Building the Book Pile #70

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Giveaways Going on NOW!         

 

  
  

Click pic to be taken to the giveaway!

Others may be linked on the right sidebar :) check them out!

  
What's Happening?!

  Hello Lovely Readers! I have not done a book pile post since the beginning of the month, a lot has been going on :/ sorry. But here are the goodies (not many- but enough for me)

 

Coming up on the Blog...

The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit Middle Grade Review
Fangirl Young Adult Review
 The Deepest Night (The Sweetest Dark #2) Young Adult Review

Will O The Wisp Graphic Novel Review
Mid-Winter's Eve Giveaway Hop (Dec 3)

What I got this month so far...

Books

  
Covers Link to Goodreads

Diary of a Dancing Drama Queen (MG) ebook for blog tour-- Reviewed
Root Bound (YA) ebook for blog tour
Untold (YA) paperback ARC from Randombuzzers for review
Christmas in Dogtown (Paranormal Romance) ebook for blog tour


Also received paperback ARCs of Gated and Two Boys Kissing (which I have reviewed as audiobooks already -- so these will be prizes soon) from Randombuzzers

Audiobooks

Covers Link to Goodreads

A Wounded Name by Dot Hutchinson from Librarything Early Reviewers

 

  Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up post! Happy Reading!

Blog Blitz: Cornerstone

Free on Amazon    Free on iTunes   Free on Kobo    Barnes and Noble

Epic Fantasy combines with Young Adult romance in this stunning new adventure set in a richly developed medieval world.

When Emariya Warren learns enemy forces have captured her father, she’ll do anything to save him. Anything. Even marry a mysterious prince she knows nothing about in order to rally the strength to arrange a rescue. During her journey to Torian’s foreign castle, Emariya comes face to face with her mother’s killers–and a deadly secret. Not only does Emariya possess a powerful but unexpected magical gift passed down through each of her families, the prince she’s promised to marry possesses a third, and an ominous prophecy has warned the three gifts must never be combined. If she breaks her promise to marry Torian, she won’t be able to save her father and if she keeps it, she may bring a curse upon everything she holds dear. Determining which choice is best won’t be easy, but when she meets the gorgeous prince who may desire more than just her heart, she realizes she will have to fight just to have a choice at all. Her heart wants him desperately. Her head begs her to run. If she doesn’t want to share her mother’s fate, she’ll have to find a way to untangle the truth from the lies in time to save herself.

About Kelly Walker

Kelly Walker is a YA and NA author of several romantic titles, including the Souls of the Stones series. She has an unhealthy appreciation for chocolate, and a soft spot for rescued animals. Her best lessons on writing came from a lifetime of reading. She loves the fantastical, and the magical, and believes a captivating romance can be the most realistic magic of all. Kelly, her husband and her two children share their Virginia home with three dogs who walk her, and two cats who permit her to occasionally share their couch.

Website    Facebook    Twitter   Goodreads

Interview, Excerpt, and Giveaway: Thimble Down by Pete Prown

Welcome to Cover2CoverBlog Pete and thank you for joining us. First could you tell us a little about yourself?

Well, I’m known in different fields for different things. Primarily I’m an editor and journalist who specializes in music and gardening. I’ve written both fiction and non-fiction books, including THIMBLE DOWN and a series of instructional titles about guitars. I’m also a musician and recording artist—my Guitar Garden albums are available on CDBaby.com and iTunes. I live in Pennsylvania with my wife and six children.

What was your inspiration for Thimble Down?

It was a combination of my love of classic English mysteries and Young Adult adventures. If you want to look for specific authors and books, I’d steer you towards the work of Charles Dickens, Agatha Christie (especially her Miss Marple books), M.C. Beaton’s Hamish MacBeth series, JRR Tolkien, and a love of horticulture, nature, food, and landscape painting. People have said to me, “Y’know, there’s a lot of food in Thimble Down.”

                                                                                                              

Which came first – the story or the characters? 

I came up with a basic framework for Dorro and the village of Thimble Down first, and then I came up with a plot. The actual story and characters then evolved at the same time—I invent as I write and my writing process is relatively fast. Strangely, the faster I write, the better the story gets. I think that’s because I’m not overthinking it. It’s fresher and more spontaneous.

What is your favorite part about the writing process? Do you have a special writing spot?

My favorite part is finishing off a particularly good chapter—that’s very satisfying, especially when you know you developed a clever plot twist. And I write all over the place: indoors, outdoors, morning, afternoon, and sometimes night (though I’m not much of a nightbird). Favorite writing spots include scenic parks and my local public library, but I can go anywhere with my laptop and knock out a chapter or two.

Is there anything about you that would surprise your readers?

Probably my extensive guitar background—I’m far better known for my guitar writing than for anything I’ve done so far. I’ve interviewed hundreds of famous and brilliant guitarists over the years, from Eddie Van Halen to Scotty Moore, who was Elvis Presley’s guitar player.

If you could spend time with any author, who would it be and why?

Good question! First, I’d say Agatha Christie to learn more about how she came up with so many clever plotlines, and P.G. Wodehouse, just because his Jeeves & Wooster books are so hysterically funny. There are definitely touches of Jeeves & Wooster throughout Thimble Down and the forthcoming books in the series.

What do you have planned next? Are you working on anything currently?

The next book in the “Chronicles of Dorro” series (the sequel to Thimble Down) is completed and will be ready for publication early in 2014. And I’m almost done with the third book. I have enough material for quite a few more books right now.

What are you reading right now? Do you have any book recommendations for the young adult reader?

I’m just revisited one of the Redwall books because I love Brian Jacques’ endlessly creative and witty dialogue. As for recommendations, I would recommend the Artemis Fowl books—always fun—and Linda Buckley-Archer’s The Time Travelers book, as least the first on in the series. And read one of the true classics, like The Wind in the Willows. It’s a magical book that never gets stale.

Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway -- Dairy of a Dancing Drama Queen by Louise Lintvelt

Diary of a Dancing Drama Queen (The Secret Ramblings of Harriet Hughes #1) by Louise Lintvelt

 

Harriet Hughes is not your typical 12 year old girl. She does not like pink and she is not what you would call breathtakingly beautiful. Harriet considers herself decidedly average; her sister Abigail on the other hand is very pretty and good at everything.  Join Harriet as she makes her way through middle school. In diary of a dancing drama queen Harriet has to face the embarrassment of a dance class after her mother enrols her and her sister at Madam Zangara’s School of Dance. She is not exactly the best dancer in the world and when the most popular girl in school, Melanie joins the dance class, it marks the start of a fun filled adventure that includes a birthday party, a talent show and a school dance. Will she get asked to the dance by her biggest crush, Oliver Russel? Harriet writes about family, friends, school and boys in a fresh, young voice and the sketches in her diary (secret ramblings) add a touch of whimsy. This funny book is sure to be a hit with 8-12 year old girls.

Find the book: Goodreads | Amazon

Add Louise on Goodreads!

This book made me laugh out loud many times. Harriet's attitude and explanations of her life and the people around her are amazingly full of drama and quirkiness. I loved her character. She is strong and opinionated but also realizes when she should give in to others to do the right thing. The book was only about 60 pages or so (PDF format) and includes sketches from ' Harriet' that are just as entertaining as the story itself. I felt that any young girls would love to read this book. 

Harriet has a great relationship with her family and friends and even makes new friends through the story, ones that are not expected. I have to admit I was waiting for these girls to turn on one another but to my surprise it never happened. It was a lovely and easy read!

Other Books in the series:

Diary of a Pop Sensation (The Secret Ramblings of Harriet Hughes #2)  by Louise Lintvelt

Harriet is whisked off to New York with her best friends to take part in a talent competition. Harriet has to focus on winning the talent competition while trying to deal with the aftermath of the school dance where she was humiliated by her crush Oliver Russel. Join the Daisies as they experience New York for the first time, navigate the twists and turns of the Tween Talent competition and take on the Trendy Triplets. This second book in the Harriet Hughes series is funny, imaginative and entertaining; the perfect read for tween girls. 

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Follow the Tour!
11/18
The (Mis) Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl- Reviews
Curling Up With a Good Book- Interview
Candace's Book Blog- Reviews

11/19
Brooke Blogs-Reviews
Deal Sharing Aunt - Interview (Possible Reviews)
3 Partners in Shopping - Reviews

11/20
Rose and Beps Blog - Interview
Cover2Cover- Review

11/21
Every Free Chance- Review
Living a Different Fairytale- Reviews

1/22
Dalene's Book Reviews - Interview & Review
Met in Eleven- Interview & Review

Cover Reveals: The Samantha Project Series by Stephanie Karpinske

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The Samantha Project by Stephanie Karpinske
(The Samantha Project #1-3) 

Genres: Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult

 

The Samantha Project (The Samantha Project Series #1)
Seventeen-year-old Samantha has a seemingly perfect life; great parents, early admission to Stanford, and her boyfriend, Colin, quarterback of the football team and the hottest guy in school. But a shocking secret from her past turns her world upside down.
Sam discovers she’s part of a global corporation’s genetic enhancement project. Just as she’s learning what these enhanced genes can do, the corporation decides they want her, and the technology hidden inside her, back.
During a heart-pounding race to flee from her pursuers, she encounters Erik, another person who was part of the experimental project. From the instant they meet they share an indescribable attraction to each other. Together they’re in even greater danger and a rogue scientist discovers a deadly secret lies inside them.

Book 1, The Samantha Project

  Amazon B&N Kobo

The Golden Couple (The Samantha Project Series #2)
In this action-packed second installment of The Samantha Project series, Samantha and Erik go on a search to find a way to save themselves from the genetic time bomb ticking away in their cells. Along the way, they discover a shocking secret that changes everything.
Although Samantha’s boyfriend, Colin, is back now, she can’t deny her feelings for Erik. It isn’t long before she learns the real reason why she can’t resist Erik. But only after she’s gone too far with him. So far that Colin may never forgive her.
GlobalLife Genetics continues to pursue Samantha and they’ll stop at nothing to get her. Sam still doesn’t understand GlobalLife’s plan for her but she knows it’s something big. And she knows it isn’t good.

Book 2, The Golden Couple

Amazon B&N Kobo

A Chosen Destiny (The Samantha Project Series #3)
Samantha’s destiny was chosen long ago. At least that’s what she’s told by the people who created her. Her enhanced genes and genetic software were meant to do everything from mold her personality to pick who she falls in love with.
But can destiny be changed? Ever since Samantha learned the truth about herself, she’s struggled to figure out who’s really in charge of her life. Can she make her own choices? Or is her future determined by her genes?
Old enemies reappear and new ones emerge as Samantha and Erik use their powers to fight the people who are after them. But it’s getting harder to figure out who’s good and who’s evil. The enemy they’ve been fighting may not be the one who’s truly after them.

Book 3, A Chosen Destiny

Amazon B&N Kobo

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/series/95061-the-samantha-project

About the Author

After spending years at a publishing company working on other people’s books, Stephanie left the corporate world to write her own books. Although her day job is freelance writing for magazines, she spends the rest of her time writing fiction. The idea for The Samantha Project came from a dream she had of a teen girl being held in a lab. She couldn't stop thinking about the dream, so she turned that one scene into a much larger story that ended up being a trilogy. Stephanie also writes New Adult romance under a different name. When she's not writing, she's reading, cooking, running or watching movies.

Find the Author

Website

Goodreads

Facebook

Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway!-- Lethal Circuit by Lars Guignard

 

Lethal Circuit by Lars Guignard and narrated by Ben Sullivan

Genre: 16+ Spy/Techno Thriller
Length: 340 pages, audiobook 8 1/2 hours  Publication Date: Audiobook released 8/8/13 Available Audio from Audible.com

Book can be found at: Audible |  iTunes | Amazon  | GoodReads

From Best-selling Amazon author Lars Guignard comes the number-one turbo-charged, action spy thriller Lethal Circuit. 

A Chinese satellite is on a crash course with Earth.  

It contains enough plutonium to irradiate a large city. 

And that's the good news...


Michael Chase is a twenty-six year old backpacker, a recent college graduate, an amateur. He flew to Hong Kong to find his missing father. Four hours later, he's running for his life. The Chinese Secret Police want him dead. The Conspiracy wants him dead. And the one person who he thinks is on his side, may want him dead too. If Michael is going to live, he'll need to find a hidden piece of Nazi technology lost since World War II. And he'll have to do it before anyone else. Because if he doesn't, a little plutonium is going to be the least of his problems.

Can Michael Chase team up with a beautiful but deadly MI6 agent to locate a lethal piece of Nazi technology that will save the world?



If you can't get enough of the action of Lee Child and Vince Flynn, the intrigue of Robert Ludlum, and the adventure of Clive Cussler and James Rollins, you are going to LOVE Lethal Circuit!

Follow the Tour! 

 Lethal Circuit is not my normal read/ listen, as an adult genre, mystery, suspense, but I opted to take a listen for the wonderful Candace. The plot starts off strong with action immediately. The main character is in search of his father who he believes was murdered. I enjoyed this fast paced plot very much but the reader was a bit off-putting. The track volumes seem to change in the chapters and not just the reader’s tone, but the actual volume. On second he is speaking and the next he seems to be projecting at almost a yell. This made it difficult to concentrate on the plot itself at times, I found myself focusing on how annoying it was.

The author is very good at conveying the various landscapes and cities that are mentioned throughout the book. The storytelling of foreign countries seems to be his specialty (I have also listened to his Middle Grade book set in India). The twists and turns in the plot keep the reader/ listener on their toes and keep the story at great pace. You just want to keep listening.

I cannot say much more without spoilers so I will leave it at that. Overall impressions: I did enjoy the story very much, but the audiobook reader was annoying at times with his tone, and the production was off-putting with volume levels.

3 ebooks and 3 audiobooks of Lethal Circuit (INT)

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About the Author
Lars Guignard is a former film and television writer and a graduate of both McGill University and the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. His debut thriller novel, Lethal Circuit, has been
an amazon top 100 Technothriller since its release.
Guignard has wanted to write Indian stories for kids ever since he attended a boarding school in the majestic Himalayas. The time he spent in the “school above the clouds” affected him
profoundly, and once he returned home to North America he was struck by the lack of children’s stories from India available in our culture. Since India is such an incredible country, he decided
to write a series of action adventure books for young adults about India to introduce young readers to this magical, mystical land. So if you’re looking for a great book adventure for kids, try Ghost Leopard today!  

Author Sites:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Cover Reveal: Broken Stone by PT McHugh + Giveaway!!

Today is a joint cover reveal of three authors from Glass House Press, PT. McHugh, Linda Foster and Mary Fan.

About the Book:
Reis Slayton is a man without a home, family, or direction until the US military comes along. But the moment he joins, his ‘talents’ come to the attention of those higher than him – he has a sharp eye, and a willingness to shoot first and ask questions later. His deadly skills are finely tuned … and used. But this isn’t what Reis wanted to be. Years later, after too many undercover operations, and countless lives taken, he finds himself questioning his direction. Does he believe in the government? Does he agree with his assignments? Or is he wasting his life – and conscience – on someone else’s goal? With that thought in mind, Reis takes a leap and interviews for a new company, where he’s given the role of body guard. Against his better judgment, he takes a job that no one else wants – guarding the daughter of a wealthy family – and grudgingly moves into a new life. Soon after taking a job, he realizes that he might have found the one thing he’s never had: a family, and someone to fight for. He grows to love his new charge, and begins to feel fulfilled for the first time in his life. But no matter how hard people try, they cannot escape the sins of their past. Will Reis be able to leave the life of an assassin behind him, and protect his new charge? Or will his history come back to haunt him, in the worst ways imaginable?

About PT McHugh

PT McHugh didn't start out as a storyteller. He was, however, born into a family of that encouraged imagination. He became a fan of history in school and then went to college to become a construction engineer, to build a world of straight lines, angles, and equations. He was just as surprised as everyone else when he realized that he believed in magic, and might just know the secret of how to jump through time. Since then, he's been researching the possibility and learning everything he can about history. Just in case the opportunity arises. PT was born and raised in New Hampshire and currently lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife, two daughters, and a dog named Bob, daring to dream of alternate worlds and cheering for his beloved New England Patriots.

Website    Facebook   Twitter   Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway Hop over to the other blogs to see the cover reveals from Linda Foster and Mary Fan

Blog Blast: Excerpt and Giveaway -- Spell Fire by Ariella Moon

Spell Fire, The Teen Wytche Saga #3 
By Ariella Moon

About the Book
New school. New friends. New reputation. High school sophomore Ainslie Avalon-Bennett works hard to hide her Crazy Girl past. But as long as her best friend’s disappearance remains unsolved, she can’t shake the depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder that once landed her in a mental ward.   Ainslie’s tenuous control over her life shatters when her warring parents ditch her at Christmas. While they take a cruise to “work things out,” Ainslie must spend the holiday in Palm Springs with her aunt and uncle, owners of a struggling Mystery School and occult store. Plunged into the world of fire fortunes, dragons, entity eaters, and an ailing spell book, Ainslie is well beyond her comfort zone. Then she meets a boy who spikes her pulse and calms her OCD. But will she lose him once he discovers her past? Or will his deadly secret, hidden in plain view, be their undoing?

My body elongated, and I swore I grew six inches. Inside the cafe, there was no line. Another miracle. I paused beneath the fern‑painted ceiling fan and scanned the wall menu. I wasn't sure what I was looking for, but a weird craving fueled my search. The dragon exerted pressure between my shoulder blades, prompting me. "A Scorpion's Nest smoothie." Morningstar leaned over the high counter and gave me a once‐over. "You feeling okay?" I licked my lips. "Absolutely." I had never tasted an orange juice, vanilla ice cream, and peanut butter combo, but I slapped the countertop and said, "I'm fine. Hit me." Morningstar tilted her head to one side and studied me. Oh — crap. Maybe I'm dragon drunk. I wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth stood straighter. I could do this. I could act normal and in control. Behind me, the dragon blew on my hair. I clawed back the stray locks. "Strong ceiling fan." Morningstar glanced up. I held my gaze steady on her face and tried to remember if the fan was actually on. I couldn't hear the whir of its motor or feel the stir of cool air. I can't feel anything. I went for distraction and slipped a ten across the counter. Morningstar leveled her gaze, then handed me my change. "I'll bring the smoothie to your table." "Cool." My eyes crossed. I pivoted and fell out of my right flip‐‑flop. Fortunately, the place was almost empty, and I didn't think anyone saw me stumble. Still, my face heated as I chose a table with plenty of space behind it for the dragon and my invisible wings. "Mind if I join you for a minute?" Morningstar asked when she brought my drink. "Please." I giggled, giddy with dragon energy. I was a bright, beneficent angel among earthlings. I was — as crazy as my parents feared.

Blog Tour Schedule

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 12/20/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway



Author Ariella Moon Ariella Moon writes about magic, friendship, secrets, and love in her Young Adult novels, Spell Check, Spell Struck, and Spell Fire, Books 1, 2, & 3 in The Teen Wytche Saga. Ariella spent her childhood searching for a magical wardrobe that would transport her to Narnia. Extreme math anxiety, and taller students who mistook her for a leaning post, marred Ariella’s teen years. Despite these horrors, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Davis. An author and shaman, she now lives a nearly normal life with her extraordinary daughter, shamelessly spoiled dog, and an enormous dragon.