Songs of the Shenandoah by Michael Reynolds ~ book tour

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Songs of the Shenandoah

B&H Books (January 1, 2014)


by

Michael Reynolds




ABOUT THE BOOK

At the onset of the Civil War, Seamus heeds his wife’s wishes to return to her beloved family farm in the South, where he takes a post as chaplain for General Stonewall Jackson’s brigade. As Seamus ministers to the troops, his sister Clare ministers in a different way—by being a powerful voice in the Northern cause toward freeing the slaves. All this while their youngest brother Davin, who became wealthy during the Gold Rush, struggles to find love and identity in a fallen world. It’s a clash of loyalties and beliefs that threaten the entire family, each of them

trying to hear God’s encouragement in the midst of the tragedy of war. The dramatic conclusion to the acclaimed Heirs of Ireland Series.





If you would like to read the first chapter of Songs of the Shenandoah, go HERE.





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael
K. Reynolds is a writer with more than two decades of experience in
crafting fiction, non-fiction, journalism, copywriting and documentary
production. He is the author of a series of Irish historical novels
published by B&H Publishing Group. These highly acclaimed books
are available in bookstores and libraries across the nation and beyond.



Michael
is the writer and producer of an Emmy and Telly award-winning series of
documentaries titled, Crystal Darkness. These thirty minute anti-meth
films have been heavily promoted and broadcast in cities and states
throughout the United States and Mexico. They have been viewed
collectedly by more than 10 million people and the message has reached
more than 30 million to date.



He also has wide
experience as a speaker and on-air personality and has been interviewed
on a variety of newspapers, radio stations and televisions networks
throughout the nation.

Michael earned his B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of
California, San Diego and lives in Reno with his wife and three
children. He is active in marketplace, marriage, small group and men’s
ministries as a leader and speaker.

Disclosure: I did not receive any form of compensation for posting this information. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

The Otter, the Spotted Frog & the Great Flood book review & Giveaway on Mom Loves 2 Read

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

 

When Spotted Frog tells of a great flood that is about to destroy their
homes, all of the animals ignore his warnings, except Listener the
Otter. Ridiculed by the other animals, Listener heeds Spotted Frog’s
predictions and begins to build a raft to try and survive the impending
disaster. But will his efforts be enough?



This charming children’s book warns us to listen to

the wisdom of nature
and the environment. Based on a traditional story from the Creek
Indians of northern Florida and Georgia, The Otter, the Spotted Frog & the Great Flood
is retold by award-winning author and storyteller Gerald Hausman, and
is brought to life by the powerful images of Ramon Shiloh.



This universal tale is full of traditional Native American wisdom which
seems even more farsighted in our own day and age, with the conditions
of global warming and other environmental threats that confront us more
and more.





My Review:

I love children's books of course and enjoy Native American tales as well.  So finding a book that combines both was exciting for me.  The story reads smoothly and keeps the reader's attention with fun illustrations. Children will get a great moral lesson while the story keeps their interest with fun animals and chances for parents to help them understand the importance of listening and being aware.

The story of the otter, spotted frog and the flood reminds me of a combination of the more recent Chicken Little tale mixed with the biblical story of Noah and the Great Flood.  Told from the animal's persepective, this fun story shows that listening is very important as well as planning for nature's disasters.





Enter for a chance to Win A Hardcover copy of this great children's book - open to US - must be 13 or older with parent/guardian permission to enter/win.



Previous winners of this book or those who have received review copies are not be eligible for this contest.

Entry-Form

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review using Tomoson.com. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

DayDreamer Giveaway ~ Comfy Cozy nest for baby - Enter to Win on Mom Loves 2 Read

Hosted by Crazy Stepford Wives 

and DayDreamer

Designed to be comfortable with a machine washable cover this is the perfect place for your infant to take a nap! At a 28 degree incline and breathable material this is a wonderful restful place for baby and with an unique one hand release on the safety harness you can't lose!





A great way to keep baby close yet comfortable and safe at the same time - great for busy Moms and Dads at home, at family's or on the go.  Takes up much less room than bassinet or pack-n-plays and can be used on the floor, bed, table or wherever you are.  Wish I had one of these when my kiddos were little!



Must be in the Continental US, 1 entrant per household and you must respond within 48 hours if your name is drawn.



 









a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 Disclaimer - Mom Loves 2 Read received no financial compensation for this post and the sponsor is responsible for shipping.  Mom Loves 2 Read is only posting this contest to help spread the word and the giveaway opportunity to others!

Good Luck!

Tempest's Course by Lynette Sowell ~ Book Tour

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Tempest's Course

Abingdon Press (December 17, 2013)


by

Lynette Sowell
 ABOUT THE BOOK

Kelly Frost, a textiles conservator, is invited to the Massachusetts coastal city of New Bedford to restore a 150-year-old Mariner's Compass quilt. But there is one stipulation: she must live and work in Gray House, a former whaling captain's home, where the quilt is stored. There she meets Army veteran Tom Pereira, the caretaker of Gray House, whose heart seems as hard as the rocky Massachusetts coastline. Over the long-lit months as Kelly works to restore

the quilt, she and Tom grow closer. And as she reads stories in a daily journal penned by Mary Gray, she learns the secrets of the quilt and Mary's own sad tale of regret. Then Tom learns secrets of his own family's past, and both Tom and Kelly learn they are tied to Gray House in ways they never imagined.



If you would like to read the first chapter of Tempest's Course, go HERE.





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lynette
Sowell is an award-winning novelist. Her most recent novel, Tempest’s
Course, is part of the Quilts of Love line from Abingdon Press. When
Lynette’s not writing, she divides her time between editing medical
reports and chasing down news stories for the Copperas Cove
Leader-Press. Lynette was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of
Maryland but makes her home in Coppress Cove, Texas, with her husband
and a herd of cats who have them well-trained.

Disclosure:  I did not receive any form of compensation for posting this information. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Hip Hop Shop Giveaway - win a beautiful dress or children's outfit

Hosted by Crazy Stepford Wives and Hip Hop Shop

Co-Hosted by Mom Loves 2 Read and WrappedUpNU

These absolutely beautiful dresses and cute as a button childrens outfits are amazing. Hip Hop Shop offers everything you could ever want in 50's apparel with

quality included.



You can Check out all the great selection of gorgeous dresses and children's outfits. I personally have found at least 7 outfits I'd love to have and barely got started looking around.  And who wouldn't love a free outfit for his or her child?  Not me - love this giveaway!

You get to enter to win your choice of Vintage Dress or Child/infant 7 piece outfit from Hip Hop!

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



This giveaway is USA only, 1 entrant per household and must respond to winning email within 48 hours or another winner will be drawn.
Crazy Stepford Wives recieved a Vintage Dress for Review Purposes and you can read this review HERE

Disclosure:  Mom Loves 2 Read is not Responsible for Prize Shipment and in no way was financially compensated for this giveaway. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Go on an epic Adventure with Time Trapped by Richard Ungar ~ Book 2 in the Time Snatchers series ~ Book Tour & GIVEAWAY

Time Trapped

The high-octane sequel to Time Snatchers.



Caleb thought he'd escaped Uncle's clutches and could have a normal life in 1968, but no such luck. After being forcibly returned to Timeless Treasures and his old job of stealing valuable objects from the past, he learns that things have gotten even more sinister. Training the new kidnapped recruits doesn't seem very important to Frank, Uncle's evil lackey, even though a few of these kids have amazing thieving skills and genius for new technology.



But then Caleb figures out it's because Frank doesn't plan on

keeping them around very long - or keeping them alive.


Stakes are high for all of the time snatchers. If only Caleb can convince the new ones to stop having fun with the technology and use it to save their own lives.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo







 


 

Author Richard Ungar

I was born in Montreal, Quebec. When I was young I wanted to be
either an artist or a lawyer when I grew up. Now that I am almost grown
up I still can’t decide between the two. So I do both.

I also like to write and began writing stories to have something to
go with my pictures. But now I just write…even without pictures.

Three of my four picture books (the “Rachel” series) take place in
the mythic village of Chelm. Once you have visited Chelm, it is very
hard to leave. You see, the people there are very silly. And, when you
spend half your day being a serious lawyer, silliness is welcome.

I’m very excited about my latest project. It’s a middle grade science
fiction/time travel adventure series, published by G.P Putnam’s Sons.
The first novel in the series, published in 2012, is called Time
Snatchers and the sequel, published on September 26, 2013, is called
Time Trapped.

I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of time travel and I wanted
to write about it. In its earliest stages, Time Snatchers started as a
writing exercise in one of Peter Carver’s writing classes. The exercise
was to write a story based on one of the images in Chris Van Allsburg’s
picture book, “The Mysteries of Harris Burdick”. I chose the picture
called “Another Place, Another Time” showing children riding a
sail-propelled handcar along a railway track that seemed to go on
forever. For whatever reason, that picture screamed “Time Travel” to me.

I did quite a bit of historical research for both my middle grade
books which was a lot of fun. In researching Time Snatchers I learned a
lot about ancient China, including how to fire porcelain in a kiln. For
Time Trapped, a trip to Scotland in 2012, taught me much about Scottish
history, people and customs that I wove into my novel.

I’ve been asked which I like better – painting or writing. That is a
tough question to answer. They are both important to me and I derive
different but equal amounts of satisfaction from both. I have many ideas
in my head for future picture books as well as novels.

The other thing I love to do is present my books to children,
including doing storytellings. I’ve made author visits to most of the
major cities in Canada and have also done readings in New York City,
Tucson, Arizona and Shanghai, China. Connecting with my readers is one
of the things I love most most about being a children’s author.

Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Published Works

Time Trapped, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2013)

Time Snatchers, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2012

Even Higher, Tundra Books, 2007

Rachel’s Library, Tundra Books, 2004

Rachel’s Gift, Tundra Books, 2003

Rachel Captures the Moon, Tundra Books, 2001

EXCERPT - TIME
TRAPPED

“Wait! What’s your
name?” I call after her. 

She’s going to
disappear into the crowd. The beautiful girl with no name. And I’ll be left
wondering . . . Or worse, she’ll say her name and I won’t hear it. Because the
noise level in the hall is increasing and a hundred inane conversations are
going on around me and despite strict orders from my brain, my ears are picking
up random words like belch and freight train, and pumpkin, and I’m afraid that
when she finally says her name, I’m going to hear mustard instead and then what
will I do— 

“It’s Abbie!” she
calls out. 

Abbie. I’ve got
it. Abbie. Abbie. Abbie. Three times should do it. Just in case, I whip open my
memory book to jot it down. A scrap of paper flutters out. 

I pick it up and
gaze at the big loopy letters. She gave me a note! I can’t believe it. I unfold
the paper.

Meet me in the
park at 4:00 P.M. We need to talk in private. 

We do? A beautiful
girl needs to talk to me. And not only does she want to talk to me, but in
private too. My dreams are coming true. This is incredible. It can take years to
get a note like this from a girl, and I’ve done it in just over thirty minutes.
A school record. Heck, maybe even a state record. My picture is going to be in
Sports Illustrated. Right next to the girl who shot three holes in one during
her sophomore year. 

I look up to see
if I can spot her. But Abbie is gone.

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 1/19/14

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 authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

 


a Rafflecopter giveaway



  

Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation for this post. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Inspired Arts Academy Classes cancelled for Jan 7th due to weather - local update

Local Update:

Inspired Arts Academy classes cancelled for Tuesday, Jan. 7th due to weather conditions . . .

Due to consistent extreme cold temperatures and
dangerous traveling conditions, IAA has decided to cancel all Tuesday classes
(Twirl Step/Little Gym-9am; Little Creators/Gymnast dreams 10am; Prancing
Princess/Storytell Scenery 4pm; Architect, Ballet, Gym 5pm; Ballet , Folk Rock,
Mixed Media, Photography 6pm). We will resume, God willing, on Wednesday,
January 8th. Please stay in today and dance, twirl, flip, sing, snap some pics,
play legos or do an art project- make your teachers proud!

Ms.Sarah and
the IAA staff

Come on a breathtaking adventure with Maya & Filippo Make Friends in Auckland ~ Book Tour

Title: Maya & Filippo Make Friends in Auckland

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Author: Alinka Rutkowska

Publisher: Alinka Rutkowska

Pages: 26

Language: English

Format: Paperback & eBook

ISBN-10: 1493626949



Purchase at AMAZON

Embark
on a one-of-a-kind, unprecedented, breathtaking adventure with Maya and Filippo
as they travel around the globe on board the “Fun Princess” — a
cruise ship full of

surprises. Discover their fascinating ports of call,
find out what the local customs and traditions are, join the kids in activities
at sea, and explore the remarkable world they create through the power of their
positive outlook.

This
time Maya and Filippo discover Auckland and meet different kinds of people
depending on...read the book to find out! Spoiler alert: the kids ride a big
hop-on, hop-off explorer bus, where strange things happen. They stop at the
famous Sky Tower, where they do something very exciting.

Excerpt:

Maya and Filippo are best friends. They are
also brother and sister. They live with their parents and their cat Otello on a
cruise ship called the Fun
Princess and spend their days exploring the world —
planet Earth and the world inside their minds.

Maya and Filippo woke up excited. Today was
their first day in New
Zealand! Maya had a thought. Not only was New Zealand new
to them — they were new to New
Zealand!

About the Author: 

Alinka Rutkowska is a
"Reader's Favorite" Five Star Picture Book Author. She writes the
"Maya & Filippo" Book Series for Children - travel books for kids
with a positive attitude. She takes inspiration from her own travels while
cruising with her husband and daughter around the world. She is positive,
appreciative and happy 95% of the time and during the miserable 5% she thinks
to herself quickly: "things always work out for me" and they do.

Alinka's doesn't really have a
"to do" list but she does have a "fun things to do" list.
It usually consists of writing, reading, reading her writing, writing in her
diary, blogging, reading other blogs, commenting, breathing deeply, meditating,
feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin, closing her eyes, breathing some
more and thinking what a wonderful world she lives in.

Sometimes she takes a few minutes
to pause and instead of doing something from her "fun things to do"
list she just daydreams a little. She thinks of all the great things that she
wants for her to happen and imagines how wonderful it will feel to be
interviewed about them in the future. She's already preparing the answers to
those interview questions in her mind. She especially loves the part, in which
she says that she achieved all these things because she spent a considerable
amount of time visualizing them first.

Alinka loves to ski while listening
to music at the same time, she enjoys an occasional glass (or bottle) of Barolo
with dark chocolate, she loves cuddling with her husband and daughter. Alinka
really likes tea, especially that last sip which is usually the tastiest.

You can visit Alinka’s website at www.mayafilippo.com,
where she blogs daily for parents, travelers and authors.

Connect &
Socialize with Alinka!

TWITTER * FACEBOOK  * GOODREADS

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Win A Family 4 Pack of Tickets to Monster Jam 2014 ~ Enter today to see the BIG Trucks

Susan from Mom Loves 2 Read is once again off to see the BIG TRUCKS, and you can go too! One ML2R follower will win a Family 4 pack of Tickets to see the

 Monster Jam monster trucks at the Peoria Civic Center coming Jan 31st/Feb 1st!

Want to get a little taste of what you might get to see if you win?



Here are some of the pictures my son and I took at last year's Monster Jam with FELD entertainment . . . 

GRAVEDIGGER was the favorite of the night - my son and his friend both were

shouting and excited to see GRAVEDIGGER go head to head

 against the other great trucks

for a family event all I can say is - we had so much fun! we can't wait to go again!

These twelve-feet-tall,
ten-thousand-pound machines will bring you to your feet, racing and
ripping up a custom-designed track full of obstacles to soar over or
smash through!  Monster Jam provides a massive night's entertainment
tailored perfectly for your family's budget, and these colorful,
larger-than-life beasts are sure to capture the hearts of both young and
old.

 

• When: January 31st & February 1st, 2014




• Venue: Peoria Civic Center




• Show Times: Friday: 7pm  Saturday: 2pm & 7pm




• More info ~ www.monsterjam.com 

I have a 4-pack of tickets for a new or loyal follower here on Mom Loves 2 Read to win for the FRIDAY 7pm Showtime on Jan 31st.



Enter below - the more you enter, the better your chances of winning!  And remember, you must be able to attend the event in Peoria IL to enter/win!  



Giveaway starts Jan 6th 8pm CST and ends at midnight on Jan 15th - winner will be chosen early on the 16th and contacted as soon as possible - winner has only 24 hours to reply to claim this prize - no reply will result in another winner being chosen.  All entries WILL be validated - must be 18 or older to enter/win!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: I am a Feld Family Ambassador.  I will receive free tickets to this event for promoting. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.