Gift good reads by Texans
By M. CLARE HAEFNER | Covers courtesy of the book publishers
Whether your loved ones like romance, suspense, humor, adventure or a little of everything, here are five recent releases by Texas authors that would make great holiday gifts.
HUMOR
Native Texan: Stories from Deep in the Heart by Joe Holley (Maverick Books): A longtime Houston Chronicle columnist, Holley takes readers on a journey across Texas towns big and small in this compilation of 30 columns. A masterful storyteller, Holley will have you laughing as you work your way through his attempts to measure tall tales against what really happened.
POETRY
Texas, Being: A State of Poems edited by Jenny Browne (Trinity University Press): The poet laureate of San Antonio in 2016 and Texas poet laureate in 2017, Browne offers a tour of Texas through 47 poems she curated for this book, including her own work. While she loves tacos and Willie Nelson, Browne told the Texas Standard she wanted this collection of poems to take a deeper look the Lone Star State, showing its brutality alongside its beauty.
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Lethal Standoff by DiAnn Mills (Tyndale Fiction): A master of romantic suspense, Mills takes readers on a race against the clock as hostage negotiator Carrington Reed tries to uncover why the Kendrix brothers are holding 15 hostages in an abandoned South Texas home. With help from investigative reporter Levi Erlich, Reed digs deeper into the details and finds a few surprises along the way. Mills, who lives in Houston, usually sets her contemporary thrillers in the Lone Star State, and this new novel is among her best.
TRAVEL
Official Guide to Texas State Parks and Historic Sites: New Edition by Laurence Parent (University of Texas Press): Updated with information on Palo Pinto Mountains State Park west of Fort Worth and new historic sites, Parent provides a great guide to Texas state parks and their history. With tons of information and incredible photos, this guide will entertain guests as a coffee-table book and make you want to plan your next adventure to explore them in person.
HISTORIC FICTION
One Special Christmas by Amanda Cabot (Bydand Publishing): Return to Sweetwater Crossing in Cabot’s holiday-themed sweet historical romance. Greta Engel’s brother Otto is sick but dreams of seeing Pikes Peak before he dies. Knowing it will take a miracle to get him to Colorado, Greta is determined to try. When their wagon breaks down in the Texas Hill Country, Greta fears that all is lost. But she’ll find a safe haven — if she’s brave enough to follow her heart. Cabot’s tales are a great escape and so uplifting, making this new novel the perfect Christmas read.
