Another exciting giveaway this week! Woo! (isn't free stuff just riveting?) The lovely ladies over at BewitchedBookworms.com are hosting a HUGE contest to celebrate their 500th follower. They are giving away lots of signed swag including: signed copy of Radiant Shadows, Signed bookmarks for Darkest Mercy, Signed excerpt from Carrie Ryan's new Novella, signed Art Geeks and Prom Queens and much, much more! Head on over to the Bewitched Bookworms' website for the full details (link in sidebar under Bewitched Bookworms giveaway). Here's the best part, entering doesn't get much easier. There is a simple form on their post that asks you for your name and email address. That's it, you're entered! Of course, you can receive an extra entry for tweeting about the contest, linking the contest in your blog sidebar, and sharing this contest on your Face Book page. Simple! There is a place on the form for all that information (if you chose to do so). However, there is just one catch. You must be a follower of Bewitched Bookworms. But honestly, why wouldn't you want to be? Plus, if this is what they're giving away for 500 followers imagine what kind of epic sway will be giveaway at 1000 followers.So head on over and enter!
Please comment if you enter! Contest ends 10pm CST on October 15th. Thats two whole weeks to enter! And for all you people with accents, yes, this contest is open internationally.
Be sure to come back here and comment if you win anything! Best of luck to all of you! (and to me, because I want to win free stuff too!)
Unless you've been living under a YA fiction rock for the past two years, you've heard of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater. And just to give you the benefit of the doubt, those sitting there going "Oh my goodness! Where have I been?" you may know the first two books in the trilogy as Shiver and Linger. (Why yes, those colors are significant). Linger was released in July of this year, and since I read those last words, my life has been lacking. So, putting the spin back into the world, Maggie released the cover of Forever, the third and final book in the trilogy (Yes, trilogy means three. Unless you're awesome like Scott Westerfield... take the hint Maggie).
As you can see, unless you are really unobservant, I inserted a picture of the cover to the right. And to answer our pondering question, red. Forever will be red. Personally, I was rooting for purple. Purple is an awesome color and red holds parallels to blood and I don't know if I can handle that in the conclusion to the series. I'll settle for what I get though, which happens to be red.
To celebrate this release, Maggie is holding a contest. Woo! And if you know anything about her contests, they include a lot of fabulous, signed, doodled books/audio books/book marks, book plates and other awesome swag. To be more specific, the prizes are as follows:
1. Two signed copies of the Linger audiobook, featuring the sex-on-a-stick narrator that reads Cole’s parts and the narrator who SINGS Sam’s songs in his parts.
2.A signed and intensely doodled in copy of LINGER, personalized to you, naturally.
3. A signed and intensely doodled in paperback copy of SHIVER, personalized to you, naturally
4. 4 LINGER tank tops provided by Scholastic (unfortunately only available in two sizes, small and improbably small.
5. A signed UK edition of LINGER.
6. 20 signed bookmarks
7. 15 doodled and signed bookplate
And if that isn't an incentive enough, entering is very easy. Here's all about that:
For prizes 1-6 Post on your personal blog or facebook page, as Maggie puts it, "Some version of WHOOO FOREVER, THE LAST BOOK IN THE SHIVER TRILOGY, PRE-ORDER A SIGNED COPY HERE!' (must mention preorder link: http://www.fountainbookstore.com/autograph-maggie also found in sidebar) Then come back to Maggie's post ( http://m-stiefvater.livejournal.com/177891.html) and leave a comment with links.
For prize 7 Change your Twitter, LJ, or Blogger icon to the Forever cover for the duration of the contest (again leave a link of maggie's post).
The first two books were amazing and I expect the third to be even better. What better way to celebrate it than to win some free stuff?
Contest ends October 19th and winners will be posted on the 20th (on Maggie's site).
Links to Maggie's post and pre-ordering you're signed FOREVER can be found in the side bar.
What is everyone reading? Leave a comment telling me what you're currently reading and how you like (or don't) it. Or, if you prefer, what have you recently finished? How was it?
Leave a link to your own reviews if you'd like! I'd love to see them, I need some new recommendations ;)
This page is under the protection of the Blog History Preservation Committee (BHPC). It was established on November 11, 2010 - just five days after the establishment of this blog. It was the first review to be written by the author, Britta. While this blog may undergo many changes, this review will remain somewhat the same. Which is why it is extremely oddly formatted.
Book #1
I had the almost imponderable joy of stubbing upon Beautiful Creatures at Borders early last December. Looking at the cover, I thought, "Isn't that the book that is becoming a movie soon?" Turns out, it wasn't (even though now it has been optioned by Warner Brothers). I bought the book because I wanted to read it before I saw the movie and the description interested me. I have never been so happy about a mix-up in my life. I never did find out what book I was actually thinking of, but I have no doubt in my mind that it could have never even came close to the love I have for Beautiful Creatures. I sat down that afternoon, cracked open the cover and was sucked into a world so beautifully written that I couldn't stop reading for anything. Luckily for me, I had already eaten lunch, because dinner didn't happen that night. Hours later when I read the last words on pg. 563, I closed the book and stared at the cover awestricken. I tweeted about my current inability to speak due to the romance, suspense and southern charm of Beautiful Creatures. Nothing could have taken me out of my daze like being united with Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl, and Vania from caster girls (over the internet anyway: @Kamigarcia, @Mstohl, @reverieBR). They kindly let me know that Beautiful Creatures is only book 1 of a 5 part series and there is a good possibility of Beautiful Creatures making it to the big screen. With this great news, I was able to sleep that night in peace. To fully understand my experience, you really have to pick up the book yourself. Now that you've read my two cents, heres a little about the book.
~@~
Beautiful Creatures is set in the sleepy southern town of Gatlin, South Carolina, plain and outdated. Ethan, the charming narrator will be the first to tell you, "There were only two kinds of people in our town. 'The stupid and the stuck, the ones who are bound to stay or too dumb to go. Everyone else finds a way out.'" (pg. 1) He introduces us to his own version of a dysfunctional family, his father who locks himself in his study all day to cope with the loss of his wife, and his loud, outspoken housekeeper/mother-figure Amma- who's been there since before he was born. His witty best friend Link offsets the blandness of the town with his witty jokes and horrible band lyrics, making just another day in Gatlin County worthwhile.
~@~
Theres nothing extraordinary about his life, except maybe his humongous breakfasts as prepared by Amma. Going through the motions each day seems to be getting harder for Ethan, and he can't wait for college to be his ticket out of this place. That is until the new girl shows up, drastically different from the cookie-cutter, cheerleader girls in town. Dressed head to toe in black, Lena Duchannes (rhymes with rain), is off limits. Lena is the Niece of Macon Ravenwood, Gatlin's very own Boo Radley.
Rainstorms and broken windows are only a few of the odd happenings since Lena showed up. There are the dreams, seeming so real that Ethan awakes drenched with water and caked with mud. There's the song, the haunting song that no one else seems to hear. And theres the smell, the scent of lemons and rosemary which Ethan comes to expect at each odd occurrence.
As Ethan and Lena's relationship grows danger seems to lurk behind every shadow. Both families hold secrets, and neither of them new it.
The beautifully written suspense, romance, and charm of Beautiful Creatures will leave your heart racing. Transported to this quaint town in the middle of nowhere, you will find yourself aching with empathy for the all too real characters. The secrets hidden within the ink will keep you eager and engaged throughout each of the 563 pages. Your heart will fall, you brain will reel with questions and your body will need to recover after the ending dramatically leaves you hanging. This is not a series you want to miss.
~@~
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end,
Book #2
there was a grave.
~@~
Fortunately for me, and all of you who are also in love with the series, the second book in the series, Beautiful Darkness, is to be released on October 12, 2010 (Countdown in sidebar). You can find out more about the series and characters on BeautifulCreaturestheBook.com, or the Caster Chronicles Facebook page.
Comment Questions
1.) Have you already read Beautiful Creatures? If so, how did you like it?
2.) If you haven't read the series, will you?
The lovely authors of The Caster Chronicles, Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, are hosting an extremely exciting contest! What is this contest you ask? No, it's not for signed swag or an ARC of Beautiful Darkness (that would be exciting though), this is something even bigger. They are giving away a chance to premiere the full-length trailer for their new book, Beautiful Darkness, on your blog! You read right, you could have the honor of being the first to post their no doubt lovely trailer.
Here's all you need to do to enter: Link to this contest (Link in sidebar -->)
Extra Entries: - Write a review of Beautiful Creatures or just a paragraph about why you loved it. (If you have review Beautiful Creatures in the past, just re-post it) Post it on your FB page, blog, website or all three! Your post MUST include a book cover to count (on each website) +3 Entries (for each place you post) +1 Entry for including BeautifulCreaturestheBook.com +1 Entry for including the Caster Chronicles Facebook Page - Embed the Beautiful Creatures paperback trailer onto your blog or website +3 Entries - Tweet @castergirls about this contest using the hashtag #BeautifulDarkness +1 (tweet once/day for extra entries) - Tweet @ Castergirls about Beautiful Creatures paperback with a preview of Beautiful Darkness out September 14, 2010 +1 (tweet once/day for extra entries)
* follow @castergirls on Twitter or the Facebook page for more opportunities to enter!
To Win: Keep track of your points until the end of the contest. Send a list, including links, to castergirls@gmail.com. The blogger with the most points wins.
Contest ends Midnight, EST, on September 24, 2010. So get going!
I posted before about a great giveaway hosted by ReadingTeen.net on their Reading Clean Spotlight (look at previous post for more information). This is another awesome giveaway they are currently hosting. For this contest they are giving away one (possibly two) great reads. Most are not yet released and highly anticipated. Here is the full list of books:
To enter all you have to do is fill out the form on ReadingTeen.net (link in sidebar). You get one entry for submitting, one entry for being a new follower, one entry for being an old follower, one entry for linking the contest in your sidebar, another one for tweeting about the contest (@ReadingTeen), five entries for posting about it on your blog and three entries for adding their button to your blog roll! As you can see there are lots of chances to enter, so head on over for your chance!
The Chaster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl are being featured by ReadingTeen.net on their "Reading Clean Spotlight". The First book of the series is Beautiful Creatures which was released last December. Coming this October will be Beautiful Darkness (Information on both books can be found at BeautifulCreaturesTheBook.com). In honor of Beautiful Darkness, readingteen.net is holding a giveaway contest with some great swag.
1st Prize:
A signed Beautiful Darkness ARC, two signed posters and swag.
2nd Prize:
Swag and a signed poster
3rd Prize:
Swag and a signed poster
Here's how you enter:
Leave a comment
on http://www.readingteen.net/2010/09/reading-clean-spotlight-caster.html Extra Entries: +1 for Tweeting, use the hashtag#ReadingCleanSpotlight (you may tweet up to once a day for extra points)
+1 for Tweeting, use the hashtag#CasterContest (you may tweet up to once a day for extra points) +1 for sharing this contest on Facebook +2 for putting this contest on your blog sidebar
+3 for posting about this contest on your blog (feel free to use our image)
The contest ends on October 11, 2010. (Beautiful Darkness is being released on October 12, 2010) So hurry over to enter!
I posted before about a great giveaway hosted by ReadingTeen.net on their Reading Clean Spotlight (look at previous post for more information). This is another awesome giveaway they are currently hosting. For this contest they are giving away one (possibly two) great reads. Most are not yet released and highly anticipated. Here is the full list of books:
by Kody Keplinger
by Kirsten Miller
by Andrea Cremer
by Robin McKinley
by Charles Benoit
by Alexandra Adornetto
by Karen Kincy
by Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl
by Diana Peterfreund
by Daisy Whitney
by Jackie Morse Kessler
by Cate Tiernan
by Gail Giles
Anthology multiple authors