Angels are Kids and Furkids: January 2020

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Book Review: Norah's Ark

Photo taken by me of the book

Title: Norah's Ark
Author: Judy Baer
Pages: 361
Publication Date: 2006
Version: Paperback
Genre: Adult Fiction/Romance/Christian

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Hi, my name is Bentley.

I'm a mutt with a dash of pit bull in the soup, and I have issues. I'm not likely to win any beauty pageants, and I'm afraid of cats. But my human, Norah Kent, thinks I'm the greatest despite all my shortcomings.

The problem is Norah won't go out with anyone who doesn't like me. Norah says she's perfectly happy being single, and that in God's time she'll marry Mr. Right. But I think God's time may be right now, and Mr. Right may be Officer Nick Haley--the one guy who's afraid of a kitten-fearing basket case of a dog like me! I'll do just about anything to bring Norah and Nick together, even if I have to...gulp...woof!"

My Review:
Well, I have finally found it, my first absolutely amazing book that I have found and read of the new year!! This book was a book I almost passed by, it is a bit out of my "normal" reading zone for a few reasons...it is a romance and it is a Christian based book. Now, I have nothing against either of those things by any means, it's just that I typically read mysteries or murder mysteries. I am very glad I read this one though. It had me hooked from page one. It has wonderful characters who were created in such a way by the author that I felt like I was living in their town and was a part of their circle of friends. I felt involved in their lives and the decisions they were making. I absolutely loved Norah, this is a character that not only did I love for her, but I could relate to 500%! She is an animal lover that would do anything for any animal anywhere if it meant helping them or helping them find a new home. She is soft hearted and a bit naive, which is how she gets into some of her situations she gets into in this book. Her best friend Lilly and her male companions of Nick, Joe, and Connor are also just great characters who you just want to run and have coffee with. I read this book without issue and with thoughts of disappointment only when I had to put it down to do my daily responsibilities in my own world. :) This book touches a lot of bases from love to being a good Christian to being a good friend to simply helping other (two legs or four, human or animal). I highly recommend you pick up and read this book. Following Norah on her quest of love and relationships was amazing and oh so heartwarming. I mean how hard could it be to find a perfect man who makes you hear bells and lights up your world AND loves your animals as much as you do right? :)

5 out of 5 Stars!!!!

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Fillet of Murder Review

Picture of book taken by Angels Are Kids and Furkids

Title: Fillet of Murder
Author: Linda Reilly
Pages: 292
Publication Date: 2015
Version: Paperback
Genre: Adult Fiction/Mystery

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"FIRST IN A NEW SERIES!

Talia Marby serves up delectable English deep fried fare in the heart of the Berkshires—but she soon discovers there’s something fishy going on…

Sometimes in this life, you have to fish or cut bait. After walking away from a miserable job and an even worse boyfriend, Talia Marby has no regrets. She’s returned to her hometown and is happy to help her dear friend Bea Lambert by working at Lambert’s Fish & Chips, a cornerstone of a charming shopping plaza designed to resemble an old English village.

But not all the shop owners are charming. Phil Turnbull has been pestering Bea to sign a petition against a new store opening up, and his constant badgering is enough to make her want to boil him in oil. When Talia and Bea stumble upon Turnbull murdered in his shop, the police suspect Bea. Now it’s up to Talia to fish around for clues and hook the real killer before her friend has to trade serving food for serving time…"

My Review:
Overall I would call this a fairly good read. Why just fairly good you may ask? I'll explain..... This book was not a book that was up and running from page one. It was slower on the uptake and took a very long time in my opinion to finally get to the murder mystery aspect of the plot. Once the murder took place there was again a lull in activity in the plot, almost like, Ok a murder happened so now lets do all the back story of the entire community and characters before we move on. Now, I know this has to be done to some extent, but I found this to be a bit drawn out and not done in a "reel me in" kind of way, but more of a "history lecture" type of way (and I hate history lectures). However, once that was played out the book seemed to get on track and become the murder mystery I was hoping for. It was fast paced and kept me wondering and changing my mind too, on who the real culprit was for the murder of the hated shopkeeper. I loved the characters! They were fun and pictured to me as people I would love to meet in person because they seemed so real. I loved the dynamics of the shops and the relationships of all the shop owners. Talia was by far my favorite, and not just because she was the main sleuth. She was concerned and willing to help her long time friend and boss when she was in need the most...when she was accused of murder. One can only hope to have a dear friend like her in life.

Overall....
3 out of 5 Stars!!

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Stealing Snow Review

Title: Stealing Snow
Author: Danielle Paige
Pages: 374
Publication Date: 2016
Version: Hardcover
Genre: Young Adult Mystery/Fantasy

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Seventeen-year-old Snow has spent her life locked in Whittaker Psychiatric—but she isn’t crazy. And that’s not the worst of it. Her very first kiss proves anything but innocent…when Bale, her only love, turns violent.

Despite Snow knowing that Bale would never truly hurt her, he is taken away—dashing her last hope for any sort of future in the mental ward she calls home. With nowhere else to turn, Snow finds herself drawn to a strange new orderly who whispers secrets in the night about a mysterious past and a kingdom that’s hers for the taking—if only she can find her way past the iron gates to the Tree that has been haunting her dreams.

Beyond the Tree lies Algid, a land far away from the real world, frozen by a ruthless king. And there too await the River Witch, a village boy named Kai, the charming thief Jagger, and a prophecy that Snow will save them all."

My Review:
This book is one I can honestly say I didn't hate per say, but I did not love either. It was an ok book, but was nothing to write home about as they say. It just didn't have that "it" factor for me. The plot had a good theory behind it, kind of a mysterious and dark romance with a huge mystery mixed into the fantasy feel. However, the plot was written in a very slow and drawn out manner by the author. It started pretty fast paced and I quickly was hooked and couldn't wait to read on, but then it seemed to come to a screeching halt. It became slow and drawn out and I found myself starting to not care that I had to stop reading and found it extremely hard to pick back up. My favorite part was the characters and how they developed throughout the book. They were fun, mysterious, and just a joy to watch develop throughout the book. The character that was my favorite was the main one, Snow. She was the outcast in so many ways and so misunderstood, yet she was always willing to be herself no matter what. She didn't care if others hated her thoughts or actions, she did them because they were hers and what she wanted to say or do and she didn't care. The other fun characters along the way were Kai and Gerde and Jagger. All had a special edge to add to the book and plot. So, all in all this was an ok book, but not one I would truly suggest reading in my top picks. It just wasn't for me.

2 out of 5 Stars!