My Love for Reading Keeps Growing

Sunday, April 26, 2015

MINI CHILDREN REVIEWS FOR - IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN HUNGARY, AND SCOTLAND - BY CAROLE P. ROMAN

pic and description taken from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:

Welcome to Hungary! Join Carole P. Roman and learn about this beautiful country in Central Europe. Packed with colorful illustrations, children will learn about the sights, currency, food, and even a few Hungarian words. This critically acclaimed series has been embraced by children, parents, and educators. Deceptively simple, it is jam packed with a vast array of information to ignite any child's interest in the world around them.

MY MINI REVIEW/ THOUGHTS:

Carole P. Roman, has a great way of sharing the world with children. In these fun books about different countries, we get to learn fun facts about the country.

I love that these books show simple little things, like what you would call your mom and dad. What they call "school". Little things that kids can learn about different countries and cultures.

I love sharing new cultures, and facts with my kids. I want them to understand the importance of all people and the unique backgrounds they may come from.

Source: I was given this book by the author in return for an honest review. This did not influence my review in any way. I was not compensated in any way for this review. These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

REVIEW #2

pic and description taken from Goodreads:

DESCRIPTION:

Ms. Roman has a wonderful way of introducing younger children and there parents to different countries and this book about Scotland is excellent.

We learn that Scotland occupies about a third of the island of Great Britain and is made up of more the 790 islands.

Since Edinburgh is the capital, many people live, work and go to the university there where they can learn about medicine, law, engineering and science.

Children call their mothers, Mathair and there fathers, Daddah. Some of the more common boy’s names are Ian, Connor or Malcom. Girl’s common names are Kelsey, Margaret and Aillen.

Many people who visit take a trip to Loch Ness, a large freshwater lake in the Scottish Highlands. Some people claim to have seen Nessee a large dinosaur but nobody has even seen a picture of her so they are not sure if she is even there.

Like here golf is a favorite sport and played on a large open field. Of course the idea of the game is the same, to get a small hard ball into a tiny hole with as few strokes as possible.

After learning some of these interesting facts my family definitely would like to visit Scotland, wouldn’t you?.

MY MINI REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

Again, I love these stories. I love learning about new countries and cultures myself, so they were fun for me to share with my kids.

I love how they teach little facts about what their money is called, what they would call their grandparents. Little think like that, that could help connect a child to a friend who might be from another country.

I love that she brings the world to life. The illustrations are fun, and it's a great way to share the world with kids.

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from Goodreads

Award winning author Carole P. Roman is a former teacher turned businesswoman. She has successfully run a family business with her husband that employs close to five hundred people. Her most favorite job is being grandmother to her many grandchildren. Roman has two wonderful sons and hit the jackpot in the daughter-in-law department. She currently lives on Long Island with her husband.

Her first book, Captain No Beard - An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life has been named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012 as well garnered the star of remarkable merit. It was named in the Pinnacle Award for Best in Children's Fiction 2012. Captain No Beard has developed in a series of 6 more books. She is the author of the best selling book, I Want To Do Yoga Too. Currently, she is working on her educational series that explores different cultures from a child's point of view. If You Were Me and Lived in...Mexico, received the Pinnacle Award for Best in Children's non-fiction 2012. If You Were Me and Lived in...Kenya received 5 Stars from the ForeWord Clarion Review. She just completed Russia with the help of her five year old grandson and loved every minute of it.

BOOK AWARDS
Captain No Beard An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate’s Life
Star of Remarkable Merit
Kirkus Reviews Best of 2012
NABE Pinnacle Award 2013
ERIK Award 2013
NABE Pinnacle Award 2013
Best in Children’s nonFiction
If You Were Me and Lived in...Mexico
Pepper Parrot’s Problem with Patience
5 Stars ForeWord Review Clarion Review
If You Were Me and Lived in...Kenya
5 Stars ForeWord Review Clarion Review
Rebecca’s Reads Readers Choice Awards 2013
Childrens Books
2nd Place Strangers on the High Seas
Creative Non Fiction
If You Were Me and Lived in...Norway
General Non Fiction
If You Were Me and Lived in...France
Readers Views Literary Award 2013
Children Toddlers -5
1st Place Strangers on the High Seas
Honorable Mention
If You Were Me and Lived in...South Korea
Readers Views Kids Award for Best Children’s Book of the Year
Strangers on the High Seas

Saturday, April 25, 2015

CHIDLREN'S BOOK REVIEWS FOR - FRIBBET THE FROG AND THE TADPOLES & A FLAG FOR THE FLYING DRAGON - BY CAROLE P. ROMAN

pic and description taken from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:

Fribbet the Frog and the Tadpoles is another great voyage into problem solving and friendship, as well as an adventurous trip into the imagination.

Join the Captain No Beard and his friends as they learn the value of sharing our troubles with others and that help is always there when we need it.

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

I have had the pleasure to review many of Carole P. Roman's books. These books are so sweet, and always have a good message with them. The illustrations are magnificent, and so much fun for kids.

In this book we learn how to share problems with friends, and the importance of family. I love these sweet books. I love that each one comes with some kind of lesson for kids. I love the imagination that goes on in Captain No Beard's head.

If you have kids and they like pirates this would be a fun series to share with them. Not only do they go on adventures, but they learn valuable lessons as well.

Source: I was given this book by the author in return for an honest review, which did not influence my review at all. I was not compensated in any way for this review. These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

REVIEW #2

pic and description taken from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:

It's business as usual on the Flying Dragon. Their mission is to find a flag for the ship. Captain No Beard sighs, "Being a captain is hard work," as he watches the busy crew preparing the vessel for their next adventure.

Polly is giving out pretzels; Linus is polishing a lamp. Matie is cracking coconuts, Cayla is stuffing holes, and Hallie is swabbing the deck. High overhead, trouble is brewing, and it is not the weather.

Mongo does not want any help from the newest crew member, and it is creating a hurricane of a mess on board.

The team must come together and find a task that will fit Zachary without interfering with their own fun. On the way, they acquire a flag that will unite them as both friends and crew.

Join the problem-solving crew of the Flying Dragon as they find a flag for their ship and a job for Zach.

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

Again, another sweet story by Carole P. Roman. In this installment we learn the importance of including everyone.

Like I have stated previously, I love these sweet books. They are so great for kids. I love the illustrations. I love the imagination that goes on in the stories.

This book teaches us about coming together, working as a team, and including everyone. Such great lessons for kids to learn now.

I love children's books. They are always so sweet, and so much fun to read. I have big kids now, so they kind of laugh at me when I am reading children's books, but I don't care. I love the feeling they give me while reading. Helps me remember why I love children so much. Makes me wish my kids were little again. (for a minute ;) ).

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from Goodreads

Friday, April 24, 2015

BOOK LAUNCH FOR - THE TRUTH ABOUT HOPE - BY KATE JAMES

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

We're launching the BOOK TOUR for

The Truth About Hope

By Kate James

Can Hope help her hometown that holds long grudges and possibly find love with her old high school sweetheart along the way? Come along on the tour to get to know a little more about

Tour Schedule:
April 24th - Launch
April 26th - Word Wranglers & Write & Rewrite
April 27th - Underneath the Covers
April 28th - Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima
April 29th - Zerina Blossom's Books
April 30th - I Am A Reader
May 1st - Katie's Clean Book Collection & Copyright1985
May 3rd - My Love for Reading Keeps Growing
May 4th - i blog 4 books & Rockin' Book Reviews
May 5th - The Written Adventure & Write from the Heart
May 6th - Deal Sharing Aunt & Bookworm Lisa
May 7th - Getting Your Read On
May 8th - Grand Finale

More About The Truth About Hope and Author Kate James

What is your motivation behind this book? Why did you want to write it?

My motivation behind all my books is to entertain readers with stories that they hopefully find engaging, unpredictable, and morally and emotionally satisfying.

The idea for this book arose partially from my respect for Hope’s real-life counterparts—people who care for, rehabilitate and locate forever homes for the animals that find their way into shelters.

What do you hope readers take with them when they read your book?

I would like readers to feel good about the story’s conclusion, and believe that no matter what hardships we may face, we can overcome them with faith, perseverance and—of course—love!

Do you have a favorite scene?

One of my favorite scenes is when Hope and Luke meet unexpectedly outside a pet food store after her return to her hometown of Canyon Creek.

Share something about you that is unique.

I wanted to write from a relatively young age, but a family tragedy, school and career intervened. A few years ago, my ever-intuitive husband realized that writing was—or could be—something important to me, and he gifted me a personal laptop for my birthday. While outwardly appreciative, in my mind I was wondering why I needed another laptop, when I had a perfectly good one from work that was constantly with me. Clearly my husband knew better than me, because having a separate computer that I didn’t associate with my essentially 24/7 day job was pivotal. That gift ultimately resulted in my first publishing contract and, two years later, my decision to step down from a full-time CEO role (that I enjoyed and found rewarding) to pursue writing as a career. I owe a debt of gratitude to all my readers for enabling me to fulfil my dream of writing!

The Truth About Hope

by Kate James

Adult Contemporary Romance

May 1st 2015 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Who is Hope Wilson?

Is she the girl her former hometown thinks she is? Or the girl Luke Carter once loved—and maybe still does?

When Hope returns to Canyon Creek, Texas, to honor her
father’s last wishes, there’s only one person on her mind: her high school sweetheart, Luke. The boy she lied to when she had to leave Canyon Creek as a teen, finding it easier to hide what she really felt than deal with the grief of loss. Her father’s fortune could make a big difference to Canyon Creek—but Hope finds that the townspeople have a long memory about his misdeeds. With a plan to make amends on his behalf, Hope learns the truth about herself. And the truth about love.

Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Harlequin

Kate James spent eight years of her childhood living in foreign countries as her professional parents travelled on business. She lived in four countries and spoke five languages before settling down in Canada again to attend university. After graduating with a degree in civil engineering, she held a variety of positions in the field of real estate development and operations, and ran three substantial organizations. While her writing during this period was mostly business related, including presentations and speeches she delivered both nationally and internationally, her passion is and always has been fiction.

Kate's business and personal experiences enable her to write fiction with a deep, often first-hand knowledge of what she is writing about. This approach makes Kate's stories richer and more vivid.

Kate’s goal is to entertain you with well-written, engaging stories, set in intriguing places and with strong, likeable characters. “I hope my stories bring you pleasure and entertain you. Nothing pleases me more than receiving feedback from people who have chosen to spend their valuable leisure time with one of my books,” notes Kate.

Kate married her husband, Ken, in an elegant, ocean-front wedding on a tropical island. When they are not traveling, they split their time between their properties in southern and central Ontario in Canada.

Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter

Tour Giveaway

$30 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
5 Print Copies of The Truth About Hope (US/CAN Only)
1 ebook of The Truth About Hope (INT)

Ends May 15th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW - RUIN AND RISING - BY LEIGH BARDUGO

pic and description taken from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:

The capital has fallen.

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

*** may be spoilers because this is book 3 of the series ***

I have been holding off finishing this book for a while now. This might sound silly but when I am reading a series, it is hard for me to finish. I am the type of person that if the series doesn't end well, it makes me dislike the whole series. It ruins it for me. So, I have loved this series so far and knew this was the end, and I was nervous. I started reading and was like "WHAT"..... I already didn't like what was happening so I took my time picking it up again. Thankfully this book did NOT disappoint! I am soooo glad!

This series got better and better with each book. I love that. I love, love, love the world that Bardugo built. I love that she has a map at the beginning of the each book so that you can see where they are going. I was lost in this world for three wonderful books.

The characters in this book are so fantastic. From the MC to the side characters. Each one had a place in the book, and each one was brought to life for me. I cannot tell you how much I love that. When I can connect to the MC it's awesome, but when the author connects me to ALL their characters the reading experience is heightened and it brings it more to life for me.

The struggle that Alina went though to take down the Darkling was fantastic. I loved that the two characters could connect step into each others minds. This book really brought to light just how "DARK" the Darkling was. He was just a sad, power hungry man. He was a fantastically, tortured character that Bardugo brought to life. There has to be someone in a book you love to hate!

This is the part that had me thinking I might not like the ending....Nikolai. I loved his character. He was so funny, and wanted to do the right thing.....and he loved Alina. No...No...No... She had to be with one man! Mal. Although I loved Nikolai in this book, and loved how he wanted to protect Alina, he was not the man for her...in my opinion :). I did love their mutual respect for each other, and the banter they had between them, and I loved him as a character. I just didn't love him as Alina's love interest. Which brings me to Mal.

Mal. Yum. Okay, so I picture a dirty man who likes to get down and dirty to find what he is looking for...but Yum. I loved him from the minute he was introduced in the book. He is such a great character. He is kind, loyal, funny, and just plain yummy. He was so tortured throughout this book with his love for Alina. Ugh, why do authors have to make the journey between two people so dang miserable sometimes...hehe. Kidding. It was wonderful. I hated that they were not together and always felt like "they couldn't" be together, but I held out hope that the would come to their senses, suck it up and realize they have to be together. Thank you Bardugo. I don't think I could have handled it if they did not end up together.

I was terribly worried at the end, but it all worked out for the best. I could go on and on, because I am sad that this is done. I loved this series. It was so much fun to read. The battles were awesome. Their powers were fantastic. The writing was A MAY ZING!

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.

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from Goodreads

Leigh Bardugo is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Grisha Trilogy (Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising).

She was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University, and has worked in advertising, journalism, and most recently, makeup and special effects. These days, she’s lives and writes in Hollywood where she can occasionally be heard singing with her band. Her new book, Six of Crows, arrives fall 2015.

She would be delighted if you followed her on Twitter, elated if you visited her web site, and downright giddy if you liked Shadow & Bone on Facebook.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

REVIEW - ROUGH EDGES - BY KIMBERLY KREY

pic and description taken from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:

Divorced mother, Allie Emerson, never imagined she’d be raising two teenage girls on her own. Between parenting and paying the bills, she hasn’t even thought about meeting a man. That changes once she hears local carpenter, Braden Fox, is in need of a secretary. Back in high school, Allie had done all she could to deny the sparks burning between her and Braden; but would the chemistry still be there after all this time?

Braden has heard all about what Terrance did to Allie and the girls, has been planning to stop by and see how she’s getting along, but Allie beats him to it by showing up at his shop in search of a job. Her unexpected visit reignites the old flame Braden used to torch for her; trouble is, old feelings of resentment return as well. Allie did choose Terrance over him, after all. And as much as Braden wants Allie in his life, he’s not sure he can open his heart to her again.

With this second chance at romance, will the
bumps in their relationship be too much to get over,
or will this carpenter learn to smooth out the past?

MY REVIEW / THOUGHTS:

Can I just say YUMMY. This book was such a good, sweet, clean romance. I love Krey's writing. She makes such awesome swoon worthy men. There is something about a cowboy, and a carpenter to boot that is just, well, yummy :).

Allie is divorced and looking for a new job. When Allie finds out that long time friend Braden is in search of a secretary. Braden wasn't aware he was looking for a secretary though. Braden's sister told Allie's mom that he needed a secretary. It's the beginning of an awesome love story.

Braden and Allie had sparks back in high school, but one of Allie's friends had called "dibs" on Braden. First off, I think this is the dumbest thing ever. I thought it when I was in High School and now that I have and had a High Schooler I still think it is the dumbest thing ever. You cannot call "dibs" on a persons feelings. You just can't. Okay, enough of the personal pet peeve :).

The chemistry between Braden and Allie was automatic. I loved that they had been friends for years, but that he kept his distance from her while she was married. Not because he wanted to, but because it tortured him to see her with his "best" friend, or any other man for that matter. He loved her in High School, and now that she was back in his life, he has realized he never quit.

I am not an insta love fan, but this was not insta love. They had known each other for years. They took their relationship slowly, even though feelings from old were still there.

Allie's ex-husband is a jerk. Thankfully he was only in the book for a very short period of time, other than memories. I don't think I could have handled more of him.

I love how the Allie's girls were part of the story. Sometimes in romance novels when people have kids they get forgotten when the love story develops. I am so glad this one did not do that. In fact Braden's interest in the girls made him even more swoon worthy to me :).

If you are looking for a sweet, clean, romance this is just the right book for you. When I was almost done my daughter came out and wanted to watch a movie. I told her I already was. She just looked at me funny. This story came alive for me, because Krey's descriptions of Allie and Braden's encounters were just that good! Mmm...mmm...good :).

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.

MY RATING:

WHERE TO BUY:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

pic and bio taken from Goodreads

I'm a writer of contemporary clean romance, a lover of home, family, & friends, & the ultimate hater of laundry.

A few of my favorite things: Diet Coke, Cafe Rio, and novels by Marcia Lynn McClure.

I do not go anywhere without: SoftLips Chapstick and Altoids Smalls.