Nanny Returns

Authors: Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus
ISBN: 978-1-4165-8568-8
Publisher: Washington Square Press


Nanny Returns is the sequel to the New York Times bestselling novel, The Nanny Diaries. In this installment, Nan returns to New York after living abroad with her husband, Ryan Hutchinson, for twelve years. Nan is excited to be back in the city with her family and friends, and her new projects, including the renovation of Nan and Ryan’s new “high potential” home in an up and coming neighborhood. In addition to the renovations, Nan has started her won consulting business and soon finds herself involved with Jarndyce, a high school for rich kids, that has an impossible board of directors and wonderful teachers, neither of which see eye to eye for their visions of the school. When Nan and Ryan are sent to close on his parents’ apartment on the Upper East Side, Nan finds herself shrinking away, trying to go unnoticed as she is forced to re-visit the neighborhood and apartment building she has been trying to avoid since arriving back in New York. The visit catapults a series of events which draws Nan back into the bizarre and twisted world of Mrs. X. The new tale is an extension of the old that will give readers everywhere closure to its predecessor.

In this novel Nan is confronted with her deepest regret, leaving Grayer all those years ago without saying good bye, without explanation, and without a loving parental figure. Nan also struggles with the decision of having her own children due to memories of those years past. When Grayer shows up on Nan’s doorstep, her world is brought back to the crazy, money and power driven world she didn’t want to return to. For a sequel this book impressed me. The authors did a wonderful job of weaving the original characters back into the story, along with new people and places. Nanny Returns enabled readers of The Nanny Diaries to continue Nan’s story in an enjoyable and realistic approach. The novels are alike yet different. Readers are able to read either novel without the other, yet if they choose, they can also read both for a complete extended story. I didn’t feel the novel was needed in order to help fulfill a void from The Nanny Diaries. Both books were alike and woven together, but are also able to be read on their own as individual novels. A reader would not need to read The Nanny Diaries first in order to understand and enjoy Nanny Returns.

Nanny Returns was light, comical and interesting. The reader is able to see Nan as an evolved and older version of herself, with the same snap and pizzazz of her younger self. The book was interesting, but didn’t quite hook me. I found myself putting it down more often than I like to with a book. Overall it was a good book, completely worth the read, but not entirely necessary as a second novel to its predecessor. For readers who liked The Nanny Diaries, I would suggest Nanny Returns as an extension of the story, if you are curious. If you’ve never read either, I suggest you do! Although the reader does not need to read these in order to understand the books, I would suggest reading them in order to obtain the full effect.

Reviewed for Bookpleasures

Blog Hop Friday!

I created a special page just for Blog Hop Friday!  I would love for you to look over my reviews and my blog but if you want to find my blog hop page (where my answer to this weeks question is safe and sound.....) Click Here.  Don't forget to stop by my giveaway page!  There is a convenient link at the top as well as on the top right hand side of my blog above the followers!  Thanks for Hoppin!

Amy’s Travels

Author: Kathryn Starke
Publisher: Creative Minds Publications
ISBN: 0-9769737-0-7

Amy has lived on five of the seven continents and in this book, introduces children to each of the seven continents that make up our world. Amy gives insight through the eyes of a child and makes geography interesting and fun! The continents are discussed in regards to topics such as, who lives on the continent, what animals may be found there, what language is spoken and what is interesting or unique about the continent. Below is what my four year old daughter had to say about the book.

“It was super fun! The whole thing. I wish I would live in Australia, where you might see a kangaroo! I liked the game. I told mommy what was above or below, left and right on the map with the places. I want to send it to the other kids; well I’m going to keep it. Maybe they can get their own.”

I really enjoyed seeing my daughter enjoy this book! It was great to see her thoughts of sharing the book with others, as long as they didn’t take her copy because she isn’t willing to part with it! Amy’s Travels comes complete with a map of the continents along with a lesson plan guide for each elementary level, kindergarten through fifth grade. The lesson plans are wonderfully intuitive. I doubted that my daughter, who is only in pre-school, would want to participate in the “school” part of this book. I was pleasantly surprised to see that she not only wanted to participate, she enjoyed it! She has asked to play the game as well as quizzed me on my knowledge, in the car, in McDonalds and in many other places where we are able to talk and communicate but are not able to run around or be wild. This really excited me and gave me an additional appreciation for Amy’s Travels.

Overall, the book is wonderful for kids of all ages. I would highly suggest the book to parents and elementary school teachers. The book would be wonderful for use in the classroom as well as a fun learning tool at home. It has a unique edge because it is written to children from a child’s perspective, which I feel disguises the learning aspect of the book. The author, who is currently working on her masters to become a reading specialist, proves she is capable and reading to do the job. She did a wonderful job with this book and I cannot recommend it enough.

Reviewed for Bookpleasures

Hollywood Savage

Author: Kristin McCloy
ISBN: 978-0-7432-86473-3
Publisher: Simon and Schuster/Washington Square Press


Hollywood Savage explores one mans journal entries, in which, over the course he obsesses over his wife’s assumed affair with his protégé. Right before leaving New York, for a business trip to Hollywood, Miles hears a message from Conner, his protégé, on the answering machine. The 4 simple yet implicating words are “Meet me at five”. Miles is well aware Conner does not intend the message for him. After hopping on his flight to Hollywood, Miles slowly records his ever increasing convictions that his wife Maggie is having an affair. Pained and hurting by this turn of events, Miles is unable to concentrate on writing his screen play and temporarily finds relief in drugs and soon finds intoxicating comfort in his own affair. The book is a raw look at one mans thoughts, feelings and confusion over his marriage. It tells the tale of two, husband and wife, and their secrets, which are revealed to each other yet never confirmed.


The author skillfully writes this book from a mans perspective. Miles is an enraged and jealous husband who finds comfort in revenge or basically the idea that “anything you can do, I can do better”. His affair is passionate and full of love unlike his marriage, yet he is unsure if it is true or just because of his wife’s affair. This is the first book I have read by Kristin McCloy but her ability to write from such a psychotic, disturbed, raw view was astonishing. It was really refreshing to see a novel approach the subject of an affair from the husband’s point of view.


While I appreciate the authors writing ability, this book was not for me. I was unable to connect or attach to the character and found myself bored throughout most of the book. I would need to read another book by Kristin McCloy to find out if it was just this book or her writing style in general that did not agree with me. I found the story to be depressing, overbearing, melodramatic and sad. The novel left me ready to read a happy upbeat book that doesn’t drag on. It was as if a fog was lifted from me when I completed the novel, because I knew I did not have to return to it. Overall, I appreciated the author’s talent and skillful writing in this novel, it just wasn’t for me. I’m sure there are many readers who will appreciate this novel and enjoy it. I wish I could say I did both; however this particular novel was not an enjoying read for me personally.

Her Fearful Symmetry Giveaway!

Six years after the phenomenal success of The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger has returned with a spectacularly compelling and haunting second novel set in and around Highgate Cemetery in London.

When Elspeth Noblin dies of cancer, she leaves her London apartment to her twin nieces, Julia and Valentina. These two American girls never met their English aunt, only knew that their mother, too, was a twin, and Elspeth her sister. Julia and Valentina are semi-normal American teenagers--with seemingly little interest in college, finding jobs, or anything outside their cozy home in the suburbs of Chicago, and with an abnormally intense attachment to one another.
The girls move to Elspeth's flat, which borders Highgate Cemetery in London. They come to know the building's other residents. There is Martin, a brilliant and charming crossword puzzle setter suffering from crippling Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; Marjike, Martin's devoted but trapped wife; and Robert, Elspeth's elusive lover, a scholar of the cemetery. As the girls become embroiled in the fraying lives of their aunt's neighbors, they also discover that much is still alive in Highgate, including--perhaps--their aunt, who can't seem to leave her old apartment and life behind.

Niffenegger weaves a captivating story in Her Fearful Symmetry about love and identity, about secrets and sisterhood, and about the tenacity of life--even after death.

(Product description from Amazon.com)

I have been authorized by Regal Literary to giveaway 2 copies of "Her Fearful Symmetry" by Audrey Niffenegger. To enter please see the rules below. You must comment/enter on this page only. Once you have entered make sure to head over to Regal Literary(http://www.regal-literary.com/hfs) and enter for the chance to win the BIG prize pack! (Trust me, you want to enter!) Good luck!!!

A BIG Thank You to Leigh Huffine at Regal Literary for making this giveaway possible!

RULES

• Leave a comment on this post telling me you want to win or why. Include an email address with your comment so that I can contact you if you do win. Use a spam-thwarting format such as abc.reads AT gmail DOT com or abc.reads [at] gmail [dot] com
• You must leave an email address in order to qualify. If I can't contact you, you can't win!
**You can earn an extra entry by doing each of the following. Each entry must be a separate comment to qualify.**

1. Be or become a Follower of this blog and telling me about it in a separate comment.
2. Blog about this contest and provide me with the link to the post in a separate comment, and I'll give you yet another entry.
3. Post a link to this contest on facebook and provide me with the link (leave a separate comment) for another entry.
____________________________________________
• Winners must provide a U.S. street address.
• Deadline for entry is 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, August 28, 2010.
• Winners will have 48 hours to respond to my email announcing that they have won; if I don't hear from a winner, I will draw another name.
• Winners are determined using the sequence generator at Random.org.

To enter this giveaway CLICK HERE

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story Behind the Song

Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Jo-Ann Geffen
Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC
978-1-935096-40-5


The Story behind the Song is a compilation of one hundred and one classic and popular well known songs. Spanning across decades of music, each chapter gives the artist or writers story along with the full lyrics. The book is packed full of interesting information and emotions attached to some of our favorite songs. If you have ever wondered how a song came to be, or if the lyrics mean anything personal to the artist, this installment of Chicken Soup for the Soul is for you.


The book is divided into chapters by each individual song. Each chapter has the artist picture, name and song title, followed by the written by and recorded by details. From here the narrative starts on how the song came to be or the story behind the development of the song. Immediately following the artists’ comments are the full lyrics to the song. There is no doubt that you will want to go find your old forgotten CDs or your new and favorite CDs to hear these songs. If you don’t have the songs on CD you will probably end up finding yourself on the internet like I did, searching for the song so that you can listen to it and be reminded of its’ tune and passion while you read this book. I also used the internet to search for the songs I was not as familiar with or had not heard before, though they were few and far between. It was amazing to hear the song after learning more about how it came to be.


Due to the setup of the chapters, the book leaves the reader with options on how they would prefer to read it. I started off reading cover to cover but quickly switched my tactic. I was finding each entry very intriguing and found myself wanting to read about some of my favorites first. It is very easy to read this book out of order. After grabbing a pencil and making a small mark next to the chapters I had read, I went through and chose the order I wanted to read in, making sure to mark each chapter on the table of contents page after reading it. One of my favorite stories was from Gavin Rossdale who talks about his song “Love Remains the Same”. I found that this story was one that every reader would be able to connect with. It is a beautiful song with beautiful lyrics and an honest story behind it. There were many great stories in this book that it is hard to choose just one favorite. I also really enjoyed Liz Phair’s “Divorce Song”. I was unfamiliar with this song, but it was great to read and then listen too. It is always great to find new music and new artist.


The Story behind the Song is a delightful look at generations of music and lyrics. It is heart warming and at times comical. The reader is given a glimpse at the blood, sweat and tears along with heartache, pain, enjoyment and pay off that goes into the writing process and success! I would love to see Chicken Soup for the Soul come out with a second installment of this book, or maybe even one about authors and their creative process or story behind their books. It was a fresh and new perspective to the Chicken Soup series.


reviewed for Bookpleasures

The Last Song

Author: Nicholas Sparks
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
ISBN: 978--446-57097-8

The last thing Ronnie Miller wants is to spend her summer with her dad in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. She has successfully avoided him since her parents divorce, refusing to talk to him or visit with him. Now, at seventeen, Ronnie cannot believe her mom is making her spend her summer away from New York City and all her friends. She is sure her mom is just trying to punish her, after all they haven’t been getting along lately and she is only a few months away from turning eighteen. Forced to spend the summer with her father and little brother, Ronnie is miserable. She has no friends and the small town has nothing to interest her, not to mention she has to share a room with her little brother. While still trying to overcome the pain and hurt of her parents divorce, Ronnie meets Blaze, Marcus, Will and Pastor Harris, each of who contribute to her summer making it one she will never forget. Ronnie will learn faith, trust, forgiveness and unconditional love along with truth. She will grow up and blossom, never leaving the summer behind.

The Last song is a beautifully written story of a father’s love for his daughter. Steve Miller knows his daughter is hurting and wants a chance to ease her pain and make things right. Despite his own sufferings, Steve shows unconditional love, support and sacrifice for Ronnie. Ronnie is intent on not letting her father in but slowly lets her guard down as she starts to understand her father and feel his love. Through events of the summer Ronnie remembers who she is and who she loves. Her fathers unwavering love and acceptance tears down her walls, allowing her the relationship she has needed all along. Ronnie meets will, and discovers true love like never before. As in every relationship, love does not promise things will be easy. Ronnie’s summer is equally full of trial and blessings as her life changes and she grows into a young woman and leaves the teenage girl in her behind.

Sparks does a wonderful job of writing this novel. It is easy to read and captures the readers interest from the start. Written from the view points of each main character, the book is divided into chapters by the character in focus. I personally love when books take this approach. It enables the reader to see all different angles and viewpoints of the story. The story feels like real life because three chapters could be happening in the same time frame, just to different characters and in different places. The novel is one for any age reader. It is sweet, heart warming and honest. It reminds the reader of the truly important things in life. It gives the reader a look at love, joy, peace, patience and kindness while urging against their opposites. While I would really like to see Nicholas break out of his comfort zone with his next novel, this novel was wonderful and did not let me down. I would highly suggest it for others to read. It was charming and insightful. A truly emotional novel on many levels.

Reviewed for Author Exposure

Dingle: The Very Helpful Ice Cream Cone Delivery Dog

Author: Audrey Kinsella
ISBN: 978-1-4490-8362-5
Publisher: Author House


Aunt Reeny is disabled and in a wheel chair. She agrees that service dogs are helpful, but just aren’t for her. She can already do everything she needs, it just takes time. Dingle, the family dog wants to help! When an idea comes to him, he starts on the path to being a helpful dog. With Help from his friend, he gathers all the tools he will need. Soon Roddy, Aunt Reeny’s nephew, discovers Dingles plan and starts helping Dingle with his secret surprise. The day finally comes when Dingle can help Aunt Reeny and the family! It is a hot day and the family goes out for ice cream. The line is long and Aunt Reeny is tired and hot. Dingle surprised everyone by bringing ice cream in the pouches he carries. Dingle has become the helpful ice cream cone delivery dog.

What my daughter had to say: (age 4)
“It is kinda funny because it was a doggy who wanted stuff to help. He delivered ice cream. That’s funny.”

I really enjoyed the moral of this story. The author portrays Aunt Reeny as a woman who can still do things on her own, it just takes more time. Her family helps, but Dingle wants to help also. He doesn’t want just pats and the comment “good dog”. The story is about persistence, planning and being helpful which makes a great lesson for any child. While I really liked the story itself, I didn’t like the set up and delivery of the story. It is not set up in a fashion that is easy for younger kids to understand. The sentence structure is more of a thought rather than a complete sentence. While I feel that “bubble” thoughts are not great for kid’s books, the author does a good job of putting all the thoughts into the sentences also. The problem is the sentence structure is awkward. They read like staggered thoughts instead of complete thoughts. For example, instead of using phrases like “Aunt Reeny said” or “Dingle thought” the individual speaking or thinking just states a thought or part of a thought and the difference between individuals speaking is signaled by a change in font color. For younger children this set up does not work. They aren’t able to understand a color change as they are not reading it, so the reader must add lib to the child know who is speaking. It wasn’t a very enjoyable format to read, even though I understood it. As a result I would suggest this book for kids ages 7 – 10 who would better understand who is speaking based on pictures with “bubble” thoughts and the shift in font color. I would suggest the book for ages 3-7 based on the subject matter and interest level.

Dingle the Very Helpful Ice Cream Cone Delivery Dog is a short book full of potential. It teaches a wonderful lesson while approaching the subject of disabilities, something almost everyone is affected by whether on their own or because of a family member or friend. It is hard to pin point a target audience with this book, but was worth the read. I was able to discuss the book with my daughter and she did enjoy the dog delivering the ice-cream!

*Reviewed for Bookpleasures*

Forgive Yourself

Author: Allie Sager
ISBN: 9781419695162
Publisher: Booksurge


Forgive Yourself is a novel about a woman named Samantha. Sam has been having an affair with Conner because her husband Rich does not show her love. Rich grew up differently than Samantha and has never had the family closeness that Samantha had. The result ends up in a difficult marriage. Their marriage has been long and faithful until the affair, but Sam has always been lonely. To add to the marital issues, Sam harbors deep regret and secrets of her past. She has been torturing herself over these secrets. Conner, who is also married, has a secret life outside of Sam. It is a twisted and perverted life. As the story unfolds all the secrets and all the lies are revealed. Each of the characters in the story will go through hurt and pain only to free themselves and learn forgiveness. The story is guided by Samantha’s dead grandmother, who reveals herself in spirit and helps Sam forgive herself once and for all.

Forgive Yourself is a short novel. While it doesn’t take long to read, it is taxing on the reader. The novel is devoid of substance and repeats it self time and time again. While the novel is full of drama and intertwined stories, they are short. The novel is extremely twisted and disturbing. It is written in a narrative style by an unrelated character. The story is guided by and happens due to Samantha’s dead grandmother, Mamie. Mamie, who visits from the other side of the moon, has intentions that are pure and simple. She wants to help her granddaughter forgive herself and move on with her life. While that moral is good, the rest of the story is twisted and overwhelming. Everything is linked together at points by Mamie and Samantha.

I did not enjoy this novel. I was unprepared for what the novel really represented. I felt the synopsis could have been better preparing for the reader when choosing if this book was for them. The books narrative style works well, but the sentences are short, making the reader feel they are reading small statements one after another. The novel repeats itself, sometimes adding a little more to the story. By the time you arrive at the end you are well aware of all the pieces to the story, but read them over and over again in each characters confession. The novel was part erotica, part fiction. The description of the novel did not prepare me at all for what I read. While I commend the author for writing a book, this novel was not for me. I would not be able to recommend this book to others based on my experience.

*Reviewed for http://www.bookpleasures.com/*

The Skinny on Networking: Maximizing the Power of Numbers

Author: Jim Randel
ISBN: 978-0984441815
Publisher: Rand Media Co


The Skinny on Networking takes a direct, fast and teachable approach to networking. It is written in comic book style, as all “The Skinny On” books I have read so far do. This unique style caters to the readers’ attention span, sharing useful and important information in a manner that captures your attention. The entire book takes about an hour to read and leaves you with a wealth of knowledge, sure to help you maximize your time, potential and your network!

The book has three main characters, the author as himself, along with Billy and Beth, a married couple. Billy and Beth are used as examples throughout the book to help drive home points and help the reader understand the current situation or topic being discussed. It is amazing how easy book makes learning. As the reader advances on in this book, he or she is enabled to become more interested and more open to the suggestions because of the authors’ style and direct easy to understand approach. The information is practical and full of common sense and useful learning techniques.

The only topic I wished to review in this book, that was not discussed directly, was networking for parents. The book states that the more time you invest in networking the better your network and intern career will be. The suggested time you spend per week is five to ten hours, as stated by leading experts. For single parents or parents working opposite shifts this is nearly impossible. I would have been very interested to read a few bubbles with tips for this specific group. As everyone needs a network, the amount of time you can spend largely deals with your lifestyle and family. I found the internet tips helpful in this area of concern.

Overall it is a wonderful, helpful and useful publication. It would be great to use in a college classroom or corporate workshop. I wish I would have had this book in college. I learned much more in one hour than an entire semester. Granted the internet has become even more useful in the art of networking since then. The book offers plenty of instruction and extra reading material on the topic for those readers interested in further exploration.


*Reviewed for http://www.bookpleasures.com/*

The Skinny on the Art of Persuasion: How to Move Minds

Author: Jim Randel
ISBN: 978-0-9824390-0-5
Publisher: Rand Media Co

With common sense and practical methods, The Skinny on the Art of Persuasion is an amazingly useful tool. Its’ easy to read format makes the reader aware of the points and topics the author is making and discussing. The book is set up in a way that obviously displays that the author understands the attention span and time restraints of the reader. The information is given in short, quick to the point, paragraphs that are separated in a comic book style set up. Complete with stick figures, the book is interactive and fun to read. By doing this the author maximizes the amount of information the reader devours. The entire book can be read in about an hour. This easily caters to the busy schedule most readers of this book are likely to have.

I absolutely loved rule 2 of this book which states, “Prepare before you speak, then prepare again”. This book not only has wonderful and useful information for persuasion, but also for life. It is for the individual as a person as well as the corporate head who needs to influence his people. The Skinny on the Art of Persuasion would make a wonderful workshop. The book is interactive and easy to relate to for any reading level. I really would have enjoyed having this book as part of my college business courses.

While also giving plenty of additional resources to further investigate key topics, the book on its’ own gives a wealth of useful knowledge and practical, easy to follow methods of persuasion. It is a must read for anyone interested or wanting to learn more about the topic of persuasion. I would highly suggest it for corporations, to develop employee skills as well as universities for students striving to gain the skills needed for success. It is a fun, practical, useful and educational read.

Reviewed for http://www.bookpleasures.com/

I'm Your Girl

Author: J.J. Murray
ISBN: 978-0758213961
Publisher: Kensington

I won this on goodreads' first reads(http://www.goodreads.com/), and was excited to read it.  The cover is so attractive. This is the first novel I have read by JJ Murray and the first 120 pages are just horrible. I wish I could tell you a synopsis of the story, but I didn't get one out of the first 120 pages.  You discover enough about each character to realize a little about them, but not enough to figure out why the book was written or what point it has for the reader to read it.  Given that I had read 120 pages, I expected far more from the book by now.  It seems to be the simple romance novel.  Boy meets girl.  Girl is not particularly interested at first, but they will get around to that and end up together.

The first 120 pages were so boring and hard to move through. Jack, the main male character, talks to himself, when he doesn't need to. His story could have been told via his thoughts instead of his thoughts talking back to him. Diane, the leading lady, does nothing but sit home reviewing books.  YAY for the reader, we get to read the crap she is reading, instead of learning more about her and her story. The book is full of all the stereotypes and thoughts both racial sides have or people think they have. Its just horrible to move through. It picks up toward the middle and is slightly easier to move through, but I almost didn't get there. I had to force myself to keep giving it a chance. If you like Murray's work, maybe you can move past this one. If you haven't read any before, don't start with this book. Please try another one, otherwise like me, you probably won't pick up any of the other works produced.


I really hate to give reviews like this. I know writing is not easy, but I have a hard time understanding the editor who was responsible for this book. Did you not see reviews like this coming? I really wish the story part started much sooner, instead of the needless beginning I had to work through in order to get to the story.  I am sorry I cannot offer a longer review, there is simply not much to say.  I had to break between books, because this one seriously injured me.  I needed a mental break from reading to help recover.

Genoa Bay

Author: Bette Nordberg
Publisher: Monarch Books
ISBN: 978-0-8254-6296-2
After loosing her pilot husband in a navy jet crash, Brandy Beauchamp is left a widow with a daughter to raise on her own. To further complicate things, she has spent the time since her husbands death fighting the navy for the rights to his life insurance and the entirety of his will due to the neglect of the navy loosing his will. Brandy, who has been working fulltime, while trying to raise her daughter has not moved on wither her life. She feels stuck in a life created with her husband, a life she no longer fits into. Unable to move on, Brandy receives news that her friend Maggie, a woman who has been like a mother to her, is dying. She leaves immediately for Vancouver Island. After Maggie’s funeral she learns that she has inherited Maggie’s love, a bed and breakfast Brandy spent her teenage years growing up in. Though the establishment is run down, Brandy sees an opportunity to finally be able to move on with her life and heal. Brandy and her daughter Gabby leave Florida and move to Genoa Bay with determination and doubt taking equal holds in Brandy’s’ emotions. The property is run down and needs attention. It has a beautiful view that inspires Brandy to restore it to it’s former glory. When Brandy meets Herbert, Karras, a local property developer, she learns her task will not be easy. Herbert has different plans and will stop at nothing to achieve them. Genoa Bay is a novel of love, healing, and new beginnings. It is Brandy’s story and struggles conquered. It will entice you and keep you until the end.

Written in a style that mimics a memoir, Genoa Bay is a relatable story of grief, loss, sacrifice, hard work and determination. It gives the reader the sense that they know Brandy and what she is going through. Brandy is like every mom, she wants to take care of her child and provide for her, but at the same time she wants to be happy also. The move to Genoa Bay is not a decision that comes easily to her, however she listens with her heart and trust in God’s leading. The novel is beautifully written. The characters are wonderfully evolved, each bringing excitement and importance to Brandy’s’ life. The entire book makes you feel as if you are on Vancouver Island with these characters.

I really enjoyed reading this novel. There were surprises and interesting tidbits, which I felt added to the story line. The author did a wonderful job coming up with an original story. The only thing I would change about this book is the cover. The fire gives away to much of the story. It also doesn’t go well with the title. I envisioned seeing the bed and breakfast view of Genoa Bay. I thought the bed and breakfast would look great pronounced, yet giving you the view of the marina and other houses along with the bay, the way the guest would see it. I didn’t feel the cover art did the story justice. It takes away from the appeal of picking up the book to read it, rather than adding to it. Other than that, this book is well worth the read! I would highly suggest a cup of hot cocoa and a blanket as your curl up and read it!

*Reviewed for Reader Views*

Love is Monumental

Author: Annalisa Daughety
Publisher: Barbour Books Publishing Inc
ISBN: 978-1-60260-694-4


Vickie Harris, loves her job as a park ranger, but has had her thirtieth birthday and still has not found love. She has had plenty of dates, in fact her friends call her the queen of first dates, but she still hasn’t found that one special person to call home. When she meets Thatcher, a handsome, brilliant history professor, she puts her heart on the line and takes a chance at love or hurt. Thatcher feels he doesn’t deserve Vickie. He has a past, he has regrets, his life changed at eighteen with a simple mistake and a forced marriage that ended in disaster. Will he ever be able to feel comfortable with another woman? Will he love? Can he be honest and give Vickie his whole heart? This novel and the relationship between Vickie and Thatcher digs into the issues of love, honesty, trust and faith in God and his plans for our lives.


“Love is Monumental” is a simplistic read. I actually felt like I was back in high school. It is easy to read and safely stays on the surface of a relationship while confronting some of the more difficult aspects of relationships as human beings. Whether the relationship is with friends, parents, husbands, wives, significant others or simply our relationship with God and ourselves, the issues are all the same. I felt this book should have been a faster read given the ease and size of the book, but it just didn’t captivate me. I didn’t have that urge to push past my tiredness and just read one more chapter. It was easy to put down and come back to at a later time. I liked the story line of the book and the characters were very easy to relate to. The author seemed to repeat herself a lot with the characters feelings and thoughts. I generally like to read a book and gather what I think the characters could be thinking or feeling. The author does that for you in this book. Parts of the book seemed over explained.


The story feels very real! It’s as if the author has taken tidbits of her life and her girl friends lives and intertwined them with fictional happenings and events. It was very interesting to receive a different outlook on a park ranger. Generally I think of a ranger as someone responsible for the welfare of the grounds and upkeep. I didn’t ever think about the job title possibly being a teacher, someone who takes visitors through the park and explains the sites. I enjoyed seeing a new aspect of the typical park ranger job.


Overall, this book was an easy, fun, recreational read. It was enjoyable and relatable, but not spectacular. I got more enjoyment out of knowing I went to the authors sister-college, Harding University. I would recommend this book to readers of all ages, specifically 16-22 or 50 - 60 years of age. I would also recommend this book to those who like Wanda E. Brunsetter’s style of writing, although I prefer Annalisa’s.


*Reviewed for Reader Views*

The Mailbox

Marybeth Whalen
David C. Cook Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-7814-0369-6
For Lindsey Adams, the mailbox has always been a constant in her life. Her first encounter with the mailbox took place when she was a teenager on a summer vacation at Sunset Beach. Its’ rare, odd home in the middle of nowhere on Sunset Beach attracts many tourist and visitors. For a few faithful believers, like Lindsey, the mailbox is more, it is sacred. With only a label of ‘Kindred Spirit’ on the side, pens and paper on the inside, visitors are invited to write and leave their letters Kindred Spirit. No one knows who this person is, but to Lindsey this is comforting. It frees her to be honest because she does not feel judged. Instead she feels someone is out there rooting for her, waiting to read her next installment.

Twenty years after her first visit to the mailbox, Lindsey is still visiting yearly and updating her letters. She pours her heart and soul onto the paper. This visit is different, her first love was stolen by a teenagers mistake, and reappears into her life. Her marriage has ended and Lindsey deals with the aftermath of divorce. She came to sunset beach for a fresh perspective and a new start. Little does she know she is about to make the biggest choices of her life and learn about love, faith and trust.

The Mailbox is a wonderfully exciting read. I could not put this book down. I enjoyed the truth in the folklore of the mailbox, which exist in North Carolina. The book is about second chances, along with love and faith. It was written with flow and easily lets the reader move between past flashbacks and the present without confusion. It is full of colorful characters that make the story come alive and seem true. The author does a wonderful job of expressing the pain and confusion surrounding a cheating spouse that leads to divorce. Once you start reading this novel you will be hooked, not wanting it to end.

I enjoyed this book immensely. It was touching, entertaining and heart warming all at the same time. Its’ message of hope and second chances was delivered beautifully. While parts were slightly predictable, I wasn’t always certain how the book would twist and turn. My only regret is that I was not able to sit on the beach while reading this novel. I highly recommend this as a summer read, and hope to see it made as a movie.

*Reviewed for Reader Views*

Magnolia Wednesdays

Author: Wendy Wax
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group, Penguin Group Inc.
ISBN: 978-0-425-23235-4

Vivian Gray is at the top of her career, only to be shot in the butt and find out her career and life is not what she thinks. After her accidental shooting is virally posted on utube, and her world turned upside down by news of her surprising pregnancy, Vivian quits her job and moves to Atlanta to live with her sister, niece and nephew and write incognito and research her brother-in-laws death. Her weekly columns of life in suburbia are forged from her surface experiences while living her sisters life. Vivian, who is unsure of who she is and what she wants deals with all of the things she has avoided in her past. A mother incapable of showing love and acceptance, a sister she barley knows, guilt from leaving her sister after her husbands death, and fear of her future and her life with the man she loves, and father of her baby. While getting to know herself Vivian slowly starts to learn about others and forge relationships. She finds out that the surface experiences are false and that life and love here truly run deep. When everything that is a lie in Vivian’s life is exposed she has to choose what she wants out of life, and others are forced to see her for her true self and decide if they can forgive the hurt and pain and accept the new woman she has become. “Magnolia Wednesdays” is about life, love, loss, family and truly understanding ones self in order to understand others.


“Magnolia Wednesdays” was a wonderfully entertaining read for me. It was laugh out loud funny, and relatable. The characters were well developed to the point that you truly felt you knew them, or at least someone like them! While I felt parts of it were a little long or could have been left out and still given the full impact, this book has something in it for every reader. The author does a wonderful job of keeping you attached to the book, and wanting to know more. There were lots of twist and turns in this book for the reader, even though I had most of them pegged or figured out before I read the part. This book made sense and didn’t leave me feeling like it couldn’t have happened that way. The author did a great job of including up to date technology and happenings around us, so that the reader feels the story is truly happening today, in the present and not the past.


This was the first book I have read by Wendy Wax, and I fully intend to read “The Accidental Bestseller and any other books she writes in the future. It was enjoyable and funny, while also warm, compelling and heart wrenching. The book was so real and relatable, it made you want to jump in and help the characters or be part of their story. This book was wonderful, and I will recommend it to friends and other readers who enjoy the “chick-lit” genre.


*Reviewed for Reader Views*

Refuge on Crescent Hill

Author: Melanie Dobson
Publisher: Kregel Publications
ISBN: 978-0-8254-2590-5

After returning from a photo shoot in Indonesia, Camden Bristow finds herself without a job, and in debt. Fount magazine has gone bankrupt due to the economy and everyone has disappeared along with her pay check. With her savings drained and no hope for another job, Camden decides to make a long overdue trip to visit her beloved grandma, Rosalie. Upon arriving in Ohio, Camden learns her grandmother has recently passed away and left her home, Crescent Hill, to Camden. Crescent Hill has always been the only constant in Camden’s life. It has been a security and safe place for her. While dealing with the loss of her grandmother, Crescent Hill suddenly becomes insecure and unsafe. Unsure of who she can trust, Camden is thrown into the unknown, and soon discovers the many secrets of Crescent Hill and the Bristow family. Camden’s life will change forever and she is forced to re-evaluate and learn how to better trust in God. Refuge on Crescent Hill is more than just a title for this book. It harbors the truth and lessons in this wonderful novel.


Refuge on Crescent Hill is a page turner. From the moment you begin reading this entertaining novel, you will want to know more. It is mystery and suspense wrapped up in historical fiction. I loved the historical fiction that engulfed this story. The author does a wonderful job of bringing four unique stories into one, interweaving them until they blend at the end. Each character is well developed and bring something unique to the story. This book fit’s the well known saying “It’s a small world”. The characters are brought together by the one secret of Crescent Hill that impacts them all.


While the story was somewhat predictable at times, there are many unpredictable moments that will surprise you and keep you wondering. The book was very hard to put down. I really enjoyed reading this novel and would recommend it to readers who enjoy historical fiction, mystery, suspense, genealogy or Christian fiction. I personally do not like to read the mystery or suspense genre, but this novel captivated me and I really enjoyed reading it. It was enough to keep you wondering and reading, but not too much so that it leaves you jumpy or scared. It is wonderfully entertaining and easy to read and enjoy for readers of all ages.

*Reviewed for Reader Views*

Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther

Author: Ginger Garrett
Publisher: David C. Cook
ISBN: 978-1-4347-6801-8

“Chosen” is a glimpse into the personal thoughts and confessions of Queen Esther. The diary entries start during her simple life full of dreams of what may be and continue through her palace journey, reign as queen and end at her death. The diaries give you a better understanding of this courageous woman of God, for she was living in the time where women were not as free as they are today.


This novel was brilliant. It draws you in, each entry leading you to the next. You feel compelled to read on, excited to learn more, understand her life and be part of her story. The author does an amazing job at making these diaries “real”. Even if you know the story of Esther, you are on the edge of your seat, waiting to know more. The novel is a page turner. It flows so well you actually feel you are hearing her thought or are being told her story from Esther herself.


I absolutely loved this book. I have always had a deep yearning to learn more about Esther. I love her courage, bravery and devotion to God as well as others. She was wise and beautiful but used her gifts to save her people rather than advance herself. This novel goes past the biblical account of Esther to help bring her human side into the picture. The novel represents Esther as a woman, with all the fears, trials and insecurities women have had and will continue to have until the end of time. I was able to view Esther in a completely different light, as a girl and a woman being used by God, faithful to her people and beliefs.


As someone with high expectations for this book and sheer excitement to read it, I have no doubt other readers will not be let down. It is enchanting, insightful and thought provoking. I will recommend this book to everyone I know and cannot wait to read books two and three of the series.

*Reviewed for Reader Views*

Backseat Saints

Joshilyn Jackson
Hachette Book Group
9780446582346

Rose Mae has always had bad men in her life. After her mama disappeared when she was 8, Rose’s daddy, an alcoholic, turns to hitting her instead of her mama. When Ro meets Thom Grandee she knows he is bad from start, but has never lived differently. She has now been married to Thom for five years, when she meets a gypsy in the airport while dropping off a neighbor. The gypsy reads her three cards, one of her past, one of her present and one of her future. The gypsy’s message is clear, “Kill your husband or he will kill you”. Ro leaves the airport shaking because she knows the truth, it’s not if he will kill her, it’s when. Ro sets out to save herself and in the process learns about herself, who she is and who she wants to be. If she can live.

Backseat Saints is addicting from the beginning until the end. You will not want to put this book down. The author captures you from the start and leaves you breathless by the end. She does a wonderful job with such a dark, taboo subject. The book follows the journey of a woman who knows it is her life or his, and decides to fight for herself. She sheds her persona and finds herself, the eight year old girl left behind to start new. The story brings you through her past and into her present in order for her to have a future. It is courageous, riveting and comical at points. The title encompasses Ro’s Catholicism and belief in the saints to help her along her journey, knowing she cannot do it alone. She is as much saving herself from her husband as she is from herself.

This book left me breathless at points. I actually realized I was holding my breath because I was so addicted and involved in Ro’s journey. The book leaves you satisfied and aware. You begin to understand more about the topic of domestic abuse, along with the feelings and reasons that women stay and leave. Ro’s journey is inspiring, in that you want to help her help everyone else who may be in this same situation. It was a wonderfully written story and a great read. I would very much recommend this book! It will open you eyes, leave you in awe and make you appreciate your world around you.

*Reviewed for Reader Views*

The Ice Cream Theory

Steff Deschenes
ISBN: 978-14-392300-53
Publisher: Book Surge



The Ice Cream Theory is essentially a parallel of the author’s life relationships and situations compared to ice cream flavors. She is infatuated beyond measure with this delectable dessert, which she has loved from a young age. Slowly throughout her life, relationships and events have brought about a match too her love, ice cream. For each of these relationships she shares about the person, the flavor and how she associates them together, brining her “theory” into perspective. The theory started with a single event, her first heartache, and her parents’ method of helping to ease that heartache, a challenge and a reward. From this point on her book was a life in the making, her theory that “people are drawn to or repelled by other people much as they are to flavors of ice cream.” Essentially “people crave certain personalities at different stages in their life in the same way they crave ice cream flavors.”


The Ice Cream Theory offers charming, erratic, and funny heartfelt stories and insights into the authors’ life and personality. This helps the reader to understand a little of how she became who she is, and intern she reveals her infatuation for ice cream. While I’m not certain you could really call this a general theory, she makes it work for her. The book starts off a little confusing as the author explains her theory and then admits the theory really has no common base for everyone. In order for the theory to work, you must first love ice cream enough to have had experience with multiple flavors, and second you have to apply this general thought to you own life, settling on decisions and stereotypes for yourself. There is no set flavor for a set type or personality. If you take all this into consideration and read the book for the stories and parallels you will most likely get more out of it.


I found the authors writing interesting and intriguing at times. On the flipside, some of the writing is more erratic, in that she will be mid story and stop every so often to add ramblings. It reminded me of times when I avoid certain people because I don’t have the time for a lengthy conversation and I know the person likes to talk. The reader is left with the impression that the author is a smart, happy, energetic, talkative individual who appreciates the lessons learned in her life and absolutely loves ice cream. I had trouble getting into this book and staying interested. However, it did have many different parallels of the authors’ life, love, and friends and of course ice cream flavors that were at points easy to read and see how she arrived at this theory for her life. My least favorite flavor was champagne. A few of my favorites were Banana Split and Chocolate, chocolate Chip. I highly suggest if you decide to read this book, you go into it with an open mind, allowing yourself to create your own theory, even if ice cream isn’t involved.

*Reviewed for Reviewthebook*

The Boss

Author: Andrew O’Keeffe
ISBN: 978-1-929774-89-0
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press


When Lauren Johnson’s boss “Deadly-Di” crosses’ the line for the last time, Lauren starts her search for another job with a less poisonous boss. Once offered her dream job, Lauren couldn’t be anymore excited to resign and leave “Deadly-Di” behind. Thrilled to be working for Meg Montgomery, who comes highly recommended, Lauren accepts the position and joins Harlow Kane. Unfortunately her first day is full of surprises. Meg resigns and Lauren is left on her own with five top executive bosses, who she feels she should have investigated further. As Lauren’s story unfolds the true colors of each boss and their styles of management become apparent. Her survival depends on her ability to adapt and cope without loosing sight of who she is and what she stands for. Armed with Aesop’s fables as her method of understanding others, Lauren takes charge and learns a little about herself in the process.


“The Boss” was the most realistic fiction novel! At time I had to remind myself it was fiction and not part of my own history with bosses I have had or dealt with. O’Keeffe does a wonderful job of exposing the horrible structures of corporate executives along with sharing compliments for the ones who are truly making a difference. The novel easily points out how destructive we can be to each other in the workplace if we are not careful. The main focus of the novel is on the bosses, managers, and those in leadership roles, however it also examines co-workers and the worker as an individual. It is full of humor, insight, education, drama, self-preservation, courage and triumph. It is a must read for anyone who has ever had a bad boss or co-worker.


I found myself engrossed in this novel. Specific moments or chapters hit home hard, as I felt for Lauren because I have been there also. No matter what level of a corporation you are in, you have a boss. I believe almost all bosses fit into one of the categories described in this novel. It can be infuriating and completely frustrating to deal with. “The Boss” sheds light on an important topic as well as giving helpful information to readers, in hopes that they might also triumph in their own positions. The novel is laced with humor at all the right points, giving the reader a break from the horror of the realistic characters.

*Reviewed for Reviewthebook*

Alphabet Woof

Author: Sherrie A. Madia
ISBN: 978-0-9826185-0-9
Publisher: MommyDaughterProductions


When Aunt Mabel visits everyone expects that meal time will be interesting! Aunt Mabel is the favorite Aunt, who serves a dish with the promise that the “Meal might change your whole world-if you wish!” When Moxy, the family dog, knocks over the alphabet soup, his whole world changes! He makes a mess and slides around, but best of all he eats it right off the ground. Eating the soup is what changes his world, for soon the silliest thing occurs. Mom grabs a cloth and starts to clean up, soon she gets help from Moxy who says “Oh, here let me get that. It was partly my fault,” Mom replies “Oh, thank you,” and then screams! The family dog can talk! What will this mean? The magic is in the soup, Aunt Mabel has done it! Moxy’s wish to speak has come true, now he wants to be famous. Soon dad comes home to find out the news. He is thrilled that Moxy can talk and answer questions. Moxy does not stop talking ever! As the word spreads Moxy soon becomes famous and rich. The family is off to LA where Moxy has his own show, clothing line and a huge house. While doing all this he realizes that the fame is not what he wanted. He tells his family he wants to talk just to them and the fame is too much. Mom arranges for everyone to go back home. Moxy learns a lesson about the importance of family and that the people who love you mean the most! He decides the very best way for him to be is quiet and with his family.

Here is what my 4 year old daughter had to say about this book:
“So much fun! Moxy ate meatballs and letters soup that spilled on the floor. He ate it and could talk! Everyone was happy. He talked and talked and talked! Then his name was everywhere and they were rich but Moxy was sad. He wanted to go home. They did! Moxy didn’t talk anymore. A turtle ate the jumping bean soup and could jump high!”

I really enjoyed this book and reading it with my daughter. The book is reminiscent of the cartoon Martha Speaks, but is vastly different at the same time. It teaches a lesson in the significance of family as well as providing vivid colorful photographs and an enjoyable story! Alphabet Woof is very easy to read and is written in a rhyming format. It is twenty three pages long, but keeps your attention easily. This is great for young readers who may easily get bored. The book is published by MommyDaughterProductions which gives the book an edge. It is a piece of work accomplished within the family. Alphabet Woof was inspired by the authors’ three year old daughter and it shows. It reminds me of stories my daughters would tell me or want to be told. We really enjoyed this book and laughing at the antics of the Moxy. Who knew one pup would have so much to say given the ability to talk? It is a must read for children of all ages. I think the age range best for this book are the ages 3 to 10. Older kids will be able to read and enjoy this book on their own, while the younger ones will be able to enjoy the book with an adult who can read it to them.

Interview with Moxy

MOXY, GUEST BLOGGER

A dog, a wish and some magical soup!


INTRODUCTION
Our guest today is Moxy, a talking dog, the main character in the new children’s picture book, Alphabet Woof! and all around doggone-good fellow. In Alphabet Woof! by Sherrie A. Madia, Ph.D. and illustrator Patrick Carlson, Moxy eats some magic soup and his wish comes true: He can Talk!

This gift leads Moxy and his family to some exciting adventures. “Who’d pass up a dog who can speak after all?” News spreads fast about Moxy’s new voice and reporters, fan letters, phone calls and even flowers appear at his house. He lands a talk show on TV and the family becomes wealthy and famous.

In the end, Moxy realizes his greatest gift is not his ability to talk but rather, his ability to talk with the people he loves, who love him back. Now, when Moxy is not out-and-about posing for magazines, filming a feature film or being interviewed on blogs, he can be found at home with his loving family – a bit dog-tired but very happy.

QUESTIONS

1. Everyone is eager to learn about Alphabet Woof! Please tell us what it is all about.

MOXY: It’s a funny story, really. I mean, I have this routine where I eat whatever happens to spill from my family’s dinner table. One rainy Monday, I smelled something extra yummy in the kitchen, and it turns out it was our favorite Aunt Mabel’s famous alphabet soup. One thing led to another, and let’s just say there was a bit of a spill. Trying my best to lap it all up – I love to help out around the house! – something strange and wonderful happened. The moment I tasted that soup, I heard a sound I’d never heard before – a beautiful, magical, human kind of sound – what I heard was my own voice – I could talk!

2. What happened when you first learned that you could talk? Was your family surprised?

MOXY: Ummm, surprised is one way of putting it. The Boy and I were delighted -we thought it was the funniest trick ever! We talked to each other every day anyway – just in a different kind of language. But this kind of talking made sharing our stories a whole lot easier.  Mom had a lot of questions for me – Stuff like, “What about that broken vase – Was that really you who broke it?” And, “How about my missing gardening glove – did you bury it under the rose bush?”  We weren’t quite sure how Dad would react. He’s always so serious! The whole family got a little nervous when we heard the door open and saw the look on Dad’s face. Once he got over the shock, I think he really liked it. Mom said it made Dad “remember how to have fun again” - whatever that means. Dad particularly liked how I could tell him lots of stuff that I know about the neighbors. Like how Mr.

McGowan likes to toss his grass clippings over our side of the fence, or, well, you get the gist…

3. What responses to you get from kids when they read Alphabet Woof!?

MOXY: Kids are neat – In fact, they’re probably my favorite humans! For starters, they sure do laugh a lot when they hear my story – which makes me laugh, too!  Their favorite is the part about bedtime. Mom told the Boy and me, “No more talking in there!” only I just couldn’t help but talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk! I mean, I had soooo much to say, and I didn’t want to have to wait all the way ‘til morning — what if I forgot something important? So, I talked all night long for good measure. Mom was not amused.

4. What messages do you hope that your readers will take away from this?

MOXY: When I ate that magic soup, my wish to talk came true. It was all I ever wanted! But I learned something very special along the way, which was it wasn’t just anybody I wanted to talk to. It was talking with my family that made it all so much fun.  I hope that every family stops to take the time to ask the simple questions like,  “How was your day?” and “May I chew on your slipper?” —Er, I mean, “What happened in school today?”  Families who take the time to talk and laugh with each other give themselves a gift that lasts their whole life! Mom likes to say, “We’re not just talking—we’re making

family memories.” I’m not even sure I know what memories are, but Mom is always right about these things.

5. Tell us about your creators – the author and illustrator – of the book. How did they get the idea come to write a book about you? What are their goals for the future? Is there another book coming up?

MOXY: The author, Sherrie Madia—She lets me call her “Sher”—she’s a funny lady! She’s a mommy with two girls, and they wrote this book about me together, as a family project. Sher carried around a scrap of paper with this story idea for almost 10 whole years – She says that’s why she never throws anything out! The girls were getting a little older (Anna is 12 and Emma is 14—that’s 98 in dog years!), so Sher started to wonder how they’d ever keep talking. So she decided they would write a book—starring me!—and here I am.

Oh, but they couldn’t have done it without my buddy Patrick. He’s the amazingly talented illustrator who captured my good looks perfectly, if I do say so myself. Patrick has two boys, too – twins! – he really understands my many moods—I just love that guy!  The best news is – We’re doing another book together!  Sher, the girls, Patrick – and me! Only this time, we’re  creating a super-special project called “Moxy’s Family-Time Cookbook”.  This book will have some of the tastiest recipes ever – and they’ll be simple and easy, with step-by-step directions, so kids and their families can spend more

time having fun together. They’ve even got a section of recipes just for us dogs – Homemade dog treats — I can’t wait! Sher says the book will be available in December 2010 — Just in time for the holidays. Think I know what I’ll be giving Mom this Christmas! Shhhhhh.
6. A portion of the proceeds of Alphabet Woof! benefits the SPCA International.  Could you tell us a little about that organization and what they represent? Why did you choose to give to this charity?

MOXY: I was one of the lucky dogs out there. Mom and Dad rescued me from an overcrowded pound when I was just a puppy. They took me to visit some of the other animals who weren’t as lucky as me, and they had it pretty bad — great dogs and cats, just hoping to be loved by a family!  So, it was only natural that a portion of the proceeds from my story helps the SPCA International, which advances the safety and well-being of animals all over the world. One of our favorites is their Shelter Program.  Each year, the SPCA International helps local shelters in need with emergency  grant funds. They’ve helped countless animals over the years, so we really love being able to do our part to help them help animals.  Unlike me, most animals don’t have a voice, so we like to do our part to help animals who’ve been harmed or abused, or homeless, to live happy, healthy lives.
7. Do you have a website? Where can we purchase your book?

MOXY: Oh, boy, do I ever! My website is www.AlphabetWoof.com. You can hear a podcast of me doing what I love to do best – talking with my family!  The book is available along with some really cool t-shirts and a fun activity book. I hope your audience has as much fun reading my story as I’ve had living it!

Woof!
Moxy

Oh, and almost forgot: Do you have a talking dog at home? If you do, send your video or photo to contact@alphabetwoof.com, with the subject line “Talking Dog!” and Sher will post your special dog on her web site.