Thursday, November 28, 2013

Take An Extra 30% Off Any Book On Amazon

Thursday, November 28, 2013 with No comments



Take an extra 30% off of any physical book on Amazon using the promo code BOOKDEAL
One coupon per account can be used to purchase ONE book.
Get up to $10 off. Offer good until December 1, 2013.




I just used that code to order a copy of S. by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst, which is already on sale right now for $17.50. With the code, I only had to pay $13.26 for it (that was including tax)! What a steal!


What will YOU use the code on?
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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The 7 Deadly Sins of Reading

Wednesday, November 27, 2013 with 5 comments


Pfffttt....okay, so I wasn't tagged, but since I noticed this on Krystilyn @ Reading In Winter's blog, I knew I wanted to join in - I love tags! Thank you to Marie @ Ramblings of a Daydreamer for bringing over this tag from the BookTuber world into the Blogosphere, and to Malyza for creating it.

GREED
What is your most expensive book? What is your most inexpensive book?


I'm pretty sure that the most I've ever paid for a book was the $35 that I shelled out for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows when it came out. As for the cheapest - I'd have to say you can't get any cheaper than free. I've gotten some free books in the mail, either because they were ARCs for review or books won in giveaways. I've also gotten some really great books for fifty cents or less at garage sales and used book stores. I won't attempt to list them all.

WRATH
What author do you have a love/hate relationship with?


That is an insanely difficult question - but I suppose that if I have to choose someone, then I'd go with George R.R. Martin, simply for creating such an epic and amazing world, and then killing off so many fantastic characters. It had to happen, sure, but still...

GLUTTONY
What book have you deliciously devoured over & over with no shame whatsoever?


The Harry Potter series for sure - it's my most read series, as I read it on a pretty regular basis (any time I feel I've gone too long without it I pick it up again). But if I had to pick a stand-alone novel, then I'd go with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, because it's just that good.

SLOTH
What book have you neglected reading due to laziness?


Sadly, I've had a hard time choosing just one, but I think that I will go with Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, simply because I have been reading it since 2011 and still have not finished it. I really like it, and I plan to finish it, but for some reason I can only bring myself to read it in little snippets at a time. Lazy, right? Maybe I can get away with saying that I'm just savoring it...

PRIDE
What book do you talk about most in order to sound like an intellectual reader?


I honestly don't care much about appearing to be an intellectual reader. I mean, I admit to enjoying Twilight, for Pete's sake. But I will say that I do feel pretty smart whenever someone mentions a classic that I've read and know well enough to talk about, such as Hamlet, A Tale of Two Cities, or The Great Gatsby.

LUST
What attributes do you find most attractive in male or female characters?

I love male characters that are complex - in YA or NA fiction, whenever a story is told from a female's perspective, the male characters tend to seem very one dimensional. I also like it when a guy acts realistically. No lie, I'm still crushing pretty hard on Park from Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park, as well as Perry from Veronica Rossi's Under The Never Sky series, not only because they are both hot, but they both act like real people that I would want to know. People are complex in real life, so they should be complex in the story world, too. There are so many "pretty faces" in YA/NA novels that it's refreshing to see a guy that has more attributes than simply good looks.

ENVY
What books would you most like to receive as a gift?

At the moment I would love to get the Special Edition Harry Potter Paperback Boxed Set - the one with the newly re-designed covers by Kazu Kubuishi. I've heard some complaints about their design, but I'm a fan!

A few other books on my wish-list include:

So, what's on YOUR deadly sin list? Feel free to share in the comments, or make a post of your own and send me the link!
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Sunday, November 24, 2013


Today, Rebekah Purdy and Entangled Teen are revealing the covers for LEGEND OF ME, releasing in early 2014, and THE WINTER PEOPLE, releasing July 1, 2014! Check out the gorgeous covers, exclusive excerpts, and enter to win an eARC of each!


On to the reveals:



Sixteen-year-old Brielle has grown up hearing tales of a beast that kills humans, leaving behind only a scattering of bones and limbs. Or so the village elders say. She thinks it’s just their way of keeping children in line, though it doesn’t explain her grisly premonitions of blood, claws, and severed heads.

When Lord Kenrick, Knight of the Crowhurst Order, shows up asking questions about the legendary monster and Brielle finds a mangled body in the woods, she begins to wonder if the grim stories are true. Her attraction to the handsome knight grows as she spends time with him searching for clues to the creature’s existence, and she becomes even more determined to help him discover the beast’s location.

But as her seventeenth birthday approaches, her nightmares worsen. If Brielle doesn’t figure out the connection between Kenrick, the monster, and visions of a ghostly woman in the woods soon, more people could die. Including those closest to her…
Exclusive Excerpt:

Brambles scratched my legs, snagging my skirt. Gnarled trees bent in gruesome forms, while thick shadows splayed out beneath them. A heavy gloom settled over the woodland as wisps of fog slithered like snakes against the ground. I shivered. 

Don’t think. I picked an animal trail to follow, stepping over dead branches and forest debris. Blood pounded in my ears and the hair on the back of my neck prickled. I twisted around to glance behind me. 

Nothing there. Only the trees. Urgency gripped hold of me and I picked up my pace once more. As I scrambled through the thicket, an overwhelming scent of rotten meat made me gag. I covered my mouth with my hand and stopped running when a bright red piece of fabric caught my eye. With hesitant steps, I moved toward it.

“Oh God.” I stumbled. There, sticking out from beneath a barberry bush was a severed arm, its finger pointed at me in accusation. My breath came in gasps as I scanned the rest of the clearing.

My foot nudged against something and I looked down in horror to find the head of Liam Gatekeeper staring up at me.

I screamed, backing away as fast as I could. All around me were pieces of his body scattered like breadcrumbs. I shielded my eyes with my hands, until I bumped into something else.

With another scream, I whipped around only to find myself faced with an oak tree covered in dried blood and deep claw marks. My vision darkened and I prayed I wouldn’t faint, that I wouldn’t be stuck in the woods. Because somewhere out here, a monster lurked. If I didn’t believe it before, I did now. The beast was real.



An engrossing, complex, romantic fantasy perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore or Maggie Stiefvater, set in a wholly unique world.

Salome Montgomery fears winter—the cold, the snow, the ice, but most of all, the frozen pond she fell through as a child. Haunted by the voices and images of the strange beings that pulled her to safety, she hasn’t forgotten their warning to "stay away." For eleven years, she has avoided the winter woods, the pond, and the darkness that lurks nearby. But when failing health takes her grandparents to Arizona, she is left in charge of maintaining their estate. This includes the "special gifts" that must be left at the back of the property.


Salome discovers she’s a key player in a world she’s tried for years to avoid. At the center of this world is the strange and beautiful Nevin, who she finds trespassing on her family’s property. Cursed with dark secrets and knowledge of the creatures in the woods, his interactions with Salome take her life in a new direction. A direction where she’ll have to decide between her longtime crush Colton, who could cure her fear of winter. Or Nevin who, along with an appointed bodyguard, Gareth, protects her from the darkness that swirls in the snowy backdrop. An evil that, given the chance, will kill her.
Exclusive Excerpt:

The sky darkened with ominous storm clouds. Giant flakes fell onto my face, sticking to my eyelashes and cheeks. Snow blew unhindered across the yard into what looked like small tornadoes. 

Oh God. It’s happening again. The frigid air. The creaking of the treetops beneath the wind. Even the way the snow blew across the yard. 

I only had one more feeder. Just needed to toss the seeds in then I could leave. Be safe.

The pond water rippled, while the trees bent beneath the strong gusts. Soon, everything became so white I couldn’t see the house. In the distance a strange tinkling sounded, like dozens of wind chimes. 

What had the shrink told me to do? 

Ten, nine, eight. Breathe. Seven, six, five. Shit!

Panic stole my thoughts. I backed away from the pond as the flurries swirled toward me. Chasing me. 

Then, I bumped into something—something that felt quite human. A firm chest, arms, hands. Not something, someone. A shriek tumbled from my lips and I spun around to face my captor.

“It’s okay. I won’t hurt you,” a soft masculine voice said, pale hands clinging to my arms as he kept me from falling. 

My gaze followed those long fingers, up black leather sleeves, to the most gorgeous face I’d ever seen. My breath caught in my throat. I’m gawking. But I couldn’t help it. His raven hair shot with strands of blue, his face pale and perfect, like an ice sculptor had chiseled it into existence. His eyes—oh God, his eyes. They were the palest blue I’d ever seen. Glacial. He had to be over six feet tall, muscles evident through the tight shirt he wore beneath an unzipped jacket.

His mouth turned up at the corners as if enjoying my scrutiny. A cocky grin that made my cheeks warm. 

“You’re trespassing.” I tried to keep the tremble from my voice. “This is private property, or can’t you read the signs?” Bravo, that’s right, scare him off with your bitchiness.

He chuckled. And it sounded like the low song of the chimes. “Doris doesn’t mind me coming around. In fact, I’ve met you before, Salome.”

My name on his lips made my knees go buttery. I groaned inwardly. 

“You know my grandma?” I fidgeted with the bucket still in hand. 

He gave a nod. “Yeah, I’ve known her for years. But I haven’t seen you since you were a child.”

Warning bells went off in my mind, but I pushed them aside. If he knew my grandma, then he must be okay. “Funny, I don’t remember you at all.” 

“Don’t you, Salome?” Strands of my hair blew about my face. He reached a hand out as if to touch them then stopped, dropping his arms back to his side.

“No. Grandma’s never mentioned you.”

He gave me another cocky grin. “Well then, maybe we should be reacquainted.”

“Or maybe not.” I snorted. “I’m not sure how you got on the property, Grandma keeps all the gates locked.”

He produced an antique-looking skeleton key. “She gave me this. Like I said, Doris has known me for a long time.”

“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be a jerk or anything, it’s just my grandma never mentioned I’d have visitors.” In fact, I wondered why she didn’t ask this guy to watch her house instead of me.

The arrogance left his face and he stared at me. “Perhaps, we can try this again.” He held his hand out to me. “I’m Nevin.”


About The Author 
Rebekah was born and raised in Michigan (just look for the mitten-shaped state on the map). She’s lived there most of her life other than the few years she spent in the U.S. Army, at which time she got a chance to experience MO, KS, SC, and CA.

She works full time for the court system and in her free time she writes YA stories. Pretty much any genre within the YA realm is game for her, but her favorites are fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, thrillers, light sci-fi, and sometimes travel.

She also has a big family–she like to considers them the modern day Brady Bunch. When her hubby and her met and got married, he had 3 children from a previous marriage, she had 2, and they now have 1 together. It’s a lot of fun though.

And she can’t forget her other family members–yep, they’ve got some pets: 4 dogs, 3 cats, and 1 turtle. Everyone in the family has one…she won’t bore you all with their names (unless you really want to know). Okay, you talked her into it! Jack, Pearl, Grr…(yes that’s her dog’s name), Callie, Shadow, Mooshoo, Grouchy, and Sorbert. Other than writing some of her other hobbies include: reading (mostly YA of course), singing, swimming, football, soccer, running, camping, sledding, church, hanging with her kids, and traveling.

She belong to a fabulous writing group called YA Fiction Fantatics (YAFF) and you guessed it they all write YA!

REPPED by Jennifer Mishler and Frances Black of Literary Counsel.

And that’s her in a big ‘ol nutshell.


GIVEAWAY!

1 eARC of LEGEND OF ME (International)

1 eARC of THE WINTER PEOPLE (International)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Sunday Post

In The News
This Saturday, November 31st, (as part of Small Business Saturday) will be the "Indies First" movement, in which many of your favorite authors will become booksellers for a day at more than 400 indie bookstores across the U.S.

Google Maps has created an interactive tour of Middle-Earth!
On YouTube
Check out this English trailer for the last film Hayao Miyazaki will be releasing before his retirement, The Wind Rises.

Improv Everywhere tackles Harry Potter In Real Life, in which a young boy wanders around Penn Station, trying to find Platform 9 ¾.
Around The Blogosphere
Jamie @ The Perpetual Page-Turner writes about having to answer the age-old question, "What do you like to read?"

YASeriesInsiders.com has launched, and they're hosting a giveaway for over $1,000 worth of signed YA novels and book-related swag.
Bookish Lists
This Week's Interesting Releases
   
   
What's New On My Bookshelf

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
Angelfall by Susan Ee
World After by Susan Ee
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

I purchased the first three books during a trip to Barnes & Noble, and the last three from Amazon. If there were any indie bookstores where I live, I would support them instead, but alas, B&N and Amazon are really my only options other than garage sales.

   

The Language of Sparrows by Rachel Phifer
Sundered by Shannon Mayer
Nolander by Becca Mills
Have No Shame by Melissa Foster

All four of these books were Kindle freebies - they sound pretty good!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013



by Elizabeth Eulberg
Expected Publication: February 25, 2014 by Point

For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can’t be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan’s friends. They are platonic and happy that way.

Eventually they realize they’re best friends — which wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t keep getting in each other’s way. Guys won’t ask Macallan out because they think she’s with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can’t help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?

From romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg comes a fresh, fun examination of a question for the ages: Can guys and girls ever really be just friends? Or are they always one fight away from not speaking again — and one kiss away from true love?

Why I Can't Wait To Read This
Doesn't that synopsis remind you of When Harry Met Sally? I absolutely love that movie, and I think that the concept of 'can guys and girls ever really just be friends' is an interesting one. I mean, of course I have male friends, but I don't have any that I'm really close with enough to consider a best friend. It sounds like a sweet story - though a part of me is hoping they do end up staying best friends, without ending up together. YA needs something a little different that way. Too bad that probably won't be the outcome. What do you guys think?

And if you haven't done so already, feel free to join in and link-up your own Waiting on Wednesday post at Breaking The Spine.

Monday, November 18, 2013



Before They Find Us
Cover Designed by: Cathi Stevenson of Book Cover Express

I’m going to make you wish you were dead.

Just a text. Seventeen-year-old Rebecca Hales tries not to worry. Probably a wrong number. Not really meant for her, and definitely not related to the crime she witnessed six years ago. Right?

Then two states away, a bomb goes off in her best friend's locker. Soon Ryan is labeled a terrorist and runs to the safest place he knows—Rebecca’s house in small-town Wyoming. It doesn’t take long for the FBI to show up asking questions. Rebecca lies, of course, and says she hasn’t seen him.

Now she's neck-deep in it with him, whatever "it" is. The only way out is to return to Vegas, where Ryan is a wanted man. The city of lies and illusion puts Rebecca’s small-town wits to the test as she struggles to find the person who framed Ryan and why.

Is Rebecca’s text linked to the bombing? And what does it have to do with a six year old murder? Rebecca needs to find out before she loses Ryan—and her own life.




About the Author
Michelle A. Hansen was raised in southeastern Washington. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in English teaching from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and taught high school English for six years.

Michelle loves Pepsi and Doritos more than chocolate. She loves summertime and hates to be cold. She has had three near-death experiences. She’s addicted to office supplies and has an irrationally large stash of pens and notebooks.


Author Links:
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Cover Reveal Organized By:

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Friday, November 15, 2013

Howling At The Moon by Karen McInerney

Friday, November 15, 2013 with No comments


Amazon | Goodreads

Sophie Garou seems to have it all: a great job at a prestigious accounting firm, a closet that rivals a Nordstrom showroom, and a terrific boyfriend who isn’t afraid to use the “M” word. There’s just one little itty-bitty problem: Sophie is a werewolf–and her time of month has a whole new meaning.

Needless to say, life among yummy flesh-and-blood humans is no piece of steak . . . er, cake!, but regular doses of wolfsbane tea and a mother who runs a magic shop have helped Sophie keep her paranormal pedigree under wraps. Still, when a sexy, golden-eyed werewolf prowls into town, Sophie finds herself struggling to keep her animal impulses in check–not to mention trying to keep things on track with her super hot (and super human) lawyer boyfriend. What’s more, someone is threatening to expose Sophie for what she really is. And when her mother is accused of selling a poison-laced potion, Sophie must sniff out a culprit before the fur hits the fan.


I grabbed this book on a whim, since it was only fifity cents at a local used bookstore. I must say, it was totally worth more than what I paid for it. I found this to be a rather entertaining read, and while I don't think this series would particularly stand out compared to other series of its kind, I enjoyed it enough that I may even consider reading book two in the series, On The Prowl. Eventually.

The heroine of this novel, Sophie Garou, is rather interesting. Her Romani mother is human and her French father is a werewolf, who supposedly left when she was born in an effort to protect her, as his pack was against half-breeds. Sophie is skeptical of that excuse which she hears often from her mother, and instead grows up mistrustful of werewolves, trying to ignore the fact that she herself is one by drinking wolfs-bane tea to stave off her transformations. She also hides her wolfy secret from her boss, her best friend, and her boyfriend.

The author threw in a lot of quirky nuisances of being a female werewolf that your average Joe wouldn't often think about, such as the fact that you constantly need to shave due to insanely quick hair re-growth. But I must admit, it was a bit weird to me that if Sophie shaved her legs while in human form, they would also be bald in her werewolf form. Apparently her hair only grows quickly while as a human.

Minor inconsistencies aside, it was still an okay read....if only the author had made up her mind on the direction she was going! There was too much going on plot-wise that was really unnecessary. The entire underlying story of someone threatening to "out" Sophie was completely pointless, and only existed to give another "uh-oh" moment for our heroine to solve, when really the author herself must not have cared much about it - I say that because the culprit turned out to be utterly ridiculous, and really had absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the plot. Too many villains and not enough substance - it was like Spider-Man 3 all over again.

Nonetheless, I'd give it three stars - it was otherwise entertaining. While book two isn't high on my list of sequels to read, if I come across a copy I'll probably give it a shot.


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Thanks to Bewitching Book Tours, you can enter (239 times!!!) to win many fabulous prizes, such as a Kindle Fire HD, in the Rafflecopter below. If you're curious to see what all of the eBooks included in the contest look like, then check out this YouTube video, which showcases all of the eBooks that are up for grabs:


a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Sunday, November 10, 2013

{The Sunday Post} Bookish News + Links

Sunday, November 10, 2013 with No comments

The Sunday Post

In The News
Lionsgate executives are interested in starting up theme parks based on The Hunger Games.

Marvel & Netflix are teaming up to release four new shows based on superheroes, followed by a mini-series which will tie all four stories together.

Neil Gaiman is a newly appointed professor at Bard College in New York.
On YouTube
The trailer for Studio Ghibli's new movie, The Tale of Princess Kaguya, is out.

John Green talks about 26 Bizarre College Classes on the Mental Floss channel.

Around The Blogosphere
largehearted boy is compiling a master list of all of the "Best of 2013" book lists that he comes across.

Jamie @ The Perpetual Page Turner shares her experience on Skyping with a life coach.
Bookish Lists
This Week's Interesting Releases
What's New On My Bookshelf
  

The above three eBooks were given to me free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.