Book Review: On The Edge of Wishing by Danette Key

On the Edge of Wishing
Danette Key
iUniverse
978-1-4759-6441-7
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.iuniverse.com
$13.95 US

5 Stars:

We had the pleasure to review Danette Key's YA novel, On the Edge of Wishing. This story is about the challenges a family faces when dealing with a problematic child. Maddy is a 14 year old teenager who is very unappreciative of life. She is disobedient, disrespectful, and selfish. She gets in trouble at school on a regular basis and treats her siblings unkindly.

As a result of her bad behavior, her father, Peter--a soccer coach--can no longer stand being around her and wishes she was someone else. Her mother, Becca, is an overwhelmed mother of three who retreats to community service in order to escape the problems with her daughter. And Maddy's two younger siblings do not understand why she is so mean to them.

Unexpected help arrives from the other side to mend this broken family. Mary Ellen is a soul with an important task. She possesses Maddy's body and intervenes with this family's challenges. Soon, Maddy starts acting strange. She seems nicer and more loving.  Peter takes notice of her weird behavior, but he is happy that she is becoming more of the ideal daughter he had wished for. There is only one problem: Mary Ellen wants to stay as Maddy, and she is willing to do what she can to make that happen.

Danette Key is professional writer and proof-reader. She also writes poetry and posts it to her website. On the Edge of Wishing is her debut novel. One interesting fact about Danette: In her free time, she loves to make quilts for her family.  (Info borrowed from danettekey.com)

This story is well-crafted from the beginning to the end. From excellent character development to the interesting plot points, On the Edge of Wishing has it all. This story's moderate pace is engaging and keeps the reader's interest throughout. In addition, it features several great messages for more than just the young adult readers this book is directed toward. I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a story with a deeper meaning that not only entertains, but teaches kindness, patience, and appreciation. 

Find "On the Edge of Wishing" by Danette Key on Amazon


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If you would like your book reviewed for free, please shoot me an email with a Kindle Version or PDF. Books we review are for target audience 0-14 and PG. No Spammers Please!

Jaclyn M. Bartz
"The Retired Tooth Fairy"

email: theretiredtoothfairy@outlook (dot) com

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Media Release: The Tooth Fairy Retires

The Tooth Fairy Retires

 

World Wide Web—The Retired Tooth Fairy, a debut children’s book by Jaclyn M. Bartz, was released by Amazon on July 5^th. Like her character, Jaclyn is also a retired tooth fairy.

Jaclyn M. Bartz is a former dental hygiene student from the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. She aspired to be a dentist specializing in Geriatric Dentistry. As she was about to complete the first step of her goals, Jaclyn went through a tragic event which forced her to leave the profession she loved dearly. But amid her sadness, destiny called to her in the form of a child’s voice.

When her oldest daughter lost another tooth, she was asked one simple question: What happens when you or Daddy loses a tooth? This was the moment that Jaclyn, a recently retired tooth fairy, found her calling. As a lifelong writer and artist, Jaclyn realized how to join all of her passions together. She spent the next years breathing life into her character.

The Retired Tooth Fairy follows the misadventures of an unlikely tooth fairy. Conveniently named Beatrice, which means traveler, this tooth fairy collects the easy-to-find grown-up teeth. But Bea finds out these teeth are not so easy to collect. With the magic of her Youthful Dust running out and the loss of her magic pack, Bea must risk being caught by humans. Will she make it home or will she be captured?

Jaclyn M. Bartz has written, illustrated, and designed her debut children’s book. The Retired Tooth Fairy is available on Amazon in both Print and Kindle form. The Official Book Trailer can be found on YouTube.

 

The Tooth Fairy Retires and Visits Homes Across the Globe

Of course, like any new Author, I cannot help but share my excitement. My first book has been released and is available on Amazon! I can officially say that I am a Published Author! This has been an exciting adventure, and I highly recommend for anyone thinking about writing a book to put yourself out there and do it. I have already completed my first goal as a newbie--I have sold my first copy to a perfect stranger! Amazing!

And without further ado....

Here she is, Bea--The Retired Tooth Fairy:

The Retired Tooth Fairy by Jaclyn M Bartz

 

 

 

Sharing is caring--I would appreciate if you could share this with your friends. Thank you in advance.

Please stay tuned for the Official Online Release Party where I will have a Q&A session, give-a-ways, and lots of other fun.

If you are an author and willing to offer a complimentary copy to guests...please feel to message me at theretiredtoothfairy (at) outlook (dot) com.

And, last but not least, thank you for all of your support. I could not have done this without you! :)

Sincerely,

Jaclyn M Bartz
"The Retired Tooth Fairy"

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Book Review: The Mosquito and the Teapot

 The Mosquito and the Teapot: Authored by Aamani Gurajada/Illustrated by Sunaad Gurajada

Rating: 5 out of 5 Mosquitos

The very first thing that struck me about this book is the amazing talent these two artists possess. The stories are written by Aamani, who is a very talented 6 year old author...yes, I said 6 years old...and illustrated by Sunaad, who is a very talented 11 year old illustrator. This is what is great about the shift in publishing trends because talented kids, such as these two, have the chance to explore and share their talents. It is obvious Aamani and Sunaad have a very promising future ahead of them, and I look forward to seeing them progress in their very early careers.

The Mosquito and the Teapot is a short collection of stories teaching the importance of friendship and kindness. Each story focuses on separate challenges, such as the importance of telling someone to stop doing something that is not liked and another story that teaches the readers not fight with their friends over unimportant issues. In addition to the stories, Sunaad, the illustrator, does an amazing job creating delightful pictures that enhance the story.

My youngest daughter loved reading this story. We laughed at the fun passages and she loved looking at the pictures. When she found out this story was written by another kid, she enjoyed it even more. Overall, I would recommend this book for anyone looking for quick stories and chuckles to share with your little ones. And let's take a moment to give these talented kids a round of applause!

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If you would like your book reviewed for free, please shoot me an email with a Kindle Version or PDF. Books we review are for target audience 0-14 and PG. No Spammers Please!

Jaclyn M. Bartz
"The Retired Tooth Fairy"

email: theretiredtoothfairy@outlook.com

Official Website
Amazon Author Page
Facebook Author Page
"The Retired Tooth Fairy" Fan Page
Tweet Me~ @JaclynMBartz
Pinterest
Connect w/ me on LinkedIn

{{HAPPY DANCE}} ...a-hem...okay, I'll compose myself...(happy dance)

Ha ha....sorry for the silliness. I know, I know....I am a professional writer, I shouldn't indulge in these emotions. (NOT)

So why am I doing a Happy Dance? Well, for all of my aspiring author friends, I received the first copy of my book over the weekend! Yes, a physical copy of the story I have been shackled to for the past couple of years. And let me tell you--IT IS AMAZING!!!!

I cannot believe this day has arrived. I am one step away from being a ... bum bad da dum...Published Author!

How cool is that?! The funny thing is that it feels so surreal.

I remember the first day when my character was nothing more than a private joke--forged from the depths of a lost soul with tons of newly useless information stored inside her brain. All of the hardships and pain squeezed until they popped into a final moment of absolute clarity. The day Bea was born.

Who is Bea? Well, Bea was actually Ruby...but, of course, I had to change her name. Why? Well, she is a part of me, and she deserved the initial of my last name--which eventually turned into Beatrice.

What are you talking about? Did you have too much to drink?

Nope, I am just giddy!

For those of you unfamiliar with Bea--she is a Retired Tooth Fairy who collects adult teeth; but there is only one problem--those easy-to-collect teeth aren't so easy to collect! And Bea isn't the best at collecting them. She finds herself in many precarious situations. And thus, my series follows her misadventures as a retired tooth fairy.

Alright, time to return from my little detour.

I can still remember the first day when my character was nothing more than a private joke. My daughter joyfully chuckled as we joked about the most unlikely tooth fairy. After we were done, I jotted everything down (in the worst chicken-scratch handwriting imaginable).

I brainstormed.....

I outlined.....

I sketched.....

And I returned with a very cranky-looking old fairy who was more scary than whimsical. Yikes!
Back to the drawing board.

So I brainstormed....

And sketched some more.....

Until my retired tooth fairy aged gracefully....and looks kind of like a funky librarian. But none the less, she was evolving into the beloved character she is today.

After putting Bea together with a pencil, I decided to add words to her mouth with my pen. Soon, she jumped off the paper and told me about the time she tied herself to a tooth, which then yanked her behind it after an unfortunate magical mistake. After that, we became best buddies! She shared her embarrassing moments, and I told her about the time I....(oh wait...this is public...I don't think I want to share that story).

But then, of course, the "First Timer's Curse" grabbed ahold of me.

...wait, what?....you've never heard of the "First-Timer's Curse"?

Well, my friend, the "First Timer's Curse" is when someone begins to do something creative, but then....it strikes......the worst case of self-doubt imaginable--Am I good enough? Is this good enough? What if no one likes my story? What if no one likes me? What if I get a wedgie while at a formal gathering?

Yes, it is the worst curse ever---even worse than that curse placed on those poor Chicago Cubs! It has devoured many poor souls at the start of their journeys. Such a sad thing. And it almost got me, too!

But, I was too determined. I grabbed a hold of my inner strength....the strength I never thought I had...and I continued on...until....well, until this weekend when I held my work in my hands for the first time.....oh, I love the smell of crisp, newly printed pages smooshed in between the shiny glossy cover featuring my hard work.

And, of course, I look at it and cannot believe I drew the pictures or wrote those words. Absolutely crazy good!

But why does this make me feel so happy?

Well, I remember the days of people telling me that "I don't belong" and the hardships I had faced. The utter depression of losing everything I had loved. Feeling like a loser or unimportant. I remember the struggles, and the unattainable dreams.

But, I don't regret my past because my past has shaped me into who I am, and has led me to this place in my life. And honestly....for the first time, I feel like I belong! I have accomplished something big!

So yes, I am going to do my Happy Dance....

And you can do one of your own too--Just believe in yourself. The journey is only as hard as your first step. And never ever for one second stop dreaming!

Okay, that's enough lip-service from me! I am going to snuggle next to my book, and dream of a brighter future for my family.

Best Wishes Everyone!!

~Jaclyn

Official Website
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Book Review: The Smile Ambassadors by Jeffrey Reid (Updated)

Our rating is 4 out of 5 two-headed turtles

"The Smile Ambassadors" by Jeffery Reid is a story based on the life of a real two-headed turtle named Zack and Mack. It is targeted for older children, preferably 5th graders to age 14, as it is a longer read with a big vocabulary. This story follows the fictitious adventures of these two fun turtles who share the same body.

The story starts out with Zack and Mack disappearing. The young girl, Constance, searches all over town for her beloved pet, but cannot find them. Meanwhile, Zack and Mack are off on an adventure--learning about the strange new world outside of their tank. They had to learn how to find food, and how to escape turtle poachers, cats, and crowds of skittish people (who confuse them with a monster). During the family's search, the local media gets involved with missing two-headed turtle story. This creates interest in them amongst the townspeople.

As the story progresses, we learn about a big turtle race, meet new and exciting friends, and learn how Zack and Mack became "The Smile Ambassadors. Overall this is a family-friendly, feel-good story. Mr. Reid does a wonderful job brining us into his characters' world with humor and vivid descriptions.


Please check out Zack and Mack at Amazon and let them put a smile on your family's face!

Excerpt taken from Amazon:

Constance has lost her turtle. It is not just any turtle but Zack and Mack, a two-headed turtle. Where can they be? Will placing mackerel around town lure Zack and Mack from hiding? What about that phone call from the mysterious Mr. Moto? Are Zack and Mack to be found in a turtle race at the Maytown Fair? Why is the President concerned about the safe return of a turtle? Meet the Queen of England's Royal Turtle, Henry. Learn of the insidious plot by The Potentate. Experience the climatic crash, tumble and heart thumping action of full-on turtle racing. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, this story is designed to create a mental image of turtles that you will never forget; it will also give you cause to smile.

This story is based upon the best recollections of "fictitious" events involving a real, live, two-headed turtle.

The Smile Ambassadors is a novel suitable for all humans but it is specifically written for ages eight to fourteen.

In memory of James Zajicek, who passed away on July 3rd after a long battle with cancer. He is a featured character in "The Smile Ambassadors" as The Curator. For more about James, click here.
Please send your thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. Thank you!

Photo from sideshowworld.com

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If you would like your book reviewed for free, please shoot me an email with a Kindle Version or PDF. Books we review are for target audience 0-14 and PG. No Spammers Please!

Jaclyn M. Bartz
"The Retired Tooth Fairy"

email: theretiredtoothfairy@outlook.com

Official Website
Facebook Author Page
"The Retired Tooth Fairy" Fan Page
Tweet Me~ @JaclynMBartz
Pinterest
Connect w/ me on LinkedIn