"The Day the Crayons Quit" by Drew Daywalt is a Best Seller Children's book!

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt is a story told through letters to a little boy from crayons.  As soon as I started this book I was hooked because I wanted to see what each color had to say.  It's cute and liked how this book is told from lots of different point of views.  I think it would get young children to use different colored crayons instead of just one or two colors.  This is a short, fun read that shows what crayons think.   It has over 2500 reviews on Amazon, mostly 5 stars! My husband read this too, see his review below.
(Karen's review)

Duncan is a little boy who one day opened his crayon box and found a bunch of letters from his crayons.  Every now and then you need to read a kid's book.  I enjoyed this one very much!  Happy coloring!
(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!

"Daughter of Deep Silence" by Carrie Ryan

Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan is about a young girl named Frances.  She is on board a cruise ship where everybody gets killed except for her and another girl.  Frances survives, but the other girl does not.  Then she finds out two other people survived but are telling a different story about what happened on the ship.  Why?  Why did they survive? 

This book kept me turning pages and I enjoyed the story line very much!  I read this after seeing this video by Christine at Polandbananas. 


She was right! 
(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 - 4 This Week!

Karen's:

Love makes people crazy.  
Loss of love makes people crazy.

From page 300 of Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon.  (We both liked this YA one, click link for our reviews)

There was a flash of green light, a rushing sound, and Frank Bryce crumpled.  He was dead before he hit the floor.  
Two hundred miles away, the boy called Harry Potter woke with a start.

From page 15 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling.


Gerard's:

I ain't a Rose Rider.  I want 'em dead just like you, and alls you's done is lose me a horse and get yerself killed."

 From page 30of Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman.  (Click link for my review)

The drop is interminable and I wait, wait, wait for the slap of water that I can't see.  I'm nothing but dark and rain, screams and blood, and then I'm water.

From page 44 of Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan.


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!

"Vengeance Road" by Erin Bowman

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman is a western about an 18-yr-old girl named Kate.  One day she comes home and finds her dad dead.  She knows the gang who did it and she wants revenge.   I have not read a western in a long time so this was a good change of pace for me.  The story line kept me interested and there was just enough action.  I really liked Kate, and the other characters were well developed too.  The ending was very well done and caught me by surprise!  This is sort of based on a true story.  Give it a try, you will be happy 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!

"Escape from Baxters' Barn" by Rebecca Bond - Cute Children's Book

Escape from Baxters’ Barn by Rebecca Bond is a children’s book that caught my attention because of the cover with the barn animals and a one-eyed cat. This is a cute story about how the farm animals, the barn cat and an owl work together to get away from the farm when the cat hears the farmer’s plan to burn down the barn! It is a cute fantasy story and I also liked the sketches throughout the book. The theme of the book is that everyone is important and working together results in success when everyone does their part. This is a very quick light read that I recommend to any animal lover.
(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!

"The Big Picture" by Jenny B. Jones (Great Series!)

The Big Picture by Jenny B. Jones is the third book of A Katie Parker Production series that I enjoyed just as much as the first two in the series. This series is shows how a high school girl, Katie, finds hope for her future in spite of having a mother in prison for drug dealing and being put into foster care. Katie is such a well-developed and believable character that I couldn’t help but pull for her. In this final book, she gets reunited with her natural mom but struggles with mixed feelings about it.

This book is Christian fiction that really didn’t have the ending I anticipated for a change. I really found the support Katie got from her church friends to be realistic and liked how this book shows girls and guys can be good friends. . One of the things that makes this book stand out from other teen Christian fiction is that it’s realistic and includes elderly people as well. The romance between the grandmother and her friend added to the story. The grandmother added so much humor to this book, she was such a character! This whole series was entertaining, touching, amusing and heartwarming! Great YA contemporary fiction that I highly recommend!
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

Previous books in this series I reviewed were:
In Between (book 1)
On the Loose  (book 2)


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!

"Everything Everything" by Nicola Yoon is an Unusual YA Romance (UPDATED)

Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon is an unusual YA romance that was an interesting read and a commentary on life and love. I enjoyed reading about Madeline who was kept inside her house for 17 years due to a rare disease—basically being allergic to the world. Her nurse, Carla, helped her to visit with the boy next door, Olly, behind her mother’s back. Carla felt bad for Madeline and wanted her to be able to live a little, so encouraged her to take a risk and live her life.

I liked that this had very short chapters and much of the book was IM messages and emails exchanged between Olly and Madeline.  I also liked the illustrations and Madeline's short book spoilers throughout the book. This book even has some adventure in it which was a pleasant surprise. I thought it would be a depressing read, but it was quite the opposite! My favorite quote from this book is: “Love makes people crazy. Loss of love makes people crazy.” Pg. 300. This pretty much sums up this book. I would say this is inspirational too.
(Karen's review 10/2/15, 4 stars)


Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon is a YA debut novel about a young girl named Madeline.  She has SCID, a rare disease that results in her not leaving the house.   I thought this book was really good!  I enjoyed the main character and the story line was very interesting.  The last part of this book came as a complete shock to me which was a good thing.  Give this book a chance.  You will be glad you did!
(Gerard's review 9/30/15, 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:

My mom should be dreading empty-nest syndrome.  But because of SCID, I'm not going anywhere.

From page 10 of Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon.


Karen's:

"Yes, I know you're my mother."  Believe me, I've tried to blot it from my memory many times, but it never worked.

 From page 100 of The Big Picture by Jenny B. Jones.


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!

"Disclaimer" by Renee Knight

In Disclaimer by Renee Knight, Catherine finds a novel, The Perfect Stranger, on her bed stand, realizing as she reads that it is about her and an event in her life that she does not want known.  Only one other person knew about it and that person is dead.  So who wrote it and why?  Her husband and son have the same book!

This book is good with action that kept me turning pages to a really good ending.  Here's a teaser from it for you:

I'm not interested in her acknowledgement of my pain.  It's too late for that now.

(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!

"On the Loose--A Katie Parker Production" by Jenny B. Jones is Heartwarming, Funny

On the Loose by Jenny B. Jones is the second book in the Katie Parker Production series that is as good as the first, In Between. Katie, a foster teen, continues to experience teen drama, lives through a tornado, forms more friendships and deepens her relationship with her hilarious foster grandmother. When her foster mom, Millie, is diagnosed with Cancer, Katie worries about what will happen to her. As Katie continues attending church with the Scotts and getting more involved with the youth group, she continues to struggle with her own faith.

I am enjoying this YA inspirational Christian fiction series very much and look forward to reading the final book in this series, The Big Picture. The author is a high school teacher who spends a lot of time with teens and her writing certainly reflects that. This is a fun read as well as a touching one and I love her writing style! I highly recommend this light, fun read to anyone who enjoys books about teens and family.
(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!

"Badlands" by C. J. Box Isn't Anything Great

Needs more action!

In Badlands, by C. J. Box, one of the stars in my opinion is Kyle, a young boy who is out delivering the morning papers and sees a van crash and finds a package from the van.  The other star is Cassie, the new deputy sheriff.  I thought the story line was okay but predictable without much real action.  I liked Kyle a lot but this book wasn't so great.
(Gerard's review, 3.5 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!

"In the Dark Places" by Peter Robinson

In the Dark Places by Peter Robinson is a British mystery novel that I really didn’t much care for. It is about a crime ring in a rural area involved in the stealing of farm equipment for resale. The whole book is the ongoing crime investigation trying to get to the bottom of it which mushrooms into something much bigger and gruesome. It was a bit confusing trying to keep all the law enforcement people straight, a map would have been helpful to show the lay of the land and the language used many British terms I wasn’t familiar with. There is good suspense near the end but for the most part I found myself plowing through just to finish it. I did appreciate the wrap-up summaries given when the law enforcement people got together to compare notes and update each other. That helped me know what was going on.
(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!

Teaser Tuesday: 3 This Week

Gerard's:

Kyle opened his mouth and roared.  His cry came out high-pitched and it cracked in the middle, but it sounded to him like he was a wounded animal.
From page 208 of Badlands by C. J. Box.

For a minute, he didn't answer.  His eyes were wide and shocked, and he had bitten his lower lip so hard that I could see dots of blood.

From page 20 of Who Do You Love? by Jennifer Weiner.  (Click link to see my review--my book of the month!)

Karen's:

Three people and a dog huddling in a tub with parts of a couch balanced on their heads is not a precaution.  It's what you do when the weatherman says a tornado is going to sail over your house and rip through your community.

 From page 14 of On The Loose by Jenny B. Jones.


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!

"Who Do You Love?" by Jennifer Weiner

In Who Do You Love? by Jennifer Weiner, Rachel and Andy were just 8 years old when one night they met in an ER waiting room.  Little did they know that this meeting would change both of their lives forever.  This story is told by Rachel and Andy really well.  I liked both of them.  Their story lines kept me interested throughout the whole book.  I LOVED this book--it's great with a fantastic ending!  This will most likely be my book of the month and make my year-end top 12 list.  Don't miss it, a must read!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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

"Orphan #8" by Kim van Alkemade

Orphan #8 by Kim van Alkemade is based on a true story.  Rachel is only 8 years old when she finds herself in an infant home.  There a lady doctor runs experiments on girls.  Rachel is one of those girls.  Years later, she is a nurse in an old folks home when a patient is brought in.  Rachel recognizes the patient as the doctor who worked on her.  Will she try to get revenge?  This is a good page turner.  The tension builds as we learn what Rachel will do!  I enjoyed this book very much!
(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!

"Finding Peace" by Melanie D. Snitker is about a Photographer and a Cop

Finding Peace by Melanie D. Snitker is a clean romance/mystery that was predictable right from the start as far as the romance part.  The mystery part provided at least some action to keep me interested enough to finish. Someone breaks into Laurie’s photography studio twice. She falls for the cop on the case and gets a gun for protection. This book actually showed what the work of a professional photographer involves which I enjoyed. Overall, the shallowness of the characters and the predictability of the plot made it a mediocre book for me. This is Book 1 in the Love's Compass series which I may or may not continue.
(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: 3 This Week

Gerard's:

Rachel could no longer keep down the panic that rose from the bottom of her belly.  It burst out of her throat in a wail that vibrated the air throughout the office.

From page 44 of Orphan #8 by Kim van Alkemade.


Karen's:

He had been doing his best to ignore the pull he had towards her.  But when he was in the same room with her, it was like the wall he had built up was made of sand that was blown away by the music of her voice.

 From page 52 (Loc. 740-41) of Finding Peace (Love's Compass Book 1) by Melanie D. Snitker.

Gilchrist made his way over, wondering what on earth was making her behave in such a willful and excited manner.  Irritation slowly gave way to curiosity.

 From page 2 of In the Dark Places by Peter Robinson

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!

"Ana of California" by Andi Teran is Heartwarming and Enjoyable! (Updated)

Ana of California by Andi Teran is the heartwarming story of Ana Cortez, an orphan who is approaching 16 and has been bounced around from foster home to foster home. She lives in L.A. where her father, mother and grandmother were shot by rival gang members. She finds herself in a new situation to avoid living in a group home, being a summer intern on Abbie and Emmett’s farm in northern California. When she is attracted to Cole, a boy everyone warns her to stay away from, she ignores their advice and they become friends.

I loved this story because Ana is such a likable character who tries to do the right thing but still ends up in bad situations. She always worries that Abbie and Emmett will send her back so tries very hard to work hard and please them. It shows how one person can make a difference and overcome one's past by moving forward. I loved how Ana found ways to use her artistic abilities too. I recommend this as a good beach read—very enjoyable!
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

Gerard's thoughts:
Ana of California by Andi Teran is about a young teen girl named Ana. Ana is an orphan and has made the rounds of foster homes. Now she is down to her last chance. Make it work at this place—a farm or else she goes back to a group home. Can Ana do it? Can she make a go of it at the farm or not. I really liked this and cheered for Ana the whole way. I thought this book had enough action to keep my interest and is well worth reading. (5 stars)

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

"The Barter" by Siobhan Adcock

The Barter by Siobhan Adcock tells the story of two women—Bridget and Rebecca. Bridget’s story is told in modern times while Rebecca’s story is set in 1902. They both have something in common. To find out what that is, you will have to read the book. I really loved Bridget’s story. It was so good and funny a lot of the time. Rebecca’s story I didn’t like as much, but it did get better at the end. On the strength of Bridget’s story, I give this book 4 stars. Well 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!

Teaser Tuesday: 5 This Week!

Gerard's:

You are not wearing underwear--like, any underwear of any kind--and you are out in public in your pajamas, and so is your kid, and by the way, you just gave her a snack from a container of oat puffs you found in the backseat of your mobile landfill of a car.

From page 95 of The Barter by Siobhan Adcock. 
 

I feel like I'm suffocating.  What about one day off-estate?

From page 8 of Hold Me Like a Breath by Tiffany Schmidt.


A monster rushed toward him, arms flung wide as if to grapple.  Caswell's heart lurched before his brain fully understood:  A male corpse was moving on the current of air that had just been sucked from the room.


From page 19 of Zero World by Jason M. Hough.
  

Karen's:

"It's a one-month trial.  If the work goes well, you'll stay through Labor Day and go to school there.  If it doesn't, you come back to a group home and school here."

 From page 12 of Ana of California by Andi Teran.

Many mothers imagine hurting their infants, even drowning them, burning them.  Understand this, if you don't understand anything else:  When mothers imagine hurting their children, their mind doesn't signal a wish.  It's the mind's mechanism visualizing the worst outcome so you can counteract.

 From page 174 of Remember Mia by Alexandra Burt (uncorrected proof copy--page may differ).  Very good debut novel!  We both liked it.  Click on link to see our reviews.

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!

"Hold Me Like a Breath" by Tiffany Schmidt

In Hold Me Like a Breath by Tiffany Schmidt, Penelope is a daughter of one of three families involved in a black market scheme.  She has a blood disorder that causes her to bruise easily and she is to be protected at all cost!   She hates this and would love to get off on her own for a while.  Then an incident happens and Penelope is alone, all alone.  Can she handle it?

I liked this book way more than I expected I would.  There is good action that kept me turning pages.  I Loved it!  Hoping there is a sequel.
(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!

"Zero World" by Jason M. Hough--a Science Fiction Adventure

In Zero World by Jason M. Hough, we meet Peter Caswell who is a skillful assassin.  He also has the ability to forget day to day who he has killed.  Just as he is about to go on vacation, he gets an assignment unlike any that he has ever received.  He will have to be at his best to complete this one! 

As long as long as this book focused on the main story, it was really good.  However, when it went off down a "rabbit trail," I had problems with it.  The last 75 pages were page turners for sure.  It is over 400 pages so takes a commitment--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!

Debut Novel: "Remember Mia" by Alexander Burt is a Real Page Turner! (Updated)

Remember Mia by Alexandra Burt is about Estelle Paradise who wakes in a hospital with amnesia, but realizes her 7-month-old daughter, Mia, is missing. She cannot remember the events that led up to her being admitted to the hospital quite far from her home. Her husband has no idea where their daughter is either, and the mother is the primary suspect, who suffered with postpartum depression that had progressed into psychosis. Estelle insists that someone took her baby and at her husband’s suggestion, admits herself into a psych ward to work with a doctor who helps her get her memory back.  

I couldn't help but feel sympathy for Estelle and admire her courage as she pursued the truth.  I liked this book and thought the premise was quite interesting.  I didn't care for the husband because he didn't seem very supportive of his wife at all!  I liked the ending, although it was pretty far-fetched wrapped up so neat that it seemed unbelievable.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)   

Remember Mia by Alexandra Burt is a thriller about Estelle Paradise who wakes up in a hospital.  She was found just about dead inside of a car that was in a ravine and totally wrecked.  Her memory is pretty much gone but she does know one thing--her newborn baby girl, Mia, and anything connected to Mia is gone!  Someone took her and Estelle needs to find her, but who will help when everyone thinks she did it?

WOW!  This book poses lots of questions:  Does she ever remember?  Where is Mia now?  What has her husband done to help her?  Books do not get much better than this!  It is a real page turner.  This is a must read if you enjoy thrillers.  The tension in this book mounts so well that I read it in only two days!  It was hard to put down.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars) 

We received an advanced copy of this debut novel and am so glad I did!  However, that did not influence our review.  It went on sale July 7, 2015.

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Best Boy" by Eli Gottlieb was Disappointing

Best Boy by Eli Gottlieb is told by Todd Arror. He is an autistic man in his 50s who lives in a gated community with people who have special needs. He enjoys his life to a point, but would like to go live with his brother and his family. When new people come into his life, it is time to put that plan in place. This story was good enough, the characters were okay, and the book was just sort of bland. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen and it just never did. I was disappointed in this one because usually I like the books PEOPLE MAGAZINE recommends.
 (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!

"Beyond the Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier

Beyond the Chocolate War by Robert Cormier is the sequel to The Chocolate War and continues on with the Vigils and their shenanigans at the Trinity High School. Obie and Carter join forces to bring down Archie. Obie becomes distracted with a girl and Archie doesn’t like it. Jerry lived in Canada after recovering from the beating he took last fall, but returns and Goober feels guilty and very protective of him. This story becomes one of life and death as the year takes its toll on the boys. With one suicide and two attempted murders, this book shows a dark side of high school.

I didn’t care as much for this book as I did the first. It covered many different boys, which was a little hard to keep straight at first. If possible, it even got darker than the first one in my opinion. It too though is a quick read.

SPOILER ALERT – STOP IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THIS BOOK YET. I was shocked really to see how Obie got so caught up in revenge that he became as bad as Archie. Once again, Archie is in control and even after he graduates, keeps his control over the school. It’s pretty amazing how he manages it. (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!

Teaser Tuesday

Gerard's:

After lunch that day, I had an hour of Free Time and decided I would use it to take a long walk in the woods.  "Todd," Raykene had once told me, "if you feel bad or think the volts are coming on, then you should just walk in the woods and scream and let it out."


From page 23 of Best Boy by Eli Gottlieb.
  

Karen's:

New kids were always Vigil bait.  Archie loved nothing better than putting a new kid through the hoops.

 From page 16 of Beyond the Chocolate War by Robert Cormier.


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 Secret Sister" by Brenda Novak

In The Secret Sister by Brenda Novak, after a painful divorce Maisey has no other option but to return home to her mother that she did not want to do.  Also, she must deal with a brother who has his own problems.  She runs into an old boyfriend learning a secret that will change everything she thought she knew. 

I thought this book was pretty good.  The characters were well developed and the action kept moving along.  I thought the ending was a bit dragged out, but then it had a twist I did not see coming!
(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!

"In Between--Katie Parker Production" by Jenny B. Jones - book 1

In Between by Jenny B. Jones is a delightful Christian fiction YA book 1 in the Katie Parker Production series.  This is about Katie, who moves from the group home that she is in because her mother is in prison for dealing drugs, to a foster home with a Pastor and his wife in the little town of In Between, Texas.  She has a very low opinion of herself and doesn't trust anyone at the beginning of the story, but after making some poor choices and experiencing kindness, her attitude slowly changes and she adjusts to her new life. 

I really liked the writing style and the story.  I liked how the church youth group welcomed and accepted Katie and how Frances was such a good friend to her even when Katie resented her a bit.  The grandmother was hilarious and I enjoyed the humor and the close relationship that developed between her and Katie.  The characters were believable and the story moved along quickly.  I was drawn into it right from the start and was never bored.  It was heartwarming to see the growth in Katie throughout the book.  I recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading about teens and their personal growth.  This is the first in the series and I hope to continue in it.   
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

Book 2 - On the Loose (Loved 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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls Tugs at Your Heart (UPDATED)

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls is a children’s story about a hard-working, determined boy who loves to go coon hunting with his two hound dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann. He lives in the Ozarks on a farm with his mother, father, and three sisters and a cat. He also has a close relationship with his grandfather who helps him out and encourages him.

I have mixed feelings about this book because I like all animals so felt a little sorry for the poor raccoons who got hunted down by the boy and his dogs. It was interesting though learning habits of the raccoons. I didn’t like the boy or the parents in the beginning when he set his traps and caught his cat several times! That got me mad. Then he redeemed himself when he loved his dogs and had great adventures with them which included some suspense. At certain parts I cheered but thought the ending was horrible.  This story has its ups and downs.  If you enjoy sad books, you have to read this one! Yes, this is a tear jerker. I think the story should have ended sooner, like after the big coon hunting contest, and I would have liked it much better. The title of the book isn’t explained until the very end which I thought a bit strange. Get your tissues ready if you choose to read the whole book!

It is similar to the Shiloh series which I loved!
(Karen's review, 3 stars)


Gerard's Review 8/30/15 (4 stars):
Billy Coleman is a little boy living with his family in the Ozark mountains.  What he wants most of all is two coon hounds so he can go hunting and to keep him company.  It does not seem he is going to get them, but then he decides to do something about that.  The first 100 pages I did not think this book was all that!  From page 100 to the end though, it got really good.  That is because the dogs became the focus on the story, and what a story it is!

I really loved Billy and how he would do anything for his dogs!  The dogs were fantastic!  I did not like the ending though--too sad.  Anyway, based on Billy and his dogs, I give this 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!

"Court of Fives" by Kate Elliott

Court of Fives by Kate Elliott is a YA novel about a young girl named Jessamy.  She loves to run the Fives.  What that is, you will have to read this book to find out.  What I will tell you is that she should not be doing this.  If it gets out that she is, it will be very dangerous for her family.  Does this get out and if so, what are the consequences?

I thought this book was pretty good.  I really enjoyed the main character and her interaction with her family.  It has pretty good action and the ending is very good!  I will be reading book 2.
(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 Tuesdays--5 Today!

Gerard's:

Anything could happen.  What if I never have this chance again?

From page 24 of Court of Fives by Kate Elliott.
  
"Is that what she's telling you?  That you don't have a problem?"
 
From page 111 of Survive the Night by Danielle Vega. (click link for review)

He hardly felt the cold through his coat.  He was too busy trying to picture what Eli's face would look like when he received their message.

 From page 26 of Vicious by V. E. Schwab. (Click link for review)

Karen's:

I had the wind of a deer, the muscles of a country boy, a heart full of dog love, and a strong determination.  I wasn't scared of the darkness, or the mountains, for I was raised in those mountains.

 From page 33 of Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls.

Super, she probably realized there are still some jeans left in Texas that we have yet to try on.  "It's after three o'clock!  We've forgotten to eat lunch!"

From page 3 (Loc. 473-75) of In Between (A Katie Parker Production, Book 1) by Jenny B. Jones.


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!

"Survive the Night" by Danielle Vega

Survive the Night by Danielle Vega is a YA novel that centers on a young girl named Casey.  Just out of rehab, she goes to a sleepover with her friends from the soccer team.  Once there she blows it off to go to hang out with a group of girls that have a different life style than her soccer friends.

This book goes very fast and kept me interested.  I thought the characters were realistic but the ending was not all that great.  Overall, I liked it and thought it was pretty good.

Here's a teaser from page 111:

"Is that what she's telling you?  That you don't have a problem?"

(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!

"Vicious" by V. E. Schwab - We had a Love/Hate Feeling About This One! (UPDATED)

Vicious by V. E. Schwab centers on Victor and Eli.  When their research moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong!  The first part of the book concentrates on Victor and the second part on Eli.  This book goes back and forth in time, leading up to a fantastic ending.

This is some book!  I enjoyed it right from page 1 and thought the characters were very interesting.  Here is a teaser I chose from it:

He hardly felt the cold through his coat.  He was too busy trying to picture what Eli's face would look like when he received their message.  [from p. 26]

Gerard's review, 8/21/15, 5++ stars)


Here is the spoiler-free review we saw on YouTube that convinced Karen to read the book too:


Karen's review (8/28/15):
I started Vicious by V. E. Schwab expecting it to be great based on this video and my husband's recommendation; however, I only read a little over half and gave up on it.  I didn't care for it at all.  I didn't like either of the main characters and thought the whole premise was ridiculous.  It is like a contemporary fantasy or science fiction, not sure which.  In my opinion, it's like the old Twilight Zone TV show!  The writing really annoyed me a lot too because it kept jumping all over the place.  It's in the present, then 10 years ago, last night, 3 nights ago, back to the present, 10 years ago through the whole book.  It only gets 1 star from me.  

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 Tail of Hope's Faith by Diane Weinmann (Animal Communicator)

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I met the author at a fund-raiser for Parma Animal Shelter and was curious when I found out she actually could get animals to tell her their thoughts.  I asked her some questions because I think it would be awesome to actually hear what animals are thinking and I'd love for Abby to tell us about her past before we got her. I talk to my pets all the time and can pretty much figure out what they're thinking at certain times; however, I've never actually heard them speak to me.   She told me to read her book about the dog named Hope so I did.

A Tale of Hope’s Faith is about Diane Weinmann, an animal communicator, and her experience with one particular dog named Hope. Hope has cancer and Diane uses holistic alternative medicine to help the dog have less pain and a better quality of life. Then, it progresses to reincarnation after the dog finally has to be euthanized. 

It is an amazing story, but one I have a very hard time believing. It seemed like hocus-pocus new age stuff to me for the most part and the dog really didn’t get better.  I found myself plowing through it.  

Diane says she is psychic and communicates telepathically with animals.  I guess I'm really not sure what to make of this because she says she's Catholic and before communicating or trying to heal animals, she prays to her spirit guides, St. Francis, and Jesus.   

What do you think about this?  Would you go to alternative medicine if your pet was ill?

(Karen's review, 2 stars--I expected more conversations with the dog and not so much detail about the different alternative healing methods)

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 Separate Peace" by John Knowles

A Separate Peace by John Knowles is the story of two roommates at a boys boarding school in New Hampshire during World War II. It’s about their rivalry, friendship, and how the boys try to stay separate from the war. Gene, the introverted intellectual who tells the story is jealous of his roommate, Phineas (Finny), a natural athlete who is outgoing and a natural leader but a poor student.

I read this book a long time ago for school and decided to re-read it now because I remember liking it. I especially liked the parts with Finny and enjoyed it again. It has some fun parts, but mostly is sad, especially what happens to Phineas.
 (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!

We Both Liked "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier (Updated)

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier is a sad story about an all-boy Catholic high school that has a “secret” organization called the Vigils who actually rule the school while the teachers look the other way. Archie is a master con who manipulates not only students, but also the teachers. He is the one who assigns tasks to students he chooses. When Jerry gets mixed up with the Vigils, his “assignment” gets out of hand and he realizes too late the participation in the chocolate sale for the school really wasn’t voluntary after all. Can Jerry really go against the Vigils and survive?

This is a quick YA read that I liked because of all the group dynamics involved. It is not only about bullying, but also about manipulation and being true to oneself. This is a powerful book that shows how devastating peer pressure can be. What started as an innocent prank mushroomed into much, much more! I plan to read more books by this author. The sequel is Beyond the Chocolate War.
(Karen's review, 8/20/15, 5 stars)


The Chocolate War by Robert Comier is about an all-boys Catholic school that sells chocolate bars as a fund raiser.   It is a tradition, but this year one boy refuses to do it!  Will this catch on with the other boys?  What will the consequences be for his refusal?

I lived this book in real life so it brought back lots of memories for me.  The author is spot on with his telling of it.  The characters were brought out very well and I enjoyed it.  It is a quick read that you can do in a day or two at the most.
(Gerard's review 8/10/15, 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!

"Snow Like Ashes" by Sara Raasch is Great! (Updated)

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch is her debut fantasy novel about courage, determination and a mission of 8 Winterians to free their captured slaves and rebuild their kingdom. Meira, the main character and one of the surviving remnant, is a 16-yr-old orphan girl who wants to be a soldier and contribute to help Winter. This looks like an in surmountable task especially since Winter has lost its magic conduit. The secrets, betrayal and lies all create a very good story line.

This book sailed along. Once Meira decides to do whatever it takes to help Winter even if it’s not the way she wants, the book took off. I liked the love triangle and the fighting scenes best. For me, it was really hard to pull for Winter because I don’t like Winter. The kingdoms were named for the four seasons and then four other kingdoms were rhythms which I really didn’t understand. The magical part didn’t make much sense to me either, but it did make things interesting. I really liked the ending and think this is a very good debut novel. (Karen's review 8/19/15, 4 stars)


In Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch, a YA fantasy novel, the kingdom of Winter has been conquered.  A few people remain and vow to rebuild their land.  Meira is one of them.  She would do anything to help Winter make a comeback!  This book is very good because there is lots of action which made it fly by.  Meira is a fantastic character who I cheered for all the way!

If you loved the Sarah J. Maas books, which I did, you will love this one too!  It is hard to believe this is the author's first book which she first drafted at age 12!  I LOVED this book and look forward to the next one in this series.  Books don't get any better than this!
(Gerard's review 8/12/15, 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!

"In a Dark, Dark Wood" by Ruth Ware is a Page Turner I LOVED!

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware is about Leonora who is leading a good life.  She is a writer and doing well.  One day she receives an email to come to a "hen" party given for her best friend when she was going to school.  It has been ten years and she really does not want to go, but against her better judgment, she does.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY has this book as one of their top 10 summer reads and PEOPLE MAGAZINE had it as a top read.  They are both right!    The first part of the book sets the scene and you might think it is slow, but when the action starts, this is becomes a real page turner.  I enjoyed all the characters and could not wait to see how it all played out!  I LOVED IT!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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

Teaser Tuesday - Three This Week

Gerard's:

But I don't move.  And not just because my head hurts, and my legs hurt, and my muscles feel like wet tissue.

From page 172 of In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware.
  

And that's when I notice something else.

My own footprints are clearly visible in the powder around me, but where his should have been--leading to and from the bench--I see nothing but a thick layer of untouched snow.

From page 12 of Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone.

Karen's: 

"Oh."  I run one hand down the flat side of the blade.  "That's how it works."

 From page  of Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch. 



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!

"Love Saves the Day" by Gwen Cooper

Love Saves the Day by Gwen Cooper takes place in New York and is about Sarah (a DJ and record shop owner), her cat Prudence, daughter Laura (an attorney) and son-in-law, Josh (free-lance writer).  Laura and Sarah's relationship is strained but after Sarah dies, the cat helps Laura remember good things about her mother and carves out a place in Laura's heart.  Laura discovers how much her mother loved her and that family is more important than money.

This story was slow moving but picked up toward the end.  I liked the narration by the cat best because the reader gains insight into what cats like and don't like, but the story is pretty good too.  My favorite part was when the cat jumped on the table during the Seder dinner at Laura's when she had her in-laws over for the first time.  I loved the cover.  I liked Homer's Odyssey by this author better but this one is okay.
(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!

"Time Between Us" by Tamara Ireland Stone

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone is a YA novel about a relationship between Anna and Bennett.  This was not supposed to happen.  The "why not?" is in the book.  You will have to read it for yourself.  But now that it does, will they be able to keep it going?  Or, will an accident involving Anna's best friend tear these two apart forever?

This is the second book I read by this author and I loved them both.  I really cared about both of the main characters in this and the story line and writing kept me interested.  Now it's on to the follow up book, Time After Time.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Here's a teaser from pg. 12 of this book:

And that's when I notice something else.

My own footprints are clearly visible in the powder around me, but where his should have been--leading to and from the bench--I see nothing but a thick layer of untouched snow.

 Also read:  Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

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

"The Evertree--Spirit Animals" by Marie Lu

The Evertree--Spirit Animals (Book 7) by Marie Lu is a children's story about four kids and their spirit animal friends who save the world. This is an adventure that probably would appeal more to children than adults. Apparently there is a game online that goes along with this series because on the back it says "Unlock the game. Discover your own spirit animal and join the adventure at scholastic.com/spiritanimals." There's also a code given to "unlock huge rewards."

First of all, I didn't realize this was a book 7 of a series until I looked at it closely. The cover really caught my attention and as well as the fat that Marie Lu is the author. I had a little bit of difficulty with keeping track of all the characters and remembering what names were of the animals but after I got into it, I got it all sorted out.  This is not a book I would recommend to adults but I think kids would enjoy it.
(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!

"Eeny Meeny" by M. J. Arlidge Did Not Disappoint!

Eeny Meeny by M. J. Arlidge is a thriller!   In this novel, someone is putting two people in a locked room with only one way out.  Only one person can get out.  Do I have your interest yet?

This book looked good to me so I picked it up on a whim at the library.  The story moves along well and it kept my interest throughout.  There is good action and a really good ending--well worth reading.

Here's a teaser for you from page 3:

"On the floor by the phone you'll find a gun.  It has one bullet in it."
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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

Teaser Tuesday--5 Today!

Gerard's:

Sir reaches for me but I shove through his grip, pushing by everyone--Dendera, who shouts something about floral arrangements, and Alysson, who says something about calming down, and Mather, who says nothing because that's what he does, he just stands there while I'm supposed to close my eyes and obey.

If I have to close my eyes and obey, Noam does too.

From page 210 of Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch.
  

Carter snapped his fingers and the meeting began to break up.  Suddenly, Archie felt empty, used up, discarded.

From page 38 of The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier.

After many minutes of this silence, something happened that had never happened before, at least to Valentina's knowledge:  Mrs. Ivanova began to cry, turning her head away in a futile attempt to hide her emotions from the girl.  Valentina saw the tears anyway and soon she was crying also, upset and afraid but without knowing why.

From page 3 of Dark Eyes by William Richter.

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 3 of Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica.

Whenever Sarah used to be upset about something bad that happened to her, she would cheer herself up by saying, Worse things have happened to better people.  But I don't think anything worse than this has ever happened to anybody.

 From page 70 (Loc. 1100 on Kindle) of Love Saves the Day by Gwen Cooper.

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!

"Dark Eyes" by William Richter

Dark Eyes by William Richter is about a Russian girl who is adopted by an American couple and moves to New York.  Years later, she goes by Wally and lives on the street.  She knows her way around and nobody messes with her.  She still wants to find her birth mom and her dad, who was in a Russian prison, breaks out and wants to find his wife too.  But what he has in mind is not very nice!  Wally needs all her street smarts to find her first.  It took a while for the action to start, but when it does, this book heats up!  It 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!

Happy International Cat Day!

In honor of International cat day, here are a couple cat book trailers I just saw on YouTube this week:

This was Booktube Read-a-thon challenge to re-enact a scene from a book done by Between Chapters.

After viewing this book trailer done by Why Mermaids for the Booktube Read-a-thon challenge, I quickly borrowed the e-book from the library and am currently reading it on my Kindle.

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!

"Brutal Youth" by Anthony Breznican

Brutal Youth by Anthony Breznican centers on St. Michael's, a school that now accepts questionable students and highly religious students which is not a good mix.  There is lots of bullying going on.  I really enjoyed the character of Father Mercedes and Sister Maria.  I thought Brutal Youth has good action and it held my interest throughout.
(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!

"Pretty Baby" by Mary Kubica--Different Opinions on this one! (UPDATED)

Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica centers on a charitable woman named Heidi who helps stray cats.  One day she sees a teen girl holding a baby at a train station and decides to take her in for just one night, assuming she's homeless.  This novel is told by multiple points of view which I thought made the story that much better.  The real good thing is the multiple story lines.  You do not really know what to expect next!  This is a page turner that is well worth reading, enjoy!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica is a contemporary psychological thriller that is sad and heartbreaking. This novel combines the sad stories of Heidi Wood, a married woman with a 12-yr.-old daughter and Willow, a homeless teen girl with a baby. Their paths cross and Heidi opens her home to Willow and the baby in spite of objections from her husband and daughter.

The reader is gradually given bits and pieces of Heidi’s and Willow’s pasts as the current events unfold which culminate into a good ending. I liked Heidi at the beginning but as the book went along, I liked her less and less. I liked Willow though and felt sorry for her throughout the book. This book portrays the social worker as incompetent and totally repulsive behavior on the part of Willow’s foster dad. This book was very disturbing to me because of the content. I thought it was an interesting read and didn’t have any clue as to how it would end so wanted to keep reading. 
 (Karen's review, 3 stars)


See our review of The Good Girl by Mary Kubica which we both liked.

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!