2013 Long vs. Short Chapter Challenge- Sign Up Now!

Hey there all you lovely people, how are you? Good? Good. I'm super excited to tell you about a new reading challenge for the upcoming year. Cassie @ The Anfractuous Bookaholic has come up with a fantastic idea, the Long vs. Short Chapter Challenge! 

How it works:

Each month in 2013 will have a different host. That host will choose two books to read, one with short chapters and one with long chapters. At the end of the month, that host will write a wrap-up post detailing which format they liked better and why. Readers will also be able to take part by reading the books along with the host and leaving links to their own thoughts. And another thing, there will be GIVEAWAYS! I know you all love a good giveaway!
Sign Ups:
For more details about the challenge, check out Cassie's blog here. There are still some months that need hosts! So head on over and grab a host spot for yourself, this challenge is going to be awesome! 

Interview with Phil Rossi, Author of Soldier Hill- with a giveaway too!

Today I'd like to thank Phil Rossi, author of Soldier Hill, for stopping by the blog to answer some questions as well as host a giveaway! Yesterday I reviewed his book Soldier Hill, which I really enjoyed. 

About Soldier Hill:

In 1983, two high school friends set out to honor a fallen soldier from the Vietnam War. A coming of age story about honor and sacrifice.


Interview:


Hi Phil! Thank you so much for stopping by today and telling us more about yourself and Soldier Hill.

Hi Tiffany. Thanks for inviting me on your blog--great being here. Can you please tell us about yourself and what inspired you to start writing? 

I'm from Northern New Jersey, a suburb of NYC. I graduated from St. John's University and the New York Film Academy.  I spent years in the New York film scene on various projects. I made a 6-minute short crime film, Ten Large that could be  seen on my website: www.phil-rossi.com and YouTube. It is a calling card for investors to back an independent feature that I wrote and plan to direct and produce some day.  In high school, my sophomore english teacher put one period aside each week for creative writing. She felt I had a knack and suggested I continue doing it. She was very encouraging. That first person outside my network of family and friends that told me I was good at something. It was very inspiring at the time, and continues to be to this day.  　 Soldier Hill is inspired by true events. Can you please tell us about this event? 

While growing up, I remembered a story about a boy in a surrounding town who dropped out of high school to fight in the Vietnam War. He was killed in action, and a memorial was created in his honor. Some time later, the memorial was removed and discarded for a construction project. To my knowledge, the memorial was never relocated. It's a story that has continued to disturb me all these years later. Soldier Hill is not meant to demonize those responsible, rather a way to make things right.  　 A lot of knowledge about the Vietnam War was needed for this story. What kind of research did you do? 

I'm showing my age here. I grew up in the late 70's and early 80's. I remember the vibes of the Vietnam fallout--it was in the fabric, so to speak. It's interesting when you see those time capsule videos of the 70's and 80's, and how it all seemed like such a freewheeling, and changing time. I guess it was in many respects, but lurking beneath the surface was the shroud of Vietnam. That aspect remained. It was a dark, confusing, and challenging time for the country. How to move forward while trying to figure out a way to distance itself from the war.  　 Eddie finds himself labeled by his teachers as not going to amount to anything and is often laughed off when he tries to improve himself. What advice would you give students who find themselves in this same situation and aren't given the same opportunities as some of the "smarter" kids? 

It's a very good, important, and deep question. One of the biggest things, is to have them believe in themselves no matter what. One of the challenges is getting to that spot. Giving them the area to discover what they like, all while 'fitting in' is difficult. Cutting against the grain is not so 'popular' and 'accepted' while in such a tight vacuum. There needs to be more outlets for kids to dream, and take chances without the fear or even being ridiculed for falling short. Keep trying. The discovery and nurturing of that talent could only do wonders--especially for kids.  　 What have been some of the writing challenges you have faced? What challenges did you face on the road to publication?  Too many! It's a daily, weekly, continuing, never-ending struggle. And maybe it should be. I'm an independent publisher as well. Always looking to get accepted by an actual print publisher and one day an agent. Sure, there are challenges, but I think this is a great time to be an artist. Whether it be writing, film, music, etc. The internet, coupled with social media allows the little guy more shots.  　 What are you working on now?  A hardboiled crime novella. I'm on my first draft. The working title is Bag Men. It's about a pair of aging mobsters who are called in by a crime boss to deliver the stolen cash from an armored car heist. 

What was the book that most impacted your life and why?
In high school, it was The Outsiders. One of the first cool books we read. Since then, there's been so many. The Things They Carried, The Shawshank Redemption, The Old Man And The Sea, and Drive are among my favorites.  The use of language and style. Great stories with great characters and pacing--such a breeze to read. They are also some  of my personal writing guides--the kind of books you reread to learn more and more about the craft. 

Giveaway:
Phil has generously offered to giveaway three pdf copies of Soldier Hill to my lucky readers. This giveaway is open internationally and will end on 11/6.  a Rafflecopter giveaway
Once again I'd like to thank Phil for the opportunity to read and review Soldier Hill and for taking the time to answer my questions and also for the giveaway!

Dystopian Giveaway Hop!

Welcome to the Dystopian Giveaway Hop, hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and My Shelf Confessions! This hop runs from November 1st-7th.

This might be my favorite giveaway hop yet. Why, you ask? Because dystopians are AWESOME! They are my favorite kind of reads, I can't get enough. Maybe I will get lucky and win a giveaway or two from the hop too :) 

For this giveaway, one winner will be able to choose one  DYSTOPIAN book of their choice from The Book Depository, up to $10(USD). Open INT, you are eligible to win as long as The Book Depository ships free to your country (check HERE). So what are you waiting for? Just fill out the handy dandy Rafflecopter and make your way down the linky!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting On Wednesday (57)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Uses For Boys Author: Erica Lorraine Scheidt Expected Publication Date: January 15, 2013
From Goodreads:
Anna remembers a time before boys, when she was little and everything made sense. When she and her mom were a family, just the two of them against the world. But now her mom is gone most of the time, chasing the next marriage, bringing home the next stepfather. Anna is left on her own—until she discovers that she can make boys her family. From Desmond to Joey, Todd to Sam, Anna learns that if you give boys what they want, you can get what you need. But the price is high—the other kids make fun of her; the girls call her a slut. Anna's new friend, Toy, seems to have found a way around the loneliness, but Toy has her own secrets that even Anna can't know.

Then comes Sam. When Anna actually meets a boy who is more than just useful, whose family eats dinner together, laughs, and tells stories, the truth about love becomes clear. And she finally learns how it feels to have something to lose—and something to offer.
The first thing that attracted me to this book was the title. Isn't that an amazing title? Very catchy. Second, I'm drawn to these kinds of stories, dysfunctional families. I'm looking forward to reading this from Anna's point of view, the "slut" if you will. Sometimes things happen to people and nobody knows and we judge them for it. Maybe this story will make a difference in someone's life and a small act of kindness with come from it. I'll be pre-ordering this one as soon as possible!
What about you? What are you waiting on this week? Leave me a link in the comments and I'll come check it out!

Review: Soldier Hill by Phil Rossi

Title: Soldier Hill Author: Phil Rossi Publication Date: June 24, 2012
Synopsis:
In 1983, two high school friends set out to honor a fallen soldier from the Vietnam War. A coming of age story about honor and sacrifice.
My Thoughts:
It's 1983 and Eddie, a teenage slacker, takes notice of a memorial tree for the first time at his high school. They are rebuilding and the tree is set for demolition. Eddie is curious to just who the tree was planted for, as the plaque does not yield many hints. What follows is Eddie's search for the fallen soldier and his quest to set things right.
I really enjoyed this story for many reasons. I liked Eddie, he seemed like a typical teenager. He wasn't really sure where he was going with his life and honestly, what kid in their early teens is? Because of this, his teachers and other adults have categorized him as a kid who isn't going to amount to much. In fact, he isn't given the same opportunities at school as the "smart" kids are and even when he attempts to prove himself, he is laughed at. 
I liked that this story took place in the early 80s before the internet. This forces Eddie to actually go out and put in serious leg work to find out who the fallen soldier was. He couldn't just go online and read about it. That made the story much more interesting because it showed how much Eddie actually cared about saving this unknown boy's memorial. 
I will admit that I did struggle with the slang. Even though I was born in 1980, I was still too young to pick up on some of the terms used in the story. It was hard to follow at first, but eventually the story really took off and the slang just became part of it. It gave Eddie a sense of realism and helped you remember that this story takes place decades ago. 
Beyond the search for the fallen soldier's identity, there is much more going on with this story. There is some bullying, and not only at the hands of the students. As I said before, Eddie is categorized by his teachers as no good. There is nothing he can do to change their minds no matter how hard he tries. He is constantly laughed at and picked on. I felt sorry for him. I found this part of the story very important. Even though he was treated this way, Eddie didn't give up. He knew that destroying the memorial was not right and he was going to do something about it. I think this was a great lesson for teenagers. Even if it seems the world may be against you, you can always count on yourself. Do the right thing and the reward will be great. Never believe the negativity thrown at you and keep moving forward.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I didn't know very much about the Vietnam War going into this story and I learned a lot. I recommend this to anyone who loves a good coming of age story and also enjoys shorter stories as this one comes in at about 100 pages. 

For more about Phil Rossi and Soldier Hill, please visit his website here. Also, be sure to stop by tomorrow for an interview with Phil and a chance to win your own copy of Soldier Hill!

*I received this book for free in exchange of my honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way and all views and opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Teaser Tuesday (57)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This Week's Teaser Is From:

Souls in Peril by Sherry Gammon

"The footsteps retreated before disappearing completely, and the car drove away. JD waited five more minutes, just to make sure they were gone, before climbing out of the dumpster." page 11 (pdf)

Review: Perception by Lee Strauss

Title: Perception Author: Lee Strauss Publication Date: September 12, 2012
From Goodreads:
Seventeen year old Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along-side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans.

Her brother Liam is missing.

Noah Brody is a natural who lives on the outside. He leads protests against the GAPs and detests the widening chasm they’ve created between those who have and those who don’t. He doesn’t like girls like Zoe and he has good reason not to like her specifically.

Zoe’s carefree life takes a traumatic turn. She’s in trouble and it turns out that Noah, the last guy on earth she should trust, is the only one who can help her.
My Thoughts:
 Zoe is a seventeen-year-old GAP (genetically altered person) and lives in the protected Sol City, where only the GAP are permitted to live and enter unless a "natural" has been granted access by a GAP. Her brother, Liam, has gone missing. There has been no activity on his chip and he isn't answering his ComRing. Zoe knows something just isn't right. When she finds a mysterious piece of paper in his bedroom, Zoe decides to find out the truth for herself. This leads her to Noah, the son of her maid and the leader of protesters determined to stop the GAPS from multiplying. Only Zoe didn't realize just how deep she is getting herself, and she certainly didn't plan on growing closer to Noah.
The Characters: Can I just saw how much I love Noah? He is fierce, determined and strong. But at the same time, he is loving, sweet and sensitive. He loves his family and wants to help any way that he can, even if that means teaming up with spoiled Zoe Vandeerveen. I'll admit that she wasn't my favorite person when I first met her. I don't like snobby, perfect little blondes who think the world rotates just for them. But I will say that she surprised me. She knew something wasn't right and instead of going along with it, she took matters into her own hands even when that meant going against everyone she loved and everything she ever knew. And who can be mad at someone for sacrificing their entire life to make things right? I can't. Aside from Zoe and Noah, we meet some other worthy and unfavorable characters. Zoe's parents, Tim and Alison, are somewhat distant and completely oblivious to the world outside their city. Tim is controlling and Alison seems a little mentally unstable at times. Jackson, Zoe's boyfriend, also comes across as a little distant and moody. He has his moments, but he also kind of gave me the creeps.
The Setting: It is always important in dystopian type novels that the setting be described with great detail. Even though it is still our world, things have always changed. This story takes place mostly in two places: Sol City and the "outside", Los Angeles. I've never been to California so I couldn't base the city off of anything besides what I read, and since Sol City was not an actual place, I had nothing to base my ideas on that besides what I read as well. I was very pleased with the author's descriptions of both cities and I felt I knew them pretty well by the end of the book. There was a big difference between the two, Sol City always clean and fresh while Los Angeles was run down and dirty, and the parallels between them added a lot to the atmosphere of the story. 
The Storyline: This book has everything that you would want in a great story. Intrigue, deception, and even a little bit of love. There are also some big twists that will shock you and keep you on your toes. There's never a slow moment with the book starting out immediately with Liam's disappearance. Besides Zoe's search for her brother, there is another battle going on in this book on a much quieter level: science vs. religion. Zoe believes science is the key to everything while Noah is a strong believer in religion. Even though I am not a believer and hang more towards the science side, I still enjoyed this angle of the story. It showed that even though two people can disagree so strongly, it doesn't mean that they have to automatically hate each other. It's ok to have different beliefs and still respect each other's opinions. This is a hard message to get through to some people (trust me, I live it every day) and I commend the author for bringing it to light in this story.
The Writing: Lee Strauss definitely has some writing chops. Everything in this story is brilliant. She sucks you in immediately with Liam's disappearance and just keeps dragging you deeper and deeper into the story with every page. Zoe and Noah have their own voices that are displayed perfectly throughout the story and they are completely believable. The story flows wonderfully with perfect pace. 
Overall, I really only have one thing to add: READ. THIS. BOOK. With dystopian being quite a popular genre lately and more books being released than I can keep up with, it was so refreshing to come across such an original idea for a story. Zoe's story is a remarkable one and I am unbelievably desperate to get my hands on the next book in the series. I recommend this book to everyone! 
Want to check this book out for yourself? Read an excerpt here! And right now, Perception is only 99¢ on Amazon. Trust me, you NEED to read this! Buy it HERE!

For more about Lee Strauss and Perception, check out her website here.

Excerpt: Winning The City Redux by Theodore Weesner

I have to say that one of my favorite things about blogging is being able to bring you posts like these ones. I love excerpts. I like being able to read the first chapter or two of a book and see if it is something I would enjoy. This helps me know if it is a book for me or not. Today I am thankful to be able to share an excerpt with you for Winning the City Redux by Theodore Weesner! 

About Winning the City Redux:

It’s Detroit, 1961. Fifteen-year-old Dale Wheeler, the son of an unemployed, alcoholic autoworker, has big dreams of leading his team to the City Basketball Championship.  But his dream is shattered when Dale—the co-captain and top point guard—is cut from the team to make way for the son of a big money team sponsor.
His life in a tailspin, Dale finds a helping hand in Miss Furbish, the beautiful homeroom teacher whose well-meaning kindness gradually builds into a potentially dangerous passion.  And in his lowest times, Dale gets a final shot at his dream:  A hardscrabble team of street-ballers that may have what it takes to win the City Championship.

About Theodore Weesner:

Theodore Weesner, born in Flint, Michigan, is aptly described as a “Writers’ Writer” by the larger literary community.  His short works have been published in the New Yorker, Esquire, Saturday Evening Post, Atlantic Monthly and Best American Short Stories.  His novels, including The True Detective, Winning the City and Harbor Light, have been published to great critical acclaim in the New York Times, The Washington Post, Harper’s, The Boston Globe, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, Boston Magazine and The Los Angeles Times to name a few.
Weesner is currently writing his memoir, two new novels, and an adaptation of his widely praised novel—retitled Winning the City Redux—also to be published by Astor + Blue Editions.  He lives and works in Portsmouth, NH.

Excerpt:

PART ONE
ONE
This is it.  Today is the day.  The first practice of the year after school in the boy's gym.  Time to show the speed, do the deed, take the lead!  All these weeks and months Dale has been able to think of little else.  Since last spring.   Since forever.  Now it’s his turn to be the oldest, the biggest, the best.  Tryouts.  But he’s a returning starter and is sure as hell not trying out.  He'll be leading the way, making them pay!  His excitement is such that for days on end he has been telling himself to be cool.  Time to be cool and not a fool.  For playing it cool is the only tool...if you’re out to win the entire goddamn city. Dale Wheeler is fourteen all the same, and whatever energy he may be bringing to his talking-the-talk temperature he doesn’t know how not to dream.  He’s grown an inch and a half since the season ended last year and is growing still.  In this instant he’s pushing up through five-nine.  Sitting at his desk in school he can look at a forearm and see it growing larger, stronger, longer.  Can pump up bicep-pears before the bathroom mirror at home.  One on the left, one on the right!  Pop, pop!  Pow, pow!  Hey, hey, get outta my way...my name is Dale Wheeler and I came to play!  Besides confidence Dale can call up conviction in his mind and heart.  Secret power leading the way, making his day!  Call me cocky and I’ll make your fat ass pay! Dale knows he’s good.  There’s no doubt he’s done the work.  Like a saver saving every penny, he’s given himself to little else.  At times it seems it’s all he’s done, all the time, is work-work, practice-practice.  And work some more.  And worked on anyway.  Worked into work.  Sweated into sweat all over again, before taking his shower, doing his homework, dreaming his dream.  For work, as every athlete knows, is the key.  The more you practice the luckier you get. Acquire the moves, absorb the steps...and when the time comes you'll hit the groove no matter some hee-haw in the stands sputtering about luck and the bounce of the ball.   Dale has done it, is doing it, will do it.  For an athlete is what he is.  Maybe he’s only fourteen but he knows what he knows and he knows it’s his turn to take them all downtown to win the city!  "Here comes Wheeler," cries the Sportscaster on high.  "He takes the shot! no--he fakes the shot!  He fakes the shot!!  He drives! shoots!  SCORES!  SCORES!! SCORES!!!" Even in his sleep at night Dale dreams of winning the city.  Moments and moves from outdoor pickup games under the lights (amazing things happen in outdoor pickup games) blend in his dreams into games indoors rocking with all the students and teachers he has ever known or passed in the hallways of Walt Whitman Junior High.  Waking from a dream with his mind full of rainbows he reminds himself not to go off the deep end.  To settle down.   Don't be a fool, play it cool!  Playing it cool is the only tool! Everything is a game.  Life, Dale knows, is a game all the way and everything that happens depends on how you play.  It’s something else he knows he knows.  He has no notion of himself as a thinker, or as a smart ass ninth-grader either, but he knows what he knows and he knows that everything is a game.  That playing it cool is the only tool...when you’re out to rule.   (Okay, maybe he is a smart ass, but whoever won the city who wasn't?)     TWO
Coming in late from working second shift at Chevy Plant Ten--a weaving silhouette filling his bedroom doorway--Dale's father invites his sleepy-time son into the kitchen for a Coney Island dog.  Could anyone in the world more appreciate the taste of a Coney Island dog in the middle of the night than an ever-voracious fourteen-year-old playmaker, ball handler, first string guard?     As on every other night, Dale practiced at the park until the lights went out…before shooting a few in the dark.  Dribbling home, into and out of illumination under corner streetlights, driving one telephone pole after another, pulling it back at the last minute (all but the dream), he showers with the landlady's hose, reviews his school notebook at the kitchen table, and hits the sack dreaming his dream...into which swamp there appears the purveyor of tender words and unconditional love in his life.  "Hey sleepy time pal...come have a Coney Island dog with your old dad." Daylight is in Dale's eyes and it’s time to rise and shine...despite a spur picking at his mind.  Clomping into the bathroom to wash and brush, he detects "I Fall to Pieces" circling his father's phonograph in the living room and sinks within, as always, to the old cry of loss haunting their handful of rooms at an off-beat hour.  The message is familiar: His father is up yet and loaded, is emotional and sentimental, drunk and dangerous.  With no one else upon whom to visit his sad memory of Dale's runaway mother visiting his pickled brain, his father is waiting for him to appear.  In Dale's adolescent mind another lyric begins circling the breaking day: 'You get loaded...and I fall to pieces.'
#  #  #
He has no choice but to make his way into the kitchen that offers the only exit from their attic apartment...down the backside of the landlord's house to driveway, sidewalk, refreshing air.  He enters without making a sound.  His father stands there.  Head hanging, he’s leaning to the wall, his chin on his chest.  How long has he been on his feet?  His neck looks rubbery as his head lolls to one side, a grin comes on like a dim light as he says: "Don't I know you from somewhere?" Dale opens the refrigerator, explores possibilities, ignores his father as he does at times like these.  Life with an alcoholic.  Life with Patsy Cline's heartbreak lining the air they breathe: 'You want me to forget...pretend we've never met.' "You're the guy stood me up!" his father tells him.  "Thas who you are!  Bring home a treat for the only person in the world plays tunes on my weary old heart...get left standing at the counter."  'You walk by...and I fall to pieces...' Dale remembers then and says: "I fell asleep!  That’s what I did!" "Musta been dreaming about something a hell of a lot better looking than a Coney Island dog," his father tells him. "Basketball," Dale confesses, deciding all at once to share his high hopes with his father.  "I was dreaming about basketball, winning the City…which is what we're gonna do!"  "Basketball?" his father asks.  "You say basketball?  Did I hear you say basketball?  Is that what I heard you say?" "It's my big year at school!" Dale tells him. "First time I knew anything would keep you from your favorite middle-of-the-night snack.  Surprised it wasn't something better looking than a fat old basketball." "I'm the biggest at school this year!" Dale tells him.  "I've been working like a demon while everybody else has done practically nothing.  Been working all summer, all fall.  Gonna lead the way, make em pay!"  Dale did not add how proud he hoped to make his father, or how his dream included saving his father's life, too, to a modest degree.  Turning things around.  Leading them to the promised land. 'You tell me to find...someone else to love. Someone who'll love me, too...the way you used to do.' Continuing to grin, his father squints.  "Son...gotta tell ya.  Hope you dream other things, too.  Don't wanna put all your eggs in one basket." Dale nods, indicates that he knows, is cool, isn't a fool...know all about eggs and baskets.  Doesn't he?
{Purchase}
{Amazon}{B&N}

Showcase Sunday (27)

Welcome to Showcase Sunday, hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea. The aim of this event is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed form the libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week. For more information about how this feature works and to join in, click here.

Bought:

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio

Ask the Passengers by A.S. King

The Opposite of Hallelujah by Anna Jarzab

The Living End by Lisa Samson

Lovely, Dark and Deep by Amy McNamara

Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones 

Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

Love in Mid Air by Kim Wright

Fat Vampire by Adam Rex

Won:

The Great Unexpected by Sharon Creech - Thank you to Simply Infatuated!

Sad Desk Salad by Jessica Grose - Thank you to Chick Lit Is Not Dead!

For Review:

I Am Lucky Bird by Fleur Philips - Thank you BookSparksPR!

Moranthology by Caitlin Moran - Thank you Harper Perennial! 

So you know how I said a few weeks ago that I wasn't going to be buying books for a while? Well I was cruising the internet the other night and saw that there were a ton of books being released at the same time and I must have gasped because the husband asked what was up. I told him how there were like five books coming out the same day that I just needed to have. He didn't really care or seem interested, but while out shopping for Halloween costumes the other night he suggested we stop at Barnes and Noble and pick up one of the books I wanted. Of course I couldn't turn that down, it's a rare thing, so off we went. Well what happens when Tiffany walks into the bookstore? The above! I ended up leaving with four new releases and a copy of Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio (finally!!!). I've been after this book for months. 

Now the husband wasn't too pleased, but didn't demand I put any back so yay! I guess it's a good thing I didn't tell him that I had stopped at Goodwill earlier in the week and picked up another five books :) Plus I received two books that I had won, plus another two fantastic looking books for review. I Am Lucky Bird came with an adorable little bird journal with matching pouch. BookSparksPR is the absolute BEST! I love being one of their groupies. 

Even though I am still crazy behind in review books, I'm actually making some progress. Maybe I'll be able to read one of these other books soon! And as always, thank you so much to the bloggers, authors and publishers who have hooked me up with these beauties, you all rock!

What came for you this week? Leave me a link in the comments and I'll come check it out!

On My Wish List (56)

On My Wish List is a fun weekly event hosted by Workaday Reads 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: Catching Jordan Author: Miranda Kenneally Publication Date: December 1, 2011
From Goodreads: 
ONE OF THE BOYS

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Greeen moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line?
I'm not really much of a football fan. I know how to play and watch it every week with the husband, but I wouldn't watch it otherwise. But I love the idea of a female quarterback so this book has me intrigued. I tried getting my hands on it when it was first released, but didn't. I've seen it popping up all over the place again though with the release of Stealing Parker though, so maybe I will get lucky and finally win a copy. Have you read it? What do you think of it?
What is your heart's desire this week? Leave me a link in the comments and I'll come check it out!

YA Mythology Giveaway Hop!

Welcome to the YA Mythology Giveaway Hop, hosted by For Those About to Read and I Am a Reader, Not a Writer! This hop lasts from October 26th through November 4th.

For this giveaway, one winner will be able to choose one YA mythology related book from The Book Depository up to $10(USD). Open INT, you are eligible to win as long as The Book Depository ships free to your country (check HERE). 

So what are you waiting for? Just fill out the handy dandy Rafflecopter and make your way down the linky!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting On Wednesday (56)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: The Comfort of Lies Author: Randy Susan Meyers Expected Publication Date: February 12, 2013
From Goodreads:
Five years ago Tia fell into obsessive love. The only problem—Nathan was married and the father of two boys. When she became pregnant, he disappeared, and she gave up her baby for adoption. Now, she’s trying to connect with her lost daughter and former lover.



Five years ago, Caroline, a dedicated pathologist, reluctantly adopted a baby to please her husband. She prayed her misgivings would disappear; instead, she’s questioning whether she’s cut out for the role of wife and mother.



Five years ago Juliette considered her life ideal: she had a loving family, believed in her marriage, and her business thrived. Then she discovered Nathan’s affair. He’d promised he’d never stray again and she trusted him. But Juliette never knew about the baby.



Now, when photographs of the child arrive, Juliette’s devastated. How could Nathan deny his daughter? And if he’s kept this a secret from her, what else is he hiding? Desperate for the truth, Juliette goes in search of the little girl. Her quest leads to Caroline and Tia and before long, the women are on a collision course with consequences that none of them could have predicted.

I read Meyers' first book, The Murderer's Daughters, back when it was released. Even though it didn't blow me away, it was still good and I've been looking forward to her next release. I love chick lit, and this one sounds like chick lit with an edge and I can't wait to get my hands on it. I get sad every time I see books that aren't being released until 2013 and then I realize HOLY CRAP! That's two months from now and I am totally NOT READY. The older you get, the faster time flies. I hate getting old :(
What about you, what are you waiting on this week? Leave me a link in the comments and I'll come check it out!

BookSparksPR Speaks Out Against Bullying, and You Should Too!

I'm honored to be taking part in BookSparksPR's anti-bullying campaign. I don't usually get personal on this blog, but bullying is something that is very important to me. My daughter, age 12, has been bullied for years. She has been called names, hit and even had a volleyball and stick thrown into her face. Things have been a little better so far this year, the main bully has moved away and she is in the middle school now, and I'm hoping it will stay this way. My son is still a student at her previous school and I'm pretty sure the principal still cringes when he sees me coming his way. I don't let things go, I will call the school and I will have the situation addressed. 

Even though things with my daughter have cooled down a little, we are not nearly out of the woods. She is twelve, moving into those awkward and horrendous teenage years when girls become their most aggressive. I worry for her every day. She isn't like the other girls. She has yet to become boy crazy, doesn't really pay attention to what she wears and is spunky. She farts on command, she can burp the alphabet (with pride) and she is very perky. She loves anime and manga and is always drawing. Because of this, she has been called "different" and a "loser." But to me, she is perfect. She is fun and can give it just as good as she can take it. She is hilarious. I hope she never changes. But girls are cruel. We are hurtful, spiteful and we know how to make other girls hate themselves. Just thinking about what lies ahead for her makes me want to lock her in her room until she is twenty-five.  

As if this isn't hard enough, I have yet to talk about my son. My adorable, sweet little boy. He is eight and he has special needs. He has Dyspraxia and his speech is severely delayed. Even though he has made incredible progress over the last six years, it is still very hard for strangers and kids to understand him if they aren't with him all the time. We are doing everything we can to help him improve and his school is fantastic when it comes to his extra needs. But what happens when the other kids realize that he is different? Will they turn against him? Right now, they don't care about his speech issues. But they will. What happens when they start picking on him for having to take "the short bus"?

These are things that I never thought of before having children. It honestly breaks my heart and gives me panic attacks just thinking about them having to deal with these issues. Sadly, too many kids have turned to violence and even suicide because of bullying. I don't want this to happen to my children. I don't want this to happen to anyone's children. Something has to be done for these precious children growing up in a hate-filled world. 

BookSparksPR has created the "BookSparksPR Speaks Out Against Bullying" campaign and I am thankful to be a part of it. To start, they are highlighting The Salt God's Daughter by Ilie Ruby which deals with bullying. (Read my review here). I hope you will take part in this campaign and help make a difference!

Speak out against bullying - The Salt God's Daughter by Ilie Ruby

Note from Ilie: The stories of the women who populate The Salt God’s Daughter were inspired by the confluence of real life and a Celtic myth, which I learned from a folksong my mother played on the guitar, The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry. While the myth is the map, its many roads reflect the experiences of my grandmothers, of my mother, of my friends, and of seventeen young girls I never knew but whose histories found me. My wish was to illuminate the female experience through generations–not only those times that are shrouded in shadows, but also those that are lovely and beautiful, and made indelible with light. At its heart this is a story about true love, sometimes found between mothers and daughters, in the secrets of sisters, and in the arms of the first person with whom you shared your heart. When all is said and done, this novel belongs to resolute sisters Ruthie and Dolly. They are my champions. Their journey of discovery and survival is the heart of this story.

Set in Long Beach, California, beginning in the 1970s, The Salt God’s Daughter follows three generations of extraordinary women who share something unique—something magical and untamed that makes them unmistakably different from others. Theirs is a world teeming with ancestral stories, exotic folklore, inherited memory, and meteoric myths.

In recognition of October being National Anti-Cyberbullying Awareness month, we are proud to speak out with BookSparksPR, book lovers and author Ilie Ruby against bullies.

Here's how you can speak out too!

• Post it: Post this anti-bullying badge on your blog, site or social media today along with the book cover and the note on Ilie Ruby's book The Salt God's Daughter. We understand you have other obligations/plans for your blog that day. Whatever you can do today to stand up for these 17 young women, Amanda Todd and so many other women and children who are being/have been bullied.
• Tweet it: Speak out with @BookSparksPR, book lovers and @IlieRuby today against bullies! No bullying! http://bit.ly/RCBDSZ #SpeakOut
• Facebook it: Share the badge, this campaign (http://bit.ly/RCBDSZ) and your words against bullying via Facebook and tag (BookSparksPR) so they can share too!
• Rate it: Head over to Goodreads and rate Ilie Ruby's The Salt God's Daughter. It’s a 5-star beautiful book about love, family, and surviving bullying! http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13584821-the-salt-god-s-daughter
• Buy it: If you buy Ilie Ruby’s book, The Salt God’s Daughter, let BookSparksPR know and they'll match with a donation to an anti-bullying organization. On October 24th only, if you buy the book for you, a friend, a holiday gift (great for mothers, daughters, friends, book clubs, etc) or all the above, send your receipt(s) and they'll be donating up to 20% of book sales that day (based on emailed receipts) to the "I Choose" anti-bullying campaign in support of BookSparksPR Speaks Out Against Bullying and all these victims. Buy on Indie Bound; Buy on Amazon; or Buy on Barnes & Noble. Send receipts to contests@SparkPointStudio.com