"The Winter Horses" by Philip Kerr (UPDATED)

Watch this video to see Gerard and I discuss this book:


The Winter Horses by Philip Kerr is based on a true story, or I would like to believe that it really happened.  Read the book, then you decide.  It is about an old man and a young girl who save two horses that might be the last of their kind.  It takes place during World War II.  I liked both the main characters, the old man and the young girl.  I also liked the animals in the story--both horses and especially the dog!

This is a real page turner that I loved!   Give it a chance.  If you liked War Horse, you will like this one too because it's similar.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Karen's review:
The Winter Horses by Philip Kerr is a moving historical novel about Kalinka, an Ukrainian Jewish orphan girl who saves a couple very special Przewalski’s (pronounced “shuh-VAHL-skeez”) horses during World War II with the help of an old man named Max, a loyal wolfhound named Taras, a kind German army Captain and a kind Russian Major.  The wild horses did their part in the struggle to survive as well.

This is an amazing story that made me cry three times!   It addresses the wide range of how low and how kind people can be.  Part of the book I especially enjoyed were the words of wisdom Kalinka remembered her grandfather saying.  It is a wonderful story about a girl’s special connection with a couple wild horses and a great dog too!  Although it had several very sad and disturbing parts, I loved it!  It is a page turner that I didn’t want to put down. 


Join in with Mama Kat's Vlogging prompt:  Book 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!

"Far From You" by Tess Sharpe is a Real Page Turner!

Far From You by Tess Sharpe is a YA novel about a special friendship between two young girls, Sophie and Mina.  One night they are confronted by a masked man.  Sophie is knocked out and Mina is killed.  Sophie will not rest until she finds the killer that the policy cannot seem find.

This is a real page turner.  I was always anxious to pick up where I left off.  The writing is really good and the main character, Sophie, is awesome!  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!

"Safe Keeping" by Barbara Taylor Sissel

Safe Keeping by Barbara Taylor Sissel concerns a family where the boy in the family is being charged with the murder of a young lady.  This is a very good page turner.  I especially enjoyed the interaction between the wife and husband and the sister and the brother.  All the family members have problems that add to the story.  I think this would make a real good lifetime movie!
(Gerard's review, 5++)

Now see what Karen thought about it:

Safe Keeping by Barbara Taylor Sissel is about a family whose 34-yr.-old son, Tucker, is charged with murder.  His father, Joe, is a disabled Vietnam vet with PTSD who constantly lives with regret of holding a gun on Tucker when he was only 4-yrs-old and locking him in the closet.  His mother, Emily and older sister, Lissa have always been protective of Tucker and want to believe in his innocence.  When Lissa finds out she is pregnant, she is afraid of becoming a mother because of all the pain her parents went through with Tucker and considers having an abortion, which causes friction between her and her husband, Evan.  The question is, is Emily and Joe’s son really a murderer?

This book is all about the family and the effects of that horrible day when Joe flipped out with Tucker.  Tucker claims he is innocent of murder but there is a lot of circumstantial evidence against him.  I liked this book and thought the ending was great!  It also has discussions questions that could be used for a book club. (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!

Tuesday Teasers: Two Today

Karen's:

"Like I said before, God help us if that turns out to be the case."  Roy stuffed his shirt hem into his jeans and threaded his belt through the loops.  "I'll tell your right now, I can't handle that again."

From page 10 of Safe Keeping by Barbara Taylor Sissel..

Gerard's:

No food, no warmth, no help.  Except for a loyal dog and two remarkable horses she is trying to save, against all odds.  Her only allies.

From back cover of The Winter Horses by Philip Kerr.

 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!

"Daisy and Josephine" by Melissa Gilbert

We both enjoyed this short children's book, Daisy and Josephine by Melissa Gilbert with illustrations by Julia Kuo.  It is about a lonely little girl who loves her dad and travels around with him, but doesn't really have any friends until one day her daddy gives her a strange looking dog.  This book actually made me laugh out loud when the girl tried playing with her dog who didn't want to play.  You will have to read the book to find out how they finally bonded and what they agreed to do.  It was interesting to me that the author has a French Bulldog named Josephine.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

This book tells a very short story about a little girl and her dad.  She follows her dad on the road but would like some companionship.  Her dad gets her a dog.  The story and the drawings in this book are really good.  If you have a young child, it's a very good read they will enjoy.  I know I did!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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

"Confessions--The Private School Murders" by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Confessions:  The Private School Murders by James Patterson is a YA mystery with a very brave main character, Tandy, who helps the NYPD solve murder mysteries and gets her older brother cleared of killing his pregnant girlfriend.  When her parents are murdered, her Uncle Peter gets Jacob (an Israeli) to be guardian for her and her brothers.   He was my favorite character—what a good guy!  The kids’ parents were strange to say the least and drugged their kids so they would not feel emotion.  They pushed their children to excel.  Tandy is obsessed with saving lives—she was kept busy trying to clear her brother of the murder charge, finding her long lost love whom her parents tried erasing from her mind, solving the deadly pest control problem in her building, and solving the mystery of the murder of four dead girls from private schools. 

 

The novel is written in a way that has Tandy telling us what happened and at some points breaks from the story to speak directly to the reader about her feelings.  This is a good read with lots going on.  Parts are touching, suspenseful, and heartwarming.  The ending made me want to cheer!

(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!

"Stronger" by Jeff Bauman with Bret Witter

Being a huge Boston fan, it is a "no brainer" that I was going to read Stronger by Jeff Bauman with Bret Witter.  I read it and loved it!  Jeff was one of only two people who lost both of their legs at the Boston Marathon last year when the bomb went off.  He was able to identify the bomber for the cops.  I especially liked the part that dealt with his recovery which proved what Jeff was made of--Boston Strong!  Thanks for telling your story, Jeff, and God bless you and Erin!
(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 Have Different Opinions of "Dear Killer" by Katherine Ewell

 Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell is a quick read that kept me turning the pages to see if the killer gets caught.  In this book, the "Perfect Killer" is the main character.  Kit was taught to be a killer by her mother for money--yes, they were both killers.  The mom "retired" from killing and turned over the job to her daughter (nice, huh?).  When Kit is killing, she goes by Diana, I think so she can live with herself.  The killings are not real gory but there are many! It's hard to give a book 5 stars if you don't like the main character.
(Karen's review 4/29/14, 4 stars)

Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell is told by Kit, a young girl who is the "Perfect Killer."  Why? you ask. You will have to read the book to find out that one.  Kit was taught by her mom and taught well.  Then one thing happens that will change her way of life, or will it?

I really enjoyed this book a lot!  I thought the writing was very good and Kit is an amazing character.  Put this on your T.B.R. list.  It's that good.  I LOVED it!  This is the best book I've read this month so far.
(Gerard's review 4/16/14, 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 Today (Updated)

Karen's:

"We don't expect people to care."  He flopped down on his back, lying diagonally across his mattress with his arms crossed over his chest.  "Jacob actually cares about us.  Us!"

From page 115 of Confessions-The Private School Murders by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro.

Gerard's:

She had never achieved my fame. The Perfect Killer--there's not a person in London who doesn't know and fear that name nowadays.

From page 4 of Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell (age 17).

(Had to do this at the library-no computer yet.)

 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!

"Black Chalk" by Christopher J. Yates

Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates deals with six young college students.  They play a game where the challenges get more and more daring.  There can be only one winner.  The parts of the book that deal with the game were very interesting and I was into it.  However, there was a lot of stuff that I could have done without.  This is more of a mind book than an action book.  The ending part was very good though.
(Gerard's review, 3 1/2 stars)

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

"I Remember You" by Yrsa Sigurdardouir

In I Remember You by Yrsa Sigurdardouir you get two stories that are really good!  The first story is three friends go to a remote island to fix up a house.  The second story is about a detective who is haunted by his missing son.  This book goes back and forth between the two.  I really enjoyed it a lot!  It is a real page turner!
(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!

"Elusion" by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam is Very Good!

Imagine if you could escape to a land where you could just relax and enjoy fresh air and the beauty of nature.  That is what Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam gives you.   But is there trouble in paradise? 

I loved this book because the lead character is really good and the concept makes it hard to put down.  This is an enjoyable YA science fiction read--just great!
(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: 3 This Week

Gerard's:

.I could Escape along with them if I wanted, but i haven't been to Elusion since late December.  Not even for a quick zip-trip, like these people are having.

From page 9 of Elusion by Claudia Gabel & Cheryl Klam. (teen Science fiction)

I couldn't hear bear the idea of him being gone.  Or even worse, of him suffering for years to come.  I didn't know what to say or what to do.  All I could do is cry.  Then he said something I'll never forget.

 From page 23 of The Priority List by David Menasche.  (See my review.)

Karen's:

"Why do you break my crunchy in half?"

 I heard his voice, his voice, Rufus's voice, as clearly as I have heard anything in my life--maybe clearer than most.

From page 54 of The Dog That Talked to God by Jim Kraus. (See Gerard's 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!

"Breed" by Chasse Novak Gave Me the Willies!

Breed by Chase Novak deals with a couple who have very sound jobs, lots of money and a lovely home but they do not have any children and want some.  As a last resort, they go to Europe to have a procedure done that will make sure they will have children--but at what cost?

This book is creepy good!  It reminds me of the Stephen King horror books I used to read and love!  This book will give you the willies--I LOVED 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!

"I Will Never Forget" by Elaine C. Pereira

I Will Never Forget—A Daughter’s Story of Her Mother’s Arduous and Humorous Journey through Dementia by Elaine C. Pereira is informative, heartbreaking and emotional.  Although it starts a bit slow, about halfway through I found myself really enjoying it.  This book gives a glimpse into what it’s like for those dealing with dementia.  I could certainly feel the daughter’s sadness when she realized her mom was worse off than she thought and had some difficult decisions to make.  This is a touching story of love between a mother and daughter that I could certainly relate to.  As I read, it made me even more thankful that neither of my parents suffered with dementia.  This book is an eye opener that gives insight into independent living, assisted living, Memory Care and Hospice facilities as the daughter shares about her mother’s journey.  I recommend it to anyone who would like to know more about how to deal with someone with dementia or wants to know more about the illness.   
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

(I was given a free copy to review but this did not affect my 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 Priority List" by David Menasche

The Priority List--A Teacher's Final Quest to Discover Life's Greatest Lessons by David Menasche is a true story about the author, a high school teacher who was diagnosed with brain cancer.  He lost his vision and for the most part, his mobility.  Vowing not to go out without a fight, he decides to go on a long trip with the help of his former students.  I could tell he must have been a fantastic teacher because his former students go way out of the way to help him.  One of the best parts of this book is the written test for many of his former students.

Here's a teaser from page 23:

I couldn't hear bear the idea of him being gone.  Or even worse, of him suffering for years to come.  I didn't know what to say or what to do.  All I could do is cry.  Then he said something I'll never forget.

I loved this book--it's a great story!  David shows that even now, he is still teaching.
(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!

Our Favorite Reads For March

Gerard's Favorite:  The Deepest Secret

Karen's Favorite:  The Long Way Home

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!

"Mind of Winter" by Laura Kasischke is Fantastic!

Mind of Winter by Laura Kasischke takes place on Christmas day!  Due to a blizzard, a family Christmas does not come off.  At home is just the mom and her teenage daughter.  What makes this book so good is the writing.  Mind of Winter hooked me from page one and did not let me go with a shocking ending I did not see coming at all.  This is a fantastic read I highly recommend! 
(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 Today

Gerard's:

Instead, they'd all overslept on Christmas morning, and Holly had woken up with this little horror in her mind, that something had followed them home from Russia.

Something evil?

Well, perhaps not evil.  But it had sapped them.  It continued to sap them.

From page 5 of Mind of Winter by Laura Kasischke..

My brain feels divided, my thoughts bubbling over with fear and curiosity.  What do I know about this country I'm being driven into?

 
From page 4 of A Sliver of Light by Shane Bauer, Joshua Fattal & Sarah Shourd.  (My review was up yesterday.)


Karen's:

Beneath her was blinding light, the kind of light you'd see just before you died.  All the people had merged with shadow, and for a second she was afraid she had died, that she was all alone on a tiny, bare surface, with an endless fall into the dark on either side of her.

From page 41 of Panic by Lauren Oliver. (See Gerard's review)

It angered and hurt me to see him be so brutal to her.  I tried to rationalize it as "the stroke," but she was still "my mom" and deserved better.

From I Will Never Forget--A Daughter's Story of Her Mother's Arduous and Humorous Journey through Dementia by Elaine C. Pereira.

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!

"A Sliver of Light" by Shane Bauer, Joshua Fattal & Sarah Shourd

A Sliver of Light by Shane Bauer, Joshua Fattal & Sarah Shourd is an incredible tale of three people on a hike in Iraqi Kurdistan and then crossed over into Iran.  The border patrol arrested them and they were in a situation they will never forget.  This is a great story told by all three people in a way that reads like a novel except it was real life!  This was an eye-opening book for me that I won't soon forget.  Thanks for sharing! 
 (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!

"Too Close To Home" by Lynette Eason

Too Close To Home by Lynette Eason drew me in quickly and kept my interest throughout.  It is a Christian fiction thriller about a widower detective, Connor, with a 16-yr-old daughter, Jenna.  As Connor tries to hunt down a serial killer who keeps killing young teens, his daughter gets drawn in to the guy's scheme of finding girls on the internet and offering them a modeling interview.  Connor's partner, Andrew and computer geek, Samantha, working the case with him are both Christians who try witnessing to Connor.  Samantha resembles his dead wife and Jenna is immediately drawn to her.  Jenna blames her dad for her mother's death and deep down, he kind of blames himself too.

I really enjoyed this book even though you are introduced to the killer early on and it didn't take much to figure out who it was.  I could feel the frustration of the detectives as the killer seemed to keep one step ahead of them.  I recommend this highly to teens as there is a good warning in it not to meet up with people from the internet.  
(Karen's review, 4 stars, read this on Kindle so sorry no cat pictured with the book)

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!

"Panic" by Lauren Oliver -- An Entertaining Y/A Read (Updated 4/4/14)

Panic by Lauren Oliver is good right from the start and keeps getting better as it progresses!  It’s about a tradition in a small town where any senior who wants to participate in the Panic challenge at the end of the school year pays $1 a day into the pot.  After graduation, the winner and two judges who made up the challenges split the pot.  The pot was $67,000 that Heather, Nat and Dodge were competing for.  Each of the main characters had a different motivation for participating.  Most all of the class participated, which I found unbelievable considering the challenges were illegal or life threatening.  (No way would I have participated, but it made for a good read though!  The ending was great!  

I loved the suspense each challenge created and it was fun trying to guess the winner.  I’d recommend this if you are looking for an entertaining YA read.  

(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Panic by Lauren Oliver is a Y/A novel that happens in a small town.  Every year after the school year ends, the graduating seniors who want to play a game called "Panic."  The winner gets a lot of money.  The book focuses on Heather and Dodge who each have their own reason for wanting to win.  The people in the story are very true to life. 

I loved this book because I got into it really fast and it was hard to put down.  
(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 Weight of Blood" by Laura McHugh

The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh is about a young girl who is determined to find out what happened to her mom and to her best friend who both went missing at different parts of her life.  I enjoyed this book from start to finish.  There were not a lot of "wow" moments but it kept me turning pages nonetheless.  I especially liked the ending!  This is a very good novel by a first-time author so give it a chance.
(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!

3 Tuesday Teasers

Gerard's:

I'm the platoon medic.  But most of all, I'm an American.  And when the bells sounds, I will come out fighting for my country and for my teammates.

From page 7 of Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell.

Then he saw Cheri's head, snagged on a piece of driftwood:  her freckled face, abbreviated nose, eyes spaced too wide to be pretty.  Stuffed into the hollow of the tree were the rest of Cheri's pieces, her skin etched with burns and amateur tattoos.

 
From page 4 of The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh.  (My review will be up tomorrow.)


Karen's: 

But she trusted him, right?  So, why did her finger hover over the enter key, hesitating?

Because another girl had disappeared and her dad was worried she might be next.

From Loc. 740 (Ch. 6) of Too Close to Home by Lynette Eason.

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!

"Lone Survivor" by Marcus Luttrell

Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell tells the true story of four Navy Seals who fought a battle in Afghanistan against the Taliban by the lone survivor himself!  To me, this book breaks down into three parts:  (1) what you have to do to become an elite seal--and it's really a lot as you could imagine; (2) the battle which is told so well you can visualize it; and (3) after the battle and finally his rescue.  It is a fantastic story that is also a movie!  I enjoyed it very much, well worth the time!  Mr. Luttrell, thank you for your service!

(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 Deepest Secret" by Carla Buckley

The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley has two main story lines: a hit-and-run accident and a young boy who cannot be exposed to light of any sort. Because there is even more to this book than that, including lots of "wow" moments and believable characters, I loved this book and consider it a "must read." It is my book of the month so far for March! They don't get much better than this!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley is about Eve, a hit-n-run driver who accidentally killed her best friend’s daughter.  She finds herself in a real dilemma because she has a teenage son, Tyler, with a very rare disease who needs special care.  Her husband is a lawyer who works out-of-town a lot and only comes home on weekends.  She also has a lying teenage daughter, Melissa who has secrets of her own.  This book poses a lot of questions along the way.  Tyler is like a prisoner in his own house because UV rays can be deadly for him.  He is only allowed out after sundown but manages to know more about their neighbors and what goes on in the neighborhood than anyone else in his family.  Each person in the family has a secret. 

 

This was a fast-moving book for me because it kept me wondering if Eve is ever going to confess.  My feelings about Eve and her husband changed as the book progressed, but I liked Tyler all the way through; Melissa not so much.  This is a good thought-provoking read that kept me turning the pages and would be great for a book club discussion. 
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

Similar to Touch and Go by Lisa Gardner and Defending Jacob by  William Landay.

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!

"Blood Will Out--The True Story of a Murder, a Mystery and a Masquerade" by Walter Kirn

What a good book Blood Will Out by Walter Kirn is! It is a true story about a con man and killer who passed himself off as somebody important, Clark Rockefeller. He went by other names too and was able to manipulate people into doing things for him, including the author of this book. This book centers on a murder trial where Clark was the defendant. It's amazing! He fooled so many people, 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!

"Good, Clean Murder" by Traci Tyne Hilton was Disappointing

Good, Clean Murder by Traci Tyne Hilton is indeed a plain Jane mystery.  It is about Jane, a 20-yr-old college student hoping to go to the mission field and cleaning houses to earn her way.  Unfortunately, she gets involved in a big mess because she refused to listen to her parents.  Although it started out with the murder which captured my interest, it quickly went downhill from there and I found myself plowing through.  I do not recommend this one—didn’t care for it.
(Karen's review, 2 stars)

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

Tuesday Teasers: 4 For You

Gerard's:

I saw parts of myself in nearly all of them, and each time I did I felt angrier and sadder, if a bit less lonesome.  We were the fools who were never supposed to meet, the very opposite of a conspiracy, who'd worked together for his betterment, oblivious and separate.

From page 92 of Blood Will Out--The True Story of a Murder, a Mystery, and a Masquerade by Walter Kirn 

He waited another moment, and then leaped at my nose.  I caught him mid-jump.  His teeth were sharp enough to draw blood and I did not want to spoil this sort-of-almost-hallowed moment of bestoing a name.

From page 26 of The Dog That Talked to God by Jim Kraus.  (Click link to see my review.)


Karen's: 

Why isn't she talking?  She should say something, anything, but Charlotte's holding her hand so tightly between hers; she's clinging to Eve and it's all Eve can do to stand beside her best friend as the police thunder up and down the stairs, tromp through all the rooms..

From page 71 of The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley.

"This could be an isolated incident, like a bad dream, or indicative of a psychotic episode," Judy explained.  "I've seen it before in some people as they age."

From page 38 of I Will Never Forget by Elaine C. Pereira.

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 Dog That Talked to God" by Jim Kraus (UPDATED)

The Dog That Talked to God by Jim Kraus is about a bitter widow who blames God for taking away her husband and son who died in an auto accident when hit by a drunk driver more than about the dog.  Mary doubted her faith and stopped praying to God for a long time.  She got a puppy she named Rufus and used it as a sounding board.  Then one day the dog talked to her.  This Christian fiction book dragged along for me but at least had a good ending.  I preferred the author’s other book better— The Cat That God Sent.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

The Dog That Talked to God by Jim Kraus is about a woman named Mary who decides to get a dog for companionship after her husband passes away.  She names the dog Rufus and what a tale tale they tell!  This book starts out a bit slow, but stick with it.  I loved Rufus and I grew to like Mary too as the book went on.  It has some good stuff that I did not see coming and a great ending!  It's worth the read!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars because Rufus is so good!) 

 

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 Long Way Home" by Lauraine Snelling (last of series)

The Long Way Home by Lauraine Snelling is the third book of “A Secret Refuge” series that kept my attention all the way with excitement and adventure including family drama, traveling with a wagon train, a bear attack, imprisonment, weddings, Indians and establishing a new home.  Although this is Christian fiction, it is not a predictable ending where all the loose ends get tied up.  It is a family saga that emphasizes all are created equal regardless of geographic location or skin color.  This takes place near the end of the Civil War and covers the effect the war had on both the lives of the south, the north and even the west.   

I enjoyed this entire series of light reading and was happy with the ending.  I liked that not all the slaves were mistreated.  My favorite characters in this series were Jesselynn, Thaddeus (her little brother), Meshack (a very smart, strong, Christian former slave) and Wolf (a half breed wagon master).   I highly recommend this series if you enjoy reading about the Civil War era or enjoy Christian fiction that has some depth to it..

 

This is the 8^th book I’ve read this year about the 1800’s during the Civil War era and I would rank it second to Michael Phillips’ Shenandoah Sisters series.
(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 Teasers: 4 for You

Gerard's:

You know, I have a really great attitude about all this cancer thing.  I smile, laugh and joke about it.

From page 56 of This Star Won't Go Out--The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl byEsther Earl with Lori and Wayne Earl. (Click link for my review--Esther died of cancer at age 16.  This is a beautiful book about her life!)

I kick him to get him on his side of the line and he cries and there is yelling and Momma is yelling back and Daddy is roaring and sounds like a lion with a big mane that shakes.  I don't like this Daddy that is shouting so much.

From page 15 of The Bear by Claire Cameron.  


Karen's: 

In fact, Bob hadn't moved a muscle when his covers had come flying off him.  Surely, if a big guy like him had moved, she would have noticed.

From location 190 on Kindle of Good, Clean Murder:  A Plain Jane Mystery by Traci Tyne Hilton.

She ignored that reasonable voice within her head and continued to hope.  Just the thought of seeing Wolf again set her heart to thumping.

From page 93 of The Long Way Home by Lauraine Snelling.  (Book 3 of A Secret Refuge series)

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 Bear" by Claire Cameron

The Bear by Claire Cameron is based on a true story.  It is told by a 5-yr.-old girl who must look after her 2-yr.-old brother and her Teddy bear after her parents are attacked by a bear while camping in the woods.  It is well told and I did not know what was going to happen.  It was interesting to get the child's view on this.  Give it a chance; you will be glad you did!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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

"Sisters of the Confederacy" by Lauraine Snelling (A Secret Refuge Series)

This is the back cover (the front has a big library label on it)

Sisters of the Confederacy is the second book in the Secret Refuge series by Lauraine Snelling.  It is about God's protection of three sisters during the Civil War who each have different lives--one married and well off, Louisa living with her aunt in Virginia trying to save wounded soldiers, including her brother, and Jesselynn on her way to Oregon with her horses, her little brother, and her freed slaves to start over.  Jesse and her troop join up with a wagon train and her secret is discovered when she is thrown from her horse into a creek and getting all wet.  Jesse questions God about the war and why little children die but mean men get to live.  Both sisters are brave and feisty. 

I enjoyed this book because Jesselynn is such a strong woman and feels responsible for those traveling with her.  Sometimes she feels overwhelmed, especially when Daniel finds himself in jail and is about to be hanged for something he didn't do.  The horse race was exciting too and loved how she handled it.  I really liked the story line about Jesselynn, but the one about Louisa, not so much.  I look forward to reading the last one in this series.  (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!

"This Star Won't Go Out" by Esther Earl with Lori and Wayne Earl

In This Star Won't Go Out --The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl by Esther Earl with Lori and Wayne Earl, you get to know and meet a remarkable young lady, Esther.  This is her book and what a book it is—fun, thoughtful, loving and always interesting.  I went through a lot of emotions reading this one and was glad I had some tissue handy.  Esther’s friends talk about her and the bond they built with her.  These letters are the most touching part of the book.  Her mom and dad write in it too, and her dad’s eulogy at the funeral was so good!  I wish I could have met Esther.  This book will stay with me a long time!
 Here is a teaser from page 56:

You know, I have a really great attitude about all this cancer thing.  I smile, laugh and joke about 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!

"Fire and Flood" by Victoria Scott is Great!

Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott is about a young teen girl named Tella.  Her brother is dying and one day Tella gets a package that offers a cure for her brother, but she has to win a race.  This is a great book with plenty of good action and "wow" moments.  I liked Tella right off.  This one is a "must read."  I look forward to book two 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!

"Flora & Ulysses" by Kate DiCamillo is a Fun Read (Juvenile)

Every so often I like to read a fun book where I do not really have to figure out anything.  Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo is an enjoyable read that made me chuckle.  This book is about a young girl named Flora and a squirrel she calls Ulysses.  The story is pretty good and I especially liked the illustrations! (4 stars)

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

Tuesday Teasers: Four for You

Gerard's:

Snow thudded off the branches of one of the apples trees, making Ruthie jump.  Had something else moved, something deep in the shadows?  She held her breath, waiting.

From page 57 of The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon. (Click link for my review)

The realization that I may be onto something slams into me.  My parents tried to conceal this.  My brother passed it off as a joke.

From page 20 of Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott.  


Karen's: 

David was able to answer every question!  The nurse was blown away.  She couldn't understand how someone with such extensive brain injury was answering questions as though nothing had happened.

From location 294 on Kindle of Miracles--32 True Stories  by Joan Hileman.(Click link for my review)

Sometime later Benjamin returned from a scouting trip, and after standing by the fire to warm himself for a bit, he turned to Meshach.
"I found somethin' real interestin'."

From page 38 of Sisters of the Confederacy by Lauraine Snelling.  (Book 2 of A Secret Refuge series)

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 Winter People" by Jennifer McMahon

Keep the light on after reading this one!

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon is about a mother of two young girls who one day just disappears and the girls try to find her.  There is so much more to the book than that, but to tell more would give away too much.  Suffice it to say this book will have you turning pages quickly.  If you read it at night, you might want to keep your light on.  There is plenty of "wow" moments in this one; it doesn't get much better than this!  I highly recommend it!  Read and enjoy! 

teaser from pg. 57:
Snow thudded off the branches of one of the apples trees, making Ruthie jump.  Had something else moved, something deep in the shadows?  She held her breath, waiting.
(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!

Miracles--32 True Stories by Joanie Hileman

Miracles--32 True Stories by Joanie Hileman is a collection of short stories of 32 different people who experienced a miracle in their life.  Some are healing when the doctors gave no hope, some are completely transformed lives, some deal with family issues and some with children.  Each story lists several scripture verses after it which apply. 

Here are the websites some of the stories mentioned about where they found help:

-Turn For Christ (www.uturn4christ.com) as a place that helped them get off drugs.
Teen Challenge USA (www.teenchallengeusa.com)
Hume Lake (www.Humelake.org)
Calvary Chapel Central Maine School of Ministry (www.ccbangor.org)

Jesus Is (www.jesusis.com)

I really enjoyed this book because it was so interesting and encouraging to see how great and wonderful God is and that He is still performing miracles today.  This is very inspirational and well worth reading!  I highly recommend it!
(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!

"Perfect" by Rachel Joyce

Perfect by Rachel Joyce tells two stories in the same book. Story one is told by an eleven-year-old boy whose mother got into a car accident and the consequences. The second is about a grown man who is slow learning and how he wants a relationship, but something is holding him back. I enjoyed both! It kept my interest as the story lines alternated.
(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!

"Pivot Point" by Kasie West (YA Paranormal Contemporary Fiction)--UPDATED 2/25/14

A Fun YA Read

Pivot Point by Kasie West is a YA novel about a group of young teens with special abilities.  One of them is able to see into the future and see what the outcome of choices would be.  I enjoyed the young girl who was the main character very much.  The first part of the book was very teenish but the second part that dealt with the main story about her dad I enjoyed.  Worth your time, glad I stuck with it.
(Gerard's review 2/25/14, 4 stars)

Pivot Point by Kasie West is a fun teen read that combines normal and paranormal in our modern world. Ever think it would be cool when you had a big decision to make, to be able to see into the future to see what would happen for both choices? That is exactly the super “ability” Addie has and uses when her parents announce they are getting a divorce and it’s up to her to choose which one she wants to live with. Her mom is staying in the compound where other people live who have some paranormal abilities, but her dad is going to live with the “normal” and work for the FBI using his amazing power of lie detection. After doing a search of both possible choices, Addie finds she is screwed (having to choose a bad path to avoid a worse one).

This is a light, fun teen romance with super powers involved. Although the book is a lot of nonsense, it is an entertaining and somewhat amusing read. I especially liked Trevor, Addie’s “boyfriend” in the normal world but liked the high school football parts as well. I found it especially interesting that the normal football was much more interesting than the parafootball. This book goes to show that we are better off without the super powers and that nothing is wrong with being normal.
(Karen's review 4/4/13)


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

Tuesday Teasers: 3 This Week

Gerard's:

Eleven-year-old Jonathan Steingraber opened his eyes.  Some kind of loud noise had jolted him awake.  Definitely screams, a woman's screams, and they sounded close, as if they were coming from the living room, or the kitchen.

From page 50 of The Death Class--A True Story About Life by Erika Hayasaki.  Click link for Gerard's review that went up yesterday.

There was no way I could make this decision.  It would've been better had they just told me what needed to happen, left me no choice in the matter.

From page 14 of Pivot Point by Kasie West.  (Click link for Karen's review.)


Karen's: 

I am so seized by fear I cannot think of a prayer to say, so I do what I do every day, I talk to my Father, and as I sit there, hands trembling, heart racing, rifle in my view, I ask one simple question:  "God, what are we going to do now?"

From page 13 of Prepared for a Purpose  by Antoinette Tuff. (Click link for Gerard's 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 Death Class--A True Story About Life" by Erika Hayasaki

The Death Class--A True Story About Life by Erika Hayasaki tells about an actual class called "The Death Class" taught by Norma Bowe.  The author of this book took the class for four years and there is a three-year waiting list to get into it.  The author tells the true stories of four of the students which are fantastic!  This is a real page turner for sure.  Norma is an excellent teacher who goes above and beyond for her students.  Erika tells the stories very well.  Put this on your TBR list--it's worth 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!