Spring Blog Carnival Giveaway

This Spring Blog Carnival is hosted by Candace’s Blog, Reading Angel, Pure Imagination and The Book Swarm

Enter to win one of the following books:

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
Wuthering Bites by Sarah Gray

I will be getting two of these books signed within the next weekish, but because I'm feeling devilish I'm not telling which ones. The winner will find out after they pick the book if it's a signed copy. It's a fun game of chance! ;-)

And since this is my birthday week (Yay!), I decided to pick TWO winners. The 1^st place winner will get first choice.

·         Following is not required

·         Must be over 13 years old to enter

·         Must have a US shipping address

·         You have until Sunday, May 8^th at Midnight (est) to enter

·         The winners will be selected Monday, May 9^th using Random.org

·         I will email the winners and you will have 48 hours to respond to my email.

With all of that out of the way, all you have to do is leave a comment including your name and email address.

Good Luck!!

Check out all of the blogs below for more awesome carnival giveaways!!

A Taste Of Magic (Magic #1) by Tracy Madison

Goodreads Summary:

Today is Elizabeth Stevens’ birthday, and not only is it the one-year anniversary of her husband leaving her, it’s also the day her bakery is required to make a cake—for her ex’s next wedding. If there’s a bitter taste in her mouth, no one can blame her.

But today, Liz is about to receive a gift. Her Grandma Verda isn’t just wacky; she’s a little witchy. An ancient gypsy magic has been passed through her family bloodline for generations, and it’s Liz’s turn to be empowered. Henceforth, everything she bakes will have a dash of delight and a pinch of wishes-can-come-true. From her hunky policeman neighbor, to her gorgeous personal trainer, to her bum of an ex-husband, everyone Liz knows is going to taste her power. Revenge is sweet…and it’s only the first dish to be served.

My Review:

This is the first book of four in the Magic Series. It was a fun read that had me giggling here and there. Liz 'inherits' her family's gypsy magic on her birthday and through some rough trial and error she learns a lot about her family's heritage and even more about herself. Liz can be a bit clueless at times but overall I love the mixture of baking, magic, and romance; it's the perfect recipe for a good book! I will be adding the next three in the series to my 'to-read' list!

HOP - Movie Review

IMDB Summary:

E.B., the Easter Bunny's teenage son, heads to Hollywood, determined to become a drummer in a rock 'n' roll band. In LA, he's taken in by Fred after the out-of-work slacker hits E.B. with his car.

I went with a friend to see Hop this past weekend. Yes, I'm in my late 20's and I still love the occasional kids movie! Although, I don't think this is strictly a kids movie; I thought it was cute and funny! 

We went at an oddball time so the theatre wasn't very full, which was good. It was also interesting because there were parts where the adults laughed and different parts where the kids laughed. 

My husband lucked out of having to watch it in the theatre but that luck will run out when it comes out on DVD. ;-)  I think he will like it though! 

Deadly Heritage by Toni Leland

Goodreads Summary:

Somebody is stalking horse breeder Kellie Sutton, and the one person who can protect her is the man whose heart she broke 15 years ago.

A series of vicious attacks on Kellie’s champion Quarter Horses brings devastation to her ranch and former sweetheart Ed Campbell back into her life, only this time as the new local sheriff.

Mystery surrounds the wounds inflicted on the animals, then a sharp-eyed veterinarian confirms that someone is out to destroy Kellie and everything she loves.

My Review:

I have three of Toni Leland's novels on my bookshelf and I decided to read Deadly Heritage first. It’s considered equestrian fiction and I love horse movies so I was excited to try out a novel. This book is a mystery with a very strong, determined female protagonist which I loved. Kellie will do anything to protect her land and her horse business but what can you do when your livelihood and possibly your life are being threatened? Deadly Heritage has more twists and turns than you might think; it definitely keeps you on wondering what will happen next. I'm looking forward to reading the other two Leland novels I have!

The Apothecary by Samantha Jillian Bayarr

Summary from Smashwords.com:

When Claire Mayfield suddenly finds herself the new heir of a property that has lain vacant for over 100 years, she becomes leery of the rumors of the haunting from the three young children who were said to have been murdered there. As Claire explores the manor, she discovers her great uncle’s traveling medicine show from the 1800’s, and the clues that could solve the 100 year old murder-mystery.

My Review:

The book starts off with Clair struggling with her mother’s recent death as well as haunting dreams of Amelia. The plot starts to thicken as she learns of her mother’s secret last wishes.

Although my mom is far from the picture of good health, I’ve been fortunate and have not lost anyone close to me. I think this may have prevented me from fully identifying with Claire in the beginning. Even though I couldn’t identify with her loss, I have to admit that I loved her impulsiveness. I think most people may be the opposite of me and be able to relate to her loss and possibly not enjoy her impulsive nature.

I don’t want to reveal too much but this is a mystery as much as it's a ghost story. It’s not scary but it is a little spooky. I was reading on my galaxy tab this evening and in the middle of a ghostly part I realized it was dark and I didn’t have any lights on. Well, let’s just say I changed that pretty quick.

This book brought back memories of when I was a teenager. My family lived in a historic house that was said to be part of the underground railroad. My mom and other members of my family swear it was haunted. Even to this day my mom says that, along with other experiences, she saw a figure at the end of her bed one night. My only experience in that house was a touch lamp that would turn on by itself in the middle of the night. Faulty wiring? Ghosts? Who knows. I chose to not believe in ghosts yet not discount the possibility. In other words, if ghosts are out there I am much happier not knowing and not experiencing anything ‘otherworldly’.

I enjoyed this book and in the end I was attached to all of the characters. I also wonder if there will be another ghostly adventure in Claire’s future...

***This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for a honest review.

April 20, 1999 -- Columbine School Shootings

Jeff Bennington, author of Reunion, wrote a great post on remembering Columbine and other school shootings.

Check it out on his blog The Writing Bomb

I added my 3 cents on the issue in the comments of his post.

Random Crumb

Did you know that 7,500 trees are used for the Sunday edition of the New York Times each week?

Rock The Drop!!

I came across this today and even though it was last minute I decided to Rock the Drop!

This is from Readergirlz website, it explains Rock the Drop...

Readergirlz and Figment are going to ROCK THE DROP in honor of Support Teen Lit Day  Thursday, April 14th. We can’t wait! Here’s how you can get involved:

* Snag the banner at left, created by the uber-talented David Ostow (who blogs hilarious cartoons here), and add it to your website, linking back to this post to share the love, and proclaiming that you will indeed ROCK THE DROP next week!

* Print a copy of the bookplate below and insert it into a book (or 10!) that you'll drop on April 14th. Drop a book in a public spot (park bench, bus seat, restaurant counter?) and you’re done. Lucky finders will see that the book is part of ROCK THE DROP!

* Snap a photo of your drop and email readergirlz AT gmail DOT com with the pic -- we'll be posting lots of pictures of drops happening all over the world, and our friends at Figment will also be featuring the event!

My Drop:

A friend and I were walking at a large yet very busy park this evening and we were on the look out for a place to make the drop without being noticed. We finally found a mostly empty pavillion and left it on a table and quickly snuck away. The only problem is I was so preoccupied with my super stealth abilities that I completely forgot to take a picture of my drop, shame on me! Anyway, some lucky stranger will find a copy of Swoon by Nina Malkin and hopefully have a better day for it!

Drop Update:

I went back to the park today (4/15) out of curiousity and the book is still in the pavillion so I snapped a quick picture with my phone.

It's a beautiful day, so I'm sure it will get snatched up this evening!

Random Crumb

Today in history - in 1859 Charles Dickens' "A Tale Of Two Cities" was published

Wrecker by Dave Conifer

Goodreads Summary:

Jane Havelock is coping a day at a time in a bad marriage when her husband Steve hires simple-minded handyman Rob Manteo to work around the house. After overcoming her initial revulsion, Jane finds shelter in a growing friendship with Manteo, an enigma who seems to know more than he lets on. Struck by his unstable and morose nature, she digs into his past. But by the time she uncovers a horrible secret and realizes that it wasn't chance that brought Manteo into their world, it may be too late...

My Review:

This is one of those books you want to read in one sitting because you know something good is right around the corner. I, unfortunately, wasn't able to do that. I read half during my read-a-thon but I had to fit in the second half where I could. I was even tempted to read at red lights (I managed to resist though) because the action had started and it was so hard to put down!

Overall, it wasn't quite as much of a thriller as I expected but the story was interesting and unique enough that it didn't matter.

The Art Of Seducing A Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

Goodreads Summary:

Generations werewolves have been secretly residing in a secluded valley a stone’s throw from Grundy, Alaska. So when a snooping Outsider comes to Grundy to investigate rumors of lycanthropic shenanigans in the area, the valley’s pack alpha, Maggie Graham, resolves to chase him away, even if doing so takes a quick bite on the butt. What a pity that researcher Nick Thatcher turns out to be so drool-worthy, and that his kisses make Maggie want to sit up and beg. Maggie just can’t seem to convince Nick to leave . . . and even worse, she can’t convince herself to stay away from him. Cross-species dating is problem enough for a harried alpha female, but on top of that, a rival group of werewolves is trying to move into the valley. With interpack war threatening, Maggie can’t afford to be distracted. Combining romance and a career can be tough for anyone; for a werewolf in love with a human, it may be disastrous...

My Review:
Yet another light, fun series that I will highly recommend! This is the second book in the series, the first is How To Flirt With A Naked Werewolf (My Review of How to Flirt...) I have to say, I think I liked this book as much as if not more than the first book! Both are great books that will keep you up late reading...and may earn you some strange looks when you laugh out loud at certain parts. I know my husband looked at me like I had 2 heads, haha.

The only thing that could make this series better is another book ;-)

Nocturnereads Crazy Contest

There is an awesome contest going on over at Nocturne Romance Reads. They're giving away 21 books!! Check it out!

Strange Neighbors (Strange Neighbors #1) by Ashlyn Chase

Goodreads Summary:

He’s looking for peace, quiet, and a little romance...

There's never a dull moment when hunky all-star pitcher and shapeshifter Jason Falco invests in an old Boston brownstone apartment building full of supernatural creatures. But when Merry MacKenzie moves into the ground floor apartment, the playboy pitcher decides he might just be done playing the field...

A girl just wants to have fun...

Sexy Jason seems like the perfect fling, but newly independent nurse Merry's not sure she's ready to trust him with her heart...especially when the tabloids start trumpeting his playboy lifestyle.

Then pandemonium breaks loose and Merry and Jason will never get it together without a little help from the vampire who lives in the basement and the werewolf from upstairs...

My Review:

This is the first book in a series, the second is A Werewolf Upstairs (My Review of Werewolf Upstairs) I accidentally read these out of order so I knew how Strange Neighbors ended before I read it. I loved both books and even though I knew the ending it was great finding out how the story built up to that point. It's a great story and a light, fun read with lovable characters and a few laugh out loud moments!

Next in the series is The Vampire Next Door which I am really looking forward to! The release date is August 1, 2011.

Read-a-Thon

24 Hour Read-a-Thon is officially OVER!! Congrats to all of the blogger/read-a-thon'ers who stuck in there!

I read two and a half books and 945 pages. Blogging was a distraction and took away from reading time but it was worth it...I had a ton of fun!

And a big thank you to everyone who commented to cheer me on or just check in...it was very much appreciated!!

Read-a-Thon Home Stretch

One hour to go...here's my end of event survey

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?

Hour 20

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?

Any of the three I read today (listed in a below answer)

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

More last quarter cheerleaders

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?

I think everything worked well

5. How many books did you read?

2.5

6. What were the names of the books you read?

The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper
A Werewolf in Manhattan by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Wrecker by Dave Conifer

7. Which book did you enjoy most?

Since I'm only half through Wrecker it can't be in the running so I will say the Molly Harper book

8. Which did you enjoy least?

I liked them all

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?

N/A

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

I will mostly participate in more read-a-thons as a reader.

Read-a-Thon Potential Disaster

I was having problems staying awake from 5:30am-6:15am but thankfully I didn't fall asleep! That would have been horrible to make it 22 hours and then fall asleep!!

Anyway, after a little pacing in the kitchen, a brownie, and some milk I am as good as new. Lets hope it lasts until 8am...especially since I ate the last brownie!!

To all my fellow read-a-thon'ers, hang in there! We're so close, I can almost smell the victory!!

Read-a-Thon Update

I haven't posted for a while, but I'm still here chugging along. Surprisingly I haven't even been tempted to nap which is hard to believe since I've been at it for 20 hours! I think my blogging breaks have really helped pass the time!

Since my last update I have finished my second book and I'm 66 pages into my third book.

I finished A Werewolf in Manhattan by Vicki Lewis Thompson, this is definitely a 4 star book that I will be recommending. My first read-a-thon book (The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf) was a lighter read than this one so it felt like this one took longer. Or it could just be because I was distracted by blogging earlier? Who knows. Anyway I really enjoyed both reads!

I started Wrecker by Dave Conifer...I know there's some huge twist coming but I don't know what it is or when it's coming....that's enough to keep me wanting more!!

Here's hoping my fellow bloggers/read-a-thoners are fairing alright with the 3.75 remaining hours!!

UPDATE: Mini Challenge

I must say that I'm having fun reading all of the book habits comments. Ok, I haven't come close to reading all of them, but I read a decent number and look forward to reading more! It's interesting to see others habits!

Since you showed me yours, I will show you mine...book habits that is!

-I read MUCH faster on my Galaxy Tab or my phone...I guess that's not so much of a habit but oh well
-I love to curl up on my 'comfy chair' to read. I tuck my legs under me or throw them over the arm of the chair
-I admittedly have read at redlights on my phone...that's almost torture though since I can only fit in a couple lines before I have to drive again
-I get up earlier then necessary to get up-to-date on all of the book blogs I follow and/or read before I leave for work and sometimes once I'm at work
-I am very well known for reading on my hour long lunch break at work. Most people know to just leave me alone, hehe

You have 30 more minutes to get your entries in then the winner will be chosen by random.org since I couldn't possibly pick one!

I will be updating this post with the winner and also emailing you as long as you gave me your email :-)

AND THE WINNER IS.....

stilettostorytime

CONGRATS!!

Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-Thon Mini Challenge

THIS CHALLENGE IS NOW CLOSED...

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE AWESOME RESPONSE! HAPPY READING!!!

Ok read-a-thon'ers, we are starting hour 13…WAY TO GO, WOOHOO!!! You’re all awesome for sticking in there!

It's 8pm for us East Coasters (US) and guess what....It’s challenge time again!!! This challenge is Book Habits and you can enter up to five times!!

Challenge Question:

What are your book habits?

Do you have a favorite reading chair or room?

Do you always have to hold your book/ereader in a certain hand?

I know a book blogger **cough** Read Away the Day **cough** who loves to crack the spines of her books!

All you have to do is comment and let me know your habits. Please add one comment for each habit (up to 5 comments/habits). Make sure to add your email so you can be contacted if you win!

You have 3 hours to enter so please have all entries in by 11:00pm (EST).

The winner will be chosen via Random.org and the prize will be provided by Dewey’s Read-a-Thon.

Good Luck & Happy Reading!!

Read-a-Thon Mid Event Survey

Mid-Event Survey:


1. What are you reading right now?

A Werewolf in Manhattan by Vicki Lewis Thompson

2. How many books have you read so far?

I'm on my second book

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

I'm undecided between They Hunger by Scott Nicholson and Wrecker by Dave Conifer...they will both be great overnight reads

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

I just had to make sure my husband was working this weekend so he wouldn't pester me too much...oh and I had to stock up on snacks of course

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

Only blogging and taking my dog outside to do his business have been my only distractions so far. Said husband will probably be home soon though, that should be interesting. I may have to retreat to another room, we'll see.

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

How fast some people read!

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

None that I can think of right now.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

I think I will be a reader again, it's a lot of fun...plus I'm not so much of a rah rah cheerleader type (no offense to those of you that are)

9. Are you getting tired yet?

Nope, but it's only 7pm here...it will probably set in around my normal bed time (11pm-ish)

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

I don't have any tips that aren't out there already...just snacks and stretch once in a while

Read-a-Thon Challenge

I am entering a read-a-thon challenge and the goal is to recreate a book cover from your read-a-thon book pile.

Since Kirby (my dog) didn't want to be a star and play a werewolf, I decided to recreate the cover of The Bachelor by Carly Phillips.

Here's what I came up with...and yes I kissed paper 7 times and no my smackeroos totally don't look like the perfect ones one the actual cover but overall it's not too bad of a try.

Read-a-Thon Update

I just finished my first book...The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

I absolutely love this book it was as good as if not better than the first book How to Flirt With A Naked Werewolf. This book made me laugh at some parts and anxious to see what happened next at others parts. I highly recommend both books!

Next on my list is A Werewolf in Manhattan by Vicki Lewis Thompson

If you can't tell, I'm in a werewolf mood today ;-)

Time to stretch, check in on the Dewey's blog, then get back to business!

Happy Reading Everyone!!

Read-a-Thon Lunch Break

I'm not taking too much of a lunch break but I thought I'd take a quick minute to share.

I'm on page 215 of my book....and now on to my super yummy sandwich! This is the best sandwich ever! I'm sure once you see the ingredients you may cock your head and say something along the lines of 'what was she thinking?' or 'Ew'. But it really is tasty!

Ingredients:
Bread (of course)
Cheese
Sweet Lebanon Bologna (mmmm)
Mustard
Chips

Like I said...best sandwich...EVER!

Read-a-thon update

Well I'm two and a half hours in and I've read 100 pages. That total would be higher, but I'm a tad distracted by blogging :-)

I picked The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf by Molly Haper as my first read. So far I am loving this book! It's the second in a series and the characters are so snarky and funny, if you're looking for a light, fun read I highly recommend it!

I'm having a great time and just took a small break to get a snack for me and Kirby, my adorable dog.

Time to check in on a few fellow bloggers/read-a-thoners then back to my book :-)

Happy Reading!

Read-a-Thon Introduction Questions

1)Where are you reading from today?

I am at home in my comfy chair

2)Three random facts about me…

I'm adventurous, I love trying new things. White water rafting, Skydiving, kayaking, traveling, you name it
I am obsessed with book buying since I bought my awesome bookshelf from IKEA a couple months ago
I had braces...as an adult...and hated every minute of it! But the outcome is straight teeth and a great smile...see :-)

3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

12, but I know I will not read them all

4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?

Nope, no goals. I'm just here to read and have fun...and blog of course!

5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?

I'm a first timer, so I welcome any the advice

My Read-a-Thon Station

 

Please don't pay too much attention to the semi-blurriness of these cell phone pics!

This is where I will probably be spending most of my 24 hours. This chair is super comfy and the ottoman makes for a great table & charging station for my laptop, phone, and Galaxy Tab. I have 12 paper books ready to go and I may also read on my phone or galaxy since they both have three ereaders (yes, I said three...how awesome is that?!?) downloaded.

Anyway I added to the paper book pile since the last time I posted so here's an updated list:

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
The Forest Of Hands And Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Beastly by Alex Flinn
Looking For Alaska by John Green
Cowboys Never Cry by Tina Welling
Deadly Heritage by Toni Leland
Wrecker by Dave Conifer
Fire Season by VH Folland
They Hunger by Scott Nicholson
A Werewolf in Manhattan by Vicki Lewis Thompson
The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper
The Bachelor by Carly Phillips

I know, it's quite the list and I definitely will not read them all by a long shot but I want to keep my options open! My book choice will depend on my mood but I am thinking that reading They Hunger and Wrecker late at night might be a good idea because I'm guessing I won't want to sleep during/after reading them! The rest of the time I will most likely stick to light reads.

Read-a-Thon

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon starts in about 13 hours and I'm all set! I have my stack of books ready to go and plenty of snacks and easy to fix meals at my disposal!

I will be posting updates throughout the read-a-thon and will also be hosting a mini-challenge! So please feel free to stop by to check in or just to say hi!

Happy Reading Everyone!

Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis

Goodreads Summary:

Moonlight can totally change your life. And it all starts so simply. You. Him. The moon. You’re toast.

Okay, so maybe Shelby has made a few mistakes with boys lately. But her stepmother totally overreacts when she packs Shelby off to brat camp. Suddenly, it’s good-bye, prom dress; hello, hiking boots.

Things start looking up, though, when Shelby meets fellow camper (and son of a rock star!) Austin Bridges III. But soon she realizes there’s more to Austin than crush material—his family has a dark secret, and he wants Shelby’s help guarding it.

My Review:

I hadn’t read many reviews before reading this book so I didn’t really have any expectations going in. It’s a shorter book and I wanted a short/quick read. This book didn’t disappoint; I read it very quickly. The book seems to just skim the surface of what could have been a great book. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the story but I would have liked it to have dug a little deeper into the characters and story. Overall, I will give it a 3.5 out of 5.

The Kitchen Witch (Accidental Witch Trilogy #1) by Annette Blair

Goodreads Summary:

Annette Blair cooks up an extra helping of entertainment in her first contemporary romance, a sexy comedy set in Salem, Massachusetts. Sedate single dad Logan Kilgarven is somehow bewitched into helping his lovely downstairs neighbor, Melody Seabright, get her own cooking show at his TV station. How did that happen? Melody can't even cook. In her hands, potatoes lump, gravy boils over, and chicken explodes. Still, she's got showmanship, and the general manager can practically taste syndication when her show, The Kitchen Witch, takes off. Even as the boss's daughter sets her sights on Logan, he and Melody are making some hot magic of their own. Sure, opposites attract, but can they last? Readers will love this classic story of attraction between pinstripes and polka dots

My Review:

This is an easy/light read. Melody has a very contagious personality and it lands her her very own tv show called The Kitchen Witch. There’s only one snag…she is a horrible cook! With his job on the line Logan reluctantly agrees to help her by teaching her to cook.  Throughout the book, they are both in serious denial about their feelings for the other as they struggle to get Melody through show. The level of denial was a little vexing so I didn’t quite enjoy this book as much as I could have. It’s a tiny detail but I think (for me) it took away from the story. I’m torn between giving this book a 3 and a 3.5. Considering that the book did easily draw me in and kept my attention so I will go with a 3.5

Read-a-Thon/RAK

Deweys 24 hour Read-a-Thon is only a week away! These are the books I'm eyeing up for the read-a-thon.

Beastly by Alex Flinn
Deadly Heritage by Toni Leland
They Hunger by Scott Nicholson
The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper
The Bachelor by Carly Phillips
A Werewolf in Manhattan by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Also, I am participating in RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) for the second month. RAK is hosted by Book Soulmates. Click here to find out more about RAK or to sign up.

Last month I received Matched by Ally Condie which I haven't read yet and How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf (my review) which I loved!

 

Thanks again
Nancy @ http://www.amusingreviews.blogspot.com/
Ivy @ http://ivyreads.blogspot.com/