Children's Book Review: Flight Test 101 (Mischief, #6) by Amanda M. Thrasher

Flight Test 101 by Amanda M. Thrasher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A modern “Our Gang” series, with fairies!

Flight Test 101 is the sixth book in author Amanda M. Thrasher’s Mischief children’s fantasy series, which reminds me of the classic "Our Gang" television show, updated and featuring fairy friends. With its relatable young characters and dilemmas, this chapter book is engaging and entertaining and may keep the interest of the most reluctant readers. The book can be read as a standalone, so readers new to the series will have no trouble jumping right into the fairlings’ current adventure.

As the fairy friends approach their first flight test, confident Jack, the fairling who has been living for this day, is accidentally injured and now won’t heal in time to participate. The delay will put him behind all his friends for freedom in flight, so as a group, the others loyally decide to wait and test when he’s rescheduled. Unfortunately, with the delay comes a twenty-five-point penalty on each late participant’s score, points that some of the fairlings will desperately need to pass.

This latest Mischief adventure features all the fairling friends from the previous books and is full of giggles, slimy moss bomb fights, and fabulous treats baked by their resident spider friend, Broderick. Each small fairy is a distinct personality, some outgoing, some reserved, all with their particular likes and attitudes, including Pearle in her special chariot. They face a big decision and their fears when Jack, the best flier, is suddenly sidelined, feeling the need to choose to hang back with him rather than progress as scheduled without him. There are realistic discussions as a group about their feelings and how the alternative could impact everyone, especially Boris and Lilly, the two fairlings already struggling to achieve the needed scores to pass. Their gamble makes for an exciting and suspense-filled story.

I recommend FLIGHT TEST 101 for chapter-book-ready elementary age readers and older.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Literary Life Book Campaigns.

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Bilingual Book Tour & Giveaway: Faerie Legacy Series/Serie El Legado de Las Hadas) by Patricia Bossano

¡Ahora en español!

 

Si te encantan “La princesa prometida” y “Maléfica”, no te pierdas la serie El Legado de las Hadas de Patricia Bossano. Sumérgete en la aventura, el amor y un inolvidable descubrimiento interdimensional.

If you love “The Princess Bride” and “Maleficent” you don’t want to miss Patricia Bossano’s Faerie Legacy Series. Dive into adventure, love, and an unforgettable interdimensional discovery.

 

Now Available In Spanish!

Herencia Encantada

(Faery Sight)

Serie El Legado de Las Hadas 1 

(Faerie Legacy Series Book 1)

by Patricia Bossano

Genre: Fantasía (YA Fantasy)

A los diecisiete años, La Soberanía de las Hadas es el único mundo que Celeste conoce. En su corazón, atesora el sueño de convertirse, algún día, en una de ellas.
Pero los hechos revelados por su madre antes de morir desvían sus ilusiones.
Huérfana y ansiosa por tomar las riendas de su destino, Celeste vacila entre sus certezas de antaño y las nuevas.

¿Es la princesa humana que su madre formó o es el hada-humana que anhela ser?
¿Va a vengar a sus padres y honrar el compromiso de matrimonio que la espera en el mundo mortal o debe obedecer a su corazón y permanecer junto al extraño que acaba de entrar en su vida?

Celeste elige vengar la muerte de sus padres, incluso si eso significa reconocer el lugar que le corresponde en la dimensión humana.

Motivada por la princesa de las hadas, Nahia, y amparada por la Corte Luminosa y por su verdadero amor, Celeste se propone desenmascarar a la insidiosa hechicera Arantxa.
Confía en que nada impedirá su regreso triunfal a la Soberanía de las Hadas… Nada hasta que la identidad de su prometido es revelada.

 

 

**Also available in English! **

Winner of the Literary Titan Gold Award, Readers' Favorite 5-Star Award, and the Golden Quill of Excellence Award.

"Powerful and gripping right from the start." — Aimee Carol Dixon for Readers' Favorite

Faery Sight by award-winning California-based indie author, Patricia Bossano, is the beginning of an epic YA fantasy saga that spans 200 years and multiple dimensions.

It isn't easy being a teenager, especially when you're a human princess living in the faery realm. Celeste yearns to truly belong there, and is ready to relinquish her human identity, but startling revelations from her dying mother expose shocking truths and impede her plans.

Struggling to come to terms with her birthright, Celeste must find her place between worlds while exacting revenge against the evil sorceress who wronged her parents.

Faery Sight is the unforgettable story of navigating the challenges of growing up, embracing your individuality and choosing your own path, even if that means facing a daunting enemy.

Amazon (Spanish) * Amazon (English) 

Bookshop (Spanish) * Bookshop (English)

BookBub * Goodreads

Un Don de Cuna 

(Cradle Gift)

Serie El Legado de Las Hadas 2 

(Faerie Legacy Series Book 2)

El día en que nació Maité, su hada madrina le otorgó un don de cuna. Arma y herramienta a la vez, el don de sueños lúcidos le permite a Maité viajar a otros mundos mientras duerme.

A los diecisiete años, el entorno cotidiano de Maité se desgarra con la trágica pérdida de sus padres. Desterrada del único hogar que conoce y aislada en el extranjero, la joven lucha por encontrarle sentido a su nueva vida. Ajena al conflicto en la Soberanía de las Hadas, que se cierne inexorable sobre su realidad, Maité descubre que ella, una humana, está en el centro de la gran batalla por el control absoluto de la soberanía.

A través de su don de cuna, Maité empieza a vislumbrar la magnitud de la influencia feérica en su vida. Dispuesta a retomar las riendas de su destino a partir del transcendental descubrimiento, Maité se apoya en Emily, su mejor amiga, y en David, un joven cuyo interés por la genética ilumina posibilidades que cambiarán la identidad de Maité para siempre.

  

**Also available in English! **

On the day she was born, Maité received a cradle gift from the faery Nahia—a gift that allows her to travel into other worlds while in a dream state.
At seventeen, Maité’s mortal world is torn apart with the tragic loss of her parents. Uprooted from the only home she’s ever known and isolated in a foreign country, the young woman struggles to make sense of her new life. But the conflict in the realm of Faerie is about to bleed over into Maité’s reality. She finds herself in the middle of an ancient struggle between Nahia and the Beautiful One as they furiously clash for control over the realm.
Through her Cradle Gift, Maité uncovers the extent of the Faerie Realm’s involvement in her life, and in her quest to come to terms with it, Maité has the help of best friend Emily, and David; a young man whose interest in genetics illuminates possibilities that will change her identity forever.

“The characters popped out of the pages. Engaging scenes that carried many themes like loss, friendship, and courage. Cradle Gift sends readers, like myself, deep into the plot.”
–Danielle Urban

“A magical tale written by Patricia Bossano with poetic flair … Women of all ages will love this book, and might very well come away from this make believe world, believing in Fairies.”
–Amazon customer

“… Once again the author is a wonderful story teller and you will find yourself lost in the faery world, cheering for your favorite characters ...”
–AnnLovesBooks

 

Amazon (Spanish)* Amazon (English) 

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El Legado de Nahia 

(Nahia)

Serie El Legado de Las Hadas 3 

(Faerie Legacy Series Book 3)

La rebelde princesa de las hadas se debate entre satisfacer sus propios deseos y lo que es mejor para sus seres queridos y para el tropel.

Siguiendo su corazón en busca del hombre que ama; Nahia oculta su identidad feérica para integrarse a la dimensión humana.

Después de dar a luz a una hija, el secreto de Nahia queda al descubierto, al igual que la ineludible responsabilidad de haber alterado para siempre la huella genética de su familia. Acorralada, Nahia vuelve a la Soberanía de las Hadas cuyo peso latente recae en la joven princesa después de la muerte del mágico guardián del bosque.

Para salvar su hogar y renovar los lazos con su familia humana y feérica, Nahia debe procurar un receptor mágico para el nuevo Guardián del Bosque, pues sin él no podrá avivar la soberanía ni convertirse en la nueva Reina de las Hadas.

 

**Also available in English! **

A rebellious faery princess struggles with satisfying her own desires over what’s best for her loved ones. Following her heart in pursuit of the human she loves, Nahia hides her faery identity in order to enter the human dimension.
After giving birth to a daughter, Nahia's secret is revealed, as is the realization that she has forever altered the genetic human footprint. Faced with death, Nahia returns to the faerie realm only to have its dormant weight thrust upon her after the demise of its magical keeper.
To save her home and renew ties with both her human and faerie family, Nahia must find a way to reawaken the realm, become the new Faery Queen, and provide a royal descendant for the new Keeper of the Forest.

“Bossano’s writing is beautiful and rich with detail . . . A vivid and intricate fantasy tale about the ties that bind and the conflicts between two realms.”
–Kirkus Reviews

“A novel of truly epic scale . . . With its deep and detailed dive into the fairy realm, as well as its vivid, high-level vocabulary, Nahia is a complex fantasy novel that should not be missed.”
–Foreword Reviews

Patricia Bossano has done it again; this latest book in her amazing Faerie series is absolutely brilliant and her best work yet, in my opinion. Nahia ties all three books in the trilogy together nicely and once again puts the reader right in the middle of the action with her deep and vivid style . . . These stories have everything you could ask for and more . . . Simply magical, I believe!”
–Amazon customer

“Powerfully written . . . an emotional journey that tugged at my heart.”
–Urban Book Reviews

Amazon (Spanish) * Amazon (English) * Bookshop

BookBub * Goodreads

Galardonada prosista de ficciones filosóficas y merodeos sobrenaturales sin inteligencia artificial. Patricia reside en California con su familia y allí compone sus obras.

“En cuanto entreví la historia original escrita en mi corazón, comencé a repetírmela una y otra vez. Todos los días.

A medida que mi fe en esa historia crece, la realidad que tanto anhelo empieza a cobrar vida. Ahora soy novelista a tiempo completo y editora en jefe de WaterBearer Press, donde puedo abordar la publicación de mis libros, un sueño a la vez”. — Patricia Bossano

 

* * *

Artisanal wordsmith and old-school scribbler of no A.I. philosophical fictions and supernatural escapes, some of them en español.

“As soon as I caught a glimpse of the original story written in my heart, I began telling it to myself over and over, every day.

As I surrender to believing it, my long wished-for reality is taking shape. I am now a full-time novelist and managing editor of WaterBearer Press, where I get to approach publishing one dream at a time.” — Patricia Bossano

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram * BlueSky * BookBub * Amazon * Goodreads

 

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Book Review: Essence of Foul Play (Aroma Wellness Mystery, #1) by Daryl Wood Gerber

Essence of Foul Play by Daryl Wood Gerber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An excellent debut for what promises to be a charming, fun, and magical new cozy mystery series.

Essence of Foul Play is the first book in veteran author Daryl Wood Gerber’s charming, fun, and magical new Aroma Wellness Mystery series and introduces readers to the quirky but often contentious residents of Carmel while solving a puzzling and ugly murder. Emma Brennan opens her new spa with its intriguing lineup of alternative self-care treatments in her hometown. Still, she encounters some surprising resistance to her business model, especially from her own mother and her college friend, Willow Shafer, a fellow spa owner who offers only traditional spa services. When Willow is found murdered the morning of Emma’s grand opening, Emma immediately becomes “a person of interest” in her death because a witness reported she saw Emma entering Willow’s business the night before.

The main character, Emma Brennan, is not only a new spa owner but now an amateur sleuth as well in order to clear her name as a suspect in the death of her old friend. She continually keeps a tight rein on her emotions, uses calming techniques, and always tries to redirect her frustrations with others in a positive direction. In addition to the mystery, I really enjoyed reading about all the different methods she employed to stay grounded and in control, and the descriptions of the variety of services her spa offered were fascinating. I was ready to book an appointment myself.

As the first book in a new series, the author must build an entire community of people who live there but do it in such a manner as not to overload the reader. Ms. Gerber does just this with a subtle and natural hand and even lends further assistance to the reader by providing a cast of characters at the front of the book. Readers familiar with the author’s Fairy Garden Mystery series, also set in Carmel, may recognize some cross-over characters who make an appearance. Emma’s world is full of quirky individuals and like-minded souls, such as her grandmother, town librarian, and fairy-friendly Lissa Reade. Yet, there are also quite a few cranky, rude, and downright mean-spirited folks among her acquaintances. One publicly proclaims to Emma’s face, “We hope your business goes poof.” I was shocked but also compelled to keep reading to see if that one would get her comeuppance!

The plot moves quickly, first with all the preparations for the spa’s Grand Opening, and as the murder is discovered early in the story, the action and suspense never let up. With all the high emotions in Emma’s circle, there were plenty of possible murder suspects along the way to check off the list. But as the story progresses and the red herrings drop off, there is a satisfying final resolution.

I recommend ESSENCE OF FOUL PLAY to cozy mystery readers, especially those who would enjoy a spa setting and cool, alternative self-care services.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

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Book Blitz & Giveaway: Frowns and Gowns (Mischief, #5) by Amanda M. Thrasher

 

FROWNS AND GOWNS

The Mischief Series, Book 5

By AMANDA M. THRASHER

Children’s Chapter Book / Fantasy / Fairies

Publisher: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press

Page Count: 236

Publication Date: September 12, 2023

Embark on a Magical Adventure with Lilly, Boris, and Jack!

Get ready to join Lilly, Boris, and Jack on an unforgettable journey filled with excitement, laughter, and a touch of mayhem. Brace yourself for a whirlwind of mishaps as these three fairies plan a magnificent magical ball, only to encounter an unforeseen disaster! Experience the magic of friendship with Lilly, the quick-witted and resourceful fairy, Boris, the mischievous fairy with a heart of gold, and Jack, the troublemaker with a curious, adventurous spirit on their latest adventure.

Throughout, Lilly, Boris, and Jack teach the true meaning of friendship and teamwork. Together with their friends, they'll overcome challenges, learn valuable lessons, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Don't miss out on this enchanting tale!

CLICK TO PURCHASE:

Progressive Rising Phoenix Press

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Award-winning author Amanda M. Thrasher was born in England and moved to Texas, where she lives with her family. She writes YA, general fiction, middle grade, early reader chapter, and picture books. She is the founder and CEO of Progressive Rising Phoenix Press.

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TWO WINNERS

receive autographed, paperback sets

of all five books in The Mischief Series

+ $25 Starbucks gift card

(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 03/28/24)

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Review Tour & Giveaway: The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight (The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven, #3) by Jennifer Ivy Walker

The Emerald Fairy

and the Dragon Knight

by

Jennifer Ivy Walker

Paranormal Fantasy Medieval Romance

Publisher: Wild Rose Press

Publication Date: June 21, 2023

Page count: 392 pages

SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!

SYNOPSIS:

Wielding a trio of enchanted Elven weapons to battle a dark wizard and a legion of diabolical dwarves, Tristan is faced with the impossible choice between saving the woman he loves or defending his endangered kingdom. Inexplicably compelled to remain in the sacred forest where he hears the voice of her heart, the heir to the throne of Cornwall incurs the wrath and scorn of his army when he decides to hunt for his captive mate.

Her verdant magic greatly enhanced by the mystical Morgane la Fée, Issylte must summon a coalition of Naiad nymphs and celestial fairies to destroy a nascent evil as she fights to reclaim her rightful crown.

When the Black Widow Queen unites with a malignant menace and a ghost from Tristan’s haunted past, the Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight must ally with a triad of shapeshifting warrior tribes to defeat a Viking Trident and defend their trinity of Celtic kingdoms.

Interwoven fates. Otherworldly mates. Destiny awaits.

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READ AN EXCERPT:

Memories of that unforgettable afternoon flooded him.  They’d reconnected—physically, emotionally, spiritually—after long, tortuous weeks apart. A wondrous wave of love, lust, and longing crashed over him as he crushed her in his arms. Devoured her luscious lips. Caressed her beautiful body. Inhaled her forest fairy essence deep into his damaged soul. Tonight could very well be their last together. He would make it as memorable as that afternoon in the sacred cave. Find a quiet spot for them to be alone. Not too far from the Tribe. But far enough. He pulled her tight, pressed his body against hers, and whispered into her left ear. “By the Goddess, I yearn for you. Tonight, my love. A night to remember.Always.”

She raised her radiant face to his. In the depths of her verdant gaze, he glimpsed églantines—the soft pink wild roses of the Hazelwood Forest. Le Miroir aux Fées—the Mirrored Lake she’d defended to become a Priestess of Dana. Where she’d retrieved the orb he would use tomorrow to challenge the wizard.  In her emerald eyes, Tristan saw the Forest of Brocéliande, where they were married in the Triple Trinity of their Celtic wedding. The white dove who had flown to save him, imprisoned in the dungeon of Tintagel. In the breadth of an instant, he saw countless images.  His father’s castle, le Château d’ Or. A thatched cottage in an enchanted forest. The sacred scabbard she’d crafted for his Elven sword Azeldraig. He, the Dragon Knight of Avalon, whose sea raven soul was eternally entwined with hers. His Wild Rose. His green, golden goddess. His Emerald Fairy.

REVIEW:

5 stars!

This is a story I wish I could read for the first time AGAIN!

The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven Trilogy comes to its much-anticipated and exciting conclusion in this final volume, The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight. Author Jennifer Ivy Walker has consistently let out all the stops for these tales of magic, adventure, and the triumph of good over evil, and book three does not disappoint. The only drawback is that the story is now complete. 

Familiar faces return, and readers get more of Walker’s marvelous medieval world where heroes and heroines, with names as old as time, come to life. Both Issylte and Tristan have grown over the span of the trilogy and are now in their prime and ready to take back what is theirs. These two have experienced so much, together and apart, and for me, it is like becoming reacquainted with the children of old friends whom I hadn’t seen in quite a while. (It’s only been three months since I read book 2.) I was ready for them to gather their knowledge and resources and win the day. Of course, some great detours along the way draw out the suspense and prolong the tension. However, the love between these two, their tender moments, and the passionate interludes make this story compelling and satisfying. 

The leading lady of evil, Issylte’s stepmother, Queen Morag, is an ever-present threat, and her henchmen (throughout the trilogy) have been dark, sinister, and vile. They have regularly wreaked havoc on everyone everywhere. The suspense of wondering what would happen next with these horrible creatures was killer. Walker does evil characters very well. 

The world-building for this trilogy has been stellar all along, and this volume maintains that high standard. The variety of people, shapeshifters, clans, tribes, fairies, and other magical beings that play a part in the books is a triumph of creativity and story management. There has to have been a “cast of thousands” to keep up with. 

With its non-stop action and plot twists that kept everyone on their toes, this reimagining of the old French fairytale is fresh from start to finish. I recommend THE EMERALD FAIRY AND THE DRAGON KNIGHT to those who have read the first two books of the trilogy, and I highly recommend THE WILD ROSE AND THE SEA RAVEN TRILOGY to readers of romance/medieval romance who enjoy magical elements in their preferred stories, fairytales for adult readers or retellings of fairy tales.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Enthralled with legends of medieval knights and ladies, dark fairy tales and fantasies about Druids, wizards and magic, Jennifer Ivy Walker always dreamed of becoming a writer. She fell in love with French in junior high school, continuing her study of the language throughout college, eventually becoming a high school teacher and college professor of French.

As a high school teacher, she took her students every year to the annual French competition, where they performed a play she had written, "Yseult la Belle et Tristan la Bête"--an imaginative blend of the medieval French legend of "Tristan et Yseult" and the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast", enhanced with fantasy elements of a Celtic fairy and a wicked witch.

“The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight”—the conclusion of “The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven” trilogy--is a blend of her love for medieval legends, the romantic French language, and paranormal fantasy. It is a paranormal fantasy adaptation of the medieval legend of "Tristan et Yseult" (Tristan and Isolde), interwoven with Arthurian myth, dark fairy tales from the enchanted Forest of Brocéliande, and otherworldly elements such as Avalonian Elves, Druids, forest fairies and magic.

Explore her realm of Medieval French Fantasy. She hopes her novels will enchant you.

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Jennifer Ivy Walker will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly 

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