Thursday, December 31, 2020

Happy New year Blog Followers!


 As 2020 comes to an end, this has been an awful year. I am happy to see it in my rearview mirror. I am thankful for each and everyone of you. 2021 has so many great movies and books releasing and I am happy I am going to be sharing them with you.

2021 we will also have tons of giveaways here on the  blog so stick around. Be sure to invite your friends and family to come over and follow so they can be entered in the $500 Amazon gift card giveaway and all the books I will be sharing and giving away. 

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

All That We Carried By Erin Bartels

 

Ten years ago, sisters Olivia and Melanie Greene were on a backcountry hiking trip when their parents were in a fatal car accident. Over the years, they grew apart, each coping with the loss in her own way. Olivia plunged herself into law school, work, and a materialist view of the world--what you see is what you get, and that's all you get. Melanie dropped out of college and developed an online life-coaching business around her cafeteria-style spirituality--a little of this, a little of that, whatever makes you happy.

Now, at Melanie's insistence (and against Olivia's better judgment), they are embarking on a hike in the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In this remote wilderness they'll face their deepest fears, question their most dearly held beliefs, and begin to see that perhaps the best way to move forward is the one way they had never considered.

Michigan Notable Book Award winner Erin Bartels draws from personal experience hiking backcountry trails with her sister to bring you a story about the complexities of grief, faith, and sisterhood.

Pick up your copy here...


ERIN BARTELS is the award-winning author of We Hope for Better Things—a 2020 Michigan Notable Book, winner of the 2020 Star Award from the Women’s Fiction Writers Association in both the debut and general fiction categories, and a 2019 Christy Award finalist—The Words between Us—a 2020 Christy Award finalist—and All That We Carried (coming January 2021). Her short story “This Elegant Ruin” was a finalist in The Saturday Evening Post 2014 Great American Fiction Contest. Her poems have been published by The Lyric and The East Lansing Poetry Attack. A member of the Capital City Writers Association and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, she is former features editor of WFWA’s Write On! magazine and current director of the annual WFWA Writers Retreat in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

She lives in Michigan, where she is never more than six miles away from a body of water. She grew up in the Bay City area waiting for freighters and sailboats at drawbridges and spent her college and young married years in Grand Rapids. She currently lives with her husband and son in Lansing, nestled somewhere between angry protesters on the Capitol lawn and couch-burning frat boys at Michigan State University. And yet, she claims it is really quite peaceful.

You can find her on Facebook @ErinBartelsAuthor, Twitter @ErinLBartels, and Instagram @erinbartelswrites.

My Thoughts...
I loved this story about these two sisters. It was such a touching, heartfelt read.
Bartels, writes with so much heart and her characters  are so real and easy to connect with. The forgiveness and grief and healing was so well portrayed.
I am sharing this book with so many people, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this 5 star read.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Seven Broken Souls By Bull Durham

 

This is my real life story about the parents that emotionally, verbally and physically abused me. They left me with lifelong physical and emotional scars that I would have to first recognize and then fight to overcome. I have no back up or safety net to rely on in life, its just me and always has been. When I turned 17, I started life on my own, paying my own way and making my own mistakes at my own peril. I worked extremely hard to put myself through high school, college and became a Vice President at one of the nations largest banks only to see my bosses and those above me with power retaliate against me time and time again before and after I was a whistle blower. I have tried to become better at everything I do from school, work, my health and own the mistakes I made, but I wont let anyone take my integrity away from me, I've worked too hard at it and for it. I'm healthier than I have ever been, but my family isn't and wont get the help they need. I have lost most of my family as well during this process of recovery. I had money, success, and dated some of the most beautiful women inside and out, but none of that made me happy until God started showing me I had to love myself before I could love anyone or anything else. I was in survival mode for almost 25 years and now I'm unleashing the bull that my grandfather always referred to me as. I have had multiple surgeries, hospital emergency room visits and therapists because of the damage my parents did, but I have never used these as an crutch. I haven't always done the right things in my personal life, but I have worked with the highest integrity in my professional career with my clients to ensure success for them and myself. This bank and HVAC retailer only care about money, keeping their secrets and will try to run over anyone that gets in their way. Both of these companies are about to learn if you mess with the bull you're going to get the horns!!!! Make no mistake a stagecoach and horses are no match for a BULL! He is the youngest of seven physically, emotionally and verbally abused children at the hands of his parents, but his sisters had it far worse, His father left him with a life-long seizure disorder after suffering blunt force trauma to his head, His mother let her boyfriends physically abuse him, but her cruel words left him with emotional scars that were more damaging then anything physically done to him. He started this world on his own when he was just 17 years old with a contact case and $20 to his name. He educated himself through multiple ways, battled addiction and became a Vice President at one of the nations largest Banks. He gained his sobriety when he was at the height of his career, a rising star, but lost it when he turned whistleblower. He worked in a sexist culture and with a homophobic boss that would run over you if you didn't get out of his way. His sobriety came at a price and he lost most of his family. He is healthier than he has ever been, but has lost all that he once held valuable. He built longstanding relationships for a multiple top retailers in the U.S.A. from Pella Windows and Doors, BATHFITTER and Brunswick Billiards, only to see his career shredded when multiple officers retaliated against him for doing what was right and speaking up. He has had many setbacks in his life, but he hasn't ever let that stop him and never made excuses for his challenges in life. He has told his employer many times "....if you mess with the bull you're going to get the horns...". Two companies that sought to harm him by ruining his reputation with false allegations when he was standing up for the consumer, his clients and himself by doing the right things.

Pick up your copy here...


 I have  a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from William Penn University, I have been professionally trained on presenting, negotiations and writing. I have worked in the finance sector for almost 20 years and I'm looking for my next chapter in life.

I rescue dogs as I am broken and it fills my heart a little each time a take a broken down dog and show them love and get them to their best version of themselves for their new forever home. I have two Rhodesian Ridgebacks (Mia and Maggie) and i'm a member of R.R.U.S. (Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue of the United States). I'm on the board of my local YMCA, I try and shop locally and eat as healthy as possible. I give back to my community as I know my community has given to me.

I am a bicycle enthusiast, love live music, great food, and the IOWA HAWKEYES football, basketball and wrestling teams!!!! I attend Hope Church In West Des Moines & Celebrate Recovery at Hope Church also. Hope CR helped save my life.

My Thoughts...
I wanted to share this book with you all.  The author is trying to take his life back. 
You may enjoy this read.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Monday, December 28, 2020

When Anxiety Strickes By Jason and Dena Hobbs

 

“Fear not.” “Do not be afraid.” “Peace be with you.” Phrases like these appear in the Bible more often than almost any other proclamation. We long to follow these commands. Yet for many, something inside us is wary, ready for anything and everything to go wrong. In fact, a quarter of Americans struggle with anxiety disorders--and Christians are not immune.

Jason and Dena Hobbs are familiar with this struggle, professionally and personally--Jason as a clinician, Dena as someone with anxiety, and both as pastors of congregations full of anxious people. They also know the shame and confusion that so often accompany these disorders, especially for people who think their faith should be strong enough to overcome these struggles. With their deep understanding, they’ve written When Anxiety Strikes, an eight-week guide to managing anxiety, grounded in both Scripture and research.

Structured for daily reading, with integrated practices for everyday life, the book addresses seven themes: breath, body, movement, mind, change, spirit, and community. Concise stories, readings, questions, and activities guide readers to tackle the realities of living with anxiety. When Anxiety Strikes offers real solutions to find a solid landing place when the storm of fear looms.

Pick up your copy here...

Dena Douglas Hobbs, M.Div. served as an minister in the United Methodist Church for six years before leaving parish ministry to raise her two young children. She continues to preach, teach groups, and lead retreats and workshops in local congregations. Dena holds a Master of Divinity from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Georgia. She blogs at denadouglashobbs.com.

My Thoughts...
This is a valuable resource in this trying time we are living in. It seems as if we are all dealing with anxiety and to have this tool is a must.
Mental heath is so important and have a guide such as this one is a real gift. 
I recommend this 4 star book. If you have a friend or loved one struggling with Anxiety or depression please gift them a copy of this very helpful guide.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Blog Followers!

 

I could not let this week go by and not let you all know just how much you all mean to me. All the support that you show me, means the world to me.
I have mailed out packages to all of you who have commented on my posts all year. You will notice that this year I did not wrap anything I just put everything in the box and shipped it to you all. Please forgive me.
I also have a box of all my favorite books from 2020 going out to you guys this week.
THANK YOU for all of your support. I love and appreciate each and everyone of you!
I can't wait for all the books for 2021. I am super excited to share some really good ones with you all!

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Finlay Donovan is Killing It By Elle Cosimano

FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT . . . except, she’s really not. The new book she promised her literary agent isn’t written, her ex-husband fired the nanny without telling her, and this morning she had to send her four-year-old to school with hair duct-taped to her head.

When Finlay’s overheard discussing the plot of her new novel with her agent over lunch, she’s mistaken for a contract killer and inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a problem husband in order to make ends meet . . . and she soon discovers that crime in real life is a lot more difficult than its fictional counterpart.

Pick up your copy here...


Elle's debut thriller NEARLY GONE was a 2015 Edgar Award Finalist, winner of the ITW 2015 International Thriller Award for Best Young Adult Novel, and was awarded the 2015 Mathical Book Award recognizing mathematics in children's literature. Her novel HOLDING SMOKE was a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award and the International Thriller Award. Her novels have appeared on several statewide school and library reading lists. You can learn more about Elle at her website: www.ElleCosimano.com.

My Thoughts...

Who is ready for laugh out loud reading? This book will bring the LOL like no other. I was so honored to have been sent a copy. It came at just the right time to. I am so excited to share this one with you all. It was my first book by Cosimano but it will not be my last. The writing and the characters  were so much more then I had expected.
I recommend this 4 star read and I hope that you preorder your copy right away.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Last Call By Elon Green

The gripping true story, told here for the first time, of the Last Call Killer and the gay community of New York City that he preyed upon.

The Townhouse Bar, midtown, July 1992: The piano player seems to know every song ever written, the crowd belts out the lyrics to their favorites, and a man standing nearby is drinking a Scotch and water. The man strikes the piano player as forgettable. 

He looks bland and inconspicuous. Not at all what you think a serial killer looks like. But that's what he is, and tonight, he has his sights set on a gray-haired man. He will not be his first victim. 

Nor will he be his last. 

The Last Call Killer preyed upon gay men in New York in the '80s and '90s and had all the hallmarks of the most notorious serial killers. Yet because of the sexuality of his victims, the sky-high murder rates, and the AIDS epidemic, his murders have been almost entirely forgotten. 

This gripping true-crime narrative tells the story of the Last Call Killer and the decades-long chase to find him. And at the same time, it paints a portrait of his victims and a vibrant community navigating threat and resilience.
Pick up your copy here...

Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York: Green, Elon: 9781250224354: Amazon.com: Books

Elon Green has written for The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, and The Columbia Journalism Review, and appears in Unspeakable Acts, Sarah Weinman’s anthology of true crime. He has been an editor at Longform since 2011.
 

Monday, December 21, 2020

The Dress Shop On King Street By Ashley Clark

 

Harper Dupree has pinned all her hopes on a future in fashion design. But when it comes crashing down around her, she returns home to Fairhope, Alabama, and to Millie, the woman who first taught her how to sew. As Harper rethinks her own future, long-hidden secrets about Millie's past are brought to light.

In 1946, Millie Middleton--the daughter of an Italian man and a Black woman--boarded a train and left Charleston to keep half of her heritage hidden. She carried with her two heirloom buttons and the dream of owning a dress store. She never expected to meet a charming train jumper who changed her life forever . . . and led her yet again to a heartbreaking choice about which heritage would define her future.

Now, together, Harper and Millie return to Charleston to find the man who may hold the answers they seek . . . and a chance at the dress shop they've both dreamed of. But it's not until all appears lost that they see the unexpected ways to mend what frayed between the seams.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Dress-Shop-Street-Heirloom-Secrets/dp/0764237608/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10YTLUL08RREO&dchild=1&keywords=the+dress+shop+on+king+street+by+ashley+clark&qid=1608390717&sprefix=The+Dress+Shop%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-1 


Ashley Clark writes romance with southern grace. She's dreamed of being a writer ever since the thumbprint-cookie-days of library story hour. Ashley has an M.A. in English and enjoys teaching literature courses as an adjunct. She's an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers. When she's not writing, Ashley's usually busy rescuing stray animals and finding charming new towns.

My Thoughts...
Two women and their dreams, now how could this go wrong. This was a good afternoon read.
This is a heartwarming read a little bit sad as well.
If you have never read a timeslip before this is one you want to dive into.
I gave this book 4 stars and I recommend it. It's book one in the Heirloom Secrets series.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

The Dead Season By Tessa Wegert

 

Senior Investigator Shana Merchant has spent years running from her past. But she never imagined a murder case would drive her to the most dangerous place of all—home. 

After leaving the NYPD following her abduction by serial killer Blake Bram, Shana Merchant hoped for a fresh start in the Thousand Islands of Upstate New York. Her former tormentor has other plans. Shana and Bram share more than just a hometown, and he won’t let her forget it. When the decades-old skeleton of Shana's estranged uncle is uncovered, Bram issues a challenge: Return home to Vermont and solve the cold case, or the blood he spills next will be on her hands.

As Shana interviews members of her family and the community, mining for secrets that could help her solve her uncle's murder, she begins to realize how little she remembers of her childhood. And when Bram grows impatient and kidnaps again, leaving a trail of clues Shana alone can understand, she knows his new victim will only survive if she wins the psychopath’s twisted game. In order to solve one mystery, Shana must wade into her murky past to unravel another.

Pick up your copy here...


Tessa Wegert is the author of DEATH IN THE FAMILY and THE DEAD SEASON, part of the Shana Merchant series of mysteries. A Canadian-born former freelance writer whose work appeared in Forbes, The Huffington Post, Adweek, and The Economist, Tessa now lives with her husband and children in Coastal Connecticut.

My Thoughts...
After reading Death in the Family, I was so excited to dive into The Dead Season.  I loved all the twists and turns. I really loved the ending it lets me know that there is another book in this series and i can't wait to get my hands on it. This is a mystery worth reading, I highly recommend this book.
4 stars and I recommend this one.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Monday, December 14, 2020

His Holiday Prayer By Tina Radcliffe

 

A new beginning could be closer than he thinks.

What he wants for Christmas…

may not be what he needs.

After receiving an unexpected job offer in Texas, widower Tucker Rainbolt decides he and his twins need a fresh start. But moving on means leaving his best friend, Jena Harper, and their vet clinic behind. For the first time, Tucker sees Jena as more than a buddy. What if leaving isn’t the answer? Maybe what he’s been missing has been right beside him the whole time.
From Harlequin Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

Hearts of Oklahoma

Book 1: Finding the Road Home

Book 2: Ready to Trust

Book 3: His Holiday Prayer

Pick up your copy here...


Tina Radcliffe has been dreaming and scribbling for years. Originally from Western NY, she left home for a tour of duty with the Army Security Agency stationed in Augsburg, Germany, and ended up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her past careers include Certified Oncology R.N. and library cataloger.

Tina is a two-time RWA Golden Heart finalist and a four-time Carol Award finalist and three-time ACFW Mentor of the Year finalist. A 2014 ACFW Carol Award winner and a 2018 ACFW Mentor of the Year winner, Tina is also on the RWA and ACFW Honor Roll of Best-Selling Authors. In 2019 she won the Holt Medallion for Christmas with the Cowboy. A short story writer, she has sold over three dozen short stories to Woman’s World Magazine

She currently resides in Arizona where she writes fun, heartwarming romance. Sign up for her newsletter to be notified of new releases, sales & giveaways! http://bit.ly/2angfWP

My Thoughts...
This a great read for the holiday season. It is the third book in the Hearts of Oklahoma series but have no fear it can be read as a stand alone. I read it in under an hour these books are so much fun when they are in series. 
I will say Radcliffe writes with humor and so much heart.
I loved this romance and the blessings this book has to share. I gave this book 4 stars and I recommend it, The whole series was good.  I just love a small town romance.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

When Harry Met Minnie By Martha Teichner

 

A memoir of love and loss, of being in the right place at the right time, and of the mysterious ways a beloved pet can bring people together, from CBS Sunday Morning News correspondent and multi-Emmy-Award-winning Martha Teichner.

There are true fairy tales. Stories that exist because impossible-to-explain coincidences change everything. Except in real life, not all of them have conventional, happily-ever-after endings. When Harry Met Minnie is that kind of fairy tale, with the vibrant, romantic New York City backdrop of its namesake, the movie When Harry Met Sally, and the bittersweet wisdom of Tuesdays with Morrie.

There’s a special camaraderie among early-morning dog walkers. Gathering at dog runs in the park, or strolling through the farmer's market at Union Square before the bustling crowd appears, fellow pet owners become familiar–as do the personalities of their beloved animals. In this special space and time, a chance encounter with an old acquaintance changed Martha Teichner’s world. As fate would have it, her friend knew someone who was dying of cancer, from exposure to toxins after 9/11, and desperate to find a home for her dog, Harry. He was a Bull Terrier―the same breed as Martha’s dear Minnie. Would Martha consider giving Harry a safe, loving new home?

In short order, boy dog meets girl dog, the fairy tale part of this story. But there is so much more to this book. After Martha agrees to meet Harry and his owner Carol, what begins as a transaction involving a dog becomes a deep and meaningful friendship between two women with complicated lives and a love of Bull Terriers in common. Through the heartbreak and grief of Carol’s illness, the bond that develops changed Martha’s life, Carol’s life, Minnie’s life, Harry’s life. As it changed Carol’s death as well.

In this rich and touching narrative, Martha considers the ways our stories are shaped by the people we meet, and the profound love we can find by opening our hearts to unexpected encounters.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/When-Harry-Met-Minnie-Friendship/dp/1250212537/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2MK2Z1DBYFYJK&dchild=1&keywords=when+harry+met+minnie+a+true+story+of+love+and+friendship&qid=1607107427&sprefix=When+Harry+met+minn%2Caps%2C172&sr=8-1




Martha Teichner has been a correspondent for “CBS Sunday Morning” since December 1993, where she’s equally adept at covering major breaking national and international news stories as she is handling in-depth cultural and arts topics. Since joining CBS News in 1977, Teichner has earned multiple national awards for her original reporting, including twelve Emmy Awards and five James Beard Foundation Awards. Teichner was also part of team coverage of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, which earned CBS News a 2014 duPont-Columbia Award. Teichner was born in Traverse City, Mich. She graduated from Wellesley College in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. She attended the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business Administration. Teichner resides in New York City.

My Thoughts...
This was such a heart tugging book. I cried and I just thought how great Carol and Harry were and I longed to have been a part of their life. What a blessing this book was to read and I can't wait to share it with my dog loving friends.
This was 4 star read and I need to tell you if you think that you are not a fan of memoirs then you are wrong. This story of love and loss is not one you will want to miss. You will not be able to put it down.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

My Dad My Dog By Rebecca Warner

 

When she moves her Alzheimer’s-afflicted dad into the home she shares with her husband and elderly dog, Rachel Morgan expects some complications, but she never imagines the biggest one will occur on the first day, threatening her best-intentioned caregiving plans.

Her normally sweet-natured dad—a former mailman who experienced too many run-ins with biting dogs—is adamant about wanting nothing to do with her big black Labrador. But as Rachel tends to the escalating physical and emotional needs of each, she notices the striking similarities in their aging processes, and realizes these two souls whom she loves deeply are on the same journey.

With time working against her, Rachel must find a way to transform their uneasy truce into a trusting companionship. In doing so, she hopes to make their shared journey less lonely and frightening—and more bearable for those who must someday let them go.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/My-Dad-Dog-Rebecca-Warner/dp/1684335884/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1607106333&sr=8-1



Following a successful career in banking, Rebecca Warner pursued her dream of writing with the publication of her first book, the two-time award-winning political thriller, Moral Infidelity. Her follow-up, Doubling Back To Love, was included in the popular romantic anthology, Peace, Love and Romance. Her third book, He’s Just A Man, offers self-help advice for women seeking healthy relationships.

Rebecca blogged for HuffPost for two years while working on two new novels. One of them, My Dad My Dog, will be published by Black Rose Writing in November, 2020. Rebecca drew upon her 14 active years of being a Health Care Surrogate for her parents to write a heartwarming story about a journey that an Alzheimer’s-afflicted man and an elderly dog are destined to take together.

Rebecca and her husband, Jason, live in Asheville with their lively stumpy-tailed cattle dog, Chance. She loves dancing—from ballet to Carolina beach shag—foreign travel and spending time in nature. Visit her website at www.rebeccajwarner.com to learn more about her books and to read her blogs, which cover a wide range of topics ranging from feminism to politics to banking.

My Thoughts...
What an emotional  and heartfelt, uplifting read.  I was all tears and smiles reading this book. It came at just the right time as I lost my dad while reading this book. 
Warner has a gift, her writing style was right on point and I enjoyed this read.
I gave this book 4 stars and I hope that you grab your copy, get a few extra copies it would make a wonderful gift.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Monday, December 7, 2020

Agatha Arch is Afraid of Everything By Kristin Bair

 

A quirky, nervous wreck of a New England mom is forced to face her many fears in this touching, irresistible novel from author Kristin Bair.

Agatha Arch's life shatters when she discovers her husband in their backyard shed, in flagrante delicto, giving the local dog walker some heavy petting. Suddenly, Agatha finds herself face to face with everything that frightens her...and that's a loooooong list.

Agatha keeps those she loves close. Everyone else, she keeps as far away as possible. So she's a mystery to nearly everyone in her New England town. To her husband, she's a saucy, no-B.S. writer. To her Facebook Moms group, she's a provocateur. To her neighbor, she's a standoffish pain in the butt. To her sons, she's chocolate pudding with marshmallows. And to her shrink, she's a bundle of nerves on the brink of a cataclysmic implosion.

Defying her abundant assortment of anxieties, Agatha dons her "spy pants"--a pair of khakis whose many pockets she crams with binoculars, fishing line, scissors, flashlight, a Leatherman Super Tool 300 EOD, candy, and other espionage essentials--and sets out to spy on her husband and the dog walker. Along the way, she finds another intriguing target to follow: a mysterious young woman who's panhandling on the busiest street in town.

It's all a bit much for timorous Agatha. But with the help of her Bear Grylls bobblehead, a trio of goats, and a dog named Balderdash, Agatha may just find the courage to build a better life.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Agatha-Arch-Afraid-Everything-Novel/dp/164385500X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SWZJEAT9ZBLS&dchild=1&keywords=agatha+arch+is+afraid+of+everything&qid=1607099923&sprefix=Agetha+Arc%2Caps%2C173&sr=8-1



Kristin Bair O'Keeffe is the author of the novels THE ART OF FLOATING (Penguin|Berkley, April 2014) and THIRSTY (Swallow Press, 2009). Her short stories, articles, and essays have been published in Writer's Digest, the HuffPo Books Blog, Poets & Writers Magazine, The Gettysburg Review, The Christian Science Monitor, HYPERtext, Bluestem, and other publications. She has an MFA in creative writing from Columbia College Chicago and has been teaching writing for the past twenty years.

In addition, Kristin writes about writing, life, creativity, China, and whatnot at her blog Writerhead. In late 2010, after nearly five years as an expat in Shanghai, China, she repatriated to the United States and is hunkered down in Massachusetts with her husband and daughter.

Connect with Kristin:

Want to learn more about Kristin? Visit www.kristinbairokeeffe.com

Read Kristin's blog? www.kristinbairokeeffe.com

Follow Kristin on Twitter: (@kbairokeeffe)
www.twitter.com/kbairokeeffe

For updates, "like" Kristin on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/KristinBairOKeeffeAuthor

Follow Kristin on Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/kbairokeeffe/

Follow Kristin on Instagram:
@kbairokeeffe

My Thoughts...

Are you ready to forget about all the sadness in the world and read a happy make you laugh out loud book? I found you one that you will really enjoy. A dog walker? You have got to read this book to find out what happened with the dog walker.
This is a 5 star read that you are going to be so happy you took the time to read. And Yes, Agatha is afraid of everything.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Thursday, December 3, 2020

A Wealth of Pigeons By Harry Bliss and Steve Martin

 

“I've always looked upon cartooning as comedy’s last frontier. I have done stand-up, sketches, movies, monologues, awards show introductions, sound bites, blurbs, talk show appearances, and tweets, but the idea of a one-panel image with or without a caption mystified me. I felt like, yeah, sometimes I’m funny, but there are these other weird freaks who are actually funny. You can understand that I was deeply suspicious of these people who are actually funny.

So writes the multitalented comedian Steve Martin in his introduction to A Wealth of Pigeons: A Cartoon Collection. In order to venture into this lauded territory of cartooning, he partnered with the heralded New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss. Steve shared caption and cartoon ideas, Harry provided impeccable artwork, and together they created this collection of humorous cartoons and comic strips, with amusing commentary about their collaboration throughout. The result: this gorgeous, funny, singular book, perfect to give as a gift or to buy for yourself.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Pigeons-Cartoon-Collection/dp/1250262895/ref=sr_1_1?crid=65DJMXZLND2W&dchild=1&keywords=a+wealth+of+pigeons+a+cartoon+collection&qid=1606585445&sprefix=A+Wealth+of+%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1


Steve Martin is one of today's most talented performers. His huge successes as a film actor include such credits as ROXANNE, FATHER OF THE BRIDE, PARENTHOOD and THE SPANISH PRISONER. He has won Emmys for his television writing and two Grammys for comedy albums. In addition to the bestselling PURE DRIVEL, he has written several plays, including Picasso at the Lapin Agile and a highly acclaimed novel, SHOPGIRL. His work appears in The New Yorker and The New York Times.

My Thoughts...
This was such a great coffee table book. It would be perfect as a conversation starter in your living room.
It would make a fantastic gift as well.
I have always been a fan of Steve Martins and this is just the nicest treat to have received.
I hope that you grab a copy or two and enjoy this. You will love the illustrations also.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

The Heart of Dixie By M. M. Clem


 DIXIEI never wanted to leave the farm, but Papa insisted, and I’ve always been a daddy’s girl. After being away for four years at a big city college, this was not the homecoming I expected.Papa’s health is worse than I realized, and the farm is falling apart. My best friend Charlie is more hands on than ever before and there’s an infuriatingly handsome new farmhand in my horse barn that’s caught my attention. BAUERFinding out I have a teenage son a little over a year ago was a shock, but I’m desperate to be a part of his life and prove I’m more than an irresponsible bachelor.Thankfully, Gould Farms has been my saving grace, giving me a steady job and providing me a place to live. I’ve focused all my energy on this job; that is, until my bosses daughter returns home.She’s not at all what I expected, but she’s definitely what I want. She might even be just what I need to give my son the life he deserves.When Dixie’s confusion turns to heartbreak and Bauer’s future teeters on the edge, will they find what they’re looking for in the heart of dixie?

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Dixie-Duet-Book/dp/B08N979FVX/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1606699161&sr=8-1


m.m. clem lives in a small town, in the heart of Indiana, with
her husband, three kids, and her big black dog, Leela.
Besides writing, she enjoys reading, photography, sleeping,
and watching her daughter dance. When she’s not busy
writing or reading, you can find her chauffeuring her kids to
band practices and competitions, club meetings, dance practice and dance
competitions, or fiddling around on social media. She loves her Netflix,
country music, anything sweet to eat, and iced tea. Sarcasm is her second
language.

My Thoughts...
Cowgirls are you looking for a new author? I found you one and and you are going to enjoy this one.
I can't wait for Clem's next book. This is book one in the series Dixie Duet. I hope that you will grab a copy and let me know what you think of this one.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.