Getting Your Read On

Lunar Love Giveaway Hop

2012-03-07T12:08:00.000-07:00

I think this blog hop theme is so fun. I'm over the moon about it. tee hee. Okay, so both of the books I am giving away have a picture of the moon on them. These are both books I enjoyed reading and I hope you will too.

First up is The Light of the Lover's Moon by Marcia McClure. She is one of my all time favorite romance authors. Man, does she know how to write a kiss. This romance is clean, which is how I prefer to read them. :)

Next up is How to Date an Alien by Magan Vernon. This is more like a romantic comedy with an out of this world twist. Lots of fun to read. (There is some language content in this book) You can read my review of this book here if you are interested.

I am giving away one copy of each book. So, TWO winners! Both books will be given as an ebook because I want to keep the giveaway open to all INT followers too. If you don't have an e-reader, you can download the books and read them on your computer. While you are here, check out my other giveaways located on the right of your screen. :)

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Review: Caller ID by Rachelle J Christensen PLUS enter to win a camcorder!

2012-03-05T00:01:00.011-07:00

From Goodreads: When twenty-three-year-old Courtney Beckham is abducted near her home, the search turns up more than just a kidnapping crime. FBI agent Jason Edwards investigates the ten-million-dollar ransom and stumbles upon something he wasn't meant to find. When Courtney catches a glimpse of the caller ID in her kidnapper's home, what she sees turns her world upside down.

I totally knew I was in for a good ride when I signed on to be a part of this blog tour for Caller ID. I read Wrong Number, also by Rachelle Christensen, and enjoyed it so I knew this would be good.

The story starts off by telling us how someone had been murdered in the woods the previous year. Courtney's dad is always telling her to stay out of the woods so when she decides to take a ride into the woods on her horse, my heart started anticipating. I tried to tell Courtney, "Do NOT go into those woods." "Oh, do NOT follow that little dog into the woods." "DO NOT DO IT!!!" Seriously? Nobody listens to me.

I was fully invested from the beginning to the end of this book. Courtney was very resourceful and um, flexible. If I had been where Courtney was I would have totally died because I cannot contort my body in those ways. Wait a minute, this is fiction, so never mind. I totally could have been just as resourceful and flexible. In fact, I probably could have done it 20 minutes earlier than her because in fiction, I'm way smart too.

The story moved right along. It was interesting and kept my mind wondering how all the pieces fit together and it kept my heart beating just a bit faster than necessary. Which was good because I totally counted that for my workout for that day. Who knew reading could also be a workout, right? And yes, I totally did read this book in one day. It was that good. :) Check out this book trailer and let me know how you liked it. I thought it was perfect for the book.

I'm so glad I got to read this book and be a part of this blog tour. My thanks to Cedar Fort for providing the opportunity. You can check out all the blogs participating in this hop here.

Find out more about Rachelle J. Christensen at the following places:
Author Website: http://www.rachellejchristensen.com/
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachellechristensenauthor

"To celebrate the release of CALLER ID, Rachelle is hosting a contest for a new Ultra Flip Video Camcorder (4GB memory, Records 120 minutes Value $149.99) and other great prizes. You can enter to win between now and April 14, 2012. Winners will be announced and notified April 16, 2012.

For how to enter, click here.

Join the Book Bomb effort taking place Thursday, March 22nd. Click here for details."

Emerald City by Alicia Leppert + GIVEAWAY!

2012-03-01T00:01:00.002-07:00

Olivia Tate is a broken shell of a girl haunted by the tragic events that fill her past. She has closed herself off from the world, each day grasping at something—anything—to live for. Convinced there will never be a way out, she seeks solace in the depths of her medicine cabinet. When she wakes up days later in the hospital she is introduced to Jude, the quiet stranger responsible for saving her life. She never could have guessed then that her mysterious rescuer would end up saving her life a second time, while simultaneously turning her world upside down. A modern-day romance with a twist, Emerald City has a little bit of something for everyone!

I'm so happy to be a part of the blog tour for Emerald City! My thanks to Cedar Fort for allowing me to participate and for providing for the giveaway. Cedar Fort is an awesome publisher to work with.

Doesn't Emerald City have a pretty cover? I really like it. The line on the front is so true, too. I think that one line is perfect for the story of Emerald City.

I think I forgot what this book was about in the time between when I signed up for the blog tour and the day I actually read the book. I was a bit surprised when I started reading it. It wasn't what I was expecting. That's not a bad thing. I kinda like good book surprises. :)

I would call this book "real life drama with a paranormal twist". Olivia has been dealt a sad and difficult hand in life. Her story is really heart breaking. I felt so much sympathy for her. She was so sad and lonely. Her life had become almost no life at all as she was wasting away to nothing. Which leads me to my favorite thing about this book. In her darkest, worst moment, someone steps in with some light. A small kindness, followed by another, followed by another that ends up making all the difference in the world to Olivia. Isn't that what can make all the difference to any of us on any given hard day? A small kindness can change everything.

Olivia goes from a shell of a person to someone who believes she can maybe survive. Then when she is surviving, she starts to believe that maybe she can find some happiness somewhere. It starts a chain of events that move Olivia to a better place. A place where love is found.

I loved the transformation for Olivia. I love that she found hope and light and love of life again. Of course Jude, the rescuer and friend, is at the center of Olivia's transformation. He ultimately shows us how showing kindness and love can change a person's whole life. What a good, good man. <sigh> Jude. (that was my romantic heart sighing) At first I was like, "what's up with Jude?!" And then a bit later I said, "Oh, that's what's up with Jude." Just wait until you find out what's up with Jude. :)

So, if you'd like to read Emerald City, enter the giveaway! Cedar Fort will be giving away a copy of Emerald City ~ ebook to INT readers, print or ebook to US readers. To enter just leave a comment with your email address. Giveaway ends March 15th.

Here is a link that will take you to the author, Alicia Leppert's, website. You should pop over there and check her out. She tells a very funny story there about bidding for her new book on ebay. It is classic. You can also find her on Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter.

Review: Dangerous Favor by Joyce DiPastena

2012-02-28T07:47:00.000-07:00

From Goodreads: Her father has been accused of stealing from the king, an allegation that has reduced her family to poverty. She has one chance to find and marry a man who can help her prove her father's innocence. Lord Therri, heir to a rich barony, has the wealth and connections Mathilde needs to delve into the mysteries of her father's past. Furthermore, Therri embodies all her romantic dreams.

Etienne, the younger son of a disgraced family, has neither wealth nor connections, but is smitten with Mathilde at a glance. She finds the knight intriguing, but believes he is only out to seduce her. While she seeks for a way to win Therri's attention, Etienne tricks her into granting him her favor, an embroidered white ribbon, for a tournament, setting in motion a dangerous chain reaction of events. Can Etienne save Mathilde from a nightmare from her past and prove himself the true hero of her dreams?

Not long ago, Joyce was holding an online release party for this book, Dangerous Favor. She had some awesome giveaways going on and they all included books and chocolate! I'm telling you, Joyce totally rocked the house with this one. I'm a fan of Joyce DiPastena. I love her books and I was chopping at the bit to read her latest. I entered the contest and guess what?! I won! Well, I didn't win Dangerous Favor. I actually won a different book (one that I already own) but Joyce was so kind. She sent me Dangerous Favor in the box with all the chocolate and swag I won. I swear it was like Christmas. I was so excited to get my hands on Dangerous Favor. (happy, happy, joy, joy)

If you don't know Joyce's books, you really should. She is so good at writing sweet medieval romances. Her stories will transport you through time. You will find mystery and intrigue, history and of course, romance. Joyce really does her homework when she writes a book and it shows in her writing. She knows her medieval stuff.

I loved the story of Mathilde and Etienne. Mathilde is young and very inexperienced in the ways of courting and romance. Her loyalty and courage on the other hand, runs deep. Wanting to free her father from the shame and accusations that have been laid at his feet, Mathilde seeks out someone who will take up her cause and extend the help she so desperately seeks. Mathilde has no idea the danger she is about to unravel and fortunately for her, she picked the right men to aid her. Etienne is all that and more. Sheesh, talk about your knight in shining armor. Who wants one? Me, me, pick me! I'm still dreaming of Etienne and his six pack, or was it eight pack? His silken raven curls . . .

Oh, sorry. Temporary distraction. I loved Dangerous Favor. I LOVED Dangerous Favor. I love the way Joyce writes. She weaves such a fantastic medieval story. I'm so grateful to her for sending me her book.

You can find Dangerous Favor at Amazon.
You can learn more about Joyce and all her books at her website.

Review and Giveaway: Shaken by Susan Hatler

2012-02-26T22:50:00.001-07:00

From Goodreads: High school junior, Kylie Bates, can suddenly read minds. When she touches people’s hands, she’s able to see their deepest thoughts. As if that’s not freaky enough, her dad sends her to help hottie detective, Sam Williams, track down a missing girl. Way too much pressure, especially for a girl who can’t watch Scream without getting nightmares.

Then, finding the missing girl leads to much more than Kylie’s prepared for. Like discovering that her dad has been lying to her. That she has a family she never knew about. That the girls have powers similar to hers. Oh yeah, and that someone is out to get her.

When the detective’s teenage wanna-be-cop cousin, Trip Williams, approaches Kylie at school insisting she help him solve the case, she discovers Trip might be the only one she can trust, and the only one to help her unravel the secrets behind her mysterious gift.

Oh, wow. This book was so much fun to read. I started this book early one afternoon last weekend. I finished it early evening. Seriously, I sprinted through this book without even taking a breath, I'm pretty sure. The story just flew by. When I came to the end I was not ready to be done. It all just went by too fast! I just loved it.

I loved Kylie and her "peek-a-boo" brain. And Trip? Yeah, he's a keeper. One of the things I love about this book is that even though there are serious and even scary things happening, you still feel a lightness. Kylie is just a bit sarcastic which amuses me greatly. She is also a typical teenager, easily distracted by a cute boy and a best friend's drama.

Here is my favorite quote from the book. "Don't we all have something we're just not willing to share? Some part of ourselves too fragile and sacred to expose? Life's hard. Much harder than I realized but I'm going to keep trying to do the right thing."

As far as content goes, there is frequent mild swearing. There are some sexual references, innuendo and some steamy kiss scenes.

Susan Hatler is a very talented writer. Her writing is easy on the brain and it flows well. I'm so lucky that she asked me to review her newest book, Shaken. She also agreed to do a little interview with me and also provided for a giveaway. How happy, right?

SUSAN HATLER writes humorous and emotional contemporary romance and young adult novels. A natural optimist, she believes life is amazing, people are fascinating, and imagination is endless. She loves spending time with her characters and hopes you do, too. You can visit her website at www.susanhatler.com

Hey, Susan! I'm so glad we get to do this. Welcome to my blog.

Hi, Aimee. It’s so great to be here!

Susan, Shaken is your first YA novel, is that right?

No, I’ve got like a hundred. Oh, you mean actually published and not just knocking around in my head? Then, yes, Shaken is my first full length novel, but I have two novellas available now and more will be coming out later this year.

What made you shift genres from the romance world to YA?

I’d been reading some teen novels and my brain shifted spur of the moment (it does that a lot) and I randomly typed out the beginning pages of Kylie’s story. There’s definitely a love interest in Shaken, as you know, so I didn’t veer completely off romance.

No, you certainly kept the romance in Shaken. There were some ooh la la kisses!
So, now that you have written for both genres, which one do you love the best? (Come on, you have to choose.) :)

Back me into a corner, why don’t you? So hardcore! :) Writing teen is super fun because you get to experience a lot of those “firsts” in life, which makes it all the more exciting. How they’re discovering the ins and outs of life, who they are, and who they want to be. I absolutely love it. Writing contemporary romance/chick lit is a bit different because the heroine has been there done that and still hasn’t found her happily-ever-after (aka: HEA). But there’s definitely a huge satisfaction when she finds the right guy because, by this point in her life, it’s not just Mr. Right-For-Now, it’s the Mr. Right-For-Her for life.

What was the motivation behind your YA novel, Shaken? Where did you come up with the initial idea?

You wouldn’t believe the things my mind comes up with. There isn’t time to write it all down! I’m trying to recall what sparked the initial idea and I can’t come up with anything specific. I remember struggling with a chick lit novel (I have many partially completed novels!) and I wanted a break to just write something fun. So, I started typing whatever came to mind which turned out to be a teenage girl about to read the mind of a hardened criminal - yikes!

You know I totally sprinted through Shaken. I practically read it in one breath. Does it bother you that what took you so long to write took me less than a day to finish?

Absolutely not. I love it when readers tell me that because it means the story kept them engaged enough to keep turning those pages. You were invested in Kylie’s journey and wanted to find out what happened next. Yay! I read The Hunger Games trilogy in several days cuz I couldn’t put it down. Imagine how long it took Suzanne Collins to write all three. :-)

What are you cookin' up for me next? Oh, I mean us. The devoted readers.

LOL. I have a teen paranormal novel called See Me that’s nearly ready to publish. Amazingly, my contemporary romance/chick lit novella, The Boyfriend Bylaws, hit Amazon’s best sellers list for contemporary romance and literature & fiction last week which has ignited my muse to put Kaitlin’s story (Totally Fit Series #2) down on paper (well, computer screen actually but you get my drift). My writing motivation comes from whichever characters are demanding the hardest to be heard.

Wow, congrats on making the best seller list on Amazon! That is awesome. Not surprising, but awesome just the same.

Is there more to come for Kylie and Trip? (fingers crossed, please say yes . . .)

Kylie has a whole lot more in her journey and I’m guessing Trip’s going to be part of it as well (wink wink). A lot of the series’ storylines are in my head still, but I’ve started writing scenes in the second book already. I’d love it to be out by the end of the year, if possible. I also have a contemporary YA called Dear Aubrey that’s near completion so that should be out soon as well.

Writing stories has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember and the characters are near and dear to my heart. It’s amazing to hear from wonderful people like you that they’ve enjoyed reading about them, too. Thanks so much for having me. Happy reading, everyone!

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer all my curious questions. I love getting to know authors better. Just to prove how utterly peachy Susan is, she has agreed to give away an ebook copy of her book, Shaken as well as an ebook copy of her book, The Boyfriend Bylaws. Sah-weet! Just enter below. This giveaway is open to INT/US readers and ends on March 12th.

You can check Shaken and The Boyfriend Bylaws at Amazon. (Titles are linked)

Here is all the ways to stalk, I mean follow, Susan:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Susan-Hatler/1512078389
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/SusanHatler
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/susanhatler
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/susanhatler

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Review and Giveaway: On Little Wings by Regina Sirois

2012-02-23T00:01:00.001-07:00

Jennifer must do the impossible bring her mother home. When a family is torn apart by death, two sisters take violently divergent paths and the story of their family appears to end terribly and abruptly. Two decades later Jennifer never dreams that the photo she finds stuck between the pages of a neglected book will tear open a gaping wound to her mothers secret past. Abandoning her comfortable life with her parents and best friend in the wheat fields of Nebraska, Jennifer's quest for a hidden aunt leads her to the untamed coast of Maine where she struggles to understand why her mother lied to her for sixteen years.

Across the grey, rocky cove she meets Nathan Moore, the young, reluctant genius surrounded by women who need him to be brother, father, friend, provider, protector and now, first love. The stories, varied, hilarious, and heartbreaking, unfold to paint a striking mural of the shattered past. As Jennifer seeks to piece together her mothers story, she inadvertently writes one for herself.

A story about all the ways we get love wrong,
and why, despite every disappointment,
we keep fighting to get it right.

This book is full of human heartache that stems from the harsh realities that life brings. The pain of loss, the loss of love, mistakes made, forgiveness withheld. So many secrets that carry such a burden, as most secrets do. Jennifer finds herself in the middle of all these things without fully understanding any of it.

This is what my husband would call a full-on drama. Yes, On Little Wings was most certainly a drama. It reminded me how fragile yet strong human emotions can be. What a waste of time it is nursing hurts and grudges. So many people lose out. The writing drew me in and made me a part of every emotion surrounding Jennifer.

Jennifer's strength and determination to find answers and heal relationships is admirable. I enjoyed the journey she went on through this book. Every person she met played a part in her growth and learning. Even for all the heartache that surrounded her, in every person, there was also a little hope to be found. Thank goodness.

I loved the coastal setting in Maine. The descriptions were rich and filled my mind with such pretty pictures. I'd love to travel the coast of Maine one day.

My favorite smile moment in the book was this: "I got some Baklava, if you want some. My nephew sent it. He gets my birthday wrong every year, poor idiot."

Content wise there is some mild swearing.

On Little Wings can be purchased in print or ebook by clicking here.

You can find out more about the author at her website.

I'm so happy to be able to host a giveaway for this book! All you need to do is leave a comment along with your email address so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway is for a print copy of this book, so it will be open to US only. Giveaway ends March 8th.

Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop Winner!

2012-02-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Veronica W. who won the Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop!
Thanks to everyone who entered, especially those who left their favorite book
in the comments! I have lots of great books to check out now and I love to know
what everyone is reading. :)

Review: Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby

2012-02-21T13:27:00.001-07:00

Behind the flashing lights, the camera reveals all . . . even love.

Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she’s called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo doesn’t mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she’s sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett—teen superstar and the only celebrity who’s ever been kind to her—at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat in Boston. The money will be enough to pay for Jo’s dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned’s in for. But Jo certainly doesn’t know what she’s in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment.

Wow, I had a lot of fun reading this book. It wasn't what I was expecting and I was pleasantly surprised. I picked this book, Shooting Stars, up from NetGalley. The cover and blurb intrigued me. I'm so glad I got a chance to read this book. My thanks to Bloomsbury Children's Books, Walker Children's Books, for allowing me the opportunity. This book has a release date of Feb. 28th.

Jo is such a likable character. I like the journey of self-discovery she went on as she took this "big gig" at the rehabilitation retreat. Her mistakes, her buried hurts, and the friendships all made me safely anchor myself in her corner.

One thing I really liked was how the characters came together in the end to accomplish a main goal. Instead of hating each other and having to wade through that drama, we instead got to see them work together for a common good. It was refreshing and it made me love this book even more.

Here was my laugh out loud line. "Then the most amazing thing happens- this weird, random snot bubble accidentally emerges from his nose. We all stare at him, open mouthed." The buildup to this moment was all serious and then this line comes. I swear it was so funny.

As far as content goes, this had a couple instances of mild swearing. There are some serious issues addressed as kids are seeking professional help for problems. Death, guilt, suicide, depression, abandonment and phobias are all mentioned.

You can check out the trailer for this book. I really liked it.

You can find out more about the author by clicking here.

Open Minds by Susan Quinn Review and Giveaway!

2012-02-20T09:24:00.001-07:00

Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can’t read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can’t be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf’s mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she’s dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.

First off, my thanks to Susan Quinn for finding me and asking me to review her book, Open Minds. Second, my congratulations to Susan for a job well done. :)

Open Minds was a fantastic book full of all the elements that I love in a good book. The characters were well developed and I believed them. I felt invested in their feelings and choices. I cared what happened to them. (I think I still do.)

There was just enough suspense and action to keep my complete attention. My heart would start to pump a bit faster and my eyes would start reading faster in an attempt to find out what happened. I liked that. But suspense and action were not the whole book, which is why I really liked it. It had those down times where we were able to connect and feel.

Here is a quote that made me smile because I remember learning about sludge in my Natural Resources and Conservation class in college. My friends and I would joke around about something being sludge because that was the worst it could get. "There must be something worse than green sludge on cheese, because I had sunk to a new low."

As far as content goes, this was happily free of swearing and sex. There were some kissing scenes and some sexual references. There was some underage drinking and some violence.

I really, really liked this book. You all should check this book out. I'm eagerly awaiting the second book, Closed Hearts, which is the next book in this trilogy and hopefully it will be out soon. You can find out more about these books at The Mindjack Trilogy website.

Susan is generously offering up one ebook for a giveaway here. So, it's open to all US/INT followers. Just leave a comment and your email address to enter. Giveaway ends March 5th, 2012.

You can purchase Open Minds (ebook) for 2.99 on Amazon. Or as a paperback book for under 10 dollars. You can also find it at Barnes and Noble.

Susan Kaye Quinn grew up in California, where she wrote snippets of stories and passed them to her friends during class. She pursued a bunch of engineering degrees and worked a lot of geeky jobs, including turns at GE Aircraft Engines, NASA, and NCAR. Now that she writes novels, her business card says "Author and Rocket Scientist" and she doesn't have to sneak her notes anymore. All that engineering comes in handy when dreaming up paranormal powers in future worlds or mixing science with fantasy to conjure slightly plausible inventions. Susan writes from the Chicago suburbs with her three boys, two cats, and one husband. Which, it turns out, is exactly as much as she can handle.

Review and Giveaway: Crater Lake by Steve Westover

2012-02-17T08:53:00.001-07:00

From Goodreads: While visiting his crazy Uncle Bart at Crater Lake National Park, thirteen-year-old Ethan's world collapses when all the adults at Crater Lake disappear, including his parents. Now Ethan must rally his new friends and decipher the legends of Crater Lake to find the key to rescuing his parents from their earthen prison before he's captured too and their captivity becomes permanent.

Last month I flew into Portland on my way to Sacramento. I happened to look out the window at the most perfect moment and saw this beautiful, incredible lake. I thought, "wow, look at that awesome lake. It looks like a crater." Duh. Then I realized what I was looking at. Crater Lake. I've never been there before but from the sky, it looks amazing.

What a great introduction to this new book by Steve Westover. I'm glad to be a part of the blog tour for this book today. My thanks to Cedar Fort for allowing me to participate.

Adventure, adventure, adventure. That's how I would sum up this book. Throw in a bit of magic and a common purpose and you get a great book. There are several kids, brought together by the traumatic experience of watching their parents disappear. In order to save them, they band together and face the challenges. Swimming through freezing waters, exploring underground, fighting creatures, and near death experiences will keep you interested and entertained all the way through.

This is a middle grade book and I think it will especially appeal to young boys. Not only because there are adventures that seem to be made of young boy dreams, but it's got that "boy scout humor" or, as I like to call it, potty humor thrown in here and there. You know, farts and bathroom talk.

What I liked about the book was the overall theme of working together. Here is a quote I really liked. "There is much you can do." Che-Tan thought about his words and then corrected himself. "There is much we can do together." These kids find out that working together is safer and better. They accomplished much by working together.

You can find out more about Crater Lake: Battle for Wizard Island by clicking here.
You can read more about Steve Westover by clicking here and here.

Cedar Fort has generously offered up one copy of Crater Lake. A print copy for US and an ebook for INT. Just leave a comment along with your email address to enter. Please indicate whether you are US or INT. :) Giveaway ends March 2nd.

Follow Friday

2012-02-16T21:26:00.000-07:00

It's that time again! Follow Friday, hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday. Friday is quickly becoming my favorite day of the week since I don't have to work! Here is this week's question:

Q: I like unique names for characters and am looking forward to coming up with some when I start writing. What’s the most unique character name you’ve come across?

I think that is a tough question. I'm not really good at remembering things like that. I read a book with a very hot guy in it named Swaggart. I like that name and it's one I haven't heard much. I think Peeta is a pretty unique name too. Ooh, how about Obi-Wan? See? I'm not very good at this. I'm sure I will be very enlightened as I hop around to see what all the rest of you very smart people came up with. :) Thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend everyone!

Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop

2012-02-16T15:06:00.000-07:00

It's time for another giveaway hop! I'm keeping it nice and easy. For me and you. I appreciate you stopping by. :)

I'm giving away a book, $12.00 or less from Amazon (US) or the Book Depository (INT). Just fill out the form below.

I've got a couple other giveaways going on right now if you want to check them out. The links are on the right sidebar.

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Clockwise: Review and Giveaway!

2012-02-13T07:07:00.001-07:00

From Goodreads: A teenage time traveler accidentally takes her secret crush back in time. Awkward.
Boy watching with her best friend would be enough excitement for fifteen year old Casey Donovan. She doesn't even mind life at the bottom of the Cambridge High social ladder, if only she didn’t have this other much bigger problem. Unscheduled trips to the nineteenth century!

When Casey gets talked into going to the Fall Dance, the unthinkable happens--she accidentally takes Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time.

Protocol pressures her to tell their 1860 hosts that he is her brother and when Casey finds she has a handsome, wealthy (and unwanted) suitor, something changes in Nate. Are those romantic sparks or is it just ‘brotherly’ protectiveness?

When they return to the present things go back to the way they were before: Casey at the bottom of the social totem pole and Nate perched on the very the top. Except this time her heart is broken. Plus, her best friend is mad, her parents are split up, and her little brother gets escorted home by the police. The only thing that could make life worse is if, by some strange twist of fate, she took Nate back to the past again.

Which of course, she does.

I'm just going to start off by admitting something. Pretend it's therapy or confession or something. My name is Aimee and I totally judged this book by it's cover. There. I said it. I'm forever and always telling my kids not to do that and then I'm guilty of the same thing. Shame on me.

The cover for this book is not at all appealing to me. It just doesn't scream, "read me!". I guess it sort of gives me the wrong idea of what to expect when I open it up. I'm so glad that Elle Strauss asked me to review her book though. I really, really enjoyed it.

I will say first that this book that while reading this book I felt more like it was closer to a middle grade novel than a YA novel. Perhaps it's just on the younger end of the YA spectrum (15 years) than the upper end (25 years). I do think it's a book anyone can read and enjoy though.

Here are some things I loved about this book. The time travel took me to places that were interesting and gave me a sort of mini history lesson. I could imagine and even feel some of the tensions of those era's. Elle does a great job of making a scene come alive.

The main character, Casey, was so likable and so easy to relate to. Her young ideas of love and boys really took me back to the time I was that age. Watching those swoon worthy boys from a distance and dreaming.... desires to fit in and be accepted....

The characters found in all the places in time deal with real life issues. Life is a struggle and it always has been. The very real issues of slavery, women's rights, racial segregation, unwed mothers, split families, and underage smoking and drug use are all part of this book. It's dealt with in a respectful and tasteful way.

I'm going to pass this book over to my 14 year old. I think she will really like it. I know I did.

Elle has generously offered an ebook copy of her book for a giveaway. To enter, just leave a comment along with your email address. Thank you Elle!

You can find out more about Clockwise and read the first chapter by clicking HERE.
Find out more about Elle Strauss by clicking HERE.

Follow Friday!

2012-02-10T07:46:00.000-07:00

Parajunkee's View & Alison Can Read

It's always fun to connect with others in this hop. There are so many great bloggers out there. Today's question:

Q: What would your prefer: reading your favorite book over and over again until you got sick of it OR reading 100s of mediocre books? And why?

I would rather read my favorite book over and over. But, here's the thing, and I'm sure you have found this too. Everyone is different. A mediocre book to me may just be a great treasure to someone else. Because we come from different places in life and we think and feel differently, books touch us in different ways. Who am I to say the book you love is mediocre? It may not be MY favorite, but if it's yours then good on you. Plus, sometimes you pick up a book someone has labeled "mediocre" and find a great treasure yourself. Having said that, most people can recognize a fabulously written book. It becomes a favorite among the masses. There are many books I could read over and over and be completely happy. :) A great question this week! What are your thoughts?

Review: The Lifeguard by Deborah Blumenthal

2012-02-09T11:44:00.000-07:00

It's an unsettled summer for Sirena. Back in Texas, her family's splitting apart, but here in Rhode Island, at the cottage of her free-spirited aunt, it's a different world. There are long days at the beach and intriguing encounters with him. Pilot. He's the lifeguard with shamanic skills. He both saves her and makes her feel lost at sea. Sirena explores her obsession with Pilot and discovers his mysterious--almost magical--gifts.

Can you remember how if feels to be sixteen? I'm pretty sure this book will help you remember. For me, it's been awhile. But reading about Sirena's obsession with Pilot and her desire to get his attention really reminded me of being that age.

I actually really loved the growing relationship Sirena had with the older man at the beach. That was my favorite part of the book. He listens and guides Sirena through feelings and confusion with a gentle hand. I felt like that was the relationship that was real and allowed Sirena to understand people and connections better.

I sometimes felt as though the story got a bit wordy. I found myself wanting to skim through until I got to the next point of talking or action. On the flip side, from a girl who loves the beach, I could really envision the beach and hear the waves. The descriptions were good. I wanted to be there.

Overall, I liked the story. This wasn't a writing style that I really connected to but it was a good read. Not my favorite, but good. :) I'm pretty sure that the cover alone will sell very well in the YA crowd.

Last Day for How to Date An Alien Giveaway!

2012-02-09T11:19:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Just letting you know this is the last day to get in on the giveaway for this book...
And check out the other giveaway going on right now for My Last Blind Date.
Happy Thursday!

My Last Blind Date Giveaway!

2012-02-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

I'm calling this a Happy Valentines Day giveaway. Susan Hatler is so awesome. She saw my mini review and said she wanted to give an e-copy of her novella, My Last Blind Date away to one lucky reader here. See, I told you she is awesome! To enter, click HERE to be taken to my review and leave a comment there with your email address. It totally wouldn't hurt to mention Susan's awesomeness in your comments. :) This giveaway ends 2/13/2012 so we can get you the perfect snippet of romance in time for the day of LOVE.

Persuasion: A Latter-Day Tale by Rebecca H. Jamison

2012-02-07T00:01:00.001-07:00

When Anne broke off her engagement seven years ago, she thought she’d never see Neil Wentworth again. But when Neil’s brother buys the house she grew up in, it seems fate has other plans in store. Anne is unprepared for the roller coaster of emotions that come when Neil returns and starts dating her younger friend.

Convinced that Neil could no longer have strong feelings for her, Anne pushes away all thoughts of the past. But when the handsome man she’s been dating decides he can’t live without her, Anne must come to terms with her past.

Fans of Jane Austen’s Persuasion will enjoy this modern version of her most romantic story.

I will totally admit to being a Jane Austen fan. Persuasion is one of my favorite books and movies. I'm a girl who doesn't mind a retelling. I don't pick things apart and I don't really compare. I just read it for what it is and try to enjoy. :)

This is an LDS based novel but there was nothing preachy in it. Basically this amounted to a romance free of bad language and sexual content.

Persuasion was a great read. It had all the elements in it that I look for in a romance. I loved the setting back east in the Washington DC area and anytime that there is a beach setting in a book, my heart does a little sigh. I love the beach.

I breezed right through this book. It was light, easy and happy. The characters were engaging and fun. Quirky family members, a bit of suspense and some definite misunderstandings kept me interested the whole way through. My thanks to Cedar Fort for allowing me to participate in this blog tour for Persuasion.

Check out this YouTube for Persuasion!

About the author:

Rebecca Jamison enjoys running, dancing, making jewelry, reading, and watching chick flicks. Rebecca grew up in Vienna, Virginia. She attended Brigham Young University, earning a BA and MA in English. In between college and grad school, she served a mission to Portugal and the Cape Verde islands. Rebecca now lives with her husband and children in Utah. You can learn more about her at www.rebeccahjamison.com

Mini Review: My Last Blind Date by Susan Hatler

2012-02-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

It’s Valentine’s Day and Rachel Price has a choice: Stay home and watch TV with her loveable doggy or let her best friend, Ellen, set her up on a blind date. What to do….

Ellen says the guy is a “10,” but the last guy she set her up with was a “–5.” Rachel’s been flirting with coworker Noah Peterson and she’s hoping he’s noticed. Then, she finds out Noah has big plans. Even worse, he advises Rachel to go on the blind date!

Should she play it safe and spend the Hallmark holiday with her loyal pooch, Chester, or risk another dating disaster by trying yet again for love?

Seriously you guys, you have to pick this one up if you are a romantic at heart. It's perfect for Feb. with Valentines Day coming up. This is a novella, so it's a quick read. It was a perfect Sunday afternoon get away for me that left me smiling and happy. (and wanting more!) Deliciously sweet. It's only .99 on Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble! SA-WEET!

Follow My Blog Friday

2012-02-03T07:56:00.000-07:00

Q: Define what characteristics your favorite books share. Do they all have a kick ass heroine or is the hot love interest the Alpha Male?

Most of the books I love the best have made me FEEL something real. They have evoked a real emotion in me so that I walk away feeling connected to the story or the characters.

Of course, my main go-to books for escape are the light, fun, romantic books that create a diversion for my mind. No thinking required. These are the books I feel happy with in the end because I just had a mental vacation. :)

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

2012-02-02T10:56:00.000-07:00

In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, "New York Times"-bestselling author Revis mesmerizes readers again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.

Wow. Have you read this yet? Wow.

This book? Totally not where I expected it to go. I got a few curve balls and surprises, which was nice. I like to be surprised. Well, pleasantly surprised anyway.

I finished this book so quickly. It was a bit consuming and so good. I love the writing and the story here. Even better than the first book. I felt the anxiety, the fear. I felt the confusion and the tension. Good stuff, that. :)

I really feel like I can't say much about the actual story line. What can I say without giving stuff away?

It's going to be an eternal wait for the next book. But I love where this is going! I can't wait to read it.

For all you clean readers, there is some language content.

Review: Venom by K.C. Grant

2012-02-01T00:01:00.004-07:00

From Goodreads: Samantha Evans is determined to make a name for herself in the cutthroat world of advertising. Newly hired by a prestigious ad agency, she volunteers to work on location in Mexico City as a personal assistant to the beautiful and driven creative director Katrina Edwards. At first the association seems promising. But Ms. Edwards seems preoccupied in a way that makes Samantha increasingly uneasy. In fact, many in the group seem like they are not being completely open about the project including David Ayala, the mysterious and moody photographer for whose attention the two women find themselves competing. After several strange accidents and numerous appearances by an unknown man, Samantha discovers the truth: not everyone on the team is in Mexico to create a stellar advertising pitch. When her sleuthing leads to her abduction, she is brought to the pyramids of Teotihuacán and comes face-to-face with the venomous evil of the South American crime boss known as “The Serpent.” Now Samantha must not only fight for her life, but she must also discover if she can trust the man she’s come to love.

I'm happy to be a part of the book review for Venom, an LDS suspense novel organized by Tristi Pinkston book tours.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the beautiful descriptions of the different areas of Mexico. I really felt like I could picture the beauty in my head and it's someplace I'd love to go one day. On Goodreads, the author says, "I wanted to portray the beauty and culture that is today's Mexico, with just a few sinister undertones." I think she accomplished that goal.

Having said that, there were many times I felt like the story was dragging. The sinister undertones were there but they were mild. I guess it just felt like it took awhile to get anywhere. I wasn't on the edge of my seat.

I think the character, Samantha, is a very good example of moral integrity. She also thinks before she speaks which is always an admirable quality to me. This was a good book. It was easy to read and enjoyable.

You can buy Venom here or here.

Must Read Monday

2012-01-30T10:03:00.000-07:00

Where Fans of Fiction host an awesome meme that allows us to share the books we love through acrostic poems. It's my once a week shot at creativity! :)

I have missed doing these since the holidays. Life happened though, my daughter had surgery, my work schedule changed and things have been crazy. But, here I am today, happy to be back.

This week's topic:Favorite self-published book (or, if you don't have one, a book that is underpublicized that more people should know about)

Post apocalypse genetic

Experiment survivors share

Real physical and metal links with animal

Counterparts through mixed DNA.

Exiled and abused, Ardana's

Plan is to escape the Outskirts with her

Tiger, Rijan and their twin brothers.

Instead of redemption and acceptance

Only conflict and treachery are found.

Nothing is easy, especially trust.

This was one of my favorite reads from last year. I loved this book and I love the cover too! If you want to check out my full review, you can find it here.

Follow Friday!

2012-01-26T21:44:00.000-07:00

(Parajunkee & Alison Can Read)

Q: Which book genre do you avoid at all costs and why?

Hummmm. Oh, I know. That would have to be the horror or zombie type books that scare me. Yeah. I am a wimp and I don't like to be scared. I like to sleep and take showers without fear of attack. I will absolutely not pick up a scary book. Nope. Not at all.

How about you? Do like them scary?

How To Date an Alien Review + Giveaway!

2012-01-26T08:03:00.002-07:00

High school senior Alex Bianchi's estranged father gets her an internship at Circe Operations Center to pad her college applications. But Circe isn't your typical military base. It's an alien-run operation center and not all of the aliens are friendly, especially the one that tries to kill Alex on her first day. When Ace, a dark-eyed Caltian, enters and saves the day, she can't help but be drawn to him. Can these star-crossed lovers survive when they're on the brink of intergalactic war?

It was just destiny for me to read this book. Magan says it was written in the stars. (tee hee) Magan sent me an email asking me to review her book and then I won it from a giveaway on somebody else's blog. See what I mean? It was meant to be.

First off, I have to tell you that I love this cover. I think it fits this book perfectly. It's fun, light and you just know you will have some good romance coming.

I loved Alex. She is such a normal girl, wearing glasses and toting a few extra pounds. She blogs and she is working hard to get into a great college. Her normal is perfectly juxtaposed with Ace, who is anything but normal.

Ah, Ace. <sigh> Oh, sorry. Ahem. Ace is awesome. You should really read the book so you can sigh too. He is heroic and super strong and hot too. Well, he's cold. But, he's hot. You need to read it.

I had a really good time reading this romance. It was all the things I look for in a good, happy, light chick book. I loved the interesting take on aliens and even some of the deeper messages about prejudices and judging others to quickly. I'm so happy I got to read this book.

For all those who are interested, there was some infrequent, mild swearing in this book.

I had the chance to ask Magan a few questions. Check this out!

Magan, thank you so much for agreeing to answer a few questions and for offering up a copy of your book to one lucky winner. I love sharing books with people. Especially ones I really enjoyed.

Obviously, your book is about aliens. Are you a Sci-Fi junkie? All Star Trek and such?

Truth be told, I'm deathly afraid of aliens. Maybe that is why the book was so easy to write because they scared the beejeesus out of me, so I tried to make them un scary. That being said, I still can't get enough of Fact or Faked Paranormal files and old Star Trek re-runs from the Shatner days. I may have nightmares, but I can't look away!

Tell me about your inspiration for Ace. He's all kinds of alien hot and super swoon worthy! Seriously?! Yum.

It's kind of a funny story. Ace first ended up in my mind as just a squirelly guy with spiked hair, so I asked my good friend, Rachel, for some inspiration. She said she thought Adam Lambert kind of looked like an alien and intrigued and frightened her at the same time. Thus, my Adam Lambert obsession began.

YES, I do realize that he is gay, but if you've ever watched his video "For Your Entertainment" it will have you pretending he is a little bit of a straight alien.

Tell me about your ideal writing environment.

My life is all kinds of crazy. I finished up writing How to Date an Alien while pregnant and continued my edits while working full-time and an infant on my lap. The only time I really get to write is at work on my lunch hour or at night when I go to bed. The best way I work is without distraction. I put on my headphones, turn off the internet, and crank out a few thousand words.

If you could put a theme song to your book, what would it be?

There are so many that portray this book perfectly. The biggest one is probably ET by Katy Perry, as soon as that song came out I had so many people messaging me and saying "I think this is about your book!" Secretly, the other theme song is "If I had you" by Adam Lambert because there is a thin side between the dark side and the light side.

I love the cover for your book. I think it fits your story perfectly. How did that come about?

I actually had a completely different idea, then I met with my friend and fellow DarkSide writer, GP Ching, and she said I should look for a cartoony background like HP Mallory. I contacted my cover artist Cassandra Marshall and said that I wanted something like HP Mallory, gave her a synopsis and she came up with the AWESOME cover. I couldn't have done it better myself!

Are you working on another book?

In April I have a book that I co-wrote with a friend called "Life, Life, & Lemons," coming out. It is a contemporary YA about a girl whose dad gets laid off and she is forced to move from her sprawling brick home to a two bedroom apartment across town. Just when things start to get better in her new life, a dark secret from her old life comes to the surface and may destroy everything she has worked so hard to forget. It's a love story about overcoming obstacles and when to say 'screw the lemons and bail.'

I'm also hoping to have the second book in the My Alien Romance series out this June, titled "How to Break Up with an Alien." I do have a wonderful cover and I will be revealing that along with the synopsis shortly. Let's just say that not everything can always be perfect in a human and alien relationship.

Thanks for having me :)

Magan has generously agreed to give an ebook copy of her book away to one lucky reader. If you'd like to enter, just leave a comment along with your email address so we can contact you later. Giveaway is open Internationally and ends Feb. 8th.

Winners for Ignite Giveaway

2012-01-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

So happy to announce the FIVE winners for Ignite by Kaitlyn Davis. Sarah, Sharmaine, Mary, Jolene and Candace are the lucky gals. Thanks to all who stopped by and took the time to enter. :)

Bittersweet Surrender by Diann Hunt

2012-01-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

Carly Westlake is living the dream. She spends her days at a spa (okay, so she owns the place), she's dating a hunk, and she's surrounded by chocolate—milk chocolate, her favorite—that she uses for the chocolate facials that made her spa famous.

But when long buried secrets threaten Carley's business and her friendship with business-partner Tom, she fights like crazy to keep the dream—and the illusions—afloat.

It takes a miracle of grace to get Carley to finally make that bittersweet surrender to love and real life.

Carley Westlake mustered up all kinds of emotions for me in this book. After reading of her of her struggles through cancer, having a mastectomy, and having her husband leave her, the compassion was just oozing out of me. I was angry on her behalf! I think every woman will be able to relate to Carley's feelings of loss and insecurity over losing her breast to cancer. Such a real struggle for so many women. I was totally rooting for Carley. I wanted her to find love and feel valued again.

I think it was the chocolate that really sealed the deal for me with this book. Please! A chocolate spa? I could just smell the goodness as I read. Okay, maybe I could taste it too as I just had to grab me a little chocolate to go along with the book! I think they should have put a bit of chocolate smell in those pages or maybe a scratch and sniff? I love chocolate. <sigh> I think I bonded with Carley right away just because of that fact.

This was a very enjoyable read. I was happy and satisfied in the end. This is a Christian fiction book, but light on the Christian. A clean read all the way around. I picked this book through Book Sneeze in exchange for my honest review.

Dreaming of Books Giveaway Winner

2012-01-19T21:16:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Cindy who random chose as the lucky winner for the Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop! I'm always so happy for giveaways. Thanks for all of you who took the time to enter and to comment. I loved reading what books you were dreaming of. A lot of us are dreaming of the same books. :) And I got a few new titles myself. Thanks everyone!

Review + Giveaway: Beyond by T.P. Boje

2012-01-17T04:00:00.004-07:00

(from the author) Have you ever wondered where you go when you die?

Meghan is 16 when it happens to her. She wakes up on a flying steamboat on her way to a school run by Angels in a white marble castle. She meets Mick who helps her through a difficult time in a different world filled with heavenly magic. One day she finds a mirror in the cellar of the school and goes through it. She ends up back on earth where she meets Jason. But Jason is in danger and Meghan knows something important. Soon she will have to choose between the two worlds. The one she belongs to now, and the one she left.

Beyond is a Y/A paranormal romance and the first book in T. P. Boje’s Afterlife-series.

Picking up books by self-published authors can sometimes be a mixed bag. I love that it is easier for authors to get some exposure and I love having a chance to read some great books that I otherwise wouldn't have been able to read. There are some incredibly talented people out there writing. T.P. Boje is definitely one of those talented people.

The mixed bag comes in where I run into editing problems mostly. Generally speaking, self published authors haven't usually had professional edits done and that sometimes leaves me, the reader, a bit frustrated and confused. (I'm not saying this is always true, but I've run into this several times in my reviewing.)

So, with this book, I have a sort of mixed bag review. As for the story itself, it was good. I liked the ideas presented and the way the information unfolded to me. I felt like I was pretty much in Meghan's shoes, learning everything when she did. There were some great moments in the book. One of my favorite ideas was the flying. I used to have flying dreams all the time was I was younger. There were some scenes in the book that totally reminded me of those dreams.

I enjoyed Meghan's sense of compassion and her kindness to others. She is a character you cannot help but like. She is a fabulous friend. I'm curious to find out what happens with Jason in the next book. The ending of Beyond left Jason in a sad place and I'm really hoping for something great for him in the next book.

My biggest complaints are with the editing here. I am not an editor nor am I an English major, but the frequent editing issues in this book were obvious even to me. Sentence structures were odd, past and present verbs were used together in the same sentences, and there were quite a few typos. It was hard for me, as a reader, to get past those things. There were a few places that I went, "what?!" Things just didn't make any sense. Meghan is a ghost and she learns she can float instead of walk. She says in the book that once she learned to float, she never walked again. But, then she sneaks out and tiptoes down the hall. Do you need to tiptoe when you float? The image in my mind just didn't jive. Also, at another part, all of the new people sit at a table for dinner together. Earlier, we were given exact numbers of how many people were included. It was about 84 people total. They all sat at the same round table together. Wow, 84 people around one table. That is a massive round table. Can you picture that?

I think Beyond is a good YA paranormal story and has a lot of potential. T.P Boje has a talented and creative mind. I admire her dedication to writing. I wish her much success with her books and her writing future.

Therese has generously offered one ebook (INT/US) and one paperback copy (US) of her book for a giveaway. That's two winners! To enter, just leave a comment with a way to contact you if you win. Let me know if you are INT or USA. Giveaway will end 1/31/2012.

Here is a bit about T.P. Boje: T. P. Boje is a mother of two, a stepmother of another two and a hardcore cartoon lover, Tim Burton enthusiast, and enjoys any movie the Coen Brothers have made (with the big Lebowski being her favorite strongly followed by Burn after Reading). She is also a writer of Y/A Paranormal Romance, fantasy and mystery. She is originally from Denmark but currently living in Florida, USA. Her books are translated into several languages.

To learn more follow her on Twitter @TPBoje, visit her fansite on Facebook or check out her web-page: http://www.tpboje.blogspot.com

Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop!

2012-01-12T15:21:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog! Thanks for stopping in for this hop, hosted by Martha's Bookshelf and I Am a Reader, Not a Writer. I love giveaway hops and I'm always dreaming of new books I want to read. :)

Today I'm offering up a book of your choice for $12 or less from Amazon if you are US and The Book Depository if you are INT.

To enter, fill in the form below. One entry for filling the form and following me. An additional entry for leaving a comment on this post telling me which book you are dreaming of. :)

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Ignite by Kaitlyn Davis + a Giveaway!

2012-01-11T00:01:00.001-07:00

From Goodreads:
"With one last look, one final search of the lines of his face for some sign, Kira turned and ran away from the sound of the man she loved laughing in the face of her death."

When Kira Dawson moves to South Carolina, she meets Luke, a blond goofball who quickly becomes her best friend, and Tristan, a mysterious bad boy who sends shivers down her spine. Kira knows they're keeping secrets, but when she discovers Tristan's lust for blood and her own dormant mystical powers, Kira is forced to fight for her life and make the heartbreaking decision between the familiar comfort of friendship and the fiery passion of love.

Ignite was an interesting YA paranormal book. The story had good pacing and I never felt my attention straying. I read through the book quickly and it left me wanting to know more about Kira and her newly discovered powers.

I enjoyed the characters. I especially liked how Kira's powers were that of light. She is a Conduit who loves the sunshine and warmth. (Maybe I'm a conduit too! I LOVE the sunshine.)

My favorite scene was up in the tower. (of course it was) And the sketch book. <sigh> How romantic.

The major drawback about this book, for me, was the language. There was a lot of profanity and mild language along with one use of the B word. A personal preference, for sure. And, one I especially express when it comes to YA books. The other drawback was the alcohol references. At one point the MC, a high school senior, says she needed a vodka. Really? That's scary.

Overall, a good book. I think Kaitlyn Davis is off to a great start. I congratulate her on a job well done and wish her much success with her writing career.

I love getting to know authors better. I feel like it makes their stories more personal. Kaitlyn was good to humor me with both the interview and the giveaway.

Where did your love for writing come from?

I honestly don't know! I've always loved telling stories and I have a very overactive imagination, so I think writing became the perfect outlet for that. When I was little, I forced my mom to duct tape construction paper together so I could write my books. Then, I would have readings and force my family to listen to me...thank goodness that's not on home video!

What inspired you to write in the paranormal genre?

Buffy the Vampire Slayer! It is my all time favorite show and it definitely started me down a long path of paranormal obsession. I just love how your imagination is the limit with the fantasy genre - there are no constraints and you can let your creativity flow. I've already started thinking about what creature I want to create for my next series/stand-alone and I have a few good ideas. I couldn't resist one vampire filled series, but afterwards I want to venture into not-yet-written territory.

Give me your ideal writing environment. Do you have music playing? Silence? Food to eat? At a desk? On the couch?

Usually, I love sitting at my desk in complete silence with just the background noise of New York City - engines rumbling, sirens blaring, the wind whipping outside my window. But sometimes, if I am really trying to get to a certain emotion, I'll play music. I have so many iTunes playlists, but angry girl music and solemn blues are high on the list...who doesn't love a little Taylor Swift or Frank Sinatra?

Who was the toughest character to write? Why?

Definitely Tristan! I wanted him to be a little bit of everything - tortured artist, brooding bad boy, playful boyfriend. And, I wanted him and Kira to be forbidden yet easy, because I honestly believe falling in love is easy, and it's the stuff after that get crazy. You can't help how you feel about someone, and often times there is an instantaneous connection, be it lust or love, that you don't want to deny. That said, in the next three books, the honeymoon stage will be ending and their road will be getting much tougher.

Any news for us on the next book?

I'm writing it now! I will tell you that you'll learn a lot more about the conduits and, my favorite part, Kira gains a new and unexpected power that will make things between her, Luke and Tristan very complicated, and definitely not in the typical love triangle way!

Thanks so much, Kaitlyn! It's been a pleasure.

And now, Kaitlyn is offering up 5 copies of her book, Ignite, to five lucky winners! These are ebooks so please be aware of that. To enter, please leave a comment with your email address. Giveaway ends 1/25/2012.

You can find Kaitlyn here at her blog.
You can find Ignite at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Smashwords.

The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter

2012-01-09T14:22:00.000-07:00

When a wedding reenactment turns real, this cowgirl suddenly finds she’s an accidental bride. Shay Brandenberger is raising her daughter in Moose Creek, Montana on her childhood ranch, nestled against the Yellowstone River. Despite her hard work, she can’t seem to keep her head above water—and now the bank is threatening to foreclose. She prays for a miracle, but the answer she receives is anything but. Having agreed to play the bride in the Founders Day wedding reenactment, Shay is mortified to be greeted at the end of the aisle by none other than Travis McCoy, her high school sweetheart—the man who left her high and dry for fame and fortune on the Texas rodeo circuit. Then the unthinkable happens. Thanks to a well-meaning busy body and an absent minded preacher, the wedding reenactment results in a legal marriage. But before Shay can say annulment, Travis comes up with a crazy proposal. If she refuses his offer, she’ll lose her home. But if she accepts, she may lose her heart. Shay isn’t sure if the recent events are God’s will or just a preacher’s blunder. Will trusting her heart to the man who once shattered it be the worst mistake of her life? Or could their marriage be the best accident that ever happened?

First off, I have to say that I really enjoy Denise Hunter's books. She is one of my favorite Christian fiction authors. She isn't an over the top kind of Christian author, but instead, has a way of writing that most people can relate to.

I love books set in the west, in small towns, on ranches, surrounded by beauty and mountains. Especially when there are hunky cowboys to be found.

Travis is one incredibly patient man, I have to say. Sometimes I found the amount of his patience to be a bit unbelievable, but hey, it's fiction and a girl can dream. He is a hard working, generous man. That's how we like them, right ladies?

I enjoyed the tension that built through the book. It kept me hanging on and hoping. This was a fun story with an ending that will leave you satisfied. This was a quick read for me and filled my fix for a clean romantic distraction.

I read this book courtesy of NetGalley and Thomas Nelson, Publisher.

Follow Friday!

2012-01-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

Q: Go count the number of unread books sitting on your shelf. How many?

Ha! I don't have any unread books on my shelf. But, I do have 29 in my baskets and one on the nightstand by my bed. We aren't counting virtual bookshelves, right? Because my Kindle has about 8 book waiting there. I'm not sure if I should be happy there are so many books waiting for me or if I should be depressed that there are so many books waiting for me! I'm going with happy. :)

It's good to be back doing a follow friday. I've missed doing it for quite a few weeks but I'm happy to be off work and home today to enjoy hopping around. Have a great weekend everyone!

Review: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

2012-01-06T07:51:00.000-07:00

From Goodreads:
It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

Wow, this book ended up being something that I wasn't expecting. I had read other reviews for this book so I thought I had a pretty good idea what was coming but I was wrong.

The story starts off slowly. Building, building until by the end I am devouring pages with gusto, oblivious to everything else. I love books like that.

There were a lot of characters in this book. I felt like I had to remember the whole village. But fortunately, each character had very specific personalities so it helped me keep them straight.

My one word for this book would be bloody. I swear there was so much blood in this book. It was a bit disturbing sometimes. Well, I am a girl who really doesn't like blood anyway. I always tell kids around me, "Be careful, please. I don't do blood." There really was a ton of blood though. Yucky.

I'm happy and satisfied by the end because I got enough resolution and I can imagine for myself all kinds of happily ever after scenarios.

As far as content, there was some swearing and some crude language. There was some violent scenes and as I mentioned before, lots of blood.

Review: First Date by Krista McGee

2012-01-03T15:36:00.000-07:00

Summary: Addy Davidson is the last girl in the country who wants to be on the new reality TV show to win a date to prom with the President’s son. She’s focused on her schoolwork so she can get a scholarship to an Ivy League college, uncomfortable in the spotlight, never been on a date, and didn’t even audition for it.

But she got selected anyway.

So she does her best to get eliminated on the very first show… right before she realizes that the President’s son is possibly the most attractive guy she has ever seen in person, surprisingly nice, and seemingly unimpressed by the 99 other girls who are throwing themselves at him.

Addy’s totally out of her comfort zone—but that may be right where God can show her the most about who she is . . . and who she was meant to be.

This was like The Bachelor, only younger, rated PG and filled with very Christian theology. In this younger version, girls were still catty with the exception of two who win the hearts of the American people on live reality TV.

I really did like Addy's character. I felt for her and the situations life had dealt her. Her determination was admirable. I liked the fact that she wasn't perfect, she made mistakes, but she also worked to fix those mistakes. Addy tried hard to be kind even when people didn't necessarily deserve it. I'm a firm believer that if we were kinder and more considerate of each other (no matter what we believe or don't believe), the world would be such an easier and better place to live. I think Addy was a good representation of this.

This was a fun, easy read. I enjoyed the more modern approach with the sort of things that young teenage girls could relate to. I read through it quickly and felt good about passing it on to my daughter.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Book Sneeze in exchange for my honest review.

Back To Life, Back To Reality

2012-01-03T07:09:00.000-07:00

Things have been quiet on my blog for the past couple weeks. I've enjoyed my holiday break with family and friends and lots of fun. I hope you have too. Today is the day though. Back to life, back to reality. Back to work. Back to school. Getting up early, packing lunches, homework, after school activities, dr. appointments. Well, it was a nice break while it lasted! Now we are looking forward to summer and a Disneyland vacation!

I've been reading lots of books, but I haven't really been reviewing them. Hopefully today or tomorrow will change that. I have a giveaway hop coming this month and at least two reviews with giveaways coming in the next couple weeks. That will be fun!

I hope 2012 means a prosperous and good new year for everyone. It is the Chinese year of the Dragon! :)

Enduring Light Winner!

2011-12-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Alysia who won a copy of Enduring Light by Carla Kelly. I hope you enjoy it!

Review: Cold River by Liz Adair

2011-12-27T00:01:00.003-07:00

From Goodreads: Mandy Steenburg thinks her doctorate in education has prepared her to run any school district - until she tangles with the moonshine-making, coon-dog-owning denizens of a tiny district in Pacific Northwest timber country. She's determined to make a difference, but the local populace still looks to the former superintendent for leadership. When Mandy lands in the middle of an old feud and someone keeps trying to kill her, instinct tells her to run. And though she has to literally swim through perilous waters, she finds a reason to stay and chance the odds.

I'm so happy to be a part of Tristi Pinkston's blog tour for Cold River. I always find some great books through blog tours.

I thought Mandy was a very likable character. She is greeted with lots of hostility and misunderstanding yet manages to keep her chin up. Her determination to change what she views as sub-standard is met with open opposition. Small, tight knit communities are like that. (I should know, I live in one!) Changes are slow in coming and most people don't like them. Mandy goes around offending people as she tries to make changes. She earns herself a few enemies but she also begins to earn herself some friends.

One thing I did love is how Mandy appeared so human to us. She wanted to give up. She wanted to just pack it up and leave. Death threats are scary and who needs that?! In the end though she picks herself up and keeps trying. That is admirable. That is real life. Bad things happen, people don't like us, but we pick ourselves up and keep going.

Overall, a very enjoyable read by Liz Adair. This book said "romantic suspense", I think. I didn't find it very romantic, but I would probably classify it as a "cozy suspense". It was well written, easy reading. It had some light suspense, but nothing over the top that kept me awake at night.

You can find the author, Liz Adair at http://sezlizadair.blogspot.com/

You can purchase Cold River at Amazon here.

On Tour with Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan

2011-12-20T00:01:00.001-07:00

From Goodreads: I’m dying, I thought. This was unexpected and not at all how I envisioned my death. I was supposed to die gardening in a flowerbed as a hundred-year-old woman, not as a seventeen-year-old trapped in a lake beneath inches of ice.

Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. She can’t take any chances. But when she starts to make friends for the first time in her life, she gets careless and lets her guard down. Big mistake.

As an Aura, Llona can manipulate light and harness its energy. But if she wants to survive, Llona will have to defy the Auran Council and learn to use her power as a weapon against the Vyken whose sole desire is to take her light. Now she’s caught in something even bigger than she can understand, with a power she can’t wield, and no one she can trust, except, just maybe, a mysterious stranger.

In this breathtaking and romantic adventure, Rachel McClellan delivers a truly mesmerizing story that will keep you guessing to the very end.

Wow, this was a fun, fast paced read for sure. I pretty much had it devoured in one 24 hour period. By the end I was so caught up in the story I was all tense and worked up. I suddenly realized it and laughed at myself. I really shouldn't read late at night like that. :)

I can't say that I was surprised at anything, I had everyone pegged from the get go but it was still a great read. I enjoyed Llona's journey from "blend in and go unnoticed" to "I'm going to take you down". It's amazing how loving and caring for others can empower you and make you stronger.

I wanted a bit more romance, a bit earlier, but I'll take what I can get. There was one scene that was a bit disturbing that involved a death. I didn't like how that was laid out for me so graphically.

I'll be looking forward to the next book because I was sure left hanging, wanting more at the end!

If you want to find out more about Fractured Light or it's author, here are some links that will take you there!
Author Blog: http://www.blackbirdinmywindow.blogspot.com/
Author Website: http://www.rachelmcclellan.com/
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRachelMcClellan
Book Poster page: http://fracturedlightbook.com/

My thanks to Cedar Fort for allowing me to be a part of this blog tour. You can find a calender with all the blogs taking part in the tour here. See what others are saying!

Must Read Monday #10

2011-12-19T11:12:00.000-07:00

If you haven't checked this fun out yet, you really should. Fans of Fiction have started something with Must Read Monday that is unique and challenging.

The goal of the Must Read Monday is to find share your love of great books with others in the hopes that they'll add a new title to their To Be Read list.

Your job is to create intrigue for other hoppers. What makes your book so swoon-worthy? What do you absolutely have to mention so they'll read it?

On your post, you'll make an acrostic puzzle (think of it as an overview/book blurb type of thing).

For specific ways to build your puzzle, click here, but pretty much any style of acrostic is welcome.

When you leave comments on other posts, be sure to mention whether you're adding that book to your TBR pile, and what part convinced you to do so.

It's all about powers of persuasion, people:) You might have to think a little, but channel that inner-creative goddess (or god).

This week's category: Best rainy day read (you could think snowy day read, if you prefer!)

I can totally get into this week's category because that's life for us right now. Snowy days! My favorite kind of book to curl up with on a wintery, cold day is a book with some love in it. Marcia Lynn McClure is one of my favorite romance writers because boy, can she write a kissing scene like nobody else. Her books are clean (meaning no sex) which is something I, personally, appreciate. Today I have chosen my favorite book by this author.

Kissing Swaggart Moretti

Is at the top of Poppy Amore's

Secret life to-do list.

She has harbored a crush,

In truth, since her freshman year of high school.

Now working with Swaggart at the

Good Ol' Days Family Restaurant

Cements Poppy's attraction and desire.

Oh, but that man is HOT!

Unrequited love

Secrets of the heart

Is it too late or can a girl still hope?

Next order up...

Swaggart Moretti! YUM!

So, there you have it. My favorite kind of book for escape on a cold, snowy day. Oh, and just for the record, this is not about cousins that kiss. That would be just wrong. You have to read the book to understand the title. Just trust me on this. :)

On Tour: Enduring Light with Author Interview and Giveaway!

2011-12-16T00:01:00.002-07:00

From Goodreads: She leaned toward him and rested her elbows on the brass rail at the foot of her bed. “All right, cowboy, just when did you fall in love with me? I’m definitely curious now.” He regarded her in the moonlight. “I knew I was a no-hoping goner when I caught that ridiculous hat of yours on the platform at Gun Barrel.”

Julia sucked in her breath. She tried to be severe. “Mr. Otto, nobody falls in love that fast!”

“I did,” he said simply, as he left her room.

Julia Darling is finally able to marry Paul Otto for eternity. But it’s a harsh world for a rancher in turn-of-the-century Wyoming, especially a Mormon rancher. When alienation and threats begin, Julia must prove she’s her husband’s equal in strength and endurance as she learns to let go of scars on the outside and inside.

Bestselling author Carla Kelly has woven a new story of a determined rancher, his wife, and how they discover the depths of love.

I'm so happy to be a part of this blog tour for Carla Kelly and book, Enduring Light. My thanks to Cedar Fort for providing a copy for review and a copy to give away. If you want to check out all the blogs participating in the tour you can find them here.

I had the opportunity to ask author Carla Kelly a few questions. She was so kind to humor me. After reading Enduring Light I was full of questions!

One of the things I love the most in this book is the genuine and open physical attraction and desire between Paul and Julia. You've done it tastefully and cleanly. You don't find a lot of books that can do that. Can you tell us a bit about writing such a relationship?

It wasn't hard to write because I was constantly reminding myself how much these two know and respect each other. With that respect comes circumspection, I think, at least in writing. Any writer worth her salt will tell you that a sensuous ankle, well-described, is far more potent than a page or two of burning burning graphic sex. Far more. I also reminded myself that the sexiest guy alive is the guy who washes dishes (Paul does), and changes diapers (Paul will). Also, by the beginning of the 20th century, sex was starting to come out of the Victorian closet, so to speak. People have always enjoyed sex (I've read some sizzling Civil War and Indian Wars letters), but they were reticent to talk about it. By 1909-1911, people were coming more to resemble us. That's why I'm finding it a fun era to write about.

Let me add that I enjoyed the challenge of writing a book about a newly married couple - making it sexy without being prurient. I think I succeeded. We'll see what the readers say.

In this book, Julia Darling is recovering from injuries in a fire. She lost her hair in fire and it's now growing back in curly! Have you known someone that this happened to?

Well, when I was a little girl, I chopped off my hair and it came back in curly. Don't know why. My hair is pretty straight now, except that the ends still have a nice curl. I was thinking of that. (And also, things can happen in Romancelandia, eh?) The fun thing about this book is we see the characters with some of their flaws - Julia is definitely vain (she frets over her hair, and later, the fact that she can't button her skirts). Paul is proud, and he goes through some humbling experiences.

I knew a girl in college who had her hair burned off when her brothers tried to play a prank and it went bad. Her hair grew back in curly! :)

You include recipes in the back of your book for many desserts and dinners mentioned in your book. Are you a cooking extraordinaire like Julia?

I'm a good cook, but hardly a dedicated, great one like Julia. Maybe it's wishful thinking. I based much of the research for that on a wonderful history book called Perfection Salad, about the domestic science movement. Fannie Farmer was a major player in that movement, with her exact measurements, etc. I have a facsimile edition of Miss Farmer's famous 1896 cookbook which is fun to just read through.

In more than one part of the book, my stomach was literally churning over the details of the roundup dinners. Have you actually eaten and/or prepared Rocky Mountain Oysters or Sonofagun Stew? (Ew, yucky, yucky, yucky!)

Nope. I know enough about cowboy cooking, though, to know I never want to eat "The Gentleman from Odessa." SOB stew took its name from whatever state it was cooked in. I'm a Texan by experience (lived there a while, visit when I can), so it's Gentleman from Odessa for me. In Wyoming's case, it would have been called "The Gentleman from Cheyenne."

Thanks, Carla for sharing your time with me. It's always fun to get to know authors better and make things a bit more personal.

Thank you, Aimee. We'll do this again.

I really enjoyed reading Enduring Light. Cedar Fort has generously offered a copy of Enduring Light to one lucky reader! This giveaway is open to everyone. If you are INT, you will receive an ebook copy, if you are US you have the choice between an ebook or a print copy. To enter, leave me a comment along with your name and email address so I can contact you if you win. Giveaway ends December 30th, 2011.

And here are lots of fun links to click on. They will connect you with the author, the book and the publisher!

Author Blog http://carlakellyauthor.blogspot.com/
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000100522344
Book Poster page: http://enduringlightbook.com/
Publisher Blog http://www.cedarfortbooks.com/
Publisher Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cedarfortbooks
Publisher Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/cedarfortbooks
Publisher GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4202252-cedar-fort

Review: Slayers by CJ Hill

2011-12-13T07:39:00.000-07:00

From Goodreads: Dragons exist. They’re ferocious. And they’re smart: Before they were killed off by slayer-knights, they rendered a select group of eggs dormant, so their offspring would survive. Only a handful of people know about this, let alone believe it – these “Slayers” are descended from the original knights, and are now a diverse group of teens that includes Tori, a smart but spoiled senator’s daughter who didn’t sign up to save the world.

The dragon eggs have fallen into the wrong hands. The Slayers must work together to stop the eggs from hatching. They will fight; they will fall in love. But will they survive?

Woo hoo! Yeah. Now that's what I'm talking about. Happy, happy, happy.

I figured when I read about this book, knowing who the author is, that I would enjoy this book. But even with that I was pleasantly surprised! This was a good bit of book and I really, really liked it! My daughter actually got to the book first as I had to finish up another book I was reading. She handed it back to me the next day and said, "this was a really good book, mom. We should buy this book. When is the next one coming out?" (I requested this book from the library.) If I was an author, that would be one of the greatest compliments. I totally back her up on those statements. It was a really good book.

I loved the whole idea of the book, the dragons, the descendants from ancient knights, the super abilities passed down. It was so fun. The story pulls you in from the moment you begin reading. I polished it off in a day because I just couldn't put it down. (sorry, family) I liked that I had some resolution at the end of the book, but there was enough left open that you really want the next book soon.

I loved how these kids are cool on their own, but when they work together, they are amazing. One alone could never defeat a dragon, but all of them working together, covering each other's backs, can accomplish great things.

Visualization is big for me. I like to be able to see the whole book in my mind like a movie. I'm telling you that this was a good movie for me. :) This book was what I would term "family friendly". I have no qualms handing it over to my kids or anyone for that matter. Which earns another big thumbs up from me. I love that.

You gotta check out this book. I hope you love it.

Review: The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

2011-12-06T07:31:00.000-07:00

Debut novelist Kiki Hamilton takes readers from the gritty slums and glittering ballrooms of Victorian London to the beguiling but menacing Otherworld of the Fey in this spellbinding tale of romance, suspense, and danger.

The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.

Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.

Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…

I've been wanting to read this book for awhile. I saw some positive reviews for it and the cover is so pretty! I finally got my chance and well, here I am! :)

First off, I love when a book captures you from the very beginning and makes you want more the whole way through. That's how this book was for me. I was anxious to keep reading and bummed when I couldn't.

I have a soft spot for settings in England. It's the place of my people. My grandparents were born, raised and married there before coming to America. I wish they were still here to ask them if they ever heard Faerie stories. I don't remember them telling me any.

This seemed to me to be a fresh take on a genre that is getting overloaded. I enjoyed Tiki's character. She has compassion and love for her "family". Her loyalty to them is admirable. And of course, I love Rieker. A handsome protector with a haunted past. Um hum, serve him up on a platter.

Overall, a very enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more from this author.

There was quite a bit of mild swearing with the English amplifier "bloody" attached to it. (bloodly hell) You get the idea. Which honestly made me a bit sad because this is a book my daughter would LOVE but I'm not setting it in her hands because of the language. Sad, sad, sad.

Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop!

2011-12-02T00:01:00.006-07:00

I love the title of this hop! I am a book lover for sure and I love sharing a good book. Which is exactly what I'm going to do for this giveaway. I recently read The Magi by Kevin M. Turner. I was impressed with his book and honestly, with him. I really want to share his book with as many people as will listen to me. :) When I approached Kevin with a giveaway request, he was all in. And I mean, ALL in. 'Tis the season! So, we will be giving 10 20 EVERYONE e-books of Kevin's book, The Magi. All you need to do to receive the book is leave a meaningful comment about Kevin's book along with your email address. That's it! (woot! yeah! Happy dancing...)

Thirteen-year-old Elijah Hawk has been on the move ever since the night his family was murdered. His unique sense of instinct saved his life on that horrible night, but he has the feeling that since then, he is being followed. Suddenly, during a rather awful stay at a northern boarding school, Elijah stumbles upon a secret world. The world of the Magi.

He learns that the Magi are a simple people with a very complex power which they agree to let him train with as long as he promises to use it only to protect others. But when a powerful group of men storm the Magi city and demand that Elijah be handed over, who will protect him?

Honestly, this book was a pleasure to read from beginning to end. It starts off with a bang and keeps right on moving. Here are some of the things I loved about this book.

I really liked Elijah. He seems to be a typical teenager, still growing, still developing. The moments when I sensed Elijah's insecurities were the moments when I felt most connected to him. I felt like Elijah was a kind kid, easy to get along with, which was refreshing.

I really enjoyed the growing relationships between Elijah and his new friends and family and the sense of loyalty that came with that. The book was good to focus on the collective being stronger than the single and that was demonstrated several times when people worked together to accomplish something big.

This was a quote I found funny. Maybe as a mom who cleans bathrooms, I can relate. It goes, "no matter how well he cleaned those bathrooms, he never wanted to be known as the toilet master."

But, my favorite quote was this. "The soul is the fingerprint of the Creator. Once a soul connects to another soul, they unite and become one. So if your soul is able to access the soul of an element, you can control that element the same way you would control your own body." Cool stuff.

You can tell that the author, Kevin Turner, is a teacher. I felt like some of the best moments were those when Elijah was being instructed by his mentor. It sounded very teacher-ish in the best of ways. Kevin tells on his blog how The Magi came to be. Frustrated by kids who didn't want to read or who couldn't find books they wanted to read, Kevin set out to find out what those kids were looking for in a book. Eventually, from those ideas came the plot to The Magi. Kevin says, "For almost half a year I worked on constructing a plot that eventually became The Magi, making sure I stuck to the requests of my students. I may have initially written it for my students, but if it's good enough, I hope to be able to contribute something fun for kids, teens, and adults everywhere."

I would say to Kevin, thank you. And mission accomplished. I think The Magi is a fantastic book filled with exactly the kinds of things kids (and adults) love to read about. I love that this book is family friendly. And I love that Kevin is the kind of teacher who cares and wants to make a difference. I'm looking forward to the next book!

You can find out more about Kevin here on his blog.

Follow The Magi series on Twitter here or Facebook here.

You can buy The Magi on Amazon or Smashwords.

Happy Hopping!

Review: Michael Vey, The Prisoner of Cell 25

2011-11-29T07:38:00.000-07:00

From Goodreads: My name is Michael Vey, and the story I’m about to tell you is strange. Very strange. It’s my story. To everyone at Meridian High School, Michael Vey is an ordinary fourteen-year-old. In fact, the only thing that seems to set him apart is the fact that he has Tourette’s syndrome. But Michael is anything but ordinary. Michael has special powers. Electric powers.

Michael thinks he's unique until he discovers that a cheerleader named Taylor also has special powers. With the help of Michael’s friend, Ostin, the three of them set out to discover how Michael and Taylor ended up this way, but their investigation brings them to the attention of a powerful group who wants to control the electric children – and through them the world. Michael will have to rely on his wits, powers, and friends if he’s to survive.

This is a new thing, right? For any of you Richard Paul Evans fans, this book isn't exactly his normal. It would appear he is breaking out of his emotional, tear jerking, love filled stories to try his hand at YA paranormal-ish fiction. This intrigued me. I had to read this because I wondered if he could pull it off. I have read almost all (I still have one in the stack waiting for me) of Richard Paul Evan's books. He has a lot to live up to.

Was this in typical RPE fashion? Not really. But, for a YA market I think that was on purpose. Do I think he pulled it off? Yes. I do.

The book had a slow start for me but it picked up quickly and by the middle I was really into it. The story came together well and I enjoyed the character development. There was humor and a whole lot of shocking. :)

At one point the book says that 9th grade is the armpit of life. That kinda made me snicker. I would say 8th grade was that for me, but close enough.

I like how RPE pulled Tourette's Syndrome into Michael's character. It was believable and not over the top but at the same time make Michael seem more human and endearing.

Overall, a good read. No swearing or sexual scenes that as a mother I would be hesitant to let my kids read. I call it "clean". I'll be looking forward to the next book in the series, Rise of the Elgen.

Must Read Monday

2011-11-28T10:03:00.000-07:00

Must Read Monday is one of my favorite new things to do. I'm having such a good time. Even though every Monday I think,"Oh no, I'm going to have to use my brain this morning. Am I really up for this?!" :) I do love the challenge of making an acrostic puzzle and I especially love hopping around to see what my new friends have written. Such creative bloggers!

If you want to join in the fun, head over to Fans of Fiction and read up on the guidelines and sign right up!

This week's category: A book that made you laugh out loud.

My first response was "oh no." There really aren't many books that make me laugh out loud. I smile a lot, but laugh out loud? Not so much. I knew that this was going to be a hard one for me. I finally came up with this though. It's been awhile since I read this book but when I saw it, I remembered how funny I thought it was.

Zita

fInds a device

wiTh a big red button

sitting in A hole

WhaT does she do?

sHe pushes the button!

and prEsto! Her friend

diSappears!

to a strange Planet

full of humAnoid chickens,

neurotiC robots and

a friEndly con man.

The Girl must become

an Intergalactic

heRo

Or all wilL be lost.

Zita the Spacegirl is a graphic novel by Ben Hatke. It is a fun for all ages kind of book. Here is the link to my review.

Gratitude Giveaway Winner

2011-11-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

Wow, I think that was the biggest hop ever! My followers jumped over the 1000 mark. I hope some of you will be back regularly to check out the reviews. :) My thanks to all of you who entered.

Congrats to Isolabella who the powers of random selected!

True Random Number

GeneratorMin:

Max:

Result:15

Hopefully everyone out there had a great, safe Thanksgiving holiday.

Review: Tiger's Voyage

2011-11-22T00:01:00.002-07:00

In the third installment of the Tiger series, Kelsey Hayes pushes through the pain of lost love and strengthens her friendship with Kishan. Despite his strong feelings for her, Kishan has agreed to be her ally in helping her reunite with the man she still loves. Together, they seek to help Ren regain his memory and begin the search for the third magical gift—an object of power that will help break the curse that causes them to live part of their lives as tigers.

They board a luxury yacht and seek Durga's aid once again, who supplies them with her golden weapons. With Nilima, Mr. Kadam, Ren, and Kishan at her side, she soon learns that the task ahead will be even more difficult than the others. Confronting a dark magician, multiple dragons, and terrifying denizens of the deep seems easy when compared to facing the daunting task of stitching up her heart. Just when she thinks she's ready to set her feet on a new path, she is yanked back with a jolt to the one she's determined to leave behind.

The jarring tug-of-war that ensues for Kelsey's heart leaves her anxious and confused. Combined with the stress of almost being killed every other day, it would appear that saving the tigers is almost more than she can handle. Still, she presses on, knowing that a choice is looming on the horizon. One she cannot put off making for long.

Tiger's Voyage is an irresistible romance with a barrage of action on the high seas, where a reader will find a treasure chest full of dragons, sea monsters, knights in shining armor, fabled weapons, and enduring love. The tropic waters of India create the backdrop for the latest installment in the tiger series. This novel, a multicultural take on the classic Beauty and the Beast tale, delves into the complex emotional turmoil and pressure associated with not only making the best choice for a nation but also the best choice for yourself.

That was one long summary, huh? (From Goodreads) It leaves very little explaining for me to do about the book, and lots of room for opinion. tee hee.

I love the cover. It's so cool. The dragon, the tigers, the colors. Love it.

I think I have been waiting for this book forever. Well, it felt that way. I think I shut the last book feeling seriously angry. Deprived. The injustice of it all. That's why I needed this book.

Colleen Houck has such a fabulous way of writing that really just pulls you in. The stories stay in my mind long after I have closed the book. I'm caught up in the world of Kelsey and her tigers. I love this series. My daughter is over the moon about them. (she is a romantic teenager...) I loved the dragon element in this book. That adventure was so fun. Different worlds, different challenges. I think that one thing I love about Houck's writing is that she has a way of telling that allows me to paint such vivid pictures in my mind. I can see the places she talks about. It's like a movie in my head. A really good movie. :)

I have to say that I'm ready for resolution now though. It's been 3 books. Big, thick books. I need resolution between Kelsey and her men. Love triangles are not my favorite because somebody always gets hurt. I don't like that. I'm not sure I agree with Kelsey's decisions, but I'm not Kelsey. I'm ready for the next book and I'm waiting. 6 months will feel like forever. Again. But, praise and adoration for Colleen Houck. She is fabulous. May she always write awesome books for her devoted fans.

Must Read Monday #6

2011-11-21T10:19:00.000-07:00

The goal of the Must Read Monday is to find share your love of great books with others in the hopes that they'll add a new title to their To Be Read list.

Your job is to create intrigue for other hoppers. What makes your book so swoon-worthy? What do you absolutely have to mention so they'll read it?

On your post, you'll make an acrostic puzzle (think of it as an overview/book blurb type of thing).

For specific ways to build your puzzle, click here, but pretty much any style of acrostic is welcome.

When you leave comments on other posts, be sure to mention whether you're adding that book to your TBR pile, and what part convinced you to do so.

It's all about powers of persuasion, people:) You might have to think a little, but channel that inner-creative goddess (or god).

Wow, so nice of Fans of Fiction to feature my acrostic from last week. Thank you! Everyone does such a good job every week. I love Mondays. I'm afraid my creative juices have left me this morning so I didn't really come up with anything too impressive.

This week's category: Fantasy (or some book with fantastical elements)

This amaZing

StOry is

wRitten completely in

sing sonG rhyming couplets

fantAstical creatures

a Magical land

humor And suspense

Zany illustrations

This bOok begs

To be read alOud

I loved this book. It is so fun to read out loud. Seriously. Read it to yourself, your cat, your kids, your boyfriend, whoever. It made me laugh. What kind of a brain can write a full blown book (284 pages) in rhyme, anyway? Crazy brilliant! And did I mention fun? This book uses different fonts to accent different words. Again, so fun. You've really got to give this book a look. Here is my blog review on this book. And just in case you want a sample:

"Here is a story that's stranger than strange. Before we begin you may want to arrange:
a blanket,
a cushion,
a comfortable seat,
and maybe some cocoa and something eat."

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Monday to ya'll!

Geek Girl Winner!

2011-11-20T08:02:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Pen to Paper (you can check out her blog here) who won the giveaway for Geek Girl! I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. I wish I could give all of you copies. Thanks everyone for entering.

Gratitude Giveaway!

2011-11-17T00:01:00.002-07:00

Thank you, thank you to all my friends and followers. I appreciate all the support and comments as I blog about the books I'm reading. This giveaway is my way of saying thanks to you.

I am giving away a book of your choice, up to $12.00! Open Internationally.

If you are US, I will be going with Amazon. If you are International, The Book Depository (as long as the Book Depository ships to you).

All you need to do is follow me on GFC. Leave me a comment with your follow name and email address so I can contact you if you win. That's it! This hop runs from Nov. 17th through the 27th so you have lots of time to stop by all the blogs participating. There are so many! Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I hope the holiday finds you with much to be thankful for. :)

Review: Bitter Blessings by Christine Mehring

2011-11-16T04:00:00.005-07:00

(From the back cover) After the tragic death of her mother, everything seems to spin out of control for Megan. Taking care of her grandmother-who refuses to receive help from anyone-and her two younger sisters, Megan must depend on her best friend Adam to get through these hard times. But when she discovers an old family secret, Megan must choose between trusting her family and following what her heart tells her to be true.

First off, let me say that I am grateful to be a part of the blog tour for Bitter Blessings. Second, before the actual review, I have to say I love the cover for this book. So pretty!

Okay, so the title of this LDS fiction book, Bitter Blessings, both intrigued me and made me a bit hesitant. Bitter Blessings doesn't exactly sound happy. It's sort of a contradiction in and of itself. But, the more I thought about it and the farther I got into the book, the more I realized that a lot of the blessings we do receive are the result of something hard and maybe even bitter beforehand.

Megan and her family deal with so many real life issues. Life really seems to dump the hard on Megan's shoulders. She had such a weight to carry. I loved how hard she tried to keep it all together. Her love for her family is obvious.

Adam, to me, was all that I wish to be. He was a good friend, loyal and steady. He reminded me of the song "Lean On Me", you know the one? "Lean on me. When you're not strong. I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on. Sometimes in our lives. We all have doubts. We all have sorrows. But, if we are wise, we know that there's always tomorrow." Adam didn't preach his beliefs, he didn't force religion or anything else. He was just there. Living what he believed and loving his friend. I think I love Adam.

I loved the AZ setting for this book. I lived in AZ for quite awhile and I could totally relate to the Monsoons, the heat and letting the hot air rush out of the car before you got into it so you didn't die in there! I had a dish towel in my car too so I didn't burn my hands on the steering wheel. :)

I saw a video clip as I was reading this book urging us to believe the best in people before believing the worst. Giving people the benefit of the doubt. One of the initial problems in this story came because someone was willing to believe things that were bad before really knowing for themselves. They believed what someone else told them and acted on that before finding out for themselves. It changed the lives of so many people, and not for the better. I wonder how life and relationships would be changed if we just assumed the best before we assumed the worst in people.

This was a quick read, I polished it off in a day, and I really enjoyed my journey with Megan and Adam. It was real and touching.

You can purchase Bitter Blessings on Amazon.

Getting Your Read On

Lunar Love Giveaway Hop

Review: Caller ID by Rachelle J Christensen PLUS enter to win a camcorder!

Emerald City by Alicia Leppert + GIVEAWAY!

Review: Dangerous Favor by Joyce DiPastena

Review and Giveaway: Shaken by Susan Hatler

Review and Giveaway: On Little Wings by Regina Sirois

A story about all the ways we get love wrong,and why, despite every disappointment,we keep fighting to get it right.

Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop Winner!

Review: Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby

Open Minds by Susan Quinn Review and Giveaway!

Review and Giveaway: Crater Lake by Steve Westover

Follow Friday

Q: I like unique names for characters and am looking forward to coming up with some when I start writing. What’s the most unique character name you’ve come across?

Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop

Clockwise: Review and Giveaway!

Follow Friday!

Review: The Lifeguard by Deborah Blumenthal

Last Day for How to Date An Alien Giveaway!

My Last Blind Date Giveaway!

Persuasion: A Latter-Day Tale by Rebecca H. Jamison

Mini Review: My Last Blind Date by Susan Hatler

Follow My Blog Friday

Q: Define what characteristics your favorite books share. Do they all have a kick ass heroine or is the hot love interest the Alpha Male?

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Review: Venom by K.C. Grant

Must Read Monday

Follow Friday!

How To Date an Alien Review + Giveaway!

Winners for Ignite Giveaway

Bittersweet Surrender by Diann Hunt

Dreaming of Books Giveaway Winner

Review + Giveaway: Beyond by T.P. Boje

Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop!

Ignite by Kaitlyn Davis + a Giveaway!

The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter

Follow Friday!

Q: Go count the number of unread books sitting on your shelf. How many?

Review: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Review: First Date by Krista McGee

Back To Life, Back To Reality

Enduring Light Winner!

Review: Cold River by Liz Adair

On Tour with Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan

Must Read Monday #10

On Tour: Enduring Light with Author Interview and Giveaway!

Review: Slayers by CJ Hill

Review: The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop!

Review: Michael Vey, The Prisoner of Cell 25

Must Read Monday

Gratitude Giveaway Winner

Review: Tiger's Voyage

Must Read Monday #6

Geek Girl Winner!

Gratitude Giveaway!

Review: Bitter Blessings by Christine Mehring

A story about all the ways we get love wrong,
and why, despite every disappointment,
we keep fighting to get it right.