~ Romantic Suspense Feature -- 'Beneath the Surface' by Lynn H. Blackburn ~

~ ROMANTIC SUSPENSE FEATURE ~
-- SPOTLIGHT & REVIEW OF
AUTHOR LYNN H. BLACKBURN'S
NEWEST RELEASE, 
'BENEATH THE SURFACE: DIVE
TEAM INVESTIGATIONS BOOK #1' --

LEARN MORE ON GOODREADS

ABOUT THE BOOK:

After a harrowing experience with an obsessed patient, oncology nurse practitioner Leigh Weston needed a change. She thought she'd left her troubles behind when she moved home to Carrington, North Carolina, and took a job in the emergency department of the local hospital. But when someone tampers with her brakes, she fears the past has chased her into the present. She reaches out to her high school friend turned homicide investigator, Ryan Parker, for help.

Ryan finds satisfaction in his career, but his favorite way to use his skills is as a volunteer underwater investigator with the Carrington County Sheriff's Office dive team. When the body of a wealthy businessman is discovered in Lake Porter, the investigation uncovers a possible serial killer--one with a terrifying connection to Leigh Weston and deadly implications for them all.

Dive into the depths of fear with an exciting new voice in romantic suspense. Award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn grabs readers by the throat and doesn't let go until the final heart-pounding page.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lynn H. Blackburn is the author of Beneath the Surface, Hidden Legacy, and Covert Justice, winner of the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery and Suspense and the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel. Blackburn believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. She's passionate about CrossFit, coffee, and chocolate (don't make her choose) and experimenting with recipes that feed both body and soul. She lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina, with her true love, Brian, and their three children.

MY REVIEW:

The first half of this book introduced the setting and main characters very effectively. We learned a lot about the past and current situation of the female lead, Leigh Weston, and the male lead, Ryan Parker. There is a lot of action involving these two characters. Leigh Weston is a nurse practitioner at the local hospital and Ryan Parker is an investigator with the county Sheriff's department. Ryan has been Leigh's older brother's best friend for many years.

The second half of this book was well-paced and packed with action. I especially liked the team-like rapport the investigators had with each other and Leigh as they worked on solving multiple murders and violent acts targeting Leigh. The many characters representing several agencies bonded by their common concern for Leigh's safety, and I felt the author did an excellent job of showing the progression of these peripheral relationships. I also enjoyed the diversity of the characters the author developed for this series.

The final few chapters of the book are filled with the twists and turns that make suspense books so fun to read! I highly recommend this book for fans of clean fiction, romantic suspense, thrillers, medical fiction, and mysteries.

The second book in this series, 'In too Deep', will be released in November, 2018.

{Note:  Some of the forensic evidence and physical violence in this story is gruesome in my opinion. The book is completely clean in language and content.}

Disclosure from blogger:  I received a paperback copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review to be posted on my blog and on retailer sites and Goodreads. I received no compensation for my review or posts here or on any other site.

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CURRENT GIVEAWAY: Don't forget to check out my Current Giveaways Page to enter a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card or $100 in PayPal Cash {winner's choice} in a giveaway sponsored by Author Wendi Sotis to celebrate the release of her newest book, 'The Marriage Pact'.

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COMING UP ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':

-- Thursday, March 15th: Blog Hop Post for Cedar Fort Author's T.J. Amberson's 'Lakewood Med', a New Adult Clean Romance. Tour hosted by Singing Librarian Books.

-- Friday, March 16th: Book Blast for the 'Whitcomb Springs' Series. Includes a $50 Giveaway. Tour hosted by I Am A Reader.

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~ Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Craft Books ~

~ MARVELOUS MIDDLE-GRADE

MONDAY NON-FICTION FEATURE ~
-- A Pair of Books from Capstone Publishing's
Dabble Lab Series --
'Share the Love: Projects You'll Love to Give'
-and-

'Create and Keep: Projects to Hang on To'

by Author Mari Bolte

LEARN MORE ON GOODREADS

ABOUT 'SHARE THE LOVE':  

This colorful book is filled with craft projects designed to be given away to others. The author's tone is warm and welcoming, encouraging the reader to make projects with flair using the provided stepped-out instructions. I appreciated the way in which the author prompted makers to use leftover materials and recycled materials to make their creations. The instructions are excellent and the photography is enlarged so as to show details.

All of the projects are appealing, but I favored the pillowcase pillow where makers will use a white pillowcase, permanent markers, and a mist of rubbing alcohol to give the design a tie-dye effect. Another great and practical pair of projects are the 'Warm Fuzzies' and 'Hot Pies' handwarmers. These discs are hand-stitched together using fabric scraps, an old flannel shirt, or a sweater. The discs are then filled with dried corn, flax, or rice. 

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LEARN MORE ON GOODREADS

ABOUT 'CREATE AND KEEP':

This book features crafts makers will want to keep for themselves. In this volume, the author guides readers through how to make personalized projects using 'found objects' that have a bit of history and meaning to the maker. 

I know what you're thinking--you're predicting that since I love to stitch by hand or on my machine I probably like the 'Sweet Stitches' chapter the best. Of course you're correct, but the reason I love the two embroidery projects is because they are sew {sorry, I couldn't resist the pun} awesome. The author encourages stitchers to use coloring pages to embroider a design onto cloth or paper. Instructions for four basic stitches are provided. I think tracing the coloring pages is a great launching point for young stitchers to get in some practice before they begin designing their own embroidery projects.

The 'Delicious Outdoors' birdhouse project is appealing for makers of either gender. The project involves making a birdhouse using a purchased wooden birdhouse and an edible covering the birds will devour. Think bird-friendly gingerbread house. This project involves crafting and cooking--a winning combination for middle-graders. 

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Both of these books are highly-recommended for classroom teachers, parents, grandparents, youth group and scout leaders, and middle-graders who are motivated to work with their hands to create some memorable items.
 
I borrowed these books from our local public library.

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CURRENT GIVEAWAY: Don't forget to check out my Current Giveaways Page to enter a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card or $100 in PayPal Cash {winner's choice} in a giveaway sponsored by Author Wendi Sotis to celebrate the release of her newest book, 'The Marriage Pact'.

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COMING UP ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':

--  Wednesday, March 14th:  Revell Reads Blog Tour Spotlight and Review for romantic suspense novel, 'Beneath the Surface:  Dive Team Invesitgations Book #1', by Author Lynn H. Blackburn.  

-- Thursday, March 15th: Blog Hop Post for Cedar Fort Author's T.J. Amberson's 'Lakewood Med', a New Adult Clean Romance. Tour hosted by Singing Librarian Books.

-- Friday, March 16th: Book Blast for the 'Whitcomb Springs' Series. Includes a $50 Giveaway. Tour hosted by I Am A Reader.

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MMGM Historical Fiction Feature 'Wolf Hollow'

~ MIDDLE-GRADE HISTORICAL

FICTION FEATURE ~

-- 'Wolf Hollow' by Author Lauren Wolk --

LEARN MORE ON GOODREADS

ABOUT THE BOOK:

I-Loved-This-Book!

I have been a voracious reader since I was about six years old, and this is--without a doubt--one of the best stories I have ever read. It is simply brilliant.

This is a touching historical middle grade novel set in rural Pennsylvania in 1943. The characters are engaging and well-developed. The events in the story are very believable and appropriate to the time period. The main character is an eleven year old girl, but I feel that children over ten along with adults of all ages would benefit from reading this exceptional novel. In fact, it would be a great 'family' read.

As a retired teacher, I appreciated the rich vocabulary the author used throughout the story--capricious, fathom, expectantly, belfry, etc.

I will not spoil the read for you by revealing plot details or the end of the story, just read it for yourself to discover all the twists and turns the story and the characters take.

It wasn't until I read the entire book that I looked at the back cover and noticed all of the Best Book awards it earned. It was a Newberry Honor Book for 2017. Below is a list of the awards it has received as posted on Goodreads.

***Highly recommended for fans of middle grade fiction, historical fiction, WWII fiction, and anyone who loves a touching story that will stir up your emotions and your compassion for others dealing with serious challenges.***

I borrowed this book from our local public library. I look forward to reading this author's other works.

Literary Awards for 'Wolf Hollow':  Newbery Honor (2017), Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee (2018), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Middle Grade & Children's (2016) Carnegie Medal Nominee (2017)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR {GOODREADS AUTHOR PROFILE}: 
Lauren Wolk is an award-winning poet and author of the bestselling Newbery Honor–winning Wolf Hollow, described by the New York Times Book Review as "full of grace and stark, brutal beauty." She was born in Baltimore and has since lived in California, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Canada, and Ohio. She now lives with her family on Cape Cod.

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CURRENT GIVEAWAYS:  Click on my 'Current Giveaways' page to find out about a great book blast giveaway for a $100 Amazon Gift Card or $100 in PayPal Cash {winner's choice}.

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COMING UP ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':

-- Friday, March 9th:  My Friday Fiction Feature will be a book spotlight on an upcoming release by Christian romance author, Toni Shiloh. Her newest book, 'Grace Restored' will be released later this month.

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Book Blast & Giveaway for 'The Marriage Pact'

~ BOOK BLAST & $100

GIVEAWAY FOR

'The Marriage Pact'

by
Author Wendi Sotis ~

 

 

--The Marriage Pact by Wendi Sotis A Regency Romance 

The heir to an earldom has little control over his own fate, but Mr. James Aldridge promised himself one freedom. To marry for affection instead of wealth or connections. Anger flares when he learns his father has struck a deal: in one year, he will be leg-shackled to Miss Celia Colton, the dazzling beauty who had previously caught his eye. Now certain she was simply performing her role in a scheme to catch him as her husband, resentment prompts James to refuse to squander his last months of independence in the company of such a mistress of manipulation. But why can he not wrench his gaze from her at every encounter? Completely unaware of the pact that has matched her with James, Miss Celia Colton is at a loss to explain why the man she secretly loves has suddenly become cold and critical. Abandoned by James, who had promised to guide her through her debut Season, she fears she will have to navigate the ton with only her grasping mother and distracted cousin as companions. Surrounded by gentlemen merely interested in her dowry, young ladies who view her as unwelcome competition, and, worse yet, James’s icy stares and disdainful manners, her primary concern is to discover the reason for his altered behaviour. How can she make things right between them? Will a love-match be forever out of her reach? 

    

--Praise for The Marriage Pact This novel had quite a few twists & turns to it that I didn’t quite expect. I won’t give away any spoilers, but I will say I truly enjoyed this book - I felt thoroughly engaged throughout the whole of it & being a regency style novel as well as being a clean read, I can highly recommend it.

    

--Excerpt: For the moment, the pair of matrons were silently observing Celia interact with a newly introduced gentleman, a Mr. Montgomery. As she rose from yet another curtsy, her gaze deviated from its mark and locked onto a sight that caused her heart to cease beating. James stood directly across the ballroom, speaking to a lady. Even from this distance, his handsome visage nearly took her breath away. She strained to discern a trace of the deep timbre of his voice from the din of the crowd, but she could not make it out. It had been too long since her heart had soared with the rumbling of his laughter — far, far too long since his smile had warmed her soul. She willed James to approach. Alas, he did not. The urge to call out to him almost overcame her sense of propriety before the recollection of the change in their situation crashed down on her all at once. Her elation burst, leaving an ache in its place. She sighed and glanced at Mr. Montgomery, who looked away from her neckline only long enough to sign her dance card. If she could put up with this man’s ogling her through a set, then surely, she could endure pairing up with James and withstand his angry glares. Mr. Montgomery returned the card to her hand, and she saw there were still two sets open. As was expected of her, she thanked the gentleman and curtsied once again. Mr. Montgomery bowed and retreated. Her mother immediately took hold of one of her hands. “Celia! Lord Eagleton has come, after all, and he moves in this direction. Remember everything I have told you, dear — simply everything. You must attract his attention immediately, before Miss Buchannan does so.” She craned her neck to peer around a group of ladies who had moved between them and James. “Oh, that disagreeable Mr. Kenilworth has delayed Lord Eagleton’s approach. I had the disadvantage of making his acquaintance last summer, while I stayed at Penelope’s estate. Mr. Kenilworth is a distant relation to the baron, and although he may be the younger son of an earl, I do not like that man. Especially not now.” She held out her hand to Celia. “Give me your dance card, dear.” Celia held onto her card tightly, already suspecting what her mother had in mind. She widened her eyes. “Why?” “If Mr. Kenilworth delays Lord Eagleton much longer, he will not be able to reserve a set with you. I shall do so for him.” “But mother …” Celia sputtered out, “Perhaps Lord Eagleton does not wish to request a dance.” “Nonsense.” Mrs. Colton laughed as she waved the idea away. “Of course he does. He would wish to reserve a set of honour.” She plucked the card and pencil out of Celia’s hand. “You are unengaged for the last set. I shall fill in his name.” “Mother, please do not —” It was too late. As her mother returned her card, Celia stared at the name now written next to the final set. Viscount Eagleton. Good Lord, what was she to do? 

 

 

--Author Wendi Sotis Wendi Sotis lives on Long Island, NY, with her husband and triplets. While searching for Pride and Prejudice from Darcy’s point of view, she became thoroughly enamored with Jane Austen Fan Fiction or JAFF. In early 2010, she dreamed an idea for a story and hasn’t stopped writing since: Promises, Dreams and Expectations; All Hallows Eve;The Keys for Love; Safekeeping (with just a dash of Austen); The Gypsy Blessing; Foundation of Love (The Gypsy Blessing 2); and A Lesson Hard Learned. A Very Austen Christmas, released in 2017, is an anthology of short stories and novellas including Wendi’s story No Better Gift. The Marriage Pact, and some of her works-in-progress, have branched away to Regency Romance (the Loving an Aldridge series) and Contemporary Romantic Mysteries (the Implicated series). Wendi will also continue bringing Darcy and Lizzy together again and again in an unusual manner.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

 
--GIVEAWAY:  $100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway Ends 3/25/18 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 and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

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--CURRENT GIVEAWAYS ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':  Click on over to my 'Current Giveaways' Page for instructions on how to enter a fun Facebook giveaway for US readers. Cedar Fort Author Shawn Pollock is giving away a signed copy of his debut World War II historical novel, 'The Road to Freedom'. Entries close this Saturday, March 3rd, at 11:59PM. Don't miss out on a chance to win this great prize!

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COMING UP ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':
-- Friday, March 2nd: Book spotlight featuring debut Cedar Fort author Chelsea Curran's LDS romance, 'Unseen Road to Love'.

-- Monday, March 5th: Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Historical Fiction Feature on 'Wolf Hollow' by award-winning author Lauren Wolk.

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~ Picture Book Feature for 'When God Made Light' ~

~ PICTURE BOOK SPOTLIGHT,

EXCERPT & REVIEW ~

'When God Made Light'

Written by Matthew Paul Turner 

Illustrated by David Catrow

About When God Made Light:

From the author and illustrator of the best-selling When God Made You comes a new illuminating message about God's design affirming young readers.

'Let there be light!' that's what God said. And light began shining and then started to spread." Wild and creative illustrations from top children's illustrator David Catrow pair with Matthew Paul Turner's lyrical verse in this message of a God-made light that cuts through darkness to bring vision and hope to all young readers. This light radiates, chasing away the shadows, providing the wonder and fun of stargazing or firefly chasing. Most important, this light appears in each child--an inner God-given spark that grows and will be used to change the world.

About Matthew Paul Turner:

Matthew Paul Turner is a blogger, speaker, and author of Hear No Evil, The Coffeehouse Gospel, the What You Didn’t Learn from Your Parents About… series, and several other popular books. Matthew, his wife, Jessica, and his son, Elias, live in Nashville, Tennessee. He can be found online at:  Matthew Paul Turner

CLICK HERE TO READ A SNEAK PEEK OF THE BOOK:  Excerpt of 'When God Made Light'

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MY REVIEW:

Rhyme, Rhythm, and Repetition: When I was earning my teaching credential many years ago, our professor for our early reading courses told us the three most important elements in picture books were rhyme, rhythm, and repetition. The author of 'When God Made Light' has done a masterful job of including these three components in his manuscript. I particularly enjoyed the higher-level vocabulary words he included in the story: gleamed, streamed, beamed; berries, cherries, strawberries, canaries; camping, stamping, tramping; constellations, formations, creations; etc.

Artwork: The illustrator has made the characters, children and animals, come alive on the pages of this book! His use of color, facial expressions, and light versus dark make the illustrations a supporting character in the story. I especially enjoyed the activities and body language the two African-American girls displayed throughout the book. The dog's exuberance from beginning to end was entertaining and humorous. As I reread the book several times I found different things to look at on each page. Those intricacies make a child want to hear a story and look at its pictures over and over again.

Faith: This story includes a positive view of how God sees the light in each of His children. Not only does the author touch on the creation of the world, but he writes that the light at creation is the same light God put inside each of us.

This is an excellent read-aloud book for families to share or for Sunday school teachers to read with their classes. Highly recommended!

I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for this review. I received no compensation from Blogging for Books or any other party for posting this review here or on any other sites.

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COMING UP ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':

-- Thursday, March 1st: Book Blast & $100 Giveaway for 'The Marriage Pact' by Author Wendi Sotis. Sponsored by 'I Am A Reader'.

-- Friday, March 2nd: Book spotlight featuring debut Cedar Fort author Chelsea Curran's LDS romance, 'Unseen Road to Love'.

-- Monday, March 5th: Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Historical Fiction Feature on 'Wolf Hollow' by award-winning author Lauren Wolk.

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MMGM Fiction Feature - The Maypop Kidnapping

~ MIDDLE GRADE FICTION
FEATURE ~

'The Maypop Kidnapping'
{Queenie Boyd Mysteries Book #1}
by Author C. M. Surrisi

 

LEARN MORE ON GOODREADS

GOODREADS BOOK BLURB:
C.M. Surrisi's debut middle-grade mystery, The Maypop Kidnapping is set in a small coastal Maine village filled with eccentric locals. When 13-year-old Quinnie's beloved teacher goes missing, Quinnie leads a relentless, sometimes misguided search – against her mother's orders.
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BOOK BLURB FROM AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:

When Ms. Stillford does not show up on the first day of school, 13-year-old Quinnie Boyd is convinced her beloved tutor has been kidnapped.

Quinnie, clever and endowed with a vivid imagination, is initially unable to convince her mother, the sheriff of the small coastal village of Maiden Rock, Maine (as well as its postmistress and real estate agent; it’s that small a town), to mount a search. Missing her best friend, Zoe, who is in Scotland for the year, but aided by her maybe-crush, Ben, and by the new girl, skinny-jeans–clad Mariella from New York City, Quinnie mucks through the marsh, sneaks into houses, spies on visiting tattooed rockers, and jumps to conclusions—with the best intentions but often humorous results. Much of the book’s humor derives from the quirky, colorful Maiden Rockers, particularly the two elderly nuns who drive too fast, can’t figure out recycling, live in the convent with hordes of cats, and have a puzzling need for bat guano. Quinnie is a memorable protagonist with an engaging voice, confused about her feelings for Ben and her anger at the mother she loves even as she barrels full tilt and against her mother’s instructions into her amateur sleuthing.
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MY REVIEW:
This is a fun, fast-paced contemporary upper middle-grade mystery set in a beachside town in Maine. The characters are well-developed and believable. Some of them are quirky, and that's exactly what keeps the mystery progressing.

As I was writing this review, I realized this book reminds me of one of my favorite madcap musicals, 'Thoroughly Modern Millie', starring my best-loved female actresses, Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore. Both stories have a lot of action, fun characters, and a bit of mystery. Both stories are entertaining and memorable.

When I visited the author's website {https://cmsurrisi.com/}, I discovered there are two more books in this series. 'Vampires on the Run' was released in 2017; and the release of Book 3, 'A Side of Sabotage', is coming up later this year. I look forward to reading more books by this clever author.
 

The author's website has a Discussion Guide, Bookmark, and Sample Chapter for 'The Maypop Kidnapping' available for download.

They {whoever 'they' is} always say, 'Don't judge a book by its cover'. In this case, the cover art is beautiful on top of the story being top-quality!

{Note: I borrowed this book from the New Book shelf in the children's section of the local public library.}

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR FROM AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
C. M. Surrisi has a BFA, a JD, and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults. Along with her husband, and two dogs she lives in Asheville, NC. She is represented by Wernick and Pratt Literary Agency. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, SCBWI, and the Author’s Guild.

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR:  

GOODREADS

FACEBOOK

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE

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CURRENT GIVEAWAY:  US Only--Signed print copy of Author Shawn Pollock's debut historical World War II novel, 'The Road to Freedom'. Click over to my 'Current Giveaways' Page to read the instructions and to enter for a chance to win!

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COMING UP ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':

-- Wednesday, February 28th: Blogging For Books Review of a picture book by Author Matthew Paul Turner and Illustrator David Catrow, 'When God Made Light'.

-- Friday, March 2nd: Book spotlight featuring debut Cedar Fort author Chelsea Curran's LDS romance, 'Unseen Road to Love'. 

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~ THURSDAY FICTION FEATURE ~
-and- US Giveaway Sponsored By
The Publisher, Henry Holt and Company--
One Print Copy of Book to a US Resident
 

'Ruby's Chinese New Year'

A Picture Book Written by Vickie Lee

& Illustrated by Joey Chou

READ MORE ON GOODREADS

This year Chinese New Year kicks off on Friday, February 16th; and 2018 is the Year of the Dog. At the end of the story the author presents a simplified Chinese Zodiac chart listing the animals and their traits. Traits of people born in the Year of the Dog are thought to be loyal, honest, friendly, faithful, and smart. {Sounds like a few canine friends I know!}

I thoroughly enjoyed this new picture book about a young girl's adventures as she travels to visit her grandmother for Chinese New Year. Along the way, Ruby encounters all twelve animals in the Chinese Zodiac along with one extra guest. I promise not to spoil the story by sharing the details with you. Just read it for yourself to find out why I believe children will love this book!

This story is reminiscent of the well-loved and treasured folk tales 'The Gingerbread Man' and 'The Little Red Hen'. Rhyme, rhythm, and repetition are keys to a young learner's engagement with a book, and this one has all three of those elements.

The illustrations by Joey Chou are colorful and vibrant. I loved his choice of colors for the animals and their surroundings. The small details he adds to each character and the scenes enriches the story. His depiction of a Chinese New Year celebration is captivating. 

At the end of the story the author provides additional information about this holiday and the Chinese Zodiac in her 'The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac' section. I found this text to be helpful to a young child's understanding of the storyline and the significance of this holiday in the Chinese culture. 

As a bonus, the author and illustrator included three craft projects for youngsters to complete. There are stepped-out instructions for a paper lantern, paper fan, and good luck banners accompanied by an illustration of each craft. 

I would highly recommend this book for classroom teachers, librarians, parents/grandparents, day care providers, and other adults involved in multi-cultural education for young children.

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GIVEAWAY

The publisher of this book, Henry Holt and Company, is sponsoring a giveaway for US residents only for one print copy of  'Ruby's Chinese New Year'. Enter the Rafflecopter contest below for a chance to win.

There are many ways to enter. Just log in to the Rafflecopter form below and take a few moments to sign up! Come back each day to earn 5 extra entries. It's free to enter. The only thing I request is that you be eighteen years of age or older to enter and that you have a United States mailing address (post office boxes are accepted). I will contact the winner a few days after the contest closes. {Note:  You will need to respond to my message within 72 hours, or I will move to the next person on the list.} Thank you for your interest and participation. Good luck!

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COMING UP SOON ON 'READING, WRITING & STITCH-METIC':
 
 

-- Friday, February 16th:  Author Interview and book spotlight about Author SM Ford and her  inspirational romantic suspense release, 'Alone'.  Stop by to read about Sue's journey as an author and to learn about her book.

-- Wednesday, February 21st:  A book spotlight and excerpt from Author Tammy James Hesler's inspirational romance release, 'Mountains of Love:  A Novella for the Heart'.  Stop by to read about Tammy's inspiring life story and to learn about her novella.

--  Friday, February 23rd:  Author interview, book spotlight, and giveaway with debut Cedar Fort author Shawn Pollock. One lucky US reader will win a hardcover copy of Shawn's debut World War II historical novel, 'The Road to Freedom'.

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