BLOGMANIA!

WELCOME To BLOGMANIA!

A Journey of Books is #58 of 123

You've heard about me talk about Blogmania.  Today is that day!  Read below for more details from the organizers.

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You’ve arrived at exactly the right time to explore lots of new blogs, all of which, ARE GIVING AWAY A VERY SPECIAL BLOGMANIA GIVEAWAY (For One Day Only – April 30th).

We’ve done all the work for you. No hunting or surfing. Each blog will have a number and each new blog link will have a number. These numbers will allow you to keep track of which blogs you’ve visited and how many are left to visit. Why not take a moment to make a list of blog numbers 1-123 and check off the blogs as you go.

I know you’ll want to visit as many blogs today as you can. So, if you see something that interests you on any of our participating blogs, why not bookmark that site. Later, when you have more time, you can discover all its fabulous treasures.

My Giveaway:  Ready for some fun?  I am giving away a signed copy of SPIRIT BOUND by Richelle Mead, the fifth book in her Vampire Academy series.  What?  That's not enough?  Well, okay then.  How about that book plus another of your choice (current or pre-order)?  Does that work for you?

Haven't read the Vampire Academy series yet?  How can that be?  No worries - you can choose one of the earlier books in the series instead of SPIRIT BOUND if you want.

Wait, this giveaway still isn't good enough?  Well, what shall we do.  Fine, for every additional 50 followers we gain I will throw in another book of your choice (up to two extra books this way).  Beyond that it will take another 100 followers to add another book, 200 for two, etc.  Right now we're at 377.  I know, 50 followers, one book, yeah right.  Hey, I'm broke!  I can't make it too easy on you!

Fill out the form below to enter.  This giveaway is open to international residents, but I will be ordering books from The Book Depository so they most likely would not be signed.  This giveaway lasts until the end of April 30th, so make sure to tell your friends to stop on by.

Want an easy way to keep track of which blogs you have visited?  You can make your own list or you can use mine: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0ApSHBPVbwmRidG15R1Fnb2tzc3dPWHF6ZS1CN1JweEE&hl=en.  Simply put your name in the next available name slot, put an X next to the blogs you have visited and hit save.  Everyone can edit this, so please be kind and do not change anyone else's info.  Also, I recommend against using your first and last name for security reasons.  

(Blog- 1 – HOST OF BLOGMANIA) Between The Pages - http://betweenthelinesandmore.blogspot.com/
(Blog -2 – CO-HOST OF BLOGMANIA) The Black Sheep Dances - http://www.theblacksheepdances.blogspot.com
(Blog-43 - CO-HOST OF BLOGMANIA) Books, Books Everywhere - http://bookywooks.blogspot.com/
(Blog-93) The Book Tree - http://thebooktree.blogspot.com
(Blog-4) Books R Us - www.booksrusonline.com
(Blog-30) Believing is Seeing - http://sandrasookoo.wordpress.com/
(Blog-65) Throuthehaze Reads - http://throuthehaze-reads.blogspot.com
(Blog-48) Sandra K. Marshall - http://www.sandramarshallblog.blogspot.com
(Blog-113) 3349 World Postcards - http://3349worldpostcards.blogspot.com/
(Blog-29) DemonLover’s Book Reviews - http://demonloversbookreviewsmore.blogspot.com/
(Blog-122) Martha’s Bookshelf - http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/

Did you get lost somewhere along the way?  Feel free to visit the master list at http://betweenthelinesandmore.blogspot.com to jump back in.

Blogmania Starts Tomorrow!

Blogmania starts in less than 12 hours!

Looking to check out some new blogs and enter some awesome giveaways?  The blogs in Blogmania have all agreed to host fantastic giveaways that you are not going to want to miss.

Our giveaway: 1 signed copy of Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead and one other book of your choice.

Haven't read the rest of the VA series yet?  No worries.  You can trade out Spirit Bound for another book if you like.  No guarantees that it will be signed, but we'll try our hardest!

This will be open internationally although the books will be coming from The Book Depository so will most likely not be signed.

Below are the Blogmania details written by the organizers.

Blogmania Early Bird Check List:

We want all of our visiting guests in our first Blogmania Event scheduled for April 30th to Get On Their Marks-Get Set…

It’s not time to go yet, but if you want to have the most fun and scoop up as much loot as possible, here are a few Early Bird Reminders to help you do just that.

1. Be at any of the blogs participating in the Blogmania Event as early as possible on April 30th. The easiest way to find a Blogmania Blog is to look for the Blogmania Badge.

2. This is an international event, so understand that there will be some differences in time zones. My advice is to start early and stay late to catch all the blogs.

3. Each blog will have their own giveaway requirements. Read them carefully, follow through, and then move on as quickly as possible. If you run across a blog that you really like and want to spend some
time exploring, copy their URL and then visit them after Blogmania is over.

4. We will have a 100+ blogs for you to visit. Each one will post their number like this. ( This is blog 47 of 100) This is to help you keep track of which blogs you’ve visited, and which ones you still need to reach. I’d suggest that you prepare a blog sheet which is numbered from 1 – 120, then mark off each numbered blog as you visit them.

5. All blog links provided will also have a number like (Blog 89 of 100). Look for the blogs that you haven’t yet visited and follow those links until you’ve checked off all the blogs on your sheet.

6. We have all types of blogs participating in Blogmania, which means that the range of items in their giveaways are diverse. I have previewed many and they are awesome.

7. Why not contact a friend and partner up. Compare notes, share loot, or organize your own friendly neighborhood Blogmania Competition.

This is our first Blogmania Event, but it isn’t our last. Blogmania is a bi-yearly Giveaway Extravaganza. In fact, our next Blogmania Event will start September 15th, and do we have some cool stuff planned for you! So keep in touch with our Blogmania Blogs, because they will be giving sneak previews, secret codes, and who knows what else in the weeks and months ahead.

Trailer Thursday - PERCHANCE TO DREAM by Lisa Mantchev

I am currently reading PERCHANCE TO DREAM, the second in the Théâtre Illuminata series by Lisa Mantchev. Just as colorful and fanciful as the first, Eyes Like Stars, this is a fabulous read that I am positive is turn heads. That could also be the sweets flying through the air. Either way, heads will turn!

I present to you today's Trailer Thursday, or Thursday Trailer - either works.

PERCHANCE TO DREAM by Lisa Mantchev

Feiwel and Friends

May 25, 2010


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DjcbesXSk4&feature=player_embedded

I know some of you are having the same problem I am where embedded videos won't play. If this is the case for you, simply watch the trailer on YouTube. Don't forget to come back and share your thoughts!

Find the blurb on Goodreads. {{SPOILERS}}

Waiting on Wednesday - WHAT CURIOSITY KILLS by Helen Ellis

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.

Did you know Sourcebooks has come out with their own teen line?  Sourcebooks Fire looks like it has some great titles, one of which really stands out to me.

The Turning Book 1: What Curiosity Kills by Helen Ellis looks fantastic.  What would you do if you discovered that you were changing into something else?  I think the story looks intriguing and the cover is gorgeous.

THE TURNING BOOK 1: WHAT CURIOSITY KILLS by Helen Ellis
Release Date: May 1, 2010
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
ISBN#: 9781402238611

From Goodreads:

Mary Richards is a normal sixteen-year-old girl living in Manhattan. Well, almost normal. She goes to private school on the Upper East Side, having been saved from a life of squalor by an adoptive family. But she’s also slowly transforming into a cat.

Struggling to hide her physical metamorphosis, Mary discovers that she isn’t alone. A whole race of cat people prowls the streets of Manhattan at night, including Mary’s long-time crush, Nick.

Aside from heightened feline senses, hanging out with Nick is the best thing about discovering her inner kitty. But Mary’s transformation is special and could decide the outcome of a citywide turf war. She must decide whether to embrace her powerful feline side and become a pack leader or go back to being a normal teenage girl. Can she land on her feet or will curiosity be her downfall?

What are you waiting on?

BURNED by P.C. and Kristin Cast - Read the first chapter online!

House of Night fans - I know you're out there. I can hear you breathing!

I have made absolutely no secret of the fact that I am a fan of P.C. Cast. I first discovered her through the House of Night series that she coauthors with her daughter, Kristin. I later fell in love with her writing, loving the fact that her other series (Partholon) are just as fantastic. If you're not familiar with the House of Night series, I think you really should be. It was one of the first "vampire" series to catch my eye after the Twilight craze and I know it's become a favorite for many. The Cast ladies write emotional and complex tales of Zoey Redbird, a teenaged vampyre struggling to discover herself and the secrets that might tear the world apart. What makes the Cast bloodsuckers different from the other stories out there is the very real feel of the story, the addition of the Goddess Nyx and the magical feel she gives to the books.

Plus, there are tattoos! Who doesn't love tattoos?

Today, being the joyous day that it is, marks the release of a few Young Adult books that look fabulous. Burned, the seventh book in the House of Night series happens to be one of them and you get to read the first chapter online for free!

So excited! Zoey, Stevie Rae and the hot guys surrounding them make for a great addiction.

House of Night books: Marked, Betrayed, Chosen, Untamed, Hunted, Tempted, Burned


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmJjEDZJkYc
Want to download the song?

From Goodreads:

Read more »

Teaser Tuesday - WITCHLING by Yasmine Galenorn

Tuesday is upon us!  Everybody run for the hills!

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Should Be Reading. The rules are fairly simple.

1. Grab your current read and let the book fall open to a random page.

2. Choose two sentences between lines 7-12 and share them.

3. Make sure to post the title and author of the book so that we can all go find it if the teaser catches our interest.

4. Be very careful not to post spoilers! Nobody wants to read a spoiled book.

Today I am reading WITCHLING (Sisters of the Moon, 1) by Yasmine Galenorn.  Camille makes my heart happy and the delicious Trillian isn't too bad himself.  If you haven't tried the Sisters of the Moon series yet, I highly recommend it.

"For a moment, a hundred red eyes peered out of the gloom, staring in my direction.  Needing no further hint, I slid into the driver's seat and pulled back onto the road" (pg. 56). WITCHLING by Yasmine Galenorn

The characters are interesting, cute, and easy to connect with.  While there is a darker feel to the book, there is also an energetic side to it that whips the reader around, often times giving me goosebumps.

What's your teaser on this find Tuesday?

**On a complete side note - Happy Release Day to J.R. Ward for Lover Mine, Leah Cypess for Mistwood, P.C. and Kristin Cast for Burned, and Steve Feasey for Wereling!**

MISTWOOD Review - Leah Cypess

This review was done in partnership with Enchanting Reviews YA.  My full review can be found there.

MISTWOOD by Leah Cypess
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 320
ISBN#: 9780061956997
My Recommended Age Group: Young Adult to Adult
Released: April 27, 2010


Our Rating:

Shop at an independent bookseller!

From Goodreads:

The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwod.

But when she is needed she always comes.

Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.

Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty--because without it, she may be his greatest threat.

Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.

Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.

My thoughts (Full Review):

MISTWOOD by Leah Cypess is a robust tale of royalty, deception, self-discovery, romance and a decent amount of the paranormal. As we follow Isabel throughout the story, we learn more about her and the memories that slowly come back to her. Snatches of memory and good reasoning skills allows Isabel to discover that Rokhan may not be who he truly seems although the compulsion of the Shifter magic forces her to protect him anyway. Uncovering more about Isabel and Rokhan, we find ourselves in the midst of deception. Full of sorcerers, princes, princesses, kings and the Shifter, MISTWOOD is a wonderful tale of magic and the strength of the human spirit.

Writing:

Interest:

Passion:

Originality:

Characters:

Pace:

Book Cover: 3/3

Monday Mailbox

Oh Monday, how I have not missed you.  There is one good thing that comes with the beginning of the week and that is Monday Mailbox.  Monday Mailbox is part of In My Mailbox (IMM) hosted by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.  This weekly event serves to allow us to divulge the contents of our mailboxes for the week and see what fantastic finds others have discovered in theirs.

For Review:

The Icing On the Cupcake: A Novel by Jennifer Ross
Release date: April 27, 2010

I am way excited about this book!  It looks super cute and the cover is gorgeous to boot.  I think I'll have to try out a bunch of the recipes in here and let you know just how delicious the sugary treats are in addition to the review.

From Goodreads:

In this delectable novel—complete with recipes—Jennifer Ross frosts a sweet story of a young woman fulfilling her dreams, one delicious cupcake at a time.

In Ansley Waller’s world of Southern belles and gentlemen, getting a diamond ring isn’t just important—it’s the ultimate goal. So when her fiancé, Parish, unceremoniously kicks her to the curb and cancels their upcoming wedding, Ansley is so ashamed that she decides to leave Dallas and make a fresh start. In a surprise move, she heads to New York City to live with her recently widowed grandmother, Vivian, whom she’s never met. In turn, Vivian gives Ansley a no-nonsense ultimatum: Rather than wallow in misery, either get a job or go home.

The Waller women have a tradition of baking their way out of sorrow. So Ansley mixes batch after batch of creative cupcakes—Black Bottom Heartache, Moving Blues Banana Caramel, Tres Leches Made Small. Before long, she’s opening up her own cupcake shop and even trying her hand at dating. But the ways of Manhattan’s eligible bachelors are altogether different from their Southern counterparts, and Ansley’s nearly fail-safe tactics fall flat. And worse, someone’s got a half-baked scheme to sabotage Ansley’s new life. It’ll take a cup of courage and a dash of Southern charm, plus a few secret ingredients, if Ansley hopes to pull off her recipe for success.

Bought:

Some of you may have caught my recent post regarding my confusion about where to buy my books. I still have not come to a clear decision in that matter...but that doesn't really change my impulsive nature.

We visited Costco yesterday and just couldn't help myself. I purchased the following books at quite a steal and while I feel a little bad about getting them for so cheap, I can help the giddy feeling that comes of hugging new books to me, gazing adoringly over the covers and pages that are now mine.

*cough*

That doesn't sound creepy...does it?

Evernight (Evernight 1)  by Claudia Gray

In my infinite wisdom I had actually already purchased the second in this series, Stargazer (Evernight 2).  Lot of good that did me!

From Goodreads:

Bianca wants to escape.

She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him.

"I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would."

But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

Dark Visions by L.J. Smith

This contains The Strange Power, The Possessed, and The Passion.  My husband laughed at me because I had just finished telling him that I did not want to buy The Mortal Instruments (containing City of Bones, City of Ashes, and City of Glass) even if I could get it cheaper than each of the three books separately.  My reasoning?  I wanted each cover.  I couldn't pass up this one though - the price was just too good.

From Goodreads:

The Strange Power:

The bestselling author of The Vampire Diaries offers a winning new trilogy of romantic horror. Frightened and isolated, a girl hopes for a new life when she is invited to an institute with four other psychically gifted students. Soon they learn the truth about an experiment that threatens their sanity and their lives.

The Possessed:

The bestselling author of The Forbidden Game brings readers the second volume in her all-new horror trilogy, Dark Visions. Now, Kaitlyn Fairchild and her four friends have no choice but to follow their own psychic gifts . . . to a lonely white house on a cliff . . . and into the terrifying unknown!

The Passion:

This is the final tale in the bestselling author L.J. Smith's romantic horrortrilogy. Now, Kaitlyn Fairchild and her friends must put the powerful crystalto the test--to stop an experiment that has turned one of them into a psychicvampire. Kaitlyn must choose at last--Rob or Gabriel.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

I have a new marketing scheme for books.  You ready?  Give everybody the last two sentences right up front.

I wasn't going to pick this book up, but after having heard so much talk about it, I grabbed it and quickly flipped through.  For whatever reason my eyes found the last page (I swear I never do that!) and the last two lines.  I got goosebumps, my curiosity went into overdrive, and the book went floating down into the cart along with the two others.  Needless to say, I am super anxious to read this book now.

From Goodreads:

What if you had everything:

A gorgeous boyfriend who was madly in love with you?
Quirky hip parents who totally got you?
A musical talent that could take you anywhere?
What if your biggest problem in life was choosing which path to take?
Follow your first love--music-- to New York City?
Or stay with your boyfriend, friends, and family?


What if one day, you went out for a drive...

And in an instant everything changed?

What if suddenly all the other choices were gone?

Except for one--the only one that truly mattered?

What would you do?

A sophisticated, layered, and heart achingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands.