July 15, 2022 · 7:00 am

Butterfly Love From Above by Melissa Stuart (Book Review / Guest Post)

 
“Always look up! I’m right here, little Star!”

This is the heartwarming story of one little girl’s journey through grief.
 
After losing her best friend-a butterfly named Twinkle-Star must search to rediscover her sunshine. The loss of Twinkle has kept Star under a dark cloud for some time, but her journey towards betterment will touch the hearts of all readers! Star is amazed to discover that she can reclaim her own sunshine by helping others who are also stuck under a dark cloud of their own! And she’ll realize that her light is even brighter than before!

Star’s love for Twinkle-and her pony, Luna-will show readers the beauty, joy, and healing power that animals can bring to our lives! Her journey will remind us that there is something beautiful to see when we take a moment to “always look up!”

 
BUY THE BOOK:
AMAZON ~ B&N
add to goodreads
 
 
 
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from iRead Book Tours. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 
Friends come in all shapes and sizes. They can be a human, animal, or (in this case) a butterfly. I’ve never read a story or heard of a butterfly best friend, but I found the pairing very cute. Twinkle went on any adventure with Star. Twinkle flew close to Star as she ran through the sunflower fields and jumped into the puddles. Twinkle also greeted Star when she came home from school. Okay, that one was just adorable! 


When Twinkle suddenly vanished, my heart broke for Star. She lost her best friend. I know Twinkle is just a butterfly, but a loss is a loss. The pain is real no matter whose life has ended. 


Star’s mom said it best, and I’d like to share a passage from Butterfly Love From Above by Melissa Stuart. 
 
“Twinkle is always going to be here,” said her mom, pointing to Star’s heart. “All the precious moments you shared are like a treasure chest to which only you hold the key! Those special memories are proof that love lasts forever, even when the one we love is no longer here.”
 
These words of wisdom can apply to anyone, regardless of age.
 
When Star’s mom surprised her with Luna, my heart filled with joy. Star’s smile returned, and Star then gave others a reason to smile too.
 
She’s a darling child, and this was a darling book.  


Kate Solenova: Your illustrations were lovely. My daughter loved Luna, the pony. She said she wanted to braid her tail 🙂

 
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤
 
 
 
 
 
Meet The Author:

 
Melissa Stuart lives in Los Angeles, California with her family, their English Mastiff, Gucci, and their pony, Luna! Melissa and her husband stay busy traveling all over the country with their boys’ hockey teams. She loves being a Hockey Mom and watching her boys chase their dream of following in their dad’s footsteps to play in the NHL! Her happy place is with her little girl, Stella, at the barn surrounded by horses and their precious Luna. Sun Valley, Idaho is her family’s favorite summer getaway destination. When they’re there, Melissa feels most inspired to write sitting by the river, surrounded by mountains and nature! Her dream of becoming a published author for the first time came true in early 2021, as she shared her story “Find Your Sunshine” in a book co-written by 10 other inspiring authors—all of whom were sharing stories about shining their light and becoming difference makers in the world! Melissa hopes this story will inspire children to always look up. She wishes to teach them that true joy comes when we shine our own light and show kindness to others. That’s the secret to finding our sunshine!

 
 

“Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway” — John Wayne

 
Growing up, I had experienced horseback riding a few times while traveling on vacations to Idaho, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe. But little did I know that horses would one day be the one thing that gets me through the hardest time in my life.

After moving around the country for over a decade during my husband’s 16-year NHL career, we finally settled in the Los Angeles area. I had been teaching fitness classes for the past 15 years and it was finally going to be my time to live out my dream of opening a spin fitness studio. While searching for the perfect space for my studio, I had also fallen in love with horseback riding. One afternoon after riding, I fell to the floor and could not get up. I had ruptured my back and needed emergency surgery! Over the next two years, I had multiple spinal surgeries and all my dreams were shattered.

But something amazing happened! My little girl had caught the horse bug and fell in love with horses and riding herself. I found so much joy in just sitting at the barn watching her ride, surrounded by nature, butterflies, and the majestic horses! Often times, I would see beautiful yellow butterflies flying around my little girl while she was riding, like they used to do when I would ride. That made my heart so happy.

I will always believe our pony Luna was meant to be part of our family. We had been searching for about a year for the perfect pony and nothing felt quite right. I received an email from my trainer that she found one that she thinks would be a good fit. When I opened the picture, I got tears in my eyes. She looked just like the horse that I had a picture of hanging in my room at home! After my grandma had passed away, I purchased a picture that had a white horse with a dark mane with the words that read, “When you believe beyond what your eyes can see…signs from heaven show up to remind us that love never dies!” Luna looked just like the horse in my picture! She was already named Luna (which means moon) when we bought her, and my daughter’s name is Stella (which means star) and I just felt this was a match made in heaven!

These true-life events inspired me to write this story! Maybe I didn’t physically get back in the saddle, but having the courage to write my story and share it with the world or whoever is meant to read it, feels like a victory of its own! So, I’m going to ride this writing journey out and hope that my story touches as many hearts as possible!

 
connect with the author: 
website ~ facebook ~ instagram 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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July 14, 2022 · 7:00 am

Ruby’s Camping Adventure (Shiba of the North) by B.A. Tomka (Book Review)

Roasting marshmallows was the plan, until a rabbit hops by…

Ruby is a cute, cuddly Shiba Inu with a mind of her own and a knack for trouble. When Ruby gets lost in the forest on a camping trip with her best friend, Anna, she comes face-to-face with several forest animals who don’t welcome the fox-like dog. Through the darkness, Ruby searches for a kind friend who will see the little pup for who she really is.

Ruby’s Camping Adventure is a charming children’s book for young readers (ages 3 – 6) that will keep kids in suspense, while delivering a subtle message that stereotypes are hurtful.

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Oh my goodness gracious, what an adorable book. The illustrations of Ruby and Shiba Inu were cute but not as cute as the real-life photos of the two. What an adorable duo! 

Natia Gogiashvili did a fantastic job illustrating all of Shiba Inu’s expressions. Without reading the text, you knew precisely what the dog was feeling. If you have a child who has difficulty reading emotional cues, these images would be a marvelous therapeutic tool. 

Shiba Inu is like most dogs; they love to chase things! Shiba Inu couldn’t resist chasing after a bunny in the forest, which led readers to meet some wildlife characters. For those teaching children the names of animals, several woodland creatures are featured in Ruby’s Camping Adventure. 

I do not have dogs, but I thought it was comical it preferred bacon and popcorn over freshly caught fish. I don’t blame the pooch; popcorn is delicious. Bacon, eh. It’s still better than unbreaded fish, though. 

If you have an early reader in your home, Ruby’s Camping Adventure would be an excellent book for your child to practice their reading skills with. There are a couple of tricky words, but it’s not a complex story to read. Most words are common except for boreal. That one might need explaining. I suggest showing them pictures of the northern lights. They are quite beautiful! 

I loved the B.A. Tomka included a pronunciation key for Shiba Inu because it would be a word that might trip up some early readers. I also liked how they defined Shiba Inu as well. According to the author, it’s a breed of hunting dog from Japan. 

Amazon’s recommended reading age is 3 – 6 years. Depending on your child’s reading level, even second graders could use Ruby’s Camping Adventure to sharpen their solo reading skills. 

I look forward to reading more works by B.A. Tomka.

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Authors

Mother-daughter writing team Bonnie and Anna Tomka — B.A. Tomka — live in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, with their Shiba Inu, Ruby, and two humans, Michael and Austin. The family shares a love of popcorn, bacon, and a good story. Their first book kicks off the Shiba of the North book series.

Reedsy Link

 

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July 13, 2022 · 7:00 am

Natural Beauties: Homemade Wellness Tips from Head to Toe by Marita & Mimina Meza (Book Spotlight)

NATURAL BEAUTIES: Homemade Wellness Tips from head to Toe by Marita and Mimina Meza

As twin sisters with lifelong careers in the beauty industry, Marita and Mimina Meza learned many insider tips and tricks for taking care of themselves, using affordable, natural ingredients as beauty and wellness products. They have put them to the test, creating masks, creams, and scrubs. If the recipes didn’t make a real difference, they moved on to something else, always looking for the best methods of caring for their bodies and minds.

This book contains only the best beauty advice and recipes from their many years of modeling and pageants, and it’s all rooted in natural ingredients. Marita and Mimina believe nature provides everything you need for a beauty regiment that will keep you looking younger while staying healthy. Instead of searching for beauty products that don’t contain harmful chemicals, it’s easier and less expensive to make your own products at home. In this book, the twins will show you how, helping you to look and feel youthful and invigorated every day.

 
Buy the Book:
Amazon
Target ~ B&N
 
 
 

Originally from Venezuela, Marita and Mimina Meza have had lifelong careers in the beauty industry. Along the way, they learned many insider tips and tricks for taking care of themselves and looking healthy using natural products. Marita and Mimina believe nature provides everything you need for a beauty regiment that will keep you looking younger while staying healthy. Instead of searching for beauty products that don’t contain harmful chemicals, they believe it’s easier and less expensive to make your own products at home. 
​
connect with the authors:  
website ~ facebook ~ instagram

 
 
 

 

 
 

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July 12, 2022 · 7:00 am

Off Broadway: A Marriage Drama by William A. Glass (Book Review / Author Interview)

OFF BROADWAY: A MARRIAGE DRAMA by William A. Glass

 
Cindy and Dave Knight got married too young. Several years later they are trying to make the best of it. He is a salesman on the fast track with a prestigious corporation. She is the indispensable assistant to a prominent Broadway producer. They own an apartment in Manhattan and enjoy knocking around the city together. However, Dave’s erratic behavior and career obsession strain the relationship. Can it be saved?
 
 
BUY THE BOOK
Amazon ~ B&N
 
 
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from iRead Book Tours. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 
 
Before I begin my review, I would like to note the content rating: PG-13 + M. Off Broadway: A Marriage Drama by William A. Glass contains some profanity and has mature themes, including drug use (pot), adultery, and sexual situations. There are no graphic sex scenes. 
 
One of the first encounters that dealt with a mature scene happened when Cindy and Dave met up with the friends Phil and Susan. As their evening progresses, Phil informs the other couple that he and Susan had an open relationship and wants to swing with them. Dave isn’t up for swapping, but that doesn’t stop him from getting handsy with Susan. I could sense from that encounter that he doesn’t have an issue being with another woman, but I don’t think he wants his wife with another man. That’s a realistic scenario. 

Dave and Cindy’s marriage troubles are prevalent throughout the story. She hates his forgetfulness, his erratic behavior, and his messiness. I wasn’t surprised she told him she hadn’t loved him in a very long time because she yelled a lot at him. The break-up scene in the restaurant was rough. It would’ve been an awkward scene to witness if it occurred in real life. 


Marriage component aside, let’s discuss Dave’s sales career. 


As a consumer, we take for granted how our favorite items get on a store shelf. When Dave went on sales calls, we saw the behind-the-scenes aspect of how stressful and competitive product placement can be. We also witness what happens when a salesperson drops the ball on product placement. And how many hours (on and off the road) they put in each week. I was astounded to read how many demos a salesforce organizes in one weekend! 


Off Broadway: A Marriage Drama read as a dated piece. For instance, Dave went nuts on a cigarette vending machine. I don’t think I’ve seen one of those in several decades. 


The “drama” was not limited to his marriage with Cindy. It happened between Dave and his father (Knight) and during his time with UpTempCo, LLC. Plus, the people around him (family and business associates) were also waist-deep in their own drama. If you love drama, then you’ll love Off Broadway: A Marriage Drama.

 
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤
 
 
 
 
 
Meet the Author:
Author William A. Glass

 
William is a retired business executive now living in South Carolina with his wife, Bettina. She teaches high school German while Bill is the soccer coach at a small college. Their three sons, Alex, Robert, and Gordon have all graduated from college and moved away to pursue careers. Now Bill and Bettina enjoy long walks with their dogs. When the weather permits, Bill commutes on his motorcycle. “It’s like taking a roller coaster to work!” he enthuses.
 
 
 
 
Kam:  What is your favorite childhood memory involving books?     
Bill:     I memorized a Golden Reader called ‘Grey Squirrel’s Party’ after having it read to me so often.  At age five, I figured out that the letters under the pictures were words and deciphered them.  Because of that, I was reading ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ by age eight.

 
Kam:  Did you always want to be an author while you were growing up?
Bill:    My only ambition growing up was to get out of school, then move as far from my family as I could.

 
Kam:  If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Bill:    Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

 
Kam:  What is your most unusual writing quirk?
Bill:     I’m a college soccer coach and much of my writing is done on the team bus traveling to games.  
    
 
Kam:  What would you consider to be your Kryptonite as an author?
Bill:    Whiskey

 
Kam:   If you could tell your younger writing self, anything, what would it be?
Bill:     Put your pen down and go fishing.

 
Kam:  What book do you feel is under-appreciated? How about overrated?
Bill:     Most under-appreciated: Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant; Most overrated: The Naked and the Dead.     
                      
 
Kam:   If you could dine with any literary character, who would it be and why?
Bill:     Mrs. Waters. 

 
Kam:  What’s one movie you like recommending to others?
Bill:     Paths of Glory directed by Stanley Kubrick

 
connect with the author:
 website ~ blog ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads
 
 
 
 
 
 

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July 11, 2022 · 7:00 am

Lies at Her Door: A Psychological Thriller by A.A. Abbott (Book Review)

LIES AT HER DOOR (a psychological thriller) by A.A. Abbott

 
She forgot about her childhood friend… until his body is found under her garden. Can she prove she didn’t commit the decades-old murder?

Lucy Freeman struggles to find satisfaction in life. Trapped in the shadow of her rock star brother, the thirty-two-year-old craves more than her days at home caring for her terminally ill mother. But her routine takes a turn for the horrifying when a giant sinkhole collapses the earth outside their house and reveals a skeleton.

Shocked to discover the bones belong to a former member of her sibling’s band, Lucy’s worst nightmare comes alive when police suspect her of the killing. And as she turns to her dying parent’s diaries in a desperate search for vindication, she’s entangled in a dark and complicated truth.
 
Will unearthing long-buried wrongs prove lethal?
 
Lies at Her Door is a heavy-hitting psychological thriller novel. If you like strong character growth, overcoming dysfunctional relationships, and revealing unexpected secrets, then you’ll love AA Abbott’s chilling whodunnit.

 
 
 
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from iRead Book Tours. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 
Lies at Her Door: A Psychological Thriller by A.A. Abbott lived up to its name. Many people stretched the truth to serve their purposes or to protect someone close to them. 


There was also a psychopath whose evil actions stretched farther than I anticipated. There were thrilling life and death moments. Shocking truths were disclosed, and I mean SHOCKING! Family drama and loss of life. It was a story full of drama of varying degrees. 


Lies at Her Door: A Psychological Thriller pointed out cops are sometimes close-minded to other possible suspects when their mind is set on a specific individual. I think Detective Neil learned a valuable lesson after this case closed. 


I want to mention that since I live in the states, some British jargon was lost on me. I had to look up bubble and squeak and gendarmes. There were also phrases that we don’t use in America, such as we don’t end a sentence with “my lover” unless referring to someone you’re having coitus with. I looked that up and found out it’s a common term of endearment or greeting. 


Despite the random language barrier, I was able to follow the plot well. The crime and its resolution were planned and carried out beautifully. 


I encourage everyone reading this review to buy or download Lies at Her Door: A Psychological Thriller by A.A. Abbott using your kindle unlimited subscription. See if you can solve the mystery before all is revealed. FYI: I had most of the puzzle figured out, but not all. 🙂
 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤
 
 
 
 
Meet the Author:
Author A.A. Abbott

 
British crime thriller writer A.A. Abbott (also known as Helen Blenkinsop) enjoys escaping with an exciting and emotional read, and that’s what she aims to write too. Based in the city of Bristol in England’s beautiful West Country, she’s shared her love for the city by writing about it in her latest psychological thriller.

Lies at Her Door is Helen’s ninth book. She’s had help from readers on subjects as varied as police procedure, philosophy and music. She’s grateful to them and to editor Katharine D’Souza for making huge improvements to the story.

Like 10% of us, many of Helen’s family are dyslexic. While she is not, she wants her books to be enjoyed by readers with dyslexia and visual impairment too. She publishes her thrillers in a Large Print dyslexia-friendly edition as well as standard paperback and ebook versions. (You can also adjust the font on your electronic device to suit your needs.)

A member of the Alliance of Independent Authors, Helen likes speaking to book groups, business networks and social circles. She also has fun reading thrillers and short stories at live fiction events and on Zoom. If you’re a book blogger, litfest organiser, reviewer or simply adore books, she’d love to hear from you.

connect with the author: 

website ~ facebook ~ twitter 
 
 

 

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