Our Favorite Reads In June

Gerard's is:

The Dog Who Could Fly by Damien Lewis (Non-fiction)

 Karen's is:

Graduation Day by Joelle Charbonneau (3rd YA book of The Testing series)

 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!

"Wolf" by Mo Hayder" - Fantastic Ending! (Updated)

Wolf by Mo Hayder has two stories in it.  The first one is a family held hostage in their own home for reasons unknown to them.  Story two is a detective bound and determined to find the person who killed his brother.  How do these two stories connect?  You will have to read the book to find out!

Mo Hayder rocks!  This book will get its hooks into you and will not let go!  I LOVED this page turner with its fantastic ending!  It does not get any better than this! Don't let this one get past you--must read! 
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars, posted 6/12/14)

Karen read this one too (updated 6/25/14):

Wow, what a book Wolf by Mo Hayder is!  It is a thriller about revenge and betrayal with twists I never saw coming.  A couple men torture a family of three in their summer home in England.  This book has some very gruesome parts and the way the men treated the dog made me angry.  The beginning was a bit confusing and moved kind of slow but about halfway through, things picked up.  I was tempted to give up on it but am glad I didn’t because the ending was such a surprise.  I can’t say I enjoyed it because it was so disturbing, but it is a good mystery with some suspense.

 

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 Dog Who Could Fly" by Damien Lewis is one of the Best Books I Read This Year!

The Dog Who Could Fly by Damien Lewis is the true story of airman Robert Bozdech and the bond he forged with a dog named Ant during World War II.  I loved this book!  It is an incredible story of how Ant even went on flying missions with his master.  You do not have to be a dog lover to appreciate this book though.  Please read this book--it's a story you need to hear!  It doesn't get any better than this!  This is my book of the month so far and will be in my top 10 for the year!
(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. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teasers: 4 Today

Gerard's:

Dinner with his family was the least he could do.
     Much later, he'd replay that moment over and over again in his head. 

From page 11 of Suspicion by Joseph Finder. (I read this last week but liked it so much, wanted to share a teaser from it.  Click link for my review.)

It was crucial that he keep the little ball of fur happy and quiet, at least for now.  He unzipped the front of his leather bomber jacket, slipped the puppy inside, and zipped it closed again.

From page 11 of The Dog Who Could Fly by Damien Lewis.

Karen's:

Oliver--they can't be the police.  Why would the police do something like this?

From page 65 of Wolf by Mo Hayder.

Deep-tone walls are an elegant backdrop for bright art you want to feature.  To keep the room from seeming oppressively dark, use a pale carpet and plenty of well-directed lighting.

From page 72 of Color Schemes made easy.

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.   

Happy Reading!

"Suspicion" by Joseph Finder

Suspicion by Joseph Finder deals with a dad whose daughter attends an exclusive school.  When he cannot come up with the money for a school trip to Italy and falls behind on her tuition, another dad whose daughter attends the same school pays it for him.  Problem solved, or is it? 

This book is filled with twists and turns which make it a real good page turner.  I always wanted to pick it up to see what would happen next!  Do not miss this one!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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

What My Cat Is Reading This Week

I was involved in sports camp this week at Parma Heights Baptist Church.  I am coaching 19 4th grade boys in basketball in the mornings and 13 in the afternoons this week.  We have 20 minutes for devotions each day so I get up early to run through it to time it.  I left my stuff on the floor yesterday to eat breakfast and when I came back, I saw my Manny Boy reading the Bible.  It was so cute, I had to take a picture!  Our theme verse this week is I Peter 5:7:  Give all your worries and cares to God for He cares about you.

Have you read your Bible lately? Happy Reading!

"We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is about a young girl who comes up with a plan with three of her closest friends that ends in tragedy.  When it is over, she does not remember anything about it.  This novel covers before and after the incident.

I liked this book a lot because it kept me turning pages.  The ending was very well written answering all the questions I had.  It's a quick read and worth reading.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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

"We are Called to Rise" by Laura McBride

There are three main characters in We Are Called to Rise by Laura McBride.  They are a woman whose husband drops a bombshell on her that changes her life, a war vet in a hospital dealing with a tragedy that happened while he was on tour and a young boy dealing with growing up in the USA, a new country for him.  All these stories are good on their own but when they all come together, wow!  This book goes into over drive!  LOVED this book a lot!  Great writing and very good twists!
(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. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teasers: Two This Week

Gerard's:

Yet, in the mania of the moment, she holds tight to the concept of the blindfold.  No matter what tools she might pack, no matter what household object might be used as a weapon, she knows that the blindfolds are their strongest protection.

From page 5 of Bird Box by Josh Malerman. (I read this last week but liked it so much, wanted to share a teaser from it.  Click link for my review.)

It was like the gun had gone off.  There I was, naked, having just wagged my fifty-three-year-old ass, and there he was, somewhere behind me, knowing what I had been about to do, confessing to an affair with a woman in his office who was almost young enough to be our daughter.

From page 3 of We are Called to Rise by Laura McBride.


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.   

Happy Reading!

"The Color Scheme Bible" by Anna Starmer

Since I've been considering doing some redecorating and painting in our house, I got The Color Scheme Bible by Anna Starmer to get some ideas of what color combinations I would like to use.  This book was perfect for that!  It has very little text, just some suggestions as to how best to use the different recommended colors.  It gives different color schemes for any color you can think of.  Practically each page shows a sample recommended color scheme.  Here is a picture of how it is set up:

If you want to know what colors go well together or just want some color ideas, this book will give it to you.
(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!

"Bird Box--Don't Open Your Eyes" by Josh Malerman

Bird Box--Don't Open Your Eyes by Josh Malerman offers a unique concept.  Everyone boards up their windows and wears blindfolds.  Why you ask?  Wouldn't you like to know?  You will have to read the book to find out the answer to that.  The main story is about Malorie, a mom with a young boy and girl who live in an abandoned house near the river.  Malorie wants to find a better life for them if possible.  The book covers from when the mom was pregnant and about to have the kids to the present. 

I really enjoyed this book which is a real page turner.  The ending is awesome!  Read it, you will be glad you did. 
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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

Tuesday Teasers: Four This Week!

Gerard's:

I try to keep it out of my head, as if to do so will somehow keep you out of my life.  But still it creeps in.  Barges in.

From page 4 of The Book of You by Claire Kendal. (I read this last week but liked it so much, wanted to share a teaser from it.  Click link for my review.)

  Vera had many different thoughts about this--about these driven fifteen- and sixteen-year-old girls she had not met. 
       She herself had not enjoyed being that age.

From page 8 of What Has Become of You by Jan Elizabeth Watson.

Karen's:

"I knew this would happen!" cried Coco bitterly.  "Everything is spoiled now! 

From page 130 of The Silver Donkey by Sonya Hartnett.  (Juvenile historical fiction) 

     Our homes can become a haven of mood-enhancing spaces to calm the soul and refresh the mind.
     One of the most important aspects of decorating is creating the right kind of mood for you, an environment where you can be relaxed, comfortable, happy and content. 

From page 19 of The Color Scheme Bible by Anna Starmer.

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.   

Happy Reading!

"Seven Patients" by Atul Kumar

Seven Patients by Atul Kumar is a third-year medical thriller narrated by Raj Mok, a medical student who is learning at a hospital.  This is a work of fiction, kind of like a hospital TV show with a lot of drama and extreme cases.  Basically, it's a collection of hospital horror stories.  I found it to be entertaining and thought provoking.  Doctors have a lot of power!  I read this on on my Kindle and it had a lot of medical terms that I was unfamiliar with which became a bit annoying; however, the terms were usually explained.  This book explores some ethical issues that doctors probably face. 

I was surprised this book got so many really negative reviews.  If you are looking for great writing or good literature, this one is not it.  However, if you love medical drama and want to get a feel what medical students go through, then I think you might enjoy this book if you can overlook poor editing.   
(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. Happy Reading!

"The Book of You" by Claire Kendal

The Book of You by Clair Kendal gives two stories and both are really good and interwoven with each other.  The main story is about a young lady who is stalked by a man.  She gets to be on a jury and sit in on a trial which is story two.  The main story gave me shivers up my spine when reading it!  The writing is that good.  This is a real page turner and I was happy with the ending.  For a first-time novel by this writer, this is exceptional!  
(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. Happy Reading!

"Keep Quiet" by Lisa Scottoline is One We Both Liked (UPDATED)

Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline is a good book because the family it is about has likeable characters that I could easily identify with.  When the dad who is trying to get closer to his teenage son uses poor judgment by acting like a friend rather than a responsible parent, it starts a whirlwind of trouble.  This book is about how far parents will go to protect their loved ones and how things aren't always as bad as they may seem.  Although I liked the ending, it seemed too neat and not very believable.

I loved this book because it moved along quickly and held my interest all through.  I couldn't help but ask myself what I would do in their situation and was pleasantly surprised by the ending.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

In this novel, a father looks to have bonding time with his son, but a tragic accident brings them together like never before. This is a real page turner with very good twists and turns that I did not see coming. It goes fast and it does not take long to get hooked into it. Lisa always puts out great books and this one is no exception! Do not miss it!
(Gerard's review posted 5/30/14, 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!