Review of The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee by Deborah Abela

The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee

India Wimple can spell. Brilliantly. Every Friday night, she and her family watch the Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee on TV. When the Wimples suggest she enter the next Bee, India feels nothing but trepidation. She's sure she's not good enough – but with the support of her family, India finds the courage to sign up.

There are plenty of obstacles to reaching the finals, like Summer Millicent Ernestine Beauregard-Champion, a spoiled rich girl who isn't afraid to step on anyone who gets in her way of winning.

The whole thing seems rather calamitous to India. But with hope, hard work, and a little bit of heart, something splendiferous might be on the horizon...

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon * B&N

**My thoughts**

India is a girl after my own heart. She loves words and spelling and dreams of a winning a spelling bee. But she also has horrid stagefright. But she finally decides to take a chance and enters the spelling bee that she and her family regularly watch.

India has amazing support from her family, the Whimples, and all of Yungabilla. And she is fiercely devoted to them, willing to sacrifice her dreams for her brother Boo's health and her family's financial status. It shows how she has a big heart and how doing good for others can lead to others doing good for you.

The book also gives a peek into how parents can be completely overbearing in the name of winning and how much pain they cause when spoiling and ignoring their kids. India is one who is able to step up and be a friend to these kids, in spite of their treatment. It's a great lesson for kids on kindness. And parents should take note of the horrible behavior of these other parents and what they do their kids' self esteem.

Each chapter is headed by a vocabulary word with definition and sentence example. It's a great not-so-subtle unconscious way to impart some new vocabulary on readers. I got a kick out of that part.

Overall, a fun read for elementary kids that they could enjoy on their own or that could lead to some good classroom discussions.

Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Preorder Derek Hyde Knows Spooky When He Sees It by E. Michael Lunsford

Derek Hyde Series, Book 1

Middle-Grade Paranormal

Date Published: 12-21-2019

Publisher: INtense Publications LLC

Twelve-year-old Derek Hyde isn’t thrilled that the spookiest old mansion in town is about to become the Hyde Funeral Home & Used Coffin Outlet. Especially since he has to live there with his mortician parents, Jack and Formalda.

Of course, being driven in the family hearse to his first day at middle school doesn’t exactly add whipped cream to his broccoli.

As if things couldn't get more horrific, an evil classmate named Nussbaum attacks him in the cafeteria with a plate of beef stroganoff. Seems this kid used to love living in the old mansion himself, but got yanked out after accidentally blowing up his own mom and dad. With his chemistry set. Now his dead parents are stuck as ghosts and Nussbaum is a foster kid stuck on revenge, vowing to get even with Derek’s family for taking over his haunted home.

Derek desperately craves a nice place to live, but a couple of minor details stand in his way—just some blood-curdling apparitions that scare the pants off him and a classmate bent on landing him in his parents’ embalming room. As a client.

Purchase Links

Publisher 

About the Author

E. Michael Lunsford is the author of an award-winning play, Scary, Scary Night, and a book of wacky kid’s poems, Sometimes I Get My Shoes on Backwards, winner of the Readers’ Favorite International Book Award. His debut novel is the first of the funny Derek Hyde series of spooky middle grade books published by INtense Publications. Michael is also a musician, composer, inventor, entrepreneur and chief cook & bottle washer who works and lives with his wife and love of his life in San Carlos, California.

Contact Links

Website

Twitter

Goodreads

Author Amazon Page

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Our Military Family by Suzan Johnson

Our Military Family

Many families miss loved ones when they are away serving in the military. Sometimes the service men and women are away from moms, dads, brothers, and sisters. In this story Dad and the kids, Harmony and Dominic, are home missing mom. Mom is in the United States Army, and during her deployment, she is sometimes gone for up to 12 months. Throughout the book, you experience what the family has to do to cope without mom, all the while missing her. I hope this book is a testament to those families who make many sacrifices at home and abroad so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we have.

Amazon / Barnes and Noble

(affiliate link included)

About Suzan Johnson

Suzan Johnson has been the Media Specialist at an elementary school for over ten years. She is a voracious reader of books of all genres. Growing up, she loved and enjoyed participating in sporting activities such as cheerleading and softball. As a teacher she encourages her students to read a variety of books and participate in sports. Suzan has been a member of South Florida Writer’s Association, and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Johnson currently lives in the South Florida area.

Email: shjstories@gmail.com
Website: https://www.shjstories.com/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/shjstories

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shjstories

Instagram: https://instagram.com/shjstories

I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this book. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.

The Day the Grapefruits Took Over the World by Sandi Smith

Children's Humor

Children's Chapter Books (Books)

Publisher: 102nd Place, LLC

Date Published: June 6, 2019

Mayor Pinkie Grapefruit smiled slightly, "Well . . . well . . . well . . . look who we have here. Nathaniel Joseph Parker! I don't really care what you think Nathaniel Joseph Parker, and, yes, we know your name. You are one of the biggest offenders of them all. You are ruining everything for us, but you won't be doing that much longer. You will be changing the way you think, whether you want to or not. We have very persuasive methods to change people's minds. We have decided to take over the world, and we will be number one in the kitchen, in restaurants, and, well, everywhere!"

Grapefruits rule!

Purchase Link

Amazon
Should you make a purchase through my affiliate link, I may earn a few pennies at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my websites! 

About the Author

Sandi Smith spent her time as a young girl combing the shelves of the public library. She has always enjoyed the magic that books have to offer and was inspired by her high school English teacher, Mr. Coolidge to embrace the arts. The author found her calling as a writer early one morning as her first story came to her in the form of a poem. Since then she has written more than 15 children’s books, with her most popular series about the adventures of an adorable spider in the A.R. Achnid series. Sandi is happily married to her inspiration and husband of 40 years, John. She continues to write for her two precious grandchildren. When she’s not penning a new story, Sandi and John like to camp, kayak and to enjoy the simple life in their home in Pembroke, NH. To learn more about Sandi go to: www.authorsandismith.com

Contact Links

Website: 

Facebook 

Twitter  

Pinterest  

LinkedIn  

Halloween $25 Amazon Gift Card #Giveaway Ends 10/27

Halloween makes me flash back to favorite childhood books like Bunnicula and The Dollhouse Murders. Those eventually led to books by RL Stine and Christopher Pike. What did you read back then? What would you buy with $25 to Amazon?

Head below to enter to win! Giveaway is open to US &CAN and ends on on 10/27 at 11:59pmEST. Must be 18yo to enter.

Good luck!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: All opinions are 100% mine. This giveaway is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. All opinions and experiences are Conservamom‘s. Open to US & CAN , must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted through email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor will be responsible for product fulfillment to winner(s) of the giveaway. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions or to see your product featured in an Event you can contact  Elia At Conservamom

$50 Visa Gift Card and The Fire Keeper Book Giveaway Ends 9/23

Gotta love it when great new middle grade books are available for readers! Check out the latest one from Rick Riordan Presents. Enter to win a copy, as well as a $50 Visa Gift Card to buy even more books, or whatever you want!

THE FIRE KEEPER is the exciting sequel to last year’s middle-grade bestseller, The Storm Runner, by J.C. Cervantes!

In this fiery and fast-paced follow-up, Zane Obispo is faced with an impossible decision: save the god-born children like him from the wrath of angry Maya gods, or rescue his father from his eternal prison.

About the Series

A contemporary adventure based on Maya mythology from Rick Riordan Presents! In Book 1, The Storm Runner, a lonely boy in New Mexico has a physical disability that makes middle school feel even more like everyone is watching him. But as he soon learns, his physical differences are merely the first clue to a family history that connects him to the Maya gods—and puts him in mortal danger.

About The Fire Keeper

Zane Obispo’s new life on a beautiful secluded tropical island, complete with his family and closest friends, should be perfect. But he can’t control his newfound fire skills yet (inherited from his father, the Maya god Hurakan); there’s a painful rift between him and his dog ever since she became a hell hound; and he doesn’t know what to do with his feelings for Brooks.

One day he discovers that by writing the book about his misadventures with the Maya gods, he unintentionally put other godborn children at risk. Unless Zane can find the godborns before the gods do, they will be killed. To make matters worse, Zane learns that Hurakan is scheduled to be executed. Zane knows he must rescue him, no matter the cost. Can he accomplish both tasks without the gods detecting him, or will he end up a permanent resident of the underworld?

In this cleverly plotted sequel to The Storm Runner, the gang's back together again with spirited new characters, sneaky gods, Aztec royalty, unlikely alliances, and secrets darker than Zane could ever have imagined. Secrets that will change him forever.

 

About the Author

J.C. Cervantes is theNew York Times best-selling author of The Storm Runner, which Booklist called “a rip-roaring adventure” in a starred review. Her first novel, Tortilla Sun, was a 2010 New Voices pick by the American Booksellers Association and was named to Bank Street's 2011 Best Book List. Jen grew up in San Diego and was fascinated by stories about Maya gods and magic.

 

About Rick Riordan Presents

The Rick Riordan Presents imprint is dedicated to providing entertaining middle grade fiction based on various world mythologies. Rick Riordan is involved in the selection, editing, and promotion of these books, working with great authors to tell exciting stories inspired by the mythologies of their own heritages. Learn more about the imprint and its current and upcoming titles on their official site.

This new book is now available. Head over to here to Learn more about the book on the official Rick Riordan Presents site.

 

Make sure and stay connected with Rick Riordian & J.C Cervantes on Social Media

#TheFireKeeperRRP

Follow Rick Riordan Presents on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Follow J.C. Cervantes on Twitter | Instagram | Official Site

Now for the best part! One lucky winner have the chance to enter to win a this fantastic prize pack:

• a copy of The Fire Keeper,
• branded baseball cap & bumper sticker,
• plus a $50 Visa gift card to stock up on a fresh wardrobe.

Head below to enter! Giveaway is open to US only and ends on 9/23/2019 at 11:59pm EST. Good luck!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: All opinions are 100% mine. This giveaway is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. All opinions and experiences are Conservamom‘s. Open to US &  must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted through email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor will be responsible for product fulfillment to winner(s) of the giveaway. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions or to see your product featured in an Event you can contact  Elia At Conservamom  

Review of Sophie Washington: Mismatch by Tonya Duncan Ellis

Yay! It's another Sophie Washington book! Find out what I thought about the latest installment, Mismatch, and check out an excerpt from the book. Let the author know what you think in the comments! And then follow the tour to find out what others have to say about it. Plus there's a giveaway at the end!

$25 Amazon Gift Card #Giveaway 2 Winners Ends 9/8

Do you have a book lover who is excited about being back at school, learning about new books and authors? Do they have a new wishlist of books to check out? Why not add to their library at home so that they can embrace that love of reading?

To enter: Just head below! Giveaway is open to US &CAN and ends on 9/8 at 11:59pm EST. Good luck!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: All opinions are 100% mine. This giveaway is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. All opinions and experiences are Conservamom‘s. Open to US & CAN , must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted through email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor will be responsible for product fulfillment to winner(s) of the giveaway. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions or to see your product featured in an Event you can contact  Elia At Conservamom

Enter the @jambobooks 3-Month Subscription #Giveaway Ends 8/29 @las930 @SMGurusNetwork

One of my favorite things as a kid was the Scholastic book order forms, because I knew I was going to get at least one new book each and every month. Can you imagine how much greater it would be to have those books delivered right to your door? It would be like a holiday every single month with fun surprises!

*****************

Welcome to the Jambo Book Club 3 Month Subscription Giveaway!

1 Winner

This giveaway is part of our Back To School Gift Guide – Stop by to see all the giveaways and great products.

Host is Michigan Saving and More

My co-hosts for this giveaway are Deliciously Savvy, SaraLee’s Deals Steals & Giveaways, Eclectic Evelyn, and Ice Cream n Sticky Fingers

Below is a list of all the bloggers involved in the gift guide giveaways.

A Rain of Thought, Deliciously Savvy, Java John Z’s, Lisa-Queen of Random, MarksvilleandMe, Michigan Saving and More, My Crafty Zoo, My Silly Little Gang, SaraLee’s Deals Steals & Giveaways, Tales From A Southern Mom, This Frugal Family

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This giveaway's Sponsor is:

WEBSITE ~ FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ INSTAGRAM ~ PINTEREST ~ YOU TUBE

Jambo Book Club sends your child two beautiful high-quality books each month that star a child of color in an engaging story. Jambo makes it easy to add fun multicultural children’s books to your home library. Give your child the gift of reading stories that represent modern America.

~~~

Winner's choice of 3 month subscription

$67.50 ARV total

See the review HERE.

~~~~~~

THE GIVEAWAY

This giveaway/sweepstakes is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This Giveaway is valid to continental United States residents only, Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 11:59 PM (EST) 8/29/19. The winner will have 48 hours to email their information back to las93063 at gmail dot com or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put this email address as safe as it could go to spam. The giveaway is not valid where prohibited! By entering you are authorizing us to collect the information on the form below, this information is used only to contact the winner! No purchase necessary, Void where prohibited by law, and the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winners are chosen randomly by the Giveaway Tools program. The sponsors are each responsible for shipping of the above prizes. No blog associated with this contests are responsible for prize fulfillment. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Laura Smith at las930 (at)gmail (dot) com. If you take an entry you must stay following for the entire contest or you will be disqualified.

If you are a blogger interested in our gift guides sign up here or more information is HERE.

Get blogger opps just like this by signing up to receive blogger emails HERE.

Also we all “love it if you like us” on Facebook! If you like our blogs on social media it helps us bring you only the best giveaways and more of them! Don't forget to stop by for your daily bonus entries. Share your referral links for even more chances to WIN!

Enter below and Good Luck!

Entry-Form

$25 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

What are you reading right now? Which books would you grab if you had $25 to spend on Amazon right now? Or would you splurge on new books for your kids? For the middle grades and chapter books, I've been all over the Sophie Washington series by Tonya Duncan Ellis. (Yes, that is my affiliate link. If you make a purchase through it, I may earn a few pennies at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting my websites!)

Here's your chance to get your hands on an Amazon gift card. All you have to do is enter below. What will you spend your money on?  

Giveaway is open to US & CAN only. Must be 18+ to enter. Ends on 8/18/19 at 11:59pm EST. Good luck! 

Entry-Form

Disclosure: All opinions are 100% mine. This giveaway is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. All opinions and experiences are Conservamom‘s. Open to US & CAN , must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted through email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor will be responsible for product fulfillment to winner(s) of the giveaway. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions or to see your product featured in an Event you can contact  Elia At Conservamom

Two Ways Home: A Foster Care Journey by Marion Rhines

Two Ways Home

10-year-old Levi has just joined a new foster family! Levi knows being with a new family can be daunting, but wants everyone to know about all the good things that can come from foster care. With vibrant watercolor illustrations and a kid-friendly story, 'Two Ways Home: A Foster Care Journey' can help children learn more about their new situation and feel more comfortable with their foster family!

Buy it on Amazon

Should you make a purchase through my affiliate link, I may earn a few pennies at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my websites!

About Marion Rhines

Marion Rhines has been a contributing writer to the Fostering Families Today magazine, drawing from her experience as a foster/adoptive parent. She lives with her family in Knoxville, Tennessee. She is the wife of a military veteran, mother of five children, but she has also been a private child-care provider, substitute teacher, and a medical office receptionist. She gets her best ideas from her real life. Marion loves to write poems, many of which have been turned into bookmarks for foster parents and the lyrics to a song.

I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.

Review of Mrs. Murray's Hidden Treasure by Emily-Jane Hills Orford

Welcome to the review tour for Mrs. Murray's Hidden Treasure, the second book in the Piccadilly Street Series by Emily-Jane Orford. And while it is a sequel, you can still read it as a standalone book. Please check out an excerpt and then my thoughts on the book. Leave questions and comments for the author and then follow the tour for even more reviews. Remember to enter the giveaway at the end!

Mrs. Murray's Hidden Treasure

There is a hidden treasure in the grand old mansion on Piccadilly Street, in a place called London, but not the real London of English fame. There’s also a lot of mystery and a murder that’s been unsolved for decades. But it’s the treasure that captures Mary’s interest. Mary lives in this house along with her family, her Brownie friends and a ghost. When the ghost reveals her secret about the hidden treasure, there’s no stopping Mary, her Brownie friends, or her enemies from searching for this treasure. Why the intrigue? Apparently there’s a little bit of magic connected to this treasure. And so the adventure begins. Who will find the treasure first?

Read an excerpt:

“Ah! So this is where it’s hidden.” It was the unmistakeable voice of Miss Penelope. The girls shuddered as Mrs. Murray faded into the fireplace and disappeared. Brunny and Briddie turned around slowly to face their opponent. Mary hesitated before taking a cautious, timid look over her shoulder. Rosie moved closer to her friend and looked as well. There she was, in all her evil splendor, Elizabeth and Stocky standing on either side of her.

“And you thought I wouldn’t be watching.” She cackled loudly. Not the cackle that Mrs. Murray did when she tried to laugh, but a distinctly evil cackle that sent shivers up and down Mary’s spine.

Buy it on Amazon

**My thoughts**

While this book is the second in the series, it could potentially be read as a standalone story. You get a lot of information from the first book in the beginning of this book. I felt like there was more recap than was actually necessary, which made the story drag on a bit in the beginning. But I think had you not read the first book, you would not necessarily feel this way.

This book was different than the first in that it focused more on the harassment of the witch Penelope, who is determined to just be terrible to Mary and her friend. I can't remember, but feel like the story takes place some decades ago, especially considering the methods of discipline being used by Penelope as the teacher. Yes, she is ridiculed for what she is doing, but if it was current day, she would have been fired on the spot. She is truly a terrible, terrible woman and Mary needs all the help she can get from the Brownies and her other friends.

Penelope is determined to find this mysterious hidden treasure left behind by the ghost Mrs. Murray some years before. But even Mrs. Murray doesn't remember where she has it hidden. And Penelope is using her powers to mess with the minds of the people and creatures involved, so it can be hard to tell whom to trust.

It's a lot of dialogue to absorb throughout the story as it unfolds, but there are a lot of twists and turns that will intrigue a lot of kids who read it.

Read my review of the first book here.

About Emily-Jane Hills Orford

An avid gardener, artist, musician and writer, Emily-Jane Hills Orford has fond memories and lots of stories that evolved from a childhood growing up in a haunted Victorian mansion. Told she had a ‘vivid imagination’, the author used this talent to create stories in her head to pass tedious hours while sick, waiting in a doctor’s office, listening to a teacher drone on about something she already knew, or enduring the long, stuffy family car rides. The author lived her stories in her head, allowing her imagination to lead her into a different world, one of her own making. As the author grew up, these stories, imaginings and fantasies took to the written form and, over the years, she developed a reputation for telling a good story. Emily-Jane can now boast that she is an award-winning author of several books, including Mrs. Murray’s Ghost (Telltale Publishing 2018), Mrs. Murray’s Hidden Treasure (Telltale Publishing 2019), Queen Mary’s Daughter (Clean Reads 2018), Gerlinda (CFA 2016) which received an Honorable Mention in the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, To Be a Duke (CFA 2014) which was named Finalist and Silver Medalist in the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and received an Honorable Mention in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards and several other books. A retired teacher of music and creative writing, she writes about the extra-ordinary in life and the fantasies of dreams combined with memories. For more information on the author, check out her website at: http://emilyjanebooks.ca

Author Links:

Website: http://emilyjanebooks.ca

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realpeoplestories

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ejhomusic

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1732544.Emily_Jane_Hills_Orford

Emily-Jane Hills Orford will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Find Your Power: Discovering Inner Strength by Patricia May

Find Your Power

Find Your Power, how?

By using the simple and fun practices in this book. 

Why? So we can learn how to define ourselves inside and create the person we want to be. 

Find Your Power is here to help guide our youth through what can be "not the easiest times."

These fun and interactive projects and mindful exercises will help guide you into what can become daily routines and lifetime practices. It is finding our real power inside that helps shape our physical selves into the best possible person we can be.

Available on Amazon
Yes, this is my affiliate link. Should you make a purchase through it, I may earn a few pennies at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my websites!

A note from the author:

Free brand new ebook 7/9 - 7/13! Find Your Power- Discovering Inner Strength is a #1 in new releases! On the heels of Find Your Happy, a #1 seller for over 5 months now, this new book will encourage kids, and adults alike, to practices this simple fun daily exercises, feeling more calm and peace while becoming more inspired and creative. Please leave an honest review. Enjoy the ebook!

About Patricia May:

I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.

Quita-Weeta's Cartwheel Adventures by Marquita Wilson

Quita-Weeta's Cartwheel Adventures

Quita-Weeta is a fun prissy -tomboy that lived for Saturday morning adventures. She loved doing cartwheels, chewing wads of bubble gum, and eating gooey ketchup sandwiches. These things were just a few of the highlights from her Saturday morning adventures. All her friends knew she would show up with tons on interesting things for them to do and keep Saturdays fun for everyone. From her tailored made cut off jean shorts, flashy red shoes, and her stud pearl earrings Quita-Weeta was sure to be looking her best while playing her favorite games in the neighborhood. Keep your eyes on Quita-Weeta from the cartwheels to the muddy-ditch playing adventure was her middle name and fun fun fun was her game, This book is sure to capture the adventure and fun for all readers to enjoy.

               
 Available on Amazon and BN

About Marquita Wilson

Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida A mother to 6 adult kids and Mimi to 4 grandboys.

I love to tell stories. I also have a huge love for memories, and writing allows me to share both loves with the world. I have so many childhood stories and memories from growing up in my community. Quita-Weeta allows me to share a portion of my childhood as on a child, who was fun, weird, and daring. Everyone in the neighborhood knew me, and it felt personal on most levels. I hope the world falls in love with this sassy, witty tomboy for Jacksonville's Northside.

Win $150 Amazon Cash with @homejobsbymom Giveaway Ends 6/6

My insatiable appetite for reading started at a very young age. My parents and grandmother could not keep me stocked in books, no matter what they did. I went to the library at least once a week AND my mother regularly purchased books from those Scholastic Book Orders for me. It didn't matter how many times I had read a book, I always reread them. So I had a large library at a young age. Can you imagine what they would have done for me with a $150 gift card to Amazon for buying books? What would you buy? Best of luck entering the giveaway!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Prize: $150 Amazon Gift Card

Hosted & Sponsored by: Home Jobs By Mom

Rules: Use the Giveaway Tools form to enter daily. Giveaway ends 06/06 and is open worldwide. Entrants must be 18 years old to enter. Winner will be notified via email.

---

Good Luck! Enter Below

Entry-Form

Also we all “love it if you follow us” on Instagram!

---

ONE entrant will be selected by the entry form to win a $150 Amazon Gift Card. Open for entry worldwide, 18 years and older from 05/06/19 thru 06/06/19. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification email to claim their prize or a new winner will be selected. Once a winner is drawn and confirmed, the name will be announced on the GiveawayTools form. Home Jobs By Mom will be responsible for sending the winner their prize.

---

Are you a blogger? CLICK HERE to get a FREE link added to one of our giveaways. Just post and report!

---

If you have any questions or are a brand/company and would like to work with Home Jobs By Mom please contact her. Also, to be informed of new giveaways and blogger opps CLICK HERE.

---

Thank You So Much For Visiting Today!

Review of Sophie Washington: Code One by Tonya Duncan Ellis

Welcome to the review tour for Sophie Washington: Code One by Tonya Duncan Ellis! If you follow my blog at all, you'll know that I simply adore this series of middle grade books. I'll get into more detail below, plus I have an excerpt for you to enjoy. As always, leave Tonya your questions and comments as you follow the tour and be sure to enter the giveaway!

All About Author Chelsea Walker Flagg and her Tinsey Clover

Welcome to the book tour for Tinsey Clover by Chelsea Walker Flagg. This is a whimsical fantasy story for middle grade readers, and I have an excerpt and my review for you. But first, Chelsea tells us about her writing journey and her love for Tinsey. Want to know more? Leave her questions and comments here and all along the tour. You can also enter the giveaway!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Your journey to becoming a writer

I’ve always loved writing. I was that kid in my second grade class always bugging my teacher to let me read my new stories to my classmates. That passion never went away, but I didn’t fully jump into being a writer until after my daughters were born. It was reading Tina Fey’s BossyPants that tipped the scale, I think. Reading that, I was fully confident that I could write a book full of funny stories! And, I did. My book, I’d Rather Wear Pajamas, was just that. Quirky stories from my life.

After winning some awards and earning best-seller status for that book, I knew writing was what I was meant to do. So, here I am!

The best advice I’ve ever received is the same advice I try to share with every aspiring writer I encounter: KEEP WRITING! There have always been plenty of people along the way who discourage writers or convince them it’s not a worthwhile activity. Those people are lying to you. If you’re passionate about writing, keep writing. You will find so much power, self-awareness, and joy when you put your words down on paper. And no, it’s never going to be perfect. And yes, some people won’t care for your style or your stories, but that doesn’t matter. Write. Anyway. I can’t emphasis that enough.


Character creation

I feel so connected to my little elfin girl, Tinsey Clover. She came to me so quickly as a character long before any sort of plot started forming for her story. In fact, as crazy as it might sound, it feels like she helped me write the story. Like she’d sit down right next to me and tell me what happened in her own words. Talk about having a muse!

Tinsey is a great combination of young and innocent mixed in with spunky and not afraid to challenge things. She doesn’t feel comfortable with the way her world works, so she sets out to change it. Sometimes she feels too small to even make a dent in anything, but other times, she’s in her full power and does amazing things. Both emotions are totally appropriate. I hope Tinsey’s young audience will recognize these emotions in themselves and feel optimistic that they can make changes for the better in their worlds, too.


Preview of an upcoming book/series

I’m excited to get pen to paper on a TINSEY CLOVER sequel! I’m equally excited to announce my intention to set up a service to help young writers publish their own books! Follow me for more information on that soon.

Tinsey Clover

Tinsey Clover is smart. She’s brave. Also, she can’t carry a tune to save her life. Oh yeah, plus she's an elf the size of a chipmunk. When her bizarre magical power grows in and makes her feel like a total outsider in her own village, Tinsey sneaks into the forbidden forest on a journey to find someone more like her. From trolls to dragons, what she discovers along the way challenges everything, and everyone, she thought she knew.

A coming of age story for early middle grade fans of Sarah Mlynowski, Kate DiCamillo, and Chris Colfer.

Read an excerpt:

This is my gift? I’m so confused. And tired. Did I seriously just gain the ability to snap my fingers and summon cleaning tools into existence? What a crock. I mean, shouldn’t I at least be allowed the gift to not sound like a really upset seal whenever I sing a note? I can’t imagine anyone in the history of ever actually getting excited about my new, strange magic. I scan the circle and notice every single eye staring at me in utter awe. I take that back. Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of the trealfurs in this circle look in complete astonishment over this. Want to guess who makes up the point-oh-one percent of trealfurs who isn’t getting a kick out of this whole situation? That’s right: Me.

So, why am I the one who gained this bizarre power? I glance around the circle again. Everyone’s looking back at me like I just turned into a two-headed walrus or something. Two minutes ago, people were shooting daggers out of their eyes at me like I was the scum of the earth, and now, here they all are, acting like I'm the most amazing creature to ever walk the face of the planet.

“Do it again,” one of the trealfurs urges in a loud whisper.

A few others nod their heads in enthusiastic agreement. It’s clear they all want to see what other sparkly new cleaners I can make appear out of nowhere. I really don’t want to test it out anymore, but a tiny voice inside my head wonders if maybe, just maybe, this “gift” is actually a fluke. I mean, I did hit my head pretty hard when I rolled off that fox. What if that knocked things loose a little bit? I cross one set of fingers behind my back and hope that’ll work to help my wish come true, then close one eye before snapping my other set of fingers again. Please just be a big mistake, I think. Unfortunately, it’s not. Another broom appears in a cloud of sparkles just like the last one, and falls to the ground with a clatter.

A round of applause ripples through the council circle. I bury my head in my hands.

How unlucky can one girl get?

Available on Amazon

This is my affiliate link. Should you make a purchase through it, I may earn a few pennies at no additional cost to you. Thanks for helping to support my websites!

**My thoughts**

Every once in a while I like to read a book for kids that falls outside of my normal choice of genre. This is definitely a book for kids who are into elves and magical creatures who like to go on adventures. I appreciated the deeper meanings in the story.

Flagg has created a world filled with many mini worlds within it. Each mini world has its own group or race of magical creature. These creatures do not mix and believe all kinds of horrible things about each other. Young Tinsey is especially sensitive to it, as her uncle is the ruler of her people. But she has a sense that there is something great that lies beyond their boundaries and she is aching to discover it. She is also trying to figure out who she is and how she fits into her world.

Soon after her magical powers finally literally descend upon her, Tinsey decides to bust through the barriers to explore the world beyond. By doing so, she manages to meet all kinds of wonderful magical creatures. And she finds out that those stereotypes that she grew up with were wrong. And her mission becomes one to teach others the same.

I think this idea is extremely timely right now as our society seems to have more hatred based on stereotypes and preconceived notions. If we would just take the time to get to know different people and to find out about them, we may find that we really do like them and can establish great relationships. The story also shows how kids are often smarter than the adults in their lives and we should listen to them more. It was a sweet story.

About Chelsea Walker Flagg

Chelsea was born and raised in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado, where she spent countless hours writing stories. Mostly about cats.

In 2015, she published her first book: a quirky memoir for adults called I'd Rather Wear Pajamas that talks all about the journey through her young adult life that led to her becoming an author. It was an Amazon #1 best seller for five straight days and continues to elicit full belly laughs from its readers.

After the birth of her children, Chelsea shifted her writing to the kidlit world. She’s thrilled to share her newest baby: Tinsey Clover.

Chelsea lives in Boulder with her husband and three practically perfect daughters. Unfortunately, she doesn’t own any cats.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

www.chelseaflagg.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chelseawalkerflagg

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chelseaflagg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelseaflagg/

Chelsea Flagg will be awarding $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway