Sunday 31 March 2013

Game of Thrones Season 3 Gush-fest!

 Today is the day people...season 3 of Game of Thrones starts later tonight!! :D

I don't know about you all, but I have been waiting for this for WAY TOO LONG! :D So, since I'm super duper excited I'm going to share some goodies with you, some of it --like the trailers--you might have already seen, but I figured I might as well share it all in case you missed something! :D

If you haven't seen any of the trailers yet, here they are:

Trailer #1:



Trailer #2:



You can also watch more videos for Season 3 on Game of Thrones' Youtube Channel!

And if you haven't yet "Joined the Realm" you can create your own sigil here:
JOIN THE REALM

Here's a quick one that I did. It's a silly one about dogs. :P



There's the option to follow Game of Thrones on Twitter: @GameOfThrones. It's the official Twitter for the show, so they share some awesome stuff. :D

You can also play Game of Thrones Ascent on Facebook and become a character in the series yourself! (I'm not sure if the link will work if you don't already have an account for the game because I think it's still in Beta, but hopefully it will :D)

Now, check out this awesome Game of Thrones fanart! :D (More can be found on DeviantArt)

Here are some amazing Game of Thrones inspired nails! I just love these! :D
Image Link  |  All Ownership Belongs to DreamWalker412

Here's an awesome background with Jon Snow and Ghost! I just love the way the artist designed this and the technique they used...it's so unique...and "stark"! Oh man...even I have to admit that was one cheesy pun. :P
Image Link   |    All Ownership Belongs to AznNerd

 This is another background, and I just love this one! The Stark and Lannister emblems, the words...it's just perfect! Plus, the design is so beautiful! :D
Image Link   |   All Ownership Belongs to tibots

I just think this is gorgeous...plus, I totally love Jon Snow. ;) The artist did a wonderful job on both Jon and Ghost...I love this one. :D
Image Link    |    All Ownership Belongs to TabsMD

 Another awesome drawing of Ghost and Jon! If you haven't realized it by now...he's totally my favourite character, and I love Kit Harrington playing him, so I love when artists use Kit in their fanart! :D
Image Link    |     All Ownership Belongs to roberthendrickson

 Stark themed SHOES! I definitely want these! ;D I'm always amazed by the things that people create and come up with. These shoes are just so neat, and I love that by wearing them you can show how much you love the show and the Starks! :D
Image Link    |     All Ownership Belongs to RonjaKnippers

 Even though Jon and Dany are pretty much as far apart as they can be...I totally ship them together. ;) So, I couldn't resist sharing this fabulous wallpaper. ;D
Image Link   |    All Ownership Belongs to ireneglory

 And the last fanart I'm going to share is this one.
*sigh* I just love these two together. :D
Image Link    |    All Ownership Belongs to Linds37

And now for my final Game of Thrones Season 3 anticipatory sharing-fest thing! There's a pretty new Game of Thrones parody on YouTube called School of Thrones! It's a webseries, and the first season only had 3 episodes and they're all on YouTube already, so I've embedded all three below! ENJOY! And if you like it be sure to watch it on their channel, subscribe, and show your appreciation by liking their videos and sharing them. Also...you might recognize Sansa! Mary Kate Wiles also plays Lydia Bennet on The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and she's Zelda on Squaresville. :)








Okay! So, that's enough for now! I've probably made you all burnt out with Game of Thrones stuff! haha I think I'm going to have to blog about Game of Thrones and the book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, more often because I could go on about them forever! ;D

Who else can't wait for the season 3 premiere tonight?
What did you think of the fanart? Do you have any favourite fanart?
Did you watch School of Thrones? If so, what did you think?
And if you've made yourself a family sigil, share it! I'd love to see it! :D

Stacking the Shelves (25)

Stacking the Shelves is Tynga's Reviews' version of In My Mailbox (from The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie).

Stacking the Shelves is a way to share the books that you're adding to your physical and virtual bookshelves. It's easy to participate. You just make your own post, and link it to the main post over at Tynga's Reviews. Also, in case you're curious, Tynga's post for it goes up on Saturdays, but you can post it any day that you like. :) You can find out more about participating by reading the Stacking the Shelves Launch post.

So, here's what I got this week!

For Review:

School Spirits (School Spirits #1) by Rachel Hawkins (Netgalley/Disney-Hyperion)

I really enjoyed Rachel Hawkin's Hex Hall trilogy, so I'm looking forward to this one! :D Hopefully we'll get to see a bit of Sophie, too! :)



Bought:

 Falling to Pieces by Amber Garza (Amazon Kindle Store)
Love's Second Chance by L.P. Dover (Amazon Kindle Store)


Once again I couldn't resist the kindle sales. :P Only $0.99 each for these two, and I can't wait to read them. :) Falling to Pieces isn't on sale anymore, but Love's Second Chance still is. :D



Thank you to Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion! :)

That's what I got this week, what did you get?
Feel free to leave a link to your book haul post and I'll check it out later!

Monday 25 March 2013

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (97)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, is a bookish meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books, where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It’s a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list. So hop on over to Journey and join in...and leave a comment here so I can check out what you are reading.



Books I Read Last Week:
I am a HUGE Lauren Barnholdt fan. :D The first book I ever read of hers was Two-Way Street, which happens to be the companion novel to Right of Way...and the two main characters, Jordan and Courtney, actually showed up in this one a bit, which I loved. :D I also just loved this story. It was cute, funny, and ended on a note that left me with a ginormous smile on my face! :D

LOVED this one!!!! :D Clockwork Princess is most definitely my favourite read of 2013 so far. It was the perfect way for the trilogy to end, and had me feeling just as much as the first two did. :D If you haven't started The Infernal Devices trilogy already, I seriously suggest you start now! ;D



Reading Now:
I started reading Resonance and I'm really enjoying it so far. :)

I'm reading Cosmopolis for school. Not too far in yet, so hopefully I'll like it. :P



Books I Want to Read This Week:
I've been wanting to read this one for a while, and I'm finally going to! I'm not actually sure why I've waiting so long to be honest because I've been looking forward to it. :P Hopefully, I can start it this week! :)



And what are you reading???

Check out One Person's Journey Through a World of Books to see what other people are reading. :)

Sunday 24 March 2013

Stacking the Shelves (24)

Stacking the Shelves is Tynga's Reviews' version of In My Mailbox (from The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie).

Stacking the Shelves is a way to share the books that you're adding to your physical and virtual bookshelves. It's easy to participate. You just make your own post, and link it to the main post over at Tynga's Reviews. Also, in case you're curious, Tynga's post for it goes up on Saturdays, but you can post it any day that you like. :) You can find out more about participating by reading the Stacking the Shelves Launch post.

So, here's what I got this week!



For Review:

What We Become (Those That Wake #2) by Jesse Karp (Thomas Allen & Sons)
Infatuate (Gilded Wings #2) by Aimee Agresti (Thomas Allen & Sons)
In Search of Goliathus Hercules by Jennifer Angus (Thomas Allen & Sons)
Rush Me by Allison Parr (Netgalley)
Runes by Ednah Walters (Netgalley)

I still need to read the first book in the Gilded Wings series, Illuminate, but I'm really looking forward to it! I'm also excited for Rush Me and Runes. :D



Bought:

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare (preorder/Chapters)
Dizzy by Nyrae Dawn and Jolene Perry (Amazon Kindle Store)
Suicide Note by Teresa Mummert (Amazon Kindle Store)

I already read and devoured Clockwork Princess (it was amazing! :D), and I picked up Dizzy and Suicide Note this week...they were only $0.99 each! :D 

Thank you to Thomas Allen & Sons, Netgalley, and the publishers on Netgalley. :)

What did you get this week?
Feel free to leave a link to your own post and I'll come visit. :)

Friday 22 March 2013

Blog Tour Review: Dear Cassie by Lisa Burstein


Source: Received a copy of the book to participate in blog tour and give an honest review.
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: Already Released.
Number of Pages: 352 (Paperback)


Description from Goodreads:
What if the last place you should fall in love is the first place that you do?

You’d think getting sent to Turning Pines Wilderness Camp for a month-long rehabilitation “retreat” and being forced to re-live it in this journal would be the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.

You’d be wrong.

There’s the reason I was sent to Turning Pines in the first place: I got arrested. On prom night. With my two best friends, who I haven’t talked to since and probably never will again. And then there’s the real reason I was sent here. The thing I can’t talk about with the guy I can’t even think about.

What if the moment you’ve closed yourself off is the moment you start to break open?

But there’s this guy here. Ben. And the more I swear he won’t—he can’t—the deeper under my skin he’s getting. After the thing that happened, I promised I’d never fall for another boy’s lies.

And yet I can’t help but wonder…what if?

I haven't read Pretty Amy yet, the companion book that precedes Dear Cassie, but I did read the novella, The Next Forever, which briefly follows Amy after her story, so I wasn't completely clueless to what had happened to Cassie, but I wasn't sure on all the details...and that ended up being totally fine! I actually kind of enjoyed the mystery of not already knowing everything. :D I'm sure I would've loved Dear Cassie just the same had I read Pretty Amy first, but I don't think it's absolutely necessary to have done so. I figured it out just fine, and ended up thoroughly enjoying Dear Cassie. :D So, I think they work as either standalones or companion novels, it's really up to you! :D

Overall, I loved Dear Cassie! :D Cassie wasn't the friendliest of narrators, and tried very hard to keep people away, but her insecurities made her appealing. I was desperate to know her secrets, and I wanted to know what had gotten her into the position she was in. I also really enjoyed her sarcasm, and her need to swear constantly kept me amused. :P Another thing that appealed to me was the way that the other characters navigated towards her. She tried to push them away, but ended up making some great friends who helped her move on from her past. I think it also helped that Cassie wasn't trying as hard to push the reader away--instead we were privy to her thoughts and were able to see just how scarred she was, and we got to see her progress as she began to finally move on and start healing.

I do think that this book may be controversial to some because it deals with some very serious topics, such as sex, pregnancy, drug use, stealing, and all the stuff that leads to kids ending up in rehabilitation camps, but I also think that they aren't brushed over lightly. The book isn't preaching and telling the reader not to do things, but it also doesn't encourage it either, rather it shows us some of the consequences, including rehab and extensive emotional turmoil.

I loved reading Dear Cassie, and was able to connect with Cassie even though we are extremely different from one another, and I don't think I'm alone in that. Cassie is a vulnerable character who protects herself with an abrasive shell and when she allows people to see what's underneath, it's hard not to like her. I would recommend Dear Cassie to people who like contemporary YA with character-driven plots and a lot of emotional turmoil. :)


About Lisa:
Lisa Burstein is a tea seller by day and a writer by night. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from the Inland Northwest Center for Writers at Eastern Washington University and is glad to finally have it be worth more than the paper it was printed on. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her very patient husband, a neurotic dog and two cats.

She wrote her first story when she was in second grade. It was a Thanksgiving tale from the point of view of the turkey from freezer to oven to plate. It was scandalous.
PRETTY AMY May 2012 Entangled Publishing THE NEXT FOREVER January 2013 Entangled Publishing DEAR CASSIE March 2013 Entangled Publishing

Where you can find her:


Blog Tour Schedule:

March 21, 2013: YaReads | The Girl in a Cafe
March 27, 2013: Book Labyrinth | A Soul Unsung
March 28, 2013: Seeing Night Reviews | BookCrush
March 29, 2013: Imaginary Reads | Making the Grade


Tour Giveaway!
- 1 paperback copy of DEAR CASSIE (US Only)
- 1 eBook of DEAR CASSIE (International)





Does Dear Cassie sound like a book you'd like to read?
Have you read any of Lisa Burstein's other books?

A Little Bit Cupid Blog Tour: Top Ten List!



About A Little Bit Cupid:
Finding love should be easy, but wedding photographer Phoebe Ward knows better. When Cupid shows up on a crazy mission to help her —and save the world in the process—Phoebe realizes love might be even more complicated than she thought. Even with Cupid showing her Mr. Right , she can’t stop thinking about his best friend, Mr. Wrong.

Cal Crawford has never had time for love, but now he’s falling for Phoebe. Which means it’s got to be just plain wrong to set her up with his best friend, right? But even though seeing Phoebe with someone else will break his heart, he can’t walk away from her.

Phoebe can’t afford to choose the wrong guy with the fate of the world at stake. But maybe Cupid has it wrong. Maybe she has to rely just a little bit on Cupid, and a whole lot more on her heart.
Purchase Links:


Hi, all! Jennifer here!

In case you haven't heard by now, I have a sweet and funny novella out now called A Little Bit Cupid!  Finding love should be easy, but wedding photographer Phoebe Ward knows better. When Cupid shows up on a crazy mission to help her —and save the world in the process—Phoebe realizes love might be even more complicated than she thought. Even with Cupid showing her Mr. Right, she can’t stop thinking about his best friend, Mr. Wrong.

Mr. "Wrong's" name is actually Cal. :)

When I was trying to come up with my hero, I wanted a name that was simple and unpretentious--also a manly name. But in general, I like to see no nonsense kind of guy names for contemporary romance heroes. Give me a Jack, Nate, Jake or Sam any day of the week.

But you know what? I've been seeing those kind of "comfy guy name" trends in most books I read recently. I must not be the only one who likes them!  

So I thought it'd be fun to give you my TOP 10 Comfy Hero Names that I feel are most popular in romance books. 

When you see these names, you just know EXACTLY what kind of hero you're going to get. :)

                                    Jennifer's TOP 10 Comfy Hero Names

10)Luke  (Biblical and hot)

9) Rick (classic and no nonsense all the way)

8) Logan  (a newer name but still rugged)

7) Connor (
I see an executive type but still down-to-earth)

6) Ben (
a name I've used as well)

5) Christian (
it's not just for 50 Shades fans)

4) Tyler (
I love this name. I might have to use it myself)

3) Aidan (
Great Irish name!)

2) Nick (
your guy-next-door name)

1) Jack (MOST USED.
I think there is an unwritten rule that you're not a true romance writer if you haven't had a hero named Jack-LOL)


What do you think? Have you come across these names more times than not? I'm sure you have because they seem to really work with readers.

I hope you all get to check out A LITTLE BIT CUPID (only 99 cents).  I can't promise you a hero with a name on that list, but you can be sure that you'll still love Cal! 

Thanks so much for having me today! 

What comfy-no-nonsense hero name have you been seeing used a lot in romance novels?



About Jennifer Shirk:

Jennifer Shirk has a bachelor degree in pharmacy--which has in NO WAY at all helped her with her writing career. But she likes to point it out, since it shows romantic-at-hearts come in all shapes, sizes, and mind-numbing educations.

She writes sweet (and sometimes even funny) romances for Samhain Publishing, Avalon Books/Montlake Romance and now Entangled Publishing. She won third place in the RWA 2006 NYC's Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter Contest with her first book,The Role of a Lifetime.

Lately she's been on a serious exercise kick. But don't hold that against her.

Feel free to follow her on Twitter or become a friend on Facebook.

Social Media Links:


What an awesome list! :D 

And what do you think of Jennifer's question:What comfy-no-nonsense hero name have you been seeing used a lot in romance novels?

Thursday 21 March 2013

Blog Tour Review: A Little Bit Cupid by Jennifer Shirk


Source: Received a copy to participate in the blog tour and give an honest review.
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Release Date: Already Released.
Number of Pages: 84 (Ebook)

Description from Goodreads:
Finding love should be easy, but wedding photographer Phoebe Ward knows better. When Cupid shows up on a crazy mission to help her —and save the world in the process—Phoebe realizes love might be even more complicated than she thought. Even with Cupid showing her Mr. Right , she can’t stop thinking about his best friend, Mr. Wrong.

Cal Crawford has never had time for love, but now he’s falling for Phoebe. Which means it’s got to be just plain wrong to set her up with his best friend, right? But even though seeing Phoebe with someone else will break his heart, he can’t walk away from her.

Phoebe can’t afford to choose the wrong guy with the fate of the world at stake. But maybe Cupid has it wrong. Maybe she has to rely just a little bit on Cupid, and a whole lot more on her heart.
Purchase Links:




A Little Bit Cupid was a short, and sweet novella! :D

It was the perfect length to read in one sitting, and left me with a gigantic smile on my face. I especially loved that Jennifer Shirk was able to include a little bit of mythology, and a war against good and evil into the story...explained to us by one very unappealing Cupid. :P haha

Of course, what I loved most was the romance between Phoebe and Cal! Their banter was fantastic...and the sparks between them were sizzling! I also thought that Phoebe was a wonderful main character, and I enjoyed reading her story and seeing her find happiness. Getting to read Cal's point of view during parts of the novella was also a wonderful perk...I love getting inside of the man candy's head. ;P

Overall, I really enjoyed A Little Bit Cupid, and thought it was a wonderful novella. I would definitely recommend A Little Bit Cupid, especially if you're a fan of short and sweet romances or need a light bit of romance to cheer you up! :D



About Jennifer Shirk:

Jennifer Shirk has a bachelor degree in pharmacy--which has in NO WAY at all helped her with her writing career. But she likes to point it out, since it shows romantic-at-hearts come in all shapes, sizes, and mind-numbing educations.

She writes sweet (and sometimes even funny) romances for Samhain Publishing, Avalon Books/Montlake Romance and now Entangled Publishing. She won third place in the RWA 2006 NYC's Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter Contest with her first book,The Role of a Lifetime.

Lately she's been on a serious exercise kick. But don't hold that against her.

Feel free to follow her on Twitter or become a friend on Facebook.

Social Media Links:
Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog | Goodreads


Are you a fan of short and sweet romances?
What do you think of A Little Bit Cupid?

Wednesday 20 March 2013

Review: Auracle by Gina Rosati

 Source: Received an arc for an honest review from Raincoast Books.
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Release Date: Already released.
Number of Pages: 304 (Hardcover)

Blurb from Goodreads:
16 year old Anna Rogan has a secret she's only shared with her best friend, Rei; she can astrally project out of her body, allowing her spirit to explore the world and the far reaches of the universe.

When there's a fatal accident and her classmate Taylor takes over Anna's body, what was an exhilarating distraction from her repressive home life threatens to become a permanent state. Faced with a future trapped in another dimension, Anna turns to Rei for help. Now the two of them must find a way to get Anna back into her body and stop Taylor from accusing an innocent friend of murder. Together Anna and Rei form a plan but it doesn't take into account the deeper feelings that are beginning to grow between them.
Ever since I first saw the cover and read the description for Auracle, I have been drooling over it! And I have to tell you, this is one book that lives up to it's fantastic description and gorgeous cover!

First, I absolutely LOVE how unique this story is! This is the first time I have ever read a book with astral projection in it and I loved it! It was described so beautifully, and I loved how many details we were told about how Anna feels when she's projecting! The hyper-reality of the world Anna experiences through her projection was so tempting and so surreal that it was hard not to wish you could astrally project yourself, too!

Along with the wonderful descriptions, this story was intense! It actually wasn't very long, and it's a standalone, but so much stuff happened. I didn't want to put this book down at all, and I didn't really. This was one of those reads that I read for as long as I could without stopping, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I loved the characters, Anna and Rei, and I loved the unknown element of the story. It was hard to know how everything was going to turn out, and I kind of liked that because I generally start to figure it all out pretty quickly. I enjoyed that not everything was super obvious and that I could pick out hints, but I could also wait and be surprised. :D

Overall, I thought that Auracle was an amazing story! It was full of vivid descriptions and was incredibly unique. It also held some mystery, and makes you wonder just how everything might work out in the end. Anna and Rei were also amazing main characters, and I loved their relationship. :D I'd recommend this one to fans of the paranormal, and anyone who likes one-of-a-kind stories told in wondrous ways. :D

What do you think?
Does Auracle sound like something you want to read...and what about that cover?

Tuesday 19 March 2013

Blog Tour Review: Strength (Mark of Nexus #1) by Carrie Butler


Strength by Carrie Butler
Series: Mark of Nexus #1
Publication: March 7th 2013
by Sapphire Star Publishing
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

Number of Pages: 389 (Paperback)
Source: Received a copy to participate in blog tour and give an honest review.
Synopsis:
When college student Rena Collins finds herself nose-to-chest with the campus outcast, her rumor-laced notions are shattered. Handsome, considerate, and seemingly sane, Wallace Blake doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, screaming and banging on the walls of his dorm room. Hell, he doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, period.

Too curious for her own good, Rena vows to uncover the truth behind Wallace’s madman reputation--and how two seconds of contact had left her with bruises. Of course, there are a few setbacks along the way: guilt, admiration, feelings of the warm and fuzzy variety…

Not to mention the unwanted attention of Wallace's powerful, supernaturally-gifted family.

They’re a bloodline divided by opposing ideals, two soon-to-be warring factions that live in secret among us. When Rena ends up caught in their crossfire, Wallace has no choice but to save her by using his powers. Now they’re really in trouble. With war on the horizon and Rena’s life in the balance, he needs to put some distance between them. But Rena won’t let go. If fighting is what it takes to prove her own strength and keep Wallace in her life, then that’s what she’ll do--even if it means risking a whole lot more than her heart.
PURCHASE: 


AUTHOR BIO
Carrie  Butler
Carrie daydreamed her way through college—until they thrust a marketing degree into her hands, slapped a summa cum laude seal on the corner, and booted her out into a less-than-stellar job market. Instead of panicking at the prospect of unemployment, she used her Midwestern logic to steer into the skid and point her life in the direction she really wanted to go: writing out those daydreams.

Author Links: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter



REVIEW:

It's been a while since a book has kept me up until the early hours of the morning, but Strength did that...and on a weekday when I had to tutor and be up early (at least my version of early :P). I just did not want to put it down at all! I loved the story, the characters, and just the all-around emotion that this book made me feel! :D

First, I loved the introduction! Rena starts this book off by hiding from the "Madman" a.k.a. Wallace, who turns out to be super hunky, and super in some other ways, too. ;) It was definitely a fresh and exciting way to start the book since I was expecting some kind of mass murderer, and got a hunk instead. :P haha

My favourite part of Strength was the characters. I just loved Rena! I found her so easy to relate to, and I loved her fierce spirit! :D I especially loved when she would stand up to Wallace, or stand up for him. It's nice to see a main character who isn't afraid to say what she really feels and thinks. It's also awesome to see a character who sets a great example by standing up for others. I really wish I had a Rena in my life because she's amazing. :) I also LOVED Wallace! Yes, he was totally sexy, but he was also such a sweet character...and so chivalrous! ;D I always forget how sexy I find chivalry until I meet a character like Wallace...it's kind of sad how little can make me swoon. Men...you need to be more chivalrous! You'll have ALL the ladies! :P Anyway...I loved Rena and Wallace...and when you put them together, I LOVED them even more!!!! I also kind of love that Rena pretty much would just blurt out whatever she wanted to know about Wallace right to his face...it's the kind of awkward thing I would do, so thumbs up for Rena! ;D

Along with the awesome characters, the story itself was amazing! Carrie Butler has crafted an incredibly unique backstory that explains what Wallace and his family are, and I loved that within their history there were myths, too...myths that we got to see in Strength. I'm a huge fan of new-to-me paranormals with awesome backstories, so I completely love it, and I can't wait to find out more about the mark of Nexus!!! :D

Overall, I absolutely loved Strength and I would recommend it to anyone who loves paranormal stories with fierce, yet vulnerable main characters. While Rena was strong and stood up for herself, it's clear that she's vulnerable in the world that Wallace belongs to, and the fact that she stays strong in the face of all of that impressed me even more! I'd also recommend this one to people who like to see romance evolve. I really enjoyed the pacing of Rena and Wallace's relationship. It was a bit fast at times when we'd get the time jumps so that the story would progress, but it was clear to see that it wasn't sudden and it wasn't instalove...although there was definitely some attraction from the start. ;) haha



TOUR-WIDE GIVEAWAY: 
- INTERNATIONAL


Good luck if you enter the giveaway! :D

So, what do you think?
Are you planning to add Strength to your to-read list?