"Claire of the Sea Light" by Edwide Danticat-Awesome Fiction Set in Haiti

A Runaway Child in Haiti

Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat is an awesome read about a young girl named Claire who lives in Haiti.  She runs away on her seventh birthday.  As the search goes on for her, you meet other people who have connections to her and her family and learn about life in Haiti.  This was an eye opener for me that I won't soon forget!  
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Etched in Sand" by Regina Calcaterra

Etched in Sand by Regina Calcaterra is a story about five siblings who have to deal with a very rough childhood and a mom who would never win a "Mother of the Year" award. I enjoyed the parts of the book that dealt with the mom. You will not believe her actions and words! This would make a very good Lifetime movie for sure; well worth reading. (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Lara's Gift" by Annemarie O'Brien

I prefer cat books myself, meow!

Lara's Gift by Annemarie O'Brien is a children's short story about a young girl who loves dogs and with her papa, takes care of them to give to the Tsar.  She also has a special gift.  I'm not telling you what that is; you will have to read the book to find out!  For such a short book, there is enough action that keeps the main plot moving along.  I loved it and will be looking for more from this first-time author.  
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Loved "A Bride For All Seasons--The Mail-Order Bride Collection" by Four Different Authors

Great Beach Read--Very Enjoyable!

Do you like reading clean historical romance books?  Do you enjoy mail-order bride stories?  I do, so when I saw A Bride For All Seasons—The Mail-order Bride Collection, I just had to read it and was not at all disappointed.  In fact, it is a collection of four novellas by four different authors:  And Then Came Spring by Margaret Brownley, An Ever After Summer by Debra Clopton, Autumn’s Angel by Robin Lee Hatcher, and Winter Wedding Bells by Mary Connealy.  I loved them all!

This book is so cool because all four mail-order bride stories are tied together by the common matchmaker, Melvin Hitchcock of The Hitching Post, a mail-order bride catalogue with the highest rate of successful marriages.  None of the couples that were matched up in this book got what they expected because Melvin edited their letters, at times l just omitting something that he felt would prevent the client’s chances of finding a match!  Consequently, all the couples have trust issues to begin with and it was fun to see how the couples get past that and become happily married in time.  (See My two teasers.)

Out of the four authors, I was only familiar with Mary Connealy, but now I have a whole list of books to read by the other three authors as well!  This book is a fun, entertaining read.  There are also three discussion questions for each novella in the back.  This would be a great Book Club read!
(Karen's review)

Check out my progress on learning to Juggle (part 2) using The Great Juggling Kit book.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Linked up with Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop today for the prompt:  Book review!  What are you reading this summer?

"Sugar's Furry Friend" by Maria Rosalyn Acero

Image source:  Amazon.com

Loved Your Book, Sugar!

Being a regular reader of Sugar The Golden Retriever Dog Blog, I got the Kindle version of Sugar's children's book, called Sugar's Furry Friend.  It is a cute picture book about friendship.  Sugar has fun with the chipmunk in his backyard but misses it through the winter.  In the back is a list of facts about chipmunks.  I liked the pictures!
(Karen's review)

My friend Sugar's book, Sugar's Furry Friend, is great!  I could identify with Sugar because I like chasing squirrels and chipmunks at the park.  It was interesting reading the differences between chipmunks and squirrels.  It would be so cool to actually have a chipmunk in your own backyard!
(Abby's review--4 paws up!)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

We Both Liked "Dinner With the Smileys" by Sarah Smiley (Updated)

USA TODAY had "Dinner with the Smileys--One Military Family, One Year of Heroes, and Lessons for a Lifetime" by Sarah Smiley on its list of top books for the month of May.  I just finished it and it truly is a fantastic read!

When Sarah's husband has to be deployed, she does not want to see the empty chair at the table where he used to sit, so she decides to invite people of various backgrounds to have dinner with her and her three boys.  I enjoyed the whole book, it's very good!

Sarah, your writing is so good, you told it great and the pictures are really good too!  Dustin, I thank you for your service!  As for the boys, you were great too!  Keep following the Red Sox and listen to your parents.  Love your dog!!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Dinner with the Smileys by Sarah Smiley is about how a military wife and her three young boys made it through the year her husband was deployed.  Sarah came up with an idea to invite different dinner guests every week to fill the empty chair where her husband used to sit at the dinner table.  It gave them all something to look forward to every week and provided a diversion in a way.  I enjoyed reading about the special “Dinners with the Smileys” but also the family dynamics, her single parenting struggles, the baseball games, the boys’ interactions with one another and with the guests.  This is a heartwarming family documentary that is a very enjoyable read!  It gives the reader a peek into unique pressures that military families (or single parents) face.
(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Winterling" by Sarah Prineas

Loved it!

Winterling by Sarah Prineas is about a young girl who goes into a strange land to find out about her parents and who she really is. This one is full of adventure and has lots of action with a really good ending. Even though this is classed as juvenile fantasy, I loved it! Give it a shot!
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Stonecutter" by Camilla Lackberg - Giveaway

The main story in The Stonecutter by Camilla Lackberg is about a killing of a 7-yr.-old girl who a fisherman brings up out of the water.  However, there are a ton of other subplots which are all good too!  There is a lot of deception in this book.  It is a 500+ page novel that doesn't feel that long because I got caught up in the story.  I loved the wild ending and that is why I give it 5 stars plus!  I enjoyed it a lot!  It also has discussion questions in the back if you wish to use it for a book club read.
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

We will give this one away to whomever comments first saying they would like it with an email address so we can contact you for a mailing address.  

(We received a complimentary copy from the publicist, Simon and Shuster but this did not affect my thoughts about this book.)


Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Fire in the Ashes" by Jonathan Kozol

Fire in the Ashes--25 Years Among The Poorest Children in America by Jonathan

Kozol tells the story of kids growing up homeless in New York City and the trials they and their families go through. Some of the stories are heartbreaking; however, some give you hope. Some have a "wow" factor but they are all interesting. This non-fiction book is well worth your time.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Rizzoli & Isles: Last To Die" by Tess Gerritsen

Rizzoli & Isles: LAST TO DIE by Tess Gerritsen is a better than average story. In this thriller, three children are enrolled at Evensong Boarding School, where all the kids have had traumatic events in their young lives. Now they are in a safe haven, or are they not?

This book went along so so but the last 150 pages it really got good! There's a great twist at the end that made it hard to put down until I found out how it all turned out! It's well worth your time!
(Gerard's review, rating 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Trapped" by Peg Kehret and Pete the Cat

We highly recommend this book!

In Trapped by Peg Kehrot, is about animal cruelty. Pete the cat discovers evidence of illegal trapping and finds himself abducted by the trapper with a gun! This is also about a pig who was on its way to be slaughtered but fell off the truck. Pete the cat can understand what the humans say but they can’t understand what he is saying. Every time he tries talking to them, they just think he’s hungry.

This is a good story with suspense that I think anyone who likes cats would enjoy, even though it is a children’s book. I liked it very much, a fun quick-read with a good ending.  Pete is a clever, courageous and capable cat!
(Karen's review, rating 5 stars)

There are three books Peg Kehret co-authored with Pete her cat and I liked the other two as well:  The Stranger Next Door about arson and Spy Cat about burglaries.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Spy Cat" by Peg Kehret and Pete the Cat

Spy Cat by Peg Kehret is an adventure with the cat and the little boy being the ones to find the burglars who have been breaking into homes in the neighborhood.  It has excitement, adventure and animals.  Parts are funny, such as when Pete the cat eats the burglar's hamburger and fries.

This is a quick fun read that shows the strong bond between kids and their pets.  I liked it!  
(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"One For The Murphys" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

One For the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt is about being someone’s hero and showing unconditional love. Although it is considered juvenile fiction, I really liked it! The main character, Carly, has been neglected and abused but finds a good foster home while her mother recovers from a beating she took from her husband. Julie Murphy, the foster home mother, is the wife of a fireman with three boys that shows kindness and love to Carly who doesn’t quite know what to make of it. This heart-warming book has humor, a good message, and is a touching quick read. It made even made me tear up at certain parts. If you like stories about kids and family, I recommend this one! It will tug at your heartstrings.
 (Karen's review, rating 5 stars)

Here's a trailer for the book:
(This is the author's debut novel, her first draft of it received the Tassy Walden Award for New Voices in Children's Literature.)


This book was recommended by I am a Reader, Not a Writer. Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

We are linking this up to Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop in response to this prompt: Book Review time! Recommend a great book, perfect for these stormy fall days! We'd like for you to subscribe so you get all our reviews. Click the link to check out the other prompts and perhaps link up a post of your own.

"The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick (UPDATED)

After being on a long wait list at the library, Gerard finally got the DVD of this movie and we watched it last night.  It is about the beginning of films and people fulfilling their purpose.  It's a good movie we both enjoyed.
(Karen's review 10/6/12)

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick tells the story of a young boy, Hugo, who after his uncle leaves him takes care of the clocks at the Paris subway station.  However, this book is much more than that!  I just loved this book!!  The story is fantastic and the drawings in the book go with the story so well.  Now I want to go see the movie!  I now know why it was up for "Best Picture of the Year."  It's an amazing story!  If you saw the movie, tell me how you liked it!  This is in the running for my book of the month.
(Gerard's review 3/15/12)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

We are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs during March to the American Cancer Society.

"Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend" by Matthew Dicks

Different, a Fun Read!

Memoirs of an imaginary friend by Matthew Dicks is told by Budo, the imaginary friend of a special needs boy named Max. I thought this book was fantastic! I got into it from page 1 and had a hard time putting it down. Budo tells the story very well and you're going to love Max! The ending is super good--you have to read this! I've read a lot of very good books this month, but this one is my favorite!
(Gerard's review, rating 5++ stars)

Karen's thoughts:
I started Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks and thought it was just too goofy with the "imaginary friend" telling the story. I read up to chapter 9 and thought, "Why am I wasting my time on this?" and decided to give it up and read something else--The Raven Boys. I liked that even less because it was about the supernatural, fortune telling and some crazy hunt for some old king from the past--it made no sense to me. So when my husband said how good this one was, I decided to go ahead and finish reading it. I'm glad I did because it did get better and I liked Max and Budo so was curious to see what would happen with them. Once I got past the absurdity of it and didn't take it so seriously, I enjoyed it. It reminded me of ROOM by Emma Donoghue a little bit.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"January First" by Michael Schofield (UPDATED)

Gerard's Favorite of the Month, possible the year!

January First by Michael Schofield tells the true and ongoing story of Janni Schofield who has Schizophrenia. It is told by her dad, Michael. This is a fantastic read! You talk about a page turner—I really had a hard time putting this down. You will not read many books like this! Good luck, Janni, I'm praying for you and your family. This is a must read!
(Gerard's review, rating 5++ stars)

January First by Michael Schofield is the true story of his daughter’s descent into madness and his struggle to save her.  At just three years old, his daughter, Janni had hallucinations and symptoms of Schizophrenia, although it took several years for the official diagnosis.  He shares his heart-wrenching story of how he and his wife were actually afraid of their sweet little girl because of her violent outbursts.  She would hit her parents, her dog and often tried to hit her younger brother.  Reading this, I felt sorry for Janni, her parents, her teachers and her brother.  It is a very sad story of a family who fought so hard to be a normal family, but couldn’t.  The husband and wife both love Janni very much but often found themselves disagreeing as to how best to help her.  Fortunately, it seems they found some hope at the end of the tunnel.  If you want to read an inspiring story of parents who don’t give up through difficult times, I recommend this book to you.   Wow!
(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Never Fall Down" by Patricia McCormick (UPDATED 5/23/12)

Never Fall Down by Pat McCormick is a powerful novel about Arn Chorn-Pond’s survival against all odds based on his true story about what happened in Cambodia.  By following his aunt’s advice:  Do whatever they say.  Be like the grass, bend low, bend low, then bend lower.  The wind blow one way, you bow that way.  It blow the other way, you do too.  That’s the way to survive.  Arn was just a boy of 11 when he faced hard work in rice fields around the clock, near starvation, cruel killing day after day and even being forced to kill others and bury people alive!  By learning to play a musical instrument, he was received some better treatment and became a bit famous.  He gives music credit for saving his life.

This is such a sad and depressing novel but with a pretty good ending.  Still, it is an eye-opener to the plight of people in other countries.  The best part was when Arn first came to America and discovering he had a choice to live, not to just die or survive.  I felt so bad for him when he realized he become the monster and how much hate he had in his heart because of the four years of terror he went through. 
(Karen's review 5/23/12)

Gerard's review:
Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick (a former journalist) is based on a true story of Arn Chorn-Pond, a young boy living in Cambodia when the Khmer Rouge took over his country and the killing started.  One day Arn was told he had to learn to play an instrument or die.  Does he learn?  What becomes of his family that he gets separated from and finally, how does it all turn out?

This story is told in gut-wrenching style.  I found it very hard to believe people actually live this way.  If you want a real page turner, this book is almost impossible to put down.  Arn Chorn-Pond has dedicated his life to humanitarian causes around the world.  He founded Children of War, an organization that aids children held hostage by war and violence.  If you want a book that you will remember like you never read before, this is it.  It's a fantastic story--a must read!


Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

We are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs during May to Joni and Friends for Camp Scholarships for families with special needs children.

"Blue Monday" by Nicci French

Blue Monday by Nicci French tells the story of a young girl taken at the age of 5. Then, 22 years later, a young boy is taken. Are they connected? Frieda Klein, a psychotherapist, has a client who may hold all the answers . . . or does he? This is a page turner with a major twist about ¾ of the way in and then an ending that I didn't see coming! This is the first book of a series. I look forward to reading the next one!
(Gerard's review)

I started this but just couldn't get into it and quit after the first 100 pages.  There are just too many other books I'd rather read right now.  I generally don't care for books that are set in London.
(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

We are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs during April to Paralyzed Veterans of America.

"Animals and the Kids Who Love Them"

Animals and The Kids Who Love Them by Allen and Linda Anderson shares many stories of special needs children and the animals who gave them hope and comfort, including dogs, cats, horses, rabbits and even a turtle! If this book doesn't put a smile on your face and touch your heart, I don't know what will! Read it and you'll feel better about life!
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

We are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs during March to the American Cancer Society.

"Morning Comes Softly" by Debbie Macomber

A delightful and heartwarming read, Morning Comes Softly by Debbie Macomber is my favorite novel of hers. It’s a romance about a Montana cowboy who puts an ad for a wife in a paper so that he can raise his brother’s three children who became orphans when their parents were killed in an auto accident. Who would answer such an ad? One lonely frumpy librarian from Louisiana named Mary is who. Travis thought she was like Minnie Mouse and was very disappointed when they first met; however, she managed to bulldoze her way into his heart. She met all the requirements mentioned in the ad that he and the children wrote: she could cook, sew and sing.

There is a lot of humor in this book which I loved; however, it also dealt with some serious issues such as dealing with grief, anger, bitterness, marital issues, and parenting. It is a light, enjoyable and entertaining read that I recommend to anyone who enjoys a good family story with romance and a happy predictable ending.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

You can help our charity of the month just by leaving a comment on any of our blogs! We will donate 50 cents per comment at the end of the month. The charity for this month is at the top of our blog.