Reading Authors: April 2014

Saturday, April 26, 2014

#Sponsored #Giveaway: Whaley's Big Adventure Book by Alexander Luke & Inflatable Whale

I love when kids take the initiative to read and draw their own books. Alexander just happened to get his published! I reviewed his book awhile back. You can find that review HERE.

Young author and illustrator, Alexander Luke has written an adorable book, Whaley's Big Adventure. Get this, he is only 5 years old and his book has several 5 star reviews! Wow!

Join Whaley on his big adventure in the ocean as he meets Whales of all different sizes. Written by 5 year old Alexander Luke, and presented by his grandmother, award-winning children's author Carole P. Roman, this oceanic adventure of whale-sized proportions will teach youngsters about the different whales that live in the oceans.

Alexander Luke, along with his grandmother, are wanting "Whaley" to find adventure in your home. They are giving away a copy of his book and an inflatable whale to one lucky winner! Wow! Follow the Whaley's fishy friends and join in the adventure below!

Disclosure: This giveaway is arranged by Away We Go Media on behalf of Alexander Luke & Carole P. Roman who is responsible for the giveaway. Naila Moon of Once Upon A Time was asked to help promote this giveaway and was compensated for this post.
The winner will be selected at random by Rafflecopter.
The giveaway is open US only.
Giveaway begins on April 27th at 12AM MST through May 13th at 12AM MST.

NOTE: Winner must do the first mandatory entry which is to submit full name and address or you will be ineligible to win. However, this sole entry will not constitute a win for you. This information will only be seen by Away We Go Media moderator and not used for any other reason than this giveaway.

This giveaway is in no way affiliated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or any other social media outlet.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Giveaway: I Want To Do Yoga Too by Carole P. Roman & Kid's yoga mat

I have read and reviewed this cute book by Carole P. Roman. You can read that review HERE.

Do you exercise in any form? Do you play or imagine? Do your kids?
Albert Einstein once said, " Logic will take you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere."

Award winning author, Carole P. Roman loves to write children's books and loves that children imagine and play the way they do. Her I Want To Do Yoga Too book was born out of her own love of yoga.

Carole P. Roman is wanting your children to learn a little yoga and maybe "stretch" their imaginations too. You might even have some fun right along with them . Carole P. Roman is giving to 3 winners a copy of her book, I Want to Do Yoga Too and kid's yoga mat. That is right, THREE WINNERS!

winner's colors may vary

Hurry and enter below!

About Carole P. Roman:
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.

Disclosure: There will be 3 winners for this giveaway.

This giveaway is arranged by Away We Go Media on behalf of Carole P. Roman who is responsible for prize shipment. Naila Moon of Once Upon A Time has been asked to promote this giveaway and has been compensated for this post.

All 3 winners will be selected at random by Rafflecopter.

NOTE:The first entry is for full name and address for mailing. This is a mandatory entry and if not entered you will automatically be disqualified. Also, this entry does not solely constitute a win for you.

The giveaway is open to US.
It begins on April 25 at 12AM MST through May 11th at 12AM MST.

This giveaway is in no way affiliated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or any other social media outlet.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review of "Confession" by Carey Baldwin

Blurb:

They say the Santa Fe Saint comes to save your soul—by taking your life.

Newly minted psychiatrist Faith Clancy gets the shock of her life when her first patient confesses to the grisly Saint murders. By law Faith's compelled to notify the authorities, but is her patient really the Saint? Or will she contribute to more death by turning the wrong man over to the police?

Faith is going to need all her wits and the help of a powerful adversary, Luke Jericho, if she's to unravel the truth. But she doesn't realize she's about to become an unwitting pawn in a serial killer's diabolical game. For once he's finished with Faith, she'll become his next victim.

My review:

Faith Clancy has just opened her new psychiatric office in Santa Fe, a long way from where she originally hailed from. She is starting over with a new life and hopes to put her past behind her.

In order to be out among the people she dresses in her best dress and only high heels to attend a local art gallery. There she meets Luke Jericho, a rich rancher with a penchant for the finer things but also with a shattered past.

Her first problem...her one and only client is his brother! This begins a spiral of epic proportions as he confesses to be the Santa Fe Saint, a serial killer that wishes only to save one's soul. The question is...is he?

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This book sends you on a psychological thrilling journey in which you just do not know what to think about the characters, their own haunted pasts and how they all tie in together. Just as you think you have it all figured out...BAM...another twist!

Of course there is the innertwining love story between Faith and Luke that adds to the book and does not detract. Even though there is a sexual encounter and sexual tension sporatic throughout it is not described in such detail that you think you are reading a dime store romance novel. This is a nice plus.

This book is so complex but yet so easy of read, I was immersed almost from the first pages. I shuddered under my covers at each page turn and lost a little sleep as well.

It is unusual for me to read thriller books but this book is a must read for anyone who loves a good can't put it down book!

5 stars!

Where to find the author:

Carey Baldwin is a mild-mannered doctor by day and an award-winning author of edgy suspense by night. What's a nice girl like Carey doing writing gritty suspense with romantic elements? When you are a former clinical psychologist, writing about psychopaths comes easily, and when you are a hopeless romantic, well, you do the math! Carey's first manuscript won the Golden Gateway award for best single title romance.

Disclosure: I received a Kindle copy of this book for myopen and honest opinion. The review expressed here is 100% my own and may differ from yours.

This review is also part of the Hott Books blog tour.

Friday, April 18, 2014

"The Husband Maker" by Karey White

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. It is only to have a chance in an entry for prize. The views expressed here are not mine. ~Naila Moon

Coming July 15th from USA Today Bestselling author Karey White

The Husband Maker Charlotte’s a girl with nicknames. She may not love being called Charles or Chuck, but the hardest nickname to take is the one she was given in college, the one that’s followed her now for too many years. They call her “the husband maker” and sadly, it fits. Every guy she’s dated since high school has become his next girlfriend’s husband. Not hers. Not three girlfriends down the road. The next. Is she doing something wrong or is she just cursed? When Kyle Aldsworth enters the picture and sweeps her off her feet, Charlotte begins to hope that maybe she's not destined to be single forever. A senator’s son with political aspirations of his own, Kyle's wealthy, handsome, and in need of a wife. Will Charlotte be disappointed yet again, or will she finally be able to make a husband for herself?

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

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway Ends 5/15/14 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review and Book Tour of "Lady Blues" by Aaron Paul Lazar

Blurb:

Past and present collide when an Alzheimer’s patient’s fragile memory holds the key to solving mysteries dating back to World War II—including a long lost secret love affair.

Music professor Gus LeGarde is just doing a favor for a friend when he agrees to play piano for church services at a local nursing home. He doesn’t expect to be drawn into a new friendship with an elderly Alzheimer’s patient dubbed “the music man” or to stumble across a decades-old mystery locked inside the man’s mind.

Octogenarian Kip Sterling doesn’t know his own name—but he speaks Gus’s language, spouting jazz terms like “cadence” and “interlude” and “riff.” He’s also obsessed with “his Bella,” but nobody knows who she is.

When Kip is given a new drug called Memorphyl, he starts to remember bits and pieces of his life. Gus learns Bella was Kip’s first and only love, but their relationship was shrouded in scandal. Intrigued, Gus agrees to help search for her. Could she still be alive?

Horrified when the miracle drug suddenly stops working and patients begin to backslide, Gus panics. Can he help Kip find his beloved Bella before all the memories disappear?

My review:

I wanted to read this book based solely on what I read from the summary. I love music of all genres and the blues happens to be a favorite. I am also a history buff by nature and to mix all of this into a book...well win-win for me. Mr. Lazar does a fine job of mixing mysteries within this book.

First you read about Kip Sterling who was a musician who worked under Glenn Miller. Mr. Sterling has been through several VA hospitals since 1944 not remembering who he is or how he has managed to get there. However, he does remember his beautiful love but not her name. Gus Legarde is immersed into his history and helps he recover his memories as the new drug for Alzheimer's patients "wakes" him up.

Intertwined is the story of Lily, a young woman in her 40's that has just lost her home to a fire, a brother who supposedly took care of her and learns of tragedy surrounding her arrival in the U.S.

All the while she is taken care of by Gus LeGarde's family and friends, including the very loving, Siegfried who has fallen in love with her.

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This entire book was one big mystery from beginning to end and I loved it. Some things seems too incredible but still felt very real. I was drawn into the characters that Mr. Lazar had created. I simply could not get enough of "the music man", Kip Sterling. I wanted to know him personally and root for him as he came to know things again. Mr. Lazar made that happen for me.

The only thing I was confused with intially was the seemingly seperate story of Lily and her history. Do not get me wrong, I loved how her story unfolded, I just did not get what it had to do with Kip Sterling.

However, Mr. Lazar managed to even tie that up and I understood the underlying message of love conquers all.

This book is without a doubt 5 stars and I highly recommend!

Where to find the author:

Amazon

Disclosure: I received a Kindle copy of this book for my open and honest review. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may be different from your own. This review is a part of the Innovative Online Blog Tours.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Review: Talking with Mother Earth by Jorge Argueta Illustrated by Lucia Angela Perez

Summary:
Tetl’s skin is brown, his eyes are black, and his hair is long. He’s different from the other children, whose taunts wound him deeply, leaving him confused and afraid. But Tetl’s grandmother knows the ancient teachings of their Aztec ancestors, and how they viewed the earth as alive with sacred meaning. With her help, he learns to listen to the mountains, wind, corn, and stones. Tetl's journey from self-doubt to proud acceptance of his Nahuatl heritage is told in a series of powerful poems, beautifully expressed in both English and Spanish. Vivid illustrations celebrate nature’s redemptive powers, offering a perfect complement to the poignant story.

My review:
This book is a series of vibrant pictures with simple poems to match. The poems are written first in Spanish and then in English. Although I said the poems are simple, they truly have depth and feeling to all of them. All of the individual poems fit together to create the story.

This book is written in first person narrative and the poems depict the author growing up and his having been bullied due to the fact he was Pipil Nahua Indian. It is so much more than that though.

The author describes his spiritual background and how that along with his grandmother's help learned to over come the bullying, blatant racism, and be free to love himself.

Note: This author has won numerous awards for his books. One would be amiss not to purchase his books and share them with children and adults everywhere.

Well worth the 5 stars and beyond he is receiving from me!

Disclosure: I purchased this book for my own collection. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours.

Where to find the author:

Amazon
Website
Facebook

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Review of Carlo the Mouse Book 1 by Mrs. D. Illustrated by Chanoa

Blurb:

Carlos, a little mouse, has just been born inside a hospital’s walls.
Clever, curious, and very impatient, Carlo the mouse dreams of the
world outside the hospital. His parents teach him how to follow
the rules and how to survive on his own.

My review:

This is the first in a series of books about Carlos. Carlos is a very mischievous little mouse who has an ravenous taste for good food. So much so that he knows what the cook of the hospital is cooking just by a sniff. He longs to get out and explore life outside his little home from the basement and meet the chef.

However, his parents begin to warn him of the dangers of living in such a place and the rules that he must obey to explore on his own and maybe even outside of the hospital.
This becomes almost too much for little Carlos as day after day he must listen to the rules from his Momma and Poppa.
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In a nutshell, this is the entire book. I thought that maybe the "rules" could have been shortened and maybe send Carlos on his way to begin the exploration.The ending leaves the reader hanging just as Carlos has finally been given permission to leave his home and go explore.

As cute as this book is, I would thing that would frustrate a young reader. I felt like there should be a little more meat to this first book Although the pictures in the book are done well and do add to the story this is by far not a picture book but rather a book for the beginning readers.

I like the book but cannot give it past three stars.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for my open and honest review. The review here is 100% my own and may differ with yours.

Where to find the author:

Monday, April 14, 2014

Book Blast:Billy and the Monster Who Ate All The Easter Eggs by David Chuka

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post in anyway other than a link on the Rafflecopter.

About the Book

Title: Billy and The Monster Who Ate All The Easter Eggs | Author: David Chuka | Publication Date: March 23, 2013 | Publisher: Pen-n-a-Pad Publishing | Pages: 32 | Recommended Ages: 3 to 8 Summary: Join Billy and Monster in this third episode of the series titled Billy and the Monster who Ate All the Easter Eggs. Billy and Monster love all the holidays as they get to spend quality time together. However, their best holiday is Easter as they get to eat their favorite food...CHOCOLATE! This year, they're spending Easter with Grandma Chocalicious who loves Chocolate even more than Billy. She's an expert at making chocolate cake, chocolate waffles and even chocolate pasta. This year Grandma Chocalicious has made a pyramid of Easter eggs for her party on Easter Sunday. Billy and Monster want one of the Easter eggs but Grandma says they have to wait till Easter Sunday. What happens when Billy and Monster tip toe downstairs and the pyramid of Easter eggs comes falling down? Get your copy of this funny book for kids of all ages that is not only full of laughs but also has a lesson weaved in that you'll love sharing with your loved ones.

Book Trailer

Purchase

* Print copy includes FREE coloring book inside *

Amazon (Print) | Amazon (Kindle)

The Buzz

"Experience is the best teacher as Billy and his "purple shadow" learn a sweet lesson in Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs. Beautifully illustrated, nicely formatted, this quick, easy story will be read over and over again." ~ 5 Star Review, Julia B., Amazon

"My daughter has really been enjoying David Chuka's Billy and Monster books. This is another fun addition to the "family." As always, the story has a lovely moral (this time teaching the value of moderation - definitely the biggest word in the book)! It's based on the very realistic theme of overindulging in chocolate/sweets, which virtually anyone can relate to and which kids find a lot of fun. And, awesome pictures as always. Definitely recommend it." ~ 5 Star Review, Renee B., Amazon

"I really like the little monster in this book and how they get into trouble together. What child hasn't snuck into the cache of candies that their parents have hidden? Cute story with a lesson for the little ones in your family!" ~ 5 Star Review, Patricia T., Amazon

"This is a cute story about a little boy Billy and his funny friend Monster. They love chocolate so much that they forget about obeying to older. At night, they sneaked to the chocolate egg pyramid, started eating the chocolate eggs and made a big mess. On the morning, they not only got in a big trouble, but they also got a bad stomach pain. They both had to learn a lessons about MODERATION. Nice illustrations, book well written." ~ 5 Star Review, OPV, Amazon

"Billy and his monster friend enjoy lots of fun in this book, filled with great pictures and a cute story. It shares a lot about celebrating holidays, and intertwines humor and family love throughout the story. Hidden in the story is a nice message about eating in moderation, a well needed lesson in our culture of over-eating. Billy ends up being proud of himself and makes good decisions by the end of the book, while all the while sharing some adventures with his cute monster friend. Great read to share with your children or grandchildren year round, not just for the Easter holiday." ~ 5 Star Review, Katie W., Amazon

About the Author: David Chuka

David Chuka lives in London with his lovely wife and two adorable children. His family are usually the first people to hear his funny and quirky tales. He was inspired to write his first book, 'If You See a Doctor' after he struggled to find a book for his daughter who was a beginner reader.

He's gone on to write more books including the popular 'Billy and Monster' series, a funny set of books about a little boy and his Monster who get into all sorts of funny situations and learn about moderation, friendship, self control, bravery etc. Young children can relate to Billy and you'll love sharing his adventures with your children, grandchildren and loved ones. As a father himself, he has parents at heart when he writes. He recognizes that bedtime has to be one of the best parts of the day for parents and grandparents as it gives them the opportunity to bond with their little ones. He believes you'll enjoy sharing his stories with your loved ones at bedtime. In David Chuka's books, you can stay rest assured that quality and captivating images will always complement the story to ensure your loved ones are spell-bound as you read to them. Beginner readers will also enjoy discovering new words as they read his books. He has so many stories to tell and can't wait to share them with you and your loved ones.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Google+ | Pinterest | Amazon Author Page

Want to win a copy of Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs?

Enter for your chance to win 1 of 2 print copies of Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs by David Chuka in a Goodreads giveaway (Open U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Australia; Ends April 17, 2014).

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs

by David Chuka

Giveaway ends April 17, 2014. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

* $50 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: One winner will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: May 13, 11:59 pm, 2014 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, David Chuka 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

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Review of Good Morning, World by Mrs. D.

Summary:

Glide gently into the beautiful morning with Baby Thomas and his grandpa. The sun is shining brightly through the wide window and the flowers, trees, birds, and other creatures have already started their day. Brilliant colors of the dawning day wake up the park, and Baby Thomas is ready for a walk. While walking in the park with his grandpa, they see the same things but from a different perspective. Baby Thomas wants to hug the wonderful world around him, but his grandpa has a different opinion. In this book, young readers will easily connect to the wonders of nature and unforgettable characters, playfully interacting with each other. Join happy Baby Thomas and his grandpa for a walk and have a delightful, uplifting morning!

My review:

At first I thought this book was meant to be for babies and a picture book. The summary seemed to lend itself to that fact and the bold, beautiful, and colorful photos. The sentences and the words "Good Morning" throughout the book were also repetitive which also leans itself towards this conclusion.

What this book really is, is a simple book to read to children or a book for the beginning reader who would still need help with words. Every other page is filled with paragraphs and not just a few simple words.

In addition, I would think that a younger child who is being told he or she is a "big girl or boy" would be somewhat turned off by the main character being a "baby".

Having said that though, I find the story to be cute and annoying at the same time. Here is an adorable little boy named Thomas, who is having the adventure of his life enjoying everything in his world. At first you think that he is old enough to be actually talking to the flowers, dog etc. However, you find out later that in truth, his is a little fantasy world wrapped up in real world things.

Grandpa on the other hand sees the world as a major problem. Everything he does from the time he wakes up until the end of the walk with Thomas is a bother. He does not seem to even interact much with Little Thomas which is a major annoyance for me. I think that is too bad because Thomas is having such a good time and Grandpa could have easily been drawn into his world. This of course is author prerogative.

I give this book 3 stars because I did like the book even with the issues I had with it but not enough to give it higher.

Note and disclosure: In all fairness, this book was awarded the Mom's Choice Award.

This review was 100% my own opinion based upon the reading of the book. My opinion may differ from yours.

Where you can find the author: