Review: The Edge of the Divine

I’ve always been a fan of Sandi Patty’s music. Her voice is A+ amazing. In recent years, she’s added a handful of another type of resource to her fans’ eager receiving hands: Books. Not just books, but deep and heartfelt stories about her life journey, her passions, her struggles. The Edge of the Divine is her newest addition to the shelf.

The Edge of the Divine is an up-close-and-personal, front row view into Sandi’s struggle with obesity. Eating too much has always been a struggle for her, even as a young girl. It became apparent, through a bout of health scares that she underlines in the first pages of this book, that something must be done if her life was to be spared. Thus began her jumping “off of the edge” — moving from the old to the new, from the past into a new future.

Sandi gives a realistic portrayal of what it’s like to undergo lap-band surgery, as well as the physical ramifications of the procedure after it’s completed. She also documents the emotional ties to eating, for her and for many others, making pre-and-post surgery counseling a necessity.

As the story goes on and her life begins to grow healthier and change for the better, other “edges” are discussed and shared. She recounts other big changes that have occurred in Sandi’s life in recent years, and how she moved through them.

This book was an inspiration to me, a jolt to look at my life’s own challenges in a new way. It’s a testament to what God can do. It’s a crystal clear picture of what goes on beneath the surface of any big change, making me more aware of the effects of my life’s choices and paths chosen on others around me.

These poignant literary pictures, along with Sandi Patty’s crafty humor and clever quips thrown in, make for a very enjoyable (and encouraging) read. You can pick up Sandi Patty’s The Edge of the Divine at Thomas Nelson’s bookstore, at Amazon, or look for it at your local Christian bookstore.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Hero Found: Book Review + Giveaway

Gain an inside glimpse into life aboard a US Navy aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War, as well as into the lives of the men who occupy it, by getting your hands on a copy of Hero Found: The Greatest POW Escape of the Vietnam War by Bruce Henderson.

This true story is about much more than just Navy life and about the training and triumphs that surround it. It’s about Dieter Dengler, a German-born man who grows up and becomes a US citizen. Being on the run during much of his childhood from the Nazis (his family had anti-Nazi sentiments), he became familiar with the skills needed to survive among Germany’s Black Forest.

Those skills would greatly come into play after Dieter finds his SCAD shot down over “neutral Laos” in February 1966. He is captured by Pathet Lao guerrillas and endures many tumultuous months in their POW camps.

While waiting for relief, he befriends some of the other POWs within the camps, of all nationalities, many of whom had been there for years. Within a few days’ time, Dieter adamantly begins planning his escape, enlisting other camp prisoners alongside him in his efforts.

And escape he did. Walk with Dieter during his harrowing 23-day journey on bleeding feet through the dangerous jungles of Southeast Asia. Look over his shoulder as he writes letters home to both his mother and his fiancee, Marina. Endure his hardships with him, as you read the horrifically acute details of his beatings, torture, and sub-human experiences scraping for food and eating less-than-ideal meals.

(For an inside glimpse into Hero Found, click here.)

Hero Found gave me awe and respect for Dengler, amazement at his advanced planning skills and survivor’s mindset. It gave me an insight into the inner workings of aircraft carriers in the waters during the Vietnam War, the exact atmosphere and period in time in which my own Dad served. It gave me even further respect and pride in the armed forces of our nation, as well as gratitude for servicemen and women, both then and now.

You can order Hero Found directly from HarperCollins for $27.99, or look for it at your favorite bookstore or these online retailers.

Win it! Courtesy of HarperCollins, one of you will win a copy of Bruce Henderson’s Hero Found: The Greatest POW Escape of the Vietnam War.

Here’s how to enter:

1. MANDATORY: Tell me, in a comment below, another book from HarperCollins you’d love to read.

2) For a second entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.

3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.

4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered! (Only one tweet per person per contest, please.)

I’ll close the contest next Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US mailing addresses only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to the winner, #12, Lindsie!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this book for free per my review, but I did not receive any other monetary or product compensation. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

BusyBodyBook: Can’t live without it! (Giveaway!)

I’m a planner. Not only because I like to plan, but because if I don’t write things down, I forget them. I blame “pregnancy brain” for taking my sharp memory and never bringing it all the way back.

But I want to be a stylish planner….as well as have all of my info in one place….and that’s why I use and LOVE my BusyBodyBook.

BusyBodyBooks are gridded planners that are available in either school year calendar format or calendar year format. Here are a few of the features of the BusyBodyBook:

~ Thick cardboard cover with an added, translucent plastic cover for extra protection. Keeps the pages neat and dog-ear free all year long!
~ Spiral-bound, letting you flip its pages easily and view a two-page spread at once.
~ Completely versatile and customizable. There are five blank columns on each 7-day page, letting you come up with your own planning categories.
~ Monthly planner pages that allow you to write down birthdays and appointments in an easy-to-view location.
~ A whole page per week for notes and doodles. This is space I use to the fullest!
~ Removable, perforated shopping lists.
~ Two pockets to store important papers….and a movable bookmark.

And this year, per customer request, the newest feature is debuted: FULL page Months-At-A-Glance located at the front of the book — more room to write important info!

I look forward to seeing the new planner cover designs every time a new year is debuted. The designs are always trendy and attractive!

There’s a wealth of options for how you can use your BusyBodyBook: As a blog planner, a school planner, a homeschooling record keeper, a household all-in-one planner, or a work planner!

(Check out the BusyBodyBook Blog for news, updates, contests, and more.)

And download and print out, anytime, FREE Weekly GRIDs!

You can purchase BusyBodyBooks directly via the BusyBodyBook website for $17.95….as well as from Amazon.com!

Win it! Thanks to BusyBodyBook, one of you will win a BusyBodyBook gridded planner of your choice!

Here’s how to enter:

1. MANDATORY: Tell me, in a comment below, which BusyBodyBook planner you’d choose if you win, and what you’ll use it for/how you’ll use it!

2) For a second entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.

3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.

4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered! (Only one tweet per person per contest, please.)

I’ll close the contest next Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US mailing addresses only. Good luck!


CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to the winner, #58, Christina Karnes!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received a free BusyBodyBook to review, but I did not receive any other monetary or product compensation. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Grapevine Studies – Review + Giveaway!

Grapevine Studies’ resources make learning about the Bible fun and interactive! Your kids will be “Stick Figuring Through the Bible,” since the stories are illustrated real-time by you (and then copied by your kids on their own worksheets). Through all three learning styles (auditory, visual, and kinesthetic), the lessons you teach will really stick.

Grapevine Studies are terrific for homeschools (what we use ours for), churches, and Christian schools. With just a few simple tools (colored markers, a white board, and colored pencils, crayons or markers for your kids), you have all you need to help convey the truths and stories of the Bible to your kids in an interactive way they’ll soak up and enjoy.

Grapevine Studies sent us the Beginner Level Old Testament Overview teacher/student set for our review.

Right away I noticed how easy these lessons were going to be to teach. The teacher’s guide is unbound, with hole-punched pages, letting me put them into a 3-ring notebook for easier use. The student book had adequate space between each lesson point, room for our kids to draw their interpretation of the part of the story they’d heard.

The teacher’s guide showed us (my husband and I) how to teach the lesson, including samples of what we were to illustrate on the board, but then encouraged your kids to have freedom of expression when drawing their own pictures.

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All in all, the OT Overview kit allows your children to learn 40 consecutive events in the Old Testament, as well as memorize verses corresponding with them. What a fun way for kids ages 5-7 to learn about lesser-known stories of the Bible!

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At Grapevine Studies, you can search for Bible studies either by topic or by age level. You can purchase either hard copy books….or their new eBooks or individual eLessons.

**Special OFFER!**

Enter the promo code MUSE at checkout for 30% any of Grapevine Studies’ regularly priced items! Offer expires 8/18/10.

Win it! Courtesy of Grapevine Studies, I have a Multi-Level Resurrection Student Book and Teacher Book to give away to one of you!

Here’s how to enter:

1. MANDATORY: Tell me, in a comment below, another item at Grapevine Studies that looks interesting to you — or that you’d love to use with your kids or in your classroom.

2) For a second entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.

3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.

4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered! (Only one tweet per person per contest, please.)

I’ll close the contest next Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US mailing addresses only. Good luck!


CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to the winner, commenter #34, Susan Smoaks!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Totally Desperate Mom: Review + {Signed} Giveaway!

If you’re a mom, listen up.

Let’s admit it. We’ve all had those days. Those desperate days. Those days when we begin to feel like we’re drowning in daily duties and if anything can go wrong, it will.

Wendy Hagen understands that there are “those days.” She understands that motherhood is indeed a calling, but that it can be a taxing, exhausting, and confusing journey, too. And she’s packaged all of her thoughts on motherhood into one nice wrapped package, a book that every single mom on earth needs to read.

Did you hear me correctly?

Yes, that’s right: I firmly believe that every single mom (and mom-to-be) on the face of this earth needs to read Totally Desperate Mom: Keepin’ It Real in the Motherhood.

Hagen’s book opens with a horrific (yet humorous) story of a post-birth hemorrhoid experience. It only gets “better” from that point on. Every single “what to expect” during the early years of mommyhood are covered honestly and matter-of-factly as the chapters continue.

Moms of preschoolers and older kids will nod and chuckle knowingly at the painstaking attention to detail when it comes to the “mishaps” and misadventures of motherhood. From poopy diapers in not-so-ideal locations to the brutally honest words escaping from your child’s mouth to embarrass you just so, you’ll be sure to relate — as if you’re laughing and nodding along with a good pal over coffee.

And for those of you who are about to embark on this wonderful adventure called parenthood, there’s lots for you in here, too. There’s blatant detail about morning sickness in all of its necessary glory. You’ll learn all about those early, bleary-eyed first days at home with a newborn, what Hagen refers to “the black hole.” You’ll gain reassurance that hormones will indeed be raging, and that so many things are…yes, really….normal.

And there’s special attention given to those who are unable to conceive or have lost a child. Infertility and child loss are discussed candidly yet compassionately, as Hagen herself is very familiar with both.

Hagen is a devout Christian and speaks openly about her dependence on her faith as a mom….but she holds (and I agree) that Totally Desperate Mom seamlessly applies to women and moms of all faiths.

I give this book five stars….five-and-a-half, if I could. It’s a book that I laughed with, cried with. It’s a book that I most definitely wish I could have owned and read six years ago, as I was expecting our firstborn and still so naive and clueless about what lay ahead.

It’s a book you’ll read and love and want to share with all of your mommy (and pregnant) friends. You’ll love Wendy’s subtle (and not-so-subtle) humor and her lighthearted look at life, at being a mom. You’ll feel better understood, more confident, and definitely less “alone.”

You can order Totally Desperate Mom directly from Wendy’s website for $12 — or pre-order it from Amazon.com. (It will be available there on or before August 3rd, 2010.)

Win it! Wendy has graciously given me an extra SIGNED copy of Totally Desperate Mom to give to one of my readers!

Here’s how to enter:

1) MANDATORY: In a comment below, tell me why you’d love to read this book!

2) For a second entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.

3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.

4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered!

I’ll close the contest next Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US mailing addresses only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to the winner, #32, Tracy!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Heart Mender: A Story of True Forgiveness


If you’re a history buff, historical romance fan, or are just in need of an inspirational and awe-inspiring story, look no further than The Heart Mender: A Story of Second Chances by Andy Andrews.

Published by Thomas Nelson, The Heart Mender is an artful blend of fiction and non, a peering back into the early years of the second world war through the eyes of a handful of people, a group of folks who have quite a predicament on their hands due to entrenching Nazi subs in the waters of the Gulf — right beside their quaint beachside town.

At the center of the story is a war widow named Helen, a woman who’s lost all faith in humanity and who holds pent-up anger deep inside. Helen endures a constant inner struggle, unable to let go and live a fulfilling life after the tragic death of her new husband.

Everything Helen knows and keeps to herself is laid bare as she stumbles across a wounded gentlemen late one night beside the surf. Tempted to turn and walk away, ignoring his pleas for help, she stops in her tracks and is unable to leave him behind after he utters one barely decipherable phrase.

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I was immediately drawn to and felt for Helen. Though I’ve never felt such anger, I have held resentment and bitterness in the past and have seen the poison it creates within my own life. No man’s life is untouched by others, and this book shows that full well. The intermingling of stories and souls draws you in and adheres you to many of the memorable characters as the story continues. All the way to the breath-holding conclusion, you’ll find this book difficult to put down….and the message difficult to deny or dismiss.

You can buy The Heart Mender: A Story of Second Chances by Andy Andrews for $18.99 directly from Thomas Nelson, as well as at Amazon.com, ChristianBook.com, and many other book retailers.

Win it! Courtesy of Thomas Nelson (via BookSneeze), I have one extra copy of The Heart Mender to give away to one of you!

Here’s how to enter:

1) MANDATORY: Tell me, in a comment below, who you’d like to win this book for (yourself included) and why.

2) For a second entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.

3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.

4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered!

I’ll close the contest next Wednesday, July 14th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US addresses only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congratulations to the winner, #57, Abi!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

An At-Home Spa….with Fancy Nancy!

Ooh La la! Fancy Nancy is getting fancy again — this time with an at-home beauty day!

Yet another Fancy Nancy tale by Jane O’Connor that will have your little girly girl giddy! And as with all of the other Fancy Nancy books, Robin Preiss Glasser’s delightfully busy and detailed illustrations lend visual fun on each and every page.

Fancy Nancy: Ooh La La! It’s Beauty Day is a story and tutorial all in one. Read all about Fancy Nancy’s plans to pamper her mom for her birthday….all thanks to a creatively created spa — complete with refreshments and entertainment — right in her own backyard!

Like with most of Fancy Nancy’s feats, her intentions are good but the results aren’t quite perfect. Thank goodness a good friend steps in to save the day!

Included within the book are recipes and how-to’s so that your little girl can create an at-home spa just like Fancy Nancy’s! From a Towel Turban to a Fancy Face Mask, you’ll have all the inspiration and instruction needed to let your own home (or backyard) become a pampering paradise.

(Check out the website for a free download of a beauty mask and door hanger to complete your at-home spa!)

You can purchase Fancy Nancy: Ooh La La! It’s Beauty Day for $12.99 wherever your favorite Fancy Nancy books are sold — or via any of these fine retailers.

Win it! Courtesy of HarperCollins, one of you can win O’Connor’s Fancy Nancy: Ooh La La! It’s Beauty Day!

Here’s how to enter:

1) MANDATORY: Visit HarperCollins Children’s and tell me, in a comment below, another book you’d love to read to your kids this summer.

2) For a second entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.

3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.

4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered!

I’ll close the contest next Monday, July 12th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US addresses only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to the winner, #67, Jill L!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Where’d the moon go?

You remember being a kid and your imagination would go as far as you would let it? Take your imagination to that super-duper level once again as you read Willoughby and the Moon to your little ones!

Greg Foley wrote and illustrated this glossy black, white and silver children’s book that follows a little boy as he ventures out to find the shrinking (then disappearing) moon in the sky. Longing for the moon’s comforting glow, Willoughby Smith bravely gets out of bed and steps inside his closet, of all places, to figure out the mystery behind the moon’s vanishing.

He meets a friend — a snail — in space, and Willoughby is able to help his pal confront its biggest fears while at the same time move toward confronting his own.

A mini science lesson on the waxing and waning of the moon, as well as a lesson in friendship and guide to overcoming childhood fears, reside within the pages of this fun-to-look-at book. The images are part drawn, part retro dot-matrix print/computer graphics. Though vibrant colors are absent, there is still tons of eye candy on these shiny pages, plenty for little eyes to explore and enjoy!

You can purchase Greg Foley’s Willoughby and the Moon from HarperCollins or other retailers for $18.99.

Win it! Courtesy of HarperCollins, one of you will win a copy of Willoughby and the Moon!

Here’s how to enter:

1) MANDATORY: Visit HarperCollins and tell me, in a comment below, another book you’d love to read to your kids this summer.

2) For a second entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.

3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.

4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered!

I’ll close the contest next Wednesday, June 30th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US addresses only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to the winner, #55, Ellie!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Espionage, journalism, and penicillin

Author of the New York Times bestseller City of Light, Lauren Belfer, has just released a war-time mystery-esque novel. A Fierce Radiance takes place in New York City during the first few years of World War II.

The opening chapter begins just days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. While soldiers fought back in the Pacific waters, a new kind of battle was beginning within the medical research labs in the northern parts of the country. A new drug was on the horizon but not yet vastly studied nor understood: Penicillin.

A photographer for Life magazine, Claire Shipley, finds herself in the center of the first few clinical trials of the newly termed “antibiotic.” It isn’t long before she and others begin to realize the vast importance of this new drug (and its closely related “cousins”) and the broad implications these medicines would have for wounded and ailing soldiers at home and abroad.

The well-meaning medical doctors aren’t the only ones interested in seeing these drugs succeed, however. It soon becomes apparent that other money-hungry parties are seeking to gain a grasp in this “undiscovered” market, viewing it in terms of a personal economic boom….not as a cheaply available aid for the suffering.

It doesn’t take long before we’re swept into the front row of a dawning romance between Claire and one of the doctors in charge of the trials. Soon you’re left to begin to wonder whether the trials themselves as well as the pulling force of Dr. Stanton’s service to his country will succeed in keeping these two apart.

A Fierce Radiance is full of three-dimensional characters, many with deeply troubled pasts that ensure a bond to the cause of this new research. There are detailed flashbacks that draw you into the characters’ emotions….as well as bits and pieces of information that leave you guessing who is legitimate and who might be involved for the wrong reasons.

Espionage, mystery, murder, romance, and wartime worries all collaborate together for an unforgettable, page-turning novel that keeps you guessing until the very end.

You can purchase A Fierce Radiance by Lauren Belfer directly from HarperCollins (or at any of these other retailers) for $25.99.


Win it!
Courtesy of HarperCollins, one of you will win a copy of A Fierce Radiance to add to your summer reading book bag.

Here’s how to enter:

1) MANDATORY: Visit HarperCollins and tell me, in a comment below, another book you’d love to read this summer.

2) For a second entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.

3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.

4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered!

I’ll close the contest next Monday, June 28th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US addresses only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congrats to the winner, commenter #16, Shannon Baas!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Marley’s at it again!

From acclaimed author John Grogan (of Marley & Me) comes a brand new book chronicling another one of the many adventures of Marley the dog: Marley and the Kittens.

Marley and his family come across two adorable (but abandoned) tabby kittens while traveling. What are they going to do? Why, keep them, of course!

The tiny kittens adjust to their new home quite well, but Marley experiences quite an adjustment period. He thinks he is helping to excitedly welcome them, dine with them, play with them, and cuddle with them. Instead, he’s creating a much bigger mess in the process. As usual.

The pictures by Richard Cowdrey are up-close and detailed, down to the very last piece of broken dishes and strewn-about cat food brought on by Marley’s enthusiasm.

Marley learns a little something about friendship….and unconditional love….in this hilarious and heartwarming tale.

If your kids are cat (or dog) fans, Marley and the Kittens is a must-have. You can purchase John Grogan’s new book for $17.99 from any of these online retailers…or look for it in the children’s section of a bookstore near you!

Win it! Thanks to HarperCollins, one of you will win a copy of Marley and the Kittens!

Here’s how to enter:

1) MANDATORY: Tell me about, in a comment below, a special pet in your life….whether it’s a cuddly kitten or a rambunctious Marley.

2) For a second entry, subscribe to Muse Reviews’ feed OR subscribe via email — tell me in a separate comment if you’re a new subscriber or already a subscriber.

3) For a third entry, become friends with Muse Reviews on Facebook, then tell me you did so in a separate comment below.

4) For a fourth entry, twitter about this contest using @MuseReviews within your tweet, then tell me in a separate comment that you twittered!

I’ll close the contest next Sunday, June 13th, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US addresses only. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Congratulations to the winner, #67, Jason, who has a canine companion named Lucy!

FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I only received the product itself; I received no other monetary compensation for this review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”