The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Mass is Fantastic! (UPDATED)

Here is my Booktube spoiler free review of Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas:

The Assassisn’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas is amazing! It has action, betrayal, romance, humor, and shows a softer, caring side of Celaena that I wish I had known going into the Throne of Glass series. This book is about two assassins, Celaena and Sam, who like each other in spite of being competitors. We also see Hamel Arobynn’s dark, cruel, mean side--he's a real scumbag. There are five novellas that comprise this book that were all very good. I particularly liked the first three better than the last two just because the last two are so heartbreaking and so sad. After reading this book, I like Celaena even more than I already did.

This book is a page turner that had me from start to finish. I liked this one even more than those I’ve read in The Throne of Glass series because this book does not have any magic in it, just action and a lot of character development. I enjoyed this book very much and wish I had read it before starting the series so I knew Celaena better. I think Celaena and Sam should have went back to the Red Desert and worked for the mute assassin when they decided to leave Arobynn. In the second story about the healer, I found the self-defense lesson by Celaena very interesting and liked how she was willing to train Yrene, the barmaid at the White Pig Inn, how to defend herself. In the third story, Celaena finally finds a friend in Ansel and has some fun for a change. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy adventure, action, and well developed interesting character interaction. 
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Mass is made up of five short stories that give background on Celaena, the main character in The Throne of Glass series.  This collection could have easily been a novel because the stories follow in chronological order.  The three big things I got out of this book were:  (1)  I got to see a different side of Celaena; (2) Got to know Sam and about his relationship with Celaena; and (3) got to know more about Arobynn Hamel (the guy who trained her to be an assassin).

Wow!  This book is fantastic!  The stories are very good and filled with twists and turns.  I LOVED IT A LOT!  I would recommend reading this first before the Throne of Glass series although I didn't do it that way and still enjoyed it.  I just think reading this one first would give you helpful background on Celaena going into the next books.
(Gerard's review 7/22/15, 5 stars)

Review of the previous books in this series:
Throne of Glass
Crown of Midnight
Heir of Fire

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!

Booktube Read-a-Thon is here!

This sounds so much fun, plus they have daily fun challenges as well with chances to win free books!  Today's is to create a reenactment of a scene from a book that is less than a minute long.  I wish I was on vacation this week so I could fully participate, but I will try to do as much as I can in spite of my full-time job.  You are allowed to use one book to combine several challenges if you need to such as reading a book with blue on the cover that is also a book you really want to read.  For me that is The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas.

CAN YOU COMPLETE THE CHALLENGES?!

The challenges:
1// Read a book with blue on the cover
2// Read a book by an author who shares the same first letter of your last name
3// Read someone else's favourite book
4// Read the last book you acquired
5// Finish a book without letting go of it
6// Read a book you really want to read
7// Read seven books

Check out the video that explains this: https://youtu.be/y2qxJhU5GPs

Follow BookTubeAThon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/booktubeathon

Anyone else doing this?  I look forward to watching the scene reenactments!  

Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday - Three

Gerard's:

The actual truth was bad enough.  Vickler knew he wasn't coming down again.

From page 16 of Brutal Youth by Anthony Breznican.

All this scuttles through my mind in the split second I wonder what to do.  Help the girl.  Get on the train.

From page 13 of Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica.

Karen's: 

Celaena took the barmaid into the alley, if only because she didn't want to wake the other inn guests and get into yet another fight.  She didn't really know why she'd offered to teach her to defend herself.

From page 104 of The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.

Happy Reading!

"Every Last Word" by Tamara Ireland Stone - Two Different Takes On This One

Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone is about Samantha, a popular high schooler.  She hangs around with a popular group of girls that she has been with since kindergarten with a secret that she has kept hidden all this time.  What that is you will have to read this book to find out.  She gets an urge to leave the group, but does she have the courage?

WOW!  This book was really good!  I thought all the characters were well developed and got into it very quickly.  I really liked Samantha, the main character.  I did not see the twist coming at all and the ending was fantastic!  A must read!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)


Karen read it too (2 stars):
I was not as impressed with Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone as my husband was.  It is realistic contemporary YA fiction about Samantha, a popular high school girl who loves swimming, the number 3 and struggles with obsessing thoughts because of OCD.  Through regular visits with her therapist and medication, she begins to make some changes in her life but still wonders if she is crazy.

I thought this was okay but didn't have much action or plot to it, other than Samantha learning to cope better with OCD by changing friends and writing poetry.  It does give some insight as to what OCD is like and it was inspirational when she experienced some small victories along the way. This book is mostly about friendship and accepting yourself for who you are.  Compared to the fun, fantasy page turners that I've been reading, this one just seemed to fall a bit flat.  I thought the unexpected "twist" was kind of dopey.

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!

Teaser Tuesday--Four

Gerard's:

"I hid in the bathtub until help came.  A cop shot one of my dogs."

From page 13 of The Hand that Feeds You by A. J. Rich. (Click link for review)

When I just stared at him, he said, "For having the nerve to request where I slaughter you, I'll let you in on a secret, human:  Prythian must claim your life in some way, for the life you took from it.  So as a representative of the immortal realm, I can either gut you like swine, or . . . you can cross the wall and live out the remainder of your days in Prythian."

From page 37 of TA Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.

Still, I can hear this one thought hiding in the dark corners of my mind.  It doesn't attack like the others.

From page 9 of Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone.

Karen's: 

"No, tomorrow you won't."  In a move quick and precise, the sword cut the air, blood sprayed my horse's mane, and the man's head toppled to the ground.

From page 276 of The Heart of Betrayal (The Remnant Chronicles--Book 2) by Mary E. Paerson.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.

Happy Reading!

"The Hand That Feeds You" by A. J. Rich

The Hand That Feeds You by A. J. Rich is about a lady named Morgan.  She is living with her fiance named Bennet and her dogs.  One day she comes home and her fiance is dead.  it looks like her dogs did it, but has a hard time accepting that.  On further investigation it turns out the name of her fiance was false and this man has a history of wrong doing.

This is a real page turner that I enjoyed.  I loved how the dogs were kept in the story for almost the whole book!  (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!

Teaser Tuesday

Gerard's:

Joe's body jumped as if he'd been given a jolt of electricity.  An alarm sounded.  Code blue.

From page 49 of Invasion of Privacy by Christopher Reich. (Click link for review)

She removed the dagger from his throat, using the blade to brush back a strand of his dark hair.  "I have my sources."

From page 72 of The Assassin's Blade (Throne of Glass Novellas) by Sarah J. Maas.

Karen's: 

"I don't think you particularly want to see how angry and vicious and awful I am underneath."  

"Go ahead and be as nasty as you want, Princess, because I've been ten times as nasty, for ten times longer than you've been alive."

 From page 89 of Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas.

Every day I would come home and see her shadow.  It's what gave me hope that one day we would be able to be together:  the fact that she still thought about me.

From page 25 of Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.

Happy Reading!

"Invasion of Privacy" by Christopher Reich

Invasion of Privacy by Christopher Reich is told by Mary.  Her husband, Joe, worked for the FBI and was killed.  End of story.   BUT, Mary believes it is not that simple and wants to know why the cover up?  This book is a page turner.  I got into it early on and the story line is good and very believable.  I liked all the characters too.  Read this, you'll be glad you did!
(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!

"Heir of Fire" by Sarah J. Maas (Updated)

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas is the third book in the Throne of Glass series so read the first two first!  In this book, you will be introduced to yet more new characters.  My favorite is Rowan and hope he is a main character now.  Of course, we get more of Chaol, Dorian and Celaena.  This series seems to get better and better with each book!  This is another action packed book full of twists and turns that I didn't want to put down with a fantastic ending!  I want more, Wow!  Can't wait to read the next one in this series!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Karen's review:
I thought this book started out very slow and was very confusing but the second part really picked up and got very good.  Things I liked about it are:  Celaena learning to use and control her magic fire power, Manon training Abraxos, her wyver and how they sort of bond, Rowan finally being nice to Celaena and them fighting together, Celaena's confrontation with her Aunt Maeve when she demonstrates her power, the showdown with the King at the end and Chaol still protecting Celaena's dog, Fleetwood. 

I think I'm probably the only person who liked the first two books better than this one.  I am looking forward to continuing on with this series because there are enough characters that I like and want to see how it all turns out.

Here are my two favorite quotes from this book:

The witch, Manon, trying to get her vicious wyver, Abroxos, to eat meat:

"He moved to sniff some white-and-yellow flowers.
A nightmare.  this was a nightmare.  "You can't really like flowers."
Again those dark eyes shifted to her.  Blinked once.  I most certainly do, he seemed to say." p. 261

Aelin to Rowan at the end when arguing about her plan of action:

"And, just like I said, magic doesn't work there anymore.  you'd be trapped in that form.  Though I do hear that Rifthold rats are particularly delicious, if you want to eat them for months." p. 560

Review of the previous books in this series:
Throne of Glass
Crown of Midnight

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!

"Crown of Midnight" by Sarah J. Maas with Discussion Video

Both my husband and I are reading this series now, he is reading the book first and then I am reading it so be sure to come back and see my review of the book too.

Here's Gerard's review:
This is the second book in The Throne of Glass series which is action packed!  There is so much going in in this second book!  Celaena is such a bad ass, I love her!  She knows what she is and is not afraid of anyone and makes it clear she is not one to mess with.  The characters of Dorian and Chaol are further developed and some new ones are added.  We learn a lot more in this book than in the first.  Loved this book a lot!  On to book 3--Heir of Fire.
(5++ stars)

(Karen's review, 5 stars)
In Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas, there are a few more characters introduced and lots of action.  Celaena plays a dangerous game making the king think she is following his orders when she isn't really.  She continues to pursue her own agenda, to find his secret power source and to seek revenge.  There are quite a few scenes I liked a lot including some with Chaol, Dorian, the king, assassinations and her dog, Fleetfoot.  I am still pulling for Chaol in the love triangle.  A couple of her secrets are revealed in this book too!

I liked the humor in this book and the fighting she does seemed justified to me.  She is very clever but way more curious than I would be.  Can't picture me wandering through dark secret passageways below a castle alone!  This is one brave girl!  I also like how Chaol is always willing to protect her and help her anyway he can.  There were lots of things I especially liked in this book but don't want to be more specific to spoil it for you.  Read it and discover the mysteries for yourself! 

Here is a discussion video on this book that Gerard and I did on our front porch yesterday:

See our reviews of the first book in this series:  Throne of Glass.

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!

"Arena Mode" by Blake Northcutt

image from Amazon

Arena Mode by Blake Northcutt is the first in a series of fantasy novels around 2041.  This is about Mox, a superhero comic collector genius with a photographic memory, a cancerous brain tumor, and a couple good friends who convince him to enter the Arena Mode contest held in Manhattan, NY to get enough money for the surgery he needs to remove the tumor.  He has no faith in God or anything, and is solely focused on playing the odds which have paid off for him in winning lots of money gambling.  The contest is only for superpower humans, so he has to sneak in by faking a superpower to get the attention of the guy who gives out the invitations to participate.

The majority of this book is the actual contest involving a lot of fighting. During the contest, Mox discovers what is really important to him and fights to survive by out thinking his opponents and getting some help along the way.  I was interested to see how this guy with no superpowers was going to survive against the others who all had superpowers which was pretty fascinating.  I think the theme is about being a superhero by making a difference, but it wasn't all that clear.  Overall, the book is pretty gruesome, corny and unbelievable with a surprise ending I didn't like.   This is not a series I intend to pursue.
(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!

Teaser Tuesday

Gerard's:

It's impossible for me to make the connection between who I am now and who I was then--as if I died long ago in that town and resurrected somewhere else, with a brain full of another girl's memories.

Except that I miss my father.

From page 19 of When We Were Animals by Joshua Gaylord. (Click link for review)

Celaena reached a gloved hand into the sack and tossed the severed head toward him.  No one spoke as it bounced, a vulgar thudding of stiff and rotting flesh on marble.

From page 6 of Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas.

Karen's: 

Even Harry, Ron, and Hermione had misgivings.  The hippogriffs were tossing their fierce heads and flexing their powerful wings; they didn't seem to like being tethered like this.

 From page 115 of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling.

As I looked down my nose at mindless consumerism, I had to stop and remind myself that I was participating in a glorified reality show--a show where contestants signed a contract, agreeing to kill each other for obscene piles of cash.  As far as entertainment goes, it doesn't get any more mindless.

From page 161 (location 2164 on Kindle) of Arena Mode by Blake Northcott. (Review goes up tomorrow--loved it!)


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.

Happy Reading!

Things on My Bookshelves That Aren't Books

What's on your shelf that aren't books?  I have lots more things, but since this is a Top 5 Wednesday tag, we only get to pick five things.

"When We Were Animals" by Joshua Gaylord

When We Were Animals by Joshua Gaylord is told by Lumen, part of it as she was growing up and part as a married woman.  Where she lived growing up, teenagers did something as a rite of passage that you will have to read the book to find out exactly what that was.

I really loved this book!  The story line was good and I thought the characters were well brought out.  It kept my interest throughout with a good twist at the end I did not see coming.  This is 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!

"Ruby (Dakota Treasures-Book 1)" by Lauraine Snelling if a Fun Read

Don't know why libraries can't put their stickers on the back!

Ruby by Lauraine Snelling is a good read about Ruby and her younger sister Opal (9 yrs. Old) who move to the Dakota territory from the east when their father sends for them just before he dies to give them their inheritance. It’s hardly a town at all with just a saloon/brothel, the Dove House that they inherit and another saloon, small store and a few other buildings. No sheriff, no children, no school, no church. The father’s dying wish was that Ruby would take care of the girls. She promised him she would before she finds out that they are prostitutes. Ruby is very uptight about everything and Opal is fun loving, friendly and adventurous. Ruby decides to stay only because she promised her father so decides to discontinue serving liquor, and the brothel, changing it into a respectable hotel that serves food and coffee. She agreed to permit the card room to stay open for gambling certain hours and let Belle run it.

I enjoyed this book very much because it was interesting to see how Ruby persuaded the others in the business to stay on and help change things. I liked Opal better than Ruby. I didn’t understand why Ruby did not pray more in this Christian fiction book than she did when she kept running into so many problems and challenges. It seemed she just complained a lot, yelled a lot and bossed people around, expecting Charlie to take care of everything. If you like historical fiction, I would recommend this book. Although it is classed as Christian fiction, I didn’t really find all that much Christianity in 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!

"Bobby Wonderful--An Imperfect Son Buries His Parents" by Bob Morris

Bobby Wonderful by Bob Morris is a non-fiction memoir.  Mr. Morris tells what he and his family went through as their mom and dad lived their final days.  I am sure this book will resonate with the older crowd that went through this time in their life too.  This is an emotional book that is 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!

"Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas is a Must Read if you like Fantasy! (UPDATED)

We both liked this one! 
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is a mix of fantasy, mystery, competition, relationships, survival, royalty and friendship. Celaena, a famous teen assassin, who was betrayed and worked in a death camp as a slave in salt mines is chosen by Prince Dorien to participate in a contest that could give her freedom. If she wins, she would have to serve the king as his Champion assassin for four years and then she would be free. Celaena is brave, confident, determined, skilled, snarky and feisty. She is housed in the castle and finds a secret passage into tunnels that lead her to trouble!

I am so glad I read this book and look forward to continuing in the series! The characters are interesting and I really like Celaena, Nehemia, Chaol—captain of the guard and Prince Dorien. I didn’t dislike Cain until well into the book but disliked Kaltain and Duke Pellington right from the start. This book kept my interest from start to finish and I found myself chuckling and cheering. I would have preferred the final duel to be a clean fight but I still liked the ending. Nor did I care for the otherworld stuff; however, the action, Celaena and her relationships with Chaol, Dorien, Nehemia and Kaltain more than made up for it. This is a really good story I recommend to anyone who enjoys a bit of fantasy.
(Karen's review, 4 stars because I hear the next book in this series is even better!)


Gerard's review:

Throne of Glass is a YA novel about a young girl named Celaena.  She has been trained to be an assassin and is "the best."  Unfortunately for her, she is captured and put in a death camp.  However, when the king decides that he wants his own assassin to work for him, he runs a contest.  His son frees Celaena to enter the contest and maybe a chance to be free IF she wins.

This is an outstanding read; I LOVED IT!   Celaena is a great character and I was quickly on her side!  This has plenty of action and the other characters are really interesting too.  It almost goes without saying that the story line is superb!  This is a MUST READ and I will be reading the next book in this series soon.  This is going to be hard to beat for my "book of the month"--it's fantastic!
(Gerard's review 7/3/15, 5++ stars)

Here is a video of Gerard and me discussing this book on our front porch:

See our Crown of Midnight review and discussion video.

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!

"More Happy Than Not" by Adam Silvera

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera is a YA novel told by a young teen boy named Aaron.  He is having problems figuring out who he is exactly and he does not have his dad to go to because his dad committed suicide.  Poor Aaron thinks he is the cause of that!

I enjoyed this book.  It covers a lot of modern-day issues and all the characters were very well developed. 
(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!

Teaser Tuesdays: Four Today

Gerard's:

Under a black-purple sky, a chariot is drawn by six angels harnessed like horses.  Blood and sweat stream down their shoulders and chests where the harness cuts into them.

From page 33 of End of Days by Susan Ee.

"I'm spending the night at Genevieve's.  Tell Mom I'm at Brendan's playing some new game or something."

From page 21 of More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera.

Karen's: 

"I demand to know," she began, but the Captain of the Guard pulled her back from the prince with spine-snapping force.  "I wasn't going to kill him, you buffoon."

 From page 12 of Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.  (Click link for Gerard's review.)

One of the most important things you can do as a leader is to develop other leaders.  Those leaders will affect hundreds, if not thousands, of other people.

From page 4 of Leadership Lessons from West Point edited by Major Doug Crandall.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.

Happy Reading!

"Leadership Lessons from West Point" Can Apply to Leadership in General

Leadership Lessons from West Point is written by different Army officers who have had actual battle experience in leading men. It is actually a textbook that is well organized and addresses many different aspects of effective leadership. I must admit I did not read the entire book word for word because it nicely set off main points of each topic. I read those main points and if it was related to something that I felt would be helpful to me as a Sunday School teacher or volunteer coach, I read those entire passages. After reading Hope Unseen about an army officer who became blind due to a war bomb in Iraq and eventually got a teaching position at West Point, I wanted to read this book to see more of what West Point cadets were taught about leadership.
(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!

"End of Days" by Susan Ee is a Great Finish to a Great Series!

End of Days by Susan Ee is book 3 and the last of the angel series which I loved! All three books in this series are very good! In this last book, Penryn and Raffe are on the run with a lot of twists and turns to come before the last part of the book that covers the final battle between angels and humans.

There is plenty of action in this one which made me enjoy it a lot! It’s a great series that has a really good ending. Super job, Miss Ee! I look forward to your next project.
 (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

The first book in this series is Angelfall and the second is World After.


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!

"An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo is Historical Fiction

An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo is an interesting read.  First off, it is told by a lady in a nursing home to one of the nurses and her son who visits her.  She is looking back to when she was 16 and telling the story about how they had an elephant in their garden during World War II and their walk across Germany to avoid the bombing of their city, Dresden.

I loved War Horse so when I found out Michael Morpurgo wrote this book too, I was eager to read it.  It is quite a story and I loved how it was told.  Although it is fiction, it is based to actual people and events.  This book has adventure and a bit of romance.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Here is the link to the actual story this book is based on:  Story of how Belfast Zoo's Baby Elephant Was Kept In Backyard of Home During Second World War Blitz to be Made into Film

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!

"A Monster Calls" by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is a YA story about a 13-yr.-old boy, Conor, whose dealing with anger issues and fear of his mother dying of Cancer. His parents are divorced, and his dad remarried and now lives in America while Conor lives in England.

I didn’t really care much for this book because the Monster that appeared to Conor to help him accept the loss of his mother seemed real; however, that made no sense.  I thought it was a dumb book but read it because I heard so many recommend it on YouTube.  It is sad and has a realistic fantasy feel to it.  I really thought the cover was well done.
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Ask the Dark" by Henry Turner is Very Good!

Ask the Dark by Henry Turner is told by Billy, a young boy who lives by his own rules.  When his dad needs a lot of money, Billy buckles down and comes up with a plan to get it that puts him in real danger.  Does he pull it off?

This book is short and goes quick but is good.   I enjoyed it right off the bat and was into it.  Billy is a great character and a debut book by this author!  It's very well done, worth reading and 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!

Teaser Tuesday: Four Today

Gerard's:

That was just mine, and no one had ever looked at it before, not even Miss Eveline at school.  Stupid, I told myself, with every push of the pedals.

From page 16 of Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff.

This the same day the letter came, but I weren't home then.  I was feeling too riled to go home 'cause I seen Tommy Evans, found him, I mean, though I never told it till now, 'cause wouldn't you'f wondered why I was in them woods so early in the first place?

From page 16 of Ask the Dark by Henry Turner.

Karen's: 

I want so badly to tell her the truth, but I also know that the truth won't make things any better between us than they are now.  The truth makes less sense than the lie, and I don't even know which on I should go with anymore.

 From page 104 of Confess by Colleen Hoover.

Rand touched a finger to his forehead and headed out the door, settling his hat on his head as he went.  Change was coming to the Little Muddy, and a certain young blond woman was at the heart of it, whether she wanted to be or not.

From page 123 (Loc. 1908 on Kindle) of Ruby (Dakotah Treasures Book 1) by Lauraine Snelling.

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

"Lost in the Sun" by Lisa Graff

Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff is about a young teen boy named Trent and a girl named Fallon.  They share one thing in common that binds them together.  What that is, I'm not saying.  You'll have to read the book to find out.  I liked this book well enough enjoying both the main characters.  The story line is good, but not great.  The book has a good flow to it and I was never bored with it.  I think it is worth reading.
(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!

Children's Picture Book Standings (Vacation Reading)

Knowing I would be busy working in Sports Focus Camp at Parma Heights Baptist church this week, I knew I wouldn't get much reading done so stocked up on some short children's books I could easily read in just a few minutes.  Here is my report on the ones I read going from best to last (in my opinion):

1st place:  Don't throw It To Moe by David A. Adler (Penguin Young Readers level 2)
I really liked this book a lot!  It is about a little kid who loves football even though he is small, gets teased and doesn't get much playing time.

2nd place:  Miss Hazeltine's Home for Shy and Fearful Cats by Alicia Potter, illustrated by Birgitta Sif
This is another very good picture book with an interesting story line as well about cats.  The most timid cat of all finds inner courage when it counts.  The illustrations are very good!  My cats voted this their favorite because of the plot with the timid cat becoming courageous.

3rd place:  How Many Cats by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by Robin Eley
This is a fun book that encourages counting and subtracting with very good pictures of cats to count doing all sorts of things.  I liked the pictures, trying to find all the cats, and the rhyming of the words.  My cats liked this book too because of the good cat pictures and the writing.

4th place:  Castle Life by Laura Durman
I liked this one next because I enjoy the medieval period with castles and knights.  This is a non-fiction book geared to children with colorful pages and short fact boxes throughout.  It gives lots of information and I found it interesting.

5th place:  Look by by Jeff Mack
This is amazing writing because he tells the story with just two words!  It's a funny book about a boy glued to the TV and his gorilla who tries to get his attention.  I don't want to give away the ending so won't say any more, but it's cute with great pictures on every page!

6th place: Cat and Mouse by Ian Schoenherr
This is about the relationship between a cat and a mouse.  The mouse gives tips on how to get along with a cat in a fun way.

7th place:  Bandit's Surprise by Karen Rostoker-Gruber, illustrated by Vincent Nguyen
I didn't care too much for this one because it is sad.  The first cat resents the new kitten which is normal but then the cat ran away and I didn't like that part at all.

8th place: How to Catch a MOUSE by Philippa Leathers
Neither my cats nor I cared much for this one because it made the cat be stupid and it was way too silly and demeaning to cats.

9th place:  War Dogs:  Churchill and Rufus by Kathryn Selbert
This is a non-fiction children's picture book about Winston Churchill and his dog before, during and after World War II.  I thought it was boring.

10th place:  If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss
I guess I was so disappointed in this book that I ranked it last.  It made absolutely no sense whatsoever and puts down zoos.  Didn't care for the drawings or the writing in this.

These were fun, quick reads that I got from the children's section at the library.

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!

"Confess" by Colleen Hoover (Updated)

Confess by Colleen Hoover is told from two points of view--Auburn and Owen.  Auburn is a young teen girl and Owen is a 21-yr-old man.  They both have secrets and if they confess them, it could break apart their relationship.

I loved this book!  The characters are really good.  The story was good too, a real page turner with an excellent twist at the very end which is fantastic!  This was the first book I read by Colleen Hoover, but it sure will not be the last!
(Gerard's review 6/25/15, 5++ stars)

Karen read this too:
Confess by Colleen Hoover is a contemporary romance about Owen, an artist who does paintings inspired by anonymous confessions that people leave on notes for him at his studio. One day Auburn shows up the day of a showing who he hires to collect the money and is impressed with her interest in his paintings and her salesmanship skills. She looks familiar to him and they hit it off. Both Owen and Auburn have secrets that test their relationship when they are revealed.

I enjoyed this love story because I really liked Adam and Owen and found myself pulling for Owen throughout the book. I didn’t care at all for Trey, the cop, right from the start and was very pleased with the ending. The only thing I didn’t really care for was the quickness of the physical relationship between Owen and Auburn. This book deals with drug issues, domestic violence, jealousy, love and sacrifice, and a mother’s fight for custody of her child. It also has some humor related to a cat that made me like Owen right off.
(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!

"Slammed" by Colleen Hoover Was Better Than Expected! (UPDATED)

Slammed by Colleen Hoover is about an 18-yr.-old girl, Layken, who grows a lot in just a year. She has a lot of drama going on her senior year including her father’s death, moving, romance, lung cancer and caring for her 9-yr.-old brother. That’s half the story, with the other half being about her 21-yr.-old neighbor across the street named Will and his 9-yr.-old brother. Will’s parents both died in a car accident and Will became his younger brother’s legal guardian. He is working towards a teaching job but then falls for Layken.

This book just drew me in very quickly and deals with heavy issues in such an interesting way. It is packed with feeling and mostly good advice that is given through Will and Layken’s mother, Julia. I was both amused by funny things that happened and touched by some tender parts. I even cried at one part involving Layken’s best friend, Eddie. One of the themes is poetry-what it is and why write it. This is the first book I read by this author and look forward to reading more.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

Gerard read this too--here's his review:
This YA novel is about a young girl named Layken (Lake).  Her mom, younger brother and her move from Texas to Michigan.  Her dad passed away.  She meets a young man named Will.  His younger brother  connect right off, but does Layken and Will connect?

This is an outstanding read because all emotions are at play here.  You feel connected to the characters very quickly.  This is a page turner I loved!  The good news is that there is a follow up book that I will read too.  (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!

Teaser Tuesday-Three Today

Gerard's:

I stop fighting it with those words.  I fist his shirt in my hands and begin to sob against his chest while he holds me.

From page 10 of Confess by Colleen Hoover.

Karen's: 

I slowly round the front of the U-Haul, holding my arms out in front of me, when I notice someone grasping my brother and his new friend by the collars of their shirts.
"Get 'em!" The stranger yells as he holds the two screaming boys.

 From page 10 of Slammed by Colleen Hoover.

Whatever made me think we should come out here like this?  We are on the verge of nowhere, no father, an enterprises that is feeling shadier by the minute, people who really don't want us here, people of questionable moral fiber, a town--She snorted at that thought, which made for a syncopation in the pounding of her head.

From page 83 (Loc. 1268 on Kindle) of Ruby (Dakotah Treasures Book 1) by Lauraine Snelling.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.

Happy Reading!

"Lost No More" by CeeCee James

Lost No More (Ghost no More series) by CeeCee James is based on her husband’s true story about a boy growing up with an alcoholic father and how their relationship changed over the years. It is a touching story about the complicated feelings between a father and son. This was an interesting read that I enjoyed. I really liked the ending.
(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!

"Every Fifteen Minutes" by Lisa Scottoline

In Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline, the main character, Dr. Eric Parrish, works in a psychiatric unit.  He is recently divorced but that is the least of his problems.  As his problems pile up, he is treating a young boy named Max (a teen sociopath with OCD) that presents him with a whole new set of problems. 

You usually can't go wrong with Lisa's books; however, I thought this book kind of dragged in certain parts.  the two separate stories are okay but not exactly page turners.  This book is readable, but not one of her best.
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Books I Finished in One Sitting (or close)

I did this video for Top 5 Wednesdays, a Goodreads group.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on it and what books you finished in just one sitting (or close) in a comment.  Hope you will check out my YouTube channel.

Have you read any of these? What did you think? 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!

"What the Dog Said" by Randi Reisfeld

What the Dog Said by Randi Reisfeld is a fun little YA read about a 13-yr-old girl, Grace, who is grieving the death of her father who was a cop and was shot on his way to her softball game. When they go to pick out a shelter dog to train as a service dog, she pics a mutt named Rex who actually talks to her! The plan was for her sister to be able to write about training a service dog for her college entrance essay. When Grace hears the dog talk, she wonders if she’s going crazy, but Rex helps her resolve the mystery of who shot her dad and helps her through a difficult time.

This is a good story about doing the right thing even if it’s hard. It’s a quick, enjoyable read that also shows what service dogs get trained to do and the different people service dogs can help—they are not only for the blind!
(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!

"Finders Keepers" by Stephen King is a GREAT READ!

Finders Keepers by Stephen King is listed as one of PEOPLE Magazine's best books of the summer and they are right! 

Morris Bellamy loves the main character in his favorite author's books.  The author has not come out with a new book in years, and Morris is upset and decides to take matters in his own hands.  Morris kills his favorite author, steals some of his money and the notebooks that contain some unpublished work and hides the money and notebooks before he gets jailed and sentenced to life.  When he is paroled 35 years later, he cannot find either the money or the notebooks.  Who took them?  What did they do with them?   Does Morris come after whoever took them?

This is a great read, I LOVED IT from the start and it got better as it went along.  Vintage King! This is the sequel to Mr. Mercedes which I also liked.
(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!

Teaser Tuesday: 5 Today!

Gerard's:

I was shot or tried to harm myself.  My ear is gone.

From page 16 of Remember Mia by Alexandra Burt.

Better than cancer or Alzheimer's, that prime horror of anyone who has spent his life making a living by his wits.  Of course there would be headlines, and I'd gotten plenty of those even before that damned Time story . . . but if he pulls the trigger, I won't have to read them.

From page 27 of Finders Keepers by Stephen King.

Karen's: 

"Did you hear that?" I asked Regan.

"She didn't," the dog assured me, standing now, his tail wagging like a hairy propeller.

 From page 5 of What the Dog Said by Randi Reisfeld.

I'd hardly nodded before he gave the sled a huge push.  To say that we flew down the hill on that old coffee table balanced on skis, would be an understatement.

From page 68 (Loc. 689 on Kindle) of Lost No More by Cee Cee James.

We are dependent on God and dependent on one another.  I just couldn't see it until I was blind.

From page 14 of Hope Unseen--The Story of the U.S. Army's First blind Active-Duty Officer by Captain Scotty Smiley with Doug Crandall.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.

Happy Reading!

Military Books for Flag Day Video

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading! Subscribe to my YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/user/kzemek

"The Cage" by Megan Shepherd was a bit Disappointing

The Cage by Megan Shepherd is about six teens snatched from earth and plopped into some space station called “the Cage” to be studied and tested, kind of like lab rats. Their habitat consists of a desert, a farm, a jungle, an ocean, and a town with fake buildings that has things similar to those on earth but from different time periods. There are black screens everywhere so they can be watched and only three rules.

I liked the premise, but was disappointed in the ending and felt betrayed just as the characters did. Cora, a 16-yr-old girl who is a senator’s daughter did not appeal to me and was the main character. The others were Rolf, Nok, Mali, Leon and Lucky. This science fiction/fantasy novel is about manipulation, the fight for humanity, some romance and betrayal.

I liked it okay in that it kept my interest and I did like most of the characters, but the ending was very disappointing to me and I had a hard time relating to the main character because she reacted completely different than I would in that situation.
(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!

"Undertow" by Michael Buckley

Undertow by Michael Buckley is a YA novel but not what I expected which in this case is a good thing! It takes place on Coney Island. Lyric, a young teen girl, is put into a tough spot when she is picked to tutor fathom, the head of new race that are called Alpha. Not everyone is on board with having them in their high school with their kids.

I really enjoyed the character of Lyric. She pretty much carries the book and that is fine by me. There is a good twist at the end that I sort of saw coming, but liked it anyway. I don’t know if I would go so far as to call this a page turner, but I enjoyed it and will continue with the series. (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!

"World After" by Susan Ee is a Real Page Turner!

World After by Susan Ee picks up where Angel Fall ends.  The angels have taken over the earth and the humans that are left are trying to fight back.  I love the lead character in this book--Penryn Rooks.  World After answers a few of the questions from book 1 and sets the stage for book 3.  It's a real page turner that I read in just two days.  I loved it just as much as Angel Fall and will be reading the third in this series.
(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!

"Orient" by Christopher Bollen

Orient by Christopher Bollen is about a small town, peaceful and quiet, the way the townspeople like it.  They resent the outsiders who come for the summer.  Suddenly, people who lived in Orient are dying and it is not from old age!  Is there a murderer in their midst?  Who and why people want to know.

This book is over 600 pages and at times, it kind of drags, but do not let that stop you from reading it.  This is a really good story and you will enjoy following the characters.  If you can figure it out, then you are a step ahead of me.  This is a page turner (except for the dragging part).  The ending leaves it open for a sequel, but this book could be a stand alone.
(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!

Teaser Tuesday: Orient, Undertow, World After and The Bullet

Gerard's:

Still, the threat of being caught is always there, and I must keep going, as quietly as planes overhead, something moving at a terrible speed out of the corner of your eye and gone by the time you look again.

From page 6 of Orient by Christopher Bollen. (review up tomorrow)

My father goes to his room and returns with his gun.  While I eat cereal, he checks the clip to see that it's loaded, reinserts it, and clicks off the safety.

From page 15 of Undertow by Michael Buckley.

Demonic wings spread out above his head.  Light glints off the curved hooks, sliding down the edge of his wings as he stalks his prey.

From page 21 of World After by Susan Ee.

Karen's: 

I stared at him.  Those were the most frightening words I'd heard yet.

 From page 21 of The Bullet by Mary Louise Kelly.

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

"Ender's Shadow" by Orson Scott Card

Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card is actually a parallel book to Ender's Game with the main character in this one being Bean.   Bean is a street kid that a nun befriended and recommended to the space Battle School.  Bean is very small and only 4 years old but has advanced intelligence when he gets into the school.

It is interesting how Bean views things and how his leadership skills develop.  I really liked his strong sense of teamwork and how he would get people to work together.  I loved Ender's Game and so it was fun reading about Ender some more, this time from someone else's viewpoint.  I highly recommend this book if you liked Ender's Game.  I gave this 4 stars only because I liked Ender's Game a bit better but that may be just because I read that one first so I had a clue what was going to happen next as I read Ender's Shadow.
(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!