Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Guest book review - Holidays with a Tail: A Tale of Winter Celebrations by Kelly Bouldin Darmofal



Young Alex is beyond excited on Christmas Eve. He knows that Christmas celebrates the birthday of Jesus Christ, and he cannot wait for tomorrow to come - he wants a puppy of his own to play with and love. On Christmas Day, he opens a large box with, yes, a puppy inside. Alex names him Zipper! However, when grandparents come bearing gifts, Zipper bounds out of the open door. Mother and Alex then begin a neighborhood adventure as they search for a runaway dog and meet neighbors with different winter holiday celebrations and traditions: the Hindu Diwali, the Jewish Hanukkah, the Latinx Las Posadas and the African-American Kwanzaa. Alex then returns home for a Christmas feast, happy with his new canine companion and the knowledge that his neighborhood is filled with amazing people who are more alike than different.

"Kelly Darmofal takes her readers on an unexpected Christmas journey that leads her readers to discover the beauty of our diverse winter holidays! Holidays with a Tail: A Tale of Winter Celebrations is a book to read aloud to all!" -- Debbie McIntyre, Principal of Jefferson Elementary School 

"With warmth and cheer, Darmofal captures Christmas Day in Holidays with a Tail. A day of adventure for a boy becomes a day of learning and connecting with others for a deeper understanding of cultures and traditions that differ from his own. A great holiday read!" -- Emily M. Cagle, Media Specialist at Meadowlark Elementary School 

"With vibrant illustrations and easy-to-understand language, the author introduces us to five holiday celebrations enjoyed by families of different cultures. This book is non-judgmental and depicts appreciation for the differences among us. While it is intended for children, parents might also learn something new. Holidays with a Tail is a valuable resource if we plan to raise our children with an acceptance of diversity." -- Dr. Laurie Zelinger, Child Psychologist, Author of Please Explain Vaccines to Me Because I HATE SHOTS! Learn more at www.ImLostInMyMind.com 

Another empowering book from Loving Healing Press www.LHPress.com

Available to buy from...

Enjoy these excerpts!




Guest book review by Carly Louise Wilson
Holidays With A Tail by Kelly Bouldin Darmofal, is a beautifully illustrated children’s book that is perfect for children to help explain the practices of Christmas in a range of cultures.

Acceptance of diversity comes with the educating of young minds, and I love that we are becoming a society where we have many resources at our disposal to help in the educating and learning process. As a soon to be mum I am looking forward to reading my little boy books such as this to explain other cultures in a respectful, accurate and detailed way.

The book focuses on a little boy Alex who has wanted a puppy got Christmas. He believes it will be the best friend he’s always wanted. Upon spotting a puppy he is delighted but the rambunctious ‘Zipper’ escapes, it forces Alex and his mother to chase after the puppy.

Upon their journey to retrieve their pet, Alex is curious about the celebrations of those around him. Noticing that they are following traditions not familiar to his household. His mother takes the time to explain about differing cultures, beliefs, traditions and practices and how we can all exist celebrating in our own way.

The illustrations are details, the writing easy for slightly older children and the book does contain a lot of detail, highlighting key and important words to the cultures being discussed.

A good festive book to help entertain and educate. A perfect addition to an already colourful bookshelf.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
More books by the author
Amanda's Fall, with charming illustrations by Bijan Samaddar, depicts an event common in schools today. Young Amanda gets a concussion after falling and hitting her head during recess. While she can hear people talking, she cannot respond. Amanda is taken to a doctor for evaluation. Wisely, her parents ask for a prognosis, which in Amanda's case, is a good one. Author Kelly Darmofal offers readers her third book on TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), encouraging parents and caretakers to alert schools and, hopefully, doctors when any child is concussed; side effects can then be ameliorated. 

Studies show that Traumatic Brain Injuries represent the leading cause of death and disability in young adults in industrialized countries. According to the CDC, at least 564,000 children are seen each year for brain injury in hospital emergency departments and released. 

Available to buy from...


Lost in My Mind: Recovering From Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) (Reflections of America) 
lost
Lost in My Mind is a stunning memoir describing Kelly Bouldin Darmofal's journey from adolescent girl to special education teacher, wife and mother -- despite severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Spanning three decades, Kelly's journey is unique in its focus on TBI education in America (or lack thereof). Kelly also abridges her mother's journals to describe forgotten experiences. She continues the narrative in her own humorous, poetic voice, describing a victim's relentless search for success, love, and acceptance -- while combating bureaucratic red tape, aphasia, bilateral hand impairment, and loss of memory. Readers will:

- Learn why TBI is a "silent illness" for students as well as soldiers and athletes.
- Discover coping strategies which enable TBI survivors to hope and achieve.
- Experience what it's like to be a caregiver for someone with TBI.
- Realize that the majority of teachers are sadly unprepared to teach victims of TBI.
- Find out how relearning ordinary tasks, like walking, writing, and driving require intense determination.
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101 Tips for Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injury: Practical Advice for TBI Survivors, Caregivers, and Teachers 
tips
Kelly Bouldin Darmofal suffered a severe TBI in 1992; currently she holds a Masters in Special Education from Salem College, NC. Her memoir Lost In My Mind: Recovering From Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) tells her story of tragedy and triumph. Kelly will be teaching "TBI: An Overview for Educators" at Salem College. Kelly’s "tips" were learned during two decades of recovery and perseverance; they include:

- Ways to avoid isolation and culture shock post-TBI
- Tips for staying organized in the face of instant chaos
- Strategies for caretakers and teachers of TBI survivors
- Life philosophies that reject despair
- How to relearn that shoes must match
- Why one alarm clock is never enough, and
- A breath of humor for a growing population with a "silent illness"--TBI
Available to buy from...

About the Author
Kelly Bouldin Darmofal is currently a freelance writer, wife, educator and stay-at-home mother. Despite her 1992 severe closed head injury, she graduated cum laude in Communication from Salem College (2000), later receiving a Masters in Special Education from Salem (2006). She studied Spanish in Merida, Mexico and took courses at UCLA, UNC-CH, and Wake Forest University. Kelly was employed by the Winston-Salem, NC chapter of the American Red Cross as volunteer coordinator before working in ESL at Reynolds High School, followed by a semester in Special Education at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Kelly worked personally with Dr. Bethanie Tucker, Averett University, to be trained in Tucker Signing Strategies for Reading (2005). In 2005 Kelly joined the Forsyth Country Day School faculty in the Johnson Academic Center as an LD Specialist. In 2007 Kelly accepted a 2nd grade position at Summit School, and taught there four years until the birth of her son. She currently tutors children as a Wilson Reading Specialist and is a published writer. 

Her article on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and education was published in English Journal in 2005; "Our Teachers Are Not Prepared" won an Edwin M. Hopkins award in 2006 (NCTE). She is a feature contributor to Lost Treasure magazine, and has been a speaker on the subject of TBI at Wake Forest, Salem College, and the Summit School. With the publication of online articles related to TBI in addition to her memoir, Kelly continues to advocate for the TBI of America - especially students. "No teacher in high school or college was trained to work with students like me," says Kelly, the first TBI-certified student in her high school. She admits the American military and sports organizations are now attempting to address the TBI issue. However, IDEA, or the Individual with Disabilities Education Act, has made TBI a certifiable disability category (in 1990) without assuring appropriate teacher training. She remarks on this "black hole" in education whenever possible, and relates her early TBI experiences with hopes of affecting change. 

Kelly has found canine care and rescue to be both a rewarding and healing hobby. Currently she owns two rescue mutts - Mitzy and Buddie.

You can also follow the author here...
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Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Guest book review - Key West Dead (Jake Wolfe Book 6) by Mark Nolan


Jake Wolfe and his former IED-sniffing war dog hunt for a mysterious bomb-maker who is wreaking havoc among the Florida Keys. 

The killer is not amused by their interference in his plans, and he soon adds Jake to his list of targets. 

With the islands under constant attack and everybody a suspect, the chase is on in a race against time as the clock keeps ticking down toward a final heart-stopping conclusion. 

Will Cody's trained nose be able to find the criminal in time, so Jake can stop his bombing spree before he detonates "the big one?" 

Read Key West Dead to find out what happens next. 

Key West Dead is part of a series but may be read as a stand-alone novel. 

All six Kindle Unlimited books in the Jake Wolfe vigilante justice thriller series are available to read free with your subscription.

Available to buy from....
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Readers are saying... 
"Cody & Jake do it again! Along with the beautiful Sarah and the rest of the gang including some new K-9's take it to the villain with extreme prejudice! Another great read,couldn't turn the pages fast enough."

 "This is a great suspenseful series and can't wait for the next book! Jake Cody and Sarah make a great team along with their fellow marine Corp friends!"

 "Love all the characters, of course, especially Jake and Cody, as well as the Keys and California being the backdrop for all their adventures and heroics."

Guest book review by Carly Louise Wilson
Key West Dead by Mark Nolan is the sixth book in the Jake Wolfe series, and the action-packed twist and turns of drama continue right where the story of Jake and Cody ended in book five.

I absolutely adore this series, as not only do you get the story of Jake and his comrades, but you get to follow his romance with Sarah and this time they take a trip on a boat to the Florida keys to attend a friends wedding. But in true Jake Wolfe style, he is accompanied by his loyal and trusty best friend Cody.

But of course the trip cannot go according to plan! After all, this is a Jake Wolf story, and from the moment he attends the wedding, he has a bad feeling. A feeling which refuses to leave, and he’s not the only one sensing trouble, Cody too starts picking up on something suspicious.

After the bombing of his friends boat, and the ongoing threats Jake and Cody embark upon another gripping case, and as always, you will not necessarily expect the path it leads down.

Nolan always delivers the perfect blend of a well plotted action story with a side of humour and romance, and I’ve been hooked since book one.

Cody is the mans best friend you have always wanted, and you cannot but help get swept up in the mystery and the non-stop action. A perfectly gripping read which will have you eagerly awaiting the next instalment.

I’d recommend for those who want to get embroiled in a gripping action series which has a smidge of romance and something for everyone.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Also available 
Book 1: Dead Lawyers Don't Lie
Hunted by a deadly assassin. 

On the run from a government agency. 

Falsely accused, Jake Wolfe is a fugitive in a life-or-death game of cat and mouse.

What happens next? Click now and start reading this action-packed thriller!

A TOP 20 AMAZON BESTSELLER and a Kindle Unlimited All-Star. A mysterious killer who calls himself The Artist is assassinating wealthy lawyers in San Francisco. When war veteran Jake Wolfe accidentally takes his picture during a murder, The Artist adds Jake to his kill list and he becomes a target in a deadly game of cat and mouse that only one of them can survive. How far would you go to protect your loved ones from a killer? Jake wants to leave his top secret, violent past life behind him. But the reluctant, flawed hero can't ignore his duty and his personal moral compass.

This gripping thriller is full of suspense, plot twists and surprises. It features a cast of interesting characters, including several strong-willed women, two wise-cracking San Francisco Police Homicide Inspectors, one highly intelligent dog, and a philosophical killer who shares Jake's admiration for Van Gogh paintings but still plans to kill him anyway. As Jake gets closer to unraveling a merciless conspiracy, his life gets turned upside down and the danger level increases, adding to the growing suspense. This entertaining page-turner starts out as a murder mystery and then shifts gears into a high-speed action thriller that takes you on a roller-coaster ride to the riveting ending. A good read for those who enjoy mysteries, suspense, action and adventure, vigilante justice, unique characters, witty dialogue and a little romance too. An international bestseller and one of the most-read novels in kindle unlimited books. Get your copy now and start reading.

Dead Lawyers Don't Lie can be read as a stand-alone novel, or you can enjoy the whole series. All six Kindle Unlimited books in the Jake Wolfe vigilante justice thriller series are available to read free with your subscription.
Available to buy from....
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***FREE for Kindle Unlimited users***

Book 2: Vigilante Assassin
Vigilante Assassin: An Action Thriller (Jake Wolfe Book 2) by [Nolan, Mark]
Lauren Stephens wakes up to find her husband, Gene, has vanished during the night. His phone is dead. Desperate, she hires Jake Wolfe and his war dog, Cody. They search the house and discover something so disturbing that Jake won’t allow Lauren near it. “No, if you see this, there is no unseeing it.”

Lauren thought she had it all: a loving partner, two great kids, a successful business, and a beautiful home in the San Francisco hills. But all of that is about to come crashing down, due to a missing husband, a hidden past, and a frightening secret that will shock a trusting wife to the core. Gene has enemies, and now they want something from Lauren.

Jake Wolfe is a flawed man who has a habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He wants to leave his secret, violent past behind him, but when Lauren and her children are threatened, his protective instinct takes command. Jake soon finds himself involved in a dangerous conspiracy, targeted for death, and engaged in battle with a gang of killers.

Jake is going to have to think fast and fight hard to protect Cody, Lauren and her kids.

Vigilante Assassin can be read as a stand-alone novel, or you can start with book one, titled: Dead Lawyers Don’t Lie. All six Kindle Unlimited books in the Jake Wolfe vigilante justice thriller series are available to read free with your subscription.

Available to buy from....
Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Paperback
***FREE for Kindle Unlimited users***

Book 3: Killer Lawyer
Attorney by day, assassin by night.  Jake Wolfe is a young lawyer who leads a secret life. Trained by the CIA, he now wants peace and quiet, practicing law and living on a boat with his war dog. But when his city is shocked by a serial killer and he’s framed for the murder of a friend, Jake must race against time to find the killer before he strikes again.

Drawn into a deadly game of life or death; at every step Jake and his loved ones are being hunted by the clever, twisted madman. As the city is gripped in fear of the seemingly random shootings that could strike anybody, Jake investigates and uncovers ominous clues until a shocking reversal of fortune changes everything.

With the clock ticking and lives at stake, will Jake be able to find and stop the killer in time, or will he become the next victim?

Buckle up for a wild ride as Jake Wolfe and his exceptionally intelligent dog, Cody, return to action in this page-turning thriller in Mark Nolan’s bestselling series that has earned thousands of 5-star ratings on Amazon and Goodreads.

Killer Lawyer can be read as a stand-alone novel, or you can start with book one, titled: Dead Lawyers Don’t Lie. All six Kindle Unlimited books in the Jake Wolfe vigilante justice thriller series are available to read free with your subscription.

Available to buy from....
Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Paperback
***FREE for Kindle Unlimited users***

Book 4: San Diego Dead
Danger awaits Marine-turned-lawyer Jake Wolfe on his vacation to sunny San Diego and Cabo San Lucas. There he finds sugary white sand beaches, warm turquoise water, boat trips among gray whales, and … cold blooded murder. 

It was meant to be a relaxing holiday for Jake and his adopted war dog, Cody, but violence erupts when he crosses paths with a criminal cartel urgently seeking to reclaim a deadly package.

Jake learns the missing item is a threat to US citizens and vows to stop the cartel from possessing it, no matter what vigilante justice actions he might have to take.

Time is running out and thousands of innocent lives are at risk. Will the two combat veterans be able to retrieve the dangerous item before the killers do? The clock is ticking, but Jake hopes that if anybody can help find the package, it has to be his highly-trained and ultra-intelligent dog, Cody. 

Find out what happens next. Start reading the latest Jake and Cody thriller right now and enjoy another fast-paced stand-alone story by author Mark Nolan.

San Diego Dead can be read as a stand-alone novel, or you can start with book one, titled: Dead Lawyers Don’t Lie. All six Kindle Unlimited books in the Jake Wolfe vigilante justice thriller series are available to read free with your subscription.

Available to buy from....
Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Paperback
***FREE for Kindle Unlimited users***

Book 5: Deadly Weapon
In Alaska, a lethal threat is unearthed from the frozen ground. Near Maui, a shipwrecked submarine holds a frightening secret, and on the California coast, war veteran Jake Wolfe races against time to uncover a conspiracy. 

When a master plan emerges that has the potential not only to threaten Jake’s city, but to kill off targeted populations around the world, Jake embarks on a desperate search-and-destroy mission in order to protect the lives of everyone he knows and cares for. His target? A group of rogue operatives planning mass murder. 

With assassins on his trail, and the clock ticking, Jake must trace the path that will finally bring him face-to-face with the psychopathic genius who wants to remake the world. 

This electrifying new thriller will have you on the edge of your seat and staying up past your bedtime to read just one more chapter. Deadly Weapon is part of a series but may be read as a stand-alone novel. 

This book is part of a series but may be read as a stand-alone novel. All six Kindle Unlimited books in the Jake Wolfe vigilante justice thriller series are available to read free with your subscription.

Available to buy from....
Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Paperback
***FREE for Kindle Unlimited users***

About the author
Mark Nolan is a "Marine Dad." His son served as an infantry Marine with deployments to Afghanistan. Mark also raised a daughter who can set up a camp in the forest, make a fire, and shoot a rifle to hit a bullseye. Mark and his family love dogs and they raised a super smart Golden Retriever. Born near the sea shore, Mark has enjoyed boating, fishing, scuba diving and exploring in Florida, Mexico, California, Hawaii, etc. All of these life experiences have influenced the plot lines, characters and locations in his stories. If you like dogs, boats, ocean beaches, and action movies ... you'll probably enjoy reading Mark's books.

Find the author on the following sites...

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