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Blu-Ray Giveaway The Hobbit The Battle of The Five Armies!

Tuesday, March 31, 2015
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Blu-Ray copy of The Hobbit The Battle of The Five Armies.  Please leave a comment with your name and email address and give the app a try!

Each household is only eligible to win One (1) Blu-ray The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
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About The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Blu-Ray

From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies," the third in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpieceThe Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world.
Special Features on the Blu-Ray combo pack include:

• New Zealand: Home of Middle-earth Part 3
• Recruiting the Five Armies
• Completing Middle-earth: A Six-Part Saga
• Completing Middle-earth: A Seventeen-Year Journey
• The Last Goodbye: Behind the Scenes
• Music Video
• Trailers
#TheHobbit
Own it on Blu-ray NOW

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

HARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN’S BOOKS ACQUIRES FANFICTION MINECRAFT-INSPIRED TRILOGY BY TEEN AUTHOR SEAN FAY WOLFE

Monday, March 30, 2015
--THE ELEMENTIA CHRONICLES BOOK 1: QUEST FOR JUSTICE will publish in the US on July 28th 2015 –

New York, New York (March 18th, 2015) – HarperCollins Children’s Books announced today the acquisition of THE ELEMENTIA CHRONICLES trilogy, an unofficial Minecraft-fan adventure series, from debut teen author, Sean Fay Wolfe. Scheduled for publication on July 28th, 2015, World English rights were negotiated in a pre-emptive offer by Pamela Bobowicz, Senior Editor, HarperCollins Children’s Books with Rick Richter at Zachary Shuster Harmsworth.

Sean Fay Wolfe was just 16 years old when he wrote, Quest For Justice, the first book of The Elementia Chronicles trilogy, which he originally self-published. Inspired by the best-selling game, this unofficial trilogy brings Minecraft fans and middle grade readers on an action packed adventure. In Quest for Justice, dark forces are at work on the Elementia server, and when new players Stan, Kat and Charlie arrive on the scene, they quickly find themselves in peril. Targeted by more experienced players, the noobs must band together against the king, battle the natural forces of the game, and unravel the mysteries of Elementia in the name of justice.

“Sean is a writer to watch and his talent for storytelling captivated us. We’re thrilled to be partnering with such an exciting young voice on this epic, engaging new series,” says Pamela Bobowicz, Senior Editor, HarperCollins Children’s Books.

The second book will publish October 27, 2015, with the third to follow on January 26, 2016.

In addition to being an unstoppable young storyteller, Fay Wolfe is an avid Minecraft player and loves creating action adventure tales in its endlessly creative virtual world. Sean is an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America, a four-time all-state musician, a second degree Black Belt in Shidokan karate, and has created many popular online games in the Scratch programming environment. He goes to school in Rhode Island where he is deeply involved with his school’s drama club.

ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN’S BOOKS:
HarperCollins Children’s Books is one of the leading publishers of children’s and teen books. Respected worldwide for its tradition of publishing quality, award-winning books for young readers, HarperCollins is home to many timeless treasures and bestsellers such as Charlotte’s Web, Goodnight Moon, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Where the Wild Things Are, The Graveyard Book and series including The Chronicles of Narnia, Ramona, Warriors, Pete the Cat, Fancy Nancy, Divergent, and The Selection. Consistently at the forefront of digital innovation, HarperCollins Children’s Books delights readers through engaging storytelling in all formats, including e-books and apps. HarperCollins Children’s Books is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, which is the second largest consumer book publisher in the world, has operations in 18 countries, and is a subsidiary of News Corp (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). You can visit HarperCollins Children’s Books at www.harpercollinschildrens.com and www.epicreads.com and HarperCollins Publishers atcorporate.HC.com.



This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

It Started with a Scandal by Julie Anne Long: Promo and Giveaway!

Saturday, March 28, 2015
IT STARTED WITH A SCANDAL CHAPTER ONE, PART ONE

            “In light of your ...circumstances...Mrs. Fountain, I'm certain you're aware that it is a bit unusual for you to be granted an interview at all. But this is an exceptional...situation...and the Redmond family did put in a good word.”
            So many words requiring delicate choosing and pillowing with little silences. Circumstances. Situation.
            Elise gritted her teeth clamped together, withstanding all of them the way she had for years.
            “I understand,” she said somberly.
            “—that is not to say that you could not satisfactorily perform the duties, and I should hope you would not be influenced by Mrs. Gordon, whose temperament proved unequal to the job—”
            Mrs. Gordon must be the sobbing woman Elise had passed departing the house as Elise came up the walk. She'd been carrying a valise and muttering “heartless bastard” viciously under her breath.
            “...because the successful candidate will possess a clear head and a mature outlook...”  Mrs. Winthrop continued. She paused briefly in her torrent of words to narrow her eyes at Elise.
            Elise had donned her most severe gown and ruthlessly pinned her hair motionless with approximately three hundred pins. She nodded, serenely confident she looked mature and that nothing as frivolous as a curl would escape.
            And she kept her fingers laced tightly in her lap, as if this alone could keep her nerves from shattering. It had at least disguised the trembling.
            Would that she'd managed to keep her stays laced just that tightly six years ago.
            Alas, spilt milk, and all of that.
            “...and as you know, I'm employed by the Earl of Ardmay, and they have volunteered me to undertake the selection process as a special favor to their family...”
            Mrs. Winthrop had not ceased speaking since Elise arrived fifteen minutes ago.
            “...and as for the current staff, there will be no steward or butler, as this is a relatively small household and the tenant is temporary. So you would head the small entire staff, which is comprised of—”
            Something unmistakably large and glass, hurled from a considerable distance with considerable force, exploded into thousands of jingling fragments.
            Both women froze.
            It was exactly what Elise expected her nerves would sound like when they finally shattered. 
            In the stunned silence that followed the rain hurled itself at the window like a warning. Get out! Get out while you can!
            Ah, if only she'd a choice.
            Mrs. Winthrop cleared her throat at last. “He likely won't ever aim at you. All the same, there's naught wrong with his arm and it's best to be well clear of him if you think he might be in a throwing mood.”            
            Elise hoped this was black humor. How on earth to respond? She glanced down at her bloodless knuckles as if they were crystal balls. No help there.
            She decided to nod sagely.
            “I understand they're blessedly rare. The throwing moods,” Mrs. Winthrop expounded.    
            “And we must always count our blessings.”
            It emerged more quickly and dryly than Elise intended. 
            In other words: More herself than she had intended.
            This she knew because Mrs. Winthrop's eyebrows launched like birds flushed from shrubbery.
            She eyed Elise sharply for a moment.
            Elise held her breath.
            Then Mrs. Winthrop smiled a vanishingly swift smile.  It was like a cinder thrown off a distant campfire, when Elise had been lost in the dark woods for weeks.
            “All right then, Mrs. Fountain, I should be pleased to introduce you to his Lordship, Lord Lavay, who is a Prince of the House of Bourbon. If he's...amenable.”
*****

            The loquacious Mrs. Winthrop went curiously silent as she led Elise through a labyrinth of Alder House's too-dark hallways. The candles hadn't been trimmed; a few were fitfully, smokily, burning in their sconces. She frowned. The house was handsome enough, but tn the rooms they swiftly passed the fires burned low or not at all. She surreptitiously dragged a fingertip along top of the wainscoting; she could feel dust cake it.
            She saw no evidence of the rumored household staff.
            They scaled a flight of marble stairs with a smooth, modest banister, and Mrs. Winthrop finally halted paused on the threshold of what appeared to be a study.
            It was as dark and soft as a cave, but a huge leaping fire picked out glints from around the room, and Elise's eyes tracked them reflexively:  the polished legs on  a plumply upholstered settee and a pair of gorgeous chairs, the inlay on a small round table, the gilt on a framed map and the stand of a handsome globe, an empty crystal decanter, a tiny bottle of Sydenham's Laudanum on a sideboard, only half full.
            She stopped when she reached the mirror-like toes of a pair of Hessians by the hearth.
            And followed them all the way up.
            Inside them stood a man.
            A very tall man.
            He in fact all but loomed; the firelight threw his shadow nearly to where she stood at the door. 
            Elise took an unconscious step back from it, as though it were a spill of lava.
            His face was aimed rather pointedly at the window, as if he was expecting someone.
            She followed his gaze curiously.
            She just saw the same ceaseless slanting rain, like bars on a cell. 
            A spray of sparkling shards surrounded his feet.  The remains of a vase, from the looks of things.
            “Lord Lavay...”
            Elise shot Mrs. Winthrop a worried look. The seemingly indefatigable Mrs. Winthrop's voice had gone faint. As if she suddenly didn't have enough air to form words.
            The man turned. Slowly, as if he was the earth itself on its axis. Or as if an invisible sculptor was rotating him to present a finished work.
            Voila! Elise thought to herself. An attempt at bravado.
            It was too late. She'd already sucked in her breath and tightened all of her muscles, like a creature who had stumbled across a predator in a clearing and wished to make herself unnoticeable.
            He was so clearly of that singular species, The Aristocracy, that she might as well have bought a ticket to see him, the way she had once when her father had brought her, as a little girl, to see the Royal Menagerie in London.
             He wasn't young. There was no softness to his face—not in the set of his mouth, or the burn of his gaze, or the severe right angles of his jaw. His beauty was austere and inarguable and there was a palpable force to him, as if he had sprung from the earth due to violent underground activity, a bit like a mountain range. She thought about the things she'd been told about him.
            Privateer. Soldier. Prince.
            Power,  violence, privilege.
            He looked like all of the things he was purported to be. 
            Do we carry around our pasts so visibly? She wondered. Because if she so, she was certainly in trouble.
            There was no denying that he frightened her.
            And after a moment, this made her angry. She'd been so certain she was impossible to frighten after the events of the last five years. She could not afford to be frightened. She thought she deserved never to be frightened again.
            She squared her shoulders.
            Life is full of tests, children, she'd once primly told her students.
            That was before she'd been tested.
           

            The woman Mrs. Winthrop brought into Phillipe's study was petite and colorless. Her face and the folded knot of her hands were twins, both white and tense. Her dress was demure, long-sleeved, high-collared, fashioned of serviceable gray wool. Her hair was dark. She could be any age.
            Her eyes dropped instantly upon meeting his. It was deference or fear, or perhaps fascination. He was accustomed to all of them. None of it interested him.
            She was, unsurprisingly, unremarkable in every way.
            Apart, that was, from her posture, which was almost aggressively rigid. It reminded him of a drawn saber.
            This made him smile faintly. 
            He sensed it wasn't a pleasant smile when both women gave a little start.
            “I'd like to introduce Mrs. Elise Fountain, my lord.”
            Miss Fountain dropped an elegant enough curtsy.
            “You may leave us,” he said to Mrs. Winthrop, without looking at her.
            Mrs. Winthrop bolted like a rabbit released from a trap.
            Mrs. Fountain's gaze rose again, rather like a man struggling up the side of a cliff, wavered, and held.            
END IT STARTED WITH A SCANDAL CHAPTER ONE PART ONE! To read the rest of Chapter One, check out these blogs:

3/26—
Urban Girl Reader EXCERPT PART 2
Eater of Books EXCERPT PART 2

3/27—
Buried Under Romance EXCERPT PART 2

3/28—
Toot’s Book Reviews EXCERPT PART 2
Doing Some Reading EXCERPT PART 2

3/29—
The Lusty Literate EXCERPT PART 3
Romancing the Readers EXCERPT PART 3

3/30—
Snarky Mama EXCERPT PART 3


4/1—
The Jeep Diva EXCERPT PART 3

4/2—
To Read or Not to Read EXCERPT PART 3


4/3—
I Heart Romance EXCERPT PART 3

 About IT STARTED WITH A SCANDAL
Lord Philippe Lavay once took to the high seas armed with charm as lethal as his sword and a stone-cold conviction: he’ll restore his family’s fortune and honor, no matter the cost. Victory is at last within reach—when a brutal attack snatches it from his grasp and lands him in Pennyroyal Green.

An afternoon of bliss brings a cascade of consequences for Elise Fountain. Shunned by her family and ousted from a job she loves, survival means a plummet down the social ladder to a position no woman has yet been able to keep: housekeeper to a frighteningly formidable prince.

The bold and gentle Elise sees past his battered body into Philippe’s barricaded heart . . . and her innate sensuality ignites his blood. Now a man who thought he could never love and a woman who thought she would never again trust must fight an incendiary passion that could be the ruin of them both.

About JULIE ANNE LONG
USA Today bestselling author JULIE ANNE LONG originally set out to be a rock star when she grew up (and she has the guitars and fringed clothing stuffed in the back of her closet to prove it), but writing was always her first love. Since hanging up her guitar for the computer keyboard, her books frequently top reader and critic polls and have been nominated for numerous awards, including the Rita, Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice, and The Quills, and reviewers have been known to use words like “dazzling,” “brilliant,” and “impossible to put down” when describing them. Julie lives in Northern California.

Visit Julie at http://www.julieannelong.com, http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJulieAnneLong, or twitter.com/JulieAnneLong

Where to buy IT STARTED WITH A SCANDAL

GIVEAWAY:



a Rafflecopter giveaway

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

The Last Witness by Jerry Amernic



The year is 2039, and Jack Fisher is the last living survivor of the Holocaust. Set in a world that is abysmally complacent about events of the last century, Jack is a 100-year-old man whose worst memories took place before he was 5. His story hearkens back to the Jewish ghetto of his birth and to Auschwitz where, as a little boy, he had to fend for himself to survive after losing his family. Jack becomes the central figure in a missing-person investigation when his granddaughter suddenly disappears. While assisting police, he finds himself in danger and must reach into the darkest corners of his memory to come out alive.

Goodreads Summary

When I read this book I could just hear the phrase "those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it" in my mind.  I absolutely loved learning about history in school and was lucky enough to be in an AP class that did not skim over the Holocaust.  At times, I feel like what we are taught in school is not in depth or fully explained.  I think it would be beneficial to allow students to think through the events themselves.  I really enjoyed the author's perspective on the horrible events and atrocities.  I liked the idea of combing through your memory to help solve a mystery and utilizing past memories.  This book was a good read and hard to put down.

4 Stars


This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop!

Friday, March 27, 2015


GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Fifty Avenue Fidos: Promo!


Fifth Avenue Fidos
A New Adult Rom-Com with “Bite”
Holly Schindler

When a mutt from Queens meets a purebred New Yorker, it takes man’s—and woman’s—best friend to convince them what they feel is more than puppy love.

Mable Barker, a hilarious, good-natured sweetheart who is always the pal but never the girlfriend, endures nine horrendous months of bouncing between lackluster New York City jobs (and suffering unrequited love) in her unsuccessful attempt to find her one true talent. So when she meets Innis, the ill-tempered Upper East Side Pekingese, she assumes her dog-walking days are numbered, too; soon, she’ll be heading back to Queens brokenhearted, tail tucked between her legs. But Innis belongs to the adorable yet painfully shy young veterinarian, Jason Mead, a man whose awkward ways around women have him dreaming not of finding love for himself but of playing canine matchmaker—breeding Westminster champions.

When Mable and Jason meet, romance is officially unleashed: they find an instant connection and shared goal, as it appears that Mable could very well have what it takes to be a professional handler, soon to be seen holding Innis under a banner labeled, “Best in Show.” As Jason and Mable get closer to putting a new twist on the term “dog lovers,” outside forces—Mable’s overprotective brothers, a successful wedding planner with her eye on Jason, even the theft of purebred pups from Jason’s Fifth Avenue apartment building—all threaten to come between them. Will Mable and Jason simply let their burgeoning love roll over and play dead? Or will they rally to make sure Innis emerges as the leader of the pack?

Brimming with humor and endearing characters, Holly Schindler’s Fifth Avenue Fidos offers a sweet romance and modern-day fairy tale in which dogs, not dragons, rule the land…a story about the loves that help us realize our dreams.

Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Avenue-Fidos-Adult-Rom-Com-ebook/dp/B00UCI9ED4/ref=la_B003E3TJ7U_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425769738&sr=1-5

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/fifth-avenue-fidos

The book will also be available through B&N as well. B&N has no pre-order option; the book will go live on March 20. All links to purchase will be found here: http://hollyschindler.blogspot.com/2015/03/fifth-avenue-fidos-celebration.html

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25095977-fifth-avenue-fidos?from_search=true

Bio:

Holly Schindler is the author of four traditionally published books; her work has received starred reviews in Booklist and Publishers Weekly, has won silver and gold medals in ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year and the IPPY Awards, respectively, has been featured on Booklist’s Best First Novels for Youth and School Library Journal’s What’s Hot in YA, and has been a PW Pick of the Week. Fifth Avenue Fidos is her first independently published book. She is owned by a Pekingese named Jake and can be found working on her next book in her hometown of Springfield, Missouri. She can also be found at hollyschindler.com.


This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

The Maze Runner News!

Thursday, March 26, 2015
THE FIRST TWO NOVELS IN JAMES DASHNER’S #1 NEW YORK TIMES
BESTSELLING MAZE RUNNER SERIES, NOW AVAILABLE IN ONE VOLUME IN
THE MAZE RUNNER AND THE SCORCH TRIALS: THE COLLECTOR’S EDITION

Edition Carries a First Printing of 150,000 and Includes Exclusive Bonus Content
Delacorte Press is pleased to announce the publication of THE MAZE RUNNER AND
THE SCORCH TRIALS: THE COLLECTOR’S EDITION (on sale April 14, 2015 / $19.99), which brings the first two books in James Dashner’s bestselling series together in one edition for fans and new readers to enjoy. Featuring exclusive bonus content within its 816 pages and carrying a first printing of 150,000, the collector’s edition will prepare fans and moviegoers for the second film in the franchise, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, which will be released September 18, 2015 and stars Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Rosa Salazar, and Giancarlo Esposito. EntertainmentWeekly.com has described The Maze Runner as a “mysterious survival saga that passionate fans describe as a fusion of Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, and Lost.”

Over 10 million copies of the Maze Runner series have been sold in all formats, and Dashner fans continue to multiply as they are introduced to his heart-pounding stories, which appeal to readers of all ages. In addition to the original novels, this edition includes “The Maze Runner Files,” which was originally published as an eBook short. Now accessible to all readers in print format, “The Maze Runner Files” features top-secret information, overheard conversations, emails between WICKED employees, memos meant to be destroyed after reading, and a selection of the Gladers’ suppressed memories, all of which help fans unlock some of the mysteries behind the Maze, the Gladers, and the people who put them there. This edition also includes an exclusive fan sticker.
The year 2015 will be another exciting one for Dashner fans, with multiple books being published. The movie tie-in edition of The Scorch Trials will be released on August 4, 2015, along with a hardcover box set of all four novels in the series (The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, The Death Cure, and The Kill Order) on the same date. The film adaptation of The Scorch Trials (Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials) will release on September 18, 2015, and the final novel in the Mortality Doctrine series, The Game of Lives, will be published on November 17, 2015. All titles are supported by a major marketing and publicity campaign that includes an author tour in November. Follow James Dashner on Twitter (@JamesDashner), Facebook, and Instagram, and visit his website at JamesDashner.com.

James Dashner is a New York Times bestselling author and the winner of numerous awards for his novels. In addition to the critically acclaimed Maze Runner series, Dashner is the author of the Mortality Doctrine series, the Thirteenth Reality series, and two books in the Infinity Ring series. He lives in Utah with his family.


This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Join us in celebrating a Book Birthday for THE WICKED WILL RISE by Danielle Paige!


Big news, fangirls and boys: The second installment in the DOROTHY MUST DIE series by Danielle Paige, THE WICKED WILL RISE, is coming out a week from today, 3/31/15, and we are going all out to celebrate! We will be holding the festivities at the 92nd Street Y in New York City at 7:00PM, featuring a panel called “New Twists on Old Fairytales” with Danielle Paige, Sara Benincasa (GREAT), Soman Chainani (THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL), and Christopher Healy (THE HERO’S GUIDE TO SAVING YOUR KINGDOM). Anyone under the age of 35 can get a special price ticket of $15!

BUT THERE’S MORE!


Immediately after the panel, we will be teaming up with Coolhaus to celebrate with some wickedly good desserts you will not want to miss.


This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

All Mascara is not Created Equal by Jessica Landmon: Promo and Excerpt!

Monday, March 23, 2015



A Q&A with Jessica Landmon, founder of Women Get Real
and author of All Mascara is Not Created Equal

1. Can you give us a brief summary of your book, All Mascara is Not Created Equal?

All Mascara is Not Created Equal is intended to present lighthearted, witty, and spiritually sound advice to young women and girls in “tweet-like” form to help them live a life God would approve of.

2. Where did you get the idea to write this book?

I actually started writing the book specifically for my tween daughter and intended to give it her as she entered middle school. Those years can be tough. As a parent, I’m very concerned about the message culture is marketing to our youth. It contradicts the way God has called us to live.

3. How did you come up with the playful title?

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love mascara. I had tried several brands over the years and finally discovered a fantastic mascara that I just loved. It was full of minerals and actually nourished your lashes. Plus, it created a very full lash. I would always joke with daughter, saying that if you remember anything I tell you remember that ‘All Mascara Is Not Created Equal.’

4. How long did it take you to write the book? Do you have any stories you can share of how you gathered specific quotes or advice?

You could say the book took most of my life to write, as my experiences growing up and parenting are what shaped it. But, in actuality, it only took about a year to record them and fine-tune them. Most of them wrote themselves. I would be having a conversation with my kids, and all of a sudden I would give some advice. If I liked it, I would later record it. In fact, as I was compiling the tips, my kids would remind me of the things I had told them through the years.

Some of the tips are just reflections of the advice my mother and father passed on to me. Of course, they needed a little tweaking. I didn’t have to deal with the pressures of social media and cell phones when I was growing up.

5. Did you have any challenges when writing this book? If so, what were they?

The only challenge I really faced was stopping. At some point, I had to say, this is enough. I will most certainly continue to give my daughter (and son) advice as they continue to mature, but there definitely needed to be a stopping point for the book.

6. We would love to know more about the woman behind the book. How would you describe yourself?

Practical. Organized. Planner. These are some words that my close circle of friends and family would use to describe me. And I can’t argue with that.  But, when the Holy Spirit asks me to do something, all that goes out the door. Jesus’ love for me is the most important thing in my life. My goal is that everyone would experience this type of love, which is why I am so quick to abandon my plans and do what God wants me to do.

On a fun note, I am married to my high school sweetheart. I was only 16 when we started dating. He was a football player and I was a cheerleader. You don’t get any cuter than that! God has blessed us with two beautiful children who are my absolute joy.

Also, I just love Yorkies, which is why you see them all throughout the book. One day, when the timing is right, I will add one to our family.

7. What do you hope readers take away from All Mascara is Not Created Equal?

I hope women learn that pop culture shouldn’t define the kind of women we become. I hope that they see that life is hard, but Jesus will be your comforter and strength. I hope that every woman sees her beauty, even before she puts on her mascara. Our inner beauty is so much more important than anything on the outside.

8. Can you tell us more about the ministry behind the book, Women Get Real?

Women Get Real Ministries is all about “getting real” with other women. All too often, women put on the façade that everything is just perfect. But, in reality, they are silently suffering with issues like fear, anxiety, depression, body image, and faith. We break the rules about what is and is not acceptable to talk about, to try and reach the hearts of women providing them with hope and healing.

9. Where can we find you online and purchase the book?

Books are available through my website, www.womengetreal.org and on Amazon. It is also being sold at many boutique stores in Connecticut.


EXCERPT:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other social media are sending mixed messages about the way we, as women, are to live our lives. Catch phrases like “YOLO” and “swag” are distorting the ideals that we should strive for. Women have more to contribute to society than being sexy, and we certainly shouldn’t attach our worth to how many likes we get on a selfie.

As a mother to a tween daughter and a teenage son, I have learned a few things about life along the way. This book is full of valuable tips or bits of wisdom that I have learned, or heard from my parents, while growing up.

Some of them are quite spiritual and have helped me through some difficult times. Some of them are practical and certainly would have helped me to avoid some major overreactions to the silliest of things. Some are just plain amusing. They stem from those eureka moments where I was like “That is so true!” Like, who knew that the thread count of sheets really does make a difference?

This is not just another book where a mother and her daughter walk hand-in-hand in the garden as the mom passes along life lessons. This book is more of a woman-to-woman guidebook for life.

Now about mascara...how many of you look at celebrities and are like, there is no way their lashes can be that full! You’ve tried to layer coat after coat with your mascara and wonder why your lashes still look like, well, your lashes. You think, am I applying this wrong? Maybe I need a special brush? No.

All mascara is NOT created equal! This was news to me. I don’t care how much your current mascara costs, it still might not be good. There ARE mascaras that are superior to others. You just need to find the right one.

So, as you read through the pages of this book, grab a cup of tea, and let these tips sink in. Don’t get distracted by what society is trying to tell you to become; walk in the plan God has for you. You are God’s beautiful creation, and He has a wonderful plan for your life.



 Review:

While reading this book I felt like I should have been taught some of these by my own mother.  Some of the lessons I don't think applied to me, but others would have been quite useful in certain situations.  I really liked the idea of a mother writing a book to her daughter that would help her during her life and teach her a few lessons.  It was a sweet approach.  The mother's tone was light and quirky.  It was fun to skim the pages; the book wasn't hugely long.  Some of these lessons are a little bit religious and may be better read by readers who enjoy a little bit of religion with their reading.

4 Stars

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

A Darker Shade of Magic Blog Tour

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit. 

Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London - but no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her 'proper adventure'.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive — trickier than they hoped.

Goodreads Summary

V. E. SCHWAB's first adult novel, Vicious, debuted to critical praise and reader accolades. Schwab is the author of YA novels The Near Witch, The Archived, and The Unbound, and the Everyday Angel series for middle grade readers. veschwab.wordpress.com. @VESchwab. Facebook. Goodreads.

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V. E. Schwab
A Tor Hardcover
978-0-7653-7645-9 / 0-7653-7645-8
$25.99 | 400p.
Ebook: 978-1-4668-5137-5 / 1-4668-5137-6 | $12.99
On Sale February 24, 2015


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Praise for A Darker Shade of Magic

"While scrappy, pragmatic wannabe pirate Lila is a big draw, Kell and White London magician Holland round out a great cast. There is much more to explore
in this amazing world from the acclaimed author of Vicious."
–Library Journal, «starred review«

"Schwab (Vicious) creates an ingenious set of nesting alternate Londons in this imaginative, well-crafted fantasy. Confident prose and marvelous touches—a chameleon coat, a scarlet river of magic, a piratical antiheroine—bring exuberant
life to an exhilarating adventure among the worlds."
—Publishers Weekly, «starred review«

"A Darker Shade of Magic has all the hallmarks of a classic work of fantasy.
Its plot is gripping. Its characters are memorable. Its setting in four parallel,
powerful Londons is otherworldly yet believable. Schwab has given us a gem
of a tale that is original in its premise and compelling in its execution.
This is a book to treasure."
—Deborah Harkness, New York Times bestselling author of The All Souls trilogy

 "A Darker Shade of Magic is as twisty-turny, dark, and gorgeous as the (multiple) Londons it winds through—I loved it!"
—Steven Brust, author of the New York Times bestselling Vlad series

"V. E. Schwab’s A Darker Shade of Magic is a sharp, elegant fantasy thriller—a breathless journey in the company of charactersw you can only trust to charm you. "
—Delia Sherman, author of Young Woman in a Garden

"Magic carries a variety of prices, and Schwab explores them all in this compelling tale of enchantment and adventure. I can’t wait to explore this world further!”
—Marie Brenna, author of A Natural History of Dragons

"A multiversal roller-coaster ride through Regency slups and bloodthirsty bone palaces. I need another copy—I tore this one’s pages turning them too fast. "
—Max Gladstone, author of Three Part’s Dead

"Fantasy fans will love this fast-paced adventure, with its complex
magic system, thoughtful hero and bold heroine. "

—Kirkus Reviews

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

City Love by Susane Colasanti: Giveaway!

Wednesday, March 18, 2015
City Love will be released April 21st and is the first in a wonderful series!

Goodreads Summary

Sadie, Darcy, and Rosanna are living together in New York City the summer before their freshman year of college begins. With no parents, no rules, and an entire city to explore, these three girls are on the verge of the best summer of their lives.

Sadie is a native New Yorker. She is hopeful, romantic, and an eternal optimist who is ready to find her soul mate. Then she meets her dream boy: cute, funny, and quirky in all the right ways. The chemistry between them is unreal. Could he be the one?

Darcy is a free spirit from SoCal with rebellious tendencies and unlimited financial resources. Moving to New York City is just another adventure for her. Darcy wants this summer to be all about boy adventures—nothing serious. But how much fun is too much?

Rosanna leaves Chicago for NYC so she can put her past behind her and reinvent herself. The only thing standing in her way is the grand total of seventy-three cents she has saved. Then she meets a guy who wants to show her the glamorous side of New York—a side that she would never get to experience on her own. If Rosanna doesn't resist, she may find herself in city love.

Told from alternating points of view, City Love captures the moments in each girl's life when everything is thrilling, amazing, and terrifying all at once . . . in a way it will never be again.



Author Bio:
Susane Colasanti is the bestselling author of When It Happens, Take Me There, Waiting for You, Something Like Fate, So Much Closer, Keep Holding On, All I Need, and Now and Forever. Susane has a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree from New York University. Before becoming a full-time author in 2007, Susane was a high school science teacher for ten years. She lives in New York City. You can connect with Susane at her website, susanecolasanti.com.


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This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ