Service Tails-Ace Collins-Book Review

                                              
About the book(provided by Litfuse)

Service Tails (Abingdon Press, August 2016)

Heart-tugging true stories of the courage, faith, and loyalty of remarkable service dogs.

Not all heroic dogs wildly toss themselves into lifesaving situations. Some save lives simply by their incredible commitment to duty and service. Some lead the way to independence for people whose disabilities were supposed to limit their lives.

In Service Tails: More Stories of Man’s Best Hero, prolific author Ace Collins introduces us to leaders whose entire lives are wrapped in the banner of service. Their stories are remarkable snapshots of the value of vision and teamwork, as well as devotion to duty and unconditional love and acceptance–stretching the way we see both canine and human potential. Their training was intense, their loyalty unquestioned and each step of the way they constantly adapt to better serve those they lead. These unforgettable dogs are more than heroes; they are models from which we can learn how to love and serve unconditionally. 

And there's a Giveaway . . .     

Enter today by clicking the icon, but hurry! The giveaway ends on August 30. The winner will be announced August 31 on the Litfuse blog.         

 And I thought . . .

Ace Collins had me with the cover.  As soon as I was offered

this book I signed up! 

And I was not disappointed.  Service Tails is filled with heart

warming stories that reminded me of the Kitchen Soup 

series only much better. 

There are 12 stories.  Most of the stories are 16-20 pages 

long.  Making it simple to each story as a chapter.  

There are a few photo's.  

I really liked that each story began with a quote and the a 

graphic of dog foot prints.  

This is a great book.  I recommend it as a gift book for dog 

lovers! 

 I received a complimentary copy from Litfuse in exchange for my hones review. 

This review is posted at My Journey Back.  

This review is posted at Good Reads and the following retailers...

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books A Million

About the Author . . . 

Ace Collins defines himself as a storyteller. He has authored more than sixty books that have sold more than 2.5 million copies. His catalog includes novels, biographies, children’s works as well as books on history, culture and faith. He has also been the featured speaker at the National Archives Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted a network television special and does college basketball play-by-play. Ace lives in Arkansas.

Find out more about Ace at http://acecollins.com.

                                                                                                                                                       

Book Spotlight-Mystery Mountain Book 4

                             
Mystery Mountain is Book 4 ...The Saga of Rugged Mountain Living Continues as Killers infiltrate Raincraft

About the book provided by Amazon
This is the fourth book in Marie Grace's series, MYSTERY MOUNTAIN. 
A teen is violently kidnapped and held hostage to get their hands on a family in the Witness Protection Program.
A brutalized family is rescued - from the father.
A painful hidden fracture is discovered on a rape victim, and now mountain justice must prevail. An old printer is discovered; what to do with it? 
An apartment dug out of the mountain is finished.
Romance blooms with unlikely characters.
A giant of a man creates a haven for a destitute widow and her sons.

Book five is in the making as the lives of and trials of 'Mountain and Back Woods People' step from the shadows of the forest on top of a mountain.

A little more provided by BookLook 
Marie Grace wows readers with the fourth novel in her Mystery Mountain series. In the small town of Raincroft, the bonds of love and family are stronger than all outside or dangerous influences and adventures while romance blossoms between two unlikely people. Through determination and strength, Grace’s engaging characters find the courage to overcome adversity.

And I thought...
I am a little on the fence about this book.  I requested the book from BookLook to review and I had high hopes for it. 
I was intrigued by the description.  
I received the book and began reading on my computer using the Kindle Cloud Reader. 
I think possibly if I had been reading a paperback copy I might have enjoyed it much more.  And been able to finish it.

I didn't finish the book.  It just became a little daunting with the review post hanging over my head.  

It took me a very long time to read which isn't normal for me. 
I enjoyed the storyline as it was described and I enjoy the characters. 

But there were a lot of characters and I had difficulty keeping them straight. 
I wish that the author had included a cast of characters for the reader.  

Since this was Book 4 I did feel a little lost.  Normally I don't have a problem with reading books out of order.  But this one was difficult. 

If I had the opportunity to read a paper back copy of the book I would be glad to give it another chance.  

I received a complimentary Kindle copy from BookLook.

This review is posted on Good Reads.

This review is posted at Amazon, Barnes and Noble , CBC

No Way Up-Mary Connealy-Book Review

About the book (provided by Bethany House)

The Fight for the Cimarron Ranch Has Just Begun!
When Cimarron Ranch patriarch Chance Boden is caught in an avalanche, only the quick actions of hired hand Heath Kincaid save him. Before leaving by train to receive treatment to save his leg--and possibly his life--Chance demands that Heath read the patriarch's will and see its conditions enforced immediately. If Chance's three bickering adult children, Justin, Sadie, and Cole, don't live and work at the ranch for an entire year, ownership of the ranch will pass to a despised distant relative. 

Before long, however, Heath discovers that the avalanche may have been intentionally set--and that more danger lurks ominously. Finding his own future--and a desired future with Sadie--locked up in saving the Cimarron Ranch, Heath and the Boden siblings must work together against outside forces that threaten them all.

About the author ...

Mary Connealy writes "romantic comedies with cowboys" and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has more than half a million books in print. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie's Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Learn more at www.maryconnealy.com.

And I thought ...

A fun little summer read.  Give me a Cowboy and I'm happy.   I couldn't happier  No Way Up is full of Cowboy's!  

It was an easy fast read.  The story only takes place in a few days but it is filled with tension as the Brode family fights no only for their ranch but to stay alive!  There is suspense in the air as some unknown villain try's to 'take them out'.  

There was a little sibling squabbling going on as Sadie annoys her brothers when she starts becoming interested in ranch hand Heath. 

The humor comes out in the story as each of the siblings 'fire' Heath for one reason or another.  Mostly for getting caught kissing the irresistible Sadie.  

I enjoyed the sub story line about Angelique who comes to town to work at the orphanage when Sadie has to leave her position to 'help at home'

I'm a little curious if Book 2 will offer us a little romance with the new in town Angelique and one of the brothers.  

No Way Up (Kind of a strange title to me which is explained within just a few pages) is book 1 of the Cimmarron Legacy. 

I look forward to Book 2.  

No Way Up was a good summer read appropriate for all audiences.  

I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. 

This review will be posted at My Journey Back, Good Reads, retail sites and linked at blog linky parties.  

Visit these retails to read additional reviews or purchase:

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, CBC.

Leaving Triscuit---Will Pollock-Review and Giveaway

                                                             
                                                  
                                                       
"LEAVING TRISCUIT" FREE ON AUGUST 9, 10 AND 11

Available Free on Kindle Unlimited.  Click here. 

We’ve all been there: leaving your pet for extended periods can be very difficult and downright heartbreaking for you and your pet.

But it doesn’t have to be!

This feisty, resilient, smart-as-a-whip Rat Terrier will help you relieve travel stress by using compassionate-communication techniques as outlined by four animal-communication experts.

From chapters like “When Zippers Fly” to “Away Game” and “Reunited,” you’ll have checklists and other techniques on how animals and humans can communicate, even from far away.

Freelance writer and author Will Pollock and his best friend, Triscuit, share their personal story on how they transformed what used to be a stressful situation to a much easier, routine exercise.

Worry less. Do more. Buy Leaving Triscuit and you’ll forever transmute your departures in to a stress-free effort!

Buy @ AMAZON

EXCERPT

Triscuit gazed at me with forlorn eyes and a worried mug. Agitated and distressed, she was in effect saying, ‘Good grief, not again.’ Triscuit hopped on the bed and straight into the suitcase, as if to plant her flag and insist I pack her, too. As a canine parent, you know this doggie agenda: eyes as big as saucers, ears pinned back, shoulders slumped, spirit hanging low. Like Triscuit and so many other dogs and cats of her intuitive ilk, she knew.

I received a complimentary copy  from Elite Book Tours.   
I found Leaving Triscuit to be heart warming and sincere. 
As pet owners many of us can relate to some of the experiences the author faces with pet ownership.  Our pets are beloved members of our families and it's always difficult when they become anxious or traumatized.  
This book is a great resource for pet owners.  It is filled with personal stories,experiences and tips.  

About the author . . . 

Will Pollock is a freelance multimedia journalist, content wrangler, artist and author based in Atlanta. His love of dogs and animals began early on when his family owned a Great Pyrenees in New York City named Yeti. He decided to write “Leaving Triscuit” after the stress of leaving his beloved Rat Terrier, Triscuit, while on a three-week trip to Ireland. Separation anxiety is a problem for most pet owners, and the tips and strategies Will learned from experts will help ease that pain.

Click here to visit authors website.

Click here to enter the giveaway

This review is posted on Amazon and Good Reads.
This review is also posted at My Journey Back and linked blog parties.

Candidate For Murder--Lauren Carr-Book Review-Giveaway

         

Check out the sidebar for a link to the giveaway!

About the book:(provided by iRead Book Tours

It’s election time in Spencer, Maryland, and the race for mayor is not a pretty one. In recent years, the small resort town has become divided between the local year-round residents who have enjoyed their rural way of life and the city dwellers moving into their mansions, taking over the town council, and proceeding to turn Deep Creek Lake into a closed gate community—complete with a host of regulations for everything from speed limits to clothes lines.

When the political parties force-feed two unsavory mayoral nominees on the town residents, Police Chief David O’Callaghan decides to make a statement—by nominating Gnarly, Mac Faraday’s German shepherd, to run as mayor of Spencer!

What starts out as a joke turns into a disaster when overnight Gnarly becomes the front runner—at which point his political enemies take a page straight out of Politics 101. What do you do when you’re behind in a race? Dig up dirt on the front runner, of course.

Seemingly, someone is not content to rest with simply embarrassing the front runner by publicizing his dishonorable discharge from the United States Army, but to throw in a murder for good measure. With murder on the ballot, Mac Faraday and the gang—including old friends from past cases—dive in to clear Gnarly’s name, catch a killer, and save Spencer!

Author's Bio:

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries. The twelfth installment in the Mac Faraday Mystery series, Candidate for Murder will be released June 2016.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs (including the real Gnarly) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with Lauren: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

And I thought:

I can't say enough about Lauren Carr and this series. I've already read the previous book on my Kindle and I'm currently reading book 1.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to get started on this series.

The story line is full of twists and turns. It's spellbinding and interesting trying to figure out

'Who Dunnit'.

I really enjoyed the characters. I'm so glad that a cast of characters is included in the book.

That made it really easy to keep track of everyone. There are a lot of characters woven into this fun and funny and mysterious story.

Oh a whim/joke our main character Gnarly (which is a dog) is hilariously nominated for mayor. The townspeople of the small town of Spencer, Maryland are disgruntled by the candidates for the mayors office and begin to campaign for Gnarly. And then Gnarly himself becomes suspect to various crimes and our people hero Mac Faraday and Gnarly's owner must dive into the accusations to clear Gnarly's name.

The characters even the vilians are heartwarming. I would recommend reading the series.

Although each book in the series can be read on its own I think you would enjoy it much better by reading the series.

For instance I was curious about the attitude that Archie Mac's had about David's girlfriend Dallas Walker. At one point Archie admits she dosen't 'like her'. The two keep getting thrown together and a few sparks fly. Poor Dallas is new to the town and everyone else has history together which is the reason for Archie's lack of acceptance of Dallas. (Read book 16 in the series Cancelled Vows)

I would recommend this 5 star book to anyone. It is a mystery and crime is involved but it's not graphic.

If your looking for a fun book to spend reading the last few days of the summer I recommend

Candidate for Murder.

Not convinced. Watch the trailer . . .

Don't forget to check out the giveaway!  Click Here. 

I received a complimentary copy of Candidate For Murder from iReadBookTours in exchange for
my honest review.

This reviews is also posted at My Journey Back , Good Reads and the following retailers.
This post will be linked to some of my favorite Blog Link Parties.  Check out my parties page.

This review is posted at Amazon and  Barnes and Noble

What Matters Most-Kellie Coates Gilbert-Book Review

                                                  
About the book (provided by Baker Publishing)...
Just when she can't take it anymore, Leta finally catches a break. But when things seem too good to be true, they often are.
Finding her dream job went right out the window when Leta Breckenridge had to quit school to help care for her mother suffering from dementia. When a delinquent account may force her mother into a less desirable facility, Leta is thrilled to land a high-paying job at an Austin public relations firm. But her seemingly ideal job turns into a nightmare when she learns the firm is a front for a political opposition organization--and that the research she's been collecting will be used against Nathan Emerson, the handsome senator she's swiftly falling in love with.

Nathan is a rising political star being pressured to run a bid to unseat the current governor of Texas. He's already in a relationship with a woman much better suited to be a politician's wife, but he's never met anyone like Leta. Could this feisty woman hold the key to his heart--and his future?

With emotional depth and keen insight into what drives us, Kellie Coates Gilbert offers a salient story that calls us to consider what we value most in this life.


About the author . . . 
Kellie Coates Gilbert is a former legal investigator and trial paralegal, and the author of A Woman of Fortune and Where Rivers Part. Gilbert crafts her emotionally charged stories about women in life-changing circumstances in Dallas, Texas, where she lives with her husband. Learn more at www.kelliecoatesgilbert.com.

And I thought . . . 
Refreshing.  I was very excited to get the opportunity to read and review this book.  I was not disappointed. 
This is the first chance I've gotten to read any of the works by Kellie Coates Gilbert.  I look forward to many more including others from this series. What Matters Most is book 4 in the Texas Gold series. 
I enjoyed the storyline.  And it was a bit refreshing.  I expected the typical love story with a conflict ending in a happily ever after. 
What Maters Most is much more than a sweet little romance.  There's a little bit of intrigue. There's a villain that causes trouble for the couple.  There are some twists and turns leaving the reader interested.  Bringing to light the 
struggle of aging parents was an interesting sub story in the book.  And gave me something to ponder. 
I actually was surprised who the villain was.  Which made refreshingly  unpredictable. 
Ms. Gilbert gives the reader and inside view of dirty politics and the effect it has on everyone. 

All the characters are fun and believable.  I enjoyed getting to know them.  

I look forward to reading more by Kellie Coates Gilbert!

This review is posted at My Journey Back and linked at appropriate blog parties.  (see the list on my parties page) 
This review is posted on Good Reads.

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.  

This review is posted at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CBC. 

(un)Natural Mom--Hettie Brittz--Book Review

               Why You Are the Perfect Mom for Your Kids
                                                                                               
About the book (provided by Litfuse)...

(un)Natural Mom: Why You Are the Perfect Mom for Your Kids (David C Cook, August 2016)

Do you feel like you’re the only mom who serves store-bought birthday treats, dreads school plays, and misses the days of going to the bathroom by herself?

Unnatural Mom gives you permission to say that mothering doesn’t always come naturally to you. Parenting expert and self-proclaimed unnatural mom Hettie Brittz helps you…

—Recognize how unrealistic our culture’s standards of mothering are
—Move beyond the myths of “supermom”
—Complete a profile to determine your own parenting style
—Understand and forgive the mothers who hurt you
—Embrace your capabilities as well as your challenges

Come find new hope in discovering that every mother has unique gifts. In Christ, the “unnatural” mom becomes the supernatural mom who is just right for her family!

About the author...

Hettie Brittz is an author, international speaker, and one of South Africa’s foremost voices on parenting advice. She is the developer of the Evergreen Parenting Course and Tall Trees Profiles. Hettie and her husband, Gospel singer Louis Brittz, live in South Africa with their three children.

Keep up with Hettie Brittz by visiting www.hettiebrittz.com or following her on Facebook (HettieBrittzAuthor) or Twitter(@hettiebrittz).

Endorsements...

“Our culture puts so much pressure on moms to be perfect. Hettie Brittz reminds us that the ‘supermom’ is a myth and encourages mothers to embrace their unique temperaments and gifts as they raise their kids.” —Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family

And I thought. . . Real, Authentic Truth.  Hettie allows us moms to realize that God has blessed us by being the moms he intended us to be. 

I love the subtitle . . .

        Why You Are the Perfect Mom for Your Kids

First I wish I had been taught these truths when I was parenting. 

Second I wish that every mom gets a chance to read this book.  

As a retired preschool teacher I have seen how damaging moms can feel from comparing themselves to other moms.  

These days moms feel that they have to compete.  Compete being the 'best mom'.  And they feel their kids need to be a certain way based on what others are thinking or doing.  

Hettie reminds the reader about the truth of God's word.  

And dispels the myths of parenting.  

This book offers hope for moms.  

from the back cover...

Come find new hope in discovering that every mother has unique gifts.  In Christ, the "unnatural" mom becomes the supernatural mom who is just right for her family!

This book rates 5 stars!  

This review is posted at My Journey Back and Good Reads and is linked at some of my favorite linky parties. (a complete list can be found on my Parties Page)

I received a complimentary copy from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

This review is posted at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CBC.