jbronderbookreviews

I know that I missed Christmas for this book. Trust me, I feel horrible about it since this is a great story. I reviewed Anne Zoet’s book Purrball Meets Burrball in Brazil, you can find the review here. This is her Christmas book. Make sure to check it out.

Dreaming of a Green Christmas by Anne Zoet

While live-chatting with Burrball, their quick-witted sloth friend in Brazil, Darryl and his loveable cat, Purrball, learn about the impact that the logging industry has on forests. Darryl and Purrball decide to try to be eco-friendly as they prepare for Christmas, hoping to help protect Burrball’s environment for him and all the other animals who call it home. This charming story is ideal for fans of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Here Comes Santa Cat.” It will thrill children and adults alike with its delightful holiday tale that delivers an important message about conservation, while tapping into the readers’ own creativity. For more great adventures with these two, check out “Purrball Meets Burrball in Brazil!”

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Author’s Bio

I’m Anne Zoet, a freelance creative director for both technology giants and countless startups in the Silicon Valley. My passions are art, words, travel, the environment and animals—all of which came together naturally in the creation of my children’s picture book, “Purrball Meets Burrball in Brazil.” In addition to my human family, I share my home with three domestic cats (though sometimes I wonder if they’re not just a bit wild).

“Purrball Meets Burrball in Brazil” is now available on Amazon! Apart from the kind peer reviews given here on Goodreads, Kirkus Reviews has said, “…the instant friendship between cat and sloth remains utterly enjoyable…this animal escapade should elicit plenty of giggles…” Fall in love with the cat and sloth heroes and get lost along with them in Brazil.

Please visit purrballandburrball.com and be the first to know about the next adventures of Purrball and Burrball! Kids are invited to find their inner cat and sloth: they can write their own adventures, help Purrball and Burrball out of their jungle mazes, download coloring pages and even a gallery where they can upload their cat and sloth art.

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My Review

5 stars

Purrball and Darryl are live-chatting with their friend Burrball in Brazil and talking about Christmas and the different things they do. Burrball tells them how he doesn’t like them cutting down trees. How he loses forests when people cut trees for paper. This makes Darryl, Purrball, and the rest of the family realize that there are some consequences of how they celebrate Christmas. They decide to change their celebrating to reuse paper to wrap presents with and get a tree that they can plant.

This is a wonderful story with beautiful illustrations. I love the message for both kids and adults alike. It’s so easy to forget about how what you do can affect others. I enjoyed how Purrballs family recycled paper for wrapping. It reminds me of the homemade gifts, which I wish people thought of more.

This is a great story with a big message. This is one to add to any kid’s collection of books.

I received Dreaming of a Green Christmas from the author for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

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In the Company of the Dead (The Sundered Oath – 1) by Ciara Ballintyne

Only a fool crosses a god, but Ellaeva and Lyram will do anything to get what they want.

Chosen as a five-year-old orphan to be the Left Hand of Death, Ellaeva has nothing to call her own—nothing except a desire to avenge her murdered parents. Her duties leave her no time to pursue the man responsible, until both her work and revenge lead to the same place—the lonely castle where Lyram Aharris is serving out his exile for striking his prince.

Lyram is third in line for the throne, and when the castle is unexpectedly besieged, he fears his prince means to remove him from contention for the crown permanently. Ellaeva’s arrival brings hope, until she reveals she has not come for the siege, but instead she hunts the castle for a hidden necromancer dedicated to the dark god of decay.

Within their stone prison, Ellaeva and Lyram must fight to save themselves from political machinations and clashing gods. But as the siege lengthens, the greatest threat comes from an unexpected quarter.

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Author’s Bio

Ciara Ballintyne was born in 1981 in Sydney, Australia, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, one masochistic cat, and one cat with a god complex. She holds degrees in law and accounting, and has been a practising financial services lawyer since 2004. She is both an idealist and a cynic.

She started reading epic fantasy at the age of nine, when she kidnapped Castle of Wizardry by David Eddings from her father. Another two years passed before she began her first attempts at the craft of writing. Confronting the Demon is her debut book.

She enjoys horse-riding, and speculation about taking over the world. If she could choose to be anything it would be a dragon, but instead she shares more in common with Dr. Gregory House of House. M.D.

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My Review

4 stars

Ellaeva is a Battle Priestess and on the hunt for the priest that murdered her parents. But being a priestess means she has to follow the orders of the goddess Ahura, those orders are to save a man that will be greatly needed in the future. Lyram has been banished after striking the prince. He spends his days drinking himself into a stupor over the loss of his wife. Lyram finds his castle under siege and thinks it is because he is third in line for the throne. But it really is a plan to take out both Ellaeva and Lyram at the same time.

This is the start of a new epic fantasy story. There are so many things happening to so many people that in true form the story starts out slowly while it builds the world around you. But once you get a feel for this world the pace starts picking up. Until you are rushing headlong to the end with a twist you won’t expect.

This is a great story that had me up into the early hours of the night wanting to know what happened next. Both Ellaeva and Lyram are not the snow white, perfect person but are flawed which makes you like them. Both are trying to exact revenge yet have to try and survive the siege first.

This is a great start to a new fantasy series and one that I recommend checking out. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

I received In the Company of the Dead from Candid Book Reviews for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

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