Category Archives: Blog Tour

Moms, You Are Too Blessed To Be Stressed & Flash Giveaway

My husband and I were just talking about our weekend plans. I cannot believe the weather took a nosedive today and I was freezing riding my bike this afternoon. It is just another reminder of how fast time is flying by. We did get to do some apple picking earlier this month but we wanted to go once more and go to a pumpkin farm near us that has so many activities for the kids.

As we sat contemplating how we can fit this all in, I just felt inadequate. All over social media, I can see other families packing so much in and it sometimes makes me feel…so stressed.  If you feel that way too, you might really like, Too Blessed to be Stressed by Debora M. Coty. Debra is the best-selling author of the Too Blessed to be Stressed series and she decided to write an edition specifically for moms. I can tell you how happy I am she did!

In Too Blessed to be Stressed for Moms , Deb offers empathy, laughs, real-life stories, practical parenting survival tips, and fresh biblical insights to help frazzled moms of all ages hear God’s still, small voice through life’s chaos.

Do you feel like you’re drowning in the everyday stress-pool? . . .

Wish you could make busy-ness a business so you’d be a millionaire? . . .

Welcome to the maternal order of slightly sagging sisters of the ‘hood. The motherhood.

With her own offbeat brand of wit and near-wisdom, popular inspirational humorist Debora Coty addresses heart needs of moms drowning in the churning stress-pool of busyness. In her beloved mom-to-mom, grin-provoking style, Coty offers empathy, laughs, real-life stories, practical parenting survival tips, and fresh biblical insights to help you hear Papa God’s still, small voice through life’s chaos.

Whether you’re struggling with stress related to attitude, time-management, guilt trips, patience, or something in between. . .this humor-filled volume will deliver a much-needed smile and equip you with simple-to-implement tips for attaining the peace we all crave—the peace that passes all understanding.

Check out the book trailer video below.

Debora M. Coty is a popular humorist, speaker, and award-winning author of numerous inspirational books, including the bestselling Too Blessed to be Stressed line. Deb considers herself a tennis junkie and choco-athlete (meaning she exercises just so she can eat more chocolate). A retired piano teacher and orthopedic occupational therapist, Debora currently lives, loves, and laughs in central Florida with her husband, Chuck, and three grandbuddies and one grandprincess. Stay in the loop with Debra Coty on her website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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“Giraffe Problems” Blog Book Tour & Giveaway

Turns out penguins aren’t the only animals with problems. . . From the creators of Penguin Problems comes GIRAFFE PROBLEMS, a second hilarious collaboration from picture-book superstars Jory John and Lane Smith.

Can you guess what’s making this giraffe self-conscious? Could it be . . . HIS ENORMOUS NECK? Yes, it’s exactly that—how on earth did you figure it out?

Cyrus the giraffe can’t understand why his neck is as long and bendy and, well, ridiculous as it is. No other animal has a neck this absurd. He’s tried disguising it, dressing it up, strategically hiding it behind bushes—honestly, anything you can think of, he’s tried.

Just when he has exhausted his neck-hiding options and is about to throw in the towel, a turtle swoops in (well, ambles in, very slowly) and helps him understand that his neck has a purpose, and looks excellent in a bow tie.

This is such an adorable book that conveys a very important message to kids. Check out my video review of Giraffe Problems below:

Giveaway

Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky reader will win their own hardcover copy of Giraffe Problems! Thank you to Random House for the review book and for sponsoring this awesome giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US residents.

Giraffe Problems Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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“Homespun” Blog Book Tour- Amish & Mennonite Women in Their Own Words

I love learning about different cultures and religions. The most profound thing I have learned, is that when we really take the time to learn about others, we usually discover we are more alike than different. I think our world could benefit greatly if we all took the time to learn about others.

Given my feelings, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review a new book edited by Lorilee Craker. The book, Homespun: Amish and Mennonite Women in Their Own Words,

 

Is there a better way to connect and get to know someone than over a cup of coffee or tea? That is exactly how it feels reading the stories of the Amish and Plain Mennonite women in this book. Editor Lorilee Craker, bestselling author of Money Secrets of the Amish, collects these personal writings about hospitality, home, grief, joy, and walks with God.

Hear from one woman who struggles with feeling inferior to her sister, from another about her longing for a baby, and from a third who accidentally bought stretchy material to sew her husband’s pants. tEach woman’s story is a testament to the grace of God and the blessings of community.

This book is such a great read, one to savor while laying back and enjoying the end of summer. Homespun is such a comfortable read, it is so hard to put down. As I read the stories of the women on the pages, I found there was much more I had in common with them than not. The stories draw you in and make you laugh, cry and connect. You will love this book.

Learn more in my video below:

Behind Amish romance novels and tourist spots and television shows stand real people, with longings and loves just like the rest of us. Every Amish and Mennonite woman has a story. In Homespun, you get to hear some of them.

About the editor:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lorilee Craker is the author of thirteen books, including Money Secrets of the AmishAnne of Green Gables, My Daughter, and Me; My Journey to Heaven with Marv Besteman; and the New York Times bestseller Through the Story with Lynne Spears. Connect with Lorilee on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


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Get Your Pencil Because “Mightier Than The Sword” is Here!

Books are so much fun, they can transport you to faraway places and take you on exciting adventures. What about a book that takes it a step farther? One that is wildly funny and inventive, but also interactive? Yes, that sounds great doesn’t it? Mightier than the Sword will pull you, the reader, in the action, for an experience like no other. 

You wake up in the fictional land of Astorya, where stories from our world come to life. You’re a real human being (we assume), and in this fictional world, that makes you a superhero. Armed with your trusty pencil you have the power to create: what you write, draw, or scribble in the book becomes part of the story!

Only you can rescue Prince S. from the evil Queen Rulette. Aided by the Couriers–a French stoat with dangerous dance moves, a giant dung beetle, a fire ninja, a Pegasus-centaur-cowgirl and a super-intelligent femalien chameleon–you must write, draw, and puzzle your way through a hilarious adventure that is unique to every reader! And most importantly, you must prove that the pencil is mightier than the sword.

What a great book to add to your child’s summer reading list. A book they will be happy about diving into because they get to be part of the action and adventure. See the excerpt from the book below:

A Note to the Reader

This book is unlike any other book you’ve ever read before. What’s written on these pages is happening right now. To you.

That’s right, you.

This book is about you and what you’re doing right now—but not what you think you’re doing and not where you think you’re doing it. It’s about another you in another world.

Confused? That’s natural. We don’t fully understand it, either. Scientists are still trying to get to the bottom of how one thing can be in two places at once. If you’re curious about how such things work, we encourage you to read up on quantum physics and then explain it to us.

But not now! You’re already too deep into this book. One hundred twenty words deep, to be exact! And now even more! But don’t waste your time counting words to find out if we can count or not—your life hangs in the balance!

Sorry, did we forget to mention that? Well, it’s true. The other world you are in right now is a bizarre and dangerous place. Nothing is as it seems. Survival is not guaranteed. It will take every ounce of your courage, wit, and luck to get back home in one piece.

Scared? Tempted to put this book down and never touch it again? We don’t blame you. It’s scary to be fighting for your life in a strange world filled with terrifying creatures and unbearable puns. But to that we say: Too bad. Deal with it. Someone has to do it, and that someone is you.

And this isn’t just a ploy to make you keep reading. Although that is a good idea. We wish we had thought of that. We can’t think of everything. What did you expect? Omniscient narrators? Hardly! We don’t know everything about everyone, but we do know what’s happening to you. And right now you need your help.

So go grab your pencil and keep it handy. You will need it. It just so happens that in this other world, a pencil is all you have to draw the line between life and death. 

Draw A Picture is what you are asked to do on page 118 of Mightier than the Sword. More than a picture it is actually a map you are asked to create on page 19. Make it as elaborate or as simple as you want, just get Spielburg back on the map!

AUTHOR BIO

Alana Harrison and Drew Callander have spent their lives telling stories and cracking jokes. Alana graduated from The College of William and Mary with a degree in Comedic Writing and Performance. Drew graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Fiction Writing.

Together they have created cartoons and short films with Jon Stewart, Conan O’Brien, John Oliver, and Kristen Schaal. Their work as writers and improv comedians has aired on Sirius XM Radio, NBC, and Comedy Central. Mightier Than the Sword is their first full-length middle-grade novel. They live with their baby daughter and exquisitely talented cat (neither of whom help with the dishes).

ILLUSTRATOR BIO:

Ryan Andrews lives in the Japanese countryside, with his wife, two kids, and their dog, Lucky. A friendly Kodama or two have been known to take up residence in the giant acorn tree that shades the house. Ryan often works at his drawing desk in the early-morning hours, to the sound of rummaging wild boar and badgers, who come from the surrounding forest seeking out shiitake mushrooms and fallen chestnuts.

 

So what do you think, does Mightier than the Sword sound like a book that would be one your child would like? Let me know.


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“Life According to Og the Frog” Book Review & Blog Tour

Friday was the last day of school for my little ones, but even though the saying goes “no more teachers, no more books”, that is not exactly true in our house.

We are a book loving family, so a summer without books, would be a miserable summer. Even if your middle school child is not an enthusiastic reader, The Life of Og the Frog by Betty G. Birney will be one they want on their summer reading list.

Now, you may be familiar with the adventures in The World According to Humphrey who is the class pet in Room 26. This book also takes place in Room 26, but it is told from the perspective of Og the Frog! Og used to live in a marsh, but he has found himself as the newest class pet in Room 26.

There is so much Og the Frog wants to know. Of course he misses his friends from the pond, everyone except the bullying bullfrogs. The water in his tank is very clean, maybe a little too clean, Og the Frog enjoys a little muck every now and again, after all. The classroom is full of strange, unfamiliar noises and there is a furry, squeaky fellow living next to him, who is very entertaining. The kids are sure friendly and they put the biggest, fattest crickets right in Og’s tank!

All these new experiences give Og lots of inspiration for what he loves to do best, making up songs and poems. All was going along fine, Og the Frog was trying to figure out Humphrey, getting to know the kids better and then there was the frog debate. The debate had to do with whether or not to send Og to live in his own environment at Piney Woods or let him stay in room 26.

Og the Frog had a lot of feelings during the debate discussion and vote. Would he have to say goodbye to the kids he lovingly refers to as the Tads. What about Tabitha? Tabitha’s whole life had changed just like Og’s had. Og thought about Mandy, the little girl who finally started seeing the bright side of things thanks to his help. Let’s not forget about Humphrey who Og was finally beginning to figure out.

The tads had a discussion and took a vote. As their teacher starts pulling out the folded slips of paper and reading them to the class, it is only a matter of minutes before Og will know his fate.

About the Author:

Betty G. Birney has won many awards for writing for television, including an Emmy, three Humanitas Prizes, and a Writers Guild of America Award. In addition to the Humphrey series, she is the author of The Seven Wonders of Sassafrass Springs and The Princess and the Peabodys. She grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, where her parents grew up as neighbors on Humphrey Street.

The Life of Og the Frog is a good book to read aloud with your kids or to let them read aloud to you. Of course, it makes wonderful reading for kids in grades 3-7 to read on their own as well. Let me know if, The Life of Og the Frog will be hopping onto your middle schooler’s summer reading list.


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“One Pedal at a Time” Book Blog Tour & Giveaway

When you get married, you vow to love your spouse in sickness and in health. The reality of standing by a spouse who needs a caregiver can be overwhelming. CJ Golden found out just how much she had  to learn about being a caregiver as she watched her husband, Joe go from crossing the country on his bike, to trying to navigate his wheelchair around their kitchen.

Most people would feel  overwhelmed if faced with such a situation. CJ Golden rose to the challenge of becoming her husband’s caregiver! Through her characteristic determination, boundless love, quest for knowledge and relentless optimism she learned how to be a caregiver.

On the pages of, One Pedal at a Time, CJ Golden shares somber reflections and moments of levity that highlight the very real passage in the lives of a husband and a wife who love each other unconditionally. CJ shares the lessons she learned, the emotional and physical strain upon her heavily burdened shoulders, and the realization that, through it all, their connection and love have grown stronger.

The title of the book is a tribute to Joe’s motto for getting through life’s most trying times. It refers to the days he was traversing the country for months at a time on the seat of his road bike. The same philosophy can be applied to carry others through their own caregiving struggles whether for a spouse, parent, child, other relative or friend.

One Pedal at a Time is a book caregivers can go to for information, inspiration and hope and is also a good read for anyone that appreciates a good love story.

One Pedal at a Time speaks to caregivers who need a place to turn to for information, inspiration, and hope, and for anyone who enjoys a good love story.

 

You can visit the author’s website and the book can be purchased on Amazon. Don’t forget to enter for your chance to win a copy in our giveaway below.

Giveaway:

PR By The Book is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of One Pedal at a Time! Thank you to PR By The Book for the review book and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US Residents.

One Pedal at a Time Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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“A Friendly Town That’s Almost Always By The Ocean” Book Tour & Giveaway

I am here to tell you about a great new middle age novel,  A Friendly Town That’s Almost Always By The Ocean.  When Davy’s fifth grade class uncovers the secrets of their peculiar town in a series of linked tales that pair the whimsy of Sideways Stories from Wayside School with the delightful eeriness of Welcome to Night Vale.

Welcome to Topsea, the strangest place you’ll ever visit. In this town, the coves are bottomless and the pier has no end in sight. There’s a high tide and a low tide… and a vanishing tide. Dogs are a myth, but mermaids are totally real. And seaweed is the main ingredient in every meal—watch out, it might just start chewing you back!

New kid Davy definitely thinks Topsea is strange. His mom keeps saying they’ll get used to life in their new town—it’s just the way things are on the coast! But after his first day at Topsea School, Davy finds himself wondering: Why is his locker all the way at the bottom of the school swimming pool? Why can’t anyone remember his name? (It’s Davy!) And why does everyone act like all of this is normal?!

This is such fun book for your middle school child or to read aloud. It is a book both kids and parents will thoroughly enjoy.

Giveaway:

Disney Hyperion is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky reader will win a hardcover copy of,  A Friendly Town That’s Almost Always by the Ocean! Thank you to Disney Hyperion for the review book and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US Residents.

A Friendly Town That’s Almost Always by the Ocean Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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“Burning Magic” -Final Book in Shadow Magic Trilogy Blog Tour & #Giveaway

Are you ready for the third and final installment in the Shadow Magic trilogy? Burning Magic, by Joshua Khan is available now, so your wait is over!  In this sizzling adventure, Lily the sorcerer queen and Thorn the giant-bat-whisperer journey to the Sultanate of Fire to help their friend K’leef in a no-holds-barred contest for the throne.

When Lily, aka the “witch queen” and bat-rider extraordinaire Thorn travel to Sultanate of Fire, things go terribly wrong. Instead of celebrating a reunion with their old friend K’leef, they are thrust into royal murder, an epic quest, and a deadly battle for the throne.

While investigating the murder, Lily learns shocking truths about her life that could destroy all she has achieved. Yet, among the ruins of her old life, she has the opportunity to become someone greater . . . and more terrifying.

Thorn and the magnificent bat, Hades, join the timid K’leef and the idiotic Gabriel Solar in a quest to find a phoenix. These fire birds are the key to saving the sultanate, but they nest within the Shardlands. The boys must defeat not only the monsters of that magical wilderness, but also rivals eager to claim the throne for themselves. Rivals that include a renegade from House Shadow.

Giveaway

Disney Hyperion is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own hardcover copy of Burning Magic! Thank you to Disney Hyperion for the review book and for sponsoring this magical giveaway! Open to US residents. 

Burning Magic Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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“Charlie & Frog: A Mystery” Book Blog Tour & #Giveaway

Are you looking for a page-turning, contemporary middle grade mystery novel filled with humor, intrigue and heartwarming friendships? If so, Charlie & Frog: A Mystery is a brand new book by debut author Karen Kane. My kids love the story of Frog AKA Francine Castle, who is deaf and shines as a tenacious, crime-solving protagonist who introduces Charlie to the world of sign language and teaches it throughout.

Charlie Tickler is feeling frustrated, all he wants is for his parents to listen, but they have left him once again. This time his parents are off to South Africa to help giant golden moles. Where does that leave Charlie? They dumped him off with his TV-obsessed grandparents.

Feeling lonely and curious, Charlie heads into the  village of Castle-on-the-Hudson, where a frightened old woman gives him a desperate message—in sign language. When she suddenly disappears, Charlie is determined to find answers.

Charlie walks into a cafe looking for help. He finds Francine who would much rather be solving crimes than working at the Flying Hands Cafe. This is her chance to be the world’s greatest detective that she has been dreaming about. She leaps at the chance to tackle a real-life case.

Together, Charlie and Frog set out to decipher a series of clues and uncover the truth behind the missing woman’s mysterious message. Charlie needs to learn American Sign Language (fast) to keep up with quick-witted Frog. And Frog needs to gather her detective know-how (now) to break the case before it’s too late.

Giveaway:

Disney Hyperion is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own hardcover copy of  Charlie & Frog: A Mystery! Thank you to Disney Hyperion for the review book and for sponsoring this thrilling giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US Residents.

Charlie & Frog: A Mystery Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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“Sunrise, Easter Surprise!” Board Book Blog Tour & #Giveaway

Sunrise, Easter Surprise! is the perfect Easter board book to tuck in the Easter basket of little ones. This lively Easter board book depicts the joy that was spread with the news of Jesus’ Resurrection.

All of creation is alive with the news: Jesus lives! From chirping birds to chattering rabbits to buzzing bees, the pages of this Easter board book spill over with joy. With cheerful verse and lighthearted-yet-reverent illustrations, Sunrise, Easter Surprise! imagines Jesus’ Resurrection from the perspectives of those who might have seen and heard of it first: the sun as it rose, a flower as it bloomed, and the first people at the empty tomb.

This exuberant Easter book offers even the littlest listener a better understanding of what the Resurrection means to all creation: new life through Jesus. Perfect for little ones ages 2-5.

I love this sweet, little board book, it has the most precious illustrations and is the perfect size for little hands. Read it to your little one before Easter or save it to read on Easter morning and tuck it in their Easter basket.

Giveaway:

Worthy Publishing is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of Sunrise, Easter Surprise! Thank you to Worthy Publishing for the review book and for sponsoring this special giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US residents.

Sunrise, Easter Surprise! Board Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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