Texas Ranger Dad (Mule Hollow Matchmakers, Book 10) Review

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(More customer reviews)Rose Vincent has led a hard life. She's been through it all--seeing a murder, witness protection, then getting stuck with a wife beater for a husband, living in shelters and moving she and her son all over the country just to stay hidden. Now her life is finally on track and an idea for a better life for she and her son. Just when everything is going well an old flame comes back into her life and she isn't exactly pleased to see him. Zane walked out on her without even saying goodbye 14 years ago, leaving her pregnant and on her own at a time when she was terrified.
Zane has finally realized he has to make up for his past mistakes where Rose is concerned. He tracks her down to a little town in Texas. Now all he has to do is convince her to forgive him and the two of them can go on and live happily ever after. He should have known it wouldn't be that easy. Then he gets the shock of his life. Not only is Rose much more stubborn then he remembered her to be, but he also has a son.
Debra writes a good storyline, but frankly this story has been done to death. The best thing she has going however is the secondary characters. This is a continuation of her Mule Hollow series and the supporting cast are all back with helpful advise. One of the things l liked best about this story is that even with the theme of the story being about matchmakers, the group of ladies that make up the matchmaking team decided that they shouldn't do anything because they were asked not to. Zane and Rose made a nice pair, as well, even though they had a lot issues between them to work out. I really like the author's writing style and the town setting and the added characters gives new life to a well used subject matter.

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Everyone in Mule Hollow can see the resemblance between former Texas Ranger Zane Cantrell and Rose Vincent's son. The same goldflecked amber eyes. The same smile. Not that Zane is smiling. He's in shock! How could Rose have kept their child a secret from him? Rose reminds Zane that he's the one who walked away. He has to make her see he had no choice. But Rose is as prickly as the cactus jelly she makes. And that's where their hopeful son and the Mule Hollow matchmakers come marching in.--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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40 Acres and No Mule Review

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(More customer reviews)I loved this book because it took me on a journey to a part of the United States that is not known to most readers. And to a time that is not today. And to know people who are unlike any neighbors I have ever had.
I really enjoyed learning the landscape and the problems and the social activities of mountain people. Someone who lives in an urban area (or the suburbs of an urban area) may feel superior to these characters, feel privileged compared to such country types but I really admired many of the people for coping so well with their circumstances. Many seem heroic, even.
I'd like to say Thank You to this author!

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" In the late 1940s, Janice and Henry Giles moved from Louisville, Kentucky, back to the Appalachian hill country where Henry had grown up a d where his family had lived since the time of the Revolution. With their savings, the couple bought a ramshackle house and forty acres of land on a ridge top and set out to be farmers like Henry's forebears. To this personal account of the trials of a city woman trying to learn the ways of the country and of her neightbors, Janice Holt Giles brings the same warmth, homor, and powers of observation that characterize her novels. Enlightening and evocative, personal and universally pertinent, this description of a year of ""backaches, fun, low ebbs, and high tides, and above all a year of eminent satisfaction"" will be welcomed by Janice Holt Giles's many readers, old and new."

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Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues Review

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(More customer reviews)What a hoot!
Jacquie Rogers has an original and delightful imagination. This romance is completely different from anything you've ever read before. You'll find yourself laughing out loud at the
match- making animals. Rogers has created interesting characters and a hero and heroine you'll adore. Brody made my heart race, but I have always been partial to cowboys.
When you want to curl up with a good read, pick this book. From the first page you'll be hooked, and there is no way you'll be able to put it down.


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It Happened in the Idaho DesertThe rodeo clown:Brody wants the thrill of bullfighting and the wind at his feet.The actuary:Rita doesn't want anything to do with a busted up cowboy-and odds are, Brody will be.The mule:Socrates understands humans.And love, even if humans don't.Can Socrates lead Brody to Rita's heart?Will Rita let herself take the biggest risk of all?

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The Mule Men: A History of Stock Packing in the Sierra Nevada Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is well-written and entertaining. I recommend it to anyone interested in the history of Sierra or the use of livestock, as well as to anyone who has spent time in the Sierra back country. The author does a wonderful job of presenting the facts in a manner that brings the era and the people alive. The history of packing is provided against the backdrop of the broader Sierra history, putting it in context that makes the role of packing clear.

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No Place Like Home (Mule Hollow Matchmakers, Book 3) Review

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(More customer reviews)And so the saga of Mule Hollow continues. The humor Clopton infuses into her love stories makes a fun read. Although I missed Samantha the mule, No Place Like Home is populated with the characters we've come to know and love.
When young hitchhiker Cassie Bates is picked up by Dottie, the unlikely friendship leads Dottie into an adventure she never bargained for. Cassie's been reading Molly's newspaper column and has come to Mule Hollow to get herself a cowboy. The matchmakers, Adela, Norma Sue and Esther Mae, are in fine form as they attempt to steer Brady and Dottie together. Just when it looks like they might get their way ... Brady shuts the door. Now what? Well, you'll have to read it to find out. Be prepared for laughter and tears in another adventure in Mule Hollow.


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When her ancient RV caught fire, candy maker Dottie Hart was stranded in Mule Hollow. So much for her promise to help her brother with his women's shelter. She would never make it to California now! Help arrived in the nick of time, in the shape of handsome sheriff Brady Cannon. And though Dottie made it clear she was just passing through, the local matchmakers had another agenda. No single woman had yet encountered them without leaving happily married…a sticky situation for the lovely confectioner. Perhaps Brady could convince her that love was its own sweet reward….--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Dream a Little Dream (Mule Hollow Matchmakers, Book 4) Review

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(More customer reviews)Sometimes a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. Molly Popps has a dream and nothing is going to get in her way. She plans to write interesting columns for the local newspaper that are so good they'll catch the eye of a prominent editor who will offer her a job on a big city newspaper and she'll be on her way up the ladder to success. And what better way to reach her goal than to write about Mule Hollow's most handsome, financially secure bachelor, Bob Jacobs. After all, she overheard him telling a friend he wanted to find a wife. Molly determines to help him reach that goal.
Bob Jacobs was upset about seeing his matrimonial ambitions written about in the Mule Hollow morning paper, and to tell the truth, he was a little bit scared by the horde of women stampeding into town bearing baked goodies and searching for love. Particularly when he has to rescue one from a riled bull. He knows exactly who to blame for his troubles too. That interferring Molly Popps who wrote the column destroying his privacy. When city woman, Molly, meets dedicated rancher, Bob, it results in an emotional explosion that threatens to rock Mule Hollow right off its foundation. Dream A Little Dream is a very entertaining story, and a lot of fun, too.

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It was just a local newspaper column, right?But when reporter Molly Popp touted the marriage-worthiness of local rancher Bob Jacobs, would-be wives descended on his Mule Hollow ranch by the busload. Molly felt guilty for the ruckus she'd caused-- especially when Bob was injured rescuing an overzealous admirer from a bull. There was nothing else city-slicker Molly could do but pitch in and help Bob out. That is, until word of her column brought the job offer she'd been praying for and a choice she never thought she'd have to make: a Manhattan byline or Mule Hollow's most eligible bachelor.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Packin' in on Mules and Horses Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this book a number of years ago and after just recently reviewing a book on the same topic and recommending this one instead, I decided to take a look at the reviews this book has received. I'm surprised it has not received any reviews, since it is simply the best book on the subject of packing with horses and mules. Joe Back's Horses, Hitches, and Rocky Trails is a good book, but isn't even a close second to Packin' in on Mules and Horses.
What makes this book so good is its comprehensiveness. EVERYTHING you need to know, and probably most if not all of what you should know, about packing is found within its pages. It doesn't just cover the relevant advantages or disadvantages of horses over mules or vice versa, but also the proper training of the animal, types of shoes, care/feed of the animal, what to look for when purchasing a horse or mule, etc.... It covers deckers and sawbucks, and how they should fit the animal, and the merits of each. It covers panyards and manties and how they are tied, loaded on the animal, secured on the animal.
I could go on, but the bottom line is that if the topic is related to horse packing, it is not only addressed in this book, but THOROUGHLY covered. As just one example, the authors use pigtails to link their packstock while on the trail, rather than tying up to the tail of the horse in front. They therefore discuss the use and tieing of pigtails. But they nonetheless show how to tie the most common knot used for tailing "because it can be useful for leading a string of lost animals back to camp. You can't pigtail unsaddled stock."
And one last example which simply reflects the knowledge that the authors, especially Smoke Elser, have gained over a lifetime of backcountry experience and share with the readers of their book. "While you're thinking about range for your stock, give some thought to wildlife. Livestock grazing can be detrimental to deer and elk if it removes feed they would otherwise use in winter. You should avoid open south-facing slopes of grass and shrubs at low elevations. In late summer, the grass on north and east slopes will be better, and yet worthless to wildlife in winter."
With its comprehensive coverage of all topics related to horse packing, presented in a very succinct and enjoyable style, and its unmistakable respect for, and experience with, nature--"Your first obligation is to your animals. The integrity of the wilderness runs a close second, and your personal comfort a distant third"--this is not only the best book on the subject, but a darn good book!!

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Her Baby Dreams (Mule Hollow Matchmakers, Book 8) Review

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(More customer reviews)I do love the series, but the lead female in this book was so uptight and rigid and at the same time came across as having a pity party for herself because she couldn't understand WHY no guy would ask her out....duh! Yes, I know, she had guy problems before, and honestly, if the character had been one less uptight with past guy issues, it wouldn't have irritated me. I kept trying to read this book, plugging away at it, because, hey, it was a MULE HOLLOW book, right? But I finally gave up, Ashby just irritated and annoyed me so much. Still, this has been the only book in the series to disappoint me, and I realize that even great authors can have a bad book day.

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Small-Town Moms: A Dry Creek Family\A Mother for Mule Hollow (Love Inspired) Review

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(More customer reviews)Two novellas that are packed full of inspiration and romance. This book was a breath of fresh air. Three sisters were all given up to the foster care system when their parents were killed in a car accident and were split up and never saw each other again. One sister passed away but the other two finally get a chance to meet and that's when they find out their sister Dawn left behind a son and a daughter and they are both determined to meet their new found niece and nephew.
In A Dry Creek Family, Maegan goes in search of her niece Lilly to find out if she is being well cared for and she spends time getting to know her and the uncle that is taking care of her. Janet has a talent with the details, there were a lot of side conversations going on and she painted a vivid picture of the scenes. The characters were both haunted by their pasts and insecurities and I thoroughly enjoyed that there was no fighting within this book between the characters.
In A Mother for Mule Hollow, Maegan's sister Olivia finally gets invited to meet her nephew Wes so she packs up her daughter Trudy and heads out to meet Wes, his father Gabe and the grandmother Geogetta. Gabe is not pleased with meeting his ex-wife's sister but realizes he doesn't have much of choice in her getting to know his son Wes. I really enjoyed this story a lot! I felt Debra Clopton just had the reader jump right in to the story from page one. I knew within the first pages I was going to enjoy this novella. The characters were so realistic and well-rounded! I enjoyed the way Gabe was protecting his son and his heart! I enjoyed this story a bit more than the other one and I think it is because I like less details and more character interaction!
There are a lot of spiritual threads in this book, I felt there was more preaching going in A Dry Creek Family but it was still good. I truly believe God is in the restoration business and this is evident in this sweet story of restoring broken families and situations! Very inspirational read that I highly recommend.
I received a copy of this book to read and review from the author. My review is not biased by the fact that I was given this book. I HONESTLY read and review any book whether bought or given to me. If I did not like the book I would definitely not give a rave review or recommend it.


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A Dry Creek Family by Janet TronstadMaegan Shay is on a mission-to meet her long-lost niece, Lilly, in Dry Creek, Montana. When Maegan discovers she and Lilly share a special trait, the two grow close. Now the girl's handsome guardian, Clint Parker, fears he can't be what Lilly needs. Unless Maegan can show him what faith and family are all about.A Mother for Mule Hollow by Debra CloptonWidowed mother Olivia Dancer arrives in Mule Hollow, Texas, to check on her nephew-and his single father. But gorgeous rancher Gabe McKennon isn't exactly welcoming, for reasons that break and touch Olivia's heart. Until they're both won over by the town matchmakers and a little boy who just wants a mama.--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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His Cowgirl Bride (Mule Hollow Matchmakers, Book 12) Review

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(More customer reviews)I loved the lead female in this book. I'm partial to strong, sassy women and she fits the description. Great story and once again, loved visiting Mule Hollow. Adored the meatloaf scene. Cracked up so bad. It also made me make meatloaf for dinner that night. Not quite the same of course....I'm stingy with 5 stars, but this book got one from me.

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Tacy Jones had come to Mule Hollow to learn how to train wild horses. But former rodeo champion Brent Stockwell might as well carry a sign saying "No Cowgirls Allowed." If Brent doesn't think ladies belong in the pen, determined Tacy will just have to change his mind. When Tacy learns the secret behind his stance, she longs to help him heal. She's ready to show the handsome cowboy that taking a chance on your dream is what life--and love--is all about.
--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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And Baby Makes Five (Mule Hollow Matchmakers, Book 2) Review

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(More customer reviews)A donkey as a matchmaker? When it's a donkey named Samantha who is under the impression that she's human, you bet!
Lilly Tipps, eight month's pregnant, first meets her new neighbor, Cort Wells, when she chases off after Samantha on a cold, sleet filled, west Texas night. Cort thinks she is crazy, putting herself and her unborn child at risk for a donkey. Lilly is both amused and infuriated by Cort's attitude. But when Lilly goes into premature labor during the middle of a winter storm, with no electricity or working phone, it is Samanatha to the rescue, bringing Cort to assist her. While this experience creates a special bond between Lilly and Cort, they both have painful experiences in their past that make them cautious about giving their hearts away again. But God does work in mysterious ways and chooses to use unusual vessels; including donkeys named Samanatha, dogs named Loser, and a special baby boy named Joshua.
"And Baby Makes Five" was a wonderful read. Debra Clopton brings all the characters--human, animal, and the town of Mule Hollow itself--alive for the reader. Mule Hollow is a place I want to visit again, and apparently I have some catching up to do. So I've put Debra's first Mule Hollow book, "The Trouble with Lacy Brown", on my to-be read list. Highly recommended.

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TWO STUBBORN HUMANS,HIS DOG, HER DONKEY … AND A BRAND-NEW BABYA donkey with a penchant for breaking and entering…in search of alfalfa? Cort Wells had never heard of such a thing, until he and his dog moved into Mule Hollow. And the donkey's eight-months-pregnant owner was Lilly Tipps, raised by her man-hating grandmas. So when Lilly wound up in his barn- and his arms- Cort began to think the donkey was going to be the least of his worries.…--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Behind the Mule: Race and Class in African-American Politics Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a very important work in black politics and an interesting if complexing read. Check it out if interested in black political behavior...

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Political scientists and social choice theorists often assume that economic diversification within a group produces divergent political beliefs and behaviors. Michael Dawson demonstrates, however, that the growth of a black middle class has left race as the dominant influence on African- American politics. Why have African Americans remained so united in most of their political attitudes? To account for this phenomenon, Dawson develops a new theory of group interests that emphasizes perceptions of "linked fates" and black economic subordination.

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Hunting Open-Country Mule Deer Review

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(More customer reviews)I am an avid mule deer hunter and an even more avid reader. I have easily read more than fifty books and guides on hunting both mule and whitetail deer. Dwight Schuh has written what I believe to be the "handbook of all hanndbooks" on hunting mule deer that everyone should own! Many hunting books are vague and tell only of the great hunts and trophies that the author or his associates have harvested. Dwight Schuh's book is the complete opposite. His book is written as if you are sitting together by a camp fire and talking about what he believes are the essentials to hunting the mule deer. He includes errors he made as well as the tactics that work. It is a "real" hunting book with invaluable information. So many of the examples I would read and say to myself, "Yep, I've definately experienced that!" At this stage in my hunting and reading career, I didn't think I would ever find a book that could teach me so much and be so easy to understand. I have read through it several times and it now looks like a reference book with all the highlighted areas and writing in the margins. I would like nothing more than to be able to communicate with Dwight Schuh on a professional hunting level; if not only to gain more insight into the mule deer and it's behavior than to build an even deeper respect for a tophy animal that gives me life!

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Mule 2: A Developer's Guide (Firstpress) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was not happy with this purchase. The book itself is largely a collection of available online documentation, and didn't provide any of the examples, case studies, or walkthroughs that I was expecting.
In stark comparison to the "Java Persistence with Hibernate" reference book, this one was significantly lacking. As a final insult, the font size is somewhere between 16 and 20 points, and looks like something my grandmother would read. My suspicion is that it was done that way in an attempt to make up for a lack of content and page count. This book would probably otherwise be 60-80 pages cover-to-cover at a normal font size.

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The Trouble with Lacy Brown (Mule Hollow Matchmakers, Book 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)It simply was not long enough. The story was a delight and I immediately wanted to know more about the other characters. Hopefully, this is the first book of a series and Lacy is a repeating character. One thing that really impressed me was the research into locations. Usually, non-Texans get about half the details wrong when they are writing about this huge state. Debra Clopton had done her homework. Great good fun!

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Marius' Mules II: The Belgae Review

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(More customer reviews)Marius' Mules II - The Belgae follows the first book seamlessly. It is as if we wintered in Gaul together and are ready to campaign with Fronto again. The characters are familiar and entertaining, and make one feel as though it would be exciting to serve alongside them. The battle scenes are thrilling! Turney makes the reader feel as if he's also in the assault. His descriptions are intense: metal on metal, orders being shouted over blairing horns, carnage and blood,... The huge attack by the Nervii is totally great. In this book, Legate Fronto is drawn closer to the frontline of Roman politics; clearly a place he does not want to be! Mr. Turney's books add enlightenment and life to Caesar's Gallic campaign. I'm looking forward to Marius' Mules III!

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Marius' Mules II: The Belgae.57BC. The fearsome Belgae have gathered a great army to oppose Rome, and Fronto and the legions assemble once more to take Caesar's war against the most dangerous tribes in the northern world.While the legions battle the Celts in the fiercest war of Caesar's career, the plots and conspiracies against him, both at Rome and among his own army, become ever deeper and more dangerous.

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Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm surprised to see very few reviews posted here for this excellent award-winning work of historical fiction for middle readers. This Scott O'Dell Award winner about African-American life in the South is in the same tradition as the renowned "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" books by Mildred Taylor.
Here we get on an emotional roller-coaster ride as we follow the lives of three young ex-slaves during the early days of Reconstruction in 1865. Gideon returns from following General Sherman to his former plantation to retrieve his younger crippled brother, Pascal, and his orphaned friend Nelly. In their quest to find the "forty acres and maybe a mule" in Georgia, that had been promised by General Sherman, they befriend a grandfatherly carpenter, and his long-lost granddaughter, to create a new family.
The harsh realities of unjust treatment by white nightriders, who are trying to force emancipated slaves to return to their plantations, are tempered by various friendly white people who help them find their forty acres, open a school for the children, register them to vote, who become neighbors, etc.
This is a story of determination, hard work, rebuilding lives and families, of hope, peace, and love, in the face of discrimination and cruelty.
A seldom recognized historical fact is woven into this well-researched tale: the party of Lincoln, the Republican Party, was the original party of Civil Rights. The impact of the death of Lincoln on these emancipated slaves that were given land is dramatically portrayed here. And the quick backpedaling of his successor, Andrew Johnson, becomes a painful reality for nearly 39,000 black landowners just months after he takes office.
This book deserves a wider reading by upper elementary through middle school students and their teachers, especially when discussing the facts surrounding the impact of the Civil War and early Reconstruction efforts in the South.

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