Find Good Reads In Entertainment Weekly

The Fault in Our Stars was good and now Gerard is reading Tease which is very good too.  He saw this image on the Facebook page of the author of Tease and wanted to give you proof of the good book recommendations you can find in ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY.

Happy Reading!

"Love Letters To The Dead" by Ava Dellaira

It started as a school assignment--to write a letter to a dead person, but for Laurel, it's not that simple.  She is still dealing with the death of her sister, May.  As she writes letters to dead people, they learn about her life now and what led up to the death of her sister. 

There is some very good stuff here and the letters are very well written.  This was a page turner for me!  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!

"I Promised My Dad—An Intimate Portrait of Michael Landon"

I Promised My Dad—An Intimate Portrait of Michael Landon by His Eldest Daughter, Cheryl Landon Wilson with Jane Scovell is about the life of Michael Landon.  I was impressed by how much his daughter knew about his childhood.  By reading this book, I learned many things about Michael Landon that I never knew.  Since I watched him as “Little Joe” in Bonanza and then as Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie, I was eager to learn about him as a person.  This book answers the question, What was Michael Landon really like?  It has a lot of interesting things in it but I especially liked his reason for letting his hair grow long—it gave him more confidence and made him feel like he could do anything, like Samson who had great strength when his hair was long.  He was a loving man with a great sense of humor.
(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!

"The Impossible Knife of Memory" by Laurie Halse Anderson

This book is about a young girl who has to deal with her dad who is suffering from PTSD.  Then she gets a boyfriend to complicate matters more.  I really enjoyed this because the main characters are really good and the plot line is true to life.  Kept me turning the pages--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!

"Now You See Her" by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge is GREAT!

Now You See Her by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge got my interest right from the start and kept me eagerly turning the pages.  Wow!  This is a thriller with lots of “wow” moments about one huge mistake Jeanine made when on spring break from college in Key West and the ramifications for years to come.  When she feels betrayed by her boyfriend and best friend, she takes his car driving drunk and hits a man.  While considering what she should do, a cop comes along and does her a favor, letting her go and takes care of the body for her so no one will ever know.  But wait, her problems are only beginning!    Sparks fly and they get married.  She stays in Key West . . . until she realizes the danger she is in. 

This is one of the best written thriller’s I have read in a long time!  The villains are horrible and so deceptive, poor Jeanine makes up a fake identity and lies to her 16-yr-old daughter concerning her biological father.  This has action, betrayal, serial killer, suspense, families, crime, romance and cops and attorneys.  If you like thriller’s, this is a must read for you!  LOVED 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!

Linking up with Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop:  Prompt--Something you're reading.

"She Is Not Invisible" by Marcus Sedgwick is a WOW Read!

She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick is about a blind 16-yr.-old girl and her young brother who leave from England and travel to New York to find their dad after not being able to get in touch with him.

This book kept me turning the pages as they looked for their dad. Wow!  This book is good, real good!  I loved the kids in it and the writing.  Give it a chance, you will be glad you did.  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!

Tuesday Teasers: 3 This Week

Gerard's:

At the end of the last street, past a forgotten cornfield and the ruin of a barn, sat the house that I was supposed to call "home." 

My father wanted me to remember the house.

From page 8 of The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson. 

However many crimes I'd committed already that morning, I'd done it all for a very good reason, and it must be said that they faded into insignificance next to the thought that I was abducting my brother.

From page 1 of She is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick. (My review will be up tomorrow)

Karen's:

Down the hallway, I went into a large closet, otherwise known as a Manhattan home office, and shredded the script I'd written to fool my daughter.  I sifted the confetti through my fingers and let out a breath as I heard Emma start to sob.

From page 10 of Now You See Her by James Patterson.  

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!

Where Does Gerard Find All His Good Books?

Since we frequently get comments about Gerard's unusual books that are so intriguing, he is letting you in on his secret of where he finds his good books.  He looks for the book recommendations in PEOPLE magazine and ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY.  That is pretty much it.  He loves reading new books rather than old ones.

He copies down the titles that peek his interest and then proceeds to go on the computer and order them from the library.  He usually has to wait to get them because there is a waiting list for more popular books, but it works out well. 

"Wind River" by James Reasoner and L.J. Washburn

Wind River by L. J. Washburn and James Reasoner is western novel about a Wyoming town run by two rich men, Durand and Andrew McKay.  When Colt arrives on the first train to their town, his plans change when he accepts the position of Marshall.  There are gamblers, brawls, prostitutes, no school and no church.  Once Cole gets caught up in chasing down some outlaws with his first posse, he realizes when he returns that Wind River has become his home. 

This is a quick read that I enjoyed.  At first, it was a bit difficult keeping all the people straight because they were introduced very quickly at the beginning.  This book has lots of action in it and although I guessed who was behind the payroll robbery, it kept my interest.  The Marshall is a strong character, and I also liked the newspaper editor and his family, and Sawyer, the rancher.
(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!

Our Favorite Reads for April 2014

Gerard's Favorite:

Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell 

Gerard thought it was GREAT; I thought it was CREEPY.

Karen's Favorite:

 The Winter Horses by Philip Kerr

We both liked this one and even discuss it on a video in our review!

The links will take you to our reviews.

What was your best read in April? Happy Reading!

"Lexicon" by Max Berry

Lexicon by Max Barry is about Will and Emily.  They both come to Broken Hill, Australia where there is a disaster in the making.  I liked how the story switched from Will to Emily and the action.  I really enjoyed the ending!
(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!

The Cold Nowhere by Brian Freeman

The Cold Nowhere by Brian Freeman is a real good book!  A young girl hides under the porch while her mom is stabbed to death because the detective who was supposed to watch over her was too late.  Years later, they met up again. Is the young girl out for the guy or is somebody after her this time?  This is a real page turner with lots of action!
(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:

The girl glanced at the dining room windows, as if she expected to see the face of her stalker framed behind the glass.  She was like a deer, alert and swift.  

From page 11 of The Cold Nowhere by Brian Freeman.  (My review will be up tomorrow.)

He was getting more of a cold, soulless kind of vibe.  Like those eyes could watch terrible things and not look away.

From page 7 of Lexicon by Max Berry.

Karen's:

 "History will be here soon enough, my friend.  And that's what this is, you know--history.  Yes, indeed, the first train to arrive in Wind River is quite a historic occasion."

From Location 70 on Kindle of Wind River by James Reasoner and L. J. Washburn.  (Just starting this one.)

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 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!