Scruff the Pup and the Cracking of the Cocoa Pod by Katherine Udovicich (Spotlight, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

 

Scruff the Pup and the Cracking of the Cocoa Pod

by 

Katherine Udovicich

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

GENRE:   Children's

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

BLURB:

 

Hippity hoppity, Easter's on its way! Scruff the pup is drooling in anticipation. But what will Scruff discover about chocolate eggs when a-hunting he will go? Find out in this gratifying wag of a tale.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

EXCERPT

Scruff is beginning to think that getting his paws on even a teeny-tiny Easter egg might be too difficult.

Then he remembers something—Mum and Dad encouraging the children always to take on a good challenge.

Suddenly, Scruff has an idea about how to score an Easter egg from the kids. The pup knows he will be the underdog and, therefore, hatches a plan—now ready to unleash!

First, Scruff engages the children in a game of chase ... and lets them win.

Next, he performs all the tricks they’ve taught him, plus one of his own: Scruff’s slick, quick ball-balancing trick.

Then Scruff and the kids start a game of ruff and tumble, and Scruff goes easy on them.

Afterwards, the pup sits uncomplainingly as his messy hair is brushed smooth; Scruff no longer feels like himself.

Eventually, Scruff allows the children to dress him up as the Easter Bunny! Such a cliché, he thinks, putting on a brave face.

Despite jumping through hoop after hoop and working like a dog, Scruff does not get a single Easter egg.

From afar, he watches the kids enjoying mini chocolate eggs filled with caramel. Fine, rub my nose in it, thinks Scruff. See if I care.

But he does care. And he doesn’t understand why the children won’t share with him. They usually always share food with him under the table. So, what is it about Easter eggs?

 

Purchase links:

Amazon

Amazon.CA

Booktopia

Indigo Chapters

Barnes & Noble

Walmart

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Katherine Udovicich has a background in primary teaching and education. She is from Melbourne, Australia, where she completed a bachelor's degree in science and a master's in teaching. Katherine's greatest joy is being a mum, and she is passionate about promoting literacy development for all children.

 

CONNECT WITH Katherine

 

Website

 

INSTAGRAM: Coming soon

 

 ************************************                

GIVEAWAY

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

The tour dates can be found here

 ************************************        

My review:

4.5 stars

Scruff the Pup and the Cracking of the Cocoa Pod, written by Katherine Udovicich and illustrated by Madeleine Mae B. Migallos, follows young Scruff as he tries his best to join his humans in enjoying chocolate Easter eggs. He doesn’t understand why the senior dog in the family, Frog, keeps mentioning the cocoa pod until Dad, the human, finally explains and makes both Frog and Scruff happy with their own Easter treats.

 

This sweet children’s book is beautifully illustrated and teaches a very important lesson about keeping dogs safe, no matter how persuasive they’re being. I was worried at first, because I was afraid Scruff would find a way to share in the children’s treats, but I enjoyed reading about his antics and his reasoning. I think it’s great that the explanation for not sharing chocolate with dogs is given at both a level that children will understand and at a more scientific level and I love the puns at the end of the story. This is a great book for teaching and for just enjoying the cute illustrations, and I think it would be useful as an educational tool throughout the year, although it is centered on Easter.

 

A copy of this title was provided for review

  

Murderous Means by Lida Sideris (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

 

Murderous Means

by 

Lida Sideris

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

GENRE:   Cozy Mystery

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

BLURB:

 

Corrie Locke may not be the best rookie lawyer in Southern California, but when it comes to catching a killer, she’s got the skills to bring a band of shifty-eyed suspects to their knees.
When the wealthy matriarch of the dysfunctional Means family dies in her sleep, the family is convinced her death was anything but peaceful. They hire Corrie to prove it, but the only evidence they have to go on is a psychic’s half-baked vision that it was murder. To put the matter to rest, Corrie sets her sights on proving the psychic is a fraud. After all, everyone knows psychics are crack-pots, don’t they?

But what should be a simple investigation morphs into something deadly. The deeper Corrie digs, the more bizarre clues are revealed, and a possible witness is found dead. As tempers rise, it is up to Corrie to catch a killer…who’s about to strike again.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

EXCERPT

Tiny beads of pain crashed together in my head like bumper cars made of steel. It felt like I’d emerged from a deep slumber. I lifted my leaden head. I lay sprawled in the middle of a field. Did I lose consciousness?

 

My fingers crept to my belt buckle, and I slipped the Japanese throwing star into my palm, relishing the shuriken’s cold metal and sharp points. I caught my breath. A flashlight illuminated the night. A dozen goats huddled together a good thirty feet away, their backs to me. A deep voice stirred the air. I couldn’t make out the words. Who was talking?

 

A large man stood near the goats, light beam in one hand, while the other dangled a pistol. As he shooed away the livestock, I lowered my head and stiffened. What was it Dad used to say?

 

A problem presents an opportunity to turn things around.

 

The guy trekked closer, stopping a few feet short of me. He smelled faintly of tobacco and beer. Shoving aside the pain, I jumped to my feet, only it was more like I heaved myself to a crouching position, shuriken ready. I sucked in a breath and sprang forward, straightening up enough to press my throwing star against his thick neck. Meanwhile, he stuck the muzzle of his gun to my side.

 

“Steady now, young lady.” His voice was a baritone growl that rustled the weeds. His crinkly blue gaze lit up like sparklers. “I’m going to lower my gun the same time you lower that sharp pointy thing. I know you broke inside the house tonight, but I’m willing to give you a chance to explain before I call the police.”

 

“Before you what?” I pressed the star deeper, a whisker away from drawing blood. “Who are you?”

 

 

Amazon

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Lida Sideris is the author of the Southern California Mysteries. Slightly edgier than the usual cozy mystery, the series is loosely based on the author’s former life, working as an entertainment attorney for a movie studio…kind of like her heroine, Corrie Locke... except without the homicides. Lida is a recipient of the Helen McCloy Mystery Writers of America Scholarship Award and a 2x Killer Nashville, Silver Falchion Award finalist. She lives in the northern tip of Southern California with her family, rescue dogs, and a flock of uppity chickens. To learn more, please visit www.LidaSideris.com

Links:

www.lidasideris.com

https://www.facebook.com/lidasideris

Twitter: @lidasideris

Instagram: @lida_sideris

BookBub

***********************

GIVEAWAY

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The tour dates can be found here

***********************

My review:

3.75 stars

 

“Murderous Means” by Lida Sideris is part of the ‘A Southern California Mystery’ series, and features intrepid almost-official private investigator Corrie Locke and her team as they try to determine whether a sudden death is due to homicide. Using a variety of conventional and not-so-conventional methods, the cast of characters look for clues in unusual places while they try to figure out if an actual crime has been committed, and if so, why.

 

This cozy mystery features a somewhat wacky crew of investigators who definitely should not be underestimated. Although this book can be read as a stand-alone story, I suspect that it would be less confusing to read the prior book(s) in the series and get a feel for the dynamics of the group and their outside-of-the-box techniques.

I enjoyed working my way through the twists and turns of the investigation even as I shook my head at some of the shenanigans and the way these folks play fast and loose with the legalities. A few things strained my credulity a bit, but it was fun reading the colorful descriptions of the characters and locations. This author has a way with words that makes even serious crimes entertaining, and I suspect the crew will soon be embroiled in even more adventures in beautiful Southern California.

A copy of this title was provided for review