Spooking The Spine Begins / Bed Bugs Giveaway

So y’all know I have been super excited for October to get here. Halloween is my favorite holiday and because of that October is my favorite month. I know I am a day early with kicking this of but that’s ok right? I just couldn’t wait any longer. I have books to give away, scary (and not so scary) reviews to post, author guest posts to, well, post… I couldn’t think of another word for post there.

Anyway I wanted to start Spooking The Spine off with a book that I’ve already reviewed but I just can’t seem to get out of my head. I’m talking about Bedbugs by Ben H. Winters. To see my review go here. Bedbugs was very different from my normal read in a good way. The creep-factor is high, and I honestly did not sleep in my bed for days after reading this, but I am a wuss who was afraid of bedbugs before reading about the ones from Hell. My irrational fears aside I recommend Bedbugs and this is your chance to win a copy!

If that trailer doesn’t give you the creepy crawlies I don’t know what will.

  

Up for grabs is one copy of Bedbugs!

• There will be one winner.
  
• This giveaway is open to the US and Canada only.
  
• You do not have to be a follower to enter, though it is always appreciated, please let me know if you are a new follower so I can check out your blog.
  
• To enter simply fill out THIS FORM.
  
• Giveaway will run from September 30, 2011 to October 14, 2011
  
• Winner will be chosen by random.org
  
• Winner must contact me with mailing address within 48hours of being chosen or give up prize to next chosen winner

Good luck everyone,

 
Thanks to Quirk Books for this giveaway. 

Review Evermore (The Immortals #1) by Alyson Noel

Description

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch.   Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste . . .

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition.  He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets.  Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head.  She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is.  Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies. (Goodreads)

Book Details

Title: Evermore

Author: Alyson Noel

Genre: YA, Paranormal

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1 edition

Published: February 3, 2009

ISBN-10: 031253275X

ISBN-13: 978-0312532758

Author’s Website

Source: Barrowed from sister.

Review

My little sister recommended this book to me telling me “ you have to read it.” I know a lot of other people love this series so I thought sure I’ll give it a try. As I read I couldn’t help but think more than once… have I read this before, even though I knew I hadn’t. Evermore follows the YA paranormal formula with a few twist. But I guess I should say that other books have followed Evermore considering it was published in 2009. If you're wondering, that is after Twilight.

Ever is a beautiful girl but she only has two friends because she’s scared to get close to anyone. When she touches anyone she sees what is really happening in their life. I actually liked Ever. Ever came across as a real teenager who’s still morning the loss of her family, well except for one member of her family. Ever’s  sister came back as a ghost after the car accident and as Ever can see ghosts, this works out great for Ever. Riley, Ever’s sister is my favorite character in Evermore. Riley lightens the mood and is the typical little sister with the exception of not being alive. I enjoyed the interaction and banter between Riley and Ever. I wish I could say the same about Ever’s friends or even her love interest.

Ever only has two friends and you know the old saying, "with friends like these who needs enemies?" Well that’s how I felt about them. They were so self absorbed they weren’t real friends at all.

This is normally the part of the review were I gush about the amazing male lead. The wonderful love interest that I am super jealous of. Let me tell you now I would never want anything to do with  Damen Auguste. Hot or not the immortal creeped me out. Even though I like Ever, I still think she is stupid for choosing to be with Damen. As an immortal, it’s hard to continue to love the same person for such a long time just ask Damen’s wife, oops you can’t. She’s dead. I wonder who killed her or why she died? I bet you can guess.

I really wanted to get into this series but it’s just not for me, but I can see how a lot of people eat this book up. I read Evermore in a day. I will not be reading the next in the series, though.       

Happy Reading,

It's OK, but I hope I didn't have to pay for it.

Recommended For

Teen: For kissing, talk of sex, some violence.

Other Books in this Series

Spooking The Spine starts Friday with a Giveaway!   

Waiting On Wednesday (18)

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

My Pick This Week

Description

Isobel’s life is falling apart. Her mom just married some guy she met on the internet only three months before, and is moving them to his sprawling, gothic mansion off the coast of nowhere. Goodbye, best friend. Goodbye, social life. Hello, icky new stepfather, crunchy granola town, and unbelievably good-looking, officially off-limits stepbrother.

But on her first night in her new home, Isobel starts to fear that it isn’t only her life that’s unraveling—her sanity might be giving way too. Because either Isobel is losing her mind, just like her artist father did before her, or she’s seeing ghosts. Either way, Isobel’s fast on her way to being the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons.

"Thrilling and creepy, super sexy, and so very hilarious." --Lisa McMann, bestselling author of the Wake trilogy (Goodreads)

Book Details

Title: Unraveling Isobel

Author: Eileen Cook

Genre: YA, Paranormal

Hardcover: 304 pages

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release Date: January 3, 2012

ISBN-10: 1442413271

ISBN-13: 978-1442413276

Why I’m Waiting

This looks like it is going to be a lot of fun! The fact that I could only find one review totally raised my “I have to read and really find out what this book is about” want factor.

What are you waiting on?

Review: Fairy Metal Thunder by J.L. Bryan

Description

Jason, Erin, Mitch and Mildred (“Dred”) are the Assorted Zebras, a teenage garage band in Wisconsin with no fans and no gigs.

Then Jason sneaks into the fairy world and steals four magic-fueled musical instruments, the kind fairies use to enchant and trick humans.

The new instruments make the band a huge overnight success, on their way to rock stardom. But the band members aren’t exactly ready for fame, fortune, or the supernatural creatures sent by the fairies to track them down. (Goodreads)

Book Details

Title: Fairy Metal Thunder

Author: J.L. Bryan

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Published: September 17, 2011

Author’s Website

Source: Author

Review

I am so angry right now. Would you like to know why? It’s because I loved Fairy Metal Thunder! Now I have to wait until December to read more of the story (That’s when Fairy Blues comes out). In case you didn’t know this, I hate waiting. Fairy Metal Thunder took me back to my childhood when I had great dreams of marrying a certain goblin king, yep I had big plans for David Bowie and I. Childhood dreams aside, Fairy Metal Thunder has the same feel that the movie Labyrinth has, this wondrous fantasy world that you’re desperate to have at least a small part of, even to the point of stealing.

Jason is babysitting his little sister when she complains about a monster being in their parents room. When Jason investigates he finds a little green something steeling his mothers jewelry. Jason chases after the monster (Who is Grizlemor a goblin.) and that is how he finds his way into the Fairy world. While he’s there he steals instruments that will help his band. I really liked Jason's character. He tries to make everyone happy, I don’t think it’s that he’s a push over he’s just a teenager. Grizlemor returns to our world after Jason has stolen the fairy instruments to hide from the queen since he is the one that led Jason down in the first place. Grizlemor now lives in Jason’s room with him. I thought this was a fun turn of events as Grizlemor is super disgusting, never bathes, and has Jason bring him horrible things to eat like “Whipped cream and Spam on rye”. I guess that’s the kind of roommate you end up with when you steal from fairies.

Bryan has this way of writing that is so descriptive that I would almost forget I was reading and just watch everything unfold before my eyes. I love being able to see what I’m reading especially when there are so many fantasy elements in the story, and that’s what I got in Fairy Metal Thunder. From the music to the creatures it was all laid out perfectly. speaking of creatures there is one in particular I want to talk about, Buttercake. Buttercake is a unicorn. Unicorns are used sort of like blood hounds in this book and their around the same size…well most of the time. After reading Fairy Metal Thunder I want my own Buttercake! To the point that I’m willing to create a sugar cane swamp in my back yard and everything, I wonder what my chances are of getting an actual unicorn here are?

I loved Fairy Metal Thunder and I am so excited to read more in the Songs of Magic series. The next in the series is Fairy Blues and is due out in December. But why are you still here? Fairy Metal Thunder is just $0.99 for the eBook version. Go get a copy and start reading!

Happy Reading,

Loved it! I want to know about everything this author writes.

Recommended for

12 and up: There is light kissing, and a small bit of dragon violence.

Spooking The Spine Update

Hi everyone,

I am so excited about Spooking The Spine starting Friday. Spooking The Spine is going to run through the month of October. There will be guest post from authors and bloggers, scary book reviews, and giveaways. Speaking of giveaways, I’m going to kick Spooking The Spine off this Friday by giving away copy of a book that creeped me out so bad I couldn’t sleep in my bed for days. Can you guess what it is?

Here is the Spooking The Spine giveaway list

eBooks

Bound Books

I know this is going to be a lot of fun. Halloween is my favorite holiday and I cant wait to share it with all of you. On Wednesdays I was thinking of doing favorite Halloween memories as well as a regular post. Maybe as a vlog? what do y’all think? I’ve never done anything very personal on the blog.

Give me some comment love,

 

Review: The Shaman's Beacon by R.M. Brand

Description

Linda Menendez vacations to Lander, Wyoming and meets Clayton McIntyre, a Texas cowboy who insists he’s a werewolf. He’s a shaman too, complete with a talisman. She ain’t buying it, until that woo-woo turns into whoa-whoa when she sees a wolf being skinned alive. And not just any old wolf, a werewolf. Despite the implications of that, she won’t sit idly by while their corpses are dumped around the small town in Wyoming she’s fallen in love with. She’ll fight back no matter what it takes, but Clayton doesn’t like that one bit. He’ll hog tie her to keep her safe. But then who will keep him safe?

Clayton recognizes his true mate, Linda, the moment they meet. The picture she carries around is him in wolf form, though she refuses to believe it. He mates with her, bonding her to him, and takes her on a shamanic journey to help her accept who she is and the truth about him. But Linda is one very stubborn woman, especially when she decides to take on the pack’s enemies, including a militia led by a fanatic half-blood intent on skinning weres into extinction. No matter how much Clayton tries to convince her that she can trust him, the woman keeps putting herself in harm’s way. If he can’t get her to slow down she’ll end up in the scrap pile right along with him. (Goodreads)

Book Details

Title: The Shaman’s Beacon

Author: R.M. Brand

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Red Sage Publishing

Published: September 1, 2011

ISBN: 1603106642

Author’s Website

Source: Author

Review

Most of you know I’m a sucker  for a good were or shifter story. Um, yeah my rating system is moons. When I got the review request for The Shaman’s Beacon and read the synopsis I jumped at the chance to read this paranormal romance.

I read The Shaman’s Beacon in one day. So obviously it’s a readable book but I have to be honest, there are certain things I look for in a were PNR. One of those things is an amazing male lead who will do anything for his mate. What I got in the The Shaman’s Beacon was Clayton. Clayton drove me crazy! He wanted Linda to change at every turn but he could barley budge an inch. He does not listen to her. He says he has known about her for almost all his life (granted that life has been extra long) but there are all these other women. I’m sorry, but if you’re going to continually throw in someone's face that werewolves mate for life and you say you have just been waiting on this mate to show up, then why make plans for future bootie calls? Made no since to me and did not make me like Clayton at all!

Linda on the other hand I loved. Linda was not a damsel in distress, she was incredibly strong and she got to kick some serious tail. Human and werewolf. I won’t give the book away but when a hero was needed it was Linda who stood and took the role and I loved that. With everything Linda goes through she discovers who she is and the kind of person she wants to be. If Brand does more in this world I hope to see more of Linda because she is amazing!

In the end Clayton does redeem himself. Is it enough? You will have to read the book to find out. I have to say I did enjoy reading this fast passed romance.

Happy Reading,

 

It's good. I had fun for the most part.

 

Recommended For

Adults: For language, violence and graphic sex scenes.

In My Mailbox (12)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.
This quick vlog post about the books we received this week. Enjoy!

The books mentioned in this post are below. Click on the Book image to go to there Goodreads page for more info.

For Review

From used bookstore

All right y’all so that’s what I got in my mailbox. I’m excited to see what you got in yours. Give me some comment love!