Sunday, June 30, 2013

Cover Madness Giveaway Hop



Cover Madness is hosted by Alluring Reads and Xpresso Reads!

The winner of the giveaway will get to win a pre-order of one of the pretties below! Just make sure your country is listed in the Book Depository list of countries they ship for free. Click the pictures to go to the book's Goodreads page.



This giveaway is INT'l and will end July 14th, 2013. To enter just fill out the Rafflecopter form below!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

List of Blogs on the hop!

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Pic2Book Wednesday Challenge #77

Guess the Book Title





This is a weekly challenge where you guess the book title just by looking at the pictures. This game is inspired by the game Scene it? and it's one of my favorite challenges in it! If you want to participate and don't want any spoilers don't read the comments. I'll post the answer of this challenge in tomorrow's post.

What's this book's title?


Hints:

  • This book will be published on Sep. 10th 2013
  • R.R. are the author's initials
  • This is a stand-alone book

Last Challenge answer: 

The 5th Wave (The Fifth Wave #1) by Rick Yancey


Thanks to:  


For participating in the last challenge!!! 

Monday, June 17, 2013

Monica Never Shuts Up by A.S. King


Rating: 4 out 5 stars
A dozen stories for adults featuring a mouthful of lottery tickets, a giant cow, two yachts, a six-pack of Fresca, and Monica, who never shuts up. When Liz and Reg find their dream house, they don’t expect to find Lois and her magical Fresca. Same as Deirdre doesn’t expect to find what she finds in the trash bin. Debra can’t help but send pieces of herself to her ex-husband same as Jim can’t help thinking about the pieces of men that are taken without permission. Award-winning author A.S. King shares her short fiction including the Best New American Voices-nominated title track, “Monica Never Shuts Up” and keeps us thinking, exploring, and laughing all at the same time.
I've been a big fan of A.S. King since I read Everybody Sees the Ants. Her writing is powerful and really funny at the same time. Monica Never Shuts Up was a bit different from her other books. This was an anthology for adults. I thought I wasn't going to like this one because I’m used to her YA voice but I was wrong. I think A.S. King can write about the most boring subject in the world and I’m going to love it.

I loved every single short story but there were I few that I couldn't help but adore. There was Monica Never Shuts Up, this one is the first short story in the book and my absolute favorite. From the first sentence Sadie had me rolling on the floor with her humorous rants. Her brother’s girlfriend (Monica) literately NEVER shuts up! Here’s one of my favorite quotes:  

“So, apparently my brother is unaware that he is screwing an emotional ten-year-old. No one has told him that he is now a brain-pedophile.”

Here’s another one:

FYI Monica is “allergic” to mushrooms.

“Six months later. We’re eating dinner at my place. I have laced every course with hidden mushrooms. She still won’t die” 

I would love for A.S. King to write a book with Sadie as the main character because she was hilarious. 

Then there was “Butcher” which was a little bit disturbing. Also “River 16”, this one made me cry my eyes out. There’s something for everybody in this book. If you are a fan of King or you are just a fan of awesome books then Monica Never Shuts Up is for you. 





Friday, June 14, 2013

Jenny's Blue Velvet Cover Reveal

Jenny's Blue Velvet by Angela Carlie
Publication date: August 22nd 2013
Genre: Adult Romantic Thriller
Jenny's stuck. She's tried just about every occupation she can think of and will be digging out of student debt for a very long time, but has nothing to show for it. Her everyday routine feels like a prison. And her marriage? Well, let's just say it's been a little one-sided lately and the money she threw down on the toys from Lover's Erotic Store was well worth it and then some. Jenny decides her next big step is to become a romance writer. Romance books are flying off the virtual shelves, after all. This will be her big break, her escape from the prison, and a way to freedom. Self-publishing is all the rage these days. She'll be a best seller in no time. When Jenny makes friends with a woman named Cassandra from the gym, she instantly decides that her new friend will make a perfect main character in her upcoming book. After the first chapter, real life begins to resemble the fiction she's writing. Her friendship blossoms, sex with her husband turns into a daily feast, and her job gets more interesting with each chapter written. Out of the blue, a person who is a close friend with her husband and who is dating Cassandra disappears. As the mystery behind the missing person unfolds, Jenny wonders if she might be responsible for his possible death. And if she is, what will be the consequence? What has this writing business gotten her into?
 JENNY'S BLUE VELVET is a dark, humorous, romantic thriller for adults only


AUTHOR BIO
Facts about Angela Carlie

I write fiction. I work hard. I play often.

When I'm not pushing a mouse around at a desk job, which is boring, or writing, which is fun, I enjoy hanging out with my fourteen-year-old son and husband, reading, hiking, kayaking, traveling, and running.

Hawaii and Washington are my two favorite states.

I believe that if everyone ate a whole-food plant based diet, cancer cases would be a minimum, heart disease a thing of the past, and hunger something found in history books.

One of my favorite documentaries is Forks Over Knives.

I love hearing about people reading my books, so if you enjoyed one of my stories, please let me know by leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads.

Thank you for spending time with my stories. We don't have much of it and I appreciate that you find my work worthy of your time.

Author Links:

Monday, June 10, 2013

The Edge of Truth by Natasha Hanova Blog Tour and Giveaway!!




Citizens who report to work on time, obey the Overlord’s laws, and stay off the Synbot’s radar, live long lives. Long, dull, monotonous lives.It’s not a bad plan for someone with a hidden, emotion-based ability to trigger earthquakes. In a world pitted against her, sixteen-year-old Rena Moon strives for a life beyond working herself to death at the factory. Seeing an alternative, she risks selling relics from the forbidden lands at Market. It becomes the worst decision she ever made. Someone kidnaps her best friend in exchange for the one thing that would end her oppression. Driven by loyalty, Rena and seventeen-year-old Nevan Jelani, soulful composer, green thumb extraordinaire, and the secret love of her life, plot to rescue her friend and reclaim her salvage. Still, the thought lingers whether Nevan is a true hero or another thief waiting for his chance at her loot. Events spin wildly, deepening Rena’s suspicions and pushing her limit of control. With more than her chance for freedom at stake, she must decide if she’s willing to kill to protect what’s precious to her. For once, the Overlord isn’t holding all the power, but can Rena live with being reduced to what she’s trying so hard to escape?

Amazon/Barnes & Noble/Goodreads 


Excerpt:

​A transport vehicle plastered with an image of Overlord Andrick’s almost smiling face sped to the scene. A Syn exited, picked the boy up with one hand, and tossed him in the back. Rena felt the engine rumble through the ground as it drove away. She wanted to stomp her feet and squash the lingering sensation, but resisted.
​“Rena!” Blaze whispered. “Move it.”
​She struggled to keep a normal, non-­conspicuous pace, and even more not to hide her ring. Only guilty people tried to hide. “Did they see us?”
​“Don’t think so,” Blaze whispered as she pulled off her new ring and stashed it in her pocket. “Know anyone around here?”
​Warmth burned her cheeks. She stared at a blue house with a gray roof. He was inside. “Uhh... Nevan lives in that house.”
​“Let’s go.” This time, Blaze did the dragging as Rena planted her feet.
​“Are you crazy?” she whispered as she checked the position of the Syns, still three blocks away. “We can’t go to Nevan’s house. I’ll die.”
​“Well, we can’t exactly stay outside. Do you want to get caught, too?”
​The androids weren’t that close, yet. Okay, maybe they were, but knocking on Nevan’s door?
​“Let’s talk about this rationally,” Rena suggested.
​“We don’t have time for this.”
​“This house here is closer.” She rocked side to side while raking her hands over frizzy braids. “Let’s just go there.”
​“And what if the tenants alert the Syns?” Blaze peered over Rena’s shoulders. “We don’t have time for your version of rational.”
​“Blaze... What if he turns us away?” The corners of her eyes glistened. Fear of detection battled for dominance over fear of rejection. “I don’t think I can handle that.” She wasn’t ready to find out the truth.
​“Fine. Let’s try this house.”
​Blaze lightly tapped at the door. After a few seconds, she knocked harder and took a step back. “I don’t think anyone’s home.”
​“I could’ve sworn I saw someone peeking out.” Rena had actually felt foot vibrations from inside the house, but she was so used to protecting her secret, the lie came out first.
​“Rena! Why didn’t you say so? We don’t have time to waste on people who obviously aren’t going to help.” She brushed past her to the blue house.
​The Syns neared. One stopped to identify a pedestrian on the opposite sidewalk. The other angled toward the girls.
​Blaze stood on the front porch, jabbed her finger down at the ground and mouthed the words, “Get. Over. Here. Now!”
​She shuffled across the lawn to postpone the inevitable. When she stepped onto the porch, Blaze shoved her forward, then reached around her to knock.
​“But, what if his parents—” she started to say, but stopped. Someone walked toward them. By the lyrical footsteps, she knew exactly who it was.

The door creaked open.




AUTHOR BIO 
Natasha Hanova is an award-winning author of young adult and adult dark fantasy/paranormal fiction. Her short stories are published in Undead Tales 2, October Nightmares and Dreams, and Once Upon a Christmas. She is a member of Novel Clique, YALitChat, and an Affiliate member of the Oklahoma Writer’s Federation, Inc. She lives in Kansas with her wonderful husband, twin boys, and daughter.



GIVEAWAY

Tour Grand Prize (INTL)
5 eBook copies of Edge of Truth


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Book Expo America Highlights and Giveaway!!!!!

This is my BEA Recap. Or more like my BEA highlights. I don't remember when I did what so I'll just post pics and tell you about them. 

I have to say that going to BEA for three days in a row was exhausting. Mentally and physically. But so damn worth it. Being surrounded by book lovers, authors and just awesome people made me feel at home. There's no such thing as being too fangirly. Everybody there fangirls over awesome authors, even boys fangirl!!       

Like the picture below! I met freaking Tahereh Mafi! I was shaking after taking this pic. There was a girl behind me that took a picture with her and after Tahereh left the girl started crying! She was so embarrassed but I told her that if it wasn't for my makeup I would be crying too. 



Here I am with the author of Entangled, Amy Rose Capetta. She was sooo nice!!


Then I got to meet Lemony Snicket! He was hilarious! Here he is posing. 




Like everybody that goes to BEA there are certain books that you MUST get before leaving the expo. One of these books was Fractured by Sarah Fine. I went to Amazon booth Thursday afternoon and the lovely Amazon girl told me that they ran out of copies! But she told me to come early the next day and ask her again. So I did. And she delivered! I almost french kissed her! I was so so excited!

What you see behind the book is my BEA schedule. That thing was a lifesaver ;)


Then today I was admiring the beauty that is this book and I came across this:


Sarah Fine mention me in the acknowledgements of Fractured and I'm so freaking honored! Sarah Fine you rock my socks! Thank you for being so awesome and writing wonderful books. Thank you!  

 I also got to do some activities outside BEA. I was invited to the Kensington party and this was the view:




And I got to meet the lovely Vida! She was fantastic!


I also met some amazing bloggers! I met Giselle from Xpresso Reads. She was as nice as she is online! I wish I've taken a picture with her. But I was so nervous!! Hopefully I'll see her again next year :)

Saturday was the last day of the convention. It was also the Power Readers day. So we decided to get to the Javits center early. Thank goodness we did! This was the line to get into the exhibit floor: 




Here are the books I took home:





 These are the ones I'm very excited to read:



 This is a bracelet Kami Garcia was giving away at her signing:



Overall Book Expo America was crazy, amazing and just plain unforgettable! I'm looking forward to next year's BEA! 


GIVEAWAY
Annnnnddd here are the books I'm giving away!!! 

The Giveaway is US only and it will end 6/19/13. To enter just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. 



The Hunger Games (Movie Tie-in Edition) by Suzanne Collins
All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry
Ink by Amanda Sun (signed)
Awaken by Meg Cabot 
Covet by Tracey Garvis Graves




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Secret For a Song by S.K. Falls Blog Tour and Giveaway!!!




Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Saylor Grayson makes herself sick. Literally.

She ate her first needle when she was seven. Now, at nineteen, she’s been kicked out of college for poisoning herself with laxatives. The shrinks call it Munchausen Syndrome. All Saylor knows is that when she’s ill, her normally distant mother pays attention and the doctors and nurses make her feel special.

Then she meets Drew Dean, the leader of a local support group for those with terminal diseases. When he mistakes her for a new member, Saylor knows she should correct him. But she can’t bring herself to, not after she’s welcomed into a new circle of friends. Friends who, like Drew, all have illnesses ready to claim their independence or their lives

For the first time, Saylor finds out what it feels like to be in love, to have friends who genuinely care about her. But secrets have a way of revealing themselves. What will happen when Saylor’s is out?

Quick Review:

This book is intriguing, dark and will make you think. Secret For a Song is a must read. 

Long Review:

I had many ideas of how to start this review while reading Secret For a Song. I even wrote them down. But to tell you the truth I don't even know where to start. There's so many things I want to say about this book that I'm... speechless. Secret For a Song was not what I expected.

I decided that I wanted to read this book when I read S.K Falls' author bio. I thought that if she could write an awesome bio then definitely she could write an equally awesome book. She did guys! Secret For a Song was so amazing and thought provoking. The characters, the writing and the EVERYTHING rocked. 

Saylor is not likable. There I said it. But as the book progressed I could not help but care about her. I understood the why of what she was doing. She just wanted to be noticed by her mom and other people. She found a way to make it happen and she went for it. It wasn't the healthiest way to do it but to her it was worth it. After reading the first chapter I decided that I wasn't going to care for her. There's just no way to care for I character as selfish as her. But then I could not not care for her. It just happened. I wanted her to be happy. 

The only way that I can describe how a feel about Saylor is by compering her with a loved one that suffers from depression. When I was in my teens a relative suffer a breakdown due to depression. She got treated for it and I thought that would be the end of that but it wasn't. She wasn't the same anymore. Many times I found myself wondering why wasn't she happy. Wasn't being alive enough? Wasn't I enough?  You think they are being selfish because you think they can help it and you hate them a little bit for everything that's going on but then you realize that you can't stop loving them. It was something like that. Complicated right?

As I grew older I figured that mental illnesses are as real as physical ones. With this book I had to go through this whole philosophy all over again. S.K. took this controversial illness, Munchausen Syndrome, and made me see it in a completely different light. I went from, Why is she doing this? to Ok, I see why she is doing it. It takes a skilled author to make the reader go through so many emotions in one single book. 

The secondary characters were also intriguing like, Saylor's mom. I had a love-mostly hate relationship with her. I mean, how can one be so cold towards their own kid? I have to say that I enjoyed Saylor's and her mom's dialogue a lot. I wanted to know why they disliked each other so much. I also have to admit that it was very hard to read. It felt so real and it just broke my heart. At the end we understand Saylor's mom. Not that there was any justification for the life she gave her daughter but at least we get to know the why. 

The romance takes a back seat in this novel. I'm glad for that. I didn't want this to be about Saylor being saved. I wanted her to save herself. Although the romance is not the main focus of the story it does have it's heart pounding moments and you can't help but fall in love with Drew.  Secret For a Song was sexy in a sweet and tasteful way. 

Overall I say this is a must read.





Giveaway
[3 winners] Secret for a Song e-reader/tablet covers (will fit any reader) - Open to US and Canada

a Rafflecopter giveaway


 AUTHOR BIO

Adriana Ryan is the pen name of writer S.K. Falls.

A huge fan of spooky stuff and shoes, I enjoy alternately hitting up the outlet malls and historic graveyards in Charleston, SC where I live and imbibe coffee. My husband and two small children seem not to mind when I hastily scribble novel lines on stray limbs in the absence of notepads.

Since no writer’s biography is complete without mention of her menagerie of animals, you should know I have one dog that doubles as a footstool, a second that functions as a vacuum cleaner, and a cat that ensures I never forget that my hands are, first and foremost, for pouring cat food.

Author Links:

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