"Sophie Last Seen" by Marlene Adelstein

Sophie Last Seen by Marlene Adelstein is a good read about Jesse and her journey to overcome her grief caused when her 6-yr-old daughter disappeared from a store. Jesse feels like it was all her fault. Sophie, the little girl, was obsessed with birds and always wore her binoculars so she could watch them closely. She had a box full of little trinkets that crows brought to her and loved routine. She was mad at her best friend, Star, That Day she disappeared because Star had promised to go with her to the mall but then changed her mind. When Sophie disappeared, Star felt guilty too, thinking if she had gone That Day, things may have been different. Jesse never stopped looking for her daughter, even though people thought she was strange.

This is a good story that shows how differently people deal with grief and guilt. It was also a mystery figuring out what happened to Sophie. I enjoyed the information about birds that was imparted through the story as well as Saint Anthony, Jesse’s dog who became her faithful companion. I really enjoyed Jesse’s journey from being a total self-absorbed wreck to a person who thinks of others and is ready for a fresh start. (I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.) (4 stars)

Teaser from page 3:  She didn't care if people thought she was crazy.  For Jesse, who spoke to few people anymore, it was a comfort even if Sophie never actually answered back.


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!

"2nd Chance" by James Patterson with Andrew Gross (A Women's Murder Club Novel)

In 2nd Chance by James Patterson with Andrew Gross, a serial killer is on the loose with no pattern!  Everybody is at risk.  Four women making up the Women's Murder Club is back to solve this.  To me this was a dud.  I never really got into it.  Although the story line is okay, it goes quickly to a predictable ending.
(Gerard's review, 3.5 stars)

Teaser from page 5: Then Aaron Winslow's eyes came to rest on what had made the girl hysterical.  He felt his heart sink.

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 night Olivia fell" by Christina McDonald

the night olivia fell by Christina McDonald is about a mom's worst nightmare--A call in the middle of the night saying her pregnant daughter was found lying under a bridge--brain dead!  Was she pushed or did she jump on her own?  Who is the father?

I thought this book was really good!  It is told by Olivia, the daughter and Abi, the mom, who wants to find out what happened, and why.  Try to get your own answers.  I am guessing you will be wrong like I was!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)  

Karen's review:
the night olivia fell by Christina McDonald is about a teen girl, Olivia, who met an early death before her mother even knew she was pregnant. This novel is told from alternating perspectives of the mother, Abi, and the daughter, Olivia The mother hid a secret from Olivia for years and when Olivia discovered what it was, she was on a personal secret mission. Although the police said her death was accidental, the mother went on a personal mission of her own to find out details and exactly what happened. Olivia was declared brain dead but was kept on life support in the hopes of saving her baby. Was it an accident or did someone push her off that bridge? Will the baby survive? Who is the father?

I thought the story was pretty good but I did not really care much for Olivia because of the way she treated her mother and her boyfriend, Tyler. This was written in a way that I found sort of annoying, the book jumping back and forth from the present to the past. I was a bit surprised at the ending of who her death actually happened. I liked the mother, Abi, and give her credit for pursuing the truth about her daughter’s death. (4 stars)


Teaser from page 46:  I remember looking at Olivia in the fading evening light and feeling like I didn't know her anymore.  I knew then that something had been shaken loose, something I had no power to put back together. . . .

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!

"Joey--How a blind rescue horse helped others learn to see" by Jennifer Marshall Bleakley

Joey by Jennifer Marshall Bleakley is a true story which makes this so much better!  Kim believes in three things:  God, kids, horses.  She has a vision of putting hurting special needs kids with horses on a designated area, but that will take a lot of land and a lot of money!  Those are two things Kim is in short supply of so Kim puts her trust in God to provide. One horse she gets is Joey, a blind horse who was mistreated.  Can she take on a special needs horse too?

I thought this book was outstanding!  It is told very well and the women in this book are remarkable!  I fell in love with Joey!  Do not miss this one!   I'd recommend this for a book club.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 217:  Cindy's hand covered her mouth and tears streamed down her cheeks.  Sarah didn't notice her, not yet.  She was transfixed, basking in this sacred moment in which the little girl with no voice spoke up for the horse with no eyes.

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 House Next Door" by James Patterson & Susan DiLallo is a Collection of 3 Thrillers!

The House Next Door by James Patterson and Susan DiLallo is the first story in this 3-story thriller collection. Laura and Ned have three kids and the house next door is a wreck. One day they get a new neighbor—Vince and his boy Vinney. When Vince calls her early one morning to ask a favor, she agrees and picks up Vinney from school to drive him to soccer. Laura and Ned argue a lot and Vince makes Laura feel excited. He is nice looking and charming. She begins to think about having an affair with him as her life seems to be falling apart.

This is a quick read and fairly predictable. I did not care for Laura and pretty much had Vince figured out from the start. Things moved along quickly and the most exciting part was right near the end of the story. (Karen’s review,3 stars)

Teaser from page 36: “No. Listen. You don’t think it’s strange—a new family in town, keeps to themselves, meets no one. Didn’t even move in with any furniture, for God’s sake.”

The second one in this collection is The Killer’s Wife by James Patterson and Max DiLallo. Michael Pierson, a high school vice principal is married to Ellen, an elementary school nurse who collects butterflies. Six high school girls from the high school Michael Pierson works at have gone missing over the past 22 months and are presumed dead with the most recent only three weeks ago. Detective McGrath has a gut feeling that Michael is responsible and finally he is arrested when caught red-handed abducting another girl. Pierson refuses to talk to anyone—no lawyer, no cop, not even his wife! McGrath decides to get close to Ellen in the hopes of getting more evidence against him. She claims she had no idea.I liked this one because of the crazy ending and Ellen was an interesting character. (Karen’s review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 178: “You and your husband have been married for six years. But tell me: How well do you really know him? Do you think he’d ever be capable of—” “Absolutely not!” Ellen exclaims, springing to her feet.

We. Are. Not. Alone. by James Patterson and Tim Arnold, the third story in this collection, is a science fiction suspense story that I enjoyed even more than the first two. A disgraced Air Force scientist, Robert Barnett, spent years exploring the possibility of communicating with life on other planets and it finally pays off when he gets a message from outer space! This was a thought-provoking read with a twist that was really great! (Karen’s review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 291: They know their wife and mother is about to embark on yet another very important, highly classified, and quite possibly dangerous mission to outer space. What they don’t know is, they will probably never see her 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!