Saturday, May 21, 2022

Old Bones and Ice Cream Cones Book Tour and Giveaway

 


Old Bones and Ice Cream Cones
Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 6
by Elizabeth Pantley
Genre: Magical Cozy Mystery


A boyfriend who’s missing. Or was. . . Or is. . . A boat full of old bones. A community ice cream social. A friend in trouble. A spiteful witch, and an angry villain. The mysteries abound in Destiny Falls, but Hayden, Latifa and their family and friends are up for the excitement and adventure.

Old Bones and Ice Cream Cones follows the series format of combining two stories that blend into one. A murder mystery and the island mystery.

The Island Mystery: Hayden’s boyfriend Han is missing. But she swears she saw him zoom by in his car. She’d thought it was a surprise, and that he was home early from his secret service case. She was wrong. The surprise is that his signal isn’t pinging, and no one knows where he is. There appears to be black magic behind his disappearance. Can they learn who’s responsible and bring Han safely home?

The Murder Mystery: A pile of old bones is found in an ancient fishing boat. They could be tied to the disappearance of two young women years ago, back when many of the Destiny Falls people where in high school. Many of the citizens had bad history with the girls. Do the bones belong to those girls, and what happened? Were the girls murdered? And could the murderer be living among them?

Hayden’s many adventures in Destiny Falls will keep you guessing with each book in this intriguing series.

Old Bones and Ice Cream Cones
Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 6

Excerpt

We wound our way through the woods following what appeared to be a popular deer trail. It wasn’t as groomed as the human trails, but there was enough of a path cut through the brush. We rounded a bend, and the lake came into view. The scenery before us was strikingly beautiful. The water was as smooth and still as ice. The peaceful lake was surrounded by lush woods that was reflected in the mirror-like surface. This area was hidden from view when we were on the trail.

“Ahhh, this is gorgeous!”

“I knew you’d love it,” said Han. He draped his arm around me as we both drank in the view. “There’s a rough trail around the perimeter of the lake. Want to explore?”

“You bet!” I took off in front of him and heard his chuckle behind me. The area in front of me really couldn’t be called a trail. It was more like a continuation of the deer path that wound its way around the lake. We had to climb over large tree roots and boulders, so the going was slow, but well worth it. I made my way off the trail a bit and pushed through some willow tree branches to get closer to the lake.

“Hey! Look at that,” I called out to Han. Ahead of us I’d spotted an old fishing boat. It was wedged between some large boulders. It was rusted, dented, and covered with moss and dirt. Whatever color it used to be was long gone, now replaced by a weathered dull gray. By its appearance it had been there a very long time.

“Is this your old fishing boat?” I teased Han as I moved closer to inspect it.

“Har-de-har. Hey! Careful there. I don’t need to be fishing you out of the water.”

I got closer to the boat and peered inside. “Eww. It looks like an animal has been using this as a feeding spot. There’s a bunch of bones scattered all over.”

Han came up behind me and looked into the boat. He made an odd sound then leaned closer to peer at the bones. “These aren’t animal bones, Hayden. These are human bones.”

Reviews for the Destiny Falls Series:

"Will blow you away!" ~ Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

"My favorite series in the whole wide world." ~ Elza Reads
"Intriguing and totally unput-downable.” ~ Goodreads

"Generously seasoned with sass, class, and a dose of spunk. Delish!" ~ Pages & Paws

The mystery, magic, and delicately woven story held me captive!” ~ Goodreads

One of the most creative series I’ve ever read.” ~ Goodreads

So. Darn. Clever. ~ Pages & Paws

Solidly at the top of my list for paranormal mysteries!” ~ Goodreads

Goodreads * Amazon


Jousting and Justice

Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 5


An invitation to a medieval festival. A ferry ride to a mysterious island. A scheming, inept witch. An office break-in, an unidentified body, and a string of suspects. Can Hayden, her brave, sassy cat, Latifa, and the people of Destiny Falls solve the mystery and enjoy the festival?

Jousting and Justice follows the series format of combining two stories that blend into one. A murder mystery and the island mystery.

The Island Mystery: Hayden and all her friends get an invitation to a medieval festival - but it's on "the forbidden island." It's too enticing to pass up. Of course, strange things will happen once they get there! . . . You'll also learn the truth about the witch's sister!

The Murder Mystery: A dead body shows up in the most shocking place. First, they need to figure out who this dead guy is. Then, who killed him and why. There are so many twists and turns on the way to the answers! But we know that Hayden, Latifa, and their family and friends will figure it out and justice will be served.

Hayden’s many adventures in Destiny Falls will keep you guessing with each book in this intriguing series.


Jousting and Justice
Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 5

Excerpt

I wandered through the yard toward the pasture, drinking in the glorious view as I went. The water was calm, and several sailboats were moving by, their crisp white sails wafting in the gentle breeze. I found a unique peacefulness in the sounds of seagulls above the waves. They reminded me of playing on the beach when I was a child. A much simpler time in my life, to be sure.

The area around me began to waver and fade. It caught me off guard and I felt a rush of joy: my ghostly friend Gaspar was nearby!

I looked around for the telltale sign of an orange camping tent. Sure enough, I spotted a splash of color in the bushes behind the large tree. I wandered closer, and soon the sound of waves was replaced by the whoosh of a waterfall. The seagulls left and I heard forest songbirds. Then I saw Gaspar fishing in the stream. The two familiar ultra-plush camping chairs were set up beside a startlingly formal tea service.

“Hi Gaspar!” I waved and called out to him.

He reeled in his line and put down his fishing pole. “Take a seat, my dear. Tea is brewing. So delighted to have you stop by.”

I chuckled at that. It was such a normal statement for the most abnormal situation. However, I had become accustomed to our strange but pleasant visits.

We settled into our seats and poured our tea. We drank quietly and enjoyed the peaceful setting. I knew that the world would be frozen in time until we returned, so there was no rush to our visit.

Finally, I broke the silence. “Gaspar, I know there are ghost rules, and you can’t tell me anything that will change the past, present, or future. But I’m hoping you can give me some guidance on this very strange situation.”


Reviews for Jousting and Justice:

Absolutely magical! I could not put this book down!” ~ Goodreads

“If there were more than five stars I would definitely give at least 10 stars worth double the wonderful!” ~ Goodreads

“Full of wonderful characters, mystery, humor, and a mischievous cat. An adventurous mystery series written with cleaver imagination.” ~ Goodreads

“Solidly at the top of my list for paranormal mysteries! Just when I think the series cannot get any better, it does. ~ Goodreads

Goodreads * Amazon


Witches, Spiders, and Schemes

Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 4


A magic mirror to an enchanted world. A mysterious ghost. A hilarious, perpetually annoyed witch. A brave, sassy cat. Two unexplained deaths and a mysterious community filled with secrets. Can Hayden and the people of Destiny Falls solve the mystery and return the community to its peaceful, enchanted existence?

Hayden’s adventures in Destiny Falls continue in book four of the Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic series. Starting with a strange old woman at a cave and her father’s mysterious ferry journey, there are secrets to be unwound.

The enchantments in Destiny Falls are showing cracks, and Hayden suspects that it’s tied directly to her family, which has a history that’s more complex than she realized. When two bodies are found floating in the bay it’s clear that the mysteries surrounding Gladstone and the ferry are more dangerous than people realize.

Luckily, Hayden and her sassy sidekick, Latifa have developed a group of family and friends in this enchanted place who are all ready and willing to help solve the mystery, and release Destiny Falls to resume its normal, amazing, enchanted existence. 

Hayden’s many adventures in Destiny Falls will keep you guessing with each book in this intriguing series.


Witches, Spiders, and Schemes
Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 4

Excerpt
 
I stared at the old woman. She was sitting on a rock in the mouth of a cave in front of us. She gawked at me as she sipped from a bottle of green Gatorade. How had a romantic hike up to the mountain lake taken such a strange turn? 

Could she be the woman from the stories I’d been told? Was that even possible?

Gaspar, the ghost who’d been telling me tales, had a daughter who had been tutored in black magic by an evil crone witch and bestowed with dark powers. She had lived a century ago but had partaken of the rumored fountain of youth found on the sinister island of Gladstone. Was this her? If it was, why did she look so old and frail? And how was she here?

I shivered and took a step closer to Han. He put his arm around my shoulders and the weight of it allowed me to exhale.

We had hiked for hours to reach the alpine lake. It was baffling to find an elderly woman sitting this far up. She didn’t look to be the type who’d be able to climb a set of stairs, let alone a mountain. She had no hiking supplies with her, and she wasn’t dressed for it either, in her long dress that seemed more suited for a carriage ride in the Middle Ages. When I asked her if she had hiked up here by herself, she laughed at my question, saying that no, she didn’t get here by herself.

She made an effort to stand up but was struggling, so Han and I helped her. As soon as she was upright, she raised her arm and pointed her bony finger inches from my face. “Go! Go away!” she yelled. Then she stepped into the entrance of the cave, leaving us standing there gaping at the cavernous opening.


Reviews for Witches, Spiders, and Schemes:

"Oh my goodness, this was SO GOOD!" ~ Prockish

"A captivating read full of interesting people and places, with surprises around every corner." ~ Linda C. Goodreads

"This is no run-of-the-mill paranormal book! Unique ideas." ~ Susan G. Amazon

“The mystery, magic, and delicately woven story held me captive! I couldn’t ever imagine such a delicious story!” ~ Goodreads

Goodreads * Amazon


The Ghost Camper's Tall Tales

Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 3


A magic mirror. An enchanted world. A mysterious ghost. A hilarious witch. An unexplained death. A sassy cat. Visit Destiny Falls and escape to a great time.

A mysterious old man keeps popping up to tell Hayden a series of tall tales. Who is he? And is he actually glowing? Are his stories fiction, or is he telling her the history of her family, the enchanted islands, and the witch? And why did a dead body show up . . . of someone who is already dead?

Can Hayden and her quirky sidekick, Latifa unscramble this mystery?

Hayden’s adventures in the magical world of Destiny Falls continue in this gripping story that answers your questions about the mysterious world she entered through a mirror in book one, Falling into Magic. We learn more about her missing mother, whose story begins in book two, The Disappearance of Emily.

The Ghost Camper's Tall Tales

Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 3

Excerpt


I gave it a gentle push and stepped through. There was a sudden blast of deafening noise. I stumbled backwards into the kitchen, falling through the swinging door, and landing with a plop on the floor. I was met with the gentle quiet of the sleeping house. My brain took a moment, but I realized that the sound I had heard was music, albeit extremely loud music.

I stood up and tentatively stepped in through the door. My senses were bombarded by the blaring music once again. I stepped backward into the kitchen. Total quiet. Forward through the door: loud music. I kept my body still this time and just listened. It was a song I recognized. Eminem and Rihanna singing about not being afraid of the monsters under the bed.

My eyes darted around the room. My mouth dropped open. I was standing in a large, immaculate restaurant-style kitchen. It had gleaming stainless steel appliances and a large stove and grill station. A massive prep island dominated the middle of the room, a rack of pots hanging above it. Pans, bowls, and serving platters of all sizes and types were neatly lined on shelves.

The walls were painted with bright, colorful messages: “Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all." – Harriet Van Horne.

 “One cannot think well, love well, or sleep well if one has not dined well.” – Virginia Woolf. 

“I never met a meal I didn’t like.” – Miss Piggy.

I heard a man’s voice singing along with Eminem in perfect harmony. It was coming from an adjoining room that appeared to be a large pantry.


Reviews for The Ghost Camper’s Tall Tales:

I. Can’t. Even! Pantley amazingly, magically, has outdone herself once again! The mystery, magic, and carefully woven story and history held me captive!”-Georgeanne, Goodreads

“I absolutely LOVE this series! An intriguing story... So many twists and turns!” - Linda, Goodreads

Intriguing and totally unput-downable!” -Goodreads

“Held me captive!”- Goodreads

"My favorite series in the whole wide world." - Elza Reads

**On sale for Only .99cents May 20th & 21st!!**

Goodreads * Amazon


The Disappearance of Emily

Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 2

A magic mirror. An enchanted world. A mysterious missing mother. A suspicious package. An unexplained death. A community of strange, quirky people. A sassy cat and a hilarious, bumbling, and perpetually annoyed witch. Hayden finds herself surrounded with support as she solves the mystery of the death and learns shocking secrets about herself. 

Hayden’s life was normal until she fell through a mirror and was thrust into an alternate, magical place. The town is enchanted and charming, and the amazing mansion she lives in changes to meet the needs of the people who live there, including her! Every day she discovers a new enchantment.

But something is amiss. Hayden gets an ominous warning from a strange woman, who promises to tell her the town secrets and give her a package – if she’ll meet her at the mysterious ferry that lacks a published destination. The ferry visit is cancelled, but the package is delivered. Once it arrives, someone turns up dead. Then the suspicious episodes start, too many to call them coincidences. She and her family are targeted and in danger.

 Who or what is causing the chaos? All signs point to the mysterious disappearance of her mother - way back when Hayden was just two days old. Can she identify and eliminate the threat before another person in her life is stolen away?

The Disappearance of Emily

Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 2

Excerpt

Destiny Falls is different from any place I’ve ever known before. I had to let go of my preconceived notions of what defines a town. I still can’t quite wrap my head around the fact that the town isn’t on any map and isn’t accessible by normal means.

You must be called here by either the home or the town. Then you whoosh through time and space, to the accompaniment of a flash of brilliant light, as you tumble through a mirror. It’s a one-way trip. Once you’re here, you are, well . . . “trapped” is a harsh word for such a lovely place. However, it’s accurate. I cannot choose to leave. Destiny Falls controls the comings and goings.

I feel a bit like Alice falling through the mirror into wonderland. Albeit a much nicer wonderland than Alice had to deal with and filled with amazing enchantments.

I’ve figured out that’s it’s easier if I just go with the flow and don’t try to understand all the nuances of this place. 


Reviews for The Disappearance of Emily:

"Just when I thought I knew who the killer was, BAM, a twist." ~ Leslie, Storeybook Reviews

"Intriguing and totally unput-downable, it draws you in from the word go, and you will not want to leave until it chucks you at The End.” ~ Carol, Goodreads

"A mix of unique characters, romance, mystery, and magic.” ~ Goodreads

**Will be On Sale in June!!**

Goodreads * Amazon


Falling Into Magic

Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 1

An accidental journey through a magic mirror. A portal to an enchanted land. A mysterious family she never knew she had. Hayden's life is upended with the wonder of Destiny Falls. But it is tainted by the danger that brought her here and that threatens her newfound family. Can Hayden and her sassy sidekick remove the threat, so that she can begin her magical new life in this captivating world?
 
When Hayden was a child, she lost her cat. Adults told her the cat ran away, but she knew the truth. The mirror had taken her. She knew because the mirror gave her a glimpse of an alternate world and had nearly pulled her in, so she was certain the cat had suffered that fate.

Twenty years later Hayden discovers the secret of the mirror when she is thrust into it. She learns of an enchanted world she never knew existed, and a family she never knew she had.

But danger brought her here, and it followed her. Now, Hayden is on a mission to remove the threat, so that she can begin her magical, meaningful new life in this enchanted world filled with quirky characters, a talking cat, and wonderful new friends and family that welcomed her with open arms.

Falling into Magic

Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 1

Excerpt

Prologue – Twenty Years Ago

It all began when I was six and lost my cat.

Fluffball was a Himalayan rescue, the softest ball of fur I’d ever seen. I found her at the shelter and fell in love with her amazing blue eyes. I begged Nana and Gran to let me take her home. I promised I’d take good care of her, so they finally gave in, and the cat joined our family.


I’d only had her a few weeks, but I loved Fluffball. Then one day, she was gone. Snap. Just like that.

They said, “Hayden, she snuck out a door and ran away.” But I knew what happened. It was the mirror.


Reviews for Falling into Magic:

"Will blow you away!" ~ Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

"Absolutely brilliant, delightful and magical. This is a book that you cannot stop reading. More please, much, much more!” ~ Carol, Goodreads


"Oh my goodness this was SO GOOD! Do yourself a favor and read this book." ~ Prockish

"This is no run-of-the-mill paranormal book! You will be glad this is a series!" ~ Susan G. Amazon

"A magical, delightful tale with a quirky cast of characters, engaging dialogue, an appealing universe, and an intriguing plotline that I could not put down." ~ Dru Ann, drusbookmusing.com

**Get it FREE June 20th-24th!!**

Goodreads * Amazon


Elizabeth Pantley is the international bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and thirteen other books for parents. She is also the author of The Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic book series. Her books have been published in over twenty languages. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and is the mother of four and Nana to one.

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads



Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$20 Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Friday, May 20, 2022

Book Blogger Hop: Ornery Coffee Habits

 

Image by Libertad from Pixabay

Question of the Week:

Do you drink tea or coffee while reading?

Both, though not at the same time. I have a bottle of water, a 16-ounce covered tumbler for tea, and a mason jar for coffee. This ain't the high-fallutin' stuff. I make my tea by tossing a tea bag or a tea ball with a couple pinches of loose tea in the tumbler filled with water, and leave it there until it loses most of its flavor. 

My coffee is "iced" coffee, sort of. It's not the highbrow stuff you get from Starbucks or wherever. I live in a tiny, remote rural town, population 134. The nearest Starbucks is 45 miles away.

Here's how you make Ornery Coffee.

Fill a 16-ounce Mason jar most of the way with water, leaving room for a bit of half-and-half or creamer. It's usually half-and-half because that's cheaper. Put in a half tablespoon of instant coffee. Fill the rest of the way with half-and-half. Shake it up. Take a Lactaid and drink it.

I allow myself one container of regular coffee. If I want more than one serving, it needs to be decaf. 

Listen to me, ProWritingAid. "over one serving" sounds weird. I'm sticking with "more than one serving."

And now you know my tea and coffee consumption habits. They're a bit out of the ordinary, but so am I.

This is my first time participating in the Book Blogger Hop. I've discovered that there are several interrelated Friday book blogger hops, so I'm intending to do a regular Friday post combining the four of them. It might be fun. I had fun once. Then I went to nursing school. 

I spread my contributions to the other hops out this week. I did not do this on purpose. I discovered The Friday 56 first and wrote my post for them before realizing that I could have played it smart and combined the hops. Here are the links in case you're bored and want to check them out.

Book Beginnings + First Line Friday

https://crazycreativescheerleadingcamp.blogspot.com/2022/05/book-beginningsfirst-line-friday.html

The Friday 56

https://www.naughtynetherworldpress.com/2022/05/the-friday-56-snippet-from-ketil-yitzys.html

~Ornery Owl Has Spoken~


Free use image from Open Clipart Vectors


Wednesday, May 18, 2022

A Room in Blake's Folly Guest Post


A Room in Blake’s Folly (published by The Wild Rose Press)

If only the walls could speak…
In one hundred and fifty years, Blake's Folly, a silver boomtown notorious for its brothels,
scarlet ladies, silver barons, speakeasies, and divorce ranches, has become a semi-ghost town.
Although the old Mizpah Saloon is still in business, its upper floor is sheathed in dust. But in a
room at a long corridor's end, an adventurer, a beautiful dance girl, and a rejected wife were once caught in a love triangle, and their secret has touched three generations.

 I love writing about people who are different. Some are forced to adapt to new circumstances in order to survive, others are originals, folks who have never really fit into mainstream society. But no one is humdrum, and all have dreams. 

So what do an embittered mail-order bride, an adventurer, a brothel madam, a silver baron/artist, a war refugee, a pacifist, a playboy veterinarian, and a woman who protects spiders all have in common? They get another chance to find love. And what better setting for romance than a semi-ghost town in Nevada? 

A Room in Blake’s Folly begins in 1889 with the romance between Sookie Lacey, former prostitute now saloon dance girl, and Westley Cranston, adventurer. But love rarely follows a straight path. Times change, life goes on, and new relationships form. In 2022, Blake’s Folly, once notorious for saloons, brothels, speakeasies, and divorce ranches, has become a semi-ghost town of abandoned shacks and weedy dirt roads. But the old stories are still very present, and they have the power to influence the remaining 53 inhabitants.

Excerpt

Lance saw the woman doubled over in the dirt road, her legs bent backward and to each side of her in what looked to be an exceedingly painful position. Had she been hit by a car? Probably not: few enough cars passed this way. She might have had an attack of some sort. He loped toward her, thinking only of rescue and alleviating pain, because that’s what a veterinarian’s job is all about, and humans happen to be animals, too. 

He was less than ten feet away, when she raised her head and glared at him with fury. The look, as toxic as a poison arrow, halted him in his tracks. She certainly didn’t look as though she needed his help. She didn’t look as though she’d ever need anyone’s help. 

“Um…I’m sorry. I saw you down there, in the road, and I thought…” 

He saw her fury seep away, transform into visible regret. “You chased it away.” 

“Right.” 

Swinging her bent legs into a more reasonable position, she stood up without using her hands. For someone who wasn’t young, she looked to be in perfect shape. Or at least she had maintained an admirable flexibility. 

He knew who she was, all right. Who else had a long bushy ponytail of silvery hair? Who else had three dogs trailing after her—three dogs now sitting calmly in the shade of the abandoned laundry and watching him, wary-eyed. They knew he was one of the vets who gave them shots every year, and that meant he was no real friend. 

The woman in front of him, what was her name? Lucy something…oh yes, Lucy Barnes, and she worked in Rose Badger’s vintage clothing shop whenever Rose roared off to Reno. For the first time, he noticed the camera. 

“Look, I thought you had fallen or…” 

“Yes, I realize that’s what you thought.” She didn’t look as though she were about to forgive him for it either.

“You were taking a photo?” 

“Yup.” 

“Of what?” 

“A Xysticus.” 

“A what? 

“Oh, sorry. A ground crab spider.” 

“Of a ground crab spider?” 

She relented slightly. “They’re called crab spiders because they look and move like crabs.” 

“Yes,” he said dryly. “I think I’ve worked that one out.”

“Right.” 

“What for? Why were you taking a photo?” 

“Because I like them. I like macro photography, I like taking photos of spiders, and this particular spider was very pretty.” 

“Pretty. Got it.”

She looked annoyed again. “Veterinarians don’t consider arachnids worthy of notice?” 

“Did I just tell you that?” he said a little too defensively because she was right: he never noticed them. Okay, he never killed them either, because he knew how useful they were, but that was as far as things went. “What was particularly pretty about that one? I mean spiders look like spiders to me. I never thought aesthetics came into it.” 

“Really?” She even looked surprised. 

“Really.” Inwardly, he sighed, regretting his attempt to maintain chatty conversation. It was always the same when you dealt with nuts, cranks, and fanatics: they couldn’t understand how normal people functioned. 

“Most crab spiders are brown-beige so they can blend into their surroundings and catch prey easily. They do have splotches though, and this one had a nice leaf marking on its opisthosoma.” She smirked. “Sorry, that’s the posterior part of the body. The front part is the—”

“Prosoma,” he interrupted. 

The smirk faded and, wordlessly, she stared at him.

It was his turn to be haughty. “Since you know I’m a veterinarian, you’ll probably accept that, in this century, we do go to school. And while we’re there, we manage to study a little science.” 

“Sorry,” she said contritely. 

“That’s all right.” He tried not to look too self-satisfied.


Review of A Room in Blake’s Folly

Rich detail and scintillating dialogue transport the reader through the decades between 1889 and 2022 of this surprising saga. With flowing descriptive phrases (“… the walls had a yellowish hue that only time could bring,”) Culiner effectively intertwines the characters and descendants of Blake’s Folly. And although overhunting and pollution mean environmental change, the charm of this old world community remains intact. Cheers for this book!

Lisa McCombs for Readers’ Favorite

Purchase Links

https://books2read.com/BlakesFollyRomance

Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt3VkYUTVNk


Writer, storyteller, photographer, and social critical artist, J. Arlene Culiner, was born in New York and raised in Toronto. She has crossed much of Europe on foot, has lived in a Hungarian mud house, a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave dwelling, on a Dutch canal, and in a haunted house on the English moors. She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of no interest and, much to local dismay, protects all creatures, especially spiders and snakes. She particularly enjoys incorporating into short stories, mysteries, narrative non-fiction, and romances, her experiences in out-of-the-way communities, and her conversations with strange characters.

Author Website: http://www.j-arleneculiner.com

Blog: http://j-arleneculiner.over-blog.com

Storytelling Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/j-arlene-culiner


BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-arlene-culiner

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JArleneCuliner/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jarlene.culiner/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7158064.J_Arlene_Culiner

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jarleneculiner

Amazon Author Page : https://www.amazon.com/author/jarleneculiner-quirky-romances

Monday, May 16, 2022

Wobbly Willie Learns to Fly Review

 


Wobbly Willie Learns to Fly

by Richard Quisenberry

Genre: Children's Picture Book, Kindness

Join Wobbly Willie Cranford as he embarks on a new journey that takes him and his friends into the clouds!

Choosing kindness can make a big difference in the world!

Goodreads * Etsy * Website * Website


**Don't miss the other Wobbly Willie books!!**

Website * Website

Wobbly Willie is a very special hero who was first introduced in The Story of Wobbly Willie Cranford, which I have reviewed here. 


While readers can enjoy Wobbly Willie Learns to Fly on its own, I suggest reading Wobbly Willie's introductory story first. Getting to know Willie will make his other adventures even more enjoyable.

The Wobbly Willie stories are great for kids of all ages, including kids pushing 60, like me. If children learn the concepts of kindness and acceptance taught by Willie and his friends at an early age, the world will be a better place. Hurts experienced in childhood live on into a person's later years and often have devastating consequences. For adults who are still hurting, Willie reminds us of what is possible.

In this adventure, Willie learns to hang glide. He is nervous at first but doesn't allow his fear to stop him from enjoying an exciting new skill. He takes time to learn what is necessary to have a safe and fun time. While I don't think I'll join Willie for hang gliding, he reminds me what it is to approach new challenges with a hopeful mindset. 

I have a special fondness in my heart for Willie because, like me, he is big and he has an unusual way of walking. If kids learn to treat people of all sizes and physical abilities kindly from an early age, the world will be a much better place. I can't stress this enough.

I give Wobbly Willie Learns to Fly a heartfelt five stars and recommend purchasing the Wobbly Willie books for the kids in your life or for yourself. These stories are good for everyone!


About the Wobbly Willie Kindness Organization

Wobbly Willie's Kindness Organization was founded on the belief that everyone has the opportunity to be kind and that kindness can be cultivated through an intentional practice. Our mission is to inspire, educate, and motivate individuals to understand that kindness matters. We want to empower individuals with the tools and support to boost each person's confidence, while being prescribed new ways of embracing others differences and administering kindness. The Wobbly Willie Organization is broken down into a variety of services, such as Kindness Children's Books, Kindness Education Programs, and Kindness Professional Speaking Engagements. Explore more with us as we push to spread kindness across the country.

Find out more here - https://www.wobblywillie.org/


Richard Quisenbury (Coach Quis) has achieved and is still in pursuit of every dream he has set his mind to, including graduating from college, becoming a principal, driving across the country, learning many hobbies, traveling out of the country, falling deeply in love, creating a beautiful family, and identifying his life purpose, to name but a few.

With over 40 years of experience in the educational industry, Coach Quis is just as passionate today, as he was on his first day, about developing tomorrow’s personal and professional leaders. As said by Coach Quis, “If you want a different result, you must be willing to first take a different action. With the near epidemic proportions of unhappy employees, the need for personal and professional integration has never been more imminent.”

Note that he didn’t say work/life balance; he believes such a thing is both impossible and undesirable for we spend a disproportionate amount of our time working. Instead, the goal is to integrate all aspects of life so we thrive at our careers & our personal lives equally as well, where we aren’t leaving a part of us behind as we spend our days at work wishing we were somewhere else… anywhere else; or trying to be home with our children while distracted by the things not getting done at work. Instead of balance, it’s the power of presence we seek.

Website * Facebook * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads * YouTube


Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Wobbly Willie Cranford Gift Box Set (US only),

$10 Amazon giftcard (WW),

-1 winner each!

a Rafflecopter giveaway