Monday, July 31, 2023

AWARENESS TOUR: Dare to Dream by Jasmine A. Stirling - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!



Hear ye! Hear ye!
Let my voice ring loud and clear!
Today, we're helping to spread the word about a great new Picture Book on tour with The Children's Book, out now via Union Square Kids! It's the story of a voice from the past that had so much influence on the present and future, and most have not even heard the sound of her name. Ladies and gents, join me for some edutainment as we welcome today's blog tour guest and ebook of choice...



Dare To Question: Carrie Chapman Catt’s Voice for the Vote
by 
Jasmine A. Stirling
Illustrated by
Udayana Lugo
Ages 5+ | 48 Pages
Union Square Kids
(2023)
9781454934578


About the book...

Jasmine A. Stirling, author of A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, delivers a powerful, poetic picture book biography about suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt, perfect for fans of I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark and the Rebel Girls series. 

As a child, Carrie Chapman Catt asked a lot of questions: How many stars are in the sky? Do germs have personalities? And why can’t Mama vote? Catt’s curiosity led her to college, to a career in journalism, and finally to becoming the president of The National American Woman Suffrage Association. Catt knew the movement needed a change—and she set to work mobilizing women (and men) across the nation to dare to question a woman’s right to vote.

On August 18, 1920, Catt pinned a yellow rose to her dress and waited while lawmakers in Tennessee cast their deciding votes to ratify the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. After a seventy-year campaign, had women finally won the right to vote?  

Stirling’s suspenseful retelling of the dramatic final “yea” that changed the history of women’s rights brings the past to life for young readers.



Amazon

Bookshop

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Dare to dream.
Reach for the stars.
Follow your heart.
All easy enough to say, but to do, now that takes guts... that takes persistence... that takes drive, determination, and a never-say-die-spirit...all things Carrie Chapman Catt had in spades, and it all started with a few questions.

That's right, questions. 
She thought about things. She wondered about things. She felt things deeply, and fought for things strongly. She saw where change was needed, and went after that change. When the fight got hard, she went about it in new ways. When she was told no, she continued to pursue that yes, until one day, her message made it into the hearts and minds of enough supporters to turn a nation.

It's a wonderfully told story filled with illustrations that truly bring the past to life, while reminding us that change only comes about because someone decides to speak up. A great lesson for readers of all ages and stages in life, and a great addition to personal, public, and school libraries alike. 



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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jasmine A. Stirling is the author of A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021), named a Best Book of the Year by A Mighty Girl and Book Riot, and winner of the IPNE Book Award. It is currently being translated to Mandarin.

Her new book, Dare to Question, Carrie Chapman Catt’s Voice for the Vote (Union Square & Co, 2023, Booklist starred review), tells the story of the queer power couple who transformed the suffrage movement. Her third book, about Jeanne Barret, the botanist who disguised herself as a man and became the first woman to circumnavigate the globe, comes out in 2025.

Learn more about Jasmine.

Follow her on Instagram at @jasmine.a.stirling.author


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ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR


Udayana Lugo is a self-taught illustrator of mixed heritage. Having worked as a designer of many varied things, from jewelry to auto-parts and from furniture to whole interiors, she still does that but in children’s books which are her true passion. She and her husband have lived in Mexico, Italy, and England, but they call British Columbia their home, along with their two kids. When not working on a book, you can find her walking her dog or baking something with her children.


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GIVEAWAY


Enter for the chance to win a personalized, signed copy of Dare To Question: Carrie Chapman Catt’s Voice for the Vote, a set of 5 Girl Power Enamel pins, and a $100 Amazon gift card!


One (1) grand prize winner receives:

-A personalized, signed copy of Dare To Question: Carrie Chapman Catt's Voice for the Vote

-A set of 5 Girl Power Enamel pins

-A $100 Amazon gift card!


Four (4) winners receive:

-A personalized, signed copy of Dare To Question: Carrie Chapman Catt's Voice for the Vote


Dare to Question Book Giveaway



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Special thanks to Bianca at The Children's Book Review for the chance to bring this tour to you and for the copy for review. (THANKS!) This post is sponsored by Jasmine Stirling. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view. For more information on this title, the author, the illustrator, the publisher, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. Be sure to check out the rest of the stops on the tour for more bookish fun!


TOUR SCHEDULE

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Dare to Question Book Tour Kick-Off

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

The Fairview Review

Book Review of Dare to Question

Thursday, July 13, 2023

Reading is My Superpower

Book Review of Dare to Question

Friday, July 14, 2023

The Tiny Activists

Book Review of Dare to Question

Saturday, July 15, 2023

Vivian Kirkfield

Author Interview with Jasmine A. Stirling

Sunday, July 16, 2023

Dad Suggests

Book Review of Dare to Question

Monday, July 17, 2023

Feminist Books for Kids

A Booklist Featuring Dare to Question

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

icefairy’s Treasure Chest

Book Review of Dare to Question

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Barbara Ann Mojica

Book Review of Dare to Question

Thursday, July 20, 2023

The Momma Spot

Book Review of Dare to Question

Friday, July 21, 2023

Twirling Book Princess

Book Spotlight of Dare to Question

Saturday, July 22, 2023

Mombian

Book Review of Dare to Question

Monday, July 24, 2023

Daddy Mojo

Book Review of Dare to Question

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Heart to Heart

Book Review of Dare to Question

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Lisa’s Reading

Book Review of Dare to Question

Thursday, July 27, 2023

My Reading Getaway

Book Review of Dare to Question

Friday, July 28, 2023

Me Two Books

Book Activity Paired with Dare to Question

Sunday, July 30, 2023

Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb

Author Interview with Jasmine A. Stirling

Monday, July 31, 2023

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Book Review of Dare to Question

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Cover Lover Book Review

Book Review of Dare to Question

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Because I Said So

Book Review of Dare to Question

Thursday, August 3, 2023

Shooting Stars Mag

Book Review of Dare to Question

Friday, August 4, 2023

The Fictional Café

Author Interview with Jasmine A. Stirling

Monday, August 7, 2023

Glass of Wine, Glass of Milk

Book Review of Dare to Question

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

A Blue Box Full of Books

Book Review of Dare to Question and Little Free Library Drop

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Crafty Moms Share

Book Review of Dare to Question

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Stargirls.Magical.Tale

Book Review of Dare to Question

Friday, August 11, 2023

One More Exclamation

Book Review of Dare to Question



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



Saturday, July 29, 2023

RRR presents... Love at First Site by Phoebe MacLeod - REVIEW!



Despite all the juggling life has me doing at the moment, it had to add another ball to the mix. Yes,  my friends, I've got the VID...COVID, to be precise, and while I had it about 2 years back, it still sucks, vaccinated or not. 😝 But I digress, the reason I brought it up is the slow down posts. For those that stuck around, YOU ARE AMAZING, and for those that didn't, still think you're cool, come back and visit sometime. Anywho...

Today we welcome Rachel's Random Resources and the latest from author Phoebe MacLeod as we mix a few tropes to get a splendid result! Ready for more? Here we go! Ladies and gents, today's blog tour guest and ebook of choice...



Love at First Site
by
 Phoebe MacLeod


About the book...

It’s a relationship under construction, and there are no warning signs…

Project Manager Ella Mackenzie thought she had her whole life perfectly mapped out – just like one of her colour-coded spreadsheets. She is the last person to do anything reckless or impulsive.

But when her and her terrible boyfriend split, she is left single, homeless and without a backup plan.

Suddenly, her whole worldly belongings are crammed into the back of her little Fiat, and she’s driving two-hundred-and-fifty miles across the country to start a new job that she should never have accepted in an industry she knows nothing about. What could possibly go wrong?
Ella doesn’t know the first thing about building sites, but thankfully Noah Harris is an expert in construction and is there to show her the ropes (and the ladders).

And, as Ella is about to find out, he’s an expert in a few other things too…
 




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Who doesn't love to see a woman in STEM as a leading character, am I right? I mean, it's not that other roles are invalid, it's just nice to see the plethora of stories toting the message that's it's okay to be you, big brains and all!

Ella was a sweetheart, making her way through life, seemingly on the same page as her boyfriend, and ready for whatever came next...or so she thought. When he turns out to be a turd de jour, her life spins in unexpected directions, but these new opportunities, while different, will show her where her true talents lie AND she might just get a shot at a new happily ever after she never expected. I laughed, I waited on edge, I wanted to throttle a certain person who took advantage of out girl that wasn't the ex-boyfriend, and in the end, I had a good time! Again, with the positive messages of trying things different than we're use to, and applying ourselves in fields some wouldn't expect, so long as we have an interest, a desire, a goal; it's only ourselves we really answer to!

A great pick for Romcom fans and Women's Fiction readers alike, and great way to help close out your summer reading list!




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About the author...


Phoebe MacLeod is the author of several popular laugh-out-loud romantic comedies. She mainly sets her books in her home county of Kent and her first new title for Boldwood will be published in November 2022. They will also be republishing her existing titles from August this year. 







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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you. (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!




Thursday, July 27, 2023

RRR presents... THE LOVE PROPOSAL by Camilla Isley - REVIEW!




Ready for a little romcom fun? Perfect because today's blog tour guest is the latest release from author Camilla Isley and it fits the bill like a well made shirt on a gorgeous guy! 😍 Ladies and gents, join me as we welcome Rachel's Random Resources and our ebook of choice...




The Love Proposal
 by 
Camilla Isley

The moment you stop looking, that’s when Prince Charming will come knocking on your door!

Summer Knowles does not want a boyfriend. Relationships have caused enough problems in her life. As bridesmaid at her sister’s wedding, she’s going to avoid all things romantic – especially the brawny, hipster best-man who has commitment-phobe written all over him!

When Archie Hill meets Summer, he immediately thinks bridesmaid-and-best-man-with-benefits! They have one week together and may as well make the most of it. But what if one week just isn’t enough…

As wedding fever takes hold, can a sworn-off-men bridesmaid and a die-hard bachelor learn a thing or two about happy-ever-after?

A friends-with-benefits, wedding date rom-com, perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood!

Please note that this title was originally published as You May Kiss the Bridesmaid.







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We just met Winter in The Love Quest... and now it's time for the other twin, Summer. Yes, their parents had a sense of humor, and the personalities ended up matching the names given, but at heart, they are both wonderful souls simply looking for their other half. Complication... while the first twin is marrying, the second has sworn off men. So our adventure begins...

Summer has her reasons, and I don't blame her. I was actually rather surprised by her story, seeing how she was purely painted as the villain in the last novel, and, while she's not completely innocent in the matter, she was certainly more on that side of the line than not. Her past in the relationship arena wasn't sordid, until it was, then that betrayal of her heart, and desertion of her friends caused damage she's begun to accept as a part of her self. Being there for her sister was more important than the ridicule she'd gave, but it didn't make it any easier to face. Luckily, she wasn't alone...

Enter Archie Hill... perpetually single man, not exactly a womanizer, but never afraid of a few nights stand... that's about to have a mic drop moment of the heart. Oh, I know what you're thinking, once a playboy, always a playboy, but Archie isn't that simple. He plays the game, but not games, if you know what I mean. 😉 When he runs across Summer, it's a repeat of his intro to Winter, except with quite a few more sparks that are returning fire whether she wants them to or not. Their arrangement was mutually beneficial, but the ways of the heart are a mystery, and you often find what you weren't looking for, when you've stopped looking. 

A great addition to the growing series with smiles, laughs, and sparks to boot! Keep those summer days rolling with this great addition to your reading list!



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About the author...


Camilla Isley is an engineer who left science behind to write bestselling contemporary rom-coms set all around the world. She lives in Italy and her first title for Boldwood, The Love Theorem, a Hollywood-meets-STEM romance, will be published in June 2023.







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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you., and for the ecopy 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!


Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Happy BOOK BIRTHDAY to... The Heiress Swap by Maddison Michaels - REVIEW!


Time to get back in the bookish swing of things with a two post kind of day! Life has been crazy, as previously stated, and continues to be, unfortunately, but the reading has been fabu...including today’s featured title. It’s a BOOK BIRTHDAY celebrant, and my second read penned by author Maddison Michaels, whose work I can certainly say continues to impress! So, if you’re a Historical Romance fan, stay right where you are...you DON’T want to miss this one! If you’re not a Historical Romance fan, perhaps I can persuade you to take a chance on this one because it’s got other elements that might just be up your alley! Ladies and gents, permit me to introduce today’s ebook of choice... 



by 
Maddison Michaels 
9781649373960 
Entangling AMARA 


About the book… 

Evie Jenkins didn’t know what she was thinking by agreeing to switch places with her American heiress cousin. After all, she’s naught but a poor―and usually quite sensible ―companion. All she has to do is spend six weeks among London society, pretending to be an heiress…and ensure that absolutely under no circumstances does she accept any proposals of marriage.

When his cousin declares himself in love with a new woman visiting from the States, Alexander Trenton―the sixth Duke of Hargrave―is determined to prove that the young lady in question is just another American "Dollar Princess" desperate for an English title. She seems innocent enough, but Alex is determined to expose her…by thoroughly seducing the lovely and fiercely intelligent heiress himself .

What he assumed would be just one simple kiss erupts into something wild, uncontrollable, and much too public. Now the duke must save her reputation with a betrothal…little knowing that his charming Princess harbors a secret that would certainly ruin them both. 





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Think your classic twin switchero, but with older heroines, and unexpected love matches thrown in for the two doing the swapping. Are you with me? 

Aimee and Evie both love their own lives...BUT...Aimee is restless, and Evie wouldn’t say no to a little freedom that comes with a title. For Aimee, the answer is getting to spread her wings within her father’s business, if only he’ll take her seriously. For Evie, the answer is time and resources to explore her true passions. The solution for them both, a swap of places where those they are with will be none the wiser, they can experience just what they’ve been after, and nothing could POSSIBLY go wrong. Right? Umm, yeah, about that. As is often the case, things go left of center just when everything seemed to be smooth sailing, creating havoc the likes of which a bull in a china shop could only be equally compared. Mad props to both ladies for sticking to their guns, facing adversity (no matter how charming, disarming, or pig-headed!), and coming out on top, even if it was with a few more bumps and bruises to color their world. 

A great addition to the genre with fabulous characters and a great story-line you just can’t get enough of...or at least I couldn’t! Nothing but love for this book birthday celebrant, so join the party, and grab yourself a copy today! 



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About the author…. 


Indoctrinated into a world of dashing rogues and feisty heroines when she was fourteen years old, Maddison Michaels is a prolific reader and writer of romantic suspense and historical fiction. She gets her daily dose of suspense from working as a police officer, prosecuting real-life villains in the Courts of Australia. A member of the RWA and RWA Australia, Maddison is as passionate about her writing as she is about her other two loves: her family and her cups of tea. Luckily, she gets a healthy dash of romance married to her wonderful husband, and her exercise regime is kept on track by her six-year-old daughter, who ensures Maddison is kept very busy chasing her around. Maddison’s debut novel The Devilish Duke is her way of time traveling back to Victorian London to experience a cornucopia of intrigue, romance, and debauchery all from the comfort of her living room! 








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Special thanks to the Entangled Publishing team for the eARC 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 is available now via Entangled Amara, so click on over to your favorite online retailer, or visit your local brick and mortar store today to snag your copy and start the adventure! 


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