Author:           Jim Gorant

More On Their Story & My Review

“They are incredibly intuitive creatures.  They learn by watching – trainers sometimes let young dogs watch experienced dogs in action so they see how to behave.  The can detect odors 100 million times more faint than people can.  They can hear sounds at a broader range of frequencies than humans, and they can hear them from four times as far away.  People who train dogs for search and rescue contend that dogs can hear a heartbeat from a distance of 5 feet, which gives them insight into the mood and disposition of the people and animals they come in contact with.”

Did these incredibly intuitive creatures know what was coming their way?  Did they know that they would be faced with their own kind, to fight to near or sure death?  Did they realize that mankind, who they desperately seek to serve, was going to treat these gentle spirits as disposal, inconsequential lives?  Did they have any sort of idea what their fate would be?

In many ways, The Lost Dogs shares an insightful, gripping narrative of a highly publicised story which shocked our nation.  One of America’s emerging NFL heroes was caught at the center of a dog-fighting ring in which many dogs were brutally slain after losing dog matches.  Because of Vick’s notoriety, the handling of the Vick Dogs was unprecedented.  Rather than put these creatures down, as would have normally happened because of their breed and history, each dog was individually evaluated and placed.  The placement could be a lifetime in a sanctuary or in the home with a family to love.  Painstakingly, each one of these dogs was rehabilitated and their lives saved, if possible.  There were a few dogs that could not be saved due to their medical condition, however. 

Gorant’s book outlines all aspects of this amazing story, including the legal aspects of the case to the heartwarming tale of the dogs rescue.  For animal lovers, I believe that this book overall tells a tale with a great message and many happy endings.  However, be prepared to understand the ugliness and horror in this book, as well.   Nothing is spared in this tell-all book.  Some images will never leave my mind and perhaps that was Gorant’s intent. 

As civilized human beings, it is our job to protect those who cannot protect themselves.  As Gorant so prevalently states in his introduction to this book:

“Certainly, as man rose in the world, dogs came with us, perhaps even aiding the advance.  They continued to guard us and help with hunting, but they did more.  They marched with armies into war, they worked by our side, hauling, pulling, herding, retrieving.  We manipulated their genetic makeup to suit our purposes, crossbreeding types to create animals that could kill the rats infesting our cities or search for those lost in the snow or in the woods.  In return, we brought them into our homes, made them part of our families.  We offered them love and companionship, and they returned the gesture.  From the start it was a compact: You do this for us and we’ll do that for you.”

It is our job to prevent dog-fighting in the United States of America and punish those who fail to obey our laws concerning dog-fighting.  It is our moral obligation to protect those who serve us.  I hope that Gorant’s book will serve as a reminder to those who have quickly forgotten the extensiveness of Vick’s involvement in this crime.  When I see him out there on the playing field, it literally makes my stomach churn.  His sentencing, in my opinion, was too light in relation to the damage created to these creatures.  Inasmuch, I hope that his “teammates,” co-workers, supervisors, and fans have the inkling and opportunity to read this book and learn exactly what he did and what it took to put things into place as they sit now.  I can only hope that, in some small way, this case sets precedents for the future and saves the future lives of the innocent dogs of this breed.           

It’s Your Opportunity to Win a Copy! 

If you would like the opportunity to read the details of this landmark case, you have a chance to win a copy of this book.  To enter, simply leave a comment and your email address below.  The contest is open until October 31, 2010 and is open to U.S. and Canada residents only.

• For 1 Additional Entry:  SEND A FRIEND!  Have them let me know you sent them.

On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale:”

This was a difficult, yet enlightening book to read.  I believe that animal lovers will be inspired and thankful for the way that a few Americans made such a big difference in the way this case was handled.  For the genre Non-Fiction:Biography, I am going to rate this book an 8.5 OUT OF 10. 

FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided to me via TLC Book Tours for review.  The review and giveaway copies are courtesy of the publisher/author.  There are links within this post to my Amazon Affiliates page; no purchase is necessary.

Author:           Jane Porter

Publisher:        5 Spot/Hachette

ISBN:             978-0-446-50941-1

Website:          www.janeporter.com

Type:             Fiction:Women’s Fiction/ChickLit

Release Date:   August 23, 2010

Pages:            400 Trade Paperback 

Purchase:       $10.07 @ Amazon.com (HERE)

The “Skinny”

For any of us with a country-girl’s heart (or dream), Jane Porter delivers a tale of a single mom’s fight to find a new life in her old surroundings on a Texas ranch.  Shey, a friend to both Tiana (Easy on the Eyes) and Marta (Odd Mom Out), moves home to find not only her roots, but herself.  Once a New York resident and nationally-recognized supermodel, this single mom learns to rely not only on herself, but also to find love and support in her family back home.   Shey is reeling from the fact that her husband of 17 years has come “out of the closet” and has now chosen to spend his life with his partner Erik.  She quickly realizes that she needs to discover a way to be that strong, yet loving parent to three boys who are also rebounding from the outcome of the divorce.  

When Shey left home at the young age of 16 to a private school, she lost touch with her first love, Dane Kelly.   Her family’s overprotectedness separated her from this rugged cowboy who is her brothers’ best friend and who also is 6 years her senior.  Despite their age difference, she thought that their love was once true and was crushed to discover he married another.  After she returns to town, Shey runs into Dane at a local cafe.  Not knowing whether she truly loved him or hated him, Shey struggles with her feelings and memories of that first love.  To add to the confusion and hurt, this rugged bull-rider catches the attention of Shey’s youngest boy who wants to learn to ride, himself.  Shey faces the bitter lines drawn between her brothers and Dane over an old feud, one that would not easily be broken.  Simultaneously, she finds herself more and more drawn to him every time they run into one another.

Shey learns to deal with the boys coming-of-age problems including fights, girls, and battling the emotions of “teenage-hood.”  In fact, like her deceased brother, Shey discovers that one of her sons is suffering from depression and needs more help than she can handle on her own.  Her ex-husband is pressuring her to return to New York, or let him raise the boys.  What Shey needs to do is find her voice, her backbone,  and her independent spirit.  Shey’s challenge is to balance that while opening her heart back up to the only true love that she ever knew. 

What Jane Porter crafts in this novel is a story of strength, redemption, and recreation of self.   This novel is the perfect compliment to her other wonderful books.  This is the sixth book by Jane Porter which I have read and reviewed.  If you’re a fan of ChickLit, check out these reviews for other memorable reads by Jane Porter: Easy on The Eyes, The Frog Prince, Mrs. Perfect, Odd Mom Out and Flirting With Forty.          

On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale:”

Being a fan of Jane Porter, I was excited to hear about this new book.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get around to reading it until this past week.  I only wish that I had picked it up sooner because I needed an escape and reading this novel was just what the doctor ordered!  Being a single mom, I found Shey to be a very relatable character (well, other than the fact that she’s a gorgeous model and I clearly am not!).  The love story between Shey and Dane kept me intrigued and flipping those pages.  For all of those women who still have hopes for a reunion with that first, unforgettable love, this romance novel is PERFECT!  With Jane Porter, you can just never go wrong!  For the genre Fiction:Women’s Fiction/ChickLit, I am going to rate this book a 9 OUT OF 10.

Win A Copy…

Simply leave a comment along with your email address for an entry to win.  The lucky winner will be announced on October 31, 2010.  Winners are limited to U.S. and Canada only.

(FTC Disclosure: The pulublisher of this novel provided me with my review copy. The give-a-way is hosted by ANovelMenagerie.com. There are links within the post that will re-direct readers to my Amazon.com Affiliates page. No purchases are necessary.)

I have a theory that internally, they are excited, yet anxious, about the change in their schedules and social status.  Therefore, they begin to act out.  I see the same behavior out of my twins at the end of a school year and the beginning of a school year.  And, I must add, they drive me crazy the entire time!  The pouting, challenging, mouthiness, and overall moodiness… it’s for the birds.  SCHOOL… just start!

Speaking of which, who is actually willing to wage the school supply wars at Staples the week that school starts and the kids come home with this unbelievable list of things that they “have to have” because the teachers require it?  I think that if the teachers REQUIRE IT, then they should supply it.  I get the girls as prepared as possible mid-summer and avoid the Staples Stampede, but something inside myself just tells me that I’ll end up there next week despite my great desire not to. 

How are y’all coming along with your little ones with school starting?  Are they being “little darlings,” or are they in that “back to school funk” like mine? 

I know most moms are just happy to see their little ducklings leave the house and give them a few more hours of peace and quiet!

Stay cool!

Books I Am STILL Currently Reading

Current Book Giveaway
  

Broken: A Love Story by Lisa Jones.  Three copies are up for grabs! See this post for more information! Rated 9.5 by ANM.

Also, you have only a couple more days to enter the giveaway for WAXED by Robert Rave.  Here is the review and contest link. 

Books that Have Come In…

I have been working, coaching soccer, and keeping really busy with the twins over the past week or so.  I hope that you all are doing well and my best wishes for you all to have a wonderful week!

Gratitious earrings shot...

As you can see, everything from lollipop earrings to ones with angel wings.  Nicole’s creative juices were flowing  (and, yes, Mom helped).  Here are my two pairs (one didn’t photograph well)…

For Mom...

I only had time to make the two pairs for myself.

As I had earlier mentioned, Nicole and I were making earrings while Deanna was at the movies.    We were listening to music and I started to sing. Nicole looks at me and says, “It’s too bad that Dad ruined your life.” 

“What?”

“Well, you could’ve been so much more.  You could’ve followed your dreams and been a singer and an actress,” she answered.

“But, then I wouldn’t have you.”

“What if you could go back and have that opportunity and have 18 billion dollars?” she pressed.

“Nope,” I replied, “then I still wouldn’t have you and to me you are worth more than 18 billion dollars.”

“I am???”

“Yes.”

“But, you were so young and pretty and talented… you could have had it all!” she continued.

“Like I said, I wouldn’t trade my life, because I wouldn’t have you.”

“Yeah,” she answered in a coy and devilish manner, “but, you wouldn’t have Deanna… and that wouldn’t be so bad at all!”

She’s always making cracks about her sister; that was a good one.

Here is one of my “head shots” from when I was singing/dancing/etc:

I certainly do love to sing, but I know in my heart that I was meant to be their mama more than anything else on the face of this planet.  As much as I love to be alone, be a work-a-holic, hide with my nose in a book (or in a blog), I am starting to realize that it is my time shared with them that will be my biggest and greatest memories at the end of my life…  even the day when we grabbed a slice & a coke and crafted earrings all afternoon singing to Tori Amos.    It is true that I was a performing arts major in college and that being a successful singer/dancer/actress would have been an interesting career.  But, I think God had the better plan for me in store!

So… if you could go back, would you do things differently?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Books I Am Still Currently Reading

Current Book Giveaway
  

Broken: A Love Story by Lisa Jones
 

Three copies are up for grabs! See this post for more information! Rated 9.5 by ANM!

OH…. and, keep your eyes peeled for a giveaway of WAXED.  The post is tomorrow.

The Rest

Still underwater at my new job.  I can’t finish any books, I just keep starting new ones.  EEK!  I nearly ran a red light.  The garden looks well.  My adult on-set acne is so incredibly awful that I want to plunge my face in a vat of acid.  OH!  But, I did get rid of one fishtank and consolidated.  This means only 2 fish tanks.  I’m going to have to shop IKEA and see about putting a bookshelf in its place.

HOW are y’all doing?  Have you entered for either of the two above contests?  I LOVED Broken! 

I hope you’re managing the heat, enjoying  your vacations, and loving your summer!

 That’s all folks!

Best wishes for you all to have a wonderful week!

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

ISBN: 978-0-312-54437-9

Pages: 307 Trade Paperback

Author’s Website: www.robertrave.com

Type: Fiction: Women’s (“ChickLit”)

Purchase: $10.19 from Amazon.com

*** GIVEAWAY: 1 Winner ***

 Being the self-donned world biggest fan of ChickLit, I couldn’t wait to participate in TLC Book Tours’ book review of Waxed. After Robert Rave’s success with Spin, I had high hopes for a funny, yet heartfelt story in this novel. I wasn’t disappointed. Like a seasoned bartender, Rave concocted a perfect blend of humor, escape, and “you-go-girl!!!” in Waxed. Although not to be sipped over ice, it will make the perfect vacation pool-side companion. Or, if you’re like me… a great Friday night date on the couch because there is never anything good on TV! A cocktail and Waxed will make the perfect combination as you escape into a world quite most unbelievable, yet at the same time plausible.

The story is based on three sisters who work together at the eldest sister’s premier hair removal studio in New York. Unwanted hair, anywhere, is no problem at Impresario’s, the exclusive salon where privacy, confidentiality, and composure are the core values of the salon. Every client is to be treated with the upmost dignity and respect as this service is a necessity for the elite before summer vacations, or trips to The Hamptons.

Carolina Impresario is the owner of the salon and is reminiscent of Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada. She is the supervisor of both her sisters who work for her at the salon. Although normally never less than the picture of perfection, she ends up in a love triangle between her consistently wonderful boyfriend and an old love that has been the only man who ever truly held her heart. Then, there is Anna, the middle sister who is finding her way in the world as a single mom after a hard divorce. She gets a rather unique house call client that leads her life in a path of, well, utter strangeness… but, perfection! The youngest of the three, Sofia, was my favorite character. She is gorgeous… married to a stunningly handsome man… and seemingly the most balanced and composed of the three. But, something is missing in her life and she starts to find it in an unlikely new best friend whom she meets at the salon. This friend takes her outside her domestic and responsible world and shows her an entirely different side to herself. However, Sofia’s consequences were shockingly bitter and sad.

Robert Rave does a magnificent job understanding the inner psyche of a woman’s mind in this ChickLit tale. I always wonder how men are able to write “ChickLit,” as a only few of them actually do… and do it quite well. I’m not trying to be sexist, I just wonder… you know… how does he get the woman’s mind? But, in all of my rude skepticism, I immediately forget that a man had written this book and was swept away into a story that I finished in less than 24 hours. I loved it. I thought it was hilarious, heartwarming, and touching. I must admit that I would have chosen a different ending for Carolina, but overall I was very happy with the novel. I think Rave’s got more than enough here for a sequel!!! (Hint. Hint. Hint.)

For the ANM’s Scale, I’m giving this book a rating of 9 out of 10 for the genre Fiction:Women’s (“ChickLit”).

Now… for the good news…..

ANM IS PROUDLY GIVING AWAY TO ONE OF ITS LUCKY READERS ONE COPY OF WAXED!

Contest Opens Today & Ends on August 31, 2010

Open to U.S. & Canada Only

Fill out the form below.

The winner will automatically receive their book via mail and it will be announced on an upcoming ANM Sunday Salon post.

 

Disclosure:  The copy of this novel was provided to me by TLC Book Tours for review as is the giveaway copy.  There are links within this post that connect to Amazon.com as I am an Amazon.Com Affiliate.  No purchase is necessary.

There are 8 tufts of Oliver’s cat fur about the floor of the house.  8.  I counted them.  8.

The handles on the refrigerator door are sticky… why don’t the twins wash their hands more when they are cooking?

The dog scratched another hole in the window screen AGAIN!

There is an empty soda can on the couch.

My room is not picked up.

There is a pile of clean clothes that have to be put away.

The carpet needs shampoo’ing. 

The garage is a nuclear disaster zone.

I’m overwhelmed.

This disaster zone is my house.  And, as I look around I also see two teenagers laying down watching television, one lazy yellow dog, and three sleeping cats.  They could CARE LESS what the house looks like.  Dust or no dust, the house is fine.  I go to my sister’s house and feel completely incompetent.  Her house is spotless.  And, she has 2 dogs, 2 cats, 3 kids and a husband.  She works more hours than me.  It’s like she is magical.

I am feeling so disappointed in myself.  I don’t know why, but I have no desire to get up and start cleaning the garage.  I know that I should, but I don’t want to.  I’d rather read… or do work from the office… or blog… or watch tv.  I don’t want to clean it.  I want a magical fairy to come and clean it all for me. 

Oh.

If only I were rich.  Or, like my sister, able to do it all.  How do some women do it all? 

Well, I was wondering this Sunday… how important is it to have a clean house?  On a scale of 1-10, how important is it to you? 

Give me your thoughts in the the voting booth below.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Books I Am Still Currently Reading

Current Book Giveaway
  

Broken: A Love Story by Lisa Jones
 

Three copies are up for grabs! See this post for more information! Rated 9.5 by ANM!

OH…. and, keep your eyes peeled for a giveaway of WAXED.  The post is tomorrow.

The Rest

The new job is keeping me busy  I’m behind on all of my television and movie gossip.  But, I love my new boss and that’s super cool.  I’m a tad overwhelmed with the amount of work that we need to get done in a short amount of time and am hopeful that I can do it… and not let them down!

Other than that… we had our first soccer meeting and I was a total embarressment to my children when I gave my little speech.  We start pactices next week. 

I’m peeling from my sunburn and still haven’t dated in a millennium!

That’s all folks!

Best wishes for you all to have a wonderful week!

We talk about telling white lies, to spare the feelings of others.  Let me share with you that I am most definitely saying those little white lies over the past two days by saying that I am enjoying my Intermediate Soccer Coach Training.  Burnt to a pulp and 11 hours later, I am dreaming of any plausible white lie that I can tell to get out of tomorrow’s 4 hour final hours of classes for the accreditation.  But, I know that it will just catch up with me in the end and I’ll have to suffer the consequences sooner or later.  So, I won’t lie and I’ll go.

We all try not to tell  those nasty little white lies (and, BTW… why are they called “white” when they are a tad dirty?) and yet many of us do…  Some think nothing of it, others they seem  to bother and stick with.  It just eats them up.

I’ve told my share, that’s for sure.  I have also came clean on many of them.  To my surprise, most of the time that I come clean, it didn’t really bother the person at all.  For example, I exchanged my sister’s Christmas gift from jammies to a duvet cover.  She didn’t seem to mind at all.  I felt so much better after I told her.  And, what about telling our children “those little lies” to protect them?    As a mother, I have to tell them those little lies about my past…right?  I mean, God forbid they learn EVERYTHING that I did, right? 

So where is the dividing line?  Where do the little white lies or lies via ommission go from being harmless to harmful?  Is it okay to say that you had a flat tire when you are late for work, but not acceptable to say “Oh, no… don’t worry about it” when you really wanted to say, “damn, that really hurt me?”  If you are religious, do you believe that God views all the lies as equal?  If so, which ones do you actually take the time to repent for?  All of them?  What if I can’t remember them all?

I guess tonight I have to say my prayers for forgiveness for my little white lies today.   They most likely hurt nobody, but I should try to get in the habit of not saying them at all. 

How do y’all handle this topic… or sunburns?  ~

Books I Read This Week

For the TLC Book Tour

Books I Am Currently Reading
 

Current Book Giveaway
  

Broken: A Love Story by Lisa Jones
 

Three copies are up for grabs! See this post for more information! Rated 9.5 by ANM!
 

TV Mania
 

Well, with The Bachelorette over, I’m going to have eyes peeled to Bachelor Pad. I’m hoping for Kent in SYTYCD.   Whale Wars has me hooked.  I’ve fallen away from America’s Got Talent and must catch up.  BUT, Jersey Shore 2 is on and the finale of The Real Housewives has been my guilty pleasure watching of the week.  I’m sooo bad!   

The Rest
 

I got a brand new job and I couldn’t be more thrilled.  This means that I won’t be underwater financially anymore (thank The LORD!)  The twins were away at girl scout camp this past week, so it will be nice to have them back tomorrow.  But, it has been fun sending them those bunk notes!  

Other than that… we’re just preparing for the upcoming soccer season in which I will be the Asst. Coach for the twins’ team.  So, there will be a’plenty o’ mommy-braggy posts about that coming up.

Best wishes for you all to have a wonderful week!