Red Hat Moma

Marguerite M now owns a book. (see 4 more books added to shelf)

Book Concierge reviewed a book.

“Audio book narrated by Jim Frangione

Bernie Little is a private investigator who is having some financial difficulties. So when he’s asked to investigate a missing teenage girl, he agrees to take the case. Bernie doesn’t work alone, however; he has a wonderfully intelligent canine...”

“Audio book narrated by Jim Frangione

Bernie Little is a private investigator who is having some financial difficulties. So when he’s asked to investigate a missing teenage girl, he agrees to take the case. Bernie doesn’t work alone, however; he has a wonderfully intelligent canine partner – Chet. The case is a bit of a puzzle: there’s no ransom demand to indicate kidnapping, but Bernie (and Chet) doesn’t believe the girl ran away.

This is a delightful mystery told from the dog’s perspective. I love how Chet gets sidetracked with smells and tastes. I also love how single-minded he can be when he’s helping his beloved Bernie. There’s plenty of action, but little violence. Chet has a chance to “ride shotgun” in Bernie’s Porsche and even on the back of a motorcycle!

Jim Frangione does a wonderful job narrating the book. I love the way he brings Chet to life. I’m not a dog lover, but I sure do love Chet. I’ll definitely read another in this series.
”

Marguerite M reviewed a book.

“Laugh out loud funny. It's a very quick read, but one you will want to read and read again. If you have ever had a cat there were some many times I thought "so, that's what they are thinking." It was pure joy to read.”

Marguerite M reviewed a book.

“Interesting! Of course the title pretty much prepared me for what the book was about. He makes some interesting arguments and of course has all of history to draw for examples. On sentence really jumped out at me. He is talking about man's lean toward torture, but I think this sentence could...”

“Interesting! Of course the title pretty much prepared me for what the book was about. He makes some interesting arguments and of course has all of history to draw for examples. On sentence really jumped out at me. He is talking about man's lean toward torture, but I think this sentence could cover all evil done in the name of religion.
"We cannot blame religion for this impulse, but we can condemn it for institutionalizing and refining the practice."
Of course there are also many great examples of religion doing good that he does not really focus on. As I stated it's an interesting argument and worth considering. ”

Ali is now reading a book. (see 2 more books added to shelf)

Ali rated a book.

• Rated 4 stars

Auntie Nanuuq . reviewed a book.

“I read this because it is a mystery and a cozies are easier to read for me.....

So this gal runs a coffee shop owned by her former mother-in-law.... They go visit an old friend of MIL's to retrieve an old espresso machine, and while MIL & friend are in the basement (thankfully behind a...”

“I read this because it is a mystery and a cozies are easier to read for me.....

So this gal runs a coffee shop owned by her former mother-in-law.... They go visit an old friend of MIL's to retrieve an old espresso machine, and while MIL & friend are in the basement (thankfully behind a fire door).... Whoosh BOOM! The shop goes up in flames......

The NYFD shows up, is the gal's boyfriends arch rival (cousin)...... Blah, blah, blah..... she opens her BIG MOUTH and states that she KNOWS "It Is Arson!".... so, naturally the arsonist goes after her!

Lots of red herrings, assumptions, boring internal & external chatter..... Blah, blah, blah.

The premise is interesting, so is the plot... but characters & dialog let me wanting more & better!”

Book Concierge reviewed a book.

“Teddi finds a broken chair and her life’s calling in a ditch near her Kentucky farmstead when she is only 10 years old. As soon as she graduates high school, she leaves the farm and her family to build a successful career as an antiques dealer in Charleston SC. But her brother Josh’s...”

“Teddi finds a broken chair and her life’s calling in a ditch near her Kentucky farmstead when she is only 10 years old. As soon as she graduates high school, she leaves the farm and her family to build a successful career as an antiques dealer in Charleston SC. But her brother Josh’s disappearance sends her into a tailspin. Blaming herself, she cannot let go of the hope that he is somehow still alive in the wilderness he loved.

This is decent Southern women’s fiction. We have a conflicted heroine – strong, intelligent, hard-working but deeply bruised and distrustful, who seems to live from one glimmer of hope to another (though they may come years apart). She has a retinue of loyal friends and colleagues who shore her up when she’s feeling down, and the occasional stranger performs acts of kindness (or gives her the opportunity to do so). She’ll find love in an unexpected encounter, but will have difficulty trusting him with the secrets of her family. I definitely like that Hoffman does not go on at length about the characters’ physical attributes.

Hoffman moves back and forth in time, revealing the story in dribs and drabs. This is a difficult style to pull off successfully and there were a few times when I wished the story were more linear. I really liked Hoffman’s earlier work Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, but I think she may have been trying a little too hard in this novel. Still, there’s something about the way she reveals the dynamics of a complex relationship that draws me in:
We kept our eyes cast downward at the supper table. The sound of forks scraping across plates was unbearable, as was the thunder created when Daddy stomped snow off his boots on the back porch. A sheet of paper towel being torn from the roll was startling.
These things became the language of a family ripped apart.”

It may not be the best work of fiction, but I kept turning pages, and finished the book in two days, so there was definitely something about it which kept me engaged and interested.
”

Alli formally awelker is now reading a book. (see 2 more books added to shelf)

Alli formally awelker rated a book.

• Rated 4 stars

Raggedtig rated a book.

• Rated 4 stars

Raggedtig is now reading a book. (see 3 more books added to shelf)

Morning Star now owns a book. (see 2 more books added to shelf)

Morning Star reviewed a book.

“Brilliant writing and storyline. All characters, especially Dr. Ferrier, are consistently described. There is a wider and more profound tale than the surface of this book. The world can be an ugly place or beautiful place depending on how you choose to see it. Dr. Ferrier is a very inspirational...”

“ Brilliant writing and storyline. All characters, especially Dr. Ferrier, are consistently described. There is a wider and more profound tale than the surface of this book. The world can be an ugly place or beautiful place depending on how you choose to see it. Dr. Ferrier is a very inspirational character in this book in the sense that sometimes you can have a big heart that is easy to penetrate, even for the worse but you must not let outer obstructions and deviances corrupt your mind. Taylor Caldwell is a master storyteller. ”

Marguerite M is now following deedee h.

Book Concierge reviewed a book.

“When 15-year-old Vinnie’s parents divorce he tries to be supportive of each of them. But he’s having a bad year: he has a raging case of acne, the girl he’s secretly loved for two years moved to California without so much as a goodbye, his dog died, he got mugged and he’s failing gym. Could...”

“When 15-year-old Vinnie’s parents divorce he tries to be supportive of each of them. But he’s having a bad year: he has a raging case of acne, the girl he’s secretly loved for two years moved to California without so much as a goodbye, his dog died, he got mugged and he’s failing gym. Could things get worse? Of course they could. His mother has a conference with the gym teacher, Mr B … and then another meeting … and then dinner. Now, suddenly they’ve married and they’re moving to Long Island for Mr B’s new job. On the plus side, they now live next door to Patsy – every boy’s ideal “girl next door” – though, of course, she’s dating the new football star and way too cool to talk to Vinnie. Or is she? A late-night phone call becomes a daily ritual, and the two begin to really confide in one another, though Vinnie remains anonymous.

This is a nice YA coming-of-age novel. Vinnie and Patsy are believable teenagers, though I did have to remind myself that it’s set in 1977 (i.e. before caller ID). Their developing relationship is sweet and shows that getting to know someone well is far more important than looks or physical attraction. The way in which Couloumbis has this anonymous friendship continue (and finally resolves it) is a little unrealistic. Also, while I get that the focus is on Vinnie and Patsy, the adults are really stereotypical and thinly drawn.
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wkdwtch rated a book. (see 7 more books rated)

• Rated 4 stars

wkdwtch rated a book.

• Rated 4 stars

wkdwtch rated a book.

• Rated 3 stars

wkdwtch plans to read a book. (see 4 more books added to shelf)