"Truthwitch" by Susan Dennard

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard is about two young witches:  Safiya and Isevlt.  Safiya is a truthwitch who has very strong magic that many people would kill to have on their side.  Isevlt is a threadwitch who is a very close friend to Safiya.  War is coming to their land and Safiya is in great danger and needs all the friends she can get!

There is great action in this book from page one.  As the book goes on, more characters are brought in and the action picks up.  The last part of the book I rushed through to see how it played out.  The good news is that there will be a book two that I will be reading as well!  Sarah J. Mass said "Do not miss this one" and she is right!
(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!

"This is Where it Ends" by Marieke Nijkamp

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp kept my attention throughout with the suspense and various points of view explaining what was happening during a school shooting in a little town.  It focused on a few best friends and some brothers and sisters.  Practically the entire book covers one hour, the time in which the whole school is in the auditorium at the beginning of the semester with the shooter who has locked them in.  Only a few kids were not in the assembly.  

I had no sympathy whatsoever for the shooter in this story.  I lot of people got shot which was sad; however, since I didn't feel any strong connection to the characters, I didn't shed any tears.  This was good, but I liked Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult and Columbine by Dave Cullen better which are also about school shootings.
(Karen's review, 1/25/16, 3 stars)

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp is about a shooting at a high school. It is told by four teens who go to that school. I thought this book was really, really good! I felt like I was in the school when the shooting started. The emotions of the four teens seem very real. Once you start reading this book, it is almost impossible to put down. With all the shootings going on, this could be right out of the real news.  This is the best book I've read so far this month!
(Gerard’s review 1/22/16, 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!

"The Crooked House" by Christobel Kent

The Crooked House by Christobel Kent centers on a young lady named Allison.  One night something happened to her family that left her alone.  She moved, changed her name and lived her life.  But her boyfriend becomes involved in a wedding and wants her to come with him and return to her hometown.  She does and feels like everyone is watching her.  She still thinks that all the answers from that horrible night have not come out.

This is a page turner for sure!  Allison is a great character with tension building up to the end.  It held my interest and I enjoyed it a lot!
(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:

No one will ever pull us apart.  That means keeping things as normal as possible.  Faking it.

From page 2 of This Raging Light by Estelle Laure.

If he'd known.  What did they think?  That he could hold a gun in her mother's face, murder Joe on the sofa, dreaming with some band still playing in his ears, he could pull the trigger on the live small bodies of her sisters, but not her?

From page 26 of The Crooked House by Christobel Kent.


Karen's:

Unfortunately, the church with its undersized parking lot had used every inch of their land except for the mountain against which it had been built.  In order to build more parking spaces, they would have to move the mountain out of the back yard.

From page 55 of God's Vitamin "C" For The Spirit compiled by Kathy Collard Miller and D. Larry Miller

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!

"This Raging Light" by Estelle Laure

This Raging Light by Estelle Laure is about a young teen girl named Lucille. Her dad is in a home trying to get his act together. Her mom left for a while and told her and her sister (Wren) that she would be back. That was a long time ago though. So Lucille had to do it all and hope that her secret does not get out. Will her parents come back? Does her secret get out?

I loved this book! Lucille and Wren are really good characters and the book flows along with action here and there with a real good ending! I look forward to reading book 2.
(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!

"The Only Child" by Guojing is a Picture Fantasy Book

The Only Child by Guojing is fantasy which reflects the author’s feelings of growing up as an only child in China. The story is cute and I really enjoyed the pictures. There are no words, just pictures except for the author’s note at the beginning which explains the story. This is a debut book. Give it a chance, especially if you have a young child.
Gerard’s review, 4 stars)

I did not like this book at all! I didn’t think the pictures were all that great and thought the book was stupid. I sure wouldn’t buy it.
(Karen’s review, 1 star)

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!

"Fired Up--Trouble in Texas, Book 2" by Mary Connealy

Fired Up –Trouble in Texas, Book 2 by Mary Connealy continues with Paul warning Dare to stay away from his mother and several attempts to kill Dare. The friends continue to pull together to guard Dare and figure out who is trying to kill him while Dare and Glynna take next steps in their relationship in spite of Paul’s warnings.

I enjoyed this western historical romance and particularly liked the humor surrounding the diner and Glynna’s cooking.  I also liked that Paul was so protective of his widowed mother.  It is a light, enjoyable read with an ending I loved and I look forward to continuing with the series. (Karen's review, 4 stars)

See my review of the first book, Swept Away

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!

"Killing Trail--a Timber Creek K-9 Mystery" by Margaret Mizushima

Killing Trail--a Timber Creek K-9 Mystery by Margaret Mizushima is going to be made into a series of books.  It stars Deputy Mattie and her K-9 partner, Robo.  A young girl is found dead and her dog has drugs in its stomach.  The story line was okay but it moved kind of slow for my taste.  I had the killer figured out early and the ending was sort of anti-climatic.  I did love Robo though and Mattie was okay.
(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!

"Reporting For Duty--True Stories of Wounded Veterans and Their Service Dogs" by Tracy Libby

Reporting For Duty—True Stories of Wounded Veterans and Their Service Dogs by Tracy Libby contains 15 separate true stories about veterans, true heroes who have a lot to deal with just to get around day-to-day. They were united with dogs and their quality of life is so much better! I loved this book! The stories are so good and the pictures are wonderful! There is also other parts of the book that deals with how these dogs are trained and how dogs and people have a special bond.
(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!

"What She Knew" by Gilly MacMillan is Very Good!

In What She Knew by Gilly MacMillan, Rachel is going through the park with her 8-yr.-old son, Ben. When Ben asks if he can go on ahead, Rachel says “yes.” But then Ben vanishes, and Rachel is at a loss to know what happened. This story is told by multiple points of view which adds to the drama of finding Ben. Who did it? Who has him? What will the outcome be? I really enjoyed this book! The characters are well developed and the ending is good too!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

I read about the first 75 pages and it was just moving too slow for me.  Didn't care for the writing and was zero action.  Didn't have much background on the little boy who was missing to make me feel attached to him in any way.  Had other books I wanted to read more so skipped the middle and read the ending.  It's over 400 pages and just felt like it plodded along!
(Karen's thoughts)

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:

Should we trust or rely on somebody just because they're a figure of authority, or a family member?  Are any of our friendships and relationships really based on secure foundations?

From page 3 of What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan.

All sounds--all shouts--fade.  My vision blurs, as if the connection between me and the rest of the world has been severed.

From page 49 of This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp.


Karen's:

One second they were galloping, the next Dare threw them off the horse and rolled with her toward the sheer rise of the bluff.  Dare's weight knocked the wind out of her as he landed on top, shielding her.

From page 13 of Fired Up by Mary Connealy.

The director of the mission leaned over and aid to the man, "Son, I think it would be better if you prayed, 'Make me like Jesus!'

The man looked up at the director with a quizzical expression on his face and asked, "Is he like Joe?"

From page 10 of God's Vitamin "C" For The Spirit compiled by Kathy Collard Miller and D. Larry Miller

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!

"Swept Away--Trouble in Texas, Book 1" by Mary Connealy

In Swept Away—Trouble in Texas, book 1 by Mary Connealy, Ruthy gets swept away in a flood trying to cross a river, Glynna Greer gets swept away with her children out of her home to escape her abusive husband, and Luke gets swept away when he falls in love with Ruthy aka Rosie. The hired guns in the little western town get swept away when Luke and his buddies take on Flint Greer to get his ranch back that was stolen. Ruthy has some interesting skills as well as cooking which include tracking, stealth, courage, gunmanship and working hard. She is an amazing woman!

I liked this book although it moved a bit slow up until the last quarter of the book. Quite a few characters were introduced and the plan to get Luke’s ranch back and get Glynna and her children to safety took up most of the book. Issues in this book include friendship, revenge v. justice, domestic violence, romance and survival. The ending was wonderful! I look forward to continuing this historical western series with Fired Up.
 (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!

"STRANDED" by Melinda Braun

Stranded by Melinda Braun is about a group of seven backpacking in the mountains with a guide for a week. However, when a big storm comes up unexpectedly, three die and the four remaining have to work together to survive. None of them knew each other before the trip. Emma, age 17, is still feeling guilty about not being able to save her younger sister from a car wreck a year ago and still gets nightmares.

This book jumps into the backpacking trip practically right from the start and takes the reader through each morning, day and night of the adventure. The interaction between the teens is interesting as they begin to trust each other and work together. I liked it okay, but isn’t as good as other wilderness books I’ve read.
(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!

"Its. Nice. Outside." by Jim Kokoris

It's.  Nice.  Outside. by Jim Kokoris is told for the most part by John Nichols.  He is a 50 something year old man who is separated from his wife, has two daughters and a 19-yr.-old special needs boy.  On his way to his one daughter's out-of-town wedding with his boy, he gets news that tears his family apart.

I loved this book!  The action flowed really well and it sure kept me interested all the way through.  It has a very good ending too!
(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:

Hero gently licks Brian Anderson's cheek, interrupting his dream.  It's a recurring dream that puts Anderson back on the battlefield in Afghanistan--a chaotic, intense combat zone where Anderson, amid all of the carnage, is fighting for his life.

From page 26 of Reporting For Duty--True Stories of Wounded Veterans and Their Service Dogs by Tracy Libby

I lay there for a moment longer, overwhelmed, my mind spinning, my life pinning me down.  I then performed my morning ritual for the past nineteen years:  I cursed God, then prayed to Him and pushed myself out of bed.

From page 21 of It's.  Nice.  Outside. by Jim Kokoris.

Karen's:

My eyes glanced over a huge fallen timber, a nylon tent crushed underneath its massive trunk.  But when I saw a hiking boot with the leg still attached peeking out from the destroyed tent, I realized I had been wrong.

From page 44 of Stranded by Melinda Braun.

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!

"Ice Time" by David Trifundov

Ice Time by David Trifunov is a short story about Paul, a 12-yr.-old who loves to play hockey but who is raised by a single mom who does not have the money for him to play. When Paul’s best friend gets a concussion and can’t play and others on the team are sick, Paul gets his chance. It seems everyone on the team is happy to get Paul except for Chad. I think any boy or girl who likes hockey would enjoy this book. I thought it was a good story that promotes teamwork. (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!

"The Neighbor" by Lisa Gardner--Who Is the Real Monster?

The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner is a mystery told from multiple points of view about a wife and cat who turn up missing. She has a husband who works second shift and a 4-yr-old daughter who was the last person to see her mother before she disappeared. Both husband and wife had bad childhoods but love their daughter very much and want to give her a good family. The cops are clueless as to what happened to the wife but have lots of suspects.  The husband and wife are both good liars and very good at keeping secrets.

This book kept me guessing right to the unexpected ending but I felt really bad for the neighbor. It deals with family secrets, marriage issues, prejudice, computers and sexual abuse.  This book is an eye opener to the problems pedophiles face. The plot is similar to Gone Girl; however, I liked both the main characters in this and didn’t like either of the main characters in Gone Girl. This book doesn’t have near as much swearing as Gone Girl does either. I liked it!
 (Karen's review, 4 stars)

Gerard's Review, 5++ stars:
In The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner, a husband comes home and finds that his wife and cat are missing.  The rest of the house is normal and his young 4-yr.-old daughter is fine.  The police are on it and have plenty of suspects including the husband, but no body.  This is a real page turner!  The author keeps dropping tidbits that change the focus every so often to different possible suspects, but there's really no evidence.  I really enjoyed it a lot and was blown away by the ending!

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!

"Descent" by Tim Johnston

Descent by Tim Johnston is about a family that is going through problems and when the daughter goes missing in the Rocky Mountains, that really adds to it! This book may be a bit confusing to some as the author goes back and explains why the family is where it is. The last part of the book is a real page turner as you draw near the end.
(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!

"Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone" by J. K. Rowling (First Illustrated Edition)

This is a beautiful book!  This novel is about a young boy named Harry Potter.  One day, much to his surprise, he finds out that he is a wizard and goes to a special school called Hogwarts for wizards.

I really loved the interaction between Harry and his classmates and teachers at Hogwarts.  There is always something interesting going on in this book that makes you want to keep reading.  I know I am late to these books, but better late than never.  Loved the ending!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

See Karen's review of this too:  Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone

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:

You never told him?  Never told him what was in the letter Dumbledore left fer him?

From page 42 of Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling.  (First illustrated edition by Jim Kay, Oct. 2015)

He looked at his wife, standing with her back to him.  Somehow they would need to get through this hour, this day, this vacation.  The long drive home.

From page 16 of Descent by Tim Johnston.

Karen's:

Then I thought, looking at what was down at his side, that I mustn't scream.  I must protect my daughter, my precious daughter still sleeping down the hall.

From page 5 of The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner.

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!

Gerard's Top Favorites of 2015

Gerard read 123 books in 2015 and liked most of them, but these are his top 12 favorites.

Have you read any of these?   To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Harry Potter--The Character Vault" by Jody Revenson

Harry Potter--The Character Vault by Jody Revenson is like looking through a scrapbook of the world of Harry Potter.  This is quite an informative, interesting book about the behind-the-scenes work of the Harry Potter films.  It gives interesting facts about the costumes and props for the different characters as well as some feelings the actors expressed about their characters, roles and costumes.  I think anyone who is considering watching or has enjoyed watching the Harry Potter movies would find this book very interesting.  It has lots of pictures of movie scenes and two posters, one of death eaters and one of the Order of the Phoenix.
(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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"One of Us--The Story of Anders Breivik and the Massacre in Norway" is Gripping

One of Us –The Story of Anders Breivik and the Massacre in Norway by Asne Seierstad is a true story of Anders who went on a killing spree one day. The first part of this book tells the story of Anders growing up with his mom and his friends. He did not really have a relationship with his father. The second part of this book is when he goes on the killing spree. This is told very well and it is gripping to say the least! The last part deals with the aftermath of what he did and how it affected the people he shot.
(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!

Karen's Favorite Reads for 2015

I read 83 books in 2015 and this video shows my top 20 favorites which includes the Harry Potter Series of 7 by J. K. Rowling and the Katie Productions series of 3 by Jenny B. Jones.  The "Books & Cats, Life is Good" t-shirt was a Christmas present from my cats, Manny Boy and Spunky Doodle.  My dog, Abby, got me the whole set of Harry Potter books which by the way, if you haven't yet read, you should!

If you made a favorite book post or video for books you read in 2015, feel free to share the link in the comments.  My husband's favorite book post will be up soon--he's still deciding.

Happy Reading!