Sheila's Books Read

Sheila's bookshelf: read

The Best Intentions
Scotland's Melody
The Secret Society of Salzburg
Secret of the Sonnets
20-40-60-Minute Dinners: Meals to Match the Time You Have
Through the Wilderness: My Journey of Redemption and Healing in the American Wild
Secret Santa Claus Club: A Tool to Help Parents Unwrap the Secret of Santa
Mr. Pudgins
Revenge Never Rests
The Best Mistake
Meriden Park
More Inspirational Stories for Young Women
The Great Tree: A Christmas Fable
To Capture His Heart
The Call of the Sea
Esperance
Livvy and the Enchanted Woodland
Come, Gentle Night
The Bad Boy Theory
Guide To Smart Wedding Planning: What You want to know and everything you haven't thought of yet.


Sheila's favorite books »

2024 Goodreads Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge
Sheila has read 4 books toward her goal of 100 books.
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Sunday, December 31, 2023

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes: A Hunger Games Novel By Suzanne Collins-YA Dystopian Book Review





 Book Summary

Ambition will fuel him. Competition will drive him. But power has its price.

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him. He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined - every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute . . . and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.

Book Details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholastic Press; Reprint edition (August 1, 2023)
  • Genre: YA Fantasy/Dystopian
  • Series: Hunger Games
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 528 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1339016575
  • ****I bought my own Hardcover copy to complete my Hunger Games Series Set.****

My Review

The Hunger Games has always been one of my favorite series so of course I had to buy this new installment. Right off, anyone reading this book already knows who Coriolanus Snow grows up to be: a ruthless, cold-hearted killer and leader. This book is fascinating in that you get to see who he was as a teenager growing up in the aftermath of the big war. You realize what was going on in his life and how things changed him. At one point I was very sympathetic to Coriolanus but that disappeared quite soon. This is not to say it justifies what he did as "President Snow" but it sure explains more to readers.

So I started the book, did not finish it, and then went to see the movie. Then I came back and finished reading the book. This is entirely NOT the way I usually do things. The good thing was that the movie did an excellent job of sticking close to the book. 

I really liked this novel. The prequel is interesting to fans of the Hunger Games Series. The insight you gain on the history of the games and Snow and its so worth the read. There are many characters that I liked and some I loathed and this is a factor in a really good book. The likable character of Lucy Gray is very different from Katniss. Lucy was a great tool to show readers Snow's character development from being a somewhat sympathetic personality to a selfish psychopath. 

Should you read this novel? If you read the other Hunger Games books then I'd say that's a definitive yes. Even though The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel, I suggest you read the original trilogy first if you haven't read any of the Hunger Games series.

****Meet Author Suzanne Collins****


In 1991, Suzanne Collins began her professional career writing for children's television. She worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains it All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. For preschool viewers, she penned multiple stories for the Emmy-nominated Little Bear and Oswald. She also co-wrote the Rankin/Bass Christmas special, Santa, Baby! with her friend, Peter Bakalian, which was nominated for a WGA Award in Animation. Most recently she was the Head Writer for Scholastic Entertainment's Clifford's Puppy Days,and a freelancer on Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! While working on a Kids WB show called Generation O! she met children's author and illustrator James Proimos, who talked her into giving children's books a try.

 

Thinking one day about Alice in Wonderland, she was struck by how pastoral the setting must seem to kids who, like her own, lived in urban surroundings. In New York City, you're much more likely to fall down a manhole than a rabbit hole and, if you do, you're not going to find a tea party. What you might find...? Well, that's the story of Gregor the Overlander, the first book in her five-part fantasy/war series, The Underland Chronicles,which became a New York Times bestseller. It has been sold into 21 foreign territories.

 

Her next series, The Hunger Games Trilogy, is an international bestseller. The Hunger Games has spent over six years to date on The New York Times bestseller list since publication in September 2008, and has also appeared consistently on USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. It has been sold into 54 territories in 52 languages. In 2010 Suzanne was named to the TIME 100 list as well as the Entertainment Weekly Entertainers of the Year list. In 2016, she was presented the 2016 Authors Guild Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community for exemplifying the unique power of young people's literature to change lives and create lifelong book lovers. It was the first time the Guild presented the award to a YA author. 

 

Lionsgate released a film adaptation of THE HUNGER GAMES on March 23, 2012, directed by Gary Ross who also shared screenplay credit with Suzanne and Billy Ray. It broke multiple box office records and went on to become the 14th highest-grossing North American release of all time on its way to generating nearly $700 million at the worldwide box office. Lionsgate released the second installment THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE worldwide on November 22, 2013, directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Simon Beaufoy and Michael DeBruyn and bringing back stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Willow Shields, Paula Malcomson, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci and Lenny Kravitz along with new cast members Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone and Jeffrey Wright. It was the highest-grossing domestic box office release of 2013 and the 10th highest-grossing domestic release of all time. Lionsgate released THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 1 on November 21, 2014 and THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 2 on November 20, 2015, also directed by Lawrence and welcoming Julianne Moore, Mahershala Ali, Natalie Dormer, and Patina Miller to the cast. Both screenplays were by Peter Craig and Danny Strong from an adaptation by Suzanne Collins. All four films were produced by Nina Jacobson of Color Force and Jon Kilik. The worldwide box for the entire franchise was nearly 3 billion.

 

In September 2013, Suzanne released a critically acclaimed autobiographical picture book, YEAR OF THE JUNGLE, illustrated by James Proimos. It deals with the year she was six and her father was deployed to Viet Nam. It has been sold into 12 territories in 11 languages. Her first picture book, WHEN CHARLIE MCBUTTON LOST POWER, about a boy obsessed with computer games, was illustrated by Mike Lester and came out in 2005. It has been sold into 4 foreign territories.

 

Her books have sold over 100 million copies worldwide.

Learn more about Suzanne and her books HERE:https://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/



~*~*~*~*Purchase The Ballard of ~*~*~*~*

Songrbirds and Snakes

HERE:

Hardcover-https://amzn.to/48eSgRB

Paperback-https://amzn.to/3tz0LrH

Kindle-https://amzn.to/3H0C3Ug

Friday, December 29, 2023

Silver Hollow: A Borderlands Novel By Jennifer Silverwood-Adult Fantasy Book Review


 Book Summary

"I shouldn't have to tell you this isn't a fairy story..."

After her parents' car crash ten years before, Amie Wentworth trusts books more than people. She may be a writer, but she believes in reality over fiction. She ignores the unexplained mysteries surrounding her, never mind the dreams of a past life, or the fact she can fry technology with a touch. Not even a timely invitation from her long-lost uncle in England gives Amie incentive for anything other than ire.

Until she is stabbed in an alley and brought back to life by a handsome stranger. Soon Amie is dragged into the very sort of tale she is used to selling. To make matters worse, the man who saved her life keeps turning up and her would-be murderer is still at large.

After crossing the Atlantic to her father’s homeland, she discovers a world beyond imagining. Silver Hollow is a place of ancient traditions and supernatural dangers, where everything is the opposite of what it seems and few escape sane. Faced with an impossible choice, Amie is forced to confront a deadly family legacy while remembering a life she soon wishes to forget.

**Previously published in 2012. This NEW EDITION has been FULLY REVISED AND EXPANDED. The original novel is now no longer available.**

Book Details

  • Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal
  • Series: Borderlands
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 436 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 151363688X
  • ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****

Book Trailer



My Review

The cover was the first thing that attracted me to the novel Silver Hollow, but I was happily surprised by what I found within its pages. If you like a world where magic reigns, this book is for you.

Amie is a reluctant hero who doesn't want to acknowledge what she is when the truth comes out. Most of her "normal" life has really been full of untruths. When she finds out that she is magical and comes from a regal magical legacy the truth is hard to accept. Little does she know what is ahead for her in the future, including a past love from another "life".

It took a while to get all of the pieces straight in this novel. A lot is going on and there are many people and factions of creatures/characters. The last 1/4 of the book was the most exciting and when I saw all the fragments coming together as a whole plot. The ending made me excited to read book two in the series.

If you love a good fantasy with conflicted family relationships, magical creatures, an intense love story, and an unexpected ending, then Silver Hollow should be your next read. 


****Meet Author Jennifer Silverwood****



Jennifer Silverwood has been involved in the publishing world since 2012 and is passionate about supporting the writing community however she can. After studying traditional art at University, she began helping Qamber Designs & Media bring authors' books to life. Jennifer is the founder of We Write Fantasy, a blog and support group for fellow genre authors. She is the author of three series--Wylder Tales, Seven Deadly Sins, and the Borderlands Saga--and the stand-alone romance titles Stay and She Walks in Moonlight. Discover more about the Borderlands, along with Jennifer's blog on writing life and other bookish delights at jennifersilverwood.com

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter



~*~*~*~*Purchase Silver Hollow~*~*~*~*

HERE:

Paperback-https://amzn.to/3rXidp7

Kindle-https://amzn.to/3saVW76

Thursday, December 28, 2023

Protecting Her Heart: Proper Romance (Matchmaker's #3) by Nancy Campbell Allen-A Proper Romance Book Review


 Book Summary

London, 1887

When newly graduated medical doctor Charlotte Duvall receives word that her father has died, she immediately leaves America and returns home to see to her family's estate. Among her father's possessions is a box of her late mother's letters, which feels like a balm to Charlotte's grief-stricken heart. But the letters contain some inconsistencies that suggest there was more to her mother's death than Charlotte had been told. She turns to the one man she trusts more than anyone--her treasured friend and director of London's police force, John Ellis.

John Ellis has harbored feelings for Charlotte ever since he first met her. Tucked into his heart are thoughts of her sharp mind, quick wit, and remarkable beauty. Though he has not yet found the courage to share his feelings with the young doctor, he is eager to help her in her hour of need.

Investigating the details of a death was not how Charlotte imagined she would find love, but as she and John work to unravel a dark web of secrets and lies, she finds herself relying on him more and more--and opening her heart to him in the process.

As the danger draws ever closer, John vows to do everything in his power to protect Charlotte from harm. But he fears protecting her heart might come at the cost of breaking his own.

Book Details

  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639931694
  • Series: Matchmakers #3-Proper Romance
  • Genre: Victorian Romance
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 2, 2024
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shadow Mountain
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639931699

****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****


My Review

Can the Matchmakers series keep getting better and better? Oh, yes it can! I have loved these books from the very start. The third book, Protecting Her Heart, was full of characters I already loved, another intriguing mystery, and a captivating romance. Readers get to see the third Hampton cousin, Charlotte Duvall, at the forefront of the suspense. I was happy to see John Ellis and Charlotte finally getting their own book. Years have passed and now Charlotte is a doctor after going to medical school in America. On the way back to England she finds out her father has died and leaves an ominous message that Charlotte's mother's death wasn't an accident but murder. 

The rest of this novel deals with a lot of action while dealing with someone trying to stop Charlotte from finding the truth about her mother's death. There is also that wonderful friends-to-lovers romance. All of the Hampton cousins come together to help Charlotte and John in uncovering the truth. There are some very interesting twists that surprise readers. I loved this last book in the series! I highly suggest you read the books in the series in the order written, even though it could be read as a stand-alone, either way, you will be delighted with this new Proper Romance.  

****Meet Author Nancy Campbell Allen****

Nancy Campbell Allen is the award winning author of 20 published novels and several novellas, which encompass a variety of genres ranging from contemporary romantic suspense to historical fiction. Her most recent books, which include Regency, Victorian, and steampunk romance, are published through Shadow Mountain's Proper Romance line, and the What Happens in Venice novella series is part of the Timeless Romance Anthology collection published by Mirror Press. Nancy writes contemporary romances under the pseudonym, Laney Bell, and enjoys setting these fun stories in a fictional Rocky Mountain ski valley similar to her own home town.

Her formal schooling includes a B.S. in Elementary Education from Weber State University and she has worked as a ghost writer and freelance editor, contributing to the releases, We Knew Howard Hughes, by Jim Whetton, and My Life Encapsulated, by Kenneth Brailsford.

Her agent is Pamela Pho of D4EO Literary Agency.

Nancy loves to read, write, travel, and research, and enjoys spending time with family and friends. She nurtures a current obsession for true crime podcasts and is a news junkie. She and her husband have three children, and she lives in Ogden, Utah with her family, one very large Siberian Husky named Thor, and an obnoxious but endearing YorkiePoo named Freya.


~*~*~*~*Purchase Protetcing Her Heart~*~*~*~*

HERE:

Paperback-https://amzn.to/3Q701lT


Sunday, December 24, 2023

Written in the Cards By Dana Storino-Rom Com Book Review


 


Book Summary
It may seem like Stacey Moore has her life together … but that’s because she always sticks to the plan.

On the night of her bachelorette party, Stacey decides to get a tarot card reading. When the cards reveal that not only is she not on her divine path, but her fiancé is hiding something, she impulsively leaves him at the altar.

Hoping for a fresh start, Stacey decides to take a job as an art teacher in a different town. Art is the one thing in Stacey’s life that comes easy to her, and she’s positive that teaching kids art is her purpose in life, so when she finds out the teaching position is only temporary, Stacey consults the cards again for some clarity.

But the cards don’t want to talk about work, they want to talk about love. And according to the cards, Stacey has two love energies surrounding her! It’s hard enough for Stacey to stay focused on a good day, but now she has to figure out a way to impress the new principal while navigating a love triangle.

Could finding true love be the key to getting back on her divine path?

Written in the Cards is the first book in the Love in Lovington cozy romance series. If you like quirky, flawed heroines, small-town feels, and nineties nostalgia, then you’ll love Dana Storino’s sweet, realistic romance.

Book Details
  • Series: Love in Lovington
  • Genre: Romantic Comedy
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CLV4DYWY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gilded Press (October 31, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 356 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8989293919
  • ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****

My Review
Written in the Cards by Dana Storino was not what I was expecting, but was a whole lot more of what I ended up loving. Stacey Moore is a character I liked and cheered for from the very first chapter. She is not perfect, she messes up a lot and has problems, and you can't help but love her. Stacey leaves her fiance at the altar after having a tarot card reading that makes her question her future. This changes her life in many ways from a new career to finding real love. 

It's always good to have realistic characters readers can relate to. Stacey and Ryan bring a lot of fire and chemistry to the pages of this book. The dialogue and banter keep you laughing and some of the silly antics done by Stacey made me laugh even harder. The second chance romance is sweet and this novel made me believe in Soul Mates. The addition of tarot card reader Madame Duvall and her wise influence made the story even more interesting. 
Rom Com readers will want to dive into this novel with a slow burn, some spice but closed-door romance. It's nice to see a "real" relationship portrayed showing how hard work and determination are just as important as romance. This was a fun and entertaining novel and I look forward to reading more novels from this author soon.

****Meet Author Dana Storino****
Dana Storino is a neurodiverse writer and paraeducator for Chicago Public Schools. Her experience working with a wide range of diverse learners inspired her to write for middle schoolers, focusing on accurate portrayals of school life while imparting valuable lessons. When she’s not busy writing, she spends her free time with her husband and three children, a spunky Dalmatian named Dolly, and Bean the cat. Her work has been featured on Wrytimes, Her View From Home, and ADDitude. You can read some of her personal experiences of living with ADHD on her blog Oh Look, A Squirrel.



~*~*~*~*Purchase Written in the Cards~*~*~*~*
HERE:

Thursday, December 21, 2023

2024… Your Year of More: Plan Your Goals and Invest Your Efforts- By Noah William Smith-Self-Help Book Review


 Book Summary

ELEVATE YOUR LIFE WITH THIS UNIQUE SELF-HELP NEW RELEASE

"2024... Your Year of More" is your go-to book to set goals and mindfully invest your efforts. It appeals to adults of all ages, nationalities, and backgrounds who wish to improve their lives. Its pages are packed with something special for everyone.

The pages contain practical ideas from A to Z, thought-provoking questions, and self-reflective exercises that inspire you to live your best life.

The book is an ideal companion during your moments of solitude. You can read it in the early morning before the rest of the world wakes up or during the evenings after a long day. You may also find it enjoyable while writing in your journal or taking a lunch break.

Enthusiastic indie author Noah William Smith knows the blessings and challenges of intelligence, creativity, high sensitivity and being a minority, underdog and outsider. While his books are based on his experiences, they offer valuable insights without being prescriptive or offering advice.

The book's authenticity and invaluable insights make it a compelling read that will remain relevant for many years!

Are you considering investing in yourself or searching for the perfect gift for someone special? "2024... Your Year of More" is a life-changing book that you cannot afford to miss!

Book Details

  • Genre: Self-Help
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CKMPCYXW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (October 14, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 112 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8861848022

****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****

My Review

Every January so many people make their New Year's resolutions. I don't make resolutions but I always make goals for the year. "2024…Your Year of More: Plan Your Goals and Invest Your Efforts" is what I needed to plan for my new year. 

I really liked this book because it had so many great ideas. I liked the idea of how Author Noah William Smith has outlined this book and how to plan your goals. He teaches you about the A-Z's to work on through the year. Some of the A-Z's I'm excited about working on are...

  • Adaptability
  • Creative Thinking
  • Family and Friends
  • Letting Go
  • Openness
  • Peace
  • Transparency
  • Writing Experiences
This book is in workbook form with space for you to write down your thoughts and
progress. It's nice how Smith has outlined how to achieve your goals during the year by breaking them into certain months and lengths of time.
  •  January-March
  •  April-June
  •  July -September
  • October-December
I am so excited to start working on my goals for 2024. I like having this guide to help me. The author says something at the very beginning of the book that gets you excited about making your goals.

"Motivational Takeaway: I Want To
Stand up for what I want because I matter." What a powerful statement to begin your New Years journey. If you are looking for motivation to help you meet goals next year, I recommend you get this book to guide you towards success.


***Meet Author Noah William Smith****

Noah William Smith is an award-winning and enthusiastic self-help author. His new book, "2024... Your Year of More", was published mid-October 2023.

The book was recently featured on the Bonnie Reads and Writes and Book Inspector blogs. Recent author interviews are featured as "Staying in with Noah William Smith" on Linda's Book Bag and "Embracing the Journey" on Literary Titan.

His books can be read as standalone and in any order. "How to Motivate Yourself in 15 Minutes" and "How to Become Emotionally Smarter" are the most popular, exceeding 5,000 Amazon downloads each.

As a self-published author, Noah greatly appreciates your online reviews and ratings. Readers are based in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, India, South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany, Brazil and other countries.

His books appeal to adults of all ages and backgrounds looking for ideas and practical ways to improve their quality of life. His books are niche and focused on specific objectives, so reading them all at once may be unnecessary! At different times, different titles may be appealing.

Noah writes because he enjoys creating something that may be useful to a reader. He writes based on his life experiences and observations. His books are not intended as expert or professional advice. His books serve as companions while you reflect on your life and what you can do differently.

He is a 38-year-old South African author who enjoys both the profound truths of life and the daily simple pleasures. He writes about goals, clarity of thinking, feeling content, self-reflection, self-help, self-improvement, self-development, and personal growth. Above all, he writes about self-motivation!

Based on editorial and customer reviews, his books are concise and insightful. He understands the pros and cons of intelligence, high sensitivity, introversion, empathy, and being an outlier, underdog, and minority.

Follow him on Amazon and Goodreads for exciting updates!


~*~*~*~*Purchase 2024… Your Year of More~*~*~*~*

HERE:

Hardcover-https://amzn.to/4arEvAO

Paperback-https://amzn.to/3tktwYX

Kindle-https://amzn.to/3GMQuev

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Christmas Yet to Come By D. B. Carter-Christmas Book Review

Welcome to the Christmas Yet To Come Review Tour!

 
Book Summary

Christmas may only be a few days away, but for sixteen-year-old Mark, it’s the bleak midwinter. Living in the poor area of town run by the local drug dealer, he is trying to get an education while caring for his little sister Lizzy and their addict father. Mary, the girl on the train to whom his heart secretly belongs, wants to help, but how can she? When the very little money his family has runs out just days before Christmas, things keep getting worse, until something happens that plunges Mark and his sister into an even deeper crisis. Then, at his darkest point, he finds hope in the message of the season and his late mother’s favourite story about Ebenezer Scrooge. For Mark and Lizzy, is there is a Christmas yet to come? A modern Dickensian tale of hope, love, romance, and friendship.

Book Details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08P6B38DG
  • Genre: 
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (December 1, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 136 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8574285541
  • ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****

My Review

Christmas Yet to Come is a novella that I read in one sitting. Even though it is a short book, it carries a powerful punch to reader's hearts. You quickly learn of siblings Mark and Lizzy's precarious life situation. Their mom has passed and their father is a drunk and druggie who is spending any money they have to feed his addictions. I felt so sad for teenager Mark and his 12-year-old sister Lizzy. They are just getting by, but there is always that underlying hope and memories of their mother who tried to make their lives better.

This story can be looked at as a modern-day Christmas Carol. Without giving anything away, several things happen that make them think of the past, present, and future. This was a beautiful part of the book. Mark is such a wonderful character always stopping to take care of others and finding ways to help anyone around him. There is also a sweet little romance for Mark. 

 Christmas Yet to Come shows us that even in the toughest of circumstances we still can be kind and be a good example to others. My favorite take from the book was something that Lizzy and Mark talked about at the end of the story.

Lizzy asked,“Do you really think one person can change the world just with their words?”  
Mark considered the proposition. “I can’t see why not. We know it’s not impossible. I guess we all change the world a little bit every day, and sometimes the ripples of change spread further.”


 Even though this book had some dark moments there were sunbeams of hope and happiness too. It will bring the true spirit of Christmas into your heart and home. 


****Meet Author D. B. Carter****

D. B. Carter lives with his family on the edge of a small town nestled amongst the rolling hills of rural Devon, England.

The son of two nomadic artists, he grew up in a world of creativity, studying painting techniques under his parents' tutelage. In his 20s, he went to university and followed a career in science and later commerce, running his own business for twenty years.

A lifelong bibliophile, he is firmly of the opinion that there is no such thing as too many books, only insufficient shelf space; it was his love of classical literature, of Dickens and Brontë, that led to the creation of his first novel, "The Cherries."

His philosophy is, "If we look for the good, we will find it."
 



~*~*~*~*Purchase Christmas Yet to Come~*~*~*~*

HERE:

Paperback-https://amzn.to/476pzVI

Kindle-https://amzn.to/48h0Xuq

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

The Glowberry Bears: The Legend of Little Glow By RC McKenzie-Children's Picture Book Review


 Book Summary

It's Graduation Day for a group of young Glowberry Bears, and the whole village is getting ready to celebrate. But one Bear, named Little Glow, is worried he might not graduate with his classmates, because he still hasn't worked out what his special power is.

When the sneaky Snorts decide to spoil the day by draining the Glowberries of light and plunging the Island into darkness, can Little Glow finally find his power and stop them before it's too late?

Follow the Northern Lights and go on a magical journey all the way to Glowberry Island, to meet some very special Bears.

Book Details

  • Genre: Children's Picture Book
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CL1GCQPP
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Midas Well Entertainment (October 25, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 35 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8988628026
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 8 years
  • ****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****

My Review

I read The Glowberry Bears: The Legend of Little Glow to my 2nd graders. They were interested in the book and its characters from the beginning. The story has cute characters and an exciting plot line. We didn't finish the book in one day. The next day my class kept asking me when we were going to finish The Glowberry Bears book. 

After we read the story we talked about what they thought the story was about. I was pleased that they picked up on some of the main themes such as believing in yourself, working together as a team so you can get more done, and never giving up even when times are tough. 

 The Glowberry Bears: The Legend of Little Glow is a great read-aloud book for K-2 classes. It would also make a good story to read at home and discuss with your children about the themes found in the book. 





~*~*~*~*Purchase The Glowberry Bears~*~*~*~*

HERE:

Paperback-https://amzn.to/4asMMUT

Kindle-https://amzn.to/3RwDMW2