Giveaway for $50 Amazon Card or Paypal Cash on behalf of author Wendy Leighton-Porter

The following is a shared giveaway for a blog stop tour that I belong to on behalf of author Wendy Leighton-Porter for her book, Shadow of Atlantis. I have reviewed her book and that review will be live on October 15th. Please stop by Amazon and check out her reviews.

If you would like a chance of winning a $50 Amazon Card or Paypal cash that Wendy is so generously giving away, enter in the Rafflecopter below. Thanks, Naila Moon   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Help Set the World Reading Record and Give Some Books

I am participating in this event today. If you wish to join me you can find the book online at the link below. I believe in getting books in the hands of kids so, when you read from this link, the company sends books to kids. Win!

I received no compensation for this post but the enjoyment of reading. ~Naila Moon

Help Set World Reading Record with We Give Books TODAY!

We Give Books and readers from across the country and around the world are coming together to show their support for early childhood literacy. Join us TODAY for Jumpstart’s Read for the Record, a national celebration of literacy that highlights the need for high quality early childhood education in America by mobilizing children and adults to set a record for the largest shared reading experience. Help us set a world reading record by reading Loren Long’s new classic Otis on wegivebooks.org. When you read online with We Give Books, you will automatically be counted towards the world reading record and the new digital reading record!

Author Jon Messenger

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post in any form. I am just helping out one of our military. Thank you Jon for your service! ~Naila Moon

Help JON MESSENGER's Series Hit #1

We are so excited to see that Jon Messenger's WORLD AFLAME Series is on the Amazon Best Seller's charts. We want to make Jon Messenger's year by helping him get on the New York Times Best Sellers list! Help support this amazing author who is also an Army Major and Amazing Father, by purchasing his books TODAY! 

*If either of Jon Messenger's books hit in the Amazon Top 100 in all of Kindle Books (not sub-categories) Clean Teen Publishing will host an epic giveaway ($200 Amazon Gift Card) for those who helped get his book there! So hold onto your proof of purchase. If your book was purchased between 9/25/13 and 10/10/13 you will be eligible for this exclusive giveaway! The giveaway will be announced on the Clean Teen Publishing Website at the time that the book hits TOP 100! Make sure to check the website often or check the website on 10/10/13 to see if we made it! Be a part of something huge!  

FLAME CALLER by Jon Messenger
Book 2 in The World Aflame Series ~ NEW ADULT 
(Young Adult Appropriate)

THE EARTH GIVES WAY TO THE SEA, THE SEA BOWS BEFORE THE WIND, THE WIND FEEDS THE FLAME, THE FLAME BURNS THE WORLD OF MAN DOWN TO THE EARTH.

White Halls is no longer a sleepy little town. Its houses lie smoldering on their foundations. The residents take refuge in their homes, afraid to leave. And the town’s prodigal son and newest Wind Warrior, Xander Sirocco, has fled.

Xander has lost his family, his grandfather is in a coma, and now the fate of the world is in his hands. He has no time to figure out his feelings for Sammy—the Fire Wielder who saved his life after first trying to take it—because he has a world to save. But how do seven Wind Warriors fight off an army of Flame Callers… who are determined to burn the world of man down to the earth?

When a whispered word gives Xander newfound hope, he sets off to find the very thing that could save them all. They say that Elementals—embodiments of the elemental powers that the different castes wield—are only a myth. Even so, the hope of finding an Elemental is his only chance to save not only the Wind Warriors and Sammy, but also the world itself.

Little does Xander know that while he is out chasing the Wind Elemental, the Fire Elemental is closing in quickly behind him. It has nefarious plans for Sammy… and it will not stop until Xander is dead.

 Check out this amazing BEST SELLING series today!

WIND WARRIOR by Jon Messenger

Book 1 in The World Aflame Series ~ NEW ADULT 

(Young Adult Appropriate)

THE EARTH GIVES WAY TO THE SEA,

THE SEA BOWS BEFORE THE WIND,

THE WIND FEEDS THE FLAME,

THE FLAME BURNS THE WORLD OF MAN DOWN TO THE EARTH.

The sleepy town of White Halls harbors a dangerous secret. On a picturesque street, two houses down from a lovely little park, in a quaint little home with a wraparound porch, lives a family that seems rather normal. Sure, their twenty-year-old son, Xander, still lives at home, but he's going to college and dating the leader of the schools top sorority. It's all very... normal.  However, when a man is miraculously saved from being hit by a bus, Xander's life turns in to the living embodiment of the tornadoes he can suddenly create with a flick of his wrist. Whether he wants this gift or not, Xander must learn to use his new 'super power' quickly if he wants to survive.  For his kind is a dying race, and when this sleepy town has a sudden influx of new, blonde, fire wielders, no one is safe, especially Xander. It doesn't help that one of these blondes happens to be the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. Xander can't deny the instant connection he feels to her so, when she tries to kill him, it certainly makes things complicated.

About Jon Messenger

Jon Messenger (Born 1979 in London, England) serves as an United States Army Major in the Medical Service Corps. Since graduating from the University of Southern California in 2002, writing Science Fiction has remained his passion, a passion that has continued through two deployments to Iraq, a humanitarian relief mission to Haiti, and an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. Jon wrote the "Brink of Distinction" trilogy, of which "Burden of Sisyphus" is the first book, while serving a 16-month deployment in Baghdad, Iraq.

Jon's books include Wind Warrior which was published through Clean Teen Publishing and quickly hit the best selling lists of Amazon. Jon Messenger has won a readers choice award as well as the Clean Teen Publishing writing contest for his Novella of Wind Warrior, which is also featured in Wonderstruck. Messenger's sci-fi series, Brink of Distinction, was picked up by Clean Teen Publishing's adult imprint: Crimson Tree Publishing in the Fall of 2013. 

Review of Spartan and The Green Egg -A Trip To The Rainforest by Nabila Khashoggi

Recently I was asked to review the book Spartan and The Green Egg by Nabila Khashoggi. I thought it would be an interesting book to review due to my love of nature. I was not disappointed.

This hard cover book is the first in a series for Ms. Khashoggi.  The story opens with the main character Spartan and his three friends, meet up in the tree club house. Spartan proceeds to tell the group about a book he has received that mentions how to contact aliens.

The group collectively decides, through the use of the power of imagination, that they will indeed contact aliens from outer space. They create the look of their spaceship and where they want to go.
Through great concentration they end up having an alien in a green egg appear.

This green egg is actually their spaceship which take them to the Amazon Rainforest. They have a few bumps along the way which could put them in danger.
However, there they meet Amazonian kids who take them back to their village. Spartan and friends learn how the children live in the village. They also experience a dream through a village shaman who shows them that the Rainforest is in grave danger from people who destroy it. This could mean the end of the Amazon Rainforest and extinction of many animals.

The group decides to do something and help save the Rainforest.

Do they accomplish their task? Are they forever stuck? Will it be enough? What about that green egg alien? You decide, read the book!
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This book is for the older child who can read pretty well. The books illustrations were done by Manuel Cadag and quite impressive. Usually when I have read books the illustrations are on opposite pages or sparse. This book however, was written comic book style with the illustrations and words interacting with each other. I don't know a single kid that would not like this book.

To say the least, this book is excellent and I highly recommend it. I look forward to many more books in this series.

Spartan and The Green Egg deserves my 5 stars!
~Naila Moon

Disclosure: I was given this book to review for free. The words and opinions expressed here are 100% my own.
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Where to find Nabila Khashoggi and Manuel Cadag:
Amazon
Goodreads
Facebook

Review of The Rocking Chair by Steven Manchester

 

Synopsis:

 

Memories are the ultimate contradiction. They can warm us on our coldest days – or they can freeze a loved one out of our lives forever. The McCarthy family has a trove of warm memories. Of innocent first kisses. Of sumptuous family meals. Of wondrous lessons learned at the foot of a rocking chair. But they also have had their share of icy ones. Of words that can never be unsaid. Of choices that can never be unmade. Of actions that can never be undone. 

Following the death of his beloved wife, John McCarthy – Grandpa John – calls his family back home. It is time for them to face the memories they have made, both warm and cold. Only then can they move beyond them and into the future.

A rich portrait of a family at a crossroad, The Rockin’ Chair is Steven Manchester’s most heartfelt and emotionally engaging novel to date. If family matters to you, it is a story you must read.

 

My review:

 



I was so excited when I was able to review another of Steven Manchester's books. His books are truly heart wrenching and yet, tell timeless tales of loss and love. His book, The Rocking Chair did not disappoint.

His character John McCarthy was a hard working man, who cared for his wife who has Alzheimer's, right up to her death. He believes that hard work and lessons learned are what makes you stronger. He is not a highly educated man but his often hard learned lessons are given as he rocks in his rocking chair. They are usually poignant and understood without the need for frivolity.

After John's wife dies, he realizes his family is broken in a myriad of ways and the only way to  repair the damage is for each of them to face what haunts them, that includes John himself. Each character is brought to life with  purposeful intent and the reader cannot help but get wrapped up in them and want the best outcome possible.

As I read, I found myself  in the character Hank, who is John's son. They have been estranged for years when a misunderstanding leads to years of hatred and heartbreak. I honestly could relate to this as the relationship I had to my own father before his death two years ago.

Once I started reading The Rocking Chair I simply could not put it down and read it in one day. With tissues on hand, this book is a must read.

This book: 5 stars!

~Naila Moon

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the author for my open and honest opinion. This review is also part of the Providence book tour. All opinions expressed here are 100% my own.

About Steven Manchester:

Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestseller Twelve Months, Goodnight, Brian, and several other books. His work has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early
Show, CNN’s American Morning and BET’s Nightly News. Recently, three of Manchester’s short stories were selected “101 Best” for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

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Banned Books Week Sept, 22nd-28th

 

Did you know that according to the American Library Association that 11,300 books have been challenged since 1982 when banned books week became a forefront movement. Last year alone 464 books challenged.






The following is the top 100 books challenged. Which ones have you read. Tell me.

Harry Potter (series) by J.K. Rowling

Alice series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Scary Stories (series) by Alvin Schwartz

His Dark Materials (series) by Philip Pullman

TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series) by Myracle, Lauren

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers

It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris

Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Forever by Judy Blume

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

King and King by Linda de Haan

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar

The Giver by Lois Lowry

In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak

Killing Mr. Griffen by Lois Duncan

Beloved by Toni Morrison

My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier

Bridge To Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney

We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier

What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonya Sones

Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya

Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things by Carolyn Mackler

Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

It’s So Amazing by Robie Harris

Arming America by Michael Bellasiles

Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane

Life is Funny by E.R. Frank

Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

The Fighting Ground by Avi

Blubber by Judy Blume

Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher

Crazy Lady by Jane Leslie Conly

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby by George Beard

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Daughters of Eve by Lois Duncan

The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson

You Hear Me? by Betsy Franco

The Facts Speak for Themselves by Brock Cole

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Green

When Dad Killed Mom by Julius Lester

Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going

Olive’s Ocean by Kevin Henkes

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Draw Me A Star by Eric Carle

The Stupids (series) by Harry Allard

The Terrorist by Caroline B. Cooney

Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park

The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor

A Time to Kill by John Grisham

Always Running by Luis Rodriguez

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen

Junie B. Jones (series) by Barbara Park

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

What’s Happening to My Body Book by Lynda Madaras

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Anastasia (series) by Lois Lowry

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Crazy: A Novel by Benjamin Lebert

The Joy of Gay Sex by Dr. Charles Silverstein

The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss

A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck

Black Boy by Richard Wright

Deal With It! by Esther Drill

Detour for Emmy by Marilyn Reynolds

So Far From the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Watkins

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher

Cut by Patricia McCormick

Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissenger

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Graighead George

The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar

Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard

Goosebumps (series) by R.L. Stine

Shade’s Children by Garth Nix

Grendel by John Gardner

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

I Saw Esau by Iona Opte

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

100 America: A Novel by Frank E.R.





 

International Day of Peace