Giveaway: "You Killed Wesley Payne" by Sean Beaudoin

We received an advanced copy of "You Killed Wesley Payne" by Sean Beaudoin and will pass it along to one of our readers who would like to have it.  Here is the summary from the back cover and the book trailer:

You Killed Wesley Payne is a truly original and darkly hilarious update of classic pulp noir, in which hard-boiled seventeen-year-old Dalton Rev transfers to the mean hallways of Salt River High to take on the toughest casde of his life. The question isn't whether Dalton's going to get paid. He always gets paid. Or whether he's gonna get the girl. He always sometimes gets the girl. The real question is whether Dalton Rev can outwit crooked cops and power-hungry cliques in time to solve the mystery of "The Body" before it solves him.

If you would like this teen fiction book, please leave a comment with an email address so we can contact you should you be the winner.  We will pick the winner of this giveaway on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011.

"Up From The Blue" by Susan Henderson

I find it hard to believe that Up From The Blue is Susan Henderson’s first book.  I really liked it!  Up From The Blue is about a Colonel’s daughter who one day finds that her mom is missing.  When she finds her mother, that is when the book really picks up steam.  All the characters are portrayed very well:  the dad, the brother and the mother and daughter.  Up From The Blue is a real page turner!  I’ll be looking for Ms. Henderson’s next work for sure!  I give this 10 stars and definitely recommend it!
(Gerard's review)

Karen read this one too after Gerard finished it and didn't like it near as much as Gerard:
Up From The Blue by Susan Henderson is just a very sad book about a family who is really unconnected with each other.  The girl is 8, the boy is 12 and neither really feels loved.  The dad is a military man who is at his wits end when it comes to helping his wife.  She is depressed all the time and he just hides it from everyone, telling the kids not to talk about her.  It‘s a story of putting on an act and hiding true feelings.  I felt bad for each one in the family.  It reminded me of The Glass Castle except that was non-fiction.  Told from the little girl’s point of view, the reader doesn’t get the full story until the girl does.  Although it is an interesting read, I didn’t care for it because it was just so depressing--no one in the family felt good enough. 
(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

Love My Bookplates From Susan Faye!

My Book Stickers That I Won!

I happened to see a giveaway for some cute "This Book Belong To" stickers when visiting 365 Cat Ladies and Friends so decided to enter and won!  I just got these a couple days ago and today chose which books to put them into.  I picked books that I felt I may lend out sometime or that I am sure I will keep and not sell or give away.  Here are the books I put them into:

You can visit Susan Faye's Etsy shop and get some for your books too for just $5.00 or a number of other cool things too!

"Crystal Clear Triumph" by Eric LeMarque

Crystal Clear Triumph by Eric LeMarque is the true story of Eric who dreamed to become a hockey player.  He was also hooked on Meth.  When his dream to be a hockey player died, he turned to snowboarding.  He got stuck on a mountain for six days!  How he survived is an extraordinary tale.  He lost both of his feet.  What he did with the rest of his life is the story of this book.  I won't give it all away, but it is inspirational!  A good quick read.
(Gerard 5/26/09)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"The Power Of Half" by Kevin and Hannah Salwen

This video was made by the brother in the book explaining about their family project which the book is all about.

The Power of Half by Kevin and Hannah Salwen is an inspirational true story about how their family lived with less to make a sizable contribution to really make a difference for a lot of people.  Hannah the teen daughter, co-author of this book, had a deep desire to help people less fortunate than her and was instrumental in getting her family to take a trip to Africa to actually see the people they were going to help with their donation to The Hunger Project.  The parents wanted to get their children to be more involved in their charitable decision making so agreed to go along with Hannah’s suggestion to down-size, sell their $1.95 million home and give half to charity. 

This book was written to encourage families to be more involved in helping others and share their story on how they did it.  It in no way recommends that everyone sell their home and move into a smaller one like they did.  Kevin, the father, summarizes the benefits their family experienced by going through the process of deciding how much to give, what charity to give it to and down-sizing by getting rid of a lot of things they didn’t need.  Through this process his family drew closer, communicated on a deeper level, enjoyed having a common goal to work towards, and an increased respect for each other.  His teens became more self-confident and developed leadership skills. 

One of the key points in the process that really gave the teens ownership of the project was to give every family member an equal vote in the decision making.  It was interesting to see the inner workings of this family and how they worked together.  I thought they should have actually sold their house first and then decided what to do with the money instead of promising the money to a charity before the house even sold.  You can visit their website at www.thepowerofhalf.com.  Some other suggested websites mentioned in the book are:  www.rebuiildingtogether.org, www.sharesavespend.com, www.handsonnetwork.org.

I liked Hannah’s heart but found myself plowing through the book to finish it.  I recommend it to parents who are looking for a way to unite their family and draw them closer or to anyone looking for help on how to get their children to be less selfish. 

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Half A Life" by Darin Strauss is a "Must Read"

Half A Life is a memoir of Darin Strauss, who at age 18 while driving, had a car accident that killed a girl.  This book is good; read it in two days.  It was hard to put down because I never read anything like it before.  It is all about how Darin handled what happened.  I kept thinking about what if I did this?  Half A Life is an outstanding and a memorable read.  The writing is superb!  I highly recommend it!  (10 stars)
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

Tuesday Teaser: "The Power Of Half" and "Half A Life"

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following:          

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser. 

We have two non-fiction teasers for you today:
Karen's:

She started talking slowly, thinking as she went.  "Dad," she began, "if that man"--she pointed to the Mercedes--"had a less nice car, that man there"--she pointed to the homeless man--"could have a meal."

Taken from p. 24 of One Family's Decision To Stop Taking And Start Giving Back--the Power of Half by Kevin Salwen and Hannah Salwen

Gerard's:

What I want to write is that I lay there until morning, with tear-stained eyes, a tear-stained pillow, a tear-stained life.  What can one do with levels of gloom and guilt, fear and disbelief, of bewilderment above one's capacity to register?  I slept soundly.

Taken from p. 30 of Half A Life by Darin Strauss (My review of this will be posted tomorrow.)

Meet Us On Monday

Here's the questions from last week's meme hosted by Never Growing Old to help our readers get to know us better so sometimes we'll post it on this blog, and sometimes on our Right Where We Belong personal blog.

Questions:

1.  Do you like your ice cream in a dish, waffle cone, pretzel cone, sugar cone or cake cone?

Gerard likes his in a bowl. Karen likes it all those ways! My favorite flavor is Turkey Hill's chocolate marshmallow. Related posts: Grab A Spoon And Meet Me For Ice Cream and I Made Ice Cream Cake, Cereal On Ice Cream

2.  Do you read the newspaper daily?

Moe, our first cat reading paper with Gerard

Gerard does but Karen usually reads it every day except Sunday. Related posts: "How Do You Read The Newspaper?",
Poop Bags,
Interview Your Pet

3.  Marinara or meat sauce? We both like Marinara better.


4.  Last time you cried?

A Very Sad Day when 3 cats had to be put down

Gerard doesn't remember when he last cried but Karen cried Jan. 1 of this year when I read on Mountain Woman's blog that she had to have her beloved dog, Faeden put down over the holidays. Having our first cat die on New Year's Eve of 2007 and having to have three of my dad's cats put down, I empathize with anyone experiencing this. I know Mountain Woman had a very special long-lasting bond with Faegen. He had bone cancer and was in great pain. Related post: Sylvester Went Out A Champ

5.  What word/phrase do you find really annoying?
Gerard's is "It is what it is." Karen's is: "At the end of the day."

"On Tall Pine Lake" by Dorothy Garlock

On Tall Pine Lake by Dorothy Garlock is quite an action-packed adventure for Nona Conrad and her sister, Maggie, and good friend Mabel that takes place at a fishing campgrounds in Arkansas.  This is a fast-paced novel involving criminal activity that the reader is let in on as well as some the reader is left to figure out.  There is suspense, some mystery and some romance in the novel.  It is a quick read because it keeps your interest with all the action in it that makes you eager to see what will happen next.  As Nona had a hard time deciding who she should trust, so does the reader.  The theme is basically that some people will do just about anything for money.

(Karen's 3/25/09)


Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"The Four Stages Of Cruelty" by Keith Holliman

The Four Stages Of Cruelty by Keith Holliman gives a realistic view of a prison through the eyes of a female prison guard.  She was my favorite character.  This is a good story with a surprising twist at the end.   (5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Zoo Story: Life In the Garden Of Captives" by Thomas French

Zoo Story by Thomas French is a documentary about Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo.  It gives the reader a behind-the-scenes look at the struggles of zoo directors, zookeepers, and the animals in captivity have.  By reading Zoo Story, I learned some interesting facts about elephants, chimpanzees, seahorses, frogs, monkeys, and tigers.  Zoo Story shares both funny and sad stories about the zoo, including how dangerous it can be to be a zookeeper.  Zookeepers put in long hours for little pay, but the benefit is that they become attached to the animals in their care and develop relationships with them.  My favorite part was the story of Herman, the chimpanzee, and getting a peek at what it’s really like being a zookeeper. 

 

Here is a quote that stood out to me:

 

Against all this logic, some staff members still wished sometimes there was some way they could let the animals go.

 

“Any good keeper absolutely feels a guilty conscience,” a veteran on the staff confided one evening after Lowry Park was closed.   “‘There are definitely days when you walk in and you look at the animals, and you say, “I wish they didn’t have to be here.’”  p. 59

 

Although not a “page-turner,” Zoo Story is a worthwhile read if you like animals and enjoy visiting zoos like us.  I just skipped over the boring parts about PETA and some of the other political details.  It seems as though certain groups are completely against zoos in general and just look for things to pick at.  Overall, I enjoyed Zoo Story and have a better understanding about conservation.  

(Karen's review)

What a wonderful book!  Zoo Story by Thomas French is the story of Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo.  You will just love the stories Thomas French tells about the animals and the humans in charge of taking care of them.  I loved this book!  If you are an animal lover and like going to the zoo, this is the book for you!  Great read!

Karen and I are both members of the Cleveland Zoo and go often.  My favorite animal is the tiger and Karen's is the red panda and the monkeys.  This book gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the zoo.  There is so much to zoos that we don't see.  I learned a lot more about animals and also about zookeepers when I read Zoo Story.

(Gerard's review July 2009)

What is your favorite zoo animal?   

Here are some posts we did about our Cleveland zoo you may enjoy:

Welcome To The Cleveland Zoo 2008

Things We Learned At The Cleveland Zoo Saturday

A Visit To The Cleveland Zoo In Winter

Creature Comfort Day At The Cleveland Zoo 2008

Harry and Brookside Park, Now The Cleveland Zoo

"The Boy In The Striped Pajamas" by John Boyne

Don't Miss This One!  (100 stars)
I could have The Boy In The Striped Pajamas in just one day!  This book is about a 9-yr-old boy named Bruno whose father becomes the commandant of a Nazi death camp for Jews.  Bruno becomes friends with one of the Jewish boys there named Shmuel.  What a powerful story this is!!  The ending really shook me to the core.  It was also made into a move.  Here is the link to view clips: 

(Gerard's review 3/20/09)

This is a sad story about two lonely boys who befriend each other through a fence of a concentration camp. It is told from Bruno's (the Commandant's son) perspective which is very innocent in contrast to the awfulness of the Holocaust. Both boys are the same age but one lives very well and the other is in a death camp. It shows how unfair life is and has a shocking ending, yet Bruno's words that Shmuel is now his best friend for life came true. Bruno was an adventurous boy who was curious what life was like on the other side of the fence. He loved his father and knew that it couldn't be too bad if his father was in charge. I can't express all that this book encompasses. It's a great book that you will long remember.
(Karen's review 3/20/09)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"The Lock Artist" by Steve Hamilton Deserves The Hype

"The Lock Artist" lives up to the hype! Now I know why this book made the top 10 teen books of the year.  It’s that good!  The lock artist, Michael, tells the story.  He has two special things that make him unusual:  (1) he does not speak out loud; (2) he can open up any lock.  The writing is very good.  I got into it right away!  Both story lines kept my interest.  I was “locked” into this book!  I give this 10 stars and highly recommend it!
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Perfect Chemistry" by Simone Elkeles Is Great!

What a fun read “Perfect Chemistry” by Simone Elkeles is!  I enjoyed reading Perfect Chemistry very much because it was such a cute high school romance story about the “perfect” pom-pom girl, Brittany Ellis, and the Latino Blood gang member, Alex, who had the reputation for being the most dangerous guy in school.  The Fairfield high school is cross cultural with the uppity rich kids from the North and the poor drug-dealing gang members from the south.  The Chemistry teacher and principal are determined to get the kids to learn from each other.   

When Brittany and Alex are paired together as partners in Chemistry it takes them awhile before they feel comfortable with each other to actually work together.  Although the plot is simplistic and predictable, it’s a fun read because of the characters, the humor and a great ending.  I liked Alex better than Brittany because he seemed to have more love and respect for his family than Brittany had for her parents.

Alex also struggled with deeper decisions whereas Brittany’s biggest decision was which guy she should go with—the jock that everyone expected her to like or Alex who she was attracted to and really liked.  I think the author did a good job at presenting both sides of Brittany and Alex—their caring and loving natures as well as the superficial ones they presented to the world.

I really liked this book because I like stories about teens, school and interesting characters.  Brittany and Alex discovered that stereotypes are not always right and were surprised to discover that they had more in common than they would have ever imagined as they got to know each other better and actually became friends and lovers.  This book addresses the issues of image, popularity, premarital sex, family, dealing with cerebral palsy, judging by appearances, teaching and gangs.  I didn’t care for the foul language interspersed throughout the book or the fact that premarital sex was taken so lightly, but it reflected the general attitude of most high schoolers.  I am so glad I read Perfect Chemistry and highly recommend it to anyone who likes YA fiction/romance.     
(Karen's review)


I discovered this one at Miss Page-Turner's city of Books
Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

Tuesday Teasers: "Perfect Chemistry" and "The Lock Artist"

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following:          

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser. 

Karen's:

It'd be cool if God gave everyone a DoOver Day and you cuold yell "Do Over!" and the day would start new.  This would definitely qualify for a DOD.

Does Mrs. Peterson actually think it's reasonable to pair the captain of the pom-pom squad with the most dangerous guy in school?  The woman is delusional.

From p. 25 of "Perfect Chemistry" by Simone Elkeles.  (review coming tomorrow)

Gerard's:

My head was pounding.  I couldn't breathe.

For the first time, I had tried to open a lock, and I had failed.

From p. 130 of The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton

Meet Us On Monday

Here's the questions from last week's meme hosted by Never Growing Old to help our readers get to know us better so sometimes we'll post it on this blog, and sometimes on our Right Where We Belong personal blog.


1.  Have you (only you..not a group) ever won first place in anything?
2.  Are your toes always painted (sorry guys...this question for girls only)?
3.  What color eyes do you have?
4.  Look to your left....what do you see?
5.  Soft cookies or crunchy cookies?

1.  Karen won first place for her green peppers she grew in her garden at her elementary school.  Gerard never won first place in anything as an individual but we did as a team both in bowling and volleyball.

2.  Never paint my toenails because I always wear socks and shoes.

3.  We both have big brown eyes.

4.  To the left is our cat, Manny, right is our cat Spunky Doodle.  They always come when I'm on the computer.

Manny on my Left

Spunky Doodle on my Right

5.  Karen prefers the soft, Gerard prefers the crunchy.  Speaking of cookies, I ordered four boxes of Girl Scout cookies.  Have you ordered yours yet?

"Sabrina" by Lori Wick

Prostitute to Preacher's Wife, a story of Deliverance and Transformation

Sabrina by Lori Wick is a Christian historical romance book that is fairly predictable and contains a lot of scripture, including the plan of salvation. Sabrina, the main character, was a prostitute who is befriended by the sheriff and his wife who share God's plan of salvation with her and help her get out of prostitution. She leaves town and starts a new life, supporting herself by being a seamstress and working in a mercantile. She tries to help other prostitutes and finds love in her new town.

Sabrina promotes compassion and forgiveness, but pretty predictable although it leaves some loose ends. The author did not go into a lot of detail when handling the prostitution aspect of this story. I enjoyed reading it.
(Karen's review 4/7/09)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"No Daddy, Don't" by Irene Pence

No Daddy Don’t by Irene Pence is a shocking non-fiction story about how John Battaglia killed two of his children and the trial afterward.  It gives all the background that led up to the day he did it.  It’s a good read!  I especially enjoyed the trial part of the book!
(Gerard's Review)

We discovered this book over at Reading, Reading & LIfe.  Check out that review too!

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

What Fairy Tale Are You?

Just thought it's time for a fun post to take a little break so I thought this would be a good quiz for our readers.  Karen is Cinderella:

You Are Cinderella

You believe it's important to do the right thing, even if you aren't rewarded for it. (Absolutely!) Not everyone treats you with respect, but good people see your goodness. (Fortunately, most people I think do respect me, especially my husband!) You've had a lot of bad luck, but these days it feels like you luck is about to change. (I don't really feel like this is true. I've been very blessed and know that God is in control of everything that comes into my life. I don't believe in luck at all.) Even though times are tough, hang in there. You'll eventually get the life you justly deserve. (I think my life is good right now and live one day at a time, enjoying each day as a gift from God and trying to make the most of it.)

Click this link to see What Fairy Tale Are You?

Please let us know your results in the comments and if it got you right. This one didn't really match up to me but sometimes they are right on.

"Die For You" by Lisa Unger

Die For You by Lisa Unger is the story of an author, Isabel Raine, whose husband disappears and she launches into her own investigation to figure out what happened.  Fiction writers make pretty good detectives.  She loves her husband and does not hesitate to go looking for him even though it puts her in great danger.  Die For You is a fast-paced novel about trust, love, marriage, forgiveness, betrayal and identity theft. 

 

This is one of those books that is difficult to put down because of the mystery and suspense created from the start.  I liked the insight the author gives into four different marriages, the excitement of the mob involvement, the trip to Prague and the theme of trust and forgiveness that runs through the book.   The lesson taught in this book is to get to know someone well before you marry them!  

(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Dogwood" by Chris Fabry

Dogwood by Chris Fabry is a short novel that I found a bit hard to follow at first.  It got off to kind of a slow start but takes some unexpected turns along the way that made for interesting reading.  It’s about Will who is in love with a girl from high school that he decides is worth waiting for, even though it means being an ex-con and returning to his small hometown in West Virginia which doesn’t want him back.

This book is about illusions.  Things are not what they seem.  I’m glad I finished it because it did get good at the end and was hard to put down; however, overall, I really didn’t care much for this one.  I’d be curious to hear what others think of it.  It’s not your usual crime mystery or romance, that’s for sure!   Discussion questions are included--could be a book club read.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"The Convent" by Panos Karnezis

The Convent by Panos Karnezis is an excellent read that I really enjoyed!  It is about an order of Nuns in a remote convent whose lives are dedicated to prayer and our Lord.  Then one day, a baby is left on their doorstep and everything changes.  The thing I liked most about this book is how the reader finds out about all the Nuns’ past lives a little at a time.  It is only 212 pages but once you are into it, it’s almost impossible to put down!  Give it a shot--I’m really glad I did! (9 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

Tuesday Teaser: "Dogwood" and "The Convent"

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following:          

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser. 

Karen's:

I wanted to crumple the paper and write something else, something about her counting the days until I was free.  But that wouldn't be fair to either of us, and I knew, like with the farm kittens I held as a child, the more you cling to an animal, the more it wants its freedom.  I have claw marks in my memory to prove that.

Taken from p. 68 of Dogwood by Chris Fabry.  (I just finished this so the review will be up Thursday)

Gerard's:

When she was alone, she sat on the edge of the bed and continued to watch the sleeping baby in silence. This was one of the rare occasions in her life when she did not know what to do.

Taken from p. 3 of The Convent by Panos Karnezis. An excellent read. I just finished it and my review will be up tomorrow.

Meet Us On Monday

We thought you might like to get to know us better so we will do this meme now and then hosted by Never Growing Old. Here's the questions from last week because I work so don't have time to do these posts on Monday mornings.

Questions:

1.  Do you have any New Year's resolutions?
2.  What food item are you craving right now?
3.  When is your birthday?
4.  What were you doing an hour ago?
5.  Last thing you cooked?

1. Our New Year's resolutions are:

• Read 100 books each in 2011. Last year Gerard read 98 and Karen read 89.
• Do something fun every week--preferably every day but want to keep this doable.
• Try two new things, go to 4 new places in 2011.
• Donate $25 to sponsor a dog at Best Friends on a bi-monthly basis.
• Work out at least three times a week.
• Karen: Take more breaks from the computer. I sit entirely too much which isn't healthy. Gerard is always on the go, he walks around all day at work. (When I do read on breaks at work, I walk as I read.)
• Give up the donuts.
• Be a blessing to someone each day.
Here's how we did last year: How Did You Do On Last Year's Resolutions?

Christmas Dinner 2010

2. I'm not craving any food at the moment. I just had cereal two hours ago.

3. Our birthdays are both the first half of December, just 10 days apart.

4. An hour ago, Gerard was walking our dog, Abby and Karen was working on our blogs.

5. Last thing Karen cooked was scrambled eggs in the microwave and Gerard last cooked sloppy Joes for our Christmas dinner.  Karen bought those reindeer double-decker cookies with the chocolate frosting. We usually don't cook.

"The Way Back To Mayberry—Lessons From A Simpler Time" by Joey Fann

The Way Back To Mayberry—Lessons From A Simpler Time by Joey Fann is a nostalgic trip back to the “Andy Griffith Show” from the 60s, but with lessons we can learn from 30 different episodes to apply to our life today.  The author, Joey Fann, uses specific episodes to illustrate a point and take it further to reflect on how God can be at work in similar situations in our lives today by sharing from his own experiences.  Each episode is connected to some scripture which the author has included to give each lesson a spiritual application.  Some churches throughout the country have used Finding The Way Back To Mayberry as material for informal Bible classes. 

For those unfamiliar with the show, Mayberry is a small, quiet town and Andy is the Sheriff.  The show was just about everyday life and experiences that happened in the small town and in the lives of the different characters.  Andy’s son, Opie, is often the one to learn the lessons, but also is the one who is first to “get” it. 

Here is a quote from one of my favorite episodes, “What’s Your Hurry?”:

Consider .. . consider how we live our lives today.  Everything is run, run, run.  We bolt our breakfast, we scan the headlines, we race to the office.  The full schedule and the split second:  these are our gauges of success.  We drive ourselves from morn to night.  We have forgotten the meaning of the word relaxation.  What has become of the old-fashioned ways, the simple pleasures of the past?

I don’t know about you, but this sure sounds a lot like our life.  The chapters are short so this could easily be used as a family devotional book.  This was a fun read for me because I used to watch the show.  Goober, the auto mechanic in the show, wrote the foreword.  I think anyone who enjoyed the "Andy Griffith Show" would like The Way Back To Mayberry—Lessons From A Simpler Time and those who haven’t seen the show would find this book wholesome and inspirational. 

(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Insane Train" by Sheldon Russell -- A Wild Read

I enjoyed the ride!  Insane Train by Sheldon Russell tells the story of a detective named Hook, whose job it is to safe guard a train of patients from an insane asylum to Oklahoma.  As you can imagine, not everything goes as planned.  This is a fun mystery that will keep you guessing who the killer is.  I enjoyed it.  I give it 7 stars.  Did you see my teaser for this one?

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"A Very Simple Crime" by Grant Jenkins

Wow!  What a twist at the end in A Very Simple Crime by Grant Jenkins.  This is about two brothers, Adam and Monty.  One day Adam comes home after a weekend escape with someone not his wife to find his wife dead.  The only other person home was their mentally impaired son who is known for violent outbursts.  When Adam is charged with murder, Monty becomes his lawyer. 

A Very Simple Crime goes very fast.  I got into it quickly and found it hard to put down.  I was only going to give it a 7 plus rating, but the twist at the end boosted it up to a 10!  Yes, it’s that good!  I enjoyed it a lot!
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Rules" by Cynthia Lord: A Good First Read Of 2011

I finished this on New Year's Eve and really enjoyed Rules by Cynthia Lord a lot.  This book is about a 12-yr.-old girl named Catherine who has a brother with Autism.  He lives by a set of rules.  Catherine also has a relationship with a wheelchair-bound boy named Jason.  This is a fast read and very believable for a fiction book.  Well done, Ms. Lord, your first book is okay by me.
(Gerard's Review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"What A Difference A Dog Makes" by Dana Jennings

Dog lovers like me will love this one!  What A Difference A Dog Makes by Dana Jannings tells the true story of Bijou, a poodle who helps his master through a bout with cancer.  If you own a dog you will relate very well to this book.  Cute stories and Bijou is still alive!  Always a good thing!  Quick read, only 187 pages.  I give it 5+ stars.
(Gerard's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Last Dog On The Hill" by Steve Duno

At Where Is My Mind I found this "Review In Five" meme that fits Gerard's short reviews perfectly. You just say five things about a book like this:

 1.  It is the true story about Steve Duno befriending a dog.

2.  The dog's name is Lou.

3.  Steve and Lou have a great bond of friendship.

4.  Steve trained Lou well and Lou taught Steve a few things too.

5.  Last Dog On The Hill by Steve Duno is a good read if you like stories about dogs and the human-animal bond.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

Tuesday Teasers From "The Insane Train" and "The Way Back To Mayberry"

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should  Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just do the following:          

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on  that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away!   You don’t  want  to  ruin the  book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can  add the book to their TBR  Lists  if they  like your teaser. 

Gerard's:

"Now," he said, tugging at his nose, which had now disappeared altogether, "about this proposition. You're telling me you want to hire on as security to help transport mental patients from California to Oklahoma?"

from p. 74 of The Insane Train by Sheldon Russell (The review will be posted Saturday (1/8/11) for this one)


Karen's:

Because of his appearance and social status, Rafe never had a chance with the mayor and Mrs. Jeffries. Look at what they missed--a warm, funny, and talented individual. It makes you wonder about the relationships we may miss because we are too quick to judge people on external appearances.

From p. 33 of The Way Back To Mayberry: Lessons From A Simpler Time by Joey Fann

"I'm Outnumbered! One Mom’s Lessons in the Lively Art of Raising Boys by Laura Lee Groves

I’m Out numbered!:  One Mom’s Lessons in the Lively Art of Raising Boys by Laura Lee Groves is a good little handbook for moms (and dads) of boys.  I got this because I teach 5^th grade boys in Sunday School and thought it may be helpful.  She kept the chapters short because she knows moms are very busy so it is a quick read.  She addresses many issues including expectations, laying a foundation for reading, sibling rivalry, teaching respect, organizing, media, teaching responsibility, and communication.  Also included is a special chapter for dads, for single moms, and one from the boys themselves!  Laura Groves also includes an extensive list of recommended books that deal with related topics that she wrote about in this book. 

I think this book would be helpful to any parent of boys especially.  It is sprinkled with some humor and scripture which makes it a very enjoyable and interesting read.  I liked it and am not even a parent but this book makes parenting sound like lots of fun!  As I was reading, I kept thinking of different mothers I know who may benefit from reading this.  Some general advice from I’m outnumbered! is to let boys be creative, don’t let them hurt each other, don’t play favorites, give them all a chance to be leaders and promote teamwork, treat them as individuals, love them no matter what they do or don’t do, teach them manners by challenging them to be honorable like knights. 

I’m Outnumbered! would make a great gift for parents of boys.   I highly recommend this book and can’t say enough good about it.  Thanks to The 160 Acre Woods:  A Mom's Manual For Boys for posting about it.  If this book appeals to you, please check out these great blog posts that give advice on raising boys by Italian Mama Gone Crazy:  What Would Mama Do? (Part Uno) and What Would Mama Do? (Part Due for mothers of little boys).  Many of the things Laura Groves wrote about in this book reminded me of the advice I read in these blog posts. 

Check out my teaser.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"A Closer Look At The Evidence" by Richard & Tina Kleiss

(I did a video review of this because it was such a rare thing for Spunky Doodle to let me pet her for so long sitting next to me in the chair. You really have to look close to see her tucked sweetly under my left arm.)

 A Closer Look at the Evidence is a collection of facts that support the truth and accuracy of the the Bible from different branches of science.  "The primary purpose of this book is to help people understand what makes Christianity so trustworthy."  This book is formatted as a devotional with one page for each day covering one shred of evidence in support of a creator and the accuracy and authority of the Bible.  It has a verse and references the source of the information shared for that day.  There is an Index by topic and subject in the back for easy reference.

Subjects include: Anatomy, Anthropology, Archaeology, Astronomy, Biblical Accuracy, Biblical Uniqueness, Biology, Botany, Changed Nature, Chemistry, Common Sense, Comparing Religions, Creation Foundation, Earth's Ecology, Fossil Record, Genetics, Geology, Great Scientists, History, Language, Mathematics, Microbiology, Physics, Prophecy, Psychology, and Worldwide Flood.

I recommend this to anyone who is interested in science, evolution, or curious about God, creation or the Bible.
(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

Book Tag: 5 Questions

(den) Made by Karen's Dad

I thought this was a pretty interesting meme that I saw by BeautyBooksEtc on YouTube so both Gerard and I decided to do it.  If you are reading this and like it, then consider yourself tagged.

What is your all-time favorite book ever?



Made by Karen's dad



Karen: Other than the Bible which I believe is God’s Word and has had the hugest impact on my life, I think I’d have to go with Beautiful Child by Torey Hayden. I love stories about teaching and this one has the dynamic of tension between two different teacher’s as well as a touching story about a special needs class with a physically abused girl (the beautiful child) who broke my heart. I gleaned several teaching tips from this and laughed out loud at certain parts but cried at the end. This was a WOW book for me—an emotional page-turner with teaching strategies!

Gerard: This is really hard but I'd say it's Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. I thought it was fantastic because it had everything I look for in a book: twists and turns, believable characters, hard to put down, interesting subject and a great ending! In my opinion, this is her best book!

What is your least favorite book:

(basement) Made by Karen's Dad

Karen: I’m not sure if this means my least favorite being the least of the books I like the most which would take too long to figure out or a book I absolutely hated which is what I will answer. Not counting ones I didn’t finish, I’d have to say it’s a tie between Much Ado About Jessie Kaplan by Paula Cohen about an old lady believing she was Shakespeare’s mistress and At Home In Mitford by Jan Karon about the daily business of a priest in a small town. It just dragged along but I finished it because my sister-in-law recommended it.

Gerard: My worst was The Tower, the Zoo And The Tortoise because I just never could get into it even though I wanted to like it because of all the hpye it got. I did not "get" it at all.