Teaser Tuesday--Three Today

Gerard's:

I don't know why I smiled back.  She smiled like she was seeing heaven.

From page 20 of The Mare by Mary Gaitskill. (click link for my review.)

I used to be more ashamed of such a feeling, but now I think--why shouldn't I hate?  Why shouldn't it bring me joy?

From page 15 of The Rose Society (a Young Elites Novel) by Marie Lu.  

Karen's:

Hannah stares at him a moment, wondering if she refuses to go, if she cements herself to the chair, would anything change?  If she could somehow reverse the day, go back to the beginning and start over, do everything differently, none of this would have happened.

From page 12 of Safe With Me by Amy Hatvany.  (Click link for Gerard's review.)


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 Mare" by Mary Gaitskill

The Mare by Mary Gaitskill is for the most part, told by Velveteen, an 11-yr.-old girl and Ginger, a young woman who hosted Velveteen for two weeks.  The interaction between these two made this book.  It was not always good and they got to really see the differences between them.  Ginger's horses were also a part of the book that I enjoyed. 

Entertainment Weekly gave this book high praise and they were right!  The ending is fantastic!  They byplay with Velvet's real mom and her was very good too.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J. K. Rowling

Continuing in the Harry Potter series with book 6, I read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling.  This has several mysteries going on at the same time:  (1) What is the mission Snape and Malfoy Draco are working on; (2) Who is the "Half-Blood Prince"? and (3) Can Dumbledore and Harry find and destroy the horcruxes made by You-Know-Who?  Besides the mystery, this book also had some high points with Harry being the new captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Harry moving on from Cho, Hermione and Ron's relationship and lots more background about You-Know-Who.  Professor Snape finally reveals his true colors and the death eaters return. 

As I was reading this book, I kept thinking to myself, "this is so good!"  I didn't really figure out for sure who the Half-Blood Prince was until near the end when it came out.  Malfoy's mission was a complete surprise to me and the horcrux hunt was very scary!  I hated the ending of this book though, it was so sad so only 4 stars for this one!  I still don't get why Dumbledore trusted Snape, that part must didn't make any sense to me.  I enjoyed the potions class most in this book when Harry topped Hermione for once and how she hated that.  I look forward to reading the last book in this series to see how it will end. 

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!

"Safe With Me" by Amy Hatvany

Safe With Me by Amy Hatvany is told from various points of view and that makes this book good.  Hannah Scott's world comes to an end when a tragic accident leaves her daughter dead.  But this is really only the beginning of this book.  When Hannah makes a decision, she comes in contact with the Bells.

This book held my interest throughout and I enjoyed all the characters with a real nice ending.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Karen's review:
Safe With Me by Amy Hatvany is about Hannah, a hair stylist and mother of 12-yr-old Emily who died and donated her organs so others could live. Hannah is, of course, devastated but becomes more understanding of her own mother. Maddie is a 15-yr-old girl who receives Emily’s liver that saves her life, but whose father is very abusive to her mother. This story shows some of the struggles that organ recipients face and why it is hard for victims of domestic violence to leave their spouses. 

This book moved along fairly well and although deals with very serious subjects, was not depressing. I would recommend this to women more than men. (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 - 4 Today!

Gerard's:

"Well, I'll be," he says breathlessly, turning it over to catch the morning light streaming through our windows.  "Isn't it a beauty?" 

From page 17 of Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson. (click link for my review.)

Out of breath, she lifted a hand and pressed her palm against her chest, as if to calm her pounding heart.  That action was somehow even more alarming than the message she'd conveyed.

From page 110 of The Bark Before Christmas by Laurien Berenson.  (click link for my review.)

Karen's:

"I think he sent me here so you could kill me.  As a present."

From page 81 of Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas.

"I think they ought to know.  You do them a disservice by not confiding something this important to them."

 From page 78 of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling.

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!

"Walk on Earth a Stranger" by Rae Carson

Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson is about a young girl named Lee.  She has a secret and she better keep it that way!  When her whole life as she knows it is taken away from her, she decides to head for California.  This book tells about the time when the gold rush took place and is historical fiction fantasy.

I found it very interesting to learn about that time in our history.  Walk on Earth a Stranger kept me interested and Lee is a great character.  This is the first book of three in a series and I am looking forward to reading the next one.
(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!

"The Bark Before Christmas" by Laurien Berenson

The Bark Before Christmas by Laurien Bebenson is about a woman named Melanie. She is put in charge of a Christmas bazaar at a private school so it is a big deal. It is only for a few hours on a Saturday afternoon. What could possibly go wrong? The story line was okay and I enjoyed the characters well enough; however, I would have loved it if the dogs would have been more involved. Sadly, they only played a small part.
(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!

"Expect a Miracle" by Jenny Long with Bob Der

Expect a Miracle by Jenny Long is a true story, but you really get two stories in this book.  Through the first half of this book, Jenny tells her story of growing up and it is a remarkable one!  Then we get to Conner and Cayden.  Their story will make you feel good.  They demonstrate the true meaning of brotherly love.  This is a short book that I am glad I read.  I would have liked it to be longer.
(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!

Great Military Books in Honor of Veterans Day

My husband isn't comfortable doing videos, but he gave it a shot when I asked him to talk about some of the military books he liked for Veterans Day.


Have you read any of these? 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:

At the peel of duct tape and the guttural noises of a struggle nearby, Lori's brain thundered awake with the horrible realization that the man above her was real.  Again, she thought of her husband and her son.

From page 9 of Every Second by Rick Mofina. (click link for my review--did it yesterday.)

To do this together, though, Conner would have to carry Cayden every step of the way, pulling him in a raft as he swam, wheeling him in a trailer attached to his bike and, finally, pushing him in a stroller over the finish line.  To me, it seemed impossible!

From page xii of Expect a Miracle by Jenny Long With Bob Der.

Karen's:

"So you want to have Arobynn kill the king, and what?  Put Dorian on the throne?  With a Valg demon inside him?"

From page 51 of Queen of Shadows 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 Second" by Rick Mofina is Quite a Thriller!

Every Second by Rick Mofina is about the Fulton family and their dog.  One night, their home is invaded and they are taken hostage!  The dad had better do what they want or he might not see his wife and son again.  When the police get involved, this book really takes off.

I enjoyed this because it has good action and kept my interest throughout.  When you think it is over, think again because it is not!
(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!

"Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix" by J. K. Rowling

As this series continues on with book 5, The Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling contains lots of action and adventure with the Ministry of Magic rejecting Harry's and Dumbledore's claims that you-know-who has returned, making them out to be "nutters" or liars.  The Order of the Phoenix is a group of wizards and witches who believe Dumbledore and Harry against the Ministry of Magic which begins fighting against them by replacing Dumbledore as headmaster of Hogwarts with Umbridge, a mean-hearted, witch that really has it in for Harry.  Luna Lovegood, Cho, Ginny Weasley and Neville all get more time in this book which added more interest as we get to know them better. 

The Weasley family plays a big part in this book and I love how Dumbledore comes to Harry's defense and is so good at knowing the rules of the Ministry of Magic that he gets Harry out of trouble several times.  I enjoyed how George and Fred both entertain everyone with their pranks and practical jokes.  Harry's Godfather, Sirius Black, also is a main character in this book.  Hermione provides sound advice and is obsessed with setting house elves free and improving their lives.  Another big part of this book that I liked very much was when Harry decided to share his knowledge of defense against the dark arts with other students when Hermione asked him to teach her and Ron when Umbridge took over as the Professor of the Defense against the Dark Arts.  All she did was tell them to read the text book and gave no time at all to practice of any kind.

Harry's best friend, Ron, gets to be a prefect which helps his self-esteem and he finds himself as the new keeper on the Gryffindor Quiditch team.  I felt bad that Hermione missed the one good game he had while going to meet Hagrid's brother in the forbidden forest.  The climax to this book was the big fight inside the Ministry of Magic which was awesome and the big secret revealed to Harry as to why you-know-who wants to kill him!

This book is full of action, adventure, revenge, mystery, fun and humor.  As with the others, I enjoyed this one too.  Hermione and Ron both have big parts in this and I really like Hermione so I was glad she had such a huge part.  I really liked how all the professors had lots of interaction with each other, Umbridge and the students in this book too.  I felt very sad for poor Harry when Umbridge was making his life miserable and preventing him from contacting Sirius and of course, the ending.  I didn't like that this book was SO big, over 800 pages because it was HEAVY!  I have to give this one 5 stars too because I was always eager to get back to it, I got so engrossed in it that the bus driver had to tell me we were at my stop, and I kept thinking about it even after it was over.
(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!

"All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely is Thought Provking

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely is about a young teen black boy who is in a store and when an incident happens, he has an encounter with a cop.  A white boy teen sees this who is friends with the cop.  Does he come forward and tell what he saw?  Did the black boy do anything wrong?

I thought this book was pretty good, but it's more of a thought provoking book than action.
(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: 3 Today

Gerard's:

I let out a wail, a sound that came from somewhere deep inside.  One I had never made before, coming from a feeling I had never felt before.

From page 22 of All American Boys by Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely.

Even as I ask the question, I know that there's something more, something they haven't told me yet.  Suddenly, I'm certain that something very bad has happened to me.

From page 17 of Faceless by Alyssa Sheinmel.

Karen's:

"Don' worry, it won' hurt yeh," said Hagrid patiently.  "Righ', now, who can tell me why some o' you can see them an' some can't?"

From page 446 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling. (870 pages so still reading this from last week)

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!

"Faceless" by Alyssa Sheinmel

Faceless by Alyssa Sheinmel is about Maisie, a junior in high school. She runs track and is so good her coach told her she could get a scholarship. While running one morning, she has a terrible accident. When she wakes up, she learns that she has been in the hospital for a very long time and has lost part of her face! She is able to get a face transplant but now when she wakes up, she sees a stranger in the mirror. How she handles that, her family, school and her friends makes up this book. I liked this book much more than I thought I would. Maisie was a very good character. I thought the story line moved well and I loved the ending! The other people in this book were well developed too. (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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

"The Day the Crayons Came Home" by Drew Daywalt

The  Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt is the sequel to the children's book, The Day the Crayons Quit.  I loved the drawings and some of the crayons' stories were pretty good, but I enjoyed the first book better. 
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

Here's what Karen's thought of it:
After reading The Day the Crayons Quit I thought this one would be as good, but was very disappointed in it.  The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt was such a disappointment that I didn't even finish reading it.  I thought it was just stupid and it didn't keep my interest enough to bother finishing it even though it is very short.  (1 star)

See our review of The Day the Crayons Quit.

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!

"Put a Ring on It" by Beth Kendrick (Updated)

Put a Ring On It by Beth Kendrick is a fluffy romance novel about Brighton, an insurance actuary with a passion for designing jewelry. Her fiancé who she is helping to pass his bar exam, breaks off their engagement and marries someone else. On the rebound, Brighton visits an old college friend and gets caught up in a whirlwind romance with Jake Sorenson, a very wealthy good-looking man. This book is about taking risks and following your passion.

I enjoyed this story as an entertaining read; however, did not care for how it treats marriage so lightly. It is absurd that both Brighton and Colin would marry someone they just met, but that’s what happens. I did like the ending very much though and would recommend it if you are looking for a light fun, entertaining romance novel.  I liked the cover although it is really misleading.  The dog in the book has a very small part and the cover led me to believe it was more about the dog than it is.  (Karen's review 10/29/15, 3 stars)


Put a Ring on It by Beth Kendrick is about Brighton Smith, a very rational young lady who is an insurance actuary that follows all the rules and knows them all too!  However, the morning her fiance breaks off their engagement, she does something unthinkable for her.  Will her act turn out okay and will this lead her life to somewhere she does not want to go?

This is a woman's book but I enjoyed it anyway.  The story flowed well and I liked Brighton.  The dog in it was good too!  Give it a chance.
(Gerard's review 10/21/15, 4 stars)

(We received this book free for a review and were not compensated.) 

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:

The coin was still rotating when four men in black uniforms appeared atop the stone stairs, an assortment of vicious weapons strapped to their bodies.  By the time the copper thudded on the table, the wyvern glinting in the dim light, Aelin Galathynius was ready for bloodshed.

From page 25 of Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas.



Karen's:

"This is a huge mistake," she said cheerfully.  "But you know, it's kind of exciting.

 From page 53 of Put a Ring on It by Beth Kendrick. 

A towering, hooded figure was gliding smoothly toward him, hovering over the ground, no feet or face visible beneath its robes, sucking on the night as it came.

Stumbling backward, Harry raised his wand.

From page 17 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling.

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!

"Deeply Devoted" (Blue Willow Brides Series) by Maggie Brendan

Deeply Devoted (Blue Willow Brides) by Maggie Brendan is a light romance about a mail-order bride from Holland to a farmer in Wyoming in the 1800s. Catherine answers Peter’s ad for a bride and they correspond for six months but neither make mention of certain things. When Catherine arrives with her two teenage sisters, Greta and Anna, Peter is very surprised but accommodates them all nonetheless. Peter’s mother is shocked when she finds out he is marrying Catherine because he never mentioned anything about it to her. His mother is suspicious of Catherine so hires a private investigator to check out her background and uncovers a secret she neglected to tell Peter.

I enjoyed reading this light historical fiction romance. It’s about trust in a marriage and how important it is to be honest with your spouse. I liked the younger sister, Anna, best though and her puppies. It’s a quick read.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

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

"Girl Waits With Gun" by Amy Stewart

Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart is based on a true story.  Constance Kopp and her two sisters are riding in their buggy one day when they are run down by a ruthless factory owner.  When the girls want their money to repair the damages, the owner balks and gets his gang ready to terrorize the girls to keep them quite about the accident, or else!

This book kept my interest and the girls are really good, especially Constance, who is enlisted to help the sheriff in the case.
(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!

"The Battle of our Age-Fighting for the Hearts and Minds of the Next Generation" by Bob Hoskins

The Battle of our Age-Fighting for the Hearts and Minds of the Next Generation by Bob Hoskins is a short booklet about a charity organization called OneHope that seeks to reach every child in the world with the Word of God. Bob Hoskins is the founder of OneHope and his passion is to see children’s lives transformed by God’s word. This booklet contains short stories of various children who have believed in Jesus through this ministry and have had their lives changed. Some were in poverty, in prison, had alcoholic parents, were in abusive situations but turned to Jesus when they read the Book of Hope about Jesus or saw other materials produced by OneHope.

I was very encouraged when I read this booklet and was pleased to learn about OneHope, an organization I wasn’t aware of. I enjoyed reading the stories and found the statistics mentioned staggering! I got this in the mail but you can learn more from their website at www.OneHope.net.
(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 - Four Today

Karen's:

Thank God we weren't able to whisk Tiffany away from that terrible situation we found her in, 15 years ago.  Think of the children whose lives Tiffany is touching now...where would they be without her?

From page 10 of The Battle of Our Age--Fighting For the Hearts and Minds of the Next Generation by Bob Hoskins. 


"So what do you think?" he said to his bride.  "I know it's probably not what you all were used to in Holland, but I think you'll be comforable here once you're settled."

From page 48 (Loc. 627 on Kindle) of Deeply Devoted (The Blue Willow Brides) by Maggie Brendan.


Gerard's:

There was only one thing to do, and she'd never done it before.  Not at work, not in college, not even in high school.

 From page 7 of Put a Ring on It by Beth Kendrick. 

Ordinarily, I would have considered getting run down by an automobile to be the worst sort of catastrophe that could befall the three of us.  But this was not to be an ordinary year.

From page 10 of Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart.

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!

"Black Ice" by Becca Fitzpatrick (UPDATED)

Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick is told by Britt who decides to do some mountain climbing with her girlfriend. When a bad snow storm forces them to seek shelter, they come to a cabin that has two young men in it.  When they are invited in, they soon become hostages!

I thought this book was very good!  I enjoyed the story line and the twists at the end that I did not see coming that really set the stage for the ending!
(Gerard's review, 10/9/15, 5++ stars)

Karen's review, 10/16/15, 4 stars:
Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick was a kind of fun read because the characters were all sort of strange. It is about Britt and Korbie, senior high girls, going to hike in the mountains during their spring break and stay at Korbie’s family’s cabin. Korbie’s older brother, Calvin who is very familiar with the mountains, was going to meet them there. He is also Britt’s ex-boyfriend who she is still obsessed with after 8 months. He stood her up on prom night and she has never forgiven him, so wants to impress him with her wilderness skills that she studied about in preparation for this trip. When they get caught in a snowstorm in the mountains and have no cell phone reception, they look for shelter and find a cabin with two guys in their early 20s who let them in.

The girls both seemed ditzy to me but it was kind of fun trying to guess who was the good guy of the three in the story. The story is far-fetched and I didn’t understand why Shane and Mason aka Ace/Jude were hostile towards the girls. They could have just been nice the whole time, the girls would have willingly shared their supplies and they could all leave after the storm. Even though I didn’t care for the main character because she was a big liar, immature for a senior, and a big flirt, I stuck with it and finished the book. It’s a light psychological thriller that did keep my interest and was entertaining.


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!