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Lemon Party with The Adventures of Rockford T. Honeypot

I received an advance copy of The Adventures of Rockford T. Honeypot for my honest review.

Every night I went to close Rockford T. Honeypot after reading out loud, the kids would cry “Just one more chapter Mom! Please?”

About The Adventures of Rockford T. Honeypot

The story opens in Green Hut Market 39. Registers are down, and customers are angsty to get their groceries and get home.

That is until wealthy businessman, Rockford T. Honeypot, arrives on scene and mingles with the non-VIP patrons. He begins to tell his origin story, what made him who he is, and eventually where he’s been for the last few years.

The crowds gather, and no one is worried about the rest of their day as we go back in time to young Rockford, his shy childhood filled with bullies and a harsh father. With enough faith from his mother though, he sets off on adventure that will set his life in motion for success.

Purchase on Amazon

Lemon Party

I read Rockford T. Honeypot for our family book club read aloud in July. When we finish a family book, the next most logical thing to do is have a party! We thought about the book, and while we definitely would have tried roasting some nuts (Rockford’s tool to success), we have a nut allergy in the home.

So we thought, and decided we’d like to celebrate someone from the book that meant a lot to Rockford – his wife Jewel. In one part of the book, Rockford wants to give his wife a gift, and after struggling to come up with something, decides to buy her lemon everything since she loves lemons.

Obviously, lemons became the centerpiece of our party. I encouraged the kids to all come up with something lemon related – and while I thought maybe we’d get some kind of craft in there, we ended up with a whole lot of lemon foods to eat.

We enjoyed the following:

Blueberry Lemon Sorbet

Lemon Sorbet

Lemonade (the powdered kind)

Lemon Bars

Lemon Curd

About Author Josh Gottsegen

Josh Gottsegen, a Los Angeles native, has a background in film-making and digital media. He is the author of “Joosh’s Juice Bar”, a children’s book series that encourages healthy eating habits through vivid illustrations and Dr. Seussian-style rhyme. Josh received his BA in film studies from the University of California Santa Barbara, and has won numerous awards for his short films and video productions. Starting professionaly at NBCUniversal Interactive, he later moved into editing and other creative projects with the Walt Disney Company, Fox Corporation, IMG, and the NFL. Rockford T. Honeypot is Josh’s debut Novel.

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August 28, 2020
I Am Awesome by Ryan K. Maule

I received a copy of I Am Awesome in exchange for a review on this stop of the Book Tour. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I Am Awesome by Ryan K. Maule and Illustrated by L.M. Phang

Host of the popular podcast Expect Awesome wants to make sure all children get an early start on their self-esteem. With new studies showing that by age 5 children have a sense of self-esteem comparable to that of adults, this is important!

I Am Awesome is the story of two robots, Grace and Zeal who live in Goodland – a land created by the Inventor where everything and everyone is Good. When asked how you are, the Followers always respond Good. That is until one day a new robot shows up named Hope, and responds with Awesome.

The followers have never heard about anyone being awesome except the Inventor. Surely Hope was mistaken. On a search to discover how anyone can be Awesome instead of Good, Grace and Zeal learn that they were made good, but have so much more potential. They too can be Awesome.

My Thoughts

This book reminded me of another favorite children’s book – You Are Special by Max Lucado.

Telling a similar story, based on the same concept – that we are the creation of a loving Heavenly Father, who created all good things.

I love stories that speak truth, and that is just what I Am Awesome does. It does not make anyone feel less than, there are no bad characters in this book. Just robots, figuring out who they are, and the potential they have inside.

What I didn’t love. For a kid under 5, many of the pages have too many words. The message is great, but it’s not going to hold little kids attention for very long – at least not all little kids (mine struggle with longer books). However, the pictures are beautiful, so it’s possible that some kids will enjoy looking at the illustrations long enough to read through the story.

About the Author

Ryan Maule is a nationally recognized and highly sought-after motivational speaker, host of the popular Expect Awesome Podcast, and the president of Integrity Doctors, the world’s largest chiropractic business organization.

Over the last 15 years Ryan has traveled the world spreading the message of expecting awesome and building a stronger self-image in order to gain a God-powered confidence. Ryan is happily married to his awesome wife Amber and they live in Florida with their two awesome kids, Summer Grace and Nolan Zeal.

March 3, 2020
The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks. I received a copy of The Girl He Used to Know for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Available for purchase April 2nd!!

Tracey Garvis Graves, a New York Times Bestselling Author, has written a new novel, and it’s nothing you’ve read before.

The Girl He Used to Know

Meet Annika. She’s a bit awkward. Home schooled from 7th grade after an incident with bullies, it’s now 1991, and she’s headed to college. The only reason she stayed was because of an amazing roommate and the Chess Club. The Chess Club where she may have met the perfect man for her. The only one who sees her quirks and loves her anyway.

Jonathan has transferred to the University of Illinois and decides to join the Chess Club. He’s paired with a beautiful girl sitting all alone for his first game. She’s good. Real good. Can they hit it off?

Jump ahead to 2001. Annika and Jonathan have parted ways, and not on good terms. Will a chance meeting in a Chicago grocers bring them back together. Can they rekindle what they once had? Or is Annika still the same girl he used to know?

Should You Read the Girl

WOW! Really just wow. This book was riveting. From the very beginning you know something is different about Annika. The reader has to make a lot of inferences and guesses as to what happened throughout the book.

The emotions are raw and real. I don’t want to give anything away, but this book is truly unlike anything else I’ve read. If you’d like to get an insight look into someone living on the spectrum and what they deal with on a daily basis – this book is for you!

As part of her character, Annika is obsessed with quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt. I truly loved this aspect of her character. Eleanor Roosevelt was an amazing women, and much of the advice she gives, plays very directly into Annika’s life. They also are just good advice for anyone.

CONTENT WARNING: I don’t tend to read a lot of adult novels, because you just never know what you are going to get. There are certain things I just don’t want nor need to read. Chapter 18 probably could have been left out of this book. It is between consensual adults, but the details are there. Some skimming may be needed if you, like me, prefer not to read those scenes.

TRIGGER WARNING: Part of this book does take place during the attacks on 9/11. It gets very close to the scene, and may trigger emotions. Be aware.

March 29, 2019
The Revenge of Magic by James Riley

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of The Revenge of Magic for review. All opinions are my own.

A little back story for you today. For Christmas I encourage the kids to find gifts for each other. Whether that be giving them their toys they no longer play with, making something, or using their money to buy a gift.

This year the kids really got into it, and under our tree grew rapidly with presents they were wrapping for each other. My oldest went through her personal bookshelf – yes my kids each have their own bookshelf with their own books – and gave each member of the family a stack of books.

She chose 2 chapter books for me. One was Story Thieves by James Riley. I had never heard of this book or it’s author, and could only guess she picked it up from one of the Little Free Libraries around town. She said it was one of her favorites, so I jumped right in. LOVED IT!

When I heard Mr Riley was preparing to release a new series titled The Revenge of Magic, I knew I’d have to read them. The book was released this past week on March 5th, and when I sat down to read it – that’s all I did. one whole beautiful day spent with my nose in a book, getting lost in the magic.

James has done a fantastic job in his books to mix fantasy with reality. When you read a book that brings you fully into it, it’s just such a fantastic experience. The only thing I wish I had done differently, would be to read it out loud to my kids. So guess what we’re going to read this summer together!

About The Revenge of Magic

Thirteen years ago, books of magic were discovered in various sites around the world alongside the bones of dragons. Only those born after “Discovery Day” have the power to use the magic.

Now, on vacation to Washington, DC, Fort Fitzgerald’s father is lost when a giant creature bursts through the earth, attacking the city. Fort is devastated, until an opportunity for justice arrives six months later, when a man named Dr. Opps invites Fort to a government run school, the Oppenheimer School, to learn magic from those same books.

But life’s no easier at the school, where secrets abound. What does Jia, Fort’s tutor, know about the attacks? Why does Rachel, master of destructive magic, think Fort is out to destroy the school? And why is Fort seeing memories of an expelled girl every time he goes to sleep? If Fort doesn’t find out what’s hiding within the Oppenheimer School, more attacks will come, and this time, nothing will stop them!

Pre-order Book 2 The Last Dragon today!!

March 11, 2019
Being Beautiful: An inspiring anthology of wit and wisdom on what it means to be beautiful

What is Beauty? The new book by Helen Gordon, Being Beautiful is an inspiring anthology that aims to answer just that – or at least make us think on it more.

You may also enjoy Beautifully Said: Inspiring Quotes by Women and Girls

What do I find beautiful? The sound of birds chirping early in the morning is beauty to my ears. The leaves changing colors in the fall, or the pops of color from flowers in the spring are beautiful to my ears. A morning watching fresh snow fall gently to the ground, covering the earth in pure white adds beauty to my soul. Watching children play together, helping each other learn new tricks, or comforting one another when they tumble and fall. The not so quiet whispers of my girls as they ignore sleep in favor of each others company, or my son asking to sleep with baby brother because their love is overflowing. These moments that touch the senses are beautiful to me.

When I was a kid, I didn’t understand beauty. My mom was allergic to makeup, and she generally let me wear whatever I wanted to. Unfortunately I had no sense of style, and no desire to care about it either. In middle school, I would frequently go much too long without washing my hair. Kids would make fun of me, and I would write them off as bullies. My outward appearance didn’t matter to me. Only my spiritual well being, and how nice I was to others was important. As long as I loved myself, right?

Do you see it? As an adult looking back, I see my folly. I thought being beautiful was a physical thing, and materialistic. Girls who focused on their outward beauty were below me because I focused on something ‘better’. My spiritual and educational goals. I know now they were never separate. There is such a thing as being too focused on your outward beauty, but the same holds true for our inner beauty. Because no one will see that inner beauty if we hide it under dirty clothes, unwashed hair, and an attitude that our lack of materialism makes us superior.

I have loved perusing the pages of Being Beautiful: An inspiring anthology of wit and wisdom on what it means to be beautiful. This isn’t a book you just pick up and read. It truly is for perusing. Opening the pages and reading where it lands, quotes from many walks of life. Helen Gordon has included sections on Inner Beauty, Outer Beauty, Finding Beauty, Living Beautifully, and Defining Beauty. Each section has much to discover and ponder over.

As the Irish novelist Margaret Wolfe Hungerford once said, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

So, while I now take better care of my outward appearance, and still find beauty to be the things that touch my spirit, I make more of an effort to care for my outward beauty as well.

October 24, 2018
Beautifully Said: Quotes by Remarkable Women and Girls

Beautifully Said is full of Quotes by Remarkable Women and Girls Designed to Make You Think.

When Venice started middle school this year, I was nervous and also so excited! Middle school is a great time in our lives to really find out who we are. There’s of course the hormonal changes, but it’s also a time to try out new things and really find out what we enjoy doing.

I started really running in middle school, and I’ve never stopped (well at least not permanently). It was a time in my life where I was never afraid to just be me, no matter what anyone else said. I can only hope that will be how my own children feel.

Unfortunately middle school is also a time where many kids feel the peer pressure of others to do or try things that go against who they are. They still have that childhood inclination to please those around them, and seek the approval of not just the adults but now their peers.

In Beautifully Said, the quotes are separated into 21 different sections to inspire based on different areas in our lives, as well as speak to our different interests. Sections like “She Believes”, “She Explores”, and “She Invents” can speak to girls and women of every background and with every interest.

As I read through many of the different quotes, I marked a few that I especially wanted to share with Venice. These are words I want her to carry throughout her days, to help build her up. So of course, I made them into cute printables so she could hang them in her locker.

Aren’t these quotes the greatest? Beautifully Said is chalk full of so many more. While I marked these and many more for Venice to read and ponder on, there was one that I marked just for me.

While I like to browse the book by theme, it is also set up so you can search quotes by who said it. If you or your daughter have a role model, you can see if they are listed and turn straight to their quote. With over 100 quotes, and none by a repeat person, there are plenty of role models for us to all find.

October 2, 2018
The Day That A Ran Away by B.C.R. Fegan

I received a copy of The Day That A Ran Away in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.

The Day That A Ran Away

While Mrs. May is checking her students’ homework, she notices that Jet hasn’t managed to write down the letters of the alphabet. Instead of providing a familiar excuse, Jet offers Mrs. May an elaborate story about how every letter happened to leave his page while he was walking to school that morning.

The Day That A Ran Away clearly and cleverly moves through the alphabet from A to Z. Each page has a number of items to find and the simple rhyme on each page will help readers remember the letter sequence. The story also touches gently on the concept of homework and the importance of making an effort.

About B.C.R. Fegan

Raised on a small hobby farm, only minutes from some of Australia’s greatest beaches, Fegan grew up inspired by the power of nature’s ambience. His ravenous appetite for both reading and writing soon saw him drawing on the transformational influence of this world around him to craft short stories, poems and picture books.

Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen, Robert Frost, CS Lewis, Lord Tennyson, and Charles Perrault, Fegan began weaving his own magic, piecing together his own phrases and crafting his own worlds. Agonising over plots that would inspire, characters that would be loved and circumstances that would delight.

Read our review of B.C.R. Fegans Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32

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Our Thoughts on The Day That A Ran Away

Just in time for school to get underway, The Day That A Ran Away is both an inspiration to get homework done, and pages filled with things to find. We have absolutely enjoyed reading this book over and over and discovering new hidden objects on each page. The bright colors have had Harold entranced, which is awesome because he will not sit still and look at books let alone let me read them to him.

September 1, 2018
When God Happens: True Stories of Modern Day Miracles

About When God Happens

A car flips over on the highway and bursts into flames. A father hears devastating news about his unborn child. A teenage girl follows a friend to a dangerous party.

Then God happens.

If you have ever doubted the miraculous power of God, prepare to be astonished. Here, real people share true stories of modern-day miracles – moments of divine intervention when the hand of God was briefly and beautifully revealed. Edited by bestselling authors Angela Hunt and Bill Myers, the eight stories in When God Happens include first-hand accounts of medical healing, angelic visitation, and demonic possession.

As Hunt and Myers write, these testimonies “are a reminder that the God who reached down to touch those He loved in Bible days has not changed. He has not turned His back on us or left us to our own devices. As Scripture also states, ‘[He] is the same yesterday, today, and forever.’”

About the Authors

Bill Myers is a bestselling author and an award-winning producer whose work has won over eighty national and international awards, including the C.S. Lewis Honor Award. His work includes McGee and Me!, The Incredible Worlds of Wally McDoogle, and Eli. He is the managing partner of Amaris Media International.
Angela Hunt, ThD, is a bestselling author and Christy Award winner. She lives in Florida with her husband, two mastiffs, and an assortment of wildlife.

My Thoughts

I firmly believe that God is alive, and He cares just as much about us, His children, in these days as He did of those in the time of the bible. I always find it interesting reading the account of others and how they see the hand of God in their life. The more we seek to exercise faith, and show our love to God and our fellow men, the more I think we’ll be able to see how God touches our lives in sometimes the most simple of ways. While most of these stories are quite grand in their telling, I believe we can see and feel God’s presence and those of angels in our day to day activities when we seek to see it.

Hopefully, if you read this book, you will do so with an open mind. One willing to believe the accounts, and turn them inward to look at the events of our own life. I know after I read the stories, I’ve made more of an effort to seek God’s hand in my life. You can learn more about what I believe at Mormon.org

July 16, 2018
StarPassage Book 3: Honor and Mercy by Clark Burbidge

Welcome to Home Maid Simple’s stop for the StarPassage Book 3: Honor and Mercy Book Tour! I received a copy of the book in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.

About StarPassage Book 3: Honor and Mercy

Teenage Mike longs to help a struggling new patient who may hold dangerous secrets. An evil Tracker has escaped to the present, bringing with him plans to end the world. New and more deadly passages await. Is there a traitor in their midst already? How can they fight what they cannot see? Is it safe to use the relic at all? Or … does the relic have its own secret plan?

Join the growing band of travelers as they resist the powerful Trackers at every turn while trying to solve the relic’s riddles and guard against the ever-growing risk of betrayal. It’s a wild ride where hope and survival hang by a slender thread, woven by an ancient relic that becomes more mysterious with every page turned.

About Clark Burbidge

Clark was born and raised in the high mountain valleys of the Rockies. He currently lives near Salt Lake City, Utah with his sweetheart where they enjoy their blended family of ten children and five grandchildren. StarPassage is his sixth book. The previous four have all won the Mom’s Choice International Gold Medal for excellence in literature and family values.

PURCHASE STARPASSAGE BOOK 3: HONOR AND MERCY

Home Maid Simple’s Review

I didn’t really know what to expect when I picked up StarPassage for the first time. The storyline intrigued me, and I’ve always loved a good historical fiction. Adding in the concept of time travel is not unique, but a rare find as many authors avoid the fine details that come with it. Of course in a piece of fiction, the author gets to make his own rules.

Book 1 in the StarPassage series actually had me tearing up. As the main family endures some trials that are all too common in our society. I felt the author has a good grasp of family values, what really matters in this life, and wants to share those through his writing with the world. These same values show consistently through each book, and the reader can anticipate walking away with both historical knowledge and a good moral lesson.

I did, however, struggle with the style of writing. Mr. Burbidge has a great story idea, but spends much of the writing in over-explaining some of the historical aspects and what things may have looked like. I can appreciate that he was influenced by Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and its lengthy descriptions, unfortunately, it just isn’t working in StarPassage, and rather left me a bit bored from the actual story.

I look forward to seeing more good, wholesome books from Clark Burbidge.

July 9, 2018
Three Shoeboxes by Steven Manchester

A powerful book on the effects PTSD and mental illness can have on a family’s life. I received a copy of Three Shoeboxes to review. All thoughts are my own.

About Three Shoeboxes

Mac Anderson holds life in the palm of his hand. He has a beautiful wife, three loving children, a comfortable home, and a successful career. Everything is perfect – or so it seems. Tragically, Mac is destined to learn that any sense of security can quickly prove false. BEcause an invisble enemy called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has invaded mac’s fragile mind and it is about to drop him to his knees. He does all he can to conceal his inner chaos, but to no avail. Left to contend with ignorance, an insensitive justice system, and the struggles of an invisible disease, he loses everything – most importantly his family.

One shoebox might store an old pair of sneakers. Two shoeboxes might contain a lifetime of photographs. But in Three Shoeboxes, a father’s undying love may be just enough to make things right again.

My thoughts

The author of four #1 National Best Sellers, Steven Manchester has a way with words that grip our hearts and stick with us long after The End. I absolutely loved Three Shoeboxes. Mental Illness needs more light shone on it. While this book specifically deals with PTSD, I felt many connections to other types of psychological diseases I’ve both struggled with myself and seen others deal with.

My heart was panged reading Mac’s story. As he struggled alone and turned away all those who loved him. It reminded me that when I’m in those dark moments of depression it’s so crucial to let those who love me in and let them help me. If there is any lesson we can all take away from Three Shoeboxes, it’s that mental illness is real, and the best fight against it is with those who love us.

Read my other reviews for Steven Manchester’s novels:

Twelve Months
Goodnight, Brian
The Rockin’ Chair
Ashes

July 7, 2018