Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers: 2025

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

AWARENESS TOUR: The Tales of Charlie Wags: London by Ali Barclay and SofieWells, Illustrated by Sanna Sjöström - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

Hello fellow readers!

Today, we're traveling the world with a four-legged friend that knows just where to go for adventure, culture, and beauty... in the most magically cute way possible. So, if your bags are packed, let's get this party started as we welcome The Children's Book Review and their latest AWARENESS TOUR featuring...

The Tales of Charlie Wags: London

Written by Ali Barclay and Sofie Wells

Illustrated by Sanna Sjöström

Ages: 3-7 | 40 Pages

9798990005020

Kendam Press LLC (2025)

About the book...

Charlie Wags is a seemingly ordinary pup. He goes on daily walks, chases squirrels, and scours the kitchen floor for crumbs when no one’s looking.

But Charlie has an extraordinary secret. He loves to travel the world and has a special trick to do so: his wagging tail can whisk him away to far-off places!

This time, he’s off to London, England!

Embark on a panoramic tour of London led by ever-curious pup, Charlie Wags! From the grandeur of Buckingham Palace to an evening ride on the London Eye, Charlie explores the Big Smoke before returning home for bedtime.

Wherever you may be, the world is just a wag away. ™

Amazon

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Charlie Wags is BACK and ready for another tip toe around the world! 🌎 Last time, we checked out the Big Apple 🍎, but this time, we're heading across the ocean to soak up the culture of another country/continent. Our destination? London, and we're taking in all the sights, sounds, locales, and food we can... we just need Charlie to give a little wiggle waggle of his cute little tail to get things started!

With a little imagination, and loads of spectacular artwork, readers of all ages can take in the London Bridge, the crown jewels, and Buckingham Palace...to name a few! We get a bird's eye view of each beautiful location, along with a few facts snuck in for edutainment value, and the chance to experience it all with our pal Charlie. It's a great way to travel the world without ever leaving your favorite reading spot, as well as get a jump start on your bucket list!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sister-author duo Ali Barclay and Sofie Wells form the writing team behind The Tales of Charlie Wags picture book series. The series offers young explorers a conversational understanding of the world’s most famous cities.

As daughters of immigrants, their family heritage exposed the sisters to the importance of cultural diversity early on. Their parents prioritized showing them the world, even on a tight budget. This instilled in them the idea that travel is one of the best forms of education.

Recognizing that not all children had the chance to explore the world firsthand, Sofie and Ali saw an opportunity to share their travel experiences with other families and children through charming stories that make far-off places accessible.

For more information, check out charliewags.com

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

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ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Sanna Sjöström, also known as Sannadorable, is based in Sweden and creates stunning digital watercolor illustrations.

Sanna has loved art her whole life and has plenty of experience painting with watercolor. When she had children, she didn’t have the time or energy to pull out all the necessary supplies to paint. She found that her iPad was accessible in just seconds; so, she started mimicking watercolor digitally.

She now illustrates for children’s books, but also creates posters, cards, and digital illustration tools. Her biggest inspiration comes from flowers and nature. Sanna’s mission is to brighten your day and make you smile through her art.

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!!! GIVEAWAY !!!

Enter our giveaway for a chance to win a signed hardcover copy of The Tales of Charlie Wags: New York City, a collection of adorable Charlie Wags greeting cards, AND a $50 Amazon gift card to fuel your next reading spree!

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Special thanks to Bianca of The Children's Book Review for the chance to bring this title to you and for the ecopy for review! (THANKS!) This post is sponsored by Sofie Wells and Ali Barclay. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view. For more information on this author, her other works, the illustrator, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links above. Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!

TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, March 17, 2025

The Children’s Book Review

Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: London

Monday, March 17, 2025

The Starlit Path

Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: London

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Confessions of a Book Addict

Book Spotlight on The Tales of Charlie Wags: London

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

A Blue Box Full Of Books

Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: London

Thursday, March 20, 2025

@pagesforpaige

Instagram Post about The Tales of Charlie Wags: London

Friday, March 21, 2025

@FroggyReadTeach

Instagram Post about The Tales of Charlie Wags: London

Monday, March 24, 2025

The TipToe Fairy

Book Activity for The Tales of Charlie Wags: London

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

icefairy’s Treasure Chest

Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: London

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Deliciously Savvy

Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: London

Thursday, March 27, 2025

@avainbookland

Instagram Post about The Tales of Charlie Wags: London

Friday, March 28, 2025

Mrs. Makes Reading Fun

Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: London

Monday, March 31, 2025

Country Mamas With Kids

Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: London

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: London

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Cover Lover Book Review

Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: London

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Q&As with Deborah Kalb

Author Interview with Ali Barclay and Sofie Wells

Friday, April 4, 2025

Writer with Wanderlust

Book Review of The Tales of Charlie Wags: London

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

One More Exclamation

Author Interview with Ali Barclay and Sofie Wells

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Sunday, March 30, 2025

STORYBOOK SUNDAY: Old Blue Is My Home by Lita Judge - REVIEW!

We're celebrating another day of bookish fun with Storybook Sunday! For those not up to speed on the post, I read a lot of great storybooks and thought, why not give them their own day in the sun. Hence, Storybook Sunday appears every now and then! Today's featured title is getting ready to celebrate it's book birthday, and tackles a topic that'll hit home for many, while enlightening others to a "now" world problem they just don't think about. Ladies and gents, today's ebook of choice...

Old Blue Is My Home

Lita Judge

9781419771521

Abrams Books for Young Readers

While this book almost brought me to tears, it's a reality for MOST people at some point in their lives. Old Blue is a van that this loving, and tight knit family call home. It gives them the freedom to travel, to spread out and experience the world, to focus on the things that really matter, practice minimalism without even realizing it...and while all of those are wonderful things, it also leaves room for insecurities, worry, and feelings of never quite fitting in. I get it; it makes them different. For me it wasn't the differences that caused pause, but the familiar feeling of uncertainty. I mean, most people live paycheck to paycheck without much of (or any) security blanket between them and the unknown. It's the way of the world at this point, but as adults, we learn to squelch that little voice whispering "what if" in order to live in the now...for kids, they shouldn't have to shoulder that worry. They shouldn't have to hide who they are, where they are from, or where they live. They should simply have to BE.

Although sadness was dancing in my eyes as I read, a smile was warming my heart as I saw the love bloom across the pages. The family may have been in what many would view as hard times, but they made the best of things, and celebrated each other. If someone had a bad day, they refocused their energy on bringing them joy. If it was raining outside, they shared their space until the sun rose again. If the sun was bright in the sky, they enjoyed the great outdoors and the bounty of space and beauty that surrounded them. They had goals for a more anchored future, but they looked happily towards reaching it together. It's an interesting way to address a topic that can be scary, while normalizing something that's been seen as taboo in the past. At book's end, the author shares their own history that's reflected in the pages, and offers some further information on the subject matter to help educate and inspire.

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About the author...

Lita Judge is the award-winning author-illustrator of many children’s books, including Dogs: A History of Our Best Friends, The Wisdom of Trees, Born in the Wild, Flight School, Red Sled, and her illustrated young adult novel, Mary’s Monster, as well as the illustrator of Forty Winks: A Bedtime Adventure, written by Kelly DiPucchio. She lives with her husband, three cats, and a parrot in New Hampshire.

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Special thanks to Tayla at Abrams for the ecopy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title celebrates its BOOK BIRTHDAY April 8th, 2025, so mark your calendar, or preorder your copy today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Saturday, March 29, 2025

RRR presents... THE RUNAWAY WIVES by Karen King - REVIEW!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're taking a closer look between the epages of a new title making its way through the blogosphere with Rachel's Random Resources. It's a new addition to the Boldwood Books catalog and features a Women's Fiction story that will have you all tied up in emotions as you celebrate life, love, and freedom with these two feisty ladies. Readers, lend me your eyes as we discover the joys to be had between the epages of today's featured title...

The Runaway Wives

Karen King

About the book...

‘We’re leaving. And there’s nothing either of you can do about it!’

When the surprise holiday Dee thinks her husband has booked for her sixtieth birthday weekend turns out to be yet another solo golfing break – it’s the last straw.

Meanwhile her best friend Babs’s other half has decided to move to Spain and is acting like he doesn’t need to consult anyone. Not even Babs!

Well, if their husbands think they can do what they want, so can their wives. So, with that thought, the two best friends leap into Dee’s trusty car and head for the seaside, and an adventure they’ll never forget.

Back home their furious husbands want them to return immediately. But – as they begin to enjoy their newfound freedom – will either of the runaway wives ever want to come back home again?

An absolutely hilarious, uplifting, escapist story, perfect for fans of Maddie Please, Judy Leigh and Dawn French.

---> SNAG YOUR COPY <---

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O.M.G.

The beginning of this story had me all tied up.

As we're introduced to Dee and Babs, things aren't exactly looking up. Okay, well they THINK they are, but I've read enough stories to know better, and this is definitely a case of wishing I wasn't right. Poor Dee! That turkey bird of a husband ditching her like that and forgetting her birthday!! It's not like they just met for goodness sake! And then Babs, and her weaselly other half, and his later life crisis. I couldn't believe what he was proposing, let alone acting on! Talk about self-centered! Talk about a total a**hat! I mean their husbands deserved each other. I really wanted to smack them both on the back of the head and knock some sense into them. At least these ladies know how to take control of their lives back. At least these friends know that misery loves company. At least these besties know that the only way to get their lives back in alignment is to show their menfolk what they're missing...and maybe still will be missing if they enjoy their newfound freedom and control a bit more than they imagined.

A great way to kick off your reading weekend, and a fabulous pick for your reading group. These ladies have enough spunk and style to turn anyone's frown upside down, and remind us why "hoes before bros" is totally a thing. No matter what life throws at you, your best gal pals will always be there, so cultivating that relationship through thick and thin serves peace to the mind, and a smile to the heart.

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About the author....

Karen King is an Amazon international bestselling author currently writing psychological suspense for Bookouture and women's fiction for Boldwood. Her sixth psychological suspense, Girl Next Door, was published on 9 July 2024 and her first 'golden years' novel for Boldwood will be published in March 2025.

Karen has also had 120 children’s books, two young adult novels, and several short stories for women’s magazines published. Her early writing career was spent working on various teenage and children's magazines. Her suspense novels The Mother In Law, The Perfect Stepmother and The Stranger in my Bed and her romantic novel The Cornish Hotel by the Sea all became International Amazon bestsellers.

Karen is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Society of Authors, the Crime Writers’ Association and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. She now lives in Spain where she loves to spend her non-writing time exploring the quaint local towns with her husband, Dave, when she isn’t sunbathing or swimming in the pool, that is.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Bookbub

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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the ebook for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today and be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

RRR presents... A Gentleman's Offer by Emma Orchard - REVIEW!

Ready for another addition to your TBR? Fan of Historical Romance with a dash of spice? Well then, lend me your ear, or rather your eyes, as we take a look at the title currently touring with Rachel's Random Resources and featured here today...

A Gentleman's Offer

Emma Orchard

About the book...

The gorgeous and spicy new romance from Emma Orchard, perfect for everyone waiting for their next Bridgerton fix!

June, 1817

Sir Dominic De Lacy – one of the season’s most eligible gentlemen – has recently proposed marriage… to a woman he scarcely knows. But his father’s choice for him, Miss Maria Nightingale, seems amiable, and at 29, Dominic cannot live the life of a bachelor forever. He hopes he can provide a happy future for her as they learn to care for each other.

Maria, however, has other ideas. Midway through their engagement celebrations, she confesses to Dominic that she is not Maria at all, but her identical twin sister, Margaret. Maria has disappeared, and Margaret’s been persuaded to take her place until she’s found – and for that she needs Dominic’s help. The pair quickly find they make a formidable team, but with just three weeks to avoid the biggest scandal of the season, time is against them.

But even if they find Maria, can they really hope the wedding will happen? Because, as they are starting to realise, chemistry can’t be arranged – and Sir Dominic might just be engaged to the wrong Miss Nightingale…

---> SNAG YOUR COPY TODAY <---

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Toted for fans of Bridgerton, I, myself, have not had the pleasure of watching the show (I know, I know... one day!), but I've heard the buzz like the rest, and I certainly have the book series on my never-ending TBR. As a fan of Historical Romance, this one caught my attention immediately, and I simply had to know more! Mistaken identity (even if only for a short while), false pretenses, a missing person, and undeniable chemistry... THAT'S what you're in store for with this gem! It certainly makes a case for the heart wanting what the heart wants... and these two definitely want 😉.

All in all, a great addition to the genre, and a fabulous tale. You'll revel in the setting, fall in love with the characters, get lost in the mystery, and wind up bookishly satisfied. 😌

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About the author...

Emma Orchard grew up in Salford and was given tickets to the grown-up library at the age of 11 because she’d read all the children’s books and the librarians were sick of the sight of her. She became obsessed with Georgette Heyer and hasn’t stopped reading her novels since. She studied English Literature at university and went on to work at Mills & Boon and behind the scenes in television and in publishing.

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Bookbub

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Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Thursday, March 20, 2025

AWARENESS TOUR: Alycat and the Copycat by Alysson Foti Bourque, Illustrated by Chiara Civati - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

Today, we welcome The Children's Book Review as we join their AWARENESS TOUR already in progress featuring the latest addition to a great kid's series you won't want to miss! Let's get between the epages of author Alysson Foti Bourque's recent release starring your favorite feline friend and mine...

Alycat and the Copycat

Written by Alysson Foti Bourque

Illustrated by Chiara Civati

Ages: 6-8 | 32 Pages

9781455628094

Pelican Publishing

The 8th book in the award-winning Alycat Series – Alycat and the Copycat

“Science doesn’t freak meowt!” Alycat is excited that it’s Science Fair Day, but why is her classmate copying almost everything about her, from the shirt she’s wearing to the project she’s doing? Soon Alycat learns, through patience and kindness, that two similar things can be better when they work together. This latest addition to the kitten picture-book series includes STEM themes; plus instructions for making your own glitter volcano!

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org

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This story had me freaking MEOWt!

I love the STEM themes because, let's face it, we need more women in these fields. The love of the subject matter is shown through her volcano experiment as well as get attire. I love the vibrant colors used throughout the illustrated pages. They really capture the eye, while snagging your heart, letting you catch all the feels running around in this story. Speaking of feelings, we've got a great shot of confidence for wee ones embracing these harder subjects early on, and making them their own, plus encouragement from friends, friendship vibes in general, and learning that the things we love and the fields we extend our interests to are better for the extra attention from others than not. In this case, her "copycat" who really is just another kindred spirit that shared her interests... but I get it, it can be hard to recognize it as such at first glance... which makes it all the better that stories like this help introduce those ideas at a young age!

A great addition to the series, and a story that readers both young and young at heart will love.

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About the author...

Award-winning author, Alysson Foti Bourque, began her career as a teacher after graduating from the University of Louisiana Lafayette with a degree in Elementary Education. She earned a Juris Doctor law degree from the Southern University Law Center in 2007 and was honored to serve her state as Asst. Attorney General for 8 years. In 2016, Alysson began writing children's books, including the Alycat Series and the Rhyme or Reason Travel Series. Alysson founded Expound Publicity to help authors market their books and was a news contributor for tv segments KidLit Picks and BookEnds.

Find Alyson and Alycat online at www.alycatseries.com.

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

TWITTER | YOUTUBE

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~~~ GIVEAWAY ~~~

Enter the giveaway for a chance to win an eight-book set, including a copy of Alycat and the Copycat and an Alycat plush. One lucky winner will also win a $50 Amazon gift card!

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Special thanks to Bianca at The Children's Book Review for the chance to bring this tour to you and to the author for the guest post. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This post is sponsored by Alysson Foti Bourque. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view.

Be sure to check out the rest of the stops on the tour for more bookish fun!

TOUR SCHEDULE

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

The Children’s Book Review