M.M. Hudson's Blog, page 6
October 5, 2024
#Review Boo! by Robert Munsch #Halloween #childrensbooks #2024 #CountdowntoHalloween2024
My review:
I have read a few children's books from this author and picked this one from my local library because I like his books. I wish that this book could be among my tops for him but it isn't.
Pros: As a Halloween book goes, a kid wants to dress up and have fun on Halloween. His goal is to be the scariest around. So scary that he makes people fall over in fright...he even scares his Dad.
The kid goes out and succeeds in getting his candy...so much candy that he cannot even lift it and someone else has to take it home for him.
The author attempted to make this a multicultural book.
Cons: The author failed! Wow, so much wrong here. I get that this book is meant to be for children but you have to remember who you are writing for.
The kid is a black child who unfortunately is oozing with very stereotypical racism. It was absolutely appalling to read when it could have been so good. Sad!
I do see the author rewrote an updated version. I cannot say that I will read it. I give this book a "boo" for sure with a one pumpkin.
Disclosure: I obtained this book from my local library. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. Note: Although I abhor this book, I will not ask my library to remove it. I do read banned books and do not like censorship. I will however, voice my concerns. This is a reminder though that authors need to be better at what they write and know their audience. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network
Where to find the author:
ROBERT MUNSCH is Canada's bestselling author of more than sixty picture books for young readers. His irreverent tales of childhood mischief, populated by diverse characters, have been loved by generations of children and their families, who have made him Canada's bestselling and best loved author. Robert lives in Guelph, Ontario. He lives in Guelph, Ontario.
October 4, 2024
Insensible Loss by Linda L. Richards #spotlight #giveaway #thriller
Book Details:
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Published by: Oceanview Publishing
Publication Date: September 17, 2024
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 978-1608095148
Series: The Endings Series, Book 4 | Each is a Stand-Alone
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads
Synopsis:
The Endings Series Her life is over . . . yet somehow she carries onAfter attempting to sever all ties to her life as a hired assassin, a woman struggles to understand who she has become. She knows she doesn't want to kill again--but it proves to be a difficult habit to break, particularly in a world where people are after her and those she loves most.
Adrift and disconnected, she meets an old woman: Imogen O'Brien, a world-famous artist who has spent the last three decades living a hermit-like existence on a rustic desert estate in a national forest. Imogen invites her to stay and work for her, offering mentorship in return as the woman deepens her own interest in art.
What quickly becomes apparent is that elements of Imogen's past are shrouded in danger, sorrow, and darkness. Rather than growing as an artist, the former hit woman soon finds herself enmeshed in a dangerous mystery with strands that stretch decades into the past.
Author Bio:
Linda L. Richards is the award-winning author of over a dozen books. The founder and publisher of January Magazine and a contributing editor to the crime fiction blog The Rap Sheet, she is best known for her strong female protagonists in the thriller genre. Richards is from Vancouver, Canada and currently makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona. New for 2024: INSENSIBLE LOSS, the fourth book in the Endings series featuring a reluctant hit woman struggling towards the light. Linda’s 2021 novel, the first in this series, ENDINGS, was recently optioned by a major studio for series production. Richards is an accomplished horsewoman and an avid tennis player, and is on the National Board of Sisters in Crime.Catch Up With Linda L. Richards:LindaLRichards.com
Don't Miss Your Chance to Win! Enter Today!
October 3, 2024
The Three Investigators by Robert Arthur #giveaway #bookseries #middlegrade
The Three Investigators series are a wonderful and wholesome mix ofadventure, mystery, comedy, and critical thinking/detection. Theyenthralled several generations of readers worldwide – and in thesenew 60th-anniversary editions, they are again ready to take onthe world!
The Secret of Terror Castle
The ThreeInvestigators Book 1
Genre: Middle Grade Mysteries with a Supernatural hook
In the firstadventure of Robert Arthur’s classic mystery series,it's 1964 in the town of Rocky Beach, California. Working out oftheir newly established Headquarters – an old trailer hidden behindcarefully arranged junk in the Jones Salvage Yard – and drivenaround southern California in a gold-plated vintage Rolls Roycethey've won the use of in a contest, Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw,and Bob Andrews decide to get publicity for their fledgling detectivefirm by finding a real haunted house for the renowned film directorReginald Clarke.
But although the highly rational Jupiterstarts with the belief that there is no such thing as a ghost, aspook, a phantom, or a spirit, Terror Castle – the old mansionsupposedly troubled by the ghost of the late Stephen Terrill, thesilent horror film star called the Man with a Million Faces – mayprove him wrong!
By turns exciting, spine-tingling, andhumorous, The Secret of Terror Castle promises to please not only theexisting fan base of The Three Investigators series but a whole newgeneration of readers who will find in its pages three very differentboys whose imagination, courage, and intelligence can remind us thatcuriosity, perseverance, and rational inquiry are just as vital asfriendship and cooperation.
At the end of each ThreeInvestigators book published by Hollow Tree Press are notes writtenby Robert Arthur's daughter and son-in-law, exploring three subjectsconnected to the story – in this case, Silent Movies, SalvageYards, and Rolls Royces – and young readers may want to use thenotes as guidelines for further investigation. After all, the mottoof The Three Investigators is "We Investigate Anything,"and their trademark is “???” – three question marks, takentogether.
On the 60th anniversary of the creation of TheThree Investigators series, the first-ever English-language e-bookeditions of Robert Arthur’s novels, as well as the first newEnglish-language print editions in over twenty-five years, standready to delight a whole new audience. Be sure to seek out all tentitles!
Amazon* B&N* Bookbub* Goodreads
The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot
The ThreeInvestigators Book 2
In the second adventure of Robert Arthur’s classic mystery series,Jupiter, Pete and Bob are in search of a missing parrot. The casesoon gets complicated as they discover that not one but six talkingparrots and a mynah bird have disappeared.
With the helpof their new friend Carlos, the Three Investigators figure out thateach of the birds has been taught to recite part of a complex puzzle,that, when taken together, could lead the boys to a great painting.But as their search takes them to a spooky graveyard, they're not theonly ones hot on the trail!
By turns puzzling, compelling,and absorbing, The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot promises toplease not only the existing fan base of The Three Investigatorsseries but a whole new generation of readers who will find in itspages three very different boys whose imagination, courage, andintelligence can remind us that curiosity, perseverance, and rationalinquiry are just as vital as friendship and cooperation.
Atthe end of each Three Investigators book published by Hollow TreePress are notes written by Robert Arthur's daughter and son-in-law,exploring three subjects connected to the story - in this case,Puzzles and Word Games, Parrots, and Sherlock Holmes - and youngreaders may want to use these notes as guidelines for furtherinvestigation. After all, the motto of The Three Investigators is "WeInvestigate Anything," and their trademark is “???” - threequestion marks, taken together.
On the 60th anniversary ofthe creation of The Three Investigators series, the first-everEnglish-language e-book editions of Robert Arthur’s novels, as wellas the first new English-language print editions in over twenty-fiveyears, stand ready to delight a whole new audience. Be sure to seekout all ten titles!
**Don’t miss the rest of the series!**
ROBERTARTHUR is best known as the creator of THE THREE INVESTIGATORS, theclassic mystery series for young readers, for which he wrote thefirst ten books before his untimely death in 1969. Bythe time the last English-language-original book was published in thelate 1980s, there were forty-three titles, some of which had beentranslated into over twenty languages.
Young readers inthe U.S., Canada,Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Thailand, Denmark, Italy,Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, and Slovakia, as well as in France,Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and throughout theSpanish-speaking world grew up on the books, and many credit theirlifetime love of reading to having discovered the story of threeyoung American boys who form a detective agency.
Robert Arthur got the idea for the serieswhile working in Hollywood as a story editor, showrunner, andscriptwriter for Alfred Hitchcock's TV show, AlfredHitchcock Presents. In 1963, heleft Hollywood and moved to Cape May, New Jersey, where, in abrown-shingled house two blocks from the Atlantic Ocean, he createdThe Three Investigators. TheSecret of Terror Castle and TheMystery of the Stuttering Parrot werepublished in 1964 by Random House. The series' original title wasALFRED HITCHCOCK AND THE THREE INVESTIGATORS.
The bookshave supernatural hooks -- haunted houses, whispering mummies,gnomes, ghosts riding carousels, screaming clocks, talking skulls --that turn out, after closer examination, to have rationalexplanations.
From his memories of his years insouthernCalifornia, Arthur created the small fictional town of RockyBeach, not far from Hollywood. His disbelief and dismay at the wayold houses were being torn down and their contents junked resulted inhis placing The Three Investigators Headquarters in a salvage yard,where all sorts of goods have been reclaimed and are for sale. Hebased his head investigator, Jupiter Jones, on his idea of a youngAmerican Sherlock Holmes, and the boy who keeps records and doesresearch -- Bob Andrews -- he based on himself (they have thesame initials!)
The books are a wonderful andwholesome mixof adventure, mystery, comedy, and critical thinking/detection. Theyenthralled several generations of readers worldwide – and in thisnew 60th-anniversary edition, they are again ready to take onthe world.
Followthe tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$20Amazon
October 2, 2024
Trixie the Halloween Fairy by Daisy Meadow #CountdowntoHalloween2024 #book series #fairies
I picked up a copy of this book from my local library to read for "Halloween." This is a cute chapter book story about a fairy who has lost the magical candy of Halloween and needs help from two human fairies. Adventure is pursued across town and through Halloween.
The story line is rather repetitive but understood for young readers. This book is basically aimed at girls who like pretend play and fairies. The characters are not highly developed and that is the fault of this book. I could have seen more of the girls being much more powerful as detectives on the case and not so one sided.
I would not really recommend it for all kids but a decent book at that, especially for children who need reading practice. It works well for Halloween too as that is the general premise. This book is in a series and written by three authors.
I give the book 3 pumpkins.
Disclosure: I picked up a copy of this book from my local library. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network
October 1, 2024
A Prophecy Awakened by Angie Barton #giveaway #countdowntoHalloween2024 #bookseries #fantasy #recipes #poetry
Book Description:Family. Destiny. Magic. Lore.Forced to leave behind her only known family, on the night of her eighteenth birthday Charlotte Delgado flees through the invisible veil that has granted hers safety since birth, with only an age-old diary to guide her. Given less than a day to read the four-hundred year-old tales scripted amongst its pages, she barely understands the predetermined path her ancestor writes of, let alone believes it.However, despite the dangers the journal warns of—supernatural creatures that will hunt her along her journey—it’s the ominous twist of fate that surrounds the last bloodline witch in her family that fills Charlotte with the most fear.Is she that witch or merely a pawn moving the prophecy for war.
The Velvet CoffinBlack are his eyes,His lips stained red,This sinister creatureWe know as undeadBorn of the nightA soul without mercyAn evil incarnateImmortal and thirstyHe dreams of blood,His fangs sharp and baring,His desire awakensAs he lays there staringThe lid to his coffinCreaks as it raisesIts velvety liningHis hand lightly grazesMoving to the shadowsHe expels a hissHe catches her scentAnd disappears into mist
Amazon-----------Vampire Punch
I LOVE all things vampire and I LOVE to host! Planning and setting up the décor is just as much fun as the event itself, and this punch looks great on the table!It is perfect for Halloween parties and can be made for kids or adults! It’s the perfect blend of sweet and tart, and its deep red color makes it both fun and delicious!*If you’re familiar with using dry ice, it can be added for a spooky effect!Ingredients:• 2 liters ginger ale or club soda, or lemon lime soda (Sprite or 7Up)• 1 quart black cherry juice• 2 pints (32 ounces) Pomegranate Juice• 16 ounces frozen cherries• alcohol your choice (I typically add Vodka)Instructions:1. Combine the juices and ginger ale together in a large punch bowl. If you areusing alcohol, add it now.
2. Add the frozen cherries and stir.3. Serve with ice and any decorations you may have for your spooky punch! I’veused plastic vampire teeth and my guests thought it looked “fang-tastic!”About the Author:Award winning author, Angie Barton, published her firstnovel, Immortal Wounds, in 2022. Angie’s love forwriting centers around the fantasy genre, but she alsoenjoys writing thriller and romance. Her passion forreading, which led to her love of writing, began inelementary school with the Scholastic Book program.Her parents, who are life-long avid readers, have been ahuge influence on her reading. Therefore anything andeverything Angie could get her hands on she read.Angie has been an early childhood educator since 1986 and hold a B.S. in ChildDevelopment. Her love for literacy has continued throughout her career, not onlyfor herself, but also with the children she has cared for and taught. What Angie ismost passionate about is helping others discover the excitement that reading brings. Her greatest desire in writing is to create and bring joy and entertainment to everyone she touches.Currently, if Angie isn't reading at least three books at a time or working on a rough draft for her next book, she can be found outdoors gardening, woodworking,or relaxing by her pond. She shares that she's a Capricorn, tried and true, drinks way too much tea, and that her "to be read" pile of books can spike at any time.www.authorangiebarton.comhttps://www....
Spooktacular Giveaway Free ebook copy of A Prophecy Awakened
September 28, 2024
Why the Fisherman Fished by D.T. Rossi #giveaway #childrensbooks
Children’s Book
Date Published: July 24, 2024
Dive into D.T. Rossi’s enchanting tale, “Why The Fisherman Fished,” where a little boy’s big discovery unfolds with heartwarming charm. Each day, the boy eagerly awaits The Fisherman’s return, hoping to marvel at his fascinating catches. Instead, the boy is captivated by wild and enchanting tales of the sea. One magical day, after witnessing a spectacular catch! The boy realizes that true joy lies in the journey and experiences along the way. Rossi masterfully captures the profound happiness that comes from doing what we love, celebrating the beauty of the moment and the deeper fulfillment beyond immediate rewards. A wonderfully crafted gem, this book leaves a lasting impression on both young hearts and grown-up souls.
Excerpt
In a small seaside village, where the salty breeze kissed the air and the waves tumbled shells ashore, there lived a curious little boy. Every day, he would watch in wonder as The Fisherman took his boat out to sea. And everyday, his mind raced, imagining the different types of fish the Fisherman caught.
Maybe some were big!
Maybe some were strange!
Maybe some were colorful!
One beautiful day, the boy’s curiosity got the best of him. He decided to meet The Fisherman on shore as he returned from his fishing trip...
About the Author
D.T. here. A children’s book author seeking peace in chaos, finding beauty in the grind.
Writing, cooking, comedy—they're my air.
Aquariums, homesteading—my grounding forces.
Sneakers, RC cars—my guilty pleasures.
Contact Link
September 27, 2024
#Review First Woman by Aren Capella #picturebooks #childrensbooks #NativeAmerican #Multicultural
This is the story of the first woman on Earth's spiritual quest to find her place among the other animals on Earth and to discover the qualities that make her uniquely human.
My Review:
This is such a beautiful children's book. It is a mythical tale that tells how all creatures came into being and in particular the first woman on Earth. All the creatures are connected by the Great Mother Wolf who birthed them all, but all found their own way.
As one who is partially Native American, I loved this story. Even though the book is meant to be mostly a picture book, the story itself is complex and yet, understandable. The last creature to develop takes her time to learn and grow; this of course is exactly how we are as humans.
The illustrations within the book only add to the lovely story. The illustrator did a fine job of matching and the story could have even been told based on the illustrations alone. Fantastic!
I am giving this book 5 stars.
Disclosure: A digital copy of this book was given to me to review. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network
About the author:
Aren Cappella was a writer and artist who lived in the town of Sonoma in Northern California. She was an entrepreneur who owned and operated a small bakery in Sonoma with her business partner. Aren died of breast cancer in 1998 at the age of 42.
September 23, 2024
#Review: LIttle Ben's Life by Bernard Bentley #bookseries #christianchildrensbooks
Synopsis:
Little Ben's Life is written in rollicking rhyme which is sure to capture your attention. In the early years Ben overcomes boredom and life's challenges by using his vivid imagination as a way of escape. While in the later years Ben shares his incredible experience of growing up and living in the Great Pacific Northwest.
My review:
This book is one of those that I have a 50/50 review of. Based on the front cover which is cute, it seems that this would be a picture book that children would like to read and look at. It has potential, although, I never "base a book by its cover" and this book is proof why.
I also do not generally look at the back of a books cover either but this time, I did for some reason, and that is where my reviews begins.
I did not know a few things about this author. First, I was surprised to see he was not Caucasian. (NOTE: It does not matter to me what color, gender, religion,etc you are, I read and review everything.) Based on the cover, this was again surprising because I feel the author missed an opportunity to have a truly multicultural book.
Next, I found out he is multi-lingual. His book is written solely in English, which is great, but he could have gone even further and written in two languages. Look in his bio and see how many languages he actually speaks! Whoa! Yet, another missed opportunity.
The third thing is, the author is a Christian pastor. I was unaware of this fact. Which brings me to his actual writing of the book. The author inserts his obvious Christian views within the book, which again is not an issue for me, however, it would have been good to know this as my mindset would have been different. This also means the book was actually written for children whose family is Christian. This means of course, it is not really meant for a wider variety of readers.
The story itself is written in rhyme. That fact is pretty impressive considering the length of this book. The author seemed to struggle at times to rhyme words but mostly did a good job at it. The story was okay but it was confusing at times, disjointed, and the author wrote A LOT about eating. Maybe it should have been a rhyming cook book? Again, more missed opportunities.
The book was not at all a picture book as I would have assumed based on the cover. In fact, there are few pictures in the book and those are misplaced, the formatting was off and a couple of words I found misspelled. This book is meant for a child who can read fairly well and not meant for younger children. Again, another missed opportunity as this book could have had less words and more pictures that actually matched the cover.
So, overall, did I hate this book? Well, no. As I said above, I was impressed with the rhyming and I do get what the author was trying to do. It is just this is one of those times that I think he was trying too hard. If I was to suggest anything to the author, I would say fix what I have mentioned above and republish the book.
I am going to give the book 3 stars with a caveat because my review says less than (more like 2 stars). This book was just okay if the writing had been completely horrible or the cover bad, it would have not received that.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours.
~Michelle, Reading Authors Network.
Author Bio:
Bernard Bentley was born in Frankfurt, Germany and was raised in the south end of Seattle,
Washington. Bernard is a former model and actor who found a special passion in the world of
creative writing. Telling a fascinating story to an interested audience is a joy that can't be
described. He also writes screenplays, commercial slots, and traditional theatrical plays.
Bernard learned to speak English, Haitian Kreyol, Tagalog and Spanish as a means to relate to
a wider range of people. He has now expanded his language learning to include German and
Vietnamese. Bernard is a black belt level fighter with over 30 years experience. He is also a
born again Christian.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zr7ers
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60436285-little-ben-s-life
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#Review: LIttle Ben's Life by Benard Bently #bookseries #christianchildrensbooks
Synopsis:
Little Ben's Life is written in rollicking rhyme which is sure to capture your attention. In the early years Ben overcomes boredom and life's challenges by using his vivid imagination as a way of escape. While in the later years Ben shares his incredible experience of growing up and living in the Great Pacific Northwest.
My review:
This book is one of those that I have a 50/50 review of. Based on the front cover which is cute, it seems that this would be a picture book that children would like to read and look at. It has potential, although, I never "base a book by its cover" and this book is proof why.
I also do not generally look at the back of a books cover either but this time, I did for some reason, and that is where my reviews begins.
I did not know a few things about this author. First, I was surprised to see he was not Caucasian. (NOTE: It does not matter to me what color, gender, religion,etc you are, I read and review everything.) Based on the cover, this was again surprising because I feel the author missed an opportunity to have a truly multicultural book.
Next, I found out he is multi-lingual. His book is written solely in English, which is great, but he could have gone even further and written in two languages. Look in his bio and see how many languages he actually speaks! Whoa! Yet, another missed opportunity.
The third thing is, the author is a Christian pastor. I was unaware of this fact. Which brings me to his actual writing of the book. The author inserts his obvious Christian views within the book, which again is not an issue for me, however, it would have been good to know this as my mindset would have been different. This also means the book was actually written for children whose family is Christian. This means of course, it is not really meant for a wider variety of readers.
The story itself is written in rhyme. That fact is pretty impressive considering the length of this book. The author seemed to struggle at times to rhyme words but mostly did a good job at it. The story was okay but it was confusing at times, disjointed, and the author wrote A LOT about eating. Maybe it should have been a rhyming cook book? Again, more missed opportunities.
The book was not at all a picture book as I would have assumed based on the cover. In fact, there are few pictures in the book and those are misplaced, the formatting was off and a couple of words I found misspelled. This book is meant for a child who can read fairly well and not meant for younger children. Again, another missed opportunity as this book could have had less words and more pictures that actually matched the cover.
So, overall, did I hate this book? Well, no. As I said above, I was impressed with the rhyming and I do get what the author was trying to do. It is just this is one of those times that I think he was trying too hard. If I was to suggest anything to the author, I would say fix what I have mentioned above and republish the book.
I am going to give the book 3 stars with a caveat because my review says less than (more like 2 stars). This book was just okay if the writing had been completely horrible or the cover bad, it would have not received that.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours.
~Michelle, Reading Authors Network.
Author Bio:
Bernard Bentley was born in Frankfurt, Germany and was raised in the south end of Seattle,
Washington. Bernard is a former model and actor who found a special passion in the world of
creative writing. Telling a fascinating story to an interested audience is a joy that can't be
described. He also writes screenplays, commercial slots, and traditional theatrical plays.
Bernard learned to speak English, Haitian Kreyol, Tagalog and Spanish as a means to relate to
a wider range of people. He has now expanded his language learning to include German and
Vietnamese. Bernard is a black belt level fighter with over 30 years experience. He is also a
born again Christian.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zr7ers
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60436285-little-ben-s-life
September 22, 2024
Starflower by K.A. Kenny #spotlight #Sci-fy
Synopsis:
Step into a vast universe teeming with life, romance, heroism, and treachery as experienced
and seen through the eyes of Gayle Zimmon. a young woman successful in war but naive
to the machinations of the greater universe, returns from combat to confront genetically
engineered humans and discover that she was sent to war not to win but to die.
While fighting the Aldrakin, Zim learns of a prophecy foretelling that the Starflower," her military
call sign, will bloom in the dark of the darkest night" but never know peace. Not one to accept
ancient prophecy, after securing victory, she hopes to rekindle her romance with Mac and return
to the peaceful life they left on the frontier.
But she is a major player in a galaxy-spanning intrigue she barely understands. Forces alien
and cybernetic hold the stakes and align on both sides. Between dodging assassins, hostile
planets, deadly robots, mystical aliens, and ancient relics, she must decide whether to continue
running from her prophesied destiny-or try to live up to it.
Author bio:
I am a husband, father, storyteller, and a Christian. I’m also a writer, an intelligence analyst, and
a contrarian. My wife and I live with two large dogs in a mountain chalet in Virginia’s Blue Ridge
Mountains.
I hold a BA and an MA in History from George Mason and George Washington University,
respectively. In 40+ years with the CIA, I worked at every level from watch office and tactical
operations to sensor development and informing national policy. Re-missioned from intelligence,
I’m inclined to write science fiction.
I began storytelling at scout and church camp in my youth, recounting ghost stories or local lore
around the campfire. These days, my restive characters want to tell their own stories. We often
quarrel. When my wife sides with them, you know who wins.
Website: https://thestarflower.com/
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3M9LYcL
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
