Monday, December 12, 2022

Maia and the Blades of Thulasu

 The Lightbound Saga 5

Title: The Lightbound Saga Trilogy
Author: S.G. Basu
Publisher: Dreamwater Press
Genre: Middle Grade/Young Adult

Series Blurb:

13-year-old Maia is a land-dwelling Solianese living on the planet of Tansi. She has been raised by her doting grandfather. Her mother, Sophie, supposedly deceased, is accused to be a traitor who fought for the Xifarians who have subjugated Tansi. Loathing her family’s history, Maia has put herself into self-exile, vowing to steer clear of the temptations that led her mother astray. But when she is drafted into a peace summit by the Xifarians, she must walk into Xif, the planet she has always wanted to avoid. Here she meets loyal teammates Kusha, Dani, Nafi, and Ren, as well as Miir, their Xifarian team mentor who is as accomplished as he is temperamental. As Maia and her teammates thwart a plot to harm the underwater settlements on Tansi, she also discovers that her mother, Sophie, was not what she seemed. Sophie sacrificed herself to save Tansi before the Xifarians could destroy the Tansian system.

Maia visits the Jjord nation in their underwater colonies on Tansi. More of Sophie’s secrets come to light while she is in the colonies as well as more of the Xifarians’ plots to rebuild the dark heart of Xif. As Maia’s link with Sophie becomes apparent, Maia soon finds herself in the crosshairs of the Xifarians who kill her family and send her running for shelter across the dead lands of the Solianese. Chased by the Xifarians, Maia barely manages to stay alive with the help of her teammates.

While on the run across Tansi, Maia meets a mysterious man who unlocks a power within Maia. When her mighty Xifarian foes corner her, Maia unleashes the power on them, overpowering everyone, including her former mentor, Miir.

Maia struggles with her newfound power. The team is on the verge of fracturing when Maia reveals she might have killed Miir. Meanwhile, the R’armimon, an ancient and powerful enemy of the Xifarians, are on the way to the Tansian system, seeking vengeance from the Xifarians. On finding this, the Xifarians grow desperate to resurrect the dark heart that would enable them to leave the Tansian system. Maia narrowly escapes the Xifarians’ trap with a mysterious ally but her new alliance takes a toll on her friendships.

Maia is alone and hopeless but she forges on to regain the trust of her teammates and tries to convince the Tansian leaders of the impending threat of the R’armimon fleet. With help from her allies, Maia continues to uncover more of Sophie’s past. Together with her friends, Maia rushes to find the artifacts needed to thwart the R’armimon as the massive Execution Fleet of the R’armimon appears next to Tansi.

Purchase Information for Series

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Tb71xt

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Meet the Author

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S.G. Basu 2

S.G. Basu is an aspiring potentate of a galaxy or two. She plots and plans with wondrous machines, cybernetic robots, time travelers and telekinetic adventurers, some of whom escape into the pages of her books. Although she’s an engineer by training, writing has been her passion since childhood. Her other loves include extra-hot lattes, fast cars and binge watching sci-fi movies.

Find out more about the futuristic worlds she creates at sgbasu.com. She can also be reached at sg@sgbasu.com.

Books by S.G. Basu:

The Lightbound Saga series (YA Dystopian Science Fiction)

Maia and the Xifarian Conspiracy

Maia and the Secrets of Zagran

Maia and Regency Protocol

The Lightbound Saga 3 Book Bundle

The Firefly League-A Lightbound Saga novella

Elementals-The Serial Thriller (Paranormal Science Fiction)

Population Morpheus (Near Apocalyptic Science Fiction)

Jumpers (Paranormal Thriller)

You can visit the author’s website at www.sgbasu.com or connect with her on TwitterFacebook and Goodreads

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My Review

Maia and the Blades of Thulasu was an amazing read and it was my favorite book of the series. I loved how the story grew from book one to book five and I loved Maia as a character.  I loved the way this author drew me in page after page and book after book and I hope to read more of her books in the future!

Thursday, December 8, 2022

In the Nick of Time Too by Deedee Cummings/illustrated by Charlene Mosley

 

IN THE NICK OF TIME TOO by Deedee Cummings

Book Details:

Book Title: In the Nick of Time Too by Deedee Cummings/illustrated by Charlene Mosley
Category:  Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 40 pages
Genre:  Children/ Holiday (Kids older than 7 will love this too.)
Publisher:  Make A Way Media
Release date:  November 2022
Format available for review:  print (USA), ebook (PDF)
Tour dates:  Dec 5 to Dec 16, 2022
Content Rating: G. Children's Holiday Book.
Book Description:

Nick Saint and his best friend, Cooper, reunite in this warm holiday story about the magic of Christmas. A surprise visit leads to a journey of self-discovery and a deeper understanding of the true meaning of the holiday spirit. Nick and Cooper receive a charge to spread kindness and hope in their everyday lives. Will Cooper listen to his friend and help Nick save the day again? Will you also be moved to action and accept Santa’s challenge to spread kindness wherever you go?

​Children of all ages and backgrounds will be inspired by this story and will understand that love, hope, kindness, and Christmas miracles come to us in many shapes and all colors.
Buy the Book:  
Amazon

Meet the Author:




Deedee is a professional dreamer. She is also an author, therapist, attorney, and mom from Louisville, Kentucky. The books she writes focus on hope, diversity, social justice, and therapeutic skills for children and adults. Her work has been featured in HuffPost, Forbes, NPR, USA Today, Essence Magazine, Psych Central, Well+Good, and The EveryGirl, among other media outlets. Deedee is also the founder of Make A Way Media and The Louisville Book Festival. She believes literacy is a fundamental human right. Her work highlights inspiring messages that remind us all it is never too late to begin again. Cummings founded Make A Way Media in 2014 after struggling to find books with characters who looked like her own children and an extreme lack of stories that reflected their life experiences. Follow Deedee on Instagram for fun and informative updates as she continues to chase her dreams and bring them to life.


My Review

In the Nick of Time Too by Deedee Cummings/illustrated by Charlene Mosley was a great follow-up to the first book (In the Nick of Time). I really liked the reuniting of Nick Saint and Cooper as it was nice to see the two friends back together in this holiday book. I personally really liked how this book just like the previous one focused on holiday spirit and kindness and not just on material gifts. It was a really sweet kids' book perfect for the holidays! 

THE FIRST STATE (The Judgment series Book 1) by Tshekedi Wallace

 

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Maia and the R'Armimon Bambit

 

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Inside the Book

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The Lightbound Saga 5

Title: The Lightbound Saga Trilogy
Author: S.G. Basu
Publisher: Dreamwater Press
Genre: Middle Grade/Young Adult

Series Blurb:

13-year-old Maia is a land-dwelling Solianese living on the planet of Tansi. She has been raised by her doting grandfather. Her mother, Sophie, supposedly deceased, is accused to be a traitor who fought for the Xifarians who have subjugated Tansi. Loathing her family’s history, Maia has put herself into self-exile, vowing to steer clear of the temptations that led her mother astray. But when she is drafted into a peace summit by the Xifarians, she must walk into Xif, the planet she has always wanted to avoid. Here she meets loyal teammates Kusha, Dani, Nafi, and Ren, as well as Miir, their Xifarian team mentor who is as accomplished as he is temperamental. As Maia and her teammates thwart a plot to harm the underwater settlements on Tansi, she also discovers that her mother, Sophie, was not what she seemed. Sophie sacrificed herself to save Tansi before the Xifarians could destroy the Tansian system.

Maia visits the Jjord nation in their underwater colonies on Tansi. More of Sophie’s secrets come to light while she is in the colonies as well as more of the Xifarians’ plots to rebuild the dark heart of Xif. As Maia’s link with Sophie becomes apparent, Maia soon finds herself in the crosshairs of the Xifarians who kill her family and send her running for shelter across the dead lands of the Solianese. Chased by the Xifarians, Maia barely manages to stay alive with the help of her teammates.

While on the run across Tansi, Maia meets a mysterious man who unlocks a power within Maia. When her mighty Xifarian foes corner her, Maia unleashes the power on them, overpowering everyone, including her former mentor, Miir.

Maia struggles with her newfound power. The team is on the verge of fracturing when Maia reveals she might have killed Miir. Meanwhile, the R’armimon, an ancient and powerful enemy of the Xifarians, are on the way to the Tansian system, seeking vengeance from the Xifarians. On finding this, the Xifarians grow desperate to resurrect the dark heart that would enable them to leave the Tansian system. Maia narrowly escapes the Xifarians’ trap with a mysterious ally but her new alliance takes a toll on her friendships.

Maia is alone and hopeless but she forges on to regain the trust of her teammates and tries to convince the Tansian leaders of the impending threat of the R’armimon fleet. With help from her allies, Maia continues to uncover more of Sophie’s past. Together with her friends, Maia rushes to find the artifacts needed to thwart the R’armimon as the massive Execution Fleet of the R’armimon appears next to Tansi.

Purchase Information for Series

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Tb71xt

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Meet the Author

· ┈┈┈┈┈┈ · ꕥ · ┈┈┈┈┈┈ ·

S.G. Basu 2

S.G. Basu is an aspiring potentate of a galaxy or two. She plots and plans with wondrous machines, cybernetic robots, time travelers and telekinetic adventurers, some of whom escape into the pages of her books. Although she’s an engineer by training, writing has been her passion since childhood. Her other loves include extra-hot lattes, fast cars and binge watching sci-fi movies.

Find out more about the futuristic worlds she creates at sgbasu.com. She can also be reached at sg@sgbasu.com.

Books by S.G. Basu:

The Lightbound Saga series (YA Dystopian Science Fiction)

Maia and the Xifarian Conspiracy

Maia and the Secrets of Zagran

Maia and Regency Protocol

The Lightbound Saga 3 Book Bundle

The Firefly League-A Lightbound Saga novella

Elementals-The Serial Thriller (Paranormal Science Fiction)

Population Morpheus (Near Apocalyptic Science Fiction)

Jumpers (Paranormal Thriller)

You can visit the author’s website at www.sgbasu.com or connect with her on TwitterFacebook and Goodreads

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My Review

Maia and the R'Armimon Bambit was another great read! I am loving this series and Maia is an amazing character that just keeps me coming back book after book to find out how she will handle the next hurdle tossed in her way and who she will become.

IN THE NICK OF TIME by Deedee Cummings

IN THE NICK OF TIME by Deedee Cummings

Book Details:

Book Title: In the Nick of Time by Deedee Cummings/illustrated by Charlene Mosley
Category:  Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 28 pages
Genre:  Children/ Holiday
Publisher:  Make A Way Media
Release date:  November 2019
Format available for review:  print (USA and Canada), ebook (PDF)
Tour dates:  Oct 12 to Dec 4, 2020
Content Rating: G. Children's Holiday Book.
Book Description:

A Timely Tale about a Little Brown Boy who Saves Christmas. Nick Saint never really put a lot of thought into his name until one snowy day in December when he accidentally receives a letter meant for Saint Nick. Realizing there is not much time left until Christmas, Nick opens the letter. The unexpected message inside ultimately leads him on a journey of understanding poverty, gratitude, and service to others while discovering the real meaning of the holiday spirit.
Buy the Book:   
Amazon
Make a Way Media

Add to Goodreads 


Meet the Author:



Deedee is a professional dreamer. She is also an author, therapist, attorney, and mom from Louisville, Kentucky. The books she writes focus on hope, diversity, social justice, and therapeutic skills for children and adults. Her work has been featured in HuffPost, Forbes, NPR, USA Today, Essence Magazine, Psych Central, Well+Good, and The EveryGirl, among other media outlets. Deedee is also the founder of Make A Way Media and The Louisville Book Festival. She believes literacy is a fundamental human right. Her work highlights inspiring messages that remind us all it is never too late to begin again. Cummings founded Make A Way Media in 2014 after struggling to find books with characters who looked like her own children and an extreme lack of stories that reflected their life experiences. Follow Deedee on Instagram for fun and informative updates as she continues to chase her dreams and bring them to life.
My Review
IN THE NICK OF TIME by Deedee Cummings was a well-written and beautifully illustrated children's Christmas book that I am super excited to share with my young cousins when they come to visit for Christmas.  I loved the lesson that it teaches children about what the holiday spirit truly is and how everyone comes from different backgrounds.

BEYOND FLIGHT OR FIGHT BY SUNNY WEBER

 BEYOND FLIGHT OR FRIGHT by Sunny Weber

Book Details:

​Book Title:  Beyond Flight or Fight: A Compassionate Guide for Working with Fearful Dogs by Sunny Weber
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction (18+),  186 pages
GenreAnimals/Dogs/Training/Self-Help 
Publisher:  Pups & Purrs Press 
Release date:  September 2016
Formats Available for Reviewprint-softback (USA and Canada), ebook (MOBI for Kindle, PDF), and audiobook (audible download)
Tour dates: Nov 21 to Dec 16, 2022
Content Rating: This non-fiction book is rated G.
Book Description:

Is your dog afraid of noises, objects, or you? Whether you have taken a fearful dog into your home, or you work professionally to save lives, Beyond Flight or Fight is an indispensable tool. Discover how to help dogs that have been neglected, abused, or are genetically timid.

Fearful, timid, and/or reactive dogs are the most commonly rejected and euthanized dog personality type. Shelters, rescues, and sanctuaries often do not have the financial resources, time, or qualified staff to help these dogs adapt to life with humans. By providing a concise, easy-to-understand guide for anyone who has chosen a fearful dog to adopt, foster, or rehabilitate for other potential owners, Beyond Flight or Fight will help many people save many innocent, confused, and overwhelmed dogs’ lives.

Unique points covered include:
  • How fear works: primary vs. secondary responses.
  • Why rescue programs may not work
  • Safe places, escape, and helping dogs think
  • Flooding, aggression, learned helplessness: what happens/fixing it
  • Importance of: a familiar handler, time, and leadership
  • Specialized training techniques
  • Developing dog self-confidence
  • How to use: voice, hands, body, correction cues, and dog psychology
  • Why some dogs do not respond
  • Maintenance, proofing, accepting optimal levels Learn to teach “special needs” pets how to fit into the human world.
Conquer brain-flooding stress hormones and help your dog move from knee-jerk, Amygdala-based fear responses to reasoned, calm, rational evaluation based in the prefrontal cortex of the dog mind. Fearful dogs can be saved and have quality lives free of anxiety.
Buy the Book:
Amazon.com ~  Audible
BAM ~ B&N

Add to Goodreads
Meet the Author:


Sunny Weber has over 30 years in animal welfare advocacy. She has experience in rescue, fostering, medical care, service and therapy dog evaluation and training, shelter and sanctuary work and specializes in the rehabilitation of fearful animals. Sunny has rehabilitated then re-homed hundreds of dogs, cats and horses.

connect with the author: website facebook ~ linked-In ~ goodreads bookbub
My Review
Beyond Flight or Fight: A Compassionate Guide for Working with Fearful Dogs by Sunny Weber was a great book. As someone who has had dogs her whole life, I can say that this author clearly knows her stuff. I have recently been considering doing some rescue work and I found this to be a great preparation resource. The narration was top quality and I was able to listen while doing house chores!

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Maia and the Regency Protocol

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Inside the Book

· ┈┈┈┈┈┈ · ꕥ · ┈┈┈┈┈┈ ·

The Lightbound Saga 5

Title: The Lightbound Saga Trilogy
Author: S.G. Basu
Publisher: Dreamwater Press
Genre: Middle Grade/Young Adult

Series Blurb:

13-year-old Maia is a land-dwelling Solianese living on the planet of Tansi. She has been raised by her doting grandfather. Her mother, Sophie, supposedly deceased, is accused to be a traitor who fought for the Xifarians who have subjugated Tansi. Loathing her family’s history, Maia has put herself into self-exile, vowing to steer clear of the temptations that led her mother astray. But when she is drafted into a peace summit by the Xifarians, she must walk into Xif, the planet she has always wanted to avoid. Here she meets loyal teammates Kusha, Dani, Nafi, and Ren, as well as Miir, their Xifarian team mentor who is as accomplished as he is temperamental. As Maia and her teammates thwart a plot to harm the underwater settlements on Tansi, she also discovers that her mother, Sophie, was not what she seemed. Sophie sacrificed herself to save Tansi before the Xifarians could destroy the Tansian system.

Maia visits the Jjord nation in their underwater colonies on Tansi. More of Sophie’s secrets come to light while she is in the colonies as well as more of the Xifarians’ plots to rebuild the dark heart of Xif. As Maia’s link with Sophie becomes apparent, Maia soon finds herself in the crosshairs of the Xifarians who kill her family and send her running for shelter across the dead lands of the Solianese. Chased by the Xifarians, Maia barely manages to stay alive with the help of her teammates.

While on the run across Tansi, Maia meets a mysterious man who unlocks a power within Maia. When her mighty Xifarian foes corner her, Maia unleashes the power on them, overpowering everyone, including her former mentor, Miir.

Maia struggles with her newfound power. The team is on the verge of fracturing when Maia reveals she might have killed Miir. Meanwhile, the R’armimon, an ancient and powerful enemy of the Xifarians, are on the way to the Tansian system, seeking vengeance from the Xifarians. On finding this, the Xifarians grow desperate to resurrect the dark heart that would enable them to leave the Tansian system. Maia narrowly escapes the Xifarians’ trap with a mysterious ally but her new alliance takes a toll on her friendships.

Maia is alone and hopeless but she forges on to regain the trust of her teammates and tries to convince the Tansian leaders of the impending threat of the R’armimon fleet. With help from her allies, Maia continues to uncover more of Sophie’s past. Together with her friends, Maia rushes to find the artifacts needed to thwart the R’armimon as the massive Execution Fleet of the R’armimon appears next to Tansi.

Purchase Information for Series

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Tb71xt

· ┈┈┈┈┈┈ · ꕥ · ┈┈┈┈┈┈ ·

Meet the Author

· ┈┈┈┈┈┈ · ꕥ · ┈┈┈┈┈┈ ·

S.G. Basu 2

S.G. Basu is an aspiring potentate of a galaxy or two. She plots and plans with wondrous machines, cybernetic robots, time travelers and telekinetic adventurers, some of whom escape into the pages of her books. Although she’s an engineer by training, writing has been her passion since childhood. Her other loves include extra-hot lattes, fast cars and binge watching sci-fi movies.

Find out more about the futuristic worlds she creates at sgbasu.com. She can also be reached at sg@sgbasu.com.

Books by S.G. Basu:

The Lightbound Saga series (YA Dystopian Science Fiction)

Maia and the Xifarian Conspiracy

Maia and the Secrets of Zagran

Maia and Regency Protocol

The Lightbound Saga 3 Book Bundle

The Firefly League-A Lightbound Saga novella

Elementals-The Serial Thriller (Paranormal Science Fiction)

Population Morpheus (Near Apocalyptic Science Fiction)

Jumpers (Paranormal Thriller)

You can visit the author’s website at www.sgbasu.com or connect with her on TwitterFacebook and Goodreads

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My Review

Maia and the Regency Protocol was another great addition to an amazing series that has captivated me. I have come to like Maia a great deal and I enjoyed seeing her continue to grow as a character. I felt that this book so far has the most amount of suspense in it, so much so that I finished this book all at once.