Switch-a-wish - M.B. Earnheardt

Switch-a-Wish is not just an adult version of Freaky Friday, the classic book and movie about a mother and daughter who switch bodies and learn lessons about each others lives. This book uses that basic premise but the author beautifully tells the story of a married couple who have drifted apart, are on the cusp of divorce, and each resents the other. Chris is a teacher who feels the pressure to bring home money to his wife and kids who always seem to need something new. Amanda resents him, often shows it, and is never interested in having sex. Amanda feels like Chris doesn’t respect her or understand how hard raising the kids really is and it’s taking its toll on their relationship. One night they each wish on a star that the other will have to live how they do and the next morning they wake to find that they’ve switched bodies. The author alternates viewpoints throughout the book between Amanda and Chris. Everything is explored from how Amanda finds Chris’s body achier than her body to how it feels to always be “in the mood”. The book is both amusing and soul searching at times as the couple’s relationship is dissected. It maintains a steady and enjoyable pace. This is a thoroughly entertaining read. I read this on my ereader and it formatted well. The cover is basic but represents the title perfectly.

The House Guest - Deborah L. Norris

                The House Guest is a book that explores many ideas but in such a way that none ever become the main focal point and all remain equally important. In most books this wouldn’t work but in The House Guest everything intertwines nicely, never becoming confusing, monotonous or “preachy”. I enjoyed the setting and time period which is a rooming house in the 1950s. It’s run by the main character, Maggie, a widow trying to raise her daughter on her own but luckily has a strong support group consisting of a unique group of characters who each contribute greatly to Maggie and Jenna’s lives. There’s Lee, an outspoken and obnoxious neighbour who represents the prejudice of the era. Anna is the gentle grandmother type who suffers a tragic loss but exhibits poise and kindness through it all. Noah is the mysterious man who shows Maggie she can love again. Many more interesting people make up the cast of characters that all come together to tell a beautiful story about how people become a family whether blood related or not. There’s even a bit of a mystery although, much like real life, it isn’t solved to my satisfaction. I read this on my ereader and it formatted well. The cover is as relaxing to look at as the book is to read. It’s like coming home, relaxing and satisfying.

Good Reasons to Kill - Chris Rhyss Edwards

                Is there ever a good reason to commit murder? Is there ever enough justification to take someone’s life? Those are the main questions you should ask yourself before reading this book. At first, most people would automatically say, “Of course there would never be reason enough” but by the end of this book you may think differently. The author devotes each chapter to a different subject, such as abortion, execution, child rape, etc. He writes about a case and lets the reader decide for themselves what they would do under the circumstances. One such case that stayed with me after reading about it in the book involved a father who found someone raping his five year old daughter and then beat him to death. Another chapter involved an executioner in Texas and his views about his job. I found this whole book to be thought provoking and the author sets out each chapter in an organized and non-judgemental manner. He leaves it up to the reader to decide what they believe to be right or wrong. The only suggestion I’d make would be to make the book longer and maybe have more cases in each chapter. This is solely out of my own selfishness because I enjoyed the book so much that I wanted more of it. I read the book on my ereader and it formatted well. The cover was eye catching as was the title. This was an excellent read!