Locks, Hooks and Books: November 2021

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Fantasy and Sci-Fi for Christmas and Giveaway: Michelle Diener

On tour with Prism Book Tours

The Turncoat King

(The Rising Wave, #1)

By Michelle Diener

Fantasy, Romance

Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 312 Pages

January 12, 2021 by Eclipse

A thirst for revenge . . . Ava is committed to vengeance against the man responsible for the death of her parents. The same man, the Queen's Herald, kept her prisoner for two years, until she escaped with Luc, a warlord bent on vengeance just as fierce as her own. He's forged a powerful army of people from all through the region, called the Rising Wave, to march on the Kassian royal family and smash its corrupt power under the weight of their anger. But for Luc, just as for Ava, his true motive is a lot more personal.

A hidden magic . . . Luc suspects Ava has magical abilities, suspects he's benefited greatly from them, but he's no stranger to the burdens of power, and he's prepared to let her tell him in her own time—after all, she's his heart's choice and he will give her all the time she needs. Except time is running out for both of them. As they near the Kassian stronghold, forces from within their own camp and without will use every trick they have to stop both Luc and Ava and tear them apart.

A secret laid bare . . . Luc knows Ava has a secret she's keeping from him—but what he doesn't realize is she has many. And when those secrets are exposed, everyone will have to grapple with the consequences. Ava is prepared to sacrifice her happiness and even her life to save the Rising Wave and Luc—but she would prefer to use her heart and her head to outwit her enemies instead.

Author's note: The Rising Wave series begins with a prequel novella, The Rising Wave. It isn't necessary to have read The Rising Wave to enjoy The Turncoat King, but it will give readers a better grounding in the world of the story.

(Affiliate link included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | Bookshop | B&N | Book Depository

Excerpt

The guard assigned to lead them to the Skäddar warrior paused to speak to someone in low tones. When he turned back to Luc and Dak, he was grinning.

“The Skäddar warrior is this way. He's sparring with one of our best fighters and we're hoping he wins.” His smile widened as he led the way.

“Why are you hoping he defeats one of your own?” Dak asked.

“Because she's from the mountain border with Skäddar, and has been teasing us steppe-dwellers about how the highlanders are superior. It will be very good to see someone land her on her arse.”

“None of you have been able to?” Dak lifted his brows.

The guard gave a grunt. “Not yet.”

Luc could tell they were close to the sparring match. The sound of cheers and whistles started up, and ahead of them was a circle of soldiers, all looking inward.

The guard led them around the side, to where the crowd wasn't as thick.

The sun had almost completely set, so two torches had been driven into the ground to illuminate the fighting ring, and the opponents were already circling each other.

The man was obviously Skäddar. Luc had met only a few of the northern dwellers before, but they all had markings on their faces like this one.

The Venyatux highlander was much smaller than her opponent, and had her back to them.

Luc felt the air freeze in his chest and throat as he recognized her hair first—a little longer than it had been since he'd last seen her a month ago but still much shorter than everyone else's.

Ava.

About the Author

Michelle Diener is the bestselling, award-winning author of historical, fantasy and science fiction romance novels. Having worked in publishing and IT, she’s now very happy crafting new worlds for her readers to escape into. She lives in Australia with her husband and children.

Tour Schedule
(Posts go live on the day they're scheduled.)

November 28th: Launch

November 29th: Elayne Audrey Becker - Forestborn

November 30th: Michelle Diener - The Turncoat King

December 1st: Jes Drew - Agents Adam and Eve

December 2nd: Sharon Hinck - Windward Shore

December 3rd: Kara Linaburg - The Broken Prince

December 4th: Cathy McCrumb - Recorder

December 5th: Sandra Fernandez Rhoads - Realms of Light

December 6th: Chawna Schroeder - The Vault Between Spaces

December 7th: Melissa Wright - Beneath Stone and Sacrifice

December 8th: Kristen Young - Elite

December 9th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a $50 (USD) Amazon eGift Card

Open internationally
Ends December 13, 2020

ENTER HERE

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Three May Keep a Secret by Richard T Ryan

Join Us for This Tour from November 29 to December 17!

Book Details:
Book Title: Three May Keep a Secret: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure by Richard T. Ryan
Category: Adult Fiction 18+, 264 pages
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: MX Publishing
Release Date: November 29, 2021
Tour dates: November 29 to December 17
Content Rating: G.

Book Description:

When a meeting with a client goes disastrously wrong, Sherlock Holmes soon finds himself involved in a case of murder with two dead bodies and too few clues.

From some clear pieces of glass and a raven's feather, the Great Detective must divine exactly who the client was and what prompted him to seek assistance at 221B. Fortunately, Holmes has a number of experts upon whom he can rely as well as his own vast store of esoteric knowledge.

Treading a twisted path, Holmes soon finds himself matching wits with an unseen criminal, who appears to be the equal of the late Professor Moriarty. At the same time, he is tasked with sparing the monarchy any possible embarrassment that may stem from the investigation.

It's a deadly game of cat-and-mouse that finds Holmes and Watson attending underground auctions, using rare and priceless artifacts as bait and holding a late night vigil in anticipation of deterring a theft, all the while trying to understand how a priceless antiquity fits into their investigation.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Amazon.UK
B&N ~ Kobo ~ BookDepository

Meet the Author:

A lifelong Sherlockian, Richard Ryan is the author of “The Vatican Cameos: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure,” “The Stone of Destiny,” “The Druid of Death” and “The Merchant of Menace,” and “Through a Glass Starkly,” all from MX Publishing. “Three May Keep a Secret” is his sixth Holmes pastiche, and he is currently at work on his seventh.

He has also written “B Is for Baker Street (My First Sherlock Holmes Book)," an alphabet book he penned for his grandchildren.

Among his other credits are “The Official Sherlock Holmes Trivia Book," a book on Agatha Christie trivia and the well-received murder mystery “Deadly Relations” that has been produced twice off-Broadway.

He pursued his graduate studies at the University of Notre Dame, where he majored in medieval literature. To this day, he remains a die-hard fan of the Fighting Irish.

connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ facebook ~ pinterest ~ goodreads

Guest Post:

For Some It’s Always 1895

by Richard T. Ryan

In a sonnet, he titled “221B,” the late Vincent Starrett wrote:

Here dwell together still two men of note
Who never lived and so can never die:
How very near they seem, yet how remote
That age before the world went all awry.

In an age that has brought us “Star Wars,” “Harry Potter” and “Lord of the Rings,” one might be hard-pressed to explain why a literary character from the Victorian era still has legions of fans. Nevertheless, the fact remains that Sherlock Holmes enjoys an incredible staying power among his aficionados.

After all, we’re talking about one man with no super powers per se – only a keen eye for observation and a brilliant mind that specializes in logic and deduction. His only “gadget,” if you will is a magnifying glass and he can often be found smoking incessantly while wearing a dressing gown (think bath robe).

Certainly part of Holmes’ longevity can be attributed to his many appearances in movies. He recently passed Dracula as the most represented character in cinema. Popular since the era of silent films, Holmes has been portrayed by many notable actors through the years, chief among them William Gillette, Basil Rathbone, Ian McKellan and, lately, Robert Downey Jr. Others include Roger Moore, Ian McKellan, Christopher Lee, and Peter Cushing. All told, there are approximately 300 hundred films which feature the Great Detective and the number keeps growing.

The Great Detective has been a staple on TV since the 1950s, with Jeremy Brett, Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller – just to name a few – taking up the mantle. Lately, American television has been graced by “The Irregulars” while Japan has given us “Miss Sherlock,” in which Holmes and Watson are played by women. Holmes also surfaces on stage fairly regularly.

Each year hundreds of Sherlock Holmes books are published and the authors include basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; film director Nicholas Meyer; the late literary scholar John Gardner and Laurie King.

There are also card games, stuffed bears, toys of all kinds (including Lego) as well as apparel from socks to ties to scarves and yes, you can even order deerstalkers and Inverness capes online.

However, the biggest reason that Sherlock continues to thrive are the fan societies. The most prestigious group would be the Baker Street Irregulars who meet every January in New York City. Past members have included Isaac Asimov, Rex Stout and Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman, both of whom were honorary members.

In addition to the Irregulars there are scion groups in many major cities – The Criterion Bar Association in Chicago, The Diogenes Club of Dallas – as well as throughout Europe, Asia and Australia.

All of these groups are dedicated to “keeping the memory [of Sherlock Holmes] green.” To that end, they meet regularly, sponsor symposiums and lectures and publish scholarly journals and books.

As Starrett might have noted in his sonnet:

Here, though the world explode, these two survive,
And it is always eighteen ninety-five.

Tour Schedule:

Nov 29 – Working Mommy Journal – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 29 - Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Nov 30 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Dec 1 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 1 - Rockin' Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Dec 2 – Splashes of Joy – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Dec 2 - Lisa Everyday Reads – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Dec 3 – JB's Bookworms with Brandy Mulder – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Dec 6 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 6 - Books for Books – book spotlight
Dec 7 – Pick a Good Book – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Dec 7 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 8 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 8 - Westveil Publishing – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Dec 9 – StoreyBook Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Dec 10 – Sefina Hawke's Books – book spotlight
Dec 13 – Kam's Place – book spotlight
Dec 14 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 14 - Sadie's Spotlight – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 15 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Dec 15 - Celticlady's Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 16 - My Bookish Bliss - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Dec 17 – Lisa's Reading – book spotlight / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway:

Three May Keep a Secret: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure by Richard T. Ryan Book Tour Giveaway

Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Living Christmas Tree by Kristin Sponaugle

Join Us for This Tour from November 26 to December 17

Book Details:

Book Title: The Living Christmas Tree by Kristin Sponaugle
Category: Children's Fiction (ages 3 to 7), 38 pages
Genre:  Children's Book
Publisher:  Mascot
Release date:   September 2021
Formats Available for Review: print-hardback USA, e-book (PDF)
Tour dates: November 26 to December 17
Content Rating: G. Suitable for everyone.

***** 2021 Family Choice Award Winner *****

Book Description:

During the day, the Miller family’s Christmas tree stands tall in their living room, sparkling with lights and ornaments. Little does the family know that their Christmas tree is anything but ordinary. Each evening, the magic of Christmas brings their tree to life—much to the delight of Hannah and William Miller. Follow along as Hannah and William experience the magic of Christmas in a whole new way.

Buy the Book:
Mascot
Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Target

Meet the Author:

Kristin Sponaugle was born in Butler, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Duquesne University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in health sciences and her master’s degree in physician assistant studies. Kristin had always dreamed of becoming an author, and made that dream a reality with her two published children’s books, The Princess Puppy and The Living Christmas Tree. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cross-stitching, and playing with her Maltese dog, Rosie. Kristin lives with her husband, daughter, and Rosie, and resides wherever the Air Force sends them.

Connect with the Author: website ~ f ac ebook ~ instagram

Tour Schedule:

Nov 26 – Because I said so -- and other adventures in Parenting – book review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 26 - The Momma Spot – book review / giveaway
Nov 29 - Westveil Publishing – book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 29 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 29 - Sefina Hawke's Books – book spotlight
Nov 29 - My Bookish Bliss - book review / giveaway
Nov 30 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Nov 30 - Triquetra Reviews – book review / author interview / giveaway
Dec 1 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / author interview / spotlight
Dec 1 - Splashes of Joy – book review / giveaway
Dec 2 – @twilight_reader – book review
Dec 2 - The Phantom Paragrapher – book review / giveaway
Dec 3 - Rockin' Book Reviews - book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 3 – Books for Books – book review
Dec 6 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 6 – Kam's Place – book review
Dec 7 - icefairy's Treasure Chest – book review / giveaway
Dec 8 – Reading is My Passion – book review
Dec 8 – fundinmental – book review / giveaway
Dec 9 – All Booked Up Reviews – Instagram – book review
Dec 9 - Older & Smarter? – book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 10 – Sandra's Book Club – book review / giveaway
Dec 13 – Bigreadersite – book review / giveaway
Dec 14 – Captive Dreams Window – book review
Dec 14 - She Just Loves Books – book review / giveaway
Dec 15 – Pause for Tales – book review / giveaway
Dec 15 - The Adventures of a Travelers Wife – book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 16 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
Dec 16 - I'm Into Books – book review / giveaway
Dec 17 – Cover To Cover Café – book review

Enter the Giveaway:

THE LIVING CHRISTMAS TREE Book Tour Giveaway

My Review:

The Living Christmas Tree is a sweet story about a charming Christmas tree that comes to life at night. I adored seeing the family spending time together decorating the tree in the beginning. It was cute to see the joy on the faces of siblings Hannah and William. I love they get to experience something special during the most magical time of the year. Especially, once the pain are able to discover what has been happening with the tree while they have been sleeping. I thought it was such a fun, entertaining and enchanting tale to read during the Christmas season. I will be looking forward to reading it again and again every year.

The Living Christmas Tree is illustrated by the talented artist, Agus Prajogo. The pictures are colorful and vivid. They perfectly follow story and help bring the characters to life. They help the story flow and make it easy for younger readers stay focused on the story.

The Living Christmas Tree is getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who are between the ages of four and nine. It would be a great addition to add to the family’s yearly Christmas time reading. I would love to add more books by Kristin Sponaugle to add to my children’s personal library.

I received a hard cover copy of The Living Christmas Tree 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 Debutante's Code by Erica Vetsch

About the Book

Jane Austen meets Sherlock Holmes in this new Regency mystery series

Newly returned from finishing school, Lady Juliette Thorndike is ready to debut in London society. Due to her years away, she hasn't spent much time with her parents, and sees them only as the flighty, dilettante couple the other nobles love.But when they disappear, she discovers she never really knew them at all. They've been living double lives as government spies--and they're only the latest in a long history of espionage that is the family's legacy.

Now Lady Juliette is determined to continue their work. Mentored by her uncle, she plunges into the dangerous world of spies. From the glittering ballrooms of London to the fox hunts, regattas, and soirees of country high society, she must chase down hidden clues, solve the mysterious code her parents left behind, and stay out of danger. All the while, she has to keep her endeavors a secret from her best friend and her suitors--not to mention the nosy, irritatingly handsome Bow Street runner, who suspects her of a daring theft.

Can Lady Juliette outwit her enemies and complete her parents' last mission?

Best-selling author Erica Vetsch is back with a rollicking, exciting new series destined to be a hit with Regency readers who enjoy a touch of mystery in their love stories. Fans of Julie Klassen, Sarah Ladd, and Anne Perry will love the wit, action, and romance.

Click here to read an excerpt.

About the Author

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.

Vetsch is the author of many novellas and novels, including the popular Serendipity & Secrets Regency series and the new Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery series

Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.

Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com. She can also be found on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).

My Review

The Debutante's Code is a great start to the Thorndike and Swann Regency Mysteries series by Erica Vetsch. After reading it, I have yet another reason why this author is one of my top favorites. It is full of mystery, suspense, action, adventure, history and romance. I was entertained with every single page and adored Lady Juliette from the start. The chemistry between her and Daniel was a delight. What a great way to spend a rainy afternoon by reading this book. I loved it.

I am giving The Debutante's Code a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean historical suspense. I can not wait to find out what happens next in the Thorndike and Swann Regency Mysteries series.

I received a copy of The Debutante's Code from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Book Giveaway

Monday, November 29, 2021

Fantasy and Sci-Fi for Christmas and Giveaway: Elayne Audrey Becker

On tour with Prism Book Tours

Forestborn

(Forestborn, #1)

By Elayne Audrey Becker

Young Adult Fantasy

Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 368 Pages

August 31, 2021 by Tor Teen

A young, orphaned shapeshifter in a world that fears magic must risk everything if she hopes to save her only friend in Elayne Audrey Becker's Forestborn, first in a new fantasy series with a timeless feel.

TO BE BORN OF THE FOREST IS A GIFT AND A CURSE.

Rora is a shifter, as magical as all those born in the wilderness―and as feared. She uses her abilities to spy for the king, traveling under different guises and listening for signs of trouble.

When a magical illness surfaces across the kingdom, Rora uncovers a devastating truth: Finley, the young prince and her best friend, has caught it, too. His only hope is stardust, the rarest of magical elements, found deep in the wilderness where Rora grew up―and to which she swore never to return.

But for her only friend, Rora will face her past and brave the dark, magical wood, journeying with her brother and the obstinate, older prince who insists on coming. Together, they must survive sentient forests and creatures unknown, battling an ever-changing landscape while escaping human pursuers who want them dead. With illness gripping the kingdom and war on the horizon, Finley’s is not the only life that hangs in the balance.

(Affiliate link included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | Bookshop | Book Depository

Barnes & Noble | Target | IndieBound | BAM | Powells

Excerpt

Finley’s eyes are glazing over, far too fast, the pupils dilating as if he’s concussed. He shakes his head, holds out a hand, clutches mine when I step close to steady him. “I think—”

“Finley!” I cry, catching him when his knees suddenly give way. I’m dismayed at how easy it is to support his weight, considering he’s only one year younger than me. Or two, or three. It’s all a guess, really. “Fin, talk to me,” I say, my heart flinging itself wildly against my ribcage as I watch his eyes lose focus once more. His hand loosens its grip on mine, and both of us sink to the forest floor.

“Let him go,” I beg, bending over the body gone rigid, the heaving chest, the quivering, waxen skin. Alarm bells are screaming through my head, loud as the clocktower tolling the hour, and with them, the tingling in my core returns. Threads of numbness engulf my limbs. Fur along my back, then feathers all over—my body torn between the urge to hide or to flee, far away from this scene I never saw coming. “Please. Not him, too.”

I ignore the gathering sounds of creaking, groaning wood overhead with a vengeance. Tears are welling in my eyes, but I blink them away and shake my head, refusing to let them fall. Refusing because this day of truth has always been tainted by lies, so what’s one more to add to the tally? In the darkening wood, I set each one before me, all of the lies I reach for when the nightmares, the dirty looks, the hidden scars and endless self-loathing begin to drag me under—that my mother loved me before she left me, that my brother and I are not a curse, that I can be good and selfless and worthy of love in spite of the things I’ve done. I assemble them all, then set one more on the shelf: that my best friend, my only true friend aside from Helos, isn’t dying.

But the trees around me, leaves and branches straining against their holds, limbs pointing to Finley like a circle of swords—the trees all tell a different story.

Other Books in the Series

(Linked to an Amazon affiliate link.)

About the Author

ELAYNE AUDREY BECKER (she/her) is a storyteller with a passion for history, myth, mountains, and magic. She holds a B.A. from Vassar College and a master of science from the University of Aberdeen, and she has worked as an editor at a New York publisher. Born and raised in Georgia, she grew up with a lake and woods as her backyard, spending long days outside and visiting national parks with her family. Forestborn is her first book.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

Tour Schedule
(Posts go live on the day they're scheduled.)

November 28th: Launch

November 29th: Elayne Audrey Becker - Forestborn

November 30th: Michelle Diener - The Turncoat King

December 1st: Jes Drew - Agents Adam and Eve

December 2nd: Sharon Hinck - Windward Shore

December 3rd: Kara Linaburg - The Broken Prince

December 4th: Cathy McCrumb - Recorder

December 5th: Sandra Fernandez Rhoads - Realms of Light

December 6th: Chawna Schroeder - The Vault Between Spaces

December 7th: Melissa Wright - Beneath Stone and Sacrifice

December 8th: Kristen Young - Elite

December 9th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a $50 (USD) Amazon eGift Card

Open internationally
Ends December 13, 2021

ENTER HERE

Book Tour and Giveaway: A Lighthouse Christmas Café by Jennifer Faye

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

A Lighthouse Christmas Café

(Bluestar Island #3)

By Jennifer Faye

Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 182 Pages

November 16, 2021 by Lazy Dazy Press

As Bluestar Island prepares for a very special Christmas wedding, Santa’s sleigh crashes into The Lighthouse Café, reuniting Bluestar’s beloved waitress with her former fiancé.

In this holiday novella, Darla Evans has carved out a quiet life for herself as a waitress at The Lighthouse Café. Up until this point, she’s conveniently avoided the one man who shattered her heart and her dreams. But when a wedding draws him back to the island, she knows their meetup is unavoidable.

Tech entrepreneur William “Will” Campbell has returned to his childhood home to be the best man in his father’s wedding. But first his father has a very special task for him—to restore a sleigh in time for the wedding. However, there’s not much time until Christmas. He just might need some help.

As snowflakes cover the small town of Bluestar, Will and Darla work together to make it a very special holiday wedding. With the past looming between them, will the magic of the season open their hearts and allow them to find love again?

Includes a holiday recipe for Darla’s frosted sugar cookies!

The Bell Family of Bluestar Island:
Book 1 – Love Blooms (Hannah & Ethan)
Book 2 – Harvest Dance (Aster & Sam)
Book 3 – A Lighthouse Café Christmas (Darla & Will)
Book 4 – Rising Star (coming soon)

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple | Kobo

Other Books in the Series

About the Author

Award-winning author, Jennifer Faye pens fun, heartwarming contemporary romances with rugged cowboys, sexy billionaires and enchanting royalty. Internationally published with books translated into nine languages. She is a two-time winner of the RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the CataRomance Reviewers' Choice Award, named a TOP PICK author, and been nominated for numerous other awards.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Bookbub

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a digital copy of LOVE BLOOMS and HARVEST DANCE by Jennifer Faye and a $25 Amazon gift card

Ends December 8, 2021

ENTER HERE

My Review

I love, love, love A Lighthouse Café Christmas by Jennifer Faye. It is my new favorite by her to date. I adored Will and Darla’s story. I thought they had beautiful together. The book is not that long but full of laughs and tears. I never knew what emotion I was going to get every time turned the page. I, also, loved meeting the other people living on the quaint island, Bluestar Island. It was a plus that this charming tale is set during the Christmas season. I had the most wonderful time reading this book.

A Lighthouse Café Christmas will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading stories about second chances, sweet and clean romance, and those set during the most magical time of the year.

I received a paperback copy of A Lighthouse Café Christmas 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: Cool Kids by Arlene Freeman

Join Us for This Tour: November 22nd to December 10th

Book Details:

Book Title: Cool Kids by Arlene Freeman
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 38 pages
Genre:  Chldren's Picture Book
Publisher:  Mascot Publishing
Release date:   October 2021
Content Rating: G. Suitable for all ages.

Book Description:

Like most kids, Michael and his friends are so excited for their first day at a new school. They have a lot of questions about what to expect, but most of all, they wonder if they’ll get to join the football team. That would be the perfect way to start the year! However, Michael soon finds out that it’s not as easy as he thinks. The team is filled with bullies, and to join, he has to become one of them. In order to be cool enough to get a spot on the football team, Michael has to start changing his behavior—for the worse! Suddenly, terrible things start happening to him. Finally, he begins to wonder: Was it all worth it?

Buy the Book
Mascot
Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble

Meet the Author:

Freeman’s first career was a third-grade schoolteacher in the Passaic School System. Teaching children is her true passion, and she incorporated this passion in her community involvement. Her second career as a real estate broker and appraiser enabled her to open her own real estate company, Prime Realty, with a partner. After thirty-five years, they sold to Coldwell Banker. She loves dogs, playing piano, telling stories, singing, dancing, and sharing wonderful examples of life’s lessons with her grandchildren. Arlene lives in Woodland Park, New Jersey. She has two sons, Dr. Ted Freeman of Long Branch, New Jersey, and Dr. Eric Freeman of Westfield, New Jersey, as well as three grandchildren: Michael, Max, and Quinn. This is her first book and maybe her third career.

Connect with the Author: Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

Tour Schedule:

Nov 22 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
Nov 22 - Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 23 - Rockin' Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 23 - Splashes of Joy – book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 23 - A Mama's Corner of the World – book review / giveaway
Nov 23 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
Nov 24 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / giveaway
Nov 26 – Older & Smarter? – book review / giveaway
Nov 29 –Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Nov 30 – Pick a Good Book – book review / author interview / giveaway
Dec 1 – icefairy's Treasure Chest – book review / giveaway
Dec 2 – She Just Loves Books – book review / giveaway
Dec 2 - Kam's Place – book review
Dec 3 – Sefina Hawke's Books – book spotlight
Dec 6 – I'm Into Books – book review / giveaway
Dec 6 - Reading is My Passion – book review / giveaway
Dec 6 - Writer with Wanderlust – book review / guest post / giveaway
Dec 7 – Lisa's Reading – book review / giveaway
Dec 8 – @twilight_reader – book review
Dec 9 – The Phantom Paragrapher – book review
Dec 10 – The Page Ladies – book review

Enter the Giveaway:

My Review:

Cool Kids is a must read for all young readers. It covers what the effects of bullying look like. It gives a wonderful lesson of what happens to those who become the bullies and what they do to their victims. Bullies can turn into some horrible and miserable monsters and sometimes need to see what they look to others to change their own ways. I know so many readers – young and old – would be able to see themselves in this book. It never hurts to show more kindness instead of being mean others.

Cool Kids is illustrated by the talented artist Amelina Jones. The pictures are colorful and vivid that catches the eye. They perfectly follow story and help bring the characters to life. They help the story flow and make it easy for younger readers stay focused on the story.

Cool Kids will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who are between the ages of seven and twelve years old. This would be a perfect addition to a children’s local or school library. It would, also, be great book to add to a children’s story time hour to teach a lesson for the younger ones. I can not wait to read more by Arlene Freeman in the future.

I received a hard cover copy of Cool Kids from the publisher but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.