Second Lieutenant Johnson received his first duty assignment at graduation. He was anything but pleased. He was assigned to assist in forcing Cherokee Indians to leave their homes and march to the Oklahoma Indian Territory.

The conditions along the Trail were brutal. The Trail of Tears had earned its name. The lieutenant befriended a young Cherokee woman, Awinita, who was expecting a child. The baby would not wait to be born in Oklahoma. The young lieutenant was given permission to take the expectant mother to a cotton plantation along the Trail, where she gave birth.

The plantation owners were instructed to see that the mother and her baby were placed with the next group of Indians that came along on the Trail. Later, the lieutenant discovered that the mother and her baby had been sold into slavery by the plantation owner.

The lieutenant devoted the rest of his career to seeking justice for those who were forced off of their lands and onto reservations, or who were held in slavery. He was also committed to seek accountability for those who abused others.

After thirty years of military service, and attaining the rank of colonel, many of Colonel Jacob Johnson’s goals had been fulfilled, especially as he fought with General Grant in the War Between the States.

The post Tears to Justice appeared first on Book Nook by Rocky Heights.

One day they learned about several boys who were lost back in Fair Hills. Their friend, Booney, an adorable brown bunny, caught a ride to Cain Valley to tell Red Dog and Toad about it. Booney persuaded Red Dog and Toad to come back to Fair Hills to help find the boys. Booney figured this was a way that Red Dog could show that he was really a friend, not a fiend.

Red Dog had great tracking skills. He and Toad agreed to go back to Fair Hills to help find the boys. They were successful, along with Booney, in locating the boys. They led the boys back to Crawfish Creek. When they reached the creek, a mystery occurred that gave credit to another hound, Ole Red, for helping to save the boys. One or two of the boys, however, wondered if it could possibly have been Red Dog that helped save them, and not Ole Red. The boys had no idea that it was the bunny, Booney, who helped save them as well.

The post Mystery at Crawfish Creek appeared first on Book Nook by Rocky Heights.

The threesome were accompanied home by a little toad with a missing toe. Little boys catch toads. That is just a fact of life. Upon arriving home, the missing-toed toad was set free. The toad’s life and exploits soon grew to somewhat mystic proportions.

An elusive red dog was suspected to live somewhere in the deep woods near Fair Hills. The red dog allegedly terrorized the young boys and their community. The boys appropriately named him Red Dog. Though never seen, and none of his deeds were ever confirmed, Red Dog was a force to be reckoned with by the young boys of Fair Hills nonetheless.

The post The Missing-Toed Toad appeared first on Book Nook by Rocky Heights.

Between Santa Fe and Tucson continues the story of Sheriff Rankin Scott, who, as the Sheriff of Colfax County, avenged the murder of his brother, MacKenzie, and brought a most unexpected killer, Gloria Stokes, to the type of justice normally reserved for men. Rankin ended the reign of crime of the notorious Carleton Gang, and in so doing formed a bond of friendship with Judge Walter Freeman. Sheriff Scott and Judge Freeman also formed a relationship of respect and friendship with Chief Howling Wolf and the Apache tribe that he led with integrity and fairness.

The westward movement of settlers and land developers placed the Apache tribes at risk of losing their land and being placed on reservations. Lt. Gates, who commanded the Army Post at Fort Wingate, made a move to wage war on the Apaches. Sheriff Scott developed a plan to bluff Gates into backing away from his immediate plan. Rankin’s plan worked, at least for the time being.

In this third book, Between Santa Fe and Tucson, Sheriff Scott and Judge Freeman continued to protect the people of Santa Fe, and to administer justice equitably and fairly. They intervened to save a rancher family from loosing their ranch to unscrupulous gamblers.

When the President of the United States visited Santa Fe, in response to rumors about trouble with the Apaches, Sarah and Rankin were able to have their wedding, and to entertain the president at the same time.

Sheriff Scott, Judge Freeman, and a US Marshal teamed up to thwart a scheme that would accuse Chief Falling Waters and his people of crimes they did not do. Lt. Gates was again involved in the effort to take away the Apaches’ land and herd them onto a reservation. The sheriff, judge, and marshal intervened to help the chiefs in their efforts to make sure that Gates was not successful.

The post Between Santa Fe and Tucson appeared first on Book Nook by Rocky Heights.

In Cain Valley, Red Dog and the toad met a cute little pup named Oreo, and a most stubborn tomcat named Bartholomule. The four became instant friends. Bart had a reputation of getting into quite a bit of mischief. Oreo tried to help Bart out of trouble the best he could.

Cain Valley’s eccentric mayor saw to it that holidays in Cain Valley were special. The first year Red Dog and the toad spent the 4th of July in Cain Valley was one long to be remembered. Bart was chased onto the dessert table by Bonaparte, a hound who lived on one of the farms in Cain Valley. About the time the desserts were pieced back together, as best they could, a fierce storm came up scattering everyone here and there. When the winds subsided, the toad was no where to be found. Red Dog, Oreo, and Bartholomule began an all-consuming effort to find their friend the missing-toed toad. The three friends pledged that there would be no toad left behind in the wonderful community of Cain Valley.

The post No Toad Left Behind appeared first on Book Nook by Rocky Heights.

Sometimes we can’t see the light when it is right in front of us.

Sydney and the Christmas Star
When Sydney and the boy with the green shoes help the gardener unload his truck full of Christmas cargo, Sydney receives an unexpected gift. Afterwards, the boy and Sydney try out for the annual Christmas play. Sydney dreams of being cast in a special role. But when her antics wreck the audition, all hope of starring in the play evaporates. How will Sydney ever find her part?

The Tales of Sydney
Sydney, a Portuguese water dog, lives in a small Southern town with her human family. Known for her stylish hats and orange bananas, Sydney is a rambunctious pup with a big heart. No matter where the boy with the green shoes leads her, Sydney finds adventure.

The post Sydney and the Christmas Star appeared first on Book Nook by Rocky Heights.

Sometimes what we see with our eyes can fool us.

Sydney and the Masquerade
It’s autumn in Sydney’s hometown, and things aren’t always what they seem to be. The sky is wearing a disguise, and twin poodles have turned pink and blue. It’s almost time for the pet parade, and Sydney’s human friend Annanine is making masks with the help of her art teacher, Miss Jolly. But behind a mask, Decker spoils the fun when he bullies Pinkie and Blue Boy and chases them into a spooky, old mansion. Sydney, Annanine, and the boy with the green shoes race to the rescue—and make a surprising discovery about Decker.

The Tales of Sydney
Sydney, a Portuguese water dog, lives in a small Southern town with her human family. Known for her stylish hats and orange bananas, Sydney is a rambunctious pup with a big heart. No matter where the boy with the green shoes leads her, Sydney finds adventure.

The post Sydney and The Masquerade appeared first on Book Nook by Rocky Heights.

Seasons of the Holiday Spirit, though comprised of five poems or rhymed stories, was written over four decades. When Santa Was Delayed and The Year Every Day Seemed Like Thanksgiving and Christmas, were written in the early 1980’s as Christmas gifts to the author’s bride. The Year Santa Came Twice, One Glorious Morning, and After the Star followed some forty years later.

After the Star begins as the well-known story of the Magi following the Bethlehem Star to the place of the birth of the young Christ child. The story chronicles the thoughts and reflections of the Magi over time as they wonder what may have become the fate of the young child they had so diligently sought many years before.

When Santa Was Delayed depicts Santa, elves, and reindeer having experienced a problem while in flight, and having become stuck in the snow with no help in sight. Santa’s unfortunate accident afforded mom and dad the opportunity to share the true meaning of Christmas with their children that year as the rest, though Santa never came.

The Year Santa Came Twice begins with an exhausted Santa, elves, and reindeer having just returned from their annual visit to the children of the world on Christmas Eve. Mrs. Claus discovers a solitary present remaining in Santa’s toy bag, having inadvertently failed to be delivered to a soon-to-be disappointed child.

Mrs. Claus insists that a return trip be made to deliver the gift immediately. The deer and elves are split about making such a trip while completely exhausted. In the end, Mrs. Claus prevails and goes along on the whirlwind second trip. All ends well!

In The Year Every Day Seemed Like Thanksgiving and Christmas, a Medieval King comes up with a scheme to keep the holiday spirit alive within his kingdom for an entire year. The King’s scheme is successful. For at least one year the people of his kingdom experienced the attitude of thankfulness, generosity, and joy, every day of the year.

One Glorious Morning highlights the resurrection of Christ some two thousand years ago, and points to His ultimate return at some point in the future.

The post Seasons of the Holiday Spirit appeared first on Book Nook by Rocky Heights.

The quest by such adventurous soles is not eliminated by the elapse of time. Whether a search is conducted contemporaneously to when a pot of gold is first placed at the rainbow’s end or many years afterward, the desire to find a lost treasure remains alive in the minds of subsequent generations. As the trail grows cold and dusty through the years, what may have been an astonishing truth can turn into mere legend or rumor. Although the cast of characters seeking the gold may change, only a fruitful discovery will end the mystery and write the last chapter of the book.

In A Rebel’s Code, a young Alabamian is one such seeker. He survives his military service during the Civil War and eventually returns home, disabled but full of heart, only to risk everything he holds dear in an effort to improve on what already matters in his life. He believes the trail to a hidden treasure is fresh and reliable. But is losing what he already has by seeking to find it elsewhere, a worthy trade?

A century later, a makeshift team of three treasure hunters have drawn the same conclusion. Yet, for them, their view of the pot of gold is muddled by the hazy passage of a hundred years of time. They don’t understand their view is just a faint glimpse at what might have been. Unless of course, the clues they have stumbled upon are facts that remove the dust and prove otherwise. Or alternatively, leads the trio to the discovery of a valuable artifact no one knew was lost or even existed. Something utterly incomprehensible that, if true, would have shaken the underpinnings of the War itself.

From such sweeping perspectives in time, the wealth chasers believe that fortune favors the diligent and that they, and only them, possess the key to finding the lost treasure. The prize is close at hand. Or is it?

The post A Rebel’s Code appeared first on Book Nook by Rocky Heights.

Cameron is a beloved member in his adoptive family, Evita is on cloud nine following a proposal, and Sebastien has a trust fund upwards of a hundred million dollars. But things aren’t always as rosy as they appear on the surface: they’re each keeping a secret. An exploration of mental health, family dynamics, and self-actualization (with a helping of magic), Hallowed follows these three 20-somethings as their secrets come to light and their lives are irrevocably changed. Told from the lens of a predominately LGBTQ+ cast of characters, this is a story of just how divine humanity truly is.

The post Hallowed Book One – Awakening appeared first on Book Nook by Rocky Heights.