{December 11, 2013} {Review} The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

From Goodreads: The chief part of the stories, however, turned upon the favorite specter of Sleepy Hollow, the Headless Horseman, who had been heard several times of late, patrolling the country; and, it was said, tethered his horse nightly among the graves in the churchyard. The story was immediately matched by a thrice marvelous adventure of Brom Bones, who made light of the Galloping Hessian as an arrant jockey. He affirmed that on returning one night from the neighboring village of Sing Sing, he had been overtaken by this midnight trooper; that he had offered to race with him for a bowl of punch, and should have won it too, for Daredevil beat the goblin horse all hollow, but just as they came to the church bridge, the Hessian bolted, and vanished in a flash of fire. All these tales, told in that drowsy undertone with which men talk in the dark, the countenances of the listeners only now and then receiving a casual gleam from the glare of a pipe, sank deep in the mind of Ichabod…

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If you read the above “synopsis,” you’ll see the basic writing style of Washington Irving. For his time period, the early 1800s, his writing was easy to understand and was highly interesting, especially as he’s discussing a ghost story. However, it’s not so easy to follow and understand in today’s time period, and the writing itself is somewhat dry and, for me, boresome, especially with the huge array of novels that now grace the world, allowing readers to be even more so picky with their reads.

This is a novella that follows Ichabod as he learns the story of the Headless Horseman. It’s an intriguing idea, and I’m sure many of us have heard of it, if not read it—my high school English teacher made me read this in 11^th grade and I was a bit lost—but in my opinion, it’s anticlimactic. Irving sets up this ghost story to lure readers in, and then ends on a bland note, one that made me feel like sitting here and rereading the story wasn’t really worth my time at all. Likewise, I felt like there was little to no character development, something I’ve come quite accustomed to in my novels, and I felt like Irving was more so telling and not showing. Again, this worked very well in 1820, but I find it does nothing for me as a 21^st century reader.

However, in the last few decades there have been new renditions of this novella that switch up the ending and that take the reader along for a wild ride, such as the novel, Severed, by Dax Varley, and these stories are much more my speed.

Overall, I think that Irving’s short story/novella has the right idea, but just doesn’t captivate today’s audience much anymore. Two stars.

I own a copy of this novella handed down to me from my parents.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{December 11, 2013} Announcing the Winner of Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

The giveaway for an ARC of Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winner has been chosen via Rafflecopter!

And the winner is…

Sarah Kellar

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 Fugitive X by Gregg Rosenblum–ENDS Dec. 15

Win an ebook of Demonica by Will Davis–ENDS Dec. 19

Win a Signed Paperback of Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins–ENDS Dec. 22

Win a Signed Paperback of Stilts by Tim O’Rourke–ENDS Dec. 26

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

{December 10, 2013} {Review} Haunting by B.J. Sheldon (The Dusty Chronicles #1)

From Goodreads: When sixteen-year-old, Dusty Vermeer, moves to rural Iowa with her dad and sister at the start of her sophomore year, she undergoes major life changes – a new school, new friends, and a popular new boyfriend. But she soon discovers all is not what it appears to be. When Jack Olson, a handsome young soldier, begins to invade her dreams each night, she bears witness to the horrors of war and must determine what is real and what is just a dream. When Jack finally steps out of her dreams in ghostly form, begging for help and struggling to remember his life, Dusty makes it her mission to solve the mystery behind his death. As she draws closer to the truth, she places her own life at risk while struggling to cope with the feelings she develops for the soldier who’s been dead for nearly 60 years.

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This was a great mystery novel. It’s fairly short and to the point, making it a fast paced read that you won’t want to put down. Dusty is a great character that is easy to fall in love with, especially because she’s so innocent and genuine. She really wants to do right by others, and I loved that about her. I easily related to her, though we’re vastly different, and though she’s technically a story-book character, I think we’d be great friends in real life. Finishing the novel was like leaving a friend behind, and I can’t wait for the next installment in this intriguing series.

Though I figured out the truth about Jack Olson much sooner than I’d have liked, Sheldon does a wonderful job keeping the reader interested, especially with its epic conclusion. My heart was definitely in my throat as I read through to the end—I could see it all unfold in slow motion, even though I was tearing through the pages at warp speed by that point.

This is a great read that I think readers from all walks of life will enjoy. I highly suggest picking it up. Four stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{December 10, 2013} Announcing the Winner of an ARC of Ashes to Ashes by Melissa C. Walker

The flash giveaway for an ARC of Ashes to Ashes by Melissa C. Walker has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winner has been chosen via Rafflecopter!

And the winner is…

Holly M Bryan

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 The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine–ENDS Dec. 11

17844678

Win an ARC of Fugitive X by Gregg Rosenblum–ENDS Dec. 15

Win an ebook of Demonica by Will Davis–ENDS Dec. 19

Win a Signed Paperback of Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins–ENDS Dec. 22

Win a Signed Paperback of Stilts by Tim O’Rourke–ENDS Dec. 26

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

{December 9, 2013} {Review} Poor Little Dead Girls by Lizzie Friend

From Goodreads: Perfect people aren’t just born. They’re made.

The first time she is blindfolded and kidnapped, star-athlete and posh boarding school newbie Sadie is terrified. She wakes up in a dark room surrounded by hushed whispers, hooded strangers, and a mysterious voice whispering not-so-sweet nothings in her ear.

But once the robes come off, she realizes it’s just an elaborate prank designed to induct her into the group that’s been pulling the strings at Keating Hall for generations. The circle has it all–incredible connections; fabulous parties; and, of course, an in with the brother society’s gorgeous pledges.

The instant popularity is enough to make Sadie forget about the unexplained marks on her body, the creepy ceremonial rituals, and the incident that befell one of her teammates the year before. So the next time Sadie is kidnapped, she isn’t scared, but she should be. The worst of Keating Hall is yet to come.

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Sadie has just received a scholarship to the prestigious Keating Hall, the boarding school of the elite. It sounds innocent enough, but the real reason behind the scholarship has yet to be revealed, and Sadie has no idea what she’s about to get herself into as she accepts the lavish gifts bestowed upon her, or how it all relates back to her dead mother…

I went in to this novel thinking that it would be similar to other novels I’ve read that have to do with secret societies, and while it is, in a way, it’s also vastly different. I can’t say much more than that without giving away pieces of the plotline, but know that this society delves deep in its sinister plans, especially when it comes to the lives of its members.

I really like Sadie, though she drove me a bit nuts at times. I do understand being sworn to secrecy, but I also understand gut feelings, and if something just doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. In other words, it’s better to tell someone than to try and go it alone. Sadie struggles with this throughout the entire novel, which actually makes her extremely real. Working with high school students, I see this often—many teens would rather go it alone or tell someone their age than deal with an adult, which fits Sadie’s M.O. exactly. I loved that she was snarky and real, but as the story went on, some of it did seem a bit far-fetched to me. Now, I’m also not rolling in money and I’m not famous, so it is quite possible that the people Sadie runs with do have the means to do much of what they do in the novel, but as a regular everyday person, I still feel like some of it is just beyond real. I mean, if I was Sadie, I wouldn’t have been able to do some of those things… but that’s okay, because regardless, the story itself was extremely interesting and I enjoyed it overall. And if you’re even the tiniest bit interested in secret societies, mystery, and suspense, then this is a novel that I highly suggest you read. Four stars.

F+W/Adams Media and Merit Press have been extremely gracious in allowing me to read this novel, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{December 8, 2013} {Flash ARC Giveaway} Ashes to Ashes by Melissa C. Walker

This is a spur of the moment flash giveaway–a one day deal! I have an ARC of Ashes to Ashes by Melissa C. Walker up for grabs for someone who would like to honestly review this title. It releases December 23rd, which is coming up fast, hence the quick turn around on this giveaway.

Synopsis:

When Callie’s life is cut short by a tragic accident, she expects to find nothingness, or maybe some version of heaven.

Instead, her spirit travels to the Prism, an ethereal plane populated by the ghosts she thought were fictional. Here she meets a striking and mysterious ghost named Thatcher, who is meant to guide her as she learns to haunt and bring peace to the loved ones she left behind.

However, Callie uncovers a dark secret about the spirit world: The angry souls who always populate ghost stories are real, dangerous, and willing to do whatever it takes to stay on Earth, threatening the existence of everyone she ever cared about.

As she fights to save them, Callie will learn that while it may no longer beat, her heart can still love-and break.

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To enter this giveaway, you must:

-Be 16 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

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

Click this Rafflecopter Link to Enter!

This giveaway is open to USA and Canadian entrants only and will end at 12:01am EST on December 10th. Please only enter once. The winner will be announced later on December 10th, and will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

{December 8, 2013} {Giveaway} Win a Signed Paperback of Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins (The Sweet Trilogy #2)

A little while back, I had the pleasure of meeting Wendy Higgins at a book convention, and I picked up an extra signed copy of Sweet Peril for a giveaway. As I really love this series, and this second novel in the series is absolutely phenomenal, I thought a December giveaway was the perfect time for this one, as it’s the holiday and all. Good luck!

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Synopsis:

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

See my 5 Star Review HERE!

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To enter this giveaway, you must:

-Be 16 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

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

Click this Rafflecopter Link to Enter!

This giveaway is open to USA and Canadian entrants only and will end at 12:01am EST on December 22nd. Please only enter once. The winner will be announced later on December 22nd, and will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

{December 8, 2013} {Review} Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins (The Sweet Trilogy #2)

From Goodreads: Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

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Kaidan Rowe, glorious, swoon-worthy Kaidan Rowe, is back. And I love him. My heart belonged to him in Sweet Evil, and this second, riveting novel in the series solidified that fact in this steamy portrayal of love. He is perfect.

In the beginning, I was a little worried that Higgins was pulling a Stephanie Meyer in that Kaidan’s scenes were few and far between. Just like when Meyers removed Edward from New Moon, placing Jacob at the forefront, Higgins seemed to pull Kaidan. He barely existed within the pages, and it was killing me as I watched Anna’s love for him slowly deteriorate as she struggled to understand and internalize his rejection. They were so perfect together, and while it made sense that he had to back off, his blasé mannerisms and lack of scenes within the novel drove me batty, especially as Kopano is now on the scene, attempting to win Anna’s favor, and while I do like Kopano, he’s no Kaidan. Just like Jacob is no Edward.

Thankfully, Higgins only toys with our emotions for so long, bringing Kaidan back into the novel on an extremely high and sensual note, and Anna and his love once again has the chance to kindle and grow. But it is still touch and go, especially with the demons out to destroy all Nephilim who stand against them, and in solidifying their love, that is exactly what Kaidan and Anna are preparing to do.

This is not a story of angels, but rather a story of demons and their half children—a love story so powerful you won’t be able to put it down. If you haven’t yet read the first novel in this amazing trilogy, Sweet Evil, then you need to do so ASAP, because Sweet Peril is just as amazing, and you don’t want to miss. Believe me. Five stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

Enter to win a SIGNED PAPERBACK of Sweet Peril.

{December 8, 2013} Announcing the Winner of Don’t Look Back by Jennifer L. Arementrout

The giveaway of an ARC of Don’t Look Back by Jennifer Armentrout has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winner has been chosen via Rafflecopter!

And the winner is…

Kristie Matheson

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 The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine–ENDS Dec. 11

17844678

Win an ARC of Fugitive X by Gregg Rosenblum–ENDS Dec. 15

Win an ebook of Demonica by Will Davis–ENDS Dec. 19

Win a Signed Paperback of Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins–ENDS Dec. 22

Win a Signed Paperback of Stilts by Tim O’Rourke–ENDS Dec. 26

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

{December 7, 2013} The 99 Cent Club Post–Feature 74–In the Spirit of the Holiday: 11 Books for 11 Bucks

In the spirit of Christmas, and because I think we could all use a little holiday cheer in our reads as the year comes to a end, this week’s picks are festive in nature and each run for .99 cents on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. I believe these are permanent prices, but regardless, 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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Cross Country Christmas by Tiffany King

With the holiday season upon her, Jamie Foster is once again stressed about making her yearly visit back home to Woodfalls, still single. Fate intervenes in the form of Grant Johnson, a boy she grew up with, who catches the same flight while returning home from a business trip.

When a malfunction sends their plane crashing down on the runway upon takeoff, Jamie and Grant decide to rent a car and make the nine-hundred-mile drive home together. Ironically for them, anything that can go wrong does as they face one hysterical hurdle after another.

Christmas may finally bring Jamie the gift of love she has always wanted if she and Grant can manage to overcome a few obstacles along the way. Ho-ho-ho!

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Christmas Catch by Chelsea M. Cameron

Two years ago, when Ivy Emerson bailed from the tiny fishing village she’d grown up in to go to Columbia, Sawyer McCallister was the only thing she was sad to leave behind, and she still didn’t look back. But when her mother guilts her into coming home for Christmas, she crashes headfirst into Sawyer, who’s also returned after being away.

Now that they’ve both been dragged back to Saltwater, Maine, they might just realize it’s where they belong. Together.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Off the Market by Magan Vernon

Etta Davis didn’t have showing a house penciled into her Christmas plans, but with the other realtors already off enjoying their holiday, she’d been stuck with the task. It wasn’t all bad though, the house up for grabs used to belong to the family of her high school sweetheart, Andrew Lawson. Though now dilapidated, thanks to its current owners, it still held the power to bring back forgotten memories and turn the routine showing into something else entirely. Particularly when Andrew shows up, wanting to buy the house. Now Etta must decide whether a second chance is worth taking the house, and her heart, off the market.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Frosted Midnight by Breena Wilde

Willow needs a sexy Christmas miracle…

Twenty-year-old Willow is a librarian in the tourist town of Bandon, Oregon. During the summer the town is bursting with interesting people from all over the world.
Two summers ago she met Austin. He was everything she ever wanted in a man: smart, funny, and gorgeous. But after eight perfect weeks he left, and she hasn’t heard from him since.

Until Christmas Eve. She receives an email from Austin asking her to meet him at midnight so he can explain.
It might be a booty call, but Willow has to see him one last time, even if it’s just to say good-bye.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Brave by Zoe Dawson

In the season of hope, in the season of giving…

How far would you go for your friend?

Alissa Thompson has been the good girl her whole life. Her uninterested parents don’t understand her hopes and dreams. But this Christmas when her steadfast childhood friend Charlie needs her more than ever, she can’t back down. Crossing the line means being braver than she has ever been in her life. It means changing and growing and taking a stand.

Dakota Gray was brave in the face of debilitating fear. But he lost himself in that blood soaked day and has shunned everything he once knew. Now shattered and broken, he hides out in isolation, his wounds beyond healing. His heart closed, his emotions buried, he’s a man on the edge of self-destructing. Little does he know that courage would be found in another searching for the strength to be brave.

Now snowbound in the Colorado Rockies one week before Christmas, Alissa thought this was about her journey and her friend, about setting him free. But from the moment she meets Dakota, she learns about what real bravery is all about. What real love is all about. But is the season enough, her courage enough, her love enough to heal this hero’s brave heart and in the end set herself free?

Warning: This book is for mature audiences only!
New Adult Contemporary Romance.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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A Season for Hope by Sarra Cannon

Being dumped just before the holidays was my worst nightmare. I’d spent so many years thinking Preston Wright was the one for me that when he told me it was over, I thought I’d rather die than face the future.

I never expected someone like Judd Kohler to come crashing into my life. Literally. He was coming out. I was going in. My face got in the way. You get the picture. It was an accident. Running into him twice in one day, though? It started to feel like fate.

My mother always says Christmas is a magical time of year. A season for hope. All I know is that just when I thought I’d lost mine, hope somehow found its way back to me.

Just in time for Christmas.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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If I Return by Sawyer Bennett

Would you wait?

College student, Hope Camden, is relentlessly serious, awkwardly shy and in complete need of taking a walk on the wilder side. At least, that’s what her sister tells her when she drags her off for an impromptu Christmas getaway in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Hope’s plans to keep her nose in a book the entire vacation are thwarted when she meets Jack Freeman, the gorgeous and enigmatic Army helicopter pilot staying at the same resort. What was supposed to be a quiet Christmas holiday turns into a life changing event for Hope and Jack. The only problem? Jack is headed off to war, and there is no guarantee he will come back.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Wide Spaces by Shelly Crane

Emma knows better than most that life can change from one second to the next. Mason knows that guilt can make you change so much, that you don’t even recognize yourself in the mirror. When they found each other, they knew that life had given them a second chance.
But can one night, one second, one misunderstanding change everything?

A life together that saved them will become a life they think is lost forever.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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All For You by Marquita Valentine

Bully. Tormentor. Lover.
West Diaz has been all of these things to me.
After being gone for two years, he’s back, begging for my forgiveness. And not just my forgiveness… He wants more.
He wants… Me.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Winter Kisses by Addison Moore

Laney Sawyer used to believe in love and all of the trappings that happily ever after could provide until Ryder Capwell crushed her heart. When Laney is auctioned off as a prize at the drama department fundraiser the last person she expects to trade cold hard cash for her company is Ryder.

Ryder Capwell is in love with Laney Sawyer. One year ago she walked out of his life and took the light of his world right along with her. Ryder would do anything to have another chance with Laney, including purchasing her for the evening courtesy of Whitney Briggs University, and he does just that.

One thing leads to whiskey, which leads to a one-night stand. She thinks it’s revenge sex—he thinks its make-up sex. Things can only go wrong from here.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Warmth and Ice by A. Meredith Walters

The final chapter in Maggie and Clay’s epic love story that began with Find You in the Dark.

This story takes place before the epilogue in Light in the Shadows.

It’s Clay and Maggie’s first Christmas together but will it be a season of joy or will it only bring heartache?

Clay and Maggie have gone through the dark and come out on the other side. For the first time, they are on this journey together. Fighting for something they both need and can’t live without…each other.

But a long distance relationship is hard. Particularly for two people who are still trying to build something solid on a shaky and troubled foundation. Clay is finally out of treatment and is living in an out patient halfway house. He struggles with what he wants to do and where he wants to go. Questions he worries he will never have the answers to. Maggie is trying to transition into college life and learning how to create a future with someone who is over a thousand miles away.

As the months pass and they struggle with being a part, old insecurities and fears take root and threaten a love that has come so far.

When Maggie decides to fly to Florida as a surprise for Clay on Christmas, she is unsure whether it will be the first step toward what they both desperately want or whether it could possibly be the end of it all.

But with the holidays approaching, Maggie and Clay are reminded that even when the days are coldest, you can still find the warmth and that hope and love are the greatest gifts of all.

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.

{December 6, 2013} {ARC Review} Flickers by John Abramowitz (Weaver #3)

From Goodreads: Alex Cronlord has failed.

The zombie apocalypse that she foresaw months ago has come to pass–in part because of her visions. Trapped in the now-quarantined city of Dallas, Alex struggles both with the undead and with her own guilt. She blames herself for the fall of Dallas, for leaving FBI Agent Moira McBain to die, and for the lies she’s still telling her father. When Zach, her friend and fellow superpowered fighter, makes a startling confession, it only increases Alex’s inner turmoil.

Unknown to Alex, Moira is still alive. Imprisoned in an alternate dimension and facing certain death, Moira receives help from an unlikely source. To get home, she must fight her way past both the soul-sucking Xorda and a frightening and mysterious group of werewolves. She knows who her enemies are. But can she trust her only ally?

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This novel had me on pins and needles as I read, jumping back and forth between the perilous adventures of Alex Cronlord as she battles the zombie apocalypse she unwittingly released on Dallas based on a Weaver premonition, and Agent Moira as she attempts to escape the confines of the Xorda world. Complete with soul sucking demons, lycanthrope monstrosities, harrowing escapes, sorrowful deaths, and time warping, this novel has a little bit of everything for everyone.

So much has happened to Alex in the past few weeks, and with the weight of the zombie apocalypse and the death of Agent Moria on her shoulder’s, Alex has had about enough. This young woman can’t seem to catch a break, so it comes as no surprise that she’s willing to give up her own life in more ways than one if it means putting a stop to it all, even if it means she’ll erase her entire existence from the world.

I loved the deeper glimpse readers obtain through the past events that happen at Pinnacle with Alex’s mother, Ainsling. In book two, The Void, we begin to learn about the events at Pinnacle that started it all, with Sigmund, Xorda extraordinaire, targeting Ainsling from the very beginning. But in this third installment, we learn even more as Alex stumbles onto an ability that has the power to stop Sigmund and the zombie apocalypse forever. But will she succeed?

Abramowitz keeps his readers on edge with his perfectly timed cliff hangers interspersed within the novel. Jumping from one point of view to another, readers find themselves at the climax of an important scene only to be whisked away and dropped into the thoughts and adventures of another. I absolutely adore this type of writing style as it keeps the reader on their toes. Expertly crafter, readers experience an emotional rollercoaster as they jump between characters, and what makes it work so seamlessly is that each time readers are dropped into another character’s experience, it picks up exactly where the original cliffhanger left off a few chapters prior. So, while readers may groan as the shift in character takes place, leaving them hanging, they are quickly thrown right back into the story as a previous cliffhanger begins to resolve itself. This is ingenious and I highly enjoyed it and can’t wait for the fourth and final novel. Four stars.

I received an ARC of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review prior to its release on December 10, 2013

{December 6, 2013} {Review} The Void by John Abramowitz (Weaver #2)

From Goodreads: The zombie apocalypse is nigh!

The trouble is, Alex Cronlord is the only person who knows it. She is a Weaver — one of a group of superhuman children who are able to see the future — and she can still remember the vision she had just weeks ago of being chased by a shambling undead horde. But that’s all she’s seen of the coming horror, and lately, her visions have mostly been confusing. Dead bodies in dumpsters, a strange place called “Pinnacle,” and no sign of a Xorda anywhere. At least, not at first.

As Alex struggles to make sense of these bits of information, a stitch-faced assassin surfaces with a vendetta against Ainsling Cronlord, Alex’s mother. Ainsling is a member of the enigmatic Wells Society, a secret order of women who genetically mutate their own children to turn them into fighters against the Xorda. She is the person who gave Alex her Weaver powers. And she is the person Alex can least afford to trust.

But when the stitch-faced man steps up his campaign against the Cronlord family, Alex begins to realize she may not have a choice. As she learns the disturbing truth behind her recent visions, Alex must decide how far she is willing to go to save the world.

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This sequel to the thrilling novel, Weaver, picks up soon after the first ended, thrusting readers back into the melee that is Alex Cronlord’s life. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Alex must now face the truth of what her mother did to her, and decide if knowing the future in order to protect those she loves is more important that her own sanity. It also begs the question… is she a reject or a Weaver?

Whereas the first novel focuses on that of the future through Alex’s visions, this second novel back tracks and begins to show readers glimpses of the past, a power that scares Alex as she believes she’s losing her edge; that she won’t be able to help anyone battle the Xorda without the serum her mother was testing on her. And slowly, readers begin to piece together what Ainsling’s life was like prior to becoming a part of the Wells Society. With the special forces of the FBI at her back, Alex learns important information that just might save them all, if only she could cross the planes of their colliding worlds.

This is an intense read that sweeps readers up and carries them along in this fast paced, action packed novel. Alex is, of course, a kick butt heroine, but her need to protect others will be her downfall if she doesn’t decide which side she wants to be on, because lying to those around you never works out well in the end. Four stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

{December 5, 2013} {Review and Giveaway} Stilts by Tim O’Rourke (Stilts #1)

From Goodreads: While eighteen-year-old, Tessa Dark was serving her prison sentence for murder, the world beyond her cell walls changed forever. The thunder came and destroyed the world she had once known.

Trapped inside the prison and faced with no future, Tessa’s only glimmer of hope is her friendship with fellow inmate Joe McBride.

Despite Tessa’s fear, Joe decides to go beyond the prison walls to seek help. But when he fails to return, Tessa is determined to go and search for him.

To gain her freedom, Tessa must first learn to walk, run, and fight on stilts if she is to survive the new and terrifying world on the other side of the prison walls.

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Imagine a world without music. Without moms or dads. Without a home to call your own. Imagine a world lacking beauty. Safety. Medicine. Imagine you were given the opportunity to leave it all behind, to fight your way across a desolate land filled with peril in order to obtain the truth. To obtain freedom. To obtain help. To possibly perish in agony along the way. What would you do?

Tessa Dark chooses to fight. Sent to prison at age 13 for murder, Tessa lost everything when the thunder came six months later. She hasn’t heard real music in five years. She hasn’t heard from her family in that long, either. Not since the thunder desolated the earth and charred the remains of all those outside the safety of the prison walls. She doesn’t know what happened. She doesn’t know why. But she does know that if she doesn’t bring back help, everyone who’s left will die. She does know that her one true love left to get help, and never returned. She does know that her attempt to find “the island” is virtually a suicide mission. But she doesn’t care. She has to try. She has to hope.

O’Rourke’s latest release, Stilts, is a riveting novel that takes a unique concept and brings it to life. In a world where walking along the earth is much too dangerous, Tessa and her comrades must learn to utilize stilts in hopes of surviving, of reaching the “island,” a place they aren’t certain really exists, in hopes of helping those who are left. Those who survived.

From the very first page, O’Rourke sweeps on the scene with an epic battle on stilts; captivating readers immediately and not releasing them until long after the final page. And it’s extremely well done. Tessa is a believable character, and so is that of Beau, her foil and companion along the trek across the ruined earth to find the rendezvous point. But with a timely appearances of the mysterious hooded figure, the zombified scorchers, and the erratic behavior of Beau, the going is anything but easy or forthright. Forced to make split second decisions and haunted by the fate of her love, Joe, Tessa, and readers alike, are in for a wild ride.

Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of this novel, for me, is that is takes place in one of O’Rourke’s intricate “pushed” worlds, seamlessly extending itself into the riveting Kiera Hudson and Jack Seth series by default, two series I absolutely adore. Although it doesn’t directly reference any events within the previously mentioned series, O’Rourke reveals the location of the world through his use of surrounding towns, which clues readers in that Tessa’s story might, just maybe, eventually intersect with that of Jack Seth, and possibly with that of Kiera Hudson as well… an enticing thought.

For those new to O’Rourke’s writing, pushed worlds are parallel worlds to the one we know. In other words, an alternate plane in which we also exist and experience different outcomes on our paths of life. In the world you and I know, humans rule and a world recession is in our midst. In Tessa’s world, there is no recession and humans don’t rule anymore because a great thunder, perhaps a war, has torn apart the world as we know it, and zombie like creatures called scorchers roam the desolate earth—a type of goopified zombie whose touch causes one’s body to incinerate.

Sound intriguing? It is. And if I lost you with my attempted explanation of a pushed world, no worries. You actually don’t need to know anything about pushed worlds or have read any other O’Rourke novels to follow this latest release. And Stilts is a great novel to begin with if you’re new to O’Rourke’s tales. He is one of my all-time favorite authors, and Stilts does not disappoint. Five stars.

Hashtag Books has been extremely gracious in providing me with this novel in exchange for an honest review.

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And now for the giveaway!!

To enter this giveaway, you must:

-Be 16 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

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

Click this Rafflecopter Link to Enter!

This giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY and will end at 12:01am EST on December 26th. Please only enter once. The winner will be announced later on December 26th, and will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

{December 4, 2013} {ARC Review} These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

From Goodreads: It’s a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.
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I really enjoyed this novel in the beginning. It caught my attention right away and drew me in—the spacecraft, the elegance, the social rift between Lilac and Tarver—I really enjoyed it all. However, as the novel went on, I began to feel like their time on the planet was dragging on a bit too long for my liking. It almost felt like Cast Away or The Life of Pi in that there were limited characters and little action as the story went on. I tend to need constant interactions to stay focused, and there were definitely times that I felt this novel was lagging, but on the other hand, there were many times that it was fast-paced and interesting as well, especially when the phenomenon began to happen to Lilac. I can’t go into much detail here without giving anything away, but know this: there is a creepy paranormal element that makes its way into this story, and it’s really unique and interesting. I’m afraid it’s a little beyond my comprehension, as it were, because at the end there, I wasn’t sure exactly what was happening anymore, but even so, this curve in the story definitely took me by surprise and, when all’s said and done, I enjoyed it, even if I’m not 100% sure what exactly happened there at the end.

What I loved the most about the novel is that it’s a flashback. We learn early on that Tarver is being questioned by higher ups about his time on the planet with Lilac, and as Tarver responds in clipped and sarcastic manners, we learn what he is attempting to hide from society, including his feelings for Lilac and exactly what happened on the planet.

The end leaves a little to be desired, which makes me wonder if there will be a sequel? I didn’t feel like it resolved much, but in truth, it’s not a bad place to end their tale, either, so I guess we shall have to wait and see. If you’re looking for something completely different with a side of creepiness, then I suggest you pick this one up. Three and a half stars.

Disney Hyperion has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on December 10, 2013

{December 3, 2013} {Review} Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

From Goodreads: Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they’ve known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin’s orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.

Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously–and at great risk–documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father’s prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.

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My book club picked this novel as their first read of the school year, and let me tell you, I was not happy. I didn’t want to read this book. I teach about the holocaust, WWII, Stalin, and I really didn’t want to read another book on the topic. Not at the beginning of the school year. I didn’t want to deal with anything depressing—and truth be told, I was completely sure I wouldn’t like it, that it’d be like all the other books I’d read about the holocaust. So I put it off, and I put it off… until the night before our first meeting and we’d talk about it. What kind of Book Club advisor would I be if I didn’t at least try to read the book? So I began reading it, and do you know what happened? I couldn’t stop. Between Shades Of Grey is absolutely amazing—it’s a haunting tale that is unlike any I’ve ever read on the subject, and it’s beautiful. It’s a story few really hear because Stalin’s reign of terror and his “camps” are usually swept under the mat—not many really know what he did to his people. Yet Sepetys lays it bare for her readers, and this story, her message, can’t be ignored.

This is a novel that will catch readers unawares, ripping out your heart and leaving you raw and bleeding for Lina, her family, and all those she comes in contact with as the story unfolds. It’s heart wrenching, and yet, it’s a must read. Even if you don’t want to cry, even if you don’t want to feel raw inside, you need to read this novel. Sepetys’ writing is breathtaking, as is her story of fear, hatred, rejection, and redemption. The characters will melt your heart and you will cry out at the injustice of it all, and you will remember it long after the final page. And we need to remember. For all those who experienced this. For all those who died. Remember. Five stars.

I borrowed this novel from the library.

{December 2, 2013} {Review} Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

From Goodreads: Things Fall Apart tells two overlapping, intertwining stories, both of which center around Okonkwo, a “strong man” of an Ibo village in Nigeria. The first of these stories traces Okonkwo’s fall from grace with the tribal world in which he lives, and in its classical purity of line and economical beauty it provides us with a powerful fable about the immemorial conflict between the individual and society.

The second story, which is as modern as the first is ancient, and which elevates the book to a tragic plane, concerns the clash of cultures and the destruction of Okonkwo’s world through the arrival of aggressive, proselytizing European missionaries. These twin dramas are perfectly harmonized, and they are modulated by an awareness capable of encompassing at once the life of nature, human history, and the mysterious compulsions of the soul. Things Fall Apart is the most illuminating and permanent monument we have to the modern African experience as seen from within.

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I really didn’t like this novel when I was in high school. But as an adult, I have found that my understanding of the “classics” and my enjoyment of many of them has indeed changed drastically. Books I hated as a teen are now interesting and hold meaning for me, because I finally get them. But, this is not the case with Things Fall Apart. I disliked it as a teen, and I still dislike it now, mainly because it’s written in a way that just doesn’t appeal to me.

While I understand the purpose of this novel—why it’s important and why it’s taught in high school—the execution of the story itself grates my nerves. It’s extremely choppy and to the point, telling the reader in clipped sentences instead of showing the reader through imagery and interesting details. And though it’s a fairly short novel, the narrative style of the text makes it seem extremely long, and it just didn’t hold my attention.

As events unfold, readers are told what’s happening as if we’re a bird looking in–we aren’t a part of the story, and events jump from one to another so quickly that little import is given to each scene. And, there is little description to pull me into the story or to make me connect with the characters; instead we’re just told how Okonkwo feels, what he does, and the retaliating actions of the tribe. It is unfortunate, but I have no sympathy for Okonkwo because he is an awful man, beating everyone and refusing, even under the guidance of his tribe, to let things go. While trying to be the epitome of what he deems a “man” is supposed to be, Okonkwo misses the mark tenfold through his lack of compassion, and even his people see him as wanting in this aspect because he cannot, and will not, change. It leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth, and though I understand the message, I personally don’t like this book in the least. One star.

I borrowed this book from the school library.

{December 1, 2013} My Recently Released Giveaway Goodness #31–December

It’s that time again! For no other reason than that I like giveaways… we’re onto the THIRTY-FIRST Recently Released Giveaway Goodness Giveaway!

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:

The Truth About You and Me by Amanda Grace
The Returned by Jason Mott
The Hermitage House Miracle by Malcom Ater
This Is W.A.R. by Lisa Roecker and Laura Roecker
Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick
A Wounded Name by Dot Hutchinson
Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
Dead End by Erin Jade Lange

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)

Click here to go to the Rafflecopter entry form!

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

{December 1, 2013} Announcing the Winner of My Recently Released Giveaway Goodness Giveaway #30–November

My Recently Released Giveaway Goodness #30–November–has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winner has been chosen via Rafflecopter.

And the winner is…

Alexandra

Book of Choice:

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

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 Don’t Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout–ENDS Dec. 8

Win an ARC of The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine–ENDS Dec. 11

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Win an ARC of Fugitive X by Gregg Rosenblum–ENDS Dec. 15

Win an ebook of Demonica by Will Davis–ENDS Dec. 19

Win a Recently Released Book of Your Choice: Ends January 1 (live in 5 minutes)

{November 30, 2013} {Giveaway} Demoinca by Will Davis–International

Two lucky readers will win an ebook of the haunting horror novel, Demonica, by Will Davis in exchange for an honest review. This novel is AMAZING and will stay with you long after it’s done. Check out the synopsis below, as well as my 5 star review to get a closer look at this intriguing novel. Good luck!

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Synopsis:

When spoilt eighteen year old Miranda suffers a terrible accident she survives, but her face is hideously scarred.

Unable to bear what has happened to her, she locks herself away. Her only companions are Veronica, her cruel and beautiful mother, and Nelly, the sympathetic housekeeper.

As time passes Veronica inflicts cruelty after cruelty on her disfigured daughter. Lonely and filled with despair, Miranda is astonished when Bernard, Veronica’s handsome younger boyfriend, takes an interest in her circumstances.

For Bernard believes there is an operation that can restore Miranda’s face. But it will involve committing an unspeakable crime. A decision that will haunt her for the rest of her life…

In the tradition of Angela Carter and Daphne du Maurier, Demonica is a terrifying modern fairy tale.

Read my 5 Star Review HERE.

_______________________________________________________

To enter this giveaway, you must:

-Be 16 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

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

Click this Rafflecopter Link to Enter!

This giveaway is open to INTERNATIONALLY and will end at 12:01am EST on December 19th. Please only enter once. The winner will be announced later on December 19th, and will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

{November 30, 2013} {ARC Review} Demonica by Will Davis

From Goodreads: When spoilt eighteen year old Miranda suffers a terrible accident she survives, but her face is hideously scarred.

Unable to bear what has happened to her, she locks herself away. Her only companions are Veronica, her cruel and beautiful mother, and Nelly, the sympathetic housekeeper.

As time passes Veronica inflicts cruelty after cruelty on her disfigured daughter. Lonely and filled with despair, Miranda is astonished when Bernard, Veronica’s handsome younger boyfriend, takes an interest in her circumstances.

For Bernard believes there is an operation that can restore Miranda’s face. But it will involve committing an unspeakable crime. A decision that will haunt her for the rest of her life…

In the tradition of Angela Carter and Daphne du Maurier, Demonica is a terrifying modern fairy tale.

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This is a novel of betrayal that runs deeper than any other I can think of. A mother who torments her daughter due to a lack of beauty; a daughter to obtains the ultimate revenge in the worst possible way against her mother. Any yet, neither find happiness in their evil ways, and it’s impossible not to hate them, but also impossible not to pity them as the story unfolds. The characters in this novel are awful, absolutely awful, but readers won’t be able to tear their eyes away as they learn of the tragedy that befalls Miranda, watching as she attempts to cope with her lot in life, especially as her mother torments her more each day. One would think that a tragedy like this would change a person, but in the end, it doesn’t, and like the bad accident that starts it all, readers just can’t look away.

I cringe to think that people really do harbor so much selfishness and hatred within themselves that they’d be willing to so utterly destroy another, and yet that’s exactly what Veronica and Miranda do to one another. It’s appalling; but so well written that it pulls the reader in and doesn’t let go until the very end.

Miranda’s very matter of fact way of telling her story adds a depth of poignancy that allows readers to truly see her heart, and though it’s hard to understand her actions and her hurt, her soul is bared wide for the reader. In truth, the story is superbly written. I loved obtaining Miranda’s insights about the accident, and the fact that she knew how petty she was, and commented on it many a time, made her very real to me as a reader. Would I like to get to know her in real life? No. I’d probably be one of those people on the sideline that quietly thought to myself that she got what she deserved, but in the end, no one, not even evil, despicable Veronica–a woman not fit to be a mother—or Miranda—a selfish, unrepentant young woman—deserve what befalls them in the end.

This is a story that will haunt you as you read it, and keep you up way into the night wondering just how far a human can fall to allow these things to happen. Five stars.

Hashtag Books has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel prior to its release tomorrow, December 1, 2013, in exchange for an honest review. This is a MUST READ.

Find it on Amazon.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

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The giveaway for an ARC of Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winner has been chosen via Rafflecopter!

And the winner is…

Sarah Kellar

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:

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Amazon | Barnes and Noble

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The flash giveaway for an ARC of Ashes to Ashes by Melissa C. Walker has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winner has been chosen via Rafflecopter!

And the winner is…

Holly M Bryan

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:

Share this:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

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This is a spur of the moment flash giveaway–a one day deal! I have an ARC of Ashes to Ashes by Melissa C. Walker up for grabs for someone who would like to honestly review this title. It releases December 23rd, which is coming up fast, hence the quick turn around on this giveaway.

Synopsis:

When Callie’s life is cut short by a tragic accident, she expects to find nothingness, or maybe some version of heaven.

Instead, her spirit travels to the Prism, an ethereal plane populated by the ghosts she thought were fictional. Here she meets a striking and mysterious ghost named Thatcher, who is meant to guide her as she learns to haunt and bring peace to the loved ones she left behind.

However, Callie uncovers a dark secret about the spirit world: The angry souls who always populate ghost stories are real, dangerous, and willing to do whatever it takes to stay on Earth, threatening the existence of everyone she ever cared about.

As she fights to save them, Callie will learn that while it may no longer beat, her heart can still love-and break.

To enter this giveaway, you must:

-Be 16 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

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

Click this Rafflecopter Link to Enter!

This giveaway is open to USA and Canadian entrants only and will end at 12:01am EST on December 10th. Please only enter once. The winner will be announced later on December 10th, and will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

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Synopsis:

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

To enter this giveaway, you must:

-Be 16 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

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

Click this Rafflecopter Link to Enter!

This giveaway is open to USA and Canadian entrants only and will end at 12:01am EST on December 22nd. Please only enter once. The winner will be announced later on December 22nd, and will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

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Enter to win a SIGNED PAPERBACK of Sweet Peril.

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The giveaway of an ARC of Don’t Look Back by Jennifer Armentrout has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winner has been chosen via Rafflecopter!

And the winner is…

Kristie Matheson

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:

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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.

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And now for the giveaway!!

Click this Rafflecopter Link to Enter!

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It’s that time again! For no other reason than that I like giveaways… we’re onto the THIRTY-FIRST Recently Released Giveaway Goodness Giveaway!

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

Click here to go to the Rafflecopter entry form!

Share this:

My Recently Released Giveaway Goodness #30–November–has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winner has been chosen via Rafflecopter.

And the winner is…

Alexandra

Book of Choice:

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

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:

Share this:

Synopsis:

When spoilt eighteen year old Miranda suffers a terrible accident she survives, but her face is hideously scarred.

Unable to bear what has happened to her, she locks herself away. Her only companions are Veronica, her cruel and beautiful mother, and Nelly, the sympathetic housekeeper.

As time passes Veronica inflicts cruelty after cruelty on her disfigured daughter. Lonely and filled with despair, Miranda is astonished when Bernard, Veronica’s handsome younger boyfriend, takes an interest in her circumstances.

For Bernard believes there is an operation that can restore Miranda’s face. But it will involve committing an unspeakable crime. A decision that will haunt her for the rest of her life…

In the tradition of Angela Carter and Daphne du Maurier, Demonica is a terrifying modern fairy tale.

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