Friday Hops, 5/31/13

This hop is hosted by Billy over at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. Every week participants answer a question and then visit other blogs participating. The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers the chance to meet new bloggers, get to know one another better, and get new followers. This week's question is:

What is your favorite series that you've finished all the books (more than 3 books) to?   

Teaser Tuesdays #43

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

• 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! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


It has been a super busy week for me. I haven't had much reading done so I'm still reading the same two books, which you are getting teasers from again :)

My Teasers:

The Stone Guardian by Theresa McClinton

Synopsis: When myth becomes reality, reality becomes a nightmare. Like any other teenager in America, Ashley just wants a normal life. But growing up in an orphanage for the insane is anything but normal. After endless therapy and increasing medication, her nightmares have only gotten worse. Probably because they're not nightmares. When Ashley's mysteriously abducted, she finds a reality even less normal than the orphanage. And she discovers something else--she's no ordinary orphan. Faced with enemies thought to only exist in fairy tales, Ashley discovers she possesses a powerful Maya bloodline. She's the daughter of an ancient Maya Guardian, whose duty is to protect the Stone of Muuk'Ich, an enchanted relic blessed by the gods. But first she must get it back from Sarian, a power-hungry demigod who slaughtered the last guardian--Ashley's mother. Without the stone, all will be lost. When she meets Arwan, a hot Belizean time bender, his delicious olive skin and dark eyes make her feel a little less alone. But his gentle whispers and reassuring touch might not be all they seem. How can she balance love and duty when it's up to her to prevent the rising of the underworld? Especially when the guy she loves might be its crown prince...

My thoughts: I signed up to do a blog tour stop for the novella Escaping Darkness and decided to read this book before I read the novella. I'm glad I did because I got a lot of background information that will help me understand the other story better.

What Have I Been Up to This Past Week?

Aye...yes, I'm super tired! I had a very eventful week that had been in the plans for almost a year. For those of you that don't know, I love to belly dance. My wonderful instructor and friend Anoush BellyDance had worked very hard to create a very special weekend workshop for the dance ladies here in the OC area of California. Who did she bring? Well, Ahmed Hussien, a master dancer from Egypt!

Vonnie with Ahmed: We are glistening lol

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Synopsis: Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

My thoughts: I first heard of this book from its trailer and I remember thinking to myself, "Wait...is this Rogue from X-men?" I've been a huge fan of X-men and I immediately looked up this book. There were many mixed reviews but the story still called to me. I was very excited to finally get the chance to read Shatter Me and I found myself liking it very much.

Friday Hops, 5/24/13

Ay...what a busy week it has been for me! I have not been able to do much reading nor keep up with my blog. Well, I'm back doing the Friday Hops :)

Book Blogger Hop: May 10th -16th

 

This hop is hosted by Billy over at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. Every week participants answer a question and then visit other blogs participating. The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers the chance to meet new bloggers, get to know one another better, and get new followers. This week's question is:

Have you ever been to BEA, and if so, do you recommend attending? Any good advice for first-time attendees?  

Teaser Tuesdays #42

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

• 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! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


It has been a super busy week for me. I haven't had much reading done so I'm still reading the same two books, which you are getting teasers from again :)

My Teasers:

Audiobook: The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

Read by Sarah Drew

Synopsis: The Carrie Diaries is the coming-of-age story of one of the most iconic characters of our generation.
Before Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw was a small-town girl who knew she wanted more. She's ready for real life to start, but first she must navigate her senior year of high school. Up until now, Carrie and her friends have been inseparable. Then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture, and a friend's betrayal makes her question everything.
With an unforgettable cast of characters, The Carrie Diaries is the story of how a regular girl learns to think for herself and evolves into a sharp, insightful writer. Through adventures both audacious and poignant, we'll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where her new life begins.

Teaser Tuesdays #41

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

• 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! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


My Teaser:

"Around her, the house seemed alive with some evil. There. She'd said it. Evil."

Page 67 from The Diviners by Libba Bray

I've only read about twenty pages of it and I'm having a hard time focusing on it. I hope it's just me and not the book. Have any of you read it?

Review: Becoming Americana by Lara Rios

Synopsis: Ever since an article about Lupe Perez ran in the UCLA paper, she's become the poster child for the American Dream: East L.A. bad girl who slashed cop makes good! She goes to school full-time, works in the food court, and volunteers at a center for at-risk teens. Against all odds, Lupe has turned her life around. The thing is, she never asked for all this attention. Now, her professor wants her to write a gigantic thesis about what Americanization means to Mexican immigrants-and she's not even sure yet what it means to her.

My thoughts: *sigh* Lara Rios had done it again. She engrossed me into her novel, made me fall in love with her characters, and had made me question my identity. I fell in love with the first book Becoming Latina in 10 Easy Steps a few years back and I did not believe that Becoming Americana would be as good as the first. Boy, I was proven wrong.

Friday Hops, 5/10/13

Book Blogger Hop: May 10th -16th

This hop is hosted by Billy over at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. Every week participants answer a question and then visit other blogs participating. The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers the chance to meet new bloggers, get to know one another better, and get new followers. This week's question is:

What was the last book you re-read? Or name a book you would like to re-read.

May Kindle Fire Giveaway

 

This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER SPONSORED GIVEAWAY!

Kindle Fire HD 7" Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HD (US Only)

Teaser Tuesdays #40

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

• 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! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Fields of Elysium by A.B. Whelan

Tour Schedule

 

Fields of Elysium by A.B. Whelan

How can love mend a heart full of hate? Small town girl, Molly Bennett, moves to Los Angeles where she becomes an outsider while attending Beverly Hills High School. It seems life cannot be any more dreadful. Then one day after school, something magical happens. On a secluded hike in the Hollywood Hills, Molly chases her disobedient mutt and only friend into a hidden cavern. She stumbles upon a strange glimmering gateway that transports her to Arkana, a planet that is the cradle of an advanced human race. There, teenagers navigate amazing flying vehicles, compete in perilous games for glory, and possess supernatural powers. While Molly tries to wrap her mind around this unbelievable discovery, she meets the alluring and mysterious Victor Sorren. He is a Sentinel Apprentice, whose hatred toward people from Earth is beyond understanding. Yet every time Victor unpredictably saves Molly's life, his heart draws closer to hers, no matter how much he tries to fight against it. It further complicates things that their growing friendship is strictly forbidden. Earth people are prohibited in Arkana, yet Molly continues to cross through the portal to Arkana to see Victor. Torn between their double lives, they go down a dangerous path, from where there is no return and multiple endings. Fields of Elysium is a suspenseful, romantic tale full of forbidden secrets, unimaginable danger, deception, and the never-ending fight for true love.

Book Blogger Hop: May 3rd - 9th

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

I completely forgot to do last week's hop, and I almost forgot this week's. So here goes...

This hop is hosted by Billy over at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. Every week participants answer a question and then visit other blogs participating. The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers the chance to meet new bloggers, get to know one another better, and get new followers. This week's question is:

Bye Bye April, Hello May! 2013

Okay...April flew by so fast! I can't believe I even got some reading done. Here's what I've read:

1. The Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern* 5 stars
2. Bad Boys Ahoy! by Sylvia Day 4 stars
3. Replacing Gentry by Julie N. Ford 4.5 stars
4. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor 4.5 stars
5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
6. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson* 2 stars

Cover Reveal of Working It Out + Giveaway

Author Rachael Renee Anderson

Rachael Anderson is the author of four books: Divinely Designed, Luck of the Draw, Minor Adjustments, and The Reluctant Bachelorette. She's the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

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