Sons of the Sphinx by Cheryl Carpinello

An enthralling, action-packed adventure through time awaits you in Sons of the Sphinx by Cheryl Carpinello.

Is seeing dead people a gift or a curse? Fifteen-year-old Rosa is certain it’s the latter. When the ghost of King Tut asks for her help in finding his lost queen, Hesena, Rosa finds herself traveling through different time periods in ancient Egypt pursued by Horemheb who, with the help of evil magic, is determined to stop her.

Wow! What a wild ride. From beginning to end, this is a story of love, adventure, and danger. Carpinello does a fine job in creating Rosa, whose gift interferes with normal life. Her connection to Tut and Hesena may go deeper than even she realizes. The author created a thrilling story where the danger kept building into a final showdown that leaves the reader breathless. Her attention to detail and historical knowledge draw the reader in just as much as the plot.

Sons of the Sphinx is a fabulous tale that lovers of ancient history, time travel stories, and the paranormal will enjoy.

Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (September 29, 2014)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 182 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1500554936
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1500554934

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00MVGC96Y
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Silver Quill Publishing (October 10, 2014)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 10, 2014

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MVGC96Y

Amazon Print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1912513951

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sons-of-the-sphinx-1

Tolino: https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/ID151524898.html

Vivlio: https://shop.vivlio.com/product/9781912513949_9781912513949_10020

Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Sons-Sphinx-Cheryl-Carpinello/9781912513956

iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1565754127

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sons-of-the-sphinx-cheryl-carpinello/1120481788?ean=2940161911747

Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/505876516/Sons-of-the-Sphinx-Ancient-Tales-Legends-1

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

The SOCKKIDS Meet Lincoln by Michael John Sullivan and Susan Petrone

About the Book

Title: The SockKids™ Meet Lincoln

Authors: Michael John Sullivan and Susan Petrone

Illustrator: SugarSnail

Publication Date: August 14, 2013

Publisher: Independent

Pages: 40 (print)

Recommended Age: 3 to 8

Summary (Amazon):

Where do our missing socks go? Readers find out in our children’s series, The SOCKKIDS. We follow the Socker family through many adventures; from encountering the slobbery mouth of the family dog to meeting Santa as he comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve to helping a fireman save a baby to the most shy Socker going to the school dance for the first time. Thanks to the time-travel opportunities afforded by the spin cycle of the washer, they learn about some of the most important humans in the world. Children two and up and their parents will be drawn to the diversity of the family and the universal and timeless lessons they teach: don’t be afraid of new experiences; treat others as you would like to be treated, and of course, beware of the spin cycle!

Purchase

My Review

This is an adorable, imaginative book about time traveling socks. Young readers will enjoy riding along on their journeys that are fun, touching, and educational. Each sock has a unique personality, captured well by the engaging text and delightful, colorful illustrations.

What I truly love about The SOCKKIDS Meet Lincoln is that while it maintains the importance of President Lincoln, it also makes him less intimidating to get to know, especially for the children reading this book who are already in school and study Lincoln around President’s Day. After his important Gettysburg Address, Lincoln and his socks travel in a stage coach all the way back to a large white house where he greets a woman named Mary. Stretch, the long tube sock who ends up on Lincoln’s leg, actually interacts with the president during the story.

I also felt the authors handled Stretch’s feelings of missing home well. He’s a young sock pulled into this adventure on his own. By making Abraham and Mary Lincoln as friendly as a next door neighbor, and giving Stretch a friend named Meade while he was in 1863, there is less need for youngsters to worry about how Stretch will be reunited with his family. Meade offers to try and help Stretch make it back home.

This is the first book in a planned SOCKKIDS series. I’m eager for the next book’s release.

Rating: 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

The Buzz

“I love the creativity of the story as well as the many lessons that can be discussed after reading this, including President Lincoln and what he stood for. (I enjoy books that allow you to start a dialog with children who read them, and this book does not disappoint.) The book is easy to read, which makes it appealing because children can read it with an adult or on their own. I even giggled a few times while reading this, and any story that can put a smile on someone’s face has my approval!.” ~ 5-Star Review from ksen, Amazon

“A unique, well written, highly creative story, bringing socks to life in this sweet tale of a family of socks who time travel through the washing machine. Laundry never sounded so colorful and fun, with the added bonus of teaching children about history in an amusing, loveable and magical way. Intertwining well developed characters, plus a real historical figure (Abraham Lincoln) in a story that will not only introduce children to this president, but also teaches them what Lincoln stood for, and the lessons that will resonate with adults so they may be able to share this time in history with a young child (children) in their life, creating reading memories they will always treasure. The SockKids is beautifully illustrated, colorful and the cute Socker images will bring a smile to your face, and the dialogue is sure to elicit laughter from both the reader and the child. ” ~ 5-Star review from Selena Robins, Amazon

“The SockKids Meet Lincoln is a fun way to introduce young kids to an important historical period and figure. The tone is lighthearted yet informative–perfect for the target age group. I found myself chuckling along too! I’ve always wondered where my socks went when they disappeared…” ~ 5-Star review from A. MacLean, Amazon

“This is an adorable story with a wonderful message. I loved the illustrations, so colorful, every child will love these pictures and love this story. We all have lost socks in the washing machine and how cute to picture them talking to each other. I also loved the journey to Lincoln and how it didn’t matter to him what color the socks were, his didn’t match, a hidden message which you will have to read the story to find out what all that means. I hope to see many other wonderful sockkids adventures from Mr. Sullivan. I would give this more than 5 stars!” ~ 5-Star review from Cynthia A. Springsteen, Amazon

About The Authors: Michael John Sullivan & Susan Petrone

MICHAEL JOHN SULLIVAN

Michael John Sullivan is the creator of the SockKids. Constantly searching for his socks, he wondered whether the missing foot comforters had found another pair of feet to warm. Before his interest in socks, Sullivan started writing his first novel while homeless, riding a NYC subway train at night. Sullivan returned to his subway notes in 2007 and began writing Necessary Heartbreak: A Novel of Faith and Forgiveness (Simon & Schuster, Gallery Books imprint). Library Journal named Necessary Heartbreak one of the year’s best in 2010. His second novel, Everybody’s Daughter (Fiction Studio Books, 2012) was named one of the best books of 2012 by TheExaminer.com. Sullivan has written articles about the plight of homelessness for CNN.com, The Washington Post.com, Beliefnet.com, the Huffington Post, and America Online’s Patch.com service.

SUSAN PETRONE

Susan Petrone’s short fiction has been published by Glimmer Train, Featherproof Books, The Cleveland Review, Muse, Conclave, and Whiskey Island. Her first novel, A Body at Rest, was published in 2009 (Drinian Press). Her short story, Monster Jones Wants to Creep You Out (Conclave,2010) was nominated for a 2011 Pushcart Prize. She also writes about her beloved Cleveland Indians at ItsPronouncedLajaway.com for ESPN.com’s SweetSpot network. In addition, she is a regular contributor to Cool Cleveland.com.

Book Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

The SockKids™ Meet Lincoln Blog Tour Schedule (2013)

November 5

Mother Daughter Book Reviews (Launch & Review)

November 6

Stitch Says (Character Interview)

Houseful of Chaos (Review)

November 7

No Doubt Learning (Review)

Unschooling Momma (Review)

November 8

Learning and Growing the Piwi Way (Review)

Books Direct (Author Interview)

November 9

K&A’s Children’s Book Reviews (Review)

Hazel Nutt’s Toddler Talk (Review)

November 10

Football Food and Motherhood (Review)

The World of ContestPatti (Review)

November 11

Bookworm for Kids (Review)

November 12

Mommynificent (Review)

Adalinc to Life (Review)

November 13

Stitch Says (Review)

Diane Estrella – That’s What I’m Here For (Review)

November 14

Giveaway Breaking News for Indonesia (Review)

November 15

Stanley and Katrina (Review)

For the Love of Books (Review)

November 16

Mel’s Shelves (Review)

Brooke Blogs (Review)

November 17

Christy’s Cozy Corners (Review)

November 18

BeachBoundBooks (Review)

Living as We (Review)

November 19

The Children’s and Teens’ Book Connection (Review)

InkSpired: A Blog (Review)

November 20

We are the DinoFamily (Review)

Reviews by Karen (Guest Post)

November 21

Jessica’s Casserole (Review)

November 22

My Devotional Thoughts (Review)

Amanda’s Books and More (Review)

November 23

Books, Reviews, Etc. (Review)

The Jenny Evolution (Review)

November 24

Generation iKid (Guest Post)

Black Words – White Pages (Review)

November 25

This Southern Girl’s Life (Review)

*** The SockKids™ Meet Lincoln Blog Tour Giveaway ***

Prizes: 3 Grand Prize Winners:  $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash + a SockKids t-shirt and 3 Secondary Prize Winners:  SockKids t-shirt!

Contest runs: November 5 to December 2, 11:59 pm, 2013

Open: Worldwide

How to enter: Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. The Grand Prize winner and secondary winners will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winners will then have 72 hours to respond. If a winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the authors Michael John Sullivan and Susan Petrone and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received a free digital version of this book from the author through Mother Daughter Book Reviews. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Mary Cunningham’s Blog Hop Interview

Mary Cunningham is the author of time travel Cynthia’s Attic series–which we have discussed here at TC&TBC–and Ghost of Pine Mountain, the first book in The Adventures of Max and Maddie.

What are you working on, now?

Ghost of Pine Mountain: Adventures of Max and Maddie was released in April, 2013. I’m working on a new middle-grade series. Ghost of Pine Mountain is the first Max and Maddie adventure, with 4 more to follow. The first four stories will be released as Ebooks until the final. Then, all five stories will be combined in print.

How does it differ from other works in its genre?

The whole Max and Maddie series combines supernatural elements with historical fact and fiction. The thirteen-year-old best friends travel back in time and have adventures with Native Americans and gold miners (Ghost of Pine Mountain), along with pioneers settling regions east and west of the Mississippi River.

What experiences have influenced you?

The biggest influence in my life was my dad. He was a journalist for a large city newspaper for forty years, and he also nurtured my love of fantasy. When he ran out of typical bedtime stories, he made up one of his own. He was an amazing writer, and I would sometimes go with him when he interviewed a subject for his human-interest column, Around Indiana, for The Louisville Courier Journal. Seeing the story process from beginning to publication had a great impact. Unfortunately, he died before I started writing my series, but, on occasion, I feel him looking over my shoulder as I write.

Why do you write what you do?

I’ve always been a time-travel buff beginning with H.G. Wells and “The Time Machine.” Nothing would make me happier than to be able to travel back in time and meet some of my characters. A previous series, Cynthia’s Attic, sends main characters, Cynthia and Gus, back in time where they meet and solve mysteries with many of their (my) ancestors.

How does your writing process work?

I wake up and have some coffee. Turn on my computer. Have another cup of coffee. Open my e-mails. Hit delete 75 times, or so. Have another cup of coffee…well, you get the idea. I try to write every day. I don’t like to force it, though. If the words aren’t flowing, I do something else and then go back to it. I love writing when my brain is working so fast, my fingers can barely keep up. I guess my only ritual is that (oh, this is going to sound really weird) I must have my shower and be dressed before I can write. I have a friend who writes in her jammies. Not me! Don’t get me wrong. I don’t have to be in black dress slacks and white cashmere sweater! Jeans and a t-shirt will do quite nicely. Just so I’m dressed.

What is the hardest part about writing?

The hardest part, for me, is to stay focused and disciplined. I simply don’t have the ability to write every day whether I want to, or not. I’d much rather be in the mood to write “good stuff” than waste my time when I’m simply not feeling creative.

What would you like to try as a writer that you haven’t yet?

I’ve started an adult mystery that I really want to finish. Writing for adults is a little more “freeing” than writing for younger readers, although no more challenging.

Who are the authors you most admire?

I’m a big Tolkien fan and have great respect for J. K. Rowling. In fact, it was Rowling who gave me permission to “write outside the box.” My favorite book: To Kill A Mockingbird. Perfect story, perfect characters, perfect writing. That’s the gold standard, as far as I’m concerned.

What scares you?

Since I’d have to write a book about extremists at both ends of the spectrum threatening world peace, I’ll make it simple and say, snakes.

Visit Mary online at http://marycunninghambooks.com/ and her blog at http://cynthiasattic.blogspot.com/

Guest Blogger: Penny Estelle, Author of Billy Cooper’s Awesome Nightmare

Billy Cooper’s seventh grade class has been given a last minute, weekend assignment. They must draw a piece of paper out of a box and prepare an oral book report on the person or event they select. Billy draws the name, William Tell, whoever that is. He has a full weekend planned, but figures he’ll do a ten minute search and then be able to skate right through the assignment, having plenty of time for his busy weekend.

His outlook changes when he finds himself in the fourteenth century, standing in front of William Tell’s house. Billy’s modern day style and lingo has William Tell thinking the lad is a bit unbalanced, but asks if he would like to go along with him and his son to the town of Altdorf. It is here Billy learns just who William Tell is and why he is a legend.

Excerpt:

Billy jumped up, took two steps backward and fell hard on his back from about four feet up, knocking the wind out of him. He was seeing blue sky and rolling green hills. An old, two-wheeled wagon was what he had fallen out of.

The old man hurried over. “You alright, lad?”

Billy jumped to his feet before the old man could help him up. “Who…who….who are you? Where am I?” Billy stuttered, panic shooting through his body.
“Easy lad,” the old man said. “I was to bring you here.”

“Bring me where? Who said to bring me? Who? This is crazy! I’m not supposed to be here!” Billy’s voice got louder.

The man pulled out a satchel of coins, smiling. “Your mother paid me well to bring you to your aunt in Uri.”

“Uri?” Billy asked. “Dude, there’s no Uri in Arizona, I don’t think, and my aunt lives in Cottonwood.”

“Jonathan is my name, lad, not Dude.” The old man reached for Billy’s head. “Maybe when you fell you became…addled in your thinking.”

“I did not become…whatever. You’ve kidnapped me! I want to go home!”

A Chat with Billy Cooper from Billy Cooper’s Awesome Nightmare

Hi everybody.  Uhm, my name is Billy Cooper and I am in the seventh grade.  I am supposed to come here today to talk about some of the stuff that happens in old lady Wickware, oops, I mean Miss Wickware’s history class.  But I’ve got to tell you talking about this makes me just a little nervous.  See, nobody actually talks about it out loud, but we all know weird things happen in her class.

Well let me just tell you my story.  On Friday, everybody in last hour class was supposed to come up and draw a name of some historical person out of a box. Anyway an oral report was due on Monday. Come on!  I had plans for that weekend – lots of cool plans.  I didn’t have time to do a report on some dude named William Tell. But here’s the thing –  after I had drawn out my piece of paper, Miss Wickware put her hand on my shoulder and I saw flash of sizzling electricity shoot from her eyes right into mine. My whole body felt like it was buzzing!  I’m not kidding, AND nobody else saw it happen.  You’ve got to admit, that is strange – right?

Anyway, I figured sometime during the weekend I would get on the computer, google this Tell guy, and find out what he did that was famous.  I would skate by on this assignment.

WRONG!  The next day, I find myself outside some house in the fourteenth century.  Not only that, the house belonged to William Tell.  Let me tell you I found out why this guy is famous. This dude was dead on with a bow and arrow.

To be honest with you, I’m not sure if he would have even made history if I hadn’t been there to help things along!

Buy links for Billy Cooper’s Awesome Nightmare

MuseItUp

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

 

Penny Estelle was a school secretary for twenty-one years.  She retired and moved to her fifty-four acre ranch in NW Arizona, where she lives off the grid.  Solar and wind is her only source of electricity.  What an adjustment for a city girl! 

Penny started writing for children right before retiring.  She claims after working so long with children of all ages, she has plenty of material to work with. 

Penny has three MG/tween stories out and her debut book for adults was recently released.  She also has a non-fiction story out about her life with solar! 

Penny and her her books can be found in the following links: 

www.pennystales.com

www.pennyestelle.blogspot.com

@pennystales – twitter

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5820078.Penny_Estelle – Goodreads

Cynthia’s Attic: The Legend of Lupin Woods (Book 5) by Mary Cunningham (Review)

Cynthia and Gus are traveling through time again. Having solved many mysteries in the past, they soon discover something is very wrong and things are unraveling. Aunt Belle is missing…again! Cynthia’s great-grandfather, Beau, was never found! Is Blackie still making life miserable for Lilly and Annie?

The girls journey into a strange woods with disastrous results. They find scary creatures and dark secrets along the way. Though someone or something seems to have reversed the good work they have done during their previous time travels, the girls are determined to set things right again, meeting new friends along the way.

I haven’t read all the books in this series. Book 4, The Magician’s Castle, introduced me to Cynthia and Gus and the magic attic that helps them travel through time. Like the fourth book, this new one has tons of time-traveling adventure for everyone. From 2014 to 1964 to 1914 and hopefully back home again, Cynthia, Gus, Nicole and Leeza find themselves trying to track down what is happening when they discover Aunt Belle is missing again and great-grandfather Beau was never found.

This is a light and fun read. A perfect stand-alone story, but I’m eager to read the first three books now so I can see where Cynthia and Gus’s adventures started. Readers will enjoy unlocking this mystery along with the girls as they seek to make things right again. Mary Cunningham has created a fabulous set of characters with distinct personalities. They complement the engaging plot perfectly. This is a fantastic book. I’m sorry to see the Cynthia’s Attic series end, but I’m eager to see what Cunningham comes up with next.

Rating:  🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Mary Cunningham Books

http://www.marycunninghambooks.com

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Cunningham/e/B002BLNEK4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Kindle

http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Cunningham/e/B002BLNEK4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Smashwords Ebooks

B & N Book Nook

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/cynthia-s-Attic-Mary-Cunningham?store=ALLPRODUCTS&keyword=cynthia%27s+Attic+Mary+Cunningham

OmniLit

http://www.omnilit.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Mary+Cunningham

See The Legend of Lupin Woods (Book 5) Tour Schedule at http://cynthiasattic.blogspot.com/2012/05/cynthias-attic-legend-of-lupin-woods.html

 

I received a free e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinions. I received no monetary compensation of any kind for this review.