Review: Seven Tears for Apollo by Phyllis A. Whitney

Title: Seven Tears for Apollo
Author: Phyllis A. Whitney
Publisher: Ulverscroft
Publication Date: December 1, 1979
Edition: Hardcover, large print (448 pages)

Seven Tears for Apollo by Phyllis A. Whitney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Dorcas Brandt is attempting to recover from tragedy she has experienced, part of which landed her in a nursing home, for a time, because her husband convinced everyone of her mental instability. All she wants is to get her life back on track and take care of her four-year-old daughter. After some unnerving events, following her husband's death, she travels to Greece, but these occurrences also follow her, and it is up to her to decide whether to give in to self-doubt or solve the mystery of these events and move forward with her life.

I read this book as a young girl, and wanted to revisit it. Very much worth the reread. Phyllis A. Whitney will always remain a favorite of mine.

Review: The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn by Nathaniel Philbrick

Title: The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Author: Nathaniel Philbrick
Publisher: Viking
Publication Date: May 4, 2010
Edition: Hardcover (466 pages)

The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn by Nathaniel Philbrick

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn by Nathaniel Philbrick is an account of the battle that took place on June 25, 1876 between the United States Army and combined plains Native American tribes. What makes this book so enthralling is that the reader is able to experience, through the author's narrative, the events that lead up to the battle and the personalities of George Armstrong Custer, Chief Sitting Bull and others, as well as the iconic American West.

I wanted to read a book about this historical event around the time of the 140th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, but wanted to choose a title with a balanced perspective--one that did not glamorize or characterize it as a necessary undertaking by the "good" government vs. the "bad' Native American. This book did not disappoint. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in the subject.

This book also made me very sad that my government could treat Native People with such dishonor, discourtesy and attack without any real provocation. The author has written extensively about US government policies in place in the latter part of the 19th century and the circumstances in which the Native peoples found themselves that goes far beyond the history books one studies in their primary education years.

Lynn's List (June 24, 2016)

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

• Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women by Susan Faludi
• Going Over by Beth Kephart
• Who Killed My Daughter? by Lois Duncan
• Hidden Girl: The True Story of a Modern-Day Child Slave by Lisa Wysocky and Shyima Hall
• Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
• If You Hear Her (The Ash Trilogy, #1) by Shiloh Walker
• Qualified Immunity (Casey Cort series #1) by Sylvie Fox
• The Great Fire of Petersburg, Virginia by Tamara J. Eastman
• My Father and Atticus Finch: A Lawyer's Fight for Justice in 1930s Alabama by Joseph Madison Beck
• Safe With You by Sophie Lira
• Eden's Dream by Marcia King-Gamble
• Paradise Dreams by J. Hale Turner
• The Land by Mildred D. Taylor
• A Fatal Balancing Act: The Dilemma of the Reich Association of Jews in Germany, 1939-1945 by Beate Meyer
• My Last Continent: A Novel by Midge Raymond
• Eve of a Hundred Midnights: The Star-Crossed Love Story of Two WWII Correspondents and Their Epic Escape Across the Pacific by Bill Lascher
• The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O'Neal
• Jane Doe January: My Twenty-Year Search for Truth and Justice by Emily Winslow
• A Perfect Life: A Novel by Eileen Pollack
• Forgive Me by Daniel Palmer
• The Murderer's Daughter by Jonathan Kellerman
• The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire That Saved America by Timothy Egan
• Atlanta Ripper, The: The Unsolved Case of the Gate City's Most Infamous Murders by Jeffery Wells
• An Amish Match by Jo Ann Brown
• Her Soldier's Touch by J. M. Stewart
• Darkfall by Dean Koontz
• Catherine Coulter THE FBI THRILLERS COLLECTION Books 1-5 by Catherine Coulter
• New York Times Book of the Civil War 1861-1865: by Harold Holzer, President Bill Clinton and Craig Symonds
• Mother Of Pearl by Maureen Lee
• A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks
• Ryders Ridge by Charlotte Nash
• The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt by Eleanor Roosevelt
• Madeleine's War by Peter Watson
• I Saw a Man by Owen Sheers
• Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger

Review: The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine

Title: The Lions of Little Rock
Author: Kristin Levine
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 5, 2012
Edition: Hardcover (298 pages)

The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Marlee and Liz are both entering the 7th grade in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1958, following the mandated integration of Little Rock schools in 1957. Marlee is shy and rarely speaks, but she and Liz become best friends, and that friendship changes both their lives. To say more would give away too much, but after reading this book, the reason for its title, 'The Lions of Little Rock', will be evident.

This is a book I will never forget and am blessed to have read. In my opinion, it is historical fiction at its finest, to be appreciated and valued by young readers and adults, alike. This is a book that offers much more than historical fact, which often becomes no more than names and numbers on the page. The emotion, the struggles, and the community sentiment are vividly brought to life in a way that causes adults to remember and children to gain perspective through he author's telling of this story.

Review: The Girls: A Novel by Emma Cline

Title: The Girls: A Novel
Author: Emma Cline
Publisher: Random House
Publication Date: June 14, 2016
Edition: Hardcover (368 pages)

The Girls by Emma Cline

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Emma Cline, in this work of fiction, captures a young girl's dissatisfaction with her ordinary life as a fourteen-year-old in 1969--a time of great turmoil in America. The portrait she paints of Evie Boyd and Evie's fascination with a member of the real life Manson Family cult is dramatic and intensifies as Evie is drawn closer and closer into the web of violence.

I looked forward to this book with great anticipation, but found myself relieved when I finished reading it. It may be less traumatic for readers who do not remember the Manson murders and the aftermath, especially the trial. I appreciate the expression Ms. Cline put into words, and the portrayal of the times, but, as I read this book, I found myself revisiting many of the emotions I felt in August of 1969 and for many months thereafter. This is not a book for anyone who is uncomfortable with the reality of depravity, though that is not the sole focus of the book.

Lynn's List (June 17, 2016)

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

• The New York City Triangle Factory Fire by Leigh Benin, Rob Linne, and Adrienne Sosin
• Tragedy at the Triangle: Friendship in the Tenements and the Shirtwaist Factory Fire by Mary Kate Doman
• Poisoned Dreams: A True Story of Murder, Money, and Family Secrets by A. W. Gray and Jim Manchester
• Killings by A. W. Gray
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• The Girls: A Novel by Emma Cline
• Douglas MacArthur: American Warrior by Arthur Herman
• Under the Harrow: A Novel by Flynn Berry
• Love Wins: The Lovers and Lawyers Who Fought the Landmark Case for Marriage Equality by Jim Obergefell and Debbie Cenziper
• If You Can Keep It: The Forgotten Promise of American Liberty by Eric Metaxas
• Sons and Daughters of Ease and Plenty by Ramona Ausubel
• Into the Lion's Mouth: The True Story of Dusko Popov: World War II Spy, Patriot, and the Real-Life Inspiration for James Bond by Larry Loftis
• Killer Charm: And Other True Cases by Linda Fairstein
• The Woman in the Photo: A Novel by Mary Hogan
• A Hold on Me by Pat Esden
• Anger by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Breaking the Bonds of Fear by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Gaining a Hopeful Spirit by Joni Eareckson Tada
• God's Hand in Our Hardship by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Making Sense of Suffering by Joni Eareckson Tada
• No Longer Alone by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Speaking God's Language by Joni Eareckson Tada
• When God Seems Unjust by Joni Eareckson Tada
• When is it Right to Die? by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Where's My Miracle? by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Revenge by Lisa Jackson
• That Darkness by Lisa Black
• Vulnerable by Mary Burton
• Forgive Me by Daniel Palmer
• Where I Lost Her by T. Greenwood
• Brother's Keeper hby Elizabeth Finn
• Murder at Rocky Point Park: Tragedy in Rhode Island's Summer Paradise by Kelly Sullivan Pezza
• Death on the Devil's Teeth: The Strange Murder That Shocked Suburban New Jersey by Mark Moran and Jesse P. Pollack
• Duel with the Devil by Paul Collins
• The Fireman: A Novel by Joe Hill

Review: The Last Time She Saw Him (Julia Gooden Mystery #1) by Jane Haseldine

Title: The Last Time She Saw Him (Julia Gooden Mystery #1)
Author: Jane Haseldine
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication Date: June 28, 2016
Edition: Hardcover (368 pages)

The Last Time She Saw Him by Jane Haseldine

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In her debut novel, Jane Haseldine creates a winner, in my opinion. Julia Gooden was seven-years-old when her brother disappeared, and the case has not been solved. Thirty years later, she is married with two children and journalism is her profession. But solving her brother's disappearance is always in the background--never far from her conscious mind.

Then, her house is broken into, and her youngest son is taken. Circumstances are somewhat similar to her brother's case. Are they related? Is there an actual connection going back thirty years?

The writing and character development is superb, not to mention the pace of the story, as well as the many twists and turns it takes. I'll be looking forward to more of this Series.

I received an advance reader's copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Title: The Red Tent
Author: Anita Diamant
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: November 1, 2005
Edition: Hardcover (336 pages)

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Anita Diamant tells the story of Dinah, Jacob's daughter--from her life as a little girl to her life as a midwife and woman in a foreign land. It combines what we know of Dinah from the Bible with great story telling.

This book was an interesting read, not only because of the tapestry of the story, itself, but also because of the culture and customs of the day. Life was not easy then, filled with superstition, hard work, and often abuse of women. Such sadness, yet, as the story is told, Dinah over came her circumstances and triumphed.

Review: Guns, Democracy, and the Insurrectionist Idea by Joshua Horwitz and Casey Anderson

Title: Guns, Democracy, and the Insurrectionist Idea
Authors: Joshua Horwitz and Casey Anderson
Publisher: University of Michigan Press
Publication Date: April 29, 2009
Edition: Paperback (296 pages)

Guns, Democracy, and the Insurrectionist Idea by Joshua Horwitz

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I read 'Guns, Democracy, and the Insurrectionist Idea' in response to the gun violence that occurred in Orlando, Florida, over the weekend. Fifty people were murdered. And I wanted to try and understand more about why we, as a culture, seem to love our guns more than life, it appears. I thought Joshua Horwitz's and Casey Anderson's book could assist me in this effort. It succeeded beyond my expectations.

I recommend it to anyone who is concerned about the ever increasing instances of gun violence and mass murder in the United States and how it relates to the Second Amendment, the NRA and our democracy. If I could, I would mandate it as required reading in high school and college studies.

Review: The New York City Triangle Factory Fire by Joel Sosinsky, Adrienne Sosin, Rob Linné, and Leigh Benin

Title: The New York City Triangle Factory Fire
Authors: Joel Sosinsky, Adrienne Sosin, Rob Linné, and Leigh Benin
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Publication Date: February 28, 2011
Edition: Paperback (127 pages)

The New York City Triangle Factory Fire by Leigh Benin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


On March 25, 1911, 146 people were killed in the Triangle Factory fire in New York City when fire broke out on the 8th floor of the building in which the factory was located. It quickly spread to the 9th and 10th floors also. People jumped from windows or were burned to death because of inadequate safety and escape mechanisms.

I remember learning of this tragedy as a young girl in history class, and my dad, a young boy at the time, told me how he read about it in the newspapers of the day. I am so pleased that books such as this chronicle the tragic events so we will never forget.

Review:The Other Side of Suffering by John Ramsey and Marie Chapian

Title: The Other Side of Suffering
Authors: John Ramsey and Marie Chapian
Publisher: FaithWords
Publication Date: March 14, 2012
Edition: Hardcover (272 pages)

The Other Side of Suffering: The Father of JonBenet Ramsey Tells the Story of His Journey from Grief to Grace by John Ramsey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


John Ramsey tells his faith journey from childhood to the loss of his daughters, Beth--in a car accident, and JonBenét--murdered in their home on Christmas night, 1996, and then the loss of his wife, Patsy to cancer in 2006. Some people would have turned away from God out of anger, but Mr. Ramsey did not do that. He made a choice to become intimate with God and to fellowship with God. This book is that story.

As I read this book, I cried and praised God, both! It was an honor to read because of its personal nature. I recommend it to anyone who has experienced great loss, is struggling with grief or un forgiveness, or anyone who wants to experience faith in action. No matter why you choose to read it, I can promise you will be blessed.

Review: The Punishments by JB Winsor

Title: The Punishments
Author: JB Winsor
Publisher: Boulder Digital Publishing, LLC
Publication Date: May 23, 2016
Edition: Kindle (276 pages)

The Punishments by JB Winsor

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Punishments is the story of what happens in the United States of America and one families response after Christian fundamentalists impose biblical Old Testament law and punish anyone with differing beliefs or anyone who opposes them, in any way. What is so striking to me about this book is that the plot presented is not that far fetched if our democracy and freedom of choice continue to be further undermined.

A few brave souls are all that stand between good and evil and destruction of America in this heart-pounding very true-to-life drama. A truly chilling tale that set off alarm bells that were not already ringing for me. I recommend this book to anyone who cares about the future of this country and the freedom of religion and individual thought and action.

I received an advance readers copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Lynn's List (June 10, 2016)

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

• Living My Life, Vol. 1 by Emma Goldman
• Plaster and Poison by Jennie Bentley
• The Money Changers by Upton Sinclair
• A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter
• Summer on the Cape by J. M. Bronston
• Three Great African-American Novels: The Heroic Slave, Clotel and Our Nig by Frederick Douglass, William Wells Brown and Harriet E. Wilson
• A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft
• Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross
• Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
• Cold Case Witness by Sarah Varland
• My Ántonia by Willa Cather
• Twenty Years at Hull-House: With Autobiographical Notes by Jane Addams and Norah Hamilton
• Double Life by Linda Wolfe
• Love Me to Death by Linda Wolfe
• Wasted by Linda Wolfe
• The Murder of Dr. Chapman by Linda Wolfe
• The Professor and the Prostitute by Linda Wolfe
• Sally Ride: America's First Woman in Space by Lynn Sherr
• Lindbergh: A Biography by Leonard Mosley
• Before This Decade Is Out by Paul Dickson and Glen Swanson
• The Absence of Mercy by John Burley
• I'd Know You Anywhere: A Novel by Laura Lippman
• What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman
• Dream a Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
• Muhammad Ali: A Tribute to the Greatest by Thomas Hauser
• Trapped Under the Sea by Neil Swidey

Review: Medical Judgment by Richard L. Mabry

Title: Medical Judgment
Author: Richard L. Mabry
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Publication Date: May 17, 2016
Edition: Hardcover (304 pages)

Medical Judgment by Richard L. Mabry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dr. Sarah Gordon has seen her share of tragedy as an ER doctor, but she is recovering from a personal tragedy that took the life of her husband and baby daughter--and now, someone is stalking her. She doesn't know who the person is, and she doesn't know why anyone would do this. Not only that, but she is confused about God--why would he take her husband and daughter?

Medical Judgment is an interesting story that kept me wanting to read it through to see not only the outcome of the stalking, but also Sarah's personal resolution of her faith and whether she can move on with her life.

Review: Deadly Hunt (Strong Women, Extraordinary Situations #1) by Margaret Daley

Title: Deadly Hunt (Strong Women, Extraordinary Situations #1)
Author: Margaret Daley
Publisher: Amazon Kindle
Publication date: March 28, 2014
Edition: Kindle (84 pages)

Deadly Hunt by Margaret Daley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Tess Miller is on vacation, at her uncle's isolated cabin, seeking a respite from her stressful and challenging job as a bodyguard, when a handsome stranger stumbles into her arms and into her life. They feel an immediate bond, though Tess would prefer not to. Can she believe what he tells her? Is someone trying to kill him? And, why?

More great romantic suspense from Margaret Daley, one of my favorite authors, the first in a Series called Strong Women, Extraordinary Situations.

Review: The Fortune by Michael Korda

Title: The Fortune
Author: Michael Korda
Publisher: Summit Books
Publication Date: February 28, 1989
Edition: Hardcover: (481 pages)

The Fortune by Michael Korda

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Alexa Walden is a young woman who has come to New York and is working at making a life for herself. She meets Arthur Bannerman, a very wealthy older man, and her life will never be the same.

I first read this book not long after its initial publication. It has stayed with me all these years, and I decided to reread it. The romance and intrigue were every bit as enjoyable the second time around; and the quality of the writing is superb, in my opinion.

Lynn's List (June 3, 2016)

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

• The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
• The Shack by William P. Young
• Black Thunder by Arna Bontemps and Arnold Rampersad
• Mother Teresa: An Authorized Biography by Kathryn Spink
• Cold Dawn by Carla Neggers
• The Provider by David Shobin
• Women of Valor by Ellen Hampton
• Never Say Goodbye by Irene Hannon
• Ghost Road Blues by Jonathan Maberry
• Anatomy of Malice: The Enigma of the Nazi War Criminals by Joel E. Dimsdale
• Finding Lina by Helena Hjalmarsson
• Still Alive by Lore Segal and Ruth Kluger
• Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave
• From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime: The Making of Mass Incarceration in America by Elizabeth Hinton
• The Money Cult: Capitalism, Christianity, and the Unmaking of the American Dream by Chris Lehmann
• Hot Flash by Carrie H. Johnson
• Into the Whirlwind by Kat Martin
• A Simple Vow by Charlotte Hubbard
• The Island House: A Novel by Nancy Thayer
• Becoming Nicole by Amy Ellis Nutt
• Rumors: The McCaffertys by Lisa Jackson
• Change of Heart by T. J. Kline
• Brenda Novak Stillwater Suspense Complete Collection: Dead Silence\Dead Giveaway\Dead Right by Brenda Novak
• Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige, and Me by Dan Koon and Ron Miscavige
• City of the Lost: A Thriller by Kelley Armstrong
• The Prisoner of Hell Gate: A Novel by Dana I. Wolff
• True Crime Addict: How I Lost Myself in the Mysterious Disappearance of Maura Murray by James Renner
• Summer at Skylark Farm by Heidi Swain
• The Kerner Report by Julian E. Zelizer and The National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders
• The Queen of Katwe: A Story of Life, Chess, and One Extraordinary Girl's Dream of Becoming a Grandmaster by Tim Crothers
• Nora Roberts Chesapeake Bay Saga 1-4 by Nora Roberts
• The Mathews Men: Seven Brothers and the War Against Hitler's U-boats by William Geroux
• Almost Heaven by Jillian Hart
• Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
• All Over but the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg
• The Punishments by JB Winsor
• Kaleidoscope by Danielle Steel
• Sleepless in Manhattan by Sarah Morgan
• The Amish Midwife's Courtship by Cheryl Williford
• Against the Odds by Laura Drake
• The Ambassador's Wife by Jennifer Steil
• American Pharaoh by Elizabeth Taylor and Adam Cohen
• False Accusations by Alan Jacobson

Review: The Gilded Hour by Sara Donati

Title: The Gilded Hour
Author: Sara Donati
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: September 1, 2015
Edition: Hardcover (732 pages)

The Gilded Hour by Sara Donati

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Doctors Anna and Sophie Savard, both graduates of the Women's Medical School in New York City, are about to have their lives changed by their love interests, targeting by the anti-vice crusader, Anthony Comstock, and their involvement with four orphaned children. Though this is a fictional account, it is based on historical fact, and gives the reader an up close and personal view of the culture in America and New York City concerning the treatment of women, the poor, disabled, orphaned and/or homeless children and people of color in the 1880s.

I love the character development in this book, the detailed depiction of life--from the everyday to the practice of medicine--and the culture of the day. Anna and Sophie are strong and caring women who are not afraid to do what they believe is right, and they do this with respect, yet with compassion and authority.

This book made me angry about the treatment of women, the poor and the disabled, as well as the entitlement many with money seemed to feel. Those prejudices are still with us, sad to say. This is a book I will reread, and I plan to continue with more of the author's 'Wilderness' Series, also.