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Otto & the Grand Prix Bees Book Review & Giveaway

11/26/2013

Otto & the Grand Prix Bees
~Written & Illustrated by Kip Noschese

Book Synopsis

Otto is a bear with a unique talent for racing cars. It's a talent that requires drivers to be fearless. Otto has only one fear. A great fear --- BEES! When he crosses paths with some very smart bees that love racing as much as he does, he might need to overcome his fear if he wants to win. (Amazon)

Book Review

Otto & the Grand Prix Bees is an imaginative story that teaches young readers that when they overcome their fears they can experience great things.

Otto is a bear who loves racing, but fears bees so when a swarm of bees interfere with his big race he crashes and his hopes for winning are diminished. As the bees swarm his race car Otto runs for his life, but soon notices the bees are not following him. The bees seem to be offering their help to repair Otto's car. Otto isn't sure what to do. Can he overcome his fear and work with the bees or are his racing days over?

Otto & the Grand Prix Bees is a fast paced story filled with fun and excitement. The illustrations are charming and lively and young readers will want to hear the story again and again.

I highly recommend picking up a copy. Available at Amazon.com.

About the Author

Kip Noschese is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has designed backgrounds for many award winning animated television shows, including Wild Thornberrys, Rugrats and Family Guy. Otto & the Grand Prix Bees (2013) is his debut children's book. He currently resides in Henderson, Nevada. (Amazon)

You can find out more about Kip Noschese by visiting www.kipnoschese.com.

Otto and the Grand Prix Bees by Kip Noschese
Book Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Give Me Five for Fangs, Feathers, and Faith! Review & Giveaway

11/26/2013

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Give Me Five for Fangs, Feathers, and Faith!
A Devotional for Tweenagers
~Written by Victoria Peace Green

Book Synopsis

Sounds...we hear them wherever we go. Or do we? We hear a sound because something or someone makes a sound. But wait, is that the way it goes? God has given elephants (and many other animals) ears that hear sounds which we can not: Infrasound! Did you know you can talk to Jesus anytime any place and He will hear? But just like the elephant's secret language, you have to have the ears of your heart ready to hear the Lord. Give Me Five for Fangs, Feathers, and Faith! is filled with fun facts about God's creation. Your tweenager will thrill at discovering more about the world around them and their faith.(1) What About You connects your child with interesting details about God's creation that reflect who He is. (2) Check it Out gives exciting topics for them to find out more about online.(3) Check Within teaches children they were made to be in relationship with God. (4) Check Around helps develop a compassionate heart in your child towards friends and family. (5) Check with the Lord shows children how to praise, thank, and carry their concerns to God through prayer. (Amazon)

Book Review

Give Me Five for Fangs, Feathers, and Faith! is a daily devotional for children 8 and up that uses interesting stories which grasps the attention of readers and leaves them yearning to learn more. Along with a story each section contains a Bible verse and space for readers to reflect on that days devotion.

I found Give Me Five for Fangs, Feathers, and Faith! to be an inspiring 52 week devotional that engages readers in such away learning about the Bible and God's creations becomes a fun and joyous event. Readers will be anxious to discover what each new day holds and parents will delight in the spiritual growth of their children.

I highly recommend picking up Give Me Five for Fangs, Feathers, and Faith! Available on Amazon.

Give Me Five for Fangs, Feathers, and Faith!
by Victoria Peace Green
Book Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Zippity Zoo Book Review

11/25/2013

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Zippity-Zoo
~Written by Julia Dweck
~Illustrated by Doug Jones

Book Synopsis

"The very best part of our Zippity-Zoo
Is you can become any creature you view.
So what type of animal suits you the best--
On land or in sea, from the east to the west?”

Mr. McGranimals is no ordinary zookeeper and Zippity-Zoo is no ordinary zoo. A day at the zoo turns into a magical adventure for young Ryan when he finds out that the visitors can turn into any creature they choose. When Ryan wishes to become a giraffe, he doesn’t realize the challenges or rewards he’ll face. This rhyming romp will have young listeners reading and laughing along from beginning to end. Young zoologists will enjoy Mrs. Dweck’s true and amazing giraffe facts at the end of the book. (Amazon)

Book Review

Children love to pretend, but Ryan gets more than he bargained for when he visits Zippity-Zoo and actually turns into a giraffe. Now, Ryan must learn to be a clever giraffe in order to survive the several challenges he faces. If he's lucky he might just make a few new animal friends along the way.

Author, Julia Dweck uses zany rhyme which combined with the colorfully amusing illustrations by Doug Jones create the perfect combination for a hilarious story children will love to hear again and again.

Amid the humor, Zippity-Zoo, also teaches the value of being kind and helping others and just when children think they've reached the end of the story they will find games and fun facts about giraffes.

I highly recommend picking up a copy of Zippity-Zoo. Available November 26, 2013 on Amazon.com.

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Tale of the Messed Up Talent Show Book Blast

11/25/2013

1 Comment

About the Book

Title: Tale of the Messed Up Talent Show (Madison and GA - My Guardian Angel)
Author: Melissa Perry Moraja
Publication Date: November 15, 2013
Publisher: Independent - Melissa Productions Inc.
Number of pages: 156
Recommended age: 6-12

Summary
Madison Wunderkind is a sweet, honest girl, who always seems to find herself in trouble with the principal. But this time she's not alone. It all started three days earlier, when Sophia, the most popular fifth-grade girl at Gator Elementary, asked Madison to hang out and plan this year's talent show. Instantly, Madison had become Little Miss Popular. But what Madison soon discovered was that being Little Miss Popular wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Her best friends were ignoring her. Her brothers were angry at her. And her guardian angel, GA, was irritated by her snobbish attitude. And if things couldn't get more messed up for Madison, everything that could go wrong at the talent show did, sparking Principal Dimples to find out why! Find out what happens at Gator Elementary's Talent Show. Will GA be able to help Madison? Or will Madison become Little Miss Lonely? Also, try and find one of GA's feathers in each picture!

Purchase

Amazon | Barnes and Noble |iTunes

You can purchase the first book of the series (e-copy), Tale of the Slimy Spitball for only 99 cents until Christmas, December 25, 2013 from Amazon. Just click on the cover below!

About the Author

Melissa Perry Moraja, Founder of Melissa Productions, Inc., is an entrepreneurial mom, a multifaceted business woman, a creative producer, and an author/illustrator of numerous modern-fantasy children's books and self-help books. Melissa also has published articles, appeared on television, been interviewed on radio, has spoken in front of hundreds of people, and held workshops at local schools, discussing creative learning, publishing and parenting. Her desire to make a difference in her four young children’s lives inspired her to leave her six-salary career at IBM in 2007 to become a full-time mom and children's author. Melissa spends her personal time coaching soccer and softball, painting, and coming up with fun art projects for her kids. She also blogs for Working Mother blog , has guest blogged for Charlotte Observer Mom's Charlotte ,and has her own personal blog at Not Your Ordinary Psychic Mom. Melissa is also committed to building awareness and support for Type 1 Diabetes. Her twin daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes November 4, 2011. To learn more about Madison's type 1 diabetes disease please read M adison's Story.

Website | Blog | Facebook (Author Fan Page)
Facebook (Book Fan Page) | Twitter | Pinterest

* $100 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner's choice) Contest runs: November 25 to December 24, 11:59 pm, 2013 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, Melissa Perry Moraja 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

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Stars of Bethlehem Book Blitz

11/22/2013

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Stars of Bethlehem

Book Description:

Jack and Lily have found each other. In this short holiday novella, Jack finally meets Lily's family and friends. And she tries to merge her life and her past with his.

On New Year's Eve, Jack and Lily look forward to the new year ahead of them. Join them as they start to grow together.

This is a part of the Flowering series and directly follows the events of Forget Me Not/Lily of the Valley. Another full length novel will come later as well.

About the Author:

Sarah Daltry writes erotica and romance that ranges from sweet to steamy. She moves around a lot and has trouble committing to things. Lily of the Valley is her third full length novel, although she also has several story collections and two novellas available. Her other novels are Forget Me Not, the story that tells Lily’s version of events, and Bitter Fruits, which was available shortly, but is now in the contract phase with a major publisher. When Sarah isn’t writing, she tends to waste a lot of time checking Facebook for pictures of cats, shooting virtual zombies, and simply staring out the window.

Excerpt:

“I have a present for you,” she says.

“I told you. I want nothing but you.”

“I know, but I’m excited. First, though…”

“Yeah.”

This is terrifying. If I screw this up, it could ruin everything. We haven’t been together that long and although I am trying to trust in us, I wonder if Lily could stay with me if her parents hate me. What if they hate me?

She kisses me quickly on the lips and then on the tip of my nose. I somehow feel both ten and hungry for her. She’s still so amazing to me.

“They are going to love you,” she says.

“Then why are you so nervous?”

“What if you hate them?”

I hug her and breathe in her hair. “I could never hate anything that you are. We might come from totally different worlds, princess, but every part of you is beautiful.”

Author Social Media Links:

Website: http://sarahdaltry.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahDaltryErotica?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahDaltry

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sarahdaltry/boards/

Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com/blog/sarahdaltry

To Learn more about Jack and Lily’s story check out ‘Forget Me Not’ and ‘Lily of the Valley,’ by Sarah Daltry or visit sarahdaltry.com/2013/10/25/more-jack-and-lily.

Forget Me Not Purchase Links:

Available at:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DXM4YBI?force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forget-Me-Not-Flowering-ebook/dp/B00DXM4YBI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375085336&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+daltry+forget+me+not

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/336336

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forget-me-not-sarah-daltry/1116049899?ean=2940148433125

Paperback: https://www.createspace.com/4271499

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/forget-me-not/id673673228?mt=11

Sony: https://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/sarah-daltry/forget-me-not/_/R-400000000000001091006

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/forget-me-not-flowering-1

Lily of the Valley Purchase Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F5MN7H6?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lily-Valley-Flowering-1-5-ebook/dp/B00F5MN7H6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1379211642&sr=8-3&keywords=lily+of+the+valley+sarah

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/342349

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lily-of-the-valley-sarah-daltry/1116282455?ean=9781492216698&isbn=2940045177917

Paperback: https://www.createspace.com/4411185

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/lily-of-the-valley-flowering-1-5-2

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lily-valley-flowering-1.5/id702447714?mt=11

Sony: https://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/sarah-daltry/lily-of-the-valley-flowering-1-5/_/R-400000000000001119706

Stars of Bethlehem Purchase Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G5JKYO2?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00G5JKYO2?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/370716

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/star-of-bethlehem/id731942386?mt=11

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/star-of-bethlehem-sarah-daltry/1117237949?ean=2940148398080

All Romance: All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-starofbethlehem-1329604-149.html

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The Perpetual Papers of the Pack of Pets Book Blasty Tour

11/20/2013

2 Comments

Celebrating

Stanley and Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge are celebrating their one year blogiversary (click here to read their inaugural post) by hosting their very own "Book Blasty Tour". Thank you for taking the time to visit this special stop along their tour.

About the Book

Title: The Perpetual Papers of the Pack of Pets
Authors: Stanley & Katrina, Pet Authors
Illustrator: Miro Chun
Year published: 2012
Updates: This book was updated in September of 2013 with a new cover, interior illustrations, and a sneak peek of book #2 in the series.
Publisher: CreateSpace
Number of pages: 106
Recommended ages: 5+
Summary (Amazon): After three years of living under the same roof as the dog in the house, Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge decides to write a letter to her canine housemate, Stanley. Katrina loves treats, naps and bossing the dog around. Stanley loves snow, attention and turkey. The diva kitty, Katrina, will have none of Stanley's antics and most certainly will not stand for him eating her food. The only reasonable solution is to take him to Kitty Court.

Amazon U.S. * Amazon U.K. * Amazon Canada

Barnes & Noble * Leanpub(digital formats)

The Buzz

"The book is really humorous. It is unique in a manner where you see the cat and dog communicating with each other about themselves, their likes, and dislikes in a letter form. The narrator's tidbits add to the charm of the book. The contrasting characters and their individual personalities have been etched well. The author has put the perspective of the pets in the forefront and written a unique and excellent book for children." ~ Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

"We enjoyed this book tremendously! It charmed us, made us laugh, and kept us wanting to read more. A tip of the hat to the pair of pets whose rivalry leads the story along its delightful course." ~Amazon Reviewer

About the Authors: Stanley & Katrina

Stanley is a three-year-old black Labrador/Rottweiler mix who does his best to ignore Katrina.
Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge is an eight-year-old grey tabby cat who loves her toy mouse.They would love to tell you where they live but all they know is that they live in a tan house. For more information about Stanley & Katrina, please visit their website, www.StanleyAndKatrina.com.

Twitter * Facebook * Google+

Pinterest * Goodreads

Stanley & Katrina are currently offering a free 15 Minute Skype Session as a Thank You to their readers!

* Free Printables For This Book! *

Kid Lit Printables has created fun and FREE printables for The Perpetual Papers of the Pack of Pets. Click here to view all available printables, now.

Stanley & Katrina's

Book Blasty Tour Stops(2013)

November 8

Mother Daughter Book Reviews

November 9

Mommynificent
Desperate Homeschoolers

November 10

Bookworm for Kids

November 11

When I Grow Up I Wanna Write a Kids Book

November 12

Jemima Pett - Princelings of the East

November 13

DinoMama

November 14

Amanda's Books and More
Gizmo's Terrier Torrent

November 15

My Devotional Thoughts
Kid Lit Reviews

November 16

Lyndsay

November 17

This Kid Reviews Books

November 18

Imogen Daley Writes

November 19

Baby Bookworms in Black Words - White Pages

November 20

BeachBoundBooks
The Ninja Librarian
Stanley & Katrina Co-Host the Kid Lit Blog Hop

November 21

Bruce the Bookshelf Gargoyle

November 22

The Squishy Lady

Book Blast Participants

Charlotte Raynor Writes

Giveaway Breaking News for Indonesia

Tales of a Bookworm

Sher A. Hart: Written Art

* $25 Book Blasty Tour Giveaway *

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner's choice)

Contest runs:November 8 to November 30, 11:59 pm, 2013

Open: Internationally

How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget above or by clicking here.

Terms and Conditions: A randomly drawn winner will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest or any other entity unless otherwise specified. If you have any additional questions, feel free to send us an email at stanleyandkatrina (at) gmail (dot) com.

* This giveaway is sponsored by the authors, Stanley & Katrina. *

My Review

The Perpetual Papers of the Pack of Pets is a hilariously funny collection of written correspondences between Katrina the cat and Stanley the dog regarding virtually everything in their lives.

The letters begin with Katrina accusing Stanley of eating her food. Stanley doesn't deny her claim and is in fact proud of his accomplishment. Katrina ends up bringing Stanley before the Cat Council where he is found guilty, but vows to continue eating Katrina's food. As the story continues so does their letter writing. At times they seem cordial and almost friendly, but in order to play their proper roles as cat and dog they can't appear to be to close. The story also contains a narrator who gives reader a little more insight into the lives of the main characters. Occasionally, various pets take over as narrator adding their input and additional humor to the story.

The most truthful and often times most amusing conversation between the two happens in the salutation of each letter. I often times found myself reading that part first to see their true response to the previous letter. The Perpetual Papers of the Pack of Pets is a very creative and lighthearted tale that is sure to bring a smile to the faces of readers young and old.

As a pet owner of both cats and dogs I was able to appreciate the bossy attitude Katrina has when dealing with Stanley as well as Stanley's laid back attitude towards Katrina and her ideas.

I highly recommend picking up a copy of The Perpetual Papers of the Pack of Pets. Available on Amazon.com.

2 Comments

Kid Lit Blog Hop #28

11/19/2013

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Welcome to the 28th Kid Lit Blog Hop. We have come a long way since then with many familiar faces that visit on a regular basis as well as new bloggers and authors who join us all the time. All in all, we have managed to create a dynamic and engaged community of children's books bloggers, authors, publishers, and publicists, as well as parents seeking out their next great read. So, if you haven't joined us in a while, please pop in a post and hop around to meet some of the new bloggers who have joined the Hop. If you are one of our regulars - thank you so much and Happy Hopping to all! Joining us as co-hosts this week are The Stanley and Katrina Gang who are responsible for the fun middle grade book The Perpetual Papers of the Pack of Pets and Lisa T. Cresswell, author of the Storyteller series for middle grade and the young adult novel, Hush Puppy. Big welcome to Stanley and Katrina (and the rest of the gang) and Lisa! Please be sure to give each of our hosts and co-hosts a visit to say a quick hello and we'll be sure to visit you right back!

Happy Hopping everyone and enjoy the Hop!

REMINDER: Kid Lit Giveaway Hop Holiday Extravaganza

As part of our Kid Lit community of bloggers and authors, we wanted to share with you information about the Kid Lit Giveaway Hop Holiday Extravaganza to take place December 6th to 13th, 2013. This event is hosted by Katie from Youth Literature Reviews and Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you are a blogger who features children's or young adult literature looking to share copies of a fabulous book winter-themed or holiday-themed book (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc), you are welcome to link up. You can also offer a gift card instead! Just click on the button below. Sign-ups are on-going until November 30, 2013.

Kid Lit Blog Hop Rules Please Read

1. We ask that you kindly follow your hosts and co-hosts. You can follow us any way you choose (Email, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, G+, Pinterest, etc.), but we've added our preferences below. If you could just give us a quick "follow" or "like" that would be much appreciated! Make sure to leave us a message if you are following us (i.e., on Twitter or Facebook or on our websites) and we will be sure to follow you back. Thanks! :-)

Hostesses:

Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews Facebook * Twitter

Jaymie @ Snacks for Max Twitter * Facebook

Katie @ Youth Literature Reviews Twitter * Facebook

Julie Grasso, Author/ Blogger Twitter * Facebook

Cheryl Carpinello, Author / Blogger Twitter * Facebook

Reshama @ Stacking Books Twitter * Facebook

Stacie @ BeachBoundBooks Twitter * Facebook

Lina @ Best 4 Future: Bringing Up Baby Bilingual Twitter * Facebook

Co-Hosts:

The Stanley and Katrina Gang Twitter *Facebook

Lisa T. Cresswell, Author / Blogger Twitter * Facebook

2. Link up any Kid Lit related post. This can be a link to a children’s book review, a discussion about children’s literature/literacy, or a post on a recently-read children’s book or one that you love from your childhood.

* Don't link directly to your blog, it must be a specific post*

* For Authors, we prefer you to link to your blog if you have one *

* Make sure you include an image relevant to the POST (e.g., book cover), not your blog button or photo of yourself.*

* Feel free to link more than one post.*

3. Please visit AT LEAST the TWO LINKS directly ahead of your own and leave them some love in the form of a comment. We are trying to build a community of bloggers, readers, parents, authors, and others who are as passionate about children’s literature as we are so please CONNECT and follow any or all of the blogs that interest you! 4. If you like, grab the button above and put it somewhere on your blog, preferably the post you're linking up. If you'd prefer, you can just add a text link back to this Hop so that others can find it and check out all these great book links! 5. It would really help us get the word out about the Kid Lit Blog Hop if you would be so kind as to tweet, share, and spread the word about the Hop!

Interested in co-hosting the Kid Lit Blog Hop? Please email renee @ motherdaughterbookreviews (dot) com and put Co-Hosting Blog Hop in the subject line.

Happy Hopping!

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The Sockkids Meet Lincoln Blog Tour & Giveaway

11/18/2013

3 Comments

The Sockkids Meet Lincoln Blog Tour, Book Review & Giveaway

About the Book

Title: The SockKids™ Meet Lincoln
Authors: Michael John Sullivan and Susan Petrone
Illustrator: SugarSnail
Publication Date: August 14, 2013
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 40 (print)
Recommended Age: 3 to 8

Book Synopsis

Where do our missing socks go? Readers find out in our children’s series, The SOCKKIDS. We follow the Socker family through many adventures; from encountering the slobbery mouth of the family dog to meeting Santa as he comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve to helping a fireman save a baby to the most shy Socker going to the school dance for the first time. Thanks to the time-travel opportunities afforded by the spin cycle of the washer, they learn about some of the most important humans in the world. Children two and up and their parents will be drawn to the diversity of the family and the universal and timeless lessons they teach: don’t be afraid of new experiences; treat others as you would like to be treated, and of course, beware of the spin cycle! (Amazon)

Book Review

Have you ever wondered where all those missing socks go? Well, The Sockkids Meet Lincoln will clear up that age old question and may even leave you wondering what kind of adventures your lucky socks may have gone on.

It's laundry day and all the socks are excited about taking a swim in the washing machine. Mom and Dad have warned the sockkids about the dangers of swimming too deep. Socks can get sucked in and be sent through time to be donned by someone of the past. Stretch, an athletic sock, dives too far into the water and is pulled into the swirling current. Where will he end up and will he ever get back home?

The Sockkids Meet Lincoln is a highly imaginative tale that touches on a bit of American history with some simple facts about President Lincoln and his kind nature to all, including socks. The book also contains additional tips for parents to help further their little readers' learning experience. The creative illustrations are rich in color and detail and are sure to delight children.

I highly recommend picking up a copy of The Sockkids Meet Lincoln. Available at Amazon.com.

The Buzz

"I love the creativity of the story as well as the many lessons that can be discussed after reading this, including President Lincoln and what he stood for. (I enjoy books that allow you to start a dialog with children who read them, and this book does not disappoint.) The book is easy to read, which makes it appealing because children can read it with an adult or on their own. I even giggled a few times while reading this, and any story that can put a smile on someone's face has my approval!." ~ 5-Star Review from ksen, Amazon

"A unique, well written, highly creative story, bringing socks to life in this sweet tale of a family of socks who time travel through the washing machine. Laundry never sounded so colorful and fun, with the added bonus of teaching children about history in an amusing, loveable and magical way. Intertwining well developed characters, plus a real historical figure (Abraham Lincoln) in a story that will not only introduce children to this president, but also teaches them what Lincoln stood for, and the lessons that will resonate with adults so they may be able to share this time in history with a young child (children) in their life, creating reading memories they will always treasure. The SockKids is beautifully illustrated, colorful and the cute Socker images will bring a smile to your face, and the dialogue is sure to elicit laughter from both the reader and the child. " ~ 5-Star review from Selena Robins, Amazon

"The SockKids Meet Lincoln is a fun way to introduce young kids to an important historical period and figure. The tone is lighthearted yet informative--perfect for the target age group. I found myself chuckling along too! I've always wondered where my socks went when they disappeared..." ~ 5-Star review from A. MacLean, Amazon

"This is an adorable story with a wonderful message. I loved the illustrations, so colorful, every child will love these pictures and love this story. We all have lost socks in the washing machine and how cute to picture them talking to each other. I also loved the journey to Lincoln and how it didn't matter to him what color the socks were, his didn't match, a hidden message which you will have to read the story to find out what all that means. I hope to see many other wonderful sockkids adventures from Mr. Sullivan. I would give this more than 5 stars!" ~ 5-Star review from Cynthia A. Springsteen, Amazon

About The Authors

Michael John Sullivan is the creator of the SockKids. Constantly searching for his socks, he wondered whether the missing foot comforters had found another pair of feet to warm. Before his interest in socks, Sullivan started writing his first novel while homeless, riding a NYC subway train at night. Sullivan returned to his subway notes in 2007 and began writing Necessary Heartbreak: A Novel of Faith and Forgiveness(Simon & Schuster, Gallery Books imprint). Library Journal named Necessary Heartbreak one of the year’s best in 2010. His second novel, Everybody’s Daughter (Fiction Studio Books, 2012) was named one of the best books of 2012 by TheExaminer.com. Sullivan has written articles about the plight of homelessness for CNN.com, The Washington Post.com, Beliefnet.com, the Huffington Post, and America Online’s Patch.com service.

Susan Petrone’s short fiction has been published by Glimmer Train, Featherproof Books, The Cleveland Review, Muse, Conclave, and Whiskey Island. Her first novel, A Body at Rest, was published in 2009 (Drinian Press). Her short story, Monster Jones Wants to Creep You Out (Conclave,2010) was nominated for a 2011 Pushcart Prize. She also writes about her beloved Cleveland Indians at ItsPronouncedLajaway.com for ESPN.com’s SweetSpot network. In addition, she is a regular contributor to Cool Cleveland.com.

Book Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

The SockKids™ Meet Lincoln Blog Tour Schedule (2013)

November 5

Mother Daughter Book Reviews (Launch & Review)

November 6

Stitch Says (Character Interview)

Houseful of Chaos (Review)

November 7

No Doubt Learning (Review)

Unschooling Momma (Review)

November 8

Learning and Growing the Piwi Way (Review)

Books Direct (Author Interview)

November 9

K&A's Children's Book Reviews (Review)

Hazel Nutt's Toddler Talk (Review)

November 10

Football Food and Motherhood (Review)

The World of ContestPatti (Review)

November 11

Bookworm for Kids (Review)

November 12

Mommynificent (Review)

Adalinc to Life (Review)

November 13

Stitch Says (Review)

Diane Estrella - That's What I'm Here For (Review)

November 14

Giveaway Breaking News for Indonesia (Review)

November 15

Stanley and Katrina (Review)

For the Love of Books (Review)

November 16

Mel's Shelves (Review)

Brooke Blogs (Review)

November 17

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*** The SockKids™ Meet Lincoln Blog Tour Giveaway ***

Prizes: Three Grand Prize Winners will each receive a $25 Amazon gift card (or PayPal cash) + a SockKids t-shirt. There will also be three secondary prizes consisting of a SockKids t-shirt.
Contest runs: November 5 to December 2, 11:59 pm, 2013
Open: Worldwide
How to enter: Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. The Grand Prize winner and secondary winners will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winners will then have 72 hours to respond. If a 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 authors Michael John Sullivan and Susan Petrone 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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A Jill Robinson Adventure! Seaside Mystery Book Review

11/14/2013

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A Jill Robinson Adventure! Seaside Mystery
~Written by Anne Digby

Book Synopsis

A seaside holiday - and a thrilling mystery for Jill. What on earth is her brother Tony up to? Why is he being so secretive about his new friend Sam [getting on the wrong side of Dad in the process] - and why are they looking for the boy with a fringe? When Jill takes up the trail with best friend Lindy, it leads the girls straight into danger...

"Far better than the run-of-the-mill adventure story" - THE GOOD BOOK GUIDE TO CHILDREN'S BOOKS

As told to Anne Digby, author of the Trebizon books and the Further Adventures of Enid Blyton's Naughtiest Girl. (Amazon)

Book Review

Seaside Mystery takes readers on an exciting adventure where friendships are tested, clues are uncovered, and good prevails.

The Robinson family is going on a holiday in Westsea and Jill, Sarah, and Tony are anxious to spend time playing and relaxing seaside. Westsea isn't too far from their home so the kids decided to ride their bikes while their parents followed in the car. Tony rides on ahead arriving before anyone else, but when the rest of the family gets to Westsea Tony is nowhere to be found. Finally, returning around dinnertime, Tony has "lent" his bike to his new mysterious friend. The circumstances surrounding Tony's new friend are becoming more curious by the minute. At his wits end, Dad puts Jill in charge of keeping an eye on her brother and his suspicious activity, but what Jill uncovers is more than anyone is prepared for. Can Jill solve the mystery and help Tony and his new friend?

Seaside Mystery is a well written tale that will consume readers. I was completely taken by the adventure and was just as anxious as Jill to discover the truth. I liked how Jill stuck by her brother when others had given up. Reader's learn the importance of family, friendship, and helping others even if it seems that all hope is lost.

I highly recommend picking up Seaside Mystery. Available at Amazon.com.

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Haven of Dante Blog Tour & Book Giveaway

11/13/2013

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Meet Leonardo Ramirez, Author of Haven of Dante

Leonardo Ramirez is a husband, a father, a Karate instructor with a 2nd degree black belt, and a writer. His first graphic novel, Haven, (reviewed here) is a supernatural Young Adult story centered on an ancient war between the Dante family and the nine circles of hell. His follow up is a self-published children’s Steampunk book called The Jupiter Chronicles: The Secret of the Great Red Spot. It follows the adventure of two children as they are transported to the steam-powered cities of Jupiter, find their long-lost father, stop an attack from Mars, and witness the birth of Steampunk.

My heart and motive have always been for people who are hurting. These can be kids who have had to suffer through child abuse or neglect or an absent parent which can be equally torturous as was the case in The Jupiter Chronicles. It can also be young girls who have suffered an assault like Haven did in Haven of Dante. Young or old it doesn’t matter. Those are the kids and adults I want to speak to because I’ve been there.

It’s not just Science Fiction.

It’s Science Fiction for the Human Condition.

BBB: What inspired you to become a writer?

LR: It was my 2nd year of college when in my English course we were asked to write a short story as an assignment. The professor I had was not the easiest to please but she was kind enough. I was worried sick after turning it in because I just didn’t have the confidence to do the assignment even though I thoroughly enjoyed the process. When my paper was returned, the “review” was glowing! I was elated at the fact that I had finally found something that I could throw myself into and love!

Since then my inspiration has shifted from the praise of a wonderful guide. I can’t help to ponder deeply as to why we are who we are. What motivates us to treat others the way that we do. What drives us to do wrong is an easier question to answer than what drives us to do right. Do we do a good thing to be noticed or because it’s the right thing to do? I question everything in my heart of hearts. I’m finding more and more that I can play these questions out in prose while adding my two cents to the equation. I know it may sound as if the words in my books are plagued with deep constant nagging. To the contrary, there is action galore. I get bored rather easily so if there isn’t something happening with the next few paragraphs I’m closing the book. Behind the action there is always a looming question and more than not a simple answer.

BBB: How did you come up with the idea for your book, Haven of Dante?

LR: I was in the kitchen of our one-bedroom apartment at the time when I asked my wife, “what would you do if you were given the choice, at the point of death, of going into a beautiful paradise free of pain, want and sickness or return to this world where there is not only all of those things but an unresolved conflict with your father?” She looked up at me quizzically. “Do you think that would make a good book?”

“Nah,” she responded.

‘No’ to me is throwing gas on a fire. But I think she knew that. So off I went and added more to the story. The person would have to have every reason in the world not to come back and they would have to be forced into a decision which in most cases happens because of a family history. After a few hours of back and forth with my wife, Haven of Dante was born. I had originally written it as a prose novel but Markosia Enterprises had taken an interest in it as a graphic novel. Two years later Haven: The Graphic Novel was on the shelves in comic stores everywhere. The problem is that the comics/graphic novel market is a tough nut to crack so even though it received glowing reviews Haven was left as a one-shot.

Given the history of the Dante Family and the fact that there is so much more story to tell, I asked for the prose rights back from Markosia which they obliged.

We’ll see how the prose book does.

BBB: Tell us about your main character, Haven?

LR: She’s had a tumultuous relationship with her father because of his obsession with his work. She is unaware of the legacy that her family name carries and would have no interest in it if revealed to her. The confidence that she has comes as a result of her martial arts studies which she has done for years. She doesn’t understand why Beatrice (her mother) puts up with a dad who is never around. The money that they have represents the years of neglect imposed on her by her dad and she lets him know it. The love that she knows to give she learned to receive from her mother Beatrice. She has fears like the rest of us. But those fears are compounded by a horrific event just before the “choice” is given.

BBB: Without giving too much away, can you tell us a little bit about the Nine Circles?

LR: After Dante Alighieri left the realm of the nine circles unscathed, the demons therein were incensed. So incensed that they formed a common objective. . .to wipe out the infestation known as man. They named themselves, “The Aristocracy” and they have been causing every ill on the surface ever since. Each leader of the nine embodies the nature of that circle and with a willing host, becomes an enemy of the Dante family. With the ability to possess weak minded humans they have infiltrated every level of society including government, corporations, etc. They are patient in their quest and find a real opportunity with stolen technology from Dante Tech to bring their plan to fruition.

BBB: What do you think readers will remember most about Haven of Dante?

LR: My hope is that people will remember that no matter what mistakes she made, whatever anger she might be feeling (even warranted) and however alone she might have felt, that she can make good choices for herself.

If she will.

BBB: Are you currently working on another book?

LR: I’m currently working on the 2nd book in a Children’s Steampunk series titled, The Jupiter Chronicles, The Ice Orphan of Ganymede. The series as a whole tells of how Steampunk technology arrived on Earth and focuses on Ian and Callie Castillo whose father had been missing for five years. They travel to Jupiter on a steam ship to find a planet in tyranny.

Connect with the Author

Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
leonardoverse.com

Book Video Trailer and Synopsis

Haven Irena Dante, seventeen, struggles with a dysfunctional family. Her workaholic father is never there, but his absence is filled by a loving mother harboring the secret and mysterious past of their family. The Dantes are inheritors of a centuries old legacy stretching back to Dante Alighieri himself.

They fight to contain the nine circles of hell described in the classic literature "Dante's Inferno."

Today, the nine circles have infiltrated the world at every level, operating as a secret society known as "The Aristocracy." The only thing stopping The Aristocracy from world domination is the Dante family line.

Now its Haven's turn to carry that torch.

Combining literary fiction with fantasy, this action-packed young adult adventure races through dimensions of paranormal, science fiction, and the supernatural.

Join in Haven's adventure now! (Amazon)

Haven of Dante by Leonardo Ramirez
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