"The Dead Man" by Joel Goldman is 3 Mysteries in 1!

The Dead Man by Joel Goldman is about a former FBI agent, Jack who has a movement disorder that makes him shake. He takes a job as director of security at the Harper Institute of the Mind, working for an extremely rich man who has early stages of Alzheimer’s.  With the help of his landlady, an ex-cop, Jack finds himself investigating the deaths of two Dream Project volunteers who died, one suicide, one accident but what he believes to be murders connected with the institute.   The institute tries to help people who have bad nightmares be able to take control of what happens in them.

Jack's daughter, Wendy, who overdosed was believed to be involved with a drug ring and the FBI believes Jack knows what happened to the missing five million dollars they believe she had.  The mystery is what happened to the money.

The third mystery is who killed the parents of a little 10-yr.-old girl, Maggie while they were sleeping.  She got away by jumping from her bedroom balcony two-stories high.

This is a very complex mystery!  I figured out just one of the three.  There is a serial killer on the loose and lots of deaths in this book.  The title refers to the crime scene itself which gives the most evidence.  Jack is the main character and I liked him.  This is good from start to finish--I was never bored with it and recommend it to anyone who likes a good murder mystery!
(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!

Teaser Tuesday

Karen's:

She'd dreamed of this moment often.  The image of the killer was as hazy as it had been when she was ten years old, painting her cheeks with her parents' blood before she hurled herself off the balcony outside her bedroom, the killer never caught, never forgotten.


From page 6 of The Dead Man by Joel Goldman.


Gerard's:

"You have to protect on another.  If you're playing baseball and the leftfielder misses the ball, yes it hurts the team--but the ball isn't going to hit the rightfielder in the face.  Miss your assignment in football, do the wrong thing, and there's a good chance one of your guys will get walloped." 

From Page 23 of Lasting Impact by Kostya Kennedy.


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

Happy Reading!

"Lasting Impact" by Kostya Kennedy

Lasting Impact: One Team, One Season, What Happens When Our Sons Play Football by Kostya Kennedy covers the 2014 football season of New Rochelle High School in New York.  This book takes on more subjects than just the football team.  Some I liked, some not so much.  The best parts of this book for me was that I got to know the players and the parts that told about their coach, Lou Dirienzo.  I enjoyed this and if you like High School football, you will too!
(Gerard's review, 4.5 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 Second Half" by Lauraine Snelling

The Second Half by Lauraine Snelling is a contemporary inspirational fiction story about family trusting God through their struggles such as adjusting to retirement, raising grandchildren, dealing with depression. When Ken and Mona’s grown son, Steig, is deployed to Pakistan in the special forces, they become the legal guardians for his 9-yr.-old daughter and 5-yr.-old son whose mother abandoned them and gave up her parental rights. The grandparents and children look forward to skyping with Steig on Thursdays, but it never happens. One day they are informed that Steig is Missing in Action and they struggle to hold on to hope of seeing him come home.

I enjoyed this Christian fiction book, especially the everyday moments that made it very believable. I thought it was funny that Jake, the little boy, was afraid of dogs and cats and that his grandparents had one of each. It shows how one phone call can throw a monkey wrench into the best laid plans!  I highly recommend this to retirees or those nearing retirement.
(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!

"Watching Edie" by Camilla Way is a Good One!

In Watching Edie by Camilla Way, Edie was a little bit of a crazy girl in high school.  But she befriends Heather, a girl who has trouble of her own and no real friends.  However, when a boy named Conner comes along, Edie has time for him and him alone!!  Years later, Edie is at the lowest point in her life, alone and desperate when Heather shows up!  That's a good thing, right?

I thought this book was very good.  I went through a love/hate relationship with both Heather and Edie.  The writing was good too and it moved along at a good pace.  I recommend 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!

"The House of Secrets" by Brad Meltzer

In The House of Secrets by Brad Meltzer and Tod Goldberg, Hazel Nash was 6 years old when her dad told her mysteries must be found. Now Hazel’s dad is dead. Died in a car accident that Hazel and her brother were in also. Hazel now knows nothing of her past and she wants to find answers. I listened to this audio book and enjoyed it. The story moved along well and Hazel was a great character. I liked the great twist at the end that I did not see coming at all.
(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 Undoing of Saint Silvanus" by Beth Moore

The Undoing of Saint Silvanus by Beth Moore is her first fiction novel. It takes place in New Orleans and centers on a group of people who live in an old refurbished church. When Jillian gets a mysterious phone call from a woman who works for her grandmother telling her that her father is dead, she hops on a plane and finds her grandmother living at Saint Silvanus. Jillian’s mother does not get along with her mother-in-law and was not happy about Jillian going to see her. Some family secrets are revealed, Jillian finds herself in great danger when she gets involved with the wrong person but makes some good friends with the bunch at Saint Silvanus. Jillian is not a religious person but Adella, the woman who called her, is and managed to help Jillian and her grandmother mend their relationship. This novel is about how God can pick up the pieces of broken lives and put them together.

I thought this Christian fiction novel would have more humor but most of it was pretty dark. It moved along very slowly and some things didn’t make sense to me, like why all the flashbacks to when the church was actually a church. Nor did I understand if the father had money for Jillian to inherit, why he lived on the streets like a bum. I liked Adella the best because although she was the Christian in the book, she was presented in a good light and provided at least some humor with her wit and direct ways. I didn’t much care for Jillian, the main character, but liked her better as the book progressed. It certainly is quite a story and one I will probably remember because of the original plot.
(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!

"The Girl Before"

In The Girl Before by Rena Olsen, Clara Lawson lives with her husband Glenn.  She helps with the family business.  Then one day the FBI breaks in and Clara is separated from Glenn.  When she is asked questions, she starts to realize that maybe everything she thought was right was not so.

I enjoyed this book.  the story flowed really well and I felt for Clara.  This is going to be a movie!  I think you should check it out!  It has a real good ending 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!

Teaser Tuesday

Karen's:

"I wasn't looking for you to surprise me.  You tell me you've heard from the Wicked Witch of the South and tht Rafe is dead and some stranger has your personal contact information, and you want to know why I'm unnerved?"

From page 11 of The Undoing of Saint Silvanus by Beth Moore.

Okay, Lord, I don't want to worry about Steig, the kids, the celebration, Ken's retirement, and all the other stuff.  I want to trust You.

From page 29 of The Second Half by Lauraine Snelling.

Gerard's:

What I don't write is:  I'm so lonely in the world I want to peel all of my flesh off and walk, just bone and gristle, straight into the river, to be swallowed, just like my father.

From Page 27 of Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow.

There is a toilet in the corner of the room, but I only use it when I am sure it is nighttime.  I only know it is nighttime because they run the lights from dim to dimmer.

From page 8 of The Girl Before by Rena Olsen.

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

Happy Reading!

"Girl In Pieces" by Kathleen Glasgow

In Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow, Charlotte has seen a lot of loss in her 17 years.  She has a way to deal with it but to find out what that is, you will have to read the book!  Now her mom has given up on her, but she gets a chance to start fresh.  How does she do?

I really enjoyed watching Charlotte grow as this book went along to a real nice 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!

"Fast into the Night--a Woman, her Dogs, and their Journey North on the Iditarod Trail" by Debbie Moderow

Fast Into the Night by Debbie Clarke Moderow is a true story about Debbie and her dogs doing the Iditarod race in Alaska.  I really enjoyed how Debbie connects with her dogs.  This was the best part of the book to me.  I enjoyed it and thought Debbie told her story very well.
(Gerard's review, 4.5 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 Buried Book" by D. M. Pulley is Quite The Mystery! (UPDATED)

The Buried Book by D. M. Pulley takes place in the 1950s and is primarily about 9-yr.-old Jasper searching for his mother who was involved with some very bad men!  One day she just drops him off at his uncle's farm and leaves without saying where she was going or when she would be back. The poor kid misses her terribly and the book he finds in her old house gives him some ideas on where to start looking.

I thought this was really good because it kept my curiosity up wondering what happened to his mother and if he would ever see her again.  The title chapters also were pretty clever and wasn't sure who it was that was being interrogated.  I felt very bad for poor Jasper.  I thought it moved a little slow though and did not care for all the swearing in it.  
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Gerard liked it better:
In The Buried Book by D. M. Pulley,  9-yr.-old Jasper lives with his parents in Detroit.  His parents are not exactly hands on.  One day Jasper's mom takes him to his uncle and aunt's farm, leaving him there.  Now, Jasper has problems.  He has never lived on a farm and doesn't know when or if his mom is coming back.  Jasper wants answers and will do anything to get them.

I thought this book was very good!  Jasper is a great character and believe me, you do not know what is going to happen until the end.  The writing is that good!  Must Read!
(Gerard's review 9-1-16, 5++ stars)

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

Teaser Tuesday

Karen's:

"Promise me you'll keep him safe.  Don't let anything happen to him."

From page 6 of The Buried Book by D. M. Pulley.

Gerard's:

The boy stared long and hard.  Hazel eyes roaming her body, cool and narrowed.  The blade in her hand.

From Page 44 of Nevernight by Jay Kristoff.

The mere hint that I'm their hero spins everything out of control.  My stomach lurches and the snow beneath my feet rolls like a wave.

From page 8 of Fast into the Night by Debbie Clarke Moderow.

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

Happy Reading!

Both of Us Liked "Red Zone Rivals" by Eric Howling

In Red Zone Rivals by Eric Howling, Quinn Brown is a quarterback on his high school football team.  He knows what to do on the field, but he has to learn some life lessons too.  This is a very short book, just over 100 pages but still packs a wallop.  I enjoyed seeing Quinn grow as a man off the field and I am glad the author did not go to a predictable outcome.  This is a good read for sure!  (Gerard's review, 5 stars) 

(Karen's review 8-31-16, 5 stars):
Red Zone Rivals by Eric Howling is a quick inspirational teen read about Quinn Brown, a high school quarterback who discovers the new “nerd” in the school isn’t so nerdy after all and learns to think of others. Quinn’s new friend, Walker, shocks everyone when he makes the football team even though he can barely walk! Walker shows Quinn how to focus, tutors him in math, and helps him appreciate his dad. Quinn sticks up for Walker and gets the team to accept him. There is a lot of actual football too which is a plus!

I really enjoyed this book because Quinn improves as a player and as a human being. Walker is amazing and a very inspirational character. I really liked the coaching, football games and the good ending. The book moved along quickly and was interesting if you like football. I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about it.


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!

"Nevernight" by Jay Kristoff

In Nevernight by Jay Kristoff, Mia Corvere is a young girl whose father was executed for being a traitor and her mother put in chains.  Mia wants revenge in the worst way, but how?  She is befriended by an old man who put her in a place with the deadliest assassins on earth--Assassin School.  She must beat her fellow students to get revenge but can she?

I enjoyed this book a lot.  Mia is a great character and the story flowed along well.
(Gerard's review, 9/9/16, 5 stars)

Karen's thoughts:
This was a Did Not Finish one for Karen.  She barely started and gave up on it because of the writing, the narration was annoying for her (reminded her of The Book Thief which she did not care for either for the same reason.  She just couldn't get into it.

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!

"Under the Lights" by Abbi Glines

In Under the Lights by Abbi Glines, Willa, Gunner and Brady were childhood friends but now are all playing with problems in the same high school.  Can the bond they made as kids hold up?  The three main characters take turns telling the story.  I liked them all, but enjoyed Gunner the best.

This book was a bit slow at first (causing my wife to give up on it and move on to something else), but around mid-point, it really picked up.  I enjoyed the first book in this series better, but this one was also enjoyable for me.
(Gerard's review, 4.5 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

Karen's:

"If you are living here, that would be good to bear in mind," she advised.  "Sometimes life interferes with all our best intentions."

From page 24 of The Loyal Heart by Shelley Shepard Gray.

Gerard's:

"And you think he'll do this?"  Roosevelt looked at the photo and then handed it back to Strauss.

From Page 50 of The One Man by Andrew Gross.



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

Like My New Shirt?

Got this book shirt from Poland Banana's online store.  Christine is my favorite reviewer on YouTube/Booktube!  Life is good when my biggest problem is what book to read next!  This is my 19th wedding anniversary gift.



 Happy Reading!

"The One Man" by Andrew Gross is FANTASTIC!

In The One Man by Andrew Gross, a man has escaped after the Nazis have killed his family.  He is safe and is working to help the war effort to defeat the Germans, but would love to do more.  One day he is offered the chance to do just that, but this mission is next to impossible to pull off.

WOW!  You talk about a page turner--this book is FANTASTIC!  I flew through it!  The story is that good and the writing is outstanding!  This would make a very good movie.  LOVED 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!

Teaser Tuesday

Gerard's:
The dim picture of a darkened room came to him . . . There had been a snake on a hearth rug . . . a small man called Peter, nicknamed Wormtail . . . and a cold, high voice . . . the voice of Lord Voldemort.  Harry felt as though an ice cube had slipped down into his stomach at the very thought . . .

From page 17 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling.


She just hung her head and climbed into the car.  Through the open window, she whispered so Jasper might not hear, "Just keep him safe, okay?" 

From page 6 of The Buried Book by D. M. Pulley.

Karen's:

Quinn turned with the rest of the team to watch.  He couldn't believe what he saw.

From Page 52 of Red Zone Rivals by Eric Howling.

Escaping into books had been my only relief in life since that night my world changed.  I had read anything I could get my hands on while in the correctional facility.  

From page 50 of Under the Lights by Abbi Glines.


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat. 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 Mystery Box" by Eva Pohler

The Mystery Box by Eva Pohler is a suspenseful read that slowly builds, beginning with Yvette, a bored housewife.  One day Yvette meets her strange and mysterious neighbor, Mona, who lives in the house behind her when Yvette delivers a UPS package to Mona that had Yvette's address on it.  Mona begins telling Yvette her incredible life story.  Day after day, Yvette agrees to come and hear more.  Mona confides that she fell in love with a professor who had connections with the Taliban and had kept her prisoner.   Yvette is shocked when she finally realizes why Mona is telling her all this--it's not just because she is lonely.

I thought this was interesting right from the start but Yvette choosing to stay behind to hear more of Mona's story rather than join her family for a vacation didn't seem very realistic.  Yvette took her family for granted and I liked how once her life got shaken up, she yearned for things to go back to how they were before.  I didn't like Mona much at the beginning because she was engaged to a nice guy but cheated on him, falling for Ahmed Jaffar instead.  
(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!

"Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire" by J. K. Rowling is Fantastic!

This is the fourth book in the Harry Potter series.  The main story is the Triwizard tournament in this one.  This book started out kind of slow for me--I did not really get into it until after the first 100 pages.  It is a long book though (734 pages) so with my wife's encouragement, I kept reading and am glad I did.  I did not think there was much interaction between the kids as I would have liked.  I was hoping for more Quidditch games.  However, the tournament was good, especially the last challenge!  What I really enjoyed was when HArry and Voldemort had a battle.  That was like "WOW"!  I could hardly turn the pages fast enough!  That more than saved the book for me--on to Number 5!
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)  

Karen's review 10/14/15, 5 stars:
Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire is the fourth book in this series which kept me turning pages. It is full of mystery, excitement, adventure, humor and suspense! The beginning is kind of light with Harry getting to attend the World Quidditch match with the Weasleys and Fred and George Weasley have a bigger role in this book. They add a bit of fun to the story! Hermione was even getting on my nerves with her campaign to free the house elves. I really was surprised Ron took so long to ask her to the dance. Harry is chosen by the Goblet of Fire to enter the champion inter-school competition in spite of his age. Someone secretly entered his name but why? Talk about unexpected twists and turns? This book has them! How is that reporter getting her information and how is Hermione going to get her revenge? When Harry is entered into the interschool Triwizard Tournament, his friends help him prepare for the tasks. I did not guess who entered Harry’s name even after I learned why someone did it. Near the end when Harry was in major danger fighting for his life, I felt so sorry for him.

I loved this book and especially enjoyed the dog visit at the end! I was sad when Ron and Harry weren’t speaking but loved how the friendship between them and Hermione further developed in this book. Goblet of Fire made me laugh but also kept me wondering what was going to happen next. I highly recommend this series, the creativity and writing is amazing! It is very 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!

"Behind Closed Doors" by B. A. Paris (The Perfect Marriage or the Perfect Lie?)

Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris was a psychological thriller that was better than I expected.  I certainly felt sorry for Grace because of the monster she married.  He completely had her fooled to get at her sister, Millie who has Down Syndrome. 

I enjoyed this book and was eager to see how Grace was going to manage to get away from her husband, Jack and save her sister.   There are a lot of mind games going on in this book and liked that there was no graphic violence or sex scenes.  The only thing I didn't care for was the organization of the book because it jumped back and forth between the present and the past all the way through which I found annoying. 
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Gerard's review 8/20/16, 5 stars:
In Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris, Grace is in the park with her sister, Millie.  Millie is a special needs person and Grace takes to caring for her after their parents reject her.  In the park one day, Jack befriends Millie and begins to romance Grace.  When Jack asks Grace to marry him, she knows better days are coming for her and Millie.

I found this thriller to be a real page turner.  The story goes back and forth in time but that only builds up the suspense.  As the author's first book, I say it is very well done!


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!

"You Will Know Me" by Megan Abbott

In You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott, Katie and Eric Knox have a daughter, Devon, who is a gymnastics prodigy.  For Katie and Eric, they will do anything they can to make sure Devon can follow her dream.  However, when a death happens and rumors begin, will Katie be able to keep it all together?  I thought this book was pretty good.  The story was good enough with a surprise ending and the characters were very believable.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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

Tuesday Teasers

Gerard's:
"It's all over.  My life's over," Devon said, looking up at Katie, her hand shaking slightly as she pushed back a stray strand from her ponytail.

From page 33 of You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott.


'Do I detect a renewal of your fighting spirit?  I'm so glad.  To tell the truth, I've been getting quite bored.' 

From page 66 of Behind Close Doors by B. A. Paris.
Karen's:

Sometimes I told my boyfriends about her from the beginning, sometimes--if I liked them a lot--I said that I had a younger sister who was away at school but only mentioned that she had Down's syndrome a few weeks into the relationship.  Some, when I told them, didn't know what to say and didn't stay around long enough to say anything much at all.

From Page 21 of Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris.

 Yvette was twenty-four, teaching college composition, alone in the world until she met Devin a few months later.  She supposes she never had to grow a backbone, because she went from living in the start shadow of her mother's tyranny to the easy, pampered wife of a successful businessman--that is, until they had children and her life became a whirlwind, a spinning hamster wheel.  

From page 37 (Loc. 498) of The Mystery Box:  The Mystery Book Collection by Eva Pohler.  (reading on Kindle)

For two thousand years most people haven't quite been able to figure out the answer.  But the whole world is intrigued.

From page Loc. 104 of Jesus, an Obedient Son by Michael Phillips. (read on Kindle)


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

Jesus, an Obedient Son by Michael Phillips

Jesus, an Obedient Son by Michael Phillips focuses on realizing and appreciating the humanity of Jesus and surrendering our will to God’s as Jesus surrendered his will to the Father. Michael Phillips rapidly gives the reader an overview of the life of Christ through the unique perspective of putting himself into the gospels and viewing the events as another disciple. Then he continues in a more preachy mode to emphasize the need to deny oneself and follow God’s will every day. He lists specific things Jesus told his disciples to do and also talks how Jesus came to be an example of how we should live our lives. It emphasized that we are to be obedient children of God by submitting our will to His, asking what He wants us to do and then doing it.

The first part of the book was written in an interesting way. This is a quick read that is very thought provoking and challenges the reader to search his own heart in regards to following Jesus. (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!

"Ruby--Between the Cracks" by P.D. Workman

In Ruby--Between the Cracks by P.D. Workman, you will meet a young girl named Ruby.  From a very young age, she had to make choices; unfortunately, most of them were wrong ones.  We follow her as she grows up and there is never a dull moment with this girl!  I also found the people in her life interesting.  Some tried to help while others tried to take advantage of her.

I enjoyed this book because the story moved along well and the characters were very believable!
(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!

"Harmony" by Carolyn Parkhurst is About Living in Harmony With Special Needs Kids

Harmony by Carolyn Parkhurst is about the Hammond family, Josh, Alexandria and their two daughters, Iris and Tilly. Tilly is a 13-yr-old somewhere on the autism spectrum whose “special interest” is statues and who has a quick temper, no filter and is fairly smart with a good imagination. When the mother is near wits end from daily episodes with Tilly, she attends a workshop by Scott Bean for help. She starts listening to his tapes and even arranges a personal consultation. When Tilly gets kicked out of the school for special needs children, the mother suggests to Josh that they consider helping Scott Bean run Camp Harmony – a new endeavor for families with a special needs child. Scott is an educator who gives parents advice and through the summer, different families can attend the camp for a week. Three families agreed to help Scott run it and help with all the chores that need to be done.

This is an interesting and sometimes funny read. I liked it overall and was able to overlook the foul language which was part of Tilly’s problem. Most of the book is told from Iris’s perspective with some chapters interspersed showing Tilly’s thoughts and some that give the background on their family, particularly the mother’s dealings with Tilly, before leaving DC for the camp in New Hampshire. This gives insight into some struggles families with special needs kids may have, but also shows the tender moments too. The ending was sad and quite a shock—not what I expected. My favorite part was the interaction among the kids at the camp and between Tilly and Iris.
(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!