Ralphie, Always Loved by Andrea Yerramilli


Book Details:

Book Title:  Ralphie, Always Loved by Andrea Yerramilli
Illustrated by: Samantha Van Riet
Category:  Children's Fiction,  32 pages
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publisher:  About Something Good, LLC
Release date:  October 28, 2017
Tour dates:  April 9 to May 4, 2018
Content Rating:   G

Book Description:

This is the story of the life, love, and adventures of a beloved family dog, and how he delighted and touched his family and everyone he met.

Ralphie was born with a heart on his belly.
He loves food, his family, his friends, his neighbors.
He loves pretty much everything and everyone.
And they love him back.
And that's how it is all through his life.
Read the book and fall in love with him too.

Rambunctious and hyperactive, Ralphie had already been returned to the animal shelter three times, but when Andrea and her husband adopted him and gave him a loving home where he was understood, accepted, and taught, he learned fast. As Ralphie's human family grew, so did his capacity for love and the ways he could express it. He remained a loving and beloved family member who touched the hearts of the whole neighborhood until he was ready to say goodbye at the grand-old age of sixteen. Ralphie, Always Lovedwill remind you of all that is good, and reaffirm your belief in love's power to uplift and transform.
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Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ IndieboundAdd to Goodreads
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Meet the Author:

Andrea has always been an avid reader and that jumpstarted her imagination at a very early age. In fact she escaped to the Land of Make Believe more often than her mother liked.

She is a former marketing professional who is a mom to kids both with and without fur. Andrea says that it helps to have one foot planted firmly in reality while the other is foot loose and fancy free in Imagination Land. She enjoys the best of both worlds.

In 2013, Andrea and her husband started About Something Good (ASG) as a vehicle to curate, inspire and share goodness in the world. In a world where negative images flood the media, and words like “hate” get tossed around so easily, Andrea felt she needed a space that encouraged and focused on the words like “love” and the beauty that is life.
Andrea is committed to finding the good in everything, and believes: that a sense of belonging to someone's heart is what makes us feel complete, that kindness goes a long way, and that keeping your mind and heart open can help when things happen that you don't understand.

Andrea lives in New Jersey with her husband and children.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

A Penny Lost by Aspen Bassett

Book Details:

Book Title:  A Penny Lost by Aspen Bassett
Category:  YA Fiction, 232 pages
Genre:  Urban Fantasy
Publisher:  World Castle Publishing
Release date:  Jan 13, 2018
Format available for review:  print & ebook (mobi & PDF)
Willing to send books to: USA & Canada
Tour dates: April 23 to May 4, 2018
Content Rating: PG (There's a kiss and some mild violence)

Book Description:

Penelope Grace, usually forgotten under the shadow of her twin sister's perfection, tries her hardest to hide her freakish ability to see into anyone's soul.

Until she senses an unusual energy like a human-shaped void in the universe. When Penny investigates the source, she gets tossed through a crack in time along with the cute boy next door. The Void follows them through history, increasing the dangers as if testing Penny. But what is it testing for? And why does it claim to know her better than even she knows herself? Even as Penny searches for answers, she must fight to survive the tragedies of both the past and future in order to get back home.
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Buy the Book:
Amazon
Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

​Aspen Bassett works at a library, telling stories and suggesting books. When she's not working, she's usually sipping hot cocoa and wondering what would happen if she had superpowers. She's been published in multiple anthologies including Oomph: A Little Super Goes a Long Way and Inaccurate Realities.

Aspen grew up learning about chakras and auras and the true power of imagination which slips into her writing whether she intend it to or not. In college, when she wasn't busy working on her degree in Creative Writing, Aspen also got her certificate in Women's Meditation (basically general energy work). Now, she's working toward a diploma in Integrated Healing Arts with a certificate in Hypnotherapy.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~

My Review

A Penny Lost by Aspen Bassett was a well written book that I found myself enjoying. Penelope Grace was a great character and I loved her ability to see into people's souls as it was not a power or ability that I have seen before in a novel. The ending was suprising, yet it was also the perfect fit for both Penelope and the novel itself!

THE ABCS OF LIVING GREEN

Inside the Book

Title: THE ABCS OF LIVING GREEN
Author: Theresa A McKeown
Publisher: The ABCs of Everything, LLC
Pages: 56
Genre: Picture/poetry book for children and tweens

BOOK BLURB:

“The ABCs of Living Green” completes the ABC trilogy of picture books focused on raising happy, healthy, conscious children in body, mind and spirit. Written from the voice of Mother Earth, every letter of the alphabet and corresponding word gives readers a multitude of fun ways to be mindful not only of the planet we all share, but of the people with whom we share it. A book that focuses on the beauty and fulfillment of stepping up and doing our part in taking care of the environment and each other, “The ABCs of Living Green” is truly a book for the enlightened child of the 21st century.

Amazon

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Meet the Author

Theresa McKeown spent over two decades in the entertainment arena before embracing her true passion of writing children’s books. After producing hundreds of hours of television for a host of cable and network outlets, Theresa is now on the path of what she considers her highest calling.
Theresa and her sisters have created “The ABC’s of Everything, LLC”, a family endeavor solely focused on publishing several series of children’s books, digital content, and educational curriculums.  All will be written and produced with an awareness of the true possibilities that children of the 21^st century can realize.
As an author, Theresa is dedicated to estimating rather than underestimating the wisdom of children. Her philosophy is that kids are fully adept at understanding nuance and meaning and it’s not necessary to talk down to them.  She is dedicated to creating a new paradigm in the children’s book world by introducing work that fully embraces the insightfulness, perception and unlimited intellectual potential of today’s youth.
Her books are meant to plant the seeds of education and awareness early in a child’s development, knowing full well that children will ultimately blossom into the best versions of who they are meant to be.
In her role as producer, Theresa traveled worldwide, filming from locations as diverse as the White House, NORAD, the Pentagon, FBI headquarters, maximum-security prisons and from the top of the World Trade Center.  Along the way she “tail-hooked” onto an aircraft carrier in the Pacific, yachted through South America with jet setters and chased bad guys with the LAPD in a helicopter.  She survived both OJ Simpson trials, shot live from heart of the LA Riots and drove through a wall of flames during the Laguna fires.  Yet, with a background like this, building a community to celebrate children promises to be the most exciting adventure of all.
As George Elliot once said, “It’s never too late to become who you might have been”.
…Words this author has taken to heart.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

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My Review

THE ABCS OF LIVING GREEN was a beautiful book that I found inspirational in that it has inspired me to change my life to be more green. I personally liked the way the author wrote the book as it appealed to me on a personal level. I liked the fact that none of it was too long instead it was short and sweet!

Rosie and Friends: One-Of-A-Kindness

Inside the Book

Title: ROSIE AND FRIENDS: ONE-OF-A-KINDNESS
Author: Helen Hipp
Publisher: A Different Kind of Safari, LLC
Pages: 40
Genre: Children

BOOK BLURB:

Embark on a new safari with Hornsby the rhino as he comes face-to-face with losing his sense of belonging. No longer accepted by his herd, Hornsby searches for companionship. With the help of his new buddies, Hornsby learns that his life is one of a kind, and that spreading his kindness is a good way to make new friends!

Amazon

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Meet the Author

Approaching life with excitement and energy, Helen works hard to help people achieve exuberance! Born in Yonkers, N.Y., in 1959, Helen is the middle child of five. Her father, whose work demanded strong problem-solving skills and mother whose interest in art, provided Helen with endless opportunities to look at things from different perspectives.
Today, Helen continues to take advantage of an imaginative mindset that creates opportunities out of obstacles. A concept she fostered in her children, one of whom has special needs. As Helen explored career opportunities, she connected her personal experiences (parenting a child with special needs) with her beliefs, professional skills, and aspirations.
Helen received her M.A. in counseling and began her career as a psychotherapist to help people find answers for their life problems. Her work eventually evolved into a coaching practice, WithinU Life Coaching, focusing on helping individuals with special needs reveal their innate ability to solve difficult situations. Inspiration and fun, is Helen’s motivation and her life’s fuel.
Helen explains her enthusiasm as, “each day is an opportunity, waiting to be shaped and here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping.”
Helen has authored articles for Family Works and Washington Family Magazine and written multiple self-help articles published by ezine.com where she is viewed as an expert in her field.
In addition to her work, Helen has written two children’s books creating a very effective way to motivate kids of all ages to meet their challenges with self-acceptance, confidence and understanding.
Her debut children’s book, A Different Kind of Safari, released in 2013 addresses the many questions life asks by offering up lighthearted, ever-changing perspectives that transform personal challenges into opportunities. Once again, the engaging safari family led by Rosie the Pink Hippo inspire, and help you see your life differently in her new book, Rosie and Friends Positively Different. With a cast characters experiencing real-life issues, her books provide children with the opportunity to identify, understand and feel supported by the characters handling of similar fears, interests, and concerns.
Rosie and Friends Helping Children to Understand That Their Uniqueness Is Not a Weakness.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

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My Review

I personally found Rosie and Friends: One-Of-A-Kindness to be a very cute book that is perfect for young children just starting to make friends as well as children with autism. As it encourages children to seek out new friends in all places and to not be limited based on species. The pictures were also very cute and they were all geared perfectly towards an audience of young children. 

Imagine That

Inside the Book

Title: IMAGINE THAT: PLAYING WITH THE POWER OF IMAGINATION
Author: Tamara Dorris
Publisher: Createspace
Pages: 190
Genre: Self-Help/Spiritual

BOOK BLURB:

From rock-solid science to centuries-old scripture, we’ve been told our thoughts and emotions matter, and may even be indicators of our future. In this book, Tamara Dorris shows you that the real key to navigating your way to a new reality rests in your almost-dormant imagination. She points out that we’re all using our imaginations anyway, but most of us are using them to conjure up the worst instead of designing the best.
With wit, humor, and sass Tamara shares how anyone can learn to use their imagination in a more productive, profitable, and effective way.

The second half of the book is a 33-Day Challenge, including daily lessons and journaling exercises to help solidify and apply the age-old, as well as scientifically new ideas presented in the first section of the book. Be prepared to have your mind a little bit blown, your “mean monkey” a little bit riled up, and start intentionally creating your life with excitement and intention!

Meet the Author

Tamara Lee Dorris, MA, is the author of 19 books, a long-time coach, consultant, and adjunct college professor. She’s spent the past few decades studying and sharing ways that people can live more fulfilling, fun, and effective lives. She’s also an avid yogi, podcaster, and wine-lover, committed to inspiring as many people as she can. Tamara holds degrees in psychology and communications, is a certified hypnotherapist and EFT practitioner, too.

Website & Social Links

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

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My Review

As a psychology graduate I personally found Imagine That to be an interesting and informative read to anyone seeking a self help book to help them change their life. I found that most of the book was filled with stuff that I already knew, but I believe that my knowledge came mostly from my study of psychology so that should not discourage anyone from giving this book a shot.

SUGAR AND SPICE AND ALL THOSE LIES

Inside the Book

Title: SUGAR AND SPICE AND ALL THOSE LIES
Author: Evy Journey
Publisher: Sojourney Books
Pages: 200
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Crime

BOOK BLURB:

Cooking a wonderful meal is an art. An act of love. An act of grace. A gift that affirms and gives life—not only does it nurture those who partake of the meal; it also feeds the soul of the creator. These are lessons Gina learns from her mother, daughter of an unfortunate French chef.
Gina is a young woman born to poor parents, a nobody keen to taste life outside the world she was born into. A world that exposes her to fascinating people gripped by dark motives. Her passion for cooking is all she has to help her navigate it.
She gets lucky when she’s chosen to cook at a Michelin-starred restaurant in the San Francisco Bay Area where customers belong to a privileged class with money to spare for a dinner of inventive dishes costing hundreds of dollars. In this heady, scintillating atmosphere, she meets new friends and new challenges—pastry chef Marcia, filthy rich client Leon, and Brent, a brooding homicide detective. This new world, it turns out, is also one of unexpected danger.
Can the lessons Gina learned from her mother about cooking and life help her survive and thrive in this other world of privilege, pleasure, and menace?
Praise:
ByLee Broomon December 24, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition

Powerful book! I feel like this story was one that I will have on my mind for a while. Gina is a gourmet chef, and her life is centered around her food and her dreams of owning her own restaurant. She recently got out of a relationship, not wanting to commit because of her passion for her job. Then a charming rich playboy notices her and won’t stop sending her roses. It’s an interesting story that has some crazy twists when jealous women come out of the woodwork. Gina doesn’t want to have a relationship so she ignores Leon’s attentions. Then she meets an intense homicide detective named Brent who catches her heart, but numerous events keep them apart. It’s a compelling story with quite a few ups and downs and sometimes I wanted to say to these people, “What is wrong with you people? Can’t you just admit you love each other and live your life happy already?!” I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read more by this author.

Meet the Author

Evy Journey, SPR (Self Publishing Review) Independent Woman Author awardee, is a writer, a wannabe artist, and a flâneuse who, wishes she lives in Paris where people have perfected the art of aimless roaming. Armed with a Ph.D., she used to research and help develop mental health programs.
She’s a writer because beautiful prose seduces her and existential angst continues to plague her despite such preoccupations having gone out of fashion. She takes occasional refuge by invoking the spirit of Jane Austen to spin tales of love, loss, and finding one’s way—stories into which she weaves mystery or intrigue.
Her latest book is Sugar and Spice and All Those Lies.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

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My Review

SUGAR AND SPICE AND ALL THOSE LIES was a unique book that I found to be an enjoyable read. I liked the uniqueness of having the main character being a chef in this women's fictional crime novel. Normally, the main character would be a detective, a cop, or a reporter. So having a chef being the main was a nice change that made the story interesting.

The Ticket

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Ticket by Fred Shackelford
Category:   Adult Fiction,   320 pages
Genre:  Mystery/Suspense
Publisher:  Black Opal Books
Release date:  December 2016
Tour dates: April 2 to 13, 2018
Content Rating: PG

Book Description:

Channing Booker, a compulsive gambler, drug abuser, and philanderer whose marriage is failing, finally gets lucky and wins the Mega Millions lottery. Expecting an imminent divorce, and hoping to hide his new fortune from his wife Susan, Channing devises a scheme to have a friend claim the $241-million jackpot and secretly return the money to Channing after the divorce is final. But Susan flees with all of her possessions, including the rare book in which Channing hid the winning lottery ticket.

With time running out before the lottery ticket expires, Channing launches a desperate search to find Susan, but she’s covered her tracks well, fearing his retribution. In need of money to fund her furtive new lifestyle, Susan begins selling off her worldly goods, including her rare books, unleashing a chain of events that puts not only her life in danger, but that of her new love as well…
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Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ Barnes & Noble
Abe Books ~ ​Alibris ~ Black Opal Books
​Books-a-Million ~ Fiction DB ~ iTunes ~ Kobo
ScribD ~ Smashwords ~ Wordery

Add to Goodreads

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Meet the Author:

Fred Shackelford is a Virginia attorney who lives on farmland that his great-great-grandfather purchased in 1817. Before writing his début novel The Ticket, he published Judges Say the Darndest Things, a collection of humorous excerpts from legal opinions. Fred is a graduate of the University of Virginia. The Ticket was a finalist for The Clue Awards from Chanticleer Book Reviews, a finalist for the National Indie Excellence Awards, and a quarterfinalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook 

Christian Books for Kids

My Toddler Bible By Juliet David & Chris Embleton-Hall

I was sent a free copy of My Toddler Bible By Juliet David & Chris Embleton-Hall for only my honest review of My Toddler Bible By Juliet David & Chris Embleton-Hall.

My Toddler Bible By Juliet David & Chris Embleton-Hall is a book made up of bible stories that use words that young children can understand. This does make the stories very simple in nature. For instance the Adam and Eve Bible story does not focus on the fact that the snake is the devil, or the nakedness of Adam and Eve, it only focuses on the fact that they ate the apple against God's orders and were punished by being cast out of Eden. The story or retold in a simple manner that is perfect for young children learning the stories for the first time, but as the children age they will need an older bible.

I Can by Kathryn O'Brian

I was sent a free copy of I Can by Kathryn O'Brian for only my honest and unbiased review of I Can by Kathryn O'Brian.

As many of you know I enjoy reading and reviewing children's books. As an after school counselor I love find new books for children to enjoy. I found this book to be extremely simple in nature. I was expecting it to be story like, but it is not. If anything I would describe it like a collection of short poems, though they are not poems just a repeat of similar things. For instance one page reads:

"I can jump!

I can laugh!

I can run and play

and skip and dance.

I can sing and climb

and swim and swing!

I can."

As you can see this type of writing is very simple and best left to very young children. I would say toddler age.That aside the book teaches children to be grateful for all that they can do and for Christ. The illustrations are done beautifully. Each picture is designed to help a child understand what the words say.

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of ICB, Princess Bible, Purple Pearl: International Children's Bible by Thomas Nelson in exchange only for my honest and unbiased review of ICB, Princess Bible, Purple Pearl: International Children's Bible by Thomas Nelson.

ICB, Princess Bible, Hardcover, Purple Pearl: International Children's Bible

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ICB, Princess Bible, Purple Pearl: International Children's Bible by Thomas Nelson

The ICB, Princess Bible, Purple Pearl: International Children's Bible by Thomas Nelson is perfect for any princess. The bible is a pretty purple and pink color with LOTS of sparkles. The outside alone will drag any pretty princess closer. The ICB, Princess Bible, Purple Pearl: International Children's Bible by Thomas Nelson is designed to get young princesses interested in God's word. ICB, Princess Bible, Purple Pearl: International Children's Bible by Thomas Nelson uses easy to understand and read bible translations with a lager font type. One of the features that I found nice for young princesses was the built in purple ribbon bookmark. The only thing about this bible that I felt made it difficult is the page themselves. The pages are very thin like tissue paper. This makes it difficult for young girls to turn the pages without ripping them so this bible would be best for children eight and up in my mind.

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of The Play-Along Bible: Imagining God's Story through Motion and Play by Bob Hartman and Illustrator Susie Poole in exchange only for my honest and unbiased review of The Play-Along Bible: Imagining God's Story through Motion and Play by Bob Hartman and Illustrator Susie Poole.

The Play-Along Bible: Imagining God's Story through Motion and Play

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The Play-Along Bible: Imagining God's Story through Motion and Play by Bob Hartman and Illustrator Susie Poole

The Play-Along Bible: Imagining God's Story through Motion and Play by Bob Hartman and Illustrator Susie Poole is a good book for integrating the Bible into your child’s playtime. The Play-Along Bible works to inspires children’s imaginations while also helping them to understand God’s Word. The book works to incorporate bible teachings with acting that will help to pull a young child into the teachings.

When parents tell stories to their children they often use different voices for different people or characters and they will make strange noises and huge motions with their hands. This The Play-Along Bible: Imagining God's Story through Motion and Play by Bob Hartman and Illustrator Susie Poole simply takes some of the effort out of it for the parent. Instead of having to come up with acting motions on the spot the book tells the parent what to do at each point in the bible story to help draw the interest of their child. Check out the video to the right for a preview of the book so that you can see how the book shows the different action motions to the parents.

I personally found each story to be a bit too simple, however that is what would make this a could starter introduction to the bible for very young children (preschool and under). The graphics are beautifully done by Susie Poole. They really work to capture the interest of young children. Again check out the video for a sample.

God Bless Our Country (A God Bless Book)

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God Bless Our Country Board book by Hannah Hall and illustrated Steve Whitlow

I was sent a free copy of God Bless Our Country Board book by Hannah Hall and illustrated Steve Whitlow for only my honest and unbiased review of God Bless Our Country Board book by Hannah Hall and illustrated Steve Whitlow.

God Bless Our Country Board book by Hannah Hall and illustrated Steve Whitlow is a great book for toddlers the book is a board book so it is much sturdier than paperback and hard cover books. The cover has a bit of a cushion to it as well so it would not hurt as much if a child hit him or herself with this book. The pages are made from a pressed cardboard like material making them difficult to tear. The book uses beautiful pictures to draw young children in ( the animal pictures are very cute). The words are easy for a young toddler to understand. This book would make a good first reading book as well. I feel this book would be good for any young Christian toddler.

Angels in the Bible Storybook By Allia Zobel Nolan

I was sent a free copy of Angels in the Bible Storybook By Allia Zobel Nolan for nylon a honest and unbiased review of Angels in the Bible Storybook By Allia Zobel Nolan.

I am kind of on the fence about Angels in the Bible Storybook By Allia Zobel Nolan the book is definitely for kids 7 and up I would say because of the reading level. I expected the book to focus on angles only. Instead it focuses mostly on angels. I have not read the entire bible so I am not sure if all of the stories in the book are correct. However they are definitely toned down so as to be good for a younger audience. The book avoids blood and gore so as to be good for young children. I personally would recommend one of the other books in this hub instead of this one. Any of the books above this review would be a good choice.

99 Prayers for Children by Juliet David & Elina Ellis

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of 99 Prayers for Children by Juliet David & Elina Ellis in exchange only for an honest review of 99 Prayers for Children by Juliet David & Elina Ellis.

Elina Ellis

Elina Ellis is was born in Zaporozhye, Ukraine, but she currently lives in Cornwall.Elina Ellis has spent her life drawing all sorts of pictures. When Elina Ellis graduated college she began to draw for newspapers and magazines. Elina Ellis then moved on to designing greeting cards and later illustrating children's books. She has illustrated:

• 99 Stories from the Bible
• The Easter Story
• My Little Picture Bible
• 99 Prayers for Children
• 99 historias de la Biblia

• Authors | Juliet David | Kregel
  For more about Juliet David and the books she has written.

Juliet David

Juliet David is a well known writer of children's storied and of Bible activity books. Juliet David enjoys music, painting, and traveling. Juliet David especially enjoys traveling to Israel and other Bible lands. Juliet David currently lives with her family in London. Juliet David has written many books some of the popular ones are:

• Follow the Star
• Candle Bible for Toddlers
• Candle Bible for Toddlers Learn and Play
• Candle Bible for Toddlers Carry Along Bible Fun
• My Little Blessings Bible
• My Very First Easter
• Please
• God Helps Me
• My Little Picture Bible
• Noah and His Big Boat--Magnetic
• The Nativity Story--Magnetic Adventures
• The Christmas Journey Storybook
• My Very First Christmas

Review

First off as I wrote in the disclaimer up top "I was sent a free copy of 99 Prayers for Children by Juliet David & Elina Ellis in exchange only for an honest review of 99 Prayers for Children by Juliet David & Elina Ellis."

I do not currently have any children of my own, but I am a child care counselor so I work with young children on a regular basis. I also watch my young cousin frequently. 99 Prayers for Children by Juliet David & Elina Ellis is a great book for any child that has learned to read. Young children that believe in God often have difficult knowing what and how to pray. 99 Prayers for Children by Juliet David & Elina Ellis teaches young children who can read how to pray and how to begin their prayers. This book does not have a prayer for every situation, but it is a good stepping stone for learning to create your own prayers.

The illustrations in 99 Prayers for Children by Juliet David & Elina Ellis are breath taking. They are all in cartoon style so as to interest a young child, but they are done amazingly well. Each picture is about the prayer and the picture takes up the whole page.

The 99 Prayers for Children by Juliet David & Elina Ellis book uses easy to understand language without any complicated words. Most of the prayers are short and sweet in order to keep a young child's attention while taking into account their short attention span.

One Prayer reads: "Peace be to this house and all who dwell here. Peace be to those who enter and to those who depart." The prayer is easy for any child to say and easy for a child to read and understand. Many of the prayers teach life lessons as well. For instance this prayer teach children to care about other people and to wish good things upon everyone.

Overall I would recommend this 99 Prayers for Children by Juliet David & Elina Ellis book to any parent wishing to teach their child about prayer. 99 Prayers for Children by Juliet David & Elina Ellis would also make a great gift especially because the first page is a " presented to ___ from__ on the occasion of ___" page.

Moonchild Dreams by Nadia Gerassimenko

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Moonchild Dreams by Nadia Gerassimenko for a honest and unbiased review of Moonchild Dreams by Nadia Gerassimenko.

"Let us immerse into five imaginary and yet quite believable and relatable mythologies narrated by very mesmerizing Muses. The first to get you plunging are vocal melodies about strength, wonderment, and hope. The second is a struggle between love and its mirrored-self – an inevitable discovery of what true love is and how imitation fails to grasp its pure essence.

— Nadia Gerassimenko

The third are tales chanted forlornly by Sirens about love and loss and the unattainable, all lost in the abysmal sea. The fourth, less melancholy but profound nonetheless, are words of wisdom to live by from our Mother Nature. And lastly, you come to meet the Moonchild…a part of her inner world and dreams she dared to share."

— Nadia Gerassimenko

• http://www.tepidautumn.net/about-me/
  My name is Nadia Gerassimenko. I was born in Almaty, Kazakhstan on September 13, 1989. However, most of my life I lived in Montreal, Canada with my parents and grandmother. And recently, I have moved to New Jersey to be with my beloved husband.
• Nadia Gerassimenko Facebook

Nadia Gerassimenko

Nadia Gerassimenko hold writing as her foremost passion with photography being a close second. Nadia Gerassimenko enjoys spending her spare time:

• watching indie movies
• listening to new wave
• playing survival horror
• playing adventure games
• spending time with her beloved family

Nadia Gerassimenko has a depp love of reading and writing poety even though she does not always get it. Nadia Gerassimenko first book Moonchild Dreams is her debut chapbook. Nadia Gerassimenko wrote Moonchild Dreams to be a collection of poetry that brings the reader into the realms of love, hope, enlightenment, and wisdom.

Nadia never thought she would write. Not until 2004 when she turned 14 that a muse knocked on her door and overwhelmed her with a fiery passion she had to let out. Then she could not stop writing. About hopes and dreams, sorrows, love and passion, childlike philosophies, stories that only happened in her head. Her words were either optimistic or melancholy – a duality she always carried through life.

— Nadia Gerassimenko

As she grew older, however, she wrote less. Not that the flame ever stifled, she was only looking for a way to convey something meaningful not only to herself, but something that many can relate to. In the beginning of 2015, Moonchild Dreams was born. It is a collection of poems she gathered from 2004 to 2015 that show her evolution as a poetess as well as a person from her early teens to adulthood.

— Nadia Gerassimenko

Moonchild Dreams

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My Favorite Poem in Moonchild Dreams by Nadia Gerassimenko "Lock it up"

Review

As I wrote at the top of this hub "I was sent a free copy of Moonchild Dreams by Nadia Gerassimenko for a honest and unbiased review of Moonchild Dreams by Nadia Gerassimenko."

I enjoy reading poetry from time to time; I am not one of those people who live it a breath it day in and day out, but I do enjoy the poems that truly touch your heart. My favorite type of poetry tends to be animal poems focused on rainbow bridge, however a close second is the kind that when I read them I almost feel like the poem is touching my heart with how well it reflects my own feelings.

What really drove me to give this book of poems a honest try was the back cover the back cover reads " You can bend me as you please To get to the heart of the matter I am the Moonchild, and I dream The night is mine to keep When you cannot tame me". This short little section really pulled me in it made me want to read what else Nadia Gerassimenko may have written and I am glad that I decided to read Moonchild Dreams by Nadia Gerassimenko.

I will not lie and tell you that I enjoyed every single poem in Moonchild Dreams by Nadia Gerassimenko, but I will tell you that I honestly enjoyed most of them. My favorite out of all the poems in Moonchild Dreams by Nadia Gerassimenko is "Lock it up", I just really felt like the poem was speaking directly too me. I recorded a video of "Lock it up" on the right, (please forgive my stumbles I am not exactly a great public speaker). My least favorite poem was "Morphine Dreams", the poem was well written, but it was one of the few that just did not speak to me, instead it left me wondering what the poem was about.

Overall I am glad that I read Moonchild Dreams by Nadia Gerassimenko and I plan to keep the book to re-read from time to time. Moonchild Dreams by Nadia Gerassimenko is a must have for any poetry lover Nadia Gerassimenko will truly entice you in with her wonderful writing from page one. After reading Moonchild Dreams by Nadia Gerassimenko I am left with a sense of hope that Nadia Gerassimenko will continue to write and publish her poems.

Bagels & Salsa

Inside the Book

Title: BAGELS & SALSA
Author: Lara Reznik
Publisher: Enchanted Indie Press
Pages: 296
Genre: Suspense/Romance/Humor

BOOK BLURB:

Author Lara Reznik blends suspense, romance, and humor in her latest novel, BAGELS & SALSA (http://www.larareznik.com/bagels-and-salsa). Loosely based on Reznik’s life, the story of Laila and Eduardo highlights the turmoil that surfaces when a Jewish sociologist from New York and a Hispanic doctor from rural New Mexico fall hard and fast for each other. Their blossoming relationship develops against the backdrop of terror the Son of Sam created in New York City during the summer of 1977.
Early reviews of BAGELS & SALSA praise the story’s dynamic plot and colorful characters:
“The author tells a simple love story, but she structures the novel to provide a panoramic view of her characters” (Kirkus Reviews).
“Another lovely read from Lara Reznik! . . . As with all her novels there are also plenty of fun subplot twists and turns. I wanted more.”  (Barbara Gaines, Former Executive Producer of The Late Show with David Letterman).
BAGELS & SALSA opens at a high school assembly hall in a rough part of the Bronx where Laila Levin is giving her first postdoctorate presentation on the US teen pregnancy epidemic. Her fear of public speaking and a chance encounter with the Son of Sam unravel her as several loud bangs crack through the air. Laila falls on the stage and injures her right shoulder. Fortunately, Dr. Eduardo Quintana jumps into action.
What begins as a playful flirtation while Laila recovers in the hospital propels into a more serious relationship with the handsome doctor. Their mutual passion is so intense that it stuns them both. The unlikely pair share strong family values and an interest in teen pregnancy prevention. After a brief courtship, Eduardo persuades Laila to accompany him to his family’s ranch near Española, New Mexico, where he plans to open a family practice. The rural town has one of the highest pregnancy rates in North America: the perfect place for Laila’s research.
Once in New Mexico, Laila is blatantly rejected by Sylvia, Eduardo’s controlling mother. Sylvia wants Eduardo to marry Violet, his high school sweetheart, who has recently returned to New Mexico after a failed flight attendant career and a walk on the dark side of Hollywood. Violet’s mother and Sylvia cook up a plan to send Laila packing and reunite their children. The Quintanas hold a large pig roast and invite a menagerie of tattooed cousins, rodeo stars, and mariachis. And the drop-dead gorgeous Violet makes a grand entrance.
In the midst of the pandemonium that results, a shocking family secret is revealed, and Laila and Eduardo’s love for each other is severely tested. Can their relationship survive the fierce clash of cultures, the murderous intentions of a Son of Sam copycat who has stalked Laila from New York City, and their own uncertainties about the upheavals that their union will cause in their lives?

Reznik’s first goal in writing BAGELS & SALSA is to entertain readers. However, she says, “On a more thematic level, I’d like readers to think about the importance of embracing religious, ethnic, and cultural differences, which have been at the core of so much conflict in the world.”

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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Meet the Author

Lara Reznik is a native New Yorker who studied at the University of New Mexico and the University of Iowa’s Writers’ Workshop. Bagels & Salsa is her third novel.
Writing books since she was six years old, Reznik retired from an executive position in information technology after the success of her first novel, The Girl From Long Guyland, published in 2012. In 2015, Reznik published her second book, The M&M Boys.
Reznik currently lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and two miniature Aussies.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

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My Review

Bagels & Salsa was a well written book that I found myself enjoying. I liked how it had elements of both suspense and romance that were blended together. I personally found the romance element to be my favorite as the author did such a wonderful job in creating characters that were so realistic in their interactions with other characters!