Little Flowers [Paperback]

Kathryn Lively (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2001

Imagine a chilly February morning in Williamsburg, Virginia. Dr. Neil Masterson, head practitioner of a women's clinic in the Hampton Roads area, is preparing to leave for work when he is gunned down at his front door. His assassin, a cold, unassuming man named Roy Jeffries, is still nursing emotional scars suffered by the violence of abortion, and he sees violence as his only means of retaliation.

Barbara "Rosie" Fitzgerald also opposes abortion, yet her methods are much more pacifistic. She retaliates through prayer and through her one-woman rosary ministry, offering complimentary prayer beads to passersby in front of the women's clinic. Her conservative views have won her the admiration of fellow Catholics, including Father Gary Welker, Chris and Laura Merwin, and cafe owner Lola Marquez, yet they have alienated her from her niece, Carrie Masterson.

The Merwins do their best to instill Christian morals and ethics in their large family, and despite their efforts, are unaware of eldest daughter Monica's unplanned pregnancy. While she anguishes over revealing her condition or aborting before anyone is wiser, family friend Prefontaine "Pre" Winningham harbors an equally heart-breaking secret: she is unable to conceive. It is because of this that she feels compelled to ignore the advances of journalism student Larry Jeffries, whose brother Roy harbors an even darker secret.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A gripping page-turner." -- Conservative Monitor, September, 2001

"I couldn't put the book down and I finished it in one day." -- Word of Mouth Book Reviews, September, 2001

"Little Flowers raises some interesting questions regarding the consequences of murder, abortion, and pre-marital sex." -- Scribes World Reviews, July, 2001

"This book is hard not to like, the writing is fluid without being overbearing, the plot is believeable and different." -- J.A. Hitchcock, author

If you like human drama, this story is sure to satisfy. Open your heart, and read! -- Anne K. Edwards, author

Kathryn Lively skillfully spins a contemporary tale of riveting pro-life fiction...difficult to put down once begun. -- National Catholic Register, January 27, 2002

Little Flowers squarely faces the consequences of our culture of death and thus is ideal reading. -- The Wanderer, December 13, 2001

[In the book] Lively tries to render all the characters' struggles [with abortion] sympathetically, even mercifully. -- Southern Reniassance, July, 2001

[Kathryn Lively] has woven a tale of murder, suicide, pregnancy, fear and shame into a captivating novel. -- Catholic News Daily, March 26, 2002

From the Publisher

"Little Flowers examines the challenges faced by women who must deal with an unwanted pregnancy. Abortion is a complicated issue and this novel is a facinating read for all women, regardless of their religious affiliation."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Highbridge Press (March 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967883245
• ISBN-13: 978-0967883243
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,682,452 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kathryn Lively is an award-winning writer and editor, and executive editor of Phaze Books. She is an EPIC Award nominee and has edited EPIC Award nominated titles for Phaze Books, Whiskey Creek Press, and FrancisIsidore ePress. She also maintains a pen name, L.K. Ellwood, for other mysteries.

Kathryn assists businesses with Virginia Beach social media services, and also works as a freelance writer. You are welcome to visit Kathryn online:

http://www.kathrynlively.com

http://kathrynlively.blogspot.com

http://www.booksthatrock.us (book reviews)

http://www.facebook.com/livelywriter

http://twitter.com/MsKathrynLively

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Little Flowers" Not Your Standard Murder Mystery, February 27, 2002

By 

Lynden C. Rodriguez "Lynden Rodriguez" (San Bernardino, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Little Flowers (Paperback)

The story begins when the life of a noted abortion physician is tragically cut short by murder. However, this is much more than your standard murder mystery. Kathryn Lively has written a wonderful depiction of a family and community caught up in the throes of murder, set against the backdrop of the abortion issue. The story leads readers to the Merwin family, and their daughter Monica who finds herself with an unwanted pregnancy, thus incurring a crisis in faith. But "Little Flowers" is not as predictable as it would seem, having its own fair share of twists and turns before the last page.

Written from a Pro-Life, Catholic viewpoint, "Little Flowers" is a refreshing break from pro-abortion rhetoric, and a return to traditional family values so lacking in today's world. Although Ms. Lively's characters have many problems, these problems are worked out through love, temperance and a good deal of prayer.

If you are looking for something new and different, with a return to moral values and traditional family cohesion, "Little Flowers" is the book for you. It may be shared with family and friends, and would be an especially good book for today's teens.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lively Bouquet, April 4, 2003

By 

Deb Anne Flynt (MS, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little Flowers (Paperback)

Without getting preachy or condescending, Katherine Lively makes big points on issues like premarital sex, abortion, deception, and violence. She treats all the issues in her book with fairness, but without giving up ground on her beliefs.
Her well-written characters face a wide range of problems and deal with them in many different ways--some extreme.
Laugh, hope, cry, and grieve with the Merwins, a deeply devout family. Discover just how different two brothers and two protesters can be. Cope with a new life situation with Carrie, and learn how much difference one person can make and how gently it can be done. And let Pre take you on an emotional roller-coaster ride you won't soon forget.
It's a lively story from the very first page to the end.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable, compelling and inspiring novel., July 16, 2002

By 

Roy de Paul (Waldorf, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little Flowers (Paperback)

Great book, I strongly recommend it. Besides being well written and being an enjoyable read, I think it is a book that Youth and Young Adult ministers and moderators, or anyone who works or deals with young people, should take a close look at and consider adding to their libraries. It is very instructive in an appealing way. There is a message, and while spoken with unmistakable clarity, it is by no means overbearing.

The story is about the murder of an abortion doctor in the Williamsburg, Norfolk area in Virginia and the eventual resolution of the murder. The story explores a cast of characters related to the murder and the abortion question in different ways. There is the sympathtic widow of the slain doctor who takes you into the mind of someone not unfavorable to abortion and this foray into her worldview, may surprise you. There are the devout Merwins, the perfect Catholic family dealing with complex contemporary internal family issues. There are the young people at a Catholic school whose relationships and decisions give compelling insight into the school life and relationships of teens. There is romantic tension between two of the more likeable characters, and of course, Rosie the devout and perceptible old lady whose apostolate is to make and distribute rosaries in front of an abortion clinic. Mystery, romance, and drama, all woven together seamlessly.

I would have thought that in a novel about abortion, you'd expect to easily find the people you like and those you hate, but KL allows us to get a feel for the psychology of each character which makes the people real. She takes us into the minds of the characters and you get to understand everyone's motivations. I think this book is a very good way to explore the abortion issue and issues regarding the pressures of young adult life.

I think this book would make a great gift for a young person and also for anyone who just plain likes a good, well told story.