The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari Book By: Dontia K. Paul & Evangeline Denmark Review

 

 

 

The Dragon and the Turtle go on Safari  was a super cute book. The cover is amazing and I think really just draws you in. My son saw this as soon as it arrived, and was anxious to read it. He proceeded to read it to the girls for a bedtime story.

He found it was a great book. It was an easy read for him… and they all really enjoyed it. I thought it was a great book for kids to overcome their fears!

This book is about two best friends, determined to be brave and spend the night outside. They use their imaginations to keep themselves busy most of the night, and when the sky gets really dark, and they start hearing things.. It is a test to find out that their friendship is stronger than their fear!

The book also includes a bonus story, and some conversation starters.

The author of this book. Dontia K. Paul is a former schoolteacher. She is also the best-selling author of the Dragon Keeper series. Evangeline Denmark likes to turn bedtime stories into picture books, from her home in Colorado.

Buy it:

You can purchase this book from Waterbrook Maltnomah books for $11.99

*This is a MamaBuzz review. The product was provided by:  Donita K. Paul & Waterbrook Maltnomah Boos for this review.

Shades of Morning by Marlo Schalesky Book Review:

 

 

Summary of the Book:

Marnie Wittier has life just where she wants it. Quiet. Peaceful. No drama. A long way away from her past. In the privacy of her home, she fills a box with slips of paper, scribbled with her regrets, sins, and sorrows. But that’s nobody else’s business. Her bookstore/coffee shop patrons, her employees, her friends from church—they all think she’s the very model of compassion and kindness.

Then Marnie’s past creeps into her present when her estranged sister dies and makes Marnie guardian of her fifteen-year-old son—a boy Marnie never knew existed. And when Emmit arrives, she discovers he has Down syndrome—and that she’s woefully unprepared to care for him. What’s worse, she has to deal with Taylor Cole, her sister’s attorney, a man Marnie once loved—and abandoned. As Emmit (and Taylor) work their way into her heart, Marnie begins to heal. But when pieces of her dismal past surface again, she must at last face the scripts of paper in her box, all the regrets and sorrows. Can she do it? Or will she run again?

About the Author:

Marlo Schalesky is the author of several books, including Beyond the Night and Empty Womb, Aching Heart. A graduate of Stanford University , Marlo also has a masters of theology with an emphasis in biblical studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. Married over twenty years, she lives with her husband, Bryan, and their five children in California .

My Thoughts:

I thought this book was a bit hard to get into at first..but did enjoy it once I got through the first few chapters. After that it was a breeze and easy read. I enjoyed it… and it really made you think. I don’t want to give away anything, so you will have to read it to figure out what I mean.

Buy it:

At Amazon  or Barnes & Nobles

I have one copy of this book to give to one lucky reader!

To Enter:

Leave me a comment telling me your favorite Place to Shop…. (mandatory to enter)

Giveaway ends July 24th @10pm EST. Giveaway is open to US Residents only! Winner will be chosen by Random.org and will have 48hrs to respond.

* This book was provided by Multnomah Books in order for me to review it.

Life In spite of Me by Kristen Anderson Blog Tour & Giveaway:

About the Book:

Kristen Anderson thought she had the picture-perfect life until strokes of gray dimmed her outlook: three friends and her grandmother died within two years. Still reeling from these losses, she was raped by a friend she thought she could trust. She soon spiraled into a seemingly bottomless depression.
One January night, the seventeen-year-old decided she no longer wanted to deal with the emotional pain that smothered her. She lay down on a set of cold railroad tracks and waited for a freight train to send her to heaven…and peace.
But Kristen’s story doesn’t end there.
In Life, In Spite of Me this remarkably joyful young woman shares the miracle of her survival, the agonizing aftermath of her failed suicide attempt, and the hope that has completely transformed her life, giving her a powerful purpose for living.
Her gripping story of finding joy against all odds provides a vivid and unforgettable reminder that life is a gift to be treasured. 

About the Author:

Kristen Jane Anderson has been featured on Oprah and is a popular speaker at colleges, women’s and youth events, churches, and suicide prevention outreaches. A graduate of Moody Bible Institute and the founder of Reaching You Ministries, Kristen seeks to help those who are hurting, hopeless, lost, suicidal and depressed.

My thoughts:

This book was a hard read for me at times, cause i have been there a few times myself. Wanting to give up and not look back. I was lucky enough to find my way back out. Depression can be a very evil thing. With that said… reading this book, really inspires you to fight harder. Move over those hurdles and find the things that really matter. I would definitely would suggest this book to annoy who needs some help finding there way back. Amazing, and inspiring book!

Buy It:

From WaterBrook Multnomah

Barnes and Noble 

Win It:

I have one copy to give to one lucky reader!

Enter:

Tell me what helps you get through a bad day.  (mandatory)

Giveaway ends June 9th @ 10pm EST. Open to US residents only… The winner will be chosen by Random.org and will have 48hrs to respond to my email, or I will have to chose another winner.

*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann Blog tour & Giveaway:

I have never read any of her books. However, once I read a bit about her… I was anxious to read one of her books.

About the book:
An inseparable bond.
An insatiable force.
Battling his own personal demons, Police Chief Jonah Westfall knows the dark side of life and has committed himself to eradicating it. When a pair of raccoons are found mutilated in Redford, Colorado, Jonah investigates the gruesome act, knowing the strange event could escalate and destroy the tranquility of his small mountain town. With a rising drug threat and never-ending conflict with Tia Manning, a formidable childhood friend with whom he has more than a passing history, Jonah fights for answers—and his fragile sobriety.
But he can’t penetrate every wound or secret—especially one fueled by a love and guilt teetering on madness.
To read more of the first chapter go HERE

My Thoughts:
I wasn’t sure what to expect. From what I read about her, I had a feeling her books would be really good. I was not disappointed. I enjoyed this book, and thought the plot was very good. I did get confused a few times because it goes between 4-5 characters. However, once I was able to remember the different ones, it was easy to keep straight. I am looking forward to reading more of her books in the future.

About the Author:

While home schooling her four kids, Kristen Heitzmann wrote her first novel. It became one of a five book historical series. Since then, she has written three more historical novels and eight contemporary romantic and psychological suspense novels including The Still of Night, nominated for the Colorado Book Award, The Tender Vine, a Christy Award finalist and Christy Award winning Secrets. She lives in Colorado with her husband Jim, sundry family members, and pets.

Follow Kristen online at www.KristenHeitzmann.com

Buy it:
At WaterBrook Multnomah 
or Barnes and Noble


Win it:
I have one copy of Indivisible to give to one lucky reader!
Be sure to leave an email address to contact you!
Enter:
Leave me a comment telling me A book you want to read this summer..  (this is mandatory)
Extra Entries:
Must leave a separate comment for it to count

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Giveaway ends May 25th @ 10pm EST open to US residents only. Winner will be chosen by Random.org and will have 48hrs to respond, or I will chose a new winner.

*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

Forget Me Not By Vicki Hinze Blog Tour:

 

 

 

My Thoughts:

This book looked really good to me, when I got it. However, as I started it.. it was a bit confusing. Until you get into the book a ways does it come together. Overall I thought it was a pretty good book. I enjoyed it once I figured it out.

About the Book:

THEIR ELUSIVE ENEMIES TOOK EVERYTHING.  NOW THEY WANT MORE.
Crossroads Crisis Center owner Benjamin Brandt was a content man—in his faith, his work, and his family.  Then in a flash, everything he loved was snatched away.  His wife and son were murdered, and grief-stricken Ben lost faith.  Determination to find their killers keeps him going, but after three years of dead ends and torment, his hope is dying too.  Why had he survived?  He’d failed to protect his family.  
Now, a mysterious woman appears at Crossroads seeking answers and help—a victim who eerily resembles Ben’s deceased wife, Susan.  A woman robbed of her identity, her life, of everything except her faith—and Susan’s necklace.  
The connections between the two women mount, exceeding coincidence, and to keep the truth hidden, someone is willing to kill.  Finding out who and why turns Ben and the mystery woman’s situation from dangerous to deadly.  Their only hope for survival is to work together, trust each other, and face whatever they discover head on, no matter how painful. But will that be enough to save their lives and heal their tattered hearts?

About the Author:

Vicki Hinze is an award-winning author of twenty-three novels, three nonfiction books, and hundreds of articles. Selected for Who’s Who in America in 2004 as a writer and educator, Hinze is active in Romance Writers of America and serves as a Vice President on the International Thriller Writers Board of Directors. Vicki lives in Florida with her artist husband, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. Visit www.vickihinze.com to learn more about Vicki’s books, blogs, and writing programs.

Buy it:

You can purchase this book from Waterbrook Multnomah for $13.99

Win it:

I have one copy to give to one lucky reader.

To Enter:

Leave me a comment about how often you get to read? Do you have a favorite spot to read? (Mandatory to Enter)

Giveaway Ends April 28th @10pm EST. Open to US Residents only. Winner will be chosen by Random.org, and will have 48hrs to respond, or a new winner will be chosen.

*This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

This Little Prayer of Mine by Anthony DeStefano Blog Tour:

 

 

 

About this Book:

I know you're up in heaven, God,
and can hear my voice from there.
I'm just a little child.
Will you answer my short prayer?
So begins this delightful book that affirms God's readiness to answer our prayers, no matter what our age. 
With engaging rhymes and beautiful illustrations, This Little Prayer of Mine assures children that God is always near--watching, listening, caring, and eager to respond to their requests. They'll also learn that prayer isn't just about asking for things, but about sharing their feelings of sadness and uncertainty as well as of thanksgiving and joy.
Most importantly, This Little Prayer of Mine reminds children—and those who love them—that they can trust God to tenderly care for them, no matter what the future holds.

About the Author:

Anthony DeStefano has received may prestigious awards from religious organizations throughout the world for his efforts to advance Christian beliefs in modern culture. These include an honorary doctorate from the National Clergy Council and the Methodist Episcopal Church's Joint Academic Commission, as well as the "Defender of Israel" medal from the Jerusalem Center for Peace Studies, conferred on him in 2003. He is the CEO of a Catholic not-for-profit organization; he lives in Long Island with his wife, Kimberly, a kindergarten teacher.

Our Thoughts:

My kids really liked this book. It was very cute. Hunter could read it himself, and he really enjoyed it. Then he liked reading it to his sisters. The pictures are very well done. I love how it really just sounds like something a kid would say to God. I think this will be a book my kids read often.

Buy it:

You can get this book at Random House for $12.99

Win it:

I have one book for one of my readers to win.

To Enter:

Leave a comment telling me what is your favorite book as a child was…or what your child’s favorite book is.  (Mandatory to enter)

This giveaway ends April 21st @10pm EST. Open to US Residents only. Winner will be chosen by Random.org and will have 48hrs to respond or a new winner is chosen.

*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

 

An Absence So Great by Jane Kirkpatrick Blog Tour:

 

 

 

 

 

About the book:

While growing in confidence as a photographer, eighteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele’s personal life is at a crossroads. Hoping she’s put an unfortunate romantic longing behind her as “water under the bridge,” she exiles herself to Milwaukee to operate photographic studios for those owners who have fallen ill with mercury poisoning. 
Jessie gains footing in her dream to one day operate her own studio and soon finds herself in other Midwest towns, pursuing her profession. But even a job she loves can’t keep painful memories from seeping into her heart when the shadows of a forbidden love threaten to darken the portrait of her life.

 

About the Author:

Jane Kirkpatrick is a best-selling, award-winning author whose previous historical novels include All Together in One Place and Christy Award finalist A Tendering in the Storm. An international keynote speaker, she has earned regional and national recognition for her stories based on the lives of actual people, including the prestigious Wrangler Award from the Western Heritage Hall of Fame. Jane is a Wisconsin native who since 1974 has lived in Eastern Oregon, where she and her husband, Jerry, ranch 160 rugged acres.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book. Being that it was about my passion of photography, I was excited to read it. This is actually the second book in the series, but it does not take away from the story. I also like how the author includes a detail of characters in the front of the book, so you can see who and what everyone is. Along with a map, so you can kinda plot and picture it in your mind. I loved the vivid detail, as it really made you feel like you were right there. I really would recommend this book to any of my friends. Great read!

Buy it:

You can get it at Random House for $14.99

Win it:

I have One Copy to give away here!!

To Enter:

Leave me a comment telling me what your hobby is… (Mandatory to enter)

Giveaway is for US Residents only and will end on April 11th @ 10pm EST. The winner will be chosen by Random.org and will have 48hrs to respond or I choose a new winner.

* This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Value Fiction Blog Tour:

 

 

This time, we got a grab bag… So until they showed up at my door, I was not aware of what i would be reading.

The first book I read was Beneath a Southern Sky by Deborah Raney. I had never read any of her books.

It was a bit hard for me to get into this book at the beginning of it. Then it started to get more interesting for me. I really like the characters in this book. It is really about how to move on with your life after losing part of yourself.

About this book:

Her Second Husband Healed the Sorrow of a Tragic Loss.
Her First Has Just Returned from the Dead.
Which Man Has the Right to Claim Daria’s Heart?

After two years of serving as a missionary in a remote area of South America, Daria Camfield has returned to the States to mourn her husband, reportedly killed while providing medical aid to a neighboring Colombian village.

At first, Daria finds comfort only in the daughter born to her after Nate’s tragic death. As she begins to heal, she also finds a listening ear and a tender heart in her new boss, veterinarian Colson Hunter. Determined to move forward with life, Daria ignores the still small voice calling her to wait and accepts Cole’s marriage proposal. But after the wedding, Daria’s new dream life turns into a nightmare with the arrival of an unbelievable telegram: “Nathan Camfield found alive. Flying into K.C. Int’l. via Bogota…”

Now two men have the right to her daughter, her life, and her love. Will Daria return to her beloved first husband, abandoning Cole? Or will she reject Nate and choose the only man her daughter has ever called “Daddy”--a man she has come to cherish with all her heart?

 

About the Author:

DEBORAH RANEY is at work on her 20th novel. Her books have won the RITA Award, HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award, Silver Angel, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. Her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title. Deb and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy small-town life in Kansas. They are new empty nesters with four grown children and two grandsons, all of whom live much too far away.

You can buy a copy HERE.

The second book I got was Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn. I had never read any of her books either. I am always excited to read a new author though, cause you never know what kind of possibilities it will open up for you.

I was able to get into this book a bit quicker.. and I really enjoyed the storyline. I think this was my favorite of the two.

About the book:

The Glenbrooke Series

Jessica ran from her past...but can she hide from love?
Jessica Morgan wants desperately to forget the past and begin a new life. She chooses a small, peaceful town tucked away in Oregon’s Willamette Valley as the place to start over—Glenbrooke. Once there, Jessica conceals her identity from the intriguing personalities she meets—including the compassionate paramedic who desires to protect her and the jealous woman who wants nothing more than to destroy her.

Will Jessica’s deceit ruin all hope for the future? Or will she find a deeper peace that allows her to stop hiding the truth from those who love her most of all?

This heartwarming bestseller, book one in the Glenbrooke series, introduces the fascinating people of Glenbrooke in a compelling tale of romance and spiritual truth.

About the Author:

Robin Jones Gunn is the much-loved award-winning author of the Glenbrooke, Sisterchicks(R), Christy Miller, and Sierra Jensen series, with more than three million books sold worldwide. Robin lives with her family near Portland, Oregon.

You can buy a copy HERE.

*This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

 

Thirsty by Tracey Bateman Book Tour:

 

 

I have read some of Tracey’s other books and loved them. However, I was not sure what to expect from this book since it was different than her other books. What I had read about it sounded good, but still wasn’t so sure. I was hooked from the first couple of chapters…I love books with suspense in them! Nothing like a book that leaves you hanging. I found myself liking the character Hunt, and his struggle to move on from his ex-wife, that had numerous problems… while raising his two kids. I would diffently recommend this book to my friends! Maybe even buy it and give it to one of the book lovers in my family!

About the Book:
There's no place like home, they say.
"Hello, I'm Nina Parker…and I'm an alcoholic."
For Nina, it's not the weighty admission but the first steps toward recovery that prove most difficult. She must face her ex-husband, Hunt, with little hope of making amends, and try to rebuild a relationship with her angry teenage daughter, Meagan. Hardest of all, she is forced to return to Abbey Hills, Missouri, the hometown she abruptly abandoned nearly two decades earlier–and her unexpected arrival in the sleepy Ozark town catches the attention of someone–or something–igniting a two-hundred-fifty-year-old desire that rages like a wildfire.
Unaware of the darkness stalking her, Nina is confronted with a series of events that threaten to unhinge her sobriety. Her daughter wants to spend time with the parents Nina left behind. A terrifying event that has haunted Nina for almost twenty years begins to surface. And an alluring neighbor initiates an unusual friendship with Nina, but is Markus truly a kindred spirit or a man guarding dangerous secrets?
As everything she loves hangs in the balance, will Nina's feeble grasp on her demons be broken, leaving her powerless against the thirst? The battle between redemption and obsession unfold to its startling, unforgettable end.

About the Author:

Tracey Bateman is an award winning author of more than sixteen books. She lives in Missouri with her husband and four children where she is active in music ministry at her church. Tracey has been a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) since the early months of its inception and served as President for nearly two years.

Buy it:
You can buy it at WaterBrook Multnomuh Books for $13.99

*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Touched by a Vampire by Beth Felker Jones Book Tour Review and Giveaway!

 

 

 

I had never heard of Beth Felker Jones before, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this book. Its a short, quick read that explains to you the biblical sense of the “Twilight Series” by Stephenie Myers. If you haven’t heard the books yet, you may not want to read this, as it will give away big parts of the story line. I found some of her insights to be very interesting. I would suggest this to anyone who wants to view the book in different ways, or for those parents who are afraid to let their kids read the books, because your afraid of what they will be learning. This book will clear up a lot of your questions. Or for any of you out their that run a book club. There is a 3-4 page section in the back with discussion questions for you.

About the Book:
People around the world are asking the same question, enraptured with Edward and Bella’s forbidden romance in the Twilight Saga, a four-book serial phenomenon written by Stephenie Meyer. The bestsellers tell the story of a regular girl’s relationship with a vampire who has chosen to follow his “good” side. But the Saga isn’t just another fantasy–it’s teaching girls about love, sex, and purpose. With 48 million copies in print and a succession of upcoming blockbuster films, now is the time to ask the important question: Can vampires teach us about God’s plan for love?
Touched by a Vampire is the first book to investigate the themes of the Twilight Saga from a Biblical perspective. Some Christian readers have praised moral principles illustrated in the story, such as premarital sexual abstinence, which align with Meyer’s Mormon beliefs. But ultimately, Beth Felker Jones examines whether the story’s redemptive qualities outshine its darkness.

Buy it: 
At WaterBrook Multnomah Books for $13.99

Win it:
I have a copy for one reader to win. Just tell me if you read and liked the Twilight Series, and if you didn’t read it … are you planning to??

One reader will be picked by Random.org. Giveaway ends Dec 4th @ 9pm EST

Open to US residents only.

*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.