This story is sweet. I reminds me of the story “The Boy who Cried Wolf” when Gertrude and Toby see a little boy. The boy say he see a wolf. If you know that fairy tale story. The moral of the story you think this story is going be somewhat like that.

It also features another story or fairy Tale which is called “The Three Little Pigs”. The author does wonderful with mixing it a bit with the two starting with “The boy who Cried Wolf” scenes and then somewhat changed it to add the “The Three Little Pigs” scenes. The ending is done cute as well.

My favorite is the artwork that is done. The pictures are drawn well. I really like that. They look like some took the time to draw the scene and the the wording was put together after. Who will win their fishing contest?

Must Love Horses - Vicki Tharp

Bryan has a prosthetic leg and lives on the large S ranch. Bryan lost his leg while deployed and in the service.  Bryan is basically in charge of construction.  Bryan has adjusted pretty well but there is still pain both real and phantom and some PTSD.Bryan dealt with the pain with painkillers and alcohol.  Sidney was trying to get a job at the Lazy S as a horse trainer. Her parents had been horse trainers before her but had abusive ways and were alcoholics and had been exposed for their abuse and they tainted the chance Sidney had of doing something she loved and she was good at. Bryan recognized the her last name.Sidney had her own horse Eli who was an escape artist and all he wants to do is be near Sidney. Bryan decies to hire Sidney even though his gut told him she could be trouble.  At first Bryan and Sidney don’t get off to a good start  but she does earn Bryan’s respect. Then there is an attraction between Sidney and Bryan but Sidney was afraid of Bryan’s use of alcohol and painkillers she didn’t need the problems after her parents. Bryan let Sidney know he didn’t do casual and Sidney threw out mixed messages.  Then there is some trouble with drugs being taking across the border.

I enjoyed this story but choked up at times. I loved Sidney’s horse Eli and felt he added to this book. I advise you to read the first book in the series so everything goes together and is understood. I thought it was foolish when Bryan and Sidney didn’t have backup when they went up looking for the lost horses. This did drag for me at times but not enough that I didn’t finish and enjoy this. I liked the plot. I felt this could be a realistic portrayal of issues our wounded warriors face. I did like Bryan and Sidney together once she decided to stop fighting their attraction knowing Bryan didn’t do casual. I like the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I recommend.

#2 in the Gertrude and Toby Series

by Shari Tharp

illustrated by Jim Heath

age range: 5 to 7 years old

Atlas Publishing

Gertrude the goat, and Toby the turtle are best friend. In this second book in the series they try to help the Gingerbread Man, who is being kept in a cage by a giant who lives up in an also giant vine. They count with the help of a flying carpet, and also Hansel and Gretel. 

This book is very humorous with that kind of humor that includes as much ingenuity as absurdity. The presence of so many characters from fairy tales gives it an air of surreal too. Addressed to kids who are leveling up from the "early readers" step, the story would work great ether if it is read by or to the kid. Since I read an ARC copy, many of the illustrations were still in the sketch stage, but all of them, finished and unfinished, look really funny, with expressive characters and only the necessary details. 

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Read by Melissa - All about living in the moment. Very bad and the movie is worse!