Book ~ "Callie" (2011) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Mia and Michael Battelli want a pet more than anything. And a cuddly cat or kitten would be perfect for their small brownstone apartment. But their parents aren't sure Mia and Michael are ready for the responsibility.

Then Mia spots a tiny calico foraging for food. Callie doesn't seem to belong to anyone - and she's hurt. Mia can't just leave her to fend for herself! But what if she can't convince her parents to keep the sweet little kitten? Will Callie ever find a home?

Mia and Michael are in elementary school. They'd like to have a pet but they live in an apartment and their parents don't it's the right time or place to have one.

One day Mia and Michael are going home after school and Mia hears a meow. She discovers a kitten and when they catch her, they discover the kitten, who Mia names Callie since she is a calico, has a cut on her paw and take her to the vet. They agree to foster Callie for a week until her paw is better. But Callie isn't used to being cooped up in an apartment and wants to be free. They don't feel comfortable with the thought of letting the kitten loose so they need to find the right home for her.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There was a cat quiz at the end along some info about cats. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Callie's point of view. It is the first book in the Kitty Corner series.

Book ~ "Buried Bones" (2000) Carolyn Haines

From Goodreads ~ Private investigation isn't on the list of a southern belle's most desirable accomplishments - but it's saved Sarah Booth Delaney's Delta homestead. Now all she has to cope with is its bossy antebellum ghost who is determined to save Sarah - from spinsterhood. Then comes the perfect social occasion: Lawrence Ambrose's dinner party. 

Ambrose, once a famous man of southern letters, is planning a comeback: a delicious tell-all with a bitchy ex-model as his "biographer." As he taunts his dinner guests with the news that his book will blow the lid off Zinnia's darkest secrets, it becomes plain that each and every guest has a secret - and wants Ambrose to keep it. When the morning-after mess includes a bloody corpse and the manuscript of the biography disappears, Sarah Booth goes digging for answers. But many who hold them are six feet under - or soon will be - and if she doesn't tread carefully, she could join them any day now.

Sarah Booth Delaney is single and living in her family's plantation. She had recently fallen into becoming a private detective but said she's writing a fiction novel as a cover so it wouldn't be suspicious when she asks questions. Lawrence, a once famous writer and artist, invites her to a dinner party he is having. He has written a manuscript about his life and during the party, he lets his guests know that he may be revealing secrets about them. When Sarah visits him the next day, she finds him dead ... it looks like he had cut his hand and bled out before he could call for help. Lawrence's long-time friend suspects he has  been murdered, though, and hires Sarah to find out who did it. Lawrence's manuscript has disappeared so there are many possibilities of who may have done it to protect themselves.

It is written in first person perspective in Sarah's voice. This is the second in the Sarah Booth Delaney series (there are currently 26 books in the series) ... it works as a stand alone as there is enough background provided but it's helpful if you've read the first one. I'd read the first one a couple weeks ago and liked it enough to keep going with the series. I thought this one was just okay. Like the first one, I found there were a lot of characters and it was hard to keep track of them at times. I thought the story was convoluted and the ending farfetched and cheesy. 

The editing could have been better ... there were lots of double quotation marks missing. And Tennessee Williams was sometimes referred to as "Tom" and "Ted" ... his real name was "Thomas" so "Ted" is incorrect.

Sarah's mother's last name was Booth and her father's last name was Delaney and I thought it was weird that everyone called her "Sarah Booth" rather than just "Sarah". It was odd that Jitty, the ghost of her great-great-grandmother's nanny, "lives" with her ... I found Jitty really annoying because she's always putting Sarah down and nagging her about being single and childless. The numerous references in general about Sarah's womb were tiresome.

Book ~ "Chewy And Chica" (2010) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Lizzie and Charles Peterson definitely enjoy competing with each other. Especially when Lizzie acts like she knows everything about dogs and Charles just doesn't want to listen. 

Fortunately, in this Special Edition, there are TWO chihuahuas to foster. Charles and Lizzie each agree to take one and see who can train theirs more successfully. Will the Peterson household make it through this sibling rivalry?

Lizzie and Charles are in elementary school. Their family, the Petersons, have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Lizzie and Charles were volunteering at a local rescue when a man pulls up with his car full of puppies. There had been a man in a truck selling the puppies and he bought them all to ensure they could find good homes. The rescue has room for all the puppies except for two chihuahuas, which the Petersons agree to foster. Lizzie takes responsibility for the female, who she names Chica, and Charles takes responsibility for the male, who he names Chewy. Chica needs to learn to be better housetrained and Chewy needs to learn not to bite so Lizzie and Charles have a contest to see who can train their puppy the fastest and find a home for them.

In the meantime, their mother, who is a local journalist, investigates and discovers the puppies came from a puppy mill. Together they are all determined to educate people that it's better to adopt a puppy from a rescue than to buy one from a puppy mill.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Chewy, Chica and Buddy's points of view. It is part of the Puppy Place series.

Book ~ "Scruffy" (2023) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ When Charles and Lizzy find Scruffy stuck in a fence at a scary old house, they aren’t sure if she’s lost or been abandoned. 

Either way, Scruffy has learned that smiling at humans always gets her what she wants ... and soon so does the rest of the world. When she hits social media, Scruffy goes viral, getting her tons of attention and many possible homes. Maybe even too many!

Lizzie and Charles are in elementary school. Their family, the Petersons, have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Charles and his friend, Sammy, are walking home and they hear whining near an abandoned house. They investigate and discover a puppy stuck in a fence. Charles' dad helps get the puppy get free and when they take her to the vet, Rachel, the technician, names her Scruffy because of her appearance. Rachel is very much into social media and creates an account for Scruffy which becomes a hit. So there's no shortage of people wanting to adopt her. Charles and Lizzie, though, have been bickering a lot lately which might jeopardize their future in fostering puppies.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Scruffy's point of view. It is the 67th in the Puppy Place series.

Book ~ "Zig & Zag" (2022) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ When their mom sits the family down for a talk, Charles and Lizzie are excited to hear that they'll be fostering Zig and Zag, twin Brittany puppies! 

Double the puppies should mean double the fun but the twins are very hyper and need a lot of attention. In order to find this adorable duo their forever home, Lizzie will need all the help she can get to train Zig and Zag!

Lizzie is in elementary school. Her family, the Petersons, have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

From a woman she works with, Lizzie's mother hears about Zig and Zag, two energetic Brittany spaniel puppies, who need homes. Because she has a deadline coming up, Mom is hesitant to foster two puppies but when she meets them she knows they have to take them. Lizzie takes on the responsibilities of walking them. It's a lot of work but she's happy when she discovers a doggy park not far from home where the puppies can run and tire themselves out with other dogs and puppies. She knows it's going to be hard to find a home for the two puppies together.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Zig and Zag's points of view. It is the 64th in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Donut" (2021) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Lizzie's so excited to head up into the country for her Aunt Amanda's sleepaway doggy camp to learn new ways to train dogs. But they're both surprised by the arrival of Donut, a Lab-Shepherd mix puppy who might not join her family on their move. 

Lizzie will have to use her new skills to show that Donut is sweet and well-trained for her family's new home.

Lizzie is in elementary school. Her family, the Petersons, have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Lizzie is spending the weekend with her Aunt Amanda, who runs a doggy daycare, at her camp in the country to learn how to click-train dogs with her aunt's dog, Bowser. One of her aunt's clients, though, is moving to California. The family is sad their new landlord won't let their Lab/Shepherd puppy, Donut, live with them in their rented house. Lizzie and Aunt Amanda offer to take Donut with them for the weekend while the family packs and it's up to Lizzie to find Donut a new home.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Donut's point of view. It is the 63rd in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Them Bones" (1999) Carolyn Haines

From Goodreads ~ No self-respecting lady would allow herself to end up in Sarah Booth's situation. Unwed, unemployed and over thirty, she's flat broke and about to lose the family plantation. Not to mention being haunted by the ghost of her great-great-grandmother's nanny, who never misses an opportunity to remind her of her sorry state - or to suggest a plan of action, like ransoming her friend's prize pooch to raise some cash.

But soon Sarah Booth's walk on the criminal side leads her deeper into unladylike territory, and she's hired to solve a murder. Did gorgeous, landed Hamilton Garrett V really kill his mother twenty years ago? And if so, what is Sarah Booth doing falling for this possible murderer? When she asks one too many questions and a new corpse turns up, she is suddenly a suspect herself ... and Sarah Booth finds that digging up the bones of the past could leave her rolling over in her grave.

Sarah Booth Delaney is living in her family's plantation and is minutes away from losing it because she has no money and no job. Harold, a local banker, wants to marry her and, though she doesn't love him, she is considering it in order to keep her home. As she thinks about it, she decides to steal her rich friend's dog, Chablis, and hold it for ransom for $5,000 to get enough money to tide her over. When she "rescues" the dog, her friend hires her to follow up to see if a fortune teller's prediction is going to come true. Someone else hires her to check into something else and suddenly she becomes a private detective getting mixed up in some decades old accidents that may be murders and some apparently missing money.

This is the first in the Sarah Booth Delaney series (there are currently 26 books in the series, soon to be 27) and I thought it was okay (okay enough to keep going with the series). I found there were a lot of characters, though, and it was hard to remember who was who at times. It is written in first person perspective in Sarah's voice. Sarah's mother's last name was Booth and her father's last name was Delaney and I thought it was weird that everyone called her "Sarah Booth" rather than just "Sarah". I found it hard to believe that she fell in love with someone basically as soon as she met him even though he may be a murderer. The oddest thing about the story is that Jitty, the ghost of her great-great-grandmother's nanny, "lives" with her ... maybe to add some humour?

Book ~ "Lily" (2021) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ The Petersons are headed to the beach! 

On their vacation at the Fair Harbor Inn, Charles meets Lily, an untrained English cream golden retriever puppy. Charles will need all the help he can get with this rambunctious pup. Will he be able to find her a perfect permanent new home?

Charles is in elementary school. His family, the Petersons, have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Charles and his family are headed to at B 'n B at the beach for a vacation. There they meet Lily, a golden retriever puppy, and her family. Lily is a rambunctious puppy and when her family goes home, they leave Lily behind in her crate in their room! The family that runs their B 'n B are too busy to keep the dog so Charles is determined to find her a home since his mom and dad say they can't keep her because they already have a puppy at home.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Lily's point of view. It is the 61st in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Biggie" (2021) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ After getting home from school, Lizzie is surprised to hear that her parents are fostering another yorkie puppy. After all, their last yorkie foster, Princess, was a little spoiled. But Biggie is Princess's total opposite. He's energetic and tenacious! 

Can Lizzie find this teeny puppy with a big heart a perfect home?

Lizzie is in elementary school. His family, the Petersons, have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Lizzie and her family agree to foster a yorkie puppy named Biggie. He belongs to some friends who are just starting their adult lives and don't have enough time to devote to him. They are sad to give him up but they know it's the best thing for him. The Petersons had fostered a yorkie in the past who was a spoiled princess but happily Biggie has a different personality. 

Lizzie and her friends have a dog walking company and she takes Biggie with her as she's walking her dogs. Biggie takes a liking to a Jack Russell dog named Domino and helps to find him when he gets lost in the woods.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Biggie's point of view. It is the 60th in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "And Then You're Dead: What Really Happens If You Get Swallowed by a Whale, Are Shot from a Cannon, or Go Barreling Over Niagara" (2017) Cody Cassidy and Paul Doherty

From Goodreads ~ A gleefully gruesome look at the actual science behind the most outlandish, cartoonish and impossible deaths you can imagine. 

What would happen if you took a swim outside a deep-sea submarine wearing only a swimsuit? How long could you last if you stood on the surface of the sun? How far could you actually get in digging a hole to China? Paul Doherty, senior staff scientist at San Francisco's famed Exploratorium Museum, and writer Cody Cassidy explore the real science behind these and other fantastical scenarios, offering insights into physics, astronomy, anatomy, and more along the way.

Is slipping on a banana peel really as hazardous to your health as the cartoons imply? Answer: Yes. Banana peels ooze a gel that turns out to be extremely slippery. Your foot and body weight provide the pressure. The gel provides the humor (and resulting head trauma). 

Can you die by shaking someone s hand? Answer: Yes. That's because, due to atomic repulsion, you've never actually touched another person s hand. If you could, the results would be as disastrous as a medium-sized hydrogen bomb. 

If you were Cookie Monster, just how many cookies could you actually eat in one sitting? Answer: Most stomachs can hold up to sixty cookies or around four liters. If you eat or drink more than that, you re approaching the point at which the cookies would break through the lesser curvature of your stomach, and then you d better call an ambulance to Sesame Street." 

I came across this book and it sounded interesting and wacky ... and it was.  The range of subjects was all over the place.

I liked the writing style.  It was technical yet amusing.  The chapters are short and chunky.

What would happen if you were in a plane and the window popped out?  First of all, you don't want to be in the window seat because you are going to get sucked out (thus benefiting the others sitting next to you because you are going to plug up the hole because the window isn't big enough for your whole body to get out).  You're going to notice that it's very windy and cold out (your nose will become frostbitten in seconds).  Because of the change in the air pressure, you would keep breathing like everything was fine but you'd pass out after 15 seconds ... then be brain dead in four minutes.  I usually request a window seat when I fly ... hmmmm, maybe not anymore.

What would happen if you are about being attacked by a swarm of bees?  A fella named Michael Smith tested on himself to see what were the least painful spots to get stung (he discovered it's your skull, your middle toe and your upper arm) and the most painful spots to get stung (he discovered it's your face, penis and inside of your nose).  Ouch!

What if your elevator cable broke?  Contrary to popular belief, jumping up isn't going to save you (you'll still land and cause an organ pile-up).  You have a better chance of surviving if you lay flat out on your back.  Good to know!

Book ~ "Fluffy & Freckles" (2020) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Charles is so excited for his spring break trip to his dad's friend Steve's cozy cabin in Vermont. Especially once he spots Freckles, a shy, stray pup out alone on the snowy trail. Dad and Steve agree to foster the lonely pup. 

When they're joined by Fluffy, an undersized newborn lamb from a nearby farm, the baby animals become quick friends. Charles is going to have his hands full with these two little ones!

Charles is in elementary school. His family, the Petersons, have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Charles and his father are visiting his father's friend, Steve, who lives in the woods in Vermont. Every spring Steve taps maple syrup and Charles and his father will be there to help him this time. As they are snowshoeing, they see tracks and realize it must be a dog. They follow the tracks and find a puppy, who Charles names Freckles, finding shelter in a cave. They take the puppy back to Steve's to figure out what to do with him. Then one of Steve's friends asks him for temporary help with a baby lamb whose mother has rejected it. They take the lamb, who Charles names Fluffy, and Freckles and Fluffy become fast friends. Charles is determined, though, to find Freckles a furever home.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Freckle's point of view. It is the 58th in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Barney" (2020) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Lizzie Peterson is excited to watch her best friend, Maria, in an equestrian competition. As the horses get ready to compete, a curious dachshund races straight into the ring! 

When Lizzie finds that the puppy belongs to a family who is a bit overwhelmed, she decides to help them re-home Barney. But finding the perfect owners for this loud and peppy dog might not be so easy.

Lizzie is in elementary school. Her family, the Petersons, have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Lizzie's best friend, Maria, loves horses and Lizzie attends an equestrian competition that Maria is competing in. During it, Barney, a Dachshund puppy, runs into the ring barking at the horses. Barney's family includes a couple children and having rambunctious Barney is too much ... too much barking and too much energy. They make the difficult decision to let Lizzie and her family find him a new home.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Barney's point of view. It is the 57th in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "The Vacation" (2023) John Marrs

From Goodreads ~ How far would you run to escape your past? 

Venice Beach, Los Angeles. A paradise on earth. Tourists flock to the golden coast and the promise of Hollywood. But for eight strangers at a beach-front hostel, there is far more on their minds than an extended vacation. All of them are running from something. And they all have secrets they’d kill to keep.

There is a rundown hostel in Venice Beach. It's not fancy but it's cheap and that's the attraction for many. This story focuses on eight people who staying there including Tommy who started off with his friend, Louis, touring around the States and is working there in exchange for room and board, Nicole and Eric who are reliving the adventure of an elderly patient of Nicole's who had recently passed away, Matty and Declan who are two young fun Irishmen, and Savanah who has run away from her controlling father and is trying to start a new life.

I liked this book. This is the fourth book I've read by this author and I liked the writing style. I found that it started off a bit slow but really picked up about halfway through. It is written in third person perspective in the various voices depending on what's going on. I found there were a lot of characters so it took a while to get to know them and keep them straight. The timeless jumps back and forth from present day to the past and it took a bit to get used to the rhythm. The endings of the characters' storylines were a bit farfetched but I went with it. As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.

Book ~ "Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival" (2023) Omid Scobie

From Goodreads ~ Queen Elizabeth II’s passing ruptured the already-fractured foundations of the House of Windsor - and dismantled the protective shield around it. With an institution long plagued by antiquated ideas around race, class and money, the monarchy and those who prop it up are now exposed and at odds with a rapidly modernizing world. 

Relying on his vast experience as a royal reporter and over a decade of conversations and interviews with current and former Palace staff, trusted friends of the royals and even the family members themselves, Scobie pulls back the curtain on an institution in turmoil to show what the monarchy must change in order to survive. This is the monarchy’s endgame. Do they have what it takes to save it?

I like reading bios/autobios and so this book caught my eye. The author apparently started writing it in the summer of 2022, a few months before the queen passed away so had to revise it to reflect this. 

This book covers the royal family, with chapters focusing on specific things like the rise of Camilla from mistress to queen, how Kate has changed since she became William's wife, Andrew's fall from grace and how Queen Elizabeth and Charles still dote on him, and more. There is lots of information about the personalities of Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, Harry and Meghan and how they choose to deal with things.

I found it to be an interesting read and there are lots of pictures at the end.  It's hard to say how much is true or not as there as there are many anonymous "sources". He comes across as being pro-Harry and Meghan (not that there's anything wrong with that) but does say nice things about the rest of the family. At times there is a lot of detailed historical background which was heavy and a bit boring. It should be interesting what happens with the monarchy once Charles (the "bridge") has passed on and William becomes king.

Book ~ "Bentley" (2019) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ The Petersons are off to a weekend in the woods. Charles is excited to venture into the outdoors with his puppy, Buddy. When the family arrives at Misty Valley, Charles discovers that a smart Weimaraner named Bentley is lonely and in need of a home. 

But Charles is only there for the weekend. Can he find Bentley a home in just three days?

Charles is in elementary school. His family, the Petersons, have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Charles and his family are on a camping trip at Misty Valley. When they check in, they see a Weimaraner puppy named Bentley in a cage in the office ... he was found a couple weeks early roaming around and no one had claimed him. The owner of Misty Valley can't keep him and doesn't know anyone else who will take him. Charles gets attached to Bentley and is determined to find him a good home.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Bentley's point of view. It is the 53rd in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Louie" (2018) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. Their family fosters these young dogs, giving them love and proper care, until they can find the perfect forever home. 

At Loon Lake Park, Charles and his Cub Scout friends are told that a dog has been abandoned in the parking lot. Louie, a not-so-small Newfoundland puppy, is quickly taken in and cared for by the group. 

Can Charles and his friends find Louie a perfect, and roomy, forever home?

Charles is in elementary school. His family, the Petersons, have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Charles and his Cub Scout friends are cleaning up a local park before the summer season starts. They find a Newfoundland puppy abandoned in a crate. Charles gets attached to him and names him Louie. Since the Petersons foster and find homes for dogs, they take him home and Charles and his friends start training Louie. They eventually find out why Louie was abandoned and find a good home for him.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Louie's point of view. It is the 51st in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up" (2020) Alexandra Potter

From Goodreads ~ Meet Nell. Her life is a mess.

When her business goes bust and her fiancé with it, Nell's happy ever after in California falls apart and she moves back to London to start over. But a lot has changed since she’s been gone. All her single friends are now married with children, a sky-high real estate market forces her to rent a room in a stranger’s house, and everyone has seemingly perfect Instagram-ready lives. Starting from scratch she feels like a f##k up ... a forty-something f##k up.

Landing a job writing obituaries, Nell meets the fabulous Cricket, an 80-something widow with challenges of her own. Together they begin to help each other heal their aching hearts, cope with the loss of the lives they had planned, and push each other into new adventures and joy. With Cricket’s help, Nell is determined to turn her life around. First, though, she has a confession.

Nell is 40-something. She had thought by now her life would have been settled. Instead, she has moved back home to live with her parents in England after spending five years living in California, eventually becoming engaged and then breaking up with Ethan and losing everything when their restaurant closed.

Nell is starting over, surviving thanks to a loan from her father and a freelance job writing obituaries. She is renting a room from Edward, a 40-something family man who goes to his country home on the weekends and expects Nell to take care of Arthur, his big hairy dog, when he's not there (in exchange for lower rent). All her friends have moved on and are married with children. She meets 80-something Cricket when she wrote her late husband's obituary and they become friends.

As an creative outlet, Nell starts a podcast that she assumes no one will listen to and is surprised when it starts gaining in popularity. Plus she daily keeps track of things she is grateful for.

I thought this was a cute book and liked it. It's written in first person perspective in Nell's voice. It takes place in London, England, so there were references to things I wasn't familiar with and sometimes Googled them. I liked Nell and Cricket and thought they were fun together. Given her age and circumstance, I liked Cricket's spirit. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "Bitsy" (2017) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ This itsy Morkie (maltese-yorkie mix) may be the tiniest dog Charles has ever seen. But she thinks she's a big girl and she's full of sassy attitude. 

Can the Peterson's find her a perfect forever home?

Charles is in elementary school. His family, the Petersons, have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Charles and his mom are in the grocery store where he sees a flyer on the bulletin board about Bitsy, a puppy who needs to be rehomed. Charles is drawn to the Bitsy's picture and since the Petersons find homes for dogs, he wants to help. Charles' mom contacts the owner and they take Bitsy home. Bitsy is a cutie and Charles and Buddy have a lot of fun playing with her.

In the meantime, Charles and his mom have joined a local choral group and Charles begins taking piano lessons from a visiting teacher. When Charles discovers Bitsy loves music, he starts sneaking her in when he is practicing and she is loved by everyone.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Bitsy's point of view. It is the 48th in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Would You Ask My Husband That?" (2023) Kathleen Whyman

From Goodreads ~ When Sarah's husband, Will, is unexpectedly fired, her first reaction is shock. Then she gets a call offering her his old job.

On principal, she should turn it down. But their young family needs the money and Sarah can't help feeling like her career has taken a backseat all these years. Now it is her turn to shine.

Overnight, Sarah and Will trade places.

She's now the departmental director commuting into the city five days a week and answering client calls on the weekend. He's doing the school run and the laundry. Or at least trying to.

They've always said they are equal partners so this should be simple right?

Wrong.

This change was supposed to be the making of them as a family but as Sarah fights for her chance to have it all, she might end up losing everything.

Sarah and Will worked for the same company. Will was a director and, though she had been there longer and would like to be a director, Sarah was a senior manager ... she had taken time off to have children so lost some ground plus carries most of the responsibilities of running their home. When Will was fired, Sarah was offered his job. This is an opportunity she didn't want to say no to. With his termination package, Will agreed not to work for the next six months so Sarah accepted the job, figuring Will will take over the household and children responsibilities.

What Sarah discovered was that not only did she now have a more stressful and demanding job, she was still carrying most of the load at home. She didn't want to be a nag but she had enough. Will thought he was doing more than was expected. Needless to say, they had many clashes.

This was the first book I've read by this author and I thought it was okay. I disliked Will and found his character to be over the top. Could he be that selfish and clueless when he was working that he never realized all Sarah did keeping their household going and working? Six months later, with all the time off he had, he thought he was doing an adequate job even though she was still doing everything at home. He was in his mid-40s so it was unbelievable in today's world that he assumed as the man, he should be the breadwinner. And he didn't realize his thinking that he was more deserving than Sarah was wrong ... he had to be told by a friend. Sarah was being treated badly at work by her new employees but never pushed to see why which at her level she should have.

The story takes place in and around London so there were lots of reference that I wasn't familiar with. It's written in first person perspective, alternating in Sarah and Will's voices (the chapters are labeled). I wonder about the relevance of the title of the book since no one ever asked Sarah anything out of the ordinary and made her wonder whether they would have asked Will that. The constant reference to Sarah’s glasses was annoying. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Book ~ "Jake" (2017) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. Their family fosters these young dogs, giving them love and proper care, until they can find the perfect forever home. 

Lizzie goes to horse camp with her best friend Maria. While there, Lizzie meets a charismatic German shorthair pointer named Jake. The puppy is very curious about the farm and especially likes to spend time with the horses. Can Lizzie help find Jake a perfect home?

Lizzie is in elementary school. Her family, the Petersons, have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Lizzie and her best friend, Maria, are spending a few days at a horse camp. Maria loves horses while Lizzie is a newbie around them. What Lizzie love love loves is dogs. When Lizzie and Maria arrive at the horse farm, there is a homeless dog named Jake hanging around. Lizzie assumes she will be taking him home and finding him a home ... until she discovers that Jake's best friend is a horse named Smokey.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Jake's point of view. It is the 47th in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.