Blog tour: 1, 2, 3 with Nephi and Me by Heidi Doxey, Emily Konopasek

 


About the book:

Cuddle up with your kids and count your way through the Book of Mormon! This colorful board book is perfectly sized for little fingers and is a fun way to introduce numbers and scripture stories at the same time. With rhyming text and cute illustrations, it’s sure to become a family favorite that your kids will want to read over and over again!

• Board book: 20 pages
• Publisher: Cedar Fort Publishing & Media; Brdbk edition (August 11, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1462116361
• ISBN-13: 978-1462116362

About the author:

Heidi Jo Doxey has been reading Jane Austen’s novels over and over and over again since middle school—long before she ever dreamed of writing a book herself.

She lives in Utah, where she works in publishing, but she still calls the San Francisco Bay Area home. When she’s not writing or reading, she enjoys hiking, riding her bike, playing volleyball, traveling, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends. Visit her online at girlwithalltheanswers.blogspot.com.

About the illustrator:

Emily Konopasek is an animation student at Brigham Young University. Other than drawing, she loves snowboarding, listening to EDM, making delicious food, and being Swedish.

My review:   1, 2, 3 with Nephi and Me by Heidi Doxey, Emily Konopasek

4 stars

I like the drawings, the numbers and stories that go with them. They give the scripture to go with it.
I would feel good taking it in church to keep kids busy.

The only concern I have is 2 thousand warriors. I think it should not come after 1 but 1,999.  If your using it to teach numbers.

You can teach lots of different lessons with the book.  Start some simple discussions with your children.
I  liked it and read it to my 24 year old baby.
 It would make a good baby gift.

I was given this book to read by Cedar Fort Publisher.  In return I agreed to give a honest review of 1,2,3, with Nephi and Me.  Plus be on it's blog tour.

 1, 2, 3 with Nephi and Me” blog tour schedule:
 
August 6: Reidhead Random-ness
August 7: Inklings and Notions
August 8:
August 9:
August 10: Little Red Reads
August 11:
August 12:
August 13: The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
August 14:
August 15:
August 16: Wishful Endings
August 17:
August 18:
August 19: Readalot
August 20:

The Glass Gauntlet by by Carter Roy( The Blood Guard Series, Book 2)

Discover The Blood Guard Series by Carter Roy just in time for Book 2!

The Glass Gauntlet available from Two Lions on August 18th!

Ronan Truelove barely survived his first encounter with his father and the Bend Sinister. Now, he’s determined to become one of the Blood Guard, a sword-wielding secret society sworn to protect thirty-six pure souls crucial to the world’s survival.

Eager to prove he’s got what it takes to become a Guard, Ronan can’t believe that the first mission he, Greta, and Sammy are sent on is to visit a weird-sounding school and take a series of tests called the Glass Gauntlet. Paper and pencils and nerdy scholarship—where’s the life-or-death challenge in that? Boring.

Only it’s not. For the Glass Gauntlet turns out to be dangerous head-to-head competitions against ruthless opponents. Nothing and no one are what they seem to be. Who can he trust and who will kill him? Ronan has to figure it out fast, because his enemies are multiplying, and soon he will have to pass the ultimate test: facing his father again and standing up to those who threaten not only him and his friends, but the world.

A big thanks from the whole team here at Two Lions for your interest in Carter Roy's The Glass Gauntlet, Book 2 in The Blood Guard series.

• Age Range: 10 - 14 years
• Grade Level: 4th - 8th
• Series: The Blood Guard Series (Book 2)
• Hardcover: 261 pages
• Publisher: Two Lions (August 18, 2015)

A Note From the Publisher

Carter Roy has painted houses and worked on construction sites; waited tables and driven delivery trucks; been a stage hand for rock bands and a videographer on a cruise ship; worked as a line cook in a kitchen, a projectionist in a movie theater, and a rhetoric teacher at a university. He has been a reference librarian and a bookseller, edited hundreds of books for major publishers, and written award-winning short-stories for adult readers that appeared in a half-dozen journals and anthologies. But this is the first time he has written a novel. He lives in New York City. 

 

Links

• CarterRoyBooks.com
• "The Glass Gauntlet" on Amazon.com

 

My review:  The Glass Gauntlet by by Carter Roy( The Blood Guard Series, Book 2)

4 STARS

I enjoyed book 1 The Blood Guard much more.  It was easier to put the book down.  It had good guys and bad guys, lots of sword fights, even water fights.  Cool tools.  Had some twists I did not see coming.

Ronan, Greta, and Sammy are being taught how to be blood guards in a old ghost town.  They don't really like it.  Especially Greta.  She keeps trying to breakout.

Ronan Truelove is 13 years old.  He has found out his father is a major bad guy who last time he saw him ordered his death. On the other hand his mother is a blood guard working to protect the pure. He is given a secret mission to follow Greta on her escapes and protect her.

Greta's parents are divorced.  She is a Pure but doesn't know it.  She wants to train and be a blood guard but she also wants to see her mother.  She is 13.

Sammy is a orphan he likes being trained to be a blood agent.  He had rotten foster parents who tried to kill him. He is only 11.

The Blood Guard as sworn to protect the 36 Pure good people in the world.  If the Pure get killed early before their time it throws the world off balance.  Last time 5 were murdered it caused WW11.

The Bend Sinister want to kill the 36 and cause the end of the world.  They have a lot of scientists working with them. One of the leaders is Ronan's father.

Ronan, Greta, Sammy and Jack get a mission of their own.  The three of them are entered into The Glass Gauntlet competition.  The winner wins 1,000,000 plus prizes and scholarship. It a reason for Jack to be on the estate to find something.

Things don't go like planned.  Instead of a test it is more physical, mental and no rules comp.
I wish there were more of the tests in the story.

The inventions are cool, dangerous and some are unbelievable.

I want to read more and see what happens next in the series.

I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Two Lions.  In return I agreed to give a honest review of The Glass Gauntlet.

The Blood Guard by Carter Roy (The Blood Guard #1)

Discover The Blood Guard Series by Carter Roy just in time for Book 2!

The Glass Gauntlet available from Two Lions on August 18th!

When thirteen-year-old Ronan Truelove’s seemingly ordinary mom snatches him from school, then sets off on a high speed car chase, Ronan is shocked. His quiet, nerdy dad has been kidnapped? And the kidnappers are after him, too? His mom, he quickly learns, is anything but ordinary. In fact, she’s a member of an ancient order of knights, the Blood Guard, a sword-wielding secret society sworn to protect the Pure—thirty-six noble souls whose safety is crucial if the world as we know it is to survive.
Now all those after-school activities—gymnastics, judo, survival training—she made him take, make sense. For suddenly Ronan is swept up in a sometimes funny, sometimes scary, but always thrilling adventure—dashing from one danger to the next, using his wits to escape the Bend Sinister, a posse of evil doers with strange powers. Falling in with two unlikely companions, Greta, a scrappy, strong-willed girl he’s never much liked and Jack, a devil-may-care teenage pickpocket, Ronan is left with only his wits and his mom’s last words of advice: Trust no one.
That’s a lot for an ordinary kid to deal with. But then again, maybe Ronan’s not ordinary at all.

• Age Range: 10 - 14 years
• Grade Level: 4th - 8th
• Series: The Blood Guard Series (Book 1)
• Hardcover: 279 pages
• Publisher: Two Lions (March 4, 2014)

A Note From the Publisher

Carter Roy has painted houses and worked on construction sites; waited tables and driven delivery trucks; been a stage hand for rock bands and a videographer on a cruise ship; worked as a line cook in a kitchen, a projectionist in a movie theater, and a rhetoric teacher at a university. He has been a reference librarian and a bookseller, edited hundreds of books for major publishers, and written award-winning short-stories for adult readers that appeared in a half-dozen journals and anthologies. But this is the first time he has written a novel. He lives in New York City.

 

 

Links:

• "The Blood Guard" on Amazon.com
• CarterRoyBooks.com

My Review:  The Blood Guard by Carter Roy (The Blood Guard #1)

5 STARS

I hate the title of this book.  It makes you think bloody or vampire its not that.  It is exciting, adventure, lots of sword fights and different weapons. It is a fast paced. Also a clean read.

The main character is Ronan Truelove.  He is thirteen years old.  He has always been taking different classes after school.  Like fencing, gymnastics, martial arts.

One day his mom picks him up after school and they are chased all over town.  While the chase is going on she tells Ronan she is part of a secret society called Blood Guard that watch over and protect 36 Pure souls. 

There is another group Bend Sinister trying to kill them.  If they can kill enough it will bring the end of the world.
They killed 5 once and that started WW11.  Ronan's father was taken.

She has arranged for him to take the train to Washington DC.  While he gets on the train she will lead them away.  There will be someone to help him on the train.

The Bend Sinister has goons trying to kidnap or kill Ronan.  His different skills help him to evade them.

He runs into Jack on the train.  Jack is a  pick pocket  thief.  He also runs into Greta a girl he used to know at his old school.  The three end up together trying to get away from the goons chasing Ronan.

There is always something going on in the book that keeps you reading to find out what happens next to them. I can't wait to see what happens next in the series.

I was given this ebook to read from Net Galley and Two Lions.  In return I agreed to give a honest review of The Blood Guard.

Starting Over by Stacy Finz (Nugget #4)

Description

"A charming small town filled with inventive characters and sweet romance" --Jill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author

The mountain town of Nugget, California, may be tiny, but with its breathtaking scenery, fresh air, and lovable locals, it has everything. Not to mention it's the perfect setting for firsts—and seconds—of all kinds…

On the day of her glitzy New York City wedding, society girl Samantha Dunsbury ditches her Wall Street groom, and hops in her convertible. Her only plan is to head west. But when a pit stop lands her at a lovely Victorian inn in Nugget, she doesn't want to leave. And when the innkeeper needs someone to fill in, Sam is thrilled to take the job—her first! For once, she's going to do what makes her happy. She just has to figure out what happy looks like. She never expects it to look like her surly new boss…

The last thing Nate Breyer needs is a debutante dilettante mucking up his business. How his sister—and co-owner—could've hired Sam is beyond him. Nate's known women like Sam before—he was engaged to one once. With no options, he'll just have to keep his eye on her while also keeping his distance. But to his surprise it turns out Sam's got a knack for the job, and for putting folks at ease—including Nate. As business—and pleasure—heat up their relationship, Nate finds himself ready to do anything to persuade the runaway-bride to stay permanently gone… 

My review:   Starting Over by Stacy Finz (Nugget #4)

4 STARS

I like this series a lot and have read all 4 books so far.  Can't wait till the next book comes out to. (I read the tease & was so disappointed that I had to wait.)

There are so many characters returning from previous books.  We finally find out why Samantha was the runaway bride.  She is the main character.    Samantha Dunsbury has taken her first job at the Lumber Baron as Maddy replacement while she is on maternity leave.  She is also going to be event planner for the bread & breakfast.

Nate Breyer with his sister bought the Lumber Baron.  He is also part owner and manager of 10 there hotels.  He is spending more and more time in Nugget since his daughter was born.  He is the father but never planned to be.  He donated the sperm so his friends could have a child.

Nate is positive that Samantha is not going to last for long in Nugget.  He does not date people who work for him.  Besides Samantha reminds him of his ex-fiance.

We also meet a few new characters.  I really like Lucky.  Can't wait to see his story unfold more.

There is a lot of drama, event planning, romance and a couple of love scenes that I skipped over.  I hated when I had to stop reading for one reason or another.  I want to come back and visit Nugget again.

I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Kensington Books.  In return I agreed to give honest review of Starting Over.

An Officer and a Maverick by Teresa Southwick (Montana Mavericks: What Happened at the Wedding? - Book 3)

The Curious Case of Detective Dreamy

Rust Creek Ramblings

By now, you've all heard about Lani Dalton, everyone's favorite Ace in the Hole bartender. Observed singing and dancing fully clothed in the park fountain on the Fourth of July, she was hauled off to jail dripping wet by dashing detective Russ Campbell. Readers, what would you do if you found yourselves in the strong arms of the law?

Since then, Lani's been reluctant to revisit the Case of the Spiked Wedding Punch. Because helping the arrestingly handsome Russ crack the case could risk breaching family confidentiality—and Lani never breaks a promise! So why does Russ keep showing up at the Ace? We at The Gazette would never kiss and tell, but reports of Lani and Russ's mutual distrust are greatly exaggerated…

• Series: Montana Mavericks: What Happened at the (Book 2425)
• Mass Market Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (August 18, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373659075
• ISBN-13: 978-0373659074

My review: An Officer and a Maverick by Teresa Southwick (Montana Mavericks: What Happened at the Wedding? - Book 3)

4 STARS

This is the third book to the series and first I have read.  I have enjoyed it and want to go back and read the books I have missed.

Lani Dalton  was feeling good.  She saw her brothers throwing a fist and The detective Russ Campbell heading to go arrest Anderson.  Lani decided to distract him so she got in the fountain and started to spray him with water and staying out his reach till she fell and took him down too.

Lani works on her family ranch and part time at the local bar.  She was only drinking the punch at the wedding in the park on the fourth of July.  She has had a bad relationship and is weary but not that night.

Russ Campbell has come back to Montana and is a police detective in a neighboring area.  He helps out some in Rust Creek Falls when needed.  He has a problem trusting women.  He knows Lani is keeping some secrets about that night she locked him in the jail.

Russ has been asked to work more in Rust Creek Falls to find out who wanted the town drunk.  He has also been asked to work with Lani because people will talk to her and she knows everyone in town.

There is a couple of love scene and the first one is right at front of the story.  Lots of drama, a community of characters that are back from last year about rebuilding the town after the flood.

I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Harlequin.  In return I agreed to give a honest review of An Officer and a Maverick.

Texas Prey by Barb Han( Mason Ridge #1)

Description

The hunted becomes the hunter as the past threatens a small Texas town once again…

Rancher Brody Fields stops cold when he receives a plea for help from Rebecca Hughes. The onetime love of his life, who was abducted along with her brother fifteen years ago, now believes the kidnapper has returned to tie up loose ends. Rebecca needs Brody's help bringing the kidnapper—or killer—to justice.

For Brody, the job is risky, but the real danger is their unexpected Texas-sized attraction. As they uncover answers to difficult—and deadly—questions, Brody has a question of his own: Can he trust the woman who once shattered his heart?

Series: Mason Ridge (Book 1) Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages Publisher: Harlequin; Large Print edition (August 18, 2015) Language: English ISBN-10: 0373749120 ISBN-13: 978-0373749126 My review: Texas Prey by Barb Han( Mason Ridge #1) 3 STARS I liked it, but thought it needed more details.  Like they edited to much of the story out.  I also wanted more details on the ending scenes. Overall the story worked. It introduced a lot of characters that I think will be in future stories about Mason Ridge. Rebecca Hughes is attacked in a grocery parking lot.  The cops don't listen to her or even go out to the scene.  They believe she is crying wolf. Rebecca was kidnapped long ago with her younger brother Shane who was seven.  Rebecca got away, but nothing was ever found of her brother.  Rebecca is a DJ at night.  The kidnapping tore her family apart. Rebecca is scared.  She turns to someone who was always there in the past. Brody Fields. Brody Fields loved Rebecca in the past but when she broke with him in high school it really hurt him.  He now is a rancher but was in the military after high school.  When Rebecca calls him for help he shows up. Brody, Rebecca and friends were out playing that night when they were not supposed to be.  When Rebecca's younger brother followed her.  There were things that night that they did not tell the police then.  They did not think it was important. Lots of drama, some action, lots of characters and love scenes.  Brody and Rebecca try to keep there distance from each other. I think this is one story that need to be a lot longer to tell it right but thats only my opinion.  I want to read the next Mason Ridge and see what happens next. I was given this ebook from Harlequin and Net Galley.  In return I agreed to give a honest review of Texas Prey.

The Longest Yard Sale by Sherry Harris( A Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery #2)

Description

ONE MAN'S CLUTTER

When Sarah Winston turns Ellington, Massachusetts, into New England's largest garage sale for a day, it's the small town's biggest event since the start of the Revolutionary War—but without the bloodshed. That is, until a valuable painting goes missing…and the lifeless body of an Air Force officer is found in Carol Carson's painting studio, his face perfectly framed with the murder weapon—a metal picture frame.

IS ANOTHER MAN'S CLOVER Sarah is mad as heck that someone used her town-wide garage sale to commit a crime—and frame her good friend Carol. She is definitely on this case…but it's not easy rummaging through increasingly strange clues that point to cheating spouses, downright dirty investment schemes—even the mob. And Sarah will have to be very careful if she wants to live to bargain another day…

• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (June 30, 2015)

My review: The Longest Yard Sale by Sherry Harris( A Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery #2)

4 STARS

I would love to go to the yard sale. This is a good cozy mystery. Lots of suspects, mystery, characters I like, a community that we get to know and a romantic triangle.

Sarah Winston is a divorced woman who helps plan and organize garage sales.  Her ex-husband thinks they should get back together.  She is also dating the prosecutor in secret.

Sarah planned to make Ellington, Massachusetts the longest yard sale for the day.  It was her idea.  The city even paid her to do it.  The small town was crowded with people and traffic was backed up.
During the sale someone was lighting small fires around town.

Sarah's good friend Carol has a copy of the town's favorite painting that she just finished stolen that night. Carol had not signed it yet.  She doesn't report it.  The next day Carol finds a dead body in her art studio and runs across to Sarah place to show her.

Sarah's ex husband C.J Hooker is the Chief of Police.  He wants Sarah to stay out of it.  He won't give her any results on what they find.

Sarah knows that Carol is a good suspect and plans to find out others.

The book talks a little about the military base and life, thrift stores, garage sales. The book keeps your attention and guessing what is going on.
  I can't decide who I want Sarah to be with.  I can't wait till the next book.

I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Kensington Publisher.  In return I agreed to give a honest review of The Longest Yard Sale.