I Once Was Lost, But Now I’m Found: Daisy and the Olympic Animal Sanctuary Rescue by Laura Koerber

Summary

On the far side of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, halfway between the mountains and the ocean, stands the little town of Forks. In that town, in a quiet neighborhood of modest homes and shabby businesses, there remains a dilapidated pink warehouse.

Packed inside that warehouse, living in deplorable conditions, were once over 120 dogs. Some of the dogs were kept in crates piled high on shelves, arranged in rows along the walls, and shoved into corners behind heaps of garbage and urine-saturated straw. Some of the dogs were confined to wire-sided or glassed-in kennels. One was kept in an old horse trailer. Dead ones were stored in a cooler.

In one of the crates was a black dog named Daisy. This is her story.

Overall

This is a harrowing tale of tragedy that could have been avoided. It educates the reader in addition to telling a story. If you love animals this will hit home – if you are human, this will be eye opening and heartbreaking. The narration was interesting and easy to follow. There were sections of supposition that felt unnecessary and undercut the strength of the story. It was smart to focus on one dog over others, it added an extra layer. Adding to the fact that the author was a small part of the protest and followed the story, that you could feel the passion.

This isn’t just a story about the pets though, it is also about the people. The fact that a few people who were seriously concerned got together and eventually made a difference. I don’t want to ruin the story but some do see a happy ending – which brings an overall positive dynamic to the story. Well worth the read!

Rating

4 Stars

If you like non-fiction books, especially about pets, this is a great read!

Where did I get it?

The author gifted me a kindle copy.

 

 

 

 

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The Nowhere Gate – Cover Reveal

Hello everyone! Here is the cover reveal of The Nowhere Gate – book 2 of the The Gate Trilogy. I am so excited to share this with you and announce that The Nowhere Gate will be released one month from now – on August 8th. Keep an eye open, I’ll be putting it on pre-order a few weeks before the release.

Here is a glimpse at the back of the book:

The interplanetary gates originated from somewhere and nowhere.

Ki is lost on an unknown planet with no memories or body. Worse, an entity came through with him, something dark. It can’t hurt him, but no one else is safe. He doesn’t know how they arrived, but he knows one thing for certain—they don’t belong.

Elisabeth isn’t willing to leave a man behind, even if that man is lost among infinite possibilities. When Morhaven holds the answers to rescuing Ki, she takes Nanette with her to serve her term in the Netherworld. In turn Nanette must take a chance and trust a man she barely knows. 

How far is Elisabeth prepared to go to save Ki?

What do you think of the cover? Are you excited to find out the next step in Elisabeth and Ki’s story?

To celebrate this day, The Sixth Gate is #free on Amazon! Make sure to check it out: The Sixth Gate on Amazon.

Gabriel’s Send-Off by Elle Danielson

**Contains Adult Content**

Summary:

Practically every woman at Klingman and Landis Accounting has a crush on their office manager Gabriel. He’s thoughtful, honest, and fills out a business suit like a GQ model. Of course there are strict policies against hooking up with the boss, but when Gabe announces he’s leaving the company, a few of his most ardent devotees come up with a plan to show him their appreciation. Will their beloved supervisor take them up on their offer?

Overall

This was an erotica with a sweet vein. I have too say there are two redeeming factors in this book – the main guy, Gabriel, seems like a genuinely nice guy and the steamy scenes were very sexy. There was a sweetness to them mixed with the hotness. Although there were a few words used that were more crude and disrupted the flow, there weren’t many of them.

It is fast paced and easy to read in one sitting. There were a few character inconsistencies that weren’t logical, but for the genre it wasn’t the focus. I was surprised at the depth of character development and it brought an extra layer to the story. The biggest drawback was the story felt like it rushed to be something that didn’t fit quite right. Although it was cute it was also very impulsive.

Rating

3. 5 stars (rounded up)

I have to round this up just for how sweet Gabe was. He really did feel like a nice guy. Drawbacks aside this was a cute short read with just the right amount of steam.

Where did I get it?

Picked up a copy on Amazon.

Eyesha and The Great Elephant Gathering by Nadishka Aloysius

Summary:

Eyesha the baby elephant visits the Minneriya Tank with her family for the first time to experience the annual Great Gathering. Curious and adventurous, she makes new friends – but will she be able to stay out of trouble?

Overall:

This is just too cute! A sweet short story about a young elephant who is spunky and curious. I read it in one sitting! I loved the subtle information drops about elephants and how they are. Good for reading to younger kids. It also contains a lot of useful information at the end that was just as fun to read as the story.

Rating

4 stars

This is an adorable little read. If you love elephants and your children do, this is a great read before bed.

Where did I get it?

Author gifted a copy to me.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Summary

In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade’s devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world’s digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade’s going to survive, he’ll have to win—and confront the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.

Characters

I really liked Wade. Even when he goes all goo-goo over Artie, I still liked him. There was a fair amount of teenage angst. Just the right amount that if they had pushed it any more, I would have quietly backed out of the room. This is for sure a YA novel (although I would say older YA or even NA).

Plot

James Halliday was a very clever nerd (that’s a compliment, I consider myself a nerd). He sets up puzzles that only those like him could ever accomplish. I liked that idea the most and the overall theme. This felt like a fluff book – very cotton candy like. This doesn’t move mountains but is pure entertainment from the get go. Strap in you are in for a nerdy ride!

Overall

This is a YA novel with some adult themes. The writing was easy to read and I laughed out loud at least twice. This novel’s biggest drawback was the OVER reliance on the 1980s references in a YA novel. Overall this book had me turning pages to find out what happened next, that was its overall draw. Far warning it did drag in two parts – first the beginning was quite slow and second when the references were coming like fastballs and I could only catch half of them easily. Besides that I really enjoyed this book!

The hunt is what kept this together and seeing Wade figure them out. I think it was also because of the ‘villain’ and that Wade seemed too lucky (too many coincidences that just lined up too perfectly). It also didn’t help that Wade’s focus goes off the rails and it stops being about the hunt. A set up for the overall theme of the book (people matter because they are real). That screen time isn’t as fulfilling at face to face time.

Rating

4 stars

Overall an enjoyable YA novel with lots of 1980s references that are just too fun! I wouldn’t put too much stock in a deep plot or characters, just like a rollercoaster, read this one for the fun ride!

Where did I get it?

Bought a paperback on Amazon.

The Involuntary Ghostwriter (The Ghostwriter Series #1) by Douglas Debelak

Summary

Jonathon Fry, begins his lifelong dream of writing a novel, a fictionalized memoir of his own early life. But, he awakes from an erotic dream of a beautiful woman he has never seen before, with his thoughts filled with memories that are not his own, and the story that began as his own becomes the root stock upon which to graft the story of…

A boy, who was told, when he grew up, He could be anything He wanted to be. Little did they know He’d take them so seriously.

“In the beginning… I was born,” whispers a voice in Jonathon Fry’s head, a voice that claims to be that of our Creator.

Author or conduit, the life, sanity and marriage of Jonathon Fry become unhinged, sending him into a free fall, uncertain of the source of the words he has written – his own imagination or The Word of God – while battling his core values with his need to still be a man and hang on to his love for a wife who has pushed him away, because he told her about his dreams of another woman.

Characters

This book is very driven by the main character. It does after all have an autobiographical feel to it. There is ugliness and beauty. Bad and good choices. It is a life lived. If you read the first 20% you will get hooked on his life. You’ll want to know more, and the chapters/pages just fly by. The supporting characters are all from his point of view. Although one is in first person and another in third person, which could be a little confusing at times, once you get over the hump it flows seamlessly.

Plot

The focus of this story is on the life of Jonathan Fry. The plot ping pongs back and forth between a younger and older Jonathon  It is like watching life unfold at two different points in a man’s life. Watching decisions turn into rewards or consequences. Be warned this is clearly the first book in a series as the first chapter, it ends rather abruptly and with multiple issues looming and unresolved.

Overall

After a slow start I was sucked in. It read like a diary or journal of a man recounting his life and the choices he made. I cringed, I gripped my phone in worry, I gasped, and I was enthralled. I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I started this book but I was impressed. It is a unique writing style that sometimes feels like the author is sitting next to you explaining what is going on.

One thing that did bother me was the disruption of the ‘creator’ chapters. That is usually where I took breaks. I read this whole thing off and on during a plane ride and it was the perfect book to pass the time. In a way the creator chapters were nice break points for me, but they were painful to get through because I was so invested in Jonathan Fry’s life. I’ll admit this book surprised more than once, and mostly for the better!

Rating

4 Stars

There is a raw and yet philosophical feel to the book that is engaging. A surprisingly pleasing read perfect for a long plane ride.

Where did I get it?

The author provided a copy.

What’s the Time Mr. Wolfdog? by Stephen J. Willis

Summary

Before the lone wolf’s cry, Tim Connery had been resigned to the fact of a cold Christmas alone. Encompassed by snowy landscapes, the views from his cottage toward the outbound vistas were but another reminder of his desolation.

Deserted by his wife and children, he is forced into the gradual admittance of his betrayal, and in keeping an unspeakable secret that is slowly tearing him apart.

Before long however, Tim suddenly finds himself surrounded by a battalion of desperate and starving dogs that have recently broken free from the nearest pound for illegal and unstable animals. Since being liberated from restraint and subservient only to a vicious pack leader, they will do anything and eat anything to survive – and Tim is no exception to the menu.

The unpredicted appearance of a woman’s dead body however, finally brings Tim to his knees, forcing him to finally confront not only his past and his future, but the very fundamentals of his faith in God. It becomes apparent thereafter that death is no stranger to Tim, when truth is revealed at even the most unexpected of times.

Here, the line between man and beast becomes lost in the overwhelming will to endure and overcome, wherein only the victor will survive to tell the tale.

Overall

This is a shorter read which was a major plus. There are a lot of glossary terms at the end, so the book was shorter then I was anticipating. The writing was easy to read and created many vivid scenes. It did a good job bringing in other senses and setting the eerie feeling. It was gripping and surprising more then a few times. However, some of the surprises didn’t necessarily match up with the blurb ‘unpredictable appearance’ is paper thin. That being said after a slow start and a character I found somewhat annoying, I was sucked in. I had to know what was going to happen to Tim and who of his newly loyal beasts would survive the night. It was gripping at times and down right chilling at others.

This was a horror story with a humanity element that twisted itself around the grotesque scenes like a bow. As with most horror though, once the crisis was averted the story simply ended without wrapping up many aspects of the story. Which speaks to excellent writing because a character I disliked for most of the book, I still invested in knowing what happens to him. What really clenched it for me was by the time he faced the ‘final boss’ I was starting to question how realistic it was and how timid Tim could really accomplish some of that. Beyond that, it was a great horror read for a quiet evening in.

Rating

3.5 Stars (rounded down and up)

Overall this was an okay read that had a lot of great chilling moments and action oriented scenes. A horror with a human angle.