Good morning, it's start time and I'm getting ready to eat my breakfast and continue on with my current book, The Night She Got Lucky by Susan Donovan which is a very cute romantic book. Here is my introductory meme and I'll see you in an hour or two. :)
1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? I'm in cloudy coastal NC, right at the base of the fine outer banks. I love where I live.
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? The Selection by Kiera Cass and starting on Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? Peanut Butter M&M's. Since going gluten free my snack options are more limited unless I make them myself or spend lots of money, but these do the trick and are very addicting!
4) Tell us a little something about yourself! I'm a Mom to 2 boys, I've been together with the man who is my husband for 20 years next month, married for 14 1/2 of those. I work in Marine Science and love my job. I have been book blogging for 3 years and participate in the read-a-thons every chance I get but never stay up over night, I'm a wimp.
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll
do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most
looking forward to? Can't think of anything different except my parents had the kids for the last one. Husband will have the oldest for Boy Scouts, but the youngest will be home. I am most looking forward to a day of reading, hopefully some of it outside working on my tan if the sun will come out!
A great quote can be inspirational. It can make us laugh, or swoon. It can make us feel connected when we’re lonely. A quote is the perfect example of the power words can hold. They can come from anywhere. Movies, books, people… I thought today I’d share some of my favorites with you.
Let’s start with people. Some of my absolute favorites come from Lord Byron.
For truth is always strange; stranger than fiction – Simple and says it all. This describes my life perfectly. Example? My 60 something year old neighbor mowing the lawn at midnight wearing nothing but a red Speedo. Seriously. You can’t make this stuff up…
If I don't write to empty my mind, I go mad – My brain is a random idea generator. Some pan out, others get filed away in a WTF were you thinking folder. Either way though, I need to get them out. If I don’t, it gets really crowded in there…
And what about movies? Everything from creepy to hilarious. Movie quotes stick with us.
I’ll be back... – You know you think badass, unstoppable killing machine when you hear that.
I see dead people – Tell me you didn’t get the chills when you saw Haley Joel Osment turn to Bruce Willis and confess his big secret?
I want my two dollars! – I don’t care how old you are, if you don’t know this quote, a small part of me just died…
Of course I saved the best for last. The book quotes. Funny, swoontastic, and all around awesome! I’ve seen everything from t-shirts to tattoos honoring these puppies. A few weeks ago, I even saw a van that had Jacob’s face (Twilight) and I'm gonna fight for you, until your heart stops beating airbrushed across the driver’s side. On the passenger’s side, Edward's face and Look after my heart - I've left it with you. Crazy, right?
Pick up your clothes. I am not your maid. How do I know this? A maid cannot kill you with a tube sock. I can. – If you haven’t read Rob Thurman’s Cal Leandros series, you need to snap it up ASAP. There are so many awesome one liners, it will make your head spin.
So, since I’m a sucker for book quotes, we’re going to play a little game! There are 15 participating blogs for this event. At each stop there will be a teaser quote from TOXIC. It will be your job to figure out who said what. A random commenter from each blog will be picked to receive a swag bag and an eBook copy of UNTOUCHED, and then those winners will be pooled and one grand prize winner will get a signed copy of TOUCH and a Touch key chain. On the last day of the event, I’ll pop by each of the blogs and give the answers!
Untouched (A Denazen Novella 1.5)
Until he met Dez, Kale’s days were filled with violence and death. He was used as a weapon of destruction by the power hungry men of Denazen. He’s a Six. A person with an abnormal ability. Some people call them gifts, but not Kale. Kale’s touch means instant death.
But now there’s Dez, the girl he can touch, and they’re hunting down Sixes and warning them about Denazen. Kale is learning about the world outside captivity and trying to put his dark past behind him. But they underestimated how badly Denazen wanted him back.
When Dez sacrifices herself to save the new Six they’d rescued from falling into the corp’s hands, Kale is lost. Denazen has brought out its best to get the job done. Samsen, a nightmare from Kale’s past—the only person he’s ever truly feared—has come for them, and it soon becomes obvious he has his own twisted agenda.
Kale will need all his training to get Dez back and ensure they make it out, free—and alive. But will it be enough?
Touch, the first novel in the Denazen series, is set to re-release in mass market on June 12th
(Complete with additional scenes from Kale’s POV!). You can pre-order your copy here.
When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home.
Except there’s something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she’ll turn to dust if he touches her. It’s not until Dez’s father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there’s more to this boy—and her father’s “law firm”—than she realized.
Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation—an organization devoted to collecting “special” kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons—his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they’re caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe.
A secret Kale will kill to protect.
Toxic (Denazen 2) hits shelves on September 11th 2012
Bio
Jus Accardo is the author of YA paranormal romance and urban fantasy fiction. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald. Her first book, Touch, is available now from Entangled Publishing. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
The Reading Romances Blog has featured a great question for this week for bloggers to weigh in on. Here it is:
I have seen some discussions about this online and authors get really confused. Inspired by the 3 Stars Rating Event, I decided to create this as an opportunity for us, book bloggers and reviewers, to write our opinion and let the authors know what we expect from the authors when we post a review of their book(s). And don’t forget to answer the following question:
Should Authors Comment On Reviews?
I personally love it when authors comment on my reviews. Now I admit I think of the authors when I write reviews and if I write something negative, I definitely give a reason to back it up. I don't take pot shots at authors and I believe most if not all bloggers behave the same way, we are not vindictive and we are caring. All of the blog reviews I have read from the 1 star to the 5 star have told what they liked and did not like and if they did not like something they gave a valid point. I also usually caveat a "do not like" with this is my opinion. One such review was one last year and it was a book a lot of people loved, and it did not click with me. Did I hate the author? Nope, in fact since others loved her so much I have her next book on my tbr pile.
So I think I got off of subject, but since I tend to be polite in my reviews, I expect authors to polite in their comments and so far all of the authors that have responded whether in comments or in emails have been wonderful, even when I didn't give them a 5-star review. One thing I don't want to see is an author talking about me somewhere else. We all know it does happen, thankfully never to me and like with bloggers I believe 99% of authors would never do this. So authors if you have a problem with my review email me, let's talk. If I missed the boat about what you were trying to get across let me know in email or in the comments, but do it in a nice way. If you feel I have been "not nice" as my kids would say, let me know that too. I don't want to be this way and trust me I wouldn't mean to be like that.
So authors, comments are appreciated and loved, I love hearing from you. I have lovely fan-girl moments when I hear from one of you. It makes me feel special and loved. If you asked me to review your book, it would be nice if you took a moment to at least acknowledge you saw the review. And almost all of you do, so thank you wonderful authors, I love working with you!
Make sure you check out the other blogs participating by clicking on the banner above and let me know what you think as well.
It's time for another Giveaway Hop, this time it's the Showers of Books Giveaway Hop, and for this weekend around here it's very appropriate. It looks to be a rainy weekend on the coast of NC, but our garden needs it! But back to the books. This hop is hosted by One A Day YA and I Am A Reader, Not A Writer so be sure and check out their blogs and the 150+ other blogs participating as well.
What am I giving away? I'm keeping it simple this time and making it International. You can choose any one book up to $15 from The Book Depository, or if you prefer a Gift Certificate to Amazon or Barnes and Nobles if you like ebooks. For The Book Depository, if they ship to your country for free, you can enter. Thanks to everyone who visits! Simply fill out the Rafflecopter, the only entry that is mandatory is a free entry.
**My Review will be coming at a later date, I just started the book and so far I am enjoying it very much**
About the Book: Two kingdoms, five centuries, one destiny
In a world where the Sojourners, a nearly extinct race with preternatural abilities struggle to preserve their faith and heritage, destiny thrusts two youths from opposing nations into the heart of a centuries-old conflict. Render, an orphan from the outskirts of the culturally enlightened Kingdom of Valdshire Tor, escapes slavery and seeks the truth about his true identity only to discover a web of conspiracies. This quest leads to the revelation of his uncanny ability to wield the destructive forces of nature.
Ahndien, sole survivor of a heinous raid on her peaceful village in the Eastern Kingdom of Tian Kuo, embarks on a journey to find her father, now a captive of Torian troops. What she uncovers surpasses anything she can imagine as she masters the ability to manipulate fire.
Guided by shape-shifting spirits, Render and Ahndien's fates collide when first they meet as mortal enemies. However, to save their people from annihilation, they must unite both kingdoms against a terrifying enemy that threatens to destroy both realms. But how can a young slave and a peasant bring sworn enemies of half a millennium together?
ONCE WE WERE KINGS: The first book in a saga of destiny and redemption, in a world of dying hope.
About the Author: When Ian Alexander’s debut epic fantasy novel ONCE WE WERE KINGS first launched in ebook format in May 2011, it instantly hit three bestseller lists on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. Mr. Alexander first wrote in the fantasy genre because of a commission by a very important and influential person: His 6-year old son.
***I received through Partners in Crime Book Tours for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free. ***
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
I saw this last week on WoW and it was compared to the love story in Matched by Ally Condie with the jungle themes in "Lost". I read that and didn't need to read any more. Okay I read the description too and I was completely sold. What do you think?
Origin by Jessica Khoury Razorbill, September 4, 2012 Hardcover, 272 pages ISBN-10: 1595145958 ISBN-13: 978-1595145956 Young Adult
An electrifying action-romance that's as thoughtful as it is tragic
Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home--and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.
Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia's origin--a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.
Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost. This is a supremely compelling debut novel that blends the awakening romance of Matched with the mystery and jungle conspiracy of Lost.
Today I welcome Jamie Lisa Forbes, author of Unbroken which I reviewed last week for a great author interview plus you get the added bonus of some great photos of her writing area (I always enjoy things like that). So get comfy and enjoy. And then when you get finished getting to know Jamie, be sure and enter the giveaway for a copy of Unbroken.
Describe
the area you write in.
It
is quite unusual. It is a
hexagon-shaped room that sits forward of the main walls of my house. The room faces the southeast and there are
floor to ceiling windows on the three outer sides of the hexagon so it catches the
first light and stays light until mid-afternoon. Immediately outside of the window next to my
work space is my sidewalk to the main door, which I always have lined with
flowers-- pansies at this time of year-- and a huge sprawling azalea, which,
when flowering, is always a deep pink, nearly purple. It should be trimmed but it is so magnificent
that I cannot bring myself to it.
At
nights, when it is dark outside, the room has a cozy atmosphere because it is
quite small.
All
of Unbroken was written in this room.
What's
your favorite season?
In
Wyoming, my favorite season was spring.
Here in North Carolina, all seasons except for the summer are wonderful.
Describe
your ideal reading space (no expense spared here).
This
again, I already have. Beyond my study,
which I described in the first question, there is a wrap-around. I have wing chairs on the west side and in
all seasons but the summer, I enjoy curling up in one of those chairs and
reading.
What
is a typical day like in your life?
My
“day job” is law. The areas I practice
in are family law, tax, estate planning and estate administration. With these areas of practice, I am constantly
absorbed in very real and serious problems of other people. I enjoy getting away from these problems by
returning to my fictional characters.
If
you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
I am
sorry that when I lived in the West, I did not get to see as much of it as I
would have liked, because I was ranching and couldn’t get away. I would love a long trip to southern Colorado,
Utah and Montana.
Tell
us a little bit about Unbroken.
Unbrokenis the story of two women: the
heroine, Gwen, a traditional ranch wife, and Meg, who has eschewed traditional
roles, confident in her own independence.
The novel tracks the rise and fall of the friendship between these two
women and--once both their lives have been up-ended-- it follows each as they
struggle to restore meaning in their lives.
What
inspired you to write Unbroken?
I originally got the idea for Unbroken in 1990 when I was still in family
ranching. I was surrounded by so many women in the ranching community who lived extraordinary lives, yet there was an
absence of women in literature about the West. I wanted to turn the cowboy myth on its head and write about the real
heroes, actually, heroines, of the West.
But I didn’t start writing then. I started the novel ten years later and seven years after I had left family ranching. I was then living in a great community, but I knew few people who had any conception of life in the West and no one who had experience in the ups and downs of agriculture. While I still had all my original concepts, the impetus to start writing was the desire to memorialize the life I had once lived.
And finally in the course of writing the novel, the characters took on lives of their own. They became real people to me and molded the story in ways I had never anticipated. Inspiration, in terms of
this novel, was a process.
Which
character really spoke to you when you were writing Unbroken?
The
answer to that question speaks to my development both as a writer and a human
being.
My
original concept had been to write about Meg, because, I, like Meg, had wanted
to ranch alongside my husband and my father and I too struggled for acceptance
in this male-dominated profession.
But
as the chapters unfolded, it occurred to me how much I had overlooked women in
traditional roles and how truly extraordinary their lives are. Gwen’s day-to-day chores, beginning before
dawn and sometimes ending in the middle of night, which she carries on year
after year in the face of tedium and self-doubt, spoke to me of the power of
commitment.
What
are you working on now?
I
have lived in North Carolina nearly twenty years now and decided it was time to
write about the rural south. My new
novel is about a young man whose family
takes in an abused child for one year and the impact of those events on the
rest of his life.
Giveaway:
Win 1 copy of Unbroken by Jamie Lisa Forbes courtesy of the author, open to the US only. Simply enter using the Rafflecopter below. The only required entry is a free entry! Giveaway ends 4/23/12 and the book will ship directly from the author.
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