Book Review | A Different Kind of Hero

A Different Kind of Hero written by Leah Beth Evans and illustrated by Colleen Gedrich.

Synopsis:  "The rainforest is under attack.
One monkey is determined to save it.
His name is Tomagochi.

He’s brown.
He’s small.
He’s plain.

But when a group of men enters the rainforest armed with bulldozers and axes, Tomagochi the monkey springs into action to defend his natural habitat.

While larger animals like Peshe the tiger run and hide, Tomagochi charges into battle.

Will he be victorious?
Will the rainforest be saved?

Join Tomagochi as he fights to protect his home and discovers just how special he truly is." 

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

I was born the middle child of three; older sister, younger brother.  My sister and I are polar opposites in temperament, personality, and the like.  She's reserved and quiet to my sometimes brash and larger than life persona.  So for some reason once I hit my teenage years I fell into the role of protector, her hero if you will. She didn't honestly need my protection, but at times I mistakenly saw her mildness and lack of strength.

In later years, we purchased homes in the same town on the same street.  The proximity still allowed me to feel like I was helping to watch over her.

Through a unique mix of unfortunate circumstances, my sister and I were involved in an automobile accident in March of 2000.  When the tumble of metal settled, the SUV was resting on the passenger side where I lay unconscious.  My sister was badly shaken, but thankfully completely unharmed.  

In the few conversations we have been able to have about the accident over the last 10 years, my sister says that she was momentarily paralyzed by fear.  As has been the case in times past, she was looking to me to decide what should be done next and I wasn't able to tell her.  The decision on how to proceed would have to be made by her.  Somewhere she found the strength to climb up and jump out of the car onto the highway to get help.

For many weeks, my sister slept on the floor next to my marital bed.  She was the second person I saw when my eyes opened every morning.  

When the surgeries, therapy and hospital stays were mostly done, I remember lying in bed thinking back to that day and the ones that followed.  All along things were just the opposite of what I believed.  My sister had and still is watching over me; protecting me.  

Being a hero in my life.

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

Leah Beth Evans's Bio: 

Leah Beth Evans was inspired to write her story as a 4th grade student after studying about the rainforest. She continues to enjoy writing stories and poetry. However, her story A Different Kind of Hero has always been one of her favorites.  Visit Leah on Facebook

Visit Leah Beth Evans through one of her social media links:

Colleen Gedrich's Bio: 

Colleen, a lifelong resident Throop, PA, earned a BFA in illustration from Marywood University in 2002. Since that time, she has worked part-time as a freelance illustrator specializing in animal-themed work. She enjoys creating her art using mostly watercolor and pastel. 

As a dedicated animal rights activist and full-time program coordinator for International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR), Colleen lives her dream of joining her passions for animals and art to promote a more harmonious world with a touch of beauty. Recent works produced by Colleen include t-shirt and invitation designs, children’s book illustrations, and book covers. Colleen has also teamed up with her very talented artist mother, Kathy Holmes Gedrich, and paints murals for children’s nurseries.

Visit Tribute Book through one of their social media links:

* This post may include referral links and by clicking on those links I may receive a small amount of money and/or points that can be redeemed for gift cards or other rewards. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Book Review | Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes

Willie Wiggles hates his slippery feet. He just slips, slides and spins all over the place. But what he hates even more are the special shoes that have been made for him that will help him to walk just like all the other kids. Willie thinks that they are the "stupidest, ugliest shoes in the whole world."


* * * * * * * * * *
Most people will be able to relate to the message in Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes by Larry Peterson.

For most of my adult life I would say that I have worn my hair in a socially acceptable way. Recently I decided to make a change to something a little more natural that my husband really liked.  My hair was finished, I rode home and then the doubt set in.  Looking in the mirror I felt like I had the stupidest, ugliest hair in the whole world.

I work at an elementary school and the children can at times be merciless with the teasing.  Was I setting myself up for being teased?


So the next morning, instead of being confident in my choice I made the decision to wear a scarf.  Every day for a week I wore a different scarf to match my outfits.  Finally my husband questioned me as to why I was hiding my cute hair under scarves.


It took his questions and reassurances to make me take off the scarves and go to work with my new hairdo.  The funny thing was nobody was laughing and pointing.  Everywhere I went the kids told me how cool my hair was and how much they liked the style.


A week spent worrying myself to death for nothing! 

In Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes, discover how sometimes we worry about things about ourselves when actually there is nothing to worry about in the first place.

• Watch the YouTube video book trailer above.

• Read an excerpt from Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes on Freado.

• Also, go to the Slippery Willie blog to share your thoughts and ideas on accepting the differences of others.

Author Bio:
Larry Peterson was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. As a freelancer, he has written many newspaper columns for local publications. Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes is his first children’s book. Peterson has lived in Pinellas Park, Florida for the past 28 years.

Visit Tribute Book through one of their social media links:

* This post may include referral links and by clicking on those links I may receive a small amount of money and/or points that can be redeemed for gift cards or other rewards.I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Book Review | Weirder Than Marshmallows

I recently was sent a copy of Weirder Than Marshmallows by Dan Fogg of NightFire Publications to read and review.

Before you break out the sticks and start the fires the preface explains what the book is about: "This book is about stories.  Stories that are, like marshmallows, strange, mind boggling, but somehow appealing to the public at large.  Hard to explain, impossible to ignore."
 
From the moment I read the synopsis of this e-book, I knew that I had to read this book. There are people who are doing stupid and/or ignorant stuff and need to be ridiculed? Well then sign me up!

My dear hubby has the nickname around our house of Sarcastro and I must admit that I could easily be Mrs. Sarcastro.  What can I say, it's my super power? 

Mr. Fogg definitely raises some interesting questions/observations in his 5 essaysabout the things that people do and the curious warnings found on product packaging.  Many times I found myself smiling and nodding as I read his words.

For a limited time, if you  purchase Weirder than Marshmallows for the Kindle and forward your receipt to dc@nightfirepublications.com you will receive a special Scentsy Pumpkin Marshmallow Scent Circle.

Be sure to like NightFire Publications and Weirder Than Marshmallows on Facebook.

* This post may include referral links. By clicking on those links I may receive a small amount of money and/or points that can be redeemed for gift cards or other rewards.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Book Review and Giveaway | Midnight's Wild Passion by Anna Campbell

First let me say that reading romance novels is one of my guilty pleasures and historical romance makes me feel like a giddy toddler sitting in the corner eating an entire box of chocolate devil's food cookies.  So I was beyond excited when Anna contacted me to say that she was mailing me a copy of Midnight's Wild Passion to read, review, and giveaway.  

I forbade everyone in my house from checking the mail, lest they be the ones to get "the package".  On the day that "the package" arrived, I ran into the house squealing and in general acting like I had just won a much needed new car (hint, hint).  The dear hubby seriously didn't get it quite like I thought he would, but he is an avid reader, so that part he could understand.  The rest he chalked up to mental instability.

In all of the excitement there was just one problem.  There was currently another book bookmarked on my nightstand.  A book that up to this point I had been enjoying in small snatches of borrowed time.  Dear blog readers can you see my dilemma?  How do I tell the other book that I need time and space to see where our relationship is going?  Yet, I need to do it in such a way that we could maybe revisit this at a later time.

It is not my fault that so much stuff got placed on my nightstand that the other book fell into the crack between it and the bed.  So when I am ready to go there again, I will just brush Mr. Dusty Book off, apologize profusely, and pick up where we left off.

For 8- 12 wonderful hours I got to immerse myself in the sensual world of  the ton, debutantes' balls, and unraveling intriguing secrets of the main characters.

In Midnight's Wild Passion, Nicholas Challoner, Marquess of Ranelaw, has never forgiven Godfrey Demarest for the scandal that ruined his sister.  He has vowed to repay in kind by seducing and publicly ruining Demarest's daughter Cassandra.  Only one person stands in his way -- Miss Antonia Smith her formidable chaperone.

From their first meeting there is an undeniable attraction, but Nicholas can't deviate from his purpose and his plan.  Antonia can't allow herself to be seduced again by a notorious rake and her first priority is protecting Cassandra.  But who will protect her heart?     

Throughout the book, I found the characters to be well developed and their actions were believable.  I especially enjoyed the verbal sparring between Nicholas and Antonia.

I also applaud Anna Campbell for writing an entertaining, engaging story that acknowledges the intelligence on the part of her readers.  Okay maybe she gave me too much credit because several times I had to pull out the dictionary.  But I now have a slew of new words to add to my repertoire.  

Her choice of rich language and imagery stayed with me long after the last page was read.  This will be one of the few books in my collection that I plan to read again. 

Want to know if Nicholas succeeds in his plan?  Want to find out what happens to Nicholas and Antonia?  Want to know who Antonia really is?  Then enter to win your own signed copy of Anna Campbell's Midnight's Wild Passion.  Click "read more" below to pull up the rafflecopter form.

*I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are 100% my own and based on my observations while reading this novel.