Monday Quiz About Us

Here are FOUR QUESTIONS that everyone can answer and then you have the option to add a fifth question of your own for those who are visiting your blog to answer in the comment section, along with commenting on the four standard questions you answered!

1. How often do you shop for groceries? Do you shop in one place or many?
We shop once a week at Giant Eagle.

2. How old were you when you had your first tast of alcohol?
Neither of us have ever tasted alcohol.

3. How much TV do you watch?
We watch football on Saturday and Sunday and a few favorite programs: Joel Osteen, Survivor (Karen), Parenthood, Once Upon a Time (Gerard), Army Wives, ESPN Magazine (Gerard), My Cat From Hell, Bad Dog, sometimes a movie  (Karen).

4. How do you relieve stress?
Gerard goes for a walk or works in the yard. I start singing praises or pet my cats and dog, sometimes listen to relaxing music.

For the 5th question I get to make up: What pets do you have and what are their names?

This blog hop is hosted by Acting Balanced.

"Sutton" by J.R. Moehringer--Fantastic!

Sutton by J. R. Moehringer is a fantastic book! Don't let the word "novel" fool you, Willie Sutton was an actual person. He made the first FBI Most Wanted list. He robbed banks but never hurt anyone or shot a gun. When asked why he robbed banks, he responded, "Because that's where the money is." This page turner will for sure make my top ten books of 2012. I loved it!
(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!

We are adding this one to Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop in response to this prompt:  Book Review time! Recommend a great book, perfect for these stormy fall days! Hope you will subscribe to our blog so you get all of our reviews!

"Trapped" by Peg Kehret and Pete the Cat

We highly recommend this book!

In Trapped by Peg Kehrot, is about animal cruelty. Pete the cat discovers evidence of illegal trapping and finds himself abducted by the trapper with a gun! This is also about a pig who was on its way to be slaughtered but fell off the truck. Pete the cat can understand what the humans say but they can’t understand what he is saying. Every time he tries talking to them, they just think he’s hungry.

This is a good story with suspense that I think anyone who likes cats would enjoy, even though it is a children’s book. I liked it very much, a fun quick-read with a good ending.  Pete is a clever, courageous and capable cat!
(Karen's review, rating 5 stars)

There are three books Peg Kehret co-authored with Pete her cat and I liked the other two as well:  The Stranger Next Door about arson and Spy Cat about burglaries.

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!

"Okay For Now" by Gary D. Schmidt

Okay For Now by Gary D. Schmidt is about Doug, a 14-yr.-old who is upset about moving to a new town and leaving his friends. The story takes place in 1968 during the Vietnam War that Doug’s oldest brother is fighting in. He also has an older brother, who gets great pleasure from picking on him and an abusive father. Doug’s idol is the Yankee ballplayer, Joe Pepitone and a signed jacket by Joe is Doug’s most prized possession. Doug narrates about his high and low points as he goes through adjusting to the new town and with the help of several caring people, he actually gets to like it. When he sees a beautiful bird book in the library, he is drawn to it and the librarian encourages him to draw the different birds. Art becomes his passion and he likens how he feels to how he thinks some of those birds feel. It’s a well-written book that gives the reader insight into the feelings of a young teenage boy. It’s a good read that I think any teen could relate to and enjoy.
(Karen's review, rating 4)

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!

"Spy Cat" by Peg Kehret and Pete the Cat

Spy Cat by Peg Kehret is an adventure with the cat and the little boy being the ones to find the burglars who have been breaking into homes in the neighborhood.  It has excitement, adventure and animals.  Parts are funny, such as when Pete the cat eats the burglar's hamburger and fries.

This is a quick fun read that shows the strong bond between kids and their pets.  I liked it!  
(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!

"It's Fine By Me" by Per Petterson

It’s Fine By Me by Per Petterson tells the story of Audun Sletten in his teen years. I liked it; thought it was interesting and really liked Audun at the end. It is under 200 pages and goes quick. Give it a try!
(Gerard’s review, rating 4 1/2 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!

Tuesday Teasers: 3 For 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
• 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:

Why can't you tell me what's going on before you drag me out?  And here I was, convinced it was a girl you were after, the way you'd dressed up!

From page 98 of It's Fine By Me by Per Peterson.

Karen's:

This bird was falling and there wasn't a single thing in the world that cared at all.

It was the most terrifying picture I had ever seen.

The most beautiful.

From page 19 of Okay For Now by Gary D. Schmidt. (YA)

Horror brought goose bumps to Benjie's arms as he realized that Pete's cries came from inside the van.

The Bad guys were stealing Pete!

From page 101 of Spy Cat by Peg Kehret.  (Juvenile adventure)

Spunky Doodle has a Monday Mischief post up on our other blog that she would like for you to see:

Happy Reading!

Monday Quiz About Me

Welcome to Monday Quiz About Me hosted by Acting Balanced and Touristic.  These are Karen's answers:

Just answer the questions and add one for your readers to answer in the comments.

1. What is the most interesting fact you have learned recently?
That the Red Panda's feet are all furry, they do not have pads like cats and other animals.

2. The alarm goes off on Monday morning. What is your first thought?
Time to feed the pets.

3. What is the most memorable movie line of all time?
"You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!"

4. Describe a situation that always seems to try your patience.
When I'm using the computer and it takes forever to respond or when it takes me 3-4 tries to get the capcha code right when trying to leave a comment on a blog.

Now, here's my question for you: What are you reading now? Happy Reading!

"What's Left of Me" by Kat Zhang (teen)

What's Left of Me--The Hybrid Chronicles by Kat Zhang is a pretty good YA novel about two souls (girls) in one body.  In this society, one soul is supposed to fade away after a time but it didn't happen to this girl (Eva and Addie). I enjoyed the struggle and the conversations between the two girl souls.  I especially liked the ending.  If there is a book two, I'll be getting 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 Stranger Next Door" by Peg Kehret and Pete the Cat

Manny and Spunky's favorite character is Pete the Cat!

The Stranger Next Door by Peg Kehret and Pete the Cat is actually better than I expected.  Although the author's cat helped write parts of this book, in the story we know what the cat is thinking and saying, but the people in the book only hear it meowing which makes it more realistic.  Shortly after an aloof family move in next door to Alex's family, houses burn in the neighborhood, including the new neighbor's.  Pete the cat sees what happens and using his cat intelligence, makes his people aware of what is happening.

This book has both mystery and adventure, plus it's a quick fun read with the Pete the Cat being one of the main characters.  I think any kid who likes cats would enjoy this book very much, I did!
(Karen's review, rating 5 stars)

Other books I liked by this author:  Animals Welcome

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!

"Little Boy Blue" by Kim Kavin (Non-fiction)

I was on "death row" too but was saved through Petfinder!

What a FANTASTIC book Little Boy Blue by Kim Kavin is! There is more to this book than just Kim rescuing Blue, the dog. A lot more! Her journey to find out about Blue before she got him is very interesting. I found out things that I didn't know such as if two out of four people got dogs from shelters or rescue places there would be no need to worry about dogs being killed. I also found out some things that wish didn't happen, but unfortunately, do. Be sure to read near the end of the book about Blue at puppy school--it's so good and funny!

This is a real page turner for sure. If you buy this book, a portion of the sale goes to Petfinders (which is how we found our dog, Abby). You can follow Blue on Facebook.com/Little Boy Blue Dog. I loved this book so much that I give it 5+++ stars!
(Gerard's review, rating 5+++ stars) Karen plans to read this one 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!

"One For The Murphys" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

One For the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt is about being someone’s hero and showing unconditional love. Although it is considered juvenile fiction, I really liked it! The main character, Carly, has been neglected and abused but finds a good foster home while her mother recovers from a beating she took from her husband. Julie Murphy, the foster home mother, is the wife of a fireman with three boys that shows kindness and love to Carly who doesn’t quite know what to make of it. This heart-warming book has humor, a good message, and is a touching quick read. It made even made me tear up at certain parts. If you like stories about kids and family, I recommend this one! It will tug at your heartstrings.
 (Karen's review, rating 5 stars)

Here's a trailer for the book:
(This is the author's debut novel, her first draft of it received the Tassy Walden Award for New Voices in Children's Literature.)


This book was recommended by I am a Reader, Not a Writer. 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!

We are linking this up to Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop in response to this prompt: Book Review time! Recommend a great book, perfect for these stormy fall days! We'd like for you to subscribe so you get all our reviews. Click the link to check out the other prompts and perhaps link up a post of your own.

Tuesday Teasers: A Thriller and Juvenile 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
• 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 doctor, his expression grim, wrote: I'm sorry. She wasn't as lucky as you.
More or less the same thing happened all over again, three weeks later and four hundred and fifty miles to the west, in Butternut Falls, Minnesota.

From page 14 of Shock Wave by John Sandford. (thriller)

Karen's:

"Why did you take me in, anyway?  I ask, unable to stand still and suddenly needing an answer.
"Well..." She sighs and puts her hands in her pockets.

 From page 33 of One For The Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. (Juvenile fiction--my review will be up tomorrow morning, great read!)

Spunky Doodle has a Monday Mischief post up on our other blog that she would like for you to see:

Happy Reading!

"Shock Wave" by John Sandford

Shock Wave by John Sandford is about a mad bomber who tries to stop the superstore chain, PyeMart, from being built. There is just enough action to keep you turning pages. I did not figure out the bomber's identity at all! It's a good read!
(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!

"Dancing Dogs" by Jon Katz

Dancing Dogs by Jon Katz has 16 short fiction stories all centered around dogs. Most of the stories are really, really good! I loved it! If you are a dog lover, I think you will love it too!  This book was recommended by People Magazine.
(Gerard's review, rating 5 stars)

Other books we read by this author and enjoyed: Dogs of Bedlam Farm and Rose in a Storm.


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 Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick (UPDATED)

After being on a long wait list at the library, Gerard finally got the DVD of this movie and we watched it last night.  It is about the beginning of films and people fulfilling their purpose.  It's a good movie we both enjoyed.
(Karen's review 10/6/12)

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick tells the story of a young boy, Hugo, who after his uncle leaves him takes care of the clocks at the Paris subway station.  However, this book is much more than that!  I just loved this book!!  The story is fantastic and the drawings in the book go with the story so well.  Now I want to go see the movie!  I now know why it was up for "Best Picture of the Year."  It's an amazing story!  If you saw the movie, tell me how you liked it!  This is in the running for my book of the month.
(Gerard's review 3/15/12)

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!

We are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs during March to the American Cancer Society.

"When Saturday Mattered Most" by Mark Beech

The Last Golden Season of Army Football

When Saturday Mattered Most--The Last Golden Season of Army Football by Mark Beech is a really good non-fiction account about the 1958 football season that Army had.  They went undefeated and finished as high as No. 3 in the final poll.  They haven't even come close since. I enjoyed the off-the-field accounts of the coach and players as much as the game by game recap.  If you love football, then it's a no-brainer that you should read this book!
(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!

What Do You Think of When You Hear the Word Plaid? (Writer's Workshop)

When I hear the word "plaid" I think of my dad because he ALWAYS wore plaid flannel shirts (except on Sundays to church).  

The Best Shirts Ever!

My dad loved flannel shirts with two front pockets and I don't think he threw any out. When I went through his closets after he died, he had three closets full of flannel shirts and some flannel lined shirts from L.L. Bean. He would wear these all yaar round, even on hot summer days! If he got paint on some, he'd still save those to wear the next time he painted.

My dad had so many shirts because he'd usually get flannel shirts for his birthday and Christmas. I found one still in the original plastic so used it to lay him out in for his funeral. He was never big on suits and I just thought he'd look more like himself in a flannel shirt. Here we found a picture of when he got that shirt which was about 20 years earlier! Who knows, maybe he meant to save that one for his funeral one day--sounds like something he'd do!

I gave most of them away but kept a few for my husband and me. It's really nice to have these because it makes me feel close to dad still when I wear one of his shirts. My husband discovered how nice they are too. He never used to wear flannel shirts but likes them a lot now, especially in the winter to wear to work. They are so comfortable!

One of the biggest fights my parents, thus most memorable, was over him stubbornly insisting that he wear a flannel shirt for the church directory picture.  I thought it was hilarious!  Here is the picture that we purchased which appeared in the church directory:

Read more about my dad and me at "My Funny Dad Harry" blog:  http://karenzemek.blogspot.com.  Better yet, purchase the book I wrote in him memory about my dad and me and how as he grew old, the frustrations about being his primary care giver and how our roles reversed.  (Available on Amazon and Barnes Noble)

Be sure to see what our cats wrote about this over at our other blog, Right Where We Belong. 
This post was inspired by Mama Kat's Writers Workshop prompt:  What comes to mind when you hear the word plaid?.  Stop by to find more or link up one of your own.

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!

"Love Anthony" by by Lisa Genova

WOW! Love Anthony by Lisa Genova is a fantastic book to start off the month. Love Anthony is told by two women, Olivia and Beth who are facing issues in their lives, one dealing with the death of a boy and the other with an unfaithful husband. I loved both women but not their husbands.

This is a really good book and hard to put down. I enjoyed Lisa’s other two books very much too (Still Alice and Left Neglected) and this one is just as good as those. Read and enjoy! I look forward to her next book!

(Gerard’s review, rating 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!

3 Tuesday Teasers For 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
• 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:

I can't touch Max, and Max can't touch me. Maybe that's why we get along so well.

From page 10 of memoirs of an imaginary friend by Matthew Dicks. This is a very unique book, click on link for our review.

A swirl of unexpected emotion courses through her.  She feels fear and fury, panic and humiliation.

From page 12 of Love Anthony by Lisa Genova.

Karen's:

The reader contemplated the blank text box on the computer screen, then began typing: "If you thought that night twenty years ago was bad, wait until you see what I have planned."

From page 6 of Never Tell by Alafair Burke. (The link will take you to Gerard's review.)

Happy Reading!

"The Prophet" by Michael Koryta

The Prophet by Michael Koryta is a novel about two brothers--one is a bail bondsman and the other coaches the local high school football team. When a young girl is killed, a girlfriend of one of the star football players, it brings back the night the sister of the two brothers was killed.

This is a really good "who done it?" The interaction between the two brothers held my interest and the ending was very good too with a great twist! I think if you read this book, you will be glad you did!
(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!

"Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend" by Matthew Dicks

Different, a Fun Read!

Memoirs of an imaginary friend by Matthew Dicks is told by Budo, the imaginary friend of a special needs boy named Max. I thought this book was fantastic! I got into it from page 1 and had a hard time putting it down. Budo tells the story very well and you're going to love Max! The ending is super good--you have to read this! I've read a lot of very good books this month, but this one is my favorite!
(Gerard's review, rating 5++ stars)

Karen's thoughts:
I started Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks and thought it was just too goofy with the "imaginary friend" telling the story. I read up to chapter 9 and thought, "Why am I wasting my time on this?" and decided to give it up and read something else--The Raven Boys. I liked that even less because it was about the supernatural, fortune telling and some crazy hunt for some old king from the past--it made no sense to me. So when my husband said how good this one was, I decided to go ahead and finish reading it. I'm glad I did because it did get better and I liked Max and Budo so was curious to see what would happen with them. Once I got past the absurdity of it and didn't take it so seriously, I enjoyed it. It reminded me of ROOM by Emma Donoghue a little bit.

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 Declare" by Joel Osteen

I Declare by Joel Osteen is a book of 31 short devotionals meant to encourage and empower the reader. The theme of the book is that our words have power so we should speak God’s truth and not speak negative thoughts that can take root. Rather than talk about our problems, we need to believe God and focus on Him and the truth of the Bible. The declarations are very encouraging and uplifting. I read this book in one day; however, it is meant to be read a chapter at a time each day.

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!

"Animals Welcome" by Peg Kehret

Love the Cover too--What a sweet, caring lady!

Animals Welcome--A Life of Reading, Writing, and Rescue by Peg Kehret is a delightful, heartwarming read that I recommend to any animal lover. This is a quick read about the different animals Peg rescued after building a cabin with her husband when they retired. I especially enjoyed reading about her cats, the wildlife and her interesting facts about some of the animals.

She has written lots of children’s books and is a warm and caring person that I would love to have for a friend. The author reminded me of my dad who also fed stray cats in the neighborhood and gave some a home to those willing to come inside. The difference is he didn’t give them the vet care she did. The quote that shows her love for the animals best is “’My hobby is rescuing cats, I said. ‘It’s no more expensive than playing golf or shopping.’”

Animals Welcome is definitely one of my favorite books I read this year! I look forward to reading her books that she co-authored with her cat, Pete in his memory: Trapped, The Stranger Next Door, and Spy Cat.

I discovered this book through The Conscious Cat 

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 Non-Fiction Teasers For 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
• 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:

Back on the Bainbridge, before the last shot rang out, Gary grabbed Musi and slammed him onto the deck.
"You're going to jail," he said. "Your buddies are dead. You're useless to me now."

From page 97 of No Easy Day--The Autobiography of a Navy Seal by Mark Owen with Kevin Maurer (click the link to see my review).

Karen's:

The trouble began immediately. The cats, who had gotten along splendidly when they were all outdoors together, were suddenly mortal enemies when they occupied the same house.

From page 6 of Animals Welcome by Peg Kehret. (My review will be up tomorrow--this animal lover loved it!)

Don't you find it interesting that God didn't form woman from the dust of the ground, as he did man and beast? No, woman was formed from man's side, demonstrating our commonality with men as human beings and yet our unique and separate creation as females.

From page 12 of The Power of a Positive Woman by Karol Ladd.


Happy Reading!

"No Easy Day" by Mark Owen with Kevin Maurer

No Easy Day--The Autobiography of a Navy Seal by Mark Owen is the true story of the killing of Osama Bin Laden and what a riveting tale it is! I got it done in just two days. Seal Team Six is awesome! I was impressed with all the training they go through. The last part about the operation that got Bin Laden is really something to read! Seal Team Six, I thank you for your service and God bless!
(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!

"I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had” by Tony Danza (UPDATED)

Update 9/22/12:
This non-fiction book was a whole lot better than I thought it would be! I always liked Tony Danza from his TV shows. In this book, it's the kids that steal the show. That's not to say that Danza isn't good, he is. I enjoyed this book very much—it made me realize how difficult teaching actually is. I sure wish I could have seen the A&E show about his class, but this book will have to do. Loved it! 
(Gerard's review, rating:  5+stars)

 
I’d Like to Apologize To Every Teacher I Ever Had—My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High by Tony Danza is an eye opening read that shows what a hard job teaching is. When pushing 60, Tony Danza realized he was running out of time and seriously considered a change of direction. He looked into Teach For America and found out that technically, he qualified. He was approached about making a reality TV show using his class which he and the school agreed to reluctantly. He made it clear there would not be a script to add drama. All he had to teach was one English class for a double period, but that was plenty challenge for him. He also assisted in rounding up students for class and was an assistant football coach. He said his year of teaching was the greatest year of his life because he learned more and worked harder than he ever had. As he engaged his students in learning, he won their respect and grew to really care about them as individuals. I loved the exuberance he felt at the end of the year.

Having been a substitute teacher myself and having taught Sunday School for many years, I really enjoyed this book. I liked how he actually went into what went on in his class and shared his innovative ideas as to how he tried to engage the students. I also liked seeing him grow as a teacher and gain the respect of not only the students, but also the veteran teachers and administrators. It is an inspiring read that anyone connected with education would probably enjoy.
(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!

"Light From a Distant Star" by Mary McGarry Morris

Coming-of-age story with family drama

Light From A Distant Star by Mary McGarry Morris is told by Nellie, a tween girl, who has an older step sister and a younger brother. Nellie tries to do the right thing which sometimes actually gets her into trouble. Her parents struggle financially and Nellie knows more than they give her credit for. When she becomes a star witness in a murder trial, she feels pressure not to tell the whole truth which she knows is wrong. I enjoyed this book very much because of all the interesting relationships Nellie had with a wide variety of characters including the bully, an unpopular girl, her family, her grouchy old sick grandfather, Max, the ex-con, and their tenant the stripper. I really liked the ending!  This reminded me of To Kill a Mocking Bird.
(Karen's review, my rating: 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!

"Kill You Twice" by Chelsea Cain

Kill You Twice by Chelsea Cain is a really good story that goes fast and that got my attention right away!  There is killing going on and the woman responsible for these kind of killings in the past is locked up.  Archie, the cop, now has to figure out who the killer is now.  I enjoyed it and loved the ending which is unbelievably good!

(Gerard’s review, my 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!

"Carnival of Souls" by Melissa Marr

Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr is a better than average story about three teens who have secrets:  two girls and one boy.  When the secrets are finally revealed, they don’t like each other.  I don’t think this book is for everyone since it’s about witches and daimons, but I enjoyed it and will be watching for the next book in the series to read.
(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!

Tuesday Teasers: A Non-fiction and a YA

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
• 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:

Instead, he took Mallory. With her daughter in his arms, he walked away, leaving her kneeling in the now-defunct daimon circle, hoping that she hadn't entered into a bargain worse than the one she was escaping.

From page 4 of Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr. (YA) (See my review tomorrow)

Karen's:

"I was a slacker, too. If there's one thing I want to do this year, it's try to reach the kids who remind me of me and wake them up so they don't make the same mistakes I did."

From page 31 of I'd Like to Apologize To Every Teacher I Ever Had--My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High by Tony Danza. (Non-fiction)

Happy Reading!

"You Don't Want To Know" by Lisa Jackson (UPDAATED)

You Don't Want To Know by Lisa Jackson is about an unbelievable dysfunctional family who lives in a big house on an island that is a house of horrors!  These people are nuts!  Poor Ave is devastated when her little 2-yr.-old boy, Noah, turns up missing after a family Christmas party.  Her memory is foggy and she was in a mental institution for awhile.  She feels in her heart that Noah is still alive after being gone for two years, but her family is convinced wandered off and drowned and tries getting Ava to face facts.  Ava, however, is determined to find her boy no matter what since his body was never found.

There are a lot of people in this book and as Ava tells the story through her eyes, she feels she can't trust anyone and I didn't know who she could trust either until I was over halfway through the book.  It seemed like there definitely was a conspiracy against her even though her family and relatives thought she was being paranoid.  This is an amazing story about betrayal, revenge and hatred with an exciting surprise ending.  I would make for good discussion for a book club. 
(Karen's review, rating 5 stars)

You Don't Want To Know by Lisa Jackson tells the story of Ava, who in her dreams hears her son, Noah, crying out.  Her son has been missing for two years.  Ava believes her son is out there somewhere, but gets no support from her husband, relatives or the hired hands who help run her island home. 

This book got a lot of hype about this being the "can't miss book of the summer" and I'm here to tell you that it is all true!  I couldn't put this book down once I started it.  It moves along and I was shocked as the details came out little by little to make for a great ending too!  Don't miss this one--it is SO Good!
(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!

"A Collie Rescue" by Lindsay Downs

A Collie Rescue by Emily Dahill is a good story about a woman who used to be a soldier in the army and is now homeless. I enjoyed how the main character in the story reacted to new people and new dogs. It is a quick read. I would have given it five stars if it were longer. This is the first book I ever read on Kindle, I prefer a book. It was only $1.99 and well worth that!
(Gerard's review, rating 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!

"Love and Respect" by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs A (UPDATED)

Want a better marriage?  Read this!

Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs is a pretty good book about the needs of a man and a woman in marriage.  I think no matter what stage your marriage is in, you will get some good advice to help improve your bond.  Some of the examples he uses are funny, but make the point.
(Gerard's review)

Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs is a helpful book for couples based on Biblical principles that he shares at Love and Respect conferences.  Throughout the book he includes letters and emails from men and women who tell how attending the conference made a difference in their lives as they put these things into practice. In a nutshell, husbands should love their wives as Christ loves the church and wives should respect their husbands because God commands them to do that.   A husband's deepest need is to be respected while the wife's deepest need is to be loved.  He also shares specific ways for doing just that and funny analogies to make his points.

It made me realize that I should treat my husband like a king if I want to be treated like a queen. I read this on my Kindle and highlighted quite a bit of things that stood out to me. I recommend it for any couple seeking to save their marriage or to just try to make a good marriage even better!
(Karen's review)

For a post about how we put concepts from this book into practice right away, see "He Said, She Said"

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!

"A Killing in the Hills" by Julia Keller

A Killing in the Hills by Julia Keller is a page turner with a very good ending. It tells how a killing in a small town puts a mother and her teenage daughter at odds. Both have secrets they do not wish to reveal. I got into this book very easily and it goes quick. I think the two subplots are just as good as the main story line. In short, this is as good as it gets. Read and enjoy!
(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!

"Don't Turn Around" by Michelle Gagnon

Noa and Peter are both on the run from the bad guys for different reasons. When they meet up and combine forces, Don't Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon really goes into over drive! WOW! I loved this book and was into it from page 1. There is plenty of good action, characters that I cared about and great story lines! What more could you ask for? I am definitely going to read the sequel.
(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: One Fiction, 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
• 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:

But the creature in front of Gregor rose at least four feet in the air. Granted, it was sitting up on its back legs, a very unnatural-looking position for a cockroach, but still . . .

From page 25 of Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins.

Karen's:

Often, we focus on our own needs and simply overlook the needs of the other person.  The wife needs love; she is not trying to be disrespectful.  The husband needs respect; he is not trying to be unloving.

From page 32 of Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs.

Happy Reading!

"Gregor The Overlander" by Suzanne Collins

I know I'm late to the dance reading Gregor The Overlander by Suzanne Collins. It came out in 2003. That being said, I liked it! Gregor and his baby sister, Boots, fall into a strange land where they meet talking bats, spiders and where rats rule! If you can deal with that, then you probably would like this. Hunger Games it's not, not by a long shot, but the last 100 pages really pick up. It's a fun read written for kids.
(Gerard's review, rating 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!

"Lead For God'Sake! by Todd G. Congwer--Must Read!

Great Gift for Any Coach--Good addition to any library!

Lead...for God'Sake! by Todd G. Congwer is a quick inspirational read about a coach struggling with his basketball team who gets advice from Joe, the school janitor.  Joe had a personal ministry of counseling and I liked how the author used his conversations to get his point across to the reader.  This book is philosophical about finding true purpose in life and influencing others based on scripture.  It's about being selfless rather than self-centered.  It's a wonderful example of what a true Christian looks like who is a genuine follower of Christ. 

I enjoyed reading it and agreed with the Christian view about living one's life.  I took a lot of notes from this one and would be a great one to add to my library.  It reminded me a little bit of The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and Leading With The Heart by Mike Kryzewski, which I loved!  I highly recommend it!  I think anyone would benefit from reading this book, parent, employer, employee, teacher, coach etc.
(Karen's review, rating:  5 stars)

Gerard's review, rating 5++ stars:

Lead For God's Sake by Todd G. Congwer is a must read!  Wow, oh Wow!  What an outstanding book!  I got the idea to order this book from reading an article about Urban Meyer, the new Ohio State football coach.  He mentioned that he loved this book and so did I!  It tells the story of a frustrated high school basketball coach having trouble both with his team and his home life.  He gets help from the most unlikely person you would imagine. 

The ending was great, but I hated to see it end.  This is a must read for all coaches and people in leadership roles.  I feel real good knowing Urban Meyer is the OSU football coach now--go bucks!


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!

"Wake" by Amanda Hocking--Fun Fantasy

Want to be a Mermaid?

Wake by Amanda Hocking is fun fantasy read that I enjoyed. This teen romance is the first book in the Watersong series. Gemma and her sister, Harper, live in a tourist town near the ocean. Gemma loves swimming so much that she not only is practicing every day for the Olympics but also goes on midnight swims in the bay which drives her older protective sister nuts. Gemma starts falling in love with the geeky boy next door but three creepy girls who come through town choose Gemma to become like them because of her beauty, courage and love of the water.

This would be a good book to choose for a beach read—light, humorous but with adventure and some suspense. I think swimmers would especially find it interesting. I look forward to the next book in this series called Lullaby coming out winter of 2013.
(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. Happy Reading!

"Infinity Ring: A Mutiny in Time" by James Dashner

Infinity Ring—A Mutiny in Time by James Dashner is a really good story about time travel.  Dak, Sera and Riq go back in time to make sure history stays as it should.  This book dealt with Columbus and is the first one in what is going to be a series.  I enjoyed 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!