Book Review - God Bless America: The Story of an Immigrant Named Irving Berlin by Adah Nuchi and Rob Polivka + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Izzy Baline and his family emigrated from Russia to America. Shortly after arriving, the Baline family falls in love with their new country. His family never had much. When his father passed away, Izzy decides to run away and try to make his own future. Izzy has a passion for music and creates beautiful songs that his fellow citizens enjoy. When Izzy joins the army, he realizes he can put his passion to better use and creates an inspiring song that can rouse the entire nation.

The book was beautifully drawn. The characters had a comic book feel. I found the book to be fun and engaging. However, some of the pages were a bit confusing and lacked context. I would recommend reading the last few pages in the book before reading the story to make it easier to understand. This was definitely a fun book and I look forward to reading more books like this.

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

GOD BLESS AMERICA: THE STORY OF AN IMMIGRANT NAMED IRVING BERLIN

Title: GOD BLESS AMERICA: THE STORY OF AN IMMIGRANT NAMED IRVING BERLIN

Author: Adah Nuchi, Rob Polivka (Illustrations)

Pub. Date: June 5, 2018

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 40

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, iBooks,  TBD

An inspiring portrait of an immigrant and the gift he gave his new home.

Persecuted as Jews, Izzy Baline and his family emigrated from Russia to New York, where he fell in love with his new country. He heard music everywhere and was full to bursting with his own. Izzy's thump-two-three, ting-a-ling, whee tunes soon brought him acclaim as the sought-after songwriter Irving Berlin. He ignited the imaginations of fellow countrymen and women with his Broadway and Hollywood numbers, crafting tunes that have become classics we still sing today.

But when darker times came and the nation went to war, it was time for Irving to compose a new kind of song:

A boom-rah-rah song.

A big brass belter.

A loud heart-melter.

A song for America.

And so "God Bless America" was born, the heart swelling standard that Americans have returned to again and again after its 1918 composition.

This is the tale of how a former refugee gave America one of its most celebrated patriotic songs. With stirring, rhythmic text by Adah Nuchi and delightful, energetic art by Rob Polivka, readers will be ready to hum along to this exuberant picturebook.

About Adah:

Adah Megged Nuchi was first introduced to the children's publishing world at home, as the daughter of a children's book art director. She began her own publishing career at the National Book Foundation, and later at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers, where she was an acquiring editor of picture books, middle-grade, and young adult fiction for seven years. Her books have been named to the Kids' Indie Next List, YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, and Indies Introduce New Voices lists. As an editor, she most loved finding new talent and working with authors to shape a story.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of GOD BLESS AMERICA: THE STORY OF AN IMMIGRANT NAMED IRVING BERLIN, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Rafflecopter Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba2757/?

Tour Schedule:

Week Two:

6/11/2018- Savings in Seconds- Review

6/12/2018- Little Red Reads- Review

6/13/2018- Reading Is My SuperPower- Review

6/14/2018- Two points of interest- Review

6/15/2018- A Dream Within A Dream- Excerpt

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:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Add to Goodreads

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

Book Review - Rise of the Superheroes: Greatest Silver Age Comic Books and Characters by David Tosh

Photo Source - Amazon

Like many other children in the United States, comic books played an integral part of my childhood. Batman, Superman, the Punisher is synonymous to my childhood as ice cream and the beach is to the summer. I was super excited when I saw "Rise of the Superheroes" displayed because I remember spending the days on end reading comic books.  The book is part reference and part personal recollection of the author. Tosh speaks about the brief history of comic books during the Silver Age while weaving his personal experience. The book is filled with beautiful photography along with information about sale prices for the comic books. The history is a bit brief so people expecting in-depth analysis or history might be disappointed. However, I found this book to be a fun and engaging read. I like reading the early beginnings of Stan Lee and the many transformations of different comic book heroes. It also makes a perfect coffee table book.

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

Book Review - The Mortification of Fovea Munson by Mary Winn Heider + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Fovea Munson's parents are no ordinary doctors. They perform surgeries on dead people. They also own a cadaver lab. Because of this, Fovea is gross by association and is called "Igor" by her classmates. When her summer camp is closed, Fovea is forced to work at her parent's lab. The cadaver lab is nothing short of being boring until Fovea ventures into the wet lab. She discovers three disembodied heads that start talking to her. They are willing to help her in exchange for a favor. Is Fovea hallucinating? What is the favor?

The young adult novel was boatloads of madcap fun filled humor about body parts. The novel is about finding oneself and not letting other people's expectation dictate your life. I enjoyed antics with Fovea and the disembodied heads. While, the ending was unexpected but it was still enjoyable.

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

Title: THE MORTIFICATION OF FOVEA MUNSON 

Author: Mary Winn Heider

Pub. Date: June 5, 2018

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 336

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, iBooks, TBD

Fovea Munson is nobody's Igor. True, her parents own a cadaver lab where they perform surgeries on dead bodies. And yes, that makes her gross by association, at least according to everyone in seventh grade. And sure, Fovea's stuck working at the lab now that her summer camp plans have fallen through. But she is by no means Dr. Frankenstein's snuffling assistant!

That is, until three disembodied heads, left to thaw in the wet lab, start talking. To her. Out loud. 

What seems like a nightmare, or bizarre hallucination, is not. Fovea is somebody's Igor, all right. Three somebodies, actually. And they need a favor.

With a madcap sense of humor and a lot of heart (not to mention other body parts), this is a story about finding oneself, finding one's friends, and embracing the moment.

About Mary:

Author of THE MORTIFICATION OF FOVEA MUNSON, June 2018, Disney-Hyperion. Barrel of Monkeys Company Member.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE MORTIFICATION OF FOVEA MUNSON, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Rafflecopter Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba2759/?

Tour Schedule:

Week Two:

6/11/2018- Two points of interest- Review

6/12/2018- Lattes & Paperbacks - Review

6/13/2018- Wonder Struck- Review

6/14/2018- A Dream Within A Dream- Excerpt

6/15/2018- BookHounds YA- Review

Book Review - Plunge into Darkness by Kristin N. Spencer + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

A small farming village has a deep dark secret.

When Ever Morena befriends her neighbor, Dawn, her life changed forever. Together the pair builds a close bond like sisters. When Dawn suddenly disappears, Ever becomes desperate and heartsick over her friend. Ever tries to move on and becomes the village healer but she still questions what happened to her best friend. Until Dawn reappears and is unable to speak. Ever is willing to risk everything to be able to cure Dawn. She takes her into the Concealed Forest and prays for Dawn. Will Dawn be able to regain her voice? What happened to Dawn?

The book was an interesting read about friendship and darkness. I found the book a bit hard to get into at first but I am glad I read it through. I wish the book had a bit more detail about the people and their culture. For example, I wish I knew more about pikiro root and the disease, affectation. However, it was an interesting beginning to the series.

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

About the Book

Title: Plunge into Darkness
Author: Kristen N. Spencer
Release Date: February 27, 2018
Genre: Fantasy

Two girls.

A village with a dark secret.

Their only hope is a mythical figure Ever Morena has only read about in her father’s lone book.

Ten years ago Ever’s best friend disappeared without a trace. Though the loss of her friend only came close to killing her then, the truth of what happened might finish the job now—just when her future as the village healer is looking bright. Ever must risk everything she loves in order to plunge into darkness on an impossible journey in the middle of the Concealed Forest.Never before has redemption been so costly.Please note: This book contains subject matter which some may find troubling as it spotlights helping those who have experienced abuse. I tried to handle this topic as delicately as I could, keeping the reader’s experience in mind.

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

 

Kristin N. Spencer spends part of each day imagining up new worlds and beings when she isn’t busy taking care of her three children and writing partner husband T. E. Spencer. When she’s not writing you can find her working in full time ministry, sewing cosplay costumes, or watching geekesque movies. She writes whatever genre she wants including but not limited to Non-Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Sci-Fi, Space Fantasy, and traditional Fantasy. Kristin studied Comparative World Literature at California State University, Long Beach and received a Bachelors, which she fondly calls a degree in reading. Her favorite movie is Sabrina (the Julia Ormond version) and her favorite person is Jesus.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kristin is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card, ‘Plunge Into Darkness’ Paperback, Minimalism Art Classic Notebook Journal, and Huhuhero Fineliner Color Pen Set (10 Pack)!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/d070/plunge-into-darkness-celebration-tour-giveaway

Julep Nail Polish - Tanya

The carbon matte (reminds me of graphite from pencil lead) nail polish provided a full coverage after two coats. The carbon matte shimmer was a pretty effect. I found that the polish lasted 2 - 3 days before chipping. However, the polish was a bit thicker than other colors.