The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: A Book Review

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: A Book Review

**SPOILERS**

          I had the pleasure of reading this book and watching the movie since I noticed it was on Netflix when I finished. It's a heartbreaking story about a 9 year old boy named Bruno who's father is a Nazi soldier who moves the family from Berlin Germany to Poland after a promotion. Bruno befriends a boy in "striped pajamas" naive to the treachery that is really taking place in the world around him.

          The movie really completes the thought of the book. The book was short and, well.... bittersweet I might say. I felt that even though it was from the viewpoint of a 9 year old, that it made it lack detail needed to really get the idea across. That was why I said the movie really completes the thought even though events happened kind of differently than in the book.

**SPOILER ALERT**

          Bruno befriends Shmuel who is a 9 year old Jewish boy entrapped in a Polish concentration camp. All the boys really do is talk when Bruno escapes the house to the fence that divides them not understanding that they are meant to be enemies. He being the sun of a Nazi Commandant and Shmuel a prisoner. 

The end of the book stung but the dramatic effect it had in the movie broke me. Bruno escapes into the concentration camp to help Shmuel find his missing papa and they get stuck in a match to the gas room. They get gassed hand and hand together. As a mother of an almost 8 year old son myself, I couldn't handle it when watching the movie and broke down in tears cuddling my son to fall asleep.

**SPOILER END**

I had less than a week to read a book before I am due back at work on Monday April 20th, 2020. That took me three days to read. I can see why it is targeted towards teenagers because it was very vague and you needed to be able to think like a normal 9 year old. It was a very good book though after watching the film which was extremely sad.

Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix: A Book Review

Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix: A Book Review

          I had started this book two years ago. I hadn't gotten very far before putting it down i'm afraid. It was very long and I went into a long "not wanting to read" hiatus. Then the Quarantine from COVID-19 hit and I figured, "now is as good a time as any" to start finishing the books I bookmarked and shelved! This was the third unfinished book on my shelves I decided to give another try. Happy to say, it hooked me and I was kicking myself for ever putting it away.

          This is the 5th book of the Harry Potter series and although I have seen the movie, The movie really did this book no justice. The villainous Professor Umbridge was a real diabolical shit-bag in comparison to how she was in the movie. There was also, from my recollection, a lot of things changed out in the movie that were in the book. You get a more in-depth to how events really laid out in J.K. Rowling's mind that had explained how some of the movie contents were supposed to play out.

          My heart really went out to Professor Snape more in the novel. You really start putting the pieces of the mystery together as you read forth deeper into Rowling's head throughout the book. Someone on Goodreads compared this book to a refrigerator in the fact that it is rather bulky. To be fair, by the end of the book, I was sad that it was over as to actually be fair though. the length and my diagnoses of ADHD did not match up well. It is hard for me to sit still for a long period of time. I got lost in this book though and found myself reading chapter after chapter for hours at a time. As an accomplishment to myself, I would read about 100+ pages a day and would have to fight myself to close the book after finishing a chapter so I could sleep.

          This was a very charming, sort-of comical, kinda sad. but very entertaining installment to The Harry Potter series and I was happy to finally finish it after two years. I highly recommend this on a lazy day where you just want to sit around cuddled up with a blanket, book, and a cup of coffee or even tea!

The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Review

The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Review

This novel was nothing short of heartbreaking! Based on a true story where a couple find love within the darkest of times, it proves that love and hope can overcome any obstacles! The fact this is a true story made it all the more eerie and astonishing.

This book follows the true story of the Birkenau/Auschwitz tattooist Lale who, in all honesty, makes the right contacts within the camp out of pure luck and chance to secure his survival. He meets a woman named Gita who he assures that they will survive the hell they are enduring and live out their days free together.

Heather Morris told their story beautifully with great detail that made you feel like you were looking in on the events taking place at Auschwitz as if you were a fly on the wall nothing short of compelling that leaves you wanting more.

I personally enjoyed the afterword by their son Gary that talked about his parents' love and how they would talk about how being in the camp had changed them in ways. For example, they no longer fretted parting with possessions or how some events didn't seem like such a big deal. As if, they survived concentration camps so they could survive just about anything. This novel started my interest in reading books based around The Holocaust. I ended up reading "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" not too long after this one. That as well was a bit of a heart-wrenched book because it was from a child's point of view. That however is for a different review.

I would definitely recommend this book to others to read if they aren't so faint of heart. I Will eventually get to "Cilka's Journey" which is the second part of this heartbreaking tale.

A Dog's Promise: A Review

A Dog's Promise: A Review

**SPOILERS**

          All I can really say was W. Bruce Cameron did it again! Another touching and heart-warming story in this 3rd installment to his "A Dog's Purpose" series! It had me laughing at times and choked up at times. This book definitely had me at the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next.

          This was about the lovable Bailey, known in this one as Cooper and Riley. He goes through many lives trying to fulfill his purpose as a dog. This time, he's accompanied by a girlfriend! They find each other over each one of their lives. There is a paralyzed boy named Burke who acquires Cooper to train as his service dog. Years pass and Burke has a surgery that enables him to use his legs and learns to walk. Cooper loses his sense of purpose. As the story goes on, there is love and loss, laughter and tears, suspense and predictability. The content of this novel was pretty compelling.

*SPOILER*

          One thing I wasn't a fan of was brother stealing brother's girl which happened a couple times throughout the story. A character named Wrenling was dating Burke. Grant falls in love with her and while she's dating his brother, tries to steal her which he does successfully. Later on in the story, Grant is dating a woman and surprise, surprise, she ends up with Burke 😒. I understand the urge of dramatics, but didn't fancy the approach.

          I did however like that Riley was discovered to be Cooper by Burke and ultimately suspected to be Great Grandpa Ethan's dog Bailey. Then that Ethan came back as Burke's newborn son at the end of the story. 🤯

*SPOILER END*

          W. Bruce Cameron has some great ideas in his head. Apparently he was with a woman who had just lost a dog and came up with this idea to ease her grieving and to convince her to let him bring another one into the house. It worked (you sly fox you). This one yet amazing was not my favorite. I would say A Dog's Purpose was. This does however come as a very close second!
        

A Witch's Kind: A Reflection

A Witch's Kind: A Reflection

          I haven't done a review in a while. Since this is a book I read in October of last year as my Halloween read, I decided this was more or less a reflection than a review since it has been a while and the content is no longer fresh in my mind. I chose this book for the title mainly. Who doesn't want to read about Witches during the All Hallows Eve season? I had gone to my local library and was looking at their new releases and pulled this one to read the summary on the inner flap. Safe to say it sounded extremely compelling so I took it home and started to read. I had an extremely hard time putting it down!

          As my memory serves me, This novel is about the tribulations of young witch named Barrie Ann Blythe who kind of reminded me of Sally Owens from Alice Hoffman's "Practical Magic". She fell in love and got married against her Aunt Charlotte's Advice. There had always been a secret in the family and Barrie Ann was unaware of what gifts she had. 

Well anyway her husband was sketchy at best and abandoned his wife. In my opinion, it was for the best. The guy was an asshole for all intensive purposes. Her dog finds something in the water at the back end of  the farm land. It was a baby! Barrie Ann and Aunt Charlotte became attached to this baby and take her in to raise her themselves. The baby shows signs of being, well... unusual. She has her own gifts. Barrie Ann tries her hardest to conceal the baby's abnormality which made the baby a pretty cool character!

The book pretty much details of Barrie Ann and Aunt Charlotte with this unknown origin baby and a husband that is kind of a thorn in Barrie Ann's side. There's heart-warming scenes. Suspense, some sadness, but as all good books have, a happy ending!

I would gladly recommend Louisa Morgan's work to others. I actually want to read other books of hers at some point. To make this more of  reflection is what I gained from reading this. Everyone is different and have their own metaphorical abnormalities but they are the ones who need to be loved and nurtured the most. I also learned the past needs to stay in the past, it's there for a reason. The last thing I took from this book was to always stay true to yourself. You may not have magical powers like a witch does but you are the only you and you need to accept yourself and find how to practice self love. Embrace the odd things about yourself.

City of Ashes: The Mortal Instruments A Book Review

City of Ashes: The Mortal Instruments A Book Review

**SPOILERS**

I would have to say this installment of The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare was pretty compelling. A lot of tension between characters and some action and comedy with it. Clary, Simon, and Jace face Valentine who is Clary and Jace's father in a Demon/Nephilim battle to the deaths. Naturally there's a relatively happy ending and many supporting characters involved.

Pretty much the sum of the story is. As being Valentine's son and being accused of spying on the Clave for him A woman who is the Inquisitor is bent on her beliefs that Jace has betrayed the Shadowhunters and inprisons him to be questioned by her superiors.

**Spoiler Alert**

Jace is used as a pawn by the inquisitor as a trade between the Mortal Instruments Valentine had acquired and his son. She threatened to kill Jace if the Instruments were not returned thinking Valentine genuinely loved his only son. Turned out she was wrong and provided her sincerest apologies to Jace and helped fight in the battle on Valentin's ship. Valentine was on a mission to collect the blood of Downworlder (werewolf, Warlock, Faerie, and Vampire) children  to convert a sword to summon Demons and ultimately cause an apocalypse. 

Cassandra Clare is talented in writing riveting stories That engulf you in the world she imagined and wrote on paper. I actually enjoy her style and am looking forward to receiving the next installment in the mail to continue on the journey of Clary and Jace.

City of Bones: The Mortal Instruments A Book Review

City of Bones: The Mortal Instruments A Book Review

This novel I started forever ago but never quite got into. I was bored and saw it sitting in my collection so I decided to give it a second try. That is where I got hooked. I started on January 4th and finished a week later. I had seen the movie a while ago and at one point really liked it. As I got further into the book however, I started to like the movie less and less. It was nothing like the book and I don't mean that positively. It was a completely different movie but just so happened to share the same title.

This book was sort of boring at first but the more the characters developed, the better it gets. I thought the ending was interesting as well as the twists and turns around every corner. Cassandra Clare, I must admit has one hell of an imagination. The idea of Nephilim (half angel half human) being demon hunters who drink from a cup to become what she calls Shadowhunters is an interesting direction to take. I also liked the fantasy aspect. How it includes warlocks, vampires, werewolves, and mentions of faeries,

This book is about the 15 year old Clary Fray who witnesses a slaying at a club called Pandemonium. She is then located by a shadowhunter named Jace who is curious about how she was able to see them. When Clary's mother gets kidnapped, Jace and Clary, with the help of Isabelle, Alec, and Clary's best friend Simon go through danger trying to find her mother's capture. Her mother's secrets are exposed and there is plenty of betrayal and Drama.

My favorite character must've been Jace. He was charming, and cocky, a bit sarcastic. I'd have to say he was actually the most amusing character in the book. To me, he had the most personality of the crew.

Overall i'd sy this was a decent read when you give it a fighting chance. I don't see how people could hate it so much as a couple reviews I have seen. That may just be me. If you are into light romance, supernatural, fantasy, drama, this is the book for you. I am looking forward to getting the second installment to the series City of Ashes to continue on the journey of this motley crewe.

The Hobbit: A Book Review

The Hobbit: A Book Review

I just finished this one after a long period of time. I don't know why it took so long when it's a classic and honestly not bad of a book. J.R.R Tolkien has a unique imagination and has become a beloved author of many tales. I had been going in and out of my reading blocks and just forgot to read it though i had breezed through other books. Reading this book I switched it up between E-Book and the paperback pictured above.

As everyone must know from either film or novel, This book is about the creature Hobbit  who goes on an adventure with dwarfs to claim back a treasure that was lost to the Dwarf king Thorin. The treasure was being guarded by a dragon named Smaug and this was a tale of their trials and triumphs. I find this book extremely creative filled with Elves and trolls. It was a great book but a little slow of a read.

This was a great prologue to The Lord of The Rings and now watching the movies of the same title some exchanges between Bilbo and Gandalf make more sense. I have an "ah that's what he was referring to" moment. I know it must've been silly to read the book after seeing the sequel's but I'm just a bigger movie buff I guess.

There was a reason I decided to read this book. I had watched the first Hobbit movie and I got to the second movie and their were event gaps that weren't existent in The Lord of The Rings movies. I had decided to read the book to see if it would fill in the missing pieces. Then when I saw how tiny the book was made me wonder how the hell they managed to squeeze three movies from it's contents.

But anyway, The book wasn't so bad, just dragged on partly however that just might be an unpopular opinion. 

A Dog's Journey: A Book Review

A Dog's Journey: A Book Review

This novel was much sadder than it's predecessor "A Dog's Purpose" It is about a girl named Clarity who was a very troubled teenager. She had a narcissist mother and eating disorder. She went with her best friend Trent to pick him out a puppy but one who was named Molly took a liking to her and she ended up leaving with. Like in A Dog's Purpose the dog gets reincarnated a few times and ends up Max and then Toby at some point.

Through this dog's lives it is trying to comfort and guide it's girl CJ (Clarity) into a better path learning valuable lessons along the way.  The love Molly/Max/Toby has for CJ is above anything else and endures many tests.

W. Bruce Cameron really did it a third time with this book. This is the third of his novels I have read and enjoyed it very much even though it almost drew me to tears a few times. It is written in a dog's perspective and contains heartwarming situations and sad events. The ending was sweet though and I really love this author's writing style. It took me longer to read because I'm still going in and out of my reading block.

These novels sure give you another view on a dog's mindset and gives you a higher appreciation for dogs. Don't like dog's? read these and it will leave you wanting one. I can damn near guarantee that. I think next book I read after finally finishing the Hobbit will be "A Dog's Way Home" by W. Bruce Cameron. I really can't get enough of his books.

The Dogs of Christmas: A Book Review

The Dogs of Christmas: A Book Review

**spoilers**

I've been fan of W. Bruce Cameron ever since I read his novel A Dog's Purpose. His dog books are all so cute and being a fan I looked into more of his novels. Naturally as a Christmas present to myself, I gifted myself three more of his books. This one being one of them since I deemed it appropriate for the holiday season. I was hooked to the point I read it in two days. Less if you don't count sleep time. This one had me in 'aww'.

W. Bruce pays great attention to detail. The flow of the story went nicely as well. I noticed a small familarity to a Debbie Macomber novel but a little more realistic with the mushy romantic situations. Like the last book of his I read, He ended his chapters in cliffhangers which kept it a real page turner.

**SPOILERS**

This book is about an emotionally damaged Evergreen, Colorodo man named Josh Michaels who gets landed with a heavily pregnant dog named Lucy. His neighbor abandoned her and vanished. Josh ends in a panic for he has never had a dog before let alone a pregnant one and is terrified of doing it wrong. 

Lucy goes into labor within days and is rushed to the vet where it is discovered all the puppies were still born. Josh learns that it was due to being malnurished. He takes the now depressed Lucy home just to find a box in The tailgate of his pickup. Turns out the box contains a nearly frozen-to-death litter of puppies. Lucy and Josh work as a team to revive the puppies. The mommy dog adopts them in the end of the termoil.

Josh is terrified and calls the nearest shelter to take the dogs away and becomes aquainted with a woman named Kerri who advises him on caring for the puppies until they are old enough to be adopted out with the Dogs of Christmas program. As they work together with the puppies, a budding romance forms and he begins to become attached to the dogs and has a rough time letting 'his' dogs go.

As the book goes on he finally finds the strength to let go of all the causes of his inner damages and the puppies. He discovers Lucy was stolen from her owner and realizes he has to let her go as well. All's well that ends well though. By Christmas he has a girlfriend and the company of two of the puppies.

This book was adorable and heart-warming. There is joy and sadness and a happy ending that makes you want to cry happy tears. W. Bruce did it again! I absolutely loved this one. Not as much as A Dog's Purpose but it's definitely a close second. Very much looking forward to reading his other doggy books as well as some day reading Emory's Gift which is for another time. Well played W. Bruce Cameron, well played.

Echoes of Evil: A Krewe of Hunters Book Review

Echoes of Evil: A Krewe of Hunters Book Review

**SPOILERS**

This book is the 26th installment of The Krewe of Hunters series by Heather Graham. This one took me forever to read it seems. Partly because of my reading blocks where I just can't seem to pick up a book. It was also somewhat slow moving. Heather did manage to change the flow somewhat in this novel but overall it was the same idea. man sees ghosts, man meets damsel in distress, man and girl fall in love within' two days, there's some crime/mystery and ghosts mixed in throughout the book. After a while it gets tedious because you already figured out the pattern of the books.

**SPOILER ALERT**

This one was about a McFadden brother named Brodie. He is in Key West on vacation when he accidentally discovers a body strung to a shipwreck. He, with the help of a young woman named Kody McCoy work together to solve the crime with the help of two ghosts. Cliff who was another victim in this story and Captain Hunter who is Kody's residential 'friend'. Naturally there is attraction between Kody and Brodie and within days they hook-up and fall in love. Pretty unrealistic if you ask me. I will admit Heather did get me in the end with an unexpected pair of murderers. I will also admit that towards chapters 14 - the conclusion had me wanting more. it was very intense and mysterious.

Heather Graham is a relatively a good author. I wouldn't say she's as talented as perhaps Stephen King or Anne Rice but she seems to be my author soulmate. I have read eight novels from this series already and mean to continue to catch up on it. 

Dead Spot

Dead Spot

Unfortunately I have been taking forever to finish a book. I'm sorry I haven't kept up on my blog, but as it being a book review blog I haven't finished a book to review. I'm calling it my 'Dead Spot' I occasionally go through phases where it's hard for me to pick up a book but I've been reading a couple little by little. The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien and Echoes of Evil by Heather Graham. I try to force myself to pick them up and read at least a chapter every once in a while but lately I've been forgetting to do that these days.

I hate when I go through these phases. I love to read normally and it sucks having a ton of books I look at in my room and no will to pick one up. Lord knows I've got a ton of books on my to-be-read list. Have you ever gone through reading dead spots? How did you get out of the funk? Like I said I am trying to force myself to read hoping the desire to read will come back but i'm having no luck thus far.

This is annoying because i'm starting to feel like my six year old. He refuses to pick up a book. Doesn't want to read anything or learn to read. Granted, I already know how to read I just don't want to read. My love for reading came later in life. Around my mid-twenties. I discovered I had a love for Crime, Mystery, and Fantasy. Occasional romance like Nicholas Sparks novels as well. I've also become a fan of Heather Graham who is the author of The Krewe of Hunters series I enjoyed and W. Bruce Cameron who wrote A Dog's Purpose which was an amazing read. I'm hoping to get the sequel (A Dog's Journey) for Christmas or perhaps buy it for myself beforehand if I can conjure up the dough, it's only $5 on Discover Books. Maybe that book will trigger my love for reading back. you think?

Anyway I'll try to broaden my blog horizon with other book related information. Maybe I can gain excitement over novel releases or I don't really know. I'll think of something I guess. Let me know if there's anything you want me to blog about and i'll try my best!

Pale As Death: A Krewe of Hunters Book Review

Pale As Death: A Krewe of Hunters Book Review

Sorry folks, It's been a while since I wrote a review but I was going through a reading block and couldn't seem to pick up a book. This novel is the 25th installment of the Krewe of Hunters series by Heather Graham. I have written other reviews on her books and I must say, These books are captivating.

This book wasn't my favorite but it was good in it's own way. Going forward with the series things become somewhat predictable. crime scene, man meets woman, man and woman fall in love after sleeping together in less than a week, a ghost comes along and helps them solve the crime, and at the end of the book one or the other joins the Krewe and the couple lives happily ever after. That's not even all that's predictable, if i told you every single part there'd be no reason in picking up the book. Not that there's much of a reason to now I suppose.

This book was about a LAPD detective named Sophie Manning who is convinced she's hallucinating when a ghost makes itself known during a press conference. She meets Bruce McFadden who is sent by his brother Bryan to investigate a Dahlia copycat series of murders. There is sexual tension between the two at first that quickly grows into a lustful attraction. They are accompanied by a ghost named Michael who helps them find clues to solve this heinous murders of two wannabe actresses. What history will they uncover and will they solve the crime or be distracted by the budding flame between the two?

The best part of these series is they are attached to real people or real crimes. The Dahlia murders that took place in the 1940's was an actual occurrence. My favorite of the series (Wicked Deeds) was based off the writings of Edgar Allen Poe and surrounded his demise. Ms. Graham really has a great imagination on how she can piece together the past and the present to make a brilliant fictional piece of art. I also like the paranormal aspect. Every novel has a ghost buddy to help solve the crimes and is somewhat considered the comic relief. 

As I noted, this isn't my favorite of the series but it is worthy of being recommended. If you like Crime, Mystery, Paranormal, Romance mixtures then look no further than this series. I've read books 1, 2, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and am currently on the 26th installment. It's very difficult to put down and keeps you on the edge of your seat. You need to know, What happens next? Who committed the crime? These novels will keep you guessing and are seldom how you expect them to end.

Unholy City: A Book Review

Unholy City: A Book Review

I found this novel in the "New" section at the local library. I'm a big fan of suspense and murder/mysteries i've come to realize so this seemed right up my alley. This took me a long time to read because i'm going in and out of my wanting to read phase. A phase I loathe to the core to fall out of. That's a different story for a different blog though.

This book was rather interesting. It was about a double homicide outside of a vestry. A Team of detectives, Cordella, and Haggerty are put on the case to solve whether or not the double homicides were coincidental or connected and of course the murderer. As the story progresses skeletons are released from the closets of the parishioners and there are twists and turns behind every corner.

Carrie Smith, I discovered, is a very unique author. Her writing style is somewhat different and she is someone I would really like to know what is going through her head to come up with a religion meets crime novel. I suppose the title 'Unholy City' is a dead give away that it is of a religious nature but it is subtle. The only thing relatively religious about this book besides it's name is that the murder occurred in the garden of a church.

To be completely honest, I was impartial to the book. I couldn't really say it was amazing or that it was horrible. It's sitting on the thin grey line of indifference. I did however enjoy that it kept your curiosity to find out more about the characters and who might have been guilty to the victims' demise. The ending wasn't in a presumable manner, it was rather unexpected.

Would I recommend this book? no, probably not, and it took me forever to read because it wasn't really good at keeping my interest. Not to say others wouldn't like it. Personally though, wasn't that pleasant of a read for me.

Skinny Bitch: A Book Review

Skinny Bitch: A Book Review

I got into a phase to read self-help books. This was the first I turned to and honestly some of it actually scared me into becoming Vegan. Which I have been for a couple weeks now. This book is a way to scare you straight I suppose. It tells you all the dangers in the food you eat.

To be fair I think it took it to the extremes though. I however read the chapter about meat and how the animals are treated before being killed in slaughter houses. It was in descriptive disgusting detail of what the workers are doing to the poor things and that no one is going to stop it. Or how they pump cows full of steroids to produce more milk to make the consumers' demands. Now I drink Almond milk and to be honest, I could drink that all day every day. It tastes much better than cow's milk anyway.

This book is pretty much encouraging you to eat hay and drink spring water for the rest of your life. I think that's a little too much to put it lightly. I have gone Vegan but it's in a pretty basic sense of the term. I don't buy all organic produce, I look at labels to make sure there's no animal byproducts in the food i'm eating such as butter, eggs, milk, cheese. That's for a different blog entry though. my journey with being Vegan will be on This Girl's Life: A Blog

This book doesn't even talk about exercise. It pretty much says you can be lazy as long as you're eating a diet of organic grass and bottled water. Jee, Thanks for scaring me into a pasture lifestyle Rory and Kim...

Fade to Black: A Krewe of Hunters Book Review

Fade to Black: A Krewe of Hunters Book Review

**Spoilers**

This book in The Krewe of Hunters series I just so happen to really like. To the point I read it in three days! It was based in Hollywood where a power couple's son Bryan McFadden is a P.I and there's a tragic murder of an actress from a beloved TV show in Hollywood. He is sent there by his deceased parents to protect Marnie Davante whom is suspected to be the next victim.

Of course this book is predictable if you catch on reading others in this series and a little sex. but being based around acting and Hollywood had me curious about it. There was even some name dropping of real life actors in Hollywood to make it a tad more realistic.

Heather Graham really outdid herself on this one and is making me anxious to read what happens next. There are 24 books in this series with another two due out in July and September. I have read six of them so far. Have a long way to go to catch up on the full series.

Heart of Evil: A Krewe of Hunters Book Review

Heart of Evil: A Krewe of Hunters Book Review

This book was honestly pretty boring. It's based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana based after a battle reenactment. A man named Charles Osgood goes missing. Th plantation owner's grand daughter Ashley Donegal immediately knows something's wrong and the Krewe of Hunters is called to solve the case. 

There's drama, mystery, romance, and even ghosts but it took me forever to finish this book and I was happy when it was over. The author, Heather Graham, seemed to have lacked her magic touch on this one. I suppose with all life it's a hit or miss situation. This one would be her miss. Don't get me wrong, i'm still a big fan of this series just not this novel in particular.

This was rather predictable. These two are gonna hook up, this person is gonna go missing, it just overall wasn't that fun of a read and I'm also not a big fan of sexual content in books and she does portray some in this book.

Phantom Evil: A Krewe of Hunters Book Review

Phantom Evil: A Krewe of Hunters Book Review

I had started late in the series with the Krewe of Hunters novel "Dying Breath" by Heather Graham. I had gotten so addicted that I eventually went back to start reading the older novels from the series to play catch up. This was the first novel of the series and I had read the e-book version since it was on my phone. Published in 2011 it introduces us to the crew. Jackson, Angela, Will, Jake, and Whitney.

This book would be classified under the paranormal/fantasy/crime/suspense/romance genres. It appeals to many. I am more a fan of subtle romance. I could do without the sexual content throughout the novel. I would have to say though, I love Heather's writing style. I am at the edge of my seat wanting more to the point I read the whole book in a few days.

This book follows a man named Adam Harrison who puts together a team of members who have a sixth sense for the paranormal. They are helped in solving crimes from those beyond the grave as they are discovered. This particular novel follows the Axeman of New Orleans, Louisiana. What I like about these novels as they are inspired by truth and spawn off from the history of the events.

I actually looked up these events and even though they are not portrayed as they were in the book, they were based on truth. The team works together with their new friends from the netherworld to crack the case of the mysterious death of a politician's wife and the can of worms that are unfolded in their investigation.

Aside from the sex scenes between two of the members of the team who find lust and love in the most unlikely of places at the most inopportune time, The novel was very good and it was a pleasure to read. I would recommend this novel to just about any woman who is into these types of novels. I would like to note that the sexual content is more or less hinted in the future novels without the in depth detail.

A Dog's Purpose: A Book Review

A Dog's Purpose: A Book Review

**Spoilers**

I just got done reading this gem the other day. Honestly, I have nothing bad to say about this book! It's pretty much summed up as a dog who keeps reincarnating until he fills his purpose. It's packed with feel good moments, some sadness as well as comedic scenes. I had a really hard time putting it down to where instead of reading it in about a week which is my normal, I finished it in only three days.

W. Bruce Cameron has a captivating writing style and I figured out his trick to keep you turning pages. It seems that every end of a chapter was a cliff hanger that kept you wanting to solve the mystery. I actually liked that because it kept me engaged in the content. It's probably why I finished the book in so little time.

**SPOILER ALERT**

There are many parts to the book that I liked. I discovered they all have a substory as well. Bailey's Story, Ellie's Story Which were all Identities this one dog soul took as when reincarnated. The stories behind each of this dog's lives was very unique and all had a purpose except for maybe it's first. Toby who was a stray who found a home in a dog yard with a latina woman who hoarded animals.

Toby's life was short. He was living with his mother, two brothers, Fast and Hungry, and his sister. Unfortunately Hungry died before they found their way to the yard. The Latina woman was caught hoarding the dogs and they were taken away and euthanized which included Toby.

Toby wakes up as Bailey who had a completely different life. Born a Golden Retriever and escaping the puppy mill, he makes a journey to being found by a woman and presented to her young son Ethan. There was no greater bond than there was between Bailey and Ethan. Bailey learned some useful tricks that would carry on and make a big impact on his next life. Luckily Bailey lived to old age and woke up from his sleep in yet another body.

Ellie was Bailey's next persona. A female which made an interesting turn in the book as well as a bit humorous. Ellie was a Search and Rescue German Shepard. She learned tricks such as "find" and "show" which taught her how to use her sense of smell. There was an accident that impacted her sense of smell and she was forced to retire from the police K-9 unit. She managed to become a hero saving a few people when she too died of old age loved dearly by her masters.

Ellie woke up a black Labrador who was eventually named Buddy. He was in an abusive environment until he escaped and realized where he was. He went on a search for his "boy" Ethan. He used tactics he learned from each life. Hiding away from people and in the darkness like Toby, "save" like Bailey which would in fact come to have a different meaning toward the end of the novel, and "find" and the good use of his nose from being Ellie. The best was his determination to find his boy.

In the end, Bailey/Buddy and Ethan were reunited and he saved Ethan's life of sheer loneliness in turn giving Ethan happiness. Bailey had finally fulfilled his purpose by saving his boy.

Ethan died with Buddy at his side and he saw through to Buddy's soul and knew then it was Bailey. It was a sad touching climax to a beautiful story. This book made me look at my dog's differently. How much does she love me? Has she been reincarnated before? what might be on her mind? If you don't already have a dog this book just might make you want one. Well played W. Bruce Cameron, Well played

A Walk To Remember: A Book Review

A Walk To Remember: A Book Review

This was a very touching novel. It is very different than the film and it was one of those books you couldn't help but critiquing by the movie. As for example "why wasn't that in the book, or that in the movie?" I must admit that I rather enjoyed my read and it dare to make me well up tears a few times. Which might I add is rather difficult to accomplish normally.

This is a novel about a high school boy and girl, Landon and Jamie. He dislikes her so much but as he is forced to spend time with her learns there is more to her than the dull matter that meets the eye. She was selfless and kind where as he was immature and self-absorbed. The problem is she has a secret that he just can't seem to figure out. Against her wishes, he falls in love with her and changes from a teenage boy into a caring man. This book shows that Love has no conditions. Even though I don't believe in this kind of love, I find it a good novel because it shows that love doesn't happen in days as in a, for existence, Debbie Macomber book.

This book had somewhat of a Romeo & Juliet feel to it as well. It was a very sweet novel and definitely got me in the feels. Nicholas Sparks is very talented. The problem is in every one of his novels someone dies when the aspect of love is transpired between characters. They all kind of have similarities to others of his work. 

My sister used to read his books but now doesn't because she found out that Mr. Sparks is way Republican. As a part of the Independent party, I would have to close with a statement of mine.

Books aren't biased. They don't say "only white people can read me, only straight people can read me, only democrats can read me." They don't call to any one person. The pages of every book have been turned by people of all shapes, sizes, colors and with their own beliefs. So with that being said. Why do you have to discriminate a good work of art based on that concept within an author? Every book has a two stories, The story within the cover, and a story of where the book has been.