"To find out what a story's really about,' the Librarian said,

'you don't ask the writer. You ask the reader."


- SNOW & ROSE by Emily Winfield Martin


Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Book Blitz (Excerpt and Giveaway): FALL WITH ME (Wait For You #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (NA)



FALL WITH ME
Wait For You #4
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Expected release date: March 31st, 2015
Published by Avon 
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Format: Paperback, eBook

SUMMARY

Eleven months ago, bartender and weird-shirt-wearing extraordinaire Roxy and Officer Reece Anders had a one night stand. Well, kind of. She’s been in love with him since she was fifteen, and he wishes that night they shared never happened. She’s sworn him off forever, but the past and future collide, forcing her to rely on the one man who broke her heart not once, but twice.

Her best friend since birth has been in a long-term care facility since he became a victim of a hate crime years ago, and the person who put him in there is out of prison and wanting to make amends with him and Roxy. She’s not sure she has room for forgiveness in her and when she begins to receive frightening messages and is on the receiving end of escalating violence, she thinks she knows who is to blame. The man who already destroyed one life already.

But Reece isn’t convinced. The threats are too personal, and even if Roxy doesn’t believe him, he’s not willing to let anyone hurt her. Including himself. He’s already messed up more than once when it comes to Roxy and he’s not going to let history repeat itself.



BOOK TRAILER - Fall With Me



EXCERPT

Someone—was it Melvin?—catcalled as Reece led me down the hall, and my cheeks flushed. “Okay, heman, I can walk all by my little self.”

He cast a look over his shoulder at me as he opened the office door. “I’m sure you can.”

Then he pulled me inside.

My gaze flipped to the roses—the roses!—but before I could say a word, he closed the door and my back was pressed against it, his hands planted on either side of my head and his face right in mine. Like right there, within kissing distance.

Wow.

“So, I was at my father’s place in New Jersey most of the day, and you know, he lives out near the Pine Barrens, so service is shit.”

I nodded even though I really wasn’t processing what he was saying as I was too busy staring at his mouth. Those lips, fuller on the bottom, drove me to distraction.

“I pull out of his driveway and I have all these messages from Dennis,” he continued, and I finally caught on to what he was talking about. “I honestly thought he was messing with me at first.”

I cringed. “He... um, he wasn’t.”

He shot me a bland look. “That much I figured out.” His hands slid on the door, stopping just shy of touching my shoulders. “What did he do to you?”

“What?” I blinked.

“What did that bastard do to make you throw a book through his windshield?”

Oh. Oh. My heart was now wiggling along with my stomach. “He really didn’t do anything. I just lost my cool. He wanted to talk to me, and I didn’t want to talk to him.”

“You don’t have to talk to him.”

“That’s what Dennis said, but I shouldn’t have damaged his car.”

A muscle flexed along his right jaw. “That’s true.” He shook his head. “Damn, Roxy, can’t say I’m surprised.”

My brows flew up. “You’re not?”

He laughed under his breath. “Babe, you’ve always had a hell of a temper on you.”

Ah, that was kind of true. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

Reece cocked his head to the side. “A sexy thing, but vandalism and destruction of property doesn’t look good on you, sweets.”

“No. It doesn’t match my manicure.” I raised my hands, flashing him the blue nails.

He laughed again and then he sobered up, just like that. Cop Face was on, and yeah . . . the low coiling in my stomach told me I found Cop Face arousing. “You’re lucky. He could’ve pressed charges, and this conversation would be going in a whole different direction.”

My own half smile slipped off my face. “I know. It’s... I was just with Charlie, and he’s... ” Unable to continue, I forced a casual shrug I didn’t feel. “What are you going to do with me?”

His lips parted as his chest rose with a deep breath, then his gaze dropped to my mouth, and his expression tightened. He looked... he looked hungry. “I have lots of ideas.”




FALL WITH ME Buy Links



GIVEAWAY



ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Jennifer L. Armentrout


# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.



Monday, March 30, 2015

Cover Reveal: LEAD ME BACK HOME by Brandi Lynch (YA)


by Brandi Lynch
Expected release date: October 6th, 2015
Published by Spencer Hill Press
Genre: Young Adult
Format: Paperback, eBook


SUMMARY

High school junior Trisha Myles thought her sister loved her, but her sister's suicide note revealed that she'd wished Trisha had never existed. In the aftermath, Trisha abandons her old life to become a social ghost. Not existing is sort of peaceful... until a vicious bully targets her.

She’s saved by Jesse Reagan - the one guy in Hoghfield, Alabama who outranks her as an outcast. Trisha’s desire to live blossoms, but spending time with Jesse is more than she bargained for. After she freaks over the slashes on his arms, he explains he’s cursed - a curse that can only be controlled by blood magic. Trisha thinks he’s insane - especially when he tells her someone has cursed her, too. But when freak accidents almost crush Jesse with a truck and destroy her attempts to reclaim her old life, Trisha knows it’s not just a delusion.

A ritual can free them from their curses, but only if they can shed their guilt and anger. 

However, if Trisha and Jesse can’t let go, the curse will bleed Jesse dry, and Trisha will lose the person who brought her back to life. 



MY THOUGHTS

I really do like this cover, it gives us insight to who Jesse is...
I love the monochromatic coloring and feel of it!



ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Brandi Lynch


Brandi Lynch lives in rural Arkansas with her fiance.

When she's not reading or conjuring stories of her own, she enjoys delving into the rich world of an RPG or chatting on Twitter.

Oh, and there's work in between.



Thursday, March 26, 2015

Book Blitz (Excerpt and Giveaway): THE SECRET DIAMOND SISTERS TRILOGY by Michelle Madow (YA)


http://yaboundbooktours.blogspot.com/2015/03/book-blitz-sign-up-secret-diamond.html

Release date: February 25th, 2014
Published by Harlequin Teen
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Format: Paperback, eBook


SUMMARY

Savannah. Courtney. Peyton.

The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite.

Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.


Buy Links:




EXCERPT from the first book, THE SECRET DIAMOND SISTERS

COURTNEY DIAMOND

The fireworks started before either of them could say anything more, bursts of light shooting into the desert sky, bigger than any firework show Courtney had seen in Fairfield. It was impossible to ignore the electricity bouncing between the inches of space separating her and Brett, dancing across her skin with each boom overhead. She couldn’t stop glancing at him from the corner of her eye. He looked lost in thought, although sometimes she swore she caught him watching her, too. This went on for twenty minutes, and then came the finale—shot after shot of fireworks exploding, without a second’s break between them. Some sored into their air like comets and others spread like meteor showers, filling up miles of sky.

When it was over, Courtney was sitting so close to Brett that their arms were an inch from touching.
“How did you like it?” he asked, not making an effort to move away.

“I loved it,” she replied. “Thanks for bringing me.”

Her head felt fuzzy, and she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her arm brushing his. She stilled at the touch, and he looked at her with more intensity than he had the entire night.

“Are you two ready to leave?” Dawn destroyed the moment, standing up and brushing invisible dust off her jeans.

Courtney jerked backward, torn out of her trance. If the others hadn’t been there, what would have happened between her and Brett? She’d never kissed a guy before, but from the way he was looking at her, she felt like he’d wanted to kiss her. And if he had, she wasn’t sure she would have stopped him.

She shook her head at the thought. Courtney had never broken a rule in her life.


Whatever had just occurred between her and Brett could never happen again.


* * * * *


Diamonds in the Rough
Release date: October 28th, 2014
Published by Harlequin Teen
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Format: Paperback, eBook


SUMMARY

All-access doesn't mean no problems.

The three Diamond sisters survived the summer in style after coming to live with their long-lost billionaire father. But making a place for themselves at their exclusive new Las Vegas private school is throwing them any number of gold-plated curves. Savannah's YouTube stardom turns into a Sweet Sixteen reality show extravaganza—with complimentary enemies on the side. Dangerous flirtations don't keep Peyton from a gamble that will risk far more than she planned to bet. And when Courtney and the sisters' archenemy, Madison, uncover two explosive secrets, it will rock even this town of glittering illusion—and turn their lives upside down all over again.

Sisterhood, first crushes, and scandalous secrets explode in book two of Michelle Madow's riveting series, The Secret Diamond Sisters.





Buy Links (Available for Pre-Order):



* * * * * 

Read my review of THE SECRET DIAMOND SISTERS here!!!

Read my review of DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH here!!!

* * * * * 


Add BOOK 3 to your Goodreads NOW!!!
(The Secret Diamond Sisters #3) 
by Michelle Madow

* * * * * 


GIVEAWAY

The Secret Diamond Sisters swag pack that includes: 
- The Secret Diamond Sisters lip balm
- The Secret Diamond Sisters pin
- Postcards for each of the Diamond sisters
- a signed bookmark
- and a Secret Diamond Sisters sticker.

(Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, stolen, unclaimed, damaged, etc. prizes.)


ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Michelle Madow


Michelle Madow wrote her first novel, Remembrance, in her junior year of college. Remembrance is the first book in the Transcend Time Saga, a three part series about reincarnation and true love that Michelle successfully self-published. The series was inspired by Taylor Swift's "Love Story" music video. Michelle's upcoming YA trilogy, The Secret Diamond Sisters, about three sisters who discover they are the secret heirs to a Las Vegas billionaire casino owner will be published by Harlequin TEEN in Spring 2014.

Michelle graduated from Rollins College in 2010, cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the International English Honor Society Sigma Tau Delta. She received the Charles Hyde Pratt Award for Excellence in Creative Writing in 2010.

She lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where she is writing more novels for young adults. She loves reading, spending time with family and friends, traveling, shopping, sunshine, Disney fairy tales, Broadway musicals, and spends way too much time on Facebook and Twitter.

Goodreads / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter

To chat with Michelle and other fans about her books, 



Book Blitz Organized by:
YA Bound Book Tours


Announcing: THE MAZE RUNNER / THE SCORCH TRIALS COLLECTOR'S EDITION by James Dashner (YA)


I am SO very excited to share with you that a collector's edition of THE MAZE RUNNER and THE SCORCH TRIALS by #1 New York Times bestselling author, James Dashner is being released on April 14th, 2015!!!

This collector's edition will include BOTH novels,
as well as exclusive content that has never before been in print!
ALSO, this volume will include "The Maze Runner Files" - which features top-secret information, overheard conversations, emails between WICKED employees, memos meant to be destroyed after reading and a selection of the Gladers' suppressed memories - ALL the things that will help fans unlock some of the mysteries behind the MAZE, the GLADERS and the people who them in there.

This edition will also include an exclusive fan sticker!

Now here is a look of the collector's edition BOOKCOVER!!!


THE MAZE RUNNER / THE SCORCH TRIALS
Collector's Edition
by James Dashner
Release date: April 14th, 2015
Published by Random House Children's Books
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Format: Hardcover


ABOUT THE MAZE RUNNER:

If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.

Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.

Everything is going to change.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

Remember. Survive. Run.



ABOUT THE SCORCH TRIALS:

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. 

Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn’t done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch. 

There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die.

The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch—the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them. 

Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off. 

There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR - James Dashner


James Dashner is a New York Times bestselling author and the winner of numerous awards for his novels. In addition to the critically acclaimed Maze Runner series, Dashner is the author of the Mortality Doctrine series, the Thirteenth Reality series, and two books in the Infinity Ring series. 

He lives in Utah with his family.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #125: THE REST OF US JUST LIVE HERE by Patrick Ness (YA)


"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

This is where we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released!!!
The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night!!!
And, quite possibly, to make our shelves look pretty too :) 


What I'm currently waiting for... 


by Patrick Ness
Expected release date: October 6th, 2015
Published by Harper Teen
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Format: Hardcover, eBook


U.S. Hardcover Book Cover
SUMMARY

What if you weren’t the Chosen One?

What if you’re not the one who’s so often the hero in YA fiction; who’s supposed to fight the zombies, or the soul-eating ghosts, or whatever this new thing is, with the blue lights and the death? 

What if you were like Mikey? 

Who just wants to graduate and go to prom and maybe finally work up the courage to ask Henna out before someone goes and blows up the high school. 
Again. 

Because sometimes there are problems bigger than this week’s end of the world and sometimes you just have to find the extraordinary in your ordinary life. 

Even if your best friend might just be the God of mountain lions.





UK Hardcover Book Cover

Why I'm waiting for THE REST OF US JUST LIVE HERE...

First - I'm not the "Chosen One"??? 

Second - because it's Patrick Ness!!!
Who wrote A Monster Calls and broke me for forever...
I need to read more of his words!

Lastly - because I don't know what the US cover is going to look like yet, and I don't care!
And you all know that I'm a cover snob - so, this means a lot! lol



SO, what are you waiting for right now!?!?


Saturday, March 21, 2015

Review: WINNIE, The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh by Sally M. Walker (C)


by Sally M. Walker
Illustrated by Jonathan D. Voss
Release date: January 20th, 2015
Published by: Henry Holt and Co. (Macmillan)
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Format: Hardcover, eBook
Format read: ARC from the publisher. 


SUMMARY

Who could care for a bear?

When Harry Colebourn saw a baby bear for sale at the train station, he knew he could care for it. Harry was a veterinarian. But he was also a soldier in training for World War I. Harry named the bear Winnie, short for Winnipeg, his company’s home town, and he brought her along to the training camp in England. Winnie followed Harry everywhere and slept under his cot every night. Before long, she became the regiment’s much-loved mascot.

But who could care for the bear when Harry had to go to the battleground in France? 

Harry found just the right place for Winnie while he was away — the London Zoo. 

There a little boy named Christopher Robin came along and played with Winnie — he could care for this bear too!

Sally Walker’s heartwarming story, paired with Jonathan Voss’s evocative illustrations, brings to life the story of the real bear who inspired Winnie the Pooh.


MY REVIEW

I always knew that Winnie-the-Pooh was inspired by a real bear, but I never knew the actual story about how that bear came to inspire A.A. Milne's book. Told in a story format for all children to understand and enjoy, we learn about where the bear was found, how she was loved and brought to England, and how the famous author came to meet her.

During a quick train stop, Harry sees a bear and needs to know why there is a bear on a leash on the platform. He immediately runs off the train to see. And ends up buying the bear and bringing it with him to army training camp.
I don't think Harry, who names the bear Winnipeg, ever thought that he would be caring for a bear while taking of the army's horses during the war. And especially never could have foreseen how she would change everyone's lives, bring so much love and joy to those around her and would later go on to become one of the most famous bears in the world.

What my kids and I enjoyed the most is being able to see black and white photos of Harry, Winnie and other persons mentioned in the book. Along with the grand illustrations, which were precise with age and historical aspects, Winnie's story not only came to life for us, but it felt like we were there, alongside all the characters, discovering this sweet little bear and the world around her.

This is the perfect book for all who love Pooh, history and, also, those with lively imaginations that will allow them to hop on the train with Harry and Winnie and experience a wonderful adventure.


*An ARC was sent to me from the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Sally M. Walker

Sally M. Walker has written science books for children, including Earthquakes, an NSTA/CBC Best Science Trade Book of 1997. 
She lives in DeKalb, IL.


Stacking the Shelves #88: March Book Haul Part 3


Hello fellow bookgeeks :)

There's snow on the ground. Again. On the first day of spring...

Great week this week! Lots of reading was done!
Now, if only I can catch up on all of my reviews and blog posts!

Hope you are all having a wondrous weekend :) xo



*What I received for review...
THOSE GIRLS (ARC) by Lauren Saft from The Novl
- MY DINOSAUR IS MORE AWESOME! (HB) by Simon Coster from Sky Pony Press
- ALWAYS THERE BEAR (HB) by Trudi Granger, Illustrated by Gareth Llewhellin from Sky Pony Press

*Books I received in trades because of "HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?" meme :)

*A thank you gift from my #OTSPSecretSister, Maura aka The Whimsical Mama :) 
- THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN (PB) by Holly Black 

*What I purchased...
THRONE OF GLASS (PB) by Sarah J. Maas

*What I pre-ordered...
- SHINGALING: A Wonder Story (eBook) by S.J. Palacios (MG)


* * * 

A few pics from this past week :)

My Friday/Weekend reading :)

This was our last bit of snow... until the 5inches that was dumped on us last night :(

No nap time!!! Reading time :)

* * * 

Please help Annie get her new lungs!

https://m.helphopelive.org/campaign/6507?3.13.829
My husbands sister, Ann Marie, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at the age of 2.
Until a year ago, she has been living a relatively normal and active life... 
Ann Marie is in need of a double-lung transplant now.
Any donations will be forever appreciated.
Healing prayers too!

Please click on the link for more info!

* * * 

Thank you SO much for stopping by today!!!

Don't forget to leave a comment with your link so I can visit you too, please!!!
xoxo

 
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