The Year’s Best Books BY JULIE SIMPSON
The temperatures are dropping. The long evenings are dark. It’s the perfect time of year to curl up in a favorite spot, open the pages of a good book and read.
You’re sure to find one you like among the books we’re reviewing here and on our website.
They are the result of a whole year of reading through hundreds of books and then selecting the year’s best books, the ones that are sure to satisfy the tastes of any bibliophile.
From adventure to romance, history to kids’ books, we’ve looked high and low for the best that Colorado authors and publishing houses have to offer, as well as interesting subjects sure to intrigue Colorado readers.
The summer may be over, but the fun is just beginning with the list below. Take a look and stock up on some great reads.
The Weird Sisters By Eleanor Brown (Amy Einhorn Books, $24.95)
Each of the Andreas sisters says she has come home to be by her mother’s side as she struggles with cancer. But Rose, Bean and Cordy all know they are also running from personal pains they can’t bear to face alone. Christened by their Shakespearean scholar father, the Andreas girls have always been as different as the famous characters for which they were named.
Rose, the cautious, intelligent sister, remained attached to the small college town where they grew up. Bean escaped as fast as she could to the big city, reveling in the power her money and her beauty provided. Cordy never stayed in one place for too long, her gypsy living a result of her constant restlessness.
As they care for their mother, the sisters must learn how to let down their guard and, in the process, realize they have more in common than they knew. Colorado resident and author Eleanor Brown has written a bright, funny and moving read, especially for anyone with an eccentric family. The Weird Sisters can be found at most local and online bookstores.
Catfish Alley By Lynne Bryant (NAL Accents, $14)
Historical home tour committee chairwoman Roxanne Reeves has been too busy hiding her own story to see the story of the South through anyone’s eyes other than the rich, white women she wants to emulate. Everything changes, however, when she is volunteered to research a new tour featuring her town’s African-American history.
In Clarksville, Mississippi, it is easy for the isolated white residents to ignore the stories of suffering and struggles told by the black members of the community. Roxanne begins her exploration of this history dubiously, unsure that anyone would want to hear it and, if she is honest with herself, afraid of what she will find.
Elderly Grace Clark reluctantly becomes her guide, leading Roxanne back through her memories of places significant to the African-American residents of Clarksville. Author Lynne Bryant grew up in Columbus, Mississippi, but now lives in Colorado Springs. Ask for her first novel, Catfish Alley, at your local bookstore or online.
Cheap Cabernet By Cathie Beck (Voice, $14.99)
A single mother, Cathie Beck suddenly found herself with an empty nest, so she decided to put an ad in the paper for a women’s group and see who showed up. While the group eventually flopped, Cathie and Denise began a friendship that would be stronger than either of them expected.
The wild, crazy, loud Denise opened the door to the freedom Cathie had been looking for, and envying, her whole life. But what she didn’t know, or didn’t want to see, was that Denise might have been living carefree because she knew she wouldn’t live very long. Boulderite Cathie Beck’s memoir, Cheap Cabernet, is funny, witty, and ironic while also demonstrating a moving depth of thought and emotion. Anyone with a friend will find herself alternating between laughing out loud and weeping onto the pages while reading the story of Cathie and Denise’s journey. For a heartfelt read, find this book at your local bookstore or online at cathiebeck.com.
The Bride’s House By Sandra Dallas (St. Martin’s Press, $24.99)
Seventeen-year-old Nealy Bent named the newly-built Bride’s House in the hope that she would be the first bride to glide down the majestic staircase. She becomes that bride … but pregnant, and with a different husband than she had anticipated. Unlike her mother, Nealy’s daughter Pearl, only wishes she could escape the old mansion.
Eventually she must make the decision between her father and the handsome Frank Curry, either choice requiring her to sacrifice a piece of her heart. Enter the next generation: Susan. She loves spending summers in Colorado with her mother, Pearl. But as she also begins to realize how complicated love and life can be.
Only the legacy of secrets she uncovers about the women of the Bride’s House can help her decide her path. Colorado author Sandra Dallas has crafted yet another captivating novel in The Bride’s House. Riveting throughout, the story offers very human and relatable characters. The book also features a delightfully surprising conclusion that has come to be Dallas’s signature. For an enthralling read with a tear wrenching ending, find The Bride’s House at local bookstores or online.
Deadly Currents By Beth Groundwater (Midnight Ink, $14.95)
The treacherous Arkansas River has claimed the lives of many white-water rafters in the years Mandy Tanner has lived and worked as a tour guide and river ranger in Salida, Colorado. But after she is unable to revive a man she rescues from the rapids, it turns out that murder, and not the river, is responsible for his death.
Tom King had many enemies: a spurned wife, business rivals, angry environmentalists and a bitter son. According to all of them, he got what was coming to him. But when a death in Mandy’s own family is connected to the murder, Mandy makes it her personal mission to find Tom King’s killer and bring him or her to justice.
An entertaining read, Deadly Currents reflects this Colorado author’s extensive knowledge about white-water rafting, the town of Salida and the state of Colorado. A classic and well-written murder mystery, you won’t be able to put it down. Find Deadly Currents at most major retailers and online at midnightinkbooks.com.
Seek Me With All Your Heart By Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson, $14.99)
The Amish community of Canaan, Colorado, harbors many who are looking for something different from the life they knew in the Midwest. More land and new possibilities have drawn people from all over. For Emily Detweiler and David Stolztfus, however, a fresh start seems next to impossible.
Emily and her family have moved to Canaan from their community in Ohio to escape the echoes of the violent attack that left Emily scarred and broken. David wants to leave Canaan before he makes any more connections than are necessary, living out the rest of his life in peace … which might not be long.
Hiding their secrets from one another, and fighting against the forces that seem to be pulling them closer together, Emily and David know they cannot be together. Or so they think. A touching tale of the healing power of love, Seek Me With All Your Heart also provides a fascinating glimpse into the culture of the Amish and the challenges they face as they start communities in Colorado. For a story that is sure to warm your heart, look for this book at thomasnelson.com or at your local bookstore.
Within My Heart By Tamera Alexander (Bethany House, $14.99)
Rachel Boyd of Timber Ridge, Colorado, is determined to make it on her own after her beloved husband’s tragic death.
To love anyone again would mean opening herself to the pain she had to suffer the first time around. And besides, with a failing ranch and two young boys to manage, who has time for romance?
This historical romance is book three of the Timber Ridge Reflections series by Tamera Alexander. Within My Heart provides a touching, if predictable, love story with positive moral undercurrents. To find this novel and others by Alexander, visit bethanyhouse.com or call 800-877-2665.
Ladies of the Brown By Debra B. Faulkner (The History Press, $19.99)
Singers and writers, millionaires and politicians, athletes and beauty queens. What do they all have in common? They are all women connected to the famous Colorado landmark The Brown Palace Hotel.
While the Brown Palace has seen much since the day it was built in the hardly-more-than-a-cow-town capital city of the frontier state of Colorado, the famous and influential women who have passed through its doors carried with them some of the best stories. From the unsinkable Mrs. J.J. Brown, who was never in her lifetime called Molly, to the infamous Isabel “Sassy” Springer, whose beauty led to the first murder in the hotel, each of these women shook up the town when they booked their stay.
Crafted by Brown Palace historian and archivist Debra Faulkner, this well written, well-researched and thoroughly entertaining book presents amazing stories one can hardly believe are true. Complete with details about previous hotel layouts and renovations, this book would be a great read before taking a tour of the beautiful downtown landmark. To learn more about all the famous women who have crossed the threshold of the Brown, find this book at most Colorado bookstores and online at historypress.net.
The Ticket By Karen Schutte (Langdon Street Press, $16.95)
Immigration to America was a distant and unattainable dream for German-born Karl Kessel and his family. But when fate drops one ticket into his hands, everything changes … for good and for ill. America is the land of opportunity, and Karl is a hard worker, but this new land can also be harsh for new immigrants struggling with the language, prejudices and an entirely new landscape.
When Karl’s wife, Katja, joins her husband on a ranch in Wyoming with their two young sons, she is not as sure as her husband that they have made the right decision. Far away from family, friends and everything they knew before, can the Kessels scratch a life for themselves out of the hard ground of the untamed American West?
The Ticket is an emotional and detailed story that captures something of what life looked like for many families immigrating to the United States around the turn of the century. While the author struggles occasionally to keep the voice and perspective of the story consistent, this glimpse into the past is worth the lengthy read. Find The Ticket by Colorado author Karen Schutte at langdonstreetpress.com.
Sand Creek By Kevin Cahill (Author House, $22.99)
The white settlers of Kansas and Colorado have their guns at the ready. Everybody has heard the stories or been victims themselves: supply trains and stagecoaches attacked and looted, farmers and ranchers butchered and scalped, women and children taken as slaves or brutally murdered. Now the Indians are amassing for war. What the settlers don’t hear are the voices of those within the tribes who want peace.
True, there have been warriors killing out of anger for wrongs committed and promises broken, but their actions are not condoned by all the Indian nations or their chiefs. Black Kettle, the leader of the Cheyenne nation, tries again and again to convince the leaders of the white army that his people do not want war. But tribal political structures mean nothing to most white men.
Misunderstandings on both sides escalate tensions and bloodshed until history is tragically determined by their fatal encounter on the banks of Sand Creek. Brilliantly written and thoroughly researched historical detail comes to life with novelistic flair in Kevin Cahill’s Sand Creek. Informative without being boring or dry, this novel is remarkably unbiased in presenting the story of the Sand Creek Massacre, revealing in detail how fear, misunderstanding and a few violent men on both sides led to so many lives being lost. Find this self published book at authorhouse.com.
Colorado Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Centennial State By Stephen Grace (Globe Pequot Press, $16.95)
Everyone knows about Colorado’s mountains, ski resorts and national parks. But did you know that Crocs and the cheeseburger were invented in the Centennial State? Or that Colorado is famous for its peaches, corn and sugar beets?
Whether you are a born-and-raised local or a new resident, Colorado Icons will open your eyes to things you never knew about this beautiful corner of the country. From the story behind the choosing of the state flower to the store selling western wear that is displayed in the Smithsonian, fun facts and neat history abound in this interesting book.
Perfect as a coffee-table book, Colorado Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Centennial State can be found in local and online bookstores.
Landscapes on Glass: Lantern Slides for the Rainbow Bridge- Monument Valley Expedition By Jack Turner (Durango Herald Small Press, $19.95)
In the middle of the Great Depression, Ansel Hall set out on a mission to show the people of a nation the wonders and beauties of the American Southwest, beauties in need of preservation.
Battling the elements, the economy, Native American tribes, ranchers and bureaucrats, Hall managed, along with his team of scientists, naturalists and photographers, to convince the world that this land needed to be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations. Written by Ansel Hall’s grandson,
Jack Turner of Durango, the highlight of Landscapes on Glass is the reproductions of the unbelievably intricate, hand-painted lantern slides that were used in Hall’s presentations. Originally taken as black-and-white photographs, the transparent pictures were hand tinted using tiny brushes and magnifying glasses before being encased between two pieces of glass.
The vibrant pieces give readers a new eye for the beauty of the Southwest, much like they did during Hall’s campaigns. Find this wonderfully informative and captivating book at local bookstores and at thedurangoheraldsmallpress.com.
Uncle Josh By Eugene C. Vories (Vories Family Publishers, $20)
Prolific La Veta author Eugene Vories, 88, takes the reader back to the early days in and around Limon in this realistic western novel. Using a simple theme, the story follows cowboy Josh Garrett after he receives a letter from his dying sister. She wants him to raise her young daughter and son.
Josh heads his horse north from La Veta, where he been working for a local cowman and saving his earnings.
Arriving in Limon after his sister has died, Josh is faced with all kinds of new decisions. Should he take his niece and nephew and raise them or leave them with their father, a man his sister no longer trusted? Should he buy into a ranch close to Limon and stay in the area? And what about that pretty school teacher with such an interest in the kids?
Vories brings the story along with lots of details of what life was like on Colorado’s eastern plains in the late 1800s. You can order the book at ecvories@centurytel.net or call 719-742-5426.
The Ledge By Jim Davidson and Kevin Vaughan (Ballatine Books, $26)
It was a triumphant June day when avid climbers Jim Davidson and Mike Price made the summit of Washington’s Mount Rainier. And it was only a short time later when the two made their way down the mountain and Davidson fell through an unstable snow bridge. Price, connected to Davidson by the requisite rope, followed him down.
Price did not survive the fall and Davidson found himself trapped on a ledge, 80 feet down inside a crevasse. This book, co-written by Davidson and Denver Post reporter Kevin Vaughan, tells the story of that day.
The book recalls the kind of man Davidson’s longtime friend, Mike Price, was. The story also follows Davidson’s journey after he survived the mountain and what it took for him to get back to climbing. You can find this heartfelt adventure story at most local and online bookstores.
Children’s Books
Around the World in 100 Days By Gary Blackwood (Dutton Children’s Books, $16.99)
The year is 1891. While considered a curious contraption fit to entertain the rich and impress the ladies, is not believed be reliable enough to replace the trustworthy horse-drawn carriage. Or so everyone thinks — everyone, except for Harry Fogg. The daredevil son of Phileas Fogg, the man who traveled around the world in 80 days, Harry has not inherited his father’s reputation as a gentleman.
It is no surprise to anyone, then, when he takes a foolhardy bet that his motorcar, a highly modified machine he has named The Flash, can make it around the world in 100 days. Harry embarks with his brilliant mechanic friend Johnny, stick-in-the-mud rules enforcer Charles and the plucky journalist Elizabeth on a harrowing race to make the deadline and win the bet. While written for children and teens, Around the World in 100 Days is an exciting adventure story that can be enjoyed by both the young and the young at heart.
The book also includes interesting tidbits of history and geography, especially concerning the American West where Harry and his friends spend a large part of their journey. Find this entertaining novel by a former Colorado resident at local and online bookstores.
The Mountain Pine Beetle: Tiny But Mighty By Kay Turnbaugh, Illustrated by David Brooks (Pruett Publishing, $14.95)
Lots of facts and more can be found in the brightly illustrated and very informative The Mountain Pine Beetle: Tiny But Mighty. While pine beetles usually help recycle old trees so that new trees can grow, current drought and climate conditions have caused an epidemic of pine beetles that threatens the stability of mountain forest ecosystems.
The first step to figuring out how to keep our forests healthy is learning more about the pine beetle, and reading this book is a great place for kids to start learning about what they can do to help. To help your kids learn more about the mountain pine beetle, and maybe even to learn a few things yourself, find The Mountain Pine Beetle: Tiny But Mighty at mountain-press.com.
Tía’s Tamales By Ana Baca, Translated and Illustrated by Noel Chilton (University of New Mexico Press, $16.95)
It’s a snowy day, and Luz doesn’t have school. As if that wasn’t good enough, her grandmother comes over to make tamales with her. While they are cooking, Abuelita tells Luz about when her father, Diego, learned to make tamales from his aunt.
With her funny hat, Diego’s tia brought laughter, fun and good food to a situation that looked grim. A wonderful story, this book not only teaches a lesson about how you don’t need a lot to make happiness, but it also includes a from-scratch recipe for homemade tamales.
Written in both Spanish and English, this book is also a great way for kids to be introduced to a new language or for bilingual families. Find this yummy read at most major retailers or online at unmpress.com.
Animalogy: Animal Analogies By Marianne Berkes, Illustrated by Cathy Morrison (Sylvan Dell Publishing, $8.95)
Young children gravitate toward animal books, so using creatures to teach analogies to young minds is a clever concept. Author Marianne Berkes compares animals’ habits and characteristics in simple sentences to help children recognize sameness and difference, while Colorado illustrator Cathy Morrison uses detailed artwork for visual influence.
Included in Animalogy is a special section where children can learn a little more about animals. Animalogy is available at sylvandellpublishing.com and online bookstores.
Harry Hornacre: First Day of School By Jennifer Dizmang, Illustrated by Mark Ludy (3rd Eye Publishing, $14.95)
Harry Hornacre is excited about his first day of school. But when he gets on the bus, he realizes he is covered in dog drool! Harry feels like his first day is ruined and that nobody likes him, but then his new friend Billy reminds him of what is important:
Harry has a really cool dog that loves him no matter what. A cute read about a boy and his dog, the book includes bright and unique illustrations by Windsor artist Mark Ludy. Find this book at local bookstores or at markludy.com/books.