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My Sort Of Fairy Tale Ending (My Very UnFairy Tale Life #3) by Anna Staniszewski
Friday, November 29, 2013
Jenny's search for her parents leads her to Fairyland, a rundown amusement park filled with creepily happy fairies and disgruntled leprechauns. Despite the fairies' kindness, she knows they are keeping her parents from her. If only they would stop being so happy all the time-it's starting to weird her out! With the help of a fairy-boy and some rebellious leprechauns, Jenny finds a way to rescue her parents, but at the expense of putting all magical worlds in danger. Now Jenny must decide how far she is willing to go to put her family back together.
Goodreads Summary
Who doesn't want to search for their parents in Fairyland? Richly described and somewhat exorbitant, Jenny searches through this world of chaos and unusual creatures. Her parents have disappeared in large part due to the happy little weird ones. Is there a reason the creatures aren't letting her get to her parents?
Jenny's character was well-developed and fun to read about. I felt like a middle grade reader would have fun with and relate to Jenny. I liked how the author included leprechauns-a mythical creature usually left out of books. The setting was very fun to picture; the author spared no detail. It was difficult to get to know Jenny's parents, they weren't featured much in the book. Jenny's character was both funny and optimistic. I liked how she had to debate whether or not to retrieve her parents because to get them back came at a greater cost than she realized. If it was up to me, however, I would always retrieve my parents. This book is recommended for middle grade readers.
4 Stars
This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
A few Excerpts from Scorched by Mari Mancusi!
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Discovering your story’s true beginning…
Sometimes the most
difficult part about writing a book is figuring out where to begin. And
sometimes authors like myself end up with several false starts before finally
discovering the true first page of their book. In the original version of
Scorched I started the story with Connor and Caleb at age ten, on the day their
father was killed and their destinies changed forever.
But while it’s
certainly a dramatic, important scene with tons of dragon action, it doesn’t
drop the reader right into the real crux of the current conflict—the dragon egg
arriving at the museum and the soldiers trying to steal it. Ultimately, I ended
up using a shorter version of this as a flashback later on in the final book.
But I do still have some affection for this extended peak into the boys’ family
life, before it was torn apart by dragons.
The second deleted
chapter shows exactly how much a story’s backdrop can change over the course of
editing. In the original version, Trinity goes to an Upper East Side boarding
school in New York City, not Texas. And she has a history of hearing voices in
her head, rather than hearing the first voice in the museum just before the
break-in. And lastly, Connor is already there—watching her, readying to make
his move, instead of arriving four months late. In this version you get to meet
Trinity’s best friend Caitlin, who is mentioned a lot in the final version of
Scorched, but never made a real appearance on the page.
It’s fun to look
back at the story as it might have been. And I hope you enjoy the sneak peek
into a writer’s head. Oh and by the way? At this stage the working title of the
book was “Scales of Time.” (Which no one seemed to like but me! Sigh.)
Prologue
Year
100, Post-Scorch
“RAWR!!!”
Ten-year-old
Caleb Johnson leapt from the pile of twisted iron wreckage he’d been hiding
behind, arms outstretched and fingers curled into claws. “I am the dreaded ruby
dragon, Epsilon!” he declared, a fierce expression on his sunburned, freckled
face. “Beware or I will unleash my mighty flames upon you!” He roared again for
emphasis.
His
identical twin brother, Connor, squealed into a mixture of delight and surprise
as he expertly dodged his brother’s charge and took off running through the Pre-Flag
building—down a rubble-filled corridor, beneath a blackened archway, leaping
over crumbling cinderblocks and ducking rusty steel pipes, his brother hot on
his heels. From above, orange rays of light from the setting sun leaked through
cracks in the battered tin roof, effectively illuminating his path.
"You
cannot get away!" Caleb cried from behind him. "No one can escape a
dragon! RAWR!"
Connor
dead-ended in a long, chamber, filled with rotting wooden benches that faced
some kind of elevated stage and dusty altar. The roof had held here, allowing
him a better glimpse into what the room must have looked like, once upon a
time. A church, his mother had told
them when they’d taken shelter here earlier that day.
Caleb
burst into the room, his crooked teeth bared in a ferocious snarl. Connor
laughed, running down the aisle and grabbing a metal scepter that lay abandoned
on the ground near the altar. Turning on his brother, he wielded the metal
object as if it were a mighty gun-blade.
“I
don’t need to escape,” he proclaimed bravely. “I am a Hunter. And I will take
you down!” He leapt forward, ready to destroy the mighty dragon once and for--
"Caleb? Connor? Get back here where I can
see you."
Connor
lowered his gun-blade. "Awh, Mom."
"We're
just having fun," Caleb added.
Their
mother poked her head into the chamber. “Well, dinner’s almost ready," she
informed them. "You do want to
eat, don't you?"
It
wasn’t really a question. Dropping his makeshift weapon, Conner scrambled after
his mother and brother down the rubble-filled hall and into the stifling heat
of a smaller entry room with four good walls, ceiling and door. His mother had
swept out all the ashes when they'd first arrived and set up a makeshift
camp—complete with cinderblock fire, on which she had set her large cast-iron
pot. She looked over at her boys and smiled.
"And
how are my brave little Dragon Hunters?" she asked, a teasing look in her
eyes.
"Starving,"
Connor replied, peering into the cauldron where the soup bubbled and boiled.
The smoke stung his eyes, but the smell more than made up for it.
"Well,
you're in luck. My snares caught a couple of rats today. So there's real meat
in the soup." She grabbed two cracked ceramic bowls from one of the worn
knapsacks she’d piled in a corner, ladling the cauldron's contents into them
and handing them to her sons. Mom was an expert at making what Dad jokingly
called "stone soup" with the scarce ingredients she could scavenge
while camping out on the surface lands.
The
boys settled down on their sleeping mats and Connor brought the bowl to his
mouth, burning his tongue on the steaming liquid. It was a bit bland--they'd
run out of salt earlier that week--but it would fill his rumbling stomach and
that was all that mattered in the end.
A
sudden noise outside made Mom leap to her feet, grabbing the knife from her
belt and gripping it tightly in her hand. "Who's there?" she
demanded, her voice almost fierce enough to disguise her fear. "We're
armed and will not hesitate to defend ourselves."
"Will
you now, my love?" asked the tall, burly man sauntering through the door.
The boys squealed in delight as they dropped their bowls to great their father.
Mom set down her knife, letting out a sigh of relief, as Caleb and Connor
fought to hug Dad first. He dropped down to their eye level and ruffled their
matching brown heads of hair.
"My
boys!" he cried, kissing each of them on the cheek. "Have you been
good? Keeping your mother safe for me?"
"Yes,
Sir," Connor assured him with a small salute. "She's all right. And
there's rat in the soup tonight."
Dad
flashed a smile at Mom. "Rat in the soup," he repeated. "Well,
this is a good night indeed then." He rose to his feet and walked over to
his wife, wrapping his arms around her and squeezing her close.
"Any
luck today?" Connor heard her ask in a low voice.
Dad
released her from his embrace and walked over to the corner to pull off his
dusty jacket and boots. "No," he replied. "But he's out there. I
can smell his smoke in the air. And his shadow crossed the sun at least twice
today. It's as if he's searching for something."
Mom
handed him a bowl of soup. "Forget him, then," she urged. "We've
been out here thirty days now and he's not come down. We're out of food and
it's not good for the boys to be out here so long."
"Is
it really any better down below?" Dad asked her pointedly. "With no
dragon heart, we have no money and no means to buy bread or meat. We'll end up
living in Shanty Town. At least up here, we're free."
"Free
to get eaten by a dragon or murdered by wandering bandits."
"But
thirty pieces of silver, love! I slay this dragon and we'll live like kings and
queens!"
"Please.
I'd rather have you alive and well than be any kind of stuffy royalty."
Dad
chuckled at her grumpy face. "Oh, wife," he teased. "What did I
do to deserve you?" He planted a kiss on her sunburned nose. "Okay,
you win," he said. "Tomorrow when the sun rises, we'll head straight
to the C Gate. Go underground and regroup. Maybe send the boys to school for a
bit." He sat down on his mat and started sipping his soup.
Connor
and Caleb looked at one another with distaste. The last thing they wanted was
to go below again. Where it was cramped and dirty and crowded with other
people. They preferred it up here--a surface land filled with undiscovered
treasures from the old world. Even if they did have to worry about--
An
inhuman howl pierced through the evening air.
Dad
was on his feet instantly. "It's him,"
he announced, looking over at Mom with an excited gleam in his eyes. "My
last call must have reached him. He's coming in at last."
Mom
swallowed hard, turning to the boys. "Go to the innermost chamber,"
she instructed, her voice thick with fear. "The one with the best roof.
And wait there until you hear from us." She doused the fire and started
grabbing their things, stuffing them into bags.
“But
Mom!” Connor protested. He didn't want to miss out on the action.
“No
backtalk. Do it now!” Her voice left no room for argument.
The
boys reluctantly turned and headed down the rubble-filled corridor, toward the
large chamber. When they were out of sight of their parents, Caleb turned to
Connor, his eyes shining with excitement. I
know a place we can watch from, he told him, using their silent twin speak
that no one else could hear. I found it
earlier today. Mom will never know.
Connor
grinned. Major. Lead the way.
He
followed his brother through a now darkened corridor, through a caved-in wall
and up a pile of rubble until they reached a broken glass window that led out
onto the roof. Caleb squeezed his skinny body through and then turned,
motioning for his brother to follow him.
Connor
looked reluctantly at the window. I don’t
know… he hedged.
Dad’s going to slay a dragon,
Connor. You want to miss it?
Connor
shook his head. “No, of course not,” he said aloud, making up his mind and
climbing through the window, careful not to cut himself on the glass. Without
proper medicine, the smallest cut out here could be deadly. He followed his
brother up the metal roof, slick from a recent rain, until they could peek over
to the other side of the building, where Dad was readying for his fight.
They
looked at each other and grinned, then turned back to the scene. Dad had pulled
his mighty gun-bade from its holster and readied his shield, the shiny metal
gleaming in the dusky eve. As the boys watched, he scanned the darkened sky,
eyes locking onto his target, far above. Connor followed his gaze. A Sapphire, he realized. Only half grown
by the look of it. Should be an easy fight for an experienced Dragon Hunter
like their father.
"It's
so beautiful," Caleb said with a dreamy sigh. "It's almost a shame
Dad has to kill it."
Connor
shuddered, seeing nothing beautiful about the hard-scaled creature with razor
sharp teeth and vacant eyes. The dragon seemed to dance through the sky,
flittering about, toying with their father. Dad shrugged the gun-blade onto his
shoulder and readied his first shot. Sucked in his breath, lining up his
target. Then he pulled the trigger.
The dragon let out
an angry screech as the bullet bounced harmlessly off its sapphire plated
scales. He'd missed the sweet spot. The one soft scale under the left wing. Dad
liked to brag about one-shot kills. But today evidently wasn't his day.
The creature
released a stream of fire--scorching the ground mere feet from where their
father had stood--Dad leaping backwards, just in time. Connor scooted further
up on the roof, to get a better look, his heart feeling as if it would crack
his ribs it was beating so hard.
Come on, Dad! he urged his father
silently. Kill it!
Suddenly the
dragon whipped its head around, stony eyes locking straight onto Connor as if
it had heard his silent cry. Shock caused him to lose his balance on the
slippery roof and a moment later he found himself tumbling down the other side,
as the dragon's screech reverberated in his ears. He slammed onto the desert
floor, a sharp pain shooting up his leg as his ankle crumpled and cracked.
"Connor!"
Dad cried in a horrified voice. He started toward his son. But the dragon was
too quick, coming down for a fast landing. Panicked, Connor tried to scramble
away, but his foot dragged uselessly--his ankle likely broken.
He looked up and
found himself face to face with the dragon, now standing only a few feet away,
studying him with cold eyes. The creature pulled back its head, smoke billowing
from its nostrils. Connor swallowed hard. One more moment and the fire would
come. And it would be over forever. He squared his scrawny shoulders instead, ready
to face death like a man and--
Suddenly Connor
found himself being grabbed and thrown--like a sack full of hot potatoes. He
hit the ground a few yards away with a hard thump, the pain shooting up his leg
all over again. But it scarcely registered as he watched the dragon let loose a
stream of fire--striking his father--who had dropped his shield and gun-blade
to save his son--full force in the chest. For a moment, his dad's body just
stood there, as if frozen in place while being engulfed in a sea of flames.
Then he fell to the ground, screaming with agony.
"No!"
Connor cried. In a fit of adrenaline-pumped rage, he dove at the discarded
gun-blade. Gripping it in his hands, he turned to the creature, and, before the
dragon could conjure up another blast, charged full force. Stabbing the
gun-blade straight into the creature's soft spot, just as his father had taught
him to do.
The dragon
bellowed in agony, collapsing to the ground and writhing in pain as the blade
pierced its unprotected heart. Connor met the creature's eyes with his own,
staring it down with defiant rage. He yanked out the blood-soaked blade and
stabbed the now helpless creature again. And again. And--
“Connor, stop! He’s dead. The dragon’s dead!”
He felt his mother’s arms grab him from behind and drag him away. He collapsed
onto the ground, once again aware of the pain in his ankle. His mother dropped
to her knees, searching his face with her own tear-stained one.
"Dad?"
he managed to say, even though he already knew in his heart what her answer
would be.
Mom shook her
head. “I’m sorry Connor,” she said, tears streaming down her own cheeks. He
buried his face in her chest, letting the grief take him. She held him close,
rocking him gently, soothing him in soft whispers.
"I can't
believe he's gone," he sobbed against her.
"I know
sweetie," she murmured. "But he died a hero. Always remember that.
And you're a hero, too. The way you killed that dragon..." He could feel
the shake of her head. "You must have inherited your father's skills as a
Dragon Hunter."
He shrugged,
pulling away from her embrace and limping over to the dead dragon. He spit on
the corpse, wishing there was some way to inflict even more pain and suffering
on the creature who had taken his father away from them.
"I'll have my
revenge on the rest of your kind," he whispered to the dragon. "I
won't rest until dragons have been wiped out for good."
Chapter Two
New York City, Present Day
"Hey,
don't look now, but that vampire over there is staring at you again."
Sixteen-year-old
Trinity Brown set down her sandwich and spun in the direction her best friend,
Caitlin Curry was gazing, across the high school cafeteria. Caitlin swatted her
arm.
"I
said don't look. Jeez!"
But
it was too late and beyond the trays of mystery meat and half-eaten slices of
pizza, Trin found herself locking eyes with the "vampire" in
question, who was lounging a few tables away and indeed staring at her
intently--not even having the decency to look away when caught in the act. With
tousled brown hair, pale white skin and eyes rimmed in black kohl, she had to
admit, he did kind of resemble a creature of the night and his dark gaze sent
shivers down her spine. Flushed, she hurriedly dropped her eyes and turned back
to her friend.
"That's
not a vampire," she replied, disguising her sudden unease with a loud,
barking laugh. "There’s not a single sparkle on him.”
They
erupted into giggles, breaking the spell and Caitlin, seemingly satisfied, dug
into her cafeteria special--Salisbury steak. It was hard to fathom how the
skinny girl wasn't three-hundred pounds, the way she wolfed down her food. Trin
reached for her own tofu and cheese sandwich that her grandfather had bagged
her that morning and took a bite.
But
today, her favorite sandwich tasted more like cardboard, and she was unable to
shake feeling of the boy's stare, scorching her backside with the intensity of
a thousand suns. Annoyed, she tossed the sandwich back on the table.
"What?"
Caitlin asked, her mouth full of mashed potato. It was always a surprise to her
when people turned down food. Even if it was only tofu.
Trin
frowned. "He's still staring." She wasn't sure how she could tell,
sitting with her back to him and all, but somehow she knew it to be true.
"He's
been staring at you all week, girl," Caitlin reminded her. She strained
her neck to get another peek. "Don't worry--he looks harmless. Cute, even,
if only he got rid of that eyeliner and made friends with a tanning bed. Looks
to me like Mr. Goth hasn't seen the sun in the last sixteen years."
"So
who is he again?" Trin asked. Caitlin was a walking Wikipedia when it came
to the student body. Especially when it came to boys.
SIMON & SCHUSTER IMPRINT ANNOUNCES FANTASY SERIES BY KEN LIU AS FIRST ACQUISITION
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
New York, NY, 2013 ¾ Simon & Schuster has acquired Ken Liu’s debut fantasy series, The Dandelion Dynasty, as the first project for its new genre imprint for all ages.
The Dandelion Dynasty follows Kuni Garu, a charming bandit, and Mata Zyndu, the son of a deposed duke. At first, the two seem like polar opposites. Yet, in the uprising against the emperor, they quickly become the best of friends after a series of adventures. The scope of the series is epic, involving gods, massive armies, diverse cultures, multiple plotlines, numerous characters, politics, war, courtly intrigue, and love.
Ken Liu is one of the hottest writers in the field, garnering multiple awards for his short stories, including “The Paper Menagerie,” the only story ever to have been awarded the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards. “His novels are highly anticipated, and I'm thrilled to be able to work with Ken and his myriad talents at the launch of his publishing career with this series, which exemplifies the scope of our debut list. It’s kismet,” says executive editor Joe Monti.
“I’m incredibly excited to embark on my novel career with one of the greatest publishers in the world as my partner,” says Ken Liu. “I can’t wait to share this world that has lived only in my mind with readers.”
Joe Monti acquired North American rights to three books, a short story collection, and audio rights via agent Russell Galen at Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency, Inc.
ABOUT SIMON & SCHUSTER:
Simon & Schuster, a part of the CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital and international companies in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.simonandschuster.com.
It's a Crisis! Now What?
Monday, November 25, 2013
No tourism entity is immune from crises: natural disasters, food poisoning, epidemics, plane crashes, negative legislation, terrorism and much more. While most organizations in the tourism and hospitality industry know they need a crisis communications plan, many believe it will be too complicated and time-consuming to create. It's a crisis! NOW what? solves that dilemma, with four simple steps to create a crisis communications plan, and seven basic principles for handling communications after any crisis. Complemented by a range of scenarios to challenge communicators - and space to record the reader's "nightmare scenario," this compact handbook will be an essential addition to every tourism professional's bookshelf.
Amazon Summary
There are defining moments in life where something rips through our existence and turns the world into utter chaos. This world experiences devastating tornadoes, terrorist attacks, stock market crashes, and area forest fires on a regular basis and a good plan of action is a staple for recovery from these horrifying events. Anticipating possible chrisis', knowing your resources, creating a game plan, and executing that plan with laser precision are vital steps in successfully preventing pandemonium from spreading.
Peggy R. Brendel does this and more in "It's A Crisis! Now What?" This guidebook takes you through the step by step process of assessing your resources and building a fool proof plan by examining past events and assessing the details of the situation. Crisis like the SARS epidemic, the 2001 September 11 terrorist attacks, and Hurricane Katrina are discussed and their successful team responses are brought to light. What makes this book a great resource for you and your team is the ample sections provided with space for notes and comments at the end of each section. It allows you to dig deep into the meat of the issues and ideas presented and to discuss what you think works and what plans could possibly be a dud in practice. Furthermore, there is a section in the back where you write out your "worst case scenario," and walk through the steps toward executing a proper crisis communication plan. This is an interesting read with a lot of great information to consider and is a great addition to anyone's library for reference.
*Reviewed by Chris*
This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
Supernatural Six Giveaway Promotion!
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Have Christmas shopping on the brain? (wait!! Did I just say Christmas?) How's $500 shopping
spree sound? You're just in luck. The authors of Supernatural Six are offering a deal you don't
want to miss. Help Supernatural Six hit the bestsellers lists and earn a chance to win
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If Supernatural Six hits the top 500 on Amazon and 1000 on B&N, the prize jumps to
$100!
If Supernatural Six hits the top 100 on Amazon and 500 on B&N, the prize jumps to $250!
If Supernatural Six hits the top 20 of Amazon and top 50 of B&N, the prize jumps to $500!
What do you have to do to get in on the money? Blog, tweet, post, wave a sign... okay, you don't need to wave a sign. Just get the word out, and keep track on the rafflecopter entry below! One lucky winner will have a wonderful season this year!
Secret powers, genies, mermaids, angels, vampires and demons. There’s something for every paranormal enthusiast. Supernatural Six brings you six novels from six authors who know how to raise the stakes and tame the darkness.
a Rafflecopter giveaway TEXT: Have Christmas shopping on the brain? (wait!! Did I just say Christmas?) How's $500 shopping spree sound? You're just in luck. The authors of Supernatural Six are offering a deal you don't want to miss. Help Supernatural Six hit the bestsellers lists and earn a chance to win BIG! If Supernatural Six hits the top 500 on Amazon and 1000 on B&N, the prize jumps to $100! If Supernatural Six hits the top 100 on Amazon and 500 on B&N, the prize jumps to $250! If Supernatural Six hits the top 20 of Amazon and top 50 of B&N, the prize jumps to $500! What do you have to do to get in on the money? Blog, tweet, post, wave a sign... okay, you don't need to wave a sign. Just get the word out, and keep track on the rafflecopter entry below! One lucky winner will have a wonderful season this year! AMAZON -- NOOK -- ITUNES -- KOBO Secret powers, genies, mermaids, angels, vampires and demons. There’s something for every paranormal enthusiast. Supernatural Six brings you six novels from six authors who know how to raise the stakes and tame the darkness. Special sale price of only $0.99 Regular price for all these stories is $16.79, you save $15.80 a Rafflecopter giveaway COVER IMAGES: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7lMYeG6wPcwqRHNoMcXtNSr3TlNePYzCaUodPsdToSQjyfxS7KMKrIvVP9Jef8qsPRxg65Ndb7J3dRVg6KXBbjqDZ0FBy3s-qG9bndscIZB36zr6BDdNBKSCKVDYoGe7mOMiC3JEIk4/s1600/Su pernaturalSix_BoxSet.jpg
If Supernatural Six hits the top 100 on Amazon and 500 on B&N, the prize jumps to $250!
If Supernatural Six hits the top 20 of Amazon and top 50 of B&N, the prize jumps to $500!
What do you have to do to get in on the money? Blog, tweet, post, wave a sign... okay, you don't need to wave a sign. Just get the word out, and keep track on the rafflecopter entry below! One lucky winner will have a wonderful season this year!
Secret powers, genies, mermaids, angels, vampires and demons. There’s something for every paranormal enthusiast. Supernatural Six brings you six novels from six authors who know how to raise the stakes and tame the darkness.
Special sale price of only $0.99
Regular price for all these stories is $16.79, you save $15.80
a Rafflecopter giveaway TEXT: Have Christmas shopping on the brain? (wait!! Did I just say Christmas?) How's $500 shopping spree sound? You're just in luck. The authors of Supernatural Six are offering a deal you don't want to miss. Help Supernatural Six hit the bestsellers lists and earn a chance to win BIG! If Supernatural Six hits the top 500 on Amazon and 1000 on B&N, the prize jumps to $100! If Supernatural Six hits the top 100 on Amazon and 500 on B&N, the prize jumps to $250! If Supernatural Six hits the top 20 of Amazon and top 50 of B&N, the prize jumps to $500! What do you have to do to get in on the money? Blog, tweet, post, wave a sign... okay, you don't need to wave a sign. Just get the word out, and keep track on the rafflecopter entry below! One lucky winner will have a wonderful season this year! AMAZON -- NOOK -- ITUNES -- KOBO Secret powers, genies, mermaids, angels, vampires and demons. There’s something for every paranormal enthusiast. Supernatural Six brings you six novels from six authors who know how to raise the stakes and tame the darkness. Special sale price of only $0.99 Regular price for all these stories is $16.79, you save $15.80 a Rafflecopter giveaway COVER IMAGES: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7lMYeG6wPcwqRHNoMcXtNSr3TlNePYzCaUodPsdToSQjyfxS7KMKrIvVP9Jef8qsPRxg65Ndb7J3dRVg6KXBbjqDZ0FBy3s-qG9bndscIZB36zr6BDdNBKSCKVDYoGe7mOMiC3JEIk4/s1600/Su pernaturalSix_BoxSet.jpg
Sweet Dreams by Carla Stewart
It's 1962, and Dusty Fairchild, daughter of a self-made millionaire and oilman, wants to go to college. Instead she is sent to a private finishing school in East Texas. Although she's never wanted for material possessions, Dusty longs for independence and adventure. The only upside to attending Miss Fontaine's is having her cousin and best childhood friend, Paisley, join her. Paisley has traveled the country with her bohemian mother, but she dreams of putting down roots and living a settled life. At Miss Fontaine's, their loyalty to each other binds them, but when they fall in love with the same handsome young man, their relationship teeters on shaky ground. Only after a tragic accident do they learn where their true hearts-and dreams-lie.
Goodreads Summary
I liked this book because it reminded me of summer and I've had nothing but cold weather lately. Dusty, the main character, is a wealthy girl with a single dream-to go to college. Instead of realizing her dream, she has to go to a finishing school with her cousin Paisley. I thought that this book was applicable to this time because it addresses the problems of tensions between people of different races and backgrounds. Dusty is super wealthy, but not everyone is so lucky. I liked seeing how her character handled this.
Dusty was a good character. Even though she is very wealthy, I didn't think that she was completely hard to relate to. Paisley's character was probably more mainstream. I liked her attitude. The other characters were all different and fascinating in other ways. Overall, I think adult readers will enjoy this book.
4 Stars
This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
Kindle Fire HD raffle for Charity!
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Paper: $6.08
Kindle:$2.99
(uk paper, kindle)
| No Hope for Gomez!
Winner of the Forewords Book of the Year Awards, featured on Kirkus Best Indie List 2011, IBA and USA Book News Award nominee.
It's the age-old tale:
Boy meets girl.
Boy stalks girl.
Girl already has a stalker.
Boy becomes her stalker-stalker.
We've seen it all before, many times, but this time it's different. If only slightly. |
"Extremely witty writing containing keen insights into human nature." --California Chronicle
"Challenges the way we think about, and interact with, the world around us." --Kirkus Discoveries
"The antics in this book will leave the reader laughing. Graham Parke is a genius."--Reader's Favorite
Unspent TimeWarning: reading this novel may make you more attractive and elevate your random luck by about 9.332%*
(*These statements have not been evaluated by anyone of consequence)
Permeating the cracks between the past and the present is the realm of Unspent Time. Time that was allotted but never spent. In this realm we find the stories that could have been true. Such as the story of the designer of the color scheme used inside your shoe, or the story of Goki Feng Ho: the Chinese art of decoding the secret meaning of car license plates. | 
Paper: $6.08
Kindle:$2.99
ePub : $2.99
(uk paper, kindle)
|
“Captivating. Each story fired up my imagination.” – Alan H. Jordan, author.
"Delightfully mad. Graham's vibrant characters shine from the first page." --Tahlia Newland, author.
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Free with this event
| Completely Flappable
“He’s completely flappable!”
“Don’t you mean he’s unflappable?”
“Not really. He can very easily be flapped.”
Gomez has never been on a date. In his 27 years on the planet he’s never been able to quite close the deal. For some reason, circumstances always conspire to make his meet-ups with women less than official dates. But now a blond German girl with freckles has moved into his building and he decides it’s time to get his act together. |
A Darkness Strange and Lovely by Susan Dennard
Goodreads Summary
I couldn't wait for this novel as I loved the first in the series so much! Marcus has returned with more trouble for Eleanor. She has to run to try to escape him and regroup. Along the way, Eleanor meets someone who changes her way of thinking about necromancers. The character the reader meets who changes Eleanor is fascinating...he knew her late brother Elijah and has plenty to tell her. As soon as Ellie reunites with her Spirit Hunters, she feels more powerful and immediately begins making "silly" decisions.
I do like Ellie's character, but she makes me want to smack my head when I read about her. She is very headstrong and brave. It's not the end of the world, but she definitely doesn't think before she acts. I didn't think much of Ollie, Elijah's friend. He didn't seem very trustworthy to me and I often felt like he was holding back information. This book is a continuation from the first and just as good. I recommend this book to young adult/teens.
3 1/2 Stars
This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
Reboot by Amy Tintera
Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).
Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.
The perfect soldier is done taking orders.
Goodreads Summary
A Little Too Hot-Cover Reveal and Giveaway!
From USA Today bestselling author Lisa Desrochers, comes the third book in her sizzling New Adult series. If you play with fire… Tossed out of college and cut off by her parents, Samantha West is in pretty dire straits. So when her rocker best friend hooks her up with a job dancing at a gentlemen’s club, who is she to turn it down? Plus, there are rules to dancing at Benny’s: No touching, keep your clothes on at all times, and never get closer than three feet. Unfortunately for Sam, her first private client makes her want to break every single one of them. Harrison Yates is scorching hot, but he’s got a past that involves being left at the altar not too long ago. Sam is determined to make him forget about his ex, but when she makes her move, it flings her life into a spiral of chaos she never saw coming. Because Harrison Yates isn’t who he seems to be. And his secret will probably get her killed. Giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway Buy Links
Book Swap?
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Hey!
Is there anyone who would want to swap for these books? I'm really looking for Infinite by Jodi Meadows or Avalon Arnett.
Is there anyone who would want to swap for these books? I'm really looking for Infinite by Jodi Meadows or Avalon Arnett.
Champion Chat with Marie Lu (she's wonderful! You have to attend :D)
Single Effort by Joe Keller
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Goodreads Summary
In this world today divorce, separation, and breakups are all too common and many are left lost with a lack of direction in the wake of these mishaps. Many people get stuck in the same rut repeating the same mistakes again and again year after year only to end up unsuccessful in finding a mate. When Joe Keller went through his divorce from what he thought was a successful marriage, he decided that he wanted things to be different in a good way the next time around.He decided to share his experiences with the rest of the "lost" males of today's society in the book "Single Effort."The premise is simple and very practical yet Keller succeeds in packing this "single man's guidebook" with loads of beneficial information and a wide breadth of topics. This book covers everything from figuring out where you went wrong leading up to your divorce to new dating tactics to make sure that you are representing the best version of yourself. Another great topic that is discussed is what women are noticing when you show up to that vital first date. Many things are addressed from your wardrobe choice, conversation topics to avoid, and even grooming trends. Yes, there is even a section that goes into properly setting up an online dating profile. All in all, this guidebook covers some very useful topics and is a great reference for single men of all walks of life.
4 Stars
*Reviewed by Chris*
This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
My Answer To Jodi Meadows' Anniversary Giveaway!
How Not to Be a Dick: An Everyday Etiquette Guide by Meghan Doherty
On the one hand, nobody wants to be a dick. On the other hand, dicks are everywhere! They cut in line, talk behind our backs, recline into our seats, and even have the power to morph into trolls online. Their powers are impressive, but with a little foresight and thoughtfulness, we can take a stand against dickishness today. "How Not to Be a Dick" is packed with honest and straightforward advice, but it also includes playful illustrations showing two well-meaning (but not always well behaved) young people as they confront moments of potential dickishness in their everyday lives. Sometimes they falter, sometimes they triumph, but they always seek to find a better way. And with their help, you can too.
Goodreads Summary
The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider
Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.
No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.
But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes?
Robyn Schneider’s The Beginning of Everything is a lyrical, witty, and heart-wrenching novel about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings.
Goodreads Summary
The Unsinkable Herr Goering by Ian Cassidy
The One Good Thing by Kevin Alan Milne
For as long as Halley Steen has known her husband Nathan, he has carried a handful of stones in his pocket. Each day he uses those stones to remind him to follow the Golden Rule, moving a stone from one pocket to the other with each act of kindness. So it's not unusual that Nathan stops to help a stranger on the side of the highway while on his way to his son's football game one Friday evening. But that one act will change all of their lives forever, when a car hydroplanes off the road, killing Nathan instantly.
As Halley and her children Ty and Alice struggle with their grief, Nathan's spiritual legacy lives on. A Facebook page appears, where countless stories about Nathan's selfless acts are shared. But among them is one that stands out, from a woman who says that Nathan saved her life. Neither Halley nor her children have ever heard of Madeline Zuckerman. But soon Halley discovers years of e-mails from this woman to her husband on his computer that refer to "our little girl." How could her husband have kept the secret of this other child for their entire marriage? Why had he lied to her? Was he not the man she thought he was?
Only thirteen-year-old Alice maintains unwavering faith in her father. She knows there's an explanation. When she sets out to find Madeline and learn the truth, she will start to unravel the complex story of The One Good Thing Nathan Steen did that had the greatest impact of all.
Goodreads Summary
Thanksgiving Giveaway!
Friday, November 15, 2013
Win 15 Young Adult/Teen ARCs!
A few of the books you can win (I will add more as well):
a Rafflecopter giveaway
A few of the books you can win (I will add more as well):
Staying Warm...or Keeping Cold Giveaway Hop!
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Win 6 ARCs at this stop :) I will add the ARCs to the post as the more popular titles trickle in.
Bittersweet Magic Blast and Giveaway!
Monday, November 11, 2013
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Today I'm happy to be featuring Bittersweet Magic by Nina Croft! This followup to Bittersweet Blood is sure to please, but don't worry, it can easily be read as stand alone. Nina Croft's stories are Out of This World, so you won't want to miss this one!
Roz has been indebted to the demon Asmodai for five hundred years, and her freedom is just around the corner. All she has to do is complete one last task for him—obtain a key that had been hidden in a church centuries ago.
Piers, the Head of the Order and an ancient vampire, is intrigued by the woman who comes to him for help. She’s beautiful and seemingly kind, but she’s hiding something. And he’ll find out who she is and what she really wants once he uses his power to get inside her head. But Piers has no idea that Roz is immune to his mind-control...or that he is simply a pawn in her dangerous mission for freedom.
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Author info:
Nina's writing mixes romance with elements of paranormal and science fiction.
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About Me
- Krystal Larson
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- I'm a young college student who has probably read over 5000 books over the course of my short life; some of the books were classics, some of the books were terrific, and some of the books were...misses. Even with the latter part I will always believe in the power of books to completely remove the reader from his/her present reality. Long Live Books! I would love to read and review books from just about any genre. To contact me: edysicecreamlover18 AT gmail DOT com Thank you for your interest! At this time, I can only accept paperback or hardcover. The finished review copies I receive are either kept in my personal collection or donated to several libaries, schools, or charities-I have no control over the finished review copies after donation. *I claim no ownership for any images used on this site. The copyrights belong to the owners. If there is a picture on this site that belongs to you, please email with a link to the post and the image will be immediately removed*