Dragonwatch: A Fablehaven Adventure By Brandon Mull-Blog Tour Review

{Product Details}

• Title: Dragonwatch: A Fablehaven Adventure
• Author: Brandon Mull
• Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy
• Age Range: 8 and up
• Grade Level: 3 and up
• Series: Dragonwatch (Book 1)
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Shadow Mountain (March 14, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1629722561
• FTC, FYI: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review

{Book Details}

In the long-awaited sequel to Fablehaven, the dragons who have been kept at the dragon sanctuaries no longer consider them safe havens, but prisons and they want their freedom. The dragons are no longer our allies....

In the hidden dragon sanctuary of Wyrmroost, Celebrant the Just, King of the Dragons, plots his revenge. He has long seen the sanctuaries as prisons, and he wants nothing more than to overthrow his captors and return the world to the Age of Dragons, when he and his kind ruled and reigned without borders. The time has come to break free and reclaim his power.

No one person is capable of stopping Celebrant and his dragon horde. It will take the ancient order of Dragonwatch to gather again if there is any chance of saving the world from destruction. In ancient times, Dragonwatch was a group of wizards, enchantresses, dragon slayers, and others who originally confined the majority of dragons into sanctuaries. But nearly all of the original Dragonwatch members are gone, and so the wizard Agad reaches out to Grandpa Sorenson for help.

As Kendra and Seth confront this new danger, they must draw upon all their skills, talents, and knowledge as only they have the ability to function together as a powerful dragon tamer. Together they must battle against forces with superior supernatural powers and breathtaking magical abilities.

How will the epic dragon showdown end? Will dragons overthrow humans and change the world as we know it?

Brandon Mull Talks about Dragonwatch

{My Review}

I have always loved the Fablehaven series. I was more than thrilled when I heard that there would be a continuation of this beloved series that kids, teens and adults love. 

Dragonwatch picks up basically where the fifth Fablehaven book ended. Now, the dragons on all of the magical preserves are restless and wanting their freedom back that they had many, many years ago. Kendra and Seth are called upon because of their new powers to take over the dragon sanctuary, Wyrmroost, as the caretakers. This is when the adventure starts. The two kids are very much how they were before because no time has passed, so they still tend to make the same kind of decisions in the same way...at first. As Dragonwatch continues and they face new challenges, Seth and Kendra start growing as characters and I look forward to seeing what happens in the next book.

Even with old characters we already know and love like Doren and Newt the satyrs, there are new ones introduced that I really liked. We meet magical horses that can read and humans can ride. Kendra's horse loved to read Jane Austen books and Seth's liked Green Eggs and Ham and this made me laugh. I also like Seth's new sidekick Calvin, a giant nipsie, who adds some great humor to the story.

Fans of the other Fablehaven books will love being back in the familiar world and going on new adventures with Seth and Kendra. If you haven't read any of the previous books, I think this book will be confusing and not as enjoyable as it'll be for those of us that read the first five books. So I recommend reading the original Fablehaven series first and then reading Dragonwatch. This is a good start to the new series, a little slow at times, but it ended well and sets things up for the second book coming out in a year.

Dragonwatch 360o Experience

{Meet Author: Brandon Mull} 

Brandon Mull has worked as a comedian, a filing clerk, a patio installer, a movie promoter, a copywriter, and briefly as a chicken stacker. For a couple of years, he lived in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile, where he learned Spanish and juggling. He currently lives in Utah in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his four children and dog named Buffy. Brandon is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Fablehaven, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series. Visit Brandon at BrandonMull.com.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

{Purchase Here}

Gears of Revolution (Mysteries of Cove Book #2) by J.Scott Savage-Blog Tour Review

Product Details

• Title: Gears of Revolution
• Author: J. Scott Savage
• Age Range: 10 years+
• Series: Mysteries of Cove (Book 2)
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Shadow Mountain (September 20, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1629722235
• FTC, FYI: I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Description:
After finding a compass and clues left by Kallista’s father, Leo Babbage, Trenton and Kallista head west aboard their homemade mechanical dragon to search for the missing inventor. The two teenagers hope to find answers about their mountain city of Cove, but instead, they find only a blackened forest, ruined buildings, and a small underground city.

Almost immediately, Trenton and Kallista are caught up in a civil war between a clan of scavengers called Whipjacks and the Order of the Beast, people who believe that dragons are immortal and divine.

Stranded in a new city, the two friends meet Plucky, a Whipjack girl with mechanical legs, and Ander, a young member of the Order who claims humans are able to communicate with dragons. Can they trust anyone, or have they unknowingly stepped into a trap?

And high above in the sky, the dragons are gathering . . .

My Review:
Gears of Revolution, book two in the Mysteries of Cove Series, is now out. The first book was great in that it was inventive with new ideas not seen in other Middle Grade books. A Steampunk/Middle Grade Fantasy I really loved, and how it fostered the idea of finding and developing the things you are good at and being creative. 

Book two picks up right where book one ended. Honestly, please read the first book before you start book two. So much happens in the first book where you see not only events develop, but also the relationship between the two main characters of Trenton and Kallista. It will also explain a lot of how these two interact in the second book and how their friendship is challenged.

Speaking of second books, this is something this author does very well. He knows how to avoid the "2nd Book in a Series Curse". Every book series I've read by J. Scott Savage has avoided this curse and made the second book even better than the first. Gears of Revolution has an incredible plot that moves things forward, instead of of being plumped with filler to get us through until book three. There were so many things I loved!

-New Characters: I truly loved the new characters introduced in Gears. Meeting two new groups of people The Whipjacks and the Order of the Beast was awesome. My favorite new character had to be a Whipjack named Plucky with her feisty attitude that matched her name. I also liked the young, mysterious Ander who belonged to the Order. There's also another interesting character named Dimber Damber Cochrane who kept me, and Trenton and Kallista on their toes.

-World Building: This aspect takes a huge leap in this second book. We find out so much more about the world that Mysteries of Cove is set in. Readers also learn more about the history and happenings outside of the city of Discovery, also known as Cove. The revelations near the end of the book are quite shocking.

-Dragons: Yes! There are more dragons and I can't wait to learn even more about them. I love dragons and anytime they are in a book is a plus to me. But, they are becoming even more dangerous this time around.

-Changes in Discovery:(SPOILERS for book one) I was so happy when it was revealed about the changes that had taken place in Discovery since Trenton and Kallista had gone off exploring. Trenton returns to find out that being creative is no longer banned! He is shocked to see art work displayed after it had been locked up for so many years. There is also a happy surprise about Trenton's father that is revealed that I'm not sharing because I want you to be as excited as I was in chapter 27. Let's just say that Trenton soon realizes that he has returned to a very different city than the one he'd left.

Character Growth: Trenton is the one that makes so many amazing changes in Gears, not only physically, but changes in how he thinks about others and in his own levels of confidence. It's always so satisfying to experience that with a character.But,there is also a message at the end that Kallista shares with Trenton that I loved...

"I once asked my father for the best piece of advice he could give me...He said to give yourself permission to fail." 

"That's real encouraging." 

 "It actually is," she said, ignoring his sarcasm. "Because if you only try the things you believe you can do, you'll only accomplish the things you already knew you could do. But if you give yourself permission to fail, you're free to try the things that seem completely beyond your reach. And that's when magic happens." 

That was so insane it was brilliant. 

What wonderful words for kids and adults to remember!

Over all, this book is so exciting: filled with action (Fighting dragons mid-air), intrigue (Who are the good guys and who are the bad? It changes throughout the story), mysteries (figuring out secret plans left by Kallista's father), and a rip-roaring ending that will leave you breathless. So when is book three coming out? I can't wait to read what J. Scott Savage has in store for his characters and his readers. This is absolutely a 5 star read!




About The Author: Meet J. Scott Savage

J. SCOTT SAVAGE is the author of the Farworld middle grade fantasy series and the Case File 13 middle grade monster series. He has been writing and publishing books for over ten years. He has visited over 400 elementary schools, dozens of writers conferences, and taught many writing classes. He has four children and lives with his wife Jennifer and their Border Collie, Pepper, in a windy valley of the Rocky Mountains. 

Learn more about J. Scott Savage and his books HERE
Follow him on twitter: https://twitter.com/jscottsavage 

The Diamond Looking Glass: Cleopatra's Legacy Book 3 By Dorine White-Review and $25 Blog Tour Giveaway

I am so excited to be hosting a stop on the the Blog Tour for The Diamond Looking Glass by Dorine White hosted by Fire and Ice

Product Details:

• Title:The Diamond Looking Glass

•   Author: Dorine White               
• Series: Cleopatra's Legacy(Book 3)
• Paperback: 154 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (November 10, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1517580242
• FTC, FYI: I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description:
 Beauty and the Beast. The world knows it as a cartoon with dancing teacups and broomsticks. To twelve year old Claire La Fleur, it is family history, and the power behind Belle’s mirror is real. Every ten years her family gathers to see if the mirror will awaken, and for the last two hundred years it has slept. This time, Claire’s touch awakens the magic within the diamond looking glass, a direct portal to the past and a way to communicate with Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt. The lure of power brings with it many perils, and a betrayal close to home thrusts Claire into a treacherous underworld. To protect the mirror, she travels into the Louvre museum in the dark of night, searches abandoned subway tunnels, and walks the catacombs of the dead. Welcome to Paris, France- where danger follows in every step. 

My Review:
This book has so many fun things in it like time travel, Fairy Tales(Beauty and the Beast-One of my favorites!), Egyptian lore; specifically to do with Cleopatra and five lost gemstones, and lots of magical elements. These are some of my favorites things to read about so I knew I would like this story. This book can be read as a stand alone, but to get the true flavor of this series, reading the first two books will make it a more enjoyable experience. 

Main character Claire is feisty and adventurous and I loved as she set out to find out about the mysteries behind the old family mirror and Cleopatra's gems. The setting is wonderful as it takes place in Paris, France, and the author supplies so many details you feel like you're really there. Claire learns a lot about herself as she is tested, but remains true to herself and the family she loves, her older brother and parents. This story moves quickly and keeps the excitement levels ramped up. It was fun trying to guess what would happen as the story played out. There will be other books in the series, as the ending leaves you waiting and wanting more.

There are so many intriguing things about this book and this series. It is written for the middle grade crowd, but I know older teens and adults who like fantasy will also really enjoy The Diamond Looking Glass. 

Purchase:  Amazon * Goodreads

Meet Author Dorine White:

My name is Dorine White. I graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in Humanities. I am a stay at home mom with 6 wonderful kids, and call the Northwest home. Writing wise, I am a member of the SCBWI, ANWA, LDS Storymakers and the PNWA. I write middle grade and YA fantasy. My first book, The Emerald Ring, was published May 2013 by Cedar Fort Books. In 2014 the second book was published, The Ruby Pendant. The third book in the series, The Diamond Looking Glass, is due out Oct 2015 from Skyrocket Press. My first YA fantasy novel, The Awakening, came out in 2014 from Skyrocket Press. Author Website * Blog- The Write Path * Twitter @Dorinewhite * Facebook Author Page

The Blog Tour Giveaway

A $25 Amazon gift code and copies of all three books: The Emerald Ring, The Ruby Pendant and The Diamond Looking Glass.   a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Excerpt 1
Claire looked up at the clock. The second hand seemed to creep around it in slow motion, and the five minutes left until the end of the school day dragged on. She looked down at her history handout. Instead of answers, she’d drawn pictures. If any of the other students saw her page, they’d laugh, amused that Claire still liked fairy tales. La Belle et Le Bête. Beauty and the Beast. The world knew it only as a fairy tale from a famous animated film. To twelve-year-old Parisian Claire La Fleur, it was family history. This weekend everybody in the family would be remembering that history, from the great-aunt three times removed, to the cousin nobody had heard from in a decade. This was the weekend of the reunion, the time of the choosing. And Claire could now participate. A small piece of paper hit her in the cheek. She looked up, and Pierre nodded his head toward the teacher, but his hint came too late. Claire had been caught not paying attention. “Mademoiselle Claire,” said Professeur LeBlanc. “Would you like to share the answer with the class?” Claire squirmed in her chair and then looked at Pierre for help. He gestured at the whiteboard. Claire’s eyes scanned the teacher’s notes. The words “Ancient Egypt” were scrawled across the gleaming surface, but she had no idea what the teacher had asked. “Anyone?” he questioned, turning from Claire with a frown. A hand shot up in the front of the classroom. “Oui. Yes, Margeritte?” the teacher asked. Claire clenched her teeth in an attempt not to groan. She should have known that Margeritte would jump on the question. The two were running neck and neck in becoming premier étudiant, first student, among twelve-year-olds, and Claire knew if she let her guard down even a little, Margeritte would catch up. “The land of the dead was ruled over by Osiris,” stated Margeritte. “Oui,” said Professeur LeBlanc. Just then the bell rang. Darn it! Why hadn’t it rung one minute earlier? Then Margeritte would not have scored the class point, Claire thought. She scuffed the toes of her shoes against the floor. “That’s not like you,” said Pierre. He stood in front of Claire’s desk, waiting for her to gather her things. “I know. I know,” sighed Claire. “This weekend’s got me freaking out.” Pierre ran his hand through his brown, wavy hair, moving strands out of his gray eyes. “You’re lucky you held it together until now, or your perfect grades would suffer.” “They’re not perfect. They’re just good.” “You’re the top student in the class,” said Pierre. “Call it what you want.” “Well,” said Claire. She picked up her books and stuck them into her satchel. “Margeritte scored big with her answer.” “Only because you spaced out.” Claire winced. “Come on. Let’s go.” 

Excerpt 2:
Together they hurried up a set of stairs and into a room filled with coffins and mummies. “This just keeps getting better and better,” said Claire. But, even she couldn’t complain about the amazing beauty of the golden sarcophagi and their bold colorful engravings. Through an archway, Claire could see into the next gallery running parallel to theirs. Along the wall, covered by glass cases, rested pages from the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Without meaning to, Claire began walking toward the display. She heard rhythmic voices in her head and had no doubt they spoke the words from the tablets. The voices began chanting, their words rising and falling like music. “Hey, Claire, this way,” said Jean-Luc. “Did you hear that?” “Hear what? Hurry up.” Claire snapped out of her stupor, shaking her head in confusion. She moved to Jean-Luc’s side and followed him past the rows of coffins. Claire was still wondering about the voices she’d heard and started when she heard shuffling behind her. When she turned, nobody was there. “Is anyone behind us?” she asked her brother. “No, we’re the last. Come on.” Claire scooted down the hallway, but couldn’t get rid of the feeling that someone was following her. She glanced over her shoulder. The remains of a mummy turned her way, pieces of faded yellow wrapping coming undone. What? She focused on the mummy, but this time it was still. Weird, she thought. She grabbed her brother’s hand as they ran. Finally they made it through the exhibit and caught up with everyone waiting for them in the crypt of the sphinx. The director sniffed as they came into the room, and then turned away. “We’re heading to the lower level and into the remains of the medieval Louvre,” he said. “The first part is open to tourists, but once we pass into the restricted level, watch your step.” They walked into a long curving hallway. The stone walls resembled a castle’s exterior, rough and patchy. The air smelled damp and sweet, and Claire sucked in a huge breath. “The fortress was built by Phillip Augustus to protect Paris from attack via the Seine River,” said the director. “You are walking along what used to be the moat.” Claire reached out her hand to feel the roughness of the stones by her side. She let her fingers trail along as she followed the group into a large room filled with arched entryways. Short columns decorated with stone palm fronds sprouted up from the floor. “This is the Salle of Saint-Louis, and to the rest of the world, it is the end of the tour. But follow me, we shall descend one floor lower,” said the director. Down they went, completely surround by heavy rock. The floor became uneven and the lights flickered as they descended. Then they came to an ultra-modern steel door. The director punched in a series of numbers, leaned over to let a red beam scan his eye, and then he pushed the handle of the vault. The door opened with a hiss of air. Heading through the door, Claire stepped into a rotunda. The circular wall before her anchored several steel doors, each the personal vault of someone high up and prestigious. The director led them to one door at the end. Jean-Luc stepped forward and entered the La Fleur family code into the keypad. Again, Claire heard the hiss of air as the door opened. She stepped around her brother, squeezing past several of the guards to get a better view. There wasn’t much to see—just wooden crates and jewelry boxes. Then she looked at the far wall, and she finally understood all the fuss. The oval mirror rested upright against a bed of black velvet. It looked like an old-fashioned, round handheld mirror, with the exception of the large round diamond attached to its handle. They all stood there looking, nobody moving, but then Claire heard a small hum. She looked around, but could not uncover the source of the sound. As the hum grew louder, everybody in the room noticed it, and began looking around, too. Then, the mirror started to vibrate, shaking itself spastically upon its velvet bed. Claire’s eyes widened as she watched the mirror inch off its stand. Then, she ducked as the mirror shot straight off the velvet and cruised right at her head. Jean-Luc reached out with an easy hand and snatched it. The mirror quieted, going still in his grasp. 

Janitors:Heroes of the Dustbin (Book 5) by Tyler Whitesides-Blog Tour Review and Giveaway

Product Description:
Title: Heroes of the Dustbin (Janitors #5)
Author: Tyler Whitesides
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Published Date:  September 8, 2015
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Hardcover: 416 pages
ISBN# 978-1-62972-065-4
FTC,FYI: I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.



Book Description:
Spencer knew that from the moment the Founding Witches had returned, the Rebel Janitors had begun disappearing. So many schools were defenseless now, the students’ minds rotting from Toxite breath while the janitors vanished without a trace. Then it became personal.

Although their enemies are powerful, their allies few, Spencer and his team of Rebels are not giving up! But what chance do a handful of kids and one rescued janitor have against the combined evil of the Founding Witches and the Sweepers? Can the Rebels close the source of all Glop and stop the Toxites once and for all-or is the world doomed to fall under the control of the sinister Bureau of Educational Maintenance? This explosive series finale is a gripping ride through conflicted loyalties and daring escapes, unexpected alliances and betrayals, and an ending you will never forget!

Amazon * Deseret Book
 

My Review:

I remember reading the first book thinking how creative the idea was behind the Janitors book. As a teacher, I was amused by the thought of there really being something behind my students that are always daydreaming and dozing off in the middle of class. The premise behind this series is that Toxites have infiltrated schools and inhibit learning in a variety of ways. They are usually invisible to students, and janitors have been fighting them and the corrupt Bureau of Educational Maintenance, to help students continue to learn. With the help of magical properties, cleaning tools and supplies are used as weapons against the growing threat to education. I wish I had the time to list out how many different cleaning products/tools have been used in this series. It's amazing how they are used and what they do. Kids really love this part of Janitors! You will honestly never look at a spray bottle of Windex or a mop the same way again.

Our reluctant heroes in the series have been Spencer and Daisy, two friends that find themselves caught up in the middle of a great war between the BEM and Rebel Janitors. There have been many good guys that have turned bad, and some bad that have turned out to be good, and the reader is always kept on their toes trying to figure it all out.

This series is perfect for kids ages 8-14 and any teen and adult who likes a great fantasy in this world. The fifth book has found Spencer and Daisy in a sticky situation where they are some of the only people left, along with the bully from their school, Dez, to save the imprisoned Rebel Janitors, defeat the Founding witches, Belzora, Ninfa and Holga, and destroy the source of the Toxites, which just happens to be at their school. You can see the growth of the sixth graders and how they really have to rely on each other and their strengths, which turn out to be bravery, loyalty and selflessness. There are some great surprises here and it does end with that bang that you were hoping for. I recommend that this series be read in the correct order(Books 1-5) because the story line builds upon each book until the climactic end. You will be glad that you jumped into the world of Janitors.

      Remember to enter the $25 giveaway down below!

Meet Author Tyler Whitesides:
TYLER WHITESIDES worked as a janitor at a middle school while attending college. It was there he discovered the many secrets and mysteries that can be hidden in a dusty school. Tyler graduated from Utah State University with a degree in music. He enjoys fly fishing in the mountains, cooking, and vacuuming. Tyler and his wife, Connie, live in beautiful northern Utah.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Blog Tour Schedule
September 1st
I Am A Reader – Spotlight
A Writer’s Bookshelf – Review
Min Reads and Reviews – Spotlight
Cuzinlogic – Spotlight
SolaFide Self-Publishing and Book Blog – Spotlight
Julie Antonovich Reece – Spotlight
September 2nd
Girl of 1000 Wonders – Spotlight
Highlighted Author – Spotlight
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – Spotlight
Mythical Books – Spotlight
September 4th
My Book A Day – Review
Little Red Reads – Spotlight
The Cheshire Cat’s Looking Glass – Spotlight
Gustosa Giveaways – Spotlight
September 7th
Julie Coulter Bellon – Review
Coffee Books & Art – Spotlight
deal sharing aunt – Spotlight
Bargnhtress – Spotlight
September 8th
Katie’s Clean Book Collection – Spotlight
LeahSay’s Views – Spotlight
Cassandra M’s Place – Spotlight
The Loopy Librarian – Spotlight
September 10th
Bonnie Gets A Say – Review
Maureen’s Musings – Spotlight
Domestic Chanteuse – Spotlight
September 11th
I Love to Read and Review Books – Review
Lori’s Reading Corner – Spotlight
Susan Heim on Parenting – Spotlight
Taffy’s Writings – Spotlight
September 12th
Wishful Endings – Spotlight
September 14th
Mel’s Shelves – Review
Lisa’s Research & Reviews – Spotlight
Writer’s Alley – Spotlight
Paranormal Sisters – Spotlight
September 15th
readalot – Review
Here We Go Again… Ready? – Spotlight
CBY Book Club – Spotlight
September 18th
Why Not? Because I Said So! – Review
Bound 2 Escape – Spotlight
Bookhounds YA – Spotlight
Diana’s Book Reviews – Spotlight
ContestPatti – Spotlight


    $25 Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon eGift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 9/25/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com eGift Card or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway />

The Time of the Fireflies by Kimberley Griffiths Little-Review

Product Details

• Title: The Time of the Fireflies
• Author:  Kimberley Griffiths Little
• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 7
• Lexile Measure: 720L (What's this?)
• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press (July 29, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545165636
• FTC, FYI: I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description:
Critically acclaimed author Kimberley Griffiths Little spins a thrilling story of one girl's race to unravel the curse that has haunted her family for generations.

When Larissa Renaud starts receiving eerie phone calls on a disconnected old phone in her family's antique shop, she knows she's in for a strange summer. A series of clues leads her to the muddy river banks, where clouds of fireflies dance among the cypress knees and cattails each evening at twilight. The fireflies are beautiful and mysterious, and they take her on a magical journey through time, where Larissa learns secrets about her family's tragic past -- deadly, curse-ridden secrets that could harm the future of her family as she knows it. It soon becomes clear that it is up to Larissa to prevent history from repeating itself and a fatal tragedy from striking the people she loves.
With her signature lyricism, Kimberley Griffiths Little weaves a thrilling tale filled with family secrets, haunting mystery, and dangerous adventure.
 
My Review:
Even though this series of books are Middle-grade books written for children ages 8-12, I can't help but be pulled into the mystery and magic found in Kimberley's writing and her stories. The Time of the Fireflies takes the reader back to the world that first started in The Healing Spell and continued in Circle of Secrets and When the Butterflies Came. Though I've never really been to the bayou or anywhere close to Louisiana, I feel like I have through the lush, descriptive writing found in Kimberley's books. 

The Time of the Fireflies is Larissa's story about her family and the past. There is an element of time travel, but I'm not giving away the secret of how that happens. I do love how she time travels and who she meets, and how this changes her life and her parent's lives. Larissa had some hard things that happened to her in the past when she almost drowned in the Bayou Teche. The year before, she fell from the broken bridge that she crossed over on a dare.Now she has a large scar running down the side of her face. Years earlier,her Aunt Gwen drowned the same way. Now she struggles to fit in and deal with the lot that life has handed her. A mysterious, creepy antique doll adds spooky parts to the story, but not too scary for the intended age group. I loved how the history of the town, Bayou Bridge, is shared from Larissa's trips to the past.

This is another beautiful "coming of age" story for a young girl who learns to let her past anger go, and embrace the wonder of new beginnings. Young people reading this book will be in for a ride of chills, thrills, mystery and learning to love and let go of the past. I would highly recommend this book to my students and my own kids. You too will be swept away with the mystery of the Fireflies and the secrets to be found in the bayou.

Meet Author: Kimberley Griffiths Little:
Kimberley Griffiths Little was born in San Francisco, but now lives in New Mexico with her husband and their three sons.

For such award-winning middle grade novels as When the Butterflies Came, The Last Snake Runner, The Healing Spell, and Circle of Secrets, her writing has been praised as "fast-paced and dramatic," with "characters painted in memorable detail" and "beautifully realized settings."

Kimberley adores anything old and musty with a secret story to tell and makes way too many cookies while writing.

She's stayed in the haunted tower room at Borthwick Castle in Scotland; sailed on the Seine in Paris; ridden a camel in Petra, Jordan; shopped the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul; and spent the night in an old Communist hotel in Bulgaria.

Her amazing, filmed-on-location book trailers can be found on Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/videos/list...

Awards: Southwest Book Award, Whitney Award for Best Youth Novel, Bank Street College Best Books of 2011 & 2014, Crystal Kite Finalist, and New Mexico Book Award Finalist.

Learn more about Kimberley and her other wonderful books here at... http://www.kimberleygriffithslittle.com

Cragbridge Hall, Volume 2: The Avatar Battle by Chad Morris-Blog Tour Review

Product Details

• Title:Cragbridge Hall, Volume 2: The Avatar Battle 
• Author: Chad Morris
• Print Length: 352 pages
• Publisher: Shadow Mountain
• Sold by: Amazon 
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1609078098
• FTC FYI: Received a review hard copy from Shadow Mountain in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 2014

The adventure continues when Abby and Derick begin their second semester at Cragbridge Hall, the most prestigious secondary school in the world. But when Grandpa Cragbridge admits them to the Council of Keys—a secret group of people who have keys to travel back in time—strange things begin to happen. One by one, members are found unconscious and unable to wake, their keys stolen. Now Abby and Derick must scramble to figure out who is behind the attacks before they become the next victims, which would give their enemy the power to change the past forever. A page-turning, time-travel adventure that teaches powerful lessons about choice and consequence, believing you can do hard things, and valuing history.

Author Video Interview 

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My Review:

I read The Avatar Battle: Cragbridge Hall Book two in less than 24 hours. How does it compare to the fabulous first book The Inventor’s Secret? The second book is just as engaging as the first book in this middle grade fantasy series. This series has some of my favorite elements in a story: humor, memorable characters, and time travel. Once again we enter the world of Cragbridge Hall where the brightest students in the year 2074 attend secondary school. Here they learn how to design their own virtual worlds and control robot animals. This is also where Grandpa Cragbridge is fighting to protect his school, and the world, from the evil Charles Muns who wants the keys to control time travel where he can change history to suit his means.

I love the adventure found in the books. The twins, Abby and Derek, also learn so much about themselves. They learn so many life lessons as they help their grandfather battle Muns. Some of the powerful messages readers will gain from this book are believing in yourself and doing hard things, realizing that with every choice you make comes great consequences, and that there are important lessons to be learned from studying about history. As a teacher I’m reminded of how much I’d love to work at a school like this one. What amazing technology happens at Cragbridge Hall!

Author Chad Morris’s writing style is fun, moving and there is never a dull moment in The Avatar Battle.  The story is a good read for anyone from 8 years old and up. Adults will enjoy this story/series as much as the tweens and teens. There are some fantastic surprises found in the last ¼ of the book. What a great way to write an exciting finish to this book. Now all that’s left to wonder is how long do we wait until book three comes out? 

You can purchase The Avatar Battle HERE

Meet Chad Morris:

Chad Morris is the author of the CRAGBRIDGE HALL series, a middle grade romp through a futuristic secondary school.

Chad Morris grew up wanting to become a professional basketball player or a rock star. (Inspired by Animal from The Muppets, he has been banging on drums since he was eight years old.) Neither of those plans quite panned out. After high school, he left the Rocky Mountains to live in Brazil for a few years then returned home to write and perform sketch comedy while going to college. He graduated from BYU with a couple of degrees and became a teacher and a curriculum writer.

Chad would love to teach at Craggbridge Academy. Unlike Oscar Craggbridge, he hasn't really invented anything, though his young son once sketched out blueprints for a machine that would turn celery into cookies.

Chad lives in Utah with his wife and five kids.

The Dreamstone by Mikey Brooks: Book 2 of The Dream Keeper Chronicles

***I first want to apologize to author Mikey Brooks for this going up so late. My family had to move a week before we had originally planned. Then it took two weeks before my Internet was working again. I missed the whole blog tour, and for that I'm very sorry. But, I still wanted to help promote this exciting middle grade fantasy book. This would be a great gift for your kids or grand kids. It's not too late to buy this before Christmas! So please continue reading this post and learn more about The Dreamstone (book two) and book one in the series, Dream Keepers.***-Sheila

Welcome to the Official Blog Tour of:

THE DREAMSTONE,

Book Two in The Dream Keeper Chronicles

A thrilling fantasy-adventure series for middle-grade readers!

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How I Found My Inspiration:

I have always been interested in hidden worlds. Ever since I was little I used to believe that the gateways to these worlds were closer than we thought. One day while exploring the woods that surrounded our farm in Missouri I found the remains of an ancient house that had been blown away in a tornado. The only thing left was a bit of the foundation and a set of stone steps leading to an invisible door. I often imagined as I stood there that if I just took one step forward I’d find myself in a dreamland. A place where magic existed and adventure called.

It wasn’t hard for me to believe in the magic of Oz because I had seen Dorothy’s house. On occasion I had found numerous rabbit holes leading to wonderlands. I believed the woods were magic—and they were. Even today I find a lot of my inspiration from the mysteries hidden there.

I wanted to write something based off the classics I had loved as a child. What if Oz and Wonderland were the same place? They were both dreamlands after all. I also wanted a world that wasn’t limited to just a few people to enter—I wanted everyone to visit it. The ideas planted as a child carried on and became the inspiration for my book. I had found the way into a hidden world. It isn’t Oz, or Wonderland, it’s Dreams.

I am excited to announce the release of book two in middle-grade fantasy series THE DREAMSTONE. It is an action-packed adventure with a toe in both the real world and the fantastic. 

DREAMS: 

Dorothy called it Oz, 

Alice called it Wonderland, 

but Nightmares call it HOME. 

When Parker’s mom is dreamnapped by the wicked Mab, it is up to him and Kaelyn to save her. When they return to Dreams, they discover Mab isn’t their only problem. Gladamyr has lost his powers and the only way to get them back is to become what he fears the most—a nightmare.

SYNOPSIS:

In Book 1, The Dream Keeper, Parker and Kaelyn discovered that Dreams was a real place that everyone visits while they sleep. An evil nightmare named Fyren took control of the gateway to that world. Parker and Kaelyn teamed up with Gladamyr, the only dream keeper to escape capture by Fyren, and together they save Dreams from Fyren’s rule. After the defeat of Fyren the children return to Awake to find Mab, Fyren’s next in command, has dreamnapped Parker’s mom. 

The story continues in Book 2, The Dreamstone, as the children return to Dreams to save Parker’s mom. Finding her, however, is not their only problem. Mab has waged a war on the Crossing and has sent an army of dragons to bring it down, nightmares have been released from prison, and Gladamyr has lost his powers to shape-shift. Parker, Kaelyn, and Gladamyr must once again defy all odds to set things right and save Parker’s mom before it’s too late.    

In Praise of THE DREAMSTONE:

“The Dreamstone, by Mikey Brooks, is a wild stallion of a story: fast, thrilling, and unpredictable. I was hooked in chapter one. If he can snare the attention of an old reader like me, he’ll have kids sneaking this one into class underneath their text books…If this one isn’t a kid-pleaser, I don’t know what is.” –Michelle Isenhoff, author of the Divided Decade Trilogy and the Taylor Davis Series.

“This really is a cracking novel. Action-packed and spellbinding!”—Cas Peace, author of The Artisans of Albia series.

"If you like the Percy Jackson, Fablehaven, or the Harry Potter series, you'll love this!" –An Amazon Reviewer.

AUTHOR BIO:

Mikey Brooks is a small child masquerading as an adult. On occasion you’ll catch him dancing the funky chicken, singing like a banshee, and pretending to have never grown up. He is the author/illustrator of several books including the best-selling ABC ADVENTURES: MAGICAL CREATURES and BEAN’S DRAGONS as well as the middle-grade fantasy-adventure series THE DREAM KEEPER CHRONICLES. His art can be seen in many forms from picture books to full room murals. He loves to daydream with his three daughters and explore the worlds that only the imagination of children can create. Mikey has a BS degree in English from Utah State University and works full-time as a freelance illustrator and cover designer. As a member of the Emblazoners, he is one of many authors devoted to ‘writing stories on the hearts of children’. He is also one of the hosts of the Authors’ Think Tank Podcast. You can find more about him and his books at: www.insidemikeysworld.com

Now Available in Audiobook!

BOOK LINKS:

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1939993237 

Hardback: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1939993229

eBook: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GP33YZO

ISBN:

Hardback: 978-1-939993-22-9, Paperback: 978-1-939993-23-6, eBook: 978-1-939993-24-3

PRICE:

Hardback: $19.95, Paperback: $12.99, EBook: $2.99.

 

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