Blog Tour and Giveaway: Night of Mysterious Blessings by Sally Metzger

Book Details:

Book Title:  Night of Mysterious Blessings by Sally Metzger
Category:  Children's Fiction (Ages 5-8), 40 pages
Genre:  Picture Book/Early Reader
Publisher:  Elk Lake Publishing
Release date:   November 3, 2021
Format available for review:  print-softback (USA & Canada), PDF
Tour dates: Nov 7 to Dec 16, 2022
Content Rating: G. My book is rated G because it has a Biblical world view. 

Book Description:

Have you ever had great big tingly goosebumps? Or tossed and turned too long on a sleepless night? Have you ever seen tall shadows dance in your doorway? Or found a RELAX-let-go peace deep inside? In Night of Mysterious Blessings, you’ll share in the adventures of a boy and his beloved dog. Enter this curious, oh-so-mysterious night, and be amazed at what you see in the morning's light. Best of all, uncover the priceless key to worrying less and smiling more.

​So many books stress God is always with us. How fantastic for a book to proclaim the Scriptural truth that God is also within. It's a lifelong gift for children to discover God makes his home inside them while their hearts are open to receive the mystery.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ B&N
BookBub 
add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

As a teacher, spiritual director, and retreat leader, Sally Metzger has helped young people discover God’s boundless love for them for over 20 years. She developed and taught a course in faith formation for university students, religion teachers, youth ministers, and parents, and she is the author of two children’s books, Night of Mysterious Blessings and Jesus, Were You Little?

​Sally has a Master of Theological Studies degree, focusing on pastoral care, and is active in chaplain ministry. Her message: It’s Raining Grace! And through God’s power, we can find and joyfully fulfill our purpose in life. Sally is married to her high school sweetheart, cherishes her children and grandchildren, and enjoys outdoor adventures and travel.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads 

Enter the Giveaway:

NIGHT OF MYSTERIOUS BLESSINGS Book Tour Giveaway

My Review: 

Night of Mysterious Blessings is a cute children’s book by Sally Metzger. It tells an inspiring story of how to worry less and have more trust in God. I like the Christian theme and it’s teaching the importance to younger children of God’s love. I found it was soothing tale that can help with anxiety and stress of worrying or the fear of what is to come. I think so many little readers will find this book to be a comfort and will bring them peace that they are needing. I like the rhyming verse style that at times will provoke some giggles from time to time. Such a sweet and heartwarming story to read. I loved it.

Night of Mysterious Blessings is beautifully illustrated by the talented artist, Courtney Smith. The pictures follow the story perfectly. They are colorful and eye catching that will hold any young ones attention. 

I am giving Night of Mysterious Blessings a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers between the ages of five and eight. It would be great to be placed in elementary school libraries and a children’s public library. I am interested in finding more books by Sally Metzger to see what else she has in store for her young readers. 

I received a soft cover copy of Night of Mysterious Blessings from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: There's No Plan Like No Plan by Steve Searfoss

About the Book

Book: There’s No Plan Like No Plan

Author: Steve Searfoss

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction

Release date: February 23, 2022

Chance & Addie are back for a new adventure. Riding high off of the success of their first business, they decide to launch a new venture, this time shoveling snowy driveways in the winter. They are full of confidence: they have a team of kids, a shed full of shovels, repeat customers, and, best of all, a great plan. But sometimes the perfect plan can get in the way of adapting to something as fickle as the weather. Will they learn to be flexible and figure how to make this new venture work? They’re losing money fast as new challenges pile up faster than the falling snow. Perhaps a curious new partner can show them the way.

KidVenture stories are business adventures where kids figure out how to market their company, understand risk, and negotiate. Each chapter ends with a challenge, including business decisions, ethical dilemmas and interpersonal conflict for young readers to wrestle with. As the story progresses, the characters track revenue, costs, profit margin, and other key metrics which are explained in simple, fun ways that tie into the story.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

I wrote my first KidVenture book after years of making up stories to teach my kids about business and economics. Whenever they’d ask how something works or why things were a certain way, I would say, “Let’s pretend you have a business that sells…” and off we’d go. What would start as a simple hypothetical to explain a concept would become an adventure spanning several days as my kids would come back with new questions which would spawn more plot twists. Rather than give them quick answers, I tried to create cliffhangers to get them to really think through an idea and make the experience as interactive as possible.

I try to bring that same spirit of fun, curiosity and challenge to each KidVenture book. That’s why every chapter ends with a dilemma and a set of questions. KidVenture books are fun for kids to read alone, and even more fun to read together and discuss. There are plenty of books where kids learn about being doctors and astronauts and firefighters. There are hardly any where they learn what it’s like to run small business. KidVenture is different. The companies the kids start are modest and simple, but the themes are serious and important.

I’m an entrepreneur who has started a half dozen or so businesses and have had my share of failures. My dad was an entrepreneur and as a kid I used to love asking him about his business and learning the ins and outs of what to do and not do. Mistakes make the best stories — and the best lessons. I wanted to write a business book that was realistic, where you get to see the characters stumble and wander and reset, the way entrepreneurs do in real life. Unlike most books and movies where business is portrayed as easy, where all you need is one good idea and the desire to be successful, the characters in KidVenture find that every day brings new problems to solve.

 

More from Steve

My kids are very curious and are always asking how things work. Whenever they’d ask about something related to business or economics, I’d create imaginary scenarios where they were the business owner so they could understand better what was going on. For example: why one business would partner with another; why they would choose to sell a product at a loss; why the price of something changes; and so on.

And then one day it occurred to me to write one of these scenarios down as a story. And that’s how KidVenture started. When I was working on the first draft, whenever I told someone I was writing a book for kids to teach them about business, they would frequetnlty tell me it was something that is needed.

There aren’t a lot of books out there for kids about being an entrepreneur and running your own business; and yet, it’s something that kids like learning about because they have a sense it’s important. Not everyone is going to grow up to be a farmer or doctor or airline pilot, but knowing how to manage money and negotiate is something most kids understand they should know more about because they see it every day.

I hope kids who read KidVenture books feel inspired to be more entrepreneurial. It doesn’t necessarily mean they start their own little business. It could mean they feel empowered to negotiate, to not reflexively take the first offer they’re given. I noticed that after reading the book with them, my kids started negotiating a whole lot more. Sometimes that would drive me crazy, but even as it did, I was proud of them for advocating for themselves.

KidVenture hopefully teaches kids to be problem solvers and inspires them to learn from experience. The characters in the story have a lot of learning to do, but it’s not book learning. It’s more…adventurous than that. They learn from trial and error. By making offers and counter-offers. By making a decision and then observing what happens. And they learn by talking to customers and picking their brains. It’s the way you learn as an entrepreneur: by doing. And failing. And trying again.

One thing I really love about the story is the relationship the main character, Chance, has with his parents. Now that I’m a parent, I wanted to write a story that, first of all, my kids could relate to, and second, that was edifying. There are plenty of books and movies about dysfunctional families. KidVenture is different.

I love that at key junctures in the story, Chance turns to his parents for advice. And their style is very different. The dad in the story is playful and sarcastic and doesn’t just give Chance the answers right away. It’s more like he gives him clues to follow. There is a dynamic where the son at times wants to impress, and even best, his father; and at other times, he turns to his dad for advice when he hits a dead end.

But while there’s a competitiveness to his interactions with his dad, there is a sweetness to Chance’s relationship with his mom. He’s able to be vulnerable with her, so when he faces an ethical dilemma in the story, he turns to her. And she’s very savvy and gentle in how she asks questions that get Chance talking and reasoning through the solution himself.

 

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 5

Texas Book-aholic, December 6

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 7

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 8

SK Bell, December 8

Vicky Sluiter, December 9

Cover Lover Book Review, December 10

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, December 11

deb’s Book Review, December 12

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 13

Lots of Helpers, December 14

Inklings and notions, December 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 16

Blogging With Carol, December 17

Mary Hake, December 17

For Him and My Family, December 18

Bookzone Reviews, December 18

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Steven is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/22ec9/there-s-no-plan-like-no-plan-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

Steve Searfoss continues his KidVenture series with his newest release, There's No Plan Like No Plan. It was fun catching up with Chance & Addie to see where kind of ventures they have in store for themselves this time around. Along the way, they learn some very important lessons. I thought it was a wonderful story that teaches younger readers that it is okay to make mistakes and to have challenges. It is best to find the best way to work around them all and not give up. It the best reward to keep on going to make your dreams to come true.

I am giving There's No Plan Like No Plan five stars. Readers between the ages of eight and twelve will want to read it. I will be on the lookout for more KidVenture books by Steve Searfoss to see what awats Chance and Addie in the future.

I received a paperback copy of There's No Plan Like No Plan from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Spotlight Tour and Giveaway: In the Daze of My Youth by Joshua Kraushar

 Book Details:

​Book Title:  In the Daze of My Youth: A Memoir by Joshua Kraushar
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction (18+),  160 pages
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir
Publisher:  Mascot Books
Release date:  December  2022
Content Rating:  PG-13 + M: Parts of the book talk about illegal drug use 

Book Description:

Hello! I’m Josh―and with the exception of friends, family, former colleagues, and students, you don’t know me from Adam. This autobiography is a down-to-earth, intimate memoir of my life, spanning the bulk of the 1950s through 1970s. Since I’m almost seventy now, my life today has zero resemblance to that of the person I’ve written about. The drugs I partake in today, like Lipitor and Flomax, don’t seem to be as much fun as acid and mescaline were many decades ago. Nonetheless, my memories of youth are vivid and amusing. Many of the vignettes that I have incorporated into the book are true-to-life anecdotes that I have related over the years at dinner parties to amuse my friends. Having taught high school for thirty-five years following the events of this book, I intentionally neglected to relate any of the stories to my students knowing full well that I would be fired on the spot. Since I am now very happily retired, I have absolutely no fear of retribution from irate parents or Board of Education members. In the Daze of My Youth traces my life from good Jewish boy to New York City checker cab driver to degenerate druggie to world traveler. Even though I’m a happily married dad with grown children who are infinitely more responsible than I’ll ever be, I sometimes still feel like the wild man I was many years ago . . .

BUY THE BOOK:
​Mascot Books
Amazon ~ B&N
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

​Joshua Kraushar is a former history teacher, cab driver, and New York City tour guide. He received numerous awards during his 35-year career in education, including New Jersey Humanities Teacher of the Year. He was inspired to tell the story of his formative years by friends who generally found his anecdotes related to taxi driving and world travel to be compelling and particularly funny. He also wishes to give anyone who was born during the last forty years a good sense of what it was like to grow up in the ’60s and ’70s and to freak out his former students who assumed he was reasonably sane. Joshua and his wife Terri currently live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, with their incredibly hairy golden retriever, Khaleesi, and are the parents of two sons, Jeremy and Zack. ​

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Heaven Sent Miracles and Rescues by Andrea Jo Rodgers

About the Book

Book: Heaven-Sent Miracles & Rescues

Author: Andrea Jo Rodgers

Genre: Christian Inspirational

Release date: November 1, 2022

Do You Believe in Miracles?

For more than three decades, Andrea Jo Rodgers has served her small-town community as a volunteer EMT. Over the years, the incredible events she’s witnessed have taught her that behind the scenes of every dark and dire situation waits a God capable of doing the impossible to help, protect, and save those He loves.

In Heaven-Sent Miracles and Rescues, Andrea shares tales of amazing and supernatural occurrences she’s seen from the frontline. From breathtaking water recoveries, to heroic battles against housefires, to astonishing interventions against medical crises, Andrea’s accounts of emergency rescues will have you reading at the edge of your seat while reassuring you of God’s awe-inspiring power over every circumstance.

Whether you’re searching for affirmation that miracles still happen, or you simply love reading exciting and inspiring true stories, Heaven-Sent Miracles and Rescues will leave you uplifted, encouraged, and on the lookout for God’s divine handiwork in your own day-to-day life.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Andrea Jo Rodgers holds a clinical doctorate in physical therapy and has worked as a physical therapist for over 25 years. She has served as a volunteer emergency medical technician on her town’s rescue squad for 35 years and has responded to more than 9,000 first aid and fire calls. She lives on the east coast with her husband, two children, and two fur babies. At Heaven’s Edge, On Heaven’s Doorstep, Help from Heaven, and Heaven-Sent Miracles and Rescues include true inspirational stories based on her experiences as a volunteer EMT.  Her middle grade adventure novels, Saving Mount Rushmore and Saving the Statue of Liberty are fun yet educational books that teach faith, courage, patriotism, and friendship.

 

More from Andrea Jo

Coincidence or the Hand of God?

Have you ever wondered if someone is saved by pure chance? Is it just his or her lucky day? Or is more at play? I believe that people aren’t assisted by mere coincidence. I think the hand of God is at play, putting the pieces in motion to orchestrate miracles.

During my 35 years as a volunteer emergency medical technician with my local first aid and rescue squad, I’ve often witnessed the power of prayer and how God works to put the right people in the right place at the right time. For example, in my latest book Heaven-Sent Miracles and Rescues, I convey how a young woman who gets out of work later than usual sets in motion a dramatic rescue. In another case, a young man stops at a friend’s apartment just in time to alert 911 that she is unconscious and barely breathing due to a heroin overdose. At times, our patients overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to survive.

God’s loving hand doesn’t have to take the form of sensational rescues. It can be more subtle, such as having our squad volunteers be present to pour love on a dying hospice patient during his last hour on earth, or in another instance being available to tuck in a lonely woman grieving the loss of her mother. As a resident of a small town, I’ve been privileged to form strong bonds with some of my patients, and my life is immeasurably richer for it.

The next time you brush something off as just a coincidence, take a few minutes to consider the alternative. Perhaps you are witnessing the loving hand of our Lord at work.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 1

Texas Book-aholic, December 2

Mary Hake, December 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 3

Inklings and notions, December 4

Cover Lover Book Review, December 5

deb’s Book Review, December 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 6

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 7

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, December 8

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 9

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 10

Rebecca Tews, December 11

Just Your Average reviews, December 12

For Him and My Family, December 12

Spoken from the Heart, December 13

Cats in the Cradle Blog, December 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Andrea Jo is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon Gift card and a signed copy of Heaven-Sent Miracles and Rescues!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/22ec6/heaven-sent-miracles-rescues-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

Heaven-Sent Miracles and Rescues: True Stories from a First Responder is another fabulous collection of true inspirational stories by Andrea Jo Rodgers. I thought they were all beautiful and so uplifting to read. They were several that brought tears to my eyes and having to keep my tissues within an arm’s length. I loved reading this book so much and wonderful reminder of God’s work. 

I am giving Heaven-Sent Miracles and Rescues: True Stories from a First Responder five stars. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read inspiring and faith filled stories, based on true events. As always, I will be looking for books like this from Andrea Jo Rodgers in the future. 

I received a paperback copy of Heaven-Sent Miracles and Rescues: True Stories from a First Responder from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Darker the Skies by Bryan Prosek

 

Book Details:

​Book Title:  The Darker the Skies by Bryan Prosek
Category:  YA Fiction (Ages 13-17),  292 pages
Genre: YA Science Fiction 
Publisher:  CamCat Books 
Release date:  November 2022
Content Rating: PG. It's very clean.

Book Description:

It only takes one to make a difference.

Just days before Jake Saunders plans on proposing to the love of his life, Jake is called upon once again to save his home, Earth. The Earthen Legion troops and its allies think they’re battling only pirates, but a new, more powerful foe from another galaxy flanks their forces and invades, in search of a weapon the planet didn’t even know it had.

​When Jake learns that this new enemy was responsible for the death of his father many years ago, he realizes he can finally face his true nemesis. The odds are stacked against Jake, but with the help of his friends and allies he’s made along the way, he must rally the remaining Legion troops and retake Earth before it’s too late. The fate of Earth and the fate of his love, rest in the balance.

Buy the Book:
CamCat Books
Audible ~ Amazon
B&N ~ IndieBound ~ BookShop
add to goodreads

Spotlight Tour and Giveaway: The Young Federalists by Abigail Readlinger

 

Book Details:

​Book Title:  THE YOUNG FEDERALISTS by Abigail Readlinger
Category:  Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12),  72 pages
Genre: Middle Grade
Publisher:  Mascot Books
Release date:  Dec 2022
Content Rating:  G

Book Description:

Ever heard of The Federalist Papers?
(Awaiting your confusion . . .)
Probably not, huh?
​That’s alright! Not many kids do! But I promise, this book is setting out to change that.
Join the three Kennedy siblings as they travel through the portal of American history to discover the importance behind the first Federalist Papers and its connection to the Constitution of the United States! Look out for ways that the first Federalist Papers might apply to our world today. Who knows, maybe it could help just as much now as it did back then! Oh! And watch out for a special guest appearance from . . . Alexander Hamilton!

BUY THE BOOK:
​Mascot Books
Amazon ~ B&N

Meet the Author:

Abigail Readlinger is a current high school junior at The Wilberforce School, located in Princeton, New Jersey, where she enjoys participating year-round on both the sport and debating teams. Homebound during the pandemic, Abigail was inspired to create her first draft of The Young Federalists. Almost two years later, she is thrilled to have her whim become a reality and hopes readers will enjoy the lives of Reagan, AJ, and Dolley as much as she enjoyed creating them. In her free time, Abigail enjoys horseback riding, creative writing, and rereading all of her favorite Agatha Christie novels. She has two younger siblings named Sarah and Doc, as well as an honorary third sibling―her yellow lab, Daisy.

connect with the author: twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Aberration by Cathy McCrumb

About the Book

Book: Aberration

Author: Cathy McCrumb

Genre: Science Fiction

Release date: November 15, 2022

Freedom Awaits, but the Consortium is Watching

When rogue drones threaten citizens and the ship’s crew falls ill, the Recorder answers their call for help, once again drawing scrutiny from the Consortium.

With no other option and under an Elder’s overbearing watch, she returns to Pallas Station where she nearly lost her life in the hope of finding something—anything—to save her friends and countless others. Her friends are determined to keep her safe, but for the Recorder, saving others comes first, no matter the cost.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Cathy McCrumb graduated from Biola University with a degree in English Literature and a love for stories. She and her husband, whom she met while writing letters to soldiers, have five children and currently live within the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. While writing is one of her favorite things to do, she also enjoys reading, long hikes and long naps, gluten-free brownies and raspberries, and crocheting while watching science fiction movies with friends and family.

 

More from Cathy

After I finished writing Recorder, my main character was stuck.

 

Or, more precisely, I was.

 

Don’t get me wrong, I knew where she was, roughly what was going to happen, and what was going on elsewhere. But after the rush of finishing the first book and even having a great opening line for the second, I was at a standstill. Starting there didn’t make sense, didn’t set the scene. I tried again. And again.

 

It bothered me for months.

 

Then, on my way into work, a phrase popped into my head. Eyes on the stoplight, I fumbled in my bag, grabbed the first pen I could find, and scrawled the words on my left forearm in large block letters: NEED HELP WITH THE BODIES.

 

And like that, I knew where to begin.

 

(Fortunately, my coworkers were more amused than not, though I did wear long sleeves to church the next day, since I figured no one would find my Sharpie-scrawl comforting.)

 

While some of the story fell into place as I had expected, it turns out anticipation of a few scenes didn’t dull the edge, and I cried for those. My characters didn’t always comply, and aside from the black block letters on my arm, Aberration had other surprises that made me laugh or cringe. Two of those twists shifted the book’s trajectory, and the Recorder still must deal with the repercussions.

 

Life is like that. Some things trundle along like they should, but when change rears its head, everything can go sideways. A move, a sickness, a loss, a gain, a promotion… The good things—smiles, laughter, friends, song, color—don’t negate the uncomfortable things—failure, disappointment, isolation. But for those who believe in Christ, sorrow doesn’t have the final word. There is a sudden turn of joy, a grace in an unexpected twist that reminds us that there is no universal defeat awaiting us, even when it feels like all hope is lost.

 

Writing frequently reminds me of a difficult child who doesn’t want to cooperate. Characters show up uninvited to reshape scenes, or the plot goes exactly as I expect, but carries a completely different meaning. Sometimes I have to pause and let the story wash over me.

 

A lot like life.

 

The reversal of sorrow to joy, of catastrophe to eucatastrophe, shows us a glimpse of the home that awaits. Light pierces the shadows of story and heart, illuminating the core of who we are as we journey further up and farther in.

 

When you continue with the Recorder on her search for a name, for meaning, for hope, I hope that in those sudden surprise turns, you, too, hear the silver trumpets calling you home, no matter where or when you might be stuck.

 

Because, really, you aren’t.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 30

Story Craft, November 30

Texas Book-aholic, December 1

Stories By Gina, December 2 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 2

Inklings and notions, December 3

deb’s Book Review, December 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 5

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 6

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, December 7

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 8

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 9

Lily’s Book Reviews, December 10

Blogging With Carol, December 11

For Him and My Family, December 12

Through the Fire blogs, December 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Cathy is giving away the grand prize of a signed hardback copies of Recorder and Aberration!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/22ec5/aberration-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

Aberration continues the Children of the Consortium series by Cathy McCrumb. Since this is a series, it would be best to read the first book, Recorder. I had the pleasure of reading that one and it was great catching up with Recorder to see what else in store for the character. I enjoyed this story even more than the last. I really liked reading it. 

Aberration is getting four and a half stars from me. I recommend it for readers, particularly teen readers who enjoy reading clean science fiction and/ or dysopion,. I am interested in reading the next installment from Cathy McCrumb’s Children of the Corsortium series to see what happens next for Recorder. 

I received a digital copy of Aberration from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.