Happy New Year 2013 Giveaway Hop

Hey guys! Today I'm excited to take part in the Happy New Year 2013 Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Babs Book Bistro. For my stop, I'm giving away a copy of What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton. This was one of my favorite reads of 2012!

Synopsis from Goodreads:   How can you talk about something that you can't remember?

Before the ski trip, Cassidy "Sid" Murphy was a cheerleader (on the bottom of the pyramid, but still...) and a straight-A student, with two of the best friends a girl could ask for.

When Sid finds herself on a ski lift with hunky local college guy, Dax Windsor, she's thrilled. "Come to a party with me," he tells her, but Dax isn't what he seems. He takes everything from Sid-including a lock of her perfect red curls-and she can't remember any of it.

After the ski trip, Sid is an insomniac and an obsessive late-night runner, unable to relate to her old friends.

Caught in a downward spiral, Sid drops her college prep classes and takes up residence in the A/V room with only Corey "The Living Stoner" Livingston for company. But as she gets to know Corey--slacker, baker, total dreamboat--Sid finds someone who truly makes her happy. Now, if only she could shake the nightmares, everything would be perfect...

Witty and poignant, Colleen Clayton's debut is a stunning story of moving on after the unthinkable happens.

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To enter just leave a comment and a way to contact you (email, twitter handle, etc.). Sorry, rafflecopter is being a pain!! In any case, this counts as 1 entry. If you follow this blog, you get an extra entry. If you tweet, facebook, or otherwise spread the news I'll give you 3 additional entries. Just let me know what you did in the comments. The hop runs from January 1st-7th. I will chose a winner on the 8th. Good luck to everyone who enters and don't forget to check out the rest of the stops on the hop!!!

The Farm: Escape is Only the Beginning Blog Tour & Giveaway!!

Today I'm thrilled to be a part of the blog tour for Emily McKay's The Farm. This book is thrilling and unexpected and just all around awesome. Look for my review to be posted next week. In the meantime, I have a brief Q&A with the author and a giveaway!!!!!

Synopsis: Life was different in the Before: before vampires began devouring humans in a swarm across America; before the surviving young people were rounded up and quarantined. These days, we know what those quarantines are—holding pens where human blood is turned into more food for the undead monsters, known as Ticks. Surrounded by electrical fences, most kids try to survive the Farms by turning on each other…

And when trust is a thing of the past, escape is nearly impossible.

Lily and her twin sister Mel have a plan. Though Mel can barely communicate, her autism helps her notice things no one else notices—like the portion of electrical fence that gets turned off every night. Getting across won’t be easy, but as Lily gathers what they need to escape, a familiar face appears out of nowhere, offering to help…

Carter was a schoolmate of Lily’s in the Before. Managing to evade capture until now, he has valuable knowledge of the outside world. But like everyone on the Farm, Carter has his own agenda, and he knows that behind the Ticks is an even more dangerous threat to the human race...

Amazon / Goodreads

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Amazing, right?! Now, Emily McKay gives us some insight into The Farm's setting and her experience writing both Young Adult and Adult novels...

Q. Is there a specific reason that the story takes place in Texas? Was it a purposeful decision, or a random selection?

A. I live in Austin, Texas, and the landscape of this state—particularly between the major cities—lends itself well to a post-apocalyptic novel.  Also the drive they take out of Texas is a drive I took every summer growing up when I was visiting my family in the Ozarks.

Q. When writing a YA novel, what are the things you are conscious of in terms of language choice, character development, etc? What are some of the differences when writing a YA novel and compared to an Adult novel?

A. I think whether I’m writing a YA novel or an adult novel, my number one focus is on telling a kick-ass story.  And while I edited a little for language and content in the YA novel, I think YA readers are some of the savviest ones out there and I knew I had to bring it if I wanted to impress them.  I hope I did.

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And now, the moment you've all been waiting for. Thanks to the lovely folks at Penguin I have a prize pack to offer to one lucky reader!!!

The prize pack includes a copy of The Farm and a Vampire Apocalypse Survival Kit.

Rafflecopter is being wonky so just leave a comment for Emily and don't forget to include a way for me to contact you (email, twitter, etc.). I'll pick a winner on 1/15/2013!!! If you tweet or facebook about the giveaway, leave a link and I'll give you 2 additional entries.

Good luck and don't forget to check out the rest of the blog tour for more content and more chances to win!!! To learn more about the book or the author, please check out the book's website at: http://www.escapethefarm.com/

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE 
Nov. 26  ICEYBOOKS  http://www.iceybooks.com/
Nov. 27  THE READING FEVER  http://www.thereadingfever.com/
Nov. 28  READ NOW SLEEP LATER  http://www.readnowsleeplater.com/
Nov. 29  KATIE’S BOOK BLOG  http://www.katiesbookblog.com/
Nov. 30  MY OVERSTUFFED BOOKSHELF  http://myoverstuffedbookshelf.blogspot.com/
Dec. 3    WASTEPAPER PROSE  http://www.wastepaperprose.com/
Dec. 4    CORNUCOPIA OF REVIEWS  http://cornucopiaofreviews.blogspot.com/
Dec. 5    THE READING GEEK  http://thereadinggeek.blogspot.com/
Dec. 6   CHICA READER  http://chicareader.blogspot.com/
Dec. 7   THE READING DATE  http://thereadingdate.com/
Dec. 10  YOUNG ADULT BOOK REVIEWS  http://youngadultbookreviews.com/
Dec. 11  LITERARY ESCAPISM http://www.literaryescapism.com/
Dec. 12  THE LIBRARIAN READS  http://thelibrarianreads.com/
Dec. 13  ACTIN UP WITH BOOKS  http://actinupwithbooks.blogspot.com/
Dec. 14  YA LOVE BLOG  http://yaloveblog.com/
Dec. 17  ADDICTED 2 NOVELS  http://www.addicted2novels.com/
Dec. 18  POISONED RATIONALITY  http://www.prationality.com/
Dec. 19  BREE’S BOOKS  http://www.breesbooks.com/
Dec. 20  GONE WITH THE WORDS  http://www.gonewiththewords.com/

Giveaway Winner: Level 2

And the winner of an ARC of Level 2 is....

ERIN

 

Erin has already replied to the winner notification and her book is on the way. Congratulations Erin!!!!

End of The World Book Blast & Giveaway!

Today we're celebrating the "End of the World" and the launch of Theresa McClinton's new dark YA paranormal romance, The Stone Guardian.

When Myth Becomes Reality, Reality Becomes a Nightmare

Book Blurb: Like any other teenager in America, Ashley just wants a normal life. But growing up in an orphange for the insane is anything but normal. After endless therapy and increasing medication, her nightmares have only gotten worse.

Probably because they're not nightmares.

When Ashley's mysteriously abducted, she finds a reality even less normal than the orphanage. And she discovers something else--she's no ordinary orphan. Faced with enemies thought to only exist in fairy tales, Ashley discovers she possesses a powerful Maya bloodline. She's the daughter of an ancient Maya Guardian, whose duty is to protect the Stone of Muuk'ich, an enchanted relic blessed by the gods. But first she must get it back from Sarian, a power-hungry demigod who slaughtered the last guardian--Ashley's mother. Without the stone, all will be lost.

When she meets Arwan, a hot Belizean time bender, his delicious olive skin and dark eyes make her feel a little less alone. But his gentle whispers and reassuring touch might not be all they seem. How can she balance love and duty when it's up to her to prevent the rising of the underworld? Especially when the guy she loves might be its crown prince...

Here is a link to the book's trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN1JvOOntWw&feature=plcp

About the Author: A long time enthusiast of things that go bump in the night, Theresa started her writing career as a journalism intern—possibly the least creative writing field out there. After her first semester at a local newspaper, she washed her hands of press releases and features articles to delve into the whimsical world of young adult paranormal romance.

Since then, Theresa has gotten married, had three terrific kids, moved to central Ohio, and was repeatedly guilt tripped into adopting a menagerie of animals that are now members of the family. But don’t be fooled by her domesticated appearance. Her greatest love is travel. Having stepped foot on the soil of over a dozen countries, traveled to sixteen U.S. states—including an extended seven-year stay in Kodiak, Alaska—she is anything but settled down. But wherever life brings her, she will continue to weave tales of adventure and love with the hope her stories will bring joy and inspiration to her readers.

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Theresa has been kind enough to offer us an amazing giveaway with a chance to win a $50 gift card and a copy of The Stone Guardian. Just enter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday: Nobody But Us

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Today I'm featuring Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook.

Synopsis from Goodreads:  Bonnie and Clyde meets IF I STAY in this addictively heart-wrenching story of two desperate teenagers on the run from their pasts.

They’re young. They’re in love. They’re on the run.

Zoe wants to save Will as much as Will wants to save Zoe. When Will turns eighteen, they decide to run away together. But they never expected their escape to be so fraught with danger….

When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can’t run fast enough.

Nobody But Us, told in alternating perspectives from Will and Zoe, is an unflinching novel, in turns heartbreaking and hopeful, about survival, choices, and love…and how having love doesn’t always mean that you get a happy ending. Described as “beautiful, heartbreaking, and exhilarating” by Kody Keplinger, author of The DUFF, Nobody But Us will prove irresistible to fans of Nina Lacour, Jenny Han, and Sara Zarr.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Nobody But Us will be released by HarperTeen on January 29th, 2013!

Okay, so that's mine. What's your WOW pick this week? Also, if you want to participate, head on over to Breaking the Spine and link up!!

ARC Review: The Hallowed Ones

The Hallowed Ones, Laura Bickle

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Genre: Supernatural Thriller

Publication: 9/25/2012, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

# of Pages: 320 (Hardback)

Source: I received an advanced reader's copy (ARC) from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis from Goodreads: If your home was the last safe place on earth, would you let a stranger in?

In this captivating thriller, an Amish settlement is the last safe haven in a world plagued by an unspeakable horror…

Katie is on the verge of her Rumspringa, the time in Amish life when teenagers are free to experience non-Amish culture before officially joining the church. But before Rumspringa arrives, Katie’s safe world starts to crumble. It begins with a fiery helicopter crash in the cornfields, followed by rumors of massive unrest and the disappearance of huge numbers of people all over the world. Something is out there...and it is making a killing.

Unsure why they haven’t yet been attacked, the Amish Elders make a decree: No one goes outside their community, and no one is allowed in. But when Katie finds a gravely injured young man lying just outside the boundary of their land, she can’t leave him to die. She refuses to submit to the Elder’s rule and secretly brings the stranger into her community—but what else is she bringing in with him?

My Review:  It's not often that a novel takes me totally by surprise the way this one did. The Hallowed Ones is a unique take on the post-apocalyptic sub-genre, offering the reader a world overrun by ravenous, frightening, vampiric creatures, and introducing us to a heroine whose innocence and lack of knowledge regarding the outside world is as refreshing as it is infuriating.

This book was at times chilling and intense, and at others, a thoughtful look at religion, freedom, and the need to question authority. Laura Bickle is a masterful storyteller. Katie is a sympathetic, determined protagonist. She's driven and strong despite an upbringing that teaches her to behave and do as instructed. She's aware of what she's been told to do and she's aware of what is right. The fact that she's willing to put her life on the line to do what is right endeared her to me.

I've never read her Anya Kalinczyk series but after reading The Hallowed Ones it has earned a place high on my TBR list. If you're looking for something a little bit scary and whole lot amazing, this book is for you.

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

Contest Winner: Easy

And the winner of a paperback copy of Easy is....

CHANTAL

Chantal has already replied to the winner notification and her book is on the way. Congratulations Chantal!!!

Cover Reveal: The Summer I Became a Nerd

The Summer I Became A Nerd, by Leah Rae Miller

Synopsis: On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.

About Leah Rae Miller:  Born and raised in northern Louisiana, Leah Rae Miller still lives there on a windy hill with her husband and kids. She loves comic books, lava lamps, fuzzy socks, and Cherry Coke. She spends most of her days reading things she likes and writing things she hopes other people will like.

Links:

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14744489-the-summer-i-became-a-nerd
Twitter - https://twitter.com/LeahR_Miller 
Website/Blog - http://leahraemillerblog.blogspot.com/

Giveaway: ARC of Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans

Level 2 (Memory Chronicles #1), by Lenore Appelhans is one of my most anticipated reads of 2013, so imagine my ecstasy when I received an ARC from the lovely people at Simon & Schuster BYR.

Now imagine my surprise when I rec'd another ARC about a week later. Fortunately for my lovely readers this means you get a chance to win said ARC. You know the deal, fill out the rafflecopter below. Oh, and if you haven't heard of Level 2 yet, check out the deets below. Level 2 will be released January 15th, 2013. You have until December 15th to enter!!

Synopsis from Goodreads: In this gripping exploration of a futuristic afterlife, a teen discovers that death is just the beginning.

Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow drones, Felicia passes the endless hours reliving memories of her time on Earth and mourning what she’s lost—family, friends, and Neil, the boy she loved.

Then a girl in a neighboring chamber is found dead, and nobody but Felicia recalls that she existed in the first place. When Julian—a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life—comes to offer Felicia a way out, Felicia learns the truth: If she joins the rebellion to overthrow the Morati, the angel guardians of Level 2, she can be with Neil again.

Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself at the center of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway: Paperback Copy of Easy by Tammara Webber

Okay guys, I'm sad to say that I was not able to take part in the blog tour for Easy by Tammara Webber but thanks to the lovely people at Penguin/Berkley I have a paperback copy up for grabs. Score!!

If you haven't heard of Easy, you've been living under a rock. No, really. And now that your eyes have adjusted to the light after the years of absolute darkness you can read all about it below. To learn more and to check out the blog tour you can find the full schedule on Tammara's website.

Synopsis from Goodreads: A girl who believes trust can be misplaced, promises are made to be broken, and loyalty is an illusion. A boy who believes truth is relative, lies can mask unbearable pain, and guilt is eternal. Will what they find in each other validate their conclusions, or disprove them all?

When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex's frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night--but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound.

When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he's hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.

MATURE YOUNG ADULT / NEW ADULT

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N

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And now the giveway!!! Just fill out the rafflecopter below. US Only. Sorry, this is coming from Penguin directly.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway: Fair Coin & Quantum Coin

To celebrate the release of the second book in one of my favorite series, Quantum Coin, I've decided to have a giveaway. That's right, one lucky winner will get not just Quantum Coin but the first book in this series, Fair Coin, as well.

I just adore these covers!!! And these books. They're fantastic!

Fair Coin Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Ephraim Scott is horrified when he comes home from school and finds his mother unconscious at the kitchen table, clutching a bottle of pills. The reason for her suicide attempt is even more disturbing: she thought she’d identified Ephraim’s body at the hospital that day.

Among his dead double’s belongings, Ephraim finds a strange coin—a coin that grants wishes when he flips it. With a flick of his thumb, he can turn his alcoholic mother into a model parent and catch the eye of the girl he’s liked since second grade. But the coin doesn’t always change things for the better. And a bad flip can destroy other people’s lives as easily as it rebuilds his own.

The coin could give Ephraim everything he’s ever wanted—if he learns to control its power before his luck runs out.

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Anyway, I'm keeping it simple today. To enter all you have to do is leave a comment with a way to contact you. If you spread the word via Twitter or Facebook or any other means, leave a link and I'll give you +2 entries. Ends 11/15/12! Good luck to everyone who enters.

Stacking the Shelves {11}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is a way to showcase the books we've received for review or purchased, borrowed, etc. If you'd like to participate please check out Tynga's website for more information.

It's been a while since I've done one of these, so be warned, it's super loooooooooong.

Purchased / Won:

I won signed copies of Ashes & Shadows from Ilsa J. Bick, EgmontUSA, and Mundie Moms. Love Ilsa so this was an awesome surprise!!

Ashes (Ashes #1), Ilsa J. Bick

Shadows (Ashes #2), Ilsa J. Bick

For Review:

This was my WOW pick a while back so I was super excited to receive not 1 but 2 copies of Level 2 from Simon & Schuster. Look for a giveaway soon!!!!

Level 2 (Memory Chronicles #1), Lenore Appelhans

They also sent me a finished copy of Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini, another WOW pick of mine this year.

Touching the Surface, Kimberly Sabatini

From Harper Collins I got a ton of Young Adult & Middle Grade books for their Halloween promotion. I already own some of these and I'm not much of a middle grade reader so I think I'll do a giveaway for a few of these as well.

Ten, Gretchen McNeil

Dark Eden (Dark Eden #1), Patrick Carman

Eve of Destruction (Dark Eden #2), Patrick Carman

Something Strange & Deadly (SS&D #1), Susan Dennard

The Turning, Francine Prose

Fang Girl, Helen Keeble

Feedback (Variant #2), Robison Wells

Don't Turn Around, Michelle Gagnon

Gravediggers: Mountain of Bones, Christopher Krovatin

Always October, Bruce Coville

The Whispering House, Rebecca Wade

Invisible Inkling: Dangerous Pumpkins, Emily Jenkins

Monsters on the March (Scary School #2), Derek the Ghost

From Macmillan I received a copy of Crewel, which I've just finished reading and loved.

Crewel (Crewel World #1), Gennifer Albin

And The 13th Sign by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb

The 13th Sign, Kristin O'Donnell Tubb

From Little Brown I received a finished copy of What Happens Next. I've already read and loved my ARC, so I'll most likely do a giveaway for this one.

What Happens Next, Colleen Clayton

The lovely people at Penguin sent me the lastest installment in the Morganville Vampire series. If you haven't read this series yet, do so, like now. 

Bitter Blood (Morganville Vampires #13), Rachel Caine

From Random House Buzzers I received Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy #1), Sarah Rees Brennan

From Abrams I received one of my most anticipated reads of 2013!!!!!!! Love this cover so much.

Splintered, A.G. Howard

William Morrow Paperbacks sent me The One I Left Behind by Jennifer McMahon

The One I Left Behind, Jennifer McMahon

Another book from Harper! My niece and I are currently reading this one.

The Great Unexpected, Sharon Creech

Sourcebooks sent me Who I Kissed by Janet Gurtler

Who I Kissed, Janet Gurtler

From NLA Digital Liaison Platform, LLC

Alternity, Mari Mancusi

Scholastic sent a copy of Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch

Magisterium, Jeff Hirsch

Zondervan sent me Like Moonlight at Low Tide

Like Moonlight at Low Tide, Nicole Quigley

From Kensington I received Chasers by James Phelan

Chasers (Alone #1), James Phelan

Abingdon Press sent a copy of Twang. I love country music so this one looks promising.

Twang, Julie L. Cannon

And finally from Soho Teen, What We Saw at Night by Jacquelyn Mitchard

What We Saw at Night, Jacquelyn Mitchard

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A giant thank you to all the publishers mentioned. That's it for me this week. Leave me a link to your mailbox post and I'll be sure to check it out!!

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