Pages & Paws

Writing, Reading, and Rural Life With a Border Collie


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Will His Secret Destroy All in ‘The One You’re With’?

The One You’re With

By Laura K. Denton

Thomas Nelson, 2021

Genre: Clean Romance/Christian Fiction

Via: Library

“Edie was a mother, and mothers had certain codes, just like doctors. Do no harm. Put others first. Help when needed. And always love – even when it’s hard. Even when it flies in the face of everything you feel.”

The One You’re With is a love story. Only it’s probably not the kind you may be thinking of.  In fact, it’s anything but a frothy “beach read.” This book is sturdy and substantive. It’s about love. Loyalty. Sacrifice and selflessness. Sticking with it and standing firm, even when the chips are down. It’s about choices and consequences. Mistakes. Grace. And most of all, second chances.

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GUEST POST: Meet Rick Rogers, ‘The Hiking Guy’!

“Hey! Hey! Whaddya say? Let’s take this blog another way!”

Mom’s idea for an intro, spake I, Kimber the Magnificent. So don’t blame me, okay?

Anyway, today I’m almost as excited as when I get an extra strip of nice, crispy bacon! Cuz we’re introducing you to one of our favorite new authors, Rick Rogers “The Hiking Guy.”

We recently reviewed Rick’s magnum opus, Walking Home. It’s about his adventures and misadventures along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Easily one of the most engaging and entertaining books on the subject we’ve ever come across, Walking Home earned our highly coveted 5-star ratings. (Read our full review here. It’ll open your eyes as well as tickle your funny bone.)

We enjoyed Rick’s book so much, we didn’t want it to end. So we asked if he’d be interested in writing a guest post. Rick kindly agreed. So here’s the better-than-bacon part: It’s Write Here! (That’s not a typo. In case you’re wondering.)

So pour yourself a nice big glass of whatever. Sit down and take a load off. Kick back and get ready for a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how and why Walking Home came into being. Take it away, Rick!

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If You Loved LOTR, You’re Gonna Want to Read THIS

It’s been awhile since our last Beginnings and a Friday 56. So today we’re covering both with J. V. Hilliard’s new fantasy/adventure release, The Last Keeper. Like this:

Book Beginnings is a theme where readers share the first sentence (or couple of sentences) from their current read. It’s hosted by Rose City Reader every Friday.

The Friday 56 is hosted by Frida’s Voice. Share a few sentences from page 56 or 56% into your current read. Sound good? Perfect! Cuz here we go:

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Why Is THIS Book ‘Bouillabaisse’?

Recursion

By David J. Harrison

The Book Guild, 2021

Genre: Thriller/Sci Fi

“Well,” sniffs Her Momness. “That’s four hours out of my life I’ll never be able to get back.”

She recently bowed out of a “book blog tour” on this lemon. As in, chucked it across the room. She calls it “Taking out the garbage.” (Mom’s just funny that way.)

And “garbage” is exactly what this book is. We tried to give it a fair chance. Like, “Olly olly oxen free !” But 66% in, Mom was doneski. Outta here! Gag me! Clean-up on aisle nine!

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Sparkling Fiction Shines in ‘What Remains True’

What Remains True

By Nancy Naigle

Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2022

Genre: Fiction/romance

Via: Waterbrook Launch Team

 

Kimber the Magnificent here. Mom’s doing it again. That smiley, sparkly-eye thing.  And there’s not even a single T-bone in sight. But there is a new book and a new author she wants to tell you about. Cuz they’re two of her new faves. So take it away Mom!

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Electrifying New YA Novel DISCOVERS Dazzle

Kimber yukking it up with her BFF, Xenia. Is it dinnertime yet?

Discovery of the Five Senses: The Urban Boys

By K.N. Smith

Via: Author Request

Genre: Young Adult/Light Fantasy/ Action and Adventure

Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

***

Before we jump into this review, Kimber wants to make one thing perfectly clear: She is not happy about Her Momness forgetting dinner because she was so absorbed in this book, she forgot what time it was.

Not that we’ve got that out of the way…

Basic Plot

The fate of humanity hangs in the balance as five high school friends battle evil with their unusual gifts and abilities. Meanwhile, there’s a reason the nearby “forbidden preserve” is forbidden. You so do not want to go there.

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Female Fighter Ace Flies High in ‘The Legend of Lilia’

The Legend of Lilia

A novel based on a true story

By Christopher P. Redwine, 2022

Genre: Historical Fiction

Via: Reedsy/Discovery

Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“Hey Mom!” quoth I, Kimber the Magnificent. “How do you spell ‘fas-cin-a-ting?” (“Quoth.” Isn’t that a great word? I stole it from Mom. Don’t tell anyone, okay?)

“Why?” quoth Mom. (There’s that great word again.)

“I need it to help with the review of that cool book you just read. The historical novel about the world’s first female ace fighter pilot.”

“You mean, The Legend of Lilia?”

“That’s it!” Says I. Mom tells me it goes kinda like this:

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‘The Secrets Left Behind’ Will Leave You Breathless

The Secrets Left Behind : An emotional and evocative tale spanning three decades. by [Antoinette Tyrrell]The Secrets Left Behind

By Antoinette Tyrrell

Spellbound Books, 2022

Genre: Fiction/Historical Fiction/Women’s Fiction

Via: Zooloo’s Book Tours

Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“If only I’d known and now it’s too late.”

– Kate Millington

This is a story about four women. At first blush, they’re as different as night and day. But there’s more to the story as revealed in this masterful blend of history, mystery, tragedy, regret, and redemption.

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TTT: 10-ish Books With an Adjective in the Title

Kimber: “Are we ever gonna have fun with this week’s Top Ten Tuesday Topic! It’s Books with an adjective in the title. Mom, what’s an adjective?”

Mom: “It’s a word that modifies a noun or noun phrase. A describing word.”

Kimber: “As in, Grand, elegant, splendid? Extremely fine and impressive in size or beauty. You know. Like me?”  

Insert eye roll here.

In Unison: Anyway, this was harder than it sounds. But Mom and I joined hand to paw and came up with Ten-ish Books With An Adjective in the Title. Several were favorite read-alouds when the young’un’s were younger. Some are fiction. Some are non. All are “Kimber-tested, Mom approved.” (“Kimber the Magnificent” not included.)

How many do you recognize?

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Snap Out of It! Why ‘Untethered’ is “Moonstruck”

Untethered:

Faith, Failure, and Finding Solid Groud

By Laura Whitfield

She Writes Press, 2022

Genre: Memoir/Autobiography

Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is how Her Momness felt while reading most of this book:

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