The Pastry Queen: Royally Good Recipes from the Texas Hill Country's Rather Sweet Bakery & Cafe
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • FRIENDLY WARNING!!!!
  • This is a nice cookbook with beautiful photographs
  • Calling All Dessert Cookbook Collectors
  • The Pastry Queen
  • "a mighty fine book, lil' lady!!"
The Pastry Queen: Royally Good Recipes from the Texas Hill Country's Rather Sweet Bakery & Cafe
Rebecca Rather , and Alison Oresman
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
PastryPastry | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
SouthwestSouthwest | U.S. Regional | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1580085628

Book Description

Texas accent and all-American flavor, even pitching in to help her put a fresh coat of paint on the porch of her Main Street shop. Rather takes the best of the Lone Star State—pecans, peaches, pralines, chiles, dulce de leche, German sausage—and turns out treats that taste like home, only better than anything homemade ever tasted before. There are the Bacon-Cheddar Scones, the Texas High Hairs Tarts (the only big hair Rather has ever had!), Fourth-of-July's Fried Pies, Turbo-Charged Brownies with Praline Topping, pillowy Kolaches (yeasted buns with savory fillings), dulce de leche, German sausage—and turns out treats that taste like home, only better than anything homemade ever tasted before. Self-taught, Rather's 150 utterly original recipes reflect her made-with-love-from-scratch philosophy and are guaranteed to get everyone fixin' to bake.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars FRIENDLY WARNING!!!!.......2007-09-01

Please don't mistake this book for another one of those cute, novelty regional cookbooks and miss out on a true gem to add to your collection. The recipes are simply AWESOME and it's not the same ol' stuff you find in every other baking cookbook. This one strikes a perfect balance...ALL of the recipes are unique enough to peak your interest yet familiar enough to try. You will reach for this book time and time again. A cookbook well done! I love it!!!

5 out of 5 stars This is a nice cookbook with beautiful photographs.......2007-08-29

I just received this book last weekend. I have paged through it several times to decide which recipe to try first. Some of the recipes are unique, some are pure Texas homecooking, but they all sound delicious. The photographs are beautiful. The book contains mostly dessert recipes, but also entrees, drinks, etc. I recommend it to anyone who wants to try a new dessert or add a new book to their collection.

5 out of 5 stars Calling All Dessert Cookbook Collectors.......2007-08-23

I read about Rebecca's bakery and cookbook in a magazine article. I looked it up the cookbook on Amazon so I could read the reviews and decided to order it. I'm so glad I did because I LOVE this cookbook. I've only made the Tropical Carrot Cake so far and it was delicious. Everyone that tasted it at my church raved about it. I look forward to trying the other recipes too. Besides desserts, there a section on lunches and light dinners too. Most of the recipes sound simple, but are very unique. You won't find these recipes in other cookbooks (i.e. Creme Brulee French Toast, Dulce de Leche Macaroons, Peanut Buttercups with Peanut-Penuche Icing, Almond Bliss German Chocolate Cake). Also, another good thing, a lot of these recipes have been tried and proven great with her bakery/cafe customers. The book itself is a beautiful book. The pages are glossy and the color pictures are beautiful. I love looking through the book even if I'm not planning on cooking.

5 out of 5 stars The Pastry Queen.......2007-06-27

The Pastry Queen cookbook has delicious desserts. The Tuxedo cake is our favorite. The recipes are easy to follow, and have great ingredients. I have recommended this book to all my friends. I hope the author will put out another book soon.

5 out of 5 stars "a mighty fine book, lil' lady!!".......2007-06-23

Yahoo!! A Texas-size book with Texas-size desserts, all on account of one powerhouse lady. Reading her story in the Introduction of the book was as sweet as the recipes that she shares with you. A surprise and humble beginning in the baking world turned into a top rate career for Ms. Rather, and you feel the joy along with her, as you delve further into the sweet-laden pages.

You begin to think that you could just pick up and move on over to Fredericks, Texas and feel like you've been there all along. The casual and comfortable style of writing of both Rebecca Rather, and writer, Alison Oresman, as well as the incredibly delicious recipes, make you want to get started on any page in this heavy, welcoming, and beautifully photographed cookbook. At the same time, Ms. Rather encourages you to play with and modify anything that would suit your tastebuds. There is nothing pretentious or difficult to accomplish in her directions; she pretty much makes you feel at ease, and more importantly, that she is next to you, sharing her knowledge.

There are 8 sections in this tome of Southern baking and each chapter introduction has a little insight as to how everything was chosen for the section:

BREAKFAST EATS, MUFFINS, and SCONES:
Jailhouse Potato-Cinnamon Rolls (great little story to these)
Fresh Ginger-Pear Quick Bread
Eddie's Autumn Pumpkin Bread w/ Pecan Streusel Topping
Jonnie's Breakfast Granola
Kolaches
Mother's Day Pancakes (and her mom seemed to be a great lady too)
Individual Baked Omelets
Creme Brulee French Toast
Banana Bran Muffins
Peach Jam Scones
Chocolate Chip Scones
Apple-Smoked Bacon and Cheddar Scones
Essence of Orange Muffins
Whole Lemon Muffins

PIES and TARTS:
Texas Big Hairs Lemon-Lime Meringue Tarts (the name and recipe is great!)
Texas Big Hairs Chocolate-Hazelnut Meringue Tarts
Bourbon Pumpkin Tart with Struesel Topping
Fredericksburg Peach Cream Cheese tart
Frangelico-Hazelnut Fruit Tart
Black and White Cranberry Tarts
Buttermilk Pecan Pie
Fourth of July Fried Pies
Aunt Mollie's Coconut Cream Pie
Chef M:ark's Southern Comfort Apple Pie
Silken Chocolate-Walnut Tart
Grasshopper Pie

EVERYDAY DESSERTS and CANDIES:
Emergency Fruit Crostatas
Petite Pavlovas with Lemon Cream and Fresh Fruit
Hill Country Peach Cobbler
Individual Pear-Maple Cobblers
Mexican Chocolate Fudge-Pecan Cake
Mahogony Cake
Orange-Date Bundt Cake
Totally Rummy Pound Cake
Glazed Lemon-Cranberry Leaf Cake
Oatmeal Crisps
Cappuccino Cheesecakes
Mrs. Chisholm's Divinity
Coconut Cream Flan
Texas Pralines

DESSERTS for SPECIAL OCCASIONS and HOLIDAYS:
American Beauty Cake
Tuxedo Cake
Larger-Than-Life Praline Cheesecake
Bananas Foster Shortcakes
Strawberry Ricotta Cake
Peach Queen Cake with Dulce de Leche Buttercream Frosting
Cream-Filled Pumpkin Roll
Mini Apple-Cinnamon Loaves with Calvados Glaze
Espresso Creme Burlee
Toffee Bar Brownie Torte
Tiramisu with Homemade Ladyfingers
Dulce de Leche-Arborio Rice Pudding
Muchas Leches Cake with Sugared Almonds
Almond Bliss German Chocolate Cake
7th Heaven Chocolate Truffle Cake
White Chocolate-Snickers Mousse
White on White Buttermilk Cake w/ Jack Daniel's Buttercream
Tropical Carrot Cake with Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting

COOKIES, BROWNIES, and BARS
My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies
Triple Threat Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sugar Saucers
Chock Full of Nuts Cookies
Cafe Chocoalte Cherry Bites
Caramel Filled Brownies
Turbo Charged Brownies with Praline Topping
Double Ginger Chews
Ruby Flecked Florentines
Dulce de Leche Macaroons
Snow Tipped Sand Tarts
Texas Pecan Pie Bars
Blackberry Pie Bars
Lemon Champagne Bars with Strawberry Brulee Topping
Bunches of Biscotti

LUNCHES and LIGHT DINNERS:
Beer Bread
Rocket Rolls
Nuevo Texas Waldorf Salad
Rather Rich Corn Muffins
Apple Almond Chicken Salad with Homemade Mayonnaise
Field Greens w/ Spiced Beans, Goat Cheese, and Balsamic Vinaigrette
Chicken Satay with Yogurt Cucumber Dipping Sauce
Caesar Salad Pizzas
Wild Rice and Chickpea Salad
Wild Mushroom Soup
Curried Butternut Squash Soup
Texas Tortilla Soup
Gulf Coast Shrimp Quesadillas
Brie and Brisket Quesadillas
Rather Sweet Bread and Cheese Board
Green Chile Crab Caes with Tomatillo Slasa
All Sold Out Chicken Pot Pie
Prosciutto Tostadas with Shrimp and parsley
King Ranch Casserole
Ground Beef Gorditas
Savory Crab and Shrimp Cheesecake

TREATS KIDS LOVE:
Sticky Fingers Bars
Ginger People
Franny's Fave Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie with Hot Fudge Sauce
Peanut Buttercups with Peanut Penuche Icing
PB&J Cookies with Honey Roasted Peanuts
Mars Pies
Pretty in Pin Shortbread Pigs
Maple Glazed Oatmeal Cookies
Jubilation Granola Chews
Pumpkin Yumkins

DRINKS:
Watermelon Lemonade
Frothy Vanilla Milk
Tommye Wood's Milk "Sure Packs a Punch" Punch
Rather Sweet Sagria
Hill Country Guanabana argarita's
No Bull Bloody Marys

INDEX

My only criticism would be in the Introduction portion, where she talks about some of the recipes. It seems that the pages she gives, in which the recipes are supposedly located, are wrong. But since those errors are only in the intro, yet correctly paged in the index, I don't know how much that might matter.

The Pastry Queen Cookbook is one of those volumes of baking and cooking that celebrates the charm and warmth of the South. They are, respectfully speaking, very simple for anyone to make, yet fancy enough to serve at even the most "proper" events. Thanks Rebecca!! Much obliged.
Trees, Shrubs, And Vines Of The Texas Hill Country: A Field Guide (W L Moody, Jr, Natural History Series)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Jan Wrede speaks to me
  • An excellent guide in understanding Texas hill country
Trees, Shrubs, And Vines Of The Texas Hill Country: A Field Guide (W L Moody, Jr, Natural History Series)
Jan Wrede
Manufacturer: Texas A&M University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Trees | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Botany | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
TexasTexas | United States | Regional | Field Guides | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
TreesTrees | Field Guides | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ReferenceReference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
TexasTexas | State & Local | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 158544426X

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Jan Wrede speaks to me.......2007-02-15

When I am out on the range in the Hill Country of Texas trying to identify a plant, Jan Wrede tells me what I need to know.

5 out of 5 stars An excellent guide in understanding Texas hill country.......2007-01-16

The pictures and descriptions have been invaluable in my interpretive walks and hikes. This is a must have for hikers and hill property owners. I bought two! One for me and one for a friend.
Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent guide for the area
  • carry it around
  • Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country
  • ADVICE FROM THE HILL COUNTRY
  • EXCELLENT reference!
Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country
Marshall Enquist
Manufacturer: Lone Star Botanical
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

FlowersFlowers | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books
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  2. Grasses of the Texas Hill Country: A Field Guide (Louise Lindsey Merrick Natural Environment Series) Grasses of the Texas Hill Country: A Field Guide (Louise Lindsey Merrick Natural Environment Series)
  3. Common Texas Grasses: An Illustrated Guide (W. L. Moody, Jr., Natural History) Common Texas Grasses: An Illustrated Guide (W. L. Moody, Jr., Natural History)
  4. Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (Sida, botanical miscellany) (Sida, botanical miscellany) (Sida, botanical miscellany) Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (Sida, botanical miscellany) (Sida, botanical miscellany) (Sida, botanical miscellany)
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ASIN: 0961801301

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Excellent guide for the area.......2007-04-13

I love this book -- it's an excellent handbook for identifying the wildflowers in the San Antonio/Central Texas area. Whenever I'm photographing wildflowers, this guide is part of my kit.

5 out of 5 stars carry it around.......2007-02-01

for south central texas this is the best wildflower field guide .high quality photos of the flower and foliage make it easy to use .contains most of flowering trees ,shrubs ,vines ,perennials and annuals that one is likely to come across . it is availible new through the lady bird jonhson wildflower research center for 17.95 .

5 out of 5 stars Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country.......2004-04-03

This is a must have field identification book for the Austin and Hill Country area. Although it is out of print, and the auther is not interested in a reprint at this time, some books are available in the Austin area and at online booksellers yet. This is a great book for new and experienced wildflower enthusiasts, with great photos and id information, Latin family names, and other interesting features for a wide variety of people who enjoy wildflowers.

4 out of 5 stars ADVICE FROM THE HILL COUNTRY.......2003-12-18

IF YOU WILL DO A GOOGLE SEARCH PLACING THE EXACT TITLE IN QUOTATIONS, YOU WILL FIND SEVERAL BOOKSTORES IN THE SEARCH RESULTS WHICH SELL THIS BOOK NEW FOR @15.00 PLUS SHIPPING. OR COME AND VISIT IN THE SPRING AND SEE THE WONDER FOR YOURSELF. THIS BOOK IS SOLD IN SOME OF THE STATE PARK BOOKSTORES AND AT THE WILDFLOWER FARM IN FREDRICKSBURG, TX. AMONG OTHERS.

1 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT reference!.......2002-04-10

First of all - I rate this book as five stars, essential for anyone in central Texas who is interested in wildflowers. It is simply the best.
BUT, this book is NOT OUT OF PRINT!!! It is available in central Texas for the original price.

P.S. The book is out of print - for now. Hope it gets another print run soon.
Lonely Planet Austin, San Antonio & the Hill Country
Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
  • Sometimes Less is More
Lonely Planet Austin, San Antonio & the Hill Country
Sara Benson
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GuidebooksGuidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books
Lonely PlanetLonely Planet | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books
West South CentralWest South Central | South | Regions | United States | Travel | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Texas | States | United States | Travel | Subjects | Books
AustinAustin | Texas | States | United States | Travel | Subjects | Books
San AntonioSan Antonio | Texas | States | United States | Travel | Subjects | Books
North AmericaNorth America | Travel | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Travel | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1740595564

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Recommended.......2006-08-02

After seeing the one-star review after my purchase, I was afraid I'd made a mistake, for I bought the book as a gift for someone and several weeks later another for myself out of curiosity. But I disagree having received my copy. I grew up in San Antonio and studied at UT-Austin. So, I'm acquainted with both towns as well as the Hill Country. Although I've yet to delve into it, the author seems to have done her homework and knows the ins and outs, the places to go, the eateries and so on. I would recommend this.

1 out of 5 stars Sometimes Less is More.......2006-07-17

The Lonely Planet guide books typically provide an indispensable resource for an eager traveler ready to explore. Unfortunately LP's Austin, San Antonio and Hill Country handbook falls flat, offering little more than the occasional groan. This reference rides on empty and awkwardly over explains basic information to the point of abstraction. For instance, fruit cobbler was described as a, "pudding-like pastry dessert that resembles smashed pie". The whole book is written in such a tone. The text does not flow and is full of pointless jargon that simply fills out line. One could compare this guide to an empanada, flakey and full of filler.
The Gun That Wasn't There
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • I didn't want the story to end
  • I could not put this book down!
  • Interesting True Story
The Gun That Wasn't There
Russell Smith
Manufacturer: BookSurge Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

MexicoMexico | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
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  1. One Ranger: A Memoir (Bridwell Texas History Series) One Ranger: A Memoir (Bridwell Texas History Series)

ASIN: 1419628178
Release Date: 2007-02-26

Book Description

The Gun That Wasn't There by retired Texas police chief Russell Smith, with an introduction by Elmer Kelton, meticulously outlines the true story of rural West Texas communities under attack by an armed criminal in the 1960s. At times graphic, this vivid true crime story is an unusually perceptive assessment of the criminal mind as told with the surprising empathetic voice of both survivors and victims of crime.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars I didn't want the story to end.......2007-04-17

Russell Smith has a way of telling a story so that you see every event, almost as if you were there when it happened. You see the rugged country and the people very vividly in your mind. You feel the suspense as the caveman bandit enters a home at night while the occupants are sleeping. You laugh as two macho teenage boys decide they will be heroes and catch the bandit one dark, cold night. I got so involved in the story, I didn't want it to end.

5 out of 5 stars I could not put this book down!.......2007-03-25

What a great book. I could visualize the caveman bandit, his hiding spots, the rough land, the houses and the people. Russell Smith brings the characters and the landscape to life. Chapter 1 was a great way to start the book and it hooked me. I can't wait to read his next book.

5 out of 5 stars Interesting True Story.......2007-03-19

"The Gun That Wasn't There" is an interesting true story about a man who lived off the land, the ranches, and the businesses of the area he was in. The local people knew about him, had often seen him, but it wasn't unusual for "illegals" to cross their ranches so they didn't pay much attention to him until he broke into a house while the people were home and attacked them. This is a story about man against man, one wanting to be left alone to survive the way he knew best, and those who wanted to stop him.

The book includes several original photographs as well as recent photos of the area. The author paints such a vivid description of the area that you already know what is there without seeing the photographs. There are numerous endnotes that historians and genealogists will love.
Fly-Fishing the Texas Hill Country
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Fly-Fishing the Texas Hill Country
    B. L. Priddy
    Manufacturer: W. Thomas Taylor Incorporated
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    Grasses of the Texas Hill Country: A Field Guide (Louise Lindsey Merrick Natural Environment Series)
    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    • Grasses of the Texas Hill Country: A Field Guide
    • Has errors that need correcting
    Grasses of the Texas Hill Country: A Field Guide (Louise Lindsey Merrick Natural Environment Series)
    Brian Loflin , and Shirley Loflin
    Manufacturer: Texas A&M University Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Turtleback

    GrassesGrasses | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
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    5. Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (Texas Natural History Guides) Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (Texas Natural History Guides)

    ASIN: 1585444677

    Book Description

    DESCRIPTION: This photographic guide to grasses gives all who have been frustrated trying to identify these difficult plants an easy-to-use, visually precise, and information-packed field guide to seventy-seven native and introduced species that grow in the Texas Hill Country and beyond.

    With a blade of grass in hand, open this book and find:

    Handy thumb guides to seedhead type, the most visible distinguishing characteristic to begin identification
    Color photographs of stands of grasses and detailed close-ups
    Concise information about economic uses, habitat, range, and flowering season
    Quick-reference icons for native status, toxicity, growing season, and grazing response

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Grasses of the Texas Hill Country: A Field Guide.......2006-11-06

    I use this book as my only field guide even though I'm out studying and teaching others about the tall grass prairie near Houston. I find the explanations, photos, and general tabs extremely helpful. Because I live outside of the Hill Country, I only wish that the author would do a book about the almost extinct Gulf Coast prairies.

    2 out of 5 stars Has errors that need correcting.......2006-05-22

    I found many errors, at least 8 that were very apparent. Not knowing much about grasses I did not know if the other facts in the book were correct since the mistakes were obvious, even to me. It must have not been proof read. Some pages did not have a full picture of the plant, only the top. The pictures that were there were good.
    Witches' Bane
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Witches' Bane
    • An enjoyable read but the killer was too easy to guess
    • Halloween Pranks Turn Deadly
    • --GOOD READ--
    • Witch hunt in Pecan Springs
    Witches' Bane
    Susan Wittig Albert
    Manufacturer: Scribner
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    United StatesUnited States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | African American | Asian American | Classics | Collections & Readers | Drama | General | Hispanic | History & Criticism | Humor | Jewish American | Letters & Correspondence | Native American | Poetry | Short Stories | Women Writers
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    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Witches' Bane.......2006-08-24

    One doesn't need to transplanted from a big city to appreciate the joys and frustrations of small town life, as it is portrayed in Susan Wittig Albert's fictional town of Pecan Springs. Everyone knows where you get your hair cut and what you do on Sunday mornings. Things can get especially dicey when religion, fear, and superstition enter the picture.

    As in the first China Bayles outing, the mystery in Witches' Bane doesn't take long to puzzle out - the enjoyment comes in watching China struggle with her natural instinct to pursue truth, verses her desire to keep life simple. She is challenged on many fronts. Her best friend, Ruby, in love with a man of questionable character, wants China to defend him against charges of committing a murder with Satanic overtones. China's lover, McQuaid, ex-cop turned professor, wants her to make a greater commitment to their relationship. China's estranged mother, a recovering alcoholic, wants forgiveness. China wants to find a stone frog for her new fountain and a way to keep her herb shop in the black.

    In this second installment in the series we are offered some insight into China's troubled relationship with her parents, how it has affected her career decisions and how it still affects her relationship with McQuaid.

    4 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read but the killer was too easy to guess.......2005-01-31

    This is my first book in the series, and although I enjoyed reading this mystery, I thought the author didn't do a good enough job on the plotting. My secret method of guessing the killer worked like a charm on this book, as I think it will with other experienced mystery readers. Still, the characters and writing were enjoyable enough that I intend to continue reading more in the series.

    THe plot involves a killing that appears to be the work of santeria enthusiasts -- a kind of voodoo like religion popular among certain elements of the Mexican population of this Texas town. The townspeople think that these people are responsible for the ritual death, but the police and our herb-shop owner/lawyer think otherwise -- that it was instead someone with a particular motive for wanting this woman dead.

    Perhaps the small-town Texas setting is the part of the book I liked best. The author creates a place you can imagine as though you were there -- a place you'd like to visit. The characters are quirky and likeable, except for the ones that the author doesn't want you to like. As I said, I will be reading more in the series -- probably go back and try reading them in order!

    4 out of 5 stars Halloween Pranks Turn Deadly.......2004-09-25

    Strange things have been going on in the Texas town of Pecan Springs. A town resident has discovered dead chickens with piles of coins nearby. Another resident has discovered one of his goats killed, also with a pile of money nearby. To make matters even worse, China Bayles' friend Ruby Wilcox has started teaching a class on reading tarot cards. Then a Bible-thumping preacher arrives in Pecan Springs and starts accusing Ruby of devil worship. Are all these strange happening due to Ruby's witchcraft, or are they the work of Mexican santerias?

    On Halloween night, one of the women in Ruby's tarot class holds an all-woman Halloween party. Then the hostess is discovered brutally murdered the next morning. The travelling minister suggests that Ruby is the prime suspect of the murder, so China goes to work to find the real killer.

    "Witches' Bane" is the second book in the China Bayles series by Susan Wittig Albert. This is a fast-moving, interesting mystery, with great twists at the end. There are lots of facts included about growing herbs and other plants. China is such a smart, down-to-earth heroine and very likable. I highly recommend this book, both to fans of the China Bayles series as well as readers looking for a fun Halloween-themed mystery.

    4 out of 5 stars --GOOD READ--.......2004-08-04

    Since I grow a lot of herbs, I've wanted to read one of the China Bayles mystery stories since they first came to my attention. I began with this one because I thought it was the first in the series, but after I started reading, I discovered that it's actually the second book. The first is called THYME OF DEATH. I like the fact that a plant name is used in the title of each of these stories.

    China Bayles is a retired attorney and had previously practiced law in Houston, but had given up that profession to pursue a kinder and gentler life. She now lives in a small town in Texas, where she grows and sells plants. She specializes in herbs. There are several references to different plants and herbs which I enjoyed reading about.

    I found this book to be entertaining and I liked China Bayles, the main character. The first part begins with a gathering of China and several of her girl friends at a Halloween party. Some of the women are a little weird in their choice of interests. One woman even has a garden of poisonous plants. When a gruesome murder takes place, China becomes involved and uses her skills as a prosecuting attorney to help solve the mystery. To me, the most interesting parts of the book concerned the tidbits of how an attorney views the evidence of a crime. I think that made the story jell together and become more engaging.

    I plan to read more books in this series and hope to see the China Bayles character become more developed.


    4 out of 5 stars Witch hunt in Pecan Springs.......2004-06-17

    China Bayles has given up the big-city life of a Houston attorney and enjoys running her herb shop in the Hill Country of Texas. She rents half of her building to Ruby Wilcox who runs a New Age shop next door. Ruby starts a Tarot class and is surprised when the two businesses are picketed by a group led by the Reverend Billy Lee Harbuck who accuses them of being witches. Sybil Rand, one of the Tarot class members, decides to have a Halloween party for her friends, and soon she is killed in a ritualistic manner. This give fuel to the anti-satanic crowd and China and Ruby find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation. Police officers decide that Ruby's boyfriend may have committed the murder, so Ruby has an even bigger motivation to find the real killer. Soon another murder takes place, and China begins to make a short list of suspects. Before it's all over, China's life is put in danger. This plot is wound around China's personal life which features a love affair with Mike McQauid, a professor of criminal justice at the local college. As usual, the Hill Country and China's herb garden create an interesting background to the solving of a mystery.
    Walking Hill Country Towns: 38 Unique Walks in the Texas Hill Country
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Walking Hill Country Towns: 38 Unique Walks in the Texas Hill Country
      Diane Capito
      Manufacturer: Maverick Publishing Company
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      ASIN: 1893271161

      Book Description

      This guidebook features 38 carefully-mapped walks in 26 towns in the picturesque Hill Country of central Texas. Itineraries take you along familiar main streets, then down the unbeaten byways that so often define a town's soul. A wealth of local historical detail available in no other single volume tells of the people behind the landmarks.

      Whether you walk the routes or choose to drive or bicycle along them, you'll find precise directions plus the location of convenient parking, restrooms and restaurants. The index offers a quick checklist of cemeteries, courthouses, museums, parks and nature trails and even, for five towns, eyewitness accounts of ghosts, one of which the author swears she herself encountered during the preparation of this book.
      Moon Austin, San Antonio, and the Hill Country (Moon Handbooks)
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • I LOVED THIS GUIDE!!!!
      Moon Austin, San Antonio, and the Hill Country (Moon Handbooks)
      Justin Marler
      Manufacturer: Avalon Travel Publishing
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      ASIN: 1566918898

      Book Description

      Moon Austin, San Antonio and the Hill Country provides you with the essential details needed to discover all the can't miss sights, attractions, and restaurants in the heart of Texas, while including the best lesser-known and local hotspots.
      With firsthand experience and honest insight, local author Justin Marler provides you with all the tools you need to create your own unique experience. Justin's fun and creative travel suggestions can help you plan your perfect trip including, Austin's Music Scene, Austin in a Long Weekend, Texas Pride, (including the Alamo, historic sites, and museums), Hill Country Road Trip, and Family Fun.
      Visit Barton Springs, Town Lake, the Mission Trail, and the Cave with No Name, or stroll through the curiosity shops on South Congress Ave. Learn about quirky Texas facts or cheer at a Longhorns game. Moon Austin, San Antonio and the Hill Country gives you the tools for an entirely uncommon, more personal, and ultimately more satisfying travel experience.

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars I LOVED THIS GUIDE!!!!.......2006-12-08

      Finally, for the first time, in a very long time, have I seen San Antonio and the Hill Country get the credit it's due! So many folks that live near San Antonio have never given it the chance and respect it deserves. I was so happy to see many of the great places to shop and eat at that make San Antonio so unique.

      Additionally, there was so much about the Hill Country in general that I learned. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and colleagues who are new to Texas in general. What I appreciated most about the book was that I learned of new and exciting places to see in this very big state!

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