We Both Liked "The Silent Sister" by Diane Chamberlain (Updated)

In The Silent Sister, Riley believes her older sister killed herself as a teenager.  Twenty years later she finds evidence that this is not true.  As Riley seeks the truth, she will be hit with some things that will shake all the truths she did believe.  

This book rocks!  It's all good but as slowly the secrets and lies come out into the open you as a reader are wowed.  LOVED IT A LOT!
(Gerard's review 3/26/15 5++ stars)

The Silent Sister starts out a bit slow with Riley getting her father's house ready to sell after his death.  Boy, did this bring back memories for me though having gone through this process with my dad.  I could certainly identify with her through this process.  The story picks up when Riley believes her older sister may not have committed suicide many years ago but may actually be alive somewhere and begins her search.

During this time, the author gives us a look at what's been happening with Lisa, Riley's older sister, who is a fugitive because she was charged with murder and faked her death to avoid prison when she was 17.  I couldn't help pulling for Lisa even though her younger brother, Danny, thought she should pay for what she did--not only for committing murder but also for ruining their family.
 
I realize you may think I've given spoilers here, but I haven't.  There are lots of surprises in this book and I loved how the author developed them gradually.  This book is not only about family secrets, but about the extent parents go to protect their children and how one event can tear a family apart.  I really liked this book which was no surprise to me because I also liked The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes and Necessary Lies, and The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain.  If you like stories about family drama and lots of twists and turns, you'll enjoy this one, I'm sure!  I'd certainly recommend this one for a book club read. 
(Karen's review 3/23/15, 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!

"H Is for Hawk" by Helen MacDonald"

H Is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald tells a true story and what a story it is!  Helen is trying to deal with the unexpected passing of her father.  She has always had an interest in hawks and falcons that she picked up from her dad.  She decides to try to tame a Goshawk--a pretty hard if not next to impossible task!  She named it Mabel.

My favorite parts of this book is when she trains and connects with the hawk, not that other parts were bad though, far from it!
(Gerard's review, 4 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!

"I Was Here" by Gayle Forman

When Cody receives an email from her best friend, Meg, informing her that she is dead, Cody is shocked and decides to investigate.  What she finds frightens her and she wants to stop it!  But is she in danger?

I Was Here kept my interest and is a quick read.  I cared about Cody and wanted the best for her.  It's a good read, give it a chance!
(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 Inheritance" by Tamera Alexander (Christian Historical Fiction)

The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander takes place in Colorado during the late 1800s.  McKenna and Robert Ashford, older sister and 14-yr-old brother, move to Colorado to live with their cousin until they can get a fresh start when they cannot make the payments on their home and livery business their parents left them.  When they get to Colorado, they find things are not at all what they expected.  McKenna soon finds herself struggling to be a mother to her cousin’s little girl, Emma, when her cousin died in childbirth shortly after McKenna and Robert arrived. 

This is a good Christian historical fiction novel about a rocky relationship between a sister and her rebellious brother whom she feels sorry for and responsible for.  I liked the main character and of course the predictable ending that is characteristic of Christian fiction.  The story line with Robert and the U.S Marshall added an interesting dimension to the book.  It has discussion questions in the back for book club use.  

(Karen's review, 4 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!

"Leaving Time" by Jodi Picoult

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult is about a young girl named Jenna who is searching for her mom.  She enlists a psychic and a detective to help her.  Her mom worked with elephants.  As the story leads back to why her mom is missing, you learn a lot about elephants.  I found the information about the elephants interesting, but the story about her mom missing was good too.  I liked it but didn’t love it.  

(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!

"Call Me Mrs. Miracle" by Debbie Macomber is a Good Read for the Christmas Season

Call Me Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber is a cute Christmas story about how Mrs. Miracle helps several people:  Gabe, a little boy who is living with his aunt Holly while his father is in the service in Afghanistan, a father and son who run a department store who have trouble celebrating Christmas since their wife/mother and daughter/sister were killed in an accident on a Christmas long ago, and a lonely business woman.  Holly wants to make it a special Christmas for Gabe, but the only toy he really wants is a robot that costs $250.

This is a happy little story for Christmas that is slow moving but actually has a bit of a surprise ending.  I liked it all right in spite of it being fairly predictable.  It was made into a Hallmark movie and for those who bake/cook, it gives some recipes!  (3 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 SEARCH" by Suzanne Woods Fisher is abouth Family Secrets

There's a dog and cat in this one!

The Search by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the third book in her Lancaster County Secrets series that is another good read!  It is about young love, forgiveness, grief, God’s sovereignty and new beginnings.  This is a story about an Amish man, Jonah and his daughter, Bess who believes her grandmother when she says “good things take time.”  Her grandmother, Bertha, has a rose farm and has a knack for knowing everyone’s business and getting her way.  She was my favorite character in this book.  Lainey is an Englisher, raised in the foster care system but who has returned to the community and decides she wants to join the Amish church.  Her and Bertha both have a big secret.  When Bess goes to live with her grandmother for the summer, she learns many things.  

I enjoyed this book with the humor, the big dog, the window into Amish living, the romance, the heartwarming plot and the fantastic ending!   The first two books in this series are The CHOICE and The WAITING.

(Karen's review, 4 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 Fragile World" by Paula Treick DeBoard

The Fragile World by Paul Treick DeBoard is about how a family deals with the tragic accident and death of their son and brother.  It is told by the dad, mom and sister.  Not to give too much away, but they all have their own ways of dealing.  I enjoyed this one.  It kept me interested through the whole book and the ending was really good too!
(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!

We Both Liked "Belzhar" by Meg Wolitzer

Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer tells the story of five young teens who take a class called "Special Topics in English."  They all seem very different but have two things in common:  they are all good in English composition and they have all had a recent trauma in their life.  They all have been sent to The Wooden Barn, a boarding school in Vermont for fragile teens.  The English class will be like none they ever had before.

Wow, oh wow!  this is so good!  I really liked all the kids and wanted only good for them.  To me, this was a real page turner.  LOVED IT!  I think it would make for a good movie!  I was shocked by the ending--really good!
(Gerard's review) 

Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer is teen fiction about love, loss, trauma, friendship and a bit of fantasy.  When five teens are chosen for the “Special Topics in English” class at The Wooden Barn school in Vermont, they experience true friendship and bizarre journal writing that helps them move past their individual traumas and deal with real life.  This is a very interesting read that drew me in right away.  I liked all the main characters in the book and enjoyed seeing how the class “jelled” as the book progressed.  This is a fun read that I recommend to anyone who wants something a little different and unusual.  

(Karen'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!