Dust and Moonlight by Keta Diablo

My Rating: 4 stars Genre: Erotic Fantasy Romance Format: e-book Pages: 189 Read: January 2009 A tale of love that knows no bounds, good versus evil, endearing characters and vivid imagery set in an extraordinary world. When gutsy psychological profiler Kira Barton, on the trail of a serial killer, is thrust from our current time to the mystical Locke Cress, I felt like I was transported with her. A kingdom of magic, where evil lurks & sorcerers, warriors & beasties abound. Keta Diablo brings characters to life, the extremely sexy Light-Prince Balion, Kira, named after the sun, Sirene the ethereal sorceress, loyal Jarlock & sweet Ainsley. Umargo, The Story Mage, Garrick & Gwenyth are portrayed and unveiled with the malevolence they're due. The sexual tension between Kira & Balion was palpable, I couldn't read fast enough to reach the inevitable outcome, which by the way was sizzling. Kira's amusing banter had me giggling and the suspenseful plot was a nice surprise. I did however remove a star rating for a number of reasons. The first one being, reading an e-book on my computer did not rate high on my list of enjoyable experiences, I much prefer the old fashioned paper read LOL. My other criticism is the first chapter or 2 seemed a little disjointed & I did find the overabundance of spelling errors, cliches and similes a little irritating. These small criticisms detracted a little from my overall enjoyment of the novel. On a positive note Keta's beautiful descriptions transported this reader to a magical place, (this was just one of many) a magical refuge, "a maze of rambling arbors and flowering vines, a virtual flotilla of deep scarlet and rich purple, reminiscent of the wisteria and clematis at home. Haunting aromas, a mixture of candied spices and rose attar acted like a soothing balm to her troubled soul." An enchanting love story which has me awaiting the sequel Dust & Starlight with much anticipation If you like this review vote for it on Goodreads

Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars Genre: Paranormal Romance Pages: 344 Read: January 2009 Visions of Heat, the 2nd book in the Psy-Changeling series is less intense than Slave to Sensation, like the contrast between a roller coaster ride and a spin on the ferris wheel. Faith Nightstar, an F-Psy is a powerful, carefully protected & constantly monitored foreseer. She has been isolated from the age of 3, predicting with such uncanny accuracy that her forecasts are worth millions. Jaguar changeling Vaughn D'Angelo is a sentinel in the DarkRiver leopard pack & offsider to pack Alpha Lucas Duncan. Vaughn is a solitary character and his animal is very close to the surface. When Faith starts having visions of darkness, blood and murder she seeks out Sascha, mate to Lucas and an E-Psy who defected from the PsyNet. Faith's relationship with Vaughn and her progress as she breaks conditioning is the main focus in this story, the attempt to identify the murderer is more of a background sub-plot. While Faith & Vaughn's coupling does sizzle, I was a little disappointed I didn't feel the same connection to these characters, I didn't become immersed in their story as I did with Lucas & Sascha. Sascha's quick bond with Lucas seemed far more plausible, being an E-Psy who dealt with hiding her emotions for a long time, where as Faith has been completely isolated for the majority of her life and manages to proceed from seizures to an intimate response at Vaughn's touch within days. I loved the introduction & descriptions of NetMind, the NetMind 'feels' giving a sense of hope to the Psy who have defected. Faith communicates with NetMind in images and I found this a beautiful concept, sunshine, bouquets of flowers, rain. I thoroughly enjoyed Singh's continued building of the Psy-Changeling world and the direction she is taking with the series. Obviously we are going to see some changes with the protocol 'Silence' & the corrupt Psy Council & PsyNet. Overall enjoyable but not as captivating as Slave to Sensation. If you like this review vote for it on Goodreads

Keta Diablo

I stumbled across Keta Diablo's webpage which has the most stunning picture frontpage so I left a comment...she also runs a monthly competition and we all love those!

I was then lucky enough to be contacted by Keta about reading one of her 3 ebooks, Land of Falling Stars, Dust and Moonlight or Decadent Deceptions. With 3 releases in just 2 months Keta is working non-stop to get the word out about her new books.

Being a very lucky & ok I admit it, greedy reader I have 2 of her books, which I promise to share with Alaine & Annie aka The Queen of Happy Endings & The Fussy Princess on Royal Reviews ... and obviously we will share our reviews with our fellow reading addicts.

Land of Falling Stars

Released by Ravenous Romance - January 2009

Historical Romance section

"Penniless, her parents and brother dead, Sophia Whitfield struggles to save her beloved childhood home during the Civil War. Another bluecoat is staggering down the hill, but before Sophia allows him to rob and pilfer like the others, she shoots him. How is she to know it is Gavin, the dark knight of her youth, carrying secrets too horrific to imagine and a passion that ignites her deepest desires? As Sophia gradually learns Gavin's secrets-and enjoys his talents in the bedroom-she discovers how to finally know her own heart. Can she save the Land of Falling Stars, or will she lose it all to the horrors of the War and Reconstruction? And will the Southern lady and the Yankee soldier be able to recapture the bliss of their youth - this time in each other's arms?"

Dust and Moonlight

Released by Siren Publishing - January 2009

Erotic Fantasy, Time Travel Romance

"Fantasy lives in all of us. We long to be carried away to an extraordinary world, contrary to the one we live in. In Dust and Moonlight I've tried to do just that. Join me in a journey where magical powers and true identities are concealed, where an ordinary woman is thrust into a mystical land that threatens her very existence. Kira must rely on conventional wisdom to stay alive in this alien kingdom where wizards, sorcerers and evil reside. Well, conventional wisdom and a wee bit of help from her deceased grandmother who practiced witchcraft in her day. When she meets Balion, Prince of Locke Cress, she discovers cosmic love, a love that crosses all boundaries and withstands the test of time. Live the fantasy, believe in the magic, and join Kira for the adventure of her life . . . and yours. " ~Keta~

To find out more about Keta take the time to look at her blog - Keta's Keep

Check back here for reviews of 'Dust and Moonlight' and 'Land of Falling Stars' - I'm off to a mystical land, to join Kira in the adventure of her life.

The Chameleon's Shadow by Minette Walters

My Rating: 4 stars Read: January 2009 Sub-Genre: Psychological Thriller Pages: 385 This is not just a mystery or thriller - Minette Walters has the ability to take current social & psychological issues and build a convincing story around them. The Chameleon's Shadow is a strong narrative of investigation from both a law enforcement & medical view point. Lieutenant Charles Acland returns from Iraq with horrific physical and psychological scars. Recovering from serious head injuries received in a roadside bomb attack, he now suffers from debilitating migraines, sudden explosions of anger, is deeply resentful, dislikes physical contact and is intolerant of the unwanted attentions of women. Lt Acland's inability to handle his anger puts him under suspicion for the the brutal bashing of an elderly man & the murders of 3 men bludgeoned to death in their own home. Charles Acland is scary & unpredictible but Walters manages to garner my sympathy for this prickly and initially unlikeable character. Lt Acland is befriended by the (hmm)unlikely character Jackson, a weight-lifting lesbian GP who moonlights as a bouncer at her girlfriend's bar. This formidable woman is "incapable of mollycoddling anyone, tells it how it is, refuses to tiptoe around prissy sensibilities, and gains respect as a result." In other words she is quite adorable! Walters also introduces a number of other key characters, Jen Morley, Charles's ex-fiance, Detective Superintendent Brian Jones lead investigator of the murders, an obnoxious teenage runaway named Ben and an alcoholic homeless veteran called chalky. I thoroughly enjoyed Walters character development and her trademark use of newspaper reports, emails & memos throughout the book. There are no obvious giveaways, but a steady connection of coincidences & facts lead the police and the reader to the perpetrator. The number of coincidences becomes a bit much towards the end of the novel and there is very little suspense but Walters successfully conveys the frightening complexity of human relationships. If you like this review vote for it on Goodreads

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Psy-Changeling #1
Publication Date: 
Pages: 345
Book Source: Own purchase

Synopsis: Nalini Singh dives into a world torn apart by a powerful race with phenomenal powers of the mind-and none of the heart.

In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of "rehabilitation" - the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was...

Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy coexistence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion - and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities - or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation...

My Thoughts:

This book seriously blew me away - a paranormal suspense/romance with a kick-butt edge to it (and if you could possibly want more, a serial killer) - my recipe for a perfect book. 

Nalini Singh has come up with an innovative plot, creative & complex without being complicated. I loved getting to know the fascinating psy/changeling world. 

The Psy population have supposedly been conditioned to feel no emotion, through the use of a program called 'Silence', however this does not prove to be true for all Psy. With powers including telepathy, telekinesis & foresight the Psy consider themselves far superior to Changelings. 

The PsyNet is the network that connects all Psy, provides Psy feedback and ensures their survival. The changelings are both animal & human with traits of both and in 'Slave to Sensation' leopard packs & wolf packs are the predominant changelings. 

The characters are marvellously developed, Sascha Duncan is a powerful Psy cardinal and Lucas Hunter is panther Changeling, the Alpha of the DarkRiver leopard pack. The relationship between these two develops around the hunt for a serial killer; a Psy murderer who is slaying Changeling women. Sascha is drawn to the warmth & affection of the pack and truly believes that not only is she flawed but because she is 'feeling' her slide into insanity is escalating. 

The chemistry between Sascha and Lucas is sizzling and this reader certainly appreciated the HOT scenes and the HOT male characters. 

I want my very own panther with 'skin privileges' but I guess I'll just have to settle for reading the next in Nalini Singh's series 'Visions of Heat'

1st in Series Challenge 2009

Before you say 'Not Another Challenge' I figure if I'm already reading the books they may as well fit into a challenge. J.Kaye is running this challenge in 2009. Read 12 books that are the first in any series. You may read & list your chosen books any time during the year. Challenge begins January thru December, 2009. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009. I think I'll start the challenge with Nalini Singh's "Slave to Sensation" and then "Dead until Dark" by Charlaine Harris.

The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz

My Rating: 3.5 stars
Read: January 2009
Sub-Genre: Supernatural Thriller
Pages: 354

Being a big Dean Koontz fan I usually really enjoy each new novel that comes out, however 'The Darkest Evening Of The Year' fell short for me. This book was Koontz's first after the death of their family dog, Trixie Koontz. It is clear from Koontz's website that Trixie was an integral, dearly loved family member and the positives in 'The Darkest Evening of the Year' embody the spirit of Trixie.

Koontz states on his website "For almost a decade, I entertained an idea for a novel in which the lead character would be a woman who founded and led a dog-rescue organization." So first to the positives; the good guys, Brian McCarthy, Amy Redwing and her golden retrievers, Fred, Ethel and the recently rescued Nickie and Hope, a Downs Syndrome child with the soul of an angel. The novel is centred around the canine heroine Nickie, she is not just any old dog, she's an angel. Amy's character was endearing and her work with Golden Heart, saving dogs from puppy mills and abusive homes was particularly moving. I loved the message of hope after loss, peace in the wake of chaos and the premise of failure not being forever, the opportunity for redemption is always there. I loved the supernatural element & the spirituality really appealed to me.

My favourite line from the book - "Intuition is seeing with the soul."

So what's not to like? This novel had all the ingredients for a great story, so what happened? There were certain facets that had a negative impact on my enjoyment and emotional connection. I loathed the antagonists, Moongirl, Harrow & Billy Pilgrim. I know we all 'love to hate' the bad guy but I found the character of Moongirl particularly appalling; her torment & abuse of her Downs Syndrome daughter was more than disturbing. I read & enjoy a lot of novels from the horror & suspense/thriller genres & I have a high tolerance for murder, violence and torture subject matter but I believe it was completely unnecessary for Koontz to incorporate this level of depravity just to highlight the 'good versus evil' contrast with Amy, Brian and Nickie.

Unfortunately this time the large negative outweighed the many positives I enjoyed in this novel but having read many great Dean Koontz novels, I remain a fan, albeit a disappointed one.

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At the Stroke of Madness by Alex Kava

My Rating: 4 stars
Read: January 2009
Sub-Genre: Serial Killer Thriller

A good, quick read; perfect for holiday reading but a bit of a no-brainer. I guess that sounds a little condescending but it really was a thoroughly enjoyable, involving read with very little strain on the old grey matter.

At the Stroke of Madness is the fourth novel featuring FBI special agent Maggie O'Dell. Alex Kava adeptly portrays a good, strong female lead and continues the understated development of this character. In true Alex Kava fashion, forensic descriptions are well done & romantic interests are left open to hopefully be explored in the next novel.

O'Dell is 'unofficially' on the trail of another killer when bodies are discovered in industrial waste drums in an abandoned quarry in Connecticut. A novel with quite a few twists & turns but some of the red herrings are a tad obvious. I enjoyed the ending even though it defies belief in the competency of Agent O'Dell, leading me to wonder about the competency of my brain function.

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To Dance with Kings by Rosalind Laker

Genre: Historical Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pages: 624

This is an intricately told tale set during the reigns of Louis XIV, XV & XVI with a backdrop of the splendours of the French court, culminating with the turbulence & horror of the French Revolution. This sweeping saga chronicles the rise and fall of Versialles, spanning four generations of women from the one family, Marguerite, Jasmin, Violette and Rose, all of whose destinies are entwined with those of their monarchs.

Rosalind Laker's superb imagery and historical accuracy bring 17th & 18th century France to life. From the architectural detail of the Palace of Versailles, the rich colour of changing court fashion, the art of fan-making, the persecution of the Heugenots (Protestants) & the lavishness of court in direct contrast to the plight of the peasants.

In 1664 hundreds of nobles descend on the village of Versailles to pay court to the sun king, King Louis XIV. Augustine Roussier witnesses the birth of a peasant fan maker's daughter and christens her Marguerite promising the mother that he will return for Marguerite on her seventeenth birthday ...and so the story begins.
"Marguerite becomes part of the royal court of the Sun King, but her fairytale existence is torn out from under her by a change of political winds. Jasmin, Marguerite’s daughter, is born to the life of privilege her grandmother dreamed of, but tempts fate by daring to catch the eye of the king. Violette, Marguerite’s granddaughter, is drawn to the nefarious side of life among the nobles at Versailles. And Rose, Violette’s daughter, becomes a lady-in-waiting and confidante to Marie Antoinette."

My small criticism of 'To Dance with Kings'- this is quite a lengthy book & Laker devotes very little time to Violette's character which I found a little disappointing considering her attention to detail with the other characters. However I loved her most sympathetic & to me, more honest portrayal of Marie Antoinette. I was completely enthralled & touched by the Queen's intelligence, courage & love & appalled at the use of her initial extravagant & carefree behaviour as a scapegoat for the King's failings. Don't expect this to be a quick read, it is however well worth the time.

This beautiful story is a definite keeper for my historical fiction shelf.

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I like Big Books & I Cannot Lie

This is the 'Chunkster' for me Mor-book-ly Obese - This is for the truly out of control chunkster. For this level of challenge you must commit to 6 or more chunksters OR three tomes of 750 pages or more. You know you want to.....go on and give in to your cravings. SIGN UPS END MARCH 1st - Sign up at Feelin' Chunky *A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature (fiction or nonfiction) Don't complain folks, I read all thousands of pages of the Twilight series and they were good, but not a challenge. A chunkster should be a challenge. *If you read large type books your book will need to be 525 pages or more I asked around and the average LT book is 10-15% longer or more so I think that was a fair estimate. *No Audio books in the chunkster. It just doesn't seem right. Words on paper for this one folks. * You may start any time after signing up. You must complete your reads before or on Nov 15th. *Short Stories and Essay collections will not be counted. *Books may crossover with other challenges *Only option 4 requires that you make a set list of books to complete the challenge

Someone Put the Brakes On

I can't seem to stop, I keep finding challenges that I Just Have To Do. Pretty soon there will be no time to eat or do housework (what a shame) or anything else of a social nature, other than correspond with all the other crazies who are caught up in the reading, reviewing, blogging frenzy. The Challenge world is calling, I am trying to find a good reason not to do the "Chunkster Challenge" I have the perfect epic tome Wally Lamb's 'I know this much is true' at 863 pages. Hmm a good reason hasn't jumped out at me, (my husband saying don't you think you are doing enough challenges just doesn't qualify) so... guess I'll have to sign up. LOL Joined the Outlander 2009 challenge today, hosted by Amy at the wonderful Passages to the Past

Childhood Favourites Challenge

I have been waiting for the perfect excuse to re-read some of my most loved books from childhood. Here it is - Childhood Favourites Challenge hosted by Lynda the Holistic Knitter It runs from 21st December 2008 - 21st June 2009 Rules: Read a minimum of 5 books which you loved as a child. Choose your favourites - they must be books you read as a child, not new children's books My Choices: The House at Pooh Corner by A.A Milne 1965 edt The Black Stallion by Walter Farley 1968 edt What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge What Katy Did Next by Susan Coolidge The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton

The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Read: 3rd January 2009
Sub-Genre: Medical Thriller

Tess Gerritsen's intimate knowledge of the medical field is once again evident in this page-turning thriller. Two years after a serial killer in Savannah almost took her life Dr.Catherine Cordell has slowly rebuilt her shattered life as a surgeon in a Boston hospital, secure in the knowledge that the killer is dead. But when two Boston women are found murdered in a similar pattern the nightmare begins. The serial killer known as 'The Surgeon' tortures his female victims, first binding them, removing their uterus while they're awake and finally slashing their throats.

This was chilling, un-put-downable and I was hooked from the beginning. The serial killer format was fairly generic but the plot twists and the depths to which Gerritsen took the story & characterisations were anything but generic. The three main characters are superbly developed, all with very real flaws, Catherine, haunted by her traumatic past, Detective Thomas Moore grieving his wife and prickly, unlikeable Detective Jane Rizzoli, fighting for recognition in a male dominated world.

Gerritsen confronts the after-effects of rape in a frank but compassionate way, her descriptions of the brutal murders leave you feeling more than a little traumatised. This is definitely not one for the faint hearted, it is a disturbing, horrifying read that gallops along at a stomach churning pace. But as a die-hard fan for this genre of fiction I am really looking forward to reading Gerritsen's next novels in this series; The Apprentice & The Sinner.

If you like this review vote for it on Goodreads

A Friend Like Henry by Nuala Gardner

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Copyright: 2007
Pages: 342
Genre: Non Fiction

A harrowing & inspirational true story of the Gardner family written from the mother's perspective in honest, blunt language. This is not a flowery, descriptive telling, it is a matter-of-fact recount of day to day life with a severely autistic child. Nuala & Jamie's fight to have Dale's autism recognised & officially diagnosed, the anger & sadness, the depths of despair reached, the exhaustion & the small triumphs that kept them going. The all-consuming struggle to break into Dale's world in order to give their child a chance at a normal life.

I found Nuala's struggle to get Dale diagnosed heartbreaking. She is a community nurse and qualified midwife and many of the scenes she described with the medical profession were unfortunately all to familiar to me when seeking help for my own son.

* Doctors acting as if the parents were seeking attention rather than help for their son
* honest, passionate accounts of home difficulties were classed as negative responses
* factual accounts amounted to Nuala being rather cold and detached
* professionals stating that conflict between parents and child causing Dale's behavioural difficulties.

It's very distressing when a life that is already such an arduous climb becomes an insurmountable mountain courtesy of so called professionals.

On a positive note, there is no substitute for a parent's determination when it comes to protecting the rights and well being of their child. When Dale was finally diagnosed & Nuala & Jamie found the best assistance for him, the years of support & encouragement provided were immeasurable. Of course the momentous breakthrough that unlocked Dale's world came through the friendship & love of a labrador named Henry. Henry helped introduce Dale to many of the normal activities & communications most parents take for granted. The special bond between Dale & Henry was heartfelt and humbling.

There was a scene described by Nuala early in the book where she was helping her son cross a busy street. Dale dropped Mickey and half- way across the road a massive head-banging, screaming, kicking episode ensued. It was Nuala's description of onlookers reactions that I found apalling and very close to home.  I hope that the honesty of people like Nuala, opening her heart and her life, improves public awareness of these 'unseen handicaps'. Maybe the judgemental & ignorant responses such as "that kid needs a damn good smacking" & "Disgusting behaviour" will be less forthcoming.

In this book Nuala pays tribute to Henry, Dale's grandparents, friends & professionals & their incredible efforts to help Dale in his journey. The ultimate reward watching Dale grow to be the compassionate, well-adjusted young man he is today.

 If you like this review vote for it on Goodreads

100+ Reading Challenge & Suspense Thriller Challenge

The 100+ Reading Challenge will be hosted at J. Kaye’s Book Blog this year.

- You can join anytime as long as you don’t start reading your books prior to 1st Jan 2009.
- This challenge is for 2009 only. The last day to have all your books read is December 31, 2009.
- You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.
- All books count: children’s, YA, adults, fiction, non-fiction, how-tos, etc.

Get reading; this is going to be fun

I am also doing the 2009 Suspense & Thriller Challenge through J.Kayes's Book Blog

Rules of this challenge:


* Read TWELVE (12) different sub-genres of thrillers in 2009.

* You do NOT need to select your books ahead of time. Also, you may change as you go.

* Your books can crossover into other challenges.

My 2009 TBR Challenge List

To Dance with Kings by Rosalind laker
The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
Harsh Cry of the Heron (Book 4) by Lian Hearn
Ring by Koji Suzuki
Spiral by Koji Suzuki
At the Stroke of Madness by Alex Kava
The Black Angel by John Connolly
Hard Case by Dan Simmons
Boudica - Dreaming the Eagle (Book 1) by Manda Scott
Boudica - Dreaming the Hound (Book 2) by Manda Scott
1921 by Morgan Llywelyn
The Switch by Sandra Brown

Alternatives:
The Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George
Creepers by David Morrell
If I am Missing or Dead by Janine Latus
Guenevere - The Knight of the Sacred Lake by Rosalind Miles
Guenevere - The Child of the Holy Grail by Rosalind Miles
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Penman
Here be Dragons by Sharon Penman Falls the Shadows by Sharon Penman
The Doorkeepers by Graham Masterton

2009 Reading Challenges

In 2009 I am going to participate in a few reading challenges. In 2008 I did Annie's Historical Fiction Challenge and thoroughly enjoyed broadening my reading horizon so thought I would extend myself this year and participate in a few more. The choices were endless but I have gone with - 1. Historical Fiction Reading Challenge - Read 3 historical fiction books in 3 months from 1st Jan 09 - 31st March 09. This challenge will be hosted on Royal Reviews. (Sheree reviews as the Empress of Good & Evil) 2. Books vs Movie Challenge - Read 6 books that have been made into movies & watch the movies. This should be a fun one! 3. 2009 Suspense & Thriller Reading Challenge - Read TWELVE (12) different sub-genres of thrillers in 2009. 4. Books into Movies Challenge & vice versa - The goal is to read 2+ books made into a movie or books that relate to TV series. Can't wait to do this one; get to watch the True Blood series & read the Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire novels. 5. The 2009 TBR Challenge - Read 12 TBR books in 12 months, that shouldn't be difficult as I have about 300 books on my To Be Read pile - shame!

Marley and Me by John Grogan

Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Read: January 2009

A quirky story told by American journalist John Grogran about his family's life with their Labrador Retriever, Marley. A simple, honest telling that was a bit slow in the middle and sometimes a little repetitive. I did agree with the reviewer that commented on the irresponsibility of people willing to pay for a dog but failing to research a breed or the breeder until after the fact. Sounded a little stupid for a journalist.

 I laughed out loud at quite a few of Marley's antics & challenging ADHD behaviour. I gagged at all the references to flying drool, slobber on lounges, lamp shades, faces, clothes and hair covering every surface including food. The descriptions of Marley's loyalty and pure heart even with declining health & severe illness were extremely touching. This book brought back memories of the unconditional love and loyalty we received in the 10 years with our Rottie Rajah. It also brought a few tears & reminded me of the sadness of watching your pet's health deteriorate & saying goodbye to a loved member of the family. One who looks at you with such implicit trust in their eyes.

Towards the end of the book John Grogan tells of the poignant life lessons learned courtesy of Marley. "... living each day with unbridled enthusiasm and joy, seizing the moment and following your heart." Marley taught him to "appreciate the simple things, about optimism in the face of adversity & about friendship, selflessness and unwavering loyalty." I also really enjoyed the movie. Due to the obvious time constraints in a movie, there were no slow, repetitive sections like in the book, things occured on a slightly different time schedule. I laughed out loud but a box of tissues is also required!

If you like this review vote for it on Goodreads

Books into Movies Challenge

Books into Movies Challenge & vice versa - The goal is to read 2+ books made into a movie or books that relate to TV series.

Can't wait to do this one; I'm going to read Marley and Me & see the movie and I also get to watch the True Blood series & read the Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire novels.

Ooh there is also The Painted Veil & Love in the Time of Cholera, too many choices!