'25 Days of giveaways' Day 20

How would you like to win these fabulous goodies from Cynthia Letich Smith?
Included is:
-plush bat toy
-chubby bat stickers
-author-autographed postcard for Tantalize: Kieren's Story (featuring not-yet-public cover art for the graphic novel, illustrated by Ming Doyle)
-Sanguini's button
-Sanguini's magnetic menu wipe board

Pretty cool hey! Unfortunately this ones only open to US residents due to shipping costs, sorry to none US residents.
To enter just fill in this little form. You must of course be a blog follower to enter!
It's open for the next 24 hours.

Wednesdays worldly covers - week 11

This pretty cover is the Polish edition of Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. I'm not sure why there's an umbrella on it but I think the red really stands out against the rest of the white cover.

And if your unfamiliar with this great series, here's the UK cover.

Which do you prefer??

Book blogger hop #5

The book blogger hop is hosted by Crazy for books, head on over there to find out how to hop to.

This weeks question is:

"If you could physically put yourself into a book or series…which one would it be and why?"

Well, I'm not saying this because I'm currently reading it for the second time lol But I'd love to be dropped into Sitia, from Maria V. Snyders Study and Glass series'. It's just such a magical place, and I imagine the Keep to be particularly breath taking!

If your stopping by from the hop leave a link to your answer and I'll have a look

Also, I follow back : )

The fire inside Review

The fire inside by Raymond Rose

What's it about?

The Fire Inside: Jack’s life isn’t the most exciting but it’s a life. One that he’s created over the past ten years to suit him. That is, until Bruce, Jack’s best friend comes to town. Bruce, a Federal Agent, is on an uber-secret mission to save the city. Instead, he’s murdered. Suddenly, Jack has no choice but to become what he was before: a crime-fighter.

Ten years ago, Jack and Bruce were Teen Protectors, costumed crime-fighters under the tutelage of their mentors, The Protectors. One night, a horrible battle erupted between superheroes and villains that left half of the city ruined and thousands dead. The government banned all superpowers and Jack, presumed dead, remained that way.

However, now, Bruce is dead and Jack sets out to solve his best friend’s murder. With the help of new allies (including a man who can turn invisible and a woman who can become pure information), villains old and new (including his ex-girlfriend) bent to stop him, Jack will walk a world he left – a world more complicated and dangerous than he ever knew – and find some answers.


My review:
4/5
To say this book is a thriller or fantasy would be misleading, it has elements of thriller and fantasy, along with sci-fi, mystery, action and even comic book (without the pictures lol)
I admit I was a bit wary starting this book because there were elements to it that just aren't my 'thing.' But I'm glad I read it anyway! It took me a while to get into, it was past halfway before I found myself not wanting to put it down to go to bed at a reasonable time! And I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery as I read.
The book is packed full of action and was rich with lots of details of both the scenery and background info every time we met someone new.
However there are a lot of characters to meet in the book and I found myself getting a bit confused at times, so I was pretty proud of myself when I guessed the bad guy before he was revealed lol
Out of all the characters I felt myself caring about Jack, or Sparks, the most. The title 'The fire inside' is really apt for him and I felt him go through a journey throughout the book and he steps up when he has to. I just loved the final scene where we see, not just a team but a family come together.
I'm not sure if there will be a follow up to this, but I'd happily read one if there were because I enjoyed it a lot.
For more info on this and Raymond's other books you can use either of these links: http://christopherwilliamsbooks.com/blog/2010/10/12/the-fire-inside/
http://raymondmrose.tumblr.com/TheFireInside

Thankful Thursday #4

I know i haven't done a Thankful Thursday post in a couple of weeks, but better late than never lol

Discworld
This week I am thankful for all 38 books in Sir Terry Pratchetts discworld series!
I started reading the books when I was pretty young, like 12 or 13 when my Dad passed me one of his. I, of course, was to young to get the wit and sarcasm and the parodies of our world, but I still enjoyed the stories and worked through his collection... Then I kinda forgot about them for a while.
It was a few years later when I was starting to build up my own book collection that I began to buy my own copies and read the ones I'd missed then reread the ones I hadn't, I was able to enjoy them in a new way now that I got the more 'adult' jokes.
Ever since I've bought every book on it's release day and read it straight away, I've read the books from the younger readers series to and even reread some of the ones I've already read twice and I expect I'll read them many times more. A few christmases ago my husband even bought me a leather bound set of some of the series that aren't for reading lol and I also I have the DVDs of the sky 1 adaptions of 'The colour of magic,' 'Hogfather,' and 'Going postal.' I've got my fingers crossed that they'll adapt my favourite one 'Moving pictures' next!
So I will always be thankful to Sir Terry Pratchett and The Discworld he has created, a world I love getting lost in!

If you've read the series, which is your favourite?
And which books are you Thankful for? If your a fellow blogger, take the picture and write your own post, I'd love to see it!

Afterlife review

Afterlife by Claudia Gray

What's it about?

When Bianca chooses death over becoming a vampire, she doesn't realise that another life lies in store! Bianca and Lucas have always believed they could endure anything to be together. When a twist of fate not only transforms Bianca into a wraith but also turns Lucas into a vampire -- the very creature he spent his life hunting -- they are left reeling. Haunted by his powerful need to kill, Lucas can turn to only one place for help! Evernight Academy. But with the vampire leader of Evernight waging war on the wraiths, Bianca's former home has become the most dangerous place she could be, despite the new powers her ghostly transformation has given her. A battle between wraiths and vampires looms, and Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. Is their love strong enough to survive after life?


My review:
3/5
For the final book in the series I have to say I expected more but I found afterlife to be pretty slow paced whilst our gang uncover the mysteries that have been unravelling during the series. But, that being said, it doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the book, it just wasn't what I expected. I found some problems were solved to easily and the ending wasn't what I was thinking of at all. There were parts I did like though, I loved the new friendship between Vic and Ranulf which had me laughing out loud at times and Ranulf getting used to the modern world and Vic's 'lingo' is also pretty amusing, one phrase still sticks with me after finishing the book,

"This is indeed the way in which I roll."

I also found Lucas' struggles with becoming a vampire very interesting, I was glad he didn't just 'take to it' like some other books anxiety thought it was great how Balthazar is there for him and they become friends.
The final 'battle' scene was short and the end sad, I almost cried but never lol
So, all in all, a good book but not quite up to the standards I'd expect for the final book in a series, that's why it got 3 instead of 4/5.



Wednesdays worldly covers - week 10

I thought this Italian cover was pretty awesome! It's for Creature della notte. Il diario degli angeli, which translates to Creatures of the night. Diary of the Angel. You, however, might know it better as Strange Angels by Lili St Crow, which usually looks like this:

Which do you prefer?

WANTED - Guest bloggers

In 6 weeks I'm going to be going on Maternity leave! I haven't decided on how long for, probably a week or two, depending on how everything goes! I do plan to write some posts ahead of time and schedule them to post whilst I'm gone but it would be great to have some guest posts to help fill in the gaps to. I'm looking for anyone that's interested in guest posting whether they have a blog or not. You can write about anything you like as long as it's book related, or you can do one of our themed 'How I became a Bookaholic' posts or one of the regular posts I do like Thankful Thursday, worldly covers or whatever! If your interested then email me at bookaholics@live.co.uk with what you'd like to post. All posts must be finalised within a month in order for me to get them up and scheduled to post automatically whilst I'm away.
Thanks : )

And the winners are...

And the winner of the Chick-lit book bundle from Day 8 is Clarissa Pereira! The two runners up who get bookmarks are minhchieu tran and Michelle Smith

Please email your FULL mailing addresses right away to Bookaholics@live.co.uk

The Day 9 giveaway has already started over on the Facebook page.

'25 Days of giveaways' Day 8

Today I'm giving away this Chick-lit book bundle.

Marrying for money by Chris Manby, Where have all the boys gone by Jenny Colgan and Further under the duvet by Marian Keyes.

Two runners up will recieve a signed Cheyenne McCray bookmark and an Afterlight by Elle Jasper bookmark.

And all you have to do to enter is be a follower of the blog on either google or networked blogs (or both!) and fill in this tiny form!

Is open internationally until 7pm GMT tomorrow (20th March)

Guest posters Alice Priday and Annmarie Ager

Ramblings of an addict by Alice Priday and Annmarie Ager from Best books

Hello my name is Alice and yes I'm a book addict.

I started reading when I was 6 but when you are that age you don’t really take anything in so my first real memory of reading was when I was 11 and I discovered Tamora Pierce! I remember the feeling of elation when I first read her book Alanna the first test, I loved it and as soon as I was able to I went out and brought ALL of her books.

After I read her books it was then Diane Hoh and her med centre books that stick out in my memory of loving them and getting them out of the library more than once.

It wasn’t until I discovered Harry Potter that my love for books really took off and now if I don’t buy a book a week I start getting twitches (no joke!)

I have to say that if it wasn’t for Facebook and the lovely book groups I have joined that my addiction really started off, all the new authors I have discovered and all the new books, that I probably would never have brought on my own without all the recommendations I have had, so thank you fellow Bookaholics.

My page Best Books was originally the baby of Annmarie, shes new to the whole book page thing (so am I) but when she asked me for help I had to say yes even though I have no idea what I'm doing lol.


And now enough of my ramblings Annmarie would like to say something...


Hey my name is Annmarie and I'm also a addict
My childhood was a struggle, I hated everything that I was going through.
It was a close friend that gave me my first book, it was in a right state, pages falling apart, front cover nearly coming off. But I read the book like a person needs air.
Books made things change, I could hide in the world of my books and ignore my childhood and while I was reading it took away all the pain I was feeling.
Now, years on, my life is different and I'm happy but I have to read, I could not stop even if i wanted to!


The books I love best are:
the gone series by Michael grant &
Morganville vampires by Rachel Caine


Thank you all for looking at our guest post and we hope to see you on the best books page.
Thanks to misty and the team at Bookaholics Book Club for allowing us to ramble lol

Wednesdays worldly covers - week 9

I thought this was pretty cool. It's the French cover for La Maitresse du vent: Les Gardiens des elements - 1. Which translates to, The mistress of the wind: the gurdians of the elements - 1.

Which you'll all know better as Ill wind by Rachel Caine, the first in the Weather wardens series.

What do you think of it?

And here's the UK cover

And the winner is....

Go to Autum Frailey!

She won the signed copy of Living with the dead by Kelley Armstrong.

Day Fours giveaway has already started on our Facebook page so go on over to enter!

We need your votes!!

Yes, yes I know. the majority of you already know me and Ninfa entered a short story conest and have been begging you all to vote for us and help one of us win! However we do have some blog followers who don't follow us on Facebook and Twitter and this plea is for them!
Please please could you vote for us
Misty Price: Trapped
Ninfa Sferlazzo Hayes: Forever (if you don't know she's one of the other admins on the FB page)

It's simple, just follow this link, tick one of our names, then press submit! Done! You won't be asked for any info or your email or to join up. It registers your ip address to stop you voting multiple times (hint: you can vote a second time on your mobile phone if it has internet access!)

Thanks

'25 Days of giveaways' Day three

Most of you all know that to celebrate having reached 2500 fans (and counting!) on our Facebook page we are holding '25 Days of giveaways' to Thank you all for being great members! It's Day three and we're giving away a Signed copy of Living with the dead by Kelley Armstrong, sent direct to the winner from Kelley herself!

Robyn Peltier has always lived a normal life. So when her boss is murdered and she is named prime suspect, she is way out of her depth. As the bodies pile up only her friend Hope, and Hope's somewhat spooky boyfriend Karl, are on her side. Hope, meanwhile, has a few secrets of her own. Namely that she is half-demon, and her 'spooky' boyfriend is actually a werewolf. Hope also knows that Robyn has accidentally stumbled into a bloody supernatural turf war. And the only way she can keep her friend alive is by letting her enter a world she's safer knowing nothing about ...

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED. WINNER ANNOUNCED SOON

Win all five breathless reads signed books!

If you don't already know, then you can win all five of the books from the breathless reads tour, signed, over on Beth revis' blog! How awesome is that!?


THE ETERNAL ONES by Kiersten Miller is a fast-paced, adventurious love story that involves reincarnation, secret societies, and fire.
THE REPLACEMENT by Brenna Yovanoff is a hauntingly beautiful book that scares the pants off me.
NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer is not about werewolves--it's about true wolves that can shapeshift into people written by a brilliant scholar who incorporate history into the tale.
MATCHED by Allie Condie shows us that love can break through any barrier, and the most important thing is to not go gently...
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE is the book that I wrote and I would really like it if you liked it. Also I think you're pretty and want to be friends with you.

Book blogger hop #4

Head on over to Crazy-for-books to join the hop.

This weeks question is:

"If I gave you £50 (or $80) and sent you into a bookshop right now, what would be in your basket when you finally staggered to the till?"

Oh, that's actually a tough one since I just spent that much on books last week buying everything that was at the top of my list!
Well there'd definitely be a childrens book in there for my son who's one and loves his books! I've heard a lot of good things about Unearthly by Cynthia Hand lately so maybe that to and a book I was looking at today called Unwind (I forget who by) would probably be in there to!
If your stopping by from the hop leave a link to your post.
I follow back anyone that follows me : )

Intertwined review

Intertwined by Gena Showalter

What's it about?

Aden's image was burned into her mind. He had black hair with inch-long blond roots. A face as perfect as the Grecian statues she'd seen in her world history textbook, even with the grime. For the briefest of moments, when a beam of sunlight had hit him, she could have sworn his eyes were striped with green, brown, blue and gold. But then the ray had disappeared and the colours melted into each other, leaving only an intense black. The colours didn't matter, though. Those eyes were feral, wild, and she'd felt that undeniable shock that had ended as quickly as it had begun, for one second seeming to hook her to a generator, jolting her, unnerving her. Even hurting her. And here he was again...

My review:
4/5

Aden and the four souls trapped in his head are just the tip of the iceberg to the amount of characters and information you'll take in reading this book! Yet somehow it's not as confusing as you'd think it would be. The writing is easy to read and your not bombarded with all the information in the first few pages so I had no trouble keeping up. And there's also a vast variety of supernatural creatures to keep you entertained during the story, which hasn't been forgotten either, giving Intertwined the full package. There some plot twists I really didn't see coming and enough little clues at the end to keep me guessing what will happen next and, of course, had me ordering the next book!
The book is mainly focused on Aden, although I don't think he'll stick in my mind forever as a favourite I still liked him a lot. I loved how he longs for peace from the voices in his head but at the same time he loves them and even thinks of them as his family, after all he has grown up with them. I thought he was a lovely guy who was very protective of his friends.
The other person the book is focused on is Mary Ann, who, again is lovely but not necessarily memorable.
Both meet a love interest in the book, but both love stories were so similar it did make the book feel a little repetitive in places and everyone was so jealous of each other it got a little frustrating to. But all in all I enjoyed the book a lot and look forward to reading Unravelled very soon.

Same difference #5

I came across this cover for US edition of The Devil's playgroud by Jenna Black earlier and just knew I'd seen that girl somewhere before! So after scouring my shelves I finally found her, on the cover for the UK edition of Beneath a rising moon by Keri Arthur.

I'm not sure which I like better, they're both very dark but Devil's playgroud does have some interesting patterns.

Which do you like?

Wednesdays Worldly covers week 7 and 8

This is the rather racy Bulgarian cover for Hex hall by Rachel Hawkins!

If you haven't seen the UK cover then here it is

And here's a second one because I missed last week when I was poorly!

This is the French cover for Demon Interieur (or The devil inside) by Jenna Black, and again here's the UK cover

So, what do you think of them?

Same Difference #4

You may recognise this, the UK cover for Kiss of death by Rachel Caine, it's the 8th in the Morganville Vampires series

And the second is Sam I Am by Heather killough-Walden, first in the October trilogy

Spot the difference! lol

So which do you prefer?

Hexbound review

Hexbound by Chloe Neill
What's it about?
Lily Parker is new to St Sophia's School for Girls, but she's already learned that magic can be your best friend . . . or your worst enemy. So they say absolute power corrupts absolutely. But it turns out even a little bit of magic can turn you to the dark side. That's why Lily has to learn how to control her newly discovered abilities and quickly, on top of avoiding the snobs who think they run her school, nursing a crush on a cute sophomore with a big, werewolfy secret, and fighting the good fight with her best friend Scout as they take on Chicago's nastiest nightlife - including the tainted magic users known as the Reapers. All that's even before Lily's invited to a private meeting with Sebastian. He's hot, he's powerful, and he's offering to help her harness the magic flowing through her veins in a way that no one else can. He's also a Reaper. Lily can't help but be suspicious of his offer. But she also needs his help. It seems that the line between good and evil isn't quite so clear as she thought . . .


My review:
4/5
Whilst this second book didn't have me gripped as much as the first one I still enjoyed it a lot. I love the shameless flirting between Lily and Jason and how their relationship is still early and casual, unlike a lot of books I read where the characters are intensely in love after half of the first book and the second is always about how it's doomed or forbidden.
I also really like the relationship between Lily and Scout, although after a while it did feel like there was one to many 'totallys' in the dialogue that bordered on annoying.
Although I enjoyed the book I didn't feel like it added a whole lot to the main story about Lilys parents, a couple of tiny clues is all we get, giving me the feeling this may be a story that's going to be dragged out.
The writing style is the same as the first, so it's an easy quick read and I think will be enjoyed by fans of the first book Firespell.


For more on Chloe Neill, visit her website here


                                      

Guest poster - T.J Perkins

Art of the Ninja: Earth is the first book of a 5 book series I call Shadow Legacy. Unlike pirates, vampires and werewolves, I decided to take the one thing that wasn’t yet published to death – ninja. When Shadow Legacy was still in its infancy and I was trying to lay a plot, my son was heavy into martial arts. He had taken many different Japanese styles and his favorite became ninjutsu. I found a traditional ninjutsu school a good ways from our home, but drove him twice a week, every week, for 1 ½ years. I sat and watched the training, the forms of teaching…and absorbed it. I took some of the Kung Fu I had learned in my early 20’s and applied those techniques to what I was witnessing.


Thus Shadow Legacy was born. Being heavy into video games (especially Final Fantasy) and anime, I opted to use those elements to make my ninja unique. The storyline became more fantasy and the plot churned into a soup of back stories and in-depth sub-plots. What started out as one thick novel consisting of 5 sections that represented each of the elements suddenly turned into 5 separate books, each applying the elements and their power, covering the Dark Ninja Arts, Ninja Magic and using the elements in ways not yet discovered.


Art of the Ninja is the introduction book. You meet the characters and touch on their lives, training, weapons and slowly learn about their abilities. But their power and strengths have to grow and manifest and as you read through each book you will discover the levels of power, levels of magic, their special abilities and watch each of them mature and advance and over come evil and obstacles beyond anything they’ve ever faced before. Why is this Shadow Legacy? Because for our young ninja, this is a path even they’re ancestors followed; a legacy to be honored. It’s a gift, a special talent – an Art.

5 Books, 5 Levels of Power, 5 Different Types of Magic – This is a Whole New Revolution

Art of the Ninja: Earth is now available on Kindle.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004K1EVGE


Soon to be released on Nook, IPad and in trade paper.


Read Chapter 1 on www.authorsden.com/tjperkins


Follow me on Twitter, Goodreads, and my blog http://tj-perkins.blogspot.com/


Or come see me at Balticon at the Hunt Valley Marriott in Hunt Valley, MD May 28 &, 29, get your copy of Art of the Ninja: Earth, get an autograph and hear a reading from the new book!


 
You can see my review of the book here