Furs-day Feature - A Little Bit of Everything All Rolled Into One

So my goal is to take part in the new feature Jo over at Jo's Book Blog has started at least once a month.  On Thursdays, she posts things related to our precious furbabies.  This week Cass is sharing "Books to Bark & Crow About" as he has discovered a series he thinks all pet lovers might like!

Hi guys, it's me Cass.  I sure hope you all are having a great summer.  Things here on The Farm are good, but hot.  Today, as you read this, we are celebrating July 4th with our family and we wish all of you that celebrate are having a safe and happy holiday.  And beware fireworks, too many pets and Vets don't like them so use sparingly please.

So here is a series that Mom has slowly been collecting and I thought I would share it with you guys.  I think the covers are super cool too!

Here's the synopsis for the first in the Pet Whisperer series.  I think the covers are great - especially the ones with the doggies,.  Hope I can convince Mom to read them soon.  I want to hear all about how great they are!

FROM GOODREADS: I was just your normal twenty-something with seven associate degrees and no idea what I wanted to do with my life. That is, until I died… Well, almost.

As if a near-death experience at the hands of an old coffeemaker wasn’t embarrassing enough, I woke up to find I could talk to animals. Or rather one animal in particular.

His full name is Octavius Maxwell Ricardo Edmund Frederick Fulton, but since that’s way too long for anyone to remember, I’ve taken to calling him Octo-Cat. He talks so fast he can be difficult to understand, but seems to be telling me that his late owner didn’t die of natural causes like everyone believes.

Well, now it looks like I no longer have a choice, apparently my life calling is to serve as Blueberry Bay’s first ever pet whisperer P.I while maintaining my façade as a paralegal at the offices of Fulton, Thompson & Associates.

I just have one question: How did Dr. Doolittle make this gig look so easy? 

HAPPY JULY 4th GUYS!

Furs-day Feature - Biloxi Review

So my goal is to take part in the new feature Jo over at Jo's Book Blog has started at least once a month.  On Thursdays, she posts things related to our precious furbabies.  This week I am sharing a review of a recent read.  And make sure to check out Jo's feature each week as well.

TITLE: Biloxi

AUTHOR: Mary Miller

PUBLISHER: Liveright

PUBLISHING DATE: May 21, 2019

FROM GOODREADS: 
Like her predecessors Ann Beattie and Raymond Carver, Mary Miller brings an essential voice to her generation. Building on her critically acclaimed novel, The Last Days of California, and her biting collection, Always Happy Hour, Miller slyly transports readers to her unapologetic corner of the South—this time, Biloxi, Mississippi, home to sixty-three-year-old Louis McDonald Jr. His wife of thirty-seven years left him, his father has passed—and he has impulsively retired from his job in anticipation of an inheritance check that may not come. In the meantime, he watches reality television, sips beer, and avoids his ex-wife and daughter. One day, he stops at a house advertising free dogs and meets overweight mixed-breed Layla. Unexpectedly, Louis takes her, and, newly invigorated, begins investigating local dog parks and buying extra bologna. Mining the absurdities of life with her signature “droll minimalist’s-eye view of America” (Joyce Carol Oates), Mary Miller’s Biloxi affirms her place in contemporary literature. 

MY THOUGHTS: So I have really mixed feelings about "Biloxi."  They don't take away from the fact that I'm glad I picked this book up, but truth be told, I didn't enjoy it as much as I anticipated or hoped.  

Louis McDonald is 63 and just quit his job.  His father recently passed away and expecting to come out on the winning end of the inheritance, he decided why continue working.  He's also recently divorced and to say that his relationship with his family is strained is an understatement.  One day while on the way to the pharmacy, Louis ends up stopping at a local home where they are advertising dogs for sale.  Never considering himself a dog person, he somehow returns home with a dog named Layla and his life will never be the same.  During the next few weeks he learns that the dog wasn't actually "for sale," takes in a wayward individual, tries to mend fences with his daughter and her family, and starts dating.

So I love books featuring dogs and I have a soft spot for grumpy all men.  So in all reality, this book should be a hit.  However, while I loved Layla, and she basically earned a star all by herself for just existing, Louis rubbed me the wrong way.  Now I understand that Louis is older and lives in the South but he came across as a borderline pervert and racist.  At one point, he even talked about how he didn't really like his daughter and how she have her child a stupid name.  Also, when he meets Layla's real owner, he's more fascinated about her yellow underwear showing than he is anything else that is happening in the scene.  Admittedly as the book progressed, some things happened which lessened my initial feelings some, but they never fully left.

This was also an extremely slow paced book.  When I finished, I was left with the feeling that  nothing ever really happened.  Louis did show some character growth, but I just don't think it was enough to rescue the book.  And brace yourself, the dog on the cover?  It doesn't look the way Layla is described.  I found another edition which is much more accurate.  So why couldn't they just use this dog for all covers? 

That being said, if you enjoy books about crotchety old men and cute dogs, you should pick this one up.  It's not a bad read, but it is kind of "meh."

RATING:  3 PAWS (and I actually added one for Layla)

Furs-day Feature - A New Crimefighter in Town

So I wanted to take place in a new feature Jo over at Jo's Book Blog has started.  On Thursdays, she posts things related to our precious furbabies.  This week I am sharing a review of a recent read.  And make sure to check out Jo's feature each week as well.

TITLE: Pug: Crime Has a New Enemy

AUTHOR: Matt Shaw

PUBLISHED: April 19, 2019

FROM GOODREADS: 
They momentarily stopped loading the stolen goods into the back of the van. Something was out there, in the shadows, watching them. They could hear its raspy breathing. They called out, "Hello? Who's there?" "Don't make us hurt you, man." But it wasn't 'man' who was watching them. It was something else entirely and it wasn't there to just watch them. It was there to stop them.  

MY THOUGHTS: "Pug" is basically a novella length tale of a man who calls in sick from work one day and hangs out home with his pug, Chewie.  While lying on the couch, Chewie licks him and the next thing he knows, he is waking up and instead of his head, he has the head of a pug.  And for some reason I don't quite understand, he decides to go out and fight crime before enlisting the help of his favorite vet.  

Let me warn you that "Pug" is pretty much an adult read.  There is swearing in parts and Shaw definitely can be crude at times.  That being said, I still enjoyed this book although I know it's not for everyone.  The main character is kind of a jerk, but it works for him. And of course, Chewie is adorable.  

The copy I had also had another tale included in the beginning which is a true tale of the the real Chewie called "My Pug is an Asshole."  It is actually cruder than then crimefighting tale but several times I found myself laughing out loud at Shaw's description of falling in love with a puppy, and then realizing how much work they are.  Look at the adorable cover.

So if you are looking for a book that doesn't take itself too seriously, and don't mind a little vulgarity, then I would actually recommend both of these reads.  Shaw has quite a few horror books, which is how I stumbled across "Pug" and I will definitely be reading more from him.

RATING:  4 PAWS

PRESENTING CASS' VERY FIRST BOOK REVIEW:  Chewie is nice and all that, but he's not my brother.

Booker T Wants a New Job! (Please Don't Feed the Mayor Review)

So I wanted to take place in a new feature Jo over at Jo's Book Blog has started.  On Thursdays, she posts things related to our precious furbabies.  What better way this week than to share a review of a recent read.  And make sure to check out Jo's feature.  She's on Spring Break right now but will be back soon!

TITLE: Please Don't Feed the Mayor
AUTHOR: Sue Pethick
PUBLISHER: Kensington Publishing Corporation
PUBLISHING DATE: February 26, 2019

FROM GOODREADS: When the lumber mill closes, laying off most everyone in Fossett, Oregon, Melanie MacDonald plans to revitalize her beloved but beleaguered homestead by running her border collie Shep in Fossett's mayoral race . . . &nsbsp;

Shep wins by a landslide. 

A lover of democracy and dog treats, Shep is rapidly earning the goodwill of Fossett's citizens. Tourists are streaming in and everyone wants to glad-paw the new mayor. Suddenly Melanie and Shep are media darlings, with requests for interviews, game shows, and personal appearances through the roof. But there's trouble in paradise. Determined to win back his former wife, Bryce MacDonald discovers a rival in tabloid reporter Chad Cameron, who's in Fossett to dig up dirt on Melanie and Shep. He finds a willing co-conspirator in the malcontent who lost the election. Hounded by the press and desperate to head off a potential dog-napping, Melanie unwittingly puts herself in danger. Shep comes to the rescue, proving his mettle to save his faithful human at the risk of his own life . . . and new political career. 

MY THOUGHTS: When I saw the title and the cover for Pethick's latest release, I knew any powers of resistance were futile.  So when I finally picked it up, it was also no surprise that I breeze through it in less than 2 days. 

Four years ago Melanie McDonald left her husband and returned to her small country town to open her own small business.  However, Melanie is more than aware that her small town is losing popularity and in order to continue to thrive and draw new visitors and residents, it is badly in need of revitalization.  Enter Melanie's adorable Border Collie, Shep, and her plan for him to become Mayor of Fossett.

Melanie ends up enlisting the help of her ex-husband, who is also a lawyer, because she knows little about the legalities of running a successful candidacy.  In since Bryce is trying to escape a city of problem of his own, he agrees to help.  Slowly they realize they still have feelings for each other but can they overcome their huge differences and what exactly does Shep have to say about a reconciliation?

"Please Don't Feed the Mayor" has a cozy mystery feel without the real mystery.  However there is some intrigue and suspense and the book actually was heavier in plot than I initially anticipated.  I have to admit that in the beginning, I liked Melanie and felt she was stupid for bringing Bryce back into her life.  Then my feelings did a 180 and I liked Bryce and found Melanie annoying.  In fact, I kind of wanted new parents for Shep altogether.  Yet toward the end I became pleased with Pethick's overall direction and reached a peace with characters. 

And I have to mention Shep.  Shep is awesome.  He's loyal and fun and has a way of communicating his wants and desires to those around him.  In one scene, because he doesn't care for Bryce, he fakes an injury while hiking so that Bryce has to carry him back several miles to his car, and then place him in it mud and all.  Smart dog.

So if you like feelgood animal tales or books with small town charm, consider picking up "Please Don't Feed the Mayor."  You'll also get a healthy dose of fun and suspense thrown into the mix.

RATING: 4 PAWS

BOOKER T's THOUGHTS:  Mother has clearly been holding out on me!  She never informed me I could be Mayor.  I want to see my name plastered on campaign signs and think how cute I'd look on campaign buttons.  I could create lots of laws to favor animals and think of the celebratory parties.  I don't know when I'll forgive her for this one!