Category Archives: Dogs

Pupcakes

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Noblin, Annie England. Pupcakes: A Christmas Novel. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. 2017.

SUMMARY:
Brydie Benson needs to start over but life just seems to keep throwing her curveballs. Having recently lost her own bakery along with her marriage, Brydie now finds herself working in the bakery at the local ShopCo. Asked to dog-sit for an adorable Pug named Teddy Roosevelt while his owner moves to an assistant living complex, at least she has a place to live. When Brydie meets Dr. Nathan and his large Irish Wolfhound, Sasha, things begin to get interesting, if not a bit crazy…

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS:
Caught by the charming cover and title, I was in the mood for a fun, light, Christmas novel and that is exactly what I got. Full of lovable dog antics, a blooming romance and a personal mystery, Pupcakes even comes complete with delicious doggy recipes, including a recipe for Pupcakes. Though a few curse words were included and a very brief adult situation, it was overall an enjoyable read and would make a delightful Hallmark Channel movie. Finding a new author I am fond of, I have already ordered her previous book, Sit! Stay! Speak!, of course, full of more amusing pups.

RATING:
4 (out of 5) pennies

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The Secret Language of Dogs

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Stillwell, Victoria. The Secret Language of Dogs: Unlocking the Canine Mind for a Happier Pet. New York, USA: 2016.

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SUMMARY:
On the newer trend of realizing animals’ mental abilities are similar to humans, given the ability to learn, adapt, experience and survive, author and positive dog behaviorist and trainer, Victoria Stillwell, shares her knowledge and expertise on unlocking the many languages of dogs. With the inner experiences of dogs examined and the meanings of body and vocal languages explained, The Secret Language of Dogs helps create a stronger, more positive bond with our four-pawed best friends.

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS:
Already of fan of Victoria Stillwell as well as owning several of her previous books, I knew I would have to read this new one. Not only a dog behavior expert but also committed to helping the cause of animal rescue and rehabilitation, she is also involved in various organizations to stop animal-related issues. Meeting the expectations I had set, The Secret Language of Dogs even went above with beautiful photographs, necessary information, and tons of tips, all joined together in a compassionate, positive manner. Seriously a must-read for all dog owners, I was inspired to give my own rescue pups extra hugs (and maybe even an extra treat), knowing they understand. Excellent!

RATING:
5 (out of 5) pennies

*I received a complimentary copy of The Secret Language of Dogs from Blogging For Books for my honest review*

Fetching Sweetness

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Mentink, Dana. Fetching Sweetness: Love Unleashed- Book 2. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers. 2016.

Fetchingsweetness

SUMMARY:
When Stephanie Pink plans to quickly deliver her manuscript to a literary agent, Agnes Wharton, she soon discovers it may be more involved than she planned. Tracking down Agnes, who is trying to track down Sweetness, leads to Rhett Hastings, who may lead to heart-throbbing trouble. With a gallop through a campground, a hurtful past, a bit of new faith, funny moments, and lots of dog-nonsense, Fetching Sweetness is an adorable, amusing, tender, and faith-filled novel with the sweetest Sweetness as the main attraction.

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS:
I loved the picture of Sweetness on the cover of Dana Mentink’s newest book with the spirited expression, tip of the head and floppy ears!!  Pancakes, spatulas, wet kisses and trouble all define Sweetness, a hundred pound slobbery mess of a dog, who steals hearts. Combine Sweetness with Rhett, some fun romance and some giggling situations, and a light-hearted read with lots of character emerges. I love this series, especially since the books are written close enough together (sometimes it is SO hard to wait for the next book)- thank-you, Dana! Look for the next book, Paws for Love, in February of 2017.

RATING:
4 (out of 5) pennies

*I received a complimentary copy of Fetching Sweetness from Harvest House Publishing for my honest review*

Sit, Stay, Love

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Mentink, Dana. Sit, Stay, Love. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers. 2016.

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SUMMARY:
Thirteen-year-old Tippy, an elderly dog needing a good home after his owner passed, now lives with his past owner’s son, Cal. As a rising baseball star, Cal has no interest what-so-ever in dogs, especially an older, misbehaving dog like Tippy. Needing a pet-sitter, Cal hires Gina to take care of Tippy yet ends up with so much more than just a dog-sitter. Humor, romance, second-chances, forgiveness and an adorable dog all complement Sit, Stay, Love…

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS:
Light-hearted with a good message, Sit, Stay, Love is a delightfully charming novel with a cute and lovable mutt as the hero. Chuckling (and even nodding) at certain moments, I thoroughly enjoyed this story -due not only to the writing style but my own love of neurotic dogs. Fun, easy, amusing and entertaining, author Dana Mentink certainly hit a funny-bone with this endearing tale (tail, too).

RATING:
4.5 (out of 5) pennies

*I received a complimentary copy of Sit, Stay, Love from Harvest House Publishers for my honest review*

Cute Emergency

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Heally, Tony. Cute Emergency: Bad Day? The Doctor Is In. USA: Three Rivers Press. 2015.

SUMMARY:
cuteemergencyDealing with an emergency…coffee shop out of your favorite flavor? Pizza turned upside down in the box? No hot water for your shower? Need a root canal? No worries…in his new book, Cute Emergency, author Tony Heally reveals how even the worst of days can be uplifted by this seriously adorable book of animal photos. Monkeys, puppies, guinea pigs, rabbits, elephants and kitties all vie for attention when accompanied by really funny, sweet captions. No matter the emergency, the cuteness factor of this book will cause most anyone to smile and calm a bit…even if you did just drop your phone in the toilet.

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS:
So cute! I chuckled, grinned, laughed and giggled as I read the captions accompanying some of the cutest animal pictures I have ever seen. Cats, puppies, turtles, hedgehogs, piglets and even bears all guarantee to turn bad days around. Set up in degrees of emergencies (low-extreme), the full-color pictures just keep getting cuter! Definitely a great book to share with people needing a smile, of course, animal lovers would also appreciate a copy.   Stat…it’s a cute emergency!!

RATING:
5+ (out of 5) pennies

*I received a complimentary copy of Cute Emergency from Blogging For Books for my honest review*

Why Dogs Are…

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Thompson, Tana. Gentry, Marita. Why Dogs Are… USA: Kendall Neff Publishing. 2013.

SUMMARY:
dogRunning through the beautiful fields of Heaven, dogs originally only existed in Heaven until required on earth. When God needed to let a young boy named Brian, who could neither see nor hear, know of His existence, God sent a golden dog to earth to serve that purpose. Naming him Dog (God spelled backwards), God promised to send more dogs to earth if Dog did a good job of loving and convincing this boy. Thus the reason dogs are…

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS:
A heartwarming tale of tails!! What an absolutely amazing concept of how dogs came to be on earth. Showing comfort, support and unconditional loyalty and love, dogs share God’s love in such a special way that God decides to send lots of dogs for people to enjoy. Part of the Love Unleashed series, I can only hope for more! Stunning illustrations round out an adorable story. Even more admirable is that one-hundred percent of the net profits from the sale of the book are given to charities and organizations that support animals and their interactions with people…wow! Perfect as a gift for dog lovers and children, wonderful even as part of a Sunday School curriculum, or undeniably sweet as just a book to cherish, Why Dogs Are… is special for all ages! Woof!

RATING:
5 (out of 5) pennies

*I received a complimentary copy of Why Dogs Are… from BookCrash and Kendall Neff Publishing for my honest review*

Pure Joy…The Dogs We Love

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Steel, Danielle. Pure Joy…The Dogs We Love. New York, NY: Random House Publishing Group. 2013.

SUMMARY:
PurejoyThe author, Danielle Steel, creates a memoir of the many dogs she has known over the years, spotlighting her relationship with her current dog, Minnie Mouse, a two-pound Chihuahua. Through musings, memories, stories and thoughts, Danielle Steel shares her love of dogs and their lifelong effects on our lives. From total happiness to utter chaos, she reminds readers why dogs are so popular with so many.

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS:
Aptly named, this book put a smile on my face as the author candidly spoke of her many dogs. Explaining she loves dogs as much as children (nine children-eleven dogs), she shows the “pure joy” her dogs have brought into her life (for the most part). Though I did not necessarily agree with all her dog actions/ experiences, I could relate to the emotions and turmoil puppies and dogs can evoke. Actually, when reading deeper into the book, Danielle states “allow yourself the luxury of letting happiness be whatever it is to you”. She found that happiness in her current dog, Minnie Mouse, although it could be anything in life. She goes on to say “why not” do something that brings joy to life, even if it requires courage to step outside the comfort zone (within reason). I chose this book for the cover and subject matter but came away with a different perspective on life to consider. I also appreciated the fact that it showed the “human-side” of a well-known, very popular author.

RATING:
4.5 (out of 5) pennies