Category: book review

September 5, 2017

A Thousand Salt Kisses Forever Book Review

In A Thousand Salt Kisses Forever, Crystal finds herself increasingly torn between two worlds.

About A Thousand Salt Kisses Forever

Crystal White, formerly an ordinary human, is finally back together with her true love: the handsome, charming mer-prince Llyr. Granted supernatural abilities of her own that will allow her to live underwater, Crystal finally seems to have a shot at happiness with the man she’s waited for so long. Not, however, if obstacles both below and above the ocean have anything to say about it. Llyr’s undersea domain is becoming increasingly discontented by their relationship, and to make matters worse, ancient denizens of the Black Seas are capitalizing on this to wage a formidable war. Meanwhile, Crystal’s human friends begin to learn of her secret love for the mer-prince, sending shock waves across the land and sea. With social pressures surrounding her above and all-too-physical threats lurking in the waters below, Crystal finds herself increasingly torn between two worlds. Will she and Llyr together conquer the dangers in their way, or will Crystal once more have to say farewell to the watery depths?

My Thoughts

This is book three in this series that follows Crystal and her romance with Llyr, a merman. It is the most beautiful romance story and I am sure I am bit biased as I personally always wanted to be a mermaid (how could you not with their beautiful tails, flowing hair and ability to swim underwater in our beautiful ocean). In the first two books, our main characters had to fight hard for their relationship to be not only accepted but they also had to hold on to each other as others tried to get in between them.

I thought this would be the perfect ending for them, that they would finally deserve a happy ending. How much can one couple go through and still emerge loving each other even more? In this novel, they face both obstacles in the form of an ancient group of merfolk who have the power to control their lives and the human folk finding out about their relationship. This puts them in a very dangerous position. The merfolk can’t risk having their secret exposed nor have humans trying to invade their home. They are forced to have Crystal make a decision while on land she is facing the same decision. Some of her friends know the truth while others think of her as selfish and only thinking of herself. Either way, Crystal faces one of the most difficult choices of her life – leave her family and the home and comforts that she knows and enter the unknown with the love of her life. How do you even begin to choose?!

There is an amazing twist about 3/4 of the way through the novel, that you can just kind of see appearing throughout the novel but it is confirmed near the end. It adds a whole new element to this plot and makes Crystal’s decision that much more difficult to bear but easier to make. Can’t give away too much more or it will give away too much of the secrets!

A Thousand Salt Kisses Forever is a well written story with the perfect plot and ending for my favourite couple. I could not put this book down this long weekend! I had to know what was coming next for these two and if they could defy all odds against them. If you loved the other two novels in this series, you will fall in love with this one. I can not wait until a next book comes out in this series, I really am hoping Josie writes another one! I would love to see what awaits this beautiful couple.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Josie Demuth is an author based in London. First published on Wattpad, her Salt Kisses series has garnered nearly four million reads and are now serialised on Radish Fiction. The second of this series, A Thousand Salt Kisses Later is her fourth novel.

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

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

September 5, 2017

Granny Get Your Glue Gun

Granny Get Your Glue Gun is a book written to help grandparents play a more creative role in their grandchildren’s lives

About Granny Get Your Glue Gun

Grandparents play a crucial role in the structure of the family unit, nurturing, educating and provide economical relief for a financially struggling parents. Today’s parents in the U.S. become grandparents at the age of 48. Grandparents today are very active, working and travelling and they have the financial resources to do it all. They are the baby boomers who the world has catered to their whole life. As this age group ages there are more grandparents than ever looking for resources to entertain those grandbabies. The authors have written a book; Granny Get Your Glue Gun, aimed to help grandparents play a more creative role in their grandchildren’s lives. Vibrant photos complement the crafts, baking, games and ‘quick ‘n easy’ sections. As well, there are relaxation suggestions for weary grandparents. Granny Get Your Glue Gun is designed with easy-to-read, clear font, a lay flat binding and comical quotes to keep everyone amused. Everything is aimed at not breaking the grandparent or the bank.

My Thoughts

The bond between children and their grandparents is so special and needs to be nurtured. Children need their grandparents active and involved in their lives! They have so much to teach them, not to mention shower them with love and showing them that they are safe and protected. Grandparents are now more involved more than ever and this is amazing!

Some might be wondering but what do I do with my grandchild when they come to visit? While trips, eating out and shopping are fun, it is not sustainable. Grandparents can’t be breaking the bank every time grandkids come over! Enter: Granny Get Your Glue Gun – the ultimate guide for grandparents on activities to play with their grandkids, crafts and games all around the house.

Some of the activities fall under crafts, working in the kitchen, games and there is even a quick n’ easy section. The book is colour coordinated on the outer edge to help you quickly find the page that you are looking for. Each activity has an age appropriate level and roughly the amount of time that it will require you to complete the craft, etc.. Each activity comes with a complete supply list, helpful tips and step by step instructions. It also includes a full-page photo of the completed activity. From the craft section, my favourite craft had to be the personalized place mat! It is a great keepsake for after your grandchild grows out of it or you can even place it into a frame as a special memory keepsake.

We know children love to bake and cook but it can sometimes be messy! I loved the helpful recipes that were included that are extremely kid friendly and that you know children will love (ice cream cone cupcakes – count me in!).

This is the perfect gift for Grandparents (and even parents – I learned so many new activities and crafts that I tried out with my kids!). It would make an excellent gift for your parents as they embark on a new and exciting stage of their lives as Grandparents!

You can purchase copies of the book on Amazon, Amazon Canada, Indigo, website and at local bookstores (for a complete list of locations, visit here).

Rating: 5/5

About the Authors

Maureen Goulet

Crafty, crafty, that is what I have always been — forever making something. When I had my two kids, Carrie and Matthew, it gave me more opportunities for this craftiness to explode! I was making cardboard kitchens, blanket houses, tunnels, papier mâché space stations, gingerbread houses, bunny blankets and much more. Now I am a Grandmother to three-month old, Westley!

We got our crafty kids into — what else? — craft fairs where they sold candles, yo-yo balls, dog cookies and even beer bread. They were thrilled to come away with loads of real dough $$.

Two years of early childhood education, earning a Provincial Instructors diploma, and then running my own cooking school left me with no time for crafts. But now I am once again bursting with crafty ideas and want to share them with you! I like to ‘Be Prepared’ so, in preparation for my grandchildren-to be, Diana and I have poured our creative juices into this fun and useful book.

Diana Budden

I like to regularly remind my children what a marvelous mother they have!

My own upbringing was in a busy, creative home atmosphere. Television was not an option. Playing games, creating homemade gifts, make-believe and sharing time with grandparents were the order of the day. Consequently, when my own three children were youngsters, I consciously fostered creativity in our home.

Our family had many moves as the children were growing up. I believe that our times spent together with games, crafts, baking and family outings were instrumental in keeping us close and caring as a family unit. I retain so many good memories of our shared activities.

At a later stage, I became an Orton Gillingham Tutor, working with dyslexic children at the local school.

A grandma- in-waiting, I keep busy with sports, reading and trying to find humour in everyday life. Working on this book project with Maureen has been a labour of love. We hope you enjoy the results of our efforts!

Book Trailer

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

September 1, 2017

Growing Strong Girls

Girls today face an astounding degree of pressure to grow up fast, to be “perfect” in every way, and to be all things to all people. In this book, we learn their challenges and how to help them grow strong.

About Growing Strong Girls

Girls today face an astounding degree of pressure to grow up fast, to be “perfect” in every way, and to be all things to all people. They yearn to connect, but sometimes this yearning turns into negative, even destructive patterns such as passive aggressiveness, gossip, or excessive stress and anxiety. It’s heart-breaking to watch even the most confident little girls disconnect and lose their spark—and their way—when they hit the 9–14 years.

In Growing Strong Girls, educator and girl expert and advocate Lindsay Sealey reveals the tremendous power of connection to activate self-awareness, self-acceptance, and healthy social and emotional development. This wide-ranging and positive book is chock-full of ideas, tips, activities, stories and specific ways to connect with and equip girls to know and trust themselves, to create vibrant friendships and communities, and to step into their tween and teen years with resilience, bravery, confidence, and inner strength.

Lindsay Sealey bridges the gap between girls and the adults who want to understand them and the sometimes chaotic and confusing ways they act and express themselves. She explains the realities of girl drama and social pressure that girls themselves often don’t possess the maturity or communication skills to convey and models a way for parents, teachers, counselors, mentors, and companions on the journey to listen deeply and to start conversations with girls that actually go somewhere.

When the most important thing a girl needs is a secure relationship, an adult’s primary task is simple: spend time with her, listen, and draw out her core qualities so she knows who she is and so she can handle social pressures. Once a girl learns to connect inwardly with her true self, she can connect outwardly in healthy relationships and onward to meet the challenges of school and the wider world. Growing Strong Girls offers hundreds of practical ways to cultivate connection right now. Making a difference in the lives of girls is easier than you might think and powerful beyond measure.

The book explores:

Why “mean girls” are just girls who aren’t getting what they need in their friendships and why there is no such thing as a “good girl”
How parents can help girls make sense of their lives
Why nothing can take the place of that security in her life: not body image, not straight As, not social media.
The disconnect between self-conception as “sexy” and being ready for sex
How girls can learn to let go while guarding their boundaries
The basics of social emotional learning and how you can implement them at homework time
Conquering test anxiety by focusing on the process, not just the outcome
Nurturing academic excellence: life-long learning, executive functioning skills and compassionate stress management
Bravery as an underrated quality in girls and the surprising number of brave role models in the media

My Thoughts

Have you ever read a book that just made you go wow? This is that book! I cried, I laughed but at the end of the day the message hit home. Girls are under such incredible pressure to look, behave and feel a certain way, that sometimes we get lost. If we don’t learn who we are in our youth, these same fears and uncertainties can last into our adulthood. I wish that I had this book in my youth but I am happy that I was able to read it now.

It is hard to even know where to begin to explain how important this book is for parents and caregivers. Our young girls are faced with pressures that can sometimes be difficult to appreciate and understand, sometimes we just don’t know how to connect with them or get them to open up to us. As I was reading this book, I saw my teen years – I saw my own struggles, I saw the struggles of other young girls and it broke my heart.

Each chapter focuses on a new subject that young girls face. Each chapters includes examples, quotes and my favourite part, a section on how to talk to your daughter, niece or granddaughter which also includes activities that you can complete that helps when you have a child who likes to express themselves through writing or art, versus talking. This book addresses everything from body images, to building friendships, boundaries, school, media and more. It addresses all of the most difficult topics that a parent will face with their daughter in an open and honest manner that really gets the conversation moving.

Growing Strong Girls is an excellent tool for all care givers and adults that are a support person for a young girl. The pressures they face are incredible and at times unrealistic. They need to be supported, encouraged and pushed to succeed but this can be difficult to know how to – especially during the teen years when children tend to pull away. This is a definite must have book in your home.

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

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Lindsay Sealey is an Educational and Personal Development Specialist. As the founder of Bold New Girls, she positively influences the lives of young girls through the education and personal growth strategies she uses in her teaching, coaching and mentoring, focusing on helping girls with integrate social and emotional development with academic success, personal growth, and personal best.

Lindsay has more than 14 years of teaching and coaching experience working with kids of all ages and at all skill levels. She is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of young girls through her customized learning programs, curriculum, books, workshops, lectures and presentations, and knows the value in teaching the process of learning and understanding more than the content itself. Lindsay understands the importance of encouragement, patience, time to discuss thoughts and feelings, self-reflection, and the power of presence in the experiential process as she builds trust and safety in her relationships with girls.

When working with girls, she takes a preventative stance based on the core belief that if we can start talking with young girls early, we can facilitate learning and equip young girls with the necessary tools for ongoing growth and development, love and acceptance of themselves, self-compassion, positive risk taking, and optimal health and confidence!

Lindsay has created several inspirational books for young girls as well as empowerment workshops. She founded Bold New Girls as a way of combining her love of learning and education with her passion for and dedication to mental health and personal development for girls. In addition to writing her upcoming book, she is writing curriculum and speaking at various schools throughout BC. Lindsay is committed to extensive, ongoing research in social/emotional development, education and learning, and the executive functioning skills and brain efficiency. Lindsay lives in Vancouver, Canada.

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

August 31, 2017

Get Ready for Back to School with Raincoast Books

Back to school is always a nervous time for children. Children heading off to school for the first time are scared of the unknown, children returning are nervous about their new teacher, if their friends will be in their class and what will the new year be like. These fears are completely normal and okay – even as adults we have these feelings too when we start a new job or meet new people. One of the best ways we can prepare our children (besides sitting down with them and discussing their fears) is reading a book that helps bring humour and reassurance that we all go through the same fears, expectations and hopes.

Raincoast Books has several books that help children learn about others thoughts, fears and hopes for school all while giving you an excellent opportunity to get your child talking to you about the upcoming school year. Two of my favourite picks are: Kisses for Kindergarten and Zombelina School Days.

Kisses for Kindergarten

School is about to begin, and Stella Isabella Harden decides that kindergarten just isn’t for her. Instead, she decides to spend the day learning from her puppy named Buster. Together these two adventurers plan a day full of playtime, tea time, nap time, and story time. After every lesson,” Stella gets the best reward: a kiss from her best friend and favorite puppy. But will she change her mind about kindergarten before the first day of school? Join Stella and Buster in this lyrical read-aloud and heartwarming story about growing up.

“Stella Isabella Harden
contemplating kindergarten
declared she didn’t have to go…
because her puppy told her so.” – Kisses for Kindergarten

Kisses for Kindergarten is a 2017 Mom’s Choice Awards, Gold Award Recipient.

This was an adorable book to read to young children. Stella doesn’t want to go to school, she wants to stay at home with her puppy because her puppy really needs her to be there for him. And her puppy can teach her everything she needs to know right?

In a series of adorable and humorous moments, Buster tries to teach Stella but Stella comes to the realization all by herself that going to school may just be the best decision for her and Buster. The best part? It only makes their bond that much stronger!

We fell in love with the easy to read story with gorgeous illustrations. It is a great book for children entering Kindergarten so that they know they are not the only ones scared of the change and why it is important to go to school. Not to mention all of the fun things they will do, see and learn! I loved how the end of the book showcased that although Stella decided to go to school, everything else in her life remained the same. Buster was always there waiting for her to return and still loved her just as much as before she went to school.

You can purchase a copy of Kisses for Kindergarten on Raincoast Books.

Zombelina School Days

The only thing Zombelina loves as much as dancing is going to school! When it’s time for show and tell, her new friend, Morty, experiences a terrible case of stage fright . . . something Zombelina knows all about. Zombelina has an idea to help Morty work through his jitters-a big dance party!

After all, friends who dance together, stay together!

Starring in her third picture book, this adorable zombie ballerina tackles themes of family, friendship, and school day anxiety. The rhyming text is perfect for reading aloud, and the delightfully spooky illustrations are full of charm and heart.

I really enjoyed this book myself. Zombelina stands out from her classmates with her unique features and of course by being a Zombie in a class full of humans. She shows us that even though we may look different on the outside, we still love the same things, want to be accepted and have the same fears as each other. She shows us that it is important to step outside of our comfort zone, to try new things and to show compassion for others. It helps children to realize we are all the same on the inside and that is what matters the most. I loved that the book did this with adorable illustrations and humour. You can’t help but fall in love with Zombelina. She is a definite big hit in our home!

You can purchase a copy of Zombelina School Days on Raincoast Books.

Have an amazing few last days of summer before your child heads back to school. Happy Reading!

Disclosure: I received the above books in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

August 15, 2017

I’d Rather Be Reading

I’d Rather Be Reading is a lovingly curated compendium is a love letter to all things literary, and the perfect gift for bookworms everywhere.

About I’d Rather Be Reading

For anyone who’d rather be reading than doing just about anything else, this book is the ultimate must-have. In this visual ode to all things bookish, readers will get lost in page after page of beautiful contemporary art, photography, and illustrations depicting the pleasures of books. Artwork from the likes of Jane Mount, Lisa Congdon, Julia Rothman, and Sophie Blackall is interwoven with text from essayist Maura Kelly, bestselling author Gretchen Rubin, and award-winning author and independent bookstore owner Ann Patchett. Rounded out with poems, quotations, and aphorisms celebrating the joys of reading, this lovingly curated compendium is a love letter to all things literary, and the perfect gift for bookworms everywhere.

My Thoughts

This adorable book is the story of my life! I would honestly rather be reading when it comes to most things. Reading is a special, magical journey for the reader. It takes us away on an adventure, gives us confidence, helps us relate to the world around us and hope for our future. Books can teach lessons and give advice and become a best friend.

Not everyone is born a reader, instead this love is learned and discovered when we find that first good book and when someone ensures we have the opportunity to develop this love. This can be a parent, a grandparent or a friend. Whoever it is, it is so important that each child has the opportunity to develop this love and relationship with books. This book highlights that spark of love and the impact others can have on our reading journey.

This gorgeous book is perfect for all book worms. It is a small, hard covered book full of bright, bold illustrations and three essays woven throughout the book. The beginning gives us a look into Guinevere’s childhood and when she developed her love of books. Each page has a beautiful poem, quotes and illustration highlighting the love and importance of books and reading.

I’d Rather Be Reading is a beautiful gift for every bookworm in your life. It has been wonderfully designed and illustrated with some of the most meaningful quotes about reading.

You can purchase a copy on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Guinevere de la Mare is a San Francisco–based writer, author, book lover, and the founder of Silent Book Club, a pop-up speakeasy for readers worldwide.

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