Weird Writing Prompts

Get more out of your writing prompts!

Weird Writing Prompts is a short book loaded with questions to jumpstart your creativity, dive deeper into your characters, and rev up your book marketing.

Oh yeah, and some questions are weird. Like “trap your characters in an elevator with an emu” weird. Because everyone needs a little weirdness to refresh their writing lives!

Grab this book to:

-Get Deep & Random - Expanded prompts with ideas to make your characters epic, plus absurd situations to unlock your creativity with play

-Get Sharing & Marketing - Author-centric questions to fuel your marketing brain and help with social media content creation

It’s time to refresh your brain, supercharge your story, and have fun with your marketing!

My Review:

Weird Writing Prompts is a fun book to get your creative writing ideas flowing. Are you an author? This book will help you ignite that inner spark or get reconnected with your characters. Ask your characters one of the questions and see how they each respond. 

Here's an example: 

Each of your characters opens a store to sell the one thing they believe the world needs. What is it?

Purchase Links:

Kindle

Other Online Ebook Retailers

Autographed paperback

All-in-One

Related Posts:

Ashen and Met By Midnight

Cut to the Heart

My Alien Engagement

If Wishes Were Curses

Wish You Weren't Here

About the Author:

Janeen Ippolito

Janeen Ippolito believes you should own your unique words—and make them awesome! She’s a multi-published author of bestselling fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. She’s also an experienced editor and marketing strategist, plus the head of Uncommon Universes Press, a publishing company with award-winning books. In her spare time, she helps her missionary husband with his youth swordfighting ministry, indulges her foodie ambitions, reads whatever books she feels like, and explores a slew of random hobbies. Her life goals include traveling to Antarctica and riding a camel while wearing a party hat. This extrovert loves to connect! You can follow her on the links below:

Website | Facebook Page | Facebook Reader Group

Email Newsletter | Instagram | Twitter

Disclosure: I received an ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

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Happy Moms, Happy Homes now on Audible!

Happy Moms, Happy Homes

Empowering Moms to Live in Victory

by Christina A. Morley

Also available as an Audiobook!

About the Audiobook:

Title: Happy Moms, Happy Homes | Author: Christina A. Morley | Narrator: Christina A. Morley | Listening Length: 3 hours and 1 minute | Genre: Christian Inspirational

Book Description:

Feeling Stressed-Out, Left-Out, or Maxed-Out? Don't Miss-Out! During times of stress, loneliness, financial difficulty, or whatever troubles life may bring, moms can still lead a victorious life in Christ. This book is sympathetic to moms and the challenges they face, offering tools to overcoming their obstacles. With heart, wisdom, and understanding, Happy Moms, Happy Homes offers mothers of all stages advice and direction as they walk with God and share his love with their children and others.

Purchase on Amazon:

Kindle | Paperback | Audiobook

Listen to a sample on Audible!

A poem from Chapter Two:

Upon the great waves of life You ride

Holding me close to Your side

I can pass through life’s challenges

Knowing the full love Your life gives

 

You are not a moment passing by

I am Yours and You do not lie

I praise God for peace in the storm

My life is in Your hands to form

 

Greater is Your Spirit who is in me

So I need not fear the enemy

You spoke and the sea was still

I can trust Your perfect will 

by Christina A. Morley

Christina with her husband and four kids

Christina A. Morley is the author of Happy Moms, Happy Homes. She’s also a blogger, volunteer reader at the Blind Institute, and co-founder of Light and Life Bible Ministries along with her husband.

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The Billionaire's Temporary Marriage

The Billionaire's Temporary Marriage

About the Book:

Title: The Billionaire's Temporary Marriage | Author: Tamie Dearen | Pages: 291 | Genre: Clean Romance

Book Description:

When a stranger with a lime-green mechanical hand drenches her in coffee, the last thing Brooke expects is a marriage proposal from a famous hot billionaire.

A marriage of convenience… so tempting. Brooke Ponzio can’t argue against Cole’s flawless logic. The divorce settlement will solve all the money-troubles for Brooke and her unborn child. If only Cole wasn’t so mouth-wateringly delicious. Should she risk having her heart broken again?

Cole Miller refuses to fall in love. Not ever! That’s why he chose Brooke to get him out of his ill-advised contract. All she wants is sole custody of her baby, so when the time comes, she'll give him a stress-free divorce. Sure, they'll have to make the marriage look real to their parents and the rest of the world. And they'll need to forget all about that sizzling kiss they shared. Should be simple. What could possibly go wrong?

Soon, their magnetic draw has them both battling to maintain their willpower. But Brooke slowly falls in love with the man who treats her better than any man ever has, while Cole’s attraction is purely physical. Or at least that’s what he tells himself.

How will Brooke handle her sleazy ex-husband when he tries to cash in on her fame? What happens when Cole can’t protect Brooke from his crazed fans? Will he admit his feelings before it’s too late?

Note from the author: The Billionaire's Temporary Marriage is an inspirational romance, the third of the Limitless Clean Billionaire Romance Series, which centers on heroes with disabilities.

Only $0.99 on Amazon Kindle!
The price was correct at the time of posting.
Please check, as the price may change.

My Review:

This is a great series with imperfect people finding love. There are four kingpins with different disabilities who own Phantom Enterprises and are best friends. It doesn't hurt that they're all billionaires! Cole is the third bachelor to meet his match, but he guards his heart and doesn't trust women. His birth mother gave him up for adoption as an infant and he suspects it's because he was born without part of his arm. Brooke doesn't mind his green mechanical arm, but she's had enough of controlling men and doesn't need Cole telling her what to do. These two don't trust each other, but circumstance thrust them together.

I think the author took a unique angle on the marriage of convenience trope. There's character growth and just enough feels to balance the angst. I'm looking forward to Book 4!

More Books by Tamie Dearen:

The Billionaire's Secret Marriage

The Billionaire's Reckless Marriage

2 FREE Clean Romances

About the Author:

Tamie Dearen

Join Tamie Dearen's VIP Newsletter and get 3 free books as a welcome gift! 

VIP Newsletter | Website 

Tamie Dearen lives in Texas with her incredibly romantic husband and two dogs. She hates dusting and exercising and loves anything musical or artistic. When she's not writing books, you might find her playing with her grandkids or drilling on someone's tooth.

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My Book for Moms!

Happy Moms, Happy Homes

Empowering Moms to Live in Victory

by Christina Morley

About the Book:

Title: Happy Moms, Happy Homes | Author: Christina Morley | Pages: 174 | Genre: Christian Inspirational

Book Description:

Feeling Stressed-Out, Left-Out, or Maxed-Out? Don't Miss-Out! During times of stress, loneliness, financial difficulty, or whatever troubles life may bring, moms can still lead a victorious life in Christ. This book is sympathetic to moms and the challenges they face, offering tools to overcoming their obstacles. With heart, wisdom, and understanding, Happy Moms, Happy Homes offers mothers of all stages advice and direction as they walk with God and share his love with their children and others.

Purchase on Amazon:

Kindle | Paperback

Only $0.99 on Kindle and

$5.99 in paperback!

An Excerpt from Chapter Eight:

Too many women wish they had different hair, or eyes of a different color, or different gifts and talents. Wishing we were something or someone else only cripples our potential and our joy. Some even think that they’re not a bit talented or gifted. Actually, we’re all talented and gifted, but in different ways and to different degrees.

We bring God glory when we embrace the unique way that He made each of us. The best part is that whatever we’re born with doesn’t just end there. There’s more for us because there’s much more in Christ.

It’s good to note our weaknesses, but if we spend time trying only to improve our weaknesses then we may forget about our strengths. This can have a bad effect on our self-esteem, to the point where we finally just give up on ourselves. We need to keep our focus on God and His potential not on our own abilities or seeming lack thereof. Even our strengths can be our greatest weaknesses when they are not properly harnessed. We just need to stay available and teachable, and God will do the rest....

We are like life coaches, but we can’t coach our kids about discovering their identities if we don’t know our own. Therefore, we need to be thankful and honest about ourselves and not pretend to be someone we’re not. By modeling this we will help our children confidently get to know who they are. Peer pressure doesn’t have to get the better of them if we create an atmosphere that strengthens their self-esteem.

Check out what I recently wrote:

A Healthy Self-Esteem and Self-Image

Christina and Robbie with their four kids

Christina Morley is the author of Happy Moms, Happy Homes. She’s also a blogger, volunteer reader at the Blind Institute, and ministers alongside her husband at a Christian drug and alcohol rehab.

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A Healthy Self-Esteem and Self-Image

A Healthy Self-Esteem and Self-Image

By Christina Morley

I have four children; three are adults and one is an adolescent. Being a parent, I have endeavored to give each child encouragement and praise as often as needed. In other words, I have tried to build up their self-esteem. I want them to be confident individuals and not inclined to compare themselves to others.

Let me give you an example of a healthy self-esteem. When my youngest daughter, Amanda, was around 9 years old, I drove her to a friend’s birthday party. The mom and daughter met us as we were walking up to the house. The friend was excited to see Amanda and exclaimed to her mother, “This is Amanda! She’s the smartest kid in our class!” Amanda quickly responded, “One of the three smartest.” By amending her friend’s statement, Amanda was putting her ability into perspective while accepting the praise.

Having a good self-esteem is not the same as having a big ego. Kids are prone to thinking too highly of themselves when they can do no wrong in their parents’ eyes. Unfortunately, some parents are not only guilty of raising narcissistic children, but also guilty of teaching their kids to hate others. These kids later become adults who think the world revolves around them and their egos.

One way to combat egocentricity is to be sober-minded by not thinking too highly of yourself. It’s about being sensible or pragmatic. It’s about knowing your strengths and weaknesses and being aware that you aren’t a god. If you are sober-minded, you will know that you need God in your life and that apart from God, you can do nothing with lasting success. You will also not be rigid or dogmatic in your beliefs. You will be of the shared belief that we all see through a glass dimly.

Another way to combat egocentricity is to practice kindness and generosity. Instead of focusing on yourself, focus on others. We all go through times when we focus on ourselves and get so wrapped up in our own problems that we become stressed, anxious, or depressed. By shifting our focus and taking note of others (paying attention to their needs), we can figure out ways that we can get practically involved. Helping others has a profound ability to improve our emotional and physical well-being!

A good self-esteem means that you feel positive about yourself without any grandiose ideas. A good self-image is similar. It’s being able to see yourself in a favorable light and to believe that others do to. How much time is wasted worrying about what people think of you? American jokesmith Olin Miller once stated, “You probably wouldn’t worry about what people think of you if you could know how seldom they do.” That puts it into perspective!

When I was in the 8th grade, our school had a dance. The dress code for the girls was a cocktail dress or something similar. My mom took me to one store and I had to find my dress there. I can’t remember what her reason was, but it certainly limited my options. I found one dress that suited me and it was a hideous mustard-yellow. I didn’t want to feel embarrassed the entire time, so I decided to own that dress. I went to the dance with my head held high and a big smile on my face. I wasn’t going to let others dictate how I felt about myself. If anyone wanted to make a rude comment about the color, I was prepared to tell them that I agreed with them, but surprisingly, kids complimented me on my dress!

People with a good self-image don’t try to be someone they aren’t. They don’t want to be someone else either! They are happy in their own skin doing their best with the personality, skills, and talent that are uniquely theirs.

My kids - from youngest to oldest (left to right):
Amanda, Samantha, Jessica, and Jeremiah

Christina Morley is the author of Happy Moms, Happy Homes. She’s also a blogger, volunteer reader at the Blind Institute, and ministers alongside her husband at a Christian drug and alcohol rehab.

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Mamá Graciela’s Secret

Mamá Graciela’s Secret

Publication date: October 10, 2017

Written by Mayra Calvani

Illustrated by Sheila Fein


MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing

www.maclaren-cochranepublishing.com

36 pages, 3-7 year olds

Reading guide at: www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com

Description:

Mamá Graciela’s TENDER, CRUNCHY, SPICY bacalaítos fritos are the best in town...

Local customers (including stray cats!) come from all over the island to enjoy her secret recipe. But when the Inspector discovers that Mamá secretly caters to so many cats and he threatens to close her tiny restaurant, Mamá must come up with a plan to save it—and all of the animals she loves.

Peek Inside:

My Review:

Mamá Graciela’s Secret is a cute picture book about a grandmotherly woman who makes the best bacalaítos fritos (cod fritters) in town. She loves cooking, but she loves her cats even more. She takes in stray cats and doesn't have the heart to turn any away. The health inspector tells her that she has to get rid of the cats or close her little restaurant.

The story's main theme is an entrepreneurial one, which is unusual for a children's picture book, but it's done well and is easy to understand. Amanda and I both enjoyed the story. It has the right amount of humor and tension for young listeners. The solution that Mamá Graciela comes up with is out of the box and gives the story a happy ending.

About the author:

Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her children's picture book, Frederico the Mouse Violinist was a finalist in the 2011 International Book Awards; her anthology Latina Authors and Their Muses was a First Place winner at the 2016 International Latino Book Awards; her nonfiction book, The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing, was a Foreword Best Book of the Year winner. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications like The Writer, Writer's Journal, Multicultural Review, Bloomsbury Review, and others.

She lives in Belgium with her husband of 30+ years, two wonderful kids, and her three beloved pets. When she's not writing, editing, reading or reviewing, she enjoys walking with her dog, traveling, and spending time with her family. www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com

About the illustrator:

Born in Queens, New York and living in Los Angeles since 1987, Sheila Fein has always been inspired by the changing world around her. Earning her BA in Design from Buffalo State College of New York, her concentration was on drawing, painting, printmaking, and photography. Sheila's education as an artist has taken her everywhere from Fleisher Art Memorial in Philadelphia to Bath University in England. Today, Sheila Fein runs two figurative workshops, Imaginings Sketch in LA and People Sketchers in Thousand Oaks. She has been featured in numerous collections, magazines, books, solo and group exhibitions. Her paintings and drawings reside in public and private collections. Sheila loves to make the imagination of others a reality and has done so through her commissioned Fein Fantasy Portraits and Interactive Paintings. In addition to being a fine artist Sheila works as an illustrator. She just completed the book "Mama Graciela's Secret" for Maclaren-Cochrane Publishing.

Book info:

ISBN:
HC 978-1-365-86153-6

SC 978-1-365-86155-0

ISBN Dyslexic Font Version:

DY HC 978-1-365-86154-3 DY SC 978-1-365-86156-7

This book also has version printed in the Dyslexic font, the typeface for people with dyslexia. Go to www.dyslexiefont.com to find out more about the typeface.

Disclosure: We received a free digital copy of this book and this is our honest review.

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The Unwanted Assistant by Evangeline Kelly

The Unwanted Assistant

Book Description:

An Inspirational Christian Romance. A Modern-Day Beauty and the Beast Novel.

What if you fell in love with the same man who wanted to fire you?

Billionaire Sawyer Drake made it abundantly obvious he didn’t want an assistant. Traumatized by a fatal accident, he stayed to himself, shunned human contact, and would rather die than open up to another person—much less a beautiful college woman. His inner wounds ran deeper than the scars on his face.

When Ivy Wolfe ran away to Alabama to nurse a broken heart, the last thing she expected was to fall in love again. She needed a job to support her college expenses, and even though the salary for an assistant position in the home of a billionaire appeared too good to be true, she ignored the red flags and charged ahead.

With insecurities of her own to overcome, she found working for a self-absorbed recluse much harder than she anticipated. Determined to get through to Sawyer, Ivy wrote a letter that would change the course of their relationship.

But finding love with Sawyer was like playing with fire. Would she regret the day she hired on as his assistant? Or would she find the love of her life?

For only $0.99 on Amazon Kindle

and FREE on Kindle Unlimited!

My Review:

The Unwanted Assistant is a Christian love story about two wounded souls. Sawyer is a reclusive billionaire with physical and emotional scars. Ivy is the friendly assistant who is a bit overweight and still hurting over that fact that her boyfriend left her for a slimmer girl. The interaction between Sawyer and Ivy is exciting as they clash with each other and sparks fly.

Some of the scenes played out differently than what I would have expected, so that kept it fresh. There was a lot of build up to the Happily Ever After, but the ending seemed lacking. This inspirational story will help many people who are dealing with personal issues and find freedom in Christ.

Disclosure: I received an ARC for free and this is my honest review.
Please Note: Prices were correct at the time of posting. Please check, as prices may change.

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3 Christian Love Stories and a Linky

I have 3 more love stories this weekend to share with you and hopefully put you in the mood for Valentine's Day. I'm a sucker for love stories, so I don't need a special day to give me reason to read one.

See Me, Cover Me

My Review:

See Me, Cover Me is a feel-good Christian suspense novel. It has plenty of touchy-feely moments and some action to keep it interesting. It's also inspirational and teaches about veterans with disabilities. This might be a slow book for some, but I enjoyed it. The title is a bit misleading, though. I would have thought that with the words, "See Me, Cover Me" the girl would need protecting, but she doesn't. She does, however, fall in love with an undercover FBI agent. The best part is that you don't have to read the other books in the series, even though they are intertwined, as each book has its own complete story.

Finding Peace

My Review:

Finding Peace is a cozy mystery about a struggling photographer who is a victim of a crime and a police officer who takes the case. One of my favorite parts in the story was how Laurie, the photographer, instinctively knew how to sensitively take photos of children with autism. Another favorite part was the solving of the intriguing crimes.

Matchmaker

My Review:

Matchmaker is a sweet love story about a quirky female unlucky in love and the very handsome guy who notices her and can't get her off his mind. The message in the story is to be happy being yourself and not to judge others who are different.

Disclosure: I got all three digital books for free, two from Amazon when they were on promotion. These are my honest reviews.

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My Recent Book Reviews:

Seekers (Mud, Rocks, and Trees Book 2)




Dragon School: The Ruby Isles

Calculated Risk

Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold

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Welcome to my weekend blog hop -

Make My Saturday Sweet #255!

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!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Twitter 

Facebook
Instagram

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:

<center> <a href="http://abooksandmore.blogspot.co.za/" target="_blank"><img alt="Amanda’s Books and More" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaX10yWr7xxEQ5BBMhOqdZxobJ0omJBq-v8ENFn3YNNebsnsYBHwcGyje-XzSlHSJOIlZ1rEOp89LyNI97XrPFZtdeH_AvaNV3F8hOvHfsuwe29ALNQw75ibK34buYq7nhpGGZJ8UTnoB/s150/Make+My+Saturday+Sweet.jpg"/></a></center>

Weekend Linky

Visit my Blog Hops page to see
what link-ups I take part in.

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Sarah's Shadow by Nick Jones

About the Book:

Title: Sarah's Shadow | Author: Nick Jones | Illustrator: Si Clark | Publisher: Full Media Ltd. | Paperback Pages: 32 | Genre: Children's Picture Book | Recommended Age: 4 - 8

Book Description:

If you could change something about yourself, would you do it? When Sarah Simpkins is teased about her shadow in the school playground, she finds herself wishing she didn't have one. That night she has the chance to make the wish come true. But will losing her shadow really make her happy?

Purchase on Amazon

Peek Inside:

Our Review:

I recently read Sarah's Shadow to Amanda one evening and I noticed that she had a smile on her face the entire way through the story. We both liked how Sarah's shadow had a personality. The illustrations are fun and easy to follow. The story flows smoothly and is just the right length for younger listeners.

This is an entertaining picture book that can easily be used as a teaching tool. The story address bullying and self-esteem. Were you ever teased as a kid and did you wish you could change something about yourself? That's what happens with Sarah, but she learns to embrace her differences.

About the Author

Nick Jones:

Nick Jones lives in the UK with his wife, two young children and numerous pets. He also owns Full Media Ltd, an independent publisher and editorial agency. Nick wrote his first book, a collection of his own one-liners and ‘dad jokes’ entitled Gagged and Bound, in 2014. Two sequels soon followed. In 2016, Nick started working on a different book entirely: a children’s story about a little girl who loses her shadow. Nick collaborated with his talented illustrator friend Si Clark, and eventually Sarah’s Shadow was born. Nick is now working on a new children’s picture book and hopes to find time to write a children’s joke book at some point in the future.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Disclosure: We received a free digital copy of this book and this is our honest review. There are no affiliate links.

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Bessie, Queen of the Sky has arrived!

Bessie, Queen of the Sky

First Book in the Queen Girls Series

Amanda and I received a free digital copy of Bessie, Queen of the Sky, at the end of last year, before the book was out in print. We were promised a physical print copy once it was published. Recently, we collected a package at the post office and were delighted to discover that the book has finally arrived! Here are two photos of Amanda with her new book. I'm also including our original review below.

Queen Girls

Stories of real women turned into fairy tales. Inspiring girls to follow their dreams!

About the First Book in the

Queen Girls Collection:
Bessie, Queen of the Sky

The first fairy tale is ‘Bessie, Queen of the Sky’ inspired by the story of Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to hold a pilot’s license. The book will be available in English and Spanish.

‘When Bessie was growing up, no one could have imagined that a girl from a humble family would get out of the cotton fields and become a pilot. But with the help of her best friend Bloony, Bessie uses her courage and determination to make her dream come true!’

● Available in English & Spanish

● Recommended age - 4 to 7 years

● 32 pages, hardcover & digital

A peek inside...

Order One for One
Bessie, Queen of the Sky
on INDIEGOGO!

Or Purchase on Amazon:

Kindle | Hardcover

MY REVIEW

Bessie, Queen of the Sky is a beautifully illustrated picture book that brings to life the true story of a girl who had the courage to follow her dreams no matter what roadblocks she faced along the way. This book teaches that a person's gender, skin color, or social position does not equate with ability. As long as you are willing to work hard and persevere, you can be just as good or better than anyone else.

In an ideal world, all people ought to have equal opportunities. Unfortunately, our daughters are not growing up in an ideal world, but things are changing. My own daughters do not feel the same restrictions that I felt growing up and I believe this has a lot to do with the brave women who went before us. We can be thankful for girls and women like Bessie who have trail blazed ahead, making it easier for us to follow in their steps.

When I got to the end of the story, my 8-year old daughter, Amanda, was impressed to see the photograph of Bessie and to learn that it was based on a true story. For me, this has been one of my favorite picture books that I did with her this year. It was truly inspirational. I highly recommend it for girls ages 4 to 8.

To find out more, visit my original post:
Bessie, Queen of the Sky

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.

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Celebrating International Women's Day

To celebrate International Women's Day, I have compiled a list of books of courageous female characters. All of these stories I have reviewed over the years on Amanda's Books and More. I'm sure you'll find something here to inspire you! Just click on the book titles in blue and the links will take you to my review posts.

Magelica's Voyage

Bessie, Queen of the Sky

This book is based on a true story.

The Mystic Princesses

Talon, Come Fly with Me

Mary's Song

A Buss from Lafayette

Princess Madeline Trilogy

Heir of Thunder

Beggar Magic

The Book of Deacon Series

Read More