RI Author Month: Diapers, Daycare and Deadlines by Jan Cornell

Welcome to RI Author Month

Synopsis: "Are you a busy parent who needs help trying to 'manage it all?' Let busy mom of two, Jan Cornell teach you how to live your life in a more simple and meaningful way with her fun, practical, quick and easy hacks. There are better and more efficient ways to manage both your life as a busy parent and your household! If you are a busy parent in the midst of chaos, this book was written for you!"

My Review: What parent doesn't need quick tips and hacks?! I came across the author at the RI Author Expo last year and knew I needed to pick this book up. It is set up for those busy parents too, with just quick tips, no more than a paragraph, and categorized for quick reference. The title refers to Diapers and Daycare, but many of these are tips that can definitely be used well into pre-teens and older. Some of them were things I have heard before, and many were things I thought were just common sense but maybe not all parents think like I do, revolving around streamlining and organization. There are pictures in the book but they are all black and white and a little grainy, I would have preferred clearer pictures or possibly color. This would be a great book for new/ newer parents that don't have time to sit down and browse Pinterest for ideas to keep their life sane and the children happy. 

My Rating: This would definitely be a great book for new parents, some of these tips would have been great when Munchkin was younger, some of them are common sense and some will be great for the future.  I give this a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag.

You can obtain your own copy of Diapers, Daycare and Deadlines in print format from Barnes & Noble or Amazon.

RI Author Month: Dinosaur Racing by Thom Ring

Welcome to the RI Author Month

Reviews of other books by Thom Ring:

The Red Racecar

Motocross Summer

Synopsis: "Tony Stella is bored stiff. He lives in the Golden Acres Residential Community, an "old-folks" home he calls "the waiting room to heaven." He hates it. He longs for some excitement, and he knows where he'll find it; Spring Valley Speedbowl, where he was a multi-time champion as a racecar builder and driver. He decides he'll build a new car - but a new car built the same old way as the late models he drove to his championships. But Tony knows he's too old to drive, so he signs Dale Hammond, a high school kid who's just won rookie-of-the-year honors in the track's late model division - before losing the high-buck, ultra-modern late model ride that took him to the title. Can the young gun and the old warrior team up so that Dale can avenge being dumped and Tony can avoid making bingo the most exciting thing he does all day? Can the two find a common ground between the past and the future? And what's Santa got to do with it?"

My Review: I had previously read Motocross Summer by Thom Ring and it was a great book for middle grade to YA, particularly male readers though girls will also enjoy it. I decided to pick up this one as well as Red Racecar, which while they are not technically a series, they do seem to be companion novels with similar themes. I really enjoyed Dinosaur Racing, it is such a great book for young readers, it has a great way of teaching respect for elders and history but in a fun and approachable way. It is definitely a great book for those young gear-heads, a lot of racing and vehicle terminology but not so difficult that anyone could enjoy it. It is an easy read and action packed that will keep the pages turning, and a great cast of characters that you definitely become attached to (I didn't even realize how attached I became until the end). I highly recommend this book, especially for any reluctant readers.

My Rating: This is probably my favorite of Thom Ring's books I have read, I loved the bridge between the older generation and the younger. I am giving this one a rating of Four Paws and a Stump Wag!

You can find out more about Thom Ring and his books on his Goodreads Page or Website.

You can also obtain your own copy of Red Racecar in print or digital format from Amazon

RI Author Month: The Red Racecar by Thom Ring

Welcome to the RI Author Month

Reviews of other books by Thom Ring:

Motocross Summer

stop by tomorrow for more!

Synopsis: "Jimmy Pearson and his best friend Danny Houle have just graduated from high school as this

young-adult novel begins. Neither has a clue about what's next in their lives until Jimmy Pearson

spots a bright-red midget racecar for sale at an auto-repair shop in town. Jimmy hasn't laid eyes

on a racecar in years, but his dad once was one of the best dirt-track racers around before he lost

his life in a racing accident. Jimmy immediately decides that the car is the ticket to a summer of

adventure if he and Danny can come up with the money to buy it from its desperately-broke

owners.

But how will his mom feel about his racing in view of the death of his dad? And does he know

enough about going fast to compete with the current class of competitors already in the midst of

their racing season?"

My Review: I have really been enjoying Thom Ring's books, it has been great finding books for young male readers who are more interested in things that go than reading. I think this might be a great book to read first of the racing themed books he has, it is a nice introduction to a lot of the terminology and background aspects of the racing world. Jimmy & Danny are familiar enough to jump into it but we learn a lot along with them about racing and good sportsmanship as well. The other great thing is while this book is geared more toward male readers, there are also female racers so even young teen girls will enjoy this book. There is plenty of excitement, challenges and loads of adrenaline to keep the pages turning.

My Rating: Thom Ring does a great job appealing to young male readers by writing about something that really interests them.  I know this book will really appeal to Munchkin (he recently announced he is going to be a race car driver when he grows up), and the best part is that there are some great lessons included without being preachy/mom nagging.  I give it a rating of Four Paws!

You can find out more about Thom Ring and his books on his Goodreads Page or Website.

You can also obtain your own copy of Red Racecar in print or digital format from Amazon or print format from Barnes & Noble

Monday Reading List

Its Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Share what books you have finished in the last week, are currently reading and what might be coming up next!

Reviews Posted Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

Emma's Dream by M. Lee Prescott (RI Author Month)
Sweet Dreams, Sweet Death by P.K. Norton (RI Author Month)
Eko by Loren Walker (RI Author Month)
Monster Monster Wants to Roar by Eric Sturtevant (RI Author Month/ Bedtime Story)
Sour Grapes by Tim Jones (RI Author Month/ Graphic Novel)

 Books Finished Last Week:

Reviews will be posted at a later date

Six of Crows
House of Four Winds
Envy of Angels
Small Wars
Lustlocked
Do You want to be My Friend
Common Ground

Currently Reading:

Three Shoeboxes by Steven Manchester - Kindle - 46%
Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller - Audio - 73%
Grace of Kings by Ken Liu - Multiple Formats - 6%

Pages Read/ Time Listened
278:27 Hours Listened (15:41 listened this week)
19,881 Pages Read (888 this week)

Books Added to Shelves Recently: TBR
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
We Have Always Lived in a Castle by Shirley Jackson
To the Sky Kingdom by Tang Qi
Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher
Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry
Luck Love and Lemon Pie by Amy E. Reichert
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
Terrier by Tamora Pierce
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Reflections of Yesterday by Debbie Macomber
Jedi Search by Kevin J. Anderson
Eko by Loren Walker
Caging the Merrow by Heather Rigney
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Opel
The Traveling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
Greedy Pigs by Matt Wallace
Lustlocked by Matt Wallace
Black Powder War by Naomi Novik
Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
The Scandalous MacKenzies by Jennifer Ashley
The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley
The Stolen Mackenzie Bride by Jennifer Ashley
Frankenstein Alive! Alive! Trio by Steve Niles
Frankenstein, Alive! Alive! #4 by Steve Niles
Hard to Serve by Laura Kaye
Mastering Her Senses by Laura Kaye
Theirs to Take by Laura Kaye
Nightblade's Vengeance by Ryan Kirk
Circe by Madeline Miller
Tomorrowland by Steven Kotler
The Wolf by Leo Carew
My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran & Larissa Zageris
Beyond the Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake
Defiant Heir by Melissa Caruso
True North by Marie Force
The Sorting Room by Angelina Singer
Lost Stars by Claudia Gray
Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire
Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day by Seanan McGuire
Frankenstein Dreams by Michael Sims
The Belgaraid by David Eddings
The Rhode Island Short Story Club presents The Club
Death Sworn by Leah Cypess
Sherlock Holmes and the Army of Dr. Moreau by Guy Adams
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
Prince of Persia by Jordan Mencher
Zenith by Sasha Alsberg & Lindsay Cummings
In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick
The Queen of Sorrow by Sarah Beth Durst
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Onyx & Ivory by Mindee Arnett
Princesses Behaving Badly by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie
The Marriage Arrangement by Jennifer Probst
Fight for Everything by Laura Kaye
Catching Stars by Cayla Keenan
Light as Air by Mari Carr
Furyborn by Claire Legrand
Sweet Tea and Sympathy by Molly Harper
Half Drowned King by Linnea Hartsuyker



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Hope everyone had a good week last week! It was quite a busy week here, and this week is going to be even busier; a week full of Tball, doctor appointments, graduation, birthdays, wedding anniversary and father's day all in just a few days! I of course also have the RI Author Month currently running, I hope you have been enjoying the books I have posted so far! I have some more this week including a short story collection and some middle grade.  Then next week I will have some romance and an interview with a giveaway, so I hope you will continue stopping by!

I hope you all have a great week (and hopefully it is not as crazy as mine)!