Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp

Paperback edition of Pack of Two by Caroline Knapp

I purchased a used paperback edition of Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp at a Friends of the Library Used Bookstore in Carpinteria, California in January 2013.

I'm playing catch up by reading books I've had in my personal collection of books for 4 years or longer. I chose to read Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp as I am an avid dog lover. I am especially fond of toy dog breeds... My family has had two Pomeranians over the years. So, deciding to read Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp was a no brainer for me. 

Why it took me until 2018 to finally read Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp, I'm not sure. All I can say is that I am extremely happy that I finally did read this book. 

I've never read anything else written by Caroline Knapp before, so wasn't entirely sure what to expect from Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs. I simply knew that I wanted to read her book about the bond between dogs and humans.

After reading this book, I felt like Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp was A) part memoir about Caroline Knapp's personal life and the bond she had with her dog, Lucille, a shepherd mix, B) the bonds felt by other people with their dogs who were interviewed for this book, and C) the scientific data sited for this book. All three areas were intertwined throughout this book seamlessly into tightly written chapters that focused on specific topics.

Caroline Knapp's writing is really engaging and she does a wonderful job in demonstrating the unique bond between people and dogs. I don't think you need to be a dog lover to enjoy reading Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs. I was also quite taken with how open, honest, and vulnerable Ms. Knapp was about sharing intimate details of her personal life that most of us wouldn't necessarily share in some detail with others in a book.

The following is a blurb about Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp on Amazon:

At the age of 36, Caroline Knapp, author of the acclaimed bestseller Drinking:A Love Story, found herself confronted with a monumental task: redefining her world. She had faced the loss of both her parents, given up a twenty-year relationship with alcohol, and, as she writes, "I was wandering around in a haze of uncertainty, blinking up at the biggest questions: Who am I without parents and without alcohol? How to form attachments, and where to find comfort, in the face of such daunting vulnerability?" An answer materialized in the most unlikely form: that of a dog. Eighteen months to the day after she quit drinking, Knapp stumbled upon an eight-week-old puppy at a local animal shelter, took her home, and named her Lucille. Now two years old, Lucille has become a central force in Knapp's life: "In her," she writes, "I have found solace, joy, a bridge to the world."

Caroline Knapp has been celebrated as much for her fresh insight into emotional and psychological issues as she has been for her gifts as a writer. In Pack of Two, she brings the same perception and talent to bear on the rich, complicated terrain of human-animal relationships. In addition to mining her own experience with Lucille, Knapp speaks to a wide variety of dog people--from animal behaviorists and psychologists to other owners whose dogs have deeply affected their lives--about this emotionally complex, sometimes daunting, often profoundly healing alliance. Throughout, she explores the shift in canine roles from working partners to intimate companions and looks, too, at how this new kinship, this wordless bond, becomes a template for what we most desire ourselves.

I am giving Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Luca's Mate (Dirk's Pack Book 1) by Kristina King

Paranormal Romance

Luca's Mate (Dirk's Pack Book 1) by Kristina King is a paranormal romance short story approximately 65 pages in length.

I was able to download Luca's Mate (Dirk's Pack Book 1) by Kristina King to my Kindle for FREE from Amazon.

Below is my honest, unbiased review for Luca's Mate (Dirk's Pack Book 1) by Kristina King.

There were some minor issues that needed to be edited in Luca's Mate (Dirk's Pack Book 1) by Kristina King, otherwise it was a pretty good paranormal romance. I enjoyed Kristina King's writing. The characters in Luca's Mate (Dirk's Pack Book 1) by Kristina King are fun and nicely developed. I feel like Luca's Mate (Dirk's Pack Book 1) is a great start to the 'Dirk's Pack' series.

The following is a plot summary for Luca's Mate (Dirk's Pack Book 1) by Kristina King from Amazon:

Meet Luca. He's a strong and independent Beta, whose patience with his Alpha pack leader, Dirk, has worn thin.

Luca tried his best to support his alpha, but Dirk was making radical decisions without talking it over with the rest of the wolves; like moving his pack of young single werewolves to live a 'simple' off-grid life in the wilderness.

Moving to the middle of nowhere didn't seem to have any upside, until a rainy, stormy night when a young woman appeared on his doorstep.

Melissa was determined to prove she could survive on her own, she wasn't just a spoiled rich girl who got handed everything with a silver spoon in her mouth. However, she bit off a little more than she could chew when she decided to go into the woods alone to prove she could take care of herself. She got lost and ended up stumbling upon Luca's compound, asking for help. Drenched and cold, the spark between them was instant. Throwing caution to the wind, Melissa gave in to the wild chemistry that brewed between the two of them.

I am giving Luca's Mate (Dirk's Pack Book 1) by Kristina King a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Cari Mora by Thomas Harris

I have read four previous novels written by Thomas Harris, Red Dragon, The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, and Hannibal Rising. All four novels I enjoyed reading tremendously.

In early 2019, I was thrilled to learn that Thomas Harris had written a new novel titled, Cari Mora, to be published in May 2019. This would be the first novel published by Thomas Harris since 2006. Additionally, Cari Mora would not feature the infamous character, Hannibal Lecter. Needless to say, I was initially excited about the impending release of Cari Mora and looked forward to reading this novel when it debuted.

Upon the release of Cari Mora, the reviews were less than stellar for this novel. In fact, it seemed like most reviewers didn't care much for Cari Mora at all and that seems to be putting it mildly. Because of the lackluster reception for Cari Mora, I decided to take a hard pass on reading this novel and moved on to reading other books instead... That is until this year when my curiosity got the better of me. I purchased the eBook edition of Cari Mora from Amazon on sale.

After reading the first 20% of Cari Mora, I was left wondering if I should continue reading it or not. The writing wasn't engrossing in the least. In fact, I found Cari Mora very lackluster. Cari Mora contained too many characters to keep track of initially. I also felt like the writing style wasn't living up to what I expected from Thomas Harris, which left me seriously wondering if Mr. Harris had lost his writing mojo altogether.

I decided to push forward and read a few more chapters of Cari Mora to see if things picked up. I'm glad I finished reading Cari Mora. However, it wasn't a great read and definitely not one of the author's finest works of writing, in my opinion. 

Cari Mora, the main character, is a strong female character and has lived a difficult life. As a child, Cari was kidnapped and trained (brainwashed really) to work as a child soldier in Colombia before arriving in the US on a Temporary Protected Status. Since Cari's arrival in the US, she has lived in limbo trying to make the best of her precarious resident status. I would have loved to see more character development with Cari Mora. With the exception of the last two chapters and another chapter earlier in the novel showcasing Cari's life as a child soldier, she felt very two dimensional overall.

Additionally, the main bad guy, Hans-Peter Schneider, was freaky weird and more of a 'caricature' bad guy... Yes, Hans-Peter Schneider is pure evil, but just plain weird. Again, think two dimensional... Hans-Peter Schneider just seemed hollow to me. Whereas the character of Hannibal Lecter is so well developed by Thomas Harris. It just left me wondering what went wrong in creating the character of Hans-Peter Schneider?

I still think there were way too many characters for this novel to keep track of with all its action. Perhaps if there were less characters or a longer length novel to accommodate both character development for all the characters and the storyline as well, Cari Mora would have been a better read.

The most bizarre chapter, hands down, was chapter 25. Chapter 25 is told from the perspective of a saltwater alligator (or was it a freshwater crocodile??). This chapter felt so random... Like why was it even in the novel????

Below is the plot summary for Cari Mora by Thomas Harris from Amazon's website:

A resilient young woman must outwit a sadistic psychopath in this pulse-pounding thriller from the author of The Silence of the Lambs, a "master still at the top of his strange and chilling form" (Wall Street Journal).

Twenty-five million dollars in cartel gold lies hidden beneath a mansion on the Miami Beach waterfront. Ruthless men have tracked it for years. Leading the pack is Hans-Peter Schneider. Driven by unspeakable appetites, he makes a living fleshing out the violent fantasies of other, richer men.

Cari Mora, caretaker of the house, has escaped from the violence in her native country. She stays in Miami on a wobbly Temporary Protected Status, subject to the iron whim of ICE. She works at many jobs to survive. Beautiful, marked by war, Cari catches the eye of Hans-Peter as he closes in on the treasure. But Cari Mora has surprising skills, and her will to survive has been tested before.

Monsters lurk in the crevices between male desire and female survival. No other writer in the last century has conjured those monsters with more terrifying brilliance than Thomas Harris. Cari Mora, his sixth novel, is the long-awaited return of an American master.

The following YouTube video is a video review for Cari Mora created by Ron Charles, book critic, The Washington Post that I found intriguing.

I am giving Cari Mora by Thomas Harris a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Mating Chase (Werewolves of Montana Book #1) by Bonnie Vanak

The Mating Chase (Werewolves of Montana Book #1) by Bonnie Vanak is a paranormal romance/erotica novella that I was able to download for FREE from Amazon to my Kindle.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of The Mating Chase (Werewolves of Montana Book #1) by Bonnie Vanak.

The Mating Chase is the first novella in the Werewolves of Montana Series by Bonnie Vanak. My copy of this ebook also came with bonus material, which included the prequel to this novella, which is titled, The Mating Heat.

I thought both the prequel and the main read were alright. The writing was decent if you like paranormal romance/erotica featuring wolves. I thought things went a bit overboard with the involvement/introduction of trolls, ogres, and wizards in the background as minor characters. Each of the two stories tended to focus on alpha males and women that had issues with self esteem that were overcome with the help of their alpha mate in gaining confidence. Plus, additional background about the werewolf pack itself and other characters. I have no intention of reading the rest of the series.

The following is a summary of The Mating Chase (Werewolves of Montana Book #1) by Bonnie Vanak from Amazon:

NEW! Includes bonus content.

Welcome to the sensual world of the Lupine, where the burning drive to mate claims all...

Home from college, where men teased her for being overweight, Beth doesn't fit into pack life at the Mitchell ranch. Because she’s forgotten how to shift into a wolf, the pack alpha has ordered her to choose a mate or leave. The only male Beth desires is Dale, a fiercely protective Lupine who loathes the human lifestyle she embraces. She hungers for the handsome shifter’s touch, but fears their differences are too vast to overcome.

Dale has waited for four long years for Beth’s return. Her scent ignites his desire and her voluptuous body fires his blood. He is determined to awaken her to the sensual world of the Lupine. Although she acts more “Skin” than wolf, he can’t deny his overwhelming drive to claim her.
As the heat of passion threatens to consume them both, a new peril arises. Someone is killing a local rancher’s livestock and blaming it on wolves, endangering the pack’s ability to shapeshift. It will take all Beth’s courage and Dale’s skill to find the enemy threatening to destroy their world...

I am giving The Mating Chase (Werewolves of Montana Book #1) by Bonnie Vanak a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Bout of Books Day 7 ~~ 5 Book Challenge!!

Today is the last day of Bout of Books Read-A-Thon 11.0!! I've been having a blast with this read-a-thon. I've even finished my reading goals a day early and enjoyed participating in some of the challenges.

Today I'm excited about participating in the last challenge of Bout of Books 11.0 titled the 5 Book Challenge and is being hosted by Falling Down the Book Hole.

Here is the scenario and the rules for the 5 Book Challenge:

It is 11:00 PM on a Sunday night. You are laying in bed thinking about all of the things you must do the next day. Tasks of the coming days consume your thoughts and while your mind is somewhere else you are caught off guard by a flash in the sky that is followed by a large wailing screech that pierces the air and shatters your bedroom window. Slowly you move to the window and what you see catches your breathe and causes you to stumble back a few steps. The aliens (at least you think they are aliens) have began to enter the city and destroy everything that is in their path. Through the window your view is consumed with destruction, screaming people and large flames that are dancing across the city at a fast pace. You notice that the creatures are heading in your direction and you realize you probably have about fifteen minutes before they reach your home. That means you have only about ten minutes to gather your belongings and escape before you are caught in the attack from the aliens invading the city.


Given the short amount of time you are only able to take 5 books with you. What books would you pick to take with you as you escape and prepare for the end of the world. Would you choose books that would help you survive in the post-apocalyptic world, books for pleasure that would make you happy and take you to a fantasy reality or books that you can’t live without?

First off, I can't imagine only bringing 5 books with me!! There are so many different book titles I want to read... How do I select which ones to bring with me?? Well, here goes nothing! These are my book choices:

1. Gilt by Association by Tamar Myers --- I've been wanting to finish reading the Den of Antiquity series for sometime now and this is one of the three titles left for me to read in the series!

2. Baroque and Desperate by Tamar Myers --- I've been wanting to finish reading the Den of Antiquity series for sometime now and this is one of the three titles left for me to read in the series!

3. Death of a Rug Lord by Tamar Myers --- I've been wanting to finish reading the Den of Antiquity series for sometime now and this is one of the three titles left for me to read in the series!

4. The Master & Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov --- I read this novel years ago and loved it!! I've always wanted to reread it, so now is the time.

5. Pack of Two: The intricate bond between people and dogs by Caroline Knapp --- I love dogs!! The bond between dogs and humans is amazing so this book needs attention.

So, which five books would you bring along with you and why??

March 2018 Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge ~ My Sign-up Post

Kimberly over on Caffeinated Reviewer is hosting a month long reading challenge during March 2018 called the Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge!! This is the 6th year this challenge will be taking place.

Below is a quick blurb about the March 2018 Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge from the Caffeinated Reader website:

The rules are simple: for the entire month of March, you focus on reading/listening to books in your TBR pile released before March 1, 2018. They can be eBooks, physical books or audiobooks. Let’s clean off those shelves and finish those series and trilogies!

This is one of my favorite events as my to-be-read pile is often neglected. For those with a backlist of ARCs have no fear, as long as they have already published you can count them!

I will provide motivation with a grand prize of a new release of your choice. I am giving you time to clear your calendars and sort through your TBR piles by posting early, so no excuses..we can do this! Open to all participants as long as Book Depository ships to your address.

Are you ready to accept the Challenge?

Click on the above link to read the official rules for March 2018 Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge and to sign up!

This will be the first time I will be participating in the Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge. I look forward to reading some of my older books during the month of March.

I plan to read five books by five different women writers as March is Women's History Month. I will not be choosing books that focus specifically on women's history or women's issues, but at least I am choosing to read books written by women during the month of March.

Here are the five books I plan to read in March 2018:

1. All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker (Advance Reader Edition)
2. Where The Lost Girls Go by R. J. Noonan (Received for FREE through Goodreads)
3. Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People & Dogs by Caroline Knapp (I need to finish reading this book)
4. The Devil, The Lovers, & Me: My Life In Tarot by Kimberlee Auerbach (I need to finish reading this book)
5. The Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Jennifer 8. Lee (I need to finish reading  this book)

I hope you'll be joining me in reading books from your tbr pile in March!

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Top Ten Tuesday - FREEBIE - My Top Ten Favorite Nonfiction Books About Animals

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.

I enjoy reading nonfiction books about animals. Below are ten books I've really enjoyed reading about animals in recent years.

1. Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior by Temple Grandin
2. Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence—and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process by Irene M. Pepperberg
3. Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl by Stacey O'Brien
4. The Parrot Who Owned Me: The Story of a Relationship by Joanna Burger
5. Cat Daddy: What the World's Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean by Jackson Galaxy
6. Grayson by Lynne Cox
7. Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp
8 The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony
9. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill: A Love Story . . . with Wings by Mark Bittner
10. Making the Rounds with Oscar: The Inspirational Story of a Doctor, His Patients and a Very Special Cat by Dr. David Dosa

Please share with me a few of your favorite nonfiction books about animals in the comment section below as I'm always on the look out for good books!!

The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian

The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian was published earlier this year on April 6, 2021. I first learned about this historical fiction novel set in Mississippi from another book blogger (I have forgotten which book blogger off the top of my head) who loved this novel! 

So, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian and narrated by Johanna Parker. Listening time for this novel is 9 hours, 56 minutes.

I'm glad I read The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian. It's a good read, but I didn't care for the narration of this novel. The southern accent felt off to me, so I wish I'd read the book instead of listened to it.

The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian is a debut novel by the author and it is impressive for a first novel. Overall the writing was good. So is the storyline/plot... However, at times I felt like the pace of The Girls in the Stilt House was slow. 

My favorite character from The Girls in the Stilt House is Gertie/“Miss Tuttle", who is an elderly, colored midwife/nurse who is filled with so much wisdom. Gertie/“Miss Tuttle" is a true treasure within the community.

Below is the plot summary for The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian from Amazon:

Set in 1920s Mississippi, this debut Southern novel weaves a beautiful and harrowing story of two teenage girls cast in an unlikely partnership through murder—perfect for readers of Where the Crawdads Sing and If the Creek Don't Rise.

Ada promised herself she would never go back to the Trace, to her hard life on the swamp and her harsh father. But now, after running away to Baton Rouge and briefly knowing a different kind of life, she finds herself with nowhere to go but back home. And she knows there will be a price to pay with her father.

Matilda, daughter of a sharecropper, is from the other side of the Trace. Doing what she can to protect her family from the whims and demands of some particularly callous locals is an ongoing struggle. She forms a plan to go north, to pack up the secrets she's holding about her life in the South and hang them on the line for all to see in Ohio.

As the two girls are drawn deeper into a dangerous world of bootleggers and moral corruption, they must come to terms with the complexities of their tenuous bond and a hidden past that links them in ways that could cost them their lives.

I am giving The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian a rating of 4 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.

Top Ten Tuesday -- Top Fifteen Books On My Fall TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

I have so many books I want to read this fall, that it is REALLY, REALLY, Difficult for me to narrow down which ones I want to read most this fall.... But here goes nothing! 

I went kind of ambitious for my reading list this fall and chose 15 books to read... The most difficult part for me will be sticking to my reading list as I'm very prone to changing my mind on what I want to read! 

So here is are the Top Fifteen Books I'd like to read this fall in no order of importance:

1. Orchid Fever: A Horticultural Tale of Love, Lust, and Lunacy by Eric Hansen

2. The Dressmaker's Dowry by Meredith Jaeger

3. The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel

4. The Sherlockian by Graham Moore

5. Black Run: A Rocco Schiavone Mystery by Antonio Manzini

6. In Farleigh Field by Rhys Bowen

7. Love In A Nutshell by Janet Evanovich & Dorien Kelly

8. The Crossing by Michael Connelly
9. Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading by Nina Sankovitch
10. Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp
11. Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks 5 Out of 5 Stars!
12. Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach
13. Twelve Red Herrings by Jeffery Archer
14. The Devil, The Lovers and Me: My Life in Tarot by Kimberlee Auerbach
15. Julia Vanishes by Catherine Egan

So, which books are on your fall reading list?

My Top Ten Favorite Nonfiction Books About Animals

I enjoy reading nonfiction books about animals. Below are ten books I've really enjoyed reading about animals in recent years.

1. Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior by Temple Grandin
2. Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence—and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process by Irene M. Pepperberg
3. Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl by Stacey O'Brien
4. An Eagle Named Freedom: My True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Jeff Guidry
5. Cat Daddy: What the World's Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean by Jackson Galaxy
6. Grayson by Lynne Cox
7. Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp
8 The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony
9. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill: A Love Story . . . with Wings by Mark Bittner
10. Making the Rounds with Oscar: The Inspirational Story of a Doctor, His Patients and a Very Special Cat by Dr. David Dosa

Please share with me a few of your favorite nonfiction books about animals in the comment section below as I'm always on the look out for good books!!

Blood Passage (Blood Destiny #2) by Connie Suttle

Unabridged Audio Version

I recently listened to the unabridged audio version of Blood Passage (Blood Destiny #2) by Connie Suttle and narrated by Traci Odom from Audible.

Listening time for Blood Passage (Blood Destiny #2) by Connie Suttle is 8 hours, 37 minutes.

I received this edition of Blood Passage (Blood Destiny #2) by Connie Suttle FREE from the narrator, Traci Odom. Below is my honest, unbiased review of Blood Passage (Blood Destiny #2) by Connie Suttle.

I found that Blood Passage (Blood Destiny #2) by Connie Suttle was another fun, fast audiobook to listen to during the past two days! I enjoyed this audiobook overall, although not as much as I did the first novel in the Blood Destiny Series, Blood Wager: Blood Destiny #1 by Connie Suttle. Most of the characters were entertaining ones... However, Gavin is too hot headed and jealous with regards to Lissa and his behavior has become annoying!! I also wish that Lissa wasn't left in the dark about so much of the vampire ways. It's kind of ridiculous really that her vampire mentors and elders don't readily spell things out for her on certain occasions and leave her in the dark about many things. I also think Lissa is treated badly on several occasions and I can understand why she is fearful of other vampires by the end of the novel. The ending of Blood Passage (Blood Destiny #2) by Connie Suttle has a wonderful cliffhanger ending and leaves you wanting to know what happens in the next installment of the Blood Destiny Series.

I felt that Traci Odom did another fabulous job narrating Blood Passage (Blood Destiny #2) and I look forward to hearing more audiobooks that she narrates in the future.

The following is a plot summary for Blood Passage (Blood Destiny #2) by Connie Suttle from Audible:

"The sight of three naked, bloody men wandering into the clearing with moonlight clouding their eyes would probably send anyone else running for their life. I just sighed and watched them walk toward me." 

As the first female vampire successfully turned in 700 years, Lissa finds herself in demand by the Vampire Aristocracy. Forced into an unexpected engagement as a result, Lissa feels trapped and stifled as she continues training with her surrogate sire. When a request comes from the Grand Master of the werewolves, Weldon Harper, Lissa leaps at the opportunity to work as his bodyguard once more. 

Wlodek, Head of the Vampire Council, in an effort to solidify vampire/werewolf relations, allows Lissa to provide protection for the Grand Master during his yearly travels across the U.S. The only vampire ever named Pack, Lissa is permitted to work with the Grand Master without supervision from others of her kind.

Things become complicated and then downright deadly as old enemies reemerge. Intent on exacting revenge for a failed coup against the Grand Master, rogue werewolves join with new and perilous allies. Now, Lissa must find a way not only to keep the werewolf race alive, but the vampires as well.

I am giving Blood Passage (Blood Destiny #2) by Connie Suttle a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Scent of a Mate (Sassy Mates #1) by Milly Taiden

MP3 On Compact Disc

Today I listened to the unabridged audio version of Scent of a Mate (Sassy Mates #1) by Milly Taiden and narrated by Arika Rapson. I received my copy of Scent of a Mate (Sassy Mates #1) by Milly Taiden for free through Goodreads First Reads. My review, as follows, expresses my unbiased opinion for Scent of a Mate (Sassy Mates #1). Approximate playing time for this novel is 4.5 hours.

Scent of a Mate is for adult readers who enjoy reading paranormal, shape-shifter erotica novels!! So, in a nutshell, this novel is for mature audiences (18+ only) as it contains pretty graphic language and some violence.

Overall, I really liked listening to Scent of a Mate by Milly Taiden. I enjoyed both the storyline, fast pace of the story and the characters in this novel. My listening experienced was also enhanced by the narrator Arika Rapson! The only thing I didn't enjoy was a rape scene near the end of this novel... Otherwise this was a great read.

The following is the plot summary for Scent of a Mate from Amazon:

Jordan and Aric

An alpha looking to claim his curvy, sassy mate is about to learn it's not as simple as a bite.

Mission: Scent a Mate


Jordan Alvarez knew that a promise to her best friend involved staking out the local wolf pack’s scenting ceremony and recording the graphic details, but she was the writer and the only one with the balls to finish the task. No one would know that four human women had sneaked proof of their rituals, or at least, that was the plan until Aric Wolfe showed up.

Mission: Stake a Claim

Aric Wolfe knew his baby sister was up to something, and expected her best friend, Jordan, to be in on the chaos. He finally had an opportunity to lay claim to a mate that had been under his nose for years. Jordan’s scent called to both the man and the animal, and he was done fighting the call of the beast. It was time to mark his mate.

Mission: Survive an Alpha


When a good intention creates a problem for the Wolfe family, Jordan finds herself being stalked by a woman intent on claiming Aric as her own. Battle lines will be drawn, love will be put to the test, and Aric will have to fight Jordan’s strong personality to keep her alive. Two alpha hearts seeking control will either find the balance or risk losing their love forever.

Mature reader warning: Adult content including but not limited to: Violence and raw sexual language and actions.

I'm giving Scent of a Mate a rating of 8 stars out of 10 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Top Ten Tuesday ---Top Ten Books On My Fall TBR!!!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Here's my list of Top Ten Books On My Fall TBR!!

1. Death of a Rug Lord by Tamar Myers
2. The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart
3. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
4. The Four Agreements Companion Book by Don Miguel Ruiz
5. Baroque and Desperate by Tamar Myers
6. Gilt By Association by Tamar Myers
7. Caviar: The Strange History and Uncertain Future of the World's Most Coveted Delicacy by Inga Saffron
8. The Body Ecology Diet: Recovering Your Health and Rebuilding Your Immunity by Donna Gates
9. Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs by Caroline Knapp
10. Forever by Judy Blume Read already.

So, which books are on your Fall TBR??

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off: The Yarn Harlot's Guide to the Land of Knitting by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Paperback Edition

I'm a knitter... I'm a relatively new knitter as I started knitting two years ago in April 2014, but have only spent about 18 months of the last 25 months focused on knitting. 

I love knitting for various reasons. I am also surprised that I have actually become addicted to knitting and yarn as I thought I just learn enough about knitting to make a couple of simple projects and that would that. But I couldn't have been more wrong about my desire to learn more about knitting. I've since gone on to take several knitting classes and have seen my knitting improve with each project I've completed.

But I digress! I'm really here to review a book about knitting titled Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off: The Yarn Harlot's Guide to the Land of Knitting by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee that I recently read. This was the first book I've read written by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee and I enjoyed reading it.

What did I like about Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's book?? Well, first off, I love her humor!! Ms. Pearl-McPhee is a very witty and engaging writer that keeps you laughing and wanting to read more about the wonderful world of knitting. I can relate quite a bit to what she has to say about being an avid knitter... And of course, being a newer knitter, I also learned a lot of new things as well. I also enjoyed all the graphics that filled Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off: The Yarn Harlot's Guide to the Land of Knitting.

Here's blurb about Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off: The Yarn Harlot's Guide to the Land of Knitting by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee from Amazon's website:

Cast off with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee on the ultimate journey through the knitter’s world. Pack your crafting bag, chart a course to the nearest yarn shop, and pick your traveling companion by looking for the telltale needle holes in her purse. With wry humor and a contagiously obsessive love for everything knitted, Pearl-McPhee takes you on a hilarious tour of the Land of Knitting and introduces you to the wacky, wonderful people that choose to inhabit it.

I am giving Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off: The Yarn Harlot's Guide to the Land of Knitting by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars. If you are a knitter, then I highly recommend reading this book!

Until my next post, happy reading!

Lucien's Mate by Diana Persaud

eBook Novella

I read the ebook edition of Lucien's Mate by Diana Persaud at the end of March. It is a paranormal shifter romance/erotica novella approximately 93 pages in length and the first book in the 'Soul Mates' series by Diana Persaud. 

I was able to download Lucien's Mate by Diana Persaud for FREE to my Kindle from Amazon. Below is my unbiased review of Lucien's Mate by Diana Persaud.

I felt like Lucien's Mate by Diana Persaud was the typical paranormal, shifter romance/erotica novella read, like so many like it that I've read before. Lucien's Mate has the alpha male shifter character, lots of sex/sexual tension between the two main characters, instalove, and something that keeps the two main characters apart until around the middle of the novella. So, in that sense, this novella is like any other book in the same genre.

The writing, characters, and storyline for Lucien's Mate by Diana Persaud are simply average... However, it does makes for a great escape if you're looking for a quick read that falls into the paranormal romance/erotica genre and offers the same standard written formula.
The following is a plot summary for Lucien's Mate by Diana Persaud from Amazon:

"The man wants to seduce you with words. The wolf wants to throw you over my shoulder, take you to my bed and pleasure you until you say you are mine.”-Lucien, Alpha of the Last Hope Werewolf Pack

His instinct is to claim her. Her instinct is to run.

Virginal Lanie is shocked speechless when she meets Lucien, a sexy Alpha. From the moment he sees her, Lucien knows Lanie is his mate and he will stop at nothing to make her his. Unfortunately, Lanie is terrified of her attraction to him and refuses his advances.

Will Lanie fight her growing desire for Lucien or will she throw caution to the wind and give her body and her heart to a man determined to have her?

I am giving Lucien's Mate by Diana Persaud a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars. I have no desire to read the rest of the series.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Top Ten Tuesday --- Ten Books I Meant To Read In 2017 But Didn't Get To

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

I meant read the following ten books in 2017... And I am hoping to read them in 2018.

1. Nasty Women edited by Samhita Mukhopadhyay and Kate Harding 

2. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

3. Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

4. Orchid Fever by Eric Hansen

5. The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel

6. Pack of Two by Caroline Knapp

7. Love In A Nutshell by Janet Evanovich & Dorien Kelly

8. The Haunting of Charles Dickens by Lewis Buzbee

9. Black Run by Antonio Manzini

10. The Devil, The Lovers, & Me by Kimberlee Auerbach

Which books did you plan to read in 2017 and are hoping to read in 2018?

The Weight by Andrew Vachss

Unabridged Audiobook on CD

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Weight by Andrew Vachss and narrated by Buck Schirner.

Listening time for The Weight by Andrew Vachss is 9 hours, 11 minutes.

I've heard Buck Schirner narrate another novel and loved his voice and narration a lot. So, I was happy to find another novel that he narrates. A good narrator really makes a huge difference when listening to an audiobook.

I enjoy reading thrillers and The Weight by Andrew Vachss is a decent read. Sugar, is the leading character and he's a career criminal. Sugar isn't the brightest bulb in the pack, but he is well meaning and won't rat out his cohorts. Sugar essentially does time for a crime he doesn't commit. When Sugar is released from prison he discovers there are a few things that don't exactly add up... Let's just say that pay back is a bitch and Sugar is the one who sets things straight.

Andrew Vachss's writing is good in The Weight. Although, I did feel like this novel was a bit slow in parts.

Below is a plot summary for The Weight by Andrew Vachss from Audible:

Andrew Vachss returns with a mesmerizing novel about a hard-core thief who’s about to embark on a job that will alter his life forever.

Sugar is that rarest of commodities: an old-school professional thief, tough and loyal as a pit bull, packing 255 pounds of muscle. When he’s picked out of a photo array in a vicious rape case, the cops find his apartment empty. A stakeout catches Sugar when he returns... carrying a loaded pistol. The sex-crime cops get nothing from their interrogation, but a streetwise detective figures out why Sugar offers no alibi: at the time of the rape, a holiday-weekend break-in job was being pulled at a jewelry store. The DA offers Sugar two options: give up his partners in the jewelry heist and walk, or plead to the rape he didn’t commit — and he’ll toss in the gun charge. For Sugar, that’s not two options; he takes the weight.

When Sugar finishes his time, his money is waiting for him, held by Solly, the mastermind behind the jewelry heist. But Solly tells Sugar that one of the heist crew was actually sent by another planner - and that planner has just died. In Sugar’s world, all loose threads must be cut. He suspects that there’s more to this job than what Solly is telling him. But nothing he suspects or imagines can prepare him for what he finds.

I am giving The Weight by Andrew Vachss a rating of 3 stars out of 5 Stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Mystic Wolves: Accidentally Wolf Book 1 and His Perfect Wolf Book 2 by Elle Boon

Erotica eBook

I read the ebook edition of Mystic Wolves: Accidentally Wolf Book 1 and His Perfect Wolf Book 2 by Elle Boon on my Kindle, which marks my 20th read for 2017.

I first became acquainted with Elle Boon's writing when I read her holiday themed short story, A SmokeJumpers Christmas, last December. I liked Elle Boon's writing quite a bit along with the preview of the first book in the Mystic Wolves series. 

If you like paranormal erotica/romance, then I think you'll like reading Mystic Wolves: Accidentally Wolf Book 1 and His Perfect Wolf Book 2 by Elle Boon. The writing is good, the characters are well developed, and the sex scenes are HOT! I wish that the first book, Accidental Wolf, was a bit longer in length. I felt like His Perfect Wolf was the better book of the two novels and much more well developed.

The following is a summary for Mystic Wolves: Accidentally Wolf Book 1 and His Perfect Wolf Book 2 by Elle Boon from Amazon:

Mystic Wolves Books 1&2 Accidentally Wolf, Book 1 His Perfect Wolf, Book 2 Accidentally Wolf…Zayn finds Cora suffering from mating fever. His alpha and brother told him to keep his dick and fangs to himself, but the wolf in him and the man can’t fight the urge to claim their mate. From the moment Cora lays eyes on Zayn she wants to climb him like a tree. She’d never believed in insta-love, but going from being human to an Accidental Wolf more than happily, was easier than she’d ever thought. When danger strikes, Zayn will do anything to keep Cora safe, even if it means defying his alpha and risking his own life. His Perfect Wolf…Niall has given up on finding love, he’s watched his brother Zayn fall for his mate, and decided he needed a mother for his son, and a mate for his own. When he finds Alaina, his wolf stands up and takes notice, even though she was unconscious. Alaina woke up with no memory, but the one thing she knew was, she wanted the big bad alpha. Danger followed her to Mystic, and the man she knew was hers would have to battle a pack of shifters bent on revenge. Niall may not have wanted a mate, but Alaina was the Perfect Wolf to heal him. If he could keep her safe long enough to prove he was worthy, and defeat the man who claims to be his mate’s father.

I am giving Mystic Wolves: Accidentally Wolf Book 1 and His Perfect Wolf Book 2 by Elle Boon a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!