"Emma In The Night" by Wendy Walker (Updated)

In Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker, one night Cass and Emma disappear.  Three years pass and Cass shows up at home, but Emma does not.  Cass tells her story about the three years she has been gone, but to psychologist Dr. Abby Winter, it does not seem to add up.

I thought this book was really good!  It is told by Abby and Cass.  The pacing of the story is so well done that I did not know how it would turn out until the very end.  LOVED IT!  Add this to your TBR list.  You will be glad you did.
(Gerard's review 5++ stars)

Karen read it too, 8-29-17:
Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker is about a dysfunctional family and lots of despicable behavior! It is full of creepy sick characters, fantastic storytelling manipulation and injustice. When Cass returns home without her sister after both being missing for three months, everyone is all ears about what happened to her, where she was, where and what happened to her sister, Emma. The FBI reopens the case in their search for Emma and the reader gets the back story in bits and pieces as told by Cass and the forensic psychologist, Dr. Winter, who is an expert on narcissistic personality disorder based on her own experience.

This is one crazy mystery that moved a bit slow for my taste, but has an interesting ending. This book centers around the mother who has narcissistic personality disorder and whether the cycle can be broken. As mysteries go, I have to give it 4 stars because I really could not figure out where Emma was; however, I cannot say I liked this one. This left a bad taste in my mouth due to the injustice and all the wickedness and evil in this book. It’s definitely written in a unique manner which is really what makes it a good read!


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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"First We Were IV" by Alexandra Sirowy

In First We Were IV by Alexandra Sirowy, four young teens find a dead girl in an orchard.  Five years have gone by and the killer has not been found.  the teens decide to form a society and do pranks in their small town to raise awareness that bad stuff goes on and maybe the police can finally find the killer. 

The story line was weak at best.  I really could not get into the characters at all!  I kept reading in the hope that it would get better or make some sense. I would not recommend this one!
(Gerard's review, 2.5 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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Always Watching" by Lynette Eason (Elite Guardians Book 1)

Always Watching by Lynette Eason is the first book in her Elite Guardians series. It is a good romance mystery about a wealthy widower who has a 12-yr. old daughter that suffers from anxiety attacks. He is nice guy, founder of a charity and a radio talk show host but has a stalker. His father secretly hired a bodyguard to protect his son which proved to be wise. It soon becomes clear someone is out to kill him and the police and his bodyguard think it may be his stalker who left him gifts. As the investigation progresses, it becomes clear than not only is one person out to get him, but two! The question is who and why? Olivia, his bodyguard, has a hard time protecting him because he is so stubborn and doesn’t want to change his usually routines or plans. When his daughter is confronted by his stalker, he finally realizes he needs to start cooperating to keep her safe.

This is a very good book I read quickly. It had enough action to keep my attention and for the most part, things made sense. I figured out who his stalker was early on, but her accomplice was a complete surprise to me! It seemed the bodyguards did a pretty poor job which made for a good story. I liked the suspense and that the bodyguards were not perfect like super heroes. I look forward to reading the other books in this series!
 (Karen’s review, 5 stars)

Teaser Tuesday

Karen's:

She glanced at the man who'd stolen her heart.  And some fat cow at his side.  Why had he brought her?

From Pg. 8 (Loc. 117 on Kindle) of Always Watching (book 1 of the Elite Guardians series) by Lynette Eason.

I don't know if it's what I've got and, more important, I don't want to know.  For now, ignorance is bliss.

From page 77 of The Breakdown by B. A. Paris.

"I've always believed that each of us was put on Earth to make it a better place.  We can't change the past, but if we make the present the best it can be, we can influence the future."

From page 24 of Waiting for Spring by Amanda Cabot.

Gerard's:

I knew even as a stupid little kid that no girl, not even one who cuts you, deserves to be hurt, dead, given wings.

From page 109 of First We Were IV by Alexandra Sirowy.

It was a matter of life or death.  A child's life was more important than a business relationship, especially when the child was Rachel.

From pate 31 of Exposed by Lisa Scottoline.


The friends' faces now in horror, watching as his eyes roll upwards and his body convulses in front of them all, back arched, limbs juddering.  A doctor skiing past stops to help, the Rescue Patrol is called, paramedics are removing the young man's jacket, T-shirt, cutting through his vest in the race to keep him alive, the air reverberating with the thump, thump of a helicopter's blades.

From pg. 9 of Beyond the High Blue Air  by Lu Spinney (a memoir).
 
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker.   Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.  Happy Reading!

"The Breakdown" by B. A. Paris (Mystery)

In The Breakdown by B. A. Paris, on a stormy night Cass passes a car off the road in the woods.  She thinks about stopping to help, but after thinking about worst case scenarios, decides to drive on.  The next day she finds out the woman is dead and that she knew her  Does she tell the police what she saw?  Can she stop blaming herself for not stopping?  Will she tell anyone?

I thought this book was very good!  The pace is well done and the story is believable.  I enjoyed this author's first book, Behind Closed Doors and this book is just as good, if not better!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

The Breakdown by B. A. Paris is full of mystery.  Cass, the main character, last sees her new friend through her car window on a dark road during a storm on her way home from a party.  Her friend's car is stopped on the side of the road but does not appear to be in need of help.  The next day though, Cass hears on the news that her friend was killed!  Then the silent phone calls start up and Cass gets freaked out.  Plus, not only is Cass upset about the murder but she notices she keeps forgetting things and is afraid she has early dementia!  

This book is a disturbing read because strange things keep happening with Cass.  I can't say too much without giving things away but it is a very good mystery.  I got into it right away and looked forward to getting back to it.  Things really picked up and got interesting in the second half, so don't give up on it!  I highly recommend this book and only gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because the turning point was far-fetched and pretty unbelievable.  
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Beyond the High Blue Air" by Lu Spnney (Heartbreaking)

In Beyond the High Blue Air by Lu Spnney, Miles is a young man with a bright future ahead of him.  His snowboarding accident changes all that and now his future is bleak to say the least.  This book is written by his mother who details what she and her family went through to see that Miles got the best care he could.

What a gut-wrenching story this is!  I give so much credit to Lu for writing this to share her nightmare with others.
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Tomorrow's Garden" by Amanda Cabot (Western Historical Romance)

Tomorrow's Garden by Amanda Cabot is the last book in the Texas Dreams series.  This one focuses on Lawrence, the former Texas ranger who accepted a temporary position as sheriff and mayor of a small Texas town. Harriet accepted the job of school teacher and moved to town with her five brothers and sisters.  Both Harriet and Lawrence had secret fears resulting from some scary past experiences.  This book has family drama, some adventure and some romance.

Of the three books in the series, this was my least favorite but I still enjoyed it.  I just didn't like Harriet, the main character, much.  I did not like how she treated Jake, her younger brother or how she treated Lawrence.  I was glad to see she changed for the better by the end of the book.  I really liked Lawrence and how he tried to help Jake.  There were parts in this book that made me laugh out loud.  It's an entertaining read.
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday

Gerard's: 
I was so terrified that I barricaded myself into the sitting room.  You're going mad, says a singsong voice in my head.

From page 128 of The Break Down by B. A. Paris.

Karen's:

"There's nothing wrong with it."
"Indeed not . . ."  Isabelle pursed her lips in feigned indignation.  "If you want to look like a mouse.  A dead mouse, that is."

From pg. 119 of Tomorrow's Garden (Texas Dreams 3) by Amanda Cabot.
 
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker.   Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.  Happy Reading!

"In 27 Days" by Alison Gervais (YA about Suicide with a Twist)

In 27 Days by Alison Gervais, Hadley Jamison has it all.  Her parents are very well off so she lacks for nothing.  She is pretty with lots of friends and lives in a real nice apartment.  When she finds out a classmate of hers has died, someone she hardly knows, she wishes she could have done something.  Sometimes wishes come true, but it comes with a cost.  In this case, the cost is plenty!

I was into this book from page 1!  The characters are believable and the story line kept me turning pages.  What more do you want out of a book?  I LOVED It! Do not miss this one!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Karen's review, 8/11/17: 
I liked In 27 Days by Alison Gervais too.  This is about two high school students in a prep school who come from very different backgrounds but develop a friendship through very unusual circumstances.  When Hadley goes back in time 27 days to try to prevent Archer from committing suicide, both their lives change for the better!

I liked this book and would recommend it to teens.  It promotes the value of life and shows how just by making time for others can make a huge difference in their lives.  The only thing I didn't get about this book was the paranormal characters, Death and Havoc.  That's why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.  I almost finished this book in a day.

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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Words on Bathroom Wall" by Julia Walton

In Words on Bathroom Wall by Julia Walton, Adam is Schizophrenic.  He has to transfer to a new school because he is getting bullied at his old one.  No one knows this at his new school and Adam will do anything to keep it that way.  This book is Adam's journal to his therapist because he would rather not talk.

I thought this book was pretty good.  Adam has a good sense of humor and the book moved along at a good pace.  I loved the ending!
(Gerard's review, 3.5 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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Scattered Petals" by Amanda Cabot (Christian fiction western romance)

Scattered Petals by Amanda Cabot is the second book in the Texas Dreams series and did not disappoint. This one focuses on Priscilla, Clay’s sister-in-law, who witnesses her parents being shot and is raped on the way to attending Sara and Clay’s wedding. Priscilla always wanted to see Texas and yearned for adventure. She got more than she bargained for! Will her dreams ever come true?

I enjoyed this Christian fiction western romance and liked both Priscilla and Zach. They both had things in their past to overcome so they could move on with their lives.
 (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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Pretending to Dance" by Diane Chamberlain

Pretending to Dance by Diane Chamberlain is the story of Molly, a woman who after a miscarriage, cannot have children and seeks to adopt with her husband, Aiden. They live in San Diego and are looking into an open adoption so the birth mother can still be involved with the child. Molly, having been adopted herself in an open adoption, keeps that from her husband. Molly grew up in North Carolina on a family mountain. Her birth mother lives on the mountain with the rest of Molly’s family and gives Molly dance lessons. Nora, Molly’s adoptive mother, actually has a civil relationship with her husband’s former lover and Molly’s birth mother. Talk about a dysfunctional family, this was it. Molly’s father had MS and Molly was only 14 when he died. Molly is haunted by her past and needs to forgive so she can move on with her life. This book is filled with emotion and is all about relationships and family secrets.

I enjoyed this book very much because it felt so real. The story line about Molly’s childhood is heartbreaking as her father’s illness gets worse and Molly begins rebelling against her parents, going through a coming of age period. There are funny parts that balance out the sad things and touching moments throughout the book. This was a bit of a tear-jerker for me. I think this would make a good book club read and highly recommend it. The part with the father and Molly reminded me a bit of The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. I would love to see a sequel to this with Molly’s own family and how that would play out. (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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday

Gerard's:

"That's not good enough!  I'm in the dark here, Death, and I have no idea how I'm supposed to do this!

From page 134 of In 27 Days by Alison Gervais.

Karen's:

"Those kids you're going to have?"  Daddy said finally.

"What about them?"

"Be sure to hug them a lot," he said, "in case someday you can't."

 From page 273 of Pretending to Dance by Diane Chamberlain

Her worry was for her unborn child.  This was, Zach guessed, a new fear and, in all likelihood, one that troubled her far more than the prospect of being shunned.

From pg. 180 (location 2220 on Kindle) of Scattered Petals (Texas Dreams 2) by Amanda Cabot.
 
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker.   Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.  Happy Reading!

"Praying For Your Children" by Elmer L. Towns and David Earley

I got Praying For Your Children by Elmer L. Towns and David Earley when it was offered for free on Kindle because I thought it would help me to be more effective in praying for the kids in my Sunday School class.  This book has lots of prayers included right from scripture and then lists specific points to pray specifically for.  It is helpful in praying for specific spiritual needs for the children instead of just asking God to bless them and their families. I recommend it to parents and Sunday School teachers.  It would be a great baby shower gift for any Christian.  The one thing I found slightly annoying though was repetitiveness; some scripture passages were repeated.
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"The Kansas City Cowboys" by Johnny D. Boggs (Updated)

The Kansas City Cowboys by Johnny D. Boggs tells the story of 17-yr.-old Silver King.  He wants to be a working cowboy.  His mom wants him to be a baseball pitcher.  Who do you think won?  This novel takes place in the late 1800s.  I thought this was a fun read!  The characters were brought out very well.  I did not have to think too much with this one, just relaxed and enjoyed the read.
(Gerard's review, 8-4-17, 5 stars)

Karen's review:
The Kansas City Cowboys by Johnny D. Boggs is an historical fiction account of pro baseball in 1886. The story is told in the first person from Silver, a young pitcher who was pushed by his mother to be a baseball player. I found it interesting that a batter could tell the pitcher if he wanted high or low pitches and got 7 balls instead of 4 like it is today. The crowds were rowdy and crazy and the umpires were in danger! I thought this got off to a slow start but because I like baseball, stuck with it. Things picked up in the second half of the book so I’m glad I read it. (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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Down a Dark Road" by Linda Castillo--An Amish Murder Mystery We Both Liked

In Down a Dark Road by Linda Castillo, Joseph King is spending life in prison for a horrible crime he committed, but escaped and is on the run. Chief Kate Burkholder is on it! She was a close childhood friend of Joseph. Could he really have done this? Will Kate let her feelings get in the way of doing her job? I thought this book was very good! The characters were well developed and the situations were true to life. Don’t miss this one! (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Karen's review:
Down a Dark Road by Linda Castillo is about a cop, Katie Burkholder, who finds herself in a hostage situation with a childhood Amish friend who was convicted of murdering his wife and escaped from jail. She has a hard time believing he is guilty and agrees to look into his case even though it is outside her jurisdiction. She finds some disturbing things that make her more determined to investigate to discover the truth for herself which puts her in great danger.

This is a very good book that got my interest right from the start and kept it all the way to the end. It has action, some tender scenes, and suspense. The theme throughout is to seek the truth and fight for justice no matter what. If you like a good mystery that is not boring with ties to the Amish community, you should read this one! (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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"The Secrets She Keeps" by Michael Robotham

The Secrets She Keeps by Michael Robotham is told by Meghan and Agatha.  Agatha is envious of Meghan who has two children and a loving husband, beautiful house, friends and a popular parenting blog.  It's everything Agatha wants but Agatha has secrets that had better stay hidden.  Little does she know that Meghan's life is far from perfect and has secrets of her own.  Soon one act will bring these two ladies together and there is no going back!

I loved this book!  The pacing is really good and the suspense built up nicely.  It would make a good Lifetime movie!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)  

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday

Gerard's:

A bus is coming.  I raise my arm and step on board, sliding down into a seat, below the windowsill.  I edge upwards and glimpse the police car still parked outside the hospital.

From page 101 of The Secrets She Keeps by Michael Robotham.

Karen's:

The case was high-profile not only because King was Amish but because of the level of brutality--and the fact that the children were in the house at the time of the murder.  It brought to light the reality that domestic violence transcends culture and religion.

From page 18 of Down a Dark Road by Linda Castillo.
 
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker.   Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.  Happy Reading!

"What Alice Forgot" by Liane Moriarty (We Both Liked This!)

In What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty, Alice is 29, loves her husband and is expecting a baby--life is good!  She has a fall at the gym though and has to go to the hospital.  At the hospital, she finds out she is 39 and has three kids but is getting a divorce!  What is going on?  Has she really lost the last ten years?

I enjoyed this book very much!  Alice was interesting and for sure funny!  It kept my interest throughout.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Karen's review:
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty is a thought provoking contemporary fiction book about amnesia.  At age 39, Alice hit her head hard on the handlebars when she fell in her spin class and lost the last ten years of memory.  She forgot she had three children, forgot she was very involved in their school, forgot all the changes her and her husband made to their home, forgot her best friend, and forgot she and her husband were now separated!   Her husband, Nick, loves his kids and was a good husband but what happened?  Alice forgot and is anxious to reconcile and have Nick come back home.  What happens when she finally remembers?  Will their family reunite or will Alice and Nick go their separate ways?

This is a very interesting, thought provoking and fun read.  Makes you think what has changed in your own life in the past ten years.  This book mostly covers the week after Alice's fall but then jumps ahead at the end about ten years into the future.  I loved the humor in this and would have given it 5 stars except I did not care about the sister's infertility story line and all her miscarriages.  I thought that part was quite boring and the book would have been better if it just focused on Alice and her family.  I really enjoyed Nick and her children!  This book actually looks at love from several different perspectives:  lost love, dating love, marriage love through the ups and downs, late-in-life love, and unexpected love.  We both think this would be a great book for a book club.  It has some questions in the back.  (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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Paper Roses" (Texas Dreams Book 1 series) by Amanda Cabot

Paper Roses by Amanda Cabot takes place in the 1800s in Texas.  Sarah is a mail-order bride with a younger sister to care for who is angry at her father for shooting her mother and then himself.  She leaves Philadelphia and the loneliness to start a new life in Texas but finds something very different than what she expected.

I enjoyed this story because of the mystery included to make it more than just another Christian fiction romance that is predictable.  Although the romance part was predictable from the start, I did not figure out who the murderer was until it was revealed at the end.  The theme of the book is that God can bring good out of bad situations.  I liked the characters and I always looked forward to getting back to reading it to see what would happen next. 

This is the first book I've read by this author but plan on reading more by starting with completing this trilogy.
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday

Gerard's:

Alice thought about yelling, ACTUALLY, I'M GOING OUT OF MY MIND! but she didn't want to make the nurse feel uncomfortable.  Crazy behavior made people feel awkward.

From page 54 of What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty.

Karen's:

Had it been less than an hour since she'd assured Thea everything would be all right?  How wrong she'd been.

From Loc. 229-3 on Kindle from Paper Roses by Amanda Cabot (Texas Dreams Book #1)
 
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker.   Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.  Happy Reading!

"New Boy" by Tracy Chevalier (a retelling of Shakespeare's Othello)

New Boy by Tracy Chevalier is the retelling of Shakespeare's Othello, but I never read or saw Othello performed so can't comment on how closely this book relates to it.  This is the story of the inter-relationships of several 6th graders at an all-white school with the exception of a new black boy from Ghana.  Osei is a diplomat's son who is used to changing schools often and being the new kid.  He just thinks that getting through the school day without getting beat up would be a success.  The story is placed in the 1970s.

Using the mundane ordinary school day of a 6th grade class, the author tackles racism, bullying and friendship.  This is a quick read that shows how mean children can be to each other.  I was shocked at the ending but will not spoil it for you.
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Endure" by Sara B. Larson is Heart Wrenching! (Updated)

Endure by Sara B. Larson is the third and final book in the Defy Series which we both highly recommend.   Alexa again has her hands full trying to hold off the enemy and make sure King Damian is safe!  This book is probably the best of the series.  It has tons of action from the outset and the pacing of the book is very good!  I just had to see what was going to happen next!  This is one of the top series that I have ever read!  I LOVED IT!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Karen's review 3/19/16:
Endure by Sara B. Larson is not only the third book of the Defy trilogy, but also the best! Good characters are motivated by love and loyalty while evil characters are motivated by greed and power in a struggle to survive. Alexa and Damian’s love story continues on throughout this book and is heartbreaking. Alexa’s fight against Armando and his black sorcerers is amazing! There is lots of action in this book as well as the tender moments of friendship and love.

I loved this last book of the series which is captivating and even made me cry near the end. When Alexa left King Damian after his proposal to rescue her friend, Rylan, I thought she was nuts and was proved to be right! I actually felt she made a very bad decision there and didn’t have as much sympathy for her during her captivity as I otherwise would have. I felt it was her own fault for being so stupid to go back to Dansii with Eljin to save Rylan.

At any rate, this is a very entertaining and adventurous fantasy/clean romance series I highly recommend, especially for anyone new to fantasy. I was never bored and it moved along well. 
(Karen's review, 5 stars)
This series reminded me a lot of THE THRONE OF GLASS series by Sarah J. Mass.  I discuss some differences and similarities in this video:
  



See my reviews of Defy-Book 1 and Ignite-Book #2

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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday

Gerard's:

No matter how many times I struck him, he never died.  Instead, his eyes glowed with the fires of the demons whose power he'd wielded, as he laughed and laughed at me . . .

From page 13 of Ignite by Sara B. Larson (2nd book of Defy series).

"Do not thank me.  All I did was teach them to fear me."

From page 16 of And I Darken by Kiersten White.

Even with the door shut, the smell still lingered in my nose.  I looked down at his knife and tried to keep my expression neutral, despite the uneasiness in my gut.

From page 15 of Defy by Sara B. Larson.

Karen's:

Now someone new and different had entered the territory, and this made Dee look at the space anew and suddenly find it shabby, and herself an alien in it.  Like him.

From page 10 of Dew Boy by Tracy Chevalier.

"Hi--whoa there, look out for the mantelpiece!"  This was to Michael, who had suddenly risen from the floor and was swooping through the air, roaring with laughter, and just grazing the china ornaments on the mantelpiece as he passed.

From page 49 of Mary Poppins 80th Anniversary Collection by P. L. Travers.
 
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker.   Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.  Happy Reading!

"Ignite" by Sara B. Larson is a Fun Fantasy Read--Second Book of Series

Ignite by Sara B. Larson is book 2 of 3 in the Defy series.  King Hectoer has been killed and now Damian is the king.  Alexa is there to protect him.  Peace reigns in the land, but that is fleeting.  Soon there is danger, plenty of it!  WOW!  This book is so good!  It is as good as the first if not better because there is plenty of action and you do not know what is going to happen next.  Alexa is a fantastic character and the secondary ones are very good too.  The writing is great!  It gives you all you could ask for in a book.  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)


Karen's review 3/17/16, 4 stars:

Ignite by Sara B. Larson is book 2 in the DEFY series that is full of attacks, betrayal, suspense and mind controlling magic!  King Damian and his kingdom are at a loss when it looks like Blevon is breaking their peace treating.  Alexa and Damian’s love story continues and Rylan gets into some major trouble. Alexa is jealous when he falls for a beautiful woman visitor. Damian’s younger brother is abducted and just when things seem to be going right for King Damian, Alexa suppresses some important information from him and that’s where this book ends. This book left me with several unanswered questions that make me look forward to continuing on with the last book in the series, Endure.  Will Alexa and King Damian get their happy ever after ending?  What will happen to Rafe and Dansii?  Will Eljin fully recover and be able to help save Blevon and the sorcerer's temple?  Will Alexa actually get to become the Queen?

I liked this book as much as the first of this series and can’t help but root for Alexa and Damian to finally find happiness together. There is lots of fighting in this book but with a twist when Alexa has no choice but to fight her friends to survive. I liked all the action in this book as well as the romantic story line between Damian and Alexa.

See our review of DEFY.

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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"And I Darken" by Kiersten White"

In And I Darken by Kiersten White,  Lada and Radu are brother and sister.  Their father sends them off to another land.  Lada hates it and cannot wait to go to her homeland and claim her birthright.  Lada is a great character!  She knows what she wants and how to get it!  There is a lot more to this book than her story line; I enjoyed it all!  There is good action so I look forward to book 2 in 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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"DEFY" by Sara B. Larson (Both of us Liked This Fantasy!)

Manny Boy being defiant--ignoring the book!

In Defy by Sara B. Larson, Alexa is a fighter, the best of the guard that protects Prince Damian.  She also has a secret that she hides, but when another guard and the prince are taken captive, Alexa finds out there are other secrets out there.  

This book was SO GOOD!  I'm so glad I finally got around to reading it.  From page 1 I was hooked!  The characters are really good and there is lots of action too!  I will continue with this series for sure!  This is my book of the month!  I highly recommend this one!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)


(Karen's review 3/4/16)
Defy by Sara B. Larson is a YA fantasy novel about Alexa, who pretends she is a boy to avoid being captured and put into King Hector’s “breeding house.” Instead, she serves with her twin brother as a guard for Prince Damian. She is actually the best sword fighter in the army and would be captain except she is too young.

There is some mystery and action throughout this first book in the series. Secrets are revealed, people feel betrayed and Alexa finally gets to be herself. With some magic and a love triangle, this book kept my interest and I enjoyed it.  I look forward to reading the rest of this series with Ignite and Endure.
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Dark Breaks the Dawn" by Sara B. Larson (We Disagree on the Ending)

In Dark Breaks the Dawn by Sara B. Larson, Princess Evelayn can now have access to her full power!  Her mother is at the war front fighting against the Dark Power!  When her mom is killed, it is up to Evelayn to somehow gain the peace between Dark and Dawn.  WOW!

This book is so good!  The pace is perfect and it all leads to an incredible ending that I did not see coming at all!  I need book 2 soon!  This is a "must read" for fantasy lovers.
(Gerard's review 6/28/17, 5++ stars) 

Karen's review, 7/11/17:

Dark Breaks the Dawn by Sara B. Larson is a YA fantasy that held my interest from start to finish with no boring parts.  This has magic, romance, plots and betrayal.  It is not often I want to throw the book after I finish it, but this one got me riled up at the ending.  I really liked it all the way through up to the end which was heart breaking.    Because of the horrible ending, this one only gets 3 stars from me.

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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday

Gerard's:

Almost unconsciously, Neil Gallagher squeezed Hallie's hand between his.  She'd never held hands with a boy before. 

From page 23 of The Orphans of Race Point by Patry Francis.

Karen's:

"You ran into him in the forest?  When he tried to rescue you?  From what?  Or who?"

From page 25 of Dark Breaks the Dawn by Sara B. Larson.
 
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker.   Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.  Happy Reading!

"The Orphans of Race Point" by Patry Francis

The Orphans of Race Point by Patry Francis is about how a tragedy in the young lives form a bond between Gus and Hallie.  Hallie and Gus move forward with their lives, but when Gus gets involved in something what he thought he had dealt with comes back at him, Hallie tries to help.  This book starts out very strong, but drags in the middle.  If you stick with it, you will be rewarded with an unexpected ending!
(Gerard's review, 3.5 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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Before We Were Yours" by Lisa Wingate (Historical Fiction)

In Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, Avery Stafford has it all.  She was born into a wealthy family, a very good career and soon to be married to a handsome man.  A chance encounter with a member of her family cast light on a hidden secret that if gets out, her family name could be ruined!

I thought this book was very good.  I was into it from page 1 and loved the characters.  It is based on a true story.  If you get a chance, read this one--so far it is my book of the month!
(Gerard's review, 6/24/17, 5++ stars)

Karen's review, 7/8/17 (4 stars):
In Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, there is a mystery connection between two old ladies who are in a nursing home and the granddaughter of one of them who stirs up an old family secret.  The part of this book about the Tennessee Children's Home Society run by Georgia Tann and its evil practices between the 1930s and 1950s was interesting, captivating, and very disturbing.  I really liked Rill, one of the main characters who told that part of the story from her point of view.

This is a sad story with a happy ending that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys reading about families.  The story is told from two different points of view and jumped back and forth between two story lines which eventually came together.  I think people with rough childhoods would find this book encouraging.  This was a complex book that dragged for me in parts during the one story line so that is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.      

Karen also read The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate and liked that one as well.

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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Sharing a book review is one of the options for Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop today.  Go link yours up or maybe respond to one of the other prompts.