The FOURTH Post of Bookmas... The Bunny Ballet By Nora Ericson, Illustrated by Elly MacKay

It's day FOUR, but in case you're just tuning in, I'm ready to answer your burning question!

What IS Bookmas?!

Bookmas is similar to Christmas, except it brings tidings of great reads, holiday gifting suggestions, and just about all the bookish fun you can imagine from across the genre spectrum. It's a quick glance at a title I've read or had my attention captured by, with a little something extra to help you get out from under the yuletide stress, and get back to enjoying the season...one page at a time. SNOW now that you know... back to today's feature! 😉

🩰 For the FOURTH post of bookmas, we're dancing our way into...

The Bunny Ballet

By

Nora Ericson

Illustrated by

Elly MacKay

9781419776144

About the book...

Doors are closing, lights are dimming. Strings are singing, it’s beginning.

Hop on in, take your seat, and watch the curtains rise on the Bunny Ballet! When a brother and sister stumble upon an extraordinary woodland show, they’re introduced to the magic of dance. Noses twitch, whiskers quiver, and graceful bunnies leap and soar across the stage as the audience sits on the edge of their seats.

❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️

This sounds absol-BUNNY beautiful!

An adventure with siblings, stumbling upon a magical display of a gorgeous art form, and the inspiration that was so obviously felt from the experience...my hopes are set as high as the dancers flying through the air! I think it would be entertaining, but also something that might spark that interest in dance for little ones just finding their feet. 

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Special thanks to Abrams Books team for the scoop. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links above. This title is available now for your reading and gifting pleasure! Be sure to stay tuned for more of this series as we approach the holiday!

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

The FIRST Post of Bookmas... THE SNOWMAN CODE by Simon Stephenson, Illustrated by Reggie Brown!

What IS Bookmas, you ask? Great question!

Bookmas is similar to Christmas, except it brings tidings of great reads, holiday gifting suggestions, and just about all the bookish fun you can imagine from across the genre spectrum. It's a quick glance at a title I've read or had my attention captured by, with a little something extra to help you get out from under the yuletide stress, and get back to enjoying the season...one page at a time. SNOW now that you know... back to today's feature! 😉

☃️ The first post of Bookmas ...

THE SNOWMAN CODE

by Simon Stephenson

Illustrated by Reggie Brown

(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)

About the book...

Article II of the Snowman Code: A snowman always helps a child in need.

It’s March, but the ground is still covered in snow, the lake in the park is still frozen over, and ten-and-a-half-year-old Blessing has three problems:

Problem 1: Blessing hasn’t gone to school in months.

Problem #2: Blessing’s mom gets sad in the winter.

Problem 3: The city is experiencing its longest ever winter, with no end in sight. And the longer it goes

on, the longer her mom’s sadness does too.

Just as Blessing starts to lose hope, she meets an unexpected new friend: Albert Framlington, a six-hundred-year-old snowman who just might hold the key to solving all three of her problems. But Albert has a problem of his own he may need a

human’s help to solve. Can this unlikely duo find a way to defeat Blessing’s bullies, win back Albert’s long-lost love, and overcome the never-ending

winter before it’s too late? They have to try—that’s the Snowman Code after all.

❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ 

⛄️ This nontraditional holiday themed tale takes our winter wonderland and shows another side to the cold 🥶 that is a reality for many, though not often placed front and center. I think it gives kids a way to explore those topics in a way that's friendlier, making them more accessible, and easier to understand, while showing how much friendship can really make a difference in a person's life. 

A great read for the season, and a great pick for the Middle-grade reader/fan on your list!

❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️

Special thanks to Alex at Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the copy for consideration. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the illustrator, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links above. This title is available now for your reading and gifting pleasure! Be sure to stay tuned for more of this series as we approach the holiday!

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

AWARENESS TOUR: Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh by J. Brandon Boron, Illustrated by Shaun Ivie - GUEST POST + GIVEAWAY!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers! 

While it's almost time for the candy holiday, there's another one right around the corner. That's right. You can almost hear the iconic Mariah Carey getting right now, but ALMOST is the operative word. She hasn't quite opened the flood gates of the season, however I'm definitely in the mindset of "we need a little Christmas now ", if you know what I mean. 😉 With that in mind, allow me to introduce today's blog tour guest via The Children's Book Review as it blows an air horn full of holiday cheer....

Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh

by

J. Brandon Boron

Illustrated by

Shaun Ivie

Ages: 4-8 | 38 Pages

9798891383333

Publisher: Mascot Kids (2025)

About the book...

With the reindeer sick and Christmas on the line, how on Earth will Santa get all of those toys to those good girls and boys?

Don’t worry—With 18 wheels, a little help from his friends, and a lot of milk and cookies, Santa has a plan!

Climb aboard and join Saint Nick and his pals as they make the most important delivery of the year!

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Bookshop.org

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GUEST POST

Finding Ideas and Inspiration: O Muse, Where Art Thou? 

...by J. Brandon Boron

As a songwriter and author (currently peddling my children’s picture book Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh, available now from Mascot Kids), I am often asked where I find my ideas and inspiration. As you can imagine, there are volumes written on the topic, and I always find it entertaining and enlightening to hear how other writers harness their muse. So (perhaps a bit presumptuously), I will share with you my relationship with that capricious lover, inspiration, and where I think she hides. But first, let’s discuss the difference between work and inspiration.

Besides an admiration for artisans of the verbal type, I also have a great appreciation for craftspeople and folks that build things with their hands—artists in their own right. I too love the planning, the attention to detail, the thoughtfulness, and the execution of those plans (perhaps realized as a cabinet, bookshelf, or home) through skill and labor. And, just as the carpenter labors, so too does the writer. It’s toiling that brings an idea to life, that makes “the idea” physical, seen, felt, or heard. It takes what one might call “work.” But what about “the idea”? It’s one thing to say to yourself, “I sure could use a table,” and yet another to say, “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds seems like a great idea for a song.”

Mr. Sandman, Bring Me a Great Idea

We’ve all heard stories of artists recounting how “it came to me in a dream” or “I had a vision.” Though never one to shy from using artistic license, I too was always a bit skeptical (if not jealous) of this pronouncement from those gifted, chosen few. That is until it hit me without warning one afternoon, blissfully napping. 

Several years ago, I had been working on a song, on and off for several days, yet couldn’t seem to find the right lyrics or idea for the “middle eight” (as Sir Paul McCartney and the three other bugs referred to what most of us musicians call the bridge of a tune). Accepting defeat, I lay down for a bit of a nap, and lo and behold, as I drifted off to la-la-land, a new idea and words began to flow like wine. Really good wine. Fortunately, I had enough awareness and (more importantly) discipline to get up and begin toiling away again at the tune. Blessed with this new idea delivered unto me, I finished the song (which I am honored to have performed recently at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee). But was this cherished delivery laid at my feet set there by a sacred courier?

O, Thank Heaven!

So, what of this siren song of the muse, who by grace may deliver that oft-vexing “idea”? The idea of the muse dates to ancient Greece, where muses were gods and did what gods do—help us mortals make sense of this thing we call life. They offer us comfort, strength, and structure. They give us hope and help explain the unknown. And if you trust in them, they may even take the blame for stuff you do (or don’t do). Muse, my trusted darling, it’s your fault. We absolve ourselves of the sin of unoriginality. Yet please, continue to inspire me!

Can I Get Her Contact Info?

But first we must find her. Alas, the million-dollar question: What is the secret to summon her? Where does she hide? Pray tell, conjurers and summoners, shamans and necromancers. As we have seen, sometimes she will visit, whimsically, only after we have given up. Perhaps in a dream. Perhaps as we skillfully navigate around other (less gifted) motorists about our city streets. I will often meet her on a walk, preoccupied with any other thought. Sometimes in the shower. Oh my. But generally, never where I’m looking. Now you see her, now you don’t. She’s an aberration, a parallax, a paradox, perhaps just a dream. She’s unrequited, unlisted. Was she that “Scam Likely” call I didn’t answer. Oh no!

In the End, Was She Just a Dream?

It does beg the question, “Is she real?” Surely, she must be. After all, as artists we’ve all felt the electricity of her touch. Just as lightning brought Frankenstein to life, so does the spark of inspiration ignite our passion to create art: physical, seen, felt, and heard works from nothing. Life. It’s certainly comforting and exciting to believe there are higher powers at work in our lives. That we are somehow conduits in some existential circuit board governing some greater purpose (aren’t we?). But does she, Ms. Muse, deserve all the credit? I don’t think so—I believe we deserve a little credit too.

Ask Not What She Can Do for You

So, if you are wondering where I find inspiration (and perhaps you are on your own quest to find her), I challenge you: as you patiently await another visit from that capricious lover, be godly. Find inspiration and enthusiasm in the everyday. As you walk. As you drive. As you spend time with the living. Maybe even as you nap. I’m confident you will find plenty of inspiration all around you. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J. Brandon Boron was born in Great Falls, Montana, but has spent most of his life traversing the United States and beyond.

After studying art, music, and biology at CSU, UMass, and UNLV, Brandon joined the US Army, where he has spent the last two decades serving as a military musician across Europe, the Middle East, and the US.

In addition to his military service, Brandon loves writing and performing music with his wife, Thordis, and camping together with their dog, Tjindu.

To learn more, visit poletopoleexpress.com

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

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ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Shaun Ivie is an illustrator based in Washington who specializes in colorful, imaginative illustrations full of humor and adventure. His illustrations are designed to inspire children and parents to engage in exploration and creativity, to find value in one another, and to love unconditionally through shared imagination. Big or small, he enjoys collaborating on projects to craft fun, colorful stories that explore every reach of a child’s imagination.

When he is not illustrating, you can find him adventuring throughout the great Pacific Northwest with his wife Nicole, two kids, and his two dogs.

You can find more of his work at ivieillustration.com and INSTAGRAM

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GIVEAWAY

Enter the giveaway for the chance to win a Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh prize pack!

Santa's 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh: 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 to the author for sharing a bit of themselves with the guest post. (THANKS!) This post is sponsored by J. Brandon Boron. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view. 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. Be sure to check out the rest of the stops on the tour for more bookish fun!

TOUR SCHEDULE

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

The Children’s Book Review

Tour Kick-Off for Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh

Thursday, October 23, 2025

The Starlit Path

Book Review and Instagram Post about Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh

Friday, October 24, 2025

@nissa_the.bookworm

Instagram Post about Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh

Monday, October 27, 2025

Crafty Moms Share

Book Review for Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

icefairy’s Treasure Chest

Book Review for Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh

Thursday, October 30, 2025

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Guest Post about Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh

Friday, October 31, 2025

A Blue Box Full of Books

Instagram Post about Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh

Monday, November 3, 2025

Lisa’s Reading

Book Review for Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

The Fairview Review

Book Review for Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh

Thursday, November 6, 2025

Confessions of a Book Addict

Book Spotlight on Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh

Friday, November 7, 2025

avainbookland

Instagram Post about Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh

Monday, November 10, 2025

Froggy Read Teach

Instagram Post about Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Deliciously Savvy

Guest Post about Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh

Thursday, November 13, 2025

Country Mamas With Kids

Book Review for Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh

Friday, November 14, 2025

Mrs Makes Reading Fun

Book Review for Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh

Monday, November 17, 2025

@bored_military_wife

Instagram Post about Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Tinks_books_and_fosters

Instagram Post about Santa’s 18-Wheel Chrome-and-Steel Sleigh

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

Time to get your SUMMERWEEN READ on!

Carve the watermelons, and slip some sunshades on your ghostly decor.

Whether you're a pro at it and plan the yearly celebration in your neighborhood, or you're one of the newly initiated, SUMMERWEEN is a thing!  That's right.  Just when you thought you couldn't take another holiday, one comes along to let you celebrate the SPOOKY side of things with a little summer flair before the autumnal weather changes and the shorter daylight hours kick in.  So, with that SPIRIT in mind, I'm bringing you QUITE THE LIST of titles to check out now, then, and a little later on because when it comes to our TBRs, there truly is no limit!  😉

Ladies and gents, the incoming flood of bookish goodness contains both SPOTLIGHTS and REVIEWS, featuring spooky tales, witchy ways, autumnal celebrations, and even back to school traditions, so take in what you see, add to your reading lists, and let me know what struck your SUMMERWEEN fancy!

Stitch: Reimagining Frankenstein

by Pádraig Kenny

Candlewick Press

On Sale: 07/15/2025

About the book...

An atmospheric retelling of Frankenstein, full of adventure and as thrilling as a lightning strike.

Stitch and his friend Henry Oaf were brought to life by the genius Professor Hardacre. But when his wicked nephew takes over the laboratory, they soon discover that the new professor's sights are set on Henry as his next experiment. Can Stitch and Henry escape his clutches and make their way in a world they were never built for—and that may only ever see them as monsters? Literary yet accessible, warmhearted yet chillingly gothic, this beautiful novel, described by the London Times as “exceptional,” explores themes of life and death, friendship and acceptance, all through a page-turning adventure about what it means to be human.

👻  💀  🧛  👾  🧛  💀  👻

Jazzy the Witch in Broom Doom

by Jessixa Bagley

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

On Sale: 07/15/2025

About the book...

In her town full of witches, Jazzy’s always been a little bit different. She’s not excited about magic. She forgets the steps to spells. And even though her parents run the town’s broom shop, she doesn’t want to fly.

Then, one day, she discovers what she was born to do: cycling! Now she just has to find a way to get a bicycle…and learn how to ride it. But will her new passion come between her and her best friend—and possibly get her in big trouble?

👻  💀  🧛  👾  🧛  💀  👻

Leila and the Voice

by Shahrzad Maydani

Kokila

On Sale: 07/22/2025

Now this isn't a monster story in the traditional sense of the word, but rather a tale that reminds us that we all have "monsters" to face, and it is in the facing of them that we grow stronger, more free, and more ourselves.  The little girl in the story is cultivating her inner voice so that one day she too can be strong enough to stand tall against the angry clouds of doubt and despair that can surround, and I think the visual aspect given to the journey will really help younger readers understand their own emotions that much more.  A unique story that truly has a place in any reading circle, aimed at not only sharing a story, but helping others to grow.

👻  💀  🧛  👾  🧛  💀  👻

Fall is for Beginnings 

by Rajani LaRocca

Illustrated by Abhi Alwar

Abrams Books for Young Readers

On Sale: 08/05/2025

About the book...

Ravi can’t wait for the start of the new school year! Fall is for cool weather, new school supplies, and spending time with his best friend, Joe. But when a new girl named Ellie joins their class, Ravi and Joe’s duo suddenly becomes a trio.

Ravi’s not so sure about Ellie—she plays her horn too loud in music lessons and gets them lost on the way to class. Worst of all, she keeps saying she’s Joe and Ravi’s best friend.

All these big changes are challenging for Ravi, but with time (and a little help from his wise older sister) he realizes that fall is the perfect time to begin a new friendship.

From the award-winning team behind Summer Is for Cousins, this heartwarming picture book all about back-to-school fun celebrates the (sometimes complicated) joy of making new friends.

👻  💀  🧛  👾  🧛  💀  👻

The Wishing Leaf

by Kallie George

Illustrated by Paola Zakimi

Abrams Book for Young Readers

On Sale: 08/12/2025

About the book...

Bear knows that when the last leaf falls in the forest, whatever wish you make is sure to come true! Although it’s almost time to sleep, Mama allows Bear to watch and wait with his friends.

But it seems like the leaf is never going to fall, so one by one, the other animals grow impatient and start to head home. Bear, however, finds active ways to wait, all the while wondering what to wish for—until finally, he’s the only one left, and he’s growing tired. Will Bear see the last leaf fall? And if so, what wish will he make?

A story of patience, friendship, and awe, The Wishing Leaf is a picture book full of wonder for the changing seasons, with a perfectly cozy ending.

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Bob the Vampire Snail

by Andrea Zuill

Random House Studio

On Sale: 08/05/2025

Okay, I gotta tell you, this one was FUNNY!  Seriously, a vampire snail?  Who'd have thought!  The how, the why, and the living (unliving?) with it part are all laid out so readers have no question as to his new found features, powers, and dietary needs (which are not exactly what you might be thinking!).  In the end, as SPOOKY-tacular as this one is, at it's heart it reminds us that friendship is a beautiful thing, and accepting others for who they are in spite of newly developed fangs or wings is important...although I don't exactly blame the other "Bobs" for holding a grudge about the whole "trying to eat them" thing.  Special note for readers!  Watch for the little bug narrator imparting pearls of wisdom, fun facts, and a few jokes from time to time!

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Pumpkin & Squash: #Squashgoals

by G.G. McQueen

Illustrated by Michael Slack

Doubleday Books for Young Readers

On Sale: 08/26/2025

You know the moment that FALL has hit, or even hinted at it, because suddenly it's PUMPKIN EVERYTHING.  Seriously, if you're a fan, you're in heaven; if not, it's a bit of a spicy HELLo until December when peppermint takes over, but I digress.  In this charming autumn tale, Pumpkin is the popular one, but longs for the days of the other three seasons when she's not bombarded with requests on her time, flavor, and scent.  On the other side of the gourd, Squash has been having trouble playing second (or lower) flavor to the season, and is going all out this year to become the GOURD KING they know they can be!  Only, it doesn't go exactly as planned for either of them, and yet in the end, they still get what they were BOTH looking for thanks to good friends, consideration for others...and a well timed distraction so they can enjoy each others company and all the fun Fall can bring.  A great reminder that having #Squashgoals is important, but it's the friends/company we keep that make them worth having in the first place.

👻  💀  🧛  👾  🧛  💀  👻

Lost on Doll Island 

by Cassandra Ramos-Gomez

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

On Sale: 08/26/2025

About the book...

Rick Riordan meets R. L. Stine in this fast-paced debut middle grade horror packed with adventure about a Mexican American boy who starts hearing the voice of a haunted doll while visiting family in Mexico City.

Diego feels trapped. He’s confined in an arm cast, stuck with his tía and tío for a week in Mexico City, and smothered with the sickening fear that he’s the one who really caused his parents’ divorce. But most of all, he’s trapped in his own secret. Because ever since he got to Mexico City, he’s started having strange dreams of a doll calling his name.

Then Diego learns of La Isla de Muñecas, an island full of legendary magic that can make children’s wishes come true. If Diego can harness the power there, maybe he could fix everything that has gone wrong in his life.

So, with the help of two new friends, Diego takes a boat to the legendary island. From the moment the kids step ashore, nothing is as it seems—with dolls disappearing and reappearing in the blink of an eye. Suddenly, Diego is more trapped than ever before, and as the night goes on, he’s not sure he can escape.

👻  💀  🧛  👾  🧛  💀  👻

Special thanks to the authors, publishers, and publicists who made this post possible.  (THANKS!)  For more information on any of the titles listed above, please feel free to click through the links provided.  Titles available now are listed, while others are waiting for your pre-order or wish list addition, so you know what to do!

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

What's on your TBR?: JULY RELEASES

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're shining the BOOK SPOTLIGHT on a few titles that have made their way (or are JUST about to) to a bookstore or virtual shelf near you. That's right. It's time to set our sights on JULY RELEASES and we've got a little bit of this, and a little bit of that. So, have your TBR at the ready, here come the books!

The first two titles are ones that caught my attention, for one reason or another, but I've not indulged in the story between the pages.  Will I?  Perhaps, but at the very least, I wanted to draw your eye to them as well and see what YOU think!  I love how the first one draws a connection between two people at two very different times, while the second one feels like an edge of your seat mystery that will keep you turning pages!

This Book Might Be About Zinnia

by Brittney Morris

Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

About the book...

Two moments in time. Two very different girls. And one story that connects them both.

It’s the year 2024, and Zinnia Davis is on a mission to ace her personal essay. But when an admissions rep hints that her adoption story is “lacking heart,” she has to figure out a new spin. Frankly, Zinnia doesn’t know much about her birth parents; that is, until her favorite author releases a new novel—Little Heart—about a princess with a heart-shaped birthmark on her forehead and separated from her mother at birth…just like Zinnia. Could this be her birth mother?

Flashback to 2006, and teenager Tuesday Walker is barely making it through high school after experiencing a loss that had her on leave for months. To cope, Tuesday writes a series of entries in a journal, but when the journal is lost, it feels like reliving the trauma all over again. Tuesday’s search for the journal uncovers dangerous secrets about her past, her crush, and her own mother’s story.

If Tuesday isn’t careful in her search, Zinnia will have to reap the consequences in the present.

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Blood in the Water

by Tiffany D. Jackson

Scholastic Press

About the book...

Brooklyn girl Kaylani McKinnon feels like a fish out of water. She's spending the summer with family friends in their huge house on Martha's Vineyard, and the vibe is definitely snooty. Still, there are beautiful beaches, lots of ice cream, and a town full of fascinating Black history. Plus a few kids her age who seem friendly.

Until the shocking death of a popular teenage boy rocks the community to its core. Was it a drowning? A shark attack? Or the unthinkable--murder?

Kaylani is determined to solve the mystery. But her investigation leads her to uncover shocking secrets that could change her own life as she knows it... if she survives.

🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞

Now for our next set of titles, I have delved between their pages, paper or electronic, and they've BOTH got stories to tell.

Millie Fleur Saves the Night

by Christy Mandin

Orchard Books

This is a story about embracing the darkness and allowing it as much space as the light.  There are things that can only be done in the dark, places that can only be visited, thoughts only thought, dreams only dreamed, life that can only grow AND glow when the lights go out.  Millie reminds us that while many shy away from darkness, it's generally out of misunderstanding versus actual desire.  I mean, who doesn't fear the unknown in some fashion?  But if we give it time, get to know it little by little, and it never hurts to have a friend at hand, we can be as much friends with the darkness as we are with the light, and celebrate the unique things that only it can bring.  Filled with wondrous illustrations and so many delightful ideas to create your own twilight garden, I can see readers of all ages taking this one to heart and making the dark their new friend.

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I Got You

by Derrick Barnes

Illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice

Nancy Paulsen Books

On Sale: 07/15/2025

This is a story of family, of the bonds forged between siblings, and the boundless love that carries on from generation to generation.  When Anthony becomes a big brother, he showers this new addition to the family with love, pearls of wisdom, and that precious commodity of TIME.  As they grow, so does their relationship, but they always come back to one another because through thick and thin, they've got each other.  When one day the family dynamics change once again, Rasheed gets the chance to be the big brother Anthony was to him, but to the new little addition, continuing the circle of love, growth, and understanding that cements a family at heart.  It was a touching story that I think really gets to the heart of what having a brother or sister (or multiples of each!) really means. It's not just someone to place the blame on.  It's not just someone to ignore when it's convenient.  It's not just someone there to take up the space you were already occupying.  It's someone to share the good times and bad, someone to create memories with and share traditions learned, someone that will always be there through life's ups and downs, and that's truly something worth cultivating.

🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞

Special thanks to the publishers, publicists, and authors listed above for the chance to bring these titles to you!  For more information, feel free to click through the links provided above.  The first three are currently available now, and the last follows suit in a few days time (as of this post).  

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

Happy BOOK BIRTHDAY wishes to... LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP by Virginia Heath!

Hi guys!

Welcome back!  Today's second, but equally spectacular post features the latest addition to the Miss Prentice’s Protegees series by author Virginia Heath...

From the publisher...

Nine years ago, Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount Wennington, was publicly humiliated by a failed and reckless romantic gesture. Despite this, his mother clings to the promise he made her then: that she would have a house full of grandchildren by his thirtieth birthday. Still single, embittered, and swiftly approaching thirty, Guy's work is his life. In desperation, his mother blindsides Guy with a weeklong house party at his estate filled with annoying debutantes, all competing to be his wife.

After failing as a governess, Lottie Travers is struggling as a lady’s companion. Raised in an all-male household, she’s developed habits that get her dismissed. Even after years of Miss Prentice’s teachings of how to be a lady, she climbs trees better than she embroiders and can’t resist riding horses astride, in breeches. But with the family farm in trouble, and her father now in dire need of her wages, she’s determined to conquer her wildness once and for all.

Even with his home full of eligible women, there is only one who catches Guy’s eye—though he tries to deny it. For Lottie, succeeding in her new role proves difficult when the Wennington estate is filled with horses, and a spark ignites between her and the grumpy lord. Will they remain stuck in their ways, or learn that they may just be the perfect match?

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FROM ME...

I've said it before and I'll say it again, THIS IS ONE OF MY AUTO BUY AUTHORS! 🙌 Seriously! Every work I've tried, I've enjoyed. She's got a real knack for creating characters you want to know in worlds you want to visit and situations you either would love to trade places to be in or die of embarrassment 😳, but you're right there the whole time through thick and thin! This latest release is no different, and yet worth the read tenfold. Don't believe me? The perfect cure for disbelief is trying it for yourself!

So HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY to the latest addition to her catalog and the second installment of the MISS PRENTICE'S PROTEGEES series! If you're a Historical Fiction fan, do not miss this author more this series... available now via St Martin's Griffin. 

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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Happy BOOK BIRTHDAY to... LOVE AT SECOND SIGHT by F.T. Lukens!

Tuesdays bring the GOOD STUFF as far as readers are concerned, and today is no different because we're celebrating a BOOK BIRTHDAY! That's right! Today's featured title is celebrating its shelf debut via Margaret K McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, and is the latest addition to this author's growing body of work.  Known for their ability to draw readers in while spinning a tale of MAGIC, MYSTERY, ROMANCE, and a healthy dose of humor, this release is bound to build a fandom from the word GO.  So, let's take a closer look at the next add to your TBR...

Love at Second Sight

by

F.T. Lukens

9781665950947

Margaret K. McElderry Books

About the book...

Fifteen-year-old Cam Reynolds wants to spend his sophomore year flying under the radar. That shouldn’t be too hard, considering he’s a human going to school with kids who have paranormal powers, like his best friend and witch, Al, and his longtime werewolf crush, Mateo.

Then Cam has a psychic glimpse of the future in front of most of the student body, seeing a gruesomely murdered teen girl from the point of view of the killer. When Cam comes to, he knows two things: someone he goes to school with is a future murderer, and his life is about to change. No longer a mere human but a clairvoyant, one of the rarest of supernatural beings, Cam finds himself at the center of attention for the first time.

As the most powerful supernatural factions in the city court Cam and his gift, he’ll have to work with his friends, both old and new, to figure out who he can trust and who might be a werewolf in sheep’s clothing. Because the clock is ticking, and Cam and his friends must identify the girl in the vision, find her potential killer, and prevent the murder from happening. Or the next murder Cam sees might be his own.

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I gotta say, I'm loving the cast of characters, the spread of paranormal options/abilities, and the murder mystery it's all built around.  It's not a case to solve with a variety of folks involved, but a variety of folks that happen to NEED to solve a case...before they become one themselves!  😱  We get to explore the paranormal side of things, while navigating the rough waters of first being "only human" and then not-so-only human to the exception of being UBER special.  We get to experience all the feels with matters of the heart, but with the tinge of "could it be them" hesitancy attached while everything plays out.  There are moments of OMG, and times when you feel like you just know what'll happen next...even when it continues to twist, turn, and surprise.

If you're a fan of the author's previous works, DO NOT MISS THIS RELEASE!  If you haven't experienced their writing as of yet, I highly suggest you do and this story makes as good an entry point as any to get started!

💜 🧡 💙 ❤️ 💛 💚

About the author...

F.T. Lukens (they/them) is a New York Times bestselling author of YA speculative fiction including the novels Otherworldly, Spell Bound (2024 ALA Rainbow Booklist), So This Is Ever After (2023 ALA Rainbow Booklist; 2022 Goodreads Choice Awards nominee), In Deeper Waters (2022 ALA Rainbow Booklist; Junior Library Guild Selection), as well as other science-fiction and fantasy works. F.T. resides in North Carolina with their spouse, three kids, three dogs, and three cats. Visit them at FTLukens.com.

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Special thanks to Thad at Simon & Schuster's Children's Publishing for the ARC/copy 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 newly available, so snag your copy today!

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