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May 28, 2017

The Dragon Rider Book Review

In Book Two, The Dragon Rider, the barrier is down, war is brewing and dragons fill the skies once more.

About The Dragon Rider

The barrier is down, war is brewing and dragons fill the skies once more.

Bakari is the first dragon rider in centuries but he alone cannot subdue the growing tensions among the kingdoms around Alaris. He begins a quest to find more dragon riders — the only way to secure peace in the fractured lands around him.

In this second book of the Alaris Chronicles everyone is forced to choose sides in the battle for the governance of Alaris. Roland Tyre seizes control of the Citadel and carefully plays both sides — but his immense charm and considerable wizard powers may prove useless against a deadly and hidden enemy. Battle Wizard Alli Stenos is in the thick of every fight she can find and only wants to secure an end to the violence.

The three young wizards, Bakari, Roland and Alli have become more powerful than many of their elders. But will that be enough to keep Alaris, and the surrounding kingdoms, from descending into all out war?

My Thoughts

The amazing adventure of three young wizards, Bakari, Roland and Alli continues in book two, The Dragon Rider. The second book in this series, is even more exciting than the first novel – with dragons, war, scheming and more. You literally do not want to put this book down in fear of missing what happens next.

The novel opens up with some history from the first novel but to really appreciate this novel, you should read the first in this series, which you can find more information here. After we get a recap of what has led up to this point, we dive into more of Bakari’s story. While I originally thought that Roland would emerge as one of the greatest wizards, it is Bakari – our quiet but thoughtful, compassionate and crazy smart wizard who emerges as the leader. It is Bakari who is marked as a leader and a saviour, a role that he does not relish in but accepts with humility. He is the perfect hero and as he searches for the remaining dragon riders to aid him in his quest, we see even more of his heroic qualities.

While he is on his mission, there is still so much going on in Alaris – a war over power that finds Alli and Roland stuck in the middle. Alli finds a new ally, one that neither you as a reader nor even she could imagine coming to her aid. Roland meets his match in an ancient and evil power. It is the evil power that Roland uncovers that helps us to understand the enormous evil that is about to be unleashed on the world. It is also a great bridge into the third book that leaves your craving for more.

The Dragon Rider is an excellent novel for young adults and adults who love a well written science fiction novel. Full of action, suspense and schemes you never see coming. I loved every moment of book two!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Mike has recently released the first book in a new YA/Teen fantasy series – The Alaris Chronicles, following his 2016 trilogy of The Cremelino Prophecy. Please join his mailing list at www.MichaelSheltonBooks.com to continue to get information on these stories and any future publications.

Mike was born in California and has lived in multiple states from the west coast to the east coast. He cannot remember a time when he wasn’t reading a book. At school, home, on vacation, at work at lunch time, and yes even a few pages in the car (at times when he just couldn’t put that great book down). Though he has read all sorts of genres he has always been drawn to fantasy. It is his way of escaping to a simpler time filled with magic, wonders and heroics of young men and women.

Other than reading, Mike has always enjoyed the outdoors. From the beaches in Southern California to the warm waters of North Carolina. From the waterfalls in the Northwest to the Rocky Mountains in Utah. Mike has appreciated the beauty that God provides for us. He also enjoys hiking, discovering nature, playing a little basketball or volleyball, and most recently disc golf. He has a lovely wife who has always supported him, and three beautiful children who have been the center of his life.

Mike began writing stories in elementary school and moved on to larger novels in his early adult years. He has worked in corporate finance for most of his career. That, along with spending time with his wonderful family and obligations at church has made it difficult to find the time to truly dedicate to writing. In the last few years as his children have become older he has returned to doing what he truly enjoys – writing!

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

May 28, 2017

Summer Reading from Raincoast Books

There is only one more month of school left (hard to believe right?!) and the laid back days of the summer are almost upon us. It is so important to keep up with your child’s reading through the summer months. Raincoast books has an excellent selection of books that are perfect for children to read with you and alone through the summer months.

Here are two of my favourite summer time readings for children:

Shark Lady

This is the story of a woman who dared to dive, defy, discover, and inspire. This is the story of Shark Lady.

Eugenie Clark fell in love with sharks from the first moment she saw them at the aquarium. She couldn’t imagine anything more exciting than studying these graceful creatures. But Eugenie quickly discovered that many people believed sharks to be ugly and scary-and they didn’t think women should be scientists.

Determined to prove them wrong, Eugenie devoted her life to learning about sharks. After earning several college degrees and making countless discoveries, Eugenie wrote herself into the history of science, earning the nickname Shark Lady. Through her accomplishments, she taught the world that sharks were to be admired rather than feared and that women can do anything they set their minds to.

Shark Lady is a truly special book – it reminds children and adults that no matter what anyone says we can be who we want to be. In this beautiful story, Eugenie fell in love with these magical creatures and knew this was her life calling. Nothing could stop her from learning and being a part of their world. No matter what anyone told her about choosing a different field or that it wasn’t the best fit job for a girl, Eugenie showed them that she could study sharks and that you could accomplish anything you wanted to with drive and passion. She showed the world that sharks are not vicious killers but instead she showed them compassion, understanding and respect and wanted the world to do the same. Shark Lady is an amazing book for children to learn to follow their dreams and to show everyone and every animal compassion and understanding.

You can purchase a copy of Shark Lady here.

This Is How We Do It

Follow the real lives of seven kids from Italy, Japan, Iran, India, Peru, Uganda, and Russia for a single day! In Japan Kei plays Freeze Tag, while in Uganda Daphine likes to jump rope. But while the way they play may differ, the shared rhythm of their days-and this one world we all share-unites them. This genuine exchange provides a window into traditions that may be different from our own as well as a mirror reflecting our common experiences. Inspired by his own travels, Matt Lamothe transports readers across the globe and back with this luminous and thoughtful picture book.

In this beautifully illustrated book, we follow the real lives of seven children – Kei (Japan), Ribaldo (Peru), Kian (Iran), Oleg (Russia), Anaya (India), Romeo (Italy) and Daphine (Uganda). It is so important for children to understand different cultures, both are similarities and our differences. This Is How We Do It, offers children a look into the lives of others so that we can see how at the heart of things we are all truly the same. We get a look into where these children live, who they live with, what they were to school, what they eat, how they help and what they do in the evening. My favourite part of the book is right near the end when we get a picture of what each child sees at night, driving home that we are all the same. The book is beautifully illustrated with a well written story line.

You can purchase a copy of This Is How We Do It here.

What do you look for in books for summer time reading?

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

May 22, 2017

Horizon Book Review

Caeli Crys isn’t living—she’s surviving.

About Horizon

Caeli Crys isn’t living—she’s surviving. On the run after the genocide of her empathic people, she witnesses a spaceship crash near her hidden camp. When she feels the injured pilot suffering from miles away, she can’t help but risk discovery to save his life.

Commander Derek Markham awakens stranded on an uncharted planet. His co-pilot is dead, his ship is in ruins, and he’s only alive because a beautiful young woman is healing him with her mind.

As Derek recovers, Caeli shares the horror of her past and her fear for the future. When Derek’s command ship, Horizon, sends rescue, Derek convinces Caeli to leave with him. But his world is as treacherous as hers—full of spies, interplanetary terrorist plots, and political intrigue. Soon the Horizon team is racing to defend an outlying planet from a deadly enemy, and Caeli’s unique skills may just give them the edge they need to save it.

My Thoughts

I loved this fast paced science fiction novel. We start off with Caeli saving the life of Derek all with her mind! This is when we are introduced slowly to Caeli, her people, her past and how this connects with her future. The novel evolves in a way that keeps you hooked to her story, her people and how can she possibly save them.

I felt such pain for her – I can’t even begin to imagine the suffering and hurt she has gone through. She is such a kind soul and her greatest gift is to heal others. I loved how her people had special powers: they could heal, they could read minds, they could create but most of all they were peaceful. All they wanted to do was to continue to live peacefully, learn and grow. This was destroyed by another group on their planet who didn’t share their powers (and who naturally were distrustful of those who had those powers). I think many of us can relate to this – you see so many people today who are fearful of those they don’t understand. The consequences of this hate and mistrust was disastrous.

When Derek begins to fall in love with her, he wants to do nothing more than to protect her from her past, those who may be trying to find her and those who wish to harm her. He convinces her to come with him to his home but would this really be the saving grace that he thinks it will be?

I loved every moment of Horizon – it pulled you in with the emotions and you instantly felt connected to Caeli. You want her to find peace, you want her to save her people somehow and you want her to find love and hope again. Horizon is well written and I couldn’t wait to start on book two – Infinity.

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

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Tabitha currently lives in Rhode Island. She is married, has four great kids, two spoiled cats, and lovable lab mix. Her degree is in Classics from College of the Holy Cross and she taught Latin for years at an independent Waldorf school, where she now serves on the Board of Trustees.

Tabitha’s debut novel, Horizon, won the Writer’s Digest Grand Prize for Self-Published Fiction in 2016, and was named finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and National Indie Excellence Awards. Infinity, the second book in the Horizon series, will be released in June 2017. Her short story “Homecoming” appears in the anthology Sirens, edited by Rhonda Parrish and published by World Weaver Press, and was recently nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She is also a senior editor for www.BookClubBabble.com.

Visit her blog at www.tabithalordauthor.com where she discusses favorite topics including parenting, teaching, and her writing journey.

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.

May 18, 2017

Grow All You Can Eat in 3 Square Feet

Since moving into our home four years ago, I have found a love of gardening. There is something so satisfying about growing your own vegetables! My only trouble? The limited space we have! Which I am sure so many of you can relate to. We have had to learn how to take advantage of every space and planter I can get my hands on. Grow All You Can Eat in Three Square Feet is all the help you will ever need to achieve your gardening goals!

About Grow All You Can Eat in 3 Square Feet

Want to grow your own vegetables and food, but don’t have enough space for a garden? Don’t let lack of space get in the way of growing healthy, organic foods at home. Apartment dwellers, schoolteachers, and anyone else who wants to grow a lot of food in a little space will find a great small garden resource in Grow All You Can Eat in 3 Square Feet.

Small-space gardeners, find your start in Grow All You Can Eat in 3 Square Feet, packed with information on window boxes, potted plants, patio gardening, raised beds, small square-foot gardening, container gardening, and everything else related to growing your own small garden. Whether you want to grow a full garden, grow tomatoes, grow a herb garden, or just pick up great tips for small gardens, Grow All You Can Eat in 3 Square Feet is the resource you need.

My Thoughts

This is an excellent guide for those new to gardening and want to maximize their space – either in an urban setting or those with a smaller outside space. The book covers all the basics (and most important aspects): know your plot, know what you want to grow and how to maximize your harvest.

The basics are covered in the beginning: knowing your soil, how lights affects your crop, watering and what you grow your harvest in. My favourite part of this book is how to maximize your space. I was always nervous about not having space to grow enough of my vegetables so I always stuck to tomatoes and spinach. This book showed me how to take advantage of pots (which to be honest I was always cautious to use) and how to arrange them in a visually appealing way. The bonus? What to plant in spring/summer in pots so that you can fully utilize your pots to grow harvests throughout the best months! They have taken the hard work out for you and matched the crops to grow in each period. That is one of the best parts in this book – they help you with the planning of what to grow and what plants grow well together and in what spaces. Planning your crop appropriately is just as important as how you take care of it! I still remember the first year I planted too many tomato plants and a zucchini plant right next to it – it looked like a jungle! The back of the book contains a resource of common crops, pests, diseases and weeds as well as how to deal with them.

This book is a great resource for those starting to plan out their garden and want to maximize all of the available space to them. It helps you plan, organize and continue to grow a great harvest all through the spring and summer months. A must have for gardeners!

You can purchase a copy of Grow All You Can Eat in 3 Square Feet here.

Rating: 5/5

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

May 12, 2017

The Dragon Orb

In The Dragon Orb, the fate of a kingdom rests on the shoulders of three young wizards who couldn’t be more different.

About The Dragon Orb

Bakari is a brilliant scholar wizard who’s more at home in a library than a battlefield. Alli is a beautiful young battle wizard whose grace in battle is both enchanting and deadly. Roland is a counselor wizard with a seemingly limitless depth of untapped power — and the ego to match it.

As the magical barrier protecting the kingdom of Alaris from dangerous outsiders begins to fail, and a fomenting rebellion threatens to divide the country in a civil war, the three wizards are thrust into the middle of a power struggle.

When the barrier comes down, the truth comes out. Was everything they were taught about their kingdom based on a lie? Will they all choose to fight on the same side, or end up enemies in the battle over who should rule Alaris?

My Thoughts

The Dragon Orb is an exciting, magical adventure that both young adults and adults alike can fall in love with. Mike takes readers on an exciting adventure through the wizards world and the politics that divide the wizards and normal citizens. The plot is new, exciting and you never know what to expect next. Mike brings the story and characters to life and makes you feel as though you are a part of the story, that they are your friends, your enemies and it is your home at stake. This is one of my favourite parts about his writing and this story – you are drawn right into the story and become one with the novel.

All three main characters, Bakari, Alli and Roland are my favourites. These each bring a unique spin to the novel and have quirks that you just can’t help but love. While friends (well competitive friends!) and wizards, they are each very different. It is their differences that make them special and it is only when they work together that they can protect their kingdom. While I initially fell in love with Roland’s ego and joy of life, Roland emerges in my mind as an exceptional wizard, friend and warrior – quite the surprise!

The Dragon Orb is a definite must read with young adults (and adults who love well written fantasy novels!) – they will love the plot, characters and the battle for the kingdom. I can’t wait to read the second installment in this series.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Mike has recently released the first book in a new YA/Teen fantasy series – The Alaris Chronicles, following his 2016 trilogy of The Cremelino Prophecy. Please join his mailing list at www.MichaelSheltonBooks.com to continue to get information on these stories and any future publications.

Mike was born in California and has lived in multiple states from the west coast to the east coast. He cannot remember a time when he wasn’t reading a book. At school, home, on vacation, at work at lunch time, and yes even a few pages in the car (at times when he just couldn’t put that great book down). Though he has read all sorts of genres he has always been drawn to fantasy. It is his way of escaping to a simpler time filled with magic, wonders and heroics of young men and women.

Other than reading, Mike has always enjoyed the outdoors. From the beaches in Southern California to the warm waters of North Carolina. From the waterfalls in the Northwest to the Rocky Mountains in Utah. Mike has appreciated the beauty that God provides for us. He also enjoys hiking, discovering nature, playing a little basketball or volleyball, and most recently disc golf. He has a lovely wife who has always supported him, and three beautiful children who have been the center of his life.

Mike began writing stories in elementary school and moved on to larger novels in his early adult years. He has worked in corporate finance for most of his career. That, along with spending time with his wonderful family and obligations at church has made it difficult to find the time to truly dedicate to writing. In the last few years as his children have become older he has returned to doing what he truly enjoys – writing!

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