"The Boy" by Tami Hoag

The BOY by Tami Hoag takes place in a small town in Louisiana.  One night a child is found dead and the mother of the child is found beaten and bloodied.  The detective on this case and his wife keep running into dead ends try as they might to solve this mystery.  The dead boy's babysitter turns up missing! 

I thought this book was very good.  I listened to it on audio with 14 disks so it is long with plenty of action and enjoyable characters.  A few parts dragged, but for a long book, it moved along pretty well.  The ending was really good with a twist I didn't see coming.  Even with the dull parts, I still give this 5 stars due to the ending and the reader on the audio book. 
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"Box of Butterflies" by Roma Downey is Uplifting!

I got this as an audio book by Roma Downey who played Monica on Touched by an Angel.  She tells real-life stories and shares her walk of faith.  It is very inspirational and uplifting! 

If you are down in the dumps needing something positive, this is for you.  I really enjoyed it since I can't do much for at least 6 weeks while my broken collarbone heals. (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"The One and Only Bob" by Katherine Applegate

The One and Only Bob is the follow-up children's book to The One and Only Ivan by Katherin Applegate.  In this book the main character is a dog named Bob.  I thought this book started out a bit slow, but once Ruby and Ivan came into it, it picked up and stayed good the rest of the way.  I enjoyed the interaction between the animals and the story had a good pace to it.  I liked getting back to this world of talking animals.  More please!  I thought Bob was a good character and it was good to hear from Ivan again.  The ending was very good and I liked the funny moments.  (Gerard's review, 4.5 stars)

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"We Dream of Space" by Erin Entrada Kelly is historical fiction for kids

We dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly deals with three young teens who live in the same family--Cash, Fitch and Bird.  They all go to the same school where the focus is on space and the launch of The Challenger.  It is also about their day-to-day lives.  I thought this book was pretty good and I enjoyed all the kids.  It flowed along well with some funny parts too.  (Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 22:  "Maybe if you had a three-dimensional brain, you wouldn't be failing seventh grade for the second time," Fitch said.  "Good luck getting any homework done with your right hand in a cast.  Not that you know how to do it anyway."

 

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"You and Me and Us" by Alison Hammer is Very Good!

You and Me and Us by Alison Hammer is told mostly by Alexis who lives with Tommy.  Tommy always wanted to have a wedding and make it official, but Alexis does not want that.  CeCe, their daughter, also tells some of the story.  Tommy has always been there for CeCe.  Alexis, who runs her own business, not so much.  Unfortunately, Tommy has health issues and his time is short.  The story is about how these two women deal with this and other things that come up.  

I was into this book from page 1.  The writing is good and I enjoyed all the characters very much.  I think this book would make a good movie!  Must read this one!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)  

Teaser from page 25:  "It won't.  And I'm not going to put you or CeCe through what I went through with my mom.  The false hope, the pain and suffering."

 

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"Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts" by Kate Racculia is a Wild Adventure!

Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia is about what happens when Vincent Pryce, a billionaire, dies suddenly.  In his obit, it states that when you come to his wake, you can play a game if you choose.  If you win, it will be well worth it!  What kind of game?  Can you play alone or must you play as a team?  Any clues?  What about the rules?  Time limit?  For the answers to these questions, you'[ll need to read the book.

This was pretty good because the characters were colorful, to say the least.  The book moved along quickly and the ending was wild but good.  I enjoyed it.

(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 18:  No one had ever asked him a question like that before.  It made him almost as uncomfortable as the house.

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"Brave Like That" by Lindsey Stoddard

Brave Like That by Lindsey Stoddard is about Cyrus, a sixth grader who finds himself telling lies and faking things in order to keep his secrets. I think this is a good book for kids because it's about accepting yourself and not trying to be something you aren't.  It's about being brave enough to do the right thing and not worry about what others think.  I enjoyed it because of the boy's relationship with Parker, the dog and his grandmother who had a stroke.  It's a happy little story with a good message.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Gerard's review 7/28/20:
In Brave Like That by Lindsey Stoddard, Cyrus is a young teen boy whose life changes when a stray dog comes into it.  Cyrus goes against his father's wishes by keeping the dog a secret, but for how long?  When the secret is exposed, will Cyrus be brave enough to stand up for what he wants?  I thought this book was pretty good even though it is geared to children.  If you enjoyed the movie and book Wonder, you will enjoy this one.  It is a quick read.
(4 stars)



Teaser from page 6:  Tears burn behind my eyes because it doesn't feel right to just leave him here.  It's now where he belongs.

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"The Daughter" by Jane Shemilt

The cat's face tells you what I thought of this one!

When I read The Playground by Jane Shemilt, I saw she also wrote The Daughter so I decided to read that too.   Unfortunately, I got sick of the writing style with jumping from the past to present in every chapter and all the description.  Perhaps had I not read it right after The Playground, I may have enjoyed it more.  However, it moved along extremely slowly which caused me to give up on it even before getting half way through it.  The daughter went missing practically from the start of the book, but after that, the action ended.  This is one I do not recommend.
(Karen's review, 1 star)

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"The Playground" by Jane Shemilt Lives up to the Hype

The Playground by Jane Shemilt takes place in London and is about three families, one with three children, one with two kids and one with an only child.  They all meet and socialize through having one of their kids being tutored by Eve.  The parents have no clue what their kids are up to.  Each family has some sort of problem, some worse than others!  

Several different issues are packaged in this book:  marital abuse, mental illness, alcoholism, friendship and rape.  The interaction among the characters is what moves this book along.  I would have enjoyed it more if I actually liked more of the characters.  As it is, I only really liked three, Eric, Grace and Charley.
(Karen's review3 stars) 

Gerard's review7/6/20:
The Playground by Jane Shemilt centers on three women, Eve, Melissa and Grace.  They all have children and over time, they become close and socialize along with their husbands.  The children go off to play on their own.  What could possibly go wrong with that?  I flew through this book because I enjoyed the interactions between the adults and the children so much.  The ending was the best!  This is a great read!  (5++ stars)

Teaser from page 30:  She wishes she had some of those earphones that cancel out noise.  She'd cancel out her whole family if she could.

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"When You See Me" by Lisa Gardner (Both Liked This One!)

When you See Me by Lisa Gardner is about how a small town is a center for evil.  This book focuses on the good guys following up on old murder cases when they keep finding skeletons of dead bodies buried in shallow graves in the Appalachian Mountains and stumbling on something even more complex.  One of the main characters is a young teenage girl who watched a bad man kill her mother with a bullet when she was just six that went through her throat and also hit the girl, taking away her ability to talk.  She is a big help to the task force working on solving these crimes.

This book is well written in that in spite of all the different characters, I was able to keep them all straight and never once felt confused.  I felt sad for the little girl (Bonita).  I liked that the task force included a couple civilians as well, one a computer analyst and the other a survivor of rape and kidnapping by a serial killer (Keith and Flora).  This book kept my interest from start to finish. 

(Karen's review, 5 stars)

Gerard's review 7/20/20

In When You See Me by Lisa Gardner, bodies are starting to pile up in the hills of a small town in Georgia.  Now it's up to detective D.D. Warren and her crew to find answers and put an end to it.  There are lots of characters in this book and lots of action!  It flows well with an exciting final part.

(5 stars)

Teaser from page 9:  I fly like the wind, I want to believe.  I hurtle myself into her arms.

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"The Girl Beyond the Red Rope" by Ted and Rachel Dekker

In The Girl Beyond the Red Rope by Ted and Rachel Dekker, Grace lives in Haven Valley.  She is safe, she is told, while the rest of the world is filled with evil.  Grace's brother tells her that he has gone out into the world and there is nothing to fear.  Does Grace believe that?  If so, what will she do?  Will her brother, Jamie, pay the price for going outside the valley?

I thought this book was very good.  I enjoyed all the characters and it flowed along well.  For most of the book, I had no idea what was going to happen!  The ending had me turning pages quickly, so good.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 14:  "I'm stuck," I whispered.  "I think I made a terrible mistake.  I think I betrayed Rose and now Jamie's in trouble."

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"The Kingdom of Back" by Marie Lu

The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu is historical fiction that centers on Wolfgang Mozart and his sister, Nannerl Mozart.  They are both very talented when it comes to playing music on the piano.  Nannerl wants fame but in this book fame comes at a cost.  Will she be willing to pay that cost?

Marie Lu is such a talented writer!  I enjoyed reading about both the brother and sister very much and look forward to her next book!
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Teaser from page 7:  I closed my eyes.  In the darkness, with only myself, I searched for the pulse of the music and let my hands find it.

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"Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng is about motherhood and secrets.  I found this story to be thought provoking and heartbreaking.  It contrasts the lives of a rich upper class family of six, the Richardsons, with a single mother, Mia, who is an artist and struggles to provide for her and her teenage daughter.  Then another story line is about a Chinese birth mother who gave up her baby and now wants her back from the nice, well-to-do couple who has started the adoption process.  There is lots of emotion wrapped up in this book.  I think this would be an excellent book for a book club to discuss.  I enjoyed reading this but was a bit disappointed with the ending that was kind of left up in the air.  I think women would definitely enjoy this one more than men.      
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

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"Devoted" by Dean Koontz is Really Good!

In Devoted by Dean Koontz, Woody has not said a word in his 11-yr.-old life.  He believes an evil was the cause of his dad's death and that evil is still out there, coming for his mom and him!  He needs special help.  Can a gifted dog bring him that help? 

I thought this book was very good with the good and evil going after each other, Koontz style!  Wood was a good character, but Kipp, the dog is what makes this book so good in my eyes!
(Gerard's review, 5+ Stars)  

Teaser from page 36:  As he circles the room, he tries to recall when and where his life went wrong, not regarding the events at the labs, but prior to that.  When had he last been truly happy?

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"Let Me Tell You About Jasper . . . How My Best Friend Became America's Dog by Dana Perino

Let Me Tell You About Jasper by Dana Perino, is a heartwarming book about her two Vizsla dogs.  She explains how she and her husband met, how they got the dogs and some funny things their dogs did.  Jasper is still alive, but their first dog, Henry, has passed on to doggie heaven.  When reading this it made me feel happy that her dogs were/are so loved.  It's not gripping, but if you're looking for a cozy book, this is it.  It is very short because the second half of the book is all pictures!  My favorite parts were actually written by her husband.  I liked it all right so gave it 3 stars because I've read other dog books that I liked much more. 
(Karen's review, 3 stars)


Gerard's Review of June 16, 2020:
Let Me Tell You About Jasper by Dana Perino who works for the Fox News Network is a fun read.  Dana is one smart lady and loves talking about her dog, Jasper!  When I found out she wrote a book about her dog, I had to get it!  I enjoyed this book very much.  I not only learned about Jasper, but also about her and her previous dog, Henry.  Her writing is very good.  I also liked Jasper's account of his day.  This is a short book with lots of pictures.  I give it 5 stars because it is very well done!  
(5 stars)

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"The Litigators" by John Grisham is About Different Types of Attorneys

The Litigators by John Grisham was a very amusing and entertaining read for me.  This book gives insight into a variety of different types of lawyers.  David Zinc is the main character, an attorney in a huge prestigious law firm who is stuck in a very boring job and decides to just quit and go somewhere else.  He just leaves one day, no notice and no message, goes to a bar where he drinks all day and finally stumbles into a small 2-partner ambulance chasing law firm, Finley & Figg.  They hire him that day and he finds he enjoys the work.  He actually gets to help clients!  Plus, a dog lives at the office and there is Rochelle, the receptionist who actually runs the place.  The lawyers are sleezy and located in a bad part of town, but David likes his new job and has no regrets.

I really enjoyed the second half of this book when David gets to be part of a trial in Federal Court against lawyers from his old firm.  This trial is hilarious, had me laughing out loud in some parts. I liked David Zinc right from the start.  He was a nice guy and proved that as the book moved along.  The ending was great! I think anyone who enjoys Grisham books about attorneys would enjoy this one.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Gerard's review of 5/31/20:
In The Litigators by John Grisham, David Zinc works in a big-time law firm.  One day the stress of his job--long hours and plenty of work gets to him and he just quits!  He joins a small law firm run by just two guys.  Will David find peace of mind again and will he be happy?

This is not the author's best work, but there was just enough that I had to stay with it and see how it all turned out.  I give it 4 stars on the strength of David and parts of the story line I really enjoyed.
(4 stars)

Teaser from page 8:  "Sure," David mumbled as he managed to move forward.  The door slid open, the bell chimed again.  He was out of the elevator, looking around nervously as if he'd never before seen the place.  In fact, he'd left it only ten hours earlier.

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"Kill You Twice" by Chelsea Cain

In Kill You Twice by Chelsea Cain, Archie, a detective, can sleep better knowing Gretchen, a serial killer, is lock away.  He gets a new case and is informed that Gretchen has inside knowledge about it.  Is Gretchen just playing a game with Archie or does she really know something?

This was pretty good.  I liked Archie and Gretchen.  Some parts dragged though, but not too many and the ending is good.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 8:  He smelled something--sandalwood?  cloves?--and opened his eyes.  The butterfly was gone. 

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Finally, a New Header Picture!

We got quite a few books to borrow from our neighbor librarian a few houses away.  Gerard is very happy about this and has started John Grisham's, The Litigators.  I still have plenty to read on my Kindle and one other book we got from the little free library at the end of our street.

Here are some outtakes with Spunky Doodle for our header I thought you might like seeing:

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"If It Bleeds" by Stephen King

If it Bleeds by Stephen King has three short stories and one long story in it.  The two I enjoyed the most were short:  Mr. Harrigan's Phone and Rat.  The long story, If It Bleeds, was pretty good too.  The other short story, The Life of Chuck, did not impress because I didn't understand it at all.  I give this book 4 stars on the basis of how much I enjoyed the two short stories I liked the most.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

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"Water from my Heart" by Charles Martin is About Second Chances

Water from My Heart by Charles Martin is about Charlie Finn, a successful gambler and drug dealer who decides to straighten out when he realizes his and his partner's business is negatively affecting his partner's son and young daughter who comes close to death.  He becomes attracted to three women, Shelly, Amanda and Leena but really only falls in love with one.  In Nicaragua, he has quite an adventure!

This book moved along quite slowly; however, I found myself liking and rooting for Charlie to succeed.  Things picked up when he went after Zaul in Nicaragua and met Paulina and Paulo.  I liked the story, but not the writing.  It jumped around in time too much for my taste and I almost gave up on it.  The only thing that kept me reading was knowing Charlie was going to have a change of heart.  The theme can be summed up by the line, "Love with Legs" meaning showing love with your actions.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 5:  I was attracted to risk and not attracted to anything resembling hard work that benefited someone other than me.  If you were going to be dumb enough to risk your money in a card game, then I was going to be smart enough to take it from you.

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Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult

Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult deals with the issue of what to do when the "right" thing is illegal.   Charles is married to an alcoholic and has a 4-yr.-old girl.  Not only that, but he discovers his wife is cheating on him with Victor and they get divorced.  Charles "rescues" his little girl by taking her from Arizona to live with him in New Hampshire under new names (Andrew and Delia) instead of returning her home after his day with her.  Delia grows up happy but doesn't remember much of her mother.  Ironically, she grows up and helps detectives and police search and rescue missing people with her dog, Greta.  Thirty years later, he is arrested for kidnapping.  Will he be found guilty and spend 20 years in prison?  What will Delia think of him for lying to her practically her whole life?  He told her that her mother died in a car accident.   Will she marry her long-time friend, Eric, a recovering alcoholic and lawyer, or choose her other long-time friend Fritz, a journalist.

This book was pretty good because it had a surprise ending and I liked the tension between liking Andrew even though he did technically kidnap his daughter.  I felt a little bad for the mother and Delia.  There were some parts that I did not care about, but they didn't last long.  I did not like the way the book jumped around between the past and present, but the story line was good and I did like Delia and her father, Andrew, the main characters.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 75:  On the one hand, I was his child, and he must have been doing what he felt he needed to do.  On the other hand, I'm a mother now, and he committed my worst nightmare.

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"The Turn of the Key" by Ruth Ware Is One We Both Liked!

In The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware, Rowan does not like the job she has.  When she comes upon an ad she thinks this could be the answer to her prayers.  But she has to get this job and she does!  She thinks all her problems are solved, but really they've just begun!  I thought this book was very good!  I liked the character of Rowan a lot.  I never knew what would happen next.  There are some parts where there is nothing going on; however, those are few.  The story makes up for them and the ending part was very good!
(Gerard's review of 3/9/20, 5+ stars)

Karen's review:
I read The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware because my husband recommended it and I was intrigued by the book summary.  It was very good about a nanny who takes a live-in position at a house in Scotland with a history of murder and a reputation for being haunted.  It is told in a very unusual way with twists I did not see coming.  This is a murder mystery that I had no clue who the murder was.  There is much deception in this book and it certainly kept my interest all the way through!
(5 stars)

Teaser from page 17:  All this time I have been telling myself that if only someone would let me clear my head and get my side of the story straight, without interrupting, maybe this whole awful mess would get sorted out.

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"Her Last Breath" by J. A. Schneider

In Her Last Breath by J. A. Schneider, Mari wakes up in bed in a strange room with a dead man she does not know next to her who has a knife in his chest.  She remembers nothing!  Did she do it or is this a set up?  This book is pretty good.  Mari was a good lead character and I really cared about her.  The story had a good flow and it kept me guessing!  The ending was okay.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)


Karen's review of 12/29/17:
Her Last Breath by J. A. Schneider is a page-turning murder mystery. Mari, who is separated from her husband, wakes up on a bed in a strange room with blood all over her, her dress torn and next to a dead guy she doesn’t know who has a knife in his chest! To top it off, she has asthma and cannot find her inhaler. While looking for it, she passes out and wakes to another strange man who is trying to save her. The cops arrest her for the guy’s murder because her fingerprints were on the knife. The guy who saved her life is a former cop, currently a construction worker named Jay. Mari’s husband, Ted who is a lawyer, comes to the hospital and volunteers to defend her. Mari gets to the point of being paranoid and not knowing who to trust!

Teaser from page 1: She froze; gasped. Couldn’t take in air seeing his black hair, his chest hidden under a tent of bloodied sheet.

I got hooked on this book right from the start and was surprised with the ending. I did not figure out who the murderer was although it was obvious someone was setting Mari up. I hope to find more books by this author and highly recommend this one if you enjoy a good mystery. She has a series of standalone thrillers with the same cops as are in this one.
(5 stars)


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"Where the Forest Meets the Stars" by Glendy Vanderah

Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah, is an interesting story about love.  A very smart little girl claiming to be an alien shows up at Jo's cottage with a wild story, no shoes and dirty clothes.  Jo tries to find out her name, but the girl refuses to say.  After searching missing person websites with no success, she grows attached to the child.  Gabe, a neighbor, allows the girl to visit his farm animals and she also becomes attached to Gabe.

This is a good story but moved a bit slow for my taste.  I liked the girl though and it kept my interest because I wanted to see how things would turn out.  I liked the ending.  It's more than just the mystery about the girl though.  It's also about walls people put up and how even adults are sometimes afraid to let people in.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

In Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah, Joanna is doing graduate research in the forest alone, the way she likes it!  One day a young girl shows up.  Who is she?  Joanna goes to the police, but gets no help.  Looks at missing children files and finds nothing!  Joanna lets her stay until she finds out who she is.

I thought this book was very good!  I was into it the whole way and really cared about the characters.  It moved right along.  (Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Teaser from page 3:  Jo could see her eyes now.  The intelligent glint in her gaze was oddly shrewd for her baby face, and Jo took that as a sign that she knew it was all in fun.  "If you're an alien, why do you look human?"

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"A Heart So Fierce and Broken" by Brigid Kemmerer

A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer is the second book of this series about Rhen, Grey and Harper.  In this book, the main characters are Grey, Lila Mara and Hunter's brother and friend--Jacob and Noah.  The focus is on Grey's secret and the efforts of Lila Mara's country to form an alliance with Rhen.  Will there be war or can a peace agreement be reached?  Will Grey and Lila fall in love, perhaps rule together?  How will Rhen protect his people?

I enjoyed this book as well, especially since I like Grey and this was all about him.  There was fighting, new relationships formed and a cliff hanging ending.  Can't wait to read the next book in the series!  I was somewhat disappointed in the small part Harper had in this book; however, I did like Lila Mara and found myself routing for her and Grey.  I also liked the scarver, Iisak who brought another facet to the story.  There was not a lot of magic in this one, just a little here and there.  I enjoyed Jacob's brother in this and the banter between him and Grey.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

Gerard's review:
A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmererfocuses on Grey, the former captain of the guards protecting Rhen.  Lia Mara is the new character in this book that plays a main role along with Grey.  She tries to make a peaceful alliance with Rhen, but appears to have failed.  I thought this book was very, very good!  I enjoyed the interaction among all the characters.  The pacing of the book is very good also so I am looking forward to book 3!  (5++ stars)

See our review of the first book in this series, A Curse So Dark and Lonely.

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"Bravelands--The Spirit-Eaters" by Erin Hunter

You can never go wrong with an Erin Hunter book!  Bravelands--The Spirit-eaters has talking animals!  Bravelands faces danger like it has never known before.  A pack of wolves has broken "the code."  They must be stopped, but by whom? and how? 

I enjoyed this book very much.  It flows along well and has plenty of action.  It has maps on the inside covers.  It looks like a book two is coming which I am happy about.
(Gerard Zemek, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 10:  "They didn't eat anything of their kills--nothing, except the heart.  These wolves, they believe that when they eat a creature's heart, they take its spirit and its abilities."

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"Dear Edward" by Ann Napolitano

In Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano, a young boy named Edward is the only person to survive a plane crash.  The reader gets two stories:  (1) Edward's life after the crash, and (2) the story of some other people on the plane, including Edward's family.  I liked this book because I enjoyed both of the story lines and the writing.  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 27:  "Well, just so you know, several Facebook pages have sprung up, devoted to either the flight or to Edward.  There was also a Twitter account called @miracleboy, with Edward's face as the avatar, but that's been taken down."

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"The Making of a Miracle" by Mike Eruzione with Neal E. Boudette

The Making of a Miracle--The Untold Story of the Captain of the 1980 Gold Medal--Winning US Olympic Hockey Team by Mike Eruzione with Neal E. Boudette is the story of growing up playing sports.  I enjoyed learning about Mike's family life outside of sports.  The highlight of the book is the Olympic team that beat the U.S.S.R. and then went on to win the gold Medal.  There is good inside stuff about that.  I enjoyed this book and it moved right along. 
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 3:  And now something good, something really good and wonderful and incredible and amazing, had happened, and at that moment, that's when I stopped believing.  The thought just kept going through my head as I moved from one teammate to the next.

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"Beyond Hope's Valley" by Tricia Goyer

Image from Goodreads

Beyond Hope's Valley by Tricia Goyer is the last book in the Big Sky series about Mari's two marriage options.  Will she choose the good Amish man she grew up with or leave the Amish way for Ben, the man who captured her heart?  Ben pursues his music career in this book and Mari moves back to Indiana to help her brother and Naomi during Naomi's pregnancy. 

This book dragged a bit for me.  It seemed it could have been wrapped up quicker.  It became kind of repetitive and tiresome for me.  I did not like this one as well as I did the others. 
(Karen's review, 3 stars)


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"The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse" by Charlie Mackesy

The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy is a very short book with illustrations on every page.   It is about a young boy who becomes friends with a mole, a fox and a horse.  It is thought provoking because the boy asks some interesting questions.  It has some life lessons that apply to both young and old people with some humor too.  It is about kindness, friendship and love.  It's a happy quick read that is very unique because it is handwritten!  We enjoyed it, always like books with talking animals! 
(Karen & Gerard's review, 3.5 stars)

Teaser (pages are not numbered):  "Often the hardest person to forgive is yourself."  What is the bravest thing you ever said?" asked the boy.

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"I, Cosmo" by Carlie Sorosiak

I, Cosmo by Carlie Sorosiak is told well by Cosmo, a 13-yr.-old Golden Retriever. He describes his forever family and the special bond he has with Max, the boy in the family.  Although a children's book, this is a very good read with a happy ending.  It deals with a lot of family issues.  It made me laugh and I think you will enjoy how it all plays out as I did.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 22:  The bathroom doors remain closed following that first instance, many years ago, when I discovered the joy of toilet paper, unrolling sheet after sheet in frenzied merriment.  Television is my saving grace.

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"Anyone" by Charles Soule

In Anyone by Charles Soule, Gabby White is a scientist.  She is being funded but the money is pretty close to running out.  She needs to come up with something life changing.  Can she do it?  And, if she does, can she trust the people funding her to do the right thing?  I thought this book was very good.  It's just wild enough to keep me engaged throughout.  The story flowed along well and had good action!  Loved how it ended!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars) 

Teaser from page 15:  It felt like a video game, like a first-person video game, like Skyrim.  That was her only basis for comparison.  She was looking out through Paul's eyes, but she wasn't Paul.  She was still Gabrielle.  She hoped.

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

One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus is the follow-up to One of Us Is Lying (which I liked more). The same cast of characters is back!  This book picks up after the death of Simon and is told in two parts.  Part 1 is okay, but the real action is in part 2.  I enjoyed Phoebe and Knox the most.  This is pretty good because I loved the ending.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 34:  Phoebe Lawton, you're up first!  Text back your choice:  Should I reveal a Truth, or will you take a Dare?

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"Who Stole My Church" by Gordon MacDonald (Writer's Workshop--Last Book I Read)

Who Stole My Church by Gordon MacDonald is about a pastor of a church who decides to meet with a group from his congregation every week to get feedback and to discuss what is going on in their church.  This was very different from books I usually read and was dry for me.  There really isn't much to get excited about--it was like going to a long church meeting.  I did find the life situations people were going through outside of church interesting.
(Gerard's review, 3.5 stars)

Karen's review of 5/30/19:
When our Sr. Pastoral candidate said if he were called to be our Senior Pastor at Parma Heights Baptist Church, Who Stole My Church? by Gordon MacDonald would be required reading, I went home and ordered it from the library. In an introductory meeting with the leadership of the church, one of the questions asked of him was what book other than the Bible has had an influence on your life. His answer was Who Stole My Church?.

This is a thought-provoking fiction book about a typical congregation of a few hundred people in New England and a Pastor who wants to make changes to reach more people for Christ. An older segment of people in the church oppose spending lots of money on upgrading a sound system in the sanctuary, feel as though everything revolves around the young people, miss singing the old hymns and feel like they are in a war fighting to keep their church the way it’s always been. The pastor and his wife are based on the author’s real experiences. In the book, the Pastor creates a small group of 15 seniors who are core people in the church to meet once a week to discover their church and to understand why many things about the way they have made church work must change and reflect new realities. It is about how people face change when it threatens their comfort zone.

I thought the beginning was pretty dull when it discussed the importance of loving the church, but things picked up. I liked how easily I could relate to those in the Discovery Group and can see why our Pastoral candidate (who has accepted the call by the way to become our Sr. Pastor) recommended we read this book. It showed why changes are necessary and how both the young and older generations need to understand each other in order to work together towards a common goal—reaching the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I found the history of music chapter very interesting and whenever it mentioned a hymn, I would start singing or humming it! This is a book that definitely challenges some introspection and made me see things a bit differently when I was done. I too would recommend it to anyone who is involved in a church that is interested in seeing their church grow and reach the younger generation with the gospel. (4 stars)

Teaser from page 113: “Does all the music we love have to be thrown out the window just because the young people want something different?” Lillian asked. “Isn’t there anyplace for the music we grew up loving?”

See more posts inspired by Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.  (Blog Hop)


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"Citizen 865--The Hunt for Hitler's Hidden Soldiers in America" by Debbie Cenziper

Citizen 865 by Debbie Cenziper tells the true story of men whose job it was to find Hitler's hidden soldiers in America after World War II.  This book is just 250 pages.  For the most part, it kept my interest.  I learned some new information, but at times it read like a text book.  I give it a solid 4 stars.
(Gerard's review)

Teaser from page 9:  Feliks closed his eyes and waited, three seconds, five, ten, his mind and body still.  This, he decided, must be what death feels like.

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"Along Wooded Paths" by Tricia Goyer

Image from Goodreads

Along Wooded Paths by Tricia Goyer is an enjoyable read about an Amish girl who has two men romantically interested in her.  One, is Aaron, the Amish man she grew up with in Indiana, and the other not Amish, Ben, who serves an Amish community in Montana.  During her time in Montana, she discovers God in a new way and realizes that even people who are not Amish can be close to God!  She begins to question some of her traditions she grew up with and does a lot of thinking.  This is book 2 of The Big Sky series.

I enjoyed this book very much.  The characters were well developed and were very believable.  It was also interesting learning some things about the Amish I hadn't known before.  I liked that the reader got to know Ben's and Aaron's thoughts and not just Marianna's.  I felt for the characters as I read.   
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 15, Loc. 249-50:  But the closer he got, the more he questioned if that would be the case.  Had the distance ruined any chance of the love he'd once counted on?

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"21 Dangerous Prayers" by Gary Rohrmayer

21 Dangerous Prayers by Gary Rohrmayer is a very short booklet with 21 prayers taken from the Bible along with some commentary for each.  Then it has a couple pages of the same questions for reflection after each chapter.  It's good it only cost a dollar!  I wasn't very impressed with it but bought it since it was a church-wide thing we were doing together.  It could be used as a devotional.  I was expecting it to be more like The Risk Factor:  Crossing the Chicken Lineinto Your Supernatural Destiny by Kevin and Chad Dedmon.
(Karen's review, 2 stars)

Teaser from Kindle Loc. 565:  Honesty and contentment are the pathways that lead to a life of integrity and generosity.

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"There Will Come a Darkness" by Katy Rose Pool

In There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool, the age of darkness is coming to the land but, all is not lost.  According to legend, a new prophet will rise and be the savior.  But who is that?  and will he or she be able to do it?  This book covers five people who could be the hope for the world or the cause of the darkness predicted! 

I thought this book was really, really good!  The author told the story in such a way so I was really invested in the main characters!  With tons of action that I did not know what was to come!  I am amazed that this was the author's first book.  Give it a chance.  If there is a sequel, I will be on it!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 15:  "There's no word about the prince," the woman continued.  "He hasn't been seen in Nazirah since the coup.  He's completely vanished."

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"Finding Chika" by Mitch Albom

Finding Chika by Mitch Albom is a true story about a little girl, an earthquake, and the making of a family.  Chika was born in Haiti.  At age 5, she is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.  Mitch and his wife, Janine, bring her to America in hope of finding a cure.  I thought this book was pretty good.  I fell in love with Chika quickly.  The story flowed well.  This book will tug at your heart strings.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

 Teaser from page 21:  To be honest, Chika, for my first few years, I didn't understand a great deal about Haiti, or the orphanage, or how I was supposed to make the place work.  The power would go off every day, the water would run out, deliveries of rice and bulgur would start and stop, and we never had enough medicine.

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"A Bookshop in Berlin" by Francoise Frenkel

A Bookshop in Berlin by Francoise Frenkel tells the true story about owning and running a bookstore.  It became a popular place until Hitler and his police took over in Berlin.  Her shop was destroyed and she had to take off to save herself.  This was fairly short and was pretty good but had some dull spots.
(Gerard's review, 3.5 stars)

Teaser from page 14:  Hide newspapers?  Keep them under the counter?  "Distribution of prohibited newspapers," that would have had me sent to a concentration camp.

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"Wolf Pack" by C. J. Box

In Wolf Pack by C. J. Box, two game wardens want to go after the person who is causing deer and elk to stampeed and some are getting killed, but they are told to stand down!  For the good of national interest or else!  Why is this person being protected?

This is good stuff!  The story and action kept me turning pages.  The ending part ws very good to say the least!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 48 (large print version):  Joe felt a tremor wash through him.  He couldn't help but think the wolf was sending him a warning of some kind.

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"Three Things I Know Are True" by Betty Culley

In Three Things I Know Are True by Betty Culley, Jonah and Clay are friends who live across the street from each other.  One day when they are together, a gun shot goes out.  Both boys' lives will never be the same again!  I thought this book was very good.  I was into it from page 1.  The story flowed along quickly and I especially enjoyed all the teen characters.  It is hard to believe this is the author's first book!  Job very well done and written in verse!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 10:  It's only afterward that we know it was THAT shot--not Clay's dad's weekend target shooting in their backyard.

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"Child's Play" by Danielle Steel is between a Hallmark Movie and a Lifetime Movie

In Child's Play by Danielle Steel, Kate Morgan is a senior partner at a big law firm in New York.  She had to overcome the death of her husband when she was in her 30s having to raise three children--2 girls, 1 boy.  It was tough, but she did it and she is proud of them.  Life is good, but life has a way of changing as Kate is going to discover!  This book was like a mix between a Hallmark movie and a Lifetime flick.  I enjoyed all the characters, especially Kate's mother.  I does not take much brain power to figure how all this is going to play out, but I enjoyed it anyway.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars) 

Teaser from page 30:  Kate knew that was true.  She believed that you had to set the bar high.  They were al successful in their chosen fields, no one had made any terrible mistakes, and Kate liked it that way.

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"Recursion" by Blake Crouch is Wild!

Recursion by Blake Crouch is quite a book!  Imagine living in a world where people have vivid memories of something except those memories are false!  How does one figure out which memories are true?  It is enough to drive people mad.  This is a wild book to say the least. To me, this book started out slow, but when I got into it, I can see why it was one of the most popular books of 2019!  The two main characters are Barry, a cop, and Helena Smith, a neuroscientist.  The second half of this book is filled with action that more than makes up for the start.
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Teaser from page 151:  "If memory is unreliable, if the past and the present can simply change without warning, then fact and truth will cease to exist.  How do we live in a world like that?  This is why we're seeing an epidemic of suicides."

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"The Passengers" by John Marrs was a Page Turner for Me

Imagine being in a car that you have no control of.  That is what happens in The Passengers by John Marrs!  This is what a few people in this novel face and they are told that the end of their ride will probably end very badly for them.  The mystery is Who is doing this and why were these people chosen?

I greatly enjoyed this book and had trouble putting it down.  There is plenty of good action and enough twists that I did not know what bombshell was going to drop!  I enjoyed all the characters and the writing made this book fly by!  This is my first "Must Read" recommendation of 2020.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Karen's review:
The Passengers by John Marrs is about automated driverless cars and six hostages in cars that took over control. This is one thriller I did not care for at all.  I read it because my husband enjoyed it so much and said it was a "must read" but we do not agree on this one.  I did not like the writing style nor the way the story was told. It dragged along for me and I was glad when I finally finished it. I was caught by surprised at the ending, but even that wasn’t enough to make me recommend this to someone. I plowed through it, but did not enjoy it. This is one my husband and I had opposite views on. (2 stars)

Teaser from page 9:  "Neither of those things matter right now," the voice replied.  "The only thing you need to know at this point is that two hours and thirty minutes from now, it is highly likely that you will be dead."

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"The End and Other Beginnings" by Veronica Roth was Disappointing

The End and Other Beginnings by Veronica Roth is a collection of six short stories. The first one and the third one were okay, the other four, not so much. The writing was not very good at all.
(Gerard's review, 3 stars) 

Teaser from page 3 of (Inertia):  I didn't want to share a consciousness with Matt.  I didn't even want to be in the same room as him.

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Loved "Keeping Lucy" by T. Greenwood

Keeping Lucy by T. Greenwood is based on a true story.  Ginny gives birth to a baby girl and names her Lucy.  At birth, the doctor tells her that her daughter is going to be a special needs child.  Her husband's father is a very rich and influential person.  He finds a way to keep Lucy out of sight and hopefully out of mind for Ginny.  But, things get out of control and Ginny goes to get her child back--this time for keeps! 

I was into this book from page 1.  This book rang true to me.  The story flowed along well and I enjoyed Ginny very much!  LOVED IT!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 9:  "This is all a terrible mistake," she said, yanking her hand from his and swinging her legs over the edge of the bed to get up.  Her head felt swimmy and she could still taste the acrid vomit at the back of her throat.

Happy Reading!

"A Mrs. Miracle Christmas" by Debbie Macomber

In A Mrs. Miracle Christmas by Debbie Macomber, Laura is worried about her grandmother, Helen, getting Dementia.  She doesn't want to leave her alone so hires a home-care provider, Mrs. Miracle, from Caring Angels.  Laura and Zach can't have children so tried to adopt but were devastated when it didn't work out.  Laura is thrilled her Nana and Mrs. Miracle hit it off and has seen improvement in Nana's behavior and attitude since she hired Mrs. Miracle.  When Helen tells Laura that Mrs. Miracle is a real angel, Laura begins to worry again. 

This is a delightful, entertaining read that reminded me of the show, Touched by an Angel.  If you liked that show, I would highly recommend this book to you.  My favorite characters are Helen and Mrs. Miracle.  It's a fun, light read.  It could easily be a Hallmark Christmas movie in my opinion.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 30:  That Mrs. Miracle knew this shouldn't have surprised Helen, if indeed she was an angel.  But it sure seemed to Helen that this woman was privy to a lot of personal information, angel or not.

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!

"Fallen Land" by Taylor Brown (Historical Fiction)

Fallen Land by Taylor Brown takes place in the final year of the Civil War.  Ava and Callum are on the run because a band of marauders are after a bounty that is on Callum, a seasoned horse thief from Ireland.  Reiver, thier horse, must carry Ava and Callum to safety.

I enjoyed this book and its two main characters very much.  It is like a western which I haven't read in a long time so a nice change of pace for me.  This is the author's first book!  This is the second time I've read this one--I liked it when I read it in 2016 too.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 24:  The boy staggered along behind, finding his legs.  He was still disoriented, his boots tripping along the ground.

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!

Books We Loved in 2019

This video is made up of three parts:  the first is books we both loved, the second is ten more that Gerard loved in addition to the first nine, and the third is ten more that Karen loved in addition to the first nine.  For links to reviews of the first nine, see previous post.  To find our reviews, just enter the title of the book in the search box at upper left of our blog.