I am really excited about participating in the 2012 Debut Author Challenge hosted by The Story Siren. There are a ton of books coming out in 2012 that I already can't wait to get my hands on so I know I will be completing this challenge early in the year. If you are interested in signing up, here are the details:
CHALLENGE OBJECTIVE:
To read & review a minimum of twelve young adult or middle grade debut novels between the dates of January 1, 2012 – January 31, 2013.*
*The 2013 extension is so that December Debuts can be read and count toward the challenge.
Any advance reader copies you read from 2012 BEFORE the January 1st start date DO NOT count toward the challenge!
You can read twelve books in one month, or one book a month. It doesn’t matter as long as you have 12 read by the end of the year!
RULES & GUIDELINES:
You must have a Blog to post your reviews or be a member of Goodreads. Youtube Book Reviewers count too!
Your blog/video must be written in English.
Deadline to join is May 31, 2012.
BOOK GUIDELINES:
Must be a young adult or middle grade title.
Must be the author’s YA or MG debut, released in 2012.
If an author has a previous novel published for adults or children, they can still qualify for the challenge.
If an author has a previous YA or MG title, they do not qualify for the challenge.
More info can be found HERE, and you can sign up for this challenge HERE.
On My Wish List is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where we list all the books we desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming.
Title: Misfit Author: Jon Skovron Publication Date: August 1, 2011
From Goodreads:
Jael has always felt like a freak. She’s never kissed a boy, she never knew her mom, and her dad’s always been superstrict—but that’s probably because her mom was a demon, which makes Jael half demon and most definitely not a normal sophomore girl. On her sixteenth birthday, a mysterious present unlocks her family’s dangerous history and Jael’s untapped potential. What was merely an embarrassing secret before becomes a terrifying reality. Jael must learn to master her demon side in order to take on a vindictive Duke of Hell while also dealing with a twisted priest, best-friend drama, and a spacey blond skater boy who may have hidden depths.
Am I the last person to read this? Please tell me I'm not. I have entered every giveaway I could find for this book, but unfortunately it was not meant to be. Well I am going to make sure I get my hands on this book finally in the very near future. I love this cover, don't you?
I am so excited for the beginning of 2012. Since I am pretty new to blogging, I haven't had the chance to take part in any of the reading challenges. But that is about to change! Over the next few days, you will be seeing a few posts about different reading challenges I'll be entering. I'm starting with the 2012 TBR Reading Challenge. I have a ton, A TON, of books waiting to be read. So I am going to take the plunge and sign myself up for the "A Sweet Kiss" level of 21-30 books. I hope I can make it! Are you interested in joining this challenge with me? If so, here's all the info:
Welcome to 2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge!!!
We all have those books. We buy them, win them, they're gifted to us.. Then we put them up on a bookshelf and there they stay, collecting dust, waiting for the time when we'll finally decide to pick them up..
Join us on a quest to dust off your TBR Pile and read all the books you've been telling yourself you'll read next time you'll get a chance.. This is your chance! And we've got PRIZES!!! :D
Challenge guidelines:
This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.
As we would like to see quality reviews linked up to our monthly wrap-ups, only bloggers can enter. Sorry about that!
Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your shelf for some time now. Only books released in 2011 and earlier! NO ARCs and 2012 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed!
You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the 2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge (You need to include the info + host list + challenge button. You can also grab the button code and add it to your sidebar!)
You can move up levels, but no moving down.
Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.
At the end of each month one of the hosts will post awrap-up. Every wrap-up will have it's unique theme, a mini-challenge, a giveaway and place for you to link up your reviews from this month. For each review you link up, you will get one entry in a drawing of one book of choice from Book Depository. It's open to INTERNATIONALS. For participating in the mini-challenge you will get +1 entry.
If you miss a wrap-up post + giveaway, you can link up your reviews next month. Do not, however, try to link up one review twice - we will be checking ;)
December is a wrap-up for the whole year. All the book reviews you linked up January-November + the ones you'll link up in December will be entered into a HUGE giveaway - 12 books, 12 winners, INTERNATIONAL.
You don't have to follow all the hosts to join the challenge, but you do have to follow all of us to be entered in giveaways!
Levels:
1-10 - A Firm Handshake 11-20 - A Friendly Hug 21-30 - A Sweet Kiss 31-40 - Love At First Sight 41-50 - Married With Children
January - Donna (Theme: Let It Snow + Book Cover Challenge) February - Nicole (Theme: Un-requited Love/Love Gone Wrong + Advice Column Challenge) March - Rie (Theme: Green or Pinched + Green Cover Challenge) April - Bonnie (Theme: Easter + Mini Challenge) May - Christa (Theme: MayDay - Disaster Books! + Cover Disaster Challenge) June - Jenna ( Theme: Camping + Sentence Challenge) July - Rie (Theme: International Day + Cover Comparison Challenge) August - Angel (Theme: Summer Memories + Send Your Fav Character On Vacation Challenge) September - Nicole (Theme: Life Changing Books + Mini Challenge) October - Caitlin (Theme: Thanksgiving Theme + Share-A-Book Challenge) November - Vicky (Theme: Spooky Halloween + Book Puzzle Challenge) December - Evie (Theme: Xmas Bliss + Book Bachelor Challenge)
We have a new design!!! As much as I loved our old design, it was really hard on my eyes. I don't do well with a dark (although it wasn't actually DARK dark) background and needed something brighter. I know the tree theme doesn't really have anything to do with books but seriously, I am obsessed with trees almost as much as books. So what do you think?
I want to give a massively huge thanks to Enna Isilee from Squeaky Books for designing this for me. Not only did she do an awesome job on the design, but she also installed it and answered my ten million questions. If you are looking for something new for your blog, please take a look at her designs and priceshere. You won't be disappointed :)
Just wanted to give all you lovely readers a heads up that Book Cover Justice is getting a new look! This will be happening throughout the day so if you see any craziness going on, just ignore it :) As always, thanks for reading!
Title: Once Upon a Time, There Was You Author: Elizabeth Berg Publication Date: April 5, 2011
From Goodreads:
Even on their wedding day, John and Irene sensed that they were about to make a mistake. Years later, divorced, dating other people, and living in different parts of the country, they seem to have nothing in common—nothing except the most important person in each of their lives: Sadie, their spirited eighteen-year-old daughter. Feeling smothered by Irene and distanced from John, Sadie is growing more and more attached to her new boyfriend, Ron. When tragedy strikes, Irene and John come together to support the daughter they love so dearly. What takes longer is to remember how they really feel about each other.
Elizabeth Berg has once again created characters who embody the many shades of the human spirit. Reading Berg’s fiction allows us to reflect on our deepest emotions, and her gifts as a writer make Once Upon a Time, There Was You a wonderful novel about the power of love, the unshakable bonds of family, and the beauty of second chances.
My Thoughts:
John and Irene have been divorced for over ten years and share an eighteen year old daughter, Sadie. Sadie lives with Irene in California but visits John several times throughout the years in Minnesota. She has a close bond with her father than with her mother, who is very clingy and emotional.
When Sadie lies to her parents about her plans for the weekend so she can spend it with her secret boyfriend, Ron, something terrible happens and she is unable to call home. This prompts Irene to go to the police and John travels to California to help her look for Sadie. When Sadie returns home a few days later, suffering from the incident and with shocking news, John and Irene are forced to examine their own lives and marriage and work together to help Sadie through this hard time.
Elizabeth Berg is one of my favorite authors. The first book I ever read by her was Open House, which I really enjoyed, and from there I picked up quite a few more of her books. Talk Before Sleep and What We Keep are definitely my favorites and if you love a good, heart-wrenching story, I suggest you read them very soon.
I had high hopes for Once Upon a Time, There Was You. I liked it, but not nearly as much as I thought I would. I loved John, and thought he was a great person with a huge heart and a wonderful father. I can't say the same for Irene though. She was pushy, clingy, and honestly, a little crazy. I can understand being a single parent of a teenager and worrying about them, but jeez lady give your child some space! Sadie is eighteen years old and when she doesn't call home for one day Irene calls the police. I just wanted to jump into this book and tell her to calm down and let Sadie have a life.
Sadie, on the other hand, was an alright character. She didn't stick up for herself with her mother nearly enough and just went along with Irene's demands. I would have liked to have seen her stand her ground a little more, but eventually she was able to have her say.
I also felt like not really a lot happened in this book. Yes, there was a little drama with Sadie's issue and all, but it happened pretty quickly and ended just as fast. I thought a lot more could have been done with this story line. I definitely felt like there was something missing.
I wouldn't say this was a bad book, but it certainly wasn't her best. I was hoping for more drama with the "tragedy" but instead it was more focused on John and Irene's marriage and what went wrong between the two of them. We also read quite a bit of their personal feelings about life and how much more they could have put into their marriage.
Overall, it was a decent book. But if you are going to read this author's work for the first time, please start with What We Keep or Talk Before Sleep.
* I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley.com in exchange for my honest opinion. All views and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
While perusing BN.com yesterday, I came across a ton of awesome deals. I just couldn't believe these prices so I had to pass them on. Seriously, a brand new hardcover of Wither by Lauren DeStefano is only $2.99!!! I'd snatch this one up if I were you, this book is amazing! Here are a few other awesome finds that I found just on the first page! Grab them while you can!
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
Title: Life is But a Dream Author: Brian James Expected Publication Date: March 27, 2012
From Goodreads:
Sabrina, an artist, is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and her parents check her into the Wellness Center. There she meets Alec, who is convinced it's the world that's crazy, not the two of them. They are meant to be together; they are special. But when Alec starts to convince Sabrina that her treatment will wipe out everything that makes her creative, she worries that she'll lose hold of her dreams and herself. Should she listen to her doctor? Her decision may have fatal consequences.
This is one of my favorite covers EVER. It is absolutely stunning. Thankfully, the book sounds equally amazing! There's nothing I hate more than beautiful covers on not so great books. I am so desperate to read this one. In fact, this is the second book I pre-ordered today (after Pandemonium, of course) with my Christmas book money. Yay!
Welcome to the Best of 2011 Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer! This is my first giveaway hop and I am really excited about participating!
For this giveaway, you may choose one book from the following list of my favorites from this year! This giveaway is open to everyone as long as The Book Depository ships free to your country (check here). Just fill out the handy dandy Rafflecopter below by Dec. 31st and hop along to the next blog on the linky. Good luck!
I hope you are all having an amazing Christmas!!! Right about now I am probably knee deep in empty toy boxes and searching for a hiding place from two crazy kids :)
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created and hosted by The Story Siren where bloggers share what books they have gathered over the week.
I hope you are all having an amazing holiday weekend! I'm probably wrapping frantically right about now trying to get as much done as possible. Knowing I wouldn't be around to do this post in real time, I'm actually planning ahead for once and creating it on Thursday. So any other goodies I receive in the mail will be added to next week's IMM :) Traded For:
Received from Swap.com :)
Won:
Huge thanks to The British Babes Book Brigade on Facebook and to Sourcebooks for this awesome book :) I love this cover!
Many thanks to Karlene at Ink Splasher for a beautiful hardcover of Possession! I've been trying to win this book all over the place but had no luck. I'm so excited to finally read it!
Purchased this ARC with buzz bucks from Random Buzzers. Not only was it technically free, it was on "sale"! Instead of having to spend 15,000-20,000 buzz bucks, it only cost me 5,000. Awesome!!!
Received an ARC of Winging It and Wildefire from Julia at Rex Robot Reviews from the Holiday Book Lover Hop. They arrived super quick too! Thank you, Julia!!!
I won this on 12/20 and received it on 12/21. That is the fastest I have ever received a book! Thank you to Heidi at The Readiacs for the super fast shipping and also the awesome giveaway. This book looks AMAZING! Think I might be reading this one next.
I'm going to let you all in on a little secret. There is this guy on Twitter, @GalleyGuy. What is his sole purpose on Twitter? Tweeting about book giveaways. Ok, maybe it's not his only purpose but that is the majority of what he does. I check his tweets everyday because there is always something new. That is how I get a ton of ARCs. Including these next two: Wayward Saints and Strange Flesh. I check his tweets then a week or two later I find goodies in my mailbox that I completely forgot I entered for. So seriously, go follow him and win some books!
Thank you to Hyperion Voice for this lovely ARC of Wayward Saints :)
I think this is my favorite ARC of all the others I have ever received. Not because of the book itself ( I can't make that decision until I have read it, silly) but because of the way it looks. It is completely black! The only color anywhere on this cover is along the binding and it is plain white text with the title. On the front cover, the text is also black but is raised. I didn't see it at first and was like "huh?" Then I saw it and thought "OMG AWESOME!" Anyway, thank you Simon & Schuster for this gorgeous ARC!
On My Wish List is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where we list all the books we desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming.
Today is Christmas Eve and I bet right about now I am running around like a chicken with it's head chopped off trying to make it to two different family gatherings just to get home early enough to get my minions in bed so I can finish wrapping their gifts and get them under the tree before they wake up at 5am and demand they get to open their presents NOW!!! Trust me, this is them every year so I am not expecting anything less. So that is why I have planned ahead and am creating this post on Thursday :) I hope you are all having a great Christmas Eve!
On My Wish List:
Title: Stolen Author: Lucy Christopher Publication Date: May 1, 2010
From Goodreads:
Gemma, 16, is on layover at Bangkok Airport, en route with her parents to a vacation in Vietnam. She steps away for just a second, to get a cup of coffee. Ty - rugged, tan, too old, oddly familiar - pays for Gemma's drink. And drugs it. They talk. Their hands touch. And before Gemma knows what's happening, Ty takes her. Steals her away. The unknowing object of a long obsession, Gemma has been kidnapped by her stalker and brought to the desolate Australian Outback. Stolen is her gripping story of survival, of how she has to come to terms with her living nightmare - or die trying to fight it.
I *need* this book! If I am blessed with any book money for Christmas, this is the first book I am buying (after pre-ordering Pandemonium, of course lol). I wish I had it in my hands right now :(
*Update: All codes have been claimed! Thank you everyone for your interest!
So my giveaway for free book codes to Random Buzzers ended and there was only one entry! That's crazy! Actually, there were two entries but I failed to note that it was a US only site before they entered so one lucky entrant from Australia is getting their choice of book from The Book Depository :) So congrats to Teri and Romi!
So what does this mean for the rest of you? Well, it means I still have four more codes to give away. In case you missed my previous post, you can read it here. If you aren't currently a member of Random Buzzers and live in the US, you can enter one of these codes during registration to get a free book. I have four codes left, so if you are interested can email me at bookcoverjustice(at)comcast(dot)net and I will send the first four emailers a code. I'll update this post when they have all been taken. So go check out Random Buzzers and get back to me!
Please consider using my affiliate link when buying from The Book Depository. 100% of all commissions earned from sales are used towards giveaways. The more sales, the more giveaways!!