"Dead to You" by Lisa McMann (UPDATED)

Dead to You by Lisa McMann is a real page turner! Ethan was abducted at the age of 7 and comes back home at the age of 16. WOW!! What a great book with a good ending. I LOVED IT! I hated to see this one end even though it was a great ending.
(Gerard's review)

Karen's review:
Dead to You by Lisa McMann is about a family whose 7 yr. old son, Ethan, was abducted and he finally gets away and finds them when he's 16.  The mom, dad and little sister, Gracie, are all very happy to have him back, but their 13-yr.-old son doesn't believe it's really him and sets out to prove it.  I was surprised at the ending which left me feeling sad.    

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 April to Paralyzed Veterans of America.

"The Dog Who Knew Too Much" by Spencer Quinn (UPDATED)

I enjoyed The Dog Who Knew Too Much by Spencer Quinn. Bernie and Chet, his 100 lb. dog, are partners in the Little Detective Agency and specialize in finding missing persons. Chet is the narrator of the story and it’s so funny when he gets distracted by smells or off the track with random thoughts. At first, it was even kind of annoying when I was trying to follow what was going on, but then I got used to it. I liked that the dog acted like a dog would and wasn’t like a person. He couldn’t actually talk and it wasn’t like he had any supernatural ability. One of the lines he kept repeating was: “Our cases closed just about every time with me grabbing the perp by the pant leg.”

I think you should read this one too!

This is a real fun read with both action and mystery. I think anyone who likes dogs would like this book. Visit www.ChetTheDog.com to see what else he’s up to.
(Karen's review)

Gerard's review posted 10/14/11:
You can never go wrong with a Bernie and Chet book.  I love Chet, he steals the show like he always does.  This is a good quick, enjoyable read with a happy ending! 

Gerard also read Dog On It by this author and liked it even better, but this book is well worth your time.  We both recommend it!

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

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"Look Again" by Lisa Scottoline

Look Again by Lisa Scottoline is the second book I have read by her.  It’s about a Ellen, a journalist and single mother who thinks her adopted son looks a lot like the face of a missing child on a postcard she received in the mail.  She becomes paranoid that neighbors may think she kidnapped him and is afraid she may lose him.  Nevertheless, she can’t ignore the fact that her 3-yr.-old son, Will, looks like the missing kid, Timothy.  She goes on a search for the truth to hopefully prove Will is not the same child that turns deadly.  This is a book that starts slowly and an ending that did not surprise me.  My favorite characters were Marcelo, Ellen’s boss and Will’s cat, Oreo Figaro.  I didn’t care much for Ellen at the beginning but did get to like her by the end of the book.  She was smart and courageous. 

If you like books about fierce mothers who fight for their kids or books that address moral dilemmas, this is a good one for you.  I liked Save Me by Lisa Scottoline better though.  My husband starting this one but said it was a woman’s book and gave up on it.  I agree with him—it is geared more to women.

(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? You can help our charity of the month just by leaving a comment on any of our blogs! We will donate 50 cents per comment at the end of the month. The charity for this month is at the top of our blog.

"A Stolen Life" by Jaycee Dugard

Thanks to the Best of 2011 Blog Hop over at "A Pause on the Path," I discovered that this is our most viewed post of 2011 with 106.

As I read A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard I had to keep reminding myself that this was not a novel but it actually happened. It's a remarkable story of how Jaycee was kidnapped and lived in a backyard shack for 18 years. It will have you turning pages quickly because it is riveting. Thanks for telling your story so well, Jaycee! Hope your daughters and you can enjoy a normal life. I'm glad you finally have a dog too!
(Gerard's review)

After seeing the news story about Jaycee Dugard being kidnapped at age 11 and held captive for 18 years, I wasn't sure I wanted to read her book, A Stolen Life, because the abductor was such a slimeball but I am glad I did.  This is a fascinating book. I was pleasantly surprised that although she did not have freedom, she was not tortured too much. She cooperated so he would not get mad and so she could survive. It did surprise me though that she didn’t even think about ways to escape. I was so happy that she had kittens and a bird to keep her company. Phillip raped her and she became a 14-yr.-old mother of a healthy baby girl and had another later too. These girls brightened her life. This is a heartbreaking story while she was in captivity, but fortunately it has a happy ending.
(Karen's Review)

Here is a video that summarizes what she went through.  After we saw the show, we wanted to read her book!





Have you read this one? What did you think of it? You can help our charity of the month just by leaving a comment on any of our blogs! We will donate 50 cents per comment at the end of the month. The charity for this month is at the top of our blog.

"The Girl Who Disappeared Twice" by Andrea Kane

The Girl Who Disappeared Twice by Andrea Kane is a mystery that I had trouble putting down.  It had my attention from the get-go and kept it all the way through the book!  Forensic Instincts is a private group known for their unconventional methods and high success rate that was hired to find a Judge’s missing little girl, Krissy, who was kidnapped.  This book kept me guessing even though I thought I knew who did it, I couldn’t get all the pieces to fit.  The characters are fun and interesting, including the bloodhound named “Hero.”

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

You can help our charity of the month just by leaving a comment on any of our blogs! We will donate 50 cents per comment at the end of the month. The charity for this month is at the top of our blog.

"Magic Hour" by Kristin Hannah

This kept Karen up Late!

Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah is a fascinating and heartwarming read about two sisters who help a little missing girl that doesn't talk who just showed up in the small town of Rain Valley up in a tree with a wolf pup.

Julia is a psychiatrist whose reputation is shot and has lost her clients and her confidence because of it but who returns to her home town when her sister, Ellie-the chief of police, calls her for help with the "wolf girl." 


I liked this book very much.  I was fascinated at how Julia fell in love with the little "wolf girl" and helped her begin to talk again.  It was heart-breaking when after she decided to adopt the girl that her biological father came for her.  Julia and Ellie both struggled with being professional and their strong attachment to the girl.  When they found out about the dad's prison record, giving her up was even harder.  This is one of the few books that I looked forward to reading to see what would happen next and stayed up late to finish it.  I highly recommend this one!

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? You can help our charity of the month just by leaving a comment on any of our blogs! We will donate 50 cents per comment at the end of the month. The charity for this month is at the top of our blog.

"Gone" by Lisa Gardner is Good!

Gone by Lisa Gardner is another suspense thriller that is fascinating. Rainie is the wife of a semi-retired FBI profiler (Quincy), a child advocate for 7-yr-old Dougie who has issues, and an alcoholic who is kidnapped on a stormy night from her car on a desolate road in Oregon seven days after her husband left her. It’s a race against the clock to find Rainie before it’s too late. The cops really have no leads and are at the mercy of the kidnapper who calls the shots. Quincy and his daughter, Kimberly—an FBI agent from Atlanta both become actively involved in the investigation. When Quincy overhears the kidnapper’s voice he is shocked as was I at who it was.

My favorite part of this book was Rainie fighting to figure out how to escape and protect Dougie. Dougie was a very interesting character who kept my interest. He provided an interesting facet of this novel. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who likes a thrilling mystery.
(Karen's review)

Check out our book giveaway of "I'm Outnumbered--One Mom's Lessons In The Lively Art Of Raising boys" to a mom (or gift for a mom)--winner to be announced May 1 so you have it in time for Mother's Day.

You can help our charity of the month just by leaving a comment on any of our blogs! We will donate 50 cents per comment at the end of the month. The charity for this month is at the top of our blog.

"Love You More" by Lisa Gardner

Love You More by Lisa Gardner is impressive.  It is a mystery about a mother, Tess, charged with murdering her husband and possibly her 6-yr-old daughter, Sophie, as well.  Tess was a real “mother” bear!  The Boston police arrest Tess, a state trooper who doesn’t have much faith in cops because of her past experience.  Tess lies to the police and devises a plan to find her daughter’s kidnapper on her own and rescue her daughter against all odds no matter what.  She had to outfox the police and the bad guys.  Her plan is genius!  “Love You More” shows there is good and bad in everyone.  It’s about betrayal, friendship, crime investigation, murder, gambling, love, and sacrifice.    

I was a bit confused in the beginning because it was a little hard to tell which lady cop was talking, Tess the state trooper or the pregnant D.D. Warner of the Boston P.D.  Once I got that cleared up, the book got really interesting.  I enjoyed how the State Trooper and the police investigator kept trying to figure out each other and how Tess was able to stay one step ahead.  This was interesting because of the good cops and bad cops involved which made it stand out from other murder mysteries.  I recommend this to anyone who likes mysteries.  I am definitely going to read another of Lisa Gardner’s books.

(Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? You can help our charity of the month just by leaving a comment on any of our blogs! We will donate 50 cents per comment at the end of the month. The charity for this month is at the top of our blog.

"Train From Marietta" by Dorothy Garlock

Train From Marietta by Dorothy Garlock is story of adventure in Texas and romance in the 1930s. When Kate plans to take the train from New York to California to practice medicine with her uncle, little did she know that she would be kidnapped along the way and her plans would change when she finds romance. This is also a story of betrayal, survival and friendship. I liked all the main characters, especially the Indian boy.


Dorothy Garlock is one of my favorite authors and this book did not let me down. I love how she can tell the story in such a way that it makes me feel as though I’m right there or watching a movie. I enjoyed this book very much because I like stories with happy endings!

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Boot Camp" by Todd Strasser

Boot Camp by Todd Strasser is a disturbing novel about Garrett, a boy sent to Harmony Lake camp for troubled teens, by his parents because he was out of control.  It is like a prison for teens, but they use physical and psychological abuse to get teens to become obedient.  Parents who send kids there paid $4,000 a month!  Teens are separated from their parents and the outside world for a minimum of six months.  In this book, Garrett really did not deserve to be there and befriended two others who didn’t deserve to be there either.  They escaped together but it did not end there.

I liked the ending, but won’t spoil it for you.  I found myself pulling for Garrett throughout the book and although this was fiction, it is based on real places that exist in the United States which is what disturbed me most.  No one should be treated this way!   The book was gripping, a page-turner that I was anxious to see how it would end.
 (Karen's review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Castle In The Mist" by Robert J. McCarty

Castle In The Mist by Robert J. McCarty is the second book in his “Planet Of The Dogs” series.  Stone City has been at peace and prospered for a year since the dogs came to show them a better way of getting along but that is all about to change when Bik, the leader of Stone City finds his children have been kidnapped by two traitors who took them to mean Prince Ukko, leader of the Black Hawk Tribes who holds them prisoners.  Once again, the dogs from the Planet of the Dogs devise a plan to rescue the children before Bik leads Stone City into a war. 

I liked how the dogs were once again successful in winning over the mean leaders.  The dogs are clever, brave, helpful, loyal and loving.  I recommend this series for children ages 6-12 and to dog lovers of all ages.  It is a quick read but one that I enjoyed.  Of the three books in this series (the other two are Planet of the Dogs and Snow Valley Heroes--A Christmas Tale) I liked this the least just because Prince Ukko were very mean wanting to capture and destroy all the dogs!  At least he changed his attitude in the end!

To read a sample chapter, order a book or for more information visit www.planetofthedogs.net and the blog at http://barkingplanet.typepad.com.  We received a complimentary copy of this whole series from Barking Planet Productions to review this book and will include it in a November giveaway. 

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Room" by Emma Donoghue--A Must Read For Moms

Imagine being five years old and knowing only one room your whole life with just your mom, a TV and books.  That’s the situation Jack is in in Room by Emma Donoghue.  I loved Jack!  This book is very interesting and very funny too.  Ma is really good also, but Jack steals the show.  I liked the ending too!  Enjoy!.
(Gerard's review)

Room by Emma Donoghue is an unusual story about the love between a mother and child. It is told Jack when he is five. His mother was abducted at 19 and has been kept locked up in a one-room shed for seven years. She was raped by her kidnapper, Old Nick, and had Jack. The only world Jack knew was the one room for the first five years of his life until one day, Ma felt he was old enough to help them escape. The mother's main focus was to keep Jack safe from Old Nick.

I enjoyed all the things the mother did with Jack every day. They had a TV and a few books for entertainment. They never got outside until they tricked Old Nick. Jack was a hero and the rest of the book was about Jack learning about real life outside of the room and his mother readjusting to living again. I think the mother did an amazing job with Jack under the circumstances. I liked that it has a happy ending and think any mother would enjoy this book.
(Karen's Review)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

Related Posts:  Life With Books reviewed ROOM too and thought it was great.
For a different view, see Parchment Girl's review--she did not like Ma or Jack!

"Worst Case" by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Worst Case by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge is a page turner.  I got the large print edition but I think this book would go fast no matter the type.  Detective Bennett is on the trail of a kidnapper who targets rich kids but not for money.  Then, he changes course and goes for a much bigger plan.  I got into this book real fast and it kept my interest all along.  Fantastic ending with a twist added too.  I enjoyed it and recommend it.
(Gerard 6/4/10)

Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Where Are You Now?" by Mary Higgins Clark

Where Are You Now by Mary Higgins Clark is a novel that takes place in New York City about Carolyn, a lawyer, trying to find her older brother who has been missing for ten years but calls once a year on Mother’s Day.  He was a student at Columbia University and just disappeared one day.  As she digs into the past, she starts finding some circumstantial evidence that makes the detectives think her brother, Mac, may be a serial killer and that’s why he chose to disappear.  Carolyn thinks he must be in trouble and just wants to find him to help.  I don’t want to say too much about the plot because I don’t want to spoil it for you, but this book has suspense, romance and mystery.

I liked this book because it led me to believe one thing but ended up being something completely different than I expected.  I enjoy books that have surprise endings that I don’t figure out right from the start and this is certainly one of them! If you like mysteries, I highly recommend Where Are You Now?.   

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?  Share what you thought of it and link up your  post to Busy Mom's Who Love To Read's Book Club.

"The Secret Life Of CeeCee Wilkes" by Diane Chamberlain

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes is a very good interesting book about mother/daughter relationships and which shows how people change over the years.  A gullible, love starved 16-yr.-old girl, CeeCee, gets involved over her head assisting with a kidnapping that turns out badly.  She makes some very poor choices and gets a new identity and a baby to raise that is not hers.  So many people’s lives are affected by the decisions she makes and I found myself pulling for CeeCee to make the right decisions along the way but time and again, she doesn’t.  It is a book about living with consequences of our actions and morality.

It’s a great story and I liked how it shows the feelings of both mothers and daughters.  I also liked the idea of the mother dying of Cancer writing letters to her daughter to be opened in the future as she got older, even though the daughter opened them all at once.  

I highly recommend this and would suggest it for a book club. This is a must read!

 Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Two Little Girls In Blue" by Mary Higgins Clark

Two Little Girls In Blue by Mary Higgins Clark is gripping right from the start. It’s about Kathy and Kelly, a set of three-year-old twin girls being kidnapped for $8 million. The scheme is master minded by someone who is referred to as “The Pied Piper.” He had a brilliant plan in place and collected the ransom with no difficulty, making the FBI look like fools; however, one of his partners in crime decided to double cross him and changed the plan. An interesting part of Two Little Girls In Blue was the twins being able to communicate when separated.  This is a fast-paced page turner that I enjoyed very much!


I liked being “in” on the kidnapper’s actions all through the book and actually got to know them better than the parents of the girls. I must admit, I guessed wrong as to who the “Pied Piper” was. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good crime novel. This book is excellent!  I highly recommend it!  
(Karen's review)

Gerard read this a long time ago and liked it too.  He told me then I should read it because it was so good, but I didn't because I read "Daddy's Little Girl" by this author and didn't care for it all that much.  I liked this one much better. 

Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?