BLOG TOUR / REVIEW FOR - WHEN MOMMY'S HOME WITH ME - BY ALISON MOULTON

pic and description taken from Cedar Fort Publishing

Welcome to my tour stop for this sweet book hosted by:

DESCRIPTION:

With rollicking rhymes and fanciful images, this adorable picture book celebrates the special relationship between mothers and their children. Filled with stories of all kinds of mommies-like pilots and artists and scientists-this book shows how modern mothers still treasure that precious time spent together at home. A perfect book for moms and kids to enjoy this Mother’s Day or any time of the year!

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

I love children's books so much.  I don't have little kids to read to any more, but I hopefully will be a grandma one day, and have tons of nieces and nephew that I can share them with.  I love to have them, they just make me happy.  This book is no exception!

The book is such a sweet story about Moms spending time with their kids when they are home from work, or stay at home moms.  It made me stop and think that about how much quality time I am spending with my kids.  I have always been a stay at home mom, but sometimes we don't actually spend "quality" time together.  I admire so much those moms out there that work and still take those sweet moments with their kids. It's so important.

It reads so sweet, with rhymes, and beautiful illustrations. This would be a sweet gift for Mother's day.  If you're like me and don't have Littles it would still be a sweet gift!!!!  I treasure children's books with their sweet, simple messages for life lessons, and love to share them with kids that come to my house.

I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful book.

Source:  I was given this book as part of a tour.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

    

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and description taken from Amazon.com

Alison loves words. Her favorite word is lollygag. Her least favorite word is laundry. She likes to wrangle stray words into poems, stories, and songs. Alison has worked in several interesting jobs, but her favorite has always been mothering. She loves being at home with her husband and 5 children and feels blessed to count 20 girls as former foster daughters. Alison studied Human Development and English at Brigham Young University and Brigham Young University-Idaho. 

She is an amazing mom…at least once a day. The rest of the time, she's lucky to stay sane. Check out her website at onceadayamazing.com to find ways to be amazing once a day.

BLOG TOUR AND REVIEW FOR - AN UNSEEN ANGEL - BY ALISSA PARKER

Thanks for stopping by for my stop of this wonderful tour hosted by:

pic and description taken from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:

As the mother of one of the children who died at Sandy Hook school in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, Alissa Parker had her world shattered by a mass murderer's rampage. She was left to make sense of her daughter's life and death and to rebuild, seeking a deeply spiritual path to carry on with her life and find new meaning and purpose.

As a co-founder of SafeandSoundSchools.org, a touring national advocacy group that helps people take action to make schools safer, Alissa has talked to hundreds of parents around the country about her ordeal and how she was able to endure the unspeakable horror of Sandy Hook.

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

I have been trying to put my words on paper about this book.  Then I decided there are no words that would adequately express how much this book touched my heart.

I had a chance to hear Alissa talk about her tragedy in person.  It was just as hard to put into words then how I felt as it is now after reading the book.

I am also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Her stories inspired me, and touched me so deeply and still do.  It wasn't until I finished reading her book, that I realized it doesn't matter what religion, background and color etc. we may be, this book is inspiring.  It teaches about love, healing, and finding our way though tragedy.   Every one will experience some kind of tragedy, at some point in their life.  Whether little or big.  What this book teaches, is how to go about healing after the tradegy without becoming bitter.

I cannot imagine what Alissa and her husband Robbie and family went through on that fateful day, and still do.  Yet she has found a way to be happy and find healing in the simple things in life.  She has found a way to connect with her sweet child that is no longer with her physically on this earth, but is still very much with her.

I cannot tell you how emotional this book made me either.  This is hands down one of my biggest fears every day as a mother.  When I send my kids off to school every day, and have actually gone through some shut downs at school because of kids who make bad choices.  I cannot fathom a life without my children in it.  Yet, I see through this book, and through my own faith that we are never really separated.  Though we may not always be together physically, we will always be together.

If you are suffering with loss in any way, please take a moment to read this book.  It doesn't take long.  It is powerful, and uplifting.  It is inspiring.  Although the reason for this book is horribly tragic, the words written on the paper and the sweet pictures included, far out weigh the tragedy.

I cannot thank Alissa enough for being willing to put her thoughts into words to inspire others.  This book has changed my life.  It has given me a greater understanding of life after death.  It has increased my faith, and understanding of the importance of always treasuring those moments with our kids while they have been placed in our possession on this earth.

I could go on an on about how much this book has touched and inspired me, so I hope you take the opportunity to experience it for yourself.  You will not regret it.  The sweet feeling of peace that came over me while reading it, I hope will stay with me for a very long time.

Source:  I was given this book as part of a blog tour.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

    

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and description taken from Shadow Mountain Publishing

Alissa grew up in Ogden, Utah the youngest of five children. She graduated from Weber State University and there married her high school sweet heart, Robbie. They are the proud parents of three beautiful girls; Emilie (who passed away at age 6), Madeline (8) and Samantha (6). Alissa currently resides in a small town outside of Vancouver, Washington with her family and their four chickens. Alissa is an avid photographer, crafter, reader and amateur gardener. After her daughter Emilie was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary, Alissa co-founded two non-profit organizations; Safe and Sound Schools which empowers parents and educators about school safety and The Emilie Parker Art Connection that helps fund and support art programs for children. But the job that means the most to Alissa is being a full time mom to her daughters.

BLOG TOUR AND REVIEW FOR - THE VICAR'S DAUGHTER - BY JOSI S. KILPACK

Welcome to my stop on this tour.  I am excited to share my thoughts with you on this book!

pic taken from Amazon description taken from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:

Cassie, the youngest of six daughters in the Wilton family, is bold, bright, and ready to enter society. There's only one problem: her older sister Lenora, whose extreme shyness prevents her from attending many social events. Lenora is now entering her third season, and since their father has decreed that only one Wilton girl can be out at a time, Cassie has no choice except to wait her turn.

Evan Glenside, a soft-spoken, East London clerk, has just been named his great-uncle's heir and, though he is eager to learn all that will be required of him, he struggles to feel accepted in a new town and in his new position.

A chance meeting between Evan and Lenora promises to change everything, but when Lenora proves too shy to pursue the relationship, Cassie begins to write Mr. Glenside letters in the name of her sister. Her good intentions lead to disaster when Cassie realizes she is falling in love with Evan. But then Evan begins to court Lenora, thinking she is the author of the letters.

As secrets are revealed, the hearts of Cassie, Evan, and Lenora are tested. Will the final letter sent by the vicar's daughter be able to reunite the sisters as well as unite Evan with his true love?

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

I love me some Proper Romance Books.  I love them.  I haven't read one yet that hasn't been wonderful.  Kilpack does it again with another great novel.

Historical romances are probably one of my favorite genre's.  This story is so sweet, and so frustrating all at the same time.  Which makes it a wonderful read.  I couldn't put this book down.  

Cassie is dying to be out in society, but she has to wait for her older sister to find a match.  Lenora, is quiet, scared, and not good in social situations.  Cassie on the other hand is out going, connects well with people, and is ready to be out and available to date.  Tradition is tradition though, and Cassie's parents are all about tradition.

A new man is in town though, and he is new to the whole high society thing.  He has become heir to his Great-Uncles fortune because he is the only surviving heir to take over.  While he is trying to become acquainted with the high life he takes a breather at one of the balls.  

While taking his break he hears someone else come up, and hears her crying so Evan tries not to intrude, but wants to offer a neckerchief to her.  When doing so he meets Lenora.  It's a just a quick meet but enough to peak an interest.

Cassie, sees an opportunity, and takes it.  If she can get Lenora married she can finally come out in society and start a family of her own.

What Cassie does, is out of love for her sister, even if it is a bit deceitful.  This is when the story gets really interesting.

There is a love story, along with some impropriety and deceit.  It makes for an interesting story.  It's the first time this little town has really seen any kind of scandal.

If you like historical romances you will enjoy this book.  I hope you take a chance to read it.

Source:  I was given this book as part of a tour.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

Content:  Clean and wonderful

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

    

  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and description taken from www.josiskilpack.com

Josi S. Kilpack hated to read until her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond when she was 13. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and credits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began writing her first novel in 1998 and has written twenty-five novels, one cookbook, and been part of multiple collaborations since then. She is a four-time Whitney Award winner and Best of State winner in Fiction.  Josi currently lives in Willard, Utah, with her husband and children.

When Kensington Press picked up her first national women's fiction novel, As Wide as the Sky, Josi was in need of a pen name to differentiate between her other genres. For years, Josi has bee called Jessica Pack by people who hear her name but don't know her, it made her new pen name easy to choose. As Wide as the Sky will be released in paperback sometime in 2018.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Shadow Mountain for this wonderful opportunity!