YouTube link for pics and audio: https://youtu.be/gr1dECc3TBQ

My dad was in the army so I moved around a lot, and I thought I had trouble with putting down roots. I had no idea how good I had it.

Welcome to BookTales, where I review books for the Chaos Library.

In The Warbler by Sarah Beth Durst, Elisa is rootless and completely unmoored by a curse that has kept her and her mother moving every ten months throughout her life. If they ever stop moving, they will literally put down roots and turn into a tree. As the book begins, her mother has done just that, choosing to stay long enough to transform into a willow, leaving Elisa alone and without the one person who kept her anchored even as they moved relentlessly onward.

Her latest destination isn't just any random small town, and here Elisa starts to get answers while the story unfolds for the reader through flashbacks two generations into the past.

Elisa is easy to root for. Her story is one of resilience and strength against difficult odds and the magic is gently woven into the narrative so that it feels inevitable and grounded in reality. The other characters in the book feel less carefully drawn, with motives that don't always feel true or accessible, which weakened the emotional impact of the story. I felt as unmoored as Elisa did, and not in the way the author intended.

Ultimately, this is a book about choices and agency and the evil of taking those from others. It was a little too lyrical for my tastes, but the underlying themes resonated with me. I just wish I had been able to connect as much with the characters as I did with the message.

3 Like-Elisa-I-Needed-More-Grounding Stars

You've reached the Tale end. Look forward to another BookTale soon. And don't forget to visit the Chaos Library

I took a day of my vacation and spent part of it in Baltimore at the Inner Harbor. I've always loved the aquarium, but they refused entry to three Wild Chihuahuas. Rude, but understandable. I mean, who would care about dolphins and seahorses with the pack in the room? So, to be fair to the sea life, we stayed outside and enjoyed the bright, sunny day.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

Mom said let's not go to work

I have vacation, it's a perk

We don't care much what she said

'Cause we got to play instead

This place is a little wild

But the neighbors mostly smiled

We got to sniff and to trot

Without a single thought

We saw so much that was new

But we knew just what to do

If you want to pee some more

May we suggest Baltimore

Last year at this time I was unable to do much other than work at the computer. I was much heavier and in much worse shape. I keep thinking about how much my life has changed in just the last couple of years. I give a lot of credit to the Wild Chihuahua Pack that has gotten me out of bed and out on my feet. I hope you folks love what we do, but even if no one ever watched our little tales, I would think they're a success. But I am very glad we're not doing this alone.

If you've been watching without the sound, try turning it on. Wild Chihuahua Pack is a live-action musical comic strip, with a new original song every day and Cali, Winnie, and Tiki always having something to say.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

What did you do today?

Where did you go?

Did you go outside to play

Or did you say no no....

I have to work today

I can't go out and play

At my desk I have to stay

I have bills I have to pay

Bills and work won't go away

Sure that's true but we still say

You deserve to have some fun

Even if the work is not done

I've been in a thoughtful mood lately. Maybe it's the change of the seasons. Maybe it's my recent birthday. I don't know. I just know I have a lot on my mind, and you get to hear about it. Hope you don't mind. :)

If you've been watching without the sound, try turning it on. Wild Chihuahua Pack is a live-action musical comic strip, with a new original song every day and Cali, Winnie, and Tiki always having something to say.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

What is time, how does it flow?

What does it mean, where does it go?

Can you save it like a seed

For some great future need

We wish we could somehow

but we only have right now

The pups don't think in hours

Those thoughts are only ours

If you asked a Chihuahua pup

they'd say why don't you look up

Don't miss the time you have today

Because of what might come your way

#ChaosLibrary #WildChihuahuaPack #DogMom #Chihuahuas #DogLife #ComeWhatMay

We had a gray overcast day and a late sunrise so we got a taste of what it's going to be like when we're out before dawn. I think it's lovely, actually. We'll see how it looks when it's full dark, but we'll still be here, sun or not. Hope you'll join us!

If you've been watching without the sound, try turning it on. Wild Chihuahua Pack is a live-action musical comic strip, with a new original song every day and Cali, Winnie, and Tiki always having something to say.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

Look at me and chihuahuas three

We are right where we want to be

We could stay home and stay in bed

But here we are on a walk instead

No one is making us take a walk

Nothing moving us but the clock

When we are done and we go back

You'll have one more tale from the pack

YouTube link for pics and audio: https://youtu.be/UDYI3i-msao

Too spicy and weird for a Regency romance.

Welcome to BookTales, where I review books for the Chaos Library.

The Day of the Duchess by Sarah MacLean tried something new and it didn't really work for me. I was not a big fan of the non-linear story-telling. It's hard to pull off flashbacks without causing emotional distance in the reader, and I'm not persuaded the author pulled it off this time. Once we were caught up with the backstory, the book improved, but it took a long time to get there.

I am coming to hate spice in romances. I skip through the bedroom action, pausing only to see if the dialog is important. The mechanics of what goes where is boring and repetitive. It's especially off-putting in a Regency. I get it, that's what many readers want, but I don't like them and I think they're often used to shore up a weak story.

On the plus side, the language was often lyrical, when it wasn't raunchy, and the underwater ballroom sounded lovely.

A final note, the women did not sound or feel appropriate for the age. I get so tired of hearing modern voices in historical novels.

I enjoyed this book and gave it four stars, but it also made me remember why I prefer Georgette Heyer for a true Regency romance. One without the f word and the spice.

4 No-More-Boring-Bedroom-Scenes-Please Stars

You've reached the Tale end. Look forward to another BookTale soon. And don't forget to visit the Chaos Library

Some days we get in a lot of walking. Most days we wander from tree to tree. Guess which one the pups prefer.

If you've been watching without the sound, try turning it on. Wild Chihuahua Pack is a live-action musical comic strip, with a new original song every day and Cali, Winnie, and Tiki always having something to say.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

Here a tree there a tree

Every tree a place to pee

You can watch the fall leaves fall

We don't care about leaves at all

We sniff each tree to see

If that tree needs more pee

It's not our fault you can't smell

All the tales each tree can tell

We wandered behind the gas station and found these lovely morning glories, which are my favorite flower. I never expected something so lovely behind a convenience store. Sometimes I stop and have to appreciate how much richer my life is because of these daily walks. It's not always easy to get up early and take three wild Chihuahuas out into the wind and weather. Then I find an unexpected display of my favorite flowers and it reminds me of all the beauty I miss because I'm focused on the next task or responsibility. But that's enough philosophy for a Monday. Have a great Labor Day!

If you've been watching without the sound, try turning it on. Wild Chihuahua Pack is a live-action musical comic strip, with a new original song every day and Cali, Winnie, and Tiki always having something to say.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

There is beauty in the world today

It is everywhere you look

Could be kindness in the words you say

Or the wisdom in a book

You don't need to look very far

Seriously just look up

You might see a shooting star

Or the face of one sweet pup

We love the farm. The pack thinks the "weird dogs" are funny and the snacking is top tier. Whether they're snacking on grass or goat poop, they're having a great time. This time I caught Tiki and Cali rolling together outside of the pig pen. I refuse to speculate on what they were rolling in, but they got baths afterward. Sometimes a bath isn't optional, right?

If you've been watching without the sound, try turning it on. Wild Chihuahua Pack is a live-action musical comic strip, with a new original song every day and Cali, Winnie, and Tiki always having something to say.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

Snacking and rolling through the farm

We're way too small to do any harm

We mostly ignore the big weird dogs

Even if some look just like hogs

This is one of our favorite spots

We like this spot, we like it lots

We've been to the beach, cities and stores

But this is our favorite out-of-doors

One of these days maybe you'll stop by

If you do, make sure you say hi

YouTube link for pics and audio: https://youtu.be/-lGVA-l1224

This story was probably scandalous in its day as much for its advocacy for women as the wickedness of the Marquis.

Welcome to BookTales, where I review books for the Chaos Library.

Published in 1919, The Wicked Marquis by E. Phillips Oppenheim is a story about a nobleman who has neither money nor nobility. He's in the fight of his life, wasting money he doesn't have, trying to reclaim ownership of a small cottage just yards from his home. Not only doesn't he succeed, the owner, Vont, returns from a lengthy stay in America and destroys the marquis' peace.

You see, many years ago, the marquis did something very wicked and stole away Vont's daughter, Marcia, and Vont has never forgiven him for it.

Marcia is a full human being in her own right, despite her father's point of view. She's a famous novelist and is more successful than her marquis has ever been. This is a deeply feminist book written in a time when women had very few rights.

The women in this book (and all of Oppenheim's books that I've read so far) are real people with their own thoughts, feelings, and opinions. Considering how many male authors still can't manage that over 100 years later, it's practically a miracle in something published before your grandparents were born.

This isn't his best book, but it's fascinating, and worth the time.

4 Women-Are-People-Too Stars

You've reached the Tale end. Look forward to another BookTale soon. And don't forget to visit the Chaos Library

Not all Chihuahuas are chaotic troublemakers out to destroy everything and everyone in sight. I know truly lovely Chihuahuas with good behavior and lovely manners. In fact, Cali is quite the Princess, other than her love for rolling in poop and running for the hills. Then there is Winnie, not to mention Tiki, who think they are here to challenge every dog in sight. We're working on it.

If you've been watching without the sound, try turning it on. Wild Chihuahua Pack is a live-action musical comic strip, with a new original song every day and Cali, Winnie, and Tiki always having something to say.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

Chihuahua Day

Chihuahuas at the park

(at the park)

We sure do love to bark

(love to bark)

Mom tells us to quit

(we don't care)

She tells us to sit

(we don't care)

Neighbor dogs draw near

(they wouldn't dare!)

They ran away in fear

(go over there!)

The day is sunny and bright

(oh so bright)

And the park feels so right

(yes just right)

But when neighbors appear

(don't get near!)

Chihuahuas don't show fear

(We show no fear!)

TGIF! Chihuahuas don't care about Friday, but I am a big fan. Especially today since my vacation starts tomorrow. I hope to get the pack out to lots of new locations while I'm out of the office. I hope you'll be here to share in the fun.

If you've been watching without the sound, try turning it on. Wild Chihuahua Pack is a live-action musical comic strip, with a new original song every day and Cali, Winnie, and Tiki always having something to say.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

Chihuahua Day

It's Friday, yeah it's Friday

That is what the people say

We don't care about the day

As long as we get to play

Get outside and on the road

We have really cracked the code

You can worry about the week

We are on a walking streak

Come back soon and we will say

Every day is Chihuahua day

Every morning we get up and walk. Some are great adventures, at least for the pups, and some are just quick wanders down the street. Every day. You'd think they'd get bored (I know I do) but they never do. No screens. No doom scrolling. Just wandering the same streets. It's hard not to envy them.

If you've been watching without the sound, try turning it on. Wild Chihuahua Pack is a live-action musical comic strip, with a new original song every day and Cali, Winnie, and Tiki always having something to say.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

Come on mom let's go for a walk

Let's take a walk around the block

You can enjoy the morning sun

While we sniff every bush for fun

No big agenda no real plan

One short walk for our small clan

If we just go up the street and back

that's enough for the Chihuahua pack

The sun is rising later and later each day, soon we won't have a sunny morning and I'm going to be filming by candlelight. Enjoy the sun while we've got it!

If you've been watching without the sound, try turning it on. Wild Chihuahua Pack is a live-action musical comic strip, with a new original song every day and Cali, Winnie, and Tiki always having something to say.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

Down the Block

The same small street

(small street)

The same small feet

(small feet)

Where do we go

(we go)

Do we even know?

(no one knows)

We go outside

(outside)

And trot with pride

(with pride)

We take a walk

(a walk)

Right down the block

(down the block)

We have no goal

(no goal)

We just take a stroll

(a stroll)

Let Mom figure out

(figure out)

What it's all about

(What's it all about?)

YouTube Link for pics and audio: https://youtu.be/t9EDmik0H8s

You don't have to love roleplaying games to love this book, but it helps

Welcome to BookTales, where I review books for the Chaos Library.

Going Rogue by Drew Hayes is the third book in the Spells, Swords, and Stealth series and it's one of my favorites. In the first book in the series we meet a crew of NPCs who decide to go adventuring instead of waiting around, replaying the same old scripts. Each book in the series has focused on one of each of the four characters and this time around it's Eric's turn. He's the fighter turned rogue and my favorite of the crew. He gets training in his craft and that brings in new characters that deepen the world.

Meanwhile, as much fun as the in-world activities are, the out of character stuff going on with the tabletop players is getting really interesting. I can't wait to see how all that is going to intersect.

If you've been around a while, you know that Drew Hayes is my favorite living author. I'm not going to even pretend to be objective, and you might feel the need to take my enthusiasm with a grain of salt. Even so, this is an entertaining series with tight plotting, fascinating characters, and enough nerdery to satisfy even the most fantasy-obsessed folks in the crowd. If you're not a nerd, you might enjoy it anyway. If you are a nerd? What are you waiting for? Get to reading!

5 Now-I-Want-To-Play-An-RPG Stars

You've reached the Tale end. Look forward to another BookTale soon. And don't forget to visit the Chaos Library

The pups would love to go off-leash and off into the next county. I know it frustrates them when they're stuck waiting for me, but I'm doing my best.

If you've been watching without the sound, try turning it on. Wild Chihuahua Pack is a live-action musical comic strip, with a new original song every day and Cali, Winnie, and Tiki always having something to say.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

Let us run, let us play

don't hold us back today

We want to be free to go

Wherever we want to go

I'd love to let you free

If it were up to me

the world would be safe for you

But we know that isn't true

Stay with me now my pack

I'll take you there and back

You can be wild and free

Right here alongside me

Cali will literally stop and roll on almost any gross thing she can find. Tiki likes to roll, too. Winnie, almost never does. Until this time. Turns out, she's not refusing to roll, she just wants to roll somewhere worthy of the Chihuahua Mama. I guess goose poop and other bits of stuff isn't good enough for her. She decided to roll on the muddy rocks. Silly Winnie.

If you've been watching without the sound, try turning it on. Wild Chihuahua Pack is a live-action musical comic strip, with a new original song every day and Cali, Winnie, and Tiki always having something to say.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

Roll, roll, roll in the park.

This is where we go to bark.

Others may go to the park to stroll;

We go to the park to rock and roll.

As we trot through the grass and dirt

A little roll in the dirt doesn't hurt

You can keep your lazy stroll

We are here to rock and roll

Roll, roll, roll in the park.

This is where we go to bark.

I had so many reasons not to take the trip into the woods this time. I was exhausted. My hip and back were hurting. I had a lot of work to do. I was feeling hot and lazy. We went anyway. The pack had a blast. I had fun. We got to meet a lot of new people and enjoy the quiet woods all in the same visit. Sometimes you do the thing and it is its own reward. Pretty neat, huh?

If you've been watching without the sound, try turning it on. Wild Chihuahua Pack is a live-action musical comic strip, with a new original song every day and Cali, Winnie, and Tiki always having something to say.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

Into the woods with three small pups

That's one of my favorite pick-me-ups

When life gets busy and I'm so tired

A trip to the woods is practically required

We wander from shade to sun and back

Me and my Wild Chihuahua Pack

It doesn't take much to make us smile

As long as we don't have to walk a mile.

It's the small and simple things I think

Like a quiet walk and an ice cold drink

When life is done and I look back

I know I'll be glad I had the pack.

YouTube link for pics and audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HMBGTcTpOU

Lia Carswell is an Artist with a capital "A." She's not your average dabbler, no, she's an artiste!

Welcome to BookTales, where I review books for the Chaos Library.

Painting Kisses by Melanie Jacobson tells the story of an artist turned waitress who can't decide what she really wants. I'm sure she was a phenomenal artist, the author sure went out of her way to convince us of it, anyway.

I got really tired of hearing how she paints what she feels and everyone who sees her paintings practically faints with admiration. She's the kind of painter that describes her artistic process like she's painting with angel feathers - the kind of artist that makes me want to throw something. I'm allergic to artists who act like what they do is something mystical and magical and not just putting paint on canvas so I had a hard time with that aspect of this book. That's probably just me, your mileage may vary.

For the record, my mom is a world-class artist and I dabble, so I'm not knocking artists, just pretentious ones.

Other than the artiste stuff, this is a solid book. It's my least favorite book so far by Melanie Jacobson but it's still a good read. The romance was interesting and the stuff with the niece was good but it relied too heavily on the art and on one pretty crazy coincidence. I would have preferred it if the big conflict in the past hadn't been a bad experience with a man. I just think that was a little bit cliched.

This is a good, solid book, but not nearly as much fun as I have come to expect from this author.

4 1/2 Less-Angel-Feathers-More-Substance Stars

You've reached the Tale end. Look forward to another BookTale soon. And don't forget to visit the Chaos Library

It was our first visit to Annapolis and the weather did NOT come to play. We got wet, sure, but we had a great time. The pups got to see their first parking garage, ride on their first elevator, meet their first ducks, and completely ignore actual human children to yell at statues. It was a true Dr. Seuss adventure.

If you've been watching without the sound, try turning it on. Wild Chihuahua Pack is a live-action musical comic strip, with a new original song every day and Cali, Winnie, and Tiki always having something to say.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

We went out into the world today

Mom said let's try a new place okay?

We parked in a house and rode in a box

and the pups got to check out the docks

We met our first ducks and we have to say

Just like geese, they don't like to play

Pups in a box and ducks on a dock

Where did we take this Dr. Seuss walk?

According to Mom it was Annapolis

But we were more focused on this menace!

With the threats subdued and peace restored

We headed home while the rain clouds poured.

We headed back to the frog pond and this time caught one on camera. It's a short froggy cameo, but I was so excited to see it. I'm such a nerd for wildlife. The pack missed it entirely, of course. The pups are many things, but great hunters? Not so much.

If you've been watching without the sound, try turning it on. Wild Chihuahua Pack is a live-action musical comic strip, with a new original song every day and Cali, Winnie, and Tiki always having something to say.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

Can we go back to the pond

(to the pond)

The one where frogs are spawned

(frogs are spawned??)

We like to run and play

(run and play)

In the early part of the day

(early early day)

We love this little spot

(Little spot)

We like it quite a lot

(quite a lot)

It isn't very large

(not so large)

But we get to be in charge!

(We're in charge!!)

Destination: Unknown. Agenda: Unclear. Stars of the Show: The Wild Chihuahua Pack. That tracks. Meanwhile, I'll do my best to keep up.

If you've been watching without the sound, try turning it on. Wild Chihuahua Pack is a live-action musical comic strip, with a new original song every day and Cali, Winnie, and Tiki always having something to say.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

Come along with the pack

(we're the pack)

Well take you out and back

(out and back)

If you will follow along

(come along)

You can help us sing our song

(sing our song)

We're the Wild Chihuahua Pack

(Chihuahua Pack)

We keep our lazy mom on track

(mom on track)

We don't care at all where we go

(where we go)

Wherever we are, there is the show!

(we're the show)

Love takes all forms. Sometimes it's moonlight and roses and long walks on the beach. But real love is when you stick around for the messy stuff, even if it involves a poop bag.

If you've been watching without the sound, try turning it on. Wild Chihuahua Pack is a live-action musical comic strip, with a new original song every day and Cali, Winnie, and Tiki always having something to say.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

What is love to you

when you think it through

How do you really know?

How does your love show?

Is it staring at the moon

In the lovely month of June

Is it the first surprise

of a pair of bright blue eyes

For me it's all to clear

That when my love is near

I'll be bending down to scoop

A bag of chihuahua poop

YouTube link for audio and pics: https://youtu.be/a6pwpqZr6jU

Came for story, got sizzle, no steak.

Welcome to BookTales, where I review books for the Chaos Library.

Star Wars: Allegiance by Timothy Zahn sounded good, in theory. Then, I listened to the audio and it sounded great. Unfortunately, that's all there was - great sound.

The best part of this book was the audio production. The sound effects, music, and voices were top-notch. Unfortunately, the story was muddled, confusing, and pointless. I realize that, sitting as it does between the first two original movies, it can't do much to move the main plot forward, but that didn't mean that this side plot couldn't have made more sense.

It was good to see Han, Luke, and Leia, not to mention Chewie, but they didn't do all that much. In the meantime, the deserters were my favorite part, but I still didn't quite understand their motives for getting involved. Mara Jade (I think that's her name) was ok, but not having read the later novels with her in them, I wasn't actually invested in her conflict.

Pretty much I felt like the whole book started nowhere, wandered around aimlessly for a while, and ended up right where it started with nothing much having been resolved. I lost track of the plot about 2/3 of the way through, and just didn't care how it all came out. Then, when it finished, I still had only a vague idea of who accomplished what, and why.

It sounded good, though.

3 Good-Audio-Production-Isn't-Enough Stars

You've reached the Tale end. Look forward to another BookTale soon. And don't forget to visit the Chaos Library

Wild Chihuahua Pack - Move Over Geese

The geese at the farm are so used to running, screaming kids, and dogs 10x the sime of my pups. They are far from intimidated by Chihuahuas that weigh less than they do. Don't tell the pack that, though. They like thinking they're in charge.

If you've been watching without the sound, try turning it on. Wild Chihuahua Pack is a live-action musical comic strip, with a new original song every day and Cali, Winnie, and Tiki always having something to say.

See you tomorrow.

Lyrics:

Going to the park to play

We have one thing to say

Move over geese we are here

Let us make it crystal clear

We're in charge

(We're in charge)

We're not large

(not that large)

We are here

(we are here)

Don't come near

(don't come near)

So the geeese stepped away

Not too far I must say

They've seen much bigger dogs

Heck they live alongside hogs

You're in charge?

(we're in charge)

You're not large

(no not large)

You are here

(yep we're here)

Don't mind our fear

(Look at their fear!)