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Thru My Looking Glass

11/25/2016

"Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants."
     ---Kevin James

I want to take some time to reassure our readers from other countries that we are all doing fine.  I know we have subscribers/readers in England, France, Germany and India.  If I missed your country, please write and tell us where you are from.  We love our diverse readership!

As I read the news I am struck with the feeling that America is going topsy-turvy, but really...we are not. We must remain vigilant in our country, as in all countries, and protect the rights of all people.  Things are uncomfortable for many of us, but we will forge through as Americans always do, and soon a Kardashian will do something outrageous and our media will focus on something other than this crazy election cycle and results.

I am focusing on Thanksgiving, my very favorite time of the year.  The house starts smelling like the holidays the week before that wonderful Thursday, because the older I get the more time I need to prep.  Arthur spent today preparing a dozen ears of corn into his magical corn purée.  I will add some into my stuffing to cut down on butter, and some in my vegetarian offering...Southwestern Quinoa and Black Bean Casserole...and the rest will go wonderfully under a fish fillet at some other time. My cornbread sits in the freezer along with savory muffins, and each day will add more yummy blocks onto the building that will be Thanksgiving.

Of course the food is second on my list of bests this holiday season.  Mike always comes in the Saturday before Thanksgiving and stays until the Monday or Tuesday after.  Nephew Jonathan always comes too, and this year he is bringing new hubby Nick.  Nick is a great addition to our crazy family, and I am looking forward to an additional male mouth to feed (not that Mike, son-in-law Jimmy, nephew Jonathan and nephew-in-law Robert don't keep us cooking until the wee hours).  Beth and Niece Becky always bring fabulous goodies to add to the table, so all-in-all, family and food are at their finest this time of year.  With my dad taking pictures, and the laughter of the little ones tinkling through the house, worries dissipate as Arthur and I sit back with Judy and Allan  and realize how very much we have to be thankful for every single day of the year.

I am also thankful for all of you who read and comment on my blog.  I appreciate your emails and suggestions, and am always happy to hear from authors who stumble upon the site. When I left teaching several years ago, I felt at odds.  Although it was great living without school bells, I knew I needed something to keep my mind going, and I love the semi-structure that this site lends to my life and the on-line friends I have met through it.

With the next holiday season right around the corner, my first book this week is a perfect gift for the cat lovers in your life.  Lessons From Stanley the Cat by Jennifer Freed, Ph.D.  Dr. Freed believes her  pet, Stanley, taught her most of the lessons she needs in life, and she is sharing these lessons with us in this cheerful little book.  The lessons are worthwhile and the illustrations cute.  Fun to read and share.

One of the more interesting books that I have read recently is Death in the Mind's Eye by Rick Acker.  Imagine a combination of machines and a brilliant psychologist who knows how to manipulate them to read a subject's mind.  Dr. Johanna Anderson invented this system, and now she is being sued because of it.  Was Senator Bell's son, Seth, really a victim of Dr. Anderson or was his death the suicide that it seemed to be?  There is the requisite good guy Lawyer and the evil big corporation to contend with, and a story that definitely keeps the reader's attention.

As always complete reviews on both books follow this blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly

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Lessons from Stanley the Cat: Nine Lives of Everyday Wisdom by Jennifer Freed, Ph.D

11/24/2016

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Genre: Non-Fiction

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Let me start by saying I am Not a cat person.  I love animals, and kittens are cute enough, but I don't want to surround myself with cats as I grow older.  Of course my off the charts allergy to most cats add to my ambivalence.  Why am I reviewing this book, you might ask?  Some of my readers are definitely cat people, and this book was recommend to me, so I thought I would give it a try.

Jennifer Freed is a licensed marriage, child and family therapist who seems to have built a very successful career.  When in the forward of this book she explained that her therapist was Stanley the cat, I became a bit concerned.  I decided to delve further into Lessons from Stanley the Cat:Nine Lives of Everyday Wisdom, before I passed judgement.

After spending nigh on twenty years with her feline friend, Dr. Freed is entitled to be quirky, and she has a clever way of sharing her information with the reader.  Each page has a little lesson she learned from Stanley, with a short explanation attached. For example:
"Trust your instincts and stay away from people and creatures who smell like bad things or who are in bad moods."
     Or
"When you want to wake up someone you love in the morning, put your face gently to theirs."

When you think about it, both of these pearls of wisdom are certainly as applicable to humans as they are to cats, and her attached explanations help clear up any mysteries.  There are many good pieces of advice coupled with some cute illustrations.

Will this be a New York Times best seller? Not likely, but who knows?  Strange things seem to be happening this Fall.  I will say that this book is the perfect gift for the cat lovers in your family...we all have one...and maybe you can sneak a peak at it before you wrap it up for the holidays.

- Beverly

Publisher - Amazon Digital Services
Date of Publication - September 15, 2016

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Death in the Mind's Eye by Rick Acker

11/23/2016

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Genre: Medical/Legal Thriller

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Imagine a process that would allow its implementer to come very close to reading someone's mind.  Think about the good that it might do. The right doctor could use it on the criminal population to help determine who is actually ready to be paroled.  It might be used in a trial to see if someone is truly mentally ill or just a consummate liar.  Unfortunately, in the wrong hands it could be deadly, so it would need to be used by a person who understood the possible consequences.

Meet Dr. Johanna Anderson, the psychologist who invented and is using this miraculous system. She is working with ex-con Seth Bell, a senator's son, when he inexplicably seems to commit suicide. His parents believe Dr. Jo should have been able to prevent his death, and they are taking her to court to prove it.   Since this would be a devastating strike against the process that she believes in, she needs to find the perfect lawyer.

Meet Mike Webster, a San Francisco plaintiff's lawyer who never loses.  After doing her research, Dr. Anderson wants him to switch sides and defend her in this case.  After first turning her down he relents, and he puts his heart (maybe too much heart) and soul in to winning the case and protecting MIND'S EYE from bad publicity.  Unfortunately, it might need protection from more than publicity.

Meet Horizon Finance, a shadowy firm with top management who sees an opportunity to sell MIND'S EYE to intelligence agencies that could use it for nefarious purposes.  Horizon Finance will go to any extent to get what they want.

I found Death in the Mind's Eye well written and thought provoking. The idea of a process that could actually read the minds of those it is used on is frightening, and corporations who would want to exploit it are all to real.  The story line has many twists and turns, and the characters, for the most part, are quite likable. Definitely an exciting read that leaves me wanting more from this author.

- Beverly

Publisher - Waterfall Press
Date of Publication - October 25, 2016

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Thru My Looking Glass

11/17/2016

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You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
  ---Maya Angelou

We went to a lecture yesterday that was given by a physician whose father was a decorated Nazi during World War II.  When he was old enough to understand what his dad was part of, our speaker began helping the Jewish community in his hometown of Bamburg, Germany. He ultimately converted to Judaism and moved to Israel. Looking for a safe place to raise his family, he moved his family to South Florida a number of years ago.

That is what most of us want...a place to quietly and safely enjoy our lives.  In order to do so, sometimes we turn our heads from the small element among us who are filled with hate.  We stick our heads in the warm sand and say that things are so much better now.  In many ways they are better.  People in our country can no longer "own" other people, and our laws are striving to see justice for all.

This past election has brought out the uglier side of our wonderful country, and the hate mongers believe that their time has come.  They have always been here, but now they believe that they can come out of the shadows. I say...Go for it...because these bigots, like vampires, are destroyed by the very sunlight that they seek.

We are stronger and wiser than in years past...because we are stronger together.  Yes, the bulk of us fear Muslim extremists, as we fear extremists of any culture, but we will also work in unison to protect those who are being persecuted, simply because of their beliefs.  It is not politically US against THEM when human rights are concerned.  The greatest part of Trump followers supported him despite his bigoted following, not as part of them.  The hate rhetoric is as appalling to them as it is to Hillary followers, and they will stand just as tall to fight it.

There are fringe groups, just as dangerous to our democracy as radical Muslim groups, who are trying to tear us apart to push their agenda.  We must stand together and shine a light on their hypocrisy. Instead of fearing these bigots, we must stand up to them. Pope Francis said recently that "No tyranny finds support without tapping into our fears."  Let's show those that wish us, or those around us, harm, a united front. We don't fear those that hate...we pity them their loss of humanity. No matter who we voted for, we are still the UNITED States of America, and stronger together, "still, like air, (we'll) rise."

Speaking of rising,  Darla Cavannah seems to handily rise above bigotry and hatred in her job as a police detective in a small southern town.  In Officer Elvis, the second in his three book series, Gary Gusick has his protagonist chasing after someone who killed Darla's ex-partner, who was an Elvis impersonator in his spare time.  While this book is not quite as politically motivated as the other two, it is an interesting take on southern life and justice.

Attorney Beck Hardin, the protagonist in Mark Gimenez's book, The Perk, is also seeking justice. After moving back to his hometown of Fredericksburg, Texas, he is presented with several requests. Several people beseech him to run for the position of judge to replace the retiring justice.  His high school buddy also asks Beck to help find the man who killed his sixteen year old daughter.  Both situations contribute to an interesting story.

As always, complete reviews of both books follow this blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly

Click on the book cover to order a title mentioned in today's blog:

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Officer Elvis: A Darla Cavannah Mystery by Gary Gusick

11/17/2016

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Genre: Mystery

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I read Gusick's first Cavannah book, The Last Clinic,  several years ago and became a fan.  It was well written, topical and exciting.  I read (and reviewed) the third in this series, The Legacy, several months ago and found it equally enjoyable.  That led me to Officer Elvis, the second book featuring this transplanted northerner serving as a police detective in the Deep South.

This book did not capture me as the other two had done.  Gusick's wonderful descriptions of southern living were still there.  Few authors make me feel as much a part of small town southern America, and in this aspect he remained true to his writing.  There was definitely a mystery to solve...Who killed Officer Elvis?  I just never seemed to care much.

Tommy Reylander was Darla's partner in The Last Clinic, and I found him weak in that book, so when he was killed after a particularly uninspiring Elvis impersonation in this book, I didn't get too upset.  Apparently the South is overflowing with grown men in pompadours impersonating different stages of Elvis' career, and Tommy ate, drank and slept all things Elvis.  Darla convinces her new boss to let her take lead on this case, and the hunt begins for a killer who doesn't seem to appreciate Elvis.

Gusick brings back some of his memorable characters from his first book, and that was fun.  I am a fan of her partner, Rita Gibbons, who is a great southern foil for Yankee Darla. There are a lot of twists and turns, more murders and even explosions. It was definitely peppered with humor and I liked the addition of song titles to keep us on our toes.  I am not sure why I wasn't as enamored with book two in this three part (as of now) series, but I do think it is worth reading.  Elvis fans should enjoy descriptions of the "wannabe" Elvis Presleys, and mystery lovers will have fun figuring out where those twists and turns lead.

- Beverly

Publisher - Alibi
Date of Publication - April 21, 2015

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The Perk by Mark Gimenez

11/17/2016

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Genre: Legal Thriller

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There is no doubt that Mark Gimenez is from Texas.  His descriptions in The Perk are so vivid, that at times I feel the dust in my mouth and the imagery of his colors fills my mind's eye - "In the spring the fields become carpets of bluebonnets so unbelievably blue you'd think the sky has settled down on the land." Although I am a fan of figurative language, at times it slows down the story just a little bit.  It did take me a bit to actually get into the meat of the book, but once there it was worth it.

Beck Hardin, a widower with two young children, is having a hard time getting over the loss of his wife.  Annie was the perfect mother, and juggling his legal career while taking her place at home becomes undoable.  He decides to return home, to Fredricksburg,  Texas, the place he vowed to never see again, and the father he hadn't talked to since college.

When he arrives he finds his dad waiting for him, and the house remodeled to accommodate his family.  It seems that Annie had contacted him several years before, and they built an email relationship.  When she knew that she was going to die, she told her father-in-law to expect his son.  She knew he would realize that he needed help and eventually return to his dad.

Gimenez's book is heavy with Texas history that bogged down the story in parts, but he is a good story teller, and I found myself pulled back to his tale.  Beck was a football hero during his high school days, and soon fills the spot of a retiring judge.  His best friend from high school has become coach of their team and asks Beck to help him find the man who killed his sixteen year old daughter.

The bigotry in this predominantly German town makes Beck's search difficult, but there are good people who help him fulfill his promises to family, friends and the town itself.  Beck's relationship with his father and his children bring a very human element to a storyline that often needs that spark of warmth.

- Beverly

Publisher - Navarchus Press
Date of Publication - October 1, 2011

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Thru My Looking Glass

11/10/2016

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“A man sees what he wants to see and disregards the rest." - Paraphrased from The Boxer
  ---Paul Simon

By the time I post this we will know who won the presidential election, but today, the Monday morning before Election Day,  I can tell you who the clear loser is...the American people.  This past year has caused anxiety throughout our country (actually throughout the world) and has shown us that a convenient lie is sometimes viewed as acceptable in the political arena.  Blatant scare tactics have worked on both sides, causing millions of people to believe that our country will be destroyed if the "other side" wins.

Our candidates have spent so much time defending their email and twitter accounts, that issues like climate change and social security have been put on the back burner. Really...does it surprise us that Clinton deleted emails?  Does Trump's inability to control his tongue in a tweet show a side of him we didn't know?  Of course not, but these things made great headlines for a media that seems to have forgotten their true purpose.

Can you imagine Woodward and Bernstein investigating the veracity of 3:00 A.M. Tweets?  How about Huntley and Brinkley focusing on personality failings at the expense of real issues?   Many years ago, Simon and Garfunkle sang the lyrics..."Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio, A nation turns its lonely eyes to you" during a time when Americans needed to reacquaint themselves with the heroes that surrounded them.  I used to consider media people heroes, but I believe many of them took the low road in this election cycle. Where is Walter Cronkite when we need him?

Trump did not create bigotry, homophobia or misogyny, he just gave them an atmosphere to allow them to come out of the closet, and the media shown a light on the worst we have to offer.  We "lost" because now we have to pick up the pieces of a split society and somehow put them together.  We can no longer just see what we want to see. We have to face some harsh realities and raise our children to be better.  WE ARE WINNERS, however, because we can do it.  We did it in the sixties and righted many wrongs. Americans are strong and compassionate people for the most part, and we always find the higher road. What we need is good leadership and a willingness to admit that we have a problem. I, for one, hope to see that we have reached the time that a woman can indeed become President, but either way, we must do what America has always done...find a way to come together and move forward in an America that provides liberty and justice FOR ALL!   ___________________________________________________________________

Well, it is now the Thursday after the election, and yes, I am disappointed.  I admire much about Hillary and want to believe a woman can be elected to serve as President.  Didn't happen...but it will someday.  As for today, half of America is very happy with their President Elect, and hopefully he will prove the rest of us wrong.  It is time for us to work together. I refuse to freak out...I will hope for the best and believe that the best of the American values will prevail.

Thomas Benigno's book, The Criminal Lawyer, takes us on an adventure that shows what is the worst that America has to offer. Although the main character is a lawyer, he acts more like a private detective in this book, and he is hunting down a serial killer who has supposedly kidnapped his son's girlfriend.  There are many twists and turns in this book as it moves towards its surprising ending.

Dishonor Thy Wife by Belinda Austin is a well written story that invites us into the marriage of two very unhappy people. Ronni and Brad have stayed together because of the child that caused them to marry in the first place.  Their relationship is strained at best,  each in his/her own bedroom leading their own lives.  Brad, a physician, returns from a convention in Philadelphia a changed man.  He seems more interested in Ronni, and she is uncomfortable with his actions.  The book brings us mystery, murder and mayhem and is definitely a good choice for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers.

I would like to end this blog on a very positive note and thank all of the brave men and women who served our country during times of war and peace. Your contribution is never forgotten, and our country will survive and prosper because of you all. Enjoy this day that celebrates you.

As always, complete reviews of these two books follow this blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly

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The Criminal Lawyer by Thomas Benigno

11/10/2016

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Genre: Thriller

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I first met Nick Mannino in The Good Lawyer, and hated to finish the book.  Benigno did such a good job bringing his characters to life that I felt I was losing a friend when I finally allowed myself to finish the book.  I am happy to say that Nick is back in Benigno's latest novel, The Criminal Lawyer.

He is a bit older now and no longer a legal aid attorney.  His backstory is complicated with mob connections, a major inheritance and an ex-wife that he obviously still loves.  His daughter and son, both young adults in this novel, need him more than they admit, and this book finds him acting more like a private detective than a lawyer.

When his son's  girlfriend, Sofia, disappears, and her sister receives a phone call from a man who claims he has her, all things lead to her being the next victim of a sought-after serial killer.  One major difference is that the four previous victims were all prostitutes, but other events so closely follow the pattern that Nick believes she is victim number five.  His son returns home unable to function, and his mother and sister move back into the house to care for him.

After meeting with Sofia's family, Nick hires a retired policeman to help him find her.  The story is a good one with several very interesting twists and turns.  Most of it takes us through the hunt through the eyes of Nick, but there are short excerpts written through the thoughts of the killer and the victims.

This book is heavier than his first one, but I found Benigno's style of writing captivating and his characters quite three dimensional.  If I had known that the book centered around a serial killer, I might never have picked it up, but once I started I was hooked.

- Beverly

Publisher - Landview Books
Date of Publication - September 30, 2016

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Dishonor Thy Wife by Belinda Austin

11/10/2016

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Genre: Thriller

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Dishonor Thy Wife was recommended to me by someone who promised me a quick read.  I must admit she was right. I started the book in the morning and found myself reading it throughout the day.  By nightfall I was almost done.  It is written in first person, and each chapter is from the wife's or the husband's point of view. They are both troubled, he quite clearly more than she, and at times the book became a bit overwhelming.

Ronni and Brad are a clearly unhappily married couple who remain together primarily because of the child who was conceived by mistake.  Since Ronni was seventeen at the time, her family gave Brad a choice...marry her or go to jail.  They married and agreed it would be in name only.  He was somewhat abusive and she was generally miserable.  Then one day Brad (a physician) went to a convention in Philadelphia and came back a changed man.

Suddenly he was nice to her and attentive to his daughter.  He seemed to want her sexually, something that had stopped with their wedding vows.  Although she still locked him out of the bedroom, she found herself desiring him too.  She knew something changed him in Philadelphia but couldn't figure out what it was.

Brad himself isn't sure what happened in Philadelphia, and his already unpleasant personality becomes truly unhinged.  He goes from bad to good to bad again, and the reader is taken through the mind of a terribly disturbed person.  There is murder, betrayal and major personality shifts to keep the reader happily immersed in this original plot.  I never loved any of the characters but did feel pity for them from time to time.

I am trying to choose my words carefully and not give away any of the plot's twists and turns, so I will just end this with a recommendation for anyone on the lookout for a psychological thriller with an original story line and several troubled souls.

- Beverly

Publisher - Amazon Digital Services LLC
Date of Publication - June 13, 2016

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Thru My Looking Glass

11/3/2016

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"Those who would sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither"
     ---Benjamin Franklin

The time has finally come for us to make our choices at the polls.  Many young men and women have fought and died so we can have that right.  It is our responsibility to take advantage of that right even though we are frustrated with our choices.  Come Tuesday we will all face a decision that will have an immense impact on our lives.  Make no mistake...your vote counts!

Through these last few months I have tried to be even handed in expressing my thoughts.  Since, much to Arthur's frustration at times, I am pretty middle of the road in my views on most issues, focusing on both sides of an issue has never been difficult. As strongly as I might feel about a given topic, my debate experience shows me that there are others with valid points, too, so unless basic human rights are concerned I try to stay neutral.

This is my blog though, and my thoughts just hit the overflow point.  Son Michael believes there are no undecided voters, just those who aren't ready to admit their decision.  If that is the case, my words do not make a difference, but if one or two of you are still deciding, please don't let people manipulate your emotions in this election.  Honestly speaking, if I was ever undecided in this election, the release of these emails would have clinched it for me.  WE MUST NEVER allow people from other countries to have a hand in controlling our vote.  To hack into our system and pick select information to share with us is a tactic that we might have expected during Cold War days. Can we even imagine what a hack into the other side's emails would present to us?  Imagine we must, however, because Trump is the choice of those who would like to see us lose our world status.

I understand why you might not like Hillary. She offers us business as usual, and some feel a need for change.  A peek at the emails showed us she is human, and perhaps stepped over the line at times, but it also showed us a woman who cares deeply for the rights of others...a woman who feels others' pain deeply enough to work her political magic and help right the wrongs that plague them.  She is "business as usual" because she has been part of the system for thirty some years, and she has learned how it works.  Democrats and republicans of the Senate say she is a hard worker who is easy to work with and ready to compromise. Her resume speaks volumes.

Donald Trump will not be business as usual.  He has no political experience and sees things from a business man's perspective.  People he has worked with say he is self serving and seems single minded in his pursuit of the bottom line.  Some of his ideas have merit. He might have suggestions that could help our economy.  Unfortunately, the lack of political experience that makes him seem desirable, is the very thing that makes him dangerous.

Our society often condemns the actions of physicians. We say they are only after the almighty dollar.  We worry that they aren't listening to us.  We say that they have lost the ability to relate to us.  When you or your loved one falls ill though, would you call on Donald Trump to diagnose or operate on you?  He might be dynamite running the business end of the practice, but could he insert the stent you need or remove the tumor from your belly.

Trump does not have the experience to operate on your body, and he doesn't have the experience to run your country.  Please don't allow your desire for change to blind you to the need for experience.  Don't allow your fear of terrorism to convince you to swap freedom for the illusion of security.  On a personal note, I find his feelings for women and immigrants and those of us that he considers beneath him to be  horrifying, but that is not the main reason that he is dangerous.  His desire to cut ties with our allies while he praises our enemies shows me that his intentions might be okay, but his lack of knowledge where it really counts is as scary as having the well intentioned plumber operate on your child's tonsils.

Please go out this Tuesday, and vote for the person who was trained to save your country and help us all in our pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.

Speaking of choices, John Lescroart's upcoming novel, Fatal, shows us how dangerous the wrong choice can be.  I always wait patiently for one of Lescroart's offerings, and this one was worth the wait.  When Kate decides to cheat on her husband...just once...she can't begin to imagine the dominoes that will begin to fall.  Lescroart weaves a tale filled with murder and mayhem and strong characters, who will capture you from page one.

On a lighter note, Haunt Flashes by Leigh Selfman is a terrific ghost cozy mystery that introduces us to Arden, who moves into a new house that seems to be haunted by a 1940's movie star...who might, or might not, have been a murderer.  This book, while somewhat predictable, is light reading for a week that is stressing all of America.

As always, complete reviews of both books follow this blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly

Click on the book cover to order a title mentioned in today's blog:

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