Friday, February 8, 2019

Dear Abby - Dog Songs - "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo" by Lobo (1971)

Dear Friends,

I have an oldies song that involves a dog for you today.   It is called "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo."  It's about a young hippie couple who are taking a road trip with their dog named Boo.  They have adventures, including getting stuck in the mud, taking food and working to pay off their debt, and ending up back in Los Angeles, ready to go again.

The lyrics include the chorus:

"Me and you and a dog named Boo 

Travellin' and livin' off the land 
Me and you and a dog named Boo 
How I love being a free man"

This song was a hit in 1971.  It was written and performed by Lobo (real name Kent LaVoie).  Kent LaVoie is originally from Tallahassee, Florida.  He was in a band called The Rumours in the 1960's with Gram Parsons and Jim Stafford.  He also played in a band called the Sugar Beats.  He decided to try a solo career, and recorded under the name Lobo ("the wolf").  "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo" was his first hit.  It went to #5 on the charts, and received a gold record.  Lobo had two other 1970's hits - "I'd Love You to Want Me" and "Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend."

I found a video of this song so you can listen.   Have you heard this one before?



I always love to hear from you in the comments.   Wishing you a good weekend!

Love,
Abby xoxoxo

Book Review - With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander

Book Synopsis

What can a woman–a mere governess–do against the scourge of slavery?
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Elizabeth “Lizzie” Clouston’s quietly held principles oppose those of the Southern Cause–but when forty thousand soldiers converge on the fields of Franklin, Tennessee, the war demands an answer. The Carnton home, where she is governess, is commandeered as a Confederate hospital; and Lizzie must summon fortitude to assist the military doctor with surgeries that determine life or death–even as she fears for the life of Towny, her fiancĂ© and lifelong friend.
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A young soldier’s dying words convey an urgent message that Lizzie promises to deliver, yet she knows little more than the boy’s first name. That same night, decorated Mississippi sharpshooter Captain Roland Ward Jones extracts a different promise from Lizzie: that she intervene should the surgeon decide to amputate. Even if it costs him his life.
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Lizzie is nothing if not a woman of her word, earning the soldiers’ respect as she tends the wounded convalescing within Carnton’s walls. None is more admiring than Captain Jones, who doesn’t realize she is already pledged to another. But Captain Jones holds secrets of his own, which prove costly for Lizzie. Because a betrothed woman shouldn’t harbor feelings for a man other than her intended. Especially not when that man is a slave owner.
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When Towny vanishes after a crushing battle in Nashville, Lizzie must confront the costs of war. And torn between love, principles, and promises made, she struggles to be true to her own heart while standing for what she knows is right–no matter the cost.
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Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble



My Review
With This Pledge is set at Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Tennessee during the Civil War.  Lizzie Clouston is a governess in the house.  When the war moves close to home (the Battle of Franklin), the house becomes a makeshift hospital, and Lizzie is recruited to work as a nurse.  As she takes care of the soldiers she develops a special bond with a sharpshooter from Mississippi named Roland Jones.  She is engaged to another man and deeply conflicted about her feelings.  This novel is Lizzie and Roland's story, but it is also the story of how the war effects the family and community.

Although I am a great fan of historical fiction, I am not really a Civil War buff (despite growing up in Georgia).  For that reason I was surprised at how engrossed I was in this novel.  It is beautifully told with solid historical research.  (After you read the book, be sure to visit Tamera Alexander's website to see photos of the real people and places that inspired this novel!)  

I appreciated how nuanced this book was.  The protagonist, Lizzie, has strong moral beliefs against slavery, but she also feels strongly about taking care of the wounded military men.  I particularly liked Tempy, the family's cook, and Lizzie's warm friendship with her.  I also admired Lizzie's determination to do what was right and her sense of independent thought.  She was a natural with medical care (her father was a pharmacist) and I think at a later time she would have become a doctor.

Lizzie and Roland's story is fascinating, especially because it was based on fact.  The author did a wonderful job at character development in general, and of these two characters in specific.

In some respects, this novel reminded me a bit of the PBS series Mercy Street, especially as it dealt with medical care during the Civil War.  I think that anyone who enjoyed that series will also really love this novel.

I have to add that I loved the way Lizzie and the McGavock family (including the family's young children) reached out to the soldiers to provide comfort and a sense of home during the Christmas season.  There is a storyline about Lizzie reading A Christmas Carol to the soldiers evenings during the holiday season.  The sense of time and place in these scenes is exceptional.

I found With This Pledge utterly fascinating and look forward to reading the upcoming books in the Carnton series.  I also plan to catch up with the author's other series.   Very highly recommended for fans of historical fiction, and especially for anyone interested in Civil War history.

Author Bio
Tamera Alexander is a USA Today bestselling novelist whose works have been awarded and nominated for numerous industry-leading honors, including the Christy Award (two-time winner, seven-time finalist), the RITA Award (two-time winner, four-time finalist), the Carol Award, the Maggie Award, the Booksellers Best Award, and Library Journal’s top distinction, among others. After seventeen years in Colorado, Tamera and her husband now reside in Nashville, Tennessee, where they live a short distance from Belmont Mansion and Belle Meade Plantation, the setting of Tamera’s two USA Today bestselling Southern series.

 

Connect with Tamera

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram



I received a copy of this book from TLC Book Tours.

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Murder, She Meowed (A Pawsitively Organic Mystery) by Liz Mugavero

Book Synopsis
Kristan “Stan” Connor loves concocting tasty organic treats for dogs and cats—and she also loves her fiancĂ©, pub owner Jake McGee. But she’s not so enthusiastic about finding a dead body at her own bachelorette party . . .

Stan and Jake’s wedding will soon take place on the town green in Frog Ledge, Connecticut, followed by a reception at their beloved Irish pub filled with friends, family, and their four favorite canine companions. Stan just has to endure the traditional girls’ night out first. Male strippers jumping out of gigantic cakes aren’t her preferred entertainment. But the hired hottie never gets around to taking it all off . . . because someone takes him out first with one of Stan’s kitchen knives. A heartbroken Stan recognizes the victim as one of the delivery men from the local farm—who must have been moonlighting for some extra cash. Now the guest list has turned into a suspect list—and Stan’s making a vow to find the killer . . .

Includes Gourmet Pet Food Recipes!


Author Bio
Liz Mugavero has been writing stories since she could hold a pen. Before that, she would tell them to anyone who would listen (not many at the time). After deciding early on she would write books for a living, she practiced by writing bad, angst-filled poems, short stories and even a storyline for a soap opera–all by age 15. She never wavered from her goals despite all the usual questions including, “So are you going to be an English teacher with that degree in English?” or, “That writing thing sounds nice, but how are you REALLY going to make a living?”

She went on to get a master’s in writing and publishing and spent time in journalism, PR, and presently, corporate communications. And she’s confident this writing thing IS the way to make a living.

Aside from writing, she loves animals (has a houseful), the beach, reading other writers’ masterpieces and Starbucks coffee.

Author Links
Webpage – http://www.lizmugavero.com;
Twitter – https://twitter.com/lizmugavero;
GoodReads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6475412.Liz_Mugavero;
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/author.liz.mugavero/

Purchase Links
Amazon – B&N  – KoboGoogle PlayIndieBound

Giveaway

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