Abarat Absolute Midnight ARC Giveaway

22 Oct, 2011 by in Uncategorized 9 comments

Abarat: Absolute Midnight
Abarat #3
by Clive Barker
Hardcover, 592 pages
Published September 27th 2011
by HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN0060291710

I know that many of you here have waited years for this Hour,” Mater Motley said, using that voice that, though it was barely conversational in volume, was somehow heard everywhere.

“The waiting is over. Tomorrow there will be no dawn. Only midnight, absolute and eternal.”

And so begins a new chapter in the epic story of sixteen-year-old Candy Quackenbush and her journeys through the world of the Abarat, where every hour is an island in one eternal day, and nothing is as it seems.
Candy travels through the Abarat from island to island and across the sea with an unlikely band of friends: the escaped prisoner Malingo the Geshrat, the quarrelsome John Brothers, who all share the same body but never the same opinion, and the many other colorful characters they meet along the way.

The problem is that trouble finds Candy wherever she goes. And soon she discovers a secret plot, masterminded by the diabolical Mater Motley, who is obsessed with becoming Empress of the Islands. Her method is simple. She will darken the skies, putting out the suns, moons, and stars. She will bring absolute midnight.

To enter to win an advanced reading copy of Abarat: Absolute Midnight from Fire and Ice and Harper Collins comment below. Open to US mailing addresses. Ends November 18, 2011

Borrowing Abby Grace Part 1: The Shadow

21 Oct, 2011 by in YA fiction Leave a comment

Borrowing Abby Grace (The Shadow #1)
by Kelly Green
ebook, 47 pages
Published October 17th 2011 by Backlit

source: author
Rating: 3.75 stars

Sent to repair the lives and loves of teenagers on the edge of disaster, smart and sassy Abby Grace has everything going for her, except one thing: a body. This fast-paced and exciting episode is the first installment in an ongoing monthly series, Borrowing Abby Grace.

This was a fun, yet quick read. The action starts off right away, when we meet the main character as she wakes up in a van being driven by people in ski masks. She has absolutely no memory of who she is or what has happened to her, yet she can tell that she shouldn’t be in this van and begins making escape plans. Her adventure continues when she meets a father she doesn’t recognize and then the mysterious Will who explains that she is a Shadow. While she is Abby Grace, everyone around her sees her has the blonde haired, fabulous singer, Brooke. She has to help Brooke with a big problem and then she will move on…to what, she doesn’t know.

I am definitely curious about future installments in this ebook series. Abby has spunk and the writing is fun. I do wish that it was a bit longer, but that is probably because I tend to breeze through books that I enjoy, and this one did not take long!

Content: swearing

I was sent a copy of the ebook in order to provide this review. The opinion expressed is 100% my own.

Waiting on Wednesday- Hallowed

19 Oct, 2011 by in Uncategorized 3 comments

Our Waiting in Wednesday is book two in Cynthia Hand’s Unearthly series

Hallowed
Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: January 17th 2012
by HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN 0061996181

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

Described by Richelle Mead as “utterly captivating,” Unearthly received outstanding reviews, garnered accolades from New York Times bestselling authors, and was named an Indie Next Pick. In this heart-wrenching sequel, Cynthia Hand expertly captures the all-consuming joy of first love—and the agony of loss. This beautifully woven tale will appeal to fans of Lauren Kate, Becca Fitzpatrick, and Aprilynne Pike.

What are you waiting on?
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The Scorpio Races Review and Giveaway

18 Oct, 2011 by in maggie stiefvater, scholastic, scorpio races 27 comments

The Scorpio Races
by Maggie Stiefvater
Hardcover, 401 pages
Published October 18th 2011
by Scholastic Press
ISBN 054522490X
4.5 stars

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

Having grown up with the Chesapeake Bay in my back yard and a view of an island in the bay not far from the banks and sandy beach we played on, I was familiar with the story of Misty of Chincoteague Island as well as the legends of “Chessie” our own monster that came from the sea. Maggie Stiefvater’s Scorpio Races brought me back to my childhood with its magical tone. Set on the island Thisby with dramatic stone cliffs, The Scorpio Races follows the weeks leading up to the deadly races which happen each November. Men try to capture the capaille uisce from the sea, wild flesh eating water horses then race them down by the shore in a deadly tradition that melds magic and brute strength. Sean Kendrick is the favorite as four time winning jockey and horse trainer of Corr. But this year the stakes are even higher as the race gets personal. Both Sean and the alternate protagonist Puck (Kate) have their hopes and dreams on the line. Puck may lose everything as an orphan who’s parents died at the hands of the capaille uisce. She and her younger brother Finn are left to fend for themselves when their older brother announces he is set to leave for the main land. If Kate can race she’ll assure he sticks around a while longer and maybe even save their fledgling family.

Maggie’s lyrical style spins a character driven fantasy that explores loyalty, class and gender division. While the pacing felt a bit off and it took me about 160 pages to get into the flow, by the end I was breathless. Dang can she write! The Scorpio Races is raw and gritty with nothing held back while at the same time beautiful in its conclusion. Each character is fully fleshed out with their own idiosyncrasies, Finn with OCD, Puck with downright stubbornness and Sean with a silent but acute wisdom. As well the side characters and setting are unforgettable. I would recommend The Scorpio Races if you’re looking for a slow paced fantasy with a subtle tease of romance. There are a few minor swear words and moderate violence, so it is probably best for readers over 14 year old. Before or after picking up the book you’ll want to check out Maggie Stiefvater’s website for a playlist, slide show of photos and the unforgettable hand drawn trailer I’m embedding below. Maggie has done it again!

Check out The Scorpio Races the @this_is_teen #ScorpioRaces Twitter Sweepstakes! Prizes includes limited edition custom necklaces & autographed copies of the book. Get more details at http://on.fb.me/iga0vf

Fire and Ice is giving away one advanced reading copy of The Scorpio Races and Scholastic This Is Teen has added in one custom bracelet plus a hardcover copy. Two winners. To enter to win click here and fill out the form.

Twisted Hardback Giveaway

17 Oct, 2011 by in book giveaway, twisted 58 comments

We have another fun giveway going for this halloween season…

Twisted
by Gena Showalter
Hardcover, 564 pages
Published August 30th
ISBN 0373210388
series: Intertwined #3

His vampire girlfriend might have brought him back to life, but he’s never felt more out of control. There’s a darkness within him, something taking over…changing him. Worse, because he was meant to die, death now stalks him at every turn. Any day could be his last.

Once upon a time, the three souls trapped inside his head could have helped him. He could have protected himself. But as the darkness grows stronger, the souls grow weaker—just like his girlfriend. The more vampire Aden becomes, the more human Victoria becomes, until everything they know and love is threatened.

Life couldn’t get any worse. Could it?

To enter to win a hardback copy of Twisted simply comment below. Open internationally, ends October 31, 2011.

Becca Fitzpatrick Provo Library Event

13 Oct, 2011 by in Heather Gardner Photography, michelle hodkin, provo city library, simon schuster 4 comments

Tuesday I got to see four amazing YA authors as part of a Provo Library event. Moira Young, author of Blood Red Road, Becca Fitzpatrick, author of Silence, Michelle Hodkin, author of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and Elana Johnson, author of Possession. All four answered questions from the audience, over 150 fans in attendance. Becca Fitzpatrick unveiled a new Silence poster featuring Patch and Nora and assured us book four will be in fact the end of the series. Her inspiration for becoming a YA writer came from the book “Speak ” by Laurie Halse Anderson. Becca’s other favorite writers include Ally Condie, Kristin Cashore and Kiersten White. Elana Jonson announced that Possession will be a three part series, with two more books being written in differing points of view than the first. All of the authors were incredibly personable and kind in the Utah Book Blogger after party. While signing my advanced reading copy of Mara Dyer, Michelle Hodkin told me the ARC is in fact different from the finished copy. There is one word missing from the ARC that may make the sequel hard to understand as well as missing paragraphs. She made me oh so curious… Here are some of my photos from the event.

ARC and T-Shirt Giveaway Winners

12 Oct, 2011 by in Uncategorized 1 comment

Congratulations to Lanay Ferguson and Loreal Lingad who won ARCs of Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Jessirae who won and ARC of Indelible by Lani Woodland

Krystal Larson who won a Who is Mara Dyer T-shirt and Yto who won a surprise ARC from our pile.

Please email us your mailing addresses within 48 hours to claim your prizes! Thanks so much to all who entered.
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The Outer Edge of Heaven Blog Tour

11 Oct, 2011 by in outer edge of heaven 1 comment

Fire and Ice is Today’s stop on the blog tour for

The Outer Edge of Heaven
by Jaclyn M. Hawkes
Paperback, 269 pages
Published August 3rd 2011
by Brigham Distributing
ISBN 0615517773
5 stars

Montana truly is heavenly. Especially those handsome cowboys.

Filled with colorful characters of all shapes, sizes and species, including an orphaned baby pig, most of the Langston family put the fun in dysfunctional, give or take a couple of black sheep. There’s one in every family, isn’t there? Add to that glorious scenery, a horse of her own, and one extremely attractive cousin rancher, Luke Lanston, and it makes for a summer Charlie will never forget. Which might not be a good thing. She has the time of her life, but her heart may never recover.

Charlie has just graduated from college with honors and is bound for law school in Fall, but can’t talk herself into heading home to Connecticut over Summer break. Her mother being a high powered career woman has already lined Charlie up with the perfect divorce attorney and seems to have their future planned. Charlie is less than thrilled to face her pushy parents and decides instead to go with her best friend Fo to work on a ranch in Montana. She’s got just a few months of freedom left before Mommy dearest takes over. What Charlie isn’t expecting when she arrives in Montana is the breath taking scenery which includes Fo’s handsome cousin Luke Langston. But Luke is engaged to be married and Charlie has to work to overcome her blossoming feelings toward the hard working down to earth man. She’s also asked to nanny Luke’s dysfunctional family including his annoyingly self assured brother Chase. Charlie will find her self fighting off unwanted advances from Chase and one more sinister staff member who brings a sense of danger to her otherwise perfectly peaceful summer.

In this clean romance, Jaclyn M. Hawkes shows the power of enduring friendship, trusting in one’s gut and following your own path instead of one set up by another. There is plenty of action between three small toddlers, a baby pig, and a crime waiting to be committed. The author teaches the importance of fidelity in marriage, following through with commitments, avoiding drugs and working hard. Not to mention, she rolls in the perfect romance including a cowboy for our modern day. I loved Outer Edge of Heaven and would recommend it to all readers. Grab a pack of oreos and some milk then head out onto your porch with this one!

Content: some minor violence including attempted assault of a female and a few gunshots. Teenage marijuana use which is strictly handled and punished. No swearing or sex.

About the Author: Jaclyn M. Hawkes grew up in Utah with 6 sisters, 4 brothers and any number of pets. (It was never boring!) She got a bachelor’s degree, had a career and traveled extensively before settling down to her life’s work of being the mother of four magnificent and sometimes challenging children. She loves shellfish, the out of doors, the youth and hearing her children laugh. She and her fine husband, their family, and their sometimes very large pets, now live in a mountain valley in northern Utah, where it smells like heaven and kids still move sprinkler pipe. Visit her blog at http://jaclynmhawkes.blogspot.com/ .

Purchase The Outer Edge of Heaven here. Thanks to Tristi Pinkston, Brigham Distributing and Jaclyn Hawkes for including Fire and Ice in the tour!