"The Sky Over Rebecca" by Matthew Fox

The Sky Over Rebecca by Matthew Fox is a light, enjoyable middle grade novel.  Kara sees a snow angel by the lake but no footprints.  She decides to investigate and there starts the adventure of her life.  This book has a good storyline, good action and good characters with a good ending.  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"This Time Tomorrow" by Emma Straub

In This Time Tomorrow, Alice's dad is very sick with tubes in him as she is on the verge of turning 40.  She remembers the fun times she had with her dad.  On her birthday, she wakes up back in time when she was 16 and her dad was healthy.  This book could have been so much better if it was about Alice and her dad instead of time travel!  (Gerard's review, 3 stars)

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"The Dream Daughter" by Diane Chamberlain was a Big Hit for Both of Us!

In The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain, Carly is going to give birth, but the doctor tells her it does not look good for the long run.  Her brother-in-law comes up with a wild solution, but will Carly go for it?  If she does, will it work?  This is a wild book to say the least!  Carly is a great character and you have to pull for her.  Some good twists and turns that I did not see coming kept me involved!  I especially loved the last part of the book!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars) 

Karen's review, 11-30-18:
In The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain, shortly after Carly gets news that her husband was killed in Vietnam only weeks after he left in 1970, she learn she is pregnant.  Early in her pregnancy, she receives bad news that there is something wrong with her baby's heart and that it is fatal!  Carly is so devastated by the news, that she is willing to do anything to save her child--including time travel to the year 2001 so she can try fetal surgery!  Her brother-in-law, Hunter, who she met when she was his physical therapist was a time traveler from 2013 and talks her into giving it a try.

I enjoyed this book very much and highly recommend it to women.  It's a combination of contemporary and science fiction.  I don't think men would enjoy it as much.  It certainly has adventure but centers around Carly's fight to save and get to know her child, Johanna.  It has touching scenes and lots of unexpected twists along the way.  I was a little disappointed when it ended.  It even has two dogs in it and some funny parts as well.  I found it to be thought-provoking too and had trouble putting this down.  I really looked forward to getting back to it!
(5 stars)

Teaser from page 25:  "It doesn't matter.  What matters is that during her studies, she discovered it's possible to travel forward and backward in time."

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"The Last Magician" by Lisa Maxwell

In The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell, magic is all but gone in modern day New York.  Mageus lives in the shadows.  They have magic, but they are trapped by the Brink.  Esta can save them, but she will have to go back 100 years to change things and it will not be easy.

Teaser from page 32:
The voices were closer now.
She forced herself to ignore the searing bite of the stone's heat against her arm, and with every last ounce of determination she had left, she finally found the layer of time she needed and dragged them both through.

Esta is a great character; I really enjoyed her!  There are some down spots where not much goes on at all, but the last 100 or so pages more than make up for that.  It is a 500-page book and I look forward to book 2!
(Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

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"Sparks of Light" by Janet B. Taylor

Sparks of Light by Janet B. Taylor is the sequel to Into the Dim.  The mission is different but it gets off to the same slow start.  The trip back in time is to New York City during the Victorian era so I was thinking, how much trouble could they get into there.  Well, Hope manages to get locked up in a mental institution along with Doug!  The timeslippers have a much bigger part in this book.

Teaser from page 364:

I was nobody's physical threat.  My normal means of causing people injury generally involved me tripping and falling on them.

I liked Into the Dim better than this one because I really didn't have a good understanding of what exactly their mission was in this and really didn't care.  I was interested to see how Hope and Doug would get out of their predicament.  The thing I did like most about this one was the development of Bran and Collum's friendship.  I got a bit confused on a couple of the characters and was glad when I finished it.  I still liked Hope's sarcasm and one again, she proved to be very brave and useful.  If there is more to this series, I do not intend to read it.
(Karen's review, 2 stars)

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"Into the Dim" by Janet B. Taylor - Husband and Wife Agree on this one!

Into the Dim is about Hope Walton, a home-schooled girl from a small town, who travels back in time to bring back her mother from the 12th century who she thought was dead, but who just traveled back in time!  This book is a wild one!  She meets Bran Cameron on the moors of Scotland while visiting her aunt, and then finds out he traveled back in time too to the same place she did!

This started out slow and was a bit silly and confusing for the first 100 pages or so.  I considered giving up on it but I am glad I stuck with it and gave it a chance.  This is a very entertaining read with Hope's sarcasm and wit and a roller coaster ride of ups and downs.  Just when it seems their plans are going well, they find themselves in danger and situations that seem hopeless, until they get some help from unexpected sources.  This is the first book of the series and I look forward to starting the sequel tomorrow.
(Karen's review, 9/2/17, 4 stars)

Gerard's review (5+ stars, 9/6/17):
Hope Walton is at her mom's funeral and if that isn't bad enough, now her dad wants to send her to Scotland to live with an aunt she never met while he goes on vacation with another woman!  When Hope gets to Scotland, she finds some news that will send her on the adventure of her life!  

Teaser from page 42:  My jeans wicked up the frigid water as I splashed through the shallows toward him.  His head lay cocked at an angle that hid his face.

The start of this book was kind of slow and I had a hard time getting into it; however, then it came into focus and I really enjoyed it a lot!  The main characters are really good and east to root for!  There is good action that kept me engaged with a good ending that made me look forward to book, Sparks of Light!

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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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"Future Shock" by Elizabeth Briggs--WOW!

Future Shock by Elizabeth Briggs is a gripping science fiction murder mystery involving five teens, Adam, Elena, Chris, Trent and Zoe, who are transported 10 years into the future. All but Adam is in foster care. Aethon Corporation offers them a large amount of money to sign up for the mission to report back on the technology they find. Instead, things do not happen according to the plan and the teens find themselves 30 years into the future and make a scary discovery that motivates them to figure a way to change the path they are on.

This book is really good with lots of adventure, relationships and things to make you think. I was confused a bit about some things, but overall I enjoyed it very much. I especially liked Elena who tells the story from her view. It was very cool she had such a great memory and a desire to help others. I liked the message of this book that the future is based on our current choices and that it is worth living. It’s definitely a page turner and I was eager to see how it would end. (For some discussion questions for those who have read this, please see the spoiler alert after Gerard's review below.)
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Gerard's review:
Future Shock by Elizabeth Briggs is about five young teens who are down on their luck.  They all need money for different reasons so when a company offers them money that they think will solve all their problems, they jump at the chance.  But once they get into their mission, they find out the one thing they were not to do, they might have to or else!

WOW!  This is so good!  If you like action, this book is packed with it!  I really enjoyed the lead character, but also the others.  It kept me turning pages quickly because I was eager to see how it would all play out.  I kept saying "this is really good" over and over as I read it.  LOVED IT!  Give this book involving time travel a read; you will be glad you did!
(Gerard's review 4/8/16, 5++ stars)

Spoiler Alert: If you haven’t read this yet, stop reading here, but if you have read it, I’d like to know your thoughts on these things:


(1) Which future technology did you like best? I liked the cars that could drive themselves.

(2) Could anyone explain to me how the reports fit into Elena’s pocket?

(3) I assume Elena dropped Zoe’s drawings just before getting in to go back, but don’t understand why they felt they couldn’t report anything they saw.

(4) Anyone else confused at the end were Adam and Elena say they’ll be ready 30 years to meet their younger selves and to help Zoe and Trent? I didn’t get that because the present was done. I get that the future didn’t yet really happen, but the present did. It wasn’t like they would be going again.

(5) Do you think you would like to know your future? I’m not sure if I would want to or not.

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"Time Between Us" by Tamara Ireland Stone

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone is a YA novel about a relationship between Anna and Bennett.  This was not supposed to happen.  The "why not?" is in the book.  You will have to read it for yourself.  But now that it does, will they be able to keep it going?  Or, will an accident involving Anna's best friend tear these two apart forever?

This is the second book I read by this author and I loved them both.  I really cared about both of the main characters in this and the story line and writing kept me interested.  Now it's on to the follow up book, Time After Time.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Here's a teaser from pg. 12 of this book:

And that's when I notice something else.

My own footprints are clearly visible in the powder around me, but where his should have been--leading to and from the bench--I see nothing but a thick layer of untouched snow.

 Also read:  Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

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NOS4A2 by Joe Hill is Fantastic!

USA TODAY had NOS4A2 by Joe Hill at No. 2 to read for books coming out in May. I can see why; this book is really really good! In the book, Charles Manx kidnaps kids and takes them to a place he calls Christmasland. When one girl gets away, the only one to ever escape, he wants to get her back. When he gets her son, it's on!

This is a fantastic read full of twists and turns. Don't let the over 900 pages scare you off because it's large print and all good with an awesome ending. Joe Hill is Stephen King's son and has learned very well! I LOVED IT!
(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!

"Infinity Ring: A Mutiny in Time" by James Dashner

Infinity Ring—A Mutiny in Time by James Dashner is a really good story about time travel.  Dak, Sera and Riq go back in time to make sure history stays as it should.  This book dealt with Columbus and is the first one in what is going to be a series.  I enjoyed it!
(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!

"Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs begins pretty normal but then spirals into an adventure involving time travel, monsters, children with unusual "talents" and a woman who can change into a bird!  I liked it because it was different but not so far out that I couldn't follow it.  It's definitely an interesting and fun read. 

Jacob has a special connection with his grandfather who seems to be suffering from Dementia.  His grandfather tells him stories about kids he once knew who had unusual talents and as Jake gets older, he begins to wonder if the stories were just made up.  The grandfather is killed by a monster in the woods one day and Jacob is the only one who saw the monster, but everyone thinks he's crazy.  His psychiatrist convinces his parents to let Jacob go visit the island his grandfather told the stories about so he can see for himself that there is nothing magical about it.  Jacob finds himself with a huge decision to make.

This is a book I won't soon forget and highly recommend!

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!

Check out another review of someone who loved this book: Freda's Voice

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"Artemis Fowl--The Time Paradox" by Eoin Colfer

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer is a fun read!  This children's book is about a young boy who has to go back in time to find a cure for his mother, who has a life threatening illness.  The author indeed has a sense of humor, which I loved!  Artemis is one smart boy!
(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 to Caroline's Kids Pet Rescue to help homeless cats this month.

"Time Cat" by Lloyd Alexander

"Time Cat" by Lloyd Alexander is a children's book, but I don't think it's one children would like very much.  It is fantasy and the cat talks a little bit but not a lot.  It's about time travel.  The cat and Jason, the boy who owns the cat, travel back in time to different countries in Jason's dream.  They have different adventures with historical events and people.  I didn't care much for this one, but if you like history and travel, you might enjoy it.
(Karen's review:  My rating 2 out of 5 stars)

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"Now and Then" by Jacqueline Sheehan

Now and Then by Jacqueline Sheehan is a nice easy-to-read story about Anna and her nephew, Joseph. After Anna picks up Joseph at a juvenile detention center, that next day they wake up to find themselves in Ireland in the 1800s, back in time! How they cope and what they discover about themselves is the story. My favorite character in the book was Madigan, the dog, who is outstanding! If you are looking for a good story with a happy ending, this book has both.

I also read Lost and Found by this author and liked that one too!
(Gerard's review)

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

Hurry and check out our audio book giveaway of "The Leftovers" by Tom Perrotta. Winner will be chosen Sunday, Oct. 30.

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