As a published author I feel it’s my duty and obligation to read as much as possible, and to keep readers informed about cutting-edge, contemporary literature as it becomes available. Over this past weekend I read five more books in addition to the seven I read last week in the compilation of My Book Reviews - Part I.

I hope you find all of my book reviews both interesting and helpful.

In this review you will find one whodunit, one self-help about ridding unwanted pounds, a book about animals, and a nature-oriented book - along with its sequel.

Go inside the cage with a world-famous lion tamer as he tries to tame the king of the jungle. Find out what to do … and what not to do.

A real page turner. A hike through the wilderness turns into disaster. Was it an accident? Suicide? Or murder?

Take a look in the mirror. If you don’t like what you see, this self-help guide may be your remedy for shedding those unwanted pounds.

But there is a caveat here. This book contains too many pictures.

It started out innocently: a family picnic at a national park. And then nature called. One man’s race against nature. Will he win? Or lose?

This is the sequel to "A Mile to the Nearest Outhouse" by Willie Makeit. Moral: you’re never done until you finish the paperwork. This is where you find who won the race: man or nature. A real surprise ending.