Stellarcadia Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for Stellarcadia by Julie Anne Grasso!

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be hosting a Book Blast for the third and final book in the "Adventures of Caramel Cardamom" middle grade science fiction trilogy by Julie Anne Grasso: "Stellarcadia".

About the Book

Title: Stellarcadia (Adventures of Caramel Cardamom, Book 3) | Author: Julie Anne Grasso | Publication Date: December 24, 2014 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 128 | Recommended Ages: 8 to 12 

Book Description: 

Caramel Cinnamon is one lucky elf. She can hardly believe she’s invited to attend the first Intergalactic Youth Summit, on-board the Stellarcadia. Her friends can’t wait to go “hyper,” but even the thought of it chills Caramel to the bone. However, nothing could compare to the icy reception she receives upon her arrival. Keen to get to the bottom of it, Caramel stumbles on a dangerous conspiracy, but no one will believe her. In the exciting conclusion to The Adventures of Caramel Cardamom Trilogy, Caramel will have to do more than outwit her enemies, she will have to convince her friends to take her seriously. For ages 8-12.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

 

About the Author: Julie Anne Grasso

With a background in paediatric nursing, Julie Anne Grasso spent many years literally wrapping children in cotton wool. Every day she witnessed great courage and resilience from the tiny people she cared for, which inspired her to write stories to encourage and entertain them. She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband Danny and their little girl, Giselle.

Website | Blog | Facebook

Twitter | Goodreads

 

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)
Contest ends: March 25, 11:59 pm, 2015
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, Julie Anne Grasso 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.

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The Wife Maker Blog Tour

Blog Tour Schedule

Welcome to the blog tour for The Wife Maker by Karey White!

Charlotte has spent years as the husband maker, sending every guy she dates off to enjoy marital bliss with the next girl he dates. But things have now changed, and she's determined to use her husband-maker abilities one last time--on herself. And she finally knows exactly who she wants. 

Angus has loved Charlotte since they were teenagers, but he's tired of waiting for her to realize how good they could be. She's broken his heart one too many times, and it's time to move on with his life. Maybe a position halfway across the country will be just what he needs to get over her. But when Charlotte won't let him go without a fight, Angus has to decide if he's willing to let her in again or if she's too late.

Amazon

Author Karey White

Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist. She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Review:

Charlotte has a reputation of being a "husband maker." Everyone she dates goes on to marry the next person they meet. That's all fine and good, and Charlotte has dealt with it fairly well. However, she's realized that maybe she needs to focus those matchmaking skills elsewhere...on her best friend Angus. He surprised her by telling her that he was in love with her, and after some soul searching Charlotte has decided that he's perfect. The only problem is Angus has decided to move on with his life. Now Charlotte has to see if she can get back the one person she never thought she'd lose.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this series, so I was ready to see what happened in this one. Especially after the ending of the last book. The story jumps right in, but this time we get the added bonus of having some of Angus's point of view. It was very interesting. Angus is trying to save himself the pain of a breakup. Charlotte is his dear friend, but he can't separate that from his love for her. So he decides that distance and time may help with that, and he moves halfway across the country. Of course Charlotte is not likely to let a little cross-country move get in the way of the one thing she realizes she really needs- her best friend and one true love.

Sometimes I just wanted to shake Angus and tell him to get over his trepidation, but I kind of understood it at the same time. It's hard to jump in and risk so many things that are important to you. Charlotte though decided to be bold an make a major move. It was fun to see her so sure of what she wanted. Charlotte would let nothing get in her way. I think the author did a great job of keeping the tension from getting too repetitive and moving the story alone. This book was a wonderful conclusion to a very fun series. You could certainly read this as a standalone, but I recommend reading every one of these books!

Book provided for review.

 

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3/22/15

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.

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Seek & Find Book of Mormon Stories Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Seek & Find Book of Mormon Stories by Jason Pruett!

Search for Nephi, Moroni, and other hidden prophets and characters from the scriptures in this fun picture game book. Featuring scenes from the Book of Mormon, this book will keep kids entertained as they look for their favorite scripture heroes and hidden objects in the colorful illustrations. Perfect for home, church, or on the go, it makes learning the scriptures fun for everyone.

Jason Pruett has a BFA in Industrial Design from Brigham Young University and an MFA in Illustration from the Academy of Art University. He has created art for games and animation. Jason currently illustrates picture books and the children’s comic book Jimmy Brass, 2nd Grade Detective. He lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife.

Review:

There are books that help teach us the stories in the scriptures. There are stories that let us have fun. This book aims to do both. In the history of classic seek and find books before it, Seek & Find Book of Mormon Stories takes those familiar stories from the Book of Mormon stories and adds a fun new angle. With many things to find in the pictures, this book will be sure to entertain while helping people to remember some of the great Book of Mormon stories.

I was so excited for this book because my son loves these seek and find books. They are a staple of our Sundays. After several Sundays, I can say for sure that this passes the child and parent test. The pictures are bright and busy. Some of the things are relatively easy to find while others required much more searching. There are also bonus things to find in each picture. To be honest we haven't even looked for those because we have so much fun doing the main things in each picture. This is a book that all ages can enjoy. It is Sacrament Meeting quiet tested and approved in this family!

Book provided for review.

The Third Twin Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for The Third Twin by CJ Omololu!

 

When they were little, Lexi and her identical twin, Ava, made up a third sister, Alicia. If something broke? Alicia did it. Cookies got eaten? Alicia’s guilty. Alicia was always to blame for everything.

The game is all grown up now that the girls are seniors. They use Alicia as their cover to go out with boys who are hot but not exactly dating material. Boys they’d never, ever be with in real life. 

Now one of the guys Alicia went out with has turned up dead, and Lexi wants to stop the game for good. As coincidences start piling up, Ava insists that if they follow the rules for being Alicia, everything will be fine. But when another boy is killed, the DNA evidence and surveillance photos point to only one suspect—Alicia. The girl who doesn’t exist. 

As she runs from the cops, Lexi has to find the truth before another boy is murdered. Because either Ava is a killer . . . or Alicia is real.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

CJ OMOLOLU is the author of the ALA-YALSA Quick Pick Dirty Little Secrets and several other YA novels. She loved to read but never thought to write until she discovered that the voices in her head often have interesting things to say. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and their two sons.

Website * Twitter

   

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3/19/15

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.

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Review: Wishing on Baby Dust by Lydia Winters

Title:		Wishing on Baby Dust
Author:		Lydia Winters
Publisher:		Snowflake Press
Pub. Date:		1/8/2015
Pages:		322

Infertility stinks. No one knows that better than Megan. After six years of insanity-inducing hormone drugs and desperate prayers, all she has to show for her efforts are enough negative pregnancy tests to fill a bassinet. All around her women are accidentally getting pregnant—like her star piano student—while Megan remains hopelessly barren. 

Megan’s never felt so alone. But she’s not the only one struggling.

Christina has just entered the world of infertility, made worse by the fact her husband isn’t ready to be a father. Their marriage, already hanging in the balance, is being torn apart. 

Then there’s Kyra, the mother of a precocious three-year-old. She’s shocked to be struggling with secondary infertility. A baby is priceless, but sometimes Kyra feels like she’s being forced to choose which commandment to keep: stay out of debt, or multiply and replenish the earth. 

When Megan and Christina are assigned as Kyra’s visiting teachers, they all realize that what you see isn’t necessarily what’s beneath the surface. Some secrets aren’t worth the cost of keeping them.

(Summary and cover via Goodreads)

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

Infertility is a struggle for many women, and this book tells the story of three of them. Megan desperately wants a child, but she is dealing with the effects of PCOS. Christina put off having a child to get her life just perfect. Now it is, but she can't seem to get the one this she wants. Is this her fault for putting it off? Kyra has one child, but she hasn't been able to have another. When Megan, Christine, and Kyra's worlds collide, they soon find that they are not alone. Sometimes having someone who truly understands you makes all the difference in the world.

I was very interested in this book because it's a very difficult subject for many women. I was so pleased with how everything was handled. This book was able to be sensitive to the subject and women involved without every being patronizing or treating them with kid gloves. There was a lot of hurt for these women and with good reason. Each of them really learned to lean on the others to help them through all their trials. Just the mere fact that they are not alone in their struggles seems to relieve a huge part of the burden. I also liked that this book was able to show the different effects infertility could have on the marriages of these women. They all had to work through different things to make their lives better and be prepared for whatever the future holds.

This book also make me really reflect on how we treat other women. The scene where two of them are in Relief Society feeling the pain of feeling like they didn't fit in with a church that stresses family so much was very real to me. While I have never dealt with infertility, I was single for much longer than most LDS women. There were Sundays when I questioned why I even bothered going because I had nothing in common with any of these women. Now, clearly that wasn't true, but I think we all struggle with things at different times. We need to work to be so understand and supportive to our fellow women. How much better would it have been for these characters to have more people to be able to lean on in good times and bad? This book provides a very realistic view of things as well. There are good things that happen as well as bad. Not everyone gets that fairy tale ending. However, every is much better off in the end then they were at the beginning. This was a lovely tale that warmed my heart while managing to break it at some points. It is very moving, and I encourage everyone to take a chance to read it.

Book provided for review.

Fearless Joe Dearborne Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for Fearless Joe Dearborne by Lisa Whitney Mitchell!

 

Title: Fearless Joe Dearborne | Author: Lisa Whitney Mitchell | Publication Date: July 11, 2014 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 198 | Recommended Ages: 8+ 

Summary: 

Some might say he’s courageous, while others would say he’s daring, maybe even a little crazy. But when Joe Dearborne risked his life and ran into a burning building to save a puppy, the local newspaper referred to him as “fearless”—and that’s a pretty big title for a sixth-grader to live up to.

Plus, Joe already has plenty else to worry about. After other daring feats in the past, Joe promised his father he wouldn’t do anything dangerous again, and, alas, he’s just broken that promise. But whatever trouble he expects to get into with his father, and despite the dangers he’s triumphed over in the past, nothing could prepare Joe for what he’s about to encounter when a cold, bitterness creeps into his home. A mysterious and peculiar woman named Mrs. Chill has just been hired to care for Joe while his father is away on business. In no time, however, Joe discovers that she’s up to more than cooking and cleaning, and she has plans to destroy his family. Joe’s effort to save them results in perilous, sometimes humorous, encounters, and leads him on a journey through the threatening wilderness where he faces his greatest challenge yet.

About the Author: Lisa Whitney Mitchell

Lisa Whitney Mitchell lives in Florida with her husband, two sons, and their dog. When she’s not writing, she practices law. Fearless Joe Dearborne is her first novel.  

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)
Contest ends: March 18, 11:59 pm, 2015
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, Lisa Whitney Mitchell 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

Maisy and the Marauder Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for The Maisy Files by Elizabeth Woodrum!

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be coordinating a Book Blast (February 17 to 18, 2015) for the second book in "The Maisy Files" mystery chapter book series by Elizabeth Woodrum, "Maisy and the Money Marauder". If you haven't had a chance to check out Book 1, you can grab a Kindle copy for FREE from Amazon February 17 and 18, 2015!

Title: Maisy and the Money Marauder (The Maisy Files, Book #2) | Author: Elizabeth Woodrum | Publication Date: February 17, 2015 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 90 | Recommended Ages: 6 to 12 

Summary: 

Lunch money has been stolen at West Valley Elementary, and everyone's favorite fourth-grade detective in on the case. With a cherry lollipop in hand, her fedora, and her trusty notebook, Maisy steps into her black-and-white mystery world to search for clues. Join Maisy on her quest to unmask a thief in Maisy and the Money Marauder.

Book 2 Available from Amazon

PLUS, Grab a FREE Kindle Copy of Book 1, Maisy and the Missing Mice

from Amazon February 17 and 18, 2015.

Sneak Peek

 
 

About the Author: Elizabeth Woodrum

Elizabeth Woodrum is an elementary teacher in Ohio. She came to love writing when she was in elementary school, but more recently began writing material for use in her classroom. From that writing, grew the desire to write books for the general population of children and adults alike. The Maisy Files, a children's series, is the first series that she has published. As a reader, Elizabeth prefers the fantasy genre, but she enjoys realistic fiction as well. Some of her favorite authors include JK Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Rick Riordan, Veronica Roth, Suzanne Collins, and Nicholas Sparks. Originally from Indiana, Elizabeth currently resides near Dayton, Ohio with her two pets: a cat named Butterscotch and a dog named Reese Cup.  

Book Website | Author Blog | Twitter

Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

 

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)
Contest ends: March 16, 11:59 pm, 2015
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, Elizabeth Woodrum 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 Wife Maker Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for The Wife Maker by Karey White!

Charlotte has spent years as the husband maker, sending every guy she dates off to enjoy marital bliss with the next girl he dates. But things have now changed, and she's determined to use her husband-maker abilities one last time--on herself. And she finally knows exactly who she wants. Angus has loved Charlotte since they were teenagers, but he's tired of waiting for her to realize how good they could be. She's broken his heart one too many times, and it's time to move on with his life. Maybe a position halfway across the country will be just what he needs to get over her. But when Charlotte won't let him go without a fight, Angus has to decide if he's willing to let her in again or if she's too late.

Amazon

Blog Tour Schedule

Author Karey White

 Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist. She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

   

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 3/13/15

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

Midnight Runner Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Midnight Runner by Marilee Jackson!

Mistreated for years, orphaned Moira dreams of building a new life in the royal city. Little does she know that her dreams will cost more than just her own fate. This medieval tale of romance, mistaken identities, and long-sought redemption will change how you feel about villains and heroines, loss and love.

About the author:

Marilee Jackson is an avid reader and has dabbled in writing since the third grade. She stays home and chases her four rug rats around. She lives in a tiny Arizona town (don’t blink you’ll miss it) with her amazing husband and their four children. Midnight Runner is her first novel. Follow her on her blog at http://jacksonjacket.blogspot.com/.

Review:

Moira Agar is forced to live with an unpleasant family after her mother dies. She dreams of getting away from the harsh and cruel Bards and finding a new place. After many years of planning, she finally makes it away from them by running at night. However, Moira soon finds that once you start running, it's hard to stop. Moira's destiny is more than she bargained for, and the things she does affect more than just herself. 

This book started out very interesting. Moira is a young lady who is basically a slave for the family that took her in after her mother died. Moira decides that she must plan her escape, and she slowly lays the groundwork to run. After a few unsuccessful tries, Moira manages to make it out and away from her captors. She manages to make it to a small village where she meets some friendly faces. Soon she finds herself almost settled in this new place with these new friends. Something happens though that makes Moira question everything. This is where I ran into issues. I didn't understand at all why Moira chose to do what she did. I had felt very sympathetic to Moira, but then when all this happened I found myself not liking Moira as much.

I don't want to give too much away, but Moira ends up discovering that her dreams for the future can actually come true. Then there's a time jump go 16 years, and we find Moira living her life still running from the shadows of the past. Again I found myself confused as to why the bad guy in this instance was able to do what he wanted. It didn't make a lot of sense to me in terms of the story. I thought the ending turned out pretty good though. So I just felt like this book had some ups and downs as it meandered down its path. Maybe the plot could have been tightened up a bit? I think I did enjoy the book, but not as much as I wanted to if that makes sense. This book is almost like a fairy tale, so anyone interested in that may enjoy this book. Just be prepared for a rollercoaster.

Book provided for review.

Teaching Children About Sex Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Teaching Children About Sex: Using the Temple as Your Guide by Cherri Brooks!

It’s time for the talk. Teach your children the truth about sexual intimacy in a world of shifting values and ideas. With expert advice and age-appropriate wording, you learn how to use the temple as a beautiful analogy to discuss with your kids the sacred subject of sex. Timely and clear, this book is a must-read for parents, teachers, and leaders.

About the author:

Cherri H. Brooks grew up in Centerville, Utah and attended Utah State University where she earned her M.S. in Family and Human Development. She is the author of the LDS Living Magazine article, “Talking to Kids about Sex.” Her blog is www.timelesstemples.blogspot.com. She lives in Clarksville, Tennessee, with her husband and three children.

Review:

Ah sex. Talking about it to children is often viewed as trial to be endured. However, it is a very important topic the becomes even more important as the world around us changes. This book uses the temple and temple preparation as an example for a way to discuss everything with your children starting from a young age. It gives straightforward answers from both biological and value viewpoints. By keeping the lines of communication open, you can allow for a truly wonderful experience.

My son isn't old enough that I've had to worry about going into a lot of detail about sex, but I have tried to be honest and truthful about things like where babies come from. I was both excited and a little scared about reading this book. I wasn't sure if it would approach things from a point-of-view that I would agree with. I was so pleased to be surprised. This book is amazing! I love how positive this book was. So many times talking about sex becomes a negative thing because we want them so much to understand the importance of chastity. This is not always the best approach though. We need to find a balance so that children and youth understand how important sex is and why we save it for the appropriate time and place.

I love that this book emphasizes the need for communication on this topic starting from a young age. This book helped me see areas I have done well and areas in which I could use some major improvement. There are questions and answers for each age group that have some great help in them. At the end of there book there is some dealing with "special" topics in this area. They were absolutely full of fantastic information and direction. I wish that everyone would read this book. It manages to be very sex positive while using the temple as a guide to show why chastity is so important to us. This is a book I know I'll reference for years to come. With it's beautiful message and positive tone, it takes what could be a touchy subject and makes it approachable for everyone. 

Book provided for review.

Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes by Henry, Josh, and Harrison Herz and illustrated by Abigail Larson!

Enter an enchanted land of mythical creatures where manticores reign and ogres roar-a land of mystery and fright. A unique twist on traditional rhymes of everyone's youth, "Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes" presents a more sinister approach to these childhood classics, and yet the sing-song nature of the poems renders them playful and jovial at the same time. Little Witch Muffet is not frightened by a silly, little spider; she simply adds him to her stew!

Rotten zombies, giants, dwarves, and goblins mingle with werewolves, centaurs, and fauns. Follow along the skeleton stepping stones, scale up a palisade, claw at the window of a tasty child and bake him into a pumpkin shell. Monsters cook up delicious elvish pie, too! Every kid who has an eensy weensy bit of sense wants a pet with feathers white as snow, who flies like an eagle and bleats like a goat-a hippogriff, of course!

Six forest sprites with four times as many pixies escape from a loaf of bread atop the elaborate table of the fey queen; her feast has flown away! If you enjoy mischief and have a penchant for the morbidly hilarious, the Herzs' rhymes will satisfy your mythological curiosities.

Larson's illustrations give new life to these ancient figures, and her artistic style employs the bold lines and colorful movement of an action-packed comic book. The author also includes a "bestiary" with information about the book's legendary creatures, which hail from Scotland, Germany, Italy, Persia, Haiti, and Scandinavia.

Summary provided by Goodreads.

For more about this book, see www.birchtreepub.com/mgnr.htm

Review:

Everyone has heard of Mother Goose's nursery rhymes, but have you ever heard of Monster Goose? This book takes familiar stories and adds some fun new twists. Where else can you read the tale of This Little Hydra, and much more menacing substitute for This Little Piggy? With beautiful illustrations, this book will entertain in a whole new way.

I love to have a retelling of a story everyone is familiar with, so this book was right up my alley. So many nursery rhymes became so much more interesting and fun through these new versions. If the old versions were ever not quite dangerous enough for you, then these stories will probably be just right. I loved the illustrations as well. They managed to be beautiful while still portraying the mood of the stories. However, they also did an amazing job of not being too scary. Just creepy enough. This is a fun and beautiful book that will be sure to get you thinking past the usual nursery rhymes into a whole new world.

Book provided for review. 

Review: If I Stay by Gayle Foreman

Title:		If I Stay
Author:		Gayle Forman
Publisher:		Penguin Group
Imprint:		Dutton Juvenile
Pub. Date:		4/2/2009
ISBN:		0525421033 (ISBN13: 9780525421030)
Pages:		201

Just listen, Adam says with a voice that sounds like shrapnel.

I open my eyes wide now.
I sit up as much as I can.
And I listen.

Stay, he says.

Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?

Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters.

If I Stay is a heartachingly beautiful book about the power of love, the true meaning of family, and the choices we all make.

(Summary and cover via Goodreads)

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

Mia is planning out everything in her life. She's auditioning for Julliard and spending time with her boyfriend, a rising local musician. A simple family drive changes all that though. Mia finds herself caught somewhere between life and death with no way of knowing what she is today. Mia realizes that she has a choice to go or to stay. How can she make such a huge decision though? Mia will have to decide what it is that she truly wants to have.

This was a very interesting book and concept. Of course, I had just read another Young Adult book involving s girl who was hovering somewhere between life and death, so I couldn't help but to compare the two in my head. This book had the more likable main character for sure. Mia is basically a really good kid. She works pretty hard, she loves her friends and family, and she just wants to have a  good life. For her this includes music. She has worked super hard for this, and she would love to see this dream come true. Of course the pull to not stay includes some other equally important factors. So what does she choose?

I didn't love Mia's family as much as I liked her, but she had a good life and she knew it. As she works through her past, you get to see glimpses of her past. Soon, her story unfolds, but it is always tinged with sadness because of the circumstances. I found this book to be interesting and thought-provoking. If this were my choice, what would compel me to stay or to go? Would my life be as full as Mia's had already been? As Mia makes her decision, she leaves you with many things to ponder.

Review: Righting a Wrong by Rachael Anderson

Title:		Righting a Wrong
Author:		Rachael Anderson
Publisher:		Hea Publishing
Pub. Date:		3/7/2014
ISBN:		1941363024 (ISBN13: 9781941363027)
Pages:		144

Seven years ago, Cambri Blaine fled her small hometown of Bridger, Colorado after her senior year of high school ended in a fiasco. But now her father needs help, and Cambri has no choice but to return home. So with trepidation, she takes a leave of absence from the landscape architecture firm where she works and heads home, hoping against hope that Jace Sutton is no longer around and that the past can stay where it belongs-in the past. If only life worked that way. Jace never expected to see Cambri again. After she walked out of his life without a backward glance, he was left with no choice but to try to forget her and move on. But now that Cambri is back and looking more beautiful and sophisticated than ever, some of those old feelings resurface, and Jace instinctively knows, for the sake of his heart, that he needs to avoid her at all costs. If only it were that easy.

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Cambri made the decision to leave her hometown and make her way in the world. Of course, this meant leaving her father and best friend behind. Right after said best friend had indicated he might want to make their friendship a little something more. Seven years later Cambri is back to help her ailing father. Of course, coming home manages to bring up many feelings she thought she had gotten rid of, including ones she might have had for her best friend Jace. It doesn't help that she keeps running into Jace everywhere. Jace and Cambri soon discover that old friendships die hard, and maybe there's a chance that old wrongs can actually be righted.

This was a very sweet book. Cambri had to make a decision when her best friend Jace made a bit of a move. Still dealing with the death of her mother, Cambri decided to follow her heart and live her dreams by going to the school she always wanted far from home. This allowed her to start the career she always wanted on the east coast. Of course, this kept her away from her home town for a long time. Part of this was career and part was not wanting to deal with everything she left behind. When her father falls ill though, Cambri is forced to return home. It proves to be just as difficult as she had thought it would be, but of course the feelings she feld didn't just disappear.

I liked that Cambri followed her heart. Sometimes you need to focus on your needs, and that's exactly what Cambri did. It allowed her to gain some clarity she wouldn't have had previously. She and Jace had a very sweet relationship. I liked that there was tension between them, but it wasn't held out too long just for the sake of the story. It followed a more natural course. Both Jace and Cambri were given chances to grow and change in the process of rediscovering each other. This was a super quick read, and it was so much fun to read. For a quick and sweet romance, check this book out.

Book provided for review.