Friday, January 17, 2014

"Angels Watching Over Me" by Michael Phillips

image source:  Amazon
Angels Watching Over Me by Michael Phillips is about two teen girls whose families both got killed after the Civil War. Katie is a daughter of a white plantation owner and Mayme is a black slave girl who grew up on a different plantation. Shortly after the death of their families, the two girls actually become friends and help each other. Although they have different backgrounds and different talents, they work together to protect each other, and run the plantation on their own. Mayme is practical and Katie a dreamer, but both girls open their hearts up to God and seek His direction when they find themselves in a desperate situation.

I loved this historical fiction book and look forward to the next in this Shenandoah Sisters series. It was a good page turner with likable characters and action too! The story is told from the slave girl’s point of view for the most part. I am so glad I finally found this author and can't wait to read more by him!

This is currently free for Kindle on Amazon--hurry!

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!

Thursday, January 16, 2014

"Lies You Wanted to Hear" by James Whitfield Thomson

Lies You Wanted to Hear by James Whitfield Thomson is a real good page turner!  The two main characters are Matt and Lucy.  I liked Matt but he might have gone a bit too far and I did not like Lucy, but at the end I felt sorry for her.  You will have to decide how you feel about them and let me know!  I liked 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!

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

"Chaser" by John W. Pilley is About an Amazing Dog

I give this book 4 paws way up!
Chaser--Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words by John W. Pilley is the true story of a Border Collie who knows more than 1,000 words! John W. Pilley, a professor worked with Chaser and it's really something how he trained her.  LOVED it 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!

Monday, January 13, 2014

Teaser Tuesdays: 3 Today



Gerard's:

My heartbeat gradually slowed down after ten of the worst seconds in Sally's and my life.
     A few minutes later we were all having lunch together, laughing with Allyson about her flying grab of the leash.
 From page 62 of Chaser--Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words by John W. Pilley.  (My review will be up tomorrow)

No matter what the misadventure--wrecking the car ( a Thornhill family tradition), stealing pills from Amanda's cache, getting caught in the TV room in flagrante delicto--the best defense was to pretend it hadn't happened.  Or lie about it.
From page 29 of Lies You Wanted to Hear by James Whitfield Thomson. 

Karen's


The brain is like other organs and works better when the body is healthy.  Exercising the body regularly appears to help ward off Alzheimer's disease, as do reducing body weight, lowering blood pressure, and eating a more healthful diet.

From page 21 of BRAIN THE COMPLETE MIND, How it Develops, How it Works, and How to Keep it Sharp by Michael S. Sweeney

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of 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!

Sunday, January 12, 2014

"Doctor Sleep" by Stephen King

When I started reading Doctor Sleep by Stephen King, the sequel to The Shining, it did not make sense to me.  I picked it up a few days later to give it another go and then I finally caught on.  This is about a little girl who has a special power that some people want to use for evil.  Dad has the same power and fights against the evil trying to save the little girl from harm.

I enjoyed it once I got into it.  There is good action and I especially liked the parts about the little girl.
(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!

Saturday, January 11, 2014

"A Collie Rescue" by Lindsay Downs

A Collie Rescue by Lindsay Downs is a short book that I read on my Kindle. I thought it was going to be about Collies being rescued, but it isn’t. It’s about Collies being buddies for returning vets with PTSD. Actually, that is just a small part of the book. This is about the FBI hunting down terrorists with the help of a returning vet with PTSD who is homeless, and her new Collie, Taz, who has her back.

This started kind of slow and I lost interest for a while, but returned to it and liked the ending. I would have rated it higher if the characters were more developed. I think vets may like it and anyone who enjoys quick reads without a lot of description or in-depth characters. (Half the proceeds from this book go to the pet fund.)
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

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

Friday, January 10, 2014

"The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt is a story about a young boy who tragically loses his mom at a young age.  To remember her, he takes a picture from an art museum.  This book mostly centers on the boy growing up and his placing with his foster families and then his dad who ran off and came back.  The boy also becomes involved in the criminal world.  Does anyone miss the painting he stole?  

Although this book is long, don't let that deter you.  It is well worth the time.  I enjoyed 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!

Thursday, January 9, 2014

"Words From a Fearless Heart--A collection of wit, wisdom and whimsy" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

After being married 16 years, I decided to start reading some of my husband’s books that are in our bookcases and this is one of them.  Words From a Fearless Heart—A collection of wit, wisdom, and whimsy by Laura Ingalls Wilder is a delightful read, especially since I always enjoyed watching “Little House on the Prairie.”  This goes very quickly and is as the title suggests, collection of short bits of wisdom, wit and whimsy.  It’s a great little book to read when you just have a few minutes.  I especially enjoyed the musing on pioneer eating that showed the huge contrast between then and our healthy focus on eating today.  Back then, not only did they eat lots of meat, but it was heavily salted!  Lard was used when cooking or baking and fried potatoes were a staple, cooked in lard.  Butter and sugar was considered good for you!   In fact, sugar was considered “essential to growing child’s health—a nutritious food.”   I recommend this quick inspirational read to anyone, but especially to fans of Little House on the Prairie and Laura Ingalls.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

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

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

"Touchdown Tony Crown and the Mystery of the Missing Cheerleader" by Peter Guy George

Touchdown Tony Crowne and the Mystery of the Missing Cheerleader by Peter Guy George is a fun read about three elementary school kids, Tony, Judd and Ash and Tony’s 80 lb. dog, Curly. 

This book had several angels to it:  football, a bit of mystery, and the chasing down of the criminal.  It is a book of Tony saving the damsel in distress, the missing cheerleader, with the help of a real detective, a friend and his dog.  It is geared to kids, but I enjoyed it—especially the football game part and the dog.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

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

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

4 Teasers with Book Giveaway



Gerard's:

With both hands, he shoved me so hard I staggered and nearly fell.  "GET BACK FROM THE BUILDING!" he screamed, throwing up his arms with a flap of his rain slicker.  "NOW!"  He wasn't even looking at me; his small, bearish eyes were riveted on something going on over my head, up the street, and the expression on his face terrified me.
From page 49 of The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.

Shy tightens his grip.  Grits his teeth and tries pulling the man up.  But it's impossible.  He's not strong enough.  Their positioning is too awkward.
From page 6 of The Living by Matt De La Pena.  My review went up yesterday.

Karen's:

Tony ran to his spot next to the Lion's sideline still thinking about Ash's disappearance.  His mind was churning through all the possible reasons for Ash not coming to the game and how Felicity could be involved, when he realized the "THUD" he heard was Tim Crossman's opening kickoff.
From 37%, Location 900 on Kindle of Touchdown Tony Crowne and the Mystery of the Missing Cheerleader by Peter Guy George. (My review will be up tomorrow.)

Paul's secret of contentment emerges from a universal principle of human nature.  It is to trust God regardless of the circumstances and not to expect too much perfection in this life.
Giveaway Book--leave comment if you would like this with an email to contact you for address.

From page 177 of Holding on to your faith even . . . WHEN GOD DOESN'T MAKE SENSE by Dr. James Dobson.

There are a few highlighted passages in this book so I cannot list it on Paperback Swap but thought I would offer to our blog readers first before releasing it into the wild.  If you would like to have this book, please let us know in a comment.  We will keep it available until the end of this week.  If more than one person is interested, we will randomly choose a winner on Saturday, 1/11/14.  If no one expresses an interest by then, I will release it into the wild.

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!

Monday, January 6, 2014

"The Living" by Matt De La Pena

This Living by Matt De La Pena is about a young man named Shy who works on a luxury cruise liner.  One day a man decides to jump off the ship and shy tries to save him but can't.  Who was that man and in the brief time they spent together, what did he tell Shy?  A huge storm comes and Shy finds himself in a lifeboat with the last person he wants to be with.

This book starts out slow but stick with it because there is action and plenty of it.  It is a quick read, finished it in two days.  A second book will be out later this year that I look forward to reading as well!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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

Sunday, January 5, 2014

"Save Our Bones Program" by Vivian Goldschmidt, MA

When I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis and told to get a prescription for a couple drugs that promote bone density, I tried them but quickly quit because they made me feel worse.  I experienced side effects that I did not want such as pain in my legs and thighs and sometimes my leg even locking up on me.  Then my doctor advised me to take Prolia, a shot every 6 months.  I didn't do that because it even had worse side effects! 

I was thrilled to come across the New Expanded Edition of Save Our Bones Program-The Revolutionary Treatment That Prevents and Reverses Bone Loss Naturally by Vivian Goldschmidt, MA which gives an alternative to taking the prescription drugs to strengthen bones.  It contains diet information, exercises specifically geared to building bone density and lots of practical things to do to improve bone health without prescription drugs based on lots of scientific research!  I ordered it for my 60th birthday.

I like the specific lists of foods, the explanations for the do's and don'ts that affect bone health and that many of the things are easy to implement.  

I recommend it to anyone who is dealing with Osteoporosis.    Time will tell if it really works but others have testified that it has worked for them.  Visit www.saveourbones.com for more information or to order the book.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

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

Saturday, January 4, 2014

"The System" is an Outstanding Book About College Football

The System--The Glory and Scandal of Big-Time College Football by Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian is an outstanding eye-opening look at college football.  It tells how it works and in some cased, how it doesn't work.  This goes beyond the scoreboard by dealing with coaches, players, the athletic directors and even people outside the program who make a big impact off the field.  I LOVED it and learned 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!

Friday, January 3, 2014

"Accused" by Lisa Scottoline (Updated)

I liked Accused by Lisa Scottoline because it is about Mary, a criminal lawyer who tries to get a case reopened because the sister of the victim believes the wrong guy was convicted for the murder.  It also includes the subplot of her personal life which includes her engagement to her live-in boyfriend and her lack of excitement.  Who the real killer is was a well kept secret and I liked how things were wrapped up at the end.

It's a good read if you don't need a lot of action to hold your attention and find crime investigations interesting.  I liked the interaction between the lawyers in this book and the Christian overtones with the accused and his mother.  I recommend it.  I think it is one of Lisa Scottoline's more believable novels.
(Karen's review 1-3
-13, 4 stars)

Accused by Lisa Scottoline is about a 13-yr-old girl who hires two lawyers to get the man who was found guilty of killing her sister out of prison because she thinks somebody else did it and he is innocent.  Her parents don't want this and it becomes a test of wills.  It's a good book but doesn't have enough action for me to give it 5 stars so it gets 4.
(Gerard's review 12-11-13, 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!

Thursday, January 2, 2014

"Fifteen Minutes" by Karen Kingsbury

It's always good to start off the year with a good book and Fifteen Minutes by Karen Kingsbury fits the bill. This is a great takeoff on American Idol and how one young boy deals with fame and fortune.  I really cared about the characters and got into it right away.  This book shows that fame isn't all it's cracked up to be.  If you want a good read to kick start 2014, this is 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!

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Our Favorite Reads For 2013

 Happy New Year!  Does anyone really care what our favorite reads were  for 2013?  Oh well, here they are whether you care or not.  Between the two of us, we read over 200 books last year so please do not think that these few are the only ones we liked.  We chose these as our favorites, but it wasn't easy.


Since I didn't read too many non-fiction books, I didn't make a separate list of them like Gerard did.


If you want to see our review of any of our favorites, just enter the title (or author) in the search box at the top left.

Books we both liked from 2013:

Champion by Marie Lu
The Program by Suzanne Young
In the After by Demitri Lunetta
The Blood of Lambs--A Former Terrorist's Memoir of Death and Redemption by Kamal Saleem (non-fiction)
Touch and Go by Lisa Gardner
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Suspect by Robert Crais
Dinner With the Smileys by Sarah Smiley (non-fiction)

Have you read any of these? If not, hope you will this year. Happy Reading!

Sunday, December 29, 2013

"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!

Friday, December 27, 2013

"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!

Thursday, December 26, 2013

"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!

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

"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!

Monday, December 23, 2013

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!

Friday, December 20, 2013

"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!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

"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, December 17, 2013

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!

Monday, December 16, 2013

"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!

Friday, December 13, 2013

"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!

Thursday, December 12, 2013

"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, December 10, 2013

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!

Monday, December 9, 2013

"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!

Friday, December 6, 2013

"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!

Thursday, December 5, 2013

"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!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

"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!

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

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!

Sunday, December 1, 2013

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!

Thursday, November 28, 2013

"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!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

"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!

Monday, November 25, 2013

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!

Saturday, November 23, 2013

"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!

Friday, November 22, 2013

"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!

Thursday, November 21, 2013

"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!

Monday, November 18, 2013

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!

Sunday, November 17, 2013

"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!

Saturday, November 16, 2013

"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!

Friday, November 15, 2013

"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!

Thursday, November 14, 2013

"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!

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

"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!

Monday, November 11, 2013

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!

Friday, November 8, 2013

"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!
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