Children's Book Review: A Bed For Fred (Lori Zoss)

Hardcover, 24 pages
Published November 16th 2013 by Hugo House Publishers
Book Provided by Author for Honest Review

Ready for a nap, young Fred the Basset Hound goes to his room after a morning of play and the unthinkable happens: his comfy, red bed has disappeared! After a search through his house with a less-than-helpful mouse, Fred sets out on a journey outside to find his bed. Along the way he meets a sedentary frog, an enthusiastic cricket, and a sympathetic owl. The dilemma of his lost bed intensifies as Fred realizes he has strayed too far from home without telling his father that he left. A Bed for Fred is a delightful journey that any young child can relate to. Changing beds from cribs to toddler beds and toddler beds to "big boy" or "big girl" beds are huge steps. Discover how Fred handles this experience of complication and change with good communication and a willingness to explore Help your child figure out the world they live in! 

Purchase Links

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Indigo * Website

Lori Zoss is the author of A Bed for Fred. When not writing, Lori is the corporate support director for a public television and radio organization (ideastream®) in Cleveland, OH. Lori also lends her talents during radio and television fundraising, serving as one of ideastream’s on-air hosts during pledge drives. 
Lori has been a featured speaker at various public media and educational conferences and also spends time as an Adjunct Professor of Communications and Public Relations at Baldwin Wallace University, where she has taught courses in Online Marketing, Public Relations Writing, Publicity, Event Planning, and Crisis Management.
Lori holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Arts from Baldwin Wallace University.She lives in suburban Cleveland, OH with her husband David, Labrador Retriever Ginger, and Basset Hound Fred.

A Bed for Fred is her first book.

Website * Facebook 

What an adorable children's book!! Basset Hounds are so adorable so I was so excited with the opportunity to review this book! 

From the very first page where Fred is dreaming of chasing a red ball..me and my 6 year old son fell in love with Fred! I loved the ryhming in the story. It really made the story flow. 

The illustrations in this book are precious! The vibrant colors and placement of the pictures is perfect for this story and the illustrator just makes Fred look so adorable!

The mouse, the frog, the cricket, and the owl are such cute additions to the story! Fred's interactions with these animals is so cute! My son's favorite was the Owl. 

I love how the author wrote the story in such a way that makes the change from a baby bed to a big boy bed so encouraging! When Fred discovers the true reason why his bed is missing he is so excited about the change and so appreciative of what his Dad has done for him! 

This was such a encouraging, cute book and my son and I loved it! As soon as we finished reading he begged me to read it to him again!! I definitely recommend this to anyone with children between the age of 2-8! 

** A huge THANK YOU to Lori Zoss for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!! **

Book Nerd Book Blast & Giveaway: Blackness Takes Over (Norma Jeanne Karlson)

Click here for Blast Page!!!

Shannon Kelly’s life has been anything but typical.Her life has been altered viciously at the hands of others twice.
However horrible they have been, it’s these changes that have given her a family and career…now possibly love.The last thirteen years she has been supported and loved by her protector, her entertainer, and her comforter, but never a lover.
When Dylan Kellerman enters Shannon’s life he changes its course in more ways than one.He gives her hope and promise of a future she was convinced wasn’t attainable.
Just as she begins to believe she has finally turned her life into something she can build a future on…blackness takes over.

Blackness Takes Over is Norma Jeanne’s debut novel. What began as an homage to the home town of a homesick Midwestern girl, unfolded a story of love, danger, humor, and trust. She’s currently working on her untitled sophomore effort. We can’t wait to see what thrilling saga she leads us through next!

Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Norma Jeanne recently found herself relocating to the United Kingdom. Now living in Belfast, she took hold of the opportunity to kick the 9-5 job for a chance to become an author. The best part: working from her home office, she gets to spend more time with her cast of crazy characters (written and real).In her free time Norma Jeanne is a voracious reader and consumes books as readily as meals. She is a people watcher by nature and uses her experiences in life, observed or otherwise, to build the worlds and characters that thrive in her books. A believer in the strength of the human spirit, Norma Jeanne writes the stories of people that persevere when all appears to be lost.
“Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” –Dylan Thomas

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Leap Into Books Giveaway Hop

Leap Into Books Giveaway Hop

February 28th to March 7th

Co-hosted by Jinky is Reading

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Waiting On Wednesday: The Forever Song (Julie Kagawa)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at

Breaking the Spine

and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

First of all...I LOVE JULIE KAGAWA and EVERY book she writes!!! I love her Iron Fey series and am absolutely obsessed with the Blood Of Eden series!! So this is an exciting yet sad time because this is the conclusion to this phenomenal series!!!! If you have not read this series then you must....like NOW!!! I have included my reviews below so feel free to check them out!!

Hardcover, US, 304 pages
Expected publication: April 15th 2014 by Harlequin Teen

VENGEANCE WILL BE HERS

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster?

With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer.

MONSTER

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions—her creator, Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost—the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie.

In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, triumph is short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

  The Immortal Rules Review       The Eternity Cure Review

                            

YA Bound Book Tour & Giveaway: Deuce (Janine Caldwell)

Click here for Tour Page and Schedule!!!!

Deuce (Vortex #3)
by Janine Caldwell

Release Date: 2014

The epic conclusion to The Vortex Series coming soon!
In an instant everything changes for seventeen-year-old Cassie Moore. Together she and her time-traveling boyfriend, Trent Astor, battle to survive their next impossible challenge. As they navigate through a third parallel world in which Cassie begged Trent to create for her, the two soon discover that no world can be made perfect.
And while they fight through their new circumstances, the universe may just have its own agenda for them both.
With DEUCE, the 3rd and final book of The Vortex Series, Janine Caldwell combines fantasy and romance to create a compelling love story of integrity and sacrifice.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17902376-deuce?from_search=true

Goodreads links for series:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17668732-rematch

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17668742-double-fault

Buy Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Deuce-Vortex-Series-Janine-Caldwell-ebook/dp/B00I44WXH2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1393099713&sr=8-2&keywords=janine+caldwell

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/402887

Janine Caldwell was born in Concord, CA and raised in the small San Francisco Bay Area town of Clayton. Four days after high school graduation, Janine attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and graduated with a degree in English.
Janine now lives in Anthem, AZ with her husband and two sons. As a lifelong literature fanatic, she knew it was only a matter of time before she would become obsessed with writing her own work. With relatives like the Brothers Grimm and Anita Loos (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), she figured fantasy writing had to be in her DNA.

Books published by Janine include Visited, a YA coming-of-age fantasy, Rematch andDouble Fault–the first two books of The Vortex Series. The final book in this YA fantasy romance, Deuce, will be released soon.

Author Links:

http://janinecaldwell.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5804836.Janine_Caldwell

https://twitter.com/J9fictionhttps://www.facebook.com/AuthorJanineCaldwell?fref=ts

MORE ABOUT JANINE CALDWELL:

Favorite Book?

I can’t pick one. Impossible. So let me give you a list of my faves.

Dystopian: Scarlet, Divergent, Matched, Under the Never Sky, Hunger Games, The Selection, Uglies, The Giver, Cinder

Other Fantasy: Obsidian, Harry Potter (books 4-6)

Religious: Cross Roads, Heaven Is For Real, Life of Pi

Classics: Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, Atlas Shrugged, The Catcher in the Rye

Perfect writing moment?

When my workout is done, all the house chores completed, and everyone is away from the house and it’s perfectly peaceful.

Favorite TV show?

Sherlock, Vampire Diaries, Downton Abbey, Gilmore Girls, Felicity, Roswell, Lost, Game of Thrones, and pretty much any period piece from the BBC or Masterpiece Theater

Favorite movie?

August Rush, Pride and Prejudice (Keira Knightley version), The Matrix, Pitch Perfect, Sixteen Candles, The Princess Bride, Orange County, Dead Poets Society, 10 Things I Hate About You, all the Harry Potter movies, all the Anne of Green Gables movies, Lord of the Rings

Your ideal day?

If it’s a work day: workout, rush through whatever chore needs done, get at least 3 to 4 hours of writing/editing in, have dinner magically prepared for the family, watch a movie with family or maybe just watch TV, read, go to bed early.

If it’s a fun day: workout via a hike or yoga, have lunch out with my husband or friends, go see a movie or shop, have dinner magically prepared for family--or better yet--go out to dinner, read an awesome book I can’t put down.

Your Favorite Song?

Probably something by the Foo Fighters. I’m obsessed with this band even though they’ve been around a long time. They inspire me still. Their acoustic version of “Times Like These” is the theme song for REMATCH, Book 1 of The Vortex Series.

Favorite Food?

Dessert of any kind.

Perfect Fictional Boy?

Trent Astor from The Vortex Series. Since I created him, I could make him exactly match my ideal fantasy.

Favorite book genre to read?

Fantasy and dystopian, but there always needs to be an element of romance for me to be truly hooked.

Something to say to our followers?

Thank you so much for taking the time to learn more about me and my books. I’m just like you, a fan and self-proclaimed addict of books.

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YA Bound Book Tours

CBB Book Promotions Blog Tour, Review, & Giveaway: Must Love Otters (Eliza Gordon)

Welcome to my tour stop for Must Love Otters by Eliza Gordon.  This is an adult romantic comedy and  the tour runs February 24th- March 7th and will consist of reviews, guest posts, interviews and more. You can find the full schedule on the tour page.

Must Love Otters by Eliza Gordon

Hollie Porter is the chairwoman of Generation Disillusioned: at twenty-five years old, she’s saddled with a job she hates, a boyfriend who’s all wrong for her, and a vexing inability to say no. She’s already near her breaking point, so when one caller too many kicks the bucket during Hollie’s 911 shift, she cashes in the Sweethearts’ Spa & Stay gift certificate from her dad and heads to Revelation Cove, British Columbia. One caveat: she’s going solo. Any sweethearts will have to be found on site.
Hollie hopes to find her beloved otters in the wilds of the Great White North, but instead she’s providing comic relief for staff and guests alike. Even Concierge Ryan, a former NHL star with bad knees and broken dreams, can’t stop her from stumbling from one (mis)adventure to another. Just when Hollie starts to think that a change of venue doesn’t mean a change in circumstances, the island works its charm and she starts to think she might have found the rejuvenation she so desperately desires. But then an uninvited guest crashes the party, forcing her to step out of the discomfort zone where she dwells and save the day … and maybe even herself in the process.

Goodreads |  Amazon  | B&N | iBookstore

Loved it! It had a little bit of a slow start but, WOW!, did it ever get good! Hollie is a middle aged woman who finally decides she has had enough. She breaks up with her boyfriend and goes on a much needed vacation. 

 She finds herself locked out of her room...in the nude! That is just the start of her life changing vacation! Hollie meets not one but two guys that have a strong interest in her. What one will she choose?! Does she find the love of her life?! 

 I would highly recommend this book! Great read! I give it 4 stars!

Eliza Gordon is a husband-and-wife team of controlled chaos who writes stories to help you believe in the Happily Ever After.

  

Connect:

Website |  Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

Giveaway:
$25 Gift Card (INT)

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I Am A Reader Blog Tour & Giveaway: Muse Unexpected (V.C. Birlidis)

Muse Unexpected "We're Muses. Not vampires, not fairies, not werewolves. We're Muses." Sophie was sure her mother had reached an epic level of crazy. ‘We're Muses?' She thought Muses were lame, not to mention she found the idea ridiculous. However, Sophie couldn't explain away her physical transformation that made Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries look like a bad Walmart make-over, not to mention why her mood swings triggered an uncontrollable ability to shoot powerful bursts of energy out of her hands. Sophie soon realizes modern day Muses have evolved into powerful guardians of humankind, tasked with keeping mortals on the right path and the original Olympians locked away from the world. But old hatreds don't die easily, especially for immortal enemies that have an eternity to plot and gather their forces. Well aware of the Fates' foretelling of another Olympian war, and a young Muse that would rise up as a warrior and defeat them, the Olympians have vowed to either possess Sophie or destroy her. Either way, they will make sure everyone associated with their imprisonment will reap an eternal damnation in the Underworld, leaving the Olympians to restore Mount Olympus and force humankind into a future of never-ending servitude and misery.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Goodreads

  Praise for Muse Unexpected "Ripe with conflict, skin-crawling creepy that is sprinkled with a wonderful sense of humor and a plot fraught with horrific danger in every step taken by Sophie, this book should be on the top of everyone's must read list. Simply put, I loved it and can't wait for book 2 to come out." ~Olive (Amazon Review) "I remember learning about mythology & Greek gods in elementary school....boring! Well, this fantastic book takes everything you thought about gods/mythology and turns it on it's ear, sort of like "Wicked" did to the "Wizard of OZ". At times funny at times gruesome and scary, this story definitely kept my interest. I loved the way the writer made the gods "human". I also liked the subtle, blink and you'll miss them hints sprinkled throughout the story. Don't let the young adult genre scare you away. This is an engaging story that can be enjoyed by all. Can't wait for the next one!!!!" ~Paula (Amazon Review)  

Tour Schedule

  Author V.C. Birlidis V.C. Birlidis was born and raised in Miami, Florida and has always been involved in the arts. He attended the New World School of the Arts and was a member of The Miami Ballet. Mr. Birlidis moved to Ohio to attend college where he earned his Bachelor's degree in marketing and communications from Capital University. He currently is the Director of Marketing at one of the top midwest advertising agencies, SBC Advertising. He has freelanced as a writer for Outlook News and Tickled Pink Magazine, where he wrote a comical advice column named Ask V. Five years in the making and inspired by the numerous Greek myths his father would utilize as demented bed time stories, Muse, Unexpected is Mr. Birlidis' first novel. It is the first book in his Muse series.  

Website * Twitter * Facebook

  BookBlast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 3/7/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

TLC Book Tours Review: Be With Me (Jennifer Armentrout)

Paperback, 384 pages
Published February 4th 2014 by 

William Morrow/HarperCollins

ARC Provided by Publisher For Honest Review

Series: Wait for Me #2

Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year—she’s in love with her big brother’s best friend, but he hasn’t spoken to her since they shared a truly amazing, mind-blowing, change-your-life kiss. She got out of a terrible relationship. And now an injury is threatening to end her dance career for good. It’s time for Plan B – college. And maybe a chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real.
Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he’s not telling anyone. Especially not his best friend’s incredibly beautiful sister. Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn’t have time for a relationship. But it doesn’t help that all he can think about kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him.
As they’re thrown together more and more, Jase and Tess can’t keep denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must decide what they’re willing to risk to be together, and what they’re willing to lose if they’re not… 

Click here for Tour Page and Schedule!!!

Pre-Order from: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kindle | Nook

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.
She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Author Links: 

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

So I basically love any book that Jennifer Armentrout AKA J Lynn writes. She is a phenomenal writer and knows exactly how to describe her characters and story in a way that makes you feel as though you are right there with me experiencing everything they are. I jumped at the opportunity to review Be With Me. 

J Lynn's novel Wait For Me is the predecessor to Be With Me and is the story of Cam and Avery and their love affair. Be With Me introduces us to Cam's little sister,  Teresa (Tess) Hamilton and begins her story. First of all, I loved Tess's character. She is a strong, yet emotional character who wears her feelings on her shoulders. She experienced an injury to her knee which caused her to put off her dance career and attend college instead. She attend the same college as her brother Cam and his girlfriend Avery which in turn allows us to gain bits and pieces of their ongoing relationship. I loved the fact that we get to see what is happening with Cam and Avery as well as learning a new story with Tess.

Jace Winstead is one of Cam's life long friends and therefore Tess has known him her entire life. Jace is handsome, funny, and just absolutely adoring...oh and not to mention HOT. Tess and Jace experienced a "truly amazing, mind-blowing, change-your-life kiss" a  year ago and they have not seen each other since. They went their separate ways afterwards but still cant deny their feelings for each other. 

"Over three years of crushing on him, a year since the last time our lips met, and Jase... oh God, he was finally kissing me."

"Mind reeling and senses spinning, I trembled as he nipped at my lower lip the same way he had at my neck before and then flicked the edge of his tongue over the seam of my lips, coaxing them open. He deepened the kiss, tasting me---owning me, and in the same instance, setting me free. This kiss was nothing like the one stolen a year ago. It blew out the water as a deep, nearly primitive rumble rose up from his chest."

They begin a love affair and fall madly for each other. Little does Tess know, but Jace is keeping a life-changing secret from her and he is continually pulled toward his responsibilities and away from Tess. 

Not only do we get to experience Tess and Jace's romance but there is also so much more going on in the story. Tess experienced an awful, painful, possessive relationship before Jace and is still recovering from the effects. Her experience with her ex-boyfriend opened her eyes to the world and she begins to feel as though one of her friends is experiencing the same issues with her boyfriend. 

"Fury snapped at the heels of the rising fear, and I did something I'd never done with Jeremy, no matter how bad it got." 

"I wasn't a victim anymore. I would never be the victim again."

There is not only romance but drama, mystery, and intense suspense in this story. I loved it. I turned pages deep into the night just to see what would happen next. Each chapter is more intense and fascinating. By the close of the story the mysteries are solved and some left me stunned. I love these types of stories....ones that stay with you long after the last page is read. This is a talent that J Lynn has with each and every book she writes and is the exact reason why she is a best-selling author. If you want romance, drama, mystery, suspense and just an absolute PHENOMENAL book then this is the book for you. It was just incredible. 

Children's Book Review: The Poodle Tales (Toni Tuso Faber)

Paperback, 26 pages
Published November 2nd 2012 by Mindstir Media

Copy Provided by Author In Exchange for Honest Review

The Poodle Tales, "Poodlemania" is the first of twenty-four in a whimsical collection of children's books written in rhyme. Enjoy these twelve Poodle puppies' antics and escapades as they grow and well...become out of control. 

Purchase Links

Amazon * Barnes & Noble  

Tony Tuso Faber began her modeling career at age 13 and went on to win over seventeen beauty pageant titles, including Miss California in the Miss World Contest. After graduating from college and with the money earned through modeling and pageant wins, she purchased a struggling magazine called "Orange County/Newport Life" and turned into "Orange Coast Magazine," the largest magazine in Orange County. About two years ago, she turned her love of poodles into authoring "The Poodle Tales" series that has extended beyond publishing into a children's website with activities and games, poodle toys and products, videos, and a soon-to-be-released cartoon feature. In addition, Tony develops real estate, designs clothing, and enjoys gourmet cooking. She and her husband, Bruce, live in Orange County with their standard poodles (of course!) names London, Deja Vu, and Dante.

Visit her website: 

www.thepoodletales.com

I was so honored to be given the chance to review this amazing children's book! What a cute story! The colors and illustrations are absolutely adorable. The colors are vibrant and make the illustrations really stand out. 

I read the story to my 6 year old son and he absolutely loves it. We have read it several nights in a row. His favorite part of the book is the page that shows all the puppies with their names on their food bowls. His favorite name was Rock Star!! Mine was Ziggy!!

The story had so much energy to it and kept my son's attention the whole time. He couldnt wait for me to turn the page to see where the missing puppy was. I just absolutely loved it! I will definitely be looking for future books from this author! 

Favorite Quote:

"I gave these pups a nickname, for short I called them Poos,

A dainty name to match their size, a perfect name to choose!"

I want to say a HUGE Thank You to Kelley & Hall Publicity for sending me a copy of this phenomenal children's book!!!