Saturday, February 18, 2017

"Train I Ride" by Paul Mosier is Uplifting! (Updated)

Train I Ride by Paul Mosier is a children's story about Rydr, a little girl on an Amtrak train.  This book tells the story of the people she meets on the train as well as the back story on Rydr.

Every so often I need a book that I can relax with that doesn't have somebody getting hurt or killed so I read this book.  Rydr is a great character who will surprise you with her antics.  I think people of all ages would enjoy this debut book.  Job well done, Paul Mosier!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Karen's review, 3 stars:  I read Train I Ride by Paul Mosier because my husband liked it so much and it is short and quick.  I liked Rydr, the main orphan girl who is on her way from Los Angeles to Chicago to live with some old uncle she never even met because her mom died and probably her father and her grandma who she was living with.  On the train, she meets several people who she really likes.  Although her money runs out, she is quite resourceful in finding ways to get some.  I especially liked her invisible monkey act but felt bad when she didn't even take the money she got from people.  I thought this was a pretty sad story but enjoyed the funny parts.  

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!

Friday, February 17, 2017

"All Dressed in White" by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke

All Dressed in White is a contemporary fiction thriller about a show called Under Suspicion that is like Unsolved Mysteries.   The book focuses on the most recent cold case the show is investigating about a missing woman who disappeared the day before her wedding from the Florida resort she was supposed to get married at. 

This book was very good.  I was never sure exactly what happened to Amanda until it was finally revealed near the end and the killer ready to kill again was a twist I did not expect!  This book is a warning to choose your friends carefully.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

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

Thursday, February 16, 2017

"The Ice Beneath Her" by Camilla Grebe

The Ice Beneath Her by Camilla Grebe starts with a gruesome murder.  In fact, it looks like one that happened years ago and the police have no clue!  A CEO on whose property the murder too place is missing.  The search is on to find him and a woman desperately also wants to find him.

I thought this book was fantastic!  The writing is very good and the characters are believable.  The suspense really builds in this book and what you think you know, you do not!  This is my "book of the month" so far!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)  

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

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

"Happily Ever After" by Kiera Cass

Happily Ever After by Kiera Cass is a companion to The Selection series and should only be read after you have read the series. It fills in some gaps and answers some questions about some of the main characters in the series, and retells events from different perspectives. It gives background about Queen Amberly and Maxon. Shares perspectives from Aspen, Marlee, and Celeste. It gives more details about Marlee and Carter woodwork’s story and Lucy and Aspen’s romance. It gives closure on what happened with Kris, Elise, and Natalie after The Selection was over and they lost.

This was not as good as the books in the series but I still enjoyed reading it. It seemed kind of like dessert—a nice final touch but not really necessary. I devoured the series and enjoyed it immensely so was glad when I discovered this book which gave me a little more.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

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

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Tuesday Teasers



Karen's:

She's charming, smart, gracious, beautiful; and though she's seen her share of sadness, she tries to be joyful.  So how did this magical woman fall for someone the likes of Clarkson Schreave?
From page 6--An Introduction to the Queen of Happily Ever After (Companion to the Selection Series) by Kiera Cass.

Being able to pull up a verse in the middle of a totally different activity is more important than saying it 10 times, one after another.  You memorize when you practice recalling, not when you repeat.
From page 17 of Hiding the Word in My Heart--Fun Ways to Memorize the Scriptures by Tina Houser.

Joseph Scriven (1819-1896), writer of the much-loved hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," knew the pain of heartache and loneliness.  His bride-to-be drowned the evening before their wedding.
From page 14 of Tune My Heart to Sing--90 Devotions on Hymns from Our Daily Bread.

Gerard's:

Manfred groans and sinks down on his haunches.  I lean forward, taking in the macabre scene.  Letting it in--that's important.
From page 10 of The Ice Beneath Her by Camilla Grebe.


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

Friday, February 10, 2017

"The Fixer" by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a YA contemporary fiction mystery about Tess Kendrick, a 16-yr-old who is taken by her older sister, Ivy, the "fixer."  Ivy left the ranch years before and works closely with the President of the United States in D.C. to fix problems.  Tess resents Ivy for not taking her along when their parents died so lives with her grandfather whose Alzheimer's gets worse,  When Ivy visits, she moves the grandfather to a care facility in Boston and has Tess live with her.  Ivy tries to protect Tess from getting involved in her job but Tess becomes involved in spite of Ivy's efforts.  Tess is shocked as secrets come to light and bravely seeks the truth.

This was very good with a combination of politics, murder and family relationships.  I enjoyed the plot and the characters and especially the surprise twist near the end.  I finished this in two days and looked forward to getting back to it.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

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

Thursday, February 9, 2017

"The Kind Worth Killing" by Peter Swanson

In The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson, Ted and Lily meet at an airport bar.  They get to talking and drinking and all of a sudden, they feel a connection.  They decide to hatch a plan.  If it goes as planned, their lives will be forever changed.  I enjoyed this book.  The plot is good and the characters are cold-blooded to say the least.  I loved the ending!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

"The Edge of Everything" by Jeff Giles

In The Edge of Everything by Jeff Giles, it has really been a bad year for 17-yr.-old Zoe.  Her dad died, an older couple who befriended her was killed, and now a blizzard has come and her young brother and her are in it and are being attacked.  Then a stranger comes out of nowhere and Zoe's life as she knows it will be forever changed.

This book had me from page 1!  The story is really good and I cared about the characters.  It went quick!  I really enjoyed it and feel it was well worth reading!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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

"Frost Blood" by Elly Blake (Updated)



Frost Blood by Elly Blake is a teen fantasy involving some people with special powers called Frostbloods and Firebloods. Frostbloods like all things cold and can create ice and cold as opposed to the Firebloods who like things warm and can create fire and heat. Although they are mortal enemies, Arcus and Ruby join together to destroy the curse behind the throne of the King Frost Blood. Ruby, the main character, is a 17-yr.-old girl who was brought up to hide her gift so must be trained to develop it. She is believed to be the special Fireblood who will be able to destroy the curse behind the throne. There is lots of action with some surprises in the turn of events!

This book kept my interest from the start and I especially liked the parts of Ruby at the Abby and her fighting the King’s champions in the arena. Although the magic involved in this book around Manix was a bit confusing to me, and the writing was not that great, I thought it good enough to continue on with this series. The relationship between Ruby and Arcus that develops didn’t really grab me but maybe that will become more interesting in the next book. I am giving this 3 stars because there are other “super power” series I’ve enjoyed much more.
(Karen's review 2-8-17, 3 stars)

In Frost Blood by Elly Blake, Ruby has power but her mom forbids her to use it!  But when her mom is killed and Ruby is put in prison, she yearns for revenge and to use her power.  Later some men come and help her escape.  She is in a safe house where she is told that she must destroy the throne and kill the king or all is lost!  Does Ruby have the power and the will to do it?

I thought this book was really good!  There is plenty of action and the writing is really good!  Ruby is a great character!  Can't wait for book 2!
(Gerard's review 1-21-17, 5++ stars)

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

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Tuesday Teasers



Karen's:

Flames ate at my clothes and roared in my ears.  My skin was blistering hot, but it didn't burn.
From page 13 of Frost Blood by Elly Blake.

I sat beside her, holding her hand.  Silly as it sounded, I had slouched in my chair, certain that would make her come to and correct my posture.
From The Crown by Kiera Cass (Book 5 of The Selection series.)

Gerard's:

Zoe had the binoculars trained on Stan when he turned back toward the lake and saw it blazing in the darkness--and when he first noticed the figure shooting toward him, covering hundreds of feet in an instant.
Stan was terrified.
From page 38 of The Edge of Everything by Jeff Giles.

An flips through the channels.  There will be tornadoes, floods, landslides, ash, fear, depravation, suffering, death.
From page 40 of Rules of the Game (Book 3 of Endgame) by James Frey & Johnson-Shelton.


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

Sunday, February 5, 2017

"Rules of the Game" by James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton (series)

Rules of the Game by James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton is the third and last book of "The Endgame" series.  I thought this one was the best of the three!  It is a non-stop thrill ride with action galore that kept me turning pages throughout the book!  I wish the ending could have been different, but that being said, I still give this book and this series 5 stars!  Glad I read 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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Saturday, February 4, 2017

"The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss (1st Book in The Kingkiller Chronicle Series)

In The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, a man called Kvothe is telling his life story to a chronicler.  He has heard about Kvothe and wants to find out what is fact and what is fantasy.  This is the first of three books in this series.  This book covers his life until he is in his teens.  The stories in this book are really good!  It took me a while to get into it, but once I did, I had to keep flipping pages.  Not sure if this book is for everyone, but I enjoyed it!  It lived up to the hype for me.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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

Friday, February 3, 2017

"The Crown" by Kiera Cass (5th Book of The Selection Series)

I loved The Crown by Kiera Cass, the fifth book in The Selection series because Eadlyn grows up quickly when her mother has a heart attack and shows both maturity and compassion for others, finally!  This was a really fun series and I was not disappointed at all in this last book!  She picked the one I thought she should and I loved how she became so caring about the feelings of the selected.  I do not want to spoil anything because if you are reading this series, you have to read this one too!
(Karen's review, 5 stars)


I should have dressed up to do these videos--thought of it too late! 

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!

Thursday, February 2, 2017

"Windwitch" by Susan Dennard

Windwitch by Susan Dennard is the follow up to Truthwitch which I Loved!  Iseult is trying to reconnect with her sister, Safi.  There is plenty of good action in this book with surprise twists and turns.  I enjoyed the characters of Merik and Aepvan also.  Looks like a book 3 is next and I will be on 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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

"The Heir" by Kiera Cass (Book 4 of The Selection Series)

The Heir by Kiera Cass is the fourth book in this series and although I enjoyed this one the least, it still gets 4 stars from me. This is 18 years after the end of The One and the main character is America and Maxon’s eldest by seven minutes, Eadlyn. The castes have been faded out by now and there is peace; however, old prejudices and discrimination still exist among some people. Small fights all over continue to break out over dissatisfaction with the monarchy. In an effort to provide a distraction while Maxon and America try to figure something out to correct the situation, they ask Eadlyn to have a selection of her own. She very reluctantly agrees and this book then becomes similar to the TV show, The Bachelorette! 35 suitors are picked live on TV with a draw, choosing someone from each providence. Someone entered Kile Woodward’s name (Marlee’s son who grew up in the palace with Eadlyn) and he is one of the selected. Eadlyn thinks love makes one weak but made a deal with her parents to go through the process for three months provided if she didn’t find love, she would not have to choose anyone in the end and that any of them were free to leave any time if they chose. Her parents are hopeful, she just wants her freedom. It’s fun to look back to the previous book as her parents reveal things about their Selection experience to Eadlyn and how interested she is

Eadlyn is a spoiled brat and basically rude to the suiters, but in spite of herself, her wall begins to crumble and she does start to really care about some of them. Her best dates turn out to be the ones that the cameras aren’t ready for. The two group dates were really fun. Some of the guys were outside playing baseball and she came by and decided to join them! The other was set up by the guys who felt left out of the ballgame—they got her to agree to join them for the “best date ever.” They put on a talent show and through this she actually laughed and finally enjoyed herself while getting to know a bit more about the suitors.

Eadlyn is so bratty that I did not like this book as much as the previous ones, but by the end she was becoming more decent. I like how there are really several possible choices for her and I am not sure who she will pick. I think it is a very interesting addition the Henri needs a translator, Eric who tries to stay in the background and is quite smart. Henri speaks only Finnish but is very nice and a great chef! Their kitchen kiss was so sweet!  I also like seeing America’ and Maxon’s friends appear in this book as well. I cheered when I saw Aspen is now a General! I flew through this book as well and continued right on with the next. I am eating up this series and highly recommend it as a light, funny, entertaining read.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

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

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Tuesday Teasers



Karen's:

Her heavy eyes filled with tears.  "Then I don't care where it is.  I'll go."

From page 118 of The One by Kiera Cass (Book 3 of The Selection series).


Kile wasn't as obnoxious as Josie, but, in all the years I'd known him, he'd never made anything remotely close to an interesting conversation.  So help me, if I ever got a bad case of insomnia, I'd hire him to sit in my room and talk.

From page 31 of The Heir by Kiera Cass (Book 4 of The Selection series).

I sat beside her, holding her hand.  Silly as it sounded, I had slouched in my chair, certain that would make her come to and correct my posture.
From The Crown by Kiera Cass (Book 5 of The Selection series.)

Gerard's:
And the sight of her hand in front of her, lifting the latch, pushing the door.  And again, and again, and again, every moment since:  the slow sweep of the white-painted wood, and the widening expanse of light, and her hand falling to her side through the weight of the still air, and her voice catching in her dry throat.  And the room beyond.
From page 21 of Little Deaths by Emma Flint.


"You are going to keep Playing, but I want to see if we can gain an advantage first.  Perhaps you can push back at the keplers, as well as do something that will help you deal with the others."
From page 82 of Sky Key (Book 2 of Endgame) by James Frey & Johnson-Shelton.

Once the warship had burned to a flaming skeleton and the heat off the attach had drawn back, Safi turned to Vaness.  The empress stood rooted to the ground, stiff as the iron she controlled.
 From page 28 of Windwitch by Susan Dennard.


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

Saturday, January 28, 2017

"Little Deaths" by Emma Flint is Based on a True Story

Little Deaths by Emma Flint is based on a true story. Ruth Malone lives a loose life, and that is putting it mildly. She has two kids and an on-again-off-again relationship with her husband. One night her kids are missing and in the days that follow, both are found dead. Did Ruth do it? The police and public opinion have her guilty. This book played out pretty good and kept my interest for the most part. It is worth reading for sure!
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Friday, January 27, 2017

Loved "The One" (Book 3 of The Selection Series) by Kiera Cass

The One by Kiera Cass is the third book in The Selection series and my favorite so far!  In this the action really picks up, Maxon and Aspen form a bond, America's father dies, Maxon finally chooses his princess and it has some surprises and several die.  This is like a roller coaster with happy moments and very sad moments.  My emotions were all over the place.  The relationship developments, the danger at the palace, the plot with the rebels and Maxon's father continuing to knock America out of the competition made this book hard for me to put down.

I am loving this series and so glad I gave it a chance despite the boring covers.  I like both Maxon and America and loved the ending of this one even though it was not what I expected!  I am flying through these books because I am enjoying the characters so much.   What a great book, loving this series!
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

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

Thursday, January 26, 2017

"Sky Key" (Engame Novel Book 2) byJames Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton

Sky Key by James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton picks up where the first book left off.  The nine remaining players are looking for sky key.  Good action in this book too.  I have my favorite players and they are still alive.  Moving on to Book 3.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

"Endgame--The Calling" by James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton

Endgame--The Calling by James Frey & Nils Johnson-Shelton has constant action!  Welcome to Endgame.  Twelve players in the whole world.  They have been trained for this.  They must find three keys.  There can be only one winner, no rules, Kill or be killed!  The one feature I enjoyed about this book was the constant action.  I never knew what was coming next!  This is the first book of three so I will be moving on to Book two!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Teaser Tuesday



Karen's:

But how was I supposed to decide between two good possibilities?  How could I make a choice that would leave some part of me devastated either way?

From page 30 of The Elite by Kiera Cass.

But anyway, to get back to the point:  lifesaving and driving people nuts are Granny's superpowers.  Which perhaps makes her a bit of a dysfunctional superhero.
From page 3 of My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman.

Gerard's:
Marcus has wanted, waited, and prepared for Endgame his entire life.  He is not longer bored, and he won't be again until he either wins or dies.
From page 4 of End Game--The Calling by James Frey & Johnson-Shelton.


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

Friday, January 20, 2017

"The Elite" by Kiera Cass

The Elite by Kiera Cass is the second book in The Selection series and I enjoyed it as much as I did the first one. This book has some heartbreaking moments surrounding Marlee and the competition gets a bit more interesting with only six girls left. America questions if she actually could be a good princess if she let her feelings for Maxon blossom into love or if she should just pull out and look to a future with Aspen. She really shocks the royal family with her philanthropic presentation on TV and the king really hates her now! Maxon stands up to his father for the first time to protect America and he and America finally have a heart-to-heart talk while hiding together during an attack. Will she trust Maxon? Will she learn when to keep her mouth shut and control her emotions?  As she learns more what is involved in being a princess, she has more doubts but is greatly encouraged when she receives a very sweet letter from her father.

I look forward to reading book 3 and am excited to read all the rest of the books in this series (3 more to go). I really admire America’s courage but hope she can learn to control her emotions better. I love how her maids all adore her and are so eager to make her look good and help her any way they can. This book has lots of good moments but also very sad things with some surprises along the way. I really liked how sweet Maxon when he surprised America at how he handled the Marlee situation.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Thursday, January 19, 2017

"The Selection by Kiera Cass is a Fun Read!

I’ve heard so much about The Selection series by Kiera Cass that I finally gave in and started it. The first book of the series, Selection, is a fun, light read about the rags to riches story of America Singer, a teenage girl. This is set in a future time where what once was America is now the country of Illéia. There is a royal family who rules and a caste system in place. America’s family are “fives” which are made up of musicians and artists. Just one level above “sixes” who are servants which is the caste Aspen is in. Aspen and America are in a serious relationship but have to keep it secret since they are in different castes. One day America gets a letter that could change her life forever, inviting her to apply to be Prince Maxon’s princess. Thirty-five girls will be selected for him to get to know and choose his princess from. During the selection process, their families will be compensated for allowing their daughters to participate in the selection. This first book is about the girls being selected and the process of Prince Maxon trying to narrow down the number.

I enjoyed this book because it is entertaining and reminded me of the show, The Bachelor. Prince Maxon, however, is a nice guy and not a sleeze at all. I like the humor throughout the book and how America slowly discovers that Maxon is not the snob she expected him to be. In fact, he is nothing but exceptionally nice to her! The love triangle that develops between her, Aspen and Maxon gets a push when Aspen is drafted as a guard at the palace and is assigned to guard America’s room. This is a quick read and I am anxious to continue on with this series. This is a pretty uplifting read with lots of happy moments.
(Karen’s review, 4 stars)

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

I linked this up to Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop in response to the book review prompt.  You can too!

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

"Under Rose-Tainted Skies" by Louise Gornall

In Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall, Norah is 17 and has accepted that the four walls of her house will be her life.  She cannot possibly go outside and heaven forbid she should come in contact with a stranger.  However, when a new family moves in and a young teen boy notices her, will Norah do something that she could not have imagined she would do or is she just headed for heartache?
This book is based on the author's own experiences.  I enjoyed it because Norah was a fun character and thought the ending was good too!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Teaser Tuesday



Karen's:

Mom screamed by my ear, and May jumped up, sending popcorn everywhere.  Gerad got excited too and started dancing.  Dad . . it's hard to say, but I think he was secretly smiling behind his book.

From page 56 of The Selection by Kiera Cass.

"Maybe we shouldn't go," Jonathan repeated.  "Maybe we shouldn't tell what happened.  Yet."
From page 60 of Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart.

Gerard's:
"Do you really want to do this?" She wagged her finger between them.  "A battle of wits?  It's not even fun to destroy you because you're too dim to understand you're getting destroyed."
From page 59 of The Serpent King by Liz Moore.


My fingers curl into the door frame so tightly it's a wonder they don't pierce the wood.  But I can do it, one whole foot outside my front door, without my chest getting tight.
From page 24 of Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall.


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

Saturday, January 14, 2017

"The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner is told by three teens starting their senior year in high school in a small town.  Dill, Lydia and Travis take turns telling the way this book goes.  They all have different family relationships.  What they do have in common is a strong bond of friendship.

I enjoyed all the three teens very much.  This book kept me interested throughout and has a very good ending.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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

Friday, January 13, 2017

"Scar Island" by Dan Gemeinhart

Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart, my favorite children’s author, is about boys at Slabhenge Reformatory School for troubled boys located on an island and run with torture techniques. Jonathan is the new boy sentenced to 10 weeks which is longer than usual because of the bad thing he did. Jonathan is overwhelmed with feelings of guilt and believes he deserves to be there, unlike the others. A couple boys befriend him and eventually he even wins over the bully who bosses everyone around when all the grownups running the place meet an unfortunate death.

This book is dark but not as dark as Lord of the Flies although there are some similarities. I liked this book because of the exploration of group dynamics, the interaction and growth among the boys, and also because of the suspense. I even got to like that huge rat that Jonathan mistook for a cat. Jonathan is a great character who I admired because he was so kind and compassionate throughout the book. I would recommend this book to boys, but don’t think too many girls would enjoy it since there are no girls in it. I liked both this author’s other books better: The Honest Truth and Some Kind of Courage, because they seemed more believable and not as dark as this one.

SPOILER ALERT – STOP NOW IF YOU INTEND TO READ THIS BOOK. I really liked the librarian and his pet rat. I thought that was a cool surprise and liked how the librarian encouraged Jonathan to take a book every time he came. I was surprised Colin didn’t stay with him when he left the others. There were a few things I felt were farfetched: (1) How all the grownups got electrocuted and died at once; (2) that the boys would put the dead bodies in the freezer where the food would be, yuck!; (3) that the first thing they did wasn’t to all join in to destroy the sinner’s sorrow torture device that they all hated; (4) I didn’t understand why Sebastian got so mad at Colin when he left since at the beginning he announce the boys to go wherever they wanted and do whatever they wanted. When Colin took some chocolates saying they were just Sebastian’s, I was surprised the other boys didn’t back him up and (5) how the majority just followed whatever Sebastian said, letting him take the lead instead of following Colin or Jonathan, who were smarter and nicer, especially at the end.
(Karen’s review, 4 stars)


Gerard read this first 1-9-17, here's his review, 4.5 stars:
In Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart, Jonathan is the new boy at Slabhenge.  It is a reform school for boys who are troubled to say the least.  Now Jonathan is there and he is happy to be there.  But soon he will have to make decisions that will affect him and his fellow boys.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book.  It has good action and the end has a good twist.  I liked this author's first two books better, The Honest Truth and Some Kind of Courage, but this one is not bad at all!

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!

Thursday, January 12, 2017

"The Unseen World" by Liz Moore

In The Unseen World by Liz Moore,  Ada is 12 years old and works with her dad and his associate in a lab.  Ada is very smart.  When her dad becomes forgetful and wanders off, Ada tries her best to take care of him.  Soon though, he needs more help than Ada alone can give.  Now she must go out in the world and deal with school and everyday things in life that she never had to deal with before.  She learns things that will question just about everything that Ada thought to be true!

I thought Ada was a great character and loved watching her grow up.  I got into this book early.  The story moved along okay and I always wanted to get back into it!  I also enjoyed this author's first book, Heft.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

"The School for Good and Evil" by Soman Chainani

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani is a juvenile fantasy book. I really liked the cover and was looking forward to a quick fun read which it is. Sophie and her friend, Agatha, both get mysteriously kidnapped from their small village to The School for Good and Evil in some distant place. They both think they got put in the wrong school side of the school though and encounter the fight of the life to remain friends. Both girls find themselves living a fairy tale!

I think children would like this book but I was a bit disappointed in it because it really made no sense to me. There is a lot of action and magic going on; however, I found it a bit hard to follow. I liked it enough to care about the main characters, although I really liked Agatha the most and didn’t care much for Sophie, even from the start. I did want to see how it would end and liked the ending.
(Karen’s review, 3 stars)

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

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Teaser Tuesday



Karen's:
"Well, in the School for Good, they teach boys and girls like me how to become heroes and princesses, how to rule kingdoms justly, how to find Happily Ever After," Sophie said.  "In the School for Evil, they teach you how to become wicked witches and humpbacked trolls, how to lay curses and cast evil spells."
From page 11 of The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani.

Gerard's:
She knew then that she could not pretend any longer.  She walked resolutely down the hall to Liston's office, and knocked on her door, and felt her face crumple.
From page 118 of The Unseen World by Liz Moore.

Jonathan gripped the knife in his hand and fought back the tears that burned in his eyes.
"My God," he whispered to the boy next to him.  "How long do we have to do this?"
From page 27 of Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart.

It wasn't the same spot as the first one.  This time it was in the exact center of the four bare trees.
From page 8 of Every You, Every Me by David Levithan


He's staring at me and I realize that I do know him.
I know him because I killed his daughter.
  From page 22 of The Perfect Girl by Gilly Macmillan.


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

Saturday, January 7, 2017

"The Queen of Blood" is Really Good

Wow!  After coming off A Court of Mist and Fury, I was doubtful if anything would come close to keeping my interest as much, but The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst did!

In this fantasy novel, humans are attacked by six different spirits:  air, water, earth, ice, fire and wood who feel the land belongs to them.  These spirits have two instincts:  destroy and create.  Certain humans have an affinity to control them in different degrees and The Queen is the most powerful and keeps everything in balance and protects the people.  Over time though, the Queen can lose some of her power and so they have heirs trained and prepared to become Queen if the Queen dies.  The kicker here is that the spirits are the ones to choose the next Queen and they give her more power.  The main character is Daleina who as a child demonstrates she has the affinity to control spirits when her home is attacked.  She is smart, nice, and determined to learn more so that she can become Queen and protect people from these spirits but do no harm.  The Queen must be able to control the spirits, not just wipe them all out because that would wipe out their land as well.

I loved this book so much, I even read it at night to finish it!  (I hardly ever read at night.)  I got so engrossed in it that was almost late getting back from lunch and had to stop earlier than usual on the bus so I wouldn't miss my stop.  It is a fun and interesting read that shows how important good leadership and teamwork are.  There is a lot of killing in this book and I felt so bad for Daleina when her friends died.  There is lots of action and humor which kept this from being depressing because of the killing.  Daleina is such a great character who truly wanted to protect others.  She befriends a wolf who proves to be a loyal asset to her and also is chosen to be trained by Ven who brings along a healer, Haman.  The three of them work together to do what is best for the land.  I really look forward to the next book in this series, Queens of Renthia.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

In The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst, Daleina is a young girl whose community is torn apart and its people are killed by the spirits.  This is not supposed to happen!  The Queen is supposed  to protect the people.  Daleina decides to try out to be a champion.  A champion is a person who protects the people and is an heir to be a queen.  But the odds are long that she can become one.  Is the queen losing her power?

I thought this book was very good.  I was into it from page 1 because Daleina is a great character.  This has plenty of action and a few twists that I did not see at all.  I am looking forward to reading the next two books in this series.
(Gerard's review 12/23/16, 5++ stars)


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

The Perfect Girl by Gilly Macmillan

In The Perfect Girl by Gilly Macmillan, Zoe Maisey ia gifted pianist.  Now 17, she is giving a recital.  Three years ago, an incident happened that had a tragic effect on her and her loved ones.  She is ready to move on with her life, but sometimes the past catches up with you.

This book goes back and forth in time.  Sometimes I'm okay with that but not with this one.  I never really felt connected to any of the characters at all.  There is a lot going on in this book, so much so that I thing the main story sort of got lost.  I loved this author's book, What She Knew but this one not so much!
(Gerard's review, 3 stars)

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

Thursday, January 5, 2017

"Every You, Every Me" by David Levithan

In Every You, Every Me by David Levithan, Evan is alone. He is a young teen boy whose best friend/girlfriend, Ariel, is gone! Gone where is the question. Is she alive or dead? Evan begins to get photos of her and places where they spent time, but how and from whom? Is Ariel back or is Evan going crazy with guilt because of the day Ariel left? This book had me from page 1! I love how the author kept building up the suspense all the way to the end.
(Gerard’s review, 5 stars)

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

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

"Remember Yesterday" by Pintip Dunn

Remember Yesterday by Pintip Dunn is the follow-up to Forget Tomorrow.  This is ten years later and Jessa is now 16.  She mourns the death of her sister and is working with the underground to overthrow the government.  One day a boy who never had any time for her, gives her some new information.  Will Jessa join up with the enemy if it means the world will look better to her?

This book is so much better than the first one!  It has more action and less romance with a good ending to set up book 3.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Teaser Tuesdays



Karen's:
The champion looked away, across the ruined village and the broken bodies.  "Only the best can become queen.  And she is not the best."
From page 15 of The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst.

Rys gave me a smile dripping with venom.  He knew--through that bond, through whatever magic was between us, he'd known I was about to say no. 
From page 44 of A Court of Mist and Fury by Sara J. Maas.


Gerard's:
 I can't breathe.  I take huge gulps of air, but it doesn't help.

From page 31 of Forget Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn

If I could go back to the past and undo my sister's decision, I would.  But I can't.  So all I can do now is thwart my sister's enemy.
 From page 30 of Remember Yesterday by Pintip Dunn.


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