"Shock Wave" by John Sandford

Shock Wave by John Sandford is about a mad bomber who tries to stop the superstore chain, PyeMart, from being built. There is just enough action to keep you turning pages. I did not figure out the bomber's identity at all! It's a good read!
(Gerard's review, rating 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!

"Dancing Dogs" by Jon Katz

Dancing Dogs by Jon Katz has 16 short fiction stories all centered around dogs. Most of the stories are really, really good! I loved it! If you are a dog lover, I think you will love it too!  This book was recommended by People Magazine.
(Gerard's review, rating 5 stars)

Other books we read by this author and enjoyed: Dogs of Bedlam Farm and Rose in a Storm.


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!

"The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick (UPDATED)

After being on a long wait list at the library, Gerard finally got the DVD of this movie and we watched it last night.  It is about the beginning of films and people fulfilling their purpose.  It's a good movie we both enjoyed.
(Karen's review 10/6/12)

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick tells the story of a young boy, Hugo, who after his uncle leaves him takes care of the clocks at the Paris subway station.  However, this book is much more than that!  I just loved this book!!  The story is fantastic and the drawings in the book go with the story so well.  Now I want to go see the movie!  I now know why it was up for "Best Picture of the Year."  It's an amazing story!  If you saw the movie, tell me how you liked it!  This is in the running for my book of the month.
(Gerard's review 3/15/12)

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 are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs during March to the American Cancer Society.

"When Saturday Mattered Most" by Mark Beech

The Last Golden Season of Army Football

When Saturday Mattered Most--The Last Golden Season of Army Football by Mark Beech is a really good non-fiction account about the 1958 football season that Army had.  They went undefeated and finished as high as No. 3 in the final poll.  They haven't even come close since. I enjoyed the off-the-field accounts of the coach and players as much as the game by game recap.  If you love football, then it's a no-brainer that you should read this book!
(Gerard's review, rating 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!

What Do You Think of When You Hear the Word Plaid? (Writer's Workshop)

When I hear the word "plaid" I think of my dad because he ALWAYS wore plaid flannel shirts (except on Sundays to church).  

The Best Shirts Ever!

My dad loved flannel shirts with two front pockets and I don't think he threw any out. When I went through his closets after he died, he had three closets full of flannel shirts and some flannel lined shirts from L.L. Bean. He would wear these all yaar round, even on hot summer days! If he got paint on some, he'd still save those to wear the next time he painted.

My dad had so many shirts because he'd usually get flannel shirts for his birthday and Christmas. I found one still in the original plastic so used it to lay him out in for his funeral. He was never big on suits and I just thought he'd look more like himself in a flannel shirt. Here we found a picture of when he got that shirt which was about 20 years earlier! Who knows, maybe he meant to save that one for his funeral one day--sounds like something he'd do!

I gave most of them away but kept a few for my husband and me. It's really nice to have these because it makes me feel close to dad still when I wear one of his shirts. My husband discovered how nice they are too. He never used to wear flannel shirts but likes them a lot now, especially in the winter to wear to work. They are so comfortable!

One of the biggest fights my parents, thus most memorable, was over him stubbornly insisting that he wear a flannel shirt for the church directory picture.  I thought it was hilarious!  Here is the picture that we purchased which appeared in the church directory:

Read more about my dad and me at "My Funny Dad Harry" blog:  http://karenzemek.blogspot.com.  Better yet, purchase the book I wrote in him memory about my dad and me and how as he grew old, the frustrations about being his primary care giver and how our roles reversed.  (Available on Amazon and Barnes Noble)

Be sure to see what our cats wrote about this over at our other blog, Right Where We Belong. 
This post was inspired by Mama Kat's Writers Workshop prompt:  What comes to mind when you hear the word plaid?.  Stop by to find more or link up one of your own.

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!

"Love Anthony" by by Lisa Genova

WOW! Love Anthony by Lisa Genova is a fantastic book to start off the month. Love Anthony is told by two women, Olivia and Beth who are facing issues in their lives, one dealing with the death of a boy and the other with an unfaithful husband. I loved both women but not their husbands.

This is a really good book and hard to put down. I enjoyed Lisa’s other two books very much too (Still Alice and Left Neglected) and this one is just as good as those. Read and enjoy! I look forward to her next book!

(Gerard’s review, rating 5++)

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!

3 Tuesday Teasers For You

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Gerard's:

I can't touch Max, and Max can't touch me. Maybe that's why we get along so well.

From page 10 of memoirs of an imaginary friend by Matthew Dicks. This is a very unique book, click on link for our review.

A swirl of unexpected emotion courses through her.  She feels fear and fury, panic and humiliation.

From page 12 of Love Anthony by Lisa Genova.

Karen's:

The reader contemplated the blank text box on the computer screen, then began typing: "If you thought that night twenty years ago was bad, wait until you see what I have planned."

From page 6 of Never Tell by Alafair Burke. (The link will take you to Gerard's review.)

Happy Reading!

"The Prophet" by Michael Koryta

The Prophet by Michael Koryta is a novel about two brothers--one is a bail bondsman and the other coaches the local high school football team. When a young girl is killed, a girlfriend of one of the star football players, it brings back the night the sister of the two brothers was killed.

This is a really good "who done it?" The interaction between the two brothers held my interest and the ending was very good too with a great twist! I think if you read this book, you will be glad you did!
(Gerard's review, rating 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!

"Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend" by Matthew Dicks

Different, a Fun Read!

Memoirs of an imaginary friend by Matthew Dicks is told by Budo, the imaginary friend of a special needs boy named Max. I thought this book was fantastic! I got into it from page 1 and had a hard time putting it down. Budo tells the story very well and you're going to love Max! The ending is super good--you have to read this! I've read a lot of very good books this month, but this one is my favorite!
(Gerard's review, rating 5++ stars)

Karen's thoughts:
I started Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks and thought it was just too goofy with the "imaginary friend" telling the story. I read up to chapter 9 and thought, "Why am I wasting my time on this?" and decided to give it up and read something else--The Raven Boys. I liked that even less because it was about the supernatural, fortune telling and some crazy hunt for some old king from the past--it made no sense to me. So when my husband said how good this one was, I decided to go ahead and finish reading it. I'm glad I did because it did get better and I liked Max and Budo so was curious to see what would happen with them. Once I got past the absurdity of it and didn't take it so seriously, I enjoyed it. It reminded me of ROOM by Emma Donoghue a little bit.

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!

"I Declare" by Joel Osteen

I Declare by Joel Osteen is a book of 31 short devotionals meant to encourage and empower the reader. The theme of the book is that our words have power so we should speak God’s truth and not speak negative thoughts that can take root. Rather than talk about our problems, we need to believe God and focus on Him and the truth of the Bible. The declarations are very encouraging and uplifting. I read this book in one day; however, it is meant to be read a chapter at a time each day.

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!

"Animals Welcome" by Peg Kehret

Love the Cover too--What a sweet, caring lady!

Animals Welcome--A Life of Reading, Writing, and Rescue by Peg Kehret is a delightful, heartwarming read that I recommend to any animal lover. This is a quick read about the different animals Peg rescued after building a cabin with her husband when they retired. I especially enjoyed reading about her cats, the wildlife and her interesting facts about some of the animals.

She has written lots of children’s books and is a warm and caring person that I would love to have for a friend. The author reminded me of my dad who also fed stray cats in the neighborhood and gave some a home to those willing to come inside. The difference is he didn’t give them the vet care she did. The quote that shows her love for the animals best is “’My hobby is rescuing cats, I said. ‘It’s no more expensive than playing golf or shopping.’”

Animals Welcome is definitely one of my favorite books I read this year! I look forward to reading her books that she co-authored with her cat, Pete in his memory: Trapped, The Stranger Next Door, and Spy Cat.

I discovered this book through The Conscious Cat 

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!

Tuesday Teasers: 3 Non-Fiction Teasers For You

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Gerard's:

Back on the Bainbridge, before the last shot rang out, Gary grabbed Musi and slammed him onto the deck.
"You're going to jail," he said. "Your buddies are dead. You're useless to me now."

From page 97 of No Easy Day--The Autobiography of a Navy Seal by Mark Owen with Kevin Maurer (click the link to see my review).

Karen's:

The trouble began immediately. The cats, who had gotten along splendidly when they were all outdoors together, were suddenly mortal enemies when they occupied the same house.

From page 6 of Animals Welcome by Peg Kehret. (My review will be up tomorrow--this animal lover loved it!)

Don't you find it interesting that God didn't form woman from the dust of the ground, as he did man and beast? No, woman was formed from man's side, demonstrating our commonality with men as human beings and yet our unique and separate creation as females.

From page 12 of The Power of a Positive Woman by Karol Ladd.


Happy Reading!

"No Easy Day" by Mark Owen with Kevin Maurer

No Easy Day--The Autobiography of a Navy Seal by Mark Owen is the true story of the killing of Osama Bin Laden and what a riveting tale it is! I got it done in just two days. Seal Team Six is awesome! I was impressed with all the training they go through. The last part about the operation that got Bin Laden is really something to read! Seal Team Six, I thank you for your service and God bless!
(Gerard's review, rating 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!

"I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had” by Tony Danza (UPDATED)

Update 9/22/12:
This non-fiction book was a whole lot better than I thought it would be! I always liked Tony Danza from his TV shows. In this book, it's the kids that steal the show. That's not to say that Danza isn't good, he is. I enjoyed this book very much—it made me realize how difficult teaching actually is. I sure wish I could have seen the A&E show about his class, but this book will have to do. Loved it! 
(Gerard's review, rating:  5+stars)

 
I’d Like to Apologize To Every Teacher I Ever Had—My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High by Tony Danza is an eye opening read that shows what a hard job teaching is. When pushing 60, Tony Danza realized he was running out of time and seriously considered a change of direction. He looked into Teach For America and found out that technically, he qualified. He was approached about making a reality TV show using his class which he and the school agreed to reluctantly. He made it clear there would not be a script to add drama. All he had to teach was one English class for a double period, but that was plenty challenge for him. He also assisted in rounding up students for class and was an assistant football coach. He said his year of teaching was the greatest year of his life because he learned more and worked harder than he ever had. As he engaged his students in learning, he won their respect and grew to really care about them as individuals. I loved the exuberance he felt at the end of the year.

Having been a substitute teacher myself and having taught Sunday School for many years, I really enjoyed this book. I liked how he actually went into what went on in his class and shared his innovative ideas as to how he tried to engage the students. I also liked seeing him grow as a teacher and gain the respect of not only the students, but also the veteran teachers and administrators. It is an inspiring read that anyone connected with education would probably enjoy.
(Karen's review)


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!

"Light From a Distant Star" by Mary McGarry Morris

Coming-of-age story with family drama

Light From A Distant Star by Mary McGarry Morris is told by Nellie, a tween girl, who has an older step sister and a younger brother. Nellie tries to do the right thing which sometimes actually gets her into trouble. Her parents struggle financially and Nellie knows more than they give her credit for. When she becomes a star witness in a murder trial, she feels pressure not to tell the whole truth which she knows is wrong. I enjoyed this book very much because of all the interesting relationships Nellie had with a wide variety of characters including the bully, an unpopular girl, her family, her grouchy old sick grandfather, Max, the ex-con, and their tenant the stripper. I really liked the ending!  This reminded me of To Kill a Mocking Bird.
(Karen's review, my rating: 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. Happy Reading!

"Kill You Twice" by Chelsea Cain

Kill You Twice by Chelsea Cain is a really good story that goes fast and that got my attention right away!  There is killing going on and the woman responsible for these kind of killings in the past is locked up.  Archie, the cop, now has to figure out who the killer is now.  I enjoyed it and loved the ending which is unbelievably good!

(Gerard’s review, my rating :  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!

"Carnival of Souls" by Melissa Marr

Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr is a better than average story about three teens who have secrets:  two girls and one boy.  When the secrets are finally revealed, they don’t like each other.  I don’t think this book is for everyone since it’s about witches and daimons, but I enjoyed it and will be watching for the next book in the series to read.
(Gerard's review)

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!

Tuesday Teasers: A Non-fiction and a YA

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Gerard's:

Instead, he took Mallory. With her daughter in his arms, he walked away, leaving her kneeling in the now-defunct daimon circle, hoping that she hadn't entered into a bargain worse than the one she was escaping.

From page 4 of Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr. (YA) (See my review tomorrow)

Karen's:

"I was a slacker, too. If there's one thing I want to do this year, it's try to reach the kids who remind me of me and wake them up so they don't make the same mistakes I did."

From page 31 of I'd Like to Apologize To Every Teacher I Ever Had--My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High by Tony Danza. (Non-fiction)

Happy Reading!

"You Don't Want To Know" by Lisa Jackson (UPDAATED)

You Don't Want To Know by Lisa Jackson is about an unbelievable dysfunctional family who lives in a big house on an island that is a house of horrors!  These people are nuts!  Poor Ave is devastated when her little 2-yr.-old boy, Noah, turns up missing after a family Christmas party.  Her memory is foggy and she was in a mental institution for awhile.  She feels in her heart that Noah is still alive after being gone for two years, but her family is convinced wandered off and drowned and tries getting Ava to face facts.  Ava, however, is determined to find her boy no matter what since his body was never found.

There are a lot of people in this book and as Ava tells the story through her eyes, she feels she can't trust anyone and I didn't know who she could trust either until I was over halfway through the book.  It seemed like there definitely was a conspiracy against her even though her family and relatives thought she was being paranoid.  This is an amazing story about betrayal, revenge and hatred with an exciting surprise ending.  I would make for good discussion for a book club. 
(Karen's review, rating 5 stars)

You Don't Want To Know by Lisa Jackson tells the story of Ava, who in her dreams hears her son, Noah, crying out.  Her son has been missing for two years.  Ava believes her son is out there somewhere, but gets no support from her husband, relatives or the hired hands who help run her island home. 

This book got a lot of hype about this being the "can't miss book of the summer" and I'm here to tell you that it is all true!  I couldn't put this book down once I started it.  It moves along and I was shocked as the details came out little by little to make for a great ending too!  Don't miss this one--it is SO Good!
(Gerard's review, rating 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!

"A Collie Rescue" by Lindsay Downs

A Collie Rescue by Emily Dahill is a good story about a woman who used to be a soldier in the army and is now homeless. I enjoyed how the main character in the story reacted to new people and new dogs. It is a quick read. I would have given it five stars if it were longer. This is the first book I ever read on Kindle, I prefer a book. It was only $1.99 and well worth that!
(Gerard's review, rating 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. Happy Reading!

"Love and Respect" by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs A (UPDATED)

Want a better marriage?  Read this!

Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs is a pretty good book about the needs of a man and a woman in marriage.  I think no matter what stage your marriage is in, you will get some good advice to help improve your bond.  Some of the examples he uses are funny, but make the point.
(Gerard's review)

Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs is a helpful book for couples based on Biblical principles that he shares at Love and Respect conferences.  Throughout the book he includes letters and emails from men and women who tell how attending the conference made a difference in their lives as they put these things into practice. In a nutshell, husbands should love their wives as Christ loves the church and wives should respect their husbands because God commands them to do that.   A husband's deepest need is to be respected while the wife's deepest need is to be loved.  He also shares specific ways for doing just that and funny analogies to make his points.

It made me realize that I should treat my husband like a king if I want to be treated like a queen. I read this on my Kindle and highlighted quite a bit of things that stood out to me. I recommend it for any couple seeking to save their marriage or to just try to make a good marriage even better!
(Karen's review)

For a post about how we put concepts from this book into practice right away, see "He Said, She Said"

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!

"A Killing in the Hills" by Julia Keller

A Killing in the Hills by Julia Keller is a page turner with a very good ending. It tells how a killing in a small town puts a mother and her teenage daughter at odds. Both have secrets they do not wish to reveal. I got into this book very easily and it goes quick. I think the two subplots are just as good as the main story line. In short, this is as good as it gets. Read and enjoy!
(Gerard's review, rating 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!

"Don't Turn Around" by Michelle Gagnon

Noa and Peter are both on the run from the bad guys for different reasons. When they meet up and combine forces, Don't Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon really goes into over drive! WOW! I loved this book and was into it from page 1. There is plenty of good action, characters that I cared about and great story lines! What more could you ask for? I am definitely going to read the sequel.
(Gerard's review, rating: 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!

Tuesday Teasers: One Fiction, One Non-Fiction

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Gerard's:

But the creature in front of Gregor rose at least four feet in the air. Granted, it was sitting up on its back legs, a very unnatural-looking position for a cockroach, but still . . .

From page 25 of Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins.

Karen's:

Often, we focus on our own needs and simply overlook the needs of the other person.  The wife needs love; she is not trying to be disrespectful.  The husband needs respect; he is not trying to be unloving.

From page 32 of Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs.

Happy Reading!

"Gregor The Overlander" by Suzanne Collins

I know I'm late to the dance reading Gregor The Overlander by Suzanne Collins. It came out in 2003. That being said, I liked it! Gregor and his baby sister, Boots, fall into a strange land where they meet talking bats, spiders and where rats rule! If you can deal with that, then you probably would like this. Hunger Games it's not, not by a long shot, but the last 100 pages really pick up. It's a fun read written for kids.
(Gerard's review, rating 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. Happy Reading!

"Lead For God'Sake! by Todd G. Congwer--Must Read!

Great Gift for Any Coach--Good addition to any library!

Lead...for God'Sake! by Todd G. Congwer is a quick inspirational read about a coach struggling with his basketball team who gets advice from Joe, the school janitor.  Joe had a personal ministry of counseling and I liked how the author used his conversations to get his point across to the reader.  This book is philosophical about finding true purpose in life and influencing others based on scripture.  It's about being selfless rather than self-centered.  It's a wonderful example of what a true Christian looks like who is a genuine follower of Christ. 

I enjoyed reading it and agreed with the Christian view about living one's life.  I took a lot of notes from this one and would be a great one to add to my library.  It reminded me a little bit of The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and Leading With The Heart by Mike Kryzewski, which I loved!  I highly recommend it!  I think anyone would benefit from reading this book, parent, employer, employee, teacher, coach etc.
(Karen's review, rating:  5 stars)

Gerard's review, rating 5++ stars:

Lead For God's Sake by Todd G. Congwer is a must read!  Wow, oh Wow!  What an outstanding book!  I got the idea to order this book from reading an article about Urban Meyer, the new Ohio State football coach.  He mentioned that he loved this book and so did I!  It tells the story of a frustrated high school basketball coach having trouble both with his team and his home life.  He gets help from the most unlikely person you would imagine. 

The ending was great, but I hated to see it end.  This is a must read for all coaches and people in leadership roles.  I feel real good knowing Urban Meyer is the OSU football coach now--go bucks!


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!

"Wake" by Amanda Hocking--Fun Fantasy

Want to be a Mermaid?

Wake by Amanda Hocking is fun fantasy read that I enjoyed. This teen romance is the first book in the Watersong series. Gemma and her sister, Harper, live in a tourist town near the ocean. Gemma loves swimming so much that she not only is practicing every day for the Olympics but also goes on midnight swims in the bay which drives her older protective sister nuts. Gemma starts falling in love with the geeky boy next door but three creepy girls who come through town choose Gemma to become like them because of her beauty, courage and love of the water.

This would be a good book to choose for a beach read—light, humorous but with adventure and some suspense. I think swimmers would especially find it interesting. I look forward to the next book in this series called Lullaby coming out winter of 2013.
(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. Happy Reading!

"Infinity Ring: A Mutiny in Time" by James Dashner

Infinity Ring—A Mutiny in Time by James Dashner is a really good story about time travel.  Dak, Sera and Riq go back in time to make sure history stays as it should.  This book dealt with Columbus and is the first one in what is going to be a series.  I enjoyed it!
(Gerard's review)

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!

Tuesday Teasers: 3 For You

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Gerard's:

Brint nodded as dread squeezed his heart. "I never would've guessed it would be in our lifetime."

From page 6 of Infinity Ring by James Dashner. (Juvenile)

Karen's

"I begged, yelled, screamed, threw things, even kicked 'em out of practice." 

 "Did it work?" asked Joe, sitting on the edge of his seat, attentively listening.

From page 58 of Lead . . . for God's Sake! by Todd G. Congwer. (inspirational)

"Alex?" Harper raised an eyebrow, and even Gemma had to admit that Alex probably wouldn't be a very effective bodyguard.  "And those night swims aren't safe."

From page 20 of Wake by Amanda Hocking. (teen fantasy)

Happy Reading!

"The Beginner's Goodbye" by Anne Tyler

The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler is a story about a man who has his wife die when a tree falls on their house. He works in the family vanity publishing business, turning out issues to guide beginners on various stuff. I thought this was going to be so much better than it is. It's okay but nothing great, read it if you want. At least it's a quick read.
(Gerard'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. Happy Reading!

"Catching Fireflies" by Sherryl Woods

Catching Fireflies by Sherryl Woods (A Sweet Magnolia Novel) is about a small town romance between a doctor and a high school English teacher who both are concerned about a girl in her class who is being bullied, both at school and on the Internet.  This did not grab me like I expected it would.  I know this is a popular series so perhaps my expectations were higher than they should have been, but it seemed to plod along and the dialogue seemed lame to me.  I enjoyed the storyline about the bullying more than I did the romance, but even that lacked spark.  It was more about how the adults stepped up to stop the bullying than it was about being bullied.  I know Sherryl Woods is a "Bestselling Author" but I was not thrilled with this one.
(Karen's review, my rating 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. Happy Reading!

"This is Where I Leave You" by Jonathan Tropper

Disappointing

This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper centers on a dad's death bed plea that he wanted his grown up kids and his wife to spend seven days together like a real family. I enjoyed the beginning very much and thought it had a lot of promise. The kids got on each other and their significant others. Parts were funny and sad as well; however, I just scanned through the last 100 pages which was about who was having sex with whom. I'm not into reading that and felt I had better books to read. If the author had stuck with the main premise, it would have been much better in my opinion. It also had offensive language so I can't really recommend this. Read it at your own risk.
(Gerard's review, rating 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. Happy Reading!

"The Light Between Oceans" by M. L. Stedman

In The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Steadman, Isabel lives on a lonely lighthouse, miles away from everybody. She has tried three times to have a baby and it ended in tragedy all three times. Then one day a ship crashes and her husband finds a dead man and an unhurt girl baby. What comes next? Here are a few questions: (1) Does Isabel raise the baby as her own, after all, who will be the wiser? (2) Is the baby's real mother alive? (3) Will Isabel's husband report this and do the right thing?

This is a real page turner and enjoyed how Isabel and her husband handled this situation. You will want to keep reading this book--it's a good one!
(Gerard's review, rating 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!

Tuesday Teasers: Two Fiction and one Non-Fiction

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Gerard's:

   And there he was, her tiny son, teetering near the edge, a ghostly image in the fog.
   "Noah," she whispered, suddenly terrified, her fingers sliding down the pane as panic surged within.

Taken from page 9 of You Don't Want To Know by Lisa Jackson.

Karen's:

Katie squirmed uncomfortably. "Misty shouldn't get suspended," she protested weakly. "Not when there are, what do they call 'em, extenuating circumstances."

Taken from page 35 of Catching Fireflies by Sherryl Woods (A Sweet Magnolia novel).

It is an incontestable fact that you are no longer young.  One month from today, you will be turning sixty-four, and although that is not excessively old, not what anyone would consider to be an advanced old age, you cannot stop yourself from thinking about all the others who never managed to get as far as you have.

  Taken from page page 2 of Winter Journal by Paul Auster.  (I only read up to page 8 and quit on this one--didn't care for the lengthy sentences--this is actually one of the shorter ones!)

Happy Reading!

"Father's Day" by Buzz Bissinger

Father's Day by Buzz Bissinger tells the true story of a road trip Buzz took with his special needs son, Zach. You will love Zach! He might be a special needs kid, but he is smart!! I really liked him a lot! These two had a real great adventure for sure. I enjoyed reading it and I think you will too.
(Gerard's review, rating:  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!

"Shaggy Dogs, Waggy Dogs" by Patricia Hubbell

Shaggy Dogs, Waggy Dogs by Patricia Hubbell is a children's picture book with very little writing and lots of big full-page colored pictures of dogs. The entire book is actually just a poem. I think my husband gets these children's books about dogs just so our dog gets on this blog too! We both read this one though (in about 1 minute). It mentions all different kinds of dogs.

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!

"Dare Me" by Megan Abbott

Dare Me by Megan Abbott uses a cheerleading squad to explore some common teenage girl issues such as jealousy, betrayal, hurt, manipulation and loyalty. This book was a bit of a disappointment to me because I didn’t like the coach at all. Her behavior throughout the book was inappropriate and it turned into a murder mystery that wasn’t all that big a mystery. The most interesting aspect in Dare Me for me was the tension between the coach and Beth. After reading this book, my impression of cheerleaders is even lower than it was before—it presents cheerleaders in a bad light. It left me feeling sad for Beth and angry at the coach.
(Karen's review)

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!

"The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life by Tara Altebrando

The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life by Tara Altebrando is a quick teen fiction read about a scavenger hunt that a high school holds every year at the end of the school year. It was fun reading about how they found stuff that was on the list and the bonds of friendship in the group. This isn't a must read but still worth your time. I think you would enjoy it--I did!
(Gerard's review)

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!

"Pushing the Limits" by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry is told by Echo, a young teen girl who was Miss Popular. Then a nightmare happened that still haunts her, and she can't remember it! Noah, is a young teen boy who is dealing with the death of his parents and trying to get his brothers and him together again. The attraction between Echo and Noah forces her to push the limits.

This book is awesome! I got into it from page one and just kept turning pages. Echo and Noah seemed so real, it really didn't seem like a book at all and I loved the ending. Make it a point to read this YA book--it's that good!
(Gerard's review, rating 5+ stars)

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry is a teen romance between a girl named Echo and a boy named Noah who both have scars from personal issues and are helped by the same clinical social worker.  Their relationship has ups and downs which make it believable and both decide to work together to get a look at their files for answers.  Loved the ending which inspires kids to look to the future and not get stuck in their past!

I was surprised at how good this book is—better than I expected and I loved the ending.  My favorite character was Noah but also liked Mrs. Collins, the clinical social worker.  It was also refreshing to finally read a book about foster care that showed a true picture with a variety of different types of foster homes including a very good one.  I recommend this one to anyone who enjoys books about teens.  I look forward to reading Dare You To, a story about one of Noah’s friends, Beth.
(Karen's review)

For another review of this, see Jodi's Book Reviews.

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!

Tuesday Teasers: 3 Good Ones For You

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Karen's:

I packed as many of them as I possibly could into the hearse and had the rest stand on the sideboards, hanging on through the open windows. With Rosemary holding limp Little Jim in her lap beside me, I set out to take all the kids home, going to Yampi and then Pica--the kids on the sideboards having the time of their lives, hooting and hollering, treating it like a carnival ride--before heading for Kingman.

From page 171 of Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls. (Historical memoir)

No one ever asked that question. They stared, They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked. My entire world collapsed around me as I answered, "Yes."

From page 96 of Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry.  (YA Fiction)

Gerard's:

"What you are doing to her, forcing her to come to birthday parties and taking her to playdates, it's torture."
"I'm only trying to find her friends," Susan answers.

From page 26 of January First by Michael Schofield. (Non-fiction, autobiography)

Happy Reading!

"January First" by Michael Schofield (UPDATED)

Gerard's Favorite of the Month, possible the year!

January First by Michael Schofield tells the true and ongoing story of Janni Schofield who has Schizophrenia. It is told by her dad, Michael. This is a fantastic read! You talk about a page turner—I really had a hard time putting this down. You will not read many books like this! Good luck, Janni, I'm praying for you and your family. This is a must read!
(Gerard's review, rating 5++ stars)

January First by Michael Schofield is the true story of his daughter’s descent into madness and his struggle to save her.  At just three years old, his daughter, Janni had hallucinations and symptoms of Schizophrenia, although it took several years for the official diagnosis.  He shares his heart-wrenching story of how he and his wife were actually afraid of their sweet little girl because of her violent outbursts.  She would hit her parents, her dog and often tried to hit her younger brother.  Reading this, I felt sorry for Janni, her parents, her teachers and her brother.  It is a very sad story of a family who fought so hard to be a normal family, but couldn’t.  The husband and wife both love Janni very much but often found themselves disagreeing as to how best to help her.  Fortunately, it seems they found some hope at the end of the tunnel.  If you want to read an inspiring story of parents who don’t give up through difficult times, I recommend this book to you.   Wow!
(Karen's review)

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!

"Half Broke Horses" by Jeannette Walls

Half Broke Horses is a true life novel about Lily Casey who grew up in the 1930s, the oldest daughter of a horse trainer in Texas. Lily was a girl with gumption and her story is both inspirational, funny and amazing! She could break horses, play poker, teach school and fly a plane! Lily was a strong girl who never gave up and who always found a way to manage, even when things were tough. The only child she encountered that she couldn't teach was her own daughter who was a wild child with compassion and a yearning for adventure. I enjoyed this novel and found it to be an interesting read which is based on the author's grandmother's life.
(Karen's review)

We also enjoyed The Glass Castle by this author, about the author's immediate family growing up in poverty with an alcoholic father and mentally disturbed mother.  Jeannette was much like her grandmother, Lily.

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!

"That's Why I'm Here--The Chris and Stephanie Spielman Story"

That's Why I'm Here--The Chris and Stefanie Spielman Story by Chris Spielman with Bruce Hooley details the story of how Chris dealt with his wife's cancer. The part of the book that focuses on Stephanie's battle was very captivating but the first half about football I mostly knew already. Stephanie was some woman! Thanks for telling her story, Chris. God's blessing to you and your children always.
(Gerard's review)


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!

"I'll Walk Alone" by Mary Higgins Clark

I’ll Walk Alone by Mary Higgins Clark is contemporary fiction dealing with stolen identity, impersonation and the kidnapping of a 3-yr-old boy, Matthew. Zan, a young successful interior decorator is still holding out hope for her son’s return. Even though she is divorced, she agreed to have dinner with her ex-husband on what would be their son’s fifth birthday to reminisce. Things go from bad to worse for Zan when some pictures surface showing her actually kidnapping her own son!

I felt sorry for Zan throughout this story and even though it seems like all is revealed early on, there is still the mystery of who is really behind the kid’s kidnapping. This book held my interest right from the start. The police seemed to be in the dark throughout the book while Zan’s friends work to prove her innocence and find out what’s really going on with Matthew. What a nightmare this poor lady lived through! It’s definitely a book I’d recommend for anyone who likes contemporary fiction with some mystery in it.
(Karen's review)

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!

"Broken Harbor" by Tana French

Broken Harbor by Tana French opens with a murder of a husband, two young children, and the wife in very bad shape. As told by the lead detective, he thinks he has the person who did it, or does he? This is a really good book for sure. I got into it from the get-go and the last 200 pages or so are very gripping. They kept me turning pages until I got to a compelling surprise ending which I loved! I would have liked a little more action throughout, but it certainly is a good read!
(Gerard's review)

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!

Tuesday Teasers: 3 Good Ones For You

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Karen's:

The morning the man with the gun walked into Evelyn Oliver's classroom, she was wearing two items she had vowed during her forty-three-year career as a teacher never to wear. Denim and rhinestones.

Taken from p. 8 of One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf. (One school. One gunman. Your child.--fantastic book we both liked, click link to see our review)

"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. I confess that I am an accessory to a crime that is ongoing and to a murder that is going to happen very soon."

From page 2 of I'll Walk Alone by Mary Higgins Clark. (Stolen identity thriller)

Gerard's:

They scurried in every direction like small animals caught suddenly under a light.
But, of course, there was nowhere on earth to go.

From page 4 of The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker.  (science fiction)

Happy Reading!