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Showing posts from January, 2013

The Joy of Books

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-Kristen ♥

Cover Reveal: Stained by Cheryl Rainfield (Trailer)

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Title: Stained Author: Cheryl Rainfield Publisher :  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publication Date: November 19, 2013 Synopsis: In this heart-wrenching and suspenseful teen thriller, sixteen-year-old Sarah Meadows longs for "normal." Born with a port-wine stain covering half her face, all her life she’s been plagued by stares, giggles, bullying, and disgust. But when she’s abducted on the way home from school, Sarah is forced to uncover the courage she never knew she had, become a hero rather than a victim, and learn to look beyond her face to find the beauty and strength she has inside. It’s that—or succumb to a killer. From the Author: Like I did with SCARS and HUNTED, I drew on some of my own experiences of bullying, abuse, and trauma to write STAINED and to give it greater emotional depth. Like Sarah in STAINED, I experienced abduction, imprisonment, periods of forced starvation, mind control, and having my life threatened. And like Sarah, I tried hard to fight aga

Review: Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (+ Movie Discussion)

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The Book: Title: Warm Bodies Author: Isaac Marion Series: Warm Bodies, #1 Publisher: Atria Publication Date: April 26, 2011 Synopsis: R is a young man with an existential crisis--he is a zombie. He shuffles through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, and the mindless hunger of his undead comrades, but he craves something more than blood and brains. He can speak just a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse. Just dreams. After experiencing a teenage boy's memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and strangely sweet relationship with the victim's human girlfriend. Julie is a burst of vibrant color in the otherwise dreary and gray landscape that R lives in. His decision to protect her will transform not only R, but his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world. Scary, funny, and surprisingly poignant, Warm Bodies is a

Random Bookish Whimsy (6)

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    -Kristen ♥

Review: A Shimmer of Angels by Lisa M. Basso

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Title: A Shimmer of Angels Author: Lisa M. Basso Series: Angel Sight, #1 Publisher: Month9Books Publication Date: January 29, 2013 Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Rayna sees angels, and has the medication and weekly therapy sessions to prove it. Now, in remission, Rayna starts fresh at a new school, lands a new job, and desperately tries for normalcy. She ignores signs that she may be slipping into the world she has tried so hard to climb out of. But these days, it’s more than just hallucinations that keep Rayna up at night. Students are dying, and she may be the only one who can stop it. Can she keep her job, her sanity, and her friends from dying at the hands of angels she can't admit to seeing? Verdict: Before I begin my review, I just want to say: Team Kade all the way! Okay, I thoroughly enjoyed this story! Although I was left with a few unanswered questions and no explanation for certain happenings, I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel [and seeing Ray get to

Blog Tour: How to Marry an Alien by Magan Vernon (Excerpt + Giveaway)

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To see the other blogs participating in the tour go HERE . Title: How to Marry an Alien Author: Magan Vernon Series:  My Alien Romance, #3 Publisher: Calta Press Publication Date: November 18, 2012 Synopsis: Alex’s interstellar relationship has finally been sealed in the eyes of the human world, so now she can move on to her next step: college. With Ace by her side and a new piece of jewelry on her finger, she thinks she is ready for anything. Well, almost anything. Her new roommate holds a dangerous link to her past that Alex isn't sure if she can handle. Then there is the whole alien fiancé thing. Every time she tries to get closer to Ace, he seems to pull further away. Top that off with a full summer class load and a few more alien attacks and it’s just another day for Alex. Except this time she isn’t sure if marrying an alien will be the happy ending she’s hoping for. Previous Books in the Series:     About the Author: Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer wh

2013 Reading Challenges:

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2013 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge Reading Challenge Details: Runs January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2013 (books read prior to 1/1/2013 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog . The goal is to outdo yourself by reading more books in 2013 than you did in 2012 . See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. You can move up a level as often as you’d like but no moving down. Books can be any format (bound, ebook, audio). Novellas that are at least 100 pages in length, as well as full-length novels, will count for this reading challenge. Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed. Grab the reading challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads or Library

January/February Awesomeness:

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January 8, 2013: Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky, #2) by Veronica Rossi January 15, 2013: Shades of Earth (Across the Universe, #3) by Beth Revis P.S.- I think that it is complete AWESOME-SAUCE that we now have a book in space! January 22, 2013: Boundless (Unearthly, #3) by Cynthia Hand Everbound (Everneath, #2) by Brodi Ashton January 29, 2013: Asunder (Newsoul, #2) by Jodi Meadows (There has yet to be a trailer made for Asunder. So feel free to refresh your memory of the previous novel, Incarnate , by watching its trailer.) The Madman's Daughter (The Madman's Daughter, #1) by Megan Shepherd February 5, 2013: Unravel Me (Shatter Me, #2) by Tahereh Mafi WARNING: There is a juicy spoiler in this video!  ;) Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles, #2) by Marissa Meyer February 26, 2013: Fragments (Partials, #2) by Dan Wells -Kristen ♥

Blog Tour: Wisteria by Bisi Leyton (Interview + Giveaway)

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See the other blogs participating in the tour HERE . Title: Wisteria Author: Bisi Leyton Series: Wisteria, #1 Publication Date: August 15, 2012 Synopsis: Sixteen year old Wisteria Kuti has two options—track the infected around the Isle of Smythe or leave the only known safe haven and face a world infested with flesh eating biters. But even with well-armed trackers, things go wrong and Wisteria ends up alone facing certain death, until she is rescued by the mysterious Bach. Uninfected, Bach is able to survive among the hordes of living dead. Eighteen year old Bach, from a race known as The Family, has no interest in human affairs. He was sent here to complete his Great Walk and return home as a man—as a Sen Son. The Family regard humans as Dirt People, but Bach is drawn to this Terran girl, whom he has never seen before, but somehow knows. Hunted by flesh eaters, cannibals, and the mysterious blood thirsty group called Red Phoenix, Wisteria and Bach make their way back to the Isle

Cover Reveal: Hereafter by Jennifer Snyder

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Title: Hereafter Author: Jennifer Snyder Publication Date: February 18, 2013 Synopsis: In Death I could finally see the importance of Life… After being forced to become a Reaper Council member and being torn away from the one she loves, Rowan Harper must learn to accept her altered Fate as well as her death and move on. A task easier said than done, especially when witnessing those you love suffer in the wake of your death. When an unlikely ally provides information that could change everything, Rowan sets out on a journey through Purgatory with her beloved by her side and a nonchalant Tracker to learn the true meaning of the word sacrifice. Another task which seems easier said than done, especially with the threat of Purgatory’s ability to corrupt your soul the longer you’re in its grip looming above their heads. About the Author: Jennifer Snyder lives in North Carolina were she spends most of her time writing young adult fiction, reading, and struggling to stay on top of housewo

Random Bookish Whimsy (5)

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-Kristen ♥

Review: Princesses Don't Get Fat by Aya Ling (Giveaway)

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Title: Princesses Don't Get Fat Author: Aya Ling Publication Date: January 2013 Synopsis: A fairy tale romance with a plus sized heroine and plenty of dessert. Princess Valeria of Amaranta is fat, but she doesn’t care. All she wants is to eat a lot and lead an idle life. When it is apparent that she cannot get a husband, her mother decides to send her to the Royal Riviera Academy of Fighting Arts. For a chubby princess who has never picked up a sword, life at the Academy is akin to torture. Worst of all, the food is terrible. When Valeria decides to improve Riviera cuisine by sneaking into the palace kitchens and giving orders, little does she know that the crown prince would take interest in her kitchen excursions. As they spend more time together, Valeria must decide whether she should become thin and attractive, or stay in the kitchens and remain fat. Verdict: Princesses Don't Get Fat was absolutely delightful. Aya Ling has created a short n' sweet story about a Pri

Trailer Reveal: The Mindjack Trilogy by Susan Kaye Quinn

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The Live-Action Mindjack Book Trailer Reveal (from the bestselling Mindjack series by Susan Kaye Quinn) With the help of over 20 cast and crew members, award-winning director Beth Spitalny has brought the concept of the bestselling Mindjack Trilogy to life on the screen.   When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep. Please share! Ways you can share the trailer: 1) Post it to Facebook (copy & paste below)  Check out the live-action Mindjack Book Trailer (from the bestselling Mindjack Trilogy by Susan Kaye Quinn): When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep. http://bit.ly/MindjackBookTrailer 3) Post it to Twitter (copy & paste below)  When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep. Watch the live-action Mindjack Book Trailer http://bit.ly/MindjackBookTrailer 4) Share to Google+, Tumbler, Pinterest, and more Go to the trailer on YouTube and click the "share" button. Click the arrow to expand and see all the op

From Fiction to Reality: Powerhouse Couples (Movie, Book, TV Show)

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Movie: Mr. & Mrs. Smith Fiction Couple: John and Jane Smith Status: Married Real Couple: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Status: Married with kids Book: Lux Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout Fiction Couple: Daemon Black and Katy Swartz Status: Dating (Sometimes Frenemies) Real Couple: Pepe Toth and Sztella Tziotziosz Status: Engaged TV Show: The Vampire Diaires Fiction Couple: Damon Salvatore and Elena Gilbert Status: Friends.... Sort of Real Couple: Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev Status: Dating -Kristen ♥

Cover Reveal: Disconnect by Imran Siddiq

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Title: Disconnect Author:  Imran Siddiq Series: Divided Worlds Trilogy, #1 Publication Date: February 22, 2013 Synopsis: Even in space, love has boundaries If all the Underworld has to offer is dodging junk and digging within filthy sewers then life is fast approaching a worthless state for Zachary, a 16-year old scavenger. Except one day, he discovers the imagery of a girl from Overworld that pulls his desire in wanting to know why she sounds so sad with her lavish lifestyle. Zachary will seize the chance to meet her, and although hatred builds, with time, friendship and something he’s never felt, even for his parents, will grow. Though nothing unbelievable can last without harm. The rulers of Overworld have plans for the Research Base that orbits Jupiter’s moon, Europa, and Underworld stands in the way. Zachary must overcome boundaries and climb from darkness to light, but in doing so, he’ll uncover a twisted secret that may devour his new reason to live; Rosa. About the Author:

Blog Tour: The End of the World as We Know It by Iva-Marie Palmer (Top Ten)

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  Title: The End of the World as We Know It Author: Iva-Marie Palmer Publisher: Alloy Entertainment Publication Date: July 17, 2012   Synopsis: They wanted to party like it was their last night on earth. They just might get their wish…. Meet the four most unlikely heroes ever: Teena McAuley : Queen Bee, first-class problem solver, resident heartbreaker. Leo Starnick : UFO conspirator, pizza delivery boy, all-around slacker. Evan Brighton : Baseball all-star, extreme virgin, Teena-worshipper. Sarabeth Lewis : Straight-A student, weekend hermit, enemy of the color pink. When Teena locks Leo, Evan, and Sarabeth in the basement during her biggest party of the year, she doesn’t plan on getting trapped in the Loser Dungeon herself. She can barely imagine a night with these dweebs—let alone a lifetime. But when an alien invasion destroys their entire Midwestern suburb, it looks like these unlikely friends are the last people on earth. Now, it’s up to them to save the world….   About the

Happy New Year!

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-Kristen ♥