"A Curse so Dark and Lonely" by Brigid Kemmerer

A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer is a great mix of contemporary fiction and fantasy. The main character, Harper, a girl born with Cerebral Palsy and her brother, Jake, struggle to care for their mother who is dying of Cancer and paying debts to the hoodlums their father was mixed up with before he died. Then one day, she was magically transported to another world called Emberfall where she was taken to break a curse that was on the prince and the castle.

I really liked this book because of the interesting characters, an amazing adventure, and the humor throughout the book. Some parts even made me laugh out loud! This was a page-turner for me that I could get lost in. Harper is a very strong girl and I enjoyed her interactions with Prince Rhen and Gray, his royal guard. This was a very entertaining, fun read that did not end quite the way I had hoped, but pretty close. I highly recommend this if you want a good escape from reality for a while. Loved it! (5 stars)

Karen’s teaser from page 147: “You would dare threaten the first daughter to the King of Disi?” Without waiting for an answer, I turn to face Rhen, who’s looking at me like I’ve grown a second head.

Gerard's review 3/30/19:
In A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer, Harper and her brother do their best to take care of their mom who is very sick.  One night while Harper tries to save a young girl, she is taken and discovers a magical kingdom! A young prince needs her help!  Will she give it?  Can she ever return home? The story is told by Harper and Prince Rhen.

I thought this was pretty good.  I got involved with both of the characters early on.  I liked the story with some surprises.  The last part of the book is action packed!  I am hoping for a book 2. This is well worth reading.  I enjoyed it!
(5 stars)

Teaser from page 11:  Grey grabs his sword from the chair, pulling it free from the scabbard with a fierceness I haven't seen in . . . in ages.  "Have no worries, my lord.  This may be the shortest season yet."

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"Save Me From Dangerous Men" by S. A. Lelchuk

Save Me From Dangerous Men by S. A. Lelchuck is about Nikki Griffin, a bookstore owner as well as a private investigator.  Nikki is nobody you want to fool with!  In this case, she is hired to follow a woman.  When the woman turns up dead, Nikki will not rest until she finds out who killed her and why.  Nikki is a great character to say the least.  I loved her bad-ass style!  For the most part, this book was good but it had a few down parts.  It looks like this is going to be a series.  I give this book a solid 4 stars.  (Gerard's review)

Teaser from page 13:  The world coming in sharp and clear, every movement, every sound.  I chose my words carefully.  "You ready for another taste?  Or do you need a minute?"

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"The Secret Keeper" by Kate Morton

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton is a murder mystery, but not a who did it, but why did they?  On her younger brother's birthday, teen Laurel is hiding in her tree house and is the only one who sees her mother actually kill the strange man who came that knew her name.  She tells the cops what she saw, but not that her mother knew who he was.  It was concluded that her mom acted in self-defense because he was going to harm the baby brother who she was holding.  Years later, when Laurel was in her 50s and her mother was dying, Laurel decides to look into that event more closely to find out who that man was and why her mother killed him with the birthday knife they always used to cut the birthday cakes.  Through a long journey through photos, World War II letters, and a visit to London Laurel finally discovers the truth. 

This story was really good; however, it seemed to take forever to get at it and finally arrive at the end.  I enjoyed story most when it was back during World War in London, showing the mother's background before marrying Laurel's father, Stephen.  I just found it hard to believe that Laurel was never that curious about her mother's background until she was dying.  I know, that's where the title comes in, but I thought it was far-fetched that Laurel would bother doing all that research instead of just asking her mother straight out.  I did not care for how the author went into so much detail describing scenery and jumping between all different years back and forth.  I loved the surprise ending.  This book really picked up around page 400.  I really enjoyed the last 80 pages or so--it saved the book for me.  It includes some discussion questions in the back for book clubs to use.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

Teaser from page 28:  Both sisters turned towards her mighty indignation, and therefore neither noticed Dorothy's sharp intake of breath, the look of anguish that crossed her face at the mention of Vivien's name.  By the time the three Nicolsen sisters had gathered at their mother's side, Dorothy appeared to be sleeping calmly, her features giving no hint that she'd left behind the hospital, her weary body, and her grown daughters, slipping through time to the dark night of 1941.

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"Queen of Sorrow" by Sarah Beth Durst (Book 3 in Queens of Renthia Series) Great Series!

Gerard's review:
The Queen of Sorrow by Sarah Beth Durst is the final book in the Queens of Renthia trilogy.  Queen Aleina wants peace for her land and now with Queen Naelin at her side, things look bright for the future!  But, when Naelin's children are taken by other spirits, she has reason to believe that Queen Merecot is behind it and Naelin wants her children back!  If it means war, then so be it.  This book is really, really good just like the previous two.  The writing is very good as well!  This is one you get into right away and hate to put down!  I loved the interaction among all the characters and was glad to see the wolf, Bayn, back in this one.  Love that wolf!  (5++ stars)


The Queen of Sorrow by Sarah Beth Durst is a wonderful finish to the Queens of Renthia trilogy, my favorite fantasy trilogy of all time! I loved this story so much, I was disappointed to see it end—even though I liked the ending. Queen Merecot had Naelin’s children kidnapped and brought to her castle in Semo and also got rid of the wolf Bayn, having her spirits chase him into the untamed lands! Merecot enters into a power struggle with the Queens of Aratay in the hopes of getting enough “spirit” power to change the spirits for good. We also meet Ven’s family, Queen Daleina’s sister, and Cajara, a new heir candidate. There is much death and some sadness in this but it is well balanced with joyful occasions, humor and happiness.

I liked all of the queens in this book and enjoyed their negotiations and scheming as well. I was pleased with Naelin’s decision in the end and enjoyed her journey! What a trip! I am normally not one for politics, but really was drawn into the political aspects of this book. I really hope the author comes up with some more books about Renthia! I want to know what happens with Merecot, Arid, Ven and Naelin, Hannah and of course, Queen Daleina. The characters are so well developed and the writing is amazing! I liked that it has so many characters without being confusing. Sarah Beth Durst has officially become my favorite fantasy author!
(Karen's review 3/22/19, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 32: As she flew, she flung her mind out like a net, catching every spirit within fifty miles and driving them toward Semo. SAVE MY CHILDREN! ATTACK!

See our other reviews for this series:  The Queen of Blood and The Reluctant Queen

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"Watching (The Making of Riley Paige--Book 1) by Blake Pierce

Watching (The Making of Riley Paige—Book 1) by Blake Pierce is a thriller about a couple murders on a college campus Both victims were friends of Riley Sweeny, who tries to figure out who the killer was on her own by pretending to get into the killer’s mind by re-enacting what the killer probably did. Riley, a senior psychology major becomes a target herself.

This book has a lot of grammatical errors and moved along fairly slowly. I thought it was okay but did not care for all the bar scenes, and the story line wasn’t very believable. I don’t know if I want to continue reading this series or not.
 (Karen's review, 2 stars)

Teaser from page 9: And Riley could see at least one thing that was wrong. About halfway down the hall, a girl was collapsed on her knees, sobbing.


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"Once Upon a River" by Diane Setterfield

In Once Upon a River by Dian Setterfield, a man walks into a bar carrying something.  He falls and the patrons of the bar think that he is dead.  A nurse is called and the man is still alive.  What he was carrying turned out to e a little girl who is thought to be dead.  The girl is alive but is mute.  Three families claim the little girl.  Does she belong to one of them or the man who carried her into the bar? 

Good luck trying to figure out this book!  The characters are well developed and think this was well worth reading even though it is over 600 pages in the large print version.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 46:  This is wrong!  All wrong!  It should not be so!  And that is when it happened.

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"Convenient Lies" by Robin Patchen

Convenient Lies by Robin Patchen is book one in the Hidden Truth series. This is a page-turner thriller about Rae, a journalist, who discovers Julian, her husband, is a terrorist who already has a wife! But then, Rae had secrets from him as well. She decides to leave Julien with their 12-day-old son and go back to her grandma’s to get some gold coins her dad told her he hid for her, then disappear with her grandma. She stole some of her husband’s files for insurance, leaving him a note in the hopes that he would let her leave in exchange for her silence about his selling weapons to terrorists. She is thrown for a loop though when her plan unravels. Will she be able to keep her son safe and not let him be raised by a terrorist? Will she be able to start a new life? Will her old flame be able to win her back and build a life together? Will Julien track her down and what will he do when he finds her?

This is a good thriller because it mixed the terrorist with family life and brought out how complicated relationships can get. I enjoyed the story line and thought Julien was a very interesting character. I also liked Brady, Rae’s old flame and was pulling for him to find a way to protect her and get back together with her. I plan to continue with this series.
(Karen’s review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 1: There were only two people Rachel Adams trusted. One was twelve days old, and the other had mysteriously quit answering her phone.


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"The Deepest Blue" by Sarah Beth Durst (Fantasy) We Both Loved This One!

The Deepest Blue by Sarah Beth Durst is a fantasy about bloodthirsty nature spirits, love, adventure, sea monsters and politics on the Belene Islands south of Renthia.  Mayara successfully kept her spirit power a secret for years, only confiding in her best friend, Kelo who is now her fiance.  Unfortunately, on her wedding day, she used her special power to stop the big spirit storm from destroying her island.  That is when her adventure starts and she finds out what she is truly made of.  When the "Silent Ones" eventually find her, she is faced with a difficult choice:  denounce her family, leave her home forever and don't talk to join the Silent Ones or take her chances at trying to survive for a month on an island that is home to many nature spirits who are hungry and then become heir to the queen of Belene with the opportunity to visit her loved ones again.

I enjoyed reading this book very much, it is so good!  I liked the humorous parts and the characters.  The plot had twists I did not see coming at all and I was turning pages quickly eager to find out what would happen next.  My emotions were all over the place with this one--amusement, sadness, joy and curiosity.  This is a stand alone with a great ending!  I finished reading this one in just two days and recommend to anyone who enjoys uncomplicated fantasy.  (I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review--this book comes out March 19, 2019.)
(Karen's review 3/15/19, 5 stars)

Gerard's review 3/18/19:
In The Deepest Blue by Sarah Beth Durst, it starts off with Mayara's wedding day--a day to celebrate. But even before the vows are said, Mayara makes a decision that puts her future in doubt!  Can she get her and her husband's plans back on track, or is their future doomed?  The pacing of this book is very well done.  The best thing about this book to me was the interaction between all of the characters.  I really cared about what was going to happen.  The ending of the book was a wild ride to say the least!  Great job, Sarah!  (5++ stars) 

Teaser from page 73:  "Because you've arrived, we all get to die that much sooner.  Hurray.  So happy to meet you."

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"My Life Among the Underdogs" by Tia Torres

My Life Among the Underdogs by Tia Torres is a memoir about Tia's life and all the great dogs that have been part of it!  This woman has been blessed.  Each dog has its own chapter and are all different.  It is a short book, but the story is told very well!  I wish she would have included pictures of the dogs, but that is the only criticism I have.  If you love dogs, you will find this hard to put down.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 28:  At that moment, I made the decision to protect her at all costs, always.  I never wanted her to leave my side, and right there, on the floor, in an embrace that felt like forever, it became Tia and Tatanka.  Together we would change the world.

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"The Scorekeeper" by Dustin Stevens (Suspense Thriller)

The Scorekeeper by Dustin Stevens is a suspense thriller about an ex-con (The “Scorekeeper”) creating a sort of “treasure hunt” for an excellent detective and his canine partner to figure out to get the truth out about his conviction. Part of his scheme involved burying a college girl alive in a pine box! Why would he do that? Will the detectives find her in time? Who would do such a thing?

This book got the suspense going right from the start! It was refreshing to read a thriller that didn’t have crooked cops doing the investigating. I liked how this book showed the value of K-9 partners, having Billie involved in all the detective work. (Karen’s review, 4 stars)

Teaser from pg. 13, Kindle Loc. 174-76: The knuckles on her left hand were smashed beyond repair. Done by pounding her fist one time after another into the pine boards just inches from her face, she had lashed at her enclosure long after it proved any good to do so.


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"Mrs. Morhard and The Boys" by Ruth Hanford Morhard

Mrs. Morhard and the Boys by Ruth Hanford Morhard is a true story.  This is about one mother's vision--the first boys baseball league.  The first 10 pages or so deal with Josephine growing up and he adult life.  What this woman went through is remarkable!  What a story!  The second part of this book deals with baseball and how she helped young boys play the game!  I am glad this woman's story was told because it needed to be.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 24:  Soon her feet were off the ground, and the colt was dragging her around and around with him.  She clung on for dear life, terrified.

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"Mrs. Grey" by Rachel Wesson (Book 12 in Clover Springs Mail Order Brides Series)

Mrs. Grey: Clover Springs Mail Order Brides Book 12 by Rachel Wesson is about how the sheriff and Loreana Grey get together. There is some tension between the Irish workers and the former slaves who have set up camp just outside of town as well as some old grudges from the Civil War between those who fought for the north and those who fought for the south.

I was disappointed in this book because I really liked Mrs. Grey but her character seemed to be watered down in this book. It also wasn’t about a mail order bride so don’t know why it was included in this series. I liked other books in this series much better. This one lacked the humor and interest that others had.
(Karen’s review, 3 stars)

Teaser at Kindle Loc. 66-67: The former slaves and their families had been having a hard time in Denver and welcomed the chance to come to Clover Springs. The two groups of men had set up camp just outside of town.

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"Sophie Last Seen" by Marlene Adelstein

Sophie Last Seen by Marlene Adelstein is a good read about Jesse and her journey to overcome her grief caused when her 6-yr-old daughter disappeared from a store. Jesse feels like it was all her fault. Sophie, the little girl, was obsessed with birds and always wore her binoculars so she could watch them closely. She had a box full of little trinkets that crows brought to her and loved routine. She was mad at her best friend, Star, That Day she disappeared because Star had promised to go with her to the mall but then changed her mind. When Sophie disappeared, Star felt guilty too, thinking if she had gone That Day, things may have been different. Jesse never stopped looking for her daughter, even though people thought she was strange.

This is a good story that shows how differently people deal with grief and guilt. It was also a mystery figuring out what happened to Sophie. I enjoyed the information about birds that was imparted through the story as well as Saint Anthony, Jesse’s dog who became her faithful companion. I really enjoyed Jesse’s journey from being a total self-absorbed wreck to a person who thinks of others and is ready for a fresh start. (I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.) (4 stars)

Teaser from page 3:  She didn't care if people thought she was crazy.  For Jesse, who spoke to few people anymore, it was a comfort even if Sophie never actually answered back.


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"2nd Chance" by James Patterson with Andrew Gross (A Women's Murder Club Novel)

In 2nd Chance by James Patterson with Andrew Gross, a serial killer is on the loose with no pattern!  Everybody is at risk.  Four women making up the Women's Murder Club is back to solve this.  To me this was a dud.  I never really got into it.  Although the story line is okay, it goes quickly to a predictable ending.
(Gerard's review, 3.5 stars)

Teaser from page 5: Then Aaron Winslow's eyes came to rest on what had made the girl hysterical.  He felt his heart sink.

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"the night Olivia fell" by Christina McDonald

the night olivia fell by Christina McDonald is about a mom's worst nightmare--A call in the middle of the night saying her pregnant daughter was found lying under a bridge--brain dead!  Was she pushed or did she jump on her own?  Who is the father?

I thought this book was really good!  It is told by Olivia, the daughter and Abi, the mom, who wants to find out what happened, and why.  Try to get your own answers.  I am guessing you will be wrong like I was!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)  

Karen's review:
the night olivia fell by Christina McDonald is about a teen girl, Olivia, who met an early death before her mother even knew she was pregnant. This novel is told from alternating perspectives of the mother, Abi, and the daughter, Olivia The mother hid a secret from Olivia for years and when Olivia discovered what it was, she was on a personal secret mission. Although the police said her death was accidental, the mother went on a personal mission of her own to find out details and exactly what happened. Olivia was declared brain dead but was kept on life support in the hopes of saving her baby. Was it an accident or did someone push her off that bridge? Will the baby survive? Who is the father?

I thought the story was pretty good but I did not really care much for Olivia because of the way she treated her mother and her boyfriend, Tyler. This was written in a way that I found sort of annoying, the book jumping back and forth from the present to the past. I was a bit surprised at the ending of who her death actually happened. I liked the mother, Abi, and give her credit for pursuing the truth about her daughter’s death. (4 stars)


Teaser from page 46:  I remember looking at Olivia in the fading evening light and feeling like I didn't know her anymore.  I knew then that something had been shaken loose, something I had no power to put back together. . . .

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"Joey--How a blind rescue horse helped others learn to see" by Jennifer Marshall Bleakley

Joey by Jennifer Marshall Bleakley is a true story which makes this so much better!  Kim believes in three things:  God, kids, horses.  She has a vision of putting hurting special needs kids with horses on a designated area, but that will take a lot of land and a lot of money!  Those are two things Kim is in short supply of so Kim puts her trust in God to provide. One horse she gets is Joey, a blind horse who was mistreated.  Can she take on a special needs horse too?

I thought this book was outstanding!  It is told very well and the women in this book are remarkable!  I fell in love with Joey!  Do not miss this one!   I'd recommend this for a book club.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 217:  Cindy's hand covered her mouth and tears streamed down her cheeks.  Sarah didn't notice her, not yet.  She was transfixed, basking in this sacred moment in which the little girl with no voice spoke up for the horse with no eyes.

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"The House Next Door" by James Patterson & Susan DiLallo is a Collection of 3 Thrillers!

The House Next Door by James Patterson and Susan DiLallo is the first story in this 3-story thriller collection. Laura and Ned have three kids and the house next door is a wreck. One day they get a new neighbor—Vince and his boy Vinney. When Vince calls her early one morning to ask a favor, she agrees and picks up Vinney from school to drive him to soccer. Laura and Ned argue a lot and Vince makes Laura feel excited. He is nice looking and charming. She begins to think about having an affair with him as her life seems to be falling apart.

This is a quick read and fairly predictable. I did not care for Laura and pretty much had Vince figured out from the start. Things moved along quickly and the most exciting part was right near the end of the story. (Karen’s review,3 stars)

Teaser from page 36: “No. Listen. You don’t think it’s strange—a new family in town, keeps to themselves, meets no one. Didn’t even move in with any furniture, for God’s sake.”

The second one in this collection is The Killer’s Wife by James Patterson and Max DiLallo. Michael Pierson, a high school vice principal is married to Ellen, an elementary school nurse who collects butterflies. Six high school girls from the high school Michael Pierson works at have gone missing over the past 22 months and are presumed dead with the most recent only three weeks ago. Detective McGrath has a gut feeling that Michael is responsible and finally he is arrested when caught red-handed abducting another girl. Pierson refuses to talk to anyone—no lawyer, no cop, not even his wife! McGrath decides to get close to Ellen in the hopes of getting more evidence against him. She claims she had no idea.I liked this one because of the crazy ending and Ellen was an interesting character. (Karen’s review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 178: “You and your husband have been married for six years. But tell me: How well do you really know him? Do you think he’d ever be capable of—” “Absolutely not!” Ellen exclaims, springing to her feet.

We. Are. Not. Alone. by James Patterson and Tim Arnold, the third story in this collection, is a science fiction suspense story that I enjoyed even more than the first two. A disgraced Air Force scientist, Robert Barnett, spent years exploring the possibility of communicating with life on other planets and it finally pays off when he gets a message from outer space! This was a thought-provoking read with a twist that was really great! (Karen’s review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 291: They know their wife and mother is about to embark on yet another very important, highly classified, and quite possibly dangerous mission to outer space. What they don’t know is, they will probably never see her again.


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"Orphan Island" by Laurel Snyder

Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder is a children’s fantasy book about nine kids who live on an island. Once a year, a boat comes with a new young child and the oldest on the island leaves in the boat so there are always only nine on the island. The island is safe, the children happy. Things change though when it is Jinny’s time to leave. Loo arrives but instead of Jinny leaving since she is the oldest, she decides to stay. Then things change!

I liked reading this okay, but didn’t like the ending because left me with lots of questions. It is a fable about growing up, but much didn’t make sense to me.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

Teaser from page 2:  Deen had lifted the bell and rung it to summon the others.  Deen had been alone, briefly, with the knowledge that it was time again for a Changing.

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"The Family Lawyer" by James Patterson

This book has contains three stories. The first is The Family Lawyer by James Patterson with Robert Rotstein. Defense lawyer, Matt Hovanes, finds himself and his partner defending Haley, his own high school daughter for bullying another student who committed suicide. This is really good about cyberbullying and parents going to great lengths to protect their child! (5 stars)

Teaser from page 17: The lawyer in me suspects she’s hiding something. The father in me wants nothing more than to believe in her innocence.

The second story is Night Sniper by James Patterson with Christopher Charles. Practically right off the bat the reader finds out who the night sniper is and the story is all about the cops trying to catch him. He kills from a distance, shoots at the heart and kills in the early morning hours. I thought this one was okay, but liked the first story much more. (4 stars)

Teaser from page 184: He spends the ride out to Queens studying the photo behind tonight’s mission. He holds the image frozen in his mind like a slide on a stalled viewfinder.

The third story is The Good Sister by James Patterson with Rachel Howzell Hall. This one is a murder mystery about two sisters. Melissa’s alcoholic, druggie, cheating husband is shot dead in her living room and the cops naturally suspect her. When she can’t revive him, she calls her sister, Dani, to come over to help her clean up some before calling the police. I did not care much for this one because I did not like any of the characters except for the little boy. (3 stars)

Teaser from page 333: Melissa shoved her hand into Kirk’s right pocket. This time, she pulled out his cell phone. “He was texting her,” she said, “even while he was fighting with me, he was texting her.”


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"Belichick" by Ian O'Connor

Belichick by Ian O'Connor details the football career of coaching of Bill Belichick.  I really enjoyed this book a lot, especially since I'm a fan of the New England Patriots!  There is lots of interesting behind-the-scenes stuff that I already knew about but gained more insight into.  I am so glad Belichick coaches the Patriots and Tom Brady who Belichick chose in the 6th round draft as QB! 
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 170:  "I know the last three weeks have probably been trying for all of you," the new coach continued, "but that's all behind me.  I'm tremendously excited to be here and to be a part of the New England Patriots organization."

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"The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise" by Dan Gemeinhart

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart is a heartwarming children’s story about a father and daughter on a road trip. They just bought a bus and drove all over together for five years after the wife and other two daughters were killed in a car accident when Coyote was 7. The father tries to forget by changing their names—he Rodeo Sunrise and the girl Coyote Sunrise. At 12 years old, Coyote gets talks on the phone to her grandmother and finds out the park is being torn down in a few days. Coyote is determined to get there to dig up the box her and her sisters and mom buried just before they died but needs to get her father to go somehow. As her and her dad travel from Florida back home to Washington State, they pick up some travel companions along the way: a cat she named Ivan, a boy and his mother, a musician, the boy’s aunt, a runaway girl, and a goat!

This book is a fun read with lots of touching moments and some wild, fun times. I liked both the dad and his daughter and her best friend, Salvador. As soon as Coyote got a kitten, I was hooked! This book has a good lesson: don’t judge people by how they look and most people want to help others if they can. Although this is a children’s book, it kept my interest all the way. It is a quick read I enjoyed! (Karen's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 26:  Ivan, superstar kitten that he was, managed to keep his grip on Rodeo's neck through all the screeching and the leaping.  Once Rodeo had shot to an upright position, Ivan decided he'd rather not be attached to a screaming, vertical hippie.


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"Where The Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens -- WOW!

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is the coming of age story of Kya, a lonely, abandoned, abused girl who lived in a Marsh in North Carolina. It is a murder mystery and a love story as well. This is an amazing emotional read that starts out slow but picks up as it goes along. It has much sadness but some high points are mixed in. In a way, it is a rags to riches story. There were a lot of heartbreaking events and yet Kya proved to be very strong, overcoming great obstacles with very little help from others. She was definitely a “lone wolf” until as a teenager, the loneliness caused her to make some poor choices.

All I can say is WOW, what a book! This is well written and reminded me of To Kill a Mocking Bird. It includes lots of information about nature and is a remarkable story about how a girl who only attended school one day in her whole life, became a well-recognized author. I especially liked the courthouse cat, Sunday Justice, who befriended Kya. I would recommend this as a book club read because of the many issues it raises.
(Karen’s review 2/15/19, 5 stars)

Gerard's review, 2/18/19:
In Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, Kya is the last one left of her family.  First her mom left, then her brother and sisters left.  Her pa was the last to leave, but she found a way to survive in their shack in the marsh.  Two young men came into her life during her teen years.  When an incident happens though, Kya is once again all alone and her fate is in other people's hands.

This is a pretty good book!  Kya is a great character and I enjoyed how she got along so well by herself.  More action though would have been nice, but the pacing of this book made up for that.  (5 stars)

Teaser from page 16: “If anybody comes, don’t go in the house. They can get ya there. Run deep in the marsh, hide in the bushes. Always cover yo’ tracks; I learned ya how. And ya can hide from Pa, too.”

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"Smart Ass" by Margaret Winslow is nonfiction About a Donkey

Smart Ass by Margaret Winslow is a true story!  Margaret is going through a mid-life crisis.  She is having problems at work, her husband's job keeps him away from home at least half a year, she has no kids, and no pets.  She needs something so gets a donkey!  What a great story!

I was into this from page 1!  Margaret tells the story well.  At times it actually made me laugh!  Of course, Caleb, the donkey, is fantastic.  I discovered things about donkey's that I never knew and it has a great ending!  I recommend this one!
(Gerard's review 2/13/19, 5++ stars)

Karen's review 2/17/19:
Smart Ass by Margaret Winslow is her true story her life with a big 700 lb. donkey, Caleb.  I liked Caleb but felt sorry for him through most of the book.  I laughed out loud during some of the training parts about halfway through which I found hilarious and which for me was the best part of the book.  I also enjoyed the Christmas pageant but overall, I just wanted to get through it.  I didn't really understand why Margaret spent so much time and money on lessons when clearly she just wanted a nice connection to Caleb.  (3 stars)

Teaser from page 3:  Suddenly the donkey broke away and loped to the far side of the paddock.  He stopped and looked back at me over his shoulder, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

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"The Flight Attendant" by Bhris Bohjalian

Imagine waking up in a bed hungover in a foreign country, naked next to a dead man that bled out!  Did you do it?  and, if not, why were you not killed?  That is the dilemma Cassandra faces in The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian.

I would have enjoyed more action and fewer dull parts.  That being said, I thought Cass was a good character and I was interested to see how it would all play out.  Well worth reading.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 9:  Had she ever seen so much blood?  Not from a human.

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"Evermore" by Sara Holland

Evermore by Sara Holland is the sequel to Everless.  Both are good.  Evermore focuses on the Alchemist's (snake) quest to kill the Sorceress (fox) with lots of adventure, close calls, and unexpected romance.  Jules super power of controlling time becomes stronger in this book and she gets back some memories from her past lives.  Liam has a much bigger part in this book.

This went pretty fast because there was so much action.  I raced through it and liked the ending.  The magic was a bit confusing to me, but still, a good read.
(Karen's review 2/9/19, 4 stars)

Gerard's review 2/16/19:
Evermore by Sara Holland is the follow-up to Everless.  Jules finds out who she really is and Caro wants what Jules has and will do anything to get it back!  I thought this book was better than the first because it had lots more action and did not really know what to expect next!  I liked the ending.  (5 stars)

Teaser from page 5:  Word of my crimes has spread to every corner of Sempera.  That I seduced Roan Gerling while a servant at Everless and used him to gain access to the visiting Queen's chambers.  Then cut Roan's throat and stabbed the Queen through the heart.

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"For Better and Worse" by Margot Hunt - Great Read!

In Better and Worse by Margot Hunt, Natalie and Will have a young son named Charlie.  Life is good until one day there is big news at Charlie's school!  When Natalie finds out Charlie is involved, she goes into "Mama Bear" mode to protect her son.  How far will she go?  Will Will come along, or does he have other things to worry about that are better left alone?

This book is told in three parts and each part tops the other!  Nat and Will are great characters and I thought this rings true to life.  Had a surprise ending for me too!  Put this on your TBR list!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)   

Teaser from page 43:  "I don't know anything more than you do," I said, extracting my hand from her surprisingly strong grip.  "I saw the police cars in the parking lot at drop-off this morning, but that's all the information I have."

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"Reckless Disregard" by Robert Rotstein

Reckless Disregard by Robert Rotstein is a complex Hollywood mystery with lots of crazy characters. Basically, William Bishop, a pillar of the community sues Poniard, a video game designer, for defamation of character because in his video game, Abduction, Poniard implies that Bishop is responsible for the kidnapping and disappearance of Paul Felicity McGrath. The purpose of the game is to find out what actually happened. Poniard is a mystery too because no one actually knows who he is and he is intent on keeping his identity a secret, even to the point of refusing to appear for a deposition or make a court appearance! Parker Stern is a mediator who is drawn into this case as Poniard’s attorney and who has secrets of his own. This book has secret identities, betrayal and death.

This book is written in a very unique way, using the “game” to reflect what Poniard thinks really happened. There are a lot of surprises and twists and turns in the book which kept making it more puzzling. I felt that it was beyond believable though and was glad when I finished it. I did like the lawyer and the trial part. (Karen's review, 3 stars)

Teaser from page 35: I’ve spent the last twenty-five years trying to keep this secret. My celebrity almost ruined me, and I don’t want it back, not even a vestige of it. I’m a lawyer, not an actor.

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"The Stranger Game" by Peter Gadol

In The Stranger Game by Peter Gadol, Rebecca's boyfriend has gone missing, but the police do not seem to be fazed by this.  He probably is playing the "Stranger Game."  What is that?  You will need to read the book to find the answer to that!  This book was pretty good.  The pacing was good and I enjoyed how all the characters were developed.  A twist at the end surprised me and I liked how it all played out!  (Gerard's review, 4.5 stars) 

Teaser from page 15:  I would never see them again.  The third rule of the game was never follow the same stranger twice, and so I drove away.

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"Becoming" by Michelle Obama by Michelle Obama

I heard that Becoming by Michelle Obama was a good book and was curious to learn more about her and what it was like living at the White House and what it would be like being a First Lady.  This book did not disappoint.  It satisfied my curiosity and also was very inspirational.  My favorite character in this book was Michelle Obama's mother.  The first part of the book is about her childhood, the middle about her career and developing her relationship with Barack, the last third about the Presidential campaign and her time at the White House.  She is very open about sharing her story.  Living in the White House has some perks, but the inability to go anywhere when you wanted or even just outside on the balcony without notifying the secret service and getting their permission would be a deal breaker for me right there!  (Karen's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 12:  When I thought I had a good idea about something, I didn't like being told no.  Which is how my great-aunt and I ended up in each other's faces, both of us hot and unyielding.  

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"The Dream Daughter" by Diane Chamberlain was a Big Hit for Both of Us!

In The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain, Carly is going to give birth, but the doctor tells her it does not look good for the long run.  Her brother-in-law comes up with a wild solution, but will Carly go for it?  If she does, will it work?  This is a wild book to say the least!  Carly is a great character and you have to pull for her.  Some good twists and turns that I did not see coming kept me involved!  I especially loved the last part of the book!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars) 

Karen's review, 11-30-18:
In The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain, shortly after Carly gets news that her husband was killed in Vietnam only weeks after he left in 1970, she learn she is pregnant.  Early in her pregnancy, she receives bad news that there is something wrong with her baby's heart and that it is fatal!  Carly is so devastated by the news, that she is willing to do anything to save her child--including time travel to the year 2001 so she can try fetal surgery!  Her brother-in-law, Hunter, who she met when she was his physical therapist was a time traveler from 2013 and talks her into giving it a try.

I enjoyed this book very much and highly recommend it to women.  It's a combination of contemporary and science fiction.  I don't think men would enjoy it as much.  It certainly has adventure but centers around Carly's fight to save and get to know her child, Johanna.  It has touching scenes and lots of unexpected twists along the way.  I was a little disappointed when it ended.  It even has two dogs in it and some funny parts as well.  I found it to be thought-provoking too and had trouble putting this down.  I really looked forward to getting back to it!
(5 stars)

Teaser from page 25:  "It doesn't matter.  What matters is that during her studies, she discovered it's possible to travel forward and backward in time."

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"One of Us is Lying" by Karen M. McManus

In One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus, five high school kids are in detention in a classroom.  One of them does not make it out alive!  It was no accident.  Who did it?  I almost gave up on this one, but I'm glad I did not!  Once the story picked up, it was kind of hard to put down!  The other four characters were really brought out very well.  It has some good twists and turns also.  If you love a good who done it mystery, this book is for you.  This is well worth reading!
(Gerard's review, 4.5 stars) 

Teaser from page 15:  He runs a shaking hand through his think white hair as one of the paramedics stabs Simon with a syringe and the other two lift him onto the stretcher.  "God help that boy," he whispers.

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"A Dog's Way Home" by W. Bruce Cameron

A Dog's Way Home by W. Bruce Cameron is about Bella, a very good dog who is taken from her home in Denver until her owner, Lucas, can find a new place to live that allows pit bulls.  Unfortunately, Bella sees her opportunity to break out of that yard and head on home to her Lucas the day before he was coming to get her!  It takes her two years to find her way home!  Along the way, she runs into lots of adventures and has several different people who she lives with including doggie foster parents, two gay men, an alcoholic woman, a homeless vet, and a cougar!

I had a hard time getting through this book because it was just so heartbreaking.  I felt so bad for this poor dog and very angry at the animal control guy who was just part of a plot to harass Lucas and Bella.  The only reason I finished it was because the title implies that she does make it home. I liked how there were lots of cats in this story and some parts were pretty funny, such as when Bella discovered what a great place a grocery store is.  I also liked how the VA hospital patients enjoyed Bella which reminded me of how those in the nursing home enjoyed our dog, Abby's, visits when we used to take her every week.  The unfairness of the breed discriminatory law was very upsetting to me.  Anyone could see by her behavior that Bella was not a dangerous dog, nor was she a pure pit bull, but was viewed as one by one guy in animal control.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

A Dog's Way Home by W. Bruce Cameron is told by Bella, who is a very good dog!  She is pronounced a pit bull by three animal control officers (in spite of being a mix and many others saying she is not a pit bull) and the state she lives in has laws that will not allow her to be a house pet.  She gets separated from her owner and makes it her goal to get back to her person somehow.  I enjoyed this book very much.  Bella tells the story quite well and it has a great ending!
(Gerard's review 8/6/17, 5 stars)

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"Everless" by Sara Holland--We Both Gave This 4 Stars

Everless by Sara Holland is her debut novel. It is a fantasy about mystery, magic, betrayal as Jules goes searching for an answer to why her father told her to never let the queen see her and to run if she ever saw Liam Gerling, once a childhood friend who banished her and her father from Everless. I liked Jules, but it didn’t make sense to me that she wouldn’t listen to her father and not go back to Everless, a dangerous place for her. She discovers her papa kept lots of secrets from her which leads to her searching for even more answers!

As with any fantasy, some things didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me, but I enjoyed this book anyway. It has a lot of interesting characters and an angle I haven’t come across before with the blood iron—stealing people’s years of life by draining some blood from them. This was a hard concept for me to really understand. The character interaction is what kept my interest. I didn’t like that one of my favorite characters was killed.
(Karen’s review, 4 stars)

Gerard's review:
Everless by Sara Holland is fantasy and this author's first novel.  The concept was a new one that I have never read before.  It deals with blood and you can store it up to live longer.  The main character is a young girl named Jules who I liked.  I was engaged for the most part.  The ending was wild to say the least, but I liked it enough that I will read book 2--Evermore!  (4 stars)

Teaser from page 16: If I hadn’t pulled Roan out before the flames could catch, he would have been burned alive. And as my reward, we had to flee the only home I had ever known, because Papa was afraid of what Liam would do to me if we stayed at Everless, knowing what I had seen.


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"Good Me Bad Me" by Ali Land

In Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land, Annie lives with her mom who does things she should not do!  Annie goes to the police and tells on her mom, then into witness protection.  Ready to start a new life with a new name and family while waiting for the trial to begin.  Unfortunately, her new family and her do not seem to connect.  She will be good, won't she?

This is the author's first book and I must say I am impressed!  There is good pace to the book and the characters are very believable.    The trial was the best part with a surprise ending!  This is well worth reading.
(Gerard's review, 4.5 stars)

Teaser from page 6:  You turned your had to the side.  Faced me.  Your eyes never left mine, I read them with ease.  You said nothing to them, yet everything to me.

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"The Sun Dog" by Stephen King

The Sun Dog by Stephen King is vintage King! Kevin gets the birthday present he wanted for his 15th birthday—a camera! The first picture he takes shows something it should not! The more pictures he takes, the thing is still in there and is scares Kevin really bad! The pace of this book is really good and the ending had me turning pages as quick as I could!
(Gerard’s review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 9:  But it was not practical good Kevin was thinking about.  In fact, he was not thinking at all.  He was feeling . . . and remembering.  

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"Once a King" by Erin Summerill

Once a King by Erin Summerill is the third book in the "Clash of Kingdom" fantasy series.  The first was Ever the Hunted and the second was Ever the Brave.  King Aodren wants the best for his kingdom and that means making peace with the channelers.  Lirra has every reason to not trust the king, but when he reaches out to her, she decides to help.  Will it be enough?

I thought this book was really good, just as good as the first two!  The book had a good flow to it and good action as well.  King Aodren and Lirra are good characters.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 20:  I press my fist to the sudden bloom of ache in my belly.  I want to forget this request and finish my glider.

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"We, the Jury" by Robert Rotstein

We the Jury by Robert Rotstein is about a trial where a husband killed his wife. The question is, was it premeditated or was he a battered spouse who killed in self-defense? We hear from everyone involved in the trial, especially the jury! I enjoyed this book very much! The characters were really good and I liked the judge and the fore person the most. If you can figure out how this one ends, you are smarter than me. This is my book of the month so far!
Gerard’s review, 5++ stars)

Karen’s review:
We the Jury by Robert Rotstein reminded me of the play, 12 Angry Men because instead of taking us through the trial, the entire book centers upon the 8-member jury and its deliberations. I think anyone who has been called for jury duty would find this book interesting. We find out about the trial through transcripts that the jury requests read back to them. My favorite characters were the messenger/”actor”, the student, the grandma and the jury consultant who was part of this jury! I felt sorry for the judge and was surprised by the ending. I really liked the unique way this book was written. Each new chapter was really commentary by one of the many different characters. I loved it! (5 stars)

Teaser from page 22: The jurors look at each other and shake their heads. The Clergyman doesn’t look at anyone. He just keeps his head bowed, as if in prayer.


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"BREACH" by W. L. Goodwater

Breach by W. L. Goodwater is a fantasy about a hole in the Berlin Wall that grows. The wall is held together by magic and hides a very dangerous magical book. Ehle, the creator of the breach wants to make sure the book gets destroyed Karen, a USA magician is chosen to assist the CIA in their mission to fix the wall. She finds herself mixed up in magic she never knew before.

This is a wild book that I liked because of Karen, the main character, and the various relationships she developed. There were several groups that was a bit of a challenge to keep straight and the writing style was difficult to follow at times because it was told from different points of view with poor transitioning. One just stopped and another began. There definitely was a lot of action and adventure in this book which made me want to keep reading.
(Karen’s review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 23: It was always the same with men like George. “You only ever think about using your magic to smash something,” she said. “You might be surprised to learn it has other, less destructive uses.”


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"The Other Wife" by Michael Robotham

In The Other Wife by Michael Robotham, Joe O'Loughlin is mourning his dead wife.  At least he has his mom and dad to lean on.  One day he gets a call his dad is in ICU and in a coma.  When he gets to the hospital, he sees a woman by his dad's bedside but not his mom.  When he inquires, the woman tells him she is his dad's other wife!  Say what?  This is an adult novel. 

If you are looking for an action book, this is not it.  This is a psychological thriller that you need your thinking cap for!  There are several story lines that all lead to the main story!  I enjoyed the twists and the different characters were true to life.  Also, you never knew what was really going to happen next!  Some parts are slow, but I though the overall story made up for that.  It had a good ending and is well worth reading!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 10:  'But I was told . . .'  'I asked the hospital to call you.'  'I'm sorry, but who are you?'  'I'm his other wife.'

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"Fire & Ice" (Book 3 of Wild at Heart series) by Mary Connealy

Fire & Ice by Mary Connealy is the third and final book in the Wild Heart series. This book focuses on Bailey and Gage. Bailey prides herself on being able to take care of herself and be as good a rancher as any man and Gage is determined to get his cattle to graze in the canyon that Bailey blocked with her cabin. While Gage starts blasting away the mountain to give him another way into the canyon, he and some of his men nearly get killed when a trap someone set for them results in an avalanche! He accuses Bailey but she sets him straight and convinces him it wasn’t her that set that trap. After making it through a lonely winter, she is actually happy when Gage Coulter comes to her door, but is floored at what he wants.

This third book continued to be entertaining and is a great ending to this series. I loved how Bailey and Gage gradually grew to love each other. I really liked all three sisters in this series and was sorry to see it end. Once again, this book had adventure, mystery, romance and humor. I loved this series and flew through all three books once I started it.  I highly recommend this series for light reading.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 14:  "This is why you've been as good as hiding from me ever since the first time I came across you in your sister's cabin, all the way back before Kylie married Aaron.  You didn't want me to know you were a woman."

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"Now & Forever" by Mary Connealy (Book 2 of Wild at Heart series)

Now & Forever by Mary Connealy is the second book in the Wild at Heart series that focuses on Shannon and the mountain man, Tucker, who sometimes works for Gage Coulter. After tucker gets clawed by a bear and Shannon and he fall off a cliff into the river to get away, they rely on each other to find a way out. They spend five days and nights in an underground cave before they are rescued, at which time they get married! Most of the story is the mystery and adventure of someone trying to chase them off their homestead by getting their sheep killed and burning their barn. Although Shannon is a tough woman, she cries a lot in this book.

I liked this book as much as the first in this series, but was a bit disappointed in the ending. (5 stars)

Teaser from page 28: She’d go find her sister, who would turn out to be the first woman ever to survive this rattlesnake of a river. And if anyone could do it, it was Shannon. And no one was more apt to help her than Matthew Tucker.


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"My Sister, The Serial Killer" by Oyinkan Braithwaite

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite centers on two sisters.  The older sister is Korede and the younger sister is Ayoola.  Ayoola is the killer of some men that she has a relationship with.  Korede cleans up the mess.  Now a man Korede is in love with is going out with her sister.  All bets are off now!  This book had a lot of hype so I wanted to read it.  I found it to be okay.  The story line kept me involved and the sisters were good characters.  This is the author's first book.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 6:  "It's not my fault, you know."  But I don't know.  I don't know what she is referring to. 

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"Tried & True" (Wild at Heart Series Book 1) by Mary Connealy

Tried & True by Mary Connealy is about three sisters becoming homesteaders after serving in the Civil War disguised as men to fulfill their pa's dream.  Kylie, Bailey and Shannon are the three sisters who have been made tough by war and have picked up some manly skills.  Shannon loves animals and is happy raising sheep while the eldest sister, Bailey loves being independent and raising cattle.  Kylie, however, prefers civilization, tea parties and bonnets and has agreed to homestead for just three years to claim ownership of the land and then sell it to her pa and move back east.  When the land agent comes around and discovers she is a woman so can't get the 2-yr land exemption and has to live on the land five years to own it, she is devastated and her plans change.

I enjoyed this first book in the series which centers on Kylie and look forward to reading about the other two sisters in the next books of this series.  Kylie's struggles to do manly jobs at her cabin, the efforts to try to get her to leave and the romance that developed between her and Aaron, the land agent, kept my interest. 
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from pg. 21:  Aaron Masterson had his arms around the prettiest little thing in the whole wide world.  And considering she was soaking wet, freezing cold, and crying her head off, that was saying something.

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"The Wonky Donkey" by Craig Smith

The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith with illustrations by Katz Cowley if a cute, funny early childhood book that has been on the best seller list.  That is why Gerard wanted to read it.  I saw this video on Facebook one day so I decided to read it too.  It is very repetitive and could be used to help little children exercise their memory skills.  I thought it was very cute and not just for children as you can see by this video, the grandma was enjoying it as much if not more than the little boy.  It's a quick read for sure--this grandma read the entire book in just over 4 minutes.
(Karen & Gerard, 5 star for children)


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!

"What You Hide" by Natalie D. Richards

In What You Hide by Natalie D. Richards, Spencer is the son of a wealthy family.  He is nearing the end of high school and his family has plans for him.  He want to do his own thing.  Mallory lives with her mom and step dad.  She fears for the safety of her mom and herself with a baby is on the way.  Mallory takes off and finds shelter in a library where Spencer does community service.

I thought this book was pretty good.  It kept my interest and the pacing was good so I never got bored.  I enjoyed both Mallory and Spencer and think it was worth the read.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 3:  I start my ascent, slow and steady.  The world slips quietly away.

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!