Vonnie's Reading Corner: September 2013

Monday, September 30, 2013

Shadow and Bone Read-Along!

Hello everyone! Maria over at A Night's Dream of Books and I have are hosting a read-along for Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo ! Come join the fun!

Review: The Birr Elixir by Jo Sparkes

When a young apprentice makes a mysterious elixir from a recipe in an old book, she's suddenly the talisman for a daring Gamesman - and the weapon in the conspiracy against a prince.

∞-----∞

Marra never heard of Birr Elixir. But when Drail sees the potion in her dead mistress's book, she agrees to make it. Even lacking the right ingredient.

And after drinking it, Drail and his men defeat a Skullan team - something no one has ever done before. Marra is offered a place as his traveling potions mistress. Full of doubts of her own ability, she takes the chance to escape her slave-like existence.

Then her potions woke a man who was not supposed to wake.

Now every day draws more attention from the True Masters. And their motives – and morals – are not for the faint of heart.

If they discover the truth …

More info

Synopsis: Mr. Darcy, Vampyre starts where Pride and Prejudice ends and introduces a dark family curse so perfectly that the result is a delightfully thrilling, spine-chilling, breathtaking read. A dark, poignant and visionary continuation of Austen's beloved story, this tale is full of danger, darkness and immortal love.

My Thoughts: Oh my goodness! This was absolutely dreadful! I saw this book at a local used bookstore and I was quite intrigued with the title. I love reading parodies and I loved Pride and Prejudice. I thought that having a title like this, this book would be absolutely fun. Boy, was I wrong!

Children's Book Review: The New Crown by Jason Sandberg

Title: The New Crown
Author & Illustrator: Jason Sandberg
Pages: 29
Genre: Children’s Picture Book (Ages 3-6 with adult; Ages 6-9 on their own)

Synopsis: Julietta the Carpenter can build almost anything using wood, metal or fabric. Her skills are put to the test when she runs afoul of her corrupt King. This new fairy tale introduces a resourceful heroine to the boys and girls of today.

Friday Hops, 9/27/13

This hop is hosted by Billy over at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. Every week bloggers answer a question and then visit other blogs that are participating. This week's question is:

What weekly memes do you follow on a regular basis?

Spotlight, Cover Reveal, + Giveaway: Ripple Effect Romance Novellas

The Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series
Enjoy this exciting new series of clean novellas by six critically-acclaimed authors.

"Like a pebble tossed into calm water, a simple act can ripple outward and have a far-reaching effect on those we meet, perhaps setting a life on a different course—one filled with excitement, adventure, and sometimes even love."

Cover Reveal: Shuttered Affections by Rene Folsom

A book that I can't wait to read!

From the author of the Roommate Romance series comes a breathtaking tale of a girl trying to escape her past and focus on her future, all while coping with lust at first sight when she least expects it. To be read as the first novel in the Cornerstone series, I give you the cover of Shuttered Affections...

Release Date: October 15, 2013

Gosh, isn't it gorgeous?!

Teaser Tuesdays #60

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:

Wolgast Castle

Book One of the Sidonia The Sorceress Series by Linda Bell Brighton

Forced to attend Princess Maria regent's celebration at Wolgast Castle, 1560 Germany, Sidonia von Bork, fears her magical abilities will be discovered and she'll be burned alive as a witch. When she discovers she is actually a member of an ancient shape-shifting race and the prophesied Golden One, she must face her destiny: to save the multiverse from the daemons determined to destroy all humans, and stay alive in the process.

Liebster Award Nomination

Awww...I feel special again ^-^

Chanzie over at Mean Who You Are has nominated me for a Liebster Award. I have already received this award last year when I first started blogging, so I have decided to only answer Chanzie's questions.

For those of you who don't know, the Liebster Award is to help new bloggers and/or blogs with less than 200 followers get more love and attention. So please make sure you head on over to Chanzie's blog and help her feel welcomed :)

Here goes:

1. What are you currently reading and what are you planning on reading next?

I am currently reading Wolgast Castle by Linda Bell Brighton for a blog tour on September 24th, The Birr Elixir by Jo Sparkes for review, and Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange (this one is taking me FOREVER). Next, I'll be reading another review book.

Friday Hops, 9/20/13

Teaser Tuesdays #59

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

• 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:

The Reluctant Bachelorette by Rachael Renee Anderson

Unknowingly cast as the bachelorette for her town’s charity event, Taycee Emerson wants out. Especially when she discovers her old teenage crush, Luke Carney, is one of the bachelors and it’s up to the viewers–not her–to decide which bachelors stay or go.

Tour Schedule

My Own Mr. Darcy

After being dragged to the 2005 movie Pride and Prejudice by her mother, sixteen-year-old Elizabeth’s life changes when Matthew Macfadyen’s Mr. Darcy appears on the screen. Lizzie falls hard and makes a promise to herself that she will settle for nothing less than her own Mr. Darcy. This ill-advised pledge threatens to ruin any chance of finding true love. During the six intervening years, she has refused to give any interested suitors a chance. They weren’t Mr. Darcy enough. Coerced by her roommate, Elizabeth agrees to give the next interested guy ten dates before she dumps him. That guy is Chad, a kind and thoughtful science teacher and swim coach. While she’s dating Chad, her dream comes true in the form of a wealthy bookstore owner named Matt Dawson, who looks and acts like her Mr. Darcy. Of course she has to follow her dream. But as Elizabeth simultaneously dates a regular guy and the dazzling Mr. Dawson, she’s forced to re-evaluate what it was she loved about Mr. Darcy in the first place.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Cover Reveal: Roadside Service by B.L. Wilde

Roadside Service

by B.L. Wilde

Cover Design by Jo Matthews

Genre: Erotica

Scheduled Release: September 27, 2013

Summary:

When fate brings you face-to-face with what your heart desires, how can you ignore it?

Violet Weathers, the world’s top supermodel, is in Omaha, Nebraska for two weeks shooting a campaign for a new skincare line that she’s the fresh new face of.

When her car breaks down on the way to the hotel, she is rescued by a hot mechanic who just might make her stay in Omaha more bearable.

Friday Hops, 9/13/13

This hop is hosted by Billy over at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. Every week bloggers answer a question and then visit other blogs that are participating. This week's question is:

Are you in a book club? How does your book club choose books? How far in advance do you choose?

Teaser Tuesdays #58

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

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

My Teasers:

The Art of Safkhet Presents – Blood Myth

(The Myth Series)

Zakah Sange was born into a world of dark magick, always living in the shadows of his father, the Raka King. He was dangerously sexy and enigmatic; he used power and control to shape himself into a hard and cunning man. Zakah became a warrior, a weapon and the master of his own violence lurking within.

Sorina Ruzicka was the great granddaughter of the evil god Akhekh. She was born into a legacy of magickal gifts that she wanted no part of. After years touring as a blues singer she returned home where she only wanted the seclusion of the mountains. A chance meeting with the mysterious club owner forced Sorina into the battle of her life.

Book-to-Movie: The Host

Synopsis: When an unseen enemy threatens mankind by taking over their bodies and erasing their memories, Melanie will risk everything to protect the people she cares most about, proving that love can conquer all in a dangerous new world.
Director: Andrew Niccol
Writers: Andrew Niccol
Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons, Jake Abel

My thoughts:   I was hesitant in watching this movie at first because I was not too sure what direction it was going to take. I guess I had Twilight prejudices. Fortunately, I found this film to be quite enjoyable.

Friday Hops, 9/6/13

Book-to-Movie: Beautiful Creatures

Synopsis: Ethan longs to escape his small Southern town. He meets a mysterious new girl, Lena. Together, they uncover dark secrets about their respective families, their history and their town.
Director: Richard LaGravenese
Writers: Richard LaGravenese
Stars: Alice Englert, Viola Davis, Emma Thompson, Jeremy Irons, Emmy Rossum

My thoughts: I really wanted to see this movie when it first came out in the movie theaters but I didn't get the chance to see it until my library owned a copy of the movie. It has been a couple of weeks since I've seen it and I'm still scratching my head as to how I feel about it.

Teaser Tuesdays #57

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

• 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:

2013: August Wrap-Up and September's Plans

August. Another busy month but was able to get some reads done. It's funny how I always think that I am doing a horrible job in reading, but when I look back, I actually got a decent amount of books accomplished. Here's what I read:

Read by Mamie Gummer

Synopsis: From a debut author comes a heart-warming novel about a unique girl and her seventh grade experiences.
Emma-Jean Lazarus is the smartest and strangest girl at William Gladstone Middle School. Her classmates don't understand her, but that's okay because Emma-Jean doesn't quite get them either. But one afternoon, all that changes when she sees Colleen Pomerantz crying in the girl's room. It is through Colleen that Emma-Jean gets a glimpse into what it is really like to be a seventh grader. And what she finds will send her tumbling out of a tree and questioning why she ever got involved in the first place.