Review and Giveaway: Hospice Tails by Debra Stang

Hospice Tails by Debra Stang

Publisher: Booklocker.com, Inc.

Pages: 108

Format: print
Buy the Book:Amazon 

Goodreads:  Funny, sad, and irreverent, Hospice Tails shares the stories of pets who traveled to the door of death with their humans.  Meet King, an abused pit bull fiercely loyal to his rescuer, Jasper and Jackie, Amazon parrots who sang their person to his final sleep, Washington, a golden retriever who became the only connection to the world for an Alzheimer's patient, and ten other animals who accompanied their beloved people on the hospice journey.

Kritters Thoughts:  Wow, emotional.  Being a pup owner, this story took on a whole different meaning and I became completely entranced by it.  Of course as  I was reading this gem, my pup, Miss Charlotte was curled up in my lap enjoying an afternoon on the couch with book in hand.


A book full of stories from a hospice nurse when a pet or animal has been involved.  Each was unique and fun to read in its own right.  From those who couldn't die without being surrounded by their pets to pets that were more of a menace than a comfort - I loved them all.


This book made me even more attached to my pup and how much our lives has changed as she has come in and made it her home too.  A book that is perfect for those who have a special pet in their lives and love to hear about how a pet can impact each human in the home.

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row


GR Oct-Dec Challenge: It's Raining Cats or Dogs

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from the author and WOW (women on writing).  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.










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Review: Triangles by Ellen Hopkins

Triangles by Ellen Hopkins

Publisher: Atria

Pages: 544

Format: print

Buy the Book:Amazon

Goodreads:  In this emotionally powerful novel, three women face the age-old midlife question: If I'm halfway to death, is this all I've got to show for it?  Holly, filled with regret for being a stay-at-home mom, sheds sixty pounds and loses herself in the world of extramarital sex.  Andrea, a single mom and avowed celibate, watches her friend Holly's meltdown with a mixture of concern and contempt.  Holly is throwing away what Andrea has spent her whole life searching for - a committed relationship with a decent guy.  So what if Andrea picks up Holly's castaway husband?  Then there's Marissa.  She has more than her fair share of challenges - a gay teenage son, a terminally ill daughter, and a husband who buries himself in his work rather than face the facts.  As one woman's marriage unravels, another one's rekindles.  As one woman's family comes apart at the seems, another's is reconfigured into something bigger and better.  In this story of connections and disconnections, one woman's up is another one's down, and all three of them will learn the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness before it is through.

Kritters Thoughts:  Let me start this review by saying that I was very skeptical for a book in verse.  I hadn't experienced one yet and am not much of the poetry fan, so I started this book with some apprehension.  After saying that, this is a must read.  Although the topics are controversial and the subject matter can be hard to read at times, the fact that it is written in verse worked so well.  I was given enough details to feel like I was reading a full book, but not too much, so I could use my imagination.  Blown away.  

Told from the perspectives of three women who are right around that mid-life crisis point and all are second guessing the decisions they made that lead them to the life they are in currently.  I thoroughly enjoyed how Hopkins broke up a few poems for each character and it was all labeled, so I could easily dip back into that characters mind and life and wasn't confused as to who was talking.  I experienced every emotion reading this book, from laughing to crying, and even anger towards these women who were making decisions that affected them and their families.  The reality of the situations the characters were put in made the verse personal and enabled the story to hit me deeper than I thought it would.  

This book can be read by those who love poems and verse AND for those who are a little unsure of this whole different reading experience.  I am going now to find her YA books and see how they compare to this adult novel.   

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

GR Oct-Dec 2011 Challenge: Boxed Set (Madonna, one word titles)

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from the author in conjunction with Crazy Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

November 1- All I Ever Read - http://books.nicoleabouttown.com/

November 2- Reflections with Coffee - http://www.reflectionswithcoffee.com/

November 3- Taming the Bookshelf - http://tamingthebookshelf.blogspot.com/

November 4- Oodles of Books - http://oodlesofbooks.blogspot.com/

November 5- Ravishing Reads - http://ravishingreads.blogspot.com/

November 7- Review from Here - http://reviewfromhere.com/

November 8- Proud Book Nerd - http://proudbooknerd.com/

November 9- The Book Swarm - http://bookswarm.blogspot.com/

November 10- Tiffany's Bookshelf - http://tiffanysbookshelf.blogspot.com/

November 11- Kritters Ramblings - http://www.krittersramblings.com/

November 13- Hippies, Beauty, and Books Oh My! - http://www.hippiesbeautyandbooksohmy.com/

November 15- So Many Books, So Little Time - http://purplg8r-somanybooks.blogspot.com/

November 16- Book Snob - http://www.booksnob-booksnob.blogspot.com/

November 17- Reader Girls - http://readergirls.blogspot.com/

November 18- Colloquium - http://www.jhsiess.com/

Review: Perfect on Paper by Maria Murnane

Perfect on Paper by Maria Murnane

Publisher: BookSurge Publishing

Pages: 320

Format: print

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Waverly Bryson is a late-20s successful businesswoman who almost has it all: dream job in Sports PR, two best friends, and a bar where everybody knows her name.  What she doesn't have is a ring on her finger, and after being left at the altar, she's in no hurry.  Besides, she has plenty of other issues to tackle, including her wayward father, a new rival at work, and an ever-shrinking amount of personal time.  To keep sane, Waverly makes a habit of jotting down "Honey Notes," her own brand of self-deprecating wisdom and pipe-dream for a line of greeting cards.  As Waverly stumbles back into the dating scene (no stalkers or jean shorts, please), her personal and professional lives threaten to collide. 

 

Kritters Thoughts:  Reader - are you looking for a chick lit to curl up with this winter?  This is the one.  (Along with its sequel).  From the very beginning you fall in love with Waverly Bryson, a woman with a unique name who by the end of chapter one is left at the altar and trying to recover from the humiliation of it all.  A girl who has two wonderful characters to surround her and keep her grounded, these two were both hilarious and heartwarming at the same time.  

My favorite part of this book was the writing.  It wasn't too artsy or crazy, it was honest, real and true to the ease of reading that is what makes chick lit one of my favorite genres.  The language makes it current and I just love it.  

The other part that I absolutely loved was her journey.  As I never want to ruin a book for those who will pick it up, I must say it was nice to see a character who had a true journey from the beginning to the end.  In both her personal and professional life, she found true happiness in the end - a new happiness that I didn't think she thought she knew she could.  

A wonderful chick lit read that I can't recommend more.  For those who absolutely love a girlie book with a little heart and soul.     

 

Rating:  absolutely loved it and want a sequel

GR Oct-Dec 2011 Challenge: Genre - chick lit

Review: Unforseen Fears by H William Gruchow

Unforseen Fears by H William Gruchow

Publisher: Xlibris, Corp.

Pages: 240

Format: print
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  They played games with murders; harmless games, it seemed, piecing together details from news reports; imagining theories about how and why; and wagering each other on the outcomes.

The Dunwright murders were tragic: Dillon and Martha were killed, and Brianne was missing.  Still, like the others, this game wasn't supposed to be serious.  But was it an execution or a kidnapping?  And why was so little progress being made toward solving the case?  Their curiosities fired up, Armis and Jake broke the rules and did their own sleuthing.  If the investigation was being subverted, who was doing it, and why?

The mystery deepened when nine-year-old Brianne's dismembered remains were discovered weeks later and miles away - Armis' quest for her killer becomes an obsession.

Yet, through encounters with corrupt lawmen, malevolent executives, and reticent family members, Armis was unable to find the answers he needed; until he met the mysterious Malwina.  She insidiously drew him into her plan of personal vengeance, and closer to learning the reasons Brianne had to die.  But as they intruded into a world where the bad guys seldom lose, the game turned dangerous . . . and deadly.  


Kritters Thoughts:  What started in the beginning with a bunch of disjointed chapters, ended with a complete mystery.  As a reader who loves a little suspense and mystery, as a whole I enjoyed this book, but the beginning got me so twisted that it took awhile for me to start getting into the story.

With a lot of characters who are easy to intermingle, this book is not for the faint of the heart.  I admit to a little post it noting so that I could keep all the people straight, it was hard.  As for the story, I love when you cannot predict a mystery - I never want to know where it will end and with this one I was pleasantly clueless until the end. 

A book that I would recommend to those who love a little mystery and suspense.  It is worth putting all the puzzle pieces together to solve all of the who dun its.

Rating:  enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more


GR Oct-Dec 2011 Challenge: U

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Bostick Communications.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Softly and Tenderly by Sara Evans

Softly and Tenderly by Sara Evans

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 

Pages: 336
Format: eARC

 

Goodreads: Jade has moved from her past toward a bright future.  But then the man she loves most destroys her trust.

Jade Fitzgerald's hope for a perfect marriage shatters when her husband confesses he has an illegitimate son.  What's more, he wants to raise the boy in their home. 

Hurting and confused, Jade embarks on a road trip to Iowa to take her sick mother to her childhood home.  In the comfort of the old homeplace, Jade struggles with her fears and the tug of her first love.  With the help of her family and her faith, she comes to understand her future doesn't rest on the power of her past, but in the goodness of God's mercy.


Kritters Thoughts: A wonderful sequel that lives up to the first book and even more!  After reading the first book, I was hestitant because I loved it in so many ways - can the second live up to how much I loved the first.  It did and even more, it made me excited that there are rumored to be two more books in this series.

As the first book centers solely around Jade, the main character, I think the strong suit for this book was to share the central focus on Jade, her mother and her mother-in-law.  Each of these three women had a journey in this book and there were similarities in each of their struggles.  The reader was able to get to go both mother figures in a deeper way - some of the story was even told from their perspective.

A wonderfully heartfelt book that made me cry as I journeyed through the days with all three women.  I am calling this the perfect series to curl up with this winter.  The third book will be arriving early after the new year, I will definitely be looking for it.  

Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

GR Oct-Dec 2011 Challenge: What Once Was

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: The Sweet By and By by Sara Evans

Goodreads:  Jade Fitzgerald left the pain of her past in the dust when she headed out for college a decade ago.  Now she's thriving in her career and glowing in the light of Max Brenson's love.

But then Jade's hippie mother, Beryl Hill, arrives in Whisper Hollow, Tennessee, for Jade's wedding along with Willow, her wild younger sister.  Their arrival forces Jade to throw open the dark closets of her past - the insecurity of living with a restless, wandering mother, the silence of her absent father, and the heart-ripping pain of first-love's rejection.

Turns out Beryl has a secret of her own.  She needs reconciliation with her oldest daughter before illness takes her life.  In the final days leading to the wedding, Jade meets the One who shows her that the past has no hold on her future.  With a little grace, they'll meet in the middle, maybe even before that sweet by and by.


Kritters Thoughts:  A wonderful story that kept me reading until the very end and made me even more excited to know that there is book two already on my nook ready to start!  You find yourself wrapped into a story where there are quite a few mysteries that you are trying to figure out throughout the book.  I loved how the reader was kept just as much out of the loop as the characters and we learn about the history that makes these characters who they are as they share them with others in the story.

The mother/daughter strained relationship was wonderful to read because you were able to find out piece by piece why they were not in communication currently and what kept them at odds with each other.  I couldn't believe all the history that this family had and all the drama their shaky foundation tried to withstand.

A wonderful piece of women's fiction that I am recommeding to all readers; no matter your age, this book is worth the read.

Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Pages:  307

Gr Oct-Dec 2011 Challenge: Stars in My Eyes

Review: Malled by Caitlin Kelly

Goodreads:  One woman's midcareer misadventures in the absurd world of American retail.

After losing her job as a journalist and the security of a good salary, Caitlin Kelly was hard up for cash.  When she saw that The North Face - an upscale outdoor clothing company - was hiring at her local mall, she went for an interview almost on a whim.

Suddenly she found herself, middle-aged and mid-career, thrown headfirst into the bizarre alternate reality of the American mall: a world of low-wage workers selling overpriced goods to well to-do customers.  At first, Kelly found her part-time job fun and reaffirming, a way to maintain her sanity and sense of self-worth.  But she describes how the unexpected physical pressures, the unreasonable dictates of a remote corporate bureaucracy, and the dead-end career path eventually took their toll.  As she struggled through more than two years at the mall, despite surgeries, customer abuse, and corporate insanity, Kelly gained a deeper understanding of the plight of the retail worker.


Kritters Thoughts:  An interesting memoir of sorts.  A bit repetitive and a little on the whiny side, I enjoyed reading someone else's take on the retail industry, but this is not on my top of list of favorite non fiction reads.  


Throughout the book she repeated many details over and over again - from describing her co-workers to the fact that corporate made all the decisions, except they were miles away from her store.  With each repetition of her points, it made her book sound like a list of complaints and she wasn't providing any new points to convey her arguments.

I respect her efforts to try out a different industry that is completely out of her comfort zone, but being a retail alum - I am appalled at how much she complained and only snuck into her book once that she only worked two days a week, which quickly changed to one day a week.  You don't know retail until you work nights, weekends, and everything in between.  Two days or even one day a week would not a retailer make.


Definitely an interesting read which I think I could enjoy more than others because I spent many a days behind a cash register during my college days.



Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Pages:  256


GR Oct-Dec 2011 Challenge: Madonna

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Cherished by Kim Cash Tate

Goodreads:  How can she believe God cherishes her when she can't forgive herself?

Kelli London once dreamed of being a songwriter.  As crazy as it seemed, she hoped that God would use the lyrics that came to her while she slept.  She dreamed about Brian too, that the love they shared would be a forever kind of love.  But choices she'll forever regret upended her hope . . . and turned her dreams to dust.  When those dreams come knocking once more, she's forced to deal with the pain of the past.

Heather Anderson's life has spun out of control-first, an affair with a married man, then a one-night stand with the drummer of a popular Christian band that left her devastated.  Broken and alone, she cried out to the only One who can save her.  And He did.  But that's just the beginning, because now she must leave behind the only life she's ever known.

Two women with shame-filled pasts form an unlikely friendship.  What does God's forgiveness look like for them?  Will they ever believe that He loves them . . . and can still offer them a life where they are cherished?

Kritters Thoughts: A book that from the start had a story that made you want to keep reading, but was very "churchy" with its delivery.  I enjoy Christian fiction, but I do not enjoy when it takes a little while to get to the depth of the story.  I was pulled in with intrigue, but didn't feel like the reader hit the meat of the story until you were over half way through the book.  

I liked this book, but I sit on the fence because the tone of the story was not subtle.  In the same token, the characters were captivating and some real issues were tackled, which is surprising at times for Christian fiction.  Although the reader may have been left with a perfect happy ending, at least the characters development through the book was somewhat realistic and they had to overcome some large issues in their lives.

It all felt too Brady Bunch to me, where things work out way too perfectly in the end.  Maybe,I would have preferred if one of the characters didn't end up exactly where they were expected to end up.  I think many Christians can agree that it doesn't always work out with a perfect bow at the end, sometimes you are left in a situation that isn't great, but with the help of your faith you can find the light at the end of the situation.

Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Pages:  336

GR Oct-Dec 2011 Challenge: Madonna book set

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from BookSneeze.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Alison Wonderland by Helen Smith

Goodreads: After her husband leaves her for another woman, twenty something Londoner Alison Temple impulsively applies for a job at the very P.I. firm she hired to trap her philandering ex.  She hopes it will be the change of scene she so desperately needs to move on with her shattered life.  At the all-female Fitzgerald's Bureau of Investigation, she spends her days tracking lost objects and her nights shadowing unfaithful husbands.  But not matter what the case, none of her clients can compare to the fascinating characters in her personal life.  There's her boss, the estimable Mrs. Fitzgerald; Taron, Alison's eccentric best friend, who claims her mother is a witch; Jeff, her love-struck, poetry-writing neighbor; and - last but not least - her psychic postman.  Her relationships with them all become entangled when she joins Taron for a road trip to the seaside and stumbles into a misadventure of epic proportions! 

Kritters Thoughts: A short and simple review for a smaller book that was definitely out of my normal reading genre.  I thought it would be a good one to stretch me out of my comfort zone, but I just couldn't get into it.  By the end of the book, I was confused, lost and kind of ready for it to end.

If you like a little story, with some quirkiness and some magic, this one would be one you could pick up. 

Rating: not such a good read

Pages: 220

GR Oct-Dec Challenge: A

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from the author.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Everything I Was by Corinne Demas

Goodreads: "My walls were stripped, and all that was left in the room was a pile of boxes and my mattress propped against the wall."

So begins Irene's journey from an Upper West Side penthouse to - well, she's not entirely sure where. Irene's investment banker father is "downsized" when his company merges with another. When he can't find work, her family's lifestyle - and her socialite mother's spending - quickly catches up with them. Eventually, they're forced to move in with Irene's grandfather in the big family farmhouse upstate. But what begins as the most disastrous summer of her life takes a surprising turn when she meets a most remarkable family.

Kritters Thoughts: Another MG read. First I must say that I loved this little book. A girl who loses all control of her life because of events that happen to her parents and she is at an age where her opinions are not taken into account for the changes that happen to the entire family.

I found this story to be real, endearing and just a great read. I have read in a few places that there is dislike between the current cover and the story. I would have to agree, I didn't think the cover went along with the story at all, nor did the girl match anywhere close to who I pictured as Irene. This may change, but I definitely wasn't a fan of the cover.

I would pass this book along to both my younger and older readers. I would warn my older readers that this is definitely a MG read and not at all mentally deep or challenging. I think youngers readers would love to relate to a character who is able to grow in the story and learn how to express her voice.

Rating:perfect beach read

Pages: 264

GR Oct - Dec Challenge - Pronouns

Review: The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood

Goodreads: The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud tells the haunting story of a young man who narrowly survives a terrible car wreck that kills his little brother. Years later, the brother's bond remains so strong that it transcends the normal boundaries separating life and death. Charlie St. Cloud lives in a snug New England fishing village. By day he tends the lawns and monuments of the ancient cemetery where his younger brother, Sam, is buried. Graced with an extraordinary gift after surviving the accident, he can still see, talk, and even play catch with Sam's spirit. But townsfolk whisper that Charlie has never recovered from his loss.

Into his carefully ordered life comes Tess Carroll, a captivating, adventoresome woman training for a solo sailing trip around the globe. Fate steers her boat into a treacherous storm that blows her back to harbor, to a charged encounter with Charlie, and to a surprise more overwhelming than the violent sea itself. Charlie and Tess discover a beautiful and uncommon connection that leads to a race against time and a desparate choice between death and life, between the past and the future, between holding on and letting go.

Kritters Thoughts: A great read that was emotional and at times downright confusing - the author Ben Sherwood would only unload a few details at a time. Sometimes it was frustrating not being completely in the know, but after I was put in the know - I was certainly glad that there was a delay in knowing all the facts.

After thoroughly confusing you, to be simple - I am glad I read this book before I watched the movie. I always like to read the book first because I would rather a movie be ruined and I love to compare how the director's take the book and translate it onto the big screen. I absolutely love it when I have no idea it is a movie and I get to completely make up what the characters look like, this was not the case as I knew that Zac Efron would be Charlie, but I am interested to see what Tess will look like in the movie.

I would absolutely recommend to all who are interested in watching the movie to read this first. This book was definitely on the girlier side of my reading habit. As I will be watching the movie soon, you will see a post reviewing and comparing what I liked and didn't like.

Rating: absolutely loved it and wanted a sequel

Pages: 200

GR Oct-Dec Challenge - The Definition is . . .

Review: Conversations with the Fat Girl by Liza Palmer

Goodreads: Everyone seems to be getting on with their lives except Maggie. At 27, she's still working at the local coffee house, while her friends are getting married, having babies, and building careers. Even Olivia, Maggie's best friend from childhood, is getting married to her doctor boyfriend. Maggie, on the other hand, lives with her dog Solo, and has no romantic prospects, save for the torch she carries for Domenic, the busboy. Though Maggie and Olivia have been best friends since their fattie grade school years, Olivia's since gone the gastric-bypass surgery route, in hopes of obtaining the elusive size two, the holy grail for fat girls everywhere. So now Olivia's thin, blonde, and betrothed, and Maggie's the fat bridesmaid. Ain't life grand? In this inspiring debut novel, Maggie speaks to women everywhere who wish for just once that they could forget about their weight.

Kritters Thoughts: Well, a book that definitely surprised me in positive and negative ways. I was concerned when I decided to choose this book for the challenge that it would center on a character that only complained about her weight and didn't do anything to change her life. Half right and half wrong, she was definitely a whiner, but she did start doing some things to help with the weight.

The whining that set me off was all about her former best friend Olivia who was once a big girl and due to gastric-bypass is now one of those "skinny girls." She let this girl walk all over her for WAY too long, I couldn't believe that she didn't stand up to her earlier. I won't divulge when it happened, but goodness it was way too late in the book.

I enjoyed her family interactions and her change in attitude towards her work dreams, but the frustration over the friendship made me like the book less and less. So, it's an alright book, if you see at the library its worth the read, but I wouldn't go searching for it.

Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Pages: 328

GR Oct-Dec Challenge - Through Thick and Thin

Review: The Frugalista Files by Natalie McNeal

Goodreads: Natalie McNeal opened her bills in January 2008 to find that she was a staggering five figures - $20,000 - in debt. Young, hip and gainfully (if Dilbert-ly) employed, Natalie loved her lifestyle of regular mani/pedis, daily takeout and nights on the town, but clearly something had to give.

And so The Frugalista Files was born. Through her blog, Natalie confessed her spending habits to the world - and it turns out she wasn't the only one having troubles balancing the budget! From the drastic "no-buy" month that kicked it all off to the career gamble that threatened to put her deeper in the hole, The Frugalista Files shares Natalie's personal and professional transformation from cubicle rat to take-charge career girl.

It is possible to get ahead without giving up on the fabulous life. This is personal finance in peep-toe pumps - the empowering true story of one woman's personal and professional transformation and your ultimate guide to living the Frugalista lifestyle, too.

Kritters Thoughts: A hit and a miss with me. I enjoyed the month by month recap of the unexpected and expected financial happenings that occur in a year, but I didn't learn many tactical pointers because I believe that I have already cut the crazy spending habits of years past.

The first things she cut were her excessive hair and nail appointments. Welp, those have never been on my list, so can't cut there. She then boasted about grocery shopping and learning to cook at home - I live with a former catering chef, we eat from our kitchen 90% of the time and I like it that way!! Finally, she talked about cutting the wardrobe down and "shopping" from your closet. Check - I already do that. I have a list of things that I am on the hunt for, but I believe my wardrobe is mostly built and I am just buying fun pieces here and there to add to it.

So, if you are in desperate need of some financial coaching or need to hear a success story - this is a great one to grab. But if you are already on the path of debt reduction and savings you could skip this one.

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Pages: 192

GR Oct-Dec Challenge - Get a Job

Review: Unless it Moves the Human Heart by Roger Rosenblatt

Goodreads: Unless It Moves the Human Heart details one semester in Rosenblatt's "Writing Everything" class. In a series of funny, intimate conversations, a diverse group of students—from Inur, a young woman whose family is from Pakistan, to Sven, an ex–fighter pilot—grapples with the questions and subjects most important to narrative craft. Delving into their varied lives, Rosenblatt brings readers closer to them, emotionally investing us in their failures and triumphs.

Kritters Thoughts: A quick little read that was completed in two sittings. I read it in December - but due to its release I delayed my review to post now.

This book was a great little read for two audiences - for readers who want to know more about the writing process and readers who are also writers. I am on the first group. I am a reader, NOT a writer, but I am completely interested in the writing process and how writers get into the zone and how they create the stories that I get so wrapped up into.

A professor who is using his students as subjects in the book by showing how one semester of writing different pieces can shape a writer. They write short stories, essays, and poems in one semester and learn that each form is important and can help build a stronger writer.

As far as who I would pass this along to, I would pass this onto my bloggers who are also writers and my fellow readers who love to hear about the writing process.

Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Pages: 176

GR Oct - Dec Challenge - Lend a Hand

Review: Little Princes by Conor Grennan

Goodreads: In need of some fun and adventure, 30-year-old Conor Grennan traded in his day job for a year-long trip around the globe, a journey that began with a three-month stint volunteering at the Little Princes Orphanage in war-torn Nepal. But what began as a lark became a passionate commitment that would transform the young American and the lives of countless others.

Within minutes of his arrival, Grennan was surrounded by a horde of gleeful boys and girls showering him with warm welcomes. Yet as he soon learned, the children’s cheery smiles belied years of pain and abuse, for many of the boys and girls at Little Princes were not orphans at all, but victims rescued from human traffickers. Moved by their plight, Grennan vowed that when his trip was over he would return to the children of Little Princes and eventually reunite them with their families—a promise he would risk his life to keep.

Little Princes is the powerful story of a soul’s awakening and a reflection of the noblest and darkest of human intent. It is a heartwrenching true tale of the power of optimism, love, and dedication to overcome greed, violence, and hate. And it is an unforgettable account of children, families, and one man whose decision to take a stand makes the world a better place for all of us.

Kritters Thoughts: A wonderfully heartwarming read, that I completed exactly one week before Christmas. A story of one man's mission to help the orphans of Nepal regain what they lost and the parents of these children realize what really happened when their children were taken from them.

I had the hardest time understanding why these parents trusted someone to take their children from them for a price and not do some research to confirm that their children would be completely taken care of. Parents going into grave debt to send their children away for a better future - that I understood, but to not know where they were actually headed was something I could not put my head around. The lengths to which Conor went to help these families reunite kept me absolutely engrossed in the book.

Anyone with a child they hold close or who love stories about non-profit work that changes lives - those are the people that I would pass this book off to. I received this to review, but I am absolutely glad I took the time to understand how a country across the world handles their impoverished and most needy.

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Pages: 304

GR Oct-Dec Challenge - Happy Birthday!

Review: Just Don't Call Me Ma'am by Anna Mitchael

Goodreads: Anna Mitchael is like a lot of women you know. In fact, she may even be a lot like you. In her fast-moving world, she might be called on as a friend, coworker, daughter, girlfriend, confidante, brat, cynic or domestic-goddess-in-training. She's willing to juggle pretty much anything that gets thrown her way, but the one label she simply won't embrace is ma'am.

Like so many bright-eyed college graduates before her, Mitchael begins her twenties armed with the conviction that the world is hers for the taking. And she discovers that it is, mostly - only no one told her just how often she'd have to pick herself up off the floor along the way.

Kritters Thoughts: I absolutely loved this book. A great memoir with some humor and truth, mixed with great stories of a single gal taking on her late 20s. I loved how each chapter was named by something she would rather be called other than ma'am - so within each chapter was one story or more that made the point as to why she could be called the other name.

This book reminded me of Jennifer Lancaster's type of humorous memoirs - although if snarky comedy isn't your thing, you would enjoy Anna Mitchael much better. She included humor, but she avoided being the snarky, snippy humor that Lancaster is known for. I enjoy reading books where the main character is the same age as I am and enduring the same work experiences or life experiences that I have or am currently in.

I think that this book would appeal to an audience, although that audience may be selective due to the age of the "character." I would pass this along to my female readers who are fans of memoirs, especially with the author being in her late 20s.

Rating:absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Pages: 248

GR Oct-Dec Challenge - Fall for Books