Happy Pub Week to today’s featured debut novel!

May 9, 2022May 9, 2022 momlovesreading01Leave a comment

⛱📖☀️Do you have books that you saved for spring/summer reading? Or maybe some books that are releasing soon & are going on your TBR, summer reading list? Today’s featured book is one you’ll want to add to that list for sure!

🎉Happy Pub Week to @catherinedrakewrites & her gorgeous new novel, ‘The Treeshouse on Dog River Road’, with a cover that practically screams “perfect summer read”! Thank you @booksparks for my gift copy of the book!😘

💁🏼‍♀️You won’t have to wait long to get this one in your hands! Releasing on 5/10, ‘The Treehouse on Dog River Road’ by Catherine Drake is about a young, determined woman trying to figure out life & love while staying true to herself. It’s a whip-smart, atmospheric, entertaining, & genuinely witty debut w/ wonderful characters you’ll love getting to know.

📖Twenty-eight-year-old Hannah Spencer wants nothing more than to change everything about her life. After ten years of living in cities, Nathan Wild has just moved back home to Vermont & doesn’t want to change anything about his.

📖Recently laid off from her depressing job in Boston & ready for a challenge, Hannah heads to Vermont for the summer to take care of her sister’s kids & do some serious soul searching. There, against the stunning landscape of the Green Mountains, she embarks on an ambitious project: building a treehouse for her niece & nephew.

📖As she hammers away, she formulates a plan to jump-start her life w/ a new job out West. But will Nathan-next-door complicate her desire to change course? A humorous, romantic, & inspiring story of a young woman taking control & making tough choices about love & work to build the life she wants, ‘The Treehouse on Dog River Road’ will have you rooting for Hannah every step of the way.

🌳🏠The treehouse sketch above, ‘Hannah’s Treehouse’, is from the book, ‘The Treehouse on Dog River Road’, & is original artwork by Bridget Phillips that I used as a Photoshop backdrop with the book as the top layer.

You can click on any of the highlighted book titles above to add them to your Goodreads lists. You can also click HERE to visit my Instagram post & show the author (& me!) your support by hitting that ♥️ , maybe even SHARE the post to your stories.

✒️📖Catherine Drake enjoys life with her husband, dog, and extended family in Vermont. ‘The Treehouse on Dog River Road’ is her first novel. To learn more follow her on Instagram @catherinedrakewrites or www.catherinedrake.com

Blog Tour · Book Reviews · Booksparks · Family Reading · Fiction · Giveaway · YAbooks · Young Readers Books

It’s the season of giving, so I’m hosting another GIVEAWAY and this one’s geared towards the tween-agers…

November 20, 2021November 20, 2021 momlovesreading01Leave a comment

*GIVEAWAY time! Do you have a tween-ager in the household, or maybe a niece, babysitter, or a friend with a daughter who enjoys reading? Then you’ll love today’s featured book & giveaway!

Last yr I did a promo for Cindy Callaghan’s novel, ‘Saltwater Secrets’, (*click HERE to see Instagram post) & loved it so much, I bought a copy for a friend’s daughter & she loved it! Being the super, sweet kid she is, she wanted to pass it on to another reader to enjoy as well. So today’s giveaway is for a copy of ‘Saltwater Secrets‘ & also 3 items featured in Callaghan’s 10/12 novella, ‘The Girl Who Ruined Christmas’: a pair of low-top Hello Kitty socks, a red Chuck Taylor shoe keychain, & a Harper Hollow Falls Christmas Countdown calendar that be reused again & again. All you have to do to make this an even MORE fantastic gift is get a copy of ‘The Girl Who Ruined Christmas‘ to add to the box. Thank you Cindy for my gift copy! (which I’m totally keeping!)

Cindy’s other wonderful tween novels include the ‘Just Add Magic‘ series that was made into an Emmy nominated Amazon series; the bestselling ‘Lost in…’ series that included books like ‘Lost in London‘, ‘Lost in Hollywood‘, ‘Lost in Ireland‘ & more; & the stand-alone, tween mystery, ‘Sydney MacKenzie Knocks’em Dead‘, which sells out every year around Halloween.

Now, let’s talk about Cindy Callaghan’s latest novella, released last month, ‘The Girl Who Ruined Christmas‘. It’s adorable, witty, warmhearted, & good ol’ festive fun! This should 100% be made into a Hallmark movie since it’s perfect for the whole family & could be watched while making sugar cookies like Mrs. Crispin, a character in the book. The book also has Stars Hollow from ‘Gilmore Girls’ vibes which makes it even more delightful & as cozy as hot cocoa!

Imagine you’re a tween visiting a small town that loves nothing more than its prize fir—a perfect Christmas tree destined for the White House. Now picture yourself accidentally destroying that tree, making you public enemy number one. Lastly, imagine that to repay your debt, you have to remain in said town for the Christmas season.
That’s what happens to Brady Bancroft.

When Brady ruins Harper Hollow Fall’s prize tree, she’s sentenced to stay in the holiday-festooned town for the month of December. At first, she couldn’t be more depressed about the whole situation; but during her month there, she is surprised to discover that there’s much more than pine needles to the little town holding her captive. In the end, Harper Hollow Falls reminds Brady of the true meaning of Christmas—and she, in turn, saves the town.

To help give one lucky follower get a boost on their holiday shopping, I’m giving away a copy of Cindy Callaghan’s novel, ‘Saltwater Secrets’ as well as 3 items featured in ‘The Girl Who Ruined Christmas’ (*see above for info). All you have to do to enter is go to my Instagram page (@mom_loves_reading) to enter. Click HERE to go there now.

Click HERE to visit Cindy Callaghan’s website & read more about her other amazing books.

Click any of the highlighted book titles above to add them to your Goodreads TBR lists.

Cindy Callaghan is the award-winning author of eleven middle-grade novels including JUST ADD MAGIC & JUST ADD MAGIC 2: POTION PROBLEMS, which were made into an Emmy-nominated Amazon Original series now in its fifth season & distributed world-wide via Nickelodeon. She’s well-known for the best-selling Lost In… books: LOST IN LONDON, LOST IN PARIS, LOST IN ROME, LOST IN HOLLYWOOD, & LOST IN IRELAND. Her Agatha award-winning stand-alone SYDNEY MACKENZIE KNOCKS ‘EM DEAD sells out every year around Halloween. Her 2020 book SALTWATER SECRETS, which is nominated for an Agatha Award, won Delaware Press Association & National Federation of Press Women’s awards, & two International Book Awards, is set up by a major studio. Her newest book THE GIRL WHO RUINED CHRISTMAS, (October 2021), & the upcoming MY BIG HEART-SHAPED FAIL, (September 2022), are actively being shopped to producers, networks & streamers along with Cindy’s robust portfolio of original features & series. A Jersey girl at heart, Cindy lives in Delaware with her family and rescued-pets.

Blog Tour · Book Reviews · Booksparks · Fiction · Romance · RomCom · WomensFiction

Rainy, chilly, fall weekends are for books and reading…

October 24, 2021October 24, 2021 momlovesreading01Leave a comment

It’s just another rainy, chilly Sunday here in N Ohio, but thanks to Booksparks Fall Reading Challenge #FRC2021, I have some fabulous new fall releases to keep me “booked” for the weekend!

Thank you @booksparks for my gift copy of the 9/21/21 contemporary romance novel, ‘When Sparks Fly’ by Helena Hunting, NYT bestselling author of more than 2 dozen novels, including the others that I’ve read shown in the above photo:
‘The Good Luck Charm’ ‘Meet Cute’ & ‘Kiss My Cupcake’

Running the Spark House, a hotel/event space that has been in her family for yrs, has been Avery Spark’s lifelong dream. After yrs of working hard & making personal sacrifices, Avery & her two younger sisters have turned the Spark House into the premier destination in Colorado Springs. Avery is living her best life—she works w/ her sisters & loves every minute of it, she has a great group of friends, & she lives in a fantastic condo with her best friend Declan. She might not have any love in her life, but she’s happy.

But everything comes to a screeching halt when Avery is in a car accident, leaving her immobile for weeks. After nearly losing Avery, Declan insists that he will be the one to take care of her while she recovers. However, as Declan becomes Avery’s caretaker, lines begin to blur.

Avery & Declan have been best friends since college & always had an attraction to one another, but when she ended up dating his best friend, Sam, they successfully stamped down any feelings they may have ever had for one another. Now, as Declan & Avery spend more time together, they each begin to wonder what would’ve happened if she’d dated him instead of Sam. What starts as a friend helping out another friend turns into foreplay &, before they realize it, they recognize how deeply they care for one another. But when things get serious their past threatens to destroy everything they have built.

‘When Sparks Fly’ is a feel-good, soul warming novel that’s charming, witty, sexy, & emotional & is Helena Hunting at her best! Here’s what some of the leading editorial reviewer’s have said about the book:

“When Sparks Fly will warm your heart and make you cry – sometimes at the same time.” – PopSugar

“In this delightfully fun standalone contemporary from prolific and ever-lively Hunting, the author plays to her literary strengths by giving readers a sensuality-forward storyline that is neatly lightened by snarky humor even as it’s deftly grounded by a thoughtful exploration of the roles family and friends can play in our lives.” – Booklist

“This is a solid pick for romance fans.” – Publishers Weekly

“The supporting characters―Avery’s two sisters and her and Declan’s group of friends―make the romance richer.” – Kirkus Reviews

Click HERE to add ‘When Sparks Fly’ to your Goodreads list.
Click HERE to visit Helena Hunting on Instagram.
Click HERE to visit (& FOLLOW, please!) Mom_Loves_Reading on Instagram.

NYT and USA Today bestselling author, Helena Hunting lives outside of Toronto with her amazing family and her two awesome cats, who think the best place to sleep is her keyboard.

Helena writes everything from emotional contemporary romance to romantic comedies that will have you laughing until you cry.

Visit her website: https://helenahunting.com/

About ME · Blog Tour · Book Reviews · Booksparks · Parenting books

Happy Book Birthday Week to ‘Overcoming the Mom-Life Crisis’ by Nina Restieri

April 7, 2021April 7, 2021 momlovesreading01Leave a comment

Happy Book Birthday Week to @nina.restieri & her new, non-fiction release ‘Overcoming the Mom-Life Crisis: Ditch the Guilt, Put Yourself on the To-Do List & Create a Life You Love‘! (pub 4/6). Thank you to @Booksparks for my gift copy of the book & for inviting me on the pop-up book tour!

As a super busy mother of 5, it’s far too often that I forget to or run out of hours in the day to make time for myself. As you’ve seen in previous posts, my 2 kids at home are autistic (click HERE for a recent Instagram post for World Autism Awareness Day) & you probably don’t need me to tell you what a toll that can take on me some days. And yes, 3 of my 5 kids live on their own, but as any mother knows, the job of “MOM” is full-time, 24/7, all day/all night, every single day, forever & ever. I never stop thinking about or worrying about any of my kids. Yet, there’s one person I forget to prioritize & show love & care to…ME!

A perfect mom (or parent) is as mythical as unicorns: they don’t exist. We’re all flawed in some way, but still doing our best, still deserve a break & self-care, so we can embrace a more fulfilling life & remember we’re blessed just to BE parents. This book helped open my eyes & heart to the pressure I’ve been putting on myself & the ‘ME-time’ I need to recharge, but rarely give myself.

‘Overcoming the Mom-Life Crisis‘ is perfect for mothers like me who are often overwhelmed by the non-stop demands of parenthood & exhausted by the day to day hustle. The book is soulful & excruciatingly honest, & is the essential handbook for stressed-out & overwhelmed moms & offers up steps for creating your own “momAgenda” & finding lifelong happiness & fulfillment.

From the founder of momAgenda comes the ultimate guide to navigating the mom-life crisis, with a simple process for putting your own long-forgotten needs back on the to-do list.

Nina Restieri was a wife, a mom of 4 young kids, & a successful entrepreneur. Despite having what most people would consider “it all,” happiness eluded her. She beat herself up daily for not being grateful. But as she looked around, she realized most of the moms she knew shared that same sense of sadness, stress, & overwhelm, all while working hard to keep up the “perfect mom” appearance. Desperate for a change & tired of crying behind a locked bathroom door, Nina embarked upon a 10-yr journey that led her to unexpected places—including a pole dancing studio—for peace & solace.

After digging deep & facing some painful truths, Nina emerged knowing she deserved more than she was giving herself & figured out that a mom can take care of her kids, AND take care of herself. Like a permission slip for mothers to love themselves as much as they do their children, this book chronicles Nina’s journey to putting her mom-life crisis behind her—forever—& offers up a roadmap so you can too.

Click HERE to visit Nina Restieri’s blog.

Click HERE to visit momagenda.com (it’s a beautiful site w/ even more beautiful planners! And I LOVE planners!)

Click HERE to visit my Instagram post & give is some LIKE love, maybe even share it!😉

Click HERE to add ‘Overcoming Mom-Life Crisis’ to your Goodreads lists.

Click HERE to find the book at a nearby independent book store using BookStoreLink.

Nina Restieri is the founder and president of momAgenda. Previously, she has spent time as an advertising executive, as the president of a family business, and as a stay-at-home mom.

She started momAgenda when her four kids were seven, five, three, and one, to create organizing products to help make moms’ lives (and her own life) easier. momAgenda has grown to include a diversified range of products that help organize the lives of mothers and others, including day planners, home organizers, pads, journals, and accessories. The collection is sold at leading national retailers and regional boutiques throughout the U.S. Over the past fifteen years, Nina Restieri and momAgenda have been featured in numerous outlets including NBC’s Today show, The Early Show, MSNBC, Real Simple, Better Homes and Gardens, The New York Times, and The Huffington Post.

Blog Tour · Book Reviews · Booksparks · Fiction · Giveaway · YAbooks

Witchy Wednesday GIVEAWAY of ‘Witch Wars’ by Alane Adams (#3 of Witches of Orkney series)

October 7, 2020October 7, 2020 momlovesreading01Leave a comment

Witchy Wednesday GIVEAWAY time!! Thank you @booksparks & @alaneadamsbooks (partners) for my copy of ‘Witch Wars‘, book #3 in Alane Adams ‘Witches of Orkney’ series! (Sorry my pics are a little murky…had to take them in the evening with only artificial lighting…I think the kids did fantastic posing for them though, considering I interrupted their before bed gaming time!) Click HERE to go enter the book giveaway on Instagram or just to be nice & LIKE my post or SHARE it!

As a parent to 2 middle schooler’s, Adam’s books have been a nice addition to our daily reading. My kids (in the pics) are autistic, so patience & focus are often problematic, but when it comes to reading Alane’s books, they are engaged, tuned in & interested in what happens next. We read Adam’s ‘Eye of Zeus’ from her ‘Legends of Olympus’ series back when the pandemic started & it, too, was such a fun book!

‘The Witches of Orkney’ series is ideal for Mid-School reading, as well as Adam’s ‘Legend of Orkney’ series. Fans of Harry Potter, fantasy, & magical, mystical creature-type books will love these w/ their blend of mythological fact & fiction.

‘Witch Wars‘: Abigail’s 2nd year at the Tarkana Academy has been an all-out disaster. She’s just unwittingly helped Vertulious, an ancient he-witch & powerful alchemist, destroy Odin’s Stone & restore his powers, & now all of Orkney is caught up in the threat of war as the witches prepare to destroy the helpless Orkadians.

Determined to set things right, Abigail & Hugo set off for Jotunheim, the land of the giants, to find a weapon to restore the balance. All they have to do is track down the God of Thunder & convince Thor to turn his hammer over to them.
When their former-friend-now-foe Robert Barconian arrives w/ a band of dwarves, intent on stopping them, Abigail & friends must unite to prevent a war that will destroy them all. But has Abigail made the biggest mistake of all by trusting in the wrong ally?

The kids & I are beginning Book 3 this weekend & I would love to have a copy sent to one of you to read w/ your kids or maybe give to a niece or nephew. With the holidays coming up. Adams’s series would be fantastic gifts for the young readers in your family.

(***The following is for FYI purposes only. All entries must be made on Instagram. Click HERE to go that post now.)
To enter:
1-LIKE this post.
2-Must be following @mom_loves_reading @alaneadamsbooks & @booksparks
3-Tag a couple bookish friends or comment w/ your favorite book(s) when you were in mid-school.
(Share post to your pg or stories for bonus 5 entries. You can even SHARE the giveaway just to be nice even if you aren’t entering.).
US res only. Giveaway starts 10/7 & ends 10/10/20 & is not affiliated w/ Instagram.

Click HERE to read more about Book 1 in The Witches of Orkney series

Click HERE for more info on Book 2 in the series

Alane Adams grew up in an old Quaker town called Whittier in Southern California. Adams attended Whittier High School & was active in every possible sport including basketball (proudly claiming the nickname Breakaway Adams!) & swimming & diving. For college, Alane attended the University of Southern California where she wanted to be an English major, but family convinced her to become an accountant to help run a family business. After spending the next few decades helping to build one of the largest recycling companies on the West Coast, Alane left the family business behind to pursue her writing career. Before launching into writing full-time, Alane began teaching full-time at a local university. Finally, the Legends of Orkney series was born when her then 12-year-old son challenged Alane to write a book he could read. She hasn’t stopped writing since that day. Alane’s favorite books include any story involving folklore, fantasy & fairytales. When Alane is not writing or teaching, she is hanging out with her 3 boys, each who have grown up having adventures to rival those of her characters. Find out more at: www.AlaneAdams.com