M.M. Hudson's Blog, page 47

The Big Book of Silly Jokes For Kids by Carole P. Roman #review #jokebooks #caroleproman

Synopsis:
This illustrated collection of jokes for kids is inclusive and family-friendly, with knee-slappers that kids will be bursting to tell every chance they get (parents, you’ve been warned). The jokes also get more challenging with each chapter, so this book will tickle funny bones of all ages.


My review: 

I remember, as a kid, telling knock-knock jokes to whateverooks adult would listen to them. Most of them were corny as this type of joke can be but adult would laugh and that would make me laugh too.

Carole P. Roman, in a departure from her children's book stories, has taken on the art of joke telling in her book of 800 jokes for kids. I am sure as she was researching and writing, she told these jokes to her own grand-kids.  I know I got a laugh and sometimes groan from all the jokes in the book.

 There are a variety of jokes to be found, that are not just knock-knock jokes but tongue twisters, riddles, and everything else in between. The book also includes sidebar "stats" that make this book unique.

If you have a budding comedian then get this book!

5 stars.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author to review. The statements here are 100% my own opinions and may differ from yours. ~Michelle

Keeping the Lights On For Ike by Rebecca Daniels #review #Giveaway #WorldWarII #memoir

Synopsis:
Most people don’t realize that during the war in Europe in the 1940s, it took an average of six support soldiers to make the work of four combat soldiers possible. Most of what’s available in the literature tends toward combat narratives, and yet the support soldiers had complex and unique experiences as well. This book is based on personal correspondence, and it is primarily a memoir that creates a picture of the day-to-day realities of an individual soldier told in his own words [as much as he could tell under the wartime rules of censorship, that is] as well as giving insight into what it was actually like to be an American soldier during WWII. It explores the experiences of a non-combat Army utilities engineer working in a combat zone during the war in Europe and takes the protagonist from basic training through various overseas assignments—in this case to England, North Africa, and Italy as a support soldier under Eisenhower and his successors at Allied Force Headquarters. It also includes some reflections about his life after returning to Oregon when the war was over.
My review:This is the story of two people in love. It is romantic, sensual, and sometimes is red-faced embarrassing. This could be anyone's story...maybe...but it isn't. This is the story of two people who were kept apart for four years by World War II. Mary and Alec are the prime characters in this true story that is told through their letter writing throughout the war. Gaps and historical references are filled in by their daughter but some is left untold due to the censorship at the time.Their story is sweet as Alec's love for his beloved Mary is noted throughout the whole book. Alec tells of his faithfulness to her but also his severe loneliness. He tells of irritations of a war gone on too long and of people who were sometimes not so pleasant to work with. Photos are spread throughout the book of places he visited as well as the couple themselves, each continents away.Alec, although a non-combat officer, (he was close to the battles)gives a clear picture of what life was like for those who had to support the combat troops and clean up after war ravaged the countries. His words reflected Mary's frustrations of American wives who were left at home to carry on and hope in wait for their military families.The author did a fabulous job of depicting her parent's love which endured for years and giving accurate history. This book is a great read with a different perspective.5 starsDisclosure: I was given a copy of this book to review. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours.  ~MichelleAbout the author:

Rebecca Daniels has been a university professor for many years who has also simultaneously had a vital creative career in the theatre. Throughout her career, her work has always been a mix of performance, teaching, and her own writing.Her groundbreaking book on women directors and the effects of gender on their work is currently still in print [Women Stage Directors Speak: Exploring the Effects of Gender on Their Work, McFarland, 1996], and she has been published in several theatre-related professional journals over the years as well. After her retirement in the summer of 2015, she was finally able to focus all her energies on this book.Website:  https://rebecca-daniels.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.daniels.9Giveaway: Can be found HEREThis giveaway is for 1 print copy open to Canada and the U.S. only. There are also 2 pdf copies open worldwide. There will be 3 winners. This giveaway ends August 1, 2020,midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.

Wally Runnels' July 4th Beach #Giveaway

Welcome to author Wally Runnels' July 4th Beach Giveaway!This giveaway is being co-hosted by Reading Author's Network/Away We Go Media.
There will be two prizes:
FIRST PRIZE: A signed copy of his book, " Twisted Love", $10 Amazon card, and this Beach Blanket 

                                                                READ REVIEW HERE

SECOND PRIZE:A Kindle copy of any of his books and $5 Amazon Gift Card

About Wally Runnels:
Wally was born in San Diego, traveled through Mexico, and Latin America. He was raised on the border at his family's ranch, whose original deed was recorded in 1870. Hanging out between two countries, he met a lot of unusual people: Hollywood types, Border Patrol Officers, professional trackers, smugglers, and people he won't mention by name. He'll remind you no matter how weird a story can get, it'll contain some grain of truth.
Disclosure: This giveaway is being sponsored by author Wally Runnels who is responsible for prize distribution. No other blog associated with this giveaway is responsible for the prizes. This giveaway begins July 4, 2020 @ 12 AM MST and ends July 18, 2020. This giveaway is a U.S. Giveaway only. TWO separate winners for the prizes stated above. You cannot win both prizes. All entries will be verified and winners notified via email. NOTE: You must enter at least both of the mandatory entries to be qualified. The first entry is to notify winner(s) and does not constitute an entry solely on its own. a Rafflecopter giveaway

#review: Murphy Murphy and the Case of Serious Crisis by Keith Hirschland #wordplay #humor #mysteries

Synopsis:
Murphy Murphy comes from a long line of male Murphy's. All were named Murphy and all were cops. This Murphy heads the Department of Redundancy Department and his superior officer, Captain David “Dud” Hill has found him a case. The Captain’s niece is in a rock ‘n roll band called Serious Crisis, and it seems items belonging to members of the band have started to disappear.

Were these items stolen? Were they simply lost? As Murphy Murphy works the case, he must chase down the clues all the while dealing with grammatical anomalies that drive him crazy. As Murphy gets closer to the answers he seeks, one more “thing” goes missing; the Captain’s niece. Suddenly, in an instant, the stakes in the case of Serious Crisis become a lot more dire.

My review:

STOP THE MADNESS! I cannot take it any more.

This is what I have been thinking the whole time I read this book. Not because it is a bad book, oh no, because it is actually that good. This girl, who is used to reading good grammar, is driving herself crazy reading the wordplay or in this case, "the redundancies."

Detective Murphy Murphy, called up from the "Department of Redundancy Department," is on the case of the small missing items from the band, "Serious Crisis." As time goes on, this seemingly simple case of missing items becomes a missing persons case.

Murphy Murphy's  clever humor and keen sense eventually solves the case and gets the girl too, a bartender girl that is. How does he do it? Read the book.

I laughed out loud at the humor in this book but as stated before almost drove myself crazy reading it too. If I had a red pen, I surely would have gone through this book with a find toothed comb. *laughs* The truth is, for an author to write this way, and an editor to edit this book, it took nothing but restraint. Kudos!

I loved the characters too from the detective, to the bands, to the people Murphy Murphy interviewed. The author did a good job of making all of them have some quirkiness to them that just added to the book.

If it were me, I would hand this book to every English teacher out there to use in his/her class. *laughs again*

I give this book 4 stars to a high 5.

Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book from the author. The opinions stated here are 100% my own and may differ from yours.  ~Michelle (Michelle)

Giveaway: 

<a class="rcptr" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e23ee71d1388/" rel="nofollow" data-raflid="e23ee71d1388" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_1oxbx3fo">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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This giveaway is for 3 print copies open to the U.S. only. There will be 3 winners. This giveaway ends August 1, 2020,midnight pacific time. Reading Authors Network is not responsible for prize.  Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.

Where to find the author:
https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Keith-H-Hirshland/e/B00G2FYZYY?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000

Dinosaur In The Elevator #Giveaway (5 Winners ~ Ends 7/9) @MascotBooks

I love to read about dinosaurs. This book looks like a cute one!Welcome To The Dinosaur in the Elevator Book Giveaway!

In the Write-Your-Own-Ending books, you get to be your own author. Each book contains blank pages near the end perfect for you to figure out how you d get the main characters out of every desperate situation they've gotten into, or just enjoy the ending provided.

GIVEAWAY DETAILSFIVE Lucky Winners Will Receive...Prize:Dinosaur in the Elevator Book

Getting into an elevator to who-knows where with a T-Rex they'd only just met was risky, maybe even loony. But they'd never get another chance at such an adventure. Twins Robbie and Abby get more than they bargained for when they imagine a museum T-Rex back to life. Soon they're on an adventure through the Cretaceous Era with dinosaurs of every shape and size and not all of them are friendly. But they are surprisingly helpful. Can you guess their names from the clue-filled poems they sing?

Sponsored By: WEBSITE ~ FACEBOOK Read the Review Here Good Luck! Enter Belowa Rafflecopter giveaway

FIVE entrants will be selected by the entry form to win a Dinosaur in the Elevator Book. Open for entry in the United States, 18 years and older from 06/12/20 thru 07/9/20. 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 Rafflecopter form. Home Jobs By Mom will be responsible for sending the winners their prize.Thank You So Much For Visiting Today!

Review: Sam's Top Secret Journal: Book 3-Memorial Day #middlegrade #disabilities #downsyndrome

Synopsis:
Sam is a ninth grade girl trying to enjoy her first year of high school. Sam knows she has Down syndrome but she doesn't feel different; even though other kids sometimes treat her that way. Sam's new adventure involves a mini family reunion, exploring the interesting spaces of a retired military base and learning how hard it can be to "do the right thing". Challenges and new mysteries are all chronicled in Sam's private journal. In this book, Sam discovers that being yourself isn't just about what people can see; sometimes what you can't see is the most important part.


My review:
This book is targeted for middle grade. Sam is a young teen and middle child. She also has Down's Syndrome. Although she may have to do things at a slower pace, Sam is portrayed as strong, friendly, caring, helpful, and responsible. I love her strong character!

She,  her younger brother, and older sister are on a family trip over Memorial Day weekend. They are joined by cousins whose father is in the military but hurt in a hospital. A girl cousin is a trouble maker who takes something valuable from a former military man who has a display in town.

As stated in the synopsis Sam finds herself in a situation where she knows the truth but does not know how to handle it. Her sister is helpful and throughout this 'journal' helps Sam to stay true to self but revealing what is also true.

The only issue I had this time, with this book, is you are lead to believe that this is mostly about Memorial Day, which it is not. The book does have the underlying theme with a parade and military base but mostly that is it. I did find that a little disappointing but it did not completely draw me away from a good book.

This book is written in a quarter journal form (Sam's) with her inner most thoughts and pictures and the rest mostly in narrative.   I love Sam is loved and seen as some one who is differently capable.

This book is also a series. I recommend them and get them in the hands of kids!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my open and honest opinion. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle

Where to find the author:

Goodreads
Amazon

Holly Clegg’s trim &TERRIFIC Cookbook #Giveaway ends 7/9 #cookbooks

If you are constantly having to keep an eye on what you eat, this book is for you!Welcome to the Holly Clegg's trim&TERRIFIC Cookbook Giveaway!2 Winners
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This giveaway's Sponsor is:
WEBSITE ~ FACEBOOK ~ AMAZON
2 Lucky Winners Will Win A Cookbook from Holly Clegg. One winner will win Holly Clegg's trim&TERRIFIC Guys's Guide To Eating Well & the second winner will receive a copy of Holly Clegg's trim&TERRIFIC KITCHEN 101 Cookbook!~~~Winner #1 Receives:
Packed with over 150 simple, satisfying and nutritious recipes and each recipe includes terrific tips (shortcuts), menu suggestions and nutrition information!See review HERE.
Winner #2 Receives: Packed with 150 wonderful recipes PLUS cooking tips, pantry tips, nutritional information, a kitchen reference guide and so much more.See Review HERE.~~~~~~ Entry-Form

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) 7/09/20. The winner will have 48 hours to email their information back to mcushing7 at hotmail 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.

#Giveaway: Empowering Books For Busy Moms (Ends 6/30) @Sourcebooks

 
Are you a busy Mom who could use some self empowerment?Welcome To The Empowering Books for Busy Moms Giveaway!

Sourcebooks is an independent book publisher located in the Midwest. Our mission is to reach as many people as possible through books that will enlighten their lives. Our philosophy is simple: Books. Change. Lives.

GIVEAWAY DETAILSOne Lucky Winner Will Receive 5 Empowering Mom Books Valued at $103+!Prize:

"In Making Space, Clutter Free Tracy offers a realistic approach to managing your belongings. Instead of prescribing perfection, she understands our individual differences require individual strategies-and that it doesn't always need to be rational." - Cait Flanders, bestselling author of The Year of Less

"When we're financially sound, we can take more risks, negotiate better salaries, and leave behind jobs and situations that aren't in our best interest. In The 30-Day Money Cleanse, Ashley outlines a fun and fresh blueprint for millennials to achieve financial success. I can't recommend it enough! " - Lindsey Pollak, New York Times Bestselling Author of Becoming the Boss: New Rules for the Next Generation of Leaders

"Motherhood So White blew me away. Nefertiti's honest account of her unique journey to parenthood serves as a sharp reminder that in our society, parenting is not a colorblind experience. This is an important book for anyone committed to creating a more equal playing field for all our children." - KJ Dell,Antonia, author of How to Be a Happier Parent
"Tom Phelan's book effectively challenges the stories mothers tell themselves about what an ideal mother should look like -- in short, the Maternal Identity. But even more valuable are his practical guidelines for releasing mothers from their perceived responsibilities!" - Sarah Hart-Unger, MD, pediatrician and co-host of Best of Both Worlds Podcast

"Slay Like a Mother is a feisty, clever, and fun blueprint for modern motherhood that belongs on every book shelf and in every diaper bag...As a woman and mother, you'll gain a newfound power, happiness, and ability to leap tall Lego buildings in a single bound."?Erin Falconer, author of How To Get Sh*t Done: Why Women Need to Stop Doing Everything So They Can Achieve Anything

Hosted By:Home Jobs By MomCo-Hosted By:Deliciously Savvy & Michigan Saving and MoreSponsored By: WEBSITE ~ TWITTER ~ FACEBOOK Rules: Use The Giveaway Tools Form To Enter Daily. Giveaway Ends 6/30 And Is Open To The United States. Entrants Must Be 18 Years Old To Enter. The Winner Will Be Notified Via Email.

Good Luck! Enter Belowa Rafflecopter giveaway
ONE entrant will be selected by the entry form to win the above five empowering mom books from Sourcebooks. Open for entry in the United States, 18 years and older from 05/27/20 thru 06/30/20. 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.Thank You So Much For Visiting Today!

#Spotlight: No Filter (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery) by Heather Day Gilbert #cozymysteries

No Filter (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery)
Cozy Mystery1st in SeriesPublisher: WoodHaven Press (May 26, 2020)Number of Pages: ~280 PagesDigital ASIN: B085BX4N96
Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java…and where murder sometimes pays a visit.


Fed up with her go-nowhere job, newly single Macy Hatfield moves back to her small hometown in West Virginia. She joins forces with her brother Bo in his crazy new venture—the Barks & Beans Cafe, which caters to dog lovers and coffee drinkers alike.



When a golf instructor is murdered at the nearby spiritual center, Macy winds up adopting his Great Dane. Just after Macy finds a mysterious message sewn under the dog’s collar, her Dane is dog napped. She launches into a relentless search for her new found canine friend, but along the way, she digs up a cruel and confident killer.



Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown…with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks &amp; Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes.



About the author:



HEATHER DAY GILBERT, an ECPA Christy award finalist and Grace award winner, writes contemporary mysteries and Viking historicals. Her novels feature small towns, family relationships, and women who aren’t afraid to protect those they love. Like her amateur sleuth heroines, she enjoys reading Agatha Christie, playing video games, dogs, and coffee.

Website:
Facebook Author Page
Goodreads

Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents by Carole P. Roman #Review #WWII #codes #Childrensnonfiction

Synopsis:
Discover World War 2’s hidden heroes and villains. Spies, Code Breakers, and Secret Agents explores the intriguing world of spy craft and shows you what goes on behind the scenes in war.

From spy schools and ciphers to sneaky tools and secret armies, this guide takes you on a declassified tour of the undercover operations that helped decide the outcome of World War 2. There’s also more than a dozen short spy-ographies that cover some of the most famous (and infamous!) agents that were active during the warMy review:
I was so excited to get this book. I am not overly fascinated by things about WWII but I do like to read about it. This one intrigued  me for two reasons.

The first being it was a book written specifically for children. That is not too surprising considering the author has so many children's books under her belt. More than likely she wrote for an interest from a grandchild. 

The second reason is that this one is different than other children's books on the subject, is it is about spies and World War II secret codes. I like that! I was intrigued by the multiple real-life spies like Julia Childs. Did you know? I liked reading what they did and how they did it without getting caught. Photos were included for the different spies that were mentioned.

I also liked reading about the different codes used and how they were broken by code breakers. The author illustrated some of these codes which made it that more intriguing. One of the code breakers that she mentioned in the book was the Navajo Code Breakers. I was happy to see them mentioned.

This book is simply packed full of information and well worth reading for children and adults as well. There was nothing in this book that I did not like!

This book gets 5 ... _ ._ ._. ...  from me.

Disclosure:
I received a copy of this book from the author. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours.  ~Michelle

Where to find the author:

Amazon