M.M. Hudson's Blog, page 14
October 6, 2023
Prime Suspect by Lauren Carr #giveaway #spotlight #thriller #CountdowntoHalloween2023
October 5, 2023
The Whiskered Witness by Laura Ball #giveaway #spotlight #bookseries #animals #cozymysteries #CoundowntoHalloween2023
OliviaSwann is at it again in the second book in the Whiskers & TailsMysteries series.
In this whodunnit where nothing is whatit seems,
Olivia faces challenges and twists and turnsshe can’t seem tofigure out.
OliviaSwann is at it again in the second book in the Whiskers & TailsMysteries series. Olivia loves to help people and her patients, butwhen a stranger asks for her help with a mystery, she can't resist!With the help of local newspaper reporter Randy Seaver, Olivia delvesinto finding a mystery that is decades in the making and uncoversmore than she bargained for. In this whodunnit where nothing is whatit seems, Olivia faces challenges and twists and turns she can’tseem to figure out.
TomBarnaby and her herd of animals are back to help Olivia and protecther from harm when she gets too close to the truth. Will Olivia beable to solve the stranger’s mystery? Will she uncover a possiblekiller during her search? Will she find love amongst the chaos anddanger? Olivia is more determined than ever to uncover the truth nomatter what. But will the cost of learning the truth be too high aprice to pay in the end for her and her friends?
Whiskersin Trouble
AWhiskers & Tails Mystery #1
OliviaSwann has returned to her hometown after college and realized herdream of opening an animal hospital - the Whiskers and Tails Vet andBoarding Hospital. When she hires a friend at her college reunion tojoin as partner at the hospital, things take a dangerous turn assuspicions of stolen cats begin to emerge. More than just herbusiness is threatened when her new partner begins to ask questionsabout the wealthiest and most well-known family in the county. Arecats really being stolen from their owners and sold to other ownersfor a high profit? Olivia has a mystery on her hands while she dealswith her loveable parents and a smitten love interest she doesn'tquite know how to handle. With the help of her friends--her two cats,Fiona and Wilson, an old Beagle named Barnabus and his owner TomBarnaby--Olivia must try to solve a mystery that hits a little tooclose to home.
Oliviais a reluctant heroine in this whodunnit as she is determined to findher friend’s killer no matter the cost. How will she juggle work,crime solving and an admirer all at one time? Find out in this funand fast-paced mystery from Laura Ball.
LauraBall is a life-long Ohio native who found her love for writing at ayoung age. Since she was a young child, she has enjoyed writingstories and has had several poems published over the years in poetryanthologies. She hopes to bring to life characters that are relatableand storylines that keep a reader’s attention and stay in theirthoughts long after they’ve put the book down. She has a two-yearold Cavapoo named Eddie who provides plenty of inspiration!
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October 4, 2023
Review: Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes #multicultural #CountdowntoHalloween2023 #animals #childrensbooks #picture books
This larger than life picture book for children tells the tale of all the spooks that come out for a huge Halloween party. The book starts off with black cats who screech. The ending is fun and unexpected as all these creatures come from all over. But who is it that breaks up the party?
The book is written in full rhyme. Each page features large pictures with all of the colors that one would expect at Halloween. The illustrator did a fantastic job of this. That in itself is awesome, but what makes this book even more cool is that it is in English and Spanish to describe all of the characters. A glossary in the back is a nice addition to help those whose first language is not Spanish.
I seriously love this book and it would be a good edition for the Halloween season shelf. Don't believe me? This book was given an award for excellence.
I give this book 5 pumpkins.
Disclosure: I borrowed a copy of this book to read and review from my local library. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours.~Michelle, Reading Authors Network
October 3, 2023
In the Haunted House by Eve Bunting #CountdowntoHalloween2023 #poetry #Childrensbooks #review
This adorable lift-the-flap book features two pair of feet going throughout a spooky but not too spooky house. The "feet" encounter ghosts and goblins and spider webs galore. As the "feet" proceed questions are asked as to whom could this be.
The colors of the book are all what one would expect of Halloween with a little glitter attached here and there including the cover. I do want to mention the cover because the book I picked up from the library has a different cover than the one above. My book features three ghost, one who is fun-loving and wearing a pumpkin, not to mention that glitter!
It is only at the end does the reader actually get to see who the "feet" belong to and just who is in this haunted house. Fun!
This book gets 4 pumpkins.
Disclosure: I picked this book up from my local library. The review here is 100% my own opinion and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network
October 2, 2023
Halloween Countdown by Jack Prelutsky #review #boardbooks #CountdowntoHalloween2023
This is a simple little board book designed for the toddler in mind. The ghosts on ever page are large, in charge and interacting with a cute little boy. The illustrations are simple and repetitive enough for a toddler to notice. The colors are muted to add to the flavor of the book.
Overall, though, I am not overly excited about this book and could have been better considering the author who has written fantastic books. However, if you want a cute counting book for October and for a young one, then this is for you!
3 Pumpkins
October 1, 2023
Cretaceous Canyon by Deborah Sheldon #giveaway #spotlight #horror #adventure #dinosaurs #CountdowntoHalloween2023
Ateam on an expedition to explore a mysterious canyon in theAustralian outback encounters Cretaceous-era dinosaurs.
Australia’soutback hides a mysterious canyon. Hidden deep within is a forest ofpine tree that dates from the Cretaceous Period. A megacorporationsends in a team of experts to research this canyon for botanicalriches.
Theexpedition enters a no-man’s land formed 100 million years ago whenAustralia was still attached to Antarctica, and dinosaurs ruled thesuper-continent. But the canyon has more prehistoric and dangerousspecies than anyone could have possibly imagined.
Trappedand terrified, unarmed and unable to communicate topside, the team’sextraction deadline is six long hours away.
Thefrantic race for survival is on.
READERREVIEWS
RobynO’Sullivan (Goodreads) 5/5 stars –This book is a gut-wrenching, roller-coaster ride through six hoursof time, ripping the reader every which way through emotional andphysical upheavals that suddenly crash-land, leaving a sense of “Wow!What the hell just happened?”.
StevePaulsen (Goodreads) 5/5 stars –Unputdownable! A non-stop, page-turning, visceral, heart-poundingthriller. Highly recommended!
DEBORAHSHELDON is an award-winning author from Melbourne, Australia. Shewrites short stories, novellas and novels across the darker spectrumof horror, crime and noir. Her award-nominated titles include thenovels Body Farm Z, Contrition and Devil Dragon; thenovella Thylacines; and the collections Figments andFragments: Dark Stories and Liminal Spaces: Horror Stories.
Hercollection Perfect Little Stitches and OtherStories won theAustralian Shadows ‘Best Collected Work’ Award, was shortlistedfor an Aurealis Award and longlisted for a Bram Stoker. Deb’s shortfiction has appeared in many well-respected magazines such asAurealis, Midnight Echo, AndromedaSpaceways, and Dimension6,been translated, shortlisted for numerous Australian Shadows Awardsand Aurealis Awards, and included in various ‘best of’anthologies such as Year’s Best HardcoreHorror.
Shehas won the Australian Shadows ‘Best Edited Work’ Award twice:for Midnight Echo 14 and for the anthology she conceived andedited, Spawn: Weird Horror Tales AboutPregnancy, Birth andBabies.
Deb’sother credits include TV scripts such as NEIGHBOURS, featurearticles, non-fiction books (Reed Books, Random House), stage plays,poetry and award-winning medical writing.
Website* Facebook* Bookbub* Amazon* Goodreads
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September 30, 2023
Sitous Journey Into the World by Linda Luchtman #spotlight, #childrensbooks #emotions #middlegrade
Are you ready for a magical trip through a beautiful autumn forest, where you'll learn lessons on joy, sadness, anger and fear and meet some wonderful friends? We're excited to tell you about "Sitou’s Journey into the World of Emotions," a captivating children's book that takes kids over seven and older on a trip of emotional discovery that changes them.
The Journey Starts with the main character Sitou, a young and sensitive girl. Sitou makes friends with a scared, talking hedgehog. As they go on a journey together, Sitou learns that even the smallest animals have their own emotions and feelings. Sitou wants to learn more about fear, sadness, joy and anger and she does. Sitou learns to recognize and understand her own feelings and those of others as she meets different animals. The book shows in a beautiful way how important understanding and emotional intelligence are, giving young readers the tools they need to deal with their own feelings with confidence and kindness.
Interesting is that the story isn't the end of the trip! The second part of the book is a workbook "Discover for Yourself the Essence of Joy, Sadness, Anger, and Fear". The workbook has a set of interactive tasks that encourage readers to use the lessons Sitou learned on her trip in their own lives. The assignments help kids understand and deal with their feelings, which is important for their mental health.
The author really wants to make a difference in the mental and emotional health of young readers. If this book can make a child smile or help someone who is having a hard time with their feelings and emotion, it will make the author very happy and proud. Parents, guardians, teachers, and therapists are encouraged to talk to their kids, students and clients about what's in the book. This can lead to fun and important conversations.
Why read: "Sitou’s Journey into the World of Emotions"?
· A heartwarming and interesting story for kids 7-12 years of age.
· Shows youngsters how important emotional intelligence and kindness can be.
· Interactive tasks reinforce what you've learned and help you grow as a person.
· A helpful resource for parents, guardians, teachers, and therapists who want to help children's mental health and intelligence.
· Beautiful illustrations made by an award-winning illustrator
Buy the book "Sitou’s Journey into the World of Emotions, at https://www.amazon.com/Sitous-Journey-into-World-Emotions-ebook/dp/B0CGJTSZLT.
Linda Luchtman is a debut author from the Netherlands. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which was a hard time for many people emotionally and mentally, the story of Sitou was born, but the author put it aside to write "The Bum Biter," a sweet little book for toddlers that was only released in her private circle in the Netherlands but will be available on Amazon later this year.
It wasn't until her daughter, Lara, struggled with anxiety in 2023 that the author revisited the story of Sitou. She knew it was the perfect way to help her daughter, and it did just that. Now, Linda is on a mission to share the story to help kids and adolescents with their emotional well-being. Next to this, she has made several assignments to go along with Sitou's story to help readers connect Sitou's journey to their lives. This makes it a more interactive and meaningful experience.
Linda is not only an expert in writing. She is also an expert in instructional design and using neuroscience to create effective classrooms. She has a Master's degree in this field and has helped many teachers and trainers in universities, vocational training, and businesses. She is a certified coach and is currently seeing her first coaching clients.
Contact Link
Website: https://lindaluchtman.com
September 28, 2023
#Spotlight: The Magik Scarf by M.K. Browning #giveaway #YA #Fantasy #book series
Magik,once unleashed, can have very unpredictable results...
TheMagik Scarf
Worldof Daegries Series Book 1
Thejourney into the World of Daegries starts with M. K. Browning'sexciting prelude, The Magik Scarf.Magik,once unleashed, can have very unpredictable results...Sixteen-year-oldAlyssa Chance Oh had been called many things. Magician, sorcerer’sapprentice, even witch. But nothing had prepared her for being calleda failure.
Afterbotching her first solo spell, where she only partially reanimatesher grandfather into a voice in a toy jack-in-the-box, Alyssa has toset out to find and return a gryphon king’s magik scarf or else hewill do something unspeakable to her grandmother.
Butthat sneaky scarf is not where the king said it was, and now the onlyway to get to it is through a dragon’s lair.
**Only.99cents!**
M.K.Browning is an emerging author of young adult epic fantasy. Author,grandmother, wife, and proud dog mom, M.K. is known for hercharacter-driven fiction which stems from her fourteen-plus years ofexperience as an indie author under another pen name (see books byKim Smith). M.K. lives in central Florida with her hubby and herChihuahua, Darby, who runs their lives.
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September 27, 2023
Hey Jude by Kathleen Stone #giveaway #spotlight #deaf #signlanguage
JudeHastings is one bad decision away from being forced into rehab untilshe meets four-year-old Shea Sullivan, a deaf child who saves herwith a spiritual connection she cannot explain.
HeyJude
byKathleen Stone
Genre:Contemporary Romance
2021Indies Today Award finalist
“Nice to meet you...?”
“Jude.”
“LikeJudith?”
“No.”
“LikeJudas?” he teased.
“Likehey,” I finally said.
In1985 eighteen-year-old Jude Hastings loses her deaf twin sister to abrain aneurysm. A year later her longtime boyfriend dumps her fortaking too long to grieve. Jude’s relationship with her parents ismore volatile than ever because she’s the child who lived. The nextfour years see Jude on a path of destruction, leaving a trail ofalcohol-induced nights and a laundry list of nameless men in herwake. Love simply doesn’t exist in her world.
Untilshe meets Shea Sullivan, an unreachable four-year-old deaf boy whosteals her heart when she is hired to be his full-time nanny, basedsolely on her sign language skills. Things on the surface are not asthey seem, as Jude quickly learns that Shea is a very troubled littleboy with a history of violent behavior, uncontrollable outbursts anda cold, overbearing and curmudgeonly father. There’s no denying theconnection Jude shares with Shea, but is it enough to keep herworking in his unbearable father’s home?
“HeyJude” is the story of a young woman and a child who desperatelyneed each other, with outside circumstances fighting against them atevery turn. It’s a story that will make you laugh, make you cry,and make you question everything you know about connections of thespirit.
**Celebratethe International Day of Sign Languages on 9/23 & World Day ofthe Deaf on 9/24!!**
Kathleenhas been a freelance writer since 1999 and now writes full time. Herwork has appeared in Doll World Magazine, Apolloslyre.com, The LakeCounty Journals, Trails.com; USA Today (travel), Livestrong.com(lifestyle), Essortment, eHow, Answerbag, Examiner.com, Suite101 andYahooVoices. She is the author of Heatherstone, the award-winningnovels Hey Jude, Tell Me You Love Me and Whispers On A String, andthe Head Case Rock Novel Series (Head Case, Whiplash and Haven). Shealso has short stories published in the Secrets: Fact or Fiction I &II anthologies.
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September 26, 2023
Remarkable Magic by Cristy L. Bowlin #giveaway #YA #Fantasy #spotlight #bookseries
Amidnew threats and unsettling discoveries, hope still perseveres.
Amidnew threats and unsettling discoveries, hope still perseveres.
Aaronis done letting the Defenders control his life. He refuses tocontinue running and hiding. The Defenders claim that hybrid magesare dangerous abominations, but Aaron and Lilith are determined toprove otherwise. Meanwhile, Elara and Theo are grappling withformidable new abilities that they never expected to possess.Striking out on their own, Aaron and his friends discover anothergroup of hybrid mages living in the desert who are preparing tofight. New alliances are forged, yet not everyone agrees on how toconfront the Defenders. When more people see what hybrid magic cando, it could either be revered or feared even more. Aaron and hisfriends must make some tough decisions before those choices are takenfrom them.
**Don'tmiss the other books in the series!**
HybridMagic
TheHybrid Magic Chronicles Book 1
InnovativeMagic
The Hybrid MagicChronicles Book 2
CristyL. Bowlin is an English professor at Oxnard College and authorof The Temple Dancer’s Diary and The Hybrid Magic Chronicles, setin the fantasy realm of the Deravine Commonwealth. She currentlylives in Southern California with her husband, daughter, and pet cat.When she isn’t reading or writing, she is most likely dancing,hiking, or getting invested in (another) TV series.
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