BOOK REVIEW: Gingersnap Snatcher by Vicky Weber and You Weren't With Me by Chandra Ghosh Ippen

Gingersnap Snatcher

Author: Vicky Weber

Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publication Date: 7th December 2021

Book Description:

Abuela made cookies to eat after school.

The gingersnap kind, just the thought made us drool!

We rushed home excited. We opened the door…

...The cookies were missing—just crumbs on the floor!

Can you help the kids crack the case of the Gingersnap Snatcher?

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK

MY REVIEW

Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? Well, that is the question the kids in this book find themselves asking. Having rushed home from school, eagerly anticipating the warm cookies awaiting them, three young siblings find themselves disappointed when they arrive home and the only thing awaiting them are cookie crumbs. So what's the solution? Find the cookie thief.

This was a wonderfully illustrated book that's full of fun and adventure. And it all happens in the confines of their home. Loved the ending and discovering who the culprit was. The rhyming scheme was fun, but it's the colourful illustrations that really stood out for me. I think young minds would be fascinated by this book. It would certainly have their inquisitive minds excited. A wonderful read.

VERDICT

Rating: 5 Stars

Source: BookSirens

You Weren't With Me

Author: Chandra Ghosh Ippen

Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publication Date: 18th April 2019

Book Description:

Little Rabbit and Big Rabbit are together after a difficult separation, but even though they missed each other, Little Rabbit is not ready to cuddle up and receive Big Rabbit’s love. Little Rabbit needs Big Rabbit to understand what it felt like when they were apart. “Sometimes I am very mad. I don’t understand why you weren’t with me,” says Little Rabbit, “I worry you will go away again.” Big Rabbit listens carefully and helps Little Rabbit to feel understood and loved. This story was designed to help parents and children talk about difficult separations to help them reconnect and find their way back to each other. 

The book may be helpful to families who have experienced: 
Divorce or caregiver separation 
Caregiver work-related separations 
Military service related separations 
Immigration related separations 
Child welfare related separations 
Parental incarceration 
Parental substance use related separations 

The book is available in Spanish under the title "Cuando no Estabas Conmigo." This is the 2nd book by this author illustrator team. The first book "Once I Was Very Very Scared," was designed to help grown-ups understand and talk to children about stressful events they may have experienced.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

MY REVIEW

A sweet tale about how to deal with abandonment and separation anxiety. Little Rabbit explains to Big Rabbit all the emotions he feels due to Big Rabbit having been away from him for so long. I liked how patient and understanding Big Rabbit was of Little Rabbit and how she explained to Little Rabbit that being away from him had a great effect on her also. I liked the illustrations, but there weren't many variations present, so it just seemed as though the same image was being replayed. It was just a little too repetitive.

Overall it was a good read. As the situation behind their separation wasn't explained or elaborated on, it will definitely leave young children asking numerous questions, so it's definitely a conversation starter. An enjoyable read.

VERDICT

Rating: 4 Stars

Source: Own copy

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Ruby Island by Stephanie Ruth

Ruby Island

Author: Stephanie Ruth

Publication Date: November 12th, 2021

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

First impressions are hard to shake…

Big-headed ex-rugby star, Daniel Dante, refuses to believe a word celebrated ceramicist Kanako Janssen says, though why her new landlord’s opinion bothers her so much is anyones’s guess. She has enough to worry about, with her soon to be ex-husband refusing to sign divorce papers, Daniel’s dog appearing regularly to freak her out, and an exhibition date looming.

Kanako is everything Daniel isn’t, and nothing he’s used to. Trust doesn’t come easily to a player who’s been burnt so publicly before, but if he can’t learn to lean on this fresh-faced, quirky artist, he could well lose her altogether.

Like the swallows, Kanako’s only in Otago for the season. But willing or not, the self-proclaimed introvert is being slowly absorbed into small town life on the lake, and she’s in grave danger of falling in love with it.

RUBY ISLAND is the second story in Stephanie Ruth’s Otago Waters series, set in the beautiful South Island of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Each book stands alone, but reading them in order provides a deeper experience. Intended for readers who enjoy their feel-good romance on the steamy side, and promising a happily ever after.

Sign on to Stephanie Ruth’s newsletter to receive bonus short stories, prologues, epilogues, and cut scenes set in the same world, with the characters you love. www.stephanie-ruth.com

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK

Cover Reveal - Wine Country King by Claire Marti

Wine Country King

(California Suits, #2)

Author: Claire Marti

Publication Date: January 13th, 2022

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

A cocky, charming real estate attorney.

A brilliant, gorgeous sommelier.

Neither has time for romance.

One mind-blowing kiss changes everything.

Jack Cassidy heads the team opening the next in an exclusive line of boutique hotels, this one in wine country. Working with his best friend’s sister should make it easier, tapping into her expertise about the area and its wines. The pair have been friends for years, so sharing an apartment shouldn’t pose any issues… except for the simmering heat building between them.

Campbell Taylor’s one of only a handful of women to battle the all-boys club and go for the title of master sommelier. She didn’t rise to her position by being a pushover, but living and working with her brother’s best friend – the man she’s secretly crushed on for years – might prove to be her greatest challenge. How can she get him to see her as more than Cameron’s little sister? And will their undeniable attraction derail her dreams?

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

About the Author

Claire Marti is an award winning and USA Today Bestselling author of swoonworthy Contemporary Romance novels set in Southern California, including the Pacific Vista Ranch series and the spin-off California Suits series. She lives in San Diego with her husband, silly dog, and two clever cats.

Claire started writing stories as soon as she was old enough to pick up pencil and paper. After graduating from the University of Virginia with a BA in English Literature, Claire was sidetracked by other careers, including practicing law, selling software for legal publishers, and managing a non-profit animal rescue for a Hollywood actress.

When Claire's not writing, she's teaching yoga. You can find her sixty+ online classes on the international website www.yogadownload.com. A breast cancer survivor, Claire is a sought-after speaker on the power of yoga and meditation. She's been published in numerous magazines with articles on wellness and is the author of a memoir, Come Ride with Me Along the Big C, on her experience beating breast cancer.

Claire loves to hear from readers!

Reach out via email or sign up for her newsletter at www.clairemarti.com

Author Links:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Book Blitz & Giveaway - A Christmas to Fight For by Jessica Frances

A Christmas to Fight For

Author: Jessica Frances

Publication Date: November 12th, 2021

Genre: Adult Fantasy Romance / Holiday / LGBTQ+

Book Description:

As the last of my kind, I’ve long lived in the shadows. But, with the death of my father, I have a dying wish to fulfill, and I can no longer keep quiet. I can no longer stand back and watch as the Santa Claus Organization takes everything from us. So, I launch an attack that was doomed from the start. I am but one krampus up against the cruelest organization in the world. I knew it was a long shot. I knew I would likely die.

Then something surprising happens. The most recent Santa Claus comes into my life, and I don’t know what to make of him. He wasn’t what I was expecting. He’s supposed to be a puppet. A heartless, despicable Santa. But he’s not. He’s … a good person?

Do I have things wrong? Have I had them wrong all along? Or am I falling for the biggest con in the world?

Either way, change is coming for North Pole, and this is sure to be the deadliest Christmas on record and a time that no one will ever forget.

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Blood of the Lily by S.D. Huston

Blood of the Lily

(Clash of Goddesses, #1)

Author: S.D. Huston

Publication Date: November 1st, 2021

Genre: YA Fantasy

Book Description:

This debut novel from S.D. Huston is a partial fairytale retelling of Snow White & Rose Red mashed up with Irish mythologies!

Triplet sisters, one dead, one kidnapped. A vengeful leprechaun and a scheming goddess. Can Lily save her last sister?

When sixteen-year-old sisters Lily and Rose take it upon themselves to aid a tiny man with a long beard in distress, he curses them into a world of trouble. Lily contends with the grief that lies behind her while trapped in a suffocating silent world of her own design, and she must now face the threat of what might lie ahead.

Whether she believes it or not, leprechauns are real, and in Lugh she has made an unfortunate enemy. Now the race is on to save Rose from the deranged whims of an unscrupulous faery and find out what, or who, is behind this mysterious turn of events. To find the answers, Lily must face the darkness that plagues her: both inside and out. On the grand stage of this world and the Otherworld, an adventure bursts forth so chaotic perhaps even Lily can’t silence it.

Weaving lore, light, and the lush beauty of the Irish language into the wintery landscape of a mystical Ireland around its 3rd century, Blood of the Lily brings to life a world where even the most fantastical places and creatures can be corrupted by the realities of life. This first book in the Clash of Goddesses series transports you into the enchanting and masterfully crafted Otherworld of Éire as one may only see in dreams. Start your journey today!

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK

Book Blast & Giveaway - The Forgotten Memories of Vera Glass by Anna Priemaza

The Forgotten Memories of Vera Glass

Author: Anna Priemaza

Publisher‏: Amulet Books (November 16, 2021)

Language: ‎English

Hardcover: ‎304 pages

ISBN-10: ‎1419752596

ISBN-13:‎ 978-1419752599

Book Description:

Praise for THE FORGOTTEN MEMORIES OF VERA GLASS 

"The narrative concepts are novel, and the characters are easy to feel empathy for. Vera’s devout Christianity is approached with nuance and has a strong influence on her character without being preachy (there’s positive atheist representation as well). . .A clever head trip." ―Kirkus Reviews

A mind-bending YA novel about a world where everyone has a bit of magic in them—but some magic is being used to change the world in unspeakable ways

Vera has a nagging feeling that she’s forgetting something. Not her keys or her homework—something bigger. Or someone. When she discovers her best friend Riven is experiencing the same strange feeling, they set out on a mission to uncover what’s going on. Everyone in Vera's world has a special ability—a little bit of magic that helps them through the day. Perhaps someone’s ability is interfering with their memory? Or is something altering their very reality? Vera and Riven intend to fix it and get back whatever or whomever they’ve lost. But how do you find the truth when you can’t even remember what you’re looking for in the first place?

The Forgotten Memories of Vera Glass is a cleverly constructed, heartbreaking, and compelling contemporary YA novel—with a slight fantasy twist—about memory, love, grief, and the invisible bonds that tie us to each other.

Buy Links:

 

Book Blitz & Giveaway - The Lies Between Us by Yolanda Olson

The Lies Between Us

Author: Yolanda Olson

Publication Date: October 17th, 2020

Genre: Adult Dark Romance / Taboo

Book Description:

2018 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal Winner in the Fiction – Social Issues

Running away has always been something I’m good at.

I’ve run far away from home and back again thinking that each time would be the last.

But things are a lot different lately. I’ve learned that tides turn, seasons change, and sometimes, people do too.

I haven’t seen Hoyt Blackburn in a decade because I was so convinced he wasn’t worth my time anymore. I guess this is where I’ve changed since I found out that his execution is one of those inevitable things that life handed him. I can’t ever remember him being a bad man, yet I can’t shake that something isn’t right about what’s happening to him.

Maybe it’s because I miss him.

Maybe it’s because I wanna lay eyes on the man one last time.

Will he remember me? Will he even care? I don’t know; the only thing I can honestly say for sure is that there are still some secrets we have left between us that have to be spoken before he draws his last breath. Otherwise, when that day comes, they may have just killed me too.

Only 99¢ for a limited time!

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Book Blitz & Giveaway - A Wish Too Dark And Kind by M.L. Blackbird

A Wish Too Dark And Kind

Author: M.L. Blackbird

Publication Date: November 1st, 2021

Genre: Adult Dark Fantasy / Horror / Urban Fantasy

Book Description:

Among the immortals that inhabit our world, Arnaud Demeure is known as the man who can fulfill your one true wish or who can also conjure your worst nightmares.

Eight invitations are sent to eight immortals, and when Arnaud Demeure hosts a party, no one refuses his request. Why have they been summoned? Is it for a celebration or does a sinister fate await them? After all, in the ways of Magick, a party can also be a ritual to end the world.

As the mystery deepens, the attendees must overcome their personal grudges to unravel the threads of Demeure’s grand plan that has been centuries in the making. But, with one of the guests secretly working with their host to sabotage the group’s every move, it seems impossible to look behind the curtain to learn Demeure’s true intentions.

With each guest hiding dark secrets and darker intentions, will they be able to uncover Demeure’s mysterious motives or will the party prove to be the deadly nightmare that they each fear?

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Book Spotlight - A Mistake Incomplete by Lorenzo Petruzziello

A noir-inspired caper set in Milan, Italy…

By Lorenzo Petruzziello

A Mistake Incomplete

Author: Lorenzo Petruzziello

Publisher: Magnusmade

Pages: 344

Genre: Suspense / Noir-Inspired

An incompetent thief,

a hopeless bartender,

a dead stranger,

and a lonely tourist.

A NOIR-INSPIRED CAPER SET IN MODERN-DAY MILAN.

An incompetent thief makes another attempt at burglary. A hopeless bartender struggles to manage her last patron. The pair reluctantly work together to figure out why a man they presumed dead may have returned, while a lonely tourist inadvertently gets in the way.

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Shopping for a Turkey by Julia Kent

Shopping for a Turkey

Author: Julia Kent

Publication Date: November 2nd, 2021

Genre: Adult Comedy / Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

I don’t understand Americans.

Or, as we say in Scotland, I dinna understand ye eedjits.

And I definitely dinna understand the crazy mother-in-law of my cousin Declan. Who in their right mind names a wee dog Chuffy?

I’m stuck in New York after ma agent makes a bloody mess of an otherwise good endorsement contract for a sports towel company, and this crazy American holiday–Thanksgiving–is in two days.

The invitation to spend it in Mendon, Massachusetts, with the Jacoby family is about as appealing as rotten haggis. As far as I can tell, Thanksgiving is about stuffing yerself silly, watching pathetic American “football,” while fighting with relatives ye only see once a year.

If I wanted that last one, I’d head back to Scotland, where we dinna need a holiday to be salty to each other.

Ma firm answer is nae.

Until I remember Amy is part of the family.

Suddenly, I’m available.

Eager, even. Perhaps she’ll pull ma wishbone. I hear that’s part of the Turkey Day festivities, aye?

What I canna admit, though, is how she pulls ma heartstrings, too.

Which shouldna feel better than the wishbone, but it does.

And here comes Amy’s mother with another holiday tradition, this one a bit early.

A sprig o’ mistletoe, dangling right above Amy’s bonnie head.

–-

Shopping for a Turkey features Scottish football player Hamish McCormick and Amy Jacoby as they navigate unusual cultural norms, new traditions, and the undeniable attraction between these two characters, who have appeared as supporting players in Julia Kent’s New York Times-bestselling Shopping series.

It’s their turn to have their own all-new spinoff series. And to pull the wishbone.

Buy Links:

Amazon US | UK | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

November Trivia Giveaway - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Giveaway

November 9th - December 5th

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS BEEN EXTENDED

There was an error with the previous widget so I have used a different widget and extended the giveaway to give people the chance to re-enter.

How Well Do You Know Talisman Of El (Arcadia Saga, Book 1)?

Answer 1 Question Correctly for a Chance to Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

YOU MUST ANSWER THE QUESTION CORRECTLY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN. IF NO ONE ENTERS THE CORRECT ANSWER, THERE WILL BE NO WINNER.

There's a hint in the giveaway widget, so please pay close attention to the question before answering. Good luck!

Grab your FREE Kindle Unlimited copy of Talisman Of El on Amazon or read it for FREE on Wattpad.

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON US | UK

Contest Policy

***GIVEAWAY***

Open to entrants 13+ worldwide.

Winner must respond to email within 48 hours to claim their prize or another entrant will be selected.

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November Group Promo - FREE & Discounted eBook

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Check out all the free and discounted ebooks and giveaways on offer below. Sharing is caring. I truly appreciate your support.

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BOOK REVIEW: Gobbledy by Lis Anna-Langston

Gobbledy

Author: Lis Anna-Langston

Genre: Children's / Middle-Grade Sci-Fi / Fantasy
Publication Date: 20th October 2020

Book Description:

Ever since eleven-year-old Dexter Duckworth and his brother, Dougal, lost their mom, everything has been different. But “different” takes on a whole new meaning when, one day just before Christmas (or Kissmas, as they call it), Dexter finds a golden rock in the forest that hatches into an adorable alien. Gobbledy is smarter than he seems and is lost on planet Earth. Before long, Gobbledy takes Dexter, Dougal, and their best friend Fi on an adventure of friendship, family, and loss—one that requires them all to stay out of trouble, protect Gobbledy from a shadowy group called the Planetary Society, and prepare for their school’s Winter Extravaganza Play, where Dexter has to be a dreaded Gingerbread Man.

Gobbledy is a fun-filled holiday story that adds up to two brothers, three friends, unlimited jars of peanut butter, a ketchup factory, and one little alien far, far from home.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

MY REVIEW

From the very first sentence, I knew I was going to like this book. What I didn't expect was how much I would love this book. I loved the action, the plot and how it unravelled, and I especially loved Gobbledy's portrayal. It was an adorable creature.

This is a heartwarming story about a family trying to cope after the death of a beloved mother and wife. Dexter Duckworth, 11 years old, his younger brother Dougal, 8 years old, and their father have been having a rough time since the passing of Dexter and Dougal's mother six months ago. Their father has been struggling as he tries to juggle work and take care of the boys, but Dexter hasn't been making things easy as he often finds himself in a spot of bother. Dougal, on the other hand, has been the complete opposite and has been trying to keep the peace and keep the family from wondering astray. After getting into trouble at school, Dexter promises his father that he will clean up his act, which he had every intention of doing, but then he and his best friend, Fiona (Fi), who lives across the street, happen upon a very strange rock in the forest that turns out to be a strange creature of extra-terrestrial origins.

This was an enjoyable read. The pacing was good and the way the plot developed was satisfying. Dexter and the gang went on some wild adventures, and I loved every bit of it. I have to say, I found I had to keep reminding myself that the kids were aged between 8-11 because they did not appear as such throughout the story. Their high intelligence and advanced problem solving skills, particularly their vocabulary, made them appear older than they actually were. I'm not saying they can't be that intelligent, I'm simply stating that they were portrayed as intelligent college kids as opposed to intelligent middle schoolers, which was a little disorienting. Had the author not mentioned their ages, I would never have guessed they were between 8-11 years old. I was waiting to see their youthful personalities grace the pages, but it was a rare occurrence. Despite their slightly mature portrayal, I liked the characters. They were engaging and imaginative.

Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable story.

VERDICT:

Rating: 4 Star

Source: Author

BOOK REVIEW: A Home Again by Colleen Rowan Kosinski

A Home Again

Author: Colleen Rowan Kosinski

Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publication Date: 1st November 2021

Book Description:

After the last brick is laid, a family moves into a brand-new house. As the family grows, the house delights in the sound of laughter echoing in its halls and the pitter-patter of little feet traversing its floors and realizes it is no longer just a house. It has become a home—their home. One day, the family packs up, and with tears in their eyes, they say goodbye. The house doesn’t know if it can ever be happy again until two men appear. It begins to feel a sliver of hope about this new family…perhaps it can become a home once more.

Told from the perspective of a house, this story’s heartfelt text and beautiful illustrations convey a warmth of feeling as two families change and grow at different times within the same four walls.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

MY REVIEW

This story is told from the perspective of a home that experiences loss, abandonment, love, appreciation and various others emotions. It centres around the concept of what a home is, which is distinct from what a house is. When House gains a New family, it comes with a bundle of joyous emotions, until the day when the family pack up and leave. Over time, House starts to wither away, becoming long forgotten and rejected by numerous families that wonder by over the years. But when one family shows an interest in House, although reluctant at first to welcome them, House soon start to let its guard down as the idea of being part of a new family starts to fill it with hope once again.

This was a beautiful story that I recommend for the whole family. I loved the perspective it was told from and how the author personified the house. Great illustration and a wonderful read.

VERDICT:

Rating: 5 Star

Source: Own Copy