tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88862590798878075532024-03-18T05:48:34.997-04:00Bending the SpineRebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743273886505961664noreply@blogger.comBlogger788125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-83956685310990736622015-02-08T15:43:00.003-05:002015-02-08T15:43:52.462-05:00Bending The Spine is on break...<div style="text-align: center;">
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Hi everyone!<br />
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I have had a few inquiries as to what happened to us. Well, life has gotten crazy in rl, (between our current family and going through the adoption prosess) we made the collective decision to take a bloggy break.<br />
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Reading is still a huge part of our family and we hope to get back to sharing our bookish love soon. until then...<br />
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Happy reading,<br />
Richard & Rebecca Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743273886505961664noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-44157539887746309782014-11-11T07:26:00.001-05:002014-11-11T07:26:44.348-05:00Sweet Romance Collection and Giveaway<a href="http://www.bookblasttours.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Sweet-and-Clean-Romance-Collection.jpg"><img alt="Sweet and Clean Romance Collection" border="0" class="aligncenter wp-image-2156" src="http://www.bookblasttours.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Sweet-and-Clean-Romance-Collection.jpg" height="262" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="560" /></a><br />
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<strong>Ok clean romance lovers these books are for you!!</strong> Trifecta Books is excited to announce their new line of short contemporary romance novels for e-book. The Sweet and Clean Romance Collection will melt your heart and sweep you off your feet. There are currently four books out with many more titles coming soon. </div>
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<a href="http://www.iamareader.com/2014/10/sweet-clean-romance-collection-blog-tour-sign-ups.html"><img alt="Hearts in Harmony and Something Blue" border="0" class="aligncenter wp-image-26578 size-full" src="http://www.iamareader.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Hearts-in-Harmony-and-Something-Blue.jpg" height="213" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.iamareader.com/2014/10/sweet-clean-romance-collection-blog-tour-sign-ups.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Tour Schedule</span></strong></a></div>
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<strong><a href="http://www.bookblasttours.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/And-Something-Blue.jpg"><img align="left" alt="And Something Blue" border="0" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2158" src="http://www.bookblasttours.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/And-Something-Blue-188x300.jpg" height="300" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="188" /></a></strong><br />
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<strong>And Something Blue by Paige Timothy (Main Street Merchants #1)</strong> </div>
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Bridal consultant Laurie Fletcher spends her days helping others prepare for the most special day of their lives. Will true love ever come her way, or is she doomed to watch others get their happily ever after? </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Something-Blue-Main-Street-Merchants-ebook/dp/B00MZIU0X2?tag=blasttours-20" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Amazon</span></strong></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.bookblasttours.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/For-Love-or-Money.jpg"><img align="right" alt="For Love or Money" border="0" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2157" src="http://www.bookblasttours.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/For-Love-or-Money-182x300.jpg" height="300" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="182" /></a><br />
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<strong>For Love And Money by </strong><strong>Paige Timothy (Main Street Merchants #2)</strong><br />
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Cynical Morgan has just about decided that no one could possibly fall in love with her - all the good guys want perfect girls, and she's anything but perfect. But then along comes the guy who falls head-over-heels in love with her just as she is and helps her find the bright side of life again. </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Money-Main-Street-Merchants-ebook/dp/B00O2IIMQ0?tag=blasttours-20" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Amazon</span></strong></a></div>
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<strong><a href="http://www.bookblasttours.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Hearts-in-Harmony.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Hearts in Harmony" border="0" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2159" src="http://www.bookblasttours.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Hearts-in-Harmony-188x300.jpg" height="300" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="188" /></a></strong><br />
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<strong>Hearts in Harmony by Raine Gillespie (Love Notes #1)</strong><br />
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Elahna Nezario gave up her musical dreams to help run the Queen of Hearts, her mother’s chocolate shop, after her sister’s sudden death. After an unfortunate run-in with Elahna’s childhood crush, owner of the Dolce Theater, not only do her dreams surge back to life, but so does her heart. </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Harmony-Love-Notes-Book-ebook/dp/B00MZJBQ8E?tag=blasttours-20" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Amazon</span></strong></a></div>
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<strong><a href="http://www.bookblasttours.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Waltzing-on-Wheels.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Waltzing on Wheels" border="0" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2160" src="http://www.bookblasttours.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Waltzing-on-Wheels-182x300.jpg" height="300" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="182" /></a></strong><br />
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<strong>Waltzing on Wheels by Raine Gillespie (Love Notes #2)</strong><br />
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Meredith Aaron lost all hope for love after a car accident put her in a wheelchair. Who would want her, broken as she is? After her brother tells her to save a dance for him at his wedding, she decides to somehow learn how to dance on the only legs she has left—her wheels. </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Waltzing-Wheels-Love-Notes-Book-ebook/dp/B00O1RE9L4?tag=blasttours-20" target="_blank"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Amazon</span></strong></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Blog Tour Giveaway</span></strong> </div>
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$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 11/20/14 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 <a href="http://iamareader.com/" target="_blank">I Am A Reader</a> and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.<br />
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Happy reading!<br />
Good luck in the giveaway<img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ODSjgqdXX6A/VGH_67U9kKI/AAAAAAAAEvg/v1CrqAYydZ0/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QGGcMJm3cBQ/VGH_7RYmPDI/AAAAAAAAEvk/YTeDn_8_TDA/s1600-h/405963466341715050814%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="405963466341715050814" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-H_Z6UD5Xook/VGH_8LOKmdI/AAAAAAAAEvs/yP2WFvLpGpY/405963466341715050814_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="33" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="405963466341715050814" width="87" /></a>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743273886505961664noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-48810087030092401422014-11-04T09:00:00.000-05:002014-11-04T09:00:02.715-05:00Review: Gray Mountain by John Grisham<img align="left" alt="20707959" height="449" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403704671l/20707959.jpg" style="display: inline; float: left;" width="300" /><br />
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<b>Gray Mountain</b><br />
<strong>John Grisham</strong><br />
<b>Print Length:</b> 386 pages <br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Doubleday<br />
<strong>Release Date</strong>: October 21, 2014<br />
<strong>Source</strong>: Audible<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20707959-gray-mountain?ac=1" target="_blank"><strong>Goodreads</strong></a><strong> | </strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gray-Mountain-John-Grisham-ebook/dp/B00JYWUHO4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414932330&sr=1-1&keywords=gray+mountain" target="_blank"><strong>Amazon</strong></a><strong> | </strong><a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Gray-Mountain-Audiobook/B00LWEW8RG/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1414932701&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><strong>Aubidle</strong></a><br />
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<b><b>John Grisham has a <b>n</b>ew hero . . . and she’s full of surprises</b></b><br />
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The year is 2008 and Samantha Kofer’s career at a huge Wall Street law firm is on the fast track—until the recession hits and she gets downsized, furloughed, escorted out of the building. Samantha, though, is one of the “lucky” associates. She’s offered an opportunity to work at a legal aid clinic for one year without pay, after which there would be a slim chance that she’d get her old job back.<br />
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In a matter of days Samantha moves from Manhattan to Brady, Virginia, population 2,200, in the heart of Appalachia, a part of the world she has only read about. Mattie Wyatt, lifelong Brady resident and head of the town’s legal aid clinic, is there to teach her how to “help real people with real problems.” For the first time in her career, Samantha prepares a lawsuit, sees the inside of an actual courtroom, gets scolded by a judge, and receives threats from locals who aren’t so thrilled to have a big-city lawyer in town. And she learns that Brady, like most small towns, harbors some big secrets.<br />
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Her new job takes Samantha into the murky and dangerous world of coal mining, where laws are often broken, rules are ignored, regulations are flouted, communities are divided, and the land itself is under attack from Big Coal. Violence is always just around the corner, and within weeks Samantha finds herself engulfed in litigation that turns deadly.</blockquote>
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I was really excited about this book! I mean, read that <strike>misleading</strike> <strike>inaccurate</strike> summary! It sounds awesome! I was excited about reading a new release (I even preordered through Audible!) from an author I grew up reading, that <em>should</em> have felt like coming home. I was expecting something energetic like <em>The Client</em> or <em>The Firm</em>. <em>Gray Mountain</em> is far from what I was expecting. Instead, it felt like coming home to the house your parents moved into while you were away at college: unfamiliar.<br />
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I scanned a few Goodreads reviews to get hints about what other people felt, to help direct my thoughts, and noticed several people called this an “issue novel.” While I understand what the nomenclature means, I didn’t see <em>Gray Mountain</em> in the light. It is an intriguing novel, one that does comment—within the context of fiction—how deplorably coal miners have been (possibly still are?) treated. Yet, even if <em>Gray Mountain</em> is an “issue novel,” it is a compelling story.<br />
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Even though <em>Gray Mountain</em> is compelling, it felt lacking—lacking the essentials of what I have considered a John Grisham novel. It felt very flat, almost as if Grisham had lost his mojo. I waited and waited for there to be some mystery/suspense. And it never came. The parts that were more action-like passed quickly, and weren’t very action-packed. This should be placed in the “contemporary” category, more than mystery/suspense.<br />
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That is my issue with <em>Gray Mountain—</em>that in some 10 hours of listening, not much really happens. No intense chase scenes, or shootouts, or anything…<em>exciting</em>. And there is minimal growth of the main character. I was hoping and wishing that she would step up to the challenge, (wo)man up, as it were, and do what needed to be done. <strong>{SPOILER}</strong> But she didn’t. She whined and “woe-d is me” for 99% of the book—lamenting the life she left behind in New York, only redeeming herself in the 11th hour.<br />
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I finished it up on my commute home, and as soon as I had the chance, I pulled up Goodreads to see if this was the first in a series…which it is not. And so I’m baffled. I’m confused about what I’m supposed to feel after reading this book. I’m confused about what the <em>actual</em> story is. <strong>{SPOILER}</strong> I’m confused about why there is no ending. There is no epilogue, or dialogue, or anything to complete the plot. There is no resolution of all the clients we’re invested in. How do they all turn out!?!?!<br />
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Which has led us to my biggest dilemma: how do I rate this book? I’ve spent two days thinking, mulling, and evaluating. And I’m still wavering between two different ratings. I’m resting firmly between a two and a four. Here’s why: I enjoyed the <em>premise</em> of the story (4 out of 5), yet the <em>deficits</em> in the action/excitement and the Swiss-cheese of plot holes give me pause (2 out of 5). For the sake of simplicity, I guess I’m on the fence about <em>Gray Mountain</em>. So, I guess this is a solid 3.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-islfXx5AVjs/VFYqLgW2AEI/AAAAAAAAC28/MyKxWkScEx0/s1600-h/rating%2525203%252520of%2525205%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="rating 3 of 5" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vwQZTvuPV5Y/VFYqMceLWGI/AAAAAAAAC3E/VCA3pTGVV7I/rating%2525203%252520of%2525205_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="92" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="rating 3 of 5" width="240" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3nt2s24VvqQ/VFYqM8UbJ2I/AAAAAAAAC3I/iVz4FxpMC94/s1600-h/richard%252520signature%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="richard signature" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZGGMRljWRRk/VFYqNX5zbwI/AAAAAAAAC3U/IcY9R_i9PkQ/richard%252520signature_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="66" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="richard signature" width="240" /></a>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12497448616701782816noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-18365865016620819192014-11-03T07:32:00.000-05:002014-11-03T07:32:02.354-05:00Giveaway: Nocte by Courtney Cole<a href="http://www.inkslingerpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Nocte-RDL-Banner.jpg"><img alt="Nocte RDL Banner" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5927" src="http://www.inkslingerpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Nocte-RDL-Banner.jpg" height="300" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" /></a> <br />
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We are beyond excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Courtney Cole's NOCTE! NOCTE is a New Adult dark romantic psychological suspense novel. Hang on tight because this book will blow you away...</h3>
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<a href="http://www.inkslingerpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Nocte.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Nocte" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5942" src="http://www.inkslingerpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Nocte.jpg" height="450" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="281" /></a> <br />
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My name is Calla Price. I’m eighteen years old, and I’m one half of a whole. My other half-- my twin brother, my Finn-- is crazy. I love him. More than life, more than anything. And even though I’m terrified he’ll suck me down with him, no one can save him but me. I’m doing all I can to stay afloat in a sea of insanity, but I’m drowning more and more each day. So I reach out for a lifeline. Dare DuBray. He’s my savior and my anti-Christ. His arms are where I feel safe, where I’m afraid, where I belong, where I’m lost. He will heal me, break me, love me and hate me. He has the power to destroy me. Maybe that’s ok. Because I can’t seem to save Finn and love Dare without everyone getting hurt. Why? Because of a secret. A secret I’m so busy trying to figure out, that I never see it coming. You won’t either.</h2>
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<strong><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nocte-courtney-cole/1120671795?ean=2940150666368"><span style="color: #809ec2;">Barnes & Noble</span></a> ** </strong><a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/nocte-1"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Kobo</span></strong></a><strong> ** </strong><a href="http://smarturl.it/NOCTEAmazon"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Amazon</span></strong></a><strong> ** </strong><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/nocte/id930961307?ls=1&mt=11"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">iBooks</span></strong></a></h2>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Book Trailer</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">About the Author</span></strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.inkslingerpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Headshot.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Headshot" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5938" src="http://www.inkslingerpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Headshot.jpg" height="280" style="display: inline; float: right;" width="200" /></a></div>
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<strong>ABOUT COURTNEY COLE:</strong> Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could. She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds. She loves chocolate and roller coasters and hates waiting and rude people. Courtney lives in quiet suburbia, close to Lake Michigan, with her real-life Prince Charming, her ornery kids (there is a small chance that they get their orneriness from their mother) and a small domestic zoo. </div>
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<a href="http://www.courtneycoleauthor.com/"><strong>Website</strong></a> |<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Courtney-Cole-Author/172246529496995?ref=hl"><strong>Facebook</strong></a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Court_Writes"><strong>Twitter</strong></a> | <a href="http://www.courtneycoleauthor.com/#!contact/c1kcz"><strong>Newsletter SignUp</strong></a>|<a href="http://pinterest.com/courtwritesya/"><strong>Pinterest</strong></a></h3>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9172c1a0213/" id="rc-9172c1a0213" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></div>
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My review for Nocte will be up a little later this week, but let me go ahead and say this book was a rush! It is one of those that when you get to the end you are angry because you have to wait to see what happens in the next book and are already so invested in the story. Go get this today!!! </div>
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Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743273886505961664noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-54951832178463851172014-11-01T08:06:00.000-04:002014-11-01T08:06:15.808-04:00Stacking The Shelves 11.1.2014<div align="center">
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Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://www.tyngasreviews.com/"><b><span style="color: #809ec2;">Tynga's Reviews</span></b></a> and is a post for bloggers to share what books they've received to review, bought, won, borrowed or were gifted.</div>
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As always click on the image to go to the Goodreads page.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What I got this week:</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20705702-burn-for-me?from_search=true"><img alt="Burn for Me (Hidden Legacy, #1)" border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396368355l/20705702.jpg" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="251" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17409835-archangel-s-shadows"><img alt="Archangel's Shadows (Guild Hunter, #7)" border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1394162943l/17409835.jpg" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="252" /></a></div>
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I am already enjoying Archangel’s Shadows! Nalini Singh is my favorite author and I have been anticipating Ash and Janvier’s story for some time. I hope to have the review up soon.</div>
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Burn For Me is the start of a new series from the married duo that make up Ilona Adrews. I hope to get to Burn For Me soon! Their Kate Daniels series is one of my favorites.</div>
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That’s it for me this week.<br />Can’t wait to see what you got!<br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8A2LJWoqr2E/U-8vD6z0D-I/AAAAAAAAEog/51-vXNHwxh8/s1600-h/405963466341715050814%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="405963466341715050814" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KS5iDPuNIYw/U-8vEe8EPOI/AAAAAAAAEoo/PYxzILSEbvY/405963466341715050814_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="33" title="405963466341715050814" width="87" /></a>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743273886505961664noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-54895945198154344642014-10-30T09:00:00.000-04:002014-10-30T09:00:01.758-04:00Review: Rootless by Chris Howard<img align="left" alt="13591672" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1338286304l/13591672.jpg" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br />
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<strong>Rootless</strong><br />
<strong>Chris Howard</strong><br />
<b>Print Edition:</b> 336 pages <br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Scholastic Inc.<br />
<strong>Release Date: </strong>November 1, 2012<br />
<strong>Source</strong>: Aubidle<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13591672-rootless" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545387892/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0545387892&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Teens/Rootless-Audiobook/B0098ONMNG/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1413758317&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Audible</a><br />
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17-year-old Banyan is a tree builder. Using salvaged scrap metal, he creates forests for rich patrons who seek a reprieve from the desolate landscape. Although Banyan's never seen a real tree--they were destroyed more than a century ago--his missing father used to tell him stories about the Old World.<br />
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Everything changes when Banyan meets a mysterious woman with a strange tattoo--a map to the last living trees on earth, and he sets off across a wasteland from which few return. Those who make it past the pirates and poachers can't escape the locusts . . . the locusts that now feed on human flesh.<br />
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But Banyan isn't the only one looking for the trees, and he's running out of time. Unsure of whom to trust, he's forced to make an alliance with Alpha, an alluring, dangerous pirate with an agenda of her own. As they race towards a promised land that might only be a myth, Banyan makes shocking discoveries about his family, his past, and how far people will go to bring back the trees.</blockquote>
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I first learned of this book from Asheley over at Into the Hall of Books when she posted <a href="http://www.intothehallofbooks.com/2012/10/my-thoughts-on-rootless-by-chris-howard.html?spref=tw" target="_blank">THIS</a> gushing review. I added it to my TBR. And now I’ve finished it. <br />
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I can honestly say, that if Asheley hadn’t convinced me in her review, this isn’t something I would have chosen on my own. The names, the setup, the lure of trees…it all seemed kinda hokey. But I would have judged wrong. Way wrong. <br />
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What Howard gives us in a world that is raw and vast and void and so many unknown variables. There are some clichés, things/people/places typical of the post-dystopian genre. When you look at the big picture it all works to weave an intriguing, enrapturing story that kept me rooted to my seat reading this.<br />
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I love the world that Howard created with the Big Bad Guy and the fighting-tooth-and-nails-to-survive little guy. I love the intrigue and suspense. And that people die at a <em>Game of Thrones</em> pace—that you being to care about them, and then Howard kills them off! I love that it’s heartbreaking and nerve-wracking. I love you don’t really know what’s coming next. I love that each character has a unique voice (yes, I read this as an audiobook, but even without the voice actor, each character was unique), that they were true to themselves through the entire book, even if they made the wrong choice. I love that there are difficult decisions that have to be made, and they are torn to shreds over what to do.<br />
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The things, and there’s only a couple, that annoyed me are Banyan's single-mindedness and that Howard used the various forms of “reckon” frequently.<br />
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Y’all, there was a point where I was sure that I would finish Rootless, but not continue the series. Then Howard put some more words down and changed my mind.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cmdUX0xfk0g/VERORmFeK4I/AAAAAAAAC2U/5bj16m8xhkw/s1600-h/rating%2525204%252520of%2525205%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="rating 4 of 5" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AcCsFHZjebA/VEROSCgaCWI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/ABdy7N9Pbxk/rating%2525204%252520of%2525205_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="92" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="rating 4 of 5" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-H-lDncPOuMc/VEROSjoTruI/AAAAAAAAC2g/WWQBdrmx4dQ/s1600-h/richard%252520signature%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="richard signature" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jWPnsAcJFOg/VEROTKVqTFI/AAAAAAAAC2o/mZnr2xR32DE/richard%252520signature_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="66" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="richard signature" width="240" /></a>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12497448616701782816noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-44334771667295644982014-10-28T09:00:00.000-04:002014-10-28T09:00:09.550-04:00Review: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews<img align="left" alt="12700353" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337216932l/12700353.jpg" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br />
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<strong>Me and Earl and the Dying Girl </strong><br />
<strong>Jesse Andrews</strong><br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Harry N. Abrams <br />
<b>Print Edition: </b>304 pages <br />
<strong>Release Date: </strong>March 1, 2012<br />
<strong>Source</strong>: Library<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12700353-me-and-earl-and-the-dying-girl?ac=1" target="_blank"><strong>Goodreads</strong></a><strong> | </strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1419701762/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1419701762&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2" target="_blank"><strong>Amazon</strong></a><br />
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Up until senior year, Greg has maintained total social invisibility. He only has one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time—when not playing video games and avoiding Earl’s terrifying brothers— making movies, their own versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics. Greg would be the first one to tell you his movies are f*@$ing terrible, but he and Earl don’t make them for other people. Until Rachel.<br />
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Rachel has leukemia, and Greg’s mom gets the genius idea that Greg should befriend her. Against his better judgment and despite his extreme awkwardness, he does. When Rachel decides to stop treatment, Greg and Earl make her a movie, and Greg must abandon invisibility and make a stand. It’s a hilarious, outrageous, and truthful look at death and high school by a prodigiously talented debut author.</blockquote>
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Y’all, when I found this, I thought it might be a little like <em>The Fault in our Stars.</em> To some extent it was. What it was not, however, is heartfelt, life-affirming, or serious. <br />
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<em>Me and Earl and the Dying Girl</em> is not so much about the dying girl (Rachel) as it is about how being friends with Rachel changes Greg and Earl and their journey through this growth. It’s irreverent, funny, and so strikingly honest that it will beat you about the head and neck. It reveals how teens deal with death, and sickness, in a way that you can relate and understand, but also as the same time feels genuine yet tongue-in-cheek. <br />
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Andrews writes Greg in such a self-deprecating way that at times, and there are very few of them, that you want to slap him and say, “Just get on with the story!” I do like that Greg isn’t taking any of this seriously from beginning to end. I enjoyed Andrews’ voice, pacing, story-telling.<br />
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<em>MEDG</em> is definitely irreverent and almost offensive. But ultimately, it’s a good read, lots of fun, and, if you like things a little disrespectful, you should check this out.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KoKUFag3VVc/VEQ5Iak4S8I/AAAAAAAAC1s/oMQoptkaCDo/s1600-h/rating%2525204%252520of%2525205%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="rating 4 of 5" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bysGaT8ZcVc/VEQ5I--Ii2I/AAAAAAAAC10/YFKNpGe6v6I/rating%2525204%252520of%2525205_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="92" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="rating 4 of 5" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gGHeU0N-ctc/VEQ5JertLcI/AAAAAAAAC14/U1rP6VoOEhg/s1600-h/richard%252520signature%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="richard signature" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-S0OhukbzWMU/VEQ5J5vyQcI/AAAAAAAAC2E/lCwN5AlVR8s/richard%252520signature_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="66" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="richard signature" width="240" /></a>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12497448616701782816noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-78092408122571526912014-10-23T09:00:00.000-04:002014-10-23T09:00:02.743-04:00Review: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson<br />
<img align="left" alt="9802372" border="0" height="562" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327880449l/9802372.jpg" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="380" /><br />
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<b>The Name of the Star</b></div>
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<strong>Maureen Johnson</strong></div>
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<b>Series:</b> The Shades of London (Book 1)</div>
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<b>Print Edition:</b> 384 pages </div>
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<b>Publisher:</b> Putnam Juvenile</div>
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<strong>Release Date: </strong>September 29, 2011</div>
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<strong><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9802372-the-name-of-the-star" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Name-Star-Shades-London/dp/0399256601/ref=sr_1_1_title_2_har?ie=UTF8&qid=1413246187&sr=8-1&keywords=the+name+of+the+star" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Teens/The-Name-of-the-Star-Audiobook/B005NC8FZ2/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1413246647&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Audible</a></strong></div>
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The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.</div>
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Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.</div>
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Y’all, I didn’t really know what to expect when I started this. I did know that my 18yo sister-in-law really enjoyed this book. And that it had been on my TBR list <em>forever.</em> So I finally downloaded it from Audible. And I’m so glad I did!<br />
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<em>The Name of the Star</em> is all kinds of amazing! The storytelling, the world building, both the relationship and personal growth. And obviously the paranormal parts!<br />
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I know I’m <em>seriously</em> late to the game on reading this one (it released in2011!), and even though most of you all have read it, I’m going to try hard to keep this spoiler-free…for the small fraction of society that hasn’t read it yet!<br />
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Rory is off boarding school in London. She’s like the fish out of water—grew up in Louisiana, as Southern as they come. I appreciated that Johnson didn’t overdo Rory, or make her a caricature of a Southern teen—her voice is authentic and honest. All the characters seem that way, too—genuine. There wasn’t a single character (except the bad guy) that I didn’t like! And then, just when I’m pretty comfortable with everyone, Johnson surprises us with Boo…she is so great, mysterious, but great. And you know something’s up with her. And the <em>something</em> doesn’t disappoint!<br />
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I swear, Johnson is a magician! She knows exactly when to mix things up! There’s the thing with Boo and Rory during the dance with a phone and a car and…you just don’t know. I almost cried!<br />
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And then there’s the big event. And it’s HUGE, and it’s masterfully written. And it ends on a perfect note.<br />
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So, y’all, if you haven’t yet read <em>The Name of the Star</em>, you should. I will continue the series!<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MebTKp1oOhE/VDxwRk_EVEI/AAAAAAAAC1E/svBVkGDs1vI/s1600-h/rating%2525205%252520of%2525205%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="rating 5 of 5" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ls41NpO_TiY/VDxwSPDyWcI/AAAAAAAAC1I/9-TyUmF6ToY/rating%2525205%252520of%2525205_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="92" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="rating 5 of 5" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZyWrIs0d3GQ/VDxwSZ1ObqI/AAAAAAAAC1Q/yWqvq_CHlo4/s1600-h/richard%252520signature%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="richard signature" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bXIYfImAHA0/VDxwS4WeWuI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/NpDLUiv9Kb8/richard%252520signature_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="66" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="richard signature" width="240" /></a>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12497448616701782816noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-72580549786526632992014-10-21T20:18:00.000-04:002014-10-21T20:18:50.074-04:00Waiting on Wednesday: Beautiful Curse by Jen McConnel<br />
"Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at “<a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Breaking the Spine</span></strong></a>”, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">What I'm Waiting On?</span></b><br />
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<img align="left" alt="Beautiful Curse" border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1411563238l/20706772.jpg" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="271" /></div>
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<b>Publisher:</b> Swoon Romance <br />
<strong>Release Date:</strong> December 9, 2014 <br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20706772-beautiful-curse?ac=1"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Goodreads</span></strong></a> – <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Curse-Jen-McConnel-ebook/dp/B00O2JKYGU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413935399&sr=1-1&keywords=Beautiful+Curse"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Amazon</span></strong></a> <br />
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Sixteen-year-old Mya Jones is cursed.<br />
She is, hands down, the most beautiful creature on earth. But beauty can wound, and Mya finds herself reviled and shunned by her peers. If there is even a chance that she could start over, Mya longs to take it, no matter the risks.</div>
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So when the strange Mr. Merk offers her a new life away from home, Mya is hesitant but hopeful. Only she didn't count on the mysterious Ross, or her feelings for him.</div>
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BEAUTIFUL CURSE is a contemporary retelling of the myth of Psyche and Cupid.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></strong>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Why I’m waiting</span></strong> <br />
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I honestly don’t know much about Beautiful Curse, but I am excited to see what Jen McConnel has done with this myth. I also think the cover is nice! What do you think? </div>
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Is Beautiful Curse on your to read list?<br />
Can’t wait to see what books you are wanting this week?<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JglCa0xwNFI/VDUkZ8Emh5I/AAAAAAAAEtA/UOd97JwCP34/s1600-h/405963466341715050814%25255B9%25255D.png"><img alt="405963466341715050814" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4BmRbsfHYlg/VDUkahKJ21I/AAAAAAAAEtE/KGAeTOSMduI/405963466341715050814_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="33" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="405963466341715050814" width="87" /></a>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743273886505961664noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-68641168504715179172014-10-21T09:00:00.000-04:002014-10-21T09:00:07.983-04:00Review: The One by Kiera Cass<br />
<img align="left" alt="20572939" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390089765l/20572939.jpg" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br />
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<strong>The One</strong><br />
<strong>Kiera Cass</strong><br />
<b>Print Edition:</b> 336 pages <br />
<b>Publisher:</b> HarperTeen <br />
<strong>Release Date:</strong> May 6, 2014<br />
<strong>Source:</strong> Library<br />
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<strong><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20572939-the-one?ac=1" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-One-Selection-Kiera-Cass/dp/0062059998/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_har?ie=UTF8&qid=1412435542&sr=8-1&keywords=the+one" target="_blank">Amazon</a></strong><br />
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The highly anticipated third book in Kiera Cass's #1 <em>New York Times</em> bestselling Selection series, <em>The One</em> will captivate readers who love dystopian YA fiction and fairy tales. <em>The One</em> is perfect for the fans who have followed America's whirlwind romance since it began—and a swoon-worthy read for teens who have devoured Veronica Roth's <em>Divergent</em>, Ally Condie's <em>Matched</em>, or Lauren Oliver's <em>Delirium</em>.<br />
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<em>The Selection</em> changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen—and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants.<br />
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Find out who America will choose in <em>The One</em>, the enchanting, beautifully romantic third book in the Selection series!</blockquote>
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Y’all, I reread my review of the first two books (<a href="http://bendingthespine.blogspot.com/2013/12/two-reviews-for-price-of-one-selection_10.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>) and I surprised myself…I actually liked them! <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">{</span><a href="http://giphy.com/gifs/movie-smoking-wow-g9FfBJzCc8eAg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">source</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">} </span></div>
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I actually forced myself to finish <em>The One</em> simply to have finished it. I didn’t care about what happened to anyone. I can’t figure out how Cass managed to get a 3-book deal on this—the entire plot line could have fit neatly into one 3-400 page book. <br />
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<em>The One </em>moved so incredibly slow that it felt like I was moving backwards most of the time, and when something exciting <em>did</em> take place, it was a brief page or two. America annoyed me so much. I couldn’t get over how unbelievably stubborn and idiotic she was—throughout the entire series. <br />
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One of the things I look for in a series, is “Do the characters grow?” I think everyone had substantial amounts of growth while America grew only slightly. Also, “Are there holes?” Cass opened up plotlines that weren’t addressed (i.e. America’s dad was a rebel?!?! What are the implications of that? And what about Kriss?). And, how could Maxon recover so quickly from the loss of his parents? And what about Celeste? Did Maxon change the world, were they able to make a difference? …See, too many unanswered questions. <br />
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I do not agree that this book was enchanting, beautiful, or romantic.<br />
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I did, however, like the Epilogue, except for the cheesy last two lines of it. <br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DlcvIZ1FeKI/VDAWKkA3_nI/AAAAAAAAC0c/NOAZFREbSjQ/s1600-h/rating%2525201%252520of%2525205%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="rating 1 of 5" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Rp0Aoc1LGlo/VDAWK83LF3I/AAAAAAAAC0g/Ye68RsWynh8/rating%2525201%252520of%2525205_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="92" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="rating 1 of 5" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nC5mTrp704k/VDAWLXgS8KI/AAAAAAAAC0o/sZkpXHWRBhU/s1600-h/richard%252520signature%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="richard signature" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sYoo94U622M/VDAWMOfjk-I/AAAAAAAAC00/NK5z2RBbH2A/richard%252520signature_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="66" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="richard signature" width="240" /></a>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12497448616701782816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-31293042736678667112014-10-16T09:00:00.000-04:002014-10-16T09:00:02.997-04:00Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell<img align="left" alt="16068905" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1355886270l/16068905.jpg" style="display: inline; float: left;" /><br />
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<blockquote>
<b>Fangirl</b><br />
<strong>Rainbow Rowell</strong><br />
<b>Print Edition:</b> 448 pages <br />
<b>Publisher:</b> St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition<br />
<strong>Release Date: </strong>September 10, 2013)<br />
<strong>Source: </strong>Audible<br />
<br />
<strong><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16068905-fangirl?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | </strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fangirl-Rainbow-Rowell/dp/1250030951/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1412434474&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><strong>Amazon</strong></a><strong> | <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Teens/Fangirl-Audiobook/B00E9Z7K46/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1412434929&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Audible</a></strong><br />
<br />
Cath is a Simon Snow fan.<br />
<br />
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...<br />
<br />
But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.<br />
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Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.<br />
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Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to. <br />
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.<br />
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For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?<br />
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Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?<br />
And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?</blockquote>
<br />
I’ve been mulling this book over for a few days. I can’t quite decide how I feel about it. It’s like I’m having a love-hate relationship with it—along the lines of “I want to love it” but still feeling like I can’t quite give in to those feelings.<br />
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Cath is quirky, nerdy, and straight-up weird. Borderline crazy. And I didn’t understand why Rowell picked such a neurotic voice to be the main character. But the more I learned of Cath, the more I began to understand her, feel her pains and anxieties. I began to really relate to her…and like her character. She was pretty dumb at points, and there were several, “Oh, I know where Rowell is going with this” points in the plotline, but honestly y’all, I really liked <em>Fangirl</em>. <br />
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I think of all the people in the book, Levi and Regan are my favorites. I love their dynamic, and how the embraced Cath and her idiosyncrasies and brought her into their club. I’m glad, though, that they weren’t the main characters…I think that seeing too much of them together might have been a bad thing. <br />
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Cath, for all my love for her, annoyed me immensely at times. I wanted frequently to punch her in her throat and yell at her and tell her to get over herself. The obsession with Simon Snow <em>was </em>weird—I didn’t understand it at all. But I do understand that people get obsessed with things. I think it was the snippets of the “books” that Rowell included—Snow is a selfish, bratty, unlikeable twerp. Which might have been on purpose. Ms. Rowell, if you read this, did you write Snow that way to be tongue-in-cheek? Please, I really do want to know.<br />
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All-in-all, Rebecca was right, this was a enjoyable story. It’s a contemporary, a genre I don’t read often, and even the lack of the magical, paranormal, and mystery, I would recommend this. To everyone.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lYPyQpDqg2Y/VDAMbVQKDZI/AAAAAAAACz0/ubiAAElorbY/s1600-h/rating%2525204%252520of%2525205%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="rating 4 of 5" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-waMt7U9aWMk/VDAMbyqJRCI/AAAAAAAACz4/jt6AQx3XSyw/rating%2525204%252520of%2525205_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="92" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="rating 4 of 5" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xL6_ke7eYGc/VDAMcdA94OI/AAAAAAAAC0E/S4cDqsuMO9E/s1600-h/richard%252520signature%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="richard signature" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kS_017-7i_w/VDAMc4ffhOI/AAAAAAAAC0M/7C_RnUNYhX8/richard%252520signature_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="66" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="richard signature" width="240" /></a>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12497448616701782816noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-28693417288765699852014-10-14T20:00:00.000-04:002014-10-14T20:00:01.651-04:00Waiting on Wednesday: Gray Mountain by John Grisham<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gray-Mountain-Novel-John-Grisham/dp/038553714X/ref=zg_bsnr_books_18"><img align="left" alt="clip_image001" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lc4F4huTUn0/VCiluFWj6MI/AAAAAAAACzU/kGHteRgeXNk/clip_image001%25255B171%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="494" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="clip_image001" width="325" /></a><br />
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<blockquote>
<b>{Releases 10.21.2014}</b><br />
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<b>John Grisham has a new hero . . . and she’s full of surprises</b><br />
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The year is 2008 and Samantha Kofer’s career at a huge Wall Street law firm is on the fast track—until the recession hits and she gets downsized, furloughed, escorted out of the building. Samantha, though, is one of the “lucky” associates. She’s offered an opportunity to work at a legal aid clinic for one year without pay, after which there would be a slim chance that she’d get her old job back.<br />
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In a matter of days Samantha moves from Manhattan to Brady, Virginia, population 2,200, in the heart of Appalachia, a part of the world she has only read about. Mattie Wyatt, lifelong Brady resident and head of the town’s legal aid clinic, is there to teach her how to “help real people with real problems.” For the first time in her career, Samantha prepares a lawsuit, sees the inside of an actual courtroom, gets scolded by a judge, and receives threats from locals who aren’t so thrilled to have a big-city lawyer in town. And she learns that Brady, like most small towns, harbors some big secrets.<br />
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Her new job takes Samantha into the murky and dangerous world of coal mining, where laws are often broken, rules are ignored, regulations are flouted, communities are divided, and the land itself is under attack from Big Coal. Violence is always just around the corner, and within weeks Samantha finds herself engulfed in litigation that turns deadly.</blockquote>
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<b>Why I’m waiting:</b></div>
You may know I grew up reading John Grisham. I’m excited about getting back to my roots, to read something that <i>hopefully</i> will feel like coming home. I also have <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sycamore-Jake-Brigance-John-Grisham/dp/0385537131/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1411948551&sr=8-1">Sycamore Row</a></i> (released in 2013) in my queue.<br />
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What are you waiting on?<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3AE3RvGjoTQ/VCiluhgE4kI/AAAAAAAACzY/Lgg4jMRc30k/s1600-h/richard%252520signature%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="richard signature" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CLCdMXIihno/VCilvHm_qgI/AAAAAAAACzk/8zsMZ-dZ8go/richard%252520signature_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="66" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="richard signature" width="240" /></a>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12497448616701782816noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-1495227725125533212014-10-14T09:00:00.000-04:002014-10-14T09:00:00.338-04:00Review: The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler<img align="left" alt="10959277" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1366214559l/10959277.jpg" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br />
<blockquote>
<b>The Future of Us <br />Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler <br />Publisher: Razorbill; First Edition edition <br />Publish Date: November 21, 2011 <br />Source: Audible </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10959277-the-future-of-us?ac=1" target="_blank"><b>Goodreads</b></a><b> | </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Future-Us-Jay-Asher/dp/1595144919/ref=sr_1_1_title_2_har?ie=UTF8&qid=1411943282&sr=8-1&keywords=the+future+of+us" target="_blank"><b>Amazon</b></a><b> | </b><a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Teens/The-Future-of-Us-Audiobook/B006C253GQ/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1411943591&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><b>Audible</b></a><br />
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It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail, his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.<br />
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By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present.</blockquote>
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Ok you guys…I’m a little late to the party on this one. It’s been on my TBR forever, and I finally got it it the other day and listened during my commute. I finished it. And now I’ve mulled it over. <br />
<br />
I LOVED <i>Thirteen Reasons Why</i>, so when I heard about this one, I added it ASAP to my TBR. However, I was a little bit letdown. I don’t know exactly what I expected from <i>TFoS</i>, but I don’t think I got it. <br />
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I did not like Emma for most of the book. She’s bratty and annoying. Josh seems very levelheaded and real about things, albeit a teenage boy. Asher/Mackler wrote both characters very honestly and genuine, and I appreciated that. But the story as a whole just lacked <i>something.</i><br />
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I think that maybe there needed to be a prologue with a glimpse into the <i>actual </i>futures of Josh and Emma.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-U63J6ZPL5hU/VCiP1gewiHI/AAAAAAAACyE/erDd43TqfIw/s1600-h/rating%2525203%252520of%2525205%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="rating 3 of 5" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gWL2LO13VrY/VCiP2EcgwXI/AAAAAAAACyM/KTyF9vGBFjE/rating%2525203%252520of%2525205_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="92" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="rating 3 of 5" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yeZojnqpv4c/VCiP2cwck-I/AAAAAAAACyU/dI2iFy3dGP0/s1600-h/richard%252520signature%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="richard signature" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5yHZVbo4N8g/VCiP3F-OVpI/AAAAAAAACyY/lPnsMeTFkm8/richard%252520signature_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="66" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="richard signature" width="240" /></a>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12497448616701782816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-64196156182950926722014-10-10T00:30:00.000-04:002014-10-10T00:30:02.365-04:00Excerpt and Giveaway: Charming by Krystal Wade<div align="center" class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://www.barclaypublicity.com/book-scoop-blog/krystal-wade-is-back-with-a-spine-tingling-retelling-of-cinderella"><img alt="CHARMING_TourBadge" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-O1piFJk5byg/VDZ4tWgybSI/AAAAAAAAEtc/JLt2e2DYz-g/CHARMING_TourBadge%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="150" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="CHARMING_TourBadge" width="300" /></a></div>
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<img align="left" alt="Charming" border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1397129373l/21871876.jpg" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="269" /><br />
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<strong><em>They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and that's great . . . as long as you don't die.</em> </strong></div>
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Sixteen-year-old Haley Tremaine had it all: top-notch school, fantastic family, and a bright future, but all of that changed when an accident tore her family apart. Now, an alcoholic father, a bitter younger sister, and a cold headstone bearing her mother’s name are all she has left.</div>
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Chris Charming has it all: a powerful CEO for a father, a prestigious school, and a fortune at his fingertips, but none of that matters when he lands a reputation as a troublemaker. Struggling to follow in his father’s footsteps, he reaches out to the one person he believes truly sees him, the one person he wants: Haley.</div>
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Little do they know someone's determined to bring the two together, even if it means murder.</div>
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<b> </b><br />
<b>Available at: <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/449193"><span style="color: #809ec2;">Smashwords</span></a> - <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/charming-krystal-wade/1119992853?ean=2940046061161"><span style="color: #809ec2;">Barnes & Noble</span></a> – <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Charming-Krystal-Wade-ebook/dp/B00MQC07QC?tag=literescap-20"><span style="color: #809ec2;">Amazon</span></a> – <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21871876-charming?ac=1"><span style="color: #809ec2;">Goodreads</span></a></b></blockquote>
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<b> </b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Excerpt: CHARMING by Krystal Wade</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
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<b> </b></div>
<b>“Hey, kids.” Mrs. Charming stood by their feet, smiling down at them, still linked to her husband. “We should head out. Park closes at dark. Plus your dad and I have a movie to go see.” </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Chris drove Haley back to his house; both sat quietly, leaning somewhat toward the center of the small Porsche. He pulled up next to Dad’s truck and sighed. “Thank you for being so good to them.” </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>“Chris—” </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>“No, I mean it.” Chris opened the truck door for her, then closed it as she slid onto the cold leather seat. </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Haley rolled down the window and leaned on her elbow, so close to him, so freaking close. “They’re good people.” </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>And deserve better than me in their life. </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>“Most people treat them as if they’re just money bags from which to draw upon when they have a need.” </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>“I don’t need anything from them. I just want your family to be happy, you to be happy, Chris.” </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>“You’re different, Haley Tremaine.” </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>“So are you, Chris Charming.” Haley turned the key in the ignition, but the truck wouldn’t start. Cold, stabbing panic ripped apart her lungs. </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>“Guess I’ll need to walk.” </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>“You’re nuts if you think I’m letting you walk. Murderer on the loose, remember?” Laughing, Chris opened the door and took Haley by the hand, then guided her to the driver’s side of his car. “In fact, I’d really like you to drive.” </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>She smiled and snatched the keys. “Okay. Fine, but you better wear your seatbelt.” </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>He did, and she drove, and they laughed, winding down country roads, passing cars as though they sat still and Chris and Haley were in a speeding bullet. Haley downshifted and squealed the tires as she stopped in front of her house on Main Street. But when she glanced at the front of the house, her heart skidded to a halt. </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Niles sat on her porch, bouquet of flowers in hand, scowling. </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Giveaway</span></b></div>
<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef2932/" id="rc-b050ef2932" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script> <br />
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<h4 align="center">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">
Meet Krystal Wade, author of CHARMING</span></h4>
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<b>About Krystal Wade:</b><b> Krystal Wade is happily married to the love of her life (don’t gag) and raising three beautiful children in the gorgeous state of Virginia. They live just outside Washington, D.C., and every day she wakes up to find herself stuck in traffic trying to get there. When she’s not working, commuting, or chasing after her three children (four if you count the man), you can usually find Krystal outside talking to her chickens like they’re the cutest things in the world (they are), or training her amazing dogs how to herd said chickens (which they love), or curled up on the sofa with a good book (why can’t that be 100% of the time?).<br /> </b><b><a href="http://www.krystal-wade.com/"><span style="color: #809ec2;">Website</span></a> – <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Author.KrystalWade"><span style="color: #809ec2;">Facebook</span></a> – <a href="https://twitter.com/KrystalWade"><span style="color: #809ec2;">Twitter</span></a> - <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/104350297848835906197/posts"><span style="color: #809ec2;">Google+</span></a> – <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5773867.Krystal_Wade"><span style="color: #809ec2;">Goodreads</span></a> – <a href="http://instagram.com/krystalwade"><span style="color: #809ec2;">Instagram</span></a> – <a href="http://kwadethings.tumblr.com/"><span style="color: #809ec2;">Tumblr</span></a></b></blockquote>
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Sounds good right?!?!<br />
I hope you give Charming a try, I am about to start reading it myself.<br />
Good luck in the giveaway:)<br />
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<b></b> Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743273886505961664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-83715666762021879712014-10-09T09:00:00.000-04:002014-10-09T09:00:02.630-04:00Review: Off You Go: A Novella by Boo Walker<img align="left" alt="Off You Go: A Novella" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1392295855l/20803173.jpg" style="display: inline; float: left;" width="270" /><br />
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<b>Off You Go</b><br />
<b>Boo Walker</b><br />
<b>Print Length:</b> 71 pages <br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Sandy Run Press<br />
<strong>Published:</strong> April 1, 2014<br />
<strong>Source:</strong> Author<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20803173-off-you-go?from_search=true"><span style="color: #809ec2;"><strong>Goodreads</strong></span></a> – <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Off-You-Go-Boo-Walker-ebook/dp/B00IDW2SCA/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407417066&sr=1-1&keywords=Boo+Walker+off+you+go"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Amazon</span></strong></a><br />
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In Charleston, SC, a young woman has jumped off the Cooper River Bridge. She left a suicide note in her abandoned car. There were witnesses. But her mother doesn’t buy it and hires Dewey Moses, the vegetable farmer and sometime private investigator to find out the truth. Dewey finds out quickly that sometimes it’s best to leave things alone.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Review</span></strong></div>
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Y’all, I hate to do this, but I’ve got a couple complaints about this one. <em>Off You Go </em>is too short! And, because it’s so short, the story comes to an abrupt halt…and I still have questions!</div>
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I am absolutely in love with Dewey Moses! He’s got a jaded past, but is working on getting his life back in order. He’s broken, but being repaired. There’s an honesty and realness that I like about him. He’s a fine addition to Walker’s cast of leading men. I like his getting-back-to-his-roots-and-nature lifestyle. He’s laid back and easy to like. If Dewey were an actual person, I think he’d be an excellent friend.</div>
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I do wish there was more to the story. That’s a common problem I have with novellas—that they just don’t have enough time to really develop and flesh-out the characters and plot line. I didn’t feel like I was able to invest in the story or that it’s completely resolved. Yet in the time allowed, Walker creates a compelling story that will get you hooked immediately. I didn’t want it to end!</div>
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I can only hope that Walker writes more books with Dewey Moses as the main character. I’ve read everything Walker has written, and plan to read everything he writes in the future!</div>
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4 out of 5 (only because <em>OYG</em> ends too quickly!)</div>
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<b>Publisher:</b> Harper Voyager<br />
<strong>Release Date: </strong>January 6, 2015<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7745095-gideon?from_search=true"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Goodreads</span></strong></a> – <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gideon-Novel-Alex-Gordon-ebook/dp/B00JOFO594/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412767437&sr=8-1&keywords=Gideon+by+Alex+Gordon"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Amazon</span></strong></a> – <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gideon-alex-gordon/1102005931?ean=9780061687372"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">B&N</span></strong></a><br />
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Preston & Child meets Kim Harrison in this edge-of-your-seat debut thriller—a superb blend of mystery, urban fantasy, horror, romance, and the supernatural.</div>
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When Lauren’s father dies, she makes a shocking discovery. The man she knew as John Reardon was once a completely different person, with a different name. Now, she’s determined to find out who he really was, even though her only clues are an old photograph, some letters, and the name of a town—Gideon.</div>
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But someone—or something—doesn’t want her to discover the truth. A strange man is stalking her, appearing everywhere she turns, and those who try to help her end up dead. Neither a shadowy enemy nor her own fear are going to prevent her from solving the mystery of her father—and unlocking the secrets of her own life.</div>
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Making her way to Gideon, Lauren finds herself more confused than ever. Nothing in this small Midwestern town is what it seems, including time itself. Residents start going missing, and Lauren is threatened by almost every townsperson she encounters. Two hundred years ago, a witch was burned at the stake, but in Gideon, the past feels all too chillingly present.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Why I’m waiting</span></strong></div>
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I wish so badly that this was coming out before Halloween! Doesn’t seem like the perfect read for this time of year? </div>
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Is Gideon on your to read list?<br />Can’t wait to see what books you are wanting this week? <br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JglCa0xwNFI/VDUkZ8Emh5I/AAAAAAAAEtA/UOd97JwCP34/s1600-h/405963466341715050814%25255B9%25255D.png"><img alt="405963466341715050814" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4BmRbsfHYlg/VDUkahKJ21I/AAAAAAAAEtE/KGAeTOSMduI/405963466341715050814_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="33" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="405963466341715050814" width="87" /></a><br />
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743273886505961664noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-47378645794204529442014-10-07T09:00:00.000-04:002014-10-07T09:00:04.852-04:00Review: Zombies Don’t Forgive by Rusty Fischer<img align="left" alt="16056655" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1349113085l/16056655.jpg" style="display: inline; float: left;" width="253" /><br />
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<b>Zombies Don’t Forgive</b><br />
<b>Rusty Fischer</b><br />
<b>Series:</b> A Living Dead Love Story (Book 2)<br />
<b>Paperback:</b> 321 pages<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Medallion Press<br />
<strong>Released:</strong> April 1, 2013<br />
<strong>Source:</strong> Publisher<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16056655-zombies-don-t-forgive?ac=1"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Goodreads</span></strong></a> – <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zombies-Dont-Forgive-Living-Story/dp/1605426369/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407413197&sr=1-1&keywords=zombies+don%27t+forgive"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Amazon</span></strong></a><br />
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Following Barracuda Bay’s homecoming cum zombie Armageddon, fellow zombies Maddy, Dane, and Stamp have fled to Orlando where they work at a theme park, hiding in plain sight at their jobs in the Great Movie Monster Makeover show. The three spend most of their time together in their apartment trying to avoid curious Normals and Sentinels—humans and zombie cops. While Dane and Maddy draw closer, Stamp drifts away, falling for a mysterious blonde. But when the mysterious girl puts their existence in danger, all Maddy cares about is hunting the blonde down to separate her from her head.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Review</span></strong></div>
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Y’all…I love everything I have ever read by Rusty Fischer. And this is no exception. I devoured this book like a zombie eating brains—once I charged my Nook. It’s been awhile since I have read an actual non-audio book. <em>Zombies Don’t Forgive </em>was a nice reintroduction to print. </div>
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<em>ZDF</em> is everything we love about, nay, expect from Rusty Fischer—humor, gore, sappiness, and a little tongue-in-cheek. And it’s perfection!</div>
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I absolutely love Maddy and Dane! They have the been-married-for-sixty-years relationship down pat. And it’s endearing—making them all the more lovable. A few times I face-palmed…but they are teenagers after all, so it’s not unrealistic. For the most part, I forgot they were zombies and just enjoyed them being who they were, living life. But I do love all the zombie-ness, too! It makes a quirky, interesting plot all that much more fun!</div>
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I like that Fischer writes his characters so <em>real </em>and <em>honest</em>. Even the supporting cast is believable—there’s no caricatures of people, no exaggerations. They behave, react, love as real people would. And I think that’s part of what makes the Living Dead Love Story series so wonderful—I can relate to Maddy, Dane, Stamp, and the others.</div>
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If you haven’t yet started this series (or just haven’t read this installment)…You. Need. To. Like yesterday! We don’t get to live forever like Maddy, so don’t waste any more precious time and read <em>Zombies Don’t Forgive</em> soon!</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uwpvj-LSELk/U-NuH9-ufBI/AAAAAAAAEiw/MILOwUZHkjw/s1600-h/rating%2525205%252520of%2525205%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="rating 5 of 5" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xTP3JIMy0C8/U-NuJEQo68I/AAAAAAAAEi0/clYdTJHDbMI/rating%2525205%252520of%2525205_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="92" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="rating 5 of 5" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />Other Books in This Series</h3>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9780099-zombies-don-t-cry" target="_blank"><img alt="Zombies Don't Cry (Living Dead Love Story, #1)" height="379" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327885080l/9780099.jpg" width="270" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18371462-zombies-don-t-surrender" target="_blank"><img alt="Zombies Don't Surrender (Living Dead Love Story, #3)" height="379" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1380034258l/18371462.jpg" width="270" /></a> <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">{Click the covers to go to Goodreads. Click </span><a href="http://bendingthespine.blogspot.com/2012/12/review-zombies-dont-cry-by-rusty-fischer.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #809ec2; font-size: x-small;"><strong>HERE</strong></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> to read my review of <em>Zombies Don’t Cry</em>}</span></div>
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Season 1 Summary (2013) :A teen girl is brutally murdered, sparking a hunt for her killer. But in a town where everyone hides a secret, will they find the monster among them?</blockquote>
I don’t do the horror thing, but every now and then, I try something that pushes me. Hemlock Grove is one of those things. I don’t remember why I decided to watch it. But I’m glad I did. I really enjoyed Season 1. It took me F O R E V E R to get through it—I had to watch like one episode per month. Did you catch that…per <i>month</i>! It freaked me out that bad. And I couldn’t watch it alone in the dark; other people had to be in the house (if the kids were home I would watch on my iPad with headphones in).<br />
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There is so much awesomeness in this…and it’s based on a <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12510849-hemlock-grove?from_search=true" target="_blank">book</a>. I was intrigued and horrified at the same time. It was like a car accident—I couldn’t <i>not</i> watch. So, if you need something to add a little creep-factor to your October viewing schedule, add Season 1. <br />
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If I can handle Season 2, I’ll let y’all know.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LqSkdYM5h04/VCiTw9jizqI/AAAAAAAACyo/mCuS3wduLwc/s1600-h/richard%252520signature%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="richard signature" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VvkocS-jU-c/VCiTxbFYACI/AAAAAAAACys/d-qO-FobnhY/richard%252520signature_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="66" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="richard signature" width="240" /></a>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12497448616701782816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-71708380881138945042014-10-03T09:00:00.000-04:002014-10-03T11:48:42.093-04:00Review: The Undertaking of Tess by Lesley Kagen<img align="left" alt="The Undertaking of Tess" border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1405516740l/22732434.jpg" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="270" /><br />
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<b>The Undertaking of Tess</b><br />
<b>Lesley Kagen</b><br />
<b>Print Length:</b> 118 pages <br />
<b>Publisher:</b> SparkPress<br />
<strong>Release Date:</strong> July 24, 2014<br />
<strong>Source: </strong>Publisher<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Undertaking-Tess-Lesley-Kagen-ebook/dp/B00M4P6YMC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412292372&sr=1-1&keywords=the+undertaking+of+tess"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Amazon</span></strong></a> – <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22732434-the-undertaking-of-tess"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Goodreads</span></strong></a><br />
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During the summer of 1959, ten-year-old Theresa “Tessie” Finley has her work cut out for her. Not only is she attempting to come to grips with the devastating loss and guilt she feels after she witnessed her father’s drowning, but her kid sister, Birdie, refuses to believe that their beloved Daddy is really gone. Tessie needs to make sure that she does before their Mom gets wind of how much “weirder” her sister’s getting. Stronger, and more down to Earth than ethereal Birdie, she’s always watched over her sister, so it’s only natural for her to come up with a plan that she jots down on one of her never-ending TO-DO LISTS. If Tessie can’t achieve her goals, she’s desperately worried that the beautiful, but self-occupied Louise, might send emotionally fragile Birdie to the county insane asylum.</div>
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Her daddy always told her, “A Finley never throws in the towel,” so more than anything Tess wants to make him proud, but despite her resourcefulness and grit, she’s smart enough to know that the odds are stacked against her and her time is running out.</div>
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Heartbreaking, funny, nostalgic, and spiritually uplifting, you’ll cheer the Finley sisters on from the first page to the last of this charming novella that sets the stage for the upcoming novel, The Resurrection of Tess Blessing.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Review</span></strong> </div>
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I know there are a lot of people out there that get annoyed by novellas, I just happen to not be one of them. I love that there are authors out there that can completely enrapture me in a little over 100 pages and leave me feeling satisfied. Now, after reading The Undertaking of Tess, I know that Lesley Kagen is one of those authors. </div>
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When I was twelve I ended up taking care of my little sister for hours at a time, so when I started TUOT I was pulled into the story completely as it is told through Tess’ ten year old voice. Tess goes through a very traumatic experience when she witnesses her father drown. Now she has to figure out a way to keep her family together as her mother has never been able to deal with her “different” sister, Birdie. </div>
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Kegan wrote this story and its characters in such a way that I honestly felt every emotion as if it was being pushed to me through the pages. I laughed out loud, and yes, even shed some tears throughout this story. </div>
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If you enjoy being pulled into a story to the point that you come out feeling that you have an understanding of the characters lives, read The Undertaking of Tess. I don’t think you will be disappointed, and as I said at the beginning of my review, this is a novella, so an afternoon is all you need. </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jEJaPfe_7AM/VC6CPz5RFbI/AAAAAAAAEsY/lFUSlWlfMzk/s1600-h/405963466341715050814%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="405963466341715050814" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-R5s6dYb5Ue0/VC6CQqTPgSI/AAAAAAAAEsg/kjiYlflUa5g/405963466341715050814_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="33" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="405963466341715050814" width="87" /></a><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Other books in this series</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22845691-the-resurrection-of-tess-blessing"><img alt="The Resurrection of Tess Blessing" border="0" height="300" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406812339l/22845691.jpg" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="196" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Cover will take you to Goodreads page.</span></div>
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Release Date: December 9, 2014</div>
<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743273886505961664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-81813143711361092522014-09-30T20:00:00.000-04:002014-09-30T20:00:04.341-04:00Waiting on Wednesday: The Fall by Bethany Griffin<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fall-Bethany-Griffin-ebook/dp/B00HU5CT7A/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411947883&sr=1-2&keywords=the+fall" target="_blank"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91Zlmgst5oL._SL1500_.jpg" height="500" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="329" /></a><br />
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<b>{Releases 10.07.2014}</b><br />
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Madeline Usher has been buried alive. The doomed heroine comes to the fore in this eerie reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe's classic short story "The Fall of the House of Usher." Gothic, moody, and suspenseful from beginning to end, <i>The Fall</i> is literary horror for fans of <i>Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children</i> and <i>Asylum</i>.<br />
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Madeline awakes in a coffin. She was put there by her own twin brother. How did it come to this? In short non-chronological chapters, Bethany Griffin masterfully spins a haunting and powerful tale of a tragic heroine and the curse on the Usher family. The house itself is alive around Madeline, and it will never let her escape, driving her to the madness just as it has all of her ancestors. But she won't let it have her brother Roderick. She'll do everything in her power to save him—and try to save herself—even if it means bringing the house down around them.<br />
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With a sinister gothic atmosphere and relentless tension to rival Poe himself, Bethany Griffin creates a house of horrors and introduces a whole new point-of-view on the timeless classic.</blockquote>
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<b>Why I’m waiting:</b></div>
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I don’t know if it’s the feeling and smell of fall in the air, or the Halloween decorations everywhere, but I’m in the mood to read something gothic and creepy…and when I saw this, it seemed perfect!</div>
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What are you waiting on?</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--yzKTDlPUp4/VCiiHnbdyCI/AAAAAAAACzA/lHJsTnhSn0g/s1600-h/richard%252520signature%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="richard signature" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-aCcWmEVcP7A/VCiiIU_iUxI/AAAAAAAACzI/cNFkzRx8GY4/richard%252520signature_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="66" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="richard signature" width="240" /></a></div>
Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12497448616701782816noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-59308783121818900682014-09-30T09:00:00.000-04:002014-09-30T09:00:09.947-04:00Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin<img align="left" alt="The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #2)" height="380" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1336663149l/13643567.jpg" style="display: inline; float: left;" width="255" /><br />
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<b>The Evolution of Mara Dyer</b><br />
<b>Michelle Hodkin</b><br />
<b>Series:</b> The Mara Dyer Trilogy (Book 2)<br />
<b>Paperback:</b> 544 pages<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers<br />
<strong>Source:</strong> My shelf<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13643567-the-evolution-of-mara-dyer?ac=1"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Goodreads</span></strong></a> – <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Evolution-Mara-Dyer-Trilogy/dp/1442421800/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407411511&sr=1-1&keywords=the+evolution+of+mara+dyer"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Amazon</span></strong></a><br />
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Mara Dyer knows she isn't crazy. She knows that she can kill with her mind, and that Noah can heal with his. Mara also knows that somehow, Jude is not a hallucination. He is alive. Unfortunately, convincing her family and doctors that she's not unstable and doesn't need to be hospitalised isn't easy. The only person who actually believes her is Noah. But being with Noah is dangerous and Mara is in constant fear that she might hurt him. She needs to learn how to control her power, and fast! Together, Mara and Noah must try and figure out exactly how Jude survived when the asylum collapsed, and how he knows so much about her strange ability...before anyone else ends up dead!</div>
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My reaction after finishing <em>The Evolution of Mara Dyer</em>:</h3>
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<br /><img alt="no animated GIF" src="http://media.giphy.com/media/KzjZAXlLiWgHC/giphy.gif" height="273" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="648" /></h3>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{Source: </span><a href="http://giphy.com/gifs/KzjZAXlLiWgHC" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Giphy</span></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">}</span></div>
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Y’all, this book is a hot mess. There is so much going on, not a single part of it makes sense and fits neatly in the plot. Rebecca looked at me and said this needed to be my last YA “girl” book. But that’s not it—it’s not because this is a “girl” book. It’s not that there aren’t interesting parts, because there are, it’s because <em>none</em> of it works <em>together</em>. It feels like Hodkin decided to write a book and fit it into as many genres as humanly possible—and it just isn’t cohesive. At all. I wanted to like this book, and with it read the rest of the series because I think that there is an amazing concept buried <em>somewhere</em> in all the garbage that makes up these books.</div>
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I reread my reivew of <a href="http://bendingthespine.blogspot.com/2013/02/review-unbecoming-of-mara-dyer-by.html" target="_blank"><em>The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer</em></a><em> </em>before writing this one—I wanted to remind myself what I didn’t like about it and what I did. It seems <em>TUoMD</em> was more likeable that <em>TEoMD</em>. By about a quarter of the way through <em>TEoMD</em>, I wasn’t sure I would be able to finish. I was so fed up with the juvenile, amateurish writing and the strikingly apparent lack of chemistry between Noah and Mara. The constant description of how perfect and arrogant (seriously, this is like the <em>only</em> word she used to describe him) Noah is, every time he entered the scene. How Hodkin decided we weren’t smart enough to read between the lines and spelled out e<em>very. Single. Thing. </em>Mara was thinking. That no one grew or developed or changed for better/worse ever. That there was nothing moving the story forward.</div>
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I actually jumped ahead and read the last chapter. Or I wouldn’t have finished. I liked pages 491-527 (on which the Second Volume ended). I feel like Hodkin <em>finally </em>found her voice and story after going in circles for nearly 800 pages (the entirety of <em>TUoMD</em> & the first 490 pages of <em>TEoMD</em>). There was action, excitement, and paranormal. There was mystery, and a cliffhanger. There were some amazing revelations. And I want to know <em>why</em>.</div>
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Yet, I don’t know what so many people see in these books. I checked out Goodreads, and there are several people that feel the same as I do about this book/series. I do know that I won’t continue this series.</div>
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So, my advice, if you haven’t already bought this, don’t. If you haven’t started reading this, don’t. I’m still shaking my head, confused and disappointed.</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vbROpZYroq8/U-NnzEv8HRI/AAAAAAAAEiI/TbUU1QdXO-M/s1600-h/rating-1-of-54.jpg"><img alt="rating 1 of 5" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uXH-IexnGI0/U-Nn0GJN-5I/AAAAAAAAEiM/0n78K51mdvs/rating-1-of-5_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="92" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="rating 1 of 5" width="240" /></a><br />
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Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743273886505961664noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-90626977469720397962014-09-15T07:00:00.000-04:002014-09-15T07:00:08.379-04:00Review: Rock Addiction by Nalini Singh<img align="left" alt="Rock Addiction (Rock Kiss, #1)" border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1408109387l/22839846.jpg" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="270" /><br />
<blockquote>
<b>Rock Addiction</b><br />
<b>Nalini Singh</b><br />
<b>Series:</b> Rock Kiss<br />
<b>Paperback:</b> 404 pages <br />
<strong>Genre: </strong>New Adult<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> TKA Distribution<br />
<strong>Released:</strong> September 11, 2014<br />
<strong>Source: </strong>publisher<br />
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<li><strong><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22839846-rock-addiction?ac=1"><span style="color: #809ec2;">Goodreads</span></a> – <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rock-Addiction-Kiss-Volume/dp/1937776999/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1410746105&sr=1-1"><span style="color: #809ec2;">Amazon</span></a> – <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/books/rock-addiction/9VXFRcJfykyG6Uc9SKxVqQ?MixID=9VXFRcJfykyG6Uc9SKxVqQ&PageNumber=1&MixID=9VXFRcJfykyG6Uc9SKxVqQ&PageNumber=1"><span style="color: #809ec2;">Kobo</span></a> – <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/rock-addiction/id907444981?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4"><span style="color: #809ec2;">iTunes</span></a></strong></li>
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<strong>A bad boy wrapped in a sexy, muscled, grown-up package might be worth a little risk… </strong></div>
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Molly Webster has always followed the rules. After an ugly scandal tore apart her childhood and made her the focus of the media’s harsh spotlight, she vowed to live an ordinary life. No fame. No impropriety. No pain. Then she meets Zachary Fox, a tattooed bad boy rocker with a voice like whiskey and sin, and a touch that could become an addiction.</div>
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<strong>A one-night stand with the hottest rock star on the planet, that’s all it was meant to be…</strong></div>
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Fox promises scorching heat and dangerous pleasure, coaxing Molly to extend their one-night stand into a one-month fling. After that, he’ll be gone forever, his life never again intersecting with her own. Sex and sin and sensual indulgence, all with an expiration date. No ties, no regrets. Too late, Molly realizes it isn’t only her body that’s become addicted to Fox, but her heart…</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Review</span></strong></div>
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I tried to make this as spoiler free as possible.</div>
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Anyone that knows me knows I am a HUGE Nalini fan. Her Psy-changeling and Guild Hunter series are my favorite PNR series of all time! I am not however a big new adult genre fan, but when I heard about this contemporary new adult romance by my fave author I was so excited to get to this read.</div>
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What I loved</div>
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I could honestly feel the attraction and pull between Molly and Fox (Our main characters) From the very first page. Yes! This is an insta-lust right from the start kinda read, but that did not bother me, it is also a romance with a rock star main character, I was expecting the insta-lust. Have I read rock band/star romance reads before? Yes! But, in true Nalini Singh fashion she gave her characters depth and turned them into real people for me and made me care about what made them tick.</div>
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I really loved Fox! After he discovered what he wanted he went after it no mater what it takes. I enjoyed this because it was obvious from the start that he is a character that normally gets what he wants (or Fox throws a tantrum and people give into him) and now Fox needs to work at it. It was nice to see his growth through Rock Addiction. </div>
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What I didn’t love</div>
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The sex became filler in Rock Addiction. I do not mind at all if there are smexy times in an adult read, but honestly I felt like visiting with some of the other characters, or somehow progressing faster in Molly and Fox’s story line than reading about them going about it yet again. I began skipping just to get to actual story.</div>
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Should you get a copy</div>
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If you are a big Contemporary New Adult genre fan that enjoys many smexy times in your reads give this a go. This is not your usual Nalini Singh read! If you are looking for a recreation of Singh’s PNR work this may not be for you. This is very much a first in the series book. I do want to continue with other characters that I met in Rock Addiction.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JXly2xxFta8/VBbGaehKEOI/AAAAAAAAErQ/r9AmWIIel5I/s1600-h/rating%2525203%252520of%2525205%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="rating 3 of 5" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SFKk-9NTaCo/VBbGa9ra89I/AAAAAAAAErY/dyb-QY0yhOE/rating%2525203%252520of%2525205_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="92" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="rating 3 of 5" width="240" /></a></div>
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Happy reading<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zB433qKrE44/VBbFSYXdA0I/AAAAAAAAErA/pqllJVk9wGc/s1600-h/405963466341715050814%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="405963466341715050814" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RR8LFCCH3qo/VBbFSmmsYcI/AAAAAAAAErE/aGdN1wTpywk/405963466341715050814_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="33" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="405963466341715050814" width="87" /></a>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743273886505961664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-23938509290697250512014-09-12T04:11:00.002-04:002014-09-12T04:11:28.561-04:00Guest post and Giveaway: Guardians Book 1 by Lola StVil<br />
<img align="left" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopxK-7nUAguUYEjJI3PoURBq-wLFIQVhm53sLxWeDAsYhaW0DC42mEMs6I2q5mmKNfINYHABPM77YJxou9ozseV6zqmZFMeV6Y99SH8Zks6VGjfarhpxjwiOf7c5iSsHig5SM1oBcjv5u/s1600/guardians+current+revamp+6.10.jpg" height="400" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="263" /><br />
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<b>Guardians: The Girl</b> <br />
<b>Guardians</b> <br />
<b>Book One</b> <br />
<b>Lola StVil </b> <br />
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance <br />
ASIN: B006VRXR42 <br />
Cover Artist: Renu Sharma <br />
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The prophecy says I will fall in love with team leader and Angel, Marcus Cane. The prophecy also says that our love will cause his mission to fail and end the world. <br />
Whatever. <br />
This human is not worried. Why? <br />
Because I do not intend to fall in love with Marcus. <br />
The truth is I hate him. I hate his warm brown eyes with flecks of gold, his chiseled face and broad shoulders. <br />
I hate how over protective he is just because a few thousand demons are after me. <br />
In fact, I couldn't care less about Marcus or his perfect telekinetic girlfriend. <br />
And when I see him holding her, I don’t die a little inside… <br />
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Book Trailer: <a href="http://youtu.be/7rWxyAvm_gk">http://youtu.be/7rWxyAvm_gk</a> <br />
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<b>Available at: </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guardians-The-Girl-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B006VRXR42/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394682303&sr=8-1&keywords=gurdians%3A+the+girl"><b>Amazon</b></a><b> </b><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/guardians-lola-stvil/1113116420?ean=2940045019897"><b>BN</b></a><b> </b><a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/guardians-the-girl-the-guardians-series-book-1"><b>Kobo</b></a><b> </b><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Guardians-Girl-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B006VRXR42"><b>Amazon UK</b></a><b> </b><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/guardians-the-girl/id890745027?mt=11"><b>iTunes</b></a><b></b> <br />
<b>******OVER 450 FIVE STAR REVIEWS!*******</b></blockquote>
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<b>Alternate Endings by Lola StVil </b><br />
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<b>My assistant and I would often brainstorm if I got stuck on a scene or felt bored. And we would often talk about how the fans were reacting to the story and if the cliffhangers were big enough and if the ending should be bigger. I’m always worried it’s not enough. So, my assistant and I would joke about how to end it, since the audience is never shy to demand the ending they want. </b></div>
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<b>She would say, “Let’s make it all a dream. Like ‘Dallas.” Then she’d say, “What if Emmy just made it all up. Like a story within a story, like “The Princess Bride.’” Or, “How about we kill everyone and let the bad guys win?” She’s terrible, but it’d usually get me out of my stump and back to writing. Luckily for the fans, and B’s safety, the books never ended the way she suggested. We told the fans the alternate endings, and sure enough, they scolded B for rebellious streak. </b></div>
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<b>But how interesting would complete plot twists like those be? To completely throw off the lead and have the audience breathless in an ending they never saw coming…Sounds like that could be a short story. ☺When you get so wrapped into a story, it does two things to you. First, you want to do it right and do it big. You really want to give your all to the characters and readers. The other thing it does to you is the relentless desire to just make it end! So, my assistant would tease we should end the book in different way to drive the audience crazy; all in good fun to make me laugh, of course. (The fans love B and her antics.) </b></div>
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<b><b>About Lola </b></b></div>
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<b><img align="right" border="0" height="192" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Vu73YybDjn5IkGVxCtf3iUdcrLhFwnf6bKY3469Un4aaJ-yTwsPle0nI_vL68jiSbP5z2-gnjsB4XRb7NPsaY9by1BvpoKg-mWjykilvJdGLCUtoRxkVaiQnprj9xeomJRs6_3WK8J8" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="290" /></b><br />
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<b>Lola StVil is a Haitian born writer and actress. </b></div>
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<b>She lives in Hollywood, CA and welcomes online interaction with readers. Lola was seven when she first came to this country from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She attended Columbia College in Chicago, where her main focus was creative writing. In addition to plays, she also writes screenplays and short stories. </b></div>
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<b>She has been commissioned to write for ABC, CBS and Princeton University. She won the NAACP award for her play "The Bones of Lesser Men". In addition to being nominated for LA Weekly awards. Her work has also received positive reviews from The LA Times, Variety and LA Weekly. This is her first novel. </b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.lolastvil.com/">http://www.lolastvil.com/</a> </b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/guardiansgirl">https://www.facebook.com/guardiansgirl</a> </b><br />
<b>Twitter @guardiansgirl </b><br />
<b>Instagram @authorlolastvil </b><br />
<b>Newsletter <a href="http://eepurl.com/W-scP">http://eepurl.com/W-scP</a> </b><br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pE9A5rAp1RM/VBKplDbU9II/AAAAAAAAEqM/oC5_sG3wUJA/s1600-h/405963466341715050814%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="405963466341715050814" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cHkiwQYr2Pg/VBKpl9Sx8NI/AAAAAAAAEqU/gTl2Qf_tHgk/405963466341715050814_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="33" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="405963466341715050814" width="87" /></a>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743273886505961664noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-87268499453145267892014-09-09T07:30:00.000-04:002014-09-09T07:30:55.134-04:00Excerpt and Giveaway: Rock Addiction by Nalini Singh<div align="center">
<b><img alt="rock addiction release day.jpg" height="200" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/3LRVccR9NXL-Z-eE3-4FeLoHcQtXv1IXxd1nfLq1NEXtKo1kNwHnLaBjFnQJOQtSpiLb5WMb5il6H_4yypWWFF0TrAEjN0woY5Qd5tma3ikU9HVlsVahtPyoiP8RMgGR81q1zg9BDAo" width="353" /></b></div>
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I am so excited to bring you an excerpt from Singh’s new book Rock Addiction! Stop back by next week for the blog tour and my review.</div>
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<b><img align="left" alt="rock addiction.jpg" border="0" height="350" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/nuE1H8FznPts3aZ0mb245jKe8rJoIZP6IIyNLy2hxrpJ-8ZPX5TnuWxm17fvKtINsmfICAMeDKmSE1lchb3BN5ehrxu85_F_vi8vaDufa3E6qUnUOod3f4MV7fvIyja30zKrf8lc4B8" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="233" /></b></div>
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A bad boy wrapped in a sexy, muscled, grown-up package might be worth a little risk…<br />
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Molly Webster has always followed the rules. After an ugly scandal tore apart her childhood and made her the focus of the media’s harsh spotlight, she vowed to live an ordinary life. No fame. No impropriety. No pain. Then she meets Zachary Fox, a tattooed bad boy rocker with a voice like whiskey and sin, and a touch that could become an addiction.<br />
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A one-night stand with the hottest rock star on the planet, that’s all it was meant to be…<br />
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Fox promises scorching heat and dangerous pleasure, coaxing Molly to extend their one-night stand into a one-month fling. After that, he’ll be gone forever, his life never again intersecting with her own. Sex and sin and sensual indulgence, all with an expiration date. No ties, no regrets. Too late, Molly realizes it isn’t only her body that’s become addicted to Fox, but her heart…<br />
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<strong>RELEASE DATE: September 9th, 2014 (That’s today y’all!)</strong><a href="http://bit.ly/1kdgjGW"><span style="color: #809ec2;"><strong>Goodreads</strong></span></a><strong> – </strong><a href="http://bit.ly/1lPqB19"><span style="color: #809ec2;"><strong>Kobo</strong></span></a><strong> – </strong><a href="http://bit.ly/1ng9zE9"><span style="color: #809ec2;"><strong>iTunes</strong></span></a><strong> – </strong><a href="http://amzn.to/WqA2rj"><span style="color: #809ec2;"><strong>Amazon</strong></span></a></blockquote>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Excerpt from ROCK ADDICTION</span> </strong> </div>
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<strong>by Nalini Singh</strong> </div>
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<strong>Fox hadn’t become the lead singer of one of the best-selling rock bands in history by being a shrinking violet. No, he went after what he wanted, no holds barred. And the raw promise he could feel between him and Molly? He had to know where it would lead, the need so strong he hadn’t felt anything like it since the day he’d figured out that music was his escape, the air in his lungs.</strong> </div>
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<strong>Which was why he was leaning against the wall beside Molly’s apartment at five that afternoon, a guitar by his side.</strong> </div>
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<strong>The elevator doors opened at a quarter after the hour, Molly going motionless two steps outside of it, the doors closing silently at her back. Yeah, she hadn’t expected him, but Fox was ready to work with that. Waiting patiently as she took a deep breath and completed the trek down the corridor, he drew in the scent of her, his gaze lingering on the fluttering pulse in her neck.</strong> </div>
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<strong>“How did you get past security?”</strong> </div>
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<strong>Fox smiled slowly at the blurted-out question, wondering if Molly knew how bad she was at hiding her emotions. He liked it, liked that he saw the real Molly, not an illusion she’d created to tempt him—not that she had to do anything but smile to tempt him. “I told you the security sucks.”</strong> </div>
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<strong>Unable to resist, he reached out to run his finger down one creamy cheek flushed with a mix of surprise, passion, and, he was certain, sweet, hot feminine anger. His guess was borne out when Molly unlocked her door with jittery hands and put down her handbag on one corner of the bench, her fingers trembling before she curled them into her palms. “You’re breaking the rules.”</strong> </div>
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<strong>“What rules?” Closing the door, he leaned back on it and willed her to face him. Much as he loved the shape of her from the back, he liked watching those expressive eyes whisper her mood to him.</strong> </div>
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<strong>Shoulders tight, she turned. “This was supposed to be a one-night stand.”</strong> </div>
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<strong>“Ah.” Folding his arms over the plain black of his T-shirt, he said, “How about a one-month stand instead?” He knew he had to play this exactly right. Molly was wary of him, and yeah, he could understand why. To have her in his life beyond a fleeting instant, he’d have to win her trust.</strong> </div>
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<strong>She jerked up her head. “What?”</strong> </div>
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<strong>“Why not? I like you. You like me.” He smiled—because the reason Molly had needed to jerk up her head was that she’d been staring at his chest. “Admit it.”</strong> </div>
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<strong>Sitting down on the bench, she began to unzip her boots, very obviously not looking at him. “You’re okay for a rock star.”</strong> </div>
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<strong>He wanted to bite her, then pet her until she was limp and languid in his arms. “We burn up together.” Deliberately modulating his voice—his instrument—for maximum effect, low and bedroom rough, he saw her fingers stutter on the zipper. “I’m here for a month. It’s an easy equation.”</strong> </div>
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<strong>When the words “Let me think about it” fell from her mouth, he thought she might’ve been as startled as he was, her lips parting on a slight gasp—as if to call back the declaration.</strong> </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Meet the Author</span></b> </div>
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<b><img align="right" alt="nalini bio.jpg" height="177" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/WQX3YVNmoCDegi_NgtniYNMSGwGI4JCJ_OYfnCu_JCInTFYbB3vAFaxkFrPvW00M6mtYe0cPIsY0NLHSbowkCPhmqV_cU8EtMer49b18tZzZ51oxL-I-rLgYnu1EcC6ibjC1nCqWyrU" style="display: inline; float: right;" width="265" /></b> <br />
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NEW YORK TIMES AND USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series Nalini Singh usually writes about hot shapeshifters and dangerous angels. This time around, she decided to write about a hot and wickedly tempting rock star. If you’re seeing a theme here, you’re not wrong.<br />
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Nalini lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing. If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts on her <a href="http://www.nalinisingh.com/">website</a>. <a href="http://www.nalinisingh.com/slave.php">Slave to Sensation</a> is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while <a href="http://www.nalinisingh.com/angelsblood.php">Angels’ Blood</a> is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. Once Rock Addiction is out, swing by the site to check out the special behind-the-scenes page, complete with photos of many of the locations used in the book.<br />
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<strong>STALK HER: </strong><a href="http://www.nalinisingh.com/"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Website</span></strong></a><strong> | </strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNaliniSingh"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Facebook</span></strong></a><strong> | </strong><a href="https://twitter.com/NaliniSingh"><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;">Twitter</span></strong></a><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;"> </span>| </strong><strong><span style="color: #809ec2;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/71688.Nalini_Singh">Goodreads</a></span></strong></blockquote>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-P0wtMxdLV6A/VA7h_Neb3lI/AAAAAAAAEps/ilfqjvgwq4o/s1600-h/405963466341715050814%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="405963466341715050814" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eYWs1UHkjKM/VA7iA-IpXCI/AAAAAAAAEp0/QAcAgODW-zY/405963466341715050814_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="33" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="405963466341715050814" width="87" /></a>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743273886505961664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8886259079887807553.post-75493323191862266222014-09-07T05:58:00.001-04:002014-09-07T05:58:34.845-04:00Review: Tempting the Beast by Lora Leigh<img align="left" alt="Tempting the Beast (Breeds, #1)" border="0" height="375" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1255718976l/592806.jpg" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="231" /><br />
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<strong>Tempting The Beast</strong><br />
<strong>Lora Leigh</strong><br />
<strong>Series: </strong>Breeds #1<br />
<b>Paperback:</b> 264 pages <br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Ellora's Cave Publishing<br />
<strong>Published:</strong> July 25, 2008<br />
<strong>Source:</strong> Library<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/592806.Tempting_the_Beast?ac=1"><strong>Goodreads</strong></a> – <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tempting-Beast-Feline-Breeds-Book/dp/1843607247/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1407245633&sr=8-1"><strong>Amazon</strong></a><br />
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Callan Lyons is a genetic experiment. One of six fighting for freedom and the survival of their Pride. Merinus Tyler is the reporter who will tempt him, draw him, until the fury of the "mating frenzy" locks them into a battle of sexual heat there is no escape from.</div>
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Deception, blood, and the evil Genetics Council are hot on their trail. Callan will use his strength to try and save them both...and do all in his power to keep his woman in the process.</div>
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One night I was searching for a new shifter PNR to read, specifically a new shifter PNR series because I generally pop through PNR like candy. I came across Tempting The Beast in my search. I honestly have no idea how I had never heard of the Breeds series before. This series all ready has like 30 installments… How I missed hearing about a series that long running I will never know. Now let’s get to the good, the bad, and the ugly (Um, did you see the cover<img alt="Winking smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VinFMW2r40g/U-D3CQU_cpI/AAAAAAAAEgA/JI8B6pH76Rg/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" />).<br />
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The good<br />
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Though I did find Tempting the Beast while searching for shifter books this is not quite a shifter book. The characters so far in this series don’t shift into animals, (though they do have some cool big cat traits) and I don’t think that is something that will be happening. Callan (Main male lead.), and his “pride” are genetic experiments. I liked this twist into the paranormal/scifi link. I don’t really know who is behind all these evil experiments that created Callan and those like him other than the vague references we get about the pride hiding from the Council that created them. The mystery behind what the Council is and what or who else they have created kept my interest piqued throughout the read. </div>
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I feel like Leigh did a good job at making Tempting the Beast a platform for continuing stories within this world without completely loosing the original story that was being told. The romance and relationship between Callan and Merinus (Lead female) was ok, but I have to say I did find myself rolling my eyes at times at just how predictable they were, but this is PNR. I don’t want to spoil anything if you plan on giving this a try but Tempting the Beast did remind me a bit of the BDBH when a certain female went into needing… I will say no more, and if you didn’t get that reference it’s not really important.</div>
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The not so good<br />
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I would have liked more of a back story in Merinus. I feel like if I would have gotten a little more of this cool lead I could have connected and liked her more, instead of only getting her character when she is under stress. Also, don’t get me wrong I like my smexy times in my romance reads… But there needs to be a balance. This for me was to much sex and not enough relationship building. Yes, I do know Merinus and Callan where in the mating frenzy or whatever, but come on, I got to the point that I was just skipping the sex scenes. </div>
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Should you get a copy?<br />
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If you love paranormal romance, are looking for something a little different, and don’t mind a lot of graphic sex I say give this a shot. Now I will say this is not something I will be re-reading but I think I will give the next book in the series a try. I am very interested in where all the setup of this book will lead.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-X8X9eB4k_nM/U-NgVkzwUaI/AAAAAAAAEhg/t5_0LO_cSKw/s1600-h/rating%2525202%252520of%2525205%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="rating 2 of 5" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Q5RzfeOza90/U-NgWvBQCRI/AAAAAAAAEhk/jPD9WQJDXfU/rating%2525202%252520of%2525205_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="92" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="rating 2 of 5" width="240" /></a><br />
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This was a quick read that piqued my interest in what is to come for these characters in the future, but I wouldn't stay up too late reading it. <br />
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Happy Reading</div>
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Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13743273886505961664noreply@blogger.com2