Thursday, May 30, 2013

Armchair BEA: Genre: LITERARY FICTION

It seems I completely missed day two of Armchair BEA. Well, I guess that happens when you don't do everything straight away. Anyway, I'm here today! :)

Design credit: Emily of Emily's Reading Room

Today's genre is:

LITERARY FICTION


OK, first of, I feel a little bit embarrassed that I actually had to look up what exactly literary fiction means - the difference to all the other fiction genres, I mean - and I'm simply going to blame the fact that English is not my mother tongue. ;)

So, anyway, after looking it all up, I actually realized that I have read some literary fiction books, and I have really enjoyed some of them as well. Now, I wouldn't go as far as to say it's something I would just pick up everyday, because it definitely isn't. They are the kind of books I would have to be in the right mood for.

Here are two books I have read and thoroughly enjoyed.


Goodreads description:

William Golding's classic tale about a group of English schoolboys who are plane-wrecked on a deserted island is just as chilling and relevant today as when it was first published in 1954. At first, the stranded boys cooperate, attempting to gather food, make shelters, and maintain signal fires. Overseeing their efforts are Ralph, "the boy with fair hair," and Piggy, Ralph's chubby, wisdom-dispensing sidekick whose thick spectacles come in handy for lighting fires. Although Ralph tries to impose order and delegate responsibility, there are many in their number who would rather swim, play, or hunt the island's wild pig population. Soon Ralph's rules are being ignored or challenged outright. His fiercest antagonist is Jack, the redheaded leader of the pig hunters, who manages to lure away many of the boys to join his band of painted savages. The situation deteriorates as the trappings of civilization continue to fall away, until Ralph discovers that instead of being hunters, he and Piggy have become the hunted: "He forgot his words, his hunger and thirst, and became fear; hopeless fear on flying feet." Golding's gripping novel explores the boundary between human reason and animal instinct, all on the brutal playing field of adolescent competition. --Jennifer Hubert


*****


Goodreads description:

Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork of honor and injustice in the deep South--and the heroism of one man in the face of blind and violent hatred.

One of the best-loved stories of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than thirty million copies worldwide, served as the basis of an enormously popular motion picture, and was voted one of the best novels of the twentieth century by librarians across the country.

A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of coming-of-age in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage inequities through the eyes of a young girl, as her father--a crusading local lawyer--risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime.




*****

What about you? Do you love literary fiction books? Are there any books you would recommend to someone who hasn't read a lot of books of this particular genre? I would love to hear from you!


Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Armchair BEA: Introduction

I can't believe it's already been a year since the last Armchair BEA. Where has the time gone?

Design credit: Emily of Emily's Reading Room

So, today is all about introductions, so I won't bore you with any more chitchat, but give you my answers right away.


1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself! Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

Hi, I am the mom of an amazing four year old boy. Technically, I've been blogging for almost a year and a half now, though it's been more sporadic than anything else over the last six months or so due to some personal issues.

2. Have you previously participated in Armchair BEA? What brought you back for another year?

Yes, I participated last year and absolutely loved it, which is why I am joining in again this year. I discovered so many amazing blogs and I, especially, loved all the awesome twitter parties. I'm a little bit anti-social when it comes to twitter and all that. I'm way too shy to just start a conversation with anyone really, so having those parties and being able to just chime in and not feeling stupid about it, was a lot of fun. I'm really looking forward to those again this year.

3. What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2013?

I'm still reading BEAUTIFUL CREATURES by Kami Garcia. It's pretty good, though at times a bit slow.

There are two books I've read this year that I absolutely loved. The first one was released in 2012 and is VELVETEEN by Daniel Marks. I had been wanting to read it for months and then stumbled across it while searching through my local library's ebooks. Of course, I had to borrow it right away and devoured it in only a couple of days. The whole idea with purgatory and the way Daniel Marks described everything, was simply fascinating to me. I'm still hoping that there might be a sequel. This book also helped me get out of my reading funk which is yet another reason why I loved it so much and would recommend it to anyone who would listen to me.

The other book is WITH ALL MY SOUL by Rachel Vincent. This was a bittersweet read for me. I was excited and terrified at the same time when I picked it up to read. It's the last book in her Soul Screamers series and since it's one of my all-time favorite series, I was really sad it was going to end. I've also found the premise of her books surrounding bean sidhes, reapers, and hellions to be absolutely fascinating and unique. I adore her story telling. Plus, Tod Hudson is my favorite fictional character EVER! :)

4. Name your favorite blog(s) and explain why they are your favorite(s)!

First of, there's Fiktshun. It was the first book blog I ever came across. The design is absolutely gorgeous and Rachel's voice draws me in every time. Her reviews are amazing and I can never get enough of her "rambling" posts. She is also a very genuine person who is always willing to help you.

Another blog I love is Cuddlebuggery. I love their unique and hilarious voices. There never seems to be a dull moment, and their author interviews are epic. They don't shy away from negative reviews either - they say exactly what they think.

Other blogs I follow regularly are BookPics (love you, Alba girl!), YA Sisterhood, Parajunkee's View, and Two Chicks On Books.

5. What literary location would you most like to visit? Why?

Definitely The Shire or Rivendell from J.R.R. Tolkien's THE HOBBIT and THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. Both places seem so beautiful and peaceful. I could just wonder around and enjoy the nature. :)


What about you? Is it your first time participating in Armchair BEA? What do you like most about it? Do you have any questions for me? I'd love to hear from you! Happy reading, everyone!

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

HELP get #TeamTOD a spot at the YA Crush Tourney 3.0

Hello, hello, hello,

I have some super important news today! Some of you might still remember last year's amazing YA Crush Tourney hosted by the awesome girls over at YA Sisterhood. Well, it's back again this year and I, personally, think it's going to be better than ever - more diverse with a lot more authors/books and new crushes to discover. Last year, I was an advocate for the always hilarious and gorgeous reaper TOD HUDSON of Rachel Vincent's  SOUL SCREAMERS series. He is still my absolute favorite fictional character and with the new rules to the tournament, I figured he could use a little bit of early support to, hopefully, ensure him a spot in the final 28.

For all the tournament details, go and check out YA Sisterhood's post right here.

As I said, there are new rules this year, with one of them being that the tourney is going to be divided into four categories and the one that my favorite reaper fits into, happens to be the toughest of all - with A TON of competition. So, which is why I am writing this post today because I really, really truly believe that there is no one quite like TOD HUDSON and he most certainly deserves to be in this tournament.

Please, please, please, peeps, GO HERE and NOMINATE the BEST REAPER there ever was, you all know you want to!!! Nominations are ONLY OPEN until MAY 25th at 12:01AM!!!




Need any more proof to convince you to go and nominate him? How about some quotes?

“So, 'reaper' is really just a nice word for 'covert pervert?' Is that what you're saying?” 

*****

“So you’re saying the afterlife is hard on the libido? FYI, that’s probably not a good bullet point for your recruiting brochure.” 

 *****

 “Uh, yeah, I do. The scythe was a little tricky at first, but—much like golf—turns out it’s all in the swing.”

*****

 “I'm dead, not impotent. Nasty rumors like that must be squashed before they gain momentum. Feel free to emphasize how very functional I am.”

***** 

“As a matter of fact, I was going to offer you something.”
“What did you have in mind?”
"A field trip. You interested in doing something dangerous, and possibly illegal?”
“Does it involve underage girls, broken curfews and assorted fruit toppings?”

***** 

“You just say the word, and I'll make the rest of the world go away. I'll take you someplace safe, where no one else can reach us.” 

 ***** 

 “There's a good kind of crazy, Kaylee," he insisted softly, reaching out to wrap his warm hand around mine. "It's the kind that makes you think about things that make your head hurt, because not thinking about them is the coward's way out. The kind that makes you touch people who bruise your soul, just because they need to be touched. This is the kind of crazy that lets you stare out into the darkness and rage at eternity, while it stares back at you, ready to swallow you whole."

***** 

This last one is one of my absolute favorites, but since some might consider it a bit spoiler-y, you have to highlight it to see it - at your own risk if you haven't yet read the series - or at least, past IF I DIE.
 
“You're the brightest thing I've ever seen, Kaylee. You're this beautiful ball of fire spitting sparks out at the world, burning fiercely, holding back the dark by sheer will. And I always knew that if I reached out -- if i tried to touch you -- I'd get burned. Because you're not mine. I'm not supposed to feel the fire. I'm not supposed to want it. But I do. I want you, Kaylee, like I've never wanted anything. Ever. I want the fire. I want the heat, and the light, and I want the burn.”


There you have it folks! I really hope you'll show your support for the incredibly charming TOD HUDSON!!! Seriously, when else could you ever call a reaper "charming"??? He really needs your help, so PLEASE hop on over to Fantasy Book Addict and fill out the form. It will only take you a minute, I promise!!! Thank you so much!!!

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

BLOG TOUR: Broken Gates by D.T. Dyllin BOOK HIGHLIGHT



Paperback
Expected publication:
May 24th 2013
by Dragonfairy Press 
 ***Genre - New Adult Paranormal Romance.

P.J. Stone is a Seer who saw too little, too late.

In the past, her biggest worries were boys and school—but war has a way of
changing things. Now, the alien Riders are trying to overrun the world.
As the last of their kind, P.J. and her friends must find a way to save
humanity before there’s nothing left to save.

After choosing a
mate, P.J. hoped she'd have time to enjoy her love life. But with
everything changing so quickly and major secrets revealed, who knows
what the future will bring?










 *******************************

Paperback, 299 pages
Published
February 28th 2013
by Dragonfairy Press
***Genre - New Adult Paranormal Romance

For P.J. Stone, being a “Seer” who has never seen anything is less than fun. And P.J. isn’t known for her patience.

To make matters worse, she must choose a suitable mate to continue the Seer bloodline. Duty always comes before her heart…at least that’s what  her parents taught her. When she finds herself wanting someone who is  considered off-limits, P.J. is forced to question everything she believes.

As if navigating her love life isn’t complicated
enough, P.J. finally receives a vision—of a threat to her world that
only she can perceive. But no one will believe a fledgling Seer’s
warnings. With nowhere else to turn, she may decide to trust a stranger
with her life, her world, and maybe even her heart.

*****

Author

Cynical-Optimist.
Chocolate-holic. Sarcasm Addict. Paranormal Believer. Romance Junkie.
Self Imposed Insomniac. Animal Lover. Writer.


Website  /  Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads




Check out what others say about 

BROKEN GATES on the tour page HERE!


Tuesday, May 7, 2013

ECHO Blog Tour - Alicia Wright Brewster's TOP FIVE AUTHORS + Giveaway



I have the absolute pleasure of welcoming Alicia Wright Brewster, author of ECHO, on my blog today. Before getting to her guest post, here is a little bit more about her.


About the Author: 

Alicia Wright Brewster is a mild-mannered lady of average height and above average paranormal obsession. By day, she works in an office. At night she is an author, an electronics junkie, and a secret superhero. (Please don't ask what her superpower is; that's not very polite.)

In her virtually non-existent free time, she loves to read, watch movies, and eat food. She is particularly fond of the food-eating and makes a point to perform this task at least three times per day, usually more.

Where to stalk her:

Website              Facebook              Twitter


*****

GUEST POST


~*~ Alicia's Top Ten (FIVE) Favorite Authors ~*~



This is actually a Top Five list. I hope that’s okay. If I write about ten authors, I could ramble on for ages! And my “top” five probably change on a daily basis, so let’s call it a Top-ish Five list.


Now that I’ve completely changed your post topic (I know, I know: I’m the worst guest ever; it’s like I came into your house and propped my dirty shoes on your coffee table), here are my top-ish five authors in no particular order:


Laini Taylor: This woman makes me swoon with her words. Each word is the carefully placed stroke of a master painter. She makes me see not only her settings, but also the feelings, with just the way she crafts her words. Daughter of Smoke in Bone may be my all-time favorite young adult paranormal romance.


Brandon Sanderson: He builds worlds and magic systems that are completely unique and original. On top of that, he can craft the most amazing action scenes that utilize his unique settings. This man is a genius. Sometimes, I consider dropping by his house to sing him a special selection of my favorite songs. He deserves it! Of course, I wouldn’t want him to have to take out a restraining order…


J.K. Rowling: Speaking of world building, I must give a shout-out to the queen, Ms. Rowling. She created a magical world that could so easily fit into our world. Who’s to say whether there are magical creatures, witches, and wizards hiding among us, and we mere muggles are ignorant of it all?


Michael Crichton: My freshman year in high school, Crichton introduced me to speculative fiction in the book medium. His novel Sphere was perhaps the first science fiction book I ever read that wasn’t assigned to me at school. Crichton will always have a special place in my heart. Rest in peace.


Ilona Andrews: The Ilona Andrews writing team authored one of the first urban fantasy books I ever read, Magic Bites. Although I was on the fence about this first book in the Kate Daniels series, I’ve continued to read and each book amazes me more than the last. The way Andrews took Atlanta and morphed it into a destroyed, magic-ridden version of itself awes me—especially since Atlanta is my home.


See how much I wrote about just five authors? Now aren’t you glad I didn’t do a Top Ten list? Thank you so much for having me on your blog today.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

For the record, you definitely are NOT the worst guest ever!!! I am almost embarrassed to admit I haven't read a single book by J.K. Rowling, and right now I feel like I should go and hide in a corner somewhere. I have read a few of Michael Crichton's books, however, and have thoroughly enjoyed them.

Thank you so much for sharing your Top Five Authors with us today, and I would be more than happy to welcome you back on my blog any time.


*****

About the Book:

Goodreads Description:

The countdown clock reads ten days until the end of the world. The citizens are organized. Everyone's been notified and assigned a duty. The problem is . . . no one knows for sure how it will end.

Energy-hungry Mages are the most likely culprit. They travel toward a single location from every corner of the continent. Fueled by the two suns, each Mage holds the power of an element: air, earth, fire, metal, water, or ether. They harness their powers to draw energy from the most readily available resource: humans.

Ashara has been assigned to the Ethereal task force, made up of human ether manipulators and directed by Loken, a young man with whom she has a complicated past. Loken and Ashara bond over a common goal: to stop the Mages from occupying their home and gaining more energy than they can contain. But soon, they begin to suspect that the future of the world may depend on Ashara's death.

ECHO is available NOW:

Amazon                        Barnes & Noble

*****
GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*****

Check out the tour schedule below for all the other stops:

April 29th
Good Choice Reading - www.goodchoicereading.com Character Highlight
Curling Up with a Good Book, http://curling-up-with-a-good-book.blogspot.comInterview
April 30th
Must Read Faster, http://mustreadfaster.blogspot.comReview
A Dream Within a Dream, http://adreamwithindream.blogspot.comExcerpt
May 1st
Paulette’s Papers, http://paulettespapers.comGuest Post
Frankie Blooding’s Bookshelf, http://frankieblooding.wordpress.comCharacter Highlight
Zach’s YA Reviews, http://zachsyareviews.comGuest Post
A Book Lovers Review - Teaser
May 2nd
Reads and Thoughts, http://karlaamaemaglaoy.wordpress.comReview
Bookish Things & More, www.bookishthingsandmore.comTeaser
May 3rd
Finding Bliss, http://www.laurahoward78.blogspot.com,Interview
A Bibliophile’s Thoughts on Books, http://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.comReview
May 6th
Cherie Reads, http://cheriereads.blogspot.comCharacter Highlight
Reading Under the Stars, http://readingunderthestars.blogspot.co.ukReview
May 7th
The Solitary Bookworm, http://thesolitarybookworm.comTeaser
Smiling_Ina’s Bookish Corner, http://smiling-ina.blogspot.caGuest Post
May 8th
Deal Sharing Aunt, www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.comReview
Shortie Says, www.shortie-says.comExcerpt
May 9th
Turner’s Antics, http://turnersantics.blogspot.comGuest Post
Good Choice Reading: Interview
May 10th
Turning the Pages, http://www.turningthepagesx.blogspot.comReview
I’m Luvin’ Books, http://ya-im-lovin-books.blogspot.co.ukCharacter Interview
Musings of a Blodger, www.novacritiquesebooks.blogspot.comInterview
Books and their Worldly Realm, http://booksandtheirwordlyrealm.blogspot.comExcerpt



Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Cover Reveal: ENDURE by M.R. Merrick

I am so, so excited about today's cover reveal!!! M.R. Merrick's THE PROTECTOR series is amazing, and I just know that ENDURE will be just as incredible as the previous three books in this series. Just look at this cover! Isn't it stunning?! I LOVE it!!!

Do you want to know another awesome thing??? EXILED, the first book in the series, is available FREE right now!!! 
For links check below.

*****


Available June 5th 





YA Urban Fantasy

Final book in The Protector Series

Wrapped in darkness and woven with defeat, every action Chase has taken since being exiled from the Circle has been met with a devastating response. Now heÕs been burdened with a quest that seems impossible, and he needs to evolve into something moreÑsomething greater than he ever thought he could be.



Armed with magic, friendship, and an unbreakable will, Chase must build an army and find a weapon capable of defeating the ultimate evil. But he knows that nothing great comes without sacrifice. Blessed by the very gods who have abandoned him and carrying the fate of all the worlds on his shoulders, Chase Williams is about find out just how much one man can endure.






 Book 1 - Exiled is FREE!






About the author:



M.R. Merrick is a Canadian
writer, and author of Exiled, the first installment in The Protector
Series. Having never traveled, he adventures to far off lands through
his imagination and in between cups of coffee. As a music lover and
proud breakfast enthusiast, he's usually found at the computer, between a
pair of headphones and in front of a large bowl of cereal.