Sunday, November 24, 2013

ARC Giveaway + Bonus Scene: Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

Fire & Flood (Fire & Flood, #1)

Fire & Flood
Victoria Scott
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: February 25, 2014

A modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own.

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?


As part of the V Mafia I get emails from Victoria Scott from time to time with these excellent extras and giveaways. I am very glad that I get to share these fun post with you! I hope you enjoy this bonus scene:) Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a signed ARC at the bottom of the post.


FIRE & FLOOD Bonus Scene
Harper Shaw, Minor Character
  The Brimstone Bleed started four hours ago, give or take. I’ve traveled as far as necessary for now, put adequate distance between myself and the other Contenders. There will be plenty who travel without stopping, without making a plan.

Idiots.

Like the others, I don’t know anything about this race, only that I need the prize—the Cure—more than I need my own beating heart. I can still remember my mother’s words as I left our home.

“I don’t know where you think you’re going, Harper,” she said. “But you can’t just leave us like this. Not now.”

But I did leave. It’s not like I could tell her about the invitation. Or explain what would happen next. Because the truth was, I didn’t know. Two days ago, I was lounging on my bed, listening to Linkin Park and watching MTV on mute. Today, I’m here, in a jungle, fighting to save the most important person in my life.

A caw rips through the late afternoon, and the dense canopy overhead rustles. I breathe in the smell of rich, damp soil that is almost invigorating. The air is thick and damp and clings to my skin, and everywhere I look is a plant I’ve never seen before. The world is a canvas of purple vines and orange flowers and greenery that swallows the ground beneath my feet. It’s both horrific and captivating at once.

Every few seconds, I stop to swipe insects off my skin. It doesn’t bother me. I’m not the squeamish type. The only thing I’m worried about is the egg in my Brimstone Bleed issued bag. A Pandora, the device said. An animal that will help me win this competition. My heart roars in my chest when the bag against my hip stirs once again.

Now that we’re alone, I drop to my knees and remove the egg. When I see a prominent crack down the side, my entire body buzzes with anticipation. I’ve never had a pet before. Not a dog, not a cat…not even a goldfish. And now I’m supposed to travel with an animal that could potentially save my life and Lillian’s? It’s hard to absorb.

The egg cracks again, and I freeze. My hands hover over the iridescent shell, unsure of what to do. But this Pandora doesn’t need my help. It’s eager to escape its prison, eager to fulfill its destiny. I admire its tenacity already, but my stomach churns wondering what my Pandora will be like. Will it be ruthless? Endearing? Will it make it so that I don’t feel utterly alone?

The egg burst open and I fall back, a gasp escaping my throat. I glance around to ensure we are alone. And when I look back, my hands shaking, my eyes widening, I see it—
A feather. 

Giveaway
This giveaway is international!
One signed ARC of Fire & Flood.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck and Happy Reading!
Signature

Friday, November 22, 2013

Stacking The Shelves #30

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

What I got this week

Kindle Freebies
The Language of SoulsThe Nightlife: New York (The Nightlife, #1)Rua (Rua, #1)Nolander (Emanations, #1)
Book covers link to Goodreads. List below links to Amazon. I can’t grantee titles are still free.

For Review
Poison Dance: A Novella
Poison Dance by Livia Blackburne

Livia Blackburne’s book Midnight Thief was my Waiting on Wednesday this week. I was so excited when Livia contacted me to review Poison Dance! This is a prequel novella in the Midnight Thief world. I hope to get to this very soon!

Have you read any of the books above?
Can’t wait to see what you got!
Signature

Spotlight and Giveaway: The Color of Heaven Series by Julianne MacLean

I am so excited to share with y’all an awesome contemporary romance series that anyone can enjoy. This series is getting amazing reviews. Check out the covers and blurbs below. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway at the end of the post:)



The Color of Heaven


The Color of Heaven

A deeply emotional tale about Sophie Duncan, a successful columnist whose world falls apart after her daughter’s unexpected illness and her husband’s shocking affair. When it seems nothing else could possibly go wrong, her car skids off an icy road and plunges into a frozen lake. There, in the cold dark depths of the water, a profound and extraordinary experience unlocks the surprising secrets from Sophie’s past, and teaches her what it means to truly live...and love.

Full of surprising twists and turns and a near-death experience that will leave you breathless, this story is not to be missed.




The Color of Destiny (The Color of Heaven Series #2)




The Color of Destiny

Eighteen years ago a teenage pregnancy changed Kate Worthington’s life forever. Faced with many difficult decisions, she chose to follow her heart and embrace an uncertain future with the father of her baby and her devoted first love…

At the same time, in another part of the world, sixteen-year-old Ryan Hamilton makes his own share of mistakes, but learns important lessons along the way. Twenty years later, Kate’s and Ryan’s paths cross in a way they never expected, which makes them question the possibility of destiny. Even when all seems hopeless, could it be that everything happens for a reason, and we end up exactly where we are meant to be?




The Color of Hope (The Color of Heaven Series, Book 3)




THE COLOR OF HOPE

Diana Moore has led a charmed life. She’s the daughter of a wealthy senator and living a glamorous city life, and is confident her handsome live-in boyfriend is about to propose.  But everything is turned upside down when she learns of a mysterious woman who works nearby – a woman who is her identical mirror image.

Diana is compelled to discover the truth about this woman’s identity, but the truth leads her down a path of secrets, betrayals, and shocking discoveries about her past. These discoveries follow her like a shadow.

Then she meets Dr. Jacob Peterson—a brilliant cardiac surgeon with an uncanny ability to heal those who are broken.  With his help, Diana embarks upon a journey to restore her belief in the human spirit, and recover a sense of hope - that happiness, and love, may still be within reach for those willing to believe in second chances.




About the author


clip_image002

Julianne MacLean is a USA Today bestselling author of more than 15 historical romance novels, including her popular American Heiress series published by Avon/Harper Collins, and her recent Highlander Trilogy, published by St. Martin’s Press. She is a three-time RITA finalist with Romance Writers of America, a two-time winner of the Bookseller’s Best Award, and winner of a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for her novel LOVE ACCORDING TO LILY. Her books have been translated into many languages, and she is currently working on another book in the Color of Heaven Series.




Giveaway

Up for grabs:
One signed print edition of THE COLOR OF HEAVEN.
This giveaway is for US and Canada only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck everyone!

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Fierce Reads Giveaway Winners!


20131102_072833

And the winners are…

image

Congratulations, Kelly and Jenelle! I hope you both enjoy your new reads.
Thanks to all that entered. There will be more awesome giveaways soon:)

Quickie Review: Scott Pilgrim Series by Bryan Lee O’Malley

Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life (Scott Pilgrim, #1)


Scott Pilgrim's life is totally sweet. He's 23 years old, he's in a rock band, he's ""between jobs,"" and he's dating a cute high school girl. Nothing could possibly go wrong, unless a seriously mind-blowing, dangerously fashionable, rollerblading delivery girl named Ramona Flowers starts cruising through his dreams and sailing by him at parties. Will Scott's awesome life get turned upside-down? Will he have to face Ramona's seven evil ex-boyfriends in battle? The short answer is yes. The long answer is Scott Pilgrim, Volume 1: Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life

Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World (Scott Pilgrim, #2)


Does Scott and Ramona's burgeoning relationship have a future? Isn't Scott still supposedly dating Knives Chau? Who is Ramona's second evil ex-boyfriend, and why is he in Toronto? Who are The Clash At Demonhead, and what kind of bizarre art-punky music do they play? Who's their hot girl keyboardist, and what is Scott's relation to her? Why are they Knives Chau's new favourite band? Fights! Drama! Secrets revealed! The answers to all these questions and more!

Scott Pilgrim & the Infinite Sadness (Scott Pilgrim, #3)


Ramona's third evil ex-boyfriend, Todd Ingram, is currently dating the former love of Scott Pilgrim's life! Envy Adams broke Scott's heart a year and a half ago. Now she and her evil art-rock band are back, and they're getting Scott's band to open a show two days from now! That's just enough time for Scott to fight Todd, keep Ramona happy, fend off demented ex-girlfriends, and practice that new setlist. Right Don't miss the latest chapter in the graphic novel saga The Globe and Mail calls "Canada's answer to Tank Girl!"

Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together (Scott Pilgrim, #4)


That's right, folks! Put down the video game controller! Skip that rehearsal for your band! Make whatever sacrifices you must to those comic gods you hold so dear! Just make sure you're ready because Bryan Lee O'Malley and Scott Pilgrim are back! Well, a couple months have passed since the last time we caught up with our intrepid hero, but what can change in a few short months? Well, not much has... Scott's still living with his roommate Wallace Wells. He's still playing in a mediocre rock band named Sex Bob-omb. And most importantly, he's still dating the lovely Ramona Flowers while working his way through the gaggle of superpowered, superstylish, superevil ex-boyfriends determined to take him down. But something is different. Don't look now, but Scott Pilgrim may actually be getting it together. And it's a good thing, too, because Scott is about to confront Ramona's most intimidating ex yet!

Scott Pilgrim Vs. the Universe (Scott Pilgrim, #5)


Scott Pilgrim just turned 24, and things couldn't possibly be better This means things are about to get infinitely worse Suddenly, TWO of Ramona's evil ex-boyfriends are in town, and they're playing dirty. His band is in turmoil, and his own exes aren't making things any easier. And what's up with Ramona, anyway? She's been acting kinda weird ever since they moved in together Scott's precious little life is coming back around to bite him in the butt, and it may not be pretty.


Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour (Scott Pilgrim, #6)


It's finally here Six years and almost one-thousand pages have all led to this epic finale With six of Ramona's seven evil exes dispatched, it should be time for Scott Pilgrim to face Gideon Graves, the biggest and baddest of her former beaus. But didn't Ramona take off at the end of Book 5? Shouldn't that let Scott off the hook? Maybe it should, maybe it shouldn't, but one thing is for certain - all of this has been building to Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour.



Review

I have loved Scott Pilgrim since I saw the movie.  At the time, I had no idea that this was a series of graphic novels.  My wife informed me of this.  Recently, she went to our public library and saw they had the entire series available, and checked them out for me.

I enjoyed reading these books so much!  I love that there was an almost literal translation from book to movie.  I knew what to expect going in.  The books and the movie take different roads, and though there was some major awesome in the movie, the books are full of more awesome!  I read all these books within a few days.  The artistry, use of videogame themes, all of it makes the Scott Pilgrim series so much fun!  If you watched the movie, but haven’t read the graphic novels, DO IT!

Bending_The_Spine_Moon_RaterBending_The_Spine_Moon_RaterBending_The_Spine_Moon_RaterBending_The_Spine_Moon_RaterBending_The_Spine_Moon_Rater
5 Moons: Scott Pilgrim is infinite greatness!

textspace_1360373602_c671aff2(3)