REVIEW: Twisted Twenty-Six by Janet Evanovich

Title: Twisted Twenty-Six (Stephanie Plum #26)
Author: Janet Evanovich
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Publication Date: November 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Humor / Mystery
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Stephanie Plum's career has taken more wrong turns than a student driver on the Jersey Turnpike, and her love life is a hopeless tangle. In order to save someone dear to her, she'll have to straighten things out in Twisted Twenty-Six the latest, novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich.

Grandma Mazur is a widow...again. This time her marriage lasted a whole 45 minutes. The unlucky groom was one Jimmy Rosolli, local gangster, lothario (senior division) and heart attack waiting to happen...well, the waiting's over.

It's a sad day, but if she can't have Jimmy at least Grandma can have all the attention she wants as the dutiful widow. But some kinds of attention are not welcomed, particularly when Jimmy's former "business partners" are convinced that his widow is keeping the keys to their financial success for herself.

As someone who has spent an entire career finding bad guys, a set of missing keys should be no challenge for Stephanie Plum. Problem is, the facts are as twisted as a boardwalk pretzel with mustard.

My Thoughts: After finishing the last book in this series, I honestly thought I was done with the whole kit and kaboodle. I didn’t feel there was anything refreshing or original anymore, just the same old round and round with Stephanie, Lula, Grandma, Joe and Ranger. Stephanie still hates her job, still keeps her gun in the cookie jar, still dating Joe but lusting after Ranger and still can’t keep a vehicle longer than 5 minutes. She’s a hopeless mess and her life is a trainwreck on the best of days. Why do I keep coming back?

I keep coming back to this series because Stephanie is like family. You know, the cousin or sibling who is great fun to be around even though she’s a hot mess and disaster is usually three steps behind her. Maybe I’m just a glutton for punishment, but I know when I’m hanging with Stephanie and Lula, I’m going to be entertained at the very least. Perhaps, not quality entertainment, but there will be laughter and lots of food.

In this installment, we get to spend a lot of time with Grandma. She’s a widow again, after marrying Jimmy Rosolli, who drops dead not long after. Jimmy ran with a bad crowd…think The Sopranos and they are after a set of keys they believe Jimmy gave to Grandma when he died. Nobody will say what the keys look like, what they open or what using the keys will provide. Grandma says she doesn’t have any keys and a Molotov cocktail thrown through the front room window and an attempted kidnapping doesn’t change her mind either.

In between chasing down her FTA’s, Stephanie and Lula decide to look for the keys, which proves quite difficult as nobody seems to know what they look like or how many there are. And to make matters worse, several members of Jimmy’s family are less than pleased that Grandma stands to inherit Jimmy’s millions and are willing to fight dirty to get their hands on it.

I really enjoyed this adventure with Stephanie and the gang. I adore Grandma and, like Stephanie, don’t want to see anything bad happen to her. She’s such a hoot and the series wouldn’t be the same without her.

Lula brought a lot of comic relief to the story, as usual, and I laughed aloud many times at her shenanigans. I’m still wondering what Lula does for money because she’s not a licensed bond enforcement agent and she is always tagging along with Stephanie instead of filing in the bond office. How the heck is she making rent?!

I loved that there were many Ranger appearances and yes, he gives her another car. I love that he is there for her and yes, he has ulterior motives, but I know he cares for her. I honestly don’t know why Stephanie doesn’t go to work for Ranger since she loathes her job. I doubt she would have to worry about making her rent.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a lot of fun and though some of the stories have sunk like stones for me, this one has renewed my interest in Trenton, NJ and the quirky lives of its residents. I recommend the audio narrated by the very talented Lorelei King. She voices the characters splendidly, bringing their personalities to life.

REVIEW: Thirty Days to Thirty by Courtney Psak

Title: Thirty Days to Thirty
Author: Courtney Psak
Publisher: CAMP Publishing
Publication Date: September 2015
Genre: Chick-Lit / Contemporary Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: What if you were on the cusp of marrying the guy of your dreams and reaching that career goal you set for yourself, only for all of it to be taken away in one fell swoop?

What if this all happened a month before you turned 30?

This is the story of Jill Stevens, who after moving back home, finds a list she made in high school of thirty things she wanted to accomplish before her thirtieth birthday.

With a month left and hardly anything crossed off her list, she teams up with old friends to accomplish as much as she can before the big 3-0. Along the way, she discovers her true self and realizes it’s not about the material successes in life but the journey.

My Thoughts: Thirty Days to Thirty by new to me author Courtney Psak was a lot of fun to read. I felt a strong connection to Jill as a woman who is at a major crossroads in her life with the big 3-0 looming and her realization that she hasn’t accomplished everything she thought she would. After losing her job, boyfriend and home all in the same day, Jill does what many people do. She moves back in with her parents.

And if that isn’t bad enough, she discovers a list she wrote in high school of thirty things she wants to achieve before she turns 30. Not a big deal, right? Her birthday is a month away and you can imagine how quickly the panic sets in. Some of the things on her list have already been completed. Finish college, check. Work at a law firm, check. However, some of the items on her list seem insurmountable. Get on TV; save a life; kiss a stranger…are you kidding me?! And let’s not even discuss what motivated Jill to include skydiving as one of those items.

What made this book so much fun for me is tagging along while Jill starts to sort out her life. Her best friend, Liz provides much needed moral support and comic relief. Additionally, Jill’s ex-boyfriend from high school, Chris, is also there. Jill hasn’t seen or spoken to him for ten years and I loved how easily they got along and wondered why Jill let him go in the first place. I laughed aloud many times at Jill’s attempts to complete some of the items, such as taking up yoga. Along the way, Jill comes to realize that it’s not the destination that’s important, but the journey.

I enjoyed meeting all of the characters and though her parents got on her nerves because, you know, they’re parents, seeing their relationship become stronger was wonderful.

The only issue readers may have with this book is the speed in which Jill and Chris get back together, profess their feelings and make a commitment. This entire book takes place within a period of one month so it may appear that Jill is totally on the rebound in her relationship with Chris. I had to suspend disbelief and just tell myself that when it’s right, it’s right and when you know, you know and hope for the best.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a fun story with characters that I was rooting for from the beginning. I recommend this book to readers who like their stories to have humor and fun mixed in with the romance and featuring characters that aren’t all that different from the rest of us, just trying to get through the hurdles life throws without falling flat on our faces.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Thirty Days to Thirty from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The List by Carys Jones

Title: The List
Author: Carys Jones
Publisher: Orion
Publication Date: October 2020
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Five names on a list. The first two are dead. The third one is yours.

Beth Belmont runs every day, hard and fast on the trail near home. She knows every turn, every bump in the road. So, when she spots something out of place - a slip of white paper at the base of a tree - she's drawn to it.

On the paper are five names. The third is her own.

Beth can't shake off the unease the list brings. Why is she on it? And what ties her to the other four strangers?

Curiosity getting the better of her, Beth looks up the first two names, only to find that they're both dead.

Is she next?

Delving into the past of the two dead strangers, the truth Beth finds will lead her headlong into her darkest and most dangerous nightmares...

My Thoughts: Upon meeting Beth Belmont initially, the reader is given a strong impression that someone is targeting her and means to do her harm. While out jogging one morning, Beth finds a piece of paper with five names, her name is the third. She doesn’t know the other people or even recognize the names, so she begins to research the names and discovers the first two names on the list are dead under very suspicious circumstances.

What does this mean?
Is she next?
Who is the author of the list?
Why is she being targeted?

I had all manner of theories regarding the above questions, and I was completely wrong about all of it. This story has an excruciatingly slow build as the author takes the reader into the past, introducing us to a young girl named Ruby, who is institutionalized and is less than cooperative with her therapy. Trying to understand the relevance between Ruby and Beth was frustrating, but I when I finally connected the dots, I needed to know more. The author also adds passages from the point of view of the list’s author, which were even more convoluted and confusing. This unnamed character spends the majority of the book watching Beth, but does not reveal their identity, reasons or agenda until nearly the end. There were so many twists and turns in this story that I started to feel dizzy.

Beth, herself, is very complex and hard to relate to or get to know. She lives in a house with her boyfriend, but outside of jogging, appears to have no goals, hobbies or career aspirations. Her boyfriend encourages her to do more with her life and not waste her talent working at the cinema loading the movie reels. She suffers from nightmares on a regular basis but refuses to talk about it and does not appear to have any friends or close associates. She struck me as a very lonely and isolated character.

My Final Verdict: The audiobook was narrated by Charlotte Worthing, who did an admirable job voicing all of the different characters, which made following the timelines and knowing who was speaking easier for this reader. I may not have finished this book if I was reading the print or e-book edition.

What do you say about a book that completely builds up the story, leading the reader in one direction, but then does a complete 180 and goes somewhere the reader does not expect? I say give it a shot and prepare to be shocked and surprised at what these characters reveal about themselves, their actions, their lives and each other.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The List from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Sister Agatha: The World's Oldest Serial Killer by Domhnall O'Donoghue

Title: Sister Agatha: The World’s Oldest Serial Killer
Author: Domhnall O’Donoghue
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Publication Date: August 2016
Genre: General Fiction / Humor / Mystery
Buy The Book: Amazon

Description: Sister Agatha is a colossal 118 years of age, whose vim and vigour would put the most robust athletes to shame. During a routine check-up, however, her doctor claims she has just a week to live, news that proves to be quite inconvenient, seeing as the beloved sister has one ambition in life: to be the oldest person in the world. At last count, she was the fifth.

However, never one to admit defeat, Sister Agatha concocts a bold Plan B. Dusting off her passport, she decides to leave Irish shores for the first time in her very long life, and using the few days remaining, plans to travel across three continents and meet the only four people whose birthday cakes boast more candles than hers.

And then, one by one, she intends on killing them.

My Thoughts: Please, for the love of God, don’t follow in my steps and wait too bloody long to read this book. I say “Bollocks!” to real life and anything else that might interfere with picking up this book right now and diving in.

The former Butsy Miller, now known as Sister Agatha, has been on this Earth for a very long time and has seen her share of trials and tribulations. She’s known love and heartbreak. At the spry age of 118, she has lived through quite a bit and outlived her family and friends. She has no reason to think that this will change, but during a routine visit to her doctor for her check-up, she is given the impression through a major misunderstanding that she has about a week to live.

Obviously, this will not do, as it has long been her aspiration and goal to be the oldest person alive on the planet. The problem is that she’s the fifth oldest living person, so she decides she will abscond with the convent’s debit card and travel the globe to locate the four older persons…and kill them. Yes, you heard correctly. This sweet, very old and innocent appearing nun is out for blood. Her quest will take her to Tunisia, Chicago, Warsaw and Venice.

First, I need to extend all love, appreciation and many kudos to the very talented Domhnall O’Donoghue for giving us a story that has so many twists and turns, but keeps the reader fully engaged. The story switches between the past and present so seamlessly and sidebar snippets are inserted that, at first glance, appear irrelevant to the story, but quickly and cleanly tie in and connect to the story. A very brilliant writing technique that I have never seen done so successfully.

I had so much fun tagging along with Sister Agatha. I liked her immensely and really didn’t want to see her start murdering people, but a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. She’s already in trouble with the man upstairs for the theft of the debit card, so she really doesn’t have anything to lose, right? Along the way, she meets many interesting and entertaining characters that added to my enjoyment of this story.

My Final Verdict: This story shocked me, surprised me and made me laugh aloud numerous times. I also got a little misty-eyed at parts. Sister Agatha felt like family and I felt quite protective of her. I highly recommend this book to everyone to read right now and many thanks to Domhnall O’Donoghue for giving Sister Agatha to me. I shall cherish her always.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Sister Agatha: The World’s Oldest Serial Killer from the author in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Love and Blarney by Zara Keane

Title: Love and Blarney (Ballybeg #2)
Author: Zara Keane
Publisher: Beaverstone Press LLC
Publication Date: August 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Married in Manhattan…
Ruairí MacCarthy abandoned his life in New York to deal with a family crisis in Ireland. Twelve months later, he’s traded his three-piece suits and Wall Street career for jeans and a job managing his family’s pub in Ballybeg. When his estranged wife bursts back into his life looking for reconciliation, Ruairí must decide if home is where the heart is.

…True Love in Ballybeg.
Jayme King wants Ruairí back. She’s prepared to battle sheep, floods, and crazy Irish in-laws to get him. Discovering he lied about his past was a shock, but Jayme’s had months come to terms with the betrayal. Letting Ruairí go was the biggest mistake of her life. Can she persuade him to return to America and give their marriage a second chance?

My Thoughts: A short, sweet and quite predictable story of a married couple on the verge of divorce being given an opportunity to resolve their differences against the backdrop of a quaint Irish village.

The story moved smoothly, and I enjoyed meeting Ruairi and Jayme but didn’t feel as deep a connection to them as I did the couple in the first book of this series. I honestly spent most of my time reading this book repeating Ruairi’s name and hoping I was pronouncing it correctly. Roo Ree, not Roar Ree. His name didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the story, but it certainly distracted me several times.

The conflict between these two characters was resolved so quickly, I had to stop and think about what the problem between them actually was and why they were living on separate continents to begin with. With the exception of Ruairi’s father, I enjoyed meeting his family and touring the area, especially Blarney Castle. I will have to side with Ruairi, however, and decline getting on my hands and knees to kiss the Blarney Stone.

I enjoy this author’s writing style and voice and if romance isn’t your preferred genre, she has a seven (so far) book mystery series that looks to be a lot of fun that I also have on my to be read pile. Start with Dial P For Poison .

My Final Verdict: Overall, an enjoyable addition to this series and though they can be read as stand-alone stories, I recommend reading them in order to enjoy the development of the secondary characters. I’m looking forward to continuing this series with Love and Leprechauns .

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Love and Blarney from the author in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Confessions of a First Time Mum by Poppy Dolan

Title: Confessions of a First Time Mum
Author: Poppy Dolan
Publisher: Canelo
Publication Date: June 2018
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Stevie’s life has changed beyond recognition since having her first baby. Stevie loves being a mum, but between the isolation and being vomited on five times a day, she really wishes she had someone to talk to.

With husband Ted working hard to keep the family afloat, Stevie really doesn’t want to burden him with her feelings. Turning to the internet, Stevie starts the anonymous First-Time Mum blog and blasts the rose-tinted glasses of parenthood right off her readers.

In the real world, Stevie meets the formidable Nelle and gorgeous Will, along with their own little treasures, and starts to realize that being a ‘perfect mum’ isn’t everything. But when the secret blog goes viral, Stevie must make some tough choices about who she wants to be, and whether she’s ready for the world to know the truth…

My Thoughts: Confessions of a First Time Mum by new to me author Poppy Dolan introduces us to former PR executive Stevie and her day-to-day struggles and challenges with being a first-time mother. That, in and of itself, doesn’t sound all that exciting and interesting, or easy to relate to for people who have not experienced parenthood. The wonderful thing about this book is it is easy to relate to Stevie as we all have been in her place, striving to succeed in a world where most days are an uphill climb, trying to make ends meet and bring each day into some sort of semblance of balance and structured order.

I thought Stevie was a riot and her PR background really came into play when she decides to start a blog to strip bare the fantasy of parenthood with the brutal and sometimes horrifying reality of being a first-time parent. The constant crying; the demonic projectile vomiting; the poo explosions; the post-partum saggy bits of skin and what the heck happened to my breasts!?

Stevie feels like she is travelling this road by herself; that she has somehow lost herself and her self-worth along the way. She doesn’t feel like she can talk to her husband and forget about making any Mom mates as they will most likely run screaming in the opposite direction. Fortunately, Stevie does meet and make friends with other parents and even discovers that she still has a lot of talent in promoting not just herself, but also her friends and helping to organize a parent’s festival.

In addition to a plot that flowed smoothly and characters that were easy to empathize with and relate to, I had the added benefit of listening to the audiobook edition narrated by Lizzie Wofford. If, like me, you are a fan of audiobooks, the narrator can make or break the story. The pairing of Poppy Dolan’s books with Lizzie Wofford’s narration is brilliant. On the page and in my ear, they both bring these characters to life and provided many hours of laugh aloud moments.

My Final Verdict: I loved this book and highly recommend it to readers who like stories that center around really flawed characters who are trying their best and sometimes get it wrong, but don’t give up. I also highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that give them stitches from laughing so hard or draws them so fully into the story, they feel like they know these characters and are right beside them every step of the way.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Confessions of a First Time Mum from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Xoe: Vampires, Werewolves and Demons, Oh My! by Sara C. Roethle

Title: Xoe: Vampires, Werewolves and Demons, Oh My! (Xoe Meyers #1)
Author: Sara C. Roethle
Publisher: Vulture’s Eye Publications
Publication Date: October 2009
Genre: Fantasy / Teen / Young Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Xoe Meyers had a normal life. So she was stuck going to high school, and she only had a few friends to call her own. She liked her normal life. Things were about to change though, because there's a new guy in her small town, and he is anything but normal.

Before Xoe can say, "Werewolf," her best friend's life is in peril, and Xoe's world is turned upside-down. Then, of course, there's Jason. Xoe doesn't trust him as far as she can throw him, and given that he's a vampire, she'd have to be able to catch him first.

My Thoughts: New to me author Sara Roethle offers up a passable story about a high school student who learns that supernatural beings exist in the most abrupt and shocking of ways. Xoe Meyers is a typical teenager, though her life is about to become the most untypical of lives trying to deal with the knowledge that werewolves, vampires and demons exist among us and the danger this knowledge puts her and her friends in.

I thought this was an interesting take on werewolf and vampire fiction. Xoe is a likable character though she comes across as anti-social. Her friends Lucy and Allison are polar opposites of Xoe and I marveled at their compatibility, but it worked well. Xoe’s trust issues are clearly evident from the start and learning that her father abandoned her and her mother when she was a baby sheds a lot of light on Xoe’s personality. Unlike Xoe, I liked Jason from the start and was glad that he is an ally.

I had some issues with the Dan character. He could have been fleshed out more to give the reader more clarity and understanding about his intentions and motives. He comes across as very mysterious and intriguing in the beginning and when we begin to see him for who he really is, it felt like there was a large hole that needed filling but was left empty, leaving this reader flat with unresolved feelings.

I also had some issues with Xoe’s friend, Brian. I found him to be very likable and I wish he were brought into the circle and told what was going on. This is the first story in a series of eight (so far) books, so having cliff-hangers and conflicts with no closure are to be expected. Brian and Xoe’s friendship presents one such conflict offering no closure that I hope will be addressed in the series.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this is a good start to what appears to be an interesting series. It is important for the reader to have patience as there is a lot to learn yet about all of the characters. For me, there were a lot of unanswered questions about what transpired in this story so I will continue the series.

REVIEW: Six Dates by Jennifer Joyce

Title: Six Dates
Author: Jennifer Joyce
Publisher: Jennifer Joyce
Publication Date: November 2018
Genre: Chick-Lit

Description: Natalie attends a speed-dating event where hopefully the dates are as delicious as the desserts.

My Thoughts: A super short story featuring Natalie attending her first speed-dating event where with the ring of the bell, she meets a new man and gets to sample a new dessert. This is my first time reading this author and I found her writing to be fun and witty. I liked Natalie and felt loads of empathy for her as she has to meet and get to know five different men in 15-minute rounds. I loved the idea of each round bringing a different dessert but 15 minutes is not nearly enough time to ascertain if the person sitting in front of you is compatible.

As is the case in real life, dating is a gamble and you don’t know what you’re going to end up with at first glance. Each of the five men Natalie meets are different and some were just awful, but thankfully Natalie does meet a winner.

My Final Verdict: Cute story with recipes for each of the desserts featured. If you are going to subject yourself to speed dating, hopefully the desserts make it all the more sweeter. I look forward to reading more from this author.

REVIEW: Seeking Philbert Woodbead by Anya Wylde

Title: Seeking Philbert Woodbead (Fairweather Sisters #2)
Author: Anya Wylde
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication Date: June 2015
Genre: Historical Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Miss Celine Fairweather's life was bobbing along like a boat on a tranquil stream when a summons from her beloved sister Penelope Radclyff, the Duchess of Blackthorne, changed it all. Celine hurtles off to the London to help the duchess run the Blackthorne Mansion and to discover the whereabouts of her lost love Philbert Woodbead.

Celine manages to keep things deathly dull and under control for a whole week until she enlists the help of the handsome Lord Elmer-a mischievous rogue, an ex-pirate, and an incorrigible flirt who is wanted dead by all of England's husbands with attractive wives. They scurry from one giddy escapade to another seeking Philbert in musty inns and dusty streets, and through it all Celine tries to keep her bonnet straight, her gloves spotless and her heart in tune with her head.

Life has suddenly turned exciting, and love has well and truly bitten her rosy buttocks. Now the only question is ... who has done the biting?

My Thoughts: When I pick up an Anya Wylde title, I know I am in for a madcap adventure leading to the most unexpected of outcomes and filled with fun and frivolity the entire way. Seeking Philbert Woodbead does not disappoint. Reuniting with characters from Penelope, Philbert introduces us to another Fairweather sister, Celine, who comes to Blackthorne Manor to assist Penelope, who is very pregnant and has been put on limited activities. Unbeknownst to all in residence at the Manor, Celine is on a mission of her own; to locate her true love, a poet named Philbert Woodbead who has left her with god-awful poetry and vague clues as to his whereabouts. To assist her in her endeavors, Celine enlists help from Lord Elmer, another guest at the Manor and with a reputation that Celine would do well to avoid being connected with.

First of all, I admired Celine’s spirit and her dedication to finding her poet, though I had to question her taste as well as her sanity as Philbert does not sound at all like someone she is suited for. Secondly, I found Lord Elmer a delight. His deliberate mispronunciations of Philbert’s name and his loony plans for finding him had me laughing aloud numerous times. I enjoyed spending time with Penelope and Charles again and found them to be wonderful additions to this story.

This story is silly, cheeky and oh so much fun! There are nasty villains afoot looking for Lord Elmer, daring rescues from pirates, horrible poetry that incites a gag reflex instead of hearts aflutter. There are fake moustaches, dinner parties and a ball. I could go on and on about all of the fun Celine and Lord Elmer have while trying to ignore the fact they are perfectly suited for one another, but you should really read the book and enjoy seeing it happen for yourself.

My Final Verdict: If you haven’t read Penelope’s story first, I recommend you start there, just to get a feel of the characters and to understand the background. As of this review, there are four books in this series, and I expect Dorothy’s story will be just as much fun as the first two.

REVIEW: Know No Evil by Graeme Hampton

Title: Know No Evil (D.I. Denning and D.S. Fisher #1)
Author: Graeme Hampton
Publisher: Hera
Publication Date: July 2019
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | Audible

Description: Old crimes don’t stay buried forever…

It’s high summer, and London sizzles in the grip of a heatwave. But when the body of young mother, Leanne Wyatt, is discovered in an East London park, the heat rises to boiling point for D.I. Matthew Denning. Under pressure to solve the case, and fast, he delves into Leanne’s history and finds that she was close to some dangerous individuals – could one of them have taken her life in an angry rage? But when another woman is found dead in similar circumstances, Denning is forced to consider that a killer stalks the capital’s streets.

But when young, ambitious, D.S. Molly Fisher, discovers a horrifying link to these deaths and a killing spree in South London a decade ago –a terrifying summer where young women died at the hands of a psychopath the press dubbed ‘The Bermondsey Ripper’, the case is blown wide open. Anthony Ferguson is serving a life sentence for the crimes, so are these new deaths the result of a copycat killer - or did the police convict the wrong man? Whatever the case, Denning and Fisher need to stop a killer in his tracks – before he sets his sights on them.

My Thoughts: The first title in a series introducing the reader to D.S. Molly Fisher and D.I. Matthew Denning who begin working together to track down a killer whose crimes ring eerily familiar to a case from over a decade ago and who someone has already been convicted and is now serving a life sentence. Is the wrong man in prison? Is there now a copy-cat killer looking for his or her fifteen minutes of fame?

This book is a slow build as the author does a great job of character building, allowing the reader to get to know not just Molly and Matthew, but also the people in their lives, families, friends, coworkers and even enemies. I really liked Matthew and Molly and got a good sense of the pressure they are under as well as the flaws in their characters, making them feel more like normal, every-day people dealing with the stresses and challenges of their lives and careers.

As the murders increase, I could empathize with Molly’s frustration that her investigative theories are falling on deaf ears, while coming face to face with disturbing revelations about her boyfriend. Meanwhile, Matthew is frustrated that his ex-wife and her new boyfriend are making plans with his son during his scheduled visitation time and his new wife seems less supportive of him and more about moving on up to a higher priced neighborhood.

The story offers a lot of red herrings as to who is behind the killings and it took me to nearly the end of the book to even begin to suspect the identity of the culprit.

My Final Verdict: Well developed characters and an interesting story with some wonderful twisty and nail-biting moments will please fans of mysteries and thrillers. I look forward to spending more time with Matthew and Molly and see what they get involved in next.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Know No Evil from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Witch with No Name by Kim Harrison

Title: The Witch with No Name (The Hollows #13)
Author: Kim Harrison
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: September 2014
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Rachel Morgan's come a long way from the clutzy runner of Dead Witch Walking. She's faced vampires and werewolves, banshees, witches, and soul-eating demons. She's crossed worlds, channeled gods, and accepted her place as a day-walking demon. She's lost friends and lovers and family, and an old enemy has become something much more.

But power demands responsibility, and world-changers must always pay a price. That time is now.

To save Ivy's soul and the rest of the living vampires, to keep the demonic ever after and our own world from destruction, Rachel Morgan will risk everything.

My Thoughts: As this is not the last book in the series, I could have done without the last chapter as there is a huge time jump, but it was amusing to see what Al ends up doing. Of course, that is all subject to change as this is not the last we will see of Rachel, Trent, Jenks, Ivy, Al and yeah, I guess Nina too, though I still haven’t warmed up to her.

I found the story to be satisfactory and enjoyable for the most part. I felt a smidge of empathy for the desperation of the undead to get their souls back, though it will mean certain death as they become suicidal and walk into the sun. For some of the bloodsuckers in this book, I would gladly hold the door open for them to high step it out into the sunshine, but I certainly have to wonder how Ivy would feel about getting her soul back once she is truly one of the undead. She has her hands full with Nina right now so hopefully that won’t be an issue for a very long time.

Rachel definitely has her hands full trying to convince Cormel that getting his soul back is a bad idea and trusting Landon to help him is even worse. Hopefully, we have seen the last of him because I just have no patience for stupid vampires. Otherwise, I am still enjoying the relationship she and Trent are developing and hope it continues.

Jenks and Al remain my favorites and I hope they continue to appear prominently throughout the remaining books.

My Final Verdict: Had the series truly ended with this book, I would have been satisfied with the outcome, though I would have missed these characters. Hopefully the rest of the series continues to delight and entertain us.

REVIEW: A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands

Title: A Quick Bite (Argeneau #1)
Author: Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: October 2005
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: That hot guy tied to Lissianna Argeneau's bed? He's not dessert - he's the main course!

Lissianna has been spending her centuries pining for Mr. Right, not just a quick snack, and this sexy guy she finds in her bed looks like he might be a candidate. But there's another, more pressing issue: her tendency to faint at the sight of blood...an especially annoying quirk for a vampire. Of course, it doesn't hurt that this man has a delicious-looking neck. What kind of cold-blooded vampire woman could resist a bite of that?

Dr. Gregory Hewitt recovers from the shock of waking up in a stranger's bedroom pretty quickly - once he sees a gorgeous woman about to treat him to a wild night of passion. But is it possible for the good doctor to find true love with a vampire vixen, or will he be just a good meal? That's a question Dr. Greg might be willing to sink his teeth into...if he can just get Lissianna to bite.

My Thoughts: When it comes to vampire fiction, especially romance, I’m such a fangirl who has been known to have several “squee” moments when finding a new release. Unfortunately, though this story was good, there were no moments of squee for me. I liked Lissianna and Greg quite a lot and thought that a vampire who faints at the sight of blood was intriguing, but it just didn’t carry the story into excellence. Instead, it tiptoed around campy and cheesy.

There were way too many characters being thrown into the mix for the reader to keep up with. I know it’s a tactic to advise the reader that there will be more (so many more) books to give each and every dang person in the book their own story. Normally, that wouldn’t bother me, but it felt like the story wasn’t as focused on Lissianna and Greg as much as it should. Don’t get me wrong. I liked the other characters, but there was too much a sense of watching the clowns at the circus instead of a psychologist trained in the curing of phobias trying to figure out how he was going to cure Lissianna.

I felt the romance and Greg’s decision whether to become one of the undead was rushed. Within a couple of days of meeting one another, they are talking about whether they are life mates and if Greg wants to become a vampire. Nope, I don’t buy it.

What did I like? I liked the story in general. A blood-phobic vampire and the psychologist who is brought in (kind of against his will) to treat and cure her. I liked that these are not your normal Hollywood run of the mill vampires. They aren’t evil. They don’t turn into bats. They are from the lost city of Atlantis and the vampirism is nothing more than a scientific result of nanos that requires the consumption of blood to stay alive…for a very long time. The story takes place in Toronto so there are no “I vant to bite your neck” Transylvanian accents running amok here either.

My Final Verdict: The story was good but I can’t enthusiastically recommend it or the series to fans of vampire romance as I’m not motivated to continue it.

REVIEW: The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

Title: The Royal We (Royal We #1)
Author: Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: April 2015
Genre: Chick Lit / Contemporary Romance / New Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: "I might be Cinderella today, but I dread who they'll think I am tomorrow. I guess it depends on what I do next."

American Rebecca Porter was never one for fairy tales. Her twin sister, Lacey, has always been the romantic who fantasized about glamour and royalty, fame and fortune. Yet it's Bex who seeks adventure at Oxford and finds herself living down the hall from Prince Nicholas, Great Britain's future king. And when Bex can't resist falling for Nick, the person behind the prince, it propels her into a world she did not expect to inhabit, under a spotlight she is not prepared to face.

Dating Nick immerses Bex in ritzy society, dazzling ski trips, and dinners at Kensington Palace with him and his charming, troublesome brother, Freddie. But the relationship also comes with unimaginable baggage: hysterical tabloids, Nick's sparkling and far more suitable ex-girlfriends, and a royal family whose private life is much thornier and more tragic than anyone on the outside knows. The pressures are almost too much to bear, as Bex struggles to reconcile the man she loves with the monarch he's fated to become.

Which is how she gets into trouble.

Now, on the eve of the wedding of the century, Bex is faced with whether everything she's sacrificed for love-her career, her home, her family, maybe even herself-will have been for nothing.

My Thoughts: Enjoyable story of an American student studying at Oxford who falls for the heir to the British throne. I enjoyed the parallels this story has to Kate Middleton and Wills. Meeting at university, long-term relationship before the engagement and marriage brouhaha. Of course, Kate is not an American like Bex is, so I enjoyed that twist, but I found it a slight nod to the red-headed spare heir and his American bride. I found it interesting how much my mind noticed just how similar is this story to Kate and Wills as well as similarities of Freddie to Harry. I mean, really, even the cover gives the reader a nod to Kate and Wills before the story even begins. I am sure it’s all fiction, and good fiction at that.

I really liked Bex and Nick as a couple. They start out as friends who enjoy eating American junk food while binge watching episodes of Bex’s favorite television show sent across the pond by Bex’s sister, Lacey. Bex even begins dating one of Nick’s mates, if you can call a shag buddy dating. The blossoming of their relationship from friends to more is a treat to watch, not only because he’s the future King of England and how cool is that?! but also because their relationship is really sweet and I was rooting for these two from the beginning.

I also liked Freddie, the rascal that he is, but his friendship with Bex is special. Through her eyes, we see Freddie as the brother, the second, the flirt, and the one who appears will never measure up in the eyes of their father. The pain and hurt he carries at feeling rejected resonates keenly and you can’t help but feel a lot of empathy for him and understand the masks and personas he hides his true self behind, but Bex sees through him.

I also enjoyed getting a bird’s eye view into the workings of the royal family through Bex’s eyes. I learned they aren’t all that different from any other family. They have their good days and bad days, successes and disappointments, secrets and scandal. The only difference is that their lives are heavily documented all over the tabloids for our entertainment.

I also found the circus that Bex is put through to “train” her for her upcoming roles as Duchess of This That Or The Other as well as Baroness What’s Her Name and Countess So and So were interesting. Things that those of us who live in the commoner’s world would never worry about, such as exiting a car with grace and style, how to hold a flute of champagne or even how to cross one’s legs when sitting.

My Final Verdict: This story ends with some interesting twists so it came as no surprise that there’s a sequel which I will have to read as I’m nowhere ready to see the end of Bex and Nick and hopefully Freddie will get his happily ever after too.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Royal We from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Grounded for All Eternity by Darcy Marks

Title: Grounded for All Eternity
Author: Darcy Marks
Publisher: Aladdin
Publication Date: July 2022
Genre: Fantasy / Teen – Young Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: A group of kids from hell come to Earth on one of the craziest nights of the year—Halloween—in this snarky, witty middle grade adventure about teamwork, friendship, shattering expectations, and understanding the world (or otherworld) around us.

Mal and his friends are just your regular average kids from hell. The suburbs that is, not the fiery pit part. But when Hell’s Bells ring out—signaling that a soul has escaped from one of the eternal circles, Mal and his friends can’t help but take the opportunity for a little adventure.

Before they know it, they’ve somehow slipped through the veil and found themselves in the middle of Salem, Massachusetts, on Halloween night. And what’s even worse, they’ve managed to bring the escaped soul with them! As the essence of one of history’s greatest manipulators gains power by shifting the balance on Earth, Mal and his squad-mates—along with some new friends that they meet along the way—work desperately to trap the escapee, save the people of Earth from the forces of evil, and find the portal back to their own dimension.

If they can’t manage it before their parents realize they’re gone, they’ll be grounded for an eternity. And an eternity in hell is a very, very long time.

My Thoughts: Kids who live in Hell go to Earth to capture an escaped soul before their parents find out they left and are grounded for all eternity? How can I refuse? First, the cover. I don’t like to admit I am usually drawn to books by their covers and have been known to acquire books based only on the cover without knowing anything about the story. So yes, the cover drew me in at first then when I read the description, I knew I was in because it sounded like so much dang fun!

Malachi, Crowley and Lilith are your typical teenagers. On school break, looking forward to hanging out, playing video games, sleeping in, grabbing a latte. The only difference is these kids can fly using sharp black wings and they live in Hell. Who knew there were suburbs in Hell? When the alarm is raised that a soul has escaped the pit, their plans are cancelled as the entire place is on lockdown and they are all restricted to their homes. So, so boring. If you can’t have any fun on school break, even if it’s Hell, what’s the point of living? Well, you guessed it. Malachi and his friends sneak out and decide to go check out the veil. It is Halloween after all and the veil between realms is at its thinnest. What they didn’t plan for was being pushed through the veil inadvertently bringing the escaped soul with them. They find themselves in Salem, Massachusetts and oh yes, the escaped soul happens to be the Reverend Samuel Parris, the man who is thought to be the driving force behind the witch hunt resulting in the Salem Witch Trials in 1693 and personally profited from the hysteria. Now that he has escaped Hell, he plans to continue his reign of terror using the residents of Salem once again to commit acts of evil. In order to return home, Malachi and his friends must capture him. If they don’t capture him, they will be stuck there and the powers of Heaven are planning to smite the entire city to ensure Samuel is stopped.

I have never read anything by this author before, but I really enjoyed the setting she created even if you have to suspend disbelief that anything coming out of Hell would be looking to protect the humans on Earth. Malachi and his friends are very likable and easy to relate to. I also liked teenage witches, Sean and Charity and the angel, Cassandra who tries to bribe the kids from Hell with cookies to come to Heaven. The pacing of the story was good, though there were a few moments, very tense moments, I might add, where I was clutching my fists wondering if they were going to be successful on their mission, because the alternative is death, or worse, being grounded for all eternity.

My Final Verdict: The ending of this story leads me to believe we haven’t seen or heard the last of Malachi, but without proof, there is only hope. I hope there will be more. I highly recommend this story to readers in middle school and high school as well as adults who like to be entertained but don’t mind that the protagonists are juveniles.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Grounded for All Eternity from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Faithless in Death by J.D. Robb

Title: Faithless in Death (In Death #52)
Author: J.D. Robb
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: February 2021
Genre: Mystery / Romantic Suspense / Urban Fantasy
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: In the new Eve Dallas police thriller from #1 New York Times-bestselling author J. D. Robb, what looked like a lover's quarrel turned fatal has larger--and more terrifying--motives behind it...

The scene in the West Village studio appears to be classic crime-of-passion: two wine glasses by the bed, music playing, and a young sculptor named Ariel Byrd with the back of her head bashed in. But when Dallas tracks down the wealthy Upper East Side woman who called 911, the details don't add up. Gwen Huffman is wealthy, elegant, comforted by her handsome fiancé as she sheds tears over the trauma of finding the body--but why did it take an hour to report it? And why is she lying about little things?

As Eve and her team look into Gwen, her past, and the people around her, they find that the lies are about more than murder. As with sculpture, they need to chip away at the layers of deception to find the shape within--and soon they're getting the FBI involved in a case that involves a sinister, fanatical group and a stunning criminal conspiracy.

My Thoughts: After so many books in this series, to continually be surprised is important. The fifty-second book in this intriguing and entertaining series provides plenty of surprises. Initially, this book appears to be another run of the mill homicide that appears to be a crime of passion committed by a woman with secrets to keep regarding her sexual orientation. As Eve and her crack-shot Scooby gang begin to peel back the layers, we see so much more there besides murder. Kidnapping, rape, torture, human trafficking, just to name a few. The sordid nature of the people at the root of the organization called Natural Order make Warren Jeffs appear vanilla and harmless.

I continue to be amazed and beyond impressed at the way Eve’s brain puts it all together and zeroes in on her suspects as if she were deciding what to eat for breakfast or what outfit to wear to work on a given day. She really does operate several levels above the rest of us and when you partner that with someone like Roark, who is also equally brilliant, they are a force of nature. I can’t take my eyes off of them, in complete enthrallment at what this dynamic duo will pull off next.

I also enjoyed seeing more snark from Peabody in this one. Some of her deadpan one-liners delivered with a straight face and off the cuff had me giggling with delight. Eve really hit the mark when she picked Peabody for her squad. I would be remiss in my praise if I don’t throw some love to Susan Ericksen, the narrator of the audiobook editions. She captures the personalities of all the characters brilliantly, but especially with Eve and Peabody. They go together like peanut butter and jelly and I know I am in for quite a ride with these two and Ms. Ericksen makes it come to life with little to no effort, it seems. At this point, I doubt I will ever read any of these books in any other format.

I am in high anticipation for the next installment to see how the house remodeling with Mavis, Leonardo, Peabody and McNabb is progressing and I can’t get enough of Bella and her obvious delight being around Eve and Roark. She’s a smart cookie as being around them makes me feel the same way.

My Final Verdict: As of this writing, there are currently fifty-six installments to this series and I highly recommend this series for the interesting story lines that remain fresh instead of feeling cookie-cutter, which happens all too often in a long running series. I also highly recommend this series for the characters. They are well-written, highly developed with unique and individual personalities that come to life and jump off the page (or for you audio fans, like me, jump into your ear) and grab your heartstrings and never let go.

REVIEW: Match Me If You Can by Michele Gorman

Title: Match Me If You Can
Author: Michele Gorman
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: January 2016
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon

Description: Ever thought about recycling your ex?

Best friends Catherine, Rachel & Sarah are fun, smart, successful and single – just like millions of women with a low tolerance for idiocy in their dates.

Mr. Right hasn't turned up yet, and Mr. Right-Now isn't worth booking a wax appointment for. So, when Catherine, London’s finest matchmaker, gets Rachel and Sarah to join her dating site where they can recycle their ex-boyfriends in exchange for an upgrade, they soon realize that anything could happen . . .

Three best friends, proving that sometimes it really isn't you…it's him.

My Thoughts: Enjoyable story about three best friends and housemates, Catherine, Rachel and Sarah who are all searching for Mr. Right. Catherine convinces Rachel and Sarah to join the dating site she owns with her ex-husband. The interesting catch to joining this site is in order to sign up, you have to bring your ex along and they have to sign up as well. I found the idea of “recycling” your ex for an upgrade to be very intriguing.

I liked these women and enjoyed their different personalities and quirks from Catherine’s nearly A-type personality and coping with her ex-husband getting remarried, to Rachel’s determination and drive as an architect trying to win a competition for her drawing to be chosen by the firm’s biggest client, to Sarah who designs greeting cards, loves to bake and worries about finding a new care home for her sixteen-year-old sister with Down’s Syndrome.

I was rooting for all of these women to succeed not only in the romance department, but also in their chosen professions. I did find myself getting annoyed at the building crew who seemed to be tearing up the house more than remodeling it, but I always get nervous when someone is knocking holes into walls.

Michele Gorman is an author I have always enjoyed reading. She writes characters that are easy to relate to and care about with unique stories that entertain without being cookie-cutter.

My Final Verdict: Readers who enjoy laugh aloud moments with romance to ease the burdens of the daily grind of life and career should pick this one up.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Match Me If You Can from the author in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: If Only by Angela Marsons

Title: If Only
Author: Angela Marsons
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: July 2021
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Find love. Have a baby. Ditch the mother-in-law from hell. Three best friends, each wishing for the one thing they want the most. But what if they’re searching for happiness in all the wrong places?

Cher is head over heels for her new boss. He’s gorgeous, smart and funny but he barely even notices her except to ask for a coffee refill. How can she get him to see that she’s the perfect girl for him?

Sarah is longing for a baby with the man she loves. The only trouble is David is already married. Will he finally leave his wife so they can be together?

Deb should be looking forward to her wedding with lovely fiancé Mark but with her mother-in-law from hell Margie taking control of everything, will her dream day turn into her worst nightmare?

So, when one summer evening, over several glasses of wine, Cher, Sarah and Deb stumble across an old book on Sarah’s shelf and drunkenly decide to cast a wishing spell, they don’t think for one minute that it will come true. It’s just three best friends having a laugh and throwing some herbs around the garden. Or is it?

My Thoughts: If Only by new to me author Angela Marsons was a breath of fresh air for me. I was quickly drawn into this story of three women who have been the best of friends for ages get together over several glasses of wine to commiserate the misery of their lives. Cher is in love with her boss, who is a tool and barely acknowledges her existence. Sarah has been seeing a married man for five years and longs for a baby, thinking it will bind him to her forever. Deb is in the middle of wedding planning hell with her future mother-in-law trying to control every aspect of the nuptials and was the cause of the last two attempts to be postponed.

Do you know what they say about not making important decisions while under the influence? That goes for casting wish spells too. After finding a book about casting spells on Sarah’s bookshelf, they decide to try it. Cher wishes for her boss to fall in love with her, Sarah wishes to have David’s child and Deb wishes her fiancé’s mother would disappear. I say be careful of what you wish. Your wish may be granted, but not in the way you are expecting.

What follows is a story I found difficult to put down. I truly liked these women and cared about their lives and with what they were dealing. I could be friends with these women. I had a bit of a struggle with Sarah dating a married man but she isn’t the type of man-stealing femme fatale character I usually think of when I envision the “other woman.” I’ve never been a fan of the adultery plot device, but the author writes it so well that it garnered more empathy from me for Sarah than I normally would feel.

The chapters skip between each of the women, giving me the sense that I was a part of the story, present with each of them as friends would be, with laughter and sympathy for what they are going through. Isn’t that what life is all about? Surrounding yourself with the people you care about the most who are there ready to celebrate your victories and mourn your losses with you, with or without wine, is the best way to live.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that draw on their emotions from laughing to righteous indignation to tears. I listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed the narrator’s voice and the personality that shines through the characters. I doubt I would have enjoyed it as well if I had read it in my own voice.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of If Only from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: What a Dog Knows by Susan Wilson

Title: What a Dog Knows
Author: Susan Wilson
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: June 2021
Genre: General Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: From New York Times bestselling author Susan Wilson comes What a Dog Knows, another heartwarming novel about humans and the dogs that change our lives.

Ruby Heartwood has always lived a life on the move. As a traveling psychic, she makes her living working at carnivals and festivals and circuses around New England. It's a life Ruby has made peace with--settling in one place has never been for her. She needs no one, and no one needs her.

Until one night, when she is camped by the side of the road in her trusty Volkswagen Westie van, a fierce thunder and lightning storm erupts. In the middle of the downpour, she hears a distinct voice telling her to let me in. In jumps a little black and white dog, and to Ruby's astonishment, she can hear the dog's thoughts. Has she been struck by lightning? Did the storm do this? Is she losing her mind?

It turns out, Ruby can hear many dogs' thoughts. She decides to set up semi-permanent residency in the town of Harmony Farms, until she can sort out what is going on, and who the little dog, Hitch, belongs to. But some people in Harmony Farms don't want her there. And it seems that events keep preventing Ruby from leaving. What secrets is this town keeping? Why was she meant to find this dog? And what has Ruby really been running from, all these years?

My Thoughts: New to me author Susan Wilson pens a delightful and heartwarming tale about two lost souls who find their way to one another. One is traveling psychic, Ruby Heartwood and the other is a stray dog she calls The Hitchhiker, or Hitch for short. What makes this story all the more interesting and intriguing is Ruby and Hitch can communicate. Ruby hears the dog’s thoughts as clearly as she can hear her own and this opens a door for Ruby to communicate with other animals. Ruby decides to stick around the small town of Harmony Farms for a while longer than she normally would to explore this new addition to her psychic abilities and soon learns that home is much closer to her heart than the physical geography of the location.

I really liked Ruby and felt great empathy for the life she has lived, starting as an abandoned baby growing up in a convent, trying to come to terms with the ability to foresee future events and trying to help those these events affect, even though it isn’t always accepted or received by everyone around her. As a result, Ruby runs away and makes her way in the world surviving horrific events and struggling to raise a child on her own. This woman is a survivor in every sense of the word and having to rely on herself for her entire life has not hardened or embittered Ruby. She has a heart of gold that is shown in how she treats the people she meets in Harmony Farms.

The locale of this book is nearly as engaging as Ruby was. There are several secondary characters that bring a lot of vibrancy and charm to the story, both animal and human. Ruby doesn’t stay long in one place and though the reader has full disclosure of Ruby’s reasons for wanting to move on, I secretly harbored Hitch’s desire that they stay. I especially enjoyed the scenes where Ruby is giving a reading to help an animal’s owner identify a behavioral problem and hearing it from the animal’s point of view was equal parts refreshing and entertaining.

I listened to the audiobook and very much enjoyed the pace of the narration and the various voices and accents she used for both the human and animal characters.

My Final Verdict: Readers who enjoy stories that are relationship driven will enjoy this book quite a bit as this story abounds with relationships. Friendships, adversarial relationships, romantic relationships, family relationships and the special relationships we have with our pets and animals are all present in this book. I highly recommend this book to all readers who enjoy stories that feature animals and the lessons they teach us.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of What a Dog Knows from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.