Tuesday, February 11, 2014

V-Day Bites ~ Changing Love (Shifters) + GIVEAWAY!

 

Today's post for the V-Day Bites Blog Hop is all about shifters. The ones that I chose are werewolves. The series that I will be highlighting today is by one of my favorite Young Adult authors: Maggie Stiefvater. Have you guessed it yet? The Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy! 

The Covers of All Three Books:

 

 

 

The Companion Book to The Series:

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GoodReads Synopsis for Shiver (Book One):
For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without.

Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.
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I read Shiver during the begining of my freshman year of college. Honestly, I don't even remember buying it. Which is strange becuase when I love book I usually remember buying it. It's rare that I like all or most of the characters in a book but with Shiver I liked almost all of them. Particularly Sam. I loved his poetic soul. And I liked how he and Grace were together. The writing style was also wonderful on my opinion. I still have passges marked. Also, it was a different way of looking at werewolves thqat I had not seen before. And I enjoyed seeing the love between Sam and Grace grow. 

February 10 – Undying Love (Vampires)


February 11 – Changing Love (Shifters)

February 12 – Rotten Love (Zombies)






February 14 – Love Gone Wrong/Dark Love/Erotica


GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Monday, February 10, 2014

V-Day Bites Blog Hop ~ Undying Love (Vampires) + a GIVEAWAY!


Hello all! I saw this blog hop on Contagious reads and thought that it looked really fun! For the record, I don't hate Valentine's Day or anything. I seriously just thought that this looked fun. The post for today focused on vampires, so I thought "I have to do that one." 

And so today, I'm going to highlight what I'm pretty sure I can call my two favorite vampire series. (I do like Twilight - I'm not ashamed - but I think that this has probably been talked about millions of times already). The Vampire Diaries Series and The Blue Bloods Series. 

The Vampire Diaries Series: 

 

GoodReads Synopsis of Books 1 and 2:
Elena: the golden girl, the leader, the one who can have any boy she wants. 

Stefan: brooding and mysterious, he seems to be the only one who can resist Elena, even as he struggles to protect her from the horrors that haunt his past. 

Damon: sexy, dangerous, and driven by an urge for revenge against Stefan, the brother who betrayed him. Determined to have Elena, he'd kill to possess her. 

Collected here in one volume for the first time, volumes one and two of The Vampire Diaries, the tale of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them.
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This is the bind up of the first two books in the first part of The Vampires Diaries. I read the first four books five years ago. I absolutely loved them. One of the things - the main thing - that made me love it was the character Damon Salvatore. I think that he is such a compelling, complicated character. Those are the types of characters that I like. I like characters that aren't clearly good or clearly bad. Damon Salvatore is certainly not clearly good or bad. He makes the series for me, personally. I'm a very character oriented person. If I love a character or characters I will likely love the series. 

The first two parts of the series were written by L. J. Smith and the next two were written by a ghostwriter. I know this. But I just have to know what happens and f it has Damon in it, I'll read it. Now, of course I will also be purchasing the continuation of the series that L. J. Smith herself wrote - sold on KindleWorlds. I want to see both of the ways that the story goes. 

Link To All of the Books on GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/series/42314-the-vampire-diaries

The Blue Bloods Series:

 

GoodReads Synopsis for Book One:
The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapidated mansion. Schuyler is a loner...and happy that way. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a popular girl from her school is found dead... drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think, but she wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?

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I really enjoy the Blue Bloods Series by Melissa De La Cruz as well. I like the spin that she puts on the vampire tale. It was something much different than I had ever read before about vampires. I can't say too much more about plot. I also enjoy the characters in these books. Some of my favorites: Schuyler, Bliss and Dylan. In addition, I like the writing style. It drew me in. The combination of characters, plot and writing style was spot on for me.

Links to All of the Books on GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/series/43537-blue-bloods


February 10 – Undying Love (Vampires)





February 11 – Changing Love (Shifters)





February 12 – Rotten Love (Zombies)





February 13 – Haunting Love (Ghosts)





February 14 – Love Gone Wrong/Dark Love/Erotica





GIVEAWAY! 

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Saturday, February 8, 2014

Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott ~ Final Sneak Peek!!

Fire & Flood (Fire & Flood #1) is coming out on February 25th! I received an ARC for review and absolutely loved it! So I am so excited about this book being released to the masses! In my inbox this week I received the Final Sneak Peek before Fire & Flood releases! Today, I am going to share that with you! 

 


Excerpt:
“If you are hearing this message, then you have successfully completed the Pandora Selection Process. It also means you are now at the official starting line.”

Around me, Contenders whoop with excitement. Seriously? They’re about to plunge into a wild jungle, and that brings them happiness? Once again, I realize how out of my league I am. I don’t even have a change of clothes, for crying out loud.

“As you may have realized, you are on the outskirts of a rain forest. This will be the jungle part of the course. You will have two weeks to arrive at the jungle’s base camp. You will find this base camp by following the path of blue flags.”

Contestants glance around, immediately looking for the first blue flag. As for me, I’m watching the taillights of the semi and having a massive coronary.

“If you are the first to encounter a blue flag, you may remove it, but you may not remove the stake it is attached to. Doing so will result in immediate disqualification.”

I wonder why anyone would want to remove the flag to begin with. No one else seems concerned by this.

“While the Cure will be awarded to a single winner at the end of the last ecosystem, we will bestow a smaller prize for each leg of the race. The prize for the jungle portion will be monetary.” The woman pauses dramatically. “I’d like to officially welcome you to the Brimstone Bleed. May the bravest Contender win.”

That’s it? That’s all she’s going to say? Because it seriously sounds like she’s wrapping up. So why aren’t I running after the trucks? Why am I not chasing after my only way out of this jungle like my life depends on it? I know the answer — though I wish I didn’t. Cody would do this for me. I am his only hope. I have to believe his cure exists. My only other option is to return home and watch my brother die. If I could even get back home.

I glance around frantically, looking for someone to tell me what to do. The Contenders have formed a long line, the kind you see at the start of a marathon. A few yards down from where I stand — I see him. My throat tightens when I realize his cold blue eyes are locked on me. It’s the guy from the Pandora Selection Process. The serial killer–looking dude who I thought was going to kidney punch me. He glares in my direction like he might take this opportunity to finish what he never started. I raise my hand in a small wave, hoping it says something like: See? Look how friendly I am!

He lifts his own enormous hand. For a moment, I brighten. I think maybe that — even though it looks like he hates every fiber of my being — he’s going to wave back. But he doesn’t. He holds up two fingers — his pointer and his middle — places them under his eyes, and then points in front of us.

Oh no, he didn’t. I think he basically just told me to pay attention. I’m still processing this when the woman’s voice rings in my ear.

“Go!” 
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I am just so excited for this to be released! I think that it is most definitely worth grabbing yourself a copy - or maybe pre-ordering. ;) 

<3 Amanda Leigh

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Friday, February 7, 2014

Book of the Month! (#5)

 

Title: Define "Normal"
Author: Julie Anne Peters
Release Date: May 7th 2003 (first published April 2000)
Published By: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Page Amount: 196 pages, Paperback

GoodReads Blurb:
Antonia is eager to participate in the new peer counseling program at school—until she learns the person she's supposed to counsel is Jasmine Luther. "Jazz" is anything but Antonia's peer. She's a punker, a druggie, a gang hanger. As their peer counseling sessions progress, Antonia and Jazz discover they have more in common than they could ever have imagined. Can a "normal" person like Antonia trust a psycho freaky whacked-out punker like Jazz? Does she dare?

My Semi-Quick Review:
I read this book in my 8th grade English class. That was about ten years ago now so the details have blurred for me. Therefore, this review may actually be quick.

Even though I don't remember many details, this book has stuck with me since I read it in 8th grade. The message of the book, that is. Which, to me, was that there is no such thing as "normal". Just because someone is different from you doesn't mean that they are not normal. Another message to me was that most everyone can be helped if they need it; they just have to try. 

However, the main message to me was this "normal" business. What is normal? Like the book says, define "normal". Go ahead, define it for me right now. Give it a go in the comments if you like. For people there is no one normal. Do you know what I mean? This is something that I myself have also had to deal with but in a different way than the characters in this book. Coming to terms with the fact that there is not one "normal" was something I had to do a bit earlier in life than most people. I think it is important that we realize this and be accepting of one another. In this day and age, you would think that we would be. But there is still racism and sexism and discrimination in the world. This stuff doesn't just go on in schools. It is all over the "real world" as well. It's all over the news. Just look around. And listen to the things that are being said. 

I know that this is a middle grade book, but in my opinion many people of all ages need to read this. Just maybe, then they will realize that there is no definition of "normal". 4 stars. 

<3 Amanda Leigh

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Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Book Tour ~ Anything to Have You by Paige Harbison

 
Book Tour Schedule:  http://yaboundbooktours.blogspot.com/2013/12/blog-tour-sign-up-anything-to-have-you.html 


Anything to Have You
by Paige Harbison 
Release Date: 01/28/14
Harlequin Teen

Summary from Goodreads:
Nothing should come between best friends, not even boys. ESPECIALLY not boys.

Natalie and Brooke have had each other's backs forever. Natalie is the quiet one, college bound and happy to stay home and watch old movies. Brooke is the movie—the life of every party, the girl everyone wants to be.

Then it happens—one crazy night that Natalie can't remember and Brooke's boyfriend, Aiden, can't forget. Suddenly there's a question mark in Natalie and Brooke's friendship that tests everything they thought they knew about each other and has both girls discovering what true friendship really means.


Buy Links:




Excerpt:
Part II
Brooke
CHAPTER ELEVEN
First Semester, Junior Year

The new guy was hot. People had been talking about him all day long—well, all right, girls had been talking about him all day long—but I had yet to see him. I knew everyone in the school except the new freshmen, so I was sure that when I saw him, I would know it was him.

It would have been impossible to miss him, even if I hadn’t been keeping my eyes peeled for hours. I was sitting at my usual lunch table holding court with my friends, as I generally did, when he walked through the doors. I was struck speechless—something that was verifiably difficult to do. I stared at him and was instantly infatuated by his good looks and charmed by the nervous way he looked around the cafeteria.

I almost stood up and invited him to come sit with us, but resisted. I was glad I did when a girl named Kylie went up to him and did, and I saw how pathetic she looked.

“Brooke?” asked Alexa.

“What?” I responded dumbly, not able to take my eyes off him.

“You just…stopped talking.”

“Right.” I snapped my gaze back to her and tried to look unrattled. “The point is, everyone should watch the 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet and the ’96 one back-to-back at least once in their lives. You’ll never look at love the same way again.”

God, would someone else come up with something to talk about for once? Why is the burden of conversation always on me? This was fine except for when I didn’t feel like it.

The next day, I was lucky enough to be standing in the right place at the right time in the hallway.

“Excuse me.”

I turned to see Hot New Guy behind me, holding a schedule and looking lost. And still superhot.

“What’s up?” I tossed my hair to one shoulder.

“Can you tell me where to find room 324? It jumps from 318 to 400… .”

“It’s down this one weird hallway. Here, I’ll show you.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want you to be late to class.”

I was almost always late to class, but I liked that he thought I might be the studious kind of girl that hated tardiness.

“It’s fine,” I said. “My teacher will understand when I say I was helping the new kid.”

He gave an adorably timid laugh. “Thanks so much.”

“No problem. So…are you a junior?” I asked, like I didn’t know damn well that he was.

We started making our way down the hall.

“Yes, ma’am.” Was that an accent? “And you?”

“Yes, I am. And you just moved here from…”

“Texas.”

We were already almost at his classroom. “Wow, Texas. Must be a big change for you, then.”

He breathed in and nodded slowly. “It definitely is. But I’m excited to be here. I knew all the same people back home for most of my life. Pretty small town. So I’m lookin’ forward to meeting new people.”

There was definitely a slight accent, and I couldn’t help but smile at it. “Here’s 324.”

“Yeah…I would never have found this.”

“It’s a tough one. Well, hey, if you want to, then look for me in the cafeteria at lunch, and you can meet some new people.”

“Sure, I’ll look for ya. Thanks again. What was your name?”

“Brooke.”

“Brooke. I’m Aiden Macmillan. Pleased to meet you.”

About the Author:
 

Paige Harbison recently graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science in Fine Arts. She grew up on the outskirts of Washington D.C. She spends most of her time with friends--who give her constant inspiration for characters--and calls it research. The rest of her time is spent writing, painting, and following all of the worst TV shows.

Author Links:

***GIVEAWAY***
5 print copies of Anything To Have You (US and Canada only)
RULES AND RESTRICTIONS:  
Contest is void where prohibited. Entrants must be 18 or else have parent or guardian’s permission to enter. Winners will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond  or another winner’s name will be selected. Winning entries will be verified for authenticity.

Blog Tour Hosted by:
 

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Monday, February 3, 2014

Cover Reveal ~ Milayna by Michelle K. Pickett

 

Milayna
Release Date: 12/02/14
Spencer Hill Press

Summary from Goodreads:
From the bestselling author of PODs comes an unforgettable tale of action, intrigue, and following your heart in the midst of betrayal.

It’s hard being good all the time. Everyone needs to be bad once in a while. But for seventeen-year-old Milayna, being good isn’t a choice. It’s a job requirement. And it’s a job she can’t quit. Born a demi-angel, Milayna steps in when danger and demons threaten the people around her, but being half angel isn’t all halos and happiness. Azazel, Hell’s demon, wants Milayna’s power and he’ll do anything to get it. But he only has until her eighteenth birthday, after which she becomes untouchable.

With the help of other demi-angels, Milayna thwarts the trouble Azazel sends her way. Fighting with her is Chay. He’s a demi-angel who's sinfully gorgeous and Milayna falls hard. But is Chay her true love...or her nemesis in disguise?

Because when she learns of a traitor in her group, there’s no one she can trust…not even the one she loves.


Buy Links for Milayna:

ARCs: If you’d like to request an ARC, please use the reviewer form on our website. ARCs will ship several months before the release date.

About the Author:

I'm a wife, mother, author, reader, although not always in that order.  I write young adult urban fantasies, science/fiction and paranormal romances and have recently started dabbling in young adult contemporary romance. Reading was one of my earliest passions, writing soon followed. I began writing seriously during college where I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in accounting. Why I chose a career that frowns on creativity remains a mystery.

I’m addicted to Reese’s peanut butter cups and eat way too many while I write, have an abnormal obsession with hoodies and can’t write without one, and I hate to cook, but love to watch cooking shows on television. An unabashed romantic, I love a swoon-worthy ending that will give me butterflies for days.


I wrote my debut young adult novel, PODs, in 2011. PODs, a science/fiction, post-apocalyptic romance, will be released June 4, 2013 through the amazing Spencer Hill Press.  My second young adult title, Milayna, a paranormal romance, will release through Spencer Hill Press beginning in December 2014. Milayna is a standalone, with series potential. It’s meant to be a trilogy. The Infected, a PODs novel, will release November 2014. It is the second, and last, book in the PODs series.

I was born and raised in Flint, Michigan.  I now reside in a small community outside Houston, Texas with my incredibly supportive, not to mention gorgeous, husband, three amazing school-aged children, a 125-pound lap dog, and a snooty cat.
Keep up-to-date with my current, future projects, appearances, and fun giveaways at www.michelle-pickett.com.


I always love to hear from readers, bloggers and other authors!

Find me here:
Website│Blog│Facebook│Twitter│Goodreads

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Saturday, February 1, 2014

Cover Reveal ~ Finding Mr. Darcy: High School Edition by Erin Butler

 

Finding Mr. Darcy: High School Edition
by Erin Butler
Release Date: 09/16/14

Summary from Goodreads:
Sixteen-year-old Liza Johnson takes fangirl to a whole new level of crazy when she decides to take dating advice from her literary hero: Jane Austen.

With the help of her best friends, Liza sheds her ancient-speak and complete Austen wardrobe for something a bit more modern in an attempt at finding her very own Mr. Darcy.

Enter Will, the new kid and Liza's Darcy incarnate. Add her BFF's ex to mix and the sexy Brit who kisses with an accent, and Liza is in trouble.

So, what's a girl to do? Without her mom to go to relationship advice, Liza turns to the only person she can truly trust with matters of the heart via her mother's copy of COMPLETED WORKS OF JANE AUSTEN.

It's too bad Austen's heroines have never played Spin the Bottle or Seven Minutes in Heaven. Liza's determined to find her true Austen-esque happy ending, but if she can't trust herself instead of books, she just might end up in her own tragic love story.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18716731-finding-mr-darcy?ac=1

About the Author:

Erin Butler is lucky enough to have two jobs she truly loves. As a librarian, she gets to work with books all day long, and as an author, Erin uses her active imagination to write the kinds of books she enjoys reading. Young Adult and New Adult books are her favorites, but she especially loves the ones with kissing scenes.

Erin lives in Central New York with her very understanding husband, a stepson, and doggie BFF, Maxie. She prefers to spend her time indoors reading and writing, but will venture out for chocolate and sunshine. She is the author of BLOOD HEX, a YA paranormal, HOW WE LIVED, a contemporary New Adult novel, and FINDING MR. DARCY: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION, a contemporary YA.

Author Links:
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