Surviving Henry

TITLE:  Surviving Henry
AUTHOR:  Erin Taylor Young
PUBLISHER:  Fleming H. Revell Company
RELEASE DATE:  August 5, 2014 (already available)

FROM GOODREADS:  You don't always know what you're getting into when you bring home a puppy. Enter Henry, a boxer who suffers from Supreme Dictator of the Universe Syndrome. He vandalizes his obedience school, leaps through windows, cheats death at every turn, and generally causes his long-suffering owner Erin Taylor Young to wonder what on earth she did that God would send this dog to derail her life.
Through his laugh-out-loud antics and escapades, Henry will steal readers' hearts. Anyone who has ever owned a dog, especially a canine catastrophe like Henry, will enjoy this lighthearted book about a dog who brings new meaning to the concept of unconditional love.


MY THOUGHTS:  My husband and I have owned 5 boxer dogs over the past 20 or so years, and currently have 2 in our home, so when I saw this cover, I immediately knew I had to read this book. I was provided a copy by Netgalley and Revell Publishing and I cannot thank them enough. Henry is definitely a trying dog. I have been lucky enough to never quite have a Henry, but I did have a Cooper, who suffered so badly from separation anxiety when he was young that I quickly learned the inside workings of several pieces of furniture.

I admire Young's dedication to this dog. And I love how along the way, she seems to learn that she dearly loves the dog she thought she despised. Young's anecdotes are mostly hilarious and sometimes sad and scary. However, I cannot believe she continued to try to find creative ways to wear this dog out. I mean, my 9 month old pup is pretty rambunctious and I would never dream of tying him to a scooter or a bike and pulling me as a means of exercise. Although this just goes to prove how desperate Young was at times to reign in Henry.

I cannot say enough that I loved this book. It was just what I needed as our family is just again starting to raise another young boxer through his life. In addition, I was approved for this title just after we lost our 16 year old boxer, so I took it as a comforting sign that I should read it and reminisce about all the good times, and sometimes crazy times, we shared with Barkley. Thank you Erin Taylor Young for sharing your escapades with Henry. You truly do have an amazing dog and an amazing heart.

RATING: 5 PAWS

Somebody Help!

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE....somebody send zombie fighting medicine my way.  The past week, Mom has been playing with me and all of a sudden will grab my face and say "T, you are so cute I could just eat you alive."  When she does, I always look at Dad as I just know she has been infected and I don't know what to do!  I hope I am wrong in my diagnosis but I suppose only time will tell.

New Release!!!!

TITLE:  Slimy Underbelly
AUTHOR: Kevin J. Anderson
PUBLISHER:  Kensington Books
RELEASE DATE:  August 26, 2014

FROM GOODREADS: There’s something fishy going on in the Unnatural Quarter. Bodies are floating face-down, the plumbing is backing up, and something smells rotten—even to a zombie detective like Dan Shamble. Diving into the slimy underbelly of a diabolical plot, Dan comes face-to-tentacles with an amphibious villain named Ah’Chulhu (to which the usual response is “Gesundheit!”). With his snap-happy gang of gator-guys—former pets flushed down the toilet—Ah’Chulhu wreaks havoc beneath the streets. While feuding weather wizards kick up storms and a gang of thieving lawn gnomes continues their reign of terror, Dan Shamble is running out of time—before the whole stinking city goes down the drain…

MY THOUGHTS: This book comes out tomorrow and I am so glad I obtained an early copy. I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The Dan Shambles series is one I always try to remain pretty current on. They are such fun, mindless read - and I mean mindless in a good way. Anderson has created a wonderful world in the Undead Quarter. Each new book is filled with more excited supernatural creatures. Every installment in the series pretty much has a large mystery for Detective Dan to solve, along with some others that either tie in or are indirectly related.

Dan is a well functioning, well maintained zombie. His PI agency consists of a human attorney partner, and a ghostly secretary who is also his girlfriend. These books are high on adventure and low on romance. They are also full of really tacky, really bad puns, which are extremely enjoyable in this context. As mentioned, it is part of a series of 3 other books and 2 novellas, but you could probably read it as a stand-alone and do OK. Anderson does a pretty good job on filling the reader in on the important history without overkilling it.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mystery books with a lot of paranormal, sci-fi elements. This book would make a great translation to graphic novels. The writing and description is so colorful and pulls the ready in to this strange, albeit fun, world. I am already looking forward to the next installment!

RATING: 4 PAWS

Brief Update

So things have been a tad slow going on the farm lately.  Everyone is pretty much still trying to fill the void that was Barkley with something - whether it be tears, fond memories, or something else to hide the numbness.  I have a few reviews to catch up on and hopefully can get them done this weekend.  Also, if I can finish the book I am currently reading, I hope to move on to a review copy of Kevin Anderson's Slimy Underbelly this weekend.  I love the Dan Shambles series and was stoked to get an advance copy of this.

 I will leave with a pic of Barkley at Halloween in his Flash costume (you can't see the lightning bolt) destroying a pumpkin which was one of his favorite holiday events - Barb.

Lost my best friend!

Yesterday I lost my best friend of 4 years - Barkley passed away after his health deteriorated the past few weeks.  Mom and Dad have been with Barkley for almost 16 years, so this is especially hard on them. Cassius and I are doing our best to help them through this difficult time.  It is a sad time on the farm - Booker T.

5 FUN FACTS ABOUT BARKLEY:

1.  He did not discriminate - he disliked almost all people.
2.  His favorite toys were tennis balls - he once got a bad of 20 for Christmas and had to put each in his         mouth before deciding which to play with that day.
3.  He was the runt of his liter and when he came home in the middle of winter, he wore a cut-out hunting        sock as a dog sweater.
4.  He loved sleeping under covers and slept in a makeshift tent at night.
5.  He was loved by all of his family and will be dearly missed.

JULY READING WRAP UP

Was only able to read 4 books on July.  Reviews and other information can be found on my Goodread account.

Title: Traitors  (Novella follow up to Crooked Fang)
Author: Carrie Clevenger
Publisher: Katarr Kanticles Press

Rating: 3 Paws

Title:  The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
Author:  Catherynne M. Valente
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Rating: 4 Paws

Title: White Hot Kiss
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Rating: 4 Paws

Title:  Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades #1)
Author: E.L. James
Publisher: Vintage

Rating: 2 Paws

BOOK REVIEW - DEAR DAUGHTER

TITLE: Dear Daughter
AUTHOR: Elizabeth Little
PUBLISHER: Viking Adult
RELEASE DATE: July 31, 2014

FROM GOODREADS:  As soon as they processed my release Noah and I hit the ground running. A change of clothes. A wig. An inconspicuous sedan. We doubled back once, twice, then drove south when we were really headed east. In San Francisco we had a girl who looked like me board a plane to Hawaii.

Oh, I thought I was so clever.

But you probably already know that I'm not.

LA IT girl Janie Jenkins has it all. The looks, the brains, the connections. The criminal record.

Ten years ago, in a trial that transfixed America, Janie was convicted of murdering her mother. Now she's been released on a technicality she's determined to unravel the mystery of her mother's last words, words that send her to a tiny town in the very back of beyond. But with the whole of America's media on her tail, convinced she's literally got away with murder, she has to do everything she can to throw her pursuers off the scent.

She knows she really didn't like her mother. Could she have killed her?

MY THOUGHTS:  

I am so glad I was able to receive an early copy of this book from Pengiun. If it wasn't for First to Read, I may have never given it a second glance. Janie was convicted of killing her mother 10 years ago and has just been released on a technicality. Janie is now trying to figure out who actually killed her mother with just one glitch, she hadn't ruled herself out of the short list of suspects. This book was wonderfully written for the author's first novel. It is full if pop culture references...more I am so glad I was able to receive an early copy of this book from Pengiun. If it wasn't for First to Read, I may have never given it a second glance. Janie was convicted of killing her mother 10 years ago and has just been released on a technicality. Janie is now trying to figure out who actually killed her mother with just one glitch, she hadn't ruled herself out of the short list of suspects. This book was wonderfully written for the author's first novel. It is full if pop culture references and Janie herself is a blast. She is full of cynicism and snarkiness, two traits I dearly love. This book contains a mesmerizing mystery and the ending had me yelling for more. I will definitely be recommending it to others. RATING: 4 PAWS