"The Wife Between Us" by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen has incorrectly been compared to Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train in my opinion.  I think it's laughable!  Those two books were way better!  The three main characters in this book are Richard, who has tons of money; Vanessa, who was his wife for a while; and Emma, his soon-to-be-wife.  This book had its moments, but needed more action for me.  The story line was okay and the ending was very good which surprised me!
(Gerard's review, 3.5 stars)

Karen's review:
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen is a slow moving psychological thriller with twists I didn’t see coming. Richard appears to be the perfect husband, but when his “perfect” wife doesn’t meet his high expectations, he loses his temper. It’s almost as if he is two different people, very caring and affectionate at times, and then abusive and mean at other times. When Vanessa feels guilty about her manipulating, she actually tries to save Richard’s finance from marrying him.

This book was very slow moving for me about a bad marriage and the only reason I kept reading was because it was recommended to me by a friend. It does pick up and becomes more interesting eventually, but I had to plow my way through it. Some things just made no sense to me in the beginning. If you don’t mind a long road to a satisfying ending, then you would probably enjoy this one. If you prefer a fast-paced, action packed book with adventure and twists and turns, skip this one. It’s not for you. I only liked one character, Samantha, who was not a main one. (3 stars)

Teaser from page 19: Richard is engaged. My husband is actually going to marry her.


Teaser from page 10:  Morning is the worst time because, for a brief moment, my brain is clear.  The reprieve is so cruel.

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"The Chain" by Adrian McKinty is a Page Turning Thriller

The Chain by Adrian McKinty is about a chain of kidnappings by a lot of different people!  Normal people find themselves becoming kidnappers when their child is kidnapped in order to save their child!  The chain continues because of fear and intimidation while lots of money goes to the creator of this scheme. 

This was a page turner for me.  It definitely kept my attention and made me see how "good" people could be made to do very bad things.  The mystery of who organized the chain was also incentive for me to keep reading; however, I was able to figure it out pretty early on in Part 2.  The ending was hard to believe, but I liked it.  I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys thrillers and suspense.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

The Chain by Adrian McKinty is about a mother's worst fear--the kidnapping of her daughter.  The mother is pushed to limits that she did not think were possible to try to get her daughter back.  This book is told in two parts--the main part is first and that is really, really good!  I was hooked from the first page!  The pacing of the book is very well done and it is action packed!  The second part is short and wraps up the book.  That part was just okay.  On the basis of the first part being so good, I still give this 5 stars and recommend it.  It is well worth reading!
(Gerard's review, 7/17/19)

Teaser from page 9:  Kylie lifts her head but keeps her eyes tightly shut.  She's still trembling.  The state trooper has seen that something is amiss.

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"Tempests and Slaughter" by Tamora Pierce

Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce is about three young people, two boys and one girl, going to a school to improve their magical abilities.  This book had ups and downs to me.  I enjoyed the three main characters well enough but think the writing and story line could have been better.
(Gerard's review, 3 stars)

Karen's review:
I did not finish this one.  I read about halfway and wasn't invested in it because there was no action!  It just didn't hold my interest at all and there really was no plot going on by the halfway point.  Although I liked the three main characters enough, I did not want to plow through it any longer so gave up on it.

Teaser from page 6:  "The other man seized Arram by the collar and lifted him into the air.  'If you're a mage, spell me, then,' he growled.

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"Gone Too Long " by Lori Roy

In Gone Too Long by Lori Roy, Imogene is the daughter of the head of the Ku Klux Klan, but now her dad is dead, and she hopes all the Klan stuff is over. She never was a fan of it! When she finds a small boy, who knows her name locked in a room on her property, it is not over by a long shot!

The problem I had with this book is that it went back and forth in time which bothered the flow of the book for me. Other than that this book was not too bad at all. It kept me engaged for the most part!
 (Gerard’s review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 13:  "I can't call the police," Tillie says.  "I known Robert and Edith Robithan most all my life.  And I ain't going to be the one to tell them their son is a thief."

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"Marooned in the Arctic" by Peggy Caravantes (non-fiction)

Marooned in the Arctic by Peggy Caravantes is the true story about Ada Blackjack, a desperate mother of a sick young boy who agreed to go on an Arctic expedition for two years to Wrangel Island to get some extra money for her son.  Wrangel Island is north of Alaska and Siberia!  She agreed to go along with three men as a seamstress to sew warm clothes for them during the two years. Although she was told some Eskimo families would join them, none did. During her time there, out of necessity, she learned to hunt, trap, kill, and even build a small boat! She and Vic the cat out survived the men!

Her story is quite remarkable, and I enjoyed the tidbits about the cats, walruses, polar bears and the Arctic Fox.  I can't imagine a day 50 degrees below zero like this expedition crew had to deal with.  No one could pay me enough to live like Ada did in the Arctic!  If you like adventures in tough conditions, read this!
(Karen’s review, 4 stars)

Gerard's review:
Marooned in the Arctic by Peggy Caravantes tells the true story of Ada Blackjack, a young Eskimo girl who goes along with four men on an expedition to Wrangel Island in the Arctic, a remote uninhabited territory.  She goes along because she needs money to help care for her ill son.  

I thought this book was pretty good.  I enjoyed the parts that dealt with the animals that she encountered.  This book is very short, but it kept my interest for the most part.  (4 stars)

Teaser from page 13: Cats and sailors have had a strong bond throughout history. Felines destroy rats and mice that could cause havoc on a ship in various ways: getting into a cargo of grain, chewing on the ship’s mooring ropes or woodwork, or carrying diseases. Cats do not like water, but they adapt to travel on it and become companions to lonely sailors.


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"Renegade Ranger" by James J. Griffin

Renegade Ranger by James J. Griffin took me on a wild, dangerous ride.  When Tom Foley, a Texas Ranger, kills the Captain Ranger at headquarters, shooting him in the back, Ranger Jim Blawchyzk gets shot twice by his friend Tom too when he went back to give the Captain some cookies.  Jim's son, Charlie plans on joining the Texas Rangers as soon as he turns 18, but an exception is made for him to join up early so he can ride along to track down his father's shooter and former friend.  The big question is why did Tom do it.

There is a lot of dialogue and the chase is stretched out with more shootings along the way.  I thought the plot was interesting, but the writing was very simplistic and the dialogue corny and stilted.  I really got tired of the line "Bet your hat on it" which was way over used.  I like westerns now and then, but this was far from a favorite.  I expected better.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

Teaser from page 28:  Tom Foley was just emerging from the corridor leading to Captain Trumbull's office, his smoking six-gun in his hand.  An expression of surprise mingled with disbelief crossed his face when he spotted Jim.

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"Someone Knows" by Lisa Scottoline

Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline is about young teens who decided to play a prank.  It turned out tragically wrong!  Now Allie, after 20 years goes back to where it all began and she will get to the truth about that night.  I thought this book was pretty good.  It is told by a lot of people which I thought added to the story.  The part I did not like is that it sort of took forever and a day to get to the real action.  That being said, I still give it 4 stars.  This is not one of her best books, but I'm still glad I read it.  It just took some patience to get to the good part.  (Gerard's review)

Teaser from page 54:  Sasha was only kidding, but the more she thought about, the more she wanted to move the gun. 

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"Refugee 87" by Ele Fountain

Refugee 87 by Ele Fountain is about Shif's journey to flee his country.  His father was a professor who disappeared and was never heard from again after he said teachers should be paid more when asked how the government could improve the job for teachers.  Shif was then considered the son of a traitor who would be treated poorly if he went to military school for two years like was expected after his normal schooling.  When soldiers were taking kids in his neighborhood, his mother and his best friend's mother made arrangements for them to leave the country.  Unfortunately, the soldiers came for them before they could leave!

This is a quick-paced story of Shif's life as a refugee.  I liked Shif a lot because he was a nice and smart kid.  I liked that it moved along and wasn't dragged out.  This one reminded me of Salt to Sea which was very good.  If you liked that one, I'm pretty sure you would like this one as well!
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 19:  I haven't done anything wrong, but everyone avoids the military.  I break into a run, skidding as I turn the corner to my street.  I can hear heavy boots crunching quickly down the road I just turned off.

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"Two Weeks" by Karen Kingsbury

In Two Weeks by Karen Kingsbury, Elise just needs to get by one semester of high school with no problems.  Then she can get on to her adult plans.  Cole has big plans too after graduation, but when he meets Elise, love is in the air!  When Elise discovers she is pregnant, both hers and Cole's plans are up in the air!  Her big decision is whether to keep the baby or put it up for adoption.

I thought this was pretty good.  I enjoyed all the characters and even thought I guessed the ending I was happy about it!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 7:  Whatever happened next in her life, Elise made herself a promise that day.  She wasn't going to talk to her mother about it.

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"Blood Sisters" by Jane Corry

Blood Sisters by Jane Corry is a slow moving psychological thriller about Alison and Kitty, two step sisters. Vanessa though, being an only child, is envious of Alison and talks Kitty into making a pact to be blood sisters. One little act causes big trouble for all of them all and secrets are abundant. The day of the accident, Vanessa, Kitty's best friend, dies and Kitty suffers brain damage and is unable to speak. Alison feels enormous guilt and begins cutting herself.

This book shows how people are not all good or all bad and is about loyalty, friendship, relationships, special needs, prison, revenge, betrayal and lots of lies. I liked it but found it hard to really connect with the characters. They were so conniving!
(Karen's review 4 stars)

Teaser from page 10: She didn’t have a speech impediment, the doctor had explained to Friday Mum, as if Kitty wasn’t there. Her brain just wouldn’t translate her thoughts into words.


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