Book Review: "Cash Hooper Saves A Life" by Lisa Henry and Sarah Honey

This series makes my heart melt. I discovered it last year and get so excited when I see another book will be published. I’m not at all ready to say goodbye to Goose Run or these characters.

Cash has a great deal of trauma from the horrible abuse he and his twin brother Chase dealt with during childhood. He is a sweet, kind man who doesn’t feel comfortable talking much, even with those he’s known for a while. His life is fairly routine and he likes it that way.

One night he finds a dog chained to a tree, bleeding and in obvious pain. Cash takes the dog and rushes it to the local vet. But when he arrives he finds that the usual vet is on vacation and his nephew, Mason, is filling in.

Mason is intrigued by the handsome man bringing an injured dog to his uncle’s office late at night. Clearly the man cares about the dog—and he can’t stand the sight of blood, because he faints. Mason now has two patients, and he doesn’t mind caring for either of them.

As Mason and Cash spend more time together, they become the bright spot in each other’s day. Mason is attracted to Cash but he’s only in town until his uncle returns. Cash has never been attracted to anyone, and has never let anyone get close to him except his brother. But Mason makes him want to change.

I’ve loved the glimpses of Cash’s character I’ve gotten in previous books, but I wanted to hug him so hard after this one. Mason, too, has a lot of emotional baggage to deal with, so they really are a perfect couple. Plus any book with cute dogs and kittens is a hit for me! I look forward to Book 5!

Book Review: "Life, and Death, and Giants" by Ron Rindo

“The last night they’d spoken, she told him everyone takes two journeys alone, the one that brings us to Earth and the one that takes us to heaven, and it is the path we have trod in between that gives the measure of a life. It is the good we leave behind us, she said, that makes a life worth living.”

If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. This was an emotional and thought-provoking read with some of the most memorable characters, and I was all choked up at the end.

Gabriel Fisher’s mother died while giving birth to him. It’s no wonder: he weighed 18 pounds and measured 27 inches long at birth. But despite his tragic beginning, Gabriel was an absolutely wonderful child—friendly, affectionate, and good with animals (they loved him, too). And he never really stopped growing: he was the size of a full-grown adult by the time he was 11 or 12.

When his older brother dies, Gabriel is taken in by his Amish grandparents, who were forced to shun his mother when she became pregnant the first time. When Gabriel starts becoming popular because of his athletic prowess, his grandfather isn’t too pleased, but they do their best to raise Gabriel to understand their customs and rules.

When the town’s high school football coach gets a glimpse of Gabriel when he is playing in a field with other children, he convinces Gabriel—and his grandparents—that the boy will be a football star. This discovery sets Gabriel and those who love him on a life-changing path.

The book is narrated by Gabriel’s grandmother, the doctor who delivered Gabriel and became both mentor and surrogate father, the football coach, and a local bar owner. I liked how the book portrayed the Amish characters as so much more than stereotypes. This will definitely be one of my favorite books of the year.

Book Review: "Say You'll Remember Me" by Abby Jimenez

I would give this book 10 stars if I could! Thanks so much to Abby Jimenez and Forever for the advance copy!

Xavier is a veterinarian with an enormous heart. Plus, he’s gorgeous, tall, and brooding. But he rarely smiles and maybe he’s a bit intense?

When Samantha first sees Xavier, he looks like a god in a lab coat. And then he opens his mouth and tells her the complete opposite of what she wanted to hear. In short, he’s a total jerk to her. She can’t wait to prove him wrong.

Prove him wrong she does. But he’s more than willing to fall on his sword—and then he asks her on a date. It’s the longest date ever and, quite possibly, the best either has been on. They both feel an intense connection to one another. Then Samantha drops a bombshell—in a few hours she’s moving to California to help her family care for her mother, who has early-onset dementia.

Samantha tells Xavier he should forget about her, but of course, that’s utterly impossible. They spend a few days together here and there, and fall deeper for each other every time. But since neither is in the position to move to where the other is, is this relationship doomed to fail? Wouldn’t it be better just to throw in the towel now?

Abby Jimenez knows how to work my emotions better than almost any author. This is a funny, steamy, and gorgeous book, and as always, it’s full of moments that make me laugh and tear up, as well as sentences I marvel at over and over. There could be triggers for some, so definitely read the author’s note. And then pick this one up!

Book Review: "Wild Dark Shore" by Charlotte McConaghy

I’ve read all three of Charlotte McConaghy’s books now, and each one has been a 5-star read for me. They’re intense, tremendously thought-provoking, and emotional, and they really make me think about climate change’s effect on our world.

“…I can understand why he might not, in fact, be alright. Why maybe none of us will be, because we have, all of us humans, decided what to save, and that is ourselves.”

Dominic is the caretaker of Shearwater, an island not far from Antarctica. It is home to seals, penguins, and other animals and birds, as well as a vault containing samples of countless seeds. Dominic and his three children are the only inhabitants left on Shearwater, which used to be a research hub, until the rising tides began destroying the island.

One day, the body of a woman washes up on shore. Dominic and his children rescue her and care for her until she recovers. This woman, Rowan, has come to Shearwater to find her husband, who was once the head researcher there. But he is nowhere to be found, and while Dominic tells Rowan that her husband left with other researchers, she thinks he is hiding something.

As they spend their last few months on the island before they are to be picked up, they must decide which seeds they can take back with them. At the same time, Rowan tries to make sense of the secrets that Dominic and his children are keeping—from her and from one another—and they each need to imagine their futures.

This is a slow-paced book but there is an underlying tension, as you wonder what secrets there really are, and what will happen to all of the characters. At the same time, McConaghy has created a setting so evocative yet so dangerous, that I wanted to visit and also stay as far away as possible. This was just fantastic.

Book Review: "Pony Confidential" by Christina Lynch

I was curious about this book but when a friend said it was her favorite book she read last month, I had to give it a try. Wow. Just wow.

Pony remembers the best part of his life, when he was owned by a girl named Penny, who vowed they’d always be together. But one day he was given away without a word from Penny and he never saw her again. He has thought about her every day since, his sadness turned to anger and acting out as he is passed from owner to owner. He vows revenge.

Penny is a teacher, raising a teenage daughter and experiencing marital problems. Her everyday life is shattered when she’s arrested for a murder that happened when she was 12. She is extradited across the country, back to upstate New York. As she waits for her trial and for someone to find out the truth of what happened all those years ago, she thinks about a time in her life when she was truly happy, her time with Pony.

When Pony, with the help of other animal friends he encounters, realizes that his anger toward Penny has been misplaced, he’s determined to find her. He begins a journey to where he last saw her, and in the process makes some interesting discoveries.

“Empathy is painful and inconvenient, but it also can bring us a much deeper joy than material things, even carrots.”

This book was incredible. There’s humor, sadness, love, mystery, and self-discovery. It’s part Toy Story, part The Incredible Journey, and yet immensely unique. I’ll be thinking about this for a long time.

Book Review: "We Three Kings" by Kristen Bailey

Oh, my heart. I loved this book so much. This is my first book by Kristen Bailey and it definitely will not be my last!

Maggie is the head of the IT department for a financial services company. She loves her job, but what she loves the most is her three coworkers, Frank, Jasper, and Leo. They make every day fun, even when they have to deal with the idiocy of their colleagues and their IT challenges.

When they learn that Maggie is going to be alone over the Christmas holidays, each of them invites her to join them for a part. And just before she is set to go to Frank’s sister’s wedding, she is told by her company’s HR department that she has to lay one of her coworkers off. How can she make a decision like that and break up her team?

As she spends time with each of them, she learns more about what makes them tick. At the wedding of Frank’s sister, she realizes how his job and his colleagues are a respite from the constant disapproval of his mother and sisters. Spending time with Jasper’s family, she realizes the source of his sarcasm—and his happiness. And Leo—why is she just realizing how handsome and, well, desirable he is?

Maggie wrestles with the decision as sparks grow between her and Leo. But despite her anxiety, she and her friends make some wonderful memories—from being mistaken for a bridesmaid to cavorting with baby foxes and a donkey.

I loved the relationship between all of the coworkers, and the sparks between Maggie and Leo. I also enjoyed some of the supporting characters. It just was such a sweet, fun, romantic book.

Book Review: "Savor It" by Tarah DeWitt

Fisher was a chef at the top of his game in New York City, even getting a Michelin star. But after his sister dies, he loses the star, and he isn’t even sure he wants to cook anymore. He also has custody of his teenage niece, Indy. So the owner of the restaurant sends him and Indy to the small coastal town of Spunes, Oregon (“not to be confused with Forks, Washington”), where he will consult on a new restaurant and develop the menu.

Sage has lived her whole life in Spunes, which means everyone in town has seen her ups and downs. Her relationship with Ian, the town’s golden boy, has ended after 5 years, and he’s already engaged. She’s desperate to find her self-worth and follow her dreams—if she can figure out exactly what they are.

Fisher and Indy’s summer home is a guest house right near where Sage lives with a small menagerie of animals. It’s not long before a series of awkward encounters blossoms into a friendship and an intense attraction, which has the whole town talking. When the locals start protesting about the new restaurant (which has a somewhat phallic design), Fisher turns to Sage for advice and assistance—and then their flirtation turns to serious passion.

“I remind myself that it’s absurd, that life is not a meritocracy. Just because you do everything right, even if you know you deserve it, doesn’t mean that it will all be perfect in the end. Just because you accomplish a dream doesn’t mean it’ll make you happy forever.”

This is a book about second chances, of realizing you’re more than your situation. It’s a book about overcoming grief and hurt, finding what (and who) matters, and trusting your heart. I absolutely loved this, and found it romantic, steamy, funny and emotional, with an immensely endearing cast of supporting characters—and animals!

Book Review: "Open Throat" by Henry Hoke

This was honestly one of the most unique and creative books I’ve read in quite a while, and I don’t think I’ll forget it anytime soon.

Open Throat is narrated by a mountain lion who lives in the hills under the Hollywood sign. It’s difficult to be a creature living in the wild when you’re smart enough not to get caught, but in the drought-ridden world, finding food and water proves a challenge even for the most cunning of hunters.

The lion is lonely. They spend a lot of time listening to hikers and others pass by, talking about therapy, relationships, ambition, and lots of other things the lion doesn’t understand. They also dream of their father, who was brutally violent, and the life they wish they could live.

When a forest fire started purposely flushes the lion out of the hills, they find themselves having to go to the city of “ellay,” as the hikers call it. And from there, the lion is tempted by their true nature as well as the desire to become more human, to be cared for.

All of the descriptions of this book refer to the lion as queer. There isn’t anything in the text that leads you to that conclusion, so I’m wondering if it’s more of a metaphor, that the lion—like LGBTQIA+ people in many places—is fine as long as they stay hidden and behave in an acceptable way.

Maybe I’m overthinking, but this was fascinating. Thanks to MCD x FSG for the advance copy!

Book Review: "A Quiet Life" by Ethan Joella

A Quiet Life is one of those books that grabs your heart and doesn’t let go.

A Little Hope, the debut novel by Ethan Joella, was one of my absolute favorite books last year. I received an advance copy and knew nothing about it, and still can’t get it out of my mind. So when Ethan offered me an advance copy of his upcoming novel, you bet I said yes—but I’ve been holding on to it since it doesn’t come out until November.

This is another of those books that sneaks up on you and hooks you completely. But, like the title says, it’s a quiet story, about love, about overcoming grief and taking tentative steps toward something new, and about our desperate need for connection, especially in times of trouble.

“Maybe loving someone so deeply means accepting the fact that they occupy a specific, clear place in you. You accept that there will be a hole if you lose them—the same way a painting or photograph will leave its shadow on the wall after it’s gone, the way a tree will leave a crater where the roots and stump were.”

The book follows the lives of three characters—Chuck, a widower still coming to terms with grief and guilt after his wife’s death, as he tries to will himself to make their annual sojourn to Hilton Head without her; Ella, a young mother struggling to hold on after her daughter goes missing; and Kirsten, whose father’s unexpected death has left her in a kind of emotional limbo. The three will interact in ways that will change them profoundly.

Joella’s storytelling, the emotions he imbues his story with, and the characters he has created, are so exceptional. It’s powerful without being flashy, and it touches you without being maudlin.

Thanks so much to Ethan and Scribner Books for the advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review!! The book will publish 11/29.

Book Review: "Running Wild" by K.A. Tucker

Thanks to K.A. Tucker's latest book, I don’t care that it’s January, I happily went back to Alaska!!

When I think of my favorite book series, Tucker’s Wild series (The Simple Wild, Wild at Heart, and Forever Wild) quickly comes to mind. I fell deeply in love with Calla and Josh (especially Josh, yum) and the supporting cast of characters.

Running Wild, Tucker’s latest, focuses on Marie, a veterinarian who travels all over Alaska for her work. She’s also Josh’s best friend, and while she had hoped they could mean more than that to one another, it wasn’t meant to be. So she’s thrown herself into her work, which she loves, but she does get tired of everyone trying to set her up with someone, and her family treating her as if she's not whole without marriage and a family.

When she meets Tyler, who’s recently moved to the area to train sled dogs for the Iditarod, their first encounter is a tense one. (She’s investigating an alleged case of animal abuse.) But the more they get to know each other, the more she respects his talent and the more intense their connection to one another grows. However, Tyler is in love with someone else, and only wants to be with Marie as a friend. She's done that type of relationship before. Will true love ever swing her way?

I enjoyed Running Wild so much. Tucker pulled me right into this story and as always, made me care about these characters like they were my friends. I was also so impressed with the level of research she did on the Iditarod race and sled dogs, as I knew next to nothing coming into this book.

Here’s hoping there’s more Alaska to come for us Tucker fans!!

Book Review: "A Better Heart" by Chuck Augello

This is an immensely thought-provoking and poignant piece of fiction.

A washed-up actor and a capuchin monkey walk onto a movie set. Sounds like the set-up for an interesting joke, no?

But this really happens to Kevin, on the set of the first indie film he's directing. His father, actor Edward Stacey (so yes, the main character's name is Kevin Stacey), Guinness World Record Holder for most appearances in a motion picture, arrives in a yellow raincoat, toting a gun, a stack of cash, and an (apparently) stolen capuchin monkey. Kevin hasn’t seen his father in four years.

It turns out that the monkey, Henry, was a test subject in a research lab, and he was freed by animal rights activists. Now this monkey, along with others that were freed, is wanted by the FBI.

Kevin and Henry quickly develop a bond, and as he learns more about the horrible treatment of research lab animals, he agrees to travel cross-country with his father in an effort to save Henry. The trip is not without hijinks, reopening old wounds, and family drama, but Kevin is determined to do the right thing.

The book takes place over multiple periods of time, and is heartwarming, funny at times, and it makes you think about the ways lab animals are treated. (It’s a little graphic when they talk about it, but nothing is actually happening to the animals in the book.) It’s a sweet story, a little goofy at times, but just an enjoyable read.

Thanks so much to Suzy Approved Book Tours, Chuck Augello, and Black Rose Writing for inviting me on the tour and providing a complimentary advance copy of A Better Heart in exchange for an unbiased review!!

Book Review: "Once There Were Wolves" by Charlotte McConaghy

Once There Were Wolves, Charlotte McConaghy's latest novel, is a beautiful, haunting look at the destructive effects we can have on the environment and each other.

In addition to being so beautifully written, Charlotte McConaghy’s books are tremendously thought-provoking. Her first book, Migrations, was among the best books I read last year and I won’t be surprised if this book makes this year’s list.

It’s a time in the not-too-distant future when there are few wolves left in the world. Inti is part of a team of biologists who travel to the Scottish highlands to reintroduce 14 wolves into the wild. (Wolves are important to the ecosystem; without predators like them the deer population gets overgrown and they eat all the plants, meaning birds and insects needed to pollinate could go instinct.)

The Scottish people are unhappy about the wolves as they understandably fear for their safety, but wolves don’t attack unless provoked. But when there is a death in town, Inti knows the wolves will be blamed, and she fights to defend them. Could she be wrong, or could it be worse—is there a killer on the loose?

Inti has her own secrets and scars, which cause her to lash out impulsively at times. She also has something called mirror-touch synesthesia, which means that when she’s close to a person or thing, she can quite literally feel their pain. It’s a difficult way to live.

The story flashes back between Inti’s childhood, her time in Alaska where things happened to her and her sister, and the present. This is a violent book at times and those triggered by discussions of rape and violence may find this troubling.

The pacing of Once There Were Wolves is a little slow to start but it’s just such a gorgeous story of redemption and hope—for nature and for humans.

Book Review: "Enjoy the View" by Sarah Morgenthaler

Enjoy the View, the third book in Sarah Morgenthaler's Moose Springs series, makes one thing clear: Every rom-com should have a marmot.

Handsome mountaineer Easton Lockett gets more than he bargained for when he stops for a woman walking down the side of the road, pulling a suitcase. It turns out that she’s no damsel in distress—it’s actress River Lane—and she happened to be in the middle of filming. And Easton ruined her shot. (And he wasn't the only one, so she's even angrier.)

With her acting career on the decline, River is determined to get relevant again, so she decides to film a documentary about the charming little town of Moose Springs, Alaska. One tiny catch: the town and its residents don’t want the documentary to be filmed. But resistance has never stopped River before, so she’s going to shoot the film no matter what.

In an effort to compromise (and spend more time with River), Easton agrees to lead her and her film crew on a climb up Mount Veil, so she can shoot from up there. An experienced climber, River is excited for the challenge—and excited about climbing with Easton. What could go wrong?

Lots of things, of course. With a wayward crew, a lovesick marmot, and bad weather on the horizon, it’s going to take all of Easton’s skill to get them back safely. And if they do make it back, can Easton convince River to put down roots in the town he loves so much? Can two people with wholly different lives find happiness together? (What do you think?)

It’s so good to be back in Moose Springs again. I love the characters Morgenthaler has created—even the animal characters are so appealing!! I so enjoyed getting to see the characters from the last two books, The Tourist Attraction and Mistletoe and Mr. Right, again.

I’ll admit, it took a while for River’s character to grow on me, but I loved the chemistry between her and Easton. I also loved the climbing aspect of Enjoy the View, which added another dimension. (It’s something I will NEVER do, so it was fun to live vicariously through the characters.)

I hope we get to take another trip back to Moose Springs soon!!

Book Review: "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse" by Charlie Mackesy

This unforgettable book with the memorable title is a book about friendship, kindness, and self-esteem told in the most special of ways.

First there is a boy. He is alone. He comes upon a mole, whom it seems loves cake more than anything else. The mole becomes the boy’s friend and companion, his coach and confidante. The boy shares his fears, the mole shares advice and his love of cake.

When they meet the fox, it is caught in a snare. Instinctively both the fox and the mole know if the mole frees the fox, the fox should then kill it, but if the mole leaves the fox in the snare, it will die. Sometimes you can override your instincts, and the fox becomes a (mostly silent) companion on their wanderings. Then they meet the horse, who has hidden some of its special abilities for far too long.

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse isn’t as much a story as it is a book of advice, encouragement, and lessons accompanied by whimsical hand-drawn illustrations. The advice and lessons are beautiful and meaningful, and the entire book is a genuinely heartfelt experience.

"What do you think is the biggest waste of time?"

"Comparing yourself to others," said the mole.

The book is written in a handwriting-type font so it’s a little difficult for even older eyes to read, so this is definitely a book that should be read together and shared. Almost every page has something special on it.

I really think this will be the perfect gift for those you want to share a message of encouragement or love with. It’s similar to Winnie the Pooh in its content but not so much in narrative or illustration. This will be one you won't be able to forget.

Book Review: "We Love Anderson Cooper: Short Stories" by R.L. Maizes

I'm a big fan of short stories, but it doesn't seem like there have been many collections this year that have caught my eye. I'll need to remedy that, because every time I read a collection of stories I'm reminded of how much I like this format, and how incredibly writers can create compelling scenarios in just a small number of pages.

I was drawn to R.L. Maizes' debut collection, We Love Anderson Cooper, because of the title, first and foremost. (I do love him, honestly.) But I stayed for the stories. While not all of the 11 stories clicked for me—and one was so short that it seemed like I was missing something—I was so impressed by Maizes' writing, her imagery, and her creativity.

My favorites in the collection included: "Tattoo," about a talented yet struggling artist who turns to tattooing and begins to create designs which become reality; "Couch," which tells of a therapist whose practice—and life—are upended by the purchase of a new couch for her office; "The Infidelity of Judah Macabee," where a man feels betrayed by his cat; "Collections," about an older woman left behind when her companion, whom she cared for, left her with nothing even though she thought of him as her husband; and the title story, which tells of a young man planning to out himself at his bar mitzvah, but isn't sure of the consequences.

Some of the characters in these stories are memorable, some of them are very twisted and even cruel. There are a few stories which might trigger those uncomfortable with animal cruelty, descriptions of animals dying (accidentally and on purpose), murder, and blood. (It's funny, I didn't realize how crazy some of the stories were until I started writing this list!)

The stories I loved in this collection will definitely linger on in my mind. There's no doubt that Maizes is a talented writer with a very bright future, and I look forward to seeing what comes next for her. For those of you who enjoy short stories, you might want to check this collection out!

Book Review: "Calypso" by David Sedaris

For me, reading David Sedaris' books is like hanging out with that slightly strange friend—you may think you're crazy, but at least there's someone crazier than you out there!

I've been reading Sedaris' books on and off for a number of years, since his first collection, Barrel Fever, in 1994. In addition to helping bolster my self-esteem, he's always good for a fair amount of chuckling, giggling, and all-out belly laughing, not to mention his unique ability to highlight some of life's frustrating, mystifying, and joy-inducing foibles. Plus, every now and again he simply makes me gasp at his observations.

Calypso, his newest collection, certainly is chock-full of laughs, and there's a good supply of slightly gross observations about bodily functions and other physical issues. But I wasn't prepared for how emotionally rich this collection would be—on a number of occasions I found myself getting a little choked up as Sedaris pondered growing older, the aging and death of family members, the legalization of same-sex marriage and what it meant for his relationship with his boyfriend, even the mood of the country following the 2016 presidential election.

It's funny—in one story Sedaris talks about his mother-in-law, and how she "likes to interrupt either to accuse you of exaggerating—'Oh, now, that's not true'—or to defend the person you're talking about, someone, most often, she has never met." Some of his observations are so outlandish that I'll admit occasionally thinking like his mother-in-law, saying to myself, "That can't be true." Regardless of whether it is or not, Sedaris had me latching on to his every word.

I'm not a Puritan by any means, but I'll admit there were a few stories that were a little heavy on bodily functions and feeding things to animals (read the book and you'll know what I'm referring to). However, so much of this book was terrific, beautifully written, funny, wry, sarcastic, and even poignant. In many of the stories (as is often the case), Sedaris spoke of his family and his relationship with his father, which continues to confound him, even as his father moves into his 90s.

"Honestly, though, does choice even come into it? Is it my fault that the good times fade to nothing while the bad ones burn forever bright? Memory aside, the negative just makes for a better story: the plane was delayed, an infection set in, outlaws arrived and reduced the schoolhouse to ashes. Happiness is harder to put into words. It's also harder to source, much more mysterious than anger or sorrow, which come to me promptly, whenever I summon them, and remain long after I've begged them to leave."

Calypso is a pretty terrific book, further testament to Sedaris' skill as a storyteller, a social commentator, and an observer of this crazy world we live in. His writing is great for some laughs (don't be shocked if you laugh out loud a time or two, so if you're self-conscious, don't read this in public), and this book is good for a few tears as well!

Book Review: "Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance" by Ruth Emmie Lang

One of the factors that helps transform a very good novel into a great one is memorable characters. And while I've read a lot of books this year and over the last several years that featured characters I couldn't quite get out of my mind, it's rare to find a character as special, as incredible as Weylyn Grey, the main character in Ruth Emmie Lang's terrific Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance.

"Weylyn doesn't quite fit into the world we're familiar with," Daddy said, choosing his words carefully. "He's a strange boy, but in a wonderful sort of way."

Orphaned at a young age, Weylyn was raised by wolves—literally, he lived with a pack of wolves—and is more comfortable being with animals and living outdoors than following traditional social constraints. But that doesn't mean he doesn't get lonely, and when he meets 11-year-old Mary Penlore in the woods, and he saves her from being attacked by one of his wolves, Mary realizes that Weylyn is unlike anyone else she has ever met, and even then she realizes she needs him in her life, and in fact, is willing to run away from home and live among the wolves with him.

The thing is, when Weylyn is around, interesting things happen. The weather seems to change dramatically, he can literally communicate with animals of all types, and he seems to be able to stop tornadoes and storms from happening. But at times, it also appears he might cause those things to happen. He can't explain it, and no one around him can either (if they actually believe what they see), but his biggest fear is somehow he'll cause harm to someone he cares about, so he's more willing to go it alone than hurt someone.

"I've been called magic, but I wouldn't use that term exactly. I like to think of myself as always being in the right place at the right time, or the wrong place at the wrong time. Very rarely am I simply in an acceptable place at a generally convenient time."

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance follows Weylyn through his life, as he makes his way across the country. It's a story told by those who got to know him, even for a short while, and feel the amazing impact he had on their lives. A family challenged by the decision to take young Weylyn in as a foster child, a teacher struggling with her own childlessness, a young mayor tired of living his life in his father's shadow, even a young boy who wants to believe magic is real—these are the people whose lives Weylyn touches. And as a touch point is Mary, whose life always bears the indelible impact of knowing him.

This is one of those special books that requires you to suspend your disbelief, or simply believe that there are things in life that may seem impossible to grasp, but you just need to accept them. If magic, and communicating with animals, and causing strange phenomena to occur doesn't appeal to you, you'll probably not enjoy this book. But if you do, and you can just let yourself take a leap along with the characters, this is a story you'll marvel over.

I was absolutely charmed by this book from start to finish. I loved nearly all of the characters and I loved Weylyn's relationships with the many people he met. One character remarked that Weylyn might be "too good for this world," but fortunately the world isn't quite as cruel to him as I feared it might be. I also worried that Lang might take the plot into melodramatic territory, and I was so pleased she steered clear of that.

Lang is a fantastic storyteller, and her imagery and dialogue are so skilled, it's so hard to believe this is her debut novel. Books like this don't come along too often, so this is a special one to savor. I can't wait to see what Lang has up her sleeve in the future.

NetGalley and St. Martin's Press provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!

Book Review: "Cat Incarcerated" by Noah Nichols

If you're looking for a quirky, slightly zany, sarcastic, and good-natured book to read, look no further than Noah Nichols' Cat Incarcerated. It's a unique story (I haven't seen a book with this plot before), and Nichols' storytelling is very engaging.

Cade A. Tanner is the first to admit he was a fairly miserable person when he was drunk, which was pretty much always. He drove his wife Stephanie away, and found himself alone, with not much more than the food from his favorite Chinese restaurant to keep him company. But somewhere down the line he found the strength to kick his addiction, and started seeing the beauty of life without alcohol.

Then the unthinkable happens: Cade sees an adorable kitten in the middle of the street, practically playing in traffic. The man that Cade has become absolutely can't let the kitten (especially one so cute) meet its maker while he watches, so he rushes out to rescue it, and he is immediately struck and killed by a texting-and-driving teenager. The irony.

Then the even-more-unthinkable happens: Cade wakes up to find he has been reincarnated as, of all things, a kitten. (An even cuter one than the one he rescued, but that's neither here nor there.) As he struggles with where to find shelter and food, not to mention reconcile the fact that he is now a cat ("Will I have to lower my standards and start going to the bathroom...in a litter box?"), he finds even more surprises along the way, because he is ultimately rescued by his ex-wife. And she has become a barely functioning alcoholic.

The book gets a little zanier from there, but it never loses its sense of humor or its heart. Cade (to whom Stephanie has given the name Ethan) raises some interesting existential questions that only a cat who was once a man can ponder:

What if...what if there are multiple poor souls out there who're just like me? A man, a woman, a child, of whatever age or background, inexplicably stuck inside the bodies of cats or dogs or bears or angry badgers (hey, maybe that's why they always look so pissed off for no reason!), or any animal for that matter. What if there's actually a deeper meaning to all of this? Something that's bigger than individuality, a type of extraordinary thing that's meant to overcome with a group of misfits. Something that's meant to teach an incredible lesson as a whole.

Sometimes the book gets a little too witty and, at times, corny, for its own good. A few times I waited for the rimshot to follow some of the jokes (and I won't even try to CATalogue the cat puns). But at its heart, the story is fun and unique, and it made me smile, as I waited to see what Nichols had up his sleeve next. You'll need to suspend your disbelief, of course; if you're one of those people who can't accept the idea of a man being reincarnated as a cat, this isn't a book for you.

The author provided me a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks, Noah, for making this available, and for providing some great amusement and smiles!

Book Review: "Einstein's Beach House: Stories" by Jacob M. Appel

I know how much I love a book when I can't stop myself from devouring it in practically one sitting, although I want to savor it at the same time. And boy, did I love this one.

The eight stories in Einstein's Beach House are slightly quirky (but not distractingly so), somewhat moving and each at least a little bit humorous, and extremely memorable. Jacob Appel does such a great job developing his characters and the plot of each story, I honestly could see many of them developed into a full-length novel, and I'd definitely want to read those books, since I wanted more of the characters.

It honestly is hard to pick favorites, since each story was just so good, but the few that I can't stop thinking about right now are: "Paracosmos," in which a married couple is worried that their daughter is obsessed with her imaginary friend—and then the girl's father shows up; "La Tristesse Des Herissons," which tells the story of a couple whose relationship hits a bit of a snag when they adopt a depressed hedgehog; "Limerence," in which a man looks back on his crush on his much more worldly next-door neighbor; "The Rod of Asclepius," which tells the story of a young girl caught up in her father's acts of revenge; and the title story, in which a family tries to make hay of a typo in a travel guide, only to have the tables turned on them.

I had never heard of Jacob Appel until two friends on Goodreads raved about his writing, and this story collection in particular. They couldn't have been more on target. He is such an engaging writer, and even though the subject matter of these stories isn't quite your everyday stuff, the stories are tremendously human (and often humane), and really pack both a literary and an emotional punch. I'll definitely be picking up some of Appel's other books, but in the meantime, I highly recommend you pick this collection up. You won't regret it.

Book Review: "Bright Shards of Someplace Else" by Monica McFawn

One thing I love so much about reading short stories is stumbling upon story concepts and characters I haven't seen before, and of course, finding beautiful writing. Both were on display in Monica McFawn's collection Bright Shards of Someplace Else.

The characters that populate McFawn's stories are all different—a nanny and her precocious charge, a boss tasked with firing a problem employee, a pompous scientist and the art critic that comes into his circle, a pair of horse trainers and vets—but there is such heart at the core of each of the stories. And each story chronicles a need of some sort—some far more obsessive than others.

My two favorite stories bookend the collection. The first, "Out of the Mouths of Babes," follows a nanny who finds her new charge has a remarkable facility with making phone calls, so she tasks him with helping her solve a few problems. The final story in the collection, "The Chautauqua Sessions," chronicles an aging lyricist whose reunion with his former musical partner is waylaid by his drug addict son, and the lengths he goes to keep his son from affecting his inspiration. A few other stories I enjoyed included: "The Slide Turned on End," which follows a pompous scientist inspired by the intersection of art and science, and the art critic who becomes a somewhat unwilling participant in his work; "Line of Questioning," in which a poetry professor is questioned by police about his relationship with a former student; and "Key Phrases," which follows a fairly new supervisor at a company who is tasked with firing a problem employee.

McFawn, who won the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction, is a truly gifted writer. There were times, honestly, where her use of language and imagery actually hooked me more than the story's plot itself. Here is one example, from "Line of Questioning":

"Theirs was a comfortable relationship of light mutual contempt that drummed on them bracingly like a light rain when they were together. The old demons of their relationship were soggy but still smelled alluringly like hellfire."

This collection was a bit more cerebral at times than I'm used to with short stories, so I didn't always warm to the plot or the characters. But when I did, I realized what a talent McFawn has, and I look forward to seeing it continue to develop in the future.