Surprise Giveaway!

Okay, so you know how I've been a blogger slacker. And I am truly sorry. So, lucky for you, when I feel guilty I want to give away books! :)


So for you lucky readers who have stuck with me all this time, and any new folks that come my way this week here's an awesome giveaway!

Paranormal Prizes!

There will be two winners!! The first place winner will have their pick of:
EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton (signed hardcover)!
SUPERNATURALLY by Kiersten White (signed hardcover)!

Then each will also receive some bookmarks and the like that I've received from various YA authors!

First, one reason why I am doing the giveaway was I finally caught Brodi at a book signing. I was SO sad to miss her launch because of sick kids, but here's a couple of pictures from that.

Brodi signing one of you lucky duck's book!

Brodi and me. She is such an amazing kind person. So glad she knows who I am! Makes me feel special.

Now, to make two of YOU feel special for winning! Just enter below!

Contest open until 11:59 pm EST on Monday March 5th! USA and Canada mailing addresses only.

Thursday Three (3)

Sorry I've been MIA again! Life has been nuts! Here's what's going on for me in the book world.

1) I always ALWAYS have more to read than I have time for. How do you do it? How do you choose between all the fabulous books on your shelf, at the library, and new in the store?

2) I got an unexpected and completely AWESOME ARC in the mail last week. I'm almost done reading it and will hopefully have some time to bring you a review and maybe interview next week! March is going to be a big book month. Is there a book coming out in March that is on your list?

3) I was able to go to some fun book signings a few weeks ago. I still need to get the pics from my friend. But it was so fun to talk to authors and get signed books and talk to local authors. I wish I had the money to buy them all...but then there's that time problem too!

Mini Reviews

I wanted to post a few quick mini-reviews of books I've read for book club:

ELLA MINNOW PEA
by Mark Dunn

Placement in the Pile: Middle of the Stack

Review: This was an interesting read. A little silly in concept of a made up country and how crazy it got politically in such a short time, all because of some letters falling off a monument. It led to some good discussions however.

THE DARK HILLS DIVIDE
by Patrick Carman

Placement in the Pile: Reaching New Heights

Review: A great first book to a great series. A middle grade level so it's a fast easy read with some fun characters and mysterious plots. If you're looking for a good series to read but don't have a lot of time to spend on huge books, this one is worth a try! I like books 2 and 3 even more!

What are you reading for book club? What do you think makes a good book club book?

And coming soon some pretty awesome stuff! I promise!

Thursday Three (2)

1) This week I have been re-reading a book I read a long time ago. I don't re-read books often because there are always so many great ones I haven't read yet. But I do re-read occasionally. It is interesting to me what a new experience a book can be each time you return to it.

Do you find you like books more or less with a re-read?

For me it is a mix. Sometimes I relate to things or see things I didn't before, and that's exciting. Other times I am more critical of the author's style etc. because I have grown, learned more about writing etc.

2) Do you book club? I book club. One of my favorite things about book club is reading books I wouldn't have picked up. Not necisarrily because I think it's a bad book, but just because it's not on my immediate to read list. I also love book club discussions. It reminds me of being back in school in English classes.

What are some of your favorite book club books?

3) Who's excited for the Hunger Games Movie!? I sure am! I am working on getting an early showing (Thursday night) theater with a ton of friends. Right now we're up to 134 people! I cry every time I see the trailer. "I Volunteer!" Be still my heart! Just because I am so excited about it, here's the trailer for your viewing pleasure.



Happy Reading.

Book Launch Tonight!

Hey folks!

I want to advertise for all local peeps and distant peeps that today is the book launch for my FAVORITE read of last year (but it comes out today!), EVERNEAT by Brodi Ashton!

You can read my review HERE and my interview with the awesome Brodi HERE.

I unfortunately will not be making it to the book launch so I can't do one of my super fun book signing posts. But hopefully I will catch her another time. And can share that with you. But for your viewing pleasure here is the book trailer.



So local peeps go to The King's English tonight at 7 for an awesome launch, and everyone go to your local bookstore and get this book!

Congrats on your launch Brodi!

New Feature: Thursday Three (1)

Hey all!

So one of my goals this year is to get this blog more active again. One way I want to do that is by doing a Thursday Three! Lots of blogs do Friday Fives, but I thought this was more doable for me. So I'll post 3 things going on with me in relation to reading/writing. I'd love your thoughts and responses!

1) I have been thinking a lot about why I read YA so much more than any other genre. And I think in the end for me, it's cause it's just good stuff. For me I like to read to escape into a world that is not my own. Whether that's contemporary and someone else's experiences that open my world view, or a fantasy world that I can just jump into wholeheartedly. I love YA because I can always count on a great story.

Why do you love YA?

2) Some books read fast for me, some read slow. It doesn't make one better than the other. Sometimes I just need more time away from a story to process it. Other times I just want to find out what happens so I can't put it down. Which do I like better? Depends on my mood.

3) I've been trying to write more and that's a kinda scary thing for me. I love books and the book world, and I LOVE writing and the writing community around me. But I don't have super thick skin, and I felt a little hurt once. So it's taken me a long time to get back into it. It was absolutely no fault of anyone other than me needing to take time away from my writing. Maybe someday a blogger will be reviewing my stuff! I doubt it. I'm not dedicated enough to the process of writing and editing...I kinda hate editing. But it's a cool thought. ;)

Review: SILENCE by Becca Fitzpatrick

SILENCE
by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hardcover, 438 pages

Published October 4th 2011 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Placement in the Pile: Reaching New Heights

Summary:
The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.

Review:
First I have to say that's not a very good summary of the book that was on Goodreads, but there it is... Here's my summary:

Nora finds herself alone and unsure of herself when she is told that she not only has amnesia that goes back 5 months, but has been gone, abducted for the last 11 weeks of her life. Desperate to remember who she is, she becomes tangled in a world that she no longer remembers exists, all while trying to figure out who she can trust, who is lying, and why she keeps having dreams about a boy with black eyes.

Can Nora and Patch's love survive her not remembering? Will she find out who abducted her and why?

Okay, that sounds better. Gives you a little but of understanding of what this book is about without giving anything away.

That being said, many of you know how much I enjoy these books. I like the bad boy nature of Patch, and I like the overall plotlines. There's characters you love, and characters you love to hate.

Even better the plot of this book and Becca's smooth writing kept me reading. I read this book in about 4 sessions of sitting down and reading -- I just couldn't put it down and it flowed so well it went fast. It's exactly what I needed. Intrigue a good plot, some awesome romance thrown in.

Now that being said there is a possessive nature about Patch and the things he says to Nora. I understand some readers criticize this and say "what a horrible message to teenage girls." But here's my view: I am not reading and reviewing for what a teenage girl might think of a book. I am reading and reviewing for ME. How did I like the book? How did it affect me? Am I smart enough to know that when Patch says, "You're mine Angel." that it's not an abusive I'm going to lock you up and abuse you sort of love? Well, yes, I am. So he doesn't bug me at all, in fact I like that he loves Nora so much that he feels not only possessive of her, but that he belongs to and with her.

If you like this series and haven't read this one yet, do! If you need a good read, pick up the series. For fans of paranormal romance, these will definitely become a fave.

Poll: What Should I read Next?

One of my goals this year is to be more on top of reading the books I already own. That might not make for the best reviews, but hey, I will read new ones too! Here is what is on my list right now, and I thought I'd ask your opinions! What should I read Next?