Follow Friday (3/1/2013)

Welcome to Follow Me Friday Hosted By Parajunkee.com and Alisoncanread.com

This weeks question:

Confess your blogger sins! Is there anything as a newbie blogger that you've done, that as you've gained more experience you were like -- oops?

My answer:

When I started I accepted like every review request I got. I had no idea what I was doing I was just so excited someone wanted me to read their book. I now do my best to read books that I’m pretty sure I will enjoy, and if I don’t have time to review a book I can ask the author if they want to do a promo or guest post with a giveaway.

Happy Hopping!

Book Blast: The Cypher by Julian Rosado-Machain

GUARDIANS INC.: THE CYPHER

A chance reading of a newspaper ad will send 16 year old Thomas Byrne into the world within our world.

Following the ad he will find Guardians Incorporated. A seven thousand year old organization charged with protecting the balance between Magic and technology.

Through their guidance, technology has kept Magic at bay since the Renaissance, but the balance is shifting and soon all those creatures we've driven into myth and legend will come back with a vengeance.

To protect the present, Guardians Incorporated needs to know the future and to unlock the future
they need a Cypher.

 

Book Trailer

Guardians Inc.: The Cypher is FREE on Kindle, Nook & iBooks

Praise
USA Book News 2012 Finalist -Young Adult Fiction

"Rosado-Machain brings a light, humorous touch to themes of teenage love, loss and betrayal wrapped up in a tasty package of magical coming-of-age."
~Kirkus Reviews

"It's like Julian Rosado-Machain took everything that I love about middle grade children's fiction and slammed it into one awesome, well-paced fantasy"
~Emi London Oktopusink.blogspot.com

"The Cypher hooked me from the beginning. And kept my attention right through to the very end."
- Heidi Roth reviewthebook.com

Get Your Copy for FREE

Amazon * Barnes & Noble *

iTunes

Author Julian Rosado-Machain

Julian has enjoyed pizza in three continents, holds a degree in graphic design, built armored vehicles and computers, handcrafted alebrijes and swears has seen at least one ghost.

He is the Co-owner of Hacienda de Vega Restaurant in San Diego, California and enjoys the sun with his wife, three children and cat.

Website * Facebook

Book Blast Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3/13/13

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 author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting On Wednesday: The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White

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

My Pick

Expected Release Date: September 10th 2013

Publisher: HarperTeen

Isadora’s family is seriously screwed up.

Of course, as the human daughter of Egyptian gods, that pretty much comes with the territory. She’s also stuck with parents who barely notice her, and a house full of relatives who can’t be bothered to remember her name. After all, they are going to be around forever—and she’s a mere mortal.

Isadora’s sick of living a life where she’s only worthy of a passing glance, and when she has the chance to move to San Diego with her brother, she jumps on it. But Isadora’s quickly finding that a “normal” life comes with plenty of its own epic complications—and that there’s no such thing as a clean break when it comes to family. Much as she wants to leave her past behind, she can’t shake the ominous dreams that foretell destruction for her entire family. When it turns out there may be truth in her nightmares, Isadora has to decide whether she can abandon her divine heritage after all.

Goodreads   Amazon

Why I’m Waiting

First, I love Kiersten White’s writing. I can’t imagine me not enjoying a book she writes! Second, I have always found the Egyptian gods and mythology fascinating. I can’t wait to see White’s take on it. And third, well come on, you know that cover is amazing:)

Happy Wednesday!

Excerpt & Giveaway: The Last Keeper’s Daughter by Rebecca Trogner

Click the button to view other tour stops.

The Last Keeper’s Daughter
Book 1 in The Last Keeper’s Daughter Series
Rebecca Trogner
Genre: Paranormal Romance Mystery
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Word Count: 86,360
 

Born into old money, Lily Ayres lives at Waverly, her family’s estate situated at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Paris, Virginia. She is a strange, small, almost mute, young woman who has no idea that her father has given her to the Vampire King Krieger. Walter Ayres is the King’s Keeper and part of a secret society of historians who unearth, preserve, and attempt to understand relics of long forgotten civilizations.

 

Lily has never felt comfortable in the human world, but after she suspiciously falls down a flight of stone steps, and is healed and claimed by Krieger, she realizes there is another world. In this Other Realm she feels a sense of belonging, and begins to untwine the mysterious event which left her mentally and psychologically damaged. When Walter disappears in England, Lily works with human and supernatural beings to uncover his whereabouts. With each new discovery, she is pulled deeper into the vortex of magic, intrigue, and dark desires that permeates the supernatural world. The revelations revealed unfold a story of deception and betrayal that threaten to tear the thin veil between the supernatural and human world asunder.

 
Amazon – Goodreads

 

Excerpt

 

“Do you want me, Lily?”
 
“I don’t know what I want.” It was the honest truth.
 
“I could force you.” He held up his hand. “I could bend your body to my will with one finger.”
 
She wasn’t afraid that he’d hurt her. “That’s not what you want.”
 
His arm fell to his side. “True.” He looked sad.
 
She hoped he didn’t expect a response, because she was too stunned by the conversation to think of anything to say.
 
“You’re pure, and clean, and light. I’ve killed men, and women, and children. I was a soldier long before I became a vampire. Is it possible for you to love a creature such as me?” Krieger didn’t wait for a response. “I’ve overwhelmed you, haven’t I?” His smile was kind. “You have nothing to fear from me. Come.” He held his hand out to her.
 
Like the night they met, she slipped her hand into his.

 

About the Author

 

 

Rebecca Trogner lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and frequently crosses the Blue Ridge Mountains that were the inspiration for Krieger’s home. She always dreamed of being a writer, but got sidetracked by the day-to-day adventures of life. With the encouragement of her family, she has finished her first novel and is currently writing the next book in The Last Keeper’s Daughter series. Rebecca lives with her husband and son, and a rescue dog named Giblet. To find out more about the author visit www.rebeccatrogner.com.

Website – Blog – Twitter – Goodreads

 

Tour Wide Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson

Title: The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back
Author: Sariah Wilson
Print Length: 224 pages
Publisher: Fire & Ice Books (August 15, 2012)
ASIN: B008YIE740
Source: Own

Everyone knows how all those fairy tales go. The princess gets beautiful, nabs her prince, falls instantly in love, lives happily ever after and leaves her evil stepsisters in the dust.

But what happens when you’re the ugly stepsister and your obnoxiously perfect—read pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly nice—stepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you’ve had a thing for since you were nine years old?

Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattie’s secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston.

Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. She’ll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake.

Ella can keep her Prince Annoying. Mattie’s going to rule the school.

And no one, not even a cute and suddenly flirty Jake, is going to stop her. [Goodreads]

Goodreads | Amazon

Review

One evening, while we were reading on the couch, Rebecca ask me what I was reading.  I told her.  She kinda snickered and said, “Do you ever wonder why you read so many girly books?”  And I honestly don’t know, but what I do know is that I’m glad I read them, ‘cause if I didn’t, I would never have come across this The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back!

This book is cliché in all the right ways.  Imagine She’s All That, A Cinderella Story, and any other sappy, silly teen movie about the awkward-girl-get-popular-guy, put them in a blender, sift out the dumb parts and you’re left with something that might be slightly less awesome than this book!

I have started and stopped this review several times trying to put down on paper screen just how awesome this book is.  Y’all, it’s so much fun!  I love the characters, although wanted to slap Mattie around a few times for being such a teenage girl.

I really like Wilson’s take on the Cinderella story.  It was fresh and had an interesting voice.  In a story that is somewhat overdone, Wilson got it right.  I enjoyed every word of this story, it was entertaining and exactly what I needed.  It was light and easy to read, but had depth, was very creative, and written well!

Do yourself a favor and read this book!

4 Moons

Get to reading,

Interview & Giveaway: The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson

Title: The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back
Author: Sariah Wilson
Print Length: 224 pages
Publisher: Fire & Ice Books
Release Date: August 15, 2012 
ASIN: B008YIE740
ISBN: 1479321737
Goodreads   Amazon

Everyone knows how all those fairy tales go. The princess gets beautiful, nabs her prince, falls instantly in love, lives happily ever after and leaves her evil stepsisters in the dust.

But what happens when you’re the ugly stepsister and your obnoxiously perfect—read pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly nice—stepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you’ve had a thing for since you were nine years old?

Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattie’s secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston.

Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. She’ll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake.

Ella can keep her Prince Annoying. Mattie’s going to rule the school.

And no one, not even a cute and suddenly flirty Jake, is going to stop her.

Interview with Sariah Wilson

Hi Sariah! Thanks so much for taking the time to do this interview:)
 
Thanks so much for asking me to do the interview! :)

 
How did the idea for The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back come about?
 

Mattie wouldn’t shut up about it. One night while in bed, I had this snarky voice in my head talking about her oh-so-perfect stepsister, and that was that. I got out of bed and started writing as fast as I could – and was up the whole night writing everything down. I loved the idea of telling the Cinderella story from the perspective of the ugly stepsister.

 
Are your characters based on anyone you know?
 

The mom, Pearl, is based on a real person I met. (And it cracks me up when people say no one would act like her in real life.) But other than that, nope. I take personality traits and sometimes even dialogue from people around me (my 21-year-old sister inadvertently helped me with some of Mattie’s funnier lines), but with this book, these characters pretty much just showed up as they were and I took it from there.

 
What is your writing process? (Do you write outlines? Do you know how a story is going to end when you start it? Is it harder to write with someone or alone?)
 

I do a loose outline. I usually brainstorm A LOT before I start writing. I get an idea, think of the characters, and then I start thinking what the internal/external conflicts will be. I (hopefully) get struck by inspiration and come up with some great dialogue or scenes, and I start placing them into an outline. But I do deviate from that outline and add things in or take them out. I always know where the story’s going to go and how it will end (Happily Ever After, the only acceptable ending, in my opinion). I haven’t actually written with someone yet. Both my dad and my sister have ideas for books, and I hope someday to work with them on those. I’ll let you know how that goes. ;)

 
What is your favorite genre to read?
 

I’m into almost everything. I particularly love to read fun, bouncy, chick-lit type YA books that put a smile on my face. I don’t typically go for the angsty stuff, because I have enough drama in my real life. I love historical romance, contemporary romance, dystopian, fantasy, anything Maeve Binchy has written, classics, paranormal, etc., etc.

 
What are you reading right now?
 

Last night I just started “Anna and the French Kiss.” Loving it so far, but my Kindle died and I have to go recharge it. Before that - my book was nominated as a YA finalist for the Whitney Awards, and I’ve been reading my fellow nominees. Gotta scope out the competition! ;)

 
Can you give us any hints about what happens in book 2?
 

I think there’s going to be a book 1.5 and a book 2. Book 1.5 will be Mattie and Jake at the prom. Book 2 will be Ella’s story, and it will involve her being on a reality show. She will have a couple of love interests and one of them is an extremely hot but rude British rock star/judge.

 
What can we be excited about that is coming from you in the future?
 

Well, I have to get these Mattie and Ella books written. I also have a YA time travel that is the book of my heart and I’ve been writing down notes, dialogue and scenes for years. I hope I can make it as good on paper as it is in my head!

 
That sounds awesome! Thanks so much again for your time today.
 

About The Author

 

Sariah Wilson has never jumped out of an airplane, never climbed Mt. Everest, and is not a former CIA operative. She has, however, been madly, passionately in love with her soulmate and is a fervent believer in happily ever afters—which is why she writes romance. The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back is her fourth happily ever after novel. She grew up in southern California, graduated from Brigham Young University (go Cougars!) with a semi-useless degree in history, and is the oldest of nine (yes, nine) children. She currently lives with the aforementioned soulmate and their four children in Utah, along with three tiger barb fish, a cat named Tiger, and a recently departed hamster that is buried in the backyard (and has nothing at all to do with tigers).

 
Website - Twitter - Facebook

 

Giveaway

 

One lucky person will win

One eBook of The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Children’s Review: Garbage! Monster! Burp! by Tom Watson

Title: Garbage! Monster! Burp!
Author: Tom Watson
Print Length: 40 pages
Publisher: Tom Watson
Release Date: March 9, 2011 
ASIN: B004RCNVWG
Goodreads   Amazon
Source: My tablet:)

A monster at the bottom of a hill eats all of the garbage generated by the town on top of the hill. This provides two important benefits: The monster is happy with plenty to eat and the town stays nice and clean. Unfortunately, as the town grows, so does the amount of garbage the monster must consume. He gets bigger - and he starts burping. This is, as you can probably guess, a bit unsightly and stinky. In the end, the kids figure out how to solve the problem - despite the nasty mayor's doubts and objections.

What I Thought About It

Why I picked this book…

I picked this book because of the title! I thought it was very funny. I also liked that it was free.

What I liked about it

I liked the story. It was easy to read and would be easy to read to my little sisters. I really enjoyed that Garbage! Monster! Burped! rhymed because it made the story more fun. I also thought it was cool that the children where the ones to save the monster and the town with their ideas. The children taught the adults how recycling can make a difference.

I didn’t understand why the Mayor was trying to blame everything on the monster and not on the people who made the trash. 

I really liked the illustrations they were very colorful. I especially liked the monster the way he was drawn and was made with bright colors that made him look very friendly.

Would I recommend other kids read this book?

Yes! I would recommend this book to all kids, even ones younger than me. It was fun to read.

Have fun reading,

 

4 Moons

Don’t Forget to come back next Sunday for more

Stacking The Shelves #19

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is a post for bloggers to share what books they've received to review, bought, won, borrowed or were gifted.

Watch me ramble

For Review

Click the cover image for Goodreads page

I Spent Money On

Click the cover image for Goodreads page

Have you read any of these titles?
Happy Reading,

Follow Friday (2-22-2013)

Welcome to Follow Me Friday Hosted By Parajunkee.com and Alisoncanread.com

This weeks question:

We always talk about books that WE want. Let's turn it on its head. What books have you given other people lately?

My answer:

I gave a book away Tuesday. My middle little sister was wanting Silence, book 3 in the Hush, Hush series, so I gave her a copy.

Breathless Reads author tour GIVEAWAY

Happy Hopping!

Super Cool News: World Book Night!

I first heard about World Book Night through Misty, The Book Rat.

After learning about how awesome this world wide book giving event is I knew I wanted to be a part of it this year. I filled out the application not really thinking I would be accepted as a giver, but wanting to be one so bad.

I got the email today… I am going to be a book giver!!!

I can’t tell you how excited I am to be a part of this amazing day.

More info on World Book Night

World Book Night Website

I don’t know yet what book I will be giving, I will keep you all updated as I get more info.

Happy Reading,

Review: Being Henry David by Cal Armistead

Title: Being Henry David
Author: Cal Armistead
Hardcover: 312 pages
Publisher: Albert Whitman Teen (March 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 080750615X
ISBN-13: 978-0807506158
[Amazon]
Source: NetGalley

Seventeen-year-old "Hank" has found himself at Penn Station in New York City with no memory of anything --who he is, where he came from, why he's running away. His only possession is a worn copy of Walden, by Henry David Thoreau. And so he becomes Henry David-or "Hank" and takes first to the streets, and then to the only destination he can think of--Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Cal Armistead's remarkable debut novel is about a teen in search of himself. Hank begins to piece together recollections from his past. The only way Hank can discover his present is to face up to the realities of his grievous memories. He must come to terms with the tragedy of his past, to stop running, and to find his way home. [Goodreads]

Goodreads | Amazon

 

Review

Being Henry David is one of those books that hits you hard right where it hurts.  It grabs your emotions and rips them from you until there is nothing but pain left.  But it’s worth the pain.  Being Henry David is beautiful.  It’s sad.  It’s redemptive.

After reading Asheley’s review at Into the Hall of Books,  I knew I needed to read this book.  I went to NetGalley, it was still available, and I got it.  Yes, yes I did.

This book, y’all, this book.  I finished it a couple days ago and have been mulling it over.  Goodness, Armistead is a brilliant writer and storyteller.  This is a gripping story, infective story.  It had me reading late into the night several times just to get a few more chapters of the story read.  I wanted to, nay, needed to know what was going to happen next to Hank.

The characters were so real.  Depth of the characters, even in the auxiliary cast, was so impressive.  There’s normally at least once person in a book that I don’t believe in, but everyone in this book is so real.  And Thomas, if you don’t have a special place in your heart for Thomas, then your heart is made of stone…I loved Thomas [in that fatherly respect kind of way]!

This is a book that will haunt you, keep you enraptured, and move you.  Add it to your TBR…like yesterday!

4 Moons

Get to reading,