Category Archives: Blog Tour

“A Short History Of The Girl Next Door” Blog Book Tour

Do you remember the feelings you had when you started high school? It can be a rough transition with everything in life changing, your friends, your school, even yourself.

A long time has passed since I started high school and yet, those feelings come right back when I think of it.  Jared Reck’s,  A Short History Of The Girl Next Door , goes on sale September 26th and is for readers 12 and up published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers . This debut novel is perfect for readers who are stuck in that awkward limbo between childhood and adulthood (and those who just barely escaped).


About the Book:

Matt Wainwright is constantly sabotaged by the over dramatic movie director in his head. He can’t tell his best friend Tabby how he really feels about her, he implodes on the JV basketball team, and the only place he feels normal is in Mr. Ellis’s English class, discussing the greatest fart scenes in literature and writing poems about pissed-off candy-cane lumberjacks. If this were a movie, everything would work out perfectly. Tabby would discover that Matt’s madly in love with her, be overcome with emotion, and would fall into his arms. Maybe in the rain.

But that’s not how it works. Matt watches Tabby get swept away by senior basketball star and all-around great guy Liam Branson. Losing Tabby to Branson is bad enough, but screwing up and losing her as a friend is even worse. After a tragic accident, Matt finds himself left on the sidelines, on the verge of spiraling out of control and losing everything that matters to him.

The portrayal of adolescence will make you laugh out loud, break your heart, and maybe teach you a thing or two about basketball. Fiercely funny, undeniably honest and overflowing with heart, A Short History Of The Girl Next Door  is a poignant tale of falling in love, overcoming tragedy, and ultimately, redemption that you’ll be glad to have read.

About the Author:

Jared Reck (@reckj) is a debut author. He received a BA in English from Clemson University, a Masters in Educational Leadership, and recently earned a certification in Writing for Children & Young Adults. He lives in Hanover, Pennsylvania, where he’s an 8th grade Language Arts teacher.

So, can you relate to this book? Do you have a tween or teen or know one who would like to read this book? Let me know in the comments. Happy Reading.


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Welcome To Wonderland 2: Beach Party Surf Monkey-Blog Book Tour & Giveaway

Just in time for summer reading, Welcome To Wonderland 2:Beach Party Surf Monkey  the second book in this new illustrated series by Chris Grabenstein, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics.

P.T. and Gloria are back with a diverse cast of characters in this entertaining middle grade paper over board series filled with madcap escapades that kids will not want to put down. 

There’s always something wacky happening when you live at a motel, and P. T. Wilkie has grown up at the world’s wackiest one yet! When word gets out that the hottest teen idols in Hollywood will be filming their next movie-BEACH PARTY SURF MONKEY-right in St. Pete’s Beach, P.T. and Gloria know that Wonderland would be the PERFECT location.

Now they just have to convince the producers! But when things start to go wrong (Crazed fans? Missing stars?!) it will take all of Gloria’s business genius and P.T.’s wild stories to save the movie before the movie AND the Wonderland are both all washed up!

Read an excerpt HERE!

We love this book and it is not one you will be begging your kids to pick up, more than likely, you will need to beg them to put it down when it is time for dinner or bed. Keep them reading and engaged over the summer with this exciting adventure.

We want to add some excitement to your summer with a great giveaway. You can enter for a chance to win your own paper over board copy of this book below.

Giveaway:

Random House Kids is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own hardcover copy of Welcome To Wonderland 2: Beach Party Surf Monkey! Thank you to Random House Kids for the review book and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

Welcome To Wonderland 2: Beach Party Surf Monkey Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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

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Discover “The Explorers: The Door in the Alley” Book & #Giveaway

If you are looking for a great summer read for your 8-12 year old, check out this great book that arrived, hot off the presses, on April 25th! The Explorers: The Door In The Alley features a mysterious society, a secretive past, and a pig in a teeny hat.

This book by Adrienne Kress is the first book in a new middle-grade series for fans of The Name of This Book Is Secret, The Mysterious Benedict Society, and Series of Unfortunate Events. It doesn’t take more than a few pages to see why film rights have already been optioned by Disney!

The Explorers: The Door In The Alley is filled with adventure and danger. There are missing persons, hired thugs, a hidden box, a lost map, famous explorers, a risk-averse boy, and a girl on a mission. Not to mention secrets not meant for the faint of heart. But if you are feeling bold, or maybe even a little italic, and if you enjoy derring-dos (and doing dares), this just might be the story for you.

Adrienne Kress is a writer and an actress born and raised in Toronto. She is the daughter of two high school English teachers and credits them with her love of both writing and performing. She also has a cat named Atticus, who unfortunately despises teeny hats. Look for her online at AdrienneKress.com, and follow her on Twitter at @AdrienneKress.

This book is available on Amazon but you can enter to win a copy below.

Giveaway:

Penguin Random House Publishing  is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of The Explorers: A Door In The Alley ! Thank you to Penguin Random House for the review book and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

The Explorers: A Door In the Alley Book  Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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

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You Need To Read This When You’re Feeling Sick #Giveaway

Seems like everyone had been sick this winter, it is all I see when scrolling my Facebook feed. Given that, I think this blog tour for When You’re Feeling Sick by Coy Bowles could not have come at a better time!

They say laughter is the best medicine and this laugh-out-loud picture book by the guitarist for the Grammy Award-winning Zac Brown Band, will have sick little ones feeling better fast!

The book is full of encouraging, rhyming advice on how to get through sick days with courage and a positive attitude. It truly is, just what the doctor ordered! It comes with a sheet of stickers that will make sick little ones smile. There are even feel better songs to keep the germs away!

We have more happy news, you can enter to win a copy of this great book below in our giveaway!

Giveaway

Penguin Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of When You’re Feeling Sick! Thank you to Penguin Random House  for the review book and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

When You’re Feeling Sick Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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

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What’s It Like To Go Time Traveling With a Hamster?

I love reading aloud with my kids. This summer we had the chance to check out Time Traveling With A Hamster by Ross Welford.

time-traveling-with-a-hamster-cover

This book is packed with adventure and time travel. 12-year-old Al Chaudhury’s dad died when he was just 8 years old. On Al’s 12th birthday he received  a pet hamster, a letter from his dad. The letter directs Al to their old house where he will find a time machine. The time machine is an ancient Apple laptop and a metal wash basin.

His father’s letter contains a mission that will require Al to travel back to 1984 and save his father’s life. You see there was a go-kart accident when he was 12 that is the cause for his death at age 39. If Al can go back in time and prevent that accident, he can change the outcome of events that happened after. Al is given a choice of accepting the mission or not and you can bet Al accepts. Time travel is not easy and Al finds out that going back in time 30 years requires more than courage and imagination. It requires lying to his mom, stealing a moped, setting his school on fire and keeping his pet hamster safe through it all.

This book makes a great read aloud book you can read a chapter at a time with your kids or one that older kids can read on their own. It is a really fun book to read together and leads to lots of great conversations afterward.

Ross Welford worked as a business journalist before becoming a freelance writer and television producer. He has worked on shows such asThe Big Breakfast, The Morning, and Bridezillas. This is his first novel. Follow Ross on Twitter.

So are you excited about this new book? Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

 


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The Little Linebacker Blog Tour & #Giveaway

Book Blog Tour Image

Teaching kids that hard work pays off is probably one of the most important lessons we can teach them as they grow. So many adults that I know believe  things come easy and don’t require effort. As an entrepreneur I learned a long time ago there is no such thing as “overnight success.” Most people do not understand the years of work that go into becoming an “overnight success.” If kids learn this at an early age, it will serve them well throughout their life. They will not be the kind to give up at the first hurdle but instead find a way to get over each and every one on the way to reaching their dreams.

A book that can help kids understand this is The Little Linebacker. This book written by Maria Dismondy and Stephen Tulloch and illustrated by Heather Heyworth is a story of determination. The story is about a little boy who dreams of becoming a professional football player. This dream comes even before his first little league football practice. His mother is supportive and tells him to dream bigger dreams! He finds support through his life when he feels like giving up.

An elderly man he likes at the nursing home where his mom works provides some wise advice that you have to keep going even if you fail a few times. He helps Stephen practice his math skills when he gets a bad math test grade. Throughout the years, Stephen has defeats but someone is always there to help him summon his determination and keep going. He learns that when you don’t give up but keep pressing on, great things happen! This is a great book with a very valuable message. You can find this book on Amazon. You can download the Free Reader’s Guide HERE.

Take a look at the video trailer for the book below:

Enter now for your chance to win a copy:

Cardinal Rule Press is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of The Littlest Linebacker! Thank you to Cardinal Rule Press for the review book and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

The Littlest Linebacker – A Story of Determination Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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

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