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Hi and “WELCOME” to Rave Reviews Book Club’s SPRINGTIME BOOK & BLOG BLOCK PARTY at When Angels Fly Blog

Location: Colorado and Kansas, USA

Here’s What I’m Giving Away Today:

(1) $10 Amazon Gift Card One

(1) Autographed Paperback copy of (When Angels Fly) USA & Canada Only

Five (5) e-book copies of (When Angels Fly)

Five (5) e-book copies of (The Big Cheese Festival)

# of Winners for this stop:  11

I’d like to introduce you two of my books and my blog!

“When Angels Fly” is a true story of the struggles of a mother before and during the illness and ultimate death of her five year old son. It is a story of perseverance, heartaches, courage, and a mother’s undying love for her child.

A young girl grows up dodging her mother’s blows and as she hides inside her room to cry, she thinks that the years ahead will transform her life. With this belief, she is lured into love and marriage only to later on find out she cannot run away from her past life and that marriage is not a shield she can use against the emotional assaults of her mother.

But faith, in its many forms, drives this young­-girl­-now­-turned­-into-­a­-woman across the other facets of challenges the world has yet to play on her. The loss of a child in her womb, the grappling hands of the man she trusts, the family’s incessant fighting, and yet again the beckoning loss of another son.

Will Sarah survive through all this? And will someone come to turn things around for her, hold her hand, and see her through whatever life has still in store for her?

“When Angels Fly” is a true story of the struggles of a mother before and during the illness and ultimate death of her five year old son. It is a story of perseverance, heartaches, courage, and a mother’s undying love for her child.

ISBN: 978­0692574928

Reviews

After surviving the cruel rage of tyranny from her mother and ex­-husband, Sarah Jackson traveled a new path; a journey of loss, heartbreak, and ultimately strength. How do we survive the unthinkable, our child suffering from a terminal illness? Sarah Jackson’s life will teach you that despite all the hardships, you will survive, even if at times it feels like you won’t!

“I couldn’t help thinking about womanhood while reading When Angels Fly. As a man and a father, it is hard to imagine the kind of feeling my wife has for our two kids. Many times I had to stop reading, close my eyes, and ask myself: “Could this be really happening?” I couldn’t help but wonder about the stuff of which women are made, because Sarah is a tough woman, sensitive, and rich in her humanity. It is inspiring to see how she gives life and nourishes it. The experience with Eli, her son suffering from cancer, is very touching and one that will inspire many people in the way they relate with their children. S. Jackson and A. Raymond have done a wonderful job in sharing experiences that will offer hope and provoke a silent revolution in the way most of us see women and life. It’s a book that every man should read. And I mean every man!” ~ Romuald Dzemo for Readers’ Favorite

“I read this book after the author appeared on the We Love Memoirs group, Spotlight on Sunday. The story is a very moving account of the authors life and most importantly the story tells of her son Eli who becomes sick with cancer and subsequently dies. The book is in four parts with the third part being told from her diary recounting the months of Eli’s illness and his passing away. The first two parts of the book set the scene and show how Sarah’s life has been hard with an abusive mother throughout her childhood and then marrying a husband who is also abusive. As I read I felt very much that the mother was a psychopathic narcissist at best and the husband was an abusive alcoholic who had no feeling for his family and his only love being the bottle. Sarah has a very hard road which many of us would not survive I am sure. Her faith though does give her solace and even though it wavered at times in the end does help her through. I enjoyed reading the book but not so much the diary format although this was a way of telling the story day by day. I admired Sarah’s love and devotion to her children and her loving heart comes through. How she managed to cope with the mother’s ongoing abuse through her son’s illness is beyond belief. I will refrain from saying too much more as don’t want to give more away as there are many other aspects to this heartfelt story.” ~ Julie Watson, Author

“This book’s effect on me is hard to explain. I gave it a 5 Star review because all the emotional triggers were engaged. As I read, I found myself crying, angry, happy, excited and overwhelmed by the detailed story of young Eli, Noah and their mother. I agree with other interviewers, no one should have to endure this type of life, but fact is, life isn’t always a bed of roses or cotton candy and everything nice. S. Jackson’s has poured her heart into telling the day-­to­-day story of her son’s journey, along with sharing her faith mixed with the power of a mother’s resolve. I highly recommend this book to anyone facing hard challenges in their life.” ~ Raven H. Price, Author

“For several moments I sat at my laptop, trying to think of something that hasn’t already been said. There are many great reviews, and it is easy to see many hearts have been made tender by reading this.

First, I am so glad this story has been written down and shared. As the father of two wonderful daughters, I cannot begin to imagine the horror that took place in this mother’s life. How any man can be so evil is beyond me. Thank God for men like Matt, however.

There are a few happy moments in this story that made tears of temporary joy hint from behind my eyes: when Eli was able to drink apple juice without choking; the late ­night trip mom took to get watermelon her son craved; when Eli and Noah played, as much as they could, in the hospital together. But sadly these moments too quickly moved aside, and the harrowing acts by a despicable grandmother and truly evil husband and father darkened the story. But this is real. That is partially what attracted me to this book. There is a time for the raw truth, it keeps one grounded.

To me, this book was more than a succession of events. Often, I felt like I was sitting across from the mother at a diner. My mind fades to gray images as she recollects her story from years ago. She opens her heart, and I listen to her thought process in awe. The mother is amazing for hanging on for dear life, even when it surely felt the bottom had fallen away and there was nothing to believe in anymore. She was there for her son regardless of all else. If you don’t believe evil exists, you will after reading this. Above all, little Eli shows strength and heroism, and despite the bitter end, he triumphed over life.” ~ Robert Kimbrell, Author

When Angels Fly Book Trailer

Awards 2016

*****

In The Big Cheese Festival, we meet Stubby Mouse and his family and friends. We learn that Stubby Mouse has a secret, that he is being bullied by another mouse, simply because his tail is short. Read how Stubby Mouse stood up for himself, and how he ended the bullying, in this delightful story for children. Targeted at ages 4-8, the book is easy to read and perfect for home or classroom. Children learn how bad bullying is, and what they can do to help stop bullies! Stubby Mouse encourages children to take a stand against bullies, and always be kind to each other. This story illustrates how everyone is different and unique, and it is a delightful read with cute illustrations for both children and adults. Take a stand against bullying today!

Reviews

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers’ Favorite

The Big Cheese Festival is a children’s educational picture book written and designed by S. Jackson with A. Raymond. Stubby Mouse was happy and excited when he woke up on the morning of the Big Cheese Festival. All the mice in his neighborhood looked forward to this big event. There would be dancing and lots of cheese, and they would elect a King and Queen of the Festival. This would be Stubby’s first Big Cheese Festival, but something happened to spoil his happiness and sense of anticipation. When Cutter Mouse came to pick up Stubby’s brother, Zippy, he made fun of Stubby’s short tail. Cutter laughed and said that no girls would want to dance with him. Zippy got angry with his friend for picking on his little brother, but the damage was done. After Zippy and Cutter left, Stubby began to cry. Cindy heard him crying inside the house, and she wanted to know what was wrong. She liked Stubby just as he was, and thought Cutter was an awful bully. They would go to the festival together, and she’d love to dance with Stubby.

S. Jackson and A. Raymond’s educational picture book for children, The Big Cheese Festival, addresses the problem of bullying and the pain children can experience when they’re victimized by bullies. This story shows how being different is not a bad thing or something to feel ashamed about. Stubby may only have half a tail, but he ends up with an amazing thing happening to him. He also gets to dance with the bully’s girlfriend. The Big Cheese Festival has gorgeous graphics that bring the woodland setting and its characters to life. Jackson and Raymond address an important issue, and they do so in an enchanting tale that’s a perfect choice for story time. Adults should consider using this tale as a springboard for discussions about bullying in school and in the playground. It’s also a good starter primer for new readers as it has large print and it’s easy­ to ­follow the story. The Big Cheese Festival is highly recommended.

“There are issues that plague all children as they grow up. Each child struggles with identifying who they are as a person, how they relate to other people and how to and out what they believe in. Children can be cruel to each other while they learn how to navigate the messy world of emotions. This can come out in the form of bullying. In The Big Cheese Festival the authors explore the concept of bullying and how it can impact the life of another. What may seem like funny and harmless words to one can truly hurt another. We’ve got a fantastical world of anthropomorphic mice, one of whom only has half a tail. He is named Stubby and due to the unkind bullying from his brother’s friend, he worries about whether or not he’ll be worthy in himself.

Bullying is a big issue to tackle. Some children’s books try to address this and drop the ball completely. Jackson and Raymond have bundled up the idea of bullying in their book. They take an obvious difference, like having half of a tail, and use it to illustrate how others might react to something so clearly different from the norm. It’s a cute book with the little mice getting ready for a festival. Cutter Mouse, who is friends with Stubby’s brother, is the perpetrator of the bullying. It is often someone close to the bullied who begins the abuse, which Jackson and Raymond have captured here.” ~ Hungry Monster, Feb 2017

“The Big Cheese Festival ” is a must read book for those with children of all ages, though it is geared towards ages 4–11. Children learn what bullying is, and how to take a stand to stop bullies. This story is perfect for home, schools, and libraries, as it is so important that children be taught, and learn, kindness towards others no matter how different someone is to them. Jackson has cleverly used both boy and girl mice, in a manner that gets the point across while keeping children captivated. I highly recommend this charming book. ~ Susan Vance, “Leaving Savannah.”

Awards

Winner ~ 2016 Pinnacle Gold Award for Best Book in the Category of Children’s Adventure
2016 Reader’s Favorite Five Stars

*****

Once again, thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of this post.  Good luck on winning my giveaways!  I’ll see you at the next stop of this awesome BLOCK PARTY!