"Fierce Kingdom" by Gin Phillips

Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips would probably appeal more to mothers.  Joan and her 4-yr.-old son are enjoying time at the zoo.  They like seeing the animals, but this time Joan sees something that she has never seen at the zoo before, and it means trouble!  If you go to the zoo often, you will see yourself in this book.  It starts out strong, but then drags along until it picks up at the end.  Joan and the school teacher were my favorite characters.
(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!

"The Marriage Pact" by Michelle Richmond

In The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond, Alice and Jake are newlyweds. They decide to join an exclusive and mysterious group known as “The Pact.” The goal is to keep marriages happy so how bad can it be? Alice and Jake both want a long and happy life! This book is wild to say the least and certainly not dull at all! I never really knew what was going to happen. I liked both Alice and Jake. This book kept my interest throughout and make me actually laugh out loud at some parts.
 (Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

An appropriate book review for our 20th anniversary!

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

Karen's:

I could see the way Mr. Martin's son looked at Emma when he came home from school, and the way Mr. Martin looked at his son looking at Emma, and the way our mother looked at Mr. Martin when he was looking at them.  And I could see that this was going to result in a bad future.

From Pg. 10 Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker.

You won't win more games if you keep making the same number of unforced errors.  And, you can wish all you want that the tooth-fairy will grant you better pickleball skills, but I regret to say, it probably isn't going to help you the next time you're out on the court.

From page 17 of Smart Pickleball:  The Pickleball Guru's Guide by Prem Carnot.

Gerard's:

She hears more footsteps, and then she hears hushed voices, and then the footsteps get faster.  She hears someone rattle metal or glass.

From page 53 of Fierce Kingdom by Alexandra Sirowy.

But then I realized that something else was bothering me--the calmness in Alice's expression, the resigned and nonchalant way she relayed all of this to me.  "You don't seem angry," I said.

From pate 115 of The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond.

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

"Without Warning " by Lynette Eason (Book 2 of Elite Guardians Series)

Without Warning by Lynette Eason is the second book in the Elite Guardians series. Daniel and his 17-yr.-old niece Riley get bodyguards when Daniel finds a former employee hung in the basement of one of his restaurants and another of his restaurants burned by arson. Daniel, an ex-marine, is a very nice guy whose life is in danger due to greed. He even owns his own plane!

This book is about betrayal, arson, suspense, faith and romance. It was a page-turner for me with a lot of action. It grabbed my interest right from the start.
 (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!

"Emma In The Night" by Wendy Walker (Updated)

In Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker, one night Cass and Emma disappear.  Three years pass and Cass shows up at home, but Emma does not.  Cass tells her story about the three years she has been gone, but to psychologist Dr. Abby Winter, it does not seem to add up.

I thought this book was really good!  It is told by Abby and Cass.  The pacing of the story is so well done that I did not know how it would turn out until the very end.  LOVED IT!  Add this to your TBR list.  You will be glad you did.
(Gerard's review 5++ stars)

Karen read it too, 8-29-17:
Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker is about a dysfunctional family and lots of despicable behavior! It is full of creepy sick characters, fantastic storytelling manipulation and injustice. When Cass returns home without her sister after both being missing for three months, everyone is all ears about what happened to her, where she was, where and what happened to her sister, Emma. The FBI reopens the case in their search for Emma and the reader gets the back story in bits and pieces as told by Cass and the forensic psychologist, Dr. Winter, who is an expert on narcissistic personality disorder based on her own experience.

This is one crazy mystery that moved a bit slow for my taste, but has an interesting ending. This book centers around the mother who has narcissistic personality disorder and whether the cycle can be broken. As mysteries go, I have to give it 4 stars because I really could not figure out where Emma was; however, I cannot say I liked this one. This left a bad taste in my mouth due to the injustice and all the wickedness and evil in this book. It’s definitely written in a unique manner which is really what makes it a good read!


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!

"First We Were IV" by Alexandra Sirowy

In First We Were IV by Alexandra Sirowy, four young teens find a dead girl in an orchard.  Five years have gone by and the killer has not been found.  the teens decide to form a society and do pranks in their small town to raise awareness that bad stuff goes on and maybe the police can finally find the killer. 

The story line was weak at best.  I really could not get into the characters at all!  I kept reading in the hope that it would get better or make some sense. I would not recommend this one!
(Gerard's review, 2.5 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!

"Always Watching" by Lynette Eason (Elite Guardians Book 1)

Always Watching by Lynette Eason is the first book in her Elite Guardians series. It is a good romance mystery about a wealthy widower who has a 12-yr. old daughter that suffers from anxiety attacks. He is nice guy, founder of a charity and a radio talk show host but has a stalker. His father secretly hired a bodyguard to protect his son which proved to be wise. It soon becomes clear someone is out to kill him and the police and his bodyguard think it may be his stalker who left him gifts. As the investigation progresses, it becomes clear than not only is one person out to get him, but two! The question is who and why? Olivia, his bodyguard, has a hard time protecting him because he is so stubborn and doesn’t want to change his usually routines or plans. When his daughter is confronted by his stalker, he finally realizes he needs to start cooperating to keep her safe.

This is a very good book I read quickly. It had enough action to keep my attention and for the most part, things made sense. I figured out who his stalker was early on, but her accomplice was a complete surprise to me! It seemed the bodyguards did a pretty poor job which made for a good story. I liked the suspense and that the bodyguards were not perfect like super heroes. I look forward to reading the other books in this series!
 (Karen’s review, 5 stars)

Teaser Tuesday

Karen's:

She glanced at the man who'd stolen her heart.  And some fat cow at his side.  Why had he brought her?

From Pg. 8 (Loc. 117 on Kindle) of Always Watching (book 1 of the Elite Guardians series) by Lynette Eason.

I don't know if it's what I've got and, more important, I don't want to know.  For now, ignorance is bliss.

From page 77 of The Breakdown by B. A. Paris.

"I've always believed that each of us was put on Earth to make it a better place.  We can't change the past, but if we make the present the best it can be, we can influence the future."

From page 24 of Waiting for Spring by Amanda Cabot.

Gerard's:

I knew even as a stupid little kid that no girl, not even one who cuts you, deserves to be hurt, dead, given wings.

From page 109 of First We Were IV by Alexandra Sirowy.

It was a matter of life or death.  A child's life was more important than a business relationship, especially when the child was Rachel.

From pate 31 of Exposed by Lisa Scottoline.


The friends' faces now in horror, watching as his eyes roll upwards and his body convulses in front of them all, back arched, limbs juddering.  A doctor skiing past stops to help, the Rescue Patrol is called, paramedics are removing the young man's jacket, T-shirt, cutting through his vest in the race to keep him alive, the air reverberating with the thump, thump of a helicopter's blades.

From pg. 9 of Beyond the High Blue Air  by Lu Spinney (a memoir).
 
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker.   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 Breakdown" by B. A. Paris (Mystery)

In The Breakdown by B. A. Paris, on a stormy night Cass passes a car off the road in the woods.  She thinks about stopping to help, but after thinking about worst case scenarios, decides to drive on.  The next day she finds out the woman is dead and that she knew her  Does she tell the police what she saw?  Can she stop blaming herself for not stopping?  Will she tell anyone?

I thought this book was very good!  The pace is well done and the story is believable.  I enjoyed this author's first book, Behind Closed Doors and this book is just as good, if not better!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

The Breakdown by B. A. Paris is full of mystery.  Cass, the main character, last sees her new friend through her car window on a dark road during a storm on her way home from a party.  Her friend's car is stopped on the side of the road but does not appear to be in need of help.  The next day though, Cass hears on the news that her friend was killed!  Then the silent phone calls start up and Cass gets freaked out.  Plus, not only is Cass upset about the murder but she notices she keeps forgetting things and is afraid she has early dementia!  

This book is a disturbing read because strange things keep happening with Cass.  I can't say too much without giving things away but it is a very good mystery.  I got into it right away and looked forward to getting back to it.  Things really picked up and got interesting in the second half, so don't give up on it!  I highly recommend this book and only gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because the turning point was far-fetched and pretty unbelievable.  
(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!

"Beyond the High Blue Air" by Lu Spnney (Heartbreaking)

In Beyond the High Blue Air by Lu Spnney, Miles is a young man with a bright future ahead of him.  His snowboarding accident changes all that and now his future is bleak to say the least.  This book is written by his mother who details what she and her family went through to see that Miles got the best care he could.

What a gut-wrenching story this is!  I give so much credit to Lu for writing this to share her nightmare with others.
(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!

"Tomorrow's Garden" by Amanda Cabot (Western Historical Romance)

Tomorrow's Garden by Amanda Cabot is the last book in the Texas Dreams series.  This one focuses on Lawrence, the former Texas ranger who accepted a temporary position as sheriff and mayor of a small Texas town. Harriet accepted the job of school teacher and moved to town with her five brothers and sisters.  Both Harriet and Lawrence had secret fears resulting from some scary past experiences.  This book has family drama, some adventure and some romance.

Of the three books in the series, this was my least favorite but I still enjoyed it.  I just didn't like Harriet, the main character, much.  I did not like how she treated Jake, her younger brother or how she treated Lawrence.  I was glad to see she changed for the better by the end of the book.  I really liked Lawrence and how he tried to help Jake.  There were parts in this book that made me laugh out loud.  It's an entertaining read.
(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!

Teaser Tuesday

Gerard's: 
I was so terrified that I barricaded myself into the sitting room.  You're going mad, says a singsong voice in my head.

From page 128 of The Break Down by B. A. Paris.

Karen's:

"There's nothing wrong with it."
"Indeed not . . ."  Isabelle pursed her lips in feigned indignation.  "If you want to look like a mouse.  A dead mouse, that is."

From pg. 119 of Tomorrow's Garden (Texas Dreams 3) by Amanda Cabot.
 
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker.   Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.  Happy Reading!

"In 27 Days" by Alison Gervais (YA about Suicide with a Twist)

In 27 Days by Alison Gervais, Hadley Jamison has it all.  Her parents are very well off so she lacks for nothing.  She is pretty with lots of friends and lives in a real nice apartment.  When she finds out a classmate of hers has died, someone she hardly knows, she wishes she could have done something.  Sometimes wishes come true, but it comes with a cost.  In this case, the cost is plenty!

I was into this book from page 1!  The characters are believable and the story line kept me turning pages.  What more do you want out of a book?  I LOVED It! Do not miss this one!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Karen's review, 8/11/17: 
I liked In 27 Days by Alison Gervais too.  This is about two high school students in a prep school who come from very different backgrounds but develop a friendship through very unusual circumstances.  When Hadley goes back in time 27 days to try to prevent Archer from committing suicide, both their lives change for the better!

I liked this book and would recommend it to teens.  It promotes the value of life and shows how just by making time for others can make a huge difference in their lives.  The only thing I didn't get about this book was the paranormal characters, Death and Havoc.  That's why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.  I almost finished this book in a day.

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!

"Words on Bathroom Wall" by Julia Walton

In Words on Bathroom Wall by Julia Walton, Adam is Schizophrenic.  He has to transfer to a new school because he is getting bullied at his old one.  No one knows this at his new school and Adam will do anything to keep it that way.  This book is Adam's journal to his therapist because he would rather not talk.

I thought this book was pretty good.  Adam has a good sense of humor and the book moved along at a good pace.  I loved the ending!
(Gerard's review, 3.5 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!

"Scattered Petals" by Amanda Cabot (Christian fiction western romance)

Scattered Petals by Amanda Cabot is the second book in the Texas Dreams series and did not disappoint. This one focuses on Priscilla, Clay’s sister-in-law, who witnesses her parents being shot and is raped on the way to attending Sara and Clay’s wedding. Priscilla always wanted to see Texas and yearned for adventure. She got more than she bargained for! Will her dreams ever come true?

I enjoyed this Christian fiction western romance and liked both Priscilla and Zach. They both had things in their past to overcome so they could move on with their lives.
 (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!

"Pretending to Dance" by Diane Chamberlain

Pretending to Dance by Diane Chamberlain is the story of Molly, a woman who after a miscarriage, cannot have children and seeks to adopt with her husband, Aiden. They live in San Diego and are looking into an open adoption so the birth mother can still be involved with the child. Molly, having been adopted herself in an open adoption, keeps that from her husband. Molly grew up in North Carolina on a family mountain. Her birth mother lives on the mountain with the rest of Molly’s family and gives Molly dance lessons. Nora, Molly’s adoptive mother, actually has a civil relationship with her husband’s former lover and Molly’s birth mother. Talk about a dysfunctional family, this was it. Molly’s father had MS and Molly was only 14 when he died. Molly is haunted by her past and needs to forgive so she can move on with her life. This book is filled with emotion and is all about relationships and family secrets.

I enjoyed this book very much because it felt so real. The story line about Molly’s childhood is heartbreaking as her father’s illness gets worse and Molly begins rebelling against her parents, going through a coming of age period. There are funny parts that balance out the sad things and touching moments throughout the book. This was a bit of a tear-jerker for me. I think this would make a good book club read and highly recommend it. The part with the father and Molly reminded me a bit of The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. I would love to see a sequel to this with Molly’s own family and how that would play out. (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!

Teaser Tuesday

Gerard's:

"That's not good enough!  I'm in the dark here, Death, and I have no idea how I'm supposed to do this!

From page 134 of In 27 Days by Alison Gervais.

Karen's:

"Those kids you're going to have?"  Daddy said finally.

"What about them?"

"Be sure to hug them a lot," he said, "in case someday you can't."

 From page 273 of Pretending to Dance by Diane Chamberlain

Her worry was for her unborn child.  This was, Zach guessed, a new fear and, in all likelihood, one that troubled her far more than the prospect of being shunned.

From pg. 180 (location 2220 on Kindle) of Scattered Petals (Texas Dreams 2) by Amanda Cabot.
 
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker.   Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.  Happy Reading!

"Praying For Your Children" by Elmer L. Towns and David Earley

I got Praying For Your Children by Elmer L. Towns and David Earley when it was offered for free on Kindle because I thought it would help me to be more effective in praying for the kids in my Sunday School class.  This book has lots of prayers included right from scripture and then lists specific points to pray specifically for.  It is helpful in praying for specific spiritual needs for the children instead of just asking God to bless them and their families. I recommend it to parents and Sunday School teachers.  It would be a great baby shower gift for any Christian.  The one thing I found slightly annoying though was repetitiveness; some scripture passages were repeated.
(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 Kansas City Cowboys" by Johnny D. Boggs (Updated)

The Kansas City Cowboys by Johnny D. Boggs tells the story of 17-yr.-old Silver King.  He wants to be a working cowboy.  His mom wants him to be a baseball pitcher.  Who do you think won?  This novel takes place in the late 1800s.  I thought this was a fun read!  The characters were brought out very well.  I did not have to think too much with this one, just relaxed and enjoyed the read.
(Gerard's review, 8-4-17, 5 stars)

Karen's review:
The Kansas City Cowboys by Johnny D. Boggs is an historical fiction account of pro baseball in 1886. The story is told in the first person from Silver, a young pitcher who was pushed by his mother to be a baseball player. I found it interesting that a batter could tell the pitcher if he wanted high or low pitches and got 7 balls instead of 4 like it is today. The crowds were rowdy and crazy and the umpires were in danger! I thought this got off to a slow start but because I like baseball, stuck with it. Things picked up in the second half of the book so I’m glad I read it. (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!

"Down a Dark Road" by Linda Castillo--An Amish Murder Mystery We Both Liked

In Down a Dark Road by Linda Castillo, Joseph King is spending life in prison for a horrible crime he committed, but escaped and is on the run. Chief Kate Burkholder is on it! She was a close childhood friend of Joseph. Could he really have done this? Will Kate let her feelings get in the way of doing her job? I thought this book was very good! The characters were well developed and the situations were true to life. Don’t miss this one! (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Karen's review:
Down a Dark Road by Linda Castillo is about a cop, Katie Burkholder, who finds herself in a hostage situation with a childhood Amish friend who was convicted of murdering his wife and escaped from jail. She has a hard time believing he is guilty and agrees to look into his case even though it is outside her jurisdiction. She finds some disturbing things that make her more determined to investigate to discover the truth for herself which puts her in great danger.

This is a very good book that got my interest right from the start and kept it all the way to the end. It has action, some tender scenes, and suspense. The theme throughout is to seek the truth and fight for justice no matter what. If you like a good mystery that is not boring with ties to the Amish community, you should read this one! (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 Secrets She Keeps" by Michael Robotham

The Secrets She Keeps by Michael Robotham is told by Meghan and Agatha.  Agatha is envious of Meghan who has two children and a loving husband, beautiful house, friends and a popular parenting blog.  It's everything Agatha wants but Agatha has secrets that had better stay hidden.  Little does she know that Meghan's life is far from perfect and has secrets of her own.  Soon one act will bring these two ladies together and there is no going back!

I loved this book!  The pacing is really good and the suspense built up nicely.  It would make a good Lifetime movie!
(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:

A bus is coming.  I raise my arm and step on board, sliding down into a seat, below the windowsill.  I edge upwards and glimpse the police car still parked outside the hospital.

From page 101 of The Secrets She Keeps by Michael Robotham.

Karen's:

The case was high-profile not only because King was Amish but because of the level of brutality--and the fact that the children were in the house at the time of the murder.  It brought to light the reality that domestic violence transcends culture and religion.

From page 18 of Down a Dark Road by Linda Castillo.
 
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker.   Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.  Happy Reading!