Amazon.com
Not since Truman Capote's In Cold Blood has a writer so humanely evoked the complicated, harrowing lives of violent convicts. At turns haunting and inspiring, God of the Rodeo is novelist-journalist Daniel Bergner's riveting account of a year spent visiting the maximum-security prison at Angola, Louisiana, also known as "the last slave plantation." Initially there to report on the prison's annual four-weekend rodeo in October 1996 for Harper's, he was able to extend his stay for a full year when he was granted complete, unsupervised access to the seven prisoners with whom he became most closely acquainted.
In God of the Rodeo, he introduces readers to rodeo champion Johnny Brooks, a 41-year-old "lifer" incarcerated for a murder he committed at the age of 18, who is engaged to marry a civilian woman he met at the rodeo. He's also the most promising candidate for parole. There's Terry Hawkins, a man who tries to seek salvation for the violent murder of his boss, the grotesque details of which haunt him, and Danny Fabre, plagued with comically large ears he desperately wants corrected by plastic surgery almost as much as he wishes to learn to read past the 6th-grade level. Perhaps the most striking figure is the stern, spiritual warden, Burl Cain, a self-proclaimed prophet who genuinely believes in redemption for even the most violent offenders.
Written with the eloquence of a poet and the perceptive eyes of a painter, Bergner's extremely well wrought, unforgettable book offers a rare glimpse into the hearts and souls of men who commit violence, finding hope and courage where few dare to look, without ever losing sight of the horrific crimes that landed them in America's most isolated prison. --Kera Bolonik
Book Description
Never before had Daniel Bergner seen a spectacle as bizarre as the one he had come to watch that Sunday in October. Murderers, rapists, and armed robbers were competing in the annual rodeo at Angola, the grim maximum-security penitentiary in Louisiana. The convicts, sentenced to life without parole, were thrown, trampled, and gored by bucking bulls and broncos before thousands of cheering spectators. But amid the brutality of this gladiatorial spectacle Bergner caught surprising glimpses of exaltation, hints of triumphant skill.
The incongruity of seeing hope where one would expect only hopelessness, self-control in men who were there because they'd had none, sparked an urgent quest in him. Having gained unlimited and unmonitored access, Bergner spent an unflinching year inside the harsh world of Angola. He forged relationships with seven prisoners who left an indelible impression on him. There's Johnny Brooks, seemingly a latter-day Stepin Fetchit, who, while washing the warden's car, longs to be a cowboy and to marry a woman he meets on the rodeo grounds. Then there's Danny Fabre, locked up for viciously beating a woman to death, now struggling to bring his reading skills up to a sixth-grade level. And Terry Hawkins, haunted nightly by the ghost of his victim, a ghost he tries in vain to exorcise in a prison church that echoes with the cries of convicts talking in tongues.
Looming front and center is Warden Burl Cain, the larger-than-life ruler of Angola who quotes both Jesus and Attila the Hun, declares himself a prophet, and declaims that redemption is possible for even the most depraved criminal. Cain welcomes Bergner in, and so begins a journey that takes the author deep into a forgotten world and forces him to question his most closely held beliefs. The climax of his story is as unexpected as it is wrenching.
Rendered in luminous prose,
God of the Rodeo is an exploration of the human spirit, yielding in the process a searing portrait of a place that will be impossible to forget and a group of men, guilty of unimaginable crimes, desperately seeking a moment of grace.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
A First Hand View into Angola Prison.......2004-02-15
Bergner's inside look reads more like an expose than a historical account, not surprising when one takes into consideration his background as a journalist. This account, however, it must be noted takes into account an extensive history of Angola State Prison. Bergner spent time there performing the work of a sociologist: observing, writing, detailing, getting to know the inmates on a personal basis; and even sometimes getting caught in the political tides of the prison administration. This work is as much designed for the general reader who seeks an understanding of the life of a prisoner as much as it is for the student of criminal justice or political science who seeks a knowledge base in prison life. Bergner's talents are clearly on display in this sociological masterpiece that clearly details the emotions of prison life. The graphic behavior exhibited by the characters in this work only serve to intensify the reality of prison life and drive home the point that Bergner makes, chiefly being that Angola State Prison, much like any other prison, is a world apart from normal society. This work is an inside view of that other world. It shocks just the same as Jonathan Kozol's Savage Inequalities.
great material, poorly done.......2003-01-28
The narrative jumps around, unfocused and unsure of itself, and never truly captures the convicts. No dramatic tension and anti-climactic.
Bull-riding behind bars.......2002-10-02
This book is only incidentally about rodeo, and even less about God. Yes, Bergner uses a prison rodeo as the structural device to build this account of prison life around. But it's not any kind of rodeo you would see authorized by the PRCA. The events are more treacherous, and the men who participate have no experience. They are a spectacle for a crowd of people looking for the same kind of thrills that drew ancient Romans to the Coliseum.
The book is chiefly about the daily lives of several of the prisoners who happen to participate in this spectacle, as Bergner follows them over the period of a year at Louisiana's maximum security prison, Angola. Bergner is permitted to talk to them one-on-one, with no guards present, by an unusual warden with a reputation for his "humane" philosophy of incarceration and his efforts at rehabilitation. The interviews, as a result, or more than usually candid. One prisoner even fantasizes aloud to Bergner about escaping and taking revenge on the people who put him there.
Not all the prisoners Bergner introduces us to are reprehensible. Most, in fact, seem decent enough blokes, and he has to keep reminding us (and himself) that all of them are serving time for violent, awful crimes. Most are black men, reflecting the racial (im)balance of the prison population. And most struggle daily to maintain a sense of self-worth that society and the judicial and penal systems have denied them. One man becomes active in the prison's chapter of Toastmasters. Another attends church services for a time. One holds out the hope that his teenage son will find a way to be proud of him. One romances a woman with two children who eventually marries him in a prison ceremony.
Unexpectedly, in the middle of the narrative, the prison warden begins to pressure Bergner for editorial privileges. He wants only good publicity and perhaps suspects that Bergner has uncovered some shady dealings involving labor provided by prisoners to business associates. What starts as a congenial relationship between the two men turns sour, and Bergner has to take his case to a sympathetic state prison commissioner, who reinstates his privileges, no strings attached.
The book ends as it begins with the annual rodeo. By now we know how the hope of winning a buckle feeds the participants' desire to compete and succeed. We also see the shabby futility of the event and regret ever yearning along with them for a moment of personal glory.
I recommend this book to anyone who has the slightest interest in what happens to men who are sent to prison. Bergner has written a fascinating account of lives spent year after year behind bars. As a companion volume, I would recommend Ted Conover's "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing," which gives an account of prison life told from the point of view of the men and women who work as guards.
Carpetbagger Journalism.......2000-08-04
A New York Yankee flies down to Louisiana for a couple of weekends to report "the truth" as he sees it. At the same time, he's on a religious journey. The problem with this book, much like James Agee's "Let Us Know Praise Famous Men," is that the author allows the story to be about him writing the story. Who cares? A journalist in a Louisiana prison. That's not fodder for interesting reading. There are over 5,100 men currently in Angola. Surely, there had to be more interesting stories there than Bergner's. It's as if Bergner already had the story written before even visiting the prsion. He just plugged in some names and (voila!) he has a book.
It's a shame this book is so weak. There is a great deal of potential, but Bergner doesn't follow through. More importantly, he has a wonderful opportunity to teach his readers a thing or two about the condition of the Louisiana State Penitentiary and the men incarcerated there, but instead he chooses to write a Hollywood story, Bayou Style.
If you thought the movies The Big Easy and Forest Gump were great films, than this is the book for you. Otherwise, steer clear of this tawdry fluff. On an aesthetic note, the book looks really great on the tank of your toilet.
Disappointing.......2000-02-27
The positive reviews I have read here are mystifying. Bergner is a talented writer, for sure, but I really felt as if he mailed in this book more than anything. It sure didn't seem like he spent a year at Angola prison or even in the vicinity. Seemed more to me as if he flew down there every once in awhile to see what's up. The book starts off GREAT, the first third, and then proceeds to fall apart with the not-so-interesting details of his fight with warden Cain to retain his access. Once he wins that fight it's as if the author has lost his steam. The charcters, even warden Cain, don't seem to come to life and their story, the one he tells, just isn't so compelling. I just came away feeling that the author was worn out. Too bad, too. I had high hopes for this one. Want to read a book that DOES make this kind of access work? Try Pete Early's The Hot House, about his two or three years inside of Leavenworth.
Book Description
A journey inside the hearts and minds of the best bull riders in the world as they compete for their greatest prize--the championship gold buckle.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book to Read........2007-01-11
I've rode bulls for quite a while and thought this book was great.
Simply the best I've read!.......2001-12-08
I just finished the book and I have to say this is the best I've ever read. If you watch the PBR, you have to buy this book. Donnie Gay, Tuff Hedemann, Ty Murray, Charles Sampson, they are all here.
roughstock riders point of view.......2001-07-28
Just finished the hardback version. As a bullrider and saddlebronc rider I have never read anything as painfully accurate about our sport as this book. The only drawback is I couldnt put it down and as i finished I wanted MORE. I hope he writes a second book..because Jeff Coplon knows more about rodeo than some cowboys. NICE JOB.
more than a sport.......2000-10-30
Highly recommended, excellent book about a misunderstood sport. While Rodeo and Bull-Riding fans will enjoy this book, it is a great book for folks not familiar with Rodeo/Bull Riding and the culture that gave birth to it and sustains it. As the PBR circuit grows in popularity it will be interesting to see if the PBR stays true to it's Western Values and Culture. I hope so...
Finally, a great book about the world's greatest sport.......2000-06-20
This is a very good and captivating book and something every rodeo fan should read. If you want to learn more about bull riding legends like Don Gay, Myrtis Dightman, Wacey Cathey, Tuff Hedeman, Lane Frost, Jim Sharp and Ty Murray, this is probably the only place you can find it told so colorfully and honestly. It is also nice to read about the days when the world's top bull riders were cowboys and actually competed at rodeos, and not the pretentious PBR events. It also takes a look at how bull riding's popularity surged in the 90s. I just hope a similar book on bronc riders comes out soon.
Average customer rating:
- Armadillo Rodeo by Jan Brett
- A delightful adventure
- Walking across Texas
- Armadillo Befriends Boot
- The book I have the most fun reading aloud to my 7-year old!
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Armadillo Rodeo
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ASIN: 0142401250 |
Book Description
When Bo spots what he thinks is a "rip-roarin', rootin'-tootin', shiny red armadillo," he knows what he has to do. Follow that armadillo! Bo leaves his mother and three brothers behind and takes off for a two-stepping, bronco-bucking adventure. Jan Brett turns her considerable talents toward the Texas countryside in this amusing story of an armadillo on his own.
Customer Reviews:
Armadillo Rodeo by Jan Brett.......2007-03-12
This book is really cute! The 7 year old boy I purchased it for wants to read it over and over again! The illustrations are really colorful and well done. This is the type of book that is great fun for a boy or girl - ages 4 to 8, I should think. The author, Jan Brett, is very clever. I will look for more of this authors books in the future for children on my gift list.
Loriann Ringgold
Elko, NV
A delightful adventure.......2006-09-29
For children and for those who just love that critter I love so...you will enjoy this book very much. With a delightful story and wonderful illustrations, it is sure to please.
Walking across Texas.......2006-03-16
This is really a cute book and I know my niece will really enjoy it. I recommend buying and reading it to all children. It is truly fun.
Armadillo Befriends Boot.......2003-12-17
A slightly different tale from Jan Brett. Gone is the European feel of so many of her books. It is replaced by a healthy jargon-filled dose of American Western. Gone are the hedgehogs; welcome the armadillos.
Bo is one of four armadillo brothers. He tends to be curious and wander so his mother tries to keep a close watch on him. Like all armadillos, Bo's eyesight is not very good. So one day while he is following a lizard, he sees a red cowboy boot and thinks it is a red armadillo.
The boot in question is being worn by a young girl who is trying to scuff them up so she won't look like a tenderfoot at the rodeo. But Bo does not see the girl, or the other boot for that matter. Instead, he thinks he has found a playful new friend.
Chasing after the boot, Bo has many experiences while his mother and brothers search for him (as seen in the side panels). Bo's adventure takes him across the rodeo arena, to a bar-b-que, into an encounter with a jalapeno, to a barn dance, a hayloft, and ultimately to the truth about his new friend.
In the end we learn that while Bo has learned the truth of his day's adventures, he knows just what to do when he feels a little mischievous.
I usually give Jan Brett's books five stars but gave this one only four. I did that only because of the heavy use of Western jargon that needs to be explained to young ears in order for the story to make sense. But it is still a very fun book with beautiful illustrations.
The book I have the most fun reading aloud to my 7-year old!.......1998-05-01
My sister, a nearby neighbor of Jan Brett's, discovered this book and sent it to my then 5-year old son for his birthday. Bo's nearsighted adventures entertain; and his being lost and not knowing he's lost delights my son. Most children will envy Bo's adventure to the rodeo and understand his curioisity. Having developed quite the Texas "accent and attitude" while reading this book, it's at the top of our list of all-time favorites. Thank you Jan Brett!
Amazon.com
The rodeo is in W.K. Stratton's blood. He attended his first one in utero just days before he was born (on Will Rogers birthday, naturally). He is also the son of a bull-riding cowboy that left him and his mother when Stratton was an infant. The search for this elusive "rodeo bum" father is an underlying theme of Chasing the Rodeo but its main focus is on the action in the ring. Stratton spent a year following the professional rodeo and bull-riding tours and he explores the circuit with a keen and sympathetic eye. He writes about the history of the sport and its place in the mythology of the West, cowboy legends, current stars, and classic rodeo towns, such as Prescott, Arizona, and Pecos, Texas--both of which claim the title as the true birthplace of rodeo. He also looks at the growing popularity of rodeo and bull-riding and what it means for its future now that major events have corporate sponsors and are held in Las Vegas casinos rather than fairgrounds. While acknowledging that the big money prizes are good for the athletes, Stratton worries that marketing considerations will force the sport away from the very traditions that make it interesting. As proof, he bemoans the fact that helmets and Nike shoes are starting to replace Western hats and boots at some rodeos. Still, he encounters plenty of true Western spirit and memorable characters during his journey to keep his love for the rodeo alive and his enthusiasm for his subject proves contagious. Even those who have never considered attending a rodeo will likely find themselves enthralled by this wild ride of a book. --Shawn Carkonen
Book Description
From its roots as the quintessential Western pastime, rodeo has grown to an international, prime-time television sport. Steeped in tradition and the independent spirit of the range, aspiring cowboys and cowgirls are called to its high-stakes, rough-and-tumble fame as they risk their lives for eight seconds of triumph.
In Chasing the Rodeo W. K. Stratton follows this quest for one season of the pro rodeo and bull-riding tours. He explores the history of the chutes -- from rodeo's disputed origins (Prescott, Arizona, or Pecos, Texas?) to its current skyrocketing popularity. But out on the trail Stratton finds more than calf-roping and unrideable bulls, uncovering a culture complete with myths, codes of honor, million-dollar purses, Cowboy Church, and the kinds of legends that make good stories unforgettable.
Just such a story emerges here as Stratton tells of his runaway "rodeo bum" father --Cowboy Don -- whose specter haunts his travels on the circuit. As he learns more about the life that proved too seductive for his father to abandon, Stratton fills in a portrait of the man he never knew but whose legacy he couldn't help but inherit.
Filled with cowboy longing and rodeo dreams, this is a tribute to the characters of the West -- Freckles Brown, Lucille Mulhall (the first cowgirl), Wild Bill Hickock, Lane Frost, and today's superstars like Jesse Bail. In the great tradition of Wallace Stegner and Ken Kesey, W. K. Stratton fashions an expansive tale out of the gritty reality of the life around us. Chasing the Rodeo is a bucking, riveting, glorious ride -- you'll want to hang on for the whole go-round.
Customer Reviews:
Call of the wild . . ........2007-08-21
While rodeo insiders may find fault with this book and quibble over details, it remains an excellent introduction to the history, the personalities, and the meaning of this sport as it's evolved over the past century. Stratton, a journalist based in Austin, TX, with roots in Oklahoma, comes by his "kicker" credentials fairly enough - his mother a cowgirl in her own right and his father a rodeo cowboy who went on down the road and never came back. Stratton's book is a personal journey, a search for an understanding of the romance of rodeo - the call of the wild in the soul, the appeal of risk-taking, the love of a past that can be recaptured for a moment in a beautifully executed ride on a bucking horse or bull. And he does much to reclaim the essentials of a pastoral ritual that has been compromised by commercialism, corporate sponsorships, and marketing that positions it as an extreme sport.
Stratton covers some familiar ground that will not be new for all readers, but many stories deserve retelling, such as that of George Fletcher at the 1911 Pendleton Roundup, the first bulldogger, Bill Pickett, and the death of champion bull rider Lane Frost. Then there is an account of the first rodeo "cowgirl," Lucille Mulhall and of Indian cowboy Will Sampson, who played Chief Bromden in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." In Prescott, AZ, he has occasion to recall at length the rodeo film "Junior Bonner" with Steve McQueen.
There is a wide array of other personalities who find their way into Stratton's book: Justin McBride, Will Rogers, Tom Mix, Willie Nelson, Jack Kerouac, Ben Johnson, Theodore Roosevelt, Buffalo Bill Cody, and evangelist Susie Luchsinger. He gets closest to the sport itself in conversations with all-around champion Jesse Bail and bullriding champion Freckles Brown. The first-chapter account of Brown's famous ride on Tornado at the National Finals in 1967 just takes your breath away. Finally there is the search for the story of Stratton's absent cowboy father, which rounds out the book with more than a little poignance. I loved this book and recommend it to anyone curious about rodeo, the fascination it holds for both fans and participants, and its place in American popular culture.
Exploring the history of chutes to its current popularity and uncovering myths and realities alike.......2005-11-04
Rodeo's roots may be in the primitive West of the past, but today it's prime-time TV material, even while steeped in tradition, filled with pros and tours. Journalist W.K. Stratton followed the pro rodeo circuit for one year, exploring the history of chutes to its current popularity and uncovering myths and realities alike. His findings about the people and politics of today's rodeo make for lively reading in Chasing The Rodeo: On Wild Rides And Big Dreams, Broken Hearts And Broken Bones, And One Man's Search For The West. A spirited account of today's wild riders.
Rodeo: Universality of the American West.......2005-09-19
Having grown up in Texas, I easily recognize many names and places and am quite familiar with rodeos. W.K. Stratton brilliantly blends the romantic lure of the rodeo as an expression of the American West with the univeral theme of the quest for identity. The book is a delightful mixture of colorful characters, amusing anecdotes, and sad stories. Mr. Stratton's personal quest mirrors that of all, not just those familiar with the sport or the region. His story's appeal lies in the universality of each human's struggles with issues of identity, values, and sense of place. I heartily recommend Chasing the Rodeo to anyone who appreciates a book that both transports one to another time and place and allows one the opportunity to be inspired by another's personal journey through life.
This book deserves a buckle........2005-05-18
**For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?** "Kip" Stratton has written a winner of a book, here. I felt it appropriate to begin this review with that familiar biblical quote, although "Chasing The Rodeo" is about the search for soul as well as about its diminution. What I mean by "soul" in this context is that which makes us part of society as well as unique individuals within it. Stratton's father, whom he never met, was a bull rider. Stratton's literal search for his father is overlaid onto his broader search for the soul of the rodeo and the American West.
As this book makes clear, the towns that hold rodeos provide an essential part of its unique character. Moving the National Finals Rodeo from Oklahoma, which is steeped in Rodeo tradition, to Las Vegas is symbolic of the sacrifce of soul for that most America of obsessions, making money. Character is also lost when things are made safe and sanitary, and when elements that are foreign are incorporated into a thing in order to make it "accessible" to a wider audience. Early in the book, Stratton frets about being "a generic, white bread American" but learns that the "Kicker Culture" is as much a part of him as it is of the Rodeo. I grew up in a small town in North Texas and will tell you that the "Kicker Culture" ain't pretty and it ain't sanitary or even safe, but it is genuine. There are parts of it that should be eschewed entirely, but never "prettied up."
Stratton obviously spent a great deal of time researching this book. It is chock-full of the people and places that make up this sport and their history. At the same time, he does not blink from calling racism what it is or identifying as bovine scat some of the aspects of recent Rodeo venues. He may offend some folks in doing so. But to be less than honest in his assessment of these things would certainly diminish the soul of the book.
A classic American tale.......2005-05-13
In these fractious times, it is a joy to come across a book that embraces something as distinctly American as the rodeo. W.K. Stratton has delivered a handsomely-rendered treasure for every man who ever wanted to be a cowboy and every woman who ever wanted to be a cowboy's sweetheart. He traces the origins of rodeoing, takes us to this wild sport's biggest events, and introduces us to the kind of outsized characters it is hard to believe still exist. So here's to Freckles Brown, the rodeo clown who rode the fiercest bull in captivity, and to Jesse Bail, the spiritual descendant of Larry Mahan and Ty Murray and all the great rodeo riders who preceded him. And here's to Stratton himself, the son of a rodeo bum, who weaves the search for traces of his father into the larger tale he is telling without ever getting thrown by it. He stayed in the saddle, and by doing so, he has given readers a chance for the ride of their lives.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2004-10-03
If you want to learn the basics of this sport, this is the book. Lots of pictures and simple explanations take you thru the rules of this fast paced equestrian experience.
practical knowledgeable guide to a challenging sport........1999-01-20
This book is an excellent guide for novice team penners. I read this book before penning and was much better prepared than a rank amateur. The chapter on "reading cattle" was especially useful. The sport is a lot harder to do than the book suggests however. BEST RESOURCE I know.
Book Description
Blacktop Cowboys chronicles the 2004 rodeo season through the eyes of several steer wrestlers trying to make it back to rodeo’s version of the Super Bowl, the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas.
Steer wrestling is an adventure that entails riding into an arena at 25 mph, sliding off a horse while taking hold of a 500-pound steer, and then throwing the animal to the ground. The best cowboys often accomplish all this in less than four seconds. The two main characters of Blacktop Cowboys are Luke Branquinho, a young carefree cowboy on a quest for his first title, and his best friend, Travis Cadwell, a veteran trying to make the NFR one last time.
Much of Blacktop Cowboys unfolds in trucks, trailers, arenas, behind the chutes, casinos, beds and everywhere else cowboys spend their time. By taking the reader deep into the cowboys’ lives, Blacktop Cowboys offers a true and intimate portrait of men having the time of their lives while living on the road in pursuit of the dream to be the best.
Customer Reviews:
That championship season . . ........2007-07-03
Author Phillips follows a handful of champion steer wrestlers on a year's round of rodeos, focusing mostly on 23-year-old Luke Branquinho from Los Alamos, California, who in 2004 went to the National Finals and finished first, with over $193,000 in overall earnings. That is the book in a nutshell. Readers follow along as Luke, his brother Casey, best friend Travis Cadwell, and a colleague Marc Jensen crisscross the West to compete at dozens of rodeos. The steer wrestling itself and the competition get almost as much attention as the long-distance rig driving, poker playing, carousing, beer drinking, junk food eating, gambling, pot smoking, cell-phone talking, and the idle conversations, story telling, boredom, practical joking, raillery, tomfoolery, and high jinks that fill the time between rodeos and rides.
The book is an honest effort to recreate the experience of being on the road with this fraternity of men in their twenties and thirties, living out dreams of rodeo glory, pitting skill against luck in the arena, building friendships that qualify as a rough-and-ready kind of male bonding, struggling with disappointments, and dealing with physical ailments that range from colossal hangovers to serious injuries. You won't find much padding - no history of steer wrestling, no side-trips and detours into related subjects, and very little character study or analysis of the sport itself. It's pretty much play-by-play - whether behind the scenes or out in front of the crowd - ending in a 40-page account of the ten-day Finals in Las Vegas. A quick read, with a 16-page section of great action photos and thumbnail portraits of the cowboys featured in the book.
good read.......2007-05-28
I got very interested in the characters, and learned some things about the life of a rodeo cowboy. It's a good summer read.
Blacktop Cowboys is an actual on the road cowboy story.......2007-03-30
I bought this book as I college rodeoed with some of its characters. Appears they haven't changed much. The author did a great job of showing what it really is like out on the road. Not just the glitzy outlook but the behind the scenes.
Brilliantly Captured.......2007-03-13
I had read a glowing review of Blacktop Cowboys that piqued my interest. Though my husband describes me as a neo-aristocratic fashionista, little did he know that up to the age of 11 I rode western saddle and particpated in, albeit very small, local rodeos. There is something about these men (and women) who capture a part of America that holds a seemingly romantic life. Hats off, literally, to Ty Phillips! He wrote a wonderful book on today's steer wrestlers. And thanks to the gentlemen who allowed Mr. Phillips into their life. Without their participation I don't know if Mr. Phillips could have written so honestly about them. Mr. Phillips does not romantize, per se, about the life, but is able to put one there, watching the milesigns go by, feel the dust in one's nose, and the frustration or joy of an event. Whether one has an interest in rodeos or cowboys, buy this book, you won't read anything better. Thank you Mr. Phillips for writing about a subject few of us will ever know as well,than through your words.
Tells it Like it is.......2007-02-15
Phillips takes all those fans of professional rodeo on the road at 85 miles an hour in a 350 pickup, pulling an alumumum trailer loaded with horses and living space.Due to the descriptive skills of the author, the reader becomes a silent witness to the good, the bad, and the ugly side of life with the rodeo cowboy. I couldn't put the book down.
Customer Reviews:
You just gotta love a cowboy's devilishly sexy smile, his swagger, and grab life by the horns.......2007-01-25
There's just something about a cowboy's devilishly sexy smile, his swagger, and grab life by the horns attitude that draws women to him. Or maybe it's just the way those chaps ride low on his hips and draw our attention to everything below the belt.
WILD RIDE by Vonna Harper
Jordan has been infatuated with half-breed bull rider Cougar since she was just a girl. One year ago, she was thrown when his Brahma, Rampage, displayed his bad attitude by running into her barrel-racing mare. Jordan is making an attempt at getting over the fear of bulls that she's developed and Cougar is ready, willing and able to help fulfill any and all her needs.
Vonna Harper does a brilliant job depicting the raw courage it takes Jordan to confront her fears. Cougar and Jordan's attraction is mutual but they've kept a tight rein on their emotions and never acted on them - until now.
COWBOY IN PARADISE by PJ Mellor
Tyler is tired of the hard living he's known on the rodeo circuit. He decides to return to Paradise Beach with his horse Jim. Only it's not the nice quiet community he remembers and he's relegated to riding Jim on the beach at night. It's on one of his moonlight rides that he encounters Meg. Instantly infatuated, Tyler is determined that this little filly belong to him - even if she is determined to keep him at an emotional distance.
Who can possibly resist a sexy cowboy on a moonlight beach? It's the perfect scene for love or at least an unforgettable seduction. Tyler's horse, Jim, had me smiling through this book with his antics. PJ Mellor uses the perfect blend of humor and romance to satisfy any reader.
SADDLE SORE by Nelissa Donovan
Horse rancher Dean McCabe takes his work very seriously and no one is going to get in his way of protecting his interests. Conversationalist Cassandra Darling has been brought in to investigate a series of attacks that are being blamed on the Mexican Gray Wolf. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Dean and Cassandra can't resist the lure of the animalistic desire that burns between them. Is there any hope for their tenuous relationship?
Nelissa Donovan brings to light the plight of relocated animals while drawing us into the relationship between Cassandra and Dean. I loved the passion that develops between the main characters while Cassandra tries to uncover the truth behind the animal attacks.
RODEO MAN by Nikki Alton
While on assignment in Wyoming for an L.A magazine, Anna Hartley is let go from her job because of downsizing, learns that her boyfriend is cheating on her, and then her rental car breaks down on a deserted road. Her luck changed for the better when rodeo rider Grant Olson takes a shortcut and gives her a ride to a ranger station. There's a definite connection between them but they're from completely different backgrounds. Is there any hope for a future between a big city girl and a rodeo cowboy?
Any city girl will really appreciate this gem by Nikki Alton. Who among us doesn't have a horrible day and long for a special man to rescue us? If he's a sexy-as-sin authentic rodeo cowboy, then you've got the perfect ending to a bad day.
THE COWBOY contains four novellas by well-known authors. Each story will tempt, tease, and leave readers drooling for a cowboy of their very own. The authors capture the persona that draw us to these men who work hard, play harder, and when they love, they make sure they stay in the saddle until everyone is fully satisfied. This is definitely a book I'll be adding to my keeper shelf.
Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)
The Cowboy.......2006-10-30
Wild Ride by Vonna Harper
Jordan Shore was knocked off her horse by a wild bull while competing in a rodeo a year ago. She suffered an extensive injury but the emotional scars run much deeper. Cougar Lighthorse is the bull's owner. Cougar and Jordan have known each other since they were kids, since Cougar's dad was the foreman on Jordan's father's ranch.
Cougar and Jordan meet up at Jordan's first big rodeo competition since her injury and the sparks fly. Although it was kept hidden, the simmering attraction they have always had between them flares into a raging inferno.
Cougar is there when Jordan needs him. Will she do the same when Cougar needs her?
There is nothing frilly or flowery about Jordan and Cougar is a tough, headstrong man. They take turns controlling each other's passions and in turn the loving is hard, explosive and almost spiritual for them. Although Wild Ride is intense and wild, it is also tender and meaningful.
Cowboy In Paradise by PJ Mellor
Tyler Last has recently retired from the rodeo. He heads to his grandmother's house in Paradise Cove for some much needed peace and tranquility. The beach house is far from peaceful though; construction is under way to make the beach public.
Meg Holder is protesting the construction in Paradise Beach. She has a lousy job and a non-existent love life. While sitting on the beach one night a magnificent cowboy riding his equally magnificent horse rode up close to her. After a brief exchange of words, Meg is wrapped in Tyler's embrace and kissing him passionately. Tyler takes off suddenly though and Meg is left a bit stunned.
Tyler is left fantasizing about the mystery woman on the beach, which is a first for him since he is a love `em and leave `em kind of guy.
As they continue to meet for uninhibited great sex, Tyler is falling fast and hard, but how will he feel when he finds out who Meg really is?
A Cowboy In Paradise is a red hot, steamy romance! Tyler could charm any woman out of her clothes, so it's no surprise that Meg falls for his seductive cowboy charm. I like Meg. She is funny and down to earth but the seductress is not a role she seems comfortable with. There are a few inconsistencies in the story and there is a scene involving some plastic wrap that is a bit over the top. I liked the storyline though; "bad boy finds the woman of his dreams and turns over a new leaf" is very romantic.
Saddle Sore by Nelissa Donovan
Cassandra Donovan is a US Fish and Wildlife agent. Cassie has come to the small town of Granite Hollow investigating the possibility of some wolves that were released in the area are attacking the local livestock. Dean McCabe is a rancher. It's lust at first sight for Dean and Cassie and very quickly they are wrapped in each other's arms, tangled in his sheets.
Before they can figure out where their relationship is headed though, they need to solve the mystery of what is attacking the animals in town.
There is a lot of "story" in Saddle Sore. It has mystery, danger, past issues, and Dean and Cassie have a new relationship to work through, which are all interesting. These elements could have been expressed in more detail if it were longer though. Dean and Cassie are a good match and the sex is hot!
Rodeo Man by Nikki Alton
Ana Hartley is on a business trip when she loses her job and her fiancé so instead of heading back home, she moves on. Along the way, Ana's car breaks down and she stops a truck for help.
Grant Olson is all too eager to pick up the beauty flagging him down. After taking her to get help he has to move on to get ready for his next rodeo competition though.
Ana attends a rodeo where she meets Grant again and before long they are heating up the night in each other's arms. Grant and Ana come from two different worlds; one of them thinks they have what it takes to make it work but the other isn't so sure. It's going to take some smooth and seductive convincing for them to give a relationship a shot.
I really like the way that Rodeo Man is written. It's very descriptive and I was totally drawn into the story. The sex between Ana and Grant is mind-blowing. They give new meaning to the expression "playing with your food" and it's amazing that they never get caught playing with it. These two are very compatible sexually. I felt a little wistful at the ending even though I know it's all, all right. Rodeo Man is an extremely erotic story and I really liked Ana and Grant a lot.
Four lucky ladies get to rope in their very own cowboy in The Cowboy. These women know what they want from a man and their cowboys know just how to fulfill their every desire. The Cowboy is not a sugary sweet romance. It is hot, hard, and raunchy. If you're looking for steaming hot fantasies, then The Cowboy is your book!
Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
Hot cover. Good authors. .......2006-08-19
What a super hot cover. Va-voom. And four fine authors writing the erotic romance inside. They all have a light touch and good story-telling skills.
But I have to say that though this is erotica, and the book comes with a warning that the content sizzles, I still miss the parts that fall between the kiss and two people jumping between the sheets, or the horse blankets. Those parts aren't represented here. The couples say a few words face-to-face, then the guy has his hand on her ---- in the very next paragraph, if not the next sentence.
Maybe somebody thinks this is believable, but I find that I still want a little more paragrahical foreplay in order to get into the swing, "erotica" or not. And I think that all of these stories might have been even better if they had had real progressions of emotion, as much as a novella would allow, anyway.
4.5 Stars . . . My, My, My - The Cowboy Is Hot And Fun! .......2006-08-07
Book 1 - Vonna Harper: "Wild Ride." Grade: B+
Sub-genre: New Beginnings
In Jordan Shore's world, attraction and Cougar Lighthorse went hand in hand. Even though she known the man for most of her life, he could still overwhelm and intimidate her! Yet, Jordan had other problems - like facing her demons. They called her demon Rampage - an aggressive Brahma bull. One year ago, this Brahma bull tried to kill her and as luck would have it - Cougar Lighthorse owed him! Still, if she wanted to return to the competitive world of barrel-racing, now was her chance.
*** Comments:
With only 79 pages to tell her tale, Vonna Harper simply ran out of room for WILD RIDE to be completely satisfying! And yes, her heroine was, at times, a little crass and why? Nevertheless, Vonna Harper still held me by using some major descriptive and setting talent. I have been to rodeos and Vonna Harper nailed this setting!
Book 2 - P. J. Mellor: "Cowboy in Paradise." Grade: B-
Sub-Genre: Light Comedy
Tyler Last felt old and tired. He knew the time had come; the entire Rodeo scene was for youngsters. It was time for a rest and rest meant - Gramma's house. Meg Holder grew up in Paradise Beach and she loved the tranquil cove. But soon they would ruin her private paradise. Outrageously, an affluent gated community was scheduled! Well not if Meg Holder had anything to say about it! So who cares if her boss is the developer? And who cares if her boss's new partner is sweet old Hanna Garnder-Edwards - the lady who owns all the beachfront property. And who the devil cares if Mrs. Garnder-Edwards' grandson is a picturesque cowboy with a magnificent body?
*** Comments:
Two people meet on a moonlight beach have hot, heavy sex, and suddenly it's LOVE. Question: Is knowing someone's name a prerequisite for marriage? Nay! But I bet they will be on a first-name basis at their divorce trial? P.J. Mellor's writes a fantasy all right, but it is so...ooo humorously silly!
Book 3 - Nelissa Donovan: "Saddle Sore." Grade: A-
Sub-Genre: Romantic Suspense
Dean McCabe compared agent Cassandra Darling to a glorified cupie doll. The US Fish and Wildlife Service had sent him a well-stacked, pixie faced, cupie doll! Oh yea, the government always worked for its citizens' best interests! What a joke! Cassandra Darling loved her job even if it meant butting heads with the likes of rugged, sexy Dean McCabe - the owner of the Rocking T ranch. She was in Granite Hollow to investigate the Wolf Release program. Unfortunately, the evidence spoke volumes - the newly released wolves were hunting and killing the local livestock. And the citizens of Granite Hollow were angry. Angry enough to hunt down the pack . . . and Dean McCabe would lead the posse!
*** Comments:
After reading SADDLE SORE, Nelissa Donovan is now on my Check Out Author's Next Book list. This story is indeed hot, but remarkably the author moved beyond the bed sheets to give her reader some great entertainment. Although, Nelissa Donovan's tale ran out of room, she still managed a very good story!
Book 4 - Nikki Alton: "Rodeo Man." Grade: C
Sub-Genre: New Beginnings
Anna Hartley was having a lousy day! First, they fired her, then she found out her boyfriend was unfaithful, and now her rental car had an eight-hundred dollar repair bill attached to it! On the bright side, Wyoming cowboy Grant Olson stopped and offered her a ride into town. This rodeo star was incredibly attractive, with his curly blond hair, violet eyes and sashaying self-confidence. And boy, did Anna want him; she really wanted him! Grant had given up trying to play it cool. Anna Hartley was too hot for his usual playful, seductive games. Grant Olson lived his life under the slogan: live for the NOW and always for the next ride and Anna Hartley was more than accommodating!
*** Comments:
What started with so much promise, soon turned into so much disappointment. In RODEO MAN, Nikki Alton's characters and their sexual antics are too crude, too rough, and too raw!
MaryGrace Meloche.
*HOT FOR THE COWBOY*.......2006-08-03
This was a great book! Very erotic and HOT, HOT MEN! I only wish the stories were longer. I have also never met women that fast and easy but in a short story I guess you don't have time to chat. It was what I wanted, hot, quick romances I could read in one sitting. Lots of the Erotic! I recommend it.
Customer Reviews:
The Life of a Rodeo Star.......2007-02-11
Chris Ledoux was a 1970 and early 80 rodeo star. If you have ever wondered what a bare back bronc rider goes through to win the National Finals Rodeo bareback bronc riding championship this book is a must. The author David Brown takes you through the early days when Chris was just a kid watching his childhood rodeo stars perform where he got the desire to be rodeo bronc rider himself. Chris started in Little Britches Rodeo, then High School and College and on to be a professional rodeo star where he endured low pay, bad rides, and severe injuries, all the way to the NFR where Chris finally wins the Gold Buckle in the bareback riding to fulfill his Gold Buckle Dreams. This is one of my favorite books.
Great book, even for kids to read about rodeo........2007-01-11
I've rodeoed for a number of years and been a Chris LeDoux fan for even longer. This was a great book about how much it took him to win the world. I passed it on to my younger brother who read it and thought it was great. It was a sad day in rodeo and country music when he passed away.
a look at a champion.......2005-11-07
This is a look behind a legend - something I'm sure he'd deny. Chris left this world much too soon, but this covers his early days before Nashville took note through his name being mentioned in Garth's song. For Chris fans or rodeo fans...excellent book.
chris ledoux was the real deal.......2005-06-26
this is an awsome book about chris ledoux's rodeo day's it has some very cool pictures you may or maynot see anywhere else, this is a must reed,for any of you chris ledoux fans out there. sadly chris is no longer with us, but he will always live in our memories of his rodeo days aswell as his music. long live chris ledoux a real cowboy.
A book for the Rodeo in us all!.......2002-08-10
Anyone who's every rodeo'ed or thought about going do the road, pick this book up, through your rigging on and hang on for a wild 8 second ride!
As both a former rodeo cowboy and long time Chris Ledoux fan, I found this book a very excellent read!
Book Description
An intimate look at a fascinating subculture, its star personalities, and the death-defying confrontation between man and beast that has made bull riding the fastest growing sport in the world Just as spectators flock to a NASCAR race because of its inherent danger, bull riding possesses a blood-and-guts excitement that sells tickets. In Fried Twinkies, Buckle Bunnies, and Bull Riders, award-winning sports journalist Josh Peter takes readers along on the 2004 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) tour to witness the sports exploding popularityand discover why athletes in spurs, cowboy hats, and colorful chaps are hooking millions of fans across the country. The 2004 season begins like all PBR seasons, with 800 cowboys competing for a chance to be in the top 45 who ride in 29 major events during the season, with the best of the best taking home a $1 million bonus. Success is measured in secondsmanaging to stay on a bull for 8 seconds without getting tossed is likely to secure a rider a big score. Most riders fail. Many get seriously injured; some die. Josh Peter captures the high drama of the sport and introduces readers to a culture thats rife with colorful characters: the courageous riders chasing their dreams, the scouts, breeders, love-struck groupies, and a few of those very angry bulls.
Customer Reviews:
The business of bull riding . . ........2007-08-14
The one thing wrong with this book is the title. It's strictly about pro bull riders and the multimillion-dollar business that has raised bullriding from a feature rodeo event to a cross between NASCAR and the WWF. You'll learn little about fried Twinkies, buckle bunnies, and whatever they're supposed to represent.
Sports writer Josh Peter follows the 2004 PBR tour that crisscrosses the U.S. and ends with the finals in Las Vegas, drumming up excitement and suspense as he goes. He brings to life the widely divergent personalities of the riders, ranging from seasoned champion and family-man Adriano Moraes and the stereotypical drinking, cussing Justin McBride, to the withdrawn, almost spookily religious Mike Lee. Among them are a diversity of others, including rookies, old-timers hoping for a comeback, and competitors from countries as far away as Australia and Brazil. We learn that one out of 15 rides results in injuries requiring treatment, and much time is spent in the sports medicine room.
Meanwhile, we follow the drama of big business as differences between the men who run this show create a number of conflicts that lead to firings and the threat of a boycott by riders who feel they are being under-appreciated by their employers. Peter's revelation of these behind-the-scenes maneuvers will enlighten fans familiar only with the glitz and glamour of the sport and the men who are its stars. We learn about the stock growers and investors who raise, train, buy, and sell bulls. There's even a side trip to Brazil, where we visit the ranch Moraes has bought with his winnings. Readers will also enjoy the DVD "Rank," which is a compelling record of the 2004 season finals, focusing on Moraes, McBride, and Lee.
Dad liked it!.......2007-01-15
Gave this book to my dad who is a rodeo fan. He enjoyed it. Said it was a good read and he finished it in about 2 days.
I'm biased.......2006-12-26
OK, I must admit right off that I am a friend of the author's. He's a nice guy. More importantly, he's a good writer. I was deeply moved by some parts of this book, and that was before I met Josh.
I suspect the high ratings for this book might be because PBR fans tend to be awfully enthusiastic about the sport. If you are not a PBR fan but are curious, check it out.
Everything PBR.......2006-08-01
As an avid PBR fan, I greedily tore through the pages of Fried Twinkies. This book answered all of my questions about bull riding and provided information that I didn't know to ask about. Anyone who enjoys the marvelous sport of bull riding must purchase and read this book.
Real Good .......2006-04-10
Good reading about the PBR if your a bull rideing fan you'll love this book. Good behind the seen coverage. This book one that is hard to put down.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book on rodeo history.......2004-02-18
As with all of Gail Woerner's books, this is an excellent book for the rodeo historian. Names, dates, events--there are so many that you'll spend weeks going back and checking various references. As an author of rodeo mysteries, I find myself constantly checking Gail's books to confirm a date or name that adds more detail to my own books. She has all the major events from the past, plus a lot of not-so-major ones. If you like rodeo and you like history, this is a definite keeper.
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- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- House of Good Hope: A Promise for a Broken City (River Teeth Literary Nonfiction Prize)
- In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692
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