"In Too Deep" by Mary Connealy

Loved the two main characters, Ethan and Audra

In Too Deep by Mary Conneally is the second book of the Kincaid Brides series. It is about Audra and Ethan who enter a marriage of convenience and both are fearful of caring too much and getting hurt. Audra finds out that her former husband stole a fortune and the guy who he stole it from is coming after her because he thinks she knows where it is. The story takes place during 1866 in Colorado territory. Audra and Ethan have some very humorous conversations and both find courage to face their fears.

I liked this book very much because it was a sweet romance without being racy and still had enough adventure and suspense to peak my interest. The first book of the Kincaid Brides series centered on Ethan’s bossy older brother, Rafe and his wife, Julia who is Audra’s step-daughter. I liked this book much better and give this this 5 stars for good Christian romance. I look forward to reading Over the Edge, the last in the series, about the youngest brother, Seth.

See my review of the first in this series, Out of Control.

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!

"Agenda 21" by Glenn Beck

Agenda 21 by Glenn Beck is a thriller about a young girl named Emmaline who only knows that she is controlled by the authorities. Then one day her mom is taken away and she begins to question why things are the way they are. It moves swiftly! It ends like there will be a second book which I will be reading 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!

Tuesday Teasers: "Agenda 21" and "In Too Deep"

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 (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• 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:

His head was down, his chin almost on his chest. He looked small and old, kneeling that way. They put the ropes on his wrists and led him away.

From page 6 of Agenda 21 by Glenn Beck.

Karen's:

Ethan smiled at his chawing baby. Besides Maggie, he had a helpful little brother and his cooking wife, who hadn't cried once in nearly a whole day of marriage.

From page 96 of In Too Deep by Mary Connealy (The Kincaid Brides--book 2).

Happy Reading!

"A Case For Solomon--Bobby Dunbar and The Kidnapping That Haunted a Nation"

A True Crime Book from 1912

A Case For Solomon--Bobby Dunbar and the Kidnapping That Haunted A Nation by Tal McThenia and Margaret Dunbar is a true story about a kidnapping that took place in 1912. Two boys are missing, one boy is found nine months later and two families claim him as their son. There is that trial and also the trial of the kidnapper which makes for a good read and at times, a page turner well worth your time! I enjoyed it!
(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!

"Ice Cold" by Tess Gerritsen

A MUST READ THRILLER

This thriller, Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen, is the story of four people who were headed to a Doctors convention.  A blinding snowstorm threw them off course and they wound up in "Kingdom Come," a cult compound.  Hope came when they found this compound led by "The Prophet" but no one was there at all!!

I ordered this as an audio book and really enjoyed it a lot!  I got into it right away and the characters were very believable.  It contained lots of "WOW" factors for me with a couple of surprising twists at the end.  This is a must read (or must listen)!  I loved it!
(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!

"Out of Control" by Mary Connealy

Read this on on Kindle

Out of Control by Mary Connealy is about two controlling people who fall in love very quickly during the 1800s in Colorado. Julia got trapped in a cave while looking for fossils and Rafe, a rancher nearby, discovered her in there and rescued her. The mystery comes when Julia is stalked by a guy who is after her father's buried treasure. This book has suspense and adventure but also interesting characters which makes it a good read. I look forward to reading the sequel, In Too Deep.
(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!

Tuesday Teasers: Two Non-Fiction Books

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 (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• 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:

Tonight it was a more ominous din, and not just the rain, either. The woods outside were alive with barking dogs, roaring flames, and men screaming her son's name.

From page 6 of A Case For Solomon--Bobby Dunbar and The Kidnapping That Haunted a Nation by Tal McThenia and Margaret Dunbar Cutright.

Karen's:

As Jeff stood in the narrow corridor that was the passageway between the cages and the open area, he realized there was simply nowhere to go or to hide from the eight-hundred-pound giant lumbering toward him. He considered blasting the bear with the hose, but instantly dismissed the thought.

From page 40 of All God's Creatures--Spiritual Lessons From The Animals Of The Bible by Gary Richmond.

Happy Reading!

"Not A Fan--Follower's Journal" by Kyle Idleman

Not A Fan--follower's Journal by Kyle Idleman is a 42-day devotional guide to challenge your thinking about your relationship with Jesus Christ and if you are a true follower.  The whole journal is based on the verse, Luke 9:23 which says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."  The theme is that Jesus is not interested in fans but wants true followers who know and love Him and as a result obey his commands. 

I thought some of the exercises it suggested were corny but it did make me evaluate my Christian walk and made me more aware of Christ's presence in my life. NOT A FAN is more than a small group Bible study, it's a movement.  Visit www.notafan.com (the site), view the videos at www.youtube.com/notafantv (the videos), view tweets at www.twitter.com/iamnotafan (the talk), www.facebook.com/notafan (the movement).
(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!

"Every Day" by David Levithan

Fun Read!

Every Day by David Levithan tells the story of a person who wakes up every day as a different person--sometimes male, sometimes female. It is fine until one day the girl of his dreams comes into his life and then it gets complicated.

You need to use your imagination to get into this book, but if you do, and accept the story as it is, you will be drawn into it. I did and loved it! There is a good "wow" factor too! I finished it in just two days. I think there may be a second book; if I'm right, I'm on it. Put it on your TBR list--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!

Tuesday Teasers

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 (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• 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:

What's clear is that if that man had sneezed on you, you'd most likely just get a cold. For me, it flipped my universe upside down and very nearly sent me to an asylum for life.

Take from page 9 of Brain On Fire--My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan (non-fiction)

Every day I am someone else. I am myself--I know I am myself--but I am also someone else.

From page 1 of Every Day by David Levithan.


Karen's:

"He's always made my life a lot harder than it needed to be." She opened her eyes and looked at her father's still face.

From Out of Control by Mary Connealy at location 1421 on Kindle, 24% along.

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 Shadow Of Your Smile" by Mary Higgins Clark

Disappointing Compared to Some of her Other Ones I Read

The Shadow Of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark didn't appeal to me.  I didn't care for the three murders by three different people because it just made murder seem too easy.  I really liked some of her others, but this doesn't even come close.  I guess when my favorite character gets killed early on by her "long time friend," I lost interest.  The suspense just wasn't enough for me.  It's about a Dr. trying to find out who her father's biological parents were and the family she's related to trying to make sure she doesn't.  Her father was adopted at birth.  I really can't say anymore without giving things away.  It does have a good ending.
(Karen's review)

Others by this author that I recommend instead:  Two Little Girls In Blue & Just Take My Heart & Where Are You Now

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!

"Buried Secrets" by Joseph Finder

Buried Secrets by Joseph Finder is a good story about a young girl kidnapped and held for ransom from her rich father.  The story was told very well and the detective who is trying to find and save the girl is a really good character.  In my opinion, there is not much of a "wow" factor but it is well worth your time.
(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!

"Bruce" by Peter Ames Carlin (Non-fiction)

Bruce by Peter Ames Carlin is a really good story about Bruce Springsteen aka "The Boss." It has some wow factor with details of how the band came to be and lots of inside stuff that I didn't know. I enjoyed it very much. If you are a Springsteen fan, it's a must read. I highly recommend it.
(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!

"Astray" by Emma Donoghue

Astray by Emma Donoghue is a bunch of short stories based on actual events. Most of the stories are very good; some I wished were longer! I loved ROOM by her so I wanted to read this one too. It's not anywhere near as good, but I still enjoyed it. It's worth reading.
(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!

Tuesday Teasers: 4 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 (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• 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:

Overnight the story had grown expoentially as word spread about the police and prosecution's theory, that a home foreclosure may have spawned the murder of a banker. It put a blood and gust twist on the nationwide financial plague and that in turn packed the house.

From chapter 4 of an audio book: The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly Clicking the link will take you to my review that posted on Friday. (It was so good, I HAD to do a teaser from it.)

She was in a box. She could touch the end of the box with her toes.

From chapter 11 of Buried Secrets by Joseph Finder (audio book).

Karen's:

"We can't let that happen," the person on the other end of the line said matter-of-factly. "You've got to make sure it doesn't."

From page 4 of The Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark.

What is your "but first"?  I will follow but first let me. . . have some fun, build this house, get married, make a million dollars?

From page 101 of Not A Fan by Kyle Idleman.

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 Gifted" by Terri Blackstock

Fun Christian Read

"The Gifted" by Terri Blackstock is a quick Christian fiction read which shows how Christians should work together to meet needs of others and introduce them to Jesus. When Andy, Carl and Bree were discouraged that they were the only ones who showed up for their Bible Study after work in an effort to reach their co-workers with the gospel, a tornado hit and they were crushed under the rubble. God answered their prayers and their lives were changed once they experienced God's power.

This is a powerful little book that challenges Christians to use the gifts God has given them to serve Him by serving others and meeting their needs. It is a fun read because each of the main characters are endowed with supernatural powers which makes for a good read but isn't very believable. Here's a little teaser that gives you an example:

"Where are we going, anyway?" Bree looked around them.
"I'm not sure, but my feet know."
Bree laughed. "Do you know how stupid that sounds?"
"Of course I do. It's downright ridiculous, but it happens to be true."
The hospital came into view, and Carl's feet picked up their pace. "Okay, now I've got it. We're going to the hospital."

(Karen's review)

If you have read this, I'd love to hear what you thought of it.  If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Fifth Witness" by Michael Connelly is a MUST READ!

A MUST READ . . . or LISTEN (audio book)

WOW! The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly is about a woman on trial for murder. She is charged with killing a man who is the head of the company that was suing to foreclose on her home. This is a fantastic story! I listened to the audio book and LOVED IT! The trial was very interesting and got my attention and held it. The ending blew me away. You have got to read (or listen) to this--it's a must read!
(Gerard's review, 5+++ stars)

Come back Tuesday to see our teaser from 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!

"Double Blind" by Brandilyn Collins

What If  Someone Could Plant Thoughts In Your Brain? 

I loved Double Blind by Brandilyn Collins! Lisa Newberry was going through a very rough patch of life so when a new procedure came out that could give her a new outlook on life, she took it. Is she okay now, or are the problems really going to start?

WOW, it doesn't get much better than this major "wow" factor in this book! It is hard to put it down so I finished it in just two days. Read and enjoy! I highly recommend it. You can't go wrong with Brandilyn Collins.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Double Blind by Brandilyn Collins is an interesting read with suspense and science fiction. Lisa is so depressed that she enters a trial to have brain surgery that will insert a chip into her brain that will get rid of her depression and help her be more self-confident. She was happy to have qualified and eager to get rid of her depression, but didn't realize that her real nightmare was about to begin. This will keep you turning pages to see what will happen next as she mends her relationship with her mother who helps her figure things out and God who she realizes did not abandon her. Risking her life, she tries to save someone she believes is going to be killed. This definitely is a thought-provoking book!
(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!

"Rizzoli & Isles: Last To Die" by Tess Gerritsen

Rizzoli & Isles: LAST TO DIE by Tess Gerritsen is a better than average story. In this thriller, three children are enrolled at Evensong Boarding School, where all the kids have had traumatic events in their young lives. Now they are in a safe haven, or are they not?

This book went along so so but the last 150 pages it really got good! There's a great twist at the end that made it hard to put down until I found out how it all turned out! It's well worth your time!
(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!

"Zoo" by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Zoo by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge is about the world trying to deal with all forms of animals who roam in packs and attack humans. I ordered this from the library and had to wait a long time for it. I feel this book could have been so much more. The parts of the book that deal with the animals are very good, the rest not so much. The ending left me with the sense that there is going to be a second book. If there is, I'll probably read it. It just did not "wow" me like I expected it would.
(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!

Tuesday Teasers: "Double Blind" and "Zoo"

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 (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• 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:

Larson is as helpless as a rag doll as Mosa shakes him back and forth by his head. When his neck breaks, with a crack remarkably similar to a pencil snapping, the sound is the very last think his brain registers before he dies.

From page 13 of Zoo by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. (The review will be posted tomorrow.)

Karen's:

How would I even explain what was happening? I'd turned into some man who kept killing the same woman? Sherry would panic and rush me to a psych ward.

From page 61 of Double Blind by Brandilyn Collins.

Happy Reading and check out our book giveaway for It Takes Two To Strangle--first to comment saying they would like it, gets it!

Monday Quiz Meme About Me

And now for this weeks Questions:

1. What is your favorite thing about November?
The holidays and more time off work!

2. What was the last thing that you bought that you regretted soon afterwards?
strawberry shortcake flavored gum--way too sweet--yuck! Now I'm back to my Spearment.

3. What is your go to snack food?
Trail mix. Just found a Nutrition bone health nut mix by Planters that's really good!

4. Do you believe that newspapers should charge for their online content?
I don't care what they do.

And don't forget to add a 5th Question on your own blog so we can answer as we hop around!

My question for you is:

5. Are you voting tomorrow or have you already voted? If you are not voting in this election, why not?
We voted by mail.

This is the Acting Balanced: Monday Quiz Meme.

"Low Pressure" by Sandra Brown

Low Pressure by Sandra Brown is a mystery about Bellamy who writes a novel based on the murder of her older sister which becomes a best seller. Although she used a pseudonym and didn’t use the real names, a reporter discovered it was based on fact and the author’s identity is exposed. She receives threats and begins to seek answers as to who is threatening her for writing about the murder. She had only been 12 at the time of the murder and her memory was spotty. Her investigation not only puts her in danger, but also others and secrets are brought to light. The killer was a big surprise to me! Along with the mystery is the romance between Bellamy (the rich girl) and Dent (the poor boy), one of her sister’s boyfriends who Bellamy had a crush on.

This book had an interesting enough story line to make me keep reading, but I can’t say it was an enjoyable read. I didn’t relate to any of the characters, the dysfunctional family with all the secrets, nor did I like the intimate sex scenes or the foul language. It just seemed far-fetched and unbelievable. After enjoying Unspeakable and Lethal by Sandra Brown, I was disappointed with this book.
(Karen's review, rating 2 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!

"It Takes Two To Strangle" by Stephen Kaminski (Giveaway)

I received a complimentary copy of It Takes Two To Strangle (a Damon Lassard Dabbling Detective Mystery) by Stephen Kaminski for review. Here is the blurb from the back cover that made me want to read it:

When the owner of a traveling carnival is strangled—not once but twice—on opening night of the summer fair in Hollydale, the police surmise he was not well liked. As the head of Hollydale's citizens association and local liaison with the carnival, Damon Lassard feels obligated to help his dear friend, Detective Gerry Sloman, solve the crime. Damon is determined to bring the killer to justice, to the fascination of his mother, best gal pal Rebecca, and lovely local weather girl, Bethany Krims. To unravel the threads underpinning this peculiar murder, Damon will travel far from Hollydale as his quest to find a murderer leads to the discovery of long hidden and horrific crimes.

It Takes Two to Strangle introduces Hollydale’s lovable neighborhood leader, Damon Lassard, and twists the dabbling detective through an intricate maze of greed, deception, and murder.

This is a cozy mystery without any "wow" factor.  The action, what little there is, moved too slow for me.  If you are a fan of cozy mysteries and would like this book, be the first to indicate that in the comments with an email address so we can get your address and send it to you.
(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 Whisperer" by Donato Carrisi is a Great Halloween Read

In The Whisperer by Donato Carrisi, girls are missing and then their arms show up except for one. Then one by one the bodies show up. What a fantastic read! You will not be able to figure out the killer at all! This book will stay with you. I can't wait for his next one! The Whisperer would make an awesome movie. Don't miss this one if you want a real page turner!
(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: "Low Pressure" and "The Whisperer"

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 (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• 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:

Strange is that when I got to your house last night, you were scared silly. Petrified, in fact. But you wouldn't hear of calling the police.

From page 75 of Low Pressure by Sandra Brown.

Gerard's:

Five little girls kidnapped in the course of a week. Then seventeen very long days of silence.
Until now.
Until these five buried arms.

From The Whisperer by Donato Carrisi. (A good Halloween read!)

Happy Reading!

"Into The Fire" by Dakota Meyer and Bing West is Amazing!

Gerard loved this one--his first audio book!

Into the Fire is a Firsthand account of the most extraordinary battle in the Afghan War by Medal of Honor recipient, Dakota Meyer and Bing West (New York Times Bestselling Author). This is an audio book read by Zach Mclarty. What an amazing true story it is! Dakota Meyer is a true hero. This book tells the story of the battle at Genuisal. This is what war is really all about. I was able to get the audio book and liked listening to it in the car. I think I got more out of it than if I read the book. Either way, please take time to read or listen to this account and thank our armed forces that are still fighting. Mr. Meyer, thank you for your service.
(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!

"Be Still My Soul" by Joanne Bischof

Like romance, historical fiction?  Then read this!

Be Still My Soul by Joanne Bischof is her first novel, a wonderful Christian historical fiction romance set in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Lonnie (17) and Gil (21) are forced to marry even though they barely knew each other.  In the beginning of the book, I felt bad for Lonnie and then about midway through, I started feeling bad for Gil.  They went through some tough times but Lonnie kept holding on to her faith that God was looking out for her.  This was a tear jerker for me, as they encountered heartache and physical pain.  I liked how the kindness of strangers brought healing to their marriage.  This is just the first book in The Cadence of Grace series which is based on I Peter 5:10:

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 

As I was reading this book, I couldn't help but think of how this couple would benefit from reading Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs.  I highly recommend this book if you like clean romance novels.  It also contains a reader's guide so would make a good book club selection.  I look forward to reading her next book, Though My Heart Is Torn. 

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 End of Your Life Book Club" by Will Schwalbe

I finally get on here since the cats weren't cooperating.  Woof!

The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe gets 5+ stars from me—a great non-fiction book! Will’s mom has cancer. As she goes through her treatments and daily life, they talk about books they have read. If you enjoy reading, you will be able to relate to this book and get a ton of good book recommendations that you may want to read as well. I enjoyed it very much! Thanks for sharing, Will!!
(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!

"Speechless" by Hannah Harrington

Curl up with a good book like Manny Boy!

In Speechless by Hannah Harrington, Chelsea talks a bit too much and spreads some gossip that causes some tragic incidents. She decides to take a vow of silence and finds out things about herself and who she can really count on. I thought this book was very good with a good ending too! It went fast and I got into it! It includes a book discussion and a talk with the author at the end. Read both!
(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: 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 (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• 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:

Instead here I am on a deserted country road with a man who wants to kill me.
Worst of all, nobody knows where I am.

From page 92 of Trapped by Peg Kehret and Pet the Cat. (The italic parts in this book were written by Pete the cat.)  The link will take you to my review of this book.

He certainly could not waltz over to the Sawyer farm and tell Joel that he would not marry his daughter. That would only land him on the receiving end of Joel's shotgun.

From page 41 of Be Still My Soul (The Cadence of Grace Series-Book 1) by Joanne Bischof.

Gerard's: 

They both twist around to look at me, and their expressions of content transform into identical looks of worry. It'd almost be funny if it were any other situation.

From page 35 of Speechless by Hannah Harrington.

Hope you come over to see me in action!

Happy Reading!  For a special treat, Spunky Doodle would like you to check out her latest video post of her playing Whack and Knock at Right Where We Belong.

Monday Quiz About Us

Here are FOUR QUESTIONS that everyone can answer and then you have the option to add a fifth question of your own for those who are visiting your blog to answer in the comment section, along with commenting on the four standard questions you answered!

1. How often do you shop for groceries? Do you shop in one place or many?
We shop once a week at Giant Eagle.

2. How old were you when you had your first tast of alcohol?
Neither of us have ever tasted alcohol.

3. How much TV do you watch?
We watch football on Saturday and Sunday and a few favorite programs: Joel Osteen, Survivor (Karen), Parenthood, Once Upon a Time (Gerard), Army Wives, ESPN Magazine (Gerard), My Cat From Hell, Bad Dog, sometimes a movie  (Karen).

4. How do you relieve stress?
Gerard goes for a walk or works in the yard. I start singing praises or pet my cats and dog, sometimes listen to relaxing music.

For the 5th question I get to make up: What pets do you have and what are their names?

This blog hop is hosted by Acting Balanced.

"Sutton" by J.R. Moehringer--Fantastic!

Sutton by J. R. Moehringer is a fantastic book! Don't let the word "novel" fool you, Willie Sutton was an actual person. He made the first FBI Most Wanted list. He robbed banks but never hurt anyone or shot a gun. When asked why he robbed banks, he responded, "Because that's where the money is." This page turner will for sure make my top ten books of 2012. I loved it!
(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!

We are adding this one to Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop in response to this prompt:  Book Review time! Recommend a great book, perfect for these stormy fall days! Hope you will subscribe to our blog so you get all of our reviews!

"Trapped" by Peg Kehret and Pete the Cat

We highly recommend this book!

In Trapped by Peg Kehrot, is about animal cruelty. Pete the cat discovers evidence of illegal trapping and finds himself abducted by the trapper with a gun! This is also about a pig who was on its way to be slaughtered but fell off the truck. Pete the cat can understand what the humans say but they can’t understand what he is saying. Every time he tries talking to them, they just think he’s hungry.

This is a good story with suspense that I think anyone who likes cats would enjoy, even though it is a children’s book. I liked it very much, a fun quick-read with a good ending.  Pete is a clever, courageous and capable cat!
(Karen's review, rating 5 stars)

There are three books Peg Kehret co-authored with Pete her cat and I liked the other two as well:  The Stranger Next Door about arson and Spy Cat about burglaries.

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!

"Okay For Now" by Gary D. Schmidt

Okay For Now by Gary D. Schmidt is about Doug, a 14-yr.-old who is upset about moving to a new town and leaving his friends. The story takes place in 1968 during the Vietnam War that Doug’s oldest brother is fighting in. He also has an older brother, who gets great pleasure from picking on him and an abusive father. Doug’s idol is the Yankee ballplayer, Joe Pepitone and a signed jacket by Joe is Doug’s most prized possession. Doug narrates about his high and low points as he goes through adjusting to the new town and with the help of several caring people, he actually gets to like it. When he sees a beautiful bird book in the library, he is drawn to it and the librarian encourages him to draw the different birds. Art becomes his passion and he likens how he feels to how he thinks some of those birds feel. It’s a well-written book that gives the reader insight into the feelings of a young teenage boy. It’s a good read that I think any teen could relate to and enjoy.
(Karen's review, rating 4)

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!

"Spy Cat" by Peg Kehret and Pete the Cat

Spy Cat by Peg Kehret is an adventure with the cat and the little boy being the ones to find the burglars who have been breaking into homes in the neighborhood.  It has excitement, adventure and animals.  Parts are funny, such as when Pete the cat eats the burglar's hamburger and fries.

This is a quick fun read that shows the strong bond between kids and their pets.  I liked 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!

"It's Fine By Me" by Per Petterson

It’s Fine By Me by Per Petterson tells the story of Audun Sletten in his teen years. I liked it; thought it was interesting and really liked Audun at the end. It is under 200 pages and goes quick. Give it a try!
(Gerard’s review, rating 4 1/2 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: 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:

Why can't you tell me what's going on before you drag me out?  And here I was, convinced it was a girl you were after, the way you'd dressed up!

From page 98 of It's Fine By Me by Per Peterson.

Karen's:

This bird was falling and there wasn't a single thing in the world that cared at all.

It was the most terrifying picture I had ever seen.

The most beautiful.

From page 19 of Okay For Now by Gary D. Schmidt. (YA)

Horror brought goose bumps to Benjie's arms as he realized that Pete's cries came from inside the van.

The Bad guys were stealing Pete!

From page 101 of Spy Cat by Peg Kehret.  (Juvenile adventure)

Spunky Doodle has a Monday Mischief post up on our other blog that she would like for you to see:

Happy Reading!

Monday Quiz About Me

Welcome to Monday Quiz About Me hosted by Acting Balanced and Touristic.  These are Karen's answers:

Just answer the questions and add one for your readers to answer in the comments.

1. What is the most interesting fact you have learned recently?
That the Red Panda's feet are all furry, they do not have pads like cats and other animals.

2. The alarm goes off on Monday morning. What is your first thought?
Time to feed the pets.

3. What is the most memorable movie line of all time?
"You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!"

4. Describe a situation that always seems to try your patience.
When I'm using the computer and it takes forever to respond or when it takes me 3-4 tries to get the capcha code right when trying to leave a comment on a blog.

Now, here's my question for you: What are you reading now? Happy Reading!

"What's Left of Me" by Kat Zhang (teen)

What's Left of Me--The Hybrid Chronicles by Kat Zhang is a pretty good YA novel about two souls (girls) in one body.  In this society, one soul is supposed to fade away after a time but it didn't happen to this girl (Eva and Addie). I enjoyed the struggle and the conversations between the two girl souls.  I especially liked the ending.  If there is a book two, I'll be getting 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!

"The Stranger Next Door" by Peg Kehret and Pete the Cat

Manny and Spunky's favorite character is Pete the Cat!

The Stranger Next Door by Peg Kehret and Pete the Cat is actually better than I expected.  Although the author's cat helped write parts of this book, in the story we know what the cat is thinking and saying, but the people in the book only hear it meowing which makes it more realistic.  Shortly after an aloof family move in next door to Alex's family, houses burn in the neighborhood, including the new neighbor's.  Pete the cat sees what happens and using his cat intelligence, makes his people aware of what is happening.

This book has both mystery and adventure, plus it's a quick fun read with the Pete the Cat being one of the main characters.  I think any kid who likes cats would enjoy this book very much, I did!
(Karen's review, rating 5 stars)

Other books I liked by this author:  Animals Welcome

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!

"Little Boy Blue" by Kim Kavin (Non-fiction)

I was on "death row" too but was saved through Petfinder!

What a FANTASTIC book Little Boy Blue by Kim Kavin is! There is more to this book than just Kim rescuing Blue, the dog. A lot more! Her journey to find out about Blue before she got him is very interesting. I found out things that I didn't know such as if two out of four people got dogs from shelters or rescue places there would be no need to worry about dogs being killed. I also found out some things that wish didn't happen, but unfortunately, do. Be sure to read near the end of the book about Blue at puppy school--it's so good and funny!

This is a real page turner for sure. If you buy this book, a portion of the sale goes to Petfinders (which is how we found our dog, Abby). You can follow Blue on Facebook.com/Little Boy Blue Dog. I loved this book so much that I give it 5+++ stars!
(Gerard's review, rating 5+++ stars) Karen plans to read this one too!

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!

"One For The Murphys" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

One For the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt is about being someone’s hero and showing unconditional love. Although it is considered juvenile fiction, I really liked it! The main character, Carly, has been neglected and abused but finds a good foster home while her mother recovers from a beating she took from her husband. Julie Murphy, the foster home mother, is the wife of a fireman with three boys that shows kindness and love to Carly who doesn’t quite know what to make of it. This heart-warming book has humor, a good message, and is a touching quick read. It made even made me tear up at certain parts. If you like stories about kids and family, I recommend this one! It will tug at your heartstrings.
 (Karen's review, rating 5 stars)

Here's a trailer for the book:
(This is the author's debut novel, her first draft of it received the Tassy Walden Award for New Voices in Children's Literature.)


This book was recommended by I am a Reader, Not a Writer. 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 linking this up to Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop in response to this prompt: Book Review time! Recommend a great book, perfect for these stormy fall days! We'd like for you to subscribe so you get all our reviews. Click the link to check out the other prompts and perhaps link up a post of your own.

Tuesday Teasers: A Thriller and Juvenile 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:

The doctor, his expression grim, wrote: I'm sorry. She wasn't as lucky as you.
More or less the same thing happened all over again, three weeks later and four hundred and fifty miles to the west, in Butternut Falls, Minnesota.

From page 14 of Shock Wave by John Sandford. (thriller)

Karen's:

"Why did you take me in, anyway?  I ask, unable to stand still and suddenly needing an answer.
"Well..." She sighs and puts her hands in her pockets.

 From page 33 of One For The Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. (Juvenile fiction--my review will be up tomorrow morning, great read!)

Spunky Doodle has a Monday Mischief post up on our other blog that she would like for you to see:

Happy Reading!