My Reading Getaway

Welcome to my stop on The Elegant Emu book tour presented by iRead Book Tours! It is a wonderful children's book, ideal for ages 3-7 years old. Please check out the giveaway at the bottom of the post. Book Description: The magical sisters are enrolled in an etiquette class when their manners are not fit for the king and queen of the enchanted land of Harmony. Can Elizabeth the Emu help the royal sisters? In the beautiful and peaceful land of Harmony, three magical sisters, the Bobos Babes, uproot the kingdom's tranquility with some not-so-polite actions -nose-picking, belching, and other noisy...expulsions. Their parents, the King and Queen, enroll the sisters in the elegant Elizabeth the Emu's etiquette class where they learn manners and other ways to self-improve like being on time, politeness, and proper personal hygiene. Elizabeth the Emu explains to Angel Scarlet, Princess Daphne, and Fairy Cora that having proper etiquette is more than good manners, it's ...

Today I have a great non-fiction book for you. Its a short and very interesting read. Stay tuned for a giveaway at the end of the post. I have an interesting interview with Anne Beall. But first about the book. Book Description: Did Cinderella live happily ever after? You might think so until you look more closely at the hidden messages in beloved fairy tales. In this book, fairy tales are analyzed in terms of the underlying messages about marriage, agency, power, suffering, and good versus evil, with a focus on how male and female characters differ in each of these areas. The analysis is a data-driven approach that provides clear evidence for the hidden messages in these beloved tales. The end conclusion is not whether fairy tales are good or bad but rather what messages they deliver about life, even if unintentionally. Author Interview: In your book, you found female characters are weak and victimized by powerful people. Are there fairy tales that don’t conform to this pattern? Ye...

Along with iReadBookTours I'm bringing you The Beached Ones . I'm thrilled to be on the first day of this tour and be sure to look for other tour stops through July 8th. The publication date was moved back due to the global supply chain issues but you can find it on July 26th at your favorite bookstore. One thing I love about iReadBookTours is the giveaways! Click on the link at the bottom of the post to enter :) Blurb: HE CAME BACK, DETERMINED TO KEEP HIS PROMISE. Daniel and his younger brother grew up in an abusive home. Daniel escaped. Now an established stunt rider, he intends to go back to rescue his brother. But then one jump goes horribly wrong . . He recovers to find himself in Iowa, unscathed, yet his life has drastically changed. His best friend won’t answer his calls. Even his girlfriend is hiding something. Increasingly terrified, he clings to the one thing he knows: He must pick up his brother in San Francisco. In five days. From the isolating fields of Io...

Emma's Sunflower  is about a young child wanting the best in life for nature. It would be ideal for children just learning to read. This book is a wonderful book to read with your child. They can learn colors as the colors in the book are written in the matching color. It also has counting and teaches about nature. The beautiful pictures go well with the story and show Emma in all seasons. I loved this story. At the very end of the book the author includes activities you can do with your child. About the author and illustrator: Phillipa Gregory loves creating books for her own children. She has written a book about a snowman for her son and wrote this book for her daughter. Grace Ward wants all children to enjoy reading. She herself is dyslexic and chose a front that is easier for dyslexic readers to read. The letters are thicker at the bottom to make them easier to recognize. Thank you to LoveBookTours for including me on this tour.

The German Wife  is Kelly Rimmer's latest novel and it is out this week on the 28th. Thank you to the publisher for including me in this book tour.  I have read many of Kelly's books and love her writing style. ABOUT THE BOOK: The enmity between two women from opposing sides of the war culminates in a shocking event as anti-German sentiment sweeps America, when the aristocratic wife of a German scientist must face the social isolation, hostility and violence leveled against her and her family when they’re forced to relocate to Alabama in the aftermath of WWII. For fans of Beatriz Wiliams, Pam Jenoff, and Kristin Harmel. Berlin, 1934—Ilse Meyer is the aristocratic wife of a scientist whose post-WWI fortunes change for the better when her husband, Jurgen, is recruited for Hitler's new rocket program. Although Ilse and Jurgen do not share the popular political views rising in Germany, Jurgen’s new job forces them to consider what they must sacrifice morally for their financial...

IReadBookTours is happy to host the tour for a fun new children's book. Ideal for ages 3-7, all ages will enjoy the wonderful illustrations and story. This is a long post but well worth it. It includes the book, an interview with the author, and a giveaway at the end! Blurb: Doctoroo (also known as Dr. Marsha Roo) and her team―Kirby Koala, Louie Llama, and Terence Toad― may live in Australia, but they travel all over the world solving medical mysteries. In Doctoroo & the Case of the Red-Hot Hawaiians, they fly to The Big Island of Hawaii, where red, hot and very itchy hula dancers are in danger of missing their Big Dance Festival. Will they have to skip the Festival, or will Doctoroo help them in time? Author Interview:  Your series features locations in Washington DC, Sydney, Australia and Hawaii. Why those three places?   The subject matter of each book helped to dictate the locations. For the first book, Dr. Marsha and the Case of the Missing Hot Dogs and Marsh...

The next installment of the Sweet Water Circle is out today, June 21 st ! I’ve been lucky to be part of Rachel’s Random Resources tours for each of the previous four books. In the fifth book, Solving Shelly , The Circle is determined to end Shelly’s ‘no man’ drought. Shelly is forty years old and is perfectly happy being single and successful. She loves her childhood friends in The Circle and are happy many of them have found good relationships. The Circle only wants the same for Shelly. When I found out this was the final book in the Sweet Water Circle I was sad. I’ve loved this series and its humor. From past members falling down stairs and embarrassing themselves to getting themselves into awkward and humorous situations this series keeps me laughing. Some of the humor can be over the top and carry heavy innuendos, you know this group of friends will stick together forever. This book continues the series to a wonderful ending. It has all the humor and embarrassing situations you exp...

Today is my stop on the spotlight tour for Hey Charlie, You're Next  presented by iRead Book Tours. This book is ideal for ages 3-7years old and is available now. The story focuses on Charlie. He is enjoying Basketball day at school when some classmates start bullying him. How will he overcome the bullying? This is also the first book is a series staring Charlie. You can find the book on   AMAZON   or  add your  goodreads . We also have a giveaway at the bottom of the post!!!   Interview with the author: Where do you get inspiration for your stories? My personal life, professional life, and ideas come together while walking down the street.   Do you have another profession besides writing? I've been a mental health therapist for the past 20 years. I worked in various settings ranging from outpatient, residential, community, Inpatient, and Correctional.   What’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done? When I started publish...

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Call me Lion by Camilla Chester. This book is ideal for ages 8-12 and just published earlier this week on June 16th! This book is about a 10 year-old named Leo who dreams of preforming in the West End. He has selective mutism but when Richa, a chatty new neighbor moves in, Leo quickly finds a new friend. Richa wants to help Leo, but will he let her? Review: When Richa bounds into Leo's yard one day and talks and talks, Leo wants nothing more than to talk back but he can't. This does not bother Richa who can talk enough for the two of them. Richa and Leo form a friendship that is absolutely wonderful. I think this is a great book for the target audience (8-12years old) but even for a little younger. It teaches kids to accept each other as they are and to have the courage to accept yourself. This is mainly a word book and has very little pictures. If your child reads themselves they would likely want to be on the older target audience but t...

Alycat and the Cattwampus Wednesday is an absolutely delightful children's book. It is targeted for ages 3-7 but I read with a slightly older children and they loved it! Check out the giveaway at the bottom of this post for a chance to win a copy of this wonderful book! Book Description: Alycat wakes up to seafood gumbo for breakfast, and even though her house is the first stop for the school bus, the bus is already full when she boards. Alycat’s whole day is turning topsy-turvy. What is happening? Young readers will tag along on Alycat’s adventures during her very “cattywampus” Wednesday and learn that a little help from some friends and a good attitude can make your day! The themes of the books in the Alycat Series all reflect a reliance on friendships, imagination, and creativity towards problem solving. The character traits of Alycat and her friends inspire and encourage young readers to find their own special gifts. After enduring a cattywampus world pursuant to an unexpe...

Welcome to my blog stop presented by Rachel’s Random Resources for How to Save a Life . This book is out TODAY! It is a wonderful Rom-Com but I must put a trigger warning on the first part of the book as it discusses suicide.   Blurb: One night in December, twenty-two year old Ted Green makes his way to Waterloo Bridge determined to end his life. Lonely, despairing and utterly hopeless, it seems the only choice to make. That same night in December, Marianne Cooper is running away from a party. Having found her boyfriend in a passionate clinch with someone else, Marianne can’t get away fast enough. But as she makes her way along London’s South Bank, a figure catches her eye on top of the bridge. Then she sees him, a man ready to jump. When Marianne saves Ted’s life, this night in December becomes one they’ll never forget, but as Ted watches Marianne leave in a black taxi, all he can think is he should have asked her name. In a story spanning twenty years, join Ted and Marian...

I have a great middle grade book for you today. It is perfect for children ages 6-14 who love fantasy books such as Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and similar book series. I'm delighted to be part of Love Book Tours campaign for this wonderful book! Blurb  When her brother vanishes in the night, along with all she thought to be true of magic, Parker Pennymore must unmask family secrets, travel far beyond the castle walls, and convince her sisters to break a few laws along the way - but what's a hero's journey without a little rebellion?  Created first as a bedtime story with his daughters, The Pennymores explores a world where all writing has been banned for centuries (a setting inspired by the true-life events of Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai ). But when an unstoppable enemy returns threatening the destroy their world, the Pennymores must set off on a quest taking them inside hidden mystical realms, confronting ancient challenges, and forcing them to step closer to th...

A few weeks ago, I posted about the first book in the Robyn Bailley series. I loved that book and am so happy to be part of BookLoveTour’s tour for the second book. (Be on the lookout for my tour stop for the third in a few weeks.) Blurb A SUSPICIOUS FALL Nineteen-year-old Shazia Johar has everything to live for. But when she is found critically injured after plunging from a hotel balcony, DI Robyn Bailley must determine why she fell. Was Shazia pushed or did she jump? A BROKEN WOMAN When Robyn's team investigate the events that led to Shazia's fall, they discover evidence of violence in the hotel room. What happened and who is responsible? A DEATH As Shazia's life hangs in the balance, Robyn's team discover the body of another hotel guest. With uncertainty and falsehood disturbing both investigations, Robyn must navigate the web of lies under continued criticism of her new identity from her ex-wife and her daughter.  Review:  The book opens in a dramatic ...

The Last Gifts of the Universe is Rory August’s debut book. It came out in April and has 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon. It is considered a light sci-fi genre book which I don’t read a lot of but when this came up for tour on Love Book Tours I wanted to give it a try. I was so glad I did. First about the book: Blurb: A dying universe. When the Home worlds finally achieved the technology to venture out into the stars, they found a graveyard of dead civilizations, a sea of lifeless gray planets and their ruins. What befell them is unknown. All Home knows is that they are the last civilization left in the universe, and whatever came for the others will come for them next. A search for answers. Scout is an Archivist tasked with scouring the dead worlds of the cosmos for their last gifts: interesting technology, cultural rituals—anything left behind that might be useful to the Home worlds and their survival. During an excavation on a lifeless planet, Scout unearths something unbelievable: a s...

Coming this Tuesday, June 7th is Cate Ray's debut novel, Good Husbands. A huge thank you to Park Row Books for including on the blog tour for this book. I enjoy a good psychological suspense book so this one was right up my ally. I love getting a sneak peak at a book to really tell me if I'm going to like it. If you are the same, I have an excerpt for you today! Hopefully you enjoy it as much as I did. First, about the book: For fans of Whisper Network and My Dark Vanessa, Good Husbands is an electrifying psychological drama about three strangers drawn together by a shocking revelation about their husbands, and the power of women to reclaim their voices and control their own destinies. He said, she said. Who do you believe? Jessica, Stephanie, and Priyanka are complete strangers, but they have one thing in common: More than two decades ago, unbeknownst to them, their husbands committed a terrible sexual assault. Was it really rape, or a night of drunken regrets—just a hor...