Oct 29, 2014

Blog Blast w/ Giveaway! -- Adrenaline Crush by Laurie Boyle Compton

http://www.jeanbooknerd.com/2014/10/nerd-blast-adrenaline-crush-by-laurie.html


About the Book
When a daredevil teen pushes herself too far, she must choose between two boys: the one who wants to keep her safe, and the one who dares her to return to her old self.

Seventeen-year-old Dyna comes from a family of risk takers and is an avid thrill-seeker herself, until the day she splinters her ankle in a terrible fall. Her whole life goes from mountain biking and rock climbing to sitting at home and attending group sessions at the bizarre alternative healing center that her hippie mother found. The boy who witnessed Dyna’s accident believes her injury is a wakeup call and he encourages her mild new lifestyle, but a young Afghanistan War veteran she meets at the healing center pushes her to start taking chances again. Forced to face the consequences of her daredevil impulses, Dyna finds herself in danger of risking the one thing she’s always treated with caution—her heart.
Buy the Book


About the Author
Laurie Boyle Crompton is the YA author of BLAZE (or Love in the Time of Supervillains) and THE REAL PROM QUEENS OF WESTFIELD HIGH (Sourcebooks, 2013 & 2014) as well as the upcoming ADRENALINE CRUSH from Farrar Straus Giroux. Laurie graduated first in her class from St. John’s University with a major in English and minor in Journalism. She’s written for national magazines like ALLURE as well as numerous trade publications and has appeared on Good Day New York several times as a Toy Expert. Yes, that is an actual thing that people sometimes get to be.

When she’s not writing Laurie enjoys hiking, cycling, reading, cross-country skiing, running, going to the movies and drinking tea by the gallon. She lives near NYC, but loves to escape to the mountains in New Paltz, NY where she and her family can often be found climbing over rocks or tromping through the forest. She is represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette of the Erin Murphy Agency.

Find the Author




--Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter


Winner will receive a Signed Copy of Adrenaline Crush, Carabiner Key Chains, Bookmarks and Pins by Laurie Boyle Crompton. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Oct 28, 2014

Recent Reads: The Hockey Saint by Howard Shapiro

The Hockey Saint (Forever Friends, #2)
The Hockey Saint by Howard Shapiro
Series: Friends Forever #2
Publisher: Animal Media Group
Publication Date:  September 10, 2014



http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0991255011/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0991255011&linkCode=as2&tag=cov2cov-20&linkId=I2CN4L4DVJ7GLZYJ  

Format: Ebook
Source:From the Author in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this book in no way effects my opinion or review of the book.


Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 
The highly anticipated sequel to "The Stereoypical Freaks" and the 2nd book in the "Forever Friends" Trilogy, this is "The Hockey Saint"

Twenty-one year old Jeremiah Jacobson is the world's best hockey player, but he wasn't prepared for the frenzy and scrutiny that came with that title. Tom Leonard is an average college sophomore... just a guy trying to find his place in the world as he sorts through issues that are both very real and seemingly insurmountable.

Through a chance meeting, these two strike up an unlikely friendship. Their bond is tested when Tom discovers that his idol isn't as perfect up close as he seems from afar. With Jeremiah living a little too much in the moment and with his past catching up to him, will Tom be able to help him before it's too late?
 Review: 


I received this book from the author and I am so glad that I did.  

The Hockey Saint is a graphic novel about a college kid who has recently lost his parents and is still trying to find himself after their death.  On a whim he finds himself at outside of the home of a professional hockey player and they meet and become friends. While the premise is a bit strange, this was a really good read. The characters were interesting and deep and the illustration was wonderful. I found myself enthralled in this book and didn't want to stop reading until it was over.

I did not realize when I received the book that it was the second in a series - so I will have to track down the first one to read. But that being said, you did not need the first one to set this one up. You meet Tom, the main character, and start to feel for him immediately. You meet some of his friends and see some of his life, and then meet Jake, the hockey player. 

Tom and Jake's friendship is an interesting one, based on loss, but also in necessity. They both need a friend and are there for one another without it being super emotional. While the story followings Tom, you learn a lot of Jake and his life and his experiences and learn to like him as well and through the story you find yourself rooting for both of them. 

The book covers a lot of really heavy stuff, death of parents, loss, alcoholism,  promises and secrets and how they can eat away at life, a person, or even blow up in your own face... it was an emotional roller-caster of a graphic novel but in the best of ways. 

I highly recommend this book.

Oct 27, 2014

Double Review -- The Diaries of Robin's Toys: Bertie the Bee and Carla the Cow by Ken and Angie Lake

Bertie the Bee (The Diaries of Robin's Toys)
The Diaries of Robin's Toys: Bertie the Bee by Ken and Angie Lake
Series: The Diaries of Robin's Toys
Publisher: Sweet Cherry Publishing
Publication Date:  August 8, 2013



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18411648-bertie-the-bee 

Format: Paperback from box set
Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Receiving these books in no way effects my opinion or review of the books.


Rating:




 


Goodreads Synopsis: 
Bertie is about to go on his first flight from the hive and collect the pollen for making honey, like he has watched all his friends do! But he is so keen to impress the Queen on his first day that he gets into a spot of bother! This mistake helps Bertie learn the importance of working as a team and not trying to do it all by yourself! Bertie the Bee is one part of the lovely series, The Diaries of Robin's Toys! Robin and his Grandad buy a new toy from the car boot sale every weekend, and with the help of Grandad's magic spell, they bring them to life! Each toy has a fascinating new story to tell Robin, and helps to teach him some very important life lessons!
 Review: 


 This was the first book I read out of the Diaries of Robin's Toys series and it was very cute. Coming from a publisher in the UK, there were a few times I had to stop and think - pence instead of US dollars, the car boot sale instead of a flea market or yard sale... but other than that it was very easy to read. 

Robin's grandfather brings him to the car boot sale every week and gives him money for a toy - once they bring the toy home his grandfather casts a spell to get the toy to tell their story. These stories often lead to a lesson that Robin and his grandfather can use on a problem they are currently facing. 

In this first book, Robin buys a toy bee who tells him all about being a bee and teamwork. Robin is able to take the tale and use it in his own life with a problem his soccer team has been facing recently. 

The book is designed to look like a diary, lined pages and sketches of the events, even dates and times. It was very cute. The books are short and easy to read and complete. I think these would be best suited to more experienced beginning readers, as the paragraphs are a little on the longer side and there is a good amount of dialogue. 

Overall, I think the tale in Bertie the Bee is an important one for any child to learn and the book can be read alone or with an adult. It was a wonderful story. 

Also an adorable note is that this series is written by a father/daughter duo.
 


Carla the Cow (The Diaries of Robins Toys)The Diaries of Robin's Toys: Carla the Cow by Ken and Angie Lake
Series: The Diaries of Robin's Toys
Publisher: Sweet Cherry Publishing
Publication Date:  December 9, 2013



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18411648-bertie-the-bee 

Format: Paperback from box set
Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Receiving these books in no way effects my opinion or review of the books.


 Rating:





 

Goodreads Synopsis: 
 When Robin bought Carla the Cow from Pete's Treats stall at the car-boot sale, he was warned that she was moody and selfish but he bought her anyway. He soon found out that the other cows did not like her but when she realized this she made a real effort to fit in with the herd but how did she do it?
 Review: 


 Another book in the Diaries of Robin's Toys series, Carla the Cow tells a tale about friendship and being a loner. After the wonderful tale of friendship in the last book and how Robin applied it to himself, I was surprised when this tale was used more for his grandfather and adults. It was an interesting take as well. 

Carla the cow is a downer, she is mean to other cows and then when they all talk about how mean and depressing she is Carla gets more upset and rude. She later realizes that she needs to make an effort to show them who she really is and what she is really like. My biggest issue is that they way she refers to this process is 'becoming popular' and I think that the authors meant 'fitting in' or allowing people to see the real you. I think the idea of wanting to become popular is an issue that children and teens face but really the more important want is to fit in. I think a better way of going about this tale would have been to make the overall theme about being yourself, instead they went this route. 

Again the book was short and pretty easy to read. I think that this one's theme was a bit harder to grasp than Bertie the Bee, especially in the application with Robin and his grandfather at the end of Carla the Cow's tale. It was cute with pictures again, but I found Bertie more enjoyable overall.

Special Thanks to Sweet Cherry Publishing for these copies. 
More reviews to come.

http://www.sweetcherrypublishing.com/
 

Building the Book Pile #112


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

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

What's Happening?! 
How was your week ? Let me know in the comments.

Another Monday BTBP ... oh well. I was too lazy to type this up yesterday. 
I hope everyone's weeks are going well. I am super excited that this week ends with Halloween :) - are you? are you doing anything fun? Let me know in the comments.


Giveaways Going on Now!!

 
GO ENTER!

 

Coming up on the Blog... 

    Double Review: The Diaries of Robin's Toys: Bertie the Bee and Carla the Cow
    Blog Blast: Adrenaline Crush by Laurie Boyle Compton - with Giveaway
    Review: The Hockey Saint by Howard Shapiro
    Promo: Fractured Dream by KM Randall (on sale for $.99 Nov 1-5th!)

    31st - End of the Spooktacular and Something Wicked Giveaways...MAKE SURE TO ENTER !


    Books Received this Week


    Physical Books

    Who R U Really?


    Who R U Really? by Margo Kelly -From the Author and I am a Reader for blog tour review. This looks like a very interesting book. I am so excited to be on the tour for it.


    Lowriders in Space (Book 1)


    Lowriders in Space by Cathy Camper  - I believe this came from the publisher- Chronicle Books. I also know that I requested it but I forget how... it has been a long week. Please forgive my spacecase-y-ness... Anywho. Myself and my husband are excited to read/view this graphic novel. It looks like fun.

    Links go to Goodreads and/or Publisher Site.

    Have you missed anything lately? 

      There really wasn't much to miss...

    Release Day Blast: Puppet by Pauline Harris (I love this cover)

     

      Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

     Happy Reading!

    Oct 24, 2014

    Release Day! Puppet by Pauline Harris


    About the Book
    Penelope lives in a world of advanced technology but many claim society has yet to catch up. Marionettes have advanced in the form of robots; lifelike creations remote controlled to perform super human tasks.

    When Penelope makes a deal with Jed, a marionette-obsessed scientist, she doesn’t fully realize what she’s getting herself into. In order for Jed to take her away from the orphanage she lives in, she must first agree to undergo his experiments and tests, ultimately creating something no one ever dreamed possible; the first living marionette.


    As Jed shows off his scientific creation to the world, concerns arise surrounding Penelope’s abilities and what she’s capable of doing. Ordered to somehow lessen her abilities, Jed makes a desperate attempt to change Penelope to make her more human, more vulnerable. After Penelope lies to the officials about her past, Jed makes sure it’s the last one she’ll ever utter. The truth is now the only thing she is capable of telling.


    As Penelope struggles with her past, her disturbingly new present, and her uncertain future, she is thrust into a magically twisted world of mayhem in search of the one thing she wants, but knows she can never have. The chance to be just a girl again. To be normal. To be real.

    Buy the Book


     

     Release Day Twitter Chat 

    The Patchwork Press team will be hosting a release day chat with Pauline and would love for anyone interested in the book to stop by. Just be sure to follow Pauline and Patchwork Press




    About the Author
    Pauline C. Harris is a ninteen-year old author living in Northern Idaho. She started writing short stories when she was eight, and after she self-published her first book when she was fourteen, moved on to write the Mechanical Trilogy. She loves anything that has to do with science fiction, including Star Trek, and her main hobbies are writing and playing the violin in various orchestras and quartets.

    Mechanical is her first professionally published novel. She is currently studying in both high school and college and hopes to achieve her AA degree alongside her high school diploma.
    She is also working on another series of YA science fiction novels.

    Find the Author

    Oct 22, 2014

    Building the Book Pile #111


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

    Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

    What's Happening?! 
    How was your week ? Let me know in the comments.

    Late is better than never right...? :/
    ARG! Work sucks... there is so  much going on that by the time I return home I am so beat that I cannot even pick up a book. I just want to fall onto the couch and mindlessly watch TV - which is what I have been doing, well that and a lot of WOW -- but still lounging and not using brain power.

    Since I fail at books and blogging... I really haven't been keeping up with anything :( 

    But there are 2 giveaways still happening here - links below, plus a few blog tour-y giveaways as well - also linked for you.

    Giveaways Going on Now!!

    thegirlbanner http://cover2coverblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/blog-blitz-guest-post-w-giveaway-zoe.html
    GO ENTER!

     

    Coming up on the Blog... 

      I have no clue - reading slump :(
      Hopefully the following this week-
      Review: The Hockey Saint by Howard Shapiro
      Release Day Blast: Puppet by Pauline Harris (I love this cover)


      Books Received this Week


      Physical Books

      How to Survive a Sharknado and Other Unnatural Disasters: Fight Back When Monsters and Mother Nature Attack


      How to Survive a Sharknado and other Unnatural Disasters by Andrew Shaffer- Got in my October LootCrate subscription box :)

      Links go to Goodreads and/or Publisher Site.

      Have you missed anything lately? 

       

       

        Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

       Happy Reading!

      Oct 16, 2014

      Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway! -- The Girl Who Came Back to Life by Craig Staufenberg

      Today is a Blog Tour Review and Giveaway for an adorable Middle Grade book. Hope you enjoy ! :)

      thegirlbanner

      The Girl Who Came Back to Life is a Middle Grade Fantasy (fable/fairytale).
       Check out the tour page for the full schedule.

      TheGirlWhoCameBackToLife_Cover_FrontOnlyThe Girl Who Came Back to Life by Craig Staufenberg


      About the Book
      When you die, your spirit wakes in the north, in the City of the Dead. There, you wander the cold until one of your living loved ones finds you, says "Goodbye," and Sends you to the next world. After her parents die, 12-year-old Sophie refuses to release their spirits. Instead, she resolves to travel to the City of the Dead to bring her mother and father’s spirits back home with her. Taking the long pilgrimage north with her gruff & distant grandmother—by train, by foot, by boat; over ruined mountains and plains and oceans—Sophie struggles to return what death stole from her. Yet the journey offers her many hard, unexpected lessons—what to hold on to, when to let go, and who she must truly bring back to life.
       

      Amazon | Goodreads


      The Girl Who Came Back to Life was a very interesting and strange story. It follows a young girl who has just lost her parents and must travel North to see them off into the afterlife - but decides instead that she wants to bring them back to life. 
      The book jumps right in from their death and Sophie's attempts to make money and then the travels North; and it because it jumps right in there is not much time to learn about the character or even learn to feel for her as a reader. Give it a chance though. Once you get to about the halfway point you feel her mission take hold of you and want her to achieve and it is a wonderful story. The grandmother is horrible most of the time and that is saddening, but the people Sophie encounters along her journey are amazing and full of light in this almost depressing tale. 

      Sophie is strong, stubborn, and determined to reach her parents. Dealing with emotions that she has always suppressed Sophie learns a lot about herself on her journey North. Although as a reader we only see this through the transformations in Sophie as she travels - the tale is actually told as if by a narrator looking into her tale. It is a beautiful story. 
      The format itself is very easy to read; the chapters are short and there were a good amount of break-pages in between the chapters so its length is very short overall. I was surprised by this - the story if so deep yet the chapters leave a lot to the imagination. It was a very interesting read and I enjoyed it.
      Rating:


      About the Author:
      Craig Staufenberg is a writer and filmmaker living in NYC. Website: craigstaufenberg.com



      3 signed copies of The Girl Who Came Back to Life by Craig Staufenberg (US)

      3 ebook copies of The Girl Who Came Back to Life (INT)

      Oct 14, 2014

      Spooktacular Giveaway Hop!


      WHAT'S UP FOR GRABS?? 

      Being in the Halloween mood, I am giving away a (once listened to) audiobook CD pack of Tales from Lovecraft Middle School by Charles Gilman. 
      It includes Book 1-3 of the series.

      Tales from Lovecraft Middle School #1, #2, and #3: #1: Professor Gargoyle, #2: The Slither Sisters, #3: Teacher's Pest

      ~The Nitty Gritty~
      Giveaway is open to US ONLY! (Sorry Int. Readers)
      Must be 18 or older or have a parent's permission to enter
      Enter using the Rafflecopter below.
      Winner will be emailed and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
      Giveaway Ends: October 31, 2014

      a Rafflecopter giveaway


       Enter More Giveaways!

      Oct 13, 2014

      Blog Blitz: Guest Post w/ Giveaway! -- Zoe and the Demon Slayer by Neel Kay


      Eight facts about Worrock (the country in which Zoe + the Demon Slayer takes place. Well, for most part)

      1.   Worrock is actually in the same world as Bragimark and Niola from “The Witch of Luna Hill”-series. Worrock is the most southern of the three countries.
      2.   A snake is often depicted in Worrockan jewellery. It represents the Boncrup Snake that vowed to protect the country from outside intruders.
      3.   Worrock usually has a very mild climate, except for the rather harsh winters - but on the plus side: they are fairly short.
      4.   The original people of Worrock are the Kraquars of which Matis is one.
      5.   Worrock is also home of a Niolan line of witches called Isilins - they came to Worrock many years ago. Now, there is only one Isilin left in Worrock, though.
      6.   Worrock is a popular place to settle down, not least because of the mild climate and short winters, but also because it is known as a peaceful country – except of course when demons wander through an interdimensional portal that leads straight to Worrock.
      7.   The outer city of Eldgaard is inspired by houses and villages in 19th century Denmark, whereas the village of Neffe is mostly inspired by Viking houses.
      8.   If you ever did travel to Worrock, you’d probably think you had travelled about 8-900 years back in time. Or possibly that you’d lost your mind.


      About the Book

      Zoe and the Demon Slayer by Neel Kay
      Publication date: October 6th 2014
      Genres: Fantasy, New Adult
      Twenty-four year old book worm and blogger Zoe Graves was looking forward to the fourth and final instalment of her favourite book saga – The Augustin Chronicles. The evening was meant to be spent in line at the local bookstore with hundreds of other fans, getting the book, maybe even meeting the author, and ultimately spending the night with the dreamiest hero of them all, Lucien de Forest and the love of his life Noomi Augustin.

      But somewhere someone thought otherwise.
      Confused and hurt after a mugging by the bookstore, Zoe is somehow transported to another world, and suddenly finds herself in a snow-covered landscape witnessing a bloody fight far away from the English summer, and is left to rely on the help from the rather reluctant Matis, who just happen to be out to kill none other than Zoe’s favourite hero and heroine, Lucien and Noomi.
      Although convinced she might be in some sort of limbo or maybe even in a coma, Zoe figures that her role in the story is to prevent Matis from killing her all-time favourite fictional couple.
      http://www.amazon.com/Zoe-Demon-Slayer-Neel-Kay-ebook/dp/B00O6Z4LGY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412868896&sr=8-1&keywords=Zoe+the+Demon+Slayer  B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/zoe-the-demon-slayer-neel-kay/1120495189?ean=2940046215069https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21526374-zoe-and-the-demon-slayer?ac=1
       Other Purchase Links:
       Kobo


      A pair of book earrings 
      a Rafflecopter giveaway


      About the Author
      Introvert, creative, awkward.

      Neel Kay lives with her husband and two kids in rural surroundings in the south of Denmark, not far from the German border. She’s a trained milliner, studied English at university, and now works a day job as a web editor. But she’s been writing always.

      Love coffee, scarves and sea views. Oh, and butt-kicking heroines who know how to swing a sword and aren’t afraid to get a little dirty.


      Find the Author