iRead tour Archives - Working Mommy Journal

April 28, 2025

The Girl of Many Crowns

The Girl of Many Crowns is the true story of a powerful Knight and a runaway Queen who unite to defy an empire.

The Girl of Many Crowns

The true story of a powerful Knight and a runaway Queen who unite to defy an empire.

The Kingdom of Francia – 856

Thrust into the political intrigue surrounding the throne of Francia, young Princess Judith loyally supports her father, King Charles. She strengthens his kingdom by marrying twice for political alliance.

But, when Judith refuses to marry a third time at her father’s command, King Charles imprisons her in one of his palaces.

Baldwin “Iron Arm” is a trusted knight and companion to Princess Judith’s brother, Prince Louis. Baldwin helps protect Francia and the king’s family from Vikings, rebel Lords, wars, and assassinations plots.

When Judith and Baldwin fall in love without the blessing of the king, will they be able to hold on to their faith and each other after unleashing the fury of an empire?

My Thoughts

I loved every moment of this novel. The time period is one of my personal favourites (I love historical fiction). I love learning about the individuals that lived during this time, the historical events that occurred and how these events are influenced by even the smallest of choices that change the future. This novel delivers so much – war, family conflicts, royal honour and duty and above all love and mercy.

Judith was a powerful character in this novel, despite being a female in a time period where females held so little power. She was strong willed and devoted to those that she loved. She knew from a young age (and she was young throughout the whole book!) that her role was to support the royal family and honour her Father’s wishes, even when doing so came at great harm to her own wellbeing. She has this gentle leadership shown through her kindness, compassion and understanding of those around her. She protected those charged to her care despite the repercussions to herself. You could not help but fall in love with her and her role as Queen and a leader. It was her last act of defiance (but done so out of love and faith) that made me fall in love with her character. She knew that her final marriage would be that for love and that any child born, would be born of love and happiness. After all she went through, this was something she deserved.

While Judith’s story unfolds, we are also witness to her siblings, and her Father’s struggles in such a turbulent time where trusting others can come at a great cost to life. While it could be tricky to follow along with the other characters, the author did a great job of explaining who each character was and how they connected to the story. She packed a great amount of history in this novel, without sacrificing the plot or interest in Judith’s story. The Girl of Many Crowns is a definite must read for historical fiction fans!

You can purchase a copy of this book on BookBaby, Amazon and B&N.

You can enter to win a signed copy here (US/CAN).

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

A native of San Diego, California, D. H. Morris has lived on four continents and traveled through many countries. She has four children and eleven grandchildren and currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Choral Music education and pursued graduate work in English at USU and law at the University of Utah. She is also a published playwright.

As a descendant of Judith and Baldwin, the author discovered their intriguing story while doing a genealogical project. This journey inspired her to research everything about the 9th Century – including food, politics, travel, war, education, clothing, jewelry, religion, holidays, marriage customs, and medicine. She loves talking about this remarkable time in history when the European countries we know today were being formed and fighting for their very existence.

You can connect with her on her website, Pinterest and Goodreads.

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

April 14, 2025

The Reasons I Pray

Prayer is more than words—it is a powerful, transformative force that can lead to a life of obedience, faith, and supernatural encounters with God. In The Reasons I Pray, author Deberann Tinson provides an inspirational and instructional roadmap to developing a meaningful and continuous prayer life.

About The Reasons I Pray

Prayer is more than words—it is a powerful, transformative force that can lead to a life of obedience, faith, and supernatural encounters with God. In The Reasons I Pray, author Deberann Tinson provides an inspirational and instructional roadmap to developing a meaningful and continuous prayer life. This book is designed to help individuals, leaders, and entire ministries unlock the full potential of prayer and witness its divine impact.

Prayer is not just a ritual but a divine calling, and The Reasons I Pray offers practical guidance on how to pray without ceasing and develop a passion for prayer that aligns with God’s will. Readers will learn essential lessons, including:

Walking in obedience to God’s call to pray
Developing a deep and consistent passion for prayer
Maintaining the proper purpose and focus in prayer
Strengthening faith, perspective, and discernment
Cultivating a passion for prayer in others
Understanding how prayer influences shifts at personal, community, and even governmental levels

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon, Walmart, B&N, Tinson Enterprises.

You can enter to win a signed copy of The Reasons I Pray here.

About the Author

Deberann Tinson is a devoted teacher, and author committed to guiding believers in their spiritual walk through prayer. With a heart for intercession and a passion for empowering others, her works serve as a beacon of hope and instruction for individuals seeking a closer relationship with God. She has a great love for the Word of God as well as the love for His people. She has a contagious spirit of generosity that flows through every facet of her life.

Ms. Tinson has been in ministry for more than 30 years, and has been a full-time evangelist for over 25 years.

You can connect with her on her website, Instagram and Goodreads.

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

April 1, 2025

Foster’s Leash

Follow along in Foster’s Leash to see rescue dog Pepper and her foster family navigate the foster process, the feelings that come with it, and how one leash makes all the difference.

About Foster’s Leash

Fostering animals isn’t easy. Suddenly, you’re living with a strange dog that needs your help. And once you’ve finally bonded, it’s time to say goodbye. But hard things are worth doing, especially when they change lives.

Follow along to see rescue dog Pepper and her foster family navigate the foster process, the feelings that come with it, and how one leash makes all the difference.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Mascot Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org and Books a Million.

The Giveaway!

Enter to win a Target gift card here.

About the Author

Sarah Sommer is an award-winning children’s picture book author who aims to tell stories that evoke emotion. As a former professional musician, Sarah values the way words, art, and stories come together in picture books. Having fostered many German shepherds, Sarah is passionate about animal advocacy and helping others. Sarah wrote this book to showcase the foster process and inspire others to open their hearts and homes.

You can connect with the author on their website, Facebook, Instagram and Goodreads.

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this post, all opinions expressed are my own.

March 18, 2025

The Third Element

In The Third Element, join entrepreneur, engineer, and speaker Randy Lyman as he unpacks his own journey and shows us exactly how our emotional experiences—the pains, the joys, and everything in-between—are both our greatest obstacles and our most powerful assets.

About The Third Element

Sure, you may have the discipline—the drive, strength, and perseverance it takes to build the life of your dreams. Yes, you may have the intellect—the understanding that you have the power to shape your own reality and a foolproof, step-by-step plan to do so.

So why isn’t all the planning, hard work, and visualization working? And when you do finally start achieving success, why does it still feel like something’s missing?

When it comes to creating abundance or finding inner peace, most people assume that mind-body alignment is enough. But we’re still missing one critical element—the long-neglected key to manifestation.

Each and every one of us holds the answer to unlocking the life of our dreams: the power and limitless potential of the Third Element.

Join entrepreneur, engineer, and speaker Randy Lyman as he unpacks his own journey and shows us exactly how our emotional experiences—the pains, the joys, and everything in-between—are both our greatest obstacles and our most powerful assets.

And this book is going to show you how to use it.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

About the Author

Randy Lyman is a multi-millionaire entrepreneur, physicist, and author of The Third Element, a transformative guide to unlocking abundance through emotional mastery. With decades of experience building Inc. 500-recognized businesses and fostering cultures of belonging, Randy empowers leaders and individuals to align their emotions with their goals. He blends science, spirituality, and practical wisdom to create actionable strategies for growth, success, and fulfillment. Randy’s work is dedicated to helping others break through emotional barriers and live in alignment with their highest potential.

You can connect with Randy on their website, Instagram and Facebook.

The Giveaway

Enter to win a a gift box, including a signed copy of The Third Element (US and Canada) here.

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this post, all opinions expressed are my own.

March 3, 2025

Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times®, Volume Two

This second volume of Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times®️ includes This Little Piggy, Rock-a-Bye Baby, Peter Peter Pickle Eater, and more.

About Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times®, Volume Two

What happens to the baby (owlet!!) rocking in their cradle in Rock-a-Bye-Baby? Will Old Mother Hubbard find something in the cupboard to give to her dog? And who (or what!) will be discovered in the tub in Rub a Dub Dub?

Read all about the beloved characters from traditional nursery rhymes in this endearing collection of nine updated rhymes that foster kindness, empathy, and gratitude! Coupled with discussion questions and emojis to support the social and emotion intelligence of preschoolers, each rhyme will entertain and educate a new generation of children.

This second volume of Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times®️ includes This Little Piggy, Rock-a-Bye Baby, Peter Peter Pickle Eater, Old Mother Hubbard, Diddle Diddle Dumpling, Rub a Dub Dub, Sing a Song of Six Cents, There Was a Nice Lady, and Tom Tom, the Plumber’s Son.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Mascot Books, Amazon, B&N, BAM, and Bookshop.org.

About the Author

Pam has been an early childhood music educator for over twenty-five years with a passion for singing, rhyming, reading stories, and making music with preschoolers.

When Pam noticed that some children seemed unfamiliar with traditional nursery rhymes, and that parents and teachers were avoiding them because of their outdated, dark, and inappropriate nature, she set out to update them. Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times® provide a memorable way to build language, musicality, and literacy through songs, stories and rhymes that nurture kindness, empathy, and gratitude. The inclusion of resources that support social and emotional learning (SEL) make it easy for parents and teachers to engage with the children they love.

The rhymes in the book can also be enjoyed as songs on the “Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times” album recorded by Raffi and Lindsay Munroe, on the EP recorded by Laurie Berkner titled “Laurie Berkner Sings Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times” and in videos on the Nursery Rhymes for Kinder Times® Show on YouTube.

Pam has also made it her mission to share what she has learned about how to effectively integrate music and stories to support SEL and language skills in early childhood settings. She provides engaging and interactive sessions to early childhood teachers and caregivers to support their professional development and build their confidence in using music and rhymes with the children they care for. She is also available for school visits.

Aside from sharing stories and songs with young children, Pam loves dogs and dark chocolate. She lives in New York with her husband, and loves when her children, grandchildren, and granddogs come to visit!

You can connect with the author on their website, Facebook, X, and Instagram.

The Giveaway!

You can enter to win a copy of this book (US only) here.

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this post, all opinions expressed are my own.