This is a fresh new look at the historyof the east bank of the Rio Grande from Isleta to Tome with a focus on the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Peralta. The book includes love stories, power politics, some genealogy and an unsolved murder and is lavishly illustrated with more than130 photos, paintings, and maps, many never published previously. John Taylor, long-time historian of this part of the Rio Abajo, captures both the history and the importance of religion in the lives of the residents of this area. This work will be of interest to students, historians, residents, and parishioners alike.REVIEWS:John Taylor's well-illustrated book is about the history of the parish church in Peralta, New Mexico--Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Readers will be interested in this historical record. -- Colonial Latin American Historical Review, Winter 2004John Taylor has done a masterful job in recreating the rich history of the Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in social, economic, and religious terms. Newcomers, long-time residents, and New Mexico historians will benefit from the fine detail and engaging stories Taylor tells. We have much to preserve in our Rio Abajo communities, but our lives are like closed shutters without a thorough knowledge of our past. John Taylor has done much to throw open the shutters to our collective past with this valuable new edition of his much-admired earlier book. -- Richard Melzer, President, New Mexico Historical Society