"Heartless" by Marissa Meyer is a Fun Read

In Heartless by Marissa Meyer, Catherine is one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, but all she wants to do is open a bakery and make people happy with her baked goods.  The king of Hearts wants her to be his Queen, but she runs away and falls for another man.  Will the King get his way?  Will Catherine marry or just run a bakery?  This was a fun read that I didn't have to think a lot about the plot.  I enjoyed my time in Wonderland and the characters were really good!
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Two by Two" by Nicholas Sparks - Great Book!

Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks is about a family living a good life until it isn't so great.  Russ is living a good life, married to Vivian, a beautiful woman, with new born child and zero money problems.  But life has a way of sneaking up on us and soon Russ is going to have to deal with life that is not so great.

I thought this book was really good.  All the characters were well brought out.  The best part of this book for me was the back and forth between Russ and Vivian, just priceless!  This was a great book to start the month.  Enjoy!
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"A Tap on the Window" by Linwood Barclay--Good Stuff! (Updated)

A Tap on the Window by Linwood Barclay is about Cal Weaver who lives in a small town and is looking to find out if his son's death was an accident or not.   One night he gets involved in something that he probably should not have, but it's too late to get out!

I enjoyed this book because it has good action and lots of characters.  I kept trying to figure out who were the good guys and who were the bad guys.  I wasn't sure until the last page how it all worked out!  Good stuff!  This is a new author to me, got this one because a friend recommended it.
(Gerard's review 12/1/16, 5++ stars)

Karen read this one too on 12/8/16:
A Tap on the Window by Linwood Barclay is a thriller involving several mysteries. This takes place in a small town where cops like to take things into their own hands. Cal Weaver, a private investigator, is trying to find out who sold ecstasy to his teenage son who got high, fell off a roof and died. On a rainy night, against his better judgment, Cal gives Claire a ride when she taps on his window because she mentions that she knew his son Scott. From there, things really get messed up and snowball.

This is an interesting mystery that I only partially figured out. The short chapters that had conversations between a mother, son and a man whose names were not revealed until much later were annoying to me. I really wanted to know who these people were! There was a lot of tension in this book between the mayor and the police department, tension between Cal and his wife in dealing with the loss of their son and if Cal could track down Claire before something bad happened to her. There is a lot of suspense and mystery happening in this book with some very creepy people! (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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"The Heart of Betrayal" (Book 2 of Remnant Chronicles) by Mary E. Pearson (UPDATED)

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson is book two in the Remnant Chronicles series, the sequel to Kiss of Deception, which I LOVED. Lia and Kaden are taken as prisoners by the barbarians of Vaden and deception is prevalent in this book throughout, but not for the reader as it was in book one. Lia continues to be both feisty, brave and deceptive. She pretends not to care for Kaden in order to save his life while relying on Rafe, the assassin, to protect her. Tension between Kaden and Rafe continues to escalate, but they both love Lia. Lia and Kaden catch short times together to hatch an escape plan, that is even more urgent as Lia’s wedding to the Komizar fast approaches. There is some brutality in this book with lots of interesting characters and relationships. Will Rafe betray the Komizar to protect Lia? Will he kill Kaden? Will Griz get his revenge? Will Kaden and Lia be successful in their escape?

I LOVED this book so much! It moved along quickly and was as much fun to read as Kiss of Deception. I thought the funniest part was when Lia beat Griz at cards, but the saddest was when the Komizar killed the little girl. This is a good series that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys adventure, romance and fantasy with royalty. I look forward to the next book to find out what happens! (Karen's review 8/1/15, 5 stars)

Gerard read this too 12/8/16, but didn't like it as much as I did:
This book is the follow up to Kiss of Deception which I liked better.  Lia is being held captive in the city of Venda and Kaden is keeping an eye on her, making sure no harm comes to her.  Rafe is also captured and is waiting for his army to come and rescue him and Lia.  As in book one, the part that Lia tells were the highlight for me.  She is really good!  There is some action finally near the end which sets up the final book.
(4 stars)

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"Losing Isn't Everything" by Curt Menefee

Losing Isn't Everything--The UNTOLD STORIES and HIDDEN LESSONS--Behind the TOUGHEST LOSSES in SPORTS HISTORY by Curt Meneffe with Michael Arkush is a winner!  This book tells the story of people who were on a big sports stage and came out on the losing side.  I found it interesting to see what they were thinking during the games and how they dealt with defeat.  If you are a sports fan, then this book is for you!  You know how the winners felt because they are on TV and social media, but this book shows how the losing side feels.
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"The Kiss of Deception" by Mary E. Pearson - Fantastic Fantasy (UPDATED)

The Kiss of Deception Mary E. Pearson is about a young girl who is promised in marriage to a prince to keep the peace between the two lands.  However, at the last minute, Princess Arabella aka Lia takes off!  She wants no part of this at all!  

This book has pretty good action.  Lia is a fantastic character and the parts of the book that feature her were the best.  The two primary male characters, Kaden and Rafe are interesting also.  This is a good read, the first of the series.  On to book 2!  (Gerard's review, 12/6/16, 5 stars)

Karen's review 4/30/15, 5 stars:
The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson is about ancient far-away lands in a world of fantasy kingdoms.  The main character, Princess Arabella Celestine Idris Jezelia, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan a/k/a Lia, the one named in secret, is not your average princess!  She is only 17 and quite a rebel who runs away on her wedding day because she does not want to marry someone who she never has seen or met just to be part of her father’s plan to form an alliance with another kingdom.  The jolted prince is greatly insulted so seeks to find her along with her father’s bounty hunters and an assassin from the barbaric kingdom of Venda.  She just wants to live a normal quiet life and be loved by someone for who she is.

This was a nice change of pace for me.  I liked this book a lot because Lia is such a feisty princess.  The book has humor, action, mystery and clean romance.  The writes the story in first person by alternating chapters among  the perspectives of three different people:  the princess, the assassin and the prince who are all complex characters.  The chapters are plainly titled when the prince or assassin are speaking and the untitled chapters are when the princess is speaking.  In the beginning though, it is a bit confusing as to who Rafe and Kadin are—one is the prince and one is the assassin, but it took me a while to figure out which was which.  What I thought turned out to be wrong when I read on a bit farther.  On the inside the cover is a map of the various locations of the different kingdoms which is helpful to the reader.  This is the first book in The Remnant Chronicles series and now I have to look for the second one--The Heart of Betrayal!   

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!

Teasers

Karen's:

Brindle made another snorting noise.  "This is the craziest story I ever heard."

From page 58 of A Tap on the Window by Linwood Barclay.


Gerard's:

"The plans have changed," I said firmly, and I gathered my gown up in great bunches so I could get a foothold in the stirrup.  The straw-haired boy's mouth fell open as he looked at my once pristine gown, the hem already sloshed with mud, now smearing my sleeves and lace bodice and worse, the Morrighan jeweled wedding cloak.

 From page 17 of The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson.


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.  Happy Reading!

"Where Courage Calls" by Janette Oke

Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke is about Beth, a young woman who shows courage by leaving her nice home in the east to move west to teach in a school in a mining town.  Thinking she will be free from Edward, the man her parents would like her to marry, is disappointed to see him on the same train and hear he will be stationed out west too!  Beth soon makes friends with the townspeople, teaches school at the pool hall, starts a Bible club for the children and then even adds teaching English to some miners!  When one of her students almost dies from drinking some hooch, she even becomes involved in the investigation and finds a new love interest in Jack.

This Christian fiction book moved slowly and I got bored by the end, really looking forward to finishing it so I could start another.  Beth was like super woman.  She did quite a bit of praying and the whole point of the book was that God is in control as Beth surrendered to Him to show her what he wanted her to do.  It was okay but Beth just seemed a little too perfect. 
(Karen's review, 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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Teasers

Gerard's:

We should have done more, and we should have done it sooner.  It ate at me every day, and I knew it ate at Donna, too.

From page 34 of A Tap on the Window by Linwood Barclay.


Karen's:

"We don't have the luxury of playing at an occupation for a while and then having someone else support us as soon as we're tired of it all.  Men work hard their whole lives."

 From page 47 of Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke.

I asked myself a hundred times why I ignored your note.  Everything might have been different if I'd just taken two minutes to answer you.

From page 17 of The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.  Happy Reading!

"Bascomville" by Mark A. Calde

Bascomville by Mark A. Calde centers on a young teen boy named Max.  He lives with his parents and two sisters.  He is attracted to the girl next door, Janice.  The point of view is from Max who tells his story.  He has plenty to deal with involving his family, Janice and his future plans.  It is told well and I enjoyed reading it.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)  (We got a copy of this book free in return for an honest 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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Holding Up the Universe" by Jennifer Niven

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven is told by Libby Strout and Jack Masselin.  They both go to the same high school, but they are very different on the status scale.  The one thing they do have in common is that they each have a health problem to deal with.

This book is much better than I expected it would be.  I really rooted for Libby and Jack.  The story flowed along well and I was always anxious to get back into it!  The ending was perfect!  If you want a feel good story, this is it!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Karen read this one too--here's her review:
Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Nivan is a teen romance novel. Libby, an overweight girl with panic attacks, gets bullied but stands up for herself and has a big heart. Jack has Prosopagnosia, a condition that keeps him from being able to recognize faces. Libby loves to dance and Jack likes building things. Jack keeps his disability a secret and copes the best he can until one day he confides in Libby. Libby and Jack start off on rocky ground but as they get to know each other, their relationship changes.

Although this book is very predictable, it is a good story that has a good message for teens and clearly shows how bullied people feel. I never heard of “face-blindness” before reading this so it was interesting to learn about it through Jack’s experiences. Lilly was an interesting character too with the ability to forgive. The story was told by both Lilly and Jack in alternating chapters. (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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"The Woman in Cabin 10" by Ruth Ware is One You Have to Think About

In The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware, Lo Blacklock works for a travel magazine.  When she gets a chance to go on a cruise liner maiden voyage, she goes in hope that this will be her big break to move up at her job.  Once on board, things start to happen and she tries to make sense of it. 

There is not a lot of action until the end when it really picks up, but you are inside Lo's mind wondering just what is going on?  I loved it!  It really got me thinking trying to figure it out.  If you think you have it figured out, trust me, you don't!  I enjoyed her other book too--Dark Dark Wood.  This is a very good thinking book!
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Teasers

Gerard's:

His eyes crinkled in a way that made me think he might be smiling beneath the bandanna, and I felt the blood drain from my head and my fingers, pooling in the core of my body, ready to fight or flee, whichever it had to be.
     He took a step forwards.

From page 5 of The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware.

But the only one who stands out from the staring, jabbering crowd of them isn't my own brother or the woman who's wrecking my parents' marriage.  It's a girl I don't even know, the largest girl here.

From page 84 of Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven.

Karen's:

I tell myself to give Mick a chance, give these girls a chance, give this day a chance, give myself a chance most of all.  The way I see it, I've lost my mom, eaten myself nearly to death, been cut out of my house while the whole country watched, endured exercise regimes and diets and the nation's disappointment, and I've received hate mail from total strangers.

 From page 24 of Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven.


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.  Happy Reading!

"Small Great Things" by Jodi Picoult is Thought Provoking--A Must Read! (UPDATED)

 Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult is a contemporary fiction about racism that is absolutely very thought provoking and educational.  It is about Ruth, a black nurse, who is charged with murder and negligence because the newborn, the son of white supremacist parents, that she was watching over dies.  Ruth is a widow with a son who is a high school honor-student.  

There are so many good scenes in this book!  It started a little slow for me with all the baby deliveries at the beginning, but that just was a small part and soon moved along.  That was just to show what a good nurse Ruth was and that she really loved her job.

This is such a remarkable story that helped me look at blacks in a whole different light.  I never realized before reading this how it really is to be black.  I would love to hear a black person's views about this book!  I really did not enjoy the chapters about Turk and Brit, the parents of the baby who died because they were horrible people!  I really liked the chapters about Ruth's public defender, Kennedy and the chapters about Ruth.  In typical Picoult style, chapters are written from different characters' points of view.  I felt the characters were well developed and the plot had an unexpected twist that shocked me!  I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone--must read.  It has lots of great lines and the author used the experiences of some real people that she interviewed to get a feel for what it's really like to be black in the United States.  I loved the surprise ending!  Must Read! 
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

My husband and I both loved this one, here's his review:

In Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult, Ruth Jefferson is a delivery nurse in a small hospital.  She has been one for 20 years and is very good at it.  One night a newborn baby is having serious problems and Ruth is left alone with the baby.  The baby is white, and Ruth is black, with orders not to touch this baby.  When the baby dies, the parents blame Ruth!  Did she do something to the baby or did she try to save it?

WOW!  This book is GOOD!  This story is true to life and the characters are well developed.  The trial part alone is worth reading for sure but I enjoyed the whole book!  A must Read!!
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Shared this with Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop - the prompt was share a book review.  I was pleased to see she is reading many of the books we have recommended and loved!

"Susie's Senior Dogs" by Erin Stanton

Susie's Senior Dogs by Erin Stanton tells the true story of senior dogs that have been given forever homes by people.  I loved reading all the joy the dogs brought the people and the people gave their dogs.  The pictures in the book are really good too!  You can follow Erin and the Senior Dogs on Facebook and Instagram at "Susie's Senior Dogs."
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"The Diabolic" by S. J. Kincaid - Loved It!

The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid has plenty of action and so many twists my head was spinning!  Nemesis is a Diabolic.  It will kill to protect the one that it is pledged to.  But now, the emperor summons Sidonia, the owner of Nemesis, to his court to be held as hostage for the doings of her father.  To protect her, Nemesis goes instead.  Can she pull this off though?  And if not, then what will happen?  LOVED THIS BOOK!
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Three Weeks with My Brother" by Nicholas and Micah Sparks

Three Weeks With My Brother by Nicholas and Micah Sparks is one of the best memoirs I have read. It has humor, interesting adventures and touching moments. I loved how these guys gave us a look at their family dynamics from childhood. I think they did a fantastic job of weaving their memories into their time together as they traveled around the world in three weeks. It is a story of persevering through tragedy and life’s bumps. Throughout the book, they kept repeating the mother’s standard sayings: It’s your life. No one ever promised that life would be fair. What you want and what you get are usually two entirely different things. 

I enjoyed reading this more than I expected and found the inspiration for Nicholas Sparks' books very interesting. I think anyone who enjoys Nicholas Sparks' books would enjoy this as well even though it is non-fiction. It even includes discussion questions in the back for book clubs!
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday

Gerard's:

Even as I spoke, I visualized the blow I'd use to kill her.  A single strike to the back of the head....No need to risk her screaming.

From page 15 of The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid.

Karen's:

Night after night, my mom had us name three nice things our siblings had done for us, and each night we wre somehow able to come up with something.

And to my surprise, my brother and I began to argue less and less.

 From page 71 of Three Weeks With My Brother by Nicholas and Micah Sparks.

"I'm Ruth," she announces.  "I'm going to be your nurse today."

All I can think is:  Over my dead body.

From page 35 of Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading. 

Happy Reading!

"A Night Divided" by Jennifer A. Nielsen is a Good Read We Both Enjoyed! (Updated)

A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen is an interesting historical fiction story about a family divided by the Berlin Wall. Gerta is 12 and lives in East Berlin with her parents and two brothers . . . until the night her father and one of her brothers left and never came back because a fence went up during the night separating East and West Berlin. Her father and brother were stuck on the other side! Then, before very long, the fence became a wall to keep the Eastern Berliners under Russia rule from leaving. Gerta is bold and determined to somehow get the rest of her family reunited with her father and brother on the other side of the wall but time is running out because Fritz, her oldest brother, is about to be inducted into the military in just a few weeks!

This is a very good story of bravery, courage, staying true to one’s beliefs and adventure that moves quickly. I couldn’t help but pull for Gerta to succeed and liked the ups and downs with her friendship with Anna.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)


In A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen, Gerta lives with her mom and dad and two brothers.  They have heard talk of something soon to happen so the father and young brother go on a scouting mission, but when the Berlin Wall goes up, they cannot get back!  Greta wants to be together again but how to make that happen and who to trust?

This book was very good!  The writing is excellent and the tension builds throughout.  I loved all the characters and the book reads true to life.  A must read!  I highly recommend this one!
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday--4 Today

Gerard's:

For a moment, I honestly don't understand.  And then it hits me with the force of a blow:  they don't have a problem with what I've done.

From page 21 of Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult.

We walked on in silence for a couple of minutes longer, until my anger had entirely faded and I could no longer remember exactly why I'd chased after her in the first place.

From page 13 of Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland.

Karen's:

I awoke to sirens screaming throughout my city of East Berlin.  Instantly, I flew from my bed.  Something must be terribly wrong.

From page 1 of A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen.

And all of a sudden
I'm blinking back tears.
Because seeing him
lying there like that makes me . . .

From page 11 of Saving Red by Sonya Sones. 


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading. 

Happy Reading!