BOOKS AND BLOGGING PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy is defined as a theory underlying or regarding a sphere of activity or thought. Well, my theory is if I can add at least 10 new books to my Wishlist and move at least 5 older Wishlist selections to my TBR list every month, then life is a ice cream sundae. And if I can find those 10 books from at least 5 new blogs each month then that's the cherry on top.

NEW VISITORS AND OLD- WELCOME!

NEW VISITORS AND OLD- WELCOME!
Well, I've made it almost 5 years now, so for better or worse, I continue on. I tend to blog in spurts as the urge to be creative erupts. As I don't have an artistic bone in my body, you will see very few changes in the layouts. Hey, I'm a reader not an artist like so many of the awesome bloggers I follow. I know you don't always have the time but if you stopped and looked, take a half a minute and say your piece. Recommend a book that you have enjoyed or hated for that matter. Thank you to all who visit.
Oh, and I moved my Google Friend Connect info and share this buttons to the top, as without our friends, who are we?


Thursday, May 31, 2012

Beck Valley Books: $100 AMAZON GIFT CARD PLUS VICTORIA'S SECRET AND T...

Beck Valley Books: $100 AMAZON GIFT CARD PLUS VICTORIA'S SECRET AND T...: Beautifully BellaFaith and over 160 blogs have put together an awesome gift card giveaway for everyone to enter. Not only will one luc...

Frequent Traveller BookBlast- $50 Gift Card + 10 $5 Gift Cards

Step into Cathy Dixon's World
Amazon gift card giveaway

May 31st to June 9th 

From the blue oceans of Antigua to the bustling streets of Vietnam, the racing adrenaline at the Green Hell, the devastating natural disaster in Japan and the stunning architecture in Germany, Cathy Dixon finds herself in a whirlwind of fine dining, plush clothes and sheer extravagance. 

But is perfection a mask for untold disaster? What is Cathy's secret and how will her world change when the world knows? Will her secrets ever catch up with her or will Cathy continue to sail alongside perfection in the world she has created for herself as a Frequent Traveller? 

In conjunction, with the launch of MoonStar Luxury's new website (http://moonstarluxury.com/), we invite you to step into Cathy Dixon's world where more goodies, surprises and a little mystery awaits. 


Frequent Traveller, the first book in the Cathy Dixon series will be free from 31 May to 4 June 2012. (Amazon link http://www.amazon.com/Frequent-Traveller-Cathy-Dixon-ebook/dp/B0067BKK6K)
Giveaway Details
11 winners

Grand prize 1 x $50 Amazon.com voucher
10 x $5 Amazon.com vouchers

To tweet once -  I'm exploring Cathy Dixon's new spot on the web. http://moonstarluxury.com/
 #FrequentTraveller #Books #LitChat #Kindle #CathyDixon

To like Facebook page - Peace from Pieces

Frequent Traveller, the first book in the Cathy Dixon series will be free from Day 1 to Day 5 

Giveaway Details
You must live in the US or have an Amazon.com account to redeem your giftcard.

International best-selling author, Pandora Poikilos has been writing for more than 10 years for various media which include newspapers, radio, television and various websites.
A social media enthusiast who is passionate about blogging and finding her way around the virtual world, she wills away time in the real world by reading, writing and people watching.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

A Novel Affair: Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop

A Novel Affair: Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop: It's time for the Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop Hosted By I Am A Reader Not a Writer .  A big Thank You to Kathy for her time and effort ...

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

$100 Amazon Gift Code Giveaway! Betrayed by Ednah Walters BookBlast

Lil isn't just an average teenager. She's one of the Nephilim--the descendants of humans and angels--which gives her some serious psi skills and a mission for redemption. Just when Lil thinks she's found a balance between her normal life with human friends and her training to become a Guardian, she's warned that someone close to her will betray her. When the boy she loves starts acting strangely and one of her human friends acquires a supernatural ability, Lil begins to realize that someone is manipulating the people she loves... and won't stop until she's been lured to the dark side.

Beck Valley Books: WIN A KINDLE FIRE !! ENTER TO WIN THIS AMAZING GI...

Beck Valley Books: WIN A KINDLE FIRE !! ENTER TO WIN THIS AMAZING GI...: WIN A KINDLE FIRE !! THIS FABULOUS GIVEAWAY HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY MAPLE CASINO Open to Canada only Ending on 30th May ...

Summer Reading from Julie Kenner/J.K. Beck!

Now let’s get down to talking books! First and foremost, today, Tuesday May 29, is the release date for WHEN PASSION LIES by J.K. Beck, book 4 of the Shadow Keepers series. Yes, after a long break the series is back, with three, count ‘em, three books! (WHEN DARKNESS HUNGERS and WHEN TEMPTATION rules follow in July and August!). (Order WHEN PASSION LIES from AmazonBarnes & NobleRandom House, or your favorite bookseller.)


OMG, this is so the way I love series books to come. Bam, bam, bam three in a row. What more can a reader ask for! I just ordered mine and I can't wait!

Monday, May 28, 2012

Richard A. Knaak’s Cuchulainn (The Hound).

   ATLANTA, GA – May, 18th  2013 - Sea Lion Books announces the graphic novel publication of the legendary Cuchulainn in a new graphic novel series from bestselling author Richard A. Knaak  --THE HEART OF THE HOUND.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

SPLASH INTO SUMMER GIVEAWAY HOP! 5/25-5/31

Contest will be open internationally.
I will be giving away a $10 Amazon/Barnes and Noble Gift card or
I'll let you chose a book from Book Depository
up to $10 and as long as they ship free to you,
you can enter.
Just make sure they ship to you. If not sure,  check here.
I love to win Gift Cards and these are the simplest and the best as far as I'm concerned.
For every 50 brand new followers, I'll give away another $10 Gift card or
book from Book Depository.
AmazonGiftCard
B&N
Book Depository

May Kindle Fire Giveaway

We will giveaway a Kindle Fire + a $50 Amazon Gift Card.  ($250 value)
25 Blogs have each contributed towards 1 Great Prize which is a Kindle Fire & an Amazon.com gift card.


Participating Blogs:

  1. I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
  2. Read for Your Future
  3. Sweeping Me
  4. Making the Grade
  5. Bookittyblog
  6. The Romanceaholic
  7. Good Choice Reading
  8. Helen Smith
  9. A Book and a Latte
  10. Froggarita's Bookcase
  11. Fiktshun
  12. So Many Precious Books, So Little Time 
  13. Uniquely Moi Books
  14. eReading on the Cheap
  15. Lori the Author
  16. There's a Book
  17. Books a True Story
  18. Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf
  19. Brinda Berry
  20. JJ iReads
  21. Colorimetry
  22. Lisa's Loves (Books of Course)
  23. The Book Faery
  24. SpadesHighReads
  25. A Book Obsession
Rules, Restrictions & Details:
Giveaway is open to anyone 13 or older who can receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Card. If you live in the US you can choose to receive a $50 Amazon.com egift card and have us ship the Kindle Fire to you or you may choose to receive a $250 Amazon.com egift card and purchase the Kindle Fire yourself. If you live outside the US you will receive a $250 Amazon.com egift card.  All funds are in US dollars.
All entries must be done through the rafflecopter form. This giveaway is paid for and sponsored by the 25 participating blogs and is not associated with or sponsored by Facebook, Twitter or Amazon. Giveaway runs from 12:01 AM EST on May 15, 2012 until 11:59 PM on May 30, 2012. 

Leave a comment on this post for an extra entry on the Children's Book Week Giveaway Hop



To enter fill out the Rafflecopter form.
Click on the "Read More" to take you to Rafflecopter--
If you have any problem getting Rafflecopter to come up,
generally refreshing the page will fix it.
Read "Click for Instructions" before answering the question!


Masters of the Veil BookBlast -$100 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

Life can't get much better for Sam Lock. Popular, good-looking, and with a future as a professional football player. every guy at Stanton High School wishes he were Sam. That is, until his championship football game, when Sam accidentally links with an ancient source of energy known as the Veil and reveals his potential to become a powerful sorcerer. Sam is whisked off to Atlas Crown, a community of sorcerers who utilize the Veil as a part of everyday life. Once there, he trains beside a mute boy who speaks through music, an eternal sage who's the eyes and ears of the Veil, and a beautiful girl who's pretty sure Sam's an idiot. As it becomes clear Sam's meant for power magic-the most feared and misunderstood form of sorcery-people beyond Atlas Crown learn of his dangerous potential. An exiled group of power sorcerers are eager to recruit Sam, believing that he is destined to help them achieve their long-held goal. If they succeed, they could bring about the downfall of not only Atlas Crown. but all humankind.


Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Announcing the release of Closed Hearts, the sequel to Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn.




Book Two of the Mindjack Trilogy

When you control minds, only your heart can be used against you.

Eight months ago, Kira Moore revealed to the mindreading world that mindjackers like herself were hidden in their midst. Now she wonders if telling the truth was the right choice after all. As wild rumors spread, a powerful anti-jacker politician capitalizes on mindreaders’ fears and strips jackers of their rights. While some jackers flee to Jackertown—a slum rife with jackworkers who trade mind control favors for cash—Kira and her family hide from the readers who fear her and jackers who hate her. But when a jacker Clan member makes Kira’s boyfriend Raf collapse in her arms, Kira is forced to save the people she loves by facing the thing she fears most: FBI agent Kestrel and his experimental torture chamber for jackers.


Now available!
$2.99 Ebook at Amazon (and Amazon UK) and Barnes and Noble
Request a Kindlegraph
Paper copies available at Amazon or get signed copies from the author

Review of Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn- 5*

Title: Open Minds
Author: Susan Kaye Quinn
Genre: YA Paranormal
Rating: * * * * *
Publishers: CreateSpace
(Oct 3, 2011)
Paperback: 338 pages
ISBN: 1466354267
FTC Disclosure: Bought from Amazon



When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep. 

Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can't read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can't be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf's mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she's dragged deep into a hidden underworld of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her. 

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

May New Release Giveaway Hop


Welcome to Stop #11 of the 
May New Release Giveaway Hop!
The  May New Release Giveaway Hop
  is hosted by 
and 

"Colors Like Memories" Book Blast-$50 Amazon.com Gift

Colors Like Memories

Julia has a secret: she killed the guy she loved. It was an accident—sort of.

Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before taking her first breath. Without this 'breath of life' she and others like her must help those on the verge of suicide. It's a job Julia used to enjoy, until the accident that claimed her boyfriend’s life—an accident she knows was her fault. If living with the guilt weren't enough, she's now assigned to help a girl dealing with the loss of her mother, something Julia's not exactly the best role model for. If she can't figure out a way to help her, Julia's going to lose her position in the Sary, something she swore to her boyfriend would never happen.


Sunday, May 20, 2012

Live To Read: Huge Blogoversary (belated) Giveaway! (USA/CAN)

Live To Read: Huge Blogoversary (belated) Giveaway! (USA/CAN):
My blog is finally one year old!  I have a bunch of arcs/books to share with my fellow book-lovers =)  I have about 17 books listed for the ...
This first giveaway is USA/CAN, but the next FOUR BIG Giveaways will be International.

Guest Post: Joan Swan, author of Fever | My Bookish Ways

Guest Post: Joan Swan, author of Fever | My Bookish Ways
: Alpha hero deliciousness, danger, chemistry -- FEVER sale ends soon! Only $3.99! ow.ly/aDQaz

Witch Song by Amber Argyle Free for 4 Days

1
                                                Title: Witch Song
Author: Amber Argyle
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: * * * *
Publishers Date: Sept 1, 2011
Paperback: 325 pages
ISBN: 9781936850167
FTC Disclosure: Received an ARC from author for unbiased review




“The world is changing.
For thousands of years, witch song has controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons. But not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by the dark Witch, Espen.
As the last echoes of witch song fade, Espen grows stronger as winter and summer come within the space of a day. Now she’s coming for the one she missed—a shy, untrained girl of fifteen named Brusenna.
Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find Espen. Fight her. Defeat her.
Or there won’t be anything left to save.”


Thursday, May 17, 2012

BITING COLD ARC Contest Begins Now! — New York Times Bestselling Author Chloe Neill


BITING COLD ARC Contest Begins Now! — New York Times Bestselling Author Chloe Neill

Richelle Mead's Review


By Joyce Lamb, USA TODAY
Lots of romance authors dream of their books becoming movies. How many have dreamed of them becoming comic books? Richelle Mead's Dark Swan series is being made into comic books and graphic novels as we speak, starting with book one in the series, Storm Born. Don't worry, though, she's not giving up writing novels. She's here not to talk about how the Dark Swan comics came about, Eighties music, how she likes her coffee and what readers can expect from her next.
Joyce: Welcome to HEA, Richelle! Whose idea was it to do comic books of your Dark Swan urban fantasy series? Or are they more accurately graphic novels?
Richelle: It's both, actually! Individual comics come out first, and then every four issues, you can get a bound graphic novel of all of them. Adapting the books into this format was always something I'd been interested in. I love this art form, and it's always fascinating to see how others interpret your work. It all started when I met some of the great staff from Sea Lion at a convention. They later approached me about doing an adaptation of the Dark Swan series, and everything unfolded from there.
Joyce: How did you go about adjusting a novel-length book to the small blocks of inner dialogue? That must have been tough!
Richelle: It is tough, and fortunately, I didn't have to do it! The books were adapted by Grant Alter, who has a really good eye for pulling out the main beats of a story and streamlining key dialogue. It's great having someone who has those skills, since mine tend to be about making stories longer, not shorter.
Joyce: A problem that most novelists have, I bet! How closely did you work with the artists on the look of the story? (It looks amazing, by the way!)
Richelle: I got to be involved every step of the way. They sent every page to me for approval, in both the initial black-and-whites and then the color versions. They were very open to any feedback I had, but really, I didn't have much to give. Everything was always so wonderful that I didn't need to make many suggestions.
Joyce: Any chance of your fans ever getting to see a Vampire Academy, Dark Swan or Bloodlines movie or TV series?
Richelle: There's always a chance but nothing in the works right now. I'd certainly love to see a film, and we have feelers out in Hollywood. So far, no studio has jumped on a project. Fingers crossed!
Joyce: Consider my fingers crossed, too. Your website proclaims that you "think music was perfected in the 1980s." I agree! Who might be your favorite '80s songs and bands?
Richelle: That's tough. There are a lot of great ones! The Safety Danceand 99 Red Balloons are two of my favorites.
Joyce: I'd have to go with anything by Howard Jones or Nik Kershaw. I bet we'd have a lot to talk about. : ) As a coffee addict, how do you take your coffee? Strong and sweet? Black and weak? (Readers need to know for when they buy you a cuppa at Starbucks.)
Richelle: I actually love coffee in most forms, both drip and espresso versions. I do almost always have to put a little dairy and sweetener in it, though. And, of course, I love Starbucks. I live in Seattle, so devotion is mandatory.
Joyce: What are your favorite reality TV shows? (I'm partial to The Amazing Race and Project Runway.)
Richelle: I too am a Project Runway fan. I'm also partial to SurvivorFace Off and, to my chagrin, Celebrity Apprentice.
Joyce: We all have to have our guilty pleasures. The dedication on your upcoming The Golden Lily is to your son, who was born the day you finished writing the book. How did you manage such perfect timing?
Richelle: It was a total coincidence! I actually finished the book early (by five days, which is rare for me). Maybe my son sensed that I was done with my work and knew he could finally come out.
Joyce: Please tell us about the Dark Swan comic series and what readers can expect to see from you next.
Richelle: The Dark Swan comic currently is retelling the first novel in the series, Storm Born. Four issues have come out so far, which are available as individual issues or in a bound graphic novel. There are four more issues to come, which will finish off the book, and I'm really excited. So far, the whole series has been really beautiful.
Joyce: Is there anything you'd like to add?
Richelle: People who are fans of the Dark Swan novels will really love the graphic novel adaptation. Even if they've never picked up a comic before, they should check this out. The graphic novel adds a whole new dimension to the series that really brings the characters and worlds to life. I originally envisioned the story in my head, but seeing it on the page, in all that color, is amazing even for me!
Joyce: Thanks, Richelle!
To find out more about Richelle and her books (comic and otherwise), you can visit her website, RichelleMead.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook and Twitter (@RichelleMead).
You might also be interested in HEA's  review of the comic Storm Born.
Check my review  Here

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Kindred Dreamheart: May New Release Giveaway Hop

Kindred Dreamheart: May New Release Giveaway Hop

Rock of Ivanore Book Blast- $50 Amazon Gift Card

The Rock of Ivanore
The annual Great Quest is about to be announced in Quendel, a task that will determine the future of Marcus and the other boys from the village who are coming of age. The wizard Zyll commands them to find the Rock of Ivanore, but he doesn't tell them what the Rock is exactly or where it can be found. Marcus must reach deep within himself to develop new powers of magic and find the strength to survive the wild lands and fierce enemies he encounters as he searches for the illusive Rock. If he succeeds, he will live a life of honor; if he fails, he will live a life of menial labor in shame. With more twists and turns than a labyrinth, and a story in which nothing is as it seems, this tale of deception and discovery keeps readers in suspense until the end.
Middle readers will find that The Rock of Ivanore fits nicely among the traditional fantasies they so enjoy. They will also appreciate its fresh and inventive take on the genre.
PROLOGUE
      The old enchanter rose from his cot, his joints creaking like rusty hinges.  His sleep had been troubled, and thoughts of the days ahead worried him.  Taking care not to wake his apprentice, Zyll went to the table in the center of the room, though his legs were so stiff that even traveling the width of his cottage required the use of a walking stick. 
Zyll ladled water into the bowl and peered at his reflection in it.  How changed he looked, how unlike the man he used to be.  His hair, once thick and dark, had thinned and grown white and the skin around his mouth had creased. But his eyes still glowed with the vibrancy of youth. One thing, at least, had remained the same. For more go HERE


 Praise:

"This is a swift and compelling epic that readers of high fantasy will love!"
— Tony Abbott, author of The Secrets of Droon

“Magic! Swords! Mysterious cloaked figures! A good choice for middle-grade fantasy lovers.”   
– Marissa Burt, author of Storybound

“Fast paced and very engaging.”
– So Simply Sara


“Elementary school libraries and middle school libraries can confidently add this book to their collections.”
– Cerulean Librarian


Author Laurisa White Reyes
Laurisa White Reyes has been writing since the age of 5 when she wrote her first poem on a scrap of poster board. After earning a degree in English at California State University at Northridge, she spent thirteen years writing for various magazines and newspapers, working as a book editor, and teaching creative writing. She gave up all that six years ago to follow her lifelong dream of writing novels. Her first book, The Rock of Ivanore, will be released in May 2012.Besides writing, Laurisa is also a voracious reader. She also loves musical theater, chocolate, sushi, ancient history, bearded dragons, and rain storms.  She lives in Southern California with her husband, 5 children, 4 birds, 2 lizards, 2 turtles, 1 fish, 1 dog, and a partridge in a pear tree.
 LINKS:







Publisher: Tanglewood Press

Release Date: May 15, 2012
Ages: 8 & up
Page Count: 356