Books: The Cheapest Vacation You Can Buy











Blood WoundsFrom Goodreads: Blood can both wound and heal…

Willa is lucky: She has a loving blended family that gets along. Not all families are so fortunate. But when a bloody crime takes place hundreds of miles away, it has an explosive effect on Willa’s peaceful life. The estranged father she hardly remembers has murdered his new wife and children, and is headed east toward Willa and her mother. Under police protection, Willa discovers that her mother has harbored secrets that are threatening to boil over. Has everything Willa believed about herself been a lie? But as Willa sets out to untangle the mysteries of her past, she also keeps her own secret—one that has the potential to tear apart all she holds dear.

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One of my students recommended this book to me, so I picked it up to read one evening without having read the book jacket.  Sometimes I do this—go blindly into a book because I want to be surprised by everything.  Well, imagine my surprise when Willa’s family suddenly goes on alert because her father is a murdering butcher intent on finding her!  That was perhaps the last thing on my mind when I opened the book.  I was thinking that perhaps it was about vampires, based on the title and the cover, but I was mistaken.  This novel has nothing to do with vampires… it deals with psychopaths instead.

I wasn’t immediately wrapped up in the story, but when the frantic phone call came for Willa about her estranged father, I found myself extremely alert, especially as the reports of his heinous crimes came in.  Knowing that he was headed for Willa and her family, my heart began to beat extremely quickly, and I became wrapped up tight within the story.  Unfortunately, the novel soon began to lose steam, in my opinion, as Willa and her sisters begin their tantrums.  I must say that I was never a real fan of Willa or her step-sisters.  There was a lot of animosity there, and they behaved quite horribly on many an occasion.  And, while I do respect Willa’s curiosity about her father’s side of the family, I do not condone the way she went about it, accusing her mother (when her father JUST killed a woman and little children, for heavens sake!) and becoming mouthy.  I get that we all become unhinged at times, but I can’t imagine wanting to go to his house, to see the crime scene, to attend the funeral… ick.

Overall the story had a great premise, though I wouldn’t say that it kept my full attention.  Parts of it were spectacular, but the characters and their selfish attitudes really put a damper on my response to this one.  Three stars.

3 stars

I borrowed this book from the library.



Lucky Number FourI am extremely excited to announce that Lucky Number Four by Amanda Jason has released!!!  This novel is currently only 99 cents (for a limited time) and has already made its way into the TOP 100 on Amazon!  Scoop it up stat, you don’t want to miss out on this awesome novel!  Check out the synopsis–I’m starting this tonight!

Synopsis:

Pandora Ann Phillips’ life is just normal-crazy.

Her mom’s psychic, her dad’s mom is a snob, her mom’s parental units are ‘too down to earth’ and her best friends are newlyweds. Okay, so her best friends being newlyweds isn’t really abnormal, but living with them in a cramped two-bedroom apartment definitely is. Sex, sex, sex, is totally on their brains. Actually, it’s not only on their brains, but it’s on the kitchen table, couch, on top of the washer…well, you get the picture.

Being a celibate (not by choice, mind you) full-time college student, and working as an almost full-time barista, Pandora can’t afford to lose anymore sleep. So, she decides to seek out a new place to lay her head. Enter three ‘drool worthy’ male models that are looking for a fourth roommate, and they want her…and won’t take no for an answer.

Romantic hilarity ensues as Pandora’s life turns completely upside down, and she begins to wonder if it will ever be the same again!

Amazon | Barnes and Noble



Perfect LiesThe giveaway for an ARC of Perfect Lies by Keirsten White has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winner has been chosen via Rafflecopter!

And the winner is…

Lisa Vazquezanzua

A tweet has already gone out to the winners, and an email will go out later this evening! If I don’t hear from the winner within 48 hours, I will select a new winner using Rafflecopter.

Thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to the winner… but don’t despair if you didn’t win this round!

Enter to win my other great giveaways:

Win an ebook of No Attachments by Tiffany King–ENDS Jan. 9

17667168

Win a Recently Released Book of Your Choice: Ends February 1

RRGG Jan 14

Win One of my Favorite Reads from 2013–ENDS Feb. 5

Fave Books 2013



Every Saturday I run a feature for the 99 Cent Club, and below are the eBook picks for this week that caught my eye and are currently ONLY 99 Cents on Amazon, with a few on Barnes and Noble. I don’t know if these are permanent prices, so please don’t shoot the messenger, and double check pricing before pressing the buy button. Enjoy! (If you could help give these authors some love by spreading the word, that would be epic.)

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9781939863027_p0_v2_s260x420Thin White Line by J.A. Templeton

Good girl gone bad…

Kenzie’s picture perfect California life is turned upside down when her father leaves the family for another woman. Within months, she goes from private school and posh beachside living to public school and a sub-par apartment in rainy Washington.

On her first day at her new school, Kenzie is reunited with her cousin Brooke, a rebellious senior who sings in a popular rock band with two of the sexiest men Kenzie has ever met.

Kenzie is soon swept into a world of partying, concerts and tattooed bad boy rockers. Just when she starts to feel like she finally belongs, a single night and a fateful decision changes everything.

Find it on Amazon.

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2940045286381_p0_v1_s260x420Bully by Penelope Douglas

New Adult-Mature Young Adult Romance

Tatum Brandt faces off with her old friend, and now high school bully, Jared Trent. She has been humiliated and shut out, and she’s puzzled as to why Jared stopped being her best friend and became her enemy instead. Now, after three years of being controlled and hurt, she’s fighting fire with fire.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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9780985817084_p0_v1_s260x420Escaping Reality by Lisa Renee Jones

Infinite possibilities….
Infinite passion…..
Infinite danger….

His touch spirals through me, warm and sweet, wicked and hot. I shouldn’t trust him. I shouldn’t tell him my secrets. But how do I not when he is the reason I breathe? He is what I need.

At the young age of eighteen, tragedy and a dark secret force Lara to flee all she has known and loved to start a new life. Now years later, with a new identity as Amy, she’s finally dared to believe she is forgotten-even if she cannot forget. But just when she lets her guard down, the ghosts of her past are quick to punish her, forcing her back on the run.

On a plane, struggling to face the devastation of losing everything again and starting over, Amy meets Liam Stone, a darkly entrancing recluse billionaire, who is also a brilliant, and famous, prodigy architect. A man who knows what he wants and goes after it. And what he wants is Amy. Refusing to take “no” as an answer, he sweeps her into a passionate affair, pushing her to her erotic limits. He wants to possess her. He makes her want to be possessed. Liam demands everything from her, accepting nothing less. But what if she is too devastated by tragedy to know when he wants more than she should give? And what if there is more to Liam than meets the eyes?

Find it on Amazon.

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9780989110686_p0_v1_s260x420Jane Austen Girl by Ingalth Cooper

The very last thing on Grier McAllister’s Someday List is going back to Timbell Creek, Virginia, the town where she grew up. Timbell Creek holds too many bad memories for her, memories finally put to rest with a successful image consultant business in New York City and a hefty therapy bill. When an opportunity to choose a “Jane Austen Girl” for a visiting duke falls in her lap, the only catch that she must be from Grier’s hometown, Grier tells herself she’ll do what she needs to do and then leave it all behind for good.

But Grier doesn’t count on finding that her mother is no longer the person she used to be. She certainly doesn’t plan on falling for an old boyfriend’s really hot brother! And it isn’t long before she begins to realize Timbell Creek is not only a part of who she was, but might be a part of who she is as well.

Find it on Amazon.

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2940148862321_p0_v2_s260x420Emerald Eyes by N. Michaels

After years of being pressured into becoming a neurosurgeon like her father and refusing each time, Katherine Slav’s father has enough of her partying and cuts her off from all financial support, leaving Katherine to find her own place in the world, out of her father’s provision.

Finding a job was a priority. Finding Eric Miller was a bonus, a bonus that quickly proved to be impossible to conquer. How can you have the only man who resists you every step of the way? How can you seduce your boss without losing your job?

Struggling not to blur the lines, Eric tries to keep Katherine at arm’s length, but the more he’s around her, the weaker his resistance becomes. At the end, Katherine gets what she wants, but is it all she thought it would be? Discovering Eric’s secret and baring her own, Katherine fights for her newfound love with everything she’s got, but will it be enough to banish the darkness in Eric’s life? Will she be enough?

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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2940148873440_p0_v1_s260x420Snow Kissed by Jen Frederick

Reindeer Games by Jessica Clare.

When mouthy Luna is voted off of Endurance Island: Alaska first, she’s a little bitter about it. The only thing that assuages her pride is knowing that Owen(the sexy-but-douchey guy that ousted her) was out next. This means, unfortunately, that they’re spending a lot of time at the Loser Lodge together. But will their fiercely competitive natures bring them together for the sexiest Christmas of all?

Undressed by Jen Frederick

Noah and Grace’s happy ever after hits a stumbling block in the form of one shady professor threatening Noah’s scholarship eligibility. Noah is given the choice of throwing his New Year’s MMA fight for a big payoff or accepting that the true meaning of love isn’t measured by the thickness of his wallet but the depth of Grace’s big heart.

The Sound of Snow by DS Linney

Widowed billionaire Gabriel Trentham never expected that the new nanny he hired would be the same woman he spent an unforgettable night with six months earlier. She’s determined to keep it professional between them now, but will a blizzard provide him the opportunity he needs to change her mind?

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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2940149061532_p0_v1_s260x420Every Kiss by Tash Ivey

*MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY. Contains adult situations, mild language, and sexual content.*

BOOK TWO of the EVERY LIFE SERIES

After witnessing Makenna’s journey to find herself again, Callie is reminded of her own struggles with love. No, Wes wasn’t always the easy going guy that he is today. He was moody and unpredictable in the worst of ways, and she was certain to call him out on it every chance she got. Looking back, she’s amazed at how much their lives have changed since they met.

Before tragedy shook them to the very core of their lives. Before her dream career began. And before Wes wasn’t a broody jerk with a closet full of personalities.

Yes, just four years ago, everything was different…

Makenna and Shane are just a couple of lovesick college students, and Callie is doing her best to keep up with the demands of her junior year. Life is boring, and she is totally fine with that. But boring flies right out the window the day Makenna cons Callie into helping with Shane’s brother’s birthday party. She expects a gangly pimple-faced teenager, but Wes is far from it. He is temperamental and opinionated, but he is also incredibly hot and thoroughly enjoys pushing her buttons. And she pushes his right back.

Even though their undeniable attraction draws them to one another, Wes is clear with Callie about one thing. Relationships are off limits. Friendship is all he has to offer, unless of course, Callie is willing to add a few benefits to that. He works hard to keep the reasons for his aversion hidden, but secrets have a way of making themselves known sometimes, no matter how deep you bury them.

Two of those secrets hold the key to unlocking Wes’ fears of the ultimate betrayal. And the other secret has Callie falling even deeper than she ever dreamed.

But she’s unsure of one thing . . . is she enough to save him from himself?

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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2940148902577_p0_v1_s260x420Storm Warning by Caisey Quinn and Elizabeth Lee

Sometimes you can’t see the storm coming until it’s too late…

Severe Storm Warning Tip #1:
Be alert to changing weather conditions. Look for approaching storms.

Severe Storm Warning Tip #2:
If you see approaching storms or any of the danger signs, be prepared to take shelter immediately.

Severe Storm Warning Tip #3:
They may strike quickly, with little or no warning.

Situated just outside of Oklahoma City, Calumet County is divided into two drastically different communities: Hope’s Grove and Summit Bluffs. One is the small backward town where dirt roads lead the way to field parties and railroad tracks. And the other, a sprawling suburb where paved drives lead to the landscaped lawns of the wealthy and overprivileged.

For five teenagers smack in the middle of Tornado Alley, summer is heating up fast. The winds of change are blurring the invisible line that divides the rich and the rural.

One has a secret.
One has a crush.
One has been lying.
One will get caught.
And one might not make it out alive.

They’re from two different worlds…but one summer is about to change everything.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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18367412Pierced Love by T.H. Snyder

Zar Evans is not your typical high school senior; in fact she is anything by normal. Dressing to the trendiest Goth fashion, Zar wears nothing but black from head to toe. Not that this warrants unwanted attention, but she is also top in her class and is looking at a full academic scholarship to Iowa State in the fall.

Loudon Clarke is an all star athlete. He plays three varsity sports and has the world in his hands. Except for one thing; Loudon is failing majority of his subjects. He is about to be suspended from the basketball team risking his athletic scholarship.

Zar and Loudon would normally never cross paths, until these two are brought together when Zar’s brother proposes to Loudon’s sister. With an upcoming wedding and a lot of planning Zar and Loudon are stuck with one another regardless of their differences.

Zar has hidden behind the pain she deals with on a daily basis for years. Loudon has never had to feel pain nor the ignorance of his peers. Can opposites really bring these two together or will they be pulled even further apart.

Only one thing is for sure, it is impossible to fight the connection of pierced love when one is willing to change for happiness.

Find it on Amazon.

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9781455574896_p0_v1_s260x420The Temptation of Lila and Ethan by Jessica Sorensen

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Ella and Micha series comes a gripping story of passion, pain, and the courage to love . . .

THE TEMPTATION OF LILA AND ETHAN

On the surface, Lila Summers is flawless: good looks, expensive clothes, and a big, beautiful smile. But a dark past and even darker secrets are threatening to bubble over her perfect façade. She’ll do anything to keep the emptiness inside hidden-which leads her into situations that always end badly. Whenever she hits bottom, there’s only one person who’s there to pull her out: Ethan Gregory.

Ethan set the rules a long time ago: he and Lila are just friends. He doesn’t do relationships. Although his tattooed, bad boy exterior is a far cry from Lila’s pretty princess image, Ethan can’t deny they have a deeper connection than he’s used to. If he’s not careful, he could be in serious danger of becoming attached-and he’s learned the hard way that attachment only leads to heartbreak.

When Lila falls farther than she ever has before, can Ethan continue to help as a friend? Or is he also getting close to falling . . . for her?

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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If you could help give these authors some love by spreading the word, that would be epic.

For more information about books on sale throughout the week, as well as giveaway updates, be sure to like A Book Vacation’s Facebook Page.



Why We Took the CarFrom Goodreads: A beautifully written, darkly funny coming-of-age story from an award-winning, bestselling German author making his American debut.

Mike Klingenberg doesn’t get why people think he’s boring. Sure, he doesn’t have many friends. (Okay, zero friends.) And everyone laughs at him when he reads his essays out loud in class. And he’s never invited to parties – including the gorgeous Tatiana’s party of the year.

Andre Tschichatschow, aka Tschick (not even the teachers can pronounce his name), is new in school, and a whole different kind of unpopular. He always looks like he’s just been in a fight, his clothes are tragic, and he never talks to anyone.

But one day Tschick shows up at Mike’s house out of the blue. Turns out he wasn’t invited to Tatiana’s party either, and he’s ready to do something about it. Forget the popular kids: Together, Mike and Tschick are heading out on a road trip. No parents, no map, no destination. Will they get hopelessly lost in the middle of nowhere? Probably. Will they meet crazy people and get into serious trouble? Definitely. But will they ever be called boring again?

Not a chance.

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This novel captured my attention from the very first page as we meet our main character, Mike, in an interrogation room.  He is very candid, and gives are overview of his surroundings, complete with the blood that is soaking through his shoes.  When I first read that, I thought to myself that he was being overly dramatic, but readers soon find out that this is not the case, that there is literally blood soaking through his shoes… and then he passes out.  Of course I wanted to know right away how Mike came to be in this situation, where the blood came from, what he had done to be detained by police; the usual questions, and so I began to tear through the pages, enamored by the story.  But, whereas the beginning of the novel definitely has a hook, the middle soon began to lose my attention.

Mike and Andre decide to take a stolen car and just drive, for no real reason aside from boredom, a lack of parental supervision, and the hurt of not being invited to a specific party.  So obviously the next best idea is to drive around in a stolen car, one you barely know how to drive, and to have no real destination in mind aside from leaving the town for a while.  While Mike is a “follow the rules” sort of tween, Andre has been in his fair amount of trouble, coming to school drunk on many an occasion, stealing cars, etc.  The two are not friends by a long shot, but suddenly Mike finds himself hoping into a stolen car joy riding.  Perhaps his father leaving on “business,” his mother’s leaving for rehab, and his lack of an invite to the girl of his dreams party were the final straws for Mike, but for me, it was all somewhat unbelievable.  The adventures the two share as well were a bit on the “I don’t think that’d happen” side, and so I soon began to lose interest in the novel, which is a shame because the beginning really intrigued me.

While the novel does come full circle, starting with the police station, back tracking to the events that lead up to the police station, and then surpassing it, in the end, I just wasn’t impressed with the reason behind Mike’s capture by police, or his antics thereafter in school.  Perhaps it all just a bit too juvenile for me—I do think a MG reader would enjoy this novel straight through, but I definitely felt like it lost a lot of steam as it continued.  Three stars.

3 stars

Scholastic and Arthur A. Levine Books have been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on January 7, 2014.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble



Title: The Token #2

Series: The Token

Author: Marata Eros

Marata Eros Token 2

Release Date: January 8, 2014

Age Group: New Adult

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Synopsis:

Faren Mitchell keeps the secret of her second job from the one man who could see her through some of the darkest moments of her life. She doesn’t want Jared “Mick” McKenna for the billions he’s amassed, but for the one thing she’s never given any man: her innocence.

Mick’s guilt over the injury he inflicted fuels the beginnings of something more; a sexual consumption of each other that neither were anticipating. When Faren’s actions don’t match her words, Mick suspicions are raised. His feelings turn to ones of protection after Faren is mugged and he can’t reconcile his desire for her with the reality they now find themselves in.

As Faren’s bucket list grows, so does the danger that surrounds the choices she’s made. Can she take what she needs from Mick and also secure her mother’s life? Or will the truth she has weaved between the lies doom them both?

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MarataEros130509-3Author Bio:

Marata Eros is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of dark, romantic new adult novels, including A Terrible Love and its companion novel A Brutal Tenderness. A passionate writer who loves interacting with her readers, Marata lives in South Dakota with her husband.

Author social media links:

Blog: http://marataeroseroticaauthor.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marata-Eros/336334243087970

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarataEros

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5052261.Marata_Eros

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/floresdm08/marata-eros/



BuzzFrom Goodreads: In the second installment in a new crime trilogy, a young man is on the run to escape a “game” that blurs the lines between reality and fiction, from an award-winning Swedish author and former policeman.

It’s been four months since he was dragged into the Alternative Reality Game that nearly cost him his life, and HP is still on the run. He has everything he ever wished for—freedom, money, and no responsibilities, but he still isn’t happy. Plagued by insomnia and paranoia, HP misses the rush and attention of The Game. Sometimes he almost wishes the Game Master would find him.

In Dubai, HP meets Anna Argos, a sophisticated and beautiful Swedish IT millionaire. When she disappears, HP is questioned by the police. Fearing he has been found by The Game, HP returns to Sweden after being released from custody. Determined to uncover the truth about Anna’s disappearance, HP uses a fake identity to apply for a job at ArgosEye, the company Anna worked for. In the business of online information management, ArgosEye is involved in some questionable practices, under the control of Anna’s husband, the CEO Philip Argos.

Meanwhile, HP’s sister Rebecca has started dating Philip Argos. When she unknowingly reveals her brother’s real identity to Philip, the police try to bring HP in for questioning again. On the run again, HP refuses to give up and tries to uncover what is really happening at ArgosEye. Before he can find the truth, HP is stopped in his tracks. Thinking he’s about to be thrown in prison, HP is taken to the outskirts of the city and left in the woods, where an elderly man hands him a piece of paper. HP believes the game is over, but is it really just beginning?

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Whereas I really didn’t care for the first novel in this series, Game, this second one definitely sparked my interest and kept me on my toes as I read.  It’s so much better than the first, in my opinion, mainly because I felt it was more cohesive, especially with the alternating stories between HP and his sister Rebecca, but also because HP has toned it down a bit; he’s actually not as despicable or annoying as I found him to be in the first novel. I’d say he’s grown up a bit, but that’s not really it–he’s just more interested in what’s happening around him and to others than to just himself, which makes him a much more likable character.  Though certainly not selfless, he is a little warmer towards his fellow denizens of the world, and that really had an impact on me as a reader.

The storyline in this second novel is also a lot easier to follow than in the first, or at least it was for me.  Perhaps I just have a better understanding of de la Motte’s writing at this point, but I really think this novel flows a lot better, and the story is much more interesting for me, especially as I now like the two main characters.  Rebecca, HP’s sister, also had a bigger part and her actions had a lot more meaning for me in this one. Although it irked me that the siblings never shared anything with each other, which would have saved them each a lot of headache and fear, I enjoyed that their stories made more sense and were much more cohesive and interesting.

de la Motte is a very good writer and I really enjoyed his look into the “what if” world of computers and money.  If you’re looking for a crime thriller, I’d definitely recommend this novel, even if you didn’t care for the first.  Four stars.

4 stars

Atria Books has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on January 7, 2014.

The Game Trilogy

Update: I have now read all the books in this trilogy AND while I didn’t care for GAME, I really enjoyed BUZZ and BUBBLE.  I suggest you try this series and see–books two and three definitely made up for book one.



Happy New Year!! It’s that time again! For no other reason than that I like giveaways… we’re onto the THIRTY-SECOND Recently Released Giveaway Goodness Giveaway run by yours truly!

Many of these novels have recently released. I’ve included my reviews below to help you pick the novel you’d like to win!

Interested? Of course you are! I’m offering ONE lucky winner one of these novels:RRGG Jan 14

This is an INTERNATIONAL giveaway from the book depository, but you need to make sure they send to your country before entering–check here.

To enter you must:

-Be 13 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

-Fill in the mandatory question on rafflecopter (extra entries optional)

This contest is open internationally and will end at 12:01am EST on February 1st. The winner will be announced February 1st, and will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

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And, check out the other giveaways running on the blog:

Win an ARC of Jepp, Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh–ENDS January 27

Jepp Who Defied the Stars

Win a T-Shirt, 5 Prints, and a Signed Paperback of Vampire Seeker by Tim O’Rourke–ENDS January 30

Vampire Seeker Release Party YO

Win an Paperback of Easy by Tammara Webber–ENDS February 2, 2014

Easy 2

Win One of my Favorite Reads from 2013–ENDS Feb. 5

Fave Books 2013



RRGG DecemberMy Recently Released Giveaway Goodness #31–December–has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winner has been chosen via Rafflecopter.

And the winner is…

Ramona

Book of Choice:

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

A tweet has already gone out to the winner, and an email will go out later this evening! If I don’t hear from the winner within 48 hours, I will select a new winner using Rafflecopter.

Thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to the winner… but don’t despair if you didn’t win this round!

Enter to win my other great giveaways:

Win an ARC of Perfect Lies by Kiersten White–ENDS Jan. 5

12578370

Win an ebook of No Attachments by Tiffany King–ENDS Jan. 9

17667168

Win a Recently Released Book of Your Choice: Ends February 1

RRGG Jan 14

Win One of my Favorite Reads from 2013–ENDS Feb. 5

Fave Books 2013



et cetera