Dewey's Nine Lives by Vicki Myron... A Review

The Legacy of Dewey The Small Town Library Cat...

A few weeks ago on Memoir Monday I shared a book about Dewey, the little kitten that someone threw away in a book deposit on one of the coldest days of the year in a small mid western town in Iowa. (Here's the LINK for the review if you missed it!) That book, Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron was read by millions of animal lovers, and if you read it you know how touching the story was. Vicki toured the country to promote her book about Dewey, and in the course of that book tour, people shared their own stories with Vicki, the stories about the cats that they had shared their lives with... Vicki has taken some of those stories and added some new Dewey stories to bring us another wonderful testament to how the love of animals can make our lives better in her new book, Dewey's Nine Lives. Here's the blurb from the publisher...

"Dewey's Nine Lives is compromised of nine inspiring, funny and heartwarming stories about cats told from the perspective of "Dewey's Mom", librarian Vicki Myron. The amazing felines in this book include Dewey, of course, whose further never-before-told adventures and amazing legacy are chronicled, but several others whom Vicki found out about when their owners reached out to her. Vicki learned, through extensive interviews and story sharing, what made these cats special, and how they fit into Dewey's community of perseverance and love. From a divorced mother in Alaska who saved a drowning kitten on Christmas Eve to a post-traumatic-stress disorder-suffering veteran whose heart was opened by his long relationship with a rescued cat, these Dewey-style stories will inspire reades to laugh, cry, and, most important, believe in the magic of animals to touch individual lives."

In the same wonderful way Vicki shared her story of Dewey in her first book, animal lovers, and cat lovers in particular, will enjoy reading Dewey's Nine Lives. I know I did! Her writing style is easy going and relaxing. These are heartfelt stories that will have you hugging your furry friend. And like the people that shared their stories with Vicki along the way, the story of Dewey made me think of and be thankful for the special furry babies I've shared my life with.

There is also a I Believe in "Dewey's Magic" story contest, where you can submit a letter to Vicki telling her about a cat that has inspired you. The winner of the contest will have their story told in the paperback version of Dewey's Nine Lives. You can find all the details about the contest and how to enter at Penguin Books. The book will be available from your local bookstores starting Oct. 12th!

*I want to thank Dutton Publishing for sending along a review copy! Thank you!

GoD And DoG by Wendy J Francisco... A Review

Wendy Francisco's sweet little book, GoD and DoG, is a testament to the unconditional love of both God and our furry four legged companions. If you are fortunate to share your love with a dog, you will not be able to resist this book! If you are an animal lover, you will understand the special relationship Wendy illustrates here. I wouldn't characterize Wendy's book as "religious" because of her references to God, but inspirational. With sparse, but heartfelt words, GoD and DoG is charming and expresses what every dog lover knows...

"I take it hard... each time I fail. but God forgives... Dog wags his tail."

Originally a YouTube Video of Wendy's cute animated illustrations and accompanied by her original song, GoD and DoG became a huge sensation with over 2 million views! Now, Wendy's song and illustrations are put down on paper, along with the sheet music for the song, and we can all be thankful, because it is simply wonderful. I just love this book! 48 pages that will swell your heart with happiness.

I want to thank Anna of Hachette Book Group for sending along a review copy to me of GoD and DoG, which is available now from your local book seller! A perfect gift for someone special or just for yourself! Enjoy the YouTube Video of GoD and DoG and let me know what YOU think!

Memoir Mondays... Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion and Purpose by Tony Hsieh

Delivering Happiness:

A Path to Profits, Passion and Purpose

by Tony Hsieh

I saw an interesting segment on one of the major television networks a few Sunday mornings ago... it was about the online retailer Zappos.com, the guy who started the company, Tony Hsieh, and his innovative ideas about making Zappos.com one of the best places to work. It seems like it's working too! It made Fortune magazines "best" list for 2009. Zappos.com is a huge online presence. It's the Amazon.com of shoes. But it's not just about shoes anymore. Zappos is clothing, sporting equipment, and even a baby shop... And now we can read about it in Tony Hsieh's book, Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion and Purpose. Here's what the publisher has to say about the book...

Pay brand-new employees $2,000 to quit

Make customer service the responsibility of the entire company-not just a department

Focus on company culture as the #1 priority

Apply research from the science of happiness to running a business

Help employees grow-both personally and professionally

Seek to change the world

Oh, and make money too . . .

Sound crazy? It's all standard operating procedure at Zappos, the online retailer that's doing over $1 billion in gross merchandise sales annually. After debuting as the highest-ranking newcomer in Fortune magazine's annual "Best Companies to Work For" list in 2009, Zappos was acquired by Amazon in a deal valued at over $1.2 billion on the day of closing.

In DELIVERING HAPPINESS, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh shares the different lessons he has learned in business and life, from starting a worm farm to running a pizza business, through LinkExchange, Zappos, and more. Fast-paced and down-to-earth, DELIVERING HAPPINESS shows how a very different kind of corporate culture is a powerful model for achieving success-and how by concentrating on the happiness of those around you, you can dramatically increase your own.

Sounds like a rags to riches tale to me, and so interesting. But his message isn't just about profits, but about creating a happiness in the workforce and in ones own life. This is definitely on my TBR list!

Imagine Your Life Without Fear... Fearless by Max Lucado

Can you Imagine Your Life Without Fear?

Each sunrise seems to bring fresh reasons for fear...

They're talking layoffs at work, slowdowns in the economy, flare-ups in the Middle East, turnovers at headquarters, downturns in the housing market, upswings in global warming. The plague of our day, terrorism, begins with the word terror. Fear, it seems, has taken up a hundred-year lease on the building next door and set up shop. Oversized and rude, fear herds us into a prison of unlocked doors. Wouldn't it be great to walk out?

Imagine your life, wholly untouched by angst. What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats? If you could hover a fear magnet over your heart and extract every last shaving of dread, insecurity, or doubt, what would remain? Envision a day, just one day, where you could trust more and fear less.

Can you imagine your life without fear?

Max Lucado is a best-selling Christian author and minister of writing and preaching at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. He has written more than 50 books with 28 million copies in print. In his own words, " I wrote a book on fear because fear is everywhere..." and that is what the basis of Fearless is about. But not just a book about fear, but how to overcome it. Max Lucado believes "Fear is an option and Faith is a better choice." And though the book is based in principles found in the Christian faith, people of all religious beliefs can find comfort in the pages of this book. With stories to inspire you to look at your fears and overcome them, Mr. Lucado describes the most common reasons for fear: The fear of not mattering, the fear of disappointing God, The fear of running out of luck,time,etc.., fear for your children, fear of overwhelming challenges, fear of worst-case scenarios, fear of violence, fear of dying, & fear of global calamity. With amazing insight Max Lucado gets to the heart of the fears that holds us back and with references to passages in the Bible as well as some nuggets of common sense, he lays down eight "worry-stoppers" to help us : Pray first, Slow down (don't create a catastrophe where one doesn't exist), Act on it - treat frets like mosquitos, Compile a worry list, Evaluate your worry, Focus on today, Share your feelings, and let God be enough. Though I've listed these "worry-stoppers", the true meaning behind them lies in the words that follow them in the book.

The chapters of the book are arranged so that you can easily look for guidance for a particular issue you may be dealing with. The stories within the chapters are contemporary, relevant and interesting. In the back of the book is a discussion guide for each chapter. This guide can be for a reading group or yourself, as a way to clarify what was in the chapter. Mr. Lucado's writing style is easy to read with a sincerity that shines thru every paragraph. I found Fearless to be inspiring and an enjoyable read. A thought provoking book with a message most people can relate to.

Would you like to read a excerpt? You can find an excerpt of chapter one HERE! And Mr. Lucado has a Q & A video about Fearless on YouTube HERE! Max Lucado has declared war on Fear at a town hall- you can watch & listen to the video of that HERE! So, if you need some encouragement or know someone who does, Max Lucado's book Fear can be found in bookstores today! And thank you to Thomas Nelson publishers for sending this book my way!

*P.S. This Book is Kindle Ready!