Teaser Tuesday: Four Today

Gerard's:

That was just mine, and no one had ever looked at it before, not even Miss Eveline at school.  Stupid, I told myself, with every push of the pedals.

From page 16 of Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff.

This the same day the letter came, but I weren't home then.  I was feeling too riled to go home 'cause I seen Tommy Evans, found him, I mean, though I never told it till now, 'cause wouldn't you'f wondered why I was in them woods so early in the first place?

From page 16 of Ask the Dark by Henry Turner.

Karen's: 

I want so badly to tell her the truth, but I also know that the truth won't make things any better between us than they are now.  The truth makes less sense than the lie, and I don't even know which on I should go with anymore.

 From page 104 of Confess by Colleen Hoover.

Rand touched a finger to his forehead and headed out the door, settling his hat on his head as he went.  Change was coming to the Little Muddy, and a certain young blond woman was at the heart of it, whether she wanted to be or not.

From page 123 (Loc. 1908 on Kindle) of Ruby (Dakotah Treasures Book 1) by Lauraine Snelling.

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!

"Lost in the Sun" by Lisa Graff

Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff is about a young teen boy named Trent and a girl named Fallon.  They share one thing in common that binds them together.  What that is, I'm not saying.  You'll have to read the book to find out.  I liked this book well enough enjoying both the main characters.  The story line is good, but not great.  The book has a good flow to it and I was never bored with it.  I think it is 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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Children's Picture Book Standings (Vacation Reading)

Knowing I would be busy working in Sports Focus Camp at Parma Heights Baptist church this week, I knew I wouldn't get much reading done so stocked up on some short children's books I could easily read in just a few minutes.  Here is my report on the ones I read going from best to last (in my opinion):

1st place:  Don't throw It To Moe by David A. Adler (Penguin Young Readers level 2)
I really liked this book a lot!  It is about a little kid who loves football even though he is small, gets teased and doesn't get much playing time.

2nd place:  Miss Hazeltine's Home for Shy and Fearful Cats by Alicia Potter, illustrated by Birgitta Sif
This is another very good picture book with an interesting story line as well about cats.  The most timid cat of all finds inner courage when it counts.  The illustrations are very good!  My cats voted this their favorite because of the plot with the timid cat becoming courageous.

3rd place:  How Many Cats by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by Robin Eley
This is a fun book that encourages counting and subtracting with very good pictures of cats to count doing all sorts of things.  I liked the pictures, trying to find all the cats, and the rhyming of the words.  My cats liked this book too because of the good cat pictures and the writing.

4th place:  Castle Life by Laura Durman
I liked this one next because I enjoy the medieval period with castles and knights.  This is a non-fiction book geared to children with colorful pages and short fact boxes throughout.  It gives lots of information and I found it interesting.

5th place:  Look by by Jeff Mack
This is amazing writing because he tells the story with just two words!  It's a funny book about a boy glued to the TV and his gorilla who tries to get his attention.  I don't want to give away the ending so won't say any more, but it's cute with great pictures on every page!

6th place: Cat and Mouse by Ian Schoenherr
This is about the relationship between a cat and a mouse.  The mouse gives tips on how to get along with a cat in a fun way.

7th place:  Bandit's Surprise by Karen Rostoker-Gruber, illustrated by Vincent Nguyen
I didn't care too much for this one because it is sad.  The first cat resents the new kitten which is normal but then the cat ran away and I didn't like that part at all.

8th place: How to Catch a MOUSE by Philippa Leathers
Neither my cats nor I cared much for this one because it made the cat be stupid and it was way too silly and demeaning to cats.

9th place:  War Dogs:  Churchill and Rufus by Kathryn Selbert
This is a non-fiction children's picture book about Winston Churchill and his dog before, during and after World War II.  I thought it was boring.

10th place:  If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss
I guess I was so disappointed in this book that I ranked it last.  It made absolutely no sense whatsoever and puts down zoos.  Didn't care for the drawings or the writing in this.

These were fun, quick reads that I got from the children's section at the library.

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!

"Confess" by Colleen Hoover (Updated)

Confess by Colleen Hoover is told from two points of view--Auburn and Owen.  Auburn is a young teen girl and Owen is a 21-yr-old man.  They both have secrets and if they confess them, it could break apart their relationship.

I loved this book!  The characters are really good.  The story was good too, a real page turner with an excellent twist at the very end which is fantastic!  This was the first book I read by Colleen Hoover, but it sure will not be the last!
(Gerard's review 6/25/15, 5++ stars)

Karen read this too:
Confess by Colleen Hoover is a contemporary romance about Owen, an artist who does paintings inspired by anonymous confessions that people leave on notes for him at his studio. One day Auburn shows up the day of a showing who he hires to collect the money and is impressed with her interest in his paintings and her salesmanship skills. She looks familiar to him and they hit it off. Both Owen and Auburn have secrets that test their relationship when they are revealed.

I enjoyed this love story because I really liked Adam and Owen and found myself pulling for Owen throughout the book. I didn’t care at all for Trey, the cop, right from the start and was very pleased with the ending. The only thing I didn’t really care for was the quickness of the physical relationship between Owen and Auburn. This book deals with drug issues, domestic violence, jealousy, love and sacrifice, and a mother’s fight for custody of her child. It also has some humor related to a cat that made me like Owen right off.
(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!

"Slammed" by Colleen Hoover Was Better Than Expected! (UPDATED)

Slammed by Colleen Hoover is about an 18-yr.-old girl, Layken, who grows a lot in just a year. She has a lot of drama going on her senior year including her father’s death, moving, romance, lung cancer and caring for her 9-yr.-old brother. That’s half the story, with the other half being about her 21-yr.-old neighbor across the street named Will and his 9-yr.-old brother. Will’s parents both died in a car accident and Will became his younger brother’s legal guardian. He is working towards a teaching job but then falls for Layken.

This book just drew me in very quickly and deals with heavy issues in such an interesting way. It is packed with feeling and mostly good advice that is given through Will and Layken’s mother, Julia. I was both amused by funny things that happened and touched by some tender parts. I even cried at one part involving Layken’s best friend, Eddie. One of the themes is poetry-what it is and why write it. This is the first book I read by this author and look forward to reading more.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

Gerard read this too--here's his review:
This YA novel is about a young girl named Layken (Lake).  Her mom, younger brother and her move from Texas to Michigan.  Her dad passed away.  She meets a young man named Will.  His younger brother  connect right off, but does Layken and Will connect?

This is an outstanding read because all emotions are at play here.  You feel connected to the characters very quickly.  This is a page turner I loved!  The good news is that there is a follow up book that I will read too.  (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-Three Today

Gerard's:

I stop fighting it with those words.  I fist his shirt in my hands and begin to sob against his chest while he holds me.

From page 10 of Confess by Colleen Hoover.

Karen's: 

I slowly round the front of the U-Haul, holding my arms out in front of me, when I notice someone grasping my brother and his new friend by the collars of their shirts.
"Get 'em!" The stranger yells as he holds the two screaming boys.

 From page 10 of Slammed by Colleen Hoover.

Whatever made me think we should come out here like this?  We are on the verge of nowhere, no father, an enterprises that is feeling shadier by the minute, people who really don't want us here, people of questionable moral fiber, a town--She snorted at that thought, which made for a syncopation in the pounding of her head.

From page 83 (Loc. 1268 on Kindle) of Ruby (Dakotah Treasures Book 1) by Lauraine Snelling.

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!

"Lost No More" by CeeCee James

Lost No More (Ghost no More series) by CeeCee James is based on her husband’s true story about a boy growing up with an alcoholic father and how their relationship changed over the years. It is a touching story about the complicated feelings between a father and son. This was an interesting read that I enjoyed. I really liked the ending.
(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!

"Every Fifteen Minutes" by Lisa Scottoline

In Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline, the main character, Dr. Eric Parrish, works in a psychiatric unit.  He is recently divorced but that is the least of his problems.  As his problems pile up, he is treating a young boy named Max (a teen sociopath with OCD) that presents him with a whole new set of problems. 

You usually can't go wrong with Lisa's books; however, I thought this book kind of dragged in certain parts.  the two separate stories are okay but not exactly page turners.  This book is readable, but not one of her best.
(Gerard'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!

Books I Finished in One Sitting (or close)

I did this video for Top 5 Wednesdays, a Goodreads group.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on it and what books you finished in just one sitting (or close) in a comment.  Hope you will check out my YouTube channel.

Have you read any of these? What did you think? 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!

"What the Dog Said" by Randi Reisfeld

What the Dog Said by Randi Reisfeld is a fun little YA read about a 13-yr-old girl, Grace, who is grieving the death of her father who was a cop and was shot on his way to her softball game. When they go to pick out a shelter dog to train as a service dog, she pics a mutt named Rex who actually talks to her! The plan was for her sister to be able to write about training a service dog for her college entrance essay. When Grace hears the dog talk, she wonders if she’s going crazy, but Rex helps her resolve the mystery of who shot her dad and helps her through a difficult time.

This is a good story about doing the right thing even if it’s hard. It’s a quick, enjoyable read that also shows what service dogs get trained to do and the different people service dogs can help—they are not only for the blind!
(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!

"Finders Keepers" by Stephen King is a GREAT READ!

Finders Keepers by Stephen King is listed as one of PEOPLE Magazine's best books of the summer and they are right! 

Morris Bellamy loves the main character in his favorite author's books.  The author has not come out with a new book in years, and Morris is upset and decides to take matters in his own hands.  Morris kills his favorite author, steals some of his money and the notebooks that contain some unpublished work and hides the money and notebooks before he gets jailed and sentenced to life.  When he is paroled 35 years later, he cannot find either the money or the notebooks.  Who took them?  What did they do with them?   Does Morris come after whoever took them?

This is a great read, I LOVED IT from the start and it got better as it went along.  Vintage King! This is the sequel to Mr. Mercedes which I also liked.
(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: 5 Today!

Gerard's:

I was shot or tried to harm myself.  My ear is gone.

From page 16 of Remember Mia by Alexandra Burt.

Better than cancer or Alzheimer's, that prime horror of anyone who has spent his life making a living by his wits.  Of course there would be headlines, and I'd gotten plenty of those even before that damned Time story . . . but if he pulls the trigger, I won't have to read them.

From page 27 of Finders Keepers by Stephen King.

Karen's: 

"Did you hear that?" I asked Regan.

"She didn't," the dog assured me, standing now, his tail wagging like a hairy propeller.

 From page 5 of What the Dog Said by Randi Reisfeld.

I'd hardly nodded before he gave the sled a huge push.  To say that we flew down the hill on that old coffee table balanced on skis, would be an understatement.

From page 68 (Loc. 689 on Kindle) of Lost No More by Cee Cee James.

We are dependent on God and dependent on one another.  I just couldn't see it until I was blind.

From page 14 of Hope Unseen--The Story of the U.S. Army's First blind Active-Duty Officer by Captain Scotty Smiley with Doug Crandall.

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!

Military Books for Flag Day Video

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading! Subscribe to my YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/user/kzemek

"The Cage" by Megan Shepherd was a bit Disappointing

The Cage by Megan Shepherd is about six teens snatched from earth and plopped into some space station called “the Cage” to be studied and tested, kind of like lab rats. Their habitat consists of a desert, a farm, a jungle, an ocean, and a town with fake buildings that has things similar to those on earth but from different time periods. There are black screens everywhere so they can be watched and only three rules.

I liked the premise, but was disappointed in the ending and felt betrayed just as the characters did. Cora, a 16-yr-old girl who is a senator’s daughter did not appeal to me and was the main character. The others were Rolf, Nok, Mali, Leon and Lucky. This science fiction/fantasy novel is about manipulation, the fight for humanity, some romance and betrayal.

I liked it okay in that it kept my interest and I did like most of the characters, but the ending was very disappointing to me and I had a hard time relating to the main character because she reacted completely different than I would in that situation.
(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!

"Undertow" by Michael Buckley

Undertow by Michael Buckley is a YA novel but not what I expected which in this case is a good thing! It takes place on Coney Island. Lyric, a young teen girl, is put into a tough spot when she is picked to tutor fathom, the head of new race that are called Alpha. Not everyone is on board with having them in their high school with their kids.

I really enjoyed the character of Lyric. She pretty much carries the book and that is fine by me. There is a good twist at the end that I sort of saw coming, but liked it anyway. I don’t know if I would go so far as to call this a page turner, but I enjoyed it and will continue with the series. (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!

"World After" by Susan Ee is a Real Page Turner!

World After by Susan Ee picks up where Angel Fall ends.  The angels have taken over the earth and the humans that are left are trying to fight back.  I love the lead character in this book--Penryn Rooks.  World After answers a few of the questions from book 1 and sets the stage for book 3.  It's a real page turner that I read in just two days.  I loved it just as much as Angel Fall and will be reading the third in this series.
(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!

"Orient" by Christopher Bollen

Orient by Christopher Bollen is about a small town, peaceful and quiet, the way the townspeople like it.  They resent the outsiders who come for the summer.  Suddenly, people who lived in Orient are dying and it is not from old age!  Is there a murderer in their midst?  Who and why people want to know.

This book is over 600 pages and at times, it kind of drags, but do not let that stop you from reading it.  This is a really good story and you will enjoy following the characters.  If you can figure it out, then you are a step ahead of me.  This is a page turner (except for the dragging part).  The ending leaves it open for a sequel, but this book could be a stand alone.
(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: Orient, Undertow, World After and The Bullet

Gerard's:

Still, the threat of being caught is always there, and I must keep going, as quietly as planes overhead, something moving at a terrible speed out of the corner of your eye and gone by the time you look again.

From page 6 of Orient by Christopher Bollen. (review up tomorrow)

My father goes to his room and returns with his gun.  While I eat cereal, he checks the clip to see that it's loaded, reinserts it, and clicks off the safety.

From page 15 of Undertow by Michael Buckley.

Demonic wings spread out above his head.  Light glints off the curved hooks, sliding down the edge of his wings as he stalks his prey.

From page 21 of World After by Susan Ee.

Karen's: 

I stared at him.  Those were the most frightening words I'd heard yet.

 From page 21 of The Bullet by Mary Louise Kelly.

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!

"Ender's Shadow" by Orson Scott Card

Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card is actually a parallel book to Ender's Game with the main character in this one being Bean.   Bean is a street kid that a nun befriended and recommended to the space Battle School.  Bean is very small and only 4 years old but has advanced intelligence when he gets into the school.

It is interesting how Bean views things and how his leadership skills develop.  I really liked his strong sense of teamwork and how he would get people to work together.  I loved Ender's Game and so it was fun reading about Ender some more, this time from someone else's viewpoint.  I highly recommend this book if you liked Ender's Game.  I gave this 4 stars only because I liked Ender's Game a bit better but that may be just because I read that one first so I had a clue what was going to happen next as I read Ender's Shadow.
(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!

"The Bullet" by Mary Louise Kelly--Differing Opinions on This One

The Bullet by Mary Louise Kelly is told by Caroline Cashion, a professor at Georgetown University.  Her wrist is giving her a lot of pain, but when she goes for a MRI, she discovers that she has a bullet in her neck!  When she asks her parents about it, the shocking truth comes out.  Here is a teaser from the jacket cover:

You think you know someone.  But then one day you find yourself running.  Really running, lungs burning, legs churning.  Too frightened to stop and look back.  It turns out I have been running my whole life.  I just never knew it.

This story is told very well.  I think it is a real page turner and the last part of the book has a twist that you will not see coming.  I LOVED IT!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Karen's review (3 stars):
The Bullet by Mary Louise Kelly is a contemporary mystery about a 37-yr-old woman, Caroline, who just learns that she has a bullet lodged in her neck near her spinal cord and that she was adopted. She has no recollection of her birth parents or of being shot. She grew up with a nice couple that she thought of as her parents all her life with a couple brothers. She is a professor at Georgetown University but her life is turned upside down when she receives this news. The story focuses on her search for the truth about what happened to her birth parents in Atlanta, how the bullet got in her neck, and the choices she makes based on the information she digs up. I found this pretty slow moving although the premise was intriguing. This mystery sort of plods along but the surprise ending makes the read worth 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!

Linking up with Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop for writing a book review.

"AngelFall" by Susan Ee

"Angelfall" by Susan Ee takes place after the Apocalypse.  Penryn, her sister Paige and their mom are still on Earth.  One day they come across a group of angels who are running the Earth now.  One angel is left behind while Penryn's sister is taken away.  Penryn will do anything to get her back.  She forms a relationship with the left behind angel named Raffe.

Wow, this book is good!  I LOVED IT!  The relationship between Penryn and Raffe is so good.  This book has good action and a very good ending!  There is a book two.

Thanks to PolandBananasBooks on Youtube for turning me on to 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. 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 man spent ten years inside.  One more day and he's a free man, but instead he makes himself a fugitive.

From page 14 of Life or Death by Michael Bobotham. (Click link for review)

Wake up!  What are they doing to my sister?  What do they want with her?

From page 25 of Angel Fall by Susan Ee.

Karen's: 

"Ron, how did you--What the ___?"
Harry's mouth fell open as the full impact of what he was seeing hit him. 

From page 24 of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling.

"Keep him until he's five.  Make of him what you can and show me your results then."

 From page 57 of Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card.

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.

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!