BLOG TOUR / REVIEW FOR - LIES JANE AUSTEN TOLD ME - BY JULIE WRIGHT

Welcome to my tour stop for this awesome book!

pic taken from blog tour info, description taken from shadowmountain.com

DESCRIPTION:

Ever since Emma read Pride and Prejudice, she’s been in love with Mr. Darcy and has regarded Jane Austen as the expert on all things romantic. So naturally when Emma falls for Blake Hampton and he invites her home to meet his parents, she is positive an engagement is in her future. After all, Blake is a single man in possession of a good fortune, and thus must be in want of a wife.



But when it turns out that what Blake actually wants is more of a hook-up than a honeymoon, Emma is hurt, betrayed, and furious. She throws herself deeper into her work as CMO of Kinetics, the fastest growing gym franchise in the nation. She loves her work, and she’s good at it, which is why she bristles when her boss brings in a consultant to help her spearhead the new facilities on the East Coast. Her frustration turns to shock when that consultant turns out to be Blake’s younger brother, Lucas.

Emma is determined not to fall for Lucas, but as she gets to know him, she realizes that Lucas is nothing like his brother. He is kind and attentive and spends his time and money caring for the less fortunate.



What she can’t understand is why Lucas continues to try to push her back into Blake’s arms when he so clearly has fallen as hard for her as she has fallen for him. It isn’t until Lucas reveals to Emma that he was adopted into the Hampton family that she begins to understand his loyalty to Blake as well as his devotion to the child April-she is Lucas’s biological niece.



Emma opens up to Lucas about the feelings of abandonment she has harbored ever since she was a child and her mother left the family. As she helps Lucas deal with his past demons, she is able to exorcise some of her own.



Realizing that her love life is as complicated as anything Jane Austen could have dreamed up, Emma must find a way to let Blake know that it’s time for him to let her go and to let Lucas know it’s time for him to love her back.

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

Again, Proper Romance hits it out of the ball park.  This was an absolutely delightful read.  I am in love with the cover.

While I was reading this I got a "While You Were Sleeping" feeling, which is wonderful, because that is my favorite movie of all time.

Let me start by saying that I love all things Proper Romance.  They are such amazing, clean, entertaining and well written books.  If you want to see more books in this series you can go here.  I have read every single one of them and each one has been amazing.  I mean, A MAY ZING!  This book is no different.

Emma thought she was in love with Blake Hampton.  A young, wealthy bachelor who chose her.  Emma was getting more responsibilities at work, that she had worked very hard for.  Blake invites Emma to his parents house for the weekend, but Emma doesn't feel like she can go.  She tells Blake she won't make it, but her team encourages her to have their work meeting, and then drive out to meet Blake and surprise him.

Emma's team is convinced it is going to be a marriage proposal.  When Emma showed up at the Hampton's Estate, it was she who got the surprise not Blake.  It was then Emma realized she loved Blake more than he loved her.  

While leaving the Hampton house Emma upset, and angry, she realizes she doesn't have a way to get back home.  When she stomps down the driveway, a car pulls up and asks if he can help.  When Emma realizes it's Blake's brother she doesn't want to have anything to do with him, but also realized she would never make it back home without his help.

Making it home, sad, disappointed, and hurt, Emma decides she is just going to focus all on work from now on.  

Then she gets put in charge of finding new locations for her business and they bring on someone new to help out.  Of course, you guessed it, Lucas Hampton.  Emma was NOT happy about the new companion she would have to deal with while trying to get over her ex.  Now she is expected to find new locations, and work with her exes brother.

A comedy of errors (okay maybe not comedic errors, but you'll get it) , and misunderstandings happen from that point on.  Emma loving Jane Austen so much has decided she lied about how men were, and was going to give up on them and break up with Austen.  Little by little she sees that her resolve is waining, and she is finding Lucas agreeable and easy to work with.

I don't want to say much more because I want you to go and read it for yourself.  The writing is beautiful.  I felt as though I was a fly on the wall whenever Emma was around.  I love it when a book pulls me in that way.  If you like Jane Austen, then you will love this book.  Like I said at the beginning it gave me a "While You Were Sleeping" feel, and it was FAN FREAKING TASTIC!

I took this book in all in one day, because that is how much this book grabbed me.  Forget dinners, kids, responsibilities, I mean who can deal with that kind of stuff when your in the throws of love, and hurt.  hehehe.  Okay, I wish I could say I was kidding about ignoring everyone and everything, but I am not.  That his just how much I loved this book.  Pick it up, you won't regret it!

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

MY RATING:

this book deserves my +1!

WHERE TO BUY:

  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from here

Julie Wright wrote her first book when she was fifteen, and has since written twenty-three novels. She has a husband, three kids, a dog, and a varying amount of fish, frogs, and salamanders (depending on attrition). She loves writing, reading, traveling, speaking at schools, hiking, playing with her kids, and watching her husband make dinner.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO:

for the opportunity to review this amazing book!

BLOG TOUR / REVIEW FOR: A IS FOR ADAM AN ALPHABET BOOK OF BIBLE HEROES - BY AUTHOR - HEIDI POELMAN & ILLUSTRATOR - MAGGIE COBURN

Welcome to my stop for this fun tour!

pic and description taken from cedarfort.com

DESCRIPTION:

Bring your favorite scriptural heroes to life with this fun family ABC book! Discover the amazing men and women God inspired to do great things in His name, from A for Adam to Z for Zacharias. Colorful and entertaining, this book is the perfect way to teach alphabet letters and Bible lessons at the same time!

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

I love children's books so much.  I don't have little kids anymore so when I get a chance to review them I jump at them.  I am building my "grandma" pile.  One day maybe ;).

This book is perfect for little ones you're trying to teach Bible stories to.  The illustrations are beautiful, and the stories are short and sweet.  I was always searching for books like this when I had little kids to entertain them during church, so this would be good for that as well.

I don't care what age I am,  it's always nice to remind myself of these important stories, and to teach them to my children.  I have two teenagers at home, and even reading it to them brought up questions and spiritual conversations.  That in itself is enough reason to go out and buy it :).

This is a sweet, very well illustrated book of Bible Heroes from A-Z!  Your little ones will enjoy it.  It's a great teaching tool.  I highly recommend this cute 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.

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

    

A SPECIAL THANKS TO:

 VISIT THESE OTHER TOUR SITES:

“A is for Adam” blog tour schedule:

10/16	Cute Everything
10/16	Rockin’ Book Reviews
10/17	Reading is My Passion
10/18	My Book a Day
10/18	TWishful Endings
10/18	Amanda Nicolle
10/19	I Am a Reader
10/19	Three Boys and An Old Lady
10/20	A.L. Sowards
10/20	Head Over Books
10/24	Brooklyn Berry Designs
10/24	Singing Librarian
10/24	Literary Time Out
10/24	Literary Time Out
10/24	A Bliss Complete

ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR:

Heidi Poelman is the author of A is for Abinadi: An Alphabet Book of Scripture Heroes, A Mother’s Greatest Gift, The Two-Minute Marriage Project: Simple Secrets for Staying in Love, and the upcoming books, I Can Love Like Jesus and A Is for Adam: An Alphabet Book of Scripture Heroes. Heidi received her degrees in communication from Brigham Young University (BA) and Wake Forest University (MA). She lives in Utah with her husband and three children.

Maggie Coburn loves drawing and storytelling. She has her BA in anthropology fromUC Santa Cruz (where she discovered the amazing art form that is scientific illustration), and her MFA in traditional illustration from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She lives with her husband and son in California.

Author Residence: Sandy, UT; Illustrator Residence: Encinco, CA

BOOK REVIEW FOR - SEEKING MANSFIELD - BY KATE WATSON

pic and description taken from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:

Sixteen-year-old Finley Price has perfected two things: how to direct a world-class production, and how to fly way, way under the radar. The only person who ever seems to notice Finley is her best friend, the Bertram's son Oliver. If she could just take Oliver's constant encouragement to heart and step out of the shadows, she'd finally chase her dream of joining the prestigious Mansfield Theater. 

When teen movie stars Emma and Harlan Crawford move next door to the Bertram's, they immediately set their sights on Oliver and his cunning sister, Juliette, shaking up Finley and Oliver's stable friendship. As Emma and Oliver grow closer, Harlan finds his attention shifting from Juliette to the quiet, enigmatic, and thoroughly unimpressed Finley. Out of boredom, Harlan decides to make her fall in love with him. Problem is, the harder he seeks to win her, the harder he falls for her. 

But Finley doesn't want to be won, and she doesn't want to see Oliver with anyone else. To claim Oliver's heart—and keep her own—she'll have to find the courage to do what she fears most: step into the spotlight.

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

Well, welcome to the writing world Ms. Watson!  Your debut novel is amazing, and has been a pleasure to read and review!  

Let's take a moment to visit the characters of this book.

Finely - has had a horribly hard life.  It started to look up when the Bertrams took her and her brother Liam in after their fathers death.  At first she is quiet and reserved, and only trusted the Bertram's son Oliver.

Liam - Finley's older brother who is on the search for a professional soccer team to play for.  He's kind, and compassionate.  He has a soft spot for his sister, and misses her terribly when he is gone.

Oliver - is yummy.  Right from the very beginning he is just yummy.  He cares for Finley like an over protective guard dog, but he is finding it harder and harder to fight his feelings for her.

Juliette - is Oliver's evil sister.  I don't think I have much more to say about her.  She's just evil.

Emma - teen movie star who moves in next door to the Bertram's.  Emma is not my favorite person.  She acts like a spoiled princess.  Of course she usually gets her way because she is famous.  She gets the "dislike" (in my eyes) because she has her eyes on Oliver.

Harlan - sounds like your typical teenage throb.  He's famous and he knows it.  He is known for all the shenanigans he puts on.  Let's just say Harlan is my least favorite person in this book.  He is a great guy to hate :).

Finley likes to be in the background.  She has only ever really trusted one person in her life and that is Oliver.  He constantly lifts her up, and watches over her.  Finley believes she might have feelings for Oliver other than friendship and then the Crawford's move in next door.  Ruining Finley's dreams of being with Oliver.

Oliver really likes Finely but doesn't quite know how to tell her.  Then a distraction in the name of Emma moves in next door to him, and he doesn't have to focus so much on Finley any more.  He is constantly concerned for her, but is able to put his feelings for her aside, as he seeks out a relationship with Emma.

Finley feels a little jaded over the whole thing, because now she is forced to spend more time with Harlan, who seems to always be around when Emma is around.  She loathes him.  She thinks he's superficial and arrogant.

Harlan decides he must win Finely over, and while doing so he volunteers to help her with her theater group, and volunteers for Oliver's passion called M.A.D.  While doing this Finley finds out there is more to Harlan than meets the eye.  Slowly he wiggles his way into her life, and Finely accepts him as he is. (which was a horrible idea...just FYI ;))

The relationships in this book are messed up :).  In a way you cannot put the book down because it's like a train wreck, you just cannot turn away.

I love the writing in this book.  I love the setting, and the characters.  They come to life with Watson's words.  You feel their joys and their pains.  It was like watching a movie while reading the book.  Fantastic.

There are so many wonderful things in this book.  Life lessons, acquired love and finding healing in the most unlikely places.  

This book was written by a good friend of one of my nieces.  I have been following her journey to see her dream come to life in this published novel.  If you like love stories, with amazing characters and writing, you will love this book.  Watson is a very talented writer and it has been fun to see her dreams become a reality.

Source:  I bought this book for myself.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

Content:  Clean and fantastic

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

  

ABOUT THE AMAZING AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from Goodreads

Kate Watson is a young adult writer, wife, mother of two, and the tenth of thirteen children. Originally from Canada, she attended college in the States and holds a BA in Philosophy from Brigham Young University. A lover of travel, speaking in accents, and experiencing new cultures, she has studied in Israel and lived in Brazil, the American South, and now calls Arizona home. 

Her first novel, SEEKING MANSFIELD, debuts in Spring 2017, with the companion novel to follow in 2018. She is also a contributor to Eric Smith's Welcome Home adoption anthology coming in 2017.

BLOG REVIEW / TOUR FOR - EVEN THIS - BY EMILY BELLE FREEMAN

Welcome to my stop on this blog tour!

pic and description taken from shadowmountain.com

DESCRIPTION:

Even This invites readers to make room for daily personal experiences with God. From the very first page readers will walk down a spiritual path meant to remind each of us that God will meet us in the unexpected, bringing His goodness, giving us cause to trust, reminding us of His capacity. Filled with deeply personal stories about holding onto belief, daring to trust, and longing for understanding, Even This chronicles one woman’s quest to find God in the everyday moments-with one of the most powerful experiences taking place as she searches for sea shells while walking on the beach-and provides many opportunities for individual introspection.

“Yes, God is good and He can be trusted,” Freeman concludes, “and it is the daily discovery of these truths that has the potential to become the greatest journey of a life and lead us closer to Him.”



Ultimately, the author hopes Even This will encourage and motivate readers to:

• Stop letting fear dictate the depth of your belief through simple daily reflections that will restore your confidence in God.
• Let go of your need to control by discovering what is holding you back from being completely vulnerable in your relationship with God.
• Diminish the power of doubt by coming to understand why the place of deepest asking is where the believing begins.
• Learn how to trust that God may have something entirely different in mind than you could ever anticipate–something better.

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

First off, look at the beauty of this cover.  It's just magical to me.  Second, this is a religious book written by and LDS Author.  Having said this, I think this book would be good for anyone who is trying to find a way to trust God.

When I was asked to review this I was excited.  I have to admit when I got the book in the mail, I was a little sad because I thought it was going to be a self-help book.  I don't like self-help books because they always feel like they are written for me and what I am doing wrong ;).

I am happy to say that this book did not feel like a self-help book at all.  It was written by a wife and mother who has faced her own struggles in life and questions "Why" and "Where is God".  We journey with this mother and the way she finds how to trust God, and his timing.

So many things in this book I feel were written just for me, but in a good way.  I think that no matter what religion you are it is important to find a relationship with God.  Whatever that may look like to you as an individual.  Sharing the same religion as the author though it did add a little more insight to things I can do to increase my faith and trust in God.

This book is beautifully written, and never made me feel as though I was doing something wrong.  Quite the opposite.  It helped me to see that another person has gone through hard times in her life and has also questioned "why" things are happening.  It helped me understand that God answers prayers on his own time, and not ours.  It was just beautiful.

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

A SPECIAL THANKS TO:

for allowing me to be part of this tour!

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

      

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from shadowmountain.com

EMILY BELLE FREEMAN is a coach’s wife, a mother to four children and a few others who have found refuge in her home, author of several bestselling books, and sought-after inspirational speaker. Her days are spent watching over teenagers, her flock of pampered chickens, and a rabbit that she adores. She finds great joy in studying the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Her deep love of the scriptures comes from a desire to find their application in everyday life. For a few minutes every day Emily forgets about the laundry, leaves the dishes in the sink, and writes. She coauthors a blog that is a stopping place for hearts seeking all that is good.

BLOG TOUR / REVIEW FOR - ALL THAT MAKES LIFE BRIGHT - BY JOSI S. KILPACK

Welcome to my stop on this awesome Tour!  I  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE The Proper Romance Books so, so much.  They are really my favorite.

pic and description taken from Shadowmountain.com

DESCRIPTION:

When Harriet Beecher marries Calvin Stowe on January 6, 1836, she is sure her future will be filled romance, eventually a family, and continued opportunities to develop as a writer. Her husband Calvin is completely supportive and said she must be a literary woman. Harriet’s sister, Catharine, worries she will lose her identity in marriage, but she is determined to preserve her independent spirit. Deeply religious, she strongly believes God has called her to fulfill the roles of wife and writer and will help her accomplish everything she was born to do.



Two months after her wedding Harriet discovers she is pregnant just as Calvin prepares to leave for a European business trip. Alone, Harriet is overwhelmed-being a wife has been harder than she thought and being an expectant mother feels like living another woman’s life. Knowing that part of Calvin still cherishes the memory of his first wife, Harriet begins to question her place in her husband’s heart and yearns for his return; his letters are no substitute for having him home. When Calvin returns, however, nothing seems to have turned out as planned.



Struggling to balance the demands of motherhood with her passion for writing and her desire to be a part of the social change in Ohio, Harriet works to build a life with her beloved Calvin despite differing temperaments and expectations.



Can their love endure, especially after “I do”? Can she recapture the first blush of new love and find the true beauty in her marriage?

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

I have so much love for the Proper Romance books, and this one is no exception.  Kilpack's writing makes me want to weep....in a good way.  She just grabs you right from the beginning, and brings you into the world of the books she writes.  The writing is beautiful.  The historical setting is awesome.  I just don't think I can say enough good things about this book.

I like that Kilpack has taken on writing about Historical Figures in a few of her novels, it just brings them to life for me.  This book especially.  I am embarrassed to admit this, but I didn't know anything about Harriet Beecher Stowe.  I have heard of her books, but I guess I just never connected the author to the person.  Does that make sense?

This book brought this amazing character right to my front room, while she lived her life in my head.  Harriet, is a talented and intellectual woman.  When she starts dating Calvin, he admits that her intellect is what endeared her to him.  Harriet found herself moving on to the world of being a wife.  She thought this would just make everything in her life just "that much" better.  

Harriet's sister Catherine did not see it that way.  She thought Harriet was wasting her life getting married just to be "ruled" by a man.  Catherine believed teaching and writing were what Harriet's true calling in life.

I could never have lived in these times when women seem to just be door mats.  I appreciated the fact that when Harriet first got married she didn't fall under the "typical" wife during that time.  Although she found herself struggling to meet the "requirements" of being a wife, and now, after only being married a few short months, a new mom.

As I journeyed with Harriet and her struggles, and triumphs I felt as though I was living her life.  That is how good Kilpack's writing is for me.  I felt her pain as she struggled to fulfill her duties to be a wife, writer, artist, and mother.  I felt her triumphs.  I felt her sadness.  

Harriet and Calvin's marriage is not an easy one, but it is one that is worth reading about.  I have to admit at the beginning I really disliked Calvin, but as the book goes on, I came to realize what a really wonderful man he was.  It just took him some time to figure it out as well.

If you like historical romances with historical figures :)....you will love this book.  Kilpack is an amazing writer.  Her stories play out as movies while I read them.  I yell, cry, and walk away with frustration at times, because that is how "real" her characters become to me.  Such a great book.

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.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO:

for allowing me to be part of this amazing tour.

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

      

ABOUT THE AMAZING AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from shadowmountain.com

Josi S. Kilpack began her first novel in 1998. Her seventh novel, Sheep’s Clothing, won the 2007 Whitney Award for Mystery/Suspense. Rocky Road is Josi’s nineteenth novel and the tenth book in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series. Josi currently lives in Willard, Utah, with her husband and children. 

BLOG TOUR / REVIEW FOR - MUSTACHES FOR MADDIE - BY CHAD MORRIS AND SHELLY BROWN

Welcome to my stop for this sweet book!!

pic and description taken from shadowmountain.com

DESCRIPTION:

Based on a true story.

Maddie is a normal twelve-year-old girl. Well, except for the fake mustaches she carries in her pocket. She likes to make people laugh and slapping on a mustache, especially a fuzzy pink or neon green one, always gets a smile. Maddie hopes that the class queen, Cassie, will find her mustaches as funny as she does and want to play with her at recess. She’s been self-conscious lately because her right arm only feels normal when it’s curled against her chest and she’s constantly tripping over her feet. But that’s probably just part of growing up and not something weird, right?

When Maddie’s arm continues to bother her, her parents take her to a doctor who gives them a shocking diagnosis: the cause of the abnormal behavior of her limbs is a brain tumor and she must have surgery to remove it. She’s understandably afraid as he describes the procedure, but knows she must find a way to be brave and must face her fears–all of them–at the hospital, at home and at school.

She will need all of her courage not only to face her illness, but also to face Cassie at school. Both Cassie and Maddie are auditioning for the same role in the school play, but when Cassie accuses Maddie of lying about her tumor in order to get attention, Cassie’s bossiness turns into bullying.  And as Maddie’s surgery approaches, she begins to worry more and more about the outcome. What if something goes wrong? What if the doctors don’t get all the tumor out of her brain? What will happen to her family? What will happen to her?

It will take all of Maddie’s vibrant imagination, a lot of kindness-both given and received-and of course, the perfect mustache to overcome the tough stuff ahead of her.”

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

Get your tissues ready, because you are going to need them for this sweet book.  This book is told from Maddie's POV, and Maddie is only 12.  It's so sweet and innocent, that it brought more tears to my eyes.

Maddie is in 6th grade and is trying to fit in with everyone.  Like every sixth grader.  The class Queen is Cassie.  Cassie decides each day who gets to "walk" with her and be part of her group each day.  Maddie wants to be included so bad.

Maddie places a mustache on  her face as they are walking out to recesses and gets a laugh from all the girls, and in so doing wins a place at Cassie's side during that recess.  Lexi however is not quite so lucky.  Everyone gets picked except her.  Maddie in her mind thinks that is a bad idea, but is too afraid to stand up to Cassie and tell her that Lexi should be invited as well.

Cassie decides who can try out for what part in their plays coming up.  When turning in the papers, Maddie changes her at the last minute.  

In the mean time, Maddie's arm is acting up again.  Her fingers like to curl and her arm likes to hang in a funny position.  Her parents are concerned and call the Dr to get her in as soon as possible.

This is when Maddie's life changes forever.  Going through this journey with Maddie is both delightful, and heart wrenching.  This sweet little girl is faced with some devastating news, and yet she still tries to make every one else happy.  All that is except Cassie.  Well, she tries, but Cassie thinks that Maddie has made up her illness just to get attention.

There is a part in this book where Maddie writes a letter to her parents, and all the feels come out.  I thought I was doing well, until the letter.  Looking at Maddie's illness through her eyes, is well, eye opening.  She is scared of course but more than anything she wants everyone to know that she loves them.

I was blown away by how sweet this little girl is.  How brave she is, and how compassionate she is.  I don't know many 12 yr olds who would be worrying about others when going through what she is going through.  Maddie is a shining light in the world.   

Maddie's kindness has spread further than she can imagine.  When she sees how the world and her classmates have responded her heart is touch and she decides that even people like Cassie need to know they are cared for.

I need to take a page from Maddie's book and focus on being more caring and compassionate to others.  Especially those that I don't feel deserve it.  It's not up to me to decide.  I wish I had the innocence of this sweet 12 yr old girl.  She makes me want to be a better person.

Pick this one up!  I promise you won't regret it.  Maybe read it with your kids or as a family.  It is based on a true story, which makes it even more poignant.  It touches your heart strings, and makes you weep for the sweetness, and compassion Maddie has.  The world needs more Maddie's in it.

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

MY RATING:

This one deserves the +1!!!

A SPECIAL THANKS TO:

for the opportunity to be part of this sweet blog tour!

WHERE TO PRE-ORDER:

Releases October 3, 2017

      

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

pics and bios taken from shadowmountain.com

Chad Morris would love to be able to control animal avatars, see history in 3D, and show everyone how he imagines stories. Since the inventions that would make that possible currently exist only in his imagination, he settles for reading, writing, playing basketball, rappelling down an occasional slot canyon, dating his wife, and hanging out with his five awesome kids. Chad speaks Portuguese, can play the Phineas and Ferb theme song on the guitar, and does decent impressions of a velociraptor and Voldemort—but not at the same time. He isn’t very good at fixing his car, shopping for anything, cooking, or growing hair.

Shelly has always loved children and books so when she started writing, it seemed natural to write books for children. In her spare time, she loves the theater and traveling. She is also one of the worst tap dancers you will ever meet, but she does it anyway. In addition to her five children, she has three chickens and sixty-four Pez dispensers.