Author ELIZABETH LANE--love stories with great heart and a spirit of adventure!

 

Author ELIZABETH LANE--romantic stories that remind us that real happiness comes from appreciating life and all its adventures, and from loving and being loved by others in return! 


Elizabeth Lane was raised in Monroe, Utah, a small town set between forested mountains and red rock desert. The eldest of two sisters, she grew up hiking, fishing and camping with her family. She graduated from the University of Utah with a major in biology/education and minors in Spanish and art. Early on she worked as a teacher and as a proofreader before beginning a 23-year career as an educational software designer. The job included writing children's stories. Many of the children's books she wrote are still in print. In the late 1970s, after selling several children's stories to a magazine, she decided to try a novel. Her first adult book, Mistress of the Morning Star, was published in 1980. After publishing five more novels and ghost-writing two others, she sold a proposal to Harlequin's then-new historical line. Since that time she has written dozens of books for Harlequin. Presently, Elizabeth lives in a suburb of Salt Lake City, Utah. An avid traveler, she has lived in several states, as well as Mexico, Germany, Guatemala and Panama. Her favorite places to visit include Hong Kong, Nepal, Tanzania and Peru. She also loves to hike and dance, and gives back to her community by volunteering as a zoo docent. Elizabeth now writes full time. She has mostly written historical romance, but she has ventured into other arenas as well. Elizabeth recently released two contemporary romances for the Harlequin "Desire" line.

http://www.elizabethlaneauthor.com/ 



THE BALLAD OF EMMA O'TOOLE  by Elizabeth Lane

High stakes marriage...

After shooting a man, the stakes for gambler Logan Devereaux have never been higher. On trial for his life, he's offered a shocking alternate form of restitution: marriage to his victim's pregnant sweetheart!

Beautiful Emma O'Toole has sworn vengeance against him--and when a newspaper man puts her tragic story to song, the whole nation waits to see what she'll do. Their marriage is the riskiest gamble Logan's ever taken. But he'll put everything he's got on the line for a chance at winning Emma's heart.

  
MY REVIEW:
  

Author Elizabeth Lane is one of my favorite storytellers, not just because of the heart she puts into her love stories, but also because her adventurer's spirit adds such excitement and flavor to her work. This time, with "The Ballad of Emma O'Toole", there is an added personal touch to the story line. Set in Ms. Lane's home state of Utah, during the great silver mine boom of the late 1800's, the area in which story takes place was actually settled by Ms. Lane's own great-great grandfather. Emma O'Toole is a young woman who has lost her family and has only her sweetheart, Billy John Carter, and a small silver claim to help her dream of a future. When she tells Billy John she is pregnant, he promises to marry her, but a desperate move on his part costs him his life and shatters Emma's hopes for happiness. Billy John works his way into a high-stakes poker game, and when he is caught cheating he pulls a gun and tries to take the money from the table, holding an older man hostage. Gambler Logan Devereaux only means to wound the young fool, but his shot proves fatal. Emma is called to the scene and a dying Billy John makes her promise to get her revenge on the man who killed him. The local newspaper sensationalizes the tragedy, and "The Ballad of Emma O'Toole" becomes the tune heard around the country. Logan is put on trial and convicted of manslaughter, but the judge offers him an unusual sentence: five years in prison, or if Emma agrees, marry her and take care of her and her child. Emma accepts the offer as a means to make good her promise of revenge. However, Logan turns out to be a kind and generous husband, even if he keeps most of his past tightly guarded. Recovering his winnings from the poker game, he uses the cash and mining stock to venture into the silver mining business. Close circumstances and a mutual attraction lead to passion between Emma and Logan, but each of them has their secrets. Can Logan settle down in one place, with one woman, and lead the life of a family man? Can Emma really trust her heart and her future to the man who killed her baby's father? When all the cards are laid on the table, will the hearts be the winning hand? This story is very well-paced, and its elements of suspense make for an exciting and enjoyable historical romance. Recommended for lovers of wonderfully-written western love stories.   

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THE SANTANA HEIR  by Elizabeth Lane

"I'm Trying to Be Honorable, Grace. I Advise You Not to Push Me."


Grace isn't about to let the child travel overseas without her and accepts the billionaire's offer to act as nanny. Soon they are in a more…comfortable relationship than either had imagined. There is definite passion pulsing between them, but desire without trust is a dangerous mix…


MY REVIEW:

"The Santana Heir", from author Elizabeth Lane, is a compelling, passionate romance with an intriguing and exotic setting. Grace Chandler lost her chance to ever give birth due to injuries she received in a traumatic horseback-riding accident. Her step-sister, Cassidy, had been a beautiful free spirit with a successful modeling career. When Cassidy became pregnant as the result of a brief relationship, doctors also discovered that she was terminally ill with a brain tumor. Cassidy lived long enough to see her son, Zac, brought into the world. Before she died, Cassidy made sure that Grace would raise baby Zac and become his adoptive mother. Almost a year later, Grace and little Zac are happily living in Tucson, AZ when they receive a surprise visitor. Emilio Santana, younger brother of Zac's father, Arturo, has just discovered Zac's existence, and he wants to bring the boy home to the Santana estate in Peru. Grace had been very close to finalizing Zac's adoption, and now her world is thrown into turmoil. Emilio makes it clear that with Grace, or without her, Zac will be raised as a Santana in the home of his ancestors. Grace cannot give up her precious son, and she agrees to the journey so far from all she has known. Emilio had been considered a playboy for most of his life, and his new responsibilities were sadly inherited upon Arturo's unexpected death in an automobile accident. Grace is a natural mother as well as a natural beauty. She is unpretentious and unspoiled. Emilio wants her to stay and help to raise Zac, but will she be the boy's mother or his caretaker? Grace and Emilio are both at a turning point in their lives, and the companionship between them turns to undeniable passion. But is passion enough? Grace can't help but be swayed by Emilio's sensual wooing. He in turn sees that Grace is unlike any other woman he has ever known, and his thoughts turn to a permanent relationship. Could the three of them become a real family? Not everyone is happy that the young Santana heir has come home, and there are powerful secrets looming over the future of the Santana legacy. Author Elizabeth Lane has created a heroine and hero that you will root for, and an adorable little boy whom you will not be able to resist. An adventurous world-traveler herself, Ms. Lane offers vivid imagery of rugged and beautiful Peru, an ancient land rich in history.

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IN HIS BROTHER'S PLACE  by Elizabeth Lane

"I want the boy." 

For three years, Angie Montoya hid her son from her late fiancé's family until his brother tracked them down. Now Jordan Cooper demands she move to his Santa Fe ranch—the boy's birthright. But how can Angie live with the man who called her a gold digger--the man whose one kiss she's never forgotten?

Racked by guilt since his twin's death, Jordan seeks redemption by raising his nephew. But Angie resurrects a hunger in him that only she can satisfy. Jordan knows he can have her on one condition—that she never learns the truth about him. 


MY REVIEW: 


I am a longtime fan of author Elizabeth Lane's historical romances, and I was intrigued when I learned she would be venturing into contemporary romance with the Harlequin Desire line. "In His Brother's Place" is the first release, and I am happy to say that her characterizations, sense of time and place, and compelling story lines are just as vivid in a contemporary setting! Jordan Cooper has some deep regrets in his life. His guilt over his twin brother's Justin's death in a plane crash has haunted him for years. So has the way he treated Justin's fiance, Angie Montoya, whom he dismissed as a fortune hunter. What he couldn't dismiss was the one scorching kiss he shared with Angie when she was upset over Justin's drunken flirtation with another woman. Justin had always been the charming, devil-with-no-cares brother, and Jordan had been the quieter, level-headed one. Even though he doubted Angie's real love for his brother, Jordan desired her just the same. Four years after Justin's death, Jordan discovers a secret that will forever change the Cooper family legacy: Angie bore Justin's son. Determined to bring his brother's son into the family fold and see that the boy inherits his rightful legacy, Jordan pays Angie a surprise visit and makes her an offer for her and her son Lucas to live at the Cooper ranch. At first, she refuses, but unexpected circumstances force her to accept Jordan's invitation. Being under the same roof brings their forbidden attraction back to flaming life, and soon their passion cannot be denied. However, Angie also has guilt over Justin's death, and Jordan has a secret of his own that could keep them apart forever. They both love little Lucas, and his happiness comes first, but don't grownups deserve to be happy too? Jordan's mother has never approved of Angie and blames her for the events which led to Justin's death. Can facing the truth and overcoming old hurts lead the way to a lifetime of love and a happy family life? Author Elizabeth Lane always involves you with her characters, and her story lines compel you to see how those characters find resolution. You will adore Lucas and his dog, and you will admire Angie for her strength of character and her devotion as a mother. You will also enjoy seeing Jordan grow as a character as he leaves one lifestyle behind and reaches out for what his heart really wants.

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CHRISTMAS MOON  by Elizabeth Lane


"Anything can happen under a Christmas Moon... Pregnant, unwed and down on her luck, history teacher Emma Carlyle is facing the worst Christmas of her life. Needing some research for her master’s thesis on legendary Wyoming lawman J.D. McNulty, she makes a Christmas Eve drive to South Pass City, where J.D. was buried. Heading home, she loses her way in a storm. After her car vanishes, she ends up in 1870, half-frozen and in labor, on the doorstep of a remote mountain cabin. When J.D. himself opens the door with a pistol in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other...well, let’s just say that sparks start flying. These two lost souls are clearly meant for each other. But there’s one problem. Emma has studied everything about J.D.--and she knows he has only a few weeks to live. Historical author Elizabeth Lane has penned a sensual time travel romp that will delight the reader from beginning to end."


MY REVIEW:


Have you ever wanted to step back in time and meet a fascinating real-life character from the past? That's exactly what happens to Emma Carlyle in "Christmas Moon", by author Elizabeth Lane. Emma is experiencing the most difficult holiday season of her life. About to give birth to a child resulting from a disastrous love affair, Emma is unmarried and has to decided to give her baby up for adoption. A history teacher working on a thesis for her master's degree, she heads from her home in Lander, Wyoming to nearby South Pass City to get closer to the source of the information she needs. Intrigued by legendary lawman J.D. McNulty, and infatuated by his photo, Emma is using the life and times of McNulty as the subject of her thesis. Tracking down the owner of the town bookstore, Tilly Farson, also a local historian, Emma is delighted by the woman's tales of J.D.'s exploits. When they finally part company, a Christmas Eve blizzard sets in, and soon Emma is lost in the blinding whiteness, eventually running her car off the road. While investigating the damage to her car as it hangs off the edge of a slope, the snow gives way beneath her feet, and she plunges into a canyon, becoming unconscious when her head strikes a rock. Some time later, she awakens and begins to walk for help, finally seeing a light ahead through the snow. She reaches a rough-hewn log cabin, and when the door finally opens, Emma is in for the surprise of her life as she comes face-to-face with a dead ringer for a dead man. Could it really be J.D. McNulty in the very rugged flesh? Has Emma lost her mind, or is she lost in an Old West time warp? Whoever he is, she desperately needs his help as her child is about to be born, and she has no other choice but to let him deliver her baby girl. Tall, tough, and tender-hearted, the man she accepts as J.D. McNulty is both attracted and intrigued by the troubled woman who lands at his doorstep. Man, woman, and child quickly form an emotional bond despite the strangeness of the situation. As Emma and J.D. share patches of their lives and spar verbally with each other, a sensual awareness blooms between them. J.D.'s outward roughness hides a keen intelligence and a loving, passionate nature. The trouble is, Emma knows what happened to J.D. McNulty, and his death in a gambling-hall shooting is a matter of history unless Emma can find a way to cheat Fate. If you love historical western romance and time travel tales, then you will greatly enjoy "Christmas Moon".  





WEDDINGS UNDER A WESTERN SKY by Elizabeth Lane, Kate Welsh, and Lisa Plumley


MY REVIEW:  The spirit of the Old West is alive and kicking in a historical western romance anthology featuring three touching and entertaining stories from a trio of terrific authors! "Weddings Under a Western Sky" begins with "The Hand-Me-Down Bride" by author Elizabeth Lane. When Arabella Spencer traveled West for her wedding, she expected to have her stagecoach met by her longtime fiance, Charles Middleton. Instead of her sweetheart, she is grudgingly collected by Charles' gruff neighbor, Stewart McIntyre. The trip to Charles' home is unpleasant and eventful, but the biggest surprise awaits when Arabella is unceremoniously dumped at the doorstep. Charles answers the door along with his very pregnant, young new wife! Even more humiliating is the news that Charles' wife is Stewart's sister! Arabella's world is rocked to the very foundation, and she must decide what to do with the rest of her life. A fiery, mutual attraction grows between Stewart and Arabella, but are their differences too great to allow a lasting relationship? As they spend more time together, they discover that each has unexpected and intriguing depths of character. Could it be that those very differences make all the difference as two opposites truly attract? Author Kate Welsh offers "The Bride Who Wore Britches", in which Rhiannon Oliver, who has spent most of her life dressed as boy, longs to give in to her feminine tendencies. Rhia knows just the man she wants to bring out her womanly side--her best friend's older brother Dylan Varga. Since Dylan looks at Rhia like she's a tomboy, and he calls her "Rowdy", she very much wants him to be aware that she is a female. When she dons a beautiful blue dress and becomes the belle of the ball at a local dance, Dylan sees Rhia in a whole new light. However, a ruthless attack on Rhia's homeplace creates circumstances which force them into marriage. Passion flares before hearts can catch up, and the relationship faces many unexpected turns in the trail to true happiness. Rhia and Dylan both have some growing up to do in order to allow their marriage to grow to full bloom. In "Something Borrowed, Something True", author Lisa Plumley proves that where hearts are concerned, the best made plans often go awry. Everett Bannon's well-meaning ranch hands order their boss a "mail-order" bride. Everett just hasn't been the same since he was jilted by his first fiance, and his loyal employees want their boss to be happy. However, Everett plans to send his intended bride back where she came from. His attentions are soon forgotten after he gets one look at the lovely Miss Nellie Trent. After a while, Everett begins to court Nellie, trying to be the man she thinks he wants, not knowing that she is smitten with him just as he really is. Nellie has an agenda of her own. She is actually an undercover reporter bent on exposing mail-order bride operations as fraudulent criminal groups who prey on lonely hearts. A comedy of errors ensues, with Nellie and Everett both acting outside their true character to impress each other. Will coming clean with one another wash away any hope of a real romance, or will the wise and wily ranch hands have known what was best all along? "Weddings Under a Western Sky" is a delicious treat for fans of historical western romance--just like me!





THE LAWMAN'S VOW by Elizabeth Lane


MY REVIEW:  "The Lawman's Vow", by Elizabeth Lane, took me on a grand romantic adventure to the beautifully rugged Northern California Coast of the mid-nineteenth century! Flynn O'Rourke is a tough as nails San Francisco lawman determined to bring his sister's murderer to justice. He thinks the killer is Aaron Cragun, a salvage and scrap dealer with a less than stellar reputation, so he sets sail for Cragun's home on the coast. A violent storm wrecks Flynn's boat, and he awakens with no memory of who he is, or why and how he ended up stranded on the beach. He is rescued by a lovely blonde angel and her precocious little brother. Slyvie Cragun names him "Ishmael", and she and her brother Daniel provide him with care and shelter while he struggles to regain his identity. As Sylvie and Daniel await the return of their father, Ishmael gradually regains his strength and begins to make much-needed repairs to the family home, which is actually built from the hull of shipwreck. Sylvie's father is a man of intelligence and imagination, if not high morals, and he has created an amazing place for his family to live. The salvage he gathers from wrecked ships and other sources is sold to provide the family finances, but Sylvie is unaware of her father's other, less savory predilections for obtaining money. Ishmael is drawn to Sylvie's beauty and caring heart, and she is attracted by his strength and inner gentleness. Bits and pieces of memory return as the days go by, and Ishmael is torn by a desire to stay with Sylvie and Daniel, and the need to leave in search of returning to his real life. He has only a few clues, including the sapphire ring he still wears. Sylvie grows increasingly worried as her father does not return as planned, and threatening intruders add to her alarm. Ishmael cares deeply for Sylvie and Daniel, and he would give his life to protect them from all harm. The love between Sylvie and Ishmael becomes a blazing passion, one that the two of them know could end when his memories finally return, but they are caught up in a lover's spell. "The Lawman's Vow" is exciting, richly-detailed, and very romantic--perfect for lovers of great historical romance! Recommended for dreamers and adventurers who may have wished for a handsome hero to wash ashore in need of the giving and receiving of some passionate TLC!


Other books by Elizabeth Lane: 









see more at:  http://www.elizabethlaneauthor.com/coverpage.html

Author KELI GWYN--inspirational historical romance that will touch your heart and tickle your funny bone!

"A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California"  by Keli Gwyn  



An ever-resourceful widow, Elenora Watkins arrives in El Dorado ready to go into partnership with Miles Rutledge. When he refuses, Elenora becomes the competition across the street. Is this town big enough for the two of them? Miles can’t help but stick his well-polished boot in his mouth whenever he comes face-to-face with Elenora. Can he find a way to win her heart while destroying her business? Miles’s mother, Maude, is bent on Elenora becoming her new daughter-in-law while Elenora’s daughter, Tildy, thinks Miles would make a perfect papa. How far will these meddlers go to unite this enterprising pair?  



MY REVIEW:     



"A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California", from author Keli Gwyn, was a true delight for me as a reader. The just-right blend of heartfelt inspirational romance, humor, and history kept me involved in the story line from beginning to end. The well-drawn characters were made all the more compelling by their little flaws and inner conflicts. Following the heroine and her hero as they grew as individuals and grew to love each other was very enjoyable. Elenora Watkins is a strong, capable woman who longs to be out from under the stifling rule of her father's controlling nature. A widow with a young daughter, Elenora takes a chance and leaves her home in Omaha, Nebraska to make a new life in El Dorado, California. Having run her father's store with little recognition, Ellie feels that she will make a suitable partner for Miles Rutledge in his mercantile business. However, Miles' mother, Maude, is really the one who has been corresponding with Ellie, and she has let Miles believe that his new partner is a man. When Miles discovers that "E.F. Watkins" is in fact Elenora Watkins, he withdraws his partnership offer. Ellie has not come all that way to be refused and turned around, and she determines to make the best of the situation for herself and her daughter, Tildy. Ellie sets up her own shop, across the street from Miles' store, and she decides to cater her business to please the women of the town, offering more female-friendly merchandise than can be found at Rutledge Mercantile. Miles is as exasperated as he is enchanted by Ellie, and Tildy touches a place deep in his heart. He is a widower, having lost his wife and baby daughter in a fire years ago. Ellie is lovely, smart, and stubborn, and she and Miles are both highly competitive. Sparks and sassy remarks fly between the two of them, and a friendship blooms along with respect and admiration. What each of them needs is to be found right before their eyes, but each must learn to compromise and trust in their faith and in each other. Can they both let down their guard, and let love lead them to true happiness? I adore strong heroines and the men who love them all the more because they are strong and smart. I look forward to future works from talented storyteller Keli Gwyn. Highly recommended, especially for those who have always seen the endless possibilities of the wonders to be found in a marvelous, magical mercantile. In my childhood, the "five-and-dime store" in my little home town was the stuff that dreams were made of--a place of continuous fascination--and I knew what was in every nook and cranny. Keli Gwyn took me back to that time and place with her wonderfully descriptive writing.  



KELI GWYN   


  


Award-winning novelist Keli Gwyn is a California native who lives in a Gold Rush-era town at the foot of the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains. Her stories transport readers to the 1800s, where she brings historic towns to life, peoples them with colorful characters, and adds a hint of humor. She enjoys visiting her fictional worlds, the Coach factory outlet store, and Taco Bell.

http://www.keligwyn.com

Author MELISSA JAGEARS--"LOVE BY THE LETTER" may just send "A BRIDE FOR KEEPS"--inspiring historical western romance

 


A BRIDE FOR KEEPS  by Melissa Jagears 


A Tender Tale of Love on the Prairie... 


Although Everett Cline can hardly keep up with the demands of his homestead, he won't humiliate himself by looking for a helpmate ever again--not after being jilted by three mail-order brides. When a well-meaning neighbor goes behind his back to bring yet another mail-order bride to town, he has good reason to doubt it will work, especially after getting a glimpse at the woman in question. She's the prettiest woman he's ever seen, and it's just not possible she's there to marry a simple homesteader like him.


Julia Lockwood has never been anything more than a pretty pawn for her father or a business acquisition for her former fiance. Having finally worked up the courage to leave her life in Massachusetts, she's determined to find a place where people will value her for more than her looks. Having run out of all other options, Julia resorts to a mail-order marriage in far-away Kansas.



Everett is skeptical a cultured woman like Julia could be happy in a life on the plains, while Julia, deeply wounded by a past relationship, is skittish at the idea of marriage at all. When, despite their hesitations, they agree to a marriage in name only, neither one is prepared for the feelings that soon arise to complicate their arrangement. Can two people accustomed to keeping their distance let the barricades around their hearts down long enough to fall in love?


MY REVIEW:    


"A Bride for Keeps" is a compelling, character-driven historical western romance from author Melissa Jagears. Characters are the elements which capture and hold my interest in whatever I am reading. For me, storytelling is all about how the characters are portrayed. I must care about the people and want to follow their story and find out what happens to them. In "A Bride for Keeps", the hero and heroine are both attractive, yet their looks have worked as much against them as they have for them. Some things come easily to them, yet what they really want most in life seems always beyond their grasp. After returning from the war, Everett Cline has worked hard to hold on to his homestead, depending on his close friends, Dex and Rachel Stanton, and helping them in return. When Everett was jilted by his first love, who was Rachel's sister, Rachel eventually convinced him to seek a mail-order-bride. After three disastrous "matches", Everett believes he will never find a wife and life-mate. Rachel won't give up, though, and she secretly corresponds with a woman whom she thinks will just perfect for Everett. It's quite a surprise for Everett when Julia Lockwood arrives as his latest "bride". She's a petite society beauty from Boston, appearing too delicate and refined for life on a Kansas homestead. However, Julia has left the life she knew far behind, on the run from an uncaring father and an unscrupulous suitor. Determined to be taken seriously, and not just regarded for her stunning looks, Julia resolves to show Everett that she will make him a suitable wife. Everett is quite taken with Julia's beauty, but he is unsure of himself after so much rejection. Can a Boston belle and a Midwestern man of the land truly make a match? Both Everett and Julia struggle with being the person they think each other will want. Each of them has self-doubts, and each of them has secrets. Everett is still a man of religious conviction, while Julia's faith has suffered from the tragedies in her past. Will these two worthy hearts overcome their inner turmoil and trust each other enough to believe in love? A recommended read for lovers of heartfelt historical romance.  


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LOVE BY THE LETTER  by Melissa Jagears  


Dex Stanton has never had much time for book learning. He's been too busy helping to provide for his family. Now that he's heading west, Dex is hoping to start a family of his own. However, his attempt to acquire a mail-order bride fails miserably when the lady writes back ridiculing his terrible spelling. Rachel Oliver may be the last person he wants to know what a dunce he is, but she's also the smartest woman in town--and it's clear he needs her help.


Rachel Oliver has lingered in town for three years secretly mooning over Dex Stanton, but now she's done. If the fool wants to write to a mail-order bride company, so be it. Once she begins giving Dex lessons, however, Rachel realizes she may not be prepared to give up just yet.


As their time together runs short, can two of the most stubborn people in town set aside their pride long enough to find love?


Love by the Letter is a companion novella to A Bride for Keeps, Melissa Jagears's full-length debut novel available fall 2013. Includes an extended sneak peek at A Bride for Keeps.


MELISSA JAGEARS 


 


Melissa Jagears, an ESL teacher by trade, is a stay-at-home mother on a tiny Kansas farm with a fixer-upper house, and she likes to read, of course!

http://melissajagears.com/

"THE QUINN COLSON SERIES" from author ACE ATKINS--a full-throttle ride with its hoot of humor, raunchy bad guys, and a hero who's just imperfect enough to be just right!

 

THE BROKEN PLACES  by Ace Atkins


The remarkable third novel in the "harrowing” (Associated Press), "killer” (Minneapolis Star Tribune) new series about the real Deep South from the New York Times bestselling author.



A year after becoming sheriff, Quinn Colson is faced with the release of an infamous murderer from prison. Jamey Dixon comes back to Jericho preaching redemption, and some believe him; but for the victim’s family, the only thought is revenge.


Another group who doesn’t believe him—the men in prison from Dixon’s last job, an armored car robbery. They’re sure he’s gone back to grab the hidden money, so they do the only thing they can: break out and head straight to Jericho themselves.


Colson and his deputy, Lillie, know they’ve got their work cut out for them. But they don’t count on one more unwelcome visitor: a tornado that causes havoc just as events come to a head. Communications are down, the roads are impassable—and the rule of law is just about to snap. 


MY REVIEW:


Former ranger turned lawman Quinn Colson returns for another atmospheric adventure in "The Broken Places" from author Ace Atkins. A year into his job as the sheriff of Tibbehah County, Mississippi, Colson has his work cut out for him with the return of a paroled murderer turned bible-thumping preacher. Colson's sister, Caddy, falls under the spell of the made-over minister, and she helps him to form a new church in the Jericho community. Jamey Dixon professes to be a changed man--a man of God--but not everyone takes him at his word. Quinn, of course, has his doubts, and so does Ophelia Bundren, the county coroner, who happens to be the sister of Dixon's victim. Others with a keen interest in Dixon are his former prison-mates who confided in him about their last heist--an armored-car full of cash and dead guards which ended up sunk in a pond. Now that Dixon is free man, his prison buddies naturally assume he will claim their stolen loot for himself, and they hatch a well-executed prison break in order to beat him at his own game. As usual, Quinn has his deputy Lillie Virgil and his best friend Boom as backup, but will the three of them be strong enough to handle the destruction of the tornado that tears through the town just as the wave of lawlessness reaches its crest? With each Quinn Colson book, we gain more of an insight into the man himself and his relationships with friends and family. In "The Broken Places" we also glimpse a more vulnerable side of Quinn as his rekindled romance with the woman who married another man plays havoc with his peace of mind. The first two books in the series are "The Ranger", and then "The Lost Ones". I recommend reading the three books in order so that you can enjoy the full-throttle ride with its hoot of humor, raunchy bad guys, and a hero who's just imperfect enough to be just right.

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THE LOST ONES  by Ace Atkins


Fresh from ten years as a U.S. Army Ranger, Quinn Colson finds his hands full as the newly elected sheriff of Tibbehah County, Mississippi.  An old buddy running a local gun shop may be in over his head when stolen army rifles start showing up in the hands of a Mexican drug gang.



At the same time, an abused-child case leads Quinn and his tough-as-nails deputy, Lillie Virgil, deep into the heart of a bootleg baby racket and a trail of darkness and death. And when the two cases collide, Quinn and his allies are forced to realize that, though they may be home from the war, they are now in the fight of their lives.


MY REVIEW:


"The Lost Ones", from author Ace Atkins, finds former army ranger Quinn Colson as the recently-elected sheriff of his homeplace, Tibbehah County, Mississippi. Before one crime door closes, another one has already opened, and Quinn has his hands full and his brain on full alert as he tackles his new job. At the same time that Quinn and his stalwart deputy, Lillie Virgil, investigate a child-abuse case which exposes a bootleg baby racket, stolen army rifles are being used by the lawless hands of a Mexican drug racket. Eventually, the two cases overlap, and once again the ranger is in the heat of the battle, fighting a powerful enemy threatening the sanctity of his home ground. Quinn will need his natural smarts, razor-sharp instincts, and all the survival skills he honed in a decade of army service. He could also use a little help from his friends, except than one of those friends may be up to his neck in criminal activity. "The Lost Ones" adds shaded depth to the setting and characters we first met in "The Ranger", the debut book in Ace Atkins "Quinn Colson" series. Personal issues are now given greater exploration and characterizations become richer and more complex. An entertaining and satisfying suspense read which leaves you in anticipation of spending more time fighting crime in small town Mississippi.

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THE RANGER  by Ace Atkins


From the acclaimed, award-winning author comes an extraordinary new series about a real hero, and the real Deep South.



"With terrific, inflected characters, and a dark, subtle sense of place and history, The Ranger is an exceptional novel." -John Sandford


"One of the best crime writers at work today." -Michael Connelly


Ace Atkins returns with an extraordinary new series. Northeast Mississippi, hill country, rugged and notorious for outlaws since the Civil War, where killings are as commonplace as in the Old West. To Quinn Colson, it's home-but not the home he left when he went to Afghanistan.


Now an Army Ranger, he returns to a place overrun by corruption, and finds his uncle, the county sheriff, dead-a suicide, he's told, but others whisper murder. In the days that follow, it will be up to Colson to discover the truth, not only about his uncle, but about his family, his friends, his town, and not least about himself. And once the truth is discovered, there is no turning back.


MY REVIEW:


Author Ace Atkins begins his "Quinn Colson" series with "The Ranger". The death of his uncle brings army ranger Quinn Colson home from his tour in Afghanistan on a bereavement leave. It's been years since Quinn touched his boots to the Mississippi soil, and while many things have changed, some painful reminders of the past remain the same. Finding much amiss in local law and order, and having doubts that his uncle's death was not a suicide, Quinn stirs up a firestorm when he begins his own investigations. With the help of a female detective, Lillie, who shares his suspicions, Quinn begins to peel the layers from what turns out to be a very rotten, slimy crystal meth crime organization. He is also confronting issues from his past that he can no longer detach from his thoughts, and his life will never be what it was before this fateful trip back to his roots. With both the twang of a classic Western shootout with the good guy up against a passel of baddies, and the grit and gravy of Southern crime noir, "The Ranger" is a compelling series debut.

 
ACE ATKINS' Amazon.com Page 


ACE ATKINS




Ace Atkins is the New York Times Bestselling author of more than a dozen novels, including The Broken Places and Robert B. Parker's Wonderland both out from G.P. Putnam’s Sons in May 2013.


A former journalist who cut his teeth as a crime reporter in the newsroom of The Tampa Tribune, he published his first novel, Crossroad Blues, at 27 and became a full-time novelist at 30. Last year, he was selected by the Robert B. Parker estate to continue the bestselling adventures of Boston’s iconic private eye, Spenser.


As a reporter, Ace earned a Pulitzer Prize nomination for a feature series based on his investigation into a forgotten murder of the 1950s. The story became the core of his critically acclaimed novel, White Shadow, which earned raves from noted authors and critics. In his next novels, Wicked City, Devil’s Garden, and Infamous, blended first-hand interviews and original research into police and court records with tightly woven plots and incisive characters. The historical novels told great American stories by weaving fact and fiction into a colorful, seamless tapestry.


The Broken Places, The Lost Ones and The Ranger — all part of the unfolding Quinn Colson saga — represent a return to Ace’s first love: hero-driven series fiction. Quinn Colson is a real hero — a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan — who returns home to north Mississippi to fight corruption on his home turf. The stories, contemporary tales with a dash of classic westerns and noir, are currently in development for a major television series.


Ace lives on a historic farm outside Oxford, Mississippi with his family.

Author JEN TURANO--entertaining, inspiring historical romance--heroines are strong-willed, high-spirited and hilarious!

The writing of Jen Turano is a true treat for readers. Her words sparkle on the page. Her heroines are fantastic, feisty females who are strong-willed, high-spirited, and hilarious. The heroes, fine fellows to be sure, never expected to be enchanted by such women, but they soon realize what lucky fellows they are indeed. Add much mischief and merry mayhem to the mix, plus a heaping dose of faith. Blend it all together for a wonderfully entertaining serving of inspiring historical romance.




A TALENT FOR TROUBLE  by Jen Turano  


Miss Felicia Murdock firmly believed her destiny was to become a minister's wife. When the minister on whom she had set her sights marries another lady, Felicia is forced to take a close look at her life and comes to a few uncomfortable conclusions. Determined that something needs to change--and soon--Felicia discovers she is finally ready to spread her wings and embrace life the way she's always wanted.

Grayson Sumner--or Lord Sefton, as he's officially known--has had more than enough of spreading his wings and only hopes to settle into the life of a normal, respectable New York gentleman. Prompted by some well-meaning friends to lift the spirits of the disappointed-in-love Miss Murdock, he is surprised to encounter a young lady who seems to have become quite adventurous and quite determined to get herself into all sorts of troublesome situations.

Intent on remaining independent, Felicia is reluctant to accept Grayson's help, especially as she finds herself developing feelings for him. However, just as Grayson decides he's had quite enough of her antics, his past comes back to haunt him and his presence in her life has endangered Felicia. Will Grayson and Felicia decide they want to spend the rest of their lives keeping one another out of trouble?   




A MOST PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCE  by Jen Turano  


Miss Arabella Beckett has one driving passion: to help the downtrodden women of America. Naturally, she supports the women's suffrage movement and eagerly attends rallies and lectures across the country. On her travels, she makes a simple offer of assistance to a young woman in need that goes sadly awry and lands both ladies in more trouble than they can manage. An independent sort, Arabella is loath to admit she needs help and certainly doesn't need help from an arrogant, narrow-minded knight in shining armor.

Mr. Theodore Wilder, private investigator extraordinaire, is on a mission. A mission that began as a favor to his good friend Hamilton Beckett, but swiftly evolved into a merry chase across the country. By the time he finally tracks down Hamilton's sister, Arabella, he is in a less than pleasant mood. When the lady turns out to have radical ideas and a fiercely independent streak, he soon finds himself at his wit's end.

When they return home to New York, circumstances force their paths to continue to cross, but the most peculiar feelings growing between them certainly can't be love. When the trouble Arabella had accidentally stirred up seems to have followed her to New York and threatens her very life, the unlikely couple must face the possibility that they might have landed in the most peculiar circumstance of all: love. 


MY REVIEW:   


The writing of Jen Turano is a true treat for readers. Her words sparkle on the page. Her heroines are fantastic, feisty females who are strong-willed, high-spirited, and hilarious. In "A Most Peculiar Circumstance", Arabella Beckett is a traveling suffragette whose long-suffering family sends a private investigator to locate her and bring her home in time for her brother's wedding. When she disappears, well-known investigator Theodore Wilder finally locates Arabella--bedraggled, bespattered with mud, and behind bars. Theodore is very much set in his opinion that a woman's place is in the home as a wife and mother. Although the two of them immediately stir each other's ire, and a fiery verbal battle ensues, there are banked embers beneath the sparks--an attraction they both try to fight. Fate has plans for Arabella and Theodore, however, and once they return to New York, they continue to be drawn together like magnets to metal. The situation becomes serious when they realize that Arabella didn't leave her troubles behind--she brought them with her. Theodore is much more than a private investigator. He is an agent for the United States government, and he is drawn into uncovering the fiends behind the kidnapping and prostitution ring that Arabella had stumbled upon. While he finds Arabella infuriating, he also finds her intriguing, and she is no less beguiled by him. Can two people who have traveled such opposite trails meet in the middle of the road and head in one direction toward true happiness? Jen Turano's historical romances are written with great heart and humor, and a welcome measure of faith.

Review Copy Gratis Author   




A CHANGE OF FORTUNE  by Jen Turano  


Lady Eliza Sumner is on a mission. Her fortune was the last thing she had left after losing her father, her fiancé, and her faith. Now, masquerading as Miss Eliza Sumner, governess-at-large, she's determined to find the man who ran off with her fortune, reclaim the money, and head straight back to London.

Mr. Hamilton Beckett, much to his chagrin, is the catch of the season, and all the eyes of New York society—all the female ones, at least—are on him. He has no plans to marry again, especially since his hands are full keeping his business afloat while raising his two children alone.

Eliza's hapless attempts to regain her fortune unexpectedly put her right in Hamilton's path. The discovery of a common nemesis causes them to join forces and, before she knows it, Eliza has a whole retinue of people helping her. Eliza's determination not to trust anyone weakens when everyone's antics and bumbling efforts to assist her make her wonder if there might be more important things than her fortune and independence.
When all of Hamilton's and Eliza's best-laid plans fall by the wayside, it will take a riot of complications for them to realize that God just might have had a better plan in mind all along.


MY REVIEW:
     

Delightful mischief and mayhem ensue when a downtrodden and determined heiress leaves her home in England to follow her fate to New York City of 1880. Lady Eliza Sumner struggles to endure the loss of her father and her fiance, but when her fortune is misappropriated, she determines to take matters into her own hands and regain her rightful inheritance. Posing as a governess, complete with an unflattering "makeover", she searches for the scoundrel who stole her family funds. Her quest inadvertently crosses her path with that of Hamilton Beckett, a widower with two small children who is considered to be "the catch" of the social elite. Hamilton's keen eye determines that Eliza is far more than a governess, and eventually they discover that they pursue a mutual enemy. After rescuing Eliza from an ill-advised investigatory incident, Hamilton is struck with the realization that he is meant to keep Eliza in his care. It seems Eliza's predilection for perilous predicaments brings out his best "knight in shining armor" behavior, and he finds that he enjoys his role as guardian. However the increasingly complex circumstances around Eliza's stolen fortune and the mysterious death of Hamilton's first wife cause both Eliza and Hamilton to ponder their own loss of religious faith. As the two of them grow closer, their enemies draw ever near, and the love blooming between them is threatened. Will Eliza regain what has been taken from her, or has she found something even more precious? Will Hamilton overcome painful memories and truly learn to trust his heart again? Has each incident in the chain of events been part of a master plan to bring them together after all? "A Change of Fortune" is a fast-paced, funny and thoughtful historical romance. Very enjoyable. A prequel story, "A Gentleman of Her Dreams", is available as an e-book novella.

Review Copy Gratis Library Thing




GENTLEMAN OF HER DREAMS  by Jen Turano  


When Miss Charlotte Wilson asks God for a husband, she decides He must want her to pursue Mr. Hamilton Beckett, the catch of the season. The only problem? She's never actually met Hamilton. Fortunately, one of her oldest and dearest friends, Mr. Henry St. James—who has returned to New York after a two-year absence—does know Hamilton. Much to Henry's chagrin, Charlotte immediately ropes him into helping her meet Hamilton. However, none of her plans to catch Hamilton's eye go as she expected, and she is even more confused when her old feelings for Henry begin to resurrect themselves. In the midst of the mayhem Charlotte always seems to cause, she wonders if the gentleman of her dreams might be an entirely different man than she thought.

This novella is a companion to A Change of Fortune, Jen Turano's full-length debut novel.     


JEN TURANO  

  


Jen Turano is a graduate of the University of Akron with a degree in Clothing and Textiles. She pursued a career in management for nine years before switching to full-time motherhood after the birth of her son. When she's not writing, Jen can be found watching her teenage son participate in various activities, taking long walks with her husband and dog, socializing with friends, or delving into a good book. She lives in suburban Denver, Colorado. Learn more at www.jenturano.com.

Lonesome for LONGMIRE? Author Craig Johnson has written a whole library of "Walt Longmire Mysteries" to keep you company!!!

A TIP OF THE STETSON TO "JOHNSON & LONGMIRE"--author Craig Johnson's contemporary western crime series "Walt Longmire Mysteries" features a smart, savvy, old-fashioned lawman. The best-selling books are the basis for the smash hit A&E TV series "LONGMIRE"! 
   


THE COLD DISH  by Craig Johnson

Introducing Wyoming’s Sheriff Walt Longmire in this riveting novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Hell Is Empty and As the Crow Flies, the first in the Walt Longmire Mystery Series, the basis for LONGMIRE, the hit A&E original drama series

Fans of Ace Atkins, Nevada Barr and Robert B. Parker will love this outstanding first novel, in which New York Times bestselling author Craig Johnson introduces Sheriff Walt Longmire of Wyoming’s Absaroka County. Johnson draws on his deep attachment to the American West to produce a literary mystery of stunning authenticity, and full of memorable characters. After twenty-five years as sheriff of Absaroka County, Walt Longmire’s hopes of finishing out his tenure in peace are dashed when Cody Pritchard is found dead near the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. Two years earlier, Cody had been one of four high school boys given suspended sentences for raping a local Cheyenne girl. Somebody, it would seem, is seeking vengeance, and Longmire might be the only thing standing between the three remaining boys and a Sharps .45-70 rifle. With lifelong friend Henry Standing Bear, Deputy Victoria Moretti, and a cast of characters both tragic and humorous enough to fill in the vast emptiness of the high plains, Walt Longmire attempts to see that revenge, a dish best served cold, is never served at all.

MY REVIEW:

"The Cold Dish" of revenge is well-served in the first book of author Craig Johnson's "Walt Longmire Mystery" series. As the sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming, Walt Longmire has learned to keep his friends close, his enemies closer, and to keep a close eye on potentially unfriendly situations. A longtime lawman, Walt's law enforcement career actually began with his tour of duty in Vietnam. Also serving in Vietnam was Walt's lifelong friend, Henry Standing Bear, who now runs the local watering hole, The Red Pony. Walt and Henry go together like salt & pepper in a perfectly-seasoned recipe. Two strong individual characters, quite interesting on their own, but even better as a duo. The depth of their friendship is unspoken, but none-the-less keenly felt. That doesn't mean that they can't insult each other to infinity and beyond, which provides much of the laugh-out-loud humor in the book. Along with Walt and Henry, we meet a unique group of supporting characters like Victoria "Vic" Moretti, Walt's fast & foul-mouthed deputy. A former Philadelphia patrol cop from a long line of police officers, Vic moved to Wyoming along with her husband when he was transferred through his work as an engineer with a mining company. Vic, as loyal as she is loud in expressing her opinions, is also extremely competent, and in her own way, very caring. Rounding out the roster in the sheriff's office are Ruby, the capable and observant secretary/dispatcher; Ferg, the dutiful deputy; and Turk, more punk than policeman, and more attitude than ability. The setting itself, the stark, majestic beauty of the land, and the history of relationships between the settlers of the past and their modern-day descendants and the native Cheyenne is also an entity with a strong presence. Walt is the kind of detective whom I find most intriguing, flawed and fascinating, his keen intelligence expressed in his deductive reasoning skills and his wry humor. His interactions with the residents of the community, his love for his daughter, and his reflective grief over his wife's death are all important components of Walt Longmire. When a crime case from the past once again rears its ugly head, this time with murder as the result, prejudices and passions are combined in an explosive mix, one with devastating consequences. Author Craig Johnson writes with a sure sense of his people and their place, their ambitions and weaknesses, and the story line is consistently compelling. The conclusion is shattering--a stunning blow to the senses--yet we are ultimately left with the rekindling of the desire for life to continue and for laughter to reclaim its rightful rank. I was captivated by "The Cold Dish" from the very beginning, and it just got better as the story progressed. However, there was a turning point in the story line for me where Walt has to question a crime witness, a strange, alcohol-fueled, mule-riding man living in a decrepit cabin. The vivid word imagery of the scene and the interplay of dialogue between Walt and the surprisingly informative witness are simply superb, and a very good book then became a keeper. When you read "The Cold Dish", with my highest recommendation, you will discover exactly what I am talking about, and then, just like me, you will look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series.



DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY  by Craig Johnson

Walt investigates a death by poison in this gripping novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Cold Dish and As the Crow Flies, the second in the Walt Longmire Mystery Series, the basis for LONGMIRE, the hit A&E original drama series

Now Johnson takes us back to the rugged landscape of Absaroka County, Wyoming, for Death Without Company. When Mari Baroja is found poisoned at the Durant Home for Assisted Living, Sheriff Longmire is drawn into an investigation that reaches fifty years into the mysterious woman’s dramatic Basque past. Aided by his friend Henry Standing Bear, Deputy Victoria Moretti, and newcomer Santiago Saizarbitoria, Sheriff Longmire must connect the specter of the past to the present to find the killer among them.



KINDNESS GOES UNPUNISHED  by Craig Johnson

Walt Longmire returns for his third adventure but this time he is in the City of Brotherly Love, where no act of kindness goes unpunished. Walt has been the sheriff in Wyoming's Absaroka County for twenty-four years, where his wit and charm have helped him solve many crimes. But that can't prepare him for the savage attack on his daughter, Cady, a Philadelphia lawyer who has unwittingly become embroiled in a political cover-up. As Walt and his best friend, Henry Standing Bear, scour the city for clues, he gets help from his deputy Victoria Moretti and her family of Philly police. But Longmire wasn’t born yesterday. He's willing to pull out all the stops to find Cady's attacker and show the big city that this old-timer has a few moves left in his saddlebag of tricks. Those who enjoy Tony Hillerman and James Lee Burke will delight in Johnson's third Sheriff Longmire adventure.



ANOTHER MAN'S MOCCASINS  by Craig Johnson

Walt Longmire unravels a mystery that connects two murders across forty years...

When the body of a young Vietnamese woman is found alongside the interstate in Absaroka County, Wyoming, Sheriff Walt Longmire is determined to discover the identity of the victim and is forced to confront the horrible similarities of this murder to that of his first homicide investigation as a marine in Vietnam.
To complicate matters, Virgil White Buffalo, a homeless Crow Indian, is found living in a nearby culvert and in possession of the young woman's purse. There are only two problems with what appears to be an open-and-shut case. One, the sheriff doesn't think Virgil White Buffalo, a Vietnam vet with a troubling past, is a murderer. And two, the photo that is found in the woman's purse looks hauntingly familiar to Walt.
In the fourth book in Craig Johnson's award-winning Walt Longmire series, the tough yet tender sheriff solves two murders tied in blood but separated by nearly forty years.



THE DARK HORSE  by Craig Johnson

Walt Longmire goes undercover to save a woman in an unfriendly place...

Interweaving classic noir sensibilities and humor with contemporary themes of social justice, Craig Johnson's popular Walt Longmire mysteries transport readers to the sparse and rugged landscape of Wyoming. In The Dark Horse, the sheriff investigates when his instincts tell him something isn't right about a prisoner accused of killing her husband.

Wade Barsad, a man with a dubious past, locked his wife's horses in their barn and burned the animals alive. In return, Mary shot Wade in the head six times-or so the story goes. Walt doesn't believe Mary's confession, and he's determined to dig deeper. Posing as an insurance claims investigator, Walt soon discovers other people who might have wanted Wade dead, including a beautiful Guatemalan bartender and a rancher with a taste for liquor, but not for honesty.

The Dark Horse is sure to build on the success of Another Man's Moccasins as Sheriff Longmire unpins his star and ventures into a town without pity to save a woman without hope.
  


JUNKYARD DOGS  by Craig Johnson

A missing thumb and dead developers are only the beginning for Sheriff Walt Longmire...

It's a volatile new economy in Durant, Wyoming, where the owners of a multi-million dollar development of ranchettes want to get rid of the adjacent junk-yard. When a severed thumb is discovered in the yard, conflicts erupt, and Walt Longmire, his trusty companion Dog, life-long friend Henry Standing Bear, and deputies Santiago Saizarbitoria and Victoria Moretti find themselves in a small town that feels more and more like a high plains pressure cooker.

Craig Johnson's award-winning Walt Longmire mysteries continue to find new fans, and Junkyard Dogs is sure to create many more devotees. The sixth book in the series is filled with Johnson's signature blend of wisecracks, Western justice, and page-turning plot twists, as the beloved sheriff finds himself star-deep in the darker aspects of human nature, in a story of love, laughs, death, and derelict automobiles.



HELL IS EMPTY  by Craig Johnson

Wyoming's favorite sheriff braves a frozen inferno as he races to capture an escaped murderer.

Well-read and world-weary, Sheriff Walt Longmire has been maintaining order in Wyoming's Absaroka County for more than thirty years, but in this riveting seventh outing, he is pushed to his limits. Raynaud Shade, an adopted Crow Indian, has just confessed to murdering a boy ten years ago and burying him deep within the Big Horn Mountains. After transporting Shade and a group of other convicted murderers through a snowstorm, Walt is informed by the FBI that the body is buried in his jurisdiction-and the victim's name is White Buffalo. Guided only by Indian mysticism and a battered paperback of Dante's Inferno, Walt pursues Shade and his fellow escapees into the icy hell of the Cloud Peak Wilderness Area, cheating death to ensure that justice-both civil and spiritual-is served.



DIVORCE HORSE  by Craig Johnson

Walt Longmire, the longtime sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming, has little time to relax. Still recovering from his manhunt chasing down escaped convict and sociopath Reynaud Shade in the Bighorn Mountains, Walt just can’t find the opportunity to sit back and kick off his cowboy boots. His daughter, Cady, is getting married in a few months to the brother of his under-sheriff Victoria Moretti and is in town, helping her dad ‘recuperate’ and to talk about love, life, and weddings.

Meanwhile, the American Indian Days Parade and Pow Wow are attracting tourists and trouble. The pride and joy of Tommy Jefferson’s stables—and the catalyst for his marital troubles—the notorious divorce horse, has gone missing, and Jefferson, renowned Indian Relay Racer and one-time meth head, wants him back. With the help of his best friend Henry Standing Bear and his daughter, The Greatest Legal Mind Of Our Time, Walt sets off to the races.  



AS THE CROW FLIES  by Craig Johnson

Walt gets shanghaied into a murder investigation on the Reservation in this New York Times bestseller from the author of The Cold Dish and Hell Is Empty, the eighth novel in the Walt Longmire Mystery Series, the basis for LONGMIRE, the hit A&E original drama series
Wyoming Sheriff Walt Longmire has a more important matter on his mind than cowboys and criminals. His daughter, Cady, is getting married to the brother of his under-sheriff, Victoria Moretti. Walt and old friend Henry Standing Bear are the de facto wedding planners and fear Cady’s wrath when the wedding locale arrangements go up in smoke two weeks before the big event.

The pair set out to find a new site for the nuptials on the Cheyenne Reservation, but their scouting expedition ends in horror as they witness a young Crow woman plummeting from Painted Warrior’s majestic cliffs. It’s not Walt’s turf, but the newly appointed tribal police chief and Iraqi war veteran, the beautiful Lolo Long, shanghais him into helping with the investigation. Walt is stretched thin as he mentors Lolo, attempts to catch the bad guys, and performs the role of father of the bride.



CHRISTMAS IN ABSAROKA COUNTY  by Craig Johnson

It’s holiday season in Absaroka County and Sheriff Walt Longmire gets personal in this delightful collection of four short stories from New York Times–bestselling author Craig Johnson.

Readers glimpse a softer side of Sheriff Walt Longmire as he grapples with the death of his wife, Martha, and his sometimes turbulent but ever-loving relationship with his daughter, Cady. In these four stories—“Ministerial Aid", “Slick-Tongued Devil", “Toys for Tots", and “Unbalanced” (three of which have been sent to Johnson’s fans over the years in the author’s “Post-it” e-mails)—Walt is alternately at his best and his worst. He helps a somewhat delusional elderly victim of domestic abuse while sporting a bathrobe and a mean hangover on New Year’s Day. He’s sidelined by grief when his wife’s obituary reappears in the paper and there’s an unexpected knock on his door two days before Christmas. He strives to help even those who don’t want it when he picks up a young female hitchhiker, and he’s forced into some last-minute Christmas shopping by the Greatest Legal Mind of Our Time, during which he might just end up saving a young Navy chaplain’s Christmas.

Full of Longmire’s dry wit and good heart, Christmas in Absaroka County is a holiday must-have for every Longmire and Craig Johnson fan, and it also includes the first chapter of The Cold Dish, the first novel in the Walt Longmire Mystery Series. Full of Longmire’s dry wit and good heart, Christmas in Absaroka County is a holiday must-have for every Longmire and Craig Johnson fan, and it also includes the first chapter of The Cold Dish, the first novel in the Walt Longmire Mystery Series.
  


MESSENGER: A WALT LONGMIRE STORY  by Craig Johnson

Sheriff Walt Longmire comes face to face with an other-worldy messenger in this hilarious short story from the New York Times bestselling author of As the Crow Flies and The Cold Dish.

Sheriff Walt Longmire, his long-time friend Henry Standing Bear, and his under-sheriff Victoria Moretti are returning from a fishing trip in the Bighorn Mountains when Walt receives a distress call from Crazy Woman Canyon. Forest service ranger Chuck Coon is in trouble. Walt, the Bear, and Vic arrive to find Coon and a young woman up a tree, so to speak. The unlikely duo are fending off three very real bears from the top of a Porta Potty and tell a mystifying story of another dangerous creature inside the “convenience.” When Walt, Henry, and Vic face the creature what they find may be a Messenger from the Camp of the Dead, with a very personal tie to Walt himself.

A must-have for every Longmire and Craig Johnson fan, Messenger also includes a teaser chapter from Johnson's new novel, A Serpent's Tooth.



A SERPENT'S TOOTH  by Craig Johnson

The inspiration for A&E's Longmire finds himself in the crosshairs in the ninth book of the New York Times bestselling series.

The success of Craig Johnson’s Walt Longmire series that began with The Cold Dish continues to grow after A&E’s hit show Longmire introduced new fans to the Wyoming sheriff. As the Crow Flies marked the series’ highest debut on the New York Times bestseller list. Now, in his ninth Western mystery, Longmire stares down his most dangerous foes yet.

It’s homecoming in Absaroka County, but the football and festivities are interrupted when a homeless boy wanders into  town. A Mormon “lost boy,” Cord Lynear is searching for his missing mother but clues are scarce. Longmire and his companions, feisty deputy Victoria Moretti and longtime friend Henry Standing Bear, embark on a high plains scavenger hunt in hopes of reuniting mother and son. The trail leads them to an interstate polygamy group that’s presiding over a stockpile of weapons and harboring a vicious vendetta.



SPIRIT OF STEAMBOAT: A WALT LONGMIRE STORY  by Craig Johnson

A holiday tale from the New York Times bestselling author of the Walt Longmire mystery series, the inspiration for A&E’s hit show Longmire.

"It’s a question of what you have to do, what you have to live with if you don’t.”

Sheriff Walt Longmire is reading A Christmas Carol in his office on December 24th when he’s interrupted by the ghost of Christmas past: a young woman with a hairline scar across her forehead and more than a few questions about Walt’s predecessor, Lucian Connally. Walt doesn’t recognize the mystery woman, but she seems to know him and claims to have something she must return to Connally. With his daughter, Cady, and his under-sheriff Vic Moretti in Philadelphia for the holidays, Walt is at loose ends, and despite the woman’s reticence to reveal her identity, he agrees to help her.

At the Durant Home for Assisted Living Lucian Connally is several tumblers into his Pappy Van Winkle’s and swears he’s never clapped eyes on the woman before. Disappointed, she whispers "Steamboat” and begins a story that takes them all back to Christmas Eve 1988, when three people died in a terrible crash and a young girl had the slimmest chance of survival . . . back to a record-breaking blizzard, to Walt’s first year as sheriff, with a young daughter at home and a wife praying for his safety . . . back to a whiskey-soaked World War II vet ready to fly a decommissioned plane and risk it all to save a life.
Back to the Spirit of Steamboat.

 




Craig Johnson is the author of eight novels in the Walt Longmire mystery series, which has garnered popular and critical acclaim. The Cold Dish was a Dilys Award finalist and the French edition won Le Prix du Polar Nouvel Observateur/BibliObs. Death Without Company, the Wyoming State Historical Association’s Book of the Year, won France’s Le Prix 813. Another Man’s Moccasins was the Western Writers of America’s Spur Award winner and the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers’ Book of the Year, and The Dark Horse, the fifth in the series, was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. Junkyard Dogs won the Watson Award for a mystery novel with the best sidekick, and Hell Is Empty, selected by Library Journal as the Best Mystery of the Year, was a New York Times best seller, as was As the Crow Flies. The Walt Longmire series is the basis for the hit A&E drama, Longmire, starring Robert Taylor, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Katee Sackoff.

Johnson lives in Ucross, Wyoming, population twenty-five.

http://craigallenjohnson.com/

EAT YOUR VEGGIES!!! Delicious cookbooks to tempt you over to "THE GREEN SIDE"

Leafy Greens: An A-to-Z Guide to 30 Types of Greens Plus More Than 120 Delicious Recipes  by Mark Bittman

Mark Bittman's handy, healthy guide to greens—now back in print! Mark Bittman is one of the nation's best-known and most widely respected food writers. The author of the legendary How to Cook Everything and How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, he's a master of the art of simple, healthy home cooking. In this new reissue of Leafy Greens, he describes and explains more than 30 different types of greens—from arugula to kale to wakame (a sea vegetable)—and offers healthy recipes for each green along the way. As one blogger celebrating the book recently put it, "it demystifies obscure greens and celebrates overlooked ones."

You'll find more than 120 delicious anti-oxidant-packed recipes for salads, soups, stews, stir-fries, sautés, and more, as well as nutritional information, advice on buying and cooking greens, and which greens make good substitutes for one another. Includes more than 120 savory recipes like Bitter Greens with Bacon, Grilled Radicchio, and Risotto with Arugula and Shrimp Features more than 65 illustrations that help you quickly identify different types of greens Begins with a new Introduction by Mark Bittman. If you love healthy cooking or just love greens, this is your ultimate source for handy information, tasty recipes, and fresh meal ideas.

MY REVIEW:

"Leafy Greens: An A-to-Z Guide to 30 Types of Greens Plus More Than 120 Delicious Recipes by Mark Bittman" is as much a tutorial as it is a cookbook, and that is a very good thing. Adding a variety of greens to your diet is an easy way to receive a nutritional boost. Understanding the flavors and cooking properties of the many varieties of greens is what elevates the level of eating enjoyment. I was born and raised in the South, and greens cooked with ham hocks are a cultural favorite food. My Gran used to cook up a "mess of cress", and she also "wilted" fresh garden lettuce with vinegary-sweet hot bacon grease dressing. My grandfather was a natural master gardener, grower of the best tomatoes on earth. I have never tasted any salads as good as the ones made from our own fresh garden lettuce, tomatoes, and green onions, drizzled with Mama's "secret recipe" salad dressing! Mark Bittman shares his great love of "the green stuff" in an interesting, engaging, charmingly illustrated guidebook that will tempt you into trying new greens-themed dishes. To tempt your taste buds: "Soup of Greens, Beans, and Rice"; "Thai Beef Salad with Boston Lettuce"; "Gingered Cabbage"; "Turnip Greens with Potatoes"; "Swiss Chard Pie"; and "Corned Beef and Cabbage". Thirty shades of green never looked so good!

Review Copy Gratis Wiley Books

Fine Cooking in Season: Your Guide to Choosing and Preparing the Season's Best   by Fine Cooking Magazine

Today’s home cooks want to embrace the bounty of every season and cook with unusual ingredients — or use their tried-and-true options in creative ways. Featuring 100 ingredients and 300 recipes arranged by season, Cooking in Season, readers will enjoy both the thrill of discovering new flavors as well as learning different methods of preparing common fresh produce. Each ingredient is accompanied by a beautiful photograph and in-depth details on how to choose it at its peak and keep it fresh, as well as preserving ideas and surprisingly delicious pairings. Plus, each ingredient features multiple recipes from the editors and contributors of Fine Cooking and tested by the Fine Cooking test kitchen staff so home cooks will get sure-to-work, delicious results from their fresh bounty, whether grown at home or purchased at the farmer’s market or grocery.

MY REVIEW:

"Fine Cooking In Season: Your Guide to Choosing and Preparing the Season's Best" is a truly fabulous find for foodies. The authors of this book discovered so many tasty treasures that they had to add a fifth season to the year. Your tasteful journey begins in Spring, and continues through Early Summer, Late Summer, Fall, and Winter. Each season has its own "color tab", and each food has its own variety of recipes. I loved the fact that each food has its own pages with beautiful color photos, recipes, "other ideas", and a "Did you know?" question and answer. Learning about food helps to open your mind to trying new foods, and that is a healthy option for both mind and body. Becoming knowledgeable in how to optimize the potential of the properties of each ingredient is a fun and inspiring way to add new life to food preparation. A reason to please in each season: "Asparagus, Goat Cheese, and Bacon Tart"; "Fresh Peas with Lemon and Chives"; "Chocolate Strawberry Shortcakes"; "Apricot-Raspberry Buckle"; "Cherry Mousse"; "Braised Fennel with Tomato, Green Olives, and Capers"; "Roasted Onion Stuffed with Prosciutto and Parmesan"; "Fig and Anise Ice Cream"; "Sun-Ripened Tomato and Black Olive Salad"; "Carrot and Coriander Soup"; "Wild Mushroom Risotto"; "Chocolate Nut-Upside Down Cake"; "Glazed Pork Roast with Carrots, Parsnips, and Pears"; "Brown-Butter Banana Cake with Chocolate Chips"; and "Pan-Roasted Chicken Breasts with Orange-Brandy Sauce". Tempted? You should be!

Review Copy Gratis The Taunton Press

We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook: A Mom and Daughter Dish about the Food That Delights Them and the Love That Binds Them...

by Becky Johnson and Rachel Randolph

 

Becky Johnson and her daughter Rachel Randolph come from a long line of laughter. The female side of her family tree is dotted with funny storytellers, prolific authors, hospitable home cooks, and champion chatters. In We Love, We Laugh, We Cook, Becky---a butter and bacon loving mama---and Rachel---a vegan bean eating daughter---share stories of their crazy, wonderful, and sometimes challenging lives as Rachel becomes a mother herself. Becky is messy; Rachel craves order. Becky forgets what month it is; Rachel is an organizational genius. (At least before baby arrives.) Sprinkled throughout are the lip-smacking, nourishing recipes they love to make and share. From food for a family reunion of thirty, to lunch for a party of one in a high chair, to a hot meal for a sick friend, the authors demonstrate grace, acceptance, and love to others through the bonding gifts of humor, attentive listening, and cooking ... whether diners prefer beef or tofu in their stew.

MY REVIEW:

Food and love go hand-in-hand. Both speak a universal language, one that breaks through many barriers and connects us through family, friends, and happy and poignant memories. "We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook: A Mom and Daughter Dish about the Food That Delights Them and the Love That Binds Them" is a delightful foodie memoir by Becky Johnson and her daughter, Rachel Randolph. The differences between mother and daughter are as much a part of their relationship as is the deep love which binds their family together. Becky is a lifelong omnivore, and Rachel and her husband chose to embrace the vegan lifestyle. "We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook" is a recipe-filled chronicle of how Becky and her family experienced the many changes in their life and managed to keep a rich sense of humor along the way. Blending traditional meat-eater foods with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes can be quite a challenge, but mother and daughter are more than able to take on the task. Here's a sampling of recipes from the book: "Becky's Layered Italian Veggie Casserole"; "Bourbon-Brown Sugar Pork Loin"; "Rustic Sausage & Peppers Skillet"; "Tortilla Soup"; "Broccoli-Carrot Slaw"; "Blueberry-Raspberry Oat Bars"; "No-Bake Apricot Bars"; "Yellow Pepper Soup"; "Pineapple-Coconut Cloud Cake"; "Chili-Lime Southern Style Catfish"; and "Sun-Dried Tomato & Artichoke Bowtie Pasta". The recipes are noted if they are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free. Sometimes families may go in different directions, but when they come full-circle, and meet in the middle, the rewards are worth the journey.

Review Copy Gratis Thomas Nelson Books via Booksneeze

Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites: Flavorful Recipes for Healthful Meals   by Moosewood Collective

 

This is the low-fat book cooks who care about wholesome, vegetarian-inspired food have been waiting for. Each of the more than 280 recipes are as delicious and trustworthy as those in the Moosewood Collective's previous books, and vibrant flavors and generous portions are still a hallmark of every dish. Because the Collective's primary goal is always to make great tasting food they resisted the notion of doing a low-fat book until they were convinced they could make low-fat dishes as flavor-packed as their regular favorites. "We've mostly been interested in gourmet cuisine at Moosewood Restaurant, not deprivation diet food, " say the authors. "So, it's a happy surprise that the dishes we created for this cookbook don't come off as merely healthful diet foods. The food is exciting, ethnically diverse, and satisfyingly delicious. Moosewood Restaurant Low-fat Favorites is as much a celebration of the pleasures of eating as it is about low-fat cooking."

MY REVIEW:

When the iconic Moosewood Restaurant first opened for business in Ithaca, New York in 1973, it changed the way that many people viewed the vegetarian lifestyle. Eating healthy won new acceptance, and vegetables gained celebrity status. Four decades later, the restaurant is still going strong. The menu changes daily based on fresh, locally available seasonal foods. The "Moosewood Collective" is the group of people who cook and create the menus for the restaurant. From all walks of life and varying professions, they share a love of cooking and eating and an appreciation for healthy, delicious food. "Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites: Flavorful Recipes for Healthful Meals" offers more than 300 recipes to tempt your taste buds. Preparation methods, cooking techniques, and cookware suggestions are provided along with helpful hints and tasteful tidbits. The book is charmingly illustrated with sepia and umber toned rustic drawings on parchment-colored pages. Here's just a sampling of the recipes you'll find: "Garlic Basil Cheese Spread"; "Savory Stuffed Mushrooms"; "Indian Potato Pancakes"; "Applesauce Cranberry Muffins"; "Spring Soup"; "New England Squash Soup"; "Brown Bread"; "Cucumbers Vinaigrette"; "Cassoulet"; "Golden Basmati Rice"; "Pasta Primavera"; "Savory Indian Sweet Potatoes"; "Three Sisters Stew"; and "Garlic Mashed Potatoes". The desserts are your reward for eating well: "Pumpkin Custard"; "Lemon Pudding Cake"; "Ginger Peach Crumble"; "Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti"; and "Red Berry Kissel". Also included are a chapter of fish recipes, nutrition facts, and an ingredients guide. "Light" is a delight when it is done just right!

The Heart of the Plate: Vegetarian Recipes for a New Generation  by Mollie Katzen

 

With The Moosewood Cookbook, Mollie Katzen changed the way a generation cooked and brought vegetarian cuisine into the mainstream. In The Heart of the Plate, she completely reinvents the vegetarian repertoire, unveiling a collection of beautiful, healthful, and unfussy dishes — her “absolutely most loved.” Her new cuisine is  light, sharp, simple, and modular; her inimitable voice is as personal, helpful, clear, and funny as ever. Whether it’s a salad of kale and angel hair pasta with orange chili oil or a seasonal autumn lasagna, these dishes are celebrations of vegetables. They feature layered dishes that juxtapose colors and textures: orange rice with black beans, or tiny buttermilk corn cakes on a Peruvian potato stew. Suppers from the oven, like vegetable pizza and mushroom popover pie, are comforting but never stodgy. Burgers and savory pancakes — from eggplant Parmesan burgers to zucchini ricotta cloud cakes — make weeknight dinners fresh and exciting. “Optional Enhancements” allow cooks to customize every recipe. The Heart of the Plate is vibrantly illustrated with photographs and original watercolors by the author herself.

 

MY REVIEW:

 

Legendary chef and cookbook author Mollie Katzen offers up a fresh feast of palate pleasers in "The Heart of the Plate: Vegetarian Recipes for a New Generation". Ms. Katzen's original "Moosewood Cookbook" revolutionized the theory and thinking behind vegetarian and vegan cooking, and it remains a venerated classic to this day. With "The Heart of the Plate", we are treated to the author's exuberance, experience, and expertise in refining and reinventing vegetarian and vegan dishes which will tempt even the most finicky of eaters. Seasonings, cooking techniques, and cooking tools are instrumental in Ms. Katzen's kitchen. Vegetarian and vegan menus offer helpful guides for food combining and serving complete, satisfying meals. Most of the recipes feature easily-obtained and on-hand ingredients. However, there's no time like the present to try something new, and stepping out of your cooking comfort zone can be a delicious diversion. Try some of these recipes: "Creamy Tuscan-Style White Bean Soup"; "Ginger-Fennel Broth"; "Crunchy Cucumbers and Red Onion with Fresh Cheese"; "Green Beans and Beets with Pickled Red Onions"; "Ginger-Pecan Mini Biscuits"; "Mushroom Stroganoff over Cabbage Noodles"; "Roasted Garlic-Mashed Cauliflower"; "Autumn Vegetable Lasagna"; "Vegetable Pizza"; "Mushroom Popover Pie"; "Caramelized Onion-Brown Rice-Lentil Burgers"; "Beet, Orange, and Ginger Marmalade"; "Bittersweet Mocha Bundt Cake"; and "Pecan Shortbread Cookies". Temptingly photographed, and charmingly illustrated by the author herself, "The Heart of the Plate" will tastefully coax you into a new way of thinking about food and cooking.

Review Copy Gratis Amazon Vine

 

Harvest to Heat: Cooking with America's Best Chefs, Farmers, and Artisans   by Darryl Estrine, Kelly Kochendorfer and Alice Waters

Now more than ever, Americans are giving careful thought to where their food comes from. And farmers, formerly anonymous suppliers of bounty, are proving an inspiration to chefs everywhere. This book celebrates the collaboration between farmer and chef—and the journey from land to table. Readers are invited along to visit the men and women who grow, herd, ranch, and create artisanal foods that supply the finest restaurant chefs in the country. Harvest to Heat explores this dynamic relationship and paints beautiful portraits of these often unheralded people, even while it offers up a bounty of never before published, easy to cook recipes—100 in all. It will encourage readers to think fresh first and buy food locally, as well as motivate them to cook with the confidence of a four-star chef.

 

MY REVIEW:

 

When we are growing up, we often don't see the value in the life lessons we are being taught by our parents and grandparents. We may be looking and listening, but still not comprehending. Sometimes, it takes maturity and similar experiences in our later years to really grasp the full meaning of their examples. My favorite Summer memories are of the times I spent with my grandparents working in our garden. My grandfather was a natural "master gardener". He grew the best tomatoes that I have ever tasted! One of a Southerner's favorite meals is a slice of juicy, ripe homegrown tomato on a fresh, hot butter biscuit! I used to love to help my grandfather plant the tomatoes. Dig a little hole, add some water, drop in the little plant, pat the dirt down, add a little water, repeat. On and on we went, row after row, until we were done. It was never work to me, it was just a special time shared with my grandfather. "Harvest to Heat: Cooking with America's Best Chefs, Farmers, and Artisans" is an expansive, enlightening encyclopedia of food producers and sellers, and those who create and serve food which sustains us body and soul. True foodies who love all aspects of food and food preparation will delight in the amazing stories, photos and recipes. Tempt your taste buds with these awesome dishes: "Smoky Pork & Apple Soup with Mustard"; "Halibut Poached in Pepper Butter with Roasted Corn Salad"; "Creme Fraiche Galette with Heirloom Tomatoes"; "Sweet Potatoes with Corn, Swiss Chard, and Caramelized Onions"; and "Honey-Mango Upside-Down Cake". Exquisite. Elemental. Essential.

Review Copy Gratis The Taunton Press

 

 

Vegetarian Times Complete Cookbook   by Lucy Moll and Vegetarian Times

"Vegetarian Times Complete Cookbook" is your definitive cookbook for vegetarians with more than six hundred delicious recipes, including vegetarian classics, meatless variations of American favorites, international dishes, healthful desserts, and more--plus, tips on cooking techniques, types of vegetarian diets, and health concerns.

MY REVIEW:

"Vegetarian Times Complete Cookbook", by Lucy Moll and Vegetarian Times, is a taste-filled tutorial feting the vegetarian lifestyle and offering a veritable veggie feast of over 600 recipes. It certainly lives up to being called "complete", fully explaining the various types of vegetarian eating, and also including invaluable health and nutrition information. The guide to stocking your pantry with staples and the menu planning suggestions are very helpful, especially if you are new to the vegetarian lifestyle. The recommended cooking methods and food preparation techniques will aide you in making the most of the meal ingredients. The book does not include a photo of each recipe, but there are two inserts of color photos of selected prepared meals which look very tempting. The hundreds of recipes cover all meal courses and provide nutrition information for each dish. Some highlights include: "Mushroom Caps Stuffed with Basil, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Parmesan"; "Garlic Toasts with Black Olive Tapenade"; "Classic Minestrone"; "Potato-Leek Soup"; "Antipasto Platter"; "Fennel-and-Red Onion Salad"; "Twenty-Minute Pasta Salad"; "Apple-Carrot-Pineapple Salad"; "Calzones with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Garlic"; "Eggplant Parmesan"; "Creole Vegetable and Red Bean Jambalaya"; "Good Shepherd's Pie"; "Garden Vegetable Quiche"; and many other recipes for individual side dishes. The dessert section is delectable: "Pears in Raspberry Sauce"; "Layered Berry Parfaits in Champagne Glasses"; "Grand Marnier Souffle"; "Chocolate Ricotta Cream"; "Maple Rum Rice Creme with Chocolate Sauce"; "Chocolate-Espresso Cake with Espresso Sauce"; and many desserts made with a wonderful variety of fruits.

 

Farm Fresh Southern Cooking: Straight from the Garden to Your Dinner Table  by Tammy Algood

 

Is there anything better than a kitchen countertop spread with the spoils of a Saturday morning at the farmers market? Every trip yields some new assortment of old favorites and newfound treasures. One week, you re tempted by the sun-warmed heirloom tomatoes and the Mason jars brimming with orange blossom honey. Another week, it s the slabs of milky Havarti cheese and the Red Haven peaches heavy with juice, enticing you to spend just a little more than you planned. Kentucky pole beans, silky ears of sweet corn, and sacks of stone-ground buckwheat flour may find their way into your basket on another visit.

Whether you shop with a list or purely on impulse, you'll always find the truest taste of home at the local farms, roadside stands, and produce markets in your community. These are the places that offer up the native flavors of the South and all its seasons. They are your portal to the fields, the waters, and the vines where your food is cultivated. Get to know the origins of what you eat and the people who produce it. Tammy Algood s "Farm Fresh Southern Cooking "celebrates this experience with delicious recipes that will enhance the natural flavors of your latest market haul and stories of the South s most dedicated growers and culinary producers.

 

MY REVIEW:

 

One of a Southerner's favorite meals is a slice of juicy, ripe homegrown tomato on a fresh, hot butter biscuit! I could almost taste that biscuit and feel the butter and juice from the tomato on my chin as I read "Farm Fresh Southern Cooking: Straight from the Garden to Your Dinner Table" by Tammy Algood. What a wonderful book! Beautifully produced on thick paper with colorful photos and helpful insights, this book is just the right size to be holdable and readable. As I write this in Spring, our Farmer's Markets here in the States will soon bloom with gorgeous produce and other seasonal offerings. However, at any given time, somewhere in the world, garden goodness is ripe for the picking and fruit orchards offer a bounty of delights. "Farm Fresh Southern Cooking" encourages you to go fresh, go local when possible, and go for the gusto of food prepared and served the way it was meant to be enjoyed! These recipes are literally a "return to the roots" of good food from good earth. I am not a great fan of black-eyed peas, but when I saw the photo and recipe for "Pea-Picking Salsa", I wanted to dip a pita chip right into that page! "Roasted Bacon Pecans"--heh-heh--pecan, butter, bacon, sugar, and salt--heh-heh!!! "Garden Vegetable Soup"--no meat at all--just gorgeous veggies and veggie stock, kicked up with added white wine. If I list all the marvelous ingredients in the "Sweet Potato and Shrimp Chowder", you might just start to cry from longing. "Hot Bacon Dressing over Wilted Greens" is an absolute Southern Classic--really! "Twice As Nice Corn Casserole" is so darn good, you must have at least two servings. "Parsnip and Tart Apple Puree"--a most perfect accompaniment to a pork main dish. "Baked Parmesan Catfish" will set your whiskers to twitching with its crusty, salty goodness. "Orchard Fresh Peach Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting"--have mercy! "Sweet Cherry Dessert Sauce" made with cherry brandy or liqueur--can you imagine the sinful goodness of this sauce on rich, dense, homemade vanilla ice cream! "Savory Zucchini Pie"--a crustless "quiche"--quick-mixed all in one bowl. "Summer Fruit Watermelon Smoothies"--fresh watermelon blended with ice, lime juice and raspberry sherbet--even just thinking about it is refreshing! Tammy Algood has written a delightful, delectable book that brings back many good memories to this Southerner's heart! "Farm Fresh Southern Cooking" is a sure pick when you are in the market for cookbook treat!

Review Copy Gratis Thomas Nelson Books

Recipes from the Root Cellar: 270 Fresh Ways to Enjoy Winter Vegetables   by Andrea Chesman

 

Nothing tastes better than the seasonal bounty of local farms. Everyone loves the spring-is-here excitement of peas and asparagus and the summer sweetness of tomatoes and corn. Now it s time to give the hearty, long-lasting bounty of the autumn garden its due. Whether these vegetables are eaten straight from the garden, out of a well-tended root cellar, or straight from the market, their flavors reward the home cook, and their nutritional benefits pack a powerful punch.

 

MY REVIEW:

 

Root vegetables and greens have a hearty earthiness that makes them perfect for the savory dishes that warm us from Fall through Winter. Andrea Chesman's "Recipes From the Root Cellar" makes you want to eat your veggies! You'll learn how to identify, choose, store and prepare vegetables that are readily available in the cooler months. There are recipes for every course from salads on through to dessert. Vegetarian-friendly recipes are noted by a small leaf design next to the recipe title. Learning to cook with a wider variety of foods like root vegetables, greens, winter squash, and dried beans is not only healthy, it adds interest to everyday meals. "Sneaking in" pureed vegetables to foods like meatloaf, cornbread, pasta sauce, stuffing and more, adds flavor, moisture, texture and nutrients. When the individual food ingredients in recipes are naturally flavorful, then you can reduce the salt and fat in many of the recipes. Taste the food first, and then gradually add what you think it lacks. These wonderful recipes lack for nothing: "Maple-Glazed Baked Winter Vegetables", "Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes", "Caramelized Cabbage and Onion Tart", "Chicken Pot Pie with Sweet Potato Biscuits", "Winter Minestrone", and "Stuffed Cabbage Rolls". For the sweet tooth: "Maple-Apple Tea Cake", "Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting", and "Marbled Pumpkin Cheesecake". Are you hungry yet?

Review Copy Gratis Storey Publishing

 

An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace  by Tamar Adler

Reviving the inspiring message of M. F. K. Fisher’s How to Cook a Wolf— written in 1942 during wartime shortages—An Everlasting Meal shows that cooking is the path to better eating. Through the insightful essays in An Everlasting Meal, Tamar Adler issues a rallying cry to home cooks.

In chapters about boiling water, cooking eggs and beans, and summoning respectable meals from empty cupboards, Tamar weaves philosophy and instruction into approachable lessons on instinctive cooking. Tamar shows how to make the most of everything you buy, demonstrating what the world’s great chefs know: that great meals rely on the bones and peels and ends of meals before them.

She explains how to smarten up simple food and gives advice for fixing dishes gone awry. She recommends turning to neglected onions, celery, and potatoes for inexpensive meals that taste full of fresh vegetables, and cooking meat and fish resourcefully.

By wresting cooking from doctrine and doldrums, Tamar encourages readers to begin from wherever they are, with whatever they have. An Everlasting Meal is elegant testimony to the value of cooking and an empowering, indispensable tool for eaters today.

MY REVIEW:

"An Everlasting Meal", by Tamar Adler, is an impressive, informed, invaluable inside look at the pleasure and practicality of food usage and cooking in a sustainable manner. Making the most of the flavors found in almost every part and particle of foods both common and exotic is not a new theory, nor is it one lacking in culinary satisfaction. On the contrary, learning to incorporate natural flavors and cooking essences into savory seasonings and sauces is a true treat for the taste buds. This is a carry-it-forward food plan that takes some skill in the kitchen, an organized mind, and a commitment to not letting valuable resources go to waste. Why throw it out and then have to go buy it again? Why not accept it, embrace it, and enjoy it? My favorite chapter in the book is "How to Live Well", and it glorifies one of the most humble, and most essential of all foods: the dried bean. Being from the South, I have an innate love for a bowl of brown beans with some boiled potatoes and a hunk of cornbread on the side. Add some sliced onions and slices of juicy home-grown tomatoes, and you have a peasant's meal fit for royalty! There are wonderful recipes and cooking tips throughout "An Everlasting Meal", but there is also a gentle reminder of how simple and soothing it can be to just cook and enjoy food with your family and friends.

Review Copy Gratis Simon & Schuster