Here you will find Christian Books. Mostly Bibles, Devotions, Childrens Books, Gift Books and a few Fiction will be added here as well. Hope you enjoy our reviews of the awesome books. We are just beginning, so tell all of your friends about us.
Join us for this tour from Mar 15 to Apr 9, 2021!Book Details:
Book Title: Zippy's Special Gift by Therese Van Ryne
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 38 pages
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publisher: Mascot Books
Release date: Mar, 2021
Format available: hardback
Content Rating: G for everyone.
Book Description:
Zippy the Zebra doesn't like her stripes. She doesn't want to stand out! Follow Zippy as she embarks upon a thrilling adventure with her animal friends that helps her realize everyone is perfect just the way they are. Profits from the sales of Zippy's Special Gift will be donated to one of Zebra Technologies strategic charitable partners, Bernies Book Bank, a non-profit organization that changes the story for under-served children and helps them read their way to a better life! Learn more at www.berniesbookbank.org.
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What an adorable precious Books this is. I love love the story because it teaches children that they all have a special gift. They may not always like their gift, but it's their own special gifts, unique like no other. Zippy the Zebra didn't like his stripes but his mom assured him that everyone have special gifts, whether they like them. Zippy went on a journey to find his friends and ask them about their special gift. His friends frog, monkey, duck and more all had their own gifts, and they didn't especially like them but they helped in the different unique things they did. Just like monkey said his tail gets in the way, but it helps him hang from a tree. And you need to read the book to your child to find out the others.
And I can leave out the amazing illustrations by Walter Policelli! Each character is so adorable. And the story comes to life on the awesome illustrations on each page. And how each page fits the story so well is perfect. The beautiful colors, and characters will have your child looking at this book over and over. I encourage you to check out this wonderful and beautiful book inside and out.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
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Writing a children’s book has always been on my bucket list. I was inspired to sit down and put my fingertips to my keyboard last April on a rainy Saturday afternoon. We were about a month into the shutdown caused by the pandemic, and I was looking for a creative outlet. As the lead of Public Relations and Philanthropy for Zebra Technologies, I am also inspired by our company mascot, Zippy the Zebra so it was natural to make her the lead character of “Zippy’s Special Gift”.
What do you hope young kids (and adults, too) get out of this book?
Zippy the Zebra realizes she has unique qualities that are different from her friends, and they each have individual traits too – special gifts, if you will. I have already had parents reach out to me to share that after reading the book with their children, they have had conversations about what special gifts they each possess. I’m thrilled with this outcome and hope to have many more families connect in this way after reading “Zippy’s Special Gift” together.
I understand profits from the sales of “Zippy’s Special Gift” are being donated to Bernie’s Book Bank. Can you tell us more about this initiative?
Philanthropy is an important part of the workplace culture at Zebra Technologies, and one of our key strategic charitable partners is Bernie’s Book Bank. Our shared vision of promoting literacy for children of all ages and backgrounds helps make our world a better place. By connecting books with those who need them, Bernie’s Book Bank provides children the ability to learn about life through the characters.
In addition to Zippy the Zebra, do you have a favorite character in “Zippy’s Special Gift”?
I really like all the characters, but I would have to say Owl is another favorite. Whenever I read his part of the story to others, they chuckle when Owl introduces his special gift. In fact, a colleague of mine read the book to his young daughter, and she frequently reminds him what Owl says. It’s wonderful that this story and this character, in particular, have made a positive impression on her. You could say "Zippy’s Special Gift” is the gift that keeps giving for all who share it!
What’s next for you?
No one knows exactly what the future will bring, but my interests include continuing to find unique ways to promote children’s literacy and give back to my local community. It’s been a true pleasure writing and publishing “Zippy’s Special Gift,” and I have met some wonderful people through the process. I encourage anyone who has an interest in this area to dive right in. I know I’m glad I did, and I can’t wait to check off more items on my bucket list!
You mentioned you work for Zebra Technologies. What does Zebra Technologies do?
Zebra Technologies is a global company based in Lincolnshire, Illinois, and the company brings a performance edge to the front line of business in retail/eCommerce, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, healthcare, and the public sector. Zebra's solutions elevate the shopping experience, track and manage inventory as well as improve supply chain efficiency and patient care. This year marks Zebra’s fifth year on Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers, and you can check out more about the company at www.zebra.com.
Meet the Author:
Zippy’s Special Gift is Van Ryne’s debut children’s book. She currently serves as the Global Director of PR, Thought Leadership and Advocacy for Zebra Technologies. One of PR News’ 2019 Top Women in PR, Van Ryne also has experience as a journalist, editor and producer, reporting nightly from Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
connect with the author: instagram ~ facebook ~ goodreads
Book Title: When the Sun Met the Moon by Simran Mohinani
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 38 pages
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publisher: Mascot Books
Release date: March, 2021
Format available: hardcover
Content Rating: G for everyone.
Book Description:
In this enchanting tale of the origins of the Sun and the Moon, the Sun flies across the universe on an adventure to look for someone whose light matches his own. When the Sun Met the Moon is a story filled with so much love, excitement, and equality that you won't want to put down, and can be told for years to come. After centuries of brightening up the sky by himself, the poor Sun is exhausted, lonely, and in need of some help. So, he decides to search the galaxies for someone whose light is as strong and powerful as his to help him shine down on the people of Earth. When the Sun decides to take a holiday to go on this adventure, Earth is left with its first-ever nighttime where the sky goes dark and cold, leaving people afraid to come out of their homes. Will the Sun be able to find somebody whose light is equal to his? Find out in this gorgeous love story how the Sun met his perfect Moon.
Buy the Book
Amazon ~ B&N ~ BAMMascot Books
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When the Sun Met the Moon is a story of the sun and the moon meeting for the first time. The sun brings so much light to the universe and the moon brings us our nighttime, just as God made it in the beginning. Children will enjoy hearing story as you read it to them and will be sure to ask you to read it over and over.
And the illustrations by Leo Hart's are the most beautiful, all of the beautiful blues of nighttime and the bright colors of the sun. The Sun and the Moon characters are so adorable as well. The cover of the hardcover book is simply adorable. Any child would love to have this book in their library. I encourage you to check out this book for your child. They will love the story and they will love looking at the beautiful pictures as well. When the Sun Met the Moon by Simran Mohinani gets 4 stars from me.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
And now Join me for an interesting interview with Simran Mohinani
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Q: Tell us a little about yourself!A: My name is Simran Mohinani but most people call me Simi or Simi Moh, I'm 22 years old and am ethnically Indian but was born and raised in Hong Kong and continue to share my time between here, London and Boston. I just graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in Business (Entrepreneurship and Innovation) and a minor in Global Fashion studies. I have written three other books and own three businesses and work full-time for my infinity flower venture MOHLIA. I have a beautiful dog named Sofi who is a 9-month-old Pomeranian and the most supportive family and friends in the world!
Q: Why did you choose the book's main characters to be the Sun and the Moon?A: A lot of my previous work and poetry can attest to my affinity for astrology and astronomy. I've always loved deploying the Sun, Moon, and Stars as symbolic characters in my work to make my pieces more applicable for all my readers. You could be a 6-year-old or a 40-year-old with different genders in different parts of the world and still be able to step into the shoes of a character and empathize with them because they are neutral and based on nature. For me particularly the Moon has always been a huge guiding force in my life, especially with my star sign being a Virgo, I've always had this insane spiritual connection to the Moon, and so I wanted it to be a central theme in my book somehow, and everything organically just fell into place!
Q: Do you write every day?A: Short answer: not. I believe my most successful writing comes from raw emotion, if something really good or really bad happens I feel the need and urge to just expel it all out on paper with words. I believe writing every day just to write doesn't produce any of my best work, I need to feel like I have something worthwhile to say otherwise I won't be in the mood to use that creative part of my brain to its best ability.
Q: The book is about a love story between the Sun and the Moon - are you a hopeless romantic?A: I am a total sucker for love. I'm that person sobbing at the end of every rom-com, rooting for the couple on the screen to end up hopelessly and irrevocably in love forever. In reality and from my own experiences, love can be a beautiful thing, but it also takes a lot of work. That's a realization I think kids should be exposed to from a young age; that not just love, but life, takes a lot of work, and if you have a partner to help support you with the everyday motions of life you should find someone who can balance you and who is your equal.
Q: Once this pandemic is over, where would you like to travel to first and why?A: I would love to go to Ecuador to see where the flowers I get for MOHLIA come from, and back to London to see my sister, friends, house and just be in one of my favorite places. Selfishly? I would go to Kenya to do a beautiful African safari, that is something I've always wanted to do especially having loved animals all my life!
Q: If you could share any advice with budding writers who may be reading this, what would it be?
A: If you have a beautiful story to share, please go out and write it! The world needs more joy through words, creativity, and imagination. Reading helped me cope with things growing up like my anxiety; stories provide a form of escapism, knowledge, and connection. The art of storytelling is a historically symbolic form of perspective, culture, and imparting values that defy language, age, religion, and gender, continuously knocking down the realm of impossibility that modern-day industrialization likes to promote.
Q: Finally, will When the Sun Met the Moon have a sequel? A: I promised myself I would take a break from writing after this book. I'm shifting a lot of focus onto growing my business, being an entrepreneur is not a walk in the park by any means. Eventually, though, I would love to build upon the romance that is When the Sun Met the Moon and maybe in the future there will be a part two!
Meet the Author:
Simran Mohinani, otherwise known as Simi Moh, was born on September 8th, 1998. She is a graduate of Northeastern University, studying entrepreneurship with a minor in global fashion. She was born and raised in Hong Kong, and now lives between there, London, and Boston. She first worked for the United Nations with their environmental conservation team before also collaborating with Amazon, Marriott, and Snupps. She published her first trilogy of books comprised of poetry and short stories which are very successful. She now owns and runs three of her own businesses in the fields of consulting, denim supply, and commercial goods. She also has her own charity: The SiMission. After college, she also worked full-time at her family business, which deals with properties in Europe. On the side, she still loves to write, which came to fruition with When the Sun Met the Moon, for your enjoyment and pleasure.
connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads
Book Title: Murder on Pointe: A Fiona Quinn Mystery #1 Author: C.S. McDonald Category: YA Fiction, 219 pages Run Time: 4 hours, 30 minutes Genre: Cozy Mystery Publisher: McWriter Books Release date: Jul 19, 2016 Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf) Tour dates: Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020 Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
Fiona can't wait to attend the performance of Coppelia at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh. Her old friend, Silja Ramsay, is dancing the principal role. They have dinner after the show, but when they return Pittsburgh Ballet Theater is down one dancer! Ballerina, Alexis Cartwright, has been found dead in the dressing room. Is this murder a result of hot tempers among the cast members? Or is it a random act of violence? Will there be more murders? Homicide Detective Nathan Landry isn't taking any chances. After finding out Fiona has a strong background in ballet, he recruits her to go undercover among the cast of Coppelia. Can Fiona help catch a killer, or will she be the next victim?
I love a cozy mysteries, and after reviewing Back to the Burgh and Beyond, I wanted to read more from author C.S. McDonald, so I wanted to read the first book in her "A Fiona Quinn Mystery" series, Murder on Pointe. And what a good cozy read it is! Fiona's friend Silja is dancing the principle role in Coppelia at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh, and if course she wants to go see her dance. What Fiona didn't expect was one of the dancers found murdered after the show. To help Detective Nathan Landry find the culprit, Fiona goes undercover as a dancer. And then the fun, and the investigation begans.
I love Fiona and enjoyed her new journey as a dancer. The situation gets pretty sticky at times, as she weaves herself in with all of the dancers, but it is so much fun as I felt myself in the story and trying to help Fiona sold the mystery. The characters were well crafted and I enjoyed their development throughout the story. The twists and turns woven all through the story makes the story more fun and enjoyable. If you enjoy an awesome clean and fun cozy mystery, this is one you want to read. And you can pass it on to the teens and tweens in your family because this book and the other books in A Fiona Quinn Mystery series are nice and clean enough for this age to enjoy.
As for this one, I had the joy of listening to the audiobook of Murder on Point, and I love listening to narrator Maren Swenson Waxenberg tell the story. Her voice flows so smoothly, and she does an outstanding job portraying the different characters, as well as the punctuations throughout the book. Her voice makes the book so fun and interesting and a real joy to listen to. As you can tell, I love this book! And I hope you will love it as much as I do.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.l
Meet the Author:
For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg. Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh. The female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Next Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy! Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister.
. Tour Schedule Mar 1 –Olio by Marilyn – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 1 -She Just Loves Books – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 2 -Laura's Interests – audiobook review of Saddle Up for Murder / giveaway Mar 3 –Gina Rae Mitchell – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 4 –Rockin' Book Reviews – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 4 –Gina Rae Mitchell – audiobook review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway Mar 4 -Laura's Interests – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 8 –Locks, Hooks and Books – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 9 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway Mar 9- Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 10 –My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 10 -Wickedly Romance – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 11 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 11 -Wickedly Romance – book review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway Mar 11 -Blooming with Books- audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond Mar 12 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway Mar 12 - Books Lattes & Tiaras – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 15 - Blooming with Books - audiobook review of Murder on Pointe Mar 15 – She Just Loves Books – audiobook review of Tastes Like Murder / giveaway Mar 15 - Chit Chat with Charity - audiobook review of Saddle Up for Murder / giveaway Mar 16 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway Mar 16 - My Reading Journeys – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 17 – Westveil Publishing – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 17 - My Reading Journeys – book review of Saddle Up for Murder / giveaway Mar 18 – Musing of Souls – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond Mar 18 - Books for Books – audiobook review of Murder on Pointe Mar 19 – Books Lattes & Tiaras – book review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway Mar 19 – Rockin' Book Reviews – audiobook review of Good Luck to Murder / giveaway Mar 22 – Westveil Publishing – audiobook review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway Mar 22 - Musing of Souls – audiobook review of Tastes Like Murder Mar 23 – Locks, Hooks and Books – audiobook review of Tastes Like Murder / giveaway Mar 23 - Lisa's Reading – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 24 – My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews – audiobook review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway Mar 24 - Books for Books – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond Mar 25 – BookishKelly2020 – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 25 - Chit Chat with Charity - audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 26 - BookishKelly2020 – book review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway Mar 26 - Lisa's Reading – book review Tastes Like Murder / giveaway
Book Description:
Welcome to Music Metropolis, where there's always a song to sing and instruments playing all around. Everyone has something special to share, but Beat Street is where the real magic happens... The musicians of Beat Street have super abilities. The people who live here can do extraordinary things...with the power of music! When Tala's day begins
with a phone call from a friend, she is SUPER excited...but she'll need your help to make it there in time! You won't want to miss this interactive musical adventure.
Vicky Weber is a musician and an elementary educator with a love for children’s literature. While she has taught a variety of grade levels, primary level education is where her passion lies. It has long been a dream of hers to teach children through the magic of books and she hopes you love reading her works as much as she loved writing them.
connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodread
Book Title: Save the Date by Ellen Fannan
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 329 pages
Genre: Fiction Romance
Publisher: Forget Me Not Romances, an imprint of Winged Publications
Release date: October 2020
Content Rating: G.
Book Description:
What if you were given the chance to rekindle the flame with your first love? What happened to all those girls who were mean to you in school? Should Hannah Jensen take the chance of attending her high school reunion to find out?
Hannah hasn’t been back to her hometown in more than twenty years. Now, a widow, raising a teenaged daughter, she has the opportunity to go home for her twenty-fifth high school reunion. The invitation to the reunion stirs up a lot of old memories at the same time she is dealing with loneliness, the challenges of single-parenting a teenager, people who
want to “set her up” with eligible men, her own insecurities, and her eccentric family.
The story interweaves the present with scenes from Hannah’s past and her fantasy of “happily ever after” with her high school boyfriend in a humorous and entertaining manner. Her feelings from being “shunned” by the cool kids resurface as she reflects back on her time as a teenager. There are several roadblocks on Hannah’s journey from a teenager through her present. The growing pains and amusing situations in which she finds herself are ones to which we all can relate. As she walks the path of self-discovery, she also discovers the most important life lesson of all–her relationship to God.
And now check out this interesting interview with Ellen Fannan
Q: What inspired the story for your novel, "Save the Date"?A:I got the idea for “Save the Date” from a post on a “Classmates” website. The post started me wondering how some of the people in my class turned out, and set me on a journey of “what if?” Like the protagonist, Hannah Jensen in “Save the Date,” I moved away from my hometown over 40 years ago and have pretty much lost touch with everyone from my high school years.
Q: What is the Christian message in the book?
A:There is more than one Christian message, but the main message is the faith journey of a young girl, Hannah Jensen, who truly believes she is a Christian because she is a good person and goes to church. As a teenager, she is challenged with the Truth and must come to terms with what she has believed her whole life versus what she is learning in a different church (one she is only attending to please her boyfriend’s mother). One large stumbling block on her road to faith is another girl, Shelli Delgado, who attends that church. Shelli claims to be a Christian but doesn’t act like one. In fact, she has bullied Hannah for several years and made her life miserable. Because of Shelli’s hypocrisy, Hannah wrestles with what true faith looks like. She eventually must come to understand that her personal relationship with Jesus as her Savior must not be allowed to be influenced by other people’s actions.
Q: How can non-Christians relate to the story?
A: “Save the Date” is humorous, entertaining, and very relatable to anyone contemplating attending a high school reunion. While hoping to reconnect with an old boyfriend, Hannah is, at the same time, apprehensive about running into old nemeses and reopening old wounds. As a widow raising a teenager, Hannah has a lot of issues to deal with, including well-meaning people who want to “fix her up,” eccentric family members, typical teenage drama with her daughter, and reminiscing about her own teenage years. Although not a typical love story, there are romantic elements in Hannah’s relationship with her high school sweetheart and, later, with her husband. Although humorous, there are deep, heart-wrenching emotional insights as well, such as grieving the loss of a spouse, the lasting impact of the actions of people who hurt her long ago, and the effect that Christian hypocrisy can have on non-believers.
Q: You wrote a fictional book entitled "Other People's Children" about fostering, but was it really more of a memoir? Why or why not?
A: There are definitely some portions of “Other People’s Children” that are true stories. (I’m not telling which!) Other parts are heavily fictionalized, or a combination of characters into a “composite child,” partially based on real children we fostered.
Q: You have personally fostered over 40 children. What do you believe people who are considering foster parenting should know?
A: Foster parenting can be one of the most rewarding, while, at the same time, one of the most difficult jobs you will ever do. It is not a job for the faint-hearted! I don’t think people realize what all is involved. First, there are several hours of training, background checks, letters of reference, and home inspections before one can be licensed for foster care. The paperwork is endless. Once licensed, foster parents are required to renew their license every year—which involves filling out more paperwork, more letters of reference, more home inspections, and more continuing education. Foster parents need to be flexible because their schedules will constantly be rearranged to accommodate children’s visits with their biological families, caseworker and guardian ad litem home visits, mandated doctor appointments and other child assessments. Many people are under the mistaken impression that foster parents make money from the stipends paid for fostering. If anything, they are lucky to break even. Foster care stipends don’t cover the entire costs of most daycares, and out-of-pocket expenses for school fees, field trips, extra-curricular activities, birthday and Christmas presents, and babysitting. If the child is sick, foster parents may have to take unpaid time from work and lose income.I went into foster parenting completely naïve and altruistic, and I don’t want other people going into this venture blindly, as I did. No amount of training can prepare you for the reality of foster parenting. Be prepared to have your heart broken. Be prepared to be content with never knowing what happened to the children you fell in love with once they leave your home. Be prepared to not have a say in the welfare of the children you have taken in, cared for, and loved, because the “system” knows best. Be prepared to fight for those children, regardless, because you may be the only advocate your foster children have. Be prepared to open your home and your heart; and be prepared to love, laugh, and make cherished memories, as this will be the most rewarding job you will ever do.
Meet the Author:
Award-winning author Ellen Fannon is a practicing veterinarian, former missionary, and church pianist/organist. She originated and wrote the Pet Peeves column for the Northwest Florida Daily News before taking a two-year assignment with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. She and her retired Air Force pilot-turned-pastor husband have been foster parents to more than 40 children, and the adoptive parents of two sons. Her first novel, "Other People’s Children," is a humorous account of the life of a foster parent. She is a regular contributing author for One Christian Voice, and her stories have been published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series as well as Lifeway’s Open Windows devotional booklets, among many other publications. Her third novel about a veterinarian entitled "Don’t Bite the Doctor" will be released in 2021. She lives in Valparaiso, Florida, with her husband, sons, and assorted pets.
connect with author: website ~ facebook ~ pinterest
Join us for this review tour from Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2021!
Book Details:
Book Title: Back to the Burgh and Beyond (The Owl's Nest Mysteries) Author: C.S. McDonald Category: Adult Fiction, 208 pages Run Time: 5 hours, 59 minutes Genre: Cozy Mystery Publisher: McWriter Books Release date: Sep 10, 2020 Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf) Tour dates: Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020 Content Rating: G. C.S. McDonald's books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults--no bad language or sexual content. https://www.youtube.com/embed/yr_y-fIJlf4
Book Description: Meet Alexa Owl. She's returned home to Pittsburgh after a divorce to start a new life and a new business, The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe. Much to her surprise, she's getting more than she ever bargained for: Detective Bobby Starr, and he's no ordinary sleuth. Bobby is an angel who's returned to Earth in hopes of earning his way into the Guardian Angel Squad. He's been sent by none other than Saint Pete to acquire Alexa’s help to solve three cold case murders he left behind. Except, here’s the catch: he’s only been allotted four days to solve the first case! How in heaven’s name is she supposed to do that? Alexa is a professional seamstress—not a detective. Bobby insists the only way to solve the first case is to return to 1953, and Alexa’s not in love with that idea at all!
I love cozy mysteries, and this one is as intriguing and exciting as they come. There is a bit of time travel from now to back in the 1950’s, to solve a Murder. There are a lot of interesting characters as this story unfolds as Alexa and Detective Bobby Star (well that is his ghost) try to solve his wife's murder. You will find many twists and turns to keep your interest throughout the story and Alexa is more determined to find the killer.
I really enjoyed this story. It is my first from author C. J. McDonald, and I sure look forward to more from this author in the future. If you love a good clean cozy mystery, I would highly recommend Back to the Burgh and Beyond in the audiobook form! You will be delighted and intrigued by this story.
I don't listen to a lot of audio books, but I did enjoy the audio version of Back to the Burgh and Beyond. The narrator, Maren Swenson Waxenberg does an outstanding job of reading this book. I enjoyed her pleasant voice and the punctuations throughout the book. She made the story fun and interesting to listen to. If you haven't tried audiobooks, this one would be a great one to start with.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this audiobook. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
C.S. McDonald's Fiona Quinn Mysteries in Audiobook or Ebook:
Book Details:
Book Title: Murder on Pointe: A Fiona Quinn Mystery #1 Author: C.S. McDonald Category: YA Fiction, 219 pages Run Time: 4 hours, 30 minutes Genre: Cozy Mystery Publisher: McWriter Books Release date: Jul 19, 2016 Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf) Tour dates: Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020 Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
Fiona can't wait to attend the performance of Coppelia at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh. Her old friend, Silja Ramsay, is dancing the principal role. They have dinner after the show, but when they return Pittsburgh Ballet Theater is down one dancer! Ballerina, Alexis Cartwright, has been found dead in the dressing room. Is this murder a result of hot tempers among the cast members? Or is it a random act of violence? Will there be more murders? Homicide Detective Nathan Landry isn't taking any chances. After finding out Fiona has a strong background in ballet, he recruits her to go undercover among the cast of Coppelia. Can Fiona help catch a killer, or will she be the next victim?
Book Title: Merry Murder: A Fiona Quinn Mystery #2 Author: C.S. McDonald Category: YA Fiction, 219 pages Run Time: 4 hours, 51 minutes Genre: Cozy Mystery Publisher: McWriter Books Release date: Sep 16, 2016 Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf) Tour dates: Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020 Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
The cookies are baked. The tree is trimmed. The shopping? Well, it's almost done, and Fiona's parents have finally returned home for a holiday visit - along with some unexpected unruly friends. Yep, Fiona's perfectly planned Christmas is coming together, but how could've she planned for her favorite uncle's murder? Who could possibly kill a sweet old man who's played Santa at the local mall every year without fail? Fiona's boyfriend, Detective Nathan Landry, is determined to find out - before Christmas day arrives. There's only one problem: Nancy Quinn. Fiona's mom is just as determined as the detective to catch the murderer, and she isn't shy about getting the job done - even if it includes breaking a few pesky laws! Will Fiona and her mother find the killer first or will the killer find them? BUY THE BOOK: Audible ~ Amazon Add to Goodreads
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Book Details:
Book Title: Waves of Murder: A Fiona Quinn Mystery #3 Author: C.S. McDonald Category: YA Fiction, 190 pages Run Time: 4 hours, 6 minutes Genre: Cozy Mystery Publisher: McWriter Books Release date: Apr 11, 2017 Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf) Tour dates: Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020 Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
School's out for the summer!
Kindergarten teacher Fiona Quinn is looking forward to spending some quality time in her yard and with her boyfriend, Detective Nathan Landry. However, Fiona's plans get squelched when her mother volunteers her to edit a manuscript for famous romance author Wyla Parkes. What's so bad about that? The author insists Fiona must work on the manuscript at her beach cottage on Presque Isle - three hours away from her yard and Nathan. Spending six weeks in an adorable cottage on a private beach doesn't really seem all that bad until people start turning up dead - beginning with the author! Fiona's summer of sun and sand is instantly transformed into a murder investigation. Can Fiona and Nathan crack the case or will the murderer getaway on a wave of deceit? Join Fiona and the gang for a hot whodunit on the sandy beaches of Presque Isle, Pennsylvania!
Book Title: Tastes Like Murder: A Fiona Quinn Mystery #4 Author: C.S. McDonald Category: YA Fiction, 202 pages Run Time: 4 hours, 46 minutes Genre: Cozy Mystery Publisher: McWriter Books Release date: Nov 23, 2017 Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf) Tour dates: Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020 Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
The bridesmaid dresses are ruffles and ruffles of ugly, one bridesmaid is trying to micro-manage…well, pretty much everything, and the bride-to-be is a total bridezilla! Wedding bells will soon be ringing, but as usual, Fiona is a bridesmaid and not a bride. As the maid of honor, how can Fiona keep the volatile pre-wedding festivities running smoothly?
The problem is abruptly solved when the bride drops over dead at the elegant wine-tasting wedding rehearsal. Yikes! Who poisoned the wine? The suspects are lining up, and Fiona finds herself at the top of the list! Double yikes! It’s a vintage murder case for Fiona, Detective Landry, and the gang. Cheers!
Book Title: Good Luck to Murder: A Fiona Quinn Mystery #5 Author: C.S. McDonald Category: YA Fiction, 148 pages Run Time: 3 hours, 49 minutes Genre: Cozy Mystery Publisher: McWriter Books Release date: June 1, 2018 Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf) Tour dates: Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020 Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
Dreams, wishes, fantasies, and... murder?
Fiona's good friend and fellow teacher, Lucky Maguire leads everyone to believe he has won a huge jackpot! Only Lucky turns out not to be so lucky - he winds up dead and his supposed winning lottery ticket missing! Yikes! Did Lucky really win the lottery and if so, where is the ticket hidden? Who knew for sure if he truly was Pittsburgh's newest millionaire? Double yikes! Join Fiona and the gang for this winning cozy mystery that's sure to keep you betting on the suspects!
Book Title: Mambo and Murder: A Fiona Quinn Mystery #6 Author: C.S. McDonald Category: YA Fiction, 160 pages Run Time: 4 hours, 9 minutes Genre: Cozy Mystery Publisher: McWriter Books Release date: October 31, 2018 Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf) Tour dates: Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020 Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
Three ballroom dancers were murdered over 40 years ago. Wow, that’s one old cold case. What’s more, the murderer, who was thought to have been killed during a police chase, has resurfaced in Pittsburgh. Yikes! How can that be? Worse, ballroom dancing simply isn’t Detective Nathan Landry’s forte. After weeks of practice, Nathan still has two left feet. Can Fiona step in to guide Nathan through this dancing debacle or will it take 40 years for the detective to find his footing? Double yikes! Join Fiona and detective Landry in this high-stepping whodunit!
Book Title: Saddle Up for Murder: A Fiona Quinn Mystery #7 Author: C.S. McDonald Category: YA Fiction, 178 pages Run Time: 4 hours, 47 minutes Genre: Cozy Mystery Publisher: McWriter Books Release date: May 14, 2019 Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf) Tour dates: Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020 Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
Fiona is in total shock when her mother arrives unannounced on her doorstep. What’s going on? Why, she’s left Fiona’s father, that’s what. Yikes! Worse, a horse trainer is murdered outside his ex-wife’s home in Pittsburgh, and the trail leads directly to a Thoroughbred racetrack in the neighboring state of West Virginia. Get ready, because the suspects are mounting up and heading down the stretch. Whoa! Fiona and Detective Landry aren’t horsing around with this homicide!
Book Title: Bon Voyage to Murder: A Fiona Quinn Mystery #8 Author: C.S. McDonald Category: YA Fiction, 198 pages Run Time: 6 hours, 52 minutes Genre: Cozy Mystery Publisher: McWriter Books Release date: Nov 5, 2019 Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf) Tour dates: Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020 Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
Hooray! Fiona has finally convinced her boyfriend detective Nathan Landry to go on a romantic Caribbean cruise. Unfortunately, their fun on the high seas is interrupted by murder. It isn’t long before they discover a boatload of suspects, who have motives deeper than the ocean for wanting the victim out of their lives. BUY THE BOOK: Audible ~ Amazon
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Book Details:
Book Title: Taking Notes on Murder: A Fiona Quinn Mystery #9 Author: C.S. McDonald Category: YA Fiction, 184 pages Run Time: 5 hours Genre: Cozy Mystery Publisher: McWriter Books Release date: May 19, 2020 Formats Available for review: audiobook (audible download), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf) Tour dates: Mar 1 to Mar 26, 2020 Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone--adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
Mysterious notes are showing up in Fiona’s kindergarten classroom, claiming a suicide from 2005 was actually a homicide. Detective Landry maintains the messages are too vague, possess no integrity, and do not warrant a review of the old case.
Fiona’s not convinced. She’s determined to find the author of the enigmatic notes and uncover the truth about a man who had many secrets and countless enemies, including Fiona’s mother and former suspect Nancy Quinn! Can Fiona crack this cold case, and what will it take to get Detective Landry involved? Don’t miss taking notes on this murder!
For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg. Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh. The female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Next Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy! Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister.
Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook Tour Schedule Mar 1 –Olio by Marilyn – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 1 -She Just Loves Books – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 2 -Laura's Interests – audiobook review of Saddle Up for Murder / giveaway Mar 3 –Gina Rae Mitchell – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 4 –Rockin' Book Reviews – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 4 –Gina Rae Mitchell – audiobook review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway Mar 4 -Laura's Interests – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 8 –Locks, Hooks and Books – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 9 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway Mar 9 - Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 10 – My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 10 - Wickedly Romance – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 11 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 11 - Wickedly Romance – book review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway Mar 11 - Blooming with Books - audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond Mar 12 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway Mar 12 - Books Lattes & Tiaras – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 15 - Blooming with Books - audiobook review of Murder on Pointe Mar 15 – She Just Loves Books – audiobook review of Tastes Like Murder / giveaway Mar 15 - Chit Chat with Charity - audiobook review of Saddle Up for Murder / giveaway Mar 16 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway Mar 16 - My Reading Journeys – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 17 – Westveil Publishing – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 17 - My Reading Journeys – book review of Saddle Up for Murder / giveaway Mar 18 – Musing of Souls – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond Mar 18 - Books for Books – audiobook review of Murder on Pointe Mar 19 – Books Lattes & Tiaras – book review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway Mar 19 – Rockin' Book Reviews – audiobook review of Good Luck to Murder / giveaway Mar 22 – Westveil Publishing – audiobook review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway Mar 22 - Musing of Souls – audiobook review of Tastes Like Murder Mar 23 – Locks, Hooks and Books – audiobook review of Tastes Like Murder / giveaway Mar 23 - Lisa's Reading – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 24 – My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews – audiobook review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway Mar 24 - Books for Books – audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond Mar 25 – BookishKelly2020 – book review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 25 - Chit Chat with Charity - audiobook review of Back to the Burgh and Beyond / giveaway Mar 26 - BookishKelly2020 – book review of Murder on Pointe / giveaway Mar 26 - Lisa's Reading – book review Tastes Like Murder / giveaway
