Threads West - A Saga to Skip

In Threads West  the adventure begins just as the book ends. The worst part is that there are five more books in the saga.  It could easily be two books if the author had condensed the material, focused on the story and spent less time (the entire first half of the book) developing each character’s history when it could have been integrated into the story. Just as the characters (from several countries who all end up in St. Louis and all have a link to a treasure map and all set out on the same wagon train headed west) finally have some real action and the story really begins - the book ends. After only 222 pages. I am glad I didn’t pay to read it.

What a disappointment. It’s certainly not a western. It’s too long for a short story. Some of the characters seem to be drawn from romance novels although the “romantic moments,” would leave romance readers disappointed by the rather inept descriptions of those encounters. Everyone seems like a caricature – the smart, clever Jewish man, the big Scandinavian, the entitled British snob, and the hard drinking, card shark, cheating Irishman. I really wanted to like this book – but between the overwrought descriptions and the overwhelming coincidences it was just unbelievable.

It says on the back of the book that it is being compared to Lonesome Dove and Centennial. That is like equating a Harlequin Romance with Pride and Prejudice. But all things have their place and this book may find an audience with people who have lots of money to spare buying six books. Personally, after this one I won’t pay for the next five. 

The Historian: Another Great Read

.       #3.      The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova  

For lovers of historical fiction this is a gem and if you enjoy a touch of the supernatural with vampire lore then you’ll devour this author’s first novel.  With settings in remote castles, chilling crypts, glorious Istanbul and enough history to thrill a scholar the believable and intriguing characters span time to tell the story of Vlad the Impaler and a young woman’s search for the truth after she finds a mysterious document among her Father’s papers. Beguiling, suspenseful and fun. A lamp burner and very original!

This is another gem you may have missed when it was first published - it received great reviews - but if you didn't read it - don't skip it!!!

Sandra Dallas: Many Great Books To Read

I am continuing my list of books to read in 2011- some you may have missed through the years. Here are some great reads by author Sandra Dallas. I discovered her by chance in a bookstore when I was intrigued by the title of her  book - Buster Midnight's Cafe. I bought the book, fell in love with the characters and her writing style  and have been a fan ever since that time. 

4.  Buster Midnight’s Café  by  Sandra Dallas  Some of the most compelling and loveable characters in fiction are in this book. Small town Montana boasted a movie star hopeful (May Anna) and a heavyweight contender (Buster) but their two best friends Effa Commander and Whippy Bird (you’ll love her) stay back home in Butte as their pals find fame, fortune and ultimately tragedy. A beautifully written story that evokes  war time rural America and all the glamour of studio era 1940’s Hollywood.  A book I have gifted repeatedly… If you love this you’ll also enjoy The Persian Pickle Club (a quilting circle in 1930’s Kansas that provides life support and group therapy for it’s vastly different women - think Steel Magnolias at a quilting bee), The Diary of Mattie Spenser about a young Iowa wife on the Overland Trail (by covered wagon) on her way to Colorado. Getting used to a husband, a new land, and then a prairie home are all shared through her writings. And what a tale she tells… My other Dallas favorite is Whiter Than Snow, which takes place in a small Colorado mining town in the 1920’s and centers on the terrible wait to discover who has survived an avalanche that buried a school. Each of the families is detailed with their story woven through the continuing thread of fear and hope. It is a day when the haves and have nots of the town become equals and when the barriers of wealth and poverty have no distinction. A powerful narrative.

Ten to read in 2011: Old Gold - the first 4 recommendations

Here are some of my favorites that you might have missed through the years. You should be able to find most of them at your library or though a local bookstore. They are not in any particular order and range from classics to romance to historical fiction - something for everyone!

10. Paint the Wind  Cathy Cash Spellman’s western historical romance is a sweeping tribute to the boldness of the frontier and the men and women who carved out their destinies following the Civil War. You’ll take a “Fancy” to this one with its tale stretching from Louisiana to a Colorado mining town  to New York City and a cast of characters including a madam, miners, and the two men who love the same woman.

9. Confederacy of Dunces  by John Kennedy Toole.  The title for this singular (and posthumously awarded 1981 Pulitzer Prize winner)  tome comes from the Jonathan Swift quotation, "When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him." The book takes place in New Orleans (home of the author) and tells the story of Ignatius J. Reilly a thirtyish slob who although well educated believes that lady fortune (ah, goddess Fortuna where are you?) doesn’t shine upon him and his job hunting (through no fault of his own of course!). Unforgettable, with characters so colorful you will find it IMPOSSIBLE to believe the film has yet to be made. Hollywood please hurry --- but PLEASE don’t ruin this masterpiece!

8.     Tender by Mark Childress.  Growing up dirt poor in Mississippi and then becoming the most famous rock and rock legend in history – kind of sounds like Elvis Presley. That will be your guess too when you read this well written and fascinating novel about “Leroy’s” early years, including the twin he lost at birth, his adoring and overly attentive mother, a voice unlike any other and the quest for fame.  An emotional ride through the fictionalized life of the boy from Tupelo who called Memphis home.

7.       In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden. When a middle-aged career woman enters a cloistered Benedictine convent her entire life becomes centered on quiet, thoughtful contemplation, prayer and life within a community of other women. Huge lifestyle change! Rumer Godden does a beautiful job of weaving the fabric of religious life along with the emotional upheaval, spiritual quest (and questions) community (including the stories of the other nuns) as she tells the story of Phillipa Talbot and her new life as a cloistered nun in an English convent. (You may remember the 1970’s movie with Diana Rigg).

A trip can change your life and Conor Grennan's book, little princes, documents this fact as he writes about his sojourn to an orphanage in Nepal. When he decided to take a year off to travel  Grennan, decided to add a brief stint of volunteering to his journey so it wouldn't seem quite so self indulgent. An orphanage in Nepal sounded interesting, even if he didn't know anything about kids - well, it was just a few weeks so how hard could it be? 

Grennan discovers that the young boys have many lessons to teach him about survival, joy, charity and life. How he takes these lessons and uses them to navigate his own life and then to begin unraveling the mysteries of  the child trafficking web in Nepal that ensnares his young friends makes this story compelling and extraordinary reading. Civil War has ravaged Nepal and its families and Grennan makes it his mission to reunite the little princes with their families - families who willing gave up all they owned in the belief they were giving their children a chance at a better life.

A great read and one that will move you to action --- check out Conor Grennan's  web page at  http://www.nextgenerationnepal.org/

Khan: Empire of Silver

Khan: Empire of Silver is the fourth of Conn Iggulden's series about Genghis Khan's Mongol empire - this time without Genghis to anchor the story. Court intrigue among the remaining brothers (and grandsons), battles (he writes these so very well), family relations (or lack there of), trying to hold an empire together that at times seemed to be glued together only by the blood and wrath of Genghis proves difficult for his heirs as their thoughts are scattered by dreams of glory.

Like all of Iggulden's previous books it has fascinating history to draw in the reader but this particular time I personally found it difficult to keep up with the characters. There were so many that it was often hard to remember who was who.

Nonetheless, the history was very informative and I learned so much (I never knew the Mongols had fought the Templars, nor about the Battle with King Bela of Hungary.) But I was most intrigued by the story of a younger brother's sacrifice to heal his elder brother (a shaman’s idea.)

A worthy read for a history buff or anyone interested in the Mongols, historical battles or family sagas. 

A Few Good Reads

An intriguing book about Muslims waiting for the imam of prophesy - one who will arise to defeat their detractors and all non-believers. May remind readers of  Christians waiting for the second-coming of Christ. Fascinating reading.

Was she a serial killer or a misunderstood noblewoman only punishing maidservants for their transgressions? A new spin on the true tale of 16th Century Hungarian Countess Erzebet Bathory (Elizabeth Bathory). Never convicted of any crimes, the woman who became known to history as the "female dracula," for her supposed blood bathing/drinking is characterized in Rebecca Johns new novel as a misunderstood woman who tells her own side of the story for a change. It is a worthy effort that will  leave the reader as intrigued as she is appalled by Bathory's beliefs and actions. It will also leave the reader unable to put down this book. 

A  twist on Shakespeare and his writing of the "Tempest." Actually, the story of a young girl forced into life as servant, and how her journey to Jamestown with an irritating mistress is interrupted by a storm that leaves the ship and it's passengers stranded on a deserted island in the Bahamas during the reign of James I.

How the castaways remake themselves into a society, how they learn to survive and thrive (or not) and how "Miranda" befriends the ship's historian who has his own secrets is the heart of the story that provides not only a wealth of history about ELizabeth I and her reign, but also about Shakespeare and fellow playwrights , nautical history and the colonization of Jamestown in the New World, and the persecution of Catholics during the reign of Elizabeth.

How the young servant girl and the ship's historian find common ground in shared secrets and become friends is a wonderful storyline in itself, but the the threads of this novel that weave together history and fiction provide the reader with  satisfying entertainment throughout the novel. Miranda is an intriguing character and her growth from scared and shy young girl to confident and able chef and woman is a delight to experience. 

Estate Planning For People WIth A Chronic Condition Or Disability

The book, Estate Planning for People With A Chronic Condition or Disability may not be as tempting as the latest thriller or spy novel, but if you are one of millions Americans facing daily life with a chronic or disabling disease, thoughts about the future and planning for it are important for emotional as well as medical and legal reasons. If you have strong feelings about your health care options and end of life care and realize a time may come when you can no longer express your feelings to your loved ones, this book can help you make those preparations with its step by step basics for planning your estate which includes health care proxies, “living wills,” HIPAA requirements, trusts, wills and power of attorney. Now is the time to legally document your wishes so your loved ones have your thoughts in a binding document to guide their decision-making during difficult times. It is a gift to them as well as a choice about your own life.

The book breaks little new ground but it does an excellent job of gathering resources into one volume and using clear, precise language to help readers through this sometimes “difficult to think about,” journey as they make end of life decisions about healthcare, finances and other resources. While the author, Martin Shenkman takes great care to advise readers to consult an attorney, forms are included that can be used if resources are limited. This book is a great starting point when faced with a chronic or disabling condition within the family and legal issues that may occur such as the need for power of attorney, or access to medical records, etc.

An excellent resource and a book that may be especially helpful to people with Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, or Alzheimer’s Disease since some specific examples are cited but a great resource for other chronic/disabling diseases conditions too. As someone with MS I was glad to have a chance to review this book and learn more about estate planning options.

It's Not All In Your Head: Anxiety Depression, Mood Swings and Multiple Sclerosis

Ask anyone with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) what frustrates her and the answer may  be the unpredictability of the disease, the waxing and waning of symptoms, the stress this brings to her life and the loss of control over planning for the future.  Dr. Patricia Farrell really “gets” MS and describes MS patients as being faced with the “possible dilemma of being lost in your own life…the not-knowing aspect that increases any physical and mental stress you may feel.” 

Farrell’s book is a how-to guide that begins with an introduction to MS and the disease process. Most MS patients have read about the physical impact of the disease, but, may not be as familiar with other aspects of MS such as depression, cognition and anxiety and why these symptoms happen to so many MS patients (it is not all in your head).

You’ll learn that about 25 recent studies show an association between stress and 

MS – a fascinating chapter called “The Mind Body Connection.” It is worth buying the book just to read this chapter – but keep reading because Farrell doesn’t just give facts, she also provides a great “how to help yourself,” manage cognitive challenges including memory issues, depression, and live a better life with MS. She shares patient stories as well as strategies for daily living, and each chapter has a list for more reading. She also has a resource list in the appendix.

For anyone with MS it’s a great place to start understanding the emotional side of the disease, but more importantly it provides strategies that can normalize life for the patient and family. Well written by Dr. Farrell it is one I will recommend to others with MS.

"Sweet Reads for A Saturday!"

Sweet revenge--- the joy of getting even and laughing all the way to the bank!

Sweet words that will make Mom, Dad and the little one giggle... 

Sweet and yummy treats --- and all the butter your tummy and heart can hold!

The Emperor's Tomb

If there is one lesson to be learned from the Chinese culture it is that things are not what they seem and a polite countenance and soft words can mask a country in major turmoil and upheaval beneath a placid surface. The frozen faced terra cotta warriors of China's First Emperor Qui Shi are just part of the adventure in this rollicking, suspenseful and history laden book by author Steve Berry. This story centers on an age old mystery with world wide implications - are the Chinese hiding a secret that may be within the walls of the  off-limits tomb of the Emperor - a secret that could profoundly change what the world believes about oil? Hmmmmm. Ever wonder why one of the most fascinating sites in all of archeology was never revealed - akin to finding Cleopatra's resting place intact and never opening it. Just what is the reason? Berry spins another late night reading story that will keep you riveted. 

Cotton Malone, an American bookseller living and working in Copenhagen is back in another adventure as he battles to discover secrets from the past that will have implications impacting the political balance as well as the worldwide economy. Along with a fascinating assortment of new characters, favorites (or at least familiar ones) lend a hand including Casseioppeia Vitt and Malone's former boss Stephanie Nelle from the Magellen Billet, a secretive U.S. government organization that cannot seem to let him stay retired.

This book is one of my  best picks for the year - it will keep you entertained  and fascinate you with historical details and provide you with insights into China.

Critical Care

After I read this book I felt like Oliver Twist - I wanted "more." More information about Teresa Brown's cancer patients, more about her decision to change careers from teaching college English to become an oncology R.N. and more about the emotional and physical impact of daily life on a cancer unit's nursing team.

Brown's stories span the comical to the heart wrenching with a bit of hospital politics thrown in as well as  her own experiences as a patient negotiating the emergency department when she hurt her knee. Her writing is crisp,  readable and was a great pick by "Reader's Digest Magazine," for the June 2010 book excerpt.

If you like medical memoirs, life and death snippets and nurse stories than this is the perfect book for you. If you like details, in depth knowledge about patients, their diseases their feelings, emotions and family situations then this is not your book. If you want to know more about the author's career change, well you won't get many details about that either.

Still, you cannot beat the writing and it will leave you wanting more.

Two Non-Fiction Choices

Two Non-Fiction Picks...

If making a difference is important to you but you don't know where or how to begin then this is the book for you. THE LIFE YOU CAN SAVE is an easy read with a simple, concise message and a fail proof plan - now if everyone would follow suit... 

What happens when a young Mormon girl is abducted into slavery by a band of Yavapai Indians then sold to another tribe where she is adopted as daughter into a family of Mohaves'? The Blue Tattoo is a beautifully crafted history of Olive Oatman a real life 1850's  teen who lived a story that she would eventually tell on the lecture circuit following her ransom back to "civilized" society. 

Oatman carried physical marks of her time with the Mohave's, chin tattoos that the Indians used for identification purposes - so in the afterlife they could find loved ones. She was the first known tattooed white woman in US history and as such an oddity for the rest of her life.  A fascinating story with glimpses of a time and place that few non - native Americans ever experienced. So well written that you will find it hard to put the book down. 

Non-Fiction Picks for the Week

Both of these books offer food for thought ---- author, nurse, humanitarian and school builder Greg Mortenson is back with more stories on using education as a tool for peace and understanding in STONES INTO SCHOOLS. His simple message and good works will open your check book as well your heart when you read  the words of his continuing story. This tale  has been written by many helping hands from across the country who believe in his vision. (Be sure and also buy the children's versions of his books and don't forget to take a minute and send in a check to make educational opportunities a reality.  I still cherish a postcard I have from his organization with a young girl wearing a headscarf reading the Dr. Seuss classic  IF I RAN THE CIRCUS. The  Central Asia Society is a top ten any day and Mortenson's books always make my favorite's list.)  An upbeat book, an inspiring message and an author you can feel good about supporting. It's worth reading and a great book to share with a friend.

Waste, Uncovering the Global Food Scandal,   uses dumpster diving as a starting point for explaining what happens to left-over foods from our grocery stores. While it is based in the UK the author makes the effort to include information on US chains (yes, even Kroger and Walmart get mentions), as he traces the often sad story of unsold food. It is at times sickening, sometimes depressing but ALWAYS informative. And you thought you knew about expiration dates?

Two historical fiction books to read

Family life in 13th century Europe comes to life in this beautifully written book by author Michelle Cameron. Jewish customs, tradition, and daily routines are shared along with the daily tribulation of life in a world filled with suspicion over heresy and an increasingly intolerant Catholic church. You'll appreciate the title character and her life's journey from cherished daughter through her marriage and then motherhood. Based on Cameron's own relative it is a fascinating look at a time period that is often shrouded more in myth than in history. Great read.

Edward Rutherfurd's saga of New York from the Dutch founding of New Amsterdam on the site of an Indian fishing village, through  9/11. It may begin with Dutch but the book spends time sharing the story of the British during the Revolutionary War of American Independence as well as the upstart American patriots, it proceeds through through the Civil War and the slavery issue to the industrial revolution, the influx of immigrants, New York's constantly changing population, Tammany Hall politics, and an ebb and flow that shows how repetitive history can be  and how patterns are there for students to see if they just happen to pay attention!

The tragedy of 9/11 and the evolving stories of families in their daily struggle to find hope, happiness , love and success in New York are just part of Rutherfurd's latest sweeping tale of a city that never sleeps and a place that has become famous for bright lights, Broadway and plenty of characters many of whom you will find between the pages of this tome. As with any book of this nature the complaint is that you want more information about some of the characters (both real and imagined) but unless volumes are added it would be impossible for the author to do this - the book is big enough as is - unless you put it on your KINDLE!)

Monument's Men

Monument's Men reads like a mystery but it is fact. Learn about some forgotten heroes of WWII the men and women who helped protect, save, find and preserve art treasures that were either looted and/or "removed for safekeeping by the Nazis, during WWII."

Read firsthand accounts about the Ghent Altarpiece, Bruges Madonna, and other masterpieces.  Be amazed (and horrified at the treasures lost forever and those found in salt mines, storage sheds, castles, trains, etc) during the German occupation, retreat, and American landing and offensive.) Try to understand why the Nazi's would rather have destroyed every single piece of art they had to leave behind - pieces  from the Louvre and those stolen from private collections rather than let these treasure remain for the world to revere. Meet heroines like Rose Vallard a quiet, precise woman who fought for the Nazi in a unique way by documenting their looting of art.

A great read, a piece of history too long ignored and a lesson lost to the U.S. as documented by George W. Bush's mishandling of the Iraq Museum's looting during the "shock and awe mission, in 2003." Planning is better than hindsight!

Check out this link to the Monument's Men website and meet some unlikely heroes from the museum set - what a story! http://www.monumentsmenfoundation.org/about/

Two to Read Now

These books are top of most reader's lists, but just in case you have not read them yet:Pick up Katherine Stockett's The Help and return to Jackson, MS circa 1960's when the  so called  "colored help"   had the task of childcare in homes of many white families. For many Southerners who as children experienced this special relationship (and others as well)  it is a book of truth and memories that will cause some discomfort in retrospect-  especially when viewed through adult eyes. This heart touching tome will give readers pause as it looks at life from the inside world of maids who were "family" but never equal to blood members of the household. A book you will not easily forget. Also a conversation starter for book clubs.

Sarah's Key has been called haunting but could just as easily be called horrifying. When a child's world becomes a nightmare during war's  inhumanity and her innocence is lost as formerly friendly faces become masks of indifference and cruelty; the reader feels the helplessness of the French Jewish family at the heart of this book, especially Sarah with her tragic keepsake. Tatiana De Rosnay's book takes place both during the WWII and also more than half a century later as an American journalist investigates what is called the "Vel' D'Hiver  roundup," of French Jews that took place in Paris in July 1942. What happened is the heart of this story and it will haunt your soul even as you find some passages  difficult to even comprehend. A book to share with friends and also great for book clubs.

Ten Fall Books I Can't Wait To Read

Ten Fall/Winter Books I Can't Wait To Read... One At as Time

One of my top non-fiction choices is Nancy Goldstone's The Lady Queen: The Notorious Reign of Joanna I, Queen of Naples, Jerusalem and Sicily ... It  takes place in the Middle Ages and it is true but it has all the elements of a modern soap opera - smart, talented and scheming characters, murder, mayhem and a female lead who is anything but the girl next door. Few women are brought before the Pope on charges of murdering their royal husbands and that is just  a tidbit about Joanna a female ruler ahead of her time. If this book is half as good as Goldstone's FOUR QUEENS: The Provençal Sisters Who Ruled Europe, it is non-fiction so well written and researched that it reads like a novel and immediately captivates the reader. Should be out in November according to the author's website. Here is a link to her website: http://www.walkerbooks.com/books/catalog.php?key=824

coming soon... another pick... and I'll give you a hint that it is another adventure thriller from one of my favorite genre writers

A Few Suggestions

A few more picks for the week:

If you like first person accounts and have an interest in the life of a wet nurse (if you read any historical novels you've seen these women mentioned but  probably never thought about  the actual life of a servant when she takes another woman's child to her breast. Where do families find such women? What of her own child?) The Wet Nurse's Tale, by Erica Eisdorfer introduces Susan Rose a spirited, buxom farm girl,  whose indiscretion with the son of the manor laves her with child. Soon she is able to follow the occupation of her mother - wet nurse. The main character with her sense of curiosity and penchant for seeing life a bit differently than most,  has several interesting experiences among the gentry as she breast feeds their offspring and manages to expand her world view on each new posting.  A fascinating book and a  look at a woman's role that is now almost forgotten.

Daniel Silva's The Defector is another thriller featuring Gabriel Allon (the art restorer whose first life is a spy/assassin for Israel). The book  picks up almost where Moscow Rules ended as Allon and his team take on old enemy Ivan Kharkov as they try to save the life of a Russian defector/former intelligence officer  (and friend of Allon). When Allon's wife is also taken by Kharkov, the Israeli team's work takes on added pressure. A top notch thriller from a master of the genre. 

Pick for the Week

I've seen a few critics compare this Polish historical, family saga to "Gone With the Wind." I beg to differ because Countess  Anna Maria Berezowska while often naive and trusting is also compassionate, understanding, and kind in both temper and world view. 

Eighteenth century Poland saw war with Catherine the Great, discontent among the peasants, the rise of one of the first European Democracies, and a life of privilege and splendor for the wealthy and titled. The Countess Anna's story from childhood to adult spans not only her story but that of her country. We see her change as she becomes aware of the differences in her status and life as opposed to those of the lower classes. As Poland struggles for freedom so does the Countess. 

Taking control of her destiny may harken back to Scarlett O'Hara but Countess Anna is not a primping, prissy, southern belle. Like her nation, Anna  is  bold,  willing to meet the enemy and make her stand. The history is rich in this novel thanks to meticulous research by author James Conroyd Martin. You'll appreciate the struggle of both Anna and that of Poland as war rages and heroes emerge to fight for the little country that through the years has been the victim of so much treachery. 

Sounds like a sequel and perhaps even a movie are in the works! Yeah!

Read to Relax - Writers You May Have Missed

If you get overwhelmed in the library or your local bookstore you aren't alone. There are so many wonderful options that it's easy to just pick up books by the same authors instead of trying a new one.

Here are a few suggestions if you have not tried these yet: 

Tom Rob Smith  The Secret Speech and Child 44. Both of these books are set in Russia and will quickly catch your attention. The two books feature Leo 

Demidov a secret police member haunted by his job of torturing and killing for the state. In Child 44 he is tasked with looking for a serial slay

er of children in a country where crime does not officially exist.

 In Smith's second novel, Khrushchev is in power and he has criticized Stalin for going too far in his purges and treatment of the citizens - hence the "Secret Speech," title. Dimidov's past work continues to haunt him and the life he has made with a wife and adopted children. This book follows a wandering trail as it explores the harshness of the gulags,  life in Russia during the mid 1950's, Budapest during the Hungarian Revolution, and the strain of familial relationships when there is no trust.  Both of these books are worth reading.

    Eileen Favorite  The Heroines  is a debut novel about a young teen and her mother whose B&B is host to a cast of literature’s finest (and most tragic) heroines from Ophelia to Hester Prynne and Scarlett O’Hara. The narrator is ordered to play with Hester’s daughter Pearl (can we say “playing “pillory”) so the two unwed mother’s can share notes. The daughter is cautioned she must keep two secrets: don’t tell anyone you see heroines (albeit they are garbed in modern clothing) and the never to tell the heroines the rest of their or  they will not go back to meet their dreadful fates. No wonder the young narrator ends up accidentally (so to speak) in a psych ward. An interesting take on an odd situation…I hoped for a bit more…kind of an adult  “Inkheart” with a tad less drama, a lot less fantasy and slightly more heart.

Aunt Kathy's Books of the Week

Something new... five picks for the week... Here are the first three!!!

 

After discovering her husband plans to leave her, one woman goes to extreme lengths to change her spending habits and save money for her divorce. Written with wit and charm by Sarah Strohmeyer The Penny Pinchers Club,  is a suburban shopoholic tale that forces one woman to examine her life and recognize that value is not always the price of the things you own. 

If you haven't read Greg Isles before you are in for a treat with his latest

Natchez, Mississippi  based novel about riverboat gambling. The unsavory investors and gamblers it attracts are just the

beginning of  problems faced by the small town mayor (a continuing Isles character the multi-talented Penn Cage, also a writer and former prosecutor) in  The Devil's Punchbowl. Murder, riverboat gambling, dogfights are the core around which we see Penn's relationships with his family, girlfriend(s), childhood friends as well as law enforcement play out in this thriller. Penn matches wits with thugs who play nasty and cruel and  the tension builds along with the body count. Like any Isles book it is a page turner.

I admit to being a huge fan of Brad Thor and the character he has made famous Scot Harvath. So it is no wonder I enjoyed The Apostle.

Set in Afghanistan it focuses on a kidnapped American physician who happens to be the daughter of a high profile and monied contributer to the new US president.

The fictional change in administration's moves Harveth's character to the private sector and it also keeps the reader guessing how much is fact  in behind the scenes White Ho use staffing, policy changes and presidential authority. 

 

Can Harveth break an AlQueda prisoner out of prison to exchange for the American doctor? Can he let a terrorist go free?  Weaving Harveth's latest adventure through the underworld of the Taliban and AlQueda, presidential politics, plus assorted murder and  may

hem, Thor writes one of his best novels yet and my favorite  political thriller of the summer.

Summer Thrills: Recommended New Books

Looking for just the right new book for that last minute summer reading?  Here are a few recommendations from the newest releases:

 If you like historical novels and have a particular interest in the 

Salem witchcraft trials  then  pick  up  The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane,**** by Katherine Howe.  Travel from 

present day New England  a Harvard grad student as she searches through her family history  for a mysterious manuscript  tied to the Salem witch trials of the 1690's. Will she reach academic nirvana and discover a new twist on history?

You can never go wrong with the "Sigma Force specialists" from the

 creative mind of David Rollins. His latest  "The Doomsday Key,***1/2" provides his usual dose  of adventure along with the oddest and most intriguing bits of history. I hesitate to give anything away, but suffice it to say that if you have read any of Rollins's previous books you will enjoy this one - it does start a wee bit slow, but hang on for a

 rewarding romp through bogs,  bees and prophecy.

BURNED**** was inspired by the  true life kidnapping of Australian Yvonne Bornstein by terrorists linked to Al Queda.  Like the real kidnapping the story takes place in Russia. The novel   begins with  a marriage on the rocks, a  business deal gone terribly wrong that results in  the kidnapping of an American businesswoman, murder, torture,  and a  planned nuclear attack on the US that the requested ransom will fund in addition to a  cast of desperate sociopathic kidnappers. In the mix add a grieving Russian policeman who splits his time between the bottle and  the investigation (but who manages to be a heroic figure nonetheless)  a CIA, Washington D.C. based desk jockey who  is looking for a promotion and a brave kidnapped,  woman who refuses to be a victim. 

David Hagberg's book is one of the best reads of the summer. He is also the author of   the popular thrillers featuring  action hero, former CIA director and all around good guy "Kirk McGarvey." Two of my personal " McGarvey" favorites are  THE EXPEDITOR**** and ALLAH'S SCORPION, **** both worth picking up at a bookstore or library. You can count on good writing and good reading with Hagberg.

Sacred Hearts

Serafina, the new novice and unwilling bride of Christ has the voice of an angel and seems to be God’s gift to the Convent of Santa Caterina. But she is locked up behind the walls and separated from her one true love because her parents cannot afford to dower more than one daughter. Similar fates are shared by other young aristocratic Italian women of the mid-1500’s as costly marriage contracts leave few options for the bride’s female siblings. When the parental purse runs dry the phrase “get thee to a nunnery,” takes on a sinister meaning and Serafina becomes a sacrificial offering to the Catholic Church.

Sarah Dunant’s latest work of historical fiction provides a glimpse behind convent walls where women of God play political games as readily as they pray. Power figures in the cloister include a sister who may be a saint, the abbess leading her flock for  God’s glory, the fundamentalist novice mistress, and the vocally gifted Serafina. The most interesting character by far is Sister Zuana (her father was a famous physician - she has hidden his books to use for reference – some books that perhaps include heresy) the nun tasked with caring for the sick. 

When Serafina assists in the infirmary Sister Zuana learns more about the novice’s tragic but all too familiar story. The older nun has a crisis of conscious as she begins to understand and care for the younger sister.

Serafina, the heavenly songbird exposes tears and divisions within the walls of the religious community. While her voice brings acclaim beyond the walls of the convent it is outside these same walls that changes within the Catholic Church threaten the sisters of Santa Caterina and their established way of life. 

Rich in both historical context and plot SACRED HEARTS offers readers a glimpse behind convent walls and into women’s hearts as some walk their freely chosen path with God while others are sacrificial Brides of Christ. Birth into Italian aristocracy during the 1500’s mandated a marital dowry. If the price for more than one daughter became prohibitive, families merely sent the other daughter(s) to the Church.  Christ’s bride price was much less expensive to the familial purse. Dunant’s book is a thought provoking study in the choices families make about their children; the strength,  blindness, fragility and healing power of faith; and the complexity found in female relationships.