Month: February 2018

First Kiss of Spring Book Review

The First Kiss of Spring

Spring has come to Eternity Springs in The First Kiss of Spring, the newest installment in this New York Times bestselling series by Emily March.

The First Kiss of Spring

About The First Kiss of Spring

Life could be a dream.

Goal-oriented and gorgeous, Caitlin Timberlake’s dreams took her to the top of the corporate ladder in New York City. Now years later, her goals have changed. She wants to come home to Eternity Springs and build a business and a family of her own—with the new man in town. So what if sexy mechanic Josh Tarkington wants nothing more than a fling? Caitlin is a patient woman who knows how to work hard and strategize to win what she desires. She desires Josh. Unfortunately, he has other plans.

If only things were different.

Josh craves Caitlin and all she has to offer. However, he is a man with secrets. He has worked hard to overcome his tragic past, but he’s afraid to risk having a future because he knows trouble is never very far away. When a selfless act brings that trouble to his door, he stands to lose everything he cares about—including Caitlin. Will her love and the healing magic of Eternity Springs be enough to save him?

My Thoughts

This is a beautiful story of never letting our past define our future and that we all deserve our own happy ever after.

Josh is a broken young man, the extend of which we don’t learn until half way through the novel. He is vulnerable, thoughtful and kind. I fell in love with his character! But deep down inside because of his past, he felt he doesn’t deserve happiness or love. He seems to have even given up on love. But Caitlin is determined to worm her way into his heart and show him just how good of a person he is.

Their romance is up and down – Josh is too scared to reveal his past to Caitlin and this has many negative consequences to their relationship. Caitlin doesn’t know how to give him the space that he needs and pushes him in directions that he isn’t quite ready for. Josh has to find it in himself to push past his fears and insecurities, especially if he wants to keep Caitlin in his life.

The First Kiss of Spring is a beautiful story of hope, never letting our past define our future and finding our happiness. The plot was unique and well-played out – I could not put this novel down. I had to know what would happen next for this couple – would they be able to make it work or not.

You can purchase a copy of this book Amazon, Barnes & Noble and IndieBound.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Emily March is the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels, including the critically acclaimed Eternity Springs series. Publishers Weekly calls March a “master of delightful banter,” and her heartwarming, emotionally charged stories have been named to Best of the Year lists by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Romance Writers of America. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Emily is an avid fan of Aggie sports and her recipe for jalapeño relish has made her a tailgating legend.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Keturah Book Review

Litfuse Book Tour

In 1772 England, Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson and her sisters find themselves the heiresses of their father’s estates and know they have one option: Go to the West Indies to save what is left of their heritage.

Keturah Book Review

About Keturah

In 1772 England, Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson and her sisters find themselves the heiresses of their father’s estates and know they have one option: Go to the West Indies to save what is left of their heritage.

Although it flies against all the conventions, they’re determined to make their own way in the world. But once they arrive in the Caribbean, conventions are the least of their concerns. On the infamous island of Nevis, the sisters discover the legacy of the legendary sugar barons has vastly declined-and that’s just the start of what their eyes are opened to in this harsh and unfamiliar world.

Keturah never intends to put herself at the mercy of a man again, but every man on the island seems to be trying to win her hand and, with it, the ownership of her plantation. She could desperately use an ally, but even an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend leaves her questioning his motives.

To keep her family together and save the plantation that is her last chance at providing for them, can Keturah ever surrender her stubbornness and guarded heart to God and find the healing and love awaiting her?

My Thoughts

I fell in love with this beautifully written and unique story. In this novel, we have three young privileged women who have been orphaned. Their eldest sister would do anything to ensure her sisters are taken care of and remain in the family home. The only problem? This would see her having to travel to her family investment in the West Indies – their last hope at saving their lands in England.

What she doesn’t expect? Her sisters absolute refusal to let her go alone! So instead all three young women take off on an exciting journey that is far beyond social acceptance and looked down upon by many in their class. I found it to be so brave and determined but their greatest setback is how sheltered they have been. They are grossly unprepared for what to expect, what to bring and the sexism they will face.

This was an incredible story of perseverance, hope, faith, forgiveness with a touch of love growing in there. I couldn’t put this novel down wanting to know more about what would happen to Keturah and her sisters. This novel is a definite must read.

You can find more reviews on the Litfuse blog tour page. You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Lisa T. Bergren has published more than 40 books with more than 3 million books sold combined. She’s the author of the Christy Award-winning “Waterfall,” RITA®-finalist “Firestorm,” bestselling “God Gave Us You,” and popular historical series like Homeward, Grand Tour, and more. She’s also a recipient of the RT Lifetime Achievement Award. She lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and three teen-and-older children.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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My Little Pony: Spring Into Friendship DVD Giveaway

Shout! Kids Factory

Everyone’s favourite characters our back! My Little Pony: Spring Into Friendship leaps onto DVD February 13th in all new episodes!

My Little Pony: Spring Into Friendship DVD Giveaway

About My Little Pony: Spring Into Friendship

Big trouble is on the horizon when Twilight Sparkle is given only two coveted tickets to the most anticipated event in town. But how will she decide which of her best friends gets to go with her? She faces quite the challenge.

Discover the answer, and see four more amazing pony tales, as Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy help usher Springtime into Equestria!

Episodes Included:

  • The Ticket Master
  • Sisterhooves Social
  • Just for Sidekicks
  • Princess Twilight Sparkle Part One
  • Princess Twilight Sparkle Part Two
  • Bonus: Sing a long!

This beautiful DVD has been released just in time to make a perfect addition to Easter baskets with its spring themes if you are thinking of Easter basket ideas. The DVD has a run time of 110 minutes and enough episodes to keep your little one engaged and craving more. Can’t wait for Easter? Why not set up a My Little Pony viewing party with colourful snacks, decorations and their favourite characters and get set for a night of fun and entertainment.

You can purchase a copy of this DVD on Amazon and Shout Kids.

My American and Canadian readers can now enter to win their own copy! Enter via the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD. All opinions expressed are my own.

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The Clock Flower Book Review

iRead Book Tours

In The Clock Flower, the three FIGs—Females of Intellectual Genius—as they are called, have graduated from Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women after returning from New York City where Dara learned why her mother abandoned her all those years ago, and they are now attending universities where they can further their special talents.

The Clock Flower Book Review

About The Clock Flower

Dara Roux, abandoned when she was seven years old by her mother. Exceptionally gifted in foreign languages. Orphan. Accepted to Yale University.

Mackenzie Yarborough, no record of her parents or where she was born. Exceptionally gifted in math and problem-solving. Orphan. Accepted to MIT.

Jennifer Torres, both parents killed in an automobile accident when she was sixteen. Exceptionally gifted in music and art. Orphan. Accepted to Julliard.

The three FIGs—Females of Intellectual Genius—as they are called, have graduated from Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women after returning from New York City where Dara learned why her mother abandoned her all those years ago, and they are now attending universities where they can further their special talents. This means they will be separated from each other and from Carolina, their much-loved mentor and teacher who is “one of them,” for the first time in their young lives. They vow to try living apart for one semester, in the so-called real world that doesn’t include the orphanage; but if things don’t work out, they will come up with another plan—a plan where they can be together once again.

Dara is invited through Yale University to take part in an exciting archeological project in China. Jennifer, once again visualizing black and white images and the unusual sounds of another cadence that seem to be connected to Mackenzie, is engrossed in creating her next symphony at Julliard. Mackenzie, because of her genius at problem-solving, is personally chosen by an US Senator to get involved in a mysterious, secret research project involving immortality that is being conducted in a small village in China—not too far from where Dara is involved with the archeological site. Once there, however, she finds herself facing a terrifying death from the blood-dripping teeth of an ancient evil dragon. Her best friends, the FIGs and Carolina, rely on their own unique genius and special talents to save her as she discovers the truth of her birth parents.

My Thoughts

I loved the first two books in this series based on three incredible young women and this part did not disappoint.

The FIGS are three special young women who are gifted in different areas – math, languages and the arts. They are also all orphaned and have been guided by Carolina, a special woman in her own right.

This book focuses on Mackenzie, who has been gifted in math. She does not know who her parents are or even where to start but in this book we learn quite a bit more. The girls head off to university and this is where Mackenzie has her first contact with her birth family, without realizing it. She also becomes tangled in an evil plot that could see her death. This book was very exciting although a tad bit too quick, I would have loved to have learned a little bit more about Mackenzie’s background. I find her to be the quieter one in the series and it was nice to see her come to life, be the center of attention and find her roots.

This was an excellent book from start to finish, with a growing anticipation throughout the novel to find out the ending which keeps you reading throughout the night.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 4/5

About the Author

Barbara Casey is the author of several award-winning novels for both adults and young adults, as well as book-length works of nonfiction true crime and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. Her nonfiction true crime book, Kathryn Kelly: The Moll Behind Machine Gun Kelly, has been optioned for a major film and television series. In addition to her own writing, she is an editorial consultant and president of the Barbara Casey Agency. Established in 1995, she represents authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. Barbara is also a partner in Strategic Media Books Publishing, an independent publishing house that specializes in cutting-edge adult nonfiction. Barbara lives on a mountain in Georgia with her husband, and three dogs who adopted her: Benton, a hound-mix; Fitz, a miniature dachshund; and Gert, a Jack Russel terrier of sorts.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Bring the Winter Adventures Inside with Winter Themed Playmobil Sets

Bring the Winter Adventures Inside with Winter Themed Playmobil Sets

Children love to play and re-create what they see both in real life and on television. As we are in the heart of winter (although my fingers and toes are crossed that the worst has almost passed us by) and the Olympic games are in full force, giving children an opportunity to bring their favourite sports to life with Playmobil sets is a fantastic way to keep them busy and foster some love for creating winter adventures.

Do you have a budding snowboarder? Or alpine skier? Or maybe a fan of cross-country skiing? Or maybe they love just being outdoors in the middle of winter building snow forts, having snowball fights and imagining they are crossing the Arctic in search of polar bears! The possibilities are endless with this new line of winter themed sets, that features a ski lodge, winter SUV, snowball fight, snowmobile, trio sports, biathlete, skiers and Arctic expeditions.

My son and niece tested out the Arctic Expedition with Polar Bears and the Winter Sports Trio over the weekend and had nothing but positive feedback for the two sets.

Bring the Winter Adventures Inside with Winter Themed Playmobil Sets

My favourite part of Playmobil sets are the ease of the set up. It can be put together by a six-year-old independently and at the same time my nine-year old niece had no problem whipping her pieces together without it feeling too young for her. All of the pieces are sturdy and easy to grip for little fingers. There were a few smaller pieces like the snowboard, skills and binoculars that I had to help them with but overall both sets were easy for them to manage on their own. Once the pieces are set up they stick together well – those skis were not going to accidentally fall off, which is a huge win for parents! There is nothing worse then a child becoming frustrated by parts that keep falling apart. The quality of the sets are incredible and you know that the pieces will last for a long time.

Bring the Winter Adventures Inside with Winter Themed Playmobil Sets

The Arctic expedition was by far their favourite set of the two, although they ended up combining the two sets to make one big winter adventure with daring polar bears and brave athletes who came to the rescue of the scientists (those naughty polar bears were cheeky and kept stealing their supplies!). The set came with one large iceberg, a drill, two fully moveable polar bears and two figures with accessories. The winter sports trio came with three figures and skills, tube, snowboard and winter accessories.

Bring the Winter Adventures Inside with Winter Themed Playmobil Sets

We loved the attention to detail on the accessories, ability to combine the sets into a bigger scene and the ease of set up. These sets were a win win for both the kids and my husband and I.

The entire line of winter themed sets range in price from $14.99 to $89.99 and can be purchased on the Playmobil website and at most retailers.

Make sure to follow Playmobil on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up to date with all the latest information and new releases!

What is your child’s favourite winter activity?

Disclosure: We received the above mentioned products in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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