Waiting on Wednesday {73}: End of Days

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine. This week's can't-wait-to-read pre-publication book is: End of Days.

End of Days

by Susan Ee

Publication date: May 12th, 2015



From Goodreads:

End of Days is the explosive conclusion to Susan Ee’s bestselling Penryn & the End of Days trilogy.

After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all.

When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

February's #ReaderInterview, part 2: J from @life_love_fandoms

Welcome back to part two of this month's Reader Interview with J! :) If you missed part one you can check it out HERE.

Since we recently finished the Book Boyfriend #k8chat on Twitter and, at the time of me sending this, will be doing a Prince one this upcoming week (yay), tell us about your top three book boyfriends or princes, and what makes them so special.

Will Treaty from the Ranger's Apprentice series. I've been with Will through twelve books, so you can guess that I'd be pretty attached to him. He's a super planner, coffee lover, archery master, cloak-wearer, animal lover, funny, sweet, a pretty talented musician (he also sings), and to top it all off, he also cooks. Believe it or not, that's just the tip of the iceberg. What's not to love?

Peregrine from the Under the Never Sky trilogy. Quiet. Mysterious. Brooding. Peregrine is a character you really have to take your time with. He keeps you guessing for a while and before you know it you're hooked. He's a hunter who's great with a bow and arrow and has excellent observation skills. He's pretty lethal, but he also has a definite soft side. Peregrine's friends and family mean more to him than anything and it clearly shows. He's a sweetheart with a definite edge. All in all he's an incredible character and one I always find myself coming back to.

Logan McEntire from the Courier's Daughter trilogy. Logan is a technological genius. He can build anything he puts his mind to (so long as he has the parts) and has a habit of analyzing every situation and breaking them down into neat lists of best and worst case scenarios. Don't let his brains fool you though, this tech head is incredibly skilled with a sword, as well as with a nifty little weapon of his own creation he calls a "switch". Add that to his sweet and considerate personality, and desire to take care of others, and you'll see why he makes my top three.
 

 
How about your favorite female MC?
 
This is probably the hardest question thus far. I have several girls who are all very deserving of this title, but I'm going to go with Audra from Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger. Audra, to put it simply, is a "get it done" type of girl. She's a seventeen year old Sylph guardian, who protects her charge no matter what it costs her. (You've kind of got to admire her determination.) Even though she's not as popular as Tris she would definitely give her a run for her money in the bravery and toughness department. With that said, she's not some hardcore emotionless robot either. She's relatable (at least to me), clever, and has a fire to her, without being impulsive. (I find that to be rather refreshing) Audra is a unique character and I love seeing how she thinks and feels about everything going on around her.

 
What’s your favorite YA title? (You don’t have to have read it yet.) 
 
Open Thy Heart. I love the title, because it's incorporated into the story. It's not just thrown in though, it actually has a heavy significance. It's poetic, yet I feel like it also helps to shape not only the book itself, but the series for what is to come. 

Why thank you! :) I love it, too! 

Do you have a favorite line or quote? 

"Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you like. It was only ever yours to break anyway." ~Maxon Shreave. The One by Kiera Cass
 
*cue tears and feels attacks*

Favorite reading snack?
 
Nutella!!!!!

What’s the oddest thing you’ve used as a bookmark?

I think I used a random coupon I found in my mom's bag. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Indeed they do! ;) 


Thanks so much for being here--I had a lovely time interviewing you!

Check out J's lovely bio, and feel free to connect with her at the places listed below:

8 Things About J:

1. I am terrible at describing myself. (You would think that after 18 years I'd be better at it by now.)
2. I've been running my fandom account on Instagram for almost two years.
3. I'm very passionate about books and music.
4. I'm very creative, but I'm also a perfectionist when it comes to anything creative I do.
5. I firmly believe that coffee is a God-given right; not a privilege.
6. I am currently writing my first book and I'd like to write a trilogy. (Provided I survive this one, of course.)
7. I nickname all of my close friends.
8. When I find a book I love I feel morally obligated to make as many people read it as I possibly can. (Mainly indie novels. I read a lot of those and always want someone to discuss them with.)

Instagram: @life_love_fandoms
Twitter: @lifelovefandoms
Kik: @life_love_fandoms

February's #ReaderInterview with J: part one

February's reader is J, whom, like Madi, I actually first met on Instagram (isn't social media the greatest?) Howdy, lady! Thanks so much for doing this month’s Reader Interview! Let’s begin with a great question:
 
 
What’s your favorite book cover of all time, and what makes it so special?
 
Whether we want to admit it or not, I think we all, to some degree judge a book by its cover.  (Some are just too gorgeous not to be drawn to.) If I'm going to pick a more dramatic cover, I'd probably have to say The Blue-Eyed General by Rebecca Inman. The entire cover is shades of blue and it has the main character Cecelia looking out into the city. I love the edgy, moody feel of it. It really compliments the story.

If I'm going to pick something simpler, but no less lovely, I'm leaning towards Significance by Shelly Crane (which just so happens to have the same cover models as the gorgeous original paperback covers for the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout.) These covers are super simple, yet super stunning and I love that about them. They effortlessly capture the main characters' relationship and that's such an important part of this wonderful series. They are by far among my favorites on my shelves. The stories they contain are no less stunning than their covers!

Same cover models as the Lux series, huh? I love that you're mentioning books I haven't heard heard of... more to add to my TBR! :) NOTE: Significance is currently free on Amazon!

   
How about your favorite interior? (Font, design, ect.) 
 
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. The original hardcover. What can I say? I'm in love with the cross-outs. The cover is black with "Shatter Me" sliced through in silver on the spine. On the front it reads "My touch is lethal." (which is crossed out) and underneath is says "My touch is power." I think it's such a powerful element. The book is very poetic and I feel like the cross-outs add a certain grittiness and help to further connect you to the protagonist, Juliette, as well as the story.
 

Is there a book you would love to see adapted into a movie that is not yet currently in the works? What element would you look forward to seeing most, and why?  
 
I would probably start crying if Under the Never Sky was made into a movie. It is literally one of my favorite series ever. It's a dystopian, but it is so incredibly unique. I think quite a few of the elements could be difficult to work with, but there is also a lot of potential for it to be  one of the best book to movie adaptations ever done. There is an energy source called aether in the series (it's kind of like extremely volatile blue lightning). I think it would so cool to see an aether storm play out on screen. There is also a host of very diverse characters. Aria is an awesome heroine, but while she's never really "helpless" she doesn't really start out like Katniss or some of the more "typical" dystopian heroines. She has amazing character development and I would be very excited about watching that. Maybe even more so than anything else. (Well, except for Peregrine perhaps.)

What is your favorite reading location?
 
My all time favorite place to read is on my bed with my gray blanket.

Ebook or paper?

Both! I love the feel of a paper book, but at the same time I love ebooks, because I can take lots of stories with me wherever I go!

 
Name a character you would hate to be stranded with on a desert island.
 
Cassia Reyes from Matched.

Go to page 84 of your current read. What does the third sentence say?
 
'Could be him,' he said to himself. 'Sort of thing he'd do.' - Ranger's Apprentice book 12: The Royal Ranger by John Flanagan

Tell us the most recent book that made you laugh:
 
The Royal Ranger. A couple of the characters are really witty and sarcastic. These books are hilarious! I love them :)

 
How about the last book that made you cry?
 
I've never actually cried over a book before (I really just don't cry), however, I was very, very close when I read Prodigy by Marie Lu. It's the second book in the Legend trilogy (which is totally awesome). The end of Prodigy KILLS though. It's amazing, but it really hurts. (Especially when you have about a year to wait for the next book to come out.)

Oh the pain of waiting for the next release! (I actually had a hard time with the end of Champion, too, but let's not go there right now...)

Name a book you didn’t think you would like, but ended up being pleasantly surprised by.
 
Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger. I just didn't think I'd be thrilled about it, but I fell in love with it. It's funny, well-written, creative, and an all-around great series!

 
And last (for today), if you could meet one author and hang out with them for an entire day, who would it be, and why?
 
I'd actually want to meet you! I just get the feeling that we'd have a lot of fun! I really love your books and we also share a love of coffee and foxes. 

Aw, shucks, girly! I'd love to meet you, too. We could discuss allll the bookish things! One day! It *will* happen! :)



Well that's all of the first part of J's interview... check her out at the locations below and come back tomorrow for part two! :D

Instagram: @life_love_fandoms
Twitter: @lifelovefandoms
Kik: @life_love_fandoms

This week's writerly news

First off, I'm just loving The Flash. Why-oh-why isn't it going to be on for a few weeks, now? :( Here's a gif from the karaoke episode from a few weeks ago. Anyone else watch it? I'm finding myself liking it more than Arrow!

This week's writerly news is small, but it's somethin'... The cover process for Cozenage 2 will soon be under way! Woohoo! (If only I could figure out the title... Hmmm.....) I can't *wait* to see what Hafsah comes up with! 

On that note, the lovely Madi recently read/reviewed Pity Isn't An Option (Cozenage 1), and I totally got a kick out of her ship name! (Yeah, not thinking it's going to work, either, Mads!) She's started posting reviews on her blog. You should totally add her to your blogroll!

This week's song I'm loving is Peter B. Allen's The Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands. Gracious, it's so beautiful. Couldn't find it on video for ya, but you can sample part of it HERE (listen to the entire sample because what I love so much shows up at the very end); or there's a longer sample, HERE, on iTunes. After *years* of our piano sounding like a confused whale, we finally got it tuned, and I wish I could sit down and play like this! It would be so wonderful!

Around the interwebs: Did you see that ST's Kristia and Ull from The Elsker Saga (yes, same series that's featured in this month's #JLBgivesawayanINDIE) won 2015's MFEO (Made For Each Other) Tourney for SWEET NEW ADULT COUPLE OF THE YEAR? Talk about awesome! Make sure to congratulate the lovely lady if you have a chance, and if you haven't entered the giveaway yet, what are you waiting for? ;)




This week's dish is Buffalo Ranch Stuffed Peppers and it was so. Stinking. Good,. Especially with fresh, homemade guacamole! Made it a bit spicy for Lovemuffin, but I thought it was awesome. 


Waiting on Wednesday this week was DUPLICITY. I am so, SO excited about this one. It's so different and sounds very intriguing!


Also: after a bit of a break, Reader Interviews is back Monday, so keep your eyes peeled for the lovely J from life_love_fandoms on Instagram... she'll be sharing her favorite book designs, quotes, and more! :)

Have a blessed weekend!

Waiting on Wednesday {72}: DUPLICITY

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine. This week's can't-wait-to-read pre-publication book is: Duplicity.

Duplicity

by N.K. Traver

Publication date: March 17th, 2015



From Goodreads:


A computer-hacking teen. The girl who wants to save him. And a rogue mirror reflection that might be the death of them both.

In private, seventeen-year-old Brandon hacks bank accounts just for the thrill of it. In public, he looks like any other tattooed bad boy with a fast car and devil-may-care attitude. He should know: he’s worked hard to maintain that façade. With inattentive parents who move constantly from city to city, he’s learned not to get tangled up in things like friends and relationships. So he’ll just keep living like a machine, all gears and wires.

Then two things shatter his carefully-built image: Emma, the kind, stubborn girl who insists on looking beneath the surface – and the small matter of a mirror reflection that starts moving by itself. Not only does Brandon’s reflection have a mind of its own, but it seems to be grooming him for something—washing the dye from his hair, yanking out his piercings, swapping his black shirts for … pastels. Then it tells him: it thinks it can live his life better, and it’s preparing to trade places.

And when it pulls Brandon through the looking-glass, not only will he need all his ill-gotten hacking skills to escape, but he’s going to have to face some hard truths about who he’s become. Otherwise he’ll be stuck in a digital hell until he’s old and gray, and no one will even know he's gone.

Huffington Post lists N.K. Traver's Duplicity as part of one of the great YA book trends to look for in 2015!

This Valentine's Day, spread the #booklove & enter to win books + Amazon & Etsy gift cards!

Yes, you read that right! We're spreading the #booklove this weekend with the simplest, most exciting way EVER, and throwing a giveaway, to boot! After seeing so many books with a decent amount of reviews on Goodreads (indies especially), but realizing what a surprising number of those reviews never make it to actual purchasing sites like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords, I thought, maybe readers just need a little incentive! 

Reviews influence purchases...
which raise books in the ranks... 
which gets them in front of more readers...
which means they eventually get into more reader's hands... 

and that's exactly the point of spreading the #booklove: getting books to more readers! 

So. Here's how it works:

The main point of this giveaway is to encourage readers who've reviewed books on Goodreads to also share those reviews on other websites. Think of it as passing the word along, without having to do much more than copying and pasting! Easiest #booklove ever, right?! There will be no required links to share, nor will we require proof in any other way; it's all based on the honor system. We're simply encouraging readers to spread the word a little further. 

If you have no reviews to share but still want to get in the Valentine's Day spirit, feel free to share #booklove by mentioning a few of your current favorite authors or books on Twitter, Insta, Tumblr, FB, or anywhere else using the above graphic and/or by linking to this giveaway. (Don't forget to use the hashtag!) 

And now, here's what's up for grabs as a thank you for sharing the #booklove: one winner will receive TEN e-books, two novellas, an Etsy gift card, and an Amazon gift card! YAY! Read about the authors and gifts up for grabs below the Rafflecopter. As always, there's a free entry as well as other features that can get you extra entries. THANK YOU for helping us share the #booklove!

You've got sweet YA conspiracy theory, sweet NA Norse mythology, YA superheroes, YA magical realism (with a bit o' romance), and a YA space opera. Talk about lots of fun reading options!!! Remember, all readers are welcome to enter, but keep in mind that the entire spirit of the #booklove giveaway is to encourage readers to share thoughts/reviews already on Goodreads to other sites so that their favorites can be brought to the surface of the book sea that is the internet (or even be inspired to share their #booklove in some other way, like spreading word of mouth on social media or even writing review/s if they've been meaning to, but haven't gotten around to it yet). 

And now for the Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Stacey Nash, author of Forget Me Not and Remember Me (link) 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

ST Bende, author of The Elsker Saga (link)

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Hafsah Laziaf, author of Unbreathable (link)

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Cheyanne Young, author of the Powered trilogy (link)

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Jessica L. Brooks, author of the Flora series (link)

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Waiting on Wednesday {71}: ROOK

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine. This week's can't-wait-to-read pre-publication book is: Rook.

Rook

by Sharon Cameron

Publication date: April 28th, 2015



From Goodreads:


History has a way of repeating itself. In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal?

Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she.

As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse.

2nd Annual 11 Reasons I Love Book Bloggers

Hi, guys! This is my second annual 11 Reasons why I Love Book Bloggers post, and just like last year, I figured it would be perfect to do it the week of Valentines Day! *tosses heart-shaped confetti*

Last year, I had quite the detailed list, including unique blog titles, great reading challenges, and some of my favorite memes. This year, I'm going to keep the post a bit simpler with my 11 reasons; then sharing some challenges I've come across recently that you might want to participate in! So, without further ado...

11 REASONS WHY I LOVE BOOK BLOGGERS

1) Honesty. Yep. That's one thing you're always going to find with bloggers. They're honest not only about their bookish opinions, but about what's going on in their lives, what they care about, their interests, their families, and then some. (Which makes you want to meet them IRL even more. *cries*)

2) Discoverers. I have found sooooo many books under the radar that have become my very favorites, all because bloggers have taken the time to SHARE them on social media! KEEP SHARING, MY FRIENDS!

3) The squee-factor, same as last year. They read/squee. I read/squee. Then we all squee together. It's fangirl/guying at its finest, and one of my favorite things about bookish camaraderie. And it never. Gets. Old.

4) Talkers. (Even if not much of that is actually done in person.) Booktube. Book chats. Twitter. Interviews. There are soooo many ways to engage in great book conversation, all because bloggers make themselves available for book discussions.

5) Reviewers. Bloggers spend so much of their lives reading books for the sole reason that they've agreed to write out their opinions afterwards. (I agree to read about five, and I'm in a panic. How do I say it all? How do I not offend people? How do I make my review worth the authors giving me their books? How is this not more stressful for more people? How can you do that all year long? It's amazing.) Cookies to all of you.

6) Encouragers. I mean, yeah, books are our top love, but bloggers are there for so many people with words of advice and encouragement. They are so quick to build each other up!

7) Committed. Life is full of drama. Blogging is full of drama. Reading is full of drama. (Ha.) And yet, bloggers are committed to not giving up. They keep at it for whatever reasons, and that makes them awesome. *shakes pom poms*

8) Sharing. There's not much competition in the blogosphere. It's not about who has the most of anything. Instead, everyone's posts and feelings are celebrated and discussed and passed to one another (encouraging the boosting of Facebook feeds (Boost It Tuesdays), and hosting a place to post weekly reviews, giveaways and the like at Saturday Situation are just two examples of what I mean).

9) Creativity. Becca from Pivot Point Reviews makes totes. Hafsah from IceyBooks makes downloadable wallpapers (and a wholeeee lot of other stuff). Jen from Jenuine Cupcakes makes cupcakes... and so many other bloggers not only read, review, and blog, but they also create awesome ways to spread the bookish word that go beyond the usual blogosphere. 

10) Giving. Giveaways, Rafflecopters, sharing ARC love... Bloggers are always doing stuff that will enable readers to get their hands on more reads. YAY.

11) Fun. What can I say? Bloggers are fun. They're enjoyable. They're relatable. They're great to interact with. And I have to say, that's my favorite part. :)

READING CHALLENGES (click the photo to go to the challenge):

Jessica at Books a True Story has seven listed in THIS POST, including an ebook challenge, mythology challenge, and an audiobook challenge!

Also, I've been keeping a list on Twitter for quite a while now, so if you're looking for more lovely bloggers to connect with, you can peruse it HERE.

Last, I came across this Top Ten Tuesday post recently, and thought I'd share. Check out Lori and Jamie's Top Ten Reasons I Love Being a Reader/Book Blogger, then scroll down to see hundreds more! So many bloggers! (So much awesomeness!)

Thank you for all that you do, book bloggers! 

Make sure to do a shout-out of your favorite bloggers in the comments! Let's spread the blogger love!

International Book Giving Day is February 14th!

International Book Giving Day is coming up! Woot!

To download the poster above or learn more about International Book Giving Day 2015, click HERE.

Isn't this the cutest bookplate to put in your donated books? :) You can download it, HERE.

Waiting on Wednesday {70}: Hello, I Love You

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine. This week's can't-wait-to-read pre-publication book is: Hello, I Love You.

Hello, I Love You

by Katie M. Stout

Publication date: June 19th, 2015

From Goodreads:


A teen escapes to a boarding school abroad and falls for a Korean pop star in this fun and fresh romantic novel in the vein of Anna and the French Kiss.

Grace Wilde is running—from the multi-million dollar mansion her record producer father bought, the famous older brother who’s topped the country music charts five years in a row, and the mother who blames her for her brother’s breakdown. Grace escapes to the farthest place from home she can think of, a boarding school in Korea, hoping for a fresh start.

She wants nothing to do with music, but when her roommate Sophie’s twin brother Jason turns out to be the newest Korean pop music superstar, Grace is thrust back into the world of fame. She can't stand Jason, whose celebrity status is only outmatched by his oversized ego, but they form a tenuous alliance for the sake of her friendship with Sophie. As the months go by and Grace adjusts to her new life in Korea, even she can't deny the sparks flying between her and the KPOP idol.

Soon, Grace realizes that her feelings for Jason threaten her promise to herself that she'll leave behind the music industry that destroyed her family. But can Grace ignore her attraction to Jason and her undeniable pull of the music she was born to write? Sweet, fun, and romantic, this young adult novel explores what it means to experience first love and discover who you really are in the process.

February's #ELSKER #JLBgivesawayanINDIE has officially begun!

February's #JLBgivesawayanINDIE ELSKER photo-a-day challenge and Rafflecopter has officially begun! *passes out snicker doodles* In order to allow both US and INTL entries, S.T. has graciously offered to give away a paperback copy of ELSKER to the US winner, or if the winner is INTL, she will be giving away a paperback copy of TUR (the prequel novella to ELSKER). 

ICYMI, here's this month's photo-a-day challenge:

Feel free to participate in both the photo-a-day challenge and the giveaway, or one or the other! There are many ways to enter the Rafflecopter (including a daily free entry), so scroll down to meet S.T. Bende, author of the Elsker Saga, and then check out the Rafflecopter, below! :)

ABOUT S.T.:

Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, S.T. Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of McVities cookies. Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired the books of The Elsker Saga. She hopes her characters make you smile and that one day, pastries will be considered a health food.

Find S.T. on Twitter @stbende, her blog, or send her an e-mail. While you're at it, introduce yourself to @UllMyhr -- when he's not saving the cosmos from dark elves, he loves meeting new friends . . . especially the human kind.

S.T. Bende's Norse-mythology inspired paranormal romances plant Thor, Ull, Sif, Odin, the Valkyries and the bodyguards right smack dab in the middle of the human world. Her stories have sweet kisses, mythological monsters, and swoon-worthy heroes. The first book in The Elsker Saga, ELSKER, is currently FREE on all major e-book retailers! Pull up a chair and meet the gods, and see why readers call S.T.'s stories "nearly impossible to put down!" And while you're at it, help yourself to some Norsk waffles. They are the God of Winter's favorite, after all...

Add Elsker to Goodreads

Thank you for helping us spread the INDIE and BOOK LOVE!

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