A Time to Fly!: Review

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A TIME TO FLY!
by
Diann Floyd Boehm
Illustrated by Nancy Hoover
Children’s Picture Book
Publisher: Texas Sisters Press
Pages: 28 pages
Publication Date: August 2, 2022
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This baby bluebird will capture your heart as he shares with his momma why he doesn’t want to leave the nest and join his siblings.
The momma listens to her baby bird and, with gentleness, helps him build the courage to fly and join the rest of his family.
So come along for the journey and become excited for the baby bird as he discovers he can fly and soar through the sky.
It is a heart-warming story and beautifully illustrated with a powerful message of “I Can Do It.”
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This story focuses on the last baby bluebird leaving the nest while it’s mother encourages them. I like the concept of the book. The example of gentle teaching and opportunity to think about a decision before acting quickly. Even though it’s siblings have readily left, this bluebird needs more time and that’s not seen in the negative.

This relatively short story doesn’t lack in the emotion involved with leaving the nest (or experiencing new things). Change can be scary, maybe not as comfortable as a current place. However, with listening to each other and positive encouragement, this baby bird has good things in store.

The illustrations have a great sense of color and perspective that is perfect to keep a child entertained. One of the reasons I love to review these types of books are to see the different art styles and grow in my own art. Nancy Hoover did a great job at accompanying the story with a sense of motion and detail in her art. I loved the note about her grandchildren reading this book one day.

Overall, this is a great story to read to children in that bedtime routine!

Diann Floyd Boehm is an award-winning international author, community volunteer, humanitarian, and former classroom teacher. She is passionate about storytelling. She has nine published books for children and young adult historical fiction. Diann is the cohost of four shows on USA Global TV. She is married, a mother of three, and has one grandchild. She loves to help young and old to Embrace Imagination!
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Whiskers Abroad: Review

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WHISKERS ABROAD
Ashi and Audrey’s Adventures in Japan
by CARRIE CARTER
Graphic Designer: Stacy Vickers
Fiction / Travelogue / Japan
Publisher: Bayou City Press
Pages: 170 pages
Publication Date: October 6, 2022
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Whiskers Abroad is a lively and charming travelogue featuring a trip to Japan shared by two main characters, Audrey and Ashi, who alternate recounting their versions of events. Audrey, having won the chance to write a magazine article about traveling in Japan, takes along her cat, Ashi. Over the course of a twelve-day trip, the pair visit Tokyo, Wakayama, Shirahama, Kyoto, and Miura Peninsula. Food is of great interest to both, as they sample typical Japanese dishes from ramen to sushi to tuna specialties. They also explore Japanese culture, including food markets, a family farm, temples, and Tokyo nightlife.

Adventures abound, from Audrey losing Ashi in the fish market to Ashi slipping out of the hotel at night to go to a cat café, where he meets an alluring feline. Audrey is still trying to find her place in the universe, while Ashi believes Audrey would sink beneath the waves were he not present to rescue her time and again. Audrey is a dedicated reader of her horoscope, and the prediction for each day offers tantalizing clues as to what’s in store for the pair.

Written by author Carrie Carter and beautifully designed by Stacy Vickers, Whiskers Abroad is both an amusing travel story with unforgettable characters but also a useful guide for tourists going to Japan about such basic travel issues as how to get from the airport to central Tokyo, how to purchase a rail pass, what to visit in Tokyo, and what to eat. Lavishly designed with full-color photographs and arresting page layouts, Whiskers Abroad will delight both your eyes and your sense of adventure.

PRAISE FOR WHISKERS ABROAD:

“Whiskers Abroad is simply a delight, offering respite and reflections that bring readers into Japan from different perspectives, capturing a writer’s journey through new foods, a different culture, and a cat’s eyes. It’s very highly recommended for its ability to reach beyond the usual travelogue audiences to immerse all ages in its fun adventure.” — The Midwest Book Review

Whiskers Abroad takes off with a woman in the ultimate moral dilemma. How can she possibly leave her cat behind for weeks?! Simple answer, she doesn’t. In fact, she takes it upon herself to travel to Japan with her cat in tow. Though, along the way, she and Ashi discover they are their best as a team.

First of all, this has to be one of the most energetic books I’ve read. It’s filled with creative storytelling on every page; horoscopes, candid photos, amazing views, and of course Ashi. It was honestly a work of art and you could see the feat that went into creating this book.

As a pet owner (dog mom), it’s always been in the back of my mind to take her on my trips. Whether that is across the country or just a few hours away. I’ve even researched camper vans with dog accommodations inside. Who knows…it may happen one day! Suffice to say, this book, while fiction, shows the opportunities possible. Pet passports are a thing!

The different purrspectives of this journey makes Whiskers Abroad an easy and quick read. The daily journal style and graphics create an easy pace and have you looking forward to the next experience. I enjoyed the down-to-earth way of traveling, history sprinkled in, and travel tips as well.

I’d love to see Carter write another adventure with Audrey and Ashi, or perhaps other amazing duos!

Carrie Carter has a profound love for Japan, cats, sumo, dioramas, and eating unusual foods. She has traveled with her husband Jim to Japan fourteen times, so her numerous holidays across her favorite country were the inspiration for her first book, Whiskers Abroad: Ashi and Audrey’s Adventures in Japan. Carrie has run multiple marathons including the Tokyo Marathon, and as expected, Carrie and Jim live with an adorable cat named Frenemy, who was unhappy at not being selected as the model for the book.
Carrie lives in Houston, Texas, and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. At home, she loves to cook, design/create Halloween costumes, and daydream about meeting Jacques Pepin. She dislikes overly dramatic music used in reality TV shows. Currently, Carrie is working on her second book, a sequel to Whiskers Abroad, where Audrey and Ashi explore further into Japan and get themselves into even more interesting predicaments.

Love And The Dream Come True: Guest Post

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LOVE AND THE DREAM
COME TRUE
State of Grace Trilogy, Book 3
by
TAMMY L. GRAY
Contemporary Christian Fiction / Clean Romance
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 368 pages
Publication Date: August 2, 2022
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The Anticipated Series Finale to the 2021 Carol Award-Winning Novel, Love and a Little White Lie Their faith will face its toughest test yet.
Four years after getting the biggest break of his life, Cameron Lee’s music career has taken a nosedive, leaving him two options: become a sellout or give up on his lifelong dream. He reluctantly returns home for his sister’s wedding, hoping to avoid his past and find his love for music again.
Single mom Lexie Walters has suffered her fair share of tragedies and setbacks, but she has finally scraped together the money to achieve her dream of going into business with her cousin as an interior designer. When Lexie’s life is at an all-time high, she runs into her teenage crush, Cameron Lee.
Lost in the emotional turmoil of failure, Cameron is immediately drawn to Lexie and her infectious smile and optimistic spirit. Moreover, he adores her mouthy, no-holds-barred daughter. But fantasies only last so long, and soon Lexie and Cameron must face the real world, the one fraught with heartbreak, disappointment, and questions that sometimes can only be answered by a leap of faith.
“Cameron and Lexie’s chemistry is palpable, and readers will root for their happily ever after. This tender tale hits all the right notes.”—Publishers Weekly
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The Bravery of the Young

Guest Post

by Tammy L. Gray

I’ll never forget the first time I met Tayler. She was barely nineteen, recently engaged, and had just accepted a position as the receptionist at our church. In her lap was a squirmy seven-month-old little girl. I asked the girl’s name and, after a few inquiries, learned that little “Lilli” was Tayler’s niece. What I didn’t learn until a while later was that only three months prior, Tayler had taken full guardianship of her sister’s daughter after finding her niece in a state of severe neglect. This girl, barely out of high school, took on the responsibility of raising a child when she was still a child herself. What amazed me more was that her fiancé, Luke, accepted that responsibility as well and became a full-time parent before he was even twenty. I asked Tayler what it felt like to make that decision knowing it would forever alter her future. She just shrugged and said, “There was no decision. She needed me.” In that moment, I saw more bravery and commitment in Tayler’s eyes than I’d seen in the eyes of men and women three times her age.

I also knew in that moment that one day I wanted to write a version of her story. So, ten years later, I sat down again with Tayler as she walked me through the fight they were still in to gain custody of Lilli, of the struggle she’s had watching her sister’s life crumble due to continued addiction, of the fear she constantly dealt with of losing her daughter, and of the challenges of being a mom in every way but one. But never in that conversation did she question her choice or the gift God had given her. Thus, the inspiration for Love and the Dream Come True was born, and soon my heroine, Lexie, and her daughter, Morgan, became as real to me on paper as Tayler and Lilli were in real life.

But Lexie and Morgan’s journey isn’t the only one inspired by real events. My hero, Cameron, was also inspired by my own struggles as an artist. As I questioned the gifts God had given me and struggled with the pressure of perfection and sales and marketing, those dark moments of doubt found their way onto the pages of the story.

And what I realized in writing both character arcs was that each one of them was at their bravest when they were young, when they hadn’t yet suffered defeats and disappointments. They were willing and open and ready for the challenges God threw their way. And I began to ask myself, when did I lose this freedom? When did I begin taking each step forward with doubt and caution until I couldn’t even see the path ahead anymore? There’s a reason Jesus applauded the faith of children. They are willing, pliable, and fearless.

Love and the Dream Come True isn’t a story about fighting to make your dreams happen; it’s a story about surrender. Surrendering your dreams to the path God has for you. It’s about recognizing that God doesn’t want perfection. He wants real, true faith. He wants you to say yes when your fears are saying no. And when you do, wow, does He ever bless you for it.

I’m so thrilled to say that on December 10, 2021, after a ten-year-long legal battle, Lilli officially became the adopted daughter of Tayler and Luke. I was in that courtroom when the judge declared them a family, and I literally thought my heart might explode. This is the promise fulfilled. This is what happens when faith overcomes fear.

Since that day, God has asked me to take some mighty steps. And with each one, I remind myself of His faithfulness even when it’s hard, and some of them have been. But my hope as I age in years is that my faith and heart stay young and brave. Because the journey only ends when we become unwilling to step forward.

Tammy L. Gray lives in the Dallas area with her family, and they love all things Texas. Her nine modern and true-to-life contemporary romances include the 2017 RITA Award-winning My Hope Next Door. When not taxiing her three kids to various events, Tammy can be spotted crunching numbers as the financial administrator at her hometown church.
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The Flower Enigma: Book Blitz

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THE FLOWER ENIGMA Magnolia Bluff Crime
Chronicles, Book 5
by CHARLES BREAKFIELD
& ROX BURKEY

Small Town Mystery / Suspense / Amateur Sleuths

Publisher: ICABOD Press

Pages: 198 pages

Publication Date: August 20, 2022

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Imagine a romantic getaway in the Texas Hill Country JJ, a cyber guru, whisks his girlfriend, Jo, away for a vacation. No paparazzi. Magnolia Bluff is the perfect destination. Flower B&B is prettier than the pictures on the website.

The evangelizing podcast creators are demanding answers about the town’s newest resident, Mateo Hernandez. The enormous wall he erected has convinced the ladies he’s hiding nefarious activities behind a dubious attorney. Local authorities don’t believe laws are broken and discount the women as meddling gossips.

When the couple checks into Flower, the podcast show-in-progress is interrupted by a cyberattack. JJ, the techno-geek, can’t resist helping. At each subsequent event in the series, he uncovers more serious issues than cyberwarfare.

JJ and Jo can’t avoid this roving series maelstrom. It gets personal when they’re attacked and warned to leave town. No one can conceive the depth of the crimes behind Mateo’s walls.

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Breakfield is a technology expert in security, networking, voice, and anything digital. He enjoys writing, studying World War II history, travel, and cultural exchanges. Charles is a fan of wine tastings, winemaking, Harley riding, cooking extravaganzas, and woodworking.
Burkey is a technology professional who excels at optimizing technology and business investments. She works with customers all over the world focusing on optimized customer experiences. Rox writes white papers and documentation, but found she has a marked preference for writing fiction.
Together these Texas authors create award-winning stories that resonate with males and females, as well as young and experienced adults. They bring a fresh new view to technology possibilities today in exciting stories. Visit their website for more information and free stuff.
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Paper Targets: Interview and Giveaway

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PAPER TARGETS

by Patricia Watts

Suspense / Literary Fiction / Women’s Fiction Publisher: Atmosphere Press Pages: 324 pages Publication Date: May 3, 2022

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Everyone knew that Roanne never got angry­—until the night she killed her ex-husband and herself.

Roanne, a nice, suburban lady in her sixties who works at a Hallmark shop and volunteers at the Food Bank in Round Rock, Texas, calls her lifelong friend, Connie, confesses to murder, then puts the gun to her own head. Connie, spurred by Roanne’s last words about a lifetime of unspoken rage, sets aside her work as a cozy mystery writer and cupcake shop owner to confront the men who have stolen her dignity while she remained silent, including a bully brother, a rapist, and an ex-spouse.

On a journey to reclaim her inner power and to make peace with the loss of her treasured friend, Connie’s mission is to avoid the same tragic path as Roanne, but she takes along a gun, just in case.

With pathos and humor, Paper Targets, by Patricia Watts, calls us to speak our own narratives, even when it is uncomfortable or risky, and shows us the magnificence of a friendship that transcends time.

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INTERVIEWS WITH 

ROANNE AND CONNIE, CHARACTERS IN 

PAPER TARGETS

BY PATRICIA WATTS



MC ROANNE is interviewed about Connie


Q. Roanne, if you had to pick one word to describe Connie, what would it be?

Brave. She stood up to all those guys: the ones who bullied her, abused her, betrayed her, let her down. She did what I couldn’t do.


Q What makes Connie a good friend?

She’s never judged me. I cheated on Johnny. I ended Johnny’s life, for God’s sake. I wrecked my relationship with my kids. I didn’t stick around for her. She’s loved me through it all, just the same from beginning to end.

 

Q. What is the best moment you have had together?

Every moment! I don’t see a scene in my life —or even afterlife—when she’s not there. 


Q. What is the worst moment?

That night on the phone, of course. The night I couldn’t live anymore.


Q. What is Connie’s biggest accomplishment?

First, she’s a great mom. Look at Daniel. Who could ask for a better son? And a wonderful grandma. And, also first, she found her powerful self, took her a while, but wow!


Q. What is something you regret or wish you could change about your relationship?

I wished we could have stayed close, not in miles, necessarily, but close the way we were as girls, safe with each other.  I know that’s naïve, but… 


Q. What is the one piece of advice you would like to give Connie? 

Take a chance on love. Fall head over heels, no matter if you land on your face, smash yourself up. It really is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.




MC CONNIE is interviewed about Roanne


Q. Connie, if you had to pick one word to describe Roanne, what would it be?

Nice, nice, nice. If it’s possible to be too nice, that’s Roanne in a nutshell. She always puts everyone else first without asking for anything in return. 


Q What makes Roanne a good friend?

She’s always there for me, no matter what. We don’t always agree on things, but we never fight. Who could fight with Roanne? It would be like kicking a puppy.


Q. What is the best moment you have had together?

This is going to sound crazy because maybe it was the stupidest thing we ever did together, but I’ll always remember that night of the Queen concert in Houston, just before Roanne married Johnny. Yes, we got stoned, maybe not a brilliant choice, yes, it was not the best of ideas to shack up with those guys. Eating that whole apple pie not the smartest decision either. But up to that night, we had been together since we were fifteen, just us, going back and forth to each other’s houses when we were girls, sharing an apartment after we left home. Our lives were inseparable, and it seemed impossible that could ever end, but it was about to end. It wasn’t going to be just us anymore. That night was the last time. It was the most precious moment. I can still see Roanne sitting across that table from me at that diner, and I can taste every bite of that pie, like savoring all the times we had together.


Q. What is the worst moment?

That night on the phone, of course. The moment she fell from the world, and I couldn’t catch her.


Q. What is something you regret or wish you could change about your relationship?

I’m ashamed to admit it, but sometimes I was jealous of Roanne. She would’ve never guessed, never seen herself as anyone to be jealous of. She was so pretty, tall, blonde, Barbie doll. She got the attention from the guys. I was the sidekick. She had the ideal life—or so I thought—a man who loved her, kids, home, and it was all enough for her. She was always counting her blessings, not agonizing over what she didn’t have. That’s what I envied most about her. What a horrible thing for a friend to feel!


Q. What do you think is Roanne’s biggest accomplishment?

She’s a great mom. In spite of the rift between her and Zoe, she never stopped reaching out. That is truly unconditional love with no bounds.


Q. What is the one piece of advice you would like to give Roanne? 

Be nice to yourself for a change. Make it all about you just once. Stand in your spotlight. Mother Teresa gave and gave and never asked for anything for herself, but she did get the Nobel Peace Prize, didn’t she? 


Patricia Watts worked as a journalist for more than 20 years for newspapers in Texas, Hawaii, and Alaska. Following her news career, she tried her skill as a paralegal and then spent ten years investigating discrimination cases for the Alaska Human Rights Commission. Her novels include: Ghost Light and The Big Empty, crime mysteries co-written with Alaska author Stan Jones; The Frayer, suspense noir; and Watchdogs, a steamy thriller. Her home base is San Diego. She earned her B.A. in journalism at Humboldt State in California. She is the mother of a son and daughter and has eight grandchildren.

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A Shot in the 80% Dark: Book Blitz and Giveaway

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A SHOT IN THE 80% DARK Bean to Bar Mysteries, Book 4
by
AMBER ROYER
Cozy Mystery / Culinary Mystery /Woman Sleuth
Publisher: Golden Tip Press
Date of Publication: July 15, 2022
Number of Pages: 285 pages
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Felicity Koerber’s bean to bar chocolate shop is thriving. Despite everything she’s been through with the murders she’s helped solve, Felicity is ready to take on new challenges. So when a local museum offers her a contract to create a chocolate replica of a gigantic sailing ship sculpture for a gala celebrating Galveston’s history, she jumps at the chance to combine chocolate-crafting with art.
The project is fun – right up until there’s not just one but two dead artists on the scene, and Felicity has to change gears back to detective. Logan, Felicity’s business partner and previous bodyguard, and Arlo, Felicity’s ex who is now the cop investigating the case, are split on which victim they think was actually the intended one. Felicity may have to take some chances, both emotionally and in luring out a killer, to determine the truth.
Can she find out how Galveston’s history relates to the murders, unmask a killer, and prepare 2,000 chocolate desserts for the gala all at the same time?
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Amber Royer writes the Chocoverse comic telenovela-style foodie-inspired space opera series and the Bean to Bar Mysteries. She is also the author of Story Like a Journalist: a Workbook for Novelists, which boils down her writing knowledge into an actionable plan involving over 100 worksheets to build a comprehensive story plan for your novel. She also teaches creative writing and is an author coach.
Amber and her husband live in the DFW Area, where you can often find them hiking or taking landscape/architecture/wildlife photographs. If you are very nice to Amber, she might make you cupcakes. Chocolate cupcakes, of course! Amber blogs about creative writing technique and all things chocolate.
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In Honor’s Defense: Scrapbook Page

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IN HONOR’S DEFENSE
Hanger’s Horsemen, #3
by
KAREN WITEMEYER
Fiction / Christian / Historical / Inspirational
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Date of Publication: June 7, 2022
Number of Pages: 384 pages 
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He’s Faced Countless Perils on the Battlefield, but Nothing so Dangerous as Falling in Love.
Luke Davenport has been fighting all his life–for respect, for country, and for those unable to fight for themselves. But now that his Horsemen brothers are domesticated, he’s left alone to battle the wildness within. When an opportunity arises to take a job on his own, tracking down a group of rustlers, he jumps at the chance.
Damaris Baxter has mastered the art of invisibility. Plain and quiet, she hides in books and needlework, content to be overlooked. Until her brother dies suddenly, leaving her custody of her nephew. She moves to Texas to care for Nathaniel, determined to create the family for herself that she never thought she’d have and to give him the family he desperately needs.
When Nate finds himself knee-deep in trouble, Luke’s attempt to protect him leaves Damaris feeling indebted to the Horseman. But suspicions grow regarding the mysterious death of Damaris’s brother. And the more questions they ask, the more danger appears, threatening the family Luke may be unable to live without.
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Karen Witemeyer’s Scrapbook Page

The heroine from In Honor’s Defense enjoys needlework and has several cross-stitch samplers on display in her home. In fact, when she creates a special space for the hero during his recovery, one of the things that makes it feel like home to him is the stitched sampler with a Bible verse that she uses to adorn the wall.

I share my heroine’s love of needlework. I’ve been cross-stitching since my teen years and love to adorn my own walls with my needle art or give projects away as gifts. As most things do, the craft of cross stitching has evolved over the years. Back in the 1800s, most designs consisted of rudimentary figures (houses, trees, flowers) along with alphabets, special dates, and Bible verses or inspirational sayings.

In this virtual scrapbook, I’ve compiled photos of some of my modern projects that I consider to be most similar to those Damaris might have completed.

Sampler-type designs featuring Bible verses and inspirational sayings.

A hand-sewn pillow Christmas ornament with a design reminiscent of 19th century stitching – simple flowers and a Bible verse.

Damaris is also an avid reader, so I can picture her stitching this quick bookmark with the candle and mantel clock reminiscent of her era.

These designs are more modern than what Damaris would have likely stitched, but with her affinity for novels, I think she would have enjoyed stitching this pair of medieval maidens.

With Damaris’s dedication to family, I can easily picture her stitching a wedding sampler similar to the one I stitched for my son and his bride this past year. This mimics the nineteenth-century style of commemorating an important date with a piece of heirloom stitchery.

Voted #1 Reader’s Favorite Christian Romance Author of 2019 by Family Fiction Magazine, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. She makes her home in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children.
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The Mischief Series: Excerpt

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THE MISCHIEF SERIES
Mischief in the Mushroom Patch
A Fairy Match in the Mushroom Patch
Spider Web Scramble
Stranger in the Mushroom Patch
by
AMANDA M. THRASHER
Chapter Book / Fantasy / Action & Adventure / 2ND-4TH Grade
Publisher: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press
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Mischief in the Mushroom Patch, 2/2013, 146 pgs
Where do fairies get their magical fairy dust? After leaving the mushroom patch without permission, two mischievous fairies find themselves in more trouble than they can handle. Boris, with a broken ankle and a bent wing, is unable to walk or fly, and Lilly must devise a plan to escort him safely back to the mushroom patch. As with all actions, there are consequences! Lilly and Boris have broken colony rules and wasted precious fairy dust. Sentenced to work in the dust factory, the two learn a valuable lesson about the production of fairy dust, but can they survive the foreman?
A Fairy Match in the Mushroom Patch, 2/2013, 162 pgs
Lilly, Boris, and Jack are back! The three friends are together again in this newest addition to the Mischief Series. A natural disaster has taken the elders by surprise, and the scientists are unprepared. Damage to the colony is inevitable! Can the Master Engineers devise a plan to save the colony before they lose their home? The fairies’ Kick-a-Berry Match has been postponed as well, and the fairies must find new ways to entertain themselves until the pitch dries up. Along the way, they make a new friend named Pearle, and though she cannot walk, she can fly with ease. Valuable lessons about friendship, teamwork, and perseverance will be learned as the fairies embark on their newest adventure.
Spider Web Scramble, 2/2016, 170 pgs
Every third year, on the fifth full moon, the Mushroom Patch holds a magical Spider Web Scramble. Excitement buzzes through the forest as the fairies prepare to scramble the magical webs in order to complete the course. As a special treat, the elders disclose that the stars will be coming down to join in and play. A wish will be granted for the fairies who are pure of heart and manage to beat the clock, locating the star that has their name etched on it. With the no-fly rule in place, teamwork is the only way Pearle can complete the course. But little do they know that possible danger is in their midst. Will the magical spider web scramble be postponed? Will the stars grant Lilly, Boris, and Jack their wishes? Find out in this delightful magical adventure.
Stranger in the Mushroom Patch, 2/15/22, 212 pages
Gold Recipient of The Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA)
Lilly, Boris, and Jack Are Back! Get Ready for a Human Attack!
Who knew a slimy moss bomb war between friends would lead to an adventure of a lifetime! From strategizing with the elders for their playful battle to, of all things, escaping the clutches of a human! It doesn’t take long to learn the fairies shockingly have more in common with the child than they ever could have imagined. Broderick, everyone’s favorite spider, provides the goodies, and Lilly supplies the fairy songs and games. Filled with twists and turns, adventure, and fun, find out if the fairies and the elders can help the stranger reunite with her family. Or will there be a human attack?!

EXCERPT FROM

STRANGER IN THE MUSHROOM PATCH

THE MISCHIEF SERIES, BOOK 4

BY AMANDA M. THRASHER

Monsieur Pierre appeared out of nowhere and stood behind Boris as he released a slimy bomb. He grabbed Boris by the scruff of his neck, but it was too late. Boris, dangling a foot off the ground, watched his moss bomb rip through the air and splat all over Jack. Stinky slimy moss ran down the left side of Jack’s temple. Though Jack should have been expecting an attack, he’d momentarily let his guard down, and the stinky moss bomb took him by surprise.

The sting forced Jack to yelp out loud and jump right out of his chair. His eyes searched the room for Boris. Monsieur Pierre, though he dared not say it out loud, recognized the skill it took to pull off such a sneak attack while dangling in midair.

As soon as Jack spotted Boris’s predicament and realized Boris had managed such a hit, he mumbled a compliment under his breath.

“Nice one, Boris.”

Boris, a good-sized fairy, looked down at the floor he no longer touched with his feet and was reminded that Monsieur Pierre was quite strong indeed.

“How many times have you been told not to pelt moss bombs in the dining hall, Boris?”

Boris shrugged his shoulders. He wasn’t trying to be rude; he honestly had no idea how many times he’d been told not to do it. He hadn’t been keeping up and was trying to calculate how many times it had actually been.

“Whatever it is you’re going to say, don’t,” Monsieur Pierre added as he set Boris back down on the ground with a loud thump. “I would confiscate them,” Monsieur said as his eyes darted toward Boris’s pocket, where another moss bomb had already appeared and was ready to go, “but we all know there’s no point!”

Amanda M. Thrasher was born in England, moved to Texas, and resides there still. She’s an award-winning author of Young Adult, General Fiction, Middle Grade, Early Reader Chapter, and Picture Books. Amanda is a multiple Gold Recipient of The Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA), earning the award in multiple categories, including Young Adult, General Fiction, and Early Reader Chapter Books. She is also a multiple Gold Medal winner of the Readers’ Favorite International Book awards, a New Apple Literary Award, and has earned a first-place North Texas Book Festival award.
Amanda founded and is the CEO of Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, an independent publishing company. She shares her writing and publishing experience with others through school visits, book signings, trade conferences, and workshops for aspiring writers of all ages.
In addition, Amanda was contracted to write a graphic novel for the Driving on the Right Side of the Road Program. The publication is part of the Driving on the Right Side of the Road (DRSR) program, developed by the Law-Related Education Department of the State Bar of Texas Law Focused Education, Inc., and the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center with funding from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the Texas Department of Transportation. The program’s purpose is to offer a preventive educational program to encourage responsible decision-making when it comes to obeying traffic laws and following safe practices. The graphic novel titled What If … A Story of Shattered Lives was adapted into a reader’s theater for as few as five speakers or as many as twenty-six.
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Betting on Love: Review

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BETTING ON LOVE

by

MARY BEESLEY

RomCom / Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Wild Rose Press

Date of Publication: March 24, 2021

Number of Pages: 193 pages 

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Tempest Swan is out for revenge. Billionaire Leonard Allred’s software program has put her out of a job. She makes a bet with a friend that she’ll get Leonard to take her on a date so she can get retribution, but a fortuitous accident with an adorable nerd might just derail her vengeance.


Leonard has reasons for hiding his identity from the public. It’s worked well for him so far, until he starts falling for the honest and witty Tempest. But how can he destroy their budding romance by admitting he’s actually the guy she hates?


PRAISE FOR BETTING ON LOVE:


“If I could give Betting on Love more stars I would because 5 stars aren’t enough.” -Jacky, Goodreads reader

“BEST BEACH READ!! Witty and fun and it was super hard to put down.” – Katherine, Goodreads reader

“It had just enough spice to make you feel the sparks.” – Rebecca, Goodreads reader

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Betting on Love is a witty comedy with well developed characters and odes to sports and nerdiness mixed in. Awkward dating, bad job markets, tension filled holiday dinners, camping trips that no one is prepared for but ‘seem like a great idea at the time’. What a great recipe for book.

Tempest is passionate about her job and after five years, a meeting that she expects to be a raise turns into her life spiraling. I have to give it to her. She still keeps her head high and with a bit of savings, manages to still have some fun while looking for another job. What’s more fun then ‘not stalking’ someone outside their house on a bet to date then dump him?

In short, Tempest fumbles a word around her vivacious roommate and somehow makes her way into awkward romantic tension with a man she keeps running into.

The switch between our main character point of views was effortless. The author did a great job with making the story flow. It also added quite a bit of humor seeing both sides of the awkward and flirtatious encounters. Leo, or Arty, does live up to a few stereotypes though. Genius nerd that doesn’t know how to properly talk to women? Check! Though I did appreciate the nerd aspect, in both of them. But I had to agree with Blair sometimes:

“Is there anything you do like about him?

Blair smiled. “His money.” Her lips turned down. “But otherwise, nothing right now. He hurt you and didn’t fix it when I told him to, so he’s on my shit list.”

Honestly, I’d read a spin-off of Blair and her quest to open a sweet shop of some kind. Been there!

This was a great, comedy romance, that I could see on the screen one day. I’d definitely recommend this one for you to read.

Mary Beesley is a Whitney Award Nominee and received a Crowned Heart of Excellence Review and a 5-star Reader’s Favorite Award.

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6/14/22ReviewBoys’ Mom Reads
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6/16/22ReviewThat’s What She’s Reading
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Deadly Keepsakes: Book Blitz and Giveaway!

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DEADLY KEEPSAKES
A Tori Winters Mystery
by
ANITA DICKASON
NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!
MYSTERY
Publisher: Mystic Circle Books
Coming July 10, 2022
Number of Pages: 360 pages
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The past becomes the future. Secrets that can kill!
After someone tries to kill her, Tori Winters is on the run. Looking for a place to hide, a mysterious phone call about a vague inheritance seems to be the answer. After all, who would think of looking for her in Granbury, a small quaint Texas town. Instead, her life is about to spin into an existence where nothing is as it seems. The historic house she inherits has secrets. Ones she’s been warned can kill. A stranger in a strange town, who can she trust? There is the kindly lawyer and his son, or the disinherited step-grandson. What secrets do they hide? Tori’s newfound fortune may not be a blessing. It could become her death warrant.
Award-winning Author Anita Dickason is a twenty-two-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department. She served as a patrol officer, undercover narcotics detective, advanced accident investigator, tactical officer, and first female sniper on the Dallas SWAT team.
Anita writes about what she knows, cops and crime. Her police background provides an unending source of inspiration for her plots and characters. Many incidents and characters portrayed in her books are based on personal experience. For her, the characters are the fun part of writing as she never knows where they will take her. There is always something out of the ordinary in her stories.
In Anita’s debut novel, Sentinels of the Night, she created an elite FBI Unit, the Trackers. Since then, she has added three more Tracker crime thrillers, Going Gone!, A u 7 9, and Operation Navajo, which are not a series and can be read in any order, and Deadly Business, a crime thriller.
As a Texas author, many of Anita’s books are based in Texas, or there is a link to Texas. When she stepped outside of the Tracker novels and wrote, Not Dead, she selected Meridian, a small community in central Texas for the location.
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