Contest Sticky


Thursday, December 30, 2010

Review : Girl, Stolen by April Henry


Title : Girl, Stolen : A Novel
Author : April Henry
Publisher : Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
Genre : Young Adult, Suspense
ISBN : 978-0805090055
Series or Stand Alone : Stand Alone
Release Date : September 28, 2010
Rating : 4.5/5 Stars - Very Good

Description from Amazon :

Sixteen year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of a car while her mom fills her prescription at the pharmacy. Before Cheyenne realizes what's happening, their car is being stolen--with her inside! Griffin hadn’t meant to kidnap Cheyenne, all he needed to do was steal a car for the others. But once Griffin's dad finds out that Cheyenne’s father is the president of a powerful corporation, everything changes—now there’s a reason to keep her. What Griffin doesn’t know is that Cheyenne is not only sick with pneumonia, she is blind. How will Cheyenne survive this nightmare, and if she does, at what price?

Review

Cheyenne Wilder is lying in the back of her step-mother's SUV, awaiting her return from the inside of their local pharmacy.  Her step-mother, Danielle, didn't want to leave Cheyenne alone in the car, but she insisted, as long as she leave the keys just in case she needed to turn on the heat.  It's not long before the door of the SUV is opened, and quickly slammed shut.  This is the first thing that alerts Cheyenne to the odd behavior, as her step-mother has only just left to fill her prescription.  The next, is the smell, that is quite obviously not her step-mother's perfume.  While her ears and nose have done the job of telling her something is seriously wrong, her eyes have no way of confirming it, because she is blind.

Griffin hadn't meant to kidnap Cheyenne.  He just seen a really nice Escalade parked, with the keys in the ignition.  Who could be so dumb as to leave such an expensive car unattended?  He doesn't think about the consequences of stealing such a prized possession, he just hops in the drivers seat and peels out of the parking lot.  It's not long before he discovers he has made a huge mistake.  Cheyenne has revealed herself, and now he has no idea what to do.  He can't just let her go, because she'd just get him caught for stealing.  The only logical thing he can think to do, is take both the new ride, and the girl, back to his father for further instruction.

Upon meeting Cheyenne in this novel, I felt complete sympathy.  I had no idea how a blind girl would survive being kidnapped and held for ransom.  How would she defend herself if they felt the need to hurt her if she couldn't see them coming?  I was scared for her, and just wanted to pull her from such a horrible situation.  Despite Cheyenne's handicap, she clearly is a brave character.  She doesn't let her blindness interfere with her life, although it does make it more difficult.  Now she depends on her other senses in order to help her.

Griffin's character wasn't what I was expecting, at all.  The only obvious thing I could figure out was that he was from a troubled home, and I soon learned why.  His father wasn't the most legit person to associate yourself with.  He'd do pretty much anything to make a buck, including introducing a life of crime to his son.  It's no surprise that when Griffin is given an opportunity to impress his father, he takes it.  His mother is gone, and now his father is all he has, so why not make him proud?  I couldn't blame him for following through with the things his father expected of him, because it was all he knew.  I liked learning the history of Griffin's life, and hoped for a chance for him to come out clean in the end.

Each chapter in this book was narrated in turn by Cheyenne and Griffin.  They revealed their feelings, as well as their secrets.  I liked that it was narrated by both the victim and the kidnapper, because it gave you a better feel of the novel.  Despite it's change in narration, it never gave away what would happen at the end.  I was surprised by the quick turn of events toward the end of the book, and caught myself before I shouted.  It did however leave me a little stumped on the very last page, because it leaves one question unanswered, but I think you should read it to find out what.

In a novel where the main character is blind, April Henry will help you see.  It's new, original, and completely fresh.  It was nothing like I've ever read before, and I'm not sure if anything can compare.  It was different to see through the eyes of someone who was blind, while still seeing everything so vividly.  Cheyenne goes through life using her nose, ears, and hands to guide her, and Henry was able to give great descriptions of each of her experiences.

Read the first chapter.

Where did I get this book?

I received this ARC in order to participate in a traveling tour with Around the World Tours, hosted by Cindy @ Princess Bookie. (I am no longer participating in ATWT at this time.)

Amazon Affiliates

Clicking on title links in this post will redirect you to Amazon.com.  If you happen to make a purchase after clicking these links I will receive a small percentage of the profits.  

Monday, December 20, 2010

Review : The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells


Title : The Summer of Skinny Dipping
Author : Amanda Howells
Publisher : Sourcebooks Fire
Genre : Young Adult
ISBN : 978-1402238628
Series or Stand Alone : Stand Alone
Release Date : June 1, 2010
Rating : 5/5 Stars - Loved It

Synopsis from Amazon

Sometimes I still wake up shivering in the early hours of the morning, drowning in dreams of being out there in the ocean that summer, of looking up at the moon and feeling as invisible and free as a fish. But I'm jumping ahead, and to tell the story right I have to go back to the very beginning. To a place called Indigo Beach. To a boy with pale skin that glowed against the dark waves. To the start of something neither of us could have predicted, and which would mark us forever, making everything that came after and before seem like it belonged to another life.

My name is Mia Gordon: I was sixteen years old, and I remember everything.

Review

Mia Gordon is on her way to spending a fun, sun filled summer on Long Island.  It's the kind of vacation she deserves for feeling the heartache of being dumped by her first boyfriend.  The last thing she wants to do is think about him, and the ocean is the perfect remedy.

Mia has always spent her summers on the beaches of the Hamptons in New York.  It's only been for the past couple of years that her parents have decided they wouldn't bother spending their summers there, but now Mia has a chance to return to the one place that has always made her happiest.  All she can think about is the sand, the sun, and the warmth of the water on her skin.  Even the thought of it can clear your head and make you forget your worries.  It's also high time she meet up with her favorite cousin, so they can catch up and have the summer of their lives.

When Mia arrives at her aunt and uncle's summer house, she realizes this may not be the summer of all summers.  Her cousin is clearly not the person she remembers, and now they no longer have anything in common.  She thought she would have someone to talk to her about her heartbreak, someone who would understand her.  It's clear that her cousin no longer has the same feelings, since now she seems to look down on the world like it is nothing but a soiled napkin, and Mia is nothing more than an offensive speck.

Mia spends a great deal of her time just trying to fit in with her spoiled cousins, and their snob of a friend.  When things seem to be going horribly wrong, she meets Simon at a party.  He's funny, and most definitely has a way with words.  Mia can't decide whether he can be trusted or not, but she soon finds herself meeting him in the middle of the night to go night swimming.  The two learn a great deal about one another, and soon he's trying to coax her into skinny dipping.

I'll have to say I enjoyed this book from the very first page.  While I could have chosen the synopsis from Goodreads, which gave you more insight on what the book was truly about, I chose the one from Amazon because it's what really caught my eye.  I knew I was in store for something far different than what the title alone revealed.

I enjoyed Mia's character a lot, and felt bad for her when she realized her own cousins didn't really want anything to do with her.  She was sweet and cared about even the smallest of things, while her cousins only cared about who and what was in fashion at the time.  While I hated her cousins, and their mean friend, they were a huge part of the book.  Without them, I think this book would have been rather lacking in story.  They helped Mia to figure out her true self, and become something better.

As for Simon, I didn't really know what to think of him at first.  I guess I felt the same way about him as Mia did, and fell for him with each passing page.  He was a little on the strange side, but I think that's what made him unique, and more alluring.  Despite Mia's ode to ban boys for the summer, she found herself drawn to him.  He understood her, and was content to just sit and listen to her pour her heart out.

Amanda Howells was excellent at describing Mia's vacation spot.  I found myself reminiscing my own summers on Long Island, although far removed from the beaches of the Hamptons.  I became home-sick for the ocean, and can understand how Mia was so attached to it.

The most memorable part of this book was the ending, which I found was a huge surprise.  I only started to feel like something big was going to happen a few paragraphs before it occurred.  I was in shock, but found myself devouring each page looking for the same thing Mia was looking for.  As much as I would like to tell you, I can't, because it would ruin the story for you.  I highly recommend giving this title a try, as it's not only a romantic tale, but a coming of age novel as well.  I'll most definitely be picking up more titles by Howells in the future.

Where did I get this book?

I received my ARC in order to participate in a traveling tour with Around the World Tours. ( I no longer participate with ATWT).

Amazon Affiliates :

Clicking on title links in this post will redirect you to Amazon.com. If you happen to make a purchase after clicking these links I will receive a small percentage of the profits. 

Life has been overhauled!

Well folks, remember that post I posted a few months ago?  The one saying that I would be back ASAP to start reviewing again?  Well...let me tell you what's been keeping me..

So, I had my gall bladder removed, YAY!  Only to realize that I was experiencing really bad nausea everyday, and couldn't keep anything down.  It turns out that I was pregnant!!  I know right?!  The most exciting thing that has ever happened to me, no lie.  Technically now I am 5 months along, and I *hopefully* find out tomorrow if it's a boy or a girl!
We're going to name the baby Connor William if it's a boy, and Ashlyn Faith if it's a girl :)

Shortly after finding out that I was going to be bringing an adorable bundle of joy into the world, we found our own house!  We're only renting, but it's something we can call our own for a while.
Then I quit that horrible job, Walmart!, they wouldn't allow me to work because I'm pregnant.  Bull right?

I'm currently working at KFC/Taco Bell, and they treat me great, and don't make me do anything that will stress the baby, so life is doing pretty good now!  I've actually been able to pick up some books to read in my spare time now, that the nausea has subsided.  Sometimes I get sidetracked though, because the baby likes to kick non-stop while I'm reading, and I tend to just stop reading and concentrate on all the feelings, lol.
Oh, and I got myself a Kindle!!!  Awesome!!!  I'm loving it SO much, and actually just finished my first book on it.  So now I'll be reviewing e-copies as well!

So enough about me, and more onto the books.  I'm going to post a review that has been sitting here waiting to be posted for some time.  Look forward to more from me from now on, because now that I don't work 40 hours a week I have plenty of reading and reviewing time!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

I've been Missing!

I just want to let you all know that I'm a horrible person because I haven't updated here in almost 2 months.

I've had a few things going on lately, and haven't had much time to even go near a computer.

In fact, I was internet-less for about 2 weeks, so I couldn't update here for that reason alone.

I just recently started a business selling Mary Kay Cosmetics.  I really needed to find a way to make some extra cash on the side, so that's been taking up some time.

I've also come to find out that I may have gall bladder problems.  I find out on Monday whether I have a 'lazy gall bladder' or not.  Hopefully I won't have to go through surgery.  I've already been to the emergency room twice due to pain, and have had to miss work.  I'm on the verge of getting fired because I couldn't show up because of how much pain I've been in, not to mention, the nausea is horrible.

From now on I'm only going to be posting reviews and the occasional interviews or giveaways.  I no longer have the extra time for weekly memes.  I'm also no longer participating in any traveling tour sites, because I have plenty of books on my TBR pile as it is.  Not to mention, I've had them coming in the mail non-stop..and about 95% of those were surprises to me!

So please look forward to reading my reviews again, because I'm going to start posting them ASAP.

Thanks for being so supportive!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Giveaway : Desire Me by Robyn DeHart


A big THANK YOU to Anna Balasi of Hatchette Books for allowing me to give away 5 copies of Desire Me by Robyn DeHart.

Synopsis

The Legend Hunters . . .

The Men of Solomon's meet in secret, their very existence only a rumor among the best of Victorian society. They are treasure hunters, men of wealth and title, seekers of myths and legends. And no legend is as mystifying as the lost city of Atlantis . . .

DESIRE ME

Years ago, Maxwell Barrett found a map to Atlantis and dedicated his life to the search for the mystical lost continent. But when an alluring woman makes a wager for the priceless artifact, he may have discovered an even greater treasure.

A descendant of Atlantis, Sabine Tobias needs the map to decipher an ancient prophecy. What she doesn't need are the sparks flying between her and Max. He's too devilishly charming to be trusted: The fate of her people is at stake as well as her heart. Yet a ruthless killer also covets the map. Now Max and Sabine must race to decode the prophecy's riddle before this criminal fulfills his deadly mission. 

Enter to Win

You must FILL OUT THIS FORM in order to enter.

Leaving comments will gain you an extra entry, but you must fill out the form initially to receive your first entry!
Contest Deadline & Restrictions

Ends June 30, 2010 @ Midnight
US & Canada Residents Only.  No PO Boxes.

Guest Post : Robyn DeHart, author of Desire Me

Robyn DeHart

I'd like to thank Robyn for stopping by to tell us about her favorite legends.  Here she is!

For today’s blog I was asked a great, but difficult question – what is my favorite myth/legend and whether or not it inspired me to write the Legend Hunters series. I don’t know if I can pick just one, there are so many mysteries out there that I find intriguing and there is something so fascinating about legends that have caused enduring curiosity. The older the legend, it seems the more intriguing it is. 

Take Excalibur and King Arthur, who doesn’t love the Arthurian legends? The romance of Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table, the love triangle between Guinevere, Arthur, and Lancelot–what’s a girl to do? But then there’s Robin Hood, another fascinating tale and it’s so like mankind to cheer for the underdog. But what about all those fabled treasures? Rumors and stories of hidden caves and chests and whatnot filled with gold, gems, and other lovely sparkly things. It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about Solomon’s mines or the El Dorado, people love stories of treasure hunts.


In short I’d say that yes, my love of these myths is what inspired me to write the series. I’ve always been fascinated with archaeology and I know I’m not alone. I mean hello, Indiana Jones….need I say more? 


My love of so many legends and myths made it quite challenging to select those I would write about. I’ve always been interested in Greek Mythology so Pandora’s Box seemed a must and though it wasn’t the first legend I thought of, it did inspire the first book in the series. It seemed the perfect storyline for an adventure romance. Atlantis actually was the first myth I thought of in relation to the series so I knew I would have to write a book about that lost continent. Who isn’t fascinated by tales of lands and cities that are no more? It pulls on most of us, I think. Perhaps that’s why researchers are still looking for the land, still trying to prove the Atlantis story was real.
In my Atlantis myth, I introduce descendents who escaped the island before its untimely demise, people who settled on the first land mass they found, which happened to be Great Britain. There’s also an ancient prophecy, a secret weapon and a scavenger hunt that gets Max and Sabine (the hero and heroine) into all sorts of trouble. Add in a maniacal villain and things get dangerous very quickly. 


I hope you’ll all enjoy my take on the Atlantis myth. So pick up a copy of Desire Me and let me know what you think.


Thanks so much for having me today and for participating in my blog tour!
 
 

Blog Tour : Desire Me by Robyn DeHart

Desire Me by Robyn DeHart
Historical Romance

The Legend Hunters . . .

The Men of Solomon's meet in secret, their very existence only a rumor among the best of Victorian society. They are treasure hunters, men of wealth and title, seekers of myths and legends. And no legend is as mystifying as the lost city of Atlantis . . .

DESIRE ME

Years ago, Maxwell Barrett found a map to Atlantis and dedicated his life to the search for the mystical lost continent. But when an alluring woman makes a wager for the priceless artifact, he may have discovered an even greater treasure.

A descendant of Atlantis, Sabine Tobias needs the map to decipher an ancient prophecy. What she doesn't need are the sparks flying between her and Max. He's too devilishly charming to be trusted: The fate of her people is at stake as well as her heart. Yet a ruthless killer also covets the map. Now Max and Sabine must race to decode the prophecy's riddle before this criminal fulfills his deadly mission.  

About the Author

I'm one of those writers who always knew that she wanted to be a writer. It took me a while, however, to figure out precisely what I wanted to write. Reading Kathleen Woodiwiss' "A Rose in Winter" sealed the deal for me and I've been reading and writing romance ever since. I should have known I was destined for this when my Barbies insisted on hosting elaborate masquerade parties, complete with stolen kisses in the moonlight.

I'm the youngest of three children, so of course I'm the favorite. I was raised in central Texas, in the beautiful Hill Country, right smack-dab between Austin and San Antonio. My parents were high school sweethearts and married a week after my mother graduated – they both needed their parents' permission to marry since they were so young. So I blame them and their amazing marriage for the fact that I'm a hopeless romantic. 

Somewhere along the line, I graduated from college with a degree in Sociology, only after completing an internship with none other than award-winning author, Pamela Morsi. It was one of the coolest experiences of my life and I learned more about the writing business than I could have hoped.

After college I worked a myriad of jobs: Computer Software Trainer, Recruiter, Administrative Assistant. But no matter what my day job, I come home to my real job and click, click, click away on my computer and get lost in my imaginary world where justice always prevails and the girl always gets her guy! It's the coolest job in the world.

I'm married to the most amazingly supportive man who makes me laugh every day. He's so proud of my career, and loves to tell people, "My wife is a romance novelist." We live in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, where my husband is a university professor.

We have two very spoiled cats who are of no help at all when it comes to my writing, although they sometimes nap in the same room where I sit diligently working.

After writing for seven years I sold my first book to Avon in 2004 and Courting Claudia was released in 2005. I had three other releases with Avon and have recently moved to Grand Central Publishing and am awaiting my first release with them. I love to hear from readers, so feel free to send me an email or you can find me online at my group blog, or at on my Facebook or MySpace pages. 
Five Fun Facts

1. One of the most fun aspects of writing Desire Me came from creating the scavenger hunt for Sabine and Max. It was a thrill to come up with all manners of danger to put them in. 

2. The underground bath is based on a real Roman bath that was unearthed by archeologists outside of Kent in 2004. My characters just happened to find it first. 

3. Desire Me is the first book I’ve written that has two villains. And they’re both deliciously evil—and one is a woman!

4. When I came up with the concept for the Legend Hunters series, the lost continent of Atlantis was the very first legend I thought of.
 
5. When writing the scenes with Queen Victoria, I swear I was channeling Judi Dench; I kept hearing her voice and imagining her mannerisms. She was the perfect inspiration for my Queen.

Upcoming Review : Poker Table-Top from CSN Stores!


I'm so excited to have been contacted by CSN Stores again to review yet another great product.  I've already reviewed one of their great bookshelves, and am still currently loving it!

When I was contacted a few weeks ago to review another product I couldn't decide whether I wanted another great bookshelf, since they have such a huge variety, or something completely different.  They just have so many products to choose from!
I suggested one of their great bathroom vanities as a gift to my mother, but when my fiance saw they had a poker table top, he begged me to choose that!

Here's a picture of the poker table top that we decided on!
You can purchase your own by going here.

As soon as it arrives I'll be posting my review.  It's probably going to be a joint review from my fiance and myself.  Maybe I'll drag it along to one of our Monday Night poker games!

Contest Winners : Montana Destiny by R.C. Ryan


Thanks again to Anna Balasi of Hatchette Books for allowing me to give away 5 copies of R.C. Ryan's Montana Destiny!

So sorry I am behind on posting this.  I've been on vacation for the past week, and the week before that there was a LOT of planning for upcoming events.  If you read my vacation post then you'll understand why, and we even threw in a last minute visit to Hershey Park this past Friday!
This contest we had 29 people enter with 171 Entries!
We also had 1 person that donated to the site for future contest shipment, and maintenance!  Thanks for that!

So without further ado, here are our winners!

Anita Yancey
Cindy Woolard
Kimberly H.
Rachie G.
Buukluvr81

I already have your mailing addresses, but I am going to email all of you just so your aware that you've won! 

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

I haven't forgotten you! I'm on Vacation!!!

I know, I'm a horrible person.  I haven't posted anything for awhile.

Last week we were getting ready for our week of vacation, which doesn't really feel like a vacation at all.
Here's what we've done so far on vacation....

Saturday : Birthday Party
Sunday : 50th Anniversary Party / Renewal of Vows
Monday : Shopping for Graduation Parties
Tuesday : Cleaning the house and Shopping for Graduation Parties! Mary Kay Makeup Party tonight!

What do we still have to do?

Wednesday : Graduation Party for my sister
Thursday : Graduation for my sister and her boyfriend.  Graduation party for her boyfriend!
Friday : Graduation for my cousin, and her fiance.
Saturday : Graduation party for my cousin and her fiance.  Birthday party for my little 3 year old cousin!
Sunday : Leaving for Connecticut.  Foxwoods here we come!
Monday : Leaving Foxwoods in the afternoon.
Tuesday : I'm FINALLY FREE TO READ AGAIN!!!

So please don't hate me.  I haven't really had ANY time to relax, and I'm angry because I had a tour book come in during last week and haven't gotten a chance to finish it and now I have to send it on to the next person.  Did I mention that the first book in the series was my FAVORITE read of 2010?!  Well..it was.

So look for more posts from me in a week from today!

Miss you guys! 

 

Monday, May 31, 2010

Review : Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson


Title : Amy & Roger's Epic Detour
Author : Morgan Matson

Publisher : Simon & Schuster
Genre : Young Adult
ISBN :
978-1416990659
Series : Stand Alone
Release Date : May 4, 2010
Rating : 4.5/5 Stars - Really Liked It

Synopsis from Amazon :

Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn't seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she's coming to terms with her father's death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road--diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.  

Review

Amy Curry has been going through some rough times.  Her father recently died in a car accident, and her family is pretty much falling apart now.  Both her twin brother, and her mother are already out and on their way to starting their new lives.  Now it's just up to Amy to pull in the rear, and leave her old life behind.

Amy is about to do her first cross country trip, but it's clearly not welcome.  She would much rather continue to live in the house she has always known in California, than to move to Connecticut.  She's not sure how she can even cope with getting into the car, let alone make it across the country.  Along for the ride is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend.  Amy doesn't recognize him at first, because the last time she seen him he was a young boy.

She is really nervous about traveling across the country with someone she doesn't even know.  She has a hard time talk to people she's known her whole life since the accident, so she doesn't think this ride is going to be the most thrilling part of her summer.  She soon realizes that Roger isn't the gawky looking child he used to be, and now he is in fact quite handsome.  Her nervousness only increases because of this new development, and now all she can think of is how she doesn't want him to dislike her...and how she's really starting to like him.

When I first started reading this novel I couldn't decide if I was going to really like Amy or not.  She was far too timid, but given her circumstances, it was understandable.  All I wanted her to do was climb out of her shell and give the world another chance. I felt bad every time she mentioned how she would much rather blend into the background than be front and center.  I think she needed a jolt to wake her up again, and remember that life really is worth living for, even if you make some mistakes in your life.


I liked Roger throughout the whole book, even though his obsessiveness towards a certain ex girlfriend made me want to strangle him.  The more he talked about her, and the way she acted, the less I liked her.  She sounded far too stuck up, and not like the kind of girl that Roger would be seen walking hand in hand with.  I wanted to take his head in my hands and just make him look closer at Amy, and realize that she needed him far more, and that he might just need her just as much.  He was an all around caring guy, and I can honestly say that if I were Amy, I wouldn't have had a hard time falling for him.

I loved Amy and Roger's detour in this book.  While they didn't visit that many great places, their adventure was something to remember.  I've never been given the opportunity to do a cross country trip, and after reading this book, it's something I've really been thinking about.  Morgan Matson did a great job describing all of the places that they traveled, and made them feel more alive.  Little rinky-dink towns in who knows where sounded more beautiful than some of the places that I've gotten to visit.


The more Amy traveled with Roger by her side, the more she opened up to both him and the people she met along the way.  I think that their traveling was the perfect medicine, and it helped her develop more as a character.  The strangers she met along the way were a big help as well, because not knowing her story, made it easier for them to just accept her for who she was and not what she has done.  

In all honesty, I loved this book.  If I am given the chance to have my own cross country trip, I'll more than likely be visiting some of the spots Amy and Roger landed in.  I can't wait to read more books by Morgan Matson in the future, and can only hope that they are as good as this one.

Where did I get this book? :

I received my ARC for participating in a traveling blog tour with Around the World Tours. (I no longer participate on this traveling blog tour).

Amazon Affiliates

Clicking on title links in this post will redirect you to Amazon.com. If you happen to make a purchase after clicking these links I will receive a small percentage of the profits.

Contest Winners : The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker (audiobook)


Thanks again to Anna Balasi of Hatchette Books for allowing me to give away 3 copies of Ted Dekker's, The Bride Collector (audiobook)!

I'd like to say that I've been a little slow with posting this past week...and I'm sorry for that.  I've received a lot of traveling tour books and have wanted to make sure they all get read and out the door on time.  I've also been going through some personal issues, and I have NOT forgotten about you guys.
On to the giveaway, yeah, that's why your really here..right?!

There was a total of 27 people who entered with 124 Entries...

Our 3 Winners are...

Jamie Payne
Melissa (Books R Us)
jellybelly82158

I already have your mailing addresses, so I will forward them to Anna so she can get your books shipped out!  I'm also emailing you just in case you don't see this post! 

In My Mailbox - May 31, 2010

In My Mailbox was started by Krist @ The Story Siren, inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

14 by J.T. Ellison (Paperback)
February 1, 2010 - Received from Bookmooch

Ten victims, each with pale skin and long dark hair. All have been slashed across the throat, the same red lipstick smeared across their lips.

In the mid-1980s the Snow White Killer terrorized the streets of Nashville, Tennessee. Then suddenly the murders stopped. A letter from the killer to the police stated that his work was done.

Now four more bodies are found, marked with his fatal signature. The residents of Nashville fear a madman has returned, decades later, to finish his sick fairy tale. Homicide Lieutenant Taylor Jackson believes the killings are the work of a copycat killer who's even more terrifying. For this monster is meticulously honing his craft as he mimics famous serial murders…proving that the past is not to be forgotten.

May 25, 2010 - Received unsolicited for review from Pocket Books

Married young to a charming but improvident army officer, Eve Hawthorne was widowed with little left except for a few extravagant trifles. Desperate to avoid her domineering stepmother, she accepts employment as chaperone to the Earl of Stewkesbury’s American cousins. Who better than a levelheaded widow to remind these young girls that they no longer live on a frontier? But when she flirts with a handsome stranger who turns out to be the earl’s brother Fitz, Eve worries she’s given the wrong impression. Trying to prove herself responsible—with Fitz challenging her at every turn—is hard enough, but a blackmailer with an interest in Eve’s prior marriage proves far more troubling. With the earl away, Eve can turn only to Fitz for help. But dare she confide in him, when getting too close to this confirmed bachelor might risk her heart to his alluring ways?
 
Embers by Laura Bickle (Paperback)
March 30, 2010 - Won from The Book Smugglers (Thanks!) 

Truth burns.Unemployment, despair, anger—visible and invisible unrest feed the undercurrent of Detroit’s unease. A city increasingly invaded by phantoms now faces a malevolent force that further stokes fear and chaos throughout the city.Anya Kalinczyk spends her days as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department, and her nights pursuing malicious spirits with a team of eccentric ghost hunters. Anya—who is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern—suspects a supernatural arsonist is setting blazes to summon a fiery ancient entity that will leave the city in cinders. By Devil’s Night, the spell will be complete, unless Anya—with the help of her salamander familiar and the paranormal investigating team—can stop it.Anya’s accustomed to danger and believes herself inured to loneliness and loss. But this time she’s risking everything: her city, her soul, and a man who sees and accepts her for everything she is. Keeping all three safe will be the biggest challenge she’s ever faced.

Embers

A sizzling debut from a red-hot new author . . .

November 2, 2009 - Received for review from Yorkshire Publishing

On a perfect autumn night in the coastal village of Wicker Bay, a young couple was attacked and a life was forever changed. When teenager Nickel Warren awoke she learned her boyfriend, Eric, had mysteriously vanished. Seemingly the only person on Bishop's Island eager to find him, Nickel devoted her life to learning what happened to her first love on that tragic night. Though the years provided no clues or comfort, she never allowed herself to stop believing Eric was alive. Now, after an eighteen year absence Eric Kade has resurfaced on Bishop's Island under circumstances as unsettling as his disappearance. Though reunited, Nickel's search for answers is sidelined by another horrific event more deeply connected to her childhood sweetheart than she can imagine. Living as a preacher, Eric has traveled the world for nearly two decades hunting demons in a sect named The Progeny. But a chilling prophecy has named him as a threat and turned his fellow hunters against him. With a sense of urgency, Eric has come back to the island not to rekindle the past but to protect the home he loves from an oncoming war. Relying on the help of a rare group of locals, he builds a network of his own to defend the unknowing against a world he has come to know too well. As he works to prepare a haven, Eric will strengthen his bond with Nickel and introduce her to a world of miraculous events and unholy terror.
 
May 4, 2010 - Received from Paperbackswap.com

When it comes to love, one woman is scaling back her expectations...

Tully Sullivan is just like any other suburban mom-except she's just woken up in a strange place surrounded by strange people who keep insisting that they're dragons-and that she's one too.
 
May 25, 2010 - Received for review from Around the World Tours 

From the critically acclaimed author of Eyes Like Stars
We are such stuff as dreams are made on.

Act Two, Scene One

Growing up in the enchanted Thèâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts, but she didn’t know that she, too, had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and determined to follow her stars. She is ready for the outside world. 

Enter BERTIE AND COMPANY

But the outside world soon proves more topsy-turvy than any stage production. Bertie can make things happen by writing them, but outside the protective walls of the Thèâtre, nothing goes as planned. And her magic cannot help her make a decision between—

 Nate: Her suave and swashbuckling pirate, now in mortal peril.
 Ariel: A brooding, yet seductive, air spirit whose true motives remain unclear.

When Nate is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him. She and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey aboard the Thèâtre’s caravan, using Bertie’s word magic to guide them. Along the way, they collect a sneak-thief, who has in his possession something most valuable, and meet The Mysterious Stranger, Bertie’s father—and the creator of the scrimshaw medallion. Bertie’s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it’s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess’s lair?

 Once again, LISA MANTCHEV has spun a tale like no other—full of romance, magic, adventure, and fairies, too—that readers won’t want to put down, even after the curtain has closed.

Presidential Risk by Michael Bronte (Trade)
January 20, 2010 - Received for review from Yorkshire Publishing

When dead presidents in a supernatural world play the board game of world conquest, their moves are carried out in the human world.

Leaders are born and dictators rise to power as presidents past, such as Teddy Roosevelt, Abe Lincoln, Dwight Eisenhower, and others, plot their moves. One of them makes a move, and invasion takes place on Earth.

In the supernatural world, it's about strategy, wits, and the will to win. But on Earth, it's an action and adventure story featuring a psychopathic dictator threatening the United States, and the boy who will grow up to stop him from taking over the world. It might seem impossible, but history is being determined before it actually happens.

In the end, it's all about leadership, and little Pauli Campo emerges from his meager existence to lead his country in the fight to avert a world war that could lead to the deaths of millions of people. This is the unGame, and the struggle for world domination continues with each roll of the dice in Presidential Risk.

Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison (ARC)
June 29, 2010 - Received for review from Dorchester Publishing

Death

Some people will do anything to avoid it. Even trade their immortal souls for endless existence.

Wraiths

Secretly, inexorably, they are infiltrating our world, sucking the essence out of unsuspecting victims with their hideous parody of a kiss.

Segue

Adam Thorne founded the Institute to study and destroy his monster of a brother, but the key to its success is held in the pale, slender hand of a woman on the run. There is something hauntingly different about Talia O’Brien, her unknowing sensuality, her uncanny way of slipping into Shadow.

Twilight

This is the place between life and what comes after - a dark forest of fantasy, filled with beauty, peril, mystery. And Talia is about to open the door. 

The Clearing by Heather Davis (Trade)
April 12, 2010 - Received for review from Around the World Tours 

In this bittersweet romance, two teens living decades apart form a bond that will change their lives forever. 

Amy is drawn to the misty, mysterious clearing behind her Aunt Mae's place because it looks like the perfect place to hide from life. A place to block out the pain of her last relationship, to avoid the kids in her new town, to stop dwelling on what her future holds after high school. Then, she meets a boy lurking in the mist--Henry. Henry is different from any other guy Amy has ever known. And after several meetings in the clearing, she's starting to fall for him. 

But Amy is stunned when she finds out just how different Henry really is. Because on his side of the clearing, it's still 1944. By some miracle, Henry and his family are stuck in the past, staving off the tragedy that will strike them in the future. Amy's crossing over to Henry's side brings him more happiness than he's ever known--but her presence also threatens to destroy his safe existence.   

That's all for me this past week, how bout you?!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday - May 26, 2010


Waiting On Wednesday


Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
 
 
Release Date : June 22, 2010
 
Synopsis from TheAmandaProject.com

Signal from Afar is told from the sensitive artist eye of Hal. Hal was completely entranced by Amanda from the moment she set foot in Endeavor, and she shook his world view to its core, re-coloring the way he looked at everything. The guides continue to make surprising discoveries as they sleuth into recent alarming developments at school, Amanda's true identity, and her reasons for coming to Orion. They come to realize that Amanda may have disappeared physically, but she is definitely still sending beacons and clues so that they can uncover the larger mystery of which she is a part . . . does an intricate, carved box belonging to Amanda hold the key to everything?
 
The first book in this series, Invisible I, was a great read.  I actually reviewed it here, last year, and now I can't wait to read more clues as to the disappearance of Amanda..and learn more about her friends!  

There's also a third book set to be released in this series called, Do You See?, which will be co-authored by Stella Lennon and Laurie Faria Stolarz.  There is no release date for this one, but it will most likely be released in 2011.  As soon as I find out more info, I'll let you all know!

Blog Tour : Ni'il The Awakening by James Boyle

Ni'il : The Awakening by James Boyle
Dark Fantasy

Read my Review.

When several people are brutally killed in the town of Placerton, on the isolated Oregon coast, most locals think a rogue bear or cougar is roaming the forested hills near town. Police Chief Dan Connor is not so sure. He has witnessed some very strange things lately, such as disembodied voices, muttering a strange foreign language and an old Indian man who seems to be near every crime scene, but disappears before he can be questioned.Dan's investigation takes him to the local Sihketunnai Indians and their legend of the Ni'il, magical shamans charged with maintaining the balance between humans and the natural world. According to the elders, one of the Ni'il is responsible for the murders and intends to kill everyone in the community. It is Dan's job to stop it.It sounded unbelievable, but was the only explanation that fit the facts.As a violent Pacific storm crashes ashore, cutting off power and washing out roads-cutting the town off from the outside world--Dan finds himself entering a strange world of myth and magic that was not covered in his police training. He must use all his wits and new-found powers to save himself and his community from the Ni'il.
 
About the Author
James Boyle

Like all of us, James is a product of his environment.
He was raised in a religious/spiritual family and that spirituality pervades most of his work. He even attended a Catholic Seminary for a year before deciding the priesthood was not for him.
James’ father worked for the phone company as he was growing up, which was much like growing up in a military family. The company transferred his family from town to town every couple of years. By the time he’d graduated high school, they’d moved twenty times. He attended nine different schools in five cities and three states.

He lived mainly in North Dakota until he was eight, since then he lived in Washington and Oregon, moving to Gold Beach when he was sixteen. He finds that the landscape of the Pacific Northwest has done more to influence him than nearly everything else. Its vast forests, rugged mountains, seascapes and sparse population inspire recollections of what the pioneers first fell in love with a century and a half ago. From his house, he can still hike fifteen minutes and spend the entire day without seeing another human being. And the possibility exists that he could see sasquatch.

One of his goals is to build a dark fiction landscape of the Pacific Northwest, much like Stephen King has done with Maine. A landscape of dark possibilities.

When he was a child living in Bismark, North Dakota, his parents took James to Fort Abraham Lincoln, the fort Gen. Custer left on his last, fateful campaign and the Knife River Village, the restored ruins of a Mandan village. Now forty years later, the memories have faded, but not the memory of the impression the visits made on a small boy. Years later, he read Dee Brown’s Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. After that he devoured everything he could find about Native American history and culture. He came to have a deep sympathy for the Native peoples’ doomed resistance to the white culture and admiration for their cultural connection to the natural world around them. The dominant culture seeks to change and subjugate a nature it sees as an enemy; the Natives sought to live within the natural world as one part of a dynamic whole.

When he was eighteen, James was diagnosed with a severe case of scoliosis. After graduating early from Gold Beach High School in 1978, he underwent surgery that fused most of his lumber spine. Six months in a body cast later, he continued on to college at the University of Oregon, where he earned a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. Now, forty years after the surgery, his body is beginning to break down a bit. So if you see him and notice he seems to be bent and twisted, you know why.

When he’s not writing, James has worked in the restaurant industry as a cook and as a manager, mostly in the Eugene/Springfield area, but most lately at Gold Beach’s Port Hole Cafe. Looking back, he seems to have a lot of scenes set in restaurants. He enjoy reading, playing an occasional video game, taking his dog for exploratory hikes along the beach or river. He is happily single. (it’s so much less complicated.)

Thank you Tracee from Pump Up Your Books for allowing me to be a part of this tour.

DNF Review : Ni'il - The Awakening by James Boyle


Title : Ni'il : The Awakening
Author : James Boyle
Publisher : IUniverse
Genre : Dark Fantasy
ISBN : 978-1440108679
Series : #1 in Ni'il Series
Release Date : December 2, 2008
Rating : 1/5 Stars - Couldn't Get Into It

Description from Amazon

When several people are brutally killed in the town of Placerton, on the isolated Oregon coast, most locals think a rogue bear or cougar is roaming the forested hills near town. Police Chief Dan Connor is not so sure. He has witnessed some very strange things lately, such as disembodied voices, muttering a strange foreign language and an old Indian man who seems to be near every crime scene, but disappears before he can be questioned.Dan's investigation takes him to the local Sihketunnai Indians and their legend of the Ni'il, magical shamans charged with maintaining the balance between humans and the natural world. According to the elders, one of the Ni'il is responsible for the murders and intends to kill everyone in the community. It is Dan's job to stop it.It sounded unbelievable, but was the only explanation that fit the facts.As a violent Pacific storm crashes ashore, cutting off power and washing out roads-cutting the town off from the outside world--Dan finds himself entering a strange world of myth and magic that was not covered in his police training. He must use all his wits and new-found powers to save himself and his community from the Ni'il. 

Review

At first I was really interested in what was going to happen in this book, especially when there was a mystery of missing dogs all over the town.  I'm an animal lover, and I certainly wanted to make sure those dogs were still alive, and well.  Despite by interest in what was going to happen, I became bored with this book.  I couldn't relate to any of the characters, and didn't really like the main character, Dan, either.

I may decide to give this one another try, just to see what is really going on in the town of Placerton.  I'm still sort of curious as to where all of the dogs are disappearing to.

I don't want you to turn this book away merely because I had no interest in it, in fact, I want you to give it a try.  I encourage you to try this book, and link back your reviews so that we can compare our opinions.

Where did I get this book? :

I received my copy for review from the author for a blog tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotions.

Amazon Affiliates

Clicking on title links in this post will redirect you to Amazon.com. If you happen to make a purchase after clicking these links I will receive a small percentage of the profits.