A Dog's Chance

By

Casey Wilson

After reading Casey Wilson's first book called "A Dog's Hope" I was thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to read "A Dog's Chance".   Ms. Wilson writes the best novels with dogs as her main characters.  I've always been a dog lover and reading books that feature dogs is just the best for me!  This book is no exception.....a best! 

It's not always the person who finds the dog but the dog who finds and chooses its person.  There is a connection between them that's just meant to be.  Duke is that kind of a dog.  He is an abandoned "dump dog" puppy and he longs to be in a family.  Because of destiny or fate, he happens upon a very sad elderly man, Arthur, and he just knows he can comfort him. This is his person!   There is an instant bond between them and that's where the story of Duke grabs my heart and takes me on his journey.   Dogs bring such joy into the lives of the people they choose and Duke is there for Arthur. 

Madison is a traveling nurse practioner and a single mom of a 14 year old daughter, Abbie, who's struggling with anxiety.  Madison's next assignment brings them to the town of Millbury.  This place just seems to be where they belong but there's a reason they can't get complacent and settle down.  Madison just can't become attached to anyone or anything. It's not worth the risk.   But....who can resist Duke?  He's such a lovable and intuitive golden retriever and connects with Abbie.  As does Madison connect with Arthur.  Now what will she do and how will she ever be able to leave this new family?

I love the way this story is written between the two POVs.  One is Duke's and the other is Madison's.   Ms. Wilson has created a dialogue with Duke's voice that is so unique, touching and compassionate.  She's put into "words" what those soulful eyes and expressions dogs have and what they would say if they could actually talk.  Duke is a very wise puppy and he loves through his heart.  "Dogs see what's inside, what's underneath, and we have a keen awareness of how humans are feeling and what's churning inside, deep below the surface."  Duke is so intune with his people.   Throughout the story, Ms. Wilson weaves Duke's instincts and connection to bring the characters together.

This story has so many of the "feels" that make it a great dog-lover story.  Duke channels his inner "Lassie" so many times.  One point in particular of the story.  I loved watching Lassie when I was a little girl and this book reminded me so much of that.  The love of a dog for his family.  Always faithful to protect and comfort.

Duke had challenges when he was a pup.  He was the runt of the litter and overlooked. But his mother encouraged him and told him he was "destined for greatness".   He is  loyal, devoted and loves unconditionally.  "Just because I was different and smaller, didn't mean I wasn't powerful.  Stature, breed, looks-all are labels that serve only to limit, but they don't determine our strength.  Dogs know what's on the outside isn't important; it's what's deep in your heart that defines you." I love Duke!!   He is a GREAT dog!

I am so honored to have read this book.  Ms. Wilson's wonderful gift of writing is even more incredible in the way she expresses the inner thoughts of the dog  characters she brings to life.  I love her dedication to her sweet pup, Izzy.  Dogs do heal hearts and bring joy.  This book is full of this.   Huge thanks to Ms. Wilson for the copy of this wonderful story.  I loved the journey with Duke and his family.  All opinions and thoughts in this review are my heartfelt own.

The Last Blue

By

Isla Morley

Wow!  Amazing! I didn't just read this book, I experienced this book!  I'm in a huge book hangover after finishing the last emotional page.  I closed the cover of this book a couple of days ago and I needed to soak and bask in the journey back in time  that I just spent with Jubilee and Havens as their love story unfolded.  It was like going into the pages and becoming a part of their story. It was a complete bonding with the characters, the remote location of Spooklight Holler, and the level of prejudice the Buford family suffered just because they were born "blue".  I love historical fiction and this book is a top reason that makes it so for me.   It was an unbelievable and unforgettable encounter with an epic read.  The love story of two people who were destined to be together through so many challenges just because one of them was different.  It's a story of how the power of love can overcome even the most difficult of times, situations and heartache.

For me this book is so worthy of high praises. There are so many emotions I felt that were as real as if I were experiencing them myself. This is the first book I've read by Isla Morley and I'm in awe of her talent to pull so much out of me with her extraordinary prose. Each page in this magnificent novel drew me deeper into the lives of the characters. I'm just mind boggled at the intimate and minute details that created a living journey for me to travel in the pages of this book.  Ms. Morley's writing is profound and filled with word portraits that filled my mind with detailed pictures.  Not only of the settings but also the emotions of the characters.  The horrors of what it was like being discriminated against and treated as inferior.  The level of prejudice and hatred was stark and blatant.  Raw and achingly painful.  But then she took me into the inner depths of the love between Jubilee and Havens.  The beautiful connection and true passion for one another.   Ms. Morley tenderly and intimately crafted their relationship and had my heart yearning for their lives to come together and be with one another.  The pacing was precise and perfect in creating their story.   "There are but three things over which a poor soul has no control: his birth, his death, and who he'll love, and anyone who tells  you an orderly tale about love has surely never encountered the real thing."  The passages of Haven's depth of feelings for Jubilee had my heart beating.  "He has the urge to unbutton his shirt, unhook his ribs, show her his heart."  "Such an unspoiled goodness will make a man want to pull rainbows from the sky and tie them around her neck."  How romantic is that!?  Such beautiful words.  I have so many passages highlighted that touched me in so many ways.  Words that blended the book together so perfectly.

This book is magnificently written. The characters are unforgettable.  I will carry a part of them with me for a very long time.  I will go back to what I said earlier about needing a couple of days to absorb all that is between the covers of this book.  I didn't want the book to end but I did, too.  It is an emotional read and I had tears as I read the last few pages.  It touched me heart and soul.  
I want to especially thank Ms. Morley for a copy of this book I am so, so honored to have read.  There are totally not enough stars or words I can give this book for how wonderful it is. One of my top five books this year.   All opinions and thoughts in this review are my heartfelt own.

Grounded in January

By

Savannah Hendricks

For a delightful "romcomdram" with a bit of suspense, this is a perfect book to pick up.  Kate Wilson has been struggling to find out why her life isn't what makes her happy.  She's not sure why. So she decides to return to her home town where she grew up to surprise her parents and search for answers.  One big hurdle in getting there, is her fear of flying.  Plus, add a few other anxieties and her klutziness, as she fearfully steps onto the plane, and I was pulled right into the pages.  Her flight is the beginning of a story that I enjoyed immensely. 

As her luck, or fate would have it, when Kate reaches her destination at her parent's house, lo and behold, they have taken a trip to Hawaii unbeknownst to her.  Now she's stranded in Washington and no where to go.  She decides to try and get a flight back to Arizona in spite of her great fear of flying.  But that wasn't meant to be, either.  There's a snowstorm and all fights are grounded.  Enter Oxnard (Ox) Swanson and the spark of a connection between them starts to smolder.   This is the essence of a Hallmark movie in the making! 

The characters in this story are so easy to connect to.   They are human with feelings and emotions that Ms. Hendricks wrote into them tenderly and had me empathizing with each one.  She adds  humor, drama, anxiety, doubts and scenes written in details that were easy to visualize and had me experiencing them along with the characters.  I especially liked the humor in the situations from Kate's accident proneness.  Or more her clumsiness.  It added to her adorable personality.   The way Ms. Hendricks wrote about Ox's MS diagnosis was with care and compassion.  His feelings and fears about what it meant for his future were heart tugging.   I absolutely loved the yellow lab, Bayou.  He was intuitive with both Kate and Ox.  He knew just when they needed him to comfort them and bring a calmness. 

This story is a sweet romance that touched my heart.  It's so well written and heartwarming.  The feelings that Ox and Kate had for each other were carefully and perfectly paced.  The walls they had up were chiseled away with the help of a wise and understanding guest at the inn, named Maggie.  She guided Kate and Ox to seek the answers for themselves with bits of nudging care.  The devotion and unconditional love of Bayou is so joyful and exactly how dog lovers feel about their fur babies.  He is such a great character in the book. 

This book was a feel-good, light escape for me.  It is a story about letting go and trusting in someone.  That love for another knowing they will be there for each other no matter what.  Together, love is what matters the most.  I liked this passage from the book that Maggie shares with Kate: "Faith and hope is all around me.  We can choose to be happy, even if we're missing a piece of our self."  

I want to thank Ms. Hendricks for the lovely copy of this book.  It is a fantastic five star novel for me.   I can't wait for the next one!  My granddaughter enjoyed her children's book "Nonnie and I" very much and the message she shares in it.  I am honored to have read this book and all thoughts and opinions in this review are my heartfelt own.