Christmas Book Review Roundup

Book Reviews of Great Books for All Ages

Are you looking for books to put under the Christmas tree? This post is a round up of numerous book reviews. I have included affiliate links. If you choose to order using one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale. I received these books from the author or publishers in exchange for my honest reviews.

 

Do you have an inspiring slugger in the family? I highly recommend these special baseball stories written by Kevin Christofora and illustrated by Dale Tangeman.

These books introduce young children to the All American sport in fun ways. Excellently illustrated and written, children will enjoy meeting All Stars Team and learn about all things baseball. These books are packed with educational fun from learning about exercising to the baseball field.

The first book, Nick’s Very First Day of Baseball, introduces readers to the Hometown All-Stars, a bunch of lovable, memorable characters that kids can identify with. They are boys and girls with diverse backgrounds and unique personalities.  In this interactive storybook, kids will find hidden baseballs in the pictures, answer trivia questions, and there’s even a page for autographs from their favorite players.

The next book in the series is “Magic Bat Day.” The story unfolds during the first real practice after the All Stars receive their uniforms. The book focuses on the skill of batting and shows techniques of how to hold the bat and where to stand when winding up to hit the ball.  Most importantly, it shows that every kid can find their own magic bat.  As with the first book, “Magic Bat Day,” ends with interactive questions that are educational and fun.

 

Written for children ages three to seven, The Hometown All Stars is a “bedtime story” to get kids interested in the national pastime again. Kevin’s  goal in writing this book was to get kids out of the house and onto the field – “ less screen, more green.” He believes in the valuable lessons that children learn from playing the game: teamwork, discipline, strategy, and thinking before they act. In addition, he wants to bring back the joy of being outdoors and playing, that kids in recent years have lost.

An engineer by education, Kevin Christofora traded the corporate life to move back to his hometown to carry on the family business and become the local butcher and a dad. He has found more happiness becoming a baseball coach, than he ever had before. He hopes to pass the excitement of the game to other children with The Hometown All Star’s series.

You can follow Kevin on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Goodreads,

 

 

 

I will never forget my first trail ride in the hot, sandy hills in California. My Uncle Harry picked out an old, gentle mare for me, a pretty Appaloosa, white and spotted.  She proved a dream horse for an inexperienced rider. I just had to hold the reigns, and she obediently stayed in line with the other horses and riders.

My first trail ride turned eventful, however. When coming down a steep hill, I hit a snag of barbed wire that I did not see. The horse took off in a wild run causing me to drop the reigns.  I grabbed the horn of the saddle and held on for dear life as the horse passed the other horses careening down the hill approaching a stream bed.

My uncle yelled at me to cry, “Ho.” I barely whispered the word and then managed to yell it. The mare came to a sudden stop. Somehow, I managed to stay in the saddle. Shaken, I grabbed the reigns and turned her back toward the other riders. Looking back, I saw another rider getting off the ground. She’d been thrown when her horse had reared up in fear.

Despite, the few minutes of terror, I enjoyed the rest of the ride. As we neared home, my little mare sped up in excitement. I gripped the reigns as she galloped the last few yards. Then I groomed and fed her after taking her saddle off.

Reading The Horse of My Heart brought that special day back to life for me. This beautiful book is excellent for the horse lover in your life.  I especially believe tween and teen girls will love it. Callie Smith Grant compiles a series of true, inspiring stories about these beautiful creatures that will touch your heart. The stories illustrate that horses magical creatures full of wonder and love.

We meet horses of all kinds:  sweet, loving, funny,  heroic, and brave. From an old, retired horse who doesn’t want to come out from the pasture to needy and neglected horses, these horses win over your heart immediately. They touch and influence their humans in so many different ways.

Contributors to this anthology include many well-known authors such as Lauraine Snelling, Susy Flory, Rebecca E. Ondov, Wanda Dyson, and Sarah Parshall Perry. These true stories of horses and the people who love them are sometimes touching, sometimes humorous, and sometimes miraculous.

Callie Smith Grant is the editor of other great animal books including A Prince among Dogs and A Dickens of a Cat. She is also the author of several nonfiction books for young readers and adults as well as many animal-themed stories and poems which can be seen in Guideposts anthologies and in magazines such as Small Farmers Journal.

This book was provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 : Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

 

Now for mom, sister, or even yourself is a book about mystery and calling.  This book is the first in the Cold Justice Series. In Drawing Fire, Janice Cantora weaves a tight tale of suspense which begins with the terrible death of an elderly woman. The lead detective Abby Hart must find the killer before he kills another elderly woman. The latest case has personal ties to her own unsolved mystery, the death of her parents. The elderly woman is the aunt of her late father’s partner who now serves as the state’s governor. What does he know about the death of her parents? Did he cover something up to protect his political career?

Abby finds help from private investigator Luke Murphy who witnessed a man running from the scene of the elderly woman’s home.  As they investigate the case together, Abby feels drawn to the man. She is engaged, but her fiance doesn’t like her career and wants her to quit. He doesn’t understand that Abby feels called to police work to help find justice for victims. Luke understands this call too. As they work together, they learn that they have more in common then a love for criminal investigation. They both lost loved ones when Abby’s parents were killed. Luke lost an uncle. Finding their loved ones’ killer or killers draws them into danger because someone is willing to kill to keep the secrets surrounding the murders buried in the past.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest book review. Thank you Tyndall House  for this opportunity.

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Linking up with these hops this week: Social Butterfly Sunday,  #LifeGivingLinkup; Inspire Me Mondays at Create with Joy, Inspire Me Monday at Angie Ryg,Mama Moments Monday,Motivation Mondays, Good Morning Mondays, Inspire Me Mondays at Table for 7, Mommy Monday Blog Hop, Tell Me a True Story Blog Party, #Words with Winter Linkup, The Book Nook – Blog Party For Book Lovers!,  Totally Terrific Tuesdays, Women with Intention Wednesdays, What to Read Wednesdays, Mom’s Library,  A Little R &R Wednesday’s linkup,Kid Lit Blog Hop, Booknificent Thursdays, Cozy Reading Spot,  and TGI Saturdays.