Review & Excerpt of Thursday Morning Breakfast (and Murder) Club by Liz Stauffer

Publisher: Sartoris Literary Group
Format Read: Kindle book
Source: Kindle freebie, downloaded at request of publicist for review
Release Date: June 28, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository*
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through these links.

Blurb from publicist:

Things are not always what they seem in Liz Stauffer’s fast paced book of murder, mystery, and intrigue. When the "breakfast club" ladies of idyllic Mount Penn see bruises on Clare Ballard's pretty face, they suspect her hot-headed husband of abusing her, but the truth is much more complicated. When violence disrupts this Appalachian village's lazy routine, the ladies, led by the irascible Lillie Mae Harris, jump feet first into danger as bodies appear, neighbors disappear, and Clare is arrested for murder. Follow Lillie Mae and the other "breakfast club" ladies, who, armed with casseroles and pastries, help the police uncover the deep secrets this town hides beneath its perfect facade.

Review of Roman Holiday 1: Chained by Ruthie Knox

Publisher: Loveswept
Series: 1st installment in a the Roman Holiday serial
Format Read: eGalley
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 11, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble | ARe*
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through these links.  

Blurb from goodreads:

Meet Ashley and Roman—complete opposites who can’t hide their attraction—in Episode 1 of Ruthie Knox’s eBook original serial, Roman Holiday.

Ashley Bowman is having a bad week. Reeling from the death of her beloved grandmother, she returns to the Florida Keys only to learn that a heartless Miami developer has gotten hold of the crappy vacation rentals she calls home. Ashley has one day to clear out before Roman Díaz destroys the only place in the world that matters to her. Chaining herself to a palm tree in the bulldozers’ path seems like a good way to stop him . . . until she realizes she should’ve brought food and water. And pants. Also, it would help if the evil developer weren’t so ridiculously hot.

The last thing Roman Díaz needs is some sun-kissed blond protester getting her picture in the newspaper and messing up his plans. He bought the property fair and square, and the resort he wants to build on the site is the key to realizing his highest ambitions. But when a hurricane blows through, Roman has to hustle Ashley to safety if he wants to protect his reputation—and that means giving in to her unreasonable demands.

Roman needs to learn a little compassion, and Ashley’s decided to teach it to him . . . even if she has to drag him all over the Eastern Seaboard to do it.

 

Blog Tour Review of Echo Prophecy by Lindsey Fairleigh & A GC Giveaway

Publisher: L2 Books
Series: Echo Trilogy #1
Format Read: Kindle book
Source: tour company in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: August 16, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Book Depository*
* affiliate link; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through this link. 

Blurb from goodreads:

The first book in a new paranormal romance/historical mystery trilogy.

"...we only see what we want to see...what we expect to see..."

Discover what's hidden--a powerful, mythic race, an ancient Egyptian prophecy, and a love strong enough to shatter the boundaries of time.

Alexandra Larson isn't human...but she doesn't know that. As far as Lex is concerned, she's simply an ambitious and independent archaeology grad student with a knack for deciphering ancient languages, especially the various forms of Egyptian. When she's recruited to work on her dream excavation, her translating skills uncover the secret entrance to an underground Egyptian temple concealed within Djeser-Djeseru--the famous mortuary temple of Queen Hatchepsut. Lex is beyond thrilled by her discovery...as is the enigmatic and alluring excavation director, Marcus Bahur.

  As the relationship between Lex and Marcus heats up, a series of shocking revelations leave the young archaeologist reeling. Once Lex discovers the truth of her ancient Egyptian roots--the truth of her more-than-human nature--the people she trusts most make one final, terrifying revelation: Lex is the central figure of a four-thousand-year-old prophecy. She is the only thing standing between the power to alter the very fabric of time and an evil megalomaniac...who also happens to be her father. As events set in motion over four millennia ago lead Lex and Marcus from Seattle to the heart of Egypt, the fate of mankind depends on one thing: the strength of Lex's love.

***Contains adult content.***

Blog Tour Review of Maddie's Choice by Joyce Zeller & GC Giveaway

Publisher: Camel Press
Format Read: Kindle 
Source: Tour Company in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: September 1, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords
* affiliate link; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through this link.


Blurb from the tour company:

Romance writer Maddie Taylor is fed up with New York City. She is getting nowhere with her latest manuscript and does not believe true love exists outside of her imagination. When a friend, Jonah Spartman, dies and wills her half of his Arkansas cattle ranch, she sees the chance for a new beginning. Jonah has also left behind two orphaned great-grandsons desperate for affection and an accounting book in the red.

The other half of the failing ranch belongs to Gideon Spartman, Jonah’s grandson, who believes all capacity for love was torn from him during his tour of duty in Afghanistan. Rugged and sexy, Gideon is the enthralling physical manifestation of the hero in Maddie’s current manuscript. He is far from happy to be sharing an inheritance that is rightfully his. As she senses the need behind Gideon’s rough and unwelcoming exterior, Maddie acknowledges her own yearning for love and family.

Jonah’s will requires Maddie to stay on the ranch for three months. When that time is up, will she return to her comfortable but emotionally barren existence or embrace the challenges of her new life, which include cattle rustlers and drug dealers? Maddie’s choice proves to be far from simple.

Release Day Review of The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Format Read: eGalley
Source: The publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 5, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate link; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through this link.

Blurb from goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.

What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides— especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own.

Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.

Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive. 

September & October Challenges Wrap Up

I'll put up a wrap up post every month or early the next month for all of my 2013 reading challenges. Some books, I posted reviews on the blog, some are on goodreads, there may be one or two without reviews, especially books I edit or that are put out by my publisher.

September was a crazy busy month with the start of the new school year and I did very little reading that was non-work related. I was so tired, I forgot to do the wrap up post and when I remembered, I decided to just combine it with October. November's, however, will have to be its own solo post, as I have two additional challenges this month. :D Also, for October, November and December, I am participating in the Better Late Than Never ARC Challenge, which I'll track in my monthly wrap up posts.

Review of I'll Be Home for Christmas by Jessica Scott

Publisher: Forever Romance
Series: Coming Home 2.6
Format Read: Kindle galley
Source: The publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 5, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble 
* affiliate link; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through this link.

Blurb from goodreads:

There's nothing in the world Army Sergeant Vic Carponti loves more than his wife and his country. Smart-mouthed and easy tempered, he takes everything as a joke . . . except his promise to come home to his wife, Nicole, for Christmas. As he prepares to leave for his latest deployment into Iraq, Vic will do everything he can to shield his beautiful, supportive wife from the realities of war . . . and from his own darkest fears.

As a career army wife, Nicole Carponti knows just what to expect from her husband's tour of duty: loneliness, relentless worry, and a seemingly endless countdown until the moment Vic walks through the door again. But when the unthinkable happens, Nicole and Vic's bond is tested like never before and changes everything they believe to be true about the power of love and the simple beauty of being home for the holidays.

Release Day Review of Parasite by Mira Grant

Publisher: Orbit
Series: Parasitology Volume 1
Format Read: both egalley & hardcover
Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: October 29, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate link; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through this link.

Blurb from goodreads:

A decade in the future, humanity thrives in the absence of sickness and disease.

We owe our good health to a humble parasite - a genetically engineered tapeworm developed by the pioneering SymboGen Corporation. When implanted, the tapeworm protects us from illness, boosts our immune system - even secretes designer drugs. It's been successful beyond the scientists' wildest dreams. Now, years on, almost every human being has a SymboGen tapeworm living within them.

But these parasites are getting restless. They want their own lives...and will do anything to get them.  

Review of One's Aspect to the Sun by Sherry D. Ramsey

Publisher: Tyche Books
Format Read: egalley
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 2013
Buying Links: Tyche Books  Amazon*  Barnes & Noble 
* affiliate link; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through this link.

Blurb from publisher's site:

Captain Luta Paixon of the far trader Tane Ikai needs to know why she looks like a woman in her thirties–even though she’s actually eighty-four. She isn’t the only one desperate for that information.

The explanation might lie with her geneticist mother, who disappeared over sixty years ago, but even if her mother is still alive, it’s proving to be no small task to track her down in the vast, wormhole-ridden expanse of Nearspace. With the ruthless PrimeCorp bent on obtaining Luta’s DNA at any cost, her ninety-year-old husband asking for one last favor, and her estranged daughter locking horns with her at every turn, Luta’s search for answers will take her to the furthest reaches of space–and deep inside her own heart.

Review of I Only Have Eyes For You by Bella Andre

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Series: The Sullivans #4
Format Read: eGalley
Source: The publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate link; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through this link.

Blurb from goodreads:

The sweetest temptation.

Sophie Sullivan fell head over heels for Jake McCann at the age of five. Twenty years later, the notorious bad boy still sees her as the "nice" Sullivan twin. When they both get caught up in the magic of the first Sullivan wedding, she knows it's time to make him see her for who she truly is - the woman who will love him forever. 

Jake has always been a magnet for women, but the only woman he really wants is the one he can never have. Not only is Sophie his best friend's off-limits sister - he can't risk letting her get close enough to discover his deeply hidden secret.

But when Sophie appears on his doorstep, Jake's every fantasy comes to life, and he doesn't have a hope of taking his eyes, or hands, off her. Jake knows loving Sophie isn't the right thing to do, but one look at her and he knows he can't possibly resist.

www.BellaAndre.com   

Bea's Thoughts:

This may be favorite one yet in the series. The characters, the romance and the writing, with a few exceptions, all worked for me. With this being the fourth book in the series, I was more invested in the characters, Jake and Sophie. I was rooting for them right from the start. I loved that they had been friends for so long and finally became lovers; I loved that their obstacles were realistic; I loved that they both felt so normal, like the person next door.; I loved the perspectives we get of the different brothers, especially Smith. I'm ready for his story!

Jake and Sophie grew up next door to each other and Jake is practically another Sullivan. Yet, as Sophie discovers during the book, she actually knows very little about him. They are attracted to each other though Sophie is unaware of Jake's feelings for her. At her brother Chase's wedding, Sophie decides it's now or never and she goes after Jake. Things do not quite play out as Sophie dreamed but she and Jake find themselves in a relationship that neither one anticipated.

Jake's wooing of Sophie was sweet, if out of a made-for-tv movie. His doubts about himself and his lack of confidence in himself as being worthy of Sophie at first seemed over the top but the more I learned and the more I saw of him, the more I believed. He and Sophie were so right for each other but they had so much to learn about each other and to trust each other. Sophie discovered that while she'd had a crush on Jake for many years, she really didn't know much about him and it was sweet watching her learn and change her perceptions and seeing her love grow deeper and stronger. Their story made me smile, laugh and cry.

The proofreading occasionally made me cringe but since it was an ARC, I tried not to mind too much. I do have doubts about the medical storyline; I'm familiar with that same condition and neither the symptoms nor the treatment presented in the book are realistic. It's a spoiler so I don't want to go into detail but if you've read the book and you have facts that support the events in the book, please contact me. I'm willing to revise this part of the review if I'm wrong. 

"I Only Have Eyes for You" is sweet, lovely, sexy, and an excellent addition to the Sullivan series. I'll be re-reading this one.

Related articles

• Review: I Only Have Eyes For You by Bella Andre (randombookmuses.com)
• SPOTLIGHT ON...Bella Andre, part 3 (jaimeebrooker.wordpress.com)

Review of Arcane Circle by Linda Robertson

Publisher: Pocket Books
Series: Persephone Alcmedi #4
Format Read: Paperback
Source: Owned by the reviewer
Release Date: December 28, 2010
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate link; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through this link.

Blurb from goodreads:

Even magic can’t solve everything. . . .   

After facing down the forces of Fairy in mortal combat, Persephone Alcmedi still must deal with the aftermath. Not only does Seph now possess deadly secrets she must hide from the arcane and mundane world alike, but the dozens of magical creatures who’ve taken up residence behind her cornfield need food and shelter, and there’s still her foster daughter Beverly’s tenth birthday party to plan. 

And that’s not all. . . . Seph’s boyfriend Johnny has revealed himself as the waerewolf Domn Lup, and the ruler of the waere world is en route from Romania to make sure Johnny really is the “king” he claims to be. But Johnny’s hiding a dangerous secret: his magic is locked in his mysterious tattoos. He and Seph must find a way for him to reclaim it—fast—despite those who have no intention of letting Johnny gain his full powers. Seph knows that, in the arcane world, strength is always a necessity and power must be constantly proven, but how far is she willing to go to succeed . . . and at what cost?  

ARC Review of Secretariat Reborn by Susan Klaus

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
Format Read: eGalley
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date:
Buying Links: Amazon*  | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate link; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through this link.

Blurb from goodreads:

Christian Roberts, lanky, blond, and twenty-five-years-old, rents out small sailboats on Sarasota Bay. His peaceful life is shattered when he accepts a thoroughbred colt from his estranged, dying father, an Ocala horse trainer. 

When Christian promises his father that he'll race the colt, he's plunged into the underworld of horse racing. To navigate his way he naively hires Ed Price, a heartless Miami trainer. And when his colt shows potential -- a surprising resemblance to Secretariat -- a dubious wealthy sheik wants to buy him, but Christian vows to keep his promise to his father. With a sizable debt still owed on the horse, Christian is forced to take out a loan, his only recourse, Vince, a New York mobster. If the money is not repaid on time, Christian's life and that of Allie, his colt's trainer, are threatened. To add to his rollercoaster of troubles, he faces fraud charges since his father illegally registered the colt, and he is being stalked by a psychotic ex-girlfriend.

Review of The Stranger You Know by Andrea Kane

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Series: Forensic Instincts #3
Format Read: Hardcover
Source: Meryl L. Moss Media in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from goodreads:

It begins with a chilling phone call to Casey Woods. And ends with another girl dead.

College-age girls with long red hair. Brutally murdered, they're posed like victims in a film noir. Each crime scene is eerily similar to the twisted fantasy of a serial offender now serving thirty years to life-a criminal brought to justice with the help of Forensic Instincts.

Call. Kill. Repeat. But the similarities are more than one psychopath's desire to outdo another. As more red-headed victims are added to the body count, it becomes clear that each one has been chosen because of a unique connection to Casey-a connection that grows closer and closer to her.

Now the Forensic Instincts team must race to uncover the identity of a serial killer before his ever-tightening circle of death closes in on Casey as the ultimate target. As the stalker methodically moves in on his prey, his actions make one thing clear: he knows everything about Casey. And Casey realizes that this psychopathic won't stop until he makes sure she's dead.

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway of Declan's Cross by Carla Neggers

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Series: Sharpe & Donovan #3
Format Read: Hardcover
Source: print book from PR firm & egalley from the publisher
Release Date: August 27, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog

Blurb from goodreads:

An escape to an idyllic Irish seaside village is about to turn deadly in this riveting new novel by master of romantic suspense Carla Neggers.

For marine biologist Julianne Maroney, two weeks in tiny Declan's Cross on the south Irish coast is a chance to heal her broken heart. She doesn't expect to attract the attention of FBI agents Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan—especially since a Donovan is the reason for her broken heart.

Emma and Colin are in Ireland for their own personal retreat. Colin knows he's a reminder of everything Julianne wants to escape, but something about her trip raises his suspicion. Emma, an art crimes expert, is also on edge. Of all the Irish villages Julianne could choose…why Declan's Cross?

Ten years ago, a thief slipped into a mansion in Declan's Cross. Emma's grandfather, a renowned art detective, investigated, but the art stolen that night has never been recovered and the elusive thief never caught.

From the moment Julianne sets foot on Irish soil, everything goes wrong. The well-connected American diver who invited her to Ireland has disappeared. And now Emma and Colin are in Declan's Cross asking questions.

As a dark conspiracy unfolds amid the breathtaking scenery of Declan's Cross, the race is on to stop a ruthless killer…and the stakes have never been more personal for Emma and Colin.

Bea Reviews Final Sentence by Daryl Wood Gerber

Publisher: Penguin US
Series: Cookbook Nook Mystery #1
Format Read: egalley
Source: publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble | OmniLit*

Blurb from goodreads:

In need of a change, Jenna Hart leaves the high-pressure world of advertising to help her aunt, Vera, open a culinary bookshop and café. Back with her family in Crystal Cove, California, Jenna seems to have all the right ingredients for a fresh start—until someone adds a dash of murder.

As a marketing expert, Jenna wants to make sure the grand opening of the Cookbook Nook draws a crowd, and no one is better at getting attention than her old college roommate, celebrity chef Desiree Divine. But when Desiree arrives in quiet Crystal Cove to do a cookbook signing, the diva stirs up more trouble than business…especially when she turns up dead.

Known for stealing husbands and burning bridges, Desiree left behind plenty of suspects—including Jenna. Though the celebrity’s life always appeared to be an open book, Jenna will have to read between the lines in order to clear her name, and catch a killer before another body is served cold.  

ARC Review of Cursed by S.J. Harper

Publisher: ROC Urban Fantasy
Series: Fallen Siren #1
Format Read: Print ARC
Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from goodreads:

Meet FBI Agents Emma Monroe and Zack Armstrong.
She's cursed. He's damned. Together, they make one hell of a team.

Emma Monroe is a Siren, cursed by the gods and bound to earth to atone for an ancient failure. She’s had many names and many lives, but only one mission: redemption. Now that she works missing persons cases for the FBI, it could be just a rescue away. Unless her new partner leads her astray.
Special Agent Zack Armstrong just transferred into the San Diego Field Office. He’s a werewolf, doing his best to beat back the demons from his dark and dangerous past. As a former Black Ops sniper, he’s taken enough lives. Now he’s doing penance by saving them.
Emma and Zack’s very first case draws them deep into the realm of the paranormal, and forces them to use their own supernatural abilities. But that leaves each of them vulnerable, and there are lines partners should not cross. As secrets are revealed and more women go missing, one thing becomes clear: as they race to save the victims, Emma and Zack risk losing themselves.

Bea Reviews Rants to Revelations by Ogun R Holder

Publisher: Unity Books
Format Read: Egalley
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: September 24, 2012
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from goodreads:

Ogun Holder knew full well the Bible story of Jonah and the whale. His intellectual understanding of the tale led him to believe that running from God was futile. But because he had never run from God before, he thought he d try it anyway. Spoiler Alert: It didn't work.  

Holder's journey begins with a pious but questioning childhood filled with mandatory church attendance and boisterous congregants. His road leads to a teenage rebellion, and then to a collegiate crisis of faith. He seems to hit a dead end in his 30s as a responsible grown-up until he paves a new path to Divine self. It's a path he's still walking.

Readers will relate to the honesty and humor in the mash-up of emotions, ideas and experiences Holder shares about parenting, spirituality, relationships and theology. When taken to heart, these rants might, in fact, lead you to your own revelations. 

Bea's Thoughts:

I have always had an interest in religion and learning about other religions. I was in fact a religion major at college and have retained an interest ever since. Periodically I find a religious book I want to read for my own growth or education and the blurb for this book caught my eye. I enjoy a well-written rant and hoped that this book would contain lots of rants that did eventually lead to revelations.

Holder has an easy, humorous style that is easy to read as he talks about his religious journey and his path to becoming a Unity minister. Every person's journey is personal and individual but other people can usually learn from it. Sadly, Holder tends to gloss over the personal details and give us just surface information, reducing the impact of his tale. I did learn a lot about the Unity religion which was worthwhile but I wish there had been more depth to Holder's journey and perhaps a little less about the religion. Holder gives stories from his life as examples of religious principles or mistakes that he or his wife have made but they tended to be glossy and light on emotion. Holder's stories did not lead to any revelations for me nor was there anything that I would consider to be a rant in the book but it was a pleasant read and educational.

August Challenges Wrap Up

I'll put up a wrap up post every month or early the next month for all of my 2013 reading challenges. Some books, I posted reviews on the blog, some are on goodreads, there may be one or two without reviews, especially books I edit or that are put out by my publisher. I thought I read a lot last month but when I looked at goodreads it was less than I thought. But, I did have a lot of editing so that may have been why I felt like it was so many books.

Book Chick City's 100 Books in 2013

For this challenge, I am not counting any children's books, unless it's YA or MG, nor am I counting books that I edit. I am also doing goodreads' reading challenge and I'm counting everything for that one, but not tracking here on the blog. :D

Bea Reviews Doubleblind by Ann Aguirre

Publisher: Ace
Series: Sirantha Jax #3
Format Read: paperback
Source: My local library
Release Date: September 29, 2009
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
*affiliate links; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from goodreads:

It’s not easy to tread lightly wearing steel-toed boots.

Sirantha Jax isn’t known for diplomatic finesse. As a “Jumper” who navigates ships through grimspace, she’s used to kicking ass first and taking names later—much later. Not exactly the obvious choice to sell the Conglomerate to the Ithtorians, a people whose opinions of humans are as hard as their exoskeletons.

And Ithiss-Tor council meetings aren’t the only place where Ambassador Jax needs to maneuver carefully. Her lover, March, is frozen in permanent “kill” mode, and his hair-trigger threatens to sabotage the talks—not to mention their relationship.

But Jax won’t give up on the man or the mission. With the Outskirts beleaguered by raiders, pirates, and the flesh-eating Morgut, an alliance with Ithiss-Tor may be humanity’s only hope.

Which has Jax wondering why a notorious troublemaker like her was given the job.

Rainbow Panda and the Firecracker Fiasco by Eileen Wacker

Publisher: Once Kids LLC
Series: Fujimini Island Adventure #6
Format read: eGalley
Source: The publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: March 1, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble  | Book Depository*
* affiliate links; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.

Blurb from goodreads:

It’s the eve of the Asian New Year and all the animals are getting ready for the big occasion. They are sweeping, cleaning, planting flowers, writing on ribbons, and preparing food. Rainbow Panda looks forward to the fireworks display but wants to create his own fireworks show. He sets a plan in motion and tries to get Green and Pink Hamster to join him.

The animals know that they are not to play with matches or firecrackers, but nonetheless, continue with their plan. When Rainbow Panda starts to light matches in the woods, he sets the forest on fire and many animals must come to help put out the fire. The Dynasty Dragon’s mom comes and turns into a cloud that rains and puts out the fire. Rainbow Panda, Dynasty Dragon, and both Green and Pink Hamster are given activities to clean up after the fire. They also volunteer to do a beach clean up to show everyone that they are sorry for the fiasco they set in motion.