Amanda's Books and More

Thursday, September 10, 2020

Pippin Pals are Hero Helpers!

Pippin Pals are Hero Helpers!

The Covid-19 pandemic has flipped the world on its head and adjusting our lifestyles has been challenging, to say the least, especially for kids. It has also made clear who we should consider true Heroes — those who sacrifice their own safety for the sake of others. The Pippin Pals are Hero Helpers! story highlights these hard pandemic-related issues, “softened” through rhyme, and encompasses the pandemic experience through a child’s eyes, validating their feelings in a tangible way.

To offer a more personalized experience for the readers, the six Pippin Pals are Hero Helpers! books are not a series, but diverse versions of the same story; you choose the version or versions which align with your or a child’s preferences for the main characters and their families.

The books aid a child’s understanding as to why things have changed, how to adjust to the “new normal,” and reinforce the ways to comply. Through vivid, visual depictions of how germs spread, and the basic “dos and don’ts” that help protect themselves, people they love, and ultimately — heroic workers — they become Hero Helpers! The books feature those essential workers (be sure to check the end papers!), school from home, being social virtually, and the positive aspects of stay-at-home and “stay safe” living, along with a surprise “fun” activity.

All versions of Pippin Pals are Hero Helpers! (38-page ebook/40-page paperback) on Amazon and Apple Books, (with the B&N 52-page paperback with additional back matter coming soon).

Purchase links can be found here:

Pippin Pals are Hero Helpers! Books

Have a peek inside:

My Review:

Pippin Pals are Hero Helpers! are books of identical stories illustrated with different children. The idea is to choose the book that your child will identify with most. This story helps kids to have their feelings expressed while also empowering them. It's obvious that this author has many years of experience when it comes to children's books because she nailed everything perfectly from the content to the rhyming and illustrations! Every home and classroom with kids should have one or more of these books. There are free downloads available too!

I received a digital copy and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Kid-Friendly FREE Downloads!

About the Author:

Donna Marie

:Donna is a proud and blessed mother and grandmother, and as a woman of love, hope and faith, she has loved stories since the first time she held ARE YOU MY MOTHER, THE CAT IN THE HAT and MADELINE in her hands. Passionate about storytelling in all forms, the wonder of words and pictures in books has long inspired her to tell stories of her own. As a small voice amid the glorious chorus of book creators, her hope is to add some small measure of value and joy for her gracious readers. And all of this while doing her best not to consume more “goodies” than good books! :D

You can follow :Donna on Twitter and Facebook, and her Writer Side UP! and Creativity “Cookbook” blogs, and Pippin Pals at https://pippinherohelpers.com/, Twitter and Facebook.

COMING SOON: 2 more inclusive versions of Pippin Pals are Hero Helpers! by family type.

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

2 Sunrises and a Linky

I've been saving the best sunrise photos over the past couple of months. Today I'm sharing 2 of them. Each sunrise is so different and sometimes there isn't any color at all to see. Be sure to visit my post with all the beautiful wildflowers we have blooming at the moment! The link is below under 1camera1mom.

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Here's a peek at
my latest post
on 1camera1mom:

Wildflowers in the Breede Valley

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My Latest Book Reviews:

Princesses Don't Have Sticky Hair

Of Thorns and Beauty

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I'm reading Of Thorns and Beauty by dynamic writing duo Elle Madison and Robin D. Mahle. This book has me on the edge of my seat! It's an intense Beauty and the Beast retelling and the first in the Twisted Pages series. I'm sure that once I finish this one, I will be holding my breath for the next one. It has mature content, so I would recommend it for upper YA and NA. This book has exceeded my expectations. I hope the others will have the same amount of intrigue and chemistry. #weekend #weekendreads #whatimreading #socksunday #books #ebooks #bookreview #BookReviewer #booklover #bibliophile #bookstagrammers #Bookstagram #bookaddict #fantasy #romance #fiction #igreaders #fairytale #beautyandthebeast #retelling #nofilter #nofilterneeded @ellemadisonauthor @robinmahleauthor

A post shared by Tina Morley (@tinarobmorley) on Sep 6, 2020 at 4:45am PDT

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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!

I would love for you to follow me on

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Follow me on one or more links above or via email.
Link-up any family-friendly post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like.
If possible, copy the button code below and add it to your linked post or blog's side-bar.
And, I'd love it if you could share about this hop on social media.

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Saturday, September 5, 2020

Princesses Don't Have Sticky Hair

Princesses Don't Have Sticky Hair:

A Fairy Bedtime Story

About this Book:

Book Description:

Princesses don't have sticky hair . . . unless they decide to explore a cave and accidentally walk through a spider web! Children will love this whimsical story with surprises on every page, featuring all their magical favorites, fairies, unicorns, dragons, and mermaids. The perfect bedtime story.

Purchase on Amazon:

Paperback | Kindle

My Review:

This whimsical bedtime story is perfect for children with eager minds. It has a gentle message that encourages imaginative play with a touch of responsibility. The words are easily understood and the illustrations are heartwarming.

About the Author:

Angela Castillo

Angela has been writing stories since she created her first book with a green crayon at the age of eight. She's lived all over Central Texas, but mostly hovered in and around the small town of Bastrop Texas, which she loves with unnatural fierceness and features in many of her books. Angela has four wild children, a husband who studies astrophysics for fun, and a cat. Castillo has been published in The First Line, Aardvark's Ark, Heartwarmers, Thema, and several other publications, and also has works available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle format. Watch book trailers on my Amazon author page! Find out more at www.angelacastillowrites.weebly.com.

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Sea of Starlight

Sea of Starlight

About the Book:

Title: Sea of Starlight (The Riven Kingdoms Book 2) | Author: Shari L. Tapscott | Pages: 252 | Genre: Fantasy Romance | Recommended Ages: Young Adult and Up

Book Description:

After meeting the mysterious woman of the forest, Rhys and Amalia are left questioning everything they know about the feuding kingdoms’ history, the two royal families that began the war, and their own turbulent relationship.

There is only one place to find answers—in Draegan, the cursed kingdom that lies across the Chasm. Rhys would like more than anything to keep Amalia away from the land of nightmares, sickness, and death, but the princess is determined to cross the rift.

And Rhys is determined to keep Amalia safe…no matter the cost. Even if she will despise him for it before their journey’s end.

Meanwhile, in the heart of Draegan, Rhys’s sister is faced with her own problems. Her father and brother are at odds, dark creatures are finding their way into the fortress castle, and a new prisoner is patiently chipping at the walls Cassia has built around her heart...

The adventure continues in the second book of The Riven Kingdoms.

Purchase on Amazon

My Review:

Sea of Starlight is Book 2 in The Riven Kingdoms series by Shari L. Tapscott. This book is a page-turner with lots of danger and a slow-burn romance. All the characters are interesting and I would be happy if the side characters found love too!

Princess Amalia of Renove is far too trusting of Prince Rhys of Draegan who has been keeping secrets from her and even lying to her. Things don't go well for him. Amalia might be naive, but she's not stupid.

Prince Braeton, Amalia's twin brother, is just as gentle and kind as she. Both of them have a huge capacity for love and loyalty. His gentleness wins over the heart of Princess Cassia, but she's forbidden to be with him by her father and eldest brother. Things don't go well for Braeton, the captive of Draegan. Will Cassia and those men who are loyal to Rhys be able to save the day? I'll have to wait and see in Book 3.

This story left me hanging! I can't wait for the next book in the series! I received an ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Related Posts:

Forest of Firelight

Traitor of the Entitled

About the Author:

Shari L. Tapscott

Shari L. Tapscott writes romantic fantasy adventure and contemporary romance. When she's not writing or reading, she enjoys gardening, making soap, and pretending she can sing. She loves white chocolate mochas, furry animals, spending time with her family, and characters who refuse to behave.

Tapscott lives in western Colorado with her husband, son, daughter, and several extremely spoiled pets.

Receive a free novelette when you sign up for Shari's newsletter:

Newsletter | Website | Instagram

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Calandiva Plants and Cats with a Linky

My Calandiva plants have grown and these are the new flowers. There's also a photo of Prince and one of Sheela. By the way, I shared pics of my Calandiva Flowers a couple of weeks ago from photos of when they were still fairly new.

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Here's a peek at
my latest post
on 1camera1mom:

Lunch at the Ou Meul Bakery

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My Latest Book Review on Instagram:

Fierce Heart

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My latest Sock Sunday is Fierce Heart by Tara Grayce. If you like clean Fantasy Romance with a sprinkling of Steampunk, then you'll LOVE this book! It's got all the feels. A human princess and an elf prince make an alliance of marriage for both kingdoms. Why are the elves so willing to seek an alliance? What secrets is the elf prince keeping from his new wife? This story is super cute and super girly, so you've been warned! It also has deeper themes. Living in a different culture with people who look down on you for being a foreigner is a theme that I am personally familiar with. I started reading this book yesterday and I'm really enjoying it! #weekend #weekendreads #socksunday #books #ebooks #bookreview #BookReviewer #booklover #bibliophile #bookstagrammers #Bookstagram #bookaddict #steampunk #fantasy #romance #fiction #igreaders @taragrayceauthor @burkesdragons

A post shared by Tina Morley (@tinarobmorley) on Aug 23, 2020 at 10:00am PDT

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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!

I would love for you to follow me on

Twitter

Facebook
Instagram

and

Here are the easy rules:

Follow me on one or more links above or via email.
Link-up any family-friendly post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like.
If possible, copy the button code below and add it to your linked post or blog's side-bar.
And, I'd love it if you could share about this hop on social media.

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Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Miniature Roses and Plumbago with a Linky

These are my miniature roses and plumbago. I love the pinks and blues so close to each other. I also find that both types of flowers look nice in a vase, but today I only have photos of the roses. They made a sweet little posy with a rustic, country look.

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Here's a peek at
my latest post
on 1camera1mom:

Walking Our Dogs

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My Latest Book Posts:

Happy Moms, Happy Homes now on Audible!

The Lightning Conjurer

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My latest weekend read this Sock Sunday is The Lightning Conjurer: The Awakening by Rachel Rener. I have been hearing good things about this book and now I am seeing why! This story will hook you from page one! There's mystery, intrigue, and danger. There's also an interesting magic system. Aspen has been robbed of her memories and identity, but these setbacks have only made her stronger. Aiden is an associate professor who is trying to help Aspen. He has a backstory, but hasn't yet been willing to share it with her. Did I mention that he's handsome and ignores the attention that random females give him? I'm halfway through and can't wait to find out what happens next! #weekend #weekendreads #socksunday #books #ebooks #bookreview #BookReviewer #booklover #bibliophile #bookstagrammers #Bookstagram #bookaddict #indiebook #contemporary #fantasy #fiction #igreaders #nofilter #nofilterneeded @thelightningconjurer

A post shared by Tina Morley (@tinarobmorley) on Aug 16, 2020 at 8:34am PDT

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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!

I would love for you to follow me on

Twitter

Facebook
Instagram

and

Here are the easy rules:

Follow me on one or more links above or via email.
Link-up any family-friendly post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like.
If possible, copy the button code below and add it to your linked post or blog's side-bar.
And, I'd love it if you could share about this hop on social media.

The Button Code:

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Friday, August 14, 2020

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.