Bring the richness of Dead Sea properties to your skin with Pacha's Dead Sea Mud Whipped Soap and Scrub

PACHA SOAP'S DEAD SEA MUD WHIPPED SOAP + EXTRA SCRUB

My thoughts: I have used several of the Pacha Bar Soaps and the Lavender Vanilla Whipped Soap Scrub; and everytime I have been so pleased with the feel of these products on my skin, the lathering capabilities, the scent. Knowing that the Pacha brand is supporting clean health initiatives and "green" products simply adds an extra special dimension of goodness to these products.

Find it on GoodEarthBeauty.com

I am currently using the Dead Sea Mud Whipped Soap and Extra Scrub. While it contains various oils, it does not leave my skin feeling as though it has been rubbed down with oils (you know, that "greasy" feel some products leave on your skin). 

The lathering properties are lovely. The pumice exfoilation is light-grained and effective. My skin feels softened, lightly scented, and clean.

The "flip lid" is great for shower or bath enabling one-hand opening. I am totally enjoying this lovely product.

Product information: Deeply exfoliate and cleanse skin with our Dead Sea Mud Whipped Soap + Extra Scrub. Crafted with natural exfoliants and balancing Dead Sea clay for an intensely rejuvenating scrub.

Great for use in the shower as a body wash or foot scrub. Make Whipped Soap + Scrub a part of your everyday bath routine!

Made by Pacha Soap, 8 oz Tub Price: $17.00

Ingredients: Vegetable Glycerin, Water, Sodium Chloride (Sea Salt, Pacific Salt, Peruvian Pink Salt), Sorbitol, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Pumice, Santalum Spicata (Sandalwood) Wood Oil, Salvia Sclarea (Sage Clary) Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Vetiveria Zizanoides (Vetiver) Root Oil, Natural Fragrance (Non-Synthetic scent derived from essential oils and plant extracts), Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Kaolin (Sea Clay), Volcanic Ash, Clay (Illite), Levulinic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Mineral Pigments

Buy it at Good Earth Beauty

USA orders Ship FREE

Discount Code: VERA10 = 10% off

Click to shop

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary product to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. I only recommend products that I or a member of my family has used.

Indescribable for Little Ones by Louie Giglio (board book) from Tommy Nelson an imprint of Thomas Nelson Publishing

ISBN: 9781400226153
$12.99 Boardbook

My thoughts:  I previously reviewed Indescribable in the earlier format for older children and thought it to be an absolutely wonderful resource and highly recommended it. This new edition of Indescribable 'For Little Ones' does not disappoint and is simply packed with delight.

Designed to capture the interest of younger children up to age 4 (or even 5 years), this board book features interactive tabs to turn or pull that are not simply hidden look-and-see pictures. There are questions that the reader asks the child. When the tab is pulled, the answer in picture or word is visible. Example:

Question: "The Highest place in the world is at the top of this mountain. It's called"

Answer: "Mount Everest (with snow capped mountain picture and text)"

Question: "What is the fastest animal in the world?"

Answer: "Picture and text - Cheetah"

The Universe is featured as well as other wonders. This is a beautiful book that covers more than the typical board book for little ones. A perfect addition to the collection of books for the Christian home.

About the book: Discover the wonders of God's creation! Bestselling author and pastor Louie Giglio brings Indescribable for Little Ones, an interactive board book that will introduce the littlest readers to God's amazing world. Young children will be awestruck as they pull tabs and turn a wheel to reveal that everything, from the ants on the ground to the stars in the sky, was made by God.

Louie's popular kids' devotional, Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God and Science, has touched hundreds of thousands of families by sharing incredible scientific facts alongside the wonder of God's majesty. Now this same message is made easy for little ones, focusing on four areas of creation:

• Space
• Earth
• Animals
• People

This STEM-themed board book:

• Is perfect for little hands and motor skills development with interactive pull tabs and wheels
• Would be a brilliant gift for baby showers, birthdays, Easter baskets, and holiday gifting
• Includes fun facts and Bible truths

Check out these other books in the bestselling Indescribable Kids series:

• Indescribable
• How Great Is Our God

Purchase Indescribable for Litle Ones - click here

About the author: Giglio is Pastor of Passion City Church and Original Visionary of the Passion movement, which exists to call a generation to leverage their lives for the fame of Jesus.

Since 1997, Passion Conferences has gathered collegiate-aged young people in events across the US and around the world. Most recently, Passion hosted over 700,000 people from over 150 countries online at Passion 2021.

Louie is the national-bestselling author of over a dozen books including his newest release, Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table, as well as Goliath Must Fall, Indescribable: 100 Devotions about God & Science, The Comeback, The Air I Breathe, I Am Not But I Know I Am, and others. As a communicator, Louie is widely known for messages like Indescribable and How Great is Our God.

An Atlanta native and graduate of Georgia State University, Louie has done post-graduate work at Baylor University and holds a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Louie and Shelley make their home in Atlanta.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER GIVEAWAY FOR A COPY OF INDESCRIBABLE 

Giveaway ends 4/14/2021

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Giveaway is hosted by Blessed Freebies and prize is provided and shipped directly to winner by Blessed Freebies, publisher, or author. Chat With Vera is not responsible for giveaway or prize.

Sweet picture books from Candlewick Press about Baby Moses and another about a scary goose [Review & Giveaway]

Baby Moses in a Basket by Caryn Yacowitz & illustrated by Julie Downing  

My thoughts:  The story of baby Moses being placed in a wicker basket and then into the river is embraced in Christianities Biblical text, Jewish Torah, and similar stories in Babylonian lore. 

This lovely little children's book Baby Moses in a Basket fleshes out the story with a drifting down the river after the basket is placed in the water and prior to discovery by Pharaoh's daughter.

An unperturbed baby floats through marshes, agitated water, and amidst dangers and all the while protected by a variety of animals, fish, and even crocodile. 

Definitely a bit more than the Biblical account but a sweet story and lovely illustrations.

About the book: The story of a tiny baby’s epic journey—and the surprising help he gets along the way—in a touching, transcendent picture book.

In the time of the pharaohs, a loving mother saves her son by tucking him into a basket and setting him afloat on the wide, wild Nile River. Over one long night, the creatures of the Nile—Curious Ibis, Mama Hippo, Mighty Crocodile—watch over Moses, nudge him on his way, and keep him safe through catching reeds and a raging storm. As morning breaks, the river delivers the baby safe and sound into an unexpected safe haven—the welcoming arms of the pharaoh’s daughter. With a poetic text and sumptuous watercolors, Caryn Yacowitz and Julie Downing introduce the youngest readers to Moses and the Exodus story and weave a warm, reassuring tale of love and comfort. Ideal for Passover and year-round, this universal story invites little ones of any faith to experience a thrilling journey in perfect, protected safety.

Mindi and the Goose No One Else Could See by Sam McBratney & illustrated by Linda Olafsdottir  

My thoughts:  I think this is a charming book and the illustrations are beautifully done. Little Mindi is fearful. There is a goose that only she can see and it makes her afraid.

Her parents want to do something to help her become unafraid so they seek the assistance of an older gentleman who lives on a nearby farm.

The way Mindi's fears are laid to rest are wise and sweet. I think this little book is a keeper.

About the book: A charming new story from the author of Guess How Much I Love You offers an original--and heartening--take on childhood anxiety.

Once there was a girl called Mindi who was afraid of something that no one else could see. This thing that she was afraid of, this thing that no one else could see, was a big goose. It came into her room as quietly as a thought comes into your head. . . .

When a little girl named Mindi says she is being visited by a big goose--a scary creature that is visible only to her--her devoted dad and mom try everything they can think of to drive it away. But maybe some outside assistance is warranted from their wise friend Austen, a farmer who knows what is needed to help Mindi turn her mind to something new. In a sensitive exploration of childhood fears, Sam McBratney, the author of Guess How Much I Love You, narrates with charm, wit, and a touch of whimsy, while Linda Olafsdottir's delicate illustrations enhance the modern fairy-tale feel in a story that is sure to become a bedtime favorite. 

GIVEAWAY

2 winners - both books each

Begins March 26

Ends April 24 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA & CANADA addresses.

NO P.O. BOXES

Canadian winners must provide phone number

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winners' books are provided and mailed directly to the winners by publisher or publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

Bring winter roughened skin back to fabulous softness with Good Earth Beauty Exclusives Soothing Citrus Salt Wash Scrub

Let's face it. Winter really does wreak havoc on our skin. Chapped. Dried out. Cracked. Wrinkled. Our poor hands, arms, feet and legs suffer. And then when warmer days begin to burst through the chill of winter and we begin to bring out our short sleeve tops and shorts that expose our arms and legs, we fully realize that we need help. 

SALT WASH SCRUB SOOTHING CITRUS NEW SKINCARE GOOD EARTH BEAUTY

I have found a wonderful product produced here in the USA with loving care in small batches by a small business. They have a great internet presence and almost cult following. You've seen some of their products here on Chat With Vera and today we're looking at.....

Click Here - Find it on Good Earth Beauty

I love to stand at the lavatory and run the water nice and warm. I then get a nice glob of this product and begin scrubbing (hand washing) my hands, up my arms, massaging my fingers and the tendons in my hands. This salt scrub works it's way into the skin cleaning, softening, refreshing. The scent is citrusy but it has a hint of lavender as well. 

Look at the ingredients.....

• Exfoliate – salt crystals gently lift dirt, grime and dead skin cells
• Moisturize – herbal infused emollient oils soften and smooth
• Protect – Lipids seal the living biome for dynamic resilience

 

Exfoliate, moisturize and protect with this Natural and gentle salt wash.  This Salt Wash cleanser contains highly effective ingredients that not only help to maintain healthy skin, but also help to actively repair damage to skin. 

Organic Hemp Oil regenerates & energizes the skin’s protective layer. Due to its high concentration of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, hemp oil has a composition similar to skin lipids, which makes it an excellent natural emollient and moisturizer. It is especially useful for dry, tired, or dehydrated skin.

 

Ingredients: Salt, Sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, hemp oil, hops flowers, lecithin, vitamin E oil, lavender essential oil, geranium essential oil, lemon essential oil and orange essential oil

Just look at the texture of this salt wash scrub. Rich in oils,
you'll need to stir to blend it each time you open to use.
I highly recommend this lovely product and believe you'll love it!

Buy it at Good Earth Beauty

USA orders ALWAYS Ship FREE

Discount Code: VERA10 = 10% off

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary product to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. I only recommend products that I or a member of my family has used.

#goodearthbeauty #brandambassador #skincare #lipbalm #takecareifyourskin #dryskin #mostwanted #skincareblogger #bblogger #organic #organicskincare #natural #crueltyfree #vegan #cleanbeauty #cleanskincare

Spi-Ku: A Clutter of Short Verse on Eight Legs by Leslie Bulion & illustrated by Robert Meganck. Published by Peachtree Publishing Company

ISBN: 9781682631928
Hardcover $16.99
Peachtree Publishing Inc.

My thoughts: When I see the word "clutter" I immediately think of a messy mess. Stuff cluttered about. So imagine my surprise when I learned that "clutter" is a collective noun for spiders! And then, I have this dream-nightmare of spiders. Goes back to my childhood when I was so afraid of the huge garden spiders that spun their webs across our garden gate. Enough about me and spiders (just don't let them creep, leap, hop, crawl off the pages of this book).

This is not your little kiddie book but it is a children's book. The illustrations are so very realistic. The side bars of information contain tidbits that will educate nicely. The poetic tone of the book's text, while not all in rhyme, is an introduction to a form of literature sometimes missed.

Educational text "The World of Spiders," "Spectacular Silk," "Spiders on the Move," etc. present instructional text on specifics of spider life and attributes. What is so much fun in each of these sections is the short verse that so entertainingly tells the read about that aspect of spiders. For example: "Worldwide Webbers" has this little nugget.....

Black-and-Yellow Garden Spider

An orbweaver called it a night.

Belly stuffed in the dusk's waning light,

Then a hurrying fly

Crashed her web and stuck by,

And the spider shrugged, "Well... one more bite."

The back matter pages at book's end include Glossary, A Few Notes on Poetic Form, Spi-ku Spider Identification, Spider Hunt!, and For Further Study. So  much to delight in as the author and illustrator bring entertaining lessons on the world of spiders and do it in such a poetic method. Entertaining education!

School librarians, public librarians, home schools, and classroom teachers should all include this one in their collections.

About the book: Leslie Bulion, award-winning educator favorite and master of science poetry, is back with a humorous exploration of the silk-spinning, bungee-jumping, hunting, trapping, trick-filled world of spiders!

Meet spiders that spit silk, roll like wheels, scuba dive, hide under trap doors, strum tunes, and so much more. Watch as they find mates, find prey...or find mates that become prey!

Award-winning poet Leslie Bulion and illustrator Robert Meganck team up again for this clutter (a collective noun for spiders) of Haiku and other short poems and humorously accurate illustrations that celebrate the amazing attributes of Araneae.

The book is also packed with helpful sidebars, call-outs, and backmatter, including a glossary of science terms, notes about the poetic forms, a list of common and scientific names, a spider-hunting adventure how-to, resources for further study, and a relative-size chart. A feast for science and animal fans and a bonanza for teachers and students interested in cross-curricular studies!

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

Calling all budding aviators ages 8-12 to discover "Planes: From the Wright Brothers to the Supersonic Jet" [Review & Giveaway, USA/CANADA]

Planes: From the Wright Brothers to the Supersonic Jet by Jan van der Veken (ISBN 978-3791374413; Hardcover $19.95; Ages 8-12; 104 pages)

My thoughts: Fascination for flying has occupied the mind of man for eons. As a child I remember my brothers and other boys making paper airplanes (with a variety of wing tip folds) and soaring them. 

Wars and military strategies advanced with ever improving equipment, specifically airplanes, to fight new and more advanced warfare. Until today's modern airplane soars at super sonic speeds wreaking havoc on enemies far and wide. 

And youngsters, both boys and girls, are continuing to be fascinated with the vehicle that soars through the air - the airplane.

In this book youngsters will learn how air moves over the wings dependent on the wing's shape and the impact such airflow has on the plane's motion. The history of the plane from its humble beginning to the marvel it is today fascinates the reader with each page turn.

The varied knowledge and skill that aviators must know and the ability to calculate variables is touched on further exploring the vastness that is the world of planes and flying them.

This is not a "kiddie" book as it is written in language understandable by the maturing child but without technicalities the field of aviation truly requires. It wets the appetite for more. It presents the types and history of aviation and planes in their fascinating capabilities to transport the individual to places around the world and on the edge of space.

A really good book to have in libraries of all types and for readers to have for hours of fascinating  perusal. 

About the book: Budding aviation fans will pore over every page of Planes: From the Wright Brothers to the Supersonic Jet. A fascinating encyclopedic guide to the history and mechanics of flight, from the Wright Brothers to the Concorde.

How does a plane move through the air? What is turbulence? What do those lines on the runways mean? All these questions and many more are answered in this gorgeously illustrated history of planes and flight. The book opens with a basic introduction to plane anatomy and shows how aircrafts have developed over the ages. Readers will then learn about aerodynamics, the mechanics of wing shape and lift, and how ailerons, propellers, and flaps work. There's even a section on communications systems, runway design, and GPS. Profiles of famous historic planes illustrate basic principles throughout the book. Readers will find out about record-breaking flights across continents and oceans; how "flying wings" evolved into the B-2 bomber; and where the world's most treacherous runways are located. A section on experimental aircraft looks at zeppelins, flying cars, and the fate of the Concorde jet. Jan Van Der Veken's lushly colored, retro drawings detail everything from plane design to the physics of flight and provide the perfect companion to his engaging text. Budding aviators will linger over every detail of this information-packed book that serves both to demystify and celebrate the miracle of flight.

GIVEAWAY

Begins March 19

Ends April 14 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's prize is provided and shipped directly to the winner by publisher or publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

BRACED FOR LOVE (Brothers In Arms #1) by Mary Connealy

My thoughts:  Knowing that when you pick up a new book by a specific author it is going to be a relaxing, fun, clean, and uplifting read is a treasure beyond description. When I have the opportunity to read a book by Mary Connealy I know it is going to bring some fun and joy into my hours, and that I can share that book knowing it is a good, safe read.

The author has a way to bring the absurd into the normal, to share lives of faith without heavy preaching, to discern between good and evil, and to share blossoming romance in a sweet and gentle manner.

Meeting the characters in Braced for Love was a roller coaster ride of complexities in families the sort of which I found mind boggling and was encouraged with the way emotions and faith comingled for a positive outcome to an impossible situation.

I am looking forward to upcoming books in this series which I believe will flesh-out the stories of the other brothers in the Hunt family. I totally enjoyed reading Braced for Love and the story of Kevin and Win. 

I highly recommend.

About the book: Left with little back in Missouri, Kevin Hunt takes his younger siblings on a journey to Wyoming when he receives news that he's inheriting part of a ranch. The catch is that the ranch is also being given to a half brother he never knew existed. Turns out, Kevin's supposedly dead father led a secret and scandalous life.

But danger seems to track Kevin along the way, and he wonders if his half brother, Wyatt, is behind the attacks. Finally arriving at the ranch, everyone is at each other's throats and the only one willing to stand in between is Winona Hawkins, a nearby schoolmarm.

Despite being a long-time friend to Wyatt, Winona can't help but be drawn to the earnest, kind Kevin--and that puts her in the cross hairs of somebody's dangerous plot. Will they all be able to put aside their differences long enough to keep anyone from getting truly hurt?

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Read more about Mary Connealy and her books. click here  

Candlewick Press brings joy to book-time with "No Buddy Like A Book" & "Road Trip! A Whiskers Hollow Adventure" [Review & Giveaway]

No Buddy Like a Book by poet Allan Wolf and illustrated by Brianne Farley (9781536203073 | $16.99 ($22.99 CAN) | Ages 4-8)

My thoughts:  This rollicking rhyming picture book is illustrated with a burst of imagination as the reader discovers the wealth of places, things, critters, and sites that you can enjoy when you allow your imagination to run amoke.

Lots of detail for young readers and listeners to ponder in the illustrations that will aid in the opening the mind's eye.

I found this a fun rhyme to read aloud and know it will capture the heart of youngsters to whom it is read. The young reader themselves will pick up the cadence and bounce along the pages of text and detailed pictures.

Really nice book.

About the book: Calling readers and daydreamers, word mavens and lovers of adventure! This celebration of the power of books is a rallying cry for letting imaginations soar.

We learn important stuff from books.

We learn to speak and think.

We learn why icebergs stay afloat…

and why Titanics sink.

Have you ever wanted to climb to the top of Everest with one hand behind your back? Kiss a crocodile all by yourself on the Nile River? How about learning how to bottle moonlight, or track a distant star? There are endless things to discover and whole universes to explore simply by reading a book. But books are only smears of ink without the reader’s mind to give their letters meaning and bring them to life. With a rollicking, rhyming text and delightful artwork, poet and storyteller Allan Wolf and illustrator Brianne Farley remind us that books, no matter how they may be consumed, give readers of every background an opportunity to expand their world and spark their imagination. With infectious enthusiasm, No Buddy Like a Book offers an ode to the wonders of language—written, spoken, and everything in between. Instagram & Twitter: @allanwolf100, Instagram: @briannehfarley | Twitter: @briannefarley

Road Trip! A Whiskers Hollow Adventure by Steve Light (9781536209471 | $16.99 ($22.99 CAN) | Ages 2-5)

My thoughts:  Such fun! Love the red truck and bear's gathering his friends to go on a road trip with him to search for a broken headlight replacement. He helps rabbit and mouse overcover their hesitation at taking a road trip and allows donkey to lead the way. The story is so much fun to read and shows how friends interact encouraging one another and simply having a lot of fun together.

The interaction of these Whisker's Hollow friends is really cute. Love the illustrations for their whimsey and expression. The details are plentiful though you have to look closely to thoroughly enjoy them. The dark lines sometimes seem to overpower the minute details in the pictures, though I really like the creativity of this artist.

I think kids will really love this one.

About the book: Head over to Whiskers Hollow—the whimsically detailed new world from Steve Light—and hop in with Bear and friends for a fun road trip to Elephant’s Old Junk Tree.

When Bear’s old truck needs a new headlight, there’s just one thing to do: organize a road trip to Elephant’s Old Junk Tree to find a new one. And a road trip wouldn’t be complete without friends! Bear brings along Rabbit, who wants assurances that there will be snacks; timid, cautious Mouse; and ever-positive Donkey. After a day of adventure and misadventure, will the four friends find what they need? Welcome to the charming world of Whiskers Hollow, where the inhabitants zip around on tree branches in unique vehicles and treasure can be found in the unlikeliest of places (even a mud puddle!). Steve Light’s signature intricate illustrations and lively original story will delight readers again and again.

GIVEAWAY

2 books for 1 winner

Begins March 11

Ends April 5 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

USA addresses only, NO P.O. Boxes

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's prize is provided by and shipped directly to the winner by Candlewick Press or its publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible or lost or misdirected prizes.

Manuka Honey Balm for your skincare needs - from Pureauty Naturals [Review & Giveaway]

Pureauty Naturals products are made with natural ingredients but are not 100% natural. All of their products are formulated to help you embrace and empower your natural beauty. 

This is such a lovely, silky balm. It readily slips on my skin giving it a soft glow and softness that is amazing. It absorbs into the skin fairly quickly so you don't have that "greasy" mess some products can leave.

https://pureautynaturals.com/collections/skin-care/products/manuka-honey-balm

A little goes a long way. I have used it on my hands and feet and it really feels good. I also dabbed a bit on my face, though I routinely use lighter products, I found it to be nice on my face, too.

It's a jar packed with goodness. Honey has been considered a healing, natural product through the ages, and I like to think the addition of Manuka Honey to this balm gives it a "healing edge" over regular balms. I really don't know, but to me it is a good thought. And I think the jar itself is elegant and quite pretty sitting on my bath counter.

Product information:

• 

  On Instagram @Pureauty_Naturals

  Graded Manuka Honey Cream - Not all Manuka Honeys are created equal. Our high-quality, graded manuka honey for skin cream nourishes dry and irritated skin to soothe the skin's outer layer. That's why our manuka honey hand cream is so popular.
• Made with Real Bees Wax - Manuka honey is made from bees that feed on the Manuka tree. Our product not only uses Manuka honey but also includes real beeswax. This honey ointment has many skin-soothing benefits that soothe the skin.
• Dry Heel Balm - Manuka skin cream is great for dry heels and elbows. Honey Manuka lotion is great for use as a hand cream, manuka honey face cream, neck cream, chest cream, and elbow cream. Honey manuka cream delivers intense moisture.
• Intense Dry Skin Balm  - Manuka honey salve helps to reduce the look of redness and irritation on the skin. Manuka honey skin cream is ideal for moisturizing dry patches of skin as a body moisturizer, face moisturizer, and heel moisturizer.
• Ingredients: Olea europaea (Olive) fruit oil, Beeswax, Honey (Manuka), Polyhydroxystearic acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) seed oil, Symphytum officinale (Comfrey) root extract, Calendula officinalis (Calendula) flower extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glycerin, Tocopherol (Vitamin E)

You can purchase it here at the PureautyNaturals website.... Mauka Honey Balm

GIVEAWAY

$26.45 Value

Begins March 9

Ends April 3 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a highly discounted or complimentary product to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are honestly given after personal use of product. I only recommend products I or my family can or have used. Winner's prize is provided and shipped directly to the winner by PureautyNaturals. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes. #sponsored

Unknown Threat (Defend and Protect #1) by Lynn H. Blackburn from Revell Publishing [Review & Giveaway]

My thoughts:  Unknown Threat begins with a burst of action and continues in an action-paced read until the very end. It seems there are threats on every side and these are directed to those who normally protect those to whom the threat is directed.

Strong, smart, experienced agents in the US Secret Service are being picked off one  by one by an unknown entity and for an unknown reason. The FBI is called in to assess the situation and take charge of security, protection, and finding the culprit or culprits responsible.

It is refreshing to read an action packed story that doesn't include "adult" scenes or language. One you could hand your teen or grandmother to read. Yet, it is not boring nor does it soft peddle the issues at hand.

The author has a reputation for good, clean, suspenseful reads and Unknown Thread does NOT disappoint. This new "Defend and Protect" series hold much promise for exciting, rewarding reads.

I especially enjoyed reading the story because it was set in Raleigh, NC. I've always lived in North Carolina and Raleigh is the capital. For years, I lived a 30-mile drive from Raleigh currently have family in the area. To imagine this story on the streets of this lovely city touches the heart. And to think of strong, smart, federal agents at work in our capital brings a sense of safety even though the story draws a not-safe scenario. I wonder if the upcoming books in "Defend and Protect" will be on the streets of North Carolina cities.

I highly recommend.  

About the book: US Secret Service Special Agent Luke Powell is lucky to be alive. Three of his fellow agents have died in unusual circumstances in the past ten weeks. Luke is devastated by the loss of his friends and colleagues, and his inability to locate the killer feels like a personal failure. He's an expert at shielding others, but now the protectors are in need of protection.

FBI Special Agent Faith Malone is driven to succeed and confident in her ability to solve every case she's assigned. She's been put in charge of the investigation into the unprecedented attacks, and with Luke's life in danger, the stakes have never been higher. But it's hard to know how to fight back when you don't know who the enemy is.

As more agents are targeted, Luke and Faith will have to work together to bring a killer to justice and prevent any more names from joining their fallen brothers and sisters on the Secret Service Wall of Honor.

GIVEAWAY

Begins March 6

Ends March 30 at 12:01 EDT

Open to Mainland USA addresses only.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine alone and are freely given. Winner's prize copy if a copy of the book that I own and will be mailed to the winner by Vera who is not responsible for lost or misdirected prize. 

A bit of "geography" in Antarctica: A Continent of Wonder & Great Rivers of the World from Prestel Publishing [Review & Giveaway]

Great Rivers of the World by Volker Mehnert & illustrated by Martin Haake (ISBN: 978-3791374703; Hardcover $19.95; Ages 8-12; 40 pages)

My thoughts:  Man has long realized that sustainable life requires access to water and often waterways. This book showcasing Earth's great rivers is a graphic/text portrayal of the richness that these rivers bring to a vast amount of people and lands.

Tidbits of information about the rivers as well as historic landmarks are provided in the graphics.

This is a sort of seek-and-find rather than story-text book. You read the short text about the river and then traverse the pages devoted to that specific river to glean the tidbits and fun information.

A fun book that provides a richness of information about great rivers. A fine book to have around when studying geography.

I recommend.

About the book: a vibrant, fact-filled book for kids that blends geography, history, and culture.

Where in the Rhein does the Nibelung Treasure lie? What river helps mark the prime meridian? Why do people make pilgrimages to the Indian city of Benares? Why is the Mekong called the "Nine Dragon" river in Vietnam? How does the Mississippi divide and unite the United States? These and hundreds of other facts are explored in this wonderfully illustrated atlas of the world's great rivers. Each spread in this book offers a colorful map packed with drawings, figures, and facts. Cities that border the rivers are highlighted, as are distinct flora and fauna, significant natural and human-made features, and fascinating historical details. A "biography" of each river describes where it flows, and its importance to the communities it passes through. Special attention is given to the ecological health of the rivers--those that are thriving and those in danger of losing their valuable habitats. Along the way, young readers will come to understand the enormous impact that rivers have on our lives, while learning valuable information in a way that will spark their curiosity and imagination.

Antarctica: A Continent of Wonder by Mario Cuesta Hernando & illustrated by Raquel Martín (ISBN: 978-3791374567; Hardcover $19.95; Ages 5-8; 48 pages).

My thoughts: This book is designated for ages 5 to 8 but I think at least upwards to age 12 is quite appropriate. This is a wonderful amount of information about this little known and understood continent, Antarctica.

I found the information about the whales and other sea life so clearly put forth as well as the impact the huge population of sea life in the region eats so much krill.

The sponges at the bottom of the sea in this are area thousands of years old. The cold is so cold and so unhabitable. The "summer" is so short and still so very cold. The ownership of this continent is mankind since many nations have agreed to keep it "unowned" and pristine. The research is ongoing and shared.

Quite an interesting book and such a grand amount of clearly stated information.

I highly recommend.

About the book: Come aboard the Polar Star and accompany its crew on their half-year stay in Antarctica. Through full-page illustrations, children will experience the work and life of these explorers and scientists as they study penguins, whales, and seals, measure the depth of the ice, chart wind speeds of up to 186 mph (300km/h), examine old volcanoes, and withstand some of the lowest temperatures ever recorded. Kids will also learn about Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott, the legendary explorers who first set foot on Antarctica. Equal parts thrilling adventure and in-depth exploration, this book is an unforgettable illustrated expedition to Antarctica that is sure to satisfy the boldest bedtime traveler.

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DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's prize is provided and shipped directly to the winner by publisher or MMPublicity (publisist). Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.