Book Two of the series "Jeannie, a Texas Frontier Girl," by Evelyn Horan is, without a doubt, the best children's book I've read since, well, the first one. Ms. Horan's work has been compared to that of Laura Ingalls Wilder, but in my opinion, she has proven to be an even better author. These books may be for children, but I, even though I am an adult, love them, and as I'm reading, I cannot wait to see what happens next with Jeannie and her family and good friend, Helga. The setting is the Texas frontier during the late 1800's, and Ms. Horan does an excellent job at edifying while entertaining the reader. Horan makes a wonderful transition from the first to the second book, and in Book Two, we see Jeannie and her friend Helga starting to grow up, the changes that take place in both Jeannie's and Helga's families, are introduced to a Comanche Indian family, and dream along with Jeannie as to what her future will hold. I'm excitedly looking forward to Book Three and hope Ms. Horan will continue these books for years to come. Ms. Horan is our present-day Wilder, an author whose work is so wholesome and wonderful, and I predict she will be a national bestseller in a very short amount of time. Cudos for an excellent book.

At her site, Professional Reviewer and Editor, Lisa of Bookreviewcafe.com, writes concerning her review of Jeannie, A Texas Frontier Girl Book Two:

In Book Two of Jeannie, A Texas Frontier Girl, only good things can be said about it! A very simple story involving a very complicated girl;Jeannie! Turning fourteen, Jeannie is getting to be a mature, young lady. Many things are in store for her and her friends this year. The girls learn to cook, sew and crochet and take care of Helga's new baby brother. These new skills will help them in the future. Living in the 1880's is hard work. You learn to grow up fast. Jeannie's wish for her own horse ranch might be coming true due to unexpected money. Will she be old enough next year to have a ranch? Who will she want to work on her ranch with her? She might have someone in mind! Evelyn Horan has a genuine flair for writng. The main characters Jeannie, Helga, Billy Joe and Henry all have great personalities. You really end up knowing them all personally! This series-four books in all-is a wonderful collection to keep for your children as they get older. Such wholesome stories should be read aloud to kids of all ages!
Lisa-Editor
Bookreviewcafe.com

Reviewer: Jennifer LB Leese...

This reviewer has had the privilege of reading Evelyn Horan's first Jeannie adventure book and immediately fell in love book two. Her writing style is unique, clear, and fun. Horan fills each of her books with detail, making it easy for readers to visualize the characters and scenery.

Young Jeannie is your average little frontier girl from the 1800s. She likes to train her horses, cook, sew, play with her school friends, and of course, she loves to go on adventures.

This book is a real page-turner! Young readers will enjoy the fun and excitement this book provides. Bravo!

Horan is a former teacher and counselor, and multi-published author. ...

This book was without a doubt one of the most enjoyable books that I have ever had the pleasure of sharing with students and teachers alike. I have used this book in numerous workshops that I have taught and have always found a warm delightful reaction to the reading of this book. Students from ages 6 to 12 absolutely love the text and the illustrations. I'm ready for another fractured fairy tale. Keep 'em coming like this!

This book fit perfectly into my first grade class Cinderella study. Just when my first graders thought they could predict the characters and setting of most Cinderella stories--from traditional to contemporary--they had not expected a CinderFELLA. And, let alone with a Texas Style humor to it. This book was not only entertaining in it's choice of language but the illustrations were outstanding. The kids asked me more than once, "That's not what it says!" They wanted to read it for themselves. This was a testament to their interest in the playful language of the book. My first grade students continue to be excited and motivated to read it on their own. The illustrations were carefully illustrated to allow my students to construct the story in their little minds as I read it to them. They were also appropriate to the text and to the content and quite life-like.

Our whole family LOVES Bubba! This is a fantastic, extremely funny twist on the old "Cinderella" tale. The art work is amazing - we delight in the illustrations and the book is just plain fun to read! My daughter adores the fact that Bubba [the "boy" Cinderella in this tale] wants to go to the ball with Miz Lurlene [its a cool change!].

We read this in a Texas drawl [you almost can't help it!] and just have loads of laughs with every re-reading. We originally checked this out of the library on a whim and have since bought our own copy [and will probably be giving copies for birthday presents too!]. This book is money well spent - and one I truly don't mind reading for the 3,000th time!

A good man who needs love and doesn't know it; a fine woman who needs freedom and love, and knows it. : ) After reading the first of the TEXAS books, I didn't much care for Dallas, the cold fish. BUT....Ms. Heath, who has an absolute talent for making my heart warm and my eyes gushy, has redeemed this ambitious, empire-builder and given her readers a story full of what we want--good people, true love, obstacles to overcome, and an ending requiring a handful of tissues.

All I can say is BUY Ms. Heath's romances! ALWAYS TO REMEMBER is high on my romance keeper shelf, as is PARTING GIFTS. I am eager to read Austin's story in the next TEXAS book. I hope Ms. Heath's editor gives her the go-ahead to write two more: the story of that sexy preacher and the story of the boy-waif in this latest novel.

Mir Schultz

After reading Texas Destiny, the first in this trilogy, I was eager for Ms. Heath's next book. I was very skeptical, however, about the main character for this book. Ms. Heath does not disappoint, though. She took a life-hardened man and let us see inside his shell. Once you understand his point of view, which is easy with Ms. Heath's insight, he becomes quite lovable. It was a joy to see how the other character's lives have progressed, and I can hardly wait to read Austin's tale!

I have just finished reading the first two parts of this trilology. I can not wait until the next book arrives. I read Texas Destiny and Texas Glory in two days time, I have never been so moved by a story ever in my life. I just wanted to reach in and be a part of everyones lives, for the most part I felt as if I was really there as events unfolded. Lorraine Heath is a fabulous author, and as long as she keep writing with that much emotion and spirit, I shall continue to purchase and read her works of heart.

Reynolds has published in other genres and his command of the art of writing fiction makes his first crime novel competitive with the best works of the best crime novelists. The dialogue, descriptive passages, realistic violence and comic breaks give the book the sort of rhythym you want to dance to, if you could only put the book down, which you'll find you can't. Reynolds' well-established reputation as a literary novelist will not suffer in the least from this delightful jump into genre. He brings his keen-eyed, unsentimental compassion to each of his characters in Players. Even minor characters will stay in your mind for weeks after reading the book. Especially if you pride yourself on being up on crime fiction, you need to read this book now so you can brag about "discovering" it later. And if you've never read crime fiction, but feel like a dash into neon, this is exactly the place to start--a book that sacrifices none of the grit, scorns the glitter, yet offers a deep humanity as well. Of course, you don't ever have to read Players; but then again, you don't have to watch your favorite sport or drink your favorite beer ever again either. It's just that life is too short to deny yourself such wonderful pleasures

Players has got be one of the best books written in years. Reynolds ability to keep you thinking shines in this work. The plot is so well done and involved. It is one you will not be able to put down. A 10 without doubt!!!

If you're looking for sentiment then forget this book--it's peopled with the strangest assortment of people since Charles Dickens' London eccentrics. No one can be trusted; few are as they seem. "Pulp Fiction" springs to mind as a comparison--it reads like a good film--vivid scenes--cars pumped full of bullets and left in stock tanks, heads mailed FedEx, two of the strongest, spunkiest women in recent fiction, a character who looks like a shrub--I don't usually read mystery or crime fiction, but I couldn't put this one down--too much happens and waaayy too fast. Great read--great escape and, as a native Texan, I can vouch for the authenticity of the settings (if I could vouch for the authenticity of the characters I would probably not be around to read--no one lasts long in a "Players" world)

A truly inspiring read and insight to the Pecos. Gradys recipes will revitalize the aura in your in pots and pans as well as the entire kitchen. The book is simple yet creative and above all the recipes are great fun to eat. Set your tables in the motif, cook from the book, dress the part and you've got a great evening with good friends

What a fantastic cookbook. I saw a copy at my parents' house, and I was charmed by the photos and design, so I hinted at a birthday gift selection. The parents obliged, and A COWBOY IN THE KITCHEN has become my favorite cookbook. I discovered that the terrific photos and graphics are only the tip of the iceberg -- the recipes are just fantastic. I have made probably 8 or 9 of them so far, and every one was a joy to make and even more of a joy to eat! In particular, the Spicy Tomato Soup with Sourdough Croutons has been a real hit with friends at dinner parties. The classic Chicken Fried Steak with Cream Gravy is simply divine. It's a great combination of old-timey, classic country comfort food and new-fangled, flavorsome delights. The classic Ranch Dressing and fancier Sherry Vinaigrette have become the standard salad dressings in my kitchen. I can't say enough good things about this book!

Received Cowboy in the Kitchen as a present last Christmas. Having eaten at the Gage Hotel, Marathon and the Reata in Alpine Texas, where Grady Spears was chef, I couldn't put the book down until I read it cover to cover. It's an outstanding collection of authentic Trans-Pecos and Big Bend stories and genuine ranch-hand recipes with a touch of TexMex-New Mexico flavoring. Just try a couple of the recipes and you're lassoed on the book and recipes.

Ms. Reeves has crafted a gem of a historical romance novel featuring interesting characters-- particularly a hero and heroine the reader can't help but fall in love with.

Nick Balfours is black. Enid Jamison is white. And in post civil war Texas, any romantic relationship between the two is not only considered a social taboo -- but downright dangerous.

This is a very well-researched novel with historical detail so accurate it's like taking a step back in time. MY BUFFALO SOLDIER is an action-packed, fast paced read that kept me turning the pages until the very last. Simply put, it's one of the best novels I've read all year and definitely one for the keeper shelf.

I look forward to reading many more novels by this author.

My Buffalo Soldier was a great read -- fast-paced, romantic and action-packed. I very much enjoyed the "courtship" between the two main characters. Because of society's stigma they did their best to control how they felt about each other, but the passion finally broke through. As a reader I was rooting for them all the way. I also thought the author did a stellar job of balancing the social problems with the romance; the weaving of the two conflicts made for a non-stop plot. The story is full of characters that are well-rounded and interesting. Set in post-Civil War Texas, the book was well-researched and gave the reader a real flavor for life . . . and death . . . in the 1870's. To the author, thank you for not wimping out at the end. The action and romance kept me glued to the book to the last page. All I can say is, "any chance for a sequel?" Hats off to the publisher and the author for having the guts to tell this story. I highly recommend this read.

Barbara (BK) Reeves has outdone herself with My Buffalo Soldier. Set in Post Civil War Texas, Sergeant Nick Balfours, a black man and buffalo soldier at the end of his military career, thinks he has his life after the service pretty much planned out until Enid Jamison, a white Confederate widow, arrives on the scene. The story carries them through their forbidden courtship. Eventually they ignore society's forbidden stigma, listen to their hearts and fall deeply in love. Impeccably researched, My Buffalo Soldier offers a taste of Texas history with a flavor of the cultures that made Texas what it is today - Mexican, Indian, African American and the frontier way of life. I commend the author for writing this story and the publisher for making it available to the world. I wholeheartedly recommend My Buffalo Soldier to anyone interested in romance stories or western historical fiction.

To some romance readers Jane Graves might be better known for her Harlequin titles under the name of Jane Sullivan. I GOT YOU, BABE is her first single title release and it is a very sexy, witty and funny debut.

On the run from the police and one mean bounty hunter, stuck with a broken down car, no money and no spare clothes, Renee Esterhaus needs to hitch a ride. And what better way to do it in the middle of Texas than offering a country hick a long and hot night of mind-blowing sex; too bad that the guy is John DeMarco, not a farmer, but a tough and edgy cop on a forced vacation.

I GOT YOU, BABE is a fast paced story laced with constant action and sparkling dialogue. It had me in giggles from the first page and groaning in embarrassment more than once. Minor characters add, in their over the top mannerisms and stereotypical behaviour, more than enough comic flavour. They might not be deep but definitely very entertaining.

I really loved this book. I loved it for its not'so-perfect heroine, for a hero that is trying so very hard to appear tough only to fail when around his chosen lady and for a sexual tension that is not just based on good looks but on trust

This is one author I will be watching out for and so should you!

I'm so surprised, but I ended up loving this book. This book was actually recommended to me by Amazon.com (you know, that thing that pops up and tells you that "if you are ordering X book, you may like Y book?) when I ordered a Jennifer Crusie book. I took a chance and ordered this novel by Jane Graves. Once I read the cover and scanned a few pages - I wasn't so sure. I'm glad I went ahead and read the book right off and didn't wait - it turned out to be a clever, fast-paced, and well written contemporary romance. You do have to suspend reality to accept the entire premise - realistically, I don't think John would have ever gotten himself involved with someone like Renee (or, at least Renee as she presented herself to him in that diner) but once you accept that fairy tale, the book just takes off. The characters are well written and the relationship between John and Renee is breathtaking - but rings true. John's family is very funny and adds a lot to the story - and that's where my problem is. I'm mad. Know why? Graves includes a sneak at her next book (not due out until Fall 2002!). In this one, she's apparently taking on John's older brother Alex, and I can't wait. I think I would have taken on brother Dave first - I can't imagine how we're going to come to love hot-headed, by-the-book-cop Alex! I hope we do get to meet all the clan one by one (sister Sandy too!!). Well done Ms. Graves!

I was surprised I liked this book so much, because the cover is a cartoon and I was like, 'ugh, I dont know, but it sounds good', boy am I glad I read it and not judged a book by its cover! The male lead was perfect! Sexy and smart and sensitive. The ONLY two complaints I have with this book is the female lead(the fugitive) is kinda clingy and expects miracles out of John (the cop-male lead) but the plot made up for this flaw. The other complaint I had was that the chase between the crazy bounty hunter and Renee (female lead and the fugitive) ended too quickly and that the cabin scenes weren't enough. Other than that, it was great! Action, chase scenes and romance....ahhhh....was all perfect. John's family was wacky and fun and I am excited to read Ms. Graves next book about John's brother Alex. The bounty hunter was one of my favorites and added tons of humor to the story. Lots of funny scenes and humorous situations to make you laugh out loud. Especially the McDonald's scene...I will leave it to the imagination, or until you read it for yourself. Just remember...the drive-through and a fugitive and a cell phone....he he he he....

~Renee Esterhaus is on the run for a robbery she didn't commit. Now she is stuck in the middle of a small town in Texas with no money and a broken car and a crazy bounty hunter hot on her trail. With no more ideas and nothing left to do, she pulls together a scewy plan to save her hide. She will proposition the first guy she sees for one night of incredible sex in exchange for a ride out of town. The handsome man she finds sitting at the small coffee shop in 'hillbilly' Texas turns out to be a cop with a steel pair of handcuffs and no patience for criminals! This could only happen to her!

John DeMarco is on a much needed rest from his job as a detective in the piney woods where he is using the cabin his boss has given him to use to think. What he doesn't expect to encounter is a beautiful woman with a tempting proposal that he quickly learns was a way to trick him into getting her out of 'Dodge'! Besides the crazy bounty hunter that is after her and the story she tells him, he can't help but think she is innocent. Now, how to prove it? John is about to make one of the biggest mistakes of his life in order to prove to himself that Renee or Alice, as she is calling herself, is the angel she appears to be. But with what price? Harboring is a felony...but is love? Is she who she claims to be? Or some con artist who has perfected the art of lying so much that she can hide it in her eyes...

Well worth the money! A keeper! Encore Ms. Graves!

Tracy Talley~@

Since we frequent Perini's Steakhouse, we know Tom's award-winning cuisine first-hand! His cookbook is a "no-holds barred" approach... giving ALL of his famous recipes from his unbeatable steak rub to green chile hominy to his signature bread pudding with whiskey sauce!

In addition to fabulous recipes, the book also showcases wonderful photography depecting life in West Texas. Sidelines feature insights into several famous Texas ranches.

Your cookbook collection shouldn't be without this book! It is one you will be sure to use often!

Texas Cowboy Cooking by Tom Perini arrived yesterday. It is a cookbook that makes you want to jump up and make the recipes as you are turning the pages of the book. We have already tried the Cowboy Bloody Mary, Lisa's Favorite Caesar Salad, the seasoned olive oil for the Sourdough Bread Chips to use as croutons for the salad and are in the process of making the Sourdough Starter for the Sourdough Bread. It's the best Caesar Dressing that we've tried and the croutons are very good.

The historical information is good and has added color to this cookbook. It is not Texas boastful--simply well done. We plan on giving it as Christmas gifts to family members who have visited us here in Abilene, Texas.

The book would be a welcome addition to any cookbook library, but we don't think you will be content looking at this book on a shelf. Our guess is the purchaser will find the book being used over and over. There is a wonderful variety of recipes from which to choose, whether preparing a meal for family or friends from the neighboring ranches or, shoot, if you happen to live in a city then this type of cooking is sure to please. Over the years we have been fortunate to enjoy many pounds of prime rib cooked the Perini way with the flavor of the beef drawn out with his Texas Herb Rub found on page 85, cooked over mesquite coals and served with some of the delicous recipes that can be found in the side dishes section, followed by Tom's bread pudding with whiskey sauce found on page 173, leaves me hoping others will be so fortunate. In additon to recipes, the book is filled with ranch photographs taken by a well-known rancher/photographer and the food photography is stunning. Also the information about historic ranches, ranch cooking and the old photographs will be fascinating to anyone with an interest in real Texas food told by a man who is now sharing great food ideas with you.

I'd rank this one right below Owen Wister's The Virginian on my own list of all-time greatest westerns. If I'd read this book two years ago my son would've been named Josey Wales Lambert. Every Southerner, no, every American should read it, digest it, and live by the same code. Yeeeha!

"The outlaw Josey Wales" the movie is my favorite western movie. I had not read the book until recently, and found the book as good as the movie. In fact I viewed the movie after reading each chapter and they are almost exactly the same. This story is a story of what our west was like after the civil war. It is a fun and easy read, and you will dread the story being over. A great gift would be the book and the movie for your Western loving friend

This book tells two consecutive stories about Josey Wales that take place right after the War for Southern Independence, a period of time about which I did not have a lot of previous information. The first is a story about individualism and government abuse of those individual who don't fit the mold or have no use for the "services" that a government longs to provide. The second is more of a pure western and a vengence tale after some of Josey's friends are murdered. Although he'll kill a man in a second if he's crossed, you can't help but admire his character and courage. I've lent this book to three of my friends and they all tell me that the book was great. Overall, a very enjoyable read, expecially if you're not a big government lover.

"In Spite Of" is a well-written, passionate story involving high finance, loyalties, murder, drug trafficking, and sweet romance. Victor McGlothin triumphs as an author in this drama centered around the lives of Jonathan Holloway Sr. and Jr., spanning a twenty-five-year period. "In Spite Of" paints the portrait of being Black and male in America. "In Spite Of" his contributions to this society, respect is hard earned and sometimes quickly dispelled. Jonathan Holloway Sr.'s life choices destroyed he and his family. Jonathan Jr., a bank manager, has to contend with an evil foe from the past that he's totally unaware of. A must read, can't put it down book

'In Spite Of' is a great debut novel by author Victor McGlothin. It really was refreshing to read a novel written from a 'straight black male' perspective. The novel has something for everyone, if you enjoy a good book, this is a must read! I enjoyed 'In Spite Of' and I anxiously await Mr. McGlothin's next novel 'Autumn Leaves.'

Victor McGlothin details the history of Dallas through the eyes of a young man and then takes you on a thrilling ride as the main character's life unfolds. It was very interesting to read about Black Dallas in the 60s,70s and 80s. The author's style made the book a pleasure to read.