Blog Tour and Giveaway: Hope for Moms

 

With Mother's Day approaching, it’s the perfect time to appreciate all moms. Being a mother today can be challenging. We often have a lot on our plates, which can feel overwhelming, especially when we encounter difficult situations. It's always beneficial to connect with other mothers for perspective, insight, and support. Today, I’m excited to share a new book titled Hope for Moms: It's Tough Out There, but So Are You by Anna McArthur. This book serves as a reminder that while motherhood can be tough, we have the strength to thrive and find joy in the journey.

Learn More About the Book:

 Hope for Moms: It's Tough Out There, but So Are You

Written by Anna McArthur

Ages: 18+ | 168 Pages

Publisher: Beaver’s Pond Press (2025) | ISBN: 978-1-64343-560-2

Publisher’s Book Summary: Many of us did everything we could to prepare for becoming moms, but there just wasn’t any way to know what might lie ahead. Most of us have, at one point or another, looked around and wondered if we are alone in our parenting challenges. Hope for Moms offers a heartfelt guide for mothers navigating both the joys and heartbreak of being a mom, sharing Anna McArthur’s personal journey through parenting difficulties such as learning disabilities, LGBTQ+ identities, and adoption. Structured around a triage plan that helped the author prioritize her family’s needs, it includes practical insights, quotes, and reflection questions to support moms in their journey of resilience and soul care. With gentleness and humor, McArthur provides reassurance to mothers, reminding them they have the strength to not only survive motherhood, but thrive.

McArthur provides reassurance to mothers, reminding them they have the strength to not only survive motherhood, but thrive. If you’re a mom who feels overwhelmed by the curveballs life has thrown your way, you aren’t alone—yes, it’s tough out there, but so are you!

 

You can purchase your own copy of this book at Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, and Amazon. Also, you can learn more about Anna McArthur by visiting her website and connecting with her on Instagram and Facebook.  

 

The Giveaway:

I've partnered with Expound Publicity to host a giveaway to celebrate the recent publication of Hope for Moms: It's Tough Out There, but So Are You. One lucky winner will receive a paperback copy of the book. Good luck! 

  Hope for Moms: Book Giveaway

Audio Book Review: Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

Genre: Adult Fiction/Audio Book

Pub. Date: March 4, 2025

Publisher: Flatiron

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon. Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers. But with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants, packing up the seeds before they are transported to safer ground. Despite the wild beauty of life here, isolation has taken its toll on the Salts. Raff, eighteen and suffering his first heartbreak, can only find relief at his punching bag; Fen, seventeen, has started spending her nights on the beach among the seals; nine-year-old Orly, obsessed with botany, fears the loss of his beloved natural world; and Dominic can’t stop turning back toward the past, and the loss that drove the family to Shearwater in the first place.

Then, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman washes up on shore. As the Salts nurse the woman, Rowan, back to life, their suspicion gives way to affection, and they finally begin to feel like a family again. Rowan, long accustomed to protecting her heart, begins to fall for the Salts, too. But Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And when she discovers the sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave, she realizes Dominic is keeping his own dark secrets. As the storms on Shearwater gather force, the characters must decide if they can trust each other enough to protect the precious seeds in their care before it’s too late—and if they can finally put the tragedies of the past behind them to create something new, together."

Dominic Salt lives with his three children on a remote island that serves as a research outpost, and they care for a seed bank. His wife, Claire, died before their voyage to Shearwater; however, she remains present in his mind daily. One fateful night there is a serious storm and his daughter, Fen, who is seventeen and an expert swimmer, rescues a woman from a shipwreck. As they nurse this woman, Rowan, to health, they get to know her better and she them. She is actually the wife of a man, Hank, who worked at the research station but is not here any longer. As Rowan gets to know the family, she starts to enjoy them and feel a connection to them, but there are many secrets that not only Rowan is hiding, but Dominic, too. To make matters worse, their communication abilities have mysteriously been destroyed and they have no contact with the outside world. Charlotte McConaghy's Wild Dark Shore is a compelling novel that's part mystery, part thriller, and has an environmental theme woven throughout.

Wild Dark Shore is told from various points of view including many of the Salt children. I especially appreciated the viewpoints from the youngest son who teaches readers about the various seeds that are in the seed bank and why they are important. Fen also has an affinity for the animals on the island and through her experiences with them, I also learned a bit about the geological impact on animals and climate change as Shearwater is slowly eroding and sea levels are rising. But the novel isn't all about the environment, there is also a huge mystery present that kept me flipping the pages. There's the question of why Rowan was on a ship headed to their land. Was she looking for Hank? What does she know? Then there's what Dominic knows about Hank and what he isn't telling readers. There is a romantic subplot between Dominic and Rowan, but the paranoia regarding their motives remains.
 
I thought McConaghy's writing was outstanding in Wild Dark Shore. She really brought the island to life and the mood of the story really made me feel like I was on stormy Shearwater. This would be the perfect book to curl up with on a rainy weekend. Also, I listened to the audiobook and it was outstanding and done with a full cast.
 
My only gripe was the events leading up to the conclusion. At times they seemed a bit rushed, far-fetched, and a tad melodramatic for me; however, I still really enjoyed this audiobook. In fact, I think it will make my list of one of the best audiobooks of the year.  Have you read Wild Dark Shore? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

A Blog Break

 

It's Spring Break, and I wish I could say that Pennsylvania is enjoying some beautiful spring weather, but unfortunately, that's not the case. It's been cold and dreary! I'm hoping for warmer days ahead. I'll be back after Spring Break, and I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday if you celebrate. 

When I return, I’ll be preparing to celebrate another amazing season of beach reads. Who's ready? I know I am!

 

Mini Reviews: The Lure of the Sea

 

I’m sharing two books today that explore the allure of the ocean. One is a romance novel, which begins with the ocean's beauty but also reveals its potential danger. The other is a historical novel with a similar theme. Novels about the ocean are perfect to dive into during spring break!

Swept Away by Beth O'Leary

Genre: Romance

Pub. Date: April 1, 2025

Publisher: Berkley

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: The Switch,

The No-Show, and The Wake-Up Call

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Two strangers find themselves stranded at sea together in this epic new love story by bestselling author Beth O’Leary.

What if you were lost at sea…with your one-night stand?

Zeke and Lexi thought it would just be a night of fun. They had no intentions of seeing each other again. Zeke is only in town for the weekend to buy back his late father’s houseboat. Lexi has no time for dating when she needs to help take care of her best friend's daughter.

Going back home with a stranger seems like a perfect escape from their problems. But a miscommunication in the dark, foggy night means no one tied the houseboat to the dock. The next morning, Zeke and Lexi realize all they can see is miles and miles of water.

With just a few provisions on the idle boat, Zeke and Lexi must figure out how to get back home. But aside from their survival, they’re facing another challenge. Because when you’re stuck together for days on end, it gives you a lot of time to get to know someone—and to fall in love with them."

 

Lexi and Zeke had an incredible one-night stand, but it was more than they bargained for. While on Zeke's father's houseboat, they don't pay attention and when they wake up, they are miles from land. The boat left the dock in the fog without them knowing it and now they are stranded at sea. At first, this sounds romantic. However, as time goes on, they realize that this is a perilous situation. Not to mention, Lexi's best friend and her daughter will be desperate to know what happened to her. Without cell service, and the water reserves dwindling, panic ensues. In the midst of all this, Zeke and Lexi come to realize that they share feelings for one another; it's more than just a one-night stand. If they can make it out of this, will they be able to make it in the real world? Beth O'Leary's Swept Away is an engaging romance, but one that doesn't feel balanced enough as the stressful situations abound.

Many readers have issues with the age gap between Lexi and Zeke, but it didn't bother me as much. I did enjoy their relationship; however, I felt it fell flat at times. It lacked that spark I was expecting based on O'Leary's previous novels. On the other hand, I did think the setting of a houseboat was very original and I liked that aspect of the story until things started to go badly. There were too many stressful situations (lacking water, a festering wound, etc) that took a day in the sun, to much more serious concerns. I also felt like there was a coincidence in the story revealed later on that didn't entirely work for me. I had a hard time suspending my disbelief.  So, all in all, Swept Away was just an ok read for me.

 

 

The Sirens by Emilia Hart

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: 4/1/25

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Weyward

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "A story of sisters separated by hundreds of years but bound together in more ways than they can imagine.

2019: Lucy awakens in her ex-lover’s room in the middle of the night with her hands around his throat. Horrified, she flees to her sister’s house on the coast of New South Wales hoping Jess can help explain the vivid dreams that preceded the attack—but her sister is missing. As Lucy waits for her return, she starts to unearth strange rumours about Jess’s town—tales of numerous missing men, spread over decades. A baby abandoned in a sea-swept cave. Whispers of women’s voices on the waves. All the while, her dreams start to feel closer than ever.

1800: Mary and Eliza are torn from their loving home in Ireland and forced onto a convict ship heading for Australia. As the boat takes them farther and farther away from all they know, they begin to notice unexplainable changes in their bodies.

A breathtaking tale of female resilience, The Sirens is an extraordinary novel that captures the sheer power of sisterhood and the indefinable magic of the sea.

 

 

The Sirens follows two major timelines: one from the 1800s and one from current times. In the 1800s, two sisters are sent to a penal colony in Australia. As readers can suspect, these two Irish women were treated horribly. In modern times, sisters Lucy and Jess face similar situations. Lucy escapes college and some upsetting events that occurred and she hopes to connect with her sister who lives on the coast. Once there, she realizes that Jess is missing. Both of these women have an interesting relationship with the ocean and an allergy to water, which only adds to the role that the ocean plays in the story. Fans of Weyward will appreciate The Sirens by Emilia Hart; it's a historical tale filled with romance, mystery, and family drama.

Readers can always count on Hart to showcase sisterhood and include a feminist undertone throughout the novel, just as she did in Weyward. She highlights the power of women better than any other author I've read recently. Also, I appreciated Hart's beautiful writing style which felt poetic at times. Her ability to bring the magic of the ocean to life and the mysticism was fantastic. While I may have enjoyed Weyward a tad bit more, The Sirens is still an outstanding novel that showcases the magic of sisterhood and the sea.

Have you read Swept Away or The Sirens? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Book Review: Rebel Witch by Kristin Ciccarelli

Pages: 464

Genre: YA Fantasy/Romantasy

Pub. Date: February 18. 2025

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: Heartless Hunter

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

Goodreads says, "A WITCH...Rune Winters is on the run. Ever since the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe, revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands, everyone wants her dead. If Rune hopes to survive, she must ally herself with the cruel and dangerous Cressida Roseblood, who’s planning to take back the Republic and reinstate a Reign of Witches—something Cressida needs Rune to accomplish.

A WITCH HUNTER...Apparently it wasn’t enough for Rune to deceive Gideon; she’s now betrayed him by allying herself with the witch who made his life a living hell. Gideon won’t allow the Republic to fall to the witches and be plunged back into the nightmares of the past. In order to protect this new world he fought for, every last witch must die—especially Rune Winters.

AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE...When Rune makes Gideon an offer he can’t refuse, the two must pair up to accomplish dangerous goals. The more they’re forced into each other’s company, the more Gideon realizes the feelings he had for Rune aren’t as dead and buried as he thought. Now he’s faced with a terrible choice: sacrifice the girl he loves to stop a monster taking back power, or let Rune live and watch the world he fought so hard for burn.

In Kristen Ciccarelli's Rebel Witch, the exciting conclusion to The Crimson Moth duology, love has never been so deadly.

 

After Heartless Hunter ends, readers find Rune engaged to a prince with one plan in mind: take back the Republic and save her fellow witches from a horrible fate. Not only does she have to ally with the prince, but she has to work with the notorious Cressida Roseblood. This in and of itself is a betrayal to Gideon. Rune doesn't trust Cressida, but she knows if she stands a chance at succeeding, she needs her. Enter Gideon Sharpe, who is tasked with killing Rune to stop her plan. But things go awry once they see each other and as time passes, Rune makes Gideon an offer that is too enticing to pass up and they must work together to take down Cressida. Cressida has plans to bring back her sisters and regain control. They can't let this happen, especially for Gideon who was tortured by Cressida and his family killed. What ensues is an epic action-packed conclusion to the Crimson Moth duology. Kristin Ciccarell's The Rebel Witch is an outstanding young adult romantasy that I thoroughly enjoyed; fans of romantasies won't be disappointed in this compelling YA tale.

 

What I like most about Rune and Gideon is Ciccarelli's character development. She does a great job making these characters complex, have difficulties, and grapple with a lot of emotion. Both have complex backgrounds and despite not always agreeing with their decisions, readers will find themselves rooting for these two and hoping they can spark their romance again despite their differences. 

 

I will say that The Rebel Witch is much more action-packed than Book One, but I really enjoyed all the tension and suspense. It was the right amount of action + romance + fantasy elements to make this a page-turner. The middle of the book did lag a little, but overall, it was a strong conclusion to a fantastic duology. 

 

Have you read the Crimson Moth series? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.