30 November, 2011

Bestseller For A Day: Spotlight Amber Scott




Book: SOUL SEARCH
Author: AMBER SCOTT
Genre: FANTASY/ROMANCE
Published: September 2011


Series: none
Source: author via Bestseller For A Day, no other compensation given for honest review

From Good Reads:
Three years ago, one horrific night changed his life forever. And now the wolf soul that was invoked to save him is taking over his body, day by day.

Can he master his animal instincts in time to discover who is stealing children's souls before the delicate balance we all depend upon is shattered?

Or will he reject the one woman who can help heal his body and his soul?



My Review:
SOUL SEARCH combines a curious collection of elements that somehow work perfectly for the novel. There's a historical feel to the setting, but the rest of the book is pure fantasy. Leigh Hamilton is a spiritualist that really can see ghosts, and experiences visions that have no earthly explanations. Grant Connel was just a man, until the day his nephew was stolen in front of his eyes, and he gained the ability to shapeshift into a wolf. The two are pushed together when Grant's sister enlists Leigh to help them find her son, Tristan.

Though the mystery of Grant's "malady" and the search for Tristan are the main plot, the romance that develops between Grant and Leigh, as well as the friendship between Leigh and Beatrice (Grant's sister and Tristan's mother) drive much of the emotional aspect of the novel. As this is not my first time reading a book by Amber Scott, I was happy to see that that aspect of her writing was present in this book. Scott has a way with words, filling her writing with thoughtful, powerful moments. The romance is certainly great, but she always has other relationships between her characters that develop throughout.

SOUL SEARCH is definitely a fresh look at what can fit into the paranormal genre. You don't have to go any further to find a great read once you pick up this book. Scott knows how to deliver a page-turning novel that is one part mystery, one part romance, one part magical and all parts riveting.

4/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 12/15 (3.5 stars) Highly Recommend




The great people behind the Indie Book Collective are back with another Bestseller For A Day. Don't know what that is?

Bestseller For A Day is a 24-hour promotion for one of the Indie Book Collective authors. It gives them the chance to have their book featured with participating blogs and sponsors. The whole point? To offer a full-length novel specially priced, promote a great author and book, and hopefully the sales on Amazon from the day will help drive the book up the bestseller list.


November's BSFAD Featured Book is:
SOUL SEARCH by Amber Scott

Here's the details on Bestseller For A Day. Remember, it only lasts until 11:59pm today, November 30th.
By helping drive SOUL SEARCH by Amber Scott to the top of the Kindle Lists on November 30th, YOU can win, too!

Kindle Prize!

Simply purchase SOUL SEARCH on November 30th, then head back to the Best Seller For A Day home page and fill out the entry form (located at the top of the right hand column).


BSFAD Bonus Buys
(Click on the book titles to be directed to the Amazon page)


These books will be discounted during November 30th, too. If you purchase any of these, you can also be entered into the Kindle contest, and with confirmation of your SOUL SEARCH purchase, can have the bonus buy price rebated to you! Details to qualify are at the Best Seller For A Day website.

RAK: November/December

RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) is a really great program that Vanessa and Isalys of Book Soulmates have started. Basically, it gives bloggers, book lovers and readers the chance to brighten someone's day by sending them a book that they've put on their wishlist.


Book Soulmates



Received:



Thanks to Jana, Elizabeth and Grace!



Sent:



To Jana



Here's my wishlist for December. I'm happy to accept new or gently-read ARCs and finished copies of books. I also love e-books, but they have to be in epub or pdf format, thanks.

TOP FIVE:
1. Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews
2. Angel of Darkness by Cynthia Eden
3. Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake
4. The Renfield Syndrome by J.A. Saare
5. Another Kind of Dead by Kelly Meding



YA
Sweet Venom by Tara Lynn Childs
Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon
Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey
Angel Fire by L.A. Weatherly
Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke
Everblue by Brenda Pandos
Entangled by Cat Clarke
This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Liar's Moon by Elizabeth C. Bunce
Luminous by Dawn Metcalf
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep
The Pledge by Kimberly Derting
Wherever You Go by Heather Davis
Untraceable by S.R. Johannes


Adult
Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione
Devil's Kiss by Zoe Archer
Shaedes of Gray by Amanda Bonilla
Daybreak by Ellen Conner
Alien Proliferation by Gini Koch
That Old Black Magic by Michelle Rowen
The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark
Sexiest Vampire Alive by Kerrelyn Sparks
Black Night by Christina Henry
Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City by Holly Denham
Stolen by Kelley Armstrong
The Greyfriar by Clay Griffith




Want to join the RAK-ers this month? Here's how you do it.

RULES RE-CAP:
*NEW INFO ADDED*
Sign up each month that you'd like to participate.

* Show off your participation by grabbing our RAK button :)

* Create a wish list (on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog etc) and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.

* If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger for their address.

* *NEW* Please, once you receive a RAK, send us an our new email to [rakbybooksoulmates @ gmail . com] dedicated to RAK so that the Google Doc can be updated. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEND EMAILS TO THIS ADDRESS.

* *NEW* E-book participation is limited to files being gifted directly to a person from the e-book store. Amazon's Kindle Store is set up to allow this, as well as the Kobo store and we believe Barnes & Noble as well.

* At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K! Make a post saying 'Thank You' to whoever granted one of your wishes and share it with us :)


OPEN TO EVERYONE!
Let's keep our International bloggers in mind and in our hearts.
Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!

Easy peezy!!

29 November, 2011

ARC Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Book: LEGEND
Author: MARIE LU
Genre: YA DYSTOPIAN
Published: November 2011, PUTNAM


Series: Legend #1 (upcoming series)
Source: Publisher via Book Expo America 2011, no other compensation given for honest review

From Good Reads:
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.


My Review:
There are many books that catch my attention from the first page. Perhaps a lesser amount will keep my attention through the first few chapters. While I read through almost every book that I start (DNF is kind of a foreign phrase to me; I very rarely dislike a book so much that I just can’t finish it), there are a select few that stand out in my mind once I’m done. I’m talking about the books that stay with me in my dreams. The books that I want to talk about immediately with anyone who will listen. The books that ruin the next book after, because nothing can compare. LEGEND is one of these books.

All of the issues I’ve had with YA dystopian - the continuity issues, the suspension of belief lasting from start to finish, the love triangles and sometimes insta-love - all of that is missing in LEGEND. This is the first YA dystopian novel that I have read in a while that blew me away, right away. Even THE HUNGER GAMES took a while for me to get. But, Marie Lu found that secret combination of elements that just did it for me from start to finish.

LEGEND contains dual narrative from Day and June, the diametrically opposed characters in the Republic. Lu starts off the book with Day, and I think it was one of the reasons I was pulled in so quickly. With Day’s narrative, the government’s treatment of the average citizen is revealed. The plagues and the violence from the police are normal occurrences, and Day is a sympathetic character. He’s a modern-day Robin Hood, subverting the Republic to help his family and fellow citizens.

But then Lu throws in June, who lives the high life being the Republic’s golden girl. Somehow, she becomes a sympathetic character also. For me, the beauty and greatness of Lu’s writing is that she doesn’t just tell the reader about June in the narrative. There is a real immersion into her life. June is a smart character, not just intelligence-wise, but she can also hold her own in a street fight. Far from being the character that walks around with rose-colored glasses, June grows so much during the course of the novel. Yes, she believes the Republic’s hype - from her sheltered place at the top of the pyramid, why shouldn’t she? - but it doesn’t last, and once her eyes are opened, watch out.

I blew through LEGEND, because for every page that I read, I wanted to read more. I liked that Day and June didn’t meet right away, that their lives were separate for a while, and as a reader I was able to really see the differences in life under the Republic. I liked the inclusion of the war against the Patriots, which seemed to pit the citizens against, not the government, but this other enemy. I liked that June experienced life through Day’s eyes when she was tracking him.

Honestly, if you have been looking for a YA dystopian that is mind-blowing and spectacular, that wraps up a story line, while not leaving the reader standing on a cliff, and that doesn’t read like candy floss, LEGEND is your book.

5/5 for plot
5/5 for characters
4.5/5 for language

My Rating: 14.5/15 (5 stars)

Must Read, if you liked:

The Hunger Games (trilogy) by Suzanne Collins
Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton
Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel


Challenge Participation:

26 November, 2011

Destined Blog Tour Giveaway Winner

Prize: E-Book copy of DESTINED

Winner: Donna

Congrats to the winner!

Jessie chose the winner via random.org, and should have already or will be in contact with her.

Thanks to all who entered. Please come back to Read My Mind for more contests and giveaways, as well as reviews, author interviews and guest posts, and other bookish content.

Eternal Starling Blog Tour Giveaway Winner

Prize: 1 (One) Eternal Starling Cover Flat
1 (One) Eternal Starling Bookmark


Winner: See Rafflecopter announcement below


Congrats to the winner!

Thanks to all who entered. Please come back to Read My Mind for more contests and giveaways, as well as reviews, author interviews and guest posts and great bookish content.





Book Review: The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

Book: THE WATER WARS
Author: CAMERON STRACHER
Genre: YA FANTASY/SPECULATIVE FICTION/DYSTOPIAN
Published: January 2011, SOURCEBOOKS FIRE


Series: none
Source: Publicist, no other compensation given for an honest review

From Good Reads:
Vera and her brother, Will, live in the shadow of the Great Panic, in a country that has collapsed from environmental catastrophe. Water is hoarded by governments, rivers are dammed, and clouds are sucked from the sky. But then Vera befriends Kai, who seems to have limitless access to fresh water. When Kai suddenly disappears, Vera and Will set off on a dangerous journey in search of him-pursued by pirates, a paramilitary group, and greedy corporations.



My Review:
I read the premise for THE WATER WARS and it basically hit every spot that I like when I think about reading a dystopian or post-apocalyptic YA. What really caught my eye was that, although the girl meets boy was there, it seemed as if it would be more of an adventure story as opposed to a romance, that inevitably would introduce some kind of love triangle. I’m over love triangles, just for the sake of bad boy versus good or best friend that’s been ignored for years. But, I digress from my review.

This book started off really well. Cameron Stracher sets up a world that has experienced catastrophic environmental change, and now water is the most valued commodity. I liked the included inherent friction of humanity that occurs when something that everyone needs is in short supply. The government and even private citizens were not above damming rivers to the detriment of other citizens, and even clouds are taken from the sky for the water they hold.

One thing that went wrong for me was the convenience of rescue that Vera, Will and Kai encounter during their adventures. I don’t want to include any specific spoilers here, but it just seemed as if there was too easy an out whenever they were in danger. In this type of story, I don’t mind if the protagonists and her (or his) companions get a little hurt; in fact it helps with the idea that they have to really overcome some terrible obstacle. I like to see them work their way out of the problem, not just miraculously have a savior.

I liked Kai, the boy that seems to have an unlimited supply of water, know the government’s secrets about the water shortage, and gets himself kidnapped, which sets off Vera and Will on their journey. Kai was an interesting character, but unfortunately Vera was not as captivating. Something was missing with her, that I was just unable to connect fully with her as a character. There was no defining event that made me want to care whether she survived the trials, and perhaps because there was always a convenient rescue, I didn't need to entertain the idea that she might be in real danger.

I read this whole novel in just under 3 hours. I’m a fairly fast reader, but even for a moderate or slower reader, the action sequences keep the book moving. As well as the pace, the chapters, which are just long enough that I found myself reading more pages than I thought, but just short enough that I kept saying, “I’ll just read one more”, make this a book that I would suggest for a reluctant reader. THE WATER WARS is kind of science-fiction, dystopian, and post-apocolyptic lite.

While THE WATER WARS seemed like it just missed being a great book for me, I also think that there are plenty of readers who would enjoy it. There are pirates and government conspiracies and a great journey with a brother and sister relationship. The premise posits a future that we could all be facing sooner rather than later, and as a YA it is appropriate for younger teens, as well as opening up a contemporary fantasy world to readers that doesn’t have the world-building over taking the plot.

3.5/5 for plot
2.5/5 for characters
3.5/5 for language

My Rating: 9.5/15 (3 stars) Worth Trying



Challenge Participation:

23 November, 2011

Contemporary Thursday: Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins

Book: UNTIL THERE WAS YOU
Author: KRISTAN HIGGINS
Genre: CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Published: October 2011, HQN BOOKS


Series: none
Source: Publicist, no other compensation given for honest review

From Good Reads:
Posey Osterhagen can't complain. She owns a successful architectural salvaging company, she's surrounded by her lovable, if off-center, family and she has a boyfriend—sort of. Still, something's missing. Something tall, brooding and criminally good-looking…something like Liam Murphy.

When Posey was sixteen, the bad boy of Bellsford, New Hampshire, broke her heart. But now he's back, sending Posey's traitorous schoolgirl heart into overdrive once again. She should be giving him a wide berth, but it seems fate has other ideas…


My Review:
At the time that I accepted the request to read UNTIL THERE WAS YOU, I was in the mood for a light-hearted, heart-warming contemporary romance. This book delivered exactly that. The plot itself did not have any overly original points to it-neither to contemporary romance as a genre, or to Kristan Higgins as an author-but it was an enjoyable read that had me laughing at some of the antics of the characters.

Speaking of the characters, it seemed like Higgins went out of her way to combine some of the most odd, but ultimately endearing characteristics, in her female lead. Posey seemed like she was destined to be the girl rumbled with parents that would never fit in with the small-town atmosphere in the book. She had bad luck with men and she had an completely unrequited crush on a man from her high school days. Along with Posey’s German adopted parents, her fabulously fabulous (on the surface) sister, these elements served to compliment the tone and story line perfectly.

Liam Murphy, Higgins’ male lead, also has a combination of endearing qualities. From the daughter that he is raising alone, to the obsessive compulsive disorder that he always seems at war with, to the fact that he doesn’t even seem to really like Posey at first. At the very least, I was curious to see how these two would get together. But, at its very best, this book reveals that romance isn’t perfect, especially when imperfect people are involved.

UNTIL THERE WAS YOU is a great read for any time. If you are looking for something to lighten your mood and cheer you up, get you out of the winter-is-coming doldrums, or carry something along on vacation, I recommend this book.

4/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 12.5/15 (3.5 stars) Highly Recommend


Find the author at:
Website | Blog | GoodReads | Facebook

Purchase book at:
Barnes and Noble | Harlequin | Book Depository | IndieBound | Amazon

Available formats: Print (mass market paperback), NookBook, ePub

Challenge Participation:

Thanksgiving Thanks




I am thankful for the authors that write the books I love to read.

I am thankful for my family that puts up with me when I say, "that reminds of {book title} when {funny, sad, dangerous, happy, romantic} event happened!"

I am thankful for the friends I have that talk books with me, convince me to buy books I've never heard of before, and let me convince them to buy books they've never heard of before.

I am thankful that every year is another year, I sit around a table with people I care about and share a meal.

I am thankful that every year is another year, I keep writing and reading.


Mostly I am thankful for the people who act as anchors in my life, but who never hold me down.



Chronicle Books Says, "Happy Haul-idays!"



It's time for the 2nd annual Happy Haul-idays Giveaway at Chronicle Books!

This year, $500 worth of books is being given away to one lucky blogger who posts their wishlist. One lucky commenter at the winning blog will also walk away with the same stash of books! Even better, a library, non-profit or bookish charity of the winning blogger's choice will receive $500 worth of books as well. Sounds awesome, right?

Check out all of the rules here.

I would love to win, and if I do, the charity that I have chosen is called, PHILADELPHIA READS. This non-profit provides literacy support and materials to educational sites in Philadelphia. It's sustained largely by donated books that are available through a book drive for professionals in all types of educational fields.


My Wishlist
Puff
Wine Bites
Skinny Dips
Cake Pops Kit
Cake Pops by Bakerella
Tea and Crumpets
Shall We Dance
Windflower
Alexandria
The Magic Flute
Mexican Muralists
More Things Like This
Anne Taintor 2012 Wall Calendar
World Of Geekcraft
Mastering the Art of Beading
The Handy Book of Artistic Printing
Doodles
Scribbles
Brain Juice: American History, Fresh Squeezed
Moleskine Notebook Large Ruled Soft Cover
Moleskine 2012 18 Month Weekly Notebook Black Soft Cover Large


That is 21 books that come to about $494.

Remember to comment on this post. If I win, one commenter will be chosen a winner too.

HAPPY HAUL-IDAYS!

21 November, 2011

E-Book Deals for Nook, Sony

In the past, I've just tweeted 10-12 Nook deals once a week or so, but I thought it might be easier to reference with a blog post.

So, here it is.



Adult Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

HIDDEN BY BLOOD by Laurie London
Nook FREE | Sony $2.99


HUNTER'S CHOICE by Shiloh Walker
Nook FREE | Sony FREE


KISS ME DEADLY by Michele Hauf
Nook FREE | Sony FREE



Romance

ONCE UPON A WINTER'S EVE by Tessa Dare
Nook .99 | Sony .99


BECAUSE OF YOU by Jessica Scott
Nook 2.99 | Sony 2.99


UNLOCKED by Courtney Milan
Nook .99 | Sony .99



Science Fiction/Fantasy

PHOTOGRAPHS AND PHANTOMS by Cindy Spencer Pape
Nook FREE | Sony FREE


StarCrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce
Nook 2.99 | Sony 2.99





Paranormal YA

MUTINY by Artist Arthur
Nook FREE | Sony FREE


THE FALLEN STAR by Jessica Sorensen
Nook .99


THE DEMON TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER by Jana Oliver
Nook 2.99 | Sony 2.99


LURE by Stephanie Jenkins
Nook .99


REMEMBRANCE by Michelle Madow
Nook 1.99


HAUNTING VIOLET by Alyxandra Harvey
Nook 2.99


EVERBLUE by Brenda Pandos
Nook 2.99


ANATHEMA by Megg Jensen
Nook .99 | Sony FREE

ARC Review: Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armintrout

Book: HALF-BLOOD
Author: JENNIFER L. ARMINTROUT
Genre: PARANORMAL YA
Published: October 2011, SPENCER HILL PRESS


Series: Covenant #1 (upcoming series)
Source: Borrowed from blogger via Book Expo America

From Good Reads:
The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

My Review:
HALF-Blood is an amazing book. I was enthralled, not just by the plot, but also Jennifer L. Armitrout’s writing. This YA novel successfully combines action, adventure, and paranormal elements to create a book that I would read more than once. Even better, I love the Greek mythological background that’s involved. What a way to modernize the offspring of the gods! Just as the combination of different elements provide a rich environment, so too does the pure blood/half-blood heirarchy and social standing serve to enrich the plot and the experiences that shape Alex.

Alex is a take no prisoners teen who has had to, by necessity, develop a tough outer shell. She doesn’t fit in with the humans who are not as fast or as good at fighting as she. But, being on the run from the pure bloods who rule her kind, the half-bloods, and daimons who would seek to kill her or worse, turn her, isn’t any fun either. I really liked the combination of earnestness and tough girl that Alex possesses. Though the reader doesn’t have a chance to experience much of the life she had to lead on the run, the opening does express a bit of the desperate and perhaps lonely girl that Alex is, forced to live apart from other like her.

Once she returns Alex to the fold of Deity Island, Armintrout maintains the pace that was established in the beginning, even though much of the novel turns to Alex’s training with Aiden. At this point, some books might lag a bit; either the pace leads to long, boring description or it seems like the ending is rushed with too much filler in the middle. Not HALF-BLOOD. In fact, I never wanted to put the book down, let alone think that it slowed down even an inch.

I wouldn’t recommend this novel for younger YA or not as mature (reading-level and emotionally) readers. However, I think that anyone who appreciates a fairly fast-paced adventure, sprinkled with Greek mythology and growing pains would adore reading HALF-BLOOD. I know that I am now anxiously awaiting the next book, PURE.

4.5/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
4.5/5 for language

My Rating: 13.5/15 (4.5 stars)

Must Read, if you liked:

Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut
Alpha by Rachel Vincent
Firelight by Sophie Jordan


Find the author at:
Blog | Twitter | GoodReads | Facebook

Purchase book at:
Barnes and Noble | Book Depository | Amazon

Available formats: Print (Paperback), Nook Book, Kindle

Challenge Participation:

Jessie Harrell Visits: DESTINED Blog Tour Interview




Thanks to Jessie Harrell, who is at Read My Mind today as part of the blog tour for DESTINED, her fabulous new YA, that's infused with Greek mythology and romance.


Website | Blog | Twitter | GoodReads | Facebook


No, THANK YOU for having me. I'm really honored to be a guest on your blog!


I know this is the first thing that everyone asks, but please tell my readers a little about DESTINED. What one sentence would you use to hook someone, that isn't already in the blurb?

Well, I'll give you my "elevator pitch" that I never actually spoke aloud, whether in or outside of an elevator: When Psyche destroys the one relationship she can't live without, she must journey alone through ancient Greece and confront a goddess who would see her dead, if she wants to reclaim an immortal love.


I admit to not having much previous knowledge of the Cupid/Psyche myth, even though I'm interested in Greek mythology. How much research did you have to do for the book? How much did you tinker with the existing myth?

I came across the myth as a Classics major during my undergraduate studies. I learned a lot of ancient Greek history, culture, mythology, etc. then, but I still had to do quite a bit of research (especially since those classes were over a decade ago) while I was writing to make sure the details were accurate. As far as tinkering with the myth, I made sure that I left the big plot elements in place, but the characters got major personality overhauls. For example, in the original, Psyche is sort of a pretty ditz who is redeemed only because she gets help along the way from things like ants and river reeds. I wanted my heroine to be stronger than that; to solve her own problems. I also gave Eros and Aphrodite original backstories, and added quite a few characters who do not appear in the original myth.


DESTINED is your debut novel, so I'd like to know the first thing that you did when you saw your book in print.

Took a picture of me holding it and posted it on my blog and Facebook for everyone to see with a big "SQUEE" in the caption. :)


Novel playlists seem to be very popular with authors and readers alike. Do you listen to music while you write, and if so what are some of the songs you found yourself listening to?

I couldn't write without music. And yes, Destined most definitely has a playlist. You can listen to all the songs on the playlist by going back to my blog tour stop on Nov. 9th with Safari Poet . But some of my top favorites:

Crack the Shutters - Snow Patrol (I consider this the signature song of the MCs and if the book was ever made into a movie, this would be at the ending and while the credits were rolling)

What If You - Joshua Radin

Pieces - Red



I'm going to get a little more personal here:

What are 5 authors that you would consider auto-buys when you have the time to read?

Gayle Forman
Stephanie Perkins
Melissa Marr
Rachel Hawkins
Josephine Angelini (can I have the sequel to Starcrossed, like, NOW?)


Do you have any personal rituals that help you to write?

Other than music? Not really. If I get stuck, I stare at a "picture" of the character I'm writing and try to get inside their head better. (I like to find pictures of my characters off the internet - not necessarily celebrities - so I can attach a face with a name.)


What might a typical day be like for you?

Up at 6:50, out the door with the kids by 7:30. (We're speedy & eat breakfast in the car.) To school and work by 8 (I work across the street from their school.) Drink a cup of coffee, search the web, and then do my hair make-up (there are some MAJOR perks to working at a small company). Then I work my part-time attorney gig from about 9-3, taking time for lunch and e-mail breaks. Get the kids at 3, go home, maybe to the gym, etc. Dinner at 6, homework at 6:30, bath at 7, kids in bed by 8. From 8-10 I'm at the computer, whether it's writing, blogging, participating in #yalitchat. Then I go to bed, read some on my Kindle, and try to catch tomorrow's weather while hubby channel surfs. Aside from True Blood and Boardwalk Empire, I watch no TV -- there's no time for such things in this very tight schedule.


Let's end with your favorite god/goddess in the Greek pantheon. Why?

How could I pick anyone other than my darling Eros? This is not your chubby, little Cupid boy. Think a young Leonardo DiCaprio with a formerly-broken heart and romance oozing from his pores. This is the guy that no mere mortal boy will ever compare to. (Sorry to set your expectations too high, ladies. There's a reason he's a god, after all.) What's not to love about that???

Thanks again for having my by your beautiful blog today!


It was great having you visit, Jessie!


When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear.

As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined.

Destined is a fresh and heartachingly romantic retelling of the Cupid & Psyche myth from debut novelist, Jessie Harrell.

**Contest Ended**

Also, as part of the tour sponsored by Jessie Harrell, Mae Day Publishing, and Good Choice Reading, I'm having a DESTINED giveaway! The contest will stay open until November 23rd, 11:59PM. Jessie will use random.org to select a winner. Available formats include .mobu, .epub and .pdf.


What You Can Win:
1 (One) e-book copy of DESTINED

How To Enter:
Leave a comment with your favorite Greek myth, god, or goddess
Leave a way to contact you
Must be 13+ to enter
One entry per person, per email address
Contest ends at 11:59 on November 23rd
Open to International entrants


Come back to Read My Mind to see my DESTINED review on December 5th!

Make sure you check out the full list of tour stops at this page on Good Choice Reading for chances to win copies of Destined and other goodies.

17 November, 2011

ETERNAL STARLING Blog Tour Giveaway!



Thanks to Angela Corbett, who is offering Read My Mind readers a chance to win a cool prize as part of the tour she is having, sponsored by Once Upon A Twilight.


What You Can Win:
1 (One) Signed ETERNAL STARLING Cover Flat
1 (One) ETERNAL STARLING Bookmark

How To Enter:
Just use the rafflecopter entry form below. Please make note of the rules. One person will be chosen a winner on November 27th.


Check out Angela Corbett's cover interview guest post at Read My Mind here. Come back next week for the results of the contest, and my ETERNAL STARLING review on December 1st!

Also, be sure to pop in to the ETERNAL STARLING chat on December 6th to celebrate the release of the book! More details on the chat will be posted on the Once Upon A Twilight blog closer to the date.



Evie Starling has lived a relatively uneventful life hanging out with friends, gossiping about boys, and driving her 1966 Mustang. All of that changes when she moves to Gunnison, Colorado, to start college and meets two mysterious men.

For centuries, Alex Night and Emil Stone have yearned for Evie—but they each have their own reasons for wanting to be with her. When both men claim to be her soul mate and tell her about an unbelievable past, Evie learns that she’s not the person she thought she was. Soon, Evie finds herself in the middle of an age-old battle between the Amaranthine Society—the soul protectors, and the Daevos Resistance—the soul destroyers. With a past she doesn’t understand, and a future rife with danger, Evie has to decide who she can trust. But Alex and Emil aren’t the only ones who want Evie, and her soul is about to become the rope in an eternal tug-of-war.






Cover Interview with Angela Corbett (ETERNAL STARLING Blog Tour)




Please welcome Angela Corbett to Read My Mind today. As part of the blog tour, sponsored by Once Upon A Twilight, I have the honor of hosting a cover interview with the author about her upcoming release from Pendrell Publishing, ETERNAL STARLING.


About Angela Corbett

As a child, Angela Corbett’s most prized possession was a set of read-along books. She used to follow along with the narrator on the stereo and dream of when she would be able to read by herself. Her childhood reading habit led her to consider her future career. However, after consulting with her parents, she realized she had already exceeded hobbit height and since fairies and dragonslayers were tricky jobs to get, she decided she wanted to create worlds of her own. She started writing poetry in elementary school and worked as a journalist in high school and college, but could never leave her love for writing fiction behind.

She is a graduate of Westminster College where she double majored in communication and sociology. She has worked as a journalist, freelance writer, and director of communications and marketing. She loves classic cars, traveling, and escaping in a good book. She lives in Utah with her incredibly supportive husband and their five-pound Pomeranian, Pippin, whose following of fangirls could rival Justin Bieber's.

Website | Blog | Good Reads | Twitter | Facebook Page |




What can you tell us about the book cover?
The Emblem of Eternity trilogy is really about my main character, Evie, so we wanted to make her the focus of the Eternal Starling cover. One of the things I love the most about the cover is how retro the photo looks. The colors are gorgeous and I love that the soft look of the image captures the romantic feel of the book. I also love the title font!


Did you get to be part of the cover creation process?
My publisher was really great about listening to my ideas and letting me give input about the book cover. Before the cover photos were taken, my publisher talked to me about colors, locations, and the model. The cover was actually photographed in Utah, and I got to be there for the shoot!


Can you tell us about the flower on Evie's back?
The flower on Evie's back is a lily, and it's important to the mythology of the trilogy and to Evie especially. People have mentioned that the lilies on the cover look like tattoos, but they actually represent Evie's pink lily-shaped birthmark. The original plan was to only use the pink lily on the cover, but when the designer started working on it, one lily looked too small and made the cover seem unbalanced. Because of that, the designer added two gray lilies, but in the book, Evie still only has one pink lily birthmark. I love how it turned out though!


What are some of your favorite book covers?
I have so many!!! I love the Beautiful Creatures cover. I also love the cover for Hush, Hush, and The Mortal Instruments series.


What can you tell us about the cover model?
Isn't she gorgeous!?! She's actually a friend of mine! When we started thinking about a model for the cover, I told my publisher I had someone in mind and asked if we could use her. She was perfect for my vision of the cover, and my publisher agreed!


Do you have any fun stories from the cover photo shoot?
The photographer for Eternal Starling was amazing and took so many fantastic photos! I didn't know how the designer would decide which photo to use! The cover was shot near a waterfall in the Utah mountains. The pictures were taking during summer and the runoff from the snow was high, so the model and photographer's toes almost froze from standing in the cold water for so long. Some of us also almost fell in the water too. It was a good time. J I'm glad the model and photographer were such good sports about it!


Eternal Starling

Evie Starling has lived a relatively uneventful life hanging out with friends, gossiping about boys, and driving her 1966 Mustang. All of that changes when she moves to Gunnison, Colorado, to start college and meets two mysterious men.

For centuries, Alex Night and Emil Stone have yearned for Evie—but they each have their own reasons for wanting to be with her. When both men claim to be her soul mate and tell her about an unbelievable past, Evie learns that she’s not the person she thought she was. Soon, Evie finds herself in the middle of an age-old battle between the Amaranthine Society—the soul protectors, and the Daevos Resistance—the soul destroyers. With a past she doesn’t understand, and a future rife with danger, Evie has to decide who she can trust. But Alex and Emil aren’t the only ones who want Evie, and her soul is about to become the rope in an eternal tug-of-war.


Thanks so much, Angela, for visiting Read My Mind!

Angela Corbett is also having a contest for those who pre-order Eternal Starling from any retail source from now until December 6th. Just send a screen shot or photo of the receipt or order confirmation to: EternalStarlingContest@gmail.com.

The Prize: A Kindle!


Don't forget to visit Once Upon A Twilight's Blog Tour Page. All of the stops are listed, and there are some great giveaways, guest posts and interviews happening! Also, come back to Read My Mind on December 1st for my review.

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