#satirefiction – Rosepoint Publishing

The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived by Will Pass #BookReview #animalfiction

Book Blurb:

The human who found me is fine. She feeds me. She cuddles me. She puts a roof over my head. But I do not appreciate being held captive. Because I have the intelligence of a human. And I aim to find out why.

Accompanied by Shakespeare, a Pug with the intelligence of a Pug, I run away from home, embarking on an epic quest for freedom, understanding, and, quite possibly, revenge.

Together we must survive a harsh desert of cannibalistic coyotes, stray humans, a fugitive white tiger, and one hypnotic beacon that shines from a city of sin, luring us back into so-called civilization.

My name is Rousseau. I seek the truth. Even if it means I lose my mind…

Full of imagination and humor, The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived is a dog book like no other, with a canine narrator who questions the value of human society, and a dog’s place within it.

His Review:

The life of a stray is not an easy one. Even near the country’s largest casino city. The primary risk is the game warden. His job is to capture the strays and run-aways and either adopt them out or eliminate them. The cute puppies are adopted quickly and sent to loving homes. The older more mature animals are usually slated for euthanize.

Dr. Francis attempts to save them all. However, his budget is limited so he must keep the adoptable numbers to a minimum. Mary is a kind soul who saves as many slated for death as she can. The result is a large population of strays around the desert areas near Los Velos, a large gambling community in the desert.

We all have to eat and strays are no exception. One of this band of strays has secured a local hamburger joint. The trick is to hide beside the driver’s side of the car and wait until the bag of burgers is offered through the drive-up window. A quick jump and there may be hamburgers all around. A hungry dog can eat four or more at a time.

Leo is one of those strays and a little bigger than most. He has been living in the desert with coyotes and is thankful he is not their dinner. A few smaller dogs that travel with him take advantage of his size and protective tendencies. However, sufficient food is never available for all.

Trigger: Animal death

The book is well written with many fun vignettes. The writer has woven human relationships and prejudices into a very believable tapestry of adventures. The underdogs are literally the escaped or abandoned. Read and enjoy. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

This is a real surprise for a debut that combines both humor and anguish with an animal POV—rather unlike most you’ve read before. You’ll enjoy the adventure and characters whether or not a dog lover.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my own thoughts.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Animal Fiction, Satire Fiction
Publisher: Thiessen Press
ASIN: B0CW1D8T8N
Print Length: 467 pages
Publication Date: October 4, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Links:

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble

The Author: Will Pass practiced as a veterinarian in Las Vegas before becoming a novelist and medical writer.

He lives in Colorado with his wife, son, two cats, and very good dog.

The Second-Smartest Dog That Ever Lived is his first novel.

The Remarkable Wisdoms and Bizarre Tales of Tennison Hawk by Michael Reisig – #BookReview – #satirefiction

Book Blurb:

A BIZARRE AMALGAM OF TRUTH AND HUMOR …
What you are about to read is not a novel, but more of a collection of insight – social, slightly political, humorous, and most of all, honest. It’s also inclined to make you open your eyes and nod your head with a sage grin, as genuine perception strikes you between the eyes. And by the way, it’s funny as hell in a number of places.
I mean choke on your own spit funny…
My good friend, the late Mr. Tennison Hawk, possessed a bizarre sense of humor and a powerful social and political insight, all of which were extraordinarily refreshing. Those who have never gambled, never sought the reckless truth, or never laughed until snot ran out of their noses, probably won’t get him. But if you lean toward honesty at any price, and you tend to appreciate an occasional ribald, gutsy story, you’re definitely going to like this.
Basically this book will make you laugh your ass off while digging out nuggets of truth that you either didn’t know or refused to admit. It’s not politically correct in very many places, but it’s honest. Now, I’ve been told that this short but relatively enjoyable collection goes well with a couple of cold beers or a glass or two of wine. So… go get that bottle of wine, or that six-pack, settle into your favorite chair, and set off on an adventure of knowledge and humor. If you open your mind while you open your eyes you might just stumble into some of the hiding places of real honesty, and insight.
And after you’ve absorbed these bits of wisdom, many people will think you’re smarter than you actually are…

[NOTE: From the equally remarkable author, Michael Reisig, comes this emotive tribute to his buddy–always a hero to those around him and then the young girl being harassed in Chicago one recent night. He was on his way back from a meeting with his editor (which ran late) when he confronted the two thugs harassing her and in the course of the struggle became their victim. A sharp departure from Reisig’s successful The Road to Key West adventure series, this is the most controversial book by Reisig to date. I loaned my copy to the CE who offers his thoughts below mine.]

My Review:

It is sometimes difficult to separate the tenets of Tennison from the pearlescent pearls of Reisig as they blend beautifully in this compendium of social, political, and philosophical nuggets.

Rather than friends, these two might have been joined at the hip as they shoot satirical and powerful, often humorous, philosophical insights into the current state of just about everything including “Automated Assistance” (doncha just love it). There is brutal, naked honesty here. The crushing dread felt deep in your soul at the situation of our country is coupled with laid-back often obvious suggestions for easy solutions.

I loved the tribal wisdom of the Dakota Indians shared that says, “When you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount.”

It’s a short and easy read punctuated with comic relief and spoonfuls of wisdom. As “Mark Twain said: Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of congress; but I repeat myself.” 5 stars – V Williams

His Review:

This compendium of the short tales of Tennison Hawk illuminates the frustration and disenfranchising of America! A majority of Americans are now being characterized as the root of all things evil in this country.

Some areas appear to have contradictions within their own neighborhoods, often preying on each other! It has always seemed endemic in every society to blame others for the misfortunes of some. Whether the social and educational opportunities exist or not—many are not considered offered at all.

Whether lack of desire or incentive, it appears that many times illicit activities offer a much quicker and more lucrative reward than hard work and diligence.

I appreciate that the work of Tennison Hawk made available through the efforts of Michael Reisig, expounded on the disparity in biting and often humorous terms. Hopefully, this book will help to illuminate in folk and satirical easy-to-swallow doses many of the problems that have a strangle hold on our society. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

We bought a copy of this book shortly after release that in no way influenced this review. These are our honest thoughts. Recommended.

Book Details:

Genre: American Humorous Fiction, Satire Fiction, Short Stories Anthologies
Publisher: Clear Creek Press
ASIN: B0BY5P96T5
Print Length: 159 pages
Publication Date: March 10, 2023
Source: Purchase

Title Link:

The Remarkable Wisdoms and Bizarre Tales of Tennison Hawk [Amazon]

The Author: Michael Reisig has been writing professionally for 20 years. He is a former Caribbean adventurer turned newspaper editor, award-winning columnist, and best-selling novelist.

After high school and college in Florida, he relocated to the Florida Keys. He established a commercial diving business, got his pilot’s license, and traveled extensively throughout the southern hemisphere, diving, treasure hunting, and adventuring.

Reisig claims he has been thrown out of more countries in the Caribbean Basin that most people ever visit, and he admits that a great many of the situations and the characters in his novels are authentic – but nothing makes a great read like experience…

He now lives in the mountains of Arkansas, where he hunts and fishes, and writes, but he still escapes to the Caribbean for an occasional adventure.

The CE and I

All the Best Quotes by Rufus & Friends in the Road to Key West Series by Michael Reisig – #BookReview – #fictionanthologies

Rosepoint Publishing:

Book Blurb:

Best-selling author Michael Reisig has probably produced more profound, profane, and proverbial quotes than nearly any other writer in his class, and the following effort here, is really a wonderful, definitive collection of … Reisig… and his thirteen-book “Road to Key West” series. For the price of an order of french fries you can buy a ebook view of island life here — a few hours of Caribbean island-hopping insight in the form of clever quotes by the remarkable Rufus the Rastaman, as well as those from a gathering of other great authors, adventurers, and entertainers. All of which will make you nod your head with understanding or laugh out loud in pleasure, with nearly every page… As you walk along The Road To Key West…
As Rufus would say: Sometimes you’re the wind, and sometimes you’re the sails…
Cool Runnings, mon

My Review:

Yes! At last, one of my favorite authors has gathered a collection of favorite quotes finally answering requests from fans of the Road to Key West Series (and a number of others besides), including one from Stanley McShane (my grandfather).

Just when you needed some humor in your life, these memorable (often touching) quotes bring a chuckle to your lips along with several LOL moments from some of your favorite characters of his popular series including Rufus, Crazy Eddie, Will, Kansas, Travis, and Cody, as well as others (including one from Paulo Coelho—I kid you not). Of his richly drawn characters, I love Rufus—always an enigmatic, engaging, and often mysterious individual armed with an appropriate saying (if not a timely prediction). But Crazy Eddie? He’s just plain lovably crazy.

“Remember, you’re not dead until someone can touch your eyeballs and they don’t flinch. Until then, you got a fighting chance.” –Crazy Eddie

“If you’re smoking after sex, you’re doing it way too fast.” –Will Bell

“Coincidence is the Grand Messenger’s way of reminding us how small the ship of life is, and that destiny sometimes has a sense of humor…” –Rufus

If you’ve never read a Michael Reisig book, whether in this series or one of his standalones, you owe it to yourself to get this little book, a great preface to his novels. It’s a wonderful collage of quotes and sayings, unforgettable moments in the novels that vicariously quench your adventurous spirit. The little pictures of the characters are endearing. Immerse yourself in the (often times philosophical) prose, his obvious love of animals, and the pure excitement of life through many heart-pounding exploits.

I was thrilled to receive a complimentary review copy of this book from Mr. Reisig that in no way influenced this review. (Visit any of my Road to Key West adventure reviews by searching this blog for Michael Reisig.) The ebook is a bargain, but I’d suggest the print book with the graphics might make a delightful Christmas gift. A reading delight for men; a guffaw or three for women. These are my honest thoughts.

Book Details:

Genre: Fiction Anthologies, Satire Fiction, Literary Anthologies & Collections
Publisher: Clear Creek Press
ASIN: B09M99718T
Print Length: 171 pages
Publication Date: November 18, 2021
Source: Author request

Title Link(s): All the Best Quotes by Rufus & Friends in the Road to Key West Series [Amazon]

Just released!

The Author: Michael Reisig has been writing professionally for 20 years. He is a former Caribbean adventurer turned newspaper editor, award-winning columnist, and best-selling novelist.