Category: book review

Have you ever wondered how the tooth fairy tradition started? In The World’s First Tooth Fairy….Ever we find out!

About The World’s First Tooth Fairy….Ever

Have you ever wondered how the tooth fairy tradition started? Join Abella, a precocious little fairy on her journey through Tulip Hollow with her friend Darcie. Abella finally has the chance to venture out of the castle and fly to a party with Darcie when she is snatched by a big old bee and flown out of Tulip Hollow. Find out how Abella frees herself from the bee and discovers children for the first time. Follow along as she shows great courage and resourcefulness to solve an unexpected problem and return home to Tulip Hollow. It is during this challenge that Abella accidentally starts the tooth fairy tradition. The World’s First Tooth Fairy… Ever is a delightful book about adventure, bravery and how being curious is often a very good thing.

Our Thoughts

As parents, how many times have you been asked about the tooth fairy? Where did the tooth fairy come from? Why does she take our teeth? What does she do with them?

I am sure I am not alone in saying, my kids stump me when they ask these questions. I am not really sure what to tell them about how the tooth fairy began her task of collecting the children of the world’s teeth and leaving them a token of surprise in exchange. The World’s First Tooth Fairy….Ever helps you to explain the legend of the tooth fairy in a fun and exciting new way.

In this book, we have sweet Abella who longs to explore the world but her parents are cautious and don’t want her to leave the walls of their home. Fair enough – the world is tough when you’re the size of a fairy! She finally convinces them to let her out on an adventure to a party with her best friend with very strict instructions. Which she follows but a big grumpy bee catches her on her way and puts her completely off her path! We had quite a few giggles at this point in the book especially with how Abella escapes the bee. While she escapes the bee, she is now in a world that she does not know, her dress is ruined, she has lost her pearl and feeling sad. She comes upon two children – one of whom has just lost a tooth. The tooth reminds her of her lost pearl and voila! An idea of how she can solve her problem and make it home to her parents is born. Not to mention the legend of the tooth fairy but you have to read the story to find all the exact details as the first tooth fairy encounter doesn’t go quite as expected!

This was a precious book that was fun to read out loud to my son. Zane puts a clever take on words and the story flows so nicely which is a must for children’s books. It was both silly and serious which allowed us to have fun reading it. The tooth fairy legend blossoms out of her adventure in such a unique way that we were not expecting. The illustrations are beautiful and suit the story and Abella’s character.

Abella is full of courage and determination. She never gives up hope in any part of the book even when she was feeling alone and discouraged. She would just get right back up and figure out how to solve the problem she was in (which is such an important message for children).

This is a special book that will make a great addition to your home library and perfect for bedtime reading. You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Zane and her husband Brady reside in Houston, Texas.  She is actively involved in the Houston Grand Opera, Houston SPCA and the Discovery Green Conservancy.

In addition to owning Carson Marketing, LLC, Ms. Carruth is a certified etiquette professional and has published articles in several high-profile magazines. Both she and her husband are avid thoroughbred horse racing enthusiasts. When not traveling, she cherishes spending time with her 3 grandchildren, Chloe, Carson and Truett.

Ms. Carruth has recently completed her second hardback book going to publication next week. The World’s First Tooth Fairy…Ever Presents: The Adventures of Abella and Her Magic Wand. After years of fantasizing and months of studying, Abella finally receives her magic wand. This precocious little fairy vows to take the responsibility of wand ownership seriously and all the power that comes with it.   It is a delightful book about facing challenges and accepting responsibility – even when you make mistakes. Luckily for Abella, her best friend Darcie, is with her every step of the way, doing what best friends do best.

You can connect with her on her websites: Carson Marketing, Etiquette to Excel and World’s First Tooth Fairy.

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

We all want to save the world.  But who is willing to pay the price?

About Seekers (Mud, Rocks and Trees Book Two)

We all want to save the world.  But who is willing to pay the price?  Forced outside their village homes, the three chosen youth must find their way to Tzoladia along paths wrought with danger.  All that was once safe has become perilous.  Evil is on their trail.

Amanki arrives in a city of islands which seems like paradise. But death rises from the mud.

Moshoi weaves his way through caves and cliffs. But treachery lurks in the rocks.

Brina’s flight passes through a lush green forest. But lethal secrets fill these trees.

Will the star guide them to their destiny or lead them to their doom?  Who will survive?

My Thoughts

Book two in this series is just as exciting and everything I hoped it would be!

In Seekers, Amanki, Moshoi and Brina, continue on their journey to Tzoladia to unite under the guidance of their elder. Simple task right? Fate will not make this a simple journey for them as they are constantly tested with situations that make question the ideas they have grown up with and their own morals. Each character brings with them their unique upbringing and skills with the modifications that happened naturally to their bodies (learn more here).

Amanki travels through what should feel like home to him with his web-footed people. What he finds is that the evil has touched them there too in the form of an evil priestess and royalty who serves themselves. He must do everything he can to protect and save the life of his friend and possibly the girl he has come to fall in love with? Brina finds herself caught in an extreme betrayal situation when they finally make it to the ship to learn that they have been sold. Moshoi, whose story I had a harder time to get into in book one, comes alive in this installment. His bravery and morals saves the lives of innocent people in neighbouring tribes.

Seekers is a well written novel with an exciting plot. I found the plot exploded in this book and I did not want to put it down out of fear of missing what was going to happen next. The ending left me craving for more – what will our characters do in the face of such betrayal and evil?. It is perfect for both young adults and adults a like.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

R.A. Denny started writing epic fantasy novels when, after watching the first Hobbit movie, she began excitedly spouting off information about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien’s writer’s group called the Inklings and how their greatest fantasy novels were created. One of her sons commented, “We could do that.” She laughed. Then, he turned it into a challenge.

Her unexpected journey had begun. For several years, she continued her day job as a criminal prosecutor and escaped by night to the world of the Tzoladian Empire. Then, she decided to just do what she loved.

She completed writing her six-book epic fantasy series: Mud, Rocks, and Trees. The series should be read in this order: Refugees, Seekers, Captives, Warriors, Visionaries, and then Deliverers.

R.A. enjoys ancient history, board games, and LEGO. That’s the nerd in her. She rides horses, raised flying squirrels and lives with two cats. That’s the animal lover in her. Oh, and did I mention that she loves a challenge? That’s the adventurer in her.

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

In Red Sky Over America, William and America confront evil, but will it costs them everything?

About Red Sky Over America

William and America confront evil, but will it costs them everything?

In 1857, America, the daughter of a slave owner, is an abolitionist and a student at Oberlin College, a school known for its radical ideas. America goes home to Kentucky during school break to confront her father about freeing his slaves.

America’s classmate, William, goes to Kentucky to preach abolition to churches that condone slavery. America and William find themselves in the center of the approaching storm sweeping the nation and may not make it home to Ohio or live through the struggle.

My Thoughts

This novel takes place during a difficult time in America’s history, prior to the war to end slavery between the North and the South. Our main character is a young woman, America, who is the daughter of a slave owner. She goes away to Oberlin College which helps to foster her ideas of abolishing slavery and freedom for all people. From a young age, she has known that slavery is wrong but she has been afraid of hurting her Father and feared his anger.

Almost finished her studies, America decides to return home and confront her Father at last. She was not ready for the extreme response from her Father and those that she loves around her. She is shocked by her Father’s actions towards the slaves that she has always viewed as family and vows that she will not stop until slavery is abolished. He truly believes that what he is doing is for America’s future and well-being, keeping their family history alive never understanding that a future built on other’s suffering is not what America wants.

She embarks on a journey of helping slaves escape and her classmate (who also happens to be someone she is greatly attracted to for his convictions) William is tied into her future. William preaches at churches throughout Kentucky to abolish slavery – which in many places as we were to find out is almost a death sentence.

This is an excellent story of faith and hope during a time period that held very little. America was strong in her convictions but sometimes lacked the confidence and strength to follow through. As the case with many women during this time frame, she was stuck under the wings of her Father’s decisions. With William, she was free to make her own decisions and give her opinions – opinions that were much in line with his own. I loved every moment of this powerful book, I cried at times and other times my heart was full of hope. It is a beautiful story in a dark time.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Tamera Lynn Kraft has always loved adventures and writes Christian historical fiction set in America because there are so many adventures in American history. She is married to the love of her life, has two grown children, and lives in Akron, Ohio. Soldier’s Heart and A Christmas Promise are two of her historical novellas that have been published. She has received 2nd place in the NOCW contest, 3rd place TARA writer’s contest, and is a finalist in the Frasier Writing Contest. Tamera is the leader of a ministry called Revival Fire For Kids where she mentors other children’s leaders, teaches workshops, and is a children’s ministry consultant and children’s evangelist. She has curriculum published and is a recipient of the 2007 National Children’s Leaders Association Shepherd’s Cup for lifetime achievement in children’s ministry.

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

One star. One impossible task. One chance to save the world they love.

About Refugees (Mud, Rocks and Trees) Book One

“An epic journey of a lifetime.” That’s what three young individuals from three different corners of the world have dreamed about. They were destined for greatness since the moment they were born. But what if they don’t want it? What if they’re not ready? What if their desires no longer align with the prophecy?

The problem is, they have no choice. The star has appeared. Their destiny has already begun to unfold.

It’s not the send-off that they’ve been dreaming of. Forced out. Banished. Raided. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Now they must discover who they really are while embarking on the most exciting journey of their lives. One star. One impossible task. One chance to save the world they love.

My Thoughts

Refugees (Mud, Rocks and Trees) was such an exciting read from start to finish!

I wasn’t quite to sure what to expect when I first picked up the book and started reading but I wasn’t pleasantly surprised. In this novel, we have three young individuals who are destined to save the world except none feel quite ready and they are not quite sure how. Each comes from a different past and culture, even their bodies are made differently. One is in the human form of a duck, another like a flying squirrel and another with the hard skin of an armadillo. What could they possibly have in common?

They have one man who becomes their guide and the star that set their destiny.

Each chapter is told from one of the young characters view-point as they struggle to leave their home to begin this new journey. All have risked banishment, being an outcast and one even is spared death. The novel is an exciting journey from start to finish, you never really know what is going to happen next and you feel connected to our main characters. I felt more connected to Amanki (the duck man) and Brina (the one that resembles the flying squirrel) and I am not quite sure why. Every time I came to their chapters, I just had to have more! I was emotionally invested in these two characters especially Brina.

This is an excellent novel for young adults (and adults who enjoy a great fantasy read!). I can not wait to read book two in this series as I was so sad when the book ended and where it ended.

You can purchase a copy of this boon on Amazon.

Rating: 4/5

About the Author

R.A. Denny started writing epic fantasy novels when, after watching the first Hobbit movie, she began excitedly spouting off information about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien’s writer’s group called the Inklings and how their greatest fantasy novels were created. One of her sons commented, “We could do that.” She laughed. Then, he turned it into a challenge.

Her unexpected journey had begun. For several years, she continued her day job as a criminal prosecutor and escaped by night to the world of the Tzoladian Empire. Then, she decided to just do what she loved.

She completed writing her six-book epic fantasy series: Mud, Rocks, and Trees. The series should be read in this order: Refugees, Seekers, Captives, Warriors, Visionaries, and then Deliverers.

R.A. enjoys ancient history, board games, and LEGO. That’s the nerd in her. She rides horses, raised flying squirrels and lives with two cats. That’s the animal lover in her. Oh, and did I mention that she loves a challenge? That’s the adventurer in her.

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