Today, we have a children's book in our book release blitz spotlight! Learn about The Wheels on the Stroller and author Claudia Kohlbrenner! Be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post! 

Date Published: 2025

Publisher: Serapis Bey Publishing

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Ready…Set…Let’s Roll!

About the Author

When teaching at the preschool level, Claudia encouraged busy parents to utilize the time spent carrying out daily routines as language-rich opportunities. Parents were counseled to talk about what was happening in a child’s “here and now” - while getting dressed, brushing teeth, taking a stroller walk! Claudia used available and self-generated rhymes and songs and involved as many bodily senses and movements as possible to facilitate developmental skills in preschoolers. She considers the repetition used in The Wheels on the Bus book and now in The Wheels on the Stroller to be a valuable learning tool for young children. According to early childhood research, repetition reinforces language processing, pattern recognition and a sense of predictability. It also provides children with opportunities to rehearse new sound and word sequences.

After retirement, Claudia’s love of rhyme inspired her to take a few children’s poetry writing classes. She was pleased to have several poems published in “Highlights High Five” and “Highlights” magazines, with two poems also published in children’s anthologies. The joy of reading to her sons long ago and now her grandchildren sparked her desire to write a children’s book as well. One day, after she and her young grandson enthusiastically sang and motioned along with The Wheels on the Bus book, grandma and grandson set out for one of their many adventure-seeking neighborhood stroller walks. As the wheels on his stroller went round and round, they greeted neighbors with tail-wagging dogs, watched squirrels scurry up trees and delighted in the “ding! ding! ding!” of an approaching bicycle along with other encounters- The Wheels on the Stroller was spontaneously born!

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This morning, I have an engaging cozy mystery in our book spotlight! I love finding books like this for my reading list! Learn about The Retirees and author Leah Orr! 

Retirement has never felt so deadly

Date Published: January 5, 2026

Publisher: Orrplace Press

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Disco is dead, there’s a serial killer on the loose, the coffin dodgers are solving cold cases, and only the neighborhood cat knows where all the proverbial bodies are buried. 

When sharp-tongued sugar heiress Diana is ousted from the empire she helped build, she retreats to a posh 55+ paradise expecting peace, maybe even a pool boy. Instead, she finds a ragtag group of retirees with a knack for solving cold cases—and a disturbing knack for attracting new ones. She quickly finds herself entangled with this quirky yet capable team of senior sleuths: a psychic, tarot-reading twin duo, a retired detective, a conspiracy-minded tech guru, and a nurse who might just talk to animals. 

Among tarot cards, a talking cat, and dark web dives, this misfit crew uncovers more than just bingo night secrets. Because in a place this sunny, the shadows run deep, and someone at The Ocean’s Edge has blood on their hands. 

As the group begins investigating cold cases, darker truths emerge, uncovering clues that tie back to mysterious pasts, hidden traumas, and residents with more secrets than memories. 

Hilarious, heartwarming, and deliciously twisted, The Retirees is a witty, tightly woven, charming, cozy mystery that reminds us it’s never too late for redemption, reinvention, or revenge—and that sometimes the most unexpected heroes come with walkers, wisdom, and wildly colorful personalities.

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About the Author

Leah donates the profits from her books to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Upon learning that her daughter Ashley was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (while still in the womb), Orr knew she wanted to do something special. With some input from her mother and three daughters, it was decided that she'd write books to benefit the CF Foundation. The Orr Family has raised over $1,400,000 in the past 22 years to help find a cure. 

Leah's mission to help cure Cystic Fibrosis has been featured on ABC’s Health Watch, NBC Today South Florida, ABC Today South Florida, CBS South Florida, CBS This Morning Virginia, NBC The 10! Show Philadelphia, Fox 4 News Morning Blend, The Daily Buzz, and Lifetime TV’s The Balancing Act. She has also been featured in publications such as Forbes Magazine, Medical News Today, The Boston Globe, The Miami Herald, and The Sun-Sentinel. Her daughter Ashley was also a recipient of Oprah’s generosity in The Big Give. 

Popular mysteries by Leah Orr include: The Executive Suite, The Bartender, The Champagne Toast, The She Shed, and The Fruitcake. Her popular children’s books include: Messy Tessy, It Wasn’t Me, and Goodnight, Molly. 

Orr and her husband were recently nominated as one of Florida’s Finest Couples by the CF Foundation and included in “In The Spotlight” on CFF.org. Leah was also nominated as one of Broward County’s top 100 Outstanding Women. Orr grew up in Boston, MA, and graduated from the University of Miami.

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Today, I have a nonfiction book to share! Learn about Making Peace with Dementia and author Ann Olson in this book spotlight! 

Nonfiction

Date Published: July 10, 2025

Publisher: MindStir Media

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Making Peace with Dementia is written for the unsung heroes navigating the challenges of dementia care—family members, friends, and loved ones suddenly thrust into a complex and emotional role. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience as an occupational therapist, senior living consultant, and dementia care coach, Ann Olson offers both heart and expertise in this easy-to-read, transformative guide. 

Blending professional insight with real-life stories, Olson shares tried-and-true strategies to help care partners interact more effectively and peacefully with those living with Alzheimer’s, Lewy body, or frontotemporal dementia. With clarity and warmth, she addresses some of the most difficult aspects of caregiving—challenging behaviors, communication struggles, burnout, and grief—while reminding caregivers that they are not alone. 

Inside you’ll discover:

● A deeper understanding of what your loved one is experiencing

● Tools to respond to difficult situations with empathy and confidence

● Guidance on setting healthy boundaries and letting go of guilt

● Techniques to reduce tension and create calmer interactions

● Self-care practices to protect your well-being while caregiving

Whether you’re just beginning the journey or deep in the throes of caregiving, Making Peace with Dementia is your roadmap to reclaiming hope, balance, and peace.

About the Author

Ann’s work is grounded in real-world experience—not only as a healthcare professional but also as a personal caregiver. After leaving her demanding job to care for her ailing mother and support others on a part-time basis, she began writing Making Peace with Dementia—a heartfelt culmination of her expertise and life lessons. 

Her coaching and teaching help families understand the changes they see in their loved ones, implement proven strategies, develop realistic expectations, and recognize what they can and cannot control. Above all, she believes in supporting the primary caregiver—who rarely asks for the role but deserves guidance and grace. 

Ann’s writing is deeply personal, shaped by both financial loss and emotional growth. She credits her clients with teaching her how to be more patient, confident, and compassionate. Through Making Peace with Dementia, she hopes to shift the narrative from caregiving as a burden to something that—while undeniably hard—can be meaningful, manageable, and even transformative.

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Stones River Brings a Unique Storyline to Your Reading List. This novel seamlessly blends historical fiction, paranormal romance, and fantasy in a way that, surprisingly, makes it feel both believable and thought-provoking. While Jessie is a little immature, and the instant-romance factor is introduced quickly into the story, the overall narrative is much deeper and historically rooted in its setting, offering readers much more than a ghostly love story. 

The Characters Connect Very Well. Initially, I found myself rolling my eyes at Jessie's character and the jump into the "falling in love with a ghost" dynamic of the story. However, as the storyline developed and the author began connecting her characters, telling Lem's story, and creating the emotional pull of the romantic elements, it was easy to become deeply invested in their relationship and in the story's resolution.

Would I Recommend Stones River by M.F. Jones? This book is written in a way that lets historical romance fans enjoy the novel, while also giving a lot for paranormal romance lovers to enjoy as well. The historical fiction side was very well-crafted and seamlessly blended with the modern-day paranormal ghost story. While I didn't initially love Jessie's character, the relationship and storyline that grew (both because of her personality and despite it) made the novel one that was very worth the spot on my reading list. 

Before beginning to write full-time in 2008, M. F. (Mimi) Jones was an editor at Viking Press, where she discovered Judith Guest's bestseller ORDINARY PEOPLE in the slush pile and became its editor. She went on to senior editorial positions at Redbook, Family Circle, and Reader’s Digest magazines. In addition to writing, she’s a devotee of reading, knitting (while listening to audiobooks), choral singing, and hiking with her rescue dog, Ruby. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, composer Douglas Hedwig. 

Connect with the author:   Website  ~ goodreads

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I love finding educational, fun children's books! Today, I have Not That Orange by Bailey Adams in our featured book spotlight. Learn about the book and author--and buy the book on Amazon! 

Carrot is on a mission—he’s searching for his orange! But there’s just one problem… he’s green! With the help of a friendly orange from a nearby tree, Carrot embarks on a journey across the farm, asking the other crops for help. But as confusion grows, Carrot soon discovers something surprising—carrots can be all sorts of colors, not just orange! 

Through fun, playful storytelling and charming illustrations, Not That Orange teaches young readers (ages 3-5) an important lesson: being different is not just okay—it’s something to celebrate! In a world that often focuses on fitting in, this book encourages little ones to embrace who they are and appreciate the beautiful diversity around them. 

Perfect for preschool and kindergarten-aged children, Not That Orange is a wonderful addition to any home or classroom library, inspiring kids to be confident in themselves while learning about colors, friendship, and the joy of being uniquely you!

About the Author

Bailey’s journey as a writer began in the fourth grade when she discovered the magic of crafting stories—and she hasn’t stopped since. She embraces an organic writing process, letting ideas flow naturally from inspiration sparked by books, shows, or random bursts of creativity. Instead of following structured outlines, she prefers to sit down and let the words lead the way, trusting that storytelling from the heart produces the most genuine and meaningful work. 

Despite being a perfectionist in many areas, Bailey believes that writing should be an intuitive and soulful process, with revision and refinement coming later. She is passionate about inspiring young minds through engaging, heartfelt stories and hopes to make a lasting impact in both the classroom and the literary world.

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This morning, I have a musical fiction novel to share in our release blitz spotlight! Take a few minutes ans learn about Scenes from a Song and author Susan Sloate--then enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.  

Music Fiction

Date Published: 09-30-2025

Publisher: Covfefe Press

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 For anyone who's ever said, "They're playing my song!"

About the Author

 

 SUSAN SLOATE is the author or co-author of more than 25 published books. This includes 3 editions of Forward to Camelot, a time-travel thriller about the JFK assassination that became a #6 Amazon bestseller, was honored in 3 literary competitions and was optioned by a Hollywood company for film production. She also wrote the autobiographical Broadway novel Stealing Fire, which became a #2 Amazon bestseller and Hot New Release, and Realizing You (with Ron Doades), for which she invented a new genre: the self-help novel.

Susan has also written young-adult fiction and non-fiction, including the children’s biography Ray Charles: Find Another Way, which won the silver medal in the 2007 Children’s Moonbeam Awards. Mysteries Unwrapped: The Secrets of Alcatraz led to her 2009 appearance on the TV series MysteryQuest for The History Channel. She has also been a sportswriter and a screenwriter, edited the popular Kyle & Corey young-adult book series, managed two political campaigns and founded an author’s festival to promote student literacy in her hometown outside Charleston, SC. She has appeared in multiple volumes of WHO’S WHO IN AMERICA, WHO’S WHO IN ENTERTAINMENT and WHO’S WHO AMONG AMERICAN WOMEN.

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Twitter: @Susan_Sloate

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I love finding children's books to share with our readers! This morning, I am featuring The Adventures of Hairy Spinner by Heidi Scarano! Learn about the book and author and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.  

Children's Book

Date Published: 11-23-2024

Publisher: Bright Communications

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About the Author

 Author Heidi Scarano resides in Berks County, PA. She is a avid lover of nature, science, and photography. She enjoys outings with her family and seeking new adventures via traveling, when she likes to experience local customs, cultures and foods.

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