Cover2CoverBlog

Dec 6, 2015

Building the Book Pile #164

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

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people!

Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful week gearing up to the holidays :). This past week I got a few books read but really have been watching a lot of YouTube and playing games online... need to get out of the reading slump though.

I also baked about 10 dozen cookies over the weekend :P nom nom so that was fun and the people on my street FINALLY started putting up lights. I love it!

What's Happening?!

How was your week ? Let me know in the comments.

Giveaways on Cover2CoverBlog!

Coming up on the Blog...

Movie Monday: Water for Elephants

Early Reader Review: Spending the Holidays with People I want to Punch in the Throat by Jen Mann (Adult)

Waiting on Wednesday

Cover Reveal: Black Diamond by Ali Dean (YA)

Blogger Pet Profiles!!!: Cooper (the cat)

Books Received this Week

The Coopikpedia by Stacy Adimando - Won from Quirkbooks Quirksgiving

Flunked by Jen Calonita - From Netgalley and Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for review

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!

Dec 4, 2015

Discussion Day: Books You Will Shun Me for Not Reading

Today is a Discussion Day here at Cover2CoverBlog. I am trying to start these a little more since they seem fun :) I hope you enjoy and if you have any topic suggestions let me know in the comments.

Today's Topic

Books You Will Shun Me for Not Reading
(YA Books)

This has happened to all of us right? - You read LOADS of books but upon talking with others sometimes there is that one that you have no interest in but everyone LOVES.... yea well, here are the books that I have NOT read, some I don't plan on reading EVER! Shun away!!!!

The Fault in our Stars by John Green

It sounds sad, I cry a lot anyway... I have had people in my likfe with Cancer...I don't want to cry more. I haven't even seen the movie. Nope, nope, lots of nope.

The Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I have not gotten to this one yet, YES, I have heard they are wonderful. YES, I have heard that everything she write is wonderful... I will get there someday. Hopefully.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Ok you don't have to totally freak out, I have read Cinder and I really enjoyed it, BUT I don't think I will be reading the rest of the series... there are so many others I REALLY want to read.

The Iron Fey Series but Julie Kagawa

No worries fellow readers - I shun my self for this one! I really want to read these but I am SO far behind. I will read these eventually - no clue when though, so continue to shun.

Everyday by David Levithan

I hear wonderful things about this one too but for some reason ... I don't really care. I know that sounds HORRIBLE, I'm sorry. But I have no desire to read this one :/

This is only a small sampling of books I get shunned for...there are so many others.

Have you read these books? What do you think? Are you shunning me?! - I'm OK with it :)
Let me know in the comments.

Dec 3, 2015

Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway! - Zimmah Chronicles by Scott King

Welcome to my tour stop for the Zimmah Chronicles by Scott King! This is a middle grade fantasy series. The tour runs December 1-11with reviews, interviews, guest posts and excerpts. Check out the tour page for the full schedule.

Cupcakes vs. Brownies

Zimmah the djinn isn't evil. He simply thinks the world would be more fun if everything was made of desserts. So when ten-year-old Karim Jacobs makes a wish to fix his parent's marriage it's not Zimmah's fault that he twists the wish. He couldn't help himself. Candypunk airships and cupcake castles are cool! Of course Karim isn't happy about his wish going astray, specially when running into fantastical creatures like gummy-grizzly-bears and rock candy beasts; and although he desperately wants to go home, he finds himself in the middle of a war between the Cupcake Kingdom and Brownie Kingdom. With his parents lives in danger, its up to him to stop Zimmah and restore the world to normal.

Amazon | Goodreads | iTunes | Kobo

I had the pleasure of reading the first book in this series and it was a very well developed world that sucked me in and make me hungry. Karim finds himself trapped in a world where everything is sweets and the Cupcake King and Brownie Queen are dueling it out over differences of opinion in foods. He must find the djinn who created the problem and put the world back as it was and hopefully no one dies in the process.

I really like the world in this book, King created a fantastical world of cake, ice cream, and candy and made it seem like that world was real. There was a lot of detail but at the same time enough left to the imagination to let the reader form a picture for him/herself. The characters were interesting and there were a few 'then'/ 'now' transitions that really brought everything together and made you understand the plot better. The vivid pictures everything formed were wonderful and I think middle grade readers will very much enjoy this one - although having some candy on hand might be wise. With all the descriptions of sweet, my mouth was watering the whole time.

Such a fun read and I think most MG readers would agree.

Book Trailer

Other books in the series...

Mermaids vs. Unicorns

Zimmah the wicked djinn thought he was so smart. He thought nothing could

stop him, let alone a mere child. That was until he met Whitney, a devilish girl who used his own powers against him. A wish gone wrong sends Zimmah, Whitney, and Karim to The Otherworld, a magical land where Mermaids and Unicorns are caught in an epic war. All Whitney wants is to save her sick mother, all Karim wants is to get home, and all Zimmah wants is revenge on the children who have tricked him.

Amazon | Goodreads | iTunes | Kobo

***

Genie vs. Djinn

The chaotic magic of hundreds of djinn are destroying San Francisco. Dinosaurs. Butterfly volcanos. Buildings made of jello– If someone can wish it, it’s happening. Unable to access his own powers, Zimmah the former djinn, must rely on Karim and Whitney’s help.

Standing in their way is Alkema, Zimmah’s murderous father, an almost omnipotent ifrit who enjoys watching the suffering of others. If not stopped he will not only destroy the city, but plunge the entire world into total madness.

Amazon | Goodreads

***

About the Author

Scott King is a writer and photographer. He was born in Washington D.C. and raised in Ocean City, Maryland. He received his undergraduate degree in film from Towson University, and his M.F.A. in film from American University.

“DAD! A Documentary Graphic Novel,” King’s first book was published in Fall ’09. He is also the creator and writer of “Holiday Wars” and he is known for his board game photography, specifically his annual calendar that highlights tabletop and hobby games.

Find the Author

Website | Twitter | Facebook

$25 Amazon gift card (INT)
Ends December 16th
Prizing is provided by the author, must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 17. Void where prohibited by law.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

Dec 2, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: Passenger by Alexandra Braken

Passenger by Alexandra Braken
Series: Passenger #1
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: January 5, 2016

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25241871-warren-the-13th-and-the-all-seeing-eye?ac=1

Goodreads Synopsis:

passage, n.
i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
ii. A journey by water; a voyage.
iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them— whether she wants to or not.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home . . . forever

Why I Am Waiting:
Fun fact: I played the violin for a few years when I was younger - I loved it. I stopped playing because they made me choose between art and music in high school - horrible people :/ I wish I still played. I am excited for this book because of the violinist element but also all this adventure sounds amazing!

Dec 1, 2015

Early Reader Review: A Fairy Extraordinary Christmas Story by A.J. York

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

A Fairy Extraordinary Christmas Story by A.J. York
Publisher: Nove Sky Books
Publication Date: December 1, 2015

Format: ebook

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis:

Upstairs in the Anderson’s attic there is chatter coming from the Christmas, Easter and Halloween boxes. Someone new has arrived. Tallulah the Christmas Fairy wakes to find herself attached to the top of a tree. She soon makes friends and has a magical first Christmas. Once the festivities are over, Tallulah finds herself in the attic with the other decorations from Easter and Halloween. Each year they watch the seasons change as they wait excitedly for their turn to go downstairs. Until one day new boxes appear and then the unthinkable happens. A Fairy Extraordinary Christmas Story is a magical and uplifting tale for the whole family.

Review:
A Fairy Extraordinary Christmas Story is a magical tale about holiday decorations come to life and how they experience the holidays. The book was very short but I think young readers will really enjoy it.

The story itself is whimsical and creative and I have always loved the idea of toys coming to life, so why not decorations? This was a creative adaptation to a commonly told tale and it was adorable. York does a great job weaving the holidays together and the decorations all seem so cute and fun.

Although it is short the story was a wonderful one about being together and celebrating. I think that any parent would agree it is a wonderful Christmas story to add to the collection.

Other Books by A.J. York

Delilah Dusticle #1 (MG)

Delilah Dusticle's Transylvanian Adventure (Delilah Dusticle #2) (MG)
Eliza Bluebell #1 (MG)

Happy Holidays from Cover2CoverBlog

Happy December!

This year has flown by and we are now in the last month of 2015. December is full of holidays and I hope that you have a wonderful month of spending time with loved ones and celebrating.

Happy Holidays from Steph @ Cover2CoverBlog and Rolo

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