Category: books

December 19, 2019

Dear Santa Book Review

A beautiful story of honesty and the spirit of Christmas.

About Dear Santa

When Ms. Holly asks the class to write their letters to Santa, Parker gets nervous. He has done some things this year that might put him on the naughty list. Like feeding Brussels sprouts to his dog and staying up past his bedtime. Should he gloss over his mistakes like his classmates do, or take responsibility for his actions? Deciding that honesty is the best policy, and hoping that Santa understands, Parker hands in his letter and hopes for the best.

Christmas morning arrives and Parker finds a big surprise under the tree ― PLUS a letter from Santa!

BONUS: Kids can write a letter to Santa using the festive holiday-themed stationery included in every book. Parents can also visit putmeinthestory.com/dearsanta for a FREE downloadable personalized letter from the desk of Santa Claus, or get a letter and official ‘Nice List’ certificate sent in a magical envelope all the way from the North Pole! It’s never been easier to make your child’s Christmas wishes come true.

Our Thoughts

Dear Santa is the perfect Christmas book that will make you laugh, smile and start all of those important conversations with your child around their actions and being the best person that they can be.

Writing a letter to Santa is a tradition that we have all done every year as a child. It is so important to children and for the magic of Christmas. It can also cause a bit of anxiety, as children tend to worry if they have been good enough for gifts, if they should be showing off all of their good deeds and if Santa will put them on the good or bad list. It can be quite a stressful time for a child!

This beautiful book follows Parker, a young boy who is tasked with writing a letter to Santa at school. He listens to his classmates writing their letters and is shocked when they write about how good they are. Because to be fair – no one is perfect 100% of the time. Parker knows he is not perfect and he doesn’t want to lie to Santa, even if it means he may not get any presents on Christmas. So Parker explains to Santa how he tried to be good and why he wasn’t.

This was an adorable, sweet and funny book that we loved from start to finish. Parker’s fears are something that every child can relate to and it is such an important lesson for children to learn. It is okay to make mistakes and to not be perfect – it is when we own those mistakes that we grow as a person and become better individuals. I loved how this book explained this concept in a way that children can understand – we don’t want our kids to be perfect, just the best version of themselves.

This will become a favourite holiday read in your home and is perfect for children of all ages. We also loved that the book came with beautiful paper in the back for your child to write a letter to Santa to, as well as with a free Santa letter download.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

About the Author

Susanna Leonard Hill is the New York Times bestselling author of Moon’s First Friends, as well as many other award-winning books for children. She does frequent school and library visits, teaches picture book writing, and offers picture book critiques. She lives in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley with her children and two rescue dogs.

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

November 13, 2019

Bread Bags & Bullies: Surviving the ’80s

This hysterical coming-of-age tale is jam-packed with enough nostalgia to satisfy anyone who grew up in the ‘80s or at least had the good fortune to travel through them.

About Bread Bags & Bullies: Surviving the ’80s

It’s the winter of 1984. Twelve-year-old Herbie and his two brothers—Wally and Cockroach—are enjoying the mayhem of winter break when a late Nor’easter blows through New England, trapping their quirky family in the house. The power goes out and playing Space Invaders to AC DC’s Back in Black album is suddenly silenced—forcing them to use their twisted imaginations in beating back the boredom. At a time when the brothers must overcome one fear after the next, they learn that courage is the one character trait that guarantees all others.

Our Thoughts

Bread Bags & Bullies: Surviving the ’80s was a fantastic, heart felt, laugh out loud read. Steven has a personal way of writing that is honest, fresh and down to earth. You feel as though you are right there experiencing every moment with the family. It reminded me of all the good laughs you have with friends over the good old days.

The ’80s were definitely a simpler time (I was a very young child growing up but I still remember the endless days of being outside until it was dark and those bread bags (or any bag in general!). We used to spend hours riding up and down the street on bikes with no care in the world. This book brings back some great memories and makes you wish you could take a trip back in time. I loved the emphasis on family and spending time together – this is sometimes lacking now in society, where everyone is so busy all the time. Families may not have been perfect but they put family first.

This book starts off with Herbie breaking up a fight between his own two boys and then he begins to tell the tale of a week long adventure in his childhood home during the middle of winter and one bad storm.

I fell in love with this family, they were quirky but they were real. I am pretty sure you will be able to find similarities in some of the characters to your own family. They absolutely love each other but have a very unique way of showing it – a result of the times that they grew up in (a perfect example, the brothers could tease poor Cockroach but definitely not their friends!). The brothers learned how to handle situations themselves, they did have their parents but they were independent for the most part which ensured that they had the life skills they needed. We witness the struggles of having little money and doing everything you can to keep the family afloat. It was his childhood and the lessons he learned that guided him in his own journey of fatherhood – we grow from all the good and bad things that happen to us.

This is a fantastic book from start to finish, you will laugh, get anxious and take a trip down memory lane. It is so well written that you will not be able to put it down.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestsellers Twelve Months, The Rockin’ Chair, Pressed Pennies and Gooseberry Island; the national bestsellers, Ashes, The Changing Season and Three Shoeboxes; and the multi-award winning novels, Goodnight Brian and The Thursday Night Club. His work has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early Show, CNN’s American Morning and BET’s Nightly News. Three of Steven’s short stories were selected “101 Best” for Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He is a multi-produced playwright, as well as the winner of the 2017 Los Angeles Book Festival and the 2018 New York Book Festival. When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula, or their four children, this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing.

You can connect with him on his website, Facebook and Twitter.

The Giveaway

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Providence Book Promotions for Steven Manchester. There will be seven (7) winners. Two (2) winners will each win one (1) Amazon GC and five (5) winners will each win a copy of Bread Bags & Bullies: Surviving the ’80s by Steven Manchester (eBook). The giveaway begins on November 1, 2019 and runs through January 2, 2020. Void where prohibited.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

November 5, 2019

How To Travel With Kids (Without Losing Your Mind): Real World Tips and Practical Solutions for Traveling with Children

Do you feel that you have to suppress your sense of wanderlust now that you’re a parent? It is time to think again!

About How To Travel With Kids (Without Losing Your Mind)

In How to Travel With Kids (Without Losing Your Mind), passionate world travelers and parents Natasha Sandhir and AJ Ratani share their travel philosophy, Be F.L.E.X.I.B.L.E. which turns conventional thinking on its head and presents parents with real-world solutions to the most common kid-related travel concerns.

After spending several years climbing the corporate ladder, Natasha and AJ decided to pursue their dreams of traveling the world and embarked on the adventure of a lifetime with their almost two-year-old son. They have traveled to 44 countries, taken 79 flights, and visited 115 unique destinations as a family. Along the way, they have discovered innovative tips and tricks that make traveling with kids no only doable, but enjoyable!

In this book you will discover:

Why you shouldn’t wait until your children are older to travel.
8 potty secrets that will save your trip.
AJ and Natasha’s Exclusive Plane Seat Hacking Strategy, designed to give you extra space on a plane for FREE!
5 steps to handle travel tantrums LIKE A BOSS.
Their top 12 tips to making any flight fuss-free.
Guidelines for choosing kid-friendly accommodations.
The Mary Poppins Packing Method.
How to help your child sleep anywhere and instantly adjust to a new schedule.
9 things you wouldn’t believe that you could do with your kids while traveling.
How to travel stress-free and happy with 1, 2, or even 3 kids (special guest chapter!).
And so much more!

Complete with comprehensive packing lists, suggested travel destinations for every occasion, and anecdotes from AJ and Natasha’s travels, How to Travel With Kids (Without Losing Your Mind) will leave you feeling empowered, inspired and excited to indulge your love of travel and make memories with your loved ones that will last forever.

My Thoughts

One of the scariest things you can mentally prepare for as a parent? Travel. When you think of the unpredictability, the unknown, the change of routine and everything in between – it can be terrifying!

AJ and Natasha have done an amazing job in this book to break down those mental barriers that we as parents have when it comes to thoughts around travel. They make you realize that travel is possible and it is very important to raising well rounded children. They help you open up the doors to the possible and make you comfortable with the unknown. For me personally, loss of control has always been my worst fear – I like to feel that I am in control at all times and travel sometimes stops you from having this control. This book helped me re-frame this way of thinking to be equip me for travel with my kids (which is one of the most rewarding experiences you can do together as a family unit).

This book follows their own principle of Be F.L.E.X.I.B.L.E – one of the most important lessons and skills that we can learn as parents. Each letter is broken down into helpful, real world advice. I appreciated this the most as a parent – I did not feel like I was being lectured or made to feel bad. Instead, it was a conversation with a fantastic friend giving the best possible solutions to a non-perfect situation.

Kids can make any situations impossible to completely plan for (tantrums, illness, diaper disasters) but AJ and Natasha are there to help you. They share their own mistakes and the how and why their solutions work. I loved their solutions for flying on airplanes (which to be honest I wish I had seen before we travel to South Africa three years ago!). There are so many practical tips that you can implement when traveling.

This book covers all types of traveling – from air to train to bus to car to cruise. You can apply their tips to short and long travel itineraries, the possibilities really are endless. This is a well written, fun and personal book that parents of children all ages will love. It will help you reclaim that sense of adventure, stashing away your fear of travel.

You can purchase a copy of this book here and on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Authors

The world can be your oyster—even if you have kids! And we should know because we have firsthand knowledge of traveling it, all while keeping our toddler close at hand. We are so happy that you have taken the time to visit our blog—so let us take a moment to introduce ourselves to you.

We are AJ Ratani and Natasha Sandhir—and our son, Aarav. Beginning in the summer of 2017, we embarked upon a journey together—a big one that spanned 31 countries, comprised of 39 flights, 3 cruises, and almost a 100 destinations. But we are getting ahead of ourselves—let us tell you how this all got started!.

You can connect with them on their website.

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

November 1, 2019

Explore the Wonders of Crab Lake with the Beautiful Children’s Book Series

Marvel at nature’s miracles, spread joy wherever you can, experience earth’s infinite wonders. This is what led David Mulford to create the Crab Lake series. Explore the author’s world through Jeannie’s Crab Lake Christmas and Jeannie’s Crab Lake Winter Tales.

About Jeannie’s Crab Lake Christmas

All the animals in the forest are abuzz. Jeannie, the kindest and most beautiful lady they know, is coming to Crab Lake for Christmas! The animals love to watch Jeannie from a distance when she visits in the summer, but they have never had a chance to talk to her before now — for, as everyone knows, animals can only talk in the winter. This time, however, they can finally say a proper hello.

So come to Crab Lake for Christmas, and spend the evening with Jeannie and her forest friends: bear cub Pudgey and his family, kindly Mr. Woodchuck, distinguished Bellknap Beaver, and the deer, the wolves, the cardinals, and more! Beautiful illustrations by Christine Cathers Donohue bring them all to life in Jeannie’s Crab Lake Christmas, David Mulford’s charming tale of friendship, family and fun.

About Jeannie’s Crab Lake Winter Tales

In this second book, winter has come back to Crab Lake, Wisconsin. Reunite with Jeannie and her woodland friends as they catch up and share the joy of the season and the holidays. All your favourite characters are back to teach you that friendship and helping others is what truly leads to the greatest of life’s adventures.

Our Thoughts

These beautiful, sweet books featuring Jeannie and the wildlife of Crab Lake, will become a story that you can treasure up to and during the holiday season.

Jeannie is a special woman. She is kind, loving and thoughtful. Those around her can sense these strong values and kindness and love her very much for this. I am a firm believer that animals can sense good and bad people, and the animals in these stories love her so very much.

Both books take place at Crab Lake and I love how the author makes the location come to life (especially as someone who has never visited these areas). You feel like you are visiting Crab Lake and the surrounding area yourself. The author uses descriptive language that brings to life the lakes, hills and forest in this area, while the illustrations help to deliver that message. We become part of the festivities and excitement of the holidays (I can’t wait for the simple things like family gatherings, fireplaces, and hot buttered rum) that is so often described throughout the story.

The animals play a huge role in this story, as we learn that the animals can speak and be heard by humans but only in the winter! As someone who loves animals, I truly wish this would come true (I can only imagine what our dogs would tell us – ‘how dare you not let me sleep in your bed when you are not home’). We found ourselves giving certain characters their own accents (especially Mr. Woodchuck, Mr. Beaver and the bears) and it fit well into the story (I found myself naturally using a British accent at times when I was reading the story to my son).

The story in both books is on the longer side but would make for an excellent bedtime story with your child or after dinner reading in front of the Christmas tree. Jeannie’s Crab Lake Winter Tales is a bit longer but worth every minute. I loved the illustrations, they felt soft, warm and engaging. It fit the characters and tone of the story perfectly. The books are well written and remind you of all the important things in life – family, harmony, love and helping other captured in a manner that children of all ages will appreciate. It is both fun and serious, with such important messaging for young children today.

As a side note – I loved that David wrote these stories for his wife, Jeannie. It is so beautiful and touching, the love that he feels for her and the time they spent at Crab Lake is captured so well in these stories.

These books will make a great addition to your holiday reading list and you can purchase a copy of this book here.

About the Author

For David Mulford and his wife, Jeannie, Christmas would not be complete without their visits to the beautiful Wisconsin waters of Crab Lake. These magical journeys provide the inspiration for David’s whimsical tales. In addition to writing, David has a PhD from Oxford University, serves as a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University, and has enjoyed a long and notable career in international finance and diplomacy. For the last twenty-seven years, David’s Christmas gift to Jeannie, no matter where they are in the world, has been a story of Christmas at Crab Lake. When not traveling, David and Jeannie reside in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

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

October 29, 2019

This Earl of Mine Book Review

Introducing the Bow Street Bachelors—men who work undercover for London’s first official police force—and the women they serve to protect. . .and wed?

About This Earl of Mine

Shipping heiress Georgiana Caversteed is done with men who covet her purse more than her person. Even worse than the ton’s lecherous fortune hunters, however, is the cruel cousin determined to force Georgie into marriage. If only she could find a way to be . . . widowed? Georgie hatches a madcap scheme to wed a condemned criminal before he’s set to be executed. All she has to do is find an eligible bachelor in prison to marry her, and she’ll be free. What could possibly go wrong?

Benedict William Henry Wylde, scapegrace second son of the late Earl of Morcott and well-known rake, is in Newgate prison undercover, working for Bow Street. Georgie doesn’t realize who he is when she marries him—and she most certainly never expects to bump into her very-much-alive, and very handsome, husband of convenience at a society gathering weeks later. Soon Wylde finds himself courting his own wife, hoping to win her heart since he already has her hand. But how can this seductive rogue convince brazen, beautiful Georgie that he wants to be together until actual death do they part?

My Thoughts

I fell in love with Georgie from the start – talk about a young woman who knows what she wants and is not afraid to go after it. She lives in a time where woman are primarily used for their wealth, hold no real value except for what they bring to a marriage in title and name. She is wealthy beyond imagine but not the type of wealth that many of the aristocrats in London look up to – her Father earned his money through shipping. She has inherited his bright mind for business and loves the work, she has even increased their wealth. But she will do anything to ensure this does not come into the hands of a greedy gentleman who will lose her inheritance and silence her bright mind and voice. She even goes so far (and does) marry a man in Newgate prison, one whom she assumes is on his death bed for the safety of marriage and then becoming a widow.

Little did she know that the man she marries is Benedict Wlyde, the second son of the Earl of Morcott. But what was he doing in prison? Despite his reputation he works undercover for Bow Street to bring in extra money to help pay off his Father’s debts.

When their paths collide at a society event, will they be drawn together? Will Wylde be able to protect her from society and those who would want to use her only for her wealth? Can she let go and trust enough to see that there are some good people out in the world, that will love her for more than just her money?

I loved every moment of this historical romance and have already re-read it twice. I loved the characters, the plot and the tempo of the story. I kept rooting for these two – I wanted them to learn to trust and to find happiness as they both truly deserved to finally be happy. A definite must read!

You can purchase a copy of this book here.

Rating: 4.5/5

About the Author

Kate Bateman, (also writing as K. C. Bateman), is the #1 bestselling author of historical romances, including her RITA® nominated Renaissance romp, The Devil To Pay, and the novels in the Secrets & Spies series To Steal a Heart, A Raven’s Heart, and A Counterfeit Heart. When not writing novels that feature feisty, intelligent heroines and sexy, snarky heroes you want to both strangle and kiss, Kate works as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several popular TV shows in the UK. She splits her time between Illinois and her native England. Follow her on Twitter to learn more.

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