A Dog's Purpose (W. Bruce Cameron) Book Review

2018 Reading Challenge

3. A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
   Prompt: book you meant to read in 2017

Synopsis:
This is the remarkable story of one endearing dog's search for his purpose over the course of several lives. More than just another charming dog story, this touches on the universal quest for an answer to life's most basic question: Why are we here?
Surprised to find himself reborn as a rambunctious golden haired puppy after a tragically short life as a stray mutt, Bailey's search for his new life's meaning leads him into the loving arms of 8 year old Ethan. During their countless adventures Bailey joyously discovers how to be a good dog. But this life as a beloved family pet is not the end of Bailey's journey. Reborn as a puppy yet again, Bailey wonders, will he ever find his purpose?
Heartwarming, insightful, and often laugh out loud funny, this book is not only the emotional and hilarious story of a dog's many lives, but also a dog's eye commentary on human relationships and the unbreakable bonds between man and man's best friend. This story teaches us that love never dies, that our true friends are always with us, and that every creature on earth is born with a purpose.

My Review:
Almost everyone is familiar with the saying that a cat has nine lives. The same sort of thing goes on in this story and its sequel. The story is told from the perspective of a dog living out its lives (different dog, but same soul each time it is reborn). Some of his lives are shorter than others, as well as some owners are better than others. In this story, he portrays four lives, but the majority of the time, he's known as Bailey.

A Dog's Purpose is a heart-felt tale about man's best friend. It dwells on the love, loyalty, and affection a dog has for his owner(s). He searches for his purpose in life, as humans do, and discovers that  I really do believe that people are put in our lives for a reason and maybe dogs are too. I loved how the author really dug into the mind of a dog to somewhat discover what dogs feel and how they respond to the world around them.

This book is perfect for anybody, young or old, whether you have a dog or not. It goes through the ups and downs of life, for people and dogs alike. It can be emotional at times, but shows how love persists through anything. I like how the author intertwined the owner's lives, as they age, etc. This is more evident in the sequel, A Dog's Journey, which just happens to be the next book review I'm doing.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

Writing Update

Writing Plans for July: Camp NaNoWriMo

I recently signed up for Camp NaNoWriMo for July. If anyone is unfamiliar, it is a mini version of NaNoWriMo, held in November.

With NaNoWriMo, you are required to write 50,000 words. It doesn't mean that you'll necessarily reach that, like when I failed short to do so this past November.

In Camp NaNoWriMo, you can set your own writing goal, whether that be reaching a certain number of words or writing for a certain amount of time every day in July. I believe the Camp version is done a couple of times throughout the year in preparation for NaNoWriMo in November.

As of right now, my goal is to reach 25,000 words during the month of July. I am planning on working on a fiction novel, loosely titled The Widow in the Bookstore. I usually don't like to name something I write until I'm done. You know, I have never finished writing an actual novel before. I'm my worst critic and I usually scrap them because I never think it's good enough. I plan on changing that in July as that is my other goal: to finish writing a novel without stopping to edit it before it's done being written.

I will give daily updates here so you can follow along.

~Meg~

The Tempting Taste of Danger (CeeCee James) Book Review

2018 Reading Challenge

2. The Tempting Taste of Danger by CeeCee James
    Prompt: book that takes place in a bookstore or library

Synopsis:
The only thing worse than a noisy bookstore is patrons literally dying to get out.
Elise Pepper has landed her dream job at the Capture The Magic book store. Peace and quiet and thousands of books to herself – including a $2m first edition of Alice in Wonderland. What more could she ask for?
It can’t last of course. Her blissful solitude is rudely interrupted when someone turns the second floor of the building into a Down the Rabbit Hole-themed escape room.
But the noise is the least of her worries – what’s worse is the dead bank executive upstairs and the missing first edition. Now Elise is suspected of both theft and murder, even as the killer taunts her with Alice in Wonderland clues. Can she find out who did it before she takes the fall for the crime?

My Review:
A bookstore and an escape room. It sounds like the perfect place for a murder, right? Haha. I love to read, so naturally I fell in in love with a book that takes place somewhat in a book store. And while I have never been to an escape room, I've always liked the idea of them and really want to experience it. I like to solve mysteries and figure out puzzles, so it was another reason I was interested in this book.

Elise gets a job at a bookstore. It's the perfect job for her. Well, at least it is until an escape room is built on the floor upstairs. She isn't a fan of the whole idea. When someone winds up dead in the escape room on the first day it opens and a first edition book goes missing from the book store, Elise knows there's more to the story. It's up to her to prove her innocence as she's the only person who's at the store the most.  This part reminds me of the murder mystery movie series, Murder, She Baked, on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel starring Alison Sweeney and Cameron Mathison. Alison's character works at a cookie shop and is the one who becomes the murder suspect, as she finds the murder victims. The Tempting Taste of Danger will leave you guessing until the end. Some of the supporting characters were just okay, but there were also some good ones. Overall, I was impressed with how the story turned out.

The theme of The Tempting Taste of Danger is Alice in Wonderland. The book store possesses a first edition copy of Alice in Wonderland, the escape room is based on the book, and the murderer leaves clues with references to the book as well. It was a good concept and it was nice to relive the children's classic with some twists and turns along the way. Even if you aren't a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland, you will still enjoy reading this.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

The Warrior (Joyce Swann) Book Review

2018 Reading Challenge

1. The Warrior by Joyce Swann

Synopsis:
James is sitting at a Ft. Worth intersection waiting for the light to change when he hears the roar of a truck engine speeding toward him. Before he can react, his motorcycle is crushed, and he is thrown fifty feet onto the median.
At that precise moment in Dallas, Elizabeth’s sleep is interrupted by a vivid dream in which she witnesses James' accident. As she watches him begin to pass from life to death, she extends her hand and cries, “Don’t die if you don’t know Jesus!”
Although neither James nor Elizabeth is aware of the existence of the other, they begin a ten-year odyssey in which their lives are inexorably intertwined, changing their futures and the futures of those they love most.
The Warrior is a moving testimony to the power of prayer and God’s desire to redeem every life.

My Review:
This story is about Elizabeth, a prayer warrior, with a family of her own. One night, she has a dream about a man who got in a terrible motorcycle accident. Not knowing if it's real, Elizabeth feels compelled to pray for him the next morning and that's what she does.

Over the next ten years, both James' and Elizabeth's lives are intertwined, with neither of them knowing that the other exists. During that time, Elizabeth's daughter Molly rebels from her Christian upbringing and moves to California. She gets involved with the wrong crowd, which leads to her life in the balance. James, on the other hand, gets disheartened and depressed after his accident and he starts down the road of drugs and alcohol. Throughout everything, Elizabeth prayed daily for both of them and even keeps a journal of when she feels an inkling to pray for James, during which everyone else around her thinks she's crazy.

It's often said that you need to hit rock bottom to come out on top. Everyone has their breaking point, the moment when they realize that they need to turn things around, or more importantly, to turn their life around. After ten years, circumstances lead James and Elizabeth to meet. Although they see each other more than once, the first encounter proves to Elizabeth that prayer really does work and that God asked her to pray for James for a reason. James and Molly get a second chance at life and come to the realization in the end that God was there for them when they didn't think it was possible. God works in mysterious ways to reclaim every life back when we stray away from our faith.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

2018 Reading Challenge and Goals

I know this is pretty late this year, but here's my challenge and goals for 2018.

Once again, I am doing the PopSugar Reading Challenge for 2018. I'm not posting the entire list of prompts, but you can find the list here.

There are 40 prompts with an additional 10 prompts on an advanced list.

In 2017, my goal was to read 60 books. That didn't happen as I only read 31, but I had a challenging year. For 2018, my goal is once again set at 60 books and hopefully I will accomplish it this year. As of this writing, I have only read three and am in the process of reading books four and five. The first three book reviews will be posted next week, or rather, this coming week.

For writing, I just completed a 31 Day Ninja Writer Challenge. I wish I could link to this, but the daily challenges were sent by e-mail. It was in May with the intent was to write at least 10 minutes a day and read at least 10 minutes each day. And each day also came with a daily challenge. While I didn't accomplish everything I wanted out of it, I have been writing more and am currently bringing my series, Meg's Long QT Journey, back on my other blog at Writing With Meg. Please check it out.

And you can follow me on twitter here.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~

Meg's 2017-2018 Book Awards

Meg's 2017-2018 Book Awards

Disclaimer: I base the awards on the books that I read in 2017. And it's only my opinion on how I rate them.

Each book will be linked to my book review if you would like to read it.

Best Book Overall:
1. Amazing Grace by Danielle Steel
2. Thursdays at Coconuts by Beth Carter
3. Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham
4. Summer at the Lake by Linda Barrett

Honorable Mentions:
1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
2. The Shack by William Paul Young
3. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
4. Finding Peace by Melanie D. Snitker
5. The Inn at Eagle Point by Sherryl Woods
6. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by Jack Thorne

Worst Book Overall:
1. A Cat To Die For by Maria Grazia Swan
2. The Not So Secret E-mails of Coco Pinchard by Robert Bryndza
3. Set Change by T'Gracie and Joe Reese
4. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Best of Classics:
1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
2. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
3. White Fang by Jack London

Best of Christian Fiction:
1. The Shack by William Paul Young
2. Daniel by Robin Merrill
3. Come To Me Alive by Leah Atwood

Best Book by an Author I've Read Before:
1. Amazing Grace by Danielle Steel
2. Finding Peace by Melanie D. Snitker
3. Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke

Best Book by a New Author I Read:
1. Thursdays at Coconuts by Beth Carter
2. Summer at the Lake by Linda Barrett
3. The Inn at Eagle Point by Sherryl Woods
4. Pause To Rewind by Aimee Alexander
5. Come To Me Alive by Leah Atwood
6. Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

Book That Surprised Me (either better or worse than what I thought):
1. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by Jack Thorne
2. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
3. Reinventing Mona by Jennifer Coburn

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

~Meg~