Monday, December 30, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday 11

 
Hosted by Broke and Bookish.
I am back!  Now that the holidays are over I am back to doing these.  This week is  Top Ten Books I Read In 2013.   Well I read lots of great books and I  there were several I had to vary between as my top but finally I choose these as my top favs (no particular order).  There are af fre others that are right up there, tied for that 10th spot but these are the ones I am sharing.  Enjoy!
The Golden Lily (Bloodlines, #2)   Nameless 
The Hallowed Ones (The Hallowed Ones, #1)   Into the Night (Into the Night #1) 

BACK!

I'm back!   Sorry for the long breakaway.   December is always an extra crazy month for me during which I have no life.  But I am back and ready to share more bookish love with everyone!  

 

Expect lots of reviews, and fun posts throughout the next month.  I will also try to sign up for some great giveaways to share new books with you.  So the next several months will hopefully be a lot of fun.  I also plan to seriously organize the archive as I know it is way behind.  Once it is complete and up to date I am thinking some fun games to win some free books or swag.  What do you think? 

Most importantly, what would you love to see happen here this year?  I want to make this a great year and lots of fun and would appreciate any input or opinions. 

Monday, December 16, 2013

Atlas Spotlight and Giveaway!



Book Description: 
Kala Hicks is part of a covert elite military team that answers directly to the
President of the United States. But during an emergency mission aboard Air
Force One, Kala is shocked to discover that the real threat is none other than the
President himself. Defying her commanding officer, Jack Norbin, Kala takes the
shot, and her life changes forever.

The moment the President is killed, a supernatural force speaks to Kala, telling her
that she has to commit one act of atrocity every four days… or the world will end.
Thrown into a reality she never could have imagined, Kala faces off with creatures
of legend; from demons determined to make her fail and plunge the Earth into
chaos, to angels who don’t trust her to do the job and are willing to kill her to claim
it for themselves.

Pitted against the forces of good and evil, Kala must choose whether to save the
world by doing the unthinkable, or sit back and let it burn. And four days later,
she’ll have to do it again.

Excerpt End of Chapter 3:

Very carefully, Jack opened the door that led to the President’s office.
What awaited them was terrifying.

Friday, December 13, 2013

World of Ash by Shauna Granger Review and Interview

World of Ash
By Shauna Granger

Genre: Dystopian
Published Dec 2013
Pages: 263
Buy a copy of  World of Ash 

World of Ash  Summary:  "There are two inherent truths in the world: life as we know it is over, and monsters are real.

The Pestas came in the night, spreading their pox, a deadly plague that decimated the population. Kat, one of the unlucky few who survived, is determined to get to her last living relative and find shelter from the pox that continues to devastate the world. When it mutates and becomes airborne, Kat is desperate to avoid people because staying alone might be her only chance to stay alive.

That is, until she meets Dylan. Dylan, with his easy smile and dark, curly hair, has nowhere to go and no one to live for. He convinces Kat there can be safety in numbers, that they can watch out for each other. So the unlikely couple set off together through the barren wasteland to find a new life – if they can survive the roaming Pestas, bands of wild, gun-toting children, and piles of burning, pox-ridden bodies."



Review:  I really enjoyed this book. World of Ash can really make you wonder what life would be like after an apocalyptic plague wipes out a large portion of the population. And what the plague/pox doesn't kill, the military certainly will in order to 'protect' and control the situation.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Rebels by Scott and Judith Powell-Spotlight, Tens List and Giveaway

Rebels copy




rebels    Rebels The world is on fire. From the ashes like a phoenix rises a new America, one that will save it all. Under one condition; absolute and complete surrender. The world complies without question. Those who don’t are destroyed. It is in this world, John is born. His very name is treason. If the New America, now known to everyone as the State, knew what John was, they’d kill him, but instead they give him a gift.




  Praise for Rebels John has a lot of potential (especially for someone so young) in that he sees the flaws in this society. He wants to be like George Washington and knows a lot about the manner in which a government should be run... Highly recommended. ~Amazon Review







Saturday, December 7, 2013

Star Wars-In the Shadow of Yavin (review)

Star Wars, Volume 1: In the Shadow of Yavin 
Star Wars:  In the Shadow of Yavin (1)
{Star Wars -Dark Horse #1-6}

By Brian Wood
& Carlos D'Anda

Genre: Comic, Sci-Fi
Published Oct 2013
Pages: 152
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Buy Star Wars Volume 1: In the Shadow of Yavin


Summary:   "In the wake of the Death Star's destruction, the Empire seems to anticipate and thwart all moves by the struggling Rebel Alliance - which smells like a spy among the ranks. Princess Leia forms a stealth squadron of her best pilots - including Luke Skywalker - to expose the spy and find the Alliance a safe home. In another part of the galaxy, Han Solo and Chewbacca are on their own mission for the Rebels, but that, too, has been betrayed to the Empire. And, over all, Darth Vader watches..."


Review:  For a Star Wars Comic this was better than several others I have read recently. The Dark Horse Star Wars Comics have always been a favorite but I am an old-school-style comic fan so most comics these days seem to be lacking in my opinion. The comic has the Dark Horse creativity but does seem to have some more modern comic touches. A nice blend for all ages of fans.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Blessed Child by Ted Dekker and Bill Bright (review)

Blessed Child 
Caleb Books:  Blessed Child (1) by Ted Dekker and Bill Bright

Genre: Suspense, Christian Fiction
Published May 2013
Pages: 358
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Buy Blessed Child (The Caleb Books Series) or View on Goodreads.








 Summary: ""Whoever said that a straightened hand was more dramatic than a healed heart anyway?"

A young orphaned boy was abandoned in the midst of an invasion and raised in an Ethiopian monastery. He has never seen outside its walls--at least, not the way most people see. Now he must flee those walls or die.

But the world beyond is hardly ready for a boy like Caleb.

When relief worker Jason Marker agrees to take Caleb from the monastery, he unwittingly opens humanity's doors to an incredible journey filled with political intrigue and peril. Jason and Leiah--the French-Canadian nurse who escapes the monastery with him--quickly realize Caleb's supernatural power to heal. But so do the boy's enemies, who will stop at nothing to destroy him. Jason and Leiah fight for Caleb's survival while the world erupts in debate over the source of his power.

In the end nothing can prepare them for what they discover."




Review:  Well done ted Dekker and Bill Bright! This was an amazing, inspirational and very moving story! This book had me grinning from ear-to-ear in one chapter and eyes nearly welling up with tears in another.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Holiday Read-A-Thon Dec 6-8

Holiday Read-A-Thon!
This is a quick, 3 day read-a-thon with lots of mini challenges and games!  To join, check out WhoRuBlog for details.
So, while my busiest work schedule is over the weekend I am going to try to get some good reading in. Between Dec 6-8.  
For the first mini I entered, I have pledged to donate 1 penny for every page I read, plus for every 100 pages I get through, I will volunteer for a local charity in sharing holiday cheer for 1 hour.  So wish my lots of luck reading!  I honestly have no idea if I will only have time for 10 pages or 500.  We shall see...

Fri, Dec 6:  
Books I read/made progress in:  World of Ash by Shauna Granger
Total Pages Read: 18

Sat, Dec 7:  
Books I read/made progress in:World of Ash by Shauna Granger and Darkwater byCatherine Fisher
Total Pages Read: 33
Sun, Dec 8:  
Books I read/made progress in:World of Ash by Shauna Granger 
Total Pages Read: 26

Grand Total
Books: 
World of Ash Darkwater
Total Page Count77


Yea.  Like I thought no time for reading.  Catching a cold didn't help.  Still.  I read some.  So I will donate $1 (just rounding up) and 1 hour of my time to charity this holiday season.

Merry Christmas!!

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Season's Greetings by Kira Snyder- Review and Giveaway!

Season's Greetings, A Parish Mail Short 
Parish Mail: Season's Greetings (#2.5)
By Kira Snyder

  Coliliquy
View on Goodreads


  

Summary:  "Celia Macarty is eager to enjoy her first New Orleans Christmas, but school has barely let out for the holidays when she learns that mystery never takes a vacation. Using the clues on a Christmas card from 1933, Celia must unravel a supernatural riddle that takes her all over festive New Orleans—and deeper into her family’s past. As Christmas Eve draws closer, shady community secrets come to light, and Celia enlists an unlikely ally to set things right.

With the help of her witchy best friend Tilly and a trio of to-die-for suitors, Celia navigates a mystery and, in the process, her heart. Because in the Crescent City, Christmas is a time of enchantment and surprises, and a little romance might be Celia’s best present of all.

Celia’s latest Parish Mail adventure is an active fiction title from Coliloquy. Your reading choices will help Celia solve the crime!"


Review:   WARNING!  Potential spoilers ahead if you have not read at least the first book of the Parish Mail series!
This was a great addition to the Parish Mail series. The book appears to take place after book 2 (which I still need to read) and they days are creeping closer to Christmas!

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

The Warble is FREE this week

Free this week
11/24/13- 11/28/13

The Warble (Previously Known as The Magic Warble to those who remember my review) by Victoria Simcox is now FREE!!!  Click HERE to see my original review of the book.


 Description:
Dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, and an evil queen – all these and more can be found in The Warble, an enchanting tale of adventure and friendship.
Twelve-year-old Kristina Kingsly feels like the most unpopular girl in her school. The kids all tease her, and she never seems to fit in. But when Kristina receives an unusual Christmas gift, she suddenly finds herself transported to the land of Bernovem, home of dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, and the evil Queen Sentiz.
In Bernovem, Kristina not only fits in, she’s honored as “the chosen one” the only one who can release the land from Queen Sentiz’s control. But it’s not as simple as it seems. To save Bernovem, she must place the gift she was given, the famous “Warble” in its final resting place. And she must travel through the deep forest, climb a treacherous mountain, and risk capture by the queen’s “zelbocks” before she reaches her destination. Guided by her new fairy friends, Clover and Looper and by Prince Werrien, a teenage boy, as well as an assortment of other characters, Kristina sets off on a perilous journey that not only tests her strength but her heart.








Dead Letter Office by Kira Snyder (review)

Dead Letter Office, Parish Mail 1 

Parish Mail: Dead Letter Office (1)
By Kira Snyder



  Coliliquy

Buy it or View on Goodreads 

Summary:  "When Celia’s father is killed in Afghanistan, she moves with her mother to New Orleans, the city where her father grew up. Struggling to adjust and haunted by troubling dreams, Celia finds comfort in new friends like Tilly, a practicing witch, and Donovan, the son of a police detective. On Halloween, bizarre supernatural occurrences rock the city. Celia meets the mysterious Luc and finds a letter, over a hundred years old, addressed to her.

The paranormal repercussions continue when Celia learns that Luc is the restless spirit of a young man murdered in 1854, only able to assume solid form at night. And then, to her shock, Celia finds that the letter, which describes the suspected murder of a man in 1870, contains uncanny parallels to the present-day death of Abel Sims, a homeless veteran.

With help from Luc, Tilly, and Donovan, Celia races to solve the murder—and the mystery of the letter—using both magical and forensic clues.

This is an Active Fiction title
"Active fiction" is a new type of e-reading experience that allows the reader and the author to interact with each other and the text in new and different ways.

Kira has written Parish Mail like a TV series–there are over-arching mystery and romantic story arcs that extend between the episodes, while each episode has a smaller case that is presented and solved. Along the way, she asks you, the reader, to make several small decisions as you read. These choices do not impact the overarching storyline, but certain combinations “unlock” clues to the series’ mystery, which are embedded in the text. Kira also asks you to cast a vote at the end of the episode, to get additional feedback from her fans about their preferred love interests in future episodes."
Review:  Dead Letter Office is an interesting mystery novel. Yet this is unlike most mysteries one may have read. In this book the reader helps decide the course of action for the story. For those who enjoyed the 'Choose Your Own Adventure' books as a child (or even teen/adult), then this is the next step up!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Rebels Book Blast Tour and Giveaway

rebels
Rebels 

 By Scott and Judith Powell



 The world is on fire. From the ashes like a phoenix rises a new America, one that will save it all. Under one condition; absolute and complete surrender. The world complies without question. Those who don’t are destroyed. It is in this world, John is born. His very name is treason. If the New America, now known to everyone as the State, knew what John was, they’d kill him, but instead they give him a gift.








amazon blog
 
 Praise for Rebels John has a lot of potential (especially for someone so young) in that he sees the flaws in this society. He wants to be like George Washington and knows a lot about the manner in which a government should be run... Highly recommended. ~Amazon Review  


Scott and Judith PowellAbout the Authors Scott Powell was born in Burlington, Vermont, to a father who was a police officer and a mother who emigrated from South Korea. He received a degree in marketing from the University of Las Vegas, Nevada, and a master's degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Scott served a two-year Spanish-speaking mission for his church. He is a mixed martial artist who continues to train with his father, a second-degree black belt in Tae kwon do and a kick boxer. Besides being married to Scott for over seventeen years, Judith Powell is a stay-at-home mom whose whole life has been full of stories. Being raised by an Irish storytelling father and a Native American mother, stories have filled her life and her head until they finally had no choice but to flow out through her fingertips.


 
Rebels copy


 Book Blast Giveaway

  $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash 
 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Day Blitz and Giveaway with Interview and Sneak Peek for Firebolt by Adrienne Woods



Firebolt

The Dragonian Series, Book One

  by Adrienne Woods


Genre: YA Fantasy 
Publisher: GMTA  Publishing – Mythos Press 
Published: November 20, 2013
ISBN: 13: 978-1491244654
Number of pages: 289  Word Count: 95 000
Cover Artist: Mary Park and Kitty Bullard
  



Dragons. Right. Teenage girls don't believe in fairy tales, and sixteen-year-old Elena Watkins was no different.

Until the night a fairy tale killed her father.

Now Elena is in a new world, and a new school. The cutest guy around may be an evil dragon, a prince wants Elena's heart, and a long dead sorcerer may be waking up to kill her. Oh and the only way Elena's going to graduate is on the back of a dragon of her own.

Teenage girls don't believe in fairy tales. Now it's time for Elena to believe in...herself.




Chapter One

A girl singing her heart out about a miracle boomed inside my ear. A miracle would get me what I needed: a chance at a semi-normal life.

     The bedroom door hitting the wall expelled the thought from my mind. With his hand tangled up in his copper hair and with huge brown eyes, Dad's figure filled the entire doorway. “Pack your bags.” He had that set to his jaw, the one that meant there was no way out of this. He bolted out of the room just as suddenly as he had appeared.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Holiday Update

Hi, everyone.  Just wanted to sy a few things, first and formost to those of you who follow or comment here- HUGE THANK YOU!!!!!  I started this blog not sure where it would go but I have had a lot of fun with it and getting involved, however shy and slow I am, with the book blogging community.  I have a long way to go on improvements and updates here but I hope you have enjoyed stopping by here.  

I owe everyone an apology.  As many may have noticed, I have not been posting much the past 2 weeks.  that is because I got an extra holiday job!  Good for the money, bad of free time.  So posts over the next 6 weeks will be a bit slimmer.  Things like TGIF Weekly is on hold until 2014.  Stacking the Shelves is also on hold.    I would rather keep you updated on reviews and other bookish news and topics.  Fluff memes, however fun they are, will just be fewer.  Not saying you won't see one every now and then just not weekly.  I still hope to get about 2 reviews out a week plus at least 1 other post (be it a meme, discussion or spotlight) minimum.    I just don't want anyone to think I am neglecting Vailia's Page Turner, I  just have very little free time and much as I like blogging, the actual reading is my first love.    

Happy Holidays!

2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge


So I love reading challenges but I have a hard time keeping to a rigid set of guidlines. So a rarely end up finishing them.  This one is wide-open so I can read any books I want.  The only rule:  The books need to be published 2013 or earlier.  No 2014 or pre-published books!  Sounds easy so I am signing up and here I am!  

I have no idea what I am going to read just yet but I will be doing an update post toward the end of December where I will share my first picks to begin the challenge.  Toward the end of each month, I will inform everyone of my progress and a few of the books I intend to read next.  

My  goal is for 50+ books (The highest level of the challenge).  Please join me in this challenge.  Click the pic above for the original sign-up link!  


Friday, November 15, 2013

Book Blast Giveaway for Gateway by Christina Garner

gateway by christina garnerGateway 
by Christina Garner

 
 Everybody has their demons. Some are just a little more real than others... Ember has always known she doesn't belong in this world, but when she tries to correct the mistake, she wakes to find herself in a mental institution. There she draws the attention of Taren, a mysterious boy who isn't what he seems. When chaos erupts, they are forced to flee the institution together, and the secret Taren has been keeping, brings Ember closer to understanding her own. And leads her to... the Gateway.  




Barnes and Noble amazon blog

  Praise "I loved, loved, loved, Gateway. It kept me up all night, it kept me guessing throughout and stayed on my mind afterward. And that my friends, is pretty much my definition of a great book." ~thatbookishgirl.blogspot.com "I enjoyed everything about this novel--the strong writing, the believable characters, the captivating plot and the subtle but sweet romance." ~irresistiblereads.blogspot.com "I give this book 5 stars out of 5, for the sole reason that I can't give it more." ~TheWolfsLibrary.blogspot.com


author christina garner Author Christina Garner 

  Christina Garner began writing stories at the age of six, with some help from her older sister. At eighteen, her aspirations as an actor had her loading up her Buick and setting off for Hollywood. Since then, she has written and directed 10 short films, including Rewind and Reminder, both of which received acclaim on the festival circuit. In 2006, she began writing screenplays. A year later, she even got paid for one. In May of 2011, her debut novel, Gateway, became an Amazon Bestseller. A year later, Chasm, Book 2 in The Gateway Trilogy, did the same. Christina lives in Los Angeles, and when she's not writing, spends her time traveling the world, watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer reruns, and playing with her dog, Griffin.  




Social Media Website Social Media Facebook Social Media Twitter Social Media Pinterest Social Media Goodreads Social Media Facebook Social Media Google + Social Media You Tube



Book Blast Giveaway 

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
 Ends 12/5/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.



 

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday 4

Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that are eagerly anticipated by the blogger.  In this case, me.

This week- I am most excited about next weeks release of:

 
One shocking afternoon, computers around the globe shut down in a viral catastrophe. At sixteen-year-old Adam Daley’s high school, the problem first seems to be a typical electrical outage, until students discover that cell phones are down, municipal utilities are failing, and a few computer-free cars like Adam’s are the only vehicles that function. Driving home, Adam encounters a storm tide of anger and fear as the region becomes paralyzed. Soon—as resources dwindle, crises mount, and chaos descends—he will see his suburban neighborhood band together for protection. And Adam will understand that having a police captain for a mother and a retired government spy living next door are not just the facts of his life but the keys to his survival. 





Does this sound interesting to you?  What are you looking forward to?

Friday, November 8, 2013

Stacking the Shelves 29

STSmall_thumb[2]  



  Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, every Weekend. This is to share books I have acquired from various sources.  Physical books & ebooks both are welcome. If its something being sent to me by mail, I will not mention it until I actually receive it.
 
 
 
 So, I am falling behind on getting my books listed.  I have actually recieved and gotten quite a bit more than what shows here on my STS.   I will get them added by next week I hope.  Life just spend up a little earlier than I expected so I have fallen a bit behind on things and I got a new job that is getting most of my attention.   So as I work on this I will try to get as many added as possible in the short bit of free time I have available.

Click on the cover links to Goodreads!  Sorry no real photos of the print books I got.

♥  ♦  ♣  ♠

For Review-Print and Ebooks

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13142568-fates?from_search=true  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18077816-the-high-druid-s-blade?from_search=true Twinmaker (Twinmaker, #1)  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17910096-snowblind?from_search=true  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17899612-she-shall-be-praised?from_search=true  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18051387-a-grimm-legacy?from_search=true