Blog Tour + Review: Dibs the Dragon and the Marshmallow Rescue

Today I'm partnering with WOW! Women on Writing to celebrate the release of Dibs the Dragon and the Marshmallow Rescue by Ellie Ross!  I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Book Summary

How does a bubble-blowing dragon make his very first friend?

In the magical land of Lickitypop, Dibs the Dragon hears a tiny cry for help from the sticky syrup swamp and discovers Mooch, a marshmallow mole who is very, very stuck. With a licorice vine, a bit of bravery, and a whole lot of heart, Dibs leaps into action—and begins a friendship that will change everything.

This gentle, whimsical picture book is filled with kindness, imagination, and cozy read-aloud moments that celebrate the joy of helping others and the magic of making friends.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, librarian, or cozy-color enthusiast, this sweet story is sure to become a beloved favorite on your shelf—and a magical introduction to the Lickitypop series.

Purchase a copy of Dibs the Dragon and the Marshmallow Rescue on Amazon. Be sure to also add it to your GoodReads reading list.

Dibs the Dragon is kind and helpful, but he's a little lonely and is looking for a best friend.  One day he finds Mooch, a marshmallow mole, stuck in syrup, and he uses his ingenuity to rescue him, leading to an inseparable friendship.  This book was so adorable!  The illustrations are colorful and whimsical, and it has a great message for kids - there's a friend out there for everyone, and it's also really good to be kind and helpful to others!  Dragons, candy, and a sweet story with a lovely message - what more could you ask for in a children's book?

5 stars

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Adventure Is Out There!

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

Adventure Is Out There!

Liz Braswell

Expected publication date: April 7, 2026

Adventure is out there in Disney’s New York Times best-selling A Twisted Tale series that asks, “What if it was Ellie who went UP to Paradise Falls?”

16-year-old Ellie Mullins is fed up. Sure, for some, life in small town Americana is idyllic. Nothing but picket fences and USO dances and holiday parades. But Ellie has long dreamed of towering mountains and tangled jungles and most of all…traveling to the incredible South American landmark, Paradise Falls.

Ellie thought these dreams made her strange, until she met her sweet best friend Carl (when he promptly broke his leg in her clubhouse). Carl is Ellie’s closest confidante. He’s also the only able to talk her off the ledge. But things between them seem weird lately as Ellie grows increasingly frustrated with his quiet way of doing things. And is it just her, or are there new feelings bubbling up between them?

Then Ellie begins her dream internship at the local zoo, where the flashy millionaire owner organizes an expedition to the Paradise Falls to collect new specimens. But the star newcomer, a bird given to him by Charles Munz himself, doesn’t adjust well to his new home and Ellie is put in charge of its hopeless-seeming recovery. Carl advises Ellie to laylow, to not make waves. But that’s not something Ellie has ever been good at. And when an opportunity comes for a last minute, emergency rescue mission, she decides to take it.

Will Ellie’s impulsiveness finally get the better of her? Or will she get the adventure she always wanted . . . and at what cost? - from Goodreads

Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: The Storm Edition

 Northeaster: A Story of Courage and Survival in the Blizzard of 1952 by Catherine Pelletier (2023)

In 1952, a huge snowstorm hit New England, and Maine in particular, and Northeaster tells the true stories of what happened to several real people during those days.  The narrative flows in a chronological way and moves from person to person, giving you brief insights before revisiting them later.  Pelletier covers a wide range of individuals, from teenagers, to housewives/mothers, to soldiers.  Where I live experiences occasional blizzards and northeasters, so in one sense I was able to relate to the individuals, although I've never been in a storm of this magnitude, with snowdrifts piling 20 feet high, causing people to be trapped for days, so many of the stories were also shocking to me.  There were so many instances of neighbors helping neighbors, people helping strangers, doctors going above and beyond to help their patients.  However, be prepared because not every story has a happy ending.  4 stars

This Is Not a Game by Kelly Mullen (2025)

A grandmother and granddaughter are trapped at a lavish estate when a snowstorm crops up during a party, and to make matters worse, the party host is found dead in her room.  With the police unable to get there during the storm, the duo takes it upon themselves to investigate the murder.  Although not without its issues, this was a fun little murder mystery.  Grandmother Mimi is blackmailed into going to her neighbor's charity auction/party, and she invites her granddaughter Addie to go with her.  Addie is the co-inventor of a popular murder mystery video game, so she believes this gives her experience in crime solving.  In any event, the two interview suspects and look for clues, while the bodies continue to pile up.  I did think the story moved kind of slowly, and I couldn't get a good read on Mimi - although she doesn't seem like a loving grandma, she is also consistently referred to as someone that people are drawn to and open up to.  Kinda contradictory.  But, the story had its humorous moments and I did not guess the killer, so there's that!  3.5 stars

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Write Off

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

The Write Off

Kara McDowell

Expected publication date: April 7, 2026

Two rival authors are forced to confront a decade of love and heartbreak on the campus where it all started in this captivating debut romance by Kara McDowell.

It’s been thirteen years since Mars Darling first met West Emerson on a bench outside their writing class. What started out as a friendly rivalry turned into a best friendship and then, for a brief time, a romance. Now over a decade later, as Mars stands at their college campus as a once-esteemed YA fantasy author, ready to take on a book festival, she comes face to face with West—the muse behind her infamous trilogy’s heartthrob hero, the man who betrayed her in the worst way.

Mars is determined not to let her comeback tour be ruined by the fact that West is also at the festival as an author. But the longer they are on the campus that holds so many shared memories, the more time they have to untangle their past, and Mars starts to question if maybe it’s not only her writing career that deserves a second chance.

Told in two unfolding timelines—Mars and West’s frenzied college days where they grapple with their undeniable connection, and their tension-filled present of heartache and familiar yearning—this charming romance shows that while you can’t rewrite the past, it’s never too late to chase your happily ever after and get back the one that got away. - from Goodreads

Michele's Monday Picks #91

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with my series, Michele’s Monday Picks!  I’m not a blogger or bookstagrammer, but I love getting excited about new releases with the rest of you.  Here I’ll be sharing new books I’m really looking forward to!

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The Geomagician

By Jennifer Mandula

Expected Publication: March 31, 2026

From Goodreads:

When a Victorian fossil hunter discovers a baby pterodactyl, she vows to protect him with the help of a fellow scholar—her former fiancé—in this enchanting and transporting historical fantasy.

Mary Anning wants to be a geomagician—a paleontologist who uses fossils to wield magic—but since the Geomagical Society of London refuses to admit women, she’s stuck selling her discoveries to tourists instead. When an ancient egg hatches in her hands, revealing a loveable baby pterodactyl Mary names Ajax, she knows this is the kind of scientific find that could make her career—if she’s strategic.

Mary contacts the Society about her discovery, and they demand to take possession of Ajax. Their emissary is none other than Henry Stanton, a distinguished (and infuriatingly handsome) scholar... and the man who once broke Mary's heart.

Henry claims he believes in the brilliant Mary, and that he only wants to help her obtain the respect she deserves. She knows she can't trust her fellow scholars, who want to discredit her and claim Ajax for their own—but can she even trust Henry, who seems intent on winning Mary back?

Now Mary has a new mystery to solve that's buried deeper than any dinosaur She must uncover the secrets behind the Society and the truth about Henry. As her conscience begins to chafe against her ambition, Mary must decide what lengths she’s willing to go to finally belong—and what her heart really wants.

This book sounds so unique! Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Review: My Name is Rusha

My Name is Rusha

Tirusha Dave

Published February 8, 2026

Rusha is a joyful, curious little girl who loves to play, learn, read, dance, and make new friends. But one day, when someone says her name the wrong way, Rusha feels a little unsure. Is her name really that hard to say?

With courage, kindness, and a big heart, Rusha learns that her name is special — and that her voice matters. As she gently teaches others how to say her name correctly, Rusha discovers something important: being yourself is something to be proud of.

This is a story about her name, her voice, and her bright heart that shines just the same.

Perfect for children ages 3–7, this beautifully illustrated picture book encourages:

• Confidence and self-expression
• Respect for names and identities
• Kindness, empathy, and friendship
• Early conversations about diversity and inclusion 

Whether read at home, in classrooms, or during storytime, My Name is Rusha is a heartwarming reminder that every name deserves care — and every child deserves to feel seen, heard, and celebrated. -  from Amazon

Recently, Tirusha, a friend of mine who is also an early childhood education professional and content creator, had her first children's book published! So, of course we had to get a copy of it and add it to our home library! 

My Name is Rusha tells the story of young girl whose name is mispronounced.  At first she's a little upset, but then she remembers that her name is an important part of who she is and she proudly explains to her friends how to pronounce it.  

This book is absolutely adorable!  The illustrations are bold and colorful, totally engaging for younger readers.  The story is told in simple rhyming sentences, letting children easily follow along.  But most importantly, it has a great message.  Rusha is a little girl who many children will relate to, in the way she likes to dance, read, and play with her friends.  But, she also has a name that some children might not have heard before - and that's ok!  It's a chance for children to both learn from and teach others about identity, culture, and the things that make us perfectly, uniquely "us!"

5 stars

Michele's Monday Picks #90

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with my series, Michele’s Monday Picks!  I’m not a blogger or bookstagrammer, but I love getting excited about new releases with the rest of you.  Here I’ll be sharing new books I’m really looking forward to!

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This Will Be Interesting

By EB Asher

Expected Publication: March 24, 2026

From Goodreads:

Set in the same magical, madcap world as E. B. Asher’s USA Today bestseller This Will Be Fun, this heartwarming, hilarious fantasy follows an unlikely band of heroes who must get to the bottom of an assassination plot gone wrong without breaking the one rule of do not fall in love with your questmates. 

Galwell True was the perfect hero, the legend who sacrificed himself to save the realm…only for his friends to unexpectedly resurrect him ten years later. These days, he’s feeling less “Galwell the Great” and more “Galwell the Lost.”

River Pricemark is an excellent assassin. When the Deathrose Guild, an organization known for banishing evil, tasks her with eliminating Galwell, she sees her chance to climb the ranks. So, it’s bad luck when her ambush is interrupted by Celine Hazelton, a scribesheet reporter who questions why the Guild is targeting Galwell at all. It’s worse luck that Celine is also her childhood crush.

Queen Thessia of Mythria is tired of being the damsel. She’s just married the kind and handsome King Hugh and is meant to live happily ever after—but her story feels incomplete. Upon learning Galwell, her ex, is in danger, she turns her royal honeymoon into a rescue, bringing everyone overseas to the opulent land of Vestriya.

Between underground lairs, magical grottos, horseball matches, and masquerades, Galwell must rely on his newfound questmates—including beautiful Vestriyan criminal Mona Grandhart, who seems determined to corrupt him in more ways than one. Good thing he’s set a single rule for everyone on this quest: no romance.

But we all know how this ends, don't we?

Filled with dangerous impersonators, the inimitable power of friendship, and the realm’s most infamous horseball championship, This Will Be Interesting is a slow burn, cozy, and hilarious quest romantasy.

I read the first book in this series last year and absolutely fell in love! Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?