Magic in the Mountains: A Christmas Trilogy Virtual Tour: Review and Prize Pack Giveaway

What is your family's favorite holiday tradition? Does your celebration involve traveling to somewhere special? Find out how a cheery family ski vacation turns into an urgent mission to save Christmas in Magic in the Mountains: A Christmas Trilogy by T.E. Milburn. Enter to win a signed copy along with a cozy bundle of goodies related to the novel!

My Review:

Full of action and imagination, Magic in the Mountains: A Christmas Trilogy is a thrilling and uplifting middle-grade fantasy about family, friendship, courage and Christmas magic. This 3-in-1 edition provides easy access to all books in the series, with each subsequent story happening approximately one year apart from the previous one.

It has become a family tradition for the James to spend their Christmas break at a ski resort in Canada. This year, however, a sudden blizzard forces them to change route and pull into the magnificent yet mysterious North Point Ski Resort, where the world's best-tasting hot cocoa is served by elf-like creatures. Noah and Alex James, aged 8 and 10, soon find out that Santa is imprisoned by his brother Malachi while their parents are held hostage by a dark force attempting to obtain the magic crystal Noah discovers during their family trip to Yellowstone. The crystal has the power to transport the brothers to wherever they can mentally picture, but it can be the source of danger and betrayal as well. Will the duo stand up to the challenge and manage to save Santa, their parents, and Christmas?

Well-written and beautifully illustrated, the trilogy captures a reader's full attention from the first page, on which Santa is trapped in the dungeons of North Pole, completely cut off from his magic. With a charming blend of mystery, magic, fantasy and adventure, the stories keep young readers engaged as they follow Noah and Alex's daring journeys. Kid-friendly language, short chapters and perfect pacing guarantee the read to be a smooth and enjoyable one. While the narrative gets kids immersed in the winter wonderland through vivid descriptions, the lifelike illustrations help them visualize all the intricate details and dive even deeper into the stories.

The two young heroes of the series are skillfully developed with distinctive personalities and growth arcs. Their experience confirms the value of love, kindness, determination, courage and teamwork. Meanwhile, the dynamics of sibling relationship is explored through realistic and relatable scenarios like bickering, joking, bonding and collaborating. For those who are fond of talking animals and magical creatures, the trilogy portrays plenty with fascinating characteristics and intriguing interactions with the James brothers.

Festive and imaginative, Magic in the Mountains: A Christmas Trilogy deserves a prominent spot on any fantasy and adventure lover's holiday reading list.

About the Book:

Ages: 7-12 | 403 Pages
Publisher: T.E. Milburn (2025) | ISBN: 979-8991011488

Celebrate the wonder of the holiday season with Magic in the Mountains: A Christmas Trilogy. Discover the heartwarming adventures of this highly rated series, now available in one beautifully illustrated edition.

Calling All Heroes! A dark shadow looms over the North Pole, and we need brave readers like you to help us protect Christmas!

Hi, we’re Noah and Alex James, and we’re excited to take you on this incredible journey. Here’s what we’ve uncovered so far:

• Our adventures began with Santa’s mysterious capture, and we’re on a quest to discover the mastermind behind this wicked scheme. 
• Strange occurrences continue to shake the North Pole, but our determination to uncover the truth only grows stronger! 
• People are calling us the “Sons of the Crystal,” hinting at an extraordinary destiny we are still trying to understand. 
• The magic of Christmas is in grave danger, and it’s up to us to protect it at all costs!

We have received incredible support from amazing allies along the way— including super-chill yetis, quirky gnomes, talking animals, and other fantastical creatures. However, we still need your help to solve the mystery of who is attacking Christmas and why!

Are you ready to dive into this magical adventure and join us in saving Christmas? If so, open your book and let’s go!

Purchase links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

12 Days of Getting Ready for Christmas Virtual Tour: Review and Prize Pack Giveaway

Christmas is just a few weeks away. How does your family get ready for the holidays? Anything similar to what's covered in 12 Days of Getting Ready for Christmas by Tanya Harvey? Enter to win a copy, along with a $100 gift card and a star tree topper!

My Review:

Dedicated to moms who make holiday time magical, 12 Days of Getting Ready for Christmas captures the joy, excitement, and challenges of holiday preparation through a comical and cheerful Christmas countdown.

A family of four is busy preparing for their holiday celebration in the days leading up to Christmas. Each day sees something new being added to their activity list, starting from placing a star on top of the tree to putting on silly sweaters. Besides sparkling decorations, yummy food and fancy gifts, the preparation also involves messes that need to be cleaned. Thankfully, elf is not the only helper around the house.

With humor and affection, this Christmas tale weaves together a little chaos, a lot of laughter, and many memorable moments into one heartwarming holiday celebration. While getting young readers excited about the holiday season, it prompts them to appreciate all the hard work that makes everything possible, such as shopping, gift wrapping, decorating, crafting, cooking and cleaning up. The mom in the story is shown taking the lead in the preparation while the rest of the family, including two girls and their dad, are happily helping her out. It suggests getting ready for the holidays together as an opportunity to create family memories that will last for years to come.

Suitable for early readers, the narrative adopts a repetition pattern that makes it easy to follow and remember. The growing list of activities provides an entertaining example of how to build and expand a sentence with parallel structure. The book comes with a QR code that grants access to an animated sing-along version, which helps little ones understand the story without having to know all the words.

Full of festive fun and funny faces, the charmingly colorful artwork vividly portrays a loving family as they are merrily engaged in various holiday activities, some of which lead to messy situations. I love how the book ends with a sweet scene in which everyone in the family falling asleep under the tree, exhausted but content, with the mom smiling in her dream.

A delight to read aloud and sing along, 12 Days of Getting Ready for Christmas encourages the entire family to get involved in holiday preparation, as a way to create and honor their own holiday tradition.

About the Book:

Ages: 4-6 | 24 Pages
Publisher: Newtown Station Press (2024) | ISBN: 978-1069140333

Celebrate the joyful chaos of the holiday season! No pear trees here! This modern twist on a classic countdown reminds us that Christmas is not just about the Big Day, but how we cherish preparing for it together. From decorating the tree to last-minute shopping, each day presents a new challenge — and plenty of laughter — as the family works together to ensure everything is ready for their holiday celebration. This charming story captures the love and dedication that go into making the season special, reminding us how quickly it passes by — and how the journey is where the memories are made. Filled with delightful illustrations that bring heartwarming moments to life, The 12 Days of Getting Ready for Christmas is a whirlwind of festive fun, perfect for readers of all ages — especially Moms who make Christmas magical.

Purchase links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org

Ode to a Pug: NOT the VET! Virtual Tour: Review and Prize Pack Giveaway

Is your little one reluctant to go to the doctor's office because of the shots she may has to take there? Then she can understand perfectly Phoebe's fear for the vet. Yes, our beloved pug Phoebe is back! Let's see how her new adventure goes in Ode to a Pug: NOT the VET!, the third installment in the award-winning series by bestselling author Jill Rosen. Enter to win a hardcover copy or a complete signed set of the series, along with exclusive pug plushies!

My Review:

With witty rhymes, charming characters, and playful pictures, Ode to a Pug: NOT the VET! crafts a funny, lyrical and delightful tale about facing one's fear with courage and support from loved ones.

Phoebe's got a sore eye with goop. When her human offers to take her on a ride, her hunch tells her to hide...between the pillows, under the table, or deep in the laundry basket. Unfortunately, THAT cunning cat is determined not to let Phoebe have her way. Shouldn't a cat be sleeping during the day? She's left with no choice but to face her biggest fear. To her surprise, however, the VET doesn't exactly look like the monsters in her memory, and the shot is over before she knows it. A vet visit isn't so scary after all.

Told from Phoebe's point of view, the story lets us in on her fear and anxiety about vet visits and needles, with humor and compassion. Along with the comically cute pug, readers realize that past experience can be misleading while what we fear may not be as scary as we assume. It takes courage to make the bold move, but it's worth a shot and may be beneficial in the long run. The nudge from the cat and the loving company of her human friend both contribute to Phoebe's success in overcoming her fear. So don't hesitate to reach out for help and support during your own fear-fighting journey.

The book wouldn't be complete without the adorably expressive and entertaining drawings, which well complement the rhyming narrative with fascinating details in support of the story's key messages. From the cat's mischievous lick on Phoebe's eye to the concerned look on her human's face, young readers can clearly feel the love and care Phoebe receives from her family. The triumphant grin Phoebe wears after her vet visit is encouraging and reassuring to those who share her worries about doctors and shots.

Hearty and hilarious, Ode to a Pug: NOT the VET! is a pure joy to read for pet lovers of all ages. Phoebe is one pug that knows how to leave her fans longing for more of her amusing antics!

About the Book:

Ages: 4-6 | 21 Pages
Publisher: Pug House Books (2025) | ISBN: 978-1-0695069-0-0

Do you ever get the feeling that something terrible is about to happen? Where the panic takes over, your eyes widen and you just need to zoom? Well, today is that day for our beloved pug Phoebe as she faces her biggest fear yet – THE VET!

Laugh along to another silly, heartfelt and sweetly illustrated story from the author of the award-winning “Ode to a Pug”.

Pugs aren’t really scared of much (except vacuums, tinfoil, bells, any loud noise…), but there is one place that causes our comical canine to cower – the DREADED VET’S OFFICE!

Join on an epic journey of courage for a little pug with a big heart and a belly full of gas. An amusing rhyming story ideal for children ages 2-8 and dog lovers of all ages.

Purchase links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org

Adventures with Allie and Friends: Chef Cherie's Cafe Virtual Tour: Review & Giveaway (10 Winners)

Do you love food? Do you enjoy helping people? Then you don't want to miss Adventures with Allie and Friends: Chef Cherie's Cafe, first in the new picture book series by Melanie Moore. Enter to win one of 10 copies!

My Review:

With cheerful characters and mouthwatering food choices, Adventures with Allie and Friends: Chef Cherie's Cafe provides an interactive reading experience by inviting little ones to be part of the story.

Allie's friend Chef Cherie is opening a new cafe, but she's having trouble deciding which food items belong to the breakfast menu and which belong to the lunch menu. Allie comes to her rescue. Join Allie and help finalize the menus with the correct choices. Check to see if the menus Allie helps create match yours.

Simple and sweet, the story teaches about food items and sorting them into separate categories by asking questions with two options. While there seems to be a definite answer for each question, young readers are given the liberty to create their own menus with different food choices. More importantly, they are encouraged to offer help to those who need it, and take every opportunity to spread kindness.

Through vibrant colors and smiling faces, the book's illustrations showcase the joy of being helpful, motivating young children to follow Allie's example. The addition of Allie's puppy is a nice touch.

Enjoyable and engaging, Adventures with Allie and Friends: Chef Cherie's Cafe is perfect for young food-lovers and budding adventure-seekers.

About the Book:

Ages: 3-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Mascot Publishing (2025) | ISBN: 979-8891385351

Meet Allie! She loves helping her friends any way she can. She is always on the lookout for new ways to make a difference.

In this first book about her adventures, Allie helps Chef Cherie with her restaurant.

Will you come along with Allie and Chef Cherie?

Purchase links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org