Butterfly Love From Above by Melissa Stuart Book Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway! {Ends 8/5/22}

Review By LAWonder10:

Butterfly Love From Above is a cute story based on actual events.

For a child who has lost a pet or has experienced similar grief, this is sure to be added comfort.

The Illustrator, Kate Solenova, did a very good job in creating soft pastel watercolor images.

The only negative was the lack of a smooth transition between the first part of the story and the latter half.

It has an uplifting message and the author’s note at the end of the book about the origin of the story, was a great addition.

I feel the age recommendation is “off”.  To me, it is too wordy for most three and four year old toddlers. I feel a better recommendation would be between the ages of five to nine.

I offer a Four and a Half Stars rating.

*This book was gifted me with no pressure to post a positive review. This is my honest review.

“Obstacles are Detours in the Right Direction”

We make our plans and think we have it all figured out, and then life happens! Nobody likes
obstacles in their path when they are focused on a dream and a mission. But looking back from
where I am now, I am forever thankful for those obstacles that turned into detours in the right
direction.
For over 15 years I worked in the Fitness industry and taught classes all over the country. My
husband played in the NHL and was traded six times throughout his career, so no matter what
state we were living in, I could always find a local gym to teach at. It was always our plan that
after he retired, I would make my longtime dream of opening my own Spin boutique studio
finally come true. We moved to LA and begun the studio search, when unexpectedly, my back
ruptured after a day of horseback riding. My dreams went up in smoke that day! The next couple
years I endured multiple spinal surgeries and physical setbacks. It was the most devastating
time in my life.
Obstacles truly are blessings in disguise because right before my back injury, we had tried to
start a lease three different times, for a space for my studio, and all three fell through. I
remember being so frustrated because all the reasons our contracts weren’t being accepted
didn’t make sense. I didn’t see it at the time, but if we had signed with any of those three
spaces, we would have been stuck in a 5-year lease with a worldwide pandemic that none of us
saw coming just around the corner. I also never would have imagined I would be unable to
teach fitness classes, let alone do much of anything physical with three spinal surgeries in my
near future!
Being unable to do what I loved the most, which was riding horses and teaching spin classes, I
found a new passion for writing. It became such a therapeutic and healing way for me to keep
my mind off what I no longer could do. This book means the world to me because it’s based on
my true story. I hope to share with both adults and children, about the magic healing horses and
butterflies can bring just by being in their presence and that the best way to find our own
sunshine when we find ourselves under a dark cloud, is by shining our light on others who may
also be stuck in a storm of their own.
I’m so grateful for the obstacles and detours I encountered, which led me to writing this story!
It’s been an unexpected gift that has helped me to turn my pain to purpose! I hope this story
touches the hearts of all that read it!

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