Fabulous and Brunette: Sophie Washington: The Gamer by Tonya Duncan Ellis - Book Tour - Review - Giveaway

Hi lovelies! It gives me great pleasure today to host Tonya Duncan Ellis and her new book, “Sophie Washington: The Gamer”! For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!! Also, come back daily to interact with Tonya and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by! Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

Sophie Washington: The Gamer

by Tonya Duncan Ellis

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GENRE: Children's (Middle Grade)

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BLURB:

Forty days without video games? Oh no!

Sixth-grader Sophie Washington and her friends are back with an interesting book about having fun with video games while keeping balance. It’s almost Easter, and Sophie and her family get ready to start fasts for Lent with their church, where they give up doing something for 40 days that may not be good for them. Her parents urge Sophie to stop tattling so much, and encourage her second-grade brother Cole to give up something he loves most, playing video games. The kids agree to the challenge, but how long can they keep it up? Soon after Lent begins, Cole starts sneaking to play his video games. Things start to get out of control when he loses a school electronic tablet he checked out without his parents’ permission, and comes to his sister for help. Should Sophie break her promise and tattle on him?

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EXCERPT TWO:

Now that I am getting older and am in the sixth grade, I can understand more of what our pastor is saying in the sermons. Today, he was talking about how hard it can be to stay away from things we like that may be bad for us.

“Temptation is a daily struggle for all,” he preached.

“The struggle for me is staying awake for two hours,” complains Cole. “I wish I could have been with my friends in children’s church.”

Cole prefers going to the special service for kids, and was mad that Mom and Dad made us join them in the main church this morning.

“It’s getting closer to Easter, and I want you to get a better understanding of what the holiday is all about,” Dad explains. “In children’s church, all you pay attention to is the snacks.”

“Those donuts they bring in are good!” Cole exclaims.

“Maybe we can stop by the donut shop on the way home.” Mom squeezes his shoulder.

I roll my eyes. Since Cole is the youngest, he’s my mother’s pet.

“Have you kids given any thought as to what you want to give up for Lent?” Dad asks.

“What’s Lent?” questions Cole.

“Lent represents the 40 days Jesus was in the desert and the devil tried to tempt him, or get him to do things he shouldn’t do,” Mom explains. “During the 40 days before Easter, we celebrate Lent by giving up something we like to eat or do that keeps us from thinking of more meaningful things, just like Jesus did.”

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REVIEW:

This book was such a fun, exciting, entertaining, enjoyable read!

This book mostly revolves around the main character, Sophie Washington, and her family. Sophie is a bright, fun-loving, sixth grader who can’t seem to stop tattling. Her brother Cole, a second grader, seems to be addicted to playing video games. However, all of that is about to change. Sophie and her family are at church and with the Lent Season about to start the sermon is directed towards resisting temptations and indulgences. On the way home Sophie and Cole’s parents talk to them about Lent and pick out the item that each of them should abstain from for the forty days. Their parents choose no tattling for Sophie and no video games for Cole. However, as soon as Lent starts Cole secretly checks out a tablet from his school and accidently loses it. He goes to his sister for help. Now Sophie must decide whether she should break her Lent promise and tell her parents what Cole did? Or secretly help Cole find the tablet and get it back to the school before their parents find out?

I absolutely remember having to give something up every year for Lent! Usually it was candy, junk food, or eating out, or keeping no secrets from mom, or no white lies. However, I do remember a couple times it was no oversharing, which was like tattling. I remember getting in trouble for telling people things that were supposed to stay private (sorry mom lol)!! And of course, my mom’s best friend’s daughter and I hated each other so whenever we got the chance to get each other in trouble we totally did lol. There were many Lent years of abstaining from “Trying to Get Deena Into Trouble,” the best friend’s daughter lol and vice versa. So, I when I heard about this book I was thrilled to read it since it sounded like a great read and I thought I could relate to it!

I loved the main character, Sophie Washington. She sets a wonderful, positive role model for girls. At a time when young girls are carefully watching and following the lead of their role models it is important that we are providing them with ones that are not only realistic, but also ones that demonstrate confidence and leadership skills.

I also really enjoyed getting to know Cole more this time! In the previous books in this series, he’s been more the annoying, pesky brother. And in this book, I felt like he really came out of his character shell. He was more developed and really owned up to the bigger role he received in this book. Plus, it was great to see this other side to him and see how he loves Sophie and really looks up to her. I look forward to seeing more of him in the future! Also, my newest favorite family member was Bertram! He is so cute! He is a stray Portuguese Water Dog that the family takes in.

This book series are just filled with so many life lessons and morals and this particular book did not miss the mark!

I really liked that this book had so many underlying messages. For example, this book focused on hard work, faith, hope, respect, determination, positive attitudes, self-improvement, self-evaluation, abstinence, moderation, growth, appreciation, overcoming obstacles, team work, and so much more.

I liked this book focused on a Lent aspect. I think there are quite a few children that participate in Lent and will be able to easily relate to this book. They may also find some better understanding of what Lent is and why people celebrate it.

I loved that the author used so many Houston and Texas references throughout the book since the book does take place in the Houston Suburbs. I have been to Houston many times, and I have lived in several parts of Texas before. So, I really enjoy when I read a book from there that the real Texas is found in the pages – and it sure was! The author did a great job listing things like restaurants, local spots, and culture references.

I think the best part of this book being for middle graders, is that it’s a fun, cool, intriguing, suspenseful book for them! It’s not a dumbed down kid’s book and it’s not a book that a parent can be worried that their kid is reading. It’s a book that a kid will want to read, won’t be embarrassed to read in front of their friends or their parents. It’s the right kind of a book a kid should be reading and the right kind of book their parent will be glad they are reading!

This book is book four of the Sophie Washington Book Series. Although I have read other books in this series, this book can absolutely be read on its own as a standalone without any fear of getting lost or confused. However, I am really enjoying this book series, and would totally recommend the whole series!!

This book is “G” rated as there is no swearing, no violence, no adult situations, and no sexual content. However, I would like to point out that this particular book in the series does have a strong faith element as this plot line wraps around the Lent Season which is strongly celebrated in the Christian Community.

I would absolutely recommend this recommend for middle graders as I think they would love this book and the Sophie Washington Book Series!

This book is marketed towards middle grades and I totally agree! However, I might even go as far as to suggest this book for readers in third grade to seventh grade as they too would also easily enjoy this book and book series as well!

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**

Did you find this review helpful?

If so, please, please, please mark it as helpful on Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R3GCCSZIE7HROO

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AUTHOR BIO:

Tonya Duncan Ellis was born and raised in Louisville, KY. She loves reading so much that as a child she took books with her everywhere. She knew she wanted to become a writer after an article she wrote was published in her hometown newspaper when she was a teen. Since then, Tonya has worked as a journalist and freelance magazine writer. She's an award-winning author of the Sophie Washington children's book series, geared towards readers ages 8 to 12. The books recount adventures of Houston, TX preteen Sophie Washington and her diverse group of friends. Each funny and heartwarming story teaches lessons about friendship, responsibility, truthfulness and perseverance. Books in the series include Queen of the Bee, The Snitch, Things You Didn't Know About Sophie, and The Gamer. When she's not writing, Tonya enjoys reading, biking, swimming, travel and spending time with her husband and three children. She lives in Houston, TX.

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CONNECT WITH TONYA:

Website:

www.tonyaellisbooks.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/tonyaellisbooks

Twitter:

https://www.twitter.com/TonyaDEllis

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4730542.Tonya_Duncan_Ellis

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37929202-sophie-washington

Amazon Author Page:

http://amzn.to/2rNmYSc

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle:

http://amzn.to/2sD3Rut

Amazon Paperback:

http://amzn.to/2CxYDzJ

Barnes and Noble:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sophie-washington-tonya-duncan-ellis/1127090240

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Tonya will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase made I may receive a small commission to help support this blog. This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here.**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions. Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.