Guest post by author Kim Boykin

At my house, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it has lots of the great things Christmas has without the dread of trying to buy the right gift for folks who are impossible to buy for. But when you get right down to it, a very holy thing happens when people you love gather together over those same old wonderful dishes.

God forbid someone change the mac and cheese recipe or switch the broccoli casserole for squash, which is a pretty Thanksgivingy food. Personally, I think it’s good to switch things up a bit, and let me tell you NOBODY complained when I brined the turkey for three days and slow then roasted it. They picked the bones clean.

I think it’s those yummy dishes that make us feel like a kid again along with blood kin you love best, even if you can’t stand some of them, that make Thanksgiving so very special. Over the years, my family has hosted newbies to Charlotte, usually folks my husband worked with who didn’t have anybody to share the holiday with. It’s interesting to watch them settle in for the meal, a little uncomfortable at first, but by the time the tiramisu is served, they are family too.

In my novel A PEACH OF A PAIR, Nettie Gilbert is two months shy of graduating college when she receives a letter from her mother back home in Alabama mandating she come home for her baby sister’s shotgun wedding. The only problem is Nettie’s own fiancé is the groom. The last place she wants to go is home to watch her fiancé marry her sister. But spoiler alert, of course she must.

Nettie’s home is one of four that sits in the middle of an orange grove in Satsuma, Alabama. There’s a massive outdoor dining table the four farming families gather around most every day, weather permitting. As much as Nettie’s house is her home, that table, the love they share around that table is what really makes that place her home, and of course the fabulous food.

 So here’s my secret recipe for the best turkey I’ve ever put in my mouth, just in case you want to change things up a bit, along with good wishes from my home to yours for a wonderful and fun Thanksgiving.

Kim Boykin’s Turkey Haters Turkey

I do not like turkey, but I can’t keep my hands off of this one. It’s that good.

* A turkey is always better when it has been brined. My favorite turkey brine is The

Spice Hunter’s Turkey Brine with fruit, herbs, and savory spices. There are lots of cool brines. Just follow the directions and DO use one of those oversized Ziplock bags for your turkey.

1. Mix together 1/2 C sugar, 1/4 c. salt, 2 T. black pepper (Preferably fresh ground),

2t. ground thyme.

2. Rub turkey with olive oil. It’s like suntan oil for bird and will make it a beautiful

golden brown. You may use an herb or a butter flavored oil if you like. Sprinkle the

topside of the turkey with the above mixture. For an optional herby flavor, have

some extra fresh rosemary in your kitchen or yard? Cut several branches, wad it up branches and all and put in the chest cavity.

3. (Optional) Bacon lovers, crisscross 4-6 slices of bacon on top of the bird and cook

as directed. Tent with aluminum foil for about half of the cooking time. Enjoy!

To learn more about Kim's book A Peach of a Pair isit book spotlight here.
Visit my review here.

a copy of this book was provided in exchange for my honest review by....

Mike and the Dog-Gone Labrapoodle by Emlyn Chand

About the Book
Title: Mike and the Dog-Gone Labradoodle (The Pet Shop Society, Book #1)
Author: Emlyn Chand
Publication Date: September 26, 2015
Publisher: Evolved Publishing
Pages: 43 
Recommended Ages: 7 to 11


Book Description: 
Mike Adams has always been a pretty average kid. He hates homework, love sports, and spends a lot of his day bugging his twin sister Maddie—because, after all, she deserves it.
But one day, everything changes. Nic Chang’s dog goes missing.
Mike, his sister and their two best friends join forces to search for the truth and, with it, the missing pet. Will Mike and Maddie find a way to put their differences aside and save the day? And just where did that dog-gone labradoodle go?

Put your thinking caps on and prepare to find the answers in the premier installment of The Pet Shop Society, a brand new mystery series for readers aged 7-11.

Amazon

Barnes&Noble

iBook

Kobo

Smashwords

EvolvedPublishing

Goodreads

Mike and the Dog-Gone Labrapoodle is a wonderful book for young readers starting to read chapter books.  What kid doesn't like dogs.  The chapters are short, which helps boast that confidence in beginning readers.  They are able to feel a sense of accomplishment with each chapter that is read.  It isn't a long drawn out story plot.  It tells the conflict and the solution is called into play Very well designed to keep early readers attention.  I look forward to adding this one to my classroom library. 

From an early age, Emlyn Chand has counted books among her best friends. She loves to hear and tell stories and emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). Her affinity for the written word extends to absolutely every area of her life: she has published fiction across multiple genres, oversees and contributes as both an editor and an author to the Novel Publicity Guides for Writing & Marketing Fiction series, and loves the written word so much, she even married author Falcon Storm! Don’t forget that she is the founder and president of Novel Publicity too.

The book that changed Emlyn’s life is Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson. It opened her eyes to the world that could exist if only she was willing to create it—a lesson she has never forgotten. Maybe that’s why she loves writing her Bird Brain Book series for children so much!
Emlyn’s first novel, Farsighted, won the prestigious Writer’s Digest Self-Published Novel of the Year award in 2012 for the YA category. She now writes most of her fiction under her real name, Melissa Storm.

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Ten Zany Birds by: Sherry Ellis

About the book:

Ten zany birds have a party in a tree, singing and dancing. Five have stripes, three have spots, and one has purple polka dots. They’re all having fun, but one by one, they become distracted.

One is frightened by a loud plane. One gets hungry. One wants to race and another needs a bath. Only one stays to sing in the tree, but who will it be?

Ten Zany Birds is a fun, beautifully illustrated picture book. As parents and teachers read, children are introduced to counting and basic subtraction skills. Whenever a bird leaves, the number of striped, spotted, and polka-dotted birds changes, teaching the application of simple classification rules.

Whimsical and entertaining, Sherry Ellis’s tale of ten silly, distractible little birds is an excellent choice for both prereader storybook time and early readers.   

Ten Zany Birds is an excellent read aloud book.  Very good book to help children with counting, adding and subtracting as well as classifying.  Wow!  Beautiful book for beginning readers as well.  Easy rhyming meter will help to boast confidence in reading.  The pictures are a water color.  Their whimsical effect sets just the right mood for young listeners as well as readers.  

About the Author:

Sherry Ellis is a freelance writer and award-winning children’s author. Her books include, That Baby Woke Me Up, AGAIN, That Mama is a Grouch, and Ten Zany Birds.

She is also a professional musician who plays and teaches violin, viola, and piano.

Sherry lives with her husband and two children in Atlanta, Georgia.

Author is open to doing a few blog interviews.

An ecopy of this book was provided in exchange for this post by World of Ink

Africa's Big Five Wild Animals book blast

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be coordinating a Book Blast for "Africa's 'Big Five' Wild Animals", the fourth book in the "My First Travel" book series by Anna Othitis.

  About the Book

Title: Africa's "Big Five" Wild Animals (My First Travel Book #4) 

Author: Anna Othitis  

Illustrator: Cecelia Morgan  

Publication Date: October 27, 2015 

Publisher: Independent 

Pages: 39 

Recommended Ages: 3 to 9

Amazon * Goodreads

Book Description: Welcome to Angelic Airlines! Are you ready to take to the skies? Children come join us this time on a wild adventure with Captain Frankie on Angelic Airlines as we travel across the world to learn about, visit and see Africa's Big "5" Wildlife Animals. Captain Frankie is waiting for you to book your ticket, safely stow your bags, and open your eyes to these amazing animals in the savannahs of Africa. Most of these beautiful animals are about to become Extinct. We have to save our Wildlife animals, this earth belongs to them as well. My First Travel Books. This is another one of Anna Othitis’s trip with Captain Frankie. Originally from Zimbabwe, Africa, her travels have taken her a far across the world.

   

The Buzz About "My First Travel Books"

"This would make a great present to give a child at any time of the year and is sure to give them hours of entertainment and get those minds thinking and asking questions which can lead to further exploration!! " ~ MikiHope, Amazon

"I wish that I'd had books like this when I was little. I think it would have made me more interested in Geography. I would have paid more attention in class!" ~ Cinnamon Hollow, Amazon 

"An amazing way to learn about the world beyond our own borders from the comfort of their own home, Anna has carefully composed the pages to make them fun and entertaining. It is books like these that children learn and may one day decide to travel abroad." ~ Sheryl, Amazon 

"Very informative and easy for kids to understand! Really works their imagination and would recommend this book to all parents for their kids. Very well written." ~ Michael S., Amazon

"Adorable travel and coloring book for young children. It's never too early to spark a child's imagination for what is out in the world." ~ Jessica., Amazon

 

About the Author: Anna Othitis

Anna Othitis lived and was raised in the beautiful land and country of Zimbabwe, Africa (home will always be home. She left all of her life long memories, endless charity work and good people behind vowing that she will continue supporting the needy children in her land Zimbabwe, Africa and beyond. After traveling long and short distances from the East coast to the West coast twice she and her family eventually found their sense of belonging and final settling destination in New Jersey, USA. Her husband George, sons Johnny, Elia and Frankie encouraged her to write her first children's book titled "My First Travel Book", inspired by Frankie (Captain Frankie), who is graduating from his Master’s degree in Aeronautical Science and beginning his career as a professional pilot. Anna's favorite saying is "Be Bold Be Brave". She was inspired to write her children's books with a vision to link up the children Africa and of the world on Angelic Airlines to so many beautiful places of interest and popularity on our wonderful planet Earth with all its beautiful some natural and some man made creations and resources. One of the beautiful natural wonders featured in her books is in her birth land of Zimbabwe "The Mighty Victoria Falls" All of her books educate our children and widen their scope of interest in the amazing surroundings, creations and nature to appreciate and look after our environment for many generations still to come.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Google+ | LinkedIn | Pinterest

 

** Book Blast Giveaway **

Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choice  
Giveaway ends: December 3, 11:59 pm, 2015
 Open to: Internationally  
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.  
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by Anna Othitis and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send an email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The Chronicles of the Stone book blast

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be coordinating a Book Blast for the middle grade adventure series "The Chronicles of the Stone" by Fiona Ingram.

Book 2 "The Search for the Stone of Excalibur" is available for FREE from Amazon (e-copy) between November 18 to 20, 2015.

 

About the Books

Book 1: The Secret of the Sacred Scarab

Title: The Secret of the Sacred Scarab

Author: Fiona Ingram

Publication Date: December 30, 2008

Publisher: iUniverse

Pages: 272

Recommended Age: 10+

Amazon (U.S. Print) * Amazon (U.S. Kindle)

Book Depository * Barnes & Noble

 

Summary: In this exciting Middle Grade adventure set in Egypt, a 5000-year-old mystery comes to life. A scruffy peddler gives Adam and Justin Sinclair an old Egyptian scarab on their very first day in Egypt. Only when the evil Dr. Faisal Khalid shows a particular interest in the cousins and their scarab, do the boys realise they are in terrible danger. Dr. Khalid wants the relic at all costs. Justin and Adam embark upon the adventure of a lifetime, taking them down the Nile and across the harsh desert in their search for the legendary tomb of the Scarab King, an ancient Egyptian ruler. They are plunged into a whirlpool of hazardous and mysterious events when Dr. Khalid kidnaps them. They learn more about the ancient Seven Stones of Power and the mysterious Shemsu-Hor. They must translate the hieroglyphic clues on the underside of the scarab, as well as rescue the missing archaeologist James Kinnaird, and their friend, the Egyptologist Ebrahim Faza, before time runs out!

Awards:

• Finalist Children's Fiction USA Next Generation 2009 Indie Book Awards
• Finalist Juvenile Fiction USA National Best Books 2009 Awards
• Winner Pre-Teen USA 2009 Readers' Favorites Awards
• Number 2 in the USA Children's & Teens Book Connection Top Ten Favourite Books of 2009 for Kids, Tweens & Teens
• Winner Silver Medal Teen Fiction 2010 Nautilus Book Awards
• Finalist Children's Fiction 2010 International Book Awards
• Winner Bronze Medal Pre-Teen Fiction 2010 Moonbeam Book Awards
• Finalist 2011 Rubery Book Awards
• Winner Gold Award Mystery Pre-Teen 2011 Children's Literary Classics Awards
• 2nd Place in the 2011 YA Sharpwrit Book Awards
• Winner Gold medal 2013 Wise Bear Book Awards

   

Book 2: The Search for the Stone of Excalibur

Title: The Search for the Stone of Excalibur (The Chronicles of the Stone, Book 2)  
Author: Fiona Ingram  
Publication Date: October 6, 2014  
Publisher: The Educational Publisher / Biblio Publishing  
Pages: 376
 Recommended Ages: 10+

GRAB A COPY FOR FREE FROM AMAZON - Nov 18 to 20, 2015

Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Goodreads

  Summary: A modern-day adventure as our protagonists search for Excalibur and the treasures it holds! Continuing the adventure that began in Egypt a few months prior in The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, cousins Adam and Justin Sinclair are hot on the trail of the second Stone of Power, one of seven ancient stones lost centuries ago. This stone might be embedded in the hilt of a newly discovered sword that archaeologists believe belonged to King Arthur: Excalibur. However, their long-standing enemy, Dr. Khalid, is following them as they travel to Scotland to investigate an old castle. Little do they know there is another deadly force, the Eaters of Poison, who have their own mission to complete. Time is running out as the confluence of the planets draws closer. Can Justin and Adam find the second Stone of Power and survive? And why did Aunt Isabel send a girl with them? Join Justin and Adam as they search not only for the second Stone of Power, but also for the Scroll of the Ancients, a mysterious document that holds important clues to the Seven Stones of Power. As their adventure unfolds, they learn many things and face dangers that make even their perils in Egypt look tame. And how annoying for them that their tag-along companion, Kim, seems to have such good ideas when they are stumped. Awards:

• 2015 Children’s Literary Classics Award Seal of Approval and finalist
• 2015 Children’s Literary Classic Silver Medal (Pre-teen & Tween)

 

The Buzz About "The Chronicles of the Stone"

The Secret of the Sacred Scarab:

"Wow! That was an action-packed story! I loved how Ms. Ingram just dove right into the story. From the time that Adam is given the scarab to the time that Adam and Justin return home, there is non-stop action. Through Ms. Ingram’s fantastic writing skills, I was able to visualize all of the events as they were occurring. I can totally see the story in this book transformed into a screenplay for the big screen. I think it’s a fabulous story filled with mystery, intrigue, and action." ~ Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews
 

"Author Fiona Ingram mixes history and legends in this fast action adventure that keeps you reading till the very end. The characters are cleverly written. Young readers can easily step into the shoes of these two cousins and experienced this exciting adventure that takes you into the heart of Egypt. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery..." ~ 5-Star review from Coffee Ramblings "Billy", Amazon (US) 

"This story ROCKED! It was exciting, action-filled, adventurous and history filled book! It pretty much had everything me (as a boy) would want in a book - danger, mystery, legends, exciting setting, myths and much more. The story was written really well and it kept me reading page after page. I really liked the simple pencil illustrations in the book. I liked the characters of Justin and Adam. They were both nice, smart and brave. The book has no bad language or graphic violence in it..." ~ Tween Review, Erik @ This Kid Reviews Books
 

The Search for the Stone of Excalibur:

"The Search for the Stone of Excalibur is an enthralling sequel to The Secret of the Sacred Scarab and features strong character development; an exciting, action-filled adventure; an unpredictable plot featuring many twists and turns; and many interesting and educational historical facts seeking to clarify Arthurian legend and folklore." ~ Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews

"Character development is the key to the story, and the dialogue is snappy... If there are young reluctant readers in your family, this might just be the kick they need to get over that hump. (5 Stars)" ~ Lit Amri, Readers Favorite

"Fiona Ingram has once again taken myth and legend and blended it into an exciting page turner. The mystery will keep the reader on the edge of their seats as they follow the cousins in their search for clues in old books and on the grounds of a Scottish castle. The story is well told and is suitable for tweens and up. (5 stars)" ~ K. Springs, Amazon

 

About the Author: Fiona Ingram

Fiona Ingram is the author of the middle grade adventure series The Chronicles of the Stone, which includes the multi award winning The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, The Search for the Stone of Excalibur, and soon to be published The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

     

** Book Blast Giveaway **

Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choice  
Giveaway ends: December 2, 11:59 pm, 2015  
Open to: Internationally  
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by Fiona Ingram and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send an email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Parable Treasury by Liz Curtis Higgs

Celebrate the fall and winter seasons with this Treasury of Parables by Liz Curtis Higgs. I'm sure this book will quickly become one that they want you to read over and over again.  Packed with good Christian values and brightly illustrated.  Page after page has scripture verses that go along with the page.  Your child will learn what it truly means to let God's love shine through and the true meaning of Easter, not the Easter Bunny, as well as the value of planting and sowing.  Beautiful parables and wonderfully done.  This book is an awesome treasure of golden nuggets for every family with youngsters. 

Get more information on this book here.

Book Description

Bestselling favorite Parable books bring fun throughout the year in this new four books in one format.
With more than 1.1 million units sold in the Parable Series, Liz Curtis Higgs has given parents and kids alike beloved parables they can read throughout the year. This adorable compilation, Parable Treasury, allows families to get all their favorite stories in one value-packed book.
For nearly twenty years, Liz Curtis Higgs has made the holidays a little brighter throughout the year with her Parable Series. In a lovely padded hardcover format, the Gold Medallion–winning books from the Parable Series will include:

• The Pumpkin Patch Parable,which focuses on the harvest season and shows that we can let God’s love shine through us
• The Pine Tree Parable,a heartwarming tale of the farmer and his family, who nurture tiny seedlings into fragrant Christmas trees
• The Parable of the Lily, which helps children understand the power of grace and forgiveness and the true meaning of Easter
• The Sunflower Parable, which helps children discover the value of planting seeds, not only in the ground but also in the hearts of those around us

With simplicity and creative storytelling, this is sure to be a family favorite.

About the Author
Liz Curtis Higgs is an award-winning speaker as well as the author of twenty-eight books, including Bad Girls of the Bible and Thorn in My Heart. Her Parable Series for children has been awarded the ECPA Gold Medallion for Excellence.

A copy of this book was provided in exchange for my honest review by.....

MERCYME It's Christmastime CD giveaway

​Mercy Me It’s Christmas​ CD will be available in Pizza Ranch locations beginning November 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015.  It has 4 exclusive songs that can only be found on the CD version being sold by Pizza Ranch.  Each CD will be sold for $5 plus tax.  Pizza Ranch will give away the CD with a $25 gift card purchase as well as sell the full album at each of its 200 locations throughout the Midwest and Great Plains states.  "We are so excited to debut our new Christmas album, MercyMe, It’s Christmas, with Pizza Ranch” said Bart Millard with MercyMe. “Pizza Ranch is a fantastic restaurant with a great mission to glorify God. It's the perfect gift to give this Christmas season and the perfect CD to get you in the Christmas spirit.”

Songs:

1. Newborn

2. Christmastime Again

3. Sleigh Ride

4. I’ll Be Home For Christmas

5. Hold On Christmas

6. A Holly Jolly Christmas

7. Go Tell It On The Mountain

8. Do You Hear What I Hear

9. Our Lullaby

10. Joy

11. O Come, O Come 

12. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Exclusive Bonus Track for Pizza Ranch)

13. O Holy Night (Exclusive Bonus Track for Pizza Ranch)

14. Silent Night (Exclusive Bonus Track for Pizza Ranch)

15. Joseph’s Lullaby (Exclusive Bonus Track for Pizza Ranch)

Mercy Me It's Christmas is exactly how I feel right now.  Where has this year gone?  I think it went way too fast!  However, Mercy Me It's Christmas CD is a wonderful mix of old Christmas songs as well as new ones.  The old Christmas songs are arranged in such a way that you think they are new ones.  Quite the variety of songs, but most of they tell the true story of Christmas.  How can you go wrong with Christmas songs.  Guess you'll just have to buy a CD and check it out for yourself.

Fly By promotions has graciously given me one CD to give away to one of my blog readers.  Please leave a comment on this blog post telling me which songs from the list above would you love to hear.  Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you.  I'll leave this giveaway open til Nov. 30th. 

About Pizza Ranch:

Cultivating its mission “To give every guest a legendary experience” since its inception in 1981, Pizza Ranch connects with its communities in a way that provides bridges for friends, family and colleagues to come together. Today, Pizza Ranch is based in Orange City, Iowa and owns, operates and franchises over 190 locations in 13 states. Consistent growth has been a Pizza Ranch staple, as the brand has become a beacon of community involvement and exceptional food. The Pizza Ranch buffet features legendary pizzas, salads and desserts, and is delivered with an unmatched service quality.  “We are extremely blessed to have a very close connection with our guests,” said Adrie Groeneweg, co-founder and president of Pizza Ranch. “This project extends the brand’s essence to a new dimension beyond our four walls and into their lives. It’s a new kind of way for us to relate to our loyal fans.”

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Finn's Rocket Book Blast

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be coordinating a Book Blast for "Finn's Rocket: A Surfer Catches Air", the third book in the "Finn's Fast Books" middle grade series by Serena Schreiber.

 

Title: Finn's Rocket: A Surfer Catches Air (Finn's Fast Books, Book #3) 

Author: Serena Schreiber  

Publication Date: November 1, 2015 

Publisher: Independent 

Pages: 176 

Recommended Ages: 7 to 12

Amazon * Goodreads

Book Description: Finn's summer vacation plans didn't include leaving the planet. When his little sister gets kidnapped from space camp, Finn will do anything and go anywhere to get her back. Even the international space station.

 

The Buzz About "Finn's Fast Books"

Finn's Ship: "The story blends Finn's American upbringing with his German heritage, acquainting the reader with the many similarities and differences in food, culture, language, transportation and family values." ~ Candy 613, Amazon

Finn's Ship: "The author did a marvelous job bringing the characters to life and making the reader feel apart of each scene." ~ Glen G., Amazon 

Finn's Car: "I really enjoyed reading this book! Very fun to read and it's something that teens will love to read. I recommend it to everyone!" ~ Jocelyn, Amazon 

Finn's Car: "A well-paced, funny and highly infectious read!" ~ Bree W., Amazon

 

About the Author: Serena Schreiber

First published in Brooklyn in third grade, Serena Schreiber took a circuitous route through Europe to settle in Florida. When not writing for kids or scientists, she follows her other muse, fantasy. She's a happy co-conspirator of Florida Writers Association Youth Program and runs the Howl at the Moon Writers Jam. Serena has two amazing children, a handsome husband, and a turtle named Bolt.

Author Website | Book Website

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

   

** Book Blast Giveaway **

Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choice

Giveaway ends: November 29, 11:59 pm, 2015  
Open to: Internationally  
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.  
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by Serena Schreiber and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send an email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Hand Me Down Princess by Carol Moncado

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Hand Me Down Princess CANDID Publications (August 31, 2015) by Carol Moncado

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

When she’s not writing about her imaginary friends, Carol Moncado is hanging out with her husband, four kids, and a dog who weighs less than most hard cover books. She prefers watching NCIS to just about anything, except maybe watching Castle, or Girl Meets World with her kids. She believes peanut butter M&Ms are the perfect food and Dr. Pepper should come in an IV. When not watching her kids – and the dog – race around her big backyard in Southwest Missouri, she’s teaching American Government at a local community college. She’s a founding member and President of MozArks ACFW, category coordinator for First Impressions, blogger at InspyRomance, and represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of The Steve Laube Agency.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Prince Malachi Van Renssalaer of Mevendia is getting married. The problem? He’s never even met his bride. His father arranged everything, right down to the marriage contract. Malachi swears to himself that he will be nothing like his father in the ways that count - including his fidelity to his wife.

Jessabelle Keller would happily spend her entire life in obscurity, but her father once saved the life of a future king. Before he dies, her father is committed to seeing that king make good on his promise to have one of his sons marry her so she would be taken care of for life.

No sooner than Prince Malachi and Jessabelle return from their honeymoon, they find themselves dealing with both private trauma and the very public drama of groundless accusations from the press. Just as they begin to weave their fragile trust back together, a ghost from the king’s past arrives and threatens everything they’ve ever held dear.

Secrets have a funny way of coming out and this one could rip the faith of the country in their leaders to shreds. Malachi is determined to protect Jessabelle no matter what it takes, but will it ever be enough for her to not feel like a Hand-Me-Down Princess?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Hand Me Down Princess, go HERE.

The Keeper book blast

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be coordinating a Book Blast for "Keeper", the 4th book in the "Seed Savers" middle grade dystopian book series by S. Smith.

  About the Book

Title: Keeper (Seed Savers, Book #4)

Author: S. Smith 

Publication Date: November 7, 2015 

Publisher: Independent 

Pages: 178 

Recommended Ages: 8 to 12

Amazon * Smashwords * Barnes & Noble

iTunes * Kobo * Goodreads

Book Description:

In Keeper, book four of the Seed Savers series, friends Clare and Lily reunite, Trinia Nelson schemes to maintain control of the food supply, and the Seed Savers Movement is on the verge of splitting into factions.

As James Gardener works to keep Seed Savers from splintering, Lily, Clare, & Dante become reckless and begin sneaking out of their hidden safe house.

Will their desire to meet with an old friend lead to forgiveness, or will it end in betrayal leaving the Seed Savers Movement in jeopardy?

GRAB A COPY OF THE BOX SET FOR ONLY 99 CENTS

FROM NOVEMBER 14 to 20, 2015

 

The Buzz About "Keeper" and "Seed Savers"

Keeper: "Keeper, the fourth book of the Seed Saves series opens in three different locations: Canada, North Carolina and Washington DC. The storylines converge in Portland, Oregon, where government misdeeds are exposed and the seeds of revolution are planted. Lily learns the lesson of the hummingbird: to do whatever we can, no matter how big the task. ~

Keeper: "I loved the intertwining stories of all the characters ... but as usual, the author leaves us wanting more." ~ 

Seed Savers: "A creative, engaging, well written book series, that is filled with action, and a lot of truth as it touches the very real issue of preserving seeds from Greedy Corporate Seed Monopoly and understanding the importance of knowing how to grow our own healthy food. This book series is AWESOME!!!!!"- Rachel Parent, Teen Founder of Kids Right to Know

Seed Savers: "This series fills the void for younger-audience dystopians." ~ Book Lover, Goodreads Librarian

Seed Savers: "Smith’s Seed Saver books are great reads for young people on many levels. The action is packed with secret acts of civil disobedience, escape from evil GRIM thugs and independent cross-country treks. Plus, teens will both recognize and learn about issues surrounding food sources. Seed Saver books have something for everyone: diverse characters, themes of empowerment, revolution, and even a little romance." ~ former teacher and school administrator

 

About the Author: S. Smith

S. Smith grew up on a farm with a tremendously large garden. She maintains that if you can’t taste the soil on a carrot, it’s not fresh enough. Although she now lives in the city, she still manages to grow a few fruits and vegetables, and visits the family farm on a regular basis. Ms. Smith is a member ALLi (The Alliance of Independent Authors) and saves seeds for her local seed bank. She gardens and writes at her home in the beautiful and green Pacific Northwest. A licensed ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, Ms. Smith has enjoyed teaching students from around the world.  

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Instagram * Pinterest * Goodreads

 

Goodreads Giveaway

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Keeper

by S. Smith

Giveaway ends December 10, 2015. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

** Book Blast Giveaway **

Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choice  
Giveaway ends: November 29, 11:59 pm, 2015  
Open to: Internationally  
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by Serena Schreiber and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send an email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway