"Shamed" by Linda Castillo

Shamed by Linda Castillo is a murder mystery centered around a kidnapping of a young, special needs child in an Amish community. The entire novel is about the murder/kidnapping investigation with no real character development at all.  It is all told from the Chief of Police's point of view.  I enjoyed other books by this author more than I did this one.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

Teaser from page 32:  Again, I feel the minutes ticking by and I struggle for patience, with the need to be gentle, to not frighten this child who has already been so traumatized.  All of those things are in direct conflict with my need for facts.

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"Walking with Henry" by Rachel Anne Ridge

Walking With Henry--Big Lessons from a Little Donkey on Faith, Friendship, and Finding Your Path by Rachel Anne Ridge is a true story about Rachel and her donkey, Henry.  One day, Rachel decides her donkey, Flash, needs company in the pasture.  So, she rescues a small donkey and names it Henry.  Rachel has plans, but Henry will teach her lessons that she never expected!  I enjoyed this short book very much which is just about 200 pages.  Rachel tells the story very well and I loved Flash and Henry!  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)  

Teaser from page 5:  Then, when I least expect it, a small beam of light breaks through the darkness and offers a glimpse of goodness.  A reminder, perhaps, that I am never really alone.
Grace is present.
And if grace is present, then God is too.

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"Alone At Dawn" by Dan Schilling & Lori Chapman Longfritz

I always enjoy true stories that I am not up to speed on.  Alone at Dawn by Dan Schilling and Lori Chapman Longfritz is the story of a true hero--John Chapman and the untold story of the world's deadliest special operations force!  

The writing is so good that it made me feel I was in the battle!  This was a good read for the week of 9/11.  I want to thank all the men and women who have served and who are serving in our military forces.  I appreciate your sacrifice!  (Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Teaser from page ix:  It's also the story of one man, John Chapman, who would earn the nation's highest honor for bravery when he saved the lives of twenty-three comrades at the willing cost of his own.  Finally, it is the history of John Chapman's fellow Combat Controllers during Operation Anaconda, America's first major operation in its ongoing Global War on Terror.

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"Hearts of Fire" by the voice of the martyrs--8 co-authors

Hearts of Fire is a compilation of the stories of the faith and persecution of eight women in the Underground Church. This is non-fiction and eye-opening, thought provoking and inspirational. I didn’t realize before I read this book the persecution of Christians is so prevalent around the world. The stories were heartbreaking but al showed how costly it is to be a Christian in some places and how we take so much for granted here in the USA. I would recommend this to any Christian.
(Karen’s review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 21: Once more Adel realized she was the only hostage in sight. She didn’t dare imagine how many of the others had been killed. At that moment she didn’t know which was worse—to be dead or to be held captive by these vicious madmen.


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"Soul Dog-A Journey into the Spiritual Life of Animals" by Elena Mannes

Soul Dog by Elena Mannes tells a true story.  Elena lives life with order.  She knows what she is going to do at work and it carries over into her life away from the office.  Order rules!  Now, she wants a companion and decides to get a dog.  Her world of order is soon to change.

If you are dog owner, you will enjoy this book!  The part of this book I enjoyed most was the interaction between Elena and her dog.  There was also a spiritual aspect to this book that I found interesting.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 9:  I stood there paralyzed, unsure what to do beyond grabbing the newspapers and soaking everything up.  My fight-or-flight response took over and I picked up the phone and dialed the breeder.

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"Life and Other Inconveniences" by Kristan Higgins is Heartwarming and Touching

Life and Other Inconveniences by Kristan Higgins is a heartwarming, touching novel about family, love, grief, marriage and personal relationships. This is not a book with action but about life issues such as brother rivalry, unwed mother, marriage, suicide, single parenting, death, wealth, self-esteem, illness and family relationships.

 It started out slow for me and I was a bit confused at first because of so many characters to keep straight. I even set it aside and almost gave up on it but am glad I finished it.  I liked the dogs though and Luigi, Miller's cat.  The ending was very touching and made me tear up. I chose to read this one because I saw a book club recommended it and I saw it also recommended other books I enjoyed. Discussions questions are included in the back for book clubs. (4 stars)

Teaser from page 5: A few years ago, I’d told Riley the facts: Genevieve London of the adorable purses was my grandmother, and I’d lived with her for ten years after my mother died because my father couldn’t take care of me. I explained that Genevieve wasn’t the nicest person, so we didn’t talk anymore.


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"Wicked Fox" by Kat Cho

Wicked Fox by Kat Cho centers on Miyoung who has a secret that is better kept. One day she saves a boy's life and the secret is revealed to only the boy.  Will he keep this secret?  Will they have a relationship?  I give this book a solid 4 stars.  it is inspired by Korean folklore.  Once I got the Korean down, I was able to follow it better.  Looks like a book 2 is on the way.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 25:  The dokkaebi's legs flailed as if the girl were choking him instead of the other way around.  Her eyes were unblinking, dark, and depthless.

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"The Escape Room" by Megan Goldin is SO GOOD!

The Escape Room by Megan Goldin is a wild thriller about ruthless investment bankers who are controlled by greed. Four find themselves trapped inside an elevator for what they think is an exercise in team building. Sarah Hall is ecstatic to get hired and become part of this team, but when they turn on her when she tries to do the right thing, her life goes south fast.

This is a contemporary thriller that kept my interest. I liked Sarah Hall and Lucy, but did not like Sam, Jules, Sylvie or Vincent. I would strongly recommend that you do not read the prologue because it sort of gives away the ending. I liked the ending to this one in some ways, but think it is also sad in a way! I finished this in two days!
(Karen's review, 5 stars)


Gerard's review 8-20-19, 5++ stars:
The Escape Room by Megan Goldin is about a group of investment bankers.  Their firm only hires the best of the best!  One day, this group has to meet for a team-building training exercise.  They are a competitive bunch and discover that the exercise becomes a test for survival!

This is such a great debut thriller!  The pacing of the book is excellent!  The characters were brought out really well and it is very believable!  I had to keep going to see how it all played out.  You must read this one!  I LOVED IT!


Teaser from page 154:  It all gave me temporary amnesia, or perhaps willful blindness, at the damage we'd wrought on the lives of the nameless people at the factory in Michigan, or a hundred other places affected by our decisions.  We used profit as justification for shattering lives.

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"A Nearly Normal Family" by M. T. Edvardsson

A Nearly Normal Family by M. T. Edvardsson is set in Sweden. It tests a father’s faith, a mother’s ethics when Stella, their 18-yr.-old daughter is charged with the murder of a 32-yr.-old man on a playground. Stella and Amina are unlikely best friends since Kindergarten (or preschool). Stella is impulsive, seeks adventure, and is a skilled liar who feels her parents are too controlling. Her father, Adam, is a pastor and her mother, Ulrika, is a criminal defense attorney. Amina is a good student, plans for her future, and likes and understands Stella. They were both on the same handball team and were good players, but Stella quit because she got bored having to follow all the planned plays! This book asks the questions, “How well do you know your own children?” and “How far would you go to protect them?”

This book was pretty interesting although it moved along a bit slowly and doesn’t have much action. It touches on issues of ethics, rape, and family. The is presented in three parts: part 1 is from the father’s perspective, part 2 is from the daughter’s perspective (the most interesting), and part 3 is from the mother’s perspective.
(Karen’s review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 13: With an eighteen-year-old daughter you have two options: either you drown under the constant worry or your refuse to think about all the risks she seems to love taking. It’s simply a question of self-preservation.


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"Under Currents" by Nora Roberts

Under Currents by Nora Roberts is a very interesting read about overcoming domestic violence. Zane, 14, who dreamed of becoming a pitcher for the Orioles, and his younger sister Britt are physically and emotionally abused by their well-respected parents and comprise the main story line which follows them into adulthood.

 I really liked Zane and his sister as well as their aunt Emily. Another subplot is Darby who divorced her abusive husband pretty quickly and after her mother died in an automobile accident, moved to Walker Lakeside Bungalows in North Carolina to buy her own home and start up her landscaping business. Darby took self-defense classes after her divorce so knows how to defend herself. (Zane and her are my favorite characters so was happy when they became an item.) The third subplot is about Clint and Traci Draper, another domestic violence situation where Clint’s family lives all around and spies on Traci constantly. This book has bright spots though too, it is not all fighting. I enjoyed the addition of Zod, the ugly dog and liked learning some about a landscaping business. I also enjoyed the happy family interactions.

I liked this book a lot because it was interesting to me how people helped those who were in the abusive situations. It has some violence, action, love, family, romance and mystery. It is contemporary fiction and one I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys reading about relationships and family issues. It could also be considered inspirational for anyone who is suffering from domestic violence or abuse.
(Karen’s review, 5 stars)

Gerard's review:
Under Currents by Nora Roberts centers on Zane Bigelow.  Zane has a rough childhood as he has an abusive father who gives beatings to everyone in the family!  Zane feels he has to do something to put a stop to this.  He also deals with this when he grows into manhood.  The book is divided into four parts.  The first part is very good and action packed.  The fourth part is also very good and has good action in it. 

The second and third parts I did not enjoy as much.  The author has a good flow to this book and keeps things moving along.  I liked Zane, Darby and Zod the best!  On the strength of the first and last parts, I give this book 5 stars.

Teaser from page 390 (Large print version): “All of them, every one, had played a part in ruining his life, in humiliating him. He would ruin theirs, every one.”


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"The String" by Caleb Breakey

The String by Caleb Breakey is about a very creepy, mean guy who calls himself  "The Conductor" who creates a string of people he controls to do bad things through manipulation and threats.  I almost gave up right at the start when he abused a dog, but kept reading and he didn't do it anymore after that.  People do not have any choice if they are chosen to be on his "string" although Haas, one of the Trenton University cops is determined to break the string.  Can he do it?

I was eager to see how this dark thriller would end but did not like the ending.  It has quite a bit of action, suspense and mystery.  It is written so the reader does not find out who the conductor is until almost the very end!  In some ways this reminded me of The Chain.  I thought The String was even creepier, a bit too much for my taste.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Gerard's review:
The String is about a man who gets people to do things they would not normally do because he has something on them that makes them have to do it or their loved one will have something bad happen to them.  He calls himself "the Conductor."  I could never really get into this book.  I never had the moment that would get me caught up in it!  The premise was good enough, but I  do not think the writer brought out as much as he could have and I did not like the ending.  (3 stars)

Teaser from page 23:  "You catch on fast, you officer, SWAT team, professional, you.  One moment you're ready to unwind and let all that stress melt away.  Then the next you're making a deal with the devil, yes?  That is the power of the will." 

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 Night Before" by Wendy Walker

We have a new family member!

The Night Before by Wendy Walker deals with two sisters, Laura and Rosie.  Laura goes on a date with a man she met on the internet.  When she does not come home the following morning, Rosie is worried and the search begins.  Should she be more worried about Laura or the man who she is with because she knows what Laura is capable of?  I enjoyed both of the sisters very much.  The story line was okay, but I needed more action!  It still earns a solid 4 from me!
(Gerard's review)

Oh, to learn about our new dog, Roxy, read her blog post about her first few days with us on our other blog:  I'm Out of the Shelter!    

Teaser from page 22: I find my reflection in the tiny oval mirror and give it a look of admonishment.  My brown eyes and mousy hair.

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 Nickel Boys" by Colson Whitehead

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead is based on a real story.  This book takes place in the early 60s.  Elwood is a young boy who makes a mistake and is sentenced to a reform school called "Nickel."  There he meets a young boy named Turner.  Nickel is a rough school, but especially for young black boys.

This is a short book so a quick read.  I liked the contrast in thinking between Turner and Elwood and how they handled their time in Nickel, a school with very corrupt officials. 
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 17:  He'd been so proud of his ability, dumb and simple as it was.  He never settled on one conclusion until he got to Nickel, which made the truth of the contests unavoidable.

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"Three Days Missing" by Kimberly Belle

In Three Days Missing by Kimberly Belle, Kat is divorced and has few, if any, real friends.  Her life revolves around her son, Ethan.  He leaves to go on  field trip and his teacher will look after him.  Kat hopes he has a good time and makes some friends.  When the police show up on her door step in the middle of the night, she knows that is not good!  Ethan is missing!

The story line is okay in this book and the characters were brought out pretty well.  I would have loved a little more action so this is a solid 4 stars for me.
(Gerard's review)

Teaser from page 27:  Maybe it's the lack of sleep or the shock or the terror, but my brain can't process his question.  "What?"

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"The Gifted School" by Bruce Holsinger

The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger centers on four moms who live in the same community.  They all have children about the same age.  A new school is going to open and only the best and brightest will be able to get in!  The moms want what is best for their children.  How far are they willing to go to make sure their kids get in?  What about the dads?  Finally, do the kids even want to go to this school?

I enjoyed this book very much.  The author did a great job of bringing the mom characters out.  The kids were good too, and out of the dads, I enjoyed Beck best.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 31:  Everyone was rooting for her, or so Azra claimed.  Rose wasn't so sure.  Samantha in particular seemed to take a guilty pleasure in watching for latent signs of Tessa's next catastrophe.

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"The Accomplice (Theodore Boone series)" by John Grisham for teens

The Accomplice by John Grisham is a contemporary teen fiction story of Tony, a 16-yr.-old and his brother, Woody, a 13-yr.-old who are charged with being accomplices to armed robbery! Both are actually innocent, which the reader knows from the start. They made a poor decision one night and were arrested and put in jail. This story gives some insight into the youth court system and also shows how things are not always fair. Theodore Boone, who aspires to be a judge or lawyer one day, helps his friend, Woody, and is instrumental in helping raise bail for him.

This is geared to teens and may help them see the importance of school and making good decisions. I enjoyed it because Theo Boone is a good kid and a main character. It’s a quick, easy read.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 25: From the back seat, Woody heard the words he would never forget. A cop said loudly, “Stop right there, kid.”


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"The Rising" by Heather Graham and Jon Land - Science Fiction

The rising by Heather Graham and Jon Land has two main characters:  Alex, a star high school quarterback who looks forward to being a QB in college and the pros; and Samantha who has big future plans, but for now is a tutor to Alex.  She would love to have a future with Alex.  Alex gets hurt in a game and is rushed to the hospital.  The test results are like nothing the doctors have ever seen and a secret that has been hidden for many years will come out!

This thriller is pretty good.  I loved Alex and Samantha and the story line was good too!  This is well worth reading.
(Gerard's review, 4.5 stars)

Karen's review:
Well, I disagree with my husband's review on this and his rating.   The Rising by Heather Graham and Jon Land is the first in a science fiction series about Alex who is human, but al from some other planet far, far away which he remembers nothing about since he came to earth when just a baby. He was the star of his high school football team, but when he got clobbered in the head breaking up a tackle, his life changed! He and is tutor, Samantha, find themselves on the run.

 I did not care of this book and was very happy when I finally reached the end. No way will I continue with this series. Absolutely nothing made any sense to me. I just thought the story line was very dumb and the characters were just okay, not very well developed. The only reason I continued reading to the end was because I thought things might make sense if I read it all, but I was wrong. I didn’t enjoy this at all and certainly would not recommend it to anyone! (2 stars)

Teaser from page 37:  Then Alex realized it wasn't just that he couldn't get up, he couldn't even move.  Started to suck in a deep breath when he realized he couldn't breathe, either.

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"Never Look Back" by Alison Gaylin

In Never Look Back by Alsion Gaylin, two teenage girls went on a killing spree before they killed themselves, so, the story goes.  But 40 years later, a podcast producer want to dig into this story to make sure it checks out.  Mean while, Robin has to deal with a husband who maybe fooling around, and could her mom have been one of those teenage girls who killed those people?

This book was okay.  I had no trouble with the story line and Robin was a good character.  It just seemed to drag in some places.  A lot of words and nothing was really going on.  I did like the ending though which was a big surprise! 
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)  

Teaser from page 24:  I made myself touch Gabriel.  I put my hand to his cheek and felt a tear.

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"The Wife Between Us" by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen has incorrectly been compared to Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train in my opinion.  I think it's laughable!  Those two books were way better!  The three main characters in this book are Richard, who has tons of money; Vanessa, who was his wife for a while; and Emma, his soon-to-be-wife.  This book had its moments, but needed more action for me.  The story line was okay and the ending was very good which surprised me!
(Gerard's review, 3.5 stars)

Karen's review:
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen is a slow moving psychological thriller with twists I didn’t see coming. Richard appears to be the perfect husband, but when his “perfect” wife doesn’t meet his high expectations, he loses his temper. It’s almost as if he is two different people, very caring and affectionate at times, and then abusive and mean at other times. When Vanessa feels guilty about her manipulating, she actually tries to save Richard’s finance from marrying him.

This book was very slow moving for me about a bad marriage and the only reason I kept reading was because it was recommended to me by a friend. It does pick up and becomes more interesting eventually, but I had to plow my way through it. Some things just made no sense to me in the beginning. If you don’t mind a long road to a satisfying ending, then you would probably enjoy this one. If you prefer a fast-paced, action packed book with adventure and twists and turns, skip this one. It’s not for you. I only liked one character, Samantha, who was not a main one. (3 stars)

Teaser from page 19: Richard is engaged. My husband is actually going to marry her.


Teaser from page 10:  Morning is the worst time because, for a brief moment, my brain is clear.  The reprieve is so cruel.

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"The Chain" by Adrian McKinty is a Page Turning Thriller

The Chain by Adrian McKinty is about a chain of kidnappings by a lot of different people!  Normal people find themselves becoming kidnappers when their child is kidnapped in order to save their child!  The chain continues because of fear and intimidation while lots of money goes to the creator of this scheme. 

This was a page turner for me.  It definitely kept my attention and made me see how "good" people could be made to do very bad things.  The mystery of who organized the chain was also incentive for me to keep reading; however, I was able to figure it out pretty early on in Part 2.  The ending was hard to believe, but I liked it.  I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys thrillers and suspense.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

The Chain by Adrian McKinty is about a mother's worst fear--the kidnapping of her daughter.  The mother is pushed to limits that she did not think were possible to try to get her daughter back.  This book is told in two parts--the main part is first and that is really, really good!  I was hooked from the first page!  The pacing of the book is very well done and it is action packed!  The second part is short and wraps up the book.  That part was just okay.  On the basis of the first part being so good, I still give this 5 stars and recommend it.  It is well worth reading!
(Gerard's review, 7/17/19)

Teaser from page 9:  Kylie lifts her head but keeps her eyes tightly shut.  She's still trembling.  The state trooper has seen that something is amiss.

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