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Etta and Otto and Russell and James
Etta and Otto and Russell and James
Emma Hooper | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry
4
4.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Emma Hooper's novel Etta and Otto and Russell and James explores both the present and the past of three particular characters. Etta is an elderly woman suffering with Alzheimer's who decides to go for a walk and never come home. She first met her husband Otto in her late teens shortly before he enlisted in the army to fight abroad. Russell lives on the farm next to Etta and Otto and was also a childhood friend of Otto and quite close to Etta whilst Otto was away.

Etta's walk becomes public knowledge as she is observed walking through long grass in the company of a coyote whom she named James. She has very little on her, the most important being a note reading " Etta Gloria Kinnick of Deerdale Farm. 83 years old in August." This is to remind her of who she is in case she ever forgets.

The character's pasts are interesting to read about, in particularly the contrast between Etta's more comfortable upbringing and Otto's life on the farm being the seventh child in an extremely large family. The present day, however, was not as interesting. I never understood the significance of Etta's walk and the latter half of the novel became really confusing. At some points I was uncertain which character was being spoken about. Although the name Otto was used, the scene seemed more appropriate for Etta's situation. Whether this was intentional or a mistake I am unsure.

Another thing that made the story confusing to read was the lack of speech punctuation. Occasionally it was hard to determine who was speaking and who was replying; what was speech and what was not. I have read other books that use this structure and even though it's purpose may have related to the type of story being told, it does make it hard to fully comprehend.

This book gets off to a shaky start but I was always expecting it to improve. Unfortunately I was left disappointed.
  
Mia and Nattie One Great Team!
Mia and Nattie One Great Team!
Marlene M. Bell | 2020 | Children
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I found a sweet book about a little girl and a baby lamb. This story is a sweet one. Though I think mostly about compassion and how being unique and special. What will happen to this baby sheep that is born and makes a connection with a little girl?

Will Mia find a special job that will help keep her on the farm? Will Grandma sell her as she thinks. Mia seems quite attached to Nattie. The story seems to show you that small and little that they can help when they find the right job or special thing they are good at.

The pictures are done well. They are cute. The pictures are what makes me turn the pages. They seem drawn well. Mia does some special care for Nattie. You will be surprised what Nattie's special magic or talent is.

This book shows what teamwork is or can be. It doesn't always have to be two kids or two people that do the teamwork. That was seen in this book.

This book is good for those that have children that love farm animals and or animals in general. It teaches and also shows that some animals can be calming and stress relievers without being with others. What a lovely story about a little girl and a baby sheep. What a good book to pick up. Children can learn about teamwork and caring for baby animals.
  
Amber (Red Hot Love #1)
Amber (Red Hot Love #1)
Elle Casey | 2018
7
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I've read a handful of Elle Casey's books and have found that more often than not, I really enjoy them.

This one started off a little crazy with a lawyer visiting Amber and her families farm to tell them that their dads want to meet them in New York. Amber appears to have never left the farm before to visit big cities and is wowed by some things and horrified by others in the Big Apple.

Amber and Ty certainly rubbed each other the wrong way to start but you could see a tentative connection between them from pretty early on. I actually really liked Ty, and Amber's intuitiveness; the way she picked up on little things and tried to solve problems was great. It was a very good plotline and I loved that part of the story.

And the romance, of course. It was very sweet. I was "aaahh"ing and smiling like a loon with the gentleness of it all. Super cute. Not what I was expecting but I really liked it.

Now I've finished the story, I still find the beginning and that part of the story with the hippie compound a little strange/out there but the rest of the story? I liked it, though I would have liked more band stuff included.

I can't help wondering if Red Hot's story will continue through Emerald and Rose's romances which I will buy and read at some point in the future.