Welcome back to my Sunday Book Review. Today I’m reviewing Cheryl Spears’ #newrelease – Bogie in a Human World – book 3. In this book, Bogie the cat is aging and re-evaluating life with his family – and maybe losing his sarcastic edge – a bit. This may look like a children’s book but this series was written for adults.
Step into the world of Bogie, a clever tuxedo cat with sharp wit, a soft heart, and a unique perspective on human life.
In this charming third and last book of the series, Bogie, once again, invites readers into his world — a place where the everyday chaos, quirks, and love of a family are seen through feline eyes.
Told with humor, honesty, and tenderness, Bogie in a Human World is a celebration of the bond between pets and their people — the small moments that make families whole, and the lasting pawprints left on our hearts.
Perfect for cat lovers and anyone who knows the joy (and mystery) of sharing life with a pet, thie book is at once playful, touching, and unforgettable.
My 5 Star Review:
In this third book of the Bogie the Cat series, Bogie is back, still sharing his wisdom, observances, and opinions. He’s maturing and seems to be going easier on his human family, appreciating their love for him now, as Bogie mellows with age and his sarcasm wanes.
As he analyzes his family members, he notices how the kids have matured with the years. The girl, tells Bogie all her secrets and Bogie now admits his compassion for his family instead of how he made sarcastic comments about them. He now appreciates The boy’s whacky science experiments. He’s found a rhythm with Dad, now comfortable, just being. Bogie reminisces about all the lovely things Mom does for him. But lol, Bogie has yet to warm up to Aunty Linda because she hasn’t learned to love Bogie on his terms.
Bogie still prowls the hallways at night, making the rounds, checking his family is safe and sound. As he ages, he’s taking stock of his life. Clever as ever, Bogie has become sentimental.
Welcome to my Sunday Book Review. Today I’m sharing a fun cozy read by Susie Black from her Holly Swimsuit Series – Death by Coconut. A fun bunch of women friends in the shmata (garment) business are at a tradeshow in Miami. When things get wonky, Holly Schlivnik is in full detective mode.
Obnoxious Mystique Swimwear sales rep Simon Posnick was universally despised by competitors and customers alike. So the question wasn’t who wanted the lying, cheating scoundrel dead. The question was who didn’t. Mariel Levine, Laurie’s Fashions’ swimsuit buyer and Holly Schlivnik’s career mentor, is wrongly arrested for murdering Posnick by impaling him with the jagged edge of a coconut shell at the base of his skull. The wisecracking, irreverent President of Mermaid Swimwear jumps into action to uncover the real killer. But the treacherous trail holds more dangerous human predators than the alligators and black pythons in the Everglades. Everything turns out differently than amateur sleuth Holly thinks it will as she tangles with a vengeful killer.
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My 5 Star Review:
A fun romp with the yentas (gossipers) in shmata (rag) land.
A group of female friends who all happen to be in the garment business, gather for the annual buyer’s trade show in Miami to sell their wholesale wares to retailers. Holly and her mom work for Mermaid Swimwear. There is a lot of cutthroat going on with who can buy who’s line and who can’t. At the center of it is slimeball, Simon Posnick, who nobody really likes. And in the midst of the show, Simon is murdered – by a rough edge of a coconut. And one of the ladies, Mariel, is blamed. Holly Schlivnik susses out the real killer, but can she prove it to Detective Mo Lehrman? After all, it was Holly who discovers Simon’s body. Mo is a local cop and past heart throb for Holly, and things get heated again between them as Holly tries to solve the murder, and tries to convince Mo who it is.
Every good cozy mystery must have a villain and in this story, Simon is it, along with his handsy shenanigans, having no women wanting him. Enter Avril, a determined young saleswoman who will stop at nothing until Holly’s mother will buy from her line. Some people have to learn you can’t make deals for or with everyone. Lots of people don’t like Simon – or Avril, for that matter. And don’t disregard some of the other possible shady characters. It’s really a mystery who killed Simon despite the lame blame laid on Mariel. Even Holly had to backtrack on her first suspicion, considering her culprit also gets killed!
Lots of action, confusion, and lots of clues to help figure out who killed Simon, while Holly keeps herself in the thick of things snooping around, and almost getting herself killed in the process. A fun fast-paced read that I really didn’t want to put down.
Welcome to my Sunday Book Review. Today I’m sharing my review for Jackie Lambert’s latest release on her Beastly stories (The Beast is a vehicle) and the final take-off from Britain to Albania and beyond!
Get This Book on Amazon
Blurb:
The Comic Memoir of a Questionable Road Trip
“Don’t go there,” they said – but Jackie and Mark did. In their 16-tonne truck, The Beast – with four dogs. .
Looking beyond the headlines – and drawn by curiosity – they set course for a misunderstood country on the fringes of Europe.
Their slow, dog-filled adventure winds through France and Italy, where they seek out quiet roads, wild camps, and experiences you won’t find in guidebooks.
But the journey didn’t quite go to plan.
When they finally cross into Albania, a frightening incident forces them to confront the realities that come with choosing an unconventional life – particularly when others depend on you.
Rich in history and populated with unforgettable characters, this is not a glossy van-life fantasy. It’s a wry, honest, and witty memoir about choosing curiosity over fear – even when it comes at a price.
If you’ve ever wondered what lies beyond the well-trodden routes – and whether it’s worth the risk – this journey is for you.
Perfect for readers who enjoy: van life • overland expeditions • The Balkans • dog-friendly travel • slow adventure • funny, heartfelt travel memoirs.
Book 1 of Never Mind the Balkans– the hit new series from bestselling author Jacqueline Lambert.
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My 5 Star Review:
This is the third book I read in this informational and humorous telling memoir of the life journey of the author and her husband and their giant task of building their ‘beast’ and finally traveling in it after the Covid and Brexit debacles – and other interruptions. We’re heading to Albania via history, roads and stories through France and Italy.
One couldn’t even imagine all that’s entailed in building, living in, and traveling in the 24.5 ton converted to 16 ton, once, Green NATO truck – now, the Beast, but Lambert changes all that by taking us with her, her hub, four pawsome pups and the Beast on their trip to Albania, and the many stops along the way with some crazy adventures that had me laughing out loud many times. The journey from Britain, through France, and Italy, enroute to Albania, is full of fun and bizarre stories that keep us entertained. The Lamberts get plenty of looks and questions when their big Beast rolls into town, and that’s half the fun – that is, when they aren’t stuck in the mud somewhere, or even told to turn the Beast around on a ferry to Albania!
The book is action-packed with humor, mini history and geography lessons along the way through the towns and cities they pass through, as well as the town legends, and folklore. We’ll learn about the cultures and delicious cuisine from delicious descriptions along the way as they travel at a max of 45mph, holding up traffic when U-turns are necessary, getting stuck in narrow roadways – and mud, and anything else that can delay these two that you won’t think of until you read this book.
This is definitely not your glossy van life story, and most definitely, not your average roadtrip! But it’s a great adventure, and the most interesting are the people they meet along the way – or remeet. We’ll learn of some places we may never heard of, mishap adventures from bad advice, best places to buy SIM cards and find ATMs. And despite all the departure delays, vet stops, and mechanical issues, the Beast makes it to Albania!
The humorist asked his readers to share their least favorite tunes and chronicles the hilarious responses.
When funnyman Dave Barry asked readers about their least favorite tunes, he thought he was penning just another installment of his weekly syndicated humor column. But the witty writer was flabbergasted by the response when over 10,000 readers voted. “I have never written a column that got a bigger response than the one announcing the Bad Song Survey,” Barry wrote.
Based on the results of the survey, Dave Barry’s Book of Bad Songs is a compilation of some of the worst songs ever written. Dave Barry fans will relish his quirky take. Music buffs too will appreciate this humorous stroll through the world’s worst lyrics. The only thing wrong with this book is that readers will find themselves unable to stop mentally singing the greatest hits of Gary Puckett.
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My 5 Star Review:
This was a hilarious romp of a read that kept me smiling throughout. Barry is a humorist with the New York Times and wrote this book after responses he received from his readers, voting worst songs.
Barry dissects many lyrics from many songs in this hilarious read through – what were some people thinking? If we are of a ‘certain’ age, we can all relate to some of the nonsensical songs created back when – some one-hit wonders and, be warned, many a song that may stick in your head and play on long after you don’t want them in your head anymore. I literally laughed at some of the comments – one person said this book was better than Prozac for a lift. I can’t say; I’ve ever taken Prozac, but I can definitely say that if you’re looking for some fun distraction in this book about songs, and you’re familiar with songs of the 70s, I highly recommend.
Welcome to my Sunday Book Review. Today I’m happy to share a humorous book by Cheryl Spears. Cheryl is a friend of mine who is primarily a children’s author with her Finn the Kitty books. But Cheryl has strayed for this new Bogie series, more geared toward ages teens and up. A lot of scarcastic humor here from Bogie the Cat.
Bogie’s Verdict: Humans are clumsy, noisy, emotionally confusing—and occasionally delightful, especially when snacks are involved. He’s not signing up to join their chaotic species full-time, but he’ll supervise from a sunlit window ledge, tail curled, eyes half-closed, secretly entertained. While Bogie may never truly understand humanity, he has enough material to fuel his perceptions for nine lives—and then some.
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My 5 Star Review:
This book is hilarious.
Honestly, I’m not much of a feline person, but that didn’t stop me from reading this humorous telling from Bogie about how he really feels about life and people. As he likes to refer to himself as a ‘therapist with fur’, Bogie isn’t shy to tell us how he feels about his cushy cat life. He shares what makes him happy, what puzzles him, what pisses him off, and even provides a day in the life of his life list to let us know exactly how he spends his day. He’ll even rate some of the things he particular likes and dislikes, complete with paws to demonstrate his ratings. Bogie isn’t shy to tell us about naps, distractions on humans, the importance of hanging out on a keyboard, or share his complaints about vacuum cleaners.
The cartoon illustrations in this book are both clever and funny. Bogie sets the rules straight about what he will and will not put up with. So, if you are sometimes miffed a little about what cats are thinking, how they spend their days, their judgments, preferences, and dislikes, Bogie will give you his unfettered truth. And the bonus with all this is that Bogie is actually hilarious.
I’m a bit behind on my posts this week as it’s been a busy time working on my book, and truthfully, tried to steal as much sun as my city would give me in between rain, grey and smoke-filled skies, and of course, quite a few days of winter revisited. So today I’m sharing my humor contributions I do with Sally Cronin at her Smorgasbord Blog Magazine.
I’ll post a few here then please hop over to Sally’s for more goodies and some great jokes. Guaranteed to leave you with smiles.
Smorgasbord Funnies 2025 -Hosts Sally Cronin and Debby Gies – #Catnip and Quick Thinking
Firstly, some funnies foraged from the web by Debby Gies – D.G. Writes is where you will find an archive full of wonderful posts across several subjects including writing tips, social issues and book reviews. Hope it gets your weekend off to a good start…
Please head over to Sally’s blog for lots more smiles – continue reading…
My Sunday Book Review is for another book I read by John Dolan – The Otford English Dictionary. I enjoy Dolan’s books, as many are written in a dark satire style, and this one is certainly no different. This book is definitely humorous satire, but don’t expect a story (other than the intro), because this is Dolan’s cynical version of the dictionary using a play on word with the title.
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Blurb:
Not to be confused with The Oxford English Dictionary, this is a reference book for the incurably cynical. Containing hundreds of definitions of a corny or inappropriate nature, it is the ideal gift for that person who hankers after the Good Old Days before political correctness, and who thinks a damn good hiding is still the best cure for anxiety.
If you are easily offended, you should probably buy a proper dictionary; though that won’t make you feel any less depressed about the modern world. But, let’s be honest, what could?
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My 5 Star Review:
This book may not be for everyone. But if you enjoy Dolan’s books, acerbic wit, and a satirical play on words, you will chuckle your way through this ‘revised’ version of what we know from an authentic dictionary. Like his blurb suggests, you will not find anything politically correct in this book, but that is the point. But if you enjoy cynical humor and you have a good sense of humor, you will enjoy this book. As Dolan states in his intro – “If you’re looking for a learned work to assist with your wordsmithing, this is not it. If, on the other hand, you like an unseemly chuckle to relieve an otherwise tedious day, then this might be your thing.”
The author also suggests that this book need not be read in any particular order. He refers to the book as “rather like a rancid fondue – is there to be dipped into when you’re really desperate.” Written in British-English spellings, as the author states, in hopes of encouraging his American cousins to get a proper education. Lol. Dolan also adds that his purpose for this book was to amuse, not to offend, and adds that if you do get offended, consider it a bonus. Take this with a grain of salt as there is plenty in the book that may offend, but if you’re a fan of Dolan’s writing and understand his style, there are so many words to chuckle at. And many of the listed words are given new meaning by literal translation.
The definitions in this Otford dictionary are like none other you’d find in your typical dictionary. If you enjoy satire, you are sure to get some laughs from this book.
A few samples to give you a taste of Dolan’s humor:
” Browser: A computer program used to look for information on internet; and which can get you into trouble if you forget to delete your search history.”
“Brothel: A specialized form of hotel where rooms are typically paid for by the hour and include personalized bed-warmers and complimentary STIs.”
“Calligrapher: An individual skilled in the now-redundant art of beautiful writing. See also ‘Dodo’.”
“Canada: Country in North America much favoured by US Army deserters and lovers of frostbite.”
“Christmas: The time of year when the poor are forgotten and weathy toy-and-computer-game manufacturers have huge amounts of money thrown at them to spend on yachts, private planesand prostitutes.”
“Currency: The money of a particular country, of which there is never enough – hence the invention of poverty.”
And one of my favs: “Cesspool: Collective term for a group of politicians.”
I hope I’ve given you some great examples here to demonstrate what you can expect from this entertaining book.
Welcome back to my Sunday Book Review. I am thrilled to review this book today by friend and debut author, Cheryl Orteglia – Grow Damn It! – The Feeding and Nurturing of Life. Cheryl runs an amazing, and often hilarious blog all about her colorful life at Living in the Gap. She writes about things that happen in her daily life, and there never seems to be any shortage of stories. Cheryl can make a book out of what may seem an ordinary day, but from what I’ve read, no day is ordinary in Cheryl’s life.
This is Cheryl’s debut book, and I truly hope there will be another and another following. I was also thrilled to bits when she invited me to write an editorial for her book just before publication. I’ll share it here with you:
Praise For:
Vignettes and slices of life that will touch your heart, make you laugh, and sometimes cry—but, mostly, laugh. From tales of life, loss, values, victories, kids, road trips, and wine—always wine, Oreglia’s mini memoirs are guaranteed to captivate and entertain. I highly recommend this read! Sit down and savor these stories and Grow Damn It, while living vicariously through Cheryl’s journeys of life. I love her attitude and wit and am already looking forward to her next book!
~ D.G. Kaye, author of Twenty Years: After ‘I Do’ – Reflections on Love and Changes Through Aging.
Blurb:
Grow Damn It! is a captivating work by Cheryl Oreglia, who uses uncommon honesty and arresting humor to draw you into her cantankerous life, forty-year marriage, and revolving empty nest. She claims the space between past and future is where our potential is created or destroyed.
If you don’t like where your life is going, dig deeper, and write a new story. By weeding out the things that clutter her life, she invites you into a refreshing space with some of her most popular posts from her beloved blog Living in the Gap.
She surrounds herself with a gaggle of intriguing friends, along with a large and rambunctious family who challenge both her and the reader to live fully in an ever-changing world. Her provocative writing dares us to confront our lives not only with optimism, but courage, and uproarious laughter. Oreglia uses her experience to explore what matters most in life… the degree to which we love and are loved.
My 5 Star Review:
This book is an inspiring and entertaining romp through memorable moments in the life of Cheryl Oreglia – ‘Living in the Gap’. With her sassy attitude and clever wit, the author takes us somewhere between lost in the 70s and back to the now. Her stories will bring us to places many of us have been to in life, in tales we can relate to. From living life, to suffering losses and everything in between, and even some tours of California wineries, well, because, Cheryl loves wine, to her beloved lakehouse in Clear Lake, California, we get to take in a day of the life of Cheryl – which is never usual, by any means. As Cheryl likes to say, “Persevering after failure is learned behavior and it is the one damn thing that improves with age.”
“Middle age is a time for living unapologetically,” with a wealth of advice and reminders to live life to the fullest and stop focusing on our flaws, Cheryl does just that. You will laugh and you will cry, but you will laugh mostly as she shares hilarious stories, most of them including her good sport husband and wingman, Larry. And it doesn’t sound like these two waste much time with their living, especially when there is wine. Did I mention the wine?
As she glides through life and continues to query where the time goes, the author asks, “How did we arrive at old age where energy is as extravagant as premium gasoline?” But nothing stops this woman. She is a force to be reckoned with. When she speaks about events concerning her children, she’ll take your heart with her, and make you pause for a moment as she’ll remind you of heartfelt stories of your own. “We never think of our time as finite. Instead we saunter through life as if we will live forever. When the landscape of your life suddenly changes, you are left with the impossible task of repainting your life, minus the brilliant colors, or familiar forms.”
Get this book, and get some wine to go with it, and stroll along with Cheryl and her Bombeck-esque stories. Just a few to mention: When it’s Covid lockdown and your whole family moves back in with you during their home renos, the boat ride and broken ribs, the Thai massage and the Larry factor, Colonoscopies and Coffee, Revisiting old friends and the bird on the Uber driver’s head, and hilarious biking adventures. I tell you, this couple need their own reality show!
Cheryl is a whippersnapper with prose and humor. She’s tough and loving, and takes no shit. And she can tell a story that won’t let you want to close the book. “Idleness is not the root of all evil, as the Jones’ would have you think. It is the fertilizer, which is required, if you wish to Grow Damn It!”
DGKayewriter.com 