Laurie Axinn Gienapp

Nice collection of pet-themed short stories. I was delighted by the writing style of the first author presented, Laurie Axinn Gienapp, and it was my favorite story, both humorous and romantic. There were 3 or 4 others like it in the collection, but Laurie's stood out. I will look for more writing from her. I didn't like the stories where animal cruelty or attempted cruelty played a part, but of course that's part of the life of pets, unfortunately. Nothing was too offensive, however, and this collection would be appropriate for older children as well as adults. I sat out on my deck and read these with my coffee, nice for casual reading while enjoying the sun or waiting at the doctor's office, and such. I can see this becoming a collection: Uncommon Pet Tales II, Uncommon Pet Tales III, etc.

Thank you for allowing me to read and review this anthology! Obtained via Member Giveaways here on LibraryThing. 🐈🐕🐦… (mehr)

I got this book from the publisher, since I had reviewed an earlier book of theirs, A Kiss and a Promise, an anthology of romantic stories with a twist.
This book too has its twists.
And again, I loved it.
As the stories were written by different authors, I will try to give a very, very short review or summary to each of the stories.

Too Close To School ~ Michael Bracken: sad and healing
Que Sera, Sera ~ Ginny Swart: funny, perhaps predictable, but I liked it nonetheless.
Treasure Hunt ~ Dev Bentham: I loved the cunning aunt in the story.
Damage, Cosmetic Only ~ Anita Goveas: two lovers, torn between cultures, trying to cope.
The Stranger At The Library ~ Anusha VR: two people attracted to each other but not really daring to admit this.
Let Down Your Hair ~ Catherine Valenti: I liked this modern fairy tale with a bite.
Appetite Delight ~ Sally Basmajian: about doing things for other people, in stead of doing what you really like and in the end finding the partner you long for.
The Wheels On The Bus ~ Ilene Goldman: I loved this one about a chance meeting: will they meet each other again or ...
Pinkie Swear ~ Laurie Axinn Gienapp: Some people take a very long time to realize what their feelings are.
Critical Error ~ Meg Overman: Sweet, strange and very funny SF.
Green Eggs And Cameras ~ Emorie Hill: I loved this story, the clumsiness, Mr Hunk and the real hunk.
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do ~ Ginny Swart: It is a lovely story about an untidy woman and a finicky man but to be honest: too good to be true.
Abandoned Art ~ Madison Estes: This story leads you nicely to a happy ending.
Push To Talk ~ Jonathan Ochoco: I loved the story about a scared man and a woman who talks him through his fear.
A Spicy Admirer ~ Meagan Noel Hart: I didn't see the end coming; I liked it very much.
The Man Who Didn’t Like Children ~ Jacqueline Seewald: I suppose I am too old for this: the pace of the story was by far too fast for me.
Afterlife ~ Dev Bentham: Sweet story about love between a grandmother and her grandson and what she does at the end of her life for him.
Cupid’s Arrow ~ Tricia Schneider: This story too was fun. Girl meets boy who is 'too good to be true.' All sorts of magical things ensue. Magical or not, the story was quite convincing.… (mehr)

“A Wink and a Smile” reads like story starter assignments in a creative writing class that the reader is expected to finish. Most of the stories were fine, but just as I would be getting into a story, it ended. Very frustrating! I knew the stories would be short but this was truly unexpected, not in a good way. I was going to review all 18 stories, but that would be much too cumbersome for this purpose. Suffice it to say that I would not recommend this book, unless you are a writer and want to practice your skills.… (mehr)