"Reckless Girls" by Rachel Hawkins

In Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins, six people take off on an vacation to an island paradise.  After a while, one person goes missing and another one is found dead!  What is going on?  Will the final four survive?  This book is okay.  The good story line kept me reading; however, none of the characters were really likeable.  I feel this needed more action, but I did stick with it.  (Gerard's review, 4 stars)

To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"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.


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!

"touch blue" by Cynthia Lord

touch blue  by Cynthia Lord is a children's book about Aaron, a 13-yr.-old foster boy who gets placed in a home on an island off Maine with Tess (11) and her younger sister, Libby.  He is angry that he is not allowed to call or see his mother.  When Tess discovers he plans to run away to look for her, Tess comes up with a plan to get them together so they can talk.

I enjoyed this book because it showed how different life was on an island near Maine.  I also liked the silly superstitions Tess shared throughout the book and how Aaron's was able to make a contribution to the community and adjust to life on the island.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 41:  "Please?"  he asks.  It's been four years since I've heard from her.  If Natalie gets mad at her, my mom might not write to me again."

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 Deepest Blue" by Sarah Beth Durst (Fantasy) We Both Loved This One!

The Deepest Blue by Sarah Beth Durst is a fantasy about bloodthirsty nature spirits, love, adventure, sea monsters and politics on the Belene Islands south of Renthia.  Mayara successfully kept her spirit power a secret for years, only confiding in her best friend, Kelo who is now her fiance.  Unfortunately, on her wedding day, she used her special power to stop the big spirit storm from destroying her island.  That is when her adventure starts and she finds out what she is truly made of.  When the "Silent Ones" eventually find her, she is faced with a difficult choice:  denounce her family, leave her home forever and don't talk to join the Silent Ones or take her chances at trying to survive for a month on an island that is home to many nature spirits who are hungry and then become heir to the queen of Belene with the opportunity to visit her loved ones again.

I enjoyed reading this book very much, it is so good!  I liked the humorous parts and the characters.  The plot had twists I did not see coming at all and I was turning pages quickly eager to find out what would happen next.  My emotions were all over the place with this one--amusement, sadness, joy and curiosity.  This is a stand alone with a great ending!  I finished reading this one in just two days and recommend to anyone who enjoys uncomplicated fantasy.  (I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review--this book comes out March 19, 2019.)
(Karen's review 3/15/19, 5 stars)

Gerard's review 3/18/19:
In The Deepest Blue by Sarah Beth Durst, it starts off with Mayara's wedding day--a day to celebrate. But even before the vows are said, Mayara makes a decision that puts her future in doubt!  Can she get her and her husband's plans back on track, or is their future doomed?  The pacing of this book is very well done.  The best thing about this book to me was the interaction between all of the characters.  I really cared about what was going to happen.  The ending of the book was a wild ride to say the least!  Great job, Sarah!  (5++ stars) 

Teaser from page 73:  "Because you've arrived, we all get to die that much sooner.  Hurray.  So happy to meet you."

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!

"Orphan Island" by Laurel Snyder

Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder is a children’s fantasy book about nine kids who live on an island. Once a year, a boat comes with a new young child and the oldest on the island leaves in the boat so there are always only nine on the island. The island is safe, the children happy. Things change though when it is Jinny’s time to leave. Loo arrives but instead of Jinny leaving since she is the oldest, she decides to stay. Then things change!

I liked reading this okay, but didn’t like the ending because left me with lots of questions. It is a fable about growing up, but much didn’t make sense to me.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

Teaser from page 2:  Deen had lifted the bell and rung it to summon the others.  Deen had been alone, briefly, with the knowledge that it was time again for a Changing.

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 Wild Robot" by Peter Brown

In The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, a crate is washed up on a remote wild island.  Robot Roz escapes from the crate.  How will the robot adopt to the island?  How will the many animals that call the island their home see this new object?

Okay, I get that this is a children's book, but I will tell you that I think any age would enjoy this book.  The way the robot and the animals got along was so good!  The story kept my interest all the way and it went really fast!  Take a chance and be a kid again--read this and enjoy the story when nature and technology collide.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown is a children's book I enjoyed for a break from heavy topics and intense mystery novels. This is a light, fun read about animals on an island who become friends with Roz, a robot who got washed up on their island in a crate.  Roz befriends the different animals along the way and they grow to like her in return.  She adopts a little gosling and learns to be a good mother.  I think children would enjoy this one very much.
(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!

"And Then There Were None" by Agatha Chrisie--A Creepy and Baffling Mystery!

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is a baffling murder mystery. Ten people voluntarily go to a mansion on Soldiers Island where they soon figure out that the end of their life is coming soon. They suspiciously die one by one and no one can figure out who is behind the killing, including the reader. It is a genius murder mystery! I am so glad the author included the epilogue which explains who was behind everything and how it was done because otherwise I still wouldn't know who the murder was. It is a fascinating psychological thriller that plays on the power of suggestion and manipulation.

This book had me turning the pages right from the start, not only trying to figure out who the murderer was, but also who would be the next victim and how they would die. I didn’t do very well at that either. This is the first book I’ve read by Agatha Christie but plan to read more! I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries or thrillers!
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!

"Claire of the Sea Light" by Edwide Danticat-Awesome Fiction Set in Haiti

A Runaway Child in Haiti

Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat is an awesome read about a young girl named Claire who lives in Haiti.  She runs away on her seventh birthday.  As the search goes on for her, you meet other people who have connections to her and her family and learn about life in Haiti.  This was an eye opener for me that I won't soon forget!  
(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 Light Between Oceans" by M. L. Stedman

In The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Steadman, Isabel lives on a lonely lighthouse, miles away from everybody. She has tried three times to have a baby and it ended in tragedy all three times. Then one day a ship crashes and her husband finds a dead man and an unhurt girl baby. What comes next? Here are a few questions: (1) Does Isabel raise the baby as her own, after all, who will be the wiser? (2) Is the baby's real mother alive? (3) Will Isabel's husband report this and do the right thing?

This is a real page turner and enjoyed how Isabel and her husband handled this situation. You will want to keep reading this book--it's a good one!
(Gerard's review, rating 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!

"Heartbroken" by Lisa Unger

Heartbroken by Lisa Unger is what I call a woman's book, but this 59-yr-old man enjoyed it very much!  There are lots of good plot lines that kept me interested to the max!  When all the characters are in one place, the action explodes!  This is a page turner for sure that I think would make a real good "Lifetime" movie.  Make time to read this one; you will be glad you did!
(Gerard's review) 

Karen's review:

Heartbroken by Lisa Unger was a disturbing read for me because Emily continues making bad decisions over and over to protect, Dean, the man she loves, who is an ex-con.  Things go very wrong when Brad, his “friend” from prison, shows up demanding money.  Her life completely falls apart when she realizes she has nothing and isn’t even who she thought she was.  Then there is another family with strained relationships and secrets from the past.  When Kate, a new author who wrote a fiction book based on family journals, takes her daughter and her girlfriend, Lulu to Heart Island to visit her 75-yr-old mother, Birdie, for their annual family vacation, it turns into a horror show and is the worst vacation they ever had!  Normally, Birdie and Joe are the only ones on the island and it is very peaceful and relaxing.  Joe, however, left because the silence got to him and he needed a break from his wife, Birdie.  When intruders arrive, the action really picks up and secrets are revealed. 

This was an interesting read because of the various colorful characters and the different story lines going on simultaneously.  As I read, I got an ominous feeling about Heart Island and its history.  My favorite part was the excitement when Kate, Birdie, Chelsea and LuLu were beating off the bad guys.

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 are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs during June and July to The Wounded Warrior Project which helps wounded warriors and their families returning from current conflicts.