The Healing: A Novel by Jonathan Odell

This was a five star read. 

In my opinion, a book has to be well above very good to rate five stars.

Life changing maybe, or heart healing,  or something that strikes a chord might

rate five stars.

The story told in this book has found a place in my heart and it will stay firmly

planted there. Polly Shine is one of the most remarkable characters I have met in

any book, by any writer, in my over fifty years of reading.

To be very honest, I picked this book up and read a few pages and then set it aside.

It wasn't calling out to me the way I expected it to when I read the blurbs. I was

frustrated, because I had expected more. Well, shame on me for being impatient. If I

had read beyond the first fifteen or so pages, I would have found my way into this

wonderful story much sooner.

We hear the story of Polly Shine's arrival on the plantation though stories told to

the girl Violet by Gran Gran. Granada was a child when Polly arrived and was chosen by her

because Polly saw the glimmer of something special in the small girl. Granada, who grew to

be called Gran Gran wanted no parts of the woman Polly at first, and in fact disliked her.

She blamed Polly for having lost her comfortable place as the favored "pet" of the mistress.

Children can be so foolish! As time passed, Granada learned to see, she learned to listen and

she grew into wisdom of her own.

I don't want to tell any more, I just want to entice you and let you find the gems that are scattered

throughout this story on your own. Once you fall into the story, you will want to stay, as I did.

The Dovekeepers

                                                                     By Alice Hoffman

Romans defeated of the Jews at Masada in the year 70C.E., and this is the
story of some of the women who were there. Women who had come together to be
the Dove keepers. To care for the animals who were kept to provide eggs and fertilizer
for the crops raised within the walls, and to be spread around the trees. The doves
gave sustenance to all who lived there in one way or another.

Those who kept the Dover were Shirah and her daughters Aziza and Nahara. Shirah
had been born in Alexandria and was educated not only in reading and the knowledge
of languages, but of magic as had been her own mother. Her story, and that of the
birth of her daughters alone, is worth the price of this book.

There is Revka, a woman left to raise her two young grandsons, after the world
as they knew it was taken from them. To say that things were never to be the same
for them is an understatement of vast proportion. Again, their story alone deserves a book.

Yael was born of a woman who no longer had breath in her body and that moment of her birth
was to affect each choice she made and all the days of her life.

These women worked together to care for the doves who were the basis of life
or those who lived on the mountain. Who can say how it was that these women
were brought together, and how it was that they were perhaps the strongest of
all. They carried within them their own secrets, and in the end, it fell to some of them
to carry and then share the story of what happened when the Romans came finally to Masada
and scaled the mountain. Stronger than the warriors, the leaders and in the end, the conquerors.

The stories that were left behind that historic event are the basis of this
glorious novel. They say that there were seven who lived. Seven who survived
months of siege and then attack by the Romans of their people. The Jews who had already
torn from their homelands, and found refuge together on this great mountain. Seven
who refused to die either at the hands of the Romans or of their own people, and
who found a way to live.

Only Time Will Tell

 by Jeffrey Archer

Only Time Will Tell is book one of a new series by Jeffrey Archer.

As anyone who has ever read Archer can tell you, he tends to write

can't miss this one books!

Harry Clifton is a child from a very poor family. His father died

before Harry knew him, and he and his mother live a subsistence existence

in a shabby little home with his mother's parents and her brother. Food

is not only not plentiful, but barely available. A bit of toast and the

leavings in his uncles bowl are all that there is for Harry's breakfast.

Despite all of this, Harry shows himself to be a remarkable child. Although

he is determined not to sit in a classroom, and as often as possible runs off to the docks,
he is a particularly clever and we are to find out, talented boy. He also has good

instincts. Despite being warned away often by his Uncle Stan, Harry befriends

Jack Tar, who lives in a railway car near the docs. Jack is no more than a penniless

ne'er to well, were Stan to be believed. But Harry and Jack become firm friends, and

Jack helps to steer Harry on a path of learning, during their hours in the rail car.

As time passes opportunities com Harry's way. It turns out that he has the voice of

an angel, and this small twist of fate begins to open doors that will improve Harry's

future. What a lucky boy, you say? Well, yes.. but he is also a good and caring young man,

and this too, helps him pave the way to better roads ahead.

Friends are important, and never more so than to a child. Harry's Best friends are Giles Barrington,

who comes from a wealthy family and A. Deakins, who like Harry has had a rough start. They meet in

school and form a fast and enduring friendship. This is yet one more thing that will change Harry

Clifton's life. But nothing will change it more than a decision that Harry himself makes in the

early days of WWII.

I have barely closed the covers on this book, and I am already anxious to see what the next book

in the series will bring. Archer is quite a storyteller. Let his words carry you along...

---

The Lantern

By Deborah Lawrenson

The words are like flowers, as is perhaps appropriate in a story where

fragrance and its composition is nearly a character in and of itself. But

there are moments of casual cruelty hidden within the flowery language. There

is darkness, mystery and and the whispering of the ghosts of lifetimes lived and left.

He called her Eve. They met in the depths of a labyrinth and that too, was appropriate,

given that that their life together was wound between secrets she dared not explore. She

was happy enough, more than happy, in fact. At least in the beginning. Before the darkness

that secrets exude began to swirl around them. She was happy before the doubts began to creep in,

before the bones were uncovered in the garden.

This story is a journey that begins in the distant past, and ends with a promise for the future. IT

is a journey that I recommend that you take, if you like mystery touched with romance and dusted with

petals of flowers long since gone.

The Knowledge of Good & Evil

by Glenn Kleier

Another fast paced, though provoking, action packed thriller from Glenn Kleier!
Back to the Bible, and of course the Vatican for source material, add a daring, and dashing
young ex-priest with a pure heart and a crisis of faith and you have an idea about what this
book in about. Ian Baringer made a name for himself when he was still a priest by performing
an act of heroism, and saving lives.

Despite the acclaim heaped upon him by the church, he still struggled. Having lost his parents in
a tragedy that could well have taken his life as well, he longed to see them again. He left the church and began a quest to find a way into the afterlife. His research and personal experiences convinced him that only by experiencing a NDE, near death experience, could he find them. They had lost their lives protecting him, saving his life. He felt that it was impossible to go on with his own life, until he did all that he could to thank them, even traveling beyond death itself.

Angela was not only a co-worker, but his fiancee. They made up a paranormal investigating team for
a popular television show. This and his own personal wealth gave him the tools he needed on
his quest to journey beyond physical death. He had an ingrained goodness and belief in miracles, and
Angela was a skeptic. This gave balance to his mission, and to his life. Then things got even more interesting. Friends in high places were able to help him, even as others were trying to take his life away for good. Are there some secrets that should never be revealed?

The Man with Pointy Teeth

by M Juanita Taylor

I read this authors first book Last year. It is called Cogslea Revisited, and is about a group of atists referred to as The Red Rose Girls.Malindi is an African Wild Dog in Cogslea, and was perhaps my favorite character of all. Malindi is of course sweet, loving and intuitive, as are so many dogs.

We meet up with more African Wild Dogs in this story, but they resided in a zoo and are part of a behavior study.
Caitlin is an art student who volunteers nights to watch the dogs and take notes on their behavior. She is befriended by Eddie, an employee of the zoo, who frankly seems a little like a man up to no good.

We learn that Caitlin has a good heart and is impulsvie, perhaps too muh so, as she allows some dubious characters to stay with her when they are down and out. I further questioned her common sense later in the book, when after a series of unfortunate events resulting in more than one death, she follows the advice of another dubious seeming character who suggest she hold back some information from police.

I have to say that I was clutching the book and trying to turn pages more quickly than I should when Caitlin herself seems to be the target. She has a new love interest and things are looking too good to be true. That's when things always happen right? Romances come crashing down, the mil spoils and the roses die. I just happens that way.

This story has Taylor's typical cast of quirky and interesting characters, and her love of animals shines clearly
throughout the story. The mystery held up pretty well for me and the story held my interest to the end. Do i recommend this one? Why yes I do! If you like mysteries, zoos, quirky characters and bonus... The Philadelphia area, read it. I think you will like it.

It is dark around the edges, just enough to take in a sharp breath from time to time.. but, it won't keep you up at night. Sounds about right , don't you think?

Coffee with Thunderbolts

By Marianne G Petrino

 Here we follow part of the journey of Elena and her Aunt and mentor Rosemarian. The cast of characters who each play a role in this journey are interesting and magical. By magical, I mean in the literal sense, not just an adjective for a well thought out character. Elena feels that she has failed to live up to her mothers ambitions for her, and in fact she has. The most important aspect of this is that her mothers ambitions and Elena's are worlds apart, literally.

Elena and Rosemarian and company journey to some mystical areas of our country in pursuit of Mayan truths. The adventures they have along the way are well worth reading, but perhaps even more so the antics of the beings they encounter, both corporal and non.

I would say that this may not be a book for everyone, but really, what book is? And how do you know unless you give it a try? I enjoyed spending time with these characters and think that anyone who has a curiosity about the Mayans, 2012, magic, metaphysics, labyrinths or for that matter family dynamics will enjoy this story.

Broken Tees and Mended Hearts. A Life's Journey Serving Wounded Warriors and Injured Spirits

I found this book to be a truly inspiring collection of stories about a small group of people
who refused to allow a physical handicap to define them. Armed with courage and support of
friends and family, this group of athletes prove to themselves and others that you cannot allow
the opinions or doubts of others to keep you from challenging yourself. Not even if these naysayers are
medical professionals.

Having worked with special needs children and young adults for several years, I have been witness to many everyday miracles. This author has seen quite a few of her own and she shares them with her readers. I think this is a wonderful book for those facing physical challenges and their families. One cannot help but to be filled with admiration and respect for individuals profiled. Hopefully they will find the optimism and inspiration they need to create a miracle of their own.

Beneath the Hallowed Hill by Theresa Crater

What you will feel when you read this book is enraptured. That is a feeling
I haven't had since I read Crater's last offering, Under the Stone Paw. These
books have more than the story in common, There is a basic feeling of rightness
here.

First, if you have not read Under the Stone Paw, I urge you to do so. That is
not only a wonderful book in its own right, but it lays the groundwork for this
story. If you choose not to, and just read this as a stand alone, that will work
for you as well.

Atlantis. Who hasn't wondered about Atlantis? Have you ever wanted to visit Merlin's
Crystal Cave? How about Avebury, England or Stonehenge? Well, pick up this book and
you will be there. You will meet faerie, and the Maidens of Avalon, too. Like Avalon
itself, this book seems to be a sum of magic, as there are far too few pages to hold
what you will experience if you read the story.

Michael and Anne travel to Glastonbury to visit the home left to Anne Le Clair by
her mother's sister. This is where the story begins, or should I say takes off?
Once in Glastonbury, they find that there is a problem with one of the Sacred Springs.
They take time off from their pursuit of the Illuminati to lend a hand. Here is where
the story begins and ends. But, ends is perhaps not the right word? I think the ending
lies somewhere in the future. I think you will enjoy the journey, but each journey has a
beginning. Pick up the book and see where your beginning lies..

Strongly recommended

The Heart Specialist by Claire Holden Rothman

The inspiration for this book was taken from the life
and work of Dr Maude Elizabeth Seymour Abbot. She was one
of Montreal's first female physicians. This is not at all
the story of her life, but a novel that takes us along the
path with a woman of that time who wanted to become a physician.

Those were still the years when women were expected to make a home
for their men, and considered ill equipped or not intelligent enough
to consider more than minimal education. To think of those times now,
it seems impossible. We have women like Dr Abbot to thank for the
fact that women are now understood to be the equals of men.

Agnes White and her younger sister were being raised by their paternal
grandmother. But although her younger sister was quiet and considered
to be ladylike, Agnes was more inquisitive. She wanted to know how things
worked. Specifically, she was interested in the human body and even as a
child revered her father, who was a doctor. She had in face taken some
of his equipment for her own. In particular she took and hid away, a microscope.
She had quietly removed it from among her fathers belongings which her
grandmother had given away, long after the man himself had disappeared.

There was a scandal, but of course Agnes believed that all of the talk was
wrong, and that her father, Doctor Bourret was not guilty of the murder of
his sister. A happy circumstance of a new governess, who was herself well
educated, but that at the knee of her own father, is what helped to set Agnes
on the path to become a physician, herself.

This is a well told and extraordinary story of a women whose struggle
to enter medical school seemed to be blocked at every turn. Finding out if
she would prevail, was a more than worthy read.

I recommend this extraordinary book to men and women alike.
Anyone interested in history, or just a good strong story will
be glad to read The Heart Specialist