"The Housemaid is Watching" by Freida McFadden

In The Housemaid is Watching, by Freida McFadden, Millie and her husband work hard for what they have.  Finally, she, her two kids and her husband move into a decent size house in a very nice neighborhood.  Her dream has come true!  Little does she know that it will turn into a nightmare she could not have imagined.  Like The Teacher, this is very good!  It has a good storyline and I did not know what was coming next.  It moves along quickly with a great ending!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"The Jailhouse Lawyer" and "Power of Attorney" by James Patterson and Nancy Allen are Both Very Good!

Wow, what a great read The Jailhouse Lawyer by James Patterson and Nancy Allen is!  This is about Martha Foster, single mom of 5-yr.-old who needs medicine for a heart condition.  She is an attorney who left her firm in search of a job with better benefits for her son which led her to the public defender position in Douglas County, Alabama.  This is where her nightmare begins!  She is welcomed with open arms and has a furnished rental home.  She soon hears that the former public defender committed suicide and soon can see why!  The judge is evil and corruption flourishes in his court.  Martha fights for her life and decides to try to get the judge removed from office.  I enjoyed this book very much and was pulling for Martha all the way!  I had a hard time putting this one down, but it is a good one for reading small bits at a time since the chapters are very short so go quickly.  If you enjoy lawyer thrillers, I highly recommend this one.  It reminded me of The Intern.  (Karen's review, 5 stars)

The second story in this book is Power of Attorney which was also good.  A Chicago attorney goes back to her home in Arkansas to help her mom care for her dad, also an attorney who has Dementia, and tie up his cases.  What she thought would be a simple probate case turned into a murder trial with her client being the defendant!  This kept my attention and didn't guess who the murderer was until the end.  This not only about murder, but also arson, abuse and human trafficking.  I enjoyed the trial very much.  (Karen's review, 5 stars)

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"The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins

I was in a reading slump, but no more.  The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins was amazing with lots of twists and turns.  It is told by Ruby, Jules and Cam.  Cam is due to inherit a lot of money, but doesn't want any of it!  Soon though, Cam and Jules will realize that money is only a part of what Cam will have to deal with.  This is a great book!  What a story!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"One Perfect Lie" by Lisa Scottoline

In One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline, Chris is applying for a job at a high school.  His profile and resume are in order.  It looks very good, but it is all a lie!  Why is that and what is he up to?  This has some good action and the storyline is good; however, for me it kind of fell apart at the end.  Still worth the read.  Lisa Scottoline is always good and this was no exception.  (Gerard's review, 4 stars)

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"My Side of the River" by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez

My Side of the River by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez is an interesting memoir about a young Mexican girl born to hard-working immigrants in the U.S.  Her mother saw to it she got a good education in the U.S. and told her she had to be the best.  She was at the top of her class through school even though she was homeless and separated from her parents when they couldn't get their Visa renewed.  I thought this book was quite interesting as her life was so different from mine.  It shows how hard it is for the immigrants.  She had quite a journey to say the least!  (Karen's review, 4 stars)

Gerard's review, 3/6/24:
My Side of the River by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez tells the true story of a young Mexican girl, Elizabeth.  Her parents tell her how important an education is; unfortunately, when her parents get deported, she will have to take care of her younger brother and find a place to live.  I thought this book was very good.  I found myself cheering for Elizabeth as she tried to do the best for her and her brother.  What a story!  (5 stars)

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"Days of Wonder" by Caroline Leavitt

In Days of Wonder by Caroline Leavitt, at age 15 Ella did a very bad thing.  She tried to kill someone!  She was pregnant at the time and they took her baby from her while she went to prison.  She got out when she was 22.  She wants to see her daughter, but how will she find her?  And if so, will her daughter want to see her? This is only one of many great story lines in this book!  This is family drama at its best.  I came to care about the characters and got lost in this book because the story line is that good!  This is one of the best books I have read this year.  LOVED IT!  Do not miss this one!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)   

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"The Return of Ellie Black" by Emiko Jean

In The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean, Ellie Black is back and everyone is happy about that, but other girls are still missing.  Ellie is back but it seems like she is hiding something or someone.  It is up to detective Callhoun to find out the answer.  This book was pretty good.  I got into it early and it kept my interest throughout.  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"The Choice" (Book 3 of The Dragon Heart Legacy) by Nora Roberts

The Choice (Book 3 of The Dragon Heart Legacy) by Nora Roberts is mostly about budding romances and a wedding with only a couple battles.  I felt like the third book had a lot of filler in it and that the author was just stretching things out to get a 3-book series.  In spite of that, I still liked it.  I really enjoyed the dragon parts most.  (Karen's review, 4 stars)

Gerard's review 3/26/24:
In The Choice (Book 3 of The Dragon Heart Legacy) by Nora Roberts, Breen is back in her homeland training for the battle that will soon come.  She is getting more powerful by the day, but will it be enough to defend her homeland for good?  This is the final book in the great Dragon Heart Legacy series.  LOVED the whole series!  (5++ stars)

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"She's Not Sorry" by Mary Kubica

I was into She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubica from the get-go and it kept me turning pages.  The storyline was real good and had characters that I cared about.  Meghan, a single mom to a teenage daughter, is also a nurse who deals with a lot of people in pain.  One day she deals with a woman who jumped from a bridge and feels an attachment to her.  Why?  This had good twists and turns at the end as well.  Mary Kubica is always good and this book is no exception!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"Listen for the Lie" by Amy Tintera

In Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera, Lucy and Savvy were the best of friends.  One night Lucy is found wandering the streets with Savvy's blood on her.  Everyone thinks Lucy killed Savvy but it was never proved.  But now, a podcast is being made about the story of Lucy and Savvy.  Through circumstances, Lucy is forced to return to the scene of the crime.  Will the truth of that night finally be told?  This was really good.  Good storyline and Lucy was a good character!  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"An Unwanted Guest" by Shari Lapena

In An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena, a group of people come to a remote inn for a get-a-way weekend.  A winter storm traps them all inside and their phones are of no use!  People start to turn up dead which was not the plan at all!  This was okay but had no twists or turns.  I never really cared about any of the host of characters.  (Gerard's review, 3 stars)

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"You Know What You Did" by K. T. Nguyen

In You Know What You Did by K. T. Nguyen, Annie committed a crime but no one knows she did it.  The police are looking into it.  What did she do and why?  You will have to read the book to answer those questions.  This book is really good!  The story line kept me turning pages quickly and Annie is a great character to say the least!  The ending is good too so I loved this one!  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"The Guest" by B. A. Paris

In The Guest by B. A. Paris, Iris and Gabriel are coming back home after a vacation and find Laure in their house.  She is a close friend and wants to stay with them after breaking up with her husband.  They say okay (a decision they will live to regret).  Laure staying with them sets off a series of events that will change their lives forever.  This is a good story with good characters and a perfect ending.  B. A. Paris books are always good and this is no exception!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars) 

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"The Becoming" (Dragon Heart Legacy Book 2) by Nora Roberts

I liked The Becoming (Dragon Heart Legacy Book 2) by Nora Roberts better than the first book in this series because it has a lot more action, the dog has a big role in it and Marco proves to be a very good friend--so much so that I like him in spite of his being gay.  There is also some romance in this one and actual battles! I hated to put this one down because it has lots of very cool scenes including when Breen actually gets her own dragon!  Riding on a dragon just sounds very cool!  The only downside to this book for me was the few sex scenes and gay guys kissing that I could do without.  Nevertheless, I look forward to reading the last book in this series and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to escape to another world for a while!  (Karen's review, 5 stars)

Gerard's review 3/23/24:
The Becoming (Dragon Heart Legacy Book 2) by Nora Roberts finds Breen in the homeland training for the battle that is coming.  She brought her friend, Marco, and her faithful dog, Bollocks.  I thought this was even better than the first book of this series!  It has lots more action and the storyline kept me turning pages quickly.  I look forward to Book 3!  This is a GREAT series!!  I highly recommend it!!!  (5++ stars)

Book 1 review--The Awakening

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"Dark Roads" by Chevy Stevens

In Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens, Hailey McBride has a plan to catch a highway killer.  She will leave town and vanish from sight.  Beth goes to town looking for answers to what happened to her sister.  Soon these two girls will find the answers they seek, but at what cost?  This is good stuff.  The storyline kept me turning pages and was told by many people which made it even more interesting.  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"What Happened to Nina?" by Dervla McTiernan

WOW!  In What Happened to Nina by Dervla McTiernan, Nina and Simon are in love and everyone knows it!  That is why when they go away for a weekend and Monday Simon comes back alone, people wonder where is Nina?  I thought this was really good.  It is told by various people which added to the suspense.  This is a page-turning thriller I enjoyed very much and am sure you would too!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"Help Wanted" by Adelle Waldman

Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman is about a group of people who work at a store like Wallmart.  They arrive at their job at 4 a.m. to set up the store before it opens.  If you work or worked at a store like this or a warehouse like I did, you can easily relate to this book.  If you worked in an office, I'm not sure if you would like this.  I enjoyed the characters and no one was murdered which was a refreshing change of pace for me.  It is a quick read and well worth the time.  (Gerard's review, 4 stars)

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"The Awakening" by Nora Roberts (Book 1-The Dragon Heart Legacy)

The Awakening by Nora Roberts is about Breen who lives in two different worlds, ours and Talamh which is magical.  She was born in Talamh and is part human and Fei but her mother raised her in our world and Breen was never aware of have any magical power.  Her father went back to Talamh when she was quite young.  Now in her 20s, she discovered her mother was investing Breen's money that was sent by her father.  Breen took control of that money, and went to Ireland in search of her father.  Then things really get crazy!

This starts out kind of slow with all the world building and introduction of many different characters, but the adventure is worth waiting for.  The last third of this book really picked up for me when Breen learns how to use her magical powers and trains to fight.  I loved the ending of this book and look forward to continuing on in this series.  (Karen's review, 4 stars)

Gerard's review 3/13/24:
In The Awakening by Nora Roberts, Breen has a rough life, holding down three jobs to make ends meet.  Her mom does not like her and her dad left her when she was little.  One day she comes across a bank account in her name which she knows nothing about.  Her dad opened it for her and has been adding to it over the years.  She is rich!  She decides to go to look for her dad in Ireland.  So begins an adventure that will change her life!  

This is really good!  It's a fun-filled book that had me turning pages.  I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series!  (5++) stars)

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"I Will Find You" by Harlan Coben

In I Will Find You by Harlan Coben, David is wrongfully sent to prison for killing his son.  His wife left and so why not stay in prison.  A long while later, a friend of his tells him that she has proof his son is alive. However, what can David do about it?  He is in a prison that cannot be broken out of, or can it?  This was pretty good.  It moved kind of slowly with no real twists or turns, but I still think it is worth reading.  (Gerard's review, 4 stars)  

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"The New Couple in 5B" by Lisa Unger

In The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger, Rosie and her husband, Chad, are trying to make ends meet, but it is hard until they are left an apartment with $5,000,000!  Unfortunately, the apartment building is known for having a history of people dying.  Will Rosie and Chad be added to the list?  

Lisa Unger is always good and this book is no exception.  I kept turning pages and flew through it.  The last 40 or so pages were packed with action and a great ending to say the least!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars) 

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"Everyone Is Watching" by Heather Gudenkauf

Everyone Is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf is a page turner thriller!  I was hooked right from the start and found it hard to put down.  It is about a reality TV show with a prize of $10,000,000 and five contestants got an email invitation saying they were nominated to be on the show.  Similar to the TV show Survivor, but the challenges are brutal and the audience decides who must leave, not the players.  As contestant's private secrets are revealed, it becomes clear that this is much more than just a show.  The background of the characters is gradually revealed as the book goes on.  

This was wild and entertaining.  I enjoyed the challenges best, and really couldn't figure out the connection to all the characters.  This was an entertaining and enjoyable read for me since I like Survivor and competition.  I never knew what was going to happen next since this is packed with surprises all along the way!  I recommend you read this one and see if you can guess who wins.  (Karen's review, 5 stars)  

Gerard's review 4/9/24:
If you like reality shows, Everyone Is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf is the book for you!  Five people are playing for a chance to win ten million dollars!  You can pick a person and see if they win.  What do they have to do?  You will have to read the book to find out!  This book was pretty much action filled.  I LOVED IT!  It is wild from start to finish!  I highly recommend this one!  Even if you aren't big on reality TV shows (like me), you may still like this since I did!  (5++ stars)    

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"No One Can Know" by Kate Alice Marshall

In No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall, three sisters have a pact that no one will know.  One of the sisters is returning to the place where their pact was started.  What will happen if or when the secret gets out?  I liked all three sisters in this.  The storyline was good, but moved too slow for my taste.  Had it moved along faster, I would have given it 5 stars; consequently, it only gets 4.  It's still worth reading and perhaps the pace would not be a problem for you.  (Gerard's review, 4 stars)

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"The Coworker" by Freida McFadden

The Coworker by Freida McFadden is about revenge and what a story it is!  It is told from two points of view--Natalie's and Dawn's.  These two women are co-workers.  When Dawn turns up missing, Natalie becomes the primary suspect.  This book has an amazing plot that kept my interest throughout.  It's quite the elaborate mystery with lots of surprises along the way and an amazing ending.  WOW!  (Karen's review, 5 stars)

Gerard's review 3/16/24:
In The Coworker by Freida McFadden, you can always tell when Dawn is in the office because she arrives he same time every day and has no friends.  On day she is not at her desk.  Natalie, her co-worker, gets a phone call that changes everything.  

Freida McFadden's books are very good and this is no exception.  It has plenty of twists and turns.  Good luck guessing how this one all plays out!  (5++ stars)

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"The Winter Orphans" by Kristin Beck

The Winter Orphans by Kristin Beck is based on a true story.  These type of books are always special to me.  This one tells the story of brave women who were able to keep children away from the Germans who wanted to take them to work camps.  The kids in the book were very brave also.  I enjoyed this book very much!  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"After Annie" by Anna Quindlen is Fantastic!

After Annie by Anna Quindlen blew me away!  WOW!  Annie dies all of a sudden and leaves her husband who has no house cleaning or childcare experience at all and works all hours of the day!  Their 14-yr.-old girl now has to look after her three young brothers and keep the house clean.  As far as cooking goes, she knows how to make toasted cheese sandwiches but little else.  Will this family pull together and remember what their mother taught hem and told them, or will it fall apart?  

This book is about true life!  This is my favorite book so far this year and I highly recommend you read it!  If you only read one book this year, make it this one!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"Tribulation Force" by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins (Book 2 of Left Behind Series)

In Tribulation Force, the book 2 of the Left Behind Series, Buck and Rayford both accept unusual jobs they never suspected they would have.  Two witnesses preach at the wailing wall in Jerusalem and the romance between Chloe and Buck progresses.  Carpathia gets more powerful and the tribulation begins.  This book was interesting and moved along a little faster than book 1.  I liked it all right but will take a break from this series which is pretty heavy to read a fantasy series.  I do plan to continue in this series later.  (Karen's review, 4 stars)

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"Divine Rivals" by Rebecca Ross (Teen Fantasy--Letters of Enchantment #1)

In Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross, there is a war in progress and Iris is in the middle of it.  Her mom is not doing well, and her brother who joined the army is missing from the front lines.  Iris writes letters to her brother to try to combat her worries.  Little does she know this will take her on a life-changing adventure.  This book was even better than I expected!  It has a great storyline and characters I cared about.  There are lots of emotions with this book as well.  Do not miss this one--must read!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"Inheritance" by Nora Roberts (Book 1--Lost Bride Trilogy)

In Inheritance by Nora Roberts, Sonya has been going through a rough time.  Her marriage plans fell apart when she had to leave her job because her soon-to-be husband, who she caught cheating on her, works at the same job.  Now things are looking up though.  She is left a mansion on a huge piece of land valued at $8 million.  She is going to be rich!  The only catch is that she has to live in the mansion for three years.  There must be something strange about the house, but what?  You will have to read the book to find out!  

I thought this book was really good and was disappointed when I realized it is the first book in a series.  Sonya is a great character with a good storyline and action.  LOVED IT!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"The Closers" by Michael Connelly

In The Closers by Michael Connelly, Detective Harry Bosch walked away three years ago, but now is back.  He is working on a cold case that is 17 years old.  Can he get the murderer?  This was a good book.  It has a good storyline with action that kept me turning pages.  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"Where the Dead Sleep" by Joshua Moehling (#2)

In Where the Dead Sleep by Joshua Moehling, Packard is the law in this small town.  Not that he wants to be, but somebody has to do it.  Now a murder takes place and he has to figure out who did it and why.  There is no shortage of people who could have done it; but one thing is certain.  Whoever did it wants it to stay unsolved.  This has good action and kept me turning pages.  There is a cliff-hanger ending though, but there will be a next book.  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"Destroy the Day" by Brigid Kemmerer (Defy the Night #3)

Destroy the Day by Brigid Kemmerer is the third and final book of the Defy the Night series.  The second book was Defend the Dawn.  This is a great ending to a great series.  I absolutely loved most of the characters and all the adventure and action that was in this one.  I enjoyed following the romance between Corrick and Tessa and how Corrick matured and changed along the way.  The characters in this series were so well developed and I loved the interactions among them all (except for Harristan and Quint--I could do without the gay storyline).  This is one I had a hard time putting down and loved the ending and how everything was explained and brought to an end.  I highly recommend this series!  (Karen's review, 5 stars)

In this book, Harristan is trying to regain his leadership as King, but he will need help!  Can he get it in time?  This book is narrated by Harristan, Corrick and Tessa.  I enjoyed the parts by Corrick and Tessa most.  This one was okay but needed a bit more action for my taste.  I liked the first two books in this series better, although this one does have a good ending.  (Gerard's review 2/5/24, 4 stars)

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"First Lie Wins" by Ashley Elston

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston is about a young girl who can change her looks and her name to get the goods on people.  Then her boss can get them to give up their money before their secrets get out.  Later in the book, who is conning who?  This was an interesting read to say the least and, as usual, I got it wrong.  See if you can figure out how this all turns out.  Maybe you can do better.  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"Till Murder Do Us Part" & "Ramp Up to Murder" by James Patterson

Till Murder Do Us Part by James Patterson actually is two good stories with the other being Ramp up to Murder.  In the first story, Katie has been married for 12 years and one day finds out that she really does not know her husband at all.  

The second story is about Brandi who moves to Tucson and soon makes a new best friend and a boyfriend.  However, things go from bad to worse.

I liked both stories.  I flew through this book!  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"ANNA" by Matthew Blake

In ANNA by Matthew Blake, Anna Ogily is a budding writer.  One night while asleep, she stabs to death two people!  How can this be?  Dr. Benedict Prince is an expert in sleep-related homicides.  It will be up to him to figure all this out.  This book is wild, but in a good way!  It has a great storyline that kept me turning pages quickly.  I tried to figure it out, but was all wrong.  The last 100 pages or so will leave you breathless!  This is a must read--do not miss this one!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"The Twelve Dogs of Christmas" by Susan Wiggs

In The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by Susan Wiggs, Brenda had a bad Christmas Eve.  Her dog almost died and she divorced her husband.  A year later, her Christmas spirit is nil.  She does love dogs so decided to go on a road trip to place 14 dogs with their new owners in time for Christmas.  Can she do it in the dead of winter?  Will this get her Christmas spirit back?  Brenda was a good character and I enjoyed the dog parts.  This is a light, happy read with a good ending.  (Gerard's review, 4 stars)

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"LEFT BEHIND by Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins (Series #1)

LEFT BEHIND by Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins is the first book in a series about end times based on scripture.  When people mysteriously disappear, Buck, a journalist is assigned to write about the different theories people have.  Rayford, a pilot, thinks maybe his wife was right all along about needing a personal relationship with God and that this is the rapture she was talking about a lot lately.  Her and their son have both disappeared leaving him and Chloe, their daughter.  He contacts their church, hoping someone is there and meets with a pastor who was also left behind because he hadn't been a true follower of Jesus.  

I liked the parts in this book about Rayford and his family, but the journalist parts I got a little bored with, although they all do tie together.  I heard a lot about this series but never read it so when I saw the whole series at the Parma Heights senior center, I decided I would read it.  I liked this book all right.  It's certainly thought provoking.  (Karen's review, 4 stars)

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"PICKLEBALL IS Not LIFE" by Teresa Jungling (a Bible Devotional)

PICKLEBALL IS Not life--Pickleball is great.  GOD IS GREATER! by Teresa Jungling is a 31-Day Bible devotional that includes Pickleball tips and strategies along with a couple scripture verses for each day and the plan of salvation in the back.  Also in the back is a full list of all the Pickleball tips given in the book and a technique checklist for different shots.  I enjoyed this book very much!  It connects scripture to Pickleball and gives good tips.  The devotions are very short but thought provoking with space to write out short prayers and some goals.  I liked it so much that I'm buying copies for my fellow pickleball players to share with them!  (Karen's review, 5 stars)

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"Alex Cross Must Die" by James Patterson

In Alex Cross Must Die by James Patterson, a jet crashes and explodes on a runway.  The jet was shot down but by whom and why?  It is up to Alex Cross and his friends to find out who did it.  This was good stuff!  Has a good storyline that drew me in right away.  The characters were well developed and the ending was packed with lots of action.  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"Lion & Lamb" by James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski

In Lion & Lamb by James Patterson, a star football quarterback is found shot and killed in his car the day before the big playoff game.  It is up to Detectives Cooper Lamb and Veena Lion to find out who did it.  This book is pretty good.  I liked the storyline, lots of action and some humor.  (Gerard's review, 4 stars)

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"The Housemaid's Secret" by Freida McFadden

The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden is a good mystery with twists and a great ending!  I enjoyed this book and liked the short chapters that flew by.  It's about a housekeeper who gets mixed up in trying to help a woman escape from her abusive husband, but finds out what she thought was all wrong.  This book is filled with deceit, relationships, and vengeance.  At one point, nothing made sense but as I kept on reading, it all became clear.    (Karen's review, 5 stars)

Gerard's review 1/5/24:
In The Housemaid's Secret by Frieda McFadden, Millie needs a job in the worst way.  When a very rich man offers her a job as a housekeeper, she takes it.  The only thing is that she cannot open the door of the room that his wife is in.  Will she open that door?  What would she find?  Millie has secrets of her own that better not get out.  This book is really, really good with a fantastic storyline!  It kept me turning pages right to the end.  Must read this one!  I loved it!  What a great book to start off the new year.  (5++ stars)

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"A Far Wilder Magic" by Allison Saft

In A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft, Margaret wants to kill the Halo aka a fox, and claim all the fame and the money that goes with it!  However, according to the rules, she cannot do it herself.  She needs a helper.  Who will she get and will she be the one to kill the fox?  I thought this book was pretty good.  I enjoyed the two main characters and the Trouble, the dog, storyline was good.  I also liked the ending.  (Gerard's review, 4 stars)

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"We Must Not Think of Ourselves" by Lauren Grodstein

We Must Not Think of Ourselves by Lauren Grodstein is historical fiction.  When Hitler took over, he locked a number of Jews in what became known as the Warsaw Ghetto.  Adam is offered the chance to join people who are writing about this so that people will know what is happening.  This was a hard book to read because of the terrible things these people went through.  I liked the interviews the best.  It's an amazing story!  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"5 Things to Pray for Your Church" by Rachel Jones

5 Things to Pray for Your Church by Rachel Jones is a handy little book The Church at West Creek gave to its congregation for Christmas.  I pretty much read it all through in one sitting, but it is more of a reference book to be used daily.  There are 21 general themes with five specific things to pray about for each that are based on passages of scripture.  What a great little booklet with which to start off the New Year.  I look forward to using this with my husband when we pray together and also seeing how our church becomes even better as a result of the whole congregation using this book to help increase the prayers for our church.  (Karen's review, 5 stars)

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"Mastering the Mental Game of Pickleball" by Joe Baker

Mastering the Mental Game of Pickleball by Joe Baker is a book I devoured.  This is full of tips for choosing the right shot, shot placement, strategies, league play, recreational play, focusing and more.  I took notes as I read and ended up with a list of 25 tips for improving my game.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their pickleball game and win percentage.  I found it to be very interesting and practical.  I look forward to implementing the tips and suggestions in this book.  (Karen's review, 5 stars)

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"Beneficence" by Meredith Hall

Beneficence by Meredith Hall is about the Senter family who owns a dairy farm in Maine.  They are very close and happy until tragedy strikes and their 14-yr-old son dies, leaving them with only a younger son and a daughter.  Most of the book is centered around how each blame themselves and how time brings healing.  I plowed through this slow moving book because I cared about the characters, although it was a sad story.  I liked the ending and was glad when I finished it.  There are questions at the end for a book club discussion.  I wouldn't recommend reading this one though.  (Karen's review, 2 stars)

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"The Nature of Fragile Things" by Susan Meissner is Thrilling Historical Fiction

In The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner, an Irish woman comes to America to marry a man she has never met and knows nothing about.  That is just one of the multiple storylines in this book, all of which were interesting.  You will be engaged and get lost in this wonderful book.  There is lots of action and plenty of twists and turns.  Do not miss this one, it's a must read!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Karen's review Jan. 23, 2022:

The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner is the story of a mail order bride from Ireland coming to San Francisco to marry a widower and become a mother to his 7-yr.-old daughter shortly before the great earthquake of 1906.  The full story unfolds slowly, but there is enough action along the way to keep the reader interested.  Sophie answers Martin Hocking's ad for a wife and mother because she is not happy living in bad conditions in New York and wants a home and a child to love.  Martin wants a wife to keep up appearances and to care for his daughter when he's away on business.  It is a loveless marriage purely of convenience.  This book is very good!  It is about family secrets, fraud, friendship and love.  (5 stars)

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"Just the Nicest Couple" by Mary Kubica

In Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica, Jake and Nina are married and often fight.  Jake walks out after the last fight one night and goes for a walk.  He runs into Nina's friend, Lily, but she has no idea what went on.  Jake has not been seen since.  What is going on?  This book was a bit drawn out, but I liked it a lot.  It has a good storyline, characters I cared about, and a surprise ending.  It could have used a bit more action though.  (Gerard's review, 4.75 stars)

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"The Wishing Game" by Meg Shaffer Is a "Feel-Good Book"

In The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer, a well-known children's book author has not written a book for a long time.  He makes an announcement that he will write one book only, and will hold a contest to see who will win the book.  What is the contest?  Who will win?  

This is a feel good book with a good storyline and characters I cared about with action and a great ending.  What more can you ask for?  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"The Unwilling" by John Hart is One We Both Liked!

The Unwilling is a great story about the French family.  The father, a detective, an over protective mother whose favorite son was killed in the Vietnam war; Jason, the second oldest who was dishonorably discharged from the marines, an ex-con who just got released; and the youngest, Gibby, who is a senior in high school.  When Jason and Gibby spend a day together against the mother's wishes, the girl Jason was with gets murdered and Jason is the primary suspect.  Gibby sets out to find the real killer and trouble ensues.  

This was a fast-paced page turner for me!  I was drawn into it right away and liked both brothers.  I thought the family dynamic was quite interesting and the story line was thrilling.  The only thing I did not like about this book was the couple loose ends that did not fully get resolved.  Still, I loved the journey and had a very hard time putting it down.  (Karen's review, 5 stars)

Gerard's review 12/7/23:

This book is about three brothers born to a detective.  The first brother goes to Vietnam and gets killed.  The second brother, Jason, goes to Vietnam and is a killing machine.  He comes home and has an incident that puts the cops on his trail.  The younger brother, who has been protected by his overprotective mother, sets out to help his brother clear his name.  LOVED ALL THE ACTION!  Who knew who is good and who is bad?  GREAT ENDING!  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"The Sky Over Rebecca" by Matthew Fox

The Sky Over Rebecca by Matthew Fox is a light, enjoyable middle grade novel.  Kara sees a snow angel by the lake but no footprints.  She decides to investigate and there starts the adventure of her life.  This book has a good storyline, good action and good characters with a good ending.  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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