Thursday, January 31, 2013

Printed Books Giveaway Hop (INT)

16 comments:

Welcome to my stop on the Printed Books Giveaway Hop, which is being hosted by Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer, who is absolutely wonderful.

What You Can Win

I have yet another book that I ended up with two of (I got a signed copy!), so I'm going to pass my extra, unsigned copy on to one winner.


Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Of course, shipping internationally is outrageous, so if you're not from the US or Canada and are the winner chosen, I'll let you choose a book for less than $13US as long as it's from a site that ships for free..

The Giveaway

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Blog Tour (Excerpt): My Journey as a Combat Medic by Patrick Thibeault

1 comment:
My Journey as a Combat Medic is a no-holds-barred look at the modern medic in the US Army, allowing us a glimpse at the training as a soldier and as a specialist, as well as deployment and front line duties and the impact of service on civilian life, including an honest look at PTSD, from the author’s own personal experience. Rather than a technical manual, My Journey as a Combat Medic is a detailed firsthand account, concluding with a letter to new medics, providing a career’s worth of advice and knowledge as they begin their journeys. This book is about the soldiers who bring compassion and humanity to the battlefield.

Published on July 24, 2012 by Osprey Publishing



Excerpt

The Ranger Battalion Chief Medical Officer was a hardcore physician assistant. He had been a Special Forces medic before he went to school to become a physician assistant. He deployed on several combat operations throughout his career. The training was physically intense, and as predicted I was getting into pretty decent shape. It was an honor to be in the presence of these Rangers. Many of the medics from the Ranger Battalion had parachuted in Panama back in December, 1989. I was still wet behind the ears compared to these medics, but none of the medics gloated about having a combat jump or about having the Combat Medical Badge. (The Combat Medical Badge is awarded to combat medics during war who do their job while being engaged or engaging the enemy.) They had to go through Expert Field Medical Badge just as I was doing.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Quickie Update

4 comments:
I won the only lottery (of sorts) that I will probably ever win today. I was selected for jury duty from the juror pool today. The case is not supposed to last very long, but that is where I'll be until the end of the week (at least). To hold you over until my return, I'll share a picture of Bug (my daughter) and I from her pageant this past Saturday so you don't miss me too terribly. ;-)


Have a great week!

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Blog Tour (Interview): The Ripple in Space-Time by S.F. Chapman

No comments:

Tour Schedule

When the huge lunar Ultra Energy Laboratory is destroyed by a mysterious blast, Inspector Ryo Trop of the Free City Inquisitor's Office is called in to sort out who is responsible for the disaster.

Early reports imply that rogue moon miners are to blame but Ryo quickly discovers that a far more complex and sinister scheme is afoot.

With the help of a promising young Liaison Agent and a faltering Grad student, Ryo searches for clues and culprits in the corrupt and moldering feudal fiefdoms of the Warlords that dominate human affairs in 2445.

Ryo’s longtime friend, Biology Professor turned spy Malcolm Evans, suggests that the wave of space piracy that has recently vexed the Solar System could be connected to the obliteration of the lunar lab.

But why would reckless and marauding space raiders have an interest in a research facility?


Mr. Chapman, thank you so much allowing me to interview you for Bibliophilia, Please! If you would be so kind, could you please tell us a little about The Ripple in Space-Time in your own words?

Thank you for taking the time to interview me.

The Ripple in Space-Time is set in 2445, which is several centuries after a colossal world war has greatly diminished humanity. Much of the Earth is uninhabitable, and a few brave souls have spread out across the Solar System.

With the exception of an enlightened autonomous zone called Free City, nearly everything is controlled by a few corrupt Warlords.

At the beginning of the story, a lunar research lab is destroyed by a mysterious blast. Detective Ryo Trop from the Free City Inquisitor's office is called in to figure out what happened.

He quickly discovers that a complex plot to steal valuable antimatter is afoot. The story races across the Solar System from there.

What do you believe makes The Ripple in Space-Time stand apart from other science fiction novels?

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Review: Year Zero by Rob Reid

2 comments:
An alien advance party was suddenly nosing around my planet.
Worse, they were lawyering up. . . .


In the hilarious tradition of
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Rob Reid takes you on a headlong journey through the outer reaches of the universe—and the inner workings of our absurdly dysfunctional music industry.

Low-level entertainment lawyer Nick Carter thinks it’s a prank, not an alien encounter, when a redheaded mullah and a curvaceous nun show up at his office. But Frampton and Carly are highly advanced (if bumbling) extraterrestrials. And boy, do they have news.

The entire cosmos, they tell him, has been hopelessly hooked on humanity’s music ever since “Year Zero” (1977 to us), when American pop songs first reached alien ears. This addiction has driven a vast intergalactic society to commit the biggest copyright violation since the Big Bang. The resulting fines and penalties have bankrupted the whole universe. We humans suddenly own
everything—and the aliens are not amused.

Nick Carter has just been tapped to clean up this mess before things get ugly, and he’s an unlikely galaxy-hopping hero: He’s scared of heights. He’s also about to be fired. And he happens to have the same name as a Backstreet Boy. But he does know a thing or two about copyright law. And he’s packing a couple of other pencil-pushing superpowers that could come in handy.

Soon he’s on the run from a sinister parrot and a highly combustible vacuum cleaner. With Carly and Frampton as his guides, Nick now has forty-eight hours to save humanity, while hopefully wowing the hot girl who lives down the hall from him.

“Hilarious, provocative, and supersmart, Year Zero is a brilliant novel to be enjoyed in perpetuity in the known universe and in all unknown universes yet to be discovered.”—John Hodgman, resident expert,
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Title: Year Zero
Author: Rob Reid
Publisher:
Del Rey
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Acquired Via:
Personal Copy

It’s been a week since I finished reading this book, and I still don’t know what I’m going to write in this review. And since time continues to go by, the relentless bastard, I decided to stop trying to think and just go forth and review. So, here we go!

The premise of the book is interesting, and it’s what got me to read it in the first place. We follow Nick Carter, not the Backstreet Boy but an attorney at a copyright law firm. He is one day approached by a busty nun and a weird rabbi. Things get weird quickly in this book. Then they get absurd. Then weird again. All good things as far as I’m concerned.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Trailer Reveal & Giveaway: Senshi by Cole Gibsen

1 comment:
Katana (Katana #1) by Cole Gibsen

Kill Bill meets Buffy in this supernatural samurai tale. Rileigh Martin would love to believe that adrenaline gave her the uncanny courage and strength to fend off three muggers. But it doesn't explain her dreams of fifteenth century Japan, the incredible fighting skills she suddenly possesses, or the strange voice giving her battle tips and danger warnings. While worrying that she's going crazy (always a reputation ruiner), Rileigh gets a visit from Kim, a handsome martial arts instructor, who tells Rileigh she's harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior.

Relentlessly attacked by ninjas, Rileigh has no choice but to master the katana--a deadly Japanese sword that's also the key to her past. As the spirit grows stronger and her feelings for Kim intensify, Rileigh is torn between continuing as the girl she's always been and embracing the warrior inside her.


Praise for Katana

"This action-packed novel has a unique and compelling plot...Fans of Carrie Asai's Samurai Girl series will be particularly interested, but even readers who dislike supernatural story lines will enjoy this tale of modern samurais."
- School Library Journal

"An action packed page-turner tempered with slow-burning romance."
- Booklist

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Review: The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell

2 comments:


Title: The Cadet of Tildor
Author: Alex Lidell
Publisher:
Dial
Release Date: January 10, 2013
Acquired Via: DAC ARC Tours

Tamora Pierce meets George R. R. Martin in this smart, political, medieval fantasy-thriller.

There is a new king on the throne of Tildor. Currents of political unrest sweep the country as two warring crime families seek power, angling to exploit the young Crown's inexperience. At the Academy of Tildor, the training ground for elite soldiers, Cadet Renee de Winter struggles to keep up with her male peers. But when her mentor, a notorious commander recalled from active duty to teach at the Academy, is kidnapped to fight in illegal gladiator games, Renee and her best friend Alec find themselves thrust into a world rife with crime, sorting through a maze of political intrigue, and struggling to resolve what they want, what is legal, and what is right.


My Review

The Cadet of Tildor is both an intelligent and entertaining novel, without being something that could be intimidating to more reluctant teenagers. Lidell weaves political intrigue, excellent fight scenes, and realistic relationships that are not centered on romance between her main characters. As many fans of fantasy novels well know, the stories can sometimes be formulaic, but The Cadet of Tildor is fresh and exciting.

Renee de Winter is a heroine who I think is a fantastic role model for teens, as well as a fun character to read. She follows her dream of becoming a Servant of the Crown, despite the fact that very few females make the cut. She grows through the book as she tries to figure out what is wright and for whose sake things should be done. Her friends, Sasha and Alec, are good side characters, but I feel that they were mainly tools used to show how Renee was changing and growing (not that it's a bad thing). The way Renee interacted with Commander Korish Savoy also showed us a great deal about what kind of character she was - stubborn and unwilling to give up. The best thing about the relationship between Renee and Savoy is that it wasn't focused on love, as you may expect, but more of a comrades-in-arms. (We shall see how it goes in a sequel, if there is one.) Renee also takes Diam, a little boy at the Academy, under her wing, in a sense. He is absolutely adorable and one of my favorite things about the book.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Back to the Future - A Giveaway Hop Across Time (INT)

14 comments:

Welcome to my stop on the Back to the Future - A Giveaway Hop Across Time! It is being co-hosted by Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Inky at Book Haven Extraordinaire. As always, I am very grateful for all of the hard work done by our wonderful hosts.

What You Can Win

I ended up with two books that I decided that I don't really want (I'm not getting into it), so I'm going to pass them on to one winner. Following the rules, one is set in the past, and one is set in the future.


Of course, shipping internationally is outrageous, so if you're not from the US or Canada and are the winner chosen, I'll let you choose a book for less than $10US as long as it's from a site that ships for free. (Please make sure that it falls within the guidelines found here.

The Giveaway

Review: Destiny, Rewritten by Kathryn Fitzmaurice

4 comments:
Des·tin·y: (noun) The hidden power believed to control what will happen in the future; fate.

Eleven-year-old Emily Elizabeth Davis has been told for her entire life that her destiny is to become a poet, just like her famous namesake, Emily Dickinson. But Emily doesn't even really like poetry, and she has a secret career ambition that she suspects her English-professor mother will frown on. Then, shortly after discovering that it contains an important family secret, she loses the special volume of Emily Dickinson's poetry that was given to her at birth. As Emily and her friends search for the lost book in used-book stores all across town, Emily's understanding of destiny begins to unravel and then rewrite itself, in a marvelous new way.

In her third novel, Kathryn Fitzmaurice again weaves a richly textured and delightful story about unexpected connections, about the ways that friends can help us see ourselves for who we truly are, about the stories that shape our lives, and about the most perfect kinds of happy endings: those that happen just on time.


Title: Destiny, Rewritten
Author: Kathryn Fitzmaurice
Publisher:
Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: February 19, 2012
Acquired Via: edelweiss

My Review

I read this book over the holidays, and it's fitting. I knew that I had to be the Grinch because my heart grew two sizes the day I finished reading Destiny, Rewritten. It felt as if it would burst right out of my chest because I was felt with such overwhelming happiness and love for the characters, who are some of my all-time literary favorites. There is not one person in the book that I did not want to scoop up and squeeze into a bear hug.

Destiny, Rewritten taught me something that I have been overlooking about myself - I LOVE stories that make references to other stories or pieces of pop culture. I found myself giggling several times throughout the book because of arguments that Emily Elizabeth Davis and Wavey St. Clair, her best friend, would have about female roles in Star Wars, Little House on the Prairie, or even paper towel commercials. This was a perfect little running joke (it has to be a joke because it was so hilarious!) to go along with Emily while she searched to find her lost book, unknown father, and herself. Emily's letters to Danielle Steele and love of romance novels' happy endings are also so brilliantly woven into the story. There are also tree-huggers, used bookstores, a cashier from Goodwill who is all things awesome, and more minor characters who kept me beaming.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Trying New Things

7 comments:
Hello lovely followers,

I know there are a good many of you here for the giveaways (you can just head on over here because this will probably be boring), but the majority of you who have followed me actually like my reviews. (Yes, I know - when I write them.) I've made it very clear that my free time has been extremely limited since June, so I don't write as many reviews. I still read loads of books, but I'm only reviewing probably one in three. Why, you ask? Well, I think I may have reviewed myself into a corner with my last style change.

Having my own personal guidelines to write reviews was extremely helpful at first. I knew what I had to make myself focus on to write a review that will be informative about a book. However, it is boring the snot out of me. I'm not that kind of writer. I'm not that kind of person. Hell, I wasn't even that kind of blogger until I started this one really hardcore. I wanted to be all fancy and professional, but the most professional that I get in my personal life is wearing trouser socks occasionally. Why should I subject my readers to something that bores me to write? Why would I want to disrespect a book that I loved by trudging through a review? Ummm... I don't. So I'm not going to do that anymore.

I would like my reviews to be fun like my blog posts over on Gasoline Wishes and Fry Cook Dreams, which I gave up to focus on books. I love books and reading, and I also love my stupid little cartoons. Even if no one else ever laughed at them, they always made me giggle like an insane person. Ideally, I would like to incorporate them into my reviews. I won't do it in a disrespectful way, but I'm tired of not being silly and having fun. Because I am silly. And awkward. REALLY awkward. Honestly, it's draining to try to be anything else. The plus side is that I get to share books with you and have you give me that "please help that girl" look. Well, maybe I don't want you to do that, but you get the drift.

So this is me, changing things up. We'll see how it works out. Oh, and I'm chilling out a bit on all of the blog tours and blasts. I've been signing up for about a quarter less than before. I'm also going to fish Will out of the internet and away from being a newlywed, hopefully for long enough to wring a review or two out of him. We misses him, Precious.

That is all. Carry on with your normally scheduled interwebing.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Kindle Fire HD Giveaway - January 2013

3 comments:


Twenty amazing authors plus more than one hundred of the best bloggers have joined together to bring you one Amazing Giveaway!

What You Can Win

The winner will have the option of receiving:


A Kindle Fire HD (US Only)

-OR-


$199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

-OR-


Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)

Monday, January 14, 2013

January New Release Giveaway Hop

23 comments:

Welcome to my stop on the January New Release Giveaway Hop! It is being hosted by the magnificent O'Dell at Book Twirps and the glorious Dani at Refracted Light Reviews. It is very awesome of them to host the hop, because I cannot imagine how much work it requires. I, for one, am thankful for all of their hard work.

What You Can Win


Just so you know, I'm letting your choose which book you win (only one, sorry), granted that it's less than $15US. The above collage is just some suggestions.

The Giveaway

No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop #2 (INT)

9 comments:

Welcome to my stop on the No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop hosted by the lovely Kathy at I Am a Reader, Not A Writer. Being as most of my giveaways have no strings attached, it will be no different from my other giveaways. My giveaway is INTERNATIONAL as long as the Book Depository or Fishpond delivers to you for free. The prize today is going to be a book of your choosing, as long as it is less than $13US. If you need help choosing, here are some books that I've recently enjoyed:


Giveaway Requirements

Blog Tour (Promo & Giveaway): Kiss of the Betrayer by Boone Brux

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Kiss of the Betrayer (Bringer and the Bane #2)
by Boone Brux

For fifteen years Luc Le Daun has blamed himself for the death of the woman he loved. His secret guilt has led him into a life of danger, risking all and committing to none.

Killing Luc Le Daun has been all Jade Kendell has thought about for years. But when her plan goes awry and she’s brought into the Bringers’ fold, her own dark secret threatens to be revealed. Desire for a better life wars with a promise made long before she understood the ramifications.

In a deadly mission, Jade and Luc embark on a journey into the Shadow World. As they attempt the impossible, ignoring the attraction growing between them becomes harder to deny. The slightest misstep could mean the loss of their souls and give the Demon King exactly what he needs to open the Abyss of Souls and annihilate the Bringers.


Purchase Your Copy Today:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository



About Boone Brux

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Blog Tour (Interview & Giveaway): A Cast of Stones by Patrick W. Carr

No comments:

Blog Tour Schedule

Welcome to my stop on the A Cast of Stones blog tour. Thank you so much for stopping by and thank you to Patrick W. Carr for answering my questions and to Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer for putting this tour together.

An Epic Medieval Saga Fantasy Readers Will Love

In the backwater village of Callowford, Errol Stone's search for a drink is interrupted by a church messenger who arrives with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Desperate for coin, Errol volunteers to deliver them but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins. Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he's joined a quest that could change the fate of his kingdom.

Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom's dynasty is near an end and a new king must be selected. As tension and danger mount, Errol must leave behind his drunkenness and grief, learn to fight, and come to know his God in order to survive a journey to discover his destiny.


1. How you were able to meld epic fantasy and Christian fiction?

In a certain sense, I believe it’s nearly impossible to keep them apart. Consider what makes all of our most powerful stories resonate. In Star Wars: A New Hope, Obi Wan Kenobi (Alec Guiness) sacrifices himself in order that Luke Skywalker may escape and live. This in itself would point us to the sacrifice of Christ, but the symbolism doesn’t end there. Once Obi Wan has entered a different plane of existence (recall that his body disappeared), he becomes, if I may use the wording, the still quiet voice that guides Luke from that moment on.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Blog Tour (Guest Post & Giveaway): Dead Running & Dying to Run by Cami Checketts

5 comments:

Blog Tour Schedule


Ten Exercises That You Can Potentially Do While Reading a Printed Book*
Guest Post by Cami Checketts

  1. Stationary bike - my personal favorite as you can bike without bouncing and burn some calories while being distracted by the book
  2. Treadmill - kind of awkward
  3. One arm biceps curls – take turns reading and curling
  4. One arm lateral raise – same as above
  5. Isometric squat – squat down and hold the position while you read, looks funny but I’ve actually done it before when I’m sick of sitting and writing.
  6. Balancing on one leg – use abs to stabilize and you’ll recruit more than just your leg muscles
  7. Kegel exercises – sorry, had to throw it in there, they are an exercise after all!

Promo (Giveaway): Falling For You by Lisa Schroeder

6 comments:


Title: Falling For You
Author: Lisa Schroeder
Publisher:
Simon Pulse
Release Date: January 1, 2013


Rae's always dreamed of dating a guy like Nathan. He’s nothing like her abusive stepfather—in other words, he’s sweet. But the closer they get, the more Nathan wants of her time, of her love, of her...and the less she wants to give.

As Rae’s affection for Nathan turns to fear, she leans on her friend Leo for support. With Leo, she feels lighter, happier. And possessive Nathan becomes jealous.

Then a tragedy lands Rae in the ICU. Now, hovering between life and death, Rae must find the light amid the darkness…and the strength to fight for life and the love she deserves.


Available to Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Fishpond

About the Author

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Random Acts of Kindness - January

2 comments:
Book Soulmates

RAK is a monthly meme hosted by Book Soulmates. You can join in on the fun HERE.

What is a RAK?

For those of you who don't know, a RAK is a Random Act of Kindness. People sign up with their wishlist and then can look at other people's wish-lists and send them a Random Act of Kindness. It is really simple, but here are the rules:

COMPLETE RULES RE-CAP:
  • Please read carefully and follow all rules! Thank you!
  • Please sign-up each month that you can participate (and by participate, we mean give as well as receive).
  • Show off your participation by grabbing our RAK button (code is in the right sidebar of the Book Soulmates page).
  • Create a wish list (on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog, etc) and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
  • If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger directly for their information.
  • Once you receive a RAK, send us an our new email to [rakbybooksoulmates @ gmail . com] so that we can update the Google Doc. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEND EMAILS TO THIS ADDRESS!
  • E-book participation is limited to files being gifted directly to a person from the e-book store. Amazon's Kindle Store is set up to allow this, as well as the Kobo store and we believe Barnes & Noble with Nook as well.
  • At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K by making a "RAK Wrap-Up" post. This post should include who you SENT gifts to as well who you RECEIVED gifts from.

OPEN TO EVERYONE including all of our INTERNATIONAL brethren!
Remember, there's always the Book Depository or Fishpond, and they offer FREE shipping!

RAK at Bibliophilia, Please

I usually participate every month, and lately I've been stalking the Amazon wishlists of other participants to send them various ebooks. (I'm a bit shy, and I don't like messaging strangers for their address, and I tend to make conversations awkward.) I'll probably do more of the same, but I'm going to make a point to try to send to an international person this month for sure. Also, if you're feeling the urge to splurge on me this month, I have two different bookish wishlists on Amazon: one for YA/MG Books and another for Adult Books. If you just want highlights, here are the top 5 that I really want (which haven't changed in quite some time):

  1. The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
  2. The Sorceress by Michael Scott
  3. Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
  4. Carnival of Souls by Marissa Marr
  5. Iron Hearted Violet by Kelly Regan Barnhill

I hope you guys all have a happy RAK month!

Random Acts of Kindness - December Wrap-Up

No comments:
Book Soulmates
RAK is a monthly meme hosted by Book Soulmates. You can find out more and join in on the fun HERE.

I participated in Book Soulmates' Random Acts of Kindness (one of my favorite blog memes or whatever you call this one) last month, as I do most months, but I'm behind on all the things, so I'm just now getting around to posting my wrap-up for last month. Anywho, here is what I was up to last month, and my sign-up for this month's RAK will be coming along shortly. If you've never participated, I highly recommend it. Now without further ado -

My December RAK - Sent








I sent Industrial Magic (Women of the Otherworld) by Kelley Armstrong to Amber I. at AwesomeSauce Book Club from her Amazon Wishlist.















I sent Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig to Mary at Sweeping Me from her Amazon Wishlist.















I sent Eve by Anna Carey to Angel at Book Flame from her Amazon Wishlist.









My December RAK - Received

There's nothing to see here - move along. No... Seriously. I didn't receive anything this month. :-)

Can I see your RAK? Yes? Well, link me up then!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Book Blast (Giveaway): Rise of the Fire Tamer by Kailin Gow

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Rise of the Fire Tamer
by Kailin Gow



After winning a contest for a popular game called Wordwick Games, five teens Gemma, Sparks, Rio, Kat, and Jack, are invited to stay at Wordwick Games inventor Henry Word's mysterious castle and play the newest level of Workwick Games. Little do they know, the castle is the doorway to a wondrous world call Anachronia where words can be used as weapons, power, and commodity. There is unrest in Anachronia, and if the five teens can follow the rules of Wordwick Games and prove to be the best player, one of them will be crowned Ruler of Anachronia.




Purchase
Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Book Trailer

Excerpt: Goodnight, Brian by Steven Manchester

1 comment:

Fate was working against little Brian Mauretti. The food that was meant to nourish him was poisoning him instead, and the doctors said the damage was devastating and absolute. Fate had written off Brian. But fate didn’t count on a woman as determined as Brian’s grandmother, Angela DiMartino – who everyone knew as Mama. Loving her grandson with everything she had, Mama endeavored to battle fate. Fate had no idea what it was in for.

An emotional tale about the strength of family bonds, unconditional love, and the perseverance to do our best with the challenging gifts we receive, Goodnight, Brian is an uplifting tribute to what happens when giving up is not an option.




Excerpt

Back at the cottage, Mama took three pills and washed them down with a tumbler of water. She limped to her chair and flopped down into it. She reached for her legs and tried to rub out the spikes that hammered into her brittle bones. The cancer felt like termites eating their way through an old, dry rotted shed. “Oh, Lord, please ease my pain tonight. It’s something awful.”

The Lawrence Welk rerun hadn’t even released its first wave of bubbles when both the pills and the prayer took effect. She breathed deeply and drifted off. Her snoring could have woken the dead…

Monday, January 7, 2013

YA Faeries & Fantasy Giveaway Hop

13 comments:

Welcome to my stop on the YA Faeries & Fantasy Giveaway Hop! It is being co-hosted by the two wonderful ladies, Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Gabrielle at The Mod Podge Bookshelf. As always, I am very grateful for all of the hard work done by our lovely hosts.

What You Can Win

Fantasy is one of my all-time favorite genres, so I'm going to suggest a few of my favorites that popped into my head when considering what prizes to offer up to you guys.


If you're not interested in reading one of the above fantastic books, then you are more than welcome to choose your own book that is fantasy or about fairies, granted that you're able to keep it less than $15US.

The Giveaway

Friday, January 4, 2013

Blog Tour (Scavenger Hunt & Giveaway): Ward Against Death by Melanie Card

6 comments:

Welcome to my stop on Entangled Teen's Ward Against Death blog tour! I am so excited to take part in this because scavenger hunts are so much fun, and I may be a little bit addicted to them. (By the way, you may want to keep an eye out for the color red.) Somewhat off topic, I met Melanie at Authors After Dark in New Orleans this past August, and she is such a super nice lady. I bought the book after hearing her read an portion of Ward Against Death at a panel, and I'll be posting my review soon. I hope you'll enjoy learning about Ward Against Death and Melanie, and I wish you the best of luck in the Scavenger Hunt!

Ward Against Death (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer #1)
by Melanie Card

Twenty-year-old Ward de’Ath expected this to be a simple job—bring a nobleman’s daughter back from the dead for fifteen minutes, let her family say good-bye, and launch his fledgling career as a necromancer. Goddess knows he can’t be a surgeon—the Quayestri already branded him a criminal for trying—so bringing people back from the dead it is.

But when Ward wakes the beautiful Celia Carlyle, he gets more than he bargained for. Insistent that she’s been murdered, Celia begs Ward to keep her alive and help her find justice. By the time she drags him out her bedroom window and into the sewers, Ward can’t bring himself to break his damned physician’s Oath and desert her.

However, nothing is as it seems—including Celia. One second, she’s treating Ward like sewage, the next she’s kissing him. And for a nobleman’s daughter, she sure has a lot of enemies. If he could just convince his heart to give up on the infuriating beauty, he might get out of this alive…


Excerpt - Chapter 1 Part 3:

Ward plastered on his calmest, gentlest expression. The newly wakened dead often assumed they had just roused from sleep. “You’ve been unwell.”

“Unwell? Is that what my father told you?” A hint of dark colored her tone.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop #3 (US/CAN)

44 comments:

Welcome to my stop on the Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop hosted by the mindblowingly awesome Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. I got a few books over the holidays, and I am going to give away one that I received two copies of.

What You Can Win

Ruby Red
by Kerstin Gier

Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon—the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

Kerstin Gier's Ruby Red is young adult novel full of fantasy and romance.


Book Blast (Giveaway): Dead Running/Dying to Run by Cami Checketts

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Dead Running


Cassidy Christensen is running.
Running from the mercenaries who killed her parents.
Running from a scheming redhead intent on making her life miserable.
Running from painful memories that sabotage her dreams of happiness.

With two very tempting men competing for her attention, she hopes she'll finally have someone to run to, but can she trust either of them? When secrets from her past threaten her family, Cassidy decides to stop running and fight for her future.





Dying to Run



Cassidy Christensen wants to run.

Captured by the traffickers who killed her mother, her only hope is Dr. Tattoo, a man she loves but nobody trusts. When she finally gets a chance to run, someone else she cares about is taken. Running might be her only chance at survival, but she won’t allow another family member to be killed in her place.

This must-read sequel to Dead Running will have you laughing, biting your nails, and hoping for more.








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