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Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers by Insight Editions

February 22, 2021 by Leah Leave a Comment

One of my absolute favorite things for kids are books. I love giving books as a gift. Being an avid reader myself, I think it is so important to share my love for reading with my kids. When I was approached to check out the new iSeek series of books by Insight Editions, I knew I had to say yes. Not only is this series absolutely adorable, but these books for toddlers and preschoolers are a fun way for them to learn too! And the best part is, they don’t even realize they are learning!

*I received these books for the purpose of this review, all opinions are 100% my own. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases*

Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers

One of my absolute favorite trends is giving a book instead of a card at a baby shower! Being an avid reader myself, the one thing I made sure when I had my kids, was to make sure we had lots of books in the house. I always wanted to make sure my kids had something to look at and “read” or have read to them. Since I went to school for early childhood education, I took several college classes that revolved around childhood development. In one particular class, the professor drove home how important early reading was to the cognitive development of children. That always stuck with me.

Let’s Learn: First 100 Words (Write and Wipe)Fingerprint Farm (iSeek)Let’s Learn: First Math Skills: (Early Math Skills, Number Writing Workbook, Addition and Subtraction, Kids’ Counting Books, Pen Control, Write and Wipe)

Learning While Playing

I think, when you are a young child, pretty much everything you do, you are learning while you are playing. The people at Isight Editions that created the iSeek series knew this too! One of the things I really like about two of the books I received, Let’s Learn the First 100 Words and Let’s Learn First Math, is that the kids can use a dry erase marker to trace in the book and practice it over and over again. When my kids were young, I did not give them markers to use, so something like this would have been a HUGE hit!

I know my kids would have enjoyed something like this when they were younger. Not only are they learning their first words or beginner math, but they are also learning how to properly hold a pencil. Which, if you spend any amount of time in a preschool or Kindergarten classroom, you know that holding a pencil is sometimes difficult for children!

Fingerprint Fun

One of my kids favorite things to do was finger painting. In fact, I am currently sitting in my husbands office at work and he STILL has framed finger paintings our kids did, hanging on his wall. FYI…my kids are 16 and 14! The Fingerprint Farm book is a fun book that kids can do by themselves or with an adult and I guarantee they would have loads of fun with this book. Check it out!

Doesn’t that look like fun?!? My 2.5 year old nephew will have a lot of fun putting little mud fingerprints all over the piggies!

Where Can I Buy These?

You can pick up these books and so many more in the iSeek series on Amazon! They are a perfect edition to your child’s Easter Basket or a “just because” gift!

Fingerprint Fairies: (Kid’s Activity Books, Art Books for Kids, Fairy Craft Books) (iSeek)Design and Draw 50 Princess Outfits (iSeek)Design and Draw 50 Cat Outfits (iSeek)Trace & Learn Handwriting Practice: Dinosaur (iSeek)Magical Water Painting: Under the Sea: (Art Activity Book, Books for Family Travel, Kids’ Coloring Books, Magic Color and Fade) (iSeek)Trace & Learn Handwriting Practice: Unicorn (iSeek)Color & Cut Masks: Unicorns: (Origami For Kids, Art books for kids 4 – 8, Boys and Girls Coloring, Creativity and Fine Motor Skills) (iSeek)Color & Cut Masks: Dinosaurs: (Origami For Kids, Art books for kids 4 – 8, Boys and Girls Coloring, Creativity and Fine Motor Skills)Color, Cut, and Fold: Ocean Animals: (Art books for kids 4 – 8, Boys and Girls Coloring, Creativity and Fine Motor Skills, Kids Origami, Sharks) (iSeek)Color, Cut, and Fold: Wild Animals: (Lions, Tigers, Elephants, Art books for kids 4 – 8, Boys and Girls Coloring, Creativity and Fine Motor Skills, Kids Origami) (iSeek)

Which one of these books for toddlers and preschoolers will you be picking up?

Becky Watts, The Evil Within

January 27, 2021 by Leah Leave a Comment

If there is one thing that you’ve probably noticed, it’s that I like an eclectic mix of books. I tend to lean towards books that are psychological thrillers or mysteries, but every now and then I like a good nonfiction book. When I was scrolling through Kindle Unlimited looking for a book, I came across the book, The Evil Within. This nonfiction book is about the brutal murder of Becky Watts at the hand of her step brother. Since I thought I had heard about this case, I was totally intrigued to read it.

*As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases*

About Becky Watts, The Evil Within

From Amazon –

Previously published as Becky, this is the heartbreaking story behind the murder of 16-year-old Bristol schoolgirl Becky Watts, a crime that shocked the nation and tore a family in two.

A vulnerable and shy girl, Becky Watts was brutally murdered and dismembered by her own step-brother on 19 February 2015. As her father Darren discovered the horrific details of what happened to his darling girl, his world fell apart.

Writing about the darkest hours, Darren uncovers what Becky’s relationship with her step-brother Nathan, a child he had raised as his own son, was really like. He recalls the devastation of discovering the truth about the depravity with which Becky was torn from him in the safety of her own home. And he recounts the torment of the legal battle to see his step-son sentenced to life behind bars.

Both heartfelt and haunting, searingly honest and unflinching, this is the ultimate story of a family tragedy.

Kindle Unlimited Membership Plans

My Thoughts

I couldn’t put this book down. From the second I started reading it, I literally spent every spare second I had reading. It took me about a day and a half to finish the book. One of the things that drew me to read the book was because it was the step brother that committed the crime and I was curious about the parents. How did they survive losing their daughter at the hands of a close family member. The book was written by Becky’s father and he did a great job conveying the various emotions felt throughout the entire ordeal.

About Kindle Unlimited

I mentioned that I got this book from Kindle Unlimited. If you like reading on a Kindle, smartphone, or tablet, then you may want to consider this membership. For $9.99 a month, you can read as many books as you want. In January so far, I have read five books. Given the price of Kindle books, I have more than used my membership this month. If you click on the link above, you can get your first month for free to see if you like it. A lot of the books I read are from Kindle Unlimited.

Verity, Psychological Thriller by Colleen Hoover

January 18, 2021 by Leah Leave a Comment

“This book is a bit disturbing.” Those were the words I read when I looked up Verity by Colleen Hoover. I had never read anything by this author, so I looked it up on GoodReads. That was the first sentence of the first review I read. And I was all in! I immediately downloaded the book to my Kindle and started reading. The book was finished in exactly 24 hours from when I started it. You know a book is good when you can’t put it down.

*As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases*

verity

Verity Ugly Love: A Novel Regretting You

About Verity by Colleen Hoover

From Amazon –

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.

Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity’s notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn’t expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity’s recollection of the night their family was forever altered.

She decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen’s feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife’s words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.

Due to graphic scenes and mature content, this book is recommended for readers 18+.

My Thoughts

This is the best book I have read in a very long time. Yes it was very disturbing…that review was correct. However, despite how disturbing various parts of the book was, the way it was written was amazing. Colleen Hoover definitely has a way with words. Each and every sentence she wrote, painted a picture in my head, as if I was watching the book unfold, rather than reading it. Verity is definitely a book that I could see made into a movie. I hope it will be one day!

Kindle Unlimited Membership Plans

Was Verity Really That Disturbing?

Yes. It really was. There were moments when I was reading it that I needed to close my Kindle and take a breather. While that may spook other people, or even turn them off from the book, it made me love the book all the more! Yes I realize liking to be spooked by the books I read is probably disturbing, in and of itself, but oh well! Let’s put it this way, I liked Verity so much that I immediately downloaded another Colleen Hoover book to read! When I like an author, I tend to read everything they’ve written!

Kindle Paperwhite – Now Waterproof with 2x the Storage – Ad-Supported E-Reader Charger, AC Power Supply Charger for Kindle E-Reader Paperwhite 3 Oasis E-Reader Voyage E-Reader with 5FT Charging Cable CoBak Kindle Paperwhite Case – All New PU Leather Smart Cover with Auto Sleep Wake Feature for Kindle Paperwhite 10th Generation 2018 Released, Sky Blue

Is The Kindle Paperwhite Worth It?

In one word, yes! My husband got me the Kindle Paperwhite for my birthday one year and it was absolutely the best present I have ever gotten. I use my Kindle every single day. My Kindle is in my purse at all times. You never know when you will be stuck waiting, which gives you time to read! The other thing that is SOOOOOO recommended, is the Kindle Unlimited membership. For just $9.99 a month, you can download however many books you want to read! It’s really come in handy and I have a lot of authors that I love on Kindle Unlimited!

Keto for Foodies Cookbook by Nicole Downs

January 8, 2021 by Leah Leave a Comment

My husband and I have been doing the Keto diet for a few years now. We both have had significant success with this lifestyle change. Unfortunately, life happened and we strayed away a little bit, and the one thing we both felt was terrible. Our bodies felt better without eating all the carbs and sugar. Right before Christmas, we decided that we were going to get strict again. I got this Keto for Foodies cookbook by Nicole Downs and it is one of my favorites!

*As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases*

Woopoo Metal Recipe Holder 2 Weighted Chains to Hold Pages in Place and a Kickstand for Durability Collapsible Storage is Light in Weight Support Book and Tablet Placement Cookbook Holder …Keto For Foodies: The Ultimate Low-Carb Cookbook with over 125 Mouthwatering Recipes

About the Cookbook by Nicole Downs

One of the first things you see when you open this cookbook is the authors story. I think that is very important to read because you see that Nicole Downs is on this Keto journey. She didn’t just jump on the “Keto bandwagon” and make a cookbook. The next part is the “nuts and bolts” of the diet. Even though I already knew quite a bit about this lifestyle, I found this part to be very helpful, especially the small section about the Keto sugars. That part is very helpful! However, my absolute favorite part, are the recipes! You will find recipes for dressings/sauces/seasonings, appetizers, breads (yes breads!), soups, salads, sides, main meals, and sweet treats! I like cookbooks and this one is by far one of the best!

Quest Nutrition Tortilla Style Protein Chips, Loaded Taco, Low Carb, Gluten Free, Baked, 1.1 Ounce (Pack of 12)Tillamook Country Smoker Zero Sugar Original Keto Friendly Smoked Sausages, 10 Ounce Genius Gourmet Protein Keto Chips, Low Carb, Premium MCTs, Gluten Free, Keto Snack (Spicy Nacho), pack of 8, 1.13 oz. (32 g) each

My Favorite Keto Recipes

As you can see by the tabs on the side of the book, I have used this cookbook! I put a tab at the recipe I made (if I like it) so it makes it easier for me to turn to the recipes I’ve made and liked. So far I have made bacon jam and a French country stew (I’m making a third recipe from this book tonight). The bacon jam was to die for. Literally. I could have sat there and ate just the bacon jam with a spoon. Each recipe has the macros per serving at the bottom, so it makes it very easy for me to put the meal into My Fitness Pal and track it for the day. You can read more about my Keto journey by visiting these blog posts. Visit my Instagram page to follow my journey.

Deadly Cross by James Patterson

January 6, 2021 by Leah Leave a Comment

One of my favorite authors, that I read several of his series books, is James Patterson. He is the author of the ever popular Alex Cross series and the Women’s Murder Club series (among others). I’ve been reading the Alex Cross series for about 20 years. As soon as I find out that James Patterson has a new Alex Cross book coming out, I instantly go on the Libby app and reserve it for my Kindle! Deadly Cross is the latest book in the Alex Cross series. Like every other Alex Cross book, this one most definitely did not disappoint!

*As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases*

Deadly Cross (Alex Cross, 28)Criss Cross (Alex Cross, 25)Target: Alex Cross (Alex Cross, 24)

About Deadly Cross

From Amazon –

A double homicide in the nation’s capital opens the psychological case files – on Detective Alex Cross.

Kay Willingham led a life as glamorous as it was public – she was a gorgeous Georgetown socialite, philanthropist, and the ex-wife of the vice president. So why was she parked in a Bentley convertible idling behind a DC private school, in the middle of the night, with the man who was the head of that school? Who shot them both, point blank, and why? The shocking double homicide is blazed across the internet, TV, newspapers – and across Alex Cross’s mind. Kay had been his patient once. And maybe more.

While John Sampson of DC Metro Police investigates the last movements of Christopher Randall, the educator killed along with Kay Willingham, detective Alex Cross and FBI special agent Ned Mahoney find unanswered questions from Willingham’s past, before she arrived in DC and became known in Washington society as someone who could make things happen. They travel to Alabama to investigate Kay’s early years. There they find a world of trouble, corruption, and secrets, all of them closed to outsiders like Cross and Mahoney.

Kay had many enemies, but all of them seemed to need her alive. The harder the investigators push, the more resistance they find when they leave behind the genteel law offices and doctors’ quarters of the state capital. Alex Cross will need to use all his skills as a doctor, a detective, and a family man to prevent that resistance from turning lethal…again.

Merry Christmas, Alex Cross (Alex Cross, 19)Criss Cross (Alex Cross Book 27)Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, 1)

My Thoughts

Well…first…I read the book in a day and a half. So I guess you could say, I liked it! Actually, I like Deadly Cross a lot. Like I said before, James Patterson is one of my favorite authors. With that said, sometimes when he has a co-author, the book doesn’t have the “James Patterson voice”. Deadly Cross, however, was 100% James Patterson. The old James Patterson. I loved it! The simplistic sentence structure, and I do not mean that as an insult, keeps me engaged and moves the story along. Moves it along so much that I finished it very quickly! I’m sure the next people in line to read the book at the library was very pleased that I returned it so quickly!

Twelve South BookBook for Kindle Paperwhite 4, 10th Gen 2019 | Distressed Hardback Full-Grain Leather Case and Viewing Easel with Auto-Wake/Sleep Kindle Paperwhite – Now Waterproof with more than 2x the Storage, 32 GB, Wi-Fi + Free Cellular Connectivity E-Reader Charger, AC Power Supply Charger for Kindle E-Reader Paperwhite 3 Oasis E-Reader Voyage E-Reader with 5FT Charging Cable

What Else Does James Patterson Write?

I could literally sit here all day and write out every single thing James Patterson has written, but the best thing I cold do is send you to his website. At his website you will see a list of his books, as well as, each book series broken up with reading lists. If you are like me, you will want to read the books in order. I highly recommend you do. The older Alex Cross books are so good and they provide you with a TON of backstory. If you have children, he writes excellent books for kids. When my kids were tweens (especially my son) they really enjoyed his books. They made them laugh!