Back to the Books Giveaway Hop

2nd Annual Back to the Book Giveaway Hop
Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Buried in Books

(While you are here, why not enter all my other giveaways-listed on top right of blog :)

Up for grabs:

Title: Stay Tuned
Author: Lauren Clark

Reading level: Adult

Genre:  Chick Lit

Format: Brand New Paperback

What happens when a #1 news team becomes the top story instead of reporting it?

For TV producer Melissa Moore, crisis management comes with the job. From employee disputes to her high-maintenance boss, there’s not much she hasn’t seen or can’t handle.

But no one—including Melissa—expects a fistfight during the ten o’clock news. When sexy-but-crazy Alyssa Andrews lands a punch on her co-anchor’s face, Melissa jumps on set to help. She’s determined that WSGA’s reputation won’t be destroyed on her watch.

Both anchors are fired and Melissa agrees to fill in—but not before polishing her look from haircut to heels. While the new Melissa wows WSGA viewers, her personal life starts fraying at the edges. Melissa’s husband is away more than he’s home, leaving cryptic Post-it notes in his wake. Her mother’s antics spiral out of control at the nursing home and a stalker decides Melissa is her next target.

What happens next? Stay Tuned to find out…

How to enter:

1. You must use the Rafflecopter widgets below to enter this giveaway.    

2. You must follow via GFC for the initial entry.  Additional options may be chosen for extra entries. You may choose one option or all options of the extra options. Each option is worth one entry into the giveaway.    

3. For each option you choose to enter with, click on “CLICK FOR INSTRUCTIONS” FIRST, follow the instructions, then click on “I DID THIS” and fill out the required information.   

4. The giveaway ends on Sept. 7th at 11:59pm EST.   

5. At the conclusion of the giveaway, I will verify all entries.    

6. Once the verification process is complete, I will use the Rafflecopter widget to select the winner and contact her/him.    

7. The winner will have 48 hours from the notification email to respond with her/his full name, prize choice and mailing address. If I do not receive a response, the prize will be forfeited and another winner will be selected. Please be sure to check your spam filters!    

8.  This Contest is for US addresses only!   

Please make sure that you have read my Giveaway and Privacy Policies Here

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have fun and visit all of the Other Participating Blogs!

Book Review: The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron

Title: The Dark Unwinding
Author:  Sharon Cameron
Reading level: Young Adult
Genre:  Gothic/Historical Fiction
Size: 318 pages
Release Date: September 1st 2012
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find It: Goodreads | Amazon | BN | The Book Depository

A spine-tingling tale of steampunk and spies, intrigue and heart-racing romance!

When Katharine Tulman's inheritance is called into question by the rumor that her eccentric uncle is squandering away the family fortune, she is sent to his estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, Katharine discovers a genius inventor with his own set of rules, who employs a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London.

Katharine is now torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving the peculiar community she grows to care for deeply. And her choices are made even more complicated by a handsome apprentice, a secretive student, and fears for her own sanity.

As the mysteries of the estate begin to unravel, it is clear that not only is her uncle's world at stake, but also the state of England as Katharine knows it. With twists and turns at every corner, this heart-racing adventure will captivate readers with its intrigue, thrills, and romance.

"Warm sun and robin’s-egg skies were inappropriate conditions for sending one’s uncle to a lunatic asylum."

In this stunningly atmospheric and well crafted Gothic debut Cameron takes us to the brink of insanity and back. This book surprised me in the best possible way!  Although marketed as Steampunk and Intrigue...it was really a superb Gothic mystery with a tinge of romance.  I haven't read a good Gothic tale in ages and this one delivered in spades.

Sharon Cameron's use of language is beyond beautiful in the novel...she winds a tale that is both gorgeous and frightening with her wonderful use of imagery and language.  I was captured from the first line and didn't want to put this one down until I got the the end.  Some might find the prose a bit dense but I would consider it lush and perfect...just what one wants from a "Victorian Gothic."  The setting of  Stranwyne Keep and the surrounding villages comes to life for the reader.

The mystery develops and we are left wondering what exactly is going on, who can be trusted and who (if anyone) really belongs in an asylum. (My take on Uncle Tully is Autism and it is clear that Katharine herself actually has a bit in common with him considering her OCD tendencies) The plot details may be slightly predictable (though I admit that I kicked myself several times for being so wrapped up in the tale that I didn't figure things out that seemed quite apparent after the fact) but no less enjoyable for it. I chalk that up to Cameron being an amazing wordsmith and storyteller.

I loved our heroine Katherine...she is pragmatic and brave with a tough exterior that hides a sensitive soul.  Lane is protective and reliable...and all the more fun for not being a "gentleman."  The romance that slowly develops is sweet and simple, and provides just enough to add a nice touch to the main plot without taking over. 

The relationships between the characters is perhaps the key to everything working. Lane and his obvious devotion to Uncle Tully who he has been in charge of since he himself was a child. Mrs Jeffries and Davy and her uncanny ability to read his words through his eyes. Davy and Bertram ...sweet little Bertram and his love of cucumbers:(  And most especially Katherine and Uncle Tully...she knows just how to interact with him  and the love, affection, and trust between the two shines like a beacon through the gloom.  Is there really any question what she must do?

If you are looking for Steampunk--the novel doesn't deliver (very poor marketing) but The Dark Unwinding more than compensates with an amazing tale of love and responsibility, intrigue and mystery that transcends  familial obligations and socio-economic status.

The penniless and dependent orphan,  a carriage ride to a dark, rundown and secluded estate, the reticent servants with dubious motivations, the hidden passages and howling wind, and the genius yet childlike uncle who is the center of it all.  The Dark Unwinding is a captivating tale with all the mystery and spookiness one could desire and a great cast of characters though which Cameron's writing shines. 

 4.5 Timepieces

Cat Thursday - More Piper

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s) and then link up at the host's site: The True Book Addict.  It's all for the love of cats! 

Piper has found a new spot....

And why does he like this spot?

Yup, right under the bedroom windows, where I have yet to hang curtains so it is nice and sunny.....don't judge! LOL

Jeremy Bates talks about The Situational Thriller

The Situational Thriller: Wrong Place, Wrong Time

My favorite type of thriller is what I call a situational thriller. You know, those books or movies you’ve seen when the protagonist is smack-dab in the middle of something nasty, and you’re thinking: that could happen to me. Scott Smith’s A Simple Plan comes immediately to mind. Two brothers find four million bucks in a downed plane. What would you do? A couple prominent films along the same lines are Open Water—a newlywed couple go scuba diving and get stranded in the middle of the ocean. And Frozen—two guys and a girl stuck on a ski lift in freezing weather. Oh, and some hungry wolves far below!

My debut novel, White Lies, is also what I would call a situational thriller—what if a white lie spiraled out of control until you found yourself in a game of life and death? I chose this idea for two reasons. One, as I’ve mentioned, I like these type of simple what if scenarios. And two, because they’re easier for me to write than other thrillers, such as action-adventure, medicine, legal, etc. I love reading action-adventure, but, man, does James Rollins and the crew do their homework. Same with the other genres I mentioned. You have to know your stuff. And truthfully, I like telling the story, not doing the research. Sure there is research that goes into situational thrillers. But you’re usually dealing with regular characters in regular environments (albeit exceptional situations), which makes it easy to take that initial what if idea and run with it.

I understand all thrillers place a character in a dicey situation in which he or she must get out of. So I should clarify three conditions that make a so-called situational thriller:

1)      An ordinary person as a protagonist (no cops, FBI agents, etc.)

2)      A situation a character gets himself or herself into (not something he or she is chosen to do)

3)      A relatively simple, straightforward plot

Does anyone know of any novels or films they could recommend that fall under these criteria? I’d love to hear about them!

Title: White Lies

Author:  Jeremy Bates

Reading level:  Adult

Genre:  Mystery Thriller

Size: 280pages

Release Date: May 7th 2012

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

Find It: Goodreads | Amazon | BN | The Book Depository

While driving to a charming village tucked away deep in the Cascade Mountains of eastern Washington, where she is to begin a new job teaching high school English, Katrina Burton picks up a young hitchhiker who turns out to be drunk and predatory. Fearful for her safety, she lies about her destination in order to get him out of the car. But when she later discovers that he is a teacher at the same school, she finds herself feeding that initial lie with more lies.

Then Katrina meets a mysterious man. Handsome, charismatic and strong, he is exactly what she needs to extricate her from the expanding network of lies, now spinning out of control. She falls fast and hard for him.

Her perfect solution, however, soon becomes a nightmare that lands her in the middle of a grisly murder. And Katrina’s problems don’t stop there. She must decide whether to betray her new love or to cover up the murder and hope for the best…until she discovers that the choice may not be hers to make.

Jeremy Bates has spent the last ten years traveling the world, visiting more than thirty countries. He has lived in Canada, the United States, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines.

Bates is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario with a degree in English literature and philosophy. He is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Inc, and Crime Writers of Canada.

His frightening debut novel, White Lies, is set in a small village in the Cascade Mountain range of eastern Washington. In the book, he succeeds in bringing world-class terror to this tranquil community.

Connect with the Author:  Website  | Twitter | Facebook

Teaser Tuesdays - The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: 

• Grab your current read & Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Title: The Dark Unwinding

Author: Sharon Cameron
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: September 1st 2012
Format: ARC
Find It: Goodreads | Amazon | BN | The Book Depository

A spine-tingling tale of steampunk and spies, intrigue and heart-racing romance!

When Katharine Tulman's inheritance is called into question by the rumor that her eccentric uncle is squandering away the family fortune, she is sent to his estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, Katharine discovers a genius inventor with his own set of rules, who employs a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London.

Katharine is now torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving the peculiar community she grows to care for deeply. And her choices are made even more complicated by a handsome apprentice, a secretive student, and fears for her own sanity.

As the mysteries of the estate begin to unravel, it is clear that not only is her uncle's world at stake, but also the state of England as Katharine knows it. With twists and turns at every corner, this heart-racing adventure will captivate readers with its intrigue, thrills, and romance.

"The moan from the chimney gained in pitch, and a wild wail, a screech like a wounded animal, sounded from just outside the window. I spun about, and another howl, and then another, pierced straight through my head, and with each came a deeper resonance playing on the edge of my hearing, a noise whose source was nothing living." *

*Quote taken from an ARC and subject to change.

Book Review & Giveaway: Every Day by David Levithan

Title: Every Day
Author:  David Levithan
Reading level: Young Adult
Genre:  Fantasy/SciFi
Size: 322 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books/Random House
Release Date: August 28th 2012
Source: BEA
Find It: Goodreads | Amazon | BN | The Book Depository

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl. 

Every morning, A wakes in a different person’s body, a different person’s life. There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

With his new novel, David Levithan has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day.

"I wake up."

What can I say about this book? Every Day is without doubt one of my favorite reads this year.  It touched me on a level that I think no other book has in a long time.  It  is such a perfectly original, captivating read full of depth and wisdom.  The lyrical writing style brings A's world to life in an amazingly eloquent and believable way.

Imagine what it would be like to wake up a different person every day. A different gender, a different ethnicity, a different religion, a different sexual orientation.  Imagine living and experiencing that persons life for one day and then simply moving on...unable to maintain any sense of relationship...unable to take responsibility for any actions.  What sort of a life would that be?

We explore this life with A, our main character who strives to live each day as simply and with as little impact as possible so as not to disrupt the "hosts" life.  A comfortably wears any skin, any culture and teaches us a valuable lesson about knowing and accepting ourselves as we are and accepting others for who they are regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, economic status, religion or sexuality.  As A postulates...despite it all, as humans, we are 98% the same.

Due to A's life experience he is smart, aware and most importantly non-judgmental.

Ultimately A must decide how far to go for love, how much to give up...because although love may transcend all, although love may be unconditional...the hard choices we must make in life are not.

This is a book that I think everyone should read...it's one of those rare books that has the ability to touch something in everyone.  David Levithan has just joined the short list of my absolute favorite authors...and I can't wait to dig my teeth into some of his previous books.

What are you waiting for? Go get this book? And then settle in for a very emotional and thought provoking evening.

And because I think that everyone should have the chance to read this book, I am giving away an ARC copy.  Just let me know in the comments by 9/9/12 why you want to read Every Day and if you've read any other of  David's works. (US Only)

Cover Reveal: Naturals by Tiffany Truitt

Title: Naturals

Series: The Lost Souls #2

Author: Tiffany Truitt
Reading Level: Young Adult

Genre: Dystopian

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Find the Book: Goodreads

Tess is finally safe from the reach of the Council, now that she is living in the Middlelands with the rebel Isolationists. With James having returned to Templeton, she easily falls back into her friendship with Henry, though her newfound knowledge of Robert’s chosen one status still stings. Even surrounded by people, Tess has never felt more alone. So she’s thrilled when James returns to the settlement, demanding to see Tess — until she finds out that it’s because her sister, Louisa, has been recruited into Tess’s old position at Templeton, and that the dangerously sadistic chosen one George has taken an interest in her.

NATURALS is the second book in The Lost Souls trilogy, and follows the dystopian hit CHOSEN ONES.

Tiffany Truitt was born in Peoria, Illinois. A self-proclaimed Navy brat, Tiffany spent most of her childhood living in Virginia, but don’t call her a Southerner. She also spent a few years living in Cuba. Since her time on the island of  one McDonald's and Banana Rats (don't ask) she has been obsessed with traveling. Tiffany recently added China to her list of travels (hello inspiration for a new book).

Besides traveling, Tiffany has always been an avid reader. The earliest books she remembers reading belong to The Little House on the Prairie Series. First book she read in one day? Little Woman(5th grade). First author she fell in love with? Jane Austen in middle school. Tiffany spent most of her high school and college career as a literary snob. She refused to read anything considered “low brow” or outside the “classics.”

Tiffany began teaching middle school in 2006. Her students introduced her to the wide, wonderful world of Young Adult literature. Today, Tiffany embraces popular Young Adult literature and uses it in her classroom. She currently teaches the following novels: The Outsiders, Speak, Night, Dystopian Literature Circles: The Hunger Games, The Giver, The Uglies, and Matched.

Find the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook

The Series' Covers together - What do you think?

Added to the Bookshelf - 8/26/12

Sharing the books & bookish goodies that I've bought, borrowed, won, or been gifted and have added to my bookshelves over the past week!
(Inspired by Mailbox Monday, IMM, and the like)

It's been a great week:)  
Thanks to everyone who joined me for my 
one year book blogging anniversary!! 

If you missed my Blogoversary and all the Giveaways...just check out the top of my sidebar for all the links to enter:)  I have 11 giveaways going on right now.  (I'll let you in on a secret...for one all you have to do is comment and everyone wins an awesome free e-book) Go check them all out!

Also, I am planning a very special event in October called
 "There are Witches in the Air"

Five Little Pumpkins

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.

The first one said, "Oh, my it's getting late"

The second one said, "There are witches in the air."

The third one said, "But we don't care."

The fourth one said, "Let's run and run and run!"

The fifth one said, "Isn't Halloween fun?"

  

Then Woooooo went the wind

And OUT went the lights.

  

And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

Stay tuned all months for loads of great Guest Posts, Interviews, Spotlights, Reviews & of course Giveaways of great books featuring Witches or Witchcraft!!!  I'll be added a tab under my header for it shortly so you will be able to find out more:)

Anyway--on to this weeks new books:)

Title: Eve & Adam

Author: Michael Grant & Katherine Applegate
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan
Release Date: October 2nd 2012
Format: ARC
Find It: Goodreads 

Sixteen-year-old Evening Spiker lives an affluent life in San Francisco with her mother, EmmaRose, a successful geneticist and owner of Spiker Biotech. Sure, Evening misses her father who died mysteriously, but she’s never really questioned it. Much like how she’s never stopped to think how off it is that she’s never been sick. That is, until she’s struck by a car and is exposed to extensive injuries. Injuries that seem to be healing faster than physically possible. 

While recuperating in Spiker Biotech’s lush facilities, she meets Solo Plissken, a very attractive, if off-putting boy her age who spent his life at Spiker Biotech. Like Evening, he’s never questioned anything... until now. Solo drops hints to Evening that something isn’t right, and Emma-Rose may be behind it. Evening puts this out of her mind and begins her summer internship project: To simulate the creation of the perfect boy. With the help of Solo, Evening uncovers secrets so big they could change the world completely.

Title: The Dark Unwinding

Author: Sharon Cameron
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: September 1st 2012
Format: ARC
Find It: Goodreads 

A spine-tingling tale of steampunk and spies, intrigue and heart-racing romance!

When Katharine Tulman's inheritance is called into question by the rumor that her eccentric uncle is squandering away the family fortune, she is sent to his estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, Katharine discovers a genius inventor with his own set of rules, who employs a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London.

Katharine is now torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving the peculiar community she grows to care for deeply. And her choices are made even more complicated by a handsome apprentice, a secretive student, and fears for her own sanity.

As the mysteries of the estate begin to unravel, it is clear that not only is her uncle's world at stake, but also the state of England as Katharine knows it. With twists and turns at every corner, this heart-racing adventure will captivate readers with its intrigue, thrills, and romance.

Title: Precinct 13

Author: Tate Hallaway
Publisher: Berkley/Penguin
Release Date: August 7th 2012
Format: ARC
Find It: Goodreads

Recent college grad Alex Conner is thrilled to have landed a job as the Hughes County coroner/medical examiner in Pierre, South Dakota. But when her first day on the job ends with a missing corpse, Alex starts to wonder if she would have been better off collecting unemployment...

When the cops made some cryptic comments about being careful with the body they brought in, Alex just thought the boys in blue were messing with her. That is, until something freaky happens that no amount of med school could have prepared her for. By the time Alex gets herself together, the body has disappeared and the other residents of the morgue start talking her ear off.

After working up the courage to report the missing body, Alex is transferred to the mysterious Precinct 13 where she discovers that her new co-workers—including a cute technomage named Jack—are paranormals just like her. Now, Alex is being encouraged to use her ability to speak to the dead to solve crimes. And despite being in the middle of nowhere, Hughes County sure does have a lot of paranormal activity…

Title: The Jelly Bean Crisis

Author: Jolene Stockman
Publisher: Create Space
Release Date: August 1st 2012
Format: E-Book
Find It: Goodreads

A total meltdown. The whole school watching. Now Poppy’s an ex-straight-A with no Plan B.

When Poppy Johnson throws away a full scholarship to Columbia, she can only blame the jelly beans. The yucky green ones? Midnight cram sessions and Saturday’s spent studying. The delicious red? The family legacy: Columbia, and a future in finance. Except now it’s starting to look like Poppy’s jelly bean theory is wrong. School has been her life until, but maybe it’s time to start living now.

Poppy has thirty days to try a new life. No school, no studying. Just jumping into every possible world. Thirty days to find her passion, her path, and maybe even love. The Jelly Bean Crisis is officially on.

Title: Cold Kiss

Author: Amy Garvey
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: September 20th 2011
Format: E-Book
Find It: Goodreads

Be careful what you wish for. . . 

When Wren's boyfriend, Danny, died, Wren decided that what she wanted—what she had to do—was to bring Danny back. And so, in a heartbroken fury, armed with dark incantations and a secret power, she did.

But the Danny who returns isn't the boy Wren fell in love with, and she must hide him away while her life unravels around her. Then Gabriel transfers to her school and somehow he knows what she has done—and he wants to help make things right.

But Wren alone must undo what she has wrought—even if it means breaking her heart all over again.

Title: Bound

Author: Kira Saito
Release Date: November 1st 2011
Format: E-Book
Find It: Goodreads 

Sixteen year old Arelia LaRue lives in New Orleans where the music is loud, voodoo queens inhabit every street corner, and the ghosts are alive and well. Despite her surroundings, all she wants is to help her Grand-mere Bea pay the rent and save up for college. 

When her best friend Sabrina convinces her to take a well-paying summer job at the infamous Darkwood plantation, owned by the wealthy LaPlante family, Arelia agrees. 

However, at Darkwood strange things start to happen, and gorgeous Lucus LaPlante insists that he needs her help. Soon, the powers that Arelia has been denying all her life, come out to play and she discovers mysteries about herself that she could have never imagined.

Title: Glimpse

Author: Stacey Wallace Benefiel
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: April 7th 2012
Format: E-Book
Find It: Goodreads

Zellie Wells has a devastating crush on Avery Adams, the son of her mom’s high school sweetheart. At her sixteenth birthday party, held in the basement of her dad’s church, she finally finds the courage to talk to him. Turns out, the devastating crush is mutual. 

As Avery takes her hand and leads her out onto the makeshift dance floor, Zellie is overwhelmed by her first vision of his death; shocking because not only are they both covered in his blood, but they’re old, like 35, and she is pregnant.

Afraid to tell anyone about the vision, (she’d just be labeled a freaky black magic witch, right?) Zellie keeps the knowledge of Avery’s future to herself and tries to act like any other teenager in love. When they get caught on their way to a secret rendezvous by her mom and his dad, they are forbidden to see each other.

Convinced that their parents are freaking out unnecessarily, Avery and Zellie vow to be together no matter what. They continue their relationship in secret until Zellie learns that their parents are just trying to prevent her and Avery from suffering like they did. The visions are hereditary, they’re dangerous, and if they stay together the visions will come true. 

Now Zellie must choose between severing all ties with Avery, like her mom did to prevent his father’s death, and finding a way to change Avery’s future.

That's all for me for the past week!

What new goodies have arrived on your doorstep?

Leave me a link in the comments and I'll come check out your post!

(I'm linking up to: Mailbox Monday, The Sunday Post, Showcase Sunday, & Stacking the Shelves)