Light Mystery, Heavy Laughs in Paw and Order by Diane Kelly

When I'd completed my "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" and returned my arm to my side, Brigit lifted her head and licked the remaining drops of holy water from my fingertips. I half expected a heavenly glow to erupt from her anus.

I was very excited about this, the second book in this series following a tough woman cop and her German Shepherd sidekick. Though the mystery was really tame and not very climatic, the humor is just fabulous and I do love a good chuckle.

The first one was more exciting, to be honest, as it followed this crazy "tunabomber" and it made me laugh out loud more. This one follows this slightly OTT twenty-one-year-old girl--come to think of it, from what I've seen of the younger generation, maybe this chick isn't so OTT after all...LOL--who feels she entitled to all the finer things in life and doesn't want to work for any of it. She wants to steal it. And she chooses the rodeo for her playground, which happens to be where Megan and Brigit the dog are patrolling.

I enjoyed the funny narrative, the thoughts everyone has, especially Brigit's, but even the bad girl's. Every single page had me smiling or chuckling or relating to some funny remark or thought.

I do dislike one thing. I hated knowing who the bad "guy" was. I like mysteries that force me to think about how it could be. Book one had it down pat. Even though it went into the perp's mind, we didn't know who the perp was, who Megan was associating with or questioning that could be the perp. In this book, Megan doesn't even run into the perp until the end and we, the readers, know it all along. The lack of connection between Megan and the perp makes for a lackluster mystery. There really is no mystery.

And some things were just off. Even Texas does background checks when you buy a gun.

While I didn't enjoy this as much as the first, I did enjoy it and plan to read book three. I can't wait to see if Megan makes detective and I hope we, the readers, go along for the ride. Dog lovers, this is one series you won't want to miss. For romance fans, there's also a very mild romance.

I received this via Netgalley.

Paw Enforcement by Diane Kelly

"You kick my dog again, you're losing a tooth or a nut. I'm not telling you which, so it'll be a surprise."

What a fabulously fun and funny read! I laughed so many times. Those of you who may have read the Chet and Bernie mysteries, featuring the PI and his dog...if you enjoyed that, you'll love this! It's Chet & Bernie for women, only better, in my opinion.

First of all, Megan the cop is incredibly ballsy. She has inner fears, but acts regardless. Even when she's afraid, she steps up to get the job done. She's also getting over a childhood in which she was made fun of and ridiculed for having a stutter. That's a disability in a way, and to me, makes her even more likable. She does have anger management issues, but who can blame her?

To give you an example of what Megan is like....let's just say the book starts off with her having tased her human partner in the....err...nads. LOL But he deserved it, trust me.

Something else I like about this, though it plays a minor part to the whole tuna-bomber and dog/partner stories is that it shows us the "good 'ole boy" system in the police force. I have a feeling the series will shows us book by book Megan struggling to overcome this as she strives to make detective.

I also enjoy just seeing what everyday beat cops do, especially K-9. Most novels follow detectives or something, so this was something new to me.

And I can't fail to mention Megan's new partner is a dog, a K-9 dog, obviously, with funny dog thoughts and habits, and an appetite for leather shoes.

Like Mackey she occasionally passed gas in the cruiser, but at least she didn't laugh about it and hold the window lock button down to prevent me from getting fresh air.

There's a mystery involving a bomber. The story goes back and forth in third person, following either the bomber, Megan, or Brigit the dog. My only complaint about this book is that some of the chapters were incredibly short. We get all of one or two sentences before the chapter ends and the "POV" changes.

But this was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more of Megan and Brigit's adventures. The LOL moments were just priceless and had me laughing out loud at break at work.

I found a metal coat hangar in my closet, manipulated it into a hook shape, and fished what looked like a wet kitten out of my drain. Had I been the crafty type, I could've glued googly eyes to it and sold it on Etsy.

ARC received via Netgalley. No financial reimbursement. Quotes may be different in the final version.

Because I Love To Make You Laugh...

I've been seeing these all over Facebook, and Pudgy Pug and I decided to make our own...

...it's 100% true, by the way.

My husband says he hears it step by step...step, poot, step, poot...

Have a nice evening, everyone.

Review & Spotlight: Intrepid Daniel Weckerly

What parent of a ten-year-old daughter can resist her fervent pleas for a dog? Especially when her young life has been marked by the pain of a horrible car accident that took her mother when she was a toddler. Jay McAllister, single parent for the past eight years, heeds the call of a neighbor in need of placing a newborn puppy and welcomes Intrepid - a Lab-mix orphan - into his family. Intrepid gains the nickname "Tepid", but her fit into the McAllister household is anything but lukewarm. She helps the family heal from wounds they thought they had left behind years ago, integrating herself into their lives and burrowing into their hearts. She instills belief in Jay, knowledge that hurts can be healed, family can be strengthened, and joy can return even when it has been absent for quite a while.

She also opens his mind to something otherworldly. Together, Jay and Tepid experience the reality that a promise made - between a wife and a husband, between a public servant and his community - can transcend even death itself

Buy Links: Amazon / Smashwords

About the Author:

Daniel Weckerly resides in Pennsylvania and shares his life with his wife and kids and his wonderful Labrador Retriever, Parker. He has been writing in a business context for the past 25 years, with "Intrepid" being his first novel. He credits a long-term love of Labradors with his ability to capture in words the humor, honor, and heart of these magnificent dogs, the only breed he has ever owned. You can follow Daniel on Facebook at www.facebook.com/daniel.weckerly or www.facebook.com/intrepid or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Intrepid-By-Daniel-Weckerly/392251177526031

Author Facebook / Book Facebook

*MY REVIEW*
I really liked this book. I loved the story of a man and his two daughters healing with the help of a puppy. The puppy, the dog's love comes into their lives at a time it's needed.

The puppy comes to them needing major care; bottle feeding, supervision, mothering, training, exercise. The dog's need for exercise leads to nighttime walks in the local cemetery where they scare away pesky geese and pick up water bottles.

They are welcome there.

Other intruders are not; kids on dirt bikes, vandals, muggers. The hero of the story...at first he doesn't face down his fear very well, and then I was perturbed that he takes his dog into the heart of danger, while at the same time I admired his sudden growth of balls didn't have before...but here's where the story gets paranormal. And I'll say no more.

I liked the style of this. It's well told, well written, and engaging. I'd read more by this author, but in the end, I failed to see to how the paranormal activity tied into the dog. Was there a hint of something? Sort of, but I'm uncertain.

Four bikes. I received this from Sizzling PR.

Book Release, Kindle Freebie, & Grand Giveaway!

I’m pleased to share with you my latest release, Love Request. This one is special to me because it’s not only the first romance I penned, but it features a “hearing-impaired” heroine, like myself.

I say “hearing –impaired” because really, there’s nothing wrong with Ciara. She’s not damaged or in need of repair. She just can’t hear as well as others.

As a reader, I grew tired of all the women in romance novels being perfect. In real life, many of us have disabilities—and they are disabilities others can’t see. And worse, they are disabilities others can’t understand, and a lot of times what people don’t understand becomes something they fear…and belittle.

This is where the bullying comes in. You see, this is more than just a romance novel. Open its pages, hit that Kindle “next page” button, and find out for yourself. Learn. Be enlightened. Relate.

Want to sample it first? No problem. Available on Kindle and FREE for the next five days, is a humorous Valentine short story, Mating Instinct.

You’ll find the first chapter of Love Request at the end.

Thank you, readers, for celebrating this special time with me. Happy Valentine’s Day! In honor of you, I’m giving away a print copy of Love Request, a plush dog, a lipstick for that special date, and 5 pheromone-soaked chocolate incense sticks! WARNING: Be careful if dogs are in the vicinity.

Blurb:

When Ciara Littleton finally joins Facebook to socialize without the limits her hearing impairment gives her, she looks up a childhood friend on a whim. In sending him that first message, she ignites the memories of a crush from twenty years ago. Can a simple friend request fix all that stands between them and maybe even lead to something more?

Hunter's plate is full. A recent divorce, a pregnant sister, and now, he realizes he's in love with a woman who lives states away. Can he overcome the boundaries of Internet romance to make this desire turn into something real, or will adversity and distance be their undoing?

This book was formerly titled A Facebook Affair and has been revised with a new ending.

Love Request has been named a LASR Best Book and is now up for vote on Best Book of 2012 Poll. You can cast a vote here. I’m so excited and so grateful!

Blurb for Mating Instinct:

This is exactly what you need!

It’s Valentine’s Day and when Ariel receives a package of incense in the mail from her Pagan friend and mentor, she isn’t sure what to make of the enclosed note. Sure, she has some issues, but who doesn’t?

When the smoke releases its magic, Ariel gets an evening of surprise humor and romance, and it is indeed exactly what she needs.

Links:

Love Request on Amazon

Mating Instinct FREE

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Doggirl by Robin Brande

I don't think I've ever read a YA novel in which I could relate to the heroine so well. Having grown up being bullied, similar to what this young girl faces, the parallels surprised me. Like myself, the girl turns to dogs.


"I don't get a lot of things people do. Which is why I prefer living as part of a dog pack rather than a human one. Every time I think I might have figured people out, it turns out to be a disaster."

Riley is fourteen and knows enough to keep to herself. But wanting to put "dog trainer" on her resume, she signs up for a school play that wants some well-trained dogs involved...and she and her dogs steal the show. I confess that at first I found it unbelievable that a girl at fourteen could be so knowledgeable about dogs, their habits, their packs, their communications, and could train all of them so well. But I figure anything's possible.

Through Riley's eyes, we see the world of human: odd, and the world of dogs: easy to understand. It's funny, cute, heartwarming, and I found myself cheering for her, hoping she would stand up for herself, find a friend, give people a chance, because I think that was the lesson here underneath the cute dog stuff: just because you've been hurt once, doesn't mean all people are out to get you.

And another one, spoken by one of the characters:

"You can let people tell you who you are, or you can tell them yourself."

Great read. I even got teary eyed toward the end, when she was watching a video put together by the camera guy.

The dogs and their tricks are absolutely amazing and the book has many a humorous spot. And something else I have to quote, just because I feel the same way about my pooches:

"My dogs are beautiful, but they're not "show quality." I wouldn't want them to be....All of my dogs are healthy and happy and complete joys to be around. That's what matters to me."

I wish there was a sequel. I'd like to see what happens to Riley and her dogs. 5 bikes. I bought this on Kindle.

Ruff Love by Deadra Krieger

If you only buy one book this year, make this one. It will make you laugh, cry, gasp in surprise, chuckle, and you just may learn something too, about animal rescue, about caring for a rescued pet, about ruff love.

First, I want to share this bit from the beginning of the book:

"The stories within this book are all true accounts. Each and every single tale within this book is the story of an animal adopted out during my time with Kat's Kennel and Rescue. The majority of the profits generated from this book will be donated to said rescue as a gesture of thanks for the inspiration I received while working there and as a way to help keep the home fires burning."

Now, a bit about the stories.

There's a horse, lots of cats, a turtle, and as can be expected, plenty of dogs. Each story made me feel a different emotion.

I cried over the German Shepard and the wheelchair. (I think that one is my favorite of all.)

I chuckled over the chocolate lab and the pilot.

I gasped at the cats and the snakes. (Sadly, not all these tales are happy, but that's life, and having pets is a very REAL thing and responsibility  I love how this author tells us the good and the bad. Animal abuse should not be swept under the rug.)

I felt the author's frustration over the man who said "come get them or they'll be in my swimming pool, learning to sink or swim." *not a direct quote*

I clapped with glee over the Shitzu with seizures. (No, I'm not being mean. You read it for yourself and you'll see why I ended up happy.)

I hooted about the cat that was "spent enough time being mistaken for a female."

Mint to Be....OMG. If there's one story that is both happy and sad, this one is it. I was not aware of the symptoms of bleach poisoning and this chapter not only made my heart ache, but educated me. Thankfully, I am not a bleach user.

Every single pet, every single story, happy or sad, really touched me in some way.

I'd also like to quote another food for thought from the book. This is especially important for those of you who have balked at having your pets spayed or neutered: It is cheaper to have your pet spayed than it is to let them have litters every year.

It's a short read with a huge wallop. Though I read it in an hour, the stories will stay with me for a lifetime. As I said before, if there's one book you buy this year...

Five bikes. And I'd like to end this with one last quote.

"A rescued animal who has been through a situation of abuse or neglect requires more than an animal who hasn't."

Have heart. Those of you living close enough to Illinois, considering contacting Kat's Kennel either to donate or check out their pets available for adoption. http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/IL236.html

Things Your Dog Doesn't Want You To Know

A mixture of comedy and sadness by Hy Conrad and Jeff Johnson with artwork by Dean Stefanides.

Eleven dogs tell you their innermost thoughts.

Sarge...starts a police dog with a fondness for pot. He goes to a junkyard and then a hospital and even the movie business.. It seems poor Sarge just can't keep a job. He gets into tons of trouble and yet at the same time, his stories are a tad sad. He just keeps getting abandoned...or fired as he says.

Moonbeam is a rescued dog living with a hippie. He's not too fond of being forced to be a vegan.

Tinkerbell is the show stealer. Her pages look like a Facebook page and she's very sarcastic as she berates her human and the human's daughter. She's hauled around in a purse, drinks wine with the gardener when everyone is away, has the adventure of a lifetime, and bashes her human for assuming she has a Mexican accent. Her comments are snarky and funny.

"Why do you expect me to come every time you say my name? Do you come to me every time I bark?"

Orson is all about food. He just wants to eat, even spoiled guacamole -his fault for accidentally pulling the refrigerator tail.

Gabby is a show dog. I didn't find her that interesting

Rufus...poor Rufus. He's one of those dogs people get just to entertain the kid and then the kid grows up and ignores the dog. He's got fleas, ticks, mange, is a terrible hunting dog who gets kicked out sometimes. I thought his stories more sad than funny, but he's touching all the same.

Axelrod is kind of doofy. He talks a lot about fetching, the elevator, going to work, vomiting...

Dimples is constantly talking about her puppies and how bad a job her humans are doing raising them, but each one of her parts tells a funny story...like taking the Christmas photo. It can be quite the adventure!

Then there's Bandanna, Charlie, and Sophie..oh, Sophie is my favorite. She's been with her human a long time and they are...you could say, dying together. Her parts are just super touching and sweet. It's like what it would be like...growing old from a dog's POV. Her parts make you want to drop the book and hold  your dog.

But what was really awesome about this book is the pictures/layout/artwork. Sarge's parts look like a clipboard. Tinkerbell has the Facebook. Orson I think has an ereader. It's cute! I really like it. This isn't a book you toss away, but leave laying around to pick up and get a smile any time. It's a book you leave on your coffee table.

I absolutely loved it. I had a hard time saying something about each dog for the simple reason there's so much funny and cute stuff to remember, it's impossible to sum it up. They talk about lifting their legs, puppies, death, doggie day cares, baths, and licking your face, among other things.

I just randomly chose a page for something funny. Here is what Rufus does when no one is watching:
"Put bottle caps on my feet and practice my tap dancing. But it hurts."

It's just too cute. God a dog lover on your Christmas list? This would be the perfect gift.

I nabbed this via Paperback Swap.

Buy A Book, Save A Life

Please welcome Angelina Rain. She has an important message for readers today...]

BUY A BOOK, SAVE A LIFE

The holiday season is upon us and it truly is the season of giving.

Animal welfare is a very important issue to me, so I'm going to donate 50% of ALL my royalties from the sales of Rescued Love to the Humane Society of the United States (http://www.humanesociety.org/).

If you buy a copy of Rescued Love between October 1 and December 31, a portion of the money you paid will go towards helping the animals. What could be better? You get an entertaining romance and to give back to a very important cause.

What are readers saying about Rescued Love?

"I'm very grateful that the author is making this a series. I certainly can't wait until the second book! All these things make this a Must Read!"

"Rescued Love is a beautiful blending of mystery and sweet romance with an unexpected twist."

"Wonderful heartwarming story!"

"I appreciate the unique story the author came up with… It's entertaining, unique, and I'm hoping that book two is not only about Petra, but about the dogs who made it through."

RESCUED LOVE BLURB:

One by one, household dogs disappear only to come back after senseless abuse. Veterinarian Jordan Powell will stop at nothing to ensure her patients' safety. Even if that means seeking help from ex-boyfriend, police officer Nate Thrillson, the man whose heart she once broke.

The last thing Nate wants is a relationship. He has an inoperable cancerous tumor in his brain and his days are numbered. Yet, he couldn't resist Jordan.

It's a race against time to save the dogs and the man who captured her heart. Can the doctor, who made a life out of helping animals, heal a human?

** Do your part in helping the animals and get yourself a copy of Rescued Love. **

BUY LINKS:

Breathless Press - http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=7&products_id=297

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008Q1WEQ8/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B008Q1WEQ8&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwbreathless-20

ARe - http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-rescuedlove-895195-149.html

I'm in PRINT!

I've been writing ebooks for over a year now, and many people, family included, have said to me, "I'm just not ready for an ereader," "Is this going to be in print?," "I don't want to read on the computer."

I listened, and I understood, and now I'm pleased to announce a print book is available with five different Tara titles in it.

The blurb speaks for itself. The book can be bought on Amazon and Create Space.

To all my followers, friends, family, and fans that have encouraged me to do this: Thank you. 


In Strong is Sexy, it’s exactly that. Strong is sexy. No simpering damsels here, not in the end anyway. Travel back to 1820s Los Angeles and swordfight with Catalina and her dashing Ricardo. Ricardo believes his wife is having an affair with a masked crusader. What will he do when he finds out his wife is the Maiden Behind the Mask? The right to vote for women was not easily won. Elizabeth and Margaret fight for that right in Votes for Vixens. There’s a riot not only on the streets of New York City, 1919, but in their hearts as well. U.S.A.F. fighter pilot, Captain Janet Kerrigan, is in for a huge surprise when she takes to the Iraqi skies on Christmas day. Can she save Christmas? Or will Operation: Enduring Santa cost her her career? Author, Tara Chevrestt shares her own story of strength. Hear Through My Ears is a tale straight from the heart that takes you on a journey of hearing impairment and the struggles that go with having a disability. If she overcame them, you can too. And last, but not least, a bonus story is included, a story inspired by three humorous little dogs—all female. And though, one could argue and say, “Dogs aren’t sexy,” the author’s Pekingese begs to differ. Join Lola, Pudgy, and Jazzy in three humorous canine capers, Dog Tails.

It's a Dog's Life by Dale Mayer

This is one of the most delightful and funny books I've read in a long time. There were so many funny and sarcastic comments from Mosey, the basset hound...I almost highlight them all, but then realized I'd be sharing a quarter of the book with you. LOL

The story follows a timid heroine who is afraid she hears voices...dog's voices. Well, one particular dog's voice: Mosey's. When her new boss wants her to housesit and take care of his 6 dogs (plus Mosey) and two kittens for a weekend, she can't say no...not only because she seriously is trying to get over her discomfort with animals--she works in a vet's office now--but because the veterinarian, her boss, is HOT.

Sparks fly, sexy phone conversations happen, and Mosey drives Ninna nuts by chattering at her mentally all the time. To add to her anxiety, she's got a stalker and someone has been burglaring her neighborhood. Can the dogs--namely, can Mosey--keep her safe?

I really appreciate the realism of the heroine. She isn't perfect. She has anxiety, fears, has been on meds, needs to call her shrink, but in the end, she had the required gumption. I also LOVED the ending. It left me sitting there with my mouth hanging open in surprise.

Now, that is hard to do nowadays.

Five bikes. I received this book from Sizzling PR in exchange for an honest review.

Announcement!

For two days only...drumroll, please...Ride for Rights, my historical young adult novel is FREE  on Amazon. 
That's all I wanted to say about that. LOL. For those of you who don't know what's it about,  here is the blurb:

In the summer of 1916 women do not have the right to vote, let alone be motorcycle dispatch riders. Two sisters, Angeline and Adelaide Hanson are determined to prove to the world that not only are women capable of riding motorbikes, but they can ride motorbikes across the United States. Alone. 

From a dance hall in Chicago to a jail cell in Dodge City, love and trouble both follow Angeline and Adelaide on the dirt roads across the United States. The sisters shout their triumph from Pike’s Peak only to end up lost in the Salt Lake desert. 

Will they make it to their goal of Los Angeles or will too many mishaps prevent them from reaching their destination and thus, hinder their desire to prove that women can do it?


For those of you who do go to the page and download it free, would you mind giving the book a "Like" and  taking the time to tag it?

In other news, Dog Tails is $1.99 for the month of August and back up to its original $2.99 next month. 

Thanks, all! Happy reading! I'll have more books out there soon. :)

Rescued Love by Angelina Rain

This was a tough book for me to read. I'm one of those folks who treats my dogs like children and reading about them being viciously murdered/used in dog fighting was hard. But I appreciate the unique story the author came up with, especially in a time when there are billions of books released every day it seems, and all of them the same blasted story line.

There are three stories here. Jordan and Nate are one. Jordan did him wrong sorta (she didn't mean to) long ago, and now Jordan, upon running into her in his new hometown, is doing her wrong...but he doesn't want to. There's a story here I don't wish to reveal as it would spoil things.

Petra and Dan are another story, and I thought Petra sorta stole the show. I found myself more fascinated with her than I should be with a secondary character. Her situation in her marriage, her inner turmoil...

The dogs are the heart though. Someone is abducting them and returning them mangled and battered...sometimes dead.

It's entertaining, unique, and I'm hoping that book two is not only about Petra, but about the dogs who made it through. I see a fantastic opportunity here for the author to now show us how a fight dog is rehabilitated and show the serious repercussions of the crime. I see great opportunities here.

Quibbles: I actually wanted more of Nate's POV. I was fascinated by his situation and felt it and what he felt warranted more ink. I also was slightly dissatisfied with the villain's motives. It wasn't enough for me, but then again, I had a hard time fathoming that kind of cruelty to pets to begin with, but it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. It does. Will we ever understand their motives?

Four bikes. I recommend it. This was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Free Book and Half Price Book! This Weekend Only!

Starting today until the end of Monday, April 23rd, Dog Tails is FREE on Amazon Kindle! So...go scoop it up HERE and then read it! If you like it, I have another surprise for you. My historical fiction young adult novel, Ride for Rights is half price for this same time period. This is a one time thing. It's dropping from 5.50 to 2.75. That's a great deal. It's my longest piece, my only novel. Pick it up HERE. 

Thank you to all my readers/reviewers/friends for your support. I hope you enjoy your new books. :)

Dog Is My Copilot by Patrick Regan

This wasn't what I was expecting. For some reason, I thought it would be really heartwarming stories about pilots and their dogs. (Yes, I know, I got so excited, I didn't read the blurb thoroughly. Actually, there wasn't that extensive a blurb at first.) Well, the stories are heartwarming, but told in a way that made me think of a really long magazine article.



Though taken aback, I still consider it a very good read. It's not about pilots and their dogs, however, but about Pilots N Paws. There is a network of dog rescue crews on the ground and in the air. PNP consists of pilots that donate their time, their gas, their planes, their flight hours to make sure dog reach potential adoptive home across the country


The first 18 percent was just about the origins of the group. I started losing interest there.. I wanted the dog stories. We finally get them and they're sad and happy. There's a dog who was hit by a train, military service dogs suffering cancer and getting a Veteran's Day honor, dog that crap and pee all over the pilot's plane, a misunderstood herd dog. 


Thanks to PNP, however, the dogs got happy homes. There's also a chapter dedicated to the New Orleans dogs that had to be transported out and there's a pilot who uses snaked as neck warmers. Yep, he transports them too. Pretty interesting.


Some of the stories will make you cry at the abuse these animals have suffered, but in the end you turn the last page with smile, glad there is an organization such as PNP.


Four bikes. I got this from netgalley.

Dog Tails, Twitter

Dog Tails: Three Humorous Short Stories for Dog Lovers is available again on Amazon Kindle. Buy here. I am mighty proud of myself. I did the formatting all on my own. I've learned a lot since last year when I first attempted the world of self-pubbing. So...if you've missed out on the little doggies, it's now only 99 cents.



And I'm finally tweeting. I'm @TaraChevrestt. I've provided a little blue bird hook up at the bottom side of the blog. :)

Dog Tails: Three Humorous Short Stories for Dog Lovers is getting a makeover

I published my first book last year...a book of short stories based on my pampered pooches. Well, sales didn't skyrocket. Tons of people came to me saying, "Oh, I'll buy it for my kids." 


*sigh*


It's not a children's book, and obviously, I need the cover portray that better. So...it's going off the market for a few days because it's getting a makeover! And a price change!!!!!


It will no longer be available on Kobo, Nook, Sony, or in the ibookstore anymore. It will be an Amazon only book. Sorry!


Meanwhile, here's the new cover. :)

Hospice Tails: The Animal Companions Who Journey With Hospice Patients And Their Families by Debra Stang

This is, so far, the most touching book I have read in some time. I had to dab my eyes on numerous occasions. It's a short read at 100 some pages, but it is loaded with touching stories and moments... It contains enough in those 100 pages to touch your very soul, especially the souls of pet lovers/pet parents.

Like dogs? Cats? Horses? Snakes? There's something for everyone.

There's the man who is afraid to go to sleep for fear he will miss the last dying breath of his loved one. Finally, in the throes of exhaustion, he falls asleep. His little dog wakes him just in time...

There's the woman who reaches out to touch the spot her dog (now dead) had always lied and says, "There you are" before she dies herself.

There's a snake that gives comfort, a cat that helps a woman move past her husband's death, a hamster that brings together a mother and son. And though each one of these stories is sad because someone dies, they are also moments of joy caught in a book forever.

Our pets do so much for us and understand so much more than we give them credit for. This book is a tribute to that. Wonderful. Five stars.

Also, unlike a lot of memoirs that tell and not show, Ms. Stang had a very engaging voice that transported me into the story. A huge thumbs up.

I received this in ebook format from the author in exchange for an honest review.

The Dog Who Danced by Susan Wilson

They say some people handle grief in bad ways...I think this couple does. First, let me say this is a good story, not so much about a dog, but about handling grief and loss and a how a dog can help people heal.

Justine's dog is dog napped, basically and then abandoned. While she struggles with bitter feelings with her step family and her father dying AND searches for her dog, an older couple picks her dog up and replaces their lost daughter with the dog. The dog brings them together again. No longer are they sitting apart, but together in order to pet the dog who lies on both of their laps. No longer are they spending days trying to avoid each other, but bonding as they walk the dog, take the dog for rides..and so on.


My problem with this book was solely: I can't stand any of the characters. I thought the heroine, Justine, was irresponsible. I have three adorable dogs and I would never EVER leave them in the cab of some truck driver's truck, especially not a man I barely knew or knew from a bar. She also packed up her little boy and left her husband. Not a smart move. Wasn't like he beat her.. and she could barely provide for the kid.


The couple: The whole, "Let's not find his owner/let's place an ad but be half-witted about it/No, of course he doesn't have a chip.." stuff didn't fly with me. I get they loved the dog and I personally felt the dog was better off with them than Justine, but they struck me as so corrupt, I had a difficult time stomaching the whole situation.


Good book and well written, but I don't think it will agree with everyone.


Favorite quote from the dog: "Humans have this nee to express themselves through their mouths, and he supposes that this is because they are so poor with their noses." LOL


Three stars.


This was an ARC from Amazon Vine so the quote may not be exact.

My First Interview

Christina's little black dog

My little black dog

Just a quick update to inform everyone that I'm a guest on fellow author/friend's blog today. It's a cute story how we ended up chatting and has to do with Facebook and our little black dogs (Look at their similarities!) and Christina Courtenay has been kind enough to feature me today and ask me some insightful and fun questions!



So check out Christina's Blog today and please, feel free to leave a comment.