Review: The Puppy That Came for Christmas

Summary: All Megan Rix ever wanted was a baby. Yet, month after month, Megan's dreams were dashed. Would her life ever feel complete? 

Megan and her husband, Ian, found a surprising answer when they began training golden retriever pups to become service dogs for people with disabilities. But opening their homes and hearts up to Emma, and then Freddy-only to have each move on after six months-eventually took its own toll. Megan and Ian didn't know if they could continue. Then, one Christmas, little Traffy came along ... and stayed. An instant U.K. bestseller, The Puppy That Came for Christmas is a heartwarming and inspirational story that will captivate dog lovers everywhere. -- Plume

I know that you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but seriously, how could I resist this face? He's just so darn cute. I am admittedly not an "animal" person, but I have been known to enjoy a heartwarming story or two about a dog (i.e. THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN and MARLEY AND ME.) So I figured THE PUPPY THAT CAME FOR CHRISTMAS: HOW A DOG BROUGHT ONE FAMILY THE GIFT OF JOY by Megan Rix might cause a similar reaction in me. Plus, it's the holiday season and I do enjoy sentimental stories this time of year.

THE PUPPY THAT CAME FOR CHRISTMAS was a touching story about Megan Rix and her husband... and their lovable dog Traffy. Megan decides that she wants a baby more than anything in the world, but she has a difficult time conceiving a child. While going through fertility treatments, she decides to explore some other options in an attempt to find some sense of fulfillment. She and her husband begin fostering golden retriever puppies and training them for future work as service dogs.

First, Megan and her husband take in Emma and then Freddy. Both animals showed great promise to be service dogs, so they "lost" them after only six months. Because Megan became so attached to these dogs, she decides that fostering puppies is just too painful for her. Instead, she decides to adopt her own puppy which they name Traffy. It is an instant love affair for everyone involved.

THE PUPPY THAT CAME FOR CHRISTMAS wasn't really a Christmas book at all despite the title, but that didn't affect my enjoyment of the story. (Megan actually got Traffy around Christmas and I do think she'd say it was one of her best gifts ever!) I can't say that I was disappointed that it wasn't more of a holiday story, but I can admit that I was a little surprised based on the title and the bow on the cover. Having said that, the book did epitomize all those gushy holiday feelings, so I guess that kind of makes it a holiday story!

While there is absolutely no way that I could ever be a foster dog owner (I can blame Booking Son's allergies, but my hesitation goes way beyond that), I appreciate that Megan and her husband were able to take in and train two dogs for such a noble cause. I understood how Megan became so attached to these dogs because really, they were her babies. In addition, I enjoyed the author's honesty as well as her storytelling abilities. I feel pretty confident in saying that dog lovers will just embrace her story!

THE PUPPY THAT CAME FOR CHRISTMAS is the perfect example of how a pet can change some one's life... and even fill a major void as in the case of Megan. This book was an instant best-seller in England and I believe that many people will not only relate to Megan's love affair with a puppy (or two or three), but also her attempts to have a baby. If I'm being entirely honest, I appreciated the parts of the novel about Megan's quest to have a baby as much (if not more) than the doggy parts.

THE PUPPY THAT CAME FOR CHRISTMAS might not be a traditional holiday story, but it is a heartwarming one about love and finding joy. I recommend it to pet lovers and fans of memoirs.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book.

Review: Sleigh Ride & Giveaway

Summary: A Winter Anthology includes seven wintry tales of romance, adventure and drama by award-winning women authors. Megan Barlog, Maria Geraci, Dani Stone, Malena Lott, Maggie Marr, Jenny Peterson, Samantha Wilde. Each short story includes a sleigh ride and is sure to put the reader in the mood for the most wonderful season of all. Called "beautiful" and "touching," this collection is a Good Read/Good Deed project with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the domestic violence prevention cause. -- Buzz Books

I am such a sucker for Christmas books so when Malena Lott contacted me about doing a giveaway for SLEIGH RIDE, I couldn't help but say yes. SLEIGH RIDE is a winter anthology and contains seven short stories authored by Malena Lott, Megan Barlog, Dani Stone, Maria Geraci, Jenny Peterson, Maggie Marr, and Samantha Wilde. I figured it would be an ideal read for this very busy time of year.

I found the stories in SLEIGH RIDE to be a very entertaining and they definitely helped get me in the mood for the holidays. Each of the seven short stories had a common theme -- a sleigh ride of some sort; and I thought it was cute to see the different ways a sleigh ride was used in each story. Most of the stories had pretty traditional sleigh rides, although some weren't exactly fun and romantic; however, one of the stories had a futuristic twist and gave new meaning to the term "sleigh ride."

As is the case with most collections of short stories, there were ones that I enjoyed more than others. Having said that, I did find things I liked in each of the stories. Overall, I appreciated SLEIGH RIDE because each of the stories was so different from the others -- it is a rather eclectic mix of plots and writing styles. However, I also enjoyed how all of the the stories had something in common. Each story managed to touch my heart in some way and make me grateful for my life and loved ones. You'd have to be a major grinch for these short stories not to warm your heart a little.

I know this is going to sound weird, but I seemed to enjoy the romance story lines in SLEIGH RIDE the most. (Maybe it's because I get sentimental around this time of year!) I even found myself with a lump in my throat or a tear in my eye in quite a few of the stories. And more in keeping with my personality, I appreciated that food seemed to be a common theme in many of the stories. Since these were holiday stories, it just made sense that there were lots of enticing descriptions of food and drink. There were even a few of the characters' recipes that were included in the back of the book.

SLEIGH RIDE was just a feel-good holiday book. While many might find the stories a bit predictable or even a little sappy, I didn't mind at all. Sometimes, it's just nice to read book that is both heartwarming and fun... especially during the holiday season.

Giveaway alert: I have a copy of SLEIGH RIDE to share with one lucky reader courtesy of Malena Lott. You can pick from either a galley copy or an Amazon ebook version. To enter just fill out the form below before Tuesday, December 13th at 11:59 p.m. ET. I will randomly select and notify the winner the following day. Good luck!

Giveaway: The Doctor and the Diva

Summary: It is 1903, and Erika von Kessler has struggled for years to become pregnant. Resigned to childlessness, Erika-a talented opera singer and the wife of a prominent Bostonian-secretly plans to move to Italy to pursue her musical career. When the charismatic Doctor Ravell takes Erika on as a patient, he is mesmerized by her. Impetuously, he takes a shocking risk that could ruin them both. 

Inspired by the author's family history, the novel moves from snowy Boston to the gilded balconies of Florence in a stunning tale of opera, longing, and the indomitable power of romantic obsession. -- Penguin

Last year, I reviewed THE DOCTOR AND THE DIVA by Adrienne McDonnell and enjoyed it a great deal. THE DOCTOR AND THE DIVA is a well written novel which is rich in historical details. It also has a unique cast of characters which definitely piqued my interest. In fact, THE DOCTOR AND THE DIVA would make an excellent book club pick because the characters and their actions are sure to generate a lot of strong feelings. (Check out the reading guide here.)

Giveaway alert: To celebrate the release of the gorgeous paperback edition, Penguin is giving away a copy of THE DOCTOR AND THE DIVA for one lucky Booking Mama reader. To enter, just fill out the form below before December 19th at 11:59 p.m. ET. I will randomly select and notify the winner the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. and Canada addresses only. No P.O. Boxes please. Good luck!

Review: The Cut

Summary: Spero Lucas has a new line of work. Since he returned home after serving in Iraq, he has been doing special investigations for a defense attorney. He's good at it, and he has carved out a niche: recovering stolen property, no questions asked. His cut is forty percent.

A high-profile crime boss who has heard of Lucas's specialty hires him to find out who has been stealing from his operation. It's the biggest job Lucas has ever been offered, and he quickly gets a sense of what's going on. But before he can close in on what's been taken, he tangles with a world of men whose amorality and violence leave him reeling. Is any cut worth your family, your lover, your life?

Spero Lucas is George Pelecanos's greatest creation, a young man making his place in the world one battle and one mission at a time. The first in a new series of thrillers featuring Spero Lucas, The Cut is the latest confirmation of why George Pelecanos is "perhaps America's greatest living crime writer." (Stephen King) -- Reagan Arthur

It seems like I've been reading mainly cozies for my Mystery Mondays feature. It's probably because they are light and easy reads for me and I can always seem to fit one into my hectic schedule. However, if I'm being entirely honest, one of the reasons I started challenging myself to read a mystery a week is because I enjoy crime novels and thrillers so much. So it's with great pleasure that I finally had the chance to sit down and read THE CUT by George Pelecanos. A few years ago, I read my first Pelecanos book and I was blown away by his writing as well as the overall intensity of the story.

When I pick up a book and have high expectations, I often find that I'm disappointed. But that definitely wasn't the case with THE CUT. This book was encompassed everything that I've come to appreciate about Mr. Pelecanos and story-telling abilities. THE CUT was a book that I didn't want to put down despite knowing that I had so much I needed to do to get ready for the holidays. It was gripping and gritty and I had was most definitely surprised by the twist at the end. Overall, it was a very entertaining read.

I could spend some time analyzing the plot of THE CUT because I was intrigued by the story, but I think it's enough to say that it's an interesting mystery with enough twists and turns to keep most readers interested. I'd rather focus on what really stood out to me about THE CUT -- and that is Mr. Pelecanos' writing. He is a marvelous writer and he truly knows how to create memorable (and very real) characters like Spero Lucas. I was so drawn to Lucas. He was far from perfect, but he was extremely likable; and I loved how complex he was. Lucas was a veteran of the war in Iraq who now does private investigations. He was obviously affected by what he saw in Iraq as well as the loss of his father, and I sense that he is battling quite a few of his own demons. He was so incredibly real and so honest that I couldn't help but root for him. Of course, it doesn't hurt that he's kind of a bad ass too!

In addition to creating a terrific story and main character, Mr. Pelecanos also does a remarkable job with the setting. THE CUT takes place in Washington, DC, and Mr. Pelecanos brings this city -- both the good and the bad parts of it -- to life. It is immediately apparent to any reader that he has an insider's understanding of the city, and I love how he intersperses both current and past history of the city and its residents into this novel.

Furthermore, I appreciated how he covered so many relevant issues in THE CUT. For example, he touches upon some important causes like urban crime, inner city schools, and the treatment of our veterans. I'm guessing that these things are near and dear to his heart, and I love that he uses his books as way to get the message out to his readers. I have to tell you, though, that I am deeply impressed that he can pull this off without appearing "preachy." I think it's a testament to his writing skills that he can make it work so well in his novels.

I enjoyed THE CUT and its main character Spero Lucas so much that I'm hoping that this is the beginning of a new series. I look forward to learning more about Lucas and his personal life as well as seeing where his investigations take him. Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book.

Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.

Kid Konnection: The Story of Christmas

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with a gorgeous Christmas picture book.

Summary: Pamela Dalton’s exquisite, intricate scissor-cut illustrations wonderfully illuminate The Story of Christmas. Deeply reverent, richly detailed, and teeming with life, Dalton’s images follow the story of the Nativity from the appearance of the Angel, to the shepherds who came from the fields, and to the three wise men who followed the star to pay respect for their new king. Working in a Pennsylvania-German folk-art tradition, rich with lovingly rendered animals and figures, Pamela Dalton has created a book that takes a deserved place among the finest celebrations of Christmas. -- Chronicle

THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS is a very special and very beautiful picture book. THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS tells the Nativity story using actual text from the King James Bible. Booking Son and I read it this past week to help get us into the Christmas spirit. Plus, I thought it would help both of us to keep perspective on the "reason for the season." It's unfortunate, but things do get crazy this time of year and our family can certainly use a wake-up call every now and then.

THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS truly is one of the books that you can read over and over again. Of course, the story of Jesus' birth is pretty amazing story in its own right; however, the illustrations by Pamela Dalton bring this book to the next level. The pages in this book represent detailed paper cuttings and they are nothing short of exquisite. The angels' wings and the tree branches are so intricate that I can hardly imagine being able to make those cuts with scissors.

This isn't really a complaint, but it is something I feel I should mention... One one hand, I appreciated that the text of the story is lifted directly from the King James Bible. However, on the other hand, it does read rather formally. Booking Son isn't used to his bible readings sounding quite like this since we don't read the King James version of the bible. Although he is very familiar with the story of Christ's birth, he did mention that the words were a little confusing to him and he wasn't comfortable reading the book himself. That could have just been a ploy to have me read the book to him, though.

THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS would make a wonderful collection to any Christmas collection of books. There is no doubt that it will be treasured in our house.

Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Guest Review: Into the Silence

Summary: On June 6, 1924, two men set out from a camp perched at 23,000 feet on an ice ledge just below the lip of Mount Everest’s North Col. George Mallory, thirty-seven, was Britain’s finest climber. Sandy Irvine was a young Oxford scholar of twenty-two with little previous mountaineering experience. Neither of them returned.

In this magisterial work of history and adventure, based on more than a decade of prodigious research in British, Canadian, and European archives, and months in the field in Nepal and Tibet, Wade Davis vividly re-creates British climbers’ epic attempts to scale Mount Everest in the early 1920s. With new access to letters and diaries, Davis recounts the heroic efforts of George Mallory and his fellow climbers to conquer the mountain in the face of treacherous terrain and furious weather. Into the Silence sets their remarkable achievements in sweeping historical context: Davis shows how the exploration originated in nineteenth-century imperial ambitions, and he takes us far beyond the Himalayas to the trenches of World War I, where Mallory and his generation found themselves and their world utterly shattered.  In the wake of the war that destroyed all notions of honor and decency, the Everest expeditions, led by these scions of Britain’s elite, emerged as a symbol of national redemption and hope.

Beautifully written and rich with detail, Into the Silence is a classic account of exploration and endurance, and a timeless portrait of an extraordinary generation of adventurers, soldiers, and mountaineers the likes of which we will never see again. -- Knopf

When I read the description for INTO THE SILENCE: THE GREAT WAR, MALLORY, AND THE CONQUEST OF EVEREST by Wade Davis, I thought it sounded like a book that might be a good fit for Booking Pap Pap. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Booking Pap Pap really did make a good effort to appreciate this book; however, I think it was even a little too detailed for him. Here are his thoughts:

I must admit that INTO THE SILENCE by Wade Davis is one of the few books that I did not enjoy reading.  I actually found myself time and again skimming large sections of what I considered monotonous detail. I was disappointed in myself because I had read many terrific reviews of this book.

The book starts by describing the horrors of World War I and makes a case that the War was a prime motivator in the British assaults on Mount Everest, the highest point on the earth.  Davis described the War with a bitter tone and was highly critical of British leadership.  The War not only serves as an introduction to the book but is referenced throughout the book each time a biography is written for a team member who served in the War.  He then goes on to discuss in great detail the 1921, 1922 and 1924 British attempts to conquer Mount Everest while highlighting the efforts of George Mallory, the one man who was a part of all three efforts. 

The narrative describing the first attempt in 1921 was somewhat interesting in that the team was traveling in areas not identified on any map created up to that time.  A big part of the quest was actually finding a way to the mountain and mapping the new areas.  The effort required tremendous political and diplomatic negotiations and encountered immense logistical problems.  The author describes the team’s effort in crossing through Tibet.  He emphasized the difference in the cultures of the Great Britain and Tibet.  While the British looked at the mountain as a challenge, the Tibetans viewed Mount Everest as sacred and could not see any reason why anyone would want to climb it.

All three attempts appeared to be poorly equipped and less than prepared.  Each attempt did however learn from the prior one and the teams had some opportunity to employ new technology.  One innovation was the use of oxygen in climbing about certain heights.  Although none of the attempts resulted in reaching the summit, in each attempt men climbed higher than any man had ever climbed before.  The third and final attempt resulted in the death of George Mallory, one of the greatest British climbers.  Some feel that Mallory actually reached the summit and died on his way down.  No one would officially reach the summit until 1953.

It took Wade Davis ten years to write INTO THE SILENCE and based on the detail in the book did an amazing amount of research.  I felt that as Davis tried to capture the smallest details of the three attempts, the book bogged down.  In my opinion the strength of the book was in the way the author transitioned from the horrors of the War to the elation of attempting to climb the highest mountain on earth.  It captured the minds and hearts of the British who were weary from the War and needed a diversion. 

This book is definitely not for the casual reader but for those with a specific interest in the British attempts to scale Mount Everest in the 1920s.

Thanks to the publisher for sending a review copy and to Booking Pap Pap for his honest review.

Review: A Summer in Europe

Summary: On her thirtieth birthday, Gwendolyn Reese receives an unexpected present from her widowed Aunt Bea: a grand tour of Europe in the company of Bea’s Sudoku and Mahjongg Club. The prospect isn’t entirely appealing. But when the gift she is expecting—an engagement ring from her boyfriend—doesn’t materialize, Gwen decides to go.

At first, Gwen approaches the trip as if it’s the math homework she assigns her students, diligently checking monuments off her must-see list. But amid the bougainvillea and stunning vistas of southern Italy, something changes. Gwen begins to live in the moment—skipping down stone staircases in Capri, running her fingers over a glacier in view of the Matterhorn, racing through the Louvre, and taste-testing pastries at a Marseilles cafe. Reveling in every new experience—especially her attraction to a charismatic British physics professor—Gwen discovers that the ancient wonders around her are nothing compared to the renaissance unfolding within… -- Kensington

It's that time of year when I am swamped with real life. I know I'm not alone, but lately, I feel as if I'm lucky to read for even an hour a day. And as far as concentrating on a book goes... forget about it. So I decided that I needed a book that would just "take me away." A SUMMER IN EUROPE by Marilyn Brant was definitely an ideal choice. This novel allowed me to forget about the real world, get caught up in a little romance, and escape to another country (or two or three...)

A SUMMER IN EUROPE tells the story of Gwen, an Iowan schoolteacher whose aunt gives her a month-long trip to Europe for her 30th birthday. The catch is that the tour is with her aunt and her aunt's friends who just happen to be members of a Sudoku and Mahjongg club. Gwen isn't too sure that she wants to leave for part of her summer break and spend it with the older folk; however, after her boyfriend of two years doesn't pop the question on her birthday (instead she gets a pair of earrings), she decides that a vacation might be exactly what she needs.

I enjoyed A SUMMER IN EUROPE and, without a doubt, it served as an escape read for me. I absolutely loved being transported to Europe and I felt as if I had the opportunity to live vicariously through the characters in this novel. I have only ever been to London, and that was when I was a teen, and I long to visit other parts of Europe -- especially Italy. I was thrilled that so much of this story took place in Italy and that the characters were very diligent about seeing most of the major attractions. I thought Ms. Brant did a wonderful job in bringing these attractions (both the big and small ones) to life. It is apparent to anyone who reads A SUMMER IN EUROPE that the author not only has traveled to these places, but that she holds them near and dear to her heart.

Another fun part of A SUMMER IN EUROPE were the characters. Many of the people in the story were indeed "characters;" and I was became quite fond of them (all except for Gwen's stodgy boyfriend.) I adored Gwen's aunt and her very funny friends, and I appreciated how Ms. Brant portrayed many of the elderly characters. She made them very wise, but she also made them authentic... with real feelings and desires that individuals of any age could relate to.

Of course, I think one of the reasons that I liked A SUMMER IN EUROPE so much was the character of Gwen. In fact, if I'm being entirely honest, she reminded me a bit of myself. Not so much that my life was like hers, but more like I could relate to her approach to travel. When Gwen first set out on this trip, she had a laundry list of sites that she had to see. She was more interested in checking them off then appreciating their beauty and wonder. Gwen was very organized and definitely a Type A personality, and while I could see how it affected her ability to enjoy life, I still have a feeling that I would be tempted to approach a European tour the exact same way.

Thankfully, the longer Gwen is away from Iowa and her boyfriend, the more she relaxes and allows opens herself up to new experiences. And one of those experiences just happens to be a very charming British professor named Emerson who is also on the tour. I admit that I fell a bit for Emerson's charm and I loved how their romance expanded Gwen's world. In addition, Emerson provided some humor to the story with his constant banter with his brother -- they gave new meaning to the words "sibling rivalry."

However, it was Gwen's personal growth that really made the story stand out to me. I always liked Gwen, but by the end of the novel, I loved her. Throughout the course of the story, Gwen managed to really begin to understand herself and her desires. She saw the world in a new light and I think she realized her place in it. Gwen's personal and spiritual journey were very uplifting and hopeful, and her story just made me feel happy.

A SUMMER IN EUROPE would make a fun book club pick and the possibilities for a themed book club event are endless. I am almost drooling thinking about all of the foods that could be served! There is a
reading guide included in the back of the book with thirteen thought provoking questions. Some of the themes you might choose to explore include travel, cultural differences, romance, commitment, family dynamics, aging, art, music, food, and love. There are also quite a bit of symbolism in the story from the game of Mahjongg, to String Theory, to Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle.

A SUMMER IN EUROPE was a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. I loved getting to "visit" so many amazing European cities and "meet" some very interesting people.

Thanks to the author for providing a review copy of this novel.