BOOK REVIEW: Moshe Comes to Visit by Tehila Sade Moyal

Moshe Comes to Visit

Author: Tehila Sade Moyal

Genre: Picture Book
Publication Date: 14th October 2017
Publisher: Simple Story

Book Description:

"I find it funny when mother says

There is no need to fear monsters

But she herself is afraid of poor Moshe…"

In each of us there exists a fear that others are unafraid…

Night after night Ethan wakes up with "noises of monsters." Until one night his father finds a creative way to calm his fears.

However, when Moshe comes to visit their home, Ethan discovers that his mother is afraid of Moshe. Despite her fear, Ethan actually likes Moshe.

Ethan suggests using the same creative solution to calm his mother’s fears.

This book deals with coping with fear, and shows that everyone is afraid of something that another person is not.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

MY REVIEW

Our young protagonist (no identification provided) swears there are monsters lurking in his room at night, waiting to attack him. His parents, on the other hand, assure him he has nothing to worry about and comes up with an action plan to overcome any monster should they appear. This plan is written in the form of an agreement entitled "Agreement with Fears". The story takes a shift from the protagonist's fear to the parents' fear in the form of a talking cockroach, who the protagonist quickly befriends, calling his new friend Moshe. To help his parents overcome their fear, the protagonist creates an Agreement with Fears just as his parents had done for him.

Cute is the adjective that comes to mind when I think of Moshe Comes to Visit, mostly because of Moshe, but the story overall was adorable. I must admit, after reading this book, I felt bad about all the insects I have squashed over the years. I don't know how well the message will go over with children as the protagonist's fear wasn't fully explored, thus we don't necessarily see how he overcame his fear. It was sort of brushed under the rug, the focus shifting instead to his parents, which isn't necessarily irrelevant as it's good to highlight that it's not only children who exhibit fear. However, as this story is supposed to be targeted at children, the focus should have been on how he learned to overcome his fear. Why Moshe was able to communicate verbally with the main character was beyond me, but kids have a very vivid imagination, so I'm sure it won't throw them off completely, and Moshe is just the cutest cockroach ever.

It was a good read. It definitely put a smile on my face. I wouldn't say I was sold on the message, but I acknowledged the author's intention.

VERDICT

Award: Silver

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Source: Author

Book Blitz & Giveaway - The Promise Kept by Maggie Mae Gallagher

The Promise Kept

(Echo Springs, #2)

Author: Maggie Mae Gallagher

Publication Date: August 19th, 2020

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

Cybil Roe gave her heart away thirteen years ago only to have it wind up shattered. With painstaking determination, she has rebuilt her life into something to be proud of today. Yet all her future plans are upended when the only man she has ever loved returns to Echo Springs. Nor does it help that he seems bound and determined to draw her back into his life. Cybil vows to stay away from him, no matter what seeing him all the time does to her resolve.

Miles Keaton wiped the dust of his hometown off his shoes years ago, never expecting that life would lead him back to the place where he had begun. Coming home to Echo Springs, to Cybil, to start a new law practice and a new life is a risk he never thought he’d take. She hates him – with good reason. Years ago, he walked away when she needed him the most. But now is he back, and intends to argue the case of his life, one more important than any he has debated in a courtroom, because she is the one woman he cannot live without.

Can Miles convince Cybil to take a second chance on him, or will a secret she has kept all these years destroy any future they might have?

PLUS! Book 1 - The Fixer Upper - is only 99¢ for a limited time!

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Book Blitz & Giveaway - The Six Month Lease by Melanie Munton

The Six Month Lease

Author: Melanie Munton

Publication Date: August 18th, 2020
Genre: Adult Comedy / Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

Never have I ever…moved in with a guy after dating him for only three weeks.

Just kidding. That’s exactly what I did.

And like most of you are probably thinking, it inevitably blew up in my face when we broke up two days after signing our lease.

Now, I’m stuck living with my ex. The same man who turned my life completely upside down in record time.

For. Six. Whole. Months.

It doesn’t matter how many times he flashes those abs at me after a shower, or how close his bedroom is to mine. I will resist him because he’s simply not the right guy for me.

But if I thought he’d done a number on me before, that’s nothing compared to what happens after I finally learn the secret he’s been keeping from me this entire time.

Buy Links:

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Book Blitz & Giveaway - Shameless by Sybil Bartel

Shameless

(Alpha Bodyguard #8)

Author: Sybil Bartel

Publication Date: July 17th, 2020
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

Bodyguard.

Shadow.

Warrior.

The Marines trained me to be a weapon. Tactical warfare was in my blood. I didn’t think twice when I was deployed for the fifth time because I was born battle ready. Then a mission went south and left me with a medical discharge.

Too many years downrange, I didn’t fit in the civilian world. Taking a job with the best security firm in the business seemed like a solid plan…until I was assigned babysitting duty for a spoiled little rich girl. The only thing worse than the assignment was the client’s smart mouth. She thought she could run it—all over me—and not suffer the consequences. She was wrong.

Now she was about to find out how shameless a bodyguard could be.

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Book Blitz & Giveaway - The Other Side of the Looking Glass by Kathleen Harryman

The Other Side of the Looking Glass

Author: Kathleen Harryman

Publication Date: June 29th, 2020

Genre: Adult Romance / Suspense

Book Description:

She wakes up to a life she doesn’t recognize…

And to a husband she can’t imagine loving.

Kate find herself in a hospital with no memory of who she is or anything about her life. Everything is blank.

An attractive, well dressed and obviously wealthy man stands there claiming to be her husband. Yet, as she first looks into his cold eyes, she wonders how she could have loved and married the man.

As Kate is taken home to her luxury mansion. she realizes her ordeal is just beginning. Life with the controlling Liam, her husband, is more than she bargained for.

Then, her memory starts to come back and the truth emerges…

“A well written, thought-out, intriguing and beguiling story by the author, as told by the characters involved.” ~ Goodreads Review ~

“The Other Side of The Looking Glass by Kathleen Harryman was intense, intriguing, well paced and an absolute pleasure to read.” ~ Goodreads review

Read this romantic suspense thriller from the author of Hidden Danger and When Darkness Falls, The Other Side of the Looking Glass is a tale of subterfuge, mystery, mistaken identity and true love.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Booked for Murder by R.J. Blain

Booked for Murder

(Vigilante Magical Librarians #1)

Author: R.J. Blain

Publication Date: August 18th, 2020

Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy

Book Description:

Life as a bodyguard and driver for the rich, famous, and powerful is dangerous on a good day, and after sustaining a crippling injury while on duty, Janette’s left with few options. Having signed a ‘for life’ contract but unable to work, she uses her skills to disappear.

Her new life as a librarian suits her. Nobody cares she limps and sometimes requires a cane to walk. She’s wanted for her knowledge, not her lethal magic. She’s surrounded by books, a woman’s best friend.

But when her former employer’s best friend is murdered on the steps of her library, old loyalties and secrets might destroy her—or set her free.

Teaming up with her co-workers to find the killer might keep her from being booked for murder, but unless she’s careful, she’ll find out exactly how far her ex-boss will go to reclaim what is rightfully his.

Her. For life.

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Book Blitz & Giveaway - The Fall Changes by Marie McGrath

The Fall Changes

(Honey Cove , #1)

Author: Marie McGrath

Publication Date: August 11th, 2020

Genre: YA Romance

Book Description:

Change where you live.

Change your parents being married.

And maybe, change who you are.

At 16 years old, Riley Mills has had more change than she ever wanted. A new high school would be daunting for most teens, but between getting attention from the most popular girl and being paired with a boy for her class project, she is navigating many situations she never could have imagined.

With homecoming fast approaching and rumors about her swirling, Riley must confront her true nature. Is she a popular girl at heart? Could someone actually like her?

With no clear answers, Riley may just find some answers from the most unexpected sources.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Witch & Wolf: The Complete Series by R.J. Blain

Witch & Wolf: The Complete Series

Author: R.J. Blain

Publication Date: December 18th, 2018

Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy

Book Description:

Life is never easy for those with the strength to change the world.

These are their stories.

Inquisitor

When Allison is asked to play Cinderella-turned-Fianceé at a Halloween ball, the last thing she expected was to be accused of murder. She has to find the killer or she’ll be put to death for the crimes she didn’t commit. To make matters worse, the victims are all werewolves.

On the short list of potential victims, Allison has to act fast, or the killer will have one more body to add to his little black book of corpses.

Winter Wolf

When Nicole dabbled in the occult, she lost it all: Her voice, her family, and her name. Now on the run from the Inquisition, she must prove to herself—and the world—that not all wizards are too dangerous to let live.

Blood Diamond

The world is full of corpses, and Jackson knows them by name. When a group strives to destroy the Inquisition, his powers may be all standing between the supernaturals and extinction.

Silver Bullet

Finished with being a victim, Vicky will do everything in her power to put an end to Basin once and for all, even if it means she must make the ultimate sacrifice and bite a silver bullet for the sake of her family, her friends, and the rest of the supernatural world.

This collection also contains Tales of the Winter Wolf Vol. Six.

Buy Links:

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Cover Reveal & Giveaway - Arcadia Saga by Al Stone

All Three Books in the Arcadia Saga Arrives in Paperback

for the First Time!

Grab Your Copy on Amazon

August 12th!

Talisman Of El

Series: Arcadia

Author: Al Stone

Publisher: Centrinian

Publication Date: 12th August 2020

Book Description:

WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS A LIE?

One Planet.

Two Worlds.

Population: Human ... 7 billion.

Others ... unknown.

When 14-year-old Char­lie Blake wakes up sweat­ing and gasp­ing for air in the mid­dle of the night, he knows it is hap­pen­ing again. This time he wit­nesses a bru­tal mur­der. He's afraid to tell any­one. No one would believe him ... because it was a dream. Just like the one he had four years ago - the day before his dad died.

Char­lie doesn't know why this is hap­pen­ing. He would give any­thing to have an ordi­nary life. The prob­lem: he doesn't belong in the world he knows as home.

He belongs with the others.

Book Blitz & Giveaway - I Am Here Now by Barbara Bottner

I Am Here Now

Author: Barbara Bottner

Published by: Macmillan

Publication Date: August 4th, 2020

Genre: YA Coming of Age

Book Description:

Set in the 1960s, Barbara Bottner’s I Am Here Now is a beautiful novel in verse about one artist’s coming of age. It’s a heartbreaking, powerful and inspiring depiction of what it’s like to shatter your life—and piece it all back together.

You can’t trust Life to give you decent parents, or beautiful eyes, a fine French accent or an outstanding flair for fashion. No, Life does what it wants. It’s sneaky as a thief.

Maisie’s first day of High school should be exciting, but all she wants is to escape.

Her world is lonely and chaotic, with an abusive mother and a father who’s rarely there to help.

So when Maisie, who finds refuge in her art, meets the spirited Rachel and her mother, a painter, she catches a glimpse of a very different world—one full of life, creativity, and love—and latches on.

But as she discovers her strengths through Rachel’s family, Maisie, increasingly desperate, finds herself risking new friendships, and the very future she’s searching for.

Buy Links:

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Cover Reveal - Relentless Habit by Karen Renee

Relentless Habit

(O-Town, #1)

Author: Karen Renee

Publication Date: September 1st, 2020
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

Cecilia

I moved to Orlando for a fresh start.

Nobody could know my secret.

Catching the attention of the hottest DJ in all of Orlando wasn’t in the plan.

He’s got moves, and they’re not just good. They are good.

Like the beats he spins in the booth, I fall fast for him and his crazy family.

When he finds out about my past, it won’t just break my heart but also crush my soul.

Brock

The third time I saw her at a crowded club, I had to have her.

After our first kiss, I knew she was a habit I would never want to break.

Knowing what she hid from me reinforces what I’ve known for so long. Women cannot be trusted.

Even knowing the worst, I can’t stay away from her.

But when push comes to shove, will I be able to keep her safe?

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK ¦ Barnes & Noble ¦ iBooks ¦ Kobo ¦ Smashwords ¦ Angus & Robertson

About the Author:

Karen Renee is the award-winning author of the Riot MC series, the Beta series, and upcoming O-Town series. She has been writing since she was a teen, but has only recently brought her dream to life. Karen spent years working in the wonderful world of advertising, banking, and local television media research. She is a Jacksonville native, as well as a proud wife and mother. When she’s not at the soccer field or cooking, you can find her at her local library, the grocery store, in her car jamming out to some tunes, or hibernating while she writes and/or reads books.

Author Links:

Website ¦ Goodreads ¦ Facebook ¦ Twitter ¦ Instagram ¦ Bookbub

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Book Blitz & Giveaway - August Fog by A.L. Goulden

August Fog

(August Fog, #1)

Author: A.L. Goulden

Publication Date: August 1st 2020

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction

Book Description:

Monica Waters has 31 days to choose between the love of her life or her soulmate. Juggling an unglamorous Hollywood career and a clumsy injury with an endless cocktail of antidepressants and dull daily routines, Monica moves through her thirties in a fog, avoiding the pain of her damaged marriage, broken body, and fragile mind.

Until he comes along.

When emerging artist Quinn Matthews moves next door, just coping with the downward spiral of life is no longer feasible. Their powerful connection ignites a relationship that will tip the boundaries of their perfectly balanced lives, sparking a mutual obsession and life-altering affair.

Monica tosses her prescriptions, striving to be free of their control, but with each passing summer day, dangerous secrets seep into their quiet suburban life, inching toward disaster. Sometimes the truth is hidden for a reason.

“This is a contemporary tale of a woman’s struggle to navigate love and mental illness, while defining where and how she will land on her own feet.” –Independent Reader

“A raw and honest look at the ugly secrets behind a flawed marriage and the stigmas of depression.”

Buy Links:

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BOOK REVIEW: Halloween Monsters by Eric Guth

Halloween Monsters

Author: Eric Guth

Genre: Children's Fiction / Picture Book
Publication Date: 3rd August 2020

Book Description:

Spooky. Informative. Fun!

Learn the facts and origins of famous Halloween Monsters. Each creature is formed with the objects that best represent them. Mummies, Vampires, Witches—discover several of the scariest and most iconic monsters that have been featured in the media, used as decorations and worn as costumes for decades. This collection is sure to be an enjoyable and informative experience for both kids and parents.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

MY REVIEW

Lions and tigers and bears ... Oh, wait, nope, wrong monsters. The fantasical beasts featured in Halloween Monsters are the threads of myth, legend, folklore and fairy tale. Honestly, this book was very fascinating. It grabbed my attention from the get-go. I'm a huge dork when it comes to mythical creatures and this featured the most familiar and popular of them all. Most of the information I was already aware of, but there were some interesting facts revealed that gave me something to think about. Despite the fun facts, I found the presentation did somewhat slack and the graphics used did not compliment the story. The font was inconsistent throughout, some of which was a little difficult to decipher, which I found jarring.

I would have given it a higher rating were it not for the presentation. It would have been nice to see some cool illustrations as the topic at hand was intriguing. Overall, it was a fun read, which I would recommend to kids aged 7+.

VERDICT

Award: Silver

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Source: Author

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Queen of Fate & Fire by Annie Anderson

Queen of Fate & Fire

(Rogue Ethereal #6)

Author: Annie Anderson

Publication Date: July 28th, 2020

Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy

Book Description:

A crown I don’t want. A bargain I can’t take back. A life I refuse to sacrifice.

After four hundred years on my own, one would think I’d be able to walk away and never look back. I’d done it a thousand times before with nary an inkling of guilt. But with my brand new predicament, there is no way I can turn down the offered bargain—not if I want everyone I love to stay alive.

Now, all I have to do is trek through the very realm I nearly died to keep sealed. Sure. Because there’s no way that could go wrong.

Unseelie Court, here I come.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

Cover Reveal - The Lost King by Frazier Alexander

The Lost King

(FyreSyde Publishing)

Author: Frazier Alexander

Publication Date: November 10th, 2020

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Book Description:

In an ancient place, in an ancient time…

King Athan vanishes at sea. His children, prince Thalos and princess Thara, drift apart with age, their kingdom falling into ruin. Thalos stubbornly clings to the past; Thara, resentful of her father, looks to the future. In the wake of this decline, a beautiful enchantress usurps the throne from the estranged siblings. She exiles Thalos to the edge of the world and slowly enslaves Thara’s mind.

In his exile, Thalos finds another castaway—an old comrade of his father. Together they begin a voyage in search of the lost king. Thara, meanwhile, resists the new queen’s coercive spells and finds a resistance of creatures still loyal to her father.

With a vast world of enchanted islands and beings between them, Thalos and Thara struggle to restore their family and rekindle the hope of the true king’s return.

About the Author

Along with creating his own mythological backdrop for his stories, Frazier is an amateur calligrapher, map-maker, and artist. He is currently working on his master’s in Medieval Literature at the University of North Texas.

Author Links:

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BOOK REVIEW: Open Minds (Mindjack: Kira Book 1) by Susan Kaye Quinn

Open Minds

Series: Mindjack: Kira Book 1
Author: Susan Kaye Quinn

Genre: YA Fantasy / Dystopian

Book Description:

When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.

Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can’t read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can’t be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf’s mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she’s dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

MY REVIEW

Trying to fit into a world of mind readers isn't an easy task for Kira Moore, a zero who can't read thoughts or have her thoughts read by others. Ever the optimists, her family and her best friend Raf still think there's a chance Kira could develop her mind-reading abilities despite the fact that at the age of sixteen she is long past the usual age of transition. As Kira starts to accept the fact that she's destined for life as a zero, the unexpected happens: she jacks Raf's mind and controls his actions. This new-found ability terrifies Kira, who not only has a hard time trying to find her place in the world, but she now has to hide the fact that she poses a threat to everyone around her. Kira is determined to stay away from Raf and push her new ability to the side, however, Simon, a fellow pupil at her school, has other plans. Simon is also a mind-jacker. Feeling a little less isolated, Kira allows Simon to teach her the ropes but soon start to realise that keeping the secret of being a mind-jacker comes with no perks as it means she has to decide whether or not to pretend to be a mind-reader or a zero, which would mean betraying the trust of those she loves.

It's not long before Kira's secret life start to weight heavy on her, causing a disruption in her home and school life. When she discovers that she and Simon aren't the only mind-jackers in town and that Simon has been trying to recruit her to join an organisation rooted in keeping the identity of mind-jackers a secret in order to evade capture by an organisation her dad works for, she starts to wonder whether or not Simon is friend or foe and whether or not her she can trust her family.

I must admit, I have had this ebook in my library for some time now, and while it has taken me over two years to get to it, it was worth the read. It was a thrilling book full of action, drama and intrigue. It reminded me somewhat of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley with the whole concept of existing in a world where your thoughts aren't private. It's very intrusive and terrifying, the idea that everyone is sharing their mental space, yet what I found interesting was the fact that Kira's fear stemmed from the fact that society ostracises those who cannot read minds and not the fact that being a mind-reader would be mean losing one's identity in a sea of intercepting thoughts.

It was an enjoyable read with a formidable leading character. I loved that Kira wasn't perfect, neither were the other characters. They wee flawed and didn't pretend to be anything more or less than who they were. I should have liked Raf more than I did, being that he's Kira's love interest, but I found Simon more engaging as there were more levels and complexities to his character.

VERDICT

Award: Gold

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Source: Own copy