Mabel and the Unholy Night by Susan Kimmel Wright Blog Tour Book Review

About the Book

Book: Mabel and the Unholy Night (Mysteries of Medicine Spring Book Four)

Author: Susan Kimmel Wright

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Release date: November 5, 2024

Faithful dog Barnacle has run off into a snowstorm, disrupting Mabel’s fun outing at the Christmas tree farm. Things don’t improve much when he reappears…with a human skull.

Since Mabel moved into her late grandma’s house, the sleepy village of Medicine Spring has provided clean air, a close-knit community, and charming small-town shops. To her surprise, it’s also offered up several murders—and romance with a handsome private investigator. Now, Barnacle’s discovery plunges Mabel into the mystery surrounding a decades-old unsolved murder and the disappearance of her friend Nita’s great uncle.

Before Mabel, boyfriend John, and her friends can find answers and bring justice for Nita and her family, more complications develop. Incredibly, a sixty-year-old Christmas card arrives, bearing Mabel’s name and address and containing a plea for help. Are the mysteries related?

While Mabel tries to get to the bottom of these strange events, a second suspicious death casts suspicion on Nita. Can Mabel find the real killer in time? Or will her Christmas season end on an unholy night?

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

This is a fun Christmas cozy mystery. Mabel seems to stumble upon murder mysteries but this time it his her dog who finds an old human skull. Mabel and her friends are hot on solving the mystery. I like how the sleuthing ladies get themselves into dangerous situations. As Mabel says, “This was the worst mess she'd ever been in.” (4028/4357) Wright adds to Mabel's distress as she is asked to sing a Christmas solo at church. The novel has light moments as there is some humor from time to time.

The characters are fun, especially the older ladies, friends of Mabel's grandmother. Mabel herself is a good main amateur sleuth, working hard to figure out the old mystery even as a new one rears its head. The plot is fun and I was surprised at the villain. Wright cleverly brought in a surprising romantic twist provided by a 60 year old Christmas card and a current one.

This is a fun cozy mystery to read at Christmas time.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my reviews of two of the earlier books in this series: Mabel Goes to the Dogs and Mabel and the Little Green Men.

About the Author

Susan Kimmel Wright began her life of mystery in childhood, with reading. That led to writing kids’ mysteries and eventually to Medicine Spring with Mabel. A longtime member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, Susan’s also a prolific writer of personal experience stories, many for Chicken Soup for the Soul. She shares an 1875 farmhouse in southwestern PA with her husband, several dogs and cats, and an allegedly excessive stockpile of coffee and tea mugs.

More from Susan

Does Christmas make you nostalgic? In Mabel & the Unholy Night, fifty-year-old Mabel is observing her first Christmas in her late grandma’s house. As she sets out each fragile, vintage ornament, she feels that same familiar lump in her throat.

What we treasure may have to do with when we grew up. I love mid-century glass tree ornaments from Woolworth’s, ceramic elves stamped “Made in Japan,” and Gurley candles shaped like carolers, some still bearing 29¢ stickers on the base.

Ever since childhood, I’ve loved the tiny cardboard village under our tree. Houses and churches sparkled with glitter in their landscape of cotton-batting snow and bushes of dried moss. A sheet of glass atop light-blue construction paper made a perfect pond for tiny skaters. As someone once pointed out, accuracy of scale is of no concern in the cardboard village. Reindeer may loom over the houses like the mutant product of scientific experimentation gone wrong in a “B” horror movie.

Cardboard villages, properly called “putz houses,” originated with Moravian immigrants. Once handmade, houses were later imported from Germany and Japan. While nowadays we’re more likely to buy a ceramic village we can light up, I’ll take the primitive charm of a putz village any day.

Maybe best of all, we can build our own putz villages to suit ourselves. A new tradition for child and parent or grandparent might be building a new house each year, to add to the tiny community. While kits are available, you can also find plans online, such as this free resource: https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/make-traditional-glitter-houses-2365171

Perhaps our yearning for the things of the past is rooted in a longing for a more carefree time, when beloved faces, now gone, were still around us as we enjoyed the season together. When our slower-paced celebration centered on Christ’s birth, and family closeness. Building a putz house or church with loved ones might let us recapture just a bit of that old-fashioned Christmas spirit.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 20

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 21

A Reader’s Brain, December 22 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, December 22

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 23

Fiction Book Lover, December 24 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, December 25 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 26

Texas Book-aholic, December 27

Back Porch Reads, December 28 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 28

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 29

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 30 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, December 31

Lily’s Corner, January 1

Vicky Sluiter, January 2 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Susan is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54124

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Dangerous Dalliance by Valerie Massey Goree Blog Tour Book Review

About the Book

Book: Dangerous Dalliance (Sisters in Peril Book One)

Author: Valerie Massey Goree

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release date: July 25, 2023

Jan’s fiancé, Bryan Buchanan, disappeared a year ago. She has no idea why he left or where he is. Since then, she’s had no interest in romance, but saving a little girl from a playground accident propels her into the world of possibilities.

Hatch, the child’s grateful father, has met many women since his wife’s passing. Jan is the first one to catch his attention, but his instinct to offer counseling to any woman he meets who seems depressed is a big turn-off for her.

Although Jan is flattered by Hatch’s attention, the rest of her life is turned upside down when she receives threatening phone calls, is nearly run off the road, and is shot at.

Can Hatch protect Jan as the men’s threats escalate? If Bryan returns to her life, will she forget about Hatch?

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

I was a little puzzled at the beginning as Jan's fiancé seems to have disappeared a year ago. I would have liked a few sentences about it, such as her feelings, rather than jumping into the current story. We do get the needed information as she does but it comes much later.

I liked Jan as a character. I liked learning about illustrating books and about repairing damaged paintings. I had mixed feelings about Hatch. That he was a counselor yet so unaware of people's feelings did not seem right. He frequently missed nonverbal signs from others and seemed ignorant of his own weaknesses. Those are not the kind of characteristics I want to see in a Christian counselor. He eventually became more aware of himself and others but it took a while. Sadly, Margaret suffered because of him.

There are a number of good faith lessons in the novel, well illustrated in the plot. There is a possible trigger issue in the rather graphic domestic violence a couple experienced that Hatch helped. Goree's writing style is straight forward and easy to comprehend.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

 

About the Author

Award winner Valerie Massey Goree resides in the beautiful Hill Country, northwest of San Antonio. After serving as missionaries in her home country of Zimbabwe and raising two children, Valerie and her husband, Glenn, moved to Texas, his home state. She worked in the public school system for many years, focusing on students with special needs.

Valerie began her writing career late in life and has now published 10 romantic suspense novels. Glenn wrote 12 non-fiction books which Valerie edited. Valerie retired from teaching and spends her time writing, traveling, and spoiling her grandchildren. She loves to hear from her readers.

 

More from Valerie

The Interesting “Task” of Choosing Character Names

I wrote the first rendition of Dangerous Dalliance many years ago. Obviously, it wasn’t published, so I put it aside and continued writing other novels. After publishing my ninth book, I decided to revise the story.

Choosing names for my characters, especially the hero and heroine, is a task I take seriously. I read through my lists and check online sites. I don’t go to that much trouble for my secondary characters, but I have a quirky way to choose their names.

I spent twenty-five years working in the public school system. Many students stand out in my memory for positive reasons. However, I remember a few kids or their parents less favorably. Any teacher will understand. Well, the names of those students or parents often play a role in my stories as secondary characters who don’t leave a positive impression.

The name of a major secondary character in my original Dangerous Dalliance was Brandon. From the first moment my student with that name entered my classroom as a four-year-old with severe allergies, a language delay, and behavioral issues until the day his family moved out of state, his behaviors and antics provided me with giggles and frustration.

Fast-forward several years. I live in a retirement community where we have 24/7 concierge services. When I moved here, the young man in charge was named Brandon. When I revised my original story, I frequently chatted with him. He was such a lovely person and treated us “older” folks with so much compassion.

Now, the name Brandon no longer conjured up images of my student but of the man I wanted to adopt as a grandson. (I found out many residents felt the same way.) I told him about my story and the reason I chose a different name for my guy.

Brandon left a few months later, and in a note he wrote me, he said, he would always remember that I changed the name of a character in my novel because of him, and he hoped he could live up to my high opinion of him.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 19

Stories By Gina, December 20 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, December 21

Simple Harvest Reads, December 22 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, December 23 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 24

For Him and My Family, December 25

Fiction Book Lover, December 26 (Author Interview)

An Author’s Take, December 27

Guild Master, December 28 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 29

Back Porch Reads, December 30 (Author Interview)

Leslie’s Library Escape, December 30

For the Love of Literature, December 31 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 1

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Valerie is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54123

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Jesus and ... by Robert Fergusson Book Review

About the Book:

Every person Jesus met led to a life-changing transformation. Dive into the book of Luke and see how God works in and through ordinary, flawed people—like you and me. This interactive book features:
 

• Jesus and ... Zechariah, Elizabeth, and John: Finding hope for your family.
• Jesus and ... Anna: Finding significance in the ordinary.
• Jesus and ... John the Baptist: Finding purpose in life.
• Jesus and ... the man with leprosy: Finding acceptance and healing.
• Jesus and ... the centurion: Finding faith in a time of unbelief.

 
Each chapter ends with thoughtful questions that invite you to pause, reflect, and respond. Jesus and … also includes powerful photography and inspiring design, enhancing each biblical truth you explore. Encounter Jesus like never before—and prepare your heart and mind for the transformative work God can do in your life.

My Review:

This is a book reminding readers that, “God uses people to fulfill His purpose on earth.” (17) Fergusson shows how ordinary people are given purpose as co-workers with Christ.

From Zechariah, for example, we see that despite initial doubts we can learn to trust God. From John the Baptist we know that we can find our purpose in life. From the man with leprosy we know we can overcome abandonment and rejection. Fergusson has included questions at the end of each story to help us learn from it and apply the truths to our lives. There are photos included, some of which are rather disconcerting and I did not like.

This book would make a good, but short study on some of the people Jesus encountered as recorded in Luke. It helps us see that even a mundane action by an unlikely person can have significant impact in the Kingdom of God. (56)

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Robert Fergusson, internationally recognized Hillsong Church teacher, is the author of two books, including Are you Getting This? and Making Connections That Work.

Robert is one of the key team at Hillsong Church, where he has been on staff for over 30 years. He is passionate about imparting practical life principles from the Bible and his primary responsibilities involve pastoral oversight and preaching and teaching. Robert is married to Amanda; they have three married children and currently seven grandchildren.

Hillsong (David C Cook), 160 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Dead Weight by Kathy Cassel Blog Tour Book Review

About the Book

Book: Dead Weight: An Abbi Kincaid Suspense Novel

Author: Kathy Cassel

Genre: Suspense

Release date: August 29, 2023

When Florida Panhandle police officer Abbi Kincaid obtains a coveted position on the Bay County dive team, she has no inkling her first mission will be anything but routine. Recovering a murder weapon eighty feet below the ocean surface is a simple assignment until Abbi finds herself face-to-face with a mutilated body.

Then a fisherman pulls up a second body, and the similarities set off a search for a connection between the two murder victims. The quest leads to the murky world of high-stakes underwater salvage and treasure-hunting. But what instigated this killing spree, and why now?

A horrific new trail of evidence is uncovered, and Abbi begins to wonder if her beloved brother Brad’s recent death is unrelated or whether he is yet another victim of this predator, even as she wrestles with age-old questions of why God allows good people to die.

When one more salvage diver goes missing, Abbi is pulled into a dangerous mission to rescue him. Trapped by the killer in an underwater cave, Abbi can no longer keep running but must face her worst fears head-on. With time and air running out, can she find a way to save not just herself but the others trapped with her? Does she have the strength, courage, and faith to do so before time runs out?

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

This is a good novel for readers who are ready for a different take on the traditional police investigation. Being on a police dive team makes for a different emphasis on the mystery and investigation. There is still the legwork of chasing down leads but there is also the suspenseful underwater action. Abbi is an engaging character. I like her commitment to finding the cause of her brother's death. She has good help in Kyle and opposition in an antagonistic member of the dive team. Cassel provides a good balance of Abbi's personal feelings with the investigative procedure, moving the plot along consistently. The villain was not a surprise as there were plenty of clues along the way. Abbi has some belief issues and Cassel provides a good faith message.

This is an entertaining police procedural novel for readers who would like something other than your typical police detective on land.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

 

About the Author

Kathy Cassel is the author of more than a dozen fiction and non-fiction titles for preteens and teens, including 2021 Selah Award finalist Freerunner, Catching Hope, and 2023 Selah Award finalist and Christian Indie Award finalist, A Thousand Lies. Dead Weight is her first adult suspense novel and the first book in the Abbi Kincaid Suspense series.

Kathy has lived on three continents with her USAF husband, has eight children, five adopted of them adopted, three from Haiti, and six grandchildren. To better relate to her characters, she enjoys learning their skills such as whitewater rafting, scuba diving, and riding a motorcycle, but draws the line at sky diving.

More from Kathy

In 2015, my daughter Jessica and I had the idea to write an underwater crime scene series. She was in the FSUPC’s underwater crime scene program, but I had never dived. I kept asking her questions about scuba techniques to make the scenes authentic, but I didn’t have a feel for it. So I took the four-hour intro to scuba class. I did not expect to like it because I am a bit claustrophobic and also didn’t think I had enough air to clear my mask. But in reality, I did fine. In fact, I liked it enough that I signed up for Padi Basic on the spot.

Jessica and I worked on the book, and I continued learning to dive, ending up with my SDI open water advanced with some specialties. But it turns out we didn’t know what we were doing when it came to writing a fiction novel. So I enlisted the help of a fiction coach. We basically started the whole book over.

But by this time, my daughter and her husband were starting a family, and she decided to go to nursing school instead of going into law enforcement. Meanwhile, I pressed on alone with the book.

I decided that since my main character rode a motorcycle, it might be helpful to try that, too, so that the scenes where she rides would sound realistic. That was not without its own challenges, but I eventually got my certification, bought a cycle, and also learned to shoot a gun.

So, because of Abbi, I learned to dive, ride, and shoot!

The plot had changed drastically by now. I became so overwhelmed that I quit three times! During those times, I wrote three YA novels (Freerunner, Catching Hope, and A Thousand Lies). But I always knew I’d return to the underwater crime scene story. And I did. I kept pushing, and finally, with the help of my fiction coach, I finished the book. I hope you enjoy it.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 16

Bizwings Blog, December 17

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 18

Stories By Gina, December 19 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, December 19

Betti Mace, December 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 21

Simple Harvest Reads, December 22 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, December 23

Artistic Nobody, December 24 (Author Interview)

Book Looks by Lisa, December 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 26

Fiction Book Lover, December 27 (Author Interview)

Leslie’s Library Escape, December 27

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 28

Blogging With Carol, December 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathy is giving away the grand prize of a copy of the book and a $40 Books a Million gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54121/

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

A Dangerous Lie by Ellen Shapiro Book Review

About the Book:

With no means to afford a top-tier defense, Jason is left at the mercy of an overworked public defender.

Desperate for help, his mother turns to private investigator Maddie Landon, whose unexpected connection to Jason’s case brings her face-to-face with a troubled past.

As Maddie digs deeper, she uncovers a chilling link between Mia, Jason’s accuser, and two victims, drawing Maddie into a labyrinth of secrets and lies. With every step bringing her closer to the truth, danger closes in. Racing against time, Maddie must unravel a sinister conspiracy that threatens not only Jason’s future but both their lives.

Will the privileged world Jason has crossed win or will justice prevail?

My Review:

Shapiro provides a good balance of Maddie's private life and her work as a PI. She agrees to look into the facts of a young man accused of rape. As Maddie digs deeper, she irritates some powerful people and her work becomes dangerous. Maddie is helped by her boyfriend, Jesse. He seems much more capable than she is, giving her frequent insights and suggestions. It seems she is still growing into her profession.

While there is no graphic descriptions, the plot may contain triggers for some who have had similar experiences as there is description after the fact. Shapiro's writing style is good although I felt sometimes there was a bit too much description of action, such as where dishes were put rather than that they were just put away.

This is a good novel for readers who like one featuring a private investigator getting to the bottom of sexual accusations to find the truth.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

As a private investigator with more than thirty years of experience, Ellen Shapiro's professional expertise has brought an authenticity to her characters and the storylines she has created for her novels. Acting on her passion for writing, she enrolled in the Sarah Lawrence Writing Institute where she took courses in creative writing. Ellen has written articles in her field for both local and nationwide newspapers and is the author of seven mystery novels. Ellen is a member of Mystery Writers of America and resides in Scarsdale, New York.

Indies United Publishing House LLC, 334 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through BooksGoSocial. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Cracks Beneath the Surface by Mary Ann Miller Book Review

About the Book:

Spring has sprung, and Easter festivities are underway in Field’s Crossing, Indiana. The annual egg hunt is a huge success, thanks in no small part to Lisa DuVal, the owner of Big Al’s Diner who dyed all of the eggs. But when Sheriff Jhonni Laurent discovers Lisa’s body in her catering van later that day, the happy holiday quickly sours, and Laurent begins a murder investigation.

All are shocked at the reading of the will when it’s revealed that the diner will be inherited by Lisa’s best friend—not by her daughter, which raises Laurent’s suspicions. While working to find the killer, Laurent uncovers some unsightly secrets that Lisa’s family had been concealing. Could they be involved in something shady?

As the investigation begins to take shape, it seems that the melting ice will reveal more than the first buds of spring. And when another body is discovered, Laurent must work quickly to determine how the two crimes connect—and who could be behind it all.

My Review:

The initial murder reveals a very complex set of relationships Sheriff Jhonni must wade through to find the murderer. There are a number of potential suspects. Miller provides a balance of Jhonni's personal life and her investigation into the murder.

There is a much ruminating by Jhonni and her deputies about evidence, possible motives, and who the murderer could be. There are also such ruminations after the second murder which was a little strange as we readers know who the murderer is, having read the scene describing the murder. Part of the plot involves the making and distribution of flavored moonshine. I didn't even know it could be made legally and was popular in some places.

This is the second book featuring Sheriff Jhonni Laurent, the first female sheriff of the small community. While there are a few references to events from the first book in the series, it reads well on its own. It is a good novel for readers who like the ongoing work of a sheriff in a small community.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my review of the first book in the series, Bones Under the Ice.

About the Author:

Mary Ann Miller has been a bookworm from the moment she learned how to read. An Illinois native, she moved south to Winter Garden, Florida, with her husband, Mike, to escape the snow and start a new chapter as a mystery writer. Bones Under the Ice was her debut novel and the first book in the Jhonni Laurent Mystery Series.

Oceanview Publishing, 368 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

A Dog Named Speed by Larry Fitzgerald Blog Tour Book Review

About the Book

Book: A Dog Named Speed

Author: Larry Fitzgerald

Genre: Fiction

Release date: December 4, 2023

Join Speed, the most adventurous pup ever, in “A Dog Named Speed” by Larry Fitzgerald! Speed had a rocky start in life, living in a cave beneath the Blue Mountains of Oregon, battling freezing winters, sneaky coyotes, and even a junkyard keeper with a trigger-happy finger. But Speed’s luck takes a turn when he’s rescued from a watery disaster and adopted by Babe, a young newspaper boy.

As Speed and Babe grow up together, they embark on thrilling adventures in the wilds of Oregon, discovering secret fishing spots and having daring encounters. Speed becomes Babe’s trusty sidekick, and together, they form an unbreakable team.

But it’s not just about Speed and Babe; this story is packed with excitement and surprises! Speed meets Kate, a lively Australian shepherd, and their connection adds even more adventure to the mix. Plus, there’s a deeper message about faith and friendship that will make you think.

If you’re ready for action, friendship, and a heartwarming tale, “A Dog Named Speed” is the book for you. Get ready to cheer for Speed and Babe as they navigate life’s ups and downs and discover the true meaning of loyalty and love. This is a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and warm your heart at the same time!

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

This is a touching novel for young readers, especially lovers of dogs. The narrative is written from the dog's viewpoint so we get insights into what a dog may be thinking and feeling. There are many moral lessons included, such as Speed having to share when another dog came on the scene and stayed with the family for a while. There is a very clear Christian faith message included, illustrated by the events happening in the story.

The story starts with the dog who would later become Speed as a wandering canine. We do not get the backstory as to why he came to that situation until about a quarter of the way into the book. I would have preferred that information right at the beginning as it would have helped me, and especially young readers, understand Speed's character and decisions earlier.

Nonetheless, this is an entertaining novel for young readers with a strong Christian faith message. Be sure to have your tissues ready as you near the end.

My rating: 4/5 stars. 

 

About the Author

Larry Fitzgerald, a retired businessman turned youth soccer coach, infuses his writing, managing, and coaching with an unwavering commitment to Christ’s Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Concerned for today’s youth growing up without spiritual guidance, Larry took to writing. Larry’s impactful short fiction is showcased in anthologies like “Stories from the Attic” (2022) and “Fortunes” (2023) by AA Inc. Publishing. His stories transcend pages, offering beacons of spiritual enlightenment for a generation navigating a world where God’s presence is often obscured.

More from Larry

Writing the story about Speed and the newspaper boy should have been a slam dunk. All I had to do was remember the years between my ninth and eighteenth birthdays—not all of it, of course, just the time my dog Speed and I spent together, which was, basically, all of it. Getting the story into my computer was easy. The hard part was getting it out of my computer and into the format(s) required for publishing and marketing. That was and continues to be a challenging learning experience.  Someday, I may write a book about that.

The great thing about my book, A Dog Named Speed, is that it’s a true story except for the parts where Speed is not with me, alone, or with other animals. Those were imagined but very plausible. The story is told from the dog’s point of view, from heaven, as he awaits his master to join him.

Speed was a stray dog who started following me as I delivered newspapers in a small town in Eastern Oregon. He would not come near me despite my enthusiastic efforts to win his favor. He was afraid of all humans, which I assume came from having been mistreated as a young dog. Our coming together happened only when Speed was desperate and had no choice but to reach out to me.

After that, Speed and I were rarely apart. We shared many exciting times centered on fishing adventures, camping trips, and ball games. Speed and I slept together every night. He followed me to school each day and waited faithfully for me to get home so he could join in whatever was in store for the evening.

The most important thing I observed about Speed was how he treated his master. I knew Speed loved me unconditionally. As the story affirms, there was nothing he wouldn’t do to come to my aid. As this became clear, I began to think about how I treat my Master, Jesus Christ. Was I faithful? Was my every thought about Him? Were my first thoughts when I woke up every morning about Jesus? I am certain Speed’s were of me.

My book was written for young people, but it has found a broader audience as well. Any reader who has ever owned a dog can relate to this story. I am blessed to have owned A Dog Named Speed.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 13

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 14

A Reader’s Brain, December 15 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, December 15

She Lives To Read, December 16

Life on Chickadee Lane, December 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 18

Back Porch Reads, December 19 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, December 19

Texas Book-aholic, December 20

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 22

Little Homeschool on the Prairie , December 23

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 24 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, December 25 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 26

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Larry is giving away the grand prize of a $75 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54117

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)