Bookish Quote of the Day!!

50/50 Friday ~~ Book You've Enjoyed With the Most/Least Pages

50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @ The Butterfly Reads and Laura @ Blue Eye Books. This fun themed meme focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc). Every week a new topic will give bloggers the chance to showcase their answers.

This week's topic is the Book You've Enjoyed With the Most/Least Pages.

I have read a lot of books over the years, so it's difficult to try to remember all my my favorite books in terms of which one I liked with the least pages and most pages... But here goes nothing!

Book You've Enjoyed With the Most Pages

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

I read this novel at least 2 decades ago

and loved it!

Book You've Enjoyed With the Least Pages

Kentucky on the Rocks by Gwendolyn Grace

(click on link above to read my review)

Share with me your favorite book with the most/least amount of pages.

Dog Days Murderous Nights (Winnona Peaks Mysteries #1) by Emily Page

Cozy Mystery Short Story

I enjoy reading cozy mystery novels and I love Pomeranians, so deciding to read Dog Days Murderous Nights (Winnona Peaks Mysteries #1) by Emily Page was a no brainer for me.

I was able to download Dog Days Murderous Nights (Winnona Peaks Mysteries #1) by Emily Page to my Kindle for FREE from Amazon.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of Dog Days Murderous Nights (Winnona Peaks Mysteries #1) by Emily Page.

There were quite a few editing issues in this short story that need some attention. Also there were a few confusing scenes or at the very least some scenes that needed some clarification. I felt like Dog Days Murderous Nights (Winnona Peaks Mysteries #1) by Emily Page had so much potential to be a fantastic read.

The following is a plot summary for Dog Days Murderous Nights (Winnona Peaks Mysteries #1) by Emily Page from Amazon:

Winning at ALL costs... can be costly.

Christy Roberts, owner of Alfie's Bed & Breakfast, has been getting a nice flow of customers due to the Winnona Peak’s Annual Dog Show. 

When one of the shows participants J.W. Augustine turns up dead in his room at Alfie's Bed &Breakfast, Christy is determined to find out if this was an accident or a stealthy-murder.

With a complicated trio of possible suspects in play, each with motive, Christy, along with her two trusty Pomeranians are set to find out who is the killer. But this one could get a little hairy.

I am giving Dog Days Murderous Nights (Winnona Peaks Mysteries #1) by Emily Page a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Bout of Books 20 Day 1 Update!

Yesterday was the 1st day of Bout of Books 20!! I had a decent day of reading. I don't recall the amount of time I devoted to reading though as I actually didn't keep track of the time I did read. 

However, I did finish listening to the last 33% of an audiobook I'd started the week titled Hard Candy by Andrew Vachss and posted a review of it on my blog.

I also began reading a cozy mystery ebook last night titled, Dog Days Murderous Nights (Winnona Peaks Mysteries #1) by Emily Page. I am 36% of the way into Dog Days Murderous Nights (Winnona Peaks Mysteries #1) and am curious to see where it leads me.

I also participated in the following challenge given on Day 1 of Bout of Books 20. The Challenge was to describe yourself in 6 words. Here's how I described myself:

Avid reader, blogger, knitter, wife, daughter!

Are you participating in Bout of Books 20? If so, how was your first day of reading for this read-a-thon?

Hard Candy by Andrew Vachss

Unabridged Audio Version

I listened to the unabridged audiobook edition of Hard Candy by Andrew Vachss on compact disc and narrated by Phil Gigante.

Listening time for Hard Candy by Andrew Vachss is 7 hours, 19 minutes.

Hard Candy is the first novel I've read or listened to that Andrew Vachss has written. Hard Candy is a thriller that could be easily classified as a gritty noir... Hard Candy is also the fourth novel in the 'Burke Series'. 

I personally found Hard Candy by Andrew Vachss to be a bit difficult to get into initially. I also felt this novel was a bit dated as it mentions using things like pay phones and listening to cassette tapes. Otherwise it was a decent read.

The best part of listening to Hard Candy by Andrew Vachss was having Phil Gigante as a narrator for this novel!! It was a definite plus for sure as Phil Gigante is fabulous at doing different voices for the various characters in the novel.

The following is a plot summary for Hard Candy by Andrew Vachss from Audible:

In this mercilessly compelling thriller, Burke - the private eye, sting artist, and occasional hit man who metes out a cruelly ingenious vengeance on those who victimize children - is up against a soft-spoken messiah who may be rescuing runaways or recruiting them for his own hideous purposes. But in doing so, Burke becomes a target for an entire Mafia family, a whore with a heart of cyanide, and a contract killer as implacable as a heart-seeking missile. Written with Vachss' signature narrative overdrive - and with his unnerving familiarity with the sub-basement of American crime - Hard Candy is vintage Burke.

I am giving Hard Candy by Andrew Vachss a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

The Art & Craft of Murder (Whistler's Cove Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Cozy Cat Parker

Cozy Mystery Short Story

I enjoy reading cozy mystery novels and short stories... So, when I came across the ebook edition of The Art & Craft of Murder (Whistler's Cove Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Cozy Cat Parker, I decided to give it a try. Cozy Cat Parker is a new to me author.

I was able to download The Art & Craft of Murder (Whistler's Cove Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Cozy Cat Parker for FREE to my Kindle from Amazon.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of The Art & Craft of Murder (Whistler's Cove Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Cozy Cat Parker.

The Art & Craft of Murder (Whistler's Cove Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Cozy Cat Parker is a short story approximately 48 pages in length. As far as the author's writing goes, I thought Cozy Cat Parker was an okay writer. I liked the premise of this short story, the diverse cast of characters, and all of the red herrings to throw readers off the path as to who the real killer was... But over all, I thought The Art & Craft of Murder (Whistler's Cove Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Cozy Cat Parker was just an okay read compared with other cozy mystery books I've read in the past. 

Below is a summary for The Art & Craft of Murder (Whistler's Cove Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Cozy Cat Parker from Amazon:

Misty Williams has finally achieved her dream of opening a teahouse in Whistler's Cove, a small town famous for its community of artists and crafters. But when the local gallery owner, Hilary Small, is poisoned in Misty's teahouse, and it begins to look as if the man Misty is in love with committed the murder, Misty must turn amateur sleuth in order to save the reputation of her teahouse and her hopes for romance. 

Set in an enchanting location, this cozy mystery will delight with its entertaining cast of humorous characters, including Misty's cat Miss Mabel, who plays a crucial part in revealing the true murderer.

I am giving The Art & Craft of Murder (Whistler's Cove Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Cozy Cat Parker a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Dog Days of Summer: Dog Tag

I discovered the Dog Days of Summer: Dog Tag
from Greg's Book Haven book blog.

I wasn't specifically tagged for this particular
book tag, but I thought it would be fun to
play along and answer the questions below.

If you want to participate in this particular book
tag, then by all means do so. Just leave me a 
comment below with a link to your 
Dog Days of Summer: Dog Tag post, as
I'd enjoy reading your answers!


THE QUESTIONS

WHAT WAS THE NAME OF YOUR FIRST DOG?

Duchess, she was a Doberman Pinscher and our

family pet. My dad was partial to Doberman Pinschers

as he'd grown up with them. And guess what? His first

childhood dog's name was Duchess. So, having a

female, black and tan Doberman Pischer named

Duchess was what we had as a dog when I was a child.

I am not a huge fan of Doberman Pinschers.

They are too aloof personality wise for me.

DO YOU HAVE A DOG NOW?

No, I do not have a dog currently as we are unable to have

them where we currently reside. 

Otherwise, I'd have a dog in a heartbeat.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BREED OF DOG?

Chocolate Colored Pomeranian

Pomeranians are my favorite dog breed,

but I'd be happy with any small toy breed of dog.

I also love the Puli and the Komondor breeds...

But I think they'd be a grooming nightmare,
so wouldn't want to own one. 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CANINE THEMED BOOK?

I don't read a lot of what I would call 'canine themed' reads.

I'm currently reading a nonfiction book called 

'Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs'

by Caroline Knapp, which I am enjoying a lot.

But it is too early to tell if this will become my

favorite canine book.

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FICTIONAL DOG? 

Enzo from the Art of Racing in the Rain

by Garth Stein.

WHAT IS YOUR TOP MOVIE CHOICE WITH A FEATURED CANINE? 

Cats & Dogs from 2001

DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A DOG OR A CAT PERSON? WHY?

I like both cats and dogs equally as I think they

both have their virtues and perks as companion pets.

BONUS QUESTION

TELL US ABOUT A PERSONAL DOG RELATED MEMORY

Awww, I have so many fun and memorable dog memories
with our dog, Roxy, a Pomeranian, who passed away in 2014.
Roxy loved and was fascinated with cats!
Roxy loved touching noses with cats and would
become really excited about seeing cats in general.
We had Roxy as a puppy and never had cats in our home...
So to see her so excited by and fascinated with cats was
cool to see.

The Vanishing Game by William Boyd

I listened to The Vanishing Game by William Boyd and narrated by Russ Bain earlier this month. 

Listening time for The Vanishing Game by William Boyd is 1 hour, 35 minutes.

The Vanishing Game is a suspense/thriller short story that I was able to download to my Kindle for FREE from Audible.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of The Vanishing Game by William Boyd.

I enjoyed listening to The Vanishing Game by William Boyd. I also thought Russ Bain did a really good job of narrating this short story. I liked the protagonist, Alec Dunbar... Alec Dunbar is a 35 year old, down on his luck actor who accepts an offer to deliver a package for someone he doesn't know. It seems like an innocent way for him to make some quick and easy cash... That is until a shadowy cast of characters start to tail him on his journey to make the drop. 

Alec Dunbar sort of felt to me like he was a 'MacGyver' type character from the television series of the same name. I felt this way because Alec Dunbar uses a lot of what he has learned from acting on different sets to help he get out of sticky/tricky situations during the events that occurred in this short story.

The following is a plot summary for The Vanishing Game by William Boyd from Audible:

A down-on-his-luck actor is paired with a weather-battered Land Rover Defender on a seemingly innocuous courier job. But some things are too good to be true, and this innocent journey quickly unfolds into a dangerous plot with a shadowy cast of characters.

I am giving The Vanishing Game by William Boyd a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

A Breach of Security by Susan Hill

I listened to the unabridged short story A Breach of Security by Susan Hill and narrated by Steven Pacey.

Listening time for A Breach of Security by Susan Hill is 1 hour, 28 minutes.

I was able to download A Breach of Security by Susan Hill to my Kindle for FREE from Audible.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of A Breach of Security by Susan Hill.

I enjoyed listening to A Breach of Security by Susan Hill quite a bit. It contained interesting characters and also an interesting storyline. I thought Steven Pacey was a good narrator.

The following is a plot summary for A Breach of Security by Susan Hill from Audible:

When a bunch of neo-fascist thugs named The Bulldogs attack a Gay pride march in the sleepy country town of Lafferton, detective Simon Serrailler moves quickly to find the assailants. He’s already got his hands full making security arrangements for a memorial service to honour soldiers returning from Afghanistan. When anonymous threats come in, Serrailler wonders if the Bulldogs are behind these too - and worries that they know the Prince of Wales will be in attendance. As the day approaches, the threats intensify, and Serrailler finds himself racing against the clock to prevent catastrophe.

Susan Hill has won the Whitbread, Somerset Maugham, and John Llewelyn Rhys prizes, as well as being shortlisted for the Booker Prize. She has written 55 books in several genres, including the ghost story The Woman in Black, the play adapted from which is still running in London’s West End after 25 years. I'm the King of The Castle has been a GCSE set text. She has also published collections of short stories, fiction for children, several nonfiction books and the highly successful crime novel series about the detective Simon Serrailler, who features in a short story here for the first time. Her new novel, The Soul of Discretion, is the eighth in the Serrailler series, and will be published by Chatto and Windus in October. Susan Hill is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, a Fellow of King’s College, London, and was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Honours of 2012.

I am giving A Breach of Security by Susan Hill a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The New World by Patrick Ness

I listened to the unabridged short story The New World by Patrick Ness and narrated by Angela Dawe.

Listening time for The New World by Patrick Ness is 47 minutes.

I was able to download The New World by Patrick Ness to my Kindle for FREE from Audible.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of The New World by Patrick Ness.

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition of The New World by Patrick Ness. I thought the story was good as well as the plot development and also the characters as well. 

The New World by Patrick Ness is a prequel to the 'Chaos Walking Trilogy'. I am now interested in reading or listening to the 'Chaos Walking Trilogy' sometime in the future.

The following is a plot summary for The New World by Patrick Ness from Audible:

The New World is a prequel to the award-winning Chaos Walking trilogy, setting the stage for the world we discover in The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Ask and the Answer, and Monsters of Men. The story was written while the author served as writer in residence for the Booktrust an independent UK-wide charity dedicated to encouraging people of all ages and cultures to enjoy books.

The New World tells of Viola's journey to the New World, brilliantly capturing the hope and fear of settlers in search of a new life. Patrick Ness says that he wrote it "as a huge and deeply-felt thank you to readers. I've had so many questions about Viola and what her life was like before that I couldn't resist the opportunity to reveal just a little bit extra. I knew these things - they're vitally important to her as a character, even if they're not directly in the novels - so it felt like a secret trip I could take readers on. The challenge was to make it work on its own, too, so anyone could read it. That was really, really good fun, and I hope the final result is an exciting one."

The New World can be listened to before or after the trilogy – and some may choose to do both. The story works as a standalone piece, but listeners already familiar with The Knife of Never Letting Go will learn more about Viola’s life and the events leading to her arrival and first encounter with Todd, while newcomers to the trilogy will discover a white-knuckle ride of an introduction to the series. Whether you're a new or faithful listener, though, it's a welcome chance to immerse yourself in the world of Chaos Walking

I am giving The New World by Patrick Ness a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!