Saturday, April 7, 2012

In My Mailbox (21)



In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. To see this weeks list of participants go here.

In the mail for review I received:


Courted by the Texas Millionaire by Crystal Green (from the author)
One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf (from Meryl L. Moss Media Relations for a tour)
The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain (from Meryl L. Moss Media Relations for a tour)
The Line Between Here and Gone (from BookTrib)
The 365 Most Important Bible Passages for Mothers (from Faithwords, the publisher)


These were wins I received this week:

Big Sky Country by Linda Lael Miller (from a Shelf Awareness giveaway from Nancy Berland)
The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg + a poster (win from Bad Ass Bookie)
The Long Weekend by Savita Kalhan (win from Book, Biscuits and Tea)
Last Rite and Lisa Desrochers and Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay (won from Lisa Desrochers)
The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide by Stephanie Meyer (win from Bonnie Gets A Say)

Some Extras this week:
Tour Badges from Meryl L. Moss Media Relations for One Breath Away and The Good Father (I love these)
Ames Soeurs, the fragrance inspired by The Book of Lost Fragrances (it smells really good, can't wait to use it on date night this week)



From Netgalley:

Silver
Henry Franks: A Novel
Mariah's Quest
The Sandcastle Girls: A Novel
Amped: A Novel
The Opposite of Hallelujah
Velveteen
The Little Woods
Touched
Diva
A Thunderous Whisper
Bad Hair Day
The Unholy
Imperfect Bliss: A Novel
The Wedding Dress
I Couldn't Love You More


Crystal's favorite books »
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What did you receive this week?  Leave me a link in the comments because I love seeing what others receive and I will get by and visit your post as well! 



Thursday, April 5, 2012

Feature and Follow Friday (3)


It's been a few Fridays since I joined in Feature & Follow Friday hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read. But I figured it was time to join in again.  You can find out more about the hop by checking in at either of the blogs and signing up:  Feature & Follow Friday on Parajunkee's View or Feature and Follow Friday at Alison Can Read


Q: Have you ever bought a book BECAUSE of a bad review?

I have.  I can't name a specific book at this moment, but I wish I could.  But I know there was one from a blog where I was so intrigued by the bad review that I had to read the book. I think I remember thinking the book was okay, nothing bad, nothing spectacular, but I found out for myself and I remember the blogger encouraging her readers to do just that.  You see we all ahve differing experiences with books.  I may love a book and you will hate it.  I may hate it and you will love it.  We both may love a book.  Who knows.  But that's what makes things fun.  I do take bloggers recommendations seriously and if they show me something seriously flawed with the book I will avoid it like the plague.  But if it's just a conflict with the plot then I am likely to explore the book for myself.

 What do you do?  Leave me a comment that links to your post or that tells me if you have bought a book because of a bad review.  If I happen to think of the book I bought I will add it.



Hoppy Easter Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop!  And what an Eggstravaganza it is. With 250+ blogs to visit, there are a lot of chances to win.  The hop is starting early on my blog (April 5th), but it officially runs from April 6th-12th, so make sure to check out all the other blogs below my Rafflecopter.  This hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Yara @ Once Upon A Twilight.

For my giveaway, you can win 3 books from the books below.  Books may change as I have some outstanding giveaways and I also have some books to add, but there will always be some great choices!  US/Canada only, my funds are minimal and all comes straight out of my pocket, but I love doing these so I keep doing them. The only mandatory entry is simply a click enter entry, everything else is extra.  Thanks for visiting!










Most of the books are ARCs, here's a list of each book and what format it's in:

Chasing Mona Lisa (Trade Paperback), The Underside of Joy (Hardcover),  Lovesick by Spencer Seidel (Arc)

The Legacy of Eden (Arc), Family Storms by V.C. Andrews (paperback), Night Road by Kristin Hannah (Arc)

Populazzi (Arc), A Long Long Sleep (ARC), City of Bones (audiobook)

A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie (Arc), The Vision by Jen Nadol (Arc), Blood Ties by Mari Mancusi (Arc)

Horns by Joe Hill (Trade Paperback), Iron House by John Hart (Arc), 40 by Travis Thrasher (Arc)

The Sixes by Kate White (Arc), Dead of Wynter by Spencer Seidel (Arc), Blood of the Reich (Arc)


Lost in Shangri-La (Arc), One Breath Away by Heather Gundenkauf (ARC), The Taker by Alma Katsu (Paperback)


 

Just Down the Road by Jodi Thomas(paperback), Capital Murder by Phillip Margolin (Arc), The Way by Kristen Wolf (Hardback)


Unbroken by Jamie Lisa Forbes (Trade Paperback), The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen (Arc)


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Character Interview: Matt from Thou Shalt Not Road Trip by Antony John



Today I welcome Matt, the older brother of Luke in Thou Shalt Not Road Trip.  Matt is heading out on the Road Trip with Luke when all kinds of crazy things happen.  This is a great and fun book and I hope you enjoy this interview with Matt and then you must go and check out Thou Shalt Not Road Trip.  My review will be coming on April 14th.

Character Interview: Answer as Matt.

What was your first thought when you found out Luke was going to be published?

My first thought was: What qualifies Luke to write a book about sex?

No, no. Just kidding. Actually, I was more concerned about the trees that’d have to die to make the paper. I figured that if Luke’s book is as long-winded as his monologues, it’d be at least as big as the bible. Man, it sucks to be a tree these days.

What's your favorite thing about college?

Not a lot of people know this, but they have parties at college. Lots of them. Sometimes you look back and wish you hadn’t gone, but at the time, they seem like fun. And though it makes me sound shallow and self-absorbed (which is only partly true, by the way), I can’t wait for sophomore
year party season to commence.

What were you most looking forward to on the road trip with Luke?

Getting home. Ha! Just kidding again. Actually, I spent freakin’ hours planning around his itinerary so that he’d have some real live experiences along the way. I mean . . . Havasu Falls. Hello! That place is heaven on earth, and yet it still took him a couple days to realize it. He’s such an
ungrateful kid brother.

What did you think about Alex bringing Fran along on the trip?

I go back on forth on this, to be honest. Knowing what I know now, I realize she was totally working me, realizing that I wouldn’t say no. But it was also a pretty stupid move, all things considered. I mean, it’s not like forcing Fran to confront her own personal nemesis on the back seat of a car for seven straight days worked in our favor early on.

If you could give Luke one piece of advice what would it be?

Enjoy the detours. Savor the off-road moments, and the unscripted diversions. Life happens between the lines, and in the margins. Miss out on those and you’re hardly living at all.

Thank you Matt (and Antony) for joining us today!

Thanks for inviting me on board, Crystal. And cheers to your readers!

Find Anthony John Here:
Website
Facebook 



Book Tour & Review: NIV Boys Bible

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!



Today's Wild Card is:


Zonderkidz; Special edition (March 6, 2012)

***Special thanks to Rick Roberson of The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***

My Review:
I think this is a great Bible for boys.  I looked through this and besides the great NIV translation, this is set up really well for boys.  The cover looks boyish, the inside setup seems to appeal to boys (I ask my 11-year-old and he agreed).  Some of the special features are Grossology which usually present interesting but gross facts about select Bible verses (things that will appeal to boys and to be honest I found interesting too).  There are also What's The Big Deal? which highlights select chapters and explains the chapter/verses in easy-to-understand language.  Another feature is Words to Live By which highlights a featured Bible verse and Makin' It Real which gives boys a way to use the Bible verse in real life.

The NIV Boys Bible is full of great features to interest boys and help them understand and get into the Bible better.  I plan on giving this to my son and I hope he really enjoys this for his teen years and I really think he will.  I think this is a very practical Bible targeted to boys and done in a great way!





SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Getting into a routine of reading the Bible can be challenging for anyone, but trying to keep the attention of pre-teen boys is especially difficult. So now there is a Bible especially developed for them. The NIV Boys Bible is designed with boys ages 9 to 12 in mind. Fun in-text features help boys dig deep into the Word and learn about amazing people, facts and stories of the Bible. The NIV Boys Bible will help boys grow into the young men God wants them to be. It will appeal to boys and cause them to desire to spend time in the Word with its unique features such as:

* Introductions to each book of the Bible

* Hundreds of highlighted verses worth memorizing

* What's the Big Deal?-Need-to-know biblical stories and people

* Check It Out-Interesting and fun facts about Bible times and characters

* Grossology-Gross and gory stuff they never knew was in the Bible

* Makin' It Real-Help for applying Bible stories to their everyday lives



This Bible includes the full text of the New International Version, the most popular Bible translation in the world, and 12 color tip-in pages introducing content that shows boys how they can grow to be like Jesus. Each book of the Bible has activities that make God's Word more relevant than ever. It is jam-packed with customized content and artwork that really makes the Bible stand out.


Product Details:
List Price: $27.99
Reading level: Ages 9 and up
Hardcover: 1504 pages
Publisher: Zonderkidz; Special edition (March 6, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310723086
ISBN-13: 978-0310723080:


AND NOW...A SAMPLE. PLEASE CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO VIEW THEM LARGER:











Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Book Review: Soul Screamers Book One by Rachel Vincent

Soul Screamers Book One by Rachel Vincent
(includes My Soul to Lose, My Soul to Take and My Soul to Save)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publish Date: November 22, 2011
Paperback, 570 pages 
Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal
 ISBN: 978-1937293147
Soul Screamers Series books #0.5, 1 and 2




buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery
My Review:
I read these slightly out of order.  My library had the first book, but not the second so I read the first, then ordered the ebook of this together.  I know that kind of does not make sense, but in a way it did.  It was only a little more and I got all 2.5 books together, and I'm guessing this is a series I will want to re-read in the future so there you go, I already have the first books ready-to-go.  I am hoping the next books in the series will come out in an omnibus like this one as well and even though my library has the future books I plan on purchasing any future omnibus.  I love the series that much.

On to these books.  First My Soul To Lose, which I actually read second.  A short novella, that I believe was actually written after the first book (and maybe even the second, yes I could look it up, but I'm feeling lazy).  This one just gives a brief story of the background we as readers see in My Soul To Take when Kaylee first sees someone die and screams for them.  This is when her aunt and uncle lock her up in the psychiatric ward of the hospital.  Most of the story takes place there.  Like I said this is mainly background and I found it to be a quick and interesting story.  I think it would have been more effective for me if I had read it first, but I still really enjoyed it.  So those of you just starting the series, read it first, get your first taste of Kaylee and then move on to . . .

Next up is My Soul To Take, which I actually read first.  With this book I was hooked on the world of the Soul Screamers.  First there is Kaylee.  What is there not to love about Kaylee.  She is loyal to her friends, hates her cousin who hates her, is sarcastic and witty and ends up with a very hot boyfriend, yet doesn't let it go to her head.  Oh and while dealing with this and high school she also learns she's a bean sidhe and that Nash is one also.  And if things can't get crazier than that girls in her school seem to be dying and there are rules to saving lives as a bean sidhe.  After 16 years of normal life Kaylee is in for the surprise of her life.  To me this book was very fresh.  It had an interesting premise and the plot was fast moving and had a number of twists and turns and I didn't see the ending that happened coming.  I enjoyed getting to know Kaylee and Nash and love them as a couple and look forward to more of them in future books.  I also love Emma, Kaylee's best friend and Tod.  Ms. Vincent has created a very interesting world and a fun cast of characters.  This first full book was a true winner for me and I was glad the second book was ready and waiting for me.

The final book in this omnibus is My Soul to Save.  If I thought the first one was fast-paced this one is even more so.  At a concert, Kaylee and Nash watch pop sensation Eden drop dead on stage, but Kaylee has no urge to scream which confuses her.  I seems in the twisted world of teen pop stars that some are selling their souls to the underworld and since this certain pop star used to date Tod, this causes Nash, Kaylee and Tod to team up to help save the life of Eden.  As Kaylee learns more about the underworld and navigates life with her Dad and her romance with Nash, this one really heats up.  Throw some Tod into the mix and things always get interesting.  Action, romance, humor, My Soul To Save has it all.  I think I pretty much sped through this one and was ready for the next one.  Again I'm glad I'm coming to this series late.  Another nice thing.  While the books are connected, there are no terrible cliff-hangers at the end of the books.  Ms. Vincent typically ties up the storyline from the book in each book, but the romance, the family situation and her life as a bean sidhe are the over-arcing storyline that ties the series together.  I like this.  It makes me anxious for the next book to see what happens next but not overanxious because she left me with a cliffhanger.

Overall, this series is a real winner.  Quick easy reads with great entertainment value and wonderful characters that continue to grow and evolve from book to book.  This has quickly become one of my favorite YA series.  It's a nice light series while dealing with some issues it still doesn't take itself too seriously, it just has a nice balance and it will keep me coming back for more.  I've already finished book 3, My Soul to Keep (review to come), and will be starting book 4, My Soul to Steal, very soon.  Book 6, Before I Wake will be out at the end of June and I want to be caught up then (and yes I plan on pre-ordering!)


My Rating: 5.0/5.0
 

Parental guidance: There is some language and some romantic involvement on the part  of Kaylee and Nash.  Nothing too overt, but it is there.  I recommend this book for ages 14+, or if you are a comfortable parent, 12+, hey they are great books, so moms, read them yourselves and see! :)

Soul Screamers Series
My Soul to Lose (prequel novella)
My Soul to Take
My Soul to Save
My Soul to Keep
Reaper (Book IV prequel)
My Soul to Steal

If I Die


About the Book:
It starts with a scream….New York Times bestselling author Rachel Vincent's compelling Soul Screamers series keeps getting better—here, for the first time, the original stories are compiled into one special volume….

My Soul to Lose—The prequel: never before in print!—Kaylee is just your average girl shopping at the mall with friends—until a terrified scream bursts from her that cannot be stopped. Taken to a hospital ward, will she be able to save her mind—and her life? 

My Soul to Take  She's always felt different, but now Kaylee discovers why. The screams that cannot be denied mean that someone near her will die—and she can never save them. Because saving one life means taking another…. 

My Soul to Save  Going on dates with her boyfriend is still new to Kaylee. But when the singer of the band they're seeing dies onstage and Kaylee doesn't scream, she knows something crazy is going on. Soon she discovers souls can indeed be sold…

About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
A resident of San Antonio, Rachel Vincent has a BA in English and an overactive imagination, and consistently finds the latter to be more practical. She shares her workspace with two black cats (Kaci and Nyx) and her # 1 fan. Rachel is older than she looks-seriously-and younger than she feels, but remains convinced that for every day she spends writing, one more day will be added to her lifespan.

Website
Twitter
Facebook
Blog

FTC Information: I purchased this book so this is my own honest review. I would love it if Rachel provided me with books, but thankfully my library has her books and I was able to buy this set (which is a really good deal if you have not started the series!) I do make money from purchases made at The Book Depository and B&N.com, but all money is used to fund giveaways and shipping for giveaways from the blog.


Waiting On Wednesday (20)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This is another one I saw in the Shelf Awareness newsletter and it just appealed to me.  First the cover jumped out at me.  Why is she running.  I love the colors, the lushness.  Then I was intrigued when I looked up the synopsis.  So now it's on my want list (and I'm hoping to get an ARC).  What do you think of the cover?


The Innocents by Francesca Segal
Publish Date: 6/5/2012

A smart and slyly funny tale of love, temptation, confusion, and commitment; a triumphant and beautifully executed recasting of Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence.


Newly engaged and unthinkingly self-satisfied, twenty-eight-year-old Adam Newman is the prize catch of Temple Fortune, a small, tight-knit Jewish suburb of London. He has been dating Rachel Gilbert since they were both sixteen and now, to the relief and happiness of the entire Gilbert family, they are finally to marry. To Adam, Rachel embodies the highest values of Temple Fortune; she is innocent, conventional, and entirely secure in her community—a place in which everyone still knows the whereabouts of their nursery school classmates. Marrying Rachel will cement Adam’s role in a warm, inclusive family he loves.


But as the vast machinery of the wedding gathers momentum, Adam feels the first faint touches of claustrophobia, and when Rachel’s younger cousin Ellie Schneider moves home from New York, she unsettles Adam more than he’d care to admit. Ellie—beautiful, vulnerable, and fiercely independent—offers a liberation that he hadn’t known existed: a freedom from the loving interference and frustrating parochialism of North West London. Adam finds himself questioning everything, suddenly torn between security and exhilaration, tradition and independence. What might he be missing by staying close to home?
So what are you waiting on this week?