CHECK OUT H.A.L.O NO-KILL SHELTER. ADOPT A PET TODAY

 

I have been volunteering at an animal shelter called H.A.L.O. The shelter was started in 2006 with a mission to create a NO-Kill safe haven for abused and injured animals in Indian River County, Florida. 

H.A.L.O will NEVER euthanize based on age, space, medical needs or behavioral issues. Once an animal walks through our doors, we make a pledge to provide them with care that takes care of all of their physical, emotional and medical needs until a fur-ever home is found.

 I volunteer in the Vero Beach adoption center located in the Indian River Mall. The main shelter is located in Sebastian Florida. In the main shelter you can find cats, kittens, puppies, and small animals that are cared for until they find their for-ever home. 

There are numerous kittens and older cats that need a loving and safe home. Let me introduce to some of the great cats and kittens that are available for adoption or fostering in the Vero Beach location. There is a retail store where you can get all of your pet  supply needs. SO if you are in the area stop by and visit with the animals that need loving homes. Please donate to the shelter.

 PETUNIA

 

PETUNIA (DOB 2014)

 

Meet Petunia. She is an older cat and a bit shy. She will warm up to you when she gets to know you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 BOB

BOB (DOB 2021)

Bob is a rowdy wild child who loves to play, wrestle and that includes play bites. He is adventurous and gets into trouble at times. When I clean the cat's rooms, he is always trying to get my attention and help me in his own way.

 

 

 

 

 

DUDE AND SQUEAKS 

 These sweet bonded brothers are beautiful but unfortunately they are both deaf as most blue-eyed white cats are. They love to play especially with a laser pointer. Even being deaf they can get around just fine. So come on by and check them out. You will fall in love with them.

DUDE AND SQUEAKS( DOB 2021)

 

KITTENS 

 

There are so many adorable kittens available for adoption. Check out the video below and you will want to take them all home with you. You will even get to see BOB in action. 

H.A.L.O LOCATIONS FLORIDA

MAIN SHELTER:

Address: 710 Jackson Street, Sebastian, FL 32958
Phone: (772) 589-7297                                                                                     

Email: halonokillrescue@gmail.com

VERO BEACH ADOPTION CENTER- INDIAN RIVER MALL:

Hours of Operation:
Monday – Sunday: 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Address: 6200 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32966
Phone: (772) 778-8798
Email: janh@halorescuefl.org

RESCUED TREASURES:

Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Sunday: Closed
Drop-Off Hours:
Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am – 2:00pm

Address: 911 US Highway 1, Sebastian, FL 32958
Phone: (772) 571-6725
Email: amandaj@halorescuefl.org

Donate to H.A.L.O

Review of the The Cartographer from Greenwood (Book 1) by Lisa Konig

I want to welcome Lisa Konig to Books R Us. Lisa is the author of the fantasy novella The Cartographer from Greenwood (The Cartographer's Travels: Book 1). Thanks for stopping by.

 

 About the Book:

 In a stormy night, a strange elf stumbles through the doors of Lord Aeglas' manor in Snowcreek. He is injured and it is not his love for drawing maps that has driven him out of his home for many years. Will he learn that he has to fight for what is dear to him or will he continue his travels and avoid the arguments awaiting him at home?

 

My Thoughts:

It's nice to read a lighthearted story with characters who interact beautifully together. I especially liked the relationship between Soread and Aeglas from the first time they met during the storm. Aeglas treated him like a son and helped him recover from mental and physical ailments. Soread had some underlying feelings about his family that came out during the story. Conflict, healing, kindness, and empathy were rolled into a lovely novella that included fantasy and a great ending.

Purchase the Book and Connect with the Author:

Twitter

Amazon

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer:

 I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Review of The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

If you are looking for a great novel with great characters and a magical story-line then I recommend The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

 

About the Book:

On a quiet street in Dublin, a lost bookshop is waiting to be found…

For too long, Opaline, Martha and Henry have been the side characters in their own lives.

But when a vanishing bookshop casts its spell, these three unsuspecting strangers will discover that their own stories are every bit as extraordinary as the ones found in the pages of their beloved books. And by unlocking the secrets of the shelves, they find themselves transported to a world of wonder… where nothing is as it seems.

 

 

 

My Thoughts:

I truly enjoyed the book. The author included two different timelines in the story-line, with each chapter told from the perspective of a character. There was a connection between the past and present, and each woman had to overcome hardships. The book contained elements of fantasy, magic, romance, and historical fiction, all woven together into a wonderful novel. I especially loved the relationship between Martha and Henry as they searched for the lost manuscript and bookshop. All of the secondary characters added to the story especially Madame Bowden Martha's employer. She would show up numerous times to assist Martha with a difficult situation. I did not predict the ending and it was magical.

 

 

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for my review.

Review of They Will Kill You Next by Tim Kizer and James Rice

I want to welcome Tim Kizer and James Rice to Books R Us. Tim and James are the authors of the thriller They Will Kill You Next. This is the third book in the Detective David Hudson series. Thanks for stopping by

About the Book:

Four years ago, a plane disappeared without a trace. Now someone is killing those who know what happened to it.
As David Hudson investigates the murder of suspected CIA assassin Charles Harris, he finds that the killing might be connected to the mysterious disappearance of a passenger jet that occurred four years before.

Harris had a hit list with five names in his wallet when his body was found. Days before he was murdered, he tried to warn the targets that a very powerful man wanted them dead.

As David tries to figure out how the people on the hit list are connected, he comes to suspect that someone is killing those who know what happened to the missing plane.

Digging deeper, David uncovers a conspiracy involving some of the most powerful men in America.

About the Authors:

Tim Kizer:

Mr. Kizer is an author of suspense and mystery fiction. He resides in Southern California. He is currently working on his new suspense novel.

James Rice:

 Mr Rice is an American author that writes suspense thrillers with twisted plots. He loves to travel and discover new cultures. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife.

My thoughts:

I had trouble keeping track of all the characters in the story due to choppy dialogue that distracted me. While I usually can determine who the killer is, it took me a while to figure it out. Nonetheless, the many twists and turns kept me engaged, and I was able to finish the book. However, I wish the author had developed the characters more to add depth to the plot. I have not read any of the other books in the series; perhaps if I had, I would have been able to relate to the characters better.

Books in the series:

Book 1: I know who Killed Your Daughter

Book 2: Don't Tell Them I am Alive 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of the book through Voracious Readers only for my honest opinion and I was not compensated for my review

REVIEW OF MURDER TOWN BY SHELLEY BURR

I want to welcome Shelley Burr to Books R Us. Shelly is the author of an international best seller Wake and she has returned with her novel Murder Town. To be published 11/5/24 by William Morrow. This is a thriller set in the Australian Outback that was originally published in Australia as Ripper.

 About the Book:

 Gemma Guillory has lived in the Australian Outback enclave of Rainier her entire life. She knows the tiny, red-dust town’s ins and

outs by heart, knows the people like they are her family, their quirks as if they were her own.

She also knows her once charming town is now remembered for one reason and one reason only: three innocent people died there at the hands of a serial killer. The last stop on the Rainier Ripper’s trail of deaths fifteen years ago was her picturesque little tea shop. She knows that the consequences of catching the Ripper still haunt her policeman husband and their marriage to this day, and some of her neighbors are desperate enough to welcome a dark tourism company keen to cash in on Rainier’s notoriety as the “Murder Town.”

When the tour guide is killed by a Ripper copycat on Gemma’s doorstep, the unease that has lurked quietly in the original killer’s wake explodes into the light, and Gemma is drawn into the investigation. Unbeknownst to her, so is a prisoner named Lane Holland, a former private investigator who earned a living cracking cold cases before he ran afoul of the law.

Gemma knows her town. She knows her people. Doesn't she?

 

About the Author:

Shelley Burris the author of the international bestseller, WAKE. She
works at the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment in Canberra, Australia. She grew up splitting her time between Newcastle and Glenrowan.

 

 

 

 

Connect with the Author: 

 https://www.shelleyburr.com.au/

https://x.com/ByssheShelley

 

My Thoughts:

I have always been a fan of thrillers, but I found this novel to be a bit confusing. Many characters were involved in the story line, and I had trouble keeping up with them. I had to reread some chapters to figure out what was happening in the story. I found the beginning of the book a bit slow but it picked up near the end. There were times that I wanted to stop reading but I pushed myself to finish the book. The ending was not impressive and disappointing. I hope the author's next novel will be more engaging and interesting.

 

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of the book for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review

REVIEW OF DECEPTIVE CALM BY PATRICIA SKIPPER (BARNES AND NOBLE EDITION)

 ABOUT THE BOOK:

Against the turbulent backdrop of declared martial law in South Carolina, a stunning light-skinned beauty, Vanessa, lives in a Catholic orphanage for Blacks. After a series of racial traumas, Vanessa obtains the birth certificate of a deceased white baby and uses this document to assume the child's identity. She moves to California and enrolls at UC Berkeley under her newly acquired name.

Vanessa marries into one of California's wealthiest families. Her charmed life abruptly ends eighteen months after the birth of her first child who is diagnosed with sickle cell trait. Discovering that the woman he married is Black, as is his toddler son, Vanessa's ruthless husband plots his revenge but they both survive. The police investigation that follows seems pretty clear-cut until a curious, young detective uncovers some clues to her private life where nothing is as it appears. The aftermath of the discovery brings down a pillar of San Francisco society.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Patricia Skipper's life journey began on a California Marine Corps base. After fighting in World War 11 and Korea, her father retired in South Carolina. Patricia was only 9 years old in 1961 when she saw her first "Colored Only" bathroom and water fountain signs in downtown Charleston at the Sears Roebuck. That sign scarred Patricia because on Marine Corps bases everyone ate at the same clubs, swam in the same pools and used the same bathrooms. That sign would have a major influence on her writing career as Patricia obtained a master degree in Broadcast Journalism. She reported internationally for the Charleston Evening Post from Leningrad and Moscow. Playing a key role, she supported a a brand new "Mothers Against Drunk Driving" and helped them get PSA (public service announcements) on every television station in the country. Earning accolades for her television commercial writing, Patricia has won numerous Addy Awards.

My Thought: 

I found the book very informative, well-written, and engaging. The themes included politics, racism, civil rights, and romance. The main character, Vanessa, is naive but very intelligent. She was a light-skinned black woman who was mistaken for a white woman in a very turbulent society. She lived in an all-black orphanage and had the support of her friends Trisha and Sister Rosalie. Sister Rosalie was like a mother to Vanessa and helped her while she was living in the orphanage. She obtained the identity of a deceased white baby and took it as her own so she could move on with her life. She traveled from South Carolina with her new identity to attend college in California with her friend Trisha.

Trisha, a character I deeply connected with, played a significant role in the novel. She was Vanessa's pillar of strength, providing her with the emotional support and guidance she needed. Their journey together, filled with trials and triumphs, will resonate with readers.

Post-graduation, Vanessa ventured into the broadcasting industry, where she met her husband, Tod. His family was affluent and esteemed, but when her son was diagnosed with Sickle Cell disease, her life took a drastic turn. She had to endure numerous hardships, including the societal challenges of the time and the wrath of her husband, who felt deceived by her actions. Tod's reaction, a reflection of the societal norms of the time, adds a layer of complexity to the story, making Vanessa's struggles even more poignant and relatable.

The book's narrative is driven by the characters' development, particularly Vanessa's, as she navigates the societal challenges of her time. While the book contains sexual content that may not be suitable for all readers, it is integral to the character development and the story's progression. The author's meticulous research and incorporation of historical details bring the period to life, creating a compelling read.

Purchase the book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

 

Disclaimer: I will be compensated for my honest review of the book by the sponsor.

 
 

REVIEW OF THE BOG WIFE BY KAY CHRONISTER

I want to welcome Kay Chronister to BooksRus. Kay is the is the author of the short story collection Thin Places (Undertow, 2020) and the novel Desert Creatures (Erewhon, 2022). Her Newest book The Blog Wife is scheduled to be published on October 1st by Counterpoint Press.

About the Book:

Since time immemorial, the Haddesley family has tended the cranberry bog. In exchange, the bog sustains them. The staunch seasons of their lives are governed by a strict covenant that is renewed each generation with the ritual sacrifice of their patriarch, and in return, the bog produces a "bog-wife." Brought to life from vegetation, this woman is meant to carry on the family line. But when the bog fails--or refuses--to honor the bargain, the Haddesleys, a group of discordant siblings still grieving the mother who mysteriously disappeared years earlier, face an unknown future.

Middle child Wenna, summoned back to the dilapidated family manor just as her marriage is collapsing, believes the Haddesleys must abandon their patrimony. Her siblings are not so easily persuaded. Eldest daughter Eda, de facto head of the household, seeks to salvage the compact by desecrating it. Younger son Percy retreats into the wilderness in a dangerous bid to summon his own bog-wife. And as youngest daughter Nora takes desperate measures to keep her warring siblings together, fledgling patriarch Charlie uncovers a disturbing secret that casts doubt over everything the family has ever believed about itself.

At once a gothic eco-horror, a psychological drama, and a family saga, The Bog Wife is a propulsive read for fans of Shirley Jackson, Karen Russell, and Matt Bell that speaks to what is knowable and unknowable within a family history and how to know when it is time to move forward.

About the Author: 

Kay Chronister is the author of the short story collection Thin Places (Undertow, 2020) and the novel Desert Creatures (Erewhon, 2022). Her short fiction has appeared in Strange Horizons, Clarkesworld, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, The Dark, and elsewhere, and has been nominated for the Shirley Jackson and World Fantasy awards. Originally from Washington State, she has spent time in Virginia, Cambodia, and Arizona. She now lives outside of Philadelphia with her dogs and her husband.

 My Thoughts:

The book is set in the Appalachian region, where folktales and superstitions are prevalent. I initially found the storyline a bit confusing, as it took some time to understand all the characters and their family dynamic. I had to reread some parts to keep track of the plot, as it was occasionally wordy. Overall, I enjoyed the book, although I found it eerie, peculiar, haunting, and unpredictable. This may not be my usual genre, but if you enjoy supernatural and gothic themes, you will likely appreciate this book.

Connect with Kay:

Authors site 

 

 

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of the book for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review