The Thing Is by Kathleen Gerard Guest Review! @KathleenGerard

The Book

Title:  THE THING IS

Author: Kathleen Gerard    katgerard@aol.com

Genre: General Fiction/ Contemporary Fiction/ Women's Fiction / Romantic Comedy

Publisher: Red Adept Publishing www.redadeptpublishing.com

PRINT Price:  $14.99 USD

ISBN-13:  978-1940215587
ISBN-10:  1940215587

Can a woman mired deep in the throes of grief have her heart and soul rallied by a therapy dog named Prozac who possesses supernatural wisdom and a canine Mensa IQ?

Meredith Mancuso is depressed. Ever since the death of her fiancé, she has shrunk from the world. Even with her successful writing career, she's not motivated to work. When her sister, Monica, begs for a favor, Meredith wants nothing more than to say no. But she’s ultimately roped into pet-sitting an orphaned Yorkshire terrier named Prozac.

Blessed with spiritual wisdom and a high IQ, Prozac is an active pet therapy dog. To heal broken-hearted Meredith, he rallies his fan club at Evergreen Gardens, an independent living facility, where he visits each week.

Prozac and the community of resilient older folks challenged by losses of their own propel Meredith, often against her will, back into the land of the living. Meredith learns that most people carry some sort of burden, but it's still possible to find meaning, purpose, and joy—and  even love—along the way.

THE THING IS—a perfect read for fans of General Fiction,  Contemporary Fiction, Romantic Comedy, and Dog and Pet Lovers!

The Author

Kathleen Gerard writes across genres. Her work has been awarded many literary prizes and has been published in magazines, journals, widely anthologized and broadcast on National Public Radio (NPR). Kathleen writes and reviews books for Shelf Awareness. Kathleen's woman-in-jeopardy novel, IN TRANSIT, won "Best Romantic Fiction" at the New York Book Festival. To learn more, visit www.kathleengerard.blogspot.com

The Review

Sometimes life throws things at us that we are not sure we know how to handle or if we are suited to do so.  And such is life for Meredith, who, one day, suddenly finds herself responsible for a four-legged furball for the foreseeable future.

The thing is…she’s not a dog person. 

In her latest novel, The Thing Is, Kathleen Gerard spins a delightful tale of humor and suspense, with a little bit of dog hair and drama.  Meredith, a reclusive best-selling author, is chosen to care for Prozac – his person, Helen Hendrix, is convalescing in a home, recovering from a foot injury.

Meredith has absolutely no desire to take care of a dog, after all – she’s not a dog person.  She doesn’t have the experience, the time, the ambition, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.  She attempts every excuse she can muster until all attempts fail and she finds herself stuck with a five-pound terrier who has seemingly taken over her life.

After losing her fiancé one tragic evening a few years prior, she is resistant to even welcoming the pooch into her home, let alone her heart.  Meredith quickly discovers that she is to not only feed, bathe, walk and care for a dog, she is to also adhere to his strict schedule as a therapy dog – Prozac spends a large portion of his life visiting and soothing the residents at Evergreen Gardens, a church turned assisted living facility. 

Quickly finding herself amidst a whirlwind of octogenarian drama, suspense, and a lot of really good humor, she discovers that Prozac has a very rigorous schedule he must adhere to, for these residents take it very seriously.  Weeks pass, hilarity ensues and then tragedy strikes – Prozac escapes.

This heartfelt novel is a definite page turner for anyone who has ever had the pleasure of loving a dog.  There is something to be said for the unconditional love animals share with their human – even if it is unrequited. Prozac and Meredith find each other in depressing point in both their lives – Meredith, who has lost her person, her soulmate, her love.  And Prozac, who has found himself alongside a self-proclaimed dog hater and is missing his person, his caretaker.

While it is often difficult to pick up a novel about animals – seeing as how most end in tragedy and leave the reader sobbing over the loss of a fictitious pet – this novel is a must read.  Gerard has painted such a lovely story – the reader is tempted to laugh and cry all at once.  Besides, Prozac tells part of the story, so we finally get to hear it from the dog’s point of view. 

Guest Review by Kate Kelly

A copy of the book was provided for review purposes.

In The Mouth Of The Lion by J Guenther Book Spotlight!

Book Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: J Guenther Author; 1 edition (April 9, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0997450304
• ISBN-13: 978-0997450309
• 
  

Book
A WWII historical novel. June, 1942: As the German blitzkrieg stalls in Russia, Hitler's behavior becomes increasingly erratic. The German High Command (OKW) suspects he is becoming mentally unbalanced and approaches Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung for an evaluation of the Führer's sanity. The OKW doesn't realize that Jung's close associate, Mary Bancroft, is an OSS analyst. The OSS asks Jung to agree to go into "the mouth of the lion," and bring back Hitler's darkest secrets.

Author
J Guenther has written five novels, four magazine articles, 17 plays, 50 short stories, and 100 poems. He loves puzzles and has US patents on two of them. His Sword & Sorcery novel, Sorcerer of Deathbird Mountain, was nominated for Best Novel at the 2005 Santa Barbara Writers Conference. His play, Prisoner of Suggins Holler, won a prize at the Elite Theatre Short Play contest.

Amazon link:http://amzn.to/1RP5zZ7
Website:  MouthOfTheLion.com 
Author's blog:  JGuentherAuthor.wordpress.com. 

Facebook: In The Mouth of the Lion

Covet by Alison Ryan Release Blitz! @AlisonRyanBooks @StarAnge13

Hell to Pay By Jillian David Book Blitz! @jilliandavid13 @starange13

Bring Your Own Baker by D.E. Haggerty Release Tour! @denaehaggerty @MoBPromos

Being a Beast: Adventures Across the Species Divide by Charles Foster Spotlight! @tweedpipe @HenryHolt

The Book
How can we ever be sure that we really know the other? To test the limits of our ability to inhabit lives that are not our own, Charles Foster set out to know the ultimate other: the non-humans, the beasts. And to do that, he tried to be like them, choosing a badger, an otter, a fox, a deer, and a swift. He lived alongside badgers for weeks, sleeping in a sett in a Welsh hillside and eating earthworms, learning to sense the landscape through his nose rather than his eyes. He caught fish in his teeth while swimming like an otter; rooted through London garbage cans as an urban fox; was hunted by bloodhounds as a red deer, nearly dying in the snow. And he followed the swifts on their migration route over the Strait of Gibraltar, discovering himself to be strangely connected to the birds.

A lyrical, intimate, and completely radical look at the life of animals—human and other—Being a Beast mingles neuroscience and psychology, nature writing and memoir to cross the boundaries separating the species. It is an extraordinary journey full of thrills and surprises, humor and joy. And, ultimately, it is an inquiry into the human experience in our world, carried out by exploring the full range of the life around us.

Author

Charles Foster is a writer, traveller, veterinarian and barrister.

He is a Fellow of Green Templeton College, Oxford.

His books cover many fields. They include books on travel, evolutionary biology, natural history, anthropology, theology, archaeology, philosophy and law. Ultimately they are all attempts to answer the questions ‘Who or what are we?’, and ‘what on earth are we doing here?

His latest book is ‘Being a Beast’, which is published in the UK by Profile Books and in the US by Metropolitan Books.

He read veterinary medicine and law at Cambridge, and is a qualified veterinary surgeon. He holds a PhD in law/bioethics from the University of Cambridge.

He teaches Medical Law and Ethics at the University of Oxford. He is a Senior Research Associate at the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, and a Research Associate at the Ethox Centre and the HeLEX Centre, all at the University of Oxford. He retains an active interest in veterinary medicine – particularly veterinary acupuncture and general wildlife and large animal medicine.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a Fellow of the Linnean Society.

He is married, with six children, and lives in Oxford.

http://www.charlesfoster.co.uk

@tweedpipe

Excerpt: In Which I Try to Become a Swift There are two classes of words commonly applied to swifts: words about ethereality, and violent words. They are not contradictory. The violence makes the ethereal accessible. Swifts lay open the sky so that we can go there. They slash the veil. If the swifts didn’t come, we’d be stuck with what we’ve got. They were very late this year. Panic rose. I’d get up very early, thinking that I’d heard a scream, and rush to the window. There was nothing there but pigeons as ponderous as I am: pigeons who sleep in trees and waddle in the dirt. And then, as I was lying on my back, they were suddenly there. “Why are you crying, Daddy?” said Rachel, who was watching my face instead of the sky. “Because it’s all right,” I said. “Because the world still works.” “Okay,” she said. They’re always suddenly there or suddenly not there. Continue reading.

Praise “A tour de force of modern nature writing... that shows us how to better love the world beyond ourselves.” —The Guardian “This year’s H is for Hawk, the book leaves you feeling that perhaps Helen MacDonald’s bestseller might have been improved if she had only tried to fly.” —World Travel Guide “Living like an animal in order to write about it sounds like a gimmick. It isn’t. Groundbreaking? Definitely.” —The Scotsman

The Patient's Resource and Almanac by Agnes Oblas, ANP Review!

The Patient's Resource and Almanac of Primary Care Medicine includes essays on medical topics of interest to the lay reader; common diseases or conditions are presented with illustrations, and easy to understand graphs or charts. Resources are also identified for more in depth information.The Patient's Resource and Almanac of Primary Care Medicine serves as a basic reference and guide to 30 common medical- and health-related topics. Readers will find these topics to be pertinent, helpful, and reader-friendly. The essays are presented with resources, fun facts, and timelines, etc., to make the reading even more enjoyable. Some of the essays also include a section called "The Savvy Healthcare Consumer," which highlights points about that essay's topic which the reader should be aware of as it relates to a visit to a healthcare provider. You will find these essays free of medical jargon (or with definitions included) yet scientifically and medically sound. My purpose is to educate and clarify some complex medical issues while at the same time allowing the reader to enjoy the experience! 

Agnes Oblas has been a nurse since 1970 and a Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care Medicine since 1980. The Arizona State Board of Nursing recognizes Nurse Practitioners as licensed providers of high quality healthcare without the need for physician supervision or oversight. So, in 2001 she established a primary care practice, New Paths to Healthcare, LLC in an area of Phoenix, Arizona known as Ahwatukee with a population of about 80,000. She does not just treat the medical symptoms that her patients present to her. She works together with her patients to help resolve issues impacting the problems, and to ultimately help find ways to alter risks for future illnesses. Her aim is to maintain the highest level of health her patients can achieve. She has two Masters in Nursing degrees and has been nationally Board Certified in Adult Primary Care since 1980. In 2004 she was awarded the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners State Award for Excellence in Nursing and in 2010 was voted Ahwatukee’s Best Nurse Practitioner.

http://www.newpathshealth.com

My Thoughts

Did you ever want a medical book that was not too wordy and one that you could understand? The Patient's Resource Almanac written by a nurse practitioner is perfect. Set up like an almanac, short descriptions of ailments and what to do about them to other tidbits of info. You not only learn what each medical symptom is but short descriptions. By no means a replacement for seeing a medical professional but an interesting compilation of the most common.

Lots of pictures definitions and resources. I really enjoyed this little book, I have been seeing nurse practitioners for over 20 years and I find that the ones that I have had are knowledgeable and compassionate. This little book is a keeper for any bookshelf, plus the cover is very nostalgic and gorgeous.

I received a copy of this book for review purposes.

Cleansed by Death by Catherine Finger Review! @BeJoOliver

A KILLER IN HER BACKYARD.

For four years, Josie Oliver has been Chief of Police of the quiet village of Haversport, Illinois. She's kept her husband's abuse a secret, until today. Adding to the chaos of her personal life, her old flame drags her into the FBI's investigation of the Mentor Sister Serial Killer.

As the Christmas holiday approaches, the serial killer escalates. And so does her husband, leaving Jo fighting for her marriage, faith, and fate.

Cleansed by Death seamlessly weaves gritty, imperfect characters, faith, and white-knuckle suspense that will leave readers breathless and guessing until the end.

Goodreads

Like her heroine, Police Chief Jo Oliver, Dr. Catherine Finger is committed to protect and serve, but instead of handcuffs and handguns, she uses her wit and wisdom as a high school superintendent in Grayslake, Illinois. She also enjoys working on a variety of volunteer projects and organizations.

Catherine is passionate about sharing God’s truth through her fiction. CLEANSED BY DEATH is Catherine’s first book in her Jo Oliver Thriller series.

SHATTERED BY DEATH, her award winning sequel, releases on June 7, 2016.

http://www.catherinefinger.com/

@BeJoOliver

My Thoughts
I love police procedurals, especially ones that features strong women. Cleansed by Death is certainly one of those stories that if you love a good mystery, that you can sink your teeth into. Filled with likeable characters, and some not so likeable and a plot that will keep you wanting more. 

Chief of Police Josie Oliver is married to a disillusioned and angry man, also a policeman, though demoted who seems to blame Josie for all of his issues. The last straw is when he destroys their home and belongings in a fit of rage. Luckily for Josie, she has great friends who can help her in her time of need.

A case that she is working on along with the FBI involves the murders of women across the country, named the Mentor Sister Serial Killer case. When things start to strike a little close to home, solving the case becomes paramount. Melding the case along with her private life takes Josie and an old flame on a journey of mystery, love and faith.

I had not read any of this author's work but I intend to read more, as a matter of fact, I received the second in the series today! I really enjoyed this fast paced mystery.

I received a copy of the book for review purposes.

Veronica's Grave by Barbara Donsky Review!

When Barbara Bracht's mother disappears, no one tells the young girl that her mother has died. She is left a confused child whose father is intent upon erasing any memory of his dead wife. Forced to keep the truth of her mother s existence from her younger brother, Barbara struggles to keep from being crushed under the weight of family secrets as she comes of age and strives to educate herself despite her father's stance against women s education. 

Veronica s Grave tells of the psychological cost of families who keep secrets and the importance of pursuing one's dreams and passions. Told in the young girl's voice, the memoir asks the reader to consider what parents owe their children, and how far a child need go to make things right for her family.

Ultimately, it's a tale of loss and resilience, showing the power of literature-- from Orphan Annie and Prince Valiant to the incomparable Nancy Drew -- to offer hope where there is little.

Born in the South Bronx, two words long synonymous with urban decay, Barbara Donsky, the author of Veronica's Grave, went on to discover a passion for all things French. Go figure! 

A Phi Beta Kappa magna cum laude graduate of Hunter College, she earned an MS from C. W. Post, Long Island University and an EdD from Hofstra University. 

Publications include a doctoral dissertation Trends in Written Composition in Elementary Schools in the United States, 1890 -1960. Articles in educational journals including "Writing as Praxis" and "Trends in Elementary Writing Instruction". And a short story--"The Trouble with Harry"--published in the Naples Review in Florida.

A former reading specialist with a private practice in Oyster Bay, New York, she taught as an adjunct professor at C W Post College, Long Island University and served for many years in various positions as a trustee, president and capital campaign coordinator of the Boys and Girls Club of Oyster Bay-East Norwich.

For work done on behalf of the Club, she was honored as 'Woman of the Year' and by the Town of Oyster Bay for her 'public-spirited contributions advancing the general welfare of the community.'

She currently lives with her husband in Manhattan where she blogs weekly at 

http://www.Desperatelyseekingparis.com
https://www.facebook.com/barbaradonskyauthor

My Thoughts

This is a very interesting memoir as it tells the story of a little girl, losing her mother at a young age and confused as to why and where she went. 

Told in an almost fiction way, with great dialogue. Some memoirs are very dry and boring, not so this one. I found myself remembering some of her references, especially the Nancy Drew ones. I myself loved Nancy Drew stories but in a different way as reading was an escape for me from an abused childhood. 

I enjoyed reading this coming of age story, from the reminences of early childhood to the author's young adulthood and her love of French things, becoming a stewardess, dating and coming to terms with the death of her mother. You have to wonder why a father would keep the death of his wife from his daughter as if he was ashamed of his wife. But as I grew up in an era where children are seen and not heard, I guess he must have figured his daughter didn't need to know the details. Kind of sad really. 

This book is worth a read! I enjoyed it immensely!

I received a copy of the book for review purposes.

Guardian of Paradise by W.E. Lawrence Book Spotlight! @WELawrenceBooks

Guardian of Paradise, by W. E. Lawrence, is a historical romance novel filled with action and adventure. It was published in October 2014 and is available for sale on Amazon.

Synopsis:

In 1888, Kira Wall, surviving daughter of missionaries swept away in a tsunami, lives a primitive, but enjoyable life with natives on an isolated island in the South Pacific. But her serene world is turned upside down when an Australian merchant ship, commanded by the sinister Captain Darcy Coleman, arrives with an overabundance of modern and lavish goods. Kira suspects ill intent. Chief Ariki refuses to listen to Kira’s warning, forcing her to uncover the real plan of the captain on her own. Unfortunately, she has a distraction. A six-foot tall, blond, and handsome distraction. Trevor Marshall, doctor and botanist, hopes to find exotic plants on the island to research new cures and medicines. He is dedicated to science, but when meeting the strong-willed, beautiful Kira Wall, he’d prefer to spend time researching her—all night.

The captain thwarts Kira’s attempts to call him out at every step, turning the village chief against her. With only Trevor and her best friend Malana by her side, she stalks the captain and his officers through the dense, predator infested jungle, toward the island’s inactive volcano. Frustrated by her failure to reveal the captain’s true intentions, Kira begins to think maybe she’s wrong about everything. Then an explosion and earthquake bigger than anyone on the island has ever seen renews her resolve. Was the blast natural or man-made? She is determined to prove it was the captain’s doing. Kira races against time and the island people’s naivety to stop the captain from destroying her home and killing everyone she loves.

Chapter 1

South Pacific island of Alofa, two days sail northeast of Sydney, Australia 1888

Kira’s heart leapt to her throat as the blare of the lookout’s conch horn shattered the tranquil morning. Startled blue and red lories sprang, squawking from the palm trees, their wings thrumming the air as they fled. Macaque monkeys jumped limb to limb, screeching and chattering from their jungle perches. Another blast of the trumpet sent even the fiddler crabs on the beach scurrying for the safety of their holes.

She glanced to the cliff overhead, dropped her fishing net, and rushed up the sandy path toward the island’s observation post. The rest of the villagers would be taking cover until the men determined the extent of the threat. With her pulse pounding and her feet working to find traction on the steep, winding grade, images of pirates raiding the village flashed through her mind. The horror of women and children screaming while their men fought to protect them with only spears and clubs sent the chill of danger up her spine.

When she reached the large flat rock high above the harbor, she found the stocky form of Kupe, the tribal chief’s son, standing with hands on hips, his black Polynesian eyes fixed on the bay. Wearing only a pair of worn, light-colored pants, extending mid-calf and a cloth headband to hold back his wiry dark hair, he remained still.

“What is it, Kupe?”

“Ah big ship is com’n in tee harbor,” he answered without turning.

“A large ship is coming into the harbor,” she corrected. She squinted into the morning glare of the sun. “Are they pirates?”

She studied the movements of the enormous shiny wood boat with three tall masts. Two wide painted stripes, one cream at the waterline and one black just above, encircled the ship. A complicated system of shroud rigging hung like webbing from the cross spars down to the deck rails.

“I do not think so.  Ship is too big,” answered Kupe. “Tey have dropped their sails. Tey come in slow. Not hurry.”

She lifted her hand to shade her eyes. Men lined the ship’s bow, all clothed in the same white bell bottom pants and loose-fitting gray striped shirts. Peering into the clear water, they tried to determine the depth of the harbor.

“They fly the Australian flag and take their time.  Pirates not tat careful.”

Kira spotted the dark blue fabric flapping in the breeze above the quarterdeck; the British Southern Cross embroidered in the upper left corner. Her heart sank. “If they’re who I think they are, they might as well be pirates. In fact, it would probably be better if they were.”

Kupe turned his head and gave her his big brother-like stare. She and Kupe were not related, in fact, Kira was originally from Australia. Still they shared the same competitive bond of siblings. “What are you talk’n about, Kira?”

“I’m afraid it’s one of those merchant ships from Sydney. They’ve come to trade.”

“Tat would be good news. Tey have come to trade goods for our crops.”

She fought the sour feeling in the pit of her stomach. “If we let them, they will take a lot more than we have to give.”

Kupe’s eyes narrowed. “Our crops are plentiful. There is more than enough to trade.”

“You don’t understand. We have to be careful. Most of these merchants are selfish and greedy. They’ll take advantage of our people.”

The corner of his mouth turned up in the hint of a smile. “Tey will not be that bad.”

“They will be, if we let them. What’s even worse, they think nothing of tramping our fields while they’re gathering the fruit, leaving them scarred.”

He shook his head. “You always think tee worst.”

She glared sideways. “I know what I’m talking about. My parents warned me of these kinds of people. I’ve seen for myself what they have done. I was young, but I saw the damage they cause.”

He turned his gaze back to the ship. “We can take care of ourselves.”

Kira grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him forcing him to look her in the eyes. “Listen to me. If this were a ship of raiders, I know our men would protect us. But this is different. Worst of all, the more merchants who find out about us, the more outsiders will come. Our home will never be the same and we have nowhere else to go.”

He shrugged free of her grasp. His large flat nostrils flared. “You make no sense. Tradors have come here before. Our people have pleasure in their visits. It has been a long time since tee last merchants came.”

She dropped her arms. “It hasn’t been long enough.”

Glancing down, Kupe held out his hands. “Look at my pants. Tat is how long it has been. I hope tey brought new ones.”

Though he had a strong build, his round brownish-tan belly threatened to burst the tattered breeches. Everything about Kupe was big; his head, body, even legs. They matched his huge heart and his consuming desire to provide for his people. Kupe being the future ruler of the tribe, Kira only feared for his overtrusting nature and inability to perceive a disguised threat.

Looking at his worn pants, she would have laughed if she weren’t so angry. “You just don’t see the danger.”

Kupe set his jaw. “Enough, as long as the outsidors show us tey mean no harm, tey will be treated as guests. We will welcome them.”

“But-”

“I said enough. We must call off the warning and greet our visitors before I tell Chief Ariki they have come. He will want to prepare to meet their leadors.”

She smirked. “Your father is also too trusting of strangers.”

Kupe shook his head again. “Our people had visitors long before you came… good and bad. You should have more faith in people.” He turned down the path toward the harbor beach, then stopped and looked over his shoulder. “Are you com’n?”

She picked up a stone and with a loud grunt, hurled it over the cliff. “Yes, I’m coming.”

***

Praise for Guardian of Paradise:

“Lawrence blends romance, action, and beautiful scenery into an alluring concoction.” – Kirkus Reviews

“There's mystery, intrigue, danger, romance; everything you could want in a story. This is definitely a book, and author, that deserves more attention.” – Charli Denae

“Reading this book is a great escape and will not let you down.” – Susan Scarcella

“This book was so good! It had a very sweet romance, but it also had a great, adventurous plot that pulled me in, and had me dying to find out what would happen next. I read the whole book in one day.“ – Jessica Hatfield

About the Author:

W. E. Lawrence graduated in 1978 from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill with a BS in business administration. He has run a successful home health care supplies distributorship for the past twenty-three years.

Passionate about God, writing, reading, family, sports, politics, and America, Lawrence currently lives in Davidson, North Carolina, with his lovely wife and their two wonderful children.

W. E. Lawrence enjoys writing historical romance novels filled with action and adventure. He published his debut novel Guardian of Paradise in October 2014.  

To learn more, go to http://welawrenceauthor.wix.com/author

Readers can connect with W. E. Lawrence on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.