"Old Bones" by Preston & Child

Old Bones by Preston & Child is about the Donner party.  Nora is an archaeologist who teams up with Clive, an historian, to find the so-called "lost camp."  They find there is more to the lost camp than they thought.  They are not the only ones interested in finding out.  This is good stuff.  The story has a good flow and the characters are brought out well with a good ending.  (Gerard's review, 4.5 stars)

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Olive, Mabel & Me" by Andrew Cotter (Life and Adventures with Two Very Good Dogs)

Olive, Mabel & Me is a short book detailing how Andrew Cotter lives with his two very good dogs.  I enjoyed how he talks about their outings on hikes in the mountains as well as their day-to-day actions.  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"A Vow so Bold and Deadly" by Brigid Kemmerer (The End of a GREAT series!)

A Vow so Bold and Deadly is the third and final book in the Cursebreaker series.  I loved this series very much!  It is fantasy with some magic but also very relatable characters and lots of character development and interaction among them.  This last book centers mostly on Grey, Harper, Rhen and Lilith.  There is lots of action, and relationship developments.  I hated to see this series end, but loved the ending!  (Karen's review, 5 stars)

 

A Vow so Bold and Deadly is the third and final book in the Cursebreaker series.  Both my wife and I enjoyed this entire series very much!  Rhen and Gray are getting ready to go to battle against each other.  I do not want to give any spoilers, but I will tell you that the women have a lot to say and do in this book, especially Harper.  The ending kept me turning pages as quickly as I could!  This book is a great finish to an awesome series!  (Gerard 1/25/21, 5++ stars) 

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"The Captive" by Fiona King Foster

The Captive by Fiona King Foster is about a woman named Brooke.  At her farm, she is attached by a wanted criminal, Cawley.  Brooke is able to capture him and there is a bounty for him.  Her and her family set out with him to take him in for the reward.  

This book picks up about halfway through with good action when Brooke's daughters go missing.  I liked Brooke.  (Gerard's review 2/3/21, 4 stars)

Karen's review 1/27/21:  

In The Captive by Fiona King Foster, Brooke, the mother of two little girls who owns a cranberry farm with Milo, finds herself desperately trying to protect her family from her past.  She grew up in a drug dealing family that she left 15 years ago.  She kept her past a secret from Milo and her girls.  Growing up, her family was in a drug war with another and one day, one of them who has a warrant for his arrest shows up at her farm!  Will he tell her family about her past?  Can she get the bounty for turning him in?  Will he hurt her girls?  Did he come looking for her?

This book is about family secrets and how difficult it is to leaves one's past behind.  There is adventure and suspense in this book.  I got into it fairly quickly and it just kept getting better and better as it went along.  Brooke is a fighter and although she did lots of bad things, it's hard not to pull for her to succeed.  (4 stars)

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Ready Player Two" by Ernest Cline

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline is the sequel to Ready Player One which we both liked.  In this book, Wade is back with all his friends.  They face a new danger and the clock is ticking.  The first part of this book was good but the second part was very bad.  I did not like it at all!  I give it only 2.5 stars but that is because the ending was decent.  I can't say I enjoyed this one.  (Gerard's review)

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Orphan Monster Spy" by Matt Killeen (We both liked this One)

Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen takes place in Nazi Germany.  Sarah, a blond Jewish teen, sees her mom killed on their way out.  Sarah gets away but is befriended by a British spy who sees her potential and allows her to become a spy too and work for him.  

I liked this book because Sarah was so clever and very athletic!  She found herself in danger and always managed to come out on top!  (Karen's review, 5 stars)  

Gerard's review 12/23/2020:  In Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen, Sarah's mom is shot at a checkpoint.  Now Sarah is on the run.  She is a Jew in Germany who is befriended by a man who needs Sarah to pull off a spy mission.  She thinks she can do it, but can she?  

I thought this book was really good.  Sarah is a great character.  I enjoyed her interaction with people her own age very much.  It has a good story line with a good ending.  (5 stars) 

Teaser from page 11:  Concentrate.  It's like an accent, a gymnastic routine, a piano piece.  Fix your mind on the task at hand.

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"As the Shadow Rises" by Katy Rose Pool is Very Good!

As the Shadow Rises by Katy Rose Pool is the follow up to There Will Come a Darkness which got my highest rating!  This books starts right where the first ended.  There are five main characters who each have their own story so are well developed.  As you read, you never know which character will come up next.  This book is so good, just as good as the first if not better!  I want more!!!!  (Gerard's review, 5+ Stars)

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"The Guest List" by Lucy Foley

The Guest List by Lucy Foley revolves around a wedding.  Jules and Will are going to be married.  However, when old friends get together, secrets begin to get revealed.  What should be happy ever after is not!  The story is told by various people.  It goes back to the past some but in my opinion, would have been better to be told chronologically.  There are some twists and turns and the ending was a bit of a surprise.  (Gerard's review, 4 stars)  

Teaser from page 3:  The guests freeze.  They stare at one another.  They are suddenly afraid again.

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"HUSH" by James Patterson and Candace Fox

HUSH by James Patterson has lots of twists, the first being that two crimes are being solved by three suspended officers.  Harriet Blue aka Harry is even serving time in prison but the commissioner got her out early to help him solve a personal case.  The deal is that if she cannot find his daughter and grandchild who are missing, she'll be going right back to prison.   The other case is her proving her friend from prison is innocent in the murder of the prison doctor whom she liked as well. 

I got into this book right away and didn't have a clue in either case.  This book has colorful characters and quite a bit of action.  (Karen's review 1/1/2021, 4 stars)

Gerard's review:  

HUSH by James Patterson and Candice Fox deals with Harriet Blue who is in prison.  Joe Woods, who put her in prison now needs her help.  I thought this was pretty good.  Had good action and I enjoyed all the various characters.  I also liked the ending!  (4.5 stars)  

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Daughter of the Reich" by Louise Fein

In Daughter of the Reich by Louise Fein, Hetty is a young German girl of a high ranking Nazi officer.  Hetty is loyal to the Reich and ready to do her part.  But as time goes on, Hetty begins to learn that all she believes to be good might not be so.  She will not turn her back on her old friends.  

This book is pretty good.  It drew me in and kept my interest throughout.  The story has good flow to it and the characters were brought out very well with a good ending.  (Gerard's review, 5 stars) 

Teaser from page 22:  Everything looks calm and friendly, but I can feel the evil hovering outside the safety of our iron railings, and I shudder.  I imagine a great big guard dog, patrolling the garden.  Just the idea of it makes me feel safer.

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"The Boy from the Woods" by Harlan Coben

In The Boy from the Woods by Haran Coben, a boy was found in the woods 30 years ago.  No one knows how he got there, or where his family is because he does not know his name.  But he does know how to survive!  A young girl is bullied in school and no one puts a stop to it.  One day she goes missing.  The boy from the woods, people call him Wilde, is asked to help locate the missing girl.  

This is a good book.  I liked the characters and it had some good action.  I was happy with the ending as well.  (Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Teaser from page 10:  She has to know that it won't end for good.  Not today.  Not tomorrow.  The torment never stops for very long.

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Montana Lawman Rescuer" by Linda Ford

Montana Lawman Rescuer by Linda Ford is an inspirational historical romance that I enjoyed.  Emily is traveling with a 2-yr.-old boy when her stagecoach gets robbed and her belongings stolen.  She was thrown from the stagecoach and hit her head, causing her to forget who she is, where she is heading and why, and where she came from.  Jesse, the lawman, found her and invited her and the little boy to stay in his home with his grandmother until she decides where she wants to go.  

This is a good romance, but also inspirational about hot to let go of your past and not let it ruin your present and future.   I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a clean romance or feels shameful about his/her past.  (Karen's review, 5 stars)

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"The Holdout" by Graham Moore

In The Holdout by Graham Moore, Maya Seale was a juror on a huge case.  She was the only one who was convinced that "not guilty" was the right verdict.  Now it is ten years later and the media wants to bring back the jury to talk about the case.  When a member of the jury winds up dead in his hotel room, they have a lot to talk about now!  

This is a really good book!  It goes back and forth in time, but I did not have a problem with that.  It has good flow to it and an ending that I did not see coming at all!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 23:  "It's complicated.  It's a delicate . . . Look, just come to the taping and I'll show everyone--all of us--incontrovertible evidence that Bobby Nock killed Jessica Silver."

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"The Bright Lands" by John Fram

In The Bright Lands by John Fram, the small town of Bentley loves their high school football team.  The town has secrets and now the star quarterback goes missing before the biggest game of the year!  This might be the biggest secret of them all.

This novel is told by a bunch of people which added to the story in my opinion.  This is a wild book for sure, but in a good way with a few twists and turns.  I also liked the ending.  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 29:  "But they'd kill me if I went to the station.  I ain't even supposed to be here."

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"RAGE" by Cora Carmach

RAGE by Cora Carmach is the sequel to ROAR.  Roar, aka Aurora, does not recognize her kingdom anymore.  It has been overtaken by the Locke family, and her mother the Queen is no where to be found.  To set things right, she decides to join the revolution to get her kingdom back.  

I waited a long time to read this book and it was so worth it!  I loved it!  The story had good flow and a really good ending.  I liked reading about the characters again too and look forward to book 3 in this series. (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 21:  She clutched Kiran's forearm, her nails digging in harder than she intended.  Immediately, he jerked to a stop, pulling her to fully face him.  "I knew something was wrong," he hissed.

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Mandy and the Missouri Man" by Linda Ford

Mandy and the Missouri Man by Linda Ford is an interesting western romance about forgiveness.  Mandy and her two sisters are called the Buffalo Gals and live together where they provide food to the gold miners. Their pa left and one day Mandy discovers Trace and his 16-yr.-old sister, Cora, whose face was burned in the fire that killed their parents.  She is very self-conscious about letting anyone see her face.  At first, Mandy wants them off "her" land but becomes friends as they race to build their houses.  Trace is full of hate for those who set the fire killing his parents and his "friends" who he feels betrayed him.  

I enjoyed this book because the characters were likable and it is a clean romance without any sex scenes.  There is humor and even a kitten!  It was fun seeing the relationship between Mandy and Trace blossom.  (Karen's review, 4 stars)  

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"You Are Not Alone" by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

In You Are Not Alone, Shay's life is not going well.  Then one day Shay is befriended by the Moore sisters, Jane and Cassandra, which changed her outlook on life for the better.  However, Shay finds out that these sisters have secrets.

I thought this book was really, really good!  It flows well and all the characters were brought out well.  It has some twists and turns with a good ending.  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 17:  One second she existed, and the next, she'd been erased.  I stagger over to a bench by the wall and collapse.  

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" by Holly Jackson

Roxy is sad the dog in the book got killed--not good.

a good girl's guide to murder by Holly Jackson centers on a high school senior girl named Pip.  For her senior project, she decides to look into a 5-yr.-old murder of Andie Bell, a high school senior.  The police consider the case closed, but Pip has some doubts.  For a while it was interesting to play along with Pip as she did her research, but became tedious.  There is a lot of talk in this book without much action.  I was mad at the author for killing off the dog for no good reason so only give this one 3 stars.  (Gerard's review)

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Playing Nice" by J. P. Delaney Has Lots of Twists--We Both Liked This One!

Playing Nice by J. P. Delaney is told by Pete and Maddie have been living together but are not married.  They have a 2-yr.-old boy named Theo who has some behavioral issues.  When Myles Lambert and his attorney show up on Pete's doorstep with the claim that Theo is really Myles' and Lucy's son and that their special needs son, David, is really Pete and Maddie's son, the nightmare begins!  The boys were both preemies and somehow got switched, but was it an accident or intentional?  Who would do that and why?

This book kept my interest all through, my favorite character being Pete.  I did not like Myles from the start and wasn't crazy about Maddie.  I felt kind of sorry for Lucy because she was married to Myles.  This book is well written in how it gradually develops the characters and has lots of twists throughout.  The ending was a surprise for me too.  (Karen's review, 5 stars) 

Playing Nice by J. P. Delaney is told by Pete and Maddie.  One day they are told that the 2-yr.-old boy they have is not their son at all!  He belongs to another family who want to switch their 2-yr.-old son for theirs!  This is a wild ride for sure!  I enjoyed this book very much and got through it very quickly.  The story line is good and I never knew what to expect from page to page.  Do not miss this one!  (Gerard's review 10/30/20, 5++ stars) 

Teaser from page 15 (large print version):  Disbelief, shell shock, horror, all paralyzed me.  I'm not fast in a crisis, unfortunately, Maddie's the one who thinks on her feet.

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"The Loop" by Ben Oliver Takes Place in a Prison

Most of The Loop by Ben Oliver takes place in a prison.  Luka is locked up with the same routine every day.  One day things change and Luka has a chance for freedom.  But is the outside world safe?  I thought this book was pretty good.  Luka is a good character but it needed more action and was pretty predictable.  There were not many twists in this story at all.  I did give it 4 stars because it kept my interest.  (Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 4:  I lie down and tell myself not to cry, that it won't do any good, that it won't change anything, but I can't stop the tears from forming in my eyes.

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!