May 18, 2013 · 10:39 am

Stacking the Shelves (29)

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Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and is a great way to share your book haul with other bloggers and readers! I had originally intended to also link up to In My Mailbox over at The Mod Podge Bookshelf as well, but I can’t figure out whether it’s happening or not. Does anyone know? In any case, here’s what I received during the past two weeks (click on the book cover to go to Goodreads):

For Review from NetGalley & Edelweiss:

RelicPlaying Tylerghost TimeBuzz Books

Relic (Book of Eva #1) by Heather Terrell. Release date: October 29 2013 (Soho Teen).  I’ve heard this has a Hunger Games-type plot, but although it sounds similar in the description, I love that the characters train to go out and find artifacts from a dead civilization.

Playing Tyler by T. L. Costa. Release date: July 2 2013 (Strange Chemistry). I adore Strange Chemistry, which is the YA imprint of Angry Robot (whom I adore as well!) I can’t tell from reading the summary whether or not this is a thriller or science fiction (or both!), but I don’t care. It sounds amazing!

Ghost Time by Courtney Eldridge. Release date: June 11 2013 (Amazon Children’s Publishing).  Is there a ghost in this story or not? I’m not sure, but I love this beautiful cover that looks like it’s been washed with water colors.

Buzz Books 2013. Publishers Lunch. Now available as a “Read Now” download on NetGalley. This sampler of titles that will be highlighted at BEA this year is a good way to read excerpts from forty Fall and Winter titles. There’s a little bit of everything, including adult fiction, non-fiction, YA, and debut fiction. I’m not familiar with all the titles and authors, so I’m anxious to try them out. In most cases, there is a link to NetGalley to request the complete book if you like what you read. Available to anyone with a NetGalley account.

Thanks so much to Soho Teen, Amazon Children’s Publishing & Strange Chemistry!

Received for Review (From authors or publishers):

The Binding StoneGlitter & Mayhem

The Binding Stone by Lisa Gail Green. Now Available from Fuzzbomb Publications. I’ve seen this book floating around the bloggosphere and have heard really good things about it. When Lisa emailed me to see if I’d like to review it, I said YES despite my ever-growing TBR pile (which I moan about here.) I hope to schedule this for a June review. Thanks Lisa!

Glitter & Mayhem by various contributors. Release date: September 1 2013 (Apex Book Company). OMG, I just noticed Amber Bensen’s name on the cover!! I’m having Buffy flashbacks…if you don’t know who Amber Bensen is, then you obviously aren’t a Buffy fan. After Buffy she started writing, and she’s written several books which I haven’t had time to read. But she’s written the introduction to this crazy collection of short stories from Apex, one of my new favorite small publishers. I’ll be reviewing several more titles from Apex soon, thanks to my pal Lesley!

Won:

A Turn of Light

A Turn of Light by Julie E. Czerneda. I won this from Publishing Crawl, thanks so much Biljana! This is a seriously epic read. It’s quite long at over 850 pages. But it sounds amazing and has received some great reviews.

Signed Books:

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Gayle Forman visited Burbank High School recently, and although I was busy and couldn’t make the event, my librarian friend Alicia got a signed copy of Just One Day for me. Thanks Alicia!! I can’t believe I still haven’t read this…

I recently attended a launch party event for Geddy’s Moon, an indie book that I will be reviewing next month. I bought an extra copy to give away, so stay tuned for that!

That’s it for me…what’s on your shelves this week?

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May 17, 2013 · 4:36 pm

Dear Authors & Publishers: I’m Reading As Fast As I Can!

pile of booksIt’s not a secret that book bloggers are also book hoarders. We blithely add books to our TBR piles on a daily basis, often without consulting the Big Picture, which is this: How many promises have we already made to authors and publishers, and will we even be able to get to those new books in that ever-expanding pile? No matter how many systems we’ve devised to stay on track—spreadsheets, Google calendars, white boards—there comes a time when your system fails, and you find yourself buried under a huge and (metaphorically) heavy pile of obligations, clawing blindly to get out.

In the “old” days, before blogging, this wasn’t a problem for me. Surrounding myself with books (and we’re also talking life before Nook or Kindle) was my favorite part of being me. Even if I knew in my heart that I might never get around to reading a particular book, it made me happy just to know that it was sitting there waiting for me, just in case. Some people need to surround themselves with nature, others need friends and family to make them feel complete, but for me, it’s always been books. Even though I now have a family of my own, whom I love dearly, I still feel as if my books are my first children and I can’t imagine life without them. And back before blogging, my books never made me feel guilty for letting them languish in piles and on shelves.

Life’s a bit different now, now that I’m making friends with authors and publicists. (I have a terrible time saying “no,” although I am getting better at it.) They kindly ask me to read and review their book. I’m flattered and say “yes.” And this happens again, and again, and again. Until I realize I may have made a teeny mistake. I have said yes to twenty books when I only have time to read ten (as an example). I now feel the need to freeze time so that I can read those twenty books in the same time frame that I can realistically read only ten.

I know bloggers who are able to read 200-300 books a year (or more!) and I can only think that they are either a) speed-readers; b) skimming through the books; c) don’t ever go to sleep; or d) have nothing else to do but read. (And please, if you are one of these talented bloggers, I’d love to know your secret!!) I am none of these things. I love to sleep and I need a full eight hours every night. I have two teenaged children, two dogs, a husband and a house, all of which require attention and maintenance. I’m heavily involved in the PTA and my daughter’s show choir. And I read every word in every book I pick up. Maybe this isn’t a good quality for a book review blogger, but there you have it.

So let’s break it down, shall we? Here’s what it takes for me to read a book and post a review on this blog:

1. Read the Book. Like I just said, I am not a fast reader. Nor am I a slow reader! I’d say I read books at an average speed. (One of these days I may actually time myself to see how long it takes me, but for this post I’m going to guess.) For your average 350 page book, let’s just say it takes about six to eight hours to read. Keep in mind those are not six to eight consecutive hours. If that were the case, I could read a book every day and be one of those superstar bloggers! It takes me about three days to finish a book, sometimes two if the book is really good. And if I’m not enjoying it, it takes longer because I have to put it down and cleanse my palate before I can pick it up again. (Here’s another thing about me: I always finish everything I start, so I’m one of those bloggers that does not have a DNF pile.) If I’m reading a physical copy, I often have to stop reading and take notes, which is important when I go to write my review. This note-taking could add another hour to the total reading time. (It’s much easier to take notes with a Kindle because you can just highlight things as you go, and it really doesn’t add much time.)

2. Write the Review.  I do not always sit down immediately after finishing a book to write the review. I wish I could be that disciplined, but I’m not. Sometimes I wait a few days before I sit down to write. I’m always worried about making mistakes in my reviews—getting the character names wrong, misinterpreting plot points or character motivations, for example—so I translate my notes into a Word document before I even begin writing the review. As I’m writing, I refer to this document, which I open alongside my review doc.  Each time I write a review I try to make it as thoughtful and complete as possible. I treat it as an assignment, as if I were being graded on it. I try to make my reviews sound professional, probably because I’ve been reading reviews from Publishers Weekly for so many years, and their review style just sticks in my head as I’m writing. It takes me about one to two hours to write a review that I’m happy with. I don’t worry too much about the length of the review, as long as I’ve said everything I want to. My reviews average about 700-1,000 words each.

3. Create the Post. This is the fun part! I do love creating posts. I’m a very visual person, so the way the post looks is important to me. Using the right sized image in the correct position, making sure my text is justified, and creating a well-balanced layout sometimes takes a little trial and error. Linking up images and phrases takes some time, too. I always have links for Goodreads and usually Amazon, and I try to put author links in the post as well.  After I copy and paste my review into the post, I check it over several times and edit it, looking for words I can cut and checking to make sure the review flows and has a beginning, middle and end. I run the spell check function and review everything one final time just to check for errors, missing words, or misspelled book titles or author names (if you get anything right in a post, those two things are the most important!) I know I’m not perfect, but I try to be! The last thing I do is make sure to add the author’s and publisher’s Twitter handles to my “publicize” area, that way they’ll (hopefully) get the news that I’ve reviewed their book. Creating the post often takes another hour.

I also want to point out that I run this blog all by myself. I don’t have any co-reviewers, like many bloggers do, so everything that appears here is mine alone.

If we add up the times for all these steps, it takes me approximately eight to eleven hours to read, write and post a book review. And that’s if things are going smoothly. Throw in writer’s block, internet connection problems and everyday interruptions, and you can see how it’s nearly impossible to complete a book review post in one day.

So I guess there are easier ways to be a blogger. I could blog about my kids or my dogs. I could take photos of weird stuff and post about those. I could write personal essays about deep subjects. But I chose something harder, and I’m not the only one. I chose to do what I really love, and that’s reading and reviewing books. It may take a little longer than talking about how my dog Otis sometimes says “mama,” but I think it’s pretty rewarding. Will I try to take on less and catch up with the books I’ve already committed to? I’ll try for sure, but I know I’ll never stop adding books to my pile. Hang in there, authors and publishers! Your book is next:)

What do you think? How long does it take you to read and review a book? Are you one of those lucky bloggers who can read a lot faster than I can? I’d love to hear your opinion:)

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May 16, 2013 · 5:28 am

Release Event: THE FORGOTTEN ONES by Laura Howard

I’m very happy to be participating in the release event for Laura Howard’s new book. I will be on one of her blog tours next month, and I’m excited to read this book because I keep hearing great things about it. Keep reading, because not only can you read an excerpt, but I have an international giveaway at the end for an e-book of The Forgotten Ones!

The Forgotten Ones

Title: The Forgotten Ones

Author: Laura Howard

Release date: May 15, 2013

Genre: Paranormal

Age Group: New Adult

Release event organized by: AToMR Tours

Allison O’Malley just graduated from college. Her life’s plan is to get a job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She doesn’t have room for friends or even Ethan, who clearly wants more.

When Allison’s long-lost father shows up, he claims he can bring her mother back from the dark place her mind has sent her. He reveals legends of a race of people long forgotten, the Tuatha de Danaan, along with the truth about why he abandoned her mother.

**You can buy The Forgotten Ones for 99 cents at Amazon until May 19th!! Click here to purchase now!

About the Author

Laura Howard Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her  obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.

Find the author: Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Read an exclusive excerpt from The Forgotten Ones:

I caught a glimpse of my mother staring out the den window. She held her violin loosely under her chin, and the bow dangled from her fingertips. Her jaw was slack, her eyes locked on something in the trees beyond me. I knew that haunted expression. I froze.

I swallowed hard as her eyes shifted to me. The violin fell from her chin, and I could see her bottom lip trembling.

I should have been used to that reaction from her when she saw me during an episode. It happened every time. But I wasn’t.

I flew into the house as fast as my feet would carry me. The screen door crashed behind me as I came to a halt outside the den. My mother clutched fistfuls of her blonde hair, garbled words spilling from her lips.

“I have to. I have to go out there,” she said. “He’s waiting for me.”

She stood in the semi-darkness, mumbling, the only other sound the hum of the ceiling fan. I clung to the doorjamb as I watched my grandmother approach carefully. She placed her hands on my mother’s shoulders, and on contact my mother’s body stopped quaking. Gram crooned, rocking her back and forth, as she pulled her into her arms and led her away from the window.

My stomach tightened, and I backed away to leave them alone. If she saw me again, who knew what would happen.

I cringed as the floor creaked beneath me, and she jerked her head in my direction. Her eyes widened when she saw me, and the shaking began again. Breaking away from my grandmother, she stumbled backward toward the window. She raked her fingers down her face and hair as she moaned. “Liam…” Tears streamed down her cheeks, causing thick strands of hair to stick to her face.

I entered the room slowly, desperate not to step on another squeaky floorboard. Her green eyes burned into mine, and I locked my eyes on hers. No matter how many times she fought my attempts to soothe her, I had to keep trying. She was my mom.

And now for the giveaway! Please fill out the form below to win an e-book copy of The Forgotten Ones. One International winner will receive either an epub or mobi copy (for Nook or Kindle) only. (PDF copies not available). If you do not own a Kindle, you can download a free ap and read the book on your computer. You can win extra entries for completing various tasks! Giveaway ends Friday, May 24 at midnight, Pacific Standard Time. Good luck!

Big thanks to AToMR Tours for sponsoring this release event!

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May 15, 2013 · 4:33 pm

PLOW THE BONES by Douglas F. Warrick – Review

Plow the Bones 3D

Plow the Bones by Douglas F. Warrick

Genre: Adult Speculative/Horror Short Stories

Publisher: Apex Book Company

Release date: May 3 2013

Source: e-ARC from publisher

Pages: 228

four and a half

In a word:  hallucinatory, disturbing & unsettling stories, carefully crafted with glimmers of humanity.

They have crafted sharp teeth for themselves from the tiny crystal bones of their dead and mounted them in their mouths. Was it painful? You’re goddamn right it was! Setting crystal spines into their soft tiny moth-gums, drawing fountains of their own blood, God, how they screamed and cried.

I’ve read some unusual short story collections this year (Vampires in the Lemon Grove, Revenge, and The Miniature Wife), but Plow the Bones is almost in a category by itself. I’ll admit I had to read this book in small doses.  Each story by itself triggered goose bumps and an odd feeling of unease, the sort of unease that’s hard to explain. And so I drank this collection in small sips, letting each story settle in my stomach before going back for more. Like a bitter taste that nonetheless grows on you, the stories in this collection as a whole make up an impressive and award-worthy assemblage of monsters, damaged people, hidden rooms, and inanimate objects come to life. Here are some of my favorites:

Her Father’s Collection

An unusual ghost story about a man afraid of losing his beloved daughter, and so he devises a way to keep her with him forever, even after death. I found this story to be very sad but also a bit menacing.

The Itaewon Eschatology Show

Another story with an overall mood of sadness, this is also a good example of the unwieldy titles that Warrick seems to be fond of. I got a Clive Barker vibe from this story, about two men who perform as night clowns in Korea. The narrator, who is also involved with a prostitute, seems to be stuck between two different lives. I looked for a deeper meaning in this story but came up empty-handed. It made me wonder if I missed something, or if the author simply intended the bizarre quality of the story to be simply that: random events brought together for a short time on a piece of paper.

Come to My Arms, My Beamish Boy

One of my favorites, this is the story of a man with Alzheimer’s that is desperately searching for a lost memory of his wedding day. With the help of a ghostly visitor, he gets his memory back, but at a cost. A very affecting and poignant story about life, death, and memory.

Ballad of a Hot Air Balloon-Headed Girl

The title says it all: it’s the story of a girl who is certain her head is about to catch on fire, and so she crafts a hot air balloon envelope and attaches it to her shoulders, so she’ll be ready when it happens. When the narrator falls in love with her, he devises a way to reunite with her after she inevitably floats away.

And she kissed me. Our tongues touched, and I tasted smoke. Her mouth was hot like a stone beneath the sun and she tasted red and brown and old.

A strange but lovely story that gave me chills.

Stickhead (or…In the Dark, in the Wet, We are Collected)

Another head-scratch-inducing title, this story is pure horror. Not only does it contain a monster, like so many of Warrick’s stories, but it becomes terrifying because of the choices the human characters make.

I Inhale the City, The City Exhales Me

A manga artist’s drawings come to life as she draws, or are the drawings controlling her? It’s sometimes hard to tell in this story about the symbiotic relationship between an artist and her creations, but I quite enjoyed the mood and flavor of this odd tale.

Across the Dead Station Desert, Television Girl

It’s dirty in the between-world, a place made of screams, and she is always falling.

The longest story of the bunch, this was my favorite and probably the one with the most traditional narrative style. A company in a futuristic society has created the ultimate sex toy, Television Girl, a completely responsive Artificial Intelligence computer program that you can access through your TV screen. But Television Girl has found a between-world, a place that is neither her holding pen when she isn’t being used (the Shelter) or the bedroom where she is called upon to have sex. In the Dead Station Desert she discovers that she may be able to change her fate. I loved the hopefulness of this tale, and I adored Television Girl. It was a perfect ending to this unique and peculiar collection.

Some of the stories just didn’t work for me, but overall I was very impressed with the Warrick’s mind-bending vision and his skillfully written prose. If you are drawn to stories that explore the darker parts of human existence, Plow the Bones should not be missed. This first book in the Apex Voices series, created to shine a light on little-known writers of high quality genre fiction, is a promising start to the series, and I look forward to reading more.

Many thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy. Quotes were taken from an uncorrected review copy and may differ from the finished version.

Purchase Plow the Bones * Add to Goodreads

Come back soon for my interview with Doug and a giveaway of Plow the Bones!

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· 3:00 am

Waiting on Wednesday (56) THE NIGHT ITSELF by Zoe Marriott

Waiting on Wednesday copy

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, and is a fun way to share the books you’re excited about with other bloggers and readers! There’s so much to get excited about in the world of books and publishing these days, so this is one of my favorite memes to participate in. This week I’m looking forward to:

The_Night_Itself_cover SmallThe Night Itself by Zoë Marriott. Release date: July 4 2013 (Walker Books). OK, I hate to be uninformed, but I know Walker is a UK publisher, and this is the UK publication date. I’ve done some searching to see if this book has a US release date yet, and I haven’t been able to find it. Nonetheless, I am still excited to read it, no matter when it comes out in the US!! (Perhaps the author can shed some light on this perplexing question??) Plus, gorgeous cover, right? Here’s what Goodreads says:

A breathtaking new urban fantasy trilogy from the critically acclaimed, award-winning author of The Swan Kingdom and Shadows on the Moon.

When fifteen year old Mio Yamato furtively sneaks the katana – an ancestral Japanese sword – out of its hiding place in her parent’s attic to help liven up her Christmas party costume, she has no idea of the darkness she is about to unleash on modern-day London, or the family secrets that she is going to uncover.

The paralysing paranoia that descends on her before she gets to her friend’s party is her first clue. The vivid and terrifying visions that nearly get her killed are a pretty good warning too.

The giant nine-tailed cat demon that comes after the sword and tries to rip her throat out? Overkill.

Seconds away from becoming kitty-food, Mio is saved by Shinobu, a mysterious warrior boy. But it’s already too late. Mio has ruptured the veil between the mortal realm and the Underworld, and now the gods and monsters of ancient Japan stalk the streets of London, searching for her and the sword.

With the help of her best friend Jack, a fox spirit named Hikaru – and the devoted protection of the betwitchingly familiar Shinobu – Mio attempts to discover the true nature of the sword and its connection to the Yamato family. Because if she doesn’t learn how to control the katana’s incredible powers, she’s in danger of being overwhelmed by them. And if she can’t keep the sword safe from the terrible creatures who want it for their own, she’ll lose not only her own life… but the love of a lifetime.

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I love that this book has Japanese elements to it, and I love that the protagonist’s friend Jack is a fox spirit! So all you UK bloggers, July 4th isn’t that far away, so you don’t have long to wait. As for the rest of us, I hope we get to read it sooner rather than later:)

What are you waiting on this week?

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May 14, 2013 · 1:00 am

1816 CANDLES by Amanda Brice – Cover Reveal

I’m happy to be participating in the cover reveal for 1816 Candles by Amanda Brice!

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Title: 1816 Candles

Author: Amanda Brice

Genre: Time Travel Romance

Age Group: Young Adult

Cover Designer: Keith Draws

Expected release date: September 2013

Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

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High school senior Lauren is attending a costume ball at Old Town Alexandria’s famous Gadsby’s Tavern. But when she gets bored by the repetitious historical dances, she goes off to explore in the building and something odd catches her eye.
Is it a woman?

When Lauren follows the mysterious person and picks up a snow globe in the room she’s led to, she somehow ends up in 1816, experiencing the actual events of the “Legend of the Female Stranger” she’s heard her whole life growing up. Now Lauren has to solve the mystery of this ghost, find her way back home…and deal with her own emotions when she falls in love with a guy who lived 200 years before her.

About the Author
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As a little girl, Amanda Brice dreamed of being either a ballerina or the author of a mystery series featuring a cool crime-solving chick named Nancy Flew, but her father urged her to “do something practical,” so she went to law school and spent her days writing briefs and pleadings instead of fiction.

But dance and writing have remained a part of her life. Amanda was a member of the ballroom dance team at Duke University, and continues this interest by her obsession with Dancing with the Stars, so it was only natural for her to set a teen mystery series at a dance school.

Amanda is the President of Washington Romance Writers, and is a two-time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart® Award. She blogs once a month or so with The Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood. She is also a popular conference presenter, speaking on basic copyright and trademark law for writers.

In her spare time, Amanda enjoys dancing, reading, cooking, traveling, and obsessing over whether Duke will beat Carolina in basketball. Go Devils!

Website | Facebook

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May 12, 2013 · 11:00 pm

RUNES by Ednah Walters – Book Trailer Launch + Giveaway!

Pictures2I’m very happy to be participating in the Book Trailer Launch for Runes by Ednah Walters! Keep reading for more information on the book, your first look at the trailer, and a cool giveaway! You can also purchase Runes for only 99 cents, for a limited time!

Runes (2)

Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s disappearance, her mother’s erratic behavior and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James—a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her.

Raine is drawn to Torin’s dark sexiness against her better judgment, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can’t stop thinking about him. Half the time, she’s not sure whether to fall into his arms or run.

Scared, she sets out to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth the more she uncovers something sinister about Torin. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only are she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life.

Purchase Runes: Amazon Paperback * Amazon Kindle US * Amazon Kindle UK * Amazon Kindle Canada * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords

About Ednah Walters:

EDNAH WALTERS grew up reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and dreaming of one day writing her own stories. She is a stay-at-home mother of five humans and two American short-hair cats (one of which has ADHD) and a husband. When she is not writing, she’s at the gym doing Zumba or doing things with her family, reading, traveling or online chatting with fans.

Ednah is the author of The Guardian Legacy series, a YA fantasy series about children of the fallen angels, who fight demons and protect mankind. AWAKENED, the prequel was released by Pill Hill Press in September 2010 with rave reviews. BETRAYED, book one in the series was released by her new publisher Spencer Hill Press in June 2012 and HUNTED, the third installment, will be released April 2013. She’s working on the next book in the series, FORGOTTEN.

Ednah also writes New Adult paranormal romance. RUNES is the first book in her new series. She is presently working on book 2, IMMORTALS.

Under the pseudonym E. B. Walters, Ednah writes contemporary romance. SLOW BURN, the first contemporary romance with suspense, was released in April 2011. It is the first book in the Fitzgerald family series. Since then she has published four more books in this series. She’s presently working on book six. You can visit her online at http://www.ednahwalters.com or http://www.ebwalters.com.

Contact Ednah:  Website * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

What reviewers are saying:

HOLY RUNES!I really enjoyed this story especially Torin *swoon*. Ednah did a wonderful job on Runes! It is a must read for fans of YA books!…Breanna-http://two-tall-tales.blogspot.com/

Wow! I’ve got to start by saying that it takes something original and excellent to surprise me, and this book did just that! I found myself about 75% of the way through the book with my mouth hanging open… Carrie Williams (Goodreads)

Oh HOLY COW! This book was a mind-blowing surprise! I loved the way it turned out and I am literally going crazy over the ending. I was not expecting it to turn out the way it did….Maida.  http://loveaffairwithabookreviews.blogspot.ca/

And now for the giveaway! Two winners will receive a t-shirt, pen and a signed copy of Runes! Simply click the Rafflecopter button below to enter. Giveaway is open to U.S. only.

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· 8:33 am

Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop! Win a Three-Pack of Middle Grade ARCs

Children's Book Week HopWelcome to my stop on the Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop! To learn more about Children’s Book Week, click here. This hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer, Kid Lit Frenzy & Mymcbooks. Over 100 blogs are participating in this hop, and each one is giving away something different. Check out the link below to visit each blog! I’m celebrating middle grade novels today, and I’m  giving one U.S. winner all three ARCs shown below (click on the images to go to Goodreads):

WishGod and WarriorsHocus Pocus Hotel

Wish by Beth Bracken & Kay Fraser. Recommended for ages 10-14. This book has incredibly lovely artwork throughout!

Gods and Warriors by Michelle Paver. Recommended for ages 10+. Like Percy Jackson? Then this book is for you!

The Return of Abracadabra (Hocus Pocus Hotel Book 2) by Michael Dahl. This is for a younger audience, recommended for ages 9-12.

To enter, please click on the Rafflecopter button below. Good luck!

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And don’t forget to check out the other blogs that are participating in this hop:

Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop Participants

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May 10, 2013 · 4:09 pm

Link Salad (11)

Link Salad button copyWelcome to another Link Salad! This week I should call this “Video Salad,” since most of my links are videos…It’s quite the mixed bag, so sit back and get ready for a little entertainment…

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Ray HarryhauserRay Harryhausen, the pioneer of stop-motion animation, has died at the age of 92. The Fire Wire has a nice story about him, as well as a film clip of one of his more famous movies, Jason and the Argonauts. This 1963 film may seem dated set against today’s technology, but back then it was considered cutting edge!

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under the domeStephen King’s massive door-stopper Under the Dome is soon to be a television show. Tor.com explains why this new trailer could be a prequel for Battlestar Galactica! My only problem with turning this into a TV show is that if you’ve read the book and you know exactly what the dome is, what’s the point in reliving it all over again? Oh well, millions will watch, I’m sure. Check out the trailer here.

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Spock ActorsOld and new Star Trek Spock actors, Leonard Nimoy and Zachary Quinto, are pretty funny in this ad for Audi, via The Fire Wire. That’s all I’m going to say, just click here to watch!

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The Shining GirlsLauren Beukes’ latest novel The Shining Girls hits shelves next month, and it’s on my “to read” list for sure. It’s the story of a time-travelling serial killer! Entertainment Weekly‘s Shelf Life has the new trailer, and boy is it creepy…Click here to watch now!

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Joe HillWired.com’s The Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy has an interview with author Joe Hill about being the son of Stephen King, among other juicy tidbits. His new novel NOS4A2 has just come out, as you may know, so he talks about that, too. I’ll admit I haven’t listened to it yet (it’s over two hours long), but I will soon.

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112263In yet more Stephen King news, his novel 11/22/63 has also been optioned for TV. Read the Fire Wire article here.

Did you miss last week’s Link Salad? Click here to read now!

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May 9, 2013 · 3:00 am

OXFORD SHADOWS by Marion Croslydon – Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway!

Oxford Shadows Tour BannerI’m thrilled to be participating in the Blog Tour for Oxford Shadows! On my stop today, I have my review for you to read, some information about both books in the series, and a fantastic giveaway!

Oxford front copyBOOK ONE: OXFORD WHISPERS

Paperback, 324 pages

Published October 8, 2012 by Carlux Publishing

ISBN13: 9780957282407

Series: The Oxford Trilogy #1

Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Madison LeBon is dead set against the dead.

Her fresh start at Oxford University is a brand new beginning. She finally has a chance to turn the page on her psychic powers and cumbersome voodoo heritage. Snakes, dolls, ghosts, and spirits: Farewell…

Not quite.

When the tragic lovers in a painting—the subject of her first history class—begin to haunt her, she must accept her gift before life imitates art. The lovers warn her against their own nemesis, a Puritan from the English Civil War. Unfortunately, said nemesis is now going all homicidal on Madison.

College becomes more complicated when she falls hard for Rupert Vance, a troubled aristocrat and descendant of one of the characters in the painting. With the spirit of a murderer after her, Madison realizes that her own first love may also be doomed…

© Teresa Yeh Photography Proofs

BOOK TWO: OXFORD SHADOWS

Paperback, 300 pages

Expected publication: May 6, 2013

Series: The Oxford Trilogy #2

Goodreads * Amazon

When death is a new beginning and love an old curse.

Still recovering from her last tango with the afterlife, Louisiana-born Madison LeBon struggles not only with her life as an Oxford postgrad but also with her budding love for Rupert Vance, aristocrat extraordinaire. One thing is certain, though: she won’t run away from her powers anymore. From now on she’ll face the music …

… literally!

When a sixteenth-century ghost makes an appearance during a classical concert Madison attends and threatens her boyfriend’s family, she sets out to explore the dark mysteries of the Tudors, even if that means confronting their most royal and homicidal character.

Her plans take an unexpected turn when her voodoo heritage catches up with her. With horror, she understands what her fate was always meant to be.

The question now is: Can Rupert be part of it?

My Review:

four stars

In a word: A second book that is better than the first, gothically romantic, a ghostly mystery, with a creepy voodoo element.

Sometimes second books in a series fall flat or become repetitive, but Oxford Shadows was even better than Oxford Whispers, in my opinion. Maybe it’s because the characters were so well developed or because I enjoyed the ghostly storyline more this time around. But whatever the reason, Croslydon’s Oxford Trilogy is one you shouldn’t miss if you love New Adult Paranormal Romance.

The events at the end of Oxford Whispers have been resolved, and we find Madison and Rupert in a blissful state now that they are officially dating. But that bliss does not last long. Croslydon jumps right into the action on page one, as Madison sees a ghost while attending a concert at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford. The ghost, who seems to be hovering over Rupert’s stepmother Camilla, tells Madison that Camilla and her unborn baby will die. This sets Madison on a course to find out who the ghost is and to prevent him from carrying through with his horrible threat.

Before long and after several more visions and ghostly encounters, Madison connects the ghost to Henry the VIII and a young girl named Liliana who supposedly knew him in his younger days before he became king. After Camilla has a couple of suspicious accidents, the rest of the story involves Madison and Rupert trying to figure out why Camilla is being targeted and what they can do to stop it.

Oxford Shadows brings back some characters from book one and also introduces some new ones. An attractive man named Sam enters the picture and at first seems to be vying for Madison’s heart, and Madison is strangely drawn to him and his comforting and familiar Louisiana drawl. But is Sam telling Madison the truth about himself, and why he knows so much about her? It’s one of the ongoing mysteries that Croslydon has in store for the reader. I did enjoy Sam’s character, as he seems to be testing the relationship between Madison and Rupert. Rupert hates him on sight, and Sam brings out a jealous side of him that added some spice to his relationship with Madison. We also meet a not-as-likeable woman named Aurélie, one of Aunt Louise’s friends from Louisiana who is also involved in voodoo. Aurélie’s storyline doesn’t end with this story, however, and we’re sure to see more of her in the next book.

In Oxford Whispers we learned about Madison’s family roots in voodoo, and part of the story took place in her home town of Pierre Part. In book two, the voodoo storyline comes to Oxford. With the arrival of Madison’s Aunt Louise from Louisiana, Madison is thrust into a mysterious world of voodoo prayer and animal sacrifice, and Louise hints that she might be a powerful force in the world of voodoo.  I’ll have to admit this wasn’t my favorite part of the story. I felt the voodoo scenes were out-of-place and awkwardly integrated into the Oxford background, and with the ghostly Henry the VIII as the main focus, I could have done without the voodoo sections altogether.

What I did love was the way Croslydon puts in details of the past by using flashbacks. The story begins with a very creepy scene of a woman drowning, but doesn’t explain what it means. As the story progresses, the reader gets more and more clues about who this woman is and how she fits into the story of Camilla and her baby. I loved the way she used historical details about Henry and Anne Boleyn, but put her own spin on why Henry killed so many of his wives. The author also uses reincarnation to explain the connections between characters, and by the end my mouth was hanging open in astonishment at the inventive plot twists.

Another potential pitfall of second books is that the romance can fall flat. I applaud the author for keeping the relationship between Madison and Rupert fresh and interesting. Now that they are a couple, they are faced with different challenges, including introducing each other to their families, dealing with jealousy, and most difficult of all, Rupert accepting fully that Madison is not like other girls, and her ability to see ghosts is something he’s just going to have to accept if he wants to be with her.

The story has a very satisfying ending, but also sets things up for book three. Croslydon throws in a couple of surprises at the end, making us eager to read more of this well-written series. Many thanks to the author for supplying a review copy.

About the Author:

Marion CroslydonIn addition to being an author, I work as an entrepreneur, wife and mother-of-one but spend a good deal of time with books, DVDs and listening to my mp3 player; all for the sake of inspiration, of course.

My debut series, The Oxford Trilogy, has been a blast to write because I can indulge in my favorite types of music: Country and English rock.

My main goal as a writer is to make readers dream bigger and cause their hearts to beat a little faster.

Since my writing is all about sharing dreams and stories, I love connecting with fellow readers and authors.

Find Marion:

Twitter * Goodreads * Facebook * Blog

Click here to see the Tour Master Schedule List.

And now for the giveaway! First prize: signed copy of Oxford Shadows + Oxford University T-shirt! Second prize: signed copy of Oxford Shadows + $10 Amazon gift card! Plus three additional winners will receive an e-book of Oxford Shadows! Open Internationally. Simply click the Rafflecopter button below to enter:

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Big thanks to Leisha and AToMR Tours for hosting the Oxford Shadows Blog Tour!

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