REVIEW: Against All Odds is a refreshing break from the traditional tales of life on the trail or life in early Salt Lake City. This intriguing book focuses on pioneers who settled the Manti area. Many of these stories are ideal for acting out on family night, for home schooling, and for teaching creative writing based on historical events. The stories aren’t about the famous, and they aren’t about the traditional heroes. You have probably never heard of most of these pioneers, but their stories area as exciting as those we learn about year after year. How did a brave woman come to be known as Iron Lady among admiring Native Americans? What pioneer saw a vision of the Manti temple and was so influenced by it that he overcame a great disability? What sacrificing parent gave his two-year-old son to save a community? These stories will capture your hearts and imaginations, allowing you to see a side of pioneer life seldom explored. The story telling in this book is delightful, and has the feel of a well-written personal history. Shirley Bahlmann is a freelance writer with a special love of pioneer lore, born of her pioneer heritage. I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking aunique collection of pioneer stories for their library. Terrie Lynn Bittner: BellaOnline’s LDS Families Host * * * * * * * * * * * * A friend of mine has one of your books, and when he ran across the name of Daniel Henrie, he asked me if I might know anything about him. Well, I’m named after him, my Dad, Ellis, is his youngest son and the incidents you wrote about are just as I’ve heard them. Thank you! Ellis Daniel Henrie, British Columbia * * * * * * * * * * * Unseen Odds by Shirley Bahlmann Do you like ghost stories? Do you enjoy tales of positive encounters with angels? Unseen Odds, by Shirley Bahlmann has both. She has compiled a series of short stories that are based on actual accounts that have been recorded in historical documents or passed down through LDS families. Most of the events took place in the pioneer days or early 1900s. Some of the stories are creepy, like the tale of the headless horseman that may still be roaming the hills of Utah. Some were somewhat amusing, like the story of the cat that just wouldn't die. And others were heart warming and spiritual in nature, like the angel on horseback seen on a hill to indicate the spot where the Manti Temple should be placed. She also includes ghostly pranks that were played on unsuspecting individuals. "Unseen Odds" is one in a series of "Odds" books, preceded by "Against All Odds" and "Even Love Is Odd". This book is certainly an entertaining read, although I advise you not to read it right before bed or you might have to leave the light on. Reviewed by Melanie Lott, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer * * * * * * * * * * * * A fascinating glimpse back in time! "Isn't That Odd?" is a collection of 12 intriguing Mormon pioneer stories from the American frontier. Each story is based on actual incidents and events having taken place in the American West from the mid to late 1800s. Author Shirley Bahlmann succeeds in vividly describing the life of early settlers of Utah and the unusual situations some of them had to deal with. She does so by letting a character tell her or his tale from their perspective, so the book's classification as "non-fiction" is a bit misleading. The book rather is entertaining fiction based on odd real life events. Strange encounters with animals and critters from the frontier, blessings in disguise, uncommon cures -- the reader will enjoy the unique and often humorous tales about drunken geese, smart rattlesnakes, and creative spiders. Some other tales are truly inspirational, showing that miracles do happen after all. The stories are suited for children and adults alike -- for everyone who enjoys an entertaining glimpse back in time.