A Stone Smashing Good Time and the Winner of The Extraordinary Life of Buffy the Cat by Sandy Robins and Paul Smulson

Before we get to the winner of our give-away, Mom and I wanted to say that we probably won't be around all day Wednesday (and we are not sure about Thursday yet) because Mom is having another Lithotripsy today, (we think this is approx. Litho Number 10 or so?)  to smash a 7mm stone. She will be in the hospital most of the day but will be home later. So, if we are not able to visit today and part of tomorrow that is why!  We have included a graphic to give you a better understanding of Mom's congenital condition. Her stones will NEVER be gone because it is actually her kidney's JOB to MAKE STONES. She just has to try and keep them at a manageable level so that she can either pass them on her own, or with the help of a lithotripsy.

We will do our best to visit you as soon as we can!

NOW FOR SOMETHING
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!
THE REAL REASON YOU 
VISITED US TODAY!

Thanks to all who entered our give-away for:

HUGE CONCATULATIONS

 TO THE LUCKY WINNER

LISTED BELOW!!

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Tortitude:The BIG Book of Cats with a BIG Attitude by Ingrid King (Give-Away!)

When a copy of Tortitude:The BIG Book of Cats with a BIG Attitude by Ingrid King arrived at my home a few weeks ago, I was in complete shock,  I was honored, AND I was, (and am!) just a tad nervous!!!

Why? I do not live with, nor have I EVER lived with a tortoiseshell cat!  My immediate thought was "How am I qualified to review a book about tortoiseshell cats when I have never lived with one?"  I know of other bloggers who are far more knowledgeable about torties than I am, but I took comfort in the fact that since I had reviewed ALL of Ingrid King's books prior to this one, that she must have confidence that I will write at least a somewhat intelligent review of:

My first impression after merely LOOKING at the cover of Tortitude, was that it was GORGEOUS! I am one of "those people" who gets a thrill out of simply  touching a book and gazing at the cover, I become filled with anticipation of what awaits me inside, which is why I am NOT a fan of ebooks, but I digress....

When I turned the first page,  I smiled when I saw a quote by one of my favorite "Cat Daddies", Jackson Galaxy:

“Excerpted from: Tortitude:

 The BIG Book About Cats With a BIG

Attitude by Ingrid King ©2015” 

The foreword is written by another one of my faves; Kate Benjamin of Hauspanther.


Once I began to calm down and think, it dawned on me,  that if I , one of millions of cat lovers, knows little about tortoiseshell cats, surely there has to be many, many more cat lovers who might not be familiar with these wonderful cats!

Thinking back, to when I first began blogging in 2009, discovering Ingrid's blog was probably my FIRST exposure to torties, and from that day on, I always considered Ingrid to not only be one of a number of cat experts that I hold in high esteem, but to me, she is a MUST READ not only for misc. trusted information about cats, but for  personal and engaging stories about tortoiseshell cats in particular.

FROM Tortitude:The BIG Book of Cats with a BIG Attitude:

"With about 2 million tortoiseshell cats in the United States, these special felines tend to be strong-willed, a bit hot-tempered, and often very possessive of their humans. Other words used to describe torties are fiercely independent, feisty and unpredictable. Ingrid King (The Conscious Cat) brings her professional and personal experience to explore why these cats are so special. With expert insights combined with stunning photography and passages dedicated to the cats and their passionate guardians, King offers a new perspective on these exceptional cats."

When I read the above passage on the back cover, I was not only intrigued, but I began to think that if I were a cat, there is a better-than-average chance that I would be a tortie!!! I am "strong-willed, a bit hot-tempered (No!! Really? Ha!), fiercely independent, feisty and unpredictable." I have also been known to be very possessive of my humans!! But once again, I digress...

That quote made me stop and think. I find it interesting that the HUMANS that I know that live with torties tend to have personalities that are the polar opposite of torties! Could it be a case of "opposites attract" or, could it be that these spunky cats have personality traits that their owners secretly wish that THEY as humans possessed, and that they live vicariously through their torties?
I think I may be on to something here!!!

“Excerpted from: Tortitude:

 The BIG Book About Cats With a BIG

Attitude by Ingrid King ©2015”

Did you know...

"that tortoiseshell cats are NOT a breed?"

(if you did, and you don't live with a Tortie, good for you! You move to the head of the class!) I did NOT know that until I read the section in the book titled:

"What is Tortitude?"

Author King points out the colors/patterns and personality traits  that make a cat qualify as a tortie, she also mentions:"while there are some commonalities between torties when it comes to personality, there seem to be wide variations in the degree of tortitude and in how it is expressed. Some cats appear to have read the book on tortitude, displaying all of the traits attributed to cats with this coloring. Others may vary in temperament, and only demonstrate certain aspects of it. All cats are individuals, and torties are no different in that respect, with the possible exception that they are far more demonstrative of their unique personalities than cats of other colors." 

“Excerpted from: Tortitude:

 The BIG Book About Cats With a BIG

Attitude by Ingrid King ©2015”

Being a quote collector/aficionado from way back, I took a special interest in the sizable section of the book entitled:

Quotable Torties

Quotes and photos were submitted by members of "Team Tortitude" and some of my favorites are:

Cats are dangerous companions for writers because cat watching is a near-perfect method of writing avoidance--Dan Greenburg

In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him--Dereke Bruce

If cats could talk, they wouldn't.--Nan Porter

and finally a favorite quote of mine that is posted beneath the photo of beloved Truffles, (who left much, much too soon), submitted by someone who is MUCH more qualified to do a review of a tortie book than I am, Melissa Lapierre of  Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries & Meows, 

A catless writer is almost inconceivable; even Ernest Hemmingway, manly follower of the hunting trophy and the bullfight, lived waist-deep in cats. It's a perverse taste, really, since it would be easier to write with a herd of buffalo in the room than even one cat; they make nests in the notes and bite the end of the pen and walk on the typewriter keys. --Barbara Holland


Tortitude:The BIG Book About Cats With a BIG Attitude delivers exactly what the title promises. While the book is small in that it is slightly over 100 pages, it is aesthetically generously sized, and is PACKED with information that will not only appeal to bona fide tortie lovers, but will also appeal to self-proclaimed "tabby girls" such as myself. Tortitude offered me insight into these delightful cats and a deeper admiration of their "colorful" coats and personalities.  Tortitude will appeal to cat lovers world-wide! You MUST get your "paws" on a copy, today!!


AVAILABLE ON AMAZON (and all online retailers NOW). AVAILABLE IN STORES FEBRUARY 5TH, 2016! 

FOR EVERY COPY ORDERED BEFORE FEBRUARY 5TH, INGRID WILL DONATE $1 TO THE JACKSON GALAXY FOUNDATION.


MORE BOOKS BY INGRID KING:

BUCKLEY'S STORY: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher

PURRS OF WISDOM: Conscious Living, Feline Style

ADVENTURES IN VETERINARY MEDICINE:What Working in Veterinary Hospitals Taught Me About Life, Love and Myself

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ingrid King is an award-winning author (of the books listed above). She is a former veterinary hospital manager. Her popular blog, The Conscious Cat, is a comprehensive resource for conscious living, health, and happiness for cats and their humans. The Conscious Cat has won multiple awards, (including but not limited to), About.com's 2012 Readers Choice Award for Best Website About Cats. Ingrid lives in Northern Virginia with her tortoiseshell cats Allegra and Ruby.

GIVE-AWAY!!!!
Ingrid has generously offered to give-away a copy of Tortitude:The  BIG Book of Cats with a BIG Attitude to one of my readers who resides in the U.S.A. (An approximate $20 value!). Must be 18 and over. Entering is super easy! Just enter on the Rafflecopter below! Good luck!
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In full disclosure:I was not compensated for this review/give-away. I was sent a copy of Tortitude in exchange for my always honest review.

Book:Cat Naps & Doggie Snorts: The Joy of Sleeping with Critters by Francine Brevetti

Inspirational Stories Told by Pet Owners

There is nothing I loved more than having a pet who LOVED to share the bed or couch with me when I went to bed at night or took a nap.

My Angel Bobo was a fixture in my bed (or wherever I was for that matter), Cody, not nearly as much.

Cody will lay by my head if I fall asleep on the couch, but he refuses to EVER lay in our bed in the bedroom. It totally baffles me.

Many books and movies have observed our closeness with our domestic animals but Cat Naps & Doggie Snorts  concentrates on one phenomenon only—sharing the bed for sleep.

FROM THE AUTHOR:In 2012 my beloved Lola, a Cockapoo (Cocker-Poodle mix), had to be put down. A horrible decision for anyone and certainly for me who felt that Lola and I were teammates. She was demonstrative and affectionate. She lay by my side at night on the bed. A comforting, reassuring, warm presence that I could reach out to touch during the night. Waking up with Lola beside me was a loving way to start my day. So when I had to relieve Lola of the misery of her disabilities, her absence at night and in the morning grieved me. There was a hole in my heart.

Realizing her nightly nearness meant so much to me, I got the idea that others may feel the same. I started researching to write a book about sleeping with your pets, domestic animals, best friends, whatever-you-call-them. I couldn’t find any other book on the subject at the time. So I’m offering you this gift from Lola. We both hope you enjoy it.

In our industrialized world, human society has become so compartmentalized and individuals so alienated from each other that more and more people are welcoming primates, birds, ungulates and reptiles into their intimate spaces. Humans share DNA with every living creature from primates to yeast. But we don’t have to refer to biology to convince each other of the bond we share with the rest of the animal world, of how precious their presence is to us and vice versa. More people are living singly today. Nuclear families—already diminished from the multi-generational households experienced until the last century—are breaking up. While individualism and independence are the hallmarks of American values, they lead so often to loneliness, depression, frustration and hopelessness.

When you read these sketches of people’s experiences, you may find yourself among them. Please smile. You may even shed a tear occasionally. I hope these stories from real people like you and me lighten your heart.

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY:

Animal lovers will be able to relate  to many of the "mini-stories" in Cat Naps & Doggie Snorts. Being candid, it made me miss the days of when my beloved Bobo would insist on playing with my toes when I would try and sleep, or when he would swat at imaginary mice while jumping up and down on the bed as if it were a trampoline!!

One darling example that most of us can relate to in reference to a cat waking up her owner: "She is very persistent and taps me with her paw. No matter how many times I shoo her off the bed, she keeps coming back until I'm forced to get up. She's like a little alarm clock," her human remarked."

Cat Naps & Doggie Snorts has 20 Chapters full of snippets from people (and, I noticed a few bloggers who I know!) like you and I that share their heartfelt experiences about sharing a bed with their beloved pet.  You will find excerpts from people who view their pets as children, those who discuss having to banish the pet to another room (often due to the spouse), bedtime rituals and more! It is "Chicken Soup For The Soul, for those who love to sleep with their pets"

Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet---Colette

Probably my favorite quote listed in this book would be:

"Sometimes losing a pet is more painful than losing

a human because, in the case of the pet,

you were not pretending to love it."

-Amy Sedaris, Simple Times:Crafts for Poor People

Cat Naps & Doggie Snorts  reminds us if you are going to lose sleep or if you want to sleep BETTER, there is nothing better than sleeping with a furry, feathery, yappy  (or scaly!!) friend!

PURCHASE A COPY

Author Bio: 

Francine Brevetti is a San Francisco native who has worked as a business journalist in New York City and Hong Kong. She was also a business reporter for the Oakland Tribune.

She wrote the definitive history of the Italian colony in San Francisco's North Beach with The Fabulous Fior - over 100 Years in an Italian Kitchen.

Journalist and author, she also ghost writes other people's books and coaches aspiring authors to write their own. People come to her for help writhing their memoirs, family histories, or books about their business.

Author Website: Francine Brevetti

In full disclosure: I received no compensation for this book feature. I received a complimentary copy.

Book Review:Puffy & Blue: The Chronicles of Nine Lives Together by Kayla Fioravanti

 FROM THE PUBLISHER:Puffy & Blue: The Chronicles of Nine Lives Together, an uplifting true story of the deep friendship between a cat and her girl. Their inspiring companionship overcomes the upheaval of growing up in three countries. Their adventure brings laughter and tears mixed generously with hope and loyalty. 

Fioravanti was raised with a nomadic lifestyle as her family was transferred every few years working for AAFES (Army Air Force Exchange Service). The only consistent parts of her life were her family and her pets, especially Puffy. 

“Puffy and I travelled the world together. We lived in Tachikawa, Japan; San Mateo, California; Desoto, Texas; Munich, Germany; Duncanville, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Nieder Roden, Germany and finally Portland, Oregon together,” Fioravanti says. “My entire childhood was encapsulated by the years of her life.”     

Readers will agree that nine lives are never enough to spend with a four-legged best friend. Puffy has nine lives, as she survives signifcant trauma eight times in twenty-one years. Fioravanti is the character “Blue,” a nickname she picked up because of her rebellious blue eye shadow, blue eyeliner, blue mascara and bright blue boots. 

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: While I found Puffy & Blue to be an enjoyable enough read, I found myself saying out loud, "So what about the cat? Where is the cat?"

 Author Fioravanti did a wonderful job of including Puffy in approximately the first half of the book, much of the second half, in my mind, required MORE CAT.

Puffy & Blue IS a book with heart, it shows the strength of a young woman struggling through the illness of her mother, multiple family moves both within the U.S. and outside of the U.S., the value and importance of family, finding your place in life, overcoming fears and all the rest that encompasses a young woman discovering life that is depicted from  pre-school to early adulthood. The book does convey to some extent, the unconditional love of pets, but in my opinion Puffy & Blue is predominantly about Fiorvanti's life experiences that did not center around Puffy.

While reading Puffy & Blue,  I felt that while Kayla Fioravanti kept mentioning how important Puffy was throughout her life, she never showed that enough throughout the book. Puffy seemed to play only a peripheral role in the story. Yes, Puffy licked her when she cried, slept with her every night, Puffy often waited for her outside of her elementary school and in later years joined her in her college classroom. Fiorvanti TOLD US that Puffy was a constant throughout her life, but never shared enough day-to-day experiences that would enable us to actually FEEL Puffy's soul, or experience Puffy's personality.

Where I found Puffy & Blue lacking was,  there were many detailed experiences  that Kayla superbly conveyed in reference to the many challenges SHE faced in HER life, and the emotions she experienced because of those life events that took place, but I longed for more detailed sharing of experiences with she and Puffy that would have allowed me to feel Puffy in my heart the way she was obviously in Kayla's.

Kayla does address traumas that occurred in Puffy's life, and labeled each one numerically as having been one of Puffy's nine lives that were lost. The traumas of Puffy (that were described too briefly, in my opinion), may be correlated to Kayla having experienced various traumas in HER life that if she were a cat, would also have used up a number of HER nine lives.

The publisher compares Puffy & Blue to some other books that I feel made me KNOW the animal "star" of the book. In those books I completely felt and was touched by the personality of the animals the books were written for. While Kayla Fioravanti wrote a book that portrayed some enormous life struggles and poignant lessons and is a worthwhile read, Puffy & Blue left me feeling as if I never truly found out the TRUE PERSONALITY of Puffy, who was supposed to be one of the "stars" of this book.




About Kayla Fioravanti:
Kayla Fioravanti is a wife, mother, author and speaker, and happily married to her entrepreneur  husband, Dennis. The couple live with their three children, four cats, six chickens and one dog in Franklin, Tenn. 

An expert in the natural cosmetic, aromatherapy and skin care industry, Kayla has published seven books and has contributed or been featured in scores of publications, including Real Simple, Self Magazine, Prevention Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Home Business Magazine, Women Entrepreneur, Elle, CCM Magazine, Redbook, InStyle Magazine, Woman’s World and GQ. Kayla was the managing editor and a contributor to 360 Degrees of Grief: Reflections of Hope. 

For more information about Fioravanti, visit KaylaFioravanti.com


Puffy & Blue: The Chronicles of Nine Lives Together is available online through major retailers including Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com in paperback and on Kindle.

GIVE-AWAY-Kayla Fioravanti has generously offered two of my readers who reside in the U.S. the chance to win a copy of Puffy & Blue: The Chronicles of Nine Lives Together. The give-away is open now and will end on Monday, August 17th at 5pm. Winners will be chosen by random.org and will be announced on or around Wednesday, August 19th. If you would like to be entered, please leave a comment below stating CLEARLY that you wish to be entered.

 Good luck!

In full disclosure: I was not compensated for this review/give-away. I was sent a copy of Puffy & Blue in exchange for my honest review. It is important to note that while a book may not completely resonate with me, opinions about books are subjective and it is important to form your own opinion. I always feature books that no matter what I may think of them, I feature books that I feel will be of great interest to my readers and are worthwhile reads.

Book:Fat Cat Art:Famous Masterpieces Improved by a Ginger Cat with Attitude by Svetlana Petrova and Zarathustra the Cat

Fat Cat Art by Svetlana Petrova, is a "marriage of runaway internet sensation and classical art."  (THINK Internet meme meets classical art). It features her twenty-two-pound, ginger-colored cat, Zarathustra (Petrova swears that Zarathustra does NOT eat a lot and IS on a diet), superimposed into some of the greatest artworks of all time. Petrova's paintings are an internet sensation!

INTRODUCTION FROM FAT CAT ART:

Our name is Zarathustra. We are a cat. We are so gracious in Our enjoyment of repasts. Much of Our postprandial time is dedicated to reflection upon lofty manners. One of our greatest sources of reflection is Arrrrt. (NOT A TYPO!). As well, one of OUR greatest passions is to sit for the great artists, as only great artists can appreciate Our generous body and sublime soul.

Through the centuries We have inhabited the great works of art (even if We were later painted over. We know not why). These great works of art reveal to humans what is real Beauty. In fact. We have served as Muse for most of the great masterpieces. This book tells Our story...

A smattering of the  eras  featured in Fat Cat Art:

• Ancient World and Middle Ages
• Italian Renaissance
• Northern European Renaissance and the Sixteenth Century
• Dutch Art in the Seventeenth Century
• Dutch Still Life in the Seventeenth Century

and many more!




FROM THE PUBLISHER:This beautiful, full-color book takes readers on a journey through art's history and varied roots. Each fat cat painting is coupled with a short commentary from Petrova, who lends her extensive knowledge and humorous zest to the masterpieces. Often insightful and always hilarious, this collection puts a new spin on the world's most famous artists and their beloved creations.

How Did Fat Cat Art Come to be?
Svetlana Petrova lives in St.Petersburg, Russia. She is a graduate of the Faculty of Philosophy of St.Petersburg State University. Not one who easily "fit into the system", she became an artist.

Petrova had been drawing and writing poetry from childhood, learning all that she knew from her mother (who was not a professional artist.), "but she was an artist in her soul."

Cats were always a part of Svetlana's life. Her family ALWAYS had cats.

Svetlana was an only child and her mother passed in 2008. Zarathustra was HER cat. Svetlana, honoring her mothers dying wish, adopted the handsome Zarathustra.

Petrova suffered immense depression when her mother passed and it was Zarathustra who saved her from that depression. Through the urging of a dear friend, she began creating art featuring "the best Cat in the world, " Zarathustra.

She wanted to incorporate him in the style of Dutch still-life paintings, (a photo session with food!!), so she began to photoshop him in one painting, then another, and another. She sent the paintings to friends to get their reaction.

American Gothic Behind Ameri-Cat Politics?

Grant Wood, American Gothic. I can has cheezburger?

 The rest is history!

"Petrova's work was featured in the spring 2014 British exhibition Russian Extremes-from Icons to I-Cats."

And Where Is the Russian Salad?

Adriaen van Utrecht, Still Life Improved by Cat, 1644

Zarathustra the Natural-Born Artist and Model:

"He knows hs is making art. Zarathustra adores posing when people are taking photos of him. He is always friendly to photographers. He knows who is a photographer and begins to flatter those people."

"He has a rich repertoire of mimicry and can make different expressive grimaces. The camera likes him."

"Despite having this star character, he is a very sensitive and tender Cat, a real gentleman, or better, a "gentlecat." Everybody who meets him is astonished and says that he is somebody special. He really is ten kilograms (twenty-two pounds) of pure undisturbed joy."

"From competing with Venus's sexy reclining pose (and almost knocking her off her chaise lounge in the process) in Titian's Venus of Urbino, to exhibiting complete disdain as he skirts away from God's pointing finger in Michelangelo's Creation of Adam, Zarathustra single-handedly (or single pawed-ly?), rewrites art history in the way that only an adorable fat cat can."

The Secret of Mona Lisa's Smile Revealed!

Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa, true version

"Mona Lisa's smile is a mystery no more. She smiled because We were there. In fact, We challenge anyone with twenty-plus pounds of immeasurable grandeur on their lap to stifle a smile!"


Have I mentioned that I LOVE THIS BOOK? Fat Cat Art:Famous Masterpieces Improved by a Ginger Cat With Attitude by Svetlana Petrova and Zarathustra the Cat is MUCH MORE than the purrfect coffee table conversation piece that will impress your art history/feline loving  friends.


It is the ULTIMATE full-color collection of Svetlana Petrova's work, including several never-before-seen pieces, that you can savor for yourself, or give it as a gift to fellow cat loving friends!!

208 glossy pages
7"x7"
ISBN 978-0-399-17478-0
$16.95 USA
VISIT THE FAT CAT ART SHOP for prints and more!

AVAILABLE AT:

• BARNES & NOBLE      • INDIEBOUND

• BOOKS-A-MILLION            • AMAZON

ENTER TO WIN!! The publisher has generously offered to give THREE of our readers WHO RESIDE IN THE U.S.A (Our apologies to our International readers), the chance to win a copy of Fat Cat Art. (A $16.95 value). Entering is easy! Just enter on the Rafflecopter below. Good luck! 
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In full disclosure:Friends, it has been hard keeping this one under wraps. I have had this book of "classic art" gone cat for a number of months. I was holding it to feature closer to the publication date which was originally supposed to be September 15, 2015. I was not compensated for this review/give-away.

Winners on Wednesday!!!! Zen Cats:MEDITATIONS for the WISE MINDS of CAT LOVERS

Thanks to all who entered our give-away for:

It's time to announce the

FIVE LUCKY WINNERS!!

HUGE CONCATULATIONS TO ALL!!!

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Children's Book Give-Away! KeeKee's Big Adventures in Athens, Greece, Story by Shannon Jones, Illustrations by Casey Uhelski

It is an immense pleasure to share Book Number Three in the KeeKee Adventure Series: KeeKee's Big Adventures in Athens, Greece.

Courtesy of http://www.keekeesbigadventures.com/

FROM THE PUBLISHER:Former Starbucks executive Shannon Jones has a soft spot for rescue cats, children and culture. While head of marketing and product for Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa, Jones lived in Europe with her husband for four years and was able to tour some of the largest European cities including Paris, Rome, Athens and Istanbul.

When their friends’ children started asking how their rescue cat, KeeKee, liked living in Europe and what it was like to live there, Jones decided to pursue her passion for writing and created the award winning KeeKee’s Big Adventure Series to introduce children to the tastes, sounds, sites and cultures of Europe.

The first book I reviewed in the KeeKee Adventure Series was:

KeeKee's Big Adventures in Paris, France ,  followed by KeeKee's Big Adventures in Rome, Italy , (I had the enormous honor of having one of my quotes on the back cover praising the Paris book, and  ironically, I reviewed the Rome book almost the same day one year ago, that I am posting the Greece review today!)

KeeKee’s Big Adventures in Paris, France, was a Silver Winner in The Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (Children’s/Young Adult) category at IBPA’s 2014 Benjamin Franklin Awards. Visit ibpa-online.org for more information.

Covers courtesy of http://www.keekeesbigadventures.com/

I was super excited for the release of KeeKee's Big Adventures in Athens, Greece  for a number of reasons, an important one is I have always been fascinated by the Greek culture. The food,  music, climate, history, architecture and so much more. I minored in Philosophy in college and majored in Rhetoric, (I intensely studied Greek Rhetorical theory), so I might be just a tad biased about this book!

Opa! Opening pages in book. KeeKee hovers over Athens in her balloon
Photo Courtesy of http://www.keekeesbigadventures.com/

Greece is one of the oldest and most historical cities in the world!! A trip to Greece is absolutely on my bucket list, but until the day I am lucky enough to visit, I can vicariously travel along with KeeKee in her hot air balloon and learn first-paw about:

The Greek Language
as is the case in all of the KeeKee books there is a Pronunciation Guide & Glossary in the back where I learned that Antio means goodbye, Efcharisto means Thank you, Oreo isn't a cookie, but means beautiful and Niaou (prounounced nee-A-ow) means MEOW in Greek!


Historical Sites in Greece
such as The Parthenon which was built 2,500 years ago and is dedicated to the goddess Athena, the Acropolis isn't just a place where Yanni performs, nope, it is a HUGE HILL that the Parthenon sits on top of!
Did you know that the buildings in Athens are all blue and white like the Greek flag? I didn't know that until I read the book!

 Greek Culture
you will learn about the Agora, the heart of ancient Athens, (and not a bar in  Downtown Cleveland, long-time Clevelanders will "get this!"), this area was the city's main market and meeting place. Democracy was invented here! The Agora is now a fascinating archaeological site, "Agora" means "gathering place."

You will see cheerful photos of Zeus... the Ruler of the Gods, Poseidon...Ruler of the Seas, Apollo...God of music and more!

Remember I mentioned I had the enormous honor of having  a back cover quote appear on KeeKee's Big Adventures in Rome? That quote was: "Vibrant, colorful and bursting with PURRsonality!" which is the PURRFECT way to describe the beautifully created illustrations by Casey Uhelski, that are so vibrant they almost come to life on the pages! Joyful and fun, they have  the energy that one associates with the energetic and exhilarating Greek culture!

 I  give KeeKee's Big Adventures in Athens, Greece, a 4-paws up and a resounding: "OPA!!!" which I learned from KeeKee, and is a Greek exclamation of awe, excitement and complete delight!!!

All books must come to an end… But, KeeKee heads off for her next adventure!

KeeKee’s Big Adventures Author Shannon Jones

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shannon Jones discovered her passion for travel when she took her first international trip in the fifth grade. Illustrator Casey Uhelski has loved books, doodling and daydreaming ever since she was a little girl. Together they've created three books in the KeeKee's Big Adventures series-and they're at work on their fourth!


GIVE-AWAY!!
KeeKee's Big Adventures in Athens, Greece might be over, but for YOU they are just beginning! Shannon Jones has generously offered ONE of my readers who resides in the U.S. the chance to win a copy of their own (an approximate $17 value)!! Entering is easy! Just enter on the Rafflecopter below!
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Can't wait to see if you won? KeeKee's Big Adventures in Athens, Greece is available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Net Galley and wherever books are sold!

In Full Disclosure: I was not compensated for this review/ give-away. I was sent a copy of KeeKee's Big Adventures in Athens, Greece in exchange for my honest review.

Children's Books:Odie the Stray Kitten and Odie's Best Friend By Kristen Mott

"For Odie, because sometimes the smallest ones
become the biggest inspirations"

Odie the Stray Kitten is a charming book about a little orange and white kitten who lost his family on a cold winter night. He never expected to find a loving forever home in a horse barn. Not only did he find a loving, forever home, he also found hope, new friends and a name.  His name happens to mean "inspiration", which is no coincidence. Odie the Stray Kitten is not only an adorable read for little ones, but it shows that out of something that initially seems like a bad situation, something GOOD can come out of it!

"For Bandit, because every animal
has a story to tell"

Odie’s Best Friend is the second book in the Odie the Stray Kitten Series. It focuses on the story
of Bandit, a gray and white cat, and his journey to find a forever home. His adventures take him
through an animal shelter and life as a stray before he finds a home on the farm with Odie and
their girl. This is the follow-up to 2013’s Odie the Stray Kitten, which was a 2014 Next
Generation Indie Book Award Winner, 2014 Purple Dragonfly Children’s Book Award Honorable Mention, and 2014 Recipient of the Children’s Literary Classics’ Seal of Approval.

Both Odie the Stray Kitten and Odie's Best Friend were lovingly and skillfully illustrated by Lowell Hildebrandt. The illustrations are vibrant and delightful, children of all ages will enjoy them!

Are you ready? Odie and Bandit are based on REAL cats!

Odie and Bandit
This photo came from
Kristen's Facebook Page

Author Kristen Mott has loved animals since she was a child. She graduated in 2008 from the
Indiana University School of Journalism. She now lives on a small farm in Indiana with her
husband and son where they care for two cats, Odie and Bandit, and two horses, Dorothy and
Jace.

Kristen strives for her writing to encourage children to read, write their own stories, and have
compassion for animals. The idea for this book was developed from a response to an article the
author read about the devastating statistics of animal life and death in local shelters. That
response was then spun down and edited into a story suitable for children about how the author
believes Bandit ended up on her farm.

Odie and Bandit
Photo from Kristen's Facebook Page

 The story is a good means for parents to talk to their
children about animal shelters, the reasons they exist, and what they do. It is also meant as a
springboard for questions and discussion about the issue.

These books would make wonderful bedtime stories and would be perfect for pre-school teachers and elementary school teachers (the lower grades), to share with their classrooms.

For more information about the Odie the Stray Kitten Series please visit:

www.kristenmott.com
www.animalstoriesforchildren.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/odiethestraykitten

Or you can contact the author directly:
kristenmott@gmail.com

Both Odie the Stray Kitten and Odie’s Best Friend are available on Amazon.com, BN.com,
AuthorHouse.com, and other online retailers.

I was not compensated for sharing either of these books with my readers.

Cat Book: "Houdini" by T.J. Banks

Imagine if you will,. that you are a mere wisp of a kitten. A Flamepoint Siamese to be exact, and you discover that you have been deserted. You're hungry, frightened, thirsty and ALONE. 

The above scenario occurs on the first page of one of the most beautifully written cat books I have been afforded the pleasure of reading.

Sitting down on a Saturday night, from the moment I read the first page of Houdini by T.J. Banks, I did not move from the couch. I did not lift  my head from the pages until I finished reading, nearly two hours later.

As cats are drawn to catnip, Houdini will lure you into his world as he extends his paw from the pages of this beautiful and touching story about the love and undying loyalty of a cat for "his girl".  You will fall in love, as I did with the determination, devotion, faith, loyalty and love that is evident on each of the 190 pages of this book that is a MUST READ for all who love cats.

"A Siamese only gives his heart

to a human once....

" For Houdini, an abandoned down-on-his-luck Siamese kitten, that human is Jill Leonard, the girl who smuggles him home aboard an airplane. He lives a good life out of doors with Jill's other cats. That life has dangers of its own, however, as he discovers when he inadvertently strays from his home.

Lost and injured, Houdini finds a safe haven with a cat-loving artist, but his longing for the child who first gave him love and a home is as intense as ever, and he is determined to find his way back to her."

While the plot of Houdini is captivating, touching and sometimes humorous, that isn't all that I was impressed by. I was impressed by the obvious knowledge of cats that Author Banks possesses. There is a vast amount of thought and detailed description of the qualities that make cats, CATS. Banks enables us to be privy to what their thoughts might be, (if we only knew,) their motivation, what delights them, and what perturbs them.

  As a cat effortlessly weaves through your legs when he or she wants to be fed,  Banks expertly weaves into the story details about how cats move, the meaning behind their interaction with other cats and  how they find their "place" in  a  pre-existing cat hierarchy.

"So Houdini crouched down and lowered his head to show that he understood whose territory this was. The tabby cuffed him lightly and stalked off. He sat down by the kitchen table and watched Houdini with wide friendly green eyes. Want to play? those eyes said. I might, the Siamese telegraphed back. He sat up and began lightly touching up his fur, feeling a bit more like his old self. Definitely more at ease."

There are important  lessons to be learned  in Houdini as well. Lessons about abandoning pets, the love they need, outdoor dangers, spay/neutering,  lest I reveal more, I will stop here, when you read Houdini you will find out the rest. Banks doesn't preach, many of these messages are subliminal,  but their impact is strong and clear.

If you love cats (and I know that you DO), if you want to be inspired, delighted, charmed, and wish to join Houdini as he experiences life and love, then this is one that MUST be a part of your cat book library.  It is sheer purrfection in every sense of the word.

ISBN:13:978-1-59113-734-4

ISBN:10:1-59113-734-9

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:T.J. Banks is the author of Sketch People:Stories Along the Way, A Time for Shadows, Catsong, Derv & Co.: A Life Among Felines, and Souleiado. Catsong, a collection of her best cat stories, was the winner of the 20007 Merial Human-Animal Bond Award. A Contributing Editor to laJoie, she is also a columnist for petsadviser.com and has received writing awards from the Cat Writers' Association (CWA), ByLine, and The Writing Self. Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies, including Guideposts' Soul Menders, Their Mysterious Ways, Miracles of Healing, and Comfort From Beyond. She has also worked as  a stringer for the Associated Press and as an instructor for the Writer's Digest School. 

She lives with her son Zeke, their power-mongering cats, a rabbit, and chinchilla, in a sometimes peaceable but always interesting kingdom.

I was not compensated for this review. I was sent a copy of Houdini in exchange for my honest review. It is my pleasure to share a book as marvelous as this one with my readers.

 

Winners on Wednesday!

Thanks to all who entered our give-away for the book: My Best Little Buddy: 17 Years of Love & Friendship With Tiger: by Tom Templeman:

It is now our pleasure to announce the

TWO LUCKY WINNERS!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HUGE CONCATULATIONS!!!

BOTH OF THE WINNERS HAVE BLOGS!!!

PLEASE BE SURE TO VISIT

LAYLA'S BLOG:

AND PEGGY'S BLOG

WINNERS!

Be sure to email 

your complete mailing address to:

cgittleman at mi dot rr dot com

BOOK:My Best Little Buddy: 17 Years of Love & Friendship with Tiger, by Tom Templeman

When Author Tom Templeman reached out to me this past May asking if I would be interested in reviewing his book: My Best Little Buddy: 17 Years of Love & Friendship with Tiger,  I was completely unaware of at the time, of the eerie parallels that would surface. Initially, I agreed to review his book because:

1) He was referred to me by another author whose book I reviewed and greatly loved.
2) The love that he felt for his handsome tabby, soul kitty Tiger, was evident throughout every word of his email. With such love evident in an EMAIL, how could I NOT want to read this book???

I eagerly awaited the book's arrival.

When it arrived, I scheduled a review for today, totally oblivious as to the relevance of the time of year that I chose to read this book.

That is where the parallels began. I gasped when I gazed at the cover photo of Tiger who bore a striking resemblance to my own Bobo who passed July 2, 2007. Tiger was Tom's "best little buddy", Bobo was mine.

The parallels continued to surface...

Tom first met Tiger and his litter mate Sundae, when they were abandoned kittens in a park in 1995.  I first found Bobo (who was also abandoned), in January of 1990.

I lost Bobo on July 2,  2007 at the age of 18 due to incurable heart disease. Tom's beloved Tiger passed, July 13, 2012.

When I sat down to read My Best Little Buddy, the book grabbed my heart and didn't let go.

"Tiger"
Photo Courtesy of
My Best Little Buddy
on Facebook
there are 28 photos of
Tiger and his sister Sundae
at various times of their lives

Anyone who has ever loved, and later lost a pet will be able to relate to, and delight in the documentation of Tom's years spent with Tiger, and the love that they shared.

I marvel at the fact that Tom began writing this book

 less than 3 weeks after his beloved Tiger passed. 

"As I begin writing, it is still less than 3 weeks since that heart-wrenching day; the emotions are still raw at times, and I occasionally have to walk away to dry my eyes."

In Tom's Own Words:This is a heartwarming story of 17 years of love and friendship with a little grey tabby cat named Tiger, who we found as a kitten abandoned in a park and quickly became my best little buddy. During those 17 years he was my best pal, playmate, protector, comic relief, comforter, and laptime snuggler. Tiger was full of goofy personality; he was everything I could ever ask for in a pet. To many of my friends and family, including me, Tiger often appeared to be more of a little person disguised in grey striped pajamas than a cat, who viewed life like a perennial five year old! This book is written from the heart, as I share special stories of Tiger over the years that brought laughter, love, tears, joy, comfort, and many, many great memories."

Tiger with his favorite ball
Photo courtesy of
http://www.mybestlittlebuddy.com/

Allow me to emphasize what Tom said above: "this book is written from the heart."  It is evident when you read this book, that it was written from the heart. Tom shares 17 years of special moments  from his and Tiger's  lives together, one of my favorites was how  Tom and his wife, Terri,  Tiger and Tiger's littermate, Sundae, frequently "camped out" in the living room together to share special bonding time, how Tom and Terri catered to  Tiger's and Sundae's  every whim and need, how he described Tiger's favorite toys, (moments we can ALL relate to).  Moments that we often take for granted when our pets are in their prime, that become cherished memories that are forever in our hearts when they are no longer with us.

July 2 marked 7 years that I have lived my life without MY "little buddy", Bobo.  It was no coincidence that something that I was unaware of (until now), made me sit down and read this book during his anniversary week. It was no coincidence, it was Bobo "speaking" to me from the Rainbow Bridge, knowing that this touching book would allow ME to relive the special moments that we shared throughout our 18 years together. While reading My Best Little Buddy, it brought MY "best little buddy" back to ever-so-sweet life. It made me laugh, it made me cry. It will do the same for you.

TO PURCHASE VISIT TOM'S WEBSITE: http://www.mybestlittlebuddy.com/

20% of the profits from all book sales

 go to benefit Nashville Cat Rescue

Author Tom Templeman,
Tiger and Sundae
Photo Courtesy of:
http://www.mybestlittlebuddy.com/

Tom Templeman is an indie songwriter/artist based in Nashville, Tennessee.  This is his first book; as he puts it, “I knew after 35,000+ words that this would not fit into a song.”  Originally from California, Tom and his wife Terri have called Nashville home since 2004.

ENTER TO WIN!!!

Tom is offering TWO READERS WHO RESIDE IN THE U.S. an autographed copy of My Best Little Buddy (a $14.95 value). Just enter on the Rafflecopter below, GOOD LUCK!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In full disclosure: I was not compensated for this review. I was sent a copy of My Best Little Buddy in exchange for my honest review.