Rockstar Book Tours presents... UNDER THE NORMAN SKY by Marilyn Jeulin - EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY!

I am so excited to share the news that UNDER THE NORMAN SKY by Marilyn Jeulin is available now, and waiting for you to make your summer escape! ☀️ 

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book, be sure to check out all the details below. 

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a $10 Amazon GC and a signed copy of the book courtesy of Marilyn & Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, check out the giveaway info below.

 

Title: UNDER THE NORMAN SKY

Author: Marilyn Jeulin

Pub. Date: May 16, 2025

Publisher: Marilyn Jeulin

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 224

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon

Read for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited Membership!

Sébastien Lèfevre has been in love with his best friend, Victoria Garnot, since the moment she convinced him to give her her first kiss. He’s lived his life indulging her every whim. But when their careers lead them down two separate paths, Sébastien decides he’s done putting his heart at risk.
An Alpha in the kitchen but a beta in love, he pushes his feelings aside and climbs the ladder of success, becoming a lauded Executive Chef for Chez Armand in Mont St. Michel and earning two Michelin stars. He’s at the top of his game, but there’s still one thing he’s missing: Victoria.
Victoria has always put her training as a top chef ahead of everything, including love. It’s taken her six years to earn her first hard-fought Michelin star. But now that she has it, her life has changed so drastically that she doesn’t know who she is anymore without it.
Lost and without a plan, Victoria is approached by the only man who truly knows her: Sébastien. When he makes her an offer she can’t refuse, she accepts, though she wonders if they can keep things professional between them. Even more, she wonders if that’s what she really wants…or if what she really wants is Sébastien.

 

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Excerpt:

“We’re closed,” I called from the kitchen, loud enough for whoever to hear me, before looking at the security camera.

I blinked in surprise at the unexpected visitor, Sébastien. Immediately, I stuck my head in the pass-through window that opened into the old front of the house. My heart flip-flopped. The traitor, I thought, patting my chest while trying to find the right words before addressing him.

“Sébastien!” I thought that was anticlimactic as I walked around the table, then through the double doors into the old dining area.

“Victoria,” Sébastien said, his severe expression not hiding the tension between us as he looked around the restaurant. His face was unreadable, and his eyes were guarded. For a few seconds, I mourned the ease that once existed between us, but the truth was that seeing him like this, out of the blue, brought back memories of my competitive side, which drove a wedge between us. Mainly my thickheaded way of always wanting to get ahead and crush the competition.

 

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About the author...

Born in the Wild West and raised in a tropical paradise, Marilyn has always had a thirst for a good story and adventure. She’s a huge fan of Anne Rice, Stephen King, & GRR Martin.

Mom of two boys, and wife to the Frenchman, Marilyn is also an avid gamer, who spends way too much time on Facebook and Instagram. 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Threads | Bluesky | Goodreads | Amazon| BookBub

 

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Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon GC & a signed paperback of UNDER THE NORMAN SKY, US Only.

Ends June 3rd, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Rockstar Book Tours presents... THE SQUIRE AND HIS MAGICAL LIBRARY by Christy Matheson - EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY!

Fans are raving as the prequel to The Castle in Kilkenny: Fairy Tales Book’s, THE SQUIRE AND HIS MAGICAL LIBRARY by Christy Matheson makes its way to readers everywhere, and I'm excited to have the chance to share the news!

 If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book, be sure to check out all the details below!

This blitz also includes a giveaway for copies of the eBook courtesy of Christy & Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, check out the giveaway info below.

 

Title: THE SQUIRE AND HIS MAGICAL LIBRARY (The Castle in Kilkenny: Fairy Tales Book 4)

Author: Christy Matheson

Pub. Date: May 25, 2025

Publisher: Buttercup Books

Formats: eBook

Pages: 188

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/The-Squire-and-His-Magical-Library

What if he doesn’t have to be a warrior?

What if fate is something he can choose?

Despite the druids’ prediction that Rian would become a great warrior, he hates the king’s training program. After the first year’s Trials, humiliated and angry, Rian flees the other squires to hide in the cellars...where he finds a magical library and a wren-like Fae who explains that he can choose his own fate. Each year, one figurine crumbles and one possible fate disappears because of the choices he's made. He should be able to make the Warrior disappear before he turns eighteen, right?

Meanwhile, Rian helps two very different princesses—one bent on becoming a warrior to seek revenge, and the other imprisoned by blindness. As Rian’s decisions become entangled with his friendships, the figurines vanish one by one. As the years go by, does he have any choice left about his own future?

Read now, to journey back to 3rd-century Ireland with a reluctant young hero! 

With characters based on Irish mythology, this historical fantasy has plenty of action but no gore.  

It takes place in the same world as the other “Castle in Kilkenny” books, but is the earliest book featuring these characters, so is a true stand-alone.

 Start your journey with the prequel and then grab the rest of the series here!

 

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Excerpt:

I guess I can’t get much more lonely and shameful than I already am.

The door swings smoothly at my touch, and warmth hits me as the light makes me blink.

No one’s here. And it still feels welcoming.

I hobble to the fire and sink onto the soft chair. Whoever owns it isn’t using it, and I’ll leave soon. After a long moment, I open my eyes. At my fingertips is a steaming cup and a jar of salve.

I sniff them both. The castle policy is that anyone is allowed appropriate supplies. I’m a warrior, even a junior one. I am definitely allowed to take medicine.

I rub the salve on the worst of my injuries. It works even faster than usual, the pain fading right away.

So by the time I drink the tea, I’m feeling well enough to look around. Carefully.

I warm my hands against my tea, feeling more alert with each sip. The patterns on the rugs seem familiar, but the construction is softer and denser than anything else in the castle. I understand what the furniture is for, but the shapes and materials are like nothing I’ve ever seen. The mantle is constructed of absolutely smooth stone, gray and red veins swirling against the white, and the ironwork for the fireplace is more delicate and complicated than anything the king’s smithy could produce. The light is coming from tall vases with colored glass hats, and the hats are glowing. I examine one closely, and find a little toggle that makes the flame go on and off. Definitely magic. Besides, even a king couldn’t afford that much glass, and he wouldn’t put it in the basement if he did.

I’m not sure if that’s better or worse. Are there fae living underneath the castle?

Well, I’m here now, and I’ve already drank and used their medicine—so if it’s a magical trap, I’m already caught.

 

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About the author...

Christy writes romantic Regency fiction about friendship, family, and finding one's place in an ever-changing world.

Christy is an embroidery artist, classically trained pianist, and sews all of her own clothes. She lives in Oregon, on a country property that fondly reminds her of a Regency estate (except with a swing set instead of faux Greek ruins), with her five children, two Shelties, a bunny, and an improbable amount of art supplies.

She is a co-editor for the short story anthology, Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women, and her novels are represented by Kristina Sutton Lennon of Focused Artists. She is also an award-winning spoken-word poet.

She has degrees from Smith College and Lesley University, and is a member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association, Historical Novel Society, and Regency Fiction Writers.

Sign up for Christy’s newsletter!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

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Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive an eBook of THE SQUIRE AND HIS MAGICAL LIBRARY, International.

Ends June 3rd, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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RRR presents... BOOKED FOR SUMMER by Kathryn Freeman - REVIEW!

Welcome back to another bookish day here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!

Today's blog tour guest comes to us via Rachel's Random Resources, and features THE PERFECT SUMMER ESCAPE from an author whose works we've previously shared right here on the site.  It's got all the charm of a Contemporary Romance, the laughs of a Romcom, the high society sitch's of a Billionaire Romance, and a healthy dose of spice!  Ladies and gents, let's get between the epages of today's book of choice...

Booked for Summer

by

Kathryn Freeman

About the book...

A love story she didn't see coming…

When book lover Jade Taylor applies to manage the Little Bay Book Shack on Nantucket Island over the summer, the last thing she needs is the distraction of billionaire resort owner, Liam Haven.

But things take an unexpected turn when Liam becomes Jade’s boss – a man who only reads contracts for pleasure…

In a bid to save the bookshop from being absorbed into the Haven resort, Jade is determined to teach Liam that there’s more to life than acquiring real estate. And if she can make him realise happily ever afters do exist, might she be able to save the island’s bookshop in the process?

AMAZON UK

AMAZON US

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I was drawn in by the title because HELLO who doesn't love a quirky title with a bookish edge?  I dove into the story thanks to the cover because you've got to love the charm that's imbued in the setting, and the potential for sparks to fly between the two leads pictured.  You can just sense it!  I stayed for the story because I was definitely not disappointed!

From the moment we meet Jade, you just know that you're going to love her free spirited yet sensible self.  Okay, so I know that sounds like a contradiction, but what I mean is that she's definitely a free spirit, yet due to recent circumstances (like butt-head exes that aren't worth their weight in ANYTHING!), she's trying to change her ways.  A 3 month stint in a GORGEOUS setting as a bookstore manager by the sea....OMG.  Sounds like HEAVEN, and it totally translates from the page to the imagination.  *happy sigh*  Anywho, I was rooting for her the entire time.  She was finding her way, and, despite the bumps and misdirects, she was bound to discover her own personal happily-ever-after because she was just that person.  She never gave up.  She never let the fear of embarrassment hold her back from doing what she wanted, or discovering her future.  Liam was the typical billionaire mogul, and yet decidedly not.  He wasn't born into it; he built himself up from the ground to the yachts and hotels and real estate he now possesses.  What he doesn't have is a good relationship with relationships, and yet the unexpected acquaintance turned something more is occupying more of him brain, more of his time that he could have ever anticipated.  Will she turn his head enough to save the bookstore from ruin?  Can't spoil that surprise for you, but trust me when I say it's worth every moment!

A great addition to your summer reading list and a fun release from an author whose works we've grown to love!  Don't miss out on booking your summer with this delightful (and hot!) tale! 

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About the author...

A former pharmacist, Kathryn now writes romantic comedies. Feel good books that are sexy and sweet, funny yet heart-warming. Mr Right Across the Street won the RNA Award for Romantic Comedy in 2022.

With a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), the romance in her own life is all in her head. Then again, his unstinting support of her career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.

SITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

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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!

RRR presents... YOU CAN'T HURRY LOVE by Susan Buchanan - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

HI friends!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining a Rachel's Random Resources blog tour already in progress as we set out sights on the perfect addition to your summer reading list.  If you're a fan of Women's Fiction, Romance, or Romcoms, you are in the right place at exactly the right time.  So settle in, and take a gander at today's blog tour guest and ebook of choice...

You Can’t Hurry Love

by

Susan Buchanan

About the book...

A delicious friends to lovers, forced proximity, workplace romance for 2025.

A 30th birthday celebration. A sloth sanctuary in Costa Rica. A split-second decision.

When Kat MacDonald takes the trip of a lifetime to Costa Rica, she doesn’t count on ditching her dead-end job, sending her uber-controlling boyfriend packing and volunteering at a sloth sanctuary.

But when she finally meets the swoon-worthy assistant manager Dexter, the chemistry between them is unmistakable and sparks fly. Despite a rival for his affections, and her ex’s inability to know when to give up, she and Dexter are drawn to each other like magnets.

Just as she’s settling into life at the sanctuary and making friends, a letter arrives from back home in Scotland. A letter which could both upset her new plans and give her everything she has ever wanted. Everything except Dexter.

Kat is torn: should she stay in the tropical rain-forest paradise with her beloved sloths, new friends and the delectable Dexter or pursue her lifelong dream? Or can she find a way to have it all?

A fun, escapist read full of romance, beautiful scenery and humour, perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Beth O’Leary Leonie Mack and Portia MacIntosh.

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

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As someone who loves reading stories that can whisk you away to a place not so like home, this was an escapist's dream!  It had all the delectable details of the surroundings to bring you right into the rain forest without ever having left your favorite reading spot.  Grant it, if I was there, I'd probably have ANOTHER favorite reading spot, and perhaps an additional reading buddy (hello, sloths!  How fun!), but that's a daydream for another day.  Back to the story at hand...

Kat is handed an unexpected gift in the form of the gorgeous time and place that all these catastrophes occur.  I mean, she's got a ready made place to take her mind away from it all, her favorite furry critters to learn about and visit, and a potential love interest waiting in the wings.  I'd say, she's pretty well set, and should take full advantage of the situation!  HOWEVER, as life tends to do, she's dealt another hand that turns her already topsy world upside down, and making things right again isn't as simple as a random selection of the who, where, and how.  This is her LIFE she's dealing with, and dreams coming true is an awful hard thing to turn down even when forever may be staring you in the face!  Trust me when I say there are plenty of moments to laugh, tear, and wish your heart away with in this story, and you'll be rooting for Kat straight til the end!

A fun release with memorable characters both human and furry friend, and a fabulous addition to your summer reading list to wile away the afternoon.

 

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About the author...

Susan Buchanan writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction, usually featuring travel, food, family, friendship and community.

She is the author of The Leap Year Proposal, The Christmas Spirit, Return of the Christmas Spirit, A Little Christmas Spirit, Just One Day – Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn, The Dating Game and Sign of the Times.

As a freelance developmental editor, copyeditor and proofreader, if she’s not reading, editing or writing, she’s thinking about it.

She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Society of Authors and the Alliance of Independent Authors.

She lives near Glasgow with her husband, two children and a crazy Labrador.

When she’s not editing, writing, reading or caring for her two delightful cherubs, she likes going to the theatre, playing board games, watching quiz shows and eating out, and she has recently discovered a love of writing retreats.

SITE | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | Threads | Bluesky

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Giveaway

CHANCE TO WIN a paperback of You Can’t Hurry Love 

(Open to UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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

PENCIL & ERASER #2: LOST AND FROWN by Jenny Alvarado - REVIEW!

The school year may be winding down, but there's still fun to be had with papers, books, and especially pencils and erasers...or at least one of each in particular.  Celebrating it's BOOK BIRTHDAY tomorrow via G.P. Putnam and Sons, make room in your book bag for the latest installment in the Pencil & Eraser Chapter Book series from author/illustrator Jenny Alvarado...

Pencil & Eraser #1: We Have a Dull-Emma!

* Pencil & Eraser #2: Lost and Frown! *

NO, your eyes are not deceiving you...this is a two-fer review for both books one AND two, and while I count myself lucky to have the chance to read and share them, I think you'll be among that count when I'm done because there is TOO MUCH FUN to be had here!

Book 1 introduces us to this, oftentimes, comedic duo with Pencil worried that Stella won't have a use for her as she has become dull.  She makes a plan to be pointy once again, but what starts as a simple trip to the sharpener turns into an adventure through the school halls and into a backpack once again...where something familiar is rediscovered, much to Eraser's chagrin.  🤣

Book 2, and tomorrow's book birthday celebrant, takes us out of the backpack once again, but due to a rather less than intentional fall!  If they don't find their way through town, they'll not only stay lost, but miss out on karate class with Stella!  I mean, every pencil and eraser needs to know those chops, blocks, and kicks, right?  Right!  So, Pencil has a plan to get them from point A to B, it just goes a little off map when they meet up with some furry friends that like to make things out of wood (*gulp*), and have a little stopover at the arcade (apparently, Pencil has a problem...).  Eventually, one thing leads to another and they reach a destination of sorts, even if it might not be EXACTLY where they were aiming for.

From kid-friendly quips to the personalities infused in each character, this reminded me of a younger more relateable version of another series I've read (it's called Catwad and beyond funny, but a little more grown in the joke department).  Here, kiddos get the chance to read these stories on their own, laugh at the antics and the joke breaks (yes, there are joke breaks in the stories!), while building their confidence between the pages. Pencil is undeniably a positive force.  There's nothing she can't do and no obstacle (or desk) too tall!  If you need a cheerleader in your corner, she's got the point in spades!  Now, if you want a dose of reality, you've got Eraser.  Don't get me wrong, Eraser isn't about to jump at the chance to go off map, but they also aren't about to roll under a desk and hide.  Pencil NEEDS Eraser, and, whether admittedly joyfully or not, Eraser needs Pencil.  There's a reason these two are at opposite ends of the same writing device, but there's equally a reason why they go together quite so well.

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About the author/illustrator...

Jenny Alvarado is an author and illustrator of books for kids. She lives in Palm Bay, Florida with her family and little pup. As far as she knows, her real-life pencil and eraser don’t go on adventures, but she likes to imagine that they do. You can find more of her work at www.JennyAbooks.com or follow her @JennyAbooks on social.

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Special thanks to Jaleesa at Penguin Young Readers for the copies for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the series, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. The first title is available now, the second follows tomorrow, and the third (yes, the third!) appears to be on deck for January 2026, so get in on the fun now, and be ready to make "new friends"! 😉

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

Storybook Sunday... SEVEN: A MOST REMARKABLE PIGEON by Sandra Nickel, Illustrated by Aimée Sicuro - 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 celebrates its BOOK BIRTHDAY this Tuesday via Candlewick Press and arrived on my radar thanks to Blue Slip Media.  It's the perfect selection for Pigeon Appreciation Day this June (learn more about that celebration here, WildCare and BirdTipper.com), and stars a remarkable pigeon that learns the best thing to be is truly yourself.  So, if you're ready, let's set our sights on the skies as we wing between the epages of today's book of choice...

Seven: A Most Remarkable Pigeon

by

Sandra Nickel

Illustrated by

Aimée Sicuro

Candlewick Press

RELEASE DATE:  May 6, 2025

Seven was an only pigeon hatched by two loving parents.  He was already unique from the word go because normally they are born in twos, but his parents saw him, and themselves, as lucky and named him after the furthest distance his kind had ever flown to return home.  Seven enjoyed the life of a pigeon, seeing the sights, feeling the breeze, sampling the air, AND smelling the smells.  Oh yes, he loved nothing more than to be led by his nose, and revealed in adding fragrant petals to his nest, or snagging rice on the hidden streets in town.  All the while, his parents were trying to get him to understand the ways of being a pigeon...stay with the flock, build with twigs and straw, and find home visually with the mental map in his head.  He wanted to make them proud, so he tried his best to be the best pigeon that ever flew and follow the status quo...until one day, his particular skill set is exactly what the flock ordered.

I loved the illustrations in this one.  It brings the town, and countryside to life, while making us a temporary part of this pigeon family as we learn their ways, and become a part of the flock.  Watching Seven grow from hatch-ling to his own pigeon was heartwarming, and seeing him be appreciated for being himself was inspiring.  We all want to be a part of something, but we also want to be accepted for who we truly are, and the best way for that to happen is by being ourselves.  Seven shows readers that in a really big way, and when all is said and done, he teaches his flock a thing or two as well!

A great pick for readers of all ages, and a wonderful reminder that it takes all kinds/types to make this world go round.

📕 📗 📘 📙 📘 📗 📕

About the author...

Sandra Nickel is an award-winning author of picture books and has two new books coming out in Spring 2025: Seven, A Most Remarkable Pigeon, an uplifting tale that celebrates differences, and Making Light Bloom, Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Lamps, where Sandra continues her mission to celebrate extraordinary individuals who have been nearly forgotten by history.

Sandra holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults and has presented workshops throughout Europe and the United States. She is honored to be the winner of a Christopher Award, the winner of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Crystal Kite Award, a finalist for the Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction for Younger Readers, a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection honoree, and a Charlotte Huck Award Recommended author. To learn more about Sandra, and to download free curriculum materials and activity sheets, visit sandranickel.com.

INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK TWITTER

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About the illustrator...

Aimée Sicuro is the illustrator of many books for kids. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Parents magazine, and many other publications. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children. To learn more, visit aimeesicuro.com.

INSTAGRAM

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Special thanks to the dream team at Blue Slip Media for the chance to bring this title to you and to the publisher for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, illustrator, or publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.

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

Storybook Saturday... WHERE ARE YOU, BRONTË? written by Tomie dePaola, Illustrated by Barbara McClintock - REVIEW!

We're celebrating another day of bookish fun with Storybook Saturday! 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 (or Saturday, depending on the week)! Feel free to join the fun and create a post on your own site with the same name. I'd love to see any linked up in the comments! Anywho...back to the matter at hand.

Today's featured title is celebrating its BOOK BIRTHDAY THIS TUESDAY (May 6th, 2025) via Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.  It's beautiful, it's touching, it's something that will pull at the heartstrings of readers while its message transcends generations.  It's the final work of a beloved author, and a touching tribute to a beloved friend.  Ladies and gents, I give you today's book of choice...

WHERE ARE YOU, BRONTË? 

by

Tomie dePaola

Illustrated by

Barbara McClintock

9781534418509

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

RELEASE DATE:  May 6th, 2025

This illustrated work of the heart not only shares the timeless characters of a talent that has passed, but the true depths of love that are felt, and the endless connection of spirit that exists between family.  I read this story immediately when it arrived, and just as immediately was in tears.  The warm feelings and simplicity bring joy to my heart, but the beauty and message of love continuing on stole my breath.  I was so moved, I couldn't even begin to share anything about the book at the time, and, quite frankly, am having a hard time right now with the same after rereading it.  

That's the thing about our fur babies.  They steal their way into our hearts one look, one lick, one moment of cuteness, mischief, or sweetness at a time.  Sadly, over the course of my own life, I've had to experience that separation more times than I care to count, and yet for all the tears it brings at a moment's notice, I wouldn't trade the time shared nor the memories for the world.  The loss is felt every day in the strangest of ways and moments, but the smiles, laughs, snuggles, and wiggles are priceless.  There's a saying I saw somewhere in all the social media hullabaloo, and while there are many memorable ones, this particular one stuck with me.

"To the world, you may be just one person...

...but to your dog, you are the world."

Honestly, I feel the same way about my fur kiddos.  They are the world, and I'd do anything for them...and, in my opinion, that's just how it should be.  This story shares the joy of the initial meeting, the fun moments while getting to know one another, the understanding needed in later years, the moment no one wants to consider, as well as those that come after and how to carry one.  For pet lovers at large, and trying to explain this sadly inevitable part of life to little ones, this story serves more than its purpose by adding more beauty, and tenderness to the world.  The tale will move you, while the illustrations enchant.  Keep an eye out for familiar faces from the past during the dinner party.

💖💔💖💔💖💔💖💔💖

About the author...

Photograph © Laurent Linn

Tomie dePaola (1934–2020) was the beloved author and/or illustrator of more than 270 books for young readers, including the children’s classic Strega Nona. He was the recipient of the Newbery Honor, Caldecott Honor, and the 2011 Children’s Literature Legacy Award for “significant and lasting contribution to children’s literature.” A native of Connecticut, Mr. dePaola studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and spent much of his life in New London, New Hampshire. Visit his work online at Tomie.com.

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About the illustrator...

Barbara McClintock is an American illustrator and author of over forty books for children. Her books have received numerous awards and selections, including five New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book Awards, four ALA Notable Book selections, a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Award, a China Times Open Book Award, and a British Fantasy Award. One of her books is a bestselling title in Japan. She has lectured about her work nationally and internationally and is currently teaching classes on creating children’s books at Wesleyan University. Originally from New Jersey and North Dakota, she now resides in northeastern Connecticut with her partner, the illustrator David Johnson, and their three overly helpful cats.

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Special thanks to Alex at Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the copy for review (THANKS!). For more information on this title, the author, the illustrator, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is set to release THIS TUESDAY May 6th, 2025, so mark your calendar or pre-order your copy today! SPECIAL NOTE FOR THOSE IN THE NYC AREA...Barbara McClintock will also be celebrating the book’s publication at a public, in-store launch event at NYC’s Books of Wonder on May 5.

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