Crashers by Lindy S. Hudis - Review

Title: Crashers
Author: Lindy S. Hudis
Publisher: Bettie Youngs Book Publisher
Publish Date: April 27, 2012

Synopsis: Fraudulent car accidents is a multi-million dollar racket, involving unscrupulous medical providers, personal injury attorneys, and the cooperating passengers involved in the accidents and who also receive a portion of the illegal proceeds. Such is the fate of newly engaged, Nathan and Shari, whose joy is tempered by the dark cloud of mounting debt. A chance encounter with a stranger in whom Shari confides her troubles, proves fortuitous: he tells her of a get-rich-quick scheme that will put her and her fiance on easy street. Seduced by the chance to move from hard times to good times in no time, she finds herself acting as a stuffed passenger the victim in a staged auto accident. Shari gets her payday, but getting out and breaking free of the insurance fraud underworld will take nothing short of a miracle. A modern day cautionary tale that uncovers how the innocent get lured into the scheme of cappers and hammers.

My Thoughts:I was a little unsure what to expect from Crashers. Truthfully I wasn't sure how interested I would be in insurance fraud, but I'm glad I gave it a chance. Lindy S. Hudis took the world of insurance fraud and turned it into an excited fictional read.

Shari and Nathan were an interesting couple. Starting out struggling, but seemingly still on the rise to fortune. When their whole world crashed down you got a major look into who they were as people. Let me tell you they had some major flaws.

Bryce was a great character. He started so mysterious, but as the book went on you got to see into his thoughts about everything. He was pretty laid back about how illegal their work of insurance fraud was. 

Louise was my favorite. I was rooting for her the whole way. She was a very brave woman and cop, to take on the huge ring surrounding the insurance fraud. She seemed very intuitive and very self reliant. 

This book was very non-stop. There was constantly some element of thrill going on the whole time. I never once found myself bored and waiting for something interesting to happen. Hudis did an excellent job with this book!

My Rating:

Info and Purchase:

Crashers Website

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I received Crashers as part of a Karma Media campaign. All opinions are 100% mine.

Captain by Thomas Block - Review and Giveaway

This will be the first book I have read in the aviation field. I think Thomas Block did an amazing job of giving information about aviation. I felt like I was learning so much at the same time as I was enjoying a good book. Captain was on wild ride! I was constantly on the edge waiting to see what would happen next.

I enjoyed all the different character views. Block wrote from so many characters' point of views that it was like a very complete story. You didn't just get one main character's way of thinking. I also liked the history that Block worked into the characters. I learned a lot about them in the moment but also a lot of what helped shape them and their decision in this scary situation.

I really liked this book. I think it is a definite must read for people who enjoy aviation, and also a great read for people who love that fast paced rush from a book. You can learn more about Thomas Block and his novel Captain at his website, Captain Facebook page, and Thomas Block Facebook page.

Rating:

Welcome to another great Karma Media Book Tour, where you will find honest reviews and insights into today’s authors and books. Each tour stop is unique, so remember to check back with the tour daily. View the entire tour schedule here: This tour will feature:

Author: Thomas Block

Featuring the book: Captain

CreateSpace (April 7, 2012) - 348 Pages

Available in Paperback and Kindle ($16.99/$6.99)

Action/Adventure/Thriller

About the Author:

Thomas Block has written a number of aviation-oriented novels, many which have gone on to acquire best-seller status in numerous countries. His novel writing began with the publication of "Mayday" in 1979. That novel was rewritten with his boyhood friend, novelist Nelson DeMille in 1998 and remains on DeMille's extensive backlist. "Mayday" became a CBS Movie of the Week in October, 2005. Other novels by Block include "Orbit" (a top bestseller in Germany, among other nations), "Airship Nine", "Forced Landing" (also done as a radio serializatoin drama in Japan), "Skyfall", "Open Skies" and "Captain". Thomas Block is still writing both fiction and non-fiction, and has edited and updated his earlier novels into ebooks of all the major formats and also into new full-sized (trade soft cover) printed versions.
  About the Book: 'Captain' is his most ambitious, intricate and action-packed aviation tale yet . It is a chilling and all-too-real story about a routine Trans-Atlantic airline flight that suddenly turns absolutely insane. In the doomed airliner's cockpit, inside the passenger cabin and on the ground, a complex array of characters have been propelled at jet speed into a sudden and frantic race for survival. 'Captain' is about the individual and collective struggles of each of these men and women as they attempt to deal with and ultimately fight against the odds and circumstances that are stacked against them. 'Captain' is a novel that pits man against man while also pitting man against machine. It is a story about the need for human judgments, hard-learned experiences, gut feelings and unbridled perseverance in an effort to rise up against a world where the strict adherence to written rules, regulations and procedures have been accepted as the norm. 'Captain' is about the way real airline pilots think, feel and react, especially after those giant airliners that they've strapped themselves to have suddenly turned vicious and unpredictable.

Disclosure: This tour was brought to you by Karma Media. As a participant of this book tour, I received a copy of the book in hardcopy or ebook format for the purposes of sharing my honest review with you.

If you are interested in joining Karma Media Book Tours or would like to explore the possibility of having Karma Media feature your book or series, we invite you to visit our team website at www.karmamediateam.com Check out what other Karma Media Team members think of Captain by Thomas Block. Enter on the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win a signed copy of Captain by Thomas Block! Giveaway ends September 11th. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Creative Steps Review

I have a very busy household with five little ones. I always feel like I need to make some kind of structured time for us all to have fun and learn something. Making crafts together is a perfect way for us to do that. The Creative Steps magazines are so full of great craft ideas! I received a copy of the Winter 2011 and the Spring 2012 magazines. I have tons of new craft plans for my children. 

I am so excited about the Bean Bag Bullseye (pictured above) and the Letter Badges (pictured below) crafts. They will both be a lot of fun to use with my 5 and 3 year old over the summer to prepare for school.

I know spring is over but the Hands Up For Spring craft (pictured above) looks great! I think all of my children will enjoy the cute little hand puppets, especially since they will get to help make them.

The Cling Film Painting (pictured above) will be great with my children. Not only do they love anything where they get to paint but we can work on learning colors. 

There are just so many other amazing things in these magazines. A major favorite of mine is the Reading Corner! It is full of age appropriate book suggestions for children. There are also recipes! I can't wait to start doing all these great crafts with my children. I'll hopefully get to post about the crafts over on Five Kids and Crazy Me as I do them. 

The Creative Steps magazine would be an amazing teaching tool for many people to use with children. It would be great for teachers, parents, and many other people who care for and teach children. I have a feeling I will be having a very crafty summer. 

If you would like to learn more or connect with Creative Steps you can do so at Creative Steps Website, Creative Steps on Facebook, and Creative Steps on Twitter .

Also Creative Steps is offering a Special Readers Discount of 25% OFF Annual Subscriptions on both the online and printed versions of the magazines.

For annual subscription of online version -
With discount applied cost would be £13.50 (GBP) or $22.50 (USD)
Use the discount code KARDIG25 and use this email - info@creativesteps.co.uk
For annual subscription of printed version - 
With discount applied cost would be £22.35 (GBP) for UK customers or $63.75 (USD)for US customers (including postage) 
Use the discount code KARMA25 and this link   https://creativesteps.subscribeonline.co.uk/all-titles/creative-steps?offer=KARMA25

As a member of Karma Media I received this product from Creative Steps in hopes of obtaining a review. All opinions are my own.

On Toby's Terms & Toby and His Hospital Friends Giveaway

Toby has specially 'PAWdographed' both books for our lucky winners !!

This amazing giveaway is open Worldwide

Ending on Saturday 26th May at 12.01am EST
Hosted by Karma Media

5 WINNERS RECEIVE BOTH FANTASTIC BOOKS !!

On Toby's Terms

When Charmaine and her husband adopted Toby, a five-year-old Chesapeake Bay retriever, they figured he might need some adjusting time, but they certainly didn't count on what he'd do in the meantime. Soon after he entered their lives and home, Toby proved to be a holy terror who routinely opened and emptied the hall closet, turned on water taps, pulled and ate things from the bookshelves, sat for hours on end in the sink, and spent his days rampaging through the house. Oddest of all was his penchant for locking himself in the bathroom, and then pushing the lid of the toilet off the tank, smashing it to pieces. After a particularly disastrous encounter with the knife- block in the kitchen-and when the couple discovered Toby's bloody paw prints on the phone-they decided Toby needed professional help. Little did they know what they would discover about this dog. On Toby's Terms is an endearing story of a beguiling creature who teaches his owners that, despite their trying to teach him how to be the dog they want, he is the one to lay out the terms of being the dog he needs to be. This insight would change their lives forever.

Toby the Pet Therapy Dog, and his hospital friends

Toby is a big, brown, happy dog. Every week, his owner, Miss Charmaine takes him to visit and comfort children who are in the hospital. Follow Toby the service dog for a day, and see how he makes friends with the children, helps make them happy and forget that they are sick and away from home. * Beautifully illustrated, Toby, the Pet Therapy Dog teaches young readers the wonders of being of service to others. * A happy story that also sends a positive message about community, as well as the importance of kindness to pets.

Special Thanks to Toby and Author Charmaine Hammond for these super prizes xxx

ENTER TO WIN !!
GOOD LUCK !!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Toby, the Pet Therapy Dog, and His Hospital Friends by Charmaine Hammond - Review

Title: Toby, the Pet Therapy Dog, and His Hospital Friends
Author: Charmaine Hammond
Illustrator: Rose Anne Prevec
Publisher: Betty Youngs Books
Publish Date: September 1, 2011


Synopsis: Toby is a big, brown, happy dog. Every week, his owner, Miss Charmaine takes him to visit and comfort children who are in the hospital. Follow Toby the service dog for a day, and see how he makes friends with the children, helps make them happy and forget that they are sick and away from home. * Beautifully illustrated, Toby, the Pet Therapy Dog teaches young readers the wonders of being of service to others. * A happy story that also sends a positive message about community, as well as the importance of kindness to pets. From Amazon.

My Thoughts: This is a really adorable children's book. I have two things that stuck out so much to me. One, as the synopsis says, this book teaches children about helping others. Two, at the end of the book is a wonderful set of questions to ask your children about the book. 


The illustrations are so beautiful and a lot of fun. My girls loved looking at them all. One of their absolute favorites was Toby running around Miss Charmaine. They thought it was so funny. I loved Toby's red bandanna and his little teddy bear!


I really had a lot of fun reading Toby, the Pet Therapy Dog, and His Hospital Friends with my children. They loved hearing it, too. My five year old is learning to read in school and she read the book, mostly, by herself. I mean Charmaine is a big word for a little girl. 


I think that this is a book that little kids will really enjoy. Parents will love it, too, for the great lesson it teaches their children.

Rating:

You can learn more about Toby and connect with Charmaine at Toby on Facebook, On Toby’s Terms on Facebook, On Toby’s Terms Website , and Toby’s Tales Website.

You can purchase both of Charmaine Hammond's books on Amazon at On Tobys Terms and Toby the Pet Therapy Dog.

I received Toby, the Pet Therapy Dog, and His Hospital Friends as part of a Karma Media campaign. All opinions are 100% mine.

On Toby's Terms by Charmaine Hammond - Review

Title: On Toby's Terms

Author: Charmaine Hammond

Publisher: Bettie Young Books Publishing Co

Synopsis: When Charmaine and her husband adopted Toby, a five-year-old Chesapeake Bay retriever, they figured he might need some adjusting time, but they certainly didn't count on what he'd do in the meantime. Soon after he entered their lives and home, Toby proved to be a holy terror who routinely opened and emptied the hall closet, turned on water taps, pulled and ate things from the bookshelves, sat for hours on end in the sink, and spent his days rampaging through the house. Oddest of all was his penchant for locking himself in the bathroom, and then pushing the lid of the toilet off the tank, smashing it to pieces. After a particularly disastrous encounter with the knife- block in the kitchen-and when the couple discovered Toby's bloody paw prints on the phone-they decided Toby needed professional help. Little did they know what they would discover about this dog. On Toby's Terms is an endearing story of a beguiling creature who teaches his owners that, despite their trying to teach him how to be the dog they want, he is the one to lay out the terms of being the dog he needs to be. This insight would change their lives forever. 

My Thoughts: I am a total dog lover, so I was very excited to read On Toby's Terms by Charmaine Hammond. I couldn't wait to read about Toby's journey with his new family, and how he became a rescue dog. Let me tell you, he is one cute dog! I don't know how anyone could resist that face. 

I really enjoyed Charmaine's story telling abilities! She always added in what Toby was thinking during an action. I think it definitely brought a great aspect to the book. I always felt like I could just see this loving dog doing everything Charmaine wrote about. 

Poor, poor Chris! I completely felt for him. My five children always seem to have caused some new kind of chaos in my house, and I am home with them all the time! Charmaine has the patience of a saint. Eventually, I am sure, even though I love dogs, Toby would have riled me up. Of course, his doggy smiles and apology presents probably would have won me over. 

Toby's journey to becoming a pet therapy dog was so great to read about. I especially liked reading about Wednesdays with Toby, and how he helped the patients. I also loved how much Charmaine learned as she followed Toby on his journey. Toby definitely touches many lives.

I think this is a wonderful book. It is a heartfelt and inspiring book. I was pulled in and enjoyed it all so much. I laughed, I cried, and I kept stopping to tell my husband parts of the story. 

Rating:

You can learn more about Toby, his work, and Charmiane's books at: Toby on Facebook, On Toby’s Terms on Facebook, On Toby’s Terms Website, and Toby’s Tales Website




You can purchase your own copy of On Toby's Terms on Amazon. Be sure to stop back by on May 11th when we will be holding a giveaway! 5 winners will receive 'doggy PAWdographed' copies of both of Toby's books!

I received On Toby's Terms as part of a Karma Media campaign. All opinions are 100% mine.