Monday, November 30, 2020

Book Review and Giveaway - Trouble Blows West Author: Monique Bucheger On Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: Trouble Blows West

Author: Monique Bucheger

Genre: Mid-grade, blended family, horses

Release Date: April 13, 2012

Putting her body in motion before her brain is in gear creates a mountain of problems for 12 year-old Ginnie West. She is certain that defending her twin brother, Toran, from the biggest bully in sixth grade was the right thing to do. But Ginnie couldn’t be more wrong. She quickly learns that Toran doesn’t appreciate being rescued by a girl any better than Pierce likes being knocked down by one.

When Pierce seeks revenge on Ginnie, Toran sets aside his anger and helps her plot a payback prank at Pierce’s house. Sadly, Ginnie learns that Pierce has a reason for being a bully when she sees his dad drop him to the floor like a ragdoll. Realizing he’s a boy in big trouble, Ginnie decides to be his ally, because he won’t let her be his friend.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

When Monique isn’t writing, you can find her playing taxi driver to one or more of her 12 children, plotting her next novel, scrapbooking, or being the “Mamarazzi” at any number of child-oriented events.

Even though she realizes there will never be enough hours in any given day, Monique tries very hard to enjoy the journey that is her life. She shares it with a terrific husband, her dozen children, twelve grand-darlings, too many cats, and many real and imaginary friends. She is the author of several books in three series and hopes to write many more.

More from Monique

Hello Everybody,

I’d like to welcome you to the second book in my Ginnie West Adventure Series: Trouble Blows West. The journey to writing this book started a long time ago as a promise to my high school creative writing teacher, Mrs. Marion Joyce Johnson.

It took me longer than I planned to start the series, but has been a fun adventure.

Because Mrs. Johnson was such an inspiration to me, I made her a character in this book, Trouble Blows West to help my main character, Ginnie, nicknamed, “Trouble”, who gets into quite a pickle and needs a little help turning things around.

On page 2, Ginnie gets on the wrong side of the biggest bully in 6th grade. Pierce Owens goes after Ginnie’s twin brother, Toran. Ginnie knocks Pierce on his rear in front of the entire cafeteria—causing a big problem for Ginnie, Toran, and Pierce.

The bigger problem though, is the reader finds out fairly quickly that Pierce is being abused at home. Ginnie and Toran don’t find out right away—but when they do, they decide to be Pierce’s ally—because Pierce won’t let them be his friend.

My real-life teacher, Mrs. Johnson, used to speak with a cockney accent on occasion. She is American born, but was stationed in the United Kingdom with her husband and two sons, one of which is Astronaut, Col. (Retired USAF) Gregory H. Johnson, who piloted the Space Shuttle Endeavor twice.

I reached out to Greg earlier this year and he graciously met me on a zoom and has called and texted with me as I have revamped Trouble Blows West, into an audiobook with my very talented narrator, Hillary Straga. We decided to have Mrs. Johnson, the character, voiced with a cockney accent to make her “pop.”

Greg, his brother, Gary, and I talked on a number of occasions as I edited this book to make the character, Mrs. Johnson, an even more authentic representation of their mother. Part of that story is told in my expanded dedication of the book to Mrs. Johnson as well as in Col. Greg Johnson’s Foreword at the beginning of the book.

Trouble Blows West explores the hard reality of child abuse in an age appropriate way. Several teachers have read this book with their classrooms and shared with me that they have had great conversations on all aspects of bullying and being bullied, as well as what to do if you suspect someone is being abused.

As a former foster mom of over 100 kids, part of the reason I write the Ginnie West series is to empower kids being abused as well as encourage kids and adults alike to know they have the power to change their own stars.

My hope is that the story presented in Trouble Blows West will spark the courage some need to let their voice be heard, to make a difference in their own life, or in the life of someone who needs some help.

And believe it or not, kindness and humor are powerful tools that make life worth living. If you have to choose between being kind or being right, choose kindness.

Laugh lots, love much, write on!

Monique Bucheger

My Thoughts

Trouble blows west is book 2 of 4 in the Ginnie West Adventures series. The series is written by Monique Bucheger. I have been reading the books out of order, and can follow along fine. This book is geared towards middle grade girls - but I also enjoyed it. I wish this book was around when my girls were younger (They are 19 and 22 now). Ginnie is a friend I wish I would have had while in school. She is a strong character. She has no problems standing up to bullies that have targeted her brother. This is such an important subject for young girls to read about and I love how the author handles this. The author also touches on other real world subjects. For example: child abuse, step families and spousal abuse. The way the author handles each subject is amazing - and I felt it could really help the young women reading the book.
Ginnie had me laughing several times - she does not know how to keep her mouth shut. ( I myself may or may not have gotten into a lot of trouble for this growing up, so I understood this part of her character). This book is well written, has strong characters and will keep even adults entertained. Bravo to the author!
I received a copy of this book through the author and publisher - all thoughts are my own

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 20

Blogging With Carol, November 20

Texas Book-aholic, November 21

Inklings and notions, November 22

Artistic Nobody, November 23 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 24

For Him and My Family, November 25

21st Century Keeper at Home, November 25

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 26

Through the Fire Blogs, November 27

Sara Jane Jacobs, November 28

deb’s Book Review, November 29

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 30

Mary Hake, November 30

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 1

Ashley’s Bookshelf, December 2

Vicky Sluiter, December 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Monique is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, or Kobo gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/103ef/trouble-blows-west-celebration-tour-giveaway

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Book Review and Giveaway - Saving Mount Rushmore Author: Andrea Jo Rodgers On Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: Saving Mount Rushmore

Author: Andrea Jo Rodgers

Genre: Middle grade fiction

Release Date: April 15, 2018

When John Jenkins’ parents ship him off to stay with his aunt, he’s certain it will be the worst summer ever—until he learns he’s been accepted into a top-secret school. St. Michael’s Academy is home to gifted students with extraordinary talents. Although John has no idea why he’s there, he’s assigned to Team Liberty, who assist authorities with solving low-level crimes. Their first mission: stop a trio of mischief-making teens from vandalizing Mount Rushmore. John battles feelings of inferiority as he and Team Liberty compete against Devlin Black and his cronies to track down clues and solve puzzles at Mount Rushmore. Along the way, John makes several key contributions, and his self-confidence grows. When he discovers he was admitted to the school due to a clerical error, he’s mortified. Now, he’s strictly an “observer” until the mission’s end. But when his teammates run into trouble, John must summon up the courage to save Mount Rushmore, and he learns an invaluable lesson: every person has special God-given gifts—including him.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Andrea Jo Rodgers is the author of award-winning Christian middle grade fiction as well as inspirational adult nonfiction novels. She holds a clinical doctorate in physical therapy and specializes in women’s health, orthopedics, and lymphedema. She has served her community as a volunteer emergency medical technician for over thirty years, responding to more than 8,200 first aid and fire calls. She lives on the east coast with her husband, two children, and their two rescue dogs, a Shih Tzu and a Dachshund.

More from Andrea

Can John embrace his God-given gifts in time to save Mount Rushmore?

Have you ever admired the extraordinary talent of another person? Perhaps you enjoyed listening to someone belt out a spellbinding rendition of your favorite song at church or a concert. Or, maybe you have dreamed that you’d gain the same athletic prowess of a professional sports player.

The amazing gifts of others can take many forms. These gifts may be linked with intelligence, such as an aptitude for math and engineering. They may reflect the beauty of the arts through singing, dancing, or painting. Certain individuals may dazzle the people around them with incredible athletic talents, from gold-medal Olympians to professional baseball, football, and basketball players.

Most people consider extraordinary talents to be God-given gifts. They allow people to stand out and shine among others. However, do each of us need a breathtaking talent to be considered special?

In Saving Mount Rushmore, John Jenkins, an awkward thirteen-year-old teenager, is unexpectedly chosen to attend Saint Michael the Archangel Academy. The top-secret school’s mission is to protect our nation by assisting authorities in solving crimes. Since the academy is for students with extraordinary abilities, John is puzzled as to why he’s been accepted. After all, he’s an average teen without any notable gifts.

While working with Team Liberty to save Mount Rushmore from Devlin Black and Team Mischief, John struggles to discover his special gifts. He’s mortified when he discovers that he’s been accepted to the academy due to a clerical error. He becomes strictly an “observer” until the mission’s end. But when his teammates run into trouble, John must summon up the courage to try to save Mount Rushmore. He learns that every person has special God-given gifts—including him.

I came up with the idea for Saving Mount Rushmore while in the airport, just before our plane departed for the famous landmark. I wrote feverishly the entire flight, and the first chapters were born. Saving Mount Rushmore is a middle grade novel which combines information about Mount Rushmore, adventure, and Christian values. My goal was to write an exciting, fun, educational book for middle grade readers that incorporates Christian values into the fabric of the story. John and his friends have an opportunity to save another national monument in the sequel, Saving the Statue of Liberty. I hope you celebrate our country’s heritage by joining John and Team Liberty in their adventures.

My Thoughts

Saving Mount Rushmore is book one in the Saint Michael the Archangel Academy series. It is geared toward middle grades. I would say that the target audience is 8-13. My 9 year old son and I read this book together and we both enjoyed it very much. The main character, John who is shipped off to live with his aunt finds out he is accepted to a top secret school. He has no idea why he is there. They assign the students to different teams. John is on Team Liberty. This means that he will be helping authorities solve crimes. Their first mission is to stop the vandalization of Mount Rushmore.

Being a history major, this book made my heart happy. It was well written and accurately researched. The characters made us laugh. My son said some of them reminded him of some of his friends. We enjoyed trying to figure out who was behind the crime.

The underlying theme is that God has given us all gifts. This is a conversation that my son and I have quite often. I think this book gave him a greater understanding of what gifts God has given him - and what he needs to do. My son and I are both excited to read more from this author.

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit Blogging program - all thoughts are my own.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 18

For the Love of Literature, November 18

The Avid Reader, November 19

Texas Book-aholic, November 20

21st Century Keeper at Home, November 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 21

For Him and My Family, November 22

Mary Hake, November 22

Older & Smarter?, November 23

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 23

Inklings and notions, November 24

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 25

Sara Jane Jacobs, November 25

Vicky Sluiter, November 26

deb’s Book Review, November 27

Simple Harvest Reads, November 27 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Ashley’s Bookshelf, November 28

Artistic Nobody, November 29 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Captive Dreams Window, November 29

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 1

Blossoms and Blessings, December 1

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Andrea is giving away the grand prize package of a signed copy of Saving Mount Rushmore: Saint Michael the Archangel Academy, Mission 1 as well as a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/103a5/saving-mount-rushmore-celebration-tour-giveaway

Book Review - Snow Globe Travelers: Samuel's Legacy by K.A. Cummins -- on tour with Celebrate it

ABOUT THE BOOK

A mysterious snow globe shop. A multiverse at war. And a stranded Austrian girl searching for her father.In the heart of Vienna, twelve-year-old Sarah Ann Reisende wanders into a mysterious shop where snow globes double as portals to other worlds. After breaking the globe tethered to Earth, she discovers a cryptic note scribbled on the back of a photograph. The note links her father, who left before her third birthday, to a place called Elohi. Could this be a chance to find her father at last?Unable to return home, Sarah follows the lead into the world of Elohi. But an army of vicious hybrids led by a genetically engineered warrior named Malvine now rules the once peaceful planet, and she becomes a target as Malvine wants to use the shop’s connections to wage war.Can Sarah uncover the truth behind her father leaving and find a way home before Malvine gains control of the shop?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

K.A. Cummins is an award-winning indie author who enjoys delving into the wonders of the universe to connect human experiences with imaginary settings filled with possibility and adventure. Her work has appeared on goHavok.com and she’s a former Lands Unchartedcontributor.

Cummins lives in Alabama with her husband and their youngest son, whom she homeschools.

Author Social Media

Website: https://authorkacummins.com

Blog: https://authorkacummins.com/blog

Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/ab3280be8046/45fn6kss4g

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17086212.K_A_Cummins

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/kacumminswrites

MY THOUGHTS

"Snow Globe Travelers - Samuel's Legacy" By K.A. Cummings is a easy and quick read that is geared toward kids that are 10-18 years old. I chose to read this with my 9 year old son and we both enjoyed it. I love snowglobes - and have collected several throughout my years. This book is not my typical genre that I read - however my 9 year old is really into alternate universes. My son and I enjoyed following Sarah and her adventures through the different snow globes. We enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery that is woven into the story. Colton especially enjoyed the portals to other worlds. The characters are well written, the storyline kept us both entertained.

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging program -- all thoughts are my own.

Book Review and Giveaway What You Said to Me Author: Olivia Newport On Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: What You Said to Me

Author: Olivia Newport

Genre: Christian Fiction

Release Date: November 2020

Book 4 in the Tree of Life Series: A Father-Daughter Genealogy Team Link Faith Journeys on Family Trees

When 15-year-old Tisha Crowder gets caught shoplifting, attorney Nolan Duffy tries to protect her from consequences that could rattle her already troubled life. His daughter, Jillian, feels like she’s the one being punished instead—by having Tisha assigned to work with her on a backlog of genealogy files. Tisha doesn’t seem interested in taking the job seriously, and Jillian’s patience wears thin. Besides, everyone in Canyon Mines knows the Crowder family has experienced generations of brokenness. Then a sliver of hope turns up in long-ago words in plain sight, challenging shrouded assumptions about Tisha’s family. Now Jillian is the one who can walk with Tisha back to 1893 and uncover where everything went wrong in the first place—and save her from the past.

What You Said to Me is the fourth book in the Tree of Life series by Olivia Newport. You’ll want to return to the lovely Colorado mountain town of Canyon Mines again and again to explore and celebrate unforgettable family stories that will inspire you to connect with your own family histories and unique faith journeys.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Olivia Newport’s novels twist through time to find where faith and passions meet. Her husband and twentysomething children provide welcome distraction from the people stomping through her head on their way into her books. She chases joy in stunning Colorado at the foot of Pikes Peak.

More from Olivia

Careful Words

“You didn’t just say that.” Or, “I can’t believe you said that.”

Have you ever said that in retort to someone whose comment offended or wounded? I know I have. But what cuts me even more deeply is when I say to myself, “I can’t believe I just said that.”

The words of a parent at wit’s end, a spouse harboring hurt, a friend saddened by misunderstanding, an employee feeling undercut—they have all been my words. And they came out too fast to swallow back before they did their damage.

I hope I have also had the words of a parent who set aside busyness to listen, a spouse offering loving encouragement, a friend checking in with someone going through a tough patch, a coworker curious to see how I could help rather than compete. Those are the kinds of words I’ve never regretted, never had to repent of, never had to do rebuild from.

I certainly didn’t write What You Said to Me because I think I get it right all the time or even most of the time. Far from it! In our culture of rushing and achieving and—let’s face it, sometimes just getting through the demands of the day—sometimes our words are the last thing we are careful with. Yet they have the longest lasting consequence in our relationships and families—sometimes for generations. The dual-timeline story traces how words that injure became a pattern in one family line until one girl finally fought back to find healing for her future.

My challenge for myself, and all who read What You Said to Me, is to be the person who speaks healing words of hope so that “I can’t believe you said that” becomes “Thank you for saying that.”

If you have a particularly poignant experience of how another’s words impacted you, I’d love to hear from you.

Olivia Newport

My Thoughts

What you said to me is Book 4 in the Tree of life series. I have not read all the books, but I did not have any issues following along. The author is one of my most favorite authors to read. She was one of the first authors I discovered when I switched to reading mainly Christian books. This book also hit so hard to me. I grew up in a mentally, emotionally and verbally abusive household. Words that should never be spoken to your own children were said to me. As a mother myself, I am careful with how I speak to my children. It took a long time for me to be able to forgive those who spoke unhealthy things into my life. What is spoken to you over and over is what you start to believe.

This book weaves together the past and the present. It also shows that how bitterness can move from one generation to another. I know with myself and my story - I was the one that had to stand up and say THIS IS ENOUGH.

This book is the conclusion to the Tree of life series. We see Nolan and Jillian Duffy, a father daughter team, combine a lawyer and a professional genealogist together helping others. Nolan represents a young girl, Tisha who is caught shoplifting. He tries to help her get a lesser or no punishment. Nolan gets her assigned to help with his daughter, Jillian's major back log of genealogy files. Jillian is not thrilled with this idea. Tisha acts out and clashes over and over with Jillian.

Nolan and Jillian start to dig through Tisha's family history and we are transported back to 1893. This book does go back and forth between the two time periods - but the author has weaved it together seamlessly.

Well written characters, intriguing storyline. I love all the books that this author writes. I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging program - all thoughts are my own.