Showing posts with label Giveaway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Giveaway. Show all posts

Thursday, September 27, 2018

THE BONELESS MERCIES BLOG TOUR / Review + Giveaway


THE BONELESS MERCIES
by April Genevieve Tucholke
Release Date: October 2nd, 2018

SYNOPSIS:


A dark and gorgeously drawn standalone YA fantasy about a band of mercenary girls in search of female glory. Won in a major six-house auction!

Frey, Ovie, Juniper, and Runa are the Boneless Mercies—girls hired to kill quickly, quietly, and mercifully. But Frey is weary of the death trade and, having been raised on the heroic sagas of her people, dreams of a bigger life. 

When she hears of an unstoppable monster ravaging a nearby town, Frey decides this is the Mercies' one chance out. The fame and fortune of bringing down such a beast would ensure a new future for all the Mercies. In fact, her actions may change the story arc of women everywhere.

Full of fierce girls, bloodlust, tenuous alliances, and unapologetic quests for glory, this elegantly spun tale challenges the power of storytelling—and who gets to be the storyteller. Perfect for fans of Maggie Stiefvater, V.E. Schwab, and Heidi Heilig.


REVIEW:

I was sent an early copy of this along with the first book from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.

Let's start from the beginning. I dove into this book with specific expectations and they were met and then some. April Genevieve Tucholke has a vivid writing style that draws you in and doesn't release you until you've finished reading. The Boneless Mercies features several strong female characters which made my heart soar with joy. The dynamic between the characters Frey, Runa, Juniper, and Ovie along with their male companion Trigve make for an incredible group of wanderers. I am left wondering though if there is a bit more between Frey and Trigve than a close friendship. I have been intrigued by the story of Beowulf for quite some time so it was great to see this new spin on the tale. The girls start off as Boneless Mercies in which they give merciful deaths for coin but eventually decide to leave that path to seek glory. Now, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. There are many losses along the way with a bittersweet ending, but that's what makes a story seem more real right? There needs to be a balance in life and death, in joy and sadness. Even the giantess had me feeling for her in the end. What may seem like the most evil villain, could in fact feel justified on their end and in a way Logafell was. This story captivated me! I hope there will be a second book because I need to know what the Cut-Queen will do next....



RATING: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Macmillan has provided this lovely necklace inspired by the book
for giveaway that you can enter below to win! 


Friday, October 31, 2014

Book Review: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories by Washington Irving + Halloween Book Giveaway!

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories
by Washington Irving
Release Date: September 30th, 2014

SUMMARY:

Perhaps the marker of a true mythos is when the stories themselves overshadow their creator. Originally published under a pseudonym as The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW AND OTHER STORIES (A Penguin Classics Original) gave America its own haunted mythology. This new collection of larger-than-life tales contains Washington Irving’s best-known literary inventions—Ichabod Crane, the Headless Horseman, and Rip Van Winkle—that continue to capture our imaginations today, and features an introduction and notes by Elizabeth L. Bradley, author of Knickerbocker: The Myth Behind New York and literary consultant to Historic Hudson Valley, the caretakers of Irving’s Tarrytown, New York home.

The setting of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is renowned for the supernaturalism that pervades the imaginations of its inhabitants and visitors. The most infamous specter in the Hollow is the Headless Horseman, said to be the ghost of a Hessian trooper who had his head shot off by a stray cannonball during the American Revolutionary War, and who “rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head.” The “Legend” relates the tale of Ichabod Crane, a superstitious schoolmaster from Connecticut, who competes with townsman Abraham Van Brunt for the hand of 18-year-old Katrina Van Tassel, the daughter and sole child of a wealthy farmer, Baltus Van Tassel. Crane sees marriage to Katrina as a means of procuring Van Tassel’s extravagant wealth. Bones, the local hero, vies with Ichabod for Katrina's hand, playing a series of pranks on the jittery schoolmaster, and the fate of Sleepy Hollow's fortune weighs in the balance for some time. The tension among the three is soon brought to a head.

 

REVIEW:

Recently, I was sent a copy of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories to review. This book is a compilation of several incredible short stories by Washington Irving. I must say, I found The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to be extremely intriguing and right up my alley as to what I am always looking for in a good read. I felt really drawn to the stories in this book and found it difficult to put down. Irving's writing style is very interesting and I can honestly say I have never read anything quite like his work. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers and especially those who would love to read the whole original story of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. If you are expecting the story to be like the show, then think again because I can assure you, it is quite different. The the original story I enjoy on its own and that is the way I enjoy the show. I will definitely read this entire book of Irving's work again in the near future.

HALLOWEEN BOOK GIVEAWAY:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway is open to residents of the US & Canada only! 

About the Authors:

WASHINGTON IRVING
(1783–1859) is generally credited with being the father of the American short story and was the first American writer to achieve international renown. He debuted in 1802 with a series of observational letters to the Morning Chronicle, and is best known for his short stories Rip Van Winkle (1819) and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  He has written several historical works covering figures such as George Washington and Christopher Columbus.

ELIZABETH L. BRADLEY, the author of Knickerbocker: The Myth Behind New York, serves as literary consultant to Historic Hudson Valley, the caretakers of Sunnyside—Irving’s Tarrytown, New York, home. She also wrote the introduction and notes for the Penguin Classics edition of Irving’s A History of New York.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Book Review: Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard + Book Giveaway!

Moth and Spark
by Anne Leonard
Release Date: February 24th, 2014

SUMMARY:

A prince with a quest. A commoner with mysterious powers. And dragons that demand to be freed—at any cost.


Prince Corin has been chosen to free the dragons from their bondage to the Empire, but dragons aren’t big on directions. They have given him some of their power, but none of their knowledge. No one, not the dragons nor their riders, is even sure what keeps the dragons in the Empire’s control. Tam, sensible daughter of a well-respected doctor, had no idea before she arrived in the capital that she is a Seer, gifted with visions. When the two run into each other (quite literally) in the library, sparks fly and Corin impulsively asks Tam to dinner. But it’s not all happily ever after. Never mind that the prince isn’t allowed to marry a commoner: war is coming to Caithen. Torn between Corin’s quest to free the dragons and his duty to his country, the lovers must both figure out how to master their powers in order to save Caithen. With a little help from a village of secret wizards and a rogue dragonrider, they just might pull it off.


REVIEW:

If you are looking for a story filled with dragons, magic, and romance then this is the book for you!

I have always enjoyed the escape provided while reading books such as this and this one certainly did not disappoint. This book is very well paced and while so much happens in it, everything is tied up in the end very well. One thing that made me especially love this book is that while Prince Corin and Tam's love story is very prominent, it is not the main focus with just a bit of fantasy and magic thrown in here and there. All aspects of the story seemed to be provided pretty evenly without having too much of one thing and too little of the other. Something that made this an easy read was that Corin and Tam were the two main characters and there were not so many characters that I would get easily confused. What I enjoyed most is that both Corin and Tam have very strong personalities, values, and fight for what they believe in. This is a short book that many will get through fast, but greatly enjoy.
 
I highly recommend you all read this book!



 

About the Author:
She was born in Chicago and has lived in 8 different states, eventually ending up in California.  She graduated with a BA from St. John’s College and went on to get her MFA at the University of Pittsburgh. After this came a Ph.D. in English from Kent State University, and then a dry spell with no school for about six years before she started law school at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.  She is a licensed attorney.  She wrote the first draft of MOTH AND SPARK while in law school.
When she was in her doc program, she edited what was then the first scholarly collection of essays on race and color in science fiction and fantasy (Into Darkness Peering, Greenwood Press, 1997.) She authored the chapter on race in The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction (Cambridge, 2003). Additional critical work and reviews have appeared in various academic journals.
She has a husband, teen-aged son, and two black cats: When she's not writing or having family time, she takes walks and goes on photography expeditions, or listens ever-hopefully to Chicago Cubs games on the radio.

For more about Anne, visit her website at: http://anneleonardbooks.com

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Christmas Giveaway!


Hey everyone!
With it being the season of giving we thought it only right to hold a Christmas giveaway. Guess what though? We are actually having not one, but two giveaways! One really special thing about this is that you all have plenty of chances to enter to win the prizes. The first prize is the TV Guide Magazine Fan Favorites TEEN WOLF Cover Issue. The second prize is The  Shadowhunter's Codex by Cassandra Clare and Joshua Lewis. Now, this giveaway is open to US residents only because shipping can be expensive and we are on a budget due to the holidays. We do hope though to have an international giveaway in the near future. Good Luck and I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Prize 1:
 
Prize 2:

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Something Great by M. Clarke - ARC Book Review & Author Interview + Signed Book Giveaway!



Something Great
Release Date: July 16th, 2013
A New Adult novel by author M. Clarke aka Mary Ting (Crossroads Saga)


SUMMARY:

She didn’t know what she was missing…until he found her.
Maxwell Knight was positively trouble, dangerously good-looking, and seductively charming. He was everything Jenna didn’t need in her life. Only Max didn’t see it that way. His pursuit was relentless, making Jenna even more determined to push him away. All she wanted was security, a career, and love that was everlasting. 
Fresh out of college, life was simple and plain for Jeanella Mefferd, but she liked it that way. Every part of her life was smooth sailing; her friends, her job, and even the guy she’d started dating. Then one night, while at dinner with her best friend, she spotted someone who made her feel things she’d never felt before just by his mere presence—dangerous, heart pounding, breathless heat. Thinking she would never see him again, she brushed it off, but when she started to run into him unexpectedly, all she could think of was how he made her feel with his sweet flirtations. Everything about Maxwell Knight screamed trouble, especially when she found out he was her new boss’s son. Now, heading to a New York fashion show she’d dreamt about since she was a child, would she be able to focus on her career instead of Max, who had been scheduled to attend with her? As much as she tried to forget their encounters, his good looks, charm, smooth words, and determination to win her over gravitated her toward him. The next thing she knew, he was utterly consuming her, mind and body, and in places she’d never thought possible. Would she be willing to step over the boundary and risk her safety net?  Was she willing to take advice from her best friend and love hard and risk getting hurt, rather than not really love at all and possibly miss out on finding something great?

REVIEW:

The first thing I should tell you all is that I'm not a frequent regular Adult Novel reader. I read many genres, but they usually all have some type of Paranormal or Fantasy element involved. I was contacted by my friend Mary letting me know she wrote a new book and asking if I'd like to review an ARC copy of it. Of course, I agreed. With that being said, I absolutely loved this new book, which is the first in a series. In this wonderful story by Mary, I learned that a love you are unsure of is something you should always give a chance and protect. A love so epic rarely happens more than once in a person's lifetime. Max and Jenna's chemistry and the love they have for each other gives me so much hope for my own love life one day. I really related to this story in a couple ways. Jenna has 3 best friends, Becky, Kate, and Nicole that always have her back and she theirs. The friendship she has with these women reminds me of a couple friends that I have and talk to about everything. Jenna is in a "safe" relationship with a man named Luke. This also reminds me of a relationship I was in, but ultimately ended because it wasn't going anywhere. After some misunderstandings and basic couple drama between Max and Jenna they end up professing their feelings to each other. What I really love about that part is how much I could feel the emotions pouring from the words they said to one another. All in all this book is an inspiring read for any woman who is losing hope of finding that one special man to complete them. This is not saying that we need men to complete us, but it's a blessing if we can find "the one." I can't wait to read the next book in this series to find out what happens between Jenna and Max next. Definitely read this book!


INTERVIEW:

What was your inspiration for this story?

It started as a dare from my friends. I told themthere was no way I could write the sex parts…but apparently I could…lol!  Blush!!! I sort of had an idea: their jobs, where they lived, friends, family, but I had no plot. I just started from chapter one and let it go from there. When I told my friends, they were really excited.


Are the characters based off of anyone you know in real life or did you create them from scratch?  

The main characters’ personalities are based on my husband and me…but of course I’ve added a lot more spice to readers’ appeal. It was easier for the characters to come alive that way for me.

 
How long did it take you to write Something Great?

To tell you the truth, I think I finished the first rough draft in one month. Yup…one month. I had so much fun writing it that I just couldn’t stop writing. I was holding onto it because I was shy about it. After my friend read it and told me how much she loved it and wanted someone like Max, then I knew I had something to publish. I debated whether to try to find an agent or to self-publish. After speaking to several authors, I decided to self-publish. Then the hard part began…covers, editing, promoting, etc.

What do you love most about writing?

I get to create a story I enjoy reading aboutIt takes me to a place where I escape from everyday life stress. The best part is sharing my story with readers. Hopefully they will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing them.

When not writing what do you enjoy doing for fun?

Mary: I find myself on facebook and talking to friends I’ve meet around the world because of my books. How cool is that!!! I also enjoy watching movies and television shows-Vampire Diaries, Big Bang Theory, Once Upon a Time, and The Voice.

In the next book, what can we expect between Max & Jenna?

Hot and steamy…lol! Let’s just say, I’ll be writing from Jenna’s and Becky’s points of view.


Matt and Becky seem like they would make a great couple. Are there going to be some steamy scenes between Matt & Becky with a possible relationship in the sequel?

Yes, yes, yes!!! Matthew is quite the characterand he is just as hot and sweet as Max.

Just for fun, if you had to be in a relationship with Max or Matt who would it be and why?

That’s not a fair question…lol! I would have tosay Max because Max came first.


  About the Author:

Mary Ting resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children’s chapter book, No Bullies Allowed.




You can find Mary at:
Twitter: @MaryTing
 


NOW AVAILABLE

Amazon:

Amazon UK:

Nook:

Smashwords:


Mary has generously offered to give away a signed copy of the winner's choice of her books Something Great or Between, book 2 in the Crossroads Saga. To enter please fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

NovelReality's 10th Vlog Celebration Giveaway!

Hey everyone,
I recently posted my 10th Vlog on YouTube and was trying to think of a way to celebrate. So, I got in touch with my friend Cecilia Perez of Totally Obsessed and she has graciously donated a custom fandom ornament of the winner's choice as a prize for a random giveaway. Below y'all will find a Rafflecopter form that you can complete and come back to enter daily as well by tweeting. I'd like to thank everybody for watching my Vlogs and all of you who have already subscribed to my Vlog Channel. :D ~V

Here's an example of some fandom ornaments the winner can choose from!
USA, Canada, & UK Only