Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Book Review - The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall

 

In the book, Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams, talk about hope. It's one of the most sought after but, least understood element of human nature. The book is highly relevant given our current climate and political landscape.

Typically, I don't read nonfiction books but, I was interested in reading more about Jane's life. The book is an inspirational read as Jane talks about times in her life where she almost lost hope and how things turn around. She shares personal anecdotes and memories, that are interesting and spellbinding. It's the perfect book to bring someone's hopes up if they are ever feeling down or overwhelmed.

Saturday, May 15, 2021

Book Review - Willa of Dark Hollow by Robert Beatty + Giveaway

 

Willa and her clan are the last of the Faeran species. They are an ancient race of forest people that have lived in the Great Smoky Mountain since the trees have grown there.  However, a crew of human loggers have arrived and are cutting down and destroying the forest she loves at an alarming rate. Willa feels powerless as she is unable to stop them. She doesn't know how she will be able to stop them as they have powerful machines and she is just one girl.

Willa tries to get a closer look at the loggers and tries to devise a plan to stop the deforestation. She comes across these mysterious creatures that are beautiful and elusive until, she realizes they are hunting humans. Willa struggles to decide if unleashing these dangerous spirits is the only course of action she has to stopping the loggers. She will have to find a way to save the people and animals she loves while taking a stand against the loggers and the darkness that is threatening to destroy her world.

This is the second novel in the series but, I felt that this novel can be read as a standalone. The book is heartbreaking and an exciting read. The book has many great lessons including, respecting nature and focusing on the group mindset instead of thinking of only yourself. I liked all the characters and thought they were beautifully written including, Charka. I hope this isn't the end of the series and that they make a series from the book!

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.**

  

About the Book:

Title: WILLA OF DARK HOLLOW

Author: Robert Beatty

Pub. Date: May 4, 2021

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 384

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, KindleAudibleB&NiBooks, KoboTBD, Bookshop.org

Young nightspirit Willa discovers an ancient, powerful magic deep in the forest in the enchanting companion to Robert Beatty's instant #1 New York Times best-seller, Willa of the Wood.

This enchanting companion to Robert Beatty's instant #1 New York Times bestseller Willa of the Wood is perfect for any reader who cares deeply about the natural world. 

Willa and her clan are the last of the Faeran, an ancient race of forest people who have lived in the Great Smoky Mountains for as long as the trees have grown there. But as crews of newly arrived humans start cutting down great swaths of the forest she loves, she is helpless to stop them. How can she fight the destroyers of the forest and their powerful machines?

When Willa discovers a mysterious dark hollow filled with strange and beautiful creatures, she comes to realize that it contains a terrifying force that seems to be hunting humans. Is unleashing these dangerous spirits the key to stopping the loggers? Willa must find a way to save the people and animals she loves and take a stand against a consuming darkness that threatens to destroy her world.

Praise for Willa of the Wood:

"Willa of the Wood will grip readers from its first page... Willa is... an admirable protagonist."—Culturess

"A moving, atmospheric journey of hope."—Kirkus Reviews

"Beatty conjures up a resourceful, compassionate heroine. Full of atmospheric details and richly described magic... this well-paced tale asks insightful questions about the relationship between nature and humans."—Publishers Weekly

"The heroine is an appealing character... and her anguish is clear as she wavers between frightened self-preservation and her desire to help her friends."—School Library Journal

"Willa is a strong and likable creature of the natural world, and seamlessly represents themes of loyalty, tradition, family, and stewardship of the Earth in this engaging story."—School Library Connection

Accolades:

2018 Goodreads Choice Awards: Middle Grade, finalist

2018 Cybils Award, Elementary Middle Grade Speculative Fiction Nominee

Amazon: Best Children's Books of 2018, ages 9-12

Imagination Soup: Best Middle Grade Chapter Books of 2018

BNKids: July's Best Books for Young Readers, selection (2018)

Brightly: 9 Middle Grade Books for Environmentally Conscious Kids, selection (2018)

PopSugar: The Best books for Kids in 2018, as Voted by Actual Kids and Parents Who Read Them, selection

A Mighty Girl: 2018 Books of the Year, ages 9-12

 


GRAB WILLA OF THE WOOD NOW!

 


Willa of the Wood and Willa of Dark Hollow are being adapted into a multi-season, live-action television series!

 

About Robert:

Robert Beatty is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Serafina series and the Willa of the Wood series published by Disney Hyperion. Loved by young readers and adults alike, the Serafina and Willa books are being taught in over a thousand classrooms nationwide and have been translated into over 22 languages. Robert lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and three daughters. He writes full-time now, but in his past lives, Robert was one of the early pioneers of cloud computing, the founder/CEO of Plex Systems, the co-founder of Beatty Robotics, and the chairman/CTO of Narrative magazine. In 2007, he was named an Entrepreneur of the Year. When asked about the inspiration for his books, Robert said, “The Serafina and Willa books grew out of my desire to write stories about unusual and heroic young girls for my three daughters."

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of WILLA OF DARK HOLLOW, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/1/2021

BookHounds YA

Excerpt

Week Two:

5/2/2021

Log Cabin Library

Excerpt

5/3/2021

jillpiscitello

Excerpt

5/4/2021

YA Books Central

Excerpt

5/5/2021

Nerdophiles

Review

5/6/2021

Jenguerdy

Review

5/7/2021

booksaremagictoo

Review

5/8/2021

Amani’s Reviews

Review

Week Three:

5/9/2021

Little Red Reads

Review

5/10/2021

The Bookwyrm's Den

Review

5/11/2021

A Court of Coffee and Books

Review

5/12/2021

Emelie's Books

Review

5/13/2021

Books and Zebras

Review

5/14/2021

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt

5/15/2021

michellemengsbookblog

Review

Week Four:

5/16/2021

two points of interest

Review

5/17/2021

History from a Woman’s Perspective

Review

5/18/2021

Rajiv's Reviews

Review

5/19/2021

Lifestyle of Me

Review

5/20/2021

Haunted By Books

Review

5/21/2021

The Momma Spot

Review

5/22/2021

Fyrekatz Blog

Review

Week Five:

5/23/2021

The Try Everything

Excerpt

5/24/2021

Musing of Souls

Review

5/25/2021

Popthebutterfly

Review

5/26/2021

more.books.yes.please

Review

5/27/2021

DearRivarie

Review

5/28/2021

Momfluenster

Review

5/29/2021

A Dream Within A Dream

Excerpt

Week Six:

5/30/2021

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt

5/31/2021

Do You Dog-ear?

Review


Thursday, June 14, 2018

Book Review - Doom, Gloom, and the Pursuit of the Sun by Antoine F. Gnintedem + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon
Mbengwi, Cameroon is a town known for its lack of opportunities. Anyone who is ambitious would find their dreams stifled. Ever since he was little, Austin wanted more from life. However, he experiences firsthand the cruelty and hardships of human nature. In a country, that is plagued with corruption, poverty, and death, Austin struggles to find a future for himself. He applies for a teaching position in the United States, in hopes, of escaping the desperate cycle. When he arrives in America, he is entangled with a host of other issues and problems. He tries to resolve the obstacles but at times they seem to be crushing his spirit. Will Austin be able to overcome his issues?

The novel was written in an essay format. It felt like almost like reading a diary entry but written in a third person point of view. It was an interesting read but I felt like the novel ended a bit abruptly. I felt like it could have been more in the narrative leading up to the ending. However, the book was very educational about life in Cameroon and I enjoyed reading the novel.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Details:

Book Title: Doom, Gloom, and the Pursuit of the Sun by Antoine F. Gnintedem
Category: Adult Fiction, 208 pages
Genre: Biographical Fiction
Publisher: Createspace
Release date: February 7, 2018
Tour dates: June 11 to 22, 2018
Content Rating: PG (No f-words, some mild profanity, and mild religious expletives such as "damn", "hell" and "Oh God!", some depictions of brief sexual content.)

Book Description:

The town is famous in the region for its chronic stillness...Consequently, every ambitious person who grows up there eventually leaves in search of better opportunities.

Life in Mbengwi, Cameroon, is not easy for Austin-or for anyone else. While growing up, he bears witness to the worst parts of life and the cruelties of human nature. These things keep his homeland trapped in a cycle of misery and suffering. In a country overrun by poverty, death, unrest, and corruption, he sees no future for himself. The only way to escape the cycle is to flee to a place Austin believes to be free of all these troubles, a place where he hopes his dreams will come true: the United States of America.

However, when Austin arrives in this supposed promised land, he is met with a crushing revelation. He finds America to be rife with all the same problems he thought he'd escaped, merely in different forms. Rather than give in to disappointment, he decides to combat these obstacles with a firm resolve. Before long, though, these obstacles threaten to overwhelm him. This realization prompts Austin to rethink how he sees the world and the challenges it throws at him.



Buy the Book:




Meet the Author:


Antoine F. Gnintedem is a renowned educator both in the United States and across the world. As a linguistic consultant, he has worked for the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Homeland Security. In addition, he has served as an educational assessment expert for leading national and international testing companies. His academic achievements include a PhD in English language and literature and another doctorate in educational leadership.

Connect with the author: Twitter ~ Facebook 

Enter the Giveaway!
Ends June 30, 2018


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Iroha Nature Intensive Facial Cloth Mask Q10




This paraben free paper mask is packed with hyaluronic acid, Q10, collagen, and soy. Soybeans are known to prevent premature aging of the skin and retaining moisture. It is also known for its antioxidant properties such as fighting free radicals and promoting the growth of collagen. My face felt firm, supple, smooth and soft after I put the mask for the instructed 15 minutes. I did like after I finished remove the mask there was some excess serum left over and  I massaged into my neck so it can reap in some of the benefits too! I sometimes wonder how come they don’t make a mask that covers a the neck as well. Because I know some people who take really good care of the face but neglect their necks and the neck is actually makes people look older.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Caress Daily Silk Silkening Body Wash Nature's Silk








This irresistible blend of white peach and silk blossom with triple silkening moisturizer that softens and smooths skin to the touch. The body wash provides a luxurious lather and imparts a soft delicate scent. I love how soft my skin was and the soft scent is perfect for the treat for the “It’s hot as hell, why am I wearing clothes” summer.