the heated debate of abortion. Perhaps the most frightening part is the antagonistic characters may be ousted from Jerome's book and placed into the world and we would be able to identify them. Jerome knows how to weave a story and fill it with humor, comraderie, and perhaps even a touch of wishful thinking.

Though Jerome Doolittle can scorch the souls of Republicans, dishonest businessmen, dopey politicians and a lot of other of folks, he saves his greatest venom for hypocrites.
In Head Lock, he finds a good one, a preacher, outspoken opponent of abortion, senatorial wannabe and sexual miscreant.
I've been reading several of the Doolittle series featuring the somewhat odd private investigator Tom Bethany in the last few months, and, unfortunately, have read them a little out of order. This is not a fatal mistake; I've just found myself a little confused by the lives of some of Bethany's friends as they leave one career--say, operating a massage parlor, for another, running a religious theme park. That's also not the fault of the author or his sharp writing. Doolittle is a must read for anyone appalled by what passes for political and moral leadership in this day and age. Be prepared for some of Doolittle's zingers, hurled at many people in all of his Bethany books, but thrown with a little extra sting at phony moralizing. Suffice it to say that, in this book, Bethany puts away the bad guy in fine fashion, though not until after he's done irreparable harm to a teenager he doesn't even know. I recommend Doolittle without qualms; someone has to take on the phonies of the world and not be real nice about it in the process.

This is a complete take-off on Thomas Tryon's great
"Harvest Home."
Now, I read and really appreciate Robert McCammon but this book...save your time and get "Harvest Home."
Jude

My second Mccammon book after the wonders of Boy's Life and i knew not to expect much from this early attempt at a horror novel It starts ok-ish but ends up as some James bond story that is just beyond belief. The characters are tame and I just couldnt care how it was going to end. He tried hard to make it creepy but really over did it making everything appear scary and therefore taking away the surprise element. what got me was how he tried to introduce a quaint Englishness into the dialect by saying 'by God' all the time. But this is Middle America Robert ?

After reading the reviews posted here, I approached Bethany's Sin with a degree of caution as it wasn't that highly rated. But having enjoyed almost every other Robert McCammon book I've read, I didn't think it could be all bad. I'm happy to say that I found this book most enjoyable. Bethany's Sin is a small Pennsylvania town where the main character Evan, his wife Kay, and his daughter Laurie move. It's soon apparent that life in this town is not as quaint and peaceful as it first appeared. Kay begins having horrific and violent nightmares after meeting the towns mayor and primary antagonist, Kathryn Drago. It's up to Evan to unravel the dark secrets of the town before its too late to save himself and his family from the horrors of the coming "killing month". Sin is fairly quick read and has an interesting slant on the legend of the Amazon women and their hostile relationship with men. Some of the descriptions of this are downright brutal. It's a good horror story with some very creepy moments. Well worth reading in my opinion.