"The Death of Bees" by Lisa O'Donnell

A Page Turner debut novel

For the most part, The Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell is narrated by two sisters, Marnie and Nelly.  Their parents are dead and with no relative around, they fear going into foster care and being separated.  So, what do they do?  You will have to read the book to find out.  I enjoyed this from page 1.  It's a good page turner as I wondered if the plan the girls came up with would work or if they would be found out.  This is the author's first novel.  I'll be looking for more of her work!  (5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teasers: "The Death of Bees" and "The Handmaid's Tale"

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Gerard's

Today I am fifteen. Today I buried my parents in the backyard.
Neither of them were beloved.

From the prologue of The Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell.  Stop back tomorrow to see my review.

Karen's:

In the semidarkness we could stretch out our arms, when the Aunts weren't looking, and touch each other's hands across space.  We learned to lipread, our heads flat on the beds, turned sideways, watching each other's mouths. 

From page 4 of The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.  (I just started this so don't really know what's going on yet.)

Happy Reading!

Our February Favorite Reads

 Gerard's favorite for February is Me Before You by Jojo Meyes:

Contemporary Fiction

Karen's favorite for February is In Need of a Good Wife by Kelly O'Connor McNees:

Historical Fiction

What was your best read in February?


Have you read these yet? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Game Over" by Dave Zirin

Game Over by Dave Zirin gives an eye opening account of things that happen in sports off the playing field.  For example, Oregon University is struggling to pay their teachers, but that has no bearing on a brand new sports complex costing $41.7 million for their athletes to train in.  At Texas, undergraduate tuition increased 4%, but their football coach got a raise of $2 million.  This book has stuff like that which you don't always read in the sports pages.  I enjoyed most of it and give it 4 stars.  This is NOT a page-turner, more like a plow through.  I almost gave up on it at the beginning.
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Tenth of December" by George Saunders (audio book)

This audio book is a collection of short stories read by the author. I think that is pretty cool. He does a great job! The three main stories are very good, especially the Tenth of December (the last one). The other two main stories are pretty good too, especially the first one, "Victory Lap"! The other stories I did not like so much. The language at times is rough, which I didn't care for. Overall though, based on the strength of "Tenth of December" I give it four stars.
(Gerard's review)

Have you read or listened to this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Predator" by Terri Blackstock

Predator by Terri Blackstock is a contemporary fiction page-turner about online security.  When Krista’s 14-yr-old younger sister, Ella, is murdered, Krista is horrified to find discover that Ella gave up-to-the-minute details about her whereabouts on the social media GrapeVyne (similar to Facebook).  Krista is determined to find her killer and warn others about posting so much personal stuff online, especially one’s whereabouts.  The killer continues going after more girls and the suspense builds as Krista becomes his next target. 

I enjoyed this book because it moved along and addressed an important issue in an interesting way.  The ending wasn’t very believable but overall it is a good read.  It shows the importance of not posting things on-line that you wouldn’t want a predator to see.  Don’t think only your friends see what you post!  

(Karen's review 2/26/13)

Predator by Terri Blackstock should serve as a warning to people, especially young girls who put way too much information online.  Bad guys are out there and this book tells the story of one of them.  This book is a real page turner.  You can quickly identify with all the characters in the story.  The writing is very good and there are a lot of interesting twists and turns.  It goes fast--a very good read!
(Gerard's review 6/19/10)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"The Fifth Assassin" by Brad Meltzer

The Fifth Assassin by Brad Meltzer is on the "Best Sellers" list for a reason--it is that good!  Someone is re-creating down to the last detail the four assassinations of the four presidents that were in office.  Now, there is going to be a fifth one.  The question is who is doing this and will the fifth attempt be successful?  It is hard to know the bad guys from the good guys in this one and the plot twists are eye popping!

At 654 pages (large print) this is no light read.  The book took four years to finish and it shows.  This one kept me turning pages and the ending is the best of all!  I loved it and recommend it! 
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teasers: "Predator" and "The Fifth Assassin"

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Karen's

The killer had access to this information, and he was somewhere here, hidden among her GrapeVyne friends. Krista clicked on Ella's Friends and saw a list with pictures of over eleven hundred people.

From page 20 of Predator by Terri Blackstock.

Gerard's

Almost on cue, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Looking down, President Wallace pulled it out just enough to read the newest text onscreen:
How's my funeral going? Dr. Stewart Palmiotti asked.

From page 5 of The Fifth Assassin by Brad Meltzer.

Happy Reading!

"In Need of a Good Wife" by Kelly O'Connor McNees

Light and Entertaining

In Need of a Good Wife by Kelly O'Connor McNees is a post-civil war historical fiction novel about mail-order brides seeking a new start. When Clara sees an ad for wives needed in Nebraska, she sees it as a business opportunity and becomes matchmaker for women in Manhattan who want a new start and are willing to go to Nebraska. She contacts the mayor of the Nebraska town, Destination, and when the gentlemen seeking wives write, she tells the women about them and they correspond for months before their trip. The story focuses on Clara, Elsa, an older lady who was a laundress most of her life who never married and Rowena, the prettiest in town who is a broke widow with a father in an asylum in need of money to take care of him.

I loved this book because it is unpredictable and filled with interesting characters. Some of the marriages panned out nicely while others did not, but the plot thickens when Clara was unable to deliver what she promised and the gentlemen without brides want their money back and charge her with fraud! My favorite character was Elsa. This one has discussion questions in the back and would make for a good book club selection.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Francona--The Red Sox Years - A Must Read For Sox Fans!

A must read for all Red Sox Fans!

Francona--The Red Sox Years by Terry Francona and Dan Shaughnessy is a really really good book about the years Francona managed the Red Sox.  It was so much fun going back over the two years that they won the world championships!  There is interesting inside stuff too on ownership, players and the things that go on that the average fan knows nothing about.  I have yelled a lot at Francona while watching the Red Sox games when he was manager; but after reading this book, I've gained respect for him.  I wish him luck with Cleveland this year except when they play the Sox.  This one is a must read for all Red Sox fans!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Brain On Fire--My Month of Madness" by Susannah Cahalan GIVEAWAY (Updated)

Here's a non-fiction Must Read!

UPDATED 2/20/13:
Brain On Fire--My Month Of Madness by Susannah Cahalan is her true story about how a rare, mysterious disease almost took her life.  It is a contemporary medical thriller and very scary because it really happened!  It was only because her parents and boyfriend persevered at getting her the help she needed that she survived.  I felt sorry for her and her family as I read her account.  It's really scary that one of the best neurologists in the country just thought she was a drunk having withdrawal symptoms and never even heard of anti-NMDA-receptor autoimmune encephalitis which is what she was finally diagnosed with and treated for. 

This is a fascinating read and I was glad that this journalist recovered enough to write this book about her experience.  The key lesson is to get a second opinion!  I found it interesting for the most part but she lost me when she tried explaining the medical details of how the immune system actually attacks the brain.
(Karen's review, rating 4 stars)

Brain On Fire--My Month Of Madness by Susannah Cahalan is the true story of Susannah who started to have medical problems.  She was misdiagnosed so often that one day she woke up in a hospital and didn't know how she got there.  Wow, what a great read!  

This is a page turner for sure with lots of "wow" factors for me.  The biggest wow is that I got this one to review for free--it's a must read!  I highly recommend it.  I'm so glad you are all better now, Susannah.  Thanks for telling your story and God bless!

(Gerard's review, rating 5++ stars)

We received this book free to review but that did not affect our reviews in any way.  


If you would like this book and live in the USA, just be the first to say so in a comment on this post including your email address so we can contact you for your mailing address.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes is a Must Read!

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes centers on two people: Will--an outgoing young man who had it all going on until an accident put him in a wheelchair; and Louisa--a young woman who does not have many skills becomes the caretaker of Will because she needs a job. The interaction between these two is just fantastic! When Louisa finds out about a death pact between Will and his parents, she has a short time to convince Will that life is worth living. How does she go about it and does she succeed? You will have to read the book to find out!

This book had me from page 1. You talk about a page turner, this is it.  You will keep turning pages quickly to see how it ends. The books I really remember are ones I cried over--this is one of them! I highly recommend this as a must read!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teasers: "Brain on Fire" and "Me Before You"

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Gerard's

The last thing he sees is a leather glove, a face under a helmet the shock in the man's eyes mirroring his own. There is an explosion as everything fragments.

From page 15 of Me Before You by Jojo Moyes.

Karen's:

There's something wrong with me. This is how a crazy person acts.

From page 32 of Brain on Fire--My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan. (Non-fiction)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Ecclesiastes" written by King Solomon, Inspired by God

"A Wise Man Believes in God"

I just finished reading the book of Ecclesiastes from the International Children's Bible and enjoyed it very much!  Although it gets a bit depressing at times, it is a very interesting read.  It talks about how a lot of life is useless, like chasing the wind. Some common phrases that we hear today like "Ignorance is bliss," "A little bird told me," "Follow your heart," and "Where there's life, there's hope" seem to find their start in the book of Ecclesiastes.  For example, one I thought was funny is Eccl. 9:4 for the phrase "Where there's life, there's hope" which says:  But anyone still alive has hope.  Even a live dog is better than a dead lion.

The main point of the book is to enjoy your short life while here on earth but know that God will judge you for your actions.  After a detailed description of old age in chapter 11, it closes with the admonition to remember thy creator in the days of your youth.  The most important thing people can do is to honor God and obey his commands.  It is only twelve chapters, but very thought provoking and at sometimes funny. 
(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Winterling" by Sarah Prineas

Loved it!

Winterling by Sarah Prineas is about a young girl who goes into a strange land to find out about her parents and who she really is. This one is full of adventure and has lots of action with a really good ending. Even though this is classed as juvenile fantasy, I loved it! Give it a shot!
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Suspect" by Robert Crais - NYT BESTSELLER (updated)

The dog has a big role in this book!  Woof!  Woof!

UPDATED 2/14/13:
Suspect by Robert Crais got my attention right from page 1 and kept me turning pages all the way through.  This is so much more than just a mystery.  Maggie is a German Shepherd that got shot in Afghanistan and became a partner to Scott James who is a cop recently transferred to the K-9 unit after his partner was killed.  Both Maggie and Scott suffer from PTSD and are trying to recover to return to active duty.  I liked how Maggie developed a strong bond with Scott and how Scott really became attached to Maggie and trusted her.  Scott and Maggie work together to find out who the men were that killed his partner and shot him.   The story moved quickly and suspense built up as it went along.  I enjoyed this and would recommend it to anyone who likes dogs.
(Karen's review)

Suspect by Robert Crais is a novel about a cop and a dog. The cop lost his partner in a shootout and nine months later is still having nightmares. The killer is still out there too! The dog lost his master during the war in Afghanistan and was shot at.

The cop joins the K-9 unit at the meet up and becomes a pack of two with the dog to go after the bad guys. This book has lots of action so it goes fast. I especially liked the parts where the dog tells the story. It is currently No. 5 on the New York Times best sellers list! I recommend it--read and enjoy!
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)


Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Mischief Master Class" by Dogs, 2 Cats and a Turtle

Inspirational,a 'Must Read" for dogs

Mischief Master Class by dogs, two cats and a turtle assisted by Annette Vivian is a really fun book about mischief real pets get into.  It has lots of great short stories and pictures!  I LOVED it!  (Gerard's review, 5+ stars)--UPDATED 2/13/13

Mischief Master Class by Dogs (two cats and a Turtle!)...assisted by Annette Vivian is a must read for all dogs!  It is a great reference book giving 20 rules that dogs (and any pet really) should know for getting away with mischief by becoming a "Master of Mischief."  It is a collaborative effort spearheaded by Snoopy (visit his blog by clicking the link), a dog blogger who is a bearded collie therapy dog but that doesn't mean he can't get into mischief.  In fact, he even hosts a "Monday Mischief" blog hop every week.  Various pets on the Internet contributed their mischief stories which Snoopy cleverly used as case studies to illustrate how the rules work.  By the way, our pets have rule #1 down pat:  "Look Cute."

It has lots of colored photos and URLs for videos to watch of the contributors too (with their blog URLs) as well as many of Snoopy himself, of course.  It is a quick, fun, light read that I enjoyed in spite of the overuse of a couple words:  "doh" and "Tee Hee."  My favorite mischief was the two dogs who ate the cookies that were hidden inside the oven and then left the empty tray inside and closed the door when they were done!  I must admit, I've never seen any other book quite like this one although "Dear Sparkle:  Cat-to-Cat advice" which is written by a cat for cats comes close.   

Mischief Master Class is available in paperback and Kindle versions on Amazon with 50% of the proceeds donated to Therapy Pet Support charities which we think is awesome! 

Good job, Snoopy and your buddies!
(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Revolution 19" by Gregg Rosenblum

Add caption

Robots have taken over in Revolution 19 by Gregg Rosenblum. When a family gets separated, the children enter the city to rescue their parents. I enjoyed this book very much! There is lots of action and I found myself cheering on the kids. It goes fast and there is almost certain to be a sequel which I will definitely want to read.
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teaser: "Revolution 19" and "Suspect"

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Gerard's

Nick, shaking with adrenaline and anger, threw Kevin down onto his bed, hard, bouncing him off the mattress and onto the floor. "You idiot, you may have just gotten us killed!"

From page 23 of Revolution 19 by Gregg Rosenblum (review will be posted tomorrow)

Karen's:

They are suspect.  That dog will help him realize he is not right for this job.

From page 60 of Suspect by Robert Crais.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Wrath Of Angels" by John Connolly

I give The Wrath of Angels by John Connolly 5 stars plus! A plane crashes in a dense forest and the race is on to get to the plane because somebody or something is on it that everybody wants. Which is it? You will have to read the book. There is lots of action, many characters and a very good ending! I liked it and recommend it.
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Tragedy Paper" by Elizabeth Laban (YA)

Every year at a boarding school, the outgoing seniors leave a "treasure" behind in their rooms for the next senior occupying that room to find. Duncan finds a stack of CDs left for him that he doesn't think much of until he listens to the first one. Then he can't stop until he hears them all! What's on the CDs? You will have to read The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban.

Like the CDs, The Tragedy Paper is hard to put down. I finished it in two days! I got to really care about the characters, the writing is superb and the ending is shocking! Do I have your interest yet? All that being said, I give this book 5++ stars!  Excellent work, Ms. Laban!
(Gerard's review)

The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban is about a teen love triangle and a high school assignment at a prestigious private boarding school steeped in tradition.  It is written in a unique way with two narrators, Tim who lacks self-confidence and Duncan who is pre-occupied with his tragedy paper and has trouble letting go of the past.  The book kept my interest to discover what the tragedy was.  I liked both Tim and Duncan and I also like the English teacher, Mr. Simon.
(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teaser: "Suspect" by Robert Crais

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Gerard's

Maggie limped to him, and frantically licked his face. She tasted the blood running from his nose and ears and neck, and flushed with the need to soothe and heal him.

From page 9 of Suspect by Robert Crais.

Karen's:
The book I just finished, (Teaching in the Terrordome) and the one I am currently reading (The Tragedy Paper) Gerard already used teasers from so I have nothing for you this week.

Happy Reading!

"Teaching In The Terrordome" by Heather Kirn Lanie (UPDATED)

Teaching In The Terrordome--Two Years in West Baltimore With Teach For America by Heather Kirn Lanier is the true story of a young teacher's first time teaching in an inner city school in Baltimore called "The Terrordome." As I read this book, I quickly learned why! I enjoyed this book very much because Heather told it as it was and pulled no punches. It is funny, sad, eye opening and real. I think the best pat is the epilogue when she tells you there is no magic wand that can fix the problem, but to her credit, she still wants to try. If you liked this kind of book about real teaching experiences, you will enjoy this one!
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Teaching in the Terrordome by Heather Kirn Lanier tells about her two-year experience of teaching 9th grade English for Teach For America in a Baltimore inner-city school at risk of being taken over by the state. She shares about the 6-week training she received to prepare her to teach and her feelings and thoughts about the inequality of education between the middle class and lower income kids. It had my interest at the beginning but by the second year, it dragged along for me. This is a realistic account of how the norm of teaching in an inner city school for Teach For America is. She felt like a failure because the majority of her students were still barely passing and nothing much changed from when she started except for being made aware of how bad off some schools really are.
I liked other ones much better. Guess I just like happier endings and more inspirational ones like I'd Like To Apologize To Every Teacher I Ever Had by Tony Danza, and Nobody Don't Love Nobody by Stacey Bess.
(Karen's review, 2 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Stonecutter" by Camilla Lackberg - Giveaway

The main story in The Stonecutter by Camilla Lackberg is about a killing of a 7-yr.-old girl who a fisherman brings up out of the water.  However, there are a ton of other subplots which are all good too!  There is a lot of deception in this book.  It is a 500+ page novel that doesn't feel that long because I got caught up in the story.  I loved the wild ending and that is why I give it 5 stars plus!  I enjoyed it a lot!  It also has discussion questions in the back if you wish to use it for a book club read.
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

We will give this one away to whomever comments first saying they would like it with an email address so we can contact you for a mailing address.  

(We received a complimentary copy from the publicist, Simon and Shuster but this did not affect my thoughts about this book.)


Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Road Trip" by Gary Paulsen and Jim Paulsen

In Road Trip by Gary and Jim Paulsen, a father and a son go on a road trip to rescue a dog from a shelter but they find a whole lot more than they expected—adventure that is. This is a small book but packed with interesting people. I especially enjoyed the dog’s side of the story. Kids and older people would enjoy this book.

(Gerard’s review, rating 4.5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken (Updated)

If you enjoyed "Hunger Games", "Divergent" and "Starters," then I'm pretty sure you would like The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken. The story is about young teens on the run from the U.S. government. It moves along really well and the lead character, a young teen girl is FANTASTIC! There are lots of "wow" factors for me in this book and the last 100 pages or so were page turners to the max! I hope there will be a sequel! LOVED IT! Do yourself a favor and read this one!
(Gerard's review, rating 5++ stars)

On Gerard's recommendation, I read this one too (Updated 1/30/13):

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken is a page turner that is about loyalty, friendship, isolation, survival and manipulation. This book is about Ruby, Liam, Chubbs and Zu, four friends who try to keep their freedom and remain true to themselves but who have “special” powers of different kinds. The plot was a bit confusing to me at times, but I liked this book because of the characters. Ruby is able to see into people’s minds to not only see their memories but also is able to erase memories and plant thoughts into people’s heads. The only problem is that she can’t control it until she gets lessons from another kid with the same abilities whose practiced his whole life! If you like YA fiction with adventure and fantasy, this is a great book for you! “The darkest minds tend to hide behind the most unlikely faces.” Pg. 456.
(Karen's Review)

O

ne of Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop prompts this week is "What are you reading?" so I linked up. You can too!

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teasers: "Mighty Inspiration" and "Teaching In The Terrordome"

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Karen's

Every person is connected to every other person in a very short period of time because what moves are ideas, feelings, reactions, and decisions. It is an ever ebbing and flowing tide of motion in the spiritual world, and it is beautiful to see.

From page 26 of Mighty Inspiration--Love Letters From God by Barbara Bernard Miller.
(visit Barbara's blog, Mighty Inspiration)

Gerard's:

Other stood up and talked. Malika wandered around, laughing, cracking jokes to other Kids. Nine students. That's all I had. Why couldn't I get them under control?

From page 29 of Teaching In The Terrordome by Heather Kirn Lanier.

Happy Reading!

"The Black Box" by Michael Connelly

The Black Box by Michael Connelly is not one of his better books, but I got through it. It’s about a 20-yr-old murder case that people gave up on except not Harry Bosch. I almost stopped reading this but went back to it because I didn’t have anything else to read. I the best part is where all the pieces come together and the case is solved which was very good; however, getting there took persistence and determination.
(Gerard's review, 3 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Chicken Soup For The Volunteer's Soul"

Chicken Soup For The Volunteer's Soul is a collection of short touching, uplifting and inspirational accounts of volunteers serving in a variety of organizations. I especially liked the one about the old lady in the nursing home who was depressed because she couldn’t see her grandchildren but cheered up when a kid came to visit her who reminded him of her grandson. He appreciated her because he she was like a grandmother that he didn’t have. Another favorite of mine was the busy lawyer who took time out of her day to visit an animal shelter and helped find a home for a mother cat before all her kittens got adopted! She was one determined lady! There are many good stories about all different volunteers. It is an easy book to read a little at a time; I enjoyed it! Read it and I bet you will feel like volunteering!
(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Never Coming Back" by Hans Koppel

Never Coming Back, International bestseller, by Hans Koppel tells the story of a couple who hold a woman hostage that they feel was responsible for their daughter's suicide 20 years ago. She was a member of "The Gang of Four" who terrorized a school. The other three are dead; will she meet the same fate? You talk about a page turner, this is it! Plenty of "wow" factors and the ending is not to be missed! I give it 5 stars plus-plus!!! A must read for anyone who likes a good story.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Buddy (How a Rooster Made Me a Family Man)" by Brian McGrory

Buddy (How a Rooster Made Me a Family Man) by Brian McGrory is a really good true story of a man who comes into a family that includes his wife, two young girls, a dog, and a rooster! This is a family book. Kids would enjoy reading it as well as parents. Brian, who tells the story, learns about life from his dog and the rooster. I LOVED it!
(Gerard's review, 5+)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teasers--3 This Week!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Karen's

The other kids started screaming. One girl, Tess, was crying so hard she couldn't breathe.

From page 5 of The Darkest Minds by Alexander Bracken. (YA fiction--click link to see Gerard's review)

Ultimately, the only way to experience the richness of life is to live in an attitude of gratitude: to appreciate what you have and what you can give. The best way to ensure your happiness is to assist others in experiencing their own.--Anthony Robbins

From page 129 of Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul--Stories to Celebrate the Spirit of Courage, Caring and Community (Non-fiction, inspirational)


Gerard's:

     The story of this rooster actually begins with a dog.
     His name was Harry, and if it's true that you get just one truly wonderful animal in your time on this earth, then without a flicker of a doubt, he was mine.

From page 10 of Buddy (How a Rooster Made Me a Family Man) by Brian McGrory. (fun read)

If you like inspirational non-fiction, be sure to check out my review of The Power of a Positive Woman by Karol Ladd that I posted yesterday.  It is the best inspirational non-fiction book I've ever read!

Happy Reading!

"The Power of a Positive Woman" by Karol Ladd

LOVED IT!  A MUST READ FOR WOMEN!

The Power of a Positive Woman by Karol Ladd is the best inspirational non-fiction book I ever read and plan to read it again! I absolutely LOVE this book and can't say enough good about it! It is Biblical, has scriptures included throughout it right in the text, interesting facts about people used as examples of putting the principles into action and is uplifting, encouraging and challenging! Topics include: faith, wisdom, prayer, joy, love, courage, hope and the main theme is making a difference.

I used it as a devotional book the first time I read it and highlighted lots of things. It is divided into chapters with subdivisions so provides short thought-provoking passages easily used as devotionals. At the end of each chapter is a a short application section called “Power Point” which includes further scripture with some questions to think about, a prayer, a main point to remember and some activity to do. If you are looking for a practical book that will encourage spiritual growth, this is it!

The Power of a Positive Woman is a wonderful book to use for a women's Bible study group which is how I came to read it. I highly recommend this book to all women, but I think men could certainly benefit from it as well.
(Karen's review, rating 10 stars!)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Dear Sparkle: Advice From One Cat to Another" by Sparkle

Image source:  Amazon

Dear Sparkle: Advice From One Cat to Another (No Humans!) by Sparkle the Designer Cat is not only a fun read but also insightful and informative. There are all kinds of different problems that cats have, most involving their humans. The advice is given in such a way that humans can benefit from it as well. I highly recommend this cute book to any cat owner. The cat letters may be fictional; however, the tip part for humans is really non-fiction. Sparkle says what a smart cat owner should do. I found it both amusing and interesting.  Visit Sparkle's blog too, it's very cat friendly and interesting!
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

You HAVE to read this one!

This is a very good book for all cats.  We LOVED it as much as Sparkle's other book:  Dear Sparkle:  Cat to Cat Advice From the World's Most Foremost Feline Columnist by Sparkle the Designer Cat.  It's a must read!
(Spunky Doodle and Manny Boy's review)


Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Shiver" by Karen Robards

Shiver by Karen Robards is a novel about a young single mom and her 4-yr.-old son who get mixed up with an undercover FBI agent.  The byplay between the two main characters kept my interest throughout the book.  I would have liked more action, but there is tons of romance throughout!  It only took me two days to finish it.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teasers: One Fiction and One Non-Fiction

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Gerard's:

As she stared down in shock at the man he groaned.
Sam felt a cold shiver of fear run down her spine.

From pg. 16 of Shiver by Karen Robards. (Gerard's review will be posted tomorrow.)

Karen's

I bet your human is one of those people who disappears every day for hours and looks really tired and annoyed when she comes home. This place that occupies so much of a human's time is called a 'job,' and I think it's one of the things that destroys the play instinct.

From pg. 11, Location 172 on Kindle of Dear Sparkle: Advice From One Cat to Another by Sparkle.

Happy Reading!

Which Blog Header Picture Do You Like Best?

Just trying to liven things up a bit

Here is what our mom called an outtake.  We think she should have used this for the header picture this week.  Which one do you like best?  We are also reading Dear Sparkle:  Advice From One Cat to Another but it is on the Kindle so isn't pictured in the header.  We did borrow an image from Amazon though and posted it on the side bar.  It's a great book for us cats!  Meow! 

Find more pet posts at the Camera Critters  and Pet Pride blog hops.

"Gun Church" by Reed Farrel Coleman

Gun Church by Reed Farrel Coleman is about a writer down on his luck. When he moves into a new town and meets up with some new people, he starts to "live again." However, when his new book and his real life start to interact, trouble is brewing. Because of the good twist and the ending, I give it 5 stars. It's not a "must read" for everyone, but I enjoyed it.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Comet's Tale--How the Dog I Rescued Saved My Life" by Steven D. Wolf

Amazing, heartwarming read!

What an amazing true story Comet's Tale by Steven D. Wolf is!  Steven Wolf saved Comet from a bad fate, then Steve's health took a turn for the worse and Comet came through for him.  Comet became the first ever Greyhound service dog.  Find out by reading the book why Comet was named the "Service Dog of the Year."  If you like feel-good stories, start off the new year with this one!


Thanks for sharing your story, Mr. Wolf, and give Comet a treat for me and my dog, Abby.  LOVED this book!
(Gerard's review, rating 5++) 

Comet's Tale by Steven D. Wolf  is about a man with deteriorating back problems who gets a greyhound dog named Comet and trains the dog to help with every day tasks to make his life easier.  He got the dog a service dog jacket and the dog accompanied him everywhere he went.  The amazing thing about this book is that greyhounds are not service dogs.  This one was quite special and was very loyal and dedicated to Wolf.  I did  not like this book as much as Gerard did, but it has interesting information about greyhounds but Wolf's story was sad.
(Karen's review, rating 2 stars)
  
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Godsent" by Richard Burton

Godsent by Richard Burton is fantastic! Imagine the Son of Man coming down to Earth to live among us today. What would he find? Would people listen to Him and believe? Would people try to use Him to further their own good? or would people plot against Him and claim He is a false God? and last of all, would He perform miracles? This is an outstanding religious thriller with plenty of "wow" moments. I couldn't wait to see how it would play out and LOVED IT! The ending to this book added another plus! It is going to be made into a movie too!
(Gerard's review, rating 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teasers: 1 thriller and 2 non-fiction

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser.   

Gerard's:

Laura ignored this display, mostly because she didn't know what else to do. Later on someone told her that at that pivotal moment she'd played a good game of something called "negotiation jujitsu"; but she knew that she was just doing what you learn to do naturally as a quiet person in a loudmouth world.

From pg. 28 of Quiet--The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. (non-fiction)

     Unless, of course he was a prisoner himself . . .
     But if that were so, then, in some way beyond her understanding, it was by his own choice, for there was no cell in the world that could hold her son against his will.

From page 6 of Godsent by Richard Burton. (a thriller)

Karen's:

I gently lifted Comet's ears, displaying the numbered tattoos that still made my stomach lurch a little.  The girls' expressions had been solemn as I talked about Comet's early life and how racing greyhounds were routinely mistreated, then abandoned or destroyed. 

From page 65 of Comet's Tale--How The Dog I Rescued Saved My Life by Steven D. Wolf with Lynette Padwa. (non-fiction)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Short-Straw Bride" by Karen Witemeyer

Slow moving but with an exciting ending

Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer is a historical western romance between Travis Archer and Meredith.  He was the oldest of four brothers who made a death-bed promise to his dad to protect the ranch and his brothers by staying on it.  He felt guilty breaking his promise to see Meredith home after hurting her leg in one of his traps.  Then years later, she came back into his life to warn him of a scheme to burn his barn.  It’s a good Christian fiction story with a happy ending but moved kind of slow.  I liked Travis but didn’t care for Meredith.
(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Fire in the Ashes" by Jonathan Kozol

Fire in the Ashes--25 Years Among The Poorest Children in America by Jonathan

Kozol tells the story of kids growing up homeless in New York City and the trials they and their families go through. Some of the stories are heartbreaking; however, some give you hope. Some have a "wow" factor but they are all interesting. This non-fiction book is well worth your time.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912" by Lauren Tarshis"

I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Lauren Tarshis is a children's historical fiction book. George, age 10, and his sister, age 8, are both on the Titanic with their Aunt Daisy when it sinks. It gives some interesting facts about the ship, emphasizing that everyone thought it to be unsinkable. I didn't realize how big it was until I read this book--did you know it was 11 stories tall? I liked it as a children's book.
(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Ninth Step" by Grant Jerkins

The Ninth Step by Grant Jerkins is a quick read about Helen, an alcoholic who vows to stop drinking after being involved in a hit-and-run accident. What makes this book so good is that just when you think you have it figured out, you don't. There are lots of "wows" in this book; well worth your time.
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!