Daxton by Becca Fanning

Daxton by Becca Fanning is another paranormal romance short story to feature bear shifters. It's approximately 50 pages and is the first in the 120 Proof Honey Series.

I was able to download Daxton by Becca Fanning to my Kindle for FREE from Amazon.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of Daxton by Becca Fanning.

The writing and storyline started out really well for Daxton. I liked the main characters. I also liked the tension and and some of the drama... BUT how the drama was handled seemed a bit unrealistic. Additionally, the ending for Daxton was abrupt and felt rushed, which made it lose points with me.

The following is the plot summary for Daxton by Becca Fanning from Amazon:

Blair Mason was a woman with a one-track mind, and that track was work. From sunrise to sun down, all she thought about was how to keep her small town grocery store open. That meant hard decisions, the type Blair was in the midst of making when she was rudely interrupted by a tall man. A tall handsome man. Oh, there were things other than work after all!

Daxton Holt thought getting his honey on Mason's shelves would be simple. Walk in, flash a smile and fill out some paperwork. But this owner was something else. She saw right through his charms, pushing him to really sell his product. He liked that, and he liked her. A feisty little minx is sweeter than any honey his bees made...

I am giving Daxton by Becca Fanning a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Dietrich by Becca Fanning

Dietrich by Becca Fanning is a paranormal romance read. I read the ebook version of Dietrich by Becca Fanning, which is approximately 44 pages... So I guess you could call it a short story!!

I was able to download Dietrich by Becca Fanning for FREE to my Kindle from Amazon.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of Dietrich by Becca Fanning.

I thought Dietrich by Becca Fanning was an okay read. It is the first read in the Bear Dating Agency Series and contains bear shifters. I thought the writing was okay and so was the storytelling. Let's just say that this short story is forgettable... I read Dietrich a few days ago and I am already forgetting quite a bit of the plot details. I'll skip reading the rest of the series.

The following is the plot summary for Dietrich by Becca Fanning from Amazon:

Elise Davenport was not having a good night. Just the day before she put her whole career on the line thanks to a few glasses of champagne. Loose lips can sink ships, and they can obliterate your social status. So here she was, stumbling through Fairhaven Park in pitch blackness, looking for the cabin she rented. She'd just hung up the phone with her agent when she heard the rumbling growl come from beside her. Not a good night at all...

Dietrich Best was trying to play it cool. The young lady now sitting next to his Gram looked him up and down, her eyes stopping on his washboard abs. But soon they made their way up, locking with his. She knew. Somehow she knew...

I am giving Dietrich by Becca Fanning a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Top Ten Tuesday - FREEBIE - Book Series I'd Like To Catch Up On

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Top Ten Tuesday was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Below are the top ten book series I'd enjoy catching up on in the future!

1. The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon

2. The Lord John Grey Series by Diana Gabaldon

3. The Blood Destiny Series by Connie Suttle

4. Miss Fortune Mystery Series by Jana DeLeon

5. Tenzing Norbu Mystery Series by Gay Hendricks & Tinker Lindsay

6. A Flower Shop Mystery Series by Kate Collins

7. A Mira James Mystery Series by Jess Lourey

8. The Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry

9. The Coffee House Mystery Series by Cleo Coyle

10. A Hangman's Daughter Tale Series by Oliver Pötzsch

All About The Bear by Bianca D'Arc

All About The Bear by Bianca D'Arc is the first of thirteen books in the Grizzly Cove Series. It's a paranormal romance novella featuring bear shifters. It's also a novella approximately 126 pages in length. 

I was able to download All About The Bear by Bianca D'Arc for FREE to my Kindle.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of All About The Bear by Bianca D'Arc.

I really enjoyed reading All About The Bear. The writing is good/solid. The characters are fun. The storyline and plot details make for fun reading... And there is even some humorous scenes. I enjoyed that there is no cliffhanger ending either. Just a fun easy, breezy, no drama summer read!

Below is the plot summary for All About The Bear by Bianca D'Arc from Amazon:

New town, new people, new…shapeshifters?

In the small, sleepy town of Grizzly Cove, Washington, all is not as it seems. Nell abruptly discovers that she and her sisters are the only humans in a town full of shifters – most of them bears! Knowing nothing about the paranormal creatures all around her, but wanting to know everything about the sexy sheriff who comes to her rescue, Nell has to find her backbone and brace herself to learn All About the Bear.

Can he keep the shifter secret…and the girl, too?

The sheriff of Grizzly Cove has more than the peace to protect. It’ll be up to Sheriff Brody to keep Nell calm and cooperative—and in his bed—for the next fifty years, or so. Yeah, that might be enough. Then again, maybe he’ll keep her forever.

I am giving All About The Bear by Bianca D'Arc a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Mad About The Dragon by Selene Griffin

I read the ebook edition of Mad About The Dragon by Selene Griffin. 

Mad About The Dragon by Selene Griffin is the first paranormal romance in the 'Dragon In My Heart Series' and is approximately 100 pages in length.

I was able to download Mad About The Dragon by Selene Griffin to my Kindle for FREE.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of Mad About The Dragon by Selene Griffin.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this paranormal romance as I think Mad About The Dragon may be the first of anything I've read with a dragon shifter in it. I like paranormal romances in general, but one featuring a dragon shifter would normally not be ones I am drawn to generally. 

With than said, I thought Mad About The Dragon by Selene Griffin was so-so. I am also NOT interested in reading the rest of the  'Dragon In My Heart Series'. The writing was so-so, the main character, Maia, wasn't consistent in her thinking/actions, and one of the major plot details didn't make sense as to how it could have happened... I don't want to go into the details of that plot snafu as it may be too much of a spoiler for those that may still want to read, Mad About The Dragon by Selene Griffin. 

Additionally, there's plenty of tension in Mad About The Dragon, loads of action, and a lot of romance, but nothing about this novella would motivate me to keep reading the series... Oh, and the ending of for Mad About The Dragon by Selene Griffin is flat, blah, boring.

The following is a plot summary for Mad About The Dragon by Selene Griffin from Amazon:

Love must rise in a desert of adversity...

Maia isn’t your run-of-the-mill lass.

A professional dancer with the Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, her vision is becoming the most skilled dancer of the troupe. Life might have been easier if she just jumped on the pole, becoming the lascivious focus of randy men, and certainly more lucrative in the short term, but that life wasn’t for her.

When she needs to clear her mind, she collects desert glass in the Mojave Desert. But the desert doesn’t always give you what you want. Sometimes it gives you what you need.

A Red Dragon.

Maia had no idea her strange hobby will bring her face-to-face with a freakishly handsome dragon shifter, an encounter that will turn her world on its head.

From the moment she met Ignacio, she knew she was down for the ride. She’d never met anyone with such fiery passion, mystery, and she couldn’t get enough. Who knew that passion would open the floodgates of love, but may also bring about their downfall?

Mad About The Dragon is the first novel in the Dragon In My Heart series, which is a paranormal romance novella. If you’re a fan of thrillers, exciting storylines and steamy love scenes, then get your hands on this exhilarating story by Selene Griffin!

I am giving Mad About The Dragon by Selene Griffin a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

15 Nonfiction Books About Reproductive Rights

I'm very interested in the topic of reproductive rights. So, when I came across an article on Bustle's website titled, 15 Nonfiction Books About Reproductive Rights You Should Be Reading Right Now by Kristian Wilson, I decided to check it out. In the article, Kristian Wilson wrote the following:

With health care under fire across the U.S., it can be difficult to parse the negative feelings you're having about the potential revocation of your bodily autonomy. I've picked out 15 nonfiction books about reproductive rights you should be reading right now, because conservatives are inching closer to overturning Roe v. Wade everyday...

Several organizations have already taken legal action against what Planned Parenthood Federation of America V.P. of Government Relations & Public Policy Jacqueline Ayers called the "unethical and dangerous" requirement that "health care providers to withhold important information from patients," but no one can be sure of whether or not their efforts will succeed. Additionally, because of legal challenges against the unconstitutional abortion restrictions and bans that have cropped up around the country over the last two years, Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court case that secured our right to abortion care, could soon be overturned.

Interestingly enough, I've already read two of the books listed in the above mentioned article...And now, I have more books to add to my ever growing reading wishlist.

By the way, in case you were wondering, I've read and reviewed both; Life's Work: A Moral Argument for Choice by Dr. Willie Parker and This Common Secret: My Journey as an Abortion Doctor by Susan Wicklund and Alan Kesselheim. Both books are excellent reads!! Click on the link for each book to read my review of each book.

50/50 Friday - Most Favorite/Least Memoir

50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @ The Butterfly Reads and Laura @ Blue Eye Books. This book meme focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc). Every week will have a new topic and several advance topics will be listed in the tab labeled 50/50 Friday!

This week's topic is to share your most/least memoir. I've read a lot of memoirs. Many of the memoirs I loved and others I have not... Deciding on a favorite or least favorite memoir will be tough... Especially, a favorite memoir as I've read so many good ones.

Least Favorite Memoir

The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

I read this memoir earlier this month and yuck!

(Click above link to read my review.)

Favorite Memoir

My Life On The Road by Gloria Steinem

(Click on above link to read my review.)

Which memoirs have you enjoyed reading over the years?

The Sister by Poppy Adams

Do you enjoy reading novels with unreliable narrators?? Then I have a novel for you! I recently finished listening to the unabridged audio version of The Sister by Poppy Adams and narrated by Juliet Mills.

Listening time for The Sister by Poppy Adams is 10 hours, 48 minutes.

The Sister by Poppy Adams had been in my 'to be read' pile for over 5 years and I am glad I finally listened to it! It hooks you in from the start all the way through to the end. Juliet Mills is a fabulous narrator and sounds a bit like actress, Judi Dench!

The Sisters is told through the view point of Ginny Stone. The story opens with Ginny waiting for her younger sister, Vivi, to return home after an absence of almost 50 years. As the listener, you feel a sense of excitement, tension/nervousness, and curiosity build while Ginny is waiting for Vivi to arrive home... Vivi is late which only adds to the suspense. All the while we're left wondering why Vivi has been away so long.

As the story unfolds, we learn about the entire Stone family and their deep dark family secrets, Ginny's specific quirks and unusual habits, and of course, and meet Vivi early on in the novel as well. 

Ginny is a little off/unstable and this becomes apparent early on in The Sister. As the storyline progresses, life seems to unravel fairly quickly for Ginny after Vivi's return home. They each have a differing opinion about things that occurred within the family, which lends to the unreliable narrator theme I mentioned earlier. 

I do not want to give away much more of the plot details, but the end of the novel has a dramatic conclusion.

All I can add is that, I enjoyed The Sister quite a bit. It has a steady, but leisure pace to it.

The following is a plot summary for The Sister by Poppy Adams from Audible:

From her lookout in the crumbling mansion that was her childhood home, Ginny watches and waits for her younger sister to arrive. Vivien has not set foot in the house since she left nearly 50 years ago; the reclusive Ginny has rarely ventured out, retreating into the precise routines that define her days, carrying on her father's solitary work studying moths. 

As the sisters revisit their shared past, they realize that their recollections differ in essential and unsettling ways. Before long, the deeply buried resentments that have shaped both their lives rise to the surface, and Vivien's presence threatens to disrupt Ginny's carefully ordered world.

Told in Ginny's unforgettable voice, this subtle and chilling debut novel tells an extraordinary story of how families are capable of undoing themselves - especially in the name of love.

I am giving The Sister by Poppy Adams a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

My Blog Name in Books Tag

I saw My Blog Name in Books Tag over at The Butterfly Reader's blog!! This book tag looked like so much fun that I wanted to do it too. 

The Rules

Spell out your blog’s name. Find a book from your TBR that begins with each letter. 

You cannot add to your TBR to complete this challenge – the books must already be on your Goodreads TBR... 

Scratch that!! I don't keep my Goodreads TBR current. So, I am going to select books from my already massive physical TBR here at home.

C - Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers 

A - An Eagle Named Freedom by Jeff Guidry 

P - Poseidon's Steed by Helen Scales Ph.D. 

T - Tsarina by J. Nelle Patrick 

I - Indian Killer by Sherman Alexie 

V - Vaccine by Arthur Allen 

A - Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions by Mario Giordano 

T - Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch

E - Eat Right For Your Type by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo 

D - Dapper Dan: Made In Harlem by Daniel R. Day 

R - Riven Rock by T. C. Boyle 

E - Enough Already by Mike Iamele 

A - A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka 

D - Down To A Soundless Sea by Thomas Steinbeck 

E - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer 

R - Romeo and/or Juliet by Ryan North

Want to participate in this book tag? Consider yourself tagged!

Final Stop Albuquerque by Alice Zogg

Final Stop Albuquerque by Alice Zogg is the second mystery novel I've read by the author. I became acquainted with Alice Zogg's writing from Judy @ Keep The Wisdom. I do love a good mystery novel and am very happy that Judy introduced me to Alice Zogg's novels.

Final Stop Albuquerque is the sixth novel in the 'R.A. Huber series' by Ms. Zogg. I really enjoyed reading this novel. I really liked the characters, the plot, and storyline very much.

I did guess whodunnit before the killer was actually revealed, but that was okay by me as the writing was good. There were a few minor scenes that were a tad unrealistic in my opinion, but overall Final Stop Albuquerque by Alice Zogg was a really good read.

Below is the plot summary for Final Stop Albuquerque by Alice Zogg from the author's website:

FINAL STOP ALBUQUERQUE is Alice Zogg’s 6th mystery novel in her R.A. Huber series. Also featured is the sleuth’s dynamic young assistant, Andi, whom the author introduced in “The Fall of Optimum House.” Elena Campione seemed to have vanished into thin air. She had apparently left her South Pasadena residence without telling a soul. The police traced her to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she was last seen boarding the shuttle bus to the Balloon Fiesta Park on the last day of the annual balloon festival. Bruno Campione hires R.A. Huber to find his missing wife. The investigation takes Huber to several towns in Arizona and New Mexico, while Andi pries into matters closer to home. When Elena’s body washes up at Lake Havasu, it is no longer a missing person case but a homicide. The women’s probing into the murder puts them both in harm’s way. Huber ends up in the hospital in critical condition, and Andi also barely escapes with her own life.

I am giving Final Stop Albuquerque by Alice Zogg a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars. I look forward to reading other novels in the 'R. A. Huber' series by Alice Zogg.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama XIV, Desmond Tutu, & Douglas Carlton Abrams

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama XIV, Desmond Tutu, & Douglas Carlton Abrams, which I've wanted to read or listen to for over a year now.

Listening time for The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama XIV, Desmond Tutu, & Douglas Carlton Abrams is 10 hours, 12 minutes.

I enjoyed that The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World was divided into three parts: The Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu discuss "their own stories and teachings about joy (first part), the most recent findings in the science of deep happiness (second part), and the daily practices that anchor their own emotional and spiritual lives (third part)."  Douglas Carlton Abrams acts as sort of moderator in The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World.

Honestly, I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read it verses listened to it! 

I didn't like the sound of the voices of the voice actors who read for the Dalai Lama's and Desmond Tutu's voices... I found it initially difficult to differentiate between whether it was the Dalai Lama speaking or Desmond Tutu speaking in certain sections of the book. 

I also found that I would want to go back and listen to certain passages again in this book, which was a bit difficult to do with the audio format. If I was reading the printed version, then I could easily reread passages I just read to gain a better understanding or clarification. Plus, I could use book tags to flag passages I would want to refer to again in the future.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama XIV, Desmond Tutu, & Douglas Carlton Abrams from Audible:

Two great spiritual masters share their own hard-won wisdom about living with joy even in the face of adversity.

The occasion was a big birthday. And it inspired two close friends to get together in Dharamsala for a talk about something very important to them. The friends were His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The subject was joy. Both winners of the Nobel Prize, both great spiritual masters and moral leaders of our time, they are also known for being among the most infectiously happy people on the planet.

From the beginning the book was envisioned as a three-layer birthday cake: their own stories and teachings about joy, the most recent findings in the science of deep happiness, and the daily practices that anchor their own emotional and spiritual lives. Both the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu have been tested by great personal and national adversity, and here they share their personal stories of struggle and renewal. Now that they are both in their 80s, they especially want to spread the core message that to have joy yourself, you must bring joy to others.

Most of all, during that landmark week in Dharamsala, they demonstrated by their own exuberance, compassion, and humor how joy can be transformed from a fleeting emotion into an enduring way of life.

I am giving The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama XIV, Desmond Tutu, & Douglas Carlton Abrams a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars. I think I would have given this book a higher review had I read it verses listened to it.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Thousands Of Books Given Away At A Contra Costa County Library!!!

Wow!! Just wow!! I live in Contra Costa County, which is located in Northern California. So, I was beyond thrilled to learn that the Pleasant Hill Public Library was giving away thousands of withdrawn library books for FREE to the public starting Tuesday, July 16th through Saturday, July 20th between the hours of 9am to 4pm. 

All free books were located in the Pleasant Hill Public Library's shipping and receiving area located behind the library itself. The books were being "removed from the library collection due to lack of circulation, poor condition or relevance" according to a news article I read online.

I made my visit to the Pleasant Hill Pubic Library on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 around noon and stayed for quite awhile looking through several boxes of books. There were a plethora of books in boxes to look through during one's visit... It was a massive set up for sure!! Did I look through all of the boxes? Not a chance!! I would have been there for hours if I had.

Lots of people were in attendance perusing the boxes looking for books. Everyone appeared to be hauling off large bags or boxes filled with books. A few people even had rolling bags on wheels to load their books off in.

I captured only a few imagines of the shipping and receiving area at the Pleasant Hill Public Library during my visit as I was fairly busy browsing for books to add to my collection. There was another entire area of books that I didn't even capture photographs of during my time spent at the library.

I came home with a total of 25 books - 6 audiobooks and 19 hardback books. Believe me, as a book lover, I found it difficult to stop at coming home with just 25 books... But the extreme afternoon heat was getting to me. Additionally, I already have so many unread books in my personal collection as it is that stopping at 25 books was probably a good thing! Plus, I don't have much more room in my home to store extra books as it is.

I'm hoping that they will have this wonderful event next year as well. It was fun browsing for free books as you never know just what you'll find and that was the fun of it. I didn't find any books that were on my reading wishlist, but I did grab some books that were by well known authors that look like promising reads.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Read About Women In Space

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Lunar landing. 

To mark the occasion, I am sharing an interesting article I discovered through Bustle's website titled, Read About Women In Space In These 10 Novels & Nonfiction Books About The Final Frontier by Kerri Jarema. In the article, Kerri Jarema wrote the following:

In July 2019, the United States celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the moon. Taught in school's across the country, and depicted repeatedly in books, films, and television shows, the moon landing in 1969 — in which astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to step foot on the moon, taking "one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind" — is one of the most iconic moments in world history. Since the late '60s, the NASA program has continued to make history, with missions like the Mars Exploration Rover ensuring continued interest in the men and women who explore the unknown Final Frontier.

But once you've gotten your fill reading all about Apollo 11 and other major space missions, you might find that you want to keep those galaxy-filled stoties on deck — especially stories about women, who are so often left out of important historical moments. This list of 10 books about women in space contains both fiction and nonfiction picks, with classic must-reads and newer books among them. Whether you want an edge-of-your-seat sci-fi novel set in space, or you want to learn more about the real-life women who have made space their careers, there's something on the list for you:

Click on the top link to discover which books made the list about women in space!

Accidental Eyewitness by Alice Zogg

I enjoy reading mystery novels. I learned about author, Alice Zogg, from Judy @ Keep The Wisdom. So, I decided to start by reading one of Alice Zogg's standalone novels titled, Accidental Eyewitness.

I enjoyed Alice Zogg's writing style. The storyline and characters for Accidental Eyewitness were interesting and kept my attention throughout the entire novel. I had no idea who the killer was until it was revealed at the end of the book. In fact, I was actually kind of surprised by the killer's identity!! Additionally, I thought the killer's reasoning for killing was a bit superficial. Otherwise, I enjoyed reading Accidental Eyewitness by Alice Zogg.

The following is the plot summary for Accidental Eyewitness by Alice Zogg from the author's website:

Kurt Nobel, known as “The Real Estate King,” invites a mixture of odd guests to his mansion on the Isle of Ease for a week of snorkeling, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, and general fun in the sun. The occasion is to celebrate the millionaire’s recent marriage to his new young wife, singer Barbie.

But all is not pure pleasure and merriment on the tropical island. One person plans an intriguing way to commit murder, and may get away with it, if not for the fortuitous eyewitness, eight-year-old Evie Frederique.

I am giving Accidental Eyewitness by Alice Zogg a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Watching Willow (Gold Coast Retrievers #7) by Ann Omasta

Lucky me!! I was able to download Watching Willow (Gold Coast Retrievers #7) by Ann Omasta for FREE to my Kindle from Audible with a special code from the author!!

Listening time for Watching Willow (Gold Coast Retrievers #7) by Ann Omasta is 4 hours, 48 minutes.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of Watching Willow (Gold Coast Retrievers #7) by Ann Omasta!!

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the unabridged audio version of Watching Willow (Gold Coast Retrievers #7) by Ann Omasta and narrated by Sarah L. Colton. This is a sweet, contemporary romance novel. The writing is good. I enjoyed the characters and the low drama storyline. If you want a fun, feel good novel with a happy ending, then this is the novel for you.

I also thought that Sarah L. Colton was a good narrator for Watching Willow. 

Additionally, I have not read any of the other novels in the 'Gold Coast Retrievers' series by Ann Omasta, but felt that I didn't need to have read the previous novels to read/follow the plot for Watching Willow.

The following is the plot summary for Watching Willow (Gold Coast Retrievers #7) by Ann Omasta found on Audible:

On the verge of losing her job, local television star Willow Winks desperately seeks the one thing she believes can save her fledgling career - a golden retriever sidekick.

Willow thought being told she was getting too old for television was the most frightening thing a celebrity diva could hear - until she and her furry best friend, Buddy, receive a threatening letter. Concerned for their safety, the television studio hires Caleb McCreery, a brave, strong, and young bodyguard to protect the famous duo. Caleb is ready to do whatever it takes to keep his charges safe, even if that means risking his own life. As the threats begin to escalate, Willow and Caleb struggle to keep their budding attraction at bay. Will the distraction of their growing feelings make the bodyguard vulnerable and put all three at risk?

This sweet tale is a romantic adventure you don’t want to miss.... Grab your copy and start listening today! Fans of the Must Love Dogs series by Claire Cook and the Everyday Heroes series by Margaret Daley are sure to enjoy curling up with this delightful romantic suspense novel. Watching Willow is part of the Gold Coast Retrievers series. Each book stands completely on its own, but you'll have even more fun if you listen to them all!

I am giving Watching Willow (Gold Coast Retrievers #7) by Ann Omasta a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

A Grown-Up Guide to Dinosaurs by Ben Garrod

As a member of Audible, I was able to download the Audible Original titled, A Grown-Up Guide to Dinosaurs by Ben Garrod, for FREE to my Kindle.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of A Grown-Up Guide to Dinosaurs by Ben Garrod.

Listening time for A Grown-Up Guide to Dinosaurs by Ben Garrod is 2 hours, 42 minutes.

I enjoyed listening to A Grown-Up Guide to Dinosaurs by Ben Garrod more than I thought I would. I learned lots of new to me facts about dinosaurs... Like some dinosaurs had feathers and that chickens are related to dinosaurs!! 

If you want to learn more current information about dinosaurs, then check out A Grown-Up Guide to Dinosaurs by Ben Garrod from Audible.

The following is the publisher's summary for A Grown-Up Guide to Dinosaurs by Ben Garrod found on Audible:

Most children go through a dinosaur phase. Learning all the tongue-twisting names, picking favourites based on ferocity, armour, or sheer size. For many kids this love of ‘terrible lizards’ fizzles out at some point between starting and leaving primary school. All those fancy names slowly forgotten, no longer any need for a favourite.

For all those child dino fanatics who didn’t grow up to become paleontologists, dinosaurs seem like something out of mythology. They are dragons, pictures in books, abstract, other, extinct.

They are at the same time familiar and mysterious. And yet we’re in an age of rapid discovery - new dinosaur species and genera are being discovered at an accelerating rate, we’re learning more about what they looked like, how they lived, how they evolved and where they all went. 

This series isn’t just a top trumps list of dino facts - we’re interested in the why and the how and like all areas of science there is plenty of controversy and debate.

I am giving A Grown-Up Guide to Dinosaurs by Ben Garrod a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Man Who Knew The Way To The Moon by Todd Zwillich

With July 20th marking the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing, I decided to listen to an Audible Original production titled, The Man Who Knew The Way To The Moon by Todd Zwillich.

Listening time for The Man Who Knew The Way To The Moon by Todd Zwillich is 3 hours, 32 minutes.

I was able to download The Man Who Knew The Way To The Moon by Todd Zwillich to my Kindle for FREE from Audible. 

Below is my honest, unbiased review of The Man Who Knew The Way To The Moon by Todd Zwillich.

I enjoyed learning about the behind the scenes information about how we, as a nation, were able to make it to the moon in July 1969. 

I knew nothing about the story of John C. Houbolt, a mid-level engineer at NASA, who advocated the use of the Lunar Orbit Rendezvous to get to the moon until I listened to The Man Who Knew The Way To The Moon. Nor did I know much about the politics and so on that came to building Apollo 11.

The Man Who Knew The Way To The Moon by Todd Zwillich makes for a fascinating listen for readers that want to learn more about Apollo 11.

Below is the publisher's summary of The Man Who Knew The Way To The Moon by Todd Zwillich from Audible:

The story of John C. Houbolt, an unsung hero of Apollo 11 and the man who showed NASA how to put America on the moon.

Without John C. Houbolt, a mid-level engineer at NASA, Apollo 11 would never have made it to the moon.

Top NASA engineers on the project, including Werner Von Braun, strongly advocated for a single, huge spacecraft to travel to the moon, land, and return to Earth. It's the scenario used in 1950s cartoons and horror movies about traveling to outer space.

Houbolt had another idea: Lunar Orbit Rendezvous. LOR would link two spacecraft in orbit while the crafts were travelling at 3,600 miles an hour around the moon. His plan was ridiculed and considered unthinkable. But this junior engineer was irrepressible. He stood by his concept, fired off memos to executives, and argued that LOR was the only way to success.
For the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11, hear the untold story of the man who helped fulfill Kennedy’s challenge to reach the moon and begin exploring the final frontier.

Below is video footage of author, Todd Zwillich talking about his book, The Man Who Knew The Way To The Moon.

I am giving The Man Who Knew The Way To The Moon by Todd Zwillich a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Little Free Library in San Francisco, California!!

63 Funston Avenue, San Francisco California 94129

This past Saturday afternoon my husband and I spent the afternoon at the various sites within San Francisco's Presidio. 

During our time at the Presidio, we found a Little Free Library outside of the entrance to the Presidio YMCA. I left two books at this particular Little Free Library. 

I had initially planned to take a copy of Shade by Pete Souza with me, but ended up walking away empty handed.

Have you visited any Little Free Libraries lately?

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

I purchased a used copy of The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher from our local public library. I'm not a Carrie Fisher fan. However, I was a child when Star Wars was released in 1977. Although I liked Star Wars and have seen most (if not all of the films in the Star Wars franchise), I can't say I am die hard fan of the Star Wars franchise.

I simply gravitated towards The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher simply because I wanted to read Carrie Fisher's take on her life during the time in which she filmed Star Wars.

All I can say is what a boring waste of time it was to read The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher!! Ugh, this book was so bad... I should have just ditched out on it early on. Instead, I kept reading this book in search of some sort of redeeming value to it... But there wasn't any redeeming value to The Princess Diarist.

The Princess Diarist is rambling and verbose. Ms. Fisher tried too hard to be clever and funny in her book, but fails miserably at this attempt big time. She comes off as insecure and needy throughout much of The Princess Diarist.

The journal entries Carrie Fisher shares from when she was filming the first Star Wars movie are sad and depressing for the most part. Ms. Fisher came across as having low self esteem and lacking emotional maturity during her time filming Star Wars.

The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher is a painful read to get through. Pure drivel.

The following is the publisher's summary for The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher from Amazon:

The last book from beloved Hollywood icon Carrie Fisher, The Princess Diarist is an intimate, hilarious, and revealing recollection of what happened behind the scenes on one of the most famous film sets of all time, the first Star Wars movie.

When Carrie Fisher discovered the journals she kept during the filming of the first Star Wars movie, she was astonished to see what they had preserved—plaintive love poems, unbridled musings with youthful naiveté, and a vulnerability that she barely recognized. Before her passing, her fame as an author, actress, and pop-culture icon was indisputable, but in 1977, Carrie Fisher was just a teenager with an all-consuming crush on her costar, Harrison Ford.

With these excerpts from her handwritten notebooks, The Princess Diarist is Fisher’s intimate and revealing recollection of what happened on one of the most famous film sets of all time—and what developed behind the scenes. Fisher also ponders the joys and insanity of celebrity, and the absurdity of a life spawned by Hollywood royalty, only to be surpassed by her own outer-space royalty. Laugh-out-loud hilarious and endlessly quotable, The Princess Diarist brims with the candor and introspection of a diary while offering shrewd insight into one of Hollywood's most beloved stars.

I am giving The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher a rating of 1 star out of 5 stars. This has to be the worst book I've read so far this year.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Little Free Library in Pleasanton, California

Little Free Library @ 6325 Benner Court, Pleasanton, California 94588

Earlier this week, I found myself once again in Pleasanton, California to pick up the items I knitted and dropped off to be displayed at the Alameda County Fair this year.

Before I drove over to the county fairgrounds, I stopped off at a new to me Little Free Library in Pleasanton and exchanged two used books for two different used books.

This particular Little Free Library was super cute and had a painting of the hungry caterpillar on the side of it. There were plenty of books for both kids and adults inside this Little Free Library.

A Deadly Delivery by April Fernsby

I was in the mood for a cozy mystery novel, so decided to read A Deadly Delivery by April Fernsby. It's the first novel in 'A Psychic Cafe Mystery' series by April Fernsby.

I was able to download A Deadly Delivery by April Fernsby to my Kindle for FREE from Amazon. 

Below is my honest, unbiased review of A Deadly Delivery by April Fernsby.

I enjoyed reading A Deadly Delivery by April Fernsby. It was a fun cozy mystery novel to read. The characters, plot, storyline, writing, and pace of this novel were all good. I would even consider reading the rest of the books that comprise the rest of 'A Psychic Cafe Mystery' series.

The following is the plot summary for A Deadly Delivery by April Fernsby from Amazon:

Karis Booth has had psychic abilities for as long as she can remember. But this is the first time she’s used them to solve a murder.

Things are changing rapidly for Karis. As well as filing for divorce from her unfaithful husband, she decides it’s time to make peace with her estranged sister, Erin. With trepidation, Karis visits the café which Erin owns. To her great relief, Erin welcomes Karis back into her life with open arms.

During their reconciliation, a young woman, Carmel, calls into the café with a bread delivery. As Karis watches Carmel, she experiences a strong psychic vision. She sees two shadows following Carmel. Only one of the shadows belongs to Carmel — the other belongs to the person who is going to murder her later that day.

With help from her sister and an old neighbour, Karis does all that she can to find out who murdered Carmel. It doesn’t help that the investigating officer is an ex-boyfriend who broke up with Karis because he couldn’t cope with her psychic abilities. Despite this, Karis won’t rest until she finds the killer.

I am giving A Deadly Delivery by April Fernsby a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Whoever Fights Monsters: My Twenty Years Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI by Robert K. Ressler and Tom Shachtman

Whoever Fights Monsters: My Twenty Years Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI by Robert K. Ressler and Tom Shachtman is the third book I finished listening to during the month of July. I listened to the unabridged audio version of this book, which was narrated by Tom Perkins.

Listening time for Whoever Fights Monsters: My Twenty Years Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI by Robert K. Ressler and Tom Shachtman is 11 hours, 25 minutes.

As I mentioned in another review I posted earlier this month, I've been on a nonfiction kick so far during the month of July. I like true crime books and the topics of serial killers and psychological profiling for the FBI make for interesting reading.

I really enjoyed listening to Whoever Fights Monsters: My Twenty Years Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI by Robert K. Ressler and Tom Shachtman. It's a well written book. I enjoyed how the the information is presented to readers as I found myself extremely riveted by this book from start to finish. There isn't a dull moment in this book to be found. 

The author, Robert K. Ressler, is actually credited with coining the term 'serial killer'. Ressler joined the FBI's Behaviorial Science Unit back in the 1970s and was instrumental in providing psychological profiles for violent criminal offenders. Additionally, Ressler was also instrumental in helping to set up Vi-CAP (Violent Criminal Apprehension Program) to name only a very few of his career achievements.

I enjoyed learning about the serial killers discussed in this book, the crimes they committed, and how they were apprehended by law enforcement. 

It was also enlightening to learn what actually makes a serial killer a serial killer. It was also fascinating to learn why white men within a certain age bracket are found primarily to be serial killers verses any other demographic. Also, the distinction between an organized verses disorganized criminal is discussed in length and how this distinction helps law enforcement complete an accurate psychological profile to aid in the capture of a violent criminal.

The following is the publisher's summary for Whoever Fights Monsters: My Twenty Years Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI by Robert K. Ressler and Tom Shachtman from Audible:

Face-to-face with some of America's most terrifying killers, FBI veteran and ex-Army CID colonel Robert Ressler learned from them how to identify the unknown monsters who walk among us - and put them behind bars. Now the man who coined the phrase "serial killer" and advised Thomas Harris on The Silence of the Lambs shows how he has tracked down some of the nation's most brutal murderers.

Just as it happened in The Silence of the Lambs, Ressler uses the evidence at a crime scene to put together a psychological profile of the killers. From the victims they choose, to the way they kill, to the often grotesque souvenirs they take with them, Ressler unlocks the identities of these vicious killers for the police to capture.

Join Ressler as he takes you on the hunt for America's most dangerous psychopaths. It is a terrifying journey you will not forget.

I am giving Whoever Fights Monsters: My Twenty Years Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI by Robert K. Ressler and Tom Shachtman a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Get Well Soon: History's Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them by Jennifer Wright

I enjoyed listening to Get Well Soon: History's Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them by Jennifer Wright and narrated by Gabra Zackman.

Listening time for Get Well Soon: History's Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them by Jennifer Wright is 7 hours, 44 minutes.

I had Get Well Soon: History's Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them by Jennifer Wright on my reading wishlist for quite a while and I am so happy that I finally listened to this nonfiction book. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Jennifer Wright's writing style! She broke down each chapter into bite sized chunks containing a specific plague without getting too gory/graphic... I didn't want to have nightmares for weeks after listening to this book about plagues!! And the author is humorous - if that's even possible when it comes to the serious topic of plagues.... Don't worry, the author is respectful to the subject matter, but she had me cracking up in parts of her book. Also, the narrator, Gabra Zackman, does an excellent job of narrating this book, which helped make this book an even more wonderful listen if that was possible. I loved that the author not only discusses each plague and how it effected society, but also puts a positive twist on the situation by highlighting the heroes that fought each plague.

The only very minor complaint I had about this book is that there is an entire chapter devoted to the lobotomy. A lobotomy is NOT a plague. It's a medical procedure!! Yes, the lobotomy is an important topic in medical history that needs to be discussed and addressed. The irreversible damage done to patients by this medical procedure is horrific... There's no doubt about that. I simply wish that the author had kept her entire book focused on the topic/theme of various diseases throughout human history. 

The following is the publisher's summary for Get Well Soon: History's Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them by Jennifer Wright from Audible:

A witty, irreverent tour of history's worst plagues - from the Antonine Plague, to leprosy, to polio - and a celebration of the heroes who fought them.

In 1518, in a small town in Alsace, Frau Troffea began dancing and didn't stop. She danced until she was carried away six days later, and soon 34 more villagers joined her. Then more. In a month more than 400 people had been stricken by the mysterious dancing plague. In late-19th-century England an eccentric gentleman founded the No Nose Club in his gracious townhome - a social club for those who had lost their noses, and other body parts, to the plague of syphilis for which there was then no cure. And in turn-of-the-century New York, an Irish cook caused two lethal outbreaks of typhoid fever, a case that transformed her into the notorious Typhoid Mary.

Throughout time, humans have been terrified and fascinated by the diseases history and circumstance have dropped on them. Some of their responses to those outbreaks are almost too strange to believe in hindsight. Get Well Soon delivers the gruesome, morbid details of some of the worst plagues we've suffered as a species, as well as stories of the heroic figures who selflessly fought to ease the suffering of their fellow man. With her signature mix of in-depth research and storytelling, and not a little dark humor, Jennifer Wright explores history's most gripping and deadly outbreaks, and ultimately looks at the surprising ways they've shaped history and humanity for almost as long as anyone can remember.

 I am giving Get Well Soon: History's Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them by Jennifer Wright a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!