A great book. A fantastic book. It's slightly larger than what one might expect for a field guide, but the difference is put to good use. Not only are the excellent photographs printed at such high resolution that you expect to see these scaled beauties slithering off the pages, but the accompanying text is so easy to read that you might find it to be a page-turner that ranks with some pretty good novels. This book is crammed with really useful or, at the very least, interesting info -- like the relative potencies of venoms from different snakes. (You might be surprised...) A detailed discussion of the mechanisms associated with different snake venoms and what might be done to counter them is really fascinating. The text for each species is accompanied by a distribution map; that text includes information on whether the snake in question is venomous, its behavior, reproduction, abundance, size, etc. I can't say enough good stuff about this book. If you live in a state adjacent to Texas and Mr. Tennant hasn't written a book about your snake population, it would well be worth getting this one. He also wrote the "Field Guide to Snakes of Florida," so you guys in Florida are lucky, too! This book made me want to head out at night to the local megapuddles that form near my house south of Houston to see what might be after those little frogs that seem to appear out of nowhere in the spring. Now, that might seem to be a little strange, but if you've read this book, you probably know what I mean.
Come to think of it, I'd like to give this one 7 stars...

I am not a "herpetologist" - - I don't like snakes, but I am trying to tolerate the beneficial types. It was about dusk a few weeks ago when I stepped inside my storage shed to close the door. My first reaction was, "I don't remember leaving a hose on the floor." I flipped on the light and about two feet from me was the meanest biggest snake I ever saw (actually, it was only about 42" long). Was it deadly? - - I guess so 'cause it nearly gave me a heart attack! After that experience, I knew I needed a fairly complete book on Texas' snakes in my library, so I purchased the above book. It has over sixty pages of full color pictures (that's over 120 snakes) with a commentary on each one as to its type, size, general location, habits, food preference, etc. I took a picture of the snake in my barn - - and when the book arrived, there it was in living color - - "Texas Rat Snake." Harmless....and beneficial. The key to a great book on snakes for the common layman, in my opinion, is clear, colorful pictures. I remember checking the public library for such a book as this 10-15 years ago, and couldn't find one. So, I reinterate, for everyday identification of Texas' snakes, you'd be hard pressed to beat this book!

I was the drum major at my little high school in Louisiana a long long time ago, and I never heard anything about the Texas Aggie Band until almost three decades later, when I saw them at a parade in San Antonio. Soon after that, I visited the A&M campus one football weekend and got to see them rehearse their pre-game Saturday morning drill performance. They are absolutely stupendous, the best in the world. No one else compares or even comes close. I found this book at A&M's Memorial Student Center and bought it immediately. You simply MUST go see the Aggie Band.

One of my life's greatest regrets, now, is that I knew nothing about this organization when I was eligible to march in it. Musically, and personally, I can imagine no higher achievement. Everything about this precision machine exudes excellence, from their music, to their marching, to the striking friendly politeness of all the members I was fortunate to meet. These fine kids are motivated beyond belief, and they welcome you into their world -- they know they are a part of something special, and they generously share with you the admiration for their Aggie heritage.

Their drum cadence (I was a drummer) is absolutely captivating. It has five "verses," and is militarily simple but, once you've heard it, the beat stays with you wherever you walk, any time you are walking -- you wish that you were marching with the Fightin Texas Aggie Band, every time you put one foot in front of the other.

I got to see the film, "We've Never Been Licked," a 1943 World War II story, and became a permanent Aggie "groupie." From now forward, I will always be a Texas Aggie in my heart. As Pop Lambert said in the movie, "God bless the Aggies." The Spirit of Aggieland is now an forever. World Without End, A&M.

Gig 'em. And Beat The Hell Outta t.u. !!!

If you've ever seen the magnificent, nationally famous Texas A&M University Band perform during half-time, you will want to own this fine volume. It offers a comprehensive history of the first 100 years of a college organization that has become, literally, a state institution. Being in the Aggie Band is not simply membership in a music outfit; rather, it is a comprehensive, fully consuming Way of Life. Rich with details about how the present-day Band evolved, the Powells' account also grandly illuminates other facets of Texas Aggie history - the Corps of Cadets, A&M athletics, campus development, memorable faculty folks and general local color (in native lingo, "good bull."). Numerous photos trace Aggie traditions from their earliest days to the present. It was startling to this reader how some campus/Corps images are practically ageless. Many of the pictures - fish standing on the wall, Elephant Walk, Ags working on the Bonfire, meals in Duncan Dining Hall - could have been taken in 1930 or 1950 or 1975 OR 1995, since the traditions, and the scenes they propagate, are so firmly embedded at A&M.

This book definitely needs to be made into a movie. Not only would it offer remarkable settings, dramatic events, dynamic characters, stupendous role models, intricate Band drills and tantalizing college-life plots, but it would feature, without a doubt, the very best film soundtrack in the history of the world.

Midori Snyder's range as a story teller continues to astound me. In this story, mythological elements from Irish, Native American, and Old West sources are woven together into a unique tale of a man on the run. Whether he's running from something or to something is a question both the main character and you keep asking, not to mention wondering what in the world is going to happen next. Another excellent read from an author who simply doesn't publish books fast enough as far as I'm concerned. But given the choice, I'll take quality over quantity any day!

Midori Snyder, who has done wonders with her traditional fantasies, has decided to blend two rather contrary styles. She takes the traditional, down-to-earth stylings of a western novel, and throws in some sensual, and occasionally bizarre, touches of magical realism. Along the way we also get a healthy dose of urban fantasy, as Snyder tells the tale of a young man growing up in 19th century New York who discovers that he has a much richer and more magical heritage than he had assumed. Snyder takes a classic plot -- a mortal sired by faeries -- and makes it shine

I was in the CBI for over 2 years and this is the most accrate account of any books I have read on the subject. If they had 6 stars I would vote for that.

This book gets a 10 for two reasons: the author scoured hundreds of books and articles and created a perfectly sized introduction to the Hump CBI history that should whet appetites of all military aviation buffs. Second, and most important, this is the ONLY WWII book I've seen that was honest about the women in these mens' lives. No beating around the bush in this book, although there was plenty of that in the CBI! An excellent book that touches on all the challenges of flying the highest mountains on the planet.

I have been seareching gor this book for a very, very long time. If the reader who rated this book please submit another review and let me know where I can obtain a copy ,I would greatly appreciate it.

The story as told, is great. But the end that is told, is just a beginning of what was yet to come. It has to still happen and will continue to be, I and we, are all products of our enviroment, it's just the way it should be (or the only way we know how it should be).

This 237 page book tells the story of the defense of the Texas frontier from Indians, Jayhawkers, Unionists, and Deserters, by Texas Rangers, Texas State Troops, Frontier Regt, Bourland's Border Regt, and the Frontier Organization. Author David Paul Smith, has an extensive set of endnotes, index, and bibliography, which make this a great book for those who wish to probe this turbulent period in more detail.

The majority of the book deals with the region North and West of Fort Worth, although all of the Western frontier of Texas is covered. The author combines the facts with explanations to cover a period when reliable records are scarce and myth/legend are legion. Particularly impressive are the descriptions of the Elm Creek Raid and Battle of Dove Creek.

In addition, Frontier Defense also briefly covers strategy & tactics used before and during the War Between the States.

Simplified maps of the frontier districts are included, but a good map of Texas is needed unless the reader is very familiar with the frontier outposts. The free Texas Historical Commission map "Texas in The Civil War" is an essential item needed to accompany this book.

The border with Mexico, Gulf Coast, and Eastern Texas are not covered as this regions are beyond the scope of the work.

D. Smith has a talent for storytelling. In reading his book, I can almost hear his voice recounting so many stories (as he did when I was his student). Frontier Defense in the Civil War provides readers with a small piece of history rarely discussed. For those interested in the Civil War or the history of Texas, this is a fascinating book, and with Smith's wonderful prose, it a pleasure to read.

Fruitcakes and Other Leftovers." In Morning Sun, Pennsylvania Beth Davis loves her eccentric Aunt Harry, but could use a rest from her responsibilities. When she wins the lottery, she finds she now has the means to see the world while insuring for the proper care of Harriet. However, she reconsiders her wishes when an injured Russ Foster returns to town. All she wants for Christmas is Russ, but fears he does not reciprocate her love.

"Christmas, Texas Style." Ezra Honeycutt and Jasper Becker decide their grandchildren belong together. The two victims have never met. Additionally, Winnie Becker lives in Boston while Trace Honeycutt wants to be left alone on his Texas ranch after a failed marriage. To the senior citizens, neither situation is much of a problem. The two residents of the Rest Easy Retirement Ranch begin matchmaking, Christmas style.

DUETS 15 consists of two humorous Yuletide romances that center on the impact of an elderly relative(s) on a new relationship. Both story lines are entertaining and would make a wonderful stocking stuffer for fans of contemporary romances. Lori Copeland and Kimberly Raye live up to the Duets reputation for two enchanting tales.

Harriet Klausner

I love a humorous romance, and Kimberly Raye's is one of the funniest I've read in years! Good sexual tension, too. Her characterizations are excellent, and most particularly, she has a very strong ability to give each character a totally distinctive voice--a rare quality and a great talent.

I have employed this book for over twenty-five years and attribute my lovely gardens to it's advice. I will be ordering the new edition as I have relocated to the Gulf area once again after many years on the Eastern seaboard,but now I am in Florida. Still, the month by month instruction for garden maintenance, plantings, pruning, fertilizing etc. will work in my area of Florida. I highly recommend this to any gardener along the Gulf Coast.

This is a terrific all-around gardening book for the Houston/East Texas Gardener written by the premier Houston gardening club. It is probably good for the whole Gulf Coast too, since the climates are similar. As an ex-northeasterner and novice gardener, I can say that if you are gardening in Houston and can only buy one book, this is it.

The text covers everything from herbs to flowers to trees, as well as potting, lawns, ground covers, vines, shrubs and vegetables. Special sections concentrate on Azaleas, Camellias and Roses, as well as soil improvement, watering, drainage, diseases and insects. In each section, tables list best planting times, blooming times, light and wattering requirements and other comments for each type of plant.

I found the book great for brain-storming, as well as for carrying to the garden store to determine if the great-looking flower or vine was really suitable for planting in my backyard.

My only regret: that it's not 50 pages longer...

This book is wonderfully written and well researched (many of the locales are familiar to me as an Austin resident). It has all the elements of a great story -- adventure, danger, intrigue, romance -- while remaining realistic and wholesome. My 9-year-old daughter has already read it twice!

Fourteen-year-old Hallie Lou Wells is the daughter of a wealthy rancher in South Texas in 1878. At their mother's insistence, Hallie and her little sister are learning to be proper young ladies. But they are also learning how to run the ranch someday. When her father decides not to go on the annual cattle drive so that he can stay home with his pregnant wife, Hallie persuades him to let her go in his place, along with her servant and best friend, Dovey Mae. Along the trail, the two girls face the dangers of rattlesnakes, storms, river crossing, hostile Indians, outlaws, and illness. But Hallie becomes a braver, stronger person, and even experiences the joy of love. Told through the form of a diary kept by Hallie, this book was very similar to the Dear America series, and I would reccomend it to all fans of that series.

I never thought that I would enjoy a book about ghost stories
in Texas.After I read this book my opinion changed. This book
gives you legendary ghost stories from every corner of the state of Texas.The author did a very good job finding these stories.
Many of these stories will scare you and have you looking over your shoulder.Read this book and see if your area has a famous ghost story attached to it.This is a very well written book that
you should find interesting.You will not be dissapointed.

Syers concisely recounts many fascinating stories from across every region of the state. Perhaps only J. Frank Dobie knew more about Texas folklore and history than the late Ed Syers, who camped and traveled over the entire state for over 50 years. It's unfortunate that this great little volume is virtually impossible to find, because it makes great reading for kids of all ages. And believe me, anyone who picks it up will become a kid. You won't likely find it, but if you do, buy it!