Chirp No More (The Shearwater Mysteries #1) by Anna B. Madrise | A Book Review

I won a load of books from the author last summer through an Instagram Author Hop. I got six books from the author. Yes! Six paperbacks. Seemed like I hit the jackpot. Thank you again, Anna B. Madrise for the books. I have two down and four more to go. So far, I have enjoyed The Shearwater Mysteries. Looking forward to reading the rest of your books.

This is my first time to read a book by the author and I do not know what to expect. She seems to be into different genres. I decided to venture into the Shearwater mysteries first as a lot of people commented that this series is really good. And I love mysteries. Here it comes.

This is a mystery with a sprinkling of comedy and supernatural with also a little romance on the side. Yes, this seemed liked a neat little book with almost everything in it. It was so easy to read. I think I finished this within an hour while minding the small fashion store of my sister. I was not surprised to find that I liked the book. I love the characters. The Carrier ladies are really adorable, especially Kitty, the mother. She's an eccentric yet very lovable character. She puts a lot of life and hilarity in this story. I think she brought the word comedy to this story. No, she's not a comedian but her witty retorts are just so hilarious. Right on the mark.

The town itself, Shearwater is a quaint little town. A very perfect setting for very quaint characters with quirky personalities. What I love about the author is she listed all the characters in the story before the first chapter starts. It was like introducing each character to the reader formally. The introductions were done clearly without the possibility of anyone mistaking one character for the other. And of course, the town of Shearwater is introduced too. How it is such a fitting and special town that creates a perfect backdrop for this story.

The story starts with a dead body. Yes, someone died in the first chapter. What turned this peaceful tourist town in a fuss was the fact that the dead woman was not liked by everyone. It seemed like the people who were not in the town meeting, who were considered persons of interest in the murder had each a reason to push the victim to her death. And in the midst of this is Abigail Carrier. A clairtangence, just like her sister Evalynn, who can see a person's memories just by touch. Her abilities came in handy but it was not easy-peasy. Her visions were not straightforward or clear. They are just snatches and it is up to the Carriers to figure out what those visions all mean. Whether they'd lead to the murderer or not, Abigail and Evalynn, with the Kitty pitching in from time to time, would need to do a little sleuthing to piece together facts to identify the murderer.

If I were Abigail, my first suspect would have been Peter Bakerfield. I am a mystery fan and I have read lots of mysteries. As I have mentioned, it's my favorite genre and my bookshelf is filled with varying mystery authors. So, I sort of have this habit of guessing the murderer or the culprit whenever I read mysteries and crime thrillers. Here it was Peter. He sort of planted himself in to the thick of things. The fact that he went back to the crime scene, to scout or probably get some items left that may point to him, is one indication. It just so happened that Abigail was there also and bumped into him. Second thing that led me to believe it was him was that he mentioned someone who might have done it. Trying to misled Abigail's investigation by pointing his finger to someone else is definitely a sign of guilt. Third thing was, he sort of misdirected Abigail's attention from him by supposedly being interested in dating her so she would not be focused on her sleuthing. And a lot of other clues that more or less pointed to his direction. Good thing, the Carrier ladies talk a lot and they examine everything from all angles. Points for Abigail too for not totally believing everyone, including being misled by Peter's supposed to be affections for her.

I totally enjoyed this story. Yes, someone died but it was not gory or morbid at all. This is probably the lightest murder mystery I have ever read. Light because of how fun this quirky characters make the investigation sound. I can't wait to read the second book of this series. What else would the sisters get themselves into this time?

I give this book 5/5 historical plaques. I haven't been reading a lot of mystery stories lately. I try to diversify my reading and read all other genres. My readings have been a mixture of a lot of other genres but mysteries have not been included into the mix until this book came. This reminded me of my first love of the mystery genre. This is how I got addicted into reading, buying and spending sleepless nights with my head buried in a book. I just got this feeling that I never get reading other genres when reading a mystery. Especially mystery and suspense books by my favorite authors. I just get lost in the pages and be immersed in them for as long as it takes. Thank you, Anna B. Madrise for reminding me this great feeling of having unraveled and solved the mystery myself.

Did I mention that the book includes recipes too. Yes, for someone like me who is also interested or more of a frustrated chef, I find these recipes really helpful. I will try them one day and see how they taste.

Good job, honey; ya couldn't have done it without us.

- Anna B. Madrise, Chirp No More -  

Other books by Anna B. Madrise:

Ruffled Feathers (Shearwater Mysteries #2)

Last Man She'd Love by Summerita Rhayne | Release Day

LAST MAN SHE'D LOVE

When best laid plans fall apart...

Lyna is all set to marry a movie mogul, when she finds his pregnant ex at her office, begging her to break the engagement and keep her name out of it. Forced to take her flirtatious boss Guy's help, she sets about to break the engagement. But now she's pulled into deeper involvement with Guy. 

One trouble leads to another!

She agrees to visit his palatial country house, posing as his fiancée and is drawn into the family and their antics. Sorting out who's who takes time. A stringent grandfather, an ambitious mother, a frustrated half brother are only the beginning!

Attraction makes things complicated…

Propinquity with someone as charming and attractive as Guy doesn't help. But Guy himself is as much of a puzzle as ever. Is he the playboy she thinks him or is there someone else beneath the sardonic pose? Will she ever find out?

Will she break her heart in the process?

Amazon US |  Amazon India

Summerita Rhayne writes contemporary and historical romance with lots of emotional conflict. She first got published in 2013 and has won contests with prestigious publishers such as Harlequin and Harper Collins India. Her pet belief is, if the inspiration is strong enough, the story characters will find a way to make the writer pen them down, even when writing time is in short supply. When cerebrally confronted with the sizzling interaction of two Alpha characters, the only way to get peace is write their book!

At heart, she's a family person and even though she loves her medical teaching profession, she happily becomes a homemaker when not at work. She loves winding down with music, romcoms and cricket (strictly watching only).

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Different. The word made him laugh at his own stupidity. What he wanted to say was she looked sexy as hell, more precious than rubies, ethereal like a goddess who didn’t belong to the earth. He would never say what he wanted and far less do what he wanted which was to take her away from this party, kiss her in turn with tenderness and passion and take her to his bed.

She might go away. All too soon.

She had to, he told himself.

Of course she would. They’d been brought close by weird circumstances. Soon they’d be back at the office. Where things were sane and ideas like engagement and rings and marriage far away.

Ring. A ring for Lyna.

He turned away from her. Only to walk smack into a group.

‘Time for dance,’ they chanted. A group of men and women surrounded them and inexorably closed around them, till he and Lyna were in the center.

‘I hurt my foot playing cricket with the kids,’ he said.

Lyna looked at him and he realized he had said something wrong. Her eyes sparkled. Her chin tilted up. ‘Well, I have three left feet. Who’s brave enough to dance with me? Jashith obviously isn’t.’

Someone volunteered and soon a medium height man in a Jodhpuri coat was leading her onto the dance floor.

‘You look flabbergasted, bro,’ a friend told him. ‘You should have thought up a better excuse. And she doesn’t even dance so bad.’

‘Jashith, you should have danced with her. What’s a little toe treading when you promised to spend your life taking care of her?’ A woman chided him.

‘You were mistaken. She’s rocking the floor!’

Sure enough, Lyna who’d refused to step with him at the anniversary they had attended, now was taking twirls between two men, first with one then another.

He watched, mouth falling open as she gyrated to the beat of the music, slim waist undulating. Her footwork was hesitant but slim arms curved in a rhythmic movement, one ending up on the shoulder of her escort. He slid his arm around her waist and swept her off her feet and into a spin. People grouped around them and applauded loudly.

The other man took this as a challenge and took her back, to execute a round. Lyna’s feet became uncoordinated, but it was disregarded as he pulled her against him, her back to him and clasping her waist, went into as smooth a spin as the other man.

Everyone clapped again. Now the other man moved, but before he could more than strike a pose with Lyna, he found a hand tapping his shoulder, more peremptory than polite.

Without quite knowing when he had moved, Jashith found himself cutting onto the guy and hauling Lyna into his arms.

She was flushed and breathless. Her hands moved to his shoulders as he drew her close. People began to chant ‘Jashith! Jashith! Let’s see what you can do!’

The music changed. A salsa based song came up. He bent over her in a sensual salsa pose and she arched back. He straightened and she came up, stepping onto his foot.

‘It’s healed very fast!’ she jibed.

His wide dark gaze smiled guilelessly. ‘So it has.’

        …………

Read another excerpt at: https://summeritarhayne.com/my-books/last-man-shed-love/   

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan | A Book Review

I had the chance to read this book because a friend had it. It was still wrapped in plastic fresh from the store when he handed it to me to read. Thank you Dars for lending me this book. I was so amused and entertained. You are a master Kevin Kwan. I finished this book in one sitting, probably around 4-5 hours. I could not let it go until I reached the end of the book.

This book was such a hoot. There were a lot of very funny lines that I just can't help but laugh out loud. My friend, who was watching TV beside me was raising her eyebrows at my noisy reaction to this book. I just can't suppress the sound of my laughter. Since, this was not my book, I had to take pictures of my favorite lines. My most favorite was the one about bok choy. I had to stop and laugh to my heart's content after reading that line. It was just so freaking hilarious. I can vividly picture it in my mind and the picture was just so funny.

This is a glimpse into the life of crazy rich asians. Their lifestyles, mind set, biases and how they see the world of ordinary people separate from their own. They are super rich that it will drive you mental. The older generation of these unassumingly rich Asians are way more frugal and wise in spending their wealth. They don't like to make a fuss. They want their lives to be a secret, a mystery. They do not want to be plastered in the papers or talk about their businesses. For example, they would rather walk nine blocks from the airport to the hotel than get on a taxi even though, they have tons of money that they can actually afford to buy the hotel if they have to. On the other hand, the younger generation of this ultra rich Asian families splurge as much as they can. They thrive on luxuries and comfort. The enjoy their jet-setting lifestyle and lavish parties. They are connoisseur of designer brands and expensive cars. They spend money faster than you can blink.

The two main characters of this story Rachel and Nick are both of Chinese descent but they met in the US. Rachel grew up in the US while Nick was schooled in London. These two are from opposite ends of the wealth hierarchy. Rachel had the surprise of her life when she met the family of Nick in Singapore. The phrase "crazy rich asians" came from Rachel's mouth. No word could be more appropriate to describe the complications that came with meeting Nick's family and all other things attached to them.

No wonder this book is such a hit. This is hilarious, witty and very realistic. I felt even more attuned to the story because I happen to be in Singapore at the time of reading this book. The ambiance added more to the drama and the entertainment value of the story. The mention of places and food in this book which I have become familiar with made me more connected to the story. It was such an experience and I am looking forward to the other books from this author. Definitely, Kevin Kwan can charm his audience.

I give this book 5/5 sticks of chicken satay or no, make that a whole stretch of hawker stalls of delicious Malay, Indian and Chinese food. This book was truly a treat. Congratulations Kevin Kwan!

NEVER, EVER wear green chiffon unless you want to look like bok choy that got ganged-raped.

- Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians - 

Situation Momedy: A Very Special Episode in Toddlerdom by Jenna Van Oy | A Book Review

I got this book from Library Thing.  I signed up for this because the word "Momedy" got me at first glance. I wanted to read something hilarious.

This book is about Jenna Van Oy's real life experiences raising two toddlers. Her story is a riot. I am not a mom yet, but I can relate to her stories because I have three nephews and one niece and I have seen them grow up. I used to live with my two nephews so I have first-hand experiences to some or most of the author's adventures and misadventures with manipulating yet cute toddlers. What I specially remember was how sweet, funny and cute they were. Especially Kuya, the eldest of my nephews. He would pick flowers growing outside the church and give them to us girls--my mom, his mom, me and another lady who happens to sit on the same row with us. The lady was so surprised when she got the flower. We explained to her that he gives flowers to all girls. Isn't he the sweetest?

I really enjoyed this book and has learned a lot from it. I am confident that I would be able to use the advice from the author on how to raise kids, especially toddlers in a way as to help them discover things on their own yet guide them to become persons of good character. What I like about this book is it's not claiming to be an absolute or the correct way to raise kids. In fact, the author encourages every parent to raise their kids the best way they know they can.What this book aims is to help parents realize that they are not alone in their struggle in raising their kids to be good and productive future citizens. The author also reminds every parent to find humor in all the unlikely situations with their little devils. Treasure these moments for time flies fast and then they will soon be on their own. Toddlerdom is the best of the formative years of these young ones. The best time to inculcate values and shape their characters. The best time to be involved in their growth.

I give this book 4/5 diapers. This is the funniest and most engrossing self-help book I have ever read and I am not even the direct market for this book as I don't have kids yet. I am looking forward to reading the rest of Jenna Van Oy's books. Her humor is just so natural and putting them into writing just translates smoothly. The humor was not lost in translation.  

My kids tend to be the problem and the solution to my rough days. They're the cause of my chaos as well as the cure. Isn't that wonderfully oxymoronic?

- Jenna Van Oy, Situation Momedy: A Very Special Episode in Toddlerdom - 

The Tribulations of August Barton (August Barton #1) by Jennifer LeBlanc | A Book Review

The Tribulations of August Barton 
by: Jennifer LeBlanc 

Publication date: October 25th 2016
Genres: Comedy, Contemporary, New Adult

August Barton could never have mentally prepared himself for his freshman year of college: not only has his anxiety increased, but his parents are divorcing, his new roommate thinks Augie is the biggest nerd in existence, and his grandma, a retired prostitute named Gertie, has taken to running away from her nursing home. Augie just wants to hole up in his dorm room with his Star Wars collectables and textbooks, but Gertie is not about to let that happen. What ensues is a crazy ride including naked trespassing, befriending a local biker gang, and maybe-just maybe-with Augie defeating his anxiety and actually getting the girl.

 
This is a coming of age story of August Barton. Finally, he has the confidence to come out of his shell and do the things he never thought he would ever do. Of course, his new (mis)adventures were courtesy of his very cool and lively Grandma. What a hoot this book is. An absolutely enjoyable story that will let you forget your worries temporarily with all of Grandma Gertie's stories and antics. This story just proved that there's nothing wrong with hanging out with old people, some of them may just turn out to be just what our soul needs--a taste of adventure and penchant for breaking the rules.

One thing that struck me in this story was Grandma Gertie's character. She is not ashamed of her being a former prostitute. I think she is even proud that she was the "Floozy of Freemont Street". I guess her saying that was without malice but with a conviction that she did her best during a very hard time. Hard times call for desperate measures. She rolled with the punches to survive. A very admirable trait. She also said that being a prostitute, she also tried to help the men who came to her. She listened to them and helped them navigate the issues and problems that beset them. To her, she did not just offer physical relief but also sorted out the emotional and psychological needs of her customers. But I am not advocating that it is okay to be a prostitute. 

In a way, I could relate to August. I was once shy and very unsure of myself. At times, I still am. I feel like I wanted the floor to swallow me whole, especially in very awkward situations. I did not have a strong self-esteem growing up. I never wanted attention directed at me. I would gladly hide in the shadows and be the one behind the scenes. So, I found it very easy to associate with August and how it feels to be in an environment outside of the comfort zone. Unlike August, I did not have a highly-spirited grandma who would push me beyond the limits of my safety and comfort. Whatever confidence I found now and love for adventure, I painstakingly have to work through and it helped a lot being around people who made me want to be the  best of who I am. People who are oozing with positivity that I can't help but be like them.

I learned one new term or word in this story--Gerontology, which I never ever heard before. If it's the first time you heard this word, them welcome to the club. Gerontology means the study of caring for old people, how to improve the ways to care for them. And if you are wondering how that came into the story, then better read this book. When I found out the relevance of this word to the whole tale, I was very surprised and felt that it was still premature to conclude, but I was already drawn to this cute, unassuming and clueless August character.

I also loved the ending. It was a perfect ending of all the grand comedic endings of great proportions. I never saw it coming. I was absolutely tickled and it left me with a promise that more misadventures of August and Gertie and her cohorts are yet to come. More are coming and I am so so so freaking looking forward to them.

I give this book 4.5/5 toy cars. I adored the characters of this story. They were perfectly written with very unique personalities in mind that were very memorable. Every time I think about this story or one of the characters, I would surely have a smile on my face as I reminisce the hilarious and shocking (I mean it in a good way) situations in this book. I can't help but shake my head in disbelief, at the same time, be amused at all the funny and awkward situations August had to face, compliments of his Grandma and her daring accomplice--Tunes. There was never a dull moment in this story. I would love to see this in the big screen. I am sure this is going to be a hit and a riot! I was right! Just looking at the cover and the title of this book, it already said a lot and it holds a promise (aside from the very fantastic ending) that you will never be sorry for picking up this book.

...how time was as infinite as the space above. The future shortly became the past and one could never predict how things would turn out.

- Jennifer LeBlanc, The Tribulations of August Barton - 

 

 Thank you again, Giselle, of Xpressobooktours for the copy.

Sugar and Other Luxuries by Everly Scott | A Book Review

This book is one of those few stories where the lead female character is not confident, does not feel beautiful and has low self-esteem. Not the usual, confident and beautiful leading ladies in most novels. Katherine is curvy and doesn't have abs to die for. She loves to eat, especially scrumptious and velvety soft pastry.

Katherine represents most women who are insecure about their curvy body. In this age where body shaming is as easy as batting an eyelash, weight is still the biggest and most prevalent issue among women. But along with this, a lot of awareness also is spreading that every woman should be confident in her own skin regardless of the numbers on the weighing scale. There are now plus size models. 36-24-36 is no longer that popular. Beauty is relative. There is no exact form or gauge to measure beauty. Physical appearances are deceiving and no matter how advanced society will become, your values and convictions are still all that matters. 

This story is the journey of Katherine of learning to love her body. She believes that of the 7 billion in the world, she's sure that there is at least one man out there who doesn't mind her love handles. This is the same dream everyone woman wants. This is like a modern fairy tale and her fairy godmother is in the form of Hunter, a married woman who has an unusual view of her marriage. 

One thing I noticed in the story is Kath's frenemy. I don't understand why she keeps this kind of friend through the years when all she gets from her are insults and making her feel ugly. I think, she should have dropped her a long time ago. She doesn't need someone who makes her feel bad or gives her negative vibes. I think it took her a while to realize that she doesn't need  a best friend who is always happy to point out her flaws. I think she had let her frenemy walk over her far too long. I always believe that we should remove negative people in our lives. They are not good for our mental health and for the soul.

I give this book 3.5/5 delicious macaroons. Reading this book made my mouth water because of the delightful pastries. I am a pastry-lover also. I am a frustrated pastry chef. My dream is to open my own customized cake shop. Yes, like Buddy Velastro. I still need to do a lot of practice baking.

Scars. Wounds. Stretch marks. Scabs. Rips, tears, and rashes - all physical manifestations of a mistake. Proof that something went wrong. Proof that we healed, that we transitioned.

- Everly Scott, Sugar and Other Luxuries -  

Thank you, Giselle of Xpressobooktours for the review copy.

The Adventures of Natalie Bloom (Bloom Sisters #2) by Brooke Stanton | Book Release and Giveaway

The Adventures of Natalie Bloom
Brooke Stanton
(Bloom Sisters, #2)

Publication date: December 2nd, 2016

Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance

Natalie’s dreams are about to come true. She’s found the perfect spot for her new restaurant and a perfect business partner to make it happen – gorgeous Luke Hawker – until she discovers things are not as they seem. Luke has run off with her money, leaving her dreams crumbling around her.

With Max Euston – her friend and secret crush -alongside her, Natalie must race against the clock to find Luke and get the money back before it’s too late.

With twists and turns, Natalie won’t know who to trust (or love) until the very last page.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iBooks

Here are some bonuses if you buy the book between Dec 2and Dec 6:

1: 75% off the retail price

2: entrance into an exclusive giveaway for a $50 Amazon Gift Card

3: A FREE, advanced copy of The Downfall of Catie Bloom

The bonuses will be available in the table of contents under Bonus when you buy the eBook.

—

Q&A with Brooke Stanton

Tell us a little about yourself. 

When did you decide to become a writer?

I used to keep notebooks filled with short stories starting in middle school. If I’m going to be completely honest they were filled with some pretty risqué stories. I was young and didn’t know much about romance or sex, but my aunt wrote romance novels and I used to sneak and read them, so I tried to emulate her. I didn’t really understand the subject matter. I don’t think I’d even kissed a boy, yet. Once I got to high school, I wrote more mainstream fiction in my spiral notebooks. They were never for anyone to see. Just my own enjoyment. I went to a performing arts high school and funneled my creativity on stage at the time. But I always knew one day I would publish a book.

Why do you write?

I write for the same reason I used to get on stage and sing and act. It’s cathartic. I love diving into different stories and characters. It makes me feel alive.

What are your ambitions for your writing career?

To have the freedom to write what I want in many different genres. I hope my readers love my books as much as I love writing them.

What has been the hardest part of building your career?

Being patient!

Which writers inspire you?

Jojo Moyes, Emily Giffin, Meg Cabot. All their stories and characters are interesting and unique and I love how their stories unfold. The love stories feel authentic and there’s always a bit of fun and laughter.

What have you written? (Include books, novellas, short stories, poems, blogs, awards or anything of interest).

My debut novel was the award-winning RomCom, The Misadventures of Catie Bloom. My follow-up novel is The Adventures of Natalie Bloom, which is the second book in the Bloom Sisters series (but can be read as a stand-alone). I have a blog on my website that focuses on my writing career with day-to-day life anecdotes. When I was trying to get preggers, I had a humor blog called Vagina Vacancy. I also contributed to Natural Awakenings magazine and wrote a column for examiner.com.

What inspires your ideas?

Everything! No, really. I never know when an idea is going to hit; I could be on a plane, in a car, watching a movie, reading the newspaper, about to fall asleep. My phone is filled with notes of story ideas. I have at least a dozen. And they will all be written.

Are there any correlations between the books you write and your life experiences?

The Adventures of Natalie Bloom was largely inspired by my yearly trips to Red Frog Beach in Panama. My parents own a place there and it’s a beautiful, unique, inspiring location. The wheels in my head were turning every time I went down there and out of that came this book.

My novel, How to Survive New York on Three Dates a Week (co-written by Corinne Barlow), is the most biographical. Most of the stories are pulled right from our lives. It’s scheduled to be released in early 2018.

All my books have a few anecdotes I took either directly from my life or my friends. If you know me, read carefully…you may find a bit of your life staring back at you!

Do you work from an outline or plot or do you prefer just to see where an idea takes you?

I used to write and see where the story took me. But I found writing for discovery without any kind of outline takes too long. Now I write a short outline before I write any book. It has done wonders for the speed in which I can write a book now. And there’s still a lot to discover, even with an outline.

Tell me about your most recent release.

It’s a romantic adventure about discovering what you and what you’ll do (and won’t do) to get. It’s a bit of romance, adventure, and mystery all tied together. Natalie Bloom discovers to get what she wants she has to fight for it and not be afraid to get hurt…a hard thing to do for all of us.

Is there a message in your novel that you hope readers will grasp? 

I don’t focus on a message as much as I focus on giving my readers something to indulge in, like sneaking a pint of rocky road ice cream and savoring every morsel as it slides down. But the most prominent theme in Natalie Bloom is not letting fear get in the way of living your life – stand up for what you want and go out and get it, no matter what the obstacles.

Any new projects we should look out for?

The third and final book in the series, The Downfall of Catie Bloom, is coming out in the summer of 2017.

Author Bio:

After her own misadventures in New York City, LA and London, Brooke Stanton now lives in sunny South Florida. She's an award-winning author who has contributed to Natural Awakenings Magazine, wrote a column for Examiner.com, and is the author of The Bloom Sisters series. Visit her website brookstantonbooks.com.

Get a FREE copy of the prequel, IGNITE, here.


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Three of A Kind - James Herriot: 3/3 All Things Wise and Wonderful

All Things Wise and Wonderful. This is the third book feature for James Herriot. I apologize, this took quite a while to come out. I had some things I had to finish. So don't fret, the wait is finally over and here it is.

Like the first two books of James Herriot, this one also contains a lot of enjoyable and hilarious stories on his calls to the farms. What is different this time is the circumstances in Dr. Herriot's life. This time he is married to Helen, as mentioned in All Things Bright and Beautiful. They now live in the top floor of the Skeldale House. Everything is going smoothly with the practice and their domestic life when the boys of Skeldale House got a letter to enlist in the military. Of course, James, Siegfred and Tristan are all loyal citizens, they signed up. James left Helen in Skeldale House and this time she is pregnant with their first child. James was assigned to the RAF (Royal Air Force) and started training. In fact, Helen gave birth to their son with James still in the RAF.

In between rest from strict training and going out to town with his mates, James would miss Helen and remember their experiences and he would often recall them with great pleasure. So, all in all, the book talked about his training in the RAF where some incidents would lead him to remember parallel experiences in Darrowby. Especially, when James' senior officer has it bad for him. His commanding officer seem to hate him. To alleviate his misery and homesickness, he would often reminisce about the comical encounters in the farms and his house calls in Darrowby. 

Like all other James Herriot books, this is full of mirth, fun and lots of laughter. Herriot is truly one of a kind in his genre. He made life in the dales and the back-breaking woes of farmers less arduous because of his interesting stories. Aside from the colorful human and animals characters, he also included his memorable experiences in the RAF which were also testament to his high-spirited personality. James Herriot never fails to find humor in all his situations, whether they are bordering on disaster or success. And those who love Tristan like me, you will have more of his disastrous antics. And boy, just so you know, the guy can't cook. He is all beauty and brains but not in the kitchen. But this book isn't just about all humor, there are touching parts too. Just when you thought you can't get enough of the laughter, there are also pages that would make you want to cry. Herriot has his serious side also and you can't help but admire him more.

I pride myself in stumbling upon the first of his books that I got my hands on in a second hand store. It was worth all the stooping and rummaging in the cramped space. Truly, James Herriot's works are a treasure. He never fails to put a little fun in my mundane life. Thank you James Herriot! If heaven allows you to continue to spread good vibes, then by all means do. After all, we all need a little fun and a lot of laughter in our lives. Yes, laughter is still the best medicine.

1/3 All Creatures Great and Small

2/3 All Things Bright and Beautiful

Three of A Kind - James Herriot: 2/3 All Things Bright and Beautiful

All Things Bright and Beautiful is the sequel to the All Creatures Great and Small. This time James Herriot is in his third year as a vet in Yorkshire and now married to Helen. Here he talks about how different his married life is from being single. New characters are introduced here both humans and furry creatures. As expected, you will never go bored. It is as funny as the first book. A lot more of his misadventures with the creatures he is called upon to see. Animals who have a mind of their own, apart from the quirks of their owners.

In here, he wished veterinary medicine were advanced and vaccines could have been discovered during those times, it would have done him a lot of good and also saved the poor farmers. A lot of lambing. Herriot's experiences of ewes giving birth. Cute, adorable and feisty canine characters are also included. Of animals that surely have been dead but have miraculously came back to life due to Herriot's accidental discovery of a cure.

Like all James Herriot books, this is a very relaxing read. Just like lounging in a hammock by the beach and the feel of the fresh breeze blowing in your face. Need I say more? Read the book. I have a lot of laughs while reading this and no wonder, James Herriot is for me the best comedy writer of all time. I am sure he is surrounded by people laughing at his stories in heaven.

The ewe's life had been saved not by the medicinal therapy but simply by stopping her pain and allowing nature to do its own job of healing.

...that animals confronted with severe continuous pain and the terror and shock that goes with it will often retreat even into death, and if  you can remove that pain amazing things can happen.

-James Herriot, All Things Bright and Beautiful -

1/3 All Creatures Great and Small
3/3 All Things Wise and Wonderful

Three of A Kind - James Herriot: 1/3 All Creatures Great and Small

Our Three of a Kind feature for this week is Dr. James Herriot. He was a British veterinarian. He was born James Alfred "Alf" Wright but used the pen name James Herriot. He died in 1995 at 78. His books are all about his experiences as a country vet in Yorkshire. His books are filled with anecdotes and his funny encounters with different unique characters and animals in the farms he visited. His books are my first initiation into the world of veterinary medicine and the hazards and fulfillment that came with it. After reading his books I realize that I need not just read joke books to make me laugh. There are actually novels that are comical and outrageously tickling that I can read. I just have to sharpen my book-finding-senses. After reading Herriot's books, I have started to rummaged for other books with the same theme - the witty, funny and hilarious kind. Books that have authors who do not take themselves seriously. And true enough, I have found a few.

The first book on the list under James Herriot would be All Creatures Great and Small. This is the first book he has published as a journal to his veterinary practice. It was published in 1972 but it was about his experiences in the 1930's - the early years of his practice. Those years where also not so advanced yet for veterinary medicine. The methods were still a bit primitive and crude. The book may be called an autobiography in some way since most of what is written were his real encounters. His books are now a classic.

His books have become widely known not just in Britain but also in America. There is even a TV series and a movie of the same name. I am actually curious to watch the film. Would it be as hilarious as the book? 

There is also a train service operated by Grand Central Railway that runs from Herriot's hometown, Sunderland to London King's Cross that was named after him. 

All Creatures Great and Small narrates the story of Dr. James Herriot's early years as a vet. After he qualified and his being accepted as an assistant to Dr. Siegfried Farnon of Darrowby. His life as a country vet thus begins and he is initiated into country-living. A totally different world from having grown in the city.

You would be surprised to know that Herriot's life as a country vet is far from boring. In fact, his everyday life is filled with various interesting characters of both animals and humans. In the Skeldale House alone, where Herriot lives with Siegfried and his brother Tristan and five dogs, is a riot. Siegfried and Tristan may be related by blood but they are polar opposites. Siegfried is temperamental and moody but a good boss. While Tristan is a happy-go-lucky kind of guy who sees the world as a big playground. I actually love Tristan's character compared to Siegfried. Siegfried is at times bordering on bi-polar tendencies. But even so, you'll find that the characters are all adorable even with their individual quirks and sometimes annoying antics. Not to mention the animals who also have personalities of their own. This is a really hilarious read. I often caught myself laughing, good thing I'm just at home and my family is used to me giggling and laughing alone while holding a book or an e-book reader. Beware if you are outside and reading Herriot's book, someone might think you have loose screws. There are just a lot of silly things here that you can't help but be amused and laugh out loud.

As I have mentioned, Herriot does not take himself seriously. I can vividly imagine his experiences in the book and if I were there in the farms, I would have rolled over in the grass with his antics. You just can't help but fall in love with the adorable and warm character of James Herriot. He's definitely one of the best writers I've known. Even to this modern day and age, his books have not gone out of style. I can't feel any generation gap. His humor is universal, even if you do not love animals, you will find yourself turning into a grinning idiot. His books are priceless and a pleasure to read. I read the books again for my three of a kind feature and I am taken back to the same  feeling I had when I first read the books, only this time it is much better because I had to be reminded of the experience and relive it again. It's a double doze of the amusement.

Yes, you are right, the titles of his books are from a famous poem of Cecil Frances Alexander. These titles are actually a series but the titles do not follow the order of the lines of the poem. The poem begins with All Things Bright and Beautiful but Herriot's series started with All Creatures Great and Small. The titles are really fitting. The book for me is like an ode to God by Herriot. Thanking Him for the blessings and experiences he has in his everyday vet life. It has been a very interesting existence. If I were him too, I would not trade it for anything. 

Here are certain rules and scientific theories that Dr. James Herriot has formulated after his two years of attending to various farm and domestic animals:

• That it was always the biggest men who went down - like seeing blood

• That big dogs were kept by people who live in small houses and vice versa

• Clients who often said "spare no expense" never paid their bills, not ever.

• When he asked his way in the Dales and told "you can't miss it", he knows he will soon find himself hopelessly lost.

If you are in dire need of entertainment and would want to belch out the excess gas in your body or want to exorcise the bad energies that is hindering your potentials, then by all means read a James Herriot. I am definitely positive, you will feel a lot better. You'll see the world in a different light and get a new perspective. And mind you, this is all clean fun. No swearing and cussing. Just a lot of muck and animal body parts. 

...but you never know what's in store for you. It is a funny profession (veterinary medicine). If offers an unparalleled opportunities for making a chump out of yourself.

-James Herriot

2/3 All Things Bright and Beautiful
3/3 All Things Wise and Wonderful