Friday, October 30, 2015

Lynn's List (October 30, 2015)

Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting.



  • Seasons of Her Life by Fern Michaels
  • The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson
  • In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson
  • The Other Daughter by Lisa Gardner
  • The Giving Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini
  • Some Luck by Jane Smiley
  • Early Warning by Jane Smiley
  • The Rising Tide by Jeff Shaara
  • No One Would Listen: A True Financial Thriller by Harry Markopolos
  • See Me by Nicholas Sparks
  • The End of Always by Randi Davenport
  • Lady Bird and Lyndon by Betty Boyd Caroli
  • The Education of Kevin Powell by Kevin Powell
  • Alaska by Jana Harris
  • Loot by Aaron Elkins
  • Forgotten by Linda Hervieux
  • Outsider in the White House by John Nichols and Bernie Sanders
  • Playing with Fire by Tess Gerritsen
  • Girl Missing (Previously published as Peggy Sue Got Murdered) by Tess Gerritsen
  • The Wedding Dress by Rachel Haucke
  • Jackson by Stephen Mansfield and Dr Paul Vickery
  • Friction by Sandra Brown
  • Never Leave Me: A True Story Of Marriage, Deception, And Brutal Murder by John Glatt
  • Nora Roberts's In the Garden Trilogy by Nora Roberts
  • The Litigators by John Grisham
  • Ford County: Stories by John Grisham
  • The Last of the Doughboys by Richard Rubin
  • The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri
  • Odd Interlude (Omnibus) by Dean Koontz
  • The Arrangement by Mary Balogh
  • The Promise of Palm Grove (Brides of Pinecraft #1) by Shelley Shepard Gray
  • The Proposal at Siesta Key (Brides of Pinecraft #2) by Shelley Shepard Gray
  • A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn (Brides of Pinecraft #3) by Shelley Shepard Gray
  • Stay With Me by Alison Gaylin
  • The Last Lion by William Manchester and Paul Reid
  • Soldier from the War Returning by Thomas Childers
  • Find a Stranger, Say Goodbye by Lois Lowry
  • The Sins of the Mother by Danielle Steel
  • Friends Forever by Danielle Steel
  • Country by Danielle Steel
  • Undercover by Danielle Steel
  • Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah
  • The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
  • Deacon of Death by Fred Rosen
  • Cop Town by Karin Slaughter
  • Starlight by Debbie Macomber
  • The Inn at Rose Harbor (Rose Harbor #1) by Debbie Macomber
  • Rose Harbor in Bloom (Rose Harbor #2) by Debbie Macomber
  • Heartsong by Debbie Macomber
  • Jurassic Park: A Novel by Michael Crichton
  • Running Scared by Linda Ladd
  • Second Front by Alexander M. Grace
  • Killer by Jonathan Kellerman
  • The One & Only by Emily Giffin
  • Viper Pilot: A Memoir of Air Combat by Dan Hampton
  • Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
  • The Seamstress by Sara Tuval Bernstein
  • Solitude by Robert Kull
  • City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg
  • Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster by Svetlana Alexievich
  • 1944 by Jay Winik
  • Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski
  • Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison by Lois Lenski
  • The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman
  • Tell No One by Harlan Coben

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Review: Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson

title: Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter
Author: Kate Clifford Larson
Kindle Edition, 320 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: October 6th 2015


Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy DaughterRosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson is about the first of the Kennedy daughters, born to Rose and Joseph Kennedy. Not only does it tell her story and explain some of the challenges she faced as a child and as a young woman with intellectual disabilities; but it describes, vividly, society's thoughts about anyone not considered 'normal'. Kate Clifford Larson brings Rosemary to life as a person, not just as the Kennedy sister who was hidden away for years.

Not only was I impressed by the detail of Rosemary's story, but I was also struck by the contrast in how we, as a society, view people with disabilities today, versus the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. I have always thought that the United States was fairly progressive in its thinking and treatment of people with disabilities, but this book showed me it is, in fact, the exact opposite.

If you enjoy reading about the Kennedy family in general, and want to learn more about Rosemary and what she experienced, specifically, this is a great read.



View all my reviews

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Review: The Beginning and End of Rape: Confronting Sexual Violence in Native America by Sarah Deer


Title: The Beginning and End of Rape: Confronting Sexual Violence in Native America
Author: Sarah Deer
Publisher: Univ Of Minnesota Press
Publication Date: November 1, 2015


The Beginning and End of Rape: Confronting Sexual Violence in Native AmericaThe Beginning and End of Rape: Confronting Sexual Violence in Native America by Sarah Deer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Beginning and End of Rape: Confronting Sexual Violence in Native America was such an emotional read for me. I live in a state with a Native population, and have spent some time in Native communities. But that not withstanding, I found the treatment of Native people described in this book appalling. Rape of women and molestation of children is shameful under any circumstances, but especially so when we make it that much more difficult for Native people in so many respects. I encourage everyone to read this eye-opening book. I am grateful to the author for focusing more attention on this problem, and also for offering constructive and workable suggestions for real solutions as well.

This book is extremely informative, well thought out and educational. Though it was difficult to read in terms of the subject matter, I am glad I did so. In my opinion, this work is another huge step forward in advocacy for change.

I received and Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this digital book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.



View all my reviews

Friday, October 23, 2015

Lynn's List (October 23, 2015)

Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!



  • Call the Nurse by Mary J. Macleod and Claire Macdonald of Macdonald
  • Lightning by Dean Koontz
  • Black Fridays by Michael Sears
  • The Ranger by Ace Atkins
  • The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler
  • Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
  • The Great Influenza by John M. Barry
  • Beyond Eden by Catherine Coulter
  • The Defense (Joseph Antonelli Book #1) by D. W. Buffa
  • The Prosecution, A Legal Thriller by D. W. Buffa
  • The Judgment (Joseph Antonelli #3) by D. W. Buffa
  • The Legacy (Joseph Antonelli #4) by D. W. Buffa
  • A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction by Stephen Fried and Patrick J. Kennedy
  • Naming Names by Victor S. Navasky
  • The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham
  • Rescue of the Bounty by Michael J. Tougias and Douglas A. Campbell
  • Susan Wiggs Lakeshore Chronicles Series Books 4-6 by Susan Wiggs
  • Never Surrender by John Kelly
  • Charlie Mike by Joe Klein
  • Incredible Victory by Walter Lord
  • Night Secrets by Thomas H. Cook
  • From Here to Eternity by James Jones
  • Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham
  • Seattle Justice by Christopher T. Bayley
  • Amish Christmas at North Star by Mindy Starns Clark, Cindy Woodsmall, Katie Ganshert, Amanda Flower, and Emily Clark
  • Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children Boxed Set by Ransom Riggs
  • The Kill Box by Nichole Christoff
  • Becoming Nicole by Amy Ellis Nutt
  • I Need a Hero by Codi Gary
  • The Life and Times of Mickey Rooney by William J. Birnes and Richard A. Lertzman
  • The Final Diagnosis by Arthur Hailey
  • The Evening News by Arthur Hailey
  • Strong Medicine by Arthur Hailey
  • The Distance from Me to You by Marina Gessner
  • Find a Way by Diana Nyad
  • Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Prof. Kate Clifford Larson
  • 2 A.M. at The Cat's Pajamas by Marie-Helene Bertino
  • His Way by Kitty Kelley
  • The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
  • The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke
  • Raquela by Ruth Gruber
  • Ties That Bind by Phillip Margolin
  • In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall
  • Edward Everett Hale: A Biography by Jean Holloway
  • Earth, Water, and Sky: A Naturalist's Stories and Sketches by Paul A. Johnsgard
  • Nowhere to Run by Nancy Bush
  • The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Monday, October 19, 2015

Review: The Cottage Next Door (The Beach House #3.5) by Georgia Bockoven

Title: The Cottage Next Door (The Beach House #3.5)

Author: Georgia Bockoven

ebook: 144 pages

Publisher: William Morrow Impulse

Publication Date: July 14, 2015

The Cottage Next Door (The Beach House, #3.5)The Cottage Next Door by Georgia Bockoven

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Diana Wagnor's life is in shambles when she agrees to take a job in California as an accountant for an art gallery. She needs a new start, and she has sworn off romantic involvements, at least for the present. What will she find in California?

This novella is replete with descriptions of beautiful ocean scenery. I almost felt like I was looking at the ocean as I read The Cottage Next Door (The Beach House #3.5) by Georgia Bockoven. Really enjoyed this novella, and will read more of the Beach House Series.




View all my reviews


Review: Hidden Like Anne Frank: 14 True Stories of Survival by Marcel Prins and Peter Henk Steenhuis

Title: Hidden Like Anne Frank: 14 True Stories of Survival
Author[s]: Marcel Prins and Peter Henk Steenhuis
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Publication Date: March 25th 2014


Hidden Like Anne Frank: 14 True Stories of SurvivalHidden Like Anne Frank: 14 True Stories of Survival by Marcel Prins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Many children and families went into hiding during WWII to escape the Nazis. This book tells the story of fourteen of these children from the Netherlands. Some were very young when they were separated from their families. And many were forced to move from place-to-place, often multiple times, to prevent being discovered.

It's difficult for me to imagine how horrific life was for these children and their parents who had to make a life or death decision. Though this book was very sad, it demonstrates the triumph of the human spirit of survival.





View all my reviews


Review: Sunset at Keyhole Canyon (Mustang Ridge, #0.5) by Jesse Hayworth


Title: Sunset at Keyhole Canyon (Mustang Ridge, #0.5)
Author: Jesse Hayworth
Kindle Edition, 76 pages
Publisher: Signet
Publication Date: May 7th 2013

Sunset at Keyhole Canyon (Mustang Ridge, #0.5)Sunset at Keyhole Canyon by Jesse Hayworth

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Romance, beautiful scenery and a week of total unreality is a package deal in
Sunset at Keyhole Canyon (Mustang Ridge, #0.5) by Jesse Hayworth. A good first date gone bad, Nina and Ben were both looking for a week of relaxation, but not together. Ben's sister, and Nina's friend, does a little rematch making. You'll have to read this novella to see if it works.




View all my reviews


Sunday, October 18, 2015

Review: The Right Thing to Do (Short Story) by Jonathan Kellerman

The Right Thing to Do (Short Story)The Right Thing to Do by Jonathan Kellerman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Malcolm Bluestone is a young man trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life--practice law because it can earn him a living, or follow his interest in psychology--conform to the norm, or be unconventional. He is visiting his movie actor brother, and trying to figure out what fits and what doesn't. Circumstances give him a nudge, and the result will likely change his life.

The Right Thing to Do (Short Story) by Jonathan Kellerman leads the reader into The Murderer's Daughter which is on my list of books to read.



View all my reviews

5:56 A.M. #readathon update

I finished reading Hidden Like Anne Frank by Laura Watkinson, Marcel Prins, and Peter Henk Steenhuis, my third read of the Readathon.

I am about to begin The Cottage Next Door by Georgia Bockoven, though I know I will not finish it before this Readathon ends. Happy reading!

1:22 A.M. #readathon Update

Nearly finished with Hidden Like Anne Frank by Laura Watkinson, Marcel Prins, and Peter Henk Steenhuis. Not sure if I'll be able to make the entire 24 hours this time. Just had some trail mix and a Coke! Maybe the caffeine will give me a recharge? Happy reading!

Saturday, October 17, 2015

10:30 P.M. #readathon Update

As of now, I am 47% finished with Hidden Like Anne Frank by Laura Watkinson, Marcel Prins, and Peter Henk Steenhuis. So far, I'm managing to stay awake and reading. Happy reading!

5:37 #readathon Update

I am 24% finished with Hidden Like Anne Frank by Laura Watkinson, Marcel Prins, and Peter Henk Steenhuis, my third read of the #readathon. This book tells the stories of children who went into hiding during WWII to escape being deported and/or killed by the Nazis! I read a lot about WWII, but it never ceases to amaze me how cruel war can be.

Had a Jimmy John's tuna sandwich for supper, so I'm ready to continue reading. Happy reading!

1:34 P.M. #readathon Update

Just finished reading Sunset At Keyhole Canyon: A Mustang Ridge Novella by Jesse Hayworth. There's something to be said for short stories and a romantic novella, but I'm ready to move on to a full-length book, Hidden Like Anne Frank by Laura Watkinson, Marcel Prins, and Peter Henk Steenhuis.

It's probably a good thing readathons only happen twice a year because I've already been into the popcorn and trail mix, both! Going to take a short break and then begin my third read. I'm also up for more kitty cuddling with MS. Liberty. She's a delightful companion, as always. Happy reading!

9:37 A.M. #readathon Update

I have finished reading my first Readathon selection, The Right Thing to Do (Short Story) by Jonathan Kellerman. Rating and review to come later.

Next on the reading list is Sunset At Keyhole Canyon: A Mustang Ridge Novella by Jesse Hayworth. Happy reading!



#readathon Ready to Go!

All ready to go here for the #readathon! I have three selections in the queue, kitty cat has been fed, I've had a bit of breakfast, and all with time to spare. It's going to be a beautiful day.

Only down side, if you could call it that, is that I have a rather nasty migraine. But I am undaunted and fortified with migraine meds.

First selection on tap is The Right Thing to Do (Short Story) by Jonathan Kellerman. Happy reading!

Friday, October 16, 2015

Tomorrow's Dewey's Read-a-thon

Tomorrow at 7:00 A.M. CDT begins my foray into this fall's Dewey's Read-a-thon. I will be posting here about what I'm reading. I will also be tweeting regularly, so if you're interested, please feel free to follow me @everydayreader1 on Twitter. Happy reading!

Lynn's List (October 16, 2015)

Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. This week, I have included titles by Bob Woodward I have not yet read.



  • Changing Everything by Molly Mcadams
  • Betrayal by The Investigative Staff of the Boston Globe
  • Slow Cooker Dump Dinners: 5-Ingredient Recipes for Meals That (Practically) Cook Themselves (Best Ever) by Jennifer Palmer
  • A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam by Neil Sheehan
  • Dead Wake by Erik Larson
  • If You Survive by George Wilson
  • The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Millard
  • The Path to Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson #1) by Robert A. Caro
  • NYPD Red 3 by James Patterson and Marshall Karp
  • Takeover by Charlie Savage
  • Unthinkable by Charles Kurzman
  • And the Sea Will Tell by Vincent Bugliosi
  • Easy Prey by John Sandford
  • Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick
  • Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts



Bob Woodward (books I have not yet read)
  • The Last of the President's Men
  • Obama's Wars
  • The Final Days
  • The Brethren
  • The War Within
  • The Choice
  • The Commanders
  • The Secret Man
  • Maestro

Friday, October 9, 2015

Lynn's List (October 9, 2015)

Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting.





  • A Chance in the World by Steve Pemberton
  • When Bubbles Burst by John P. Calverley
  • Last Explorer by Simon Nasht
  • Cary Grant by Geoffrey Wansell
  • Inside Terrorism by Bruce Hoffman
  • Alone Together by Sherry Turkle
  • Badge of Evil by Bill Stanton and Craig Horowitz
  • The Gluten Lie by Alan Levinovitz
  • Invisible Girl by Mariel Hemingway and Ben Greenman
  • Out Came the Sun by Mariel Hemingway and Ben Greenman
  • Portrait of Hemingway by Lillian Ross
  • Theodore Boone: The Accused by John Grisham
  • The Violets of March by Sarah Jio
  • Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult
  • Getting Away with Murder by Chris CroweUnjust Deeds by Jeffrey D. Gonda
  • Christian Reconstruction by Michael Joseph Mcvicar
  • The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
  • Final Appeal by Joanne Fluke
  • The Finest Hours by Casey Sherman and Michael J. Tougias
  • Unanswered Cries: A True Story of Friends, Neighbors, and Murder in a Small Town by Thomas French
  • Star Flight by Phyllis A. Whitney
  • The Legacy of Lancaster Series by Kate Lloyd

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Installing And Learning New Technology

I have been installing and learning new technology this week, so I apologize for the lack of updates here. Hope to be back on a regular schedule soon.

Friday, October 2, 2015

Review: Deliver Us From Evil: A Novel by Robin Caroll


Title: Deliver Us From Evil: A Novel
Author: Robin Caroll
Publisher: B&H Books
Publication Date: 01/15/2010

Deliver Us from Evil: A NovelDeliver Us from Evil: A Novel by Robin Caroll

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Deliver Us From Evil: A Novel by Robin Caroll is long on Christian values, adventure, and suspense. It is filled with action, all packed into a short period of time.

Brannon Callahan is a woman who has suffered much loss, and Roark Holland is also no stranger to tragedy. When they meet, there is an instant attraction. They are both committed to their careers. A blizzard brings them together, and their lives are intertwined as they work together to bring down a human trafficking ring.

Scripture quotations abound, and there is much to be said for the lessons of this book. I didn't feel compelled to give it a five star rating, however. At times, the action seemed too contrived and a bit unrealistic.



View all my reviews

Lynn's List (October 2, 2015)

Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting.


  • Above the Waterfall by Ron Rash
  • Ballroom by Alice Simpson
  • The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau
  • It by Stephen King
  • Shell: One Woman's Final Year After a Lifelong Struggle with Anorexia and Bulimia by Michelle Stewart
  • Dark Winter by John L. Casey
  • Francis: A Pope for Our Time by Luis Rosales and Daniel Olivera
  • Last Explorer by Simon Nasht
  • The Last Jews of Kerala by Edna Fernandes
  • Geronimo by Geronimo and S. M. Barrett
  • Witness by Whittaker Chambers
  • Reporting for Duty by Tracy Libby
  • The Up Stairs Lounge Arson: Thirty-two Deaths in a New Orleans Gay Bar, June 24, 1973 by Clayton Delery-Edwards
  • Snowflake Bay by Donna Kauffman
  • Double Down by Fern Michaels
  • The Christmas Cradle by Charlotte Hubbard


  • Titles by Ellery Queen
    • The Player on the Other Side
    • The King Is Dead
    • The Origin of Evil
    • The Campus
    • The Blue Movie Murders
    • The Black Hearts Murder
    • Why So Dead?
    • Who Spies, Who Kills?
    • Which Way to Die?
    • Where Is Bianca?


  • Deadly Lullaby by Robert Mcclure
  • A Place We Knew Well by Susan Carol Mccarthy
  • Smoke Jensen, The Beginning by William W. Johnstone and J. A. Johnstone
  • Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
  • Blessed are Those Who Mourn by Kristi Belcamino
  • Inside Job by Paul Muolo, Stephen Pizzo and Mary Fricker


  • Titles by Michael Cadnum
    • Heat
    • Zero at the Bone


  • Early One Morning by Virginia Baily
  • Flaming Tree by Phyllis A. Whitney
  • Summer of '49 by David Halberstam
  • The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy
  • Lightning by Dean Koontz
  • The Luminous Darkness by Howard Thurman
  • The Murder House by James Patterson and David Ellis
  • Kate: The Life of Katharine Hepburn by Charles Higham
  • Outpost by Christopher R. Hill
  • The Glory and the Dream by William Manchester
  • Cross Creek by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
  • Patriot Acts by Alia Malek
  • Voices from the Storm by Chris Yingand Lola Vollen
  • Wintergreen by David Guterson
  • Kaleidoscope by Danielle Steel
  • The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin
  • Lincoln and the Power of the Press by Harold Holzer
  • Where I Am by Billy Graham
  • Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few by Robert B. Reich
  • Unfinished Business by Anne-Marie Slaughter
  • Penelope Fitzgerald: A Life by Hermione Lee
  • Men of War by Alexander Rose
  • In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides
  • Showdown by Wil Haygood
  • Murder in Little Egypt by Darcy O'Brien
  • The Lost Hours by Karen White
  • No True Glory: Fallujah and the Struggle in Iraq by Bing West
  • Crossed Bones by Carolyn Haines