This is the best travel book, I have come across. I have used it for one year and it has not failed me. The restaurant, lodging and daytrip sections have been particularly helpful. You can't go wrong with this book.

Thank you Hilary and Cam. I hope the 3rd Edition is on its way.

This book is full of details and descriptions. Everything you could want to know about Austin. Great for travellers as well as prospective residents (has chapters about neighborhoods and schools). The CitySmart guide is a good supplement, but not nearly as thorough.

This book is not dry like many guidebooks can be. The authors give enough history and background to put their topics in context, but not so much that it becomes boring. I bought this book because I am considering moving to Austin from Northern California, and every question I have is answered in this book. Specific descriptions of individual neighborhoods, indoor and outdoor activities, annual events, arts and music, food, and the list goes on.

I cannot reccommend this book strongly enough.

As one who is friends with Jim Peters, I can recommend this book to anyone who is a Texas history buff, especially those with an interest in Ranger lore. Jim truly was a Ranger when "Rangers were Rangers".

Jim Peters has had a remarkable life, and it's fascinating to read about his adventures as a Texas Ranger. The author makes you feel as though you're right there with Peters and the Rangers as they piece together evidence and track down the bad guys. The fact that these are true crime stories makes them all the more interesting. The ones involving coldblooded killers make you grateful for the courage and dedication of men like Jim Peters. Other stories involving lesser crimes and dumb or unlucky criminals are very funny. A neat book.

Jim Peters, Texas Ranger is extremely readable as it consists of great stories of the activities of this reknowned and capable Texas Ranger. The Rangers, of course, are the best of the best, and Jim Peters was highly respected by his fellows. He was involved in the resolution of a lot of high-profile cases and the book is an interesting piece of both true crime and history.

Picking up this book was a trip into my Texas past. A glimpse of a rariified style of life that I pined for as a girl growing up in Grand Prairie....I don't think we had a Junior League. "Just As We Were" actually proves again, that no matter the side of the tracks you came from, Texas women are a singular breed, smart, strong, and comitted.

Prudence has an unofficial fan club in El Paso, Texas. It started with her first book, Thundering Sneakers, and when the second one came out, Retreads, we were all thrilled. Now, with this treasure, Just as We Were, well, it's just too much! Prudence writes with such wit and wisdom about the things many women do in their lives. I never realized how funny some of the stuff is that we do until I read about it from her view point. The Junior League stories are enough to make your sides split, I actually read parts of it at our own Junior League meeting one time! Don't get me wrong, you DO NOT have to be a member of the Junior League or anything else to enjoy this book. She writes about things from two sides and it is a great experience. Sad things, like aging parents and the painful parts of child rearing can be funny and ultimatly less painful from Prudence' perspective. I highly recommend this book!

Junior Leaguers finally have a voice!!! Prudence Mackintosh has captured a part Texas womanhood in a series of hilarious essays just published in book form. I laughed hard but wait, this is more than just personal and funny stories. Mackintosh acts like a social anthropologist, commenting upon all the things that make Texas women's lives unique.So if you want a delightful read and if you want to understand Texas (or Southern) women, read this book. Actually, if you want to understand women at all read this book because she really touches on issues like growing up, children, college, domestic help, and aging parents which are experiences most middle class women have had. Elizabeth Cauthorn (drewc@dcci.com)

Karla Faye Tucker first became known to the world when she was convicted of the brutal pickax murder of two people in 1984. A brief rundown of her childhood history reveals how Karla found herself on such a violent path, which led her to Death Row and no hope or future. But her story doesn't die there...it is only the beginning. The Karla who was executed on February 3, 1998 was in no way the same woman who entered Death Row 14 years before. She was transformed by God's Spirit shortly after entering prison. This is her story of redemption, hope, faith, grace, and the power of God in a life wholly yielded to Him. I actually found myself jealous of this pickax murderer on Death Row because of the consuming peace, joy, and hope, which filled her life. She even renamed her unit from Death Row to Life Row.

The author Linda Strom was Karla Faye Tucker's spiritual advisor and dear friend. Linda tells not only Karla's story, but she also tells her own story and the testimonies of many of Karla's fellow Life Row Mates. These testimonies overwhelmed me and revealed that without question, the Spirit of God is able to bring sheer joy out of any person yielded to Him, no matter what their circumstance. It portrays the power of forgiveness...not just the forgiveness of others who have sinned against us, but perhaps even more difficult for some, forgiving ourselves of our own sins and accepting God's forgiveness as well. And these testimonies show vividly that there is nowhere we can go where God is not able to use us. If we are willing, God can and will use us powerfully to change lives and encourage our fellow believers. This is an incredibly joyful, life-changing book, which every believer should read!

Linda Strom's book convicted my spirit as a believer and reiterated the message of forgiveness in a way I never thought of before. This book is not about the Death Penalty but a message of hope to all people. God wants us to be set free from the bondage of unforgiveness so that we can be right with Him and to experience true peace and joy. Karla Faye's life was an excellent example of that. Regardless of where you have come from, this book will be a blessing to anyone!

Linda Strom tells the story of Karla Faye Tucker in an uplifting, life affirming way. While you cannot avoid the tears while reading her story, you also cannot avoid the joy which fills your heart. This book so clearly affirms the life changing force of Christ's forgiveness.

Absorbing and adventurous reflections of life on a Texas farm as told by a precocious adolescent girl to her best (same-named) girlfriend. Have fun remembering drive-in movies, first dances, second best friends, and the first time driving the tractor!

This is a book you will share with friends and revisit time after time. Few books make me laugh aloud--this one did. Don't let this one pass you by.

This is a funny and realistic view of life in a small Texas town as seen through the eyes of a young girl writing to a friend. Can be read by children 9 and up. Best loved by mothers who remember when. Highly recommend.

Gentry Steele conveys the essence of the remarkable northern extension of the Great Chihuahuan Desert in his well-written text and supliments it admirably with supurb large format photographs. An excellent introduction to one of America's least explored regions.

The Big Bend is a rugged, powerful, unforgiving, and beautiful country,that exists on a scale that most of civilized man never experiences. Most casual tourists who visit Big Bend are disappointed, as I was, in their pitiful efforts at capturing the essence of the experience both in words and 35mm photographs. This is a land that does not exist in standard format; it is truly a large-format landscape that requires exceptional verbal ability and skillful large-format photography to do it justice. Gentry Steele has done just that. His love and knowledge of the Big Bend country are clearly evident in his text and, especially in his striking black and white photographs. A hearty thumbs up for this spectacular book!

This is the kind of book you return to again and again. Steele has both consumate technical skill and the eye (and heart) of an artist. The composition of each photograph is striking, but it is the play of light and shadow -- across canyon walls, over abandoned adobe buildings, and the occasional plant -- that will delight and amaze the viewer. Steele used the intense desert light as his accomplice, creating art out of light, shade, rocks, and space. Each photograph is accompanied by a brief description of what you are seeing and where the photograph was taken. Steele's love and respect for the Big Bend region is evident on every page. This isn't the kind of book to be flipped through casually. I find myself lingering over each page, savoring the image, returning over and over to particular images, seeing some new each time. I plan to give this book to friends and relatives for Christmas this year. I confess to owning two D. Gentry Steele photographic prints, including the one chosen for the cover of this book. Highly recommended!!

Jeff Carroll has a unique way of presenting the history of Texas...from the perspective of the courageous people that settled this great land. While you won't find many of his stories in traditional Texas History text books, they are nonetheless, just as important. In fact, I will go as far as to say that these stories and accounts are more important because they bring the history of Texas to a personal level - they bring it to life!

The stories are fun to read and very educational. I've read all of the 'Legendary Texas' volumes at least twice and will enjoy reading them again! I highly recommend these books for anyone that enjoys a good story and especially those who enjoy Texas History.

Contains easy-to-read stories of Texas Heritage. Makes historical understanding fun. I never tired of Mr. Carroll's vivid and unique storytelling. A must for anyone who is usually bored with history and for the historically-inclined.

As a Texana historian I scour book shelves to find the "New Book" with stories of Real people. This author has indeed done his research with a zesty writing style that will leave you waiting for the next story. This is a "Must read" if you like the West.

This book is about the events leading to the Battle of Gonzales, which was the first conflict in the Texas war of independence from Mexico (October 2, 1835).

I started reading this book to my daughters (ages 7 and 9) after dinner one evening, and we didn't put it down until bedtime more than 50 pages later. They didn't want me to stop reading, and I didn't want to stop either. The characters felt like real people, the story was involving, and just like the people of the times, we didn't know what would happen next.

Melinda Rice gives the reader a Texan's-eye-view of the looming war with Mexico by putting us in the perspective of an 11-year-old girl whose older brothers sympathize with different sides in the conflict. The characters and story have an authentic feel throughout -- I've been to the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum many times, and I found myself reading this book using the same breathy accent used by the historical speakers in their video exhibits. Rice did an excellent job of bringing the reader into history as it happens and making past events feel like they're unfolding around us.

At the end of the book there is a short historical section that gives additional information about the Battle of Gonzales.

The book should be a comfortable read for fourth graders, except for some place and people names.

The unique and historically accurate Lone Star Heroines trilogy by Melinda Rice brings real events in Texas history to life as it shows young readers how girls living at different eras experienced and contributed to dramatic events. In Messenger On The Battlefield (1556227884, [price]) is set in 1835 when 11-year-old Isabelina Montoya is happy to hear that her older sister has accepted the marriage proposal of a handsome Mexican solder. But when Texas goes to war against Mexico, dividing Isabelina's family, a decision must be made as to whether they should remain true to their Mexican heritage or fight for their new Texas homeland! Fire On The Hillside (1556227892, [price]) is set in the spring of 1847 and finds 13-year-old Katherine Haufmann arriving from Fredericksburg, Texas with her family as immigrants from Germany. As she struggles to get used to her new home, Katherine becomes intrigued by the mysterious fires that start appearing in the nearby hills. While the rest of the townsfolk focus on peace talks with the Comanche, Katherine decides to discover the cause of those mysterious fires. Secrets In The Sky (1556227876, [price]) is set in 1943 as World War Two is raging overseas. 12-year-old Bethany Parker lives in Sweetwater, Texas, when the Women Air Force Service Pilots come to town. When one of the women dies during a training flight, Bethany is convinced the mysterious crash was the work of a Nazi spy -- and sets out to prove it! The Lone Star Heroines is an outstanding and very highly recommended series of historical novels for young readers that are each enhanced with a "Sources" bibliography for the further study and more detailed study of Texas history.

Eleven-year-old Isabel Montoya lives with her family on a ranch near Gonzales, Texas, in 1835. Isabel feels as if everything in her life is changing. Her older sister has left home after marrying a Mexican soldier, and the family is divided over the conflict between Texas and Mexico, with Isabel's two older brother on opposing sides while Isabel and her parents struggle to remain neutral. When her brothers run away from home - Joaquin to join the Texans, and Alonso to join the Mexicans - the family is devastated. And when Isabel's father is shot and may be dying, Isabel knows it is up to her to reunited her fragmented family - before it's too late. This was a wonderful novel about a young girl caught up in the beginnings of the Texas Revolution. I wish, however, that the book had been a little longer, and that the ending was less open.

Once you pick this book up you can't put it down! Lone Stars and Legends: The History of Texas Music takes you on a fantastic journey through the history of Texas music. The author, Paula Felps is a creative and witty writer who makes the words come alive, and has her facts straight. If you consider yourself a music buff, you've got to read this book. In short, if you like music and want an interesting read, you need this book. It makes a great gift, too!

Texas is a mighty big place. Big enough, it seems, to produce a wealth of influential musicians - players who not only helped shaped the sound of Texas music, but of American music in general.
"Lone Stars and Legends," Paula Felps' excellent chronicle of the first 100 years of Texas music and musicians, sheds light on a host of these musical mavericks and their various innovations. Along the way, we hear about the birth of such styles such as Tejano and Western Swing, while also gaining new insight into specifically how Texas legends like Blind Lemon Jefferson, Ernest Tubb and Buddy Holly contributed to the advancement of more widespread artforms like blues, country and rock'n'roll.
Unlike many other historical tomes, Lone Stars and Legends is written in such a way that it actually holds your interest, making it as hard to put down as it is easy to soak up the information. In addition to providing a truckload of facts, Felps interjects these history lessons with humorous asides and investigations into not just the output but also the people behind the guitars, accordions, fiddles, pianos and trumpets - the people whose contributions provided the framework for Texas and American music as we know it today.

Texas is home to a legion of musical trailblazers ranging from Scott Joplin, Blind Lemon Jefferson, and T-Bone Walker, to Janis Joplin, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Willie Nelson. In Lone Stars And Legends: The Story Of Texas Music, music journalist Paula Felps traces the diverse paths of the men and women who laid the foundation for what has come to be described as "Texas Music" and a musical legacy that reaches deep into Texas history and culture. All forms of the Texas musical tapestry are surveyed including ragtime, Blues, Boogie Woogie, Jazz, Cowboy ballads, Country, Western Swing, Honky-Tonk; Rockabilly, and Rock 'n Roll. Lone Stars And Legends is a unique and welcome contribution to the study of Texas cultural history in general, and the history of American music in particular.

What makes Elmer Kelton stand out is not only his style of writing, and his subject matter (the value of which, I admit, is subjective), but the admirable qualities of his characters. In so many other books, main characters are filled with angst and cynicism, and a reader won't care if they live or die. Kelton's, though, a reader cheers on and wishes success. I've read and re-read "The Man Who Rode Midnight." The hero opposes not progress, in whatever guise, but greed, especially greed with him as the victim. He is a man who loves his life and feels pride in how he has lived, pitting his best against the best. Great.

What makes Elmer Kelton stand out is not only his style of writing, and his subject matter (the value of which, I admit, is subjective), but the admirable qualities of his characters. In so many other books, main characters are filled with angst, and a reader may wish they would all take gas. Kelton's, though, a reader cheers on and wishes success. I've read and re-read this one. Great.

For me, it was hard to choose between The Time It Never Rained and The Man Who Rode Midnight as Kelton's best. Kelton is a great novelist that brings issues concerning Texas and the west to life. This book is definitely a page turner that will keep any reader interested.