Book Release: Doc's Codicil by Gary F. Jones

Book Description: 

When Wisconsin veterinarian Doc dies, his family learns that to inherit his fortune, they must decipher the cryptic codicil he added to his will—“Take Doofus squirrel-fishing”—and they can only do that by talking to Doc’s friends, reading the memoir Doc wrote of a Christmas season decades earlier, searching through Doc’s correspondence, and discovering clues around them. Humor abounds as this mismatched lot tries to find time in their hectic lives to work together to solve the puzzle. In the end, will they
realize that fortune comes in many guises?

Doc’s Codicil is a mystery told with gentle humor. It tells the story of a veterinarian who teaches his heirs a lesson from the grave.

Purchase on Amazon.   

About the Author: 

It seems my life has been a testament to questionable decisions and lost opportunities. However, my wife of 39 years says she knows of nothing in the record to justify such unfettered optimism.

I am a member of the last generation of rural veterinarians who remember working with cows that had names and personalities and dairymen who worked in the barn with their families. I’m also part of the first wave of the Baby Boomers, crusty codgers who are writing their wills and grousing about kids who don’t pay attention to what old men say, and can even be damned condescending at times.

I was raised on a dairy farm in West-central Wisconsin and exhibited Holstein cattle and Clydesdale horses from the time I was ten-years-old until I graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State in 1969. I practiced veterinary medicine on Wisconsin dairy farms until 1988, when my wife and I packed up our four children and I entered graduate school at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul.
I developed the first ante-mortem diagnostic test for proliferative enteritis, a diarrheal disease of swine caused by Lawsonia intracellularis. The test is now the standard diagnostic test for the disease. With adoption of the test, it was also found that L. intracellularis is the most common cause of post-weaning diarrhea in horses.

After 19 years of work on the research and development of bovine and swine vaccines, I am retired. I’m using the scraps of what I can remember to spin stories of a family and veterinary practice, stories that could almost be true. Some of the true stories that didn’t make it into my books can be found on this website.

My first novel, Doc’s Codicil, will be published in October 2015. I have two published short stories: Valentine, published in Straightjacket, the 2012 spring issue, and The Attempted Armed Deposit, in the 2009 California Writers Club Chap Book. http://garyfjones.com/

Cover Characteristic: Phones

Cover and Characteristic is a new meme which is hosted by Sugar & Snark, where bloggers list different covers with a selected theme.

Today's topic is book covers with phones on them.

1. The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom.

 

2. I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

3.  Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls (The Babysitters Club #2) by Ann M. Martin

4. Murder Past Due (Cat in the Stacks #1) by Miranda James

Can you believe that out of my whole TBR pile and my read books, these 4 were the only covers I could see with a phone on them? Strange in a world that is so attached to cellphones, there aren't more covers that has them on it. 

Do you know of any other book covers that has a phone or phones on them?

October Nature Box

My October Nature Box arrived in the mail in the first week of the month. They are always on time with their deliveries, which is great.

Here is a picture of my latest order, with a little help from my little guy. He thinks that it is full of treats sent just for him..

Here is a list of the goodies I was sent:

• Honey Crunch Crisps (3.5/5 Perhaps I will try these again)
• Whole Wheat Chocolate Animal Cookies (4/5 My favourite snack from this box)
• Golden Apple Tea Biscuits (4/5 These were crunchy, cookie type biscuits.)
• Salted Caramel Pretzel Pops (3.5/5 I received these in the September box but forgot to rate them on the Nature Box website. They are alright, but I don't think I'd get them again.)
• Banana Bread Granola (3.5/5 Not as good as I hoped it would be but not terrible. I don't think I'd get this one again though.)

All in all this box wasn't my favourite from this subscription. Like I mentioned I am able to rate each snack on the website. There is also a feature where you can choose which snacks you are sent each month, but I really like being surprised.

Hopefully next month will be a little bit better. I have been toying with the idea of cancelling my subscription in an effort to save money, but I think I may hold off for a little while yet.

For more information on Nature Box check out their website:
https://naturebox.com/ 

NOTE: I am in no way affiliated with Nature Box. I am just a regular paying monthly subscriber who likes to share my reviews with my readers.

The Imposter (The Bishop's Family #1) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Title: The Imposter (The Bishop's Family #1)
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Published: October 2015
Published by: Fleming H. Revell Company
Format Read: Trade Paperback
Genre: Amish Fiction, Christian Fiction, Romance
Date Read: October 11 2015
Rating: 5/5

I was sent a copy of The Imposter by Suzanne Woods Fisher from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

Suzanne Wood Fisher’s The Imposter is the first book in a new Amish fiction series called The Bishops Family. It follows David Stoltzfus a widower who owns his own store while raising his 5 children. Also a minister in the small town of Stoney Ridge, he befriends a local spinster named Birdy, who just happens to be the sister of the Bishop Freeman Glick, a man who David is forever at odds with.   Meanwhile David’s sixteen year old son Jesse returns home with some news that breaks his sister’s heart. 19 year old Katrina learns that her former love is engaged to another. 

Earlier this year I read Suzanne Woods Fisher’s novel The Choice and couldn’t put it down. So when I saw that she was releasing a new series I jumped at the chance to read and review it. I went into The Imposter with high expectations and I definitely wasn’t disappointed. 

More than the cover
As I began to read The Imposter I was surprised that there was more to this book than the back synopsis mentions. Katrina moves in with an injured widow to help her keep house and run her growing moss business, but what of the other characters? Personally I think that David, Jesse and Birdy’s storylines are all just as important as Katrina’s. These multiple perspectives gave a lot of depth and excitement to the book. Aside from the lacking description, the fall leaves and basket of apples on the cover perfectly suit an October release. Another smart addition to The Imposter was a character list at the beginning. This made for a great reference as more characters were introduced. I wish more books would include a page like this. 

Then there was David..
Speaking of the cast of characters; they were just wonderful! I found the two female leads to be quite relatable. Birdy and I are both tall and awkward and I share the same temperament and lack of confidence as Katrina. Despite Jesse’s knack for getting himself into less than proper situations, his storyline was very entertaining. Then there was David. I am not normally one to crush on book characters, but I certainly did in this case. Not only was he was he a good father, but the strength he had in his faith and convictions never wavered. 

Growth
Unlike other books I have read, The Imposter showed a lot of growth in its characters and their relationships. My favourite perspectives varied from Birdy and David. I loved how her mindful observations of the nature around her positively influenced David and his sermons.

Recommendations
As a new reader of Amish fiction, I believe that it is starting to become one of my favourite genres. Reading about the Stoltzfus family was an enjoyable cozy experience and I can’t wait for the release of the second book in this series. I would recommend The Imposter to fans of the genre who are looking for a warm curl-up-by-the-fire type novel. 

Notable Quotes:
I don’t think I have ever read a book where I have flagged more passages than I have with The Imposter. Suzanne Woods Fisher is a beautiful writer and I lost count of how many times I stopped to re-read parts again and again. Here are some more of my favourite quotes from this book:

“It was as if her heart were a teacup that fell to the floor and shattered.” 

“Something incredible happened. He suddenly became relaxed. His soul settled, as if it had found a still point.” 

“His eyes lifted to the sky, the blue, blue sky, and he took a deep breath of crisp morning air, a symbol that every day is a new chance to begin again.”

Sunday Post #3 and Stacking the Shelves

Today here in Canada we are celebrating Thanksgiving. As I prepare to join my family for a yummy feast, I just wanted to take a moment to share with you all a couple of things that I am thankful for:

• My family including my parents, brother, boyfriend and sister-in law. I am so fortunate to have such wonderful people in my life and I love them all.

• My kitten Nova, who came into my life during one of its lowest points. He gives me a reason to get out of bed each day and is always keeping me laughing with his silly antics.

• And you! Yes, you! To all the people who take time out of their day to visit my blog and read my posts. These past ten months have been such a great learning experience for me. I have really come to cherish sharing my love of books with others who do as well and I look forward to connecting with even more bloggers in the future.

What are you all thankful for? I’d love to hear from you all. Leave me a message in the comments. 

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer

This past week I spent trying to read, read, read! Because it turns out there was a whole lot more to my TBR for October than I originally thought. As I mentioned in my last weekly wrap up I was sent The Imposter by Suzanne Woods Fisher for review. I have also been reading Pane and Suffering by Cheryl Hollon on my Kobo through Aldiko Book Reader until the program started crashing for some reason. It turns out that there is some sort of glitch in the latest update, which has gotten me quite stressed out. Thankfully there isn’t a set due date for me to complete this book by. Then I was accepted to join 2 additional tours and another which is still pending.

Whew! Now, I’m not complaining because I am grateful for the opportunity to read and review these books. I just hope that I am able to complete them all in time.

Last Week on the Blog:

My East Coast Summer Vacation Pt. 4 (Prince Edward Island)

Recent Reviews:

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Hardy Roses: And Other Stories by Maeve Mullen Ellis

Coming Up on the Blog:

My 2015 Shelf Tour Pt. 1
Quick Tips for Stress Free Housekeeping
ML’s Worth a Watch
My East Coast Summer Vacation Pt. 5 (The Fortress of Louisbourg)
October Nature Box

Upcoming Reviews:
The Imposter by Suzanne Woods Fisher 

Currently Reading:
(Click on the pictures for the Goodreads links)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews

Sent for Review:

I hope you all had a wonderful week and weekend. Did you do anything fun? Also did you add any new books to your shelves? Let me know in the comments.

Hardy Roses: And Other Stories by Maeve Mullen Ellis

Title: Hardy Roses: And Other Stories
Author: Maeve Mullen Ellis
Published: May 2014
Published By: Lulu Publishing Services
Format Read: Kindle for PC, eBook
Genre: Short Stories, Contemporary
Date Read: October 6 2015
Rating: 3/5

Hardy Roses: And Other Stories is a collection of 33 short stories by Maeve Mullen Ellis. Some of which have been featured in other publications and some that had been previously unpublished. 

I believe there is a story in this collection for everyone to relate to, as it covered many different topics. Some of the topics visited in these stories include: love, childhood, death, aging, pets and just life in general. The narrator perspectives range in ages from young to old and male to female. Many of the stories are set in New Hampshire or Ireland, however there are some that have different settings. A common occurrence throughout was the mention of either flowers and/or gardens. This tied in with the Hardy Roses theme. 

Normally I am not a big fan of short stories because I find they tend to be rushed and skimp over details, but I didn’t feel this was the case with this book. Although each story was quite different from that last, for the most part I felt satisfied that they had concluded well. It was nice to be able to take my time while reading it, putting it down from time to time and returning to a brand new setting, plot and cast of characters. 

My one slight irritation was that each story seemed to have the same somewhat solemn tone that didn’t make for much excitement.  

I would recommend Hardy Roses: And Other Stories to those who enjoy short stories about life and its many trials and tribulations.