Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Teaser Tuesday (#23): #Mirage {Teaser #3} by Kristi Cook #WinterhavenWarriors


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! (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 (I'll be posting teasers from Mirage by Kristi Cook all month as a member of the Winterhaven Warriors Street Team):


Click on the Cover to Pre-Order!
Together, we slid down in the seat, away from prying eyes.  I heard him sigh, felt the muscles in his relax.  "Was that for Tyler's benefit, or mine?" he asked, his voice a hoarse whisper.  
 
"Take your pick," I answered coyly.  But speaking silently inside my head, I told a different story.  For you, I said.  Always for you.  (MIRAGE ARC, pages 151-152)

Monday, May 21, 2012

#BoutofBooks: Bout of Books 4.0 Read-A-Thon {Wrap-up}

Bout of Books Read-a-Thon
The Bout of Books Read-A-Thon is hosted by Amanda @ On a Book Bender!
 
Books To Read 

UPDATE: I'm replacing Awaited with Night Walker by Lisa Kessler

Updates

5/14
Number of books I’ve read today: 3/4 of 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 3/4 of 1
Books: Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) by Patricia Briggs
Pages: (Pages 16-181)
Mini-Challenge Post: http://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.com/2012/05/boutofbooks-read-thon-mini-challenge.html
Quick Thoughts: A quick read. I'm going to want to get the next Mercy Thompson book right away.

5/15
Number of books I’ve read today: 1/4 of 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 1
Books: Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) by Patricia Briggs
Quick Thoughts: I loved Moon Called and I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series. And I'm thinking that I really need to read more. It's already closing in on Day 3 and I've only finished one book on my list.

5/16
Number of books I’ve read today: 10% of 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 1 and 10% of 1
Books: The Darkest Whisper (Lords of the Underworld # 4) by Gena Showalter
Pages: (Pages 1-42)
Challenge Post: http://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.com/2012/05/boutofbooks-read-thon-challenge-re.html
Quick Thoughts: Couldn't get much reading done today... :(

5/17
Number of books I’ve read today: 9% of 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 1, 10% of TDW, 9% of NW
Books: Night Walker (The Night, #1) by Lisa Kessler
Pages: (Pages 1-24)
Challenge Post: http://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.com/2012/05/boutofbooks-read-thon-challenge-zombie.html
Quick Thoughts: I had some tour reviews to write today, so I didn't get much reading done. But at least I got a little bit read. A little is better than none, right?

5/18
Number of books I’ve read today: 25% of 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 1, 35% of TDW, 9% of NW
Books: The Darkest Whisper (Lords of the Underworld # 4) by Gena Showalter
Pages: (Pages 42-141)
Challenge Post: http://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.com/2012/05/boutofbooks-read-thon-challenge-books.html
Quick Thoughts: I'm happy with the progress I made today. It's not a lot, but it's something. :)

5/19
Number of books I’ve read today: 18% of 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 1, 53% of TDW, 9% of NW
Books: The Darkest Whisper (Lords of the Underworld # 4) by Gena Showalter
Pages: (Pages 141-214)
Challenge Post: {I suck at poetry, so I sat this one out}
Quick Thoughts: I'm hoping to finish The Darkest Whisper by the end of this readathon. Fingers crossed.

5/20
Number of books I've read today: 19% of 1
Total number of books I've read: 1, 72% of TDW, 9% of NW
Books: The Darkest Whisper (Lords of the Underworld # 4) by Gena Showalter
Pages: (Pages 214-292)
Challenge Post: {No challenge scheduled this day}
Quick Thoughts: I may not have finished The Darkest Whisper, but I'm happy with how far I've gotten in the book.

WRAP-UP

I had wanted to get at least 3 books out of the 5 I listed finished, but with all the tour reviews and everyday life, I was only able to read 1 complete book. Even though I didn't reach my goal, I really enjoyed participating in this readathon and I can't wait for the next one. 

BOOK STATS:

Finished Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) by Patricia Briggs.
Finished 72% of  The Darkest Whisper (Lords of the Underworld # 4) by Gena Showalter.
Finished 9% of  Night Walker (The Night, #1) by Lisa Kessler.

Cover Reveal: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris (Giveaway)

I'd like to thank YA Bound for giving me the chance to participate in the cover reveal for Rachel Harris's My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century!
 
On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore.

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?


LINKS:



 
Never-Before-Seen Excerpt from MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY:

“I thought I’d teach you a dance from where I come from,” I tell him. “One that’s much easier than that multi-step mess inside.”
            I place my left hand on Lorenzo’s shoulder and slip my right one into his. I pause to listen to the music floating over the tinkling voices and bubbling fountain, and begin counting the three-beat tempo. “One, two, three. One, two, three.”
            I stand still, only my head moving, slowly nodding with my words so he can hear the rhythm.
            When his head begins subtly bobbing with mine, I show him how to add his feet. He takes a tentative step forward with his left while I step back with my right, then we side step, close, and repeat the steps with our other feet, all while I lightly whisper the beat count.
            The breeze picks up, blowing my skirt and skimming my veil across the back of my neck. Chills run down my spine, but the warmth coursing through my veins from being in his arms provides a delicious contradiction.
            Lorenzo continues nervously darting his eyes to our feet, but he is dancing. As he relaxes into the movement, his shoulders rising and falling with the steps, the confidence he always seems to exude creeps back on his face, and he tightens the hold around me. Our faces are kissably close, our lips a hairs breadth away from touching. I stare into the chocolate depths of his eyes and the rest of the ball fades away. The only music guiding our steps is my light whisper and the erratic rhythm of our breathing. Time slows. Lorenzo grins.
            “I think you got it,” I say breathlessly, running my hand along the soft fabric of his shoulder, feeling the rock-hard muscles underneath.
            My body curls inward, pressing against his. The proper form for the waltz is a straight spine and shoulders back, but if there was ever a time to break the rules, this is it.

About this Author: 
As a teen, I threw raging parties that shook my parents’ walls and created embarrassing fodder for future YA novels.

As an adult, I read and write obsessively, rehash said embarrassing fodder, and dream up characters who become my imaginary friends.

When I'm not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, you can find me homeschooling my two beautiful princesses, hanging out with my amazing husband, or taking a hot bubble bath…next to a pile of chocolate.

MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY is my first novel. I did have my own fantabulous Sweet Sixteen in high school. Sadly, it wasn’t televised.

GIVEAWAY:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Denied by Kinley Baker (Giveaway)

I'd like to thank Bewitching Book Tours for giving me the chance to participate in the cover reveal for Kinley Baker's Denied!

DENIED  
SHADOWED LOVE, BOOK TWO 
By Kinley Baker
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

When invaders brutally massacred the women and children of the Varner, Caleb witnessed loss and destruction on a scale few can comprehend. As the leader of a race on the brink of extinction, his only hope for survival is gaining acceptance into the Shadow Shifter Kingdom. Struggling with new customs, he meets Tabitha, a woman who challenges his limits.

Refused the right to join the king’s guard because of her gender, Tabitha must be stronger than the men to prove she deserves to be the first accepted female Warrior in the kingdom. She believes Caleb will help improve her abilities, until she learns her goals conflict with the foundation of his culture.

When the realm is attacked, Tabitha and Caleb must come together not only to fight, but to find the strength to win against an evil with the potential to destroy everything they revere most--including each other.

Add DENIED as To-Read on GoodReads! 


RUINED: Shadowed Love Book One
By Kinley Baker
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

Jessa is one healing away from death. Under the thrall of her gift, the Court's Senior Healer risks giving her life in exchange for her patient's.

Vale is a rebel ruler. When his brother is killed, he's given the throne and the decree from the Court to produce an heir or lose his family's hold on the land--and his deceiving advisors aren't afraid to use murder as a weapon if their directive to stay away from the Senior Healer goes unheeded.

But Vale burns to possess Jessa. The heat between them leaves a wake of smoke, and even the powerful forces above want to bind them in a union that lasts forever. Vale taking another would be a betrayal neither could survive.

Their enemies fear a child born of such a powerful Healer and Warrior, but the true threat lies in the bond forged in shadows and fused in fire.

BUY LINKS:
 
Barnes and Noble                 Kindle        Amazon Paperback  





EXCERPT FROM RUINED:

"You." Fury burned hot under Jessa's skin as she glared at Vale. "Who do you think you are, demanding I come live in this castle? You can't just order your guards to enter a woman's home and pack up her things."

"Well, I did." Vale came around the desk and propped one hip against it, more of a threatening than casual movement.

"Someone tried to kill me. It makes sense that I have my Healer close by."

She released a pent-up breath. "Why couldn't you have explained that instead of mandating?" Silly. Her imagination had run away with her. The king needed his Healer. But the realization he didn't want her made her angrier.

"Because I didn't want to give you the option of saying no."

She most definitely would have said no.

"If you would have explained your reasoning, I would have complied. Your safety and health come first, even if I-"

"Even if you what?"

"Loathe you." She bunched her fingers into two fists, seriously tempted to hit him. For all the nonexistent pain it would inflict upon him.

"Do you?" His tone deadened with calm. "Because I can't stop thinking about you."

"That's normal." She brushed off the claim. "I saved your life."

He moved in a blur. A true Shadow Shifter. One second he stood near his desk, the next he had her in his arms, one locked around her waist and one hand tangled in her hair. Their lips almost brushed.

"I can't stop thinking about you." His murmur played down her spine, leaving a tingling trail. His scent invaded her. His voice embraced her like bare skin against satin sheets.

Her heart beat fast, her pulse jumped.

She disliked him, but didn't want him to let her go.

"Have you been thinking about me?" His soft tone feathered over her flesh.

"Only how much I dislike you." Lust pulsed in her belly.

He pulled her head back gently by her hair, so they looked straight into each other's eyes. Their bodies pressed tightly together. "Liar."

About the Author:

Kinley Baker is the author of the fantasy romance novel, Ruined. She read her first romance at the age of thirteen and immediately fell in love with the hero and the genre. She lives with her husband and her dog, Joker, in the Pacific Northwest. As a firm supporter of all supernatural lifestyles, she writes fantasy romance, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy.





You can find Kinley at:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, May 20, 2012

#BoutofBooks: 4.0 Read-A-Thon Days 5 & 6 Updates

Bout of Books Read-a-Thon

Books To Read 

UPDATE: I'm replacing Awaited with Night Walker by Lisa Kessler

Updates

5/14
Number of books I’ve read today: 3/4 of 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 3/4 of 1
Books: Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) by Patricia Briggs
Pages: (Pages 16-181)
Mini-Challenge Post: http://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.com/2012/05/boutofbooks-read-thon-mini-challenge.html
Quick Thoughts: A quick read. I'm going to want to get the next Mercy Thompson book right away.

5/15
Number of books I’ve read today: 1/4 of 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 1
Books: Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) by Patricia Briggs
Quick Thoughts: I loved Moon Called and I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series. And I'm thinking that I really need to read more. It's already closing in on Day 3 and I've only finished one book on my list.

5/16
Number of books I’ve read today: 10% of 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 1 and 10% of 1
Books: The Darkest Whisper (Lords of the Underworld # 4) by Gena Showalter
Pages: (Pages 1-42)
Challenge Post: http://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.com/2012/05/boutofbooks-read-thon-challenge-re.html
Quick Thoughts: Couldn't get much reading done today... :(

5/17
Number of books I’ve read today: 9% of 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 1, 10% of TDW, 9% of NW
Books: Night Walker (The Night, #1) by Lisa Kessler
Pages: (Pages 1-24)
Challenge Post: http://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.com/2012/05/boutofbooks-read-thon-challenge-zombie.html
Quick Thoughts: I had some tour reviews to write today, so I didn't get much reading done. But at least I got a little bit read. A little is better than none, right?

5/18
Number of books I’ve read today: 25% of 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 1, 35% of TDW, 9% of NW
Books: The Darkest Whisper (Lords of the Underworld # 4) by Gena Showalter
Pages: (Pages 42-141)
Challenge Post: http://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.com/2012/05/boutofbooks-read-thon-challenge-books.html
Quick Thoughts: I'm happy with the progress I made today. It's not a lot, but it's something. :)

5/19
Number of books I’ve read today: 18% of 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 1, 53% of TDW, 9% of NW
Books: The Darkest Whisper (Lords of the Underworld # 4) by Gena Showalter
Pages: (Pages 141-214)
Challenge Post: {I suck at poetry, so I sat this one out}
Quick Thoughts: I'm hoping to finish The Darkest Whisper by the end of this readathon. Fingers crossed.

5/20
Number of books I've read today:
Total number of books I've read:
Books: The Darkest Whisper (Lords of the Underworld # 4) by Gena Showalter
Pages:
Challenge Post: {No challenge scheduled for this day}
Quick Thoughts:

Giveaway Winner: Staring into the Eyes of Chance eBook


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations to Joanne B. for winning a copy of Staring Into the Eyes of Chance!


Be sure to contact me at shadowhunters_jace_clary@hotmail.com with your email and I'll pass it along to the tour host!

Saturday, May 19, 2012

FBF Book Spotlight: Bella Notte by Jesse Kimmel-Freeman

Bella Notte
by Jesse Kimmel-Freeman
Published November 21st 2011 by Createspace

17 year old Emma Hutchinson struggles to find her place in the world she has been born to. She's learning about herself and her heart as she tries to decide whether she should be with the guy she has been dreaming about since she was three or if she belongs with her betrothed.



3 Signed Copies will be given away on Friday, May 25, 2012!

Click Here to Enter: http://indie.freebookfriday.com/2012/05/bella-notte-by-jessie-kimmel-freeman.html

What is FBF?

It's simple. Every Friday, Free Book Friday gives away free books!

That's right. Each week, FBF features a new author with an exclusive author interview podcast or written Q&A and host a drawing to win free signed copies of his/her book.

All you have to do to enter to win each week is sign up using the entry form on the left sidebar. Winners are chosen at random and posted on the site every Friday morning. Hence the name, "Free Book Friday!"

Friday, May 18, 2012

#WWReadathon: Wicked Wildfire Read-A-Thon {Sign Up}

Wicked Wildfire Read-A-Thon


The Wicked Wildfire Read-A-Thon is hosted by Rebecca @ Kindle Fever and April @ My Shelf Confessions!

What is the Wicked Wildfire Read-A-Thon?

The Wicked Wildfire Read-A-Thon is a time when we all get together to dedicate the days of June 20-24 to as much reading as possible. You read as much as you can in order to get yourself a little further through that huge to-read pile! We know real life gets in the way and even if you can’t participate more than one day, you’re welcome to join in on the fun!

In the meanwhile, we will be hosting book-related challenges where you can win some awesome prizes and have a Twitter party at the hashtag #WWReadathon! You can posts updates on your blog, Twitter, Goodreads or Facebook — as long as the profile is public and we all can enjoy your reading progress!



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