[Cover Reveal] The Mark of Athena by Rick Riodan

My Fav Reads Giveaway Hop

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Rachelle's Writing Spot June 1st - 6th

[Cover Reveal] Entice by Jessica Shirvington

[Tour Stop: Review] Loving Summer by Kailin Gow

Loving Summer by Kailin Gow is a YA Contemporary Romance with an edge - Releases May 28

After not having seen childhood family friends, Rachel and her brothers Nathaniel and Drew in three years, sixteen year old Summer Jones, who has always spent her summers with the Donovans at her Aunt Sookie's Malibu beach house, discovers there is more to her long-time crush on one of the Donovan brothers this summer than meets the eye, especially when Astor Fairway, the handsome television star taking her aunt's acting coaching sessions, notices her. This summer, the summer she is noticed, would be the summer no one could forget.

Waiting on Wednesday: Week of May 30, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday is a weeklymeme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post toan upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to reading.

Eve and Adam by Katherine Applegate, Michael Grant

600 Followers Giveaway!

WOW! I just realized how many of you are following me. Thank you guys so, so much! It seriously means the world to me! I LOVE ALL OF YOU GUYS!

You guys are all too precious!

Now enough talking, let's get to the giveaway! As a thank you, I am doing a giveaway for some very anticipated releases in paperpack! There will be 2 winners, each will win one preorder from TBD. So if you win, you can win one of the books listed below.

WAIT! OR! It doesn't have to be a preorder. I realized many of you really want some of the books that already released so I added some options that you guys suggested. But do realize that I will buy the cheapest option from TBD. :) *I know that The Golden Lily right now is a preorder but when the giveaway end, it wont be any more. That's why I put it in the already released list.*

• Giveaway is International as long as book depository ships to you.
• Must be at least 18 to enter (or 13 and up with parent permission)
• One entry per person
• Winner will be selected via rafflecoptor and contacted through email. 
• The winner has 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected.
• Just fill out the rafflecopter below for entry!
• The length of the giveaway may be subject to change.

*Update! I noticed some people entered the giveaway a couple of times under different email or such. I don't know if it is on purpose or not, but please enter the contest once, of course except the one that can be done every day. I know some of you enter in the same household, that is fine. But please don't create fake names and accounts to take advantage of the giveaway. If you want to get more entries, just come back every day and tweet. :) Please and thank you.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Star by Javi Araguz & Isabel Hierro

“The Star” (La Estrella)

Authors: Javi Araguz & Isabel Hierro

Pages: 318

Genre: YA, fantasy, greenpunk, dystopia, romance, adventure.

Published in: 20 countries in Spanish and Portuguese.

SYNOPSIS:

The boy’s eyes glittered so strongly, presaging an imminent rupture of The Quietude. Lan was perfectly aware of the prohibition of touching a Star Walker, but right now there was no turning back as their fates had inevitably been sealed off.
Centuries ago a catastrophe turned Linde into a hostile place; since then, the survivors have learned to live in isolation within the boundaries of the Safe Limits. But, the planet is constantly subjected to a change in shape and people are lost, never return. After a violent planetary transformation, Lan, a courageous girl from Salvia clan, wakes up in the middle of the desert, only to be rescued by her worst enemy.
A young man marked by a curse.
A village hiding the biggest secret ever to be kept.

A love as dangerous as it is impossible.

A world whose surface is forever undergoing changes… when getting lost is the equivalent of death.

First chapter:
http://www.bookthestar.com/The_star-Sampler-eng.pdf
Web:

http://www.bookTheStar.com

Blog (only in Spanish):

http://www.librolaestrella.com/blog

Praises (only in Spanish):
http://www.librolaestrella.com/handicho

Info:
http://www.bookTheStar.com/The_Star-Javi_Araguz_Isabel_Hierro-YA_novel-Info.pdf

So if you like to read this book in English, request it here: You can request it here: http://www.bookthestar.com/request.html

Stacking the Shelves #4

Stacking the Shelves #3. Stacking the Shelves was created by Tynga's Reviews, and it was inspired my The Story Siren's In My Mailbox.

 

For Blog Tour: 

Loving Summer by Kailin Gow

Bought: 

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Wither by Lauren Destefano

Won:

The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

What was stacked in your bookshelf this week?

[Review] The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze

Published Date: May 1st, 2012
Published Format: Hardcover

Publisher: Little Brown and Company

Source: HBG

Received Format: Hardcover

Pages: 295

Catergory: Dystopian

Synopsis:
Happily ever after is a thing of the past.

A series of natural disasters has decimated the earth. Cut off from the rest of the world, England is a dark place. The sun rarely shines, food is scarce, and groups of criminals roam the woods, searching for prey. The people are growing restless.

When a ruthless revolutionary sets out to overthrow the crown, he makes the royal family his first target. Blood is shed in Buckingham Palace, and only sixteen-year old Princess Eliza manages to escape. Determined to kill the man who destroyed her family, Eliza joins the enemy forces in disguise. She has nothing left to live for but revenge, until she meets someone who helps her remember how to hope-and love-once more.

Now she must risk everything to ensure that she does not become . . .

The Last Princess.




Review:
The plot just felt like a heart flatline and it totally needed resuscitation!


At the beginning, I really didn't think the book had it. The writing is a little...ummm...not very good. By that I mean, it has a lot of conversation. The world building lacks quite a lot. I mean, it is a setting where world building is key, but Galaxy...well, not very well done. I constantly asked the question: how old are the girls? When I read the book, I felt like they are around 9. They felt kiddish. But as I read on, I started to enjoy the book more, and more. (Funny thing how this reminds me of my After the Snow by S. D. Crockett review, because I had the feelings when I was reading that this book was written from the same level author as S. D Crockett.) 


That said, I do enjoy I did like how Galaxy didn't go overly crazy about the palace; I always like imagining my own. Yes this sounds like a contradictory sentence comparing to my comment about the setting previously, but this is different. I needed more details about how the world is like, how the sceneries looked. I wasn't sure what to picture when Galaxy described this dystopia London. The setting felt very historic. If I didn't know better, I thought it was set in the 1600-1700. It takes me a moment to realize it is not in the 1600 when I read a "steel street sign". Oh! Right! Not a historical YA fiction...Oops?


On to the character...Eliza reminded me of Carys in the Relic Master series by Catherine Fisher. So if Catherine wrote about how Carys became Carys, this book would be it. She was strong and smart. She was also in a...military like of squadron. But Eliza felt one dimensional. Portia is quite the character. I really wanted to punch her. I felt like even though we don't get much time with Portia than Eliza, I felt like Portia had more character. Great job Galaxy for conveying my emotions. :) And as for Wesley...oh Wesley. I just didn't feel my desire for him. I can see he must be a gorgeous guy, but his personality...didn't pull me to him. Guess it is because I don't feel like he is old enough. I personally like older men and with Eliza feeling like 9, Wesley felt like a 10 or 12 years old. Ew? Ha-ha, I did love how the horse was named Caligula! Wooot! Badass!


And as for the plot...well...they were predictable. Remember? Resuscitation? Yeah, the plot definitely needed one. I totally saw the thing with Wesley happening and couldn't stop myself from screaming "I KNEW IT!". 


I did LOVE how short the chapters are. They are the perfect length. I really don't enjoy authors who writes a book with like 6 chapters in them. When I read, I read a small part at a time (since reading is my away-from-homework-break). So the short chapters allow me to "detach" with the book more. Futhermore, I did enjoy like the cover? :) The colours are beautiful and very quite different.


I might sound super critical about this book, but I think it is readable. I guess it is easier to write about the flaws of a book than the virtues. There were amazing moments in the book that kept me up reading. This book definitely was good but it didn't have the spark or the shabam like some other books. It just felt more like a MG book instead of an YA. If it is a MG book, I think I would've rated higher based on the fact that it would be more accurate. And I do have my YA standards higher. :P

Fashion Friday (13) @KadyCross @HarlequinTeen

Fashion Friday is a weekly meme created by FireStarBooks in order for book lovers to post any fashion related idea or image that they thought would be a great match for books on Friday.

Welcome back to Fashion Friday! This week I was inspired by a new release this week from HarlequinTeen, The Girl With the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross.

In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous. 

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves. 

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.

Let's get started with all the fashion! <3 I found these gorgeous lovelies by Julee Drain.

Source

Which one was your favourite? & As always, what inspired you this week?

2nd Annual Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop

2nd Annual
Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop
May 25th to 31st

A preoder of Wake by Amanda Hocking

a Rafflecopter giveaway

[Review] Virals by Kathy Reichs

This review was first posted on my Goodreads account on July 21, 2011. Now I am posting it on my blog with more details. :)

Synopsis via Goodreads: Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.

As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent.

Fortunately, they are now more than friends they're a pack. They are Virals.

Review:
If you like
1. A not annoying female character
2. Wolves
3. Indescribable evil characters
4. An unpredictable mystery
5. Superpower
6. Smart-problem solvers
7. ROFLMFAO jokes
8. An unpredictable, twisting plot
9. Science
10. Friendship and love
You will love this book!

This book was one of the BEST book I have read in 2011. If you find crime solving tv shows too predictable, you will not at all find this too easy to solve! Brilliantly written. Jokes were constantly making me burst out laughing! The emotions of the characters literally transfer to you; for example, the anger of Tory made my blood boil, I just want it to twist up the evil characters until they break like a play-dough that had been strained.

Overall, this book is a MUST read!!!

Brief History of Desiree Finkbeiner’s writing

Today I am happy to welcome Desiree, author of Ethos series, for a guest post! :)

Brief History of Desiree Finkbeiner’s writing:

I’ve been writing and illustrating since grade school. My mother had kept dozens of my little books in her keepsake chest, and we got them out a few years ago to share a laugh. Though, in the beginning I was more interested in art and poetry, entering my work in shows and contests. I won certificates and awards all through grade school, middle school and high school but most of them were for my art.

I wrote my first middle-grade, fantasy chapter book at age 12, called ‘Trail Of Faith’. It was a high fantasy about four friends who were separated by a “saprin wind” (similar to a tornado, but it sucked each of them through a portal into other realms). The story was about their journey back to find one another. I had intended to seek publication for it back then, but I had written it on my father’s old Tandy1000 computer, with a DOS operating system, and lost the entire work when the system crashed. It was 30,000 words and I was devastated because I had not backed it up on a floppy.

Discouraged, I didn’t write another ‘novel’ until I was 17. It was called ‘Us and Them’, an urban fantasy about vampires that I never showed to anyone. In high school I wrote a lot of short stories and published my own little magazine full of poetry and skits. I was inspired by a creative writing teacher who really sparked my love for writing.

I took several more writing courses in college and always looked forward to hearing encouraging comments from my professors, but since I was an art major, I focused more on building my portfolio and playing music with my rock band than writing. Though I did publish quite a bit of poetry in college, the writing bug didn’t really bite me until after college.

I had given up music to run a business and start a family, writing a little in my spare time as I sold and licensed my art. But writing inspiration didn’t hit me again until after I had divorced an abusive man that seemed to kill my desire for creativity. I remarried and found such happiness that writing came to me easily. First, I wrote a biography documenting my life as a battered wife (to get it all out of my system) and once I felt purged of the hurt, I was finally able to write again. 

In 2010, I wrote a 155,000 word novel called, ‘The Establishment’ and shopped it around but got nothing but rejections. One publisher asked for the full manuscript but finally decided against it. It was a political thriller/urban fantasy. I set it on the backburner trying to figure out how I could improve character development and overcoming my plotting issues.

So I took another creative writing course at the local college to force myself to form better habits. The critique group there really helped me build confidence and broke me of some really bad habits. The following winter, I wrote the first book in the Ethos series. Within a couple weeks of sending it out to publishers, I had three offers on the book! 

All that hard work and studying finally paid off. 
It wasn’t until I married my wonderful husband, Carl, that I found the courage to really pursue my writing as a career. And though I don’t think he’s ever read a book cover to cover in his life, he has really encouraged me to do whatever makes me happy. 

So my advice to aspiring writers is this… avoid people who do not lift you up as an artist/writer. Surround yourself with people who love you for who you are, who will be happy when you have small victories. People who constantly criticize your attempts to become great, will never achieve anything.

Desiree Finkbeiner attained a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from Missouri Southern State University (2006) with a heavy background in business, marketing, music and fine art-- She was heavily involved in campus affairs and served actively in several committees focusing on campus entertainment and events.

She performed with musical acts/bands in rock and electronic genres, released seven studio albums, performed in 11 states and has written hundreds of songs. Her band, Carbon Star, was a finalist for VH1's "Bands on the Run" reality TV show in 2000. Then she performed with Pointy Teeth until finally leaving the music industry for the quiet life.

She had a scholarship for acting in college though she was not a theater major. Although she no longer performs or focuses on musical/performing arts, she has chosen to shift her talents to other areas that are more conducive to raising a family.

Continuing education is a constant adventure for Desiree with topics of interest ranging from civil and corporate law, history, political conspiracy, homeopathic medicine and spiritual healing. She prefers to read non-fiction, especially on topics that educate and broaden her perspectives on controversial issues.

With thousands of completed art works in her archives, most of which appear in private collections worldwide, Desiree hopes to focus more on publishing, marketing and licensing her work so she can leave a legacy behind.

Website | Facebook | Google + | Goodreads |

Add Morning Star to-read on Goodreads

[Blog Tour] Excerpt from Straight to Heaven by Michelle Scott

Yesterday I had the honour to welcome Michelle Scott for a guest post. Today, I have an excerpt from Straight to Heaven. :D Enjoy!

William had been leaning against the wall, and he stood up straight when he saw me.  “That didn’t go well, did it?”

He’d witnessed my epic failure.  Terrific.  “Things were going fine until that woman got in the way,” I said.  Curse that interfering old lady!  Now Miss Spry would be furious with me.  I resumed nibbling my cuticle.

“An old lady?  Is that what you saw?”  William laughed.  “That, my dear Lilith, was a guardian angel.”

Guardian angel?  I replayed the events in my mind, suddenly realizing how easily the old lady with the walker had thwarted my attempts to tempt my client.  Her timing had been perfect, and those piercing, blue eyes had been supernatural.  “No one told me there would be an angel involved,” I said.

“Angels can be a nuisance, especially if they’re assigned to your client.  They may work for Heaven, but they know as many dirty tricks as we do.”

“So they’ve given you trouble before, too?” I asked hopefully.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said.  “I’ve never once let an angel stop me from tempting a client.”

I should have guessed.  William had a perfect track record which made him a favorite of Miss Spry’s.  “How did you manage that?” I asked him.

He gave me a knowing smile.  “It’s the easiest thing in the world.  I seduced them."

Bio

Michelle Scott received her MFA from Wayne State University. Her stories have appeared in such places as Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show, All Possible Worlds and Realms. Her fantasy novel, The Dragons of Hazlett was nominated for a 2009 EPPIE Award. Michelle’s YA novels include the vampire romance, Blood Sisters, and the fantasy Uncommon Magic. Her latest fantasy novel, An Anthem for the Battle Lands, was recently released from Mundania Press, LLC. Michelle lives in southeast Michigan with her husband and three children.

Links

Webpage

Blog

Product

Giveaway
You have the chance to win 2GB iPod Shuffle and 4 ecopies of Straight to Heaven. Enter HERE.