Book Review: Black Hills by Nora Roberts

Title: Black Hills
Series: Standalone
Author: Nora Roberts
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Published: 07/07/2009
Publisher: Jove
Genre(s): Romantic Suspense

DESCRIPTION

A summer at his grandparents' South Dakota ranch is not eleven-year-old Cooper Sullivan's idea of a good time. But things are a bit more bearable now that he's discovered the neighbor girl, Lil Chance, and her homemade batting cage. Even horseback riding isn't as awful as Coop thought it would be. Each year, with Coop's annual summer visit, their friendship deepens from innocent games to stolen kisses, but there is one shared experience that will forever haunt them: the terrifying discovery of a hiker's body.

As the seasons change and the years roll, Lil stays steadfast to her aspiration of becoming a wildlife biologist and protecting her family land, while Coop struggles with his father's demand that he attend law school and join the family firm. Twelve years after they last walked together hand in hand, fate has brought them back to the Black Hills when the people and things they hold most dear need them most.

Coop recently left his fast-paced life as an investigator in New York to take care for his aging grandparents and the ranch he has come to call home. Though the memory of his touch still haunts her, Lil has let nothing stop her dream of opening the Chance Wildlife Refuge, but something ... or someone ... has been keeping a close watch. When small pranks and acts of destruction escalate into the heartless killing of Lil's beloved cougar, recollections of an unsolved murder in these very hills have Coop springing to action to keep Lil safe.

Lil and Coop both know the natural dangers that lurk in the wild landscape of the Black Hills. Now they must work together to unearth a killer of twisted and unnatural instincts who has singled them out as prey.

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MY THOUGHTS

Simply put—I LOVED this book! I've read most of Nora's books and Black Hills is one of my absolute favorites of hers. The character interaction and dialogue were top notch, as usual. I was totally enthralled with the story and captivated by the people. Cooper and Lil, their friends, and family are all amazing characters! Chapter 11 had some of the most witty and delightful female banter I've ever read. Lil and Tansy are the truest of friends. Their relationship is to die for. This is one book I will certainly want to re-read!

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The Hannan Family

William James HANNAN was born 03 Jul 1862 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. His father, John HANNAN (Sr.), was born about 1835 in Ireland. His mother, Margaret POWERS, was born in County Wexford, Ireland, about 1837. William had an older brother, John HANNAN (Jr.), who was born in May 1860 (according to the 1860 U.S. Census) in St. Louis, Missouri, where their father worked as a limestone cutter until about 1861. William also had a sister, Catherine HANNAN, who was born about 1865 in Chicago. The family appeared in the 1870 U.S. Census in Chicago (Ward 1, 45 Market Street) where John Sr. was a Saloon Keeper. He died at home at the very young age of 39 on 09 Oct 1874. Catherine was just 13 when she died in August 1877, the result of a horrible train incident. Margaret died 28 Mar 1902, while living at 437 30th Street, and was buried at Calvary Cemetery on Chicago Avenue with her husband and daughter. Her son, John, may have predeceased her as he is not mentioned in her death/funeral notice.

William appears first as a single man in the 1880 U.S. Census in Chicago, where he was a servant at the Sherman Hotel. In the 1888 Chicago Voter's Registration, he was living at 74 N. Sangamon Street. William married Margaret Beatrice KANE 17 Nov 1892 in Dixon, Lee County, Illinois. He and his family group appeared in the 1900 U.S. Census living at 278 Bowen Street next door to Margaret's parents, James KANE and Julia McCORMICK. In January 1905, the family, complete with four daughters; Marion Julia HANNAN (born 12 Mar 1894), Genevieve Mae HANNAN (born 19 Feb 1897), Margaret Beatrice HANNAN (born 03 Jun 1899), and Virginia Agnes HANNAN (born 24 Jan 1905) were living at 4252 St. Lawrence Avenue. They appeared in the 1910 U.S. Census at 4124 Vincennes Avenue. In 1917, William, Margaret, Marion, Margaret, and Virginia, moved from Chicago to Denver, Colorado.  (Genevieve remained in Chicago and married Charles David TULLIS.) The family appeared in the 1920 U.S. Census residing at 1516 Milwaukee Street, where William was a self-employed real estate salesman. They were living at 5301 E. 12th Street in Denver for the 1930 U.S. Census, where he was a collector for a grocery store. In 1940, William and Margaret moved to Boulder, where their daughter, Margaret, and her family had moved a few years prior. William and Margaret separated shortly thereafter. William went to live with his daughter, Margaret, and his wife, Margaret, stayed in their rented home. Margaret died 02 Aug 1945, after a lengthy illness, and William passed away just 10 days later from the effects of a stroke. They are buried at Green Mountain Cemetery in Boulder alongside several family members.

Their daughter Margaret married Ernest Talfred HILL 19 Apr 1922. In 1928, Virginia married Lewis Lavern GREENO; both families remained in Denver for several years. Marion never married but worked as a dental technician in Denver until her retirement. She was a devout parish member of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception for 50 years.

William was described as a slender 5 feet 11 inches with twinkling blue eyes, premature gray hair, and a dapper way of dressing. He was a letter carrier in Chicago for as many as 34 years. My great grandparents died many years before I was born. My father, uncle, and a cousin shared some of their memories of William and Margaret with the family. However, no one knows what happened to most of their belongings and photographs.

Related Items

• HANNAN Family Photos 
• HANNAN Family Documents 
• KANE Family Documents 
• The KANE Family History 
• Gravestones and Cemeteries 

(rev. 07/14/2022)

Naval Career of Jack T. Hill

NAVAL CAREER OF JACK T. HILL

Service Number: 372 90 61

Social Security Number: 522-30-3175

(Click the first document to view them in a stream {computer} 

or tap on each document to enlarge on mobile devices.)

(rev. 07/31/2021)

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Lizzie Goes to the Vet...Again

 

Lizzie seems to have gastroenteritis again. The last time was right after we adopted her in June 2008. This time her symptoms varied somewhat—vomiting mucous (on and off since April), acting distressed more than usual, and soft stools this morning.

She NEVER eats junk food, people food, or anything from the ground. She eats a consistent diet of ultra-premium dry dog food, and when she's acting a little "off" I add some brown rice to her diet. She eats the same organic treats all the time. Her food and treats contain only highly digestible grains—no corn, wheat, or soy. So, in other words I don't (nor does the veterinarian) feel it is diet related. More than likely it is brought on my the fact that she is a major worrier, and I know all about being a major worrier...

So, I took her to the vet this morning and the findings are: she has a slightly elevated temperature, her fecal was normal (yay!), and the vet didn't mention anything out of the ordinary after palpating her abdomen. She was given an antibiotic via an IM injection and we were sent home with metranidazole (generic for Flagyl), which I am to give her twice per day for 5 days.

I fed my other dogs a supplement called Missing Link for years. I refrained from feeding it to Lizzie because the manufacturer of the holistic diet I fed her for awhile recommended against it.  However, I think she would benefit from their Canine Wellness Blend, which contains human grade whole foods, including Lactobacillus Acidophilus. (Will be ordering that soon, I think.)

Lizzie is the "suffer in silence" type all the way. She wouldn't think of demanding anything. It's rare that she ever does more than simply wait at the door to go outside. She's generally so quiet that it's often difficult to tell when she's not feeling well.  I just have to be observant and objective. Yeah, like objectiveness comes easily to a worrying mother.

She's currently sleeping on the carpet surrounded by her toys. She looks okay, right? Yeah, she'll be perfectly fine in no time. (Thinking positively, while wringing my hands.)