After falling in love with an outlaw, Lily Delony must battle an internal conflict growing inside of her. It is a fight for true love against her family and the whole town. Her heart belongs to Marion Beatty, the youngest brother of an outlaw gang. When the town of McDade sets up to capture and hang the Beatty gang, Lily discovers that her father is part of the vigilante group. Marion and Lily have hidden their love long enough. On the night of the captures Lily and Marion run off togerther hoping to start a new life. They did not leave the town alone though. Marion was wanted for murder and abduction, and the sheriff was hot on his trail. After getting married, both move in with a family member and begin their life. When Marion runs into the sheriff, he turns himself in and is takin back to McDade. Lily is reunited with her father, but is sadden. Her father does not recognise the marriage license and burns it. Lily rides into town with only one motive on her mind, how to get Marion out of jail.
This book is a wonderful love story. It has suspense and romantic love scenes. The authors descriptive form of writing places vivid pictures in your mind. Teenagers and young adults anre recommended to read this novel. It is a page tuurner that will not allow you to sleep.

I just have to say, I was given this book 9 years ago when I was only 13 years old. It captivated me then and it still does to this day. I re-read it at least once a year, every year since then . I never get tired of it. With each year of new maturity, I understand and love this story even more. Thank you, Ms. Bonner, for writing this marvelous story. Your writing paints such a detailed picture and brings the reader in and I can almost feel the cold in the air and the smell of gunpowder around me. I only wish such characters really did exist. Thank you!

I am a 32 year old college graduate and mother of two. I have always loved to read, so I've read a LOT of books. This book remains one of my all-time favorites! It has a wide age-range of appeal. I discovered it at age 24, and would wholeheartedly recommend it for any female age 12 or so and up, right on through adulthood. It's filled with the sweetly romantic love that young girls crave, and for those of us who hate the "adult" romance novels for their annoyingly stereotypical scenes and descriptions, this is a delightful change of pace. It's not inspidly sweet and juvenile by any means, though. If you can find this book, even at a public library, get ahold of it and enjoy it!

I bought this book simply for research material on desert wildlife, but it turned out to be one of the best books I've ever read. Highly recommended to anyone and everyone!

I highly recommend this book to anybody who likes animals AND to anybody who gets a kick from good old fashioned entertaining writing.

As a child I enjoyed the works of the late Gerald Durrel, because he was a skilled zoologist and bonafide nature lover PLUS he was a funny and entertaining writer. I long thought that no one could ever take Durrel's place, but Jim Harris may be the one to do it. In "Lone Star Menagerie" he shares his knowledge of the wildlife of the West but is not afraid to do it in a humorous manner, even if it happens to be at his own expense. This is one of the best books I've run across in a very long time.

This is a fascinating work on a fairly esoteric topic. Although I usually don't usually encounter such works unless I am looking up specific information, I came across this book and had a difficult time putting it down. The illustrations are a magical blend of art and fact. When I have visited the courthouses, I felt as if I had been there - from both the prose and the drawings. If this topic (Texas history and culture) sounds interesting, get the book - you'll love it. If you are not sure, get the book - you'll love it. This will make a wonderful gift.

Great book whether you are from Texas or not. The author's artwork is superb and gives you the real feelings of these "old Texas friends". The stories are right out of history and very entertaining. Whether you are young or old, the past is always a great place to visit and Mr. Morgan's book is a wonderful time machine with which to travel there. Highly recommended.

The prose is remarkably uplifting and allows one to look at history in a unique fashion. The stories are interesting and some local people with firsthand knowledge about one particular story told me the article was correct to the letter. The drawings are amazingly accurate to the finest detail. An excellent gift for the upcoming holidays. Your friends or relatives would greatly appreciate this book.

This was a very moving book! There is so much change on many levels. I didn't want to put it down! If you need a good Christmas or birthday gift idea - here it is!

I really enjoyed Pray For Texas adn thought the writing was as good as, if not better than "Cold Mountain" and "War to Live on." The characters in this book will stay with you and you may not feel the same way about the Civil War again. Quite a feat of writing. Looking forward to the next book from Mr. Smith

This book hit me hard. I'n not a "western" fan as such, but this was recommended to me by a friend, who had read it three times already. You shouldn't miss it! I hope there's another Rule Cordell book in Cooton Smith -- or two!

The Rangers have a very interesting and colorful history. Unfortunately, not much of it positive. Nadel fills in all the blanks that existed from the Rangers formative years, stories that were too sensitive at the time they occurred, i.e. Rogelio Moret's mental illness, something that was never addressed in the papers of the day. I assume the Rangers had a say in the editing of this book and I commend them for not trying to make Nadel whitewash the team's history.

This book is where history begins and ends if you follow the Rangers.

Eric Nadel may be THE best baseball radio broadcaster in the country. His Page From Baseball's Past radio program is always interesting and this book follows the same pattern. A great book for the baseball fan and especially a Ranger fan

I've only been a Texas Rangers fan since 1994, and my wife gave me this book as a present in 1997. I knew the Texas Rangers existed before I came to live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Texas area, but I never thought much of them. I didn't realize the characters and history of the team. If you're a casual Rangers fan, or a die hard Rangers fan, then you should have this book. It's filled with all kinds of informational pieces about the team's history, going back to the early 70's when they were the Washington Senators. Focuses heavily on the 1996 season in which they finally made it to the playoffs after about 25 years.

As the Texas Rangers now move into the Alex Rodriguez era, the book probably could stand an update, as a lot has happened since the book was published during the 1997 season, but it's a great read if you're into team history.

This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to know more about Texas than football & beer!

This book delves into a part of Texas history that has been ignored. Hollace wrote with a very interesting style that kept me totaly involved until I finished. It is one of those books that you feel you become one with and never want it to end.

It is a very well written book which documents the great impact these Jewish Rabbis had on the people of Texas in general.

Excellent writing from a motivated and dedicated young man. Jerrold Ladd experienced disrupted education, a lack of early age positive male influence while proving first hand, that you can over come all obstacles and succeed in America.

It is a gut wrenching look into living in America's projects shortly after desegregation. It reminded me of the fact that life in America is not and has never been the same for everyone. For many, it is a living torture. Once you have read Out Of The Madness, you feel like you personally know the author. The author, Jerrold Ladd, tells an in-depth story about his life, his family (Mother, sister and brother) and some of his friends and associates. He provides an incredible amount of detail for a relatively short book (under 200 pages and large print). He allowed me to walk in his foot steps, feeling his disappointments, success's and failures. Each chapter presented intense quality of life and life treating situations that would test and potentially break the fiber of any man or woman. Jerrold exposes himself, his friends and associates in a bold and remarkable manner that allows you to actually feel his emotions. This book is a dead serious look at life within a segment of America, yesterday and today. The book reminds you that to many people (children and adults), needlessly, experience this and worst everyday. I recommend the book as a must read for everyone. My reason: This book provides an insight into a situation that many generations of Americans helped create. It gives motivation to those in similar situations and those that have not lived integrated into murder, drugs and abuse. Most of all, it proves, in America you can change your life.

As a 24 yearold 1st yr. teacher in West Dallas I have been looking for answers. I work at the Middle School across from the projects referred to in this book. I am not too far from "Fishtrap", and the gangs (boyz) have changed from Ladd's time but only by the faces of their members. Some of the most infamous being my most delightful students. My kids are not like all of the others in America. They are different...special even and Jerrold Ladd told me why. As I read this book with every page I turned I anticipated that the "story" would get better. I prayed that his mother would change. I longed for the chapter when some long lost Great-Uncle from Georgia would come and take him from the reality of his torrid life. But it never happened. And I became frustarted because my students do not have anyone to rescue them from their realities, not for the long haul at least. Jerrold Ladd's book explained to me the generational frustaration that West Dallas incorporates. The resentment and struggle of blocks and blocks of people is the only thing this community truly owns. Ladd wrote the testament and explanation of a community's fear. His hopes and fears were evident on every page of this book. I only wish that my studenrs could take time from their troubles of hunger, fear, anger, and poverty to big up this reflection of possible positive self. Thank you for this invaluable tool of living and learning.

As a 24 yearold 1st year Teacher in West Dallas I have looked for reasons as to why my students (my kids) as I call them are the way they are. I teach eighth grade History at Thomas Edison Middle Learning Center which is located across the street from the projects referred to by Mr. Ladd. I can testify that all of my 109 students are the soul of Jerrold Ladd.

I have gone home frustrated many nights, crying myself to sleep distraught over what my kids must face at home from day to day after a long day at school. Mr. Ladd brought home the realities of my student lives. He pushed their questionable futures to the forefront of my classroom and by this Christmas I was sad to see them go. I was sad because I questioned how many of them would bathe without the motivation of not being ridiculed by mean classmates. I was sad because I wondered to what length one of my kids would go to pay his mother's rent, the same mother who stood in front of me and her precious son parent-confrence night and stated how he was a waste of 13 years.

As I turned the pages of this book I waited with each page for Mr. Ladd's situation to get better. Similarly, as I come to work everyday I look for my kids situation to get better. In the final ten to twelve pages of this testament to the community of West Dallas I finally saw inspiration and hope, however I shudder to think how long it will take the children of West Dallas to see the same thing.

Jerrold Ladd thank you for this guide into the minds of my babies. It is a invaluable tool.

Summer of Pearls is different from other Blakely book I have read. I was disappointed at first but the more I read the more I really enjoyed it. It is really about three 14 year old boys and their experience the summer of the pearls. Ben Crowell and his two friends have many things happen to them that summer, the finding of pearls, the catching of fish, the feeding of hogs, carring water and just growing up. Billy Treat is the one that teaches them much, especially Ben. Trevor Brigginshaw is good as the pearl buyer who has come to town. Judd Kelso is the villian. It is but together to make a very good story. It will hold your attention. The ending is great. The whole book I kept thinking of "The Waltons".

The more I read Mr. Blakely's novels, the more I'm intrigued by his creative vision. SUMMER OF PEARLS, as far as I can tell, is a departure from his epic American Indian epic, COMANCHE DAWN, and his finely crafted westerns, like SHORTGRASS SONG and TOO LONG AT THE DANCE. What the author demonstrates in his most recent novel is his God-given ability to tell a compelling story--in this case the quiet saga of a dying east Texas town that explodes after the discovery of pearls in Lake Caddo. In my opinion, Blakely has yet to receive the acclaim he deserves. Read this book despite its horrendous cover and see if you don't agree that he's one of the best living writers mining the American historical vein.

Mike Blakely is a gifted writer. Make no mistake about it. Some of his books are epic in scope, theme and characterization. Some, like this one, are set in one little place and involve only a few people. And Mike does each with great grace and skill.

SUMMER OF PEARLS is a wonderful book: a story set in a small town, told by an old man as he looks back on the most enjoyable and meaningful summmer of his life. In scope and feel, the book reminds me very much of that classic movie, DAYS OF HEAVEN (Richard Gere's first movie, I believe). It is contained, the style is spare and crisp, the characters are rich and full, and you leave the novel with that sense of poignancy that we all have when we look back on those bitter sweet times in our lives.

SUMMER OF PEARLS is a beautiful book, in many ways. If you want to find out just how good a writer Mike is, read this, then read COMANCHE DAWN. You will wonder how the same guy could write each. Both very fine novels, but so different from one another.

TEXAS DAWN is an entertaining story filled with humor, romance and suspense. Rugged, tortured hero Matt Ivans meets his match in feisty Dawn Miller. Matt, labeled "Ivans the Terrible" by his coworkers, has sent previous assistants running for cover. Dawn refuses to let her new boss intimidate her. Through determination and humor, she tames Matt and has him purring. His love for Dawn helps Matt overcome an incident in his past that haunts him. Afraid to love Matt because of her own old wounds, Dawn refuses to acknowledge her feelings for him. When a stalker threatens Dawn, Matt comes to her aid. Their hunt for the culprit brings them together and leads to an action-filled, exciting ending. Freed of their pasts, they pledge their love. A fun read with a nail-biter ending.

I loved this book, one of the best Avalon romances, a real page-turner. I read another of Cheri Jetton's books, Blue Plate Special, awhile ago and liked it, also. Good book, good author!

Couldn't put it down. A great story with wonderful characters and even some mystery. A message to the author: You go girl!