Blog Tour: Frowns and Gowns by Amanda M. Thrasher

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures
FROWNS AND GOWNS
The Mischief Series, Book 5
By AMANDA M. THRASHER
Children’s Chapter Book / Fantasy / Fairies
Publisher: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press
Page Count: 236
Publication Date: September 12, 2023
Embark on a Magical Adventure with Lilly, Boris, and Jack!
Get ready to join Lilly, Boris, and Jack on an unforgettable journey filled with excitement, laughter, and a touch of mayhem. Brace yourself for a whirlwind of mishaps as these three fairies plan a magnificent magical ball, only to encounter an unforeseen disaster! Experience the magic of friendship with Lilly, the quick-witted and resourceful fairy, Boris, the mischievous fairy with a heart of gold, and Jack, the troublemaker with a curious, adventurous spirit on their latest adventure.
Throughout, Lilly, Boris, and Jack teach the true meaning of friendship and teamwork. Together with their friends, they’ll overcome challenges, learn valuable lessons, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Don’t miss out on this enchanting tale!
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Award-winning author Amanda M. Thrasher was born in England and moved to Texas, where she lives with her family. She writes YA, general fiction, middle grade, early reader chapter, and picture books. She is the founder and CEO of Progressive Rising Phoenix Press.
PROGRESSIVE RISING PHOENIX PRESS
Review

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book from Lone Star Literary in exchange for my honest review.

Frowns and Gowns by Amanda Thrasher is an adorable and whimsical tale about young fairies. The reader takes a journey with the main characters Lilly, Boris, Jack, Ivy, and Pearle. The adventurous group works together to prepare for their annual fairy ball. The girls are excited, while the boys aim to play hide and seek until the event has concluded. Decorations, a long to-do list, committees, volunteering, and so much more must be done before the big day. We journey through as the characters cooperate to accomplish all their tasks. We learn that fun and friendship should be a part of all tasks.

Overall, Frowns and Gowns is a well-written, captivating, and creative children’s book. Though it’s the fifth in the series, this book can be read as a standalone. As a former children’s librarian and school teacher, I love to see books like these on the shelves. The author takes the time to make the book engaging by using descriptive wording to ensure the reader feels transported into the story. Amanda Thrasher has a way with words and storytelling. Any young reader will be quickly engaged in this story and anticipatory of the next books in the series. Thrasher creates a beautiful fairy world that leads the reader to want to explore.

I highly recommend this story for any young reader interested in fairy tales and fantasy. This is a great beginner novel as it is easy quick read.

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Blog Tour: The Edge of Too Late by Jan Sikes

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures
 
THE EDGE OF TOO LATE
Harbor Pointe Series, #5
by
Jan Sikes
Ghost Suspense / Contemporary Short Stories / Action & Adventure Romance
Publisher: RiJan Publishing
Date of Publication: November 28, 2023
Number of Pages: 126 pages 
 
 
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Brandon Miller has his dream job, financial security, and he’s madly in love. Only one thing is missing—a commitment.
Angela Cooper’s ex-husband left her with deep scars, souring her on the concept of marriage. She’s not interested in a do-over. Not with Brandon or anyone. Her heart is locked securely away behind a thick wall.
With a ring in his pocket and hope in his heart, Brandon arranges a romantic getaway to the historic Harbor Pointe Inn, where he plans to pop the question.
Before they reach the inn, Angela’s got her camera in hand and ghosts on her mind. But they arrive to find a much more tangible horror.
Accident or foul play?
Someone is up to no good, and Angela is the next target. When suspects can be worldly or otherworldly, danger and secrets lurk everywhere.
Poised at the perilous edge of too late, Angela and Brandon face the fight of their lives.
 
Jan Sikes writes compelling and creative stories from the heart.
 
She openly admits that she never set out in life to be an author. But she had a story to tell. Not just any story, but a true story that rivals any fiction creation. She brought the entertaining true story to life through fictitious characters in an intricately woven tale encompassing four books, accompanying music CDs, and a book of poetry and art.
And now, this author can’t find a way to put down the pen. She continues to write fiction and has published numerous award-winning short stories and novels.
Jan is an active blogger, an avid fan of Texas music, and a grandmother of five. She resides in North Texas.
 

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

 

Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review from Lone Star Literary.

Book 5 of the Harbor Pointe series starts with a warm-into before you dive-into rollercoaster of emotions. Brandon Miller is our main character, successful and in love with his partner, Angela, who is still dealing with the aftermath of her divorce and is still hesitant about her commitment to Brandon. A vacation is just what the two needed. What is supposed to be a relaxing vacation turns into a nightmare that both are fighting to wake up from. Will both Angela and Brandon get their versions of a happy ending?

The Edge of Too Late can be read as standalone. I have not read any of the other novels in the series, but I hope to read them after diving into this one. Overall the author does a fantastic job with her style of writing, generating warm feelings and emotions for the readers. This book is a perfect balance of suspense, relationships, family, love, danger, and paranormal activity. 

Brandon is developed as a man set on marrying his dream girl and protecting her at any cost. Angela is a woman with a scarred past that has left her with a heart hard to trust others. Both are looking for an opportunity to relax when they arrive at the inn. They soon come to realize that the inn has many dark secrets that have them both trying to decipher if what they are seeing is real. Both characters must trust their instincts as they navigate an unfamiliar territory. 

Author Jan Sikes does a great job intertwining the various levels of the story and provides good depth. This isn’t some happy-go-lucky romance novel that sails to a happy ending. The Edge of Too Late is a well-written work of art that has you on the edge of your seat not knowing what the next chapter will hold but excited to see how everything unfolds.

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Blog Tour: The Brotherhood of Pandora

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures
The Brotherhood of Pandora
by
David L. Nichols
Historical Fiction / Nautical Fiction / Action & Adventure
Publisher: Moontower Press
November 14, 2022
313 Pages
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To combat Napoleon’s increasing interest in the Caribbean and help pressure France to sell New Orleans to America, Vice-President Thomas Jefferson enlists the aid of friend and naval hero Captain Jacob May. He asks Captain May to wage a clandestine war against the French in the Caribbean not as part of the US Navy, but as pirates.
To accomplish this, Captain May uses the cutting-edge technology of 1799: Girardoni air rifles, Fulton’s self-propelled torpedoes, a submarine, cannons with rifling, and Pandora, a specially modified ship. Pandora’s crew also holds a secret—two women masquerading as able-bodied seamen. Captain May molds his crew into the Brotherhood of Pandora and gives Jefferson chaos in the Caribbean.

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AMAZON │ MOONTOWER PRESS

David Nichols has published three books and a number of articles on building small wooden boats and traditional sails. He also taught wooden boat building at WoodenBoat School and Great Lakes Boatbuilding School. In addition, he wrote and directed an hour-long “how-to” video on wooden boat building and has written many scripts for industrial and commercial films. This background allows him to accurately portray the boats and ships of the late 18th century and weave a cohesive and compelling story. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas, Austin.
◆ YouTube ◆ Goodreads ◆
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Blog Tour : Ely Air Lines

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures
   
ELY AIR LINES
Select Stories from 10 Years
of a Weekly Column,
Volumes 1 & 2
by
MIKE ELY
and
LINDA STREET-ELY
Genre: Nonfiction
Categories: Short Stories / Aviation / Adventure 
Date of Publication: January 29, 2020 
Number of Pages: Volume 1: 350 pages; Volume 2: 330 pages  
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Buckle up and fly with Mike and Linda Street-Ely to discover amazing people, interesting places, and the conquest of flight. Since 2007, readers have enjoyed engaging articles weekly in the newspaper column, “Ely Air Lines.” Now you can step aboard to enjoy a collection of stories that explore the vast realm of the flyer’s world.

Mike Ely has logged thousands of hours over more than forty years as a professional pilot. He holds an airline transport pilot certificate with multiple type ratings and a flight instructor certificate. Mike has taught people to fly in small single engine airplanes, gliders, turboprops, and corporate jets. As a freight pilot and an international corporate pilot, he has flown through all kinds of weather, to many places, both exotic and boring. His love for writing was instilled by his father at an early age.

Linda Street-Ely is an award-winning, multi-genre author and playwright. She also holds an airline transport pilot certificate, a commercial seaplane certificate and a tailwheel endorsement. She has air raced all over the U.S., including four times in the historic all-women’s transcontinental Air Race Classic. Besides flying, Linda has a keen appreciation for great storytelling. She loves to travel the world, meet people, and learn about other cultures because she believes great stories are everywhere.

Together, Linda and Mike are “Team Ely,” five-time National Champions of the Sport Air Racing League, racing their Grumman Cheetah, named the “Elyminator,” and dubbed “The Fastest Cheetah in the Known Universe.” They live in Liberty, Texas.

◆ PAPER AIRPLANE PUBLISHING, LLC ◆ PAPER AIRPLANE BLOG ◆
◆ FACEBOOK ◆ TWITTER ◆ INSTAGRAM ◆ PINTEREST ◆
◆ MIKE ELY ON GOODREADS ◆ LINDA STREET-ELY ON GOODREADS ◆
◆ MIKE ELY ON AMAZON ◆ LINDA STREET-ELY ON AMAZON ◆

Review

Rating :★★★★★

Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I was provided a copy of a finished book  from Lone Star Literary Life partner in exchange for my honest review.  The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author or the publisher. The copies used in this review are finalized copies sent to me in exchange for my honest review.  #partner #LSBBT

The authors, Mike and Linda take a unique approach to compiling stories from their column into a collection of books and making them available for public consumption. I thoroughly enjoyed the flow of the book and it was easily understandable for someone with no prior knowledge of aviation. I found the short stories both entertaining and engaging. I definitely enjoyed being able to gather knowledge in regards to the flights and get a first-hand read of some of the challenges pilots face when performing.

One of my favorite short stories in the book was “Pitts and Pumpkins.” I enjoyed reading about their participation in the Pumkin Chuckin contest. I laughed out loud reading this and thought to myself, “could I chuck a pumpkin out of a plane and hit a target on the ground,” the answer was no. This is just one of many stories in volume 2 of the collection of stories. Each story is unique in a sense where you, as a reader, are able to be captivated by the telling of factual events. There are many tales such as this one that are informative, entertaining, and heartwarming.

The flow between writers in each story allows for the reader to continuously get a different perspective of the retelling. There were many of these short stories that had me on the edge of my seating wishing they didn’t end. Be prepared to have your search engine open on your computer, you are definitely going to want to look up more information about some of the aircrafts listed. If you are a native Houstonian or live in Texas, you will especially enjoy the stories that involve that focus on Texas pilots. You will truly get that “everything is bigger in Texas” vibe from those reads.

If you are someone who is interested in personable, factual, and enticing aviation stories then I highly recommend this read. This book continued to have me engaged from start to finish. The short stories and column writing style allows for the reader to easily transition from story to story. I promise, at the end of this book, you are going to feel like an aviation enthusiast.

—————————————
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Each win an autographed, 2-volume set of ELY AIR LINES
Giveaway ends midnight, CST, January 29, 2021

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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:
1/19/21 Excerpt It’s Not All Gravy
1/20/21 Review V1 Jennie Reads
1/20/21 Review V2 Librariel Book Adventures
1/21/21 Guest Post Forgotten Winds
1/22/21 Review V1 StoreyBook Reviews
1/22/21 Review V2 Reading by Moonlight
1/23/21 Author Interview All the Ups and Downs
1/24/21 Author Interview The Adventures of a Travelers Wife
1/25/21 Review V1 Book Bustle
1/25/21 Review V2 Book Fidelity
1/26/21 Excerpt The Page Unbound
1/27/21 Character Interview Hall Ways Blog
1/27/21 Top Ten Momma on the Rocks
1/28/21 Review V1 The Clueless Gent
1/28/21 Review V2 Chapter Break Book Blog
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Lions and Liars by Kate Beasley

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures

LL_JKT_template.inddGenre: Middle Grade Fiction
Pages: Print 304
Release Date: June 5,  2018
Author: Kate Beasley 
Rating: ★★★★★

Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I received a free copy of this book while attending the Texas Library Association Conference in 2018. The opinions in this review are solely my own and do not reflect the views of the publisher or the author. 

Synopsis:

Frederick Frederickson has a food-chain theory about life. There are lions, like the school bully. Gazelles, like the bullied kids. There are meerkats, and the fleas that live on the butts of meerkats. Frederick’s a flea.

Fifth grade is off to a terrible start when Frederick is sent to a disciplinary camp for troublesome boys. His fellow troop mates—Nosebleed, Specs, The Professor, and little-yet-lethal Ant Bite—are terrifying. But in between trust-building exercises and midnight escape attempts, a tenuous friendship grows between them. Which is lucky, because a Category 5 hurricane is coming and everyone will have to work together—lions and fleas alike—to survive!

*synopsis take directly from Goodreads.com*

Final Thoughts:

I first met Kate at a discussion panel at the Texas Library Association Conference this past April. I feel in love with her book then and new I had to attend her book signing. Lions and Liars is a creative novel that discusses the importance of friendship. Kate uses a variety of approaches to showcase the woes of friendships and the challenges each character must overcome. The main character Fredrick Frederickson is a charismatic self enthused young boy who wants to be seen as a lion. He wants to win so much that he starts to loose sign of what is important, friendships.

I actually selected this novel for my recent tween book club and they loved it. Some of course stated they were more a lion versus a flea. I would say I am a tie between a flea and a lion. I enjoyed the interaction between each character in this story and the relatable of each scene. Sometimes you want something so bad but in the end you realize that the thing you wanted wasn’t that important. Fredrick comes to that realization at the end of the story and finally understands what is important. I enjoyed watching him grow as a character throughout this novel. I actually really liked this book and am excited to read more books by this author. 

So, if you are in the market for good middle grade read about friendship, camp, and surviving the odds, then this the book for you. It has mild language and content is appropriate for all ages. 

nterested in me reviewing your book or have suggested reads? Email me at librarielbookreviews@gmail.com