"Jury of One" by David Ellis is one we both Liked!

Jury of One by David Ellis is about a young boy named Alex who is accused of killing a cop, and Shelly is his attorney.  As she learns more about the shooting, secrets Alex and her have get revealed.  This book is good from beginning to end and the last part of the book with the trial is nearly impossible to put down.  LOVED IT!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars) 


Jury of One by David Ellis is an intricate plot with several surprises along the way.  Shelly, an attorney who defends youth in civil suits because she believes in second chances, leaves her comfort zone and takes a criminal case, defending a 16-yr-old accused of drug dealing and killing a cop.  The kid is not straight with her and she pretty much has to guess what actually happened along with the reader when Alex and Ronnie, his best friend who is like a brother to him, look out for each other.  As Shelly defends Alex, her past comes back to haunt her and more and more secrets are revealed as the trial goes forward, leading to a big surprise ending. 

This is a good book filled with mystery, loyalty, legal procedures, dirty cops and family secrets.  I liked the main characters and the story line kept my interest.  

(Karen's review 12/18/14, 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. Happy Reading!

"Think Twice" by Lisa Scottoline is a Doozy We Both Likded! (Updated)

Think Twice by Lisa Scottoline is about identical twin girls, but other than looks, they are very different!  When the one twin does unspeakable acts to the other, this novel takes off!  Think Twice is really good with plenty of action and a great ending.  
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars) 

Think Twice by Lisa Scottoline is full of unbelievable cruelty from Bennie Rosato’s identical twin, Alice, who was raised in foster care and made a mess of her life.  Bennie is a successful attorney who owns her own firm but when she accepts a dinner invitation from Alice, she wakes up in a box buried alive!  Alice goes on to impersonate her twin and take over her life in the hopes of getting a new start.  It’s hard to believe anyone could really be this cruel, and I even wonder how authors can think up this stuff.  The book has plenty of action including gun play, chase scenes and even some sweetness tossed in for good measure.  I found myself thinking, “Oh, wow!” over and over as Alice continued to be a real piece of work in making her sister’s life miserable.

Although Think Twice isn’t realistic at all, I enjoyed reading it because I wanted to see Alice get caught—she was so bad!  I really liked Bennie’s boyfriend, Grady, and her co-worker, Judy, but thought the psychic cousin made this seem more like fantasy than real life.  The ending was pretty good with a bit of a surprise thrown in which I liked!    This book showed me how important it is to keep any written passwords away from my computer—I’m going to move mine!
(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. Happy Reading!

"Accused" by Lisa Scottoline (Updated)

I liked Accused by Lisa Scottoline because it is about Mary, a criminal lawyer who tries to get a case reopened because the sister of the victim believes the wrong guy was convicted for the murder.  It also includes the subplot of her personal life which includes her engagement to her live-in boyfriend and her lack of excitement.  Who the real killer is was a well kept secret and I liked how things were wrapped up at the end.

It's a good read if you don't need a lot of action to hold your attention and find crime investigations interesting.  I liked the interaction between the lawyers in this book and the Christian overtones with the accused and his mother.  I recommend it.  I think it is one of Lisa Scottoline's more believable novels.
(Karen's review 1-3

-13, 4 stars)

Accused by Lisa Scottoline is about a 13-yr-old girl who hires two lawyers to get the man who was found guilty of killing her sister out of prison because she thinks somebody else did it and he is innocent.  Her parents don't want this and it becomes a test of wills.  It's a good book but doesn't have enough action for me to give it 5 stars so it gets 4.
(Gerard's review 12-11-13, 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. Happy Reading!

"Did You Miss Me? by Karen Rose (UPDATED)

A Real Page Turner For Sure!

Did You Miss Me by Karen Rose is a fast-paced, complex thriller about revenge, betrayal, dysfunctional families and a very brave prosecuting attorney, Daphne (a cancer survivor), who is a target and the romance that develops between her and the Federal agent (Joseph) who tries to find her kidnapped son.  This novel has a lot of things going on:  abduction, murder, manipulation, crime investigation, colorful characters and secrets. 

 

I loved the part Daphne’s dog played in this novel.  Divorces, remarriages and name changes really make it challenging for the reader to keep everyone straight and make all the connections.  Parts reminded me of the writing style of Brandilyn Collins where the author leaves you hanging and then jumps to another scene with other characters.  The author creates lots of suspense without a lot of gore.  I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers with some mystery.

(Karen's review added 3/22/13)

Did You Miss Me by Karen Rose is the story of a man who has a grudge against a woman prosecutor in Baltimore.  For me the best part of this book was following the man who had it all planned out how he was going to get his revenge against her--just excellent with a great ending and lots of suspense.  Put this one on your TBR list and when you read it, you will be happy you did. 
(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!

"Comet's Tale--How the Dog I Rescued Saved My Life" by Steven D. Wolf

Amazing, heartwarming read!

What an amazing true story Comet's Tale by Steven D. Wolf is!  Steven Wolf saved Comet from a bad fate, then Steve's health took a turn for the worse and Comet came through for him.  Comet became the first ever Greyhound service dog.  Find out by reading the book why Comet was named the "Service Dog of the Year."  If you like feel-good stories, start off the new year with this one!


Thanks for sharing your story, Mr. Wolf, and give Comet a treat for me and my dog, Abby.  LOVED this book!
(Gerard's review, rating 5++) 

Comet's Tale by Steven D. Wolf  is about a man with deteriorating back problems who gets a greyhound dog named Comet and trains the dog to help with every day tasks to make his life easier.  He got the dog a service dog jacket and the dog accompanied him everywhere he went.  The amazing thing about this book is that greyhounds are not service dogs.  This one was quite special and was very loyal and dedicated to Wolf.  I did  not like this book as much as Gerard did, but it has interesting information about greyhounds but Wolf's story was sad.
(Karen's review, rating 2 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!

"A Case For Solomon--Bobby Dunbar and The Kidnapping That Haunted a Nation"

A True Crime Book from 1912

A Case For Solomon--Bobby Dunbar and the Kidnapping That Haunted A Nation by Tal McThenia and Margaret Dunbar is a true story about a kidnapping that took place in 1912. Two boys are missing, one boy is found nine months later and two families claim him as their son. There is that trial and also the trial of the kidnapper which makes for a good read and at times, a page turner well worth your time! I enjoyed it!
(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!

"The Fifth Witness" by Michael Connelly is a MUST READ!

A MUST READ . . . or LISTEN (audio book)

WOW! The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly is about a woman on trial for murder. She is charged with killing a man who is the head of the company that was suing to foreclose on her home. This is a fantastic story! I listened to the audio book and LOVED IT! The trial was very interesting and got my attention and held it. The ending blew me away. You have got to read (or listen) to this--it's a must read!
(Gerard's review, 5+++ stars)

Come back Tuesday to see our teaser from this one!

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!

"One Dog Night" by David Rosenfelt

One Dog Night by David Rosenfelt is better than I thought it would be and I enjoyed it very much.  Andy Carpenter is a defense lawyer who takes on a very tough case.  Noah Galloway is being accused of arson that killed 26 people.  He has lived with this fact for six years and is ready to plead guilty and be sent away for good.  When Andy takes this case, he thinks his client did not do it.  It's a quick read, give it a chance.
(Gerard's review)

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 March to the American Cancer Society.

"Defending Jacob" by William Landay

Oh WOW I thought after reading Defending Jacob by William Landay!  Abdy Barber is a D.A. But he is on the case of his life when his son is charged with first degree murder!!  This book could have been taken out of the real news headlines.  That being said, this book is flat out awesome!  It kept me riveted from page one!  The absolute best part, when you think it is over, it is only just getting started with a fantastic ending!  This is a double WOW for sure—you have to read this!
(Gerard's review)

Defending Jacob by William Landay, a former District Attorney, is a gripping read that combines a parents struggles to protect their son, Jacob, and the quest for truth in a murder of their son’s 14-yr.-old classmate.  They are actually afraid of the truth because they think Jacob may be the murderer, but do not want to admit it—not even to each other.  To complicate things further, the father is the assistant District Attorney who is on the case, until he is replaced because the District Attorney believes he is too close to the case and may have a conflict of interest.  Between the family drama and the court drama, this book is hard to put down.  When Jacob is arrested, the mother feels guilty and second guesses their parenting skills while the father chooses to protect his son and defend him to the end no matter what.  Even though the kid is on trial, the parents lose most of their friends too.  The story is told in first person from the father’s point of view which helps the reader understand his thinking and gives insight into the struggles he faces.  The ending is shocking and I did not see that coming! 

I liked this contemporary murder suspense very much because of the way it was written.  I was never certain as I read if Jacob was really the killer or not, which is what the dad felt.  At first, I thought he wasn’t and as the evidence piled up, I thought he was.  I’m not telling you if I was right or wrong because you really need to read it and see for yourself.  This book is thought-provoking because as you see a well-respected, man of integrity tamper with evidence and obstruct justice to protect his son, you can’t help but wonder what you would do in that situation.  This is a great read that I highly recommend to both adults and teens! (Karen's review)

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!

See another review for this at Bloggin' About Books

During March we are donating 50 cents for each legitimate comment we receive on all our blogs to the American Cancer Society.

"The Litigators" by John Grisham

What a great read The Litigators by John Grisham is! A small law firm, Finley and Figg, unexpectedly gets a new person in David Zinc, who quit a huge law firm to join them. When they get a really big case that could make them millions, the fun begins. The trial is very interesting! The writing, as usual for Grisham, is excellent. John Grisham is on top of his game with this book. It's both funny and sad. Don't miss it!
(Gerard'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.

"The Lincoln Lawyer" by Michael Connelly (UPDATED-We Both Read This)

The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly is about Mickey Haller, a sleazy but likeable defense attorney whose ex-wives are his secretary and a prosecuting attorney.  Mickey is used to defending creeps but when he defends a rich realtor scumbag named Louis Roulet on an aggravated assault charge, he discovers his life and the lives of those he loves are in danger.  I am at a loss for words on this one because it portrays the justice system in a very bad light.  Some things were very disturbing to me but it is a good read.   (Karen's Review)

Whether you decide to see the movie or read the book, The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly is not to be missed! WOW! This is good! Mickey is a lawyer who drives around in a Lincoln (thus, the name for the book). He gets a case which seems like a slam dunk but it's not. This novel is full of twists and turns and a super plot will have you hooked with a fantastic ending! The Lincoln Lawyer is a must read!

Here is the link to my teaser from this book.
(Gerard'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.

"Saving Max" by Antoinette Van Heugten Scores High In My Book

If you go on Amazon.com, this book did not score very well at all.  But, if there was a Gerard.com, this book would get high marks!  I enjoyed it a lot!  The story is based on Max, a young teen boy who is Autistic and smart.  When he gets checked into a special care facility, he is accused of murdering a fellow patient.  Max’s mother does everything in her power to clear her son.  This book drags somewhat, but the hearing in front of the judge which is Part 3, more than makes up for it.  It is SO GOOD!  Especially when the mother, who is an attorney, takes over to defend her son.  Fantastic!  Put this on your to read list--you can thank me later.   

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.

"Midwives" by Chris Bohjalian is a good read

What a good read Midwives by Chris Bohjalian is!  It tells the story of a midwife helping with a birth.  The baby is saved, but the mother is dead.  The question is did the mother die of natural causes or did the midwife cause her death.  The story is told by the midwife and her young daughter.  The trial was my favorite part of the book.  That’s when it was almost impossible to put down!  I’m glad I read it!  Give it a chance and I think you will be glad you did. 

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? You can help Canine Lifeline (a dog rescue organization that saved our dog, Abby) by leaving a comment on any of our blogs in March. We will donate 50 cents per comment at the end of the month.

"No Daddy, Don't" by Irene Pence

No Daddy Don’t by Irene Pence is a shocking non-fiction story about how John Battaglia killed two of his children and the trial afterward.  It gives all the background that led up to the day he did it.  It’s a good read!  I especially enjoyed the trial part of the book!
(Gerard's Review)

We discovered this book over at Reading, Reading & LIfe.  Check out that review too!

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

"The Confession" by John Grisham

The Confession by John Grisham is a novel about a small town in Texas where a man is facing execution for murder. Another man comes forward to a minister and admits to the killing. I found this book to be well worth reading. It sort of dragged at the end, but the characters are well developed and I enjoyed reading it even though I was not “wowed” by it.
(Gerard's review)
 
Be sure to check out our giveaway for You Already Know How To Be Great in our previous post.