Winter Wolf Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for Winter Wolf by RJ Blain!

 

The Hunted Wizard When Nicole dabbled in the occult, she lost it all: Her voice, her family, and her name. Now on the run from the Inquisition, she must prove to herself—and the world—that not all wizards are too dangerous to let live. 

The savage murder of a bookstore employee throws Nicole into the middle of Inquisition business, like it or not. Driven by her inability to save the young man’s life, she decides to hunt the killer on her own. Using forbidden magic to investigate the past, she learns that the murderer is in fact a disease that could kill the entire werewolf race. 

Forced to choose between saving lives and preserving her own, Nicole embraces the magic that sent her into exile. Without werewolves, the power of the Inquisition would dwindle, and she could live without being hunted. 

Nicole’s only hope for success lies in the hands of the werewolves she hates and the Inquisition she fears, but finding someone to trust is only the beginning of her problems. There are those who want to ensure that the werewolves go extinct and that the Inquisition falls. 

But, if she fails to find a cure, her family—including her twin sister—will perish… 
 

Amazon * iTunes

Author R.J. Blain

RJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning. When she isn't playing pretend, she likes to think she's a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband. She is currently on a quest for a new warrior fish. In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.

Favorite Books & Series

In no particular order:
Anne McCaffrey's Pern 
Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar & Gryphon Series 
Jim Butcher's Codex Alera & The Dresden Files 
Brandon Sanderson's Elantris 
Patricia Briggs' Alpha and Omega, Dragon Bones, & The Mercy Thompson series
Madeline L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Pinterest * Google+ * Goodreads

       

Blast Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/16/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Shadow of the Unicorn Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for The Shadow of the Unicorn by Suzanne de Montigny!

 

About the Book

Title: The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy (The Shadow of the Unicorn, Book #1) | Author: Suzanne de Montigny | Publication Date: October 15, 2014 | Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing | Number of pages: 124 | Recommended age: 9+

A loud, hissing sound filled the air. The unicorns looked up, their eyes filled with horror. Azaria, a unicorn colt, is intrigued when the young clairvoyant dinosaur, Darius, foresees a terrifying change in the world. When a giant fireball smashes into the earth, the unicorns struggle to survive the hurricanes and starvation that follow. Danger of a more sinister nature threatens when the creatures-that-walk-on-two-legs settle in the valley and their leader, Ishmael, discovers the healing power of the unicorns’ horns. Azaria, now a young stallion, must use his wits to save the herd from complete extinction.

Amazon (Print) | Amazon (Kindle) | Goodreads

*** For those of you living in British Columbia, you can grab a print copy of "The Shadow of the Unicorn" from the local Kidsbook Bookstore in Vancouver. ***  

FREE Study Guide

There is now a FREE 36-page reproducible study guide to The Shadow of the Unicorn complete with integrated activities for kids and a complete answer key for parents, teachers, and homeschoolers. Click on the image below to download your free copy.

   

Book Preview

Winner of the 2013 Global E-book Award for Best Fantasy/Alternate History

 

About the Author: Suzanne de Montigny

Suzanne de Montigny wrote her first unicorn story at the age of twelve. Several years later, she discovered it in an old box in the basement, thus reigniting her love affair with unicorns. The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy, is her first novel. Suzanne lives in Burnaby, B.C. with the three loves of her life – her husband and two boys. For more information about Suzanne and The Shadow of the Unicorn, please visit http://www.suzannedemontigny.com

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

   

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner's choice)
Contest ends: December 27, 11:59 pm, 2014
Open: Internationally
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Suzanne de Montigny and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions - feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Walking With the Women of the New Testament Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Walking With the Women of the New Testament by Heather Farrell!

With questions about women’s roles in the Priesthood, studying the New Testament proves a useful tool. The New Testament contains accounts of over 50 women and their interactions with Christ and the early Church. With beautiful artwork, charts, historical information, and study tools, this book delves into the lives of these faithful women and shows God’s great love for them and their great role in His plan.

Heather Farrell’s love for the scriptures began young, when at the age of 11 she hid a flashlight under her pillow so she could read the Old Testament late at night. Her love for the women in scriptures began when, her oldest son was born around Christmas time and she felt a kinship with Mary, the mother of Jesus. As she began to research Mary she realized that there were hundreds of women in the scriptures, but very little had been written about them. Excited by all the women she discovered, she began sharing what she learned on her popular blog, Women in the Scriptures (womeninthescriptures.com). Primarily self-taught in the scriptures, Heather is a testament to the truth that becoming a scholar of the gospel is not beyond anyone’s reach, it just takes a inquisitive mind and the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Heather grew up in Idaho but currently lives in Boone, Iowa with her husband, four children, two sheep, a goat and a flock of chickens.

Review:

The New Testament is full of familiar stories and characters, however there is sometimes a lack of emphasis on the women. This book endeavors to change all that. Going person by person, this book takes a look at all the women in the New Testament. Whether much is known or not, the women are looked at and studied as much as possible. Other details about the lives of women is those times is given. If you want to know more about the divine power and strength of women, then look no further.

I love to read about women, particularly those in the scriptures. I feel like many times some of those stories are glossed over a bit. This book goes fairly in depth in to as many women as possible in the New Testament. There were even some women I barely remember being mentioned at all. I love getting to learn about all these strong women. Their stories are amazing. Not to mention the book itself is gorgeous. It's large and full of amazing art. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it, and I want as many people as possible to read about all these amazing women. There are so many great role models for all women in this book. Read this book and become inspired to become more like these women.

Book provided for review. 

The Jewel of Peru Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for The Jewel of Peru by Sharon Skretting!

Title: The Ultimate Treasure Quest I: The Jewel of Peru | Author: Sharon Skretting | Publication Date: September 20, 2014 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 317 | Recommended Ages: 8+


The Jewel of Peru is a magical adventure through time, taking young Captain Christopher and his loyal crew of orphaned stowaways on a perilous quest in search of Christopher's missing parents. After his father's ship is found abandoned at sea, Christopher makes an unexpected discovery on board—The Ultimate Treasure Chest! Inside is a message that beckons him to set sail after the treasure and his parents. When a savage pirate and a corrupt businessman join forces to steal the treasure for themselves, the gang gets caught up in pirate chases, time travel, and an underground network of spies. Will Christopher find the Jewel and his parents, or will all be lost for ever?

* You can purchase an e-copy of "The Jewel of Peru" for only 99 cents from Amazon for the duration of the blast, so grab your copy now! *

Amazon | Teachers Pay Teachers | Goodreads

 

About the Author

Sharon Skretting is the author of The Ultimate Treasure Quest I: The Jewel of Peru, and the founder of Quest Teaching. She has been teaching elementary school for twenty years and lives with her husband and a cat, named Scat! Now that her three children have grown, she is spreading her wings into the realm of professional writing. Being able to use her love of writing to excite her students about learning is a dream come true for Sharon. Her goal is to write fast paced, excellent literature —filled with interesting characters, intrigue, danger and intricate plots—that will hook readers aged nine to ninety nine and make them want to read more! * Teacher support materials to go along with the novel can be purchased at Teachers Pay Teachers *

Website | Pinterest | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner's choice)
Contest ends: December 25, 11:59 pm, 2014
Open: Internationally
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Sharon Skretting and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions - feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Earthkeepers Book Blast

   

From the author of The Great North Woods Pack series comes a new adventure... Millions of people talk to animals every day. If you happen to be such a person, there’s nothing terribly unusual about you. But what if animals spoke to you in return? What if you could clearly understand them, while the people around you could not? That would be very unusual, remarkably interesting, and would likely be tremendously fun. For nine-year-old Ethan Dewfield, talking with his dog is an everyday occurrence. Add to this the fact that he lives not in a regular house but in a sprawling hilltop inn, and what you’ll find is a highly unusual boy with a unique tale to tell. In this personally narrated account he discovers the depths of his abilities, makes new friends, goes for a long walk in the snow, meets a special pack of wolves known as Earthkeepers, uncovers a nasty scheme devised by his even nastier uncle, eats a stack of pancakes, and does all he can to save his beautiful home from the greedy men plotting to destroy it.  

*If you’re someone who likes a wide assortment of animals, with funny names and contrasting views of the world, and you like Christmas decorations, happy endings, and you’re open to the possibility of liking boys named Ethan, there’s a good chance you might enjoy this story.  

*If you’re someone who admires deceitful, scheming, selfish people who manipulate others, who dislike animals, kids, beautiful buildings, and beautiful scenery, you might enjoy a long career in politics, but will probably not like this story in the least.

*If you’re someone searching for an epic, unrealistic romance between two people resembling Ken and Barbie, you are looking in the wrong place. You are now terribly lost. I’m shocked you’ve read this far. You should probably hit the back arrow now. There’s no telling what could happen if you don’t.  

*If you’re someone shopping for affordable health insurance, you might try a different website.  

Amazon

Author Shawn Underhill

The true story of Shawn Underhill may never be fully realized to the world at large. Theories and rumors abound, ranging from the fantastic to the absurd, but none can be entirely trusted. Most scholars agree that he is certainly a devoted admirer of Jack London, while less credible claims suggest that he is loosely related to the novelist, merely adopting the false name Underhill as a means to anonymity. The most bizarre of all rumors state that Mr. Underhill actually is Jack London reincarnate, that in his spare time he pilots experimental aircraft on dangerous test missions, and is slated to appear on DWTS. Attempts by this biographer to uncover solid evidence have proven frustrating at best, and dangerous at worst. Establishing contact with Mr. Underhill's family in the slim hope of acquiring trustworthy information has been, for the most part, an exercise in futility. The most viable explanation came by a series of mysterious phone calls leading to a secret meeting with an individual claiming to be Shawn's second cousin. This unnamed source (who only spoke with me under cover of darkness behind a Dunkin Donuts off highway 93 in rural New Hampshire) states that the author was last known to be located within his secret writing cave--a high mountain fortress, heavily defended by steep ledges and rushing waterfalls. The grounds near the secret trail leading to the hidden entrance are said to be patrolled day and night by wolves, watchdogs and bears. In an interesting side note, UFO's and Bigfoot sightings have been reported in the general area of Mr. Underhill's alleged stronghold, but none have been officially confirmed by any reputable organizations. The author's Facebook page, Shawn Underhill (Author) is the only known source of contact he has with the outside world.

Facebook * Twitter

       

Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 11/30/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

   a Rafflecopter giveaway

After the Rain Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for After the Rain by Renee Carlino!

From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Sweet Thing and Nowhere But Here comes a deeply emotional contemporary romance about the second chances waiting beyond the shattered dreams of youth.

Under the bright arena lights of a rodeo show, young Avelina Belo falls for a handsome cowboy with a larger-than-life personality. After a whirlwind courtship, she happily moves away from her family in northern California and settles into married life with her cowboy on a seven-thousand-acre cattle ranch in Montana. One freak accident later, Avelina’s hopes for the future come to an end.

Nate Myers graduated from UCLA medical school at the top of his class, ready to follow in the footsteps of his father, a superstar cardiothoracic surgeon. Six years later, Nate’s career is being ruined by a malpractice suit. Questioning himself for the first time, he retreats to a Montana cattle ranch to visit his uncle and gain perspective. There, he meets a beautiful young woman named Avelina who teaches him more than he ever knew about matters of the heart.

About the Author:

Renée Carlino lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog, June. When she's not at the beach with her boys or working on her next book, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate. To learn more, visit ReneeCarlino.com.

Review:

Nate and Avelina live in two different worlds, Nate is an up-and-coming cardiac surgeon at UCLA, while Avelina is widow with wounds to spare. Both of them have been burned by parts of their lives they thought they could trust. So naturally when they meet, they begin to share some of the pain. That along with instant attraction draws these two together in ways they never knew could happen. Each of them though must learn to deal with their pasts before they can develop a future.

This book takes your typical romance and tackles it with some deep issues. Ava grew up fast at a young age, but you find she's very stunted in other ways. Nate has almost always known where he wanted to go in life, and he's done whatever it takes to get there. All this hard work is threatened by the death of a young patient though. Soon Nate is questioning everything about career and his life (which is pretty much entirely his career). His dad suggests that he go out to visit his uncle on a ranch. Nate meets Ava there, and there is an instant attraction. Ava is still dealing with the circumstances of her sad life as well. You can see why they're attracted to each other, and they seem to go together well.

I liked that although there were naturally obstacles for Nate and Ava, none of them seemed forced as can often happen in romances. Their problems flowed naturally out of their lives, and they managed to deal with them in a pretty good manner all things considered. This made the story feel much more real. I found the end bit a little strange, but ultimately I think it worked for the story. This is a cozy romance that will make you both happy and sad, so be prepared for a gamut of emotions in this book.

Galley provided for review.

The No-Stress Holiday Organizer Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for The No-Stress Holiday Organizer!

Get organized this holiday season! Make you plans for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s as enjoyable for you as it is for your guests. From calendars and checklists to budget sheets and journal pages, this book saves you the time and money to enjoy family traditions old and new – year after year!

Review:

The holidays are full of fun, but they can also be full of stress. This planner aims to relieve some of that stress by making it easy to plan and prepare for all of your holiday events. From Thanksgiving to New Years, this book has got it covered. Full of checklists and helpful hints, make your holiday season more fun and relaxed.

Wow, this book has everything. Check lists, recipes, calenders- everything you need to plan out your holidays. One of the things I try really hard to do is plan out my cooking so I'm not trying to do everything all at once, and this book even has a planner for that. How awesome! This is a book that you'll definitely want to use if you are very busy during the holidays. It has so many places for information and even a chance to reflect after the event. This is going to become an essential part of my holiday season from now on.

Book provided for review.

I Want to Be Baptized Blog Tour

Welcome to the tour for I Want to Be Baptized by Annalisa Hall and Corey Egbert!

Help your little ones recognize the joy, responsibility, and importance of being baptized. I Want to Be Baptized – from the same author and illustrator who brought you The Holy Ghost Is like a Blanket – depicts what baptism really means for children’s lives by comparing it to objects they remember and relate to. Turn to these heartwarming illustrations and meaningful analogies next time a child asks you about baptism.

About the author:

Annalisa Hall was born in Rochester, MI, to Alvin and Judy Holgerson. She received a merit scholarship to the LDS Business College graduating with honors. She transferred to Brigham Young University in Provo and worked in the Harold B. Lee Library and graduated from BYU with a BA in English. She is the author of Garbage Can Graffiti, published September 2010 in the Friend. She currently lives in Poway, CA, with her husband and three children.

Review:

Baptism is an important part of every LDS child's life. This book shows why baptism is so important by using comparisons to everyday life. Full of colorful illustrations, this book will entertain and teach our young ones about the importance of this sacred ordinance. 

I loved this book. I thought it did an amazing job of making comparisons to things that almost any child could understand. The pictures area all bright and interesting. It includes a list of scripture references and Primary song references as well. While the pictures are bright and fun, the words are not too "little kid" for children closer to 8. It's a beautiful book that will really help show why baptism is so important for all of us.

Book provided for review,

Gratitude Giveaways Hop

Welcome to the Gratitude Giveaways Hop!!

This is just a giveaway to say thank you to everyone who reads this blog. I get to read a lot of awesome books, and it wouldn't be possible without all of you! 

This is a giveaway for my usual offering of an Amazon.com gift code for $10 for $10 of books from Book Depository.

I only have one entry on this one. Just press enter and you're in!

Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Hearts In Harmony by Raine Gillespie

Title:		Hearts In Harmony
Author:		Raine Gillespie
Publisher:		Trifecta Books
Pub. Date:		08/23/2014
Pages:		105

Elahna Nezario gave up her musical dreams to help run the Queen of Hearts, her mother’s chocolate shop, after her sister’s sudden death. After an unfortunate run-in with Elahna’s childhood crush, owner of the Dolce Theater, not only do her dreams surge back to life, but so does her heart.

(Summary and cover via Goodreads)

              **************************************************

Elahna has two big dreams in life: being on stage and being with her life-long crush. Life hasn't quite worked out that way though. Instead Elahna is working for her mom in a chocolate shop and merely admiring her crush from afar as he lives out her dream on stage. After a series of unfortunate events though, Elahna is stuck working for her crush Timothy. As a mystery begins to unfold, Elahna's life may never be the same.

This story started out a little rough for me. I thought Elahna was fun, but I didn't really get Timothy. It seemed like was attractive sometimes but just plain mean at others. He was so hot and cold. Once the story got it's footing it got better though. There is a couple big mysteries in the story, and those were very interesting to read about. Overall this was a fun story with a sweet ending.

Book provided for review.

Review: For Love Or Money by Paige Timothy

Title:		For Love Or Money
Author:		Paige Timothy
Publisher:		Trifecta Books
Pub. Date:		09/29/2014
Pages:		111

Cynical Morgan has just about decided that no one could possibly fall in love with her - all the good guys want perfect girls, and she's anything but perfect. But then along comes the guy who falls head-over-heels in love with her just as she is and helps her find the bright side of life again.

(Summary and cover via Goodreads)

              **************************************************

Morgan has almost decided to give up on love. Living in her small town, there's not a lot to choose from. Morgan is over it. One day though a mysterious stranger enters the bank where she works. Suddenly Morgan starts to think that she could be wrong about love. It will take a tragedy though to make her realize that love could have been in front of her eyes all along.

I was excited to get to read another adventure in this series. After reading And Something Blue, I was intrigued by Laurie's roommates. The first one to read about was Morgan. I loved how the two stories intersected. I also loved the idea that sometimes what we think we want in love and what we really want can be two very different things. Morgan was sure she knew what she wanted until she was faced with some bad things happening. This led her to see what was truly important in life. This made for a super sweet story.

Book provided for review.

Sweet and Clean Romance Collection Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for the Sweet & Clean Romance Collection!

Ok clean romance lovers these books are for you!! Trifecta Books is excited to announce their new line of short contemporary romance novels for e-book. The Sweet and Clean Romance Collection will melt your heart and sweep you off your feet. There are currently four books out with many more titles coming soon.

  

Tour Schedule

Bridal consultant Laurie Fletcher spends her days helping others prepare for the most special day of their lives. Will true love ever come her way, or is she doomed to watch others get their happily ever after?

Amazon

Cynical Morgan has just about decided that no one could possibly fall in love with her - all the good guys want perfect girls, and she's anything but perfect. But then along comes the guy who falls head-over-heels in love with her just as she is and helps her find the bright side of life again.

Amazon

 

Elahna Nezario gave up her musical dreams to help run the Queen of Hearts, her mother’s chocolate shop, after her sister’s sudden death. After an unfortunate run-in with Elahna’s childhood crush, owner of the Dolce Theater, not only do her dreams surge back to life, but so does her heart.

Amazon

 
Meredith Aaron lost all hope for love after a car accident put her in a wheelchair. Who would want her, broken as she is? After her brother tells her to save a dance for him at his wedding, she decides to somehow learn how to dance on the only legs she has left—her wheels.

Amazon

Review of And Something Blue:

Laurie loves her job. As a bridal consultant in a small town, she gets to help everyone have that special day. One day she gets a girl in with a short engagement but no shortage of money. The future bride brings her mother and very annoying (but very attractive) brother Logan. After things go sour, Laurie gets way more attention from Logan than she ever wanted. Will enemies become friends? Or maybe even more?

This was a very cute story. I love that it was a short read, because I was sucked into the story and didn't want to put it down. Laurie lives life on her own terms, and I appreciated that. I also loved her roommates. They were a fun cast that I wanted to read more about (and I did in the next book). There was just enough tension between Laurie and Logan to be interesting but not off-putting. This was a fun, sweet romance.

Book provided for review.

Be sure to check back throughout the day for reviews of the 3 other books mentioned in this post!

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 11/20/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Mother's Love Can Conquer Any Fear

Title:		Mother's Love Can Conquer Any Fear!
Author:		Subhash Kommuru
Illustrator:		Sujata Kommuru
Publisher:		Kommuru Books
Pub. Date:		10/2014
Pages:		32

Shastriji is a wise old chicken who always has an answer for How…. until comes the vile crow Kaalia who is up to no good. All of Shastriji’s ideas to deal with Kaalia one after other backfires. What if the right question was not “How” but “Why”? Could there be an end to the tyranny of Kaalia?

              **************************************************

The chickens of Anand Nagar live a happy and peaceful life, until one day they begin getting attacked by the evil Kaalia. The wise chicken Shastriji has lots of ideas, but none of them seem to work. One day though, Kaalia does something that will cause one of the chickens to do something that will surprise everyone.

This is a very cute book. I loved the story. While Kaalia is attacking them, Shastriji has many ideas on how to save everyone. However, the most powerful thing is the one thing people lease expected. Ganga the mother hen shows that her love is the most powerful thing after all. The pictures in this book are all very bright and interesting. This book does a great job of telling a beautiful story that will mean something to mothers and children all over the world.

Book provided for review.

Becoming Beauty Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Becoming Beauty by Sarah E. Boucher!

Self-centered Bella focuses her attention on beautiful dresses and fabulous balls rather than helping her family earn a living.  And her siblings have had enough! To pay off their father’s debt, they send Bella to a far-off manor where the owner is more like a beast than a man.

As their personalities clash, Bella comes to realize there’s more to the Beast than she could ever have dreamed—if only she can look beneath the surface. And then there’s Jack, the kind servant who helps Bella adjust to her new life, someone Bella could easily fall in love with. But pursuing love may cost Bella her dreams of wealth and beauty. And that’s a price she’s not willing to pay.

Becoming Beauty is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and books & things.

Author Spotlight

Sarah E. Boucher spends her days instilling young children with the same love of literature she has known since childhood. After hours, she pens her own stories and nurses an unhealthy obsession for handbags, high heels, baking, and British television. Sarah is a graduate of Brigham Young University, who currently lives and teaches in Ogden, Utah. Becoming Beauty is her first novel.

Visit Sarah at blog/website (SarahEBoucher.com) 

Or connect with Sarah by clicking through to the following social media sites: 

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Goodreads

Review:

Bella has tried to live as charmed a life as possible. Although her father does not have a lot, she has managed to get as much as she can from her. Her beautiful sister Cassandra and her brother Aaron work very hard to help out. After going on a long trip, Bella's father returns with the beautiful bauble that Bella requested before he left. However, he obtained this jewel and was taken prisoner for the taking of it. Soon Cassandra and Aaron have decided that Bella should be required to repay the debt that her father made.  Bella's life will be charmed no more as she's forced to work for a harsh man she knows only as the Beast.

I love fairy tales and fairy tale retellings, so I was excited to read this book. It was fantastic! It really drew me in from the start. To be honest, I didn't like Bella that much. She is incredibly self-centered and lazy. As she works off her debt to the Beast though, she really turns a corner. She begins to see how horrid a person she really was. More than that though, I think she gets a better idea of self worth. You can really feel how insecure Bella feels compared to her sister Cassandra. Bella has to work hard to find her own strength from within.

Of course, just because this is a familiar story doesn't mean that it goes where you think it will. It's not like a huge twist, but it's definitely a different approach. I liked that a lot though. Almost all the characters show a lot of growth through the story, which is great to watch. Not to mention there's also a good deal of humor. If you enjoy fairy tales with a twist, or even if you just like a good old-fashioned love story, this book will entertain from beginning to end.

Book provided for review.

Don't forget to click below and enter the giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Soul Ajar Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for The Soul Ajar by Kiana Davenport.

 

From bestselling Hawaiian author, Kiana Davenport, comes 'The Soul Ajar,' a riveting political thriller and love story. Set primarily in contemporary Russia and the United States, here is a novel that brilliantly knits together four seemingly unconnected lives: Adam, a CIA intelligence operative who suffers from albinism, and searches for the Russian assassin who killed his mother, an act he witnessed as a child; Lily, a young Hawaiian-Chinese journalist who falls in love with him; Bazil, an Indian intelligence operative from Mumbai who befriends Adam; and Zahira, a beautiful Afghani girl mutilated by the Taliban. In this searing and multi-faceted novel, Davenport reveals the paths these characters travel as their lives become intertwined in a haunting and timeless story of the love that binds humans together, and the wars that continue to tear us apart.

Amazon

Goodreads Book Giveaway

THE SOUL AJAR, A Love Story

by Kiana Davenport

Giveaway ends December 01, 2014. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Author Kiana Davenport

KIANA DAVENPORT is descended from a full-blooded Native Hawaiian mother, and a Caucasian father from Talladega, Alabama. Her father, Braxton Bragg Davenport, was a sailor in the U.S. Navy, stationed at Pearl Harbor, when he fell in love with her mother, Emma Kealoha Awaawa Kanoho Houghtailing. On her mother's side, Kiana traces her ancestry back to the first Polynesian settlers to the Hawaiian Islands who arrived almost two thousand years ago from Tahiti and the Tuamotu's. On her father's side, she traces her ancestry to John Davenport, the puritan clergyman who co-founded the American colony of New Haven, Connecticut in 1638.

Kiana is the author of the internationally best-selling novels, SHARK DIALOGUES, SONG OF THE EXILE, HOUSE OF MANY GODS, THE SPY LOVER, and most recently, THE SOUL AJAR, now available in paperback and on Kindle. She is also the author of the collections, HOUSE OF SKIN PRIZE-WINNING STORIES, CANNIBAL NIGHTS, PACIFIC STORIES Volume II, and OPIUM DREAMS, PACIFIC STORIES, VOLUME III. All three collections have been Kindle bestsellers. She has also been a guest blogger on Huffington Post.

A graduate of the University of Hawaii, Kiana has been a Bunting Fellow at Harvard University, a Visiting Writer at Wesleyan University, and a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant. Her short stories have won numerous O. Henry Awards, Pushcart Prizes, and the Best American Short Story Award, 2000. Her novels and short stories have been translated into twenty-one languages. She lives in Hawaii and New York City.

Website * Facebook

     

Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 11/27/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Holiday Adventures Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for some Holiday Adventures!

This Book Blast is brought to you courtesy of Adventure Quest Books. Answer the hero’s call to adventure and enjoy more tales, legends and myths from the ancient and medieval worlds for MG and YA readers.

 

About the Books

The Search for the Stone of Excalibur by Fiona Ingram

Title: The Search for the Stone of Excalibur (The Chronicles of the Stone, Book 2) | Author: Fiona Ingram | Publication Date: October 6, 2014 | Publisher: The Educational Publisher / Biblio Publishing | Pages: 399 | Recommended Ages: 10+

Summary: Continuing the adventure that began in Egypt a few months prior in The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, cousins Adam and Justin Sinclair are hot on the trail of the second Stone of Power, one of seven ancient stones lost centuries ago. This stone might be embedded in the hilt of a newly discovered sword that archaeologists believe belonged to King Arthur: Excalibur. However, their long-standing enemy, Dr. Khalid, is following them as they travel to Scotland to investigate an old castle. Little do they know there is another deadly force, the Eaters of Poison, who have their own mission to complete. Can Justin and Adam find the second Stone of Power and survive? And why did Aunt Isabel send a girl with them? And how annoying for them that their tag-along companion, Kim, seems to have such good ideas when they are stumped.

   

Max's Arabian Adventure by Wendy Leighton-Porter

Title: Max's Arabian Adventure | Author: Wendy Leighton-Porter | Publication Date: July 16, 2014 | Publisher: Mauve Square Publishing | Pages: 82 | Recommended Ages: 7+

Summary: In this spin-off adventure from the Shadows From The Past series, Max the talking Tonkinese cat goes on a solo mission without his usual time-travelling companions. Snatched from the house where he lives with eleven-year-old twins Joe and Jemima Lancelot, Max is dragged back into the past by an evil magician who has lined him up to perform a special task. Torn away from all he holds dear, the despondent cat fears he may never be able to return to the present and his beloved owner, Jemima. What will become of him? Will he make it back or will he be condemned to remain forever in a distant time and place, far from home?

   

Sons of the Sphinx by Cheryl Carpinello

Title: Sons of the Sphinx | Author: Cheryl Carpinello | Publication Date: October 10, 2014 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 182 | Recommended Ages: 10+

Summary: Armed with what she considers her grandmother’s curse, 15-year-old Rosa agrees to help the ghost of King Tut find his lost queen Hesena. Though Hesena’s ba inhabits part of Rosa, finding the whole spirit of Hesena so that she and Tut can be together for the first time in over 3300 years proves to be a harder task than Rosa first thinks. Thrust back into Ancient Egypt with Tut, Rosa discovers that finding Hesena is not all she must do. She must keep out of the reach of the living Horemheb—who crosses mortal boundaries using Seth’s evil magic—if she is to stay alive to make it back home.

   

About the Authors

Fiona Ingram

I love ancient history, mystery, legends, and travel. Join my young heroes Justin and Adam in an exciting quest as they search for the Seven Stones of Power. Each book is a new adventure, so be part of it! Website: http://www.fionaingram.com    

Wendy Leighton-Porter

I spent 20 years as a teacher of French, Latin and Classical studies, but now write books for children instead of teaching them. I take young readers on a magical mystery tour through the past and hope that my love of history, myth and legend will rub off on them. Website: www.wendy-leighton-porter.com  

Cheryl Carpinello

I’m a retired high school English teacher. My hope is to reach reluctant readers with my Arthurian Tales and soon a series of stories from ancient lands and legends that will take readers on adventurous quests throughout history. Website: http://www.beyondtodayeducator.com    

* $100 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: One winner will receive a $100 Amazon gift card or $100 PayPal cash prize, winner's choice
Contest closes: December 9, 11:59 pm, 2014
Open to: Internationally
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by Fiona Ingram, Cheryl Carpinello, and Wendy Leighton-Porter and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway