Blog Tour: Fifo "50 States"

I am pleased to be participating in another Pump Up Your Book Promotion's Blog Tour.

  

Title:  Fifo "50 States"

Author:  Hayley Rose

Review Copy Provided by:  author

About the Book:  Fifo s been bitten by the travel bug! Digging up diamonds in Arkansas, looking for fossils in Kansas, enjoying a delicious bowl of gumbo in Louisiana, and even seeing a Broadway show in New York. America is an exiting place! In Fifo s second book, told in rhyme, Fifo dreams about visiting all 50 states. A colorful reference-like book, Fifo discovers the wonders each state has to offer. He learns along the way each state s capital, shape, flag, motto, and much, much more. The possibilities are endless! So, come along with Fifo and you ll soon discover the beauty of America one state to another.  

My Thoughts:  What a great way to share facts about the 50 states!  Fifo the Bear takes children on an alphabetical field trip through each state in the United States.  Each state is described, through poetry, with references to state flowers, mottos, capitals, etc.  In the border of the page is the name of the state as well as the motto.  The illustrations give even more information about each state.  They show the shape of the state, the state flag, and other pictures that are indicative of that particular state.

I can definitely see this book being used in the classroom.  Young children want to learn about the states, but there aren't many books out there that are kid-friendly.  Hayley Rose has solved that problem along with her illustrator, Jessie Orlet.  Kids will love this book because of the rhyme and vivid pictures.  There is also a pattern to each page that young children can pick up on:  "It's a wonderful place to visit, I'd like to go there, wouldn't you?"  Even if they were unable to read all of the other words, they would catch on to the last lines quickly and be able to read along. 

There are so many facts loaded in the pages of the books, that it is a goldmine for the child traveler!  He or she, along with Fifo, will learn many things about the state they live in along with all the other states in the US.  Kudos to Hayley Rose and her book; it's a winner!

Blog Tour: Adventures in Nowhere

I am pleased to be participating in another blog tour for Pump Up Your Book Promotions!

 

Title:  Adventures in Nowhere

Author:  John Ames

Review Copy Provided by:  publisher, Pineapple Press

About the Book:  Before Disney and far from the palm-lined Florida beaches, ten-year-old Danny Ryan is transplanted to a tiny community on the hyacinth-choked Hillsborough River outside Tampa, a place his older sister calls Nowhere. But for Danny and his best friend, the irrepressible Alfred Bagley, whose fondest desire is to grow up to be a junk dealer, Nowhere is where adventures lurk and lure them into more trouble than they can handle. More trouble is not what Danny needs as he copes with a family that includes a father sinking into schizophrenia; two sisters, one very ill and the other ready to run away with a shady boyfriend; and a mother trying her best to hold it all together.  

My Thoughts:  This wasn't an easy book for me to get into.  I'm not sure why, though.  After I got past the first chapter or so, it was an easy read.

This story is written from a young boy's perspective and set in the 1950's.  It takes the reader back to a time when youth was innocent, and young kids could run free without being afraid.  It's a very compelling coming of age story.

I loved Danny's character!  He was strong, witty, and independent.  Danny is like many kids today who come from a troubled family.  He does what he needs to do, within himself, to get through his childhood and become a strong, independent adult.    His family is dysfunctional: a dying sister, a father who could blow his top, at any moment, and a mom who tries to hold it all together, the best she can.  He doesn't have many friends, but the ones he does have stick by him.  John Ames has written a wonderful character in Danny; one I'd like to know in real life.

The story pulls you in, takes hold, and doesn't let go, even after you've turned the last page.  Ames has written a winner.  Open the cover and take a trip back in time with Danny; you'll be glad you did!

Blog Tour - The Perfect Family

 
Title:  The Perfect Family 
Author:  Kathryn Shay 
Review Copy Provided by: Pump Up Your Book Promotions

 About the Book:  What happens to the "perfect family" when the future suddenly changes in the most unexpected way?

Seventeen-year old Jamie Davidson doesn't think being gay should be such a big deal...until he comes out to his parents and friends. Even as Jamie celebrates no longer needing to hide his true self and looks forward to the excitement of openly dating another boy, the entire Davidson family is thrown into turmoil. Jamie's father Mike can't reconcile his religious beliefs with his son's sexuality. His brother Brian is harassed by his jock buddies and angry at Jamie for complicating all their lives. Maggie, his mother, fears being able to protect her son while struggling to save her crumbling marriage. And Jamie feels guilty for the unhappiness his disclosure has caused. Every member of their “perfect family” must search their hearts and souls to reconnect with each other in this honest, heartwarming, and hopeful look at the redemptive power of love and family. 

My Review:  I really enjoyed this one!  I think what this family is going through, is difficult, and is an issue that many families have to deal with.  The appearance of "the perfect family" is just that, an appearance.  You never know what is going on "behind closed doors" with those families.

I really felt for all of the characters, as each one was dealing with the situation in their own way, and with their own set of issues because of it.  It is an endearing story of how one catalyst can change the dynamics of a family.  Each member of this family grows and changes because of Jamie's "coming out."  Maybe Jamie wishes he'd never told them, maybe they wish he'd told them sooner, but it is what it is and they have to deal with it. 

This is a great story about love and acceptance!

Because of A Book with Maya Jax

There are times that I love Blogger, and then other times that I do not.  When my scheduled posts do not get posted, that is one time I do not like Blogger.  With the start of school this week, I knew my life would be hectic and non-stop, so I tried to prepare for that by scheduling posts.  Well, as they say, "the best laid plans of mice and men..."

I'd like to thank Dorothy Thompson and Pump Up Your Book Promotion for allowing me to participate in Maya Jax's blog tour.  Let me first introduce you to Maya.

Loving John Grisham and Janet Evanovich novels, Maya Jax entertained the idea of being a lawyer or a spy and started working at an embassy in Australia while doing her master’s in international relations. During this time, she finished her first screenplay, an action/thriller about spies and nuclear weapons. She pitched it to a friend in Hollywood, who told her she had talent, but to never show the screenplay to anyone again — ever. Realizing her love for writing was stronger than her desire to spy and fight crime, she attempted a second screenplay focusing on what she knew best — trying to make it as a writer. The screenplay turned into a novel and the result was Escapades of Romantically Challenged Me.

You can find Maya at her website, Maya Jax.

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Writer for a Reader – Books that Impacted Me As a Child

How Nancy Drew Saved Me From Suburbia by Maya Jax

I have always wanted to be a secret agent – always. When I was in grade school, I had a pair of binoculars covered in hockey stickers, and everyday I would spy on the neighbor’s car across the street because I thought it was suspicious. I would hunker down on the couch, peer out the window and write down everything about the car. Tuesday: It’s parked on the left side of the driveway. Wednesday: It’s parked on the right. Thursday: They’ve moved the car onto the street. There is now an orange air freshener hanging from the rear view mirror. Interesting… But nothing ever came of my neighbor’s car. They were actually an older couple with a little dog and not much excitement outside of take-out Chinese food every Friday. To a wannabe spy the suburbs were torture. I wanted great adventure and riding my bike around the block just wasn’t cutting it.

And then I read Nancy Drew. A detective. A girl detective. I knew of the Hardy Boys, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (and I adored them all!), but Nancy Drew was the first heroine I ever read about that did things I wanted to do. I loved those books. In sixth grade very single book report I did was one of hers. By June everyone was rolling their eyes when I came up to the front of the class. I remember the very last one I did. The story involved a shark at the beach and after I was finished, my teacher called me over to her desk and suggested I start reading something else.

But I didn’t. Instead I expanded my spy kit from binoculars to invisible ink, secret codes and a magnifying glass. I also started a mystery club and forced my two best friends to join. (Ghostbusters had just been released, so I hooked them in by saying we could solve mysteries involving ghosts just like Peter, Ray, Egon and Winston). We spent HOURS going through old photos looking for ghost clues and running tests on Silly Putty with my chemistry set. After a few months of meetings, my friends became very ‘busy’ on our club nights, so I was left to my own devices again and went back to Nancy Drew.

She opened so many doors in my mind. All the adventure I wanted was right there on the page, and unlike TV or movies, I could spend hours in just one story, investing so much into the character. Actually, until now I didn’t realize how much Nancy Drew acted as a foundation for what I read and write now. I love spy and mystery novels, Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books are some of my most favorite. The best part about reading is the escape, and for me, Nancy Drew introduced me to the grand world outside my own and laid a foundation for a future love of espionage, travel and just being a girl.

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About Nancy Drew - Nancy Drew, the classic mystery-solving heroine, returns in these special-issue omnibus editions. Each collection features three bestselling, classic Nancy Drew mysteries.

The Best of Nancy Drew Classic Collection Volume 1

#1 The Secret of the Old Clock: Nancy Drew's keen mind is tested when she searches for a missing will in this mystery that started them all.

#3 The Bungalow Mystery: When one of Nancy's closest friends suspects her guardians of trying to steal her inheritance, Nancy's search for clues leads her to an old, abandoned bungalow.

#43 The Mystery of the 99 Steps: Despite warnings from a stranger, Nancy sets out for France to search for a flight of 99 steps that may help solve the mystery of a weird dream and a possible case of blackmail.

Buy it at IndieBound

About Escapades of Romantically Challenged Me - Lelaina is trying to make it in LA, but first she has to make it through her trip home... Aspiring screenwriter Lelaina Zane finally lands a Hollywood break, but it's cut short when her dad has a heart attack and she has to return to her home town. Leaving LA for the first time in three years, she returns home to be with her family. And now that she's back, her parents want her to stay and join the family law firm. After three years of unsuccessfully trying to 'make it' in Hollywood, she thinks they might be right. But soon after settling into her new life, Hollywood calls with a potential offer. Lelaina has to decide if she'll stay for her ailing father and the promise of a successful life, or return to LA to pursue what she's always wanted. Torn between her two choices, the decision becomes even harder when her cheating ex -- her first love, first kiss and first... you know -- reappears with apologies and a proposition.

Buy it at Amazon

Blog Tour - The Phantom Diaries

Another blog tour sponsored by Pump Up Your Book Blog Promotions

Title:  The Phantom Diaries

Author:  Kailin Gow

Electronic Review Copy Provided by:  the author

About the Book:  What happens to the Phantom after the tragedy at the Paris Opera House is the basis for this fantastic tale of The Phantom Diaries, loosely based on Gaston Leroux's classic, The Phantom of the Opera, but with a new tale and a modern twist. This new series for older teens and young adults is told through the eyes of 18 year-old Annette Binoche, who lands a job at the New York Metropolitan Opera House as a seamstress' assistant only to become the lead singer of the Opera House, with the help of the mysterious, yet highly-seductive Phantom.

My Review:   I wasn't real sure how I would feel about this one when I received it.  One, I've never read The Phantom of the Opera, so I had nothing to compare it to, even though it's loosely based on that.  Two, the author sent it to me along with these words, "The Phantom Diaries is for older teens and young adults (age 17 and up).  It is a romance novel loosely based on the Phantom of the Opera, and does contain a few racy scenes due to the prominent characteristics of two characters.  If that is not the kind of book you review, then please do not feel obligated.  This book is definitely for the more mature teens who would be heading toward Harlequin romances for grown ups in a year or so and currently watch anything racy like Gossip Girl or Vampire Diaries on television  :)"  

So, to read or not to read.  Well, I am no stranger to racy scenes in a book, they don't bother me.  I've reviewed books for mature teens, so I thought I'd give it a try.  Besides, I'm a Vampire Diaries fan, so that was enough to make me want to read it.

Having never read Phantom was not a problem.  Maybe it even allowed me to get more into the characters because I had no preconceived notions.  Kailin Gow delivers an intriguing, mysterious, first in a series story that left me wanting more each time I stopped reading.  Waiting for the next one will be trying.  This book is dramatic and if you are looking for paranormal, mixed with romance and suspense, then this is the book for you!  The 2nd in the series is due out at the end of the year, so your wait will not be too long for the next one.

Blog Tour: Thumbing Through Thoreau

I don't usually review coffee table books, because honestly, who reads them?  I mean, the whole point of a coffee table book is not to read, but to be a conversation starter.  Well, I love quotes and so I knew I wouldn't be reading a "full" coffee table book.  It is definitely a conversation starter!

Title:  Thumbing Through Thoreau
Author:  Kenny Luck
Review Copy Provided by:  Tribute Books

About the Book:  On July 4, 1845, when Henry David Thoreau moved into his cabin on the shores of Walden Pond, he was probably unaware that his abode in the woods, and the impact and influence of that endeavor, would forever echo through time. Thoreau was an uncompromising idealist; an ardent maverick who criticized his fellow man. He urged that men and women ought to live more simply, and more deliberately. "The mass of men," he famously wrote, "lead lives of quite desperation." Yet the scope of Thoreau's message is much wider than social criticism. He speaks of spiritual transcendence in Nature and the unbounded potential of the individual. Thoreau is a dreamer and he speaks to dreamers. In a word, shun dogmatism and demagoguery; see beyond the immediate conventional religious explanations to reap a higher understanding. In our commodified contemporary American society, with the rise of religious intolerance and fundamentalism, materialism and mass consumerism, Thoreau's message is needed now more than ever.

My Review:  Let me start by saying that because I enjoy quotes and use them in my work, I enjoyed this book.  But, I wish I had been given an actual copy of the book to review.  What I received was a photocopy of the book, which didn't do the book near the justice it deserves.  I imagine the photos in the book are exceptional, but in black and white it's hard to tell.

If you love to read, collect, share quotes, then you will enjoy this book.  It is one to keep on the coffee table or in your office, to return to over and over again.  The quotes that the author chooses are chosen carefully and appropriately.  You really get a glimpse into Thoreau and his thinking.  Each page has one or two quotes along with a picture, which just adds to the quotes themselves.

I really enjoyed this one and wish that more authors would do books like this with other famous figures.  I think they are books to be cherished.

Blog Tour - Letter to My Daughter

 

Title:  Letter to My Daughter

Author:  George Bishop

Review Copy Provided by:  Ballantine Books for a Pump Up Your Book Promotions blog tour

About the Book:  Dear Elizabeth,

It's early morning and I'm sitting here wondering where you are, hoping you're all right.

A fight, ended by a slap, sends Elizabeth out the door of her Baton Rouge home on the eve of her fifteenth birthday. Her mother, Laura, is left to fret and worry--and remember. Wracked with guilt as she awaits Liz's return, Laura begins a letter to her daughter, hoping to convey everything I've always meant to tell you but never have.

In her painfully candid confession, Laura shares memories of her own troubled adolescence in rural Louisiana, growing up in an intensely conservative household. She recounts her relationship with a boy she loved despite her parents' disapproval, the fateful events that led to her being sent away to a strict Catholic boarding school, the personal tragedy brought upon her by the Vietnam War, and, finally, the meaning of the enigmatic tattoo below her right hip.
 

My Review:  It's been a while since I've read a short story.  This is one I'll read again, pass on to my friends to read and recommend to others.  

What's surprising about this little book, is that it's the story of a mother and daughter, written by a man!  Yes, a man, and he does it very well.  It also has a different format than your normal short story or novel.  This story is written in the form of a letter from the mother to the daughter after the daughter leaves.  To me, someone who conveys her thoughts better in writing, this mother was a character I could relate to.  I don't have any children, but would like to think that when I do, I could tell her important things in this way.  I really like the way Bishop chose to write this story.

The mother tells her daughter about her life as a teenager, and in doing so, comes to realize that she (mother) had some of the same feelings that her daughter has now.  Which may be part of the reason for her leaving.  Teenagers don't think that their parents understand, but what's funny is that the parent usually went through a similar situation with many of the same feelings.  It takes us growing up to realize that though.  George Bishop has crafted a great story about mother/daughter relationships that many will be able to relate to.

Blog Tour - Alphatudes

Title:  Alphatudes: The Alphabet of Gratitude

Author:  Michele Wahlder

Review Copy Provided by: the author for a Pump Up Your Book Promotion blog tour


About the Book:  Alphatudes reveals that gratitude is the unexpected, simple secret of living a joyful life. In a world obsessed with negativity, we must deliberately choose to focus on the positive. Alphatudes uses your earliest grade school victory the ABCs to help you achieve a sustainable shift in thinking that leads to contentment, optimism and peace of mind. An alphatude is defined as: a person, place or thing for which one alphabetically expresses gratitude. Filled with vibrant illustrations, Alphatudes takes you on an inspiring 26-step journey where you ll discover how to: heighten your awareness of life s daily gifts; attract opportunities with a positive mind-set; find blessings in difficult situations; and become free from worry, negativity and resentment.

My Review:   This is a sweet little book!  As a former kindergarten teacher, I'm a sucker for ABC books and I'm excited about this one especially, as it's for adults, and it is so motivational!  Each letter starts with a quote, then 3 or 4 paragraphs about that attribute, an affirmation and ends with a short prayer for that attribute.  The layout is the same for each letter, which I enjoyed, because I knew what to expect, and as I go back to the book, can focus on any or all parts.

An example:  O is for Obstacles - I am not afraid of storms for I am learning to sail my ship. - Louisa May Alcott.  The affirmation is as follows:  I embrace the obstacles in my life with courage, integrity and strength.  I choose to see obstacles as opportunities to grow into the best person I can be.  I tap into the infinite wisdom of the universe to reveal optimal solutions.  And then the Prayer of Obstacles:  Support me as I confront my tears and move through the obstacles you have lovingly put on my path.  Help me to face these life lessons with courage, curiosity and unwavering faith.  thank you for providing me with obstacles that bring me closer to you.

Did I mention this book also has a spiritual side?  Well, if you couldn't tell, it does.  I love that!  The prayers are short, to the point, and perfect for those times when you need a prayer of specificity.  The paragraphs that Michele writes about each attribute really make you stop and think about the word, what it means, and how you can apply it to your life.  I like to read self-help or motivational books, but many times they drag on and on about topics, giving you too much information that leaves you overwhelmed.  This one does just the opposite.  It gives you just enough about each attribute, that you are able to digest it and put it to work almost immediately.  You can read it in one setting, or a letter a day.  It's your choice.  However you decide to read this one, it's one you will probably go back to again and again.

Blog Tour - Life Choices

Title:  Life Choices:  Navigating Difficult Paths

Author:   Judi Moreo and 25 others

Review Copy Provided by:  Turning Point International for a Pump Up Your Book Promotions blog tour

About the Book:  (from the Life Choices website)  If you feel “stuck” in a situation that appears to be beyond your control, these stories will show you how others have coped with crisis and uncertainty, made tough choices and positive changes in order to find deeper meaning and satisfaction in their relationships and learned to live with purpose every day. Rarely do we find a book that addresses so many different challenges. Life Choices does this in a powerful and inspiring way. This book is about experiences, the people who lived them, and how they created successful lives. From values and self-fulfillment to legacy, this book offers new resources for people who have tough choices to make every day.
Filled with wisdom and love, this book is a soothing companion for anyone searching for the courage to make a choice to change his or her circumstances. These authors and their stories prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that success belongs to everyone, no matter where they come from or what has happened to them. They are living proof that miracles can and do happen. You can be one of these people. You can navigate through difficult times and find your pathway to the life you choose to lead. Put the strength of others to work for you. Courage is not the absence of fear or pain. Courage is taking the steps to move through it.


My Review:  This is a very moving book!  If you are a fan of short stories, like those in the Chicken Soup books, then you are sure to like this one.  Because it is filled with short stories, it is one you can read through quickly, or take your time to soak up the insight of each story individually.  My preference was to read it all the way through one time, and then to go back to each story on it's own for a more in depth look.  It's hard to talk about the book without giving too much away, but I will tell you about one of my favorite short stories in the book.

Class is a Choice, by Anne Dreyer, really touched me.  Through her family's story, Anne tells the reader that you either choose to be classy or you don't.  People in her family didn't always have money, but they never let others know that.  They always lived with class.  How did they do it?  They made a choice to walk classy, read and have an inquiring mind, dress classy, speak classy, choose to improve themselves, act classy, and give more than they received.  Anne learned most of these from her father, Peter, who always walked tall, and still practices them today.  It doesn't matter who you are or what life has dealt you, you can choose to have class.

This story spoke to me because I've always admired people who acted with class.  I am, nor will I probably ever be, a person of class based on how much money I have.  But, after reading Anne's story, that doesn't matter anymore.  I can choose to be a classy person, no matter what.  It is best summed up with this quote, " people will not remember if you were rich or where you came from or your qualifications, but they will remember how you made them feel."  That is so true, and how I want to be remembered one day.

So, if you are on a difficult path or just want to read some inspiring stories of people who have journeyed through fear, pain, sorrow and challenges, then read this book.  It is sure to move you through many emotions as you go from story to story.

Blog Tour - Just Breeze

I am privileged to bring you this book review today, as part of a Pump Up Your Book Promotion blog tour!

Title:  Just Breeze

Author:  Beverly Stowe McClure

Review Copy Provided by:  publisher

About the Book:  Eighth grade starts out the same as every other year for Breeze Brannigan. She's still the tallest student, boy or girl, in her class, wears shoes that would fit an elephant, and her smile reveals dazzling braces that blind everyone within ten feet. Then she meets Cam , the new boy in school who speaks with an accent and must be from another planet, for none of the earthling boys she knows are so polite. He also has a secret, a secret that could mean life or death for Cam and his mother and that Breeze must help him keep. 

My Review:  I have to start off by telling you that what first attracted me to this book was the cover.  I fell in love with Breeze's hair on the cover.  Yes, I'm a cover addict...it is what initially attracts me to a book. 
Just Breeze is great for your tween readers!  It's one that I may be giving to my niece for Christmas.  Breeze experiences many of the same issues that young girls do:  parents, siblings that annoy her, a best friend and falling in love.  I found it to be a quick read, that I had a hard time putting down.  I wanted to know what would happen to Breeze next.  The author weaves good values into the book as well, which is something that I feel is lacking in many tween books these days.  It is something that our children don't always get at home either, so it's great when they can read it in books.  Breeze and her friends are respectful and well mannered, with truth and honesty sprinkled into the pages of text.  Just Breeze shows a young girl going through young girl things...changes.  We don't usually like them when we're going through them, but many of them are inevitable and we can grow and learn to look for the beauty within ourselves as well as others.  I truly enjoyed this one!

Guest Post - Larry Sweitzer

Today I have the honor of hosting author, Larry Sweitzer, for his virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotions.  Please help me welcom Larry by commenting on his post.

Larry Sweitzer is a writer, musician, and avid baseball fan. He was born and raised in western Maryland and now lives in Virginia with his wife and two daughters. The Ghost, the Eggheads, and Babe Ruth’s Piano is his first novel. Larry is on virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion. You can visit his official tour page at http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2009/11/04/the-ghost-the-eggheads-and-babe-ruths-piano-virtual-book-tour-09/.

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How The Hobbit Changed My Life

I’m an avid reader and have been for many years. I’ll read anywhere, at anytime: the waiting room at the doctor’s office, airports, a park bench, just about every room in my house. Daytime … nighttime, it doesn’t matter. Sometimes it’s fleeting—a half hour here or fifteen minutes there. Other times I read for hours on end. This frequently involves staying up until the wee hours of the night at the cost of not getting a good night’s sleep, but it’s usually worth it. It’s my chance to catch up with my main character. I get to find out where he’s going next or if he’s finally going to call the girl he met the other day. I get to find out if the hero saves the day or if the evil robots take over the world.

But it wasn’t always so. When I was a child, I was a reluctant reader. Book reports were torture because I had trouble (I know now) with reading comprehension. I drudged through school book assignments unwillingly and I rarely attempted to read any books for the pure enjoyment of it.

That all changed when I was about fourteen. That’s when I read The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Finally, a book that engaged me—occupied my senses until I put it down. It pulled me in and never let me go. The characters: Bilbo, Gandalf, the dwarves, Elrond, and the others, led me on the journey. The scenery: the black forest of Mirkwood, Misty Mountain, and so many other places that Bilbo stumbled into, all felt real to me. And let’s not forget the mysterious ring!

That’s all it took—one book. The right book, for me. Reading that book started me on my path to being a life-long reader. After that, I was more willing to give other books a try. I reached out to other characters and allowed them to tell me their story.

I wonder, at times, just how many boys today are giving books a chance. How many of them will become passionate readers? Are they being exposed to enough books with the hope that one of those books will be the one for them? That’s one of the reasons I wrote my novel The Ghost, the Eggheads, and Babe Ruth’s Piano. There always seems to be a shortage of books for boys between 12 and 18 years old. Ask any librarian. Tween and YA books for girls? There are mountains of them.

I hope my book lives up to young readers’ expectations. I hope it engages them and at the least, entertains them until the end. But, if one boy reads it and continues on with other books because of it, then it was worth it.

Was there a book that started you down the path of reading? What was it? Have you revisited that old friend lately? Have you recommended it to anyone recently? I’d love to hear about it!

Blog Tour - Charlie and Mama Kyna

Thank you to Pump Up Your Book Promotions for this blog tour!

Title:  Charlie and Mama Kyna

Author:  Diana Rumjahn

Illustrator:  Diana Rumjahn

Review Copy Provided by:  author

About the Book:  After Charlie the frog accidentally breaks his mother’s vase, he runs away from home. Charlie and his new best friends Leo and Joe, live in a little orange tent outside Mrs. Cupcake’s bakery. A homesick Charlie, Leo and Joe, journey far away to find Charlie’s mother.  

My Review:  This is a cute story for young children.  I really enjoyed the bright, vivid illustrations.  The characters are based on stuffed animals, so they look plush, like animals a young child would love to cuddle with.  The story shows three friends without a home, that work together to find one.  It would be a great book to teach children about friendship.

I wasn't real fond of the story line though.  It seemed to skip parts in some places, but overall it tells a story that children can relate to: helping a friend.   The jist of the story is a good one, but I would read a page and then when I got to the next page, I was wondering how I got there because at times it didn't make sense.  I think that may be due to me reading with an adult eye.  Through the eyes and mind of a young child it probably wouldn't be that was as it's written in a way that they think and talk.

Children will fall in love with the characters, be enthralled with the bright colors, and relate to the friendship of the characters. 

View the book trailer here.

Blog Tour Review: Too Many Visitors for One Little House

 

I am pleased to be a part of the blog tour for Too Many Visitors for One Little House, that is being put on by Pump Up Your Book Promotions.

  

Title:  Too Many Visitors for One Little House

Author:  Susan Chodakiewitz

Illustrator:  Veronica Walsh

Review Copy Provided by:  Booksicals

About the Book:  The crabby neighbors of El Camino Street are not very happy when cousins, aunts, uncles, and grannies arrive for a big noisy reunion at the house of the new family on the block.  

About the Author:  Susan Chodakiewitz is a writer, composer and producer. She is the founder of Booksicals Children’s Books- Encouraging the love of reading through the arts. Through her company Booksicals she has created the Booksicals on Stage literacy program which is currently presenting musical performances of the picture book Too Many Visitors for One Little House at schools, libraries, and special events.

Susan lives in Los Angeles in a lively household filled with music, three sons, a husband, a Dalmatian and lots of visitors. Susan loves picture books and when she wrote a musical based on one of her favorites, she realized it was time to start writing her own picture books. Too Many Visitors for One Little House is Susan’s debut book. You can visit her website at www.booksicals.com. 

My Review:  This is a cute book for kids.  They will enjoy the vibrant, colorful illustrations, as well as the story.  I can see teachers using this book for counting activities as the number of family members keeps growing.

There is a message in this book, and I like to use books like this in the classroom.  The message is one of inclusion, or the feeling of being included.  The neighbors on El Camino Street don't like pets, big families, noise, you name it, but when the new family moves in and they have a family reunion at their house things change.  The neighbors notice what is going on, and as much as they say they don't like it, they long to be a part of it.  Isn't that the way we feel sometimes?  I know I've had kids in my classroom say they don't like something, when they really do, once they see how much fun the others are having.

This is a sweet book that I can see children asking for over and over again.  4 out of 5 stars for Too Many Visitors for One Little House.  You can find activities and more to go along with the book at Booksicals, including this recipe for Nanny's strudel:

Nanny’s Strudel Recipe

You will need for the DOUGH:

2 1/2 c. sifted flour

Pinch of salt

1/2 c. oil

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tbsp. sugar

3 tsp. boiling water

Stir dry ingredients. Mix water with oil to make dough. Knead well.

Divide dough into 5 parts. Roll each part very thin between wax paper. Place dough in greased pan, layer by layer, putting filling between each layer and leaving the top plain. Sprinkle the top with oil.

Bake in 400 degree oven for 30 minutes.

You will need for the FILLING:

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 c. chopped nuts

Raisins (optional)

1/2 c. sugar

2 apples, cut fine

Mix together and spread between layers.

Note: If preferred, five little individual strudels may be made. Bake as usual, just until lightly browned.

Blog Tour Review: Miss L'eau

 

Title:  Miss L'eau

Author:  T. Katz

Review Copy Provided by: Pump Up Your Book Promotions

About the Book:  James and David had always known there was something unusual about their elementary school teacher, Miss L'eau, but they could never quite put their finger on it. David discovered their first clue, was in her eyes-- Miss L'eau had the most unusual pair of eyes! She wore glasses when she taught, but when she had to deal with just you--she would lean over your desk, move her glasses down to the end of her nose . . . and there they were! Miss L'eau's eyes were as blue-green as the sea, and if you could get up the courage to stare right into them, you'd swear you could see angel fish, sea plants, coral beds and even sea anemones! It was the most wonderful, yet frightening, experience when she would talk to you face-to-face. The boys lived their whole lives near the ocean, but never thought about how import it was or how vulnerable it might be. Through Miss L'eau, and her unexpected relationship to the sea, they develop a love and understanding of the ocean and become involved with the nearby aquarium and organize an annual clean-up.

About the Author:  T. Katz, a resident of Southern California has been involved in the children's entertainment industry since the early 80's working on hundreds of episodes of animated television and as a music instructor to hundreds of very animated children. She is also the honorary conductor of a four-part harmony household, consisting of her two children (three if you count the spouse on a bad day) and Alice the cat. The people that surround her help her to continue seeing the world with all its magic, beauty and potential. She lives by the motto "a good book, a cup of tea and somehow all is right with the world." Her adventures in life are adding welcome lines of character to her face and scattered optimistic silver linings all over her head. You can visit her website at www.tkatz.com. 

My Review:  This is a quick read, small book, with a powerful message!  I wish school age kids could read this as part of an ocean unit.  It would so enhance their learning.  No, this book does not teach about the ocean, per se, but it does teach about how to take care of it and keep it around for the generations that come after us.

I don't want to say too much about this one, as I don't want to give the whole story away.  The main character is a boy, in 5th grade, so I'm sure that will appeal to boy readers.  This book, I think, would also appeal to reluctant readers because it is not overwhelming in length, but strong in story!  I will definitely share it with some of the boys in my school this year.  The main character and his best friend are strong, determined characters, who put aside what others might think, to help out someone they love, their teacher.  They swear to keep her secret, even though it is hard for them to let her go.  I loved the premise behind this story!  Teach kids to take care of the ocean, by bringing a part of the ocean to them.

4 out of 5 stars for T. Katz and Miss L'eau. Be sure to visit the other stops on the tour.

Book Tour Review: The Sitting Swing

I'm back today with another book tour review for Pump Up Your Book Promotions.

Title:  The Sitting Swing

Author:  Irene Watson

Review Copy Provided by:  author via Pump Up Your Book Promotions

About the Book:  Irene Watson's pretentious life could go no further until she faced her own past. Her poignant and inspiring memoir begins at the end, in a recovery center, where she has gone to understand a childhood fraught with abuse, guilt, and uncertainty. Her powerful story is a testament that it’s never too late to change your life, never too late to heal.

The Sitting Swing was a rope swing, hung from a tree next to the tiny cottage her Russian immigrant father built by hand from hand-milled logs and mud in Northern Canada in the early 20th century. Any motion at all would smash the child into a vigorous rose bush. It was a sitting swing in a family not given to play, in a childhood stretched between two very different cultures.

Irene was born into a tight Ukrainian-speaking community and a family struggling with guilt, shame, and grief over the death of a first-born child—a son. The old world immigrant culture placed much of the blame for Irene's brother’s death on her mother, causing her to hold her next child close to home, segregated from the new culture, victim to the blunt aggression of male cousins, and scornful townspeople.

About the Author:  Author, entrepreneur, and therapist, her life has taken her on many paths, with breakthrough results and exemplar growth, to find her authentic and true self. She lives with her husband in Austin, Texas. Irene earned her MS in Psychology, with honors, from Regis University in Denver.

My Review:  Another memoir, and I liked it!  I have to say, that for this not being my favorite genre, it's growing on me.  Watson tells a powerful story, that begins at the end.  She starts out in adulthood, then takes you back to her childhood, how it all began, and why she ended up at the recovery center in the first place.  I have a place in my heart for children who go through abuse, and Irene was one of those children.  This is a story that will touch you in more ways than one. 

I thing I really enjoyed was the sprinkling of pictures that were interspersed in the chapters of the book.  They really added the reality feel to Irene's words.  You could actually picture some of the things she mentioned in the book.  It really helped to make the story more personal for me.

Irene Watson pours her heart and soul into this memoir as she tells how she survived a childhood of guilt and abuse, overcame the patterns created by her parents, and became a better person because of it.  It you enjoy memoirs or just a great story, you should read this one!

Irene sent me an extra, autographed copy to giveaway to one of my readers.  Please leave a comment on this post telling me why you'd like to read this, and I'll draw a random winner.  Contest runs until Tue. June 9, and is open to US/Canadian addresses only.  The winner will be posted and emailed on the 10th!

Extra entries can be earned by following (+1), tweeting (+2), blogging (+3).  Good luck!

Book Tour Review: The Tablet of My Heart

Title:  The Tablet of My Heart
Author:  Elizabeth Walker
Review Copy Provided by:  author

About the Book:  The world turns upside down for a young girl when her father begins a fatal battle with the merciless affliction cancer. Before his illness finishes it’s devastating rampage through her adolescence, she is confronted by a new demon. She falls victim, by the hands of a trusted adult, to sexual abuse. The devastation of these events causes her to question God’s roll in her life, and whether He ever loved her at all. The Tablet of My Heart is a collection of Poetry from the journal of that young girl.

My Review:  I read this book in 2 hours last night, even though it was a hard read.  Not hard in the sense of the writing, but hard because of the topic.  This book deals with sexual abuse, told from the victim's point of view.  The victim in this case was a child.  The book is written by the victim and gives you insight into her thoughts and feelings as she uses her journal entries to tell the story.  Her journal is filled with poems that no child should have to write.  I don't want to share too much for fear of giving the story away, but let's just say I was awestruck at how a mother would not believe her child and then have her lie about what happened because she was afraid of the repercussions.  As someone who works with children, I was furious!

I loved the way the author mixed the poems in with her narration of the story.  It was a real different way to read and I enjoyed the break in the narration.  I will share one of the poems that really touched me.  Remember, this poem came from a child.

Little Playmate

On my insides I was weeping,

When he stole myself away.

Before he came along,

Me and daddy used to play.

But daddy never played like this,

Daddy didn't make me cry.

Daddy didn't touch beneath my skirt

And tell my mommy lies.

Mommy is so busy, and she always looks so sad,

I just won't be alone with him

That shouldn't make him mad.

I just won't be alone with him

So I don't have to say,

How bad it makes my tummy hurt

The way he wants to play.

I recommend this book to parents and anyone who has been a victim of abuse.  It really makes you stop and think about the perspective of a child.

This book review is for a Pump Up Your Book Promotions blog tour. 

I apologize for not having pictures, but my work computer won't let me upload them for some reason.  I will add them from home later.

Review: The Lost Hours

 

Title:  The Lost Hours

Author:  Karen White

Review Copy Provided by: Pump Up Your Book Promotion

About the Author:  After playing hooky from school one day in the seventh grade to read Gone With the Wind, I knew I wanted to be a writer—or become Scarlett O'Hara. In spite of these aspirations, I grew up to pursue a degree in business and graduated cum laude with a BS in Management from Tulane University.

I have always been a voracious reader and was encouraged by my teachers to write ever since elementary school. Writing a book was always in the back of my mind, but definitely something I'd "do later when I have time."

One day in 1996 when my children were just babies, I decided it was time and started writing my first book. When I had a few chapters written, I sent it in to a writer's contest and by some miracle it won. The finalist judge was a New York literary agent and she offered to represent me. That first book, In the Shadow of the Moon, was sold and then published in 2000. It was a double finalist in Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA award.

I have since published eight award-winning novels, and three more books are scheduled: The House on Tradd Street (November 2008) , The Lost Hours (May 2009) and the as-yet untitled sequel to The House on Tradd Street that is scheduled for release in November 2009.

While growing up, I lived in London, England and am a graduate of the American School in London. I currently live in sunny Georgia with my husband and two children. When not writing, I spend my time reading, singing, scrapbooking, carpooling children and avoiding cooking.

I love hearing from readers. Please email me at AuthorKarenWhite@aol.com or write to Karen White, PO Box 623, Roswell, Georgia 30077.

You can visit Karen White's website at http://www.karen-white.com/.

About the Book: Now a near fatal riding accident has shattered Piper’s dreams of Olympic glory. After her grandfather’s death, she inherits the house and all its secrets, including a key to a room that doesn’t exist—or does it? And after her grandmother is sent away to a nursing home, she remembers the box buried in the backyard. In it are torn pages from a scrapbook, a charm necklace—and a newspaper article from 1929 about the body of an infant found floating in the Savannah River. The necklace’s charms tell the story of three friends during the 1920s— each charm added during the three months each friend had the necklace and recorded her life in the scrapbook. Piper always dismissed her grandmother as not having had a story to tell. And now, too late, Piper finds she might have been wrong.

My Review:  This is the 2nd book I've read by Karen, the first being, The House on Tradd Street, which I loved.  When Dorothy contacted me to do this one, I jumped on it!  Trust me, I was not disappointed!

Karen is an excellent writer!  One of the things I love about her books is how she makes you feel like you are really "in" the book.  I really connect with her characters as her writing makes them come alive!  I really enjoyed how she intermingled the generations in this story.  The story is about Piper's grandmother and the story behind the box, the secret room, and missing out on knowing a woman she wished she had known.  But, it's also about Piper and her learning to love herself again, get back on a horse, and find love.  Karen's books are about romance, but she never makes that the center of her books and I like that.  There is always a story within a story and it makes for a great read!

The other thing I enjoyed about this book is the character development.  Karen really takes the time, as an author, to bring her characters to life.  She doesn't just skim the surface, but digs in deep and allows the reader to "know" the characters, minor or not.  I really connected with Piper, agonized for her, cheered her on, and cried with her.

I hope that you will enjoy this book as much as I did, should you choose to read it!

Today is the last stop on Karen's tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion.  There have been many great reviews and interviews on this tour.  I hope that you have been able to check out alot of them.  I am so glad that Dorothy allowed me to join in on this one, because I am a HUGE Karen White fan!  I am anxiously awaiting the sequel to The House on Tradd Street!

Guest Post: J.W. Nicklaus

 

Today I am pleased to share my blog with the new to me author, J.W. Nicklaus. Yesterday, I reviewed his new book of short stories, The Light, The Dare, & Ember Between. If you missed it, be sure to go back and check it out! I am pleased to have 2 days on this blog tour so that J.W. can share a part of you with him.

First, a little about the author:

J.W. Nicklaus resides in a place not entirely fit for human habitation about five months of the year. No pets to speak of, only the apparitions from which all romantics suffer.

An Arizona native, he’s been from one coast to the other, and a few places in between. College brought an AA in Journalism with a minor in Photography, and a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications. His work experience has run the gamut from Creative Director for a small advertising firm in Tucson to a litigation support bureau in Phoenix (and assuredly some awkward stuff in the mix).

Snow has been featured prominently in his stories, perhaps because of the seasonless climate he lives in. Nature was meant to be enjoyed and experienced, not hidden from the senses. So to that end, he hopes someday to live amongst those who are able to live through four true seasons, and not just blast furnace and warm.

He enjoys the occasional Arizona Diamondbacks game with his son, as well as watching him grow up. The experience of being a single dad has taught him far more about himself than he ever thought possible.

Within the expanse of every waking moment, he hopes his guardian angel keeps its arms open wide and heart ever watchful, for there but for one true Hope goes She.

For more about J.W. visit www.avomnia.com.

Now, let me turn it over to J.W. so that he can tell you some publishing misconceptions.

The Top 3 Misconceptions About Being Published

Holy smokes . . .where to begin? I’m sure many a correlation could be drawn between being published and celebrity. From all outward appearances it looks fantastic and like a lot of fun. Behind it all, however, is a whole lot of work that the consuming public doesn’t get to see.

The most prevalent misconception might be that with being published comes vast wealth and calls from friends you never knew you had. Unfortunately, wrong on both counts. To a large degree the amount of money made from your book directly correlates to how much time and effort you put into promoting it. But don’t lose sight of the potential peripheral opportunities that may grow from your efforts: speaking engagements, ghostwriting offers, and the rich vein of people you’ll encounter—you never really know who you might run into. Timing and hard work can reap dividends far outweighing strictly fiscal rewards.

The next, and not too distant misconception, is that the publisher will pick up your book and run with it once you’ve polished the manuscript to a fine sheen.

So very not true.

Publishers are a conduit, a vehicle for getting your manuscript from electronic form into bound pages with a cover. Just about everything else will be up to you: sending out review copies, talking up your book, promotional materials (posters, flyers, bookmarks, etc.), setting up book signings and other events. Some publishers may be of assistance, for instance providing marketing copy for the book or letterhead to use for mailing, maybe even a list of market contacts. Some will even insist that you provide a marketing plan. Your book truly is your business, and while you assuredly feel passionately about it you also need to bottle some of that passion for when times get a little tough.

How to counteract the lack of publisher support? Interact, network, talk to anybody and everybody whom you feel may have some interest in your subject matter. Do not overlook the dynamics of the online community. Sites like GoodReads.com provide a great way to get in touch with other like-minded authors and readers. Catch that little detail? Readers are your audience; they’re your main goal. You absolutely need to communicate with authors and writers, but nurture those who not only offer to read your book for review, but those who you might gain as ‘fans.’ Just because you can’t see them doesn’t make them any less important. Consider the speed at which communication happens over ‘the wire’— almost instantaneous. You think bad word-of-mouth about a restaurant experience can travel fast, imagine how much damage a terse e-mail could do if you rebuff or otherwise ill-consider a reader. Getting your book to your audience is far more Author than Publisher.

Another myth draws a picture of published writers as either hermits or ivory tower occupants. Most authors are avid readers which itself does entail a substantial amount of preferred solitude. But that largely doesn’t hold true for the vast majority of authors who have been published. Many of us still work full-time jobs, coach our children’s sports teams, attend church, go to parties, participate in reading or writing groups, and on and on and on. Frankly most of us relish the attention given to us as modern day scribes. It affords us the chance to get flattering feedback from readers and meet face-to-face with the very people we’re writing for.

It’s not so much being published that we crave, rather the desire to get our respective stories out in front of you, the reader. Each of our perspectives is unique and something we can’t help but want to not only understand but also toss into the greater pool of ideas and see what happens. We’re curious people, we writers and authors. Talk to us—we like that. We need it. We want it. Without you, the reader, we’re tossing words into thin air . . .a pretty futile activity.

Being published is, indeed, terribly exciting, even exhilarating. But don’t fool yourself into believing it’s all chocolates and sunshine. Writing the book, in many ways, is the easy part—getting published is when the real work begins.

It's so great to have an author willing to write a post for my blog.  I love to hear their thoughts on the writing biz!  Thank you, J.W. Nicklaus, for stopping by today and sharing your thoughts with us.

GIVEAWAY!!! 

Mr. Nicklaus actually sent me 2 books for this tour; 1 to review and 1 for you!  That's right, you can read J.W.'s short stories.  Just leave a comment on this post for your chance to win.  I will end the giveaway on Saturday, May 2 and post the winner on Sunday, May 3.  US and Canadian addresses only please.  You may earn extra entries, as usual:

+1 follower

+1 tweet about this (leave the link in the comments)

+1 comment on my review of this book

+2 blog about this giveaway (leave the link in the comments)

Review: The Light, The Dark & Ember Between

 

Today's review is the first of many that I read during last weekend's 24 hour Read-a-Thon.  I was anxious to get a lot of reading done because I have many back to back tours this month and next.  Thanks so much to Dorothy at Pump Up Your Book Promotion for letting me join in this tour.

 

Title:  The Light, The Dark & Ember Between

Author:  J.W. Nicklaus

Review Copy Provided by: author

About the Book:  A collection of short stories, each a splinter's reflection of the human condition, firmly centered upon our oft tenuous, sometimes tensile bond with Hope, and careening flirtation with Love.

Fifteen stories: From the wispy fog of a love lost at sea, to an orphaned child who delivers a present of her own during a war-torn Christmas. These stories are gentle reminders to each of us of what it is to be human, and certainly of our affinity for the slightest glint of Hope.

 

My Review:  When Dorothy asked me to review this one, I wasn't real sure what I was getting, because I'm not usually one to read short stories.  Well, I'm so glad I did!  This was the book I read first on Saturday, and it went very quickly.  I was surprised at how intrigued I could get with a short story, so quickly.  But, by the time it was getting really good, it was over.  There were some stories that I wish could have gone on because I wanted to know more.

Nicklaus is a great writer.  He weaves a great story that draws the reader in almost immediately.  Each of the stories in this book are about love, in one way or another, but that's not to say that they are all your "happily ever after" love stories.  Some of the characters long for a lost love, some wait for a love to return, while others are wishing for love.  It is truly a great little book.  It's one that you can read for a little while, one or two stories, put it down and return later to a whole new story.  There wasn't one piece that I didn't like, but if there were, you are not giving up on the entire book because you don't like one story, you just move on to the next one. 

Prepare to be run through a gamut of emotions with these stories.  You will smile, you will laugh, you will cry, you will be on edge, I promise you!  Many of the stories had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen, and others surprised me, like the story One Washington Diner.  This one is my absolute favorite.  I recommend this book and these stories to anyone who has ever loved and lost, had true love, or just wants to read some good love stories.  You will not be disappointed.

This is a stop on JW's blog tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion.  Come back tomorrow to learn more about JW Nicklaus as he stops by for a guest post.  He may even have a surprise for one of my readers!