Redfield Farm by Judith Redline Coopey

    Historical fiction story about Ann Redfield and her family just before and during the Civil War. They are a large Quaker family, strongly against slavery.  Ann is devoted to her older brother Jesse, and as he gets involved with the Underground Railroad and begins helping slaves escape from the pre-Civil War south, Ann soon becomes a part of his activities.

    Interwoven are the stories of the nearby white-trash family's daughter Pru, the man Elias, who Ann expects to marry, and Josiah, the deathly ill slave Ann nurses back to health. Each character, including several siblings and their life choices, help form Ann into the amazing women she becomes as this story takes us from Ann the child, to Ann, the old woman. Many of the secondary characters on and around Redfield Farm were colorful and amusing.

    I enjoyed this story and could see this turned into a good movie. There were times when I was a little skeptical of the reactions of those around her, as I think some of the ramifications for her actions would have been more severe.  I also found the number of landmark events a bit of a stretch, but not enough to keep me from reading straight through in one day.

    I do recommend this book to Historical Fiction readers.

15 Seconds by Andrew Gross

     Henry Steadman is a very successful plastic surgeon.  He has a beautiful daughter in college, a congenial ex-wife and enough money for all of the amenities.  On his way to deliver a keynote address at a plastic surgeons conference in Florida, Henry is pulled over by an officer for a minor traffic violation. In minutes he is handcuffed, arrested and put into the back of the police car. None of it making sense, his pleas and explanations ignored, he is frantic, when just as suddenly he is released and given only a warning ticket.

     Henry, relieved but still puzzled, prepares to leave when a blue sedan pulls up beside the cop car and, as he watches in his side mirror, the officer is shot and the killer races away. After checking and finding the officer deceased, Henry pursues the vehicle while talking to 911.

    Big mistake.

    Now he has fled the scene of the crime.

    And when he returns, the new officers that have arrived take a shot at him.

    Bad turns worse when he calls his lawyer/friend who is certain this can all be cleared up but is also dead before Henry arrives at his house. And then the murderer somehow has his daughter. It seems he is on his own as he attempts to find the man who appears to be trying to destroy his life. Alone, unless that one friendly voice on the phone believes him . . .

    This was an enjoyable, fast read, 'usual' thriller.  Nothing out of the ordinary, except a slight twist of the plot that was less typical. A little implausible in a few places, but well worth it for a quick, action packed , fun read.