Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Book Review - The Gillespie County Fair by Marc Hess

Photo Credit - Amazon

The oldest fair in Texas is the Gillespie County Fair. The fair is well regarded and everyone loves to participate in the fair. The old German farming community is struggling to keep it's original charm alive, while rampant land developers are trying to buy up family homesteads.  Two families are torn apart over the sale of their homestead. Will the community be able to survive?

When I first read this book, I thought it was going to be about a community that is struggling and how they able to come together. However, I made it 75% through the book before I found it rather pointless to say the very least. There were a lot of characters and many of them felt just throw into the story. It was very hard to keep track of how all these characters played a role in the story. To be honest, I still don't know what role they played. And, I am not really interested in finding out more about the characters. Overall, I found the book very hard to get into and the characters unrelatable. I wish the author focused on a few main characters and built a concise storyline.


 **Disclosure - I received a free  copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Friday, April 26, 2019

Book Review - Wonder Walk by Ilham Alam + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Johnny and his mommy go out for a walk. Johnny is excited over all the beautiful, scary, and new things he sees. Why is the bug out so late? What is that yellow flower? Why is that bird unfriendly?

The book  is a very short read which perfect for the little ones with very short attention spans. It was a fun read especially with rhymes and the colorful artwork. Overall, a perfect read for bedtime!


 **Disclosure - I received a free  copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**





Title: WONDER WALK
Author: Ilham Alam
Pub. Date: April 16, 2019
Publisher: Iguana Books
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Pages: 20
Find it: GoodreadsAmazonB&NTBD

Get out there with the curious Johnny and his patient Mommy, in this colourful, rhyming book, celebrating all the wonders of the everyday world. What do they see? What do they hear? What do they talk about?

About Ilham:



My name is ILHAM which is pronounced the way its spelt. As a kid, I hated my name and did get teased for being a “ham”. But now that I’m an adult, I love the unique-ness and the strength that my name conveys. I definitely have not met another Ilham for sure.

It means inspiration in Arabic, by the way.

I live with my 2 sons & my husband and my 20lb kitty, Beauty, within a house thats booby-trapped with Lego. My crazy family are my inspiration for story writing and story-telling, And I love to travel with them as well and earning new memories through adventures abroad, some of which I have documented in this blog.



Giveaway Details:
3 lucky winners will win WONDER WALK Swag Packs, US Only.

Giveaway Link:

Tour Schedule:

Week Three:
4/22/2019- D. Books and ReviewsReview
4/23/2019- She Dreams in FictionReview
4/24/2019- ❧Defining Ways❧Review
4/25/2019- Twirling Book PrincessExcerpt
4/26/2019- Two points of interestReview

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Book Spotlight - Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers by Shauna Holyoak + Giveaway



Photo Credit - Amazon



KAZU JONES AND THE DENVER DOGNAPPERS Digital Assets
About the Books:
Title: KAZU JONES AND THE DENVER DOGNAPPERS
Author: Shauna Holyoak
Pub. Date: April 23, 2019
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 320
Find it: GoodreadsAmazonKindleB&N, iBooksTBD

Packed with high stakes mystery and tons of heart, this first installment in a new series introduces Kazu Jones-a spunky, scrappy detective who's this generation's Harriet the Spy.

When a string of dognappings grips her Denver neighborhood, Kazu Jones vows to track down the culprits. She can't stand to see more dogs go missing-especially once her neighbors' beloved pet is taken because of her gigantic mistake.

With the help of her gang-including her best friend and expert hacker, March; and her ginormous, socially anxious pup, Genki-Kazu uncovers evidence that suggests the dognapping ring is bigger than she ever imagined. But the more she digs, the more dangerous her investigation becomes. The dognappers are getting bolder, and Genki could be next.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “In this spirited debut, Holyoak introduces an indefatigable heroine whose distinct voice and loyal canine companion contribute to her considerable appeal. The diverse allies, plot twists, and delightful dogs make this a memorable beginning for Kazu and her friends.”
KIRKUS: Holyoak creates a well-paced mystery with approachable characters and issues. The dognapping case and the go-get-’em attitude of Kazu provide just enough suspense and action without being too scary. Holyoak sprinkles in topics of growing up, including friendship, relationships with parents, mean people, and telling the truth.  A not-too-scary, diverse mystery for those who love action, dogs, and spunky heroines.”



About Shauna:
Shauna has been telling stories long before she could ride a bike, and some of them are even true! She writes for kids and teens and thinks it’s kinda the best job ever. Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers is her debut novel, and it will be released on April 23, 2019! She lives in Idaho Falls, ID with her husband, six of their seven children, and two naughty dogs.

Giveaway Details:
3 winners will receive finished signed or unsigned copies of KAZU JONES AND THE DENVER DOGNAPPERS, US Only.

Giveaway Link:

Tour Schedule:

Week Two:
4/22/2019- BookHounds YAInterview
4/23/2019- Eli to the nthReview
4/24/2019- two points of interestInterview
4/25/2019- The Caffeinated ReaderReview
4/26/2019- That Bookish PrincessReview