"Cilka's Journey" by Heather Morris

Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris is based on the true story of Cilka Klein.  What a story it is!  She was only 16 when she was taken to a concentration camp.  After that she was sent to a Siberian prison camp--the charge was sleeping with the enemy.  She will have to be strong to endure this.  

Good stuff!  Cilka was so brave and determined to stay alive in the face of death every day.  Be sure to read the additional information and the afterword as well.  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)  

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"Praying the Bible" by Donald S. Whitney - The Best Book on Prayer I Ever Read!

Praying the Bible by Donald S. Whitney gives a great solution for keeping your prayers fresh and your prayer time from becoming stale and boring by praying the same old thing for the same old things.  I really identified with what the author said about getting into a rut and losing the eagerness about praying every day.  This book gives practical instruction on exactly how to pray the Bible in order to keep a vibrant prayer life and actually converse with our loving Father in heaven.  It is very short, so a quick read and not at all dry or boring.  This book is life changing!  I highly recommend it to any Christian who finds their prayer time boring.   (Karen's review, 5 stars)

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"The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise" by Colleen Oakley

In The Mostly true Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley, we meet Louise, an old woman who takes a fall in her home and her family insists she get someone to look after her.  We meet Tanner, a 21-yr.-old girl who the last thing she wants to do is look after an old woman.  She would rather wear sweatpants and play video games!  Sound like a match to you? 

I thought this book was really good.  Louise and Tanner are both good characters and the byplay between them is entertaining.  There are some twists and turns.  I thought I knew how it would play out, but I was surprised!  I recommend this book if you are looking for something light and entertaining to read.  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"Backgammon of Today" by John Longacre

Backgammon of Today by John Longacre is a concise book on how to play Backgammon.  Terms are listed in the back but should have been in the front instead.  However, it is a helpful book because it gives the odds for the different rolls, suggested opening moves based on the various rolls of the dice and four strategies.  It also has a chapter on doubling.  I would recommend this book to anyone interested in improving their game.  (Karen's review, 5 stars)

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"Her Darkest Nightmare" by Brenda Novak

In Her Darkest Nightmare by Brenda Novak, Evellyn survived what no 16-yr.-old girl should have to go through.  Now, she is a psychiatrist trying to figure out what goes on in men who do bad things to women.  She works at a maximum security prison. When women turn up dead, things soon take a turn for the worse.  

This book had a good storyline and Evelyn was a good lead character; however, there were too many parts that dragged along with no action.  That being said, I was glad I read it.  (Gerard's review, 4 stars)

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"Flamefall" by Rosaria Munda (Book 2 of Fireborne Series)

Flamefall by Rosaria Munda is the follow-up book to Fireborne.  This story is told by Annie, Lee and Griff.  They each have to deal with problems of loyalty and honor to their homeland.  When the battle takes place, can they all survive?  Good stuff.  This is better than Fireborne!  There is more action and the stage is set for the final book of the series.  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"Fireborne" by Rosaria Munda

Fireborne by Rosaria Munda is told by Annie and Lee.  They have been friends since childhood, but now war is coming and their friendship will be tested like never before.  Can they lead a revolution?  This is good stuff.  Annie is a great character and drives this book.  This is book 1 of 3 and I look forward to reading the next two.  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"Anxious People" by Fredrik Backman

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman is a very strangely written book that kept my attention throughout.  It is filled with humor and yet deals with suicide, love, a bank robber, a hostage situation, two policemen who are father and son and a group of strangers who become friends through a crazy situation.  According to the author, this book is about idiots! 

It reminded me of a Seinfeld-type episode.  The writing was unusual.  It jumped around a lot, there are lots of characters each with their own storylines and often the reader is first exposed to new facts and then followed by an explanation about how it came to be.  I think this is a book I won't soon forget.  I loved the ending!  (Karen's review, 4 stars)

Gerard's review 4/8/23:
In Anxious People by Fredrik Backman, a bank robbery turns into a hostage situation.  What I liked most in this book was the interaction among all the characters.  I actually laughed out loud at some parts, it was that funny!  The storyline is good and so is the ending.  I love this one!  (5++ stars)

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"Finale" by Stephanie Garber (Book 3 in Caraval Series)

Finale by Stephanie Garber is the third and last book in the Caraval series.  In this one, Tella and Scarlett both get into trouble when they let their hearts over rule their heads.  Jacks is up to his usual trouble making ways.  All three books were outstanding and this has a great finish to the series!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"The Ballad of Never After" by Stephanie Garber

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber is the sequel to A Broken Heart.  In this, Evangeline tries to find a cure for her husband, Apollo.  It will not be easy!  People are willing to stop her.  Can she turn to Jacks for help?  Can she trust him?  This book is even better than the first one with lots more action, new characters, and lots of twists and turns.  What an ending!  Can't wait for book 3 coming out in October.  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"Once Upon a Broken Heart" by Stephanie Garber

In Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber,  Evangeline learns the love of her life will marry her stepsister, Marisol!  To stop this from happening, Evangeline turns to the wicked Prince of Hearts for help.  She makes a deal with him in exchange for his help and how it all plays out makes up this novel.  I thought this book was really good!  I liked the storyline which was unique as well as the characters, especially Evangeline and Jacks.  The ending was perfect!  I enjoyed the Caraval series by this author and this one is good as well.  On to book two of this three-part series.  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"Reminders of Him" by Colleen Hoover

In Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover, Kenna has spent five years in prison for a tragic mistake!  She had her newborn daughter taken from her.  Now she is out and wants to see her daughter, but in this case time does not heal.  Except for one man, the whole town does not want her around.  Do they have a future together and does she get to see her daughter?  This is good stuff, good characters well developed, good storyline and good ending!  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"Fairy Tale" by Stephen King

In Fairy Tale by Stephen King, Charlie, a young teen boy, becomes the caretaker to an old man when he falls from a ladder.  Charlie and the man's dog, Radar, get along great.  Before the old man dies, he tells Charlie to listen to a tape under his bed.  What is on the tape is what this book is about.  I thought this book was really good--vintage King.  It has great characters and a good storyline.  I also loved Radar and the ending!  The dog was in it a lot!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"The Last Invitation" by Darby Kane

The Last Invitation by Darby Kane centers on two women, Gabby and Jessa.  They both have secrets.  Jessa joins a secret group of women who make it their business to take care of  abusive men.  When Gabby gets involved too, they both realize that this is not the group for them.  However, they soon learn that once you are in, there is no turning back.  This is good stuff.  I enjoyed both of the main characters and the storyline moved along well.  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)         

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"Forging Silver Into Stars" by Brigid Kemmerer

Forging Silver into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer is a fantasy book about two kingdoms, loyalty and magic.  Emberfall is led by Rhen and Harper, Syhl Shallow led by Grey and Lia Mara.  Rhen and Grey are brothers, Grey is a magesmith and the people of Syhl Shallow are afraid of his magic so a faction called the Truthbringers is plotting to kill him.  Most of the story is about Jax and Callyn, friends from childhood, who live near woods in Briarlock which is part of Syhl Shallow but a good distance from the palace.  Callyn and her younger sister run a bakery and Jax, a cripple, is a blacksmith who works for his father in a forge near the bakery.  They both owe lots of taxes and are pretty delighted to find an easy way to earn more silvers.  Are they committing treason though?  Can they trust Alek, the one who pays silvers.  Is Tycho, the king's courier, telling the truth?  Does Tycho really care about Jax and does Alek really care about Callyn?  

This seemed slow to me at the start because I was just finished Defend the Dawn which I loved so much I hated to see it end.  This is a story about trust as was Defend the Dawn.  Decisions must be made about which side to take.  Can Jax and Callyn maintain their friendship if they take different sides?  Most of this book is about inner struggles and choosing sides, determining who to trust.  The characters are all interesting and I loved the action in the last quarter of the book.  It was fast-paced and fun seeing how everything was coming to a head.  I could have done without the gay relationship, but enjoyed the book other than that.  I also loved the ending!  I recommend this one to any Brigid Kemmerer fan.  I'm sure there will be more in this series and look forward to them.  (Karen's review, 4 stars)  

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"Before and After" by Judy Christie and Lisa Wingate

Before and After by Judy Christie and Lisa Wingate is the sequel to Before We Were Yours.  From 1920 to 1950 Georgia Tann ran a black market baby business at the Tennessee Children's Home Society in Memphis.  This book tells the true stories of some of those people who want to have a reunion of sorts and get connected to their real birth parents and siblings.  The stories these people tell are heart breaking and very interesting.  If you read Before We Were Yours, you have to read this one as well!  It is so good and full of hope!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"The Winter of the Witch" by Katherine Arden (Book 3 of Winternight Trilogy)

The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden is the last book in the Winternight trilogy.  This is a fantastic series!  Vasya must use all her power to save Russia from the wicked Demon.  Vasya is a great character and so was the Bear in this book with good action.  I LOVED it!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"Look Closer" by David Ellis

In Look Closer by David Ellis, Simon and Vicky’s secrets start to emerge when a woman is found dead on Halloween in a gated community. The thing is, they are both very good lying con artists! I thought this book was really good! Simon and Vicky were great and I never knew what was going to happen next. Loved the ending! (Gerard’s review, 5+ stars)

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Loved "Defend the Dawn" by Brigid Kemmerer -- Full of Adventure

1.    

In Defend the Dawn by Brigid Kemmerer, Tessa and Corrick set out on a journey to get much needed medicine for their kingdom.  This story is told by Corrick and Tessa.  I like them both.  The author does a great job of character development!  The interaction among the characters if fantastic!  The action comes near the end and is really good.  I would have liked more action earlier on as well.  All in all, I give this one 5 stars.  (Gerard's review) 

Karen's review 3/9/23:
Defend the Dawn by Brigid Kemmerer is Book 2 in the Defy the Night series and I LOVED it!  It has adventure, lots of fighting, great banter among the characters, politics, and some romance.  This one focuses on both King Harriston and his chief justice, Corrick.  About half way through, each gets their own storyline and both are very good.  Tessa and Quint are both great supporting characters too.  This one is hard to put down and I hated that it ended with two cliffhangers.  It definitely makes me anxious to read the next book in this series, Destroy the Day.  (5 stars)

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"The Finalists" by David Bell

In The Finalists by David Bell, six college students show up to try to win a scholarship to Hyde.  They must stay in the building for eight hours.  If they leave, they cannot win.  When one of the six is found dead , is anyone safe?  People are also protesting outside and tension is real high.  This was pretty good though I would have liked more character development.  The storyline was just okay but the ending was good!  (Gerard's review, 4 stars)

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