- Love So Deep by Kathleen Ball
- One Year After (After, #2) by William R. Forstchen
- The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
- Livia Lone (Livia Lone #1) by Barry Eisler
- DAMAGED (The Kate Lange Thriller Series Book 1) by Pamela Callow
- Unabomber: The Secret Life of Ted Kaczynski by Dave Shors and Chris Waits
- While My Eyes Were Closed by Linda Green
- Every Dead Thing (Charlie Parker #1) by John Connolly
- The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own by Joshua Becker
- The Blood of Emmett Till by Timothy B. Tyson
- The 100 Thing Challenge: How I Got Rid of Almost Everything, Remade My Life, and Regained My Soul by Dave Bruno
- Natchez Burning (Penn Cage #4) by Greg Iles
- Right Behind You (Quincy & Rainie #7) by Lisa Gardner
- Truman by David Mccullough
- The Quiet Game (Penn Cage #1) byGreg Iles
- The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin
- The Girl Before: A Novel by Jp Delaney
- The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel
- Duplicity (Julia Gooden Mystery, #2) by Jane Haseldine
- The Danger by Dick Francis
- A Woman of Substance (Harte Family Saga Book 1 ) by Barbara Taylor Bradford (reread)
- Exodus by Leon Uris
- Turning Angel (Penn Cage #2) by Greg Isles
- Lake News (Blake Sisters #1) by Barbara Delinsky (reread)
- The Girl Who Was Taken by Charlie Donlea
- The Gentle Giant of Dynamite Hill: The Untold Story of Arthur Shores and His Family’s Fight for Civil Rights by Helen Shores Lee, Denise George, and Barbara Sylvia Shores
- His Way: An Unauthorized Biography Of Frank Sinatra by Kitty Kelley
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
- Frasier Island (Frasier Island Series #1) by Susan Page Davis (reread)
- 30.Baby Doll by Hollie Overton
- A Cup Half Full: An Amish Home Novella by Beth Wiseman
- Home Sweet Home: An Amish Home Novella by Amy Clipston
- A Flicker of Hope: An Amish Home Novella by Ruth Reid
- Building Faith by Kathleen Fuller
- The Underground Railroad: A Novel by Colson Whitehead
- Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf
- Vienna Prelude (Zion Covenant #1) by Bodie Thoene and Brock Thoene
- Her Secret (The Amish of Hart County #1) by Shelley Shepard Gray
- Say Nothing: A Novel by Brad Parks
- Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson
- Danger in the Shadows (O'Malley #0.5) by Dee Henderson
- The Negotiator (O'Malley Family Series, #1) by Dee Henderson
- The Guardian (O'Malley #2) by Dee Henderson
- Gold in the Fire (The Ladies of Sweetwater Lake #1) by Margaret Daley
- Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine
- The Hidden Target (Robert Renwick #2) by Helen Macinnes (reread)
- Death in the Off-Season (A Merry Folger Nantucket Mystery #1) by Francine Mathews
- Come Sundown by Nora Roberts
- Cloak of Darkness (Robert Renwick #3) by Helen Macinnes (reread)
- Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
- Never Never (Detective Harriet Blue, #1) by James Patterson and Candice Fox
- Dare to Remember by Susanna Beard
- Jane Addams Pioneer of Social Justice by Cornelia Meigs
- Valley of the Dolls (Fiftieth Anniversary Edition, 2016) by Jacqueline Susann (reread)
- Malice by Danielle Steel (reread)
- Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson (reread)
- The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond
- Hope Blooms by Jamie Pope
- Going Home (The Survivalist, #1) by A. American
- The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman
- Last Light (Restoration #1) by Terri Blackstock)
- Six Years in the Hanoi Hilton: An Extraordinary Story of Courage and Survival in Vietnam by Amy Shively Hawk
- Night Light (Restoration #2) by Terri Blackstock
- Stormchasers: The Hurricane Hunters and Their Fateful Flight into Hurricane Janet by David Toomey
- Every Last Lie by Mary Kubica
- Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
- What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton
- A Darker Place by Laurie R. King
- The Godfather by Mario Puzo (reread)
- The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash
- Fade to Black by Amanda Stevens
- The Bay at Midnight by Diane Chamberlain
- The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti
- The Lies We Believe: A Suspense Novel by T.K. Chapin
- The Cuban Missile Crisis: A Concise History (Second Edition) by Don Munton and David A. Welch
- Christy by Catherine Marshall
- Big Girls Don't Cry (Dundee, Idaho, #6) by Brenda Novak
- Sister Sister by Sue Fortin
- The Game You Played by Anni Taylor
- The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain
- Sophie's Heart by Lori Wick (reread)
- The Death of a President: November 20-November 25, 1963 by William Manchester
- Pretense by Lori Wick (reread)
- Night Passage (Jesse Stone #1) by Robert B. Parker
- Her Christmas Protector by Terri Reed
- Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark (reread)
- Window on the Square by Phyllis A. Whitney
- Pearl Harbor: FDR Leads the Nation Into War by Steven M. Gillon
- Trouble in Paradise (Jesse Stone #2) by Robert B. Parker
- The Kennedy Assassination--24 Hours After: Lyndon B. Johnson's Pivotal First Day as President by Steven M. Gillon
- An Irish Christmas by Melody Carlson
- The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter
- Great Chicago Fire, The (Images of America) by John Boda and Ray Johnson
Sunday, December 31, 2017
My Reads of 2017
Friday, December 29, 2017
Lynn's List (December 29, 2017)
Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading! Wishing each one of you a happy and blessed 2018!
- The Heart Has Its Reasons by Maria Duenas
- The Summer of Good Intentions by Wendy Francis
- Beneath the Abbey Wall by A. D. Scott
- The Girl on the Cliff: A Novel by Lucinda Riley
- The Old Maid by Edith Wharton
- The Unwanted by Shiloh Walker
- Jesse's Girl by Shiloh Walker
- The People's Victory: Stories from the Front Lines in the Fight for Marriage Equality by David Thompson and (others)
- The Great Chicago Fire by John Boda and Ray Johnson
- The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
- Little Girl Lost (DI Robyn Carter, #1) by Carol E. Wyer
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Review: Great Chicago Fire, The (Images of America) by John Boda and Ray Johnson
Title: Great Chicago Fire, The (Images of America)
Authors: John Boda and Ray Johnson
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Publication Date: October 2, 2017
Edition: Kindle Edition (131 pages)
Genres:
Great Chicago Fire, The by John Boda
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On Sunday evening, October 8, 1871, what is known as "the great Chicago fire began. Before it was over, two days later, it literally melted buildings made of brick and stone; burned buildings made of wood; and turned sand, along the lake shore, into glass. 18,000 buildings were destroyed. Approximately 100,000 people were homeless. At least 300 deaths resulted from the fire.
At this same time, more communities were being destroyed by fire, though I wasn't aware of that fact until I read this book. Communities on the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and Peshtigo, Wisconsin, also experienced catastrophic fires. The authors detail the various theories as to how these multiple events came to take place on the same days.
The authors chronicle "the great Chicago fire" in both images and words. Though the main focus is images, the image descriptions serve as an excellent narrative. There is much information here about the history of Chicago, the fire, the rebuilding after the fire, and what has happened to many of these buildings.
Authors: John Boda and Ray Johnson
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Publication Date: October 2, 2017
Edition: Kindle Edition (131 pages)
Genres:
- Nonfiction
- Chicago History
- United States History
Great Chicago Fire, The by John BodaMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
On Sunday evening, October 8, 1871, what is known as "the great Chicago fire began. Before it was over, two days later, it literally melted buildings made of brick and stone; burned buildings made of wood; and turned sand, along the lake shore, into glass. 18,000 buildings were destroyed. Approximately 100,000 people were homeless. At least 300 deaths resulted from the fire.
At this same time, more communities were being destroyed by fire, though I wasn't aware of that fact until I read this book. Communities on the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and Peshtigo, Wisconsin, also experienced catastrophic fires. The authors detail the various theories as to how these multiple events came to take place on the same days.
The authors chronicle "the great Chicago fire" in both images and words. Though the main focus is images, the image descriptions serve as an excellent narrative. There is much information here about the history of Chicago, the fire, the rebuilding after the fire, and what has happened to many of these buildings.
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Review: The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter
Title: The Good Daughter
Author: Karin Slaughter
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: August 8, 2017
Edition: ebook: (528 pages)
Genres:
The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Charlotte and Samantha Quinn witnessed the death of their mother and then were forced, at gun point, to walk into the woods. As you might expect, the experience forever altered their lives and the lives of those in their small Georgia community. Years later, Charlotte just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and witnessed another violent act at gun point. That event also changed her life and the lives of others. I can't say much more about the actual plot without giving too much away.
This book is absolutely phenomenal in every way. It grabs you from the outset, and the characters find purchase inside your head and heart, immediately. I could not stop reading. I felt connected to these girls and the women they became. Every character had something to teach me, and every character evoked a deep emotional response. In my view, there is no superficiality anywhere in these pages. This is a remarkable read in every way. My second favorite read of the year.
If some profanity and violence bothers you, this is not the book for you. It is crime fiction, and the author does not shy away from descriptive details. But if you're looking for a book that will leave you wanting to know more about these characters, this is a book for you. And I cannot forget about the suspense element. There is that too, in spades. Excellent on every level.
Author: Karin Slaughter
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: August 8, 2017
Edition: ebook: (528 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Crime Fiction
- Mystery
- Suspense
- Thriller
The Good Daughter by Karin SlaughterMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Charlotte and Samantha Quinn witnessed the death of their mother and then were forced, at gun point, to walk into the woods. As you might expect, the experience forever altered their lives and the lives of those in their small Georgia community. Years later, Charlotte just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and witnessed another violent act at gun point. That event also changed her life and the lives of others. I can't say much more about the actual plot without giving too much away.
This book is absolutely phenomenal in every way. It grabs you from the outset, and the characters find purchase inside your head and heart, immediately. I could not stop reading. I felt connected to these girls and the women they became. Every character had something to teach me, and every character evoked a deep emotional response. In my view, there is no superficiality anywhere in these pages. This is a remarkable read in every way. My second favorite read of the year.
If some profanity and violence bothers you, this is not the book for you. It is crime fiction, and the author does not shy away from descriptive details. But if you're looking for a book that will leave you wanting to know more about these characters, this is a book for you. And I cannot forget about the suspense element. There is that too, in spades. Excellent on every level.
Sunday, December 24, 2017
Review: An Irish Christmas by Melody Carlson
Title: An Irish Christmas
Author: Melody Carlson
Publisher: Revell
Publication Date: September 1, 2007
Edition: Kindle (193 pages)
Genres:
An Irish Christmas by Melody Carlson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Colleen and her adult son, Jamie, both have secrets they are uncomfortable sharing with one another. They are both dealing with the loss of a loved one. And for different reasons, they are both at loose ends. Colleen decides they should go to Ireland for Christmas, and she plans to reveal her secret to Jamie there. Jamie is not keen on the idea, but decides to acquiesce. What happens in Ireland will change both their lives forever.
If you like simple Christian romance, this book is for you. It's well written, and the characters are believable. However, as I quite often do with Christian romance books, I didn't find this one particularly enthralling. The subject of the book is deep, but the characters didn't seem filled with emotion on a deep level.
Author: Melody Carlson
Publisher: Revell
Publication Date: September 1, 2007
Edition: Kindle (193 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Christian Fiction
An Irish Christmas by Melody CarlsonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Colleen and her adult son, Jamie, both have secrets they are uncomfortable sharing with one another. They are both dealing with the loss of a loved one. And for different reasons, they are both at loose ends. Colleen decides they should go to Ireland for Christmas, and she plans to reveal her secret to Jamie there. Jamie is not keen on the idea, but decides to acquiesce. What happens in Ireland will change both their lives forever.
If you like simple Christian romance, this book is for you. It's well written, and the characters are believable. However, as I quite often do with Christian romance books, I didn't find this one particularly enthralling. The subject of the book is deep, but the characters didn't seem filled with emotion on a deep level.
Review: The Kennedy Assassination--24 Hours After: Lyndon B. Johnson's Pivotal First Day as President by Steven M. Gillon
Title: The Kennedy Assassination--24 Hours After: Lyndon B. Johnson's Pivotal First Day as President
Author: Steven M. Gillon
Publisher: Basic Books
Publication Date: October 6, 2009
Edition: Hardcover (320 pages)
Genres:
The Kennedy Assassination--24 Hours After: Lyndon B. Johnson's Pivotal First Day as President by Steven M. Gillon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Historian, Steven M. Gillon, chronicles the tragic events of November 22, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, and Lyndon B. Johnson's response as he suddenly and unexpectedly becomes President of the United States. The book also explores, in detail, the political drama surrounding President Kennedy's visit to Texas, the Johnson/Kennedy relationship, and the relationships and loyalties of the aids and those closest to both President Kennedy and Vice President Johnson.
The detail is amazing. The author offers a more complete picture of President Johnson, the man. When I think about President Kennedy's assassination, my usual focus is on him and the Kennedy family. I tend to think less about what Vice President Johnson's life as Vice President, and what he had to grapple with when, in the blink of an eye, he became President of the United States. I appreciated seeing the personal side of President Johnson a great deal. Not perfect, of course, but nothing like he is often portrayed either. I intend to read more of this author's material, as I like his writing style and presentation.
Author: Steven M. Gillon
Publisher: Basic Books
Publication Date: October 6, 2009
Edition: Hardcover (320 pages)
Genres:
- Nonfiction
- American History
- History
- Politics
The Kennedy Assassination--24 Hours After: Lyndon B. Johnson's Pivotal First Day as President by Steven M. GillonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Historian, Steven M. Gillon, chronicles the tragic events of November 22, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, and Lyndon B. Johnson's response as he suddenly and unexpectedly becomes President of the United States. The book also explores, in detail, the political drama surrounding President Kennedy's visit to Texas, the Johnson/Kennedy relationship, and the relationships and loyalties of the aids and those closest to both President Kennedy and Vice President Johnson.
The detail is amazing. The author offers a more complete picture of President Johnson, the man. When I think about President Kennedy's assassination, my usual focus is on him and the Kennedy family. I tend to think less about what Vice President Johnson's life as Vice President, and what he had to grapple with when, in the blink of an eye, he became President of the United States. I appreciated seeing the personal side of President Johnson a great deal. Not perfect, of course, but nothing like he is often portrayed either. I intend to read more of this author's material, as I like his writing style and presentation.
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Review: Trouble In Paradise (Jesse Stone, #2) by Robert B. Parker
Title: Trouble In Paradise (Jesse Stone, #2)
Author: Robert B. Parker
Publisher: Berkley Books
Publication Date: October 1, 1999 (first published 1998)
Edition: ebook (320 pages)
Genres:
Trouble In Paradise by Robert B. Parker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Jesse Stone, small town police chief, is back to match wits with James Macklin, a criminal who kills as easily as most people breathe. Jesse is also still struggling with ongoing relationship problems with his ex-wife and other love interests in his rather complicated and unconventional life.
What draws me back to this Series is Jesse Stone. He's a tough guy. He's smart. He gets the job done. But he's really a softy at heart. Mostly, I think I like him so much because he's human and flawed.
James Macklin has a few of the same qualities as Jesse Stone. He's smart. He's tough. He's convinced he loves his girlfriend, but, in truth, I believe he loves no one except himself. When the two come together, it makes for a most interesting read.
Author: Robert B. Parker
Publisher: Berkley Books
Publication Date: October 1, 1999 (first published 1998)
Edition: ebook (320 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Crime Fiction
- Detective
- Mystery
Trouble In Paradise by Robert B. ParkerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Jesse Stone, small town police chief, is back to match wits with James Macklin, a criminal who kills as easily as most people breathe. Jesse is also still struggling with ongoing relationship problems with his ex-wife and other love interests in his rather complicated and unconventional life.
What draws me back to this Series is Jesse Stone. He's a tough guy. He's smart. He gets the job done. But he's really a softy at heart. Mostly, I think I like him so much because he's human and flawed.
James Macklin has a few of the same qualities as Jesse Stone. He's smart. He's tough. He's convinced he loves his girlfriend, but, in truth, I believe he loves no one except himself. When the two come together, it makes for a most interesting read.
Friday, December 22, 2017
Lynn's List (December 22, 2017)
Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!
Kindle books (US Kindle store)
- The Radius of Us: A Novel by Marie Marquardt
- One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline
- A Narrative of Ethan Allen's Captivity: Containing His Voyages and Travels by Ethan Allen, John Pell and Will Crawford
- The Girl in Times Square: A Novel by Paullina Simons
- Declutter Your Life: How Outer Order Leads to Inner Calm by Gill Hasson
- George Washington: A Life by Woodrow Wilson
- The Beautiful Lost by Luanne Rice
- The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains by Owen Wister
- The Marriage Lie: A bestselling psychological thriller by Kimberly Belle
- The Story of the Amistad by Emma Gelders Sterne
Kindle books (US Kindle store)
- Look to the East (The Great War Book 1) by Maureen Lang
- My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas: Priscilla's Reveille by Erica Vetsch
- Christmas Wish Box Set by Morris Fenris
- A Kiss of Adventure (Treasures of the Heart Book 1) by Catherine Palmer
- A Gift Forever by Diane Craver
- Say Goodbye to Regret: Discovering the Secret to a Blessed Life by Bob Santos, Crystal Min
- A Winter's Hope: A Christmas Romance by Kristen M. Fraser
- A Wedding for the Widower (Brush Creek Brides Book 1) by Liz Isaacson
- The Forever Stone (The Dumont Chronicles Book 1) by Gloria Repp
- Deep Focus (The Dumont Chronicles Book 2) by Gloria Repp
- A Burning In The Darkness by A P McGrath
- Pretty Girls Dancing by Kylie Brant
- The Good Samaritan by John Marrs
- Memory Man (Memory Man series Book 1) by David Baldacci
- Pretense by Lori Wick
- The Come to Me Complete Collection by Leah Atwood
- The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries: Whose Body?, Clouds of Witness, and Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers
- A Patchwork Family (Angels of Mercy Book 1) by Charlotte Hubbard
- Journey to Love (Angels of Mercy Book 2) by Charlotte Hubbard
- Angel's Embrace (Angels of Mercy Book 3) by Charlotte Hubbard
Friday, December 15, 2017
Lynn's List (December 15, 2017)
Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!
- Mirror, Mirror: A Novel by Cara Delevingne
- Death Sentence: The Inside Story of the John List Murders by Joe Sharkey
- Deadly Greed: The Riveting True Story of the Stuart Murder Case, Which Rocked Boston and Shocked the Nation by Joe Sharkey
- Ilsa: A Novel by Madeleine L'Engle
- The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard
- An Ordinary Woman by Cecelia Holland
- Loss of Eden by Joyce Milton
- Necessary Changes by Mary K Mccomas
- The Price of Inequality: How Today's Divided Society Endangers Our Future by Joseph E. Stiglitz
- The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
- The Story of the Titanic As Told by Its Survivors by Jack Winocour
- Geronimo: My Life by Geronimo and S. M. Barrett
- The Mafia's President: Nixon and the Mob by Don Fulsom
- The Meaning of Michelle: 16 Writers on the Iconic First Lady and How Her Journey Inspires Our Own by Veronica Chambers
- Twenty Years at Hull-House: With Autobiographical Notes by Jane Addams and Norah Hamilton
- The Underground Railroad from Slavery to Freedom: A Comprehensive History by Wilbur H. Siebert
- The Truth Beneath the Lies by Amanda Searcy
- The Pentagon Papers: Making History at the Washington Post by Katharine Graham
- The Last 100 Days: FDR at War and at Peace by David B. Woolner
- Moral Combat: How Sex Divided American Christians and Fractured American Politics by R. Marie Griffith
- The Only Girl in the World: A Memoir by Maude Julien
- Vanished: A Novel by Mary McGarry Morris
- The Second Winter by Craig Larsen
- Keeping the House: A Novel by Ellen Baker
- What the Dead Leave Behind by Rosemary Simpson
- Dead in the Water by Annelise Ryan
- Below by Ryan Lockwood
- In the Midst of Winter: A Novel by Isabel Allende
- Duplicity by Jane Haseldine
- Second Street Station by Lawrence H. Levy
- Separate Beds by Lavyrle Spencer
- The Sound of Glass by Karen White
- Ten Days to D-Day: Citizens and Soldiers on the Eve of the Invasion by David Stafford
- At the Mercy of The Mountains: True Stories of Survival and Tragedy In New York's Adirondacks by Peter Bronski
Monday, December 11, 2017
Review: Pearl Harbor: FDR Leads the Nation Into War by Steven M. Gillon
Title: Pearl Harbor: FDR Leads the Nation Into War
Author: Steven M. Gillon
Publisher: Basic Books
Publication Date: October 25, 2011
Edition: ebook (248 pages)
Genres:
Pearl Harbor: FDR Leads the Nation Into War by Steven M. Gillon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
acclaimed historian, Steven M. Gillon, details the events of December 7, 1941--the day the empire of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. He writes about this day, the people involved, the actions of President Roosevelt and the Cabinet, and others-including the government of Japan and the leaders of the attack. The book chronicles the twenty-four hours from the time of the attack through the actions of the President and Congress on December 8, 1941. Interspersed with this chronology, is the historical perspective and the events leading up to the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
I have read several books about Pearl Harbor, and I believe this one to be the best I've read. It is so detailed and interesting. It reads like a thriller, and is a woven tapestry of the time. I learned many things I have not seen in other accounts. If you want to read an un-sanitized account, this book is for you. Reading this book inspires me to read some of the author's other titles, especially about the Kennedy assassination and American politics.
Author: Steven M. Gillon
Publisher: Basic Books
Publication Date: October 25, 2011
Edition: ebook (248 pages)
Genres:
- Nonfiction
- American History
- History
- War
- World War II
Pearl Harbor: FDR Leads the Nation Into War by Steven M. GillonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
acclaimed historian, Steven M. Gillon, details the events of December 7, 1941--the day the empire of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. He writes about this day, the people involved, the actions of President Roosevelt and the Cabinet, and others-including the government of Japan and the leaders of the attack. The book chronicles the twenty-four hours from the time of the attack through the actions of the President and Congress on December 8, 1941. Interspersed with this chronology, is the historical perspective and the events leading up to the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
I have read several books about Pearl Harbor, and I believe this one to be the best I've read. It is so detailed and interesting. It reads like a thriller, and is a woven tapestry of the time. I learned many things I have not seen in other accounts. If you want to read an un-sanitized account, this book is for you. Reading this book inspires me to read some of the author's other titles, especially about the Kennedy assassination and American politics.
Friday, December 8, 2017
Lynn's List (December 8, 2017)
Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!
- Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich
- Apollo Expeditions to the Moon: The NASA History by Edgar M. Cortright
- Out of the Shadow: A Russian Jewish Girlhood on the Lower East Side by Thomas Dublin and Rose Cohen
- Blood on the Snow: The Killing of Olof Palme by Jan Bondeson
- Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land
- Hot Springs by Stephen Hunter
- Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes
- When the Wind Blows by John Saul
- Fire on Ice: The Exclusive Inside Story of Tonya Harding by Oregonian Staff, Abby Haight, and J. E. Vader
- Organization Hacks: Over 350 Simple Solutions to Organize Your Home in No Time! by Carrie Higginsh
- Cry of the Panther by Jeff Gulvin
- The Unfinished Odyssey of Robert Kennedy by David Halberstam
- The Children byDavid Halberstam
- Essays on Civil Disobedience by Bob Blaisdell
- Pearl Harbor by Steven M. Gillon
- PEOPLE Elizabeth and Philip: A Royal Romance by The Editors of PEOPLE
- A Perfect Obsession: A Novel of Romantic Suspense by Heather Graham
- White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson
- The 900 Days: The Siege of Leningrad by Harrison E. Salisbury
- Bloodlands by Timothy Snyder
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Review: Window on the Square by Phyllis A. Whitney
Title: Window on the Square
Author: Phyllis A. Whitney
Publisher: Open Road Media Romance
Publication Date: November 28, 2017 (first published 1962)
Edition: ebook (355 pages)
Genres:
Window on the Square by Phyllis A. Whitney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Megan Kincaid, all alone after the deaths of her mother and younger brother in a tragic accident, is unsure of how she will make a living. She accepts a position as care taker for a troubled boy, in the home of the wealthy Reid family in late nineteenth-century New York City. The house and its occupants hold many secrets, including murder, and Megan must unravel all in order to help the little boy she comes to love.
There is nothing quite so good as a Phyllis A. Whitney book. I grew up reading them, and am so pleased Open Road Media has made them available in ebook format for the enjoyment of future generations.
Author: Phyllis A. Whitney
Publisher: Open Road Media Romance
Publication Date: November 28, 2017 (first published 1962)
Edition: ebook (355 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Mystery
- Romantic Suspense
Window on the Square by Phyllis A. WhitneyMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Megan Kincaid, all alone after the deaths of her mother and younger brother in a tragic accident, is unsure of how she will make a living. She accepts a position as care taker for a troubled boy, in the home of the wealthy Reid family in late nineteenth-century New York City. The house and its occupants hold many secrets, including murder, and Megan must unravel all in order to help the little boy she comes to love.
There is nothing quite so good as a Phyllis A. Whitney book. I grew up reading them, and am so pleased Open Road Media has made them available in ebook format for the enjoyment of future generations.
Monday, December 4, 2017
Review: Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark
Title: Silent Night
Author: Mary Higgins Clark
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publication Date: May 25, 2000
Edition: ebook (160 pages)
Genres:
Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Catherine Dornan took her two sons, ten-year-old Michael, and seven-year-old Brian, to see Rockefeller Center late in the afternoon on Christmas Eve, hoping to distract them from worrying about their father who had surgery. One minute, Brian was next to her, and the next minute he was gone. Brian had seen a young woman pick up his mother's wallet. He needed to get it back because he wanted to give the St. Christopher Medal it contained to his father, knowing it would make him well. Little did Brian know he was embarking on a dangerous journey, and how many lives would be touched in the effort to reunite the family.
This is a great holiday story which I have reread many times. It has become a Christmas tradition for me, and it is one of my favorite books by Mary Higgins Clark.
Author: Mary Higgins Clark
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publication Date: May 25, 2000
Edition: ebook (160 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Mystery
- Suspense
Silent Night by Mary Higgins ClarkMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Catherine Dornan took her two sons, ten-year-old Michael, and seven-year-old Brian, to see Rockefeller Center late in the afternoon on Christmas Eve, hoping to distract them from worrying about their father who had surgery. One minute, Brian was next to her, and the next minute he was gone. Brian had seen a young woman pick up his mother's wallet. He needed to get it back because he wanted to give the St. Christopher Medal it contained to his father, knowing it would make him well. Little did Brian know he was embarking on a dangerous journey, and how many lives would be touched in the effort to reunite the family.
This is a great holiday story which I have reread many times. It has become a Christmas tradition for me, and it is one of my favorite books by Mary Higgins Clark.
Sunday, December 3, 2017
Review: Her Christmas Protector by Terri Reed
Title: Her Christmas Protector
Author: Terri Reed
Publisher: Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense
Publication Date: December 1, 2007
Edition: ebook (256 pages)
Genres:
Her Christmas Protector by Terri Reed
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Faith Delange ran from her abusive ex-husband. Terrified that he might find her, she sought refuge in a rural Oregon community where she met Luke Campbell, who became her protector.
This book is your typical Christian romance! A good read if you like the genre, but I didn't find it particularly exciting.
Author: Terri Reed
Publisher: Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense
Publication Date: December 1, 2007
Edition: ebook (256 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Christian Fiction
- Romantic Suspense
Her Christmas Protector by Terri ReedMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Faith Delange ran from her abusive ex-husband. Terrified that he might find her, she sought refuge in a rural Oregon community where she met Luke Campbell, who became her protector.
This book is your typical Christian romance! A good read if you like the genre, but I didn't find it particularly exciting.
Review: Night Passage (Jesse Stone #1) by Robert B. Parker
Title: Night Passage (Jesse Stone #1)
Author: Robert B. Parker
Publisher: Berkley Books (first published 1997)
Publication Date: July 1, 2001
Edition: ebook (416 pages)
Genres:
Night Passage by Robert B. Parker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Jesse Stone is a cop who is just about out of everything; his marriage, his job, a stable life. Resigning his job as a Los Angeles homicide detective, and battling a drinking problem, he accepts a job as Chief of Police for a small Massachusetts town. Expecting to find tranquility in small town life, he finds murder and duplicity instead.
This is the first Robert B. Parker novel I have read. His writing style is straight forward and I like Jesse Stone, flaws and all. Rather liberating to know that not even police officers are perfect. Yet Jesse Stone is smart, compassionate and does the right thing when it counts.
Author: Robert B. Parker
Publisher: Berkley Books (first published 1997)
Publication Date: July 1, 2001
Edition: ebook (416 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Mystery
- Police Procedural
Night Passage by Robert B. ParkerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Jesse Stone is a cop who is just about out of everything; his marriage, his job, a stable life. Resigning his job as a Los Angeles homicide detective, and battling a drinking problem, he accepts a job as Chief of Police for a small Massachusetts town. Expecting to find tranquility in small town life, he finds murder and duplicity instead.
This is the first Robert B. Parker novel I have read. His writing style is straight forward and I like Jesse Stone, flaws and all. Rather liberating to know that not even police officers are perfect. Yet Jesse Stone is smart, compassionate and does the right thing when it counts.
Friday, December 1, 2017
Lynn's List (December 1, 2017)
Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!
- The Kennedy Imperative by Leon Berger
- Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum
- The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains by Owen Wister
- The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers
- Fifty Years in Chains by Charles Ball
- Speaking Truth to Power by Anita Hill
- The Complete Transcripts of Clarence Thomas - Anita Hill Hearings: October 11, 12, 13, 1991 by Anita Miller and Nina Totenberg
- I Still Believe Anita Hill by Cynthia Greenberg and Amy Richards
- White Oleander by Janet Fitch
- Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
- The Keepers of the House by Shirley Ann Grau
- Lancaster Burning Trilogy by Linda Byler
- All Creatures Great and Small, All Things Bright and Beautiful, and All Things Wise and Wonderful by James Herriot
- Finding the Edge: My Life on the Ice by Kristi Yamaguchi and Karen Chen
- Sunset Bay Sanctuary by Roxanne Snopek
- An Amish Courtship on Ice Mountain by Kelly Long
- Past Perfect by Danielle Steel
- Window on the Square by Phyllis A. Whitney
- The Nazi's Wife by Peter Watson
- Fatal Charm: The Shocking True Story of Serial Wife Killer Randy Roth by Carlton Smith
- Evidence of Love: A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs by John Bloom and Jim Atkinson
- Dangerous Games by Danielle Steel
- An American Family: A Memoir of Hope and Sacrifice by Khizr Khan
- Daughter of the Sword by Jeanne Williams
- Bride of Thunder by Jeanne Williams
- The Man Who Knew: The Life and Times of Alan Greenspan by Sebastian Mallaby
- The Intruders by Stephen Coonts
- Out of Joint by Belea T. Keeney
- The Presidency Of William McKinley by Lewis L. Gould
- Storm Center: The Supreme Court In American Politics by David M. O'Brien
- My Life of Language: A Memoir by Paul W. Ogden
- The Secrets She Keeps by Michael Robotham
- Kill the Father by Sandrone Dazieri
- In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
- The Final Frontiersman by James Campbell
- Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
My Reads (November, 2017)
At the beginning of each month, I publish a list of books I have read the previous month. By clicking on the links in the list, you will be taken to my review of that title. Happy reading!
- The Game You Played by Anni Taylor
- The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain
- Sophie's Heart by Lori Wick
- The Death of a President: November 20-November 25, 1963 by William Manchester
- Pretense by Lori Wick
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Review: Pretense by Lori Wick
Title: Pretense
Author: Lori Wick
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Publication Date: July 1, 2005 (first published July 1998)
Edition: Paperback (708 pages)
Genres:
Pretense by Lori Wick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book chronicles the story of the Bishop family's life journey: Marrell Bishop, loving wife and mother; Paul Bishop, army officer, husband and father; Mackenzie Bishop, eldest daughter; and Delancey Bishop, younger daughter. Each of them experience both hard times and transformative times in their faith journey.
This story is so rich in character--both in writing and in personalities. I could spend many more hours with these people. I still feel a kinship and close connection with each one every time I revisit their story. This is not a superficial story about "he/she said" or he/she did." It is a close-up view of life as it is experienced by these characters--so much so that I forget they are fictional. Like "Sophie's Heart", this is one of my favorite and best-loved books.
Author: Lori Wick
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Publication Date: July 1, 2005 (first published July 1998)
Edition: Paperback (708 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Christian Fiction
- Romance
Pretense by Lori WickMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book chronicles the story of the Bishop family's life journey: Marrell Bishop, loving wife and mother; Paul Bishop, army officer, husband and father; Mackenzie Bishop, eldest daughter; and Delancey Bishop, younger daughter. Each of them experience both hard times and transformative times in their faith journey.
This story is so rich in character--both in writing and in personalities. I could spend many more hours with these people. I still feel a kinship and close connection with each one every time I revisit their story. This is not a superficial story about "he/she said" or he/she did." It is a close-up view of life as it is experienced by these characters--so much so that I forget they are fictional. Like "Sophie's Heart", this is one of my favorite and best-loved books.
Monday, November 27, 2017
Review: The Death of a President: November 20-November 25, 1963 by William Manchester
Title: The Death of a President: November 20-November 25, 1963
Author: William Manchester
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publication Date: October 8, 2013
Edition: ebook (736 pages)
Genres:
The Death of a President: November 20-November 25, 1963 by William Manchester
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the definitive account of President John F. Kennedy's assassination which took place on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. Approximately ten weeks later, the author was approached by the Kennedy family and asked to write this account.
I have read several books on the subject, and, in my view, this is the best of the best. The detail is astounding, and the book presents an expansive picture of the events in almost minute-by-minute detail.
If you are looking for a basic overview of the subject, this is not the book for you. I will have to revisit this book several times in order to assimilate more of the detail contained in these 736 pages.
Author: William Manchester
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publication Date: October 8, 2013
Edition: ebook (736 pages)
Genres:
- Nonfiction
- History
- U.S. History
- U.S. Presidents
The Death of a President: November 20-November 25, 1963 by William ManchesterMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the definitive account of President John F. Kennedy's assassination which took place on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. Approximately ten weeks later, the author was approached by the Kennedy family and asked to write this account.
I have read several books on the subject, and, in my view, this is the best of the best. The detail is astounding, and the book presents an expansive picture of the events in almost minute-by-minute detail.
If you are looking for a basic overview of the subject, this is not the book for you. I will have to revisit this book several times in order to assimilate more of the detail contained in these 736 pages.
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Review: Sophie's Heart by Lori Wick
Title: Sophie's Heart
Author: Lori Wick
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Publication Date: September 1, 1995
Edition: Paperback (425 pages)
Genres:
Sophie's Heart by Lori Wick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Sophie wants to come to America, and when her name comes up on the immigration list, she leaves her native Czechoslovakia, and begins working in a restaurant in Chicago. But she is lonely. One day, she attends a Bible study. She is a believer, and there she meets Janet. Janet's brother is struggling to raise his three children, after the tragic death of his wife, and Janet, knowing of his need, and Sophie's wish to live somewhere more quiet, brings Sophie and the family together. Everyone is nervous about the arrangement, but they agree to give it a try. Their lives are changed forever as they struggle to adjust to the changes life often brings.
This is a wonderful story of love and faith and God's provision. I read this marvelous book many years ago, and have just revisited it again. It is a treasure.
Author: Lori Wick
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Publication Date: September 1, 1995
Edition: Paperback (425 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Christian Fiction
- Romance
Sophie's Heart by Lori WickMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Sophie wants to come to America, and when her name comes up on the immigration list, she leaves her native Czechoslovakia, and begins working in a restaurant in Chicago. But she is lonely. One day, she attends a Bible study. She is a believer, and there she meets Janet. Janet's brother is struggling to raise his three children, after the tragic death of his wife, and Janet, knowing of his need, and Sophie's wish to live somewhere more quiet, brings Sophie and the family together. Everyone is nervous about the arrangement, but they agree to give it a try. Their lives are changed forever as they struggle to adjust to the changes life often brings.
This is a wonderful story of love and faith and God's provision. I read this marvelous book many years ago, and have just revisited it again. It is a treasure.
Friday, November 24, 2017
Lynn's List (November 24, 2017)
Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!
- Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose by Joe Biden
- The Death of a President: November 20-November 25, 1963 by William Manchester
- 13 Hours by Mitchell Zuckoff and Annex Security Team
- Ballot Blocked: The Political Erosion of the Voting Rights Act by Jesse H. Rhodes
- Return of the Dambusters: The Exploits of World War II's Most Daring Flyers After the Flood by John Nichol
- Mother Angelica by Raymond Arroyo
- Her Christmas Protector by Terri Reed
- The Lies Within by Jane Isaac
- Beautiful Girl by Shiloh Walker
- Pieces of Me by Shiloh Walker
- The Dark Room by Jonathan Moore
- The Hours That Remain by Keith Barker
- The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle
- The Home Place by Carrie La Seur
- What She Knew: A Novel by Gilly Macmillan
- If My Father Loved Me by Rosie Thomas
- The Breakdown by B. A. Paris
- Forever Mine by Erin Nicholas
Friday, November 17, 2017
Review: The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain
Title: The Stolen Marriage
Author: Diane Chamberlain
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: October 3, 2017
Edition: Kindle Edition (384 pages)
Genres:
The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Tess DeMello was about to begin the life she had dreamed of; completing her nursing degree, and merrying her childhood best friend. But one night, and one mistake changed all that. She is suddenly in a loveless marriage, faced with hostility from her new family and even some of the town's people of Hickory, North Carolina. Her new husband doesn't seem to want to touch her, and he spends many nights away from home using his work at the family's furniture factory as the reason.
In 1944, WWII is raging and so is a polio epidemic. The people of Hickory come together and build a polio hospital. Tess wants to work there, but faces strong opposition from her mother-in-law and husband. And then there is her discovery of secrets her husband seems to be keeping from nearly everyone.
This is a great story. Not only does it capture the time and the mood of the country, it also is replete with strong characters who embody both the good and the bad in human nature. You can count on a Diane Chamberlain book to do that. This is one of my best reads of 2017; one I shall revisit again and again.
Author: Diane Chamberlain
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: October 3, 2017
Edition: Kindle Edition (384 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Historical Fiction
- Mystery
The Stolen Marriage by Diane ChamberlainMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Tess DeMello was about to begin the life she had dreamed of; completing her nursing degree, and merrying her childhood best friend. But one night, and one mistake changed all that. She is suddenly in a loveless marriage, faced with hostility from her new family and even some of the town's people of Hickory, North Carolina. Her new husband doesn't seem to want to touch her, and he spends many nights away from home using his work at the family's furniture factory as the reason.
In 1944, WWII is raging and so is a polio epidemic. The people of Hickory come together and build a polio hospital. Tess wants to work there, but faces strong opposition from her mother-in-law and husband. And then there is her discovery of secrets her husband seems to be keeping from nearly everyone.
This is a great story. Not only does it capture the time and the mood of the country, it also is replete with strong characters who embody both the good and the bad in human nature. You can count on a Diane Chamberlain book to do that. This is one of my best reads of 2017; one I shall revisit again and again.
Lynn's List (November 17, 2017)
Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!
- Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House by Donna Brazile
- Lindbergh: The Crime by Noel Behn
- A Child Is Missing by David Stout
- Night of the Ice Storm by David Stout
- Artemis: A Novel by Andy Weir
- His Alone by Alexa Riley
- I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven
- Breaking Free: How I Escaped Polygamy, the FLDS Cult, and My Father, Warren Jeffs by Rachel Jeffs
- Wish You Were Mine by Tara Sivec
- Innocent Bystander by Craig Rice
- Opening Arguments by Jeffrey Toobin
- Stranger No More: A Muslim Refugee’s Story of Harrowing Escape, Miraculous Rescue, and the Quiet Call of Jesus by Craig Borlase and Annahita Parsan
- A Place at Our Table by Amy Clipston
- Lily's Mountain by Hannah Moderow
- The Girl Who Came Back by Susan Lewis
- Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
- Cold Revenge by Lee Weeks
- Collusion: Secret Meetings, Dirty Money, and How Russia Helped Donald Trump Win by Luke Harding
- The Last Hostage by John J. Nance
- Selena's Secret by MarÃa Celeste Arrarás
- Operation Yes by Sara Lewis Holmes
- River of Time: My Descent into Depression and How I Emerged with Hope by Marcia Wilkie and Naomi Judd
- The Helen Trilogy: Fever Dream, Cold Vengeance, and Two Graves Omnibus by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
- Crossing the Thinnest Line: How Embracing Diversity from the Office to the Oscars Makes America Stronger by Lauren Leader-Chivee
- Columbine by Dave Cullen
- Angel Baby by Richard Lange
- The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
- Lone Survivor by Patrick Robinson and Marcus Luttrell
Friday, November 10, 2017
Lynn's List (November 10, 2017)
Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!
- Quicksand by Nella Larsen
- Against the Wind by Lee Dipietro
- Unbreakable Bonds by George H. Bush, Connie Morella, Dava Guerin, and Kevin Ferris
- Racing for the Bomb by Robert S. Norris
- Defiant Courage by Astrid Karlsen Scott, Tore Haug, and Harald Zwart
- Someday You Will Understand by Nina Wolff Feld
- Disaster! by John Withington
- The Good Earth Trilogy by Pearl S. Buck
- Dobryd by Ann Charney
- The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles and George Ford
- Because of You by Mari Carr
- City of the Lost: A Thriller by Kelley Armstrong
- Leaving Church by Barbara Brown Taylor
- The Boston Strangler by Gerold Frank
- Written in Blood by Layton Green
- Angels Walking Box Set: Angels Walking, Chasing Sunsets, and Brush of Wings by Karen Kingsbury
- Someone You Love Is Gone: A Novel by Gurjinder Basran
- The Last Girl: My Story of Captivity, and My Fight Against the Islamic State by Amal Clooney and Nadia Murad
- Bonfire: A Novel by Krysten Ritter
- The Missing: A Novel by C. L. Taylor
- The Great Halifax Explosion: A World War I Story of Treachery, Tragedy, and Extraordinary Heroism by John U. Bacon
- Obama: An Intimate Portrait by Barack Obama and Pete Souza
- Dawn's Early Light by James Patterson and Jessica Scott
- Alone by Cyn Balog
- Twelve Days in May: Freedom Ride 1961 by Larry Dane Brimner
- Playing with Fire: The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics by Lawrence O'Donnell
- The Rainbow by D. H. Lawrence
- Truth and Consequences: Special Comments on the Bush Administration's War on American Values by Keith Olbermann
- Texas Bride (Mail-Order Bride #1) by Joan Johnston
- Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah
- The One That I Want: A Novel by Allison Winn Scotch
- The World War II Collection: The Miracle of Dunkirk, Day of Infamy, and Incredible Victory by Walter Lord
- The Survivor by Thomas Keneally
- Escape from Sobibor by Richard Rashke
- Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
- Nelson Mandela: No Easy Walk to Freedom by Barry Denenberg
- Hear My Sorrow: The Diary of Angelo Denoto, a Shirtwaist Worker (Dear America) by Deborah Hopkinson
- Innocent Victims: The True Story of the Eastburn Family Murders by Scott Whisnant
- The Michigan Murders by Edward Keyes
Friday, November 3, 2017
Lynn's List (November 3, 2017)
Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!
- Slay Bells Ring by Karen Rose Smith
- A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena
- American Radical: Inside the World of an Undercover Muslim FBI Agent by Kevin Maurer and Tamer Elnoury
- Love Lies Beneath by Ellen Hopkins
- Beehive by Andy Hoffman
- Gray Matter by Shirley Kennett
- The Girl in the Basement by Ray Garton
- Out of Bondage by Mike Mcgrady and Linda Lovelace
- The Evil That Surrounds Us: The WWII Memoir of Erna Becker-Kohen by Kevin P. Spicer, Martina Cucchiara, and Esther-Maria Nagele
- Bless Her Heart by Sally Kilpatrick
- Have You Met Nora? by Nicole Blades
- In the Midst of Winter: A Novel by Isabel Allende
- The Quilting Circle by Amy Lillard
- Winter Wishes by Fern Michaels, Susan Fox, Jules Bennett, and Leah Marie Brown
- The Linda Wolfe Collection: Five True Crime Classics by Linda Wolfe
- Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit by Chris Matthews
- Hell Hath No Fury by Charles G. West
- After the Fire by Marlaine Delargy and Henning Mankell
- Burke and Wills: The triumph and tragedy of Australia's most famous explorers by Peter Fitzsimons
- American Justice 2017: The Supreme Court in Crisis by Kimberly Robinson
- Washed Away by Geoff Williams
- Within Reach by Barbara Delinsky
- A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter
- Body and Soul by Frank Conroy
- Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature by Linda Lear
- The Dolphin in the Mirror by Diana Reiss
- A Man Worth Marrying by Phyllis Halldorson
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Review: The Game You Played by Anni Taylor
Title: The Game You Played
Author: Anni Taylor
Publication Date: May 17, 2016
Edition: Kindle (400 pages)
Genres:
The Game You Played by Anni Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Phoebe and Luke Basko are grieving the loss of their two-year-old son, Tommy, snatched from a neighborhood playground. Six months go by with no discernable progress in the investigation. Suddenly the Basko's begin receiving notes that seem to refer to their son. The police don't believe the notes are from the person who took Tommy, and Phoebe is left to unravel the mystery, the whereabouts of her son, and whether or not he is dead or alive.
This story had so many twists and turns, it nearly left my head spinning. Each of the characters had secrets they preferred to keep hidden. And the trauma and grief in the aftermath of a child abduction was well portrayed. Looking forward to more from this author.
Author: Anni Taylor
Publication Date: May 17, 2016
Edition: Kindle (400 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Mystery
- Psychological Thriller
The Game You Played by Anni TaylorMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Phoebe and Luke Basko are grieving the loss of their two-year-old son, Tommy, snatched from a neighborhood playground. Six months go by with no discernable progress in the investigation. Suddenly the Basko's begin receiving notes that seem to refer to their son. The police don't believe the notes are from the person who took Tommy, and Phoebe is left to unravel the mystery, the whereabouts of her son, and whether or not he is dead or alive.
This story had so many twists and turns, it nearly left my head spinning. Each of the characters had secrets they preferred to keep hidden. And the trauma and grief in the aftermath of a child abduction was well portrayed. Looking forward to more from this author.
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
My Reads (October, 2017)
At the beginning of each month, I publish a list of books I have read the previous month. By clicking on the links in the list, you will be taken to my review of that title. Happy reading!
- The Godfather by Mario Puzo
- The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash
- Fade to Black by Amanda Stevens
- The Bay at Midnight by Diane Chamberlain
- The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti
- The Lies We Believe: A Suspense Novel by T.K. Chapin
- The Cuban Missile Crisis: A Concise History (Second Edition) by Don Munton and David A. Welch
- Christy by Catherine Marshall
- Big Girls Don't Cry (Dundee, Idaho, #6) by Brenda Novak
- Sister Sister by Sue Fortin
Friday, October 27, 2017
Lynn's List (October 27, 2017)
Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!
- Impeachment: A Citizen's Guide by Cass R. Sunstein
- Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson
- Finding My Virginity by Richard Branson
- The Summer of Your Life by Marcos David Castillo Ojeda
- The Substitute Teacher by Ghost86 and Annie J. Garza
- Stand Up to Stigma: How We Reject Fear and Shame by Pernessa C. Seele
- The Safe House: A Novel by Laura Marris and Christophe Boltanski
- Big Girls Don't Cry by Brenda Novak
- Beartown: A Novel by Fredrik Backman
- Manhattan Beach: A Novel by Jennifer Egan
- B.F.'s Daughter by John P. Marquand
- Unfinished Murder by James Neff
- The Wrong Man by James Neff
- Member of the Family: My Story of Charles Manson, Life Inside His Cult, and the Darkness That Ended the Sixties by Deborah Herman and Dianne Lake
- Calling My Name by Liara Tamani
- An American Family: A Memoir of Hope and Sacrifice by Khizr Khan
- Sisters First: Stories from Our Wild and Wonderful Life by Laura Bush, Barbara Pierce Bush, and Jenna Bush Hager
- Hank and Jim: The Fifty-Year Friendship of Henry Fonda and James Stewart by Scott Eyman
- Three Strikes by Kate Kessler
- Home to Wickham Falls by Rochelle Alers
- Daughters of the Summer Storm by Frances Patton Statham
Review: Sister Sister by Sue Fortin
Title: Sister Sister
Author: Sue Fortin
Publisher: HarperImpulse
Publication Date: January 6, 2017
Edition: ebook (364 pages)
Genres:
Sister Sister by Sue Fortin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Two sisters, Alice and Clare were separated when Alice was four-years-old and Clare was nine-years-old. Alice was taken to America by her father, and Clare remained in the UK with her mother. But Alice never came back. When , two decades later, the sisters were reunited, things began to spiral out of control. So many things didn't make sense to Clare, and as Clare begins to search for the truth, even she isn't sure what is real at times, and she begins to question her sanity.
I enjoyed this story so much. The plot held my interest and I had chills up and down my spine more than once. A great psychological thriller with so many twists, I found myself suspecting nearly every character of treachery at one point or another.
Author: Sue Fortin
Publisher: HarperImpulse
Publication Date: January 6, 2017
Edition: ebook (364 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Mystery
- Suspense
- Psychological Thriller
- Thriller
Sister Sister by Sue FortinMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Two sisters, Alice and Clare were separated when Alice was four-years-old and Clare was nine-years-old. Alice was taken to America by her father, and Clare remained in the UK with her mother. But Alice never came back. When , two decades later, the sisters were reunited, things began to spiral out of control. So many things didn't make sense to Clare, and as Clare begins to search for the truth, even she isn't sure what is real at times, and she begins to question her sanity.
I enjoyed this story so much. The plot held my interest and I had chills up and down my spine more than once. A great psychological thriller with so many twists, I found myself suspecting nearly every character of treachery at one point or another.
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Review: Big Girls Don't Cry (Dundee, Idaho, #6) by Brenda Novak
Title: Big Girls Don't Cry (Dundee, Idaho, #6)
Author: Brenda Novak
Publisher: Mira Books
Publication Date: March 17, 2014 (first published September 1st 2005)
Edition: ebook (400 pages)
Genres:
Big Girls Don't Cry by Brenda Novak
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reenie's marriage is over, thanks to the reckless actions of her husband. And Elizabeth's marriage is over, thanks to the reckless actions of the same man. Now, they have to begin to rebuild their lives, if for no other reason, for the sake of their children. But it isn't so easy, especially in a small town, where everyone knows everyone.
This is a great story. It has so many elements; drama; raw emotion; courage; betrayal; family bonds; and romance. I began the Series with this book, but plan to read the other books as well.
Author: Brenda Novak
Publisher: Mira Books
Publication Date: March 17, 2014 (first published September 1st 2005)
Edition: ebook (400 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Contemporary Romance
Big Girls Don't Cry by Brenda NovakMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reenie's marriage is over, thanks to the reckless actions of her husband. And Elizabeth's marriage is over, thanks to the reckless actions of the same man. Now, they have to begin to rebuild their lives, if for no other reason, for the sake of their children. But it isn't so easy, especially in a small town, where everyone knows everyone.
This is a great story. It has so many elements; drama; raw emotion; courage; betrayal; family bonds; and romance. I began the Series with this book, but plan to read the other books as well.
Monday, October 23, 2017
Review: Christy by Catherine Marshall
Title: Christy
Author: Catherine Marshall
Publisher: Zondervan
Publication Date: April 1, 2001 (first published January 1st 1967)
Edition: Paperback (512 pages)
Genres:
Christy by Catherine Marshall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Christy Huddleson volunteers to teach at a mission school in Cutter Gap, Tennessee, in 1912. She finds herself a world away from her comfortable home and familiar customs, and wonders if she is completely out of her depth in this remote area. But, as she gets to know the people, she falls in love with them. This is the story of her first year of teaching. Catherine Marshall has based her story on many actual experiences of her mother, Christy.
This is a classic from my childhood. The writing is so rich with flavor you can almost smell the smoke from the people's cabins, and taste the food eaten. The writing is simply stated, and, yet, profound. The characters are people I will never forget. And there is so much revealed about God and life in this story. It simply reaches out and draws the reader in. I'm so glad I finally made time to reread this book, and I plan to revisit it again and again.
Author: Catherine Marshall
Publisher: Zondervan
Publication Date: April 1, 2001 (first published January 1st 1967)
Edition: Paperback (512 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Historical Fiction
- Romance
Christy by Catherine MarshallMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Christy Huddleson volunteers to teach at a mission school in Cutter Gap, Tennessee, in 1912. She finds herself a world away from her comfortable home and familiar customs, and wonders if she is completely out of her depth in this remote area. But, as she gets to know the people, she falls in love with them. This is the story of her first year of teaching. Catherine Marshall has based her story on many actual experiences of her mother, Christy.
This is a classic from my childhood. The writing is so rich with flavor you can almost smell the smoke from the people's cabins, and taste the food eaten. The writing is simply stated, and, yet, profound. The characters are people I will never forget. And there is so much revealed about God and life in this story. It simply reaches out and draws the reader in. I'm so glad I finally made time to reread this book, and I plan to revisit it again and again.
Friday, October 20, 2017
Almost Time For Another Readathon
It's almost time for a great twenty-four hours of reading with Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon.
The fun begins tomorrow morning at 7:00 A.M. CDT, and lasts for twenty-four hours. This is my fifth readathon, though I haven't signed up officially. Nevertheless, I still love the fun of reading at the same time as others all over the world.
This year, I've chosen to revisit a book from my childhood, Christy by Catherine Marshall. I was a young adult when I first read it, and I remember how much I enjoyed it then.
As I have during other readathons, I will update my reading progress and the happenings of the twenty-four hours on Twitter, @everydayreader1.
There's still time to join in, and no pressure to read the entire time. It's just for fun. And now for the second most important part, I have to get those snacks planned out and ready. So, happy reading, everyone!
The fun begins tomorrow morning at 7:00 A.M. CDT, and lasts for twenty-four hours. This is my fifth readathon, though I haven't signed up officially. Nevertheless, I still love the fun of reading at the same time as others all over the world.
This year, I've chosen to revisit a book from my childhood, Christy by Catherine Marshall. I was a young adult when I first read it, and I remember how much I enjoyed it then.
As I have during other readathons, I will update my reading progress and the happenings of the twenty-four hours on Twitter, @everydayreader1.
There's still time to join in, and no pressure to read the entire time. It's just for fun. And now for the second most important part, I have to get those snacks planned out and ready. So, happy reading, everyone!
Review: The Cuban Missile Crisis: A Concise History (Second Edition) by Don Munton and David A. Welch
Title: The Cuban Missile Crisis: A Concise History (Second Edition)
Author: Don Munton and David A. Welch
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (first published July 13th 2006)
Publication Date: March 1st 2011
Edition: Paperback (123 pages)
Genres:
The Cuban Missile Crisis: A Concise History by Don Munton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The authors, using information from sources not available at the first writing, tell the story of the Cuban Missile Crisis from beginning to end. The elements of this crisis are dramatic and the authors take care to let events speak for themselves without enhancement. The Cuban, Soviet, and US perspectives are well represented, and provide a comprehensive and readable narrative.
I was five-years-old in October, 1962. I remember watching President Kennedy's speech to the country. I remember his serious tone of voice. But what I remember most is the concern I felt coming from my parents and the civil defense drills our community had in the following weeks. Those were seriously scary times because of the possible outbreak of nuclear war. In some ways, reminiscent of today's uncertainties. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about the Cuban missile crisis. It is written in a concise and very readable format.
Author: Don Munton and David A. Welch
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (first published July 13th 2006)
Publication Date: March 1st 2011
Edition: Paperback (123 pages)
Genres:
- Nonfiction
- Government
- History
The Cuban Missile Crisis: A Concise History by Don MuntonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The authors, using information from sources not available at the first writing, tell the story of the Cuban Missile Crisis from beginning to end. The elements of this crisis are dramatic and the authors take care to let events speak for themselves without enhancement. The Cuban, Soviet, and US perspectives are well represented, and provide a comprehensive and readable narrative.
I was five-years-old in October, 1962. I remember watching President Kennedy's speech to the country. I remember his serious tone of voice. But what I remember most is the concern I felt coming from my parents and the civil defense drills our community had in the following weeks. Those were seriously scary times because of the possible outbreak of nuclear war. In some ways, reminiscent of today's uncertainties. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about the Cuban missile crisis. It is written in a concise and very readable format.
Lynn's List (October 20, 2017)
Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!
- Try to Remember by Carla Cassidy
- Arthur Vandenberg: The Man in the Middle of the American Century by Hendrik Meijer
- A Secret Sisterhood: The Literary Friendships of Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, George Eliot, and Virginia Woolf by Margaret Atwood, Emma Claire Sweeney, and Emily Midorikawa
- Narrative of Sojourner Truth by Sojourner Truth
- Trump is F*cking Crazy: (This is Not a Joke) by Keith Olbermann
- Alt-America: The Rise of the Radical Right in the Age of Trump by David Neiwert
- Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery by Scott Kelly
- Fire on the Track: Betty Robinson and the Triumph of the Early Olympic Women by Roseanne Montillo
- Go Back to Where You Came From: The Backlash Against Immigration and the Fate of Western Democracy by Sasha Polakow-Suransky
- Most of All You: A Love Story by Mia Sheridan
- Be Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back by Gretchen Carlson
- A Line in the Dark by Malinda Lo
- The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won by Victor Davis Hanson
- Softer Than Springtime by Frances West
- One Day Closer: A Mother's Quest to Bring Her Kidnapped Daughter Home by Lorinda Stewart
- Suzanne's Children: A Daring Rescue in Nazi Paris by Anne Nelson
- Like Water by Rebecca Podos
- Killing Season: A Thriller by Faye Kellerman
- Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics by Joe Biden
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Review: The Lies We Believe: A Suspense Novel by T.K. Chapin
Title: The Lies We Believe: A Suspense Novel
Author: T.K. Chapin
Publisher: Branch Publishing
Publication Date: June 12, 2017
Edition: Kindle (315 pages)
Genres:
The Lies We Believe: A Suspense Novel by T.K. Chapin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Emily Fields was a beautiful and bright twenty-two-year-old young woman. Just out of college, she was out on her own and employed at a large law firm as a receptionist. She joins a new age group called Lighthouse, much to her father's disapproval. Ron Fields was beside himself when Emily announced she was joining Lighthouse. He didn't want to lose the relationship with her, so he didn't outwardly react strongly. His life changed for ever as he learned more about LightHouse and its real agenda. And he learned about people, lies, and that people are not always what they seem.
As I read this story, I never knew what would happen next. That is, after all, supposed to be a hallmark of a good story. I found myself wondering if Ron Fields really knew his own mind though. He seemed to vacillate between trusting people and not trusting them. And I sometimes found his actions almost as unsettling as those of the people at Lighthouse. Over all, I enjoyed the story, however.
Author: T.K. Chapin
Publisher: Branch Publishing
Publication Date: June 12, 2017
Edition: Kindle (315 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Cults
- Suspense
- Religion and Spirituality
The Lies We Believe: A Suspense Novel by T.K. ChapinMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Emily Fields was a beautiful and bright twenty-two-year-old young woman. Just out of college, she was out on her own and employed at a large law firm as a receptionist. She joins a new age group called Lighthouse, much to her father's disapproval. Ron Fields was beside himself when Emily announced she was joining Lighthouse. He didn't want to lose the relationship with her, so he didn't outwardly react strongly. His life changed for ever as he learned more about LightHouse and its real agenda. And he learned about people, lies, and that people are not always what they seem.
As I read this story, I never knew what would happen next. That is, after all, supposed to be a hallmark of a good story. I found myself wondering if Ron Fields really knew his own mind though. He seemed to vacillate between trusting people and not trusting them. And I sometimes found his actions almost as unsettling as those of the people at Lighthouse. Over all, I enjoyed the story, however.
Monday, October 16, 2017
Review: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti
Title: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett
Author: Chelsea Sedoti
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: January 3, 2017
Edition: Kindle (400 pages)
Genres:
The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
High school is not a part of life Hawthorn particularly enjoys. She's conflicted between being herself and yet yearns to understand and possibly experience popularity. When Lizzie Lovett, a young girl older than Hawthorn, goes missing, Hawthorn becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to Lizzie. She gets a job at the diner where Lizzie worked, and begins to hang out with Lizzie's boyfriend. She has theories about Lizzie, what happened to her, and where she is now.
I decided to read this book because it is the Big Library Read for October 2017. It is well written with complex characters. Maybe I'm getting too old to understand the world of teens today, but I found it very strange, down right weird, at times, and because of that, I gave it the rating I did. On the other hand, perhaps, that assessment comes out of my own teen experiences and not today's reality, so you will have to judge for yourself. One aspect of the book I found to be very educational, however, is the author's treatment of bullying which Hawthorn experienced as well as feelings teens and young adults must confront today.
Author: Chelsea Sedoti
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: January 3, 2017
Edition: Kindle (400 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Contemporary
- Mystery
- Teen Fiction
The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea SedotiMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
High school is not a part of life Hawthorn particularly enjoys. She's conflicted between being herself and yet yearns to understand and possibly experience popularity. When Lizzie Lovett, a young girl older than Hawthorn, goes missing, Hawthorn becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to Lizzie. She gets a job at the diner where Lizzie worked, and begins to hang out with Lizzie's boyfriend. She has theories about Lizzie, what happened to her, and where she is now.
I decided to read this book because it is the Big Library Read for October 2017. It is well written with complex characters. Maybe I'm getting too old to understand the world of teens today, but I found it very strange, down right weird, at times, and because of that, I gave it the rating I did. On the other hand, perhaps, that assessment comes out of my own teen experiences and not today's reality, so you will have to judge for yourself. One aspect of the book I found to be very educational, however, is the author's treatment of bullying which Hawthorn experienced as well as feelings teens and young adults must confront today.
Friday, October 13, 2017
Lynn's List (October 13, 2017)
Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!
- Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson
- The Jersey Brothers: A Missing Naval Officer in the Pacific and His Family's Quest to Bring Him Home by Sally Mott Freeman
- When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro
- Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
- 100 Ways to Understand your Cat by Roger Tabor
- The Right Time: A Novel by Danielle Steel
- The Family Lawyer by James Patterson
- Before We Were Yours: A Novel by Lisa Wingate
- Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
- The Great Chicago Fire by David Lowe
- Susan Wiggs Great Chicago Fire Trilogy Complete Collection by Susan Wiggs
- Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain
- The Simplicity of Cider: A Novel by Amy E. Reichert
- Love Story: A Novel by Karen Kingsbury
- Positivity: Groundbreaking Research to Release Your Inner Optimist and Thrive by Barbara Fredrickson
- The Dry: A Novel by Jane Harper
- Stripped Bare: A Novel by Shannon Baker
- An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back by Elisabeth Rosenthal
- The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
- The Tunnels: Escapes Under the Berlin Wall and the Historic Films the JFK White House Tried to Kill by Greg Mitchell
- My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel by Ari Shavit
- The Apache Wars by Paul Andrew Hutton
- Helmet for My Pillow: From Parris Island to the Pacific by Robert Leckie
- The Emancipator's Wife by Barbara Hambly
- Closing Time: The True Story of the "Goodbar" Murder by Lacey Fosburgh
- Fifty Years in Chains by Charles Ball
- The Suspicion Series Volume One: Suspicion of Innocence, Suspicion of Guilt, and Suspicion of Deceit by Barbara Parker
- Criminal Justice by Barbara Parker
- Blood Relations by Barbara Parker
- Manhattan Beach: A Novel by Jennifer Egan
- Lincoln by David Herbert Donald
- Other Women by Lisa Alther
- Original Sins by Lisa Alther
- The Glass Lake by Maeve Binchy
- The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Review: The Bay at Midnight by Diane Chamberlain
Title: The Bay at Midnight
Author: Diane Chamberlain
Publisher: Mira
Publication Date: September 1, 2006
Edition: ebook
Genres:
The Bay at Midnight by Diane Chamberlain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Julie Bauer loved spending summers at the seashore in New Jersey until her seventeen-year-old sister, Isabel, was murdered, on an August night. The family sold their cottage and did not return. Decades later, Julie is visited by the daughter of her former neighbor who brings her news that will reopen the murder investigation and cause Julie, her sister and mother to relive those events. Each has secrets they would rather stay hidden. Each feels complicit in Isabel's murder.
The storylines of Diane Chamberlain's books draw me in, from the first. The emotions experienced by the characters are so genuine, I forget I'm reading a fictional story. And there is never a moment where my attention wanders. I particularly enjoyed revisiting the setting of the girls' childhood, the 1950s-1960s. A great read!
Author: Diane Chamberlain
Publisher: Mira
Publication Date: September 1, 2006
Edition: ebook
Genres:
- Fiction
- Mystery
- Romance
The Bay at Midnight by Diane ChamberlainMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Julie Bauer loved spending summers at the seashore in New Jersey until her seventeen-year-old sister, Isabel, was murdered, on an August night. The family sold their cottage and did not return. Decades later, Julie is visited by the daughter of her former neighbor who brings her news that will reopen the murder investigation and cause Julie, her sister and mother to relive those events. Each has secrets they would rather stay hidden. Each feels complicit in Isabel's murder.
The storylines of Diane Chamberlain's books draw me in, from the first. The emotions experienced by the characters are so genuine, I forget I'm reading a fictional story. And there is never a moment where my attention wanders. I particularly enjoyed revisiting the setting of the girls' childhood, the 1950s-1960s. A great read!
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Review: Fade to Black by Amanda Stevens
Title: Fade to Black
Author: Amanda Stevens
Publisher: Silhouette
Publication Date: August 1, 1994
Edition: Paperback (192 pages)
Genres:
Fade To Black by Amanda Stevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Jessica Kincaid has rebuilt her life after her husband's sudden and inexplicable disappearance. She has raised her five-year-old son, Max, as a single parent. Life isn't bad. She's coping and her antique business is doing well. Then, one day, her supposedly dead husband, Pierce, shows up in her kitchen. He thinks he has just returned from the grocery store. He remembers nothing of what happened to him in the five years since he went missing. And then there's the complication of who Pierce really is and the possible danger his past poses to Jessica and Max.
I enjoyed this story. It was filled with emotion and interesting characters.
Author: Amanda Stevens
Publisher: Silhouette
Publication Date: August 1, 1994
Edition: Paperback (192 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Romance
- Mystery
Fade To Black by Amanda StevensMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Jessica Kincaid has rebuilt her life after her husband's sudden and inexplicable disappearance. She has raised her five-year-old son, Max, as a single parent. Life isn't bad. She's coping and her antique business is doing well. Then, one day, her supposedly dead husband, Pierce, shows up in her kitchen. He thinks he has just returned from the grocery store. He remembers nothing of what happened to him in the five years since he went missing. And then there's the complication of who Pierce really is and the possible danger his past poses to Jessica and Max.
I enjoyed this story. It was filled with emotion and interesting characters.
Friday, October 6, 2017
Review: The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash
Title: The Last Ballad
Author: Wiley Cash
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: October 3, 2017
Edition: ebook (384 pages)
Genres:
The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
North Carolina, in 1929, is the setting for this book. Ella May Wiggins is a textile mill worker at an integrated mill. She is poor, hard working, and the mother of four young children. She joins the union and becomes a strike leader when mill employees strike for higher wages and better working conditions.
Though this book is historical fiction, it is based on the life of Ella May Wiggins, a real woman who gave her life for the union cause when she was murdered in 1929. The characters reached out from the pages and became real to me. The bleakness of life, the discrimination and the abject poverty they endured makes me realize how blessed I am to come after them. They paved the way for where I am today--a person with a disability who had educational and employment opportunities that so many did not, then, and still do not have now. This book pays tribute to labor leaders and civil rights leaders who sacrificed so much, even their lives, for positive change. Wiley Cash has beautifully written and preserved one of these stories. Let us never forget. And let us never go backward, only forward.
Author: Wiley Cash
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: October 3, 2017
Edition: ebook (384 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Historical Fiction
The Last Ballad by Wiley CashMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
North Carolina, in 1929, is the setting for this book. Ella May Wiggins is a textile mill worker at an integrated mill. She is poor, hard working, and the mother of four young children. She joins the union and becomes a strike leader when mill employees strike for higher wages and better working conditions.
Though this book is historical fiction, it is based on the life of Ella May Wiggins, a real woman who gave her life for the union cause when she was murdered in 1929. The characters reached out from the pages and became real to me. The bleakness of life, the discrimination and the abject poverty they endured makes me realize how blessed I am to come after them. They paved the way for where I am today--a person with a disability who had educational and employment opportunities that so many did not, then, and still do not have now. This book pays tribute to labor leaders and civil rights leaders who sacrificed so much, even their lives, for positive change. Wiley Cash has beautifully written and preserved one of these stories. Let us never forget. And let us never go backward, only forward.
Lynn's List (October 6, 2017)
Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!
A note for Bookshare users:
Several titles, by Phyllis A. Whitney, have recently been added to Bookshare to compliment those already there.
- The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore
- Song of the Sound by Jeff Gulvin
- Cry of the Panther by Jeff Gulvin
- Small Wars, Faraway Places by Michael Burleigh
- New York: The Novel by Edward Rutherfurd
- The Fierce Urgency of Now by Julian E. Zelizer
- An Amish Christmas by Cynthia Keller
- 1968: The Year That Rocked the World by Mark Kurlansky
- Comes the Blind Fury by John Saul
- The Things We Do for Love by Kristin Hannah
- Refuge: A Novel by Dina Nayeri
- The Color Purple Collection by Alice Walker
- Nothing To Lose: A Grey Justice Novel (Volume #1) by Christy Reece
- The Man from Stone Creek: An 1900s Western Romance by Linda Lael Miller
- Dissent by Ralph Young
- A Long Way from Home: Growing Up in the American Heartland by Tom Brokaw
- The Cartel by Don Winslow
- Yours in Truth: A Personal Portrait of Ben Bradlee by Jeff Himmelman
- Disclosure by Michael Crichton
- The Barefoot Bride (Mail Order Bride Series #1) by Joan Johnston
- Everything We Left Behind: A Novel by Kerry Lonsdale
- Follow You Home by Mark Edwards
- Broken Heartland by J M Hayes
- First Ladies by Susan Swain and C-Span
- First Women by Kate Andersen Brower
- Battling the Oceans in a Rowboat: Crossing the Atlantic and North Pacific on Oars and Grit by Mick Dawson
- Testimony by Scott Turow
- Identical by Scott Turow
- The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer and Dave Eggers
- Tumbleweeds: A Novel by Leila Meacham
- The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness by Unger and Harlow Giles
- Hour Game (Sean King and Michelle Maxwell #2) by David Baldacci
- Simple Genius (Sean King and Michelle Maxwell #3) by David Baldacci
- Zero Day (John Puller #1) by David Baldacci
- The Trainable Cat: A Practical Guide to Making Life Happier for You and Your Cat by Sarah Ellis and John Bradshaw
- Augustine: Conversions To Confessions by Robin Lane Fox
- Truevine: Two Brothers, a Kidnapping, and a Mother's Quest: A True Story of the Jim Crow South by Beth Macy
- Simplify Your Life by Elaine St. James
- Christy by Catherine Marshall
- A Room of My Own byAnn Tatlock
- Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
- Missing Mother-To-Be: An Intense Abduction Romantic Suspense by Elle Kennedy
- Some Kind of Wonderful by Sarah Morgan
- Classified K-9 Unit Series Books 1-3 by Valerie Hansen, Laura Scott, and Terri Reed
- Cut and Run: A Thrilling Romantic Suspense by Carla Neggers
- The Lightkeeper: A 19th Century Historical Romance by Susan Wiggs
- Perfectly Undone: A Novel by Jamie Raintree
- Best Day Ever: A Psychological Thriller by Kaira Rouda
- The Blind: A Chilling Psychological Suspense by A. F. Brady
- Undercover Amish by Debby Giusti
- Gone in the Night by Anna J. Stewart
- Miles Lord: The Maverick Judge Who Brought Corporate America to Justice by Roberta Walburn
- Broken Slate: A Sean Coleman Thriller by John A. Daly
- Seeking the Shore by Donna Gentry Morton
- If the Creek Don't Rise: A Novel by Leah Weiss
- The Visitors by Kathryn Byrnes
- The Divergent Library by Veronica Roth
- The Deep Dark Descending by Allen Eskens
- The Devils You Know by M. C. Atwood
- 31 Proverbs to Light Your Path by Liz Curtis Higgs
- The Flight 981 Disaster: Tragedy, Treachery, and the Pursuit of Truth by Samme Chittum
- Cast Iron by Peter May
- Forged in Crisis: The Power of Courageous Leadership in Turbulent Times by Nancy Koehn
- Dear World: A Syrian Girl's Story of War and Plea for Peace by Bana Alabed
- Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World by Eric Metaxas
- The Making of Martin Luther by Richard Rex
- Jesus Always: 365 Devotions for Kids by Sarah Young
- Protected by Claire Zorn
- Shame Nation: The Global Epidemic of Online Hate by Monica Lewinksy, Melissa Schorr, and Sue Scheff
- Voices of Freedom: Four Classic Slave Narratives by Sojourner Truth, Harriet Jacobs, Frederick Douglass, and Solomon Northup
- American Justice: A True Crime Collection by James Neff
- Ali: A Life by Jonathan Eig
- The Last Day of Emily Lindsey by Nic Joseph
- Bible Nation: The United States of Hobby Lobby by Joel S. Baden and Candida R. Moss
- Manhattan Beach: A Novel by Jennifer Egan
- The Indigo Girl: A Novel by Saskia Maarleveld
- The Last Ballad: A Novel by Wiley Cash
- The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain
- My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
- The Loudest Voice in the Room: How the Brilliant, Bombastic Roger Ailes Built Fox News--and Divided a Country by Gabriel Sherman
- After This by Alice Mcdermott
- John Quincy Adams by Paul C. Nagel
- The Simplicity of Cider: A Novel by Amy E. Reichert
- Relentless by Winter Austin
- Universal Health Care: What the United States Can Learn from the Canadian Experience by Claudia Fegan, Hugh Armstrong, and Pat Armstrong
- Take Control of iOS 11 by Josh Centers
- Little Boy Found: They thought the nightmare was over...it was only the beginning by Lk Fox
- PEOPLE True Crime Stories: 35 Real Cases That Inspired the Show Law & Order by The Editors of PEOPLE
- PEOPLE Glen Campbell: A Life In Song, 1936-2017 by The Editors of PEOPLE
- I See You by Clare Mackintosh
- Lincoln's Boys by Joshua Zeitz
- Sheba by Jack Higgins
- Ice: A Novel by Linda Howard
- A Golfer's Life by Arnold Palmer
A note for Bookshare users:
Several titles, by Phyllis A. Whitney, have recently been added to Bookshare to compliment those already there.
- Silversword
- Emerald
- Woman Without a Past
- Listen for the Whisperer
- Seven Tears for Apollo
- Flaming Tree
- Dream of Orchids
- Rainsong
- Blue Fire
- Black Amber
- Vermilion
- Poinciana
- The Moonflower
- The Glass Flame
- Domino
- Columbella
- The Turquoise Mask
- Hunter's Green
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Review: The Godfather by Mario Puzo
Title: The Godfather
Author: Mario Puzo
Publisher: New American Library
Publication Date: October 4, 2005
Edition: Kindle Edition, New American Library Essential Editions (456 pages)
Genres:
The Godfather by Mario Puzo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
My first exposure to The Godfather by Mario Puzo was as a teenager when my mom stayed up all night to read it. She read it from cover-to-cover in less than twenty-four hours. When I read it, as an adult, I was reminded of this, and was tempted to do the same.
Now, I find it difficult to separate the characters in the book from how they are portrayed in the movie, which I also love. Filled with family, the mafia and the heartbreak of life, in spite of money, power and position, it is a captivating read.
I have reread The Godfather several times over the years. Partly because it is such a great read, and partly because it was one of my mom's favorites. It helps keep her memory richly alive for me. Each time I reread a book she loved, I am once again thankful she passed on her love of reading to me, and for the many hours we spent reading books together, over the years.
Author: Mario Puzo
Publisher: New American Library
Publication Date: October 4, 2005
Edition: Kindle Edition, New American Library Essential Editions (456 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Classics
- Crime Fiction
The Godfather by Mario PuzoMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
My first exposure to The Godfather by Mario Puzo was as a teenager when my mom stayed up all night to read it. She read it from cover-to-cover in less than twenty-four hours. When I read it, as an adult, I was reminded of this, and was tempted to do the same.
Now, I find it difficult to separate the characters in the book from how they are portrayed in the movie, which I also love. Filled with family, the mafia and the heartbreak of life, in spite of money, power and position, it is a captivating read.
I have reread The Godfather several times over the years. Partly because it is such a great read, and partly because it was one of my mom's favorites. It helps keep her memory richly alive for me. Each time I reread a book she loved, I am once again thankful she passed on her love of reading to me, and for the many hours we spent reading books together, over the years.
Sunday, October 1, 2017
My Reads (September, 2017)
At the beginning of each month, I publish a list of books I have read the previous month. By clicking on the links in the list, you will be taken to my review of that title. Happy reading!
- Stormchasers: The Hurricane Hunters and Their Fateful Flight into Hurricane Janet by David Toomey
- Every Last Lie by Mary Kubica
- Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
- The Hidden Target (Robert Renwick #2) by Helen Macinnes (reread)
- What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton
- A Darker Place by Laurie R. King
Review: A Darker Place by Laurie R. King
Title: A Darker Place
Author: Laurie R. King
Publisher: Bantam
Publication Date: October 14, 2009
Edition: ebook (512 pages)
Genres:
A Darker Place by Laurie R. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Anne Waverly suffered greatly after the deaths of her husband and young daughter. Involved in a religious cult, her husband and daughter were part of a group suicide while she was away. Now she is a sometimes undercover agent for the FBI, going into religious groups where cult activity is suspected. She thought she was finished with this work, and had settled down to her teaching as a University professor of religious studies. But, the FBI had one more assignment for her. And this one might just cost Anne her life.
This story kept my interest throughout. I have been drawn to cult perspectives for a long time--actually any belief system that is away from the center. This book captured my attention because of the nature of how people are indoctrinated into certain belief systems that, at first, seem innocuous. I also liked Anne, her FBI contact, and the two children, prominent in the story.
Author: Laurie R. King
Publisher: Bantam
Publication Date: October 14, 2009
Edition: ebook (512 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Mystery
- Suspense
- Thriller
A Darker Place by Laurie R. KingMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Anne Waverly suffered greatly after the deaths of her husband and young daughter. Involved in a religious cult, her husband and daughter were part of a group suicide while she was away. Now she is a sometimes undercover agent for the FBI, going into religious groups where cult activity is suspected. She thought she was finished with this work, and had settled down to her teaching as a University professor of religious studies. But, the FBI had one more assignment for her. And this one might just cost Anne her life.
This story kept my interest throughout. I have been drawn to cult perspectives for a long time--actually any belief system that is away from the center. This book captured my attention because of the nature of how people are indoctrinated into certain belief systems that, at first, seem innocuous. I also liked Anne, her FBI contact, and the two children, prominent in the story.
Friday, September 29, 2017
Lynn's List (September 29, 2017)
Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!
- Master and Commander (Aubrey & Maturin, #1) by Patrick O'Brian
- Charlotte by David Foenkinos
- Lightfoot by Nicholas Jennings
- Pope Francis: The People's Pope by Beatrice Gormley
- If We Make It Home: A Novel of Faith and Survival in the Oregon Wilderness by Christina Suzann Nelson
- After the Eclipse: A Mother's Murder, a Daughter's Search by Sarah Perry
- The Kennedy Trilogy Complete Edition by Leon Berger
- Don't Let Go by Harlan Coben
- Soft Like Steel by Barb Malek
- Distress Signals by Suzanne Toren, Catherine Ryan Howard, Bronson Pinchot, and Alan Smyth
- Unbecoming by Jenny Downham
- That Wintry Feeling by Debbie Macomber
- Luther and Katharina by Jody Hedlund
- The Road of Lost Innocence by Somaly Mam
- The Waiting Room by Mary Morris
- Quiet Until the Thaw: A Novel by Alexandra Fuller
- Empty Places by Kathy Cannon Wiechman
Friday, September 22, 2017
Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon In Four weeks!
I always love this time of year because fall is here, and because one of my favorite events of the year is only weeks away.
Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon will be here before long. It takes place on October 21, 2017, and I have absolutely no idea what I am going to read! This time, there is also thirty days of reading beforehand. I haven't done this before--I'm always reading--but not as part of the readathon. The excitement is building.
To learn more about the thirty days of reading before the Readathon, or to sign up, please click here.
Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon will be here before long. It takes place on October 21, 2017, and I have absolutely no idea what I am going to read! This time, there is also thirty days of reading beforehand. I haven't done this before--I'm always reading--but not as part of the readathon. The excitement is building.
To learn more about the thirty days of reading before the Readathon, or to sign up, please click here.
Lynn's List (September 22, 2017)
Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!
- Rick: The Rick Hansen Story by Dennis Foon
- The Mill by Damien Atkins, Tara Beagan, Hannah Moscovitch, Matthew Macfadzean and Daryl Cloran
- down from heaven by Colleen Wagner
- A Thousand Shall Fall: The True Story of a Canadian Bomber Pilot in World War Two by Murray Peden
- The Vietnam War: An Intimate History by Ken Burns and Geoffrey C. Ward
- Everything We Keep: A Novel by Kerry Lonsdale
- The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore
- Once You Know This by Emily Blejwas
- Defending Hearts by Rebecca Crowley
- Convicted: A Crooked Cop, an Innocent Man, and an Unlikely Journey of Forgiveness and Friendship by Mark Tabb, Andrew Collins and Jameel Zookie Mcgee
- Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change by Ellen Pao
- Keep Her Safe: A Novel by Sophie Hannah
- The Best Kind of People: A Novel by Zoe Whittall
- Shooting Lincoln: Mathew Brady, Alexander Gardner, and the Race to Photograph the Story of the Century by Nicholas J.C. Pistor
- From a Dead Sleep by John A. Daly
- Blood Trade by John A. Daly
- Into the Light by Kathryn Ascher
- A Darker Place by Laurie R. King
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Review: What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton
Title: What Happened
Author: Hillary Rodham Clinton
Publisher: Simon Schuster
Publication Date: September 12, 2017
Edition: eBook (512 pages)
Genres:
What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hillary Rodham Clinton writes with candor, emotion and self-examination about her campaign and run for office as the first female candidate endorsed by a major political party for President of the United States. As you may know, this is not her first memoir, but this book is different in that she speaks openly about so many subjects and areas of her life. I hope it was as therapeutic for her to write as it was for me to read.
I have read all of her books, and since 1992 have had the utmost respect for her as a person of faith, a woman, a wife, a mother, a politician, and a tireless advocate for human rights and equality. I also learned much about the activities and achievements of the Clinton Foundation--many of which I had not known of, previously. This is not a boastful rendition of her life and accomplishments. It is personal and comes from the heart.
If you are looking to read a mean-spirited characterization and bashing of Donald Trump, you will not find it here. What you will find is a very personal ideological discussion about the differences between her values and those of Donald Trump. And you will find a candid acknowledgement of mistakes she believes she made. You will also find much discussion about our democratic principles and the peril which comes from the disregard for them and the lack of care and concern for one another--the hallmark of the current Administration, in my opinion.
Author: Hillary Rodham Clinton
Publisher: Simon Schuster
Publication Date: September 12, 2017
Edition: eBook (512 pages)
Genres:
- Nonfiction
- Autobiography
- History
- Memoir
- Politics
What Happened by Hillary Rodham ClintonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hillary Rodham Clinton writes with candor, emotion and self-examination about her campaign and run for office as the first female candidate endorsed by a major political party for President of the United States. As you may know, this is not her first memoir, but this book is different in that she speaks openly about so many subjects and areas of her life. I hope it was as therapeutic for her to write as it was for me to read.
I have read all of her books, and since 1992 have had the utmost respect for her as a person of faith, a woman, a wife, a mother, a politician, and a tireless advocate for human rights and equality. I also learned much about the activities and achievements of the Clinton Foundation--many of which I had not known of, previously. This is not a boastful rendition of her life and accomplishments. It is personal and comes from the heart.
If you are looking to read a mean-spirited characterization and bashing of Donald Trump, you will not find it here. What you will find is a very personal ideological discussion about the differences between her values and those of Donald Trump. And you will find a candid acknowledgement of mistakes she believes she made. You will also find much discussion about our democratic principles and the peril which comes from the disregard for them and the lack of care and concern for one another--the hallmark of the current Administration, in my opinion.
Monday, September 18, 2017
Reread of The Hidden Target (Robert Renwick #2) by Helen Macinnes
I have completed yet another reread of The Hidden Target (Robert Renwick #2) by Helen Macinnes. Revisiting this book is always a gift.
Please click here to see my review of The Hidden Target (Robert Renwick #2) by Helen Macinnes.
Please click here to see my review of The Hidden Target (Robert Renwick #2) by Helen Macinnes.
Friday, September 15, 2017
Lynn's List (September 15, 2017)
Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!
- Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
- Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
- The Cure for Catastrophe: How We Can Stop Manufacturing Natural Disasters by Robert Muir-Wood
- Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It Changed the World by Laura Spinney
- Becoming Madam Chancellor by Joyce Marie
- What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton
- Something Beautiful Happened: A Story of Survival and Courage in the Face of Evil by Yvette Manessis Corporon
- The Far Away Brothers: Two Young Migrants and the Making of an American Life by Lauren Markham
- We Were Strangers Once by Betsy Carter
- Unbelievable: My Front-Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History by Katy Tur
- The Names of Dead Girls by Eric Rickstad
- Neighborhood Girls by Jessie Ann Foley
- A Time to Stand by Robert Whitlow
- Keeper by Michael Garrett
- What She Left for Me by Tracie Peterson
- Fade to Black by Amanda Stevens
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Review: Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
Title: Salvage the Bones
Author: Jesmyn Ward
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: 2011
Edition: Hardcover (261 pages)
Genres:
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Esch, a fourteen-year-old girl and her family are smack in the path of Hurricane Katrina. At first, she and her brothers do not take the warnings too seriously. Their father is obsessed with preparing the house for the hurricane's arrival, but his limited parenting skills leave her and her brothers to fend for themselves, for the most part.
Though this book is a fictional account, it reads like fact. The poverty of so many in the area is brought to life in stark and vivid detail. SALVAGE THE BONES is another of those books that will never leave me. Each of the characters reached out from the pages to teach me something about their lives and my own. To be children and caretakers of their father and one another--that is their reality. Doing much with little, and making something out of almost nothing are concepts foreign to many, but this family does both without complaint.
Author: Jesmyn Ward
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: 2011
Edition: Hardcover (261 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- African American Fiction
- Contemporary
- Cultural
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn WardMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Esch, a fourteen-year-old girl and her family are smack in the path of Hurricane Katrina. At first, she and her brothers do not take the warnings too seriously. Their father is obsessed with preparing the house for the hurricane's arrival, but his limited parenting skills leave her and her brothers to fend for themselves, for the most part.
Though this book is a fictional account, it reads like fact. The poverty of so many in the area is brought to life in stark and vivid detail. SALVAGE THE BONES is another of those books that will never leave me. Each of the characters reached out from the pages to teach me something about their lives and my own. To be children and caretakers of their father and one another--that is their reality. Doing much with little, and making something out of almost nothing are concepts foreign to many, but this family does both without complaint.
Friday, September 8, 2017
Lynn's List (September 8, 2017)
Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!
- Every Last Lie: A Gripping Novel of Psychological Suspense by Mary Kubica
- Dinner at the Center of the Earth: A novel by Nathan Englander
- Tales of Two Americas: Stories of Inequality in a Divided Nation by John Freeman
- Reconcilable Differences: Connecting in a Disconnected World by Angie Mcarthur and Dawna Markova
- Run, Hide, Repeat: A Memoir of a Fugitive Childhood by Pauline Dakin
- The Family Lawyer by James Patterson
- The World War II Novels: Voyage to Somewhere, Pacific Interlude, and Ice Brothers by Sloan Wilson
- The Last Outlaw by Rosanne Bittner
- Dead in the Water by Denise Swanson
- The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Dr Edith Eva Eger
- The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld
- Bringing Maggie Home: A Novel by Kim Vogel Sawyer
- Fade to Black by Amanda Stevens
- Louise Thompson Patterson: A Life of Struggle for Justice by Keith Gilyard
- The Mike Hammer Collection: Volume 1 by Mickey Spillane
- The Mike Hammer Collection: Volume 2 by Mickey Spillane
- The Mike Hammer Collection, Volume III by Mickey Spillane
- Nora Roberts The Irish Born Trilogy by Nora Roberts
- The Long Road Home by Martha Raddatz
- When Lightning Strikes by Rexanne Becnel
Thursday, September 7, 2017
Review: Every Last Lie by Mary Kubica
Title: Every Last Lie
Author: Mary Kubica
Publisher: Park Row
Publication Date: June 27, 2017
Edition: eBook (336 pages)
Genres:
Every Last Lie by Mary Kubica
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Clara Solberg, just home from the hospital after the birth of her second child, suddenly finds herself a widow. Her husband, Nick, is dead because of an auto accident. And their four-year-old daughter is physically unharmed. But she begins having bad dreams and talking in her sleep about the "bad Man." Clara is plunged into a search for the truth. Was it an accident, or did someone want Nick dead? The more Clara seeks answers, the more secrets are revealed.
I enjoyed this book--however, not as much as the first book by I read by this author.
Author: Mary Kubica
Publisher: Park Row
Publication Date: June 27, 2017
Edition: eBook (336 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Mystery
- Suspense
- Thriller
Every Last Lie by Mary KubicaMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Clara Solberg, just home from the hospital after the birth of her second child, suddenly finds herself a widow. Her husband, Nick, is dead because of an auto accident. And their four-year-old daughter is physically unharmed. But she begins having bad dreams and talking in her sleep about the "bad Man." Clara is plunged into a search for the truth. Was it an accident, or did someone want Nick dead? The more Clara seeks answers, the more secrets are revealed.
I enjoyed this book--however, not as much as the first book by I read by this author.
Review: Stormchasers: The Hurricane Hunters and Their Fateful Flight into Hurricane Janet by David Toomey
Title: Stormchasers: The Hurricane Hunters and Their Fateful Flight into Hurricane Janet
Author: David Toomey
Publisher: W. W. Norton Company
Publication Date: June 17, 2003
Edition: ebook: (320 pages)
Genres:
Stormchasers: The Hurricane Hunters and Their Fateful Flight into Hurricane Janet by David Toomey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hurricanes, their causes and how to predict them, has been a fascination for centuries. This book alternates between the development of hurricane prediction and meteorology as a science, and the flight of hurricane hunters who flew into the eye of Hurricane Janet in September, 1955, and never returned.
I found this book fascinating, educational and an all around great read. The explanation of hurricane formation was especially informative and timely, since we are experiencing several hurricanes this year.
Author: David Toomey
Publisher: W. W. Norton Company
Publication Date: June 17, 2003
Edition: ebook: (320 pages)
Genres:
- Nonfiction
- Adventure
- Biography
- History
Stormchasers: The Hurricane Hunters and Their Fateful Flight into Hurricane Janet by David ToomeyMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hurricanes, their causes and how to predict them, has been a fascination for centuries. This book alternates between the development of hurricane prediction and meteorology as a science, and the flight of hurricane hunters who flew into the eye of Hurricane Janet in September, 1955, and never returned.
I found this book fascinating, educational and an all around great read. The explanation of hurricane formation was especially informative and timely, since we are experiencing several hurricanes this year.
Books By the Month
After a few years of participating in the Goodreads Reading Challenge, I've decided not to participate in 2018. I still plan to read as much as before, but I find I'd like to take more time rereading old favorites. Even though rereads count in the Challenge, I've decided to list what I read, by the month, here. I'm going to do this beginning this month!
Also--my thoughts and prayers are with those dealing with the threat of and the aftermath of hurricanes this season! Praying for God's blessing and protection for all.
Also--my thoughts and prayers are with those dealing with the threat of and the aftermath of hurricanes this season! Praying for God's blessing and protection for all.
Friday, September 1, 2017
Lynn's List September 1, 2017)
Each Friday I publish a list of titles I have come across, during the past week, that I find interesting. Happy reading!
- Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson
- Stormchasers: The Hurricane Hunters and Their Fateful Flight into Hurricane Janet by David Toomey
- Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans by Don Brown
- Katrina: After the Flood by Gary Rivlin
- The Hundred Year Flood by Matthew Salesses
- The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
- Hold Tight by Harlan Coben
- The Wedding Tree by Robin Wells
- The Last Ship: A Novel by William Brinkley
- Any Dream Will Do: A Novel by Debbie Macomber
- Hannah's List: A Romance Novel by Debbie Macomber
- The Captain's Daughter: A Novel by Meg Mitchell Moore
- The Coldest Fear: A Thriller by Debra Webb
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Review: Night Light (Restoration #2) by Terri Blackstock
Title: Night Light (Restoration #2)
Author: Terri Blackstock
Publisher: Zondervan
Publication Date: July 4, 2006 (first published January 1st 2006)
Edition: Paperback (355 pages)
Genres:
Night Light by Terri Blackstock
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Branning family and their neighbors are adjusting to no electricity, running water, electronics, and having to grow or barter for their food. The six of them have about all they can do to provide for themselves. Suddenly, four children are added to their family, and the family and some church members take on helping dwellers of an apartment complex. And just when Deni thinks her life is settled, she discovers it isn't, and she has to make a difficult decision as to whether she wants to merry the man she is engaged to or whether she needs to stay with her family and community.
This book was as engaging as the first in the Series. The characters continue their spiritual journey, and Terri Blackstock writes more about each in this compelling story. Real life struggles don't dim because the lights go out!
Author: Terri Blackstock
Publisher: Zondervan
Publication Date: July 4, 2006 (first published January 1st 2006)
Edition: Paperback (355 pages)
Genres:
- Fiction
- Christian Fiction
- Mystery
Night Light by Terri BlackstockMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Branning family and their neighbors are adjusting to no electricity, running water, electronics, and having to grow or barter for their food. The six of them have about all they can do to provide for themselves. Suddenly, four children are added to their family, and the family and some church members take on helping dwellers of an apartment complex. And just when Deni thinks her life is settled, she discovers it isn't, and she has to make a difficult decision as to whether she wants to merry the man she is engaged to or whether she needs to stay with her family and community.
This book was as engaging as the first in the Series. The characters continue their spiritual journey, and Terri Blackstock writes more about each in this compelling story. Real life struggles don't dim because the lights go out!
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