"Ashley Bell" by Dean Koontz Lives up to the Hype!

In Ashley Bell by Dean Koontz, a young girl named Bibi Blair is having a good life. Then one day out of the blue, she is rushed into emergency ER. She is young and thinks that this is no big deal. She finds out that she has brain cancer and has one year to live! But her recovery is unbelievable and a woman tells her that her life was spared so she can save Ashley Bell. Save her from what, or whom? Who is Ashley Bell?

There has been a lot of book hype about this novel and the hype is the real deal! As usual, Koontz goes into stuff you would find hard to believe, but that is part of the fun! 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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Corrupted" by Lisa Scottoline - Inspired by Kids for Cash Scandal!

In Corrupted by Lisa Scottoline, lawyer Bennie Rosato takes on a murder case to defend Jason who she feels she let down when he was sent to Juvie 19 years ago. She also finds romance with Declan, the uncle of the Ritchie, the guy who her defendant is accused of killing. This book was inspired by kids-for-cash scandal in the judicial system in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

This book got my attention right away with the glimpse into the juvenile detention system and following two 12-yr-old boys. I found it to be very interesting and the story moved along quickly. I like Bennie and felt bad for her when she and Declan had to put a hold on their relationship. I liked how the reader was kept informed all along the way of what Bennie was thinking and feeling and how she prepared her case. This book delves into what justice is in a very readable way. If you like to read about trials and enjoy seeing things from a lawyer’s point of view, I highly recommend this book.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Link to the real kids-for-cash scandal: http://jlc.org/luzerne-county-kids-cash-scandal

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!

Teaser Tuesday

Gerard's:

The red words on the screen are seductive.  Do I believe someone sitting behind a computer creating a website for high school students can help me?

From page 20 of Need by Joelle Charbonneau.

As she was wheeled away, her mother stood in the hall, looking bereft, as though she half expected never to see her daughter again.  The orderly turned a corner, and Bibi lost sight of her mom.

From page 41 of Ashley Bell by Dean Koontz.

Karen's:

"The only person I met is the uncle of the kid who started the fight with my client.  His nephew's a total bully, who's given my client a hard time, almost his whole life."

From page 96 of Corrupted by Lisa Scottoline.

After they read the first few Harry Potter novels, actor David Bradley asked his children which part they thought he should play in the films if he could.  "They said I was a natural for Filch," he recalls with a smile, "and I thought, is that how my kids see me?"

From page 67 of Harry Potter--The Character Vault by Jody Revenson.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading. 

Happy Reading!

"Need" by Joelle Charbonneau

NEED by Joelle Charbonneau is about a new networking site called "Need."  It is only available to teens in a town in Wisconsin.  This book is told through multiple points of view of the teens that go on this site.  What is the price you have to pay to get your need fulfilled?  You'll have to read the book to find that out.

I thought this book was very good.  Once the action starts, it is almost non-stop and do not know what is coming next.  I read this author's other three books (The Testing series) and in my opinion, this book is way better!  Read it and judge for yourself.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Karen's review, 4 stars:
NEED by Joelle Charbonneau is a disturbing contemporary fiction book about teens a new website for only Nottawa High School. The basic idea is that teens can request something they need on the website and then they will be given a small task to do. When the task is completed according to the instructions, then their need will be fulfilled. Kaylee Dunham requested a new kidney for her brother who is dying. When teens start dying, Kaylee begins to seriously question who is behind NEED and what it’s purpose really is.

This book is pretty creepy but certainly exposes the danger in going along with the crowd and expecting something for nothing. NEED was a pretty interesting “project” which was explained at the end of the book when the person behind it is finally revealed. 


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!

"Calvin" by Martine Leavitt

If you read and enjoyed the comic strip, "Calvin and Hobbs," you will enjoy Calvin by Martine Leavitt.  Calvin, a 17-yr.-old boy born on the day the last strip was published, has schizophrenia.  He was a fan of Hobbs.  If he could just have Bill Watterson, the writer of "Calvin and Hobbs," make one more comic strip without Hobbs, he will be okay.  I enjoyed this book.  It was like reading a bunch of comic strips.
(Gerard's review, 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. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!