Sophie Washington: Lemonade Day by Tonya Duncan Ellis

Sophie Washington and her friends are back for a sweet, fun story that is sure to inspire kids to follow their dreams.

Short of cash to buy a special present for her mother’s birthday, Sophie is encouraged to take part in Lemonade Day, where young entrepreneurs learn how to start and operate businesses. With help from her friends and her annoying little brother, Sophie charges forward, only to have an accident destroy their supplies. With some creativity, they hope to get their plan back on track, earn the money they need, and support the local animal shelter.

Sophie Washington: Lemonade Day by Tonya Duncan Ellis is the second book in the Sophie Washington series that I’ve read. Sophie is smart and spunky, so readers will be drawn to her right away. I love how the author has created a diverse cast of characters to make the story relatable to everyone. Just like in Secret Santa, Sophie is faced with obstacles that challenge her. Though she gets frustrated, like any entrepreneur, she doesn’t give up.

If you enjoy books with strong protagonists, the Sophie Washington series is one you should pick up.

Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

READ AN EXCERPT

Forty minutes later, Mom calls us back in. A caramel scented candle has our kitchen smelling like a bakery, and she’s smiling. I guess the rest of the meeting went well.

“Here’s a snack, girls.” She sets a plate of cookies on the table. “I’m sure you’re hungry after all that running and jumping.”

“I’m really excited about all your suggestions.” Mrs. Gentry walks in from the restroom. “The marketing ideas are fabulous. I’m glad you’re setting things up so I can sell my candles on the Internet. I’d been happy getting a booth at the Farmer’s Market every Saturday, but I know I need to grow. I can’t wait to see the business plan you put together. Thanks for taking time with me.”

She turns to Alexis. “Did you have a good time with Sophie and Chloe? I hope she wasn’t too much trouble.”

“None at all, Mrs. Gentry,” answers Chloe. “It was fun.”

“Yeah, we got to play lots of games we liked in kindergarten, without feeling babyish.” I nod.

“I love Sophie’s puppy!” says Alexis. “Can we get one, Mom?”

“Taking care of dogs can be expensive. We’ll have to see how my business does,” says Mrs. Gentry with a chuckle.

She grabs Alexis’ hand and moves toward the front door. “Let’s meet again next week. You can definitely sign me on as your first customer.”

“Oh, and here’s a little something for you and Chloe for helping me out.” She hands us both five dollars.

“Thank you, Mrs. Gentry!” We say at the same time.

“It’s so cool that your mom’s helping Mrs. Gentry sell her candles,” says Chloe a few minutes later in the den. She scrolls through her phone, and I half-watch a cartoon on the flat screen over the fireplace.

All the papers are picked up, and the room’s back the way it usually looks, with bright, comfy throw blankets on the soft, leather couch, and the colorful, wool rug brightening the tile floor.

Over in the kitchen, Mom’s on a call with Dad, telling him the good news about her first customer. “We should start a business,” says Chloe. “It’d be cool to make our own money. I want to get some new leggings at the mall, but Mom says they cost too much. If we had our own business, I could save up and buy them myself.”

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I received a digital copy of this book from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

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Kyle & Corey and the Game Store Mystery by Joe Stephens

Looking for a fun, adventure-filled mystery? You’ll find it in Kyle & Corey and the Game Store Mystery by Joe Stephens.

Kyle and Corey are brothers who are as different as they come. In typical brotherly fashion, they fight a lot, but they also have a knack for solving crimes. When their town of Fairly Springs experiences a rash of robberies, the boys are quick to investigate. The one thing all the crimes have in common is that each family that was robbed has a college-age son and high-end desktop computers are stolen. In between Corey’s sports tryouts and Kyle’s job at the local video game store, they work to put together the pieces of the puzzle before more robberies occur.

A fan of mysteries since my childhood, I grabbed a copy of this one as soon as I could. What a fun read! Two brothers working together to solve crime in their hometown in the middle of having regular teen (Kyle) and pre-teen (Corey) challenges makes for a great story. My son is a gamer, so I best connected to how Kyle’s storyline unfolded.

What I enjoyed about Stephens’ work is that he dropped just the right amount of clues to move the story along. It was an easy and engaging read from beginning to end. Though I had figured out most of the pieces before I got there, I still felt satisfied once the story concluded.

The reader will also find a preview from the second book in the Kyle & Corey Mystery series included. I’m glad there will be future adventures for these two brothers. I look forward to more!

Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Read an excerpt

“Wanna have a catch outside?” Corey said after a minute. “Before it gets too

dark?”

“I guess,” Kyle said without enthusiasm.

“Homework, Corey?”

“It’s Friday night, Mom. Can’t you chill out? Besides, I did it in school.”

“You always say you do it in school—then I get your report cards and they say

you haven’t turned it in.”

“They must be losing it, then. I’m doing it.”

Mrs. Holley shook her head. She knew Corey and knew that nagging him

about it was hopeless. “Clear the table before you go.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Corey cleared the plates, glasses and silverware, put the

napkins and salt and pepper shakers in the kitchen, and covered the leftover

food. Without being prompted, Kyle wiped down the table, the counter and the

stove, and swept the floor.

Mrs. Holley watched through the sliding glass door as they hurried outside. As

always, any sport absorbed Corey, but baseball was his favorite. He pitched for

the local rec department team for most of the year, and hoped they’d eventually

add a travel league. For his sake, she hoped so, too.

Outside, Corey and Kyle pulled on their baseball gloves and lobbed the ball

back and forth across the wide backyard. “So what’s our next case?” Corey

asked. “It’s been a long time since summer.”

Kyle snorted. “That was a one-off, dude. It won’t happen again. They do have

a police force here, you know.”

“But we were great together! Bet we could make something happen again.”

“If we do, the cops’ll be after our butts, for sure. They didn’t like it when we

made them look bad by catching those bank-fraud guys.”

“If we’re catching crooks, who cares if it’s us or them?”

“They care. They’re the ones paid to do it.”

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I received a digital copy of this book from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Joe Stephens will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Follow the tour and comment; the more they comment, the better your chances of winning.

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Bandits of Basswood by E. P. Bellows

Like many Drakes before him, John William Drake was born to be an explorer. When he discovers a book hidden in the ceiling of his family home, his father promises they are about to embark on a grand adventure. But when his father mysteriously disappears, John William moves in with his Uncle Andrew. A year passes with no word regarding his father’s whereabouts. That all changes on John William’s twelfth birthday, when he receives an invitation to change his destiny.

In this unknown land, John William searches for his father. His quest will find him getting help from a hopper and an Empyrean, and will endanger all their lives as they fight off the Bandits of Basswood. Can they escape? What other adventures are in store for John William and his friends? Will he ever find his father?

While I am not a huge reader of fantasy novels, I love stories filled with adventure. Bandits of Basswood certainly has tons of that. From the moment John William embarks upon the search for his father, it is a wild ride of deciphering clues, dodging bandits, and meeting fantastic creatures along the way. It kept me turning the pages and ended where I felt appropriate.

The one challenge for me is that this book had formatting and editing issues. The paragraphs were block style instead of indented, which made for a clumsy and sometimes confusing read despite the double-space between lines. Dialogue from one character would run into the dialogue of another character. In addition, there were typos and grammar errors. As an editor, it is tough for me to simply just read a book, but it went beyond that. Missing opening or closing quotation marks around dialogue, wrong words used, and instances where in one paragraph a word specific to this story would be capitalized and then further down in another paragraph it would be lowercase. 

I love the idea behind this story. The characters are unique. The artwork is beautiful. Tidy up the formatting and editing, and it will be a fabulous read.

Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08CSBF8M4
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 10, 2020
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 3194 KB

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I received a digital copy of this book from the author through Pump Up Your Book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Who is Singing? by Janet Halfmann

Who is Singing? by Janet Halfmann is the perfect way to inspire a love of birds in your youngster. This beautiful book filled with colorful illustrations from artist Chrissy Chabot, brings the reader along asking the question, “Who is singing?” as each bird makes it own unique sound. From the Blue Jay to the Robin to the Nuthatch and more, this delightful story will charm young readers. The story is followed by Birdsong Fun Facts & Notes, making it entertaining and educational.

Children will enjoy reading Who is Singing? time and again. It can help you foster a love of nature and a desire to explore the world around them. It also encourages youngsters to come up with their own words and sounds for the bird songs they hear.

Who is Singing? by Janet Halfmann is a great addition to any personal or school library.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B099X8GT7C
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen It! Publications, LLC (July 19, 2021)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 19, 2021
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 6509 KB
• Print length: 34 pages

I received a free copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper by Fiona Ingram

Buckle up for more adventure and mystery as Adam and Justin Sinclair along with Kim and James, search for the third Stone of Power in an ancient city hidden in the depths of the Mexican jungle.

The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper is steeped in the mythology and legends of the ancient Aztec and Maya. James and his young adventurers embark on their latest journey, which quickly goes haywire when their small plane crashes. Rescued by an uncontacted tribe, the teens must carry on without James, who was injured in the crash. Led by Tukum, future leader of the tribe, they search the dense and dangerous jungle in search of the lost city, with Dr. Khalid hot on their trail.

If you like adventure, mystery, and a fast-paced story that holds your attention from first page to last, you will want to grab a copy of The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper by Fiona Ingram. In the third installment of The Chronicles of the Stone, the teens continue to meet danger head on, using their skills to search for the next Stone of Power and hopefully outwit the evil Dr. Khalid. After James is hurt, the teens must trust the uncontacted tribe to help them in their quest, so the reader is treated to new characters that play vital roles in the story.

This series just keeps getting better. Though I highly recommend starting from the beginning, this is a stand alone novel. Pick up this one or start with Book 1 and see how exciting reading can be!

Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bublish, Incorporated (November 17, 2017)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 318 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1946229466
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1946229465

This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.