THE AWARD-WINNING, NEW DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF TEDDY ROOSEVELT AND THE ROUGH RIDERS "Thrilling. ... A CLASSIC." —True West WINNER: Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Award; New Mexico-Arizona Book Award; and Colorado Book Award The now-legendary Rough Riders were a volunteer regiment recruited in 1898 to help drive the Spaniards out of Cuba. Drawn from America’s southwestern territories and led by the irrepressible Theodore Roosevelt, these men included not only cowboys and other Westerners, but also several Ivy Leaguers and clubmen, many of them friends of “TR.” Roosevelt and his men quickly came to symbolize American ruggedness, daring, and individualism. He led them to victory in the famed Battle of San Juan Hill, which made TR a national hero and cemented the Rough Riders’ iconic place in history. Now Mark Lee Gardner synthesizes previously unknown primary accounts—private letters, diaries, and period newspaper reports from public and private archives across the country—to breathe fresh life into the Rough Riders and pay tribute to their daring feats and indomitable leader.

The “gripping” (The Washington Post) story of the most famous regiment in American history: the Rough Riders, a motley group of soldiers led by Theodore Roosevelt, whose daring exploits marked the beginning of American imperialism in the 20th century. When America declared war on Spain in 1898, the US Army had just 26,000 men, spread around the country—hardly an army at all. In desperation, the Rough Riders were born. A unique group of volunteers, ranging from Ivy League athletes to Arizona cowboys and led by Theodore Roosevelt, they helped secure victory in Cuba in a series of gripping, bloody fights across the island. Roosevelt called their charge in the Battle of San Juan Hill his “crowded hour”—a turning point in his life, one that led directly to the White House. “The instant I received the order,” wrote Roosevelt, “I sprang on my horse and then my ‘crowded hour’ began.” As The Crowded Hour reveals, it was a turning point for America as well, uniting the country and ushering in a new era of global power. “A revelatory history of America’s grasp for power” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). Both a portrait of these men, few of whom were traditional soldiers, and of the Spanish-American War itself, The Crowded Hour dives deep into the daily lives and struggles of Roosevelt and his regiment. Using diaries, letters, and memoirs, Risen illuminates an influential moment in American history: a war of only six months’ time that dramatically altered the United States’ standing in the world. “Fast-paced, carefully researched…Risen is a gifted storyteller who brings context to the chaos of war. The Crowded Hour feels like the best type of war reporting—told with a clarity that takes nothing away from the horrors of the battlefield” (The New York Times Book Review).

Author John Garraty provides a close look at the childhood of Teddy Roosevelt as he transforms from a sickly child to an athlete to one of America's most famous politicians.

Based on a pocket diary from the Spanish-American War, this tough-as-nails 1899 memoir abounds in patriotic valor and launched the future President into the American consciousness.

"In this book, Sarah Watts probes this dark side of the Rough Rider, presenting a fascinating psychological portrait of a man whose personal obsession with masculinity profoundly influenced the fate of a nation. Drawing on his own writings and on media representations of him, Watts attributes the wide appeal of Roosevelt's style of manhood to the way it addressed the hopes and anxieties of men of his time. Like many of his contemporaries, Roosevelt struggled with what it meant to be a man in the modern era. He saw two foes within himself: a fragile weakling and a primitive beast. The weakling he punished and toughened with rigorous, manly pursuits such as hunting, horseback riding, and war. The beast he unleashed through brutal criticisms of homosexuals, immigrants, pacifists, and sissies - anyone who might tarnish the nation's veneer of strength and vigor. With his unabashed paeans to violence and aggressive politics, Roosevelt ultimately offered American men a chance to project their longings and fears onto the nation and its policies. In this way he harnessed the primitive energy of men's desires to propel the march of American civilization - over the bodies of anyone who might stand in its way."--BOOK JACKET.

The bigger they are, the harder they fall-in love. Rough Riders, Book 7 Soldier Cameron McKay has found his niche, and it ain't ropin' steers and wearin' spurs. His deputy sheriff job-and the injuries that ended his military career-keep him right where he wants to be: off the ranch and away from his family's pity. His darkest war memories are on lockdown, leaving him skeptical he'll ever find a woman that wants a man who's less than whole. Orphaned in the Ukraine at age eleven, Domini Katzinski has had to control every aspect of her life since emigrating to the U.S. Watching others' relationships crumble has convinced her to focus on the short-term-and find a take-charge man to whom she can relinquish total sexual control. Cam fits the bill: gorgeous, with a brooding vulnerability no one else seems to see. Once Cam gets over his surprise that sweet, shy Domini wants to be dominated, he's back to issuing orders. Their passion burns as hot as a rocket-propelled grenade-and if Domini has her way, it'll be a one-shot deal. Cam is ready to launch a full-out sensual assault to make her his, but when tragedy strikes, he'll have to keep their past demons from blowing their future together all to hell...

Saddle up and get ready to ride again with the infamous McKay family! New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James has whipped up six brand new Rough Riders short stories featuring fan favorite couples—Cord and AJ, Colby and Channing, Keely and Jack, Colt and India, Carter and Macie, and Boone and Sierra. These slice of life tales are the perfect accompaniment to USA Today Bestselling author Suzanne Johnson’s delicious, down home recipes—family fare created to share round the table with love, laughter, and plenty of second helpings. So kick off your boots, hang up your hat and prepare to stay awhile as you’re entertained and tantalized with Cowboy Bites!

Good girls can play rough too... Jessie McKay's marriage to Luke McKay wasn't perfect. After two years as a widow, she's decided it's time to kick up her bootheels--until Luke's younger brother shows up to ruin her fun. But if Brandt thinks she'll take orders from another McKay man, he's got manure for brains. Brandt McKay has avoided his sweet, sexy sister-in-law ever since confessing that his feelings for her weren't the brotherly type. But when he's faced with proof of Luke's infidelity, Brandt is forced to ask for Jessie's help taking care of Luke's young son. Jessie agrees on one condition--she wants Brandt's boots under her bed for the duration. The sexual chemistry that's always simmered between them combusts. Brandt is ready to make the temporary situation permanent and prove to Jessie he's the one-woman man his brother couldn't be. And Jessie is shaken by feelings she's sworn never to have again for any man...especially a McKay. Warning: Contains branding-iron-hot sex, the one McKay on earth who wants to be tamed, and a woman who has decided tame is for nice girls who finish last.

It's hard to trust the future... when you've been branded by the past. Rough Riders, Book 6 Tattoo artist India Ellison is well acquainted with preconceived notions. As a walking advertisement for the tattoo shop she's set up in a small Wyoming town, she's used to off-color comments about her colorful tats and hair. Still, life is good. She's clean and sober, dotes on her sister's kids and best of all, spends most of her free time with her best buddy, Colt McKay. Reformed bad boy rancher Colt never expected three years of sobriety to lead to three years of abstinence. Curbing his craving for booze is nothing compared to the ever-increasing craving for his hot-tempered, hot-bodied best friend, India. Too bad she hasn't a clue that Colt's been head-over-bootheels in love with her from day one. After an unexpected, steamy interlude, all India can think about is riding the sexy cowboy as hard and fast as her motorcycle. But Colt is determined to show her a slower ride is worth the wait. The friendship that helped them conquer their past is about to be tested...by the new addiction they feel to each other.

She's a little bit country, and he's...not. Arizona businessman and long-lost McKay love child Gavin Daniels has been awarded sole custody of his teenage daughter, Sierra. In order to steer her back on track after a brush with the law, he heads to Wyoming...even if he isn't sure where they fit in the McKay dynamic. But he's thrown for a loop when his new housemate, Rielle, is a whole lot sexier than he remembered. Rielle Wetzler has finally overcome the stigma of having hippie parents and being a young single mother. But now Gavin is in Sundance to claim the house that's rightfully his. Rielle knew this day would come, but she isn't prepared to leave the home she built for herself. And to further complicate matters, her long-dormant libido is definitely not ready to live with this newly buff Gavin--who has the take-charge attitude to prove he's all McKay. Sharing a roof is too much temptation, and before long, Gavin and Rielle are sharing a bed. But are they ready to share their hearts, lives and families forever? Warning: Contains a feisty, independent heroine who doesn't need a man to take care of her needs outside the bedroom and a sweet, sexy and bossy hero who's up to the challenge of proving her wrong