March 24, 2016
Breaking the Story Book Review
Passion, peril, and a scandal that will rock American politics, you can find it all in Breaking the Story by Ashley Farley.
About Breaking the Story
Scottie Darden’s life is a disaster. Her marriage has become toxic, and her career as a photojournalist has stalled out. To attract the attention of the main players in the news industry, she needs a standout story with a unique perspective. What she finds is a scandal that could turn the 2016 presidential election upside down. But before she can release her damaging images to the media, Scottie must uncover the truth behind the photographs. She turns to handsome mystery man Guy Jordan for help. When they join the campaign trail in search of answers, their investigation quickly becomes deadly.
Hop on board for a wild ride of adventure where desire ignites, lives are threatened, and secrets are revealed.
My Thoughts
Adventure, suspense, romance and everything in between! Breaking the Story has all of this and more.
Our main character, Scottie (from Merry Mary), is a strong female lead who is still healing from the toxicity of her marriage, possible separation and concerns about her career. She is being pulled in many different directions as she struggles to deal with her own personal identity. When she heads to a presidential election party, she never would have thought this was the turning point in her life. She is faced with a huge decision that will impact her morals as a photojournalist and as a person.
She meets a handsome young man, whom she turns to in desperation with the images she has captured. What she never would have thought was that he was holding a huge secret that would compromise her trust in him.
Adventure, romance and healing all tied up in one book. I loved every moment of Breaking the Story. Scottie is a strong female lead that you just can’t help but fall in love with. Her morals and forgiveness are tested throughout this novel but she always comes out stronger in the end. It is a novel that builds up and does not disappoint at the end. You will enjoy each turn of the page.
You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Rating: 5/5
About the Author
Ashley Farley is a wife and mother of two college-aged children. She grew up in the salty marshes of South Carolina, but now lives in Richmond, Virginia, a city she loves for its history and traditions.
After her brother died in 1999 of an accidental overdose, she turned to writing as a way of releasing her pent-up emotions. She wrote SAVING BEN in honor of Neal, the boy she worshipped, the man she could not save. SAVING BEN is not a memoir, but a story about the special bond between siblings.
HER SISTER’S SHOES—June 24, 2015—is a women’s novel that proves the healing power of family.
MERRY MARY a heartwarming story of the powerful connection between a caring soul and an innocent child in need released October 15, 2015.
Connect with her on her website, Twitter and Facebook.
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 22, 2016
My Little Pony Friends Across Equestria Giveaway
Friendship is powerful and magical in this new DVD from Shout Factory, My Little Pony Friends Across Equestria.
About My Little Pony Friends Across Equestria
Five new episodes are ready for you with this brand new DVD available March 1st, 2016.
Every Pony has learned the very valuable lesson that there simply is no power greater than the magic of friendship. Join Twilight Sparkle and her very best friends — Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and, of course, Spike — as they spread the word and the wonderful power of that friendship throughout their home of Ponyville and beyond, across the vast kingdom of Equestria!
My Thoughts
The funny, adorable pony friends are back in five new episodes. With incredible graphics, a plot line in each episode that will engage and teach your child, you can’t go wrong with this DVD.
This DVD includes the following Episodes:
- Make New Friends But Keep Discord
- Slice of Life
- Amending Fences
- Made in Manehattan
- The Mane Attraction
You can purchase a copy of My Little Pony Friends Across Equestria on Amazon, Amazon Canada and ShoutKids.
DVD Clip
The Giveaway!
My Canadian and American readers can now enter to win their own copy of this DVD from Shout! Kids. Good luck!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 18, 2016
Hands on This March with Beaded Jewellery from DK Canada
Are you ready to get hands on this March? Perhaps you have always wanted to design and create your own jewellery? Well get ready because Beaded Jewellery from DK Canada is ready to help teach and guide you along this journey.
About Beaded Jewellery
Create your own style and make beautiful jewellery with Beaded Jewellery. Common beading techniques are clearly explained, with helpful tips on which colour to choose, what equipment you will need and advice on how to find the best beads.
Features 18 step-by-step projects to help you make stunning necklaces, earrings and bracelets that you can easily make at home, including beginner, intermediate and advanced projects to suit all abilities. All designs are by Hollywood’s hippest jewellery designer, Maya Brenner, whose pieces are worn by some of the world’s most fashionable people including Reese Witherspoon and Cameron Diaz.
From high fashion to street chic, make jewellery to suit any style with Beaded Jewellery.
My Thoughts
The Beaded Jewellery is the perfect introduction to making your own jewellery at home. The book goes into deep detail about common techniques, necessary tools and equipment and information on different beads. The book is divided into sections based on the type of jewellery you want to make (earrings, necklaces, bracelets) and are further divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced projects.
The instructions (and items to purchase list) were extremely easy to follow and had large pictures to accompany each step in case you become confused. The pictures were bright, clear and focused on the exact step you were at. She also includes helpful tips in case you want to change-up beads, combinations or techniques, as well as references to where in the book certain techniques are mentioned in further detail.
The book comes in a soft, paperback format which was perfect when I headed to our local craft store to pick up supplies. I could easily mark off pages for easy reference, pull it out and compare products. It was light so I never felt weighted down in store.
Here are my designs:
The book was fantastic, easy to follow with incredible designs that you will love to wear.
You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon.
Rating: 5/5
About the Author
Maya Brenner’s jewellery has been featured in the press, including Glamour, InStyle, and Cosmopolitan, and Maya herself has appeared on the US television show Good Day Live’s “Style File”. Her jewellery is now sold across Europe and on her website, www.mayabrenner.com. Her celebrity clientele include Cameron Diaz, Reese Witherspoon and Madonna.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 18, 2016
BookGrabbr Spotlight Tour
BookGrabbr: A great way for readers to discover new books and an innovative marketing tool for authors.
For Readers:
BookGrabbr is a social media-marketing tool that allows authors to share both full books and previews of their books with readers. Readers, you can have access to these books by signing in through Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn and using their ability to share as a form of currency. The “Share” is the payment! Share the book, and it will allow you to read it. Just click the “Grabb this book” button next to the book and our system will prompt you to share in exchange for reading!
BookGrabbr contains books of many genres, so visit today, “grabb” a book that catches your eye and start reading!
For Authors and Publishers:
Through their unique marketing tool and platform, BookGrabbr helps authors connect to readers that they wouldn’t generally be able to connect to through their friends and their friend’s friends. The noise in the marketplace is deafening, and at times can be a bit overwhelming for authors trying to promote their books.
BookGrabbr created a way to generate some more buzz by harnessing the power of each individual author’s social media platform. Once you create your profile on BookGrabbr it allows potential readers to read a preview of your book or the full copy and then directs them to your site of choice to purchase your book in the format that you desire. And since BookGrabbr doesn’t make any money on book sales, you can send them to a retailer, or to your own personal page or wherever you choose! BookGrabbr’s purpose is to help you sell more books, gain momentum and generate exposure.
See how it works:
How does iRead Book Tours help?
For Readers:
We help you discover new authors that have put their profile and books on BookGrabbr through our BookGrabbr Promotion Service.
For Authors and Publishers:
Don’t have time to dedicate to yet another marketing campaign? Let us take care of it for you. Through the BookGrabbr Promotion Service we create your profile, help you share your books on your social media and ours too, of course. In addition, we provide you with ideas and the support on how to best use your BookGrabbr profile. This is a cost-effective, efficient way to publicize your books! Contact us to see how we can help you spread the word about your book through BookGrabbr.
Like the idea? Enter the giveaway below to win a BookGrabbr Promotion Service worth $75 and $100 in cash!
Not an author? You can still win the $100 in cash.
Giveaway starts March 14 and ends April 15, 2016.
March 14, 2016
And It Was Beautiful Book Review
“I was here. I saw beauty. I embraced it.” -Kara Tippetts.
About And It Was Beautiful
How do you live out extravagant love in the everyday moments? How do you celebrate grace when your life turns out differently than the one you dreamed?
Kara Tippetts discovered how to find joy in the small moments of life. She learned how to hold tight to hope even while battling intense physical and emotional pain. And she lived out the truth that God can redeem any story.
In her final book, Kara offers gentle reflections on living and dying well. She invites us to cultivate soft hearts even when we face great disappointment. Her ideas for living are hard-won, wrestled with in the crucible of family, illness, and faith. And her constant reminder is that whether we are in the midst of dark days or mundane moments Jesus is always there, life is surprisingly beautiful, and God is forever good.
My Thoughts
Kara Tippetts was an amazing Mother, Wife and individual. Her first novel, The Hardest Peace touched my deeply, I cried, I laughed and I learned so much about my own life. I realized those dark moments could always be darker and that even in those moments we can glimpse moments of light.
And It Was Beautiful is a wonderful compilation of her work and her story. She had this honest and open way of writing that makes you laugh, cry and want to reach out to her. She let you into her life without hiding over the ugly moments, instead she celebrates these moments for what they are. She found the light in each of these moments and shared it with us. I feel blessed to have read both of her books, the lessons of love, family and living with grace are precious. She guides you and teaches you by showing her own struggles.
The world has been blessed to have Kara Tippetts walk among us for such a short time. Her words of wisdom, love and grace will live on in her work.
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
Kara Tippetts was the author of The Hardest Peace and the co-author of Just Show Up. She blogged faithfully at mundanefaithfulness.com. Since her death in March 2015, her husband, Jason, has been parenting their four children and leading the church the couple founded in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.