Florida Books

Lani Massey Brown uses well-written fiction to make a point to those of us who are neither political wonks nor computer-types. This book is a real page-turner and a good read for anyone that likes high drama. Even if you don't care about how easy it is to steal an election, the perils that confront the characters in this book make it worth reading just for fun.

Lani Brown pulls off a topical and frightening scenario of 21st century electoral corruption in A Margin of Error: Ballots of Straw. Being the former tabulation manager for one Florida county's election committee, Brown has a unique insight into the machinations of our new voting systems, as well as a keen eye for a story. Her lead character, Cady Palmer, Deputy Elections Supervisor knows that Miami's election has been rigged by a high-tech stalker, but no one wants to hear it. People in power have spent a great deal of money to get the election results they wanted, and they don't care to undermine anything. Soon, Palmer's embroiled in a national conspiracy going to the highest reaches of government. This book reminded me of Don Bruns' Florida conspiracy/caper novel STUFF TO DIE FOR.

On break this summer, I holed up with some of my favorites, Grisham, Roberts, Koontz, Cornwell, Flynn and a Higgins Clark tossed in for good measure. Then with all the election brouhaha in the news, I switched to "A Margin of Error Ballots of Straw," expecting a high-tech rampage of murder, mayhem, and technical speak in overdrive...not. Susan Cady Palmer is a business woman challenged by all the under the table stuff most women in business don't talk about publicly. Her boss is a throwback, straight from Dilbert, but more perverse. Sexual harassment is his special kick-down Cady tool. She's put up with it for years. Until now, when the stakes soar to an all time high and she tells him to, "Put a sock on it." One of those snapshot moments. I wish I'd said that!

Then comes Cady's spy, Neal Charles. Glorious Isabella may not want to take Neal home, but I do. Move over, Cady.

"A Margin of Error: Ballots of Straw" is an unlikely love story. And oh, by the way, I'm a convert. Fiction, sure. But the facts jump off the page. Could a vast right, left, or center conspiracy hijack this or any election? Maybe it already has.

It's a realistic novel that will intrigue anyone interested in fair elections, especially for Florida voters.

Realistic scenarios in the voting process that should make you wonder if this could happen or if it has happened.

Makes you wonder if paperless voting machines should be banned.

A Messy Job I Never Did See A Girl Do, by Mary Jane Ryals, is a kaleidoscope of tumbling words that ultimately fit together into a highly perceptive, rough-edged picture of southern U.S. culture. The result is stories that make you laugh out loud, cuss and spit, and cry revival empathies for the banged-on unheard. Mary Jane captures the native intelligence of young people who, in their own awkward ways, expose the weaknesses, the bigotry and emotional insensitivity of the adults in their lives. At the same time, we feel all of the characters' fears behind the numbness or the anger, the anxiety and the outrage, or the wiry strength and simple stubbornness. Her characters make us believe that the scars on the new generation will not run so deep and not be as debilitating as on the old. We are left with the hope that the new generation will be better in some ways, kinder or more accepting, willing to look over walls, kick them, and knock them down.

This book of short stories is so descriptive you can close your eyes and feel the muggy heat and sandy dirt of the South, as well as smell the the acrid sweat of people around you. These beautifully written stories cover a myriad of subjects from young girls struggling with the knowledge that their voice doesn't have real meaning, to the pain of living in poverty in the rural South. The wonderful thing about these stories is the sense of hope that some of the characters continue to have, even against seemingly tough odds. "I don't know where I'd go from here, but somehow, my words would get me there." "When I leave someday, I'll fly in a car with red lights, whiz-roaring through the highway"

Mary Jane Ryals' words have certainly gotten her there, she has done a wonderful job capturing the essence of both pain and promise in the souls of these young girls.

Highly recommended reading!!

Like sweet dark chocolate or good red wine, Mary Jane Ryal's first collection of stories will satisfy a craving for North Florida settings and strong female protagonists.

IF YOU EVER GET THE CHANCE, GO HEAR RYALS READ FROM HER BOOK. LISTENEING TO HER BEAUTIFUL SOUTHERN VOICE BRINGS THE CHARACTERS ALIVE. THE BOOK IS GREAT, AND THE AUTHOR IS TOO!

I love dirt. I love mountains. I love mountains of dirt. And ya know what? I like the book!
All the pictures were really cool, and how many people do you know that take pictures of mounds of construction dirt?
Very cool.

What an awesome take on the construction meca of the southeast. The biggest complaint about Florida is how flat it is and how much construction is gowing on. This Author seizes that opportuntity t make lemonade out of a potentially irritating situation. The book was dreamy and extremely imaginative you can get lost in the presentation of dirt. As a dirt lover myself, this book is brilliant and I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next.

This book is amazing. Who would have thought that Florida would have such beautiful mountains. I had a friend who reviewed the book (and bought it) and she said it reminded her of home, the Colorado Mountains. This is a great coffee table book and wonderful gift for a friend or family member.

I was amazed at the black and white photos of "dirt". Having lived in Florida for many years I knew there were no mountains. There was excellent contrast between the mountains and the sky. The preface contained alot of information on the how's and why's of this particular type of photography. However, it may have contained a little too much information on types of dirt.

Overall, the pictures are quite intriguing and will sit well on my coffee table.

Leigh, Ruthie and Penny Sue reunited in New Smyrna Beach for the third time; are preparing to give depositions in the trial of the drug smugglers they routed in the first Daffodils (Divorced and Finally Free of Deceitful Licentious Scum) mystery - The Turtle Mound Murders.

Aging hippie and neighbor Guthrie (Fred) Fribble shows up on their doorstep, brimming with local gossip and news. It seems that another, rather elderly neighbor, known as Nana, is in the hospital after a home invasion robbery scared her into a heart attack. He also notifies them that there's a Category 3 hurricane potentially heading towards Florida. The ladies quickly make preparations to weather proof the condo. Later Guthrie returns sporting a frozen chicken atop the Ace bandage on his knee to beg for shelter and company during the storm. "Publix ran out of ice" he says to explain the poultry. He injured his knee when he heard a strange noise outside his condo and fell while attempting to investigate. Further investigation links the strange noises with other odd events, including Nana's heart attack and several deaths. Coincidence? Or is someone out to silence the Daffodils?

To perk up their spirits, the Daffodils and friend Chris agree to participate in a charity racing event, that will raise money for less fortunate hurricane victims. This event has to be postponed when the second storm in as many days is announced to be bearing down on Florida. The ladies evacuate to a luxury hotel on higher ground. But there are strange men lurking around the hotel, so they have to plot a quick escape. Eventually they make it safely to race day only to find out that the other teams aren't all interested in just the racing...

The best so far of the Daffodils books. The author has really fleshed out her characters, and by the third book they are as familiar as old friends. Leigh's levelheadedness, Penny Sue's flirtatious nature and Ruthie's New Age slightly flaky spirituality make them the ideal team. The character interactions, the gentle teasing and feminine in-jokes add to their appeal and invite the reader to imagine themselves as part of the sisterhood. It will be interesting to see what predicament Mary Clay is going to put the Daffodils in next.

In the 3rd book in the DAFFODILS Mystery series, long-time friends and sorority sisters Ruthie, Leigh, and Penny Sue find themselves in New Smyrna Beach awaiting the upcoming trial of a drug smuggling ring. They have been told to be ready to testify, and the three friends settle in for a visit while hoping that they do not have to testify in the case. While staying in Penny Sue's daddy's condo after her divorce, Leigh has been awaiting her divorce settlement and looking to purchase a unit in the complex. She is joined by Ruthie and Penny Sue, and soon after their arrival, a hurricane starts to threaten the Florida coastline.

Packing in supplies, the three hunker down waiting for the storm to pass. When an elderly woman's condo is broken into and she has a heart attack, Leigh's neighbor, Guthrie Fribble, comes to warn Leigh and her friends. Concerned about the coming storm, Guthrie stays with the ladies during storms and helps in their investigation when strange things start to occur. Brand new aluminum pipes and storm shutters are found rusted and broken, a family dog and elderly neighbor are found dead with "glitter" all over the carpet in the condo, and the ladies are followed by a black Taurus. When a brand-new neighbor is shot before their eyes, the DAFFODILS wonder if their drug smugglers could be out to get them. Working hard to stay afloat during hurricane season and dodging bullets from unknown enemies, the DAFFODILS use their wits and good spirits to discover who is trying to silence them for good.


I loved this book! It was funny, heart-warming, and zany all at once. The DAFFODILS share a common bond like many women...they were friends in their younger years and grew apart with marriages, jobs, and children. They are reunited after their divorces, and find that they are able to renew their friendship with little thought to the time that has passed. In this installment, they endured hurricanes, murder attempts, and dead bodies, and found a way to laugh and work together through it all. I love the fact that two of their most important supplies during a hurricane turned out to be wine (but any alcoholic beverage probably would do!) and chocolate. Truly, women after my own heart! The mystery had me guessing until the end with its many twists and turns, and I was kept breathless with the anticipation of each new hurricane. This is a wonderful book about the power of friendship and the strength of human character in the face of adversity, combined with a twisting mystery that will leave you guessing until the very end.

The first book in the series is called "The Turtle Mound Murder". Enjoy!

"Murder in the Pits" was another great mystery from Mary Clay. I have throughly enjoyed the "daffodils" since the first book, "Turtle Mound Murder". (which I bought in the gift shop at the Riverview Restaurant in New Smyrna Beach!!)I have visited New Smyrna Beach FL on many occasions, and reading about the various places the girls visit, brings back nice memories of the area, I was hooked on the Daffodils!! My favorite character in the latest mystery is Guthrie. A bit weird and goofy but, a guy with a big heart and willing to help the girls with anything!! I look forward to the next in the series and hope that Guthrie will continue to be a part of the daffodil mysteries.

Using her mother's name as a pseudonym may seem strange, but Linda Tuck-Jenkins, a/k/a Mary Clay, chose this route because her DAFFODILS murder mysteries series is a change of pace from her first book, STARPEOPLE: THE SIRIAN REDEMPTION. Although Tuck-Jenkins originally followed a career path in mathematics and economics, she never forgot her love of mysteries which began with Carolyn Keene's Nancy Drew mysteries. Although her mysteries feature divorced women, Tuck-Jenkins is a happily hitched woman.

Only Mary Clay could find humor in the recent Florida hurricanes. But when the DAFFODILS (Divorced and Finally Free of Deceitful Licentious Scum), Leigh, Ruthie, and Penny Sue are reunited and ensconced in Penny Sue's father's condo. Originally brought together to testify against mafia types described in the BIKE WEEK BLUES, the ladies seem to be a magnet for murder. True to form, a neighbor tumbles off his deck, but this is no accident. Penny Sue begins receiving anonymous roses, and the DAFFODILS meet an unlikely odd couple in the persons of Guthrie, a reformed hippie, and his hunky mate, Timothy:

"Timothy had changed into a tank top and running shorts. I had to admit the man was a fine specimen of humanity. Penny Sue obviously agreed, since she was swigging wine with her eyes fixed on his muscular thighs. Considering the oppressive heat - the heat index had to be 103̊--I was Afraid she might burst into flames."

Mary Clay has done it again! She has produced a hilarious pre-menopausal combination of divorced women who band together in thick and thin. The combination of Leigh's level-headedness, Penny Sue's sashays and wine guzzling, with Ruthie's forays into the New Age spirit world is enough to brighten any reader's day. The women splash money and daffodil symbols around to raise funds for hurricane relief and climb into race cars to gain national attention, all the while protecting themselves from Russian and Italian mafia. Clay's own particular brand of the psychology of human nature reflected in the DAFFODILS will have the readers rolling in the aisles. A triumph!

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer

This book will delight any and all who have done or will do battle with weeds. Mrs. Stein has a delightful style that is warm and personable. Her research was excellent and the reader will discover much about the secret lives of these much maligned plants. Anyone that is thinking about starting a garden should read this book

I first read this a year or so ago and just loved it. This book gave me an even greater appreciation for the intelligence of plants, their adaptability, and the information we can gain from the presence of certain weeds if we know what we are looking at. The author talks about her ongoing struggle with the weeds that inhabit her gardening space. There are no winners or losers in this war, but a definate relationship is created between the two.

This book is very enjoyable to read as well as being full of great, and accurate, information.

Sara Stein shares her amazing in-depth knowlege of the botany of weeds with a sense of humor that makes this book a "I can't put it down" volume.

I love this book. I am amazed by her depth of knowledge. Plus it's a good read. I am re-reading it now, keeping it by my bedside to read a few paragraphs each night. Such a wealth of knowledge.

This was a wonderfully written book and I recommend this book to readers of all ages. It is a compelling mix of mystery and romance. For older readers it will be a nice piece of nostalgia. It is historically accurate. The description of Piedmont Park and the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta give it an exceptional ring of truth. Again, I recommend this book to readers of all ages.

This was a wonderfully written book and I recommend this book to readers of all ages. It is a compelling mix of mystery and romance. For older readers it will be a nice piece of nostalgia. It is historically accurate. The description of Piedmont Park and the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta give it an exceptional ring of truth. Again, I recommend this book to readers of all ages.

Robert Tylander's unique ability to create adventure, mystery and romance in one book held me in suspense until the last page. Highly recommend this book for people of all ages. It is refreshing high quality reading with no smut.

This delightful book was recommended by a friend who I did not think was into books. Boy was I wrong. A couple of high school teenagers witness a murder while courting on a moon lit beach in Florida. They naturally report the incident to the authorities, to find their lives could be in danger. The tale moves at a fast pace thru their going to college and their 1930's courtship in the south Florida and Atlanta, Georgia areas. While following a mystery that is suspenseful and not solved until almost the last page at a college football game the reader is treated to an intimate visit with the way it was in the 30's. Entertaing and great for teenagers and seniors alike.

Nice variety of genres. Thought-provoking stories. A few stories not for children/young adults.

I am one the the group of 12 who cooperatively wrote and published this book of south Florida short stories. Living in what some call "paradise" produces a unique life experience which we want to share with those living more traditional lifestyles. You'll enjoy a tropical getaway with each story. Read them slowly, they'll last a long time in your memory.

Hopefully we will continue to hear from The Key West Co-op. These insightful writers capture the essence of what is wacky and wonderful about Key West.

I am one the the group of 12 who cooperatively wrote and published this book of south Florida short stories. Living in what some call "paradise" produces a unique life experience which we want to share with those living more traditional lifestyles. You'll enjoy a tropical getaway with each story. Read them slowly, they'll last a long time in your memory.

As a Florida native having spent some time on the rivers in the backwoods, I relived the sights, sounds, smells and excitment of discovering Florida's natural treasures with Addie and Tanner at Uncle Henry's bait shop on the Oonawasee! Melissa Forney captures with lucious details the same kinds of people and places I remember from my childhood visits to the river. Her story gives life to the REAL Florida which is rapidly disappearing. Teachers will love the story's vivid descriptions for classroom reading, along with the wonderful illustrated glossary of fabulous Florida facts!

As a Florida native having spent some time on the rivers in the backwoods, I re-lived the sights, sounds, smells and excitment of discovering Florida's natural treasures with Addie and Tanner at Uncle Henry's bait shop on the Oonawasee! Melissa Fourney captures with lucious details the same kinds of people and places I remember from my childhood visits to the river. Her story gives life to the REAL Florida which is rapidly disappearing. Teachers will love the story's vivid descriptions for classroom reading, along with the wonderful illustrated glossary of fabulous Florida facts!

In Oonawassee Summer, Addie and Tanner (two twelve-year-old cousins) are spending the summer with their grandma and great-uncle on the backs of the Oonawassee River in Southern Florida. That is where they engage in exploration, discovery, and find intrigue and adventure. Although the river is fictional, Melissa Forney's fun and engaging novel is enhanced with a wealth of factual information about jon boats, river otters, cypress trees, herons, alligators, cast nets, and other fascinating details of life in southern Florida. Highly recommended reading for boys and girls ages 8 to 12.

Oonawassee Summer is a fabulous book! My fourth grade students simply loved it! It is chalked full of knowledge about Florida and life on the river. My students' related with the book's two young characters,Addie and Tanner. They loved the sense of adventure and all the mystery and suspense. A definite must read for children ages 8-12. You will never feel the same about dangling your feet off a pier into murky river water again.

I received my book in good condition and in a timely manner. I appreciate the packaging and promptness.

This is an easy book to navigate, the text is informative, and the photographs are nicely done. I was a bit disappointed that some of the grandeur mansions where absent, but the largest, Mar-A-Lago was included, and that was appreciated. None of the homes are explored in great detail and though every home has an image, I would have liked to have seen more visuals, but as I have stated above the images are well done and the book does cover an impressive list of homes. I recommend this book as a good sampling of Palm Beach homes, but hardly definitive, maybe someone will be able to gain access at some point to some of the grandest private estates, and here's hoping they bring a camera with plenty of gig's.

This fine coffee table book is filed with wonderful photographs of a small selection of some of the finest mansions in the country. The ranges of houses from Adam and Regency, to simple clapboard, to Spanish/Moorish is excellent. The text is informative, accurate and well written. If interested in South Florida fine architecture, this book is a must.

My boss has this book to get ideas for designing custom homes for high-profile clients. I have read the book from cover to cover but every time I open it, it seems like I discover anew more pictures & details of these beautiful homes. These Palm Beach houses were built as if they were competing with one another for the title of 'most splendid work of art'. Most are not sprawling mansions or overly complicated expressions of the wealth of their owners. They are, however, fine examples of the architecture of Palm Beach summer homes of the 1920's priveleged upper class.

I love this book. Of course It would be nice if there were floorplans. And as usual one closes the book wishing he could see more photos of each of the houses. But there are many stunning photos. Kudos to the photographer. It is well worth the money and I will get it someday if I can no longer borrow it from my boss.

I must say I am biased on my opinion of this book, since the family is part of my heritage. My grandmother is the little girl named Ella who made a doll for the young boy, Hugie. I will reread this book time and time again and pass it onto my children.

Peggy Hansen

A truly inspiring book depicting life at the turn of the century in rural Jacksonville and the surrounding beaches.

Our barrier island of N.E. Florida, stretching from Mayport to St. Augustine, is changing day by day. With the rapid development of business and residential areas, our pristine land has but faded memories. Escape from your daily grind, head for the nearest beach chair and relive a wonderful true story.

It is filled with the struggles of a true native family, living on the edge of swampland, a short distance from where a now famous tiger prowls the TPC/Sawgrass golf course. As a reader, one feels blessed to have all the modern conveniences we now enjoy.

A truly inspiring book depicting life at the turn of the century in rural Jacksonville and the surrounding beaches.