Scampy Doodle and the Reindeer by G. J. Barnes - [Book Review]

Summary:

Scampy Doodle is a happy go lucky black dog who has a strong nose for adventure.

It's Christmas Eve and Scampy Doodle is fast asleep when he is woken by a strange noise coming from the chimney. Discover what happens when he goes to investigate and gets the greatest surprise of his life!

Information about the Book

Title: Scampy Doodle and the Reindeer

Author: G J Barnes

Illustrator: Chris Sorensen

Release Date: 4^th December 2017

Genre: Picture Book

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Clink Street Publishing

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43020585-scampy-doodle-and-the-reindeer

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scampy-Doodle-Reindeer-G-Barnes-ebook/dp/B07KC2NY77

My Review

This is a good time to read a Christmas story, Isn't it? My 4-year-old son wants to read a Christmas story and this book has come to me at right time.

The story is about a lovely pet dog Scampy Doodle, who like every other kid is waiting ready to receive presents from Santa. Scampy keeps a plate of carrots for the Reindeer and a drink for Sata Claus before the night of Christmas. 

Scampy is a kind and helpful dog who gives her collar to the reindeer and offers dog biscuits to the reindeer. 

This is a quick read as the book has only 20 pages. The illustrations of the dog, reindeer, and Santa are good. A sweet little story about Christmas for the little ones. The book cover is great and apt. Scampy looks adorable for kids.

My Rating: 4/5

Ps: I have received this book from the author through Authoright in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion on the book.

Author Information

  As my daughter got older we used to (and still do) tell each other stories in the car about our family dog Scamp. Scamp had been neglected as a puppy and was rescued by my parents and became our family pet.

He was a little bit crazy (he used to try and get up on the table to lick up crumbs after a meal) but he was always happy to see you and always there for a cuddle whenever anyone needed one.

In many ways he was more like a human being, standing up on his back legs, drinking cups of tea out of a cup off the coffee table.

So I decided to write some of our stories down to share with others, the first one being Scampy Doodle and the Reindeer.

Website: https://www.scampydoodle.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/scampyd

Tour Schedule

Monday 3^rd December

Carol’s Notebook

Tuesday 4^th December

Jazzy Book Reviews

Wednesday 5^th December

Bound 4 Escape

Thursday 6^th December

Evermore Books

Friday 7^th December

Reading for Pleasure

Bumbling Blogger

Saturday 8^th December

Donna’s Book Blog

Sunday 9^th December

Rosie Writes

Monday 10^th December

Life of a Nerdish Mum

Tuesday 11^th December

Book Babble

Wednesday 12^th December

Fantastic Feathers

Thursday 13^th December

Bumbles and Fairy-tales

Criminally Good

Friday 14^th December

Dash Fan Book Reviews

Saturday 15^th December

Ellie in Heaven

Sunday 16^th December

Fraser’s Fun House

OBC Mini Reviewers

Until next time,

Writer's Tool kit Why Go Indie? by Devika Fernando- Book Spot Light

Why Go Indie?: 6 Reasons for Self-Publishing (TBC Writer's Toolkit Book 1) 

by Devika Fernando 

Have you ever thought of going indie? Are you a traditionally published author interested in switching to self-publishing? Or an aspiring author looking at various publishing options? 

This concise booklet will show you reasons to go indie and give you an overview of the advantages of self-publishing books. It also shines a light on the 6 F's of self-publishing. 

This eBook is part of the TBC Writer's Toolkit series in which experienced authors offer advice. Check out the other volumes for a step-by-step guide on how to become a successful indie author.

Grab your copy from 

Amazon

About the Author

Almost as soon as Devika Fernando could write, she imagined stories and poems. After finishing her education in Germany and returning to her roots in Sri Lanka, she got a chance to turn her passion into her profession. Having lived in Germany and in Sri Lanka with her husband has made her experience the best (and the worst) of two totally different worlds – something that influences her writing. Her trademark are sweet, yet deeply emotional romance stories where the characters actually fall in love instead of merely falling in lust. She draws inspiration from everyone and everything in life. Besides being a romance novel author, she works as a self-employed German web content writer, as a translator, and as a faithful servant to all the cats, dogs, fish and birds in her home. What she loves most about being an author is the chance to create new worlds and send her protagonists on a journey full of ups and downs that will leave them changed. When she’s not writing, she’s reading or thinking about writing.

Website: http://www.devikafernando.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devikafernan...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Author_Devika

Until next time,

The Adventures of Billy Bog Brush by Tim Constable & Ian Campbell - [Book Review]

Summary:

It is a lovely day in Billy Bog Brush's neighbourhood. Billy is wondering what to do with himself, when he hears his neighbour, Mrs. Brown, screaming for help. Billy springs into action! Billy races to the scene where he finds Mrs. Brown’s house is on fire and she is locked out. Billy must use creative thinking to find a key. Will Billy manage to get the key before the fire brigade arrives? In this sweet children's story about courage and helping others, Billy learns how much fun it can be to be a hero!

Information about the Book

Title: The Adventures of Billy Bog Brush: The Fire Brigade

Author: Ian Campbell & Tim Constable

Release Date: 4^th December 2018

Genre: Picture Book

Page Count: 26

Publisher: Clink Street Publishing

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36862752-the-adventures-of-billy-bog-brush

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adventures-Billy-Bog-Brush-Brigade-ebook/dp/B07KBWW9SR

My Review

This picture book is about an adventure that Billy takes to save the grandson of Mrs. Brown whose house is caught with fire. It is not an easy feat for Billy to squeeze through the cat flap, climb the pole and do a big jump to reach for the house key. But, Billy does it with confidence and with a positive spirit. He could save Tommy at the right time.

This story is good to read for children above 5 years of age. The illustrations are great and the narration is interesting. My 7 yr old son loved to listen how Billy encourages himself that he can do it while climbing the poles and stairs even though it is a tough job for a person of his build. The character of Billy is different with a brush head, which is kind of funny too. 

A bonus point of the book is the empty pages at the end with questions about the book to draw and explain. My Sons love drawing and of course fire trucks. So, they enjoyed this part. 

I recommend this book to motivate kids that they can try and achieve their dreams even when it's tough for them. 

The only drawback I see is the multi-line paragraphs which are not suitable to read kids below 5-year-olds. Fewer words might have been better for younger kids. The Book cover might have been bright, as it looked dull with more white color.

My Rating : 4.5/5

PS: I have received this book from the author in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion of the book.

Author Information

Ian Campbell

Ian Campbell is a senior storeman for the MOD. Born into a military family, he has lived in Germany, Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom. His first book, A Walk with God, was published in 2011.

Tim Constable

Tim Constable works as a data analyst. He is also a musician, in the Coventry Cathedral choir as a boy, then later composing and playing in his own rock band. As a graphic artist, he has designed logos and flyers for various organizations.

Website: https://gare78.wixsite.com/website-4

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyBogBrushICTC/

Tour Schedule

Monday 26^th November

Donna’s Book Blog

Tuesday 27^th November

Reading For Pleasure

Wednesday 28^th November

Splashes into Books

Thursday 29^th November

Bound 4 Escape

Friday 30^th November

Fantastic Feathers

Saturday 1^st December

Jazzy Book Reviews

Sunday 2^nd December

Obscurity of Life

Until next time,

My Memories of being a #FirstTimeMom

Every Mother dreams a lot about their baby before the delivery. But, no amount of preparation is enough compared to the real experience of taking care of the baby. Moreover, the memories of being a #FirstTimeMom are always special.

I was skeptic about my ability to take care of a baby before the delivery. I was not someone who can comfort a baby or cheer an infant. I was even afraid to hold the infants before I became pregnant. Babies are so pure, fragile and lovely that they should be treated gently.

In the labor room, on that day just before 7 years ago, I was amazed by the first sight of my son who is like a cute pink bundle – peaceful, soft and lovely. There are no words to explain but the experience was more than what I dreamt before. My First expression was the happiness that I could deliver a healthy child. I was thankful to the God for my baby.

When they brought the infant near me and when the nurse tried to help me with feeding, the first touch was soft. I was afraid if the baby’s skin will be damaged by my touch. When the infant was near my chest for feed, I felt an instant connection and liking. When my baby learned to feed my milk, I felt complete and felt like I had a great purpose of my life. Now, when I write my feelings about being a #FirstTimeMom, it feels a bit exaggerated, but that was the state of mind then.

I feel happy and thankful that I have my Mom by my side at that time to teach me how to take care of this beautiful baby boy. It would have been a lot difficult without my mom’s help and support during that time to recover from childbirth, eat healthy food, have nice sleep and to feed my baby in regular intervals.

The memories of being a #FirstTimeMom are always special. I wonder, how it would have been if there were baby wipes which were as pure as our motherhood memories. We didn’t have water-based wipes 7years ago, but now, we have #FirstWaterWipes by Mother Sparsh.

At that time, I was looking for natural wipes without alcohol content and which were fragrance-free. We get a lot of baby wipes in the market which is fragrance-free and soft, but finding a wipe made with natural ingredients is tough. Diaper rash is the most common concern for newborn babies and so, choosing a wipe which doesn’t irritate their skin is a challenge.

I am happy that today’s moms have a good option with Mother Sparsh as baby’s skin is 10 times more sensitive than adult skin.

Mother Sparsh Baby wipes are chemically proven to prevent diaper rash and they are made with 100% plant-based fabric. Now, the new mothers know better what to choose for their baby’s skin. You can purchase the water-based baby wipes on Amazon/ First cry and many other famous retailers.

Until next time,

Black Friday Book Blast and GiveAway

WELCOME TO THE BLACK FRIDAY BLAST! 

Click on any of the below book covers to be taken to the page that has more information on the novel as well as the Buy Links!

Before you leave, don't forget to enter the Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until next time,

When Our Worlds Meet Again by Aniesha Brahma - Book Blitz

~ Book Blitz ~

When Our Worlds Meet Again by Aniesha Brahma

16th November 2018

About the Book:

Two years after the events of 'When Our Worlds Collide', Zayn and Akriti are now leading extremely different lives. Akriti has come back from her stint at the business school and running her mother's café. Zayn has run into trouble in his PhD program and has come home for a break. While he thinks that things are just as he’d left them two years ago, that is far from the truth. In a last ditch attempt to make Akriti remember the connection they had once shared, Zayn tries to recreate all their memories. But things are never the same when collided worlds meet again. 


Book Links:

Goodreads * Amazon


Read an Excerpt:

Prologue

2015.

Akriti was sitting at the cash counter
of her mother’s little café going over the expenses for the day. Her headphones
were plugged into her ears as she listened to songs on her phone. Her laptop
was propelled open in front of her as she made notes on what else needed to be
done the next day.

In the two years that she had been
gone, the café had not changed at all. Her mother had kept all the renovations
that Akriti and her colleagues had done two years ago. The only difference was
that now there was a bulletin board next to the chalkboard menu that had been
installed just a few weeks ago. On the bulletin board hung a poster that
announced that next week’s Poetry Slam would start at 6PM sharp, and Suzanna
needed to be contacted for early registration.

Akriti finished her work and shut down
her laptop. She looked around the café in grim satisfaction and let out a happy
little sigh. The music from her phone suddenly stopped playing. Glancing down
she saw that her phone had started buzzing, flashing a number she had not seen
on her phone in quite a while.

Debating for a minute, she received the
call.

“Hi, Zayn.”

Airports have seen more sincere kisses
than weddings it is said. As Zayn Banerjee waited to catch his flight back
home, he witnessed one too many couples bidding each other teary eyed goodbyes.
It was watching these strangers that he remembered how it had felt two years
ago when he had left his home behind in pursuit of higher studies. How he had
come to this alien land which had eventually led him to a lot of heartache and
misery!

But there had been something good about
those two years. There had been someone who had seen past all his imperfections
and focused only on the good that was in him. Who had been his friend against
all odds and yet, they had fallen out of touch with each other over the course
of two years. He wondered if she was still using the same number. He wondered
if she still had his number saved.

On an impulse, he pulled out his phone
and dialed her number. She answered it on the third ring.

“Hi, Zayn.”

“Akriti.”

He was pleased as punch that she
remembered him.

“Did you want something?”

“I am just calling to let you know that
I’d be home soon.”

“Oh.”

“Oh? Honestly, I was hoping for a
reaction better than oh.”

“Zayn, it’s really late here. Let’s
talk when you’re in town?”

“I’ll do you one better. I’ll come see
you.”

“Great. Safe flight.”

Then the line went dead. Zayn stared at
the phone, wondering if their friendship was lost over the course of time. This
wasn’t like the Akriti he remembered.

This wasn’t his Akriti at all.

Akriti hung up the phone feeling
utterly drained. Once upon a time this was a source of her happiness but
tonight he was a cause of her stress. The last thing she needed was for Zayn to
come barging into her life once more.

She remembered all the memories that
they had made together two years ago. The time when she’d finally felt okay to
let her guard down and just be herself. It seemed to her like it was a lifetime
ago. But he’d left. Like everyone else in her life and she had found herself
consumed by her loneliness. Going off to business school had only made Akriti
revert back to her old self.

That’s
a lie they tell you,Akriti thought bitterly to herself, as she put her
headphones back on and started listening to music again, time doesn’t heal a
damn thing. It just burns the memories into your mind.

About the Author:

Aniesha Brahma knew she wanted to be a writer since she was six years old. She was schooled in Dolna Day School and went on to pursue B.A., M.A., and M.Phil in Comparative Literature from Jadavpur Univeristy. She currently lives in Kolkata, with her family and five pet cats. She is the author of All Signs Lead Back to You, When Our Worlds Collide, The Guitar Girl and The Secret Proposal. She compiled and edited the 10 volumes series, 'Children's Classic Stories' with love and great efforts.


Website * Twitter * Instagram * Facebook

Until next time,

Book Lovers, Here is a deal :-) - Literary Book Gifts

Hello to all the Book Lovers :-) Check out this website which is devoted to unique tote bags and bookish shirts for those who love to read. 

One more thing! my blog readers get a unique code and a discount of 20% on their order. Isn't it amazing?

I would love this tote bag - Hound of Baskerville, My favorite story :-)

And, of course, A Peter Pan T-Shirt!

Read more about Literary Book Gifts website from Melissa.


Gifts for Book Lovers!

Literary Book Gifts is an online store devoted to making unique tote bags and bookish shirts for authors, teachers, writers, and anyone who loves to read! The collection showcases designs inspired by classic literature, books, and authors.

I will talk about just a few of products available in the store today. All design work is done in-house. Just like no two books are alike, no two designs are alike.

Victor Hugo published The Hunchback of Notre Dame in the year 1831. Since then it has been read, reread, retold and adapted into countless plays and movies. When you look at this women's t-shirt you can tell immediately because of the shape of the graphic that it is a book cover. So when you wear it you are not only spreading your love of the particular book but of reading in general.


J. M. Barrie wrote some of today's most well-known characters in Peter Pan This t-shirt is meant to capture the essence of the novel and express the idea of flight. Each shirt comes in both a men's and women's version. They are made of cotton and come in a variety of colors and sizes.


A long time ago it was probably true that no writer was complete without their typewriter. Today we tend to use the keyboard and sometimes even a smart phone to write out our stories. This Typewriter Tote Bag is great for anyone who likes vintage styling and perhaps would like to carry a few books around.


The exclusive code FantasticFeathers20 can be entered at checkout for 20% off on your order! This coupon code does not expire and there is no minimum.

Written by Melissa Chan, designer of all things book related at Literary Book Gifts

Until next time,