"A Case For Solomon--Bobby Dunbar and The Kidnapping That Haunted a Nation"

A True Crime Book from 1912

A Case For Solomon--Bobby Dunbar and the Kidnapping That Haunted A Nation by Tal McThenia and Margaret Dunbar is a true story about a kidnapping that took place in 1912. Two boys are missing, one boy is found nine months later and two families claim him as their son. There is that trial and also the trial of the kidnapper which makes for a good read and at times, a page turner well worth your time! I enjoyed it!
(Gerard's review, rating 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. Happy Reading!

"Ice Cold" by Tess Gerritsen

A MUST READ THRILLER

This thriller, Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen, is the story of four people who were headed to a Doctors convention.  A blinding snowstorm threw them off course and they wound up in "Kingdom Come," a cult compound.  Hope came when they found this compound led by "The Prophet" but no one was there at all!!

I ordered this as an audio book and really enjoyed it a lot!  I got into it right away and the characters were very believable.  It contained lots of "WOW" factors for me with a couple of surprising twists at the end.  This is a must read (or must listen)!  I loved it!
(Gerard's review, rating 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. Happy Reading!

"Out of Control" by Mary Connealy

Read this on on Kindle

Out of Control by Mary Connealy is about two controlling people who fall in love very quickly during the 1800s in Colorado. Julia got trapped in a cave while looking for fossils and Rafe, a rancher nearby, discovered her in there and rescued her. The mystery comes when Julia is stalked by a guy who is after her father's buried treasure. This book has suspense and adventure but also interesting characters which makes it a good read. I look forward to reading the sequel, In Too Deep.
(Karen's review)

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. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teasers: Two Non-Fiction Books

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 (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• 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:

Tonight it was a more ominous din, and not just the rain, either. The woods outside were alive with barking dogs, roaring flames, and men screaming her son's name.

From page 6 of A Case For Solomon--Bobby Dunbar and The Kidnapping That Haunted a Nation by Tal McThenia and Margaret Dunbar Cutright.

Karen's:

As Jeff stood in the narrow corridor that was the passageway between the cages and the open area, he realized there was simply nowhere to go or to hide from the eight-hundred-pound giant lumbering toward him. He considered blasting the bear with the hose, but instantly dismissed the thought.

From page 40 of All God's Creatures--Spiritual Lessons From The Animals Of The Bible by Gary Richmond.

Happy Reading!

"Not A Fan--Follower's Journal" by Kyle Idleman

Not A Fan--follower's Journal by Kyle Idleman is a 42-day devotional guide to challenge your thinking about your relationship with Jesus Christ and if you are a true follower.  The whole journal is based on the verse, Luke 9:23 which says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."  The theme is that Jesus is not interested in fans but wants true followers who know and love Him and as a result obey his commands. 

I thought some of the exercises it suggested were corny but it did make me evaluate my Christian walk and made me more aware of Christ's presence in my life. NOT A FAN is more than a small group Bible study, it's a movement.  Visit www.notafan.com (the site), view the videos at www.youtube.com/notafantv (the videos), view tweets at www.twitter.com/iamnotafan (the talk), www.facebook.com/notafan (the movement).
(Karen's review)

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. Happy Reading!

"Every Day" by David Levithan

Fun Read!

Every Day by David Levithan tells the story of a person who wakes up every day as a different person--sometimes male, sometimes female. It is fine until one day the girl of his dreams comes into his life and then it gets complicated.

You need to use your imagination to get into this book, but if you do, and accept the story as it is, you will be drawn into it. I did and loved it! There is a good "wow" factor too! I finished it in just two days. I think there may be a second book; if I'm right, I'm on it. Put it on your TBR list--you will be glad you did!
(Gerard's review, rating 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. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teasers

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 (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• 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:

What's clear is that if that man had sneezed on you, you'd most likely just get a cold. For me, it flipped my universe upside down and very nearly sent me to an asylum for life.

Take from page 9 of Brain On Fire--My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan (non-fiction)

Every day I am someone else. I am myself--I know I am myself--but I am also someone else.

From page 1 of Every Day by David Levithan.


Karen's:

"He's always made my life a lot harder than it needed to be." She opened her eyes and looked at her father's still face.

From Out of Control by Mary Connealy at location 1421 on Kindle, 24% along.

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. Happy Reading!

"The Shadow Of Your Smile" by Mary Higgins Clark

Disappointing Compared to Some of her Other Ones I Read

The Shadow Of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark didn't appeal to me.  I didn't care for the three murders by three different people because it just made murder seem too easy.  I really liked some of her others, but this doesn't even come close.  I guess when my favorite character gets killed early on by her "long time friend," I lost interest.  The suspense just wasn't enough for me.  It's about a Dr. trying to find out who her father's biological parents were and the family she's related to trying to make sure she doesn't.  Her father was adopted at birth.  I really can't say anymore without giving things away.  It does have a good ending.
(Karen's review)

Others by this author that I recommend instead:  Two Little Girls In Blue & Just Take My Heart & Where Are You Now

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. Happy Reading!

"Buried Secrets" by Joseph Finder

Buried Secrets by Joseph Finder is a good story about a young girl kidnapped and held for ransom from her rich father.  The story was told very well and the detective who is trying to find and save the girl is a really good character.  In my opinion, there is not much of a "wow" factor but it is well worth your time.
(Gerard's review, rating 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. Happy Reading!

"Bruce" by Peter Ames Carlin (Non-fiction)

Bruce by Peter Ames Carlin is a really good story about Bruce Springsteen aka "The Boss." It has some wow factor with details of how the band came to be and lots of inside stuff that I didn't know. I enjoyed it very much. If you are a Springsteen fan, it's a must read. I highly recommend it.
(Gerard's review, rating 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. Happy Reading!

"Astray" by Emma Donoghue

Astray by Emma Donoghue is a bunch of short stories based on actual events. Most of the stories are very good; some I wished were longer! I loved ROOM by her so I wanted to read this one too. It's not anywhere near as good, but I still enjoyed it. It's worth reading.
(Gerard's review, rating = 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. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teasers: 4 For You

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 (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• 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:

Overnight the story had grown expoentially as word spread about the police and prosecution's theory, that a home foreclosure may have spawned the murder of a banker. It put a blood and gust twist on the nationwide financial plague and that in turn packed the house.

From chapter 4 of an audio book: The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly Clicking the link will take you to my review that posted on Friday. (It was so good, I HAD to do a teaser from it.)

She was in a box. She could touch the end of the box with her toes.

From chapter 11 of Buried Secrets by Joseph Finder (audio book).

Karen's:

"We can't let that happen," the person on the other end of the line said matter-of-factly. "You've got to make sure it doesn't."

From page 4 of The Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark.

What is your "but first"?  I will follow but first let me. . . have some fun, build this house, get married, make a million dollars?

From page 101 of Not A Fan by Kyle Idleman.

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. Happy Reading!

"The Gifted" by Terri Blackstock

Fun Christian Read

"The Gifted" by Terri Blackstock is a quick Christian fiction read which shows how Christians should work together to meet needs of others and introduce them to Jesus. When Andy, Carl and Bree were discouraged that they were the only ones who showed up for their Bible Study after work in an effort to reach their co-workers with the gospel, a tornado hit and they were crushed under the rubble. God answered their prayers and their lives were changed once they experienced God's power.

This is a powerful little book that challenges Christians to use the gifts God has given them to serve Him by serving others and meeting their needs. It is a fun read because each of the main characters are endowed with supernatural powers which makes for a good read but isn't very believable. Here's a little teaser that gives you an example:

"Where are we going, anyway?" Bree looked around them.
"I'm not sure, but my feet know."
Bree laughed. "Do you know how stupid that sounds?"
"Of course I do. It's downright ridiculous, but it happens to be true."
The hospital came into view, and Carl's feet picked up their pace. "Okay, now I've got it. We're going to the hospital."

(Karen's review)

If you have read this, I'd love to hear what you thought of it.  If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Fifth Witness" by Michael Connelly is a MUST READ!

A MUST READ . . . or LISTEN (audio book)

WOW! The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly is about a woman on trial for murder. She is charged with killing a man who is the head of the company that was suing to foreclose on her home. This is a fantastic story! I listened to the audio book and LOVED IT! The trial was very interesting and got my attention and held it. The ending blew me away. You have got to read (or listen) to this--it's a must read!
(Gerard's review, 5+++ stars)

Come back Tuesday to see our teaser from this one!

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. Happy Reading!

"Double Blind" by Brandilyn Collins

What If  Someone Could Plant Thoughts In Your Brain? 

I loved Double Blind by Brandilyn Collins! Lisa Newberry was going through a very rough patch of life so when a new procedure came out that could give her a new outlook on life, she took it. Is she okay now, or are the problems really going to start?

WOW, it doesn't get much better than this major "wow" factor in this book! It is hard to put it down so I finished it in just two days. Read and enjoy! I highly recommend it. You can't go wrong with Brandilyn Collins.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Double Blind by Brandilyn Collins is an interesting read with suspense and science fiction. Lisa is so depressed that she enters a trial to have brain surgery that will insert a chip into her brain that will get rid of her depression and help her be more self-confident. She was happy to have qualified and eager to get rid of her depression, but didn't realize that her real nightmare was about to begin. This will keep you turning pages to see what will happen next as she mends her relationship with her mother who helps her figure things out and God who she realizes did not abandon her. Risking her life, she tries to save someone she believes is going to be killed. This definitely is a thought-provoking book!
(Karen's review)

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. Happy Reading!

"Rizzoli & Isles: Last To Die" by Tess Gerritsen

Rizzoli & Isles: LAST TO DIE by Tess Gerritsen is a better than average story. In this thriller, three children are enrolled at Evensong Boarding School, where all the kids have had traumatic events in their young lives. Now they are in a safe haven, or are they not?

This book went along so so but the last 150 pages it really got good! There's a great twist at the end that made it hard to put down until I found out how it all turned out! It's well worth your time!
(Gerard's review, rating 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. Happy Reading!

"Zoo" by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Zoo by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge is about the world trying to deal with all forms of animals who roam in packs and attack humans. I ordered this from the library and had to wait a long time for it. I feel this book could have been so much more. The parts of the book that deal with the animals are very good, the rest not so much. The ending left me with the sense that there is going to be a second book. If there is, I'll probably read it. It just did not "wow" me like I expected it would.
(Gerard's review, rating 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. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teasers: "Double Blind" and "Zoo"

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 (well, we cheat and choose specific ones)
• 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:

Larson is as helpless as a rag doll as Mosa shakes him back and forth by his head. When his neck breaks, with a crack remarkably similar to a pencil snapping, the sound is the very last think his brain registers before he dies.

From page 13 of Zoo by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. (The review will be posted tomorrow.)

Karen's:

How would I even explain what was happening? I'd turned into some man who kept killing the same woman? Sherry would panic and rush me to a psych ward.

From page 61 of Double Blind by Brandilyn Collins.

Happy Reading and check out our book giveaway for It Takes Two To Strangle--first to comment saying they would like it, gets it!

Monday Quiz Meme About Me

And now for this weeks Questions:

1. What is your favorite thing about November?
The holidays and more time off work!

2. What was the last thing that you bought that you regretted soon afterwards?
strawberry shortcake flavored gum--way too sweet--yuck! Now I'm back to my Spearment.

3. What is your go to snack food?
Trail mix. Just found a Nutrition bone health nut mix by Planters that's really good!

4. Do you believe that newspapers should charge for their online content?
I don't care what they do.

And don't forget to add a 5th Question on your own blog so we can answer as we hop around!

My question for you is:

5. Are you voting tomorrow or have you already voted? If you are not voting in this election, why not?
We voted by mail.

This is the Acting Balanced: Monday Quiz Meme.

"Low Pressure" by Sandra Brown

Low Pressure by Sandra Brown is a mystery about Bellamy who writes a novel based on the murder of her older sister which becomes a best seller. Although she used a pseudonym and didn’t use the real names, a reporter discovered it was based on fact and the author’s identity is exposed. She receives threats and begins to seek answers as to who is threatening her for writing about the murder. She had only been 12 at the time of the murder and her memory was spotty. Her investigation not only puts her in danger, but also others and secrets are brought to light. The killer was a big surprise to me! Along with the mystery is the romance between Bellamy (the rich girl) and Dent (the poor boy), one of her sister’s boyfriends who Bellamy had a crush on.

This book had an interesting enough story line to make me keep reading, but I can’t say it was an enjoyable read. I didn’t relate to any of the characters, the dysfunctional family with all the secrets, nor did I like the intimate sex scenes or the foul language. It just seemed far-fetched and unbelievable. After enjoying Unspeakable and Lethal by Sandra Brown, I was disappointed with this book.
(Karen's review, rating 2 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"It Takes Two To Strangle" by Stephen Kaminski (Giveaway)

I received a complimentary copy of It Takes Two To Strangle (a Damon Lassard Dabbling Detective Mystery) by Stephen Kaminski for review. Here is the blurb from the back cover that made me want to read it:

When the owner of a traveling carnival is strangled—not once but twice—on opening night of the summer fair in Hollydale, the police surmise he was not well liked. As the head of Hollydale's citizens association and local liaison with the carnival, Damon Lassard feels obligated to help his dear friend, Detective Gerry Sloman, solve the crime. Damon is determined to bring the killer to justice, to the fascination of his mother, best gal pal Rebecca, and lovely local weather girl, Bethany Krims. To unravel the threads underpinning this peculiar murder, Damon will travel far from Hollydale as his quest to find a murderer leads to the discovery of long hidden and horrific crimes.

It Takes Two to Strangle introduces Hollydale’s lovable neighborhood leader, Damon Lassard, and twists the dabbling detective through an intricate maze of greed, deception, and murder.

This is a cozy mystery without any "wow" factor.  The action, what little there is, moved too slow for me.  If you are a fan of cozy mysteries and would like this book, be the first to indicate that in the comments with an email address so we can get your address and send it to you.
(Gerard's review, rating 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. Happy Reading!