RebeccasReads

Wildflowers: The First Story in the Orphan Train Trilogy

Robert Noonan
iUniverse (2007)
ISBN 9780595426836
Reviewed by Kam Aures for Rebeccas Reads (3/08)

“Wildflowers,” the first of three books in the “Orphan Train Trilogy,” is set in the small mill town of Alton and begins in the year 1898.  It is a difficult era in which it is a necessity for young children to work in the mills in order for their families to survive.  The story centers round eleven-year-old, Hillary Cook and her mother Laura.  Hillary’s father Jeremiah had passed away five years earlier in a construction accident and now Hillary and her mother are on their own.  Laura’s best friend Kate is very close to the Cook family and treats Hillary like a child of her own.  Circumstances throughout the book draw them closer and as the book goes on Hillary needs to count on Kate more than ever.

Hillary works long twelve-hour days at the Alton Textile Mill, where abuse runs rampant.  Not only are young children operating dangerous machinery, but the mill owner Frank Dragus feels that he can take advantage of the young girls in his employ, as he frequently has girls of his choice sent to his office. 

Her only chance to be a kid is on Sunday which is Hillary’s only day off.  After church, Hillary and her two best friends Vera and Iris play outside exploring the fields and cemeteries, watching for wildlife, and just having fun.  The three create a special group and dub themselves as “wildflowers.”  Hillary and her friends always are on the lookout for orphan trains and strain to catch any glimpse of the children inside the passenger cars.  Orphan trains were an integral part of this time period transporting the parentless children from out east to the Midwest to place these children with families.  Sometimes the orphans ended up in loving families and other times they were just considered laborers where they would work in exchange for room and board.

“Wildflowers” is a historical novel, that although fiction, accurately depicts the events of that era.  Noonan’s expertly-written story draws you in to a time long ago and exposes you to the injustices that were common, particularly those involving children.  The plot draws you in and although somewhat predictable in spots still holds your interest.  The main characters are well-developed and you truly begin to take an interest in their well-being.  I look forward to reading the two remaining books in the trilogy.

Recommended Books

Heal Yourself: Mind Body Spirit

Marcia Kamph, D.C. M.S
Robert D. Reed Publishers (2005)
ISBN 1931741476
Reviewed by Phyllis Kruciak for Rebeccas Reads (3/08)

For the individual who is sick of being sick, “Heal Yourself: Mind Body Spirit” is an excellent resource! Dr. Kamph takes you to the basics of the mind/body connection. She introduces the book with insights provided from a chiropractic and nutritionist standpoint. Learning early how factors such as nutrition, stress and toxicity affect an individual’s overall health, one is clearly able to navigate through Dr. Kamph’s advice to understand healthcare in a fundamental way

Chapter two of the book illustrates the “General Adaptation Syndrome” which posits that there are three stages to a body’s reaction to a negative stimulus. Stage one is alarm, two is adaptation, and three is exhaustion. The reader is introduced to the stimuli outlined as emotional, dietary, physical and environmental then given basic information toward effective management. This framework provides the basis for understanding the way the body functions as a reactionary device. Understanding this allows and person to then dive into what stresses are presented and how to counteract the outcomes.

The reader is then introduced to the basic body systems and cells. Dr. Kamph simplifies these systems by analyzing how they function, reporting what they do and addressing common issues with which we bombard them. The beauty of her style is that she presents them very thoroughly yet easy to “digest,” so to speak. The reader is given the information in fun, short and to-the-point analyses, which allow the lay person to understand without feeling lost in jargon. The book is filled with fun illustrations and personal stories that relate to these areas and make the knowledge real in terms of our daily lives and functions.

After a basic understanding, we are introduced to ways to detoxify and help reverse the negative effects of the stressors the body has already encountered. We are told of the need to begin with a “clean colon and liver” and how to proceed from there. Water is essential and this book even gives great tips about what types of water (or more appropriately sources and filtering) truly help to achieve the goal. We learn how to supplement and exactly what vitamins and minerals do. We then learn of the components of a good diet to maintain health, even down to how to store and cook our food. We are presented with an “emergency kit” of holistic products that can serve to stem our day to day issues. The book concludes with a chapter on “the power of thought,” and the role of the mind in the entire process. Dr Kamph emphasizes the need for all components to work in union to achieve the goal.

Overall the book does a great job of education and suggestion to help heal, and maintain a positive course of holistic health. Readers will find themselves enlightened and entertained simultaneously by “Heal Yourself: Mind Body Spirit.”

No Control: Dangerous Seduction

Shannon K. Butcher
Forever (2008)
ISBN 9780446618663
Reviewed by Gina Holland for Rebeccas Reads (3/08)

Caleb Stone, pure man, pure operative, pure romantic. Lana Hancock, pure woman, pure victim, purely kind. Caleb met Lana when he was working undercover for Covert Delta Force. He worked as an operative on the inside of a very dangerous and sadistic terrorist group. Lana was a victim, an innocent, and this group tortured her. All of her friends that she worked with were tortured and killed. Lana was beaten until she could barely move. Almost every bone in her body was broken. Her face was badly bruised and swollen from those repeated beatings. Caleb, not wanting to give away his identity, stood by and did nothing as Lana and her friends were beaten and killed. When he took all he could take, he stepped in, pretending to want to hurt Lana himself, all because in his heart, he really wanted to save her. He and his comrades had killed the entire terrorist group, The Swarm, or so they thought. So Caleb knew it was time to get Lana to safety.

Caleb sat at Lana’s side, in the hospital, until she was recovered. Lana was told she would never walk again, and this sickened Caleb. Months later Lana would prove everyone wrong, and not only did she walk again, but she also became someone very important and very special in the world. While Lana was tortured, her right to have children was also taken. She could never have children of her own. So, she ran a center, just for the children. When she got back from her ordeal, her then fiancée left her for someone else. He broke off the engagement as Lana figured he didn’t want her to make him look bad as he was in the public eye.

Caleb got a phone call, from his boss, a man named Colonel Monroe. Monroe ordered Caleb to follow Lana around and keep her safe. There was some chatter going around that all of the members of The Swarm were not all dead. And that they may be coming after Lana, since she was the only survivor. Lana’s head was covered up while she was captured, however, unknown to The Swarm, she had a hole in it from which she could see certain things. She had seen the face of one terrorist. This would cause her great pain once again.

Caleb and Lana get closer and closer, and Caleb is falling in love with Lana. He wants to keep her safe. Lana has a very difficult time accepting Caleb because of what he did, watching while she was tortured. Caleb did what he had to do. And he regrets not being able to help the others. Can he make Lana understand and get into her heart? As Lana and Caleb’s story heats up, Butcher’s view of the love, hate relationship comes to life. It is truly a romantic love story. Caleb is a big man with a big heart and he doesn’t give up on Lana, no matter how many times she pushes him away. She lies to him about one person she has seen, that she knows, from those horrible days, but she wants to keep everyone safe so she doesn’t say a word. But when things start getting out of control, especially with the children from the center being in danger, Lana starts to wonder if she has done the right thing. This is a must read novel, the best I have read in quite a long time. If you enjoy romance along with a small amount of intrigue, this is the book for you. “No Control” is a great book for adults.

Recommended Books

Border Wedding

Amanda Scott
Grand Central Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9780446197984
Reviewed by LuAnn Morgan for Rebeccas Reads (3/08)

When Sir Walter (Wat) Scott’s cattle are stolen, he decides to get them back. He gathers his men and rides out to round them up, only to be ambushed by those who took them to begin with. They are held captive by Sir Iagan Murray, Baron of Elishaw, and sentenced to hang. However, Murray’s wife finds Wat to be a possible husband for their eldest daughter, who is beyond the typical age of marriage.

Murray offers to spare Wat and his men if he will marry Margaret (Meg). At first, he refuses, until he realizes a young boy had followed them and will be the first to hang. He agrees and thus begins the story of what turns out to be a deep and satisfying love for Wat and Meg.

The year is 1388 and the setting is the borderlands between Scotland and England. The area is a zone controlled by factions who are mainly Scots, yet many have a bit of English blood in them. As England attempts to overtake the lands, families must decide which side to support. It’s a time when men are in control and women are subservient, following orders from their husbands, brothers and fathers. Yet, Meg was raised to be headstrong and Wat finds himself often flabbergasted and enraged by her stubbornness.

Neither one of them has much experience dealing with the opposite sex. Meg knows she needs to do as she’s told, but her own personality keeps getting in the way. Wat soon begins to realize that here is a person he can actually talk intelligently with and she becomes the focus of his thoughts whenever they are apart. No matter how much she frustrates him, he still wants to please her and hates it when his anger gets the best of him.

The young couple finds themselves falling deeply in love with each other. Soon, there isn’t anything they won’t do to protect the other or to make the other happy. It’s a wonderful story, full of adventure and history. Amanda Scott is obviously very well-versed on life in the 14th century of Europe and she brings her knowledge to the page. She understands the language spoken, how people lived during that era and the tensions that ran rampant in a time of war and dividing factions.

I found this novel particularly intriguing due to the fact that my own ancestors came from this area of the world. I recognized some of the names mentioned as those my family dealt with in history. Scott has written an excellent story for both the romance reader and the history buff, bringing out the personalities of the characters to make it an enjoyable read. “Border Wedding” is a part of a series by this author, with each book strong enough to stand on its own. I’m anxious to read others by Scott in the future.

Send Yourself Roses: Thoughts on My Life, Love, and Leading Roles

Kathleen Turner, in collaboration with Gloria Feldt
Springboard Press (2008)
ISBN 9780446581127
Reviewed by Audrey Larson for Rebeccas Reads (2/08)

Kathleen Turner writes an interesting book about her life, stage roles, movies and activism. There are eight pages of photos, also. Ms. Turner goes into great detail about her roles, the productions, co-actors, etc. There are a few anecdotes about famous people, including Michael Douglas. She also tells how she became so angry with Sen. Strom Thurmond for addressing her as “little lady,” and “little lady, honey,” that someone had to grab her arm and restrain her from socking him! One can just picture the elderly, southern gentleman from the deep-south, face-to-face with the strong feminist woman--each with widely differing viewpoints.

Her father’s diplomatic service abroad widened her horizons from an early age, and his sudden death while she was still a teenager impacted her life greatly. Like her father, she believes in public service, giving something back, and activism; standing up for causes she believes in. Living in other countries with very differing cultures, Ms. Turner learned diplomacy right from childhood.

Those of us who have lived and traveled in other countries understand how Americans are perceived and treated in other parts of the world. We also understand, like Ms. Turner, how very educational and broadening this can be.

Ms. Turner’s grandfather gave her a phrase that she has used throughout her life: “Well, you just have to, don’t you?” It has become a motto and standard for her life, and gets her through some difficult times.

When she developed Rheumatoid Arthritis, life became almost unbearable, with the pain, swelling and loss of mobility for some time. Finding the right medication and treatment for the Rheumatoid Arthritis was not easy, nor quick. She also had to face her serious drinking problem, and later separation from her husband of many years. As a mother of one child, a young daughter, Ms. Turner also must juggle her time and responsibilities to give her child enough attention and nurturing.

A tragic fire at one of her husband’s properties killed over 80 people and devastated him. She had to support him, deal with the press hounding them, and try to shield and protect her child at the same time. It was a time of just doing what she had to do, as her grandfather taught her. Living in New York City, she enjoys doing her own shopping, walking around town, eating at her favorite restaurants, and the friendliness of the people toward her. She enjoys being told she is a “regular person.”

Ms. Turner has a healthy ego, a strong belief in her self, firm beliefs and opinions, and does not hesitate to voice them. She also has learned to reward herself when a play or movie ends, with massages and personal pampering, and will take adequate time off to recoup before starting another project. Rewarding your self and being good to yourself are things everyone should do. Sometimes it’s the littlest things that make us smile and brighten our spirits, as Ms. Turner learned long ago.

Readers learn from “Send Yourself Roses: Thoughts on My Life, Love, and Leading Roles” that Kathleen Turner knows herself well, does what she must (remembering her grandfather's advice), and life goes forward for her, always. She has learned to reward and treat herself when she needs it. And she does, indeed, send herself roses.

The Altar Boys: A Novel

John M. Poswall
Jullunder Press (2008)
ISBN 9780972999250
Reviewed by Narayan Radhakrishnan for Rebeccas Reads (3/08)

I am from India, and am a legal thriller fanatic to the core. In this world of fictional lawyers like Perry Mason (Erle Stanley Gardner) in books and Ally McBeal on television, I was desperately in search of a lawyer, a fictional lawyer hailing from India. And yippee, John Poswall’s “The Altar Boys” is the perfect answer to my desperate search. Call my investigation jingoistic or me a patrio-chauvinist, but there is something special in reading about an Indian lawyer in an American courtroom. And, Poswall has done something in legal thriller writing with the creation of lawyer JJ Singh Rai, equivalent to what HRF Keating did to police procedurals with the creation of Inspector Ghote. As the author puts it when times required “Rai could use his best Punjabi accent and mimic the Peter Sellers character (the hapless Indian extra actor in Hollywood) of “The Party.”

“The Altar Boys” is Poswall’s second work; the first was another law story, “Lawyers: The Class of ’69.” I had read the same--but it was not a thriller per se--and it was one more for evoking nostalgia, “remembrances of things past,” etc. The said novel, I believe, catered more to the taste of readers having a background in law. Among the four or five main protagonists of “The Class of ’69,” was JJ Singh Rai. But in this new work, Singh Rai is the unquestioned hero. He is now one of the best lawyers of America and has taken on some big shots in his career. But the passion for more has fueled Rai’s ambition, and this time round, Rai bites something more than which he can chew. The defendant in this case is Mr. Almighty, God Almighty.

Law and religion is a deadly combination. And for those who have seen Spencer Tracy and Frederick March battle it out as Clarence Darrow and William Brady respectively in Jerome Lawrence’s “Inherit the Wind,” you would know what I mean. When the parents of two altar boys seek Rai’s help about an alleged molestation by the church priest, Rai sees this as the ultimate challenge. Why not make God himself the de facto defendant, while the priest would be the de jure defendant. And more than proving himself worthy of another challenge, Rai also wants to prove his mettle before his daughter, a law student.

What follows is superb action, courtroom action at its scintillating best. The author is right at home adding more and more spice to the drama. As the blurb rightly puts it--“The Altar Boys” is the book that sets the new standard for courtroom drama. Absolutely enjoyed the book--reverently enjoyed it.

The Lighthouse Keeper: A Beckoning Death (Grace Marsden Mysteries)

Luisa Buehler
Echelon Press (2007)
ISBN 9781590805640
Reviewed by Audrey Larson for Rebeccas Reads (3/08)

Luisa Buehler has written a thrilling 287-page, action-packed murder mystery set on a Canadian Island. The first fascinating mystery discovery appears right on the first page, and you are pulled into it right away.

Grace Marsden, the main character, has joined friends, along with her brother Marty, in an island cottage for a vacation. It is off-season, the weather is turning colder, and they set out to explore Christian Island’s old lighthouse. They begin to uncover some of the island’s deep, dark secrets, long-buried history, and then the first murder occurs. As they continue to delve into ancestral history on the island, they discover an old graveyard set in a circular pattern, old bones, underground tunnels, hidden treasure, and another murder. Not all of the island’s natives are friendly, as they are considered “cottagers,” and they are not sure whom to trust.

The island’s native police chief, Danny King, is a rather mysterious fellow, and they’re never quite sure whether to trust him or not. Grace has a condition she calls “OCD,” and along with her “sightings” of lights, voices in her head, and ritualistic behavior at times, she sees and does some very strange, surprising things.

As things heat up, the seven people in the cottage begin to suspect each other of being possible murderers, and they are in increasing danger of being murdered themselves. To add to all the mysterious goings-on, there is also the ghost of an old lighthouse keeper. The island natives also believe they see him, so Grace really doesn’t think she is “crazy,” when she does.

Old island markers, called inukshuks and inusuits, add to the mysteries, as they seem to point the way, but also are meant to confuse anyone who can’t decipher their mysterious codes. It is enough to send cold shivers down your spine just reading about them. There are mysterious markings in the old graveyard, a hidden underground room, and Grace gets lost in the tunnels and doesn’t know whom to trust to help get her out, who may be trying to kill her, whose voices she hears in the tunnels, and she is not sure how to interpret the old markings. It is all very spooky, frightening and thrilling.

Grace’s life is in danger again when she is buried in packed snow, and she is sure someone is trying to kill her. Later, she is trapped in a fire, with no way out. But she has a “sighting,” and finds a way where there was apparently none before. She keeps seeing mysterious lights in her times of peril, but has no idea who is trying to kill her. There is intense danger, mystery and intrigue right to the end of the book.

The book is thrilling and fantastic reading all the way through. It would make a wonderful movie, and one can just picture the Native American actor Graham Greene playing island policeman Danny King! This reader/reviewer gives author Luisa Buehler and “The Lighthouse Keeper” two thumbs up, five stars (the best), and my highest recommendation!

Recommended Books

Then We Came to the End: A Novel

Joshua Ferris
Back Bay Books (2008)
ISBN 9780316016391
Reviewed by Robin Witte for Rebeccas Reads (3/08)

“Then We Came to the End” explores the relationships of people trying to keep above the increasing boredom of a high-powered world of marketing along the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago. The reader is immediately swept into this chaotic office environment and introduced to employees and employers in a sporadic fashion as the plot twists and turns through time; there is no linear progression of people or events as this tale unfolds. Through the unique perspective of a collective “we,” Joshua Ferris illustrates how universal office life is across the country. The people he portrays can be in any office in any city and prototypes of these people are everywhere as this office is a paradigm of trends around the country. Many of these employees are from the same mold and seem almost interchangeable with each other as they state “[m]ost of us liked most everyone, a few of us hated specific individuals; one or two people loved everyone and everything.” The reader follows the lives of these employees as they deal with strange coworkers, the kidnapping of a daughter, divorce, and unexpected pregnancy. We see these employees navigate through a less than wholesome office environment as major layoffs are occurring.

This work of fiction can be a bit tedious as the story jumps from one time period to another. Ferris chooses to reveal plot points in a slightly confusing manner exemplified in the character of Tom who, very early on, loses his job but keeps being pulled into the story as previous time periods are being described. The reader finds that past events are being described as if they are happening in the present. Are you confused yet?

The collective perspective of all the employees at once does drive home the essence of this monochromatic and universal office life, but in doing so, it does not allow the reader to empathize with the interchangeable protagonist. By creating this strange perspective, Joshua Ferris makes a clear statement about office life at the expense of understanding the employees themselves. The reader can never begin to understand the individuals in this work because we never see them as individuals, but as units of a whole that happen to act differently at times. An employee, Jeannine becomes the focus of the collective when she deals with the loss of her child in a strange manner. The reader, however, only sees the reaction of the collective and can only understand Jeannine through reactions of that collective.

In spite of some issues with this work, Joshua Ferris paints this mundane portrait in such a satirical and humorous way that the reader can’t help but laugh, and relate to, many of the plot twists and descriptions. “Then We Came to the End” is an intriguing look into the fictional world of office life and Joshua Ferris does an excellent job of portraying this harrowing life. Readers can fully relate to the antics of employees and laugh at the dead-on descriptions of offices across the country.

The Winter Rose

Jennifer Donnelly
Hyperion (2008)
ISBN 9781401301033
Reviewed by LuAnn Morgan for Rebeccas Reads (3/08)

The 20th century was just beginning. It was a time of male dominance in many careers, especially the field of medicine. Nurses were women, but female doctors were few and far between.

India Selwyn Jones graduates from the London School of Medicine for Women and she takes on a job with a male doctor. It’s not long before she realizes the man is a butcher and cares little for the ills of women, particularly those who are poor and pregnant. India, however, is very idealistic and her dream is to one day have her own clinic that caters to those who cannot afford good medical care.

Her family doesn’t understand her goals. They are wealthy and aristocratic and still hold to the belief that a woman should be standing beside a man and helping him with his career. Indeed, India is engaged to marry a man who has high political aspirations and her mother supports his wish to have India on his arm. It would look good for his career and, at the same time, provide the money he so desperately needs. Her mother has promised him a substantial dowry if he marries her daughter and puts an end to the ridiculous notion of being a doctor.

In the meantime, India meets Sid Malone. He’s handsome, strong, charismatic and a romantic figure. He’s also London’s most notorious gangster. His reputation precedes him and India is determined to avoid his offered help to start a clinic.

Yet, she finds herself drawn to him and he is drawn to her. Their constant bickering is merely a cover-up for their true feelings, which both are trying desperately to ignore and stifle. India’s fiancé holds to a platform of ridding London of the criminal element and goes after Sid. Unfortunately, India seems to always be at the wrong place at the wrong time and it results in the two of them being thrown together once again.

“The Winter Rose” is a sequel to “The Tea Rose,” Jennifer Donnelly’s first novel, but the book manages to stand on its own. Beautifully written, the book transports the reader back to a time when men were men and women were trying to break out of the stereotype those same men put them in.

The book also educates the reader on the history of London at the turn of the century, when the city was undergoing many changes.

“The Winter Rose” is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Some readers may be intimidated by the size -- after all, it is 700 pages -- but the smooth writing style keeps the book flowing. Before you know it, you’ve reached the end and wonder what will happen next. Obviously, Ms. Donnelly plans a sequel and I, for one, am looking forward to it.

Border Wedding

Amanda Scott
Grand Central Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9780446197984
Reviewed by LuAnn Morgan for Rebeccas Reads (3/08)

When Sir Walter (Wat) Scott’s cattle are stolen, he decides to get them back. He gathers his men and rides out to round them up, only to be ambushed by those who took them to begin with. They are held captive by Sir Iagan Murray, Baron of Elishaw, and sentenced to hang.  However, Murray’s wife finds Wat to be a possible husband for their eldest daughter, who is beyond the typical age of marriage.

Murray offers to spare Wat and his men if he will marry Margaret (Meg). At first, he refuses, until he realizes a young boy had followed them and will be the first to hang. He agrees and thus begins the story of what turns out to be a deep and satisfying love for Wat and Meg.

The year is 1388 and the setting is the borderlands between Scotland and England. The area is a zone controlled by factions who are mainly Scots, yet many have a bit of English blood in them.  As England attempts to overtake the lands, families must decide which side to support. It’s a time when men are in control and women are subservient, following orders from their husbands, brothers and fathers. Yet, Meg was raised to be headstrong and Wat finds himself often flabbergasted and enraged by her stubbornness.

Neither one of them has much experience dealing with the opposite sex. Meg knows she needs to do as she’s told, but her own personality keeps getting in the way. Wat soon begins to realize that here is a person he can actually talk intelligently with and she becomes the focus of his thoughts whenever they are apart. No matter how much she frustrates him, he still wants to please her and hates it when his anger gets the best of him.

The young couple finds themselves falling deeply in love with each other. Soon, there isn’t anything they won’t do to protect the other or to make the other happy.  It’s a wonderful story, full of adventure and history. Amanda Scott is obviously very well-versed on life in the 14th century of Europe and she brings her knowledge to the page.  She understands the language spoken, how people lived during that era and the tensions that ran rampant in a time of war and dividing factions.

I found this novel particularly intriguing due to the fact that my own ancestors came from this area of the world. I recognized some of the names mentioned as those my family dealt with in history. Scott has written an excellent story for both the romance reader and the history buff, bringing out the personalities of the characters to make it an enjoyable read.  “Border Wedding” is a part of a series by this author, with each book strong enough to stand on its own. I’m anxious to read others by Scott in the future.

Murder Was a Stranger

Peggy Swager
Treble Heart Books/WhoooDoo Mysteries (2007)
ISBN 9781932695540
Reviewed by Audrey Larson for Rebeccas Reads (3/08)

The main character of the book is Kate Summers, a policewoman, divorced mother of two, with a Jack Russell Terrier named Cookie. Cookie has an attitude and a polka-dot ear, which stands up. Cookie is modeled after the author's own Cookie. Cookie adds a little warmth, humor and cuteness to the book. The book is written in the first person (Kate), and sounds almost like a diary.

Kate's next-door neighbor is constantly on call to babysit her children, any time of the day or night, whenever she needs him. (That is not believable!) Kate spends the entire book investigating who killed an older woman who lived in a mansion. Since nobody seemed to like the woman (Ethel), Kate has a lot of suspects to interview.

Ethel seemed to be harsh, critical and abrasive toward everyone, including her own brother, Ed. Why Ethel destroyed Ed’s plans for marriage and happiness is unknown, except to herself. It turns out that Ethel has some skeletons in her closet. Some of the relationships turn out to be quite different than what they seemed to be.

The cause of death appears to be poison, but repeated tests turn up no concrete evidence, and Kate keeps pursuing every little detail and motive. Along the way, Kate tries to keep her personal feelings apart from her involvement with some of the suspects, but it is difficult. Kate begins to suspect that the murderer is someone she cares about--which still could be several people--and she tries to maintain professionalism in her investigations.

Kate also begins to wonder if some crimes “should” remain unsolved because the murderer may be an otherwise “good” person in the community. And she thinks if every person who did something wrong was arrested, the jails would be full to overflowing and the streets would be bare of people. So, in “Murder Was a Stranger,” Kate is having a bit of a moral dilemma, and goes jogging to clear her thinking on how to proceed. Kate eventually figures everything out, and it is personally difficult for her. But she is a mother and a conscientious policewoman, and you just know she will cope.

Mindfulness and the Art of Choice: Transform Your Life

Karen H. Sherman, PhD
Loving Healing Press (2008)
ISBN 9781932690514
Reviewed by Leslie Hiedle for Rebeccas Reads (3/08)

“Mindfulness and the Art of Choice” offers insight into the cyclic emotional and behavioral patterns so many people encounter. Dr. Karen Sherman’s step-by-step guide gives readers the opportunity to explore their pasts, govern their present and embody their future.

Dr. Sherman has been a therapist for twenty years, conducts workshops, and speaks regularly around the country. In “Mindfulness and the Art of Choice,” she uses not only her knowledge and education to delve into the world of habitual and reactionary dysfunction, but offers first-hand experience in unhealthy emotional responses and how she used the tools included in the book to break old habits and create a life of mindful choice. “There is, I discovered, a way to approach life so that you feel a sense of being prepared, of being ready, of being grounded. This self-confident approach is generated from within. It comes from being in touch, being connected, with your self. Through this self-awareness, you will be able to deal with whatever comes your way.”

Dr. Sherman addresses the issue of fear when facing change and why so many people stay mired in prosaic and uninspired lives. “Another benefit of not making changes is that you feel like you are in control—you know the outcome. Your risk factor is minimized. Furthermore, functioning in this manner releases you from your responsibility. If you’re not all you can be, you can easily blame it on your past—something that happened to you, or something you didn’t get.”

What sets “Mindfulness and the Art of Choice” apart from many self-help manuals is Sherman’s awareness that people are a sum of their life experiences. Wanting to forget an abusive childhood or a traumatic encounter does not make the memory just go away. “Many people are not comfortable with the negative or painful feelings and go to great lengths trying not to feel them. Often there are attempts at using different distractions—anything from keeping busy all the time to using alcohol or drugs. The end result is a disconnection from oneself.” Learning to acknowledge the impact of the experience by being aware of old patterns, noticing the physical reactions in the body and observing your own behavior will allow a person to actively make changes and begin to build a more rewarding life.

Due to the fallible nature of human beings, unhealthy patterns are repeated from one generation to the next with pain and dysfunction handed down like family heirlooms. As adults, we many times unconsciously make the decision to hold onto these past pains and regrets. “You can never take away the past. The past is still something that has happened to you. And you cannot change your past. But what you have changed, what you have taken control over is how much of a slave you have been to your past.” In “Mindfulness and the Art of Choice: Transform Your Life,” Dr. Karen Sherman offers a guidebook of choices that can help lead the reader to a happier, more fulfilled life that reflects the person within.

Recommended Books

Death of a Gentle Lady

The old castle precariously perched at the edge of a Scottish cliff grabs you from the beginning, right from the book jacket.  And right from the very first page, you are drawn into the story, as the characters seem real and you are there in the Scottish Highlands.

Hamish MacBeth, the red-haired local Constable, lives in the police station with his dog and cat.  There is never a dull moment in the quaint little village, as murders and mysteries abound and Hamish is right in the middle of it all. 

And as Hamish and others try hard to figure out “whodunnit,” you really do not know until he does.  It is all so intriguing, and the old “folly” castle that is way too close to the cliffs is fascinating. 

Hamish is a bachelor, and his romantic pursuits are surprising and sometimes quite funny.  When he gets upset, his Scottish burr becomes pronounced, and it is charming. 

Because Hamish is so bright, people wonder why he doesn't want promotions, or to leave his police station home.  But he loves it and the community, and in addition to his cat and dog, he also has some sheep and chickens. 

There are many interesting characters in the book, and it is very surprising when the murderer is finally revealed.  You just cannot figure it out ahead of time, and thus are kept intrigued all the way through the book. 

M. C. Beaton has done a great job of pulling you right into the delightful Scottish countryside, and you feel these people and Scottish towns are real.  “Death of a Gentle Lady” is one of a series of Hamish MacBeth mysteries.  You will want to read more of them.

M. C. Beaton
Grand Central Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9780446582605
Reviewed by Audrey Larson for Rebeccas Reads (3/08)

Walk to Freedom

The book’s character, Omar Ghazi, is a grandfather living in California.  He was born in India in the late 1920s.  It was a time of strife, struggle and conflict, as India eventually gained independence from Britain in 1947, and the partition of Pakistan and India into Hindu and Muslin enclaves.  Ten million people made a mass exodus, and over a million people lost their lives.

Omar Ghazi wants his grandchildren to know family history, and he tells them the story of his journey across three continents.  Since they have a good life in California, they have many questions about his early life, travels, getting to England under difficult circumstances, and then back to his homeland.

We Americans do not really know much about life in his homeland, really, except there still seems to be so much violence, struggle and strife over there.  Perhaps there always will be.  But this story is really a personal fictional narrative of one man’s life, family and journey, as he wishes his grandchildren to learn, remember it and pass it along.

Omar learned much living and working in England.  It broadened his horizons, and he shared what he learned with his people when he returned home.  “Walk to Freedom” has 112 pages, and someone with an interest in that part of the world and time period, may wish to read this book.

Javed Mohammed
Rumi Bookstore (2007)
ISBN 9780970126122
Reviewed by Audrey Larson for Rebeccas Reads (3/08)

Two Guys Read the Obituaries

This book, “Two Guys Read the Obituaries,” is a memoir of sorts. Steve Chandler and Terrence N. Hill take on the task of looking at life through the study of obituaries.
The authors selected certain well-read newspapers and perused them each day in order to examine the lives of those who recently died. They were especially interested in those with a particular appeal personally to themselves, such as sports figures, actors, writers and people around their own ages.

Nearly every journalist starts their career with the obituary section. They soon learn that, indeed, there are messages to be found within the few words that summarize a person’s life. Here is a book that explains what can be discovered as the reader considers the death of someone they may or may not know.

Hill and Chandler are professional writers and friends from childhood. Hill is a playwright, advertising copywriter and creative director. Chandler is the author of twelve books dealing with personal growth and business success.

Their first book together was “Two Guys Read Moby-Dick,” as they claimed to be the only two people who read the entire book and shared their feelings with the reader. They put into words whatever came to their minds.

Continuing in that same style, they read the obituary pages for one year, putting their thoughts and impressions in writing. Along the way, they began to discover certain consistencies. They found that piano players tend to outlive drummers and where we go after we die.

The result of their research is a laugh-out-loud book that charms and amuses the reader, while at the same time, makes you think about the topic yourself. And this book will forever change the way you read obituaries.

I found “Two Guys Read the Obituaries” witty and fun to read. It’s a nice break from a hectic day when one wants to sit back and relax without having to delve into more serious subjects. Can Chandler and Hill continue to enchant readers with another “Two Guys” book? I certainly hope so.

Steve Chandler and Terrence N. Hill
Robert D. Reed Publishers (2007)
ISBN 9781931741798
Reviewed by LuAnn Morgan for Rebeccas Reads (3/08)