"Mrs. Grey" by Rachel Wesson (Book 12 in Clover Springs Mail Order Brides Series)

Mrs. Grey: Clover Springs Mail Order Brides Book 12 by Rachel Wesson is about how the sheriff and Loreana Grey get together. There is some tension between the Irish workers and the former slaves who have set up camp just outside of town as well as some old grudges from the Civil War between those who fought for the north and those who fought for the south.

I was disappointed in this book because I really liked Mrs. Grey but her character seemed to be watered down in this book. It also wasn’t about a mail order bride so don’t know why it was included in this series. I liked other books in this series much better. This one lacked the humor and interest that others had.
(Karen’s review, 3 stars)

Teaser at Kindle Loc. 66-67: The former slaves and their families had been having a hard time in Denver and welcomed the chance to come to Clover Springs. The two groups of men had set up camp just outside of town.

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"Sophie Last Seen" by Marlene Adelstein

Sophie Last Seen by Marlene Adelstein is a good read about Jesse and her journey to overcome her grief caused when her 6-yr-old daughter disappeared from a store. Jesse feels like it was all her fault. Sophie, the little girl, was obsessed with birds and always wore her binoculars so she could watch them closely. She had a box full of little trinkets that crows brought to her and loved routine. She was mad at her best friend, Star, That Day she disappeared because Star had promised to go with her to the mall but then changed her mind. When Sophie disappeared, Star felt guilty too, thinking if she had gone That Day, things may have been different. Jesse never stopped looking for her daughter, even though people thought she was strange.

This is a good story that shows how differently people deal with grief and guilt. It was also a mystery figuring out what happened to Sophie. I enjoyed the information about birds that was imparted through the story as well as Saint Anthony, Jesse’s dog who became her faithful companion. I really enjoyed Jesse’s journey from being a total self-absorbed wreck to a person who thinks of others and is ready for a fresh start. (I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.) (4 stars)

Teaser from page 3:  She didn't care if people thought she was crazy.  For Jesse, who spoke to few people anymore, it was a comfort even if Sophie never actually answered back.


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"2nd Chance" by James Patterson with Andrew Gross (A Women's Murder Club Novel)

In 2nd Chance by James Patterson with Andrew Gross, a serial killer is on the loose with no pattern!  Everybody is at risk.  Four women making up the Women's Murder Club is back to solve this.  To me this was a dud.  I never really got into it.  Although the story line is okay, it goes quickly to a predictable ending.
(Gerard's review, 3.5 stars)

Teaser from page 5: Then Aaron Winslow's eyes came to rest on what had made the girl hysterical.  He felt his heart sink.

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"the night Olivia fell" by Christina McDonald

the night olivia fell by Christina McDonald is about a mom's worst nightmare--A call in the middle of the night saying her pregnant daughter was found lying under a bridge--brain dead!  Was she pushed or did she jump on her own?  Who is the father?

I thought this book was really good!  It is told by Olivia, the daughter and Abi, the mom, who wants to find out what happened, and why.  Try to get your own answers.  I am guessing you will be wrong like I was!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)  

Karen's review:
the night olivia fell by Christina McDonald is about a teen girl, Olivia, who met an early death before her mother even knew she was pregnant. This novel is told from alternating perspectives of the mother, Abi, and the daughter, Olivia The mother hid a secret from Olivia for years and when Olivia discovered what it was, she was on a personal secret mission. Although the police said her death was accidental, the mother went on a personal mission of her own to find out details and exactly what happened. Olivia was declared brain dead but was kept on life support in the hopes of saving her baby. Was it an accident or did someone push her off that bridge? Will the baby survive? Who is the father?

I thought the story was pretty good but I did not really care much for Olivia because of the way she treated her mother and her boyfriend, Tyler. This was written in a way that I found sort of annoying, the book jumping back and forth from the present to the past. I was a bit surprised at the ending of who her death actually happened. I liked the mother, Abi, and give her credit for pursuing the truth about her daughter’s death. (4 stars)


Teaser from page 46:  I remember looking at Olivia in the fading evening light and feeling like I didn't know her anymore.  I knew then that something had been shaken loose, something I had no power to put back together. . . .

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"Joey--How a blind rescue horse helped others learn to see" by Jennifer Marshall Bleakley

Joey by Jennifer Marshall Bleakley is a true story which makes this so much better!  Kim believes in three things:  God, kids, horses.  She has a vision of putting hurting special needs kids with horses on a designated area, but that will take a lot of land and a lot of money!  Those are two things Kim is in short supply of so Kim puts her trust in God to provide. One horse she gets is Joey, a blind horse who was mistreated.  Can she take on a special needs horse too?

I thought this book was outstanding!  It is told very well and the women in this book are remarkable!  I fell in love with Joey!  Do not miss this one!   I'd recommend this for a book club.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 217:  Cindy's hand covered her mouth and tears streamed down her cheeks.  Sarah didn't notice her, not yet.  She was transfixed, basking in this sacred moment in which the little girl with no voice spoke up for the horse with no eyes.

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"The House Next Door" by James Patterson & Susan DiLallo is a Collection of 3 Thrillers!

The House Next Door by James Patterson and Susan DiLallo is the first story in this 3-story thriller collection. Laura and Ned have three kids and the house next door is a wreck. One day they get a new neighbor—Vince and his boy Vinney. When Vince calls her early one morning to ask a favor, she agrees and picks up Vinney from school to drive him to soccer. Laura and Ned argue a lot and Vince makes Laura feel excited. He is nice looking and charming. She begins to think about having an affair with him as her life seems to be falling apart.

This is a quick read and fairly predictable. I did not care for Laura and pretty much had Vince figured out from the start. Things moved along quickly and the most exciting part was right near the end of the story. (Karen’s review,3 stars)

Teaser from page 36: “No. Listen. You don’t think it’s strange—a new family in town, keeps to themselves, meets no one. Didn’t even move in with any furniture, for God’s sake.”

The second one in this collection is The Killer’s Wife by James Patterson and Max DiLallo. Michael Pierson, a high school vice principal is married to Ellen, an elementary school nurse who collects butterflies. Six high school girls from the high school Michael Pierson works at have gone missing over the past 22 months and are presumed dead with the most recent only three weeks ago. Detective McGrath has a gut feeling that Michael is responsible and finally he is arrested when caught red-handed abducting another girl. Pierson refuses to talk to anyone—no lawyer, no cop, not even his wife! McGrath decides to get close to Ellen in the hopes of getting more evidence against him. She claims she had no idea.I liked this one because of the crazy ending and Ellen was an interesting character. (Karen’s review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 178: “You and your husband have been married for six years. But tell me: How well do you really know him? Do you think he’d ever be capable of—” “Absolutely not!” Ellen exclaims, springing to her feet.

We. Are. Not. Alone. by James Patterson and Tim Arnold, the third story in this collection, is a science fiction suspense story that I enjoyed even more than the first two. A disgraced Air Force scientist, Robert Barnett, spent years exploring the possibility of communicating with life on other planets and it finally pays off when he gets a message from outer space! This was a thought-provoking read with a twist that was really great! (Karen’s review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 291: They know their wife and mother is about to embark on yet another very important, highly classified, and quite possibly dangerous mission to outer space. What they don’t know is, they will probably never see her again.


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"Orphan Island" by Laurel Snyder

Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder is a children’s fantasy book about nine kids who live on an island. Once a year, a boat comes with a new young child and the oldest on the island leaves in the boat so there are always only nine on the island. The island is safe, the children happy. Things change though when it is Jinny’s time to leave. Loo arrives but instead of Jinny leaving since she is the oldest, she decides to stay. Then things change!

I liked reading this okay, but didn’t like the ending because left me with lots of questions. It is a fable about growing up, but much didn’t make sense to me.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

Teaser from page 2:  Deen had lifted the bell and rung it to summon the others.  Deen had been alone, briefly, with the knowledge that it was time again for a Changing.

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"The Family Lawyer" by James Patterson

This book has contains three stories. The first is The Family Lawyer by James Patterson with Robert Rotstein. Defense lawyer, Matt Hovanes, finds himself and his partner defending Haley, his own high school daughter for bullying another student who committed suicide. This is really good about cyberbullying and parents going to great lengths to protect their child! (5 stars)

Teaser from page 17: The lawyer in me suspects she’s hiding something. The father in me wants nothing more than to believe in her innocence.

The second story is Night Sniper by James Patterson with Christopher Charles. Practically right off the bat the reader finds out who the night sniper is and the story is all about the cops trying to catch him. He kills from a distance, shoots at the heart and kills in the early morning hours. I thought this one was okay, but liked the first story much more. (4 stars)

Teaser from page 184: He spends the ride out to Queens studying the photo behind tonight’s mission. He holds the image frozen in his mind like a slide on a stalled viewfinder.

The third story is The Good Sister by James Patterson with Rachel Howzell Hall. This one is a murder mystery about two sisters. Melissa’s alcoholic, druggie, cheating husband is shot dead in her living room and the cops naturally suspect her. When she can’t revive him, she calls her sister, Dani, to come over to help her clean up some before calling the police. I did not care much for this one because I did not like any of the characters except for the little boy. (3 stars)

Teaser from page 333: Melissa shoved her hand into Kirk’s right pocket. This time, she pulled out his cell phone. “He was texting her,” she said, “even while he was fighting with me, he was texting her.”


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"Belichick" by Ian O'Connor

Belichick by Ian O'Connor details the football career of coaching of Bill Belichick.  I really enjoyed this book a lot, especially since I'm a fan of the New England Patriots!  There is lots of interesting behind-the-scenes stuff that I already knew about but gained more insight into.  I am so glad Belichick coaches the Patriots and Tom Brady who Belichick chose in the 6th round draft as QB! 
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 170:  "I know the last three weeks have probably been trying for all of you," the new coach continued, "but that's all behind me.  I'm tremendously excited to be here and to be a part of the New England Patriots organization."

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"The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise" by Dan Gemeinhart

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart is a heartwarming children’s story about a father and daughter on a road trip. They just bought a bus and drove all over together for five years after the wife and other two daughters were killed in a car accident when Coyote was 7. The father tries to forget by changing their names—he Rodeo Sunrise and the girl Coyote Sunrise. At 12 years old, Coyote gets talks on the phone to her grandmother and finds out the park is being torn down in a few days. Coyote is determined to get there to dig up the box her and her sisters and mom buried just before they died but needs to get her father to go somehow. As her and her dad travel from Florida back home to Washington State, they pick up some travel companions along the way: a cat she named Ivan, a boy and his mother, a musician, the boy’s aunt, a runaway girl, and a goat!

This book is a fun read with lots of touching moments and some wild, fun times. I liked both the dad and his daughter and her best friend, Salvador. As soon as Coyote got a kitten, I was hooked! This book has a good lesson: don’t judge people by how they look and most people want to help others if they can. Although this is a children’s book, it kept my interest all the way. It is a quick read I enjoyed! (Karen's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 26:  Ivan, superstar kitten that he was, managed to keep his grip on Rodeo's neck through all the screeching and the leaping.  Once Rodeo had shot to an upright position, Ivan decided he'd rather not be attached to a screaming, vertical hippie.


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"Where The Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens -- WOW!

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is the coming of age story of Kya, a lonely, abandoned, abused girl who lived in a Marsh in North Carolina. It is a murder mystery and a love story as well. This is an amazing emotional read that starts out slow but picks up as it goes along. It has much sadness but some high points are mixed in. In a way, it is a rags to riches story. There were a lot of heartbreaking events and yet Kya proved to be very strong, overcoming great obstacles with very little help from others. She was definitely a “lone wolf” until as a teenager, the loneliness caused her to make some poor choices.

All I can say is WOW, what a book! This is well written and reminded me of To Kill a Mocking Bird. It includes lots of information about nature and is a remarkable story about how a girl who only attended school one day in her whole life, became a well-recognized author. I especially liked the courthouse cat, Sunday Justice, who befriended Kya. I would recommend this as a book club read because of the many issues it raises.
(Karen’s review 2/15/19, 5 stars)

Gerard's review, 2/18/19:
In Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, Kya is the last one left of her family.  First her mom left, then her brother and sisters left.  Her pa was the last to leave, but she found a way to survive in their shack in the marsh.  Two young men came into her life during her teen years.  When an incident happens though, Kya is once again all alone and her fate is in other people's hands.

This is a pretty good book!  Kya is a great character and I enjoyed how she got along so well by herself.  More action though would have been nice, but the pacing of this book made up for that.  (5 stars)

Teaser from page 16: “If anybody comes, don’t go in the house. They can get ya there. Run deep in the marsh, hide in the bushes. Always cover yo’ tracks; I learned ya how. And ya can hide from Pa, too.”

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"Smart Ass" by Margaret Winslow is nonfiction About a Donkey

Smart Ass by Margaret Winslow is a true story!  Margaret is going through a mid-life crisis.  She is having problems at work, her husband's job keeps him away from home at least half a year, she has no kids, and no pets.  She needs something so gets a donkey!  What a great story!

I was into this from page 1!  Margaret tells the story well.  At times it actually made me laugh!  Of course, Caleb, the donkey, is fantastic.  I discovered things about donkey's that I never knew and it has a great ending!  I recommend this one!
(Gerard's review 2/13/19, 5++ stars)

Karen's review 2/17/19:
Smart Ass by Margaret Winslow is her true story her life with a big 700 lb. donkey, Caleb.  I liked Caleb but felt sorry for him through most of the book.  I laughed out loud during some of the training parts about halfway through which I found hilarious and which for me was the best part of the book.  I also enjoyed the Christmas pageant but overall, I just wanted to get through it.  I didn't really understand why Margaret spent so much time and money on lessons when clearly she just wanted a nice connection to Caleb.  (3 stars)

Teaser from page 3:  Suddenly the donkey broke away and loped to the far side of the paddock.  He stopped and looked back at me over his shoulder, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

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"The Flight Attendant" by Bhris Bohjalian

Imagine waking up in a bed hungover in a foreign country, naked next to a dead man that bled out!  Did you do it?  and, if not, why were you not killed?  That is the dilemma Cassandra faces in The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian.

I would have enjoyed more action and fewer dull parts.  That being said, I thought Cass was a good character and I was interested to see how it would all play out.  Well worth reading.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 9:  Had she ever seen so much blood?  Not from a human.

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"Evermore" by Sara Holland

Evermore by Sara Holland is the sequel to Everless.  Both are good.  Evermore focuses on the Alchemist's (snake) quest to kill the Sorceress (fox) with lots of adventure, close calls, and unexpected romance.  Jules super power of controlling time becomes stronger in this book and she gets back some memories from her past lives.  Liam has a much bigger part in this book.

This went pretty fast because there was so much action.  I raced through it and liked the ending.  The magic was a bit confusing to me, but still, a good read.
(Karen's review 2/9/19, 4 stars)

Gerard's review 2/16/19:
Evermore by Sara Holland is the follow-up to Everless.  Jules finds out who she really is and Caro wants what Jules has and will do anything to get it back!  I thought this book was better than the first because it had lots more action and did not really know what to expect next!  I liked the ending.  (5 stars)

Teaser from page 5:  Word of my crimes has spread to every corner of Sempera.  That I seduced Roan Gerling while a servant at Everless and used him to gain access to the visiting Queen's chambers.  Then cut Roan's throat and stabbed the Queen through the heart.

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"For Better and Worse" by Margot Hunt - Great Read!

In Better and Worse by Margot Hunt, Natalie and Will have a young son named Charlie.  Life is good until one day there is big news at Charlie's school!  When Natalie finds out Charlie is involved, she goes into "Mama Bear" mode to protect her son.  How far will she go?  Will Will come along, or does he have other things to worry about that are better left alone?

This book is told in three parts and each part tops the other!  Nat and Will are great characters and I thought this rings true to life.  Had a surprise ending for me too!  Put this on your TBR list!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)   

Teaser from page 43:  "I don't know anything more than you do," I said, extracting my hand from her surprisingly strong grip.  "I saw the police cars in the parking lot at drop-off this morning, but that's all the information I have."

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"Reckless Disregard" by Robert Rotstein

Reckless Disregard by Robert Rotstein is a complex Hollywood mystery with lots of crazy characters. Basically, William Bishop, a pillar of the community sues Poniard, a video game designer, for defamation of character because in his video game, Abduction, Poniard implies that Bishop is responsible for the kidnapping and disappearance of Paul Felicity McGrath. The purpose of the game is to find out what actually happened. Poniard is a mystery too because no one actually knows who he is and he is intent on keeping his identity a secret, even to the point of refusing to appear for a deposition or make a court appearance! Parker Stern is a mediator who is drawn into this case as Poniard’s attorney and who has secrets of his own. This book has secret identities, betrayal and death.

This book is written in a very unique way, using the “game” to reflect what Poniard thinks really happened. There are a lot of surprises and twists and turns in the book which kept making it more puzzling. I felt that it was beyond believable though and was glad when I finished it. I did like the lawyer and the trial part. (Karen's review, 3 stars)

Teaser from page 35: I’ve spent the last twenty-five years trying to keep this secret. My celebrity almost ruined me, and I don’t want it back, not even a vestige of it. I’m a lawyer, not an actor.

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"The Stranger Game" by Peter Gadol

In The Stranger Game by Peter Gadol, Rebecca's boyfriend has gone missing, but the police do not seem to be fazed by this.  He probably is playing the "Stranger Game."  What is that?  You will need to read the book to find the answer to that!  This book was pretty good.  The pacing was good and I enjoyed how all the characters were developed.  A twist at the end surprised me and I liked how it all played out!  (Gerard's review, 4.5 stars) 

Teaser from page 15:  I would never see them again.  The third rule of the game was never follow the same stranger twice, and so I drove away.

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"Becoming" by Michelle Obama by Michelle Obama

I heard that Becoming by Michelle Obama was a good book and was curious to learn more about her and what it was like living at the White House and what it would be like being a First Lady.  This book did not disappoint.  It satisfied my curiosity and also was very inspirational.  My favorite character in this book was Michelle Obama's mother.  The first part of the book is about her childhood, the middle about her career and developing her relationship with Barack, the last third about the Presidential campaign and her time at the White House.  She is very open about sharing her story.  Living in the White House has some perks, but the inability to go anywhere when you wanted or even just outside on the balcony without notifying the secret service and getting their permission would be a deal breaker for me right there!  (Karen's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 12:  When I thought I had a good idea about something, I didn't like being told no.  Which is how my great-aunt and I ended up in each other's faces, both of us hot and unyielding.  

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"The Dream Daughter" by Diane Chamberlain was a Big Hit for Both of Us!

In The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain, Carly is going to give birth, but the doctor tells her it does not look good for the long run.  Her brother-in-law comes up with a wild solution, but will Carly go for it?  If she does, will it work?  This is a wild book to say the least!  Carly is a great character and you have to pull for her.  Some good twists and turns that I did not see coming kept me involved!  I especially loved the last part of the book!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars) 

Karen's review, 11-30-18:
In The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain, shortly after Carly gets news that her husband was killed in Vietnam only weeks after he left in 1970, she learn she is pregnant.  Early in her pregnancy, she receives bad news that there is something wrong with her baby's heart and that it is fatal!  Carly is so devastated by the news, that she is willing to do anything to save her child--including time travel to the year 2001 so she can try fetal surgery!  Her brother-in-law, Hunter, who she met when she was his physical therapist was a time traveler from 2013 and talks her into giving it a try.

I enjoyed this book very much and highly recommend it to women.  It's a combination of contemporary and science fiction.  I don't think men would enjoy it as much.  It certainly has adventure but centers around Carly's fight to save and get to know her child, Johanna.  It has touching scenes and lots of unexpected twists along the way.  I was a little disappointed when it ended.  It even has two dogs in it and some funny parts as well.  I found it to be thought-provoking too and had trouble putting this down.  I really looked forward to getting back to it!
(5 stars)

Teaser from page 25:  "It doesn't matter.  What matters is that during her studies, she discovered it's possible to travel forward and backward in time."

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"One of Us is Lying" by Karen M. McManus

In One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus, five high school kids are in detention in a classroom.  One of them does not make it out alive!  It was no accident.  Who did it?  I almost gave up on this one, but I'm glad I did not!  Once the story picked up, it was kind of hard to put down!  The other four characters were really brought out very well.  It has some good twists and turns also.  If you love a good who done it mystery, this book is for you.  This is well worth reading!
(Gerard's review, 4.5 stars) 

Teaser from page 15:  He runs a shaking hand through his think white hair as one of the paramedics stabs Simon with a syringe and the other two lift him onto the stretcher.  "God help that boy," he whispers.

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