Teaser Tuesdays

Gerard's:
But a reckless rage had come over Harry.  He kicked his trunk open, pulled out his wand, and pointed it at Uncle Vernon.

From page 30 of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling.

I looked across at our opponents and wondered who they were.  And I looked out at the crowd, and that's when I realized we were in the middle of Nationals, and I was supposed to be doing something.

From page 95 of The Memory Book  by Lara Avery.

Karen's:

"Having trouble finding a room is just a sign that we've come to the right place," Annie said.  "You said it yourself.  God hasn't lost track of us and we're going to be all right." 

From page 23 of Messenger by Moonlight  by Stephanie Grace Whitson.

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!

I Recommend "The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown

The Boys In The Boat by Daniel James Brown is a non-fiction novel about the personal journeys of the 1936 USA rowing Olympic team.  Through personal interviews, the author writes an amazing story of perseverance, overcoming obstacles, teamwork, humility and competition.  I enjoyed reading about the coaches and how the team was assembled as well as the races.  The parts about Nazi Germany hosting the Olympics actually made me mad.  I acquired a new admiration for the sport of rowing after reading this book.  I thought the first part of the book was very slow but then the rest of it picked up.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

The Boys In The Boat by Daniel James Brown is such a good book! It tells the true story of a bunch of young boys from Washington University who competed in rowing during the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany. One of the best parts of this book was the stories about the boys’ personal lives and their coaches too! The races are very exciting as well. I gained a whole lot of respect for what it takes to row when I read this book. Loved it and recommend you read it too! You will be glad you did!
(Gerard’s review 8/24/13, 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. Happy Reading!

"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by J. K. Rowling (video review included)

Love Crankshooks!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling is the third book of this series and another enjoyable fun read!  In this book, there are surprises and a very cool map that has been handed down from former mischief makers to current mischief makers at Hogwarts school.  I thought the classes were really interesting and was happy Hagrid got to be a teacher on care of critters.  The class on Defense of Dark Arts was also fun.  There are so many great scenes in this book that I didn't want to put it down.  I cheered when Hermione bought herself a cat named Crankshooks who has sort of a big part in the story chasing after Ron's rat, Scabbers and causing tension between Ron and Hermione.  Snape and Malfoy continue to resent Harry and cause trouble.  Of course, Harry is amazing in this book too and I enjoy rooting for him!  I loved this book and enjoyed it very much.  It has lots of action and funny things throughout.  I look forward to continuing this series.
(Karen's review7/15/15, 5 stars)

Gerard's review 7/9/16 (5 stars):
It's always good to get back to a Harry Potter book!  In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Sirius Black is loose and the word is out that he wants to get at Harry in the worst way! I thought this book was very good.  I enjoyed the various storylines throughout the book and Ron and Hermione are good in this one too!  I especially liked the unexpected ending and the great writing!

Watch my review I did for "Booktube":

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!

"Ink and Bone" by Lisa Unger, Another Thriller

Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger starts off with a young girl and her brother on a walk with their dad.  The dad and brother are shot, but the girl is just taken.  Fast forward to years later and the mom, who still thinks her daughter is alive enlists a detective to help find her.  His lady friend, how has a gift that comes in handy in these types of situations, helps him.

Ink and Bone  is pretty good.  I enjoyed the second part of the book more than the first.  I have read better Lisa Unger books than this, but this one is worth reading too for sure.
(Gerard's review, 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!

Teaser Tuesday

Gerard's:
A cold, prickly sweat gathered at the base of his neck.  He felt dizzy, and the skylight spun.

From page 22 of Asylum by Madeleine Roux.

They locked eyes; she'd never seen anyone look so afraid. 

From page 8 of Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger.

Karen's:

The result of all this muscular effort, on both the larger scale and the smaller, is that your body burns calories and consumes oxygen at a rate that is unmatched in almost any other human endeavor.  Physiologists, in fact, have calculated that rowing a two-thousand-meter race--the Olympic standard--takes the same physiological toll as playing two basketball games back-to-back. 

From page 40 of The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown.

To stave off loneliness, the elderly who maintain friendships and make new ones have a distinct advantage.  Many studies have shown that morale increases when an older person spends time with friends, even more so than with family.

 From page 286 of BRAIN--The Complete Mind, How It Develops, How It Works, and How To Keep It Sharp by Michael S. Sweeney.

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!

"Asylum" by Madeleine Roux

In Asylum by Madeleine Roux, Dan Crawford is given a chance of a lifetime.  A summer program for gifted students is how he is going to spend his summer.  But when he gets to the school, he finds that the dorm he has to stay at was an old psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane.  While exploring, he discovers some secrets that link him and his friends to the Asylum's dark past.

This book kept my interest throughout.  The story moved along well and while not action-packed, was good enough. 
(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!

Loved "End of Watch" by Stephen King

End of Watch by Stephen King is the final book in the series that started with Mr. Mercedes and Finders Keepers. In this book Brady Hartsfield is in a hospital. He is in a vegetative state, or is he? Turns out that he has special powers now and the two detectives, Bill Hodges and Holly Gibney better watch out or else!

This book was vintage King! I just never knew where this was going to turn. I enjoyed this book as much as the other two—LOVED IT! What a great series!
(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!

"Stay Where You Are and Then Leave" by John Boyne

In Stay Where You Are and Then Leave by John Boyne, as the first World War rages on, Alfie thinks that his father died to the war. As the war continues, Alfie learns something that changes everything. Even though Alfie is a very young boy, he must take on a man's job.

I thought this book was very good!  I enjoyed the character of Alfie very much and the story moved along well. 

(Gerard's review 6/25/16, 5 stars)

Karen's review, 4 stars:
This is a sweet story about a boy's love for his dad during World War I.  The boy, Alfie, lives in London and is only five years old, wanting to join his dad on the milk run.  The father volunteers to fight in the war but writes regularly.   The mother keeps telling the boy his dad is on a secret mission and can't write home which makes Alfie think his father may be dead.  One day when Alfie is making money shining shoes, he discovers that his father is actually in a hospital.  Alfie takes on a secret mission of his own for love.

This is a good read and I enjoyed it.  It goes very fast because it is a children's book, but Alfie is a very brave and loving, caring boy who I liked very much.  Although this book takes place during the war, the focus is on those who are not fighting and so there is hardly any violence at all. 

We have enjoyed two other books by this author too and recommend them all:  The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and The Boy at the Top of the Mountain. 

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:
She glances around at the door to make sure it's shut, then removes her left hand from her knee and reaches out with it.  "All those people you hurt, some of them still suffering.

From page 94 of End of Watch by Stephen King. (book 3 of Mr. Mercedes series)



Karen's:

He was nine years old now and hadn't had any birthday parties in the years in between.  But when he was going to sleep at night, he did this best to put together all the things he could remember about his family before they'd changed.

From page 9 of Stay Where You Are and Then Leave by John Boyne.

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!

"Every Last One" by Anna Quindlen

Every Last One by Anna Quindlen is about the Latham family, comprised of Mary Beth and Glen, parents of three teenagers:  Ruthie and fraternal twin boys, Alex and Max.  Ruthie is into academics and loves to write, Alex is into sports and Max is into his drums and their dog.  While focusing on their depressed son, Max, the parents are caught completely off guard when Ruthie's boyfriend becomes obsessed with her and continues stalking her after she breaks up with him.  When tragedy strikes, can Mary Beth keep it together?

There is a lot of interpersonal relationships in this book and the mother is the main character who tells the story.  This book gives insight into parenting, teen issues and sibling rivalry.  For me, this book moved very slow but it is a good story and I'm glad I stuck with it to finish it.  It is contemporary fiction that reminded me a bit of Little Big Lies by Liane Moriarty which was way better.  I read this because it was a library recommendation based on my like for What Was Mine by Helen Klein Ross, but I saw very little similarity other than the mother being the main character telling the story.  If you like family stories about teens and are good with no suspense, no mystery and slow moving, then I recommend this one.
(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!

"With Malice" by Eileen Cook

With Malice by Eileen Cook centers on 18-yr.-old Jill Charron.  Jill has it all--smart, pretty and a very rich dad.  One day she wakes up and does not know where she is.  I turns out she is in a hospital and has been for some time.  She was in an accident and is in bad shape.  Then Jill finds out her best friend is dead and all signs point to Jill as being the one who killed her!  Jill doesn't think she did it but cannot remember what happened. 

I thought this book was really good because it kept me turning the pages eager to see what would happen.  I was hooked early and enjoyed the ride.  The writing was very 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!

"Highly Illogical Behavior" by John Corey Whaley

Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley centers on three teens:  (1) Solomon who has not left his house in three years and sees no reason to; (2) Lisa who has big plans to get into an exclusive school; and (3) Clark, who is Lisa's boyfriend but would like to be more.

Lisa's plans include Solomon, but she does not let him know that.  When she decides to get Clark's help, things get really interesting.

I enjoyed this book.  I thought the story line was good and I enjoyed all three characters.  I also had an unexpected ending I was glad to see.
(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

Gerard's:
Then one day trying wasn't enough, so he stripped down to his boxers and sat in the fountain in front of his junior high school.  Then And right there, with his classmates and teachers watching, with the morning sun blinding him, he slowly leaned back until his entire body was underwater.
From page 4of Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley.


Falling, with wind whistling and roaring past my head for a short eternity, only to bounce my head against the seat in front of me.  I coughed, spit, and strained for a breath.

From page 33 of Mayday by Karen Harrington.


Karen's:

I want to run upstairs and get into the shower, but I like to watch my children when they don't know I'm there, convinced that they'll reveal themselves to me in some essential way.  They're so different when it's just the three of them, together.

From page 56 of Every Last One by Anna Quindlen.


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!

"Mayday" by Karen Harrington

In Mayday by Karen Harrington, a young boy named Wayne is the main character.  Wayne has a lot going on in his life.  He lives with his mom, who is separated from his dad and his grandpa who was in the army.  Wayne's uncle dies while fighting in the army, and on the plane ride back from the service, Wayne and his mom service a horrible plane crash.  Now Wayne cannot talk and his face does not look too good.

I liked this children's book because it had humor and made me think. The characters were brought out really well and the ending surprised me which is a good thing!
(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 Boy at the Top of the Mountain" by John Boyne

The Boy at the Top of the Mountain by John Boyne is about a young boy named Pierrot who becomes an orphan around the time of World War II.  When he is 7 years old, rides three trains by himself to go live with his aunt whom he never even met.  While living with her, he is influenced by the people he meets and soon he sees things far different than he used to.

I thought the second part of this book was better than the first part and the ending was very well done.  However, I do not think this was as good as this author's first book (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas) but still is a very good read.
(Gerard's review, 4.5 stars)

(Karen's review 6/17/16, 5 stars) 
I was eager to read The Boy at the Top of the Mountain by John Boyne, the author who also wrote The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, an amazing story!  The Boy at the Top of the Mountain is also set during World War II.  It shows how a nice, innocent 7-yr.-old boy, Pierrot, with German and French background is faced with a whole new life when his aunt takes him in to live with her after his parents both die. 

This story kept my interest all the way through and didn't have any boring part.  I finished it in just two days and liked how the author made Pierrot's struggles so clear.  This too is a sad book but thought provoking.  As Pierrot gets a new identity, he fights to keep his memories of "the good old days" and is torn apart when he realizes what he did was really wrong.  I thought the ending was great and recommend this one!  I hesitate saying any more about it because I don't want to spoil it for you.  Just read it and be shocked like I was!  I don't think I'll easily forget this book, just like The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is lodged in my memory.


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 This Week

Gerard's:

And between my skin and bones, something thrummed and pounded, rising and pushing, lashing through my blood--

So many eyes, too many eyes, pressed on me, witnesses to every crime I'd committed, every humiliation--

I don't know why I'd even bothered to wear gloves, why I'd let Ianthe convince me.
From page 41 of A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas.


And when Thurman growled in reply, Wilson tried not to pay attention to him.  But if asked, he would have said that Thurman had said that he shouldn't worry about things like that, since other things were going to happen to make all of it make sense.

From page 25 of The Dog That Whispered by Jim Kraus.


Karen's:

Then the crashing began again.  It sounded as though it was over the living room now.  How did I wind up here? Rebecca thought.

From page 10 of Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen.

Against his father's wishes, Hans had joined the Hitler Youth movement when he was fourteen.  His father, Robert, was opposed to Germany's new leader, Adolf Hitler, and his National Socialist, or Nazi, political party.  "Don't believe them," he warned his children.

 From page 1 of We Will Not Be Silent--The White Rose Student Resistance Movement that Defied Adolf Hitler by Russell Freedman.

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!

"The Problem With Forever" by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Problem With Forever by Jennifer Armentrout is a beautiful, inspirational story about Mallory a/k/a "Mouse" and Rider, two kids who were in an abusive foster home together accepting their past but looking to the future.  After being split up for four years, Mallory getting adopted while Rider was in a group home and foster home, they wind up in the same high school for senior year and reconnect.

I liked both the main characters who were well developed and grew throughout the book.  There are many references to The Velveteen Rabbit book that is closely related to the main theme of this book so I would recommend reading that as well.  It is the book Rider used to read to Mallory when they were kids and that was her favorite.  There is a lot of relationships that make this a very realistic, contemporary fiction novel.  I really liked Carl and Rosa too, doctors who adopted Mallory.  I enjoyed this book very much and would recommend it, especially to teens.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

In The Problem With Forever by Jennifer Armentrout, Mallory is a young teen girl who spent time in a foster home that was not a good situation, but could always count on a young boy named Rider.  After years of being home schooled when she was taken in by a nice couple, she is ready to go to a regular high school for her senior year.  She thinks she can do this.  On the first day of school, she sees someone she recognizes--Rider!

I really enjoyed this book a lot!  Mallory was a fantastic character as was Rider.  The writing was very good too.  It had me from page 1.  I think you should read this one.  I can't imagine anyone not liking this!
(Gerard's review 6-1-16, 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!

"We Will Not Be Silent" by Russell Freedman

We Will Not Be Silent--The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler by Russell Freedman is a true story about a group of young teens who turned against Hitler.   This is a very short story, but I am glad that it was told.  These teens were very brave and paid for what they believed in with their lives.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Karen's review, 4 stars:
We Will Not Be Silent by Russell Freedman is about the White Rose student resistance movement against Adolf Hitler during World War II. Specifically, this focuses on the Scholl family, whose eldest son, Hans began it.  At first, he was excited to join the Hitler Youth movement against his father's advice; however, when his creativity was frowned upon and he realized they took away some freedom and wanted to keep everyone the same, he became doubtful.  Slowly and carefully, Hans got others to help him distribute leaflets against Hitler and pointing out things that were happening that were not right in several different cities and also do some graffiti.

This was a quick read but very informative about something I did not know much about.  I thought it was interesting and am glad I happened to see at the library and picked it up.  It shows that many people were not on board with Hitler's policies and some were brave enough to put their lives on the line to fight back.  I think it is definitely worth the time to read.

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 Wolf Wilder" by Katherine Rundell

The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell is about a young girl named Feo.  She and her mom train wolves to fend for themselves.  When her mom is taken away by a general who wants to rule the land, Feo has to count on all the things her mom taught her and wolves to save her mom.  I thought this was pretty good.  I really enjoyed Feo and the story moved along well.
(Gerard's review, 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!

"Ruined" by Amy Tintera

Ruined by Amy Tintera is a quick read because there is action right from the start and it is hard to put down.  This YA fantasy is about Emelina Flores, a ruined, who comes up with quite an elaborate and dangerous plan to free her sister who was captured by Lera after they killed her mother, the Queen.  Her father was killed by the princess of Vallos so Em is out for revenge as well.  She impersonates Princess Mary after killing her off, planning to marry Prince Casimer and take down the royal family of Lera from the inside.  Em is viewed as useless by the Ruineds because she has no magic ability, even though she is very good with a sword.

I loved the humor in this book and the romance that developed between Em and Prince Cas.  I also enjoyed the writing style very much which let the reader know what both Cas and Em were thinking.  There is not a lot of description in this book which is why I think it moves along so quickly.  I liked both Em and Cas and hope they will rule together one day.  I look forward to reading book 2 in this series.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

In Ruined by Amy Tintera, Emelina Flores has nothing.  Her home has been ravaged by war.  Her parents are both dead and her sister has been taken by the enemy.  With nothing to lose but her own life, Emelina comes up with a plan to find and save her sister.  For this plan to work, Em will have to become part of the enemy.  Can she pull it off?

WOW!  This is good stuff!  The first part of the book put the plan in motion and the second part is when the action starts.  I really liked the character of Em.  This story moved along well and the end had me flipping pages to see how it was going to turn out!  Sign me up for book 2!
(Gerard's review 6/4/16, 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:

Wolves made sense to her; wolves were one of the few things worth dying for.  It seemed unlikely, though, that anyone would ask her to:  After all, wolves were, in general, on the other side of the equation.

From page 14 of The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell.


But then at the end of the morning something happens, something abnormal, making this day different than all the days before.

From page 26 of Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica.


Karen's:

She'd still been awake when the sun started peeking through the curans, unable to sleep in a castle full of her enemies.  She'd spent almost a year planning to infiltrate the castle, but the reality of being surrounded by people who would kill her if they discovered her true identity was more unsettling than anticipated.

From page 21 of Ruined by Amy Tintera.

Against his father's wishes, Hans had joined the Hitler Youth movement when he was fourteen.  His father, Robert, was opposed to Germany's new leader, Adolf Hitler, and his National Socialist, or Nazi, political party.  "Don't believe them," he warned his children.

 From page 1 of We Will Not Be Silent--The White Rose Student Resistance Movement that Defied Adolf Hitler by Russell Freedman.

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!

"Don't You Cry" by Mary Kubica

Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica is told from two points of view.  Quinn is Esther's roommate.  One day Quinn wakes up and Esther is not to be found.  Where did she go?  As days go by, Quinn discovers that maybe she did not really know Esther at all.

Alex is a young teen boy who sees a girl that he is drawn to and becomes more involved with her finding himself involved in something he never expected.  The tension mounts as both story lines play out until a totally unexpected ending that I did not see coming.

Mary Kubica knows how to keep you reading. I enjoyed all three books I've read by her.  The other two were The Good Girl and Pretty Baby.
(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!

"Fly Away" by Kristin Hannah

Fly Away by Kristin Hannah is about how Kate's death affects her husband, her three children and her long time best friend, Tully.  When Kate dies of Cancer, her husband is overwhelmed, the 8-yr.-old boys handle their grief differently and Marah, her teenage daughter flips out and makes some really bad choices that lead to trouble.  Through memories and flashbacks the reader gets to know about Kate's and Tully's friendship.

I liked this well-written book because the characters were so vulnerable and although it dealt with grief, depression, addiction and domestic violence, it gives a person hope showing that the past is the past and we can make good choices to give us a better future.  Loved the ending!  I've enjoyed several of Kristin Hannah's books and this is no exception--I recommend it.

This book is sort of the opposite of Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson in which it was the father who was dying of Cancer and the focus was on the months before he died.  However, in Fly Away, it is the mother who dies of Cancer and the focus is on what happens to those who love her after her death.  Both have teen daughters who are main characters in the books.
(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 - 6 This Week

Gerard's:

I knew him.  Oh my God, I would know him anywhere, even if it had been four years and the last time I'd seen him, that last night that had been so horrible, had changed my life forever. 

From page 27 of The Problem With Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

When I went into Elle's bedroom for my usual 1:00 a.m. check on her first three nights home, I swear that dog just lay there on her bed and stared at me like I was a crazy lady.  His eyes seemed to say, "What are you doing here?  She's fine.  Go back to bed!"

From page 165 of Elle and Coach by Stefany Shaheen.

You were right.  About everything.  I just wasn't ready to hear it.  But I'm ready now.  For whatever happens.

From page 47 of The Outliers by Kimberly McCreight.


Karen's:

It was nice, like being wrapped in a warm-from-the-dryer blanket.  But when she came to, and saw where she was, it wasn't so nice. 

From page 3 of Fly Away by Kristin Hannah.

Doctors aren't allowed to be humane with humans.  Joe and everyone like him will be expected to suffer and suck it up, to endure zero quality of life while being a burden to everyone held dear until the bitter, gruesome end.

Page 268 of Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova.

The accident plays on a loop in my head.  I want to press pause but the film is relentless:  his body slamming against the windshield time after time after time.

From page 14 of I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh.

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!

Wife and Husband Differ on "I Let You Go" by Clare Mackintosh

Karen's review 5/29/30:
I Let You Go by Clare Macintosh really annoyed me.  I started it but after Part I, took a long break from it because it made no sense to me.  It turned out to be a good story in the end, but it was very confusing along the way due to the strange writing style.  It is about solving the mystery of a hit-and-run driver who killed a little boy and domestic violence.  The fact it is an International Bestseller made me expect great things but I was disappointed.

This is not a book I looked forward to getting back to; however, I did plow my through it after breaking away from it three times to read other things.  The characters were not very likeable and even Jenny, the main character, was mostly annoying because she was so stupid.  This is written in first person but was very hard to follow because it was gold from several different views and was hard sometimes to know who was doing the talking.  Most books have the name of the individual who is talking at the beginning of the chapter so the reader knows right away; unfortunately, that is not the case with this one.  I found myself having to go back and re-read things several times to figure out who was saying what.  I guess the author did that on purpose just to confuse the reader, but I did not appreciate it.

Another thing that was annoying to me was how it jumped from the present to the past and back all through the book.  I know I am in the minority on this, but it just did not appeal to me at all due to the writing style and the characters.  The only character I really liked was Patrick, the vet.  Ian was plain horrible and did not like him at all, especially when he hit his wife on their wedding day, killed her cat on purpose and kicked the dog across the room.  This book did make me angry!  Even the detectives weren't very likeable for me.

I'm sorry I couldn't be more positive, but this is not one I liked much at all.
(1 star)

Gerard Liked it:
I Let You Go by Clare Macintosh is about a young boy who was with his mom, but ran ahead to get home first. He is killed when a car hits him and keeps on going! The cops look for a clue to find who could have done that. In the meantime, the boy’s mother is desperate to leave the accident scene behind and heads for a remote cottage where she hopes no one will know her.

This story is told in two parts: the first sets the scene and the second really gets into the action. It kept my interest. The second part is very good and I was anxious to see how everything would turn out. The unexpected twist at the end sealed the deal for me! This is well worth reading and goes on sale May 3, 2016.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
(Gerard's review 4/27/16, 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!

"Elle & Coach--Diabetes, the Fight for My Daughter's Life, and the Dog Who Changed Everything" by Stefany Shaheen

It's time for another dog book and Elle & Coach by Stefany Shaheen is a good one!  This is the true story of a young girl named Elle who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.  It is told by Elle's mom and this turns their family routine into utter chaos.  She has three other younger children to look after.  As I read, I learned that the Diabetes needs 24-7 looking after.  They find a solution in Coach, a young dog.

I LOVED this book!  Stefany tells the story so well and I loved the dog too!
(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 Outliers" by Kimberly McCreight is a YA Thriller

In The Outliers by Kimberly McCreight, a young teen girl named Wylie is reached out to by Cassie.  They have been on the outs, but Wylie knows Cassie needs her and she and Cassie's boyfriend head out to help her.  Soon though, Wylie knows this is big trouble!

I thought this thriller was very good.  I was into it from the first page.  The story flowed good and a twist at the end was very good, then the bombshell ending!  Looks like there may be a book 2.
(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!

"Inside the O'Briens" by Lisa Genova (Effects of Huntington's Disease)

Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova is about a Catholic Irish family living in Boston.  Joe, a cop, loves his wife, Rosie and his four grown children but starts acting strange.  He is diagnosed with Huntington's Disease (HD) but still tries to do his job without telling anyone.  When he is told it is a genetic disease, he is afraid for his children. 

I finally decided to read this book because my husband kept saying how good it was.  Inside the O'Briens informs the reader about HD through the life of Joe and his family.  We see how it doesn't just affect the person who has the disease, but everyone around him.  I liked Joe and felt sorry for him and his wife, and his son JJ the firefighter and his family; however, I did not care for the other three children much at all.

There is a blood test that can be done to see if a person has HD even before the symptoms show up so the big question in the book for the children is if they want to know.  It is thought-provoking because the reader can't help but question what they would do in this situation.  Would you want to know if you were going to have this disease in your future?  I don't think I would want to know ahead unless I was thinking about having a baby.

I did not care for the rough language throughout the book, nor for the lifestyles of Patrick and Katie which caused me not to like these characters, two of his grown children.  My husband loved this book, but I found it to be sad, depressing and was very disappointed in the ending that left me hanging.  I liked this author's other books much better:  Still Alice and Left Neglected.
(Karen's review, 2 stars)

See also my blog post inspired by this book:  Just sayin' We Should be Humane to Humans Too! 

Gerard's review 4/24/15, 5++ stars:
Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova is about Joe, a Boston policeman.  He has been having some health issues and his wife wants him to see a doctor.  He thinks it is nothing, but agrees to go.  It turns out he has Huntington Disease!  You find out all about it when you read this book--trust me, you do not want this disease!  Not only that, but his kids are at risk of getting it too.

Lisa Genova's books are always top notch and this is no exception.  I loved the interaction between Joe and his wife and kids.  This book had me from page 1.  Make sure you read the "Call to Action" part of this book as well.  The ending is perfect!  I LOVED this book and highly recommend it and her other book too:  Still Alice and Left Neglected.

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!

"Lilac Girls" by Martha Hall Kelly

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly is told by three different points of view.  During World War II, Kasia is a Polish teenager and will do what she can to help her people fight Hitler and his army.  Herta is a German doctor and wants to prove that she is as good as a man.  Caroline works in the French Consulate in New York and when Hitler sets his sight on France, her world changes.

Kasia's story is the one I enjoyed the most.  She is a brave girl!  Her story alone makes this a "must read" book.  Herta's story came in second; I could not believe her thought process!  Caroline's story was okay and got better at the end.  I think The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is better; however, that being said, this book is very good too!  When you are done reading this, be sure to read the Author's Note too!  This is my best read for this month!
(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!

"Defender" by Graham McNamee

Defender by Graham McNamee is a creepy mystery about family secrets that Tyne and her friend, Stick accidentally discover and proceed to figure it out.  Tyne is the building superintendent's high school daughter who is really tall and plays center on her basketball team.   When Tyne find's a dead girl's cut up body hidden in her basement wall, she thinks her dad knows something about it or had something to do with it.

This is a very quick read that I liked okay.  It is creepy though but had a good ending.  To me, this came across as a bit unrealistic that Tyne and Stick could put together the pieces to the mystery so easily.  (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: 5 This Week

Gerard's:
The thought of administering a lethal injection was too abhorrent to dwell on.  Would we inject into the arm?

From page 119 of Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly.

She saw lightning clip a ridge to her left--south and west of the cafe.  Alarmed, she called 911.

From page 61 of The Fire Line by Fernanda Santos.

They were shocked by the mud; it looked far worse than the newspapers described it.  When the celluloid Exterminator crossed the finish line and trotted to the winner's circle, tossing his head as the roses were wrapped about his neck, they responded with exuberant applause.

From page 76 of Here Comes Exterminator! by Eliza McGraw.

Karen's:

He walked forward, out of the glare, then stopped abruptly, staring at me.  I blinked in surprise, and found myself staring back.

Page 33 of Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson.

"What if you just confront him?  I mean, show him that finger and say 'Here's the proof.  I saw what I saw.'"

From page 41 of Defender by Graham McNamee.

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!

"Here Comes Exterminator!" by Eliza McRaw

Here Comes Exterminator--The Long-Shot Horse, the Great War, and the Making of an American Hero by Eliza McGraw is a non-fiction book is one of those books that tell about somebody or someone I have no knowledge about that I find very interesting.  These are some of my favorite books to read.

Exterminator was a fantastic race horse.  He won the most money of any race horse ever!  He won the Kentucky Derby in 1918 and from then on Americans had a love affair with this great horse.  Ms. McGraw tells the story really well and I got to know how it was back then.  I enjoyed this book very much!
(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!

"Second Chance Summer" by Morgan Matson is a Touching Story we Both Loved!

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson is a wonderful YA novel about tenderness, family relationships, love and dealing with Cancer.  When the husband and father of three is diagnosed with stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer, he gets his family to spend the summer at their cottage again by the lake that they haven't been to in five years.  Taylor, the 17-yr.-old daughter is reluctant to go back because of her broken friendships.  It even has a dog in it!


This is a very good story about mending friendships, overcoming fears and being real with people.  The bond between Taylor and her dad is beautiful and reminded me so much of the special relationship I had with my parents.  The writing is conversational and told from Taylor's point of view.  It was interesting to see how she grows as a person through the book and gets to know her whole family better.  Her relationship with Henry is very sweet and this is a very touching story.  In some ways it is similar to The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks.  If you liked that, I think you would also like Second Chance Summer.  It really touched me because I knew a couple sisters whose father died of Pancreatic Cancer in a very short time.  I also couldn't help reliving the deaths of my own parents, although I was fortunate to have had them much longer than Taylor had her dad in this book.  I loved this book too--a great emotional read!
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson is about a family where the father receives medical news that is not good.  Consequently, the family decides to go to a summer cottage that they have but have not been to for a while.  Taylor, the oldest daughter, is not big on this.  The last time she spent there, she left on not so good terms with some friends she had there. 

I loved the character of Taylor.  She was so good but that is not to say the other characters were bad.  I enjoyed them all!  I was always happy to get back to this book.  It is a very emotional read, especially at the end.  The writing is excellent!  In short, I LOVED IT!
(Gerard's review on 5/16/16, 5++ stars)

If you still aren't sure you want to read this book, watch this video by Jesse the Reader which is what convinced us to read it:

 

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 Fire Line" by Fernanda Santos is Informative

The Fire Line--The Story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and One of the Deadliest Days in American Firefighting by Fernanda Santos is a non-fiction book that tells the story of an elite crew of firefighters called "The Granite Mountain Hotshots."  This was some book, let me tell you!  I never knew all the details and things you have to know to be a firefighter!  Through this book I really got to know them and their families.  The main part of the book describing the Yarnell Hill fire made me feel like I was there.  These were very brave men and I am glad to learned about them through 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!

"Wolf Hollow" by Lauren Wolk

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk kept my interest all the way.  Annabelle has lived a nice quiet life in her small town with her loving family.  However, that all changes when a young girl named Betty comes to town.  Annabelle is being bullied and has to find a way to stop it.  Then one day, Betty goes missing and all signs point to one man who Annabelle has befriended.

This book was really good!  It moved along quickly and Annabelle is a great character.  It also has a surprise ending that I liked!
(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: 4 This Week

Gerard's:

I want to say yes.  I want to say, Yes, beautiful girl, I know.

From page 27 of When We Collided by Emery Lord.

I was trying not to see how tired he looked, trying to swallow the lump in my throat.  But most of all, I was trying not to think about the fact that we had been told, by experts who knew these things, that he had approximately three months left to live.

Page 13 of Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson. 

I left her there, musing in that patch of poison, and prayed that she would wake tomorrow with scarlet boils and hard scabs.  I prayed for a rash to veil her face with pustules and scales.

From page 53 of Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk.

Karen's:

It took a while for the otters to realize that something was happening inside the crate.  But a moment later, they heard it.

From pg. 6 of The Wild Robot by Peter Brown.

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!

"When the Moon is Low" by Nadia Hashimi

When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi is a heartbreaking story about Fereiba and her family in Afghanistan.  Part 1 of the book is her childhood and her life in Afghanistan growing up and her marriage to Mahmoud, a good man who was an engineer, and their three children.  Part 2 focuses mostly on Saleem, her 15-yr.-old son and their journey to England after her husband was killed by the Taliban.  He felt the responsibility to be the man of the house and then got separated from his family in Greece on their way to England to live with Fereiba's sister.

This book kept my interest all the way through.  It shows how tough the life of a refugee is and my heart just goes out to them.  I liked Fereiba who always felt like an outsider and had a very hard life except for a short time.  I found myself pulling for Saleem in the second part of the book which showed how three different women helped him along the way and how encouraging that was for him.  I was a bit disappointed that the ending was sort of open, but I guess that was better than a sad ending.  I highly recommend this book if you have any interest in what it is like to be a refugee or Muslim.  It was an eye-opening story for me to understand how not all Muslims are extremists.  It even has some discussion questions in the back for book clubs to use.  It's very good!
(Karen's review, 5 stars)



Tweet by Karen:

Reaching the Unreached-MENA https://t.co/cbMY4fQUHp donated after reading WHEN THE MOON IS LOW 

— Karen Zemek (@kzemek) May 14, 2016

Here is a link to donate to help refugees in Greece through Samaritan's Purse
Here is a link to donate to help refugees through World Vision



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!

"When We Collided" by Emery Lord

When We Collided by Emery Lord is about two teens--Jonah and Vivi, who have a summer romance.  However, this book is so much more than that!  They both have a lot to deal with in their lives and take turns telling the story.

I really liked Jonah and Vivi was very good too!  It captured my attention from page 1 and the ending made me cry!  This is so good, I highly recommend it!
(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!

"So Close to Home" by Michael J. Tougias and Alison O'Leary is Remarkable!

So Close to Home by Michael J. Tougias and Alison O'Leary tells a true story which makes it all the more remarkable!  The main story deals with the Downs family, a husband, wife, 8-yr.-old boy and 11-yr.-old girl.  They were on a freighter that a German U-Boat torpedoed!  The story of how they survived it is really good!  This book also deals with other aspects of the war on the sea that I found interesting as well.
(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: 6 This Week!

Gerard's:

He wasn't about to start a fight earlier with the Heredia in the process of sinking, but now adrift on the raft, where minutes felt like hours, he wondered if they'd have another disagreement.  His ship might be at the bottom of the ocean, but he was still the captain.

From page 100 of So Close to Home by Michael J. Tougias & Alison O'Leary.

It took a while for the otters to realize that something was happening inside the crate.  But a moment later, they heard it.

From pg. 6 of The Wild Robot by Peter Brown.

Karen's:

"Oh, Hazel!  This is where it comes from!  I know now--something very bad!  Some terrible thing--coming closer and closer." 

Page 7 of Watership Down by Richard Adams.  (This teaser is by a rabbit.)

I wasn't sure what I wanted, but I had no interest in marriage and the household that would come along with it.

When my chores were completed, I would slip into the orchard with a book. 

From page 35 of When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi.

"The school says not, but then they would, wouldn't they?"  Ray didn't hold a particularly high opinion of Tom's head teacher, who had been quick to place the blame on Mags and Ray for not presenting a "united front" at parents' evenings.

From page 105 of I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh.

Once again, Hopper would be helping Mrs. Clover teach the kinderbunny class at Easter Bunny Elementary School.  That was where young bunnies went to learn how to be Easter Bunnies.

From page 2 of The Grumpy Bunny Goes to School by Justine Korman, illustrated by Lucinda McQueen. 

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!

"The Wild Robot" by Peter Brown

In The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, a crate is washed up on a remote wild island.  Robot Roz escapes from the crate.  How will the robot adopt to the island?  How will the many animals that call the island their home see this new object?

Okay, I get that this is a children's book, but I will tell you that I think any age would enjoy this book.  The way the robot and the animals got along was so good!  The story kept my interest all the way and it went really fast!  Take a chance and be a kid again--read this and enjoy the story when nature and technology collide.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown is a children's book I enjoyed for a break from heavy topics and intense mystery novels. This is a light, fun read about animals on an island who become friends with Roz, a robot who got washed up on their island in a crate.  Roz befriends the different animals along the way and they grow to like her in return.  She adopts a little gosling and learns to be a good mother.  I think children would enjoy this one very much.
(Karen's review, 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 Darkest Corners" by Kara Thomas - A Mother/Daughter Mystery (Updated)

The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas is quite the mystery! Actually there are several mysteries in this one: (1) Who really is the serial killer?  (2)  Where is Tessa's sister and how did she find out their father died?  (3)  Will Callie and Tessa renew their friendship? and (4)  Will Tessa find her mother?   

This book is good, but I must admit, at one point I got pretty confused with all the different things going on.  However, the author soon cleared things up and it was a very good mystery.  I liked Tessa because she really wanted to make things right when she had doubts about her testimony she gave when she was 9 years old that contributed to a man being convicted of murder.  If you like stories about dysfunctional families and a good mystery with a surprise ending, this is it!    
(Karen's reviewed 5/6/16, 4 stars)

Gerard's review 4/30/16, 5+ stars:
The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas is about a young girl named Tessa and her friend, Callie. They have never really talked about a night that they both saw something that changed their lives. Tessa moved away but now she is back looking for answers, but some people want the past to stay hidden. I thought this book was pretty good. I enjoyed the two main characters very much and the book had a good flow to it. The ending completely surprised me!

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!