Monday, April 20, 2020

Lone Star Book Blog Tour: FOR SPACIOUS SKIES by Nancy Churnin ***REVIEW & GIVEAWAY***

FOR SPACIOUS SKIES
KATHERINE LEE BATES AND THE INSPIRATION FOR "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL"
by
Nancy Churnin
illustrated by Olga Baumert

Picture Book Biography / Women's Suffrage / Woman Poet
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Date of Publication: April 1, 2020
Number of Pages: 32


***Scroll down for the giveaway!***



As a little girl growing up during the Civil War, Katharine Lee Bates grew up to become a poet, professor, and social activist. She not only wrote “America the Beautiful" but gave this anthem to America as a gift. A member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and a suffragist who stood up for a woman’s right to vote and lived to cast her ballot in presidential elections, Katharine believed in the power of words to make a difference. In "America the Beautiful," her vision of the nation as a great family, united from sea to shining sea, continues to uplift and inspire us all.
PRAISE for For Spacious Skies: 
“Churnin tells that story in a spare and lively text beautifully complemented by double-page spreads highlighting Baumert’s gorgeous panoramic illustrations . . . A handsome volume befitting its subject.”—Kirkus Reviews
"The story ends on a high note in 1920, with Bates casting her ballot after the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, which granted voting rights to women . . . The richly colored, nicely composed artwork will help children visualize the period setting while enjoying the portrayals of Bates and beautiful landscapes. A picture-book biography of a notable American.”—Booklist
“Nancy Churnin has written a delightful book that helps children understand the many dimensions of my great-aunt Katharine Lee Bates. This book does an excellent job conveying her ardent passion for equal rights and for her country. She was a poet, a professor, and a world traveler, but she was first and foremost a citizen who loved America, in all its beauty and diversity.”—Katharine Lee Holland

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For Spacious Skies by Nancy Churnin is a beautiful story of the life of Katharine Lee Bates, the author of one of the most famous songs in American history. Although initially written as a poem, "America the Beautiful" was revised several times before becoming the iconic song that it is today.  Much of this story is not just about the birth of this song, but the rebirth of the role of women from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.  Katharine was a writer whose words made a difference during a time when women were only expected to become a good wife, homemaker, and mother. But Katharine wanted more.  She eventually became a professor and wrote many books, essays, and poems. After the publication of "America the Beautiful," people from all over the country wrote to her expressing their thanks.  Her legacy continued as she fought not only for the rights of women but also spoke up for the poor and for peace across the world.

Churnin did an excellent job detailing the events of Katharine's life.  Even without the pictures, you can get a sense of what it was like for Katharine growing up during this time in history. The research done by the author was thorough and presented in a way that would be easily remembered by the audience.  Churnin's writing style makes this a perfect read-aloud for 4th grade and up! 

Illustrated beautifully by Olga Baumert, the painted drawings capture the simplistic lifestyle of the 1860s and yet highlight the key points in Katharine's life that eventually led to her penning one of the most patriotic songs of our time.  The colors and details of each building, mountain, person or hillside really capture the beauty of the land and people in it.  

Although created in picture book format, For Spacious Skies is written for older audiences who will understand the topics of women's suffrage in the mid to late 1800s.  However, it can be read to a younger audience (10 and up) by an adult who can explain the roles and expectations of women during this time period.

For Spacious Skies is not just a story about how the song "America the Beautiful" came to be, but how the perseverance of Katharine Lee Bates inspired a nation of women who wanted more - more out of life, more out of their country, and especially more out of themselves. An inspirational story from start to finish! A great addition to your school or public library!

5 Hearts!
💖💖💖💖💖






Nancy Churnin is the award-winning author of eight picture book biographies with a ninth due in 2021. 
Beautiful Shades of Brown, The Art of Laura Wheeler Waring is A Mighty Girl pick that will be featured at the 2020 Ruby Bridges Reading Festival at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee in May. The William Hoy Story, a Texas 2X2 pick, has been on multiple state reading lists. Manjhi Moves a Mountain is the winner of the 2018 South Asia Book Award and a Junior Library Guild selection. Martin & Anne, the Kindred Spirits of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Anne Frank is on the 2020 Notable Book for a Global Society list from the International Literacy Association. Irving Berlin, the Immigrant Boy Who Made America Sing is a 2019 Sydney Taylor and National Council for the Social Studies Notable. 
Nancy graduated cum laude from Harvard, has a master's from Columbia, and lives in Plano, Texas, with her husband, Dallas Morning News arts writer Michael Granberry, their dog named Dog, and two cantankerous cats. 

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GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!
THREE WINNERS 
ONE WINNER receives signed copies of both For Spacious Skies and Beautiful Shades of Brown 
TWO WINNERS each receive a signed copy of For Spacious Skies

April 16-26, 2020

(US only for signed copies; international winners via Book Depository)

VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
4/16/20
Notable Quotable
4/16/20
Review
4/17/20
Book Trailer
4/17/20
Review
4/18/20
Sneak Peek
4/19/20
Author Interview
4/20/20
Review
4/21/20
Playlist
4/21/20
Review
4/22/20
Author Interview
4/23/20
Guest Post
4/23/20
Review
4/24/20
Deleted Scene
4/25/20
Review
4/25/20
Review
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Friday, April 17, 2020

YA Review: THE BLOOD SPELL by C. J. Redwine


The Blood Spell
by C.J. Redwine
Published by Baltzer & Bray
438 pages

Plot: Blue de la Cour has her life planned: hide the magic in her blood and continue trying to turn metal into gold so she can help her city’s homeless. But when her father is murdered and a cruel but powerful woman claims custody of Blue and her property, one wrong move could expose her—and doom her once and for all. The only one who can help? The boy she’s loathed since childhood: Prince Kellan.

Kellan Renard, crown prince of Balavata, is walking a thin line between political success and devastating violence. Newly returned from boarding school, he must find a bride among the kingdom’s head families and announce his betrothal—but escalating violence among the families makes the search nearly impossible. He’s surprised to discover that the one person who makes him feel like he can breathe is Blue, the girl who once ruined all his best adventures.

When mysterious forces lead to disappearances throughout Balavata, Blue and Kellan must work together to find the truth. What they discover will lead them to the darkest reaches of the kingdom, and to the most painful moments of their pasts.

When romance is forbidden and evil is rising, can Blue save those she loves, even if it costs her everything?
 (2020, Goodreads).

Review:  The Blood Spell by C.J. Redwine is the 4th book in the Ravenspire series and is probably one of the best Cinderella retellings I've ever read.  The writing is excellent.  Redwine has a way of storytelling that just absorbs you into the world she's created and you just don't want to leave!  You care about what happens to the characters and will root for them til the end.  The main characters, Blue, Prince Kellen, and Lady Dinah have a lot of depth to them.  Each with their own backstory which influenced much of their behavior throughout the story.  

The romance between Blue and Kellen is very well done.  Not an insta-love romance at all.  Actually, they haven't liked each very much since childhood.  Blue would constantly keep the prince from getting himself into trouble and they both resented each other for it for a long time.  However, once the characters slowly develop feelings for each other later on in the story, their romance is an integral part of the plot and creates a very drama-filled and exciting ending.  

The Blood Spell is not your typical fairy-tale retelling.  This one is dark, violent, and full of suspense! It will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last satisfying page!  

Rating: 5 Hearts!
             ðŸ’–💖💖💖💖

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Lone Star Book Blog Tour: BREAKFAST AT THE HONEY CREEK CAFE by Jodi Thomas ***Pre-Order Preview***


BREAKFAST AT THE HONEY CREEK CAFÉ
A Honey Creek Novel
by
Jodi Thomas

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Zebra Publication 
Date: May 26, 2020
Number of Pages: 336 pages



VISIT JODITHOMAS.COM FOR ALL JODI'S BOOKS BY SERIES


From Jodi Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Mornings on Main and Indigo Lake, comes this heartwarming new novel set in Honey Creek, Texas—a small town where family bonds and legends run deep, and friendship and love are always close at hand . . .
Piper Jane Mackenzie, mayor of Honey Creek, won’t let a major scandal rip her quirky hometown apart or jeopardize her dream of one day running for higher office. So she’s willing to welcome undercover detective Colby McBride, hired to help solve the mystery behind her wannabe fiancé’s disappearance. Colby’s cover? That he is an old boyfriend now begging Piper for a second chance—always when there are plenty of townsfolk around to witness his shenanigans. Piper hardly knows whether to laugh or cry, especially when she finds herself drawn to the handsome rascal. He's not the only newcomer she has to deal with. There’s a new interim preacher in town, Sam Cassidy. Drifting from one assignment to another since his one love died, Sam isn’t sure he’s the right fit for Honey Creek. But as Piper knows, this is a place chock-full of surprises. And if she can keep her town—and her heart—from going completely off the rails, there may be a sweet, unexpected future in store . . .

CLICK TO PRE-ORDER NOW:  
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With millions of books in print, Jodi Thomas is both a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over fifty novels and countless short story collections. Her stories travel through the past and present days of Texas and draw readers from around the world.

In July 2006, Jodi was the eleventh writer to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. With five RITAs to her credit, along with National Readers’ Choice Awards and Booksellers’ Best Awards, Thomas has proven her skill as a master storyteller.
Thomas was honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas and served sixteen years as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.
When not working on a novel, or inspiring students to pursue writing careers, Thomas enjoys traveling with her family, renovating a historic home, and “checking up” on two grown sons and four grandchildren.


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