"League of Denial" by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru--Must Read for NFL Fans

League of Denial by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru tells the story about the lasting effects that constantly getting hit in the head have on NFL players and how the NFL continues to ignore this problem.  The best parts of this book are the ones that center on specific players.

Being a diehard NFL fan, I knew this stuff but this book gives great background on why these players took their own lives in some cases.  I waited a long time to read this book, but it was worth the wait!  If you love football, you should read this book.  You might get a new outlook next time you see a player get knocked out!  
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Never Fade" by Alexandra Bracken

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken is the sequel to The Darkest Minds which we both liked a lot.  First off, this book has way too much dirty language which I did not appreciate and took away my enjoyment of the book.  As for the plot, I was totally confused at the start and stayed that way until about page 150.  After that, this book was more like The Darkest Minds with plenty of action and surprises.  I never knew what was coming next!  The ending is very good and left me looking forward to the third book to see how it all plays out.

I give it 4 stars.  I would have given it 5 stars except the dirty language really bothered me.
(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!

"Sleepwalker" by Wendy Corsi Staub

Sleepwalker by Wendy Corsi Staub is all about a father who seeks revenge on people he feels are responsible for his son's imprisonment and subsequent death.  This book is gruesome and the killer is a real creepy mean person who goes to extreme lengths to make others lives miserable.  Allison McKenna's testimony at his son's trial is what convinced the jury to convict him so the father lives to make her pay.  Allison, Mack and their three little kids kept me reading.  Once Mack starts sleepwalking as a side effect from his medication, things start picking up and get very interesting.

This book started out slow for me and I almost gave up on it because of how mean and creepy the killer is.  It is not you basic who done it because right from the start you know who the killer is.  The "mystery" of it is if Allison and Mack will be able to stay safe and keep their happy family together.  I'm glad I finished it and didn't quit on it.  If you like creepy books, I recommend 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!

"The Second Chance Dog-A Love Story by Jon Katz

Another good book by Jon Katz

The Second Chance Dog--A Love Story by Jon Katz is a true story and what a story it is!  Jon Katz tells about his life at a certain point and you will be shocked at what he went through.  Then he falls in love with a woman but first has to get her dog on his side which was not easy!  There are lots of good stories in this one book:  Jon's story, the romance, and the dog's story which will touch your heart.

My dog, Abby, gives this book four paws up way high  I LOVED it too!  (Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Other books we liked by this author:  Rose in a Storm, Dancing Dogs, Dogs of Bedlam Farm

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: Four Today

Gerard's:
I had no idea that Frieda would enter my life and alter it in the most profound way, but that's one of the beautiful things about animals.  They change you, and you almost never see it coming.

From page 44 of The Second Chance Dog--A Love Story by Jon Katz. (My review will post tomorrow.)

But I could feel him hovering behind me, like his fingers were trying to smooth down the goose bumps on my skin.  There was no stopping the sudden upswing of my heartbeat.

From page 92 of Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken (sequel to The Darkest Minds)

Karen's:

Reaching the front hall, Allison spots a human shadow looming just inside the door.  A tide of panic sweeps her back to a Manhattan bedroom ten years ago, and a hooded figure is lunging at ther with a knife . . .

From page 91 of Sleepwalker by Wendy Corsi Staub.

As you can see, including a daily whey protein shake as part of your bone-building regimine is a great idea.  However, a note of caution:  make sure that the whey protein you get is free of bovine growth hormone (rBGH).

From page 139 of Save Our Bones Program by Vivian Goldschmidt, MA.


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.   

Happy Reading!

"ORR--My Story by Bobby Orr is a Must Read for Bruins Fans

If you are a die-hard Bruins fan like me, then Orr--My Story by Bobby Orr is a must read book for you!  I was fortunate to see Bobby Orr in his playing days in the 70s and he was the best--he could do it all!

I loved this book because it brought back a lot of memories of the big bad Bruins of the 70s.  Furthermore, he pulls no punches by even telling about his agent who just about took all his money.  You are the best, Bobby!  Thanks for your book!
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Dark Justice" by Brandilyn Collins Kept Both of Us Turning Pages

Dark Justice by Brandilyn Collins got my interest right away when Hannah and her mother with Dementia stop to help a man who was in an accident at the side of the road.  In that instant, their lives changed and they found themselves in danger.  Hannah soon became a "person of interest" in two murders but she didn't do it!  Where do you go when bad people are trying to kill you because you inadvertently came across some very important information that could prevent a terrorist attack and you don't trust the police? 

I liked the main characters in this book, Hannah and her mother and daughter.  Although the plot was pretty unbelievable, the way the three women stuck together and tried to protect each other was very realistic.  I liked that this book had suspense on just about every page without any swearing.  I recommend this one to anyone who enjoys suspense.  Brandilyn Collins is one of my favorite Christian fiction authors and this one is as good as her others I have read.
(Karen's review)

You can never go wrong with a Brandilyn Collins book, but I think Dark Justice is one of her better ones.  When a woman gets mixed up in a terrorist plot against the USA, the chase in on!  Not only is she at risk, but her 80-yr.-old mother suffering from Dementia and her daughter are also.  There is lots of action to be sure!  I enjoyed this book a lot!
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teasers: Two Mysteries

Gerard's:

"A simple robbery suddenly gets all complicated, and the bad guy's in way over his head."

"So he murders the five witnesses, one by one."

From page 95 of Unthinkable by Clyde Phillips. (My review was posted yesterday.)

My heart pounded so hard I could not breathe.  I dropped my mouth open, struggling to pull in air.  The gun in my hand shook.

From page 91 of Dark Justice by Brandilyn Collins.(I just finished this one, very good.  Will post a review soon.)


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.   

Happy Reading!

"Unthinkable" by Clyde Phillips

A diner is shot up and six people are dead in Unthinkable by Clyde Phillips.  It is up to Jane Candiotti to find out who and why.  When she does find out, she will stop at nothing to get answers.  There is good action that kept me turning pages.  That's about all you can ask of a book.  
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Brilliance" by Marcus Sakey

In Brilliance by Marcus Sakey, people who have superior intelligence want to take over the country and it is up to Agent Cooper to put a stop to it.  There are good "wow" factors with good action and the book moves along quick.  Great novel!  I look forward to the next book of this series. 
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Good Tidings and Great Joy--Protecting the Heart of Christmas" by Sarah Palin

GOOD TIDINGS and GREAT JOY--Protecting the Heart of Christmas by Sarah Palin is about how Christmas has changed over the years in America and where it is headed.  She shares some of her family's Christmas traditions and recipes along with some advice to Christians to stand up to preserve the true meaning of Christmas in America.  Words do matter. 

This is a thought provoking book with some shocking things that are currently happening in America that I wasn't aware of.  I agree that people should be able to acknowledge publicly that Christmas is a religious holiday and that the reason we celebrate Christmas is to celebrate the birth of a Savior, Jesus Christ.  If you are interested in civil rights and religious freedom, I recommend you read this 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!

Tuesday Teasers: Four for You

Gerard's:

"That's why I need a lawyer, and I'm not your typical thirteen-year-old, anyway.  I'm a genius."

From page 11 of Accused by Lisa Scottoline.

"They're going to test her.  She's only four, and the test isn't mandatory until she's eight--"

From page 88 of Brilliance by Marcus Sakey.

Karen's:

No one forced him to do anything.  However, because of this strange quirk of the law--a quirk intentionally designed to enable people to complain and remove expressions of our religious heritage from public life--Mr. McScrooge is a legal force to be reckoned with.

From page 26 of Good Tidings and Great Joy by Sarah Palin.

Bearing in mind that a true osteoporosis diagnosis is rarely accurate, its treatment with dangerous drugs is unnecessary and often times causes more medical problems that require more drugs to treat.  It's a lose-lose situation for the patient, particularly when there are safe and healthy methods to prevent bone loss.

From page 68 of saveourbones PROGRAM--The Revolutionary Treatment That Prevents and Reverses Bone Loss Naturally by Vivian Goldschmidt, MA
(check out www.saveourbones.com for more information.)

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.   

Happy Reading!

"The Good Sister" by Wendy Corsi Staub (UPDATED)

The Good Sister by Wendy Corsi Staub certainly kept my interest.  This is a good story about revenge which incorporates the dangers of social media.  The murderer is so clever and so mean!  Although I figured out who it was, the twist at the end was shocking!  Carly is the older sister who tries so hard to do what is right and be nice but finds herself being bullied at her Catholic school.  Her mother is worried about her when Carly’s ex-best friend commits suicide and then another girl from her school also commits suicide.  This is a creepy mystery I won’t soon forget.  I look forward to reading more books by this author!  We highly recommend this one if you like a good murder mystery. 

(Karen's review posted 12/6/13)

Good Sister by Wendy Corsi Staub is about a young girl who goes to a private girls school and is bullied.  She finds a friend on the Internet and that is when this book really takes off.  I liked the plot but you will have to read it all the way to the end to figure out what's what!  I enjoyed it very much--kept me turning pages.
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The October List" by Jeffery Deaver

The October List by Jeffery Deaver, a crime thriller, is told in reverse order.  By that, I mean it goes back in time.  I usually do not like those kinds of books, but this one I did.  There is lots of action and I did not see the twist coming at all.  The writing is very good!  I really enjoyed the lead character.  (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!

"The Returned" by Jason Mott Fell Flat

The Returned by Jason Mott has a very interesting concept:  dead people come back to life with loved ones being reunited, but how does the government handle this?  The book really fell flat for me.  It had some good parts, but I never really was into it.  I hear it is going to be a TV series so hoping it works better on TV. 
(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!

"The Wicked Girls" by Alex Marwood

The Wicked Girls by Alex Marwood tells the story of two young girls who meet by chance.  An incident happens that they keep to themselves but years later, events happen in this small town that brings up that incident from the past.  A real page turner that I got engrossed in and kept me turning the pages.
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Three Tuesday Teasers

Gerard's:

She'd chew her own arm off if it helped her get away, thinks Jade.  It's worse for her than it is for me.

From page 2 of The Wicked Girls by Alex Marwood. (See my review tomorrow)

"You're all walking up to the big question," Jim said in a low voice, "the one you asked earlier on tonight and left hanging out there.  The question about what's to be done with us."

From page 81 of The Returned by Jason Mott.

Karen's:

Motherhood is starting to feel like Whac-A-Mole.  No sooner does she manage to stamp out one problem than another pops up.

From page 214 of The Good Sister by Wendy Corsi Staub.

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.   

Happy Reading!

Favorite Reads for November: One Fiction, One Non-Fiction

We both chose Champion by Marie Lu as our favorite read in November!  This Legend series is a must read if you like Dystopian novels with strong female characters and a good romance with lots of action.  See both our reviews of it here.  This is a very good series (even the last book) with chapters alternating between June and Day's narration.   The first book in the series is Legend and the second is Prodigy.  We recommend you read them in order and enjoy!

Karen's other favorite (Non-fiction):

I also finished the Beth Moore Bible study, David--Seeking a Heart Like His which was fantastic!  I loved this study because I learned so much from it and got a better understanding of David.  I've done a few other Beth Moore studies as well (Daniel, When Godly People do Ungodly Things, Fruit of the Spirit, James) but this is my favorite!  I highly recommend it!

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Night Guest" by Fiona McFarlane

The Night Guest by Fiona McFarlane is a story about an old woman named Ruth who lives alone after her husband's death.  That is, until Frida comes along and takes care of Ruth.  This book is pretty good.  I liked the two main characters.  It moved along well and the ending was pretty good too. 
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Real Boy" by Anne Ursu

The Real Boy by Anne Ursu was a fun read.  It's a children's book about a little boy named Oscar who helps Caleb, a great Magician.  Oscar spends all of his time with his cats which he takes care of.  Then events happen and he has to take on responsibilities of matters and that is when the story takes off.

This is a good read for all ages with action and a great twist.  I loved the ending too!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesdays: Four for You

Gerard's:

No way to help Callie.  And--it was funny--a whole book on magic and the mind and there was nothing in it about fixing a boy who was not quite right.

From page 83 of The Real Boy by Anne Ursu. (Juvenile) (Review will be up on Wednesday.)

Frida woke her the next morning by turning her on the sofa, peering into her face, and saying, "I nearly wet my pants, you idiot.  I thought you were dead.".

From page 47 of The Night Guest by Fiona McFarlane.

Karen's:

That I was a high school girl in a town stuck away in the mountains of western Pennsylvania did not matter.  I would become the best proofreader and researcher I could possibly be--and hold on to my dream.

From page 62 of Julie by Catherine Marshall.

The point is Christ demonstrated humility by not grabbing and clinging to what He rightfully deserved.  This is possibly one of the most difficult concepts for us to apply in our own lives. 

From page 82 of A Woman's Passionate Pursuit of God by Karol Ladd.


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.   

Happy Reading!

"White Fire" by Preston and Child

White Fire by Preston & Child is based on a true story that took place long ago at a Colorado ski resort. It's pretty gruesome. What's the story? You will have to read the book to find out. When it starts to happen again, a young girl detective wants to find out why and who is doing it. It has good action that kept me interested.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Champion" by Marie Lu - Legend Series Book 3 is a Winner!

We both liked Champion by Marie Lu is the last of three in the Legend series about Day and June and did not disappoint!  I hated to see this end.  All the books were so good, but this last one just might be the best!  It is action packed and full of twists and turns with a good ending!  Day and June are the best!  LOVED IT!  Can't wait for more from Marie Lu!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Champion by Marie Lu is the third book in the LEGEND series and for once, the last book in a series does not disappoint.  It was fun reading about June and Day again!  This book is complete with action, suspense, adventure and some touching moments.  I really liked the part when June went to Ross City in Antarctica--what a cool place that would be to live with controlled temperatures, lots of color, and a point system to motivate people to do good.  This is really a good book involving making choices and dealing with tough situations.  I wish though that June's dog, Ollie, had a bigger part.  Both my husband and I loved this series and highly recommend it if you enjoy YA futuristic novels.
(Karen's review) 

See our reviews of her first two books in this series:  Legend and Prodigy. 

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!

"Black Fridays" by Michael Sears is a modern Thriller

Black Fridays by Michael Sears is about Jason Stafford, a Wall Street trader who went to prison for two years .  When he gets out, his wife divorces him, but he takes their special needs Autistic son and takes care of him and works on getting his life back together.  He then is hired to follow up on the misdeeds on Wall Street that one man did.

There is pretty good action in this book and I especially liked the parts with him and his son.  This is going to be a series, so I will probably read book two also.  
(Gerard's review, 4.5 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: 4 For You

Gerard's:

She was different from the other girls; tragically, dangerously different.

I remember so well.

From page 1 of Good Sister by Wendy Corsi Staub.  (My review will go up tomorrow)

I tried shifting my weight in an attempt to make us both more comfortable and he snapped his head back and pounded me in the nose.  The pain was horrible.  I wanted to toss him across the aisle.  I didn't.  I maintained.

From page 77 of Black Fridays by Michael Sears.

Karen's:

Please don't ask me to give up my brother.  I would do anything else for you.

From page 53 of Champion (Third book of the Legend series).

When you are a student of your spouse, you realize that the secret to great sex is treating your spouse like a prince or princess every moment of the day.  Loving your spouse this way is not just effective, it is incredibly romantic and fun. 

From page 71 of The First 90 Days of Marriage by Eric & Leslie Ludy.  (Just finished, click link to see my review).


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.   

Happy Reading!

"The First 90 Days of Marriage" by Eric and Leslie Ludy

I got The First 90 Days of Marriage--Building the Foundation of a Lifetime by Eric and Leslie Ludy because I thought it might be a good wedding gift but wanted to read it first.  It is based on Biblical principles and much of the advice is plain common sense.  However, even after being married 16 years, I did find some of it to be helpful.  The basic theme of the book is to be the best wife or the best husband ever by treating your spouse like a prince or princess every day.  (I wondered why not as a king or queen.)  The idea is that a man and wife become a team.  One of the most helpful suggestions in my opinion was to compare individual priorities and come up with priorities as a couple.  I think it would make a fine wedding gift.
(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!

"SeinLanguage" by Jerry Seinfeld

SeinLanguage by Jerry Seinfeld is a short paperback filled with standup comedian commentary on a variety of subjects.  It is entertaining, humorous and enjoyable.  One can easily finish it in less than a day.  I liked it okay.

(This is one of the books Gerard bought and read a long time ago before we were married.  I just thought I'd read it before releasing it into the wild at bookcrossing.com.  I left it in the bus stop shelter at E. 9th and Superior in front of St. John's Cathedral in downtown Cleveland on Thursday.)
(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!

"David-Seeking a Heart Like His" by Beth Moore is a Fantastic Bible Study!

David-Seeking a Heart Like His by Beth Moore is the best Bible study I’ve done yet! WOW! I learned so much and it was a fantastic look at David’s whole life with its ups and downs. What an inspiration! Not only did this study focus on David’s life going through I and II Samuel but also into Kings and Chronicles. One of my favorite features of this Bible study was that she also pointed out Psalms that David wrote as he went through certain events of his life or looked back.

I found myself highlighting quite bit in both the book and my Bible as I went through this study. I spent about 45 min. to an hour a day on the daily lessons but the time flew by. There is so much life application included that it just made the scripture really come to life. Although I did it along with a group and viewed Beth Moore’s DVD once a week to introduce each week’s lessons, I got so much more from digging into the daily lessons during the week.

 If you want to grow in your walk with the Lord, this will be an eye-opener. It has raised my level of praise, worship, trust, understanding of God and prayer. I cannot say enough good about this study and highly recommend it! Now go order 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!

"Allegiant" by Veronica Roth Is Disappointing

Allegiant by Veronica Roth is the third book in the Divergent trilogy.   It is about friendship, forgiveness and doing the right thing and family bonds.  

 I was anxious to read this one but it was so confusing at the beginning.  Perhaps because it was so long since I read Insurgent.  This one was disappointing.  It moved slow, not much action until the last quarter of the book when things picked up, but then I didn’t like the ending.  There were some good parts but most of it was just strange and confusing.  I liked the first two in the series much better--Divergent and Insurgent.

I enjoyed reading the author's explanation of why she chose the gutsy ending she did.  It is full of spoilers though so I suggest you read the book first and then check out "About The End of Allegiant."
(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!

"Cross and Burn" by Val McDermid Gets 5 Stars from Me

Cross and Burn by Val McDermid is about a killer on the loose who is killing women that resemble a certain woman.  Who is that woman?  You will have to read the book!  This book has good action and a really great twist that I did not see coming.  
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesdays: Four for You

Gerard's:

Would he finally meet her, his perfect wife?  He knew who she was, of course.  He'd been watching her for a couple of weeks now, growing used to her habits, getting to know who her friends were, learning her little ways. 

From page 1 of Cross and Burn by Val McDermid.  (My review will go up tomorrow)

Anden finishes buttoning his shirt.  "I can only do what I have do do, June," he says gently.  It almost sounds sad.

From page 89 of Champion by Marie Lu. (the third book in the Legend series)

Karen's:

I stay with him because I choose to, every day that I wake up, every day that we fight or lie to each other or disappoint each other.  I choose him over and over again, and he chooses me.

From page 372 of Allegiant by Veronica Ross (Third book of the Divergent series)

David appointed four thousand people to praise the Lord with musical instruments.  Can you imagine an orchestra of four thousand?

From page 227 of David--Seeking a Heart Like His by Beth Moore.

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.   

Happy Reading!

"3:59" by Gretchen McNeil is Very Good!

3:59 by Gretchen McNeil is about a young teen girl whose life is falling apart.  When she sees a chance to get it back together, she takes it and winds up in the adventure of her life.  

I got into this book from page 1.  There is plenty of good action and a great twist with a very good ending.

(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

We Both Liked "Boy Nobody" by Allen Zadoff (Updated)

Boy Nobody is a YA book about a teen who actually gets to do the kinds of things one does in playing a video game.  Zach’s life is not his own, he becomes a boy assassin working for “the Program.”  He completes an assignment, killing someone, then moves away and onto the next assignment.  His choice is to complete assignments or die.  He chose to live and most of the book is about his most unusual assignment yet—a very short timeline and a girl. 

This book is a very quick read with very short chapters.  I like how the author created suspense with action which made me keep reading.  At first, I didn’t like the main character but by the end of the book, I did.  This book is written in the first person of Boy Nobody, the assassin, which is a different twist.  The best part of the book for me was getting to know Boy Nobody’s thoughts, especially when he was in danger.  I enjoyed the book but was hoping for a different ending.  

(Karen's review, 4 stars)

 
Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff is about a young teen boy who is in "The Program."  He gets assignments to kill and does them very well but this time he runs into problems.  I loved this book from cover to cover.  I was really into it!  There is plenty of action and the ending is spell binding!  
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Once We Were" by Kat Zhang

Once We Were by Kat Zhang is the sequel to "What's Left of Me," the story of Addie and Eva who share the same body.  The government wants to put a stop to this so they continue to try to escape from the law.  I got into this pretty quick because there is good action which held my attention throughout.  I look forward to reading the third book in this "Hybrid Chronicles" series.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesdays: Four for You

Gerard's:

Our legs froze.  It took three thundering heartbeats before I calmed down enough to move again.

From page 10 of Once We Were (the 2nd book in the Hybrid Chronicles) by Kat Zhang.  (My review of this will be posted tomorrow)

She wanted to tell her mom the truth--about Nick and Madison, about her job, and about the train.  She wanted a squishy hug, to feel her mom's long fingers comb through Josie's hair and for her mom to tell her that everything was going to be okay.

From page 26 of 3:59 by Gregchen McNeil.

Karen's:

It's good to be underestimated.  It's what's known as a tactical advantage.

From page 19 of Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff.

God does not play favorites.  Anyone who cries out to Him, He answers.  Anyone who surrenders to His call, He uses.

From page 204 of David--Seeking a Heart Like His by Beth Moore.

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.   

Happy Reading!

"Keepsake" by Kristina Riggle - A Novel about Hoarding

Keepsake by Kristina Riggle is an interesting read about how hoarding affected the whole family.  Trish and Mary are sisters but different as night and day.  Trish is a hoarder to such an extent that social services came to her house threatening to remove her 7-yr. old son from his home if she didn’t get the house cleaned up—clutter and junk was everywhere!  Trish’s older son left home and lives at his girlfriend’s house because he couldn’t stand all the clutter.  On the other hand, Mary is a single neat freak whose best friend is a good book.  Trish realizes she can’t clean it up by herself so reluctantly accepts help from her family. 

I found it interesting that often people become hoarders after having a traumatic experience that sets them off.  The sisters in this book lost touch after their mother died but through cleaning out the house, got to rebuild their relationship.  My dad had a lot of clutter in his house after my mom died with one narrow path to walk so I could identify with Mary in this book.  If you know a hoarder or are a hoarder, I think you would enjoy this book. It includes discussion questions in the back so could be an interesting book club read.

 (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!

"Five Days at Memorial" by Sheri Fink (non-fiction about Hurricane Katrina)

Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink tells the true story of Memorial Hospital in New Orleans five days during Hurricane Katrina.  It is an outstanding read!  This book is in two parts:  (1) the first part deals with the hospital and the action the doctors and nurses took; (2) the second part deals with the aftermath of their decisions.  Both parts are excellent!  I enjoyed this book very much!  If you want a good non-fiction read, this is a must!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars) 

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Scariest Books We Ever Read

image:  Amazon.com

The scariest book I  (Karen) ever read was my first ghost story in 2003, Comes the Blind Fury by John Saul. A girl, Amanda, was blind and was forced of a cliff, died and now haunts other 12-year-old girls. Michelle, an adopted girl, moved from Boston to Paradise Point and found an old doll in her house that she name Amanda. Amanda’s ghost came to visit her and they became friends. When someone teased Michelle, the ghost would come and arrange some sort of “accident” so they would die. Only mother figured something was very wrong but father ignored everything connected with Michelle once Jennifer was born.

Gerard's was the Tommyknockers by Stephen King.  Here is an excerpt from the dust cover (558 pages):

Late last night and the night before,
Tommyknockers, Tommyknockers,
knocking at the door.
I want to go out, don't know if I can,
'cause I'm so afraid
of the Tommyknocker man.

It begins with nothing more frightening than a nursery rhyme; yet in Stephen King's hands it becomes an unforgettable parable of dread, a threat from an unimaginable darkness that drags the practical inhabitants of a New England village into a hell worse than their own most horrible nightmares...and yours.

It begins with Bobbi's discovery of the ship in the earth, a ship buried for millions of years, but still vibrating faintly, still humming with some sort of life...faint...weak...but still better left alone.

The townspeople of Haven are "becoming"--being welded into one organic, homicidal, and fearsomely brilliant entity in fatal thrall to the Tommyknockers.

In this riveting, nightmarish story, Stephen King has given us his tautest, most terrifying novel to date.  And the next time someone raps at your door, you may want to keep the chain on.  It just might be the Tommyknocker Man.

Have you these? What did you think of them? What was the scariest book you ever read?

"The Circle" by Dave Eggers is an Enjoyable Read

The Circle by Dave Eggers is about Mae Holland who lands her dream job working at "The Circle," the most powerful Internet company around.  At first, she loves it and quickly rises up in the company, but not everything is as it seems.  Mae is in for the adventure of her life!

I loved this book because Mae was a believable and likable character and the plot moved right along.  I think it would make a good Lifetime movie. 
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)


Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teasers: Four for You

Gerard's:

"Well, it's not like he's in security-security.  He's not Mossad.  But did I interrupt something you definitely shouldn't be doing on your first night here you idiot?"

From page 38 of The Circle by Dave Eggers.  (My review will be up Wednesday.)

The possibility that the floodwaters could reach the first floor raised fears for the ten patients in the emergency room and the Noah's ark of pets in the medical records department.  For now, the emergency patients stayed put.

From page 58 of Five Days At Memorial by Sherl Fink.

Karen's:

Trish didn't want help any more than our mother did.  She was only permitting us in her house under threat of losing the only thing that might matter more to her than stuff, little Jack.

From page 52 of Keepsake by Kristina Riggle.

Forgiveness may be excruciating for a moment.  Anger and bitterness are excruciating for a lifetime.

From page 181 of David--Seeking a Heart Like His by Beth Moore.

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.   

Happy Reading!

"The Edge of Normal" by Carla Norton

The Edge of Normal by Carla Norton is about a young girl named Reeve who was kidnapped and escaped.  She is trying to deal with that when her doctor tells her of another young girl who had the same ordeal she did and needs someone to talk to.  Soon trouble comes and Reeve finds herself in danger again.

This is a very good action book.  The suspense builds up throughout the book that made me love it!

(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"To Sing Frogs" by John M. Simmons (UPDATED)

A Happy Memoir

Updated 10/25/13:

To Sing Frogs by John M. Simmons is an interesting read on so many levels.  First of all, it is a true story of a Mormon couple who had three boys of their own, but who adopt a special needs boy (Jack) and later three girls and one boy from Russia.  It was amazing at how many hoops they had to jump through and all the delays.  In spite of the author being a cynic who really doesn't believe God cares or is involved in our lives, the answered prayers of the three little orphans from Russia seems to at least make him wonder.

I'm glad I took the time to read To Sing Frogs in spite of the dumb title.  This book is so well written that I felt the father's frustrations and the joy of the girls who were adopted.  I loved the author's sarcasm throughout the book and how the orphans' prayers were answered in spite of the odds.  I think anyone considering an international adoption or interested in orphanages or Russia would enjoy this book.  It's different from any other book I've read.     
(Karen's review)

To Sing Frogs by John M. Simmons is a memoir about family, friends, life, and other things that don't make sense.   It is about a couple who adopt four children from Russia.  The best parts of the book were: 

(1)  all the red tape and the various hurdles the couple had to go through to get the children to be part of their family;

(2)  the kids, the joy they felt that somebody wanted them and then the trials of coming to America and not knowing the language and the customs; and

(3)  how the couple wished that they were able to take a lot more kids in.

This is a feel good book that I think you would enjoy reading!  There is no big "wow" factor, but a happy, heartwarming ending.  I liked the pictures in the book too!
(Gerard's review, rating 5 stars)

Note:  We received an advance review copy of this book but that did not affect our reviews.
All proceeds from the sale of To Sing Frogs will benefit the Ele Lembra Foundation charity and with your assistance, we'll be raising awareness on the benefits of adoption.

Happy Reading!

"Boy Nobody" by Allen Zadoff (UPDATED 11-5-13)

Boy Nobody is a YA book about a teen who actually gets to do the kinds of things one does in playing a video game.  Zach’s life is not his own, he becomes a boy assassin working for “the Program.”  He completes an assignment, killing someone, then moves away and onto the next assignment.  His choice is to complete assignments or die.  He chose to live and most of the book is about his most unusual assignment yet—a very short timeline and a girl. 

 

This book is a very quick read with very short chapters.  I like how the author created suspense with action which made me keep reading.  At first, I didn’t like the main character but by the end of the book, I did.  This book is written in the first person of Boy Nobody, the assassin, which is a different twist.  The best part of the book for me was getting to know Boy Nobody’s thoughts, especially when he was in danger.  I enjoyed the book but was hoping for a different ending.  

(Karen's review, 4 stars)

 
Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff is about a young teen boy who is in "The Program."  He gets assignments to kill and does them very well but this time he runs into problems.  I loved this book from cover to cover.  I was really into it!  There is plenty of action and the ending is spell binding!  
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)
 
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: Four for You

Gerard's:

Gloria lurched out of the bathroom, a matching hole in her stomach, a bloody hunting knife in her hand, a knife she noticed as if for the first time and then threw against the wall with what must have been her last burst of strength, because in the same motion her legs gave out.  When they did, it was Jule's neck she slung her slippery arms around and Jule's shuddering body she dragged to the floor.

From page 12 of The Waking Dark by Robin Wasserman. Loved this!

I am equally effective with girls and guys, but girls create another level of difficulty.  More emotion, more problems.

From page 55 of Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff.

Karen's:

Katya didn't know what to do any more than I did.  I felt like my wife, sent on an errand to the auto parts store to choose a high performance carburetor for a '68 Camaro.

From page 49 of To Sing Frogs--A memoir by John M. Simmons (Advance Review Copy, Uncorrected Proof)

Confessing wrong thoughts stops sin in the first stages, before it comes out of our mouths and then directs our actions.  If I allow God to halt sin before it takes one step out of my mind into word or deed, the only person hurt will be me.

From page 153 of DAVID--Seeking a Heart Like His by Beth Moore.

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.   

Happy Reading!

"The Waking Dark" by Robin Wasserman

The Waking Dark by Robin Wasserman is about a small town where evil takes over and people do what they would not normally do.  A group of people who have nothing in common must come together to stop the evil from spreading.  This book reminds me of the old Stephen King books that I loved.  Loved this one too--a great Halloween read! 
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!