"Cold Fear" by Rick Mofina - Girl Lost in the Woods Hoping to Survive

Cold Fear by Rick Mofina, a former crime reporter, is about Doug and Emily from San Francisco who take their family on a camping trip to a National Park located in Montana and Canada.  The majority of the book is about them being interrogated by the FBI when their 10-yr. old daughter, Paige and her Beagle dog turn up missing.  They went looking for her mother in the woods when her father was angrily chopping wood, cut his hand and didn’t want to talk to her.  Her dog went off the path after a chipmunk and she followed, but he didn’t come back so she just kept looking for him, going farther and farther off the path and getting lost in bear country.  Search and Rescue teams, forest rangers, and police all go looking for her.  Reporters come on the scene and the FBI shows up to investigate the parents who were the last ones to see her.  What they dig up is a lot of information that makes it look very bad for the parents.

This was an interesting read for me because of how it was written.  Usually, things happen and the reader is kept in the dark, wondering along with law enforcement officials what really happened.  However, in this book, the reader gets to know right from the start what really happened—that the parents are telling the truth.  Consequently, the reader is sympathetic towards the parents and the FBI agents look like bad guys harassing them during their crisis.  The author switched from the search and rescue, the FBI investigation, the reporters trying to get the story, the convict scheduled to be executed for murder of a little girl in the same park 22 years ago, and Paige’s frightening time in the woods. 

I enjoyed reading this book but didn’t think it was very believable.  The author certainly gives a comprehensive picture of the news event of the lost girl, but by including so many people, it was difficult at times to keep track of everyone.   

(Karen's review, 4 stars)

I made a COLD FEAR Booktube video about this one.

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!

"Inherit Midnight" by Kate Kae Myers

Inherit Midnight by Kate Kae Myers is about a young girl named Riley.  She is at a school that is not of her choosing.  Her mom and dad are nowhere to be seen in her life.  Her grandmother watches over her.  Riley tries to escape from school but gets caught--all is lost.  But wait, her grandmother comes up with a challenge that could turn her whole life around.  It is going to be hard and long, but she must win!  Will she?

I liked Riley from the get go and the other characters in the book are fine by me too.  There is good action that kept my interest.  If there is a sequel, I will be on it!  Give this a chance, you will be glad you did!
(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. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: Four Today

Gerard's:
I couldn't do my homework.  I couldn't focus.
From page 46 of Aquarium by David Vann (click link to see my review)

"I guess you'll get your wish, since tomorrow morning there's a meeting for your entire family.  It's at our law office and starts at nine>

 From page 23 of Inherit Midnight by Laura Van Den Berg.  (Review posted tomorrow.)

Karen's: 

This was the place where Mommy said her monster dwelled!Shut up, Page!

From Kindle location 264 of Cold Fear by Rick Mofina.

When she said the words foster care, a chill ran through me.  But the woman assured me this was one of their best homes and that Cicely was doing as well as could be expected.

From page 23 of Deadly Echoes by Nancy Mehl.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.

Happy Reading!

"Aquarium" by David Vann is Amazon's Book of the Month for March

Aquarium by David Vann is a story about a young girl named Caitlin.  She lives with her mom and every day after school she goes to the aquarium to see the fish and wait for her mom.  One day an old man befriends her and they form a relationship.  When the mother finds out who this man is, the book takes off.

I am conflicted on how I view this book.  The main story is really, really good with a WOW ending and action galore; however, there is a secondary story line that I did not care for.
(Gerard's review, 4.75 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!

We Both Liked "The Silent Sister" by Diane Chamberlain (Updated)

In The Silent Sister, Riley believes her older sister killed herself as a teenager.  Twenty years later she finds evidence that this is not true.  As Riley seeks the truth, she will be hit with some things that will shake all the truths she did believe.  

This book rocks!  It's all good but as slowly the secrets and lies come out into the open you as a reader are wowed.  LOVED IT A LOT!
(Gerard's review 3/26/15 5++ stars)

The Silent Sister starts out a bit slow with Riley getting her father's house ready to sell after his death.  Boy, did this bring back memories for me though having gone through this process with my dad.  I could certainly identify with her through this process.  The story picks up when Riley believes her older sister may not have committed suicide many years ago but may actually be alive somewhere and begins her search.

During this time, the author gives us a look at what's been happening with Lisa, Riley's older sister, who is a fugitive because she was charged with murder and faked her death to avoid prison when she was 17.  I couldn't help pulling for Lisa even though her younger brother, Danny, thought she should pay for what she did--not only for committing murder but also for ruining their family.
 
I realize you may think I've given spoilers here, but I haven't.  There are lots of surprises in this book and I loved how the author developed them gradually.  This book is not only about family secrets, but about the extent parents go to protect their children and how one event can tear a family apart.  I really liked this book which was no surprise to me because I also liked The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes and Necessary Lies, and The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain.  If you like stories about family drama and lots of twists and turns, you'll enjoy this one, I'm sure!  I'd certainly recommend this one for a book club read. 
(Karen's review 3/23/15, 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!