"Mind Games" by Nora Roberts

Mind Games by Nora Roberts is about a young girl named Thea.  Her parents are killed by a man who breaks into their home.  She is devastated but has a gift that helps the cops catch this man and put him in prison.  Thea builds a good life, but knows that the killer who has the same gift as she does, will never leave her alone till he gets revenge on her for putting him in prison.  

This is good stuff as always with Nora Roberts.  It had a good story line with great characters and I enjoyed Bunk, the dog in the story.  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"The Awakening" by Nora Roberts (Book 1-The Dragon Heart Legacy)

The Awakening by Nora Roberts is about Breen who lives in two different worlds, ours and Talamh which is magical.  She was born in Talamh and is part human and Fei but her mother raised her in our world and Breen was never aware of have any magical power.  Her father went back to Talamh when she was quite young.  Now in her 20s, she discovered her mother was investing Breen's money that was sent by her father.  Breen took control of that money, and went to Ireland in search of her father.  Then things really get crazy!

This starts out kind of slow with all the world building and introduction of many different characters, but the adventure is worth waiting for.  The last third of this book really picked up for me when Breen learns how to use her magical powers and trains to fight.  I loved the ending of this book and look forward to continuing on in this series.  (Karen's review, 4 stars)

Gerard's review 3/13/24:
In The Awakening by Nora Roberts, Breen has a rough life, holding down three jobs to make ends meet.  Her mom does not like her and her dad left her when she was little.  One day she comes across a bank account in her name which she knows nothing about.  Her dad opened it for her and has been adding to it over the years.  She is rich!  She decides to go to look for her dad in Ireland.  So begins an adventure that will change her life!  

This is really good!  It's a fun-filled book that had me turning pages.  I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series!  (5++) stars)

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"Inheritance" by Nora Roberts (Book 1--Lost Bride Trilogy)

In Inheritance by Nora Roberts, Sonya has been going through a rough time.  Her marriage plans fell apart when she had to leave her job because her soon-to-be husband, who she caught cheating on her, works at the same job.  Now things are looking up though.  She is left a mansion on a huge piece of land valued at $8 million.  She is going to be rich!  The only catch is that she has to live in the mansion for three years.  There must be something strange about the house, but what?  You will have to read the book to find out!  

I thought this book was really good and was disappointed when I realized it is the first book in a series.  Sonya is a great character with a good storyline and action.  LOVED IT!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"Hidden Pictures" by Jason Rekulak is a Creepy Thriller!

In Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak, Mallory really needs a job.  So when a job comes up to look after a 5-yr.-old boy for a nice couple in a real nice neighborhood, she jumps at the chance to take it.  How hard could it be to look after a 5-yr.-old boy?  You'll have to read it to find out.  This thriller is very good!  I had a hard time putting it down.  It has a great storyline and the characters were developed really well too with a heck of an ending!  I highly recommend this one!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"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.

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"The Forgetting Time" by Sharon Guskin is Unforgettable!

I liked The Forgetting Time a debut novel by Sharon Guskin.  Janie knows that nothing comes easy for her with her 4-yr.-old son, Noah, but when his preschool calls her again, she knows it's time to get him some professional help.  Enter Dr. Jerome Anderson, who just received some bad news and knows his time of normal functioning is fading.  When Noah's mom comes to him for help with her son, he sees a last chance to finish his life's work.

I thought this book was very well done.  It kept my interest throughout and had some twists I did not see coming.  Congrats to the author on a great first novel!
 Gerard's review (5 stars)
 
(Karen's review, 4 stars): 
The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin will probably prove to be unforgettable for me! When 4-yr.-old Noah screams his head off if his mother tries to bathe him, has nightmares, says he wants to go home and wants his other mama, and talks about things such as shooting a rifle, going to their beach house, Lord Voldemort and all kinds of lizards he has no way of knowing about, she is at her wits end. She and the psychologists she has taken him to don’t have a clue what is wrong with him or how he knows these things.

Finally, she discovers a psychiatrist who is looking for one more American case to complete his book about the possibility of living more than one life.  Noah becomes his last case before he loses speech altogether as he has just been diagnosed with Aphasia--a rare type of Dementia that affects the language center.  The story is told from different points of view.

This book was interesting but kind of like a contemporary science fiction story about boys and two mothers. It starts off pretty slow but builds along the way to a great ending. I initially thought Noah was just a bratty kid, but liked him as the story opened my understanding as to maybe why he acted as he did.


SPOILER ALERT--STOP IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THIS YET! 
I got a bit bored when the author inserted the “cases” for reincarnation from other countries that were not directly related to the main story line; however, when I did an online search for "life before life" I found it to be an actual book that several of the cases were quoted from by Jim B. Tucker.  I was just curious about that.  The Doctor's story runs along with the main story in this book.  I did not like the ending to his story line though.  Although I personally do not believe in reincarnation, I still enjoyed this book.



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"Walk on Earth a Stranger" by Rae Carson

Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson is about a young girl named Lee.  She has a secret and she better keep it that way!  When her whole life as she knows it is taken away from her, she decides to head for California.  This book tells about the time when the gold rush took place and is historical fiction fantasy.

I found it very interesting to learn about that time in our history.  Walk on Earth a Stranger kept me interested and Lee is a great character.  This is the first book of three in a series and I am looking forward to reading the next one.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Mass is Fantastic! (UPDATED)

Here is my Booktube spoiler free review of Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas:

The Assassisn’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas is amazing! It has action, betrayal, romance, humor, and shows a softer, caring side of Celaena that I wish I had known going into the Throne of Glass series. This book is about two assassins, Celaena and Sam, who like each other in spite of being competitors. We also see Hamel Arobynn’s dark, cruel, mean side--he's a real scumbag. There are five novellas that comprise this book that were all very good. I particularly liked the first three better than the last two just because the last two are so heartbreaking and so sad. After reading this book, I like Celaena even more than I already did.

This book is a page turner that had me from start to finish. I liked this one even more than those I’ve read in The Throne of Glass series because this book does not have any magic in it, just action and a lot of character development. I enjoyed this book very much and wish I had read it before starting the series so I knew Celaena better. I think Celaena and Sam should have went back to the Red Desert and worked for the mute assassin when they decided to leave Arobynn. In the second story about the healer, I found the self-defense lesson by Celaena very interesting and liked how she was willing to train Yrene, the barmaid at the White Pig Inn, how to defend herself. In the third story, Celaena finally finds a friend in Ansel and has some fun for a change. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy adventure, action, and well developed interesting character interaction. 
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Mass is made up of five short stories that give background on Celaena, the main character in The Throne of Glass series.  This collection could have easily been a novel because the stories follow in chronological order.  The three big things I got out of this book were:  (1)  I got to see a different side of Celaena; (2) Got to know Sam and about his relationship with Celaena; and (3) got to know more about Arobynn Hamel (the guy who trained her to be an assassin).

Wow!  This book is fantastic!  The stories are very good and filled with twists and turns.  I LOVED IT A LOT!  I would recommend reading this first before the Throne of Glass series although I didn't do it that way and still enjoyed it.  I just think reading this one first would give you helpful background on Celaena going into the next books.
(Gerard's review 7/22/15, 5 stars)

Review of the previous books in this series:
Throne of Glass
Crown of Midnight
Heir of Fire

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"World After" by Susan Ee is a Real Page Turner!

World After by Susan Ee picks up where Angel Fall ends.  The angels have taken over the earth and the humans that are left are trying to fight back.  I love the lead character in this book--Penryn Rooks.  World After answers a few of the questions from book 1 and sets the stage for book 3.  It's a real page turner that I read in just two days.  I loved it just as much as Angel Fall and will be reading the third in this series.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"Lullaby" by Amanda Hocking

Lullaby by Amanda Hocking is the second book in the Watersong series.  This just continues the fun fantasy series about Gemma, a teen girl who becomes a mermaid.  In this book she finds out she made a big mistake and seeks to find a way to get back to normal and protect those she loves.

Overall, this is an entertaining read with interesting action near the end.  This book left me with some loose ends and questions that I hope get answered in the next book, Tidal.  I look forward to reading it to find out.   The first book was a very fun read, Wake.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)


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"The Reluctant Psychic" by Suzan Saxman is Interesting

The Reluctant Psychic by Suzan Saxman is a true story.  When Suzan was little she saw monsters and other things that scared her.  When she told people, they were scared of her, including her own mother!  One day Suzan was told she had the ability to see things that other people do not.  She believed it! 

This book was interesting to say the least even though I myself do not believe in readings or psychics.  At the end of each chapter she tells stories of people who came to her for readings. 
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

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"Leaving Time" by Jodi Picoult

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult is about a young girl named Jenna who is searching for her mom.  She enlists a psychic and a detective to help her.  Her mom worked with elephants.  As the story leads back to why her mom is missing, you learn a lot about elephants.  I found the information about the elephants interesting, but the story about her mom missing was good too.  I liked it but didn’t love it.  

(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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Miracles--32 True Stories by Joanie Hileman

Miracles--32 True Stories by Joanie Hileman is a collection of short stories of 32 different people who experienced a miracle in their life.  Some are healing when the doctors gave no hope, some are completely transformed lives, some deal with family issues and some with children.  Each story lists several scripture verses after it which apply. 

Here are the websites some of the stories mentioned about where they found help:

-Turn For Christ (www.uturn4christ.com) as a place that helped them get off drugs.
Teen Challenge USA (www.teenchallengeusa.com)
Hume Lake (www.Humelake.org)
Calvary Chapel Central Maine School of Ministry (www.ccbangor.org)

Jesus Is (www.jesusis.com)

I really enjoyed this book because it was so interesting and encouraging to see how great and wonderful God is and that He is still performing miracles today.  This is very inspirational and well worth reading!  I highly recommend it!
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

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"Pivot Point" by Kasie West (YA Paranormal Contemporary Fiction)--UPDATED 2/25/14

A Fun YA Read

Pivot Point by Kasie West is a YA novel about a group of young teens with special abilities.  One of them is able to see into the future and see what the outcome of choices would be.  I enjoyed the young girl who was the main character very much.  The first part of the book was very teenish but the second part that dealt with the main story about her dad I enjoyed.  Worth your time, glad I stuck with it.
(Gerard's review 2/25/14, 4 stars)

Pivot Point by Kasie West is a fun teen read that combines normal and paranormal in our modern world. Ever think it would be cool when you had a big decision to make, to be able to see into the future to see what would happen for both choices? That is exactly the super “ability” Addie has and uses when her parents announce they are getting a divorce and it’s up to her to choose which one she wants to live with. Her mom is staying in the compound where other people live who have some paranormal abilities, but her dad is going to live with the “normal” and work for the FBI using his amazing power of lie detection. After doing a search of both possible choices, Addie finds she is screwed (having to choose a bad path to avoid a worse one).

This is a light, fun teen romance with super powers involved. Although the book is a lot of nonsense, it is an entertaining and somewhat amusing read. I especially liked Trevor, Addie’s “boyfriend” in the normal world but liked the high school football parts as well. I found it especially interesting that the normal football was much more interesting than the parafootball. This book goes to show that we are better off without the super powers and that nothing is wrong with being normal.
(Karen's review 4/4/13)


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"Doctor Sleep" by Stephen King

When I started reading Doctor Sleep by Stephen King, the sequel to The Shining, it did not make sense to me.  I picked it up a few days later to give it another go and then I finally caught on.  This is about a little girl who has a special power that some people want to use for evil.  Dad has the same power and fights against the evil trying to save the little girl from harm.

I enjoyed it once I got into it.  There is good action and I especially liked the parts about the little girl.
(Gerard's review, 4.5 stars)

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"Never Fade" by Alexandra Bracken

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken is the sequel to The Darkest Minds which we both liked a lot.  First off, this book has way too much dirty language which I did not appreciate and took away my enjoyment of the book.  As for the plot, I was totally confused at the start and stayed that way until about page 150.  After that, this book was more like The Darkest Minds with plenty of action and surprises.  I never knew what was coming next!  The ending is very good and left me looking forward to the third book to see how it all plays out.

I give it 4 stars.  I would have given it 5 stars except the dirty language really bothered me.
(Gerard's review)

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"Brilliance" by Marcus Sakey

In Brilliance by Marcus Sakey, people who have superior intelligence want to take over the country and it is up to Agent Cooper to put a stop to it.  There are good "wow" factors with good action and the book moves along quick.  Great novel!  I look forward to the next book of this series. 
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"The Returned" by Jason Mott Fell Flat

The Returned by Jason Mott has a very interesting concept:  dead people come back to life with loved ones being reunited, but how does the government handle this?  The book really fell flat for me.  It had some good parts, but I never really was into it.  I hear it is going to be a TV series so hoping it works better on TV. 
(Gerard's review, 3 stars) 

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"The Night Guest" by Fiona McFarlane

The Night Guest by Fiona McFarlane is a story about an old woman named Ruth who lives alone after her husband's death.  That is, until Frida comes along and takes care of Ruth.  This book is pretty good.  I liked the two main characters.  It moved along well and the ending was pretty good too. 
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

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"Help for the Haunted" by John Searles

Help for the Haunted by John Searles is about a family that consists of a mom, dad and two girls.  The one daughter goes against what their parents are teaching as they do a show on the road.  She leaves, but one night she calls and tells them to come to the church to talk.  They go and bring the other daughter along but she waits in the car.  Mom and dad go into the church but don't come out.  They are found dead.  The rest of the book tells what led up to that night, who killed the parents and what becomes of the daughters.  It's pretty good.
(Gerard's review, 4.5 stars)

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