December 2, 2019
Snuggle Up and Cherish the Holiday Season with Raincoast Books
We have definitely had a few early blasts of winter weather as the holiday season quickly approaches. This is the perfect time to open up some holiday treasured books with your children and spend a little extra time reading each night. Or perhaps to even discover new family favourites leading up to the Christmas holidays?
Raincoast Books has a beautiful collection of books that will make great gifts leading up to the holidays or even as a special gift under the tree. Both my kids and their cousins, always receive at least one special book as a Christmas gift because I feel so strongly that these are something that they can treasure long after the holiday season is over.
Looking for three new books to add to your holiday reading routine? Look no further then these top three picks from Raincoast Books:
Christmas Is Coming! An Advent Book
Every day of December brings a new Christmas tradition in this keepsake Advent book. Each flap on the cover of the book reveals a clue to a festive activity that can be found inside the pages. It might be a recipe for a delicious homemade treat, instructions for a cozy craft, a game to play, a carol to sing, or a beautifully illustrated story to read with the whole family. This inviting twist on the traditional advent calendar is perfect for families who love to put their own spin on celebrating the holidays.
I fell in love with this special book the moment I laid my eyes on it. Advent is a very special time in our lives and sometimes we can forget what makes life so important; family and opening our homes and hearts for Christmas. There is more to Advent than just chocolate and presents!
I put this book under our Christmas tree and we waited patiently for December 1st to open it up. This was not the easiest task for any of us, as I really wanted to dive in and see what kind of activities were in the book but we also wanted it to be a special surprise that we uncovered day by day.
We had a snowstorm yesterday and decided that we would open the book after dinner. His first activity? Write a letter to Santa. The reading for December 1st was beautiful and my son was excited to write his letter (I couldn’t believe I had not done this yet with him!). We have decided as a family, that we would do each activity after dinner but before we wind down for bed. You can follow along on Instagram as we work our way through the book.
This is the perfect book for parents and grandparents that are looking for something different and meaningful during the Advent season.
You can purchase a copy of this book here.
Don’t Shake the Present!
Go on a festive and fun-filled adventure with Larry in this hilarious holiday edition of the USA Today bestselling series, Don’t Push the Button!
Larry (the lovable monster) has received a present, and he is desperate to know what is inside, but he needs your help to figure it out. But whatever you do. . . DON’T SHAKE THE PRESENT!
This is an adorable book perfect for young readers just before the holiday season. We have two kids that love to touch and shake their presents (and even sometimes peel away the wrapping at the side so that they can see inside!). We had so much fun reading this out loud and I definitely did not see the ending coming but it was perfect and gave us all a great chuckle.
The book itself is small, hard covered and interactive, making it a great read for young children that have a harder time sitting still at reading time. It also is a book that children can relate to and helps parents explain the importance of patience during the holiday season.
You can purchase a copy of this book here.
How to Hide a Lion at Christmas
Iris and her lion go everywhere together. But when Christmas comes and the family is going away, Mom says her lion must stay behind. After all, you can’t take a lion on a train! Luckily the lion has other ideas. He sets off on a festive, snowy adventure to find Iris – and almost bumps into Santa Claus!
This is a beautifully written and illustrated book about the friendship between Iris and her lion in the context of Christmas. Iris is visiting family for the holidays and her lion is just too big to go on the train (or even to fit in her suitcase!), not to mention he may just scare her family. Her Mom makes the lion stay home, but lion has other plans – he follows them on the train! The only problem, he sleeps through their stop! He must find his way back to Iris (which he does) but encounters a unique method of finding her using Santa Claus’ method of climbing up and down chimneys. Can you imagine a lion coming down the chimney?
This was a great book to read out loud to our kids. It has such a great flow and full of great age appropriate humour. We had a few great conversations of all the animals we wished we could have at home (a gorilla was one). The illustrations are beautiful and fit the story perfectly. This will make for a great read before bedtime as we gear up into the holiday season.
You can purchase a copy of this book here.
What is your favourite holiday book?
Disclosure: I received the above mentioned books in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 2, 2019
Complete Massage Book Review
Want to really understand the health and wellness benefits of massage? Interested in practicing massage at home or considering taking a course? Let this be your guide on everything from effleurage to epineuria.
About Complete Massage
Annotated anatomy and physiology illustrations show you how different levels of pressure work the muscles, and the profound effect massage can have on the nervous system and on cardio and lymphatic health.
Learn how to prepare physically and mentally, and get the lowdown on oils and massage beds, diffusers and candles. And if you’re receiving a massage, find out why drinking water before and after is important and how focusing on breathing enhances muscle relaxation.
All the core strokes and massage techniques that form the foundation of massage practice are shown photographically with detailed annotations and integrated arrows showing the direction and application of pressure.
Familiarize yourself with the key disciplines, from Swedish to shiatsu, reflexology and hot stone therapy. Access over 30 bespoke massage sequences, tailored to treat specific complaints and special client groups, such as pregnant women, babies, and those recovering from surgery.
Become an expert in the simple but profoundly effective power of touch and share its miraculous health benefits.
My Thoughts
I love massages – I think they bring such an inner peace and relaxation on top of the physical benefits of pain relief. I love receiving massages but I also love giving massages too. If I could go back in time, I would have definitely completed a RMT program after my Kinesiology degree. It is just great practical application of the things that you learn in a very rewarding manner. How can you not love helping people feel better?!
This book is an excellent resource for the many, many different types of techniques, disciplines and even how to target specific areas during treatment. The book starts off with a basic introduction to the human body, including the musculoskeletal system, nervous system, lympathic system and circulatory system (all very important systems to understand at the basic level for the purpose of this book). The book then jumps into basic techniques during massage therapy, including strokes, vibration, pressure and passive movements. I recognized many of the techniques that have been used on me during treatment which I thought was pretty cool, this included the slide and glide strokes (so soothing!). What is extremely helpful is that the book also helps you put those techniques together because it is great to know each method but the how you apply it, is just as important. They help you put this all together in a section called, The Whole Body Massage.
The book also contains all the different specialties and I was amazed at how many there were. This included some familiar ones and some not so much such as, Biodynamic massage, manual lymphatic drainage, Ayurvedic massage, Chinese Tui Na and Shiatsu. My personal favourites were the facial rejuvenation massages, it was so relaxing.
My youngest frequently suffers from sore leg muscles (over use from soccer and running) and I loved that I could implement some of the techniques that I learned in the book in order to help him. I felt confident performing these minor massages to help decrease the pain he felt and improve his range of motion. It left me with that feel good feeling that I was able to help him with his pain and can be of help for future pains.
This is an excellent resource for those who want to learn more about massage therapy, perhaps those who are interested in a future career in this field or those who want to provide calming relief for their kids and partner at home.
You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and Chapters.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 2, 2019
Jeanne Spotlight Book Tour
Don’t miss the latest novel by award winning author of The Mallard Conspiracy!
About Jeanne
At dawn on a sweltering summer day scrabbling sounds alerted Jeanne of the intruder downstairs. The pull chain rattled against the light bulb in the kitchen. Instantly a sliver of yellow light raced up the stairs and into her bedroom. Someone was moving about inside the house, and had even been bold enough to turn on a light. It wasn’t the first time she’d awakened to the sounds of this intruder.
You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.
About the Author
Sylvia Hornback received her Doctorate of Education Administration from Texas A&M University. She is the current Chair of the Board of Directors for ENERGY Worldnet, Inc., and served as an educator, principal and school superintendent for over two decades. Among her many accolades, she was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School Principal by the U.S. Secretary of Education. For the past ten years, she has served as a Bible study teacher at First United Methodist Church near her home in Decatur, Texas. Her first novel, The Mallard Conspiracy, was published last year.
You can connect with her on her website and Facebook.
The Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveawayDisclosure: This is a spotlight tour, I did not receive compensation for this post.
November 26, 2019
A Cowboy Like You Book Review
In the Heart of Texas, a heartthrob cowboy may get his second chance at love.
About A Cowboy Like You
Danny Oldman, the handsome Lone Star sheriff, is still single. He tells himself, and anyone who asks, that he is married to his job—and what matters most is keeping the people of his beloved Texas hometown safe. The truth? Danny still hasn’t gotten over his high school crush. She moved away after graduation and took Danny’s heart with her.
Skylar Long never thought she would have to flee Houston and return home—where it all began for her. But that’s what happened after the man of her dreams turned out to be an actual nightmare. Now, Skylar is desperate to escape her obsessive boyfriend. Nothing shocks her more than seeing Danny again and realizing that their long-ago attraction is more powerful than ever. But can she and Danny find a way to fight against Skylar’s wealthy, powerful ex who is dead set on tearing them apart?
My Thoughts
This drama filled novel focuses on Danny, a somewhat jaded small town sheriff and Skylar – the girl he admired from afar who is looking to escape an abusive relationship.
Danny has seen a lot in his role as a sheriff and it has definitely dragged him down both emotionally and mentally. In the opening of the novel, you can see his struggles and to be honest I can’t imagine how seeing the things you see in this position affect you and the nightmares that they may cause. He is married to his job – preferring solitude to a relationship.
By chance, he is there to witness a domestic abuse which he stops and the woman ends up being Skylar. Skylar was a young woman whom in high school, he had a huge crush on but never acted on. Strangely enough, she also admired him as well. It was almost as though fate brought them together in an interesting and sad way. Together they not only have to navigate a stalking ex, a domestic abuse charge but also their own attraction and feelings for each other.
The book is steamy, dramatic and full of suspense. It may be triggering for some readers due to the content (her ex stalks and abused her) but it also highlights how she chose to fight back. We watch as two individuals who have been dealt hard dealings in life, struggle to come to terms and move forward. It is a beautiful story of second chances and learning not to be afraid to move forward in life.
You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.
Rating: 4/5
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her “totally addictive” and “unique and sensual” stories. She’s written more than thirty novels spanning multiple genres of romance including the bestselling Dark King stories, Dark Craving, Night’s Awakening, and Dawn’s Desire. Her acclaimed series, Dark Warriors, feature a thrilling combination of Druids, primeval gods, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her two children, a dog, and four cats in Texas.
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 19, 2019
Three Paws Book Review and Giveaway
Learn the importance of friendship, never giving up and acceptance in Three Paws.
About Three Paws
An Alaskan grizzly bear cub survives a tragic accident, leaving him with one limp paw. But despite his physical challenge, his dream of becoming a great salmon catcher spurs him to take personal risks as he befriends an injured billy goat. Boots, the bear cub, will do anything necessary to accomplish his dream. When the injured goat offers a promise of possibilities in the hopes that Boots will not eat him, the three-pawed cub must face unexpected consequences. Can Boots trust the goat to deliver on his promise? The surprise ending will even surprise you!
Our Thoughts
In Three Paws, the brave, adventurous Boots hurts his front paw – damaging the bones and making it impossible to use. He does this doing something his Mom warned him not to do (aww the joys of having kids!). All he wanted to do was prove that he was brave and the best salmon catcher, now he begins to doubt whether he will ever be able to catch salmon again. He lets his fear bother him internally, until he meets a goat who was also injured during a fall. Boots helps the goat and in return, the goat helps him to realize that you don’t need four paws to be the best salmon catcher if you can think outside of the box. He does so despite the doubts of the other cubs.
This is a beautiful story from start to finish of a young bear who faces a situation that could harm him (not being able to use his paw to fish, could cause starvation and death for the young cub) and when he shows another animal compassion, he learns a very valuable lesson. The goat (an unlikely friend and hero), shows him how to live again, to gain confidence and to think outside of the box. In the face of a great challenge, Boots shows strength and courage while earning a new friend.
This is a great book for young children with that important reminder that we can do anything we set our mind to – nothing is out of our reach if we are willing to think differently and work hard. A fantastic story from start to finish that you will enjoy reading with your child.
You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.
About the Author
Karen Struck discovered the joy of children’s literature as she read to her daughter each night. She was inspired by the Harry Potter book series and decided to take writing courses through the Institute of Children’s Literature. Three Paws is the first book published in the Three Paws Series.
Karen is a registered nurse and works in the aesthetic industry, performing laser treatments combined with injectables for skin rejuvenation. She works with her husband, Steve, a plastic surgeon in Atherton, California. They live in Los Gatos, California. She has a daughter named Rachel and two stepchildren, Danni and Evan Struck.
The Giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveawayDisclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.