The Not so True Adventures of Brandon, Josh, and Adam by Barry M. Fellinger (Giveaway)

Join Brandon and Josh as they work to bring Adam home from the Strataderks and the Intergalactic Council on Obedience to Parents.

The Not So True Adventures of Brandon, Josh, and Adam by Barry M. Fellinger is a funny sci-fi adventure story with zany happenings, strange aliens, and intergalactic hijinks. Having escaped the Council, Brandon and Josh are astonished to discover that their cousin Adam has disappeared. Knowing his misbehavior led him to being abducted by the Strataderks, they must devise a plan to bring him home. Of course, that also means they must find a way to get back to outer space first.

This is such a funny story. As a parent, I might have hoped there was an Intergalactic Council on Obedience to Parents that abducted naughty kids to teach them a lesson. Kids will enjoy following along as Brandon and Josh, with the help of some doubles from a different dimension, plot and plan to bring Adam home. Of course, their nosy sister might just get in their way. Think of this like Spaceballs meets Phineas and Ferb.

Readers who enjoy humor, sci-fi adventures, and outlandish antics will appreciate The Not so True Adventures or Brandon, Josh, and Adam.

EXCERPT!

Double Trouble OR WHICH COUSIN COUSIN IS WHICH?

Oh, this is making my head hurt! Brandon is up there, but it’s not me. But it’s the right Brandon who will know what to do. But Josh is up there, but it’s not the right one, and he will be lost, and why doesn’t this Josh . . .

Brandon #2’s thoughts jumbled together as he tried to think everything through. He was fast losing his appetite.

His mind wandered as he began to pick away at his food. I mean, the one who should be with me is not, cuz this Josh is down here. But the wrong Josh, though he certainly knows what’s about to happen, which means he will refuse to eat the broccoli. But if Brandon up there doesn’t realize he has the wrong Josh, that Josh will be kidnapped with him, but it won’t be the right Josh. Then I will be stuck with the Josh, who lived through this, and he will understand everything, so maybe that’s not so bad . . . By now Brandon’s head throbbed so much from trying to sort this all out in his mind that he couldn’t concentrate on food anymore and put his head in his hands. Then he looked up at Josh.

“Josh,” Brandon spoke very low. “I understand. You’re not the right one.”

“What, dear?” asked Brandon’s mom, as Brittany complained, ‘Mom, Brandon’s whispering secrets about me to Josh.”

“Am not,” snapped back Brandon.

“Um, Mom, I think Josh might be sick. I think he should go to my room and lie down.”

“But I’m fine.” Josh was now panicking, understanding Brandon knew, but neither of them knew if the other Brandon hiding with Josh’s double understood yet. They were waiting for this Josh to come up, after all. Brandon needed the right Josh with him soon, but because he had not been through this before, he wasn’t thinking about one super important thing.

“What about the tantrum?” Josh asked Brandon softly. “If I don’t act up, they won’t come and then Adam is . . .”

He stopped mid-sentence when he felt an unusual bump like someone was trying to push him off his chair, strong enough that he nearly fell off it and had to grab the table to keep his balance.

“Brandon,” Josh whispered again. “Did you feel that?”

“Feel wh—” Brandon started to say and then the phone rang. Josh thought the last time that happened, they had been rounding the corner to the kitchen when his Aunt Beth answered the phone, not seated at the table. That’s different, he thought to himself. Aunt Beth is sitting at the table this time, but I guess we definitely did take longer upstairs. Still, something strange is going on, though.

Brandon’s mom turned to speak to the three children with a concerned look on her face. “That was your Aunt Patty,” she said, catching her breath. “It’s about your cousin Adam. He got into some big argument with his parents at the dinner table, and then he stomped off to his room.”

GIVEAWAY!!!

Barry Fellinger will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Enter to win a $20 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tellwell Talent (January 25, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 022887923X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0228879237

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

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.”

PURCHASE THIS AND OTHER SOPHIE WASHINGTON BOOKS AT AMAZON!

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.

Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.”

Purchase from…

Amazon

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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.

Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflcopter giveaway

Little Possum and Little Sweetpea by Halle J. Ladd (Review & Giveaway)

In this charming story, Little Possum likes to sneak up and eat things, but Little Sweetpea isn’t about to become his next snack, so she shows him another treat. Little Possum and Little Sweetpea by Halle J. Ladd is so cute. Neither of the two friends really understands how the other lives, but that doesn’t stop Little Sweetpea from helping out so Little Possum can find something good to eat.

The hand-drawn artwork is a special and unique part of this story. It can be the simplest things that have the most meaning. The only distraction from a great tale was the lack of editing. Run on sentences and missing punctuation pulled me away from Little Possum and Little Sweetpea’s story. I still enjoyed it and found it an adorable story of friendship.

If you and your little ones enjoy reading friendship stories, check out Little Possum and Little Sweetpea.

Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

• Publisher : Tellwell Talent (November 9, 2020)
• Language : English
• Paperback : 22 pages
• ISBN-10 : 0228840473
• ISBN-13 : 978-0228840473

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

Halle J Ladd has had experience as a teacher in mainstream schools and special needs. She specialised in a school library for some time and engaged children of all ages and abilities in these roles. She has a Master’s of Teaching and a Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) and loves to see the enjoyment of books through young eyes.

Book Purchase Links:

Amazon.ca :https://amazon.ca/dp/0228840473 

Amazon.com : https://amazon.com/dp/0228840473

Bookshop.com : https://bookshop.org/books/little-possum-and-little-sweetpea-little-sweetpea-teaches-little-possum-a-lesson/9780228840473

Barnes and Noble : https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-possum-and-little-sweetpea-halle-j-ladd/1138263923

Book Depository : https://www.bookdepository.com/Little-Possum-and-Little-Sweetpea-Halle-J-Ladd/9780228840473

GIVEAWAY

Halle J Ladd will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Enter to win a $20 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway

Escucha Means Listen by Talia Aikens-Nuñez (Giveaway)

Escucha Means Listen by Talia Aikens-Nuñez is a charming bilingual story that introduces children to the sounds of their world. From the honking of a truck’s horn to the banging of men working and the chirping of birds, youngsters will explore the sounds around them with this beautifully illustrated book.

There is such a great need for quality bilingual books, especially in a community like ours with a children’s hospital filled with patients of all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds. Escucha Means Listen is lyrical with a repetitive prose that will make it easy to read. The stunning artwork provided by Dina Ashraf Helmi is the perfect complement to the story. With soothing colors and soft lines, people, animals and things come alive.

I see this as a great book to take outside, so you and your child could walk along and match sounds from the book to sounds you hear on a walk together. Especially in this dreadful time of isolation, teaching young people to stop and appreciate the world around them is important.

Highly recommended.

Rating:  🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Age Range: 5 – 6 years
Paperback: 42 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2 edition (January 30, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1523785799
ISBN-13: 978-1523785797

Purchase here!

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

 

EXCERPT

Buzz. Buzz. Qué oyes? (What do you hear?)

Las abejas (The bees) circling the flowers.

Woosh. Woosh. What do you hear?

El viento (The wind) is whistling by.

Shh. Shh. Qué oyes? (What do you hear?)

Las hojas (The leaves) are dancing on the trees.

 

Talia Aikens-Nuñez wanted to be a meteorologist, a politician and a lawyer. She never thought she would be an author. It was the birth of her daughter that caused her to start writing. Raising a bilingual child inspired Talia to write multicultural children’s books.

Talia’s family loves nature so much that she and her husband vowed that they will always try to live close to water. She and her family live in Connecticut with a little pond.

Find Talia online at:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

GIVEAWAY!!!

Talia Aikens-Nunez will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Enter to win a $20 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway