Oliver the Ornament ~ Spotlight Book Blog Tour Guest Post & Giveaway!

OLIVER THE ORNAMENT

Boxed Gift Set

by TODD M. ZIMMERMANN

Genre: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7)

Category: Children's Picture Book

Publisher: Oliver the Ornament

Pages: 54

Release date: December 22, 2018

Content Rating: Rated G

Book Description:

 

Oliver the Ornament is a heartwarming tale of one family's cherished Christmas ornaments. The story centers on Oliver, who has been with this family since Mom and Dad's very first date. Years later, Oliver, now injured and bullied, still has the magic of Christmas in his heart. "The story follows Oliver's excitement for Christmas, his heartbreak, and his determination to overcome all odds to save the day. Oliver, along with his friends, will warm your heart with his kindness, humility, and love for his family and friends. We hope the story will bring families together to tell the stories of their own ornaments and the special meaning that so many of them possess. Because after all, "Every Ornament Tells a Story."

BUY THE BOOK:
website

 

Guest Post:

AUTHOR TODD ZIMMERMAN TALKS ABOUT WRITER'S BLOCK

Do you ever get writer’s block? What helps you overcome it?

Yes, after I completed Oliver the Ornament Meets Belle, which is second book in my seven-book series, I knew something was missing, but I didn’t know what. For weeks, I read and re-read the book knowing something was wrong but unable to pinpoint what the issue was. Finally, I realized there was no villain in the story. We have three villains (bullies) in the first book, but they reform by the end of the story, so I couldn’t have them revert to their old ways. As we all know, every children’s story has a villain, so I had to come up with a new character. And that’s exactly what I did, with the introduction of a new ornament in book two. 

The new character, named Nellie turns out to be an ornament, who was left behind in the attic decades ago, and is now determined to ruin Christmas for the entire family (don’t worry, though, because Oliver, with the help of his friends will always save the day!). Ironically, the writer’s block ultimately opened the door for this brand-new twist in the story and the introduction of this new character who will take on a major role in all subsequent books in the series. Who knows, Nellie might even get her own book...

Meet the Author:

 

Todd Zimmermann, the creator and author of the “Oliver the Ornament” series, is on a mission to spread kindness and anti-bullying messages within his charming stories. The first story in the series focuses on a little ornament who faces challenges, but is able to overcome all odds to save the day. Charity is at the heart of Oliver the Ornament. A portion of proceeds from the sale of each book will be donated to various children’s charities. Starting with 5% from the first book, 10% from the second book, and increasing to 100% of the seventh book, Oliver the Ornament is committed to making a difference in children’s lives throughout the world.

connect with the author:  website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

 

Enter the Giveaway:

ONE WINNER: Autographed copy of Oliver the Ornament

(US Only. Ends December 28, 2020)

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Tour Schedule:
 

Nov 30 – Working Mommy Journal – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 30 - Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 30 - KC Beanie Boos Collection – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 30 - Reading Authors Network – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 30 - Nighttime Reading Center - book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 1 – Splashes of Joy – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 1 - The Pen and Muse Book Reviews - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Dec 2 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 2 - Lisa's Reading – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 3 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 4 – Books, Tea, Healthy Me – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 4 - Chit Chat with Charity – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 4 - A Mama's Corner of the World - book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 7 – Westveil Publishing – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Dec 8 –Pick a good book – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 8 - Adventures Of a Travelers Wife – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Dec 8 - Gina Rae Mitchell - book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 9 – What Emma Did Next – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 9 - Cuzinlogic - book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 10 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Dec 11 – Hall Ways Blog – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Dec 11 – FUONLYKNEW – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 11 - Writer with Wanderlust - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Dec 14 – Celticlady's Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 15 – Reading is My Passion – books spotlight
Dec 15 - Deborah-Zenha Adams blog – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Dec 16 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Dec 17 – Book World Reviews – book spotlight / author interview
Dec 17 - Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 18 – books are love – book spotlight / giveaway

 

The Square Root of Texas ~ Lone Star Book Blog Tours Notable Quotable & Giveaway!

THE SQUARE ROOT OF TEXAS: The First Calamity 

of QED Morningwood

by

Rob Witherspoon

Genre: Satire / Humor / Absurdist Fiction

Publisher: Independently Published

Date of Publication: September 26, 2018

Number of Pages: 181 pages

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

QED Morningwood is a liar, braggart and teller of tall tales. When he shows up at the domino parlor with a mysterious Russian crate in the back of his pick-up truck, he confides to the players he is a ‘Shadow’ member of the NRA, not on their official membership roll, and has a load of rocket propelled grenades – all lies. The news spreads to the real Shadow NRA, the FBI and Homeland Security. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Cultural Preservation sends an agent to retrieve the crate, the actual contents known only to the Russians.

The Russian agent, an FBI team, a DHS undercover agent and a Shadow NRA hit team arrive in Heelstring, Texas looking for QED and his crate. Their convergence is followed by interrogations, seduction, lies, arrests, jailbreak, kidnapping and rescue – along with car chases and explosions. If not for Cotton Widdershins, an ancient black man with secrets of his own, who acts as QED’s mentor and savior, the Morningwood line would be doomed to end, or at best spend life in a federal penitentiary.

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

 

Rob Witherspoon was born and raised in rural Texas. He earned a BA in Physical Education, UT Arlington 1985 and a BS in Aerospace Engineering, UT Arlington 1990. He worked in the aerospace industry for 30 years before retiring in 2018. He lives in north central Texas with his wife and youngest daughter and has spent much of his life in rural communities and on the ranch. He combines his love for Texas, lying, the outdoors, engineering, and his children in his writing.

     

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THREE WINNERS

GRAND PRIZE (US only):

Signed Copies of The Square Root of Texas and Deus Tex Machina

2^ND PRIZE (US only): Signed Copy of The Square Root of Texas

3^RD PRIZE (US Only): Kindle Copy of The Square Root of Texas

Giveaway ends midnight, CST, 11/20/2020

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CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE

FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY,

or visit the blogs directly:

11/10/20	Notable Quotable	Texas Book Lover
11/10/20	BONUS Promo	Hall Ways Blog
11/11/20	Review	Max Knight
11/12/20	Author Video	StoreyBook Reviews
11/13/20	Review	Book Bustle
11/14/20	Author Interview	All the Ups and Downs
11/15/20	Guest Post Video	Sybrina's Book Blog
11/15/20	BONUS Post	Sybrina Publishing
11/16/20	Review	Jennie Reads
11/17/20	Excerpt	Chapter Break Book Blog
11/18/20	Review	Reading by Moonlight
11/19/20	Review	Bibliotica

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Bulwark ~ Book and Audio Book Blog Tour Review & Giveaway!

Bulwark Anthology Collection

Genre:  Adult Fiction (18+) (104 to 146 pages)

Category:  Fantasy

Publisher:  Chelshire, Inc.

Release dates:   Jan 2018; Mar 2019; Sep 2019

Content Rating: PG + M: Some violence and mild sex.

Series Details:

Bulwark: a wall or stockade that protects or sometimes hides the truth from the outside world.  The beating heart of this anthology is Bulwark, Georgia, isolated, hidden. Sheriff Clay Finnes appears in each book, but he is not the main character in each book. There is NO series arc requiring readers to read all 10 books in the anthology. Every book is completely stand-alone. You can read the books in order or out of order.

"Quill says: If you like your thrillers with lots of twists, plenty of "creepy," some paranormal events, and a fast-moving plot, check out BULWARK. You might just be afraid to turn off the lights after reading the last page." - Red Feathered Quill

"Brit Lunden's paranormal fantasy novella, Bulwark, is genuinely eerie and spooky, filled with the kinds of scary effects that true lovers of the dark crave and rarely find. There are no gushes of blood or other cheap special effects, just a consistently good pulse-pounding story about an ancient evil and the one man who stands up against it. Readers who grew up with the likes of Barker, King and Lovecraft will have a field day reading this classy, dark fantasy novella." 
- Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite (5-Star Review)

"Author Brit Lunden has weaved an entertaining story that spans paranormal, romance, and mystery. Thanks to the splattering of action and the mysterious connection of characters and happenings, this fast paced story is well suited to those looking for a light and enjoyable thrill." - Bianca Schulze

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BULWARK

BY BRIT LUNDEN

Narrated by Dan McGowan

Genre: Adult Fiction (18 +),  

Length: 2 hours, 16 minutes

Category:  Fantasy

Publisher:  ACX

Release date:   June 14, 2018

Content Rating:  PG + M due to violence and mild sex.

Book Description:

Clay Finnes is the sheriff of a small town in Georgia called Bulwark. Recently separated from his wife, all he can think about is what went wrong, and will Jenna ever come back to him. He's troubled by a bothersome reporter trying to build a story from what he thinks is a normal day in his life. Clay has to admit that the fantastical stories, told by an accident victim as well as unusual sightings of wolves, things are getting a bit strange. A visit to the ominous Gingerbread House makes him realize that his life as he knows it will never be the same.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Audible
Add to Goodreads

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REVIEW

HALL WAYS REVIEW: Audio Book Review. At just two and a quarter hours, Bulwark gives readers a lot of story with little time investment. The story begins with a laid-back, almost lazy pace, and then -- all hell breaks loose. 

What's wonderfully engaging for the reader is the not knowing. Is main character Clay losing his mind or are there dark forces at play? Both? Neither? Is the town itself complicit in the crimes that are happening? Are there crimes really happening? Who is good, who isn't, and who knows things they aren't telling? 

"It felt as if the forest was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen."

Author Brit Lunden's descriptive writing really sets the mood for the story and allows an immersive experience, especially given the backdrop of evil creatures (witches, werewolves, vampires -- or not) and goings-on. There is a duality in the writing, and the reader is led down one path or the other as details are taken in and interpreted. This is carried through to the very end of the story, where surprisingly, reminiscent of Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, there are two endings offered to the reader.  I love that the ending is entirely the reader's delicious choice to make.  I would definitely listen to another of the stories in the Bulwark Anthology; it's a great escape.

ABOUT THE NARRATION: Narrator Dan McGowan is an interesting but good choice for narrator especially upon reflection after the ending(s) of the story. He handles male and female voices equally well, but with a few peculiar pronunciations and some odd inflections at the ends of sentences. A different narrator could have made the story much scarier, much eerier, but Dan's performance was fairly straightforward. The result is that the narration simply tells the story, and honestly, that works. 

Thank you to the author and iRead Book Tours for an audio code in exchange for my honest opinion -- the only kind I give.

  

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Book Details:
Book Title:  The Knowing (Book 1): A Bulwark Anthology
Genre:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  104 pages
Category:  Fantasy
Publisher:  Chelshire, Inc.
Release date:   Mar 2019
Content Rating:  PG + M due to violence and mild sex.

Book Description:

Bulwark- a wall or stockade that protects or sometimes hides the truth from the outside world. Bulwark, Georgia, isolated, hidden. Who knows what strange things can happen when the rest of the world can't see you?

JB Stratton is alone in the world, and all he has left are the memories of his beloved Ellie. Dirt poor JB and wealthy Ellie feel an instant connection that is as intense and primal as the blood red earth of their home. Unseen roots connect them, pulling them into an impossible relationship. Will the memories of past lives help or hinder the path of their love? 

Based on the original novella Bulwark, by Brit Lunden, The Knowing continues the story of a town isolated from the rest of the world where the impossible becomes plausible, and logic is determined by reality.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Audible
Add to Goodreads

Book Details:
Book Title:  The Devil and Dayna Dalton: (Book 9) A Bulwark Anthology by Brit Lunden
Genre:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  126 pages
Category:  Fantasy
Publisher:  Chelshire, Inc.
Release date:   Sep 2019
Content Rating:  PG + M due to violence and mild sex.*Contains Sexual Content*

Book Description:

Reporter Dayna Dalton's reputation has been ruined since birth. The daughter of wild child, Becky Dalton, is expected to follow her mother's footsteps; never given a chance to prove she's different. Dana's been in love with Clay Finnes since she was a teenager. Her unrequited love for Sheriff Finnes leaves her empty. He's happily married and unavailable. Instead, Dayna finds herself stuck in the revolving door of bad relationships. But this is Bulwark, Georgia, a town where strange things are always happening. Dayna is doomed to this loveless life until she can find someone who will appreciate the depth of her character. Can she overcome her fears and look beyond her own perceptions to accept a greater love? *Contains Sexual Content*

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Audible
Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

Brit Lunden is a prolific author who’s written over 50 books in assorted genres under different pen names. Bulwark was her first effort in adult fiction and was chosen by several of her fellow authors as the basis for a new series, A Bulwark Anthology. Using her characters, they are creating new denizens in spin-off stories to this bizarre town. Brit Lunden lives on Long Island in a house full of helpful ghosts.

Connect with the author: 
Website  ~  Twitter 
~  Facebook  ~  Instagram

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

FIVE WINNERS: print copies of Brit Lunden's Bulwark Anthology books

FIVE WINNERS: ebook of Brit Lunden's Bulwark Anthology books

ONE WINNER: $100 Amazon Gift Card

(open USA; ends May 8, 2020)

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CLICK for Tour Schedule: March 30-May 1, 2020

Finding Esme ~ Lone Star Book Blog Tours Audio Book Review & Giveaway!

FINDING ESME

by

SUZANNE CROWLEY

  
Genre: Middle Grade (3-7) / Magical Realism / Family & Loss
Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Date of Publication: August 14, 2018

Number of Pages: 288

Scroll down for the giveaway!

After her grandfather died from a heart attack while driving his tractor on Solace Hill, twelve-year-old Esme's been inextricably drawn to that spot, although her grandmother warns her to stay away. But when she follows her little brother, Bo, and her dog, Old Jack, up the hill while chasing fireflies, she makes an incredible discovery—dinosaur bones peeking out from underneath the abandoned tractor.

The bones must be a message from her grandfather, a connection from beyond the grave. But when word gets out that the farm is hiding something valuable, reporters, researchers, and neighbors arrive in droves. Esme struggles to understand who has her best interests at heart, especially as the memory of her grandfather begins to slip away.

Full of friendship and adventure, and featuring a palpable Texas setting, Finding Esme is a moving and heartfelt story about family, friendship, and learning to deal with loss.

PRAISE & HONORS FOR FINDING ESME:

“Esme is a brave, appealing heroine with the odds stacked against her… Bad blood and layered family secrets drive this story to its ultimately optimistic and satisfying conclusion.” -- Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

“Esme McCauley is a lonely but spirited 12-year-old who feels nothing ever happens to her the way it’s supposed to...A poignant tale for readers who enjoy character-driven realism.” -- School Library Journal

“Readers muddling through preteen changes or unstable family lives will identify with Esme’s struggles, but the thrill of discovery will appeal to most.” -- Booklist

Texas Library Association 2019 Spirit of Texas (SPOT) reading program selection

CLICK TO PURCHASE

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HALL WAYS REVIEW: Audio Book Review: Finding Esme, though geared for a middle grade audience (and appropriately so), has MUCH to love for all ages because of the timeless themes and struggles that define what it is to be human. Those elements, coupled with characters who come from basically the same molds of people found everywhere, in every small town, give the book universal appeal. Finding Esme is a lot of things including a subtle mystery but also an exploration of grief, poverty, disappointment, and identity. It’s a coming-of-age story that includes crotchety old women and nosy neighbors, good and not-so-good people with good and not-so-good intentions, and those who are abused, abandoned, and avoided. And dinosaurs! And ghosts…maybe.

“My momma used to say we look back on our lives when we’re afraid of what’s in front of us.”

Finding Esme is a book that you want to quote line after line; it’s lyrical and beautiful from the very beginning, and as much as I adored the audio version, I am going to have to buy the print version as well because there are passages I want to revisit and absorb. You just can’t do that with audio.

Author Suzanne Crowley’s characterization is outstanding. Her sketches of folks are so descriptive that these people feel like neighbors or family or the friends of friends that we all hear about. It’s the small details that Crowley includes that flesh-out and bring people to vivid life. From the Johnson’s Baby Powder scent that wafts around one person, to the cigarettes always present like an appendage on another, to how Bee “always had something on her that wasn’t supposed to be there,” like a piece of peach on her cheek, readers not only see the people in Esme’s life, we smell them. We experience them.

“My, she’d have to stand on her toes to look a rattler in her eyes. When’s she gonna grow up?”

And there is Esme, who makes you want to reach into the story, yank her out, and hug on her until all her pain and worry and grief wash away. Esme reminds us of how grief can consume a person and of how desperately the grieving hang on to memories of loved ones lost – even when the loss isn’t due to death but due to the physical and emotional absence of them. The defense systems Esme creates to protect herself and deal with it all are both amazing and heartbreaking, but she is a resilient little thing who deflects the verbal criticisms and the pain of being ignored and shut out. She calls her mother, grandmother, and father by their first names; but her grandfather is Paps; there is a lot of untold meaning there.

An interesting aspect of Finding Esme is that the timeframe is a little wiggly but really works perfectly. (I don’t think this is because I read with my ears, but it’s possible.) The time period within which Finding Esme takes place seems like it is whatever you want it to be. There are references to things that you don’t find much anymore such as landlines (party lines, no less!) and people mailing real postcards. But there are a few more modern references, which remind you that sometimes time stands still and in a time warp in small towns.

There is a mostly subtle thread of magical realism running through the book, but it feels like something many readers have experienced, whether we buy into it or not. There is also a touch of the paranormal, and while some of it feels realistic, there is one integral part of the story that I felt needed more explanation to strengthen the story. But just like Esme is with most questions in her own life, readers are left to draw their own conclusions.  

ABOUT THE NARRATION: I wasn’t sure initially about narrator Cassandra Morris’s voice; it is high-pitched and there is a serious Texas twang to it. My uncertainty lasted about three minutes before I realized that Morris’s performance is spot-on perfection for the voice of Esme. Childlike but with the old soul that comes through from Crowley’s writing of Esme, Morris owned it, and I never again thought about it. I listened at regular speed – the exception, not the rule for me – and the pacing was perfect. From a technical standpoint, it was glitch-free and a real pleasure to listen to the story without distractions.

Finding Esme is among my favorite middle grade books I have read, and even several weeks after finishing it, it sticks with me. I find myself thinking about Esme and if life is better now that she’s found Louella Goodbones, found some closure, and more than anything else, found herself. I highly recommend Finding Esme for ages 10 and up (some of it could be a little too creepy and confusing for younger audiences).

Thank you to the Lone Star Book Blog Tours and the author for providing me audio CDs in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give.

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Suzanne Crowley is the author of two acclaimed novels for young readers, The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous and The Stolen One. The author, who is also a miniaturist and dollhouse collector whose work has graced the covers of magazines worldwide, was born in a small town in Texas and lives in Southlake, Texas. When not hugging her dog or imbibing in chocolate, she can often be found taking a nap.

Website ⬥ Facebook 
Twitter ⬥ BookBub

Goodreads ⬥  Instagram

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TWO READERS EACH WIN A SIGNED COPY OF FINDING ESME, TWO CANDLES, BOOKMARKS, FUN FACT CARDS, AND A PEN!
February 11-21, 2020

(U.S. Only)

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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

2/11/20	Review	Momma on the Rocks
2/11/20	Review	The Page Unbound
2/12/20	Audio Review	Hall Ways Blog
2/12/20	Review	Librariel Book Adventures
2/13/20	Review	Jennifer Silverwood
2/14/20	Review	Missus Gonzo
2/14/20	Review	#Bookish
2/15/20	Review	Reading by Moonlight
2/16/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
2/17/20	Review	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
2/17/20	Review	Rebecca R. Cahill, Author
2/18/20	Review	All the Ups and Downs
2/19/20	Review	That's What She's Reading
2/20/20	Review	Books and Broomsticks
2/20/20	Audio Review	Forgotten Winds

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