Review - The Santa Club by Kelly Moss and Jim Keserich

TITLE:    The Santa Club
AUTHOR:    Kelly Moss ~ Illustrated by Jim Keserich
INFO:    Hardcover, Fiction, 32 pages
PUBLISHED:   Palmary Press, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:   A delightful book with captivating illustrations, The Santa Club transitions your child from receiving gifts to experiencing the joy of giving. With sensitivity, faith, and love, The Santa Club tackles the serious question, "Is Santa Claus Real?" To be read with your child, this wonderful book not only answers that sometimes "dreaded" question but it also addresses the questions of why Santa comes at Christmas and who was the first Santa. The Santa Club is a wonderful parenting resource and a stunning children's book, and is sure to become an annual family favorite.

MY TAKE:    Many parents dread the day when their child asks them if Santa Claus is real. This charming new book by Kelly Moss is a lovely way to ease into that discussion.  The colorful illustrations by Jim Keserich will delight both kids and adults.  They complement the author's explanation brilliantly and will capture the attention and imagination.


The author has created a story that I think will become a family tradition.  It invites the young reader with questions to join an exclusive club ~ "The Santa Club".  There is a caution that the reader can't share what they've learned with others who aren't already a member.  Ms. Moss brings together elements of Santa and the joy of giving with that of Christ and the reason for Christmas.  Her book is appropriate for kids to read by themselves or with an adult.  It will help keep the magic alive even for older kids who have already decided they know the truth.  The true spirit of giving will be reinforced.

I highly recommend The Santa Club for all.  It is a very gift-worthy book in a beautiful hardcover format with the full color illustrations.  There is a really neat page in the back for a new Santa Club member where the child's photo can be placed.  More info can be found at TheSantaClub.com.    

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Copies available in plenty of time for the holidays at:

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

The Book Depository

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The Radleys by Matt Haig

TITLE:    The Radleys: A Novel
AUTHOR:    Matt Haig
INFO:    Hardcover, Fiction, 370 pages
PUBLISHED:   Free Press, 2010
ISBN#:   978-4391-9401-0
HOW I GOT IT:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:    Meet the Radleys...


Peter, Helen and their teenage children, Clara and Rowan, live in an English town. They are an everyday family, averagely dysfunctional, averagely content. But as their children have yet to find out, the Radleys have a devastating secret.


From one of Britain’s finest young novelists comes a razor-sharp unpicking of adulthood and family life. In this moving, thrilling and extraordinary portrait of one unusual family, The Radleys asks what we grow into when we grow up, and explores what we gain – and lose – when we deny our appetites.

MY TAKE:   This is a fun read that just happens to be about a family of vampires.  With the major outpouring of vampire novels currently out and in the works, The Radleys was a refreshing change of pace for me.  It was definitely a character driven story with several interesting plot twists that keep the story moving forward.

Matt Haig has created an average and endearing family in the Radleys - they just happen to have a few more secrets than the rest of us.  Peter is the head of the family.  He's middle aged and feels he's in a rut ~ in his marriage and his professional life as a small town doctor.  Helen runs her household well, but dreams of a man she can't have and a life she left behind.  Rowan is a teenager with more than his fair share of trials and tribulations - he's pale, always itchy with a rash and considered a freak by his schoolmates.  Clara is also unpopular at school and on top of that is trying to become a vegan.  She can't understand why her parents (and her own body) are fighting her so strongly about it.

As we follow this normal-seeming family, the real story starts to unfold.  A tragedy occurs which brings to light the fact that the Radleys are vampires hiding in a small, unsuspecting English town.  This is a severe shock to Rowan and Clara, especially when they also suddenly meet their uncle Will, a man neither knew existed.  He is the key to several of the problems facing the family and plays a pivotal role in what transpires.

There were several times when I found myself laughing out loud.  This book was a lovely departure from the current vampire books on the market.  It was centered on the family, not the blood-sucking issue.  I really liked that the Radleys had a battered copy of "The Abstainer's Handbook" which gave them such gems as "If blood is the answer, you're asking the wrong questions."   It is essentially an instruction manual for vampires who choose to not drink blood.  

Enjoyable and fun read.  I need to mention though, this isn't really a tween book.  Although it's being marketed as YA, I think it was intended for an older audience due to some of the sexual tones as well as quite a bit of swearing.  More mature teens would be fine with it.

Out of 5 Jewels, I give it:

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, The Book Depository, The Radleys

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Me, Myself and Paris by Ruth Yunker

TITLE:    Me, Myself and Paris: One Toe Under the Eiffel Tower, The Other In the Grocery Store
AUTHOR:    Ruth Yunker
INFO:    Hardcover, Humor/Non-Fiction, 194 pages
PUBLISHED:   Outskirts Press, 2010
ISBN#:   978-1-4327-5714-4
HOW I GOT IT:   Received from Author for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  Me, Myself & Paris is author Ruth Yunker's droll pastiche of her days, free and unaccompanied, in Paris. Three years in a row she rents an apartment, stays for six weeks, and takes on Paris, half resident, half visitor. She is a short attention span tourist, a wide-eyed voyeur, and irreverence saves the day when the chips are down. Her stories are about bonhomie and savoir-faire, American style, while treading the hallowed and slippery cobblestones of Paris.

It's about every day errands, and sorties into dutiful sightseeing. It's about run-ins with grocery store cashiers and metro ticket agents. It's about desperately trying to speak French. It's about attempting to emulate the chic, windblown Parisian woman wearing no lipstick, while Ruth wouldn't be caught bare lipped outside the boudoir.


She conquers the metro, no mean feat for a Californian glued to a car. She hears ghosts in cathedrals, and smells bread toasting every morning across the courtyard. She learns to make correct change without her reading glasses. Comes to understand that direct eye contact is a flagrant disregard of manners, even when she most needs a hug.


Me, Myself & Paris is what Paris looks like, feels like, smells like, tastes like, to an American woman, free and unfettered, sense of humor and bonhomie alive and well, alone and loving it, in the most beautiful and temperamental city in the world.

MY TAKE:   I enjoyed this light-hearted, sometimes tongue-in-cheek romp through Paris with the author.  She revisits her three summers there and shares what she learns ~ about Paris, about traveling and mostly about herself.  There is a lot of humor and quite a bit of insight dished out in this quick read.  I think a lot of women will relate to the author and her trials and tribulations traveling to an unknown country alone. 
     

Out of 5 Jewels,

I give it:

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, IndieBound, The Book Depository, Powell's Books

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm (World of Warcraft) by Christie Golden

TITLE:    World of Warcraft: The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm
AUTHOR/EDITOR:     Christie Golden
INFO:    Hardcover, Fiction, 328
PUBLISHED:   Gallery, 2010
ISBN#:   978-1-4165-5074-7
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from Gallery for Review

FROM BACK COVER:  ***Thrall, wise shaman and the warchief of the Horde, has sensed a disturbing change . . . Long ago, Azeroth’s destructive native elementals raged across the world until the benevolent titans imprisoned them within the Elemental Plane. Despite the titans’ intervention, many elementals have ended up back on Azeroth. Over the ages, shaman like Thrall have communed with these spirits and, through patience and dedication, learned to soothe roaring infernos, bring rain to sun-scorched lands, and otherwise temper the elementals’ ruinous influence on the world of Azeroth.

Now Thrall has discovered that the elementals no longer heed the shaman’s call. The link shared with these spirits has grown thin and frayed, as if Azeroth itself were under great duress. While Thrall seeks answers to what ails the confused elements, he also wrestles with the orcs’ precarious future as his people face dwindling supplies and growing hostility with their night elf neighbors.

Meanwhile, King Varian Wrynn of Stormwind is considering violent action in response to mounting tensions between the Alliance and the Horde, a hard-line approach that threatens to alienate those closest to him, including his son, Anduin. The conflicted young prince has set out to find his own path, but in doing so, he risks becoming entangled in political instability that is setting the world on edge.

The fate of Azeroth’s great races is shrouded in a fog of uncertainty, and the erratic behavior of the elemental spirits, troubling though it is, may only be the first ominous warning sign of the cataclysm to come.  

MY TAKE:   As a former WOW (World of Warcraft) player, I was really looking forward to reading this book.  I hadn't read any of the books written about this fantastical game world and I wasn't disappointed.  Author Christie Golden captures the feel and spirit of the game while also telling a fast-moving and colorful story.  I don't think a person has to be a fan of the game to enjoy the book, although there are several references that a non-gamer might not understand.  

The characters, while not Golden's own creations, are well written and engaging.  I used to play on the side of the Alliance which is the "enemy" of the Horde leaders who are the center of this story.  I learned a lot about the members of the races that make up the Horde itself.   The reader is drawn into their world and traveling along with them around Azeroth.  This book definitely made me want to go back to playing the game ~ alas, we don't have fast enough Internet out here in the boonies... 

I recommend this book to fans of adventure and fantasy, especially those readers who are WOW players.  It's an engrossing read no matter which way you approach it.  I think it would also make a great gift for gamers!

MY RATING:    3.5/5

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, The Book Depository, IndieBound, Powell's Books

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson

 TITLE:    At Home: A Short History of Private Life
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    Bill Bryson
INFO:    Hardcover, Non-Fiction, 497 pages
PUBLISHED:   Doubleday, 2010
ISBN#:   978-0-7679-1938-8
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  From one of the most beloved authors of our time—more than six million copies of his books have been sold in this country alone—a fascinating excursion into the history behind the place we call home.

“Houses aren’t refuges from history. They are where history ends up.”

Bill Bryson and his family live in a Victorian parsonage in a part of England where nothing of any great significance has happened since the Romans decamped. Yet one day, he began to consider how very little he knew about the ordinary things of life as he found it in that comfortable home. To remedy this, he formed the idea of journeying about his house from room to room to “write a history of the world without leaving home.” The bathroom provides the occasion for a history of hygiene; the bedroom, sex, death, and sleep; the kitchen, nutrition and the spice trade; and so on, as Bryson shows how each has fig­ured in the evolution of private life. Whatever happens in the world, he demonstrates, ends up in our house, in the paint and the pipes and the pillows and every item of furniture.

Bill Bryson has one of the liveliest, most inquisitive minds on the planet, and he is a master at turning the seemingly isolated or mundane fact into an occasion for the most diverting exposi­tion imaginable. His wit and sheer prose fluency make At Home one of the most entertaining books ever written about private life.

MY TAKE:   This was a fascinating book.  Bill Bryson was a new-to-me author, but I can definitely understand why he has such a large fan base.  His writing is quite humorous while being educational at the same time. 

As he takes us from room to room in his 1850's home in England, we gain insight into how people lived in various rooms throughout the years.  It was really interesting to see how we and our accommodations have evolved over the decades and centuries.  I also liked that he delved into the architecture and history of the builders as well.  The author's British wit is very apparent in his writing which just adds to the enjoyment of the book.

My hubby is currently reading this book and has agreed to do his own review for all of us when he's finished.  He's started reading a lot of my books so I'm going to put him to work here on the blog!
   
MY RATING:    3.5/5

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, The Book Depository, Powell's Books, IndieBound

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel by Paulo Coelho



TITLE:    The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    Paulo Coelho
INFO:    Hardcover, Fiction,
PUBLISHED:   HarperOne, 2010
ISBN#:   978-0-06-202432-9
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from TLC Book Tours for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  A beautifully rendered stunning graphic novel of the classic that continues to inspire readers worldwide.

   
Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. The Alchemist has established itself as a modern classic, universally admired. Now for the first time, the phenomenal bestselller has been rendered as a graphic novel that will appeal to the millions of existing fans while also attracting a new generation of readers.


The Alchemist is the magical tale of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangier and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist.The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life’s path, and above all, following our dreams.


“It was an old dream of mine to have The Alchemist as a graphic novel. I had
received several proposals but none of them came anywhere near the classical vision I have in my mind for a graphic format. When I saw Sea Lion Books’ proposal however it took me less than half an hour to make my decision.”--Paulo Coelho

MY TAKE:   Several people had recommended this book to me over the last year or so.  When TLC Book Tours asked if I was interested in participating, I gladly jumped at the chance. 

This was a very interesting tale of a young shepherd boy in search of himself.  This was one of the first graphic novels I've read and I must admit I really liked it.  I loved comic books as a kid and this is a fantastic way to introduce new or even reluctant readers to the joy of reading, as well as a treat for us "old-timers".  Re-publishing classic stories such as this one into a different format will bring many new fans to the table.

While the story was very simple and at times, very predictable, it was enjoyable.  The author used a gentle touch to deliver his message and thoughts.  I think fans of Paulo Coelho's and those looking for a book that could be shared with family members would find this to be a perfect fit.

I thought this was a quick and easy read with a lovely overall message.  I am looking forward to reading the full novel now as well and encourage others to give this book a try for themselves.  It would be a meaningful gift, especially during this holiday season.

Thank you very much to TLC Book Tours for including me on this book tour.

   
MY RATING:    3.75/5

WHERE TO BUY IT:   Amazon, IndieBound, The Book Depository, Powell's Books

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Songs of Love & Death by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois

TITLE:    Songs of Love and Death: All-Original Tales of Star-Crossed Love
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    Editors George R. R. Martin & Gardner Dozois
INFO:    Hardcover, Fiction, 468
PUBLISHED:   Gallery Books, 2010
ISBN#:   978-1-4391-5014-6
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from Gallery Books for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  In this star-studded cross-genre anthology, seventeen of the greatest modern authors of fantasy, science fiction, and romance explore the borderlands of their genres with brand-new tales of ill-fated love. From zombie-infested woods in a postapocalyptic America to faery-haunted rural fields in eighteenth- century England, from the kingdoms of high fantasy to the alien world of a galaxy-spanning empire, these are stories of lovers who must struggle against the forces of magic and fate.

Award-winning, bestselling author Neil Gaiman demonstrates why he’s one of the hottest stars in literature today with “The Thing About Cassandra,” a subtle but chilling story of a man who meets an old girlfriend he had never expected to see.


International blockbuster bestselling author Diana Gabaldon sends a World War II RAF pilot through a stone circle to the time of her Outlander series in “A Leaf on the Winds of All Hallows.” Torn from all he knows, Jerry MacKenzie determinedly survives hardship and danger, intent on his goal of returning home to his wife and baby—no matter the cost.


New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher presents “Love Hurts,” in which Harry Dresden takes on one of his deadliest adversaries and in the process is forced to confront the secret desires of his own heart.


Just the smallest sampling promises unearthly delights, but look also for stories by New York Times bestselling romance authors Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney, and by such legends of the fantasy genre as Peter S. Beagle and Tanith Lee, as well as many other popular and beloved writers, including Marjorie M. Liu, Jacqueline Carey, Carrie Vaughn, and Robin Hobb. This exquisite anthology, crafted by the peerless editing team of George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, is sure to leave you under its spell.


Discover the many realms of the heart with this extraordinary cast of acclaimed authors:


PETER S. BEAGLE
JO BEVERLEY
JIM BUTCHER
JACQUELINE CAREY
DIANA GABALDON
NEIL GAIMAN
YASMINE GALENORN
M.L.N. HANOVER
ROBIN HOBB
CECELIA HOLLAND
TANITH LEE
MARJORIE M. LIU
MARY JO PUTNEY
LINNEA SINCLAIR
MELINDA SNODGRASS
LISA TUTTLE
CARRIE VAUGHN

MY TAKE:   This book was a must-read for me as soon as I read that Diana Gabaldon had contributed a new story for this collection.  Her "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" was well worth the wait.  It ties up some unanswered questions about Roger Mackenzie's father Jeremy as well as opening up some more lines from "An Echo in the Bone".

Many other favorite authors added their all-original tales of star-crossed love for this happy, sad, tear-jerking, smile-making group of shorts.  While there were a couple of stories that I didn't really care for (as happens with any collection), most of them have reaffirmed my enjoyment of the authors' writing or introduced me to a few new-to-me writers that I will seek out in the future.

Two of my top picks along with Diana Gabaldon would be Jo Beverly with her inventive tale "The Marrying Maid" inspired by Tatiana and Oberon's continual toying with humankind and "Blue Boots" from Robin Hobb which follows the lingering love story of a minstrel and a kitchen girl.

I highly recommend this collection and I think it would be a great gift idea for the avid reader on your gift list.
   
MY RATING:    4.5

WHERE TO BUY IT:   Amazon, The Book Depository, Powell's Books

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl

TITLE:    Prisoners in the Palace: How Princess Victoria became Queen with the Help of Her Maid, a Reporter, and a Scoundrel
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    Michaela MacColl
INFO:    Hardcover, Fiction, 362 pages
PUBLISHED:   Chronicle Books, 2010
ISBN#:   978-0-8118-7300-0
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from the Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  London, 1838. Sixteen-year-old Liza's dreams of her society debut are dashed when her parents are killed in an accident. Penniless, she accepts the position of lady's maid to young Princess Victoria and steps unwittingly into the gossipy intrigue of the servant's world below-stairs as well as the trickery above. Is it possible that her changing circumstances may offer Liza the chance to determine her own fate, find true love, and secure the throne for her future queen?   

Meticulously based on newly discovered information, this riveting novel is as rich in historical detail as Catherine, Called Birdy, and as sizzling with intrigue as The Luxe.

MY TAKE:   I enjoy historical fiction and this book is a lovely addition to the this genre as well as that of young adult reading.  It is listed as an appropriate book for ages 12 and up.  I think young readers and adults alike will find this a very satisfying look into Queen Victoria's young life.

Liza is mercilessly thrust into the life of a servant after being catered to and pampered her entire existence.  She is 16 years old and doesn't know how to undress herself!  When she lucks into a position as a maid to Princess Victoria at the run-down Kensington Palace, she must learn to do everything for her lady that she was used to having done for herself.

There are several colorful characters that are introduced in the telling of the tale.  Several are people that you instinctively dislike such as Victoria's mother, the Duchess and her ally, Sir John.  The author writes their personalities in such a way that you can't help but root against them in favor of Liza and the Princess.  In contrast, Will and Inside Boy are two of the supporting cast that you immediately like.  

I always enjoy when an author incorporates real people and real events into a fictional story.  It gives these historical figures a much more human appeal and a reality to them.  Ms. MacColl wove fiction and fact into a lovely tale of two young ladies in different circumstances who are thrown together to make their way as they can.

I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this debut author. 
      
MY RATING:    4/5

WHERE TO BUY IT: Amazon, IndieBound, The Book Depository, Powell's Books

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Garden Spells

TITLE:    Garden Spells
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    Sarah Addison Allen
INFO:    Hardback, Fiction, 290 pages
PUBLISHED:   Bantam Dell, 2007
ISBN#:   978-0-553-80548-2
HOW'D I GET IT:   Swapped

FROM GOODREADS:  In a garden surrounded by a tall fence, tucked away behind a small, quiet house in an even smaller town, is an apple tree that is rumored to bear a very special sort of fruit. In this luminous debut novel, Sarah Addison Allen tells the story of that enchanted tree, and the extraordinary people who tend it.

The Waverleys have always been a curious family, endowed with peculiar gifts that make them outsiders even in their hometown of Bascom, North Carolina. Even their garden has a reputation, famous for its feisty apple tree that bears prophetic fruit, and its edible flowers, imbued with special powers. Generations of Waverleys tended this garden. Their history was in the soil. But so were their futures.

A successful caterer, Claire Waverley prepares dishes made with her mystical plants--from the nasturtiums that aid in keeping secrets and the pansies that make children thoughtful, to the snapdragons intended to discourage the attentions of her amorous neighbor. Meanwhile, her elderly cousin, Evanelle, is known for distributing unexpected gifts whose uses become uncannily clear. They are the last of the Waverleys--except for Claire's rebellious sister, Sydney, who fled Bascom the moment she could, abandoning Claire, as their own mother had years before.

When Sydney suddenly returns home with a young daughter of her own, Claire's quiet life is turned upside down--along with the protective boundary she has so carefully constructed around her heart. Together again in the house they grew up in, Sydney takes stock of all she left behind, as Claire struggles to heal the wounds of the past. And soon the sisters realize they must deal with their common legacy if they are ever to feel at home in Bascom or with each other.

Enchanting and heartfelt, this captivating novel is sure to cast a spell with a style all its own.  

MY TAKE:   I thought this was a sweet book.  It had several elements that I really enjoyed and could relate to.  The language of food is something that I get a lot out of, the same with flowers and plants.  The author did a nice job of sharing that information with the reader without "teaching or preaching".  I grow a lot of herbs and am an avid gardener so that part of the story was interesting for me.

The characters were light and sometimes predictable, but I did have a favorite ~ the mischievous apple tree in the back yard!  I think I would have a blast with that guy out back.  I think I'd have to lure some of my less-beloved friends and family into his range.  

The plot reminded me quite a bit of "Practical Magic" which is one of my absolute favorites, but it was still an enjoyable read.  Fans of that movie and light romance will have a good time reading this one.
   
MY RATING:    3.5/5

TO BUY IT:    Garden Spells, IndieBound,  The Book Depository

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - GoD and DoG by Wendy Francisco

GoD and DoG

TITLE:    GoD and DoG

AUTHOR/EDITOR:    Wendy Francisco
INFO:    Hardback, Fiction, 50 pages
PUBLISHED:   Center Street/Hachette Book Group, 2010
ISBN#:   978-1-59995-379-3
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  GoD and DoG is a phenomenon. First appearing on YouTube, the video of Wendy Francisco's charming animated illustrations and moving song tells of the unconditional love of both God and Dog.


With over 2 million YouTube viewings to date, Francisco's story appeals to all ages, to animal enthusiasts, to people of religious persuasions, and especially to anyone who has been loved by a dog.


Now in book format, Wendy's touching narrative will be expanded on through additional lyrics, illustrations, photographs and some of the powerful mail that is continually being sent to Francisco.

MY TAKE:   I was first directed to the YouTube version of this charming book sometime last year by a blogging friend who is also an avid/rabid animal lover like myself.  This amazingly touching two minute video made me bawl like a baby.  It is such a simple, happy message that grabs you and stays with you.  When I found out there was a book being made, I put it on my MUST HAVE list immediately.

Sweet illustrations accompany the verse in this hardbound version of the Internet sensation.  It is a wonderful tribute to our faithful friends that is a must have for ANY dog owner.  I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this darling book for all ages and I have already purchased a couple of copies to give as gifts.  In fact it has inspired me to create a new feature here on One Book Shy for "Gift-Worthy Books" ~ it's the first on the list! (Can you tell I LOVE THIS BOOK?)
   
MY RATING:    5/5 - my rating doesn't go high enough, it's a 10

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, IndieBound, The Book Depository

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.