"The Wishing Game" by Meg Shaffer Is a "Feel-Good Book"

In The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer, a well-known children's book author has not written a book for a long time.  He makes an announcement that he will write one book only, and will hold a contest to see who will win the book.  What is the contest?  Who will win?  

This is a feel good book with a good storyline and characters I cared about with action and a great ending.  What more can you ask for?  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

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"The Christmas Spirit" by Debbie Macomber is An Enjoyable Read!

The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber is a wonderful story any time of the year, but especially at Christmas.  I wish I had managed to read this last month, but am very glad I did not skip it just because it's no longer Christmas.  It's the story about a pastor of a small church exchanging places with his bartender friend the week before Christmas.  They were debating who had the harder job and they both learned some things.  This was such an enjoyable, fun read with humor and a great message.  I loved it and finished it quickly.  I highly recommend this one to anyone who wants to read something uplifting and light.  (Karen's review, 5 stars)  

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"Paws from Heaven--True Stories of God's Amazing Animal Angels" (Guidepost Contributors)

Paws from Heaven is a collection of short stories about cats and dogs that do remarkable things to help us through life.  All the stories are really good and if you have a pet, you will sometimes see yourself in them.  If you do not have a pet, you will want one after you finish this book!  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)

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"The Winners" by Fredrik Backman

The Winners by Fredrik Backman is the last of the three books about Beartown and its hockey team.  Beartown and their rival, Hed, still hate each other.  Beartown is really good and plans to shut down Hed from playing hockey again.  There is so much stuff that goes on in this that it would take too long to explain it all.  I will just say I got to know the characters very well.  I think this is a great series and this book is as good as the first two--Beartown and Us Against You.  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)  

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"Fantasy League" by Mike Lupica is a Fun Football Read!

Fantasy League by Mike Lupica is about Charlie, a 12-yr.-old who loves football and is so good at fantasy football that he gives tips to others via a podcast he does with his best friend, Anna. Anna is the granddaughter of the owner of Charlie's favorite pro team.  When Anna introduces them, they immediately connect over football and become friends.  Charlie also plays on a team as a player-coach.  He has a knack for seeing things others don't notice that helps his team.  

This is a great story about football and friendship.  The kid gets to feel like he owns a pro football team.  I loved it!  (Karen's review, 5 stars)

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"The Speckled Beauty...A Dog and His People" by Rick Bragg

The speckled Beauty...a Dog and His People by Rick Bragg is the true story about the heartwarming relationship between Rick and his dog.  When Rick comes across a dog that is barely alive, he does what he can for him and then takes it to the vet.  In time the dog gets better and he is a handful to take care of.  No matter how many things the dog destroys and gets loose, Rick will not give up on him regardless of what his brother and mother say.  If you have a dog or simply just like dogs, you will enjoy this book which contains lots of funny stories that Rick tells very well.  I loved it, especially since the dog does not die!  (Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

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"The Maid" by Nita Prose is a Good One!

In The Maid by Nita Prose, Molly works as a maid at a grand hotel.  She loves her job and does it very well.  One day while doing her cleaning, she comes across a dead body of a man in one of the suites.  The police investigate, but Molly knows more than she lets on.  Is she in danger?  I loved Molly the Maid!  She is a great character with a good storyline and a very good ending.  (Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

Karen's review:

The Maid by Nita Prose is a good story about Molly the maid who finds a dead body in one of the hotel rooms she is assigned to clean.  She is a very good maid but has trouble in social settings and discerning people's intentions.  It's hard not to root for Molly when she becomes a suspect in the murder of Mr. Black.  I enjoyed this book because I liked Molly, the nuggets of advice from her grandmother and the storyline.  I loved the ending!  (Karen's review, 5 stars)

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"Dog Friendly" by Victoria Schade

In Dog Friendly by Victoria Schade, Morgan, a dog vet in need of a vacation, jumps at the chance to go to a vacation spot to dog sit.  Things are going well when she sees a handsome guy.  Do things get better or take a turn for the worse?  This novel reminded me of a Hallmark movie.  It is an enjoyable, light, happy, predictable read.  I loved the dog parts in this book and give it 5 stars.  It served as a nice break from the thrillers I've been reading lately.  (Gerard's review) 

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"The Reading List" by Sara Nisha Adams is About the Power of Books

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams shows how books can play a big part in your life.  I really enjoyed the two main characters:  an old man discovering the library for the first time, and a young girl who works at the library.  It is humorous and the story line kept me interested all the way.  I think this is a wonderful book that all ages would enjoy.  (Gerard's review, 5+ stars)

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"Funny Farm--Life with 600 Rescue Animals" by Laurie Zaleski

Funny Farm by Lauri Zaleski is the true story of her childhood and her mom who had a love for animals.  Throughout the book we learn about some of the animals she had on her farm.  I really enjoyed reading this one very much.  What a story Laurie tells so well.  If you are looking for a "feel good" story, this is it!  (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Here is a funny video of animals at Funny Farm (guaranteed to make you laugh!):

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"I, Cosmo" by Carlie Sorosiak

I, Cosmo by Carlie Sorosiak is told well by Cosmo, a 13-yr.-old Golden Retriever. He describes his forever family and the special bond he has with Max, the boy in the family.  Although a children's book, this is a very good read with a happy ending.  It deals with a lot of family issues.  It made me laugh and I think you will enjoy how it all plays out as I did.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 22:  The bathroom doors remain closed following that first instance, many years ago, when I discovered the joy of toilet paper, unrolling sheet after sheet in frenzied merriment.  Television is my saving grace.

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"Finding Chika" by Mitch Albom

Finding Chika by Mitch Albom is a true story about a little girl, an earthquake, and the making of a family.  Chika was born in Haiti.  At age 5, she is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.  Mitch and his wife, Janine, bring her to America in hope of finding a cure.  I thought this book was pretty good.  I fell in love with Chika quickly.  The story flowed well.  This book will tug at your heart strings.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)

 Teaser from page 21:  To be honest, Chika, for my first few years, I didn't understand a great deal about Haiti, or the orphanage, or how I was supposed to make the place work.  The power would go off every day, the water would run out, deliveries of rice and bulgur would start and stop, and we never had enough medicine.

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Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica

Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica is about the friendship of Nate and Abby, two 13-yr.-olds. They are best friends. Nate loves playing football and Abby loves art and watching Nate play football. Abby gets Nate to sign up for a football throwing contest that offers a prize of 1 million dollars. Nate is the quarterback on his team and idolizes Tom Brady, the Patriots QB. Nate has a great arm, but when he becomes distracted with family financial pressures, getting nervous about trying to win the million dollars, and finding out that Abby is losing her eye sight, he starts playing badly and loses his confidence. Can he get it back in time for the throwing contest? If he wins, what will he do with the million dollars?

This is a pretty good story about friendship, courage and football. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to kids or young teens. (Karen’s review, 4 stars)

Teaser from page 19: “You’re the one who’s always telling me that the very best part of sports is how it can make a new memory for you practically every day. And right now you’ve got a memory going that will last both of us our whole lives, whether you make the throw or not.”

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"Walking with Henry" by Rachel Anne Ridge

Walking With Henry--Big Lessons from a Little Donkey on Faith, Friendship, and Finding Your Path by Rachel Anne Ridge is a true story about Rachel and her donkey, Henry.  One day, Rachel decides her donkey, Flash, needs company in the pasture.  So, she rescues a small donkey and names it Henry.  Rachel has plans, but Henry will teach her lessons that she never expected!  I enjoyed this short book very much which is just about 200 pages.  Rachel tells the story very well and I loved Flash and Henry!  (Gerard's review, 5 stars)  

Teaser from page 5:  Then, when I least expect it, a small beam of light breaks through the darkness and offers a glimpse of goodness.  A reminder, perhaps, that I am never really alone.
Grace is present.
And if grace is present, then God is too.

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"Life and Other Inconveniences" by Kristan Higgins is Heartwarming and Touching

Life and Other Inconveniences by Kristan Higgins is a heartwarming, touching novel about family, love, grief, marriage and personal relationships. This is not a book with action but about life issues such as brother rivalry, unwed mother, marriage, suicide, single parenting, death, wealth, self-esteem, illness and family relationships.

 It started out slow for me and I was a bit confused at first because of so many characters to keep straight. I even set it aside and almost gave up on it but am glad I finished it.  I liked the dogs though and Luigi, Miller's cat.  The ending was very touching and made me tear up. I chose to read this one because I saw a book club recommended it and I saw it also recommended other books I enjoyed. Discussions questions are included in the back for book clubs. (4 stars)

Teaser from page 5: A few years ago, I’d told Riley the facts: Genevieve London of the adorable purses was my grandmother, and I’d lived with her for ten years after my mother died because my father couldn’t take care of me. I explained that Genevieve wasn’t the nicest person, so we didn’t talk anymore.


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We Miss You, Abby!--A Letter to My Dog

Abby with her Daddy, Gerard

It is with great sorrow that we had to help our dog cross the Rainbow Bridge last Monday.  I thought about this book and the letter I wrote to our dog back in November of 2014 so thought this would be a good post to update and post again.    
 
A Letter to My Dog by Robin Layton is a happy, feel-good book that is a collection of notes from people (some well-known) to the dogs which show the value of rescue dogs.  Along with the notes are full-page photos of the dogs and in the back is a summary of the dog-owners with their dogs including smaller pictures of them together.  I enjoyed this book very much and found myself smiling all the way through.  It is a quick-read that I recommend to anyone who is considering getting a dog as well as all dog owners.  This book inspired me to write the following letter to our dog:

Dear Abby a/k/a Abby Dabby Doo or Abby Dabs,

You are the best dog we could ever have!  You won our hearts the first day we met you with your soft thick fur, your big beautiful brown eyes, your sweet personality, your curly fluffy tail, your big smile and your gentleness.  I am amazed at how well-behaved you were from the first day we met you.  You got along with our two cats just fine and fit right into our family with no problem at all. 

I love how all kinds of people are drawn to you.  It was so much fun taking you to dog training classes at PetSmart because you managed to make people laugh and still were the best at following commands most days.  You are so eager to please and easy to train.  We are so proud of you!  I love to watch you enjoy the outdoors and wish we had an area where you could run off leash like you did at the park the one day when the clasp broke off and you got in a good run.  I couldn’t believe how fast you could go and how happy you were that day! 

The bond you have with Gerard is heartwarming to me.  I know you will always be a daddy’s girl, but just hope you know how much I love you too.  I enjoy feeding you breakfast every morning and reviewing the commands you learned.  I like giving you big hugs and belly rubs too.  You are such a good dog and I am so glad we decided to look on Petfinder for you when we did.  You have certainly enriched our lives!

Addendum to letter--5/25/19:  We are so sorry you dislocated your shoulder January of 2017 and that you were in pain for a couple years.  You were so tough and stubborn and we just wanted to have as much time with you as possible.  It was so hard to watch you not be able to enjoy so many of the things you used to be able to do.  Yet, you were a trooper and still wanted to please us!  When you finally reached the place where you could not longer get up or walk through the house even, we knew it was time to say goodbye.  Tell Mr. Moe and Manny Boy we miss them too and say "hello" to them for us.  We know they would be ready to greet you as you cross the Rainbow Bridge.

Karen, Lucky Mom of a Rescue Dog

 (Karen's review 11-6-14, 5 stars)

A Letter to My Dog by Robin Layten is a collection of letters written by people to their dogs.  Some famous, some old, some young contributors all have one thing in common:  they love their dogs!  The pictures in this book alone are a reason to get this.  It is filled with full-page color glossy pictures of all kinds of dogs on every other page!  The letters are very touching, some funny, some sad.  If you are a dog lover, this is a must read!  I'm sure you can agree with most, if not all, of the letters.  I know I did!

What a great book to start off with for November!  I love you, Abby!
(Gerard's review 11-5-14, 5++ stars)

Also read and loved A Letter to My Cat.

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"The Wonder of Lost Causes" by Nick Trout

In The Wonder of Lost Causes by Nick Trout, Kate is the mom of Jasper who has Cystic Fibrosis.  Kate will do whatever needs to be done for her son.  Jasper really wants a dog; however, Kate is not sure that is a good idea for a number of reasons.  When a beaten dog comes around, Jasper claims the dog and he have a connection and are meant to be together.

I thought this book was pretty good.  Jasper and the dog, Whistler, were both great characters.  If you are looking for a heartwarming story, this is it!
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)  

Teaser from page 22:  Over my shoulder, I check in, and I'm still in the crosshairs of his focus.  Is it possible that, even without a blink or a bark, the dog is making me choose for him?

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"Joey--How a blind rescue horse helped others learn to see" by Jennifer Marshall Bleakley

Joey by Jennifer Marshall Bleakley is a true story which makes this so much better!  Kim believes in three things:  God, kids, horses.  She has a vision of putting hurting special needs kids with horses on a designated area, but that will take a lot of land and a lot of money!  Those are two things Kim is in short supply of so Kim puts her trust in God to provide. One horse she gets is Joey, a blind horse who was mistreated.  Can she take on a special needs horse too?

I thought this book was outstanding!  It is told very well and the women in this book are remarkable!  I fell in love with Joey!  Do not miss this one!   I'd recommend this for a book club.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Teaser from page 217:  Cindy's hand covered her mouth and tears streamed down her cheeks.  Sarah didn't notice her, not yet.  She was transfixed, basking in this sacred moment in which the little girl with no voice spoke up for the horse with no eyes.

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"The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise" by Dan Gemeinhart

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart is a heartwarming children’s story about a father and daughter on a road trip. They just bought a bus and drove all over together for five years after the wife and other two daughters were killed in a car accident when Coyote was 7. The father tries to forget by changing their names—he Rodeo Sunrise and the girl Coyote Sunrise. At 12 years old, Coyote gets talks on the phone to her grandmother and finds out the park is being torn down in a few days. Coyote is determined to get there to dig up the box her and her sisters and mom buried just before they died but needs to get her father to go somehow. As her and her dad travel from Florida back home to Washington State, they pick up some travel companions along the way: a cat she named Ivan, a boy and his mother, a musician, the boy’s aunt, a runaway girl, and a goat!

This book is a fun read with lots of touching moments and some wild, fun times. I liked both the dad and his daughter and her best friend, Salvador. As soon as Coyote got a kitten, I was hooked! This book has a good lesson: don’t judge people by how they look and most people want to help others if they can. Although this is a children’s book, it kept my interest all the way. It is a quick read I enjoyed! (Karen's review, 5 stars)

Teaser from page 26:  Ivan, superstar kitten that he was, managed to keep his grip on Rodeo's neck through all the screeching and the leaping.  Once Rodeo had shot to an upright position, Ivan decided he'd rather not be attached to a screaming, vertical hippie.


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"The Bartered Bride Romance Collection" by Various Authors

The Bartered Bride Romance Collection is a collection of nine historical stories of arranged marriages during the 1800s.  The short, clean romance stories are written by a variety of authors:  Cathy Marie Hake, Kelly Eileen Hake, JoAnn A. Grote, Amy Rognlie, Lynette Sowell, Janell Burnham Schneider and Pamela Kaye Tracy.  Many have a flavor of Christian fiction mixed in as well.  I enjoyed this book very much but did not read it all at once.  I read some stories and then read something else and came back to it a couple times just to give me some variety.  These were all light, fun reads though and I enjoyed the humor in most.  

My favorites were the stories about the four sisters, Maddy, Corrie, Bess, and Bertie, who were sent to Lindwick (fictional western town) by their brother-in-law in response to an ad for brides.  Below is the teaser from Halter to Altar, page 155:

"We're just what you asked for on the bridal order.  Sturdy, dependable, plain--"
It was too outrageous to believe.  Jim shook his head.  "Ladies, something has gone terribly wrong.  I ordered plain, ordinary bridles for my horses--not brides!" 

I recommend this book if you want an enjoyable, entertaining historical fiction read.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

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