Elvia and the Gift of Passion (Tales by Moons-Light #3) by Ruthy Ballard | Book Review ~ Gift Card Giveaway ~ Middle-Grade Science Fantasy @GoddessFish @RuthyBallard
A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.
Book Details
Elvia and the Gift of Passion by Ruthy Ballard Series: Tales by Moons-light Series #3
Published by WhipSmart Books on 02/28/2023
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Middle-Grade, Science Fiction
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 357
Adventurous Elvia Hill is fed up with her overly cautious parents, who lost her older sister, Jane, to cancer. They protect Elvia, never allowing her to take risks or do anything fun. She feels trapped, but when her mother wins a lottery—round-trip airline tickets for a wildlife safari—her luck improves. Her parents are worried for her safety in the African bush, but Elvia’s thrilled, so they take her along anyway, hoping for the best.
To the Hills’ horror, their worst nightmare unfolds. Elvia disappears, apparently snatched and eaten by a lion! A massive search ensues, involving a bushman tracker, a delusional lion expert, a witchdoctor, a sham DNA testing company, and a kind, local couple who run an organization called Parents of Swallowed Children and are keen to help.
The search comes up empty, though, and for good reason: Elvia’s not where they think she is. She’s on a distant two-mooned planet, instead, having a grand and glorious adventure, cruising aboard a luxurious submarine with a queenly “uppy” and a lively sailor-boy-pirate with the unlikely, but fun, name of Rats!
At first, Elvia’s escapade is so exciting that she forgets about home. But when a terrible crisis unfolds aboard the boat and she’s the only one who can save the day, she must bravely face the same terrible fear that her parents have been avoiding since Jane’s death. And she discovers, too, an even more powerful, singular emotion that opens her heart and transforms her troubled family forever.
Source: Goddess Fish Promotions
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Excerpt from Elvia and the Gift of Passion
It was on an otherwise ordinary Friday afternoon in summer, two weeks after her tenth birthday, that Elvia learned, with a thrill, that she was someone else.
Her mother’s carefully tended sunflowers— precisely pruned to four feet, and not a centimeter taller— peeked through the sunny western windows as Elvia eagerly sorted through the stack of mail that had just arrived. Her father’s work papers, organized in neat rows, sat on a desk in a far corner, a symbol of the carefully orchestrated life her parents liked to live. In Elvia’s dull-as-dishwater home, every day was the same—safe and predictable.
There were rules: She could study the violin, but not play soccer. She could take a June class in jewelry-making, but not join her friends at Copper Creek Camp, where all the fun was. She could walk around town, but not ride a bike. She didn’t even have a bike! For a child who longed to roam the world, and maybe live on Mars one day, the list of forbidden pleasures was suffocating. There was only one way out of her dilemma, and, as she pawed through the letters, she hoped against hope that she’d find it.
The slender envelope, addressed to her, and her alone, was at the very bottom of the heap. Her hands trembled with excitement as she tore it open, sure it would explain why she had fiery red hair, while her parents both had mousy brown. It would expose how an adventuresome girl like her got saddled with parents who always hugged the safe shore, rarely taking her any further than the local Shop ’n Save for a “great deal” on paper towels.
The letter was from Quick Results, a DNA testing company operating out of somewhere in Kansas. A few weeks back, when she’d seen an ad online, she’d leapt at the chance. For just sixty dollars—her monthly allowance—she’d get confirmation of the truth that, to her, was obvious: She’d been switched at birth. Or perhaps she’d been kidnapped from her cradle and sold to Earl and Sally Hill, her parents, who were desperate for a baby after losing her older sister, Jane, to cancer, many years before.
She didn’t ask herself why her orderly, rule-abiding father and mother would swing a heartless deal on the black market. Logic played no role in Elvia’s daydreams. It was the sense of adventure they brought her that mattered: the sweet promise that someone, somewhere, would rescue her from a life of crushing boredom.
Excerpt provided by the author/publisher for use in this post.
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Purchase Links for Elvia and the Gift of Passion
Amazon – OneLink for every country
Elvia and the Gift of Passi...Shop on Amazon
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My thoughts on Elvia and the Gift of Passion
“Elvia and the Gift of Passion” by Ruthy Ballard is a middle-grade science fantasy novel that takes readers on an engaging and imaginative journey. The story revolves around Elvia Hill, a spirited and adventurous young girl who yearns for freedom from her overly cautious parents. Her life takes an unexpected turn when her mother wins a lottery prize, offering a chance for a wildlife safari in Africa.
As Elvia embarks on this exciting trip, tragedy strikes when she disappears, apparently snatched and consumed by a lion. The story takes an unexpected twist as Elvia finds herself on a distant planet with two moons, enjoying a grand adventure aboard a luxurious submarine. She encounters a captivating cast of characters, including a queenly “uppy” and a lively sailor-boy-pirate named Rats.
Ballard skillfully crafts a tale that keeps readers hooked with end-of-chapter cliffhangers, making it a true page-turner. The world-building in “Elvia and the Gift of Passion” is imaginative and immersive, transporting readers to a vividly described two-mooned planet. The whimsical elements and the sense of wonder throughout the story will enthrall young readers.
One of this book’s strengths is its quirky, well-developed, and colorful characters. Elvia is a compelling protagonist, and her interactions with the supporting cast bring depth and charm to the story. The author’s ability to infuse warmth and whimsy into the narrative creates an uplifting reading experience.
“Elvia and the Gift of Passion” is a must-read for middle-grade readers seeking an adventurous and captivating story.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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I love my Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscription. So many books, so little time!
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About Ruthy Ballard
Meet Ruthy Ballard:
Children’s book author Dr. Ruth Ballard is a scientist by trade who never thought she’d be one. Intimidated by science as a kid, she almost gave up on pursuing it as a career though she found it fascinating. Fortunately, a mentor stepped in and showed her the way. Now, she’s passionate about doing the same for the next generation of science shy, but creative, smart and capable kids. Her award-winning science fantasy adventures lure children in with compelling characters and entertaining, twisty plots that incorporate science in fun, accessible ways.
When Ruthy isn’t writing, she is “Dr. Ruth Ballard,” a forensic DNA consultant and a professor at Sacramento State, where she runs a forensic biology research and training program while consulting with attorneys across the country on criminal cases involving DNA evidence. She’s also a folk artist who loves to draw, illustrates her own books, and enjoys hiking and camping with her husband and their four dogs near their home on the Oregon coast.
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Purchase Elvia and the Gift of Passion online from a local bookstore.
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Easy Amazon Info Link
Amazon – OneLink for every country
If the above link does not take you to your country, here are a few more:
Please send me a note if your country isn’t listed and you would like to purchase using my links. Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount out of their share.
Elvia and the Gift of Passi...Shop on Amazon
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Giveaway!
The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Visit more stops on this Goddess Fish tour for extra chances to win!
Official Tour Page for Elvia and the Gift of Passion
Full Tour Schedule:
June 13: Boys’ Mom Reads!
June 20: Gina Rae Mitchell
June 27: Beverley A Baird
June 27: The Reading Addict
July 11: The Faerie Review
July 11: The Avid Reader
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The book sounds terrific. Love the cover
I can’t wait to read this book! I love the cover!
Thanks for sharing the excerpt. Sounds like a really good book.
The book details are very interesting.
Mateo and the Gift of Presence by Ruthy Ballard is a favorite book on my kids’ bookshelves.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Elvia and the Gift of Passion, this sounds like a great story to share with my teen-aged grandchildren and I am looking forward to reading this book myself
Thanks for hosting!