“Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work.”
—-H.L.Hunt


After a visit to the newly opened Earth Fare market in my neighborhood, I began to evaluate the choice of a primarily organic diet. I know that some people believe it is the only way to eat, and others think it is a devious plot to extract more money from harried shoppers, but I stand somewhere in the middle. My allergy, or “histamine” reaction to MSG since I was a very young woman has made me aware of all of the additives that are slipped into our food. While they are not all our enemies (way too many lives were lost to spoiled food before the advent of preservatives), many of them do prove detrimental to our health. 

Unfortunately the modernization of our world over the last hundred or so years has added things into our environment which have most certainly proven detrimental to our well-being. The pollutants in our air and water are often carcinogenic, and we have little control over that on a daily basis. “The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) cited data indicating that in 2010, 223,000 deaths from lung cancer worldwide resulted from air pollution, and said there was also convincing evidence it increases the risk of bladder cancer,” according to the World Health Organization's cancer agency, so one can only guess how many additional deaths the last decade has brought to us. We need only to look as far as Flint, Michigan to see how dangerous chemicals polluting our water can be.

While we have little control over the air and water that surrounds us, I like to believe that I can control some of the products that I voluntarily ingest. I am not fanatical about it, and while most of the fish and produce that I bring into our home is free from added chemicals and hormones, I am aware that many of the restaurants I visit don’t follow those standards. Most of the produce that we purchase is from the farm that is a few miles from our home. While they are not officially organic (their land had not been fallow for the required number of years when they began growing on it), they use no pesticides or poisonous chemicals on their land. We supplement that with organic whenever we can, and our seafood is either wild caught or organically farmed. We don’t cook with meat products, so that is not an issue.

The major drawback to organic eating is the cost factor. It is difficult to understand why an organic apple or peach is so much more costly than its conventional counterpart, but my research made it clearer for me. When they don’t use pesticides, they must find alternative measures to protect their crops. Many of these methods include manual labor which is costly. The certification process itself is expensive, and constant education for the farmers adds to their costs. Since most organic farms are small, they don’t gain the financial benefits that big farms get, and supply and demand hikes up prices since there are many fewer organic buyers.

I respect those who choose to prioritize differently than I do. After all, there are many ways to spend our hard earned dollars, and the choice should be our own, but after further research I have decided to try to eat as chemically free as possible. Am I sure that will add healthier years to my life? Of course not, but since there is so much that I can’t control, I would like to feel that I can do something to keep myself free of chemicals that might harm me. The old “better safe than sorry” saying calls to me each time I stand in front of a fruit bin.

On a wildly different note, if we are talking safe versus sorry, David Rosenfelt gives us a taste of that in his new thriller, Black and Blue. Protagonist Doug Brock is after a serial killer in the third book of this series, and Rosenfelt’s witty hero takes the reader on many twists and turns before we reach the finish line.

As always a complete review of this book follows my blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly

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​Genre: Thriller

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David Rosenfelt’s protagonist in Black and Blue, Doug Brock, is a New Jersey state police officer. This is the third book in the series that features Brock, who was shot in the line of duty and is suffering from amnesia. He lost about ten years of his immediate past memory after the shooting and has gained approximately fifty percent of it back as of this novel.

This thriller begins when Doug and his partner Nate are presented with a cold case murder that took place right before Doug’s shooting. A wealthy businessman, Walter Brookings was killed, and the murderer was never apprehended. Someone recently shot attorney Alex Randowsky in the same manner, with the same weapon, and the connection puts these two partners in the middle of the case. Doug worked the original case but, unfortunately,  remembers very little. He worries that Danny Phelan, a suspect he dismissed in Brookings'  murder might actually be responsible for both shootings. When he starts receiving notes from the perpetrator and another man is murdered in the same way, he realizes just how personal this whole thing is getting.

It is no secret that I am a fan of Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series, so finding out that Andy is Phelan’s attorney made my day. I love how characters cross over series and was entertained at the meeting of these two witty protagonists. Both series are written in a similar style, heavy on characterization with humor lightening some otherwise heavy situations. I stopped reading serial killer novels several years ago, but there was no way I would pass up a Rosenfelt contribution. As is the author’s style, there are a great deal of twists and turns before we get to the unexpected ending.

Black and Blue can definitely stand on its own, but if you haven’t read the first two books in this series (Blackout and Fade to Black) you might want to start with them.

- Beverly
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Publisher - Minotaur Books
Date of Publication - ​March 26, 2019

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“A keen sense of humor helps us to overlook the unbecoming, understand the unconventional, tolerate the unpleasant, overcome the unexpected, and outlast the unbearable”
—-Billy Graham

When I was ten years old, and my best friend and I talked about our future husbands, hers was going to be a prince...handsome and rich. My future husband was going to make me laugh. Even then I was well aware of the importance of a sense of humor. My chosen form of wit then (and even now) was laced with a bit of sarcasm, but I laughed at anything from the three stooges to Mark Twain. I realized that humor would see me through the saddest of times.

I married a man whose sense of humor was evident from our first date, and we raised two children who inherited our love of laughing. I always tried to inject humor into my classrooms and continue to laugh at life’s absurdities rather than beat my chest when life throws one of its many curve balls.

That is why I am particularly concerned when I watch humor being parsed like a poorly diagrammed sentence, with each piece held up as an example of what is wrong with society. Comedians are being forced to apologize time and again for comments that would have been laughed at several years ago. Don’t get me wrong, bullying and racial/religious/gender insensitivity should not by part of a comics routine, but the rest of America needs to learn how to recognize a joke.

Frankly, I can’t imagine why anyone wants to be a politician these days, but luckily some are willing to sacrifice their time (and sanity) to make a difference. We, in turn, repay them with criticism as we measure their words. Former congressman and 2020 presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke was speaking in front of a crowd several days ago and joked about his marriage. Nothing major. He explained how his wife, Amy, raises their kids “sometimes with my help.” Same sort of joke that men (and women ) have been telling for years, except now it is deemed so offensive that he felt the need to apologize. “Not only will I not say that again, but I’ll be more thoughtful going forward in the way that I talk about our marriage, and also the way in which I acknowledge the truth of the criticism that I have enjoyed white privilege.”  

Are you kidding me? Have we become that sensitive to humor?

Do you know that according to Mayo Clinic studies, laughter can soothe tension, activate and relieve your stress response, and stimulate your heart, lungs and muscles? In the long term it can improve your immune system, relieve pain, and improve your mood. Whether or not a sense of humor helps you live longer is debatable, but it certainly makes your life a lot more enjoyable.

There are many things that Americans need to work on, if we wish to recover over the next few years. Our image throughout the world is tarnished, our humanitarian ideals have been weakened and bigotry has once again reared it’s ugly head. The pendulum will swing and things will improve, but we must not lose our collective sense of humor along the way. It is laughter that will indeed help us outlast the unbearable, even as we find ourselves the focus of the joke.

Since reading is another thing that makes my life enjoyable, I keep a list of my favorite authors in a tablet on my nightstand. Rick Mofina is one of my go to authors, and I featured him in madderlyreview’s author section in 2014. In that feature article I talked about first being introduced to him:  "Sometime in 2010 a friend suggested I read the book Six Seconds by Rick Mofina.  I remember picking it up after breakfast, I remember closing it at midnight, but I honestly remember nothing in between.  That was when I knew that I had found an author to follow.”
​
I have not changed my mind, and his latest title, Missing Daughter, is not to be missed.

A complete review of this book follows my blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly

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​Genre: Thriller

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Mofina captured me again with his latest thriller, Missing Daughter. There have been quite a few novels about missing children published in the last few years, and that is not a topic that I find comfortable. Since I am a fan of this author, I decided to give this one a try and wasn’t disappointed.

When Maddie Lane disappears from her bed one night, her family is devastated. Her parents, Ryan and Karen, are questioning themselves and those around them, while her brother Tyler feels responsible for not being there to save his sister. As always, Mofina’s development of his characters add tremendous depth to the story. Even the secondary characters have interesting backstories that keep the reader wondering about who could be involved.

The plot is well developed and the twists and turns kept me guessing until the end. Mofina throws in clues that foster theories...a nearby halfway house for convicts...a teenage boy who admits being by her window...a collection of secretly taken pictures of Maddie...but nothing seems to pan out. Time goes by and it is difficult not to lose hope, but we ultimately do get answers as the author wraps up his story.

Missing Daughter can’t help but tear at you heart, but it is truly worth adding to your library.

- Beverly

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Publisher - MIRA
Date of Publication - ​February 19, 2019

“The end doesn't justify the means.”

—-Ovid (c.43 BC-AD 18)


Many people are aghast at the thought that a large number of wealthy and influential people in our country allegedly used their wealth and influence to achieve a goal that those of us with less of each could attain. The media can’t turn away from the circus now surrounding Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, two celebrities among scores of others who allegedly used bribes and fraudulent methods to get their children acceptances to sought after colleges that they would have otherwise been denied. Television networks are now falling all over each other trying to distance themselves from these stars. Loughlin, in fact, has been booted from the two shows she is currently starring in, "Fuller House" and "When Calls the Heart."

I find it troubling that our country seems to have skipped over the “innocent until proven guilty” part of our justice system and jumped right into the “make them pay” point of view. Instead of waiting for a jury of peers, the community begins meting out the punishments that seem to satisfy those with the loudest mouths. People are losing their livelihoods and their reputations over accusations that might later be proven false, and “innocent until being proven guilty” has gone the way of the eight tracks...nice to have around and pull out when it suits us but too bulky to really use anymore.

In my eyes, IF these allegations are true, I believe that the damage done to the children of these people surpasses the damage done to society as a whole. We look to our parents to help build our moral fiber, and if a parent condones or encourages a child to commit fraud to achieve a goal, the fiber begins to wear thin. If Loughlin’s children were never really part of a crew team but were encouraged to take pictures that showed otherwise, then they were made complicit in fraudulent behavior. They were being taught that the ends ALWAYS justify the means. They don’t! It is our place to make sure our children understand that how we get there is more important than getting there itself. If these accusations are proven true, these parents failed at the one job they committed a crime to succeed at, and their children will pay the price.

Our country will pay a bigger price however, if we continue to whittle away at the justice system that our forefathers believed in and let vigilante justice take hold. Frankly, even if these women are found guilty, I fail to see how that should affect their ability to entertain. Should they be imprisoned, their shows will naturally be altered, and if they are not imprisoned, then the audience can decide whether or not to watch their shows. It is not their employers’ place to mete out justice. I understand why certain jobs might need to keep felons off the payroll, but if we continue forcing entertainers to be morally ideal in all aspects of their lives, we will soon have to spend long hours watching re-runs of Pat Boone( google him if you don’t remember). It is way too dangerous to encourage any form of punishment that tends toward vigilantism, and even though I loathe what these people did, they must be afforded protection in the United States of America.

On another note, I read two books this week. One was an advance copy of a book due this fall by John Dobbyn. It kept me up reading until two In the morning for two nights running and taught me things about the real Dracula that I never knew. It is also too early for me to share my review with you. I didn’t mean to read it yet...really...but it was that good. Unfortunately, the other book I read was not good, and although I finished it, I will not share it with you. So, unfortunately I must ask your understanding...there will be no review this week. I have just started a good book though, so I will be prepared come next Friday. 


Happy reading,

- Beverly

Making it through the ceiling to the other side was simply a matter of running on a path created by every other woman's footprints."
—-Shonda Rhimes


I enjoy being a woman and have never had a desire to trade places with a man. I probably would have been less satisfied 75+ years ago, when women were expected to keep the houses clean, their husbands happy and their mouths shut, but things have changed...are still changing...and women can lead interesting lives while raising a family.  Women, in fact, now have full careers while they also raise their children and keep up with the housework.

That is why it is so difficult for me to understand why women are treated less than equal throughout the world. The United Nations recognizes 197 countries in the world, and according to a study done by World Bank, only six of them(Belgium, Denmark, France, Latvia, Luxembourg and Sweden) treat women as 100% equals.  According to an article written by Rob Picheta and Kieron Mirchandani, CNN March 2, 2019, “The criteria analyzed were: going places, starting a job, getting paid, getting married, having children, running a business, managing assets and getting a pension." Those were broken down into questions such as: "Can a woman travel outside her home in the same way as a man?" and "Is there legislation specifically to address domestic violence?" The global average was 74.71%. The United States came in at 83.75%, which didn’t even make the top 50.

Somewhere in the days of the hunters and gatherers, it was decided that females should tend to the menial chores while males went out “ into the world” and brought home food while acting as protectors. (Hmmm...I wonder how many cave women had a vote in that decision). We see cavemen depicted as grabbing women by their hair and dragging them as acquisitions instead of equals. While these pictures have been modernized through the changing cultures, men are still often raised to believe that they are the stronger sex and should have first dibs on the stronger job opportunities. Women, in fact, should be thankful for the opportunities they are afforded, and if that comes with a little bit of inappropriate groping, so be it. If they decide to complain about that behavior, they will quickly find themselves ostracized and often forced to “resign.”

It is amazing to me that men are still protected by each other in this age of “me too,” but it happens in the work place, in social environments and in our justice system.  When Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky gave Brock Turner a six month sentence, his reasoning baffled women everywhere. He explained that he felt giving him a harsher sentence than six months (to serve only three for good behavior) would have a “severe impact” on his life. I wonder what kind of impact he thought being raped behind a dumpster while unconscious would have on his victim?

The sad thing is, I don’t think Brock Turner really believed he was doing anything horribly wrong that night, because family and society protect and defend young white males. His dad wrote a statement saying, “His life will never be the one he dreamed about and worked so hard to achieve. That is a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action...”. His friend explained it wasn’t really rape, just too much campus drinking and promiscuity. It is difficult for young, affluent white men to accept their wrong doings when no one else in their circle does.

It is not just our country that protects young men. In Canada several years ago a seventeen year old young woman was violently attacked and raped by a sixteen year old young man in a restroom at a school dance. She was rushed to the hospital and into emergency surgery to stem the massive bleeding. She was then asked what she was wearing and if she was sure it wasn’t consensual. When the young man was ultimately found guilty of her rape and one he had perpetrated before, he was sentenced to three years, but the judge ruled only two weeks of that sentence had to be served in custody and the rest under supervision. The judge said that he had taken into consideration that the young man had missed graduating with his friends and was being shunned in his community. He also said he thought there was a low risk of re-offending. Since the young man had been found guilty of two rapes at the age of sixteen, one has to wonder what a high risk would be and what message the judge is sending to young people everywhere.

It is frightening how deeply the illusion of men’s superiority is embedded into our everyday culture, and I imagine that it will take longer than my lifetime for that glass ceiling to be totally shattered. I am encouraged though when I see the strength and determination of women today and the supportive men that surround them. I truly believe that when women finally reach total financial and social equality, our world will be a better place for every man, women and child that inhabits it.

Speaking of making our world a better place, in his newest book, Without Precedent,
J. D. Trafford takes on our country’s drug crisis and “Big Pharma’s” part in it. True to form, Trafford weaves a story that keeps the reader turning pages deep into the night.

As always a complete review of this book follows my blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly

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​Genre: Legal Thriller

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During the last few years the opioid crisis has filled the pages of many newspapers, magazines and books. Who is to blame? Why is the use of heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl, etc.,  on the rise? Are doctors prescribing too many pain killers? J. D. Trafford approaches this topic with a vengeance in his latest novel, Without Precedent.

Corporate attorney Matthew Daley is one of the most successful defenders of pharmaceutical companies in the country. His latest success comes at the same time his sister Allison dies of a heroin overdose, rendering the offer of a promotion bittersweet. His return home before her funeral sets his life in a whole new direction.

Taking a stand for his sister, he takes on a multibillion dollar pharmaceutical company represented by a team of New York corporate attorneys, trying to prove that their drug was the first step in his sister’s heroin addiction. Trafford’s knowledge of this issue, whether by research or experience, draws the reader in, and his likable protagonist keeps us interested.

I found myself disliking "Big Pharma" even more than I thought I did, when I read about their relationship with the physicians who prescribe their products. I realize that the description of these corporate bigwigs was fictional yet I can’t help but believe that there is a ring of truth in the author’s words.

As much as I liked Matthew, I did think some of the other characters were a bit weak. His alcoholic mother could have been much more interesting if her backstory had been developed. His father was superficially presented too, even though there seemed a great deal to develop there. I kept waiting to find out more about his brother, Jackson, and friend, Sherman, who helped build his ragtag team. Imagine the fun Trafford could have had building the character of Jackson, a liberal redneck.

The story itself was compelling though, and the reader can’t help but cheer for this New York lawyer who returns to fight a hometown battle. I have reviewed several of Trafford’s novels, and liked them all enough to anxiously await his next one.

- Beverly
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​Publisher - Thomas & Mercer
Date of Publication - March 12, 2019

“The only important thing in a book is the meaning that it has for you”
W. Somerset Maugham


Each year I look forward to new books from my favorite authors, and I discover new talent that adds to that favorite author list. So far this year has been filled with books that have kept me enthralled while teaching me new bits of information. I have also been having fun reading books that you recommended that are ten, fifteen and twenty years old. Some of them truly stand the test of time, and I am so happy for the recommendations.

I decided to return the favor and share with you the books that had an effect on me through the years. I am not sure that you will be able to purchase some of them anymore, but i am sure that your local libraries will be able to help you.

The first book that comes to mind when I think of my all time favorites is Fallback by Peter Niesewand. It was published in 1981 and not currently available on Amazon. It is available on  ebooks.com though, and I promise it is worth hunting down. Niesenwand was a journalist and novelist who was born in South Africa but grew up in Rhodesia. His criticism of the government and the conditions there landed him in solitary confinement after a political arrest. He was then deported and made his home in London where he died of a heart attack at 38 years of age.

The story is about a terminally ill computer genius and an intelligence agent who join forces to stop a threat to America. I will say no more, because I refuse to ruin any surprises, but I will say that at one point I got so upset that I threw the book across the room. It is an amazing story, and Niesenwand’s early death was a loss to us all.

Norman Garbo wrote a number of best sellers in the twentieth century, but my favorite is Gaynor’s Passion, about the sole survivor of a plane crash who is convinced he must act as a vigilante against criminals and extremists. Garbo kept my interest at a high peak in that book as well as in his novel, Turner’s Wife. In that book Paul Turner is tracking down the murderer of his wife. He becomes involved in Cold War politics, international intrigue and organized crime, and the reader rarely has time to catch his/her breath. Amazon might be a good place to start for these two.

Robert Kimmel Smith wrote quite a few books that touched the heart of his readers. I enjoyed Jane’s House, a love story between a man and a woman and the memories of his dead wife. Since there were children involved, this pulled on the heartstrings from the first page and kept the reader rooting for a happy ending. I believe Amazon is a possibility for this book too.

Of course John Grisham’s The Firm and Scott Turow’s Presumed Innocent are a must for anyone who missed them. They were both career launching thrillers that many other authors tried to emulate. Although I have read quite a few books by these two, I do believe that their first books were my favorites.

If you haven’t read these books yet you might enjoy wandering through the past with these exceptional authors. If you are looking for a more current book, the book that I read/reviewed this week is The Wedding Guest by Jonathan Kellerman. Kellerman takes Alex Delaware through another series of adventures in this fast moving thriller.

As always, a complete review of this book follows my blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly

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