A Dog About Town - J. F. Englert

A light, entertaining, enjoyable mystery!

The first in the Bull Moose Dog Run Mysteries, this book introduces us to Randolph - a chubby, lovable, well read Lab, with a nose for trouble, and his owner Harry. Both are struggling with the sudden disappearance of Imogen, beloved mistress to Randolph, and girlfriend to Harry.

Imogen's disappearance has left Harry with an interest in the occult. When a man dies at a séance that Harry has attended, Randolph smells trouble. Not only must Randolph solve the crime, but he must keep Harry safe, while secretly guiding him to the answers that make up this mystery.

It was a delight to "meet" Randolph, and I look forward to reading more of his adventures!

Review of book two, "A Dog Among Diplomats" to follow.

This book courtesy of J. F. Englert

Dates From Hell - Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Kelley Armstrong, and Lori Handeland

A collection of four short stories of paranormal dating disaster. Overall, a good book that is light and entertaining. Prior to reading this book, the only author of the four I have read previously was Kim Harrison.

Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil – Kim Harrison:

A recent fan to the Hollows series, I enjoyed this story. Of course I missed some of the other Hollows characters, but it did do a nice job of being able to be a “stand alone” story for those unfamiliar with the series, while meshing with the events and characters of the series for those who know it.

The Claire Switch Project – Lynsay Sands:

While not a bad story, but it was my least favorite of the four in this book. I found it just a little too predictable. I felt that there were too many T.V./Movie adaptations on similar themes.

Chaotic – Kelley Armstrong:

A good story. Some action and intrigue.

Dead Man Dating – Lori Handeland:

This was my favorite of the four stories in this book. Like “Chaotic”, this story contained some action and intrigue, but I liked the story line better, and it had more of a twist.

The Philosopher's Apprentice - James Morrow

A good read, though not exactly what I had expected. Morrow's book has some almost sci-fi/futuristic aspects to it that I was not expecting.

In a world where morals seem to be lacking, is it possible for one person to be too moral? To be consumed by those morals? With no right or wrong answers, does a person of morals suffer more than the amoral? Morrow's book "The Philosopher's Apprentice" leads us to ask these questions.

As philosophical as the name implies, this book is not of the "light summer reading" variety. In fact, if there is to be any criticism of this book, it is that the language and characters often seem a tad arrogant and presumptuous. While one may argue that the characters are in fact meant to be somewhat arrogant and presumptuous, it is sometimes hard to warm to Mason, our hero, because of it.

Still, a worthwhile read.

This book courtesy of HarperCollinsCanada Reading Group.

Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

This book, is a model for what humanity should be, and a commentary on how we treat each other globally, and how that effects the world.

Winner of the Kiriyam Prize (The Kiriyama Prize is an international literary award given to books which will encourage greater understanding of and among the peoples of the Pacific Rim and South Asia) for non-fiction in 2007.

The story starts as young Greg Mortenson, a former army medic and nurse, stumbles ill and exhausted out of the mountains of Pakistan, after a failed summit bid on K2 (the world's second tallest mountain, and by many accounts more technically difficult that Everest, the tallest). After losing his way to the city he planned to go to, he arrives in the small remote village of Korphe, where he is sheltered and cared for during his recovery. He soon becomes very attached to the people of the village. While there, he tries to provide whatever medical assistance he is able to, and soon is dubbed "Dr. Greg". Appalled that the children study in an open field, he makes a promise before leaving, to build the village a proper school.

For many, the story would stop here, but not for Greg Mortenson. For him and his organization, this is where the story starts. Along with Jean Hoerni, he co- founed the Central Asia Institute, and has been working to educate children in that region ever since.

A remarkable story, filled with interesting people and encounters. Well worth reading!

Into Thin Air - Jon Krakauer

This is Krakauer's first hand account, of the deadliest storm ever on Mount Everest, which primarily because of that storm, became a part of Everest's most deadly season.

Krakauer is a well respected outdoor adventure reporter and author (see review for "Into the Wild" - Jon Krakauer), and for good reason. His writing skills are excellent, and he writes what he knows about. He is an avid outdoorsman and by all accounts, a fairly competent climber.

I have read another book about this event (see review for "High Crimes" - Michal Kodas), and I have seen a few documentaries about it as well, so I knew how things would come out in the end. Yet I still felt compelled to turn pages late at night to read Krakauer's perspective.

Scuba Dancing - Nicola Slade

This book was a delightful read.

An eclectic group of lonely people, getting together to help each other out through a "barter club", soon find themselves providing so much more for each other than music lessons and carpentry.

I was pleasantly entertained, as each of the characters made their journey to happiness, meaning, and freedom in their own ways.