Michigan Books

History is best told in the words of people who lived it - people like Adeline and Julia Graham.
Edited by Janet B. Coryell and Robert C. Myers, the Graham sisters' diaries, Adeline & Julia, span a six-year period in the late 1880s and provide a fascinating window into their Victorian-era lives. Adeline speaks more directly in her adolescent revelations, while Julia's diary recounts a hard-spent year spent homesteading the prairie in Kansas.
Both young women share an independent streak. Addie didn't hold with the typical expectations for the women of her time. She loved skating and horseback riding, and was crushed when a saddle her father bought her came without a "leaping horn," needed to jump fences.
Julia, for reasons never fully explained in her diaries, broke even more with feminine tradition and left Michigan at age 23 with her cousin, Belle, to homestead land in Kansas. They lived in what would become the town of Tribune in Greeley County with three other young women in their "Palace Hotel," a dug out shelter from which they offered travelers a meal and a place to sleep.
Addie is the consummate storyteller, while Julia's entries are more to the point. What emerges most from Adeline & Julia is what they have in common: a sense of determination and independence, a freedom to speak their minds, a willingness to stand up for what they believe.
That's history worth reading.

I ran this manuscript by my two nieces in Kentucky before we finished to be sure they could understand the definitions of 19th-century terms, and so they could tell me what still needed explanation. We wanted to publish a work in women's history that young girls today could enjoy--and they liked it pretty well (at the ages of 12 and 15). I hope that parents and young girls pick this up to find that the issues that young girls face haven't changed much in some ways--Adeline worries about school, boys, and what to be when she grows up! Lots of information about games kids played, books they read and fun that they had in olden times. Julia's diary covers the five months or so she spent proving up her claim to a section of land in Greeley County, Kansas, along with four others (All known in the town lore as the "Greeley Girls"). They had a blast! surviving one of the worst blizzards in Kansas history (sweeping snow from the INSIDE of the house), rescuing travelers and serenading them with songs. Enjoy!

I just want to commend Ms. Coryell and Mr. Myers for this excellent piece of local history. I live in Berrien Springs and enjoyed reading of "Adam's" adventures. I've not made it to the Julia part of the book yet (hesitant because her entries seem a lot less literary) but it's so cool to read about someone who grew up here like I did, only a hundred years earlier. This book has also made me more aware of my own journal, which I hope will someday be made into a book as well.

I ran this manuscript by my two nieces in Kentucky before we finished to be sure they could understand the definitions of 19th-century terms, and so they could tell me what still needed explanation. We wanted to publish a work in women's history that young girls today could enjoy--and they liked it pretty well (at the ages of 12 and 15). I hope that parents and young girls pick this up to find that the issues that young girls face haven't changed much in some ways--Adeline worries about school, boys, and what to be when she grows up! Lots of information about games kids played, books they read and fun that they had in olden times. Julia's diary covers the five months or so she spent proving up her claim to a section of land in Greeley County, Kansas, along with four others (All known in the town lore as the "Greeley Girls"). They had a blast! surviving one of the worst blizzards in Kansas history (sweeping snow from the INSIDE of the house), rescuing travelers and serenading them with songs. Enjoy!

Michigan Chillers (Aliens Attack Alpena)
By:Jonothan Rands

Have you ever seen an alien in Michigan? Well,
I have in one of Jonothon Rands Michigan Chiller
books. This book will make you jump right out of
your skin! I like this book because it is a scary
book. Read this book because when you do you will
like to read his other 10 Michigan Chillers. This is
a mystery book where the character solve the
mystery for you.

Aliens Attack Alpena is a great book. If you like scary, funny, and weird books you got to read Michigan Chillers! I think if you haven't read them you got to check them out. They are one of my favorite books. I got to meet the Authour he is realy cool.

I recently met Johnathon Rand, and he's really nice. I especially like his horror books, and "Aliens Attack Alpena," is a good book to read if you like horror.

Aliens Attack Alpena
By Jonathan Rand

The story is about aliens attacking Alpena, and there are hundreds of them. Do you think Meghan and the boy and the friendly alien will destroy the bad aliens? Or will the bad aliens take over the world?
I like the story because it is exciting to read. The author makes the story so that you can see the pictures in your mind. I really want to read all the rest of the books.
This book is written so that the reader will be entertained and hooked into the series.

As much as we tend to "tip-toe" around end-of-life matters with family and friends, Parker however takes the reader on a warm and touching journey with "loud and clear" steps about what she calls, "The Other Side of Through." Throughout the book, you can't help but reflect on your life situation wherever you may be on life's timeline. It is a must-read for those thousands of "baby boomers" like me because 1. We are entering that phase of our life where, quite frankly, we begin to seriously think about our own mortality and all that that means, and 2. Many of us have had to be, or will face the very likely possibility of being, a care-giver to a loved one. "Being Dead Right" answers so many questions on the issues of hospice care almost from A-Z and is told in a very readable, informative and humane way. In her book, Parker indeed lets full sun shine on a topic long lain hid. Excellent job.

Let's face it: Becoming Dead Right is a startling use of double entendre. It grew on me as a reader, since ultimately there's no time that straight talk is more required than at, and about, end of life. Placing judgement aside, "wrong" ways of dying have detrimental effects on patient-families; "right" ways of dying make end days as humane as can be, for both the dying and their survivors.

Humaneness is the critical quality that is often misplaced or absent from critical care. Parker's humanity is palpable. Every school principal must imbue it (even if half her kids may go to their own graves in denial of their school principal's humanity), so it's no surprise she would manifest it as a hospice worker and writer.

Yet I was surprised, and touched, and bolstered. As a writer on end-of-life matters, I expect others who write on dying and death to do so with great dignity, empathy, and poise. The subject requires it. So why my surprise? I think it stems from several directions.
- Poetry. If inuendo has no place in end-of-life conversations, and metaphor ignites understanding as it relieves duress, poetry occupies a middle ground. Parker's inclusion of personal poems throughout adds a a poignant, exploratory dimension to her narrative.
- Cultural mileu #1: Inside the Looking Glass. Reading messages that emanate from inside hospice differs from reading information about hospice. Parker gives us the real deal, distinct from intellectual abstraction (no matter how important the latter may be when the subject is end-of-life choices). Parker's "person-studies" help explain, in a very accessible manner, what hospice offers.
- Cultural mileu #2: Race. For those of us outside the black community, Becoming Dead Right offers a glimpse into the human fabric that makes Black America rich in ways that are intrinsic to their unique identity as a people. The glimpse arises naturally, through the telling. It's subtle, and probably unintentional--making this book all the more valuable.

And if Parker can help manifest her vision of Boomer Haven on a national scale, I'd queue up when it's my turn--even if I wasn't already predisposed.

-- Bart Windrum, author of Notes from the Waiting Room: Managing a Loved One's End-of-Life Hospitalization

This book was enlightning and a pleasure to read. I found it difficult to put down. Each of many patient related stories told was captivating and conveyed significant and often imperative messages. Comprehensive, insightful, empathetic, amusing, comforting and instructive are all applicable adjectives. Becoming Dead Right is a gift of sagacity to us all.

I really enjoyed the book, "Becoming Dead Right." The book was powerfully written and allowed the reader to feel the joys, frustrations, excitement and pain of the men and women in Hospice Care. My favorite part was the poems that were peppered in throughout the book that gave the book an extra special touch. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a book that puts a story and face with the people in Hospice Care.

If you are a fan of U of M and a fan of football then you will love this book. It is amazingly written, and really holds the readers attention. It goes in dept into what a great coach and director Fielding Yost was. It covers the building of Yost Field House and the building of the BIG HOUSE. I was able to speak with the author of the book and I was amazed by his level of knowledge. He spent a lot of time reading about U of M at the archives and its evident in the book when you read it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested.

I gave this book to my dad for Christmas. He couldn't put it down. It won't be turned into a movie, because the stories just aren't juicy enough but I would recommend the book to any Michigan fan. It was quick easy reading - great for a plane ride.

I cant put it down, My old coach gave me this for x-mas, Knowing that I was a huge U of M fan.. its great, a look into some of the greatest football ever...

I bought this as a Christmas present for my husband but then started reading it surreptitiously. It is very interesting and I am not even a Michigan OR a football fan. I am sure my husband will love it.

I lack the erudition to do this book justice. This slender volume explains, in a way I've found nowhere else despite years of reading about the Republic and the early Principate, how Rome worked -- how the laws were enacted, elections were conducted, military commands were assigned, prosecutions took place and why, and how verdicts were reached. Most significantly, it demonstrates that the source of and acitive agent in all of these powers was the people -- the crowd acting collectively in, for the most part, the Roman forum. It shows how the crowd was led and how affirmative crowd action was obtained by those who had acquired, in one way or another, some degree of auctoritas. In the course of this, the book reveals, as no other source I have read does, just what the Senate, the Consuls, Tribunes, and local Governors could and could not do, and the manner in which imperium (ultimate military and judical authority)was granted, exercised and abused, and, in the end, how that power was restrained through prosecutions before the people after those to whom it had been granted finished their terms of office. (Recall how unwilling Julus Caesar was to lay down his authority when, under the law, he had to do so to enter Rome to stand for election as Consul.) It is not an easy book for the beginner, but essential and fascinating to anyone interested in the Republic and the foundation of Roman power. Superb! You'll read it more than once. Were it up to me, this book would be required reading for every American.

This is a positive and deeply researched book. It politely refutes the anti-Roman revisionism that was common in the late twentieth century. Mr. Millar lucidly describes how the Roman Republic was a "varied democracy." Focusing mainly on the period 80-50bc. He sites public speeches to the existing records, elucidating that Rome during the Republic was a far more participatory form of government than was previously believed. Ex: "Decision making was not found in the Curia, but the Forum where the everyday citizens gathered." All eight chapters are insightful and technical terms are explained. This volume will interest general readers, and students of both Roman and political history.

This is an excellent book for anyone interested in the politics and goverenment of the late Roman republic. It is well written. Millar has done an outstanding job. I strongly recommend it.

The Roman Republic was strangely a very dynamic as well as rigid institution in which the causes of its demise have baffled scholars until the present day. Fergus Millar's scholarly work is one of the most concise studies on the politics and society of the Late Roman Republic. His published lectures provide a unique insight into the mechanics of popular politics in the Late Republic. Millar demonstrates how Roman suffrage was restricted to the physical location of the Forum and, how this affected the dynamics of Rome's political and legal institutions from the time of the Social Wars until the Civil War.

Having no written charter or constitution to guide it, the Roman Republic relied on tradition and ad hoc enactments as precedent. Unlike the democracies of today, Roman suffrage was collectively manifested by two voting assemblies representing either 35 geographical classes (tribes) or individual votes valued upon wealth (i.e. the less money you had, the less your vote counted.) Each assembly voted on certain ranges of legislation and were further segregated between commoners and the elite patrician nobility whose family clans originated from the earliest days of the Republic. When the time to vote did come, suffrage was limited to the physical confines of Rome in the Forum or the Campus Martius: if you were poor and lived over 50 miles away from Rome, you probably voted little.

This system worked well in Rome for so long because, until about 90 B.C., the Roman citizenry was limited to those who lived in Rome and its colonies in Italy and overseas: other cities in Italy were treated merely as allies (socii) who had limited privileges in Roman society and no voting rights. The Roman aristocratic oligarchy thus had few problems in manipulating the needs and sentiments of these voting blocks. Those dynamics changed after Rome was forced to enfranchise all of Italy to settle a bitter insurrection by its Italian allies around 90 B.C. This resulted in a sudden surge in the size and power of the traditional voting blocks which, despite their attempts to organize them to their advantage, began eroding the traditional allegiances and methods of Rome's ruling families. The changing political dynamics gave populists and demagogues such as Clodius and Caesar much greater flexibility in projecting mass popular will on given agendas. Although corruption, plebicites, political trials, and outright violence to pass legislation was not new to Romans, these changes along with more subtle ones made them evermore common occurrences near the end of the Republic and, to a great degree, made the leadership of charismatic populists like Caesar to many an appealing solution to the woes of a failing republican system.

Millar suggests that the traditional assemblies and their physical restriction to Rome as a location to express popular will became a cause of intense political friction after the Social Wars and the enfranchisement of Italy. With previously untapped voting blocks spread out all over Italy, demagoguery became a norm to by-pass the de facto ruling power of the Senate. Specifically, Millar shows how laws such as the enfranchisement of Italy, the reinstatement of the tribunes after 70 B.C., and the ever more frequent granting of extraordinary commands through the tribunate instead of the Senate, eroded the legitimacy of the Senate and voting assemblies as Rome's traditional political institutions; turning the Forum into a scene of incessant plebicites led by charismatic leaders. These motivations increased the frequency of political trials and the use of hired mobs to control the forum. The inevitable result was the development of violent factionalism as a means to control the forum to pass legislation. Legislation now being passed without the Senate's traditional role of revision and approval, people's reliance on single charismatic leaders like Caesar to hold sway thus became the norm. Millar concludes that these are the political dynamics that rendered the Senate obsolete as a governing body and paved the way for the Civil War and ultimately the Principate.

As with Gruen in "The Last Generation of the Roman Republic", Millar is very detailed in supporting his arguments; referring not only to Cicero's letters and trials but various other classical and modern sources. Along with Ward's "Marcus Crasssus and The Late Roman Republic", this book does a great service to the study of the Late Roman Republic. There are variant opinions as to what factors were primarily responsible for the collapse of the Roman Republic and Millar is one of leading scholars in this field along with Erich Gruen. Millar offers a unique insight on the impact of the forum's physical location, how that affected Rome's political institutions and, how this interaction with socio-political events after the Social War led to the desintegration of the Roman Republic. I wouldn't recommend this work as an introductory text on Roman history as its depth and scope would already require at least some basic knowledge of Roman history and society. This is, however, a great book for anyone who is seriously interested in Roman history, political science, and/or sociology. I strongly recommend it.

A truly great book! Maoz has shown that Israel, like other nations, has failed to take in the best interests of its people by failing to see the outcome of their actions. That's not to say they always tried to do the wrong thing, but unfortunately it comes across that way. The United States and its disastrous war in Iraq is another example. Read and learn!

I think even the detractors of this book will have to at least admit that this book is a very brave endeavor by the author. The analysis that Maoz gives us here is at times subjective which does leave the author open to criticism, but he takes such a scientific approach in analyzing the evidence that any critic will be hard pressed to find flaws in his methodology.

The book is not for the casual reader or those with just a passing interest in Israel or the Arab/Israeli conflict. The author uses almost fifty pages at the very beginning of the book to explain to readers his methodological approach to analysis of Israeli defense policy. I for one have never read such a detailed analysis of an approach to analysis before. Any potential reader should be prepared for a dense work that requires a lot from the reader.

If you decide to take on this book I think you will be rewarded with the best analysis of Israeli defense policy there is out there. The information is neutral and based on the best evidence available and presented in a rational and almost clinical fashion.

Maoz goes into great detail about how the IDF has had too much influence on policy making decisions within the government, and how civilian leadership has played a subservient role to defense needs. He goes on to explain how this lack of civilian leadership has created a process by which military solutions to conflicts take a priority role over political solutions. This has affected Israel's peace making efforts in the region. Israel has been all to willing to embark on some extremely risky military adventures to seek an end or at least an improvement vis-à-vis its neighbors, but at the same time Israel has been unwilling to try even moderately risky attempts at political solutions.

Maoz attributes some of this to the fact that Israel's founding elites instilled a siege mentality during the founding and early days of the Israeli state. Unfortunately this siege mentality has persisted even after the realities on the ground have taken on some fundamental changes. Israel now has a large conventional edge on all of its enemies, and Israel, for the foreseeable future, has no real existential threat from those states in the area. This does not mean that Israel is safe, but what it should mean is that Israel should have more political room to maneuver and seek political solutions that will further its security.

When Israel has taken some risk for political solutions it has benefited enormously, as when Israel finally accepted Sadat's overtures for negotiations which lead to the Israeli/Egyptian peace treaty. This peace, even though it has been a cold peace, has lifted an enormous burden from Israel. This should have been the template for Israeli peace policy towards its neighbors but unfortunately Israel seemed to take no lessons from this peace, but instead Israel insists on focusing on Arab rhetoric which is not grounded in reality nor are these states pursuing policies that could make their rhetoric a reality.

Israel is in a relatively safe position right now. They have an economic, social and military edge over every one of their potential enemies and Israel should try to capitalize on its improved position by bargaining for peace and establishing a WMD free zone in the Middle East. These types of policies could possibly go along way in bringing security to the Israeli state and it could lighten the defense burden which could free up money that is needed for infrastructure and social programs within Israel.

Maoz goes into all of this and more. His discussion of Israel's nuclear policy is fascinating, and his information on the economic aspects of Israel's defense policy and its economic situation as a whole was extremely elucidating. All in all I found this book to be an invaluable contribution to the discussion. This is one book that anyone who seriously studies this region and Israel cannot do without. I highly recommend this book.

This is a truly weird book. It is really big and thick, with all sorts of references. It's very scholarly. And it even discusses some interesting issues. But I still don't like it very much.

First of all, the topic is strange. Plenty of Arabs want to destroy Israel. Does it even make sense to ask what Israel ought to do? Israel is a small nation and it is at great risk no matter what it does. In any case, this book not only asks such a question but gives some answers.

Zeev Maoz appears to believe that most of Israel's wars were simply folly. After all, there are indications that with hindsight, Israel had other options! Well, maybe that's true. But most nations make plenty of errors when they have to make decisions about whether or not to fight a war. In my opinion, Israel has done an above average job here. And even Maoz points out that he is not trying to deny that other nations (especially the Arabs) have often made far worse decisions than has Israel; he just wants to point out where Israel could have done better in the past and where it could improve in the future.

I disagree most with the author when he characterizes various Israeli wars as optional. The Israelis might indeed have avoided war for a short time by doing something else. The Israelis might even have gotten a couple of pieces of paper in exchange for something of real value at various times. But such speculations are not only counterfactual (that's not what happened, so we can't be totally sure it could have), they also ignore much of what might have happened after that.

As an annoying aside, this characterization of Israel's wars makes it look a little like the Israeli people and their leaders simply did not want to survive. After all, when the easiest way to die is to get into a war, it's suicidal to choose war when peace is available! I don't believe that the Israelis or their leaders have been suicidal, and I doubt that Maoz believes it, so I am wary of a book that might imply such nonsense.

Time after time, Maoz criticizes Israel for doing something that seemed reasonable at the time. Israel's serious attempts to avoid or deter the 1973 war look as though they are dismissed out of hand. When we get to the Arab attacks on Israel in 2000, Maoz casually (and very dubiously) blames the start of the violence on Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount! I don't mind asking a lot of tough questions, but I think Maoz goes overboard when he implies that virtually everything Israel has done has been wrong. He should have done a better job of separating really clear errors from decisions which made far more sense (and may even have been ideal).

Still, there is good news about the book. Maoz does ask about various Israeli strategies for retaliation against attacks (including limited ones). And I think these are very good questions to ask, even though they may, quite unfairly, imply that everything would be just fine were Israel to do the right thing all the time. There is also an interesting section dealing with Israel's nuclear strategy. Here, Israel is encouraged to give up its nuclear weapons as part of a deal to make the region free of such weapons. If it were that simple to make such a deal and have it honored, I think there would already be peace in the Middle East, so I am not so sure how brilliant Maoz is being here.

With all due respect to the author, I think this book exaggerates Israel's ability to influence its own future. I suspect that Maoz would (possibly quite correctly) reply that I am underestimating Israel's ability to do just that.

Prof. Maoz analyzes the evidence underlying the basic beliefs about Israel's military policy and history, held by most Israelis and supporters of Israel. From a pro-Israel perspective, Maoz's work is a call for change within Israel to promote new institutions that would lead to non-military solutions. The chapter pointing out the flaws in Israel's nuclear policy is extremely important in view of the current nuclear build-up in Iran.

I bought this book and 'Cruising Woodward Avenue' as conversation starters in case things got too quiet at our first family reunion. We ended up not needing them for that purpose, but they still were fun to look and reminisce....

Greatly enjoyed reading this book, which includes many fascinating and rare photographs of Detroit during forty dramatic years. The writing about the city is informative and evocative and filled with local color. One only wishes that that it was even more comprehensive. Much could be said about Detroit in these years, about the automobile industry that made the city world renowned, its captains of industry and labor, its institutions, remarkable churches, theaters, famous restaurants, schools, museums and its many diverse cultures and neighborhods. Still, this is a delightful and valuable introduction to a great city, which I will treasure and refer to time and again.

A graphic reminder of the vibrancy and prosperity in a Detroit that was another era.

Nostalgic trip back in time to a Detroit in its better days. Book is full of pictures of this city which will interest you every time you review its pages!!!

The pace is quickened in Bobby Jaye Allen's second published work, "Early's Pride." Pride Park in the center of Early, Michigan, is the subject of a rezoning fight and before City Council votes on the matter, a councilwoman and the city planner are murdered in separate incidents. The councilwoman was against rezoning and the city planner wanted to rzone the park to retail to allow a megamall to take over the land in question. Brady Kincaid is enlisted to visit Early to help the local, inexperienced homicide detectives catch the killers. The Fellmeyers, Joyce and her veterinarian husband, from the author's first book are important in solving the murders as is a new character, Geraldine Pozy, ace reporter for the 'Early Eagle.' We meet the mayor, city manager, and the entire City Council, all of whom have their own ideas on the merit of rezoning Pride Park. Any citizen who's ever been faced with nearby inappropriate land rezoning, also known as NIMBY -- Not In My Back Yard -- will appreciate this story. A tender romance rounds out "Early's Pride" to make a very satisfying read. Five Stars.

Reading Bobby Jaye Allen's new book, Early's Pride is like running into old friends.
Once again we meet Joyce Fellmeyer and Brady Kincaid. Brady,a retired police detective, is chief of security at Lombardy Teachers College where Joyce's cousin Claudia Packer is Dean of Women. In Ms Allen's first book Every First Saturday these three solve a murder on campus.
When murder strikes in Joyce's city of Early, she calls on Brady to help solve the crime. Early is in the middle of a rezoning fight , with Rick Cameo heavily in favor of rezoning. When he is found murdered it throws the whole city in an uproar.
Working with Brady Kincaid is the heroine of the story. Geraldine Pozy works as a reporter for the Early Eagle newspaper and is described as a hefty young woman given to wearing flannel shirts and no make-up. But when romance enters her life in the form of a giant of a man, Lincoln Henderson , who is in the process of developing the Hotel Erin into luxury condos, Geraldine manages to lose fifteen pounds by the end of the book.
Ms Allen makes good use of Geraldine's interview with the murderer in the epilogue, to tie up a few loose ends. It did leave me wondering if the villian would get off by pleading insanity.
I was amused by the names of some of the characters ,which I had never before heard of. Mayor Korndoktor, councilman Longdorfer and officer Bebout for example. My apologies for smiling to anyone with those names. Several of her expressions were unique. Gee-zus Kee-zus, Drinkey-Winkey and Oh,Piddle-dee-dee certainly added flavor to the mix.
Having read Ms Allen's first book , I can feel the improvement in her writing style with Early's Pride. I look forward to reading her next book where I expect to meet up with Brady Kincaid once again.

Rezoning land use is always a big issue whether it is in small town America or the big city. It is sure to be contentious and fact that it revolves around Pride Park in this cozy mystery is a guarantee of trouble for all concerned. As the novel opens, it is just after Christmas in the small town of Early, Michigan. Rick Cameo is director of services for the small town and in so doing has gained operational control over a number of diverse departments. At the same time, his job duties and his marriage does not stop him from making the time to have a varied and active social life with a number of the women in town. He has also managed to find the time to develop a new use for Pride Park, the small town's gem. He wants to end the current zoning concerning Pride Park and turn it over to developers who will build a mixed-use retail development on the site. Theoretically, the retail development will bring badly need jobs as well as boosting the tax base. The fact that allowing this to happen would obliterate a beautiful park as well as costing jobs in the local shops forced to close is irrelevant to Rick Cameo. Plenty of folks are against the idea, but Rick knows the dirt on a number of folks as well as knowing who needs to be paid off, in addition to himself, to make sure the deal goes through.

But, before he can get the ball rolling downhill too fast to stop, Rick is found dead in his hotel room. Other than the fact that he is fully dressed as well as wet, there are few clues for the local Police to work with. While they mean well, they are clearly overmatched in this case, which is just the latest in a string off odd events and death for the local citizenry. Councilwoman Joyce Fellmeyer realizes that they need help and her old friend retired Homicide Detective Brady Kincaid would be just the man to help.

She convinces a local star reporter, Geraldine Pozy, that Brady could come in to town on a press pass and act as a consultant to the local paper while he works on the case. Geraldine is always on the lookout for a good story and sees her point. To do so would allow him to unofficially help the Police, clear the case, and provide source material for Geraldine.

Geraldine agrees as does a very bored Brady and soon the two are working the case from their perspective angels of expertise. It becomes clear that the Police effort, well meaning but woefully lacking, extends beyond this case. The death of Rick is definitely linked to other deaths as well as various odd happenings about town.

As in most cozy type mysteries, the action in this novel is very limited as compared to the traditional mystery. The novel relies primarily on character development and sleuthing through question and comparing suspects, to move the story slowly forward. The list of suspects is very long and the trail often confusing as so many of the citizens are far different than what they appear to be everyday. Despite the lack of action, the story is very entertaining and the novel is a fine example of what can be done with a cozy type of mystery.

In Early, Michigan, the town counsel and the mayor argue over the merits of maintaining Pride Park as the centerpiece of the city or rezone it for commercial use. The Director of Services Rick Cameo leads the assault on changing the park to a commercial venture. However, someone must not have liked Rick's position or perhaps one of his women came unglued as he is killed in a nearby motel.

The local police assigned to the case, Newkirk and Bebout care, but homicide is out of their league. Councilwoman Geraldine Perry arranges for retired Cleveland homicide detective Brady Kincaid to work as a consultant for the Earl Eagle newspaper and its crack reporter Geraldine Pozy. The local officers are elated to have a person with Kincaid's experience to guide them on the case especially when he believes there is a link to the double murders of Gerald and Marian Sevrall, the latter a member of the council. However, even with Geraldine's help, the clues fail to add up, but Brady keeps digging because that is his nature.

Bobby Jaye Allen should feel proud of this delightful investigative tale that brings to life home in a small Michigan town during the Christmas week. The story line will hook the audience as one cannot help but like the patient sensitive Brady and the in your face yet reticent Geraldine. Though some may disagree, adding to the fun is that this pair does not walk out into the sunset together. The who-done-it fans will provide plenty of accolades to the author for a wonderful tale.

Harriet Klausner

I couldn,t put it down, but I wanted it to last...Every page evoked a memory and a smile, or an outright laugh. It paints a picture with broad stokes, and fine insight. Wit and wisdom and loveable folks throughout...Sorry to see it ended.

I have the audiobook version and I feel like I lived every moment of Jager's childhood. It's well written, open and honest; it's not only interesting, but a journey through the history of the American family farm.

I did not grow up in the Great Depression, nor Michigan, when and where this book takes place. I grew up on a farm in Iowa in the 1960s, yet this book described my childhood perfectly! The work ethic, parental discipline and life in rural America Jager describes is now a part of history. I am thankful he captured it so well for future generations. If you grew up on a farm, you will love this book as well!

The book was absolutely fabulous! It was as if the reader had been invited to take part in the michigan farm. It was heart-wrenching, yet funny at times. It made me remember that I'm a farm-boy at heart!

Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. Author Chris Shanley Dillman's historical fiction novel based on a true story involving her ancestors was a great read! The story centers on 16-year-old Emma Truckey, the daughter of the Lighthouse Keeper responsible for the Marquette Lighthouse in Marquette, located on the shores of Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The year is 1863, and the Civil War is raging on. Emma's father was called to serve for the Union, and the care of the lighthouse was left to Emma's mother, Anastasia, known by the local Native Americans as "Mother of the Light". Like in all wars, when the men left for duty, the women assumed the jobs that men would normally do, and they did it well. When the war was over, however, almost all the women lost their jobs in favor of the returning soldiers. This isn't in the story, but Emma's father returns with a musketball in his leg and is able to resume taking care of the lighthouse.

When Anastasia leaves to take care of her ailing sister in Canada, it is up to Emma and her siblings to fend for themselves and run the lighthouse in her absence. During a bad storm, a ship crashed on the rocks due to the fury of Lake Superior, and Emma and her good friend, Bobby, row out to rescue any survivors. One man, Alex, did survive. When Emma goes to dry out the items in Alex's satchel, she discovers a secret that puts her entire family in jeopardy!

Besides the fascinating backdrop of the historical portion of this novel, this story is also all about Emma's epic struggle with herself. She has no self-esteem, thinks she's ugly and a klutz, and has no idea what others really think of her. Her new friend, Bobby, is a girl that flaunts convention and dresses as a boy. Emma is awed by Bobby's confidence in herself. Throughout the story, Bobby makes inroads into helping Emma see what a valuable and loveable person she really is. This is a must-read for any age group over 12 to learn something about history, running a lighthouse, and finding one's way through life and becoming a confident person. A thoroughly enjoyable book! Perhaps because she was writing about her relatives, or perhaps it is just because Chris is an excellent writer, I found Emma's "voice" in this book coming through loud and clear. Great job, Chris! Your relatives must be looking down on you quite proudly, I'd say!

Chris Shanley Dillman's "Finding My Light" is the finest young adult novel I have read in many years, and one I think adults will enjoy as well. The story tells of sixteen year old Emma Truckey, left behind with her mother and siblings to tend the lighthouse in Marquette, Michigan on Lake Superior during the Civil War, while her father, Nelson Truckey goes off to fight in the Michigan 27th.

Emma's internal journey begins as one of self-doubt, but when her mother must travel to Canada to care for her sick sister, Emma, as the oldest child, finds that the responsibility of keeping the light and watching over her siblings fall upon her shoulders. With the help of her siblings, and her new friend, Bobby, Emma discovers the strength and inner resources she has always had. Bobby is a charming, fun friend who is able to help Emma discover her own value. Bobby dresses like a boy and is not afraid to step in and help out where needed. She is especially Emma's strength the night of a shipwreck when the two of them must go out in a rowboat to rescue the only survivor.

The plot thickens with the rescue of the shipwreck survivor. Emma quickly discovers he is some sort of spy, but she does not know if he is a spy for the Union or the Confederacy. The result is a mission she must go on to help protect the Union. Her adventures ultimately lead to her growth and her reliance upon herself as her own best friend.

I wanted to read "Finding My Light" because I am a native of Marquette, Michigan where the book is set. I am also an author who writes about the Marquette area so I was curious to see how a fellow author treated the same region. However, most of all I was interested in "Finding My Light" because the Truckeys in the novel are the author's actual ancestors, although she did fictionalize parts of the story--author's license of course. My own great-great-grandfather served in the Michigan 27th with Nelson Truckey, so I was ready to learn plenty about the time period of my ancestors. While the book captures the historical time-period and the feel of early Marquette as a small community, I was primarily impressed with the strong character development in Emma, who truly does find her own light during the book. The revelation she has at the end is one that will resonate with readers, especially young adults who are learning their own self-value as they move into adulthood.

While I will not give away the ending, I know the author is planning a second book related to this one which includes a female disguised as a boy joining the Michigan 27th. I am already impatient to read it.

I rank this book up there with "Dandelion Cottage" and "Granite Harbor" as one of the best young adult books produced about the Marquette area, and no doubt, the book has universal appeal to readers despite time period, location, and gender. I congratulate Chris Shanley Dillman for writing what I hope will become a classic.

- Tyler R. Tichelaar, author of "Iron Pioneers, The Marquette Trilogy: Book One" available on Amazon

What a delightful book with a unique concept. Having formerly lived at the beach and being a person who likes all things "beachy," I couldn't wait to read this story of young Emma "coming of age" under the watchful eye of her mother who is a lighthouse keeper ... of all interesting, unusual occupations.

The action happening during Civil War days was another drawing point for me.

I think this is a sensitive portrayal of young Emma, and I enjoyed it immensely.

I look forward to reading more by this author.

Chris Shanley has once again proven herself to be a first-class writer of fiction for young people. Chris' new, exciting, novel, Finding My Light, is also a personal achievement since it traces the history of her own ancestors, the Truckeys, caught in the drama of the Civil War. It is the moving story of Emma, 16 year old daughter of Nelson Truckey, away fighting in the war, and Anastasia, her strong mother, who, with the help of their 3 children, becomes one of the first women lighthouse keepers on the Great Lakes. Their adventures prove to be a very compelling and gripping "can't put down" reading experience.
Most importantly, Chris gives a fine and sensitive portrait of a young woman coming into a sense of who she is. She inhabits her character Emma with a deep understanding of Emma's struggles; her pain and joy and her ultimate embracing of herself. Her story is told with wit, and a true compassion that will speak to the hearts and minds of all who journey with her in this delightful book.
---Reviewed by Gurprasad Khalsa