Teaser Tuesday: Four Today

Gerard's:
I couldn't do my homework.  I couldn't focus.
From page 46 of Aquarium by David Vann (click link to see my review)

"I guess you'll get your wish, since tomorrow morning there's a meeting for your entire family.  It's at our law office and starts at nine>

 From page 23 of Inherit Midnight by Laura Van Den Berg.  (Review posted tomorrow.)

Karen's: 

This was the place where Mommy said her monster dwelled!Shut up, Page!

From Kindle location 264 of Cold Fear by Rick Mofina.

When she said the words foster care, a chill ran through me.  But the woman assured me this was one of their best homes and that Cicely was doing as well as could be expected.

From page 23 of Deadly Echoes by Nancy Mehl.

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

Happy Reading!

"Aquarium" by David Vann is Amazon's Book of the Month for March

Aquarium by David Vann is a story about a young girl named Caitlin.  She lives with her mom and every day after school she goes to the aquarium to see the fish and wait for her mom.  One day an old man befriends her and they form a relationship.  When the mother finds out who this man is, the book takes off.

I am conflicted on how I view this book.  The main story is really, really good with a WOW ending and action galore; however, there is a secondary story line that I did not care for.
(Gerard's review, 4.75 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 Both Liked "The Silent Sister" by Diane Chamberlain (Updated)

In The Silent Sister, Riley believes her older sister killed herself as a teenager.  Twenty years later she finds evidence that this is not true.  As Riley seeks the truth, she will be hit with some things that will shake all the truths she did believe.  

This book rocks!  It's all good but as slowly the secrets and lies come out into the open you as a reader are wowed.  LOVED IT A LOT!
(Gerard's review 3/26/15 5++ stars)

The Silent Sister starts out a bit slow with Riley getting her father's house ready to sell after his death.  Boy, did this bring back memories for me though having gone through this process with my dad.  I could certainly identify with her through this process.  The story picks up when Riley believes her older sister may not have committed suicide many years ago but may actually be alive somewhere and begins her search.

During this time, the author gives us a look at what's been happening with Lisa, Riley's older sister, who is a fugitive because she was charged with murder and faked her death to avoid prison when she was 17.  I couldn't help pulling for Lisa even though her younger brother, Danny, thought she should pay for what she did--not only for committing murder but also for ruining their family.
 
I realize you may think I've given spoilers here, but I haven't.  There are lots of surprises in this book and I loved how the author developed them gradually.  This book is not only about family secrets, but about the extent parents go to protect their children and how one event can tear a family apart.  I really liked this book which was no surprise to me because I also liked The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes and Necessary Lies, and The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain.  If you like stories about family drama and lots of twists and turns, you'll enjoy this one, I'm sure!  I'd certainly recommend this one for a book club read. 
(Karen's review 3/23/15, 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!

"The Black Stallion Mystery" by Walter Farley was Disappointing

The Black Stallion Mystery by Walter Farley is about someone trying to kill the horse out of revenge.  I was confused and slightly bored with this book.  It was such a letdown to me after loving the first book in this series, The Black Stallion.  It made no sense to me why Alec and Henry took Black over to Spain in a plane in the first place to look for Black's sire.  I would not recommend this book, although a kid might like the part when Alec pokes around in the castle and the chase in the mountains with Black.  The horse actually had a very small part in this book.
(Karen's review, 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!

"Find Me" by Laura Van Den Berg

Find Me is about a young girl named Joy.  She has no one to confide in at all.  What she does have is a troubled past and an addiction to cough syrup.  When a sickness spreads through the land, Joy is immune to it and that gains her admission to a hospital.  There she goes through tests and then she breaks out of the hospital to find her mom who abandoned her as a baby.

I found this to be pretty good.  I am not sure I would call this a page turner, but it did keep my interest.  The way it ends leaves open to a second book I would probably read.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

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

Teaser Tuesday

Gerard's:

And watching the two vehicles cut sharp rights onto Schofield, the street the graveyard entrance was on, I felt my legs buckling, collapsing beneath me.  I dropped first to my knees, then to all fours, the shock of certainty hitting me:  Nica was dead.

From page 15 of Dark Rooms by Lili Anolik (click link to see my review)

I wish I had a way to talk to him, to ask why he came, to tell him no one is going to help him here.  I don't think it's right to watch these people suffer, even if it's a suffering they have chosen.

 From page 10 of Find Me by Laura Van Den Berg.  (Review posted tomorrow.)

Karen's: 

I never forgot my mother's words about Lisa feeling unhappy and thinking she'd never feel happy again.  I thought about that every time I counseled a depressed kid.  I thought about it every time I felt unhappy, reminding myself I would one day be happy again.

From page 50 of The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain. (Great book, see my review)

Like a black thunderbolt the bull charged, the rush of his great body shaking the earth and stirring up a sudden gust of wind.  Alec twisted away to avoid the horns seeking his flesh.

From page 40 of The Black Stallion Mystery by Walter Farley.

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

Happy Reading!

"Dark Rooms" by Lili Anolik Could Use More Action

Dark Rooms by Lili Anolik is about two sisters, Nica and Grace.  Nica turns up dead and the killer is found, case closed.  But Grace is not buying it and dedicates her life to finding and hurting her sister's killer. 

I found this book to be pretty good but lacking in action.  The story kept my interest and liked the surprise ending.  It's well worth reading!
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

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

"Vanishing Girls" by Lauren Oliver is Good But . . .

Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver tells the story of sisters, Dara and Nick.  They hang around with each other and are close until a car accident has consequences for both of them.  This novel is told by both sisters and I liked them both.  It is good and kept my interest throughout; however, would have preferred a different ending.  That being said, Vanishing Girls is very readable and I think you would enjoy 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. Happy Reading!

"Red Queen" by Victoria Aveyard is an Exciting, Fun Read! (UPDATED)

We both Loved this one!

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard is a YA novel about a young girl named Mare.  She is a "Red" who lives in a world that is controlled by the "Silvers."  One day Mare is captured and it turns out that she has powers that a Red is not supposed to have.  The Silvers quickly take her under their wing so that this is not discovered by the world. Mare wants to help her people, the Reds, even though it puts her in danger. 

 WOW!  This book has tons of action with lots of twists that I did not see coming.  LOVED it a lot!  Will read book 2 for sure.  This is my new book of the month!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars) 

 Karen's review:
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard is an interesting cloak and dagger fantasy about humans with silver blood and super powers (Silvers) ruling over poor, down-trodden humans with red blood and no super powers (Reds).  Some Reds band together, calling themselves “The Red Guard” to try to change things for the better.  Mara is a Red, but is different.  She is an excellent pick pocket who discovers, by accident, that she has a super power in spite of her red blood. 

It’s not often I hate to see a book end, but with this one, I did!  I enjoyed this book with action, brother rivalry, lying and betrayal very much.  I liked the main character and couldn’t help pulling for her despite all odds.  I was disappointed to see this is just the first book of a series.  Now I have to wait for the next book to come out.  This book is similar to Cinderella and Divergent is some ways.  If you like adventure, fantasy and interesting relationships, I highly recommend Red Queen.  

(Karen's review 3-18-15, 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!

Teaser Tuesday: Four Today

Gerard's:

Logan's secretiveness had bothered her.  She'd called the only two people in her life who would care, her friend Marilyn and her former boss from the bookstore.

From page 17 of The First Wife by Erica Spindler (click link to see my review)
  
When Dara got metal pins in her kneecaps and swore she would never speak to me again, and when Mom went silent for weeks and started taking sleeping pills every night and waking up too groggy to go to work and the hospital bills kept coming, kept coming, like autumn leaves after a storm.
But why weren't we good enough before?

From page 26 of Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver.

Karen's: 

They've pulled me inside out, swapping Mare for Mareena, a thief for a crown, rags for silk, Red for Silver.  This morning I was a servant, tonight I'm a princess.

From page 104 of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard.

    A wicked hope filled two watching eyes as Alec Ramsay and his horse almost went down.  But the boy kept the black legs driving beneath him and the race went on.     

From page 4 of The Black Stallion Mystery by Walter Farley.


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

"The First Wife" by Erica Spindler is GREAT!

The First Wife by Erica Spindler is about Baily, a young woman who dreams of meeting "Mr. Right."  She meets Logan Abbot and quickly falls in love.  They get married but when they get back to his farm after the honeymoon, she hears rumors about women who have gone missing and Logan is a suspect!  She does not want to believe it but as time goes on and events happen, she wonders if it is true and if she is safe.

This is a GREAT book, a real page turner with a fantastic ending!  There are lots of twists and turns before you finally know how it all plays out.
(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!

"The Enchanted" by Rene Denfeld

The Enchanted by Rene Denfeld is a different kind of book for sure.  It is told by a nameless person that we do not know until the very end.  It takes place in a prison with a man on death row who is visited by a lady and a fallen priest.  The story is told well and I got into it.  The ending is very good.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

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

"The Reluctant Psychic" by Suzan Saxman is Interesting

The Reluctant Psychic by Suzan Saxman is a true story.  When Suzan was little she saw monsters and other things that scared her.  When she told people, they were scared of her, including her own mother!  One day Suzan was told she had the ability to see things that other people do not.  She believed it! 

This book was interesting to say the least even though I myself do not believe in readings or psychics.  At the end of each chapter she tells stories of people who came to her for readings. 
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

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

"H Is for Hawk" by Helen MacDonald"

H Is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald tells a true story and what a story it is!  Helen is trying to deal with the unexpected passing of her father.  She has always had an interest in hawks and falcons that she picked up from her dad.  She decides to try to tame a Goshawk--a pretty hard if not next to impossible task!  She named it Mabel.

My favorite parts of this book is when she trains and connects with the hawk, not that other parts were bad though, far from it!
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

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

Teaser Tuesdays: Four Today

Gerard's:

Cesar eventually authorized me to rinse out my mouth, but by then the damage was done.  The episode left a bitter taste in my mouth long after the burning subsided.

From page 20 of Whipping Boy by Allen Kurzweil (non-fiction) (click link to see my review)
  
Mabel is bating at them, bating so hard, wings beating so furiously, that she hangs horizontally in the air.  The breeze is cold in my face, my fist pulled towards the fleeing pheasants.

From page 138 of H Is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald.

One from each of us from American Sniper by Chris Kyle (See Gerard's review, click link)

IT WAS MY DUTY TO SHOOT, AND I DON'T REGRET IT.  THE woman was already dead.

From page 2.

Karen's: 

     It was the most hopeless feeling in the world, seeing my wife in excruciating pain, without anything I could do.

              I was a hell of a lot more nervous watching her give birth than I ever was in combat.
          
From page 114.


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

Happy Reading!

"The Black Stallion" by Walter Farley an Exciting Fun Read

The Black Stallion by Walter Farley is a fantastic book about a boy, his fight for survival after a shipwreck, his wild black stallion and racing.  There is a lot of action in this children’s book that made me want to keep reading.  It is refreshingly uncomplicated and full of adventure.  I enjoyed this book very much and plan to read more by this author! 

(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. Happy
Reading!