November 2014 ~ Amanda's Books and More

Friday, November 28, 2014

Adopting a Pet and #Weekend #Linky

Welcome to my weekend blog hop -

Make My Saturday Sweet #109!

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When Amanda's cat went missing last week, we popped in at our local Animal Shelter to put up a poster. While I was there, I also took photos of the dogs and kittens that are available for adoption. If you are considering getting a pet this upcoming Christmas holiday, please consider adopting one from your local shelter. There are plenty to choose from and I'm sure you'll find one pet that is right for you.

Animals that are a mix of breeds make great pets, but if you're looking for a pure breed, you might be surprised to learn that even those can be found at shelters. I once read that after Christmas is over, many pets that were given as gifts (including pure breeds) are dropped off at Animal Shelters a couple of weeks later. It's sad, but true.

Animal Welfare Society Worcester, South Africa

Facebook Page

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Books with Giveaways:

The Jewel of Peru

and a $25 Giveaway

Fiction - ages 8+

The Shadow of the Unicorn

and a $25 Giveaway

Fiction - ages 9+

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Here's an awesome opportunity:

Win a $75 Voucher from Minted!

(US residents only)

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Now you can order your own personalized
blog buttons with HTML, Facebook covers

or collages (example: Pinterest-ing pins)!

Just visit my page: Blog Buttons to Order

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Make My Saturday Sweet is a weekend blog hop for all family friendly blogs. You are welcome to link your favorite post from the past week(s) and to visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment. It's a really easy and fun way to make new friends and to catch up on old acquaintances.

Now on to my blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to

link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Pinterest

Twitter

Facebook

Here are the easy rules:

Follow Tina (your host) on one or more links listed above.
Link up a post from your family friendly blog.
Please try to add my hop button on your post or side-bar.
Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
Visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment.

Blog Button Code:

This is a blog hop!

The Shadow of the Unicorn and $25 #Giveaway

The Shadow of the Unicorn:

The Legacy

Book Blast and

$25 Giveaway

About the Book

Summary: A loud, hissing sound filled the air. The unicorns looked up, their eyes filled with horror.

Azaria, a unicorn colt, is intrigued when the young clairvoyant dinosaur, Darius, foresees a terrifying change in the world. When a giant fireball smashes into the earth, the unicorns struggle to survive the hurricanes and starvation that follow. Danger of a more sinister nature threatens when the creatures-that-walk-on-two-legs settle in the valley and their leader, Ishmael, discovers the healing power of the unicorns’ horns. Azaria, now a young stallion, must use his wits to save the herd from complete extinction.

Amazon (Print) | Amazon (Kindle) | Goodreads

*** For those of you living in British Columbia, you can grab a print copy of "The Shadow of the Unicorn" from the local Kidsbook Bookstore in Vancouver. ***

FREE Study Guide

There is now a FREE 36-page reproducible study guide to The Shadow of the Unicorn complete with integrated activities for kids and a complete answer key for parents, teachers, and homeschoolers. Click on the image below to download your free copy.

The Shadow of the Unicorn Study Guide by Suzanne de Montigny

Book Preview

Winner of the 2013 Global E-book Award

for Best Fantasy/Alternate History

The Buzz About the Book

"The Shadow of the Unicorn provides an innovative and interesting plotline exploring how the fictional unicorns, the extinct dinosaurs, and early humans may have interacted if they co-existed in a post-apocalyptic world. Suzanne de Montigny does an excellent job of exploring the themes of natural disasters and environmental change, human greed, compassion, and courage. At the end of the day, The Shadow of the Unicorn is an entertaining read that I think will be enjoyed by children who love the fantasy genre and are keen on reading about unicorns. Ages 9+" ~ Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews

"Kudos to Ms. de Montigny for writing an original variation on the fantasy epic--unicorns intermingling with dinosaurs! The book's themes include the humane and environmental concerns that Watership Down and the films of Hayao Miyazaki have in common. If you have a middle grader or are just young at heart, pick up The Shadow Of The Unicorn." ~ 5 Star Review, Stuart W., Amazon

"The Shadow of the Unicorn is a must-read for all unicorn lovers, but even more so for the ones, like my self, who hadn't read anything about them yet. It is a thrilling and encouraging story about a young unicorn that has to save his herd after a meteor nearly destroyed their environment and killed the dinosaurs. Suzanne de Montigny created a compelling universe with believable characters and a great adventure story to challenge them with. While the story finishes in this book, I can't wait to read about the new adventures the unicorns will face.." ~ 5 Star Review, Antje H., Amazon

"This story pulled me in with a beautiful portrayal of a time and place where unicorns and dinosaurs live side by side. It moved me forward with unexpected twist and turns (a requirement in any good story). I found it hard to put the book down and was totally engaged in seeing the young characters (unicorns and dinosaurs) survive and grow because of the challenges they faced." ~ 5 Star Review, NW Harris, Amazon

"What a delightfully unique book. Unicorns and dinosaurs facing changing conditions. Darius is a young dinosaur capable of seeing the future. Azaria is a young unicorn who becomes a friend and learns from Darius. Yes, there are humans in this book. They are the villains of the story. Greedy beasts. I think both boys and girls will love this story. Very quick paced and easy to read. A delightful story, and I look forward to more from this author." ~ 5 Star Review, DM Lawrence, Amazon

About the Author:

Suzanne de Montigny

Suzanne de Montigny

Suzanne de Montigny wrote her first unicorn story at the age of twelve. Several years later, she discovered it in an old box in the basement, thus reigniting her love affair with unicorns. The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy, is her first novel. Suzanne lives in Burnaby, B.C. with the three loves of her life – her husband and two boys.

For more information about Suzanne

and The Shadow of the Unicorn,

please visit SuzannedeMontigny

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

$25 Book Blast Giveaway

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner's choice)

Contest ends: December 27, 11:59 pm, 2014

Open: 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 the author, Suzanne de Montigny and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions - feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Happy #Thanksgiving!

Wishing you a
Happy Thanksgiving!

This blog is best viewed in Google Chrome.

Click on the images to view them larger.

Inspirational Bible Verse for Thanksgiving
Psalm 104:14 - 15a

Check out my latest book review

and enter to win $25:

The Jewel of Peru

Personalized Designs to Order

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

The Jewel of Peru with $25 #Giveaway

The Jewel of Peru

Book Blast and

$25 Giveaway!

My blog is best viewed in Google Chrome.

The Jewel of Peru

About the Book

Summary: The Jewel of Peru is a magical adventure through time, taking young Captain Christopher and his loyal crew of orphaned stowaways on a perilous quest in search of Christopher's missing parents.

After his father's ship is found abandoned at sea, Christopher makes an unexpected discovery on board—The Ultimate Treasure Chest! Inside is a message that beckons him to set sail after the treasure and his parents. When a savage pirate and a corrupt businessman join forces to steal the treasure for themselves, the gang gets caught up in pirate chases, time travel, and an underground network of spies. Will Christopher find the Jewel and his parents, or will all be lost for ever?

You can purchase an e-copy of "The Jewel of Peru" for only 99 cents from Amazon for the duration of the blast, so grab your copy now!

Amazon | Teachers Pay Teachers | Goodreads

My Review

The Jewel of Peru is a fantasy novel full of adventure and interesting facts about Peru. The author brings the sights, sounds and smells of the places that the characters visit to life. The story easily entertains while teaching lessons about friendship, loyalty, compassion, honesty and caring for the environment. I learned a lot about Peru, its history, culture and landscapes. The story would look great in an animated movie format, because of the action and magical components that are bigger than life. I recommend this book for teachers and parents to read allowed to children, and for kids who love to read, for ages 8 - 11.

The Buzz

"Jewel of Peru took me on an adventure from page one. Sharon Skretting has captured Peru and deftly woven elements of the culture and geography into a fast-paced treasure hunt. It was well written, entertaining and introduced me to new ideas. I loved making little discoveries along the way about the people and places. I found some of the features of Peru so interesting, I looked them up the Internet and was delighted to find things just as she described. Fact and fantasy blend seamlessly in this delightful tale." ~ Sara Marschand, Quiethouse Copy Editing

"Engaging and meaningful, the author does an excellent job crafting this story. I don’t usually read middle school novels but made an exception for this one and will be passing it on to all the children in my life." ~ 5 Star Review, Love Reading, Amazon

"The Jewel of Peru is a wonderful piece of educational fiction that blends fact and fantasy to create a literary journey that is both informative and exciting for young readers... It's every bit as much of a page turner as it is a learning experience..." ~ 5 Star Review, Kelley, Amazon

"Sharon Skretting has captured Peru and deftly woven elements of the culture and geography into a fast-paced treasure hunt. It was well written, entertaining and introduced me to new ideas... Fact and fantasy blend seamlessly in this delightful tale." ~ 5 Star Review, Sara M., Amazon

About the Author:

Sharon Skretting

Sharon Skretting is the author of The Ultimate Treasure Quest I: The Jewel of Peru, and the founder of Quest Teaching. She has been teaching elementary school for twenty years and lives with her husband and a cat, named Scat! Now that her three children have grown, she is spreading her wings into the realm of professional writing. Being able to use her love of writing to excite her students about learning is a dream come true for Sharon. Her goal is to write fast paced, excellent literature —filled with interesting characters, intrigue, danger and intricate plots—that will hook readers aged nine to ninety nine and make them want to read more!

Teacher support materials

to go along with the novel

can be purchased at

Teachers Pay Teachers

Website | Pinterest | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

$25 Book Blast Giveaway

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner's choice)

Contest ends: December 25, 11:59 pm, 2014

Open: 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 the author, Sharon Skretting and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions - feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a free digital copy for my honest review.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Amanda's Cat and More with #WW #Linky

Welcome to my Picture Perfect
Party Linky #118!

This blog is best viewed in Google Chrome.

Amanda's cat, Sheela, went missing last week for about four days. On Saturday, Amanda and I went to the local Animal Shelter to put up a poster. To help the shelter, I took photos of some of the dogs and kittens. Friday's post will be about adopting a pet at your local animal shelter and I'll be posting photos of the pets at our shelter to help illustrate. Thankfully, Sheela returned Sunday morning and Monday morning I phoned the shelter to let them know.

Amanda, Sheela and Prince

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My post on Friday, Free Photo Edits, had some basic tips with links. Here are some more tips with the links to my THREE favorite FREE resources when it comes to editing my photos, adding text, creating collages and Pinterest-ing pins on my blog, 1camera1mom.

My 3 Favorite Free Editing Sites

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Don't miss this

fabulous giveaway!

Those who live in the USA

can enter to win a

$75 Voucher

for Christmas cards

from Minted.

Christmas Cards Voucher Giveaway

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Now you can order your own personalized
blog buttons with HTML, Facebook covers

or collages (example: Pinterest-ing pins)!

Just visit my page: Blog Buttons to Order

***************************

Now on to my blog hop...

Come link up your Wordless Wednesday

(with or without words) or any picture post

at this Picture Perfect Party Linky.

Join me on this fun and easy blog hop!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free
to link them on my Blog Hops page!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Twitter

Facebook

and

Here are the easy rules:

Follow me on one or more links above or via email.
Link-up your post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like.
If possible, copy the button code below and add it on your linked post or blog's side-bar.
Tell others about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.